Ricky Starks was insulted to be kept off of the biggest show in AEW history. Watching All In from his couch while suspended was one of the most humiliating experiences of his life, and changed something in him.
He was not going to miss another moment of PPV time – and would challenge the man responsible for the suspension. That was 70 year old Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat.
Having beat him with a belt, Starks called for a strap match. When it was time to sign the contract, Starks signed first – but Steamboat had another Dragon in mind, that being Bryan Danielson – who returns from injury to face Starks at All Out.
Ricky Starks Got More Than He Bargained For
Hitting the ring to The Final Countdown once again – Bryan Danielson was ready for some violence. Starks would refuse to have the strap placed around his wrist – and would jump Danielson instead.
Starks grabbed a weight belt and whipped Danielson at ringside – before punching the belt buckle into the forehead of Danielson.
Already bloody, Danielson was in danger before the bell – and now Starks allowed himself to be attached to The American Dragon. Choking Danielson with the strap at ringside and to the steel steps. Starks would stomp on Danielson’s head – before going for a pinfall in the ring.
Danielson would kick out, before being choked in the corner of the ring – Starks trying to force a submission. Starks was unable to get this, before taking some stiff headbutts. Danielson would be hung over the ropes with the strap, with Starks remaining in control.
Trying to set up a superplex, Starks lost control of Danielson, and was whipped with the strap. Seeing red, Danielson would hit harder and harder, giving Starks exactly what he asked for when he demanded a strap match with a Dragon. Hung in the tree of woe, Starks took some sliding dropkicks from Danielson before being kicked to the floor.
Bryan Danielson Gives Starks No Choice
Danielson was yanked to the floor, and Starks took time to taunt Steamboat on commentary – and Danielson set up Starks to be yanked into the ring post.
Starks was rolled into the ring for the roundhouse kicks in the corner. Both men were bleeding, and would slap each other across the face with the strap.
Starks got the upperhand, but Danielson would fire up and told Starks to ‘be a man and take it’ as he whipped him to the mat. Big Bill would get involved in behalf of Starks – but Steamboat made the save before Starks was thrown on him. A crossbody onto both men followed from Danielson, before Starks was yanked into the ring.
He’d nail a Spear on Danielson, but Roshambo was blocked. Busaiku Knee strike landed – before Starks had his head stomped.
LeBell Lock was applied – and Starks refused to tap out. Danielson wrapped the strap around his neck – and made him pass out for the referee stoppage.
Starks made a statement in defeat – refusing to quit. He didn’t surrender, his body simply failed him against the sadistic American Dragon.
Eddie Kingston Brings Legendary Help To Deal With Blackpool Combat Club
Eddie Kingston has a long standing issue with Claudio Castagnoli, and will take any chance to get physical with the current ROH World Heavyweight Champion. After pummelling Wheeler Yuta of Blackpool Combat Club on AEW Dynamite, Kingston would make a challenge for All Out.
Teaming up with NJPW legend and ROH Pure Rules Champion Katsuyori Shibata – Kingston gets another chance to brawl with Castagnoli and Yuta in a tag team grudge match.
Shibata & Yuta started the match, with Yuta taken to the mat for an armbar – forcing him to use a rope break to get free. Castagnoli got the tag and hit some uppercuts on Shibata, before taking a boot to the face. Yuta got the tag alongside Kingston, but Kingston rushed to the apron to take down Castagnoli.
A brawl on the outside would follow, with Yuta hitting the dive to save Castagnoli. Kingston would be locked in a surfboard stretch from Yuta in the ring, and powered free before the STO. Shibata got the tag, and beat Castagnoli into the corner for the stalling dropkick.
Yuta got a tag, before being rocked with a spinning backfist from Shibata. The Deathlock was applied on Yuta, and Castagnoli tried to save – ending up in an Ankle Lock. Castagnoli fought free and hit an uppercut, knocking down Shibata into a tighter submission on Yuta.
One Lucky Shot Is All It Takes For Castagnoli
Kingston would get the tag to keep the pressure on Yuta with the Machine Gun Chops. Shibata helped launch Yuta in a Saito Suplex using a pump kick, only for Castagnoli to take Shibata to the floor. A series of running uppercuts would follow, before Castagnoli relieved Yuta in the ring.
A short arm lariat on Kingston would follow, before the Neutralizer for a near fall. Ricola Bomb was countered before the Uraken landed. Northern Lights Bomb followed – and Yuta was forced to save Castagnoli from a pinfall.
An Uraken put Yuta into a chokehold from Shibata – but Kingston would stumble into an uppercut from Castagnoli – which was enough for the pinfall.
What is next for Eddie Kingston after this defeat? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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