This may be Nashville, but someone will be playing the Blues!

NJPW isn’t just about the G1 Climax! Nashville hosts a country hoedown of a showdown with Music City Mayhem! And in the main event, Interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley takes on El Desperado!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Fred Yehi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura VS Kevin Knight, Ren Narita & The DKC; Yehi, Umino & Uemura win.
• MLW National Openweight Championship: Davey Richards VS Rocky Romero; Richards wins and retains the title.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser VS Big Damo; Rosser wins and retains.
• Hiromu Takahashi VS Blake Christian; Hiromu wins.
• Six Man Tag: Alex Zayne & FTR VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• KUSHIDA VS Alex Shelley; Time Limit Draw.
• No Disqualifications: Jon Moxley VS El Desperado; Moxley wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

MLW National Openweight Championship: Davey Richards VS Rocky Romero!

Who needs to wait for a Forbidden Door? NJPW’s got a crossover right here with Major League Wrestling as the American Wolf brings this title to Nashville, to face his former tag team partner! Will Richards retain this title? Or will Azucar go from Player Coach to Player Champion?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who from the corps truly has no remorse!

Fans rally for “Rocky! Rocky!” as the two circle. They approach, and Richards offers a fist bump. Rocky is tentative, but he accepts, only for Richards to pull it back. They tie up, go around, and Richards puts Rocky on the ropes. The ref calls the ropebreak, but Rocky ducks Richards’ cheap shot to CHOP him down! Richards bails out of the ring while fans fire up. Richards hurries in, he and Rocky circle and knuckle lock. They go shoulder to shoulder, but Richards drops, rolls, and wristlocks to wrangle Rocky down. Rocky keeps his shoulders up, then gets up to roll, slip around and hip toss to a wristlock!

Fans rally, Richards gets up, he rolls and handsprings and rolls again to then bridge and KICK Rocky away! Fans fire up for that exchange, and the two reset. They tie up but Richards kicks low. Richards fires a forearm, Rocky hits back. Richards kicks, Rocky kicks, but Rocky KICKS and KICKS! Richards trips Rocky, has a toehold, but Rocky keeps his shoulders up again. Rocky rolls, facelocks and cradles, TWO, into the ARMBAR! Richards moves into a STRETCH MUFFLER! Rocky gets the ROPEBREAK, and Richards lets off quickly. Fans fire up for that newest exchange, and the two reset again.

Rocky kicks low, CHOPS hard and whips Richards. Richards reverses but Rocky holds ropes. Richards runs in but is sent out! Rocky goes to the apron for a FLYING KNEE! Down goes Richards and fans fire up again! Rocky brings Richards up to CHOP him against the apron! Richards staggers around the way and the ring count starts. Rocky kicks Richards, puts him in the ring at 4 of 20, but Richards trips him! Richards has the legs and ties them up, and he gets the fans fired up for the TWIST! Rocky clutches his knee after that figure four tweak, but Richards gets Rocky up to whip then CLOBBER! Cover, TWO!

Richards gets Rocky up to a BIG back suplex! Then he grabs the leg for a HALF CRAB! Fans rally as Rocky endures being bent! Rocky fights up but Richards finishes the step over to have the leg pulled back deeper! Rocky still crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Richards lets off quickly again, then paces around. Rocky SPITS at Richards! So Richards KICKS Rocky in the back! Richards drags Rocky up to KICK him down, and then tells the ref to check. Rocky says he’s okay, and the fans rally up. Richards drags Rocky up, KICKS him down again, but Rocky gets up! Fans fire up but Richards clinches Rocky to KICK him down again!

But Rocky’s right back up! Rocky CHOPS, forearms, repeat! Rocky whips, Richard reverses but Rocky RANAS! Richards ends up in a corner and Rocky hobbles to the other. Fans rally behind Rocky and he runs in for the clothesline! Rocky goes corner to corner, another! The Forever Clotheslines are stopped by a forearm! Richards fires off KICK after KICK, then he runs side to side, into a LARIAT! Rocky got one last one in there, and then he KICKS a wobbly Richards, CHOPS him, and cravats! No Sliced Bread but Rocky UPPERCUTS Richards, then FLYING TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Rocky has Richards on the apron. Rocky brings Richards up and through the ropes to CLUB him! Richards shoves Rocky, Rocky CLUBS him and kicks, but Richards blocks that! Richards has Rocky in the ropes but Rocky ROCKS Richards first! Then CHOPS him again! Rocky suplexes but Richards blocks! Richard suplexes but Rocky blocks! They fight for suplex control, but then Rocky HOTSHOTS the arm! Rocky drags Richards through ropes, goes up the corner, and jumps for a missile dropkick! Direct hit and Richards flops back in! Cover, TWO!! Richards is still in this but the fans fire up!

Rocky KICKS Richards’ bad arm, and KICKS again. Then SOBATS! Richards is in the corner, Rocky runs in but Richards dodges! Richards is on the apron, he has the leg, and he DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! Rocky flounders away but Richards’ bad arm slows him down. Fans fire up with Richards as he climbs all the same, and howls to the moon! DOUBLE STOMPS MISS as Rocky moves! BUt Richards gets around to waistlock. Rocky elbows free, runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Richards gets ROcky up, Rocky throws more elbows, but Richards ducks the enziguri, only for the rewind heel kick to hit! Then the JUPM KNEE!

Rocky runs, for the SHIRANUI!! Cover, TWO, but into a DIABLO ARMBAR!! Richards clasps his hands but Rocky pulls them apart! Fans fire up, Richards rolls through to the ANKLE LOCK! Rocky endures, fans rally up and he rolls to kick Richards away. Richards rebounds to PENALTY KICK! Richards stands Rocky up to suplex, for the BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!?! But it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK!! Rocky survives only to endure! Rocky rolls, victory rolls, TWO! Richards has it now, Richards wins!!

Winner: Davey Richards, by pinfall (still MLW National Openweight Champion)

Fifteen years later, these two men are veterans of the ring, but it’s Richards who comes out the alpha! Rocky shoves Richards but Richards shoves back. They both wind up, to hug it out! Fans cheer, will the American Wolf continue to hunt for more challengers around the world?

NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser VS Big Damo!

Mr. No Days Off has been running strong as the Openweight Champion, but he’s running right into the Beast of Belfast! Will Rosser have no choice but to take days off after tonight? Or will he be able to survive the North Ireland Nightmare in Nashville?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised by none other than Tiger Hattori, and we see who stays strong in this summer heat!

Rosser rushes Damo at the bell, but Damo CLOBBERS him! Damo gets Rosser up and puts him in a corner for big body shots! Rosser escapes to CHOP, LARIT, CHOP, repeat! But Damo shoves Rosser away. Rosser CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Damo kicks low! Damo tosses Rosser out, but Rosser comes right back! Rosser CLUBS Damo, fires off forearms and jabs, but Damo knees low and TOSSES Rosser out. Rosser gets right back in, and he CLUBS and CHOPS Damo again! Damo kicks, CLUBS and TOSSES Rosser again. Rosser gets up but Damo KNEES him at the apron! Damo goes out after Rosser, drags him up, but Rosser fires off elbows first!

Rosser turns Damo around, but Damo’s too big to lift! Rosser CLUBS Damo on the back, tries again, but Damo didn’t get smaller! Damo throws body shots then he CLOBBERS Rosser into the ring! Fans fire up as Damo slingshot SENTONS! Fans fire up more as Damo goes back out and drags Rosser from the apron. Damo SLAMS Rosser on the floor, then stands on him! Damo balances himself, but hops off as the ref reprimands. Damo refreshes the ring count and he waits on Rosser to get up. Damo mule kicks Rosser in the ribs! Then Damo drags Rosser up to RAM into railing! Front row fans get to see Damo CHOP Rosser, then CHOKE him, then CLUB him!

Rosser flounders around, but Damo drags Rosser up and into the ring. Fans rally but Damo stomps Rosser’s hand! Rosser CHOPS and headbutts and scoops! But Damo’s still too big! Damo throws a hard body shot, shoves Rosser down, and then he stands on Rosser again, before a SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and rally but Damo clamps onto Rosser’s face! Damo lets off as the ref reprimands, but Damo CLUBS Rosser. Damo whips Rosser for the DIVIDE! Cover, TWO! Rosser survives but Damo clamps onto him with a cording hold. Damo also gets a leg, he stretches Rosser back in a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow!

Rosser endures, crawls forward with his free arm and gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Rosser kicks with his free leg, but Damo lets off at 4. Damo paces and soaks up the heat from fans, and Damo BOOTS Rosser down! Damo drags Rosser around, fishhooks the face then elbows him! Damo clamps on a cording hold to stretch Rosser’s ribs! Fans rally and taunt Damo, and Damo throws Rosser away to FLASH them! That’s the Celtic salute right there! Damo stalks Rosser to a corner, then whips him corner to corner hard! Rosser falls, Damo soaks up more heat, and Damo drags Rosser up to a pump handle GUT BUSTER!

Fans rally for Rosser but Damo gets the legs tied up. Damo then chinbars and digs his knees in, FULL BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Rosser endures and pops out to a cover, TWO! Rosser gets up but Damo ROCKS him with a body shot! Rosser falls out, Damo grins and fans duel. Damo stalks Rosser, drags him up by an ear, but Rosser uses a camera cable to get at Damo! The ref reprimands, Rosser lets off at 4, and Rosser gets in while Damo sputters. Damo pie faces Rosser, talks trash and slaps him around. Rosser snarls and fans rally up behind him. Damo keeps pie facing, then he CLUBS Rosser! And throws forearms!

Rosser still snarls so Damo throws another heavy body shot! Damo talks more trash, stands Rosser up, but Rosser fires off boxing elbows! Damo HEADBUTTS but Rosser LARIATS! Damo stays up to Rosser keeps throwing LARIAT after LARIAT! Damo staggers but Rosser CLUBS him around! PINBALL LARIATS! But Damo just fires up! Rosser BOOTS Damo, and Rosser fires up! Rosser runs, and LARIATS Damo down!! Fans fire up as Damo staggers, and Rosser CHOPS and LARIATS and repeat in the corner! Rosser gets a leg to KICK the thigh, then he fires off more forearms and CHOPS! Rosser drives his knee in again and again, but lets off at 4.

Fans fire up while Damo is dazed. Rosser throws off his elbow pads to HIP ATTACK Damo in the corner! Cover, ONE!! Rosser pushes Damo down, drags him around, STF! Rosser CLUBS away on Damo to get the arm, but Damo resists! Rosser HEADBUTTS Damo, but Damo BITES the hand! The ref reprimands, Damo elbows Rosser away! Fans fire up, Damo slaps Rosser but Rosser JABS! Rosser fires off more boxing elbows but Damo EuroUppers! Rosser wobbles, but he HEADBUTTS! Rosser fires more boxing elbows, but Damo ROCKS Rosser, then EuroUppers and mule kicks! Damo runs, but Rosser KNEES him low!

Rosser fires off haymakers from all sides, then another HEADBUTT! Both men wobble but Rosser CHOPS! Fans fire up with Rosser, and he ROLLING ELBOWS! Down goes Damo! Rosser looms as Damo staggers up, and Rosser scoops him! But Damo CLUBS the ribs! Damo is free to POP-UP SPINEBUSTER to an ELBOW DROP! Damo fires up and he drags Rosser back up! Fireman’s carry for the WASTELAND, to the SENTON! Damo then goes up the corner, but Rosser anchors his foot! Damo rakes Rosser’s eyes! Rosser staggers away, but he comes back to CLUB the legs and back! Damo shoves Rosser away, but Rosser fires off more shots! ROLLING ELBOW!

Rosser drags Damo off the top! SIDEWINDER POWERSLAM! Cover, Rosser wins!

Winner: Fred Rosser, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)

Rosser put the “strong” in NJPW Strong with that one! He used all his strength to get Damo up and bring him down! Who is next to test the strength and stamina of Mr. No Days Off?

