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Hunter’s AEW Collision Review 7.18.26
Image Credit: AEW
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What’s up, Colliders. We’re live taped Thursday from BAHSTAHN for another edition of AEW Collision! This is one of three remaining episodes of wrestling TV before the REDEMPTION pay-per-view in Montreal, Quebec, on July 26.
Tonight’s card is jam-packed:
* The Don Callis Family (Brian Cage, Jake Joyle, HECHICERRRROOOOO) will be in trios action
* The ROH Forever Champion, ATHENA, will be in singles action
* We’ll hear from Mercedes Mone
* Brawling Birds in tag team action!
* Jungle Jack Perry vs Nick Wayne
* ROH World Champion Bandido vs Adam Priest
* Boston’s Tommaso Ciampa vs Myron Reed of the Rascalz
* Will Ospreay vs Adam Brooks
* TNT Championship: Kevin Knight (c) vs AR Fox
* TBS Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs Queen Aminata
*Tony Schiavone welcomes us to the Boston Fenway Music Hall “on a Saturday night.” His broadcast partner tonight — PAUL WIGHT! “Captain Insano is ready to show no mercy, brother!!” This should be fun, loved Wight commentary on AEW Dark.
* Show some JUNGLE LOVE! Here comes “Jungle” Jack Perry, who is newly re-signed to AEW.
* The young Nick Wayne makes his entrance next. Great to see Nick Wayne back on TV! Tony and Paul note that Christian Cage has mentored both men. Wight: “Christian can be the grumpiest SOB in the wrestling business, and that says a lot.”
Jungle Jack Perry v Nick Wayne
Tie-up and a clean break in the corner. Takedown into a grounded armbar before Wayne finds his way up. Standing switch, Perry breaks the grip, they dosey-do until Perry grabs the ropes. Wayne snatches Perry, looks for the Unprettier (fine, Killswitch).
Wight: “That’s back when I had long hair and a bright future.” Lol
Dropkick sends Wayne to the floor, then a baseball slide sends Wayne to the guardrail. Perry keeps up on the offense. Big chop! Perry goes up and down the ring steps for some cardio lol. Wayne to the eyes! And he drives Perry head-first into the steel ringsteps! This match continues on TNT!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Screw you, Geico Gecko!
… why is Walton Goggins doing commercials for Wal-Mart? “Go outside, nerd!”
* We’re back, and Perry is stomping Nick Wayne in the corner! Leg drop off the top by Perry, Wayne kicks out. On the apron, Wayne blocks whatever Perry is going for and hits an enziguri. Looks for Wayne’s World, Perry stops it… POWERBOMB TO WAYNE ON THE RING APRON! Jesus, guys, it’s Collision! Back in the ring, Perry hits an uppercut. Wayne returns with one of his own, then hits a full-nelson suplex. Perry comes back with a poisonrana! Perry tries for something, Wayne reverses, again looking for Killswitch. Perry gets out and nails a big lariat! Interesting match with two similar-sized guys, both usually the smaller person in the bout. Pinning attempt gets two, Perry ends up outside. Wayne dives through the ropes DESTROYER TO PERRY ON THE FLOOR! Holy crap. Perry is down, but Wayne is holding his tailbone in pain. “Sunset flip turned into a DDT into a buttbuster, how about that? That’s why I need Excalibur here!” Wight is so great on commentary.
Wayne gets back in the ring. Perry JUST beats the ten-count outside the ring. Wayne with a Fisherman Buster for two! Wayne can’t believe it! Wayne signals for Wayne’s World (IMO he really needs a new finisher, it clearly hurts him WAY more than his opponent). Perry instead nails a German suplex! The running knee gets the three count for Jungle Jack!
WINNER: Jungle Jack Perry
TIME: 11:08
RATING: ***1/2
THOUGHTS: That was a very good match, would have liked to see the action during the commercial break. It was refreshing for Perry to work someone his own size. It reminded me somewhat of an old WCW Cruiserweight match. It felt a little weird with commentary selling “Jack wants to challenge young talent”… I mean, Perry isn’t OLD, but he’s not a pup either. Great to see Wayne again, hopefully he makes his way back to being a TV regular. They never REALLY properly settled his beef with Christian Cage. Good match!
