Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Sakura Genesis Results & Report! (4/5/25)
It could all change right here!

Who truly leads the NJPW revolution?
Hirooki Goto finally has THE top title in NJPW, but David Finlay looks to take it for his own! Will the Fierce Warrior fail to stop The Rebel?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima VS Daiki Nagai; Murashima wins.
- Yuya Uemura VS SANADA; Uemura wins.
- NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins and becomes the new NJPW World TV Champion.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shota Umino; Shota wins.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: The House of Torture VS Bullet Club War Dogs; The House of Torture wins and retains the titles.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Ryohei Oiwa; Takeshita wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Cobb & Callum win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS David Finlay; Goto wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Yuya Uemura w/ Just4Guys VS SANADA!
It used to be Just5Guys, but the Heat Storm went down with injury, and the Cold Skull showed how Cold-Blooded he really was. Will Yuya make this War Dog pay for his crimes? Or will Sakura Genesis start with a Skull End?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind Yuya as he stares down with Sanada. They circle, feel things out, then tie up. Yuya wrenches, wristlocks, then hammerlocks, but Sanada reaches back to headlock. Yuya pries the hold open and puts the headlock on Sanada. Yuya hits the takeover, but Sanada rolls him to a cover, ONE! Yuya holds on, the two stand up, and Yuya wrenches again. Sanada rolls, kips up, and cartwheels to then handspring and wrench Yuya! Sanada hammerlocks, headlocks, spins to hammerlock again, but Yuya switches that onto Sanada. Yuya then spins through to hammerlock, headlock, cravat and snapmare, but Sanada handsprings through!
The fans cheer this great opening exchange, and the two reset. Sanada and Yuya circle, the fans rally up, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, then Yuya kicks an arm to wrench the other. Sanada kicks free to wrench back, but Yuya wrenches again. Sanada wrenches through, wrenches again, but Yuya wrenches right back! Sanada reaches for ropes but Yuya keeps him back. Sanada rolls but Yuya rolls with him! The fans cheer, and Sanada tries again. Sanada rolls, but Yuya rolls with him! The fans cheer again, but Sanada fights up to snapmare. But Yuya holds on and he wrenches again. Sanada tries another snapmare, but Yuya still holds on.
Yuya wrangles Sanada, traps the arm, and SNAP LOCKS it! The fans cheer while Sanada clutches his arm. Yuya runs and basement DROPKICKS! Sanada bails out, shakes out the arm, and the fans rally up. Yuya waits on Sanada while he paces around the outside. Sanada slides in but Yuya knees him first. Yuya whips, Sanada reverses, but Yuya goes up and over! Yuya arm-drags Sanada, then DROPKICKS him down! The fans cheer and Yuya fires up! Sanada goes to a corner, Yuya runs corner to corner, and he CHOP LARIATS! Yuya then reels Sanada in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada stays in this but the fans rally behind Yuya.
Yuya looms over Sanada, brings him up, and clinches, but Sanada fights back with elbows. Yuya CHOPS! The fans cheer while Sanada sputters, and Yuya whips. Sanada reverses again to hurdle, hurdle, and DROPKICK! Yuya falls and goes to the outside, but Sanada PLANCHAS! Down goes Yuya and the fans still fire up! Sanada brings Yuya up, headlocks and brings him around the way, to then whip Yuya hard into railing! Yuya sputters while he leans against the railing. The fans boo but Sanada soak up all that heat. Sanada opens the gate and brings Yuya out into the crowd! The fans are told to back up, but Sanada SMACKS Yuya off Milano Collection AT-san!
The fans boo this unorthodox way of weaponizing the surroundings, but Sanada isn’t done! Sanada drags Milano out of his seat, the fans cheer Milano on, and Sanada stands Yuya up. Yuya CHOPS Sanada, and Sanada falls onto Milano! Milano suffers further damage and embarrassment, but Sanada CLAWS Yuya’s face! Sanada then THROWS Yuya down onto Milano! The fans boo more, but Sanada drags Yuya up. They go past English commentary, and Sanada brings Yuya back to ringside. Sanada puts Yuya in the ring, but then has him on the apron! MAGIC SCREWÂ to the floor! The ref reprimands but Sanada doesn’t care.
Taichi checks on Yuya, and he glares at Sanada. Sanada storms over to drag Yuya back up, and he puts Yuya in the ring. The fans cheer while Sanada drags Yuya back up. Sanada puts Yuya on the ropes, for another MAGIC SCREW! Sanada mocks the fans cheering for Yuya, then he drags Yuya into the dragon sleeper! Yuya endures, and he arm-drags free! Sanada comes back, into Yuya’s SWINGING ARM-DRAG! And the URENAGE! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yuya crawls his way over, and he fires back up! The fans are with him as he goes to a corner! Yuya climbs, then watches Sanada stand.
Yuya leaps, but Sanada gets under! Yuya rolls through, but Sanada comes back! Yuya ducks the Shining Wizard, and he ENZIGIRIS! Sanada staggers, but he ENZIGIRIS! Sanada waistlocks, Yuya switches, GERMAN SUPLEX! Sanada lands on his feet! Tilt-o-whirl and dragon sleeper! Sanada holds on tight for the SKULL- NO, Yuya rolls back and pops free! Yuya catches one arm, then swings Sanada around, but Sanada catches Yuya! DEAD- NO, Yuya slips out of Deadfall, only for Sanada to shove him into the ref! The fans boo, but Sanada pops Yuya up to LOW BLOW! The fans boo more while Yuya drops to his knees!
Sanada goes to a corner, then runs up, SHINING WIZARD! Sanada isn’t done as he drags Yuya to the drop zone! Sanada goes up, ROUNDING- NO, Yuya dodges, and he RANAS! Then ARMBAR!! Sanada TAPS, Yuya wins!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, by submission
Sanada tried to steal this one like he did with Taichi, but Yuya powered through! Justice has been served, will Sanada see where he went wrong? Will the Heat Storm rise to the top and prove he’s the future of NJPW?
NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS Great-O-Khan w/ The United Empire!
The Headbanga knew the United Empire was coming for his gold, but his match with “Captain” TJP was just to soften him up for The Dominator! Will Khan bring this gold back to the Empire? Or will this still be the ELP Show?
It seems the United Empire is bringing a special guest! It’s the man who designed the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt, Masami Obari! Obari-san puts up the crown with the Empire, and joins Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young in Khan’s corner. Is this a sign Obari could also be designing something special for Khan? That aside, the match introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really the Face of NJPW World!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. ELP BOOTS Khan and Khan bails out! ELP builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit into railing and the fans fire up! ELP hauls Kahn up while fans duel, and ELP TOSSES Khan over railing! Fans move back as ELP ROCKS Khan with a right! ELP then goes into the ring, up the ropes, and fans join in as he says, “E! L! P!” SUPER CROSSBODY into the crowd! Direct hit and ELP ends up taking a seat! ELP smiles and high-fives the fans, then hurries to his feet. The fans rally behind ELP as he drags Khan up and CHOPS him! Khan flops over the railing and ELP gets fans to join in on “One more time!”
ELP hops over railing, drags Khan up, but Khan fights the suplex! Khan scoops, and SLAMS ELPÂ on the railing! ELP flops to the floor while fans fire up again! Khan drags chair after chair out from under the ring, and he sets them up nearby. The ref reprimands but Khan shoves him aside. Khan has created a makeshift table using the chairs, and he drags ELP up! ELP slips free, kicks low, and he reels Khan in! But the bad arm won’t let him lift! Khan hauls ELP up, and he APRON SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up while ELP sputters on the floor. Khan drags ELP into the ring, covers, TWO! ELP stays in this but Khan scoops him back up for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Khan pushes ELP around, gut wrenches him, and then GUT BUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Khan doesn’t let up, he gut wrenches for a GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! ELP is still in this and Khan is a bit surprised. The fans rally and duel, but the “O-KHAN! O-KHAN!” side seems stronger. Khan storms up but ELP fires a body shot! There wasn’t much behind it, and Khan taunts ELP. ELP rises to fire a forearm, but that’s the bad arm! Khan smirks but the fans rally again. ELP fires a forearm, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! The “O-KHAN!” side again outdoes the “E L P!” ELP still rises to throw a chop, but there is still little behind it.
Khan brushes himself off, takes a swing, but ELP catches him, wrenches, straitjacket and- NO, the bad arm won’t let him lift Khan into the torture rack! ELP goes to a corner, but Khan Mongolian Chops him! The fans are torn but Khan hops up to sit on his throne! But then ELP slips right out and GAMANGIRIS! ELP climbs up to get Khan, but Khan GROIN CLAWS?! The fans boo and somehow the ref missed that! Khan scoops ELP from that position, but ELP slips down! ELP slingshots back up, then SUPER STEINERS! The fans fire up while both men are down! ELP rises back up, goes right up top, and THUNDERKISS 86Â onto knees!!
Khan drags ELP into a roll up, TWO!! ELP survives, but Khan clamps on with the HITSUJIGOROSHI and then clinches for the FLATINER! Then the IRON CLAW! Khan drags ELP up for the ELIMIN- NO, ELP flips through! ELP then ducks, goes up the corner, and FLYING TORNADO DDTS! The fans fire up while both men are down again! ELP kips up and the fans cheer! ELP tunes up in the corner, Khan rises, SUDDEN- NO, Khan shoots around to IRON CLAW BACKBREAKER, then a spin, and Khan ROCKS ELP with an elbow! ELP BOOTS in return! Khan roars, blocks a kick, but not the ENZIGIRI!
Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Time is running out and that favors ELP. Khan crawls over to ELP, the two sit up, and Khan fires a forearm! ELP snarls and fires a forearm in return! But the bad shoulder doesn’t help. Khan fires a forearm, so ELP winds up and fires back! Khan fires another forearm, but ELP shakes his head. Both men stand, and ELP storms up to Khan. ELP rips the shoulder tape away! Khan eggs ELP on, so ELP SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires palm strikes! Then a HEADBUTT! ELP runs, but Khan dodges! Khan returns, ELP dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, and ELP stays up!?
The fans fire up and ELP calls to Jado. Jado takes ELP’s hand and helps POP that shoulder! ELP storms up on Khan, fires forearm after forearm after forearm, then he ROCKS Khan on the ropes! The fans rally, ELP whips, and ELP DROPKICKS! Then ELP handsprings and the fans fire up more! ELP drags Khan up, straitjacket and torture rack! ELP spins for the BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives but ELP vows to end this! The fans fire up as ELP tucks the arms. Khan wrenches out to IRON RIGHT! But SUDDEN DEATH returns! ELP hurries to tuck Khan in, and C R 2!! Cover, TWO?!? Khan survives and the fans are thunderous!
ELP isn’t sure what to make of this, but we’re past 10 minutes. ELP drags Khan to the drop zone, goes up the corner, but Khan bails out. The fans boo but ELP hops down. The ring count starts, but ELP goes out the side! ELP storms up on Khan as we pass 5 of 20! Jado stops Khan from using a chair! So Khan sends Jado at ELP! ELP stops Jado from running into him, and now ELP has the chair! Khan wants mercy, Jado tells ELP not to use the chair. ELP drops the chair, but the IRON RIGHT hits! We’re at 12 of 20 as Khan scoops ELP! T T DÂ on the chair structure!! Khan rolls in at 17, ELP is down at 18! 19! 20!! KHAN WINS!!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by count out (NEW NJPW World Television Champion)
Khan grins as his master plan worked out! TJP weakened ELP, then the chairs came into play like Chekov’s Gun. Khan has conquered another title, but what will he have in store for his “season” as NJPW World TV Champion?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shota Umino!
The Ace continues down the Final Road, but the Roughneck is just starting his Second Chapter. However, after losing to David Finlay, could Shota be embracing a darker path? Or can President Tanahashi still show him the light?
Tanahashi is partially cosplaying Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and joining him is top cosplayer, Momo Momoto. Get your copy of Fatal Fury on April 24th! That aside, Shota makes his entrance, and despite his new edge, he still wears his shining white pants and jacket. The jackets are put aside, and Tanahashi shows off the abs. The fans cheer, and the bell rings. The fans rally for Tanahashi but Shota tunes it all out. They tie up, Tanahashi waistlocks but Shota wrenches. Tanahashi wrenches back, but Shota rolls, slips through, and hammerlocks. Tanahashi reaches around, and he elbows Shota into a headlock.
Shota powers up, but Tanahashi holds tight! The fans cheer and Tanahashi grinds the hold, but Shota fights back up. Shota fires body shots, powers up and out, but Tanahashi RAMS him! Shota rebounds and runs Tanahashi over! The fans fire up again while Shota shakes out the stars. Shota drags Tanahashi up, whips him to a corner, then runs in, only for Tanahashi to BOOT him away. Tanahashi goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Tanahashi bounces off and plays air guitar. The fans cheer while Shota goes to a corner. Tanahashi runs in but Shota dodges! Tanahashi hits buckles, Shota runs back in, but Shota blocks Tanahashi’s boots!
Shota brings Tanahashi out of the corner to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally while Shota paces around Tanahashi. Shota stomps Tanahashi’s legs, then stomps them again. Shota drops knee after knee on Tanahashi’s knee, then shifts into a toehold. Tanahashi endures as Shota shifts around to get a different angle. Tanahashi keeps his shoulders up, then works on his escape. Shota pulls on the leg, but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Shota lets go, and he stands Tanahashi up to grab the leg again. Tanahashi fights the lift with elbows, then he runs, only for Shota to dropkick the legs out!
Shota hurries to stand Tanahashi back up, and he has the leg for a SHIN BREAKER! Tanahashi falls, Shota steps over, S T F! Tanahashi endures, reaches out, crawls forward, and the fans rally as he drags Shota along. Shota shifts to have the leg and he drags Tanahashi back! KNEE SMASH into the mat! Back to the STF! Tanahashi endures again but the fans continue to rally! Tanahashi fights to the side, reaches out, but Shota pulls on the crossface! Tanahashi still manages the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go while the fans cheer, and Tanahashi crawls to a corner. Shota storms over, stomps Tanahashi’s leg, then stomps it again, and again!
Shota digs his boot in but the ref counts, so Shota steps off. Shota stands Tanahashi up to fire a forearm! And another! And another! Tanahashi turns things around to fire forearm after forearm! Shota turns things around to fire forearm after forearm! Tanahashi turns things back around for more forearms, but then so does Shota! Tanahashi turns things around again for another round of forearms! Shota shoves Tanahashi and eggs him on! The forearms fly back and forth, then Shota gets the edge! Shota bumps Tanahashi off buckles, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again! Shota eggs Tanahashi on while the fans fire up!
Tanahashi rises up, and Shota fires another forearm! Tanahashi leans into it! And he leans into another! And another! Shota throws a flurry, but Tanahashi swings! Shota ducks to SHOTEI in return! Tanahashi wobbles, Shota kicks, but Tanahashi blocks it, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while Tanahashi rises. Tanahashi drags Shota up, fires a strike fest, then whips. Shota reverses, Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up with Tanahashi and he drags Shota up. Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Shota down into the drop zone! Tanahashi goes up, SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Shota survives that solid impact and the fans rally up again!
Tanahashi waits on Shota, then he runs to SLING- NO, Shota slips around to half nelson! Tanahashi runs to ropes, bucks the nelson, but Shota ELBOWS and ENZIGIRIS! Tanahashi staggers, roars, but swings into the HALF ‘N’ HALF! Tanahashi’s back up, but runs into another HALF ‘N’ HALF But Tanahashi’s up again!? Shota gets him for a third HALF ‘N’ HALF! Bridging cover, TWO!! Tanahashi escapes and the fans are thunderous! Shota rises and now he waits on Tanahashi. Tanahashi slowly stands up, Shota runs the ropes, but Tanahasih slips under and spins Shota for TWIST ‘n’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!
Tanahashi roars as he brings Shota back up, but Shota fights the hattrick! Tanahashi fires body shots, Shota fires them back! Shota hooks the leg, SECOND- NO, Tanahashi fights the driver! But Shota fights the twist! Shota wrenches, swings, but into a full nelson! Shota breaks that, but ends up in a STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shota escapes and the fans are thunderous again! Tanahashi gets moving, and he SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi hurries right up top! The fans fire up while Shota stands, HIGH FLY ATTACK! Shota is down, so Tanahashi goes back up!
The fans fire up as Tanahashi aims again! HIGH FLY FLOWÂ FLOPS as Shota moves! Shota aims from the corner, fire in his eyes as Tanahashi rises. BLINDSIDE BUSAIKU KNEE!! Shota rises again while the fans rally as hard as they can for Tanahashi! Shota roars as he goes back to the corner! Tanahashi rises, into a BUSAIKU KNEE!! Shota isn’t done, as he drags Tanahashi up, hooks the leg, and SECOND- CRADLE from Tanahashi! TWO!!! Shota escapes in time! Both men stand, both men roar and run in! Shota dodges to then LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Tanahashi survives and Shota is furious, but the fans are electric!
Shota drags Tanahashi back up, reels him back in, and he hooks that leg! SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall
Whether light or dark, good or evil, that might just be a matter of perspective. What is clear is that Shota’s Second Chapter just punctuated a major part of Tanahashi’s last chapter! But wait, Shota wishes to speak. The mic is handed over, and the fans cheer Shota as he kneels by Tanahashi. “Tanahashi-san… I have just one decision, one option. I will lead Hontai here in NJPW!” Shota takes a bow of respect to President Tanahashi, but will he really lead the main unit when he is not yet atop the mountain? As for Tanahashi, he now has a week to prepare for his next match, that being with Konosuke Takeshita! Will The Ace be ready for The Alpha?
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: The House of Torture VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
The Bullet Club Civil War continues to rage on, and now Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho must put up their gold against Gabe Kidd, “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Taiji Ishimori! Will the House use all the tricks in the book to keep these titles? Or will the War Dogs be bringing gold and bodies back to the pound?
The introductions are made, the NEVER belts are raised, and we see who is truly Bullet Club Prime!
The War Dogs TRIPLE SHOTGUN! Yujiro & Ren fall out of the ring, Sho takes a TRIPLE SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Taiji and Gabe go up the corners, to DOUBLE ASAI MOONSAULT! Down go Yujiro & Ren and the fans fire up! The bell rings and Drilla drags Sho up. Gabe & Taiji set up Yujiro & Ren, Drilla SPLASH MOUNTAINS Sho out onto them!! The fans are thunderous and Drilla is all fired up! Gabe drags Ren out into the crowd to UPPERCUT! Taiji fires hands on Yujiro, Drilla has Sho, and it is chaos all around the arena! Drilla BOWLS Sho into chairs! Gabe does the same to Ren in some other segment!
Taiji SMACKS Yujiro off the timekeeper’s table! The fans rally, the ref reprimands, but Drilla drags Sho back to ringside. Drilla DECKS Sho, but Ren JAMS Gabe up with a chair! Ren has Gabe behind commentary and SMACKS him off a desk! Gabe falls back, Sho CHOKES Drilla, and then Sho puts Drilla in the ring. The fans boo but Ren POSTS Gabe! Sho stomps Drilla around, then tags in Yujiro. Sho stomps Drilla more, and the House all joins in. They drag Drilla up, whip him to a corner, then Sho runs up to forearm SMASH! Yujiro runs up to BOOT! Ren runs up to ELBOW! Ren snapmares Drilla down, then distracts the ref from seeing Yujiro’s FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!
The fans boo but Tokyo Pimp covers, only for Gabe to break it! Ren kicks Gabe back out, then Yujiro tags Ren in. The Souled Out Son of Strong Style storms up, but Drilla RAMS him into the corner! Gabe tags in, Taiji BLASTS the House, and now Taiji handsprings so he and Drilla can NEURALIZER HART ATTACK! Then CATAPULT into a HAYMAKER! Drilla lifts Ren into the Electric Chair, and Gabe goes up, up, and DOOMSDAY DEVICE!! Cover, Sho & Yujiro break it! The House brawls with the War Dogs, they go back and forth with forearms, but then the House just CLAW eyes! But the Dogs bark and CLAW eyes in return!
Taiji & Drilla whip, but Sho & Yujiro grab ropes! They TOSS Taiji, but Drilla sends Yujiro into Sho! GORE for Yujiro! Sho dodges Drilla to SPEAR! But Taiji springboards back in, SEATED SENTON! Ren BOOTS Taiji! Gable gets around Ren to ripcord, HAYMAKER, and Ren wobbles! The fans are thunderous, Gabe roars, and Gabe runs, only for Ren to dodge! Gabe rebounds, but into the NECKBREAKER DROP! Everyone is down, and this is just the first five minutes! Ren crawls to the corner, he tags Sho in, and Sho laughs as he stomps Gabe down. Ren and Sho stomp Gabe, digs their heels in, and soak up the heat.
Sho & Ren CHOKE Gabe, have him on the ropes, and then they double whip. Gabe DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up as the anti-hero stands tall! Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe runs to COMEBACKER LARIAT on Sho! Taiji returns, Gabe tags Drilla. Taiji gut wrenches Sho for CIPHER UTAKI, and Drilla deadlifts Sho! But Yujiro & Ren drag Gabe & Taiji outta the ring! Sho slips free to shove Drilla into the ref! The fans boo, but t hen Sho LOW BLOWS Drilla, and shoves him back into the ref!! The fans boo even more, but now Ren has his pushup bar! Ren CLOBBERS Gabe! The House regroups and they haul Drilla up.
Ren & Yujiro hold Drilla up while Sho has his “Torture Tool!” But then Sho spots something! CLARK CONNORS & SANADA are here! 100 Proof CLOBBERS Yujiro & Ren! Then he dodges Sho to UPPERCUT! Sanada… is in Astro Boy boots? What? But he has his guitar, and he aims at Sho! BUT HE SMASHES DRILLA?!?! Sanada gets the ref in the ring, Sho covers Drilla, House of Torture wins!!
Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
The Cold Blooded snake does it again!! He ditched LIJ for Just5Guys, then he betrayed J5G to be Bullet Club 4 Life! Only to now betray the War Dogs and join the House of Torture!! Sanada unzips his jacket to confirm it, he’s wearing a “House of Torture is Real Bullet Club” shirt!! But then he and the House run away as Gabe gets back up! Is this Sanada’s final form? Is this going to be the deciding battle in the Bullet Club Civil War?
NJPW announces the field for the Best of the Super Juniors 32!
The fastest moving round robin tournament is on its way back! And in this year’s field, it will be: last year’s winner, El Desperado; “Funky Weapon” Ryusuke Taguchi; Mr. Direct Drive, YOH; “The Way to the Grandmaster,” Master Wato; “The Time Splitter,” KUSHIDA; “The Jet,” Kevin Knight; “The American Shinobi,” Ninja Mack; “Japanese Young Punk,” Kosei Fujita; “The Sniper of the Skies,” Robbie Eagles; “The Ticking Timebomb” and perhaps the most decorated winner of all, Hiromu Takahashi; “The Black Mask,” BUSHI; “The Crown of Fire,” Francesco Akira; “The Bone Soldier Reborn,” Taiji Ishimori; “100 Proof,” Clark Connors; “The Murder Machine,” SHO; “Heel Master,” Yoshinobu Kanemaru; a wild card from CMLL; Dragongate’s Dragon Dia; DDT Pro’s MAO; and AEW’s Nick Wayne!
So that’s TWENTY in all, two blocks of 10, and it all begins May 10th! Desperado is on commentary and is very excited about those crossover names. But will he go back to back? Or will another prove they are the Best of the Super Juniors?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Ryohei Oiwa w/ TMDK!
The Alpha became a double champion to start the year off strong, but he has since hit a speedbump. Kenny Omega is now AEW International Champion, but Konosuke still has gold to defend. Will Konosuke keep this title as he also prepares for the Windy City Riot? Or will The Mighty Mullet get a grip on some gold?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives in!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The crowd seems split down the middle as Konosuke and Oiwa circle. They feel things out, back up, then tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Oiwa waistlocks, but Konosuke switches. Oiwa switches back, but Konosuke grabs a leg and trips him. Oiwa goes for an arm, Konosuke rolls back, and Konosuke floats to a facelock. The two stand, they’re on the ropes, and the ref counts. Konosuke lets off slowly, pats Oiwa on the shoulders, and the fans applaud. Oiwa and Konosuke go again, and Konosuke grabs an arm. Konosuke wrenches to wristlock, but Oiwa rolls, wrenches and wristlocks in return.
