Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW G1 Climax 33 Results & Report! (7/15/23)
The G1 begins again!

Opening night goes to Blocks A and B!
NJPW’s greatest tradition, the G1 Climax, begins again! And starting things off this year, Blocks A and B, with IWGP World Champion, SANADA!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- G1 Climax 33, B Block: YOSHI-HASHI VS El Phantasmo; Hashi wins.
- G1 Climax 33, A Block: Chase Owens VS Gabe Kidd; Chase wins.
- G1 Climax 33, B Block: Tanga Loa VS KENTA; Loa wins.
- G1 Climax 33, A Block: Shota Umino VS Ren Narita; Time Limit Draw.
- G1 Climax 33, B Block: Kazuchika Okada VS Great-O-Khan; Okada wins.
- G1 Climax 33, A Block: Yota Tsuji VS Kaito Kiyomiya; Kaito wins.
- G1 Climax 33, B Block: Taichi VS Will Ospreay; Taichi wins.
- G1 Climax 33, A Block: SANADA VS Hikuleo; Sanada wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
G1 Climax 33, B Block: YOSHI-HASHI VS El Phantasmo!
The Head Hunter made it through back-to-back tag title matches and is still one half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. But the Headbanga is looking for something to call his own. Will ELP get the 1-2-3? Or will Hashi have a strong start to the tournament?
Fans rally for ELP and ELP enjoys that. ELP then offers a handshake, and Hashi takes it. Fans applaud and the bell rings. The two circle, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. Hashi pries free, switches, but ELP switches to SLAM! ELP floats around and facelocks but Hashi slips free, and the two stand off. Fans cheer and the two reset. They tie up, Hashi headlocks but ELP powers out, to then headlock back. Hashi powers up and out, but ELP runs him over! Fans cheer as ELP flexes and kisses his biceps. Things speed up, Hashi hurdles and BLOCKBUSTERS! ELP bails out and Hashi rallies the fans. Hashi then builds speed, but ELP slides in to DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!
ELP keeps his cool and drags Hashi up. ELP suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! ELP drags Hashi up, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for a SLAM! ELP goes to the corner, hops up, lines up his shot, and drops the AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Fans applaud while ELP checks his neck. ELP then stands on Hashi’s hand! The ref reprimands, ELP rallies the fans and he brings Hashi up. ELP snapmares and KICKS Hashi in the back, but Hashi stands right up! Hashi kicks low, snapmares ELP, but ELP gets right up to BOOT Hashi down! Fans applaud while Hashi checks his chin.
ELP drags Hashi up, CHOPS him, and Hashi falls right over! Fans applaud, ELP stands Hashi up again and whips him corner to corner. ELP howls and fans echo it. ELP then runs corner to corner, but Hashi dropkicks the legs out! Both men are down and fans rally up! ELP goes to a corner and Hashi crawls to the opposite. Hashi then runs in to clothesline! Hashi whips and CHOPS! And mule kicks! And turns ELP for the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Hashi brings ELP up again. Hashi whips ELP to ropes, to back drop! Hashi watches ELP rise, and he runs in again, to clothesline ELP up and out!
Fans rally again as Hashi builds speed! Hashi FLIES to take ELP out at the ramp! Fans fire up as Hashi flexes now! Hashi drags ELP up, puts him in the ring, and Hashi climbs the corner. Fans rally again and ELP stands, into Hashi’s FLYING BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Hashi pounds the mat. Fans rally up again, and Hashi brings ELP up. Hashi reels ELP in, fisherman’s, but ELP blocks! ELP throws body shots, then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Hashi escapes and fans cheer again. ELP calls his shot and he drags Hashi up. ELP straitjackets and torture racks, but Hashi fights!
Hashi CHOPS ELP and ELP goes to a corner. Hsahi runs in but ELP goes up and over! ELP keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, springboard CROSSBODY! And then somersault to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives again but ELP resets with the torture rack! SPINNING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives yet again and ELP grows frustrated. ELP drags Hashi up, reels him in, but Hashi fights free to CHOP! ELP snarls and storms up on Hashi, but Hashi CHOPS again! ELP goes to the corner, Hashi runs in, and CHOPS! Hashi rallies the fans and runs corner to corner, but ELP follows to DISCUS CHOP!
ELP keeps moving, Hashi follows, but into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP suckered Hashi in, and now he goes up the ropes! SPRINGBOARD THUNDER KISS 86!! Cover, TWO?!?! Hashi survives and everyone is shocked! ELP refocuses, and he rallies the fans up. ELP slashes his throat, drags Hashi up and reels him in, but Hashi trips him to a jackknife bridge! TWO!! ELP sunset flips it, TWO! Hashi sits on it, TWO, ELP has the ghost pin! TWO!!! Both men have to check real quick but the ref confirms, that was two! Hashi rushes in, ELP dodges and mule kicks! Then front kicks! Then ENZIGURIS! Hashi staggers, but he comes back with a SUPERKICK!
Hashi runs, and LARIATS ELP inside out!! Fans fire up with Hashi and he drags ELP up. CRUCIFIX DRIVER!! Cover, Hashi wins!!
Winner: Yoshi-Hashi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; ELP earns 0)
The old dog busts out a new trick! Will this be yet another resurgence for Yoshi-Hashi? As for ELP, that was a rough way to lose in the first round, will he be able to rebound?
G1 Climax 33, A Block: Chase Owens VS Gabe Kidd!
We may have seen Bullet Club VS Bullet Club before, but this is a new flavor all its own. Will the Crown Jewel show the new kid a thing or two? Or will this War Dog show Chase how savage he really is?
Wait, Kidd rushes out and CLOBBERS Chase on stage, with a chair! Kidd taunts the fans, then SMACKS Chase with the chair on the back! Kidd continues to taunt the fans as they boo, and the ref runs up to reprimand Kidd. Kidd stands Chase up to ROCK him with a forearm, and HEADBUTT him! Kidd reels Chase in, and wants to throw him off the stage! Chase fights up but Kidd CLUBS him down! And BITES his head! Kidd UPPERCUTS Chase and he goes tumbling down the ramp! Kidd stalks Chase all the way down, then ROCKS him with another shot! Fans boo but Kidd brings Chase up and headlocks.
Kidd brings Chase further along and HEADBUTTS him again! But Chase throws shots in return! Kidd UPPERCUTS Chase again! Kidd brings Chase around and through the gate to CHOKE him against the railing in front of the fans! And then Kidd pulls those railings apart! Kidd then snatches chairs and throws those around, and brings Chase over to SMACK him off other chairs! He even uses a fan’s umbrella to SMACK Chase, and CHOKE him! The ref reprimands, Kidd lets off, this isn’t even a match yet! Kidd brings Chase around to the other side of the aisle, rips those railings apart, and smacks Chase off those chairs!
Fans move aside and Young Lions help, and Chase fights back! Kidd ROCKS Chase, brings him around to yet another section and HEADBUTTS Chase down! Kidd then DECKS a Young Lion! And another! And another! Kidd has gone past savage and is just crazy! The ref makes him go to the ringside area, but then Kidd runs past to go back up the ramp! And then Kidd runs down the ramp to FLY!! And he takes out Chase and the Young Lions!! Fans are thunderous and the ref checks everyone. Kidd is up and he shakes the railing apart! Kidd then chases Chase to ringside, and claws his face!
Chase staggers away, and Kidd ROCKS him! Kidd headlocks to bring Chase around, and UPPERCUTS him down! Kidd tells English commentary, “You wanna talk? Let’s talk then!” Kidd heard what Chris had to say a few years ago about going out and banging a Japanese woman. Well guess what? Kidd’s gonna find him THREE! Then Kidd goes back to firing shots on Chase! And he tells commentary to shut up. Fans rally for Chase as Kidd puts him in the ring, and then Kidd flips them all off. Fans boo and Kidd goes into the ring. The bell finally rings, and this is finally a match! And Chase BOOTS Kidd down!
Fans rally as Chase finally has a chance to rest. Chase goes to ropes, drags himself up, and he watches Kidd flounder to the other side. Chase runs in and CLOBBERS Kidd! And again! Chase whips, Kidd reverses and runs in but Chase BOOTS him! And then CORNER BACK SUPLEX, to a SAIDO! Fans fire up with Chase and he hauls Kidd up. Chase tucks Kidd in, but Kidd powers out to swing. Chase ducks the lariat but Kidd elbows back. Chase RAMS Kidd into a corner, then LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Chase paces around. Chase locks ‘n’ loads, aims and runs in, but Kidd dodges!
Kidd runs, Chase dodges! Kidd dodges! Chase dodges! Kidd dodges! And then Kidd CLOBBERS Chase! Kidd drags Chase up to a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Chase survives and Kidd is furious! Kidd glares at Chase while the fans rally up. Kidd stalks Chase to ropes, throws forearms, and Chase sits down. Kidd kicks Chase around, taunts him, and even SPITS on him! Kidd digs his boots in and shouts, “What’re you gonna do?!” The ref counts, Kidd lets off, and Chase stands. Chase CHOPS Kidd, Kidd ROCKS Chase! Kidd puts Chase up top, CHOPS him, and then climbs up after him. Kidd wants to bite again, but Chase slips out and under!
Chase trips Kidd! Kidd staggers, Chase BOOTS him! Kidd CHOPS, but Chase SUPERKICKS! Kidd rebounds, but Chase ducks the lariat to HALF ‘N’ HALF! And C-TRIGGER! And then the tuck and PACKAGE DRIVER!! Cover, CHASE WINS!!
Winner: Chase Owens, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kidd earns 0)
Gabe Kidd gave his Bullet Club senpai one hell of a shootout, but in the end, you can’t steal one from the Crown Jewel. Chase gives Kidd a Too Sweet after all, so is all good in the Bullet Club main branch?
G1 Climax 33, B Block: Tanga Loa w/ Jado VS KENTA!
The Silverback is back, and he wants his turn at revenge against Bullet Club! But will he be able to break the Fang Revived? Or will Kenta make him #GoToSleep?
The bell rings and fans rally as the two stare down. They slowly circle, approach, and tie up. Loa powers Kenta to ropes, but lets off as the ref counts. Fans applaud the clean break, and Kenta circles with Loa again. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Loa uses size to power Kenta back. They end up against ropes again, but Kenta turns it around. Loa turns it back, and they go around and around again. The ref counts as Loa has Kenta in the corner. Loa lets off, and the fans applaud. They circle again, but Kenta bails out. Kenta takes a moment but the fans rally up. Kenta comes back, tells fans to shut up, then steps inside.
Loa and Kenta circle again, and Kenta kicks the bad leg! Kenta headlocks, but Loa throws body shots. Loa powers out, they RAM shoulders, but Loa stays up. Fans rally, Kenta runs and RAMS Loa again, but Loa is still standing! Loa grins and applauds, and he eggs Kenta on. Kenta kicks the bad leg! Kenta runs, but Loa runs him over! Fans cheer and Kenta bails out again. Loa goes out after him this time, and Loa CLUBS Kenta on the back! Kenta staggers but Loa CLUBS him again. Loa keeps after Kenta and ROCKS him in front of English commentary. Loa smothers Kenta with a mic, then pushes him into the ring.
Kenta crawls away but Loa catches him first! Loa drags Kenta up, RAMS him against the ropes, and again! And again! The ref reprimands, Loa lets off and whips Kenta to ropes. Kenta holds ropes and bails out. Loa rushes out, Kenta slides in, then slides out to get the bad leg! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Loa falls to the floor and scrambles away! The ref checks Loa while Kenta paces. Kenta stomps Loa, and again, and then drags Loa up. Kenta puts the bad leg around the railing! Kenta traps the leg, and then DROPKICKS it! The ref reprimands and Kenta backs off, only to run in and BOOT the railing!
Loa falls over and Kenta stalks him. The ref wants this back in the ring, but Kenta drags Loa up to kick the bad leg again. Loa crawls away, Kenta refreshes the ring count, and Kenta stalks him to the corner. Kenta stomps the bad leg, KICKS it, then paces. Loa drags himself up and pushes Kenta away, but Kenta KICKS Loa in the chest! The count passes 10 of 20 but Kenta puts Loa in at 13. Fans rally and Loa pushes Kenta away. Kenta taunts Loa but Jado coaches him up. Loa sits up, but Kenta stomps the bad leg! Kenta drags Loa up, but Loa throws body shots! And uppercuts! But Kenta SOBATS!
Loa goes to a corner, Kenta runs in, and Kenta blocks Loa’s boot! Kenta kicks the bad leg! And puts it in the ropes, to DROPKICK it again! Loa falls over in a heap and Kenta soaks up the heat. Kenta mocks those booing him, then storms over to Loa. Fans rally for Loa as he crawls, but Kenta stalks him. Kenta talks trash on Jado, sits Loa up, and he stomps the bad leg again. Loa clutches the knee but Kenta keeps kicking it! Kenta kicks Loa around, stomps the bad leg, but Loa grits his teeth. Loa glares at Kenta, rises to his feet, and he blocks a kick! Loa throws body shots, UPPERCUTS, and then scoops, to SWINGING SIDE SLAM!
Fans fire up while Loa and Kenta are both down! Loa rises while Kenta rolls to a corner. Loa runs corner to corner and clotheslines! Then he whips Kenta in to clothesline again! And then GERMAN SUPLEX! Loa drags Kenta right up for the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Kenta survives, perhaps Loa’s bomb wasn’t strong enough with the bad leg. Loa drags Kenta back up, reels him in, but then changes up to scoop. Kenta grabs at the ref! They all spin around, the ref goes down, and Kenta slips free to kick low! DDT! Both men are down and Jado checks on the ref. And Kenta sees his opening!
Kenta scrambles out of the ring, looks underneath, and he brings out a chair! Kenta gets back in, takes aim, and JAMS Loa, then SMACKS him! And SMACKS him again! Kenta kicks Loa over and fans boo, but Kenta isolates the leg! Kenta SMASHES the knee!! Fans boo but Kenta says he’ll go again! Another SMASH to the knee!! Fans boo even harder as Kenta kicks Loa down again. Kenta puts the chair on the knee, then goes up the corner! DIVING- NO, Loa moves! Loa avoids disaster, swings on Kenta, but Kenta dodges, only for the SOUTHPAW to hit! Fans fire up as Loa now has Kenta down! Jado gets the ref back in, too!