* We go to a vignette for the Young Bucks, starting with them talking about how “all is right in wrestling, Kenny Omega is World champion again.” Now it’s time for the Young Bucks to regain the World Tag Team champions. They don’t trust Moxley, and they definitely don’t trust Ospreay. Mox and the Deathriders haven’t changed. Omega shouldn’t trust Ospreay.
Will Ospreay. Jon Moxley? The Young Bucks challenge you to a tag team match… at AEW REDEMPTION!!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
We’re back, and we get a Copeland & Christian vignette. After Dynamite last Wednesday, a pissed-off Cope & Cage challenged Claudio & PAC to a tag title match at Redemption.
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP: Kevin Knight (c) v AR Fox
Should be a good bout with two athletic guys. Knight attacks before the bell. Sends Fox to the outside and tosses Fox into the guardail. Knight poses on the announce table as the crowd chants “WE WANT SPEEDBALL.”
Back in the ring, Knight with a springboard, Fox ducks. Fox with a rope-assisted tijares! They go back and forth until Fox spikes Knight down. Crowd is behind AR Fox! This guy always delivers and gets the crowd invested. Chops in the corner, Knight turns it around, Fox ducks, CHOP! Irish whip, reversed, Knight up-and-over, Fox with an elbow, both men on the apron, short kick. Fox looks for a flip, Knight yanks him down. But Fox with a spinning kick on the apron! He dives, Knight dives, Knight elevates off the announce table to hit a flying clothesline!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Collision returns and Knight is in control. Fox counters out. Snakes Knight’s hands, rolls through into a cutter! SENTON OFF THE TOP! Grabs the leg for a near-three count. Wight says he had Knight beat if he’d put weight on the shoulders. Knight begging off into the bottom rope, grabs Fox by the pants to send AR Fox to the elevated rampway. Knight springboards — caught with a cutter! Knight ends up tangled into the ropes. Fox runs down the rampway and nails a sunset flip bomb! Off the top, Knight barely kicks out!
Fox looking to put it away, back on top. Knight climbs up as well! They fight over something… Knight with the Crash Landing (Rock Bottom) off the top! Knight isn’t done. Up top — UFO SPLASH! And that is enough for the three-count.
WINNER: (and still TNT Champion) Kevin Knight
TIME: 9:36
RATING: ***3/4
THOUGHTS: Another very good match with a good pace. AR Fox consistently delivers with innovative offense and wrestles at a frenetic clip. Knight had to fight for this one, but ultimately got the job done, becoming the TNT champion with the most successful defenses to date (nine), and a big win before putting the title on the line against Darby Allin this Wednesday on Dynamite!
Post-match, Knight celebrates, and then sits down at the commentary team. He puts the headset on and talks about how that was a preview of what’s going to happen to Darby Allin, and that’s an appetizer for Kenny Omega. Looks Knight is going to stay on commentary as the Don Callis Family trio enters next!
Jake Doyle, Brian Cage, and HECHICERRROOOOOO vs Gino Medina, Tome Filip, and Nic Nolan
Doyle smashes ham ‘n’ egger number one right off the bat. Medina tags in and Hechicero goes to work. Creative arm snap, then a head twist with the feet. HECHICERROOOOOO.
Apparently, that was Knight’s ninth TNT title defense and he now has the record. Didn’t even realize he’d defended that much. He’s spent so much time talking about the AEW World Title…
Doyle powerbombs one of the geeks into the apron. Cage is in the ring and nails a big knee to the face on geek #3, and that’s that.
WINNER: Cage, Doyle, and HECHICERRROOOOO
TIME: 1:53
RATING: butternut squash ravioli
THOUGHTS: Just an absolute mauling, but it let Kevin Knight do some commentary, and helped set-up the confrontation after.