Konosuke rolls, Oiwa wrangles him, and Oiwa STOMPS the arm! The fans applaud, and Oiwa top wristlocks Konosuke. Konosuke arm-drags free, headlocks for the takeover, but Oiwa headscissors. Konosuke kips free, Oiwa headlocks for the takeover, but Konosuke headscissors. Konosuke hooks a leg to stop the kip up and he has the cradle! TWO and both men hurry to their feet. Oiwa headlocks, Konosuke powers up and out, then he drops down to jump over. But Oiwa drops on the monkey flip for a cover! TWO, and Konosuke bails out! Oiwa hurries out after him, headlocks again, but Konosuke powers up and out.
Oiwa whips Konosuke to send him hard into railing! The fans cheer, Oiwa drags Konosuke up, and Oiwa whips Konosuke, only for Konosuke to reverse! Oiwa hits railing, then Konosuke runs up to BOOT Oiwa! But Konosuke goes so hard, he falls over the railing! Konosuke gets back up while Oiwa is still down, and he drags Oiwa up. Konosuke puts Oiwa in the ring, the fans applaud, and Konosuke springboards! Oiwa dodges, runs up and ELBOWS Konosuke in the corner! Oiwa whips Konosuke to a corner, then runs up to ELBOW him again! Oiwa fires up, the fans are with him, and he whips corner to corner just to YANK the arm!
The fans applaud the savvy, and Oiwa clamps onto Konosuke’s arm. Konosuke endures as Oiwa grinds the shoulder. Konosuke fights up, Oiwa wrenches and wristlocks, but Konosuke powers up, only for Oiwa to wrangle him to the mat! Oiwa hammerlocks that arm, cording holds the other, and he rolls Konosuke up, TWO! Oiwa keeps Konosuke down with a double wristlock! Konosuke fights up, but Oiwa RAMS him into the corner! Konosuke drops to his knees but Oiwa drags him back up. Oiwa clamps onto the arm again, but Konosuke fights against it. Konosuke eggs Oiwa on so Oiwa puts on the pressure! Only for Konosuke to scoop and SLAM!
But Oiwa holds on and drags Konosuke down! Oiwa pulls on the arm with that keylock, but Konosuke fights up to his feet. Oiwa whips Konosuke to a corner, Konosuke stops himself and ELBOWS Oiwa back. And ELBOWS him again! Konosuke goes up, but Oiwa DROPKICKS him first! Konosuke falls against the buckles, and Oiwa goes out to grab the bad arm! The ref reprimands but Oiwa climbs up to throw down elbows. Oiwa then has a facelock, and the bad arm, but Konosuke fires body shots! Konosuke HEADBUTTS Oiwa! The fans rally as both men adjust their position, and Konosuke has Oiwa on the very top!
Konosuke fires up for the SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Konosuke clutches the bad arm, but he still rises back up! Konosuke drags Oiwa up, reels him in, but Oiwa fights with elbows! Oiwa wants the arm, Konosuke rolls through! Oiwa dodges the lariat to SNAP GERMAN! And then he waistlocks for another GERMAN SUPLEX! Konosuke stands, Oiwa runs up, but into an EXPLODER! Oiwa rises up, swings again, but into the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke huffs ‘n’ puffs and stands back up, daring Oiwa to do the same.
Oiwa stands, and Konosuke fires a forearm! Oiwa snarls and fires one in return! Konosuke fires another forearm, Oiwa staggers, but he stays up. Oiwa comes back to fire a forearm! The forearms go back and forth, the fans rally up as they go harder, but then Oiwa wrenches and YANKS the arm! Oiwa wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER, then another ELBOW- NO, Konosuke has a SLEEPER! Oiwa slips free to put the SLEEPER on Konosuke! Konosuke shifts, powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Both men rebound, and Konosuke JUMP KNEES Oiwa down! Konosuke fires up, hauls Oiwa up, but Oiwa SAIDOS!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Oiwa rises, the fans rally, and Oiwa goes to a corner. Oiwa climbs up, takes aim, and DIVING SPLASHES onto knees! Cradle, TWO!! Oiwa is free, and he runs up to HEADSCISSOR TAKEDOWN! Cover, TWO! Oiwa and Konosuke DOUBLE LARIAT! They stay up, Konosuke BOOTS Oiwa’s next lariat, then dodges the other! But he runs into a LARIAT all the same! The fans fire up and Oiwa waistlocks! Oiwa then spins Konosuke, but Konosuke dodges The Grip! Konosuke waistlocks, Oiwa switches, Konosuke switches back, and O’Conner CHAOS THEORY! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke grits his teeth and rises back up. Konosuke aims from a corner, Oiwa rises, POWER- NO, Oiwa catches Konosuke to a DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa hurries to clamp on the keylock! Oiwa drags Konosuke into SHANKLY GATES!! Konosuke endures being bent and twisted while the fans rally up! Konosuke shifts around, reaches out, but Oiwa puts all he can onto the hold! Konosuke still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Oiwa lets go in frustration. Konosuke rises, but Oiwa waistlocks! Konosuke holds onto the ropes with one hand, but Oiwa pulls him free! GERMAN SUPLEX! Konosuke lands out!?
Konosuke runs up, dodges a lariat, and then DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men rebound, and Konosuke LARIATS through! Konosuke hurries to suplex, RAGIN- NO, Oiwa fights the fire, but Konosuke suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, ONE?!!? Oiwa shows some true grit, and Konosuke is impressed! Konosuke storms up to ROCK Oiwa, then ROCK him again! Oiwa wobbles but Konosuke ROCKS him again! Konosuke spins, but so does Oiwa! Oiwa ROLLING ELBOWS first! SLEEPER! And then THE GRIPÂ misses! ROLLING ELBOW from Konosuke! Elbow pad off, ALPHA ELBOW hits!! And then RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
While The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Oiwa could not withstand The Alpha’s arsenal! Konosuke keeps this title around his waist, and now he must prepare for April 11th. Will Konosuke be ready for the Once in a Century Talent?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!
The leader and, uh, other leader(?) of Los Ingobernables de Japon won the World Tag League, and eventually won these titles off the Young Bucks. But the United Empire wants to take back what they never truly lost! Will the Imperial Unit & Prince of Pace avenge Aaron Henare? Or will things in the Heavyweight Tag Division stay tranquilo?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Empire gains more gold!
Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire, as is his wont. The pants are put aside, the teams sort out, and after the LIJ fist bump, Hiromu starts against Callum. The bell rings, the fans rally, and Hiromu stares down Callum. Hiromu vibes with the chants for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” The two tie up, are in a deadlock, and they go around. Callum uses his height to put Hiromu on the ropes, but then Hiromu turns things around. The ref counts the break, Hiromu lets off, but Callum avoids the chop! Callum whips, Hiromu reverses, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges, but then so does Hiromu! Hiromu RANAS, Callum handsprings through!
Callum runs up, Hiromu dodges and RANAS again, but Callum still handsprings through! But Hiromu spins Callum, only for Callum to fight the suplex! Hiromu CHOPS, Naito jumps in, and they double whip! But Callum BOOTS through Tendedero! LIJ tries again, Callum ducks this time, and he runs again, only for LIJ to avoid the boot! TENDEDERO! Naito & Hiromu hit Cobb with TENDEDERO! Cobb is furious but Hiromu goes after Callum. Hiromu drags Callum over to bump off buckles, then he tags Naito. The fans rally for Naito while he cravats Callum. Callum endures the neck wrench, Hiromu puts his boots in, and Naito sends Callum into them!
The fans applaud while Naito brings Callum up. Hiromu joins in and picks Callum’s legs up, DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Naito tags Hiromu, then drags Callum up for a CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS Callum in the corner, whips corner to corner, then runs up to LARIAT! Snapmare and Hiromu gets moving, but Callum dodges to basement DROPKICK! The fans rally up, Callum rolls and hot tags Cobb! The fans cheer as Cobb brings Hiromu up, reels him in, and then SLAMS him down by his waistband! Cobb steps on Hiromu but dares Naito to come in. GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT on Hiromu’s back!
Cobb mocks the LIJ fist with a hang loose, then he ROCKS Hiromu. Cobb whips Hiromu corner to corner, but Hiromu runs back to CROSSBODY! Cobb catches Hiromu, and swings, but Hiromu slips free! Hiromu ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAN- NO! Cobb stops that and he lifts Hiromu up! But Hiromu pops free to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tag to Naito! Naito fires hands on Cobb, kicks and CLUBS him, but Cobb just frowns. Cobb swings, Naito dodges to waistlock, but Cobb switches. Cobb shoves Naito, but Naito grabs the ropes. Cobb runs up, Naito BOOTS him, but Cobb eggs him on.
Naito fires forearms, but Cobb runs up, but into an atomic drop! Naito runs, ELBOWS Cobb down, then basement DROPKICKS! The fans rally, Naito BLASTS Callum off the apron, then whips Cobb. Cobb reverses, but Naoto BOOTS him! Naito goes up, and hits ESPERANZA! Cobb flounders, stands up, and Naito CORRIENDO SHIKI- ATHLETIC PLEX! The fans fire up as Cobb turns things around on Naito, and now he crawls to hot tag Callum! Callum runs corner to corner to JUMP KICK Naito! And then he brings Naito around to suplex, but Hiromu runs in! Hiromu dropkicks Callum’s legs out! Cobb “JOHN CENA!” SHOULDER TACKLES!
Naito wrenches Cobb, reels him in, and TORNADO DDTS! Cobb flounders away, Naito catches Callum and feeds him to a SUPERKICK! CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up! The fans rally, Naito drags Callum up, and Hiromu waits on Naito. Hiromu gives Naito the boost, but Callum stops the DDT! Callum and Naito switch, Naito feeds Callum to Hiromu for a dosido and roll-up! Callum rolls through, but runs into TENDEDERO! Naito wrenches, throws elbows, then wrenches again! DESTI- NO! Callum stops it, so Hiromu SHOTGUNS Callum into the DESTINO!! Cover, Cobb SHOVES Hiromu down to break it!
Cobb waistlocks and deadlifts Naito, but Naito fights with elbows! Cobb lets go to SUPERKICK Naito, then reels him in for a TOUR OF THE- CROSSBODY from Hiromu! The fans fire up with Hiromu, and he drags Cobb up. Hiromu fireman’s carries Cobb!? But Cobb slips free, and he TOSSES Hiromu out! Cobb calls to Callum, then he scoops Naito. But Hiromu SUPERKICKS Cobb to save Naito! And he SUPERKICKS Callum! But Callum stays up, dodges a lariat, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES Hiromu! Callum runs, but into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX into buckles! Hiromu fires up, the fans are with him, and he brings Callum back up.
Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Callum slips free! Feed to a POP-UP POEWRBOMB! Cobb hurries to TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Hiromu flounders away, but Naito runs up! But into a TOUR OF- DESTINO!! Callum runs up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, springboard, OSCUTTER 2.0!! And then the fisherman, for FIREBOLT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Naito survives and Callum is shocked! But Callum hurries to stand Naito up, reel him back in, but Naito wrenches out! Naito fires elbow after elbow, but Callum ducks! Callum ELBOWS Naito, but Naito SPITS at Callum! Callum CHOPS, Naito ELBOWS, and Naito ROLLING KICKS!
Naito hurries to get Callum back up, wrench, and DESTIN- NO!! Callum blocks to flip Naito into a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!!! Cobb roars, and he tells Callum to get this done! Cobb scoops, Callum aims, LAWN DART KNEE SHOT!! The fans are thunderous as Callum adds the BLOODY SUNDAY!!! Cover, COBB & CALLUM WIN!!!
Winners: Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Empire once again conquers the Heavyweight Tag Division, and Callum finally has gold here in NJPW! Khan waves the banner as he also wears the NJPW World TV Champion, is this Sakura Genesis just the beginning of The United Empire completely conquering NJPW?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Gene Blast took this title off of David Finlay, then kept it from Gabe Kidd, but now, amidst the Bullet Club Civil War, it is the House of Torture’s King of Darkness that wants this title. Will Evil rub it in The Rebel’s face that he has Finlay’s creation? Or will Yota be the one to keep things tranquilo tonight?
Evil & Dick don’t wait for the introductions, they attack Tsuji on the outside! They beat him down, drag him up, and put him in the ring! Evil stomps away on Tsuji and pulls the jacket off him, but that’s not YOTA Tsuji! That’s Yota’s older brother! The Tsuji brothers used this trick before, and it worked out again! Yota runs in and CLOBBERS Dick! Evil takes a swing but Yota BODY BLOWS first! The fans fire up as Yota BOOTS Evil down! Yota grins, then helps his brother up. The fans cheer as they both smile, and then Yota holds up the title. Yota hands that to the ref, the bell rings, and Evil suddenly wants mercy?
The fans rally for Yota and he eggs Evil on. Evil offers a handshake, but then goes for the eye poke! But Yota blocks with the classic one hand prayer! And then he pokes Evil in the eyes! The fans cheer, Yota runs, but Evil distracts the ref and Dick trips Yota up! The fans boo but Dick pretends his hands are clean. Evil kicks Yota around, but then Dick goes after Yota’s brother! Dick drags Elder Tsuji away from ringside and Evil mockingly says goodbye. Then he RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san suffers again and the fans boo. Evil grabs the mic while he digs his boots into Yota, and he tells Yota that he wasn’t gonna get away with that cheap trick!
Evil talks trash on Yota, “Are you ready to fall like cherry blossoms off the tree?” Evil then laughs and stomps Yota down. Evil slips into the ring, the ref checks Yota, and Yota says he’s fine. Yota hobbles into the ring, but Evil pushes him down. Evil stomps away on the bad leg, then drops an elbow on the knee! Yota endures as Evil pulls on the leg, but Evil digs his elbow in. Yota drags Evil along to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and Evil distracts the ref again so Dick can SLAM Yota’s leg on the apron! Dick then hits a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Yota staggers away, the ref reprimands Dick, and Dick backs away.
Evil again argues with the ref, and Dick puts Yota in for him. Evil ties up the legs, and he salutes as he has Yota in a BLUE JUSTICE FIGURE FOUR! Evil mocks Yuji Nagata, and says HE is justice now! Yota endures, reaches out, and drags Evil along again. The fans rally as Yota keeps fighting his way over, and he has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Evil holds on so the ref reprimands. Evil lets go of Yota, then tells Yota to just quit now. Evil stands on the bad leg, but the ref has him back off. Yota grits his teeth and clutches the bad leg, but the fans rally behind him. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota fires a forearm!
Yota fires another forearm, and another, but Evil kicks the bad leg! Evil whips, but Yota can’t even make it to the ropes! Evil grins, and he grabs the bad leg to SMASH the knee on the mat! The ref checks on Yota but Yota refuses to let it end here. Evil stands on the bad leg, then he drags Yota up. Evil whips Yota into a corner, then runs up, but Yota BOOTS him! Evil tries again, and he blocks a boot, only for Yota to reel him in! DOUBLE STOMP! But that was double-edged given the bad knee! Yota falls over, shakes out the leg, and he tells the ref he can continue. Yota fires up and walks off the pain, and the fans rally as he goes after Evil.
Yota fires forearm after forearm, then whips. Evil reverses, but Yota RANAS! The fans fire up while Evil tumbles out of the ring! Yota fires up again, and he builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Evil hits railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! Dick is lurking nearby, but Yota stands up and fires up again! The fans cheer Yota on, and he drags Evil up. Yota puts Evil in the ring, the fans cheer again, but Dick is creeping! Dick grabs a leg, but Yota BOOTS him away! Yota ROCKS Evil, then slingshots and somersaults! Yota keeps moving, and he runs Evil over! Then SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Evil stays in this but Yota stays focused.
Yota drags Evil up, brings him around, and stomps him down. Yota goes to the corner, jumps up, up, but Evil dodges! No Marlowe Crush, and the leg jams again! Evil CHOP BLOCKS the leg! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Evil grins while Yota grits his teeth, and Evil stands first. Evil drags Yota around, stomps the bad leg again and again, then turns Yota over to SMASH the knee! Yota writhes and crawls to a corner, but Evil winds up the arm. Evil runs in, LARIATS, then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Yota stays in this and the fans fire up. Evil tells the fans to shut up, and then he talks more trash on those cheering for Yota.
Evil drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the fireman’s carry! Yota throws elbows, but Evil LARIATS! Yota stays up, and he glares defiantly at Evil. Evil LARIATS again, and Yota drops to a knee! Evil winds up, runs, but Yota blocks the lariat to ROCK! And SUPERKICK! But Evil CLUBS the knee, ROCKS Yota, ROLLING ELBOWS, then winds up to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up! But Evil has the legs, for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Yota endures as Evil sits deep on the iconic hold! The fans rally as hard as they can, and Yota powers up! Yota fights forward, claws at the mat, but Evil sits back down!
The fans rally more as Yota still endures! Yota shouts in pain, but he also powers up again! Yota fights forward, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and paces in frustration. Evil then smirks as he drags Yota by his arm. Evil wants the ref to ask Yota, but Yota refuses to give in. Evil stands on Yota’s head, then drags him back up. Evil slaps Yota around, but Yota fires short headbutts into Evil’s chest. Evil laughs, fireman’s carries, but Yota flails free! But the leg jams! Evil kicks the bad leg, then whips Yota! Evil goes to the corner and comes back, but into the BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! CURB STOMP!!
The fans fire up as the Gene Combination hits! Yota sits back and clutches the bad knee, and tries to get it working again. Yota rises, fires back up, and he roars! The fans rally behind him and Yota drags Evil up to CLUB him back down. Yota goes to the corner, then goes up, up, and wait! Kanemaru has Elder Tsuji hostage! The distraction lets Evil CHOP BLOCK Yota off the corner! The fans boo but Dick CLOBBERS the ref!? Dick stomps away on Yota while Kanemaru puts Yota’s brother in the ring! Evil grins as now he, Kanemaru & Dick stomp away on the Tsuji brothers! Dick ROCKS Yota and has him in the corner.
Dick & Kanemaru double whip Yota, then Dick runs in for an ELBOW! Kanemaru adds an ELBOW, and Evil adds a LARIAT! They snapmare Yota, hold him up, and Dick goes up top! DICK CHOP!! The fans boo, but the Tsuji brothers are put together for a DOUBLE SPOILER CHOKER! The fans boo more, but here comes Shingo Takagi! He CLOBBERS Kanemaru, CLUBS Dick, then DECKS Dick! Takagi gets Yota’s brother out of there, but Kanemaru CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Kanemaru runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! And YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up for the Rampaging Dragon, “TOKI GA KITA!”
But Evil LOW BLOWS Takagi! Evil laughs at Takagi, but Yota LOW BLOWS Evil!! The fans cheer as now things are even! The fans rally up behind Yota and he hobbles over to Evil. Yota drags Evil up, reels him in, but Evil fights the suplex! They fight for control, and Evil suplexes Yota, but gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! And then Yota suplexes for the ORANGE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives and Yota roars! The fans fire up with Yota as he takes aim from the corner. Evil rises, but he sends the ref at Yota! Then Evil kicks low, and uses the ref to help with MAGIC KILLER! But that sends the ref tumbling!
The fans rally while Evil grins. Evil rises, he brings Yota up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is furious but he drags Yota to his feet. Fireman’s carry and DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up again! Evil is even angrier now, but he slashes his throat and vows to end this! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, EVERY- NO, Yota slips free and clinches! Evil fights free, but GENE BLASTER OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Evil survives but Yota just goes to the corner! Yota rises up, takes aim again, and the fans fire up as Yota roars!
Evil rises, Yota runs up, GENE- NO, Evil sends him into a corner! Dick drags the ref out! Evil has Yota up, Dick takes aim, but Yota ducks! POCKET SANDÂ hits Evil!! The fans fire up as Yota DECKS Dick! Kanemaru is back, and he dropkicks Yota’s legs out! Kanemaru calls to Evil, then he gets the whiskey! Evil stands Yota up, but Yota ducks again, WHISKEY MIST hits Evil in the face!! Takagi is back to PUMPING BOMBER Kanemaru!! Yota reloads, runs up, and GENE TRIGGERS! Yota goes up, up, and MARLOWE CRUSH!! Yota roars and the fans are thunderous! Evil rises, into the GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
The King of Darkness could not claim his throne, and that is TRUE justice! Will the House of Torture simply focus on battling with the War Dogs?
As for Yota, Takagi helps him stand, and Yota grabs the mic. The fans cheer, and Yota says, “I am the ray of hope to the new era of NJPW. But, how about you?” Wait! Yuya Uemura is here! Yota continues by saying, “Can you be the sun to light up this NJPW ring? OI, UEMURA!” Yota turns around to see Yuya there. Yota invites him in, and Yuya steps inside. Yota tells Yuya, “My next challenger is you.” The fans cheer, and Yuya takes the mic to say, “It’s not the belt that motivates me right now. To erase the memory of that day, I want to fight the Tsuji of today!” The fans cheer that! Yuya then says, “I, the Heat Storm, will be the one to light up pro-wrestling and everyone here!”
The fans cheer and Yuya gives the mic back to Yota. Yota smiles and says, “Oi, Uemura. Are you ready?” The fans cheer as Yota drops the mic. Gene Blast or Heat Storm, who will be forged in gold when these two collide?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto w/ YOSHI-HASHI VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
The Fierce Warrior finally leads the charge as THE champion here in NJPW, and he was even given the reins of Hontai by Hiroshi Tanahashi himself. But The Rebel does things his own way, from taking over Bullet Club to finally winning the New Japan Cup. There is only room for ONE world champion here, so will the G in IWGP still be for Goto? Or will the Savage King finally reign supreme?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly leads the revolution!
The bell rings and the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Red Shoes doesn’t even bother taking the measure, it is very clear Goto holds the crowd. Goto and Finlay circle, feel things out, and tie up. Finlay has the arm, hammerlocks, but Goto switches that onto Finlay. Goto headlocks, hits the takeover, but Finlay headscissors. Goto kips free, the two stand off, and the fans cheer. Finlay and Goto reset, circle again, and Finlay smirks as the crowd continues to cheer on Goto. They tie up again, are in a deadlock right at center, but Goto’s slight height advantage helps push Finlay back a couple steps. Goto puts Finlay on the ropes, and Red Shoes calls the break.
Goto and Finlay slowly let off, and Goto pats Finlay on the shoulders. But then Finlay ROCKS Goto with a cheap shot and headlocks! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Finlay grinds the hold. Goto powers up and out to then headlock Finlay in return. Finlay powers up but can’t power out as Goto holds tight! The fans cheer, Finlay fights up, and Finlay fires body shots. Finlay powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans cheer and Goto looms over Finlay. Things get moving, and Finlay drops down, hurdles over, but runs into a HIP TOSS! Finlay hurries to his feet, but Goto TOSSES him out! Finlay tumbles into the railing!
The fans cheer and Goto eggs Finlay on. Finlay storms in but Goto kicks and CLUBS him! Goto CLUBS Finlay more, whips him, but Finlay reverses. Goto ducks ‘n’ dodges but then Finlay ducks to kick low! Finlay runs, but into a BACKDROP! The fans cheer while Finlay writhes. Goto stomps Finlay, then CLUBS him again. Goto CLUBS Finlay more and Finlay falls against ropes. Goto brings Finlay up, but Finlay fireman’s carries to HOTSHOT, then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Goto is tougher than that but Finlay stays focused. Finlay rains down fists, but Red Shoes reprimands about the closed fists.
Finlay lets off, and he throws up the Too Sweet while the fans boo. Finlay stands on Goto but Red Shoes doesn’t like the cocky cover. Finlay argues with Red Shoes, but Red Shoes won’t budge. Finlay clamps onto Goto for a neck wrench, but he also fishhooks Goto’s nose! Red Shoes reprimands, and Goto kicks forward to get the ROPEBREAK! Finlay lets go with just one hand but Red Shoes counts. Finlay CLUBS Goto down at 4! The fans rally for Goto while Red Shoes reprimands Finlay. Finlay drags Goto up and whips Goto hard into the corner! Gedo tells Goto to give up, but Finlay whips Goto hard into the other corner!
The fans boo but Finlay shrugs, then flexes. Finlay grins and covers Goto, TWO! Goto is tougher than that, but Finlay drags Goto up. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Finlay throat chops! Finlay whips, but Goto reverses, and then Goto runs up, but into BOOTS! Finlay runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Gedo coaches Finlay but Goto brings him up for forearms. Goto whips corner to corner, then runs in, only for Finlay to FLAPJACK him off the buckles! Finlay then runs and LARIATS Goto and himself out of the ring! That was a rougher landing for Finlay and Red Shoes checks on him.