Loa helps the ref sit up, and he aims at Kenta. Kenta rises, Loa runs in, but Kenta drops! Loa has to hobble to a stop, but he won’t let Kenta deny him. Buti then Kenta cradles! TWO!! Loa gets free but Kenta rolls him! Feet on the ropes! The ref sees that and says NOPE! Fans cheer but Kenta is furious! Kenta corners the ref, Loa runs in, but almost hits the ref! LOW BLOW!! Fireman’s carry, but Loa slips free! Kenta URAKENS, then runs! INTO A SPEAR!! Fans fire up with Loa as he roars! Loa drags Kenta up, scoops him, and goes APE SHIT!!! Cover, Loa wins!
Winner: Tanga Loa, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kenta earns 0)
Now that’s how you return to action! Loa pins the DEFY Wrestling Champion and earns himself those crucial first points! Will this be the year the Silverback becomes an alpha male?
G1 Climax 33, A Block: Shota Umino VS Ren Narita!
Two young upstart stars clash to start off this year’s G1! Will the Roughneck continue to bring about the Paradigm Shift in NJPW? Or will Narita show us all why he’s the Son of Strong Style?
Shota may be a student of Jon Moxley, but taking off his elaborate entrance attire is rather Naito of him. Narita is patient, though, as a student of Katsuyori Shibata and Minoru Suzuki. The bell rings and the two rush in! Narita BOOTS Shota, but Shota’s right up to CLOBBER Narita! They stare down face to face and fans fire up. Shota throws a forearm, Narita gives it back! Shota throws another, and so does Narita! They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up with every shot. Things keep going faster and faster, and then Shota eggs Narita on! Narita fires off a flurry, then eggs Shota on. Shota stares Narita down, then fires heavy shots!
Narita comes back with another forearm of his own, and he eggs Shota on. Shota throws a shot, Narita shakes his head. Narita throws a shot, and Shota scowls. Shota winds way back to throw a forearm! Narita shakes his head and fires another. Shota fires another, Narita fires another, and then Shota throws a flurry! Narita fires a strike fest! Shota wobbles, Narita stomps him into the corner! Narita rains down forearms and stomps but the ref counts. Narita runs but Shota follows fast to ELBOW! Shota fires off a flurry now, and even some UPPERCUTS! The ref reprimands, Shota lets off and runs, but Narita follows to BOOT!
But Shota stays up and shoves Narita! So Narita UPPERCUTS Shota off his feet! Fans fire up while Shota goes to the corner. Narita storms up to dig his boot in. The ref counts, but Narita just adds more pressure! The ref reprimands, counts, and Narita finally lets off. Fans cheer the intensity and Narita drags Shota up. Narita CLUBS Shota on the neck, CLUBS him again, then whips him to ropes. Shota holds ropes, dodges Narita and arm-drags! And elbows! And basement dropkicks! Fans fire up with Shota, and then he dusts himself off. Shota paces around, stomps Narita, and brings him up with a cravat.
Narita endures the neck wrench, but then Shota CLUBS him down. Shota kicks Narita around and eggs him on. Shota whips Narita to a corner but Narita reverses! Narita runs in, into a BOOT! And another boot! Shota runs, into a leg scissor throw! KNEEBAR! Shota endures as Narita has his leg! Shota crawls, drags Narita along, and backstrokes to the ROPEBREAK! Narita gets up to drag Shota from the ropes to reapply the KNEEBAR! Fans rally and duel while Shota endures! Shota reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK again! The ref counts but Narita keeps on the hold until 4.
Narita drags Shota back from ropes again, and has a standing toehold! Shota CHOPS from below but Narita holds on! Narita leans on the hold, then drags Shota around again. Narita steps through to put more pressure on, and then does it again! Shota endures, even as Narita hits another spinning toehold, into the FIGURE FOUR! Fans cheer while Shota endures more! Shota fights to turn things over, but Narita powers him back down! Shota keeps fighting, drags Narita along towards ropes, but Narita pushes up! Shota still reaches out for the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, but again Narita holds on until 4.
Narita grabs at the legs but Shota kicks at him. Narita lets go, but he stomps Shota! Shota eggs Narita on so Narita stomps him more! And more! Narita drags Shota up but Shota throws forearm after forearm! Narita kicks the bad leg! Narita whips, Shota reverses and scoops to THROW, then run and SLIDING UPPERCUT! Fans fire up as Shota now has control. Shota hobbles over to Narita in the corner. Shota whips Narita corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Shota then FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but fans still rally up. Shota goes out and climbs the corner!
Shota reaches the top, Narita stands, and Shota MISSILE DROPKICKS! Then Shota steps through to an STF! Narita endures and reaches out, even as Shota pulls back on the hold! Narita claws at the mat, powers his way forward, and gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Shota holds until 3 as a little payback on Narita. Shota then drags Narita up, clinches, but Narita resists the lift. Shota snapmares, then throws down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Shota got that from the BCC! Shota then hauls Narita up, but Narita fights the clinch with elbows! Shota knees low, runs, but into a WHEEL KICK! Fans rally up while both men are down!
Shota crawls to a corner, Narita goes to the opposite. Narita runs corner to corner to BACK ELBOW! And then HALF HATCH BRIDGE! TWO!! Shota escapes but Narita clamps right on with a SLEEPER! Shota fights up, RAMS Narita into buckles, and is free. Shota kicks low, whips Narita but Narita reverses, to hip toss! Narita then brings Shota up, clinches, but Shota slips free! CROSS RHODES! Shota holds on to drag Narita back up, another CROSS RHODES! Shota drags Narita up again, hooks a leg, SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! Narita survives and Shota is shocked! But Shota hurries to a corner as fans rally up.
Narita staggers up and Shota runs in, but Narita avoids the swing! Narita knees low! Narita runs, into a scoop! HOTSHOT and UPPERCUT! Shota then slingshots in, ONE FINAL BEAT! Fans fire up after the slingshot DDT and Shota aims again. Narita rises, Shota kicks low and underhooks! But Narita fights Paradigm Shift to EXPLODER! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Shota and Narita stir, Narita stands first and he brings Shota up. Narita hits an BLIZZARD SUPLEX BRIDGE! TWO!!! Fans fire up as Narita clamps on with another SLEEPER! Shota fights up, arm-drags free, but Narita gets the leg!
Narita drags Shota down to a HEEL HOOK! Shota reaches for ropes, but Narita shifts, rolls and has the TEXAS CLOVERHOLD!! Shota endures, fights back up and moves toward ropes! But Narita sits deep! Shota still powers his way to the ROPEBREAK! Narita lets go in frustration but the fans rally up. Narita calls his shot and drags Shota up. Shota fights the Belly2Belly! Narita BOOTS Shota, but Shota stays standing! Shota shakes his head, so Narita BOOTS him again! Shota is still standing, so Narita runs and BOOTS him again! Shota wobbles but he’s still standing! Narita runs, to BOOT Shota down! But Shota’s right back up!?
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! But Narita’s right back up! Narita hits an EXPLODER! Shota roars as he rises! Shota dodges a boot to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Narita’s right up to GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans are thunderous as both men rise again! Shota staggers around, Narita storms up, both men DECK the other with a palm strike! Fans are thunderous again as they duel for these young stars! Shota and Narita each crawl to the other. Shota throws a forearm, but Narita throws it back! But there’s only THREE MINUTES left in the time limit! Narita throws another forearm! Shota eggs him on!
The two stand, fans fire up again and the forearms go back and forth! Shota UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS! Narita fires a strike fest and UPPERCUTS! Shota forearms, back elbows, then boxing elbows! Shota spins, into a kick! And ENZIGURI! Narita roars, runs, but Shota DROPKICKS! Fans keep rallying as Shota stalks Narita to a corner. Two minute warning, and Shota hits a TORNADO DDT! Shota aims from the corner as Narita rises! Shota runs in, IGNITION!! Cover off the swinging neckbreaker, TWO?!?! Narita survives but Shota won’t stop there! He drags Narita up and picks him up! ELEVATED DEATH RIDER!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Narita survives again and no one can believe it! But Shota won’t stop here! We hit the LAST MINUTE, and Shota underhooks! But Narita slips out to COBRA TWIST! Shota fights to get free but Narita just clamps on tighter! We’re at THIRTY SECONDS! Shota reaches out, Narita shifts, GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!! Fans are thunderous as the seconds tick away! Narita hurries as we hit TEN! Clinch and- NO, Shota fights it! POP-UP UPPERCUT!! TIME’S UP!!!!
Time Limit Draw, both men gain 1 point
How long has it been since there was a DRAW in the G1? This match could not only make the difference in both men’s first run, but this could have just solidified the future of NJPW! Will we see Narita and Shota fight again and again in the coming years?
G1 Climax 33, B Block: Kazuchika Okada VS Great-O-Khan!
The Rainmaker is a former G1 Climax Champion, and he’s currently NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion. Meanwhile, The Dominator is still Rev-Pro Wrestling’s British Heavyweight Champion. But only one can start off their G1 with a win, so will Okada make it rain? Or will Khan conquer the leader of Chaos for The United Empire?
The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally up for “O-KA-DA!” but Khan corners him. The ref has Khan back away and Khan eggs Okada on. They tie up, Khan gets a leg and then a waistlock but Okada counters with a facelock. Khan pushes through but Okada avoids the cover. Khan shoots in, Okada sprawls to block but Khan scrambles to the back. Khan pushes Okada back down, cover, TWO! Khan keeps on Okada with a facelock, then shifts to a waistlock and roll. Cover, ONE! Khan wants an armlock but Okada fights it. Khan facelocks but Okada fights to his feet, only for Khan to throw him down. Cover, ONE!
Okada keeps on Khan now with a waistlock. Okada drags Khan up, but Khan swings an elbow. Okada ducks it to back drop! And sits on the cover, TWO!! Khan escapes and fans fire up! Okada eggs Khan on, Khan rushes back in and tackles Okada! Khan clinches Okada to a HEAD ‘N’ ARM TRIANGLE! Okada endures as Khan leans his weight on the hold! Fans rally, Okada moves around and reaches out, but Khan squeezes tight! Okada’s turning red as Khan puts all his weight into it! Okada gets one last gasp to the ROPEBREAK! Khan lets off, and he then shifts around to a KIMURA! But they’re still in the ropes!
Khan grabs Okada’s leg and adds it to the hold for a modified bow ‘n’ arrow! Okada endures as he’s caught head to toe! Khan lets off to drop knees on the arm, and then SPLASHES the arm! Khan keeps on that arm with an elbow digging into the shoulder. Khan stands on Okada’s shoulder, pulls the arm back, but fans rally as Okada endures. Khan stomps Okada down! Khan drags Okada up, whips him hard into the corner, then turns him around for Mongolian Chops! Fans rally up as Khan sits up on his throne! The ref reprimands, Khan hops down at 4, and he then drags Okada back up.
Khan suplexes Okada high and hard! Cover, TWO! Khan clamps back onto Okada’s arm and traps it with a leg scissor! Khan bends the fingers and twists the wrist, digging his elbow into Okada’s ribs. Okada fights around, but Khan grabs that leg! Okada fights around to get the ROPEBREAK after all! Khan lets go quickly and looms over Okada. Khan kicks Okada around, CLUBS him, and CLUBS him again! Khan stands Okada up but Okada ROCKS Khan with a forearm! And again! Khan eggs Okada on so Okada throws another forearm! Khan ROCKS Okada in return! Khan whips, Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Khan!
Fans rally as Okada rises again. Okada runs in to rally with forearms and elbows! Okada whips, Khan reverses but Okada kicks low and DDTs! Fans rally up, Okada drags Khan up, but Khan grabs an ear! And CLUBS it! Khan runs, but into Okada’s FLAPJACK! Cover, TWO! Okada drags Khan up by his arm and paces around. Okada wrenches and wraps Khan up in the MONEY CLIP! Khan powers Okada back but Okada sends Khan into the corner! Okada then puts Khan up top, to DROPKICK him to the floor! Khan tumbles into railing while fans fire up! Okada catches his breath, then goes out to fetch Khan.
Okada drags Khan up, and whips him into railing! Okada then BOOTS Khan! Khan gets caught up but he still falls to the other side! Okada fetches Khan from No Man’s Land and brings him along by his ponytail. Okada uses that to pull Khan onto the railing, and drags him out, DRAPING DDT to the floor! Fans cheer Okada striking like a viper but the ref starts a ring count. Okada paces, brings Khan up at 8 of 20, and puts him in at 12. Fans applaud as Okada steps in to bring Khan up. Okada goes to gut wrench but Khan fights it! Okada CLUBS Khan down, Alabama Lifts, but Khan fights that, too!
Okada knees Khan low, CLUBS him on the back, then UPPERCUTS! Okada runs, dodges Khan’s lariat, but Khan hits a NECKBREAKER DROP on the return! Fans rally while both men are down and crawling to corners. Khan runs in but into a BOOT! Khan comes back, into another BOOT! Okada BOOTS but Khan Mongolian Chops! And again and again and again! Machine Gun Mongolians?! Fans fire up as Okada drops to his knees! Khan then gut wrenches Okada for the suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Khan hauls Okada up. Okada fights the back suplex with elbows, but Khan powers through to ATOMIC DROP! HITSUJIGOROSHI!!
Fans rally as Okada endures the Sheep Killer! Okada throws clubbing shots but Khan thrashes him around! Okada keeps fighting, but Khan drops MARINE! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Khan says he’ll finish it now. Khan drags Okada up, reels him in, but Okada fights the suplex! Khan throws body shots, CLUBS Okada then stomps him down! Khan drags Okada up, but Okada shoots around! GERMAN SUPLEX! Okada holds in, brings Khan up, but Khan fights with elbows! Khan runs, into the DROPKICK! Fans fire up and Okada gut wrenches, LANDSLIDE! Okada isn’t done there, he drags Khan back up!
