Coverage

Mitchell’s New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/21/21)

Finally, the 2021 NJCUP finals!!

Published

5 years ago

March 21, 2021

Steven Mitchell

New Japan Cup 2021 revisits Best of the Super Juniors 2019!

Finally, we arrive at the New Japan Cup Finals! And familiar foes, Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi, meet again! Will Ospreay slay the Dragon once more?

NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Toa Henare & FinJuice; LIJ wins.
Six Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Kazuchika Okada & The Golden Aces; Okada & the Golden Aces win.
2021 New Japan Cup Finals: Shingo Takagi VS Will Ospreay; Ospreay wins and will challenge Kota Ibushi for the title(s) at Sakura Genesis 2021.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Toa Henare & FinJuice!

While Shingo Takagi is battling for the cup, Sanada, Bushi and Tetsuya Naito are battling for their own pride! Will they make the Hammerhead and the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions tranquilo?

After the LIJ fist bump, the teams sort out, but wait who from LIJ is stepping up? The ref? Juice is game for that but the ref tells LIJ to take this seriously. Finlay steps up, and Naito joins him. The fans rally with the bell and Naito circles with Finlay. They feel out the grapple, but Naito mocks the Juice pump. Fans rally with that, Juice wants in, so Finlay tags Juice in. Juice mocks Naito’s pose, and he circles with him. Bushi attacks! Naito mocks the Juice pump as he clubs Juice over and over! LIJ double whips Juice, Bushi runs in but is put on the apron. Juice elbows Bushi, dodges Naito and mocks him before hitting a hip toss and scoop slam! Juice dropkicks Naito then tags in Finlay.

Finlay clubs up while Juice wrenches an arm, and Finlay drops ax handles. FinJuice double whip, double elbow, and Juice sets Naito up for Finlay’s basement uppercut! Cover, TWO! Finlay drags Naito up to snap suplex then cover, TWO! Finlay clamps onto an arm, Naito gets up but Finlay EuroUppers again! Finlay runs in to uppercut, brings Naito around but Naito blocks the exploder. Finlay knees low then runs but into Sanada’s cheap shot! Bushi runs in to sunset flip Finlay and sit him up for Naito’s basement dropkick to the bad leg! LIJ hits Henare and Juice down, Naito mocks the Juice pump to drop an elbow on the bad leg! Naito pulls hard with the toehold but Finlay endures.

Finlay clubs Naito back as fans rally but Naito keeps on the foot! Finlay scrambles and gets a ropebreak! Naito lets off to continue mocking Juice. Naito stomps Finlay to a corner, brings him up and over and Sanada tags in. LIJ mugs Finlay, Naito still mocks Juice and Juice tells him to stop. Sanada whips Finlay corner to corner, runs in but blocks the boot to trip Finlay up! Sanada ties Finlay up in Paradise! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. Juice wants them to show mercy to Finlay’s bad leg, but Sanada still dropkicks Finlay out of Paradise! Sanada drags Finlay over, tags Bushi, and LIJ splits the wishbone!

Bushi drags Finlay up, bumps him off buckles and CHOPS away! Bushi then pushes Finlay, hops up and leaps to missile dropkick! Bushirooni! Bushi brings Finlay up but Finlay spins out of the fisherman. Bushi kicks low, runs but Finlay hits a DEEP SIX! Both men are down but fans fire up! Finlay crawls but so does Bushi, hot tags to Juice and Naito! Juice rallies on Naito, DECKS Sanada then hits Naito! BACK SENTON! Sanada runs into an atomic drop, Juice fires up and hits a Russian Leg Sweep, to another back senton! Bushi gets in, Juice hits him and runs, to BULLDOG! Fans fire up with Juice, and he gets a third BACK SENTON!

Juice rallies the fans, aims at Naito and runs corner to corner to clothesline! Juice keeps going and he CANNONBALLS! Cover, TWO! Juice argues the count, but Naito still mocks the Juice pump! Fans rally up, Juice brings Naito around, but Naito fights the suplex. Naito elbows Juice, Juice runs in but into a TORNADO DDT! And Naito still mocks the Juice pump! Tag to Sanada and Sanada has Juice in a corner. Sanada whips, Juice reverses but Sanada tumbles out then springboards in! Juice blocks the rana but Sanada fights the bomb! Sanada ducks the leg lariat but runs into the SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up and Juice hot tags Henare!

The Hammerhead drags Sanada up, but Sanada fires off forearms! Henare eggs him on then ROCKS him! Henare whips, Sanada reverses but Henare LEAPING SHOULDER TACKLES! Henare fires off on Sanada in a corner, stomps him down, but the ref backs him off. Henare drags Sanada up, whips corner to corner to clothesline, then SAMOAN DROPS! Cover, TWO! Henare fires up and fans rally as he reels Sanada in. Sanada fights the suplex but Henare powers him up! Sanada keeps trying but Henare gets him up again! Sanada slips out but Henare elbows him. Henare runs into a fireman’s carry!

Sanada throws Henare to the dragon sleeper but he sees Finlay coming. Finlay dodges Sanada’s kick to hit a NECKBREAKER! Naito dropkicks Finlay’s bad leg! Juice runs in but Naito feeds him to Bushi’s CODE BREAKER! LIJ double whips Henare, but he breaks the line to DOUBLE SPEAR! Fans fire up as Henare HEEL KICKS Sanada! Henare fires up, drags Sanada up but Sanada slips out of the Urenage! O’Conner Bridge! LIJ wins!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall

The Cold Skull catches Henare off balance and wins for the team! With Sanada, Bushi and Naito rolling as a trio, will Shingo Takagi make it an LIJ sweep? As for Henare, he’s getting frustrated with himself. Will he ever get past his recent losing streak to break through to the next level?

Six Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Kazuchika Okada & The Golden Aces!

King Switch switches out Fang Revived and the Tokyo Pimp for the Rogue General and the Crown Jewel! But will bringing new pieces to the board change the outcome from yesterday? Or will White again lose to the Rainmaker, NEVER Openweight Champion and Golden Star God of New Japan?

Tanahashi shows off the muscles, Bullet Club Low Sweets, and Tanahashi steps up to take on White. White shows off his muscles, the bell rings and fans rally, “Let’s Go, Ace!” as they circle. Tanahashi and White tie up, are in a deadlock, but White manages to get some leverage to push Tanahashi back. Tanahashi pushes White in return! White ends up on ropes but he turns it around with pulling Tanahashi’s hair. White throws body shots and forearms, then stomps Tanahashi in a corner. White throws more forearms, lets off long enough to whip, but Tanahashi reverses. Tanahashi runs in but White dodges, only to run back into Tanahashi’s elbow!

Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! Tanahashi taunts Bullet Club with the air guitar, then tags in Okada. Okada and Tanahashi double whip White, then double elbow him down! Fans fire up but Gedo protests as fans rally now for “O-KA-DA!” Okada adds his stomp to the beat, brings White up, but White throws body shots. Okada clubs White, snapmares and runs but Gedo takes a swipe! Red Shoes reprimands but White throws Okada out! White hits the Golden Aces down, Chase and Fale go after them while Gedo chokes Okada with a rally towel! White keeps Red Shoes distracted, Bullet Club throws the Aces into railing, and Gedo gets away before he’s caught.

Red Shoes starts a ring count while Bullet Club regroups. The count is 10 of 20 before Okada sits up, and 13 as he gets up and in. White stomps Okada at the ropes, stands on Okada, then tags Fale in. Fale stands on Okada, as does White, and Case even finds a spot to stand on! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Bullet Club all step off and Fale drags Okada to a cover. Red Shoes refuses, there were too many shenanigans. Fale gets in Red Shoes’ face but then DECKS Ibushi! Fale drags Okada up to CLUB him down, then tags Chase in. Chase and Fale stand on Okada again! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, they step off again, but he also has to keep the Golden Aces back.

Chase clubs and KNEES Okada, then snapmares for a chinlock. Okada endures, fans rally up, but White taunts Okada. Okada throws body shots, Chase shifts to a cravat and Fale tags in. Bullet Club mugs Okada, but Okada tries to scoop Fale! Fale’s too big! He CLUBS Okada, and then scoops Okada, but Okada slips out to try again. Okada still can’t scoop Fale, Fale CLUBS him again. Fale whips Okada to a corner, runs in but Okada dodges! Okada gets Fale on the third time with the scoop and SLAM! Fans fire up but Okada drops to his knees, that took a lot out of him! Fale tags White, White stomps Okada and sucker punches Ibushi! White knees Okada, runs, but Okada BOOTS him down!

