Samoa Joe thought he was finished with Wardlow when he took him out of action with an injury in 2022, and cut his hair to rub salt in the wound. However, the time away from the ring just allowed Wardlow to stew on his show of disrespect – and when Joe reclaimed the TNT Championship from Darby Allin, Wardlow was able to make his return. He made it clear that beating Joe comes before becoming a two time TNT Champion – but if he wins the belt in the process, Wardlow will be pleased. That chance comes tonight, as these two heavyweights look to finally settle their differences.
Wardlow Chokes Samoa Joe Out
Wardlow would immediately take the fight to Joe, driving him out to the floor with some heavy strikes. Joe would be rolled into the ring, and used the high ground effectively – hitting a hotshot over the ropes before the diving elbow smash. Wardlow would not let this slow him down, regaining control with some elbow strikes of his own in the ring.
Suplex would follow, Joe crashing into the mat – a rare sight. Joe would be choked on the ropes, and Wardlow tried for an F5 – allowing Joe to slip off the shoulders before tripping him up with a leg sweep. Wardlow would take some stomps to the knee, before being planted with the Uranage. Joe & Wardlow would go punch for punch, before Joe applied the kneebar.
Wardlow was able to slip free, and dropped Joe with a spinebuster. F5 would land, with Wardlow heading up top for the Swanton Bomb – getting a two count. Rear Naked Choke was applied by Samoa Joe, with the ropes nearby and Wardlow used them to get free. Muscle Buster was blocked, with Wardlow hitting a Powerbomb.
Joe would be rolled to feet for another Powerbomb, only to move into an explosive Lariat – before trying to a Powerbomb of his own. Wardlow would be able to block – only to lock in the Rear Naked Choke – and was able to choke out Joe to become the new TNT Champion! We already know his first challenger, facing Powerhouse Hobbs in just three days.
The Acclaimed Look To Reclaim Their Titles
The Gunns shocked the world when they defeated The Acclaimed to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships back in February, and tonight they make their first defence. They aren’t just facing The Acclaimed however, but they are also set to take on two Battle Royale winning teams. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal won the first Battle Royale, while Danhausen & Orange Cassidy shocked everyone by coming out the top of a Casino Battle Royale. The Gunns are used to being thrown into the deep end and coming out fine – but tonight will be their biggest challenge to date.
Cassidy & Jarrett would start the match, with Jarrett strutting around – before taking a shotgun dropkick. With hands in pockets, Cassidy sent both Gunns and Lethal flying with Back Body Drops as Danhausen hit some lariats. Danhausen would show his skills with a Northern Lights Suplex on Lethal, with Jarrett breaking the pinfall up.
The Gunns would try to double team Danhausen, but lost control before they’d be driven into the corner face first by Cassidy before Austin took the Swinging DDT. Austin would tag Lethal to avoid an Orange Punch, and the Lethal Combination would follow. The Acclaimed would hit the ring as Jarrett got the tag, almost hitting Scissor Me Timbers – with Sonjay Dutt interfering and taking the diving leg drop instead.
Lethal would attack while Caster & Bowens were scissoring, with Jarrett choking Bowens in the corner. Colton & Austin would hit some high speed strikes, before scissoring with Lethal & Jarrett. Bowens would use Lethal to take Jarrett off the top rope, before tagging in Casters. Angle Slam would land on Lethal, getting the two count before blocking The Stroke and trying for the FU – only to be sent to the floor.
The Gunns Thrive In Chaos
The Gunns would run down Lethal & Jarrett, before Satnam Singh would send them to the floor. Danhausen would try to curse Singh with Dutt getting in the way and taking a pump kick. Orange Punch to the jaw and low blow would be followed by the Fame Asser from Daddy Ass himself, only for a double low blow from Austin & Colton.
The Acclaimed would attack The Gunns in the ring as this match broke into pure chaos. A knee strike to the jaw of Colton would be followed by The Arrival into The Mic Drop on Austin – with Colton able to make the save. Jarrett would try to hit Caster with the guitar, but was disarmed – before the referee stopped him.
Lethal would hit Caster in the face with a Golden Globe behind the back of the referee, and Jarrett followed up with The Stroke for a near fall. Aubrey Edwards would not suffer the complaints of Jarrett or being shoved around, and Jarrett was shoved into a tag to Colton Gunn. Danhausen would be legal, and Gunns hit 310 to Yuma to remain tag team champions.
After the bell – FTR would return, leaving the champions laid out and holding the belts once again. Will FTR become two time champions? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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