Okada ripcords, but Khan ducks the lariat to IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Okada reaches out, but he’s fading fast! The ref checks on Okada, but Okada gets a second wind! So Khan brings Okada around, ELIMI- NO, Okada fights with elbows! Okada wrenches Khan’s arm, brings him around, but Khan SAYANAGIS in return! Khan holds onto Okada’s wrist to drag him up, IRON CLAW SLEEPER, into F G O!! Cover, TWO!!! Okada survives and fans are thunderous! Khan roars with the monster rage and he clamps the iron claw back on! He drags Okada up, ELIMIN- NO, Okada arm-drags free! Khan rushes back in but Okada avoids the boot!
Okada wristlocks and ripcords but Khan boots the lariat away! Khan reels Okada in, scoops, but Okada slips free! Okada inverted suplexes, but Khan slips free! IRON- NO, Okada ducks the iron fist to ripcord and RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Khan earns 0)
In the end, Khan wasn’t able to avoid the signature lariat, and Okada has a big win to kick off the G1! Will Okada become a back-to-back G1 Climax Champion?
G1 Climax 33, A Block: Yota Tsuji VS Kaito Kiyomiya!
What does the G in G1 stand for? Well, that could be determined right here and now! Will it be GENE 1 for LIJ’s newest recruit? Or will it be GREEN 1 for Pro-Wrestling Noah’s Supernova?
Wait, while Kaito is preening for the NJPW crowd, Tsuji builds speed! Tsuji DIVES onto Kaito and sends him into railing! Fans fire up with Tsuji and the bell rings to get this on record! Tsuji stomps Kaito against railing, then drags him up. Tsuji gets Kaito’s jacket off and puts him in the ring. Fans fire up for Tsuji, this is definitely a NJPW crowd. Tsuji stalks Kaito, stands on his head, and grins as he scrapes Kaito around. Tsuji sits Kaito up, but Kaito swings, into the BACKBREAKER and SLAM, and STOMP! Fans fire up for Tsuji as he stomps a mudhole in the center of the ring! Tsuji eggs Kaito on and Kaito slowly rises.
Tsuji kicks Kaito around, eggs him on, and Kaito stands up. Kaito throws a forearm, but Tsuji gives it back. Kaito throws another forearm, so Tsuji CHOPS him! Tsuji brings Kaito around, suplexes him up, but Kaito slips free to CHOP BLOCK a leg! Kaito runs, but Tsuji scoops him for a BACKBREAKER! Fans rally behind Tsuji as he pushes Kaito to a cover, TWO! Kaito hangs tough, seeing as he is a former GHC Heavyweight Champion. Tsuji keeps smiling and the fans continue to cheer him on. Tsuji brings Kaito up but Kaito CHOPS! Tsuji shrugs that off, though, and eggs Kaito on. So Kaito CHOPS again!
Tsuji eggs Kaito on more, so Kaito CHOPS! Tsuji felt that one! Tsuji BOOTS, but Kaito blocks! DRAGON SCREW! Fans rally as Kaito evens things out. Kaito drags Tsuji around by that leg and drops elbow after elbow on the knee! Kaito then runs to drop a FLASH ELBOW! Kaito drags Tsuij to a corner, and right to the post! Kaito SLAMS the leg into the post! Tsuji flops out to the floor while the ref reprimands Kaito. Kaito kicks Tsuji around, brings him up, and puts him in the ring. Fans cheer as Kaito then steps in, to jumping stomp! Kaito stomps Tsuji more, drags him up, but Tsuji ROCKS him with a forearm!
Kaito goes to a corner, Tsuji runs in but Kaito elbows him! And springboard FLYING FOREARMS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Kaito drags Tsuji around by a leg. Kaito throws knees into the thigh, and then basement dropkicks the leg! Tsuji goes to a corner but Kaito storms up. Kaito gives almost toying stomps in the corner, but Tsuji just grins through it. Kaito slaps Tsuji around but Tsuji stands up. Tsuji goes forehead to forehead with Kaito, then fires off a flurry of forearms! But Kaito DROPKICKS him! Kaito puts the bad leg on the ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Tsuji CLUBS Kaito, but Kaito knees the knee!
Kaito runs side to side, but Tsuji BOOTS him! Kaito comes back, blocks the boot, but Tsuji brings Kaito down, and STOMPS him down! Fans fire up as Tsuji walks off the pain. Kaito stands int he corner, and Tsuji runs in to STINGER SPLASH! Tsuji keeps going, and he ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl RANA!? And then he runs Kaito over! Fans fire up as Tsuji scoops, for the RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Kaito is still in this but fans rally as Tsuji rises. Tsuji waits on Kaito, then he runs, but Kaito dropkicks the leg! Kaito storms up, blocks another boot, and DRAGON SCREWS again!
Kaito steps through, ties up the legs, FIGURE FOUR! Tsuji endures the classic, even as Kaito puts more pressure on. Tsuji pries the hold open, but Kaito fights it back on tighter! Tsuji endures, reaches out, but Kaito pulls on the main leg! Tsuji pries at the hold again, grits his teeth, and works to turn the hold over! He succeeds! But then Kaito turns it back over, only for Tsuji to get the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, helps undo the hold, and Tsuji is free. Kaito stands and fires up! Fans are torn as Kaito goes to the corner and climbs up. Tsuji stands, Kaito MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kaito keeps on Tsuji by bringing him back up.
Tsuji swings, Kaito gets under, GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Tsuji survives but Kaito keeps his cool. Kaito vows to end it now and he brings Tsuji back up. Kaito chicken wings, but Tsuji fights the Tiger Plex! Kaito UPPERCUTS Tsuji in the back! And then chicken wings again, TIGER SUPLEX! But Tsuji lands on his feet?! Kaito storms up to UPPERCUT again and again! Kaito runs, ROLLING ELBOW! Tsuji stays up to ROCK and then HEADBUTT!! Fans are thunderous as both men fall! And Tsuji sits up with a grin! Tsuji’s enjoying this like he did the world title match with Sanada!
Kaito slowly rises and Tsuji brings him around. Tsuji suplexes, Kaito slips free and shoves to DROPKICK again! But Tsuji’s right up to BOOT! SUPERKICK! Tsuji hurries to get Kaito back up, suplexes him, FALCON BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Kaito survives but fans are thunderous for Tsuji! Tsuji gets his legs working and he waits on Kaito. Kaito slowly rises, Tsuji runs, CURB STOMP! And then Tsuji roars! Fans fire up again as Tsuji drags Kaito up and hooks him up in the Inverted Gory Especial. But Kaito slips free! RANA! Cover, TWO!! Tsuji escapes, Kaito goes to a corner but runs in, JUMP KNEE!!
Fans fire up and Kaito roars! Kaito hauls Tsuji up, chicken wings, TIGER PLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!?!? Kaito actually smiles, too, because he can’t believe Tsuji escapes! Kaito drags Tsuji up, chicken wings again, and then flips Tsuji for the TIGER DRIVER 23!! Kaito then goes to a corner and waits on Tsuji. Kaito roars, runs in, EVOLVED SHINING WIZARD!! Cover, Kaito wins!!
Winner: Kaito Kiyomiya, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Tsuji earns 0)
Tonight, G stands for green! Kaito gets a truly huge win over Tsuji, will the Next Generation Ace be the first man to win a NOAH Global League/N-1 Victory and a NJPW G1 Climax in his career?
G1 Climax 33, B Block: Taichi VS Will Ospreay!
The Holy Emperor is KOPW Champion while the Aerial Assassin is the NEW IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion. It’s another golden battle in B Block, who proves they’re the stronger champion?
The entrance attire and belts are put aside, and the bell rings. The fans rally as the two stare down, and it seems the “Let’s Go, Taichi!” and “Let’s Go, Ospreay!” are evenly matched. Taichi and Ospreay circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. They break and stare down again. Taichi CHOPS! Ospreay applauds, then ROCKS Taichi with a forearm! Taichi CHOPS again, so Ospreay fires another forearm! Another CHOP, another forearm! Taichi kicks a leg, Ospreay runs to forearm again! Taichi rebounds to BOOT! Ospreay rebounds to forearm! Taichi rebounds to BOOT, kicks but Ospreay blocks! Ospreay CLUBS the leg but Taichi ducks the heel kick!
Taichi SOBATS Ospreay, runs and BOOTS Ospreay right out of the ring! Ospreay gets right up but Taichi BOOTS him back down! Fans rally while Ospreay steadies himself at the ramp. Taichi goes out after him but Ospreay knees low! Ospreay CLUBS Taichi, whips him hard into railing, and then brings Taichi around. But Taichi blocks the chip to choke grip! Ospreay headbutts free, and then whips Taichi into railing hard! Taichi tumbles up and over! Ospreay goes out after Taichi, drags him up, and runs him to the back section. Ospreay stomps Taichi around, brings him up, and ROCKS him! Taichi takes a seat in the open chairs.
Ospreay drags Taichi up, Young Lions have fans move, and Ospreay BOWLS Taichi into the chairs! Strike! Ospreay then moves chairs aside to drags Taichi back up. Ospreay ROCKS Taichi, Taichi leans against the railing and almost brings it down. Ospreay drags Taichi up again, to DDT to the floor! Taichi writhes and Red Shoes reprimands but fans rally up. Ospreay leaves Taichi behind, fans rally for “TAICHI! TAICHI!” and a ring count starts. Taichi stirs at 4 of 20, sits up at 6, and drags himself up at 10. Taichi hobbles his way back to ringside, and slides in at 16. But Ospreay springboards, COAST2COAST!
Ospreay drags Taichi out to the apron, for a DRAPING CUTTER to the floor! Ospreay gloats and fans cheer while Red Shoes checks Taichi. Ospreay waits on Taichi to get back up, but the ring count climbs. The count is 10 of 20 as Ospreay eggs Taichi on. Ospreay rolls into the ring, Taichi sits up at 14. Taichi drags himself up at 17, and slides in at 19! Fans cheer but Ospreay is aimed and ready again. Ospreay springboards in, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives but Ospreay drags Taichi up. Ospreay whips corner to corner but Taichi falls over before he makes it. Ospreay taunts the fans, ‘This your boy?”
Ospreay goes out, checks the time and it’s just been six-and-a-half minutes. Ospreay promises that with this 20 minute time limit, Taichi is gonna suffer. Ospreay taunts Taichi, tells him to fight for the fans, and then kicks Taichi in the back! Ospreay stomps Taichi around, eggs him on more, and drags him up. Ospreay scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Taichi is hanging tough but Ospreay drags him up. Ospreay scoops for the SPIN OUT BACKBREAKER! Taichi writhes, Ospreay covers, TWO! Ospreay is annoyed but he did say he’ll make Taichi suffer. Fans rally for Taichi but Ospreay shows off with jumping jacks.
Ospreay kicks Taichi around and Taichi sits up. Ospreay drags Taichi up to ROCK him with a forearm! Taichi CHOPS, but Ospreay doesn’t budge. Taichi CHOPS again, but he still doesn’t have much. Taichi kicks, but Ospreay slaps him around. Taichi CHOPS again, but Ospreay DECKS him with a forearm! Ospreay looms over Taichi at the ropes, eggs him on again, and tells him time to wake up. Ospreay whips corner to corner but Taichi reverses! Taichi runs in but into a BOOT! Ospreay whips, but Taichi reverses, only for Ospreay to handspring! Into a SAIDO- NO, Ospreay lands on his feet! And PENALTY KICKS Taichi down!
Fans rally as Ospreay drags Taichi up. Ospreay suplexes, holds him up, and hits a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Taichi is still in this and fans rally up. Ospreay grins, he knows they’re not even at ten minutes yet. Taichi stirs as fans continue to rally, but Ospreay drags him up. Taichi is dead weight, but Ospreay gets him up and underhooks. Ospreay lifts, but Taichi fights it! Taichi powers out of the underhooks and he Alabama Lifts, only for Ospreay to fight that! Ospreay gives one Kawada Kick, and then CHOPS! Taichi goes to a corner, Ospreay runs in, but Taichi dodges to GAMAN- NO, Ospreay blocks it! And CHOPS Taichi down!
Fans rally while Ospreay leans against ropes. Ospreay shakes out his ear, that gamangiri still made some kinda contact. Ospreay goes to the apron, but he has to sit down! Did that kick rattle him more than he thought? Ospreay tells Red Shoes he can still continue, but he’s careful as he climbs. Ospreay wobbles and he drops to the second rope! Red Shoes checks with Ospreay, but Ospreay tells him to not even dare calling this. Ospreay gets Taichi up, but Taichi SAID- NO, Ospreay fights that to a DREAM SMASHER ELBOW! That much Ospreay can still do, dizzy as he is. Ospreay slaps himself and prepares the elbow.
Ospreay aims from the corner, Taichi sits up, but the inner ear problem is still bothering him. Taichi flops back down, so Ospreay takes a bit more time to steady himself. Ospreay storms up on Taichi, slaps him around and eggs him on. Ospreay gives more Kawada Kicks, but almost mockingly. Taichi stands up to stare Ospreay down, and Ospreay even positions himself for Taichi. So Taichi gives him Kawada Kicks! Ospreay then gives real Kawada Kicks! Taichi wrenches and HOOK KICKS! And off come the pants!! Fans fire up as Taichi aims, but Ospreay blocks the buzzsaw to short arm LARIAT!
Fans rally up as Ospreay staggers around. Ospreay is determined to finish this out, and he waits on Taichi. Taichi rises, Ospreay runs and springboards, OS- NO, Taichi blocks and Alabama Lifts! But Ospreay fights it so Taichi back drops him away! Ospreay lands on his feet, springboards again, OSCUTTER!! Direct hit and fans fire up! Ospreay pushes Taichi to a cover, TWO!! Taichi survives and Ospreay is frustrated, but he gets back to his feet. Ospreay still shakes out the stars going around his head, and he prepares the elbow again. Taichi sits up, Ospreay runs in, but Taichi ducks the Hidden Blade to ENZIGURI!
Fans fire up as we hit 15 minutes! Ospreay elbows the gamangiri away, to HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Taichi survives by a miscalculation on Ospreay’s part! Ospreay refocuses, brings Taichi up and underhooks, Canadian Rack for- NO, Taichi slips free and O’Conner Rolls, into GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Ospreay escapes but Taichi hurries! Ospreay blocks the lariat to HOOK KICK! But Taichi still AX BOMBERS! Ospreay stays up to ROLLING ELBOW! Taichi falls and Ospreay shakes out the stars again. Ospreay calls his shot, fans rally up, and Ospreay goes up the corner! SUPER- NO, Taichi CLUBs him first!