Finlay shakes out the bad hand, and he drags Goto up. Finlay RAMS Goto hard into railing! The fans boo but Finlay soaks up that heat. His hand seems to be alright as he waves to the fans. Finlay then dumps the belt off the timekeeper’s table! Finlay throws the tablecloth at the fans, then sets that table up near ringside. Finlay brings out a second table, and he places it right next to the first. Gedo tells Goto to give up now, and Finlay refreshes the ring count. Finlay brings Goto over to the tables, reels him in, and POWER- NO, Goto fights free! Goto RAMS Finlay into railing! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
Gedo coaches Finlay but Goto stomps him down. Goto stomps Finlay more, then whips him hard into the railing! Finlay falls to the floor but Goto stomps him. Goto drags Finlay up to CLUB him, but Finlay fireman’s carries! And POSTS him! Gedo loves it but the fans are torn at best. Finlay storms through the gate, but Red Shoes says to keep this near the ring. Finlay pretends not to hear that, and he hoists Goto up! But Goto RANAS out of the bomb and POSTS Finlay at the same time! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ring count starts again and Goto crawls his way over to Finlay by 7 of 20.
Goto stands at 9, and he drags Finlay up at 12. Goto puts Finlay in the ring and the fans cheer. We’re only ten minutes into this but Goto fires up. Goto fires forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs up, MURAMASA! And then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Finlay is tougher than that, but the fans continue to rally for Goto. Goto drags Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free to roll Goto up! High stack, TWO! Finlay basement UPPERCUTS! Goto sputters and rolls away to a corner. Finlay goes to the other and barks. There are fans who join in, and Finlay runs corner to corner, but into a BOOT! Finlay still LARIATS!
Finlay LARIATS Goto in the corner again and again! Finlay then clinches, but Goto fights with elbows! Finlay fires a forearm, Goto fires back! Finlay fires another forearm, but Goto fires back! The fans rally as Finlay wobbles already! Finlay fires another shot, Goto fires another shot, and they go back and forth! The fans rally but Finlay gets the edge! ROLLING- NO, Goto catches Finlay to an URA GTR! Goto runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Finlay runs, Goto follows, but Finlay dodges to LARIAT through! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up again! Finlay is annoyed but he watches Goto crawl to a corner.
Finlay runs in, and he UPPERCUTS! Then Finlay suplexes to TOSS Goto away! The fans boo but Finlay flexes and swaggers around. Cover, TWO! Goto is still tougher than that, but Finlay seems more amused than anything. Finlay sits Goto up and makes him look to the camera. Finlay fires crossface forearm after crossface forearm! Gedo tells Goto to just give up! Finlay fires more forearms, then stands over Goto. Finlay again taunts Goto’s kids like he did months ago, and the fans boo Finlay more. The fans continue to rally behind Goto, and Finlay clinches for the BACKBREAKER! Then he reels Goto in for a CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Goto survives! Gedo tells Finlay to keep on Goto, and Finlay pushes Goto to the apron. They’re near the tables! Finlay goes to the apron and tells the kids to say goodbye to daddy. Finlay reels Goto in, lifts him up, but Goto fights free! Finlay BOOTS Goto, stomps him on the apron, but Red Shoes reprimands. Finlay hauls Goto up and reels him in again, then mocks the tears. The fans boo, but Goto fireman’s carries Finlay! The fans fire up for the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER through the tables! Only one table breaks properly but Finlay suffers all the same! The fans are thunderous while both men are down!
Red Shoes checks and Finlay is somehow okay to continue. A ring count begins, the fans continue to cheer for “GO-TO-O!” and he rise sup. Goto heads for Finlay at 7 of 20, but reaches him at 13. Goto drags Finlay up at 14 and puts him in at 15! The fans cheer as Goto wants to win this the honorable way. Goto rolls in, drags Finlay up, and fireman’s carries for the G TÂ W!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives and the fans rally up again. Gedo pounds the apron to rally for Finlay but the crowd is still with Goto. Goto rises, hobbles around, and he roars! The fans cheer as Goto aims, BUZZSAW! Finlay flops back but Goto drags him up!
Goto dragon sleepers, but Finlay spins through! Goto fights the suplex, but so does Finlay! Got suplexes, Finlay slips free and then SNAP OVERKILL!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives as Finlay couldn’t get the full impact! The fans rally as hard as they can while both men are down! Finlay grits his teeth, clutches his back, and crawls back to Goto. Finlay drags Goto up, reels him in, and hoists him up for a BUCKLE BOMB! But Goto comes back! Finlay dodges the lariat to POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives again and Finlay grows frustrated! We hit 20 minutes and yet this feels like far less time! Finlay snarls as he drags Goto back up.
Finlay puts Goto on the top rope, then fires forearms. Finlay climbs while the fans rally more, and Finlay hoists Goto up. Goto fires body shots! Then he ROCKS Finlay with a forearm! Finlay drops back, but runs up and ROCKS Goto again! Finlay climbs to fire off more forearms, but Goto fires back! Goto HEADBUTTS Finlay again and again! Goto tucks Finlay in and the fans are already going nuts! Goto rises up to SUPER SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay survives and the fans are thunderous! Goto roars and he brings Finlay back up, only for Finlay to suplex, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Finlay staggers around, completely shocked! But he vows to end this now! Finlay drags Goto up, suplexes and OVER- NO, Goto cradle counters! TWO! Finlay holds on, suplexes again, OVER- NO!! Goto blocks the knee! Finlay fires furious fists and forearms, but Goto just HEADBUTTS him! Goto snarls and the fans are thunderous again! Finlay sputters, Goto stands him up to fireman’s carry! But Finlay sunset flips! Goto rolls through, into PRIMA NOCTA!! Finlay hauls Goto up, but Goto suplexes!! SHOTEN KAI!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Finlay survives and the fans are electric! Gedo himself is going nuts!
Goto hauls Finlay up, dragon sleepers, G T- NO, Finlay hooks the arm! The two fight for the backslide, but Goto spins Finlay through! G T R!!! But he’s not done! ANOTHER G T R!!!! Wait, Goto still isn’t done?!? Talk about overkill as Goto hammerlocks an arm, and gives Finlay the G T R KAI!!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The fans erupt for “GO-TO-O!” as he crushes the dream of the would-be king! If Finlay fought this hard just to fall short, how much harder must he fight to truly stand atop the mountain?
As for Goto, Red Shoes & Yoshi-Hashi help put the belt back on the champion while the fans cheer. Goto then gets the mic to say, “This is no Cinderella fairytale. This is reality!” The fans cheer that! Goto tells his son and daughter, “Thank you for fighting alongside me.” The fans applaud, and Goto continues to say, “No matter how many times you get beaten, if you don’t give up, then you don’t really lose. Children, you’ll face many adversities in life. But never back down!” The fans applaud that, too, and Goto tells everyone thanks for coming today. “Next up is Chicago in America. I know who I want to face.”
The fans are intrigued, and Goto tells Shota Umino to come out! Now the fans aren’t so sure about this. Goto says he knows Shota is watching, so please, come on out. The Roughneck returns, and Goto invites him into the ring. Shota takes off his jacket and hat, then steps into the ring to be face to face with Goto. The fans boo, so Shota hops back down. Goto says no, hold on, he’s not done talking. Goto wants Shota to step into the ring, so Shota does it for Goto. Goto knows Shota has “freed himself from doubt.” Then, they’ll fight with this belt on the line. The fans are again torn, but Goto tells Shota that they can show America a REAL NJPW match! What’s he say to that?
Goto holds out the mic, and Shota takes it. The fans are torn, with plenty of boos but also plenty of cheers. Shota tells Goto, “First of all, congratulations on your defense. Daddy’s pretty cool, isn’t he? Let’s show the world the power of NJPW’s Hontai.” The fans do applaud that, and Shota says, “I’ll give you everything I’ve got to take that belt.” Shota drops the mic to shake Goto’s hand, then he heads out. As for Goto, he continues to say that “The Goto Revolution isn’t just limited to Japan. The Goto Revolution continues, make sure you follow me! The G in IWGP, you’ve caught on, haven’t you? Let’s do this! The G in IWGP stands for GOTO!”
And with that, The Fierce Warrior is moving forward! Will he continue to lead NJPW and its new era? Or will the Paradigm Shift Shota speaks of just be a week away?
My Thoughts:
A great event for NJPW, Sakura Genesis is certainly one of the biggest nights on their calendar now. We got some great matches and some great story developments all over the place, really bringing some intrigue into the rest of the year and maybe even beyond. Great win for Yuya over Sanada, and then perhaps Sanada had about enough of being a War Dog, because he finally did what I knew he would and turned to the House of Torture. Great stuff in that on its own, and per Finlay’s backstage comments at the very end of the night, we’re getting another “Dog Pound Steel Cage match” for the blowoff.
The original was with United Empire, and that one got a little too wild, aka it ended Alex Coughlin’s in-ring career, so let’s just hope they don’t go as wild as they did that time. Either way, that blowoff will be great stuff, and it makes sense that no high level title is in either faction because this feud doesn’t really need it. Speaking of which, great stuff in the Global Heavyweight Championship match, with the Tsuji brothers pulling that old bait ‘n’ switch trick again. And of course the House had to get involved there, only for Shingo Takagi to counter that. Great win for Yota, and Uemura beating Sanada, Yota VS Yuya is going to be some great stuff, too.
I’m rather surprised we got new champions in Great-O-Khan and the Cobb Callum combination. Clearly, rumors of Cobb’s departure were greatly exaggerated. Surely Cobb & Callum will have a very good reign, as will Khan as NJPW World TV Champion. The most curious thing is that Obari the belt designer is with them. The most Bullet Club War Dogs did to the titles they held was put white straps on them. Perhaps Obari will give the Empire their own custom green? Or some new face plates to mark this new era of NJPW? His design for THE IWGP World title was a bit out of the norm at the time it was introduced, but it isn’t the worst so he could probably give the tag titles a fresh start.
Great match from Konosuke VS Oiwa, but I figured Konosuke would win so that he has momentum going into Windy City Riot next week. Great match from Tanahashi VS Shota, and it’s only a little surprising Shota won. After all, Shota is still one of the Reiwa Era Musketeers, NJPW still has high hopes for him despite the audience’s feelings. Likewise, a great main event from Goto VS Finlay, and a great win for Goto. Goto sure has his own high expectations for Shota, and their match at Windy City Riot could also be a measure of where Shota’s going both in story and in character. Chicago’s a tough town, they might not care for Shota even if he does start getting edgier.
Shota told Tanahashi he wants to lead Hontai and essentially be the face of NJPW, and becoming world champion would help do that. I just don’t think a show down in America is going to be where any of that happens. Shota may have to prove himself through the G1 Climax instead.
My Score: 9/10
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This Summer… One show… Four hours… All Elite!
Portland is about to feel like Hollywood as AEW puts on FOUR HOURS in one night! Will Ospreay fights to convince Swerve Strickland of the greater good!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Dynamite
- Will Ospreay VS Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana; Time Limit Draw.
- Mistico VS Blake Christian w/ Lee Johnson; Mistico wins.
- Six Man Tag: The Hurt Syndicate VS
#JetSpeedAirJetSpeed & Mascara Dorada; The Hurt Syndicate wins. - TayJay VS Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford; TayJay wins.
Collision
- Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Kyle Fletcher w/ The Don Callis Family; Kyle wins.
- Toni Storm w/ Luther VS Julia Hart w/ Skye Blue; Toni wins.
- Mixed Six Tag: Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale VS #MXMTV; Briscoe, Ishii & Willow win.
- Bandido w/ The Outrunners VS The Beast Mortos; Bandido wins.
- Thekla VS Queen Aminata; Thekla wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Daniel Garcia & Paragon VS Hechicero & The Don Callis Family; Hechicero & The Don Callis Family win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Christopher Daniels talks with Hangman Page backstage.
The Fallen Angel tells the Cowboy that at All In, when it’s Hangman VS Moxley, Daniels knows Hangman can get it done. But there’s still a lot of time between now and then, and it isn’t just Moxley they have to worry about. There are all the Death Riders, and Hangman can’t fight them all on his own. And no matter what The Young Bucks say, Hangman should know they’re in this for themselves. Daniels wishes he could be there for Hangman, but he can’t. But Hangman still has friends in this locker room that, despite their history, will be there for him. As for those that have… harsh feelings for Hangman, perhaps Hangman should try and rectify that.
Daniels leaves Hangman with that to think on, but can the Cowboy mend those bridges. Wait, Jon Moxley is lurking in the shadows! And he sends his Death Riders to follow Hangman! Will the Maniac make sure All In’s world title match doesn’t even happen? Is that a sign that Mox fears Hangman?
Will Ospreay VS Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana!
Speaking of those allies, The Aerial Assassin is more than ready to back the Hangman’s gambit. However, the Realest has sworn off ever helping The Cowboy with anything, and vice-versa. Can Ospreay convince Swerve that they’re better off together? Or will Ospreay be kicked out of Swerve’s House?
The bell rings and the fans fire up already. Ospreay and Swerve stare down while the fans chant, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” The fans lose their minds just from Swerve stepping up and offering a handshake. Ospreay is wary, but he accepts. The fans cheer the sportsmanship, and then the two square up. They keep the wristlock, feel out the grapple, and Ospreay headlocks. Swerve powers up and out but Ospreay RAMS him! Both men bob ‘n’ weave the other’s shots, then Swerve headlocks. Ospreay powers up and out, drops down, then hurdles. Swerve waistlocks, ducks an elbow, and he shoves Ospreay.
Ospreay rolls off Swerve’s back, rolls under, then rolls back to arm-drag! Swerve drags Ospreay down, both men kip up, and Ospreay RANAS! Swerve handsprings through to RANA in return, but Ospreay handsprings through! The fans are thunderous as the two have another stare down! They cheer “A E DUB!” for making this match happen. The two circle again, feel things out, and tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. They are in a deadlock, go around, and Ospreay puts Swerve on the ropes. The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Ospreay lets off. Ospreay swings but Swerve puts Ospreay on the ropes. Swerve lets off slowly, to then DECK Ospreay!
The fans fire up and Ospreay already has a bloody nose! Ospreay shakes it off but Swerve whips him to ropes. Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges, RANAS, and Swerve can’t flip through this time! Ospreay scoops and SLAMS, then STANDING SKY TWISTERS! Cover, ONE!! Swerve grits his teeth but he got out quick. Ospreay gives him a sharp Kawada Kick! Swerve scrambles to a corner, Ospreay ROCKS him, HEADBUTTS him, then wrenches to a wristlock. Ospreay CHOPS Swerve, but Swerve just snarls. Ospreay grins through the bloody nose, and he CHOPS again! Swerve grimaces but Ospreay winds up to CHOP again!
Swerve DECKS Ospreay again! The fans fire up while Ospreay goes to a corner. Swerve snapmares Ospreay, goes up, and FALLING UPPERCUTS! Then he hits the Griddy! The fans cheer as Swerve puts a little extra on it. Swerve waits on Ospreay, whips him to ropes, but Ospreay grabs ropes! Swerve runs up but Ospreay DUMPS him out, only for Swerve to handspring through! Swerve lands safe on the floor, but Ospreay PLANCHAS, only for Swerve to dodge! Swerve hops up to the apron to BOOT Ospreay down! Swerve puts Ospreay in the ring, then goes up and in, somersaults and FLATLINERS! And then a gator roll to a deadlift suplex!
The fans cheer, Swerve covers, TWO! Ospreay is still in this and the fans applaud. Swerve grows frustrated but Prince Nana coaches him up. The fans rally for Ospreay but Swerve CLUBS Ospreay on the head. Ospreay goes to a corner, Swerve runs in, but Swerve blocks a boot! Ospreay swipes at Swerve but he can’t reach him! Swerve slips under to BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay toughs it out and the fans duel again. Swerve sits Ospreay up into a chicken wing, but Ospreay fights off the crossface. Swerve powers through to clamp on the chinlock, but Ospreay fights up. Swerve wrangles Ospreay with a chinbar!
The fans rally as Ospreay endures and fights up again. Ospreay reaches out, the fans duel, and Swerve keeps Ospreay from the ropes. Ospreay powers out to CHOP, but Swerve still grinds the arm! Ospreay CHOPS, Swerve puts pressure on the shoulder, then he CLUBS the arm! Ospreay clutches the elbow, but he CHOPS in return! It was almost a backhand really, and Swerve sputters a bit. Swerve takes a swing, Ospreay dodges to handspring and NEURALIZER KICK! Both men go to corners, Ospreay runs in, but Swerve puts Ospreay on the apron. Ospreay ROCKS Swerve, then springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO!
Swerve bails out and the fans fire up as Ospreay powers up! Ospreay builds speed, handspring and SASUKE SPECIAL! Down goes Swerve and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as the Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture!
Swerve clutches a shoulder and shakes out his arm. Ospreay goes outside to fetch Swerve, and he sends Swerve into railing! Ospreay winds up to BOOT Swerve! Swerve flops against railing then falls to the floor! Ospreay drags Swerve up, whips him into the steel steps, and Swerve hits off of them knee first! Swerve staggers away and leans against the apron. Ospreay kicks the bad leg, puts Swerve in the ring, then drags him to the corner. Ospreay SLAMS Swerve’s leg against the post! Swerve writhes, Ospreay high-fives some fans, then Ospreay goes back to the apron. Ospreay steps inside, whips Swerve to a corner, then runs up to ELBOW him!
Ospreay snapmares Swerve down and the Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture. Ospreay goes up a corner, waits on Swerve, and hits a BLINDSIDE FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up and Ospreay calls his shot. Ospreay springboards, OSC- COUNTER NECKBREAKER! Swerve hurries to stand Ospreay up for another NECKBREAKER! Swerve hurries to get Ospreay back up, but Ospreay turns the neckbreaker into a backslide! TWO, and Swerve puts Ospreay through the ropes! But Ospreay fights off another neckbreaker to then throw hands. Swerve sweeps the legs! Basement SUPERKICK! Ospreay dangles over the floor!
The fans fire up as Swerve goes out, and hits a DRAPING NECKBREAKERÂ to the floor! The ref reprimands but that was just brutal, not illegal! Swerve calculates what he has to do next, and he puts Ospreay in the ring. Swerve has Ospreay on the apron now, hoists him up, then hangs him out to dry! Swerve goes up top to GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMP! Ospreay writhes, Swerve covers, TWO! Swerve is annoyed but he stays focused. Ospreay clutches his lower back but Swerve clamps onto the arms. Swerve traps one, then pulls back on the other. Ospreay resists but Swerve digs his knuckles into Ospreay’s back!
Ospreay reaches back to hit a headlock takeover and cover! TWO, and Ospreay avoids a House Call! Swerve avoids a Hidden Blade! Swerve UP KICKS, then half nelsons, but Ospreay arm-drags free! HIDDEN BLADE!! Ospreay doesn’t stop there, he underhooks for the STORM- NO, Swerve slips free and scoops to POWERSLAM! Gator roll and suplex, but into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! The fans fire up and Ospreay springboards, OSCUTTER into an ARMBAR! Swerve makes it a SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Ospreay endures, fights around, and reaches out, all while the fans duel! They roll, Ospreay stacks, ONE and Ospreay deadlifts Swerve!
Ospreay powers up to WHEELBARROW GERMAN Swerve into buckles!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down again! Ospreay rises at center while Swerve uses the ropes to stand. Ospreay runs up, falls for the feint, and Swerve KICKS the legs out! Then Swerve goes up the corner, only for Ospreay to tuck him in! CHEEKY NANDOS! Ospreay drags Swerve back for a POISON-RANA! Ospreay prepares the elbow and the fans fire up again! HIDDEN- NO, Swerve mule kicks, HAYMAKERS, and ROLLING ELBOWS! Swerve runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Ospreay springboards, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous again as Ospreay drags Swerve up with underhooks. Swerve fights the lift, goes to ropes, and he DUMPS Ospreay out! Ospreay tumbles but stands back up, only for Swerve to PLANCHA! Ospreay moves, Swerve lands on the apron, and Swerve ASAI MOONSAULTS, but Ospreay slides into the ring! Swerve’s leg jams and he hobbles to the desk! Ospreay lines up a shot, FLYING HIDDEN BLADE!! The fans are losing their minds again and Nana’s jaw has dropped, but the Blockbuster goes picture in picture again!
The ref checks both men, and Ospreay’s bloody nose is still a concern. Both men are able to continue, so the ref starts a ring count. Ospreay rises first, and he decides to leave swerve behind! Nana coaches Swerve up and Swerve makes it into the ring at 7, only to get a COAST2COAST! Cover, TWO!! Swerve survives that sniper shot and Ospreay grows frustrated. Ospreay stalks Swerve, blocks the up kick and steps through the legs! Swerve fights it but Ospreay still gets the FIGURE FOUR! Swerve flails and reaches out but Ospreay CHOPS him! Swerve CHOPS back, but falls back. His shoulders are down so it’s a cover, TWO!
Swerve fights around, Ospreay stops the turnover, and he even grabs Swerve’s hand to keep Swerve from reaching the ropes. Ospreay fires a haymaker, Swerve fires back, repeat! Ospreay puts on the pressure, Swerve falls back into the cover, TWO! Swerve continues to endure, and he works to rock the boat, only for Ospreay to put on more pressure! Swerve still works to turn things over, Ospreay fights against it, but then Swerve uses that to roll! Ospreay endures, but he quickly rolls it back! Swerve uses that to have the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Ospreay undoes the hold, and both men are down, catching their breath.
Ospreay rolls away and rises up as the Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture. The fans cheer “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Ospreay watches Swerve stand. SUPERKICK! Swerve wobbles but stays on his feet. Ospreay winds up, and SUPERKICKS again! Swerve snarls as that one woke him up! But Ospreay just SUPERKICKS again! Swerve roars, but Ospreay SUPERKICKS again! Swerve drops to a knee, Ospreay takes aim, HIDDEN- NO, Swerve dodges and Ospreay collides with buckles! Swerve hurries after the bad arm! Swerve uses a straight arm lever to put Ospreay up top, and then Swerve climbs up to join him.
The fans rally as Swerve twists the arm, then lifts Ospreay again, SUPER ARM LEVER!! The fans fire up as Swerve rises and Ospreay writhes. Ospreay points to the bad arm, but Swerve goes right after it! SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Ospreay kicks and flails, fights around, rolls, but Swerve rolls with him! Ospreay keeps fighting, but ends up in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Swerve throws elbows and forearms, but Ospreay still fights to his feet! Another deadlift, and he hooks Swerve’s arms!! Swerve slips free, Alabama Lift, DEADEYE?!?! Swerve uses Hangman’s move?!? Cover, TWO!!! The fans are thunderous as Swerve goes to a corner!
Swerve goes up, up, and takes aim! KILL- NO, Ospreay avoids the stomps! HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Swerve survives and the fans are loving this! The fans rally, Nana shouts at Swerve, and Swerve rises up. Ospreay slowly follows, and the two stare down. “This is Awesome!” as Swerve grins. Ospreay fires a forearm! Swerve fires back! Ospreay and Swerve laugh!? They go forearm for forearm, faster and harder! They stand, and Swerve pats Ospreay on the shoulder. Then he ROCKS Ospreay! But Ospreay feeds off that! The fans fire up as the forearms just keep going! Ospreay wobbles, but he winds up to KICK!
Ospreay KICKS, KICKS, but Swerve counter kicks, WRINGS the bad arm, then HOUSE CALL outta nowhere!! Swerve goes to the corner while Ospreay sits up in a daze! KILL STOMPS!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? WHAT?!? But Swerve just clamps onto the arm, and STOMPS it! Ospreay writhes, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” HOUSE- HIDDEN BLADE!!! Ospreay isn’t done, he underhooks for the STORM BREAKER!! Cover, TWO?!?!?!? Swerve barely gets that arm up, and Portland is erupting all over again! The fans rally up even harder as Ospreay underhooks Swerve again! Swerve resists the lift, but Ospreay muscles him up!