Okada and White crawl for their corners, hot tag to Tanahashi! Tanahashi hurries after White with a flying forearm! Tanahashi DECKS Chase, boots White then brings him around for fast strikes! Tanahashi scoops and slams White into the drop zone! Fans fire up as Tanahashi hops up, SUNSET SENTON! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Tanahashi keeps his cool as fans rally up, “Let’s Go, Ace!” Tanahashi runs but White gets around. Tanahashi switches, White switches, repeat and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, until White grabs Tanahashi’s hair! Tanahashi breaks free, White kicks low and DDT’s! Fans rally up again as both men are down.

Tanahashi goes to an open corner, White goes to the opposite. White runs in to EuroUpper, then he gets Tanahashi up for BLADEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Gedo is upset but the fans cheer as Tanahashi is still in this. White boots Ibushi into railing before he double guns over Tanahashi. White drags Tanahashi up, fireman’s carries, but Tanahashi fights free. Tanahashi blocks a kick, White throws forearms and blocks Tanahashi’s leg to elbow it. White reels Tanahashi in but Tanahashi hits TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! White crawls, tags in Chase, and Chase runs at Tanahashi to forearm in the corner, then reel him in for a short arm lariat! Cover, TWO!

Chase drags Tanahashi up, fireman’s carries, but Tanahashi slips off. Chase throws back elbows, but Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Hot tag to Ibushi! Ibushi fires up and the fans join in as he whips Chase. Chase reverses but Ibushi GAMANGIRIS! Fans fire up for the STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ibushi and fans fire up again, and Ibushi drags Chase. Chase swings but Ibushi fires off a strike fest. Chase dodges to fire off his own strike fest! Ibushi dodges the Jewel Trigger to ROCK Chase, but Chase comes back to LARIAT! White hits Tanahashi and Okada, Fale gets in and Bullet Club whips Ibushi to a corner.

White runs in to uppercut, Fale runs in to splash! Snapmare for Chase’s SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi survives, Gedo is upset but Chase fires up! Chase reels Ibushi in but Okada BOOTS him down! Fale runs Okada over, but Tanahashi dropkicks Fale’s legs! White kicks but into a DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi gives Chase a SLINGBLADE! Ibushi powers up, V-TRIGGER! Kenny~! Ibushi sits Chase up with the wristlocks, KAMIGOYE! Cover, Ibushi’s team wins!

Winners: Kazuchika Okada & The Golden Aces, by pinfall

NJPW’s Big 3 can’t be beat! White is upset about that and forces the Young Lions to give Chase ice packs. Tanahashi backs White down, but White says he’s still coming for that NEVER Openweight Championship. Will the Switchblade have a better shot at cutting down The Ace when it’s 1v1? As for Ibushi, he decides to join commentary for the main event! He wants to see who he’ll be facing at Sakura Genesis for himself!

2021 New Japan Cup Finals: Shingo Takagi VS Will Ospreay!

On one side, The Dragon overcame the Rainmaker, the Fierce Warrior, Fang Revived and the King of Darkness. On the other, the Commonwealth Kingpin conquered Ikari no Mogyu, the Submission Master, the Cold Skull and the Celtic Prince. The BOSJ 26 final is revived, but the Takagi and Ospreay now aren’t the Takagi and Ospreay then. Will Takagi make this a very different match from two years ago? Or will the ungovernable be conquered by the United Empire?

Takagi has a sword with him! He’s reminding Ospreay of his old entrance as “The Assassin.” After the sword and coats are put aside, the bell rings and fans fire up already. Takagi and Ospreay stare down, then approach. They feel out the grapple but Ospreay stays back. Ospreay uses a leg guard as he scoots on the mat but Takagi keeps his distance. They tie up with collar ‘n’ elbow, and Takagi powers Ospreay to ropes. Ospreay turns things around, Red Shoes counts and Ospreay lets off, just to fire off kicks! Ospreay headlocks, but Takagi throws body shots. Takagi wrenches to a headlock but Ospreay pulls hair. Ospreay headlocks, Takagi powers out and also pulls hair!

Ospreay throws a forearm, runs to boot but Takagi rebounds to run Ospreay over! Ospreay kips right up and even Takagi claps for that. Ospreay forearms, Takagi forearms, repeat and fans rally up. Ospreay gets an edge but spins into a half nelson! Ospreay slips out, Takagi elbows, but Takagi runs into the tiger wall kick! Takagi ducks the enziguri and gets Ospreay’s legs for a wheelbarrow GERMAN! But Ospreay lands on his feet and runs! Springboard, OS- NO! Takagi throws Ospreay away to deny the cutter and fans fire up! Takagi grins and says that was a good one. Fans rally as the two reset. Ospreay and Takagi approach again, Ospreay shows knuckle lock but that’s to bait Takagi in for SLAPS!

Ospreay throws a forearm, an uppercut, but Takagi fires back with headbutts! Takagi has Ospreay in a corner, whips him corner to corner but Ospreay goes up, only to get caught! Takagi pulls but Ospreay holds the ropes! Takagi goes after the nose, then gives Ospreay SNAKE EYES! Ospreay clutches his nose, Takagi throws Ospreay out and then follows. Takagi whips Ospreay into railing! Takagi elbows away on Ospreay’s arm then BOOTS it against railing! Red Shoes reprimands but fans cheer. The United Empire watches closely as Takagi drags Ospreay up and into the ring. Takagi throws Ospreay’s arm on the mat, then gets him up for a wrench.

Ospreay throws forearms with the other arm but Takagi grabs the nose! Bea Priestley protests, Red Shoes counts and Takagi lets go, just to grab the nose with his other hand! Red Shoes counts again but Takagi lets go, to then grab the nose with both hands! Red Shoes slaps Takagi’s hands away but that just hurts Ospreay’s nose! Red Shoes apologizes and Takagi whips Ospreay to ropes. Takagi knees Ospreay, runs and runs Ospreay over! Fans fire up but Bea grows worried as Takagi drags Ospreay. Ospreay kicks him but Takagi drops a knee. Takagi goes to suplex but Ospreay blocks. Ospreay swings but into a spin, suplex, but Ospreay STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRES!

Ospreay whips, Takagi reverses but Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER! Both men are down but fans fire up as Takagi bails out. Ospreay hurries after, making sure his nose isn’t bleeding. Ospreay brings Takagi up to whip him into railing! Takagi’s back is a target so Ospreay whips Takagi back the other way into more railing! And then RAMS him into the railing right by commentary! Ospreay peels the tape off Takagi’s back before hitting a RAILING BACK SUPLEX!! Takagi goes down in a heap and Red Shoes checks on him. Fans rally up but Ospreay leaves Takagi behind and at the mercy of the count. Takagi stirs at 5 of 20, slowly rises but doesn’t stand until about 13.

Takagi looks at Ibushi on commentary for a moment before going to the ring at 17! Ospreay stomps Takagi, drags him up, and CLUBS him hard on the back, then KICKS him! Ospreay stands on Takagi’s back but Red Shoes counts, and Ospreay steps away at 3. Fans rally for Takagi, Ospreay drags him up and digs his knee into his back! Ospreay runs to basement dropkick Takagi’s back! Cover, TWO! Takagi grits his teeth but Ospreay drags him up. Ospreay scoops Takagi for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Takagi’s back arching from the pain might’ve helped him there. Fans rally up as Ospreay is after Takagi with EuroUppers.

Ospreay whips corner to corner hard, and Takagi bounces off buckles to hit the mat. Ospreay drags Takagi back up, snapmares him and wraps on a body scissor. Takagi endures but Ospreay squeezes and even throws clubbing shots. Takagi tries to reach back but Ospreay sits him up for more forearms. Fans rally, Ospreay becomes a backpack but Takagi fights up. Ospreay CLUBS Takagi on the back again! Ospreay whips corner to corner, Takagi barely makes it there. Ospreay grins as he runs in but Takagi dodges. Ospreay boots, back, goes up and out and PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay grows annoyed with Takagi, but he gives Takagi Kowata Kicks!

