Adam Cole was one second away from defeating MJF last week on AEW Dynamite. The AEW World Heavyweight Champion was literally saved by the bell, and refused the call for five more minutes.
Due to this, Cole did not earn a shot at the championship, and will have to wait in line – as Hiroshi Tanahashi looks to try at the belt. Tonight we will hear from Cole, and find out his next moves after his draw with MJF.
Before we’d hear from Cole – The Blackpool Combat Club would announce a challenge for a ten man tag team match match. The Elite might only have four members and Omega is booked for Forbidden Door already but they have a lot of friends.
When the chips were down, The Elite found a friend in an unlikely place – and Eddie Kingston is ready to help them. He doesn’t like or respect The Elite, but he hates Claudio Castagnoli more. Kingston will pick the last man – and intends to announce them later tonight.
MJF Took The Cowards Way Out Last Week
Cole would ask who is ready for Storytime With Adam Cole, and the crowd gave a big yes. MJF gave Cole one of the toughest matches of his career last week, and Cole did everything in his power to win – but that was not enough.
Cole didn’t win, and neither did MJF. It was smart to not take the extra five minutes, but it was the coward’s way out.
If MJF wants to be the greatest AEW World Heavyweight Champion of all time, cowardly tactics won’t get him far – and neither will the knowledge that he can’t beat Adam Cole.
MJF would be called out, and met Cole down in the ring. He’d call the fans poor, before saying that Cole would actually test MJF last week, the Panama City Playboy was back in full effect – and MJF drug that out of Cole.
MJF is concerned about Cole, last week he lost track of time – but even without the time limit, MJF claims he had Cole beat. Cole was dead to rights in the eyes of the champion, but the crowd chanted bullshit.
MJF would say that when it comes to a rematch with Cole, he has to say no as he’s scared for the health of Cole. They pushed each other so hard that another match could end Cole’s career.
MJF & Adam Cole To Become Temporary Tag Team
Cole would say that he can beat a title match out of MJF if that is how things need to go. Tony Schiavone tried to speak, and we got an announcement.
In the upcoming Blind Draw AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament, Cole & MJF were the first names drawn – making them a tag team for atleast one match.
Hiroshi Tanahashi would appear and call MJF a coward, and MJF tried to get out of the match. Cole would say that MJF thinks Tanahashi is better than him, and now MJF needs to prove otherwise.
MJF would accept the match – and we have an AEW World Championship match at Forbidden Door. Cole left him with a ‘good luck partner’, and MJF has a busy weekend ahead of him.
After this, we’d get matches for the 2023 Owen Hart Memorial Cup. CM Punk will face Satoshi Kojima and Roderick Strong will face Samoa Joe on the left side of the bracket. On the right side, Dustin Rhodes will face Powerhouse Hobbs, while Juice Robinson faces Ricky Starks.
In the women’s tournament, Britt Baker faces Ruby Soho, Anna Jay faces Skye Blue, Nyla Rose faces Willow Nightingale, and Athena faces Billie Starkz.
Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata Join Forces
Orange Cassidy has earned the respect of many that he’s faced during his time as AEW International Champion – including NJPW legend Katsuyori Shibata.
Shibata has been holding down the fort in the AEW Pure Rules division as their champion, and tonight teams with Cassidy to face a former champion in Daniel Garcia, and the NJPW World TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. With Forbidden Door this weekend, and three titles in play – this is a match with major implications.
Shibata & ZSJ would start this match, grappling as the crowd chanted ‘Holy Shit’. ZSJ had the first exhibition match with Shibata in his return from a career ending injury, and had a trilogy over the British Heavyweight Championship. They are evenly matched in terms of pure wrestling, but OC & Garcia would get the tags as they hit a stalemate.
Garcia would ground OC and slap him in the neck, before getting in the face of Shibata – a man he’s been eyeing lately. OC would go Old School and walk the ropes, but was caught in a mat return before getting a roll up for a two count. Garcia’s pants would rip – and OC nearly pinned him with a tight crucifix.
ZSJ & Shibata would get back into the ring, and once again showed their technical wrestling skills, with Shibata getting a heel hook, and ZSJ managing to counter into a Cobra Twist. Shibata would counter back, before ending up in a Flying Octopus, but had the ankle lock counter – with this being another stalemate.
Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata Have A Rare Miscue
Garcia got his wish of matching up with Shibata, and took a stiff forearm smash – before raking the eyes. OC would get the tag as Shibata regained his vision, and would throw some lazy kicks at ZSJ who had a submission in mind. ZSJ would be shocked by the grappling abilities of OC, but got him down and cracked his neck using his feet.
ZSJ & Garcia worked together on stretching OC, while keeping Shibata off the apron. Garcia would focus on the hand of OC, before ZSJ applied the Cross Arm Clutch.
ZSJ would be unable to get the submission, and took the Stundog Millionaire. Shibata got the tag and battered Garcia with some hard elbow strikes, before a kick to the spine.
Garcia tried to look tough and mocked the signature pose of Shibata, but this backfired. ZSJ tried to make the save, but took a dropkick from OC. Garcia would be put into a choke, but blocked into the Dragon Tamer. Shibata reversed into a heel hook, but was attacked by ZSJ.
Garcia took a boot to the face, and Shibata would control the ring – only for OC to miss an Orange Punch and connect with Shibata, allowing Garcia to get the roll up win.
ZSJ & Garcia would argue over the AEW International belt – and Shibata got involved too, and there’s a Fatal Four way with these four set for Forbidden Door. Who will leave Toronto as champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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