Post-match, the Callis Family including RPG Vice and Lance Archer beat the jobber trio down even more…
IT’S SPEEDBALL’s MUSIC! Speedball runs out… HE’S NOT ALONE! HERE COME THE CONGLOMERATION! AND THE RASCALZ! Looks like Speedball has MANY allies… or just that many people who can’t stand the Don Callis Family! We see the Lethal Twist in the stands, watching on.
* Backstage, Ospreay and Moxley are ready. Ospreay says he wanted a warm-up. Adam Brooks used to live at Will’s house; Will’s mum loved him. “Do us a favor lad… don’t take it personal.” Moxley talks about being enemies and allies with the Bucks over the years. Moxley “I’ve always an intrinsic disdain for all things… elite. At Redemption, as always… this’ll be a LITTLE BIT personal.” Challenge accepted, and Ospreay will be in action later tonight.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
* The Dogs, David Finlay and Clark Connors, give a SERIOUS TALK about the Dogs. The Gunns have a history of misogyny, Juice isn’t a real doctor, Ace Austin’s haircut is “problematic,” and it’s not David’s fault that Jay White’s father was a nobody. Guns… down. That was great.
* Jon Moxley joins commentary! Yay!
* ELEVATED! ELEVATED TO THE SKY! Here comes Will Ospreay to a big crowd reaction! The Wembley entrance is going to GO SO HARD.
* Adam Brooks, the “Loose Ledge,” gets a proper entrance! I’ve never seen Brooks. He’s from Australia, and he looks badass! Wight: “Will Ospreay went to bat to get Brooks this opportunity.” Tony mentions they had their first match eight years ago. Good work on commentary setting this up. “Ospreay’s on his way to becoming a huge star, but he still remembers his friend for eight years ago.”
Will Ospreay vs Adam Brooks
Handshake and hug from Brooks and Ospreay. Moxley doesn’t like it. The bell sounds — and Brooks is ON THE ATTACK. Just clocks Ospreay, then rakes Will’s eyes on the ropes. Brooks is in great shape. Will fires back with a big chop! Another! Knee from Brooks cuts that off. Ospreay hits the ropes, ducks, rebound, headscissors! Brooks rolls outside as Ospreay hypes the crowd. Ospreay lunges over the top with a flying body press! Ospreay slaps some hands and then goes back to work on Brooks.
We get the graphic, Ospreay/Moxley v Young Bucks at Redemption is official. Talk about intriguing match!
Back in the ring, Ospreay with a springboard clothesline. Only gets one and a half. Ospreay seems a bit tweaked about the aggression Brooks has shown. Double-underhook, Brooks backdrops Ospreay out. OsCutter attempt — Brooks slams Will down! Brooks ramming KNEES into the mid-section, right hand. Moxley likes a lot of what Adam Brooks is doing! Ospreay and Brooks exchange blows. Ospreay gets sent to the apron. He looks for a move, but Brooks used the lower rope to snap into Will’s midsection. That was unique, and now Brooks keeps on! Dive to the outside. Brooks mocks Will with an “Ospreay, Ospreay” call. Back in the ring, Brooks with a unique neckbreaker for two! Moxley is losing the plot a little on commentary, LOL. I love it. Brooks fishhooks the mouth of Ospreay, breaks before the referee’s five count.
Brooks gets a standing headscissors, powerbomb, Ospreay reverses! Ospreay with the handspring pele! KIP-UP OSPREAY! Moxley is talking about B-52 Bombers. Jawbreaker! Roundhouse kick! Standing skytwister press! That gets two, but Brooks is hurting. “LET’S GO OSPREAY!” Moxley: “I don’t even know how to do that, flippy-doo-dah.” Ospreay off the ropes, BROOKS PULLS THE REFEREE IN THE WAY! Brooks takes advantage! Belly-to-belly suplex sends Ospreay INTO the turnbuckle! Big kick gets two! Damn, sign Brooks to a fucking contract! Brooks looks for a big boot — Ospreay catches it. BIG FOREARM. Brooks is DAZED, and Ospreay with another STIFF forearm. Brooks is staggered but still on his feet. We get the BOO/YAY strike exchange. Ospreay gets the better of that! They exchange counters, Brooks with a Lungblower! Ospreay comes back with the Spanish Fly!