Fans rally up while Takagi eggs Ospreay on. Ospreay gives more Kowata Kicks but Takagi blocks, spins and shoves to elbow, JAB and feint the lariat for a DDT! Fans fire up as Takagi gets back up. Takagi drives elbows into the shoulder over and over, runs but Ospreay ducks the sliding lariat! Ospreay kicks but Takagi ducks. Osperay elbows and handsprings gaain, but into Takagi’s arms! Takgai pops Ospreay up to a fireman’s carry for a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Fans fire up as Takagi clotheslines Ospreay out of the ring hard! Ospreay sits up, Bea checks on him, but Takagi goes out to pursue. Bea shields Ospreay but then Ospreay BOOTS Takagi! Takagi grabs Ospreay’s nose!

Bea grabs Takagi’s hair but Takagi shakes her off. Takagi glares at Bea and the Empire but Ospreay POSTS Takagi! Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan give Takagi some space, and Ospreay gets a table! Ospreay sets the table up, Red Shoes reprimands him, but Ospreay brings Takagi around. Ospreay tries to lift but Takagi resist. Ospreay tries to suplex but Takagi switches positions! Ospreay switches them back, they go around, Takagi grabs the apron but Ospreay whips him. Takagi reverses< Ospreay goes up and over then forearms back. Ospreay jumps up but Takagi catches him! Ospreay desperately fights so Takagi gives him SNAKE EYES on the apron!

Takagi bumps Ospreay off the apron again, then goes up to join him. Takagi calls his shot, “ON THE TABLE!!” and fireman’s carries, but Ospreay fights. Bea drags the table away! Ospreay ROCKS Takagi, runs but Takagi jumps over! Takagi runs but Bea is again a shield. Ospreay hits Takagi, springboards bot Takagi gets under. Ospreay handsprings again but into a torture rack, for another SNAKE EYES! Takagi runs, Ospreay boots the lariat away, then SUPERKICKS! Ospreay runs, ducks the lariat but not the POP-UP BOMB! Cover, TWO! STF!! Takagi has the crossface right on Ospreay’s nose but fans rally as Ospreay endures!

Ospreay crawls, getting his leg free, but Takagi pulls back as strong as he can on the crossface! Ospreay still gest the ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets the crossface go to get a FUJIWARA! Ospreay again gets the ropebreak, so Takagi lets go to drag Ospreay up. Gory Especial to NOSHIGAMI! Cover, TWO! Takagi keeps his cool as fans rally up. Takagi brings Ospreay up, reels him into the pump handle, but Ospreay resists. Takagi throws knees, Ospreay slips out to full nelson, but Takagi breaks that! Takagi elbows, ducks the hook kick but runs into the tiger wall kick and ENZIGURI! Takagi rebounds to LAR- Ospreay slips through and gets Takagi up!

Takagi slips out of the bomb, Ospreay LARIATS back! Both men are down and fans fire up more! Ospreay drags Takagi up, reels him into a dragon sleeper, for SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO! Takagi survives and Ospreay grows frustrated as fans rally up. Ospreay and Takagi go to opposite corners, and Ospreay wants Takagi to stand. Takagi gets up, Ospreay runs in, but Takagi gets under the boot! Takagi fireman’s carries Ospreay to the top rope! Ospreay fights but Takagi tries to make it a pump handle! Ospreay still gets up and around, rains down fists, but Takagi shoves him away! Ospreay flips to land on his feet, then triangle dropkicks Takagi back!

Ospreay climbs up, gets Takagi up, for a SUPER SPANISH FLY!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Takagi survives and Ospreay can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous while Takagi clutches his back. Ospreay powers up, watches Takagi rise, and he springboards, but the Oscutter gets caught to the Gory Especial! Ospreay fights free but Takagi HEADBUTTS! JABS! YUKON LARIATS! Fans fire up with Takagi as he glares at Ospreay. Ospreay glares back and fires forearms, but Takagi gives boxing elbows! Takagi goes to about a dozen, but Ospreay swings! Takagi swats it but Ospreay HOOK KICKS! Ospreay runs, but Takagi dodges to PUMPING BOMBER!

But Ospreay lands on his feet?! And springboards to OSCUTTER!!! Cover, TWO!!!! Takagi survives and fans are thunderous again! Fans rally up as both men slowly rise. Ospreay crawls after Takagi but Takagi manages to roll out of the ring. Ospreay aims as Takagi rises, but Takagi avoids the plancha. Ospreay mule kicks, and uses the corner, SUPER OSCUTTER, TO THE FLOOR!!! Fans are thunderous again over that risky move! Red Shoes checks on both men, Bea has Red Shoes move away so that Ospreay can drag Takagi up. Ospreay wants the table again! Ospreay brings it around, drags Takagi up, punches him onto the wood, and then goes to the apron.

Ospreay climbs up the corner, Red Shoes sees what’s happening but he can’t get Ospreay to stop! SUPER 450 SPLASH THROUGH THE TABLE!!! Ospreay clutches his own ribs, he may have done as much damage to himself as he did to Takagi! Red Shoes checks but somehow Ospreay’s okay to continue! Ospreay tells the Empire to help him, he needs to get in the ring. Cobb gets Ospreay in and now it’s on Takagi! Red Shoes starts the ring count, Takagi stirs but he doesn’t move and it’s past 10 of 20! Takagi slaps himself so he can wake up a bit. Takagi gets moving at 15, borrows Ibushi’s towel to wipe the sweat at 15, but it’s 18! Ibushi tells Takagi that and he scrambles in at 19.5!!

Ospreay springboards to COAST2COAST Takagi down!! Ospreay keeps moving, gets up top again, and SHOOTING STARS!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Takagi survives and no one can believe it! Ospreay desperately tries to drag Takagi off the mat as fans are thunderous again. Opsreay pulls off the elbow pad and goes to the corner! But Takagi flops over, denying Ospreay a target! Red Shoes checks on Takagi but he tries to keep Ospreay back, too. Red Shoes asks if Takagi is alright but Ospreay starts slapping Takagi around! Ospreay drags Takagi up to underhook, but Ospreay doesn’t have the strength for a lift! Ospreay gives more Kowata Kicks as fans fire up, but that wakes the Dragon!!

Takagi glares at Ospreay, Ospreay boots but Takagi doesn’t even flinch! Ospreay boots again and again but Takagi is storming over! Is he a zombie dragon!? Ospreay kicks and kicks but Takagi fires off forearms and boxing elbows! And point-blank clotheslines!! Takagi runs, but Ospreay gets him to a fireman’s carry! LONDON HAS FALLEN!! Ospreay turns Takagi for the DREAM- NO! Takagi catches Ospreay to the half nelson! Ospreay slips out, spins, kicks, but into MADE IN JAPAN!!! Cover, TWO!?!??! Ospreay survives and now Takagi is shocked! Fans are moving from thunderous to electric! Ospreay stirs, Takagi aims from a corner, PUMPING BOMBER!!

But not just that, Takagi gets Ospreay up with the pump handle torture rack! But Ospreay turns that into a crucifix takedown! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay runs into a pop-up, fireman’s carry, but he fights that off! Takagi slips free of that and POISON-RANAS OSPREAY!?! Ospreay wobbles around but falls to his knees as fans fire up again! Takagi brings Ospreay up, runs and runs to- SPANISH FLY!??! Cover, TWO!! Takagi flounders about but he’s still in this! Ospreay aims, ROUNDHOUSE! ROLLING ELBOW! ROLLING DREAM SMASHER!! Wait, HIDDEN BLADE!! Underhooks and… STORMBREAKER!!!! Cover, OSPREAY WINS!!!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (2021 New Japan Cup winner)

The Commonwealth Kingpin may no longer be the Assassin but he STILL slays the dragon!! But don’t say history repeated itself, because this was a far bigger fight than BSOJ 26! Ibushi himself is out of breath having just watched this! But now he knows who he faces in just two weeks at Sakura Genesis! Ospreay is presented with the NJCUP trophy and holds it high over head! The Empire joins their leader in the ring to celebrate this moment together. Ospreay then gets the mic to speak. “With a torn rotator cuff, and a broken nose, I told you all I was gonna win the New Japan Cup, and I WON THE NEW JAPAN CUP!!” Fans cheer because that is all true.

