JAWS HIT THE FLOOR

The Tag Team Champions called out the House of Black next week; now Aleister Black’s squad responds with a violent destruction of Aussies Don’t Kneel. There was no messing around from the future challengers, they took the Aussies to the woodshed and Bobby Lashley ended the match with a vicious full nelson choke on Shane Thorne. After the match, War Machine stormed down to the ring and ignited an all out brawl with the House, setting the stage for a main event Tornado tag team match for the championships next week!

Backstage, Ember Moon and Sonya Deville weigh in ahead of their US Title match next week. There was no physical confrontation between the two women but the tension was palpable around the scale. Anything could happen when the US Title is on the line.

The first of six Challenger Briefcase Ladder Match qualifiers saw Bobby Fish and PAC lock horns to try to work their earn their way into the match. PAC was the first ever winner of the Challenger Briefcase in Season 1 and he used it to become the World Champion but on this day, Bobby Fish was the better man. Fish used his recent boxing experience to out-strike the Brit and buckled him with a spinning kick for the win.

After the match, though, the crowd exploded. Swerve Strickland’s hip hop beats boomed out and the star walked down to the ring to confront PAC. Strickland, somehow, has acquired the GAW Cruiserweight Title which was unified with the Intercontinental Title almost two years ago. Strickland challenged PAC to a match and claimed he could put the Cruiserweight Title on the line in that contest. PAC did not say a word.

Dakota Kai stole a pinfall over Kacy Catanzaro last week and Catanzaro wasted no time in calling Kai into the ring with the World Title on the line. These two have met many times over the last number of years; results have been split and there were certainly times in this match where it seemed Catanzaro’s title reign was over. But the champ showcased the toughness and grit she has become so known for along with a single-minded attacking approach as she repeatedly tried to lock Kai in the Indian Deathlock. Kai avoided it time and time again but Catanzaro never gave up. Finally, the champ countered a Team Kick attempt into the Deathlock and won the match in a truly thrilling battle. 

It’s main event time and another World Title is on the line. Adam Cole claimed iron sharpens iron in the Black and Gold and now he puts his money where his mouth is as he defends against Roderick Strong. Kyle O’Reilly came out with Roddy while Bobby Fish came out with Cole for the massive main event. Strong survived an early Boom attempt by Cole and the back and forth affair continued. It continued that way until the end when Cole hit a second Boom to win and retain.

After the match, though, GAW changed. The familiar tones of Rebel Heart rocked the arena and Johnny Gargano, one of the biggest stars in the sport, strode down to the ring to confront Adam Cole. Cole was shell shocked, the fans went wild, and Johnny Wrestling has staked his claim to become the next World Champion.