wrestling / TV Reports
Hunter’s AEW Collision Review 7.25.26
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...We are live from Nashville, Tennessee, for the final two hours of AEW before tomorrow night when the men and women of AEW seek… REDEMPTION, live on pay-per-view from Montreal, Quebec!
We are welcomed to the telecast by the commentary team of Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, and Paul Wight!
Tommaso Ciampa v Zachary Wentz
The Psycho Killer with a KNEE to Wentz before the Rascal can even get in the ring! Ciampa once again trash talks Paul Wight… allowing Zachary Wentz to come back. Moonsault from the apron to the floor wipes Ciampa out! Wentz rolls Ciampa back in the ring and follows, and Aubrey Edwards calls for the bell to officially start the bout.
Speaking of hardcore matches, I’m giving my cat a giant pill and liquid medicine every day for the next three weeks.
Ciampa with a snap suplex on Wentz INTO the middle turnbuckle. Nashville chants “psycho killer.” Using Zachary’s own t-shirt, Ciampa chokes his man as Edwards admonishes. Ciampa mockingly claps for Wentz then flexes his bicep. Wight notes that he may be a “psycho,” but Ciampa is an intelligent competitor.
Ciampa keeps control and lands a big knee! That should be all but Wentz kicks out. Ciampa once again glares at Wight — the distraction lets Wentz get a rollup! Two-count. Wentz looks to make a comeback in the ropes, Ciampa cuts that off — Willow’s Bell DDT spikes Wentz headfirst into the elevated rampway! Ciampa backs up the ramp, charges, RUNNING KNEE! Wentz rolls in, Ciampa in the corner, beckoning, kneepad down. BONE ON BONE. Wentz is out.
WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa
TIME: 6:56
RATING: ** 1/2
THOUGHTS: Perfectly acceptable TV match with the point of Ciampa looking dominant before the PPV tomorrow. Wentz looked fine, this didn’t need to be as back-and-forth as Ciampa v Reed was last week in Boston.
Ciampa grabs the microphone and grins.
“Tommaso Ciampa… is better… than Chris Jericho.”
Haha, Ciampa has a marker or black makeup pen and starts drawing “Painmaker” marks on his face.
“And the psycho killer is better than the Painmaker. One more sleep, and your ass is MINE. Montreal. Redemption. It will… be… violent.”
His shadow knows his story, indeed. Wight says this makes him uncomfortable; Ciampa’s eyes are so “cold and calculating.” NO HOLDS BARRED – JERICHO V CIAMPA – TOMORROW NIGHT!
* Cut to SPEEDBALL MIKE BAILEY, one of six men in the ladder match for a shot at the International Championship! Speedball is a two-time Trios champ but has not held singles gold in AEW. He debuted twenty years ago in Montreal, and will go onto be the new International Champion… whether that is against Bandido OR Kyle Fletcher! TK, this is the winner of the match tomorrow, okay? Don’t get cute lol
* WYLD STALYNS! I mean, MATT AND NICK JACKSON! The YOUNG BUCKS make their way down! Tomorrow at Redemption, they face the tough tandem of JON MOXLEY and WILL OSPREAY. Tonight, they face the “junior” Deathriders…
* Somewhere backstage, bathed in red light, the Deathriders are STANDING. Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta do the hype-up circle with CLAUDIO and PAC while MOXLEY looks on, and then the young Deathriders make their way to the ring through the crowd!
Young Bucks v Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia
Jon Moxley joins the commentary team. Moxley is unimpressed that the crowd is chanting for the Young Bucks. Yuta (in trunks, not pants) starts with Nick Jackson. Quick action, both men tag out, double hip toss to Garcia, tandem offense to Yuta. Stereo bulldogs from the Jacksons with a high-five on the way! The heels in the corners and the Bucks look for TEN PUNCH COUNTALONG. That’s cut off, Nick Jackson sent to the floor, Garcia and Yuta stomping on Matt. Garcia climbs the turnbuckle to rain blows down on Matt Jackson. He raises his arms… and drops off to the mat after teasing the GARCIA SHUFFLE.