Hiromu Takahashi VS Blake Christian!

The Ticking Timebomb didn’t get to be part of Forbidden Door, but this might be the next best thing. Will Hiromu get a big win in Nashville? Or will not even the Threepeat Best of the Super Juniors winner stop the beat of All Heart?

Even bigger than this, Daryl returns to NJPW! He joins Ian Riccaboni and Matt Rehwoldt on commentary! The bell rings and fans duel, “All Heart!” “Timebomb!” Hiromu and Blake circle, then they rush in! Hiromu dodges, headlocks but Blake powers out. Hiromu runs Blake over but Blake gets right up to run Hiromu over! Things speed up, Hiromu follows Blake and runs him over again, only for Blake to kip up! Blake wags his finger, but Hiromu CHOPS him down! Hiromu stomps but Blake blocks and kips up! Blake wags his finger again but Hiromu dropkicks the leg! Hiromu whips but Blake reverses to CHOP!

Blake whips, Hiromu reverses and hurdles, but Blake front flips over! Things keep moving, pop-up RANA! Hiromu bails out and fans fire up! Blake builds speed and then handsprings to fake Hiromu out! Hiromu gets in but Blake still wheelbarrows, victory rolls and SPLASHES! Hiromu bails out again and fans fire up as Blake builds speed to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp, and Blake lands on his feet! Nashville is fired up for “ALL HEART!” as he drags Hiromu back up. Blake puts Hiromu in, covers, TWO! Daryl is worried but Blake drags Hiromu up to ROCK with a forearm. Blake whips, Hiromu holds ropes, and then BOOTS back!

Hiromu goes up to HANGING HEADSCISSOR! Blake flails and the ref counts, Hiromu lets off at 4. Hiromu drags Blake out to POST Blake! Fans rally up while Hiromu catches his breath. Hiromu CHOPS Blake against railing, then CHOPS him again! Hiromu drags Blake around to snap suplex to the floor! Fans fire up while Blake writhes. The ring count starts, Hiromu gets in the ring at 5. Blake gets in at 7, but Hiromu is on him in a corner. Hiromu CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Blake fires off forearms! Blake CHOPS, Hiromu CHOPS! Blake ends up in the corner, Hiromu whips him corner to corner to then clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Hiromu drags Blake into the headscissor squeeze! Blake endures and fans rally up. Blake turns, pries at the hold, but Hiromu squeezes tighter! Blake moves around, flails and reaches out, to the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets off at 4, and pretends to be shocked. Fans chant “OH MAH GAWD!” as Hiromu drags Blake up. Blake slips out of the suplex to half nelson but Hiromu elbows free. Hiromu ducks the heel kick but not the ROUNDHOUSE! Blake whips, Hiromu reverses but Blake handsprings for a NEURALIZER KICK! Fans fire up and Blake drags Hiromu up. Blake half nelsons but Hiromu elbows back.

Hiromu rolls but Blake rolls with him! HALF ‘N’ HALF! Hiromu bails out but Blake builds speed again! Blake FLIES with the Fosbury, Flop, and has a dragon sleeper! REVERSE DDT to the floor! Hiromu writhes but Blake drags him up to put in the ring. Cover, TWO! A cut on Blake’s forehead is open again, but he ignores it as he kicks Hiromu around. Blake throws forearms while egging Hiromu on. Hiromu gets up so Blake throws more forearms. Hiromu ROCKS Blake, Blake fakes Hiromu out to trip and DOUBLE STOMP! Fans fire up again and Blake goes to the corner. Blake climbs, Hiromu rushes over, but Blake boots him away!

Hiromu rushes in again but Blake goes up and over! Blake runs back in but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Blake slips off, wheelbarrows, victory rolls and SPLASHES onto knees! Cover, TWO!! Blake survives, and he’s got half a crimson mask going now. Fans rally up, Hiromu rises and he drags Blake up. Hiromu fireman’s carries but Blake fights that off. Blake waistlocks but he ducks the back elbow to throw a forearm! Hiromu throws it back so Blake throws another! They go back and forth with forearms, fans rally up as they go faster and faster, and Hiromu DECKS Blake! Blake kips back up!? Blake fires off a flurry, then runs, into an elbow!

Hiromu runs, into a mule kick! Blake runs but Hiromu follows to elbow! Hiromu runs, Blake follows to QUEBRADA! Fans fire up with Blake and he runs, into a fireman’s carry! Blake fights off to fireman’s carry in return, AIRPLANE SPIN! But Hiromu slips free to ROCK Blake! Blake BOOTS, then DOUBLE FOREARMS hit! DOUBLE LARIATS hit, then Blake ROUNDHOUSES! Blake runs, into a HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! But Blake lands right on his feet?! And he DISCUS LARIATS Hiromu in return!! Fans are thunderous while both men are down! Blake gets up at the ropes, he hobbles over to Hiromu, and he drags Hiromu up.

Blake fireman’s carries and starts up the AIRPLANE SPIN, to then ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Blake goes to a corner, springboard 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and Blake can’t believe it! Fans rally again as Blake drags Hiromu to a drop zone. Blake goes up the corner, slashes his throat, and 450, but he has to roll through as Hiromu moves! Blake comes back, but Hiromu gets him for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly into the corner! Blake goes down and Hiromu gets to center. Fans rally up, Hiromu grits his teeth and drags Blake up. Fireman’s carry, but Blake fights, so Hiromu throws Blake into the dragon sleeper!

Hiromu inverted suplexes but Blake slips out to get a dragon sleeper! But Hiromu spins around to suplex, but Blake knees free! SCREW HIGH KICK! Hiromu wobbles, Blake runs, into a SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, but Blake gets around, hammerlock and cradle, TWO!!! Blake can’t believe it, but he runs into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Hiromu gets Blake back up, VICTORY ROYALE!! Cover, TWO!! “This is Awesome!” as both men are still going! Hiromu runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Then dragon sleeper, lift and TIMEBOMB MK. II!! Cover, Hiromu wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall

The Timebomb learned why Blake is #AllHeart, but Blake learned why Hiromu won the BOSJ three years in a row! But both men respect each other after this battle. Will we see Blake make history in his own right one day? Will Hiromu get back up to the top soon enough?

