#76: June 30, 2021

Danny Rose Vs. Kaito Hirano

• It’s announced before the match that the winner of the bout would go on to face David Slayton for the National Championship at Next Level: Victorem.
• Hirano came out to the ring first and then Rose was out to a big cheer. Rose and Hirano circled each other before locking up. Rose pulled Hirano down with a hip toss and Hirano popped right up. He turned and caught Rose with an enziguri.
• Rose and Hirano were up and Hirano took him down with a cross-arm neckbreaker. Hirano tried to roll him into an armbar but Rose was able to slip free. Rose flipped over Hirano with a blockbuster.
• Rose started to gain momentum and hit Hirano with a series of elbow strikes before busting out the 1, 2, 3, Triple Deke (Irish Whip, drop down, leap frog, springboard gamengiri/Disaster Kick).
• Rose was able to pick up a two count on a pinfall but Hirano rolled out of the ring once kicking out.
• Rose went after Hirano but ran into a kick to the gut. Hirano lifted Rose and dropped him face first onto the apron and rolled him into the ring. Hirano got into the ring and ran the ropes before hitting Yoi Yume O [Sweet Dreams] (Running Knee to knelt opponent). Hirano covered but Rose kicked out at two.
• Hirano started to lift Rose for Oyasumi [Goodnight] (Fireman's Carry Overhead Kick) but Rose countered into a tornado DDT!
• Rose and Hirano were both up and Rose delivered I Like My Wrestling Moves Like I Like My Coffee, Dark And Nutty (spin kick to the stomach, Code Red sunset flip bomb, roll opponent out to kneeling and roll back, running knee strike, bridging northern lights suplex combo) and bridged for a close two count!
• Hirano was wide eyed as he tried to shake off the combo and got to his feet and turned right into a Good Blaster By Your Side Is No Match For A Hokey Religion (Spinning Back Head Kick) and dropped. Rose covered and picked up the pinfall.

WINNER: Danny Rose @ 16:21 via pinfall

Rose celebrated after the match but it was short lived as David Slayton attacked him from behind. Slayton stomped on Rose and pulled him to his feet. He lifted him for the End of Everything (One Winged Angel) and dropped him on the mat. He mockingly covered Rose and counted to three. Slayton left the ring as trainers checked on Rose.

Grey to Black

AJ Adams: In the almost three years that Empire Wrestling has been back you’d be shocked to know that Casey Grey and I have never gone one on one.

The scene has opened up on AJ Adams standing in front of a Hype banner. He paces back and forth with the BWF International Championship on his shoulder.

AJ Adams: We’ve competed in triple threat matches, tag team matches, King of the Mountain matches and yet somehow we’ve never gone one on one. I’m fixing to change that.

He stops and looks into the camera as he adjusts his title.

AJ Adams: You see, here in Empire Wrestling I’ve done a lot of things. I’ve main evented matches, I’ve beaten the best of them, I’ve held the Primetime Championship. Something I’ve never done is be the Empire Wrestling World Champion. At Next Level: Victorem, I will become the new king of the throne. I do what only eight others have done and I leave that ring with that title around my waist. Casey Grey, it’s lights out for you and your reign.

AJ puts his hand over the camera before walking away.

A Primetime Scramble

Backstage we were treated to Sara Logan sitting in her office. She informed us that the competitors challenging Marilyn Lee Cross at Next Level: Victorem have been decided. She announced Skjaldmaer, James Edwards, Harper Blake, and as she was about to announce the last competitor, Kayla Taylor walked into the room. She demanded a chance to compete in the match and Logan thought it over. She told Kayla the winner between herself and Josh Goldstein would go on to compete in the scramble match!

