Kris Statlander was able to remain the TBS Champion despite the best efforts of Ruby Soho at All Out. She got a major assist from Toni Storm, who would split off from The Outcasts officially.
Tonight, Statlander is ready to once again do the work of a champion – as she issues an open challenge for her belt. It would be answered by one of the most experienced names in AEW, Emi Sakura.
With over 2,200 matches to her name in a 28 year career – Sakura eclipses the AEW roster in experience, and could spell disaster for Statlander tonight.
Emi Sakura Pushes Kris Statlander With Physical Match
A sly dodge would start the match for Sakura, as Statlander tried for a lock up. Statlander was sent to the apron and stunned with a stiff chop.
The running crossbody sent Statlander crashing to the floor, hitting her head hard on the floor. Statlander would take refuge by the steel steps, only to take another running crossbody – crushing her into the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Sakura would trade chops and lariats with Statlander, making this match incredibly physical. A double lariat would cause a double down, with Statlander finding her feet first.
Sakura would avoid a spinning lariat, and hit the Stalling Butterfly Backbreaker for the near fall. Statlander caught Sakura off the ropes with an Electric Chair Drop before the Spinning Lariat and Wednesday Night Fever for the victory.
Chris Jericho is trying to make things up to Sammy Guevara after shoving him after losing to Will Ospreay at All In. Almost slipping up again by blaming Guevara for his loss to The Aerial Assassin, Jericho would quickly pitch that they chase the AEW World Tag Team Championships to rebuild their friendship.
That road starts tonight, as they face two of Ospreys United Empire allies in Aussie Open. Joining commentary for this match with Don Callis, who was in the corner of Ospreay at All In.
Mark Davis & Jericho would start the match, trading stiff chops in the ring – with Jericho going for the tag first. Guevara had no chance against the powerhouse Davis, and even a tag to Fletcher would see Guevara striked and thrown around. Getting Jericho back into the ring Fletcher would lose ground, being driven face first into the mat with a running bulldog.
Jericho would be sent to the apron by Davis, and came off the top rope with a double axe handle – and was caught by the throat.
A double lariat attempt would follow, with Guevara taking down Davis with a kick before Jericho hit the Codebreaker on Fletcher for a near fall. Aussie Open were put on the floor, and a massive dive over the top rope from Guevara followed.
Retaking control, Aussie Open grabbed Jericho & Guevara for the Collider on the floor – before the double team diving DDT in the ring.
Davis would be dropped again by Guevara, as Jericho tried for the Walls Of Jericho – but was thrown aside before taking a Sheerdrop Brainbuster for a near fall. Fletcher was rocked with a Judas Effect – and Jericho scored the pinfall for the win. After the match – tempers would flare between Jericho & Guevara – with Guevara leaving through the crowd.
MJF Tries To Dance Around The Real Issue
Samoa Joe would make the most of his time at All Out. Choosing to make his entrance for his ROH World Television Championship match while AEW World Champion MJF was still making his way up the ramp.
Joe would give MJF a simple shove, causing the top name in AEW to snap and attack Joe – who couldn’t hide his smile. Having now rented space in the champions head, Joe will be watching tonight as MJF tries to explain his actions at All Out.
MJF would say that when he started indy wrestling – he found a home in Indiana – and has a soft spot for this town. With two belts around his waist, and has to defend the AEW World Championship.
He was upset at first – but gets to return to his home state of New York. However gets to face MJF that night will be in grave danger.
Samoa Joe is not a man to be ignored, and would hit the ring to ensure MJF doesn’t forget who lives in his head. MJF would be unable to ignore Joe, and was asked ‘What’s the problem, kid?’.
Chants of ‘Joe Is Gonna Kill You’ would break out, and MJF’s only defence was a joke about the weight of Joe, saying he mistook the entrance music of MJF for an ice cream truck. Last time he was involved with an ice cream truck, he was the biggest star on the other companies network.
Samoa Joe Gets The Upper Hand Against MJF
MJF would decide to get a little creative with Joe – and more jokes would follow – not getting past the thick skin of Joe. Joe would say MJF’s just having a hard time getting the point – so he asked one more time, ‘What’s the problem, kid?’. MJF would react in anger briefly, but said that Joe is trying to get the reaction of anger – and skip the line.
If Joe wants a shot at MJF, he can win a tournament to earn the shot – and MJF would say that when he was younger, he would have taken Joe’s bait.
Instead, MJF would tell a story – he had a try out with WWE in 2019, with William Regal pulling MJF aside. We know the story, MJF didn’t get signed because he was too young, promised to track MJF’s progress and ghosted him.
MJF knocked his ass out, and sent him back to NXT where he belongs. Joe can have the same fate, if he’s not careful. MJF got a chance that same day to walk Samoa Joe to the ring – a true legend, only for Joe to shove MJF aside into a brick wall – and laughed.
MJF knows why Joe did this, because he knew he could get away with it. He was a kid then, but now he’s a grown man, and a generational talent.
Joe would say he won’t take the bait, instead will win the tournament and earn his shot. As MJF tried to leave the ring, Joe kicked the middle rope for a low blow and stomped MJF before raising the AEW World Championship.
MJF fired back with a low blow of his own, before being dropped with the Uranage. Adam Cole would save MJF from the Muscle Buster.
Can MJF survive Samoa Joe? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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