They’re clapping now but Ospreay knows they doubted him! “The British Junior can’t get it done with the heavyweights!? I just dominated the Heavyweight Division, baby!!” And like he said, the United Empire is a force to be reckonened with! He won the NJCUP, and two things have happened now, leaving one more. “Ibushi. C’mon.” He wants Ibushi to respond, so Ibushi gets off commentary and brings the belts! The Empire stands down and Ospreay allows Ibushi in.

Ospreay says Ibushi’s been getting a lot of heat for what he’s planning to do. Taking the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships, unifying them into THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Some people like, some people don’t. Ospreay tells fans to stop, he didn’t ask for an opinion. But he gives his: he agrees with Ibushi. Ospreay doesn’t care about history, legacy or lineage. What Ospreay cares about is being number one. And as much as Ospreay hates to say it, “Ibushi is number one.”

Ospreay wants Ibushi to know something. Ospreay NEEDS the title(s). More than anything, Ospreay needs the title(s), and will do anything to take it away from Ibushi to put it on HIS shoulders! Ospreay loves this more than anything! This is Ospreay’s destiny, to be IWGP WORLD Heavyweight Champion! Ospreay loves this more than anything or anyone. Sorry, Bea. OSCUTTER TO BEA?!?! Cobb and Khan stand in Ibushi’s way and everyone else is stunned silent! Ospreay does his best to contain himself after what he did to his girlfriend, and then he leaves without another word.

If this is what Ospreay is willing to do to someone he loved, what will he do to someone who holds what he “needs?” Can Ibushi stop the United Empire from conquering NJPW?

My Thoughts:

Well DAMN. So, great event obviously, though obviously I skipped Suzuki-Gun beating Young Lions, The Empire beating the old guys, and in a slight shock, Yujiro Takahashi gets the win for Bullet Club over Yoshi-Hashi. I wonder if Bullet Club in some formation challenges Chaos’ Goto-Ishii-Hashi for the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. LIJ VS Henare & FinJuice was good, especially playing off Finlay’s foot getting messed up yesterday against Ospreay. But I figured Henare would take the loss since LIJ pinning the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions would complicate this crossing of the promotions a bit too much at the moment.

The semi-rematch of Okada, Tanahashi & Ibushi VS Bullet Club was very good, very fun, but of course the Faces win. Okada wasn’t as bummed this time but he still let the Golden Aces celebrate without him. White is still staying out of the actual math so White VS Tanahashi for NEVER Openweight Championship can still go any which way. Ibushi being on commentary was perfect for the final moment after a truly epic, match of the week level Ospreay VS Takagi. There was so much story in it, from both their BSOJ match two years ago to how each man had a target and the other used moves that would specifically go after those targets. Plus, that 450 table spot was wild, and I was surprised Ospreay and Takagi could do Spanish Flies.

Ospreay winning wasn’t even near as shocking as his winner promo. Saying he actually agreed with Ibushi and wanted to do the same about NJPW having a true world title was a bit of a surprise, but then the real shock was what he did to Bea. That was literally a Randy Orton move right there. The United Empire really could take over NJPW, from Ospreay having THE world title on top of his Rev-Pro British Heavyweight Championship, and then Cobb and Khan could easily get in on the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship scene. They’re still just a trio, or rather are back to a trio since Bea will surely be kayfabe breaking up with Ospreay, so making a GOLDEN United Empire wouldn’t be so difficult, and could definitely happen over the summer.

My Score: 9.4/10

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MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

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

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Mitchell’s WWE Fastlane Results & Report! (3/21/21)

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Andrew’s New Japan Cup Results & Match Ratings: 3.21.2021

Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.15.26

TNA had some time to cook up their big debut. Did they burn it, or make a succulent feast?

Published

15 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Andrew Balaz

AMC era has begun! Granted it’s not without a big loss, being The Rascalz seem to be headed to AEW. Which honestly I’m conflicted. If it was their decision because the money was astronomical, then I can’t fault TNA for not being able to compete with the TK Bank Account. But if TNA didn’t even try and let them walk for money that could’ve been negotiated…then TNA fumbled harder than CJ Stroud. Jake Something is a non-factor, but The Rascalz could be a big mistake.

WOAH! @AJStylesOrg and @FrankieKazarian come face to face on #TNAiMPACT on @AMC_TV! pic.twitter.com/CSh7IpV5ex

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2026

Ratings:

Elijah & The Hardyz vs Order 4: Jeff wins via Swanton Bomb – *
TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: The IInspiration (c) vs The Elegance Brand: Maggie wins via pinfall – (-) *** – TITLE CHANGE!!!
TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs Mike Santana: Santana wins via Spin the Block – *** 3/4 – TITLE CHANGE!!!

Results:

AJ Styles comes out to kick off TNA episodes on a new network. He walks out to the WWE theme, makes a quick hype promo, doesn’t interact with anyone aside from the crowd. Definitely feels like more could’ve been done with AJ, but it was nice to see him.

Elijah & The Hardyz vs Order 4

The Hardyz come out with some guitar guy, Justin Lyonz or something…BDE and another streamer buddy? Definitely already feels overbooked just on the intro.

Order 4 tries to start fast but things back fire quickly and…this is starting off like an old episode of like WCW Thunder. Just messy overbooked intros, hot start into a commercial. 13 minutes in and it’s not a good start. Coming back from the commercial, Ali had the advantage but then Jeff Hardy is turning it around, all the apron dwellers are down. Ali tries the Rolling Neckbreaker, Jeff catches him with a Twist of Fate. Tasha tries to get in the way, Ali gets shoved into her, Matt hits the Twist of Tasha draped over Ali…shmoz spot. The Great Hands actually turn things around after the pinfall break, but Elijah stops them with some Mule Kick action, into a Twist from Matt and Swanton from Jeff. I think we saw maybe 3 minutes of this and it was all just cliche chaos crap.

Loser Agent Zero attacks after the fact…even though Elijah laid him out last week and the luster is off of Zero. He’s a joke. The Righteous come out to make a…Save? Dutch hits Death Walks on Matt and Vincent pulls out…a pad lock or something and then chains Jeff to the post via his eat gauge. This is…an embarrassing mess of crap just happening. If this is anyone’s first episode, I apologize for the Crash TV whiplash effect of this so far.

20 minutes of worthless D List Star spotting that leads to a comedy spot with Ryan Nemeth (which is fine, I love Ryan) but then it goes into Santino finding a new General Manager type because he’s been compromised. And it’s…Sonya Deville with Daria Rae as her new gimmick name. She comes out as the heel “management” type who wants to get rid of Santino. And…she apparently signed Elayna Black. Yikes, back to back no one cares reveals. Sonya Deville and Cora Jade. Cora’s hot, but wrestling competence…ya that’s non-existent.

I can almost tolerate Sonya since she’s supposed to come out and be a heel immediately, so the lack of current love, buzz and pop, is fine. But bringing Cora Jade along like she’s anything more than eye candy is…pathetic. It has been 30 minutes since the last actual wrestling match happened.

WHY DO WE GO INTO ANOTHER GOOFBALL TALK SEGMENT?!?!? The Elegance Brand, with Perez Hilton…has he even been relevant since like 2008? What is this? I get that it’s a dumb shtick before the match but STOP TALKING. This…Mr Elegance thing is complete garbage.

TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: The IInspiration (c) vs The Elegance Brand

The IInspiration comes down to stop the awful segment and as soon as things start we cut to commercial again. WHY. M has control cause of course the heels are in control until Cassie gets the knees up and M crashes and burns on the Moonsault. Jessie hot tag, lays out both Elegance members. She dispatches of M, Armbar Suplex on Heather but the Concierge pulls out Jessie. Jessie blocks the numbers game but eats combination kicks from Heather. They go for their Bow and Arrow, Stomp combo but Cassie shoves off Heather, IInspiration double teams M, Mr Elegance hops on the apron and gets slapped.

This is a sloppy mess of over booked gimmicked garbage. Idolizer on Maggie but interference for days and Maggie gets the pin and the…I don’t care. Get rid of these titles. I love Maggie, but this is pathetic and the fact we need NXT tag teams to flesh out a contender bracket is sad. What the actual FUCK is this episode? This feels like a fever dream.