Kayla Taylor Vs. Josh Goldstein

• Taylor was fired up as the match was set to start and speared Goldstein into a corner. He clubbed her in the back with blows and flipped over her and to his feet. She turned and he caught her with an arm drag.
• Taylor was up and kicked Goldstein in the gut and set up for a butterfly suplex but he was able to slip free. He caught her with an elbow to the face and grabbed her hand and pulled her to the corner. He climbed to the top and delivered Olé/Oy Vey! (Rope Walk Arm drag).
• Taylor started to get up and Goldstein rolled her up with a victory roll and got two before she powered out and to her feet.
• Goldstein charged and ran into a dropkick. Taylor rolled to her feet and delivered the Plan A (Shining Wizard)! She covered and couldn’t believe Goldstein kicked out at two.
• She looked for Stamp It Out (Superkick to opponent on knees[Avada Kedavra-WWE 2k15) but Goldstein ducked it. He jumped up and delivered a Hannukanrana (Reverse Hurricanrana)!
• Goldstein was fired up and waited for Taylor to stand. He ran at the ropes and came back with the Brooklyn Quebrada (Springboard Moonsault inverted DDT)! He covered and the fans counted along for a two count before Taylor kicked out.
• Goldstein started to control the match and was able to keep Taylor off her feet but couldn’t put her away.
• Taylor fought back and delivered a big DDT. Goldstein climbed to his feet and looked for a lariat and Taylor ducked it and pulled him in before hitting the Broadway Lights (Cross Rhodes)! Taylor hooked both legs and was shocked when he kicked out at two.
• Taylor argued with the referee about the count. She turned and Goldstein delivered his Chutzpah Boot/Dreidel Drop (Running Bicycle Kick followed by a Somersault Leg Drop) combo! He covered and picked up the victory!

WINNER: Josh Goldstein @ 14:05 via pinfall

AJ Adams Vs. David Slayton

• There was a lot of buzz for this match as we got a shot of the EW World Champion Casey Grey standing backstage watching the match.
• Slayton and Adams mouthed off to each other as the bell rang and got in each other’s faces. Adams held up the International Championship as Slayton smirked. Slayton held up the National Championship and they handed them off to the referee. Adams turned and popped Slayton right a right hand as they erupted in blows.
• Adams quickly tried to lock in Lights Out (Tazzmission) and Slayton backed him into the corner.
• Slayton unloaded right hands and then sent Adams into the far corner. Adams tried to rush back but ran into a forearm strike from Slayton.
• Slayton locked in a crossface chickenwing and Adams fought free.
• Slayton looked for a Lou Thesz Press but Adams countered with a big spinebuster.
• Adams quickly pulled Slayton up to his feet and delivered the Rough Landing (Blackheart Buster). He rolled into a cover for just two.
• Adams started to land hard blows to Slayton as he took his time. Slayton ate the strikes and backed into a corner. Adams charged but ran into a boot to the face.
• Slayton hit a big German suplex and rolled Admas up for a second, hitting it in the middle of the ring. Slayton wanted a third but Adams started to battle free with elbows. Slayton pushed him away and caught him with the Full Effect (Sweet Chin Music)! Slayton covered and was shocked when Adams kicked out at two.
• Slayton called for the End of Everything (One Winged Angel) and the crowd popped as Danny Rose rushed to the ring and jumped on the apron. Slayton swung and missed as Rose jumped down.
• Slayton turned and was hit with Break Stuff (Stunner)! Adams rolled Slayton into a pin and picked up the victory.

WINNER: AJ Adams via pinfall @ 17:24

Rose jumped into the ring and stood over David Slayton for a moment as Adams left the ring and we went to commercial.

EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP
Tia Santos (c) Vs. Kasey Kash