Ospreay loads up the Hidden Blade… and Adam Brooks SPITS AT WILL OSPREAY. Ospreay is stunned… FOREARM. Brooks is facedown, and Ospreay is RAINING FOREARMS INTO THE BACK OF THE HEAD. Adam Brooks is defenseless and the referee calls for the bell!
WINNER: (by ref stoppage) Will Ospreay
TIME: 8:32
RATING: ***3/4
THOUGHTS: Adam Brooks made the most of this opportunity, I REALLY enjoyed his work and would love to see more of him. The match story allowed Ospreay’s more vicious side to come out, he started hugging his old friend, and by the end, Willy Goat was clubbing the shit out of an unconscious man’s head until the ref called it. Good shit.
* Moxley: “Yeah, I’m going to beat the actual piss out of the Young Bucks at Redemption. I’ve decided.” Ospreay poses for the fans.
* Darby Allin vignette. He’s spray painting a beat up car… “Kevin needs to be humbled” on the side. Darby talks about how Knight put him in the hospital after Double or Nothing… DARBY TAKES A FLAMETHROWER TO THE VEHICLE! Darby is going to HUMBLE Kevin Knight and take the TNT Title back, this Wednesday on Dynamite!
* And here comes the Ring of Honor FOREVER World Champion, Athena!
Athena vs Ava Everett
Athena immediately snaps off a German suplex, a second, a THIRD. Ava Everett in the ropes, Athena with a big boot sends Everett to the floor. CHEST KICK from the apron. Wight: “I think Ava Everett owes Athena money.” On the floor, Everett throws some weak strikes to try to break, a STIFF forearm. Crossbody — caught by Athena! The Forever Champ tosses Ava into the guardrail, yikes. Back in the ring, Athena charges. Runs into a boot by Everett, rollup gets one. Everett with a cutter. She hits the ropes but Athena follows and kicks Ava in the mouth. Athena with a powerbomb. ANOTHER. Running strike, and Athena locks in a submission hold for the win.
WINNER: Athena
TIME: missed
RATING: n/r
THOUGHTS: Basic showcase for Athena, just beating the hell out of her opponent. Interesting that they intentionally had her and the Brawling Birds cross paths during exit/entrance.
* Athena celebrates and heads up the ramp… THE BRAWLING BIRDS ARE HERE! Love their theme song. Jamie
Brawling Birds v Tiara James & Kayla Lopez
Birds attack right away, it’s a clubbering. Jamie sends one of her opponents into the guardrail while WINDSAH beats the other elsewhere. The Birds send their opponents into each other! Back in the ring, Alex WINDSAH smashes her opponent in the corner. Headbutt by Windsor! Commentary, if you could actually use the opponent’s names lol…
Tag into Jamie Hayter who stomps a mudhole in ham n egger one. Wrist control and repeated chops. Wight appreciates that the Birds are brawlers not trying to be pretty. Series of reversals, we see a tag from the opposition! Windsor runs in as well and their foes do not come out the better. Hayter sends geek two into a VICIOUS Windsor Headbutt! And now… HART ATTACK! That’s the three!
WINNERS: Brawling Birds
TIME: 2:49
RATING: n/r
THOUGHTS: Between visa issues, injuries, the Owen, and more, the Birds had their tag momentum derailed. Of course, it seems like an open secret that Birds will end up challenging Divine Dominion for the World Tag Titles at ALL IN LONDON, so it works out. Very fun shitkicking from Hayter and WINDSAH.
The Brawling Birds celebrate. Schiavone notes that they are 8-0 as a tag team in AEW.
* The Bang Bang Gang are in their loft. Austen: “We LOVE massages!” Jay White has David Finlay’s shillelaigh! He says it’s clear that Finlay don’t want ANY of this. Clark Connors, let’s do this on DYNAMITE!
