Alex Marvez wants to talk to Chris Jericho about the Inner Circle Pep Rally but Jericho cuts him off immediately. Says they’ve got pomp and circumstance lined up and they’re gonna get back on track. But as he’s talking, Orange Cassidy just wanders around in the background. Jericho is not happy with this. Orange slowly drifts out of shot and Jericho asks Marvez if he just saw that. Chris says, “We’ll see you later, Orange”. Now, out comes Chrissy James to face off with the new AEW World Women’s Champion Hiakru Shida!
AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida vs. Kristy James (Non-title)
“Holy Shida” chant to start with, lock-up, grappling for position. Into the ropes, clean break but with a little mocking smack on the chest. James ducks a clothesline and starts a-dancing. Starts clapping, seems to be trying to goad Shida into a dance. Hikaru claps along and goes for it but James stops that with a leg kick! James laughs in her face, Shida fires up and unloads with forearms. James blocks a punch, wrist lock, overhand chop, double spring off the ropes for a Lucha Libre Armdrag! James continues dancing, pulls Shida up by the hair… but Hikaru breaks that and grabs the hair in return! They are literally exchanging hair grabs. Shida wins out and slams her into the corner! Charging high knee to the chest! Hitting hard too.
Shida drags James to the apron, charging high knee to the face! Hikaru back into the ring, pulls her up to her feet, well executed backbreaker! And this leads to a Camel Clutch! Hooks her, Vertical Suplex for a nearfall! Shida goes up top, Kristy catches her with a running enziguri to knock her to the mat! James back up top, Flying Sunset Flip to set up a roundhouse kick to the head for a nearfall! Lionsault attempted but Shida evades it, driving elbow! Hits the ropes and a ruthless charging knee to the back of the head! Cover for a clooose nearfall! Shida pulls her up to her feet and drops her with the Falcon Arrow!
Winner: Hikaru Shida
Sadly I missed the ring entrance so I don’t know exactly how Kristy is spelled, this was my assumption and I can’t find her looking her up now, but that was a very solid match!
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