Ospreay roars and the fans duel, but wait… Is Ospreay thinking of using that move?! Portland is just as torn as Ospreay, but then Swerve powers out! Swerve wrenches, and INVERTED Alabama Lifts, for the VERTEBREAKER!!! Ospreay sputters as he sits up in a daze! Swerve calls his shot, for the HOUSE CALL!!! But Ospreay flops to the apron!! The fans rally as we hit the last sixty seconds of the time limit! Swerve and Ospreay are both at the corner as the fans rally even harder! THIRTY SECONDS! Swerve climbs, Ospreay sits up, but Swerve’s legs are weak! TIME’S UP!!!
Time Limit Draw
The fans boo as the thirty minutes are up, sparing Ospreay from the Kill Stomps on the apron! Swerve is frustrated, Nana grabs a mic, and Swerve says, “Oh my God, I’m in so much pain right now… But what we just showed right here, Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay, we are the best because AEW is where the best wrestle.” The fans cheer that! Swerve says the only way to prove you’re the best is to finish matches, dammit! Swerve tells Ospreay that they’re both messed up pretty bad, but Swerve knows Ospreay wants to beat Swerve. Swerve says they keep going with sudden death! The fans love that idea, too!
But wait! The Death Riders appear, ready to ruin the fun! Swerve looks around, and here come Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, Marina Shafir, and Jon Moxley. Did they already deal with Hangman Page before coming out here? Are they about to remove all of their enemies in one night? Claudio looms over Ospreay on the outside while Moxley paces. Swerve stands his ground, despite being greatly outnumbered, but then The Young Bucks attack! The fans boo as Matthew & Nicholas knock Swerve down, stomp him around, then sit him up for the E V P TRIGGER!! And they also have handcuffs!?!
Nana drags Swerve to the apron, but Nick SUPERKICKS Nana! The fans boo as now, the Bucks cuff Swerve! A pair for each hand, and they cuff Swerve to the ropes! The Bucks laugh as Swerve is now a prisoner! SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK! And SUPERKICK!! It’s a one-sided Superkick Party, and The Bucks have Yuta pass them his black duffel bag. And from inside the bag, they bring out tack-covered Reeboks! Just like Swerve used on The Bucks at Anarchy in the Arena! Matt says you mess with The Bucks, you end up a dead man! But then OSPREAY gets in to take the DOUBLE SPIKED SUPERKICKS!!!
The fans lose their minds, and even The Bucks are stunned by this! Doc Sampson hurries right into the ring to check on Ospreay, and Swerve is enraged! Portland chants “F THE BUCKS!” while they sheepishly retreat. The Death Riders have also left, the damage done without them lifting a finger. The fans cheer Ospreay on for saving his friendly rival, but is he now out of the fight against the tyranny in AEW?
Backstage interview with Kazuchika Okada.
Renee Paquette is with the AEW Continental Champion and brings up tonight’s contract signing. Set for All In, it will be Kazuchika Okada VS Kenny Omega, Winner Takes All! These two have had some of the most legendary matches in all of professional wrestling, but this will be the first on American soil. Is this version of Okada ready for this version of Omega? Okada says yes, but then Don Callis interrupts. The Jackal apologizes, but to answer this question, he would like to pose his own question: Why is Okada in this match and not Kyle Fletcher? Has Okada had a better 2025 than Kyle Fletcher?
Why is Okada in this match and not Konosuke Takeshita? Has Okada really had a better 2025 than Takeshita? Or maybe Callis should be addressing this line of questioning right at Okada? Why isn’t it Kyle or Konosuke over Okada? This makes Callis sick! Okada takes Callis’ accusatory finger and bends it! But in steps Lance Archer! Then on the other side, it’s Kyle & Konosuke. Callis begs for mercy, Okada lets go, and he calls Callis, “B*tch.” The Rainmaker leaves, is it wise for Callis to get on his bad side? Or will someone in the Callis Family look to take that title off Okada before All In?
Mistico VS Blake Christian w/ Lee Johnson!
The Crown Jewel of CMLL makes his return to AEW, and more than ready for next week’s Grand Slam in Mexico! But will Mistico be shining in the spotlight of this Summer Blockbuster? Or will the Vanilla Babyface sour the mood?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Mistico and Blake circle. They feel things out, then Mistico offers a handshake. Blake says sure, and then he just flips Mistico off! Blake BOOTS Mistico down, whips, but then drops down to hurdle over. Mistico leaps over the monkey flip, but Blake dodges the lariat! Blake RANAS, Mistico flounders, but then Mistico is up to block the chop! Mistico knuckle locks, CHOPS, then goes up the corner. Mistico balances up top, but Blake ARM-DRAGS him down! Blake rains down fists, soaks up the heat, then DECKS Mistico! Blake CHOKES Mistico on the ropes, steps off at the ref’s count, and soaks up more heat.
Mistico sits up to feed off the rally, but Blake DECKS him! Mistico goes to a corner, the fans rally more, but Blake brings Mistico up to whip. Mistico handsprings to BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up, Mistico ducks ‘n’ dodges to then RANA! Blake tumbles, staggers to his feet, but again Mistico blocks and CHOPS! Mistico goes up, up, and FLYING ARM-DRAGS! Blake tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up! Mistico builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp with that true tope suicida! The fans fire up for Mistico while both men are down. Mistico rises, feeds off that energy again, and he puts Blake back in the ring.
Mistico pounds the apron to rally the fans again, then he aims. Blake runs up but Mistico dodges to GAMANGIRI! Mistico springboards to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Mistico keeps the fans going as he stands again. Mistico puts Blake in the drop zone, climbs up the corner, but Big Shotty grabs at him! The fans boo as the ref misses that, and then Blake BOOTS Mistico to the floor! Blake builds speed to FOSBURY TOPE! The fans boo but Blake puts Mistico in the ring! Blake goes up again, springboard and 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Mistico shows why he’s a top tier champion in CMLL, but Blake vows to end this!
Blake goes up the corner again, only for Mistico to GAMANGIRI! Mistico climbs up after Blake, has him on the very top, and hits a SUPER SPANSH FLY! Cover, Mistico wins!
Winner: Mistico, by pinfall
CMLL’s finest certainly makes an impact on the Summer Blockbuster, but wait! The Hurt Syndicate makes their entrance! Montel Vontavious Porter leads the way for Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Maxwell Jacob Friedman while Portland sings, “We Hurt~ People!” The All Mighty has the Scumbag stand down a moment, and MVP has a mic. “Attention AEW viewing audience, this is an official announcement from the Hurt Syndicate. I won’t be addressing you in this specific situation, because MJF has a message for the cabron in the ring!” The fans boo, but MJF says he is talking now, so thanks, Portland.
MVP demands respect for the Young Genius! MJF tells Mistico that his match was impressive. And it isn’t easy to impress MJF since he’s the most complete pro-wrestler in this sport today. So tell you want, “Misty…” The fans keep booing as MJF says he will give Mistico a match next week in Arena Mexico. MJF looks forward to it, too, because he looks forward to ripping “that dime store mask off your stupid face.” The fans boo more, but MJF says Mistico isn’t just getting any man. He is getting a patriot! For one night only, MJF is dusting off his red white ‘n’ blue just for you, Mistico! MJF says God Bless America! God Bless your American Champion!
But most importantly, God Bless your American Hero, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, M J F! The fans are torn given how MJF is using patriotism to put himself over. The flag and the streamers fly, and then MJF has the music stop while he steps into the ring. The streamers make that a bit tricky but MJF steps to Mistico. Mistico stops MJF there, and snatches the mic! The fans cheer, and he tells “MJF, HAHAHAHA! Sabes que, see you next week in Mexico City, en mi casa, Arena Mexico!” MVP has to translate the next part for MJF, and it isn’t very nice. MJF tells Mistico he might think he’s a big deal, but MJF grew up watching him on TV!
To MJF, this isn’t mystical Mistico! This is just sloppy Sin Cara! And now, much like the Star-Spangled Banner, he’s about to get dropped! But Mistico blocks the sucker punch to UPPERCUT MJF! Lashley & Shelton attack and they stomp Mistico down! The fans boo while Lashley and Shelton sit Mistico up! MJF wants the mask as a trophy! But wait! Here comes #JetSpeed! Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight rush in from the crowd side, Mascara Dorada by their side! TRIPLE PLANCHAS onto the Hurt Syndicate! The fans fire up and refs clean up this mess of streamers! The Hurt Syndicate apparently took out Komander earlier today, will Dorada & #JetSpeed make them pay?
Six Man Tag: The Hurt Syndicate VS JetSpeed & Mascara Dorada!
The trios sort out and MJF shouts about one in, one out! MJF starts against Dorada, and… Is MJF wearing ring gear a la MVP’s style? The bell rings, but then everyone rushes in and brawls! Lashley is after Speedball, Shelton has Knight, and MJF beats down Dorada! Lashley TOSSES Bailey out, then pursues, and Shelton whips Knight hard into a corner! MJF soaks up the heat with a smug grin and flexing, and Shelton scoop SLAMS Knight on the floor! Lashley THROWS Bailey into railing! MVP joins commentary and says MJF decided to make this a big party. The fans chant “YOU LOOK STUPID!” at MJF and MJF tells them to shut up, no one asked them!
MJF scoops Dorada to SLAM him, then drags Dorada up again. MJF slaps Dorada around, but Dorada ROCKS him in return! Dorada runs up, MJF handsprings to dodge! MJF kicks, Dorada blocks, and Dorada FLIPS MJF! MJF lands out, and he pokes Dorada in the eyes! MJF says, “Lucha libre is easy, Mistico! It’s easy!” But Dorada pokes MJF in the eyes! Dorada kicks, whips, but MJF reverses. Dorada handsprings, MJF dodges, but Dorada ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! The fans fire up while MJF flounders, hot tag to Knight! Knight stomps MJF, then tags Bailey. #JetSpeed double whip MJF to ropes, then DOUBLE HIP TOSS!
The fans fire up as Knight SLIDING SHOULDERS! Bailey STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! MJF stays in this but Bailey stays between him and the Hurt Syndicate. Bailey KICKS, KICKS, and then bumps MJF off buckles. Tag to Dorada, and Dorada springboards to AX HANDLE! Dorada fires the fans up, but MJF CLAWS Dorada’s eyes! MJF puts Dorada in the corner, then claims Dorada got him in his eyes! This distracts the ref so Lashley can TOSS Dorada to the floor! The fans go nuts seeing that crash landing, and Lashley shrugs while the Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture.
Bailey protests but the ref keeps him back. MJF tags Lashley, Lashley RAMS Dorada into the barriers, then whips him into the steel steps! Dorada flounders, Lashley storms over, and Lashley has Bailey and Knight back up. Lashley puts Dorada in the ring, stomps him, then RAMS Dorada into an open corner. Lashley RAMS Dorada again and again, then fires hands! Lashley reels Dorada in, suplexes, and stalls for a count of TEN before the SLAM! Cover, TWO! Dorada stays in this but Lashley is just amused. Tag to MJF and he runs, runs, and runs… to then just poke Dorada in the eyes! MJF flips off Portland while stepping on Dorada.
MJF drags Dorada up, tags Shelton, and they mug Dorada. Shelton stands Dorada up, Dorada fires hands and forearms, but Shelton fires in return! Shelton whips, then he FLAPJACKS Dorada! Dorada flounders, Shelton covers, Knight breaks it! Shelton is annoyed but he drags Dorada back. Shelton stomps Dorada, tags MJF, and MJF CLAWS Dorada’s back! Tag to Lashley and he stands Dorada for a NECKBREAKER! Lashley flexes, Dorada crawls, but Lashley mocks him. Lashley then BLASTS #JetSpeed off the corner! Lashley puts Dorada in the corner, runs corner to corner, and he RAMS Dorada!
Dorada flops to the mat, Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture, and MJF tags in. MJF runs and shouts out MVP, “BALLIN~!” ELBOW DROP MISSES! MVP plays off that airball like it’s no big deal, but MJF drags Dorada back. MJF swings, Dorada dodges, but MJF grabs Dorada’s hand! Dorada reaches for his team, ROCKS MJF, and repeat! And repeat! MJF then puts up his guard, but that lets Dorada hot tag Knight! Knight rallies on MJF with LARIAT after LARIAT! Knight whips, MJF reverses, but Knight goes up and over! Knight hurdles MJF then DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up and MVP admits, that was good.
Knight runs, UFO SPLASH! Cover, TWO! MJF stays in this, Knight coordinates with Bailey, and Knight brings MJF up, MJF swings, Knight ducks and waistlocks. Knight pushes MJF to the ropes for Bailey to ROCK! Knight then winds up, but MJF dodges! Hot tag to Lashley, but then both AEW World Tag Team Champions step in! Bailey tags in so he can step up with Knight! They LARIAT, but the champs stay put! JetSpeed then dodges the Hurt Syndicate to DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Lashley & Shelton shrug those off, then block the next try! LARIAT for Bailey, gut wrench for Knight! CLIFFHANGER!
Shelton has Bailey for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bailey sputters, Shelton feeds him to Lashley, MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up and MJF wants in! Lashley is a little surprised but he tags MJF in. MJF grins and MVP says to take it home! MJF struts up to Bailey, MVP tells the fans to shut up, but Bailey kicks! MJF ducks the pump handle, and MADE IN JAPAN!? Cover, TWO!! Bailey survives and MJF is seething. MJF tells Portland to shut up but they rally up for “SPEEDBALL! SPEEDBALL!” MJF kicks Bailey around, mocks the crane stance, but then Bailey THRUST KCIKS! Dorada springboards to MISSILE DROPKICIK!
Lashley SPEARS Dorada! Lashley kicks Bailey reels him in, gut wrench and- NO, Bailey slips free and fires off LIGHTNING KICKS! ENZIGIRI! Knight is back, he gets a boost form Bailey, SATELLITE DDT! Not the cleanest, but then Shelton GERMAN SUPLEXES Bailey! Bailey lands out!? Knight is up, Shelton avoids a dropkick, but not the DOUBLE DROPKICK! The Hurt Syndicate regroups outside, and JetSpeed coordinate! Crisscross with the OVER THE CORNER TOPE, and the GOLDEN TRIANGLE MOONSAULT! Dorada won’t be left out, he goes up to SUPER SHOOTING STAR ATTACK MJF!!
The fans fire up with Dorada, then he and Bailey put MJF in! MJF is in the drop zone but MVP gets off commentary! MJF distracts the ref and MVP CRACKS Bailey with the walking cane! The fans boo but MJF drags Bailey up! Hammerlock and DDT!! Cover, Hurt Syndicate wins!
Winners: The Hurt Syndicate, by pinfall
It took an assist from MVP, but now MJF rains down fists on Bailey! Knight and Dorada rush back in, but then Lashley & Shelton CLOBBER them! The fans boo but the Hurt Syndicate mugs their opponents 4v3! Lashley TOSSES Knight, Shelton STEP-UP KNEES Dorada, and then Lashley THROWS Knight over railing! MJF puts Dorada back in so that he can grab at the mask! The fans boo but MJF loosens the strings! Dorada tries to fight it, but MJF YANKS the mask away! The fans boo as MJF holds up his trophy, but Mistico is back! LA MYSTICA into the FUJIWARA!! MJF TAPS, the Syndicate realizes what is going on, and they rush back in!
Mistico gets away, having gotten a semblance of revenge for CMLL and himself! Will Mistico humble the Scumbag in front of the people of Mexico? Or will MJF show us that hurting people is a universal language?
Hangman Page heads to the ring!
But now he’s getting jumped by the Death Riders! We saw them stalking him earlier, but only now do they strike! The fans boo as Claudio drags Hangman up to his feet, and we see that he’s been gagged with duct tape, and his hands are tied behind his back! The beating is one-sided, and Claudio even uses a stage speaker to SMASH Hangman in the legs! Then the Death Riders RAM Hangman into the apron! They shove Hangman into the ring, and Moxley takes his time following after his minions. Moxley paces, mic in hand, and he has the mugging stop. “Terribly sorry about all this. It’s just that I wanna make sure that we can have a real conversation. Y’know how distracted you can get.
“Your head’s all over the place. You’re worried about everybody else but yourself. We need you focused. These people need you focused! Because this is your time. All In, the AEW World Championship. For you, this is do or die.” The fans tell Moxley to shut up, but the mugging just continues. Moxley says he’s been watching Hangman, and Hangman is… complicated. Moxley doesn’t understand Hangman he doesn’t like Hangman. The “Millennial Cowboy,” right? For a long time now, Hangman has been searching high and low for something. Moxley doesn’t know what it is, but Hangman has exactly four weeks to find it.
Moxley tells Hangman he has four weeks to step up and become the man everybody here wants you to become. And if he’s not prepared to do that, then he can pack his s*it and get the hell out! Hangman RISING HEADBUTTS Moxley!! Moxley falls, the Death Riders swarm him again, and then Claudio grabs a chair! They put the chair around Hangman’s head! The fans boo but Moxley has Claudio stand down. It seems Moxley still wants All In to happen after all. But then the sound of thunder summons the Opps! Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata & “Powerhouse” Hobbs run The Death Riders off!
The fans fire up as the AEW World Trios Champions have Hangman’s back! Moxley leaves it at this, because his message was sent. But then Hangman grabs a mic to shout, “I have come too far and I am too close for that to be the best that you got! Because I would ride through DEATH ITSELF to take that world championship!!” The fans cheer, and Hangman says if he finds even one Death Rider tonight, eh will take their heads! Hangman grabs that chair Claudio was going to use, and now he’s on the hunt! Will Hangman make sure “The One True King of AEW” loses some pawns on the road to All In: Texas?
TayJay VS Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford!
Just as Anna Jay was at the mercy of the Megasus & Superbad Girl, or lack thereof, Tay Melo made her return to AEW! Queenslayer and Brazilian Badass are reunited, but will they continue where they left off? Or will they still be made to #BowDown?
The fans chant, “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!” for Mama Melo. The teams sort out and Anna starts against Ford. They step up, talk some trash, but then Ford tags Megan. Ford smirks and shrugs, but then Tay wants in? Anna tags her in and the fans fire up as Tay gets right in Megan’s face! But then Ford sucker punches Tay! Jay tags in, Megan kicks her low, and then the bad girls whip TayJay! Tay ROCKS Ford but Megan LARIATS Jay! The fans fire up as now Tay and Megan stare down. They talk some trash, Tay shoves Megan, but Megan pie faces Tay! Ford drags Tay out of the ring and whips her into the steel steps!
Jay ROCKS Megan, runs, but into a scoop and SLAM! Megan “kicks dirt” at Anna, drags her up, and picks her up. Tag to Ford and then Megan RAMS Anna into a corner! Megan CHOPS Anna, whips her corner to corner, then runs in and SPLASHES! Ford handsprings in and BACK ELBOWS! Ford gets a taste but Anna fires off forearms! The fans fire up, Anna whips, and Anna UPPERCUTS Ford, ROCKS her, then whips her! Anna runs up to LEG LARIAT! Anna puts Ford up top, wrenches to HOOK KICK, then ICONOCLASM! Anna runs and basement DROPKICKS! Anna drags Ford over, tags Tay, and then Anna ROCKS Ford again!
Anna whips Tay in and she back ELBOWS! Anna ELBOWS Ford, then Tay says she didn’t forget about Ford! Tag back to Anna, but Megan runs in and BLASTS Tay! The fans boo but Megan saves Ford from Anna! Megan ROCKS Anna, Ford handsprings to headscissor, and that’s just to hold Anna in place for the BOOT! Megan and her harbinger stand tall while Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture.
Ford drags Anna up, kicks her around, but Anna fires body shots! Ford CLUBS Anna down, soaks up heat, and she puts Anna on the ropes. Ford CHOKES Anna, she and Megan soak up the heat, but Ford stops as the ref counts 4. Anna flops back but Ford drags her back up. Ford bumps Anna off buckles, tags Megan, and Megan taunts Tay before she runs in and LARIATS Anna! Then she OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES! Tag back to Ford, and Megan sets up so Ford can use her as a step in the MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Anna stays in this and Ford grows frustrated. Ford keeps Anna down with a chinlock.
Anna endures as Ford traps an arm. Ford shifts to have both arms in the motorcycle stretch! Ford digs her knee into Anna’s back, then drags her up to bump off buckles. Tag to Megan, and she brings Anna around to short arm LARIAT! And short arm LARIAT again! And short arm LARIATÂ again! Megan paces around while Anna flounders to a corner. Megan is on Anna, stands her up, and she runs back in, only for Anna to dodge! Ford runs up, Anna TOSSES her! Anna staggers, reaches for Tay, but Ford YANKS Tay down! And Megan CLOBBERS Anna! Megan aims from a corner, runs up, and LEAPING LARIATS! Cover, TWO!
Megan is seething, and she puts Anna in a corner to RAM her again and again! Megan puts Anna up top, ROCKS her, then climbs up. Anna fights back with body shots and she shoves Megan back! Megan runs up, Anna BOOTS her, and then she BLOCKBUSTERS Megan down! How fitting as Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture! Anna and Megan crawl, hot tags to Ford and Tay! The fans fire up as Tay rallies on Ford with LARIAT after LARIAT! ford gets around, Tay switches, and Tay GERMAN SUPLEXES! Tay roars, runs, and KNEES Ford down!! Cover, Megan breaks it! Megan drags Ford to safety, then tags herself in!
The fans rally for Tay but Megan is on her. Tay ROCKS Megan first! And again! And again! Megan gets mad and DECKS Tay in return! Megan runs corner to corner but Tay dodges the splash! Tay comes back to BOOT! Tay goes the other way and BOOTS again! Tay keeps going, corner to corner and BOOT!! Third Tay’s the charm! But Megan still fireman’s carries her! FATE’S- NO, Tay lands out, trips Megan up, and has the CALF KILLER!! Megan endures, reaches out, but Tay pulls on the leg! But Megan reaches back DRIBBLE Tay’s head off the mat! Tay lets the leg go, crawls around, and Megan slaps her leg into working.
Megan runs in, but Tay DUMPS Megan out! Megan staggers to her feet but Tay is on the apron! CANNONBALL! The fans fire up with Tay and then Anna climbs! Tay stands Megan up for Anna, and Anna SUPER CROSSBODIES! Down goes Megan again and the fans fire up for TayJay! But wait, Ford is up top! ARIHARA MOONSAULT!! Down goes TayJay and the fans fire up again! Ford pushes Anna into the ring for Megan, and Megan fireman’s carries! Ford has Tay, and she adds Tay to the mix?! Megan hits a FALL AWAY SLAM SAMOAN DROP COMBO!! The fans fire up as Megan roars, and then Ford wants in?
Megan drags Tay up, tags Ford in, and Megan feeds Tay to Ford’s fireman’s carry! But Tay fights free! Anna has Megan in the QUEENSLAYER SLEEPER!! Tay reels Ford in for the Gory Especial! TAY K O!!! Cover, TAYJAY WINS!!!
Winners: TayJay, by pinfall
The hubris of Penelope Ford has cost her team the win! Megan drags Anna back into the ring, but Anna is still on her like a backpack! Megan THROWS Anna down, HAMMERS away on her, but Tay gets Anna outta there! TayJay takes the win, but is this war far from over?
AEW takes a look at the history of Okada VS Omega.
“In the professional wrestling world, once in a great while, there are rivalries that are not merely captivating. Some cross the threshold into something more. Something generational. Something… legendary. For Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada, they found this kind of rivalry. Okada established himself as an ace of NJPW, having held the promotion’s top prize seven times. Of Japan’s long lineage of some of the greatest wrestlers to walk the earth, Kazuchika Okada put himself firmly near the top of that list.
“Enter Kenny Omega. The outsider, who would lead a Bullet Club of other outsiders. They would meet many times across from each other as part of teams, yet a one-on-one meeting of these titans of NJPW was inevitable. After becoming the first gaijin to ever win the renowned G1 Climax, Omega was already on course to a career making showdown. The event? WrestleKingdom 11 at the Tokyo Dome. That match? Game changing.” Okada would win that true instant classic, and promised to make it rain in NJPW so long as he was part of it. “In an epic rematch, the champion, Okada, chose Omega for his challenger.
“Little did he know how far it would push his own limits.” Don Callis was even there to help call the match that determined the future of NJPW, and pro-wrestling as a whole. NJPW Dominion 2017 would end in a ONE HOUR TIME-LIMIT DRAW! And as fate would have it, later that year in the G1 Climax, a final round block match would see these two meet again. The trilogy did not disappoint, and Omega would win. Three classics, 1-1-1 was the record, so the only way to determine who was truly the better man, Okada and Omega agreed to a NO TIME LIMIT, Best 2 Out of 3 Falls, and NJPW Dominion 2018!