* “My shadow knows my story…” Oh baby, to a HUGE reaction, the hometown boy TOMMASO CIAMPA IS HERE! I wonder if Paul Wight recognizes the vocalist for Ciampa’s theme lol.
* Accompanied by his fellow Rascalz, Myron Reed is here!
Tommaso Ciampa v Myron Reed
Paul Wight says Ciampa has no soul. Damn, Captain Insano! Myron Reed has been the standout of the Rascalz so far in AEW, in my opinion. This should be a fun match. Wight reminds people that he’s known Jericho a long time, even being Jericho’s tag partner, and Ciampa doesn’t know what he’s unlocked by trying to use the DRILL on Jericho back at Dynamite.
Reed looks for a live but Ciampa rolls back in, then catches Reed with a vicious kneestrike. Ciampa lowers the kneepad… Reed ducks the running knee! Superkick! Reed off the ropes, Ciampa with a German suplex, Reed lands on his feet! Back suplex to Ciampa, but he used the top rope as a springboard on it. Nice! Reed with a springboard, Ciampa dodges. Reed lands on his feet. Ciampa is on the ring apron. Reed looks for a dive — CAUGHT. DDT OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE TO THE ELEVATED RAMPWAY! And that sends us to commercial!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Back to action, the Boston crowd is solidly behind the hometown Ciampa. Reed over the top and nails Ciampa! Back in the ring, Reed with a big top rope attack for two. Reed perches Ciampa up on the top turnbuckle. Reed looking for something… but Ciampa reverses… AIR RAID CRASH OFF THE TOP! That gets… two. Reed barely kicks out! They exchange some offense. Going back and forth. Ciampa ends up on the entrance ramp… Reed dives over the top rope and hits a cutter on the apron! Ciampa rolls back in. Reed heads up the ramp, rolls down, dives over, turns midair, HITS A CUTTER! One, two, kickout! Reed is wild, man. That’s some incredible body control.
Both men tired and trading chops. Wight: “This cyborg freak, Tommaso.” Damn, Paul. Ciampa dodges a corner move, powerbomb INTO THE KNEES. Jeeeeez. Ciampa looks to the fans and gets a huge reaction. The kneepad is dropped. WHAMMO. Ciampa nails the knee and gets the three.
WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa
TIME: 10:31
RATING: ***3/4
THOUGHTS: Another very good match in a string tonight. Commercial took a big chunk, but Reed once again got to showcase his offensive explosiveness and aerial ability. Ciampa looked like the psycho killer he is, got to have a showcase in front of his hometown fans (something he noted that his former employer didn’t give him on many Boston events), and having Paul Wight at ringside was an interesting source of friction.
Ciampa stares down Paul Wight and grabs a microphone. Oh boy. Ciampa seems to menace Schiavone, and that brings Paul Wight up to this feet. Ciampa stands on Wight’s chair to look down at Paul, lol. “I know you are best friends with Chris Jericho. So I want you to listen and send a message to Chris. Not only is Tommaso Ciampa better than Chris Jericho… but the Psychokiller is not afraid of the Painmaker. TELL YOUR BOY, CHRIS, IF HE WANTS A FIGHT AT REDEMPTION… he can have it. But it’s gonna be… NO. HOLDS. BARRED.”
Ciampa poses in front of Paul Wight and grins his sick grin.
* Renee Paquette is backstage with ANDRADE EL IDOLO! Andrade flashes the Dynamite Diamond Ring he acquired. He wants the National Championship… MARK DAVIS BLINDSIDES! Davis has a huge sleeper on Andrade! El Idolo’s face is turning red! Davis finally releases, but Andrade is in bad shape, coughing.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
* Renee is in the ring, and she introduces the first-ever two-time Owen Hart Cup winner… “THE CEO” MERCEDES MONE. Mercedes is cherishing the ceremonial Owen Hart championship title belt. MINI-MONE PUPPET IN THE CROWD!
