This past Friday on AEW Rampage, fans got to see a new side of the bubbly and fun Willow Nightingale. She entered a tag team Street Fight alongside Ruby Soho, and proved she has a serious violent streak – taking the chance to powerbomb Anna Jay off the stage through a table. Tonight, she gets a shot at former AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, which could be her biggest match to date in AEW. Prior to this match, Saraya & Storm would insinuate that AEW women’s division originals like Nightingale are just soft, with Hikaru Shida right there – giving her even more reason to want to take them down in brutal fashion.
Toni Storm & Saraya Continue Down Dark Path
Storm & Willow would shake hands as this match began before Storm hit a slap to the face, with Willow avoiding a lariat as the match got moving. Willow would hit a backdrop before the low angle crossbody went right into a pinfall for a two count. Storm tried to throw Willow across the ring, before Willow did a cartwheel.
Another slap to the face would follow, and Hikaru Shida would march to the ring with her kendo stick. Willow would be sent off the apron with a hop attack, and made it back into the ring at the count of nine. Storm would apply a Full Nelson in the middle of the ring, with Willow able to break free and hit a massive spinebuster for a two count.
Willow would look for the cannonball senton in the corner, with Storm able to avoid before the hip attack and tornado DDT. Storm would get a two count before taking The Pounce from Willow. Cannonball Senton would follow, and Saraya would distract Willow. Storm would get a roll up and use the tights of Willow for the victory.
Saraya would attack after the bell, and Ruby Soho would make the save. It’s clear that this is a new direction for Storm & Saraya, with Saraya’s welcome wearing thin as her AEW run continues. How far Storm will follow Saraya down this path is the unclear part, as this new direction really doesn’t suit her.
An AEW vs. NJPW Dream Match For TNT Championship
Since taking the TNT Championship from Samoa Joe, Darby Allin has been defending the championship non-stop. Already making two defences against Mike Bennett & Juice Robinson, Allin already has his next challenger set up. Coming from New Japan Pro Wrestling, KUSHIDA is finally making his AEW debut. Known for his submission based in-ring style, there are very few holds KUSHIDA has not perfected in his career, and as a former ROH World Television Champion & WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion – he knows a thing or two about claiming big wins in the United States.
An opening lock up would see some quick standing switches from Allin & KUSHIDA, with KUSHIDA able to match the speed of Allin. Commentary would detail how KUSHIDA once defeated Kenny Omega for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – which really says it all about his skills. KUSHIDA would go for a cross armbreaker with Allin on the mat, but was too close to the ropes.
Allin would have his ankle picked, and would have to wiggle out to the floor. He’d get back into the ring only to take a heavy kick right to the arm. KUSHIDA now had a limb to target, applying a hammerlock before twisting it with his feet to try and take out the shoulder early.
Allin would be able to get to his feet and hit the Coffin Splash before blocking a Pele Kick and hitting a Code Red for a near fall. KUSHIDA would roll to the floor – and Kevin Knight & The DKC who joined KUSHIDA tonight would take the dive from Allin. A flying armbreaker on the floor would follow – with KUSHIDA regaining control.
Darby Allin Only Needs Three Seconds To Win
Back into the ring, Allin would be stretched by his wrist and ankle before KUSHIDA set up a Hammerlock with his leg – falling back to once again try to separate the shoulder of Allin. KUSHIDA would stay calm and collected and hit the dropkick to the shoulder before a simple jumping stomp. Allin would try to fight back, but took a Pele Kick to the face.
Springboard Back Elbow Smash would be blocked with a Scorpion Death Drop from Allin, but he was unable to follow up with a pinfall. Allin would be sent to the floor, and KUSHIDA would watch as he tried to use the apron to hold himself up – and hit a diving knee drop to the out-stretched arm. KUSHIDA would look for a Hoverboard Lock on the apron, with Allin able to fight free and hit a Stunner on the apron.
Allin grabbed a steel chair at ringside – getting a touch desperate. Instead of hitting KUSHIDA with it, he’d sit KUSHIDA in the chair and hit some forearm smashes with the good arm before a shotgun dropkick to the floor was countered into an armbar. KUSHIDA would look to break the arm and get a countout, but Allin made the ring at nine.
An Avalanche Armbreaker would follow, before Hoverboard Lock would be applied. The LA Dojo students would pass Sting a towel to thrown in for Allin. He’d refuse, as Allin would find a way out of the Hoverboard Lock – before getting a deep cover with The Last Supper for the flash victory. KUSHIDA would have won on points, but Allin just needed three seconds.
After the match, KUSHIDA would call for a future rematch – and Allin might well accept, maybe next time they’ll meet in Japan?
Will the damage suffered in this match lead to Darby Allin losing the TNT Championship? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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