Nick gets back in and saves his brother, now Garcia is taking a beating. Moxley is right, can’t even keep up with this action! Matt flies out to nail Yuta on the floor. Back in, looking for the BTE TRIGGER! Garcia ducks! Jackson’s collide! Yuta in, Nick sent out, Matthew (HIS CHRISTIAN NAME) nonetheless takes control. Northern Lights looked for on Yuta — Garcia tries to block — Matt hooks BOTH Deathriders, SUPLEXES BOTH! But Yuta and Garcia are successful in causing a ref distraction and taking control, taunting the crowd as Collision goes to commercial!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
We return to Yuta and Garcia still in control on Nick Jackson. Nick ducks an attack and causes friendly fire, but before he can make a tag, Matt gets knocked off the apron. Double-team offense by the ‘Riders. Moxley on commentary applauds his young wards slowing the pace down. They start the Deathrider train in the corner but Matt gets an elbow up. Takes down Garcia! Nails Yuta! HOT TAG NICK!
Nick right to the top, body press to both Deathriders! Double irish whip, Nick flips over, clotheslines both opponents down! Running knee to Yuta. Props Yuta in the corner, charges the other way to hit Garcia, up and over, nails Garcia, then a backcracker to Yuta. Whew! Moxley: “Who would think to do that, do a somersault before I…” Stereo top rope moves from the Bucks! Mox says it may have been flashy, but what the Bucks just did HURTS.
You are invited to a SUPERKICK PARTY — Yuta grabs the foot and sends it towards the other Buck! Nick and Wheeler jockey for position, Garcia gets dumped. Matt flips over Nick and Yuta, helping Nick suplex Yuta! BTE TRIGGER! ONE! TWO! Yuta interrupts!!
The Bucks look for the (Meltzer? TK?) Driver — CLAUDIO CASTIGNOLI IS HERE! Claudio interrupts! PAC IS DISTRACTING THE REF! UPPERCUT! Dragontamer is on Matt! Nick breaks it! Now CLAUDIO distracts so PAC can get involved…
IT’S CHRISTIAN CAGE! CHRISTIAN YANKS CLAUDIO DOWN AND ATTACKS! PAC is backing up the ramp… YOU THINK YOU KNOW HIM, ADAM COPELAND SPEARS PAC ON THE RAMPWAY!
IN THE RING! The Deathriders hit a double-team, one, two, NO! Bucks come back! Yuta is dumped! GARCIA GETS FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN — DIRT SHEET DRIVER (that’s what I’m calling it)! ONE, TWO, THREE!
WINNERS: Young Bucks
TIME: 12:38
RATING: ** 1/2
THOUGHTS: This was fine. Obviously there was no chance of Yuta and Garcia winning, but the match didn’t really get to even the default “Jackson Party Match” level. Felt disjointed and the commercial break didn’t help. The finish was fun, helping to add drama to both the tag championship match tomorrow night between C&C and Pac/Claudio, with some extra heat for MoxSpreay v Bucks.
The Bucks celebrate for a moment but then stare down Jon Moxley.
WILL OSPREAY OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A HIDDEN BLADE TO NICK!
MOXLEY — PARADIGM SHIFT TO MATT!
The crowd is actually booing. Will has a grim look on his face. LOL now the “Ospreay, Ospreay” chants pick up. The Deathriders leave the Young Bucks laying! Ospreay is slower to exit, looking back at Matt and Nick. Is he unhappy with what he did? Is he conflicted? Moxley, however, is pleased.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
* We go to San Diego Comicon and the AEW panel, where a “fan” asks Kyle Fletcher how badly Bandido is going to beat him on Sunday! The fan is BRODY KING at the question mic! Fletcher leaves the stage, BANDIDO IS HERE! It descends into a brawl in Hall H as security pull Fletcher and Bandido apart! Haha, that was awesome.
Persephone v Angelica Risk
Persephone shittalks Risk, but Angelica mouths off right back! Slap from Angelica just leads to an armdrag. Persephone CLUBBERING FOREARMS to the chest of Angelica Risk! GRAND SLAM MEXICO is August 5! Risk tries a rollup, can’t keep control, Persephone with a vicious dropkick. Choking and screaming her opponent in the corner is Persephone! Aubrey Edwards tries to regain control. Risk counters a charge, then hits a jackknife pin for one… Persephone rolls through, lifts Risk to the skies, RAZOR’S EDGE! Jesus, that’s ALL, folks.
WINNER: Persephone
TIME: 1:38
RATING: n/r
THOUGHTS: To borrow a phrase, Persephone beat Angelica Risk like she was owed money. Just an absolute beatdown by the CMLL Women’s World champion. Persephone is awesome.
* Backstage, it’s Athena, Billie Starkz, and Diamante! Diamante has a bullet for two birds. Billie: “I thought the saying was two birds with one stone.” Athena and Diamante yell at Billie. Athena challenges the Birds to wrestle the MIT… sometime!