After pushing past limits and then some, going to the final fall and well over an hour, it would be Omega’s win to finally become IWGP Heavyweight Champion! “In the wake of their battles, their paths would diverge.” Omega helped found AEW, Okada continued to make it rain in NJPW, “but with any true rival, eventually you find your way back.” Okada decided to be All Elite with The Elite, and now this rivalry will truly solidify itself as legend. “A stadium show for the ages. Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Rainmaker, Best Bout Machine, one more time!”
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
AEW returns and Schiavone welcomes us back to the Summer Blockbuster. The table is already set, the belts are already on display, and there’s something underneath a familiar shroud. Schiavone is honored to be here for the Winner Takes All contract signing, Okada VS Omega, live on Saturday, July 12th, part of All In: Texas. This is the most anticipated match in AEW, so first of all, welcome out the Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada! The fans cheer as The Rainmaker makes his way out to the ring. Schiavone now welcomes out the International Champion, Kenny Omega! The fans cheer again as now the Best Bout Machine gets all that pyro!
Omega high-fives some fans before he joins Okada and Schiavone in the ring. Each champion stands by their belt, and Schiavone again says it is an honor to preside over this contract signing. But before that, this is a winner takes all match. So at All In, the winner will be crowned the first-ever AEW Unified Champion! Schiavone reveals the brand new belt and the fans lose their minds just looking at it! Schiavone says it is time to sign the contract. They’ve both read it over, so Okada may sign first. Okada does just that, then passes the contract over to Omega. Omega takes the mic first to say, “Seven years. Seven years almost to the day, we had our last match.”
Omega says watching that video package, he barely recognized himself. But when it comes to this match, they’ll leave it all in the ring one last time, for everything. Omega then signs his part, and it is official! The two men step up and Omega offers a handshake. Okada considers it, and he takes it! The fans cheer the sportsmanship, and then both men pull the other in close. They talk a bit of trash, but wait! The Don Callis Family makes their way out here? The fans boo as The Jackal steps out on stage, mic in hand. Callis smirks and nods, and he says, “I have something important to say.” The fans also have something to say: “F DON CALLIS!”
Callis tells Portland to be quiet but they just keep going. Callis tells Kenny that he should be ashamed of himself! This match should not be between Omega and Okada! This should be Omega VS Takeshita or Omega VS Kyle! Omega throws off his jacket and tells Callis to cut the crap! He has heard enough! Everyone has! The fans cheer that! Callis says Omega should face Kyle or Takeshita! Omega says yeah, of course, it’s all about Kyle and Takeshita now. But the thing is, Omega’s been there, done that, beaten them, and Callis will not ruin this match! If those guys want their shot at the belt, they have to get in line like everyone else.
But for this match at All In, it is Omega VS Okada! There is not one trick Callis can play to ruin it! Omega knows all of Callis’ tricks, and so do all the fans! Oh, Omega knows all of Callis’ tricks?! Well, kid, you don’t know this one! Okada CLOBBERS Omega with the Continental Championship belt! The fans boo, but it would seem that confrontation was a facade! And now Callis brings out a baton! He hands it to Okada, then he stands Omega up! Okada winds up to SMASH Omega in the stomach! The fans boo as Okada drags Omega up to CLUB him on the back! The fans chant at Okada, “You Sold Out!” Medics rush in and Callis has Okada stand down.
Callis and Okada leave together while a backboard and stretcher are brought out for Omega. Omega doesn’t want to be carried away but his stomach and lower midsection are still a concern after his diverticulitis surgery. But wait, Okada isn’t done! He goes up the corner! Callis is gleeful as Okada hits the MACHO ELBOWÂ while Omega is on the backboard! The fans boo more and the medical team reprimands Okada. Christopher Daniels storms out here and tells them to back off! They’ve done enough, and if they do any more, there will be consequences! Callis threatens Daniels with the baton! Daniels says he may be retired but he can still mess Callis up!
Callis steps outside, and he intimidates the medics and even Michael Nakazawa! And then Okada SHOVES Daniels down! MACHO ELBOW from the apron!! Omega falls off the stretcher and to the floor, and he vomits blood!! The fans lose their minds while Okada just smiles watching the results of his psychotic actions! Okada & Callis finally leave, the medics get Omega out of there, and Alex Marvez catches Callis & Okada as they reach the parking lot. That was absolutely disgusting! What is wrong with them?! Callis says get away from him! They’re gonna get killed in here, they gotta go! Callis & Okada get in Callis’ car and he tells the driver to go!
The car practically peels out of the parking garage and off into the night! Will Callis make Okada the future Unified Continental & International Champion by any means necessary? Or will Omega still be able to go All In?
Adam Cole is here!
Portland cheers up seeing the AEW TNT Champion make his way out here, and they join in on the “BOOM!” and “ADAM COLE BAYBAY!” Cole is here to watch this next match, who takes a step closer to the TNT Championship after this Collision?
Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Kyle Fletcher w/ The Don Callis Family!
The Pride of Professional Wrestling called out the Protostar, knowing that they’re each hungry for gold. But will the 5 Tool Player be able to Molly Whop the Don Callis Family’s favorite son? Or will Bowens be shot down by the Aussie Arrow?
The bell rings and the fans fire up already. Bowens and Kyle stare down, and the fans sing, “Oh~ Scissor Me, Daddy~!” Bowens grins as Cole and Billy scissor finger! Kyle and Bowens circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. They go around, Bowens digs his heels in, but Kyle turns things around to put Bowens in the corner. The ref counts, Kyle rolls back and flexes. The fans are torn but Kyle tells Billy to “SUCK IT!” Bowens has Billy calm down, he can handle this. Billy says that’s Kyle’s one warning. Bowens and Kyle circle, tie up, and Kyle turns things around, only for Bowens to turn things back around. Bowens now rolls back and he scissor fingers!
Kyle runs up, Bowens dodges, and Bowens headlocks. Bowens grinds Kyle down but Kyle powers up and out. Bowens RAMS Kyle, Kyle rebounds to RUN Bowens over! Kyle smirks, runs, but Bowens stays low. Bowens hurdles, but Kyle bypasses the monkey flip, only for Bowens to avoid the Penalty Kick! Bowens rolls Kyle up, TWO! Kyle stands, ducks a shot to whip, and then he drops, hurdles, but Bowens shoves him away! Mule kick! Front kick! Bowens runs, and he slips through the lariat to FLOATING DDT! The fans fire up with Bowens and he stalks Kyle to a corner. Bowens CHOPS Kyle, then has him in the corner.
The fans rally, Bowens whips, and then Bowens SPLASHES in the corner! Wrench and ANGLE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Kyle stays in this but Billy coaches Bowens. Archer tells Kyle to get up but Bowens has Kyle first. But Kyle scoops to SLAM! Kyle hobbles away, Archer makes sure Cole saw that, but Bowens is up. Bowens runs up, Kyle puts him on the apron, and Kyle runs to CALF KICK! Bowens falls to the floor and Kyle grins while the Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture.
Bowens sputters, Billy checks on him, and Billy warns Archer to stay back. Archer says the same back, but then Kyle goes out to fetch Bowens. Kyle reels Bowens in for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Bowens writhes, Kyle taunts Billy, and then Kyle grins as he stalks Bowens in the ring. Kyle stomps Bowens around, then stalks him to the ropes. Kyle JUMP STOMPS Bowens down! And JUMP STOMPS again! Kyle drags Bowens up to scoop and SLAM him! Kyle paces while Bowens writhes, then Kyle covers, TWO! Kyle taunts Portland while the Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture. Bowens rises, but Kyle is on him already.
Kyle suplexes but Bowens blocks! Kyle KNEES Bowens again and again, then suplexes again. Bowens slips free, mule kicks, front kicks, and runs to FAMOUSER, only for Kyle to slip out the back! Bowens blocks another suplex to GOURD BUSTER! Bowens runs, and now FAMOUSER! The fans fire up and Bowens covers, TWO! Kyle is tougher than that but Bowens works to refocus. The fans rally as Bowens brings Kyle up. Bowens CHOPS, whips, but Kyle blocks by holding ropes! Bowens BOOTS Kyle for it, then whips, but Kyle reverses to wrench and SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Bowens tumbles out of the ring while Kyle snarls.
Archer laughs at Bowens, but then he and Billy shout at each other. Kyle goes out after Bowens, stares Cole down and Cole says don’t even. But Kyle brings Bowens up, only for Bowens to slip free! And then Electric Chai Lift, and SLAM off the apron! Kyle is dazed and Bowens pushes him in the ring. Bowens LARIATS Kyle inside-out! Cover, TWO! Kyle toughs it out but Bowens drags him to a drop zone. The fans rally as Bowens climbs, but Kyle rises up! GAMANGIRI! Bowens sits back, Kyle shakes out the stars, and Kyle climbs. Kyle drags Bowens to the top rope, but Bowens fights back with body shots! Bowens slips under and mule kicks the legs out!
Kyle is stuck in the ropes and Bowens ENZIGIRIS him! Then DRAPING SIDEWINDER! Cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and Cole is loving this match. The fans rally behind Bowens and he winds up from the corner. MOLLY- NO, Kyle ducks and ROCKS Bowens! Bowens kicks but Kyle blocks to then BOOT Bowens! Kyle runs, but Bowens fires off Rock, Paper, Scissors, SUPERKICK! Kyle sputters and the fans fire up! Bowens tries again, MOLLY- SUPERKICK!! Kyle brings Bowens in and up, LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Bowens survives and even Cole is shocked! Kyle seethes, but the fans rally as Bowens goes to a corner.
Kyle aims, runs corner to corner, GAMANGIRI! And then the suplex, but Bowens knees free! Bowens clinches for the ARRIVAL! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Bowens still has his best shot to try! MOLLY- NO, Kyle flops and bails out! Archer is there to help Kyle, but the fans boo. Wait, Bowens goes up! Bowens SUPER CROSSBODIES Kyle down!! The fans fire up again and Archer is furious! But Billy steps up to keep the Murderhawk Monster back. The ref tells them both to watch themselves, and the fans rally up. Bowens and Kyle rise as the ring count climbs, but then Archer BOOTS Billy! The fans boo as Archer THROWS Billy into railing!
Bowens and Kyle are in the ring, but Bowens saw what Archer did! That distraction lets Kyle hit the GAMANGIRI! And then the BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, Kyle wins!
Winner: Kyle Fletcher, by pinfall
Bowens let Archer strike out Daddy Ass, and Kyle hits one out of the park! But will Kyle and Cole battle over the TNT Championship soon enough? Will the Don Callis Family keep on winning with the 8 Man Tag later tonight?
Carlos Cabrera is in the ring.
The former AAA commentator, now All Elite, thanks Portland for the reception, and says in just seven days, we will see a wonderful collaboration of AEW and CMLL. The fans cheer that, and Cabrera adds that when we talk about this collaboration, nothing comes to mind better than introducing to us a star that has decades in this business and is still going. His debut was FOUR decades ago, and he is the Idol of Children, for the young love him so much, but so do fans of all ages. In Cabrera’s book, this is one of the best ever, with so many accomplishments and championships in his career. A person who has taken many masks of most importance in lucha libre.
And in Cabrera’s opinion, this person is a real, truly living legend! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome out Atlantis! The fans cheer as the OG Atlantis makes his way out, accompanied by his son, Atlantis Jr! The Atlantis familia go to the ring to join Cabrera, and Cabrera says this is a huge, historic collaboration. Who better to talk about that than- FTR? Stokely Hathaway, Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood take their interrupting to a new level, and #BigStoke has the mic to ask, “Did I hear the words, ‘living legend?’ Because there’s only two living legends that I know of, and they are standing right next to me!”
Stoke leads the way into the ring as he excuses Cabrera. Stoke says that Atlantis Sr. has that look in his eyes. It is either excitement, or the look of someone so old, they’re about to defecate themselves on national television. The fans boo but FTR laughs. Stoke says he gets it, Atlantis is scared, and he has every single reason to be scared! He will give a synopsis of everything FTR has accomplished the past few weeks. They took out the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express! They took out Nigel McGuinness at Double Or Nothing! And ever since then, they turned Nigel into a “pill popper.” Stoke says yes, Nigel has been popping sleeping pills hoping that he’ll wake up in 2002, the last time he was relevant!
The fans boo more, but Stoke says Daniel Garcia hasn’t been the same since Double Or Nothing! Wanna know why? Because Garcia has contemplated early retirement! And if the rumors are true, that OnlyFans link will drop any day now! And Copeland, where is he? Where’s Cope? When’s he coming back? What’s he up to? Stoke will tell us what Cope is up to: Staring at a wall, his brain sizzling like a fajita plate from Chili’s! What a great list of accomplishments! But there is one more thing that this great team has to accomplishment. They have performed in every single major arena, all except for Arena Mexico.
And FTR doesn’t have a match yet, but what they want, they always get! And it doesn’t matter how they do it! Dax takes the mic to say that obviously, Big Stoke here is a little upset. The fans boo but Dax says relax, give him a minute. Stoke is upset, but Dax is actually rather excited about this partnership. The fans tell FTR to STFU, but Cash shouts, “HE’S TALKING!!” Dax says he likes this partnership of AEW and CMLL! CMLL is the oldest wrestling promotion in the world! Which is funny, because Atlantis Sr. might be the oldest wrestler in the world. But hey, sorry, he’s digressing.
Dax just wants to get to know them. He makes introductions, and he wants to know is if FTR were to wrestle back when Atlantis started in the 1930s, how would they have faired? Dax pulls the usual “Because I think” move, saying FTR would’ve done pretty damn well. Whether it was against Villano, Blue Panther Sr, Santo, FTR would’ve beaten ’em all and made Atlantis their bag boy. Speaking of that, at 62 years old, Atlantis Sr. is still going strong. So Dax’s next question is, at 61 years old, how many Depends does he go through? Father and son have had enough, they start throwing hands! The fans fire up as Senior has Dax while Junior has Cash!
But Cash CLAWS Junior in the eyes, then he attacks Senior! FTR mugs Senior, then Cash goes up! Cole says screw this, and he jumps off commentary to get in there! He fires hands on Dax, then on Cash, and repeat! The fans fire up, but the Don Callis Family rushes out here! Konosuke & Kyle mug Cole, Hechicero joins in, and then FTR stomps away on Atlantis Junior! And on Atlantis Senior! But then Bandido y Templario appear! They DOUBLE SUPERKICK Hechicero! Then they dodge #ProtoShita to BOOSTED SHOTGUN DROPKCIK! TEMPLAROONI! But FTR attack the luchadores! The fans boo as it is chaos, but here comes Brody King!
The fans fire up as the King of Death fires hands on the Don Callis Family and FTR! Bandido TOSSES Cash, Atlantis Senior gets payback on Dax! Bandido helps Templario go up top, then Bandido DIVES! Templario SUPER CROSSBODIES! Dax finds he’s all alone with everybody else! Senior says uno momento, he wants his shot! Dax says bet, and he runs up on Senior! Senior dodges to then SPINEBUSTER! And he rains down fists! Dax scrambles out of there, but Senior still goes after him! Dax runs but can’t get away, Atlantis Senior’s still got that fire! Dax hops the railing, but Senior still wants him! This brawl heads backstage!
Atlantis Junior goes to help his father, and Cole tells the Don Callis Family to just wait and see how things go later tonight! Will the Paragon make sure the family pays for what Callis & Okada did earlier tonight?
Backstage interview with Big Bill & Bryan Keith.
Lexy Nair is with the Redwood & Bad Apple, and says they asked for this time, so what is on their mind? Bill says they promised to crack skulls and stack W’s, and that is what they did to the Gates of Agony. Keith says for just a second in that Street Fight, he didn’t think he was gonna make it. But he appreciates Bill has his back. Bill says he always has BK’s back. But that was only one W. ONE! If there’s another team out there that thinks- Oh, there is a team! JD Drake & Anthony Henry step in! Drake says it’s like they’ve seen a ghost!
Don’t let the fact that the Workhorsemen haven’t been in an AEW ring in over a YEAR lead you to believe that they aren’t two men who are obsessed with success. Fellas, that’s not an option where these two come from. So uh, if Bill & BK wanna have it their way, Drake & Henry are ready to punch in, and knock out! BK says bet! Bill says if they wanna get their skulls cracked, then by all means. CRACK CRACK! Drake says okay, see y’all soon. But will Scrap Metal & The Saint of Augusta chop down what’s left of the Learning Tree?
Mercedes Mone is here!
And just like last time, she’s going to be ringside to watch the TIMELESS AEW Women’s World Champion. But will she like the “spinoff” that’s about to play? Or will she have a hand in changing the ending?
Toni Storm w/ Luther VS Julia Hart w/ Skye Blue!
Toni stops by Mone’s table for one and takes a taste of the mashed potatoes. But that’s when Julia & Skye strike! The fans boo but Mone loves it as Skye rains down fists on Toni! The ref reprimands, drags Skye off Toni, but then Julia attacks! The ref EJECTS Skye and the fans cheer! Julia is furious but the fans cheer on “AUBREY! AUBREY!” The ref tells Julia to back off, Mone is upset that her potatoes are ruined, but Julia says oops, guess the match is over. Toni is in rough shape, Mone mockingly asks if she’s okay, and Toni sits up. The fans cheer Toni on, Mone tells them to shut up, and then she sips her red wine.
Aubrey checks on Toni, Julia waits for the final verdict, and Toni steadies herself. Toni rolls into the ring, refusing to let cheap shots ruin her scene. “Ring the bloody bell already!” The bell indeed rings, and Julia is right on Toni in the corner! Julia fires hands, but Toni turns things around! Julia trips Toni, stomps away, then makes sure Toni is in the drop zone. Julia climbs while Mone applauds, HARTSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Toni survives and Julia snarls. Julia CLUBS away on Toni, the fans rally up, and Julia whips Toni, only for Toni to SHOTGUN! Julia tumbles, Toni runs and HIP ATTACKS Julia to the floor!
The fans fire up and Toni says, “We’ll be right back! Stay tuned, darling!” And just as the leading lady says, the Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture!
Mone tells Toni to back off, but Toni runs up on Julia. Julia dodges and the hip attack hits steps! Julia grins as she drags Toni up into the ring. Julia dribbles Toni off the mat, then covers, TWO! Toni toughs it out but Julia clamps on with a chinlock. Toni endures, Mone enjoys more of her meal, but Toni fires body shots. Julia CLUBS Toni, wrenches and YANKS the arm, then brings Toni to a corner. Julia climbs up, knuckle locks the hand, and she tightrope walks. Julia goes OLD SCHOOL for the ax handle! Then a SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Julia grows frustrated but Mone says that’s the way. The fans rally for Toni while Julia bends her back with a CAMEL CLUTCH!
Toni endures, claws at the mat, and Mone munches asparagus while Toni RAMS Julia into a corner! Toni fires elbows, but Julia bumps her off buckles! Julia fires forearms, then stomps a mudhole in. Julia digs her boot in, the ref counts, and Julia steps off at 4 while AEW goes to break.
The Summer Blockbuster returns and Julia wrenches to RAM shoulders with Toni! And RAMS, and RAMS! Toni falls, Julia stands her up to wrench and bring her back to a corner. Julia climbs, throws more shots, then goes back to the top. Julia tightrope walks again, but Toni says no more Old School as she trips Julia up! Toni shakes the ropes to jam up Hart’s throne! Toni then drags Julia up for a GERMAN SUPLEX! And another GERMAN SUPLEX! And then a SAIDO! Mone frowns but the fans fire up as Toni reels Julia in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but the fans rally up all the same!
Toni watches Julia go to a corner, but now Julia needs to be checked. The ref has Toni stay back, Julia stands up, and Toni rushes in! Julia goes up and over to catch Toni into the TARANTULA! Julia was playing possum, but she lets go of Toni at 4. Julia steps in and tilt-o-whirls, IRON OCTOPUS! The fans rally as Toni endures! Toni reaches out, storms her way over, and has the ROPEBREAK! Julia lets go but then HAMMERS away on Toni! Julia runs, but Toni clamps on for a SKY HIGH! Cover, TWO! Julia stays in this but the fans fire up behind Toni. Toni drags Julia up, reels her in, but Julia fights the lift!
Julia wrenches, clinches, S T O! Julia puts Toni back in the drop zone, then climbs up. HARTSAULTÂ but Toni moves! Julia rolls through, Toni runs up, BIG PACKAGE!! TONI WINS!!
Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall
Mone sneers as Toni comes from behind to come out on top! But will Toni keep it coming- er, going as we approach All In? Mone approaches Toni in the ring, and Toni pleads with Mone to show some mercy in this moment. Mone helps Toni stand up, and smells Toni’s hair. Mone whispers something to Toni, then THROWS her down! Mone rains down fists, there is no mercy from The CEO! The fans boo, but here comes Mina Shirakawa! Mone runs away from #MinaNow, and Mina comforts her friend. But then Mone storms in to go after #MinaNow! Mone HAMMERS away on the former Rev-Pro British Women’s Champion and TOSSES her out!
Mone paces, the fans boo, but Mone grabs the AEW Women’s World Championship. Mone holds up the belt, then tells Toni to kiss the title goodbye. Mone rubs the belt in Toni’s face, will there be no stopping The Money Train?
BREAKING NEWS for Grand Slam: Mexico!
Per a tweet Mone posted during Toni VS Julia, Mone doesn’t wanna wait until All In: Texas to become #FiveBeltsMone! She challenges the CMLL Women’s World Champion, Zeuxis, for her title! But will Mone return from Arena Mexico with even more gold? Or will the Warrior Goddess humble the greedy CEO?
Backstage interview with Ricochet.
Lexy Nair is now with the One & Only, and says he has made it abundantly clear that he wants to recruit people to his side to ultimately- Ricochet stops her there and says yes, everyone already knows that Ricochet is searching for the perfect group of individuals to help make his quest for gold a reality. But then in steps Lee Johnson & Blake Christian. Big Shotty tells Ricochet that hey, he and Blake peeped Ricochet being ringside for Lee’s match last week. They know he saw what they can do, and Blake says that maybe, they don’t need something but someone.
Ricochet stops them there, and he says yes, he is searching for the perfect “ultra athletes” to help him navigate through the “unjust waters” of AEW. Honestly, he has been watching them for a long, long time. Recently, a lot of people have been putting Ricochet onto them, showing him their stuff, because they are impressing the right people in the right places. Ricochet says that it is rather embarrassing to see two grown men go out there, week in and week out, playing make-believe Ricochet. And although they were impressive in the ring, there is something they are just missing. AHA~! Ricochet leaves, but will he regret dissing Big Shotty & Vanilla Babyface?
Mixed Six Tag: Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale VS #MXMTV!
While THE Conglomeration might not be a thing anymore, the Sussex County Chicken, the Stone Pitbull and the Babe with the Power are always down to team up! But will they be going strong for the summer? Or will Mansoor, Mason Madden & Taya Valkyrie show what means to be TV Ready?
The trios sort out and Mansoor starts against Ishii. The two run up, RAM, and then Mansoor runs to RAM again! Ishii runs to RAM Mansoor! Mansoor RAMS again! Ishii RAMS again! Mansoor CHPOS, eggs Ishii on, and Ishii CHOPS! The fans cheer on Ishii while Mansoor winds up, but that chop really stings! Mansoor goes to his corner and tags in Taya! Taya gets in Ishii’s face and goes chest to chest? And then she CHOPS Ishii! Taya laughs but Willow steps in. Willow CHOPS Taya, then CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Willow scoops and SLAMS Taya, and the fans fire up for the SPLASH! Cover, ONE!!
Taya toughs it out, she tags out to Mason Madden, and while Johnny TV checks on Mrs. TV, Willow says bring it, Mahogany Hunk! Willow and Mason circle, then Willow dodges the chop to tag Briscoe! The fans fire up as Briscoe dodges Mason to CHOP and ROCK and repeat! Briscoe whips, Mason reverses, but Briscoe FLYING FOREARMS! Mason goes to a corner. Briscoe runs up to LARIAT! Briscoe whips corner to corner, Mason reverses, but Briscoe goes up and over, only to get caught! Mason throws Briscoe into the SLICE! MXM TV cheers but the fans are torn. Mason HEADBUTTS Briscoe, tags Mansoor, and he LARIATS!