Taichi goes up after Ospreay but Ospreay CLUBS away on Taichi! Taichi CLUBS Ospreay in return, throwing down ridge hands! Taichi brings Ospreay up to SUPER DANGEROUS SAIDO!!! Fans are thunderous and Taichi rises! Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! But he isn’t done there! We’re at three minutes left, SAIDO BRIDGE!! TWO!!! Fans are thunderous again as Taichi roars and brings Ospreay up! Alabama Lift, but Ospreay slips free to steal DANGEROUS SAIDO! HIDDEN- SUPERKICK!!! Taichi hits first, then Alabama Lifts, for BLACK MEPHISTO!!! Cover, TAICHI WINS!!
Winner: Taichi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Ospreay earns 0)
The entire arena is fired up as the KOPW Champion trumps the IWGP US Champion! Will Taichi look to take Ospreay’s title after the G1 Climax?
G1 Climax 33, A Block: SANADA VS Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Speaking of champions, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion naturally gets the main event. Will the Cold Skull prove his dominance, even against this giant Guerrilla of Destiny? Or will Hikuleo get the biggest win of his career?
The bell rings and Hiku BOOTS Sanada down! Hiku whips Sanada to ropes but Sanada holds ropes. Sanada then baits Hiku in, O’Conner Bridge! TWO!! Hiku gets free, CHOPS Sanada, and Sanada drops to his knees. Hiku drags Sanada up and brings him around, to RAM him into a corner! Sanada flops out of the ring, Hiku goes out after him, and drags Sanada up. Hiku RAMS Sanada into the apron! Sanada sits down, but Hiku stands Sanada up to CHOP him! And CHOP him again! Sanada staggers away and Hiku says one more! Hiku brings Sanada around, and CHOPS him again! Fans rally as Hiku then scoops Sanada and carries him around!
Hiku aims, but Sanada slips free and POSTS Hiku first! Then RAMS him into railing! Sanada paces while fans rally up. Red Shoes says to get this in the ring but Sanada drags Hiku up to bring him around, and whip him, only for Hiku to reverse! Sanada hits railing hard and tumbles over! A ring count starts, Hiku storms out to fetch Sanada, and brings him up at 11 of 20. They go back to ringside, Hiku puts Sanada in at 14. Fans applaud and Hiku steps in. Hiku CHOPS Sanada and Sanada goes to a corner. Hiku storms up to whip corner to corner, run in, but Sanada dodges! Sanada comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Hiku back drops him away! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally more and Hiku drags Sanada up. Hiku suplexes Sanada but Sanada slips free! Sanada dodges the elbow to dropkick the leg! Hiku stays up so Sanada DROPKICKS him! Hiku runs back in but Sanada dumps him to the apron! And DROPKICKS him down! Hiku gets up in a rage, but Sanada PLANCHAS him back down! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans oblige but Sanada insists they get louder and louder still. The fans chant for “SA-NA-DA!” and that pleases him. Sanada then brings Hiku up, puts him in, and fans applaud. Cover, TWO! Hiku is still in this but Sanada stays cool.
Sanada drags Hiku up, but Hiku’s too big for the fireman’s carry! Hiku CLUBS away on Sanada, then CHOPS him! Sanada goes to a corner, Hiku runs corner to corner, but into an elbow! Sanada QUEBRADA, but Hiku catches him! And SNAKE EYES! Hiku runs to LARIAT! Fans fire up with Hiku and he drags Sanada up. Suplex for a BIG BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives but Hiku keeps his cool. Hiku drags Sanada up, fireman’s carries, but Sanada fights free. Sanada then runs in, tilt-o-whirls, and manages to get the dragon sleeper! But Hiku powers through to suplex! Only for Sanada to turn it around and suplex Hiku!
Fans fire up while both men are down! Jado coaches Hiku but Sanada kips up! Sanada goes right up top, to ROUNDING BODY- NO, he has to last out as Hiku moves! Sanada tries another tilt-o-whirl but Hiku blocks it! Only for Sanada to still try the dragon sleeper! Hiku still POWERSLAMS! Cover, TWO! Both men are down and fans rally up. Hiku rises as Jado coaches him. Hiku drags Sanada up, whips, but Sanada clinches! Hiku fights out, shoves Sanada, SNAP POWERSLAM! Fans fire up as Hiku clamps on the choke grip! Hiku stands Sanada up, but Sanada kicks free! And SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO!!
Hiku survives and Sanada grits his teeth. Sanada says he’ll finish this now and the fans rally back up. Sanada brings Hiku up and clinches, but Hiku slips free to a waistlock! GERMAN SUPLEX, but Sanada lands out of it! And RAN- NO! Hiku blocks the rana to get Sanada up! For a LAST RIDE!! High stack, TWO!?!? Sanada survives but Jado calls the shot! Hiku drags Sanada up with the choke grip as we pass 10 minutes. GIANT CHOKE- NO, Sanada fights free! Clinch and DEADFALL!! Cover, Sanada wins!!
Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Hikuleo earns 0)
The victory quite truly slips through Hikuleo’s fingers, but this is the difference between him and the world champion! Will the young star rebound in the next round?
As for Sanada, he goes out to get the mic to walk ‘n’ talk. “People of Sapporo… Just5Guys just won both the semifinal and main events tonight. And since we’re here, why don’t we call out the hometown boy to help wrap this up?” The fans cheer, and Sanada feels a “Taichi!” chant should do it. The fans chant for Taichi, and he appears! Sanada doesn’t see him yet, and wonders if “Taichi-nii” would’ve worked better. The fans join in on that, and Taichi hustles into the ring. Fans cheer as the KOPW and World Heavyweight Champs stand together.
Sanada brings up how, at the press conference, Taichi said he’d do both wrestling and YouTube. “Maybe the fans here can convince you to do a livestream?” The fans do like the sound of that! They now chant “LIVESTREAM! LIVESTREAM!” Sanada hands over the mic so Taichi can respond. “It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten a hometown win. Like Sana-nii said, I aim to succeed at pro-wrestling and YouTube. I want to be someone Hokkaido can be proud of.” Fans also like the sound of that. He wants people to say to him, “Keep repping Hokkaido well!” And if they don’t approve of how he represents them, please like and subscribe anyway.
Fans have a good laugh, and Taichi promises that they will do a livestream after this. Fans cheer that, and Sanada says before that, let’s do “that thing.” The lights go down, the fans use their phones to make the stars come out, and Sanada says, “You all know this. Let’s keep it simple. From all of Japan, I think Sappara-” Oh, oops. Wrong vowel. Fans boo and Taichi turns to leave! Sanada apologizes and asks for a second chance. Taichi says okay, and the fans chant “MO IKAI! MO IKAI!” Sanada says, “From all of Japan, I think I like Sapporo the best.” Fans cheer the correct name, and Sanada says, “OI, SAPPORO! See you next time.”
The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and KOPW Champion stand tall as Just5Guys takes the night! Will they soon take over both blocks and guarantee this becomes the J5G1 Climax?
Here are the current A Block standings!
Sanada: 1-0, 2 points
Kaito Kiyomiya: 1-0, 2 points
Chase Owens: 1-0, 2 points
Ren Narita: 0-0-1, 1 point
Shota Umino: 0-0-1, 1 point
Yota Tsuji: 0-1, 0 points
Hikuleo: 0-1, 0 points
Gabe Kidd: 0-1, 0 points
Here are the current B Block standings!
Kazuchika Okada: 1-0, 2 points
Taichi: 1-0, 2 points
YOSHI-HASHI: 1-0, 2 points
Tanga Loa: 1-0, 2 points
Will Ospreay: 0-1, 0 points
Great-O-Khan: 0-1, 0 points
Kenta: 0-1, 0 points
El Phantasmo: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great start to this year’s G1, and with just two of the four blocks! Hashi getting the opening win was rather surprising, but I suppose ELP can’t pin a tag champ when he doesn’t have a tag partner right now. Kidd going after Chase that hard was also a surprise, but great comeback win from Chase. Great return win from Loa, and I love that they went with a time limit draw for Narita and Shota. Those two really are going to be the future of NJPW and perhaps even wrestling in general if they travel to NJPW’s partners like AEW. And of course Okada wins, but Khan had a great showing all the same.
Tsuji VS Kaito was a great match, but I’m rather surprised Kaito won. Tsuji has been impressive but he hasn’t really gotten that definitive singles win. And as I said, Kaito is going to make a run at the semifinals, teasing the history of being an N-1 and G1 winner in his career. He probably won’t do it, but that’s still something to tease. Honestly, it feels like they could give us Kaito as the A Block winner and Okada as the B Block winner so that they meet in the semifinals to have out their feud.
Great move for the Just5Guys members to both win tonight. Though honestly, Taichi VS Ospreay was the better match. Sapporo gets to cheer their hometown guy and their general favorite, but neither guy really needs to win the G1. Taichi can easily feud with Ospreay between their two titles, the KOPW and the US, and Sanada being THE champion, he of course faces whoever has the G1 Climax contract. Can’t wait to see how C and D Blocks start off tomorrow.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.8.2025
We get to see Alicia Fox in action and a dog collar match! Definitely an odd combination, so let’s see what happens!

As I feel like I say every week, the best parts of TNA are on NXT. I really can’t tolerate Dreamer and Delirious’ idea of creative. This shows have been slapdash early 00s MTV humor and nonsense angles. We open the show with Trick Williams, so of course you know he’s gonna be a dick and Hendry’s gonna try and get even.
At least this spawned an interesting concept with the TNA Heavyweight Championship being defended on NXT Battleground. So it’s nice that Hendry and TNA are getting exposure, but honestly it’s only Hendry, and the constant milking on the TNA side of “hearing from Hendry” is making me ill.
I feel like I’ve seen Johnny Gobs all over since Nekrogoblikon came out with new music. Not mad at it, just didn’t have that on my Bingo card.
.@Santana_Proud and @_trickwilliams just crossed paths—then @AJFrancis410 & @KCwrestles tried recruiting @TheSamiCallihan… and sparked beef with Santana in the process.
Wait… IS THAT @JohnGoblikon!?
WATCH #TNAiMPACT! on TNA+: https://t.co/afG9MKyLaa pic.twitter.com/EQwH3BjPFE
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 9, 2025
Ratings:
- Rosemary vs Lei Ying Lee – Lei wins via Thunderstruck – *
- Great Hands vs Aztec Warriors: Aztec Warriors win via Laredo Driver + Arabian Moonsault – * 1/2
- Trey Miguel w/Wentz vs Mustafa Ali w/Tasha & Hands: Ali wins via Crucifix Blade Runner – ** 3/4
- Victoria Crawford vs Brittnie Brooks: Victoria wins via Flying Axe Kick – Squash
- Dog Collar Match: International Championship Match: Steve Maclin (c) vs Eric Young w/Northern Armoury: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
Hey look, Trick comes out and does exactly what I said. He’s arrogant, he’s basically doing his own version of a Ric Flair promo. I do like the line about having two girls, one named Lexis who drives a Mercedes and Mercedes who drives a Lexus. It’s that right balance of dumb and clever to make me chuckle. Hendry of course comes out with his game face on, security tries, fails, and Hendry gets a measure of revenge.
Rosemary vs Lei Ying Lee – Lei wins via Thunderstruck
Okay even though I don’t mind Xia as a wrestler anymore, Brookside is on commentary and she’s…awful. She’s like an Arianna Grace with no charisma. Her little integrity shtick got lame halfway through the word the first time she said it.
This match goes about how you expect which is why it’s not much to discuss. Rosemary does her usually brawling, biting and using the 5 counts with the Upside Down. But as expected, she tries to use the Brass Knucks, Xia comes off of commentary to stop her from using the weapon, and Lei catches her with Thunderstruck. I guess this was supposed to keep the Xia angle with some heat, but it’s really dumb. I don’t want to see any more of this Angel vs Demon, which one will turn crap. It’s boring, it’s cliche and for babies.
At least Lei Ying Lee is gorgeous and one hell of a wrestler. Hopefully she gets away from Rosemary and Xia soon.
Great Hands vs Aztec Warriors
Laredo and Octagon take early turns on Jason Hotch, Octagon even pulls off some rope acrobatics like he thinks he’s Rey Fenix. Hands try to take a few shortcuts, but the actions stays quick, the Cali crowd is behind the Luchadors. Stereo Tijeras, Five Hole Dive from Laredo into an Asai Moonsault from Octagon. Laredo Driver into Handstand Arabian Moonsault, and Aztec Warriors win handily.
After the fact Ali attacks the Aztec Warriors, Tasha and the Hands are trying to calm down Ali but then the Rascalz run out. Maybe we’re getting an early start to the Trey vs Ali match.
Trey Miguel w/Wentz vs Mustafa Ali w/Tasha & Hands
Hopefully this is something worth actually typing about instead of WCW Thunder level of rushed throwaway trash.
They trade early chops, but Ali is pissed, no sells Trey and rocks him with a Forearm. Trey tries to Baseball Slide through the legs and roll into a Sunset Flip, but Ali rolls through, comes up with Trey and Powerbombs him moving immediately into Ground and Pound. Ali goes for a Reverse Powerslam, but Trey escapes it, tries to use his quickness, trips up Ali for a second as he goes to the apron and then he catches Trey in the ropes and hits the Draping DDT off the apron. Outside In Neckbreaker from Ali into a Standing Tornillo.
Ali throws Trey into the ropes, Trey tries something but Ali catches him, flips him vertical and then Dragon Suplex looks nasty. Ali heads back to the apron, wants the Outside In Rolling Neckbreaker, but Trey catches him with a Cutter! Trey puts a little Shake Rattle and Roll together, Ali tries to block the last one so Trey hits the ropes and lands a Lionsault. Ali powders and eats a Dive, Trey throws him back in, Meteora! 1-2-kick out! Trey gets a little frustrated but tries a front facelock, they trade cradles, Ali throws him to the ropes, Trey tries that Rewind Tiger Feint, but Ali hits a Missile Dropkick. Ali tells the Hands to finish things but Wentz comes out flying. Ali drives Wentz into the post, throws Trey back in and mouths off to Wentz. When he turns he eats Trey’s Knee Slide Tornado DDT.
