With a new AEW World Champion in MJF, title defences on TV might become a thing of the past – but he is unable to duck the challenge of Ricky Starks. Having torn through the field of the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament, taking down Lance Archer, Brian Cage & Ethan Page – Starks is as ready as he will ever be for his first shot at the AEW World Championship.
After a heated promo segment last week ended with MJF speared out of his shows, he knows to fear Stakes – and will do everything in his power to maintain his reign here tonight. Even the Dynamite Diamond Ring is on the line, with Starks ready to take everything from MJF.
Ricky Starks Is Fired Up
Starks would get into the face of MJF as the match began, before taking a kick to the midsection. MJF would mock the signature taunt of Starks, getting run down with a high speed shoulder tackle. Starks would have to go collect MJF from the crowd as the champion tried to flee.
Back in the ring, a sunset flip and school boy would get back to back two counts on MJF, before an inside cradle nearly ended things. MJF would get a thumb to the eyes of Starks, before he’d hit some stiff shoulder tackles in the corner. Starks was thrown chest first into the corner, before MJF would go after the recently injured ribs of Starks with a flapjack onto the top rope.
Flopping out to the floor, Starks would risk losing his chance to a count out – while MJF got a chance to breathe. Starks would be caught with a gutbuster as he hit the ring, before being able to throw some strikes. MJF dropped Starks with a knee to the stomach, before again throwing him chest first into the corner.
Another knee would be blocked into a roll up for another close fall, before MJF applied an Abdominal Stretch in near the ropes – and would use them for extra leverage. Starks would break free and hit a desperate lariat, taking MJF down but being unable to follow up with a pinfall.
MJF Cheats To Retain AEW World Championship
MJF would be nailed with a jumping back elbow into the corner, before the Swinging DDT spiked the champion. Roshambo would be blocked, but a sitout powerbomb would not be – getting Starks a two count. Another attempt at Roshambo would be blocked before MJF got a roll up with a handful of trunks and a powerbomb onto his knee for a two count.
Both men would trade blows in the middle of the ring, with MJF hitting a rolling elbow – and sending Starks into a spear. Starks was unable to follow up with a pinfall right away, giving MJF time to recover and apply the Salt of the Earth. MJF would move into a double armbar and even grabbed a leg – only for Starks to still find the bottom rope.
They’d trade headlock takeovers before Starks nailed a superkick. Roshambo would be blocked, before the referee was used as a shield. A point blank low blow from MJF and a small package later – and that’s the first defense for MJF. MJF would be run out of the arena by Bryan Danielson following the match, who makes it clear he wants revenge for William Regal.
Can Bryan Danielson finally win the AEW World Championship? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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