Six Man Tag: Alex Zayne & FTR VS The United Empire!

The Sauce teams up with the simultaneous AAA, ROH & IWGP Tag Team Champions in a battle with TJP and Aussie Open! Will Zayne help Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood bring the heat to Nashville? Or will Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & Public Enemy #1 prove they’re worthy of being contenders?

Tanga Loa joins commentary for this one as the trios sort out. He really likes that Zayne has tacos all over his social media. Fans rally for “F T R!” as they hug it out with Zayne. Zayne starts against TJP and they circle. They tie up, TJP headlocks and hits the takeover. Zayne rolls, waistlocks, and he SLAMS TJP down! TJP fights up, reaches out but Zayne SLAMS him to keep him from the corner. TJP gets up, slips around to wrench an arm, but Zayne rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. TJP rolls, spins, cartwheels, drags Zayne in and TWISTING RANAS! But Zayne headscissors back! TJP headstands and pops free, but Zayne ducks the Penalty Kick!

Zayne rolls TJP up but TJP rolls through, to avoid the Eddy Gordo kick! Zayne blocks a kick, DOUBLE DROPKICKS cancel out, and both men kip up! Fans fire up as Zayne stares down the bigger men in Fletcher and Davis. But then he turns around, and TJP is dabbing on him! Zayne offers a handshake out of respect, but TJP SLAPS Zayne instead! Fans boo but TJP kicks and whips Zayne. Zayne catches the hurdle to a FLAPJACK, then runs to MARIPOSA! TJP tags out to Fletcher but Zayne dodges to mule kick! Zayne then runs for the SOMERSAULT AX KICK! Fletcher flounders but Zayne drags him up and tags in Dax!

Fans fire up as Dax the Ax is in and he stares Fletcher down. Fans rally for FTR again as Dax and Fletcher circle. They tie up, Fletcher puts Dax in a corner but Dax turns it around. Fletcher turns it back around, he lets off but then CHOPS! Fletcher throws a heavy body shot, then he stomps Dax in the corner. Fletcher CHOPS but Dax CHOPS Fletcher down! Fletcher flounders but Dax CHOPS him in the corner! Dax snapmares Fletcher, CHOPS him on the back, and then pushes him to a cover, TWO! Dax clamps on a chinlock to grind Fletcher. Fletcher fights up, pops out the back and headlocks back.

Dax powers up and out but Fletcher runs him over! Fans boo but things speed up. Dax DROPKICKS Fletcher, and Fletcher flounders away. Dax clutches an arm, though. The landing from the dropkick was rather double-edged, given Dax’s bad shoulder as a result of that Best 2 Out of 3 Falls at Death Before Dishonor. Fletcher waits on Dax while fans rally up. Dax stands, Fletcher storms over, but Dax gets a cradle! TWO, and Fletcher DECKS Dax! Fletcher drags Dax up, CHPOS him down, then puts him in a corner to CHOP again! Dax ROCKS and CHOPS away on Fletcher! Dax whips, Fletcher reverses and Davis gets a cheap shot in!

Fletcher CLOBBERS Dax, rains down fists, then tags in Davis. Aussie Open throw hands on Dax at the ropes, then Davis fires off more forearms! Dax staggers around, Davis has him against ropes again to whip. Dax reverses, Cash gets a cheap shot in, and then Dax CLOBBERS Davis! FTR returns the favor and fans fire up as Dax drags Davis up. Tag to Cash, FTR double whips to DOUBLE HAYMAKER! Davis falls and fans fire up more. Cash brings Davis up but Davis knees low. Davis scoops, Cash slips off to JAB, JAB, bob ‘n’ weave, uppercut and CHOP! Davis CHOPS back and Cash falls down!

Davis drags Cash up to ROCK with a forearm, then he whips Cash to a corner. Davis runs in to forearm smash, then he runs the ropes, but Cash RAMS into him! Cash LARIATS Davis down, then drags Davis up to HEADBUTT! Cash goes corner to corner but Davis puts him on the apron. Cash ROCKS Davis, CHOPS Fletcher, ROCKS Davis again, then CHOPS TJP! But then Davis DECKS Cash! Fletcher gets Cash up to APRON BACK SUPLEX! Dax rushes over to CHOP Fletcher! Zayne goes after TJP, Dax and Fletcher fire off haymakers, and fans fire up for the brawl! TJP gets Cash by his ears while Davis CLOBBERS Dax into railing! A fan even falls over!

Davis gets in and has Cash for a cover, but Cash has the ropes! Davis stomps the arm, but Cash CHOPS back! Fletcher grabs Cash, he and Davis mug Cash but the ref counts. Aussie Open lets off, Fletcher tags in, but here comes Dax with a chair! The ref stops that, and Fletcher gets the chair out of the ring. Aussie Open double whip Cash to DOUBLE ELBOW, PENALTY KICK and SENTON! Cover, TWO! Cash survives but Fletcher drags Cash up into a cobra twist! Fletcher CLUBS Cash in the ribs and stretches him more. Cash endures, fans rally up, but Fletcher scoops and SLAMS Cash down! Cover, TWO!

Fletcher tags TJP, and Fletcher scoop SLAMS Cash again. TJP slingshots sentons then covers, TWO! Fans rally up but TJP wraps Cash up in another cobra twist. Cash endures, fans rally, and Cash powers free to arm-drag TJP! TJP runs in but into body shots and haymakers! TJP ROCKS Cash but Cash ROCKS TJP! TJP ROCKS Cash, then SOBATS! Cash ends up in United Empire territory and TJP digs his boots in! The ref counts while fans boo, but TJP scrubs Cash’s face before 4. Fans rally for FTR, TJP runs but Cash CLOBBERS TJP! Both men are down and crawling, hot tag to Davis!

