Prior to joining AEW, Lance Archer was a mainstay of the NJPW roster for many years. During that time, he claimed many championships, and that didn’t stop after he left. He was able to beat Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on AEW Dynamite, and now will have to prove himself. His opponent is The Ace of The Universe, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Hot off a Tokyo Dome main event against Shingo Takagi, Tanahashi is keen to bring the gold back to Japan in this huge main event.
Lance Archer Is Back To Being A True Murderhawk Monster
Archer would start off strong, chucking Tanahashi to the outside. Fan reception was equal during entrances, but tactics like this were gonna get people on the side of Tanahashi in a hurry. Tanahashi would get back in the ring and work on chopping his much larger opponent down with some chop blocks and low dropkicks. He’d get Archer on his back, where he kicked away at him and went right after the knee.
If you can take away the strong vertical base of Archer, you take away his power. However, he still has the Everybody Dies Claw, and he’d apply it to Tanahashi to get free. Jon Moxley had a seat at ringside, sipping a beer and ready to perhaps call out the winner. Archer sent Tanahashi to the outside, and hit a rolling senton off the apron, before nearly throwing him through the steel barricade.
Tanahashi fired off some forearms, but Archer quickly floored him. We were only at the five minute mark, and Tanahashi was looking overwhelmed. Back in the ring, Tanahashi hit the ropes for the flying forearm, but was nailed with a pounce. A one foot pinfall got a two count, and Archer claimed Tanahashi was done and called for the bell. He’d go after the timekeeper, before getting back into the ring.
Back in the ring, Tanahashi mounted a fiery babyface comeback only to be slapped out. Archer asked when his flight back to Tokyo was, because Tanahashi might not make it. He’d be thrown into the corner and slammed back down into the mat. Not one to ever quit, Tanahashi hit some strikes before being lifted for a chokeslam, and nailed a Dragon Screw to down Archer.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Shows His True Babyface Heart
This was his best chance, and he’d hit second gear to hit the flipping senton and look for a Slingblade, before taking a big boot. Ensuring the comeback was dead, Archer hit a chokeslam onto the apron. He’d pull a towel from the crowd, wipe his ass with it, before rubbing it in Tanahashi’s face. Back in the ring, Archer would look to go Old School, and hit a flashy moonsault for a two count.
Finally ready for some mercy, Archer set up the Blackout, and Tanahashi struggled to counter. He was slammed down, and seemingly out, but managed to get his foot on the bottom rope! Archer looked for a second, but Tanahashi countered into a slingblade. They’d trade blows as they got to their feet, with Tanahashi surviving to hit a huge slingblade for a two count. Tanahashi was squashed from behind, and Archer pulled off the corner pad.
Adding to the danger, he wedged a steel chair into the corner, and was driven into it by Tanahashi who had a slick counter ready. Tanahashi rolled him up for a two count, but was hit with a ripcord chokeslam soon after. Archer set up a superplex, but was fought off and hit with Aces High. Tanahashi followed up with High Fly Flow to the back, and one more for the win.
Considering how Lance Archer has been in recent matches in AEW, this match was a huge surprise. He showed up big time here against Tanahashi, taking the chance to be a true monster heel against one of the best babyfaces ever. They had a classic style of match, fully investing the crowd and closing this show out with a bang. Match Rating: 4.5/5 (**** 1/2)
Archer would acknowledge he was beaten after the match, showing nothing but respect. With this win, Tanahashi has now claimed all active singles championships in his weight class in NJPW aside from the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He’s been on an absolute roll these past few months, and could be set for another classic.
Archer had a great time being pushed to his limits, and respects the hell out of him. He wants him again in AEW someday soon, and he better be the first one Tanahashi faces there. Tanahashi would address the crowd, and finish off the show by rocking out to some air guitar.
Will Hiroshi Tanahashi defend the IWGP United States Championship against Lance Archer at All Out? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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