Christian Cage is not keen on giving up the TNT Championship anytime soon – but needs to watch tonights match between Swerve Strickland & Bryan Danielson.
The winner will be next in line for a shot at Cage, or atleast whatever is left of them. Danielson is entering his final full time year in the ring, while Swerve is coming off the biggest win of his career over Hangman Page at WrestleDream. Neither man will hold anything back tonight – as this might be the only time these Washington natives meet in the ring.
Swerve Strickland Looks To Beat Bryan Danielson At His Own Game
With the winner facing Cage this Saturday on AEW Collision, the pressure was on – and Danielson would try to end things early with a takedown into a pinfall. A monkey flip would land, but lead to a stare down. Swerve would look to grapple with Danielson on the mat, avoiding a kneebar and looked for a half nelson.
The agility of Swerve allowed him to trip Danielson before a Crucifix pinfall for a two count. Chops were traded on the apron of the ring, before Danielson went after the wrist of Swerve.
Swerve would counter with a sidewalk slam onto the apron, potentially injuring the lower back. Danielson wouldn’t have time to recover, taking a flying uppercut before being planted with a Powerslam with Swerve moving right into a Brainbuster for a two count.
A backbreaker would set up Danielson for a 450 Splash – but he was able to get his knees up. Danielson would get right onto the offensive, hitting a suicide dive to the floor before hitting the diving dropkick in the ring. Swerve would take the Buzzsaw Kick but was able to kick out at two.
Danielson would be caught trying for another dive – with Swerve hitting a precise strike. Swerve would set up Danielson on the turnbuckle before hitting the Swerve Stomp – a move proven to shatter cinderblocks.
However, it was not enough to shut Danielson down – as he applied a Single Leg Crab in the middle of the ring, before moving into a heel hook – forcing Swerve to use the ropes to break free.
The American Dragon Looks To Become The Face Of TNT
Danielson would hit a Super Backdrop on Swerve, but was unable to move into the pinfall. He would instead capture the ankles and look to stomp the head of Swerve in. Swerve would find his feet after three stomps only to take a knee to the jaw and more stomps.
LeBell Lock would be applied, but Swerve was able to get the ropes. Running Dropkicks would follow, but Danielson would stumble after hitting the Turnbuckle.
House Call Kick into a Swerve Stomp would follow, but Danielson was able to kick out. JML Driver out of the corner would see Swerve keep the pressure on, but again – Danielson would kick out.
Prince Nana would run a distraction to allow Swerve to use the crown as a weapon, but Hangman Page would come to ringside to disarm Swerve.
JML Driver would be blocked into a roll up, getting Danielson a two count before hitting the Running Knee Strike for the victory.
He will now go onto Collision this Saturday to challenge Christian Cage for the TNT Championship. Danielson has yet to hold a singles championship in AEW – but that could change in just a few days.
Powerhouse Hobbs Looks For His Biggest Win To Date
Powerhouse Hobbs is the latest man to join Don Callis – and the former TNT Champion is now one of the most dangerous men on the AEW roster as a result.
He gave Kenny Omega a brutal beatdown recently, and tonight will look to do the same to the other half of The Golden Jets. Chris Jericho has faced many powerful men in his career, but Hobbs might be the one to finally break The Ocho down to size.
Jericho would waste no time rushing into Hobbs with some strikes, but was unable to win a punch for punch brawl. A spinebuster would follow, and Jericho was barely able to kick out – hardly one minute into this match.
Hobbs would mount and punch Jericho in the face, before a second spinebuster. The third would follow, and Jericho would be barely able to stay in this fight before taking a headbutt.
Hobbs would hit another spinebuster, and Callis simply called for Jericho to be hurt. Knees to the liver would follow, before Jericho was choked with a boot.
Another spinebuster landed, and Jericho would try to fight back with a series of elbow strikes and a shoulder tackle. Hobbs would not falter, but being driven into the turnbuckle was followed by a Codebreaker for a near fall.
Jericho’s comeback was snuffed out, and Hobbs would hit more mounted punches. Yet another spinebuster landed, with Jericho being told to quit as he tried to find his footing.
A powerslam would be blocked, and Jericho would go after the knee with a chopblock before applying the Walls Of Jericho. Hobbs was able to power his way to freedom, before a Worlds Strongest Slam for a near fall. A second slam would follow – and finally Jericho stayed down for the three count.
What is next for Chris Jericho? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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