TNA International Champion @Stacks_WWE and @AriannaGraceWWE take plenty of shots at @milanmiracle ahead of #TNAGenesis! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/9V2wMk3zlk

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2026

Jesus, okay the Visa issue is legit because I know there’s problems in e-sports and other professional mediums. But now Lei Ying Lee comes out because her title match becomes an Open Challenge because Dani can’t compete at Genesis. ZaRuca comes out, and I don’t care who challenge Lei, but I swear if TNA makes Lei drop the title to an NXT wrestler again. Sol actually says Zaria deserves the shot, which surprises Zaria…kind of a nice moment. But still…I swear, no more NXT wrestlers taking TNA gold.

Christ on a crutch, another talking segment. The System has to say stuff because Dango is retiring on Saturday, but come the hell on. So far there have been 2 matches, we saw 3 minutes of the first one, some people missed the entire second match because AMC ran back to back commercial breaks. But even seeing it, there’s was about 4 minutes of interference in that match. 90 minutes so far, and there’s been 7 minutes of visible wrestling. They’ve done garbage shows like this before, but I was hoping they would know better than to give us some gum flapping imbecile show. But NOOO.

TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs Mike Santana

Collar and Elbow tie up, Kaz tries the early Chicken Wing, but Santana fights it off and tries to catch him with a Spin the Block, but easily dodged and we reset. Santana hits the Shoulder Tackle and the crowd pops probably because it’s actually wrestling for what feels like the first time all night. Frankensteiner sends Frankie to the floor, Escalera Plancha from Santana keeps Kaz on the receiving end. Santana launches off the steps but misses and Kaz connects with a Belly to Belly.

Back from yet another terribly timed commercial, we see Kaz get shoved off the ropes, Santana tries the Rolling Buck Fifty, but Kaz connects with a Backstabber. He then decides to talk smack to Santana and big brother him. Santana absorbs Kaz’s shots, fires and then throws his own haymakers. Santana going a little Sting with a big Woo, catches Kaz’s foot and then Gamengiri. Kaz cuts him off, Santana cuts off Kaz, Rolling Buck Fifty out of the up and over, but only a 2 count.

Kaz claws the eyes, shoves Santana away, but Santana climbs the buckles again, Spanish Fly, no sell, into a struggle for signature moves when Santana snaps off a Code Red for another near fall. Santana takes too long to go for the Cannonball, knees up, Kaz hits the Angel’s Wings for two. Chicken Wing attempt two, but Santana rolls over into the pinfall, Kaz kicks out. A little cat and mouse on the Guillotine, but Slingshot Cutter into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop for two again!

Frankie tries to bring in the belt, it gets taken away, finisher counters, Fighting Spirit, Spin the Block misses, Kaz goes for a Shotgun Kick but ref bump. Santana hits the Spin the Block but the ref is dead. Kaz looks for the discarded belt, clocks Santana with it while the referee is still dead. Kaz aims for Fade to Black on the apron and connects! Throws Santana back into the ring, cover, Santana kicks out at two and fires! Kaz with the Canadian Destroyer but Santana no sells, Spin the Block! 1-2-2.999. Kaz kicked out of it. Kaz dodges the next STB, tries one of his own, but then Santana connects with another!

Overall Score: 2.5/10

This was an awful trainwreck of a fever dream. The Main Event was the only thing worth watching, and if you’re not a TNA fan, I wouldn’t expect people to have stuck around that long. The Main Event is 2 of the 2.5 points, the only other slightly decent part was utilizing Sonya Deville’s relative lack of interest and expected lack of pop, to just make her a heel out of the gates.

Everything else about this show was complete unadulterated dogshit. Mr Elegance talks like young Chris Jericho, Ryan Nemeth and Peter Brady did a failed fusion dance. The concept was cringe the execution is worse. The constant commercials at the start of matches and coming back for 2-3 minutes of trash is a 90s formula that doesn’t work nowadays. 80% of this show was useless talking, highlight segments of the history of TNA and running around to fix Genesis matches because all the UK wrestlers can’t make the show.

This was pathetic. If this was people’s first time watching TNA, it probably will be their last. This show made WCW Thunder look competent. I yearn for the days of Disco Inferno vs Lodi. Van Hammer vs Mike Awesome during his fat chick thriller era, would be better writing and television than whatever this was.

Mc Lyte Garbage GIF by ALLBLK

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

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

Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (1/15/26)

Stir it up!

Published

19 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Steven Mitchell

Will The Chef continue to serve up L’s?

ROH Women’s World Television Champion, Red Velvet, dared Taya Valkyrie to step up, but instead gets Robyn Renegade on the Proving Grounds! Will the kitchen be cooking either way?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Grizzled Young Veterans VS Spanish Announce Project; GYV wins.
Lance Archer VS Vin Parker; Archer wins.
Shane Taylor w/ Shane Taylor Promotions VS Kiran Grey; Shane wins.
8 Man Tag: QT Marshall, Aaron Solow & The Von Erichs VS The Frat House; QT, Solo & The Von Erichs win.
Mixed Six Tag: MXM TV VS The Infantry; The Infantry wins.
ROH Women’s World Television Championship Proving Ground: Red Velvet VS Robyn Renegade; Velvet wins and denies Robyn a title match.
Blake Christian & Lee Johnson w/ Jay Lethal VS Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno; Blake & Lee win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Grizzled Young Veterans VS Spanish Announce Project!

Before their Collision with Eddie Kingston & Ortiz, Zack Gibson & James Drake look to get a little tune-up in. Will they teach Angelico & Serpentico how to #GritYourTeeth? Or can the South African Stud & #SNAKEMAN help Gibson & Drake chill out?

The teams sort out and Angelico starts against Drake. The Code of Honor is not upheld as Drake kicks the hand away. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and the two feel things out. They tie up, Angelico wrenches Drake’s arm to a wristlock, but Drake THROWS Angelico down by his hair! Drake twists Angelico’s arm, wristlocks in return, but Angelico rises up to hop around, spin and slip through to trip Drake! Cover, TWO! Angelico keeps on Drake with the armlock, but Drake goes to a corner. Angelico wrenches, whips corner to corner, but Drake goes up and out! Drake then RAMS Angelico, goes up and in and tags Gibson.

Drake whips Angelico to the corner, runs in and ELBOWS Angelico! Gibson adds a LARIAT! Then feed to Drake’s WHEEL KICK! The fans are torn but GYV doesn’t really care. Gibson eggs on Angelico, then calls out Eddie Kingston, asking if Eddie’s taking notes. Gibson UPPERCUTS Angelico, and UPPERCUTS, and- Angelico hooks the arm! Gibson fights off the backslide, KNEES low, then whips, only for Angelico to hurdle and BOOT Gibson down! The fans fire up as Angelico wrenches Gibson. Angelico ELBOW BREAKERS, then he tags in Serpentico. Serpentico goes up to DOUBLE STOMP the arm!

SAP then double whips, double dropdown, then HIP TOSS and ZANMAI! Then Serpentico SENTONS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Serpentico and he CHOPS Gibson to the corner. Serpentico CHOPS again, the fans rally up more, but Gibson BOOTS Serpentico! Gibson ELBOWS Angelico, then runs up on Serpentico, but Serpentico dodges to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP! Gibson clinches, Drake tags in! Gibson whips Serpentico, Drake DROPKICKS the legs out, then Gibson basement DROPKICKS! Then Drake uses Gibson to launch, MAYHEM IN MOTION! The fans boo while Angelico falls and GYV stands tall.

Gibson goes out to drag Angelico up and whip him into railing! The fans boo more but Gibson just blows mocking kisses. Drake goes for Serpentico, but Serpentico GAMANGIRIS! Gibson grabs at Serpentico, Serpentico kicks him away, but Drake grabs the leg! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Serpentico writhes, but Drake stands him up. Drake grabs that leg, SHIN BREAKER! Serpentico writhes but Drake drags him around for a toehold. Drake puts on the pressure, even digging his knee in, but the fans rally. Serpentico grabs at Drake, Drake also asks if Eddie & Ortiz are watching closely. But Serpentico kicks free with the free leg!