Mason ELBOWS Briscoe, then feeds him to Mansoor’s atomic drop! Mansoor dropkicks the legs out, Mason pulls up to HIP ATTACK! The fans are torn but then Mr. & Mrs. TV put on a PDA, aka public display of affection, and the Conglomeration protests, only for Mason to BOOT Ishii down! Mansoor whips Briscoe to ropes for a BACKDROP, but Briscoe lands on his feet! Hot tag to Willow! She TOSSES Mansoor, then dodges Taya! Willow rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT, then she powers up while Taya goes to a corner! The fans fire up as Willow back body blocks, LARIATS, and snapmares! Willow goes up and MISSILE DROPKICKS!
Taya tumbles out, Johnny is there to help her, but then Willow is on the apron! CANNONBALL on both TVs! Ishii & Briscoe brawl with MXM into the ring! Ishii & Briscoe dodge the lariats, MXM stop from colliding, but they get CHOPS! MXM mourn their nips but then they get CHOPS on the back! Mansoor falls, Briscoe & Ishii CHOP away on Mason! Mason stays up but they double whip him to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Mason tumbles out but Mansoor is back in! Mansoor SUPERKICKS Ishii down! Briscoe kicks Mansoor and whips! Mansoor turns that around to TOSS Briscoe out, and Mason catches him!
Mason holds Briscoe up for Mansoor to DRAPING SENTON! Then they get Briscoe in the ring, and Mansoor Electric Chair Lifts while Mason climbs! But Briscoe fights free of Doomsday and he TOSSES Mansoor! Ishii ROCKS Mason up top! Ishii & Briscoe work together, UPPERCUT and then they climb! The Pitbull and Chicken coordinate, but Mansoor runs in! FLYING SUNSET FLIP BOMB!! Willow is back to POUNCE~ Mansoor! PERIOD! Mason has Ishii but Willow CHOPS Mason first! Willow joins Ishii now, and they DOUBLE SUPERPLEX! Briscoe is up top on another corner, for the FROGGY-BOW!!
Briscoe hurries to WRECK Johnny with a dropkick and the fans are thunderous! But then Taya rolls Willow up! TWO!! Willow is up, she ducks a boot, and she spins Taya into the gut wrench! BABE WITH THE POWER BOMB!! Cover, Conglomeration wins!
Winners: Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale, by pinfall
MXM TV regroups and retreats, will this not bode well for Mansoor challenging Bandido for the ROH World Championship? Will this win help Willow, Briscoe and even Ishii head for title opportunities?
AEW shares footage from after Fyter Fest.
AEW Media found Kris Statlander on her way out, and asked her if she had a minute to talk. Kris grumbled in frustration and asked what they wanted to talk to her about. They wanna talk about Willow Nightingale? Kris has tried to make amends, but Willow says she’s done with Kris, so Kris is done with that. Why not talk about the fact that she is still Kris Statlander! And let’s remember that there is no one else on this roster like Kris Statlander! So why isn’t that good enough!? But then Wheeler Yuta walked in. He wanted her to calm down and asked if she’s alright.
Yuta knows things have been tough since losing Willow, and since losing Best Friends. Things had worked out more or less for her, and things have worked out more or less for Yuta. But he had to make a lot of tough choices to get where he is, so if she ever needs any advice- Kris shrugs Yuta right off, but he says he’ll be here for her. And here’s one for free: Forget about what others think of you, just make your own choices. Kris says yeah, whatever. She pushes past Yuta, but then stares down Marina Shafir. Kris pushes past her, too, but will The Death Riders become a problem for the Galaxy’s Greatest?
Bandido w/ The Outrunners VS The Beast Mortos!
This “standby match” got the greenlight given all the chaos from tonight. The Most Wanted knows everyone is gunning for his ROH World Championship, but will he make it through this Summer Blockbuster riding off into the sunset? Or will LFI’s monstrous minotaur earn a golden ticket to a sequel?
The fans rally behind Bandido already as Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd see him out to the ring. The bell rings, the two run up, and Mortos CLOBBERS Bandido! Mortos roars, the fans are torn, but then Mortos drags Bandido up to SMACK him back down! Bandido goes to a corner, but Mortos THROWS him across the way! The fans fire up and Mortos stalks Bandido. The fans cheer Mortos on and he feeds off that energy. Mortos drags Bandido up to TOSS Bandido, but Bandido lands out! Bandido ducks ‘n’ dodges and RAN- NO! Mortos stops the rana to lift Bandido, but Bandido slips free! Bandido deflects a kick, but Mortos blocks one!
Mortos FLIPS Bandido, Bandido lands out, but Mortos HEADBUTTS him! Mortos runs, but Bandido TOSSES Mortos up and outta the ring! The fans fire up and Bandido builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Mortos hits railing! The fans fire up with Bandido and he fist-bumps the front row. Bandido puts Mortos in the ring, goes up the corner, and the fans rally for “BAN-DI-DO! BAN-DI-DO!” Bandido gives some Latino Heat, but Mortos avoids the Frog Splash! SPEAR!! Mortos snarls and sits Bandido up. Mortos rips at the mask! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Mortos keeps ripping at the mask!
The fans boo as Mortos drops Bandido, for a NECK TWIST! Cover, TWO! Mortos stands Bandido up but Bandido fires hands! Mortos TOSSES Bandido out of the ring! Mortos builds speed and he DIVES! The fans fire up for the tornillo tope and down goes Bandido as Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture.
Mortos huffs ‘n’ puffs and refreshes the ring count before he drags Bandido up. Mortos whips Bandido into the steel steps! Mortos follows Bandido as he hobbles away. Mortos winds up to SMACK Bandido down again! Mortos refreshes the count again, then stalks Bandido. Mortos drags Bandido up, and feints throwing him into the barriers just to mess with the fans. Mortos then SMACKS Bandido, puts him in the ring, and he clamps on a chinlock. Bandido endures, has the ROPEBREAK, but Morots slaps his leg away. The ref still tells Mortos to let off, so Mortos stands Bandido up. Bandido fires forearms and CHOPS!
Mortos KNEES Bandido low, then CLUBS him on the neck! Mortos winds up to HEADBUTT Bandido down! Mortos has a leg and DDTS the foot! Bandido writhes, but Mortos has the leg again! HALF CRAB! Bandido endures, reaches out, but Mortos GROUND DRAGON SCREWS the leg! Cover, TWO! Bandido toughs it out and Mortos snarls. Bandido goes to a corner, Mortos runs up and SMACKS him! Mortos drags Bandido up, puts him on the top rope, and then climbs up to rip at the mask! The ref reprimands, Mortos thrashes Bandido around, then lets off as the ref counts. Mortos snarls at the ref, and he pushes Bandido down into the Tree of Woe.
Mortos stomps Bandido out of the Tree, then CHOPS him! The Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture and Mortos whips corner to corner. Mortos SPLASHES Bandido, Bandido falls to the mat, and the fans are torn. Mortos runs to basement DROPKICK! Mortos then goes to a corner, waits for Bandido to rise, and he runs corner to corner, only for Bandido to dodge! Bandido BOOTS Mortos, Mortos comes back, but Bandido DOUBLE STOMPS him down! The fans fire up while Bandido hobbles. Bandido runs, builds speed, and tilt-o-whirls for the DEJA VU TIMES TWO RANA!! The fans are thunderous as Mortos is on the ropes!
Bandido whips Mortos and manages to military press him! And SLAM!! The fans fire up as Bandido puts Mortos in the drop zone, and then he throws off his weight belt! Bandido is up top, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Mortos survives and Bandido is shocked! “This is Awesome!” as Bandido has Mortos back on the ropes. Bandido says BANG and runs, but Mortos ELBOWS him! And SMACKS him! Bandido runs back up but into an ELBOW! Mortos runs to CRUCIFIX DRIVER!! Mortos whips and POP-UP SAMOAN DROPS! Cover, TWO!!! Bandido survives but Mortos won’t let off! Mortos roars and the fans rally!
Mortos scoops and gut wrenches, CIPHER UTAKI! Cover, TWO!?! Bandido survives and Mortos is seething! Mortos drags Bandido up, whips and scoops, but Bandido makes it a cradle! TWO!!! Mortos escapes, but Bandido wheelbarrows to victory roll, cross-legged cradle! TWO!! Mortos escapes, ducks a lariat, but Bandido ducks the superkick! Fireman’s carry, GO TO SLEEP!! Mortos falls, Bandido goes to the corner, and the fans fire up as he climbs again! But Mortos stand up to trip Bandido! Mortos goes outside to SMACK Bandido, then he climbs from the outside! Bandido fires body shots, then goes to the very top!
Bandido brings Mortos up for a scoop and SUPER DUPER MOONSAULT POWERSLAM!! The fans are electric as Bandido covers, Bandido wins!
Winner: Bandido, by pinfall
For being on standby, both men were ready to put it all on the line! But will Bandido be unstoppable on the road to All In?
Backstage interview with Mercedes Mone.
Renee Paquette is now with The CEO, and there is a lot to unpack about what Mone did out there earlier. But what did Mone whisper in Toni’s ear? Mone says she doesn’t kiss and tell. But Toni got what she deserved. And at All In: Texas, Mone gets everything that she wants. Well, there is also another thing, given that Mone put the challenge out there to Zeuxis for the CMLL Women’s World Championship. Yes, that is right! But wait! Zeuxis is here! Mone chuckles and says, “Hola, p*ta.” Zeuxis smiles and tells Mone, “Challenge accepted. B*TCH!” Then she DECKS Mone!! Zeuxis says see you at Grand Slam! Will the Warrior Goddess derail the Money Train in Mexico?
AEW returns and…
Renee Paquette is now outside the medical trainers’ room, hoping for an update on Will Ospreay after he took those spiked Reeboks to the face. But Hangman Page storms up, and he asks how Ospreay’s doing. Renee says she doesn’t know, she- But then The Bucks step in and Matt says he had no idea The Death Riders were gonna do that. Hangman tells The Bucks to tell him in five words or less why he shouldn’t take their heads off! Oh, okay, how about this? They were aiming for Swerve. Y’know, the guy they kept busy for two months so Hangman could have a clear shot at winning The Owen Hart Cup?
Prince Nana pokes his head out from the medical room to hear some of this, but then slips back inside before he’s spotted. Matt tells Hangman that hey, you’re welcome! And don’t forget: All Hangman has to do now is stick the landing. All he has to do now is win the world title and bring it to The Elite. Y’know? The real plan? WHAT real plan!? There is and never has been a “plan” between them! Hangman doesn’t hear from The Bucks in months, never asked for them to do what they did at Dynasty, and sure as s*it didn’t ask them to do anything tonight. Hangman cannot believe he has to tell these two again: Stay out of his business! Stay out of Ospreay’s business!
And for that matter, stay out of Swerve’s business. And if they don’t, if Hangman ever burns down a home again… He’ll make sure they’re trapped in it first. Hangman storms off and Matt says okay, Hangman just made his bed. Nana again sneaks a peak at this, and then he goes to tell Swerve. Did Swerve hear any of that? Swerve says, “Every word.” Then will The Realest finally realize Ospreay was right? Is Hangman not the enemy?
Thekla VS Queen Aminata!
Welcome to her parlor, said the Toxic Spider to the entire AEW Women’s Division! She struck down Jamie Hayter, melted Lady Frost, but will she take a bite out of the One True African Queen? Or will she get stomped on and thrown away with the trash?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Aminata and Thekla stare down, and Aminata is first to step up. Thekla runs up, Aminata avoids the sobat, and the two reset. They circle, but Thekla tries again! Aminata catches her, SLAMS her, then flips her, but Thekla arm-drags! Aminata comes back, Thekla snapmares but Aminata again avoids the sobat! The fans cheer the exchange and the two reset again. Aminata says she knows what Thekla is after, and the two circle again. Aminata calls for a knuckle lock, and shows off her height advantage with it. Thekla nods and steps up, but then she SLAPS Aminata! The fans fire up but Aminata brushes that off.
Aminata SLAPS Thekla, snapmares her, and then snapmares again! And again! Aminata DOUBLE CHOPS and Thekla falls! Aminata runs to PENALTY KICK! Thekla tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up! Aminata waits on Thekla while Thekla checks her chin. The ring count starts but Thekla takes her time. She returns at 5 of 10, but is wary of Aminata’s long reach. Thekla goes around the outside, the ref has to keep Aminata back, but then Thekla drops back down. Thekla soaks up the heat, but Aminata does push-ups to show she’s not worried. Thekla returns and Aminata BOOTS her right down!
Aminata whips, Thekla ducks ‘n’ dodges, and Thekla tilt-o-whirls for the RANA! Aminata goes to ropes, Thekla runs up and BOOTS her in return! Aminata dangles so Thekla goes to the apron and BOOTS her back in! The fans fire up and Thekla grins while the Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture.
Thekla drags Aminata up, bumps her off buckles, then smothers Aminata in the corner! The ref counts, Thekla steps off, and she stalks Aminata to another corner. Thekla CLUBS Aminata, puts her in yet another corner, but Aminata hits back! Thekla fires body shots in return! The ref counts, Thekla stops at 4, but Aminata turns things around to CHOP! Aminata CHOPS again, and again, and again! Aminata swings btu Thekla dodges the haymaker! SOBAT! Thekla finally hits that kick, then she snapmares for headscissors! Aminata endures, even as Thekla squeezes tight. Aminata rolls and rolls but Thekal rolls her back down! Aminata pushes back to a cover, TWO!
Thekla still holds on, but Aminata fights up. Thekla shifts to have the arms for a straitjacket stretch! Thekla stomps Aminata, then grabs the legs! Thekla ties the legs together for a DEATHLOCK! And then Thekla bridges back for a MUTA LOCK! Aminata endures, pulls Thekla’s hair, but Thekla lets the legs go so she can SENTON! Thekla kneels on Aminata for a cover, TWO! Thekla stays on Aminata by dragging her up, only for Aminata to fire hands! Aminata CHOPS Thekla in the corner, then wraps Thekla’s arms around ropes! The ref counts, Aminata stops at 4 to HEADBUTT! Aminata snapmares, covers, TWO!
Aminata drags Thekla up, reels her in, and snap cradles! TWO!! Thekla escapes but Aminata ELBOWS her down! Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture as Aminata has Thekla back in the corner. Aminata whips corner to corner, Thekla goes up and up, and Thekla BOOTS Aminata! Then she has the HANGING HEADSCISSORS! The ref counts while the fans cheer, and Thekla lets go at 4. Thekla hangs in place, then she returns to the ring. But Aminata trips her to a jackknife bridge! TWO, and Aminata ELBOWS then short arm LARIATS! And short arm LARIATS! Aminata BOOTS Thekla’s lariat away, then reels her in for a snap suplex!
The fans fire up while Thekla sits up in a daze. Aminata drags Thekla up, reels her back in, FISHERMAN SCREW! Aminata grins, but Thekla is up! Thekla staggers to a corner, but Aminata runs in around the world, OFF WITH HER HEAD!! “Spider where?” Aminata drags Thekla into the ring, high stack cover, TWO?!?! Thekla barely gets out of that, but Aminata kicks her around. Thekla grins as Aminata whips her. Thekla goes Spider-Woman in the ropes! She GAMANGIRIS Aminata, CLUBS her, then reels her in! Aminata backdrops but Thekla sunset flips! Aminata stays up, Thekla slips away, but turns around into a HEADBUTT!
The fans fire up and Aminata wobbles a bit, but she drags Thekla back up. Aminata puts on the headscissors for the CHOCOLATE KISSES! Then a PENALTY KICK! Aminata puts Thekla in the drop zone, then she goes up top! The fans fire up for the DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Thekla survives that coup de grace and Aminata can’t believe it! Aminata drags Thekla up, ROCKS her, ROCKS her, and ROCKS Her! Aminata waistlocks, but Thekla fights the suplex! Thekla fires elbows, but Aminata reels her back in! But Thekla victory rolls with a snap, TWO!! Both women stand, and Thekla ROCKS Amianta!
Aminata drops to her knees, and Thekla spider-walks! The fans fire up as Thekla then runs in and SPEARS!! But she isn’t done, she reels Aminata into the DEATH TRAP!!! Aminata TAPS, Thekla wins!
Winner: Thekla, by submission
Aminata tried to squash the spider, but the venom took effect soon enough! A gritty second match here in AEW, will Thekla not stop until she’s caught all of AEW in her web?
BREAKING NEWS for Grand Slam: Mexico!
For starters, it will be a special two-and-a-half hours, so make sure your DVR is set accordingly! Then, after the violence we saw tonight, The Death Riders & Young Bucks must work together again, this time taking on Swerve Strickland, The Opps & Will Ospreay in a TEN MAN TAG! Will the Maniac and his crew survive the anarchy in Arena Mexico? Or will it be another win for Swerve’s House?
Backstage interview with Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian.
Lexy Nair is with the ROH World Television Champion and his Superbad stepbrother in the Patriarchy. Last week, Christian Cage said something about a surprise Kip had for Nick upon his return from Japan. Is that surprise ready this week? Before Kip can answer, Nick asks where Christian even is tonight. Kip says Christian decided to give Nick some space this week. After all the hard work Nick has put in the last couple of months, he deserves it. Um, okay. Then where is his mom? Christian said he was going to put in some “hard work” with her as well, so- What?! No, that’s besides the point! Tonight is the big surprise!
Tonight, we are here to see Nick’s Best of the Super Juniors highlight reel! The video is cued up, and from his win over THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, El Desperado, to the great match with Kevin Knight where he… lost… Well, Nick does like how it looked. Did Kip do all that for him? Yep! Nick says he loves it. Kip says that is what brothers are for! Christian also wanted Nick to know that he really is proud of him. Kip doesn’t know where he’d be without Christian. And we don’t really know where Nick would be without him, either. Kip leaves, and Nick feels like that wasn’t quite a compliment. Will the Prodigy have to take it up with “Father” the next time we see him?
8 Man Tag: Daniel Garcia & Paragon VS Hechicero & The Don Callis Family!
Red Death teamed with Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong to take on a different formation of The Don Callis Family last week and came out on top. But now, the Alchemist of Lucha teams with The Alpha, The Walking Weapon & The Murderhawk Monster to see if they can’t change that. Will the Summer Blockbuster’s finale be undisputed? Or will tonight belong to the villains?
The teams sort out and while Daddy Magic joins commentary, he and Nigel point out how this is really 4v6 with how Roppongi Vice is ringside. Garcia starts against Hechicero and they circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and Hehci wrenches. Garcia rolls to wrench and wristlock back, but Hechi rolls to slip through and leg pick. Hechi trips Garcia, rolls with the leglock and then body scissors Garcia around. Garcia bridges to a cover, ONE, and Hechi has the Oklahoma Roll, ONE! Hechi shows off his alchemy but Garcia just puts up his dukes. The fans cheer as Garcia does his dance! Hechi seems stunned by that magic!
Hechi SWEEPS the legs, covers, ONE! Garcia sweeps, covers, ONE! Hechi slips around to waistlock but Garcia breaks free. Hechi follows, Garcia ducks, but Hechi FLAPJACKS the hurdle! Hechi ELBOW DROPS on Garcia’s back, and Garcia scrambles to a corner. Hechi runs up to STEP-UP KNEE! Hechi then tags in Konosuke, he climbs up, AX HANDLE to Garcia’s arm! Konosuke wrenches to then CLUB the arm, YANK the arm, and suplex! Garcia slips free, tag to Cole! Cole dodges Konosuke to fire forearms! Konosuke CLAWS Cole’s eyes! Konosuke runs but Cole ROCKS him first! Cole runs, but Konosuke BOOTs him first!
Konosuke deadlifts Cole, but Cole breaks the waistlock to PELE! Konosuke wobbles, Cole brings him around, tag to Roddy. They mug Konosuke, then Roddy tags Kyle. Kyle goes up, BACKBREAKER KNEE DROP COMBO! The fans fire up and Kyle fires knees and KICKS! Konosuke falls, Kyle tags Roddy back in, and Roddy CHOPS! Konosuke goes to an open corner, Roddy runs up, but Konosuke turns shining wizard into an ALLEYH-OOP onto buckles! Roddy falls back, Archer tags in, but Roddy dodges him! Archer hits buckles, Kyle tags, and Paragon unleashes CHOPS and KICKS! Josh Alexander runs up, but he gets CHOPS and KICKS!
Archer guzels Roddy & Kyle, but they DOUBLE KNEE free! Kyle has Archer and Roddy runs, but Archer fights free! Archer BOOTS Roddy, but Kyle KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! But Archer guzels again! Kyle KICKS the legs, Alexander is back but gets a BOOT! Archer gives Kyle a ride on the HELLICOASTER! Archer then BLASTS Garcia and Cole just because! The fans are torn while the Summer Blockbuster goes picture in picture.
Archer stomps Kyle, then drags him up to whip into the Callis corner hard! Kyle falls, Hechi tags in, and Hechi stomps Kyle. Hechi top wristlocks Kyle for a tilt-o-whirl and headscissor takedown! Kyle endures the squeeze, even as Hechi thrashes around! Kyle bridges, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Hechi lets go but he stomps Kyle, and grabs a leg. SPINNING TOEHOLD! Hechi CHOPS Kyle down, Garcia kicks at Hechi, so Hechi CHOPS Garcia! The ref reprimands them both, but Kyle rolls Hechi up! The ref is busy with Garcia at first, but then the Callis Family all break it up before the count! Hechi then wrenches Kyle to KNEE him low.
Hechi tags Konosuke and he stomps Kyle. Tag to Alexander, he and Konosuke double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Konosuke mocks Garcia’s dance, then Alexander drags Kyle up. Alexander ROCKS Kyle, stomp shim, then stomps him more. Alexander clinches but Kyle fires body shots. Alexander DECKS Kyle, then tags Archer. They mug Kyle, then Archer puts Kyle in an open corner. Kyle dodges the chop to KICK! Archer DECKS Kyle! Archer drags Kyle up, whips him to a corner, then runs in for an ELBOW! Archer whips Kyle back into the corner, then CORNER CHOKE SLAMS him! Kyle staggers around, into a BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO!
Archer snarls but Kyle is still in this. Archer drags Kyle over, bumps him off buckles, and tags in Alexander. Alexander RAMS Kyle, brings him around, and scoop SLAMS him! Alexander drops a KNEE, then covers, TWO! Alexander keeps Kyle down with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Kyle endures, fights up, and fires body shots. Summer Blockbuster returns to single picture as Alexander CLUBS Kyle down! Alexander CHOPS Kyle, but Kyle fires as forearm! They go back and forth, then Kyle KICKS! Kyle runs up but Alexander picks him up! Alexander throws Kyle back, blocks a kick, and he CLUBS the leg!
Alexander ROLLING- NO, Kyle ROCKS him first! And then DOUBLE LARIATS bring them both down! The fans fire up and so do the teams! Kyle and Alexander crawl, hot tags to Garcia and Konosuke! Garcia fires hands on Konosuke, then roars as he runs! LARIAT! Konosuke stays up and he shouts back at Garcia! Garcia runs to LARIAT again! Konosuke still eggs Garcia on, Garcia runs again, but Konosuke BOOTS him! Konosuke runs, but Garcia dodges the lariat to LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Garcia pounds the mat, runs corner to corner, and LARIATS! Then he climbs up to rain down fists!
The fans count along, and Garcia goes to nine, winds up, and hits TEN! The fans fire up again and Garcia whips corner to corner. Konosuke reverses, runs in, but Garcia BOOTS him! Garcia goes up, reels Konosuke in, and TORNADO SNAP SUPLEXES! But that’s just the start as Garcia rises back up. But Konosuke suplexes now! Garcia fights that, and hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Konosuke survives, Archer warns Garcia, but Garcia has the legs. Garcia steps through, but Konosuke rolls him into a cradle! TWO, and both men stand! Konosuke headlocks, Garcia powers up and out, but Alexander sneaks a tag!
Konosuke reverses the whip, then picks Garcia up for the BLUE THUNDER- NO, Garcia hits a headlock takeover! Garcia floats to have the legs, but the ref tries to tell him Konosuke isn’t legal! Garcia still turns Konosuke over for the DRAGONTAMER, but Alexander BOOTS Garcia down! The fans boo but Alexander soaks up the heat. Alexander drags Garcia up, reels him in and tucks the arms, but Garcia BACKDROPS free! Hot tag to Roddy! DROPKICK for Alexander! JUMP KNEE for Archer! Roddy DECKS Hechi for good measure! Alexander runs up, Roddy catches him for an ANGLE SLAM! Konosuke runs in, Roddy dodges to DROPKICK!