Davis drags Cash away, to SENTON onto knees! Cash saves himself, Davis tags Fletcher and he rushes the corner. He misses but Dax and Zayne, Cash back drops him! Hot tag to Dax! Dax JABS, JABS and DECKS Fletcher! Davis gets in, Dax ROCKS him first! TJP gets in, Dax DECKS him! Dax CHOPS and UPPERCUTS Fletcher, but Davis knees Dax! Davis whips, Dax reverses and wrenches to LARIAT! Davis stays up and roars, so Dax LARIATS him again! Davis still stays up so Dax reels him in. Davis dodges one lariat but not the NEXT! TJP gets back in, Dax gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Dax holds on, Zayne intercepts Fletcher! DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEXES!

Zayne still has Fletcher, Dax still has TJP, and Cash intercepts Davis now! TRIPLE GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fans are thunderous as Dax gets Fletcher up for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Fletcher survives but Dax drags him over to tag Cash. Cash tags Zayne, FTR gets Fletcher up while Zayne climbs. ASSISTED GOURD BUSTER, and Zayne CINNAMON TWISTS!! Cover, TJP breaks it! TJP and Davis throw FTR out, Aussie Open double whip Zayne to a corner. TJP whips Davis on to forearm smash! TJP whips Fletcher in to GAMANGIRI! Then Aussie Open gives TJP a boost for DOUBLE KNEES! TJP feeds Zayne to double underhooks POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous as Zayne survives! The United Empire is frustrated but Fletcher tags in Davis. Fans rally, Davis drags Zayne up and ROCKS him with a right. Zayne is in a corner, Davis tags Fletcher, and Aussie Open puts Zayne up top. Davis CHOPS Zayne, Aussie Open climbs up after Zayne, and they double pump handle! Zayne fights free, TJP runs in but is sent into Aussie Open! TJP is down, Zayne uses him as a pommel horse to DOUBLE DRAGON RANA Aussie Open!! Fans fire up, FTR returns, they clothesline Davis and TJP out! Zayne has Fletcher for the LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Fletcher survives and shocks everyone!

Zayne hurries to get Fletcher up! Straitjacket and pump handle but Fletcher slips out. Fletcher shoves Zayne at Dax, Dax moves Zayne aside, Fletcher SUPERKICKS Dax! Zayne waistlocks Fletcher, rolls him up, but the ref is busy with Dax! Davis whips Zayne, he and Fletcher hook him up, COREALIS!! Fletcher covers, The United Empire wins!

Winners: The United Empire, by pinfall

Fans can’t believe it! The United Empire wins, though not over #SevenStarFTR. Will Aussie Open add the NJPW Strong Tag Team Championships to the collection of gold? Fletcher gets a mic to tell the Top Guys that before they head back to AEW, this is how things go in NJPW. When a team beats a current champion, which FTR are the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, right? That means that they’re next in line! The mic cut out a bit so fans aren’t sure what was said. Dax gets a mic but it isn’t working, either. So Dax gets up as high as he can to shout to everyone, he’s more than ready to fight Aussie Open! In Australia, even!

Dax also adds that uh… Top Guys Out! Will FTR look to take Aussie Open on once they’re champions in their own right?

KUSHIDA VS Alex Shelley!

The Time Splitters meet again! But they’re not teaming up tonight, they’re testing each other 1v1! Will Kushida prove to the Bone Soldier he is worthy of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship? Or will this Motor City Machine Gun take that right for his own?

Fans are already fired up for “Both These Guys! Both These Guys!” The bell rings and Kushida rushes in! Shelley dodges, headlocks but Kushida powers out. Things speed up, Kushida jumps on with body scissors! Shelley knows Kushida wants his arm so he gets the ROPEBREAK! Kushida lets go and Shelley bails out. Kushida says it was that close. Shelley says no it wasn’t. Shelley gets back in the ring and the fans cheer as the two circle again. They feel out the grapple, Shelley trips Kushida up and then runs. Shelley hops over Kushida’s dropdown to bring him up, but Kushida reverses the whip, only for Shelley to reverse the arm-drag!

Things keep moving, Kushida sunset flips but Shelley stays up to KIMURA! Kushida endures his own favorite hold as he scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Shelley lets off and Kushida pushes him away to get out of the ring. Fans rally and duel, Shelley holds ropes open for Kushida. Kushida accepts the gesture, and fans applaud the sportsmanship as Shelley leaves him be. Shelley and Kushida circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Kushida powers Shelley to a corner, the ref calls the break, and Kushida lets off cleanly. Fans fire up and Shelley comes back. Kushida rushes in but Shelley avoids the drop toehold. Kushida still approaches with his leg guard ready.

Shelley goes around, Kushida rolls and gets up. They tie up again, they end up on ropes and then in a corner. The ref counts, Shelley lets off with a kiss on the forehead. Fans fire up while Kushida keeps his cool. They tie up again, Shelley headlocks and he grinds Kushida down. Kushida endures, fights up, and powers out. Fans rally as Shelley runs Kushida over. Kushida gets up in a huff and shoves Shelley! They argue, Kushida shoves more so Shelley shoves back. They shove, shove, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Fans fire up as they CHOPS keep going back and forth! Shelley ROCKS Kushida, throws body shots, then ROCKS Kushida again.

Shelley uppercuts and Kushida staggers. Shelley whips him to ropes but Kushida handsprings to back elbow! Fans fire up as Shelley goes down! Kushida aims from a corner, runs in but Shelley slips out, only for a SHOTEI to floor him, literally! Shelley sits up at the ramp but Kushida waits. The ring count starts so Kushida goes out, and he puts Shelley in. Kushida stalks Shelley and fans rally up. Kushida gets the arm, YANKS it, CLUBS it, then digs his knee into Shelley’s shoulder. Shelley endures as Kushida has both arms, chicken wing cradle! TWO, but Kushida keeps on the arms. Kushida moves around, headstands, then has CATTLE MUTILATION!