Drake tags Gibson, Gibson clamps onto Serpentico, and Gibson wrenches to SHIN- CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE! Serpentico hobbles, Gibson trips him, and Gibson pushes on the leg! Serpentico resists the turn, but Gibson still manages a HALF CRAB at this angle! Serpentico endures, reaches out, but Gibson pushes on that bad leg! Serpentico still has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Gibson shifts the angle, and now he has the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Serpentico has the ROPEBREAK, but Gibson tags Drake in. Drake STOMPS Serpentico down! The fans boo but Drake taunts Serpentico, “Do you have any idea who you’re in with, lad?”

Drake stands Serpentico up in the corner, talks more trash, but Serpentico CHOPS him! The fans fire up while Drake is stinging! Serpentico jumps up to RANA! The fans fire up, Drake tags Gibson, but Serpentico dodges! Hot tag to Angelico! Angelico rallies on GYV with LARIAT after LARIAT! Gibson catches Angelico but Angelico BOOTS Drake to a corner! Angelico then RAMS Gibson into the corner and arm-drags him down. Now Angelico uses Gibson as a step to AX HANDLE Drake down! The fans fire up with Angelico, and he bobs ‘n’ weaves to then ROCK and KICK away on Gibson! Angelico whips, Gibson reverses, then Gibson avoids the sweep, but not the EDDY GORDO KICK!

Angelico pushes Gibson over for a cover, TWO! Gibson survives and Angelico is a bit surprised, but he hurries to get Gibson up. Angelico clinches but Gibson fires elbows. Gibson swings, but into that clinch! FLATLINER! Hot tag back to Serpentico and he goes up! Serpentico SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, Drake breaks it! The fans boo but Angelico is on Drake! JAB after JAB, but Drake shoves back! Angelico dodges to LARIAT Drake against the ropes! Drake almost goes up and over, but he ends up floundering under. Angelico goes out to get Drake, but Drake wrenches and waistlocks. Drake RAMS Angelico into steel steps!

Serpentico WRECKS Drake with a dropkick! Gibson rolls Serpentico up, but Serpentico rolls though! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Gibson gets that leg again, but Serpentico CLUBS away! But Gibson ducks enzigiri and DRAGON SCREWS! Serpentico writhes, Gibson goes up a corner, and FLYING CODE BREAKER! Gibson shouts to Eddie & Ortiz, then he tags Drake. Drake climbs, Gibson says this is on Eddie! This is on Ortiz! COAST2COAST!! Drake covers, GYV wins!

Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans, by pinfall

On this night, GYV > SAP, but Gibson wants the mic. Gibson again calls out Eddie & Ortiz, “I hope you’re watching. I hope you’re sat somewhere, taking notes on how professionals handle their business! Maximum Carnage! This is the future for you two dweebs!” Drake CHOKES Serpentico with the GYV scarf! The fans boo, but Gibson stomps Serpentico! WAIT! Eddie & Ortiz are here! The Mad King & Monkey have chairs, so GYV beat feet! Liverpool’s Number One & Mr. Mayhem say they do this on their time! But will Gibson & Drake have to grit their teeth? Or can they survive Maximum Carnage?

8 Man Tag: QT Marshall, Aaron Solow & The Von Erichs VS The Frat House!

God’s Gift to Wrestling was successful at World’s End as he, Big Boom AJ, and the whole crew humbled Roppongi Vice. But now QT & Aaron team up with Marshall & Ross to see if they can humble some Frat boys. Will they bring the DOOM via Iron Claws? Or will Preston Vance, Jacked Jameson, Cole Karter & Griff Garrison have a reason to party in Arlington?

Jameson of course has a mic to say, “Lemme hear ya say FRAAAAAAT HOOOOOUSE~! Our opponents tonight are a couple of Texas wrestling legends, The Von Erichs. Sorry, oh my God, that’s so embarrassing, I said that wrong. Our opponents tonight are sponges living off the NAME ‘Von Erich.’ And speaking of sponges, their partners, QT Marshall & Aaron Solo, have been sponging off of Big Boom AJ, and now they figured they’d leech onto the Von Erichs. The only thing spongy about The Frat House is our livers when it soaks up all this liquor we’re gonna drink tonight! Vance, tell ’em why!”

Vance grabs the mic to remind us that the number one rule is: Win or lose, we BOOZE! The fans boo as The Frat House finish their walk to the ring, letting QT & Solo make their entrance, followed by The Von Erichs. The fans boo as Jameson takes a fan sign claiming he can’t even bench 135 pounds. The teams then sort out, Ross steps up to Cole, and the Code of Honor is upheld. The bell rings, Cole and Ross tie up, and Cole slips around to headlock. Ross fires body shots, powers up and out, but Cole RUNS Ross over. Cole flexes while the fans boo, and things speed up. Ross drops down, hurdles over, then DROPKICKS Cole!

The fans cheer, Ross drags Cole over, tag to Marshall. The Von Erichs whip, Ross drops down and Marshall DROPKICKS! The fans cheer and Marshall kicks low. Scoop and SLAM, then Marshall ELBOW DROPS! Marshall drags Cole up, headlocks, and he tags Ross back in. They double whip again, then DOUBLE DROPKICK! The fans cheer but Vance runs up! The Von Erichs dodge to DOUBLE DROPKICK again! Ross hurries to get Cole up, bring him over, and tag to Solo. Solo wrenches Cole but Cole ROCKS him! Tag to Griff, but Aaron LARIATS first! And LARIATS again! But Griff BOOTS the third lariat!

Griff spins but Aaron ducks the lariat to NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up for Solo and he hurries to go for Griff. Griff THROWS Aaron out, Aaron RAMS Griff, but Cole grabs at Solo! QT protests but that only distracts the ref! Aaron kicks Cole, kicks Vance, then ROCKS Griff, but Jameson anchors Solo! Vance gets back up to GRIND Solo’s face against the ropes! Griff then slingshots Solo into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Griff keeps Solo down, drags him over, and he tags in Jameson. They mug Solo, then Jameson puts Solo on the ropes. Jameson runs to LARIAT Solo through the ropes! “Where the best party, baby!”

Jameson then drags Solo up for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Solo survives but Jameson keeps him from the corner. The fans rally for QT & The Von Erichs, but Jameson bumps Solo off buckles. Tag to Vance and Vance stomps a mudhole in. The ref reprimands and counts, Vance steps back and tags Griff. Griff keeps Solo from his corner, DECKS him with a right hand, then brings him back up. Solo JAWBREAKERS free! Griff tags Vance back in, Vance grabs the legs, but Solo BOOTS him away! Cole tags in, hurries to get Solo up, and BIG back suplex! Solo lands out, ELBOWS Jameson, then ELBOWS Cole!

But Vance & Griff DOUBLE BOOT! Feed to Cole’s DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up but Cole bumps Solo off buckles. Tag to Vance, Vance tags Jameson. They run to BLAST The Von Erichs! The fans boo but Vance sends Jameson in, LARIAT! Feed to a forearm, then Jameson UP KICKS Solo into Vance’s SPINEBUSTER! Jameson goes up, calls his shot, but Solo avoids the senton! The fans fir eup while Jameson writhes! Solo crawls, but Vance grabs the legs! Solo hops up to ENZIGIRI free! And hot tags to Griff and QT! The fans cheer QT as he dodges Griff, DECKS Cole, then LARIATS away on Griff!

QT whips, Griff reverses, but QT handsprings, RED DOT ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up with QT as he calls his shot, but Vance & Cole mug him! The Von Erichs storm in but they get sent back out! Cole whips QT, but QT reverses! Vance’s DISCUS LARIAT hits Cole! The fans fire up, and now Marshall gets Vance! IRON CLAW! Ross joins in, IRON CLAW BACK SUPLEX COMBO! But Griff rolls QT, TWO! Jameson tags in, QT SUPERKICKS Griff! Jameson LARIATS QT! Jameson gets Griff up, they double whip QT, but QT ducks the lariats! QT sends Jameson into Griff, the fans rally up, and the Von Erichs are back! DOUBLE IRON CLAWS!!

The fans fire up as Jameson’s eyes are rolling in the back of his head! Solo FLIES out onto Vance! Feed to QT’s DIAMOND CUTTER!! Cover, QTVE wins!