The fans fire up more as Roddy keeps moving, and he WRECKS Hechi with a dropkick! Then he BOOTS and ENZIGIRIS Alexander, fireman’s carries and GUTBUSTER DROPS! Then a SICK KICK!! High stack, TWO!! But into the STRONGHOLD!! Archer runs in, but Kyle intercepts him with a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Konosuke runs in, but Cole trips Konosuke, steps through, and has a FIGURE FOUR! Hechi runs in, Garcia intercepts him for a DRAGONTAMER!! QUADRUPLE SUBMISSIONS!! But Archer CLOBBERS Roddy using Kyle! And then he stomps Cole! Garcia jumps on Archer, but Archer SPINEBUSTERS!
The fans rally as Kyle stands and Archer runs up. Kyle DUMPS Archer out, then Roddy joins in! They BLAST Archer off the apron! RPG Vice gets up so Roddy & Kyle BLAST them, too! Kyle goes to the apron, FLYING KNEE takes out Trent, and then Kyle LARIATS Rocky! Roddy calls Kyle in for the high-low! The ref stops Kyle, he’s not legal! Archer grabs Kyle in a SLEEPER! The ref reprimands Archer, but Alexander waistlocks Roddy. Roddy fights free with elbows, but Konosuke sneaks in! ALPHA ELBOW!! Alexander GERMAN SUPLEXES with a bridging cover, DON CALLIS FAMILY WINS!
Winners: Hechicero & The Don Callis Family, by pinfall
The numbers game favors the Don Callis Family, but here’s MORE BREAKING NEWS for Grand Slam: Mexico! After everything else we saw tonight, there will now be a TWELVE MAN TAG! The Don Callis Family will team with FTR against Adam Cole, Daniel Garcia, Brody King, Bandido, Templario and Atlantis Junior! Will the Don Callis Family prove they’re living legends just like Cash & Dax? Or will someone take the #TopGuysOut?
My Thoughts:
A great special for this “Summer Blockbuster,” but… for all the hype they put on it, they didn’t bother booking this as one giant 4 hour show. Instead, it was just like last week’s Fyter Fest: they booked a wild Dynamite followed by a typical Collision. They did keep some throughlines, such as the Hangman-Ospreay-Swerve story, and all this stuff with the Don Callis Family, which were perhaps the strongest parts of the night. Ospreay VS Swerve to open with the planned time limit draw was a good call, especially with The Bucks and Death Riders getting involved, but then having it revealed that The Death Riders captured Hangman in a later segment was a bit weird, maybe even redundant.
Why not have the Death Riders drag Hangman out there while they were about to attack Ospreay and Swerve? They could’ve made Hangman watch as they set Swerve up and then Ospreay “takes the bullet” for Swerve. You could even still have The Opps rush out there to stop it all, giving a better set-up for the Grand Slam 10 Man Tag. And you can even still have Hangman go hunting for Death Riders (not that he found them after that moment), and you still get the promo with Hangman confronting The Bucks and Swerve overhearing it all. That all said, that is a good move, because now Swerve knows Hangman isn’t in cahoots with The Elite, and we’re a step closer to Swerve and Hangman working together.
But speaking of that, I didn’t really like the plot twist of Okada being on Callis’ side with all this. I get that Okada wants to be the Heel in this situation, but couldn’t he be a Heel and oppose Callis at the same time? Though, the sheer shock value of Omega coughing up all that prop blood was wild. As for this “Unified Championship,” someone tell that nerd, TK, that you don’t call it “Winner Takes All” and then claim there will be a unified title. You call it a UNIFICATION match and then do that. “Winner Takes All” would mean that one person is a double champion, defending both belts either together or in double headers.
As far as the belt’s design, the main plate looks great, and TK clearly insists on the picture of a crown being included. The side plates featuring Omega’s One Winged Angel and Okada’s Rainmaker clearly labels this as “The Omega and Okada belt” so what’s even the point of any of this other than to say AEW is punctuating their legendary feud? It’s almost as bad as the overly gigantic “Crown Jewel Championships” the Saudi princes had WWE use. Almost. That said, Omega has to win this Unified title now given how badly Okada beat him up.
The Don Callis Family sure came out on top tonight, though. Kyle VS Bowens was great stuff, great win for Kyle. And then the 8 Man Tag that was the main event of the whole night was also great, with a naturally cheated win by the Callis Family. That confrontation in the middle of Collision with FTR and the Atlantis family was rather wild, and that 12 Man Tag will be great stuff. The Hurt Syndicate of course won their Six Man Tag, but a shame that Komander was legitimately out with injury. The backstage attack shown on socials is a good cover, hopefully it isn’t too serious. And Mistico gets the better of MJF tonight, so chances are, MJF cheats to win in Mexico.
Good promo from Ricochet with Blake & Lee, and I should’ve figured Ricochet’s ego would make him see himself so far above them. Though, to be fair, it is a shame Blake is undefeated in ROH this year, yet jobber to the stars on AEW. I not for the ROH World TV title being in the Patriarchy story with Nick Wayne and Christian Cage, I bet Blake would already be champ. But speaking of, good promo from Nick and Kip to not only plug Nick’s time in NJPW, but to also add a bit more heat to the story. Nick might be able to stomach Christian being so condescending to him, but he’s not about to let Christian hook up with his mom! I suspect we get a Title VS Freedom from The Patriarchy match as part of the blowoff.
Very good “standby match” from Bandido VS Mortos, and I suppose it really was put together to fill time, the ending seemed a little uncertain. Bandido of course wins to stay strong going into both Grand Slam: Mexico, but also into the title story that is brewing with MXM TV. MXM TV VS Conglomeration was also a very good Mixed Six that might’ve also been a “standby” match. But it was a good win for the Conglomeration, and a good segue into Kris Statlander’s promo. Though, maybe it wasn’t timed the best when we saw Kris still watching the Mixed Six. Why not wait to do such a promo tonight? Have Yuta & Marina confront Kris, but also add a bit where Hangman is storming by and the Death Riders run for it? Add intrigue to things where Kris doesn’t tell Hangman where they went!
And great stuff from the Women’s Division tonight. One match in the Dynamite half, two for Collision, and all great stuff. TayJay gets a great win off Megan & Ford, mostly because of Ford being cocky. I would think we build to yet another classic Women’s Tag Team Street Fight, but maybe that concept is overused. Maybe they go a step further and make it a Women’s Tag Cage? Thekla VS Aminata was awesome, a lot more than I expected, but that helped both women here. Thekla is on that debut push, Aminata needs to stay strong while waiting on the Women’s Pure Championship tournament, best of both worlds right here.
Toni VS Julia was really good, what with Skye helping attack beforehand and them playing up that Toni might’ve been unable to continue. I still feel like Toni should’ve been watching while Mone was in a Title Eliminator situation, but I suppose it works since Toni’s gimmick is movies. And it works that Mone’s whole gimmick is not being a fighting champion but a spoiled rich girl. Zeuxis does get her back for calling her out, though, and Mone VS Zeuxis is going to be a great match. I hope for Zeuxis’ sake, she wins next week, as Mone held onto that NJPW Strong Women’s title and still is holding onto the Rev-Pro Women’s title for a long time. Seriously, is Mone going to hold the British title until Forbidden Door: London?
My Score: 9/10
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Has The Ruler finally met his match?
Jasper Troy won LFG Season 1, but now he could win the NXT Championship taking on Oba Femi in tonight’s titanic title match!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page VS Sean Legacy; Ethan wins and retains the title.
- Shawn Spears & Niko Vance w/ Izzi Dame VS Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura; Spears & Vance win.
- Lash Legend VS Wren Sinclair; Lash wins.
- NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne w/ The Fatal Influence VS Lainey Reid; Jacy wins and retains the title.
- Tony D’Angelo & Luca Crusifino VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont w/ Wes Lee; Igwe & Dupont win.
- NXT Championship: Oba Femi VS Jasper Troy; Oba wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Oba Femi arrives.
And he’s immediately attacked by Jasper Troy! Troy SMACKS Oba off a car hood, STOMPS him down, then drags him back up to CHOKE SLAM him onto the windshield! Security rushes in and gets him to back off, but what is Troy thinking? Will Oba even be able to defend his title after that attack?
NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page VS Sean Legacy!
All Ego found a way to survive the Fatal 4 Way in LA, but now he’s back in Orlando to defend the title again! But will Ethan continue to steal everyone’s smile? Or can Sean make this title Super?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who builds their legacy!
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and then Ethan headlocks. Legacy pries at the hold, but Ethan clamps on tighter. Ethan hits the takeover and he grinds Legacy down. Legacy rolls to a cover, ONE, and Ethan still holds on. Legacy pushes back with forearms, then he stands up to power out. Ethan RUNS Legacy over, grins, then runs. Legacy drops down, slips around, and he RANAS! Legacy kips up but Ethan avoids the dropkick! And it’s back to the headlock! Ethan hits another takeover and he grinds Legacy down again. The fans rally, Legacy fights up, and Legacy powers up, only for Ethan to hold on!
Ethan smothers Legacy to the mat, then thrashes around! The fans boo but Ethan says Legacy is nothing! Legacy fights as the fans rally up again. Legacy stands, he powers up to break the headlock, then headlocks in return. Ethan powers up and out, Legacy rolls, drops down, then redirects to dropkick the legs out! Legacy DOUBLE STOMPS Ethan, then DROPKICKS again! Ethan tumbles out, the fans fire up, and Legacy dares Ethan to come back. The fans rally behind Legacy while NXT goes picture in picture.
Ethan paces and fumes on the outside, sticking close to the pedestal his title rests on. Legacy storms out after Ethan, ROCKS him with a haymaker, then CHOPS him! Legacy follows Ethan to barriers, CHOPS him again, and the fans fire up. Legacy SMACKS Ethan off the apron, but Ethan turns things around with a mule kick. Ethan winds up but Legacy ducks the chop! Legacy CHOPS in return! The fans fire up again and Legacy puts Ethan in the ring. Legacy KICKS Ethan in the back, then STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Ethan survives but Legacy stays focused. Legacy drags Ethan up, then whips him to ropes.
Ethan grabs, Legacy runs up, but Ethan TOSSES Legacy out! Legacy hurries back up but Ethan BOOTs him, then hits a DRAPING CODE BREAKER! Ethan snarls and drags Legacy up. Ethan bumps Legacy off buckles, HEADBUTTS him, then stalks him to a corner. Ethan bumps Legacy off buckles, CHOPS him, then soaks up heat from the fans. Ethan stalks Legacy, ROCKS him with a haymaker, then brings him around for another! Legacy staggers but he fires body shots in return! Ethan KNEES low, then throws hands. Ethan fires more haymakers, but Legacy fires back! They go back and forth, and NXT returns to single picture.
The fans rally behind Legacy as he whips, but Ethan reverses and BOOTS! The fans are torn while Ethan paces. Ethan puts Legacy in a corner, hoists him up top, then climbs after him. But Legacy fights the suplex! Legacy fires body shots, then HOTSHOTS Ethan’s arm! Ethan comes back, Legacy ROCKS him, then springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Legacy rolls to ropes, Ethan goes to the other end. The two stand, and Legacy fires hands! Legacy whips, CLOBBEWRS, and then CLOBBERS Ethan again! Mule kick, front KICK, BOOT, and then a GERMAN SUPLEX!
The fans fire up while Ethan flounders to a corner! Legacy runs corner to corner, GAMANGIRI! Ethan flops down, Legacy covers, TWO! The fans rally up again and Legacy watches Ethan. Ethan crawls to ropes, Legacy storms up, but Ethan grabs ropes to block the suplex! Legacy SLAPS the arms, torture racks, but Ethan fights free. Ethan shoves Legacy into a corner, ROUNDHOUSES, then he reels Legacy in. Legacy fights the lift, slips under and kicks Ethan away. Legacy dodges Ethan to go up, QUEBRADA and inverted suplex, SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous for Legacy with how close he was there!
Legacy hurries to the corner and climbs up. But Ethan ROCKS Legacy first! Ethan HEADBUTTS Legacy, climbs, then hits a TOP ROPE BACKBREAKER!! Legacy falls to the floor and the fans go nuts! Ethan clears the desk and he drags Legacy up! Ethan hoists Legacy up but Legacy slips free! Ethan runs up, but Legacy sends him into the POST! DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! And then Legacy FLIES! Down goes Ethan! Legacy puts Ethan in, the fans rally, 450Â FLOP! Ethan hits the TWISTED GRIN!! Cover, Ethan wins!
Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)
Legacy was so close and yet so far from jumping right up from Evolve to NXT. Speaking of jumping, RICKY SAINTS JUMPS ETHAN! The fans fire up as the Absolute gets after the Egomaniac with haymakers! Saints LARIATS Ethan up and out of the ring, then he fires off hands on the outside! The brawl continues to the back, will Saints not stop until he’s finally humbled All Ego?
Fatal Influence meets with Ava Raine.
Jacy Jayne tells the NXT General Manager that she did not appreciate the surprise of a new signee. As NXT Women’s Champion, that is something management should really run by her first. And since Fatal Influence is going to be at the top for a very long time, it is important they build a rapport as GM and champion. Does she see what Jacy means? Ava does. Well, they started to when Fallon Henley was Women’s North American Champion, but then Fallon lost it… And Jazmyn might even become champion some day, but for now, it is Jacy. And she needs to know what is going on with their division.
Jacy then says, “And then there’s this one.” Lainey Reid enters and SLAPS Jacy! Reid says that what she wanted to say last week is that she’s ready for Jacy right here, right now. Okay, Jacy gets it, Reid’s trying to take a page out of the Jacy Jayne playbook. It’s not gonna work on her, though! Well, then Reid has nothing to lose. SLAP!! Ava reprimands Reid, Reid leaves, and Fallon says Jacy has to do it now. Jacy tells Ava to give her Reid tonight! She’ll even put her title on the line against that little b*tch! Ava says done. Ava is stressing over the chaos going on in her own brand, but will Reid prove she’s more than leveled up enough for the Toxic Rockstar?
#ZaRuca speaks.
Via TikTok, Sol Ruca & Zaria try out the friend challenge of “same word, same time.” It doesn’t really work but it’s still fun. And then in the background, Lash Legend starts talking trash on Wren Sinclair and the No Quarter Catch Crew. Getting away from the NQCC was the best thing to happen to Myles Borne, because that “string haired oompah-loompah” was bossing him around way too much. Myles will make the best of his independence, just like her. And now that there’s a new champ in town, Lash is gonna go get that gold. Kelani Jordan chimes in with how sick and tired she is of Lash.
Lash says SKRRR and this is what the video is about now… Wren speaks up saying she doesn’t appreciate Lash talking bad about Charles or NQCC. And you can’t just do and say whatever you want! Lash tells Kelani to let “her girl” Wren know, titles are the last thing Wren’s got to worry about. Lash heads out, Kelani and Karmen assure Wren she doesn’t have to worry about Lash. ZaRuca can’t believe all this DRAMA~! But will Wren make Lash respect the NQCC? Or will Lash step right over her to get to the title?
The Culling talks backstage.
Shawn Spears smiles and says he trusts Izzi’s judgment. Why did she take a chair to Jensen’s back? There is no room for half-ass commitment in The Culling. Jensen always dressed different from them, kept his distance from them, and when it came to talk about family, his eyes would always dart around the room like the others weren’t right in front of him. Jensen didn’t believe in them, so why should they believe in him? And then the final nail in the coffin: Jensen takes the loss to Hank, Tank and Briggs? The Culling is supposed to purge the weak and slaughter the feeble. Jensen was both. Spears says she saw something he didn’t and took action. Brilliant!
That is the kind of person he needs her to become. Izzi says individuals think they’re stronger than the group all across NXT. That will not be them. Niko says Izzi eliminated Jensen for them, and he thanks her for it. Izzi says Jensen had it coming, #ItIzWhatItIz. Niko says now this is a new beginning, but with the same goals. Spears says it starts tonight, against Briggs & Inamura. Is there anything else Izzi sees? She has her eyes on something. They all share a smile, but just what could The Culling’s femme fatale be plotting?
Shawn Spears & Niko Vance w/ Izzi Dame VS Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura!
The Chair Man thought Brooks Jensen trusted him, but as The It Girl pointed out, Jensen wasn’t fully committed. As for the Bullhead Brawler & Great Rush, they’re reunited and still hunting gold, but perhaps more than just the tag titles? All things will come to light, but who takes a step closer to the spotlight here in NXT?
The teams sort out and Niko starts against Inamura. They tie up, go around in a deadlock, and Niko headlocks. Inamura fires body shots, powers up and out, but Niko RAMS him! Inamura comes back to RAM Niko! Niko rebounds to RAM Inamura, but Inamura rebounds to FLYING SHOULDER! Niko goes to a corner while the fans fire up! Inamura runs in, Niko goes up and over, then Niko HEADBUTTS! Niko brings Inamura over, tags Spears, and they hand Inamura off so Spears can CHOP! The fans “WOO~” and Inamura nods! Spears CHOPS again, and the fans fire up with Inamura! Spears CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Inamura just takes it!
Inamura then blocks a chop, and he puts Spears in the corner to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Inamura then winds up to CHOP! Spears flounders around, Inamura CLUBS him, and he tags Briggs. They double whip to DOUBLE SCOOP SLAM! Inamura CHOPS, Briggs ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Briggs storms up to the apron as Spears bails out. Briggs drags Spears up, but Spears RAMS low! Spears slingshots but into a HAYMAKER! Briggs then HIP TOSSES Spears into a BACKBREAKER! Spears writhes, Niko gets in but Briggs BOOTS him down! Spears kicks, Briggs blocks, but the SUPERKICK still hits! Spears calls for Niko but he’s down!
Spears is mad, he runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Briggs CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up while Spears sputters to the ropes. Briggs runs, slides out, and he ROCKS Spears! Izzi has the chair! The ref reprimands, but then Niko tags in! Niko CLOBBERS Briggs from behind! The fans boo but Izzi laughs. Niko puts Briggs in, CLUBS him, but Briggs goes for a leg. Niko CLUBS him down, gator rolls, and throws down ELBOW after ELBOW! Briggs CLUBS away on Briggs, then watches him sputter. Niko drags Briggs up just to short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Briggs toughs it out but Niko ROCKS him! Briggs goes to a corner in a daze, but Niko runs in and RAMS Briggs!
Niko runs and he FLYING HEADBUTTS!! Tag to Spears, and he stays between Briggs and Inamura. Spears mocks the sumo style and the ref has to keep Inamura back. Spears drags Brigg sup, but Briggs ROCKS Spears! Both men wobble and hobble, hot tag to Inamura! Inamura CLOBBERS Spears again and again and then LARIATS Niko! Inamura wrenches and fires off fast hands! He DECKS Spears and hits the sumo stance! SUMO PALM RUSH! Inamura ROCKS and CHOPS Spears over and over, then runs corner to corner to SPLASH! Niko hurries to tag, but so does Briggs. Inamura SPLASHES Spears, feeds him tot he BOOT, but Niko is in!
Briggs scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH! The fans fire up with Briggs, then climbs. Spears distracts but Inamura POUNCES Spears! But Niko trips Briggs! Niko drags Briggs out for the DOMINATOR! Cover, Culling wins!
Winners: Shawn Spears & Niko Vance, by pinfall
They shed the dead weight and have only gotten stronger! Will no one be able to stop The Culling from taking over NXT? What will it take for Briggs & Inamura to become contenders?
Ava talks with Ricky Saints.
And she asks him, “What were you thinking?” What was the point of him going after Ethan like that? Doesn’t he remember the talk they had about how she wasn’t going to let them keep running around, ruining her show? Ricky coughs, he still isn’t 100%. She still sees the bruising on his neck, he can’t talk, and we all know what Ethan is capable of. Please let Ava handle this, okay? Ricky is to go home, rest, and not come back again until he is medically cleared. Ricky seethes but he has no other choice. When and where will the revolution once again be televised?
Sarah Schreiber is at WWE Medical.
She wanted to get a word from Oba Femi after the attack by Jasper Troy, but he is still under examination. As of right now, the title match is still on, but it could be in jeopardy. A loud noise from off camera gets our attention, and it is Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors apologizing to Mr. Chase. They should not have messed with Dark State, a bad idea. They have no idea what they were thinking. Oh, now they see it? It took them getting their asses kicked again to see it? If they’re gonna do this again- Wait, so there’s a chance- Let him finish! If they’re to do this, they have to do it Mr. Chase’s way. The right way. Kale loves that! But what does it mean?
For starters, show up to class on time! Okay! Two: Follow the rules! Three: Follow the directions! Is that too much to ask? No, sir! They can do that! So they’re in? 100%! In there like swim wear. In that case, time to get back to class. Yes! Chase U~! With Kale & Uriah following Mr. Chase’s guidance, will this be the Summer of Chase U?
The Glamour has arrived in NXT!
Mariah May soaks in the tub and blows the bubbles. Time to get out, get dressed, and make the world fall in love! She’s beauty, she’s grace, and she will likely punch you in the face! The Glamour doesn’t just walk into the spotlight, she’s the reason it exists! She is the girl you’ve been waiting for! Introducing… Um, Miss? There she is! And she is… Blake Monroe!
Lash Legend VS Wren Sinclair!
The Bougie Bully is indeed bullying the locker room, and also claims she will be leading the title chase. But will she have to SKRRR and pump the brakes after facing #WrenQCC? Or will not even no quarter be enough to stop this future legend?
NXT returns as Wren makes her entrance, the NQCC by her side. But she assures Tavion Heights & Charlie Dempsey that she’ll be fine on her own. Tavion & Dempsey fist bump and let Wren go to the ring alone. But then Kelani Jordan surprises Lash by joining commentary. Lani says Lash stuck her nose in other people’s business, time for Lani to return the favor. The bell rings and Lash talks trash, but Wren waistlocks. Lash headlocks to THROW Wren away, then she talks more trash on Lani. But Wren is up to DROPKICK! Lash ends up in a corner, Wren LARIATS then ELBOWS Lash. But Lash lifts Wren, THROWS her away, then backdrops, only for Wren to sunset flip!
Lash waves her arms to stay up, but then Wren spins to trip Lash up! Wren SMACKS Lash’s arm out from under her, then has them both, CATTLE MUTILATION! Wren marches around to keep on the torque but Lash endures! Wren shifts to have the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Lash powers up, scoops Wren, and then gut wrenches! Wren slips free, but Lash BOOTS her down! Wren sputters, Lani is disappointed, but Lash HAMMERS away on Wren against the ropes! Lash stops, glares at Lani, then drags Wren up. Lash SMACKS Wren off the mat, runs, and SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! Wren stays in this but Lash wraps on a BEARHUG!
Lash squeezes tight but Wren endures! The fans rally for Wren but Lash thrashes her around! Wren CLUBS away on Lash, fires elbows, but Lash knees low! Wren goes toa corner, Lash runs up, but Wren dodges! Lash hits buckles, comes back, but Wren ELBOWS her! And CHOPS her! And fires body shots! And DOUBLE CHOPS! Lash runs up, Wren dodges, and Wren tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Lash gest up, Wren jumps up, SATELLITE DDT! But Lash flounders out of the ring! Wren just goes to the apron and FLYING- NO, Lash stops the rana! Wren slips free to kick a leg out, and ENZIGIRI Lash down! The fans fire up as Wren pushes Lash in.
Wren climbs up a corner, Lani claims Wren is not a friend despite Lani wanting her to win. Wren CROSSBODIES, but Lash catches her! Lash swings Ren, LASH EXTENSION! Cover, Lash wins!
Winner: Lash Legend, by pinfall
Wren put up a fight, but Lash still stands tall! Will no one be able to stop Lash from becoming champion?
Lainey Reid speaks.
“Last week, I showed the WWE Universe their first dose of the Southern Sensation. And here I am thinking I had to wait for the sweetest moment to join this NXT Women’s Division, but no, no, no. I didn’t wait to become a rodeo champion. Or a former, record-breaking track athlete. I saw my opportunity and I took it. And when I see my opportunity here, I don’t mind kicking my Southern hospitality to the side. And sweetheart, don’t let my accent fool you. Jacy Jayne is still the most beatable champion in WWE history. And tonight, I’m gonna shock the world.” Will Reid rope ‘n’ ride to wrangle herself that NXT Women’s Championship?
Backstage interview with Jasper Troy.