* The Boston crowd shows some love for their hometown girl! Renee wants to know who Mone thinks will win at Redemption, the reigning world champion THEKLA or the #1 contender, WILLOW. Renee… “we are in BOSSSSSTONNNN.” City of Champions, etc. Big, big “CEO” chants. Mone doesn’t give a damn who she faces, Mone is taking the world title at ALL IN. Thekla ran and took her ass to Japan after Mone attacked her! And so did Willow! One hides behind fake little poison, and one hides behind her fake little smile. But neither of you can hide when that bell rings. “I am so sick of the same damn question. Who’s walking into ALL IN with the title? Wrong question, Renee. The only question that matters — it’s who’s walking out. And that’s me. The SEE. EE. OH.”
Mone holds the Owen title belt high. Hit her music! Good promo from Mercedes. Does she face Thekla? Willow? BOTH?
* Backstage, Copeland and Cage challenge Claudio and PAC to a tag title match at Redemption… and the Young Bucks walk into the scene. They congratulate C&C on their tag title wins. They mention their three times as champs. Christian: “Well, maybe you’ve lost them three times… because they’re just things to you. They’re CHAMPIONSHIPS to us.” Cage walks out and Copeland makes a cat hiss, apologizing. “He… gets like that.” Fist bumps from Copeland and the Jacksons. So, is it straight-up C&C v Young Bucks at ALL IN, or do we add in one, two, three other teams? Whooooooo?
* BANNNNNNNNNDIIIIIDO! Clips are shown of Dynamite of Bandido and Brody attacking the Don Callis Family, and Kyle Fletcher in response puts his International Title up against Bandido for REDEMPTION!
Bandido v Adam Priest
No entrance for Priest. Title is not on the line. Commentary notes that Bandido is now the fourth-longest reigning ROH Men’s World Champion, behind only Samoa Joe, Nigel McGuinness, and RUSH. No disrespect, but Bandido is NEVER on the ROH on Honorclub show and basically only works PPVs. It’s still cool, but it doesn’t mean as much as it did when Joe and Nigel were KILLING themselves defending it multiple times at months in ROH main events. Anyway.
Into the match, Priest does a hip toss, Bandido counters, hits a kick, gorilla press, but Priest slips out. Priest sends Bandido shoulder first into the turnbuckle, and then tosses Bandido out to the floor. Priest with a running knee from the apron to the floor!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Back from break and THEY ARE CHOPPING THE SHIT OUT OF EACH OTHER! Damn! Bandido gets the better and nails two German Suplexes. ONE-HANDED GORILLA PRESS! ONE-ARM SUPLEX! Bandido is on fire! Bandido looks for the Frog Splash but nobody home. Priest with a jacknife pinfall! Lariat from Crash Holly II gets boos. Bandido with a … powerbomb faceplant? Something like that. That was almost Paul Wight’s old “Alley-Oop.” Crowd is FIRMLY behind Bandido. 21-Plex attempt, Priest holds onto the rope for dear life. Priest elbows his way free and looks for something. Bandido with an armdrag. Priest charges, gets nailed by a spinebuster! Bandido points the GUN… but Priest grabs the ankle. Bandido with a backflip, GRABS THE GERMAN SUPLEX, BRIDGE, THREE! Kind of a 21-Plex but not, but really cool!
WINNER: Bandido
TIME: 7:53
RATING: ***
THOUGHTS: Perfectly fine showcase for the ROH Men’s World Champion. Priest didn’t really get a lot, but this wasn’t about him. Crowd was entirely behind Bandido, who gets a win on TV before his International Title shot against Kyle Fletcher at Redemption.
* THE SISTERS OF SIN are backstage and 2/3 of the new STARDOM trios champions! They challenge Divine Dominion for a Women’s Tag Team Championship match… a HARDCORE match! “The undefeated tag team champions shouldn’t be afraid of the Sisters of Sin, right?” “Let’s find out.”
* Hikaru Shida v Queen Aminata is our main event, and it is NEXT!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
* QUEEN Aminata makes her entrance!
* The TBS (THE BEST SHIDA) Champion, Hikaru Shida, is down the ramp with her trusty kendo stick!
