The Inner Circle & The Pinnacle are truly set to fight forever, and their next clash comes tonight as their biggest members clash. There has been tension between Jake Hager & Wardlow since they were together in the Inner Circle, and that tension has quickly turned into pure hatred. Tonight, they clash in the first ever MMA Rules Cage Fight in AEW history. On one hand, Jake Hager has a 3-0-1 record in MMA fights, but Wardlow has now been in all three cage matches in AEW history. Who will be left standing when the dust settles?
Jake Hager Underestimated Wardlow
Both men had a corner man, with Hager choosing Chris Jericho & Wardlow choosing Shawn Spears. There are no rope breaks, only win conditions are referee stoppage, tap out or knock out. Three five minute rounds, and Aubrey Edwards is the official. Aside from the big AEW logo, this does just look like an actual MMA fight.
Hager threw some punches to test Wardlow, while staying well away. Wardlow blocked the takedown and they’d grapple into the cage. Hager got a jab to face and backed away, before getting a body shot and a leg kick. A second leg kick almost opened up a double leg takedown, but Wardlow chucked him aside.
Hager took Wardlow down, but Hager let him get up. He just proved he could take him down, and did it a second time. Hager rained down some hammer fists, before Wardlow kicked him off with an upkick. Wardlow nailed a big punch and took Hager down for some strikes, but didn’t get the mount. Hager was rocked and Wardlow sprung off the cage with a superman punch, but Hager was saved by the bell.
Nowhere To Go In The Middle Of The Cage
After a brief break, Hager would be more serious. Wardlow rushed in and Hager dodged, but the damage was done in round one. Hager was taken down, and Wardlow went for the cross armbreaker. This was countered, with Hager rolling out and hitting some elbow strikes to the ribs before looking for an armbar.
He’d move into a triangle, and Wardlow would counter with a short powerbomb. Hager took some blows before going for an ankle lock, and Wardlow easily kicked out. Wardlow was kicked into the cage, but countered a second kick for a powerbomb into the cage before a running hurricanrana.
Hager would apply the Head & Arm Choke, and Wardlow briefly broke free before being dropped in the middle of the ring with the Head & Arm Choke. Wardlow had nothing left, flashed a middle finger at Chris Jericho and passed out. Hager wins via referee stoppage.
After the fight, Hager & Wardlow seemed to have some respect but Shawn Spears struck from behind. Jericho got into the cage, and MJF was soon after to go after the injured elbow of Jericho with Salt of The Earth. Dean Malenko broke up the hold, and took an elbow strike.
Should this fight count towards Hagers MMA record? Will AEW ever do another MMA style match? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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