• Kasey Kash made his way down to the ring first to a round of boos. Tia Santos came out through a veil of smoke to cheers and the title around her waist.
• The match was announced and the two were ready to fight. It was pointed out that Tia was at 332 days as Extreme Champion, one year coming up on August 3rd. It’s now the 2nd longest reign in all of EW history.
• Kash looked for a quick strike and landed one blow before Santos sent him into the ropes. She ducked a clothesline and then leaped over him as he came back again. She planted her feet and caught him with a pele kick on the return!
• Kash rolled out of the ring and grabbed a steel chair and slammed it on the steps. He grabbed another and tossed it in as Santos came after him.
• Kash and Santos fought around the ring and Kash whipped her into the barricade. Santos got to her feet and Kash grabbed her by the arm and flipped her over into the barricade again.
• Kash reached under the ring and was able to find a kendo stick. Santos got to her feet and he cracked it across her back. She started to walk around the ring and shake it off as Kash went after her. She turned and was able to block the next shot with her arms and then rocked Kash with a headbutt.
• Santos hit a reverse Russian leg sweep onto her knee and Kash started to crawl away from Santos. Santos jumped onto the apron and delivered the Vuelo Del Espíritu ([Flight of the Spirit] Flip onto the floor, landing behind the opponent, before hitting an enziguri to the back of the head).
• Santos pulled Kash up and rolled him into the ring and jumped onto the apron. She flipped into the ring with a slingshot senton.
• She climbed to the top rope as Kash started to stand and she delivered Vela en la Noche ([Candle in the Night] Tia either climbs or runs up the turnbuckle (depending on the pace of the match) and performs a Whisper In The Wind leap off the top. She comes down onto her opponent’s shoulders and nails a hurricanrana)! She covered and Kash kicked out at two.
• Kash staggered to his feet and Santos walked right into a desperation spinning backfist. He then delivered a ripcord kappo kick!
• Kash and Santos were both down and Kash made it up first. He set up a chair and looked at the ropes. He ran over and hit a Canberra Collapse (Springboard Cutter) and slammed Santos face first onto the chair! He rolled her over and covered and got a shocking two as she was able to kick out just in time.
• Kash struggled and pulled Santos to her feet and readied himself. He delivered his Ripcord Bicycle Knee (Used as a set up for the Aussie Knee Party) and Santos dropped to a knee. He looked for the Aussie Knee Party (Shining Wizard) but Santos ducked it.
• She turned and blasted Kash with a big chick kick to the side of the head! Santos pulled Kash in for the Beso de Muerte ([Kiss of Death] Dream DDT) and the lights went out.
• When they came back up, Manic was standing in the ring looking at Santos. Manic tilted her head and rushed Santos and speared her! Manic grabbed Santos by the head and slammed her head against the mat multiple times. Manic stood and pulled at her hair and screamed. Santos started to stand and was hit with the Splitting Headache (Bicycle Knee Strike)!
• Kash dove onto Santos as the fans roared in protest and Manic pulled him off at two! Manic shook her head at him and caught him with the Splitting Headache (Bicycle Knee Strike)! She pulled Santos onto Kash and the crowd counted along for the three!

WINNER AND STILL EW EXTREME CHAMPION: Tia Santos via pinfall @ 20:33

Manic stood and Santos slowly started to come to. Santos looked up and speared Manic to the mat as the two started to brawl on the mat! Santos pulled out a chunk of Manic’s hair as she jumped out of the ring. Santos held it up and then grabbed the title before falling to her knees. Kash came to and went after Manic. He was halfway up the ramp and the lights went out before Manic vanished.



As we came back from the commercial we could see Kash and Santos shouting at Sara Logan about the end of the match. Logan made it official for NLV; Manic versus Kash versus Santos for the Extreme Championship!

Casey Grey Vs. Harper Blake

• Blake stood in the ring as Casey Grey came to the stage. Grey had a microphone and talked about how Blake didn’t deserve to be in this match. Grey said she thought about not showing up just to spite Sara Logan and the upper management but she decided to compete instead.
• Blake and Grey locked up in the center of the ring and Grey stomped on her foot and then flipped her to the mat with a snapmare. Grey kicked Blake in the back and then hit the ropes and hit a sliding forearm.
• Grey had control of the match for a good portion of the start but became distracted when AJ Adams walked out onto the stage to get a glimpse of the action.
• Grey turned into a shotgun dropkick from Blake that launched her across the ring into the corner. Blake charged and hit the Facial (Running Facewash)! Blake covered the champion and could only get two before she kicked out.
• Blake quickly went to the top and looked for DDS (Diving Double Stomp) but Grey rolled out of the way. Grey got to her feet and delivered the Breath Mint (Running Forearm)!
• Grey assaulted Blake with strikes and kicks before sending her shoulder first into the post!
• Grey lifted Blake and looked up at Adams before hitting the Racklash (Rack Attack). Grey covered and picked up the win.

WINNER: Casey Grey via pinfall @ 11:04

Grey held the title in the face of Blake and then turned to Adams and held it up high. The two looked at each other as we came to a close.