* It’s… the Lethal Twist. How exciting.
* Oooh, Ricochet and the GOA are on commentary! Haha we also have Tennessee’s own Jeff Jarrett on commentary. SEVEN-MAN BOOTH!
* It’s… Skyflight. Scorpio, Sydal, and Dante. Okay, I’m sure this match will be solid, but the big question is: Of these two jobber trios, WHO LOSES???
* Matt Sydal’s first AEW match in over two years!
Skyflight (Scorpio Sky, Matt Sydal, Dante Martin) vs Lethal Twist (Jay Lethal, Blake Christian, Lee Johnson)
Matt Sydal starts off with Blake Christian. Respectful Sydal chants. Matt looks good! Ricochet and Jarrett jaw-jack on commentary. Schiavone: “If Ricochet will stop talking for a second…”
Johnson and Sky in now. Off the ropes, Dante with a blind tag! Nails Johnson, cover, Lethal and Christian in to break it up. All six men are in the ring. Lethal Twist look for triple something, but Skyflight kick them down! TRIPLE DIVES FROM SKYFLIGHT! Ricochet talks some shit to Sydal and Martin as Tony throws to commercial.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
We’re back with the Lethal Twist in control. FARGO STRUT by Jay Lethal! Tags out to Blake Christian, who keeps the pressure on Scorpio Sky. Jeff Jarrett chastises Schiavone for not talking about Redemption lol. Christian with repeated kicks to the thigh of Scorpio. Figure four attempt, Scorpio kicks him away! Lee Johnson in, cradle gets two, no, TAG TO DANTE! Dante Martin is a HOUSEAFAR! Knee lifts, big dropkick off the ropes. KIP UP! Ricochet is irritated. Irish whip, reversed, dodged. Dante with an up-and-over, gamengiri kick from outside in to Johnson! Cover… LETHAL OFF THE TOP with the axhandle to break! Sydal with a spinning kick on Lethal! SPANISH FLY from Christian on Sydal! Scorpio nails Christian! Johnson attacks Scorpio! Dante Martin is back up, nails his man. Up on top… RICOCHET IS ON THE APRON! He doesn’t touch the ropes or Martin, but the distraction is enough for Blake Christian and Lee Johnson to take advantage with a double-stomp/Death Valley Driver combo for three.
WINNERS: Lethal Twist
TIME: 8:47
RATING: **
THOUGHTS: This was a match. Nice to see Matt Sydal back in action, he looked good. It’s hard to get excited about either SkyFlight or Lethal Twist, but at least Jay Lethal got to do some of his fun shtick. The Demand could be on to better things… they mentioned the Trios Champions, the Conglomeration. Let’s get to that match.
The Demand leave commentary to slap five with the Lethal Twist up on the entrance ramp.
* Countdown to Redemption! Airing directly after Collision!
AR Fox v Nick Wayne
Jarrett remains on commentary. The winner of this match earns a spot in the six-man ladder match (for an International title shot) tomorrow night at Redemption. The last time they met, AR Fox beat Nick Wayne for the ROH TV Title!
Wayne remembers, attacking before the bell. Fox fights back and takes the advantage. The crowd is FIRMLY behind Fox! Wayne thinks he’s dumped Fox, nope! Fox dives through the ropes, hooking Nick – Wayne counters into a suplex. Fox rolls to the outside. Wayne takes a breather than follows. Fox sent into the guardrail! Nick Wayne talking trash to the audience behind the commentary table!
Notably, Jeff Jarrett’s guitar is also at commentary table. Is that Chekov’s El Kabong?
Ref’s ten count is broken by Wayne rolling in. Back out, he measures Fox… FOX WITH A HIGH KNEE TO THE CHARGING WAYNE. Wight: “Nick Wayne’s gonna get a dental bill for that.” Fox now in control, takes too much time. Wayne sweeps Fox’s legs, sending Fox into the ring steps!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Back to action, AR Fox is making his comeback! He gets a two count on Wayne. Charging elbow from Fox, rolls Nick out, looks for a cutter, Wayne reverses into a snapdragon! Both men gasping for breath. Wayne with arms outstretched… roundhouse! Ducked! Wayne into the buckle. Fox eats a foot. Wayne up top, Fox with an Iconoclasm… into a cutter! Fox on top, SWANTON! Two count, Wayne rolls Fox over for two! Fox with an enziguri sends Wayne into the ropes. Fox with a lift and sits Wayne on the top turnbuckle. Jeff Jarrett is a big fan of Nick Wayne, putting over Nick’s two consecutive years in the NJPW Battle of the Super Juniors. Wayne counters whatever Fox was looking for… SUPER SLICED BREAD #2! Wayne measures Fox — NASTY KICK. Fisherman’s Driver! ONE! TWO! THREE! Nigel notes that Nick walls that the “Prodigy Plex.”