Tasha distracts the ref, Hands attack Trey with a Double Choke Bomb on the Apron and Ali kills Trey with Crucifix Blade Runner.
Hardys come out to talk, they get a solid pop from the crowd, but nothing interesting gets said. The old “we let you down” promo and they’re trying to get across a fandom nickname of “Diehardyz” and that’s corny. They punctuate their part before the Nemeths of course come out with some Obsolete and Delete references. Ryan starts talking and gets booed loudly, so that’s nice, they both play in it well. Ryan makes some goofy faces, Nic and him poke fun at the Hardys and the fact that Jeff can’t come to Canada because he’s prohibidabido.
So Santino comes out, says next week Jeff and Nic will have a singles match, so Matt will get a tag match against the Nemeths with a partner of his choosing. Kind of a stock standard promo, but the Nemeths and Santino made it fun.
Huh, coming back from commercial there’s a video package from WWE showing the last time Jeff Hardy and Nic Nemeth had a match. 16 years ago.
Victoria Crawford vs Brittnie Brooks
Brittnie is Chris Bey’s girlfriend and Alicia was always one of my favorites.
Victoria clocks Brittnie early, but Brittnie fires back, Victoria gets annoyed, hits her beautiful Northern Lights Suplex Hold for only a two. Victoria drives Brittnie into the corner, Brittinie tries to fight out, but Victoria catches her with a Tumbling Headscissors Take Over and then a Flying Axe Kick. Victoria’s gorgeous self wins, and Victoria looked pretty decent in the squash.
Masha comes out, attacks Victoria, so Tessa makes a save. Santino makes a tag match next week Blanshard and Crawfish vs Slamabitch and a partner of her choosing. Robert Stone overrides Santino and picks her partner for her and chooses Nikkita Lyons.
Tessa Blanchard is GOING OFF on @AriannaGraceWWE! @milanmiracle @MrStoneWWE
WATCH #TNAiMPACT! on TNA+: https://t.co/afG9MKyLaa pic.twitter.com/7pnK7OG167
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 9, 2025
Dog Collar Match: International Championship Match: Steve Maclin (c) vs Eric Young w/Northern Armoury
EY sandbags in the corner at the bell and then catches Maclin with an opportune yank of the chain and then starts a little dirty boxing and chain choking. Cardona is out on commentary because there’s a number 1 contender match next week for the International title. EY grinds the chain across Maclin’s face and the bridge of his nose, and he’s bleeding 40 seconds into the match.
Maclin powders but since it’s a dog collar match the jabronis get involved immediately. Maclin is bleeding like his last name is Rhodes, the jabronis get in some pot shots and EY just whips him with the chain, uses the post, just goes for classic deliberately paced hardcore brawl tactics. Maclin does manage to get a small flurry, EY does the Flair Corner Flop, then EY and the jabronis eat a SCUD before we go to commercial.
We come back, Maclin is back to getting murdered, and now all the potential number 1 contenders and either on commentary, the ramp or in the back watching a monitor. Even Mance Warner looks a little concerned and horny at the same time with the blood. Maclin is so bloody he looks like a post explosion scene from The Boys. Maclin fires, whips EY in the ropes, grabs him mid run, Headbutts him a few times, Jumping Thesz Press into the Ground and Pound with some chain whips. Jabronis come in and eat a Busakiu and Backbreaker, EY tries to take advantage but EY eats an Olympic Slam. Another Busaiku for EY, Jar Headbutt connects! EY kicks out at two, then powders but Maclin follows and wraps the chain around his neck and starts throwing EY around by the throat. Dorks fly at Maclin, he deflects them, but EY yanks the chain and Maclin falls off the apron. EY throws him back in, another two count. EY heads to the top, Maclin crotches him, bald Jabroni eats a Powerbomb, hair Jabroni heads a Buckle Bomb. EY slips the Tree, so Maclin puts the jabronis in the corner, Stacked Tag Em and Bag Em, Nerds get Caught in the Crosshairs!
EY sees the chance, kick to the gut, Piledriver! 1-2…KICK OUT! EY calls for the Macho Elbow but Maclin gets up, pulls him off the top with the chain and KIA! Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4/10
A generally disappointing episode. The first hour felt like WCW Thunder written by Meth addicted Racoons. But the second hour starting with Mustafa, turned out to be okay. I’ve always enjoyed Alicia Fox aesthetically and she wasn’t bad in the ring, Mustafa being edgy is cool, Ryan Nemeth is a treasure, Tessa is still great and the dog collar match was decent.
So a mixed bag definitely. Rosemary is honestly useless anymore. She only gets a pop because of the gimmick, but her storylines have sucked, her matches aren’t great and this whole Infantile Sting knockoff of trying to stick to her morals and integrity and not do the mean things. Aztec Warriors are basic lucha stuff with no gimmick beyond the fact they’re luchadors. Lastly, the Trick Flair opening segment was okay at best but really just just paint by numbers.
It’s a sad turn of events when my favorite wrestling program anymore is WWE main roster stuff. Yikes…2025 is weird.
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Will Dax & Cash learn to Fear The Red Death?
FTR put the blame on Daniel Garcia for how things went down between them, but now Garcia plans on taking one of the Top Guys out!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ricochet VS Angelico w/ Serpentico; Ricochet wins.
- 8 Man Tag: The Don Callis Family VS The Outrunners, Bandido & AR Fox; The Don Callis Family wins.
- Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian; Bowens wins.
- Willow Nightingale VS Kris Statlander; Kris wins.
- Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander VS The Dark Order; Takeshita & Alexander win.
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey VS Dralistico; Bailey wins.
- Daniel Garcia VS Dax Harwood w/ Cash Wheeler & Stokely Hathaway; No Contest.
PLAY BY PLAY
Toni Storm is here!
Or rather, she’s still here given just last night, the TIMELESS AEW Women’s World Champion won a Fatal 4 Way Eliminator. And now she’s in the special box seat “balcony” with mic in hand. Detroit cheers and she blows kisses before saying, “So many men have taken a shot at me in here, I’m feeling like Abraham Lincoln. I will never forget my first. It was messy, it was sweaty, and painful. But I only wanted more. Once a month, once a week, twice a week, I was hooked. But then, it only became more risky. One at a time, then two at a time. And three at a time! Incorporating random objects, all the while being watched by perverts.”
The fans cheer being perverts but then Toni says, “One day, it will not end well for me. It will break my body and soil my soul. But in the end, I know it’s what I was born to do. And if you think I was referring to sexual intercourse, then get your minds out of the gutter!” Toni takes a moment before she continues, “Because the best bang could not compare to fighting for this!” She holds up the title and the fans cheer more! “I am not waiting for a Hayter or a CEO. So next week, line up the next batch of slop tarts, because baby wants to binge!” The fans also like the sound of that! Toni says spit on it and sit on it, and let’s get TIMELESS~!
The fans applaud and Toni takes a bow. Beach Break just got that much bigger, but who will take their shot at The Tramp that is The Champ?
Backstage interview with Paragon.
Lexy Nair is with Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly to ask them about the 2 Out of 3 Falls last Saturday. Roddy says that to say they’re disappointed is an understatement. He and Kyle are one of the best teams on this planet, and they thought it’d be like riding a bike. But it has been a bit more difficult than they thought. Kyle agrees that they’re frustrated and disappointed, but what they aren’t doing is taking anything away from themselves. They’re the Paragon and they’re still one of the best tag teams out there. And any other day, any other time, 99 out of 100, Kyle & Roddy win that match.
Cole agrees, and he knows that was tough last week. But they are one of the best teams in the world. There will be plenty of chances to prove that this year. But in step the Grizzled Young Veterans and Zack Gibson says say that again. He can’t believe Paragon has the nerve to stand here sulking and complaining. Honestly, this three are three of the best ever. The problem is, they’ve gone soft! They’ve forgotten what it is to fight for their sport. So any time they’re ready, GYV will remind them what that’s like. Kyle & Roddy say why not. GYV will be the first time that gets stomped on Paragon’s way back to the top!
GYV laugh that off then take their leave. But when and where will Liverpool’s Number One & Mr. Mayhem take on the Savior of the Backbreaker & the Violent Artist?
Ricochet VS Angelico w/ Serpentico!
The One & Only just got a big win last night alongside the Young Bucks, but now he looks to get a win on his own. Will Ricochet make Detroit #OuttaThisWorld two nights in a row? Or will tonight belong to Spanish Announce Project’s South African Stud?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Angelico and Ricochet circle. They feel things out, circle more, then Angelico leaves Ricochet hanging by smoothing his hair. Ricochet says ha ha, more bald jokes. Ricochet waistlocks, the fans chant, “He Has Hair!” but Ricochet hammerlocks and snapmares to then ghost pin, TWO! Ricochet taunts Angelico that this is professional wrestling, not modeling. Angelico trips Ricochet to cover, ONE! Angelico has a cording hold and he keeps Ricochet from the ropes. Ricochet wrenches, but Angelico gets the cording hold back! Ricochet endures, reaches out, but Angelico arm-drags him to the mat!
The fans cheer more, but Ricochet kips up. Angelico wrangles him back down! Ricochet claws at Angelico but Angelico polishes the bald head! The fans cheer and Angelico keeps on the arm. Ricochet fights up again, but Angelico wrangles him back down! Angelico gives Ricochet more polish, then stands him up to wrench and cording hold. Ricochet throws a body shot, flips up and over, but Angelico switches arms for a modified Cobra Twist! Angelico holds up his hand and the fans cheer, but Ricochet fights free and bails out. The fans boo but then Angelico sneaks up to clamp on shoulder claws!
Ricochet fights back, and he THROWS Angelico to the floor! Ricochet skins the cat, then TORNILLO PLANCHAS! Ricochet takes down Angelico, taunts Serpentico, then goes storming off to grab a chair! Ricochet chases off #SNAKEMAN, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Ricochet gets up on the barrier to soak up more heat, and he even flicks sweat off his bald head! Ricochet puts Angelico in the ring, stalks him to ropes, then CHOKES him! The ref counts, Ricochet backs off, and Serpentico coaches Angelico. Angelico sputters but Ricochet brings him up for a snapmare. Ricochet digs his knee into Angelico’s back as part of the chinlock. Angelico endures, fights up, and fires body shots. Angelico is free, runs the ropes, but Ricochet DROPKICKS him down! Ricochet taunts the fans, covers Angelico, TWO! Angelico is tougher than that but Ricochet covers again, ONE! And again, ONE! And again, ONE!!
Ricochet throws a fit and SLAPS Angelico down before arguing with the ref. The ref defends the count, so Ricochet just stomps away on Angelico’s back! Ricochet taunts the fans, goes back to stomp Angelico and kick him around, then he kicks Angelico to the ropes. Angelico rises to BODY BLOW! And JAB! Ricochet staggers back, Angelico fires more shots! Angelico runs, KICKS the backdrop away, then runs again, only for Ricochet to FLAPJACK him off ropes and JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Angelico survives and Collision returns to single picture. Ricochet storms his way to a corner while the fans boo.
Ricochet aims and 450- NO, he has to bail out as Angelico moves! Ricochet comes back but Angelico dodges again, Ricochet hits only buckles! Angelico swings, Ricochet dodges and shoves to TIGER WALL KICK! And SOBAT! KNEE! But Angelico KNEES in return! Ricochet rebounds to V-TRIGGER! ROLLING- NO, Angelico clinches for a LIFTING FLATLINER! The fans fire up while both men are down! A standing count starts, Ricochet and Angelico stir, and they rise at 5 of 10. Angelico counters a punch and then fires haymakers! Angelico whips, Ricochet reverses, but then Ricochet catches the leap!
Angelico fights Ricochet’s clinch with elbows, then whips, but Ricochet reverses, Angelico LEAPING LARIATS! And LEAPING LARIATS again! The fans fire up and Angelico storms up to Ricochet. Angelico whips, Ricochet reverses, but Angelico reverses back! COBRA TWIST, and the HEAD SLAPS! The fans fire up as Angelico just takes Ricochet to task! Ricochet sputters and staggers around, Angelico kicks and Canadian Racks! YOYO SLAM, into a hammerlock and HALF CRAB! Ricochet endures, reaches out, but Angelico gets the other arm! Ricochet kicks with his free leg and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans boo but Angelico lets go.
Ricochet goes to the apron, Angelico storms up, but Ricochet HOTSHOTS him! And then FLICKS the ropes at Angelico to hit down low! Ricochet then springboards and FLYING LARIATS! The fans boo but Ricochet runs for a STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Ricochet just keeps going, dragon sleeper for the VERTIGO!! Ricochet rolls back, locks ‘n’ loads, and SPIRIT GUN!! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
Ricochet made sure Angelico was done before he got the 1-2-3, and now he gets the mic. “Go ahead. C’mon, I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!” The fans boo and taunt him more and Ricochet says he welcomes it all! Their boos mean NOTHING to him, because he sees what they cheer for. And c’mon, if you cheer for the Detroit Lions, that means you’re dumb as hell. If you were smart, if you had any amount of common sense, you’d be cheering for him! The fans keep taunting him with “They’re Not Bald!” But Ricochet says the Eagles won the Super Bowl, what’re they talking about? They should be cheering him, because he’s been here less than a year and he’s beaten most of the favorites!
Brody King, Will Ospreay, Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, Mark Briscoe, Swerve Strickland, and even Kenny Omega! All of them are AEW legends, and Ricochet beat them all! But wait, speaking of legends… Ricochet points out the living legend, Zach Gowen! Ricochet remembers growing up, watching wrestling, he was a huge fan of Zach Gowen. Huge fan. He remembers when big Brock would beat him up and down the arena, that was awesome. But the thing is, Daddy Gowen used to be on this side of the barriers, but now he’s on the other side of them. What happened, Zach? Doesn’t have a leg in the fight anymore?
Ricochet laughs at his own offensive joke, and then asks where that fire is now. He pushes Zach around, security rushes in and Ricochet says he wasn’t doing anything! They’re just talking! Then he BOPS each and every guard! They like that? Ricochet THROWS one guy into railing! Ricochet does his own commentary as he sends another one into the steel steps! Then he puts the third one in the ring, and says Zach might like this. The fans boo but now Ricochet brings out THE SCISSORS! Ricochet cuts this guy’s hair up! But Zach jumps into the ring!! The fans cheer as Zach snatches the scissors from Ricochet!
