Impact Wrestling Multiverse United 2 Results returned as the crowd was divided in their chants as Tanahashi attempts to become the first Japanese born Impact World Champion.
They exchanged advantages on their first two lockups, and then traded arm bar attempts.
Tanahashi locked in a side headlock to wear down Shelley, but Shelley fought free and caught Tanahashi with an elbow and a knee off the ropes to Tanahashi’s right arm.
Shelley went to work on his arm with some elbows and arm snaps.
Tanahashi used his experience to slam Shelley’s leg into the ring post, and set to work on Shelley’s left knee with some kicks and slamming it into the ring apron.
Shelley caught him with a shoulder in the ropes and hung him up, then leaped over the roped to stomp on Tanahashi’s arm and hitting a knee off the apron.
Shelley switched tactics and wrapped Tanahashi’s left arm in the barricade and kicked it as he set him up for the Motor City Stretch.
Multiple Twist N' Shouts and a Sling Blade still won't keep The IMPACT World Champion down! @AlexShelley313 @tanahashi1_100
#NJPWxIMPACT #MultiverseUnited2 pic.twitter.com/PVvRf1OOIA— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 21, 2023
Tanahashi grabbed Shelley’s left leg so her could dropkick his right leg, and then he wrapped Shelley’s left leg around the ropes for some heavy stomps.
Shelley hammered on Tanahashi’s left arm while Tanahashi kicked his left leg. Shelley broke the rhythm with a forearm off the ropes.
The student finds a way
Shelley hit a sliced bread for a pin attempt, then locked in a Motor City Stretch, but Tanahashi got his legs to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Using the ropes, Tanahashi hit a dragonscrew through the ropes to the floor, then fired out of the corner with a dropkick to Shelley’s left knee and locked in a cloverleaf.
Tanahashi struggled to get the hold fully locked in due to his injured left arm, so Tanahashi changed tactics and Shelley responded with a step up kick to buy some time.
Air Raid Crash FROM THE TOP ROPE! @AlexShelley313 @tanahashi1_100 #MultiverseUnited2 #NJPWxIMPACT pic.twitter.com/MoBwzb0ht6
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 21, 2023
Tanahashi fired off three Twist and Shouts, then a sling blade for a near pinfall.
Tanahashi went for a splash off the top rope, but Shelley avoided it and hit a knee to the back of hiss head and a ripcord clothesline for a near pinfall.
Shelley went for a Shell Shock, but Tanahashi fought free and trapped Shelley’s arms for a German Suplex and a near pinfall.
Tanahashi then hit another sling blade, but Shelley caught him going to the top rope and Shelley hit an Air Raid Crash off the top rope for another near pinfall.
A superkick followed, and then a Shell Shock for the win.
New Japan representatives gave Shelley his title belt and congratulated him and Shelly commended celebrating.
This was an awesome show with a little of everything and we hope to see more crossovers in the future. What did you think of Shelley retaining? Let us know in the comments below and thank you for joining Impact Wrestling Multiverse United 2 Results.
We had a blast and can’t wait to see you all next time.
See you then!
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