Winners: QT Marshall, Aaron Solo & The Von Erichs, by pinfall

A great win for this eclectic combination! But with LFI holding onto the tag titles, will it be QT & Solo or The Von Erichs that reach them first?

Mixed Six Tag: MXM TV VS The Infantry!

Taya Valkyrie was offered an opportunity directly from Red Velvet to step onto the Proving Grounds, but it seems Mrs. TV chose not to go for it. Will she regret it now that she, Mansoor & Mason Madden have to face Trish Adora, Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo? Or will MXM TV show STP is not TV Ready?

MXM TV wants another Fingertip Touch of Honor, but The Infantry says no thanks. The trios then sort out, and it is ladies first as Taya starts against Adora. They circle, tie up, and Taya waistlocks. Adora pries at the hold, Taya shoves her to the corner and ELBOWS her! Then LARIATS! The fans rally as Taya CHOPS Adora against ropes! Taya snapmares, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Adora flounders away, the fans cheer Taya, but Bravo tags in! Taya is soaking up the adulation of Arlington, but Mason & Mansoor say look out! Taya dodges Bravo to CHOP him! And CHOP him! And wrench to wristlock.

Mansoor goes up and he AX HANDLES Bravo! The fans cheer the Sultan of Chic, he wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER, then tags the Mahogany Hunk! Mansoor feeds Bravo to Mason’s scoop, then Mansoor runs, CATWALK LEG DROP! Cover, ONE!! Mason CLUBS Bravo, tags Mansoor, and they double whip Bravo to DOUBLE ELBOW! Then they POSE! The fans cheer, then they fingertip touch DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Mansoor headlocks, Dean tags in as Bravo powers up and out. Mansoor whips, Bravo dodges to JAWBREAKER! Feed to the SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Dean torpedoes Mansoor, rains down fists, then he stands up to… POSE!

The fans are torn as Dean grins, then he runs up to RAM Mansoor into the corner! The Infantry all mugs Dean! The fans boo, but The Infantry stops while the ref holds Taya & Mason back. Dean then winds up to LARIAT Mansoor down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for “M X M!” but that annoys STP. Dean clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Mansoor down. Mansoor endures, fights up, and the fans rally as he hits a BIG back suplex! Both men are down, Dean grabs a leg, but Mansoor hops up! He reaches out for Mason, but he’s literally fingertips away! Dean YANKS Mansoor back, and ELBOW DROPS! Dean then BLASTS Mason!

Dean threatens to smack Taya, too, then he runs up on Mansoor. But Mansoor DUMPS Dean out, ENZIGIRIS, and he dodges Bravo! Bravo falls out of the ring, hot tag to Taya! The fans fire up as La Wera Loca rallies on AfroPunk! LARIAT after LARIAT, then a flurry of forearms! Taya CHOPS Adora, whips corner to corner, but Adora reverses. Adora runs up, but Taya ELBOWS her away! Adora comes back, but Taya BOOTS her! Taya throws Adora down, then fires up! The fans rally for the METEORA! Cover, TWO! Adora survives but the fans rally for Taya. Taya runs back up, but into an ELBOW! Adora fires forearms, but Taya ROCKS her!

Taya fires another flurry, then roars, but Adora DECKS Taya! The fans are torn while Taya stumbles. Taya rises up, and she tells Adora not to mess with La Wera Loca, cabrona! The forearms fly back and forth and the fans fire up again! Adora dodges a boot, but so does Taya! Both women run up, DOUBLE LARIATS take them both down! The fans rally, Adora and Taya crawl, hot tags to Mason and Dean! Mason BLASTS through double lariats to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Dean & Bravo! ELBOW for Bravo, ELBOW for Dean, and a lEG LARIAT for Bravo! Then a dodge and BODY CHECK on Dean!

The fans fire up with Mason, he tags Mansoor, and they get Dean up! CHOKE SLAM PLEX COMBO! Cover, Bravo breaks it! Mason drags Bravo up, whips, but Bravo grabs ropes! Bravo DUMPS Mason, then PLANCHAS! Down goes Mason, and Bravo goes back to the ring. Mansoor gets Bravo with atomic drop to SPINEBUSTER! Dean kicks Mansoor, whips, but Mansoor reverses to TOSS Dean out! Mansoor DIVES! Direct hit on Dean! The fans fire up again, but wait, who is this tapping Mansoor on the shoulder? Mansoor turns around, but is in awe of her style and beauty. But then Bravo DECKS Mansoor! And now Bravo says, “Well hello, beautiful! I’ll be right back.”

Bravo brings Mansoor up, puts him in the ring, and Dean is ready. They lock ‘n’ load, 2 TO DA HEAD!! Cover, Infantry wins!

Winners: The Infantry, by pinfall

Well, the mystery woman at ringside aside, two-thirds of the ROH World Six Man Champions and their AfroPunk are victorious! Wait, Bravo really does go back to her and helps her step up and over the railing. She’s not Stori Denali tall but she’s still pretty tall. Will she become a new addition to STP’s numbers game?

ROH Women’s World Television Championship Proving Ground: Red Velvet VS Robyn Renegade!

Speaking of that Proving Ground match, Taya’s loss is another’s gain, as The Chef is now serving this Renegade a golden opportunity. But will it come with a side of bitter defeat? Or can Robyn earn a golden ticket in ten minutes or less?

The Code of Honor is not really upheld as Robyn slaps the hand away, and the bell rings. The two tie up as we’re on the clock, and Velvet headlocks. Robyn powers up but Velvet holds on. Robyn pulls hair, wrenches out, and she blocks the arm-drag to THROW Velvet down. But Velvet kips up, only for Robyn to THROW her down again! Velvet kips back up, wrenches through, and then wristlocks. Velvet KICKS the leg, STO on Robyn, then a LEG DROP on the arm! Velvet has the short arm scissor and the fans rally. Robyn endures, bridges to a cover, TWO! Velvet lets Robyn go, Robyn headlocks, but Velvet powers up and out.

Robyn RUNS Velvet over, “kicks dirt” and brushes her shoulder off. Things speed up, Velvet drops down then jumps up, but Robyn catches her! Robyn smiles and FALL AWAY SLAMS! Velvet flounders from that hard landing while the fans boo Robyn. Robyn tells them to cry more. Robyn storms out to the apron to fetch Velvet, then APRON NECKBREAKER! Velvet flops to the floor, and Robyn slides into the ring. Robyn tells the ref to count Velvet out, that’s good enough to win her a future title match. The fans rally while the count climbs, and Velvet rises up at 5 of 20. Velvet is on the apron but Robyn storms up.

Velvet RAMS Robyn, but Robyn CLUBS Velvet! Robyn then JUMP STMOPS Velvet down! Cover, TWO!! Velvet survives and Robyn is furious. Robyn smacks Velvet off buckles, stomps a mudhole in, but the fans boo. The ref counts, Robyn stops, and the ref warns her. Robyn stalks Velvet to a corner, CHOPS her, then tells the fans to shut up. Robyn pushes Velvet to another corner, CHOPS her again, and Robyn smiles while she dusts off her hands. Robyn stalks Velvet to another corner, stands her up again, and puts some stank on this one! But Velvet ducks that chop to return the favor! Robyn dodges, she SLAPS back!

The fans boo, but Robyn DOUBLE CHOPS Velvet down! Cover, TWO! Velvet survives, Robyn frowns, but she nods as she still has the edge. Robyn drags Velvet up, but Velvet fires body shots! Velvet runs but Robyn reels her in! BACK- CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Robyn escapes, hurries to her feet, and ducks a lariat to then yank Velvet’s hair! And she CLAWS Velvet’s back! The fans boo but Robyn suplexes, GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Velvet survives and Robyn snarls again. Another cover, TWO! Robyn argues with the ref, the fans boo Robyn, but Velvet staggers to her feet. Velvet LARIATS Robyn! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS!

Velvet roars, runs, but Robyn follows! Only for Velvet to CALF KICK! The fans fire up with Velvet and she runs to DOUBLE KNEE Robyn in the back! Velvet YANKS Robyn back, winds it up, and HAYMAKER!! Cover, Velvet wins!

Winner: Red Velvet, by pinfall (denies Robyn Renegade a title match)

There was some serious spice in that left hand, she could’ve won this by knockout. That’s a hot and fresh L for Robyn, who else will step into the kitchen and look to stir it up with The Chef?