The fans cheer as Zach asks what is wrong with Ricochet! Ricochet says sorry, sorry! But then he KICKS Zach’s leg out! And then SPIRIT GUN!! The fans boo even more but Ricochet isn’t done with Zach. He takes Zach’s prosthetic leg away! The fans boo as loud as they can as Ricochet leaves with the leg! Ricochet isn’t just humiliating Zach Gowen, he’s committing a crime! Ricochet holds the leg up as a trophy, then mockingly limps with it. Will anyone ever humble the ego that is #OuttaThisWorld?
8 Man Tag: The Don Callis Family VS The Outrunners, Bandido & AR Fox!
Don Callis himself dared Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd to find a friend so they could settle things with Roppongi Vice and the Family, but the Outrunners did better than that! They found TWO friends! Will the Most Wanted ROH World Champion and the Whole Fox’n Show help the Youngest Men Alive humble Callis’ cronies? Or will Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero, Lance Archer & Kyle Fletcher use them to take out all of their frustrations?
Callis of course joins commentary while the teams sort out. Callis calls tonight “Don Callis Championship Wrestling,” and says Detroit boos him and his Family because it is a city of losers. Kyle Fletcher starts against Bandido and the fans fire up. Kyle and Bandido circle, the fans rally up more, and they tie up. They go around, Kyle puts Bandido on the ropes. The fans rally for Bandido and he dodges the chop to CHOP! Kyle swings, Bandido dodges and headlocks. Kyle powers up and out, Bandido RAMS him, but Kyle rebounds to RUN Bandido over! Kyle flexes, the fans boo, but then Turbo flexes and the fans cheer.
So Kyle BOOTS Turbo off the apron! Kyle runs, Bandido dodges, hurdles, but Kyle leaps over. The fans tell Callis off while things keep moving. Bandido slips around to tilt-o-whirl RANA! And then DROPKICK! Kyle falls against ropes, Trent tags in, and Trent CLOBBERS Bandido! The fans boo, Trent rains down fists, and the ref reprimands. Trent stops to tag in Rocky. Roppongi Vice mugs Bandido, then they DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! But Bandido lands out, tags AR Fox, and Fox BOOTS Rocky! And BOOTS Trent! Fox goes up, up, and CANNONBALLS! The fans fire up but here comes the Murderhawk Monster!
Archer scoops Fox into the crucifix lift! But Fox slips free, goes Matrix to dodge, and he ENZIGIRIS! Archer tumbles out, Fox whips Rocky to the corner, Rocky runs into Turbo’s BOOT! Truth adds a HAYMAKER, then Fox tags Turbo. Turbo brings Rocky around to wrench and wristlock. Truth tags in as they whip and atomic drop, UPPERCUT HART ATTACK! Trent is back, but he runs into a DOUBLE HIP TOSS! The fans fire up with The Outrunner as they run at the corners! BACK ELBOWS in stereo for RPG Vice! Then Outrunners trade, more ELBOWS in stereo! Then a feed to the BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up while The Outrunners wind it up!
“Turbo Floyd! You-” Well, Trent gets Rocky out of there, they do NOT give the people what they want. Archer is back and he double choke grips! DOUBLE CHOKE SLAM!! Archer BLASTS Fox & Bandido off the corner, Kyle is there to beat them up, and the fans boo as Archer stomps away on Truth! Archer stands on Truth in the corner and laughs while Collision goes picture in picture.
Archer stalks Truth tot he Callis corner. Rocky tags Archer in and they mug Truth. Archer bumps Truth off buckles, then whips him corner to corner hard! Truth falls to the mat, Archer puts him back in the corner, and Archer looms over him. Truth rises up to fire CHOPS, but archer eggs him on! Truth fires haymakers, then runs, only for Archer to DECK him! Tag to Trent and Trent stalks Truth while Archer TOSESS Turbo! Trent CHOKES Truth, CHOPS him, then talks trash. Trent winds up to CHOP again! Trent brings Truth over to bump off buckles, then he tags in Rocky. RPG Vice mugs Truth, whips him to a corner, and Kyle joins in.
Rocky runs up to ELBOW Truth, then Trent adds an ELBOW of his own! Kyle runs to forearm SMASH! Archer runs in and ELBOWS Truth down! Rocky covers, TWO! Truth survives the onslaught, but Rocky wrenches an arm. Tag to Kyle and Kyle KICKS then arm! Kyle mocks Truth reaching out for his corner, then stomps Truth down. Kyle stalks Truth to the ropes, mockingly holds Truth’s hand out, then scoops and SLAMS him in a snap! Kyle taunts Bandido, then he brings Truth up. Truth fires hands, but Kyle scoops and SLAMS again! Collision returns to single picture and he BLASTS Truth’s corner! Bandido avoids the shot and shouts at Kyle!
Kyle taunts Bandido, but Truth fires hands! The fans fire up but Kyle BOOTS Truth! Kyle suplexes, but Truth counters with a cradle! TWO, and Kyle is up, only for Truth to juke! Hot tag to Bandido! Kyle kicks but Bandido deflects and waistlocks. Kyle switches, shoves and runs up, but Bandido SUPERKICKS! Bandido goes up, up, and TORNILLOS! Down goes Kyle and he bails out! RPG Vice attack Bandido from behind! RPG Vice double whip, Bandido grabs ropes and he BOOTS them back! The Outrunners are in and they stereo ATOMIC DROP! RPG Vice tumble up and out of the ring! Archer runs in, Bandido holds the ropes down, but Archer doesn’t fall for it!
Archer ROCKS Bandido, but the Outrunners DUMP him out! The fans fire up as the Callis Family regroups by the ramp. Fox returns, and he coordinates with Bandido! Whip and pop-up, SUPER CANNONBALL!! The fans fire up as Fox hits a strike! And then The Outrunners form a staircase! Bandido runs to step, step, and ESCALARA CONJILO!! The fans are thunderous as Bandido puts Kyle in! The Outrunners set Kyle up and then wind it up! “Turbo Floyd! You sonova b*tch!” HANDSHAKE DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Fox adds a SWANTON BOMB! Bandido adds a FROG SPLASH!! Cover, The Family breaks it!
The fans boo but The Outrunners brawl with the Family! Things tumble out of the ring, but Bandido aims at Kyle on the ropes! Bandido deals the hand, BLACKJACK- NO, Kyle switches through! DRAGON SUPLEX, but Bandido lands out! Bandido ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirls, but Kyle stops the DDT to MICHINOKU DRIVER!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Kyle and Bandido crawl, hot tags to Fox and Trent! Fox RAMS Trent, goes up, up, and leaps over Trent to somersault and CANNONBALL Kyle! Then Fox wrenches Trent, catches the leg, and FISHERMAN BUSTERS! Archer grabs Fox, shoves him back, but Fox returns to DRAPING DDT!
Fox sees Rocky, Rocky kicks first, then Rocky whips. Fox reverses, Rocky is in the corner, Fox hits an A-LIST LARIAT! Kyle runs up but Fox ELBOWS him away! Fox skins the cat to DROPKICK Rocky and then backwards roll, CUTTER for Kyle! Then Fox avoids Rocky to hit a CUTTER!! The fans are electric and Fox has Kyle on the ropes! Fox builds speed, but Trent anchors his foot! Kyle hits a CALF KICK! The Outrunners BLAST Trent, but Archer CROSSBODIES The Outrunners! Bandido springboards in but Kyle catches him! Kyle calls to the boys, RPG Vice hit a DOUBLE JUMP KNEE! The fans boo but Fox is up!
Fox dodges RPG Vice, BOOTS Kyle, then DOUBLE CUTTER RPG Vice! The fans are thunderous again as Fox goes up, up, but Kyle distracts the ref! Archer grabs Fox, and he SUPER CHOKE SLAMS him down! RPG Vice then sits Fox up, wrenches and double pump handle! JACKAL DRIVER!! Cover, Don Callis Family wins!
Winners: The Don Callis Family, by pinfall
Trent shouts that no one will ever disrespect them again! Will Callis’ pack of jackals devour anyone and everyone that stands in their way?
BREAKING NEWS for Beach Break!
After the assault and humiliation that we saw earlier tonight, Zach Gowen is going to make his return to wrestling! Will Zach get revenge on Ricochet for taking things too far?
Jon Moxley speaks.
“So, we’re through the obligatory preamble, casualties on both sides. Last night, you took out my number one lieutenant. Now I could vow revenge and talk about all the things I’m gonna do to Samoa Joe once I get him inside that steel cage. But that would be rather rote, and probably mostly untrue. What do we know? The consensus is Samoa Joe is gonna kick my ass. And yeah, there’s nobody on the planet better at getting their ass kicked than me. The question isn’t whether Joe will beat me up. The question is, how long can he do it? Five, eight minutes? Ten? 20? 25? I’ve got all night.
“I know you don’t think very much of me, Joe, but you are one of the guys that I have genuine respect for. You are the embodiment of a champion. But you’re not the AEW World Champion, I am. And I know that no matter what happens to me inside that steel cage in Chicago, no matter what Hell is put on me, no matter what I am put through in that steel cage, I know I have been through worse. I have been through the kind of Hell, I have weathered the kind of storms, I have faced down the kinds of demons that would keep these kids up at night. So I don’t need to be feared or respected by you or anybody else. I just need you to show up.
“I don’t get along with the rest of the world because I am not like the rest of the world. And believe it or not, next week, there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than locked inside a steel cage in Chicago with the AEW World Championship hanging in the balance, with the baddest man in pro-wrestling, Samoa Joe. I didn’t build my foundation on sand. When the storm comes through, the only thing that matters is who is the last man standing.” The Maniac has issued his ultimatum, will he ultimately be the baddest man in AEW?
Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian!
The Pride of Pro-Wrestling is ready to prove he’s worthy of all the opportunities before him, but that means having others step to the plate. #BigShotty thinks he can get a hit off the 5 Tool Player, but will he be able to go yard? Or will he just get Molly Whopped and sent back to the dugout?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind Bowens. Bowens and Lee tie up, Bowens wrenches and wristlocks, but Lee wrenches back. Bowens slips through, wrenches and hammerlocks, then he spins and snapmares Lee to an Oklahoma Roll! TWO, and Bowens tries a cradle, TWO! Lee is up to headlock back, but Bowens powers up and out. Lee goes up and over, baits Bowens into a waistlock, but Bowens switches. Lee switches, then he shoves Bowens! “You’re nothing!” The fans boo and Bowens scowls. Lee talks more trash, but Bowens CHOPS Lee off his feet! Bowens stalks Lee to a corner, CHOPS again, and the fans “WOO~!”
Bowens CHPOS again, and again, and again! Bowens then stomps a mudhole into Lee! The ref counts, Bowens steps off at 4, and Bowens apologizes. Lee bails out, Bowens pursues, and Lee tries to apologize. But then Lee bumps into Daddy Ass! Lee looks and sees Billy, apologizes to him now, but Bowens ROCKS Lee! Bowens whips Lee hard into barriers and the fans fire up! Bowens puts Lee in the ring, but Lee kicks low! Lee eggs Bowens on, whips, but Bowens hurdles and mule kicks! Front kicks! FAMOUSER! The fans fire up and Bowens wrenches to lift Lee, SWING OUT FACEBUSTER! Cover, ONE?!?
Billy is annoyed, but then Blake gets on the apron! Bowens backs the Vanilla Babyface off, but then he dodges Lee’s sneak attack! Bowens fireman’s carries, Lee slips free and shoves Bowens to ropes. Billy wants after Blake but the ref keeps him back. Bowens ELBOWS Lee away, but Blake swipes at him! Lee then DUMPS Bowens out! Bowens staggers up, Lee FLIES, and he gets just enough of Bowens to take him down! Then Lee and Blake mock the scissor fingers! The fans boo but Lee puts Bowens in the ring. Lee reels Bowens in, suplexes, but Bowens slips free! Bowens shoves Lee away, runs up, and he blocks the boot! But not the ENZIGIRI!
Lee SUPERKICKS Bowens, runs, but into the Rock, Paper, Scissors, SUPERKICK! The fans fire up and Bowens shows them how it’s done! He puts up the scissors, then shouts for his shot! But Blake gets on the apron! Bowens grabs Blake, Lee rolls Bowens up with tights, TWO!! MOLLY WHOP!! Cover, Bowens wins!
Winner: Anthony Bowens, by pinfall
Blake tried to tip the scales, but then he also storms into the ring! Billy gets in Blake’s way and Blake backs up. Blake “apologizes,” but then he takes a swing! Billy stops that and TOSSES Blake out! Billy says “SUCK IT!” Bowens grabs a mic to tell Detroit, “What you just saw was the Pride of Professional Wrestling! The perfect combination of power, athleticism, intelligence, the look, and The It Factor. And I am in a really good mood, so y’know what? Billy, throw ’em up! Detroit, throw ’em up! And make some noise!” And they SCISSOR FINGER~! For old time’s sake, Bowens embraces the old gimmick. But will nothing stop Bowens from making himself a contender?
The Gates of Agony are here!
Detroit cheers as Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona walk out to the ring, but they grab mics so they can talk. Kaun calls out Bryan Keith & Big Bill. “You think you’re gonna walk through these Gates unscathed, unburned, and redeem yourselves in the eyes of Chris Jericho?” The fans boo and Kaun says, “Hell no, Paradise has to be earned. And these Gates right here? They’re gonna stop you in your tracks.” Liona says, “And this time, we’re not doing it in a parking lot! Y’know why? Because we’re in Detroit! Why not do this right here, right now!?” The fans cheer and Liona tells Big Bill & Bryan Keith, you heard the people! Get out here and fight!
The shirts come off, and here come the Redwood & Bad Apple! They go right to the ring and the brawl is on! The fans fire up as Bill has Kaun and Keith has Liona! Bill hammers away on Kaun in a corner, Liona ROCKS Keith, but Keith roars! Keith runs, only for Liona to LARIAT him down! Bill BOOTS Liona down! Bill goes out after Liona, but then Keith LARIATS Kaun and himself up and out of the ring! Bill and Liona brawl, Linoa shoves Bill into railing and CLUBS him! Keith and Kaun brawl on the floor, Liona SMACKS Bill off steel steps! Liona fires up, the fans are torn, and Liona runs in, only for Bill to send him into railing! In fact, Liona goes over the railing!
