#73: May 15, 2021

Hanako Vs. Kaito Hirano

• The first match of the night was ready to start under National Division rules. Kaito Hirano took a step out solo, leaving the rest of Dishonor behind. Hanako came out to a solid cheer. With both competitors in the ring the match started with a quick series of arm drags as both Hirano and Hanako tried to get the upper hand. Hanako jumped up and took Hirano down with a headscissors takedown.
• A big shotgun kick from Hanako sent Hirano hard into the corner and he hit the mat and rolled out of the ring. Hanako went to the top rope and dove to the outside with a big crossbody, taking out Hirano. Hanako was fired up as the fans cheered her on.
• Hanako was pulled down into the barricade as Hirano pulled himself up. Hanako tried to sit up and took a hard kick to the back. Hirano pulled Hanako up and rolled her into the ring.
• Hirano had Hanako up and drove her to the mat with a dragon suplex. He hit the ropes and delivered a running shooting star press. He covered for a two count before she kicked out.
• Hirano was ready for his tornado kick and Hanako ducked it and came back with a pele kick! Hirano staggered to his feet and was hit with a floatover DDT.
• Hanako went to the corner and delivered Geitō (Starship pain). She covered and picked up a pinfall just before Hirano kicked out a moment too late.

WINNER: Hanako via pinfall @ 13:11

After the bell Hirano immediately attacked Hanako as Austin Scott and Jason Evans rushed down to the ring. Hanako tried to quickly get out of the ring and kicked Evans in the jaw before sliding out quickly. Evans and Hirano regrouped as Scott yelled at Hanako. Scott turned around and ate a tornado kick from Hirano. Evans pulled Scott up to his knees as Hirano hit Yoi Yume O [Sweet Dreams] (Running Knee to knelt opponent). Evans went to the top rope and came crashing down with Overdrive (630 Splash). Evans and Hirano ripped of Scott’s Dishonor shirt and left him in the ring.

Extreme Division
Noelle Jansen Vs. Kasey Kash

• These two started to fight before the bell and the referee jumped into place. Kash tossed Jansen out of the ring and jumped out after her and the two brawled around the ring. Kash tried to send Jansen into the barricade but she jumped onto it and came back at him with a standing moonsault.
• Once Kash got up, Jansen did a handspring and jumped up for a cutter but was pushed away. Jansen turned into a spinning backfist that Kash followed up with a ripcord kappo kick.
• Kash had a trash can and bounced it off the head of Jansen before rolling her into the ring. He tossed in three chairs before climbing in after her. Jansen was up but he drove his knee into her gut and tossed her to the mat with a scoop slam.
• Kash was unrelenting in his strikes on Kash and grabbed a chair and put her foot in it as he wanted to stomp on it. Jansen was able to get free before he could and got to her feet. Kash charged but ran into a roundhouse kick to the head. Jansen used that opening to roll forward to Kash and jumped up for a cutter.
• She went to the second rope as Kash started to stand and Jansen hit Lluvia de los caídos (Diving Neckbreaker). Jansen covered but Kash kicked out at two.
• Jansen pulled Kash in for a German suplex but he fought out with hard elbows to the head. Jansen was dazed and Kash rocked her with Fuck You and All Your Friends (Ripcord bicycle Knee). He grabbed another chair and cracked it over her back as she was on the mat. He dropped the chair and pulled her up before lifting her and dropping her back first onto the chair with a blue thunder bomb. Kash covered and Jansen shocked him as she kicked out at two.
• It seemed like Jansen might start to battle back as she was able to hit a series of strikes and even had Kash taken down with a headscissors. She went to the top rope and connected with a moonsault. She went to the apron and readied herself before looking for her Vuelo de los furiosos (Springboard elbow drop) but Jansen moved.
• That allowed Kash to hit Jansen with No Pressure (Running Blockbuster) onto a chair as she started to get up. He covered and picked up the pinfall victory.

WINNER: Kasey Kash via pinfall @ 17:44

Perspective

The scene opens up with Kim Roberts in the ring.

Kim Roberts: Ladies and Gentlemen, our next match is scheduled for--

"Hell Yeah" by Rev Theory begins to play. The fans in attendance respond with a mixed reaction as Casey steps out of the back. Kim looks over to the ramp, then to the announcers. They wave for her to get out of the ring. She does. Behind Casey is Alicia, and following them is Annabelle and Karli, locked arm in arm with Kevin Olson. As they head to the ring, it becomes obvious that Kevin doesn’t really want to be there. Casey enters the ring and waits as Annabelle and Karli toss Kevin under the ropes. They follow. The music stops and Kevin speaks.

Kevin Olson: This is outrageous. What do you mean, dragging me out here?

Casey Grey: Nobody dragged you, Kevin. You were clearly escorted here by two attractive women and you’re complaining? Some people just can’t be happy, I guess. Anyway, I’m sure you have a couple of questions you’d like to ask. Why don’t you go ahead.

Kevin adjusts his suit.

Kevin Olson: Fine. I don’t know why you couldn’t just come up to me in the back…but okay. So, you were able to finally pull off a win over Lacy Nelson. Congratulations. That’s no small feat. I assume you’re proud of your performance?

Casey Grey: Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? I’ve lost sight of everything going on around here and how to move up in this business. The fact is that you don’t get anywhere by playing nice. I could have been the better woman, I could have done everything by the book. We all saw where that was getting me.