Shelley endures, kicks around but Kushida brings him away from ropes! They move around, Kushida floats to a cover, TWO! Kushida clamps on a chinlock then makes it a headlock to grind Shelley into the mat. Shelley endures, moves back, but Kushida shifts his leverage. Shelley fights up to avoid the Bully Choke, and he KICKS Kushida’s leg! Shelley throws a body shot and fans fire up as he runs. Kushida body scissors and rolls Shelley to an ARMBAR! Shelley hurries to clasp hands, but Kushida just mounts to shift, ARMBAR! Shelley reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Kushida lets go quickly and fans applaud the exchange.

Kushida drags Shelley around to omoplata one arm, and cording hold the other, then he adds a leg! Shelley is a pretzel right now but he still endures. Kushida steps over to hook both arms up, DOUBLE ARM TWEAK as he drops back! Fans rally and Kushida brings Shelley up. Kushida CHOPS, and CHOPS, then copies the Nature Boy’s strut before he wrenches Shelley’s arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! Shelley staggers away to a corner and fans fire up. Kushida runs in but Shelley elbows him away! Shelley goes up to FLYING KNEE Kushida’s arm! And he dropkicks the leg out! Shelley checks his bad arm while Kushida goes to the apron.

Fans duel, “Let’s Go, Shelley!” “KU-SHI-DA!” Shelley finds Kushida in a corner, runs in and gets a leg to put it on the ropes. Shelley KICKS the leg, pie faces Kushida and pulls on the leg! The ref counts, Shelley lets off but then gets the other, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Kushida grimaces in pain while he leans against ropes. Shelley drags Kushida out of the corner, has the leg again, and the arm! Shelley hits a DRAGON SCREW ARM WRINGER! Fans rally up while Kushida writhes. Shelley drags Kushida away, ties up the legs and simply squats on the DEATHLOCK! Kushida endures, fans rally up, and Kushida sits up, only for Shelley to HEADBUTT him down!

Shelley stands up to add Kushida’s arm into this pretzel knot of his own design! Kushida endures, he only has one arm free! Shelley BENDS the fingers, too! Shelley SNAPS those fingers, steps over the arm to omoplata and have a modified cradle! TWO!! Kushida manages to escape but Shelley keeps his cool. Shelley looms over Kushida and kicks him around. Shelley drags Kushida up by the bad arm but Kushida KICKS the leg! And again! And again! Fans rally, Shelley gets double knuckle locks and moves right to a straitjacket! Kushida endures, fights up, and fans rally again. Kushida turns things around on Shelley, but Shelley turns them right back!

Shelley keeps on the straitjacket, into a BACKSTABBER! Kushida writhes and fans rally up as Shelley aims. Kushida avoids the Penalty Kick and catches the clothesline to a spin, for a NECKBREAKER! Kushida roars, he and Shelley rise, and Kushida KICKS away on Shelley’s bad arm. Shelley reverses the whip but Kushida CROSSBODIES! Then fakes Shelley out to PELE him down! Kushida wrenches the arm, Shelley wrenches it back, but Kushida wrenches and wrangles Shelley into an omoplata, ARM TWISTER! Then DARK ARMBAR!! Shelley endures his arm being pulled back, and he kicks around with his legs!

Kushida grabs a leg, uses that to turn Shelley over, O’Conner Bridge! TWO!! Kushida runs in at the corner to SHOTEI! Fans fire up as Kushida shoves Shelley, and then jumps on! Body scissors and HOVER- NO, Shelley powers through to give Kushida the HOVERBOARD!! But Kushida reaches back to clasp hands, then he wrenches out to ROCK Shelley! Shelley staggers into a fireman’s carry! Shelley fights off, spins Kushida for a ROLLING ELBOW! But Kushida ROCKS Shelley again! Shelley spins, into the FASTBALL! Kushida fireman’s carries for the CRADLE SHOCK!! Cover, TWO!?!? Shelley survives but Kushida hurries to get him up

Kushida double underhooks, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX with a bridge! ROPEBREAK!! Shelley survives by inches! But Kushida goes out to the apron and climbs up the corner. Kushida leaps to KNEE the bad arm! And then somersault, spring up, but Shelley wrenches! Kushida KICKS the bad arm, but Shelley CLUBS that leg! Kushida kicks with the other but Shelley blocks to a DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up again as Shelley watches Kushida stir. Shelley aims, but Kushida blocks the kick! Shelley SLAPS then ENZIGURIS, but Kushida PENALTY KICKS the bad arm! Hip toss and handspring dropkick! Fans fire up again as both men go to opposite corners.

Kushida runs in but Shelley catches him for a BUCKLE SHOT! Shelley goes up the corner while Kushida is down! Shelley reaches the top but Kushida HANDSPRING KICKS! Kushida then positions Shelley, goes up top after him, and has the HOVERBOARD! But that’s not all! Kushida stands up on top, but Shelley fights back! SUPER ATOMIC DROP! And then a SUPERKICK! Kushida wobbles, Shelley wrenches to fireman’s carry, for AIR RAID CRASH!! Cover, TWO!! But into the BORDER CITY STRETCH!! Kushida endures the over-the-shoulder crossface! He fights around, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! And we’re at the two-minute warning!

Fans fire up as we’re so close to the end! Shelley drags Kushida up but Kushida fires off forearms! SHOTEI! But Shelley CHOPS! Kushida falls, so Shelley brings him up. Shelley CHOPS, Kushida is down, so Shelley brings him up again, for a CHOP! Shelley drags Kushida up one more time, wrenches through to an ELBOW BREAKER! One minute left in the 20 minute time limit! Shelley wants the Border City Stretch again, but Kushida arm-drags him away! Kushida slips around to roll-up, then roll then STEALS BORDER CITY STRETCH!!! But Shelley rolls it to a deep cradle! TWO!! Shelley ducks the buzzsaw, rolls Kushida, 30 seconds left!!