Keith staggers but Kaun keeps after him. Kaun brings Keith to the ramp but Keith elbows free! Keith runs but Kaun fireman’s carries! SAMOAN DROP down through tables!! Fans lose their minds, and somehow Liona is up! Liona and Bill now brawl on the stage, even as security and producer Kevin Matthews try to stop this! But there’s no stopping it, and Bill BOOTS Liona! Liona wobbles, but then he roars! Liona SPEARS Bill off the stage and down through tables!! The fans lose their minds all over again! The Gates and the Branches are down around ringside, is the Learning Tree impressed watching this at home?
AEW hears from Anna Jay & Harley Cameron, as well as Penelope Ford & Megan Bayne.
The Queenslayer says, “Megan, you really like to pick fights, huh? I don’t care how big you are, how hard you hit, I will wrap my arms around you and make you sleep!” The Superbad Girl says Anna has been gone a long time, and the Megasus says things have changed. There is a new animal in this jungle, and having a pure heart, fat ass and good friends isn’t gonna cut it. But the wild Aussie tells the Megasus, “I bet your back is blown out after the fight that I brought last night!” Anna says don’t say it like. Ford tells Harley to stop hiding behind Anna’s fat ass already. Ford & Megan want them to fight and learn that mercy is the one thing they never mastered.
Harley shouts that she and Anna will SLAY THE MEGASUS, and all will FEEL THE WRATH! And so BREAKING NEWS for Beach Break Collision! Anna Jay VS Megan Bayne will happen next Saturday when Collision returns to TNT!
Willow Nightingale VS Kris Statlander!
Former friends, bitter enemies, and now maybe somewhere in between, the Babe with the Power and the Galaxy’s Greatest will battle 1v1 once more! But will we truly see she’s a #BornAgainKristen when this fight helps her make amends with Willow? Or will nothing Kris does matter, and Willow will smile anyway?
The bell rings and the two circle. The two start pushing, and then shoving, and then Willow wrenches to wrangle Kris. Kris fights up to wrench back and headlock, but Willow powers out to headlock in return. Kris powers up and out, then reels Willow in for her own headlock. Willow THROWS Kris away and the fans fire up! Willow wants Kris to take this serious, so Kris runs up to waistlock. Willow fights the lift and switches, Kris fights the lift in return. Willow powers through to SLAM Kris all the same! The fans fire up more while Kris grows frustrated. Kris storms up, but Willow boops her on the nose!
The fans are torn but Kris says if that’s how it’s gonna be… And she SLAPS Willow! Willow swings, Kris dodges and Kris trips Willow to then basement CROSSBODY! Kris mocks the Willow smile ‘n’ pose, TWO! Kris mocks the smiling but then Willow SLAPS her! The fans fire up so Kris CHOSP! Willow CHOPS! Is that a spider on the screen? The CHOPS keep going and the fans “WOO~!” Willow then fires off forearms! And an ENZIGIRI! Kris sputters to a corner, Willow storms up, and the fans cheer as she bumps Kris off buckles! Then she brings Kris to another corner for another buckle bump! And then the third corner! And the fourth corner!
The fans fire up as Willow completes the lap, snapmares Kris and BOOTS her down! Willow whips Kris again, but Kris sunset flips! TWO, Willow sits up into a BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO! Kris huffs ‘n’ puffs but she CHOSP! And ROKS! And CHOPS! Kris hooks the arms but Willow flips that around to a backslide, TWO! Kris Oklahoma rolls, TWO! Willow has the cover, TWO! Kris has it back, TWO! Both women stand, Kris scoops, but Willow slips free! Willow shoves Kris, Kris goes up the corner, BACK ELBOW! Kris flexes and the fans are torn, but she hurries to cover, TWO! The fans rally and Kris brings Willow up.
Kris runs, but Willow POUNCES her! PERIOD! Kris tumbles out, the fans fire up, and the ring count starts. Willow goes to the apron and she CANNONBALLS! The fans fire up more as Kris goes down! Willow high-fives the front row, then she goes back to drag Kris up. Willow reels Kris in, but Kris suplexes first! A hard landing on the floor and we’re past 5 of 10! Kris rolls in at 7, but rolls out while Willow rolls in. Kris grabs Willow and brings her back out while Collision goes picture in picture.
Kris brings Willow around to hit another suplex to the floor! Kris soaks up cheers and jeers, puts Willow back in the ring, and then soaks up more cheers and jeers. Kris runs and LARIATS Willow in the corner! Then she scoop SLAMS, covers, TWO! Willow is still in this but Kris stays on her. Kris whips Willow, Willow reverses, and Willow stays back as Kris goes up. Willow then CLUBS Kris on the back, and she reels Kris in for a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Willow reels Kris into a GROUND OCTOPUS! Kris endures as Willow twists her around! Kris pushes it to a cover, TWO! Both women stand, Kris kicks low and snapmares for a body scissor squeeze!
Willow endures, even as Kris adds a half nelson to the mix! Willow fights around, reaches out, and throws elbows! The nelson is undone but Willow still elbows away at the legs! Kris lets Willow go, the two stand up, and Kris CHOPS! Willow seethes and winds up to CHOP back! Kris ROCKS Willow! Willow CHOPS Kris! Kris ROCKS Willow, Willow ROCKS Kris, and repeat! The shots go back and forth, then Willow fires a flurry! Kris fires her own flurry in return! Both women wobble, then they fire more shots! Collision returns to single picture as the shots keep going! Willow then slips around and GERMAN SUPLEXES!
Kris rises, and she gets around Willow to GERMAN SUPLEX! Both women stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide, and both women fall back! The fans fire up while Kris and Willow go to opposite corners. Kris and Willow rise, then Willow runs up to back body block! Kris dodges the lariat and UPPERCUTS! Kris runs side to side to KNEE Willow! Kris whips, Willow cartwheels and BOOTS! Kris kips up to PELE! Kris runs, but Willow hits a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!! The fans are thunderous and Willow has Kris in a corner. Willow LARIATS point blank again and again and again! The fans count all the way to nine, but Kris dodges ten!
Willow blocks the superkick, fireman’s carries, and she bumps Kris off buckles before- NO, Kris slips free! Kris waistlocks but Willow CLUBS away! Kris shoves Willow but Willow avoids the snap powerslam! Willow gut wrenches but Kris trips her! Jackknife bridge, TWO and Willow sunset flips it! TWO and both women stand! SUPERKICK from Kris! Kris runs to SCISSOR KICK! Cover, TWO!! Willow survives and Kris is shocked! The fans are thunderous and Kris hauls Willow up. Kris has the leg, but Willow wrenches and fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and Willow is beside herself!
Detroit is thunderous as Willow puts Kris in the corner. Willow bumps Kris off buckles, then she climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count, but Kris slips out to CLUB Willow on the back! Kris goes up and she has Willow on the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both women are down and the fans go wild! Kris and Willow slowly rise again, and Kris takes aim! Kris winds up and DISCUS- LARIAT from Willow!! The straps come down and Willow hauls Kris up! BABE WITH THE POWER BOMB!!! But Kris flounders all the way out of the ring! Willow rises, but Wheeler Yuta is here. Yuta taunts former friend Kris, but this is to distract the ref!
Marina Shafir gets Willow with a CHAIN!! Marina CHOKES Willow, then KICKS her down! The fans boo but the Death Riders leave ringside. Kris has no idea what happened, she just tucks Willow in! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! Cover, Kris wins!!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
The Problem flips off Willow and Detroit as she finally gets revenge on Willow. Will Willow be able to smile when she’s this pissed off at Marina?
Skye Blue speaks.
“Next week, Beach Break, AEW is back in Chicago. And so am I. I’m back, and I’m a violent little thing.” The Chicago Skye is dark and brooding once again, but will her future be bright?
Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander VS The Dark Order!
Before they take on Will Ospreay & Hangman Page for Beach Break, The Alpha & Walking Weapon are going to make an example out of the Cowboy’s former friends. Will this be the end of The Dark Order once and for all? Or can Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds survive despite not having the Numbers?
Well, Konosuke & Alexander don’t even wait, they just attack! The bell rings, Konosuke TOSSES Uno and Alexander runs up on Reynolds! Reynolds dodges, runs back in, but Alexander ELBOWS him down! Then BOOTS him! Konosuke uses his own jacket to LASH Uno with those studs! Alexander throws his jacket off to keep on Reynolds, and the ref is so busy with Alexander that he misses Callis CLAWING Uno’s eyes! Alexander whips Reynolds, Reynolds goes up and over, but then Alexander puts him on the apron! Reynolds avoids the shoulder to GUILLOTINE KNEE DROP!
Alexander staggers away, the ref is distracted, and Konosuke YANKS Reynolds down! Konosuke sits Reynolds on the apron, CHOPS and hits a DRIVE-BY, then Alexander adds his CROSSBODY CHECK! Reynolds is down, Uno runs up, but Alexander dodges for the ALPHA ELBOW to take Uno down! Alexander puts Reynolds back in the ring, bumps him off buckles, and he tags Konosuke. Konosuke wrenches and reels Reynolds in, BLUE THUNDER- NO, Reynolds fights the bomb! Reynolds reaches out for Uno, but Konosuke reels him in! BIG back suplex, but Reynolds lands out! Reyhnolds shoves Konosuke aside, hot tag to Uno!
Uno ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS! The fans fire up and Uno tags Reynolds back in! They double whip Konosuke, but he breaks their double lariat! Reynolds dodges as Konosuke LARIATS Uno down! Reynolds comes back but into the BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Hot tag to Alexander, and he hoists Uno up into the Electric Chair! Konosuke goes up, JUMP KNEE DOOMSDAY!! Then they haul Reynolds up, DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOWS!! And from there, STRAITJACKET PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Callis Family wins again!
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander, by pinfall
Not only are these two rolling towards Beach Break, but Konosuke is red hot going into his NEVER Openweight Championship defense tomorrow night, NJPW Resurgence in California! Will all of the wrestling world soon belong to the Don Callis Family?
“Speedball” Mike Bailey VS Dralistico!
This match came about because La Faccion Ingobernable was upset Kevin Knight’s team won that $400,000 tag match and they decided to make him pay for it physically. LFI essentially screwed The Jet out of a Continental Championship opportunity, but Bailey is going to fight for his friend! Will Bailey start by taking out El Toro Blanco’s brother?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two tie up, Dralistico puts Bailey in a corner, but the ref counts. Dralistico backs off, and he CHOPS! Dralistico fires hands, the ref counts, but Dralistico tells Bailey off. Dralistico runs, but Bailey blocks the superkick! Bailey swings, Dralistico ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Bailey drops down, hurdles over, and KICKS Dralistico down! The fans fire up while Dralistico bails out. Bailey builds speed, but Dralistico ducks the baseball slide! Bailey kicks, Dralistico blocks and flips Bailey! Bailey lands safe, but then Dralistico avoids the wall kick to ROCK him! Bailey comes back, Dralistico pops Bailey up, and Bailey mule kicks!
Bailey ASAI MOONSAULTS and down goes Dralistico at the ramp! The fans fire and Bailey hurries into the ring. Bailey is all fired up while Dralistico sputters. Bailey goes back out after Dralistico, then he drags Dralistico up. Bailey KICKS, and CHOPS, and then brings Dralistico around. Dralistico CLAWS the eyes! The fans boo but Dralistico RANAS Bailey into the steel steps! Then a SUPERKICK into the steps! Dralistico tranquilos and fans boo while Collision goes picture in picture.
Dralistico nods as the fans rally, and he stalks Bailey. Dralistico drags Bailey up, SMACKS him off the steel steps, then refreshes the ring count. Dralistico pretends he can’t hear the fans booing but he sees them give him thumbs down. Dralistico storms up on Bailey to CHOP him against railing! Dralistico then whips Bailey into the railing! Dralistico hops up onto the barriers so he can soak up the heat. Bailey crawls to the apron but Dralistico shoves him into the ring. Dralistico sits Bailey up, clamps on a GROUND COBRA TWIST, but Bailey endures! Dralistico throws down fists, then tells the fans to shut up!
Dralistico goes back to Bailey, stomps him, then drags him to a drop zone. Dralistico springboards to SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO! Dralistico tells everyone to tranquilo, then he stands Bailey up for a HEADBUTT! Dralistico looms over Bailey, stalks him to the ropes, and then KICKS a leg out! Dralistico puts Bailey on the ropes to CHOKE him! Collision returns to single picture as the fans boo and the ref counts. Dralistico stops at 4, then he KICKS Bailey in the leg! And he KICKS the leg again! Bailey hobbles, Dralistico kicks but Bailey blocks! Bailey KICKS and KICKS and KICKS in return! Then he CHOPS Darlistico in the corner!
The fans fire up but Dralistico turns things around. Dralistico CHOPS Bailey, but Bailey just snarls! Bailey puts Dralistico in the corner to KICK! Dralistico CHOPS! Bailey KICKS again! Dralistico CHOPS again and again and again! Bailey just KICKS again and again and again! The fans fire up as both men fire up and Dralistico fires forearms now! The fans are thunderous and Bailey comes back to KICK! Dralistico KICKS, Bailey KICKS, repeat! KICK for KICK, then Bailey unleashes the LIGHTNING KICKS! Dralistico avoids the thrust kick, but Bailey ducks a heel kick! Both men KICK, but then Bailey kicks a kick away to HEEL KICK Dralistico down!
The fans are thunderous as Bailey busts out that Tae Kwan Do! Dralistico rises, Bailey SOBATS, AX KICKS, and BUZZSAWS! Bailey then runs to SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Bailey drags Dralistico right up, suplexes and FALCON ARROW into the drop zone! Bailey climbs up, takes aim, and ULTIMATE- NO, Bailey has to bail out as Dralistico moves! Bailey rolls through, but Dralistico dropkicks the legs out! Dralistico then floats over, LA MAGITROL, TWO!! Bailey has Dralistico’s arm and steps over, but Dralistico rolls through, only for Bailey to sit on the sunset! Cover, TWO! Dralistico finishes the sunset, TWO!