Sarah brings up how he viciously attacked Oba Femi earlier tonight. Why did he risk putting the title match in jeopardy? Isn’t he worried Oba won’t be able to compete? Troy says that didn’t cost him anything, and he knows exactly what he’s doing. Oba may be hurting, but he’s a beast. And as long as Oba is still breathing, he will still go out there to defend the title. Troy is counting on it. These alpha males are still on their collision course, but will Troy go from the top of LFG to the top of NXT?
NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne w/ The Fatal Influence VS Lainey Reid!
It took all of the Fatal Influence and then some to take this title off Stephanie Vaquer, so by that math, maybe the Southern Sensation is right. Could Jacy be nothing more than a paper champion? Or will it not matter when Jacy still has her friends by her side?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is really championship material!
The bell rings and the fans rally behind “LAINEY! LAINEY!” Jacy gets mad, runs up on Reid, but Reid rolls her up! TWO!! Jacy escapes and Reid says it was that close. Jacy runs up, Reid doges the boot to ROUNDHOUSE! And roll-up, high stack, TWO! Reid bumps Jacy off buckles, stomps and ROCKS Jacy, then brings her around. Reid bumps Jacy off buckles, then fires elbow after elbow. The ref counts, Reid whips, but Jacy reverses. Reid goes up and up to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jacy sputters and Reid pushes her around. Reid talks some trash, but Jacy blocks a punch to KNEE and LARIAT! Cover, TWO!
Jacy stomps away on Reid, then runs to SENTON! Jacy keeps moving, another SENTON! “And that’s why I’m the champ!” The fans boo because no it’s not. Jacy drags Reid up but Reid breaks free to ROCK Jacy! And ROLLING ELBOW! Jacy wobbles, Reid whips, and then Reid blows past Jacy, but Jacy SUPERKICKS! Reid flops against ropes, the fans rally, but Jacy CATAPULT GUILLOTINES her! Reid sputters, the Influence laughs at her, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Jacy soaks up the heat while she poses, then stalks Reid in the ring. Jacy bumps Reid off buckles, runs her side to side to bump off more buckles, then she fires hands! Jacy digs her boot in, steps off as the ref counts, but then CHOKES Reid on the ropes! The ref counts, Jacy YANKS the ropes to snap Reid back, and Jacy eggs Redi on. Jacy SLAPS Reid, talks more trash, then drags Reid up for a whip and ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Reid is still in this so Jacy drags her up to SLAP her again! And again! But Reid SLAPS back! Reid fires body shots, but Jacy KNEES low! Jacy snarls and she pushes Reid down with a neck wrench.
Reid endures and fights back to her feet. Jacy keeps the chinlock but Reid fires body shots. Reid then reels Jacy into a cradle, TWO! Jacy runs up but Reid BODY BLOWS! Reid kicks low, UPPERCUTS, then whips. Jacy reverses and NECKBREAKER DROPS! Cover, TWO! Reid stays in this but Jacy stays on her with a top mount and fast hands! Jacy stomps Reid, then paces around. Jacy soaks up more heat, ELBOWS her in the shoulder, then clamps on a chinlock. Reid endures, fights around, but Jacy cranks on the hold. It’s almost a Bully Choke but Reid keeps moving around. Reid stands, and she RAMS Jacy into the buckles!
Jacy holds on as NXT returns to single picture, and the fans rally as Reid RAMS Jacy in again !And again! Jacy THROWS Reid into the buckles, then CHOKES her again! The ref counts, Jacy stops at 4 and she soaks up more heat. Jacy runs up, but Reid dodges! DROPKICK! Jacy is down and the fans fire up! Jacy hobbles up but Reid RAMS her low! And kicks low, to then fire forearms! Reid whips, Jacy reverses, but Reid grabs ropes. Reid ELBOWS Jacy away, then takes a swing, but Jacy gets under to trip her! Jacy wants to guillotine again but Reid BOOTS Jacy away! Jacy snarls and comes back, she stomps the rope to hit Reid in the throat!
The fans boo but Fallon & Jazmyn mock Reid’s pain. Reid goes to a corner, Jacy runs in, and Jacy back body blocks! Jacy puts Reid up top, SLAPS her, then GAMANGIRIS! Jacy climbs up, brings Reid up, but Reid fires body shots! The fans rally, Reid fires forearms and HEADBUTTS! Jacy drops back and the fans fire up for Reid! Reid adjusts, leaps, and BLOCKBUSTERS! A rough landing for Reid, too, and the fans rally up! The standing count starts, both women stir at 3 of 10, and they rise up. Jacy fires a haymaker, Reid fires back! They go back and forth and the fans rally for Reid! Reid swats a shot to give a shot!
Reid kicks, UPPERCUTS, and then runs to RUN Jacy over! And she RUNS Jacy over again! Reid dodges to atomic drop! And RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! And ARM WRINGER! Jacy flounders to a corner, Reid runs in, UPPERCUT! Reid reels Jacy in for ANARCHY!! Cover, TWO!! Jacy survives that twister and Reid is shocked! Reid drags Jacy up, clinches again, but Jacy fights the lift! Jacy fires elbows, shoves free, then runs up, only for Reid to block a boot !Jacy dodges the lariat to run and RANA! Jacy runs up, Reid dodges a knee to GIVE A KNEE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Jacy survives and no one can believe it!
The fans fire up for Reid as she is getting closer! Reid waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Reid goes up the corner, but Fallon distracts! Jacy HOTSHOTS Reid! Jacy spins for the ENCORE ELBOW!! Cover, Jacy wins!
Winner: Jacy Jayne, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s Champion)
But yes, put another huge asterisk on this one: Fallon had to distract Reid at just the right moment to help Jacy survive. But is this going to be the story of Jacy’s reign? Wait! From the perch, it’s Ava Raine! And she says that since the Influence took it upon themselves to decide who Jacy’s first challenger would be, Ava will now decide her next one. And because we have the most stacked and most talented Women’s Division in the world, Ava decided that next week, there will be four singles matches. The winners of those matches move on to a Fatal 4 Way on June 24. And the winner of that match will be the NEW #1 contender, facing Jacy for the title at EVOLUTION!
This huge move has Jacy shaking in her boots! And just look at the contenders lining up! Thea Hail, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Jaida Parker, Lash Legend, Zaria, Izzi Dame, Jordynne Grace, and surely everyone else in the back. Who will make it through the mini-tournament to turn up the heat in Atlanta?
Briggs & Inamura talk backstage.
Inamura assures Briggs that they will get The Culling. Briggs says it doesn’t matter. Inamura came back just for Briggs, and he let this happen! Briggs is furious, and he shouts that they’re better than this! Inamura says he knows that. But then in step TNA’s First Class, AJ Francis & KC Navarro. The former Top Dolla says that survey says… Not really. But he will reintroduce himself, this is AJ Francis. And here is the Blessed One, KC Navarro. And together, they are First Class. But tough loss out there, big man. Don’t worry, the NXT Tag Team Championships will look much better on them real soon.
Inamura says he just realized. These two are really annoying! Francis says he was taking over this locker room before Inamura even thought about being a big star in NOAH. And now he’s back to do it again! But a guitar strum signals the entrance of Elijah! He introduces himself, and he says if not for First Class, the TNA World Championship would be back in TNA. So why not take this right now? He can introduce them to his guitar. KC says pardon me, Elijah, but they’re gonna go talk with THE TNA World Champion right now. KC ushers AJ away, but what will they have to say to the “Trick’N A” Champion?
Luca Crusifino is on the phone.
The Consigliere promises whoever is on the other side that he will “get it done.” Tony D’Angelo walks in and asks what that was about. Luca says nothing, just taking care of business. Oh, really? Yes, Luca will prove himself to Tony that he can be trusted. After you. Tony says no, after Luca. Luca walks in front, so that he can’t stab Tony in the back. But will there still be betrayal on the menu? Or can Luca really be trusted?
Tavion talks with Myles Borne backstage.
But then in step Wren and Charlie. Myles asks Wren what she called to talk to him about. Wren says Charles is still upset about the loss, but he does have something to tell Myles. Charlie says Wren did make a good point, and Charlie is a man of his word, so good luck out there. They shake hands, and Myles thanks Charlie for that. The NQCC did shape him into the man he is today, so he’ll never forget them. Charlie tells Myles to make them proud. Myles says of course he will. And then Je’Von Evans joins in and congratulates Myles. Je’Von and Tavion know Myles will be ready for anything. And tough loss for OG Charlie, but it’s all good, right?
Charlie says yeah, the NQCC is good. Tavion wants a shot, too. Wait, what? No, no, he’s not ready to face Charlie in the ring. Je’Von says daaayumn~! Charles, c’mon now! Why you holdin’ people down when you just let Myles go? Charlie asks why Je’Von is here when it’s not his business. They’ll stick with him, right? Tavion says yeah, but he was just thinking- Charlie says he knows what Tavion is thinking: the three of them are always and forever NQCC, they will rule NXT together! C’mon, let’s go. Wren says she’ll talk to him. Wren follows after Charlie, but is the beginning of the end for the crew?
Tony D’Angelo & Luca Crusifino VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont w/ Wes Lee!
NXT returns as The High Ryze make their entrance. The teams sort out and Luca starts against Igwe. They tie up, Luca waistlocks, but Igwe THROWS him off. Luca is back on Igwe going for a leg, but Igwe SMASHES Luca! Igwe whips, Luca ducks the boot, and then he ducks the lariat to JUMP KNEE! Luca brings Igwe over, Tony is hesitant, but Igwe THROWS Luca by his hair! Tag to Dupont, and Ty & Ty DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Dupont runs up, Luca avoids the stomp to roll him up, TWO! Dupont DECKS Luca, then runs up, only for Luca to dodge! Dupont hits buckles, Luca wrenches him and brings him over.
Tony holds his hand out, Luca tags him, but Tony doesn’t want to do a double team move. Luca lets Dupont go, and Tony throws hands. Tony whips Dupont, blows past and FLYING FOREARMS! Tony reels Dupont in, fires body shots for the hockey scrum, but Dupont RAMS Tony into the corner! Tony fights back but Igwe tags in! They mug Tony, Igwe stomps Tony down, then tells the ref to shut it. Wait, “breaking news” from Blake Monroe herself? She is going to officially sign her NXT contract next Tuesday! Igwe argues with the ref, then stands Tony up to talk trash. Tony pushes Igwe back, they throw hands, and Tony DECKS Igwe!
Tony goes to the D’Angelo corner but Wes distracts Luca! Tony shouts at Luca to pay attention, but then Igwe sucker punches Tony! Igwe RAMS Tony into the corner, tags Dupont, and Dupont runs in for the STINGER SPLASH! Tag back to Igwe, and Dupont feeds Tony to a KNEE! Igwe tags Dupont back in, they double whip, but Tony grabs ropes. Tony TOSSES Igwe, dodges Dupont, and he hot tags Luca! Luca rallies on Dupont & Igwe, ELBOW in the corner for Dupont, LARIAT for Igwe! The fans fire up, Dupont runs up, but Luca DUMPS him out! Igwe storms up, whips, but Luca goes up and out and slingshots to SHOULDER TACKLE!
The fans fire up for Luca and he tags Tony back in. Luca tells Tony to trust him, and Tony nods. Luca builds speed for Tony to TOSS out onto Igwe & Dupont! The fans fire up for the D’Angelo Family while NXT goes picture in picture.
Luca is feeling it but Tony still seems hesitant. Luca pushes Dupont into the ring for Tony and Tony drags Dupont up for the hockey scrum. Then the HALF HATCH! Dupont flounders, Tony is on him again, and Tony whips Dupont to the corner hard. Tony LARIATS, tags Luca, and they double whip Dupont to DOUBLE ELBOW! Igwe is up but Tony DECKS him! Tony turns around, Luca pushes him out of the way so that Dupont’s UPPERCUT hits Luca! Dupont stomps away on Luca, and there’s nothing Tony can do since Luca is legal. Dupont tags Igwe, they mug Luca, and Igwe hoists Luca up for the SNAKE EYES!
Luca sputters and flounders, Igwe covers, TWO! Luca survives but Igwe drags him back over. Tag to Dupont, and Dupont runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Luca stays in this but Dupont pushes him around. Luca CHOPS back! Dupont BOOTS Luca down! Dupont pushes Luca down so he can ground ‘n’ pound! Tag to Igwe, and Igwe CHOPS! The mugging continues, then Dupont FULL NELSON SLAMS Luca! Igwe covers, TWO! Luca toughs it out but Igwe keeps him down with a chinlock. Luca endures as Igwe squeezes tight. Tony paces, the fans rally, and Luca fights up. NXT returns to single picture, and Igwe THROWS Luca down!
Igwe facelocks to keep Luca from Tony. The fans rally and Luca fires body shots. But Igwe scoops to SHOULDER BUSTER! Luca writhes, Igwe covers, TWO! Luca snarls but Igwe stays on him with forearms! Igwe talks trash, fires more shots, but Luca eggs him on! Luca then fires haymakers! Igwe hits low, then whips Luca to the corner. Igwe LARIATS then whips corner to corner for another LARIAT! Igwe scoops, Luca slips free, and then comes back with a CODE BREAKER! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Luca crawls, reaches out, hot tag to Tony! The Don rallies on Igwe & Dupont! BELLY2BELLY after BELLY2BELLY!
The fans fire up as Tony drags Igwe up and whips him to ropes, SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up more but WAIT! Stacks is here! Ton catches him first to HIP TOSS! Stacks wants mercy and he tries to run away, but Tony has him by the leg! But then Luca has the crowbar?!? Tony sees that, and he asks what that’s about! Luca says he was getting it out of the ring! Tony says he knew all along that Luca was a rat! But Igwe CLOBBERS Tony into Luca! Tag to Dupont, HIGH RYZE BOMB!! Cover, Igwe & Dupont win!
Winners: Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont, by pinfall
Stacks grins as he got one over on Tony again. Will the traitor continue to toy with Tony until The Don’s completely spiraled out of control?
Backstage interview with Trick Williams.
Sarah is with the TNA World Champion and congratulates him on successful title defenses, both last Tuesday against Mike Santana and last Friday at TNA Against All Odds against Elijah. But some are saying Trick only made it through last Tuesday thanks to First Class. Trick says there are haters who say he ain’t great, even when they know that he is. They try to say he doesn’t look good when they know he looks like money. What Trick is saying is, he doesn’t care what nobody has to say, including the “loud ‘n’ proud” Mike Santana! Santana made a promise to his daughter, but he really just lied to his daughter’s face!
And as for Elijah, he needs to get some guitar lessons! Then he needs to learn how to squabble because we all saw what happened to him on Friday! Now Elijah needs help, needs backup, he’s got Briggs & Inamura to come #WalkWithElijah. Well, that’s cool, cuz ever since Trick went Hollywood, Trick’s been riding in first class! That’s how we’ll do it! Six Man Tag: Inamura, Briggs & Elijah VS THE Trick Williams and “the light-skinned brothers outta First Class,” AJ Francis & KC Navarro, let’s talk about it! And as for Briggs & Inamura, since they wanna walk with Elijah so bad, they’ll all get dog-walked right outta NXT!
You already know what it is! #TrickyTwoBrands, and he makes it look easy! Sarah says AJ Francis just posted a tweet that he is excited for this match. Trick says let’s talk about it. Trick heads out, but will he and First Class still be riding in style? Or will Elijah, Briggs & Inamura humble them all together?
The Evolution Eliminator is set!
Next week, all four matches will happen! Kelani Jordan VS Lash Legend, Zaria VS Izzi Dame, Thea Hail VS Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace VS Lola Vice! Who will win their way into the Fatal 4 Way to then head for the title?
NXT Championship: Oba Femi VS Jasper Troy!
The night started with The Ruler being attacked by Troy, and now, despite the bruises and the rib tape, this night will end with The Ruler fighting Troy straight up! Will it take more than a sneak attack to tear down Oba Femi? Or will we all be saying LFG after this massive main event?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if these titans tear down the house!
The bell rings and the two throw hands! Oba gets the edge but Troy KNEES Low! And POWERSLAMS, to then SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Oba stays in this but Troy is right on him with more fists! Troy looms over Oba, a rarity in itself, and he drags Oba up. Troy scoops Oba but Oba slips free! Oba hobbles, but he manages to scoop and SLAM! Oba fights through the pain and the fans fire up! Troy stands, but Oba fires hands! Oba wrenches, RAMS, and wrenches again to RAM again! But Troy clamps on a choke grip! Oba breaks free to fire body shots and CHOPS! Oba ROCKS Troy, huffs ‘n’ puffs, but Troy just snarls.
Oba reels Troy in, but Troy suplexes! And stalls, to then SLAM Oba down! Oba bails out of the ring but Troy pursues! Troy goes to the apron, but Oba CHOPS him! Troy stays up!? Troy then LARIATS Oba on the floor! Troy puts Oba in the ring, whips him to a corner hard, and Oba falls in a heap! The fans go nuts as Troy whips Oba again, and the BUCKLE BREAKS AWAY! The fans lose their minds and Troy roars triumphantly while Oba is down! The ref checks on Oba while NXT goes picture in picture.
The ref calls in reinforcements to help with the buckle situation. Oba stands back up, and Troy KNEES Oba low! Troy scoops Oba to SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Oba toughs it out but Troy looms over him again. Troy clamps onto Oba’s arm but Oba resists the stretch, so Troy CLUBS him in the ribs! Troy has the GROUND COBRA TWIST, and he pulls on Oba’s arm! Troy also clamps his hand on the taped-up ribs, but Oba endures. Oba fights up, and he HIP TOSSES Troy away! The second rope is back in place, so Oba runs, only for Troy to CLOBBER him! Troy drags Oba to a cover, TWO! Troy can’t believe it, but the ref defends his count.
Troy stomps Oba right on the ribs, then steps on him! Troy drags Oba up, scoops, and he hits a BACKBREAKER! Oba writhes, Troy covers, TWO! Troy SPLASHES DOWN! Cover, TWO! Oba stay sin this but Troy SPLASHES again! Cover, TWO!! Oba refuses to give in so Troy hauls him up. Troy whips, Oba reverses, and NXT returns to single picture as Troy blocks the hip toss. Troy BODY BLOWS, then he scoops! Oba kicks and flails and makes it to the apron. Troy storms up but Oba avoids the shoulder ram! Oba CLUBS Troy, brings him out to the apron, and Oba fires forearms! But Troy ducks one, and he picks Oba up for an APRON BACK SUPLEX!!
Oba writhes and flounders into the ring, but Troy runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives and Troy is rather surprised. The fans rally as hard as they can, and Troy suplexes, only for Oba to block and suplex in return!! Oba roars and the fans are with him! Oba blocks a haymaker to fire forearms! And short arm LARIAT! Troy stays up but Oba LARIATS Troy down on the second try! Then Oba hits an EXPLODER!! The fans fire up as Oba reaches a new gear! Oba runs and UPPERCUTS, then goes corner to corner, only for Troy to follow! Troy SPLASHES Oba in the corner! Troy keeps moving, but Oba hits a SPINEBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!!!
The fans rally while Oba is beside himself. Oba drags Troy up, HEADBUTTS him, but Troy HEADBUTTS back! They DOUBLE HEADBUTT, then DOUBLE LARIAT! Neither man falls, so they DOUBLE BOOT! Both men wobble, but Oba choke grips! Troy fights, the fans chant “MEAT! MEAT!” Troy POSTS Oba! Troy choke grips Oba now, for the MONSTROUS CHOKE SLAM!! Cover, TWO!!! Oba survives and the fans cheer on “NXT! NXT!” Troy hoists Oba up and lifts, but Oba makes it a CROSSBODY! Then he hurries to reel Troy in! But Troy BACKDROPS free! Oba rises?! Troy spins, but Oba ducks the discus lariat to SHOTPUT BOMB!!
Oba fires up and the fans are with him again! Oba waits on Troy, runs up, but into the BLACK HOLE SLAM!!! But Troy can’t make the cover! Both men are down and sputtering! Troy crawls to the cover, TWO!!!! The delay saves Oba but Troy hurries after him. Troy pushes Oba to a drop zone, and he goes up the corner! VADER BOMB onto knees! Troy scrambles away to the ropes, but Oba runs up, to LARIAT Troy and himself out of the ring! But Oba hurries to THROW Troy through the barriers!! The fans lose their minds again and Oba hurries to haul Troy from the wreckage! Oba puts Troy in the ring, powers up, and FALL FROM GRACE!!! Cover, TWO!?!??!?!
The ref says Troy just barely gets a shoulder up! That was maybe an inch at best, but up is up! So Oba whips Troy to pop him up again! FALL! FROM!! GRACE!!! Cover, OBA WINS!!!
Winner: Oba Femi, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)
Jasper Troy proved he is a monster, but Oba reminds us why he is The Ruler! But if Troy got this close on his first try, will he be unstoppable the second time around? As for Oba, who will be next to challenge him for the throne?
My Thoughts:
This was an awesome NXT to both follow Worlds Collide and set up for Evolution. Good promo with the Women’s Division in the locker room to help set up Lash VS Wren. That was a very good match, but Lash winning makes sense since she’s being built up with the rest of the division. Good promo from Lainey Reid, but a shame she already uses her title shot here. Jacy of course needs help to win, but I’m very glad to see we’re getting the title match for Evolution, just as I imagined last week. Not quite the big tournament I was picturing, but at least there’s this Fatal 4 Way play-in “Eliminator.” Great match-ups for all four parts, can’t wait to see who gets to face Jacy.
Mariah May also had a fun little vignette promo to help introduce her WWE name. “Blake Monroe” is not at all what I expected, it could’ve probably been Mariah Monroe to keep the initials, but a reference to Marilyn Monroe and possibly Blake Lively works for how Mariah had the Hollywood starlet gimmick alongside Toni Storm in AEW. Mariah might build up a more organic way rather than just jump into the top title scene. She can beat a few midcarders, challenge for the Women’s North American Championship, reference some of her history while feuding with best buds, ZaRuca, and build her résumé by grabbing up both women’s titles in NXT.
Good promo from Myles with NQCC to make his leaving the faction official, and good bit from Je’Von joining in. Dempsey is either going to lose his entire faction, or come around to the idea that Tavion can do his own thing while still being on the team. I’m leaning more towards the former. Also, where’s Noam Dar been? Meta Four breaks up, he gets the Heritage Cup back, and while Jakara and Oro have been released, Lash is the one getting attention. Which is great for her but makes me wonder if they had any plans for Dar beyond winning the cup back. Hopefully this Summer helps get the Heritage Cup Division going again, perhaps bringing in international stars from AAA to liven things up.
Great North American Championship match, but I figured Ethan would win. Legacy looked awesome even in defeat, but this of course gave an opening for Ricky Saints to return. But they still kept the “throat injury” to a realistic timeline so this probably helps push Ethan VS Ricky to NXT Great American Bash in Atlanta. And at this point, maybe it should be No Disqualifications because these two have already gone wild and need to get wilder to top it. Very good stuff in the D’Angelo story, but I figured Stacks would make Tony think Luca was on his side just to screw him over. Good win for High Ryze and surely Tony VS Stacks 2 will be set for Great American Bash.
Very good stuff with The Culling, and with Izzi pointing out her evidence, this shows they aren’t releasing Brooks Jensen but perhaps turning him back to Face as an ally to Briggs & Inamura. We got a very good match out of Culling VS Briggs & Inamura, but as such, it makes sense for The Culling to win. Very good promo segment to set up a great crossover Six Man Tag, and I just knew we’d get a team-up of Trick & First Class at some point. Good promo from Chase U, and while it wasn’t a classic Mr. Chase rant, he did get stern with Uriah & Kale and they’re going to listen to him. Here’s hoping we get a montage of him training them both in mind and body.
And of course, great stuff with Oba and Troy. Troy attacking Oba at the start of the show was certainly a wild way to add to the main event. Oba fights from behind because of the “bad ribs,” and then with Troy himself just being a massive powerhouse, and obviously those spots of breaking one of the buckles and toppling the barriers, this got the fans fired up in a way I don’t think we’ve gotten on NXT weekly TV in a long time. Oba retaining though at a disadvantage was probably the right call. Troy is great, but it’d be a lot to push the inaugural LFG winner right to the top. Perhaps Oba’s reign continues through to Great American Bash, and if he were to lose then, he could make his callup with SummerSlam and get right into a midcard title story.
My Score: 8.9/10
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