Shelley wants the stretch but Kushida slips around and STEALS BORDER CITY STRETCH AGAIN!! But Shelley slips out to put it on Kushida! But Kushida tips it to a deep cradle, TWO!!! DOUBLE LARIATS! DOUBLE LARIATS! BLADERUNNER!! Cover, TWO!!! INITO HOVERBOARD!!! The countdown is coming, Shelley endures and the bell rings!! TIME LIMIT DRAW!

Time Limit Draw

Fans give this one a standing ovation, because “Both These Guys!” gave it 110%! The Time Splitters share a smile, they’re still good friends. Will they both prove they’re still the top of the Junior Heavyweight Division?

No Disqualifications: Jon Moxley VS El Desperado!

The Interim AEW World Champion says to take that “interim” and shove it! The Maniac says he is THE champion, and he is THE Best in the World, despite CM Punk being out with injury. Will Moxley prove that, even when visiting NJPW? Or will the Rogue Luchador show he’s the Best in the World by beating Moxley at his own game?

As Desperado makes his entrance, he has a guitar on his shoulder and a bouquet of roses in his hand. Will he look to use both here tonight? And as we see the ring, it seems someone has already set up wooden planks with barbed wire all over them! As for Moxley, he actually enters from the ramp for once. The bell rings and fans rally up, “F him up, Moxley, F him up!” Moxley and Desperado circle, wary of those planks. They tie up, and Moxley powers Desperado towards one of those planks! Desperado turns it around and wants to send Moxley face first into it! Moxley fights back, waistlocks, but Desperado fights the suplex.

Desperado throws elbows, gets free, and fans fire up. Moxley and Desperado each check the barbed wire, and it is legit. They tie up again with knuckle locks, and they’re in a test of strength. Desperado pushes Moxley back but Moxley turns things around to get a full nelson! Now Moxley wants to send Desperado into wires face first! Desperado switches, pushes Moxley, but Moxley holds ropes to avoid the barbed wire. Moxley elbows Desperado, whips him but Desperado stops before hitting the corner! Fans fire up the standoff as the two circle again. They talk some trash and Moxley dares Desperado to hit him! No guard, even!

Desperado throws a forearm, so Moxley forearms back! Fans rally as Moxley eggs Desperado on. Desperado fires a forearm, Moxley gives it back, and they go back and forth! Fans rally, Desperado pokes Moxley in the eyes! Desperado runs, rams Moxley, but Moxley rebounds to run Desperado over! Fans fire up, and Moxley says he’s going to take off that mask! Moxley drags Desperado around and he claws at the eyes of the mask! Desperado fights to keep the mask together but Moxley stands him up to CHOP! And CHOP! Moxley fires off forearms and CHOPS on repeat, then a ROLLING ELBOW sits Desperado down!

Moxley whips Desperado corner to corner, Desperado dodges and runs back in, and he blocks Moxley’s boot! DRAGON SCREW! Moxley hobbles and falls while Desperado fixes his mask. Desperado SPLASHES the leg, then he stalks Moxley to ropes. Fans rally, Desperado digs is boots into Moxley at the ropes! Desperado lets off, even though there’s no ropebreak count, because he’s going for his bouquet of roses. Surprise, it was never about the roses! He hid BAMBOO SKEWERS in there! Fans are freaking out already as Desperado prepares a handful of them! Moxley blocks the skewer attack! Moxley throws a body shot, runs, but Desperado dropkicks the leg out!

Fans fire up as Desperado gets Moxley up! AND DIGS IN THE SKEWERS! Desperado JAMS THEM IN!! About a dozen skewers stay stuck in, but that’s still not even half of how many Desperado had! Desperado kisses Moxley’s forehead wound before a MONO LOCO to push the skewers in more! Fans freak out while Moxley gets up with skewers dangling all over his forehead! Obviously Moxley’s bleeding, and Desperado has Moxley on the ropes as he pulls them out, one at a time! Desperado has unskewered Moxley and he stomps him down. Moxley flounders away onto ropes, Desperado DIGS at the forehead wound!

Desperado wipes Moxley’s blood on his body like it’s paint, then digs in at the wound more! Desperado kicks Moxley around but Moxley throws a haymaker. Moxley’s the one who falls over, though, but Desperado drags him up. Moxley blocks the whip into barbed wire plan, but Desperado stomps the feet! Desperado pushes Moxley’s face into the wires, making sure the forehead gets plenty of it! Moxley gets free of the barbs but Desperado taunts Moxley, “You Can’t See Me!” Desperado avoids the wild haymakers, and he gets a leg to step through, DEATHLOCK! Desperado thrashes the hold but Moxley endures!

Fans rally up as Desperado puts more pressure on the legs. Moxley fires off haymakers, then pulls at the mask! He rips the eye hole open more! Desperado lets Moxley out of the hold, and Moxley CHOPS him! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Moxley whips, Desperado holds ropes and then dumps Moxley out! Moxley flounders, a crimson mask forming. Desperado builds speed and DIVES into a smash hit!! Moxley used Desperado’s guitar against him! Fans lose their minds over that one while Moxley tears up what’s left of the guitar. Moxley then holds onto a jagged edge of it and he brings Desperado up.

Moxley puts Desperado into the ring, and he sits him up, to JAM Desperado’s forehead with the wood shard! And then HAMMER ELBOW! WOOD JAM, HAMMER ELBOW, on repeat! Then Moxley focuses on the wood piece! Now Desperado is bleeding from his forehead! Moxley positions a barbed wire cross and he grins as he fetches the twin. Moxley says he’ll use them both if he has to, and he brings Desperado up. Scoop, but Desperado slips off! To SPEAR Moxley through a wood plank!! Moxley’s groin is trapped inside the barbed wire! Moxley manages to get free, but Desperado drags him up! Desperado whips, but Moxley reverses!

Desperado stops himself short, Moxley runs in, and he SHOTGUNS Desperado into the other wood blank!! Fans are thunderous as they lose their minds over Desperado being caught in wires! The tassels of his mask are tangled up but Moxley drags Desperado out. Moxley reels Desperado in, gets him up, PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives and Moxley can’t believe it! Fans fire up as Moxley gets up and fires up. Moxley goes out to look under the ring. Moxley searches, fans chant, “We Want Tables!” Tada! A TABLE! Moxley sets this up at ringside while Desperado flops out of the ring. Desperado finds chairs!