Tony Khan and Athena are backstage.

The AEW-ROH President & CEO is honored to be here on ROH TV, joined by the ROH Women’s World Champion, The Fallen Goddess, the Forever Champion, Athena. They have a big announcement for a very special show just two weeks from tonight. Here on Honor Club, January 29th, in the Esports Stadium, it will be a collaboration of ROH and Metroplex Wrestling, aka MPX Wrestling, which is run by none other than Athena! It will be ROH x MPX: Global Wars, and Tony says Athena will bring in some top stars from MPX. Athena says it will be a phenomenal show, one no one will want to miss.

And when her Minions prove they’re the best in the world, we continue with this collaboration FOR-E-VER! Y’know, just like her championship reign. Well, that remains to be seen. Athena makes a face that says, “What’s that supposed to mean?” But TK is very excited about working with her, a fantastic champion and a fantastic promotor. He can’t wait to see that team-up show! He thanks Athena for working with them on this, and he’s sure her young wrestlers and Athena herself will have a great show for ROH x MPX: Global Wars. A big show indeed, but which stars will shine brightest in the Lonestar State?

Blake Christian & Lee Johnson w/ Jay Lethal VS Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno!

The Swirl brought down Tommy Billington & Adam Priest, proving they’re the true proteges of the Franchise Player. Will Vanilla Baby & Big Shotty continue to build momentum towards title opportunities? Or can The Dark Order prove they’re still good enough?

The teams sort out and Uno steps up to Blake. Blake does not keep the Code of Honor as he flips Uno off instead. The bell rings, the two circle, but Blake cartwheels past Uno to Fargo Strut. Still needs some work, but he just flips Uno off again. The fans boo but Uno storms up. Blake kicks low, headlocks, but Uno powers up and out. Blake RAMS Uno, Uno returns, but Blake hurdles. Uno shoves Blake, redirects, and then RUNS Blake over! Uno does his own Fargo Strut and the fans cheer that. Uno bumps Blake off Reynolds’ boot, then tags him in. The Dark Order DOUBLE SLINGSHOT BACK SUPLEX! Then they DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!

Reynolds brings Blake up, but Blake RAMS him into the Swirl corner. The ref counts, Blake backs off, but Lee gets his shots in behind the ref’s back. Blake tags Lee in, they mug Reynolds, then Blake whips Lee in, only for Reynolds to dodges! Then Reynolds dodges Blake to send him into Lee! Lethal is already frustrated as Reynolds goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up and Reynolds runs to LARIAT Blake down! And LARIAT Lee down! The fans fire up with Reynolds, he runs up and LARIATS Blake in the corner! Reynolds then BOOTS Lee away, runs up, but Lee dodges! Lee MONKEY FLIPS Blake so he can LARIAT Reynolds down!

Blake BLASTS Uno, Lee LARIATS Reynolds up and out, and The Swirl hurries out after them. Blake brings a chair over, but the ref is busy with an angry Uno. Lee hangs Reynolds out to dry on the railing while Blake sets the chair up nearby. Blake gets space, the fans rally up, and Blake runs back in! Chair-leap AX HANDLE! Down goes Reynolds, and Blake licks the camera?! The fans boo but The Swirl soaks up the heat. Lee puts Reynolds in the ring, then pushes him to a cover, TWO! Reynolds toughs it out but Lee clamps on a chinlock. The fans rally as Reynolds endures, and Reynolds fights up to his feet.

Reynolds fires body shots, but Lee CLUBS away on his back! Lee TOSSES Reynolds to the apron, runs up, but Reynolds ROCKS him! Reynolds ELBOWS Blake down, but Lee gets Reynolds in the ropes! Reynolds turns that around onto Lee for a ROPE OCTOPUS! Lethal protests, the ref counts, and Reynolds stops at 4. Lee stumbles away, but Blake SPEARS Reynolds on the apron! The fans boo, but Blake BLASTS Uno! The Swirl then drags Reynolds up and reels him in. Blake calls the shot, and he handsprings while Lee suplexes, but Reynolds counters with a cradle! TWO!! Lee escapes in time, but Reynolds TOSSES Blake and dodges Lee!

Blake tags in, but Reynolds tags Uno! Uno rallies on The Swirl, LARIAT after LARIAT, corner to corner and back again! The fans fire up as Uno gets all the way to seven, then he CHOPS Blake! Uno runs and BOOTS Blake, then DDTS him down! The fans fire up and Uno covers, TWO! Uno and the fans rally again, and Reynolds joins in. Uno hooks Blake in the Gory Especial, but Blake RANAS Reynolds away! Uno runs up, but Blake puts him on the apron! Blake headscissors Uno in the ropes for Lee to SHOTGUN down! Reynolds LARIATS Lee up and out! Blake kicks and whips, but Reynolds ducks to DIVE onto Lee!

Blake builds speed, he SWIRL SPIKES Uno & Reynolds! The fans are torn but Blake puts Uno in. Blake says this one’s for Lethal! Springboard, handspring, and LETHAL- Gory Especial! Reynolds runs in, GORY LUNG BLOWER!! Cover, Lee breaks it! Lee then whips Reynolds, but Reynolds reverses to TOSS Lee! Uno tags Reynolds, Reynolds climbs, and Uno has Blake in the Gory Especial again. Lethal distracts the ref! This lets Lee YANK Reynolds down! And he ENZIGIRIS Uno! Blake drags Reynolds over, he and Lee each have a wrist. B T E?! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Lee then drags Reynolds up, Blake climbs, SWIRL VALLEY!! Cover, The Swirl wins!

Winners: The Swirl, by pinfall

Lethal pushes past the ref to raise the hands of Blake & Lee in victory! A shoutout to The Young Bucks helps them win, but now Lethal & The Swirl beat up on Dark Order just because they can! The fans boo as Lethal puts Uno in the FIGURE FOUR! Blake even stands on Uno’s neck! Lee TOSSES Reynolds, and John Silver is nowhere to be found! But Adam Priest & Tommy Billington rush out here! Lethal & The Swirl run away, and Lethal says they’re done with those guys! #AllGenres & The Dynamite Kid disagree, when and where will they get their revenge on The Swirl? Will they get their revenge?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode for ROH, especially for (what they recognize to be) episode 150. Nothing super amazing, though that’s apparently because they’re saving the big moves for two weeks, the first-ever ROH x MPX Global Wars. It’s only named that because they don’t have a better name for what’s really just a promotional crossover and not ROH going to another country. Either way, that’ll be fun to see some up-and-coming wrestlers, maybe the MPX stars can get signed to AEW-ROH and help fill more the ROH roster than the AEW one, because ROH needs something to spice up the title scenes, TK is barely developing the people he has.

I will say, I appreciate that GYV are the ones involved in this AEW-ROH crossover story with Eddie Kingston & Ortiz. Very good match with SAP that GYV of course won, and I was pleasantly surprised Eddie & Ortiz confronted GYV after being called out. Their Collision match will be very good, and I would think Eddie & Ortiz win. I also appreciated Archer’s squash match and Shane VS Kiran Grey being back to back, as I planned on skipping them both. Kiran Grey getting an actual entrance week after week is promising for him, as are these great showings he’s been getting, even in defeat. Perhaps Kiran Grey will also be All Elite soon enough.

STP of course won both their matches tonight, with the Mixed Six Tag being a very fun one. Arlington gladly accepted MXM TV as the Faces in this scenario, they’re all just that entertaining that they could make the turn if they wanted. But at the same time, they’re just that good as Heels, it might not happen. Lee Moriarty is also defending his Pure Championship against Xelhua again, but this time in a CMLL venue, that should be another technical classic. Good stuff in the 8 Man Tag, and I hate to say it, but I feel like Jacked Jameson has a point. But even so, the Frat House of course lost, The Von Erichs are very powered up in Texas.

Very good Proving Ground from Velvet VS Renegade, there was some nice innovation in this match, but I figured Velvet would win out. They teased it last week, but seems they’ll give us a slow burn build towards Velvet VS Valkyrie. And then a very good main event tag, but I figured The Swirl would win. Priest & Billington not leaving things alone is a good extension of the feud, and I still think Bandido should join them for a Six Man Tag to set up Bandido VS Blake once and for all.