Toni Storm is ready to be the greatest AEW Women’s World Champion of all time, and in order to do this – she needs to beat other champions. Tonight, she will defend against the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, Willow Nightingale.
Nightingale is someone who has battled Storm & The Outcasts frequently, and after a singles match against Nyla Rose last night, is tuned up and ready to fight Storm and become a double champion.
Toni Storm Bends The Rules To Defeat Willow Nightingale
Nightingale would counter an early hip toss from Storm into a pinfall, almost ending this match early. Commentary would note that Guilia from Stardom challenged Nightingale earlier today, asking her to come to Japan to meet her next month. Saraya & Ruby Soho were at ringside, and Nightingale dropped them – but took her eyes off Storm.
Storm would hit a running hip attack, nailing Nightingale in the side of the face. Back in the ring, a snap suplex led to a two count.
Nightingale would take a jawbreaker over the top rope, before blocking a Piledriver on the apron – hitting a Death Valley Driver. Storm was rattled, and a running Death Valley Driver in the ring would follow.
Soho & Saraya would go too far and shoved the spray paint can into the ring, and were ejected from ringside. Storm Zero was blocked, before Willow set up a middle rope moonsault. She would miss Storm, and set up for the running hip attack in the corner.
A bloody Storm would hit a DDT, before walking into a Spinebuster. Nightingale applied an Indian Deathlock on the mat, and chopped Storm down to keep her locked in. Storm would bite the knee of Nightingale and got free, before the running hip attack was set again. Nightingale responded with The Pounce.
Storm was battered into the corner with lariats, and Nightingale called for the Babe With The Powerbomb. Storm would use the referee as a shield, raked the eyes and hit a quick Storm Zero piledriver – and escaped with her championship intact. It was a hard hitting fight, but Storm had to cheat to get the victory.
Don Callis Gets Booted From Ringside
On January 4th, everyone was reminded that Kenny Omega is still perhaps the best professional wrestler walking the earth. He returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome, and took down Will Ospreay to win his second IWGP United States Championship.
Ospreay is now ready for his rematch, having won a tournament to earn his shot. Choosing to take the match in Omega’s home country of Canada, it’s time for his chance at redemption – and an attempt to show he’s on the level of Omega. However this time, Ospreay has Don Callis in his corner – instead of Omega having that backup.
The crowd was already unglued for Omega from just the bell ringing, chanting loudly for him before the opening lock up. We’d hear some Ospreay chants as he got a wrist lock, but were outpowered by the Omega fans.
Headscissor takedown from Omega would hold Ospreay in place, but Ospreay would not remain grounded. He’d nearly catch Omega with a knockout worthy kick, but missed at the last moment.
Ospreay would connect with a heavy strike in the corner, before Omega would catch him with the rolling firemans carry into the springboard moonsault. Omega tried for the Terminator Dive, but Callis would trip him up before hiding behind his paid security. Callis would be ejected from ringside as a result.
Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay Up The Violence Factor
This would buy Ospreay some time, and he’d shove Omega over the ring steps – and pulled him into the ring. Cobra Twist would be applied, targeting the back – but Omega broke free with a hip toss. Dropkick to the knee would set up the Kotoro Crusher, before a Punt Kick brought Ospreay to his feet for the Slam Dunk.
Ospreay would manage to set Omega up across the top rope, and soared off the top rope with the Shooting Star Press. Omega would roll to the apron, and Ospreay bounced off the ring post into the Oscutter.
Taking Omega to the announce table, Ospreay would slam him in face first – looking to crash it through like Omega did to him at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Ospreay would leave Omega bloody, and would drive him through the table cover. Back into the ring, Ospreay would batter the bloody Omega, and would lick the blood off his arm. Omega tried to fight back, but ate a fast rolling elbow and was right back to the mat. V-Trigger was signalled from Ospreay, and it landed flush.
Ospreay would disrespect the Canadian Flag, and Omega responded with a big time lariat. Omega would use the flag for some biel tosses, before hanging him with the over the top rope.
The referee gave Omega a long leash, no one wanting to see this match end in a DQ. Omega would hand the flag to a fan, before nailing a V-Trigger on the floor.
Getting some revenge, Omega would slam the face of Ospreay off the steel steps – and now both men were wearing a crimson mask. The referee pleaded for Omega to get this back in the ring, but would set up and scale the steel steps, and nailed a tight DDT.
A Bloody War From Two Of The Best In The World
Back into the ring, Omega would take this to the mat, getting a Rear Naked Choke. He’d move into a cross armbreaker before a Triangle Choke – only for Ospreay to powerbomb his way free. German Suplexes would be traded, before Omega looked for the snap dragon – but took a reverse headbutt.
V-Trigger would land, before Omega tried for a second but took a Spanish Fly. Ospreay would apply the Sharpshooter, a sacred move in Canada – and kept Omega in the middle of the ring.
He’d switch into a Crossface, but Omega was able to reach the ropes. Ospreay would roll back to the middle of the ring, and cranked back on the hold.
Omega would refuse to quit, and Ospreay would switch to strikes. Some Kawada Kicks and chops would follow, before a headbutt would send Omega to his knees. OsCutter was blocked in a simple way, with a rising knee to the neck.
A set of Snap Dragon Suplexes would follow, before a V-Trigger to the back, a poison rana and a piledriver – with Ospreay somehow able to kick out.
Top Rope One Winged Angel would be blocked, with Ospreay setting up the Cheeky Nandos kick. Omega rolled to the floor, and Ospreay followed with a Sky Twister Press.
Will Ospreay Digs Deep For The Finish
Ospreay would hit a Liger Bomb in the ring, before the Super OsCutter for a near fall. Don Callis would return to ringside after a piledriver from Omega, trying to get Ospreay back on his feet. Omega pulled Ospreay up, and hit a hard knee to the chest.
Omega would point at Callis at ringside, before setting up the V-Trigger to an exhausted Ospreay. Callis would try to shield Ospreay, but Omega would attack anyways. Handing Ospreay a screwdriver, Ospreay was able to prevent the One Winged Angel by stabbing Omega in the forehead.
Hidden Blade & Stormbreaker would follow, and Omega was able to get his foot on the bottom rope to keep this match going. Omega was still in the fight, but a Kamigoye from Ospreay would land, a move from the playbook of Kota Ibushi. One Winged Angel would follow, and Omega kicked out at ONE!
Omega had a burst of energy, and would trade strikes in the middle of the ring, before a hook kick and brainbuster landed. Omega would be first to his feet, and Coyts Wrath would follow for a near fall. A ripcord Hidden Blade and Tiger Driver ‘91 from Ospreay followed, but was still not enough.
Exposing the elbow, Ospreay would size up Omega for the Hidden Blade and one more Stormbreaker for the victory. We have a new IWGP United States Champion!
Did this top their Wrestle Kingdom match? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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