Moxley has the table ready, but Desperado uses one chair to sit up while he brings out more. Moxley finds Desperado, and Desperado drop toeholds Moxley onto the one chair! Then he JAMS Moxley’s face with the other! Desperado brings Moxley up to put him on the table. Desperado RAKES the bloody forehead, then makes his way up the corner! Fans fire up again but Moxley goes up after Desperado! Moxley THROWS Desperado off the top and through the table!! Fans are thunderous again while Desperado is down in the wreckage. Wait, what did Moxley just find? A plank covered in cut-up aluminum cans?!?

Fans chant, “YOU SICK F***!” at Moxley for even imagining that contraption, because who else would make that? Moxley drags Desperado in, and then X-PLEXES Desperado onto the cans!! Cover, TWO!?!? Desperado barely gets that arm up but he still got it up! “This is Awesome!” as Moxley and Desperado stir. Moxley stands, runs, and PENALTY KICKS! Desperado sits back up and eggs Moxley on!? Moxley accepts and runs gain, PENALTY KICK! But Desperado rises again! Moxley PENALTY- NO, Desperado blocks, spins Moxley around, dropkicks the leg out from behind, then DRAGON SCREWS it!

Desperado holds onto the leg, stomps away on Moxley’s hip, and then hooks him up in the STRETCH MUFFLER!! Moxley endures as Desperado thrashes the leg around! Moxley fights, sits up, and gets the ARMBAR!! But Desperado stands to steal DRAGON STOMPS!! Desperado isn’t Blackpool Combat Club but he knows that’s Bryan Danielson’s move! Desperado then goes to a corner, climbs up top, and FROG SPLASHES!! Cover, TWO!!! Moxley survives but fans fire up! Desperado gets up, stalks Moxley, and he brings Moxley in, but Moxley ROCKS him with a forearm! Desperado hits back, Moxley hits again, and fans rally up!

Moxley JABS, JABS, but Desperado ROCKS Moxley! And again! And again! Moxley fires off a flurry of forearms, but swings into a spin and backslide, but Desperado turns that into PINCHE LOCO!! But he holds onto the underhooks, only for Moxley to wrench out and LARIAT! Moxley hauls Desperado up, DEATH RIDER!!! But Moxley isn’t done there, he clamps on the BULLY CHOKE!!! Desperado endures, flips Moxley off, but he passes out! Moxley wins!!

Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission

These two went to the extreme just for fun, and it was one hell of a match! And because this is a NJPW show, Moxley gets the mic to close this out! Fans chant for “Moxley! Moxley!” as he paces, and Moxley, “In case you haven’t noticed with everything going on. In case you haven’t noticed, look to your right and to your left and even behind you at all these fans here in Nashville. Professional wrestling in the year of our Lord, 2022, was alive and well!” Fans cheer for that! Moxley does his best to continue, even though the mic sucks.

Moxley says it doesn’t matter if the card says NJPW, AEW, or ROH, the only three letters that matter on the card are M-O-X!! When you see those letters, you know that no matter where we are, no matter what day of the week it is, you know s*it is about to go down!! Moxley stands tall, what will it take to hang with the Death Rider himself?

My Thoughts:

A great event for NJPW on a busy weekend in wrestling. NJPW had the G1 Climax, this event, and NJPW Ignition, and then of course WWE had SummerSlam. I skipped the opening match because while it’s cool to see Shota Umino here, it was all NJPW Strong guys that are borderline Young Lions.

Then we got some great midcard championship matches here, with a quick crossover with MLW here. Richards and Rocky were tag team partners like 15 years ago, so it great to see them sorta reunite here. That said, Richards naturally retains as he’s the MLW guy and I don’t see Rocky bringing that MLW title all around NJPW, AEW and CMLL. Great match from Rosser and Damo for the NJPW Strong Openweight title, and while I haven’t been keeping up with NJPW Strong, it seems Rosser is being booked strong (no pun intended) as the second-ever champion. Those who know NJPW Strong would know who else is/isn’t being booked strong, too, so maybe Rosser keeps giving us great matches for this title during his run.

A great singles match from Hiromu and Blake Christian. This match should prove to everyone that Blake Christian is a top talent already, even with him still being so young. WWE was foolish to let him go, and they were definitely misusing him in a romcom angle with Cora Jade and something about superheroes. Maybe Blake can get an Openweight title shot? As for Hiromu, great for him to get this win after losing out on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and great to see Daryl back period, I do not know what’s been keeping him away. Also an awesome match out of Kushida and Shelley, and I love that they went to a time limit draw. It would’ve been really hard to choose a winner, what with Shelley challenging for the title in Impact.

Great Six Man Tag from Zayne & FTR VS United Empire. Just as I was wondering if Zayne was in the match to take the pin, that’s what happens. But even then, Aussie Open feels that entitles them to a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Sadly, the one glaring flaw of this event was the technical difficulties with those wireless mics. But either way, it was clear that FTR is willing to take on anyone from NJPW, and it would be really interesting if Aussie Open wins the NJPW Strong Tag Team Championships to try and make things Winners Take All again. How wild would it be if FTR added those brand new titles to their achievements while being only the second ever champions? Though, maybe for that reason alone, the other team wins and Aussie Open have nothing to lose.

And of course, Moxley in anything No Disqualification is going to be insane. Barbed wire planks that were shaped like crosses, skewers hidden inside of roses, the guitar smash, and much more, Desperado proves he can go in a hardcore environment. But in the end, Moxley wins because as AEW World Champion, interim or otherwise, he can’t lose until that title is on the line. Again, technical difficulties ruined most of Moxley’s promo, but he got the tagline of it out. Moxley obviously takes pride in leading the way for all of the non-WWE pro-wrestling that’s going on, and will do everything in his power to get AEW, NJPW, ROH and wherever else he might be asked to appear the attention of the wrestling fandom.

My Score: 8.6