TBS CHAMPIONSHIP: Hikaru Shida (c) vs Queen Aminata
These two want to tear each other apart before the bell, the poor ref barely keeping them apart. Bell rings, Aminata immediately looks for a big boot. Shida ducks. Now they’re just beating the hell out of each other. Aminata with repeated forearms. Shida comes back… with a fingerpoke! That gets two. Aminata comes back with a snapmare, followed by a loud kick to the back. That sets ups… SOME CHOCOLATE KISSES! Shida is knocked silly and sent to the outside. Aminata grabs a steel chair and sets it up (on the floor). She sets Shida down on it… DOUBLE HAND CHOP! Aminata on the apron, runs, DOUBLE STOMP TO THE CHAMP! The chair collapses and Shida is down!
Back in the ring, Aminata up top. Shida rolls to the elevated ramp! Queen adjusts and tries a double-stomp, but Shida moves. Aminata now limping. Shida slaps her. Tries to send Aminata into the buckle, Aminata blocks. HEADBUTT by Aminata! She tries again, Shida moves, headbutts the turnbuckle! Shida hoists Aminata up… what the… JESUS. Kind of a Reverse Staturday Night Fever? Aminata is down as the crowd chants “HOLY SHIDA.”
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Back to action and Aminata has Shida in a Boston Crab! Shida is fighting… Aminata’s back gives out, and Shida is free. Aminata retains control with several kicks to the chest. Shida blocks the third, but Aminata counters and nails a third! Crowd is chanting QUEEN! Queen with a spinning fisherman’s buster? Neckbreaker? Aminata on the second turnbuckle. DOUBLE STOMP! Shida gets the shoulder up! Aminata punches her leg to regain feeling, as the knees are bothering her. That double stomp to the rampway earlier.
Shida rolls outside. Aminata limps after her. Shida cuts her off and grabs the kendo stick! Referee grabs it from Shida! On the floor, Shida goes to the eyes again! Referee catches it, but Shida has control and sends Aminata into the LED barricade! Aminata is in the ring. Shida on top, hits a meteora! Hooks her… FALCON ARROW! SHE DID THE DEED! Two only! Paul Wight points out Aminata’s incredible core strength. Shida hooks a leg and arm, looking for the submission she has been recently using. Aminata tries to fight. SHIDA GETS ROLLED UP! ONE! TWO! SHIDA OUT! ROLLUP! COUNTERED! COUNTERED! ONE! TWO! NO! Aminata was SO CLOSE! Crowd doesn’t like it, booing the referee on that one.
Aminata looks for another kick, caught, Shida with a Dragon Screw Legwhip. AMINATA WITH HER HEADBUTT! RUNNING KNEE TO SHIDA IN THE ROPES… wait! Shida traps the foot! Aminata gets hunt up, Shida rolls her up, SHIDA PUTS HER FEET ON THE ROPES! Referee doesn’t see! One, two, three!
WINNER: (and STILL TBS Champion) Hikaru Shida
TIME: 10:58
RATING: ***3/4
THOUGHTS: Another great match tonight, and a great main event! Shida’s heel character since returning is fantastic. I love that she’s just flat-out doing old school heel shtick on top of being an absolute ass-kicker in the ring. She’s being the opposite of a cool heel and it rules. THE BEST SHIDA. I would say any ring-rust from Aminata’s injury layoff is gone, that was another excellent performance from the Queen. She had a tremendous series with Thekla last year and I hope it will be sooner rather than later for the Queen to get the push. As Tony Khan would say, great main event, great show, our great fans in Boston, great TBS champion… you get the picture.
Shida rolls out to celebrate, then back into blindside Aminata! Kendo stick is in play. Shida is wearing Aminata out… HERE COMES MAYA WORLD! MAYA WORLD takes it to Shida, who takes the low road and gets the hell out of Hokkaido!
Schiavone announces… MAYA WORLD V HIKARU SHIDA FOR THE TBS CHAMPIONSHIP AT REDEMPTION! THE TBS TITLE IS ACTUALLY BEING DEFENDED ON A PPV! MORE THAN ONE WOMEN’S MATCH! HOORAY!
Good night everybody!