WINNER: Nick Wayne
TIME: 9:34
RATING: ***
THOUGHTS: Hard to truly rate due to another big commercial break. Not on the level of their ROH match a couple months ago, but a fun match. Nick Wayne is only 21 and already this good. Fox always delivers. I would have liked to see both in the ladder match, but I think Wayne getting the slot is the right move now that he’s back from Japan.
* BACKSTAGE WEDNESDAY AFTER DYNAMITE — It’s Darby Allin! He should’ve taken Kevin Knight’s head off when he had the chance. Darby reminisces about when they first met, Kevin only two months into his career. “HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO?” Darby furiously throws his skateboard.
* YESSS! WE’RE GOING BACK TO THE EIGHTIES! THE OUTRUNNERS MAKE THEIR ENTRANCE —
* “BOYS!!!”
* And the third member of the ROH Six-Man Tag champions… THE PREENING PEACOCK, DALTON CASTLE! They have four boys doing the clapping! Let’s break some hearts! The Outrunners are pumped with energy as Dalton monologues to the camera on the way down the ramp. OUTRUNNERS SPIN! COCKRUNNER POSE! The Boys help Dalton Castle out of his sparkly jumpsuit. “GET THIS SHIT OFF ME.” Goddamn, I love Dalton Castle. THE PARTY PEACOCK! The boys fall down and the music cuts! FIVE STARS.
* And their opponents… THE AEW WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONS! Roddy! The One True Kyle! WhateverMan!
AEW WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP: Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong) (c) vs The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) and Dalton Castle
This is definitely a “Is TK booking specifically for me?” match. Only the AEW trios titles are on the line. Surprised this isn’t on the Zero Hour for Redemption. Surely Orange isn’t left off Montreal.
Bell rings, and we start with Orange Cassidy and Truth Magnum. Truth powers Orange down and poses. LOL Floyd on the apron still has his title belt on. Another lock-up, Truth powers Orange down. O’Reilly rubs Orange’s bicep to get some power! This time, Orange ducks the tie-up. Orange raises his hands… IN THE POCKETS! Magnum raises his hands… and slaps on a classic side headlock! Orange backs into the ropes, sends Truth off. Pockets dropkick! Pockets kip-up! Now he poses…
Bugs Bunny, eat your heart out.
We have a pose-off! Kyle and Roddy get in and lift Orange to their shouldres. Opponents follow suit! WE HAVE A SHOULDER POSEOFF! Crowd chants HOLY SHIT! Referee tries to regain control. Handhsakes… ref turns his back… A DONNYBROOK BREAKS OUT!!!
Okay, so a couple minutes ago, Nigel said something like “I asked Truth Magnum if he got his name from the condom brand. He said, what’s a condom?”
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Back to action, Roderick and O’Reilly lay the double-team in on Dalton Castle. Orange up top… down to the second… the first… the canvas. “Big” elbow drop! That obviously doesn’t finish. The Outrunners are in but the Conglomeration knock them into the corners. Roddy is using Orange as a weapon! TURBO FLOYD IS STILL WEARING HIS SIX-MAN TITLE BELT! Orange gets slammed on top of Dalton! Roddy covers, Dalton with the kick-out.
Tag made to Kyle O’Reilly. Rib kicks to Castle — Dalton with a stiff back elbow. Tag made to Turbo Floyd. O’Reilly tries a kick… HITS THE TITLE BELT! I mean, I guess that’s not an INTENTIONAL weapon shot… Roddy with a chop! Floyd clotheslines Strong and O’Reilly down! Orange tries to attack, Floyd reverses… Magnum in! He tries to send Orange facefirst into the belted midsection of Turbo Floyd. Orange stops short but eats a bodyslam. THE OUTRUNNERS CALL FOR IT!
“YOU SON OF A BITCH!”
The double handshake Predator elbow connects! Pinfall broken up by O’Reilly! Dalton Castle in, big T-Bone on O’Reilly! Strong with a high knee! Turbo Floyd tries to get Roddy, who reverses into a big suplex! Castle with a T-Bone on Strong! OC LOOKS FOR THE ORANGE PUNCH! Dalton ducks and sends OC into the corner. OC flips up and over, landing on his feet, caught by Dalton… OC counters with a tornado DDT! Turbo Floyd in, OC tries for another Tornado DDT, countered into a cradle! ONE! TWO! Kick-out! Floyd looks for a powerbomb, OC reverses into a pinning predicament, he has both legs! ONE! TWO! THREE!
