AEW and NJPW’s annual crossover event is over. It happened at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada. There were several titles-matches and a few dream matches as well. It was a good-quality wrestling show. There was enough hype for the show, delivered to the fullest. Let’s talk about all the winners of the mega event. The pre-show (zero hour) featured four matches. We will discuss the pre-show matches concisely, and the detailed analysis will begin from the main show.
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Pre-Show
Chaos vs. Mogul Embassy
Mogul Embassy defeated Chaos in an excellent 8-man tag match.
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Athena vs. Billie Starkz
Athena advanced in the women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament by defeating Billie Starkz. It was a hard-hitting bout from the women’s division.
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Stu Grayson vs. El Phantasmo
El Phantasmo defeated Stu Grayson.
United Empire vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon
Los Ingobernables de Japon defeated United Empire in a 6-man tag match.
Main Show
MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The match for the AEW Word Championship was placed first on the show. The reason was MJF’s request to go first on the show and walk out of Canada as soon as possible. The match started slowly, with MJF mocking Tanahashi. Then, the Champ tried to leave the arena during the match, but the “Coward” chants brought him back. The match featured a story with MJF consistently talking to fans and mocking them. In the end, MJF cleverly used the Dynamite Diamond ring to retain his championship.
Winner: MJF
Grade: C+
Satoshi Kojima vs. CM Punk
CM Punk faced Satoshi Kojima in the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament. The notable thing was that there was a chorus of boos for CM Punk during his entrance. They started with a classical wrestling style. Kojima’s chops were hard-hitting, and one of them even sent Punk over the barricade. Both men used elbow drops from the top rope. Kojima escaped Punk’s Anaconda Vice submission. GTS was countered twice, but Punk successfully hit it the third time to get the win.
Winner: CM Punk
Grade: B-
Fatal 4-Way for AEW International Championship
Orange Cassidy defended the title against Daniel Garcia, Zack Sabre Jr., and Katsuyori Shibata. The match begins with Cassidy playing with other men with his kicks, and his leg is later tossed from one opponent to the other. Shibata and Sabre faced off and traded brutal slaps and chops. It was funny how Garcia tried to interrupt Shibata and Sabre, and they were taking him aside. It was a fun match. In the end, Cassidy stole the pin from Shibata to get the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Grade: A
“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Sanada
Sanada defended his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Jungle Boy. Hook was at ringside for Jungle Boy. The match kicked off at a quick pace. Perry took an early advantage when he applied Snare Trap, but Sanada escaped. One moment was physically extreme when both competitors threw chops at each other ending in red marks on their chests. Sanada surprisingly won using a moonsault. Jack Perry turned on his partner Hook and laid him on the entrance ramp with a clothesline.
Winner: Sanada
Grade: B+
Blackpool Combat Club vs. The Elite
Eddie Kingston and Tomohiro Ishii joined The Elite, while Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita joined Blackpool Combat Club for a 10-Man tag match. The match began like a traditional tag match with frequent tags and some decent double-team moves. An all-out brawl broke up when Moxley and Kingston came face-to-face. All ten competitors were brawling in and out of the ring. Hangman Adam Page countered Takeshita’s dive with a spinning forearm. Eddie was seemingly protecting Moxley from attacks. It was a brilliant match that ended with Ishii hitting a brain-buster on Wheeler Yuta to get the win for his team. Kingston was arguing with The Elite after the match.
Winner: The Elite
Grade: A+
Toni Storm vs. Willow Nightingale
Toni Storm defended her AEW Women’s World Championship against NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale. The Outcasts (Saraya and Ruby Suho) were at ringside. Death Valley Driver from Willow on the apron was extreme. Ruby and Saraya’s distractions helped Storm get the early advantage in the match. As the referee caught Suho Saraya, they were abandoned from the ringside. Distractions helped Storm get the early advantage in the match. As the referee caught Suho and Saraya, they were abandoned from the ringside. A few botches made the match low. Toni Storm hit Zero Storm after a cheap attack to retain the championship.
Winner: Toni Storm
Grade: C-
Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
The most hyped bout of the night was Kenny Omega against Will Ospreay for the IWGP US Championship. Ospreay had a cool entrance. Omega was a clear babyface, and the home crowd chanted for him. Their previous battle at Wrestle Kingdom 17 was highly praised, where Omega defeated Ospreay to win the title. The match kicked off at a rocket pace. Omega was busted open as his head was slammed into the announcer table, and Ospreaywas busted open due to an attack on the steel steps. Ospreay sneaked the screwdriver into the ring and used it to escape the One-Winged Angel. Ospreay successfully hit the Stormbreaker, but Omega got his foot on the rope to break the pin. Ospreay used Omega’s V-Trigger and One-Winged Angel against him. However, to the shock of everyone, the cleaner kicked out at one. Ultimately, Ospreay used Tiger Driver 91 and another Stormbreaker to regain the IWGP US Championship.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Grade: A+
Sting, Darby Allin and Tetsuya Naito vs. Chris Jericho, Minuro Suzuki and Sammy Guevara
The 6-Man Tag match was the penultimate match of the night. The first notable moment from the match was the face-off between Sting and Jericho. A brawl broke out with all six competitors in the ring. It was a fun match. In the end, Naito pinned Suzuki to secure the victory for his team.
Winner: Sting, Darby Allin, and Tetsuya Naito
Grade: B
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
The main event was the most anticipated dream match, Bryan Danielson against Kazuchika Okada. Danielson entered with his old theme song. Both competitors traded classical moves initially, like takedowns and counters. The American Dragon chopped The Rainmaker several times, with Okada feeling almost no impact. The tombstone piledriver by Okada on the ramp was brutal. Danielson’s kicks were looking more brutal than ever. Two flying knees weren’t enough to keep Okada down for a three-count. In the end, Okada tapped out to Danielson, to the shock of many in attendance. The crowd gave a huge ovation to both men after the match. It was a great match, technically.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Grade: A+