Bailey kicks, misses, but then STANDING MOONSAULT! Dralistico moves again so Bailey lands out! Dralistico jumps the sweep, jumps on, CRUCIFIX DRIVER!! The fans are thunderous as Bailey flounders! Dralistico reaches down to knuckle lock, but Bailey denies the cover with a Monkey Flip, into a DESTROYER!! The fans are electric as Bailey has Dralistico in the corner! Bailey runs up, but Dralistico DREAMCAST KICKS first! Bailey goes to the apron. Dralistico storms out after him, and Dralistico reels Bailey in. Bailey fights the underhooks, and he Alabama Lifts! Dralistico sunset flips but Bailey stays up!
Bailey breaks free and MOONSAULT KNEE DROPS on the apron! Dralistico coughs and sputters as he rolls into the ring and the fans fire up again! Bailey aims, spins, HEEL KICK!! Cover, Bailey wins!
Winner: “Speedball” Mike Bailey, by pinfall
The sequel was even better than the original! This rematch between Speedball and Prince of Silver was incredible, but wait! Here comes Rush himself! Bailey dares El Toro Blanco to bring those horns because he wants to keep on fighting! Rush says wait your turn, perro! When and where will Bailey look to take the bull by his horns and bring him down?
BREAKING NEWS for Beach Break: Dynamite!
Given Toni Storm wants more and more action, and since Chicago is Skye Blue’s backyard, they’ll be meeting in an AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Fatal 4 Way! Who will the two mystery participants be? And will anyone be able to score on the Whore We All Adore this close to Double or Nothing?
Daniel Garcia VS Dax Harwood w/ Cash Wheeler & Stokely Hathaway!
For the longest time, Red Death respected FTR and FTR respected him. But after FTR selfishly betrayed Adam Copeland and put themselves ahead of everyone else, Garcia could not stand by and do nothing. Garcia dared one of the Top Guys to step up, will he take that Top Guy out? Or will this (emotionally) hurt FTR more than it hurts Garcia?
The bell rings and Dax circles with Garcia. Garcia is also wary of how Cash and #BigStoke are moving around ringside. The fans taunt Dax with “BALD! BALD! BALD!” so it isn’t just Ricochet anymore. Dax and Garcia tie up, go around, and Garcia puts Dax in the corner. The ref counts, Garcia lets off slowly, but he pats Dax on his bald head. Dax brushes that off, he and Garcia circle again, and then they tie up. They go around, Dax puts Garcia in a corner, and the ref counts. Dax lets off slowly, but he sucker punches Garcia! The fans boo but Stoke likes that! The ref reprimands but Garcia shakes off the cheap shot.
Dax storms up and ROCKS Garcia again! And CHOPS! Garcia staggers away but Dax storms up to CHOP again! Garcia goes to another corner, but then he CHOPS in return! Dax turns things around to CHOP again! But Garcia CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Dax CHOPS right back! Garcia sputters as he sits down in the corner. Dax huffs ‘n’ puffs and goes back for Garcia, but Garcia CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Dax headlocks, Garcia powers up and out, but Dax runs him over! Garcia trips Dax, HAMMERS away with fists, but Dax gets up. Garcia keeps after him with a CHOP in the corner!
Garcia whips corner to corner, runs up, but Dax ELBOWS him away! Dax runs up, SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Garcia is down and the fans boo but Stoke & Cash cheer Dax on. Dax stomps and drops knees on Garcia at the ropes! The ref counts, Dax backs off, and Garcia checks his own neck. Cash talks trash, the ref has him back off, and Cash says he’s just talking! He’s allowed to do that, right? The fans still taunt Dax with “BALD! BALD! BALD!” Dax stands Garcia up, reels him in, but Garcia fights the lift! Dax pulls on Garcia’s hair to then CHOP him! Garcia bails out, Dax pursues, and Dax brings Garcia around.
Dax talks trash on the fans, then reels Garcia in. Garcia fights the lift again, trips Dax up, and then CATAPULTS Dax into the POST! The fans fire up while Dax falls in a heap! Garcia stands, rolls into the ring, but just long enough to refresh the count. Dax is busted open and Garcia is right on that bloody forehead! Dax wants mercy but Garcia only backs off to get space. Garcia puts up his dukes, does his dance, and then runs in for a DROPKICK! Dax hits barriers, but Garcia runs again! Another DROPKICK into the barriers! And then a third DROPKICK into the barriers! The fans fire up with Garcia as he goes one more time, only for Cash to stand in the way!
The fans boo as Cash says no more! Garcia seethes, and he still runs up, but Dax LARIATS Garcia down! Cash bought Dax time, and now Dax huffs ‘n’ puffs through his crimson mask. Dax puts Garcia in the ring, then he grabs the ring bell! The ref stops Dax and they tug-o-war over it! Dax lets the ref have the bell, but then Garcia trips Dax! Garcia steps through, and he turns Dax over for the DRAGON TAMER!! But Stoke distracts the ref, letting Cash drag Garcia out! DRAPING NECKBREAKER to the floor! Cash points to commentary to give a thumbs up, but wait! DADDY MAGIC is here! The fans cheer as Matt Menard CLOBBERS Cash!
The fans fire up, Stoke freaks out, and Menard fires off on Cash in a corner! Detroit is all fired up as Collision goes picture in picture!
Cash runs away to the back but Menard pursues! Now things are a bit more even, with Stoke coaching a bloodied and dazed Dax. Dax staggers to his feet, goes over to Garcia, and drags him up to put him in the ring. Dax talks more trash on the fans, then he storms in after Garcia. Dax suplexes and hits a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Garcia is still in this and Dax grows frustrated. The ref checks Dax while the fans rally behind Garcia. Dax is okay to continue, and he brings Garcia up, only for Garcia to cradle! TWO!! Dax stands and LARIATS Garcia down! Dax huffs ‘n’ puffs and TOSSES Garcia to the apron! Dax brings Garcia through the ropes, to then CHOP!
Dax KICKS and ROCKS Garcia on repeat! Then he reels Garcia in for a DRAPING DDT! Cover, TWO! Dax rains down fists without hesitation! Dax hears the fans taunting him so he dares them to do something. Dax holds the ropes open but obviously no one takes the offer. Dax drags Garcia up, CHOPS him, and he storms up on Garcia at the ropes. Garcia ROCKS and CHOPS in return, but Dax CHOPS again! Garcia sputters and falls back while Dax soaks up the heat. Dax paces around Garcia, taunts Detroit more, and Collision returns to single picture. The fans boo as hard as they can but Dax talks trash on Garcia now.
Dax kicks at Garcia, egging him on. Garcia scowls as Dax pie faces him! The fans rally, Garcia rises, and Dax looks worried. Dax SLAPS Garcia, but Garcia just clamps onto Dax’s neck! Dax breaks fere, Garcia CHOP, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Garcia CHOPS away on Dax at the ropes! The fans fire up and Garcia whips, but Dax reverses. Garcia LARIATS, Dax staggers, so Garcia runs again! Another LARIAT but Dax still stays on his feet! Garcia runs, Dax ROCKS him, and then Dax whips. Garcia reverses, Dax reverses to wrench, but Garcia dodges the lariat to LARIAT! Down goes Dax and the fans fire up!
Stoke is frustrated for Dax as the fans rally up. Garcia storms up on Dax to climb up. Garcia rains down fists, and the fans count all the way to nine. Garcia foams at the mouth before he hits TEN! The fans fire up, Garcia waistlocks, but Dax holds onto a buckle pad! That pad comes loose, Garcia still hits a SAIDO! The fans fire up as Garcia covers, TWO!! Dax survives but Garcia goes for the legs. Dax CLAWS at Garcia’s face and shoves him away! Garcia still gets the legs and trips Dax up! DRAGON- NO, Dax fights and BOOTS Garcia into the bare steel! SLINGSHOT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Garcia survives and Detroit is thunderous!
Stokely is seething and Dax is pissed, but the fans continue to rally for “DANNY! DANNY!” Dax goes up, and Garcia CHOPS first! Garcia climbs, brings Dax up, and they go to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!! And then a roll through! Garcia hoists Dax up to the top rope again, and goes back up top! Another SUPER DUPER PLEX!! But Garcia isn’t done, he’s taking Three Amigos to a new level! The fans are thunderous as Garcia goes to the next corner, hoists Dax up, and climbs again! The fans want the hattrick, and Garcia brings Dax up! SUPER DUPER THREE AMIGOS!!! Both men are down and the fans are electric!
Stokely is furious as Garcia crawls to a cover! ROPEBREAK!! Garcia miscalculates and that works out for Dax! “This is Awesome!” and that might be an understatement! Dax and Garcia rise, go forehead to forehead, and then they go forearm for forearm! Garcia gets the edge and the fans love it! Garcia BOOTS Dax out of the ring, then pursues! Stoke has to run away before Garcia CLOBBERS Dax from behind! They go into the crowd, the fans fire up as they’re even closer to the action now! This brawl goes through the stands, around behind commentary, and Dax SMACKS Garcia off railing! And then off more railing!
Schiavone & Nigel just mind their own business, and yet Dax still feels the need to push Nigel’s headset off him! The fans boo and Nigel seethes. Nigel stands up, Dax dares him to do something! Detroit tells Dax he done F’d up, but Nigel just puts his headset back on. Nigel says he is a professional, but a professional commentator. Dax is the wrestler, so Nigel will not touch him. Dax SHOVES Nigel down! Nigel is furious but Dax already storms off to find Garcia. Dax puts Garcia in the ring, but Garcia reels Dax in! Dax fights the lift, Stoke barks from the apron! The ref backs stoke off, but Dax LOW BLOWS Garcia!
But now Nigel is storming down to ringside! Garcia fights the lift and Nigel is on the apron! Dax storms up on Nigel, but Nigel RAMS Dax down low! UPPERCUT! But Cash is back! He kicks Nigel low, reels him in, but Nigel WRINGS Cash out! Garcia LARIATS Dax up and out, and clearly by now the ref has just thrown this one out!
No Contest
Menard is back and he LARIATS Cash up and out! The fans fire up as Menard, Garcia and McGuinness stand tall together! FTR kept pushing buttons but they pushed the wrong ones! Will Stoke, Dax & Cash have to fear the repercussions of their actions?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision, but it apparently caught a bit of the Go Home Syndrome. There were quite a few recap packages I skipped but clearly they are working to hype Beach Break for next. Moxley’s newest promo was alright, didn’t really add much, because as I said just last night, Moxley surely finds a way to retain with help from The Death Riders. I will say, it made a lot of sense for the remaining Death Riders to cost Willow. Marina and Willow still have beef, and I’m still hoping on my idea from last night: Shayna Baszler shows up, teams with Marina, we get Shayna & Marina VS Willow & Kris. Let’s up the ante and get another classic Street Fight Tag out of Kris & Willow.
Great promo from Toni Storm to open the night, and good to hear Skye Blue is back. Another Fatal 4 Way Eliminator makes me wonder if one of the mystery entrants ends up taking the loss. There was also that spider during Kris VS Willow, which I believe is a teaser for Thekla. Thekla could easily jump into the Fatal 4 Way and get close to winning, but who knows. And as I said last night, not sure why they’re holding Athena back from doing much of anything right now. With Supercard of Honor now delayed to July to coincide with All In: Texas, Athena should really be getting involved more on AEW TV so people don’t forget she exists.
Very good stuff with Bowens VS Lee, and I appreciate the albeit lazy way they changed Bowen’s logo so that it doesn’t resemble the Shane Taylor Promotions’ STP. Bowens of course wins, but his promo after was pretty much the same as his other ones. At least he did one last scissoring with Billy. Bowens is unfortunately not going to get a title story right now with all the champions preoccupied in something else. Though honestly, I feel like there is a way for Okada VS Bowens to be a great match, and then someone violates the Continental Rules so that Okada loses without really losing. Best way I can think of is Swerve is hunting The Bucks, they go ringside, and since Bucks are associate with Okada, that’s a violation on his part, and it adds more heat to whatever big thing Double or Nothing has planned.
Great stuff from the Don Callis Family in all their matches. I wasn’t expecting a big 8 Man Tag, and I’m a little disappointed Brody King wasn’t one of the participants, but maybe that’s the next phase. Great showing from the Faces, especially AR Fox. Fox is in a similar boat to Bowens where he certainly deserves title opportunities but TK just isn’t seeing how to write it. But between that and the dominance Konosuke & Alexander over Dark Order, it feels like the Don Callis Family get their comeuppance with Hangman & Ospreay winning next week.
Ricochet VS Angelico was rather outta nowhere but it was still a great match. It was also clearly a vehicle so Ricochet could start beef with Zach (Zack?) Gowen and give us a Beach Break match between them for the real deepcut long time wrestling fans. Much like Bowens and Fox, I feel like Ricochet is waiting on a title to be freed up from story so he can go get those titles. Such as Paragon now feuding with Grizzled Young Veterans for a minute, which in a way keeps Adam Cole isolated. TK should’ve just given us Ricochet VS Cole for the fun of it because Ricochet VS Cole would be incredibly fun stuff. They could even revisit their NXT history if they wanted to.
Great stuff with Gates of Agony and Learning Tree, that was much better than last week’s. I really hope this gives us a Tornado Tag match. For that matter, why aren’t we getting that in the story of Anna Jay & Harley Cameron VS Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford? Good promo from those teams to hype up… just Anna VS Megan… It’d make Beach Break Collision feel all the bigger but whatever, maybe they feel Ford still isn’t up to speed after that Fatal 4 Way last night. But doing a chaotic tag match could help iron out some of that so that Ford can just focus on what she is good at with the gymnastics and throwing hands.
And awesome stuff with Garcia VS “Dax the Axe” in the main event. And yeah, I didn’t put it in myself, but they’re really committing to that as Dax’s ring name right now. Great to see Menard helping Garcia, and even Nigel standing up for himself against Dax. A “No Contest” result was a little odd but I suppose that’s like saying it is a draw where no one goes over. But with the Faces standing tall, maybe Nigel steps in and teams with Garcia right now for Double or Nothing so that Garcia teaming with Cope is the All In moment.
My Score: 8.8/10
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