WINNER: (and still champs) The Conglomeration
TIME: 11:18
RATING: THREE BOYS… wait.
THOUGHTS: Absolute fun to be had. The Outrunners and Dalton Castle are so damned entertaining, the Conglomeration are crowd-pleasing favourites. A lot of fun interactions with this combo of competitors. Nice to see Dalton throw guys around, he is a BIG STRONG BOY. Floyd not taking the title belt off was a great bit, as was the OC/Magnum pose-off. BOYS!
* Post-match, both teams shake hands… THE LETHAL DEMAND RUN OUT! Both heel trios laying the beating on the Conglomeration and Cockrunners! Wait a minute, on commentary… Jeff Jarrett has had enough! Jarrett tries to get in the ring and eats a kick for it to huge boos (They’re in Nashville). The babyfaces try to fire back! Toa Leoni sent to the floor! Christian and Johnson sent to the ramp! Ricochet is all alone! Held up for an ORANGE PUNCH! JEFF JARRETT IS IN THE RING!
EL KABONG ON RICOCHET!!!!!
O’Reilly screams IN YOUR FACE to Ricochet and Roddy tries to play a tune on the busted guitar! “MY WORLD” plays and Jeff Jarrett takes a turnbuckle to celebrate with the fans and Conglomeration! Hell yeah, that was a blast
Schiavone announces that at the Zero Hour tomorrow, the Conglomeration will defend the Trios titles against the Lethal Twist.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
* Jack Perry is backstage, talking about his opportunity tomorrow in the ladder match. A sweaty Nick Wayne comes into the angle, complaining about how Perry always gets opportunities. Wayne says he’s not only going to win the match, but hurt Perry in the process. Jack says he’s proud of Nick for doing it by himself… “you’re gonna have to do a lot more of that… now that you don’t have your sugar daddy anymore.” Oooooooooh. THE FORMER SONS OF CHRISTIAN EXPLODE.
* Corruption detected — EL CLON IS HERE. Clon one of the guys who has been having visa issues. Clon is so unique in what he does, glad to see him back.
* “…IT’S FINE.” Hooo boy. Black rain on the screen, blue mist, and right out of the depths of Mordor … “slithering to the ring…” BLACKHEART LIO RUSH! Lio creepily makes his way to the ring, muttering gibberish! The ROH TV title belt is now entirely black.
Lio Rush v El Clon
The winner takes the sixth and final spot in the ladder match tomorrow night at Redemption. Clon isn’t sure what to do with Lio, who skedaddles out of the way in bizarre fashion. Clone looks for some offense, Lio breaks free. Handspring kick nails Clon! LIO RUSH SMASHING CLON’S FACE INTO THE COMMENTARY TABLE! Back in the ring, Lio with a clothesline. Whoa, Lio Rush is somehow bleeding from the corner of his eyes.
Clon perched on the top buckle. Lio looks for something… El Clon grabs the TAG ROPE and wraps it around the hand of Lio Rush! Rush is trapped in the corner! RUNNING BOOT FROM CLON! Lio is still stuck in the corner! Another running boot!
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
We’re back and Lio Rush with a wacky splash for two! He goes up top. Frog splash, Clon dodges, Lio lands on his feet… Clon leans backwards in a unique way, nails a kick! Gets a two count on Lion, then cocks his head as if he’s “glitching.” I mean, it doesn’t do justice to the way El Clon moves. It’s really something!
Lio with a combination strikes! Crowd is behind the black-toothed Lio Rush. Lio GALLOPS around the ring and dives outside onto El Clon! Back in, Lio bounces off the BOTTOM rope, cutter! Gets a two count. El Clon gets some advantage. Lio counters, looks for a rollup, Lio counters, one, two, Clon counters back. CLON GRABS THE ROPES, ONE, TWO, THREE!!!
WINNER: El Clon
TIME: 8:42
RATING: ***
THOUGHTS: Definitely a surprising result given Lio Rush’s current popularity! I’m a huge fan of El Clon and I’m excited to see him added in the six-man ladder match tomorrow. Both wrestlers have unique quirks and mannerisms, which made this more than just a “flippy fun match.” Surprising result and good action.
The crowd is unhappy at Lio Rush losing. El Clon chooses to add insult to injury, continuing the assault on the Blackheart! Here comes SPEEDBALL! Speedball sends El Clon to the outside — Komander is here! Komander with a big dive to El Clon! Speedball and Komander pose off. The ladder match tomorrow is going to be wild!
* A look at the Men’s World Title match tomorrow night, Kenny Omega defending against TNT Champion Kevin Knight.
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
* Vignette setting up the DOUBLE CHAIN MATCH between Clark Connors & David Finlay versus Juice Robinson & JAY WHITE! Switchblade back on PPV!
* Time for the main event. Maya World is out first, and she’s still carrying Shida’s kendo stick!
* NOTHING MATTERS! SMILE ANYWAY! The #1 Contender is here! Willow Nightingale has the crowd on their feet! There’s some tape on Willow’s ear from Thekla’s attack back on Dynamite!
* The TBS (The Best Shida) champion is out, and she wants her kendo stick back! I mean, there’s more than one kendo stick in the world… I kid, I kid. Shida is certainly unhappy with Maya World!
* Time to get TOXIC! Theme music 411’s own METALLIAN no doubt approves, and here comes THE TOXIC SPIDER. Thekla has a SICK mask to go with her coat and title belts! AEW World, STARDOM Trios champion. Effortlessly fuckin’ cool. This is gonna be a fantastic main event and preview for tomorrow’s two women’s title matches.
Willow Nightingale & Maya World v AEW World Champion Thekla & AEW TBS Champion Hikaru Shida
Shida IMMEDIATELY attacks at the bell, clubbering Maya World. Suplex! Shida charges at Willow, who ducks by dropping off the apron… Thekla from behind! Thekla and Shida taking the fight to their opponents! Thekla sends Maya into the apron as Shida smashes Willow head-first into the barricade! Shida grabs the TBS title and taunts Willow with it. The heel champs look to set something up. STEREO SUPLEXES ON THE FLOOR! Maya and Willow are both down and in pain! Thekla notably receiving some “THEKLA” chants from the audience.
Thekla and Shida rain punches down on their opponents, but May and Willow reverse. The heels sent into each other. Willow with a double lariat! Maya World hoists up Shida. Slams her down, hits the ropes — and it goes to commercial. SMDH
*COMMERCIAL BREAK*
Back from break, Thekla has a submission hold on Maya. Thekla releases and tags in Shida. Shida and Thekla for tag champs. The champs look for a double suplex. Maya tries to fight back! Shida blocks… MAYA WITH AN ENZIGURI! HOT TAG NIGHTINGALE! Willow sends Shida down with repeated clotheslines! Knocks Thekla off the apron! Back splash! Clothesline! Big boot! Shida is DOWN. Willow with an irish whip, SPINEBUSTER! Thekla breaks up the pinfall. Thekla scurries away. Willow lifts Shida, Shida wriggles out. Big forearm by Shida! She stops short, confusing Willow. EYE POKE! That gets two.
Shida wants a suplex but that’s blocked. Willow off the ropes. Thekla grabs her, and Shida connects with a rising knee! FALCON ARROW! SHE DID THE DEED! Maya World breaks up the pinfall! Maya staggers the champion. Rollup — double stomp! But it’s Thekla with a rolling elbow to send Maya down. Willow sends Thekla down! Shida is back, knee to Willow, and all four women are down!
It’s Maya and Thekla back up. Maya wants a suplex, Thekla blocks and hits a kick. Thekla charges, shoved off by Maya. Seemed like that was meant to be a pounce, but hey. Shida attacks. Willow is in. What’s going on here? Willow on the apron… SOMERSAULT TO THE FLOOR — MISSES. Thekla and Shida got out of the way. That had to fucking SUCK. Maya with a dive to the floor takes out both Thekla and Shida!
In the ring, Thekla takes her belt off. Referee Mike Posey takes it away, but of course, he’s distracted trying to give it security. Maya is up top, and the distraction allows Shida to CANE MAYA. Thekla sets up — SPEAR! ONE! TWO! THREE!
WINNERS: Thekla & Hikaru Shida
TIME: 10:54
RATING: ***3/4
THOUGHTS: Very good main event with the heels getting the better of their singles title challengers tomorrow night at REDEMPTION! Thekla and Shida had fantastic chemistry as a duo. Obviously they’re doing other shit, but down the road I would not say no to a proper tag run. Willow and Maya console each other on the floor. Will one, both, or none of the World and TBS titles change hands tomorrow?
Shida and Thekla celebrate and pose and that’s our show!