Kevin Olson: You hit Lacy with a bell.

Casey Grey: Yeah. That was pretty good, right? The note was flat, though.

There is a moment before Kevin responds.

Kevin Olson: What the hell is wrong with you? Look. Yeah, you won. But don’t you think that the fans and the others in the back will see that and think you couldn’t have won that match without resorting to…off color tactics?

Casey looks whimsical for a moment.

Casey Grey: I’m…trying to remember the last time a fan paid my light bill or put gas in my car.

The audience is clearly not appreciative of her statement. Casey continues, unperturbed.

Casey Grey: And as far as the roster goes, anybody out there that thinks they got what it takes, they can go ahead and drop their name in the hat. Just because I had to bust my ass to get my shot at this title and earn my moment in the spotlight doesn’t mean that Sara Logan and those in the back won’t just give you what you want. So go ahead, send your emails and your twits to mommy and ask nicely. Sara, I’m giving you permission. Line up the whole locker room and I’ll cut through them all, I don’t give a damn.

Kevin Olson: That’s a bold statement, Casey.

Casey Grey: You’re not here for your opinions, Kevin. I’m the World Champion and I stole this slot fair and square, so stand there like a good little mic stand and keep your mouth shut. Here’s my final message to everyone that’s listening. How hard I fought and the things I did to get this belt is nothing compared to what I’ll do to keep it. Come on down. Step into this ring with the pit bull and see how far you get.

Casey steps away from Kevin and holds the World Championship Title over her head as her music plays. After a few moments, she and the other Belles leave the ring. Kevin watches, shrugs, and after a beat leaves the ring as well.

National Championship
David Slayton (c) Vs. James Edwards

• Edwards and Slayton stood in the ring as the match was announced and the fans cheered. Slayton showed off the title before handing it off and the two men circled each other to start. After a quick lock up, Slayton tried to whip Edwards but he reversed and drove a knee into David’s gut. Edwards landed a series of kicks and a big chop to the chest before delivering a big lariat.
• Edwards worked over the ankle of Slayton to potentially set up for his finisher later and to limit him from using the Full Effect.
• Edwards tried to lock in a figure four but Slayton kicked him away and got to his feet. Edwards approached and Slayton slipped behind him and took him to the mat with a takedown before locking in a side headlock. Edwards got to his feet quickly and was taken down with a Russian leg sweep.
• Slayton delivered a double underhook backbreaker that slowed Edwards down. Slayton looked for an anklelock but Edwards was able to roll away.
• Slayton and Edwards went back and forth exchanging strikes and suplexes.
• Slayton tried to pull Edwards into the Firehawk Lock (Crossface) but Edwards was able to slip free and locked in Foxfire (Heel Hook)! Slayton wouldn’t tap and made a rope break, his first.
• Slayton started to fight back and delivered a German suplex and bridged into a pin. Edwards was able to grab the ropes at two for his first break.
• Slayton stayed on Edwards and was able to flip him into an armbar. Edwards slowly tried to pull himself to the ropes but Slayton rolled him away. Edwards screamed but wouldn’t tap and slowly made the crawl and made a second rope break.
• Edwards rolled out of the ring to regroup and Slayton went after but walked into a hard shot to the jaw. Edwards took Slayton down with a chop block and then locked in a calf crusher. Edwards held until the count got to twelve and rolled into the ring. Slayton grabbed at his leg and ankle and slowly pulled himself up and just made it back into the ring before twenty.
• Slayton pulled himself up and Edwards hit a spin kick and looked to finish the Wildfire with his roundhouse knee but Slayton blocked it and pulled him into an anklelock. Edwards got to the ropes to use his final rope break. Slayton tried to pull him off the ropes and Edwards rolled Slayton up with a small package for two!
• Slayton looked for the Full Effect (Sweet Chin Music) but Edwards dodged it. Edwards looked for a German suplex but Slayton flipped behind him and landed on his feet. Slayton clubbed Edwards in the back of the head with a big forearm and then lifted him up and dropped him with End of Everything (One Winged Angel). He covered and Edwards had his foot on the ropes but the referee counted to three since he was out of rope breaks!

WINNER AND STILL EW NATIONAL CHAMPION: David Slayton via pinfall @24:53

After the match Slayton collected the National Title and rolled out of the ring and celebrated ringside. Edwards slowly pulled himself up and watched Slayton leave before we cut away.

The 323 (Miguel Perez/Alejandro Torres) Vs. Hell’s Belles (Annabelle Daboia/Alicia Monroe) Vs. The Haters (Gio DeLuca/Dominic Salvatore)

• This match was all over the place from the start as DeLuca swung wildly at anyone that moved. He was quickly dispatched by Torres with a running big boot.
• Torres and Salvatore fought around the ring.
• Monroe and Perez exchanged holds and it looked like Monroe might sneak out a roll up pinfall but DeLuca broke it up. Daboia came in and hit DeLuca with Attempted Murder (Curb Stomp).
• Perez hit Daboia with Green-Lighted (Jumping Complete Shot).
• Monroe was taken out of the ring with a spear by Perez which left Torres and Salvatore in the ring. Torres powered him up and delivered the Boyle Heights Beat (Big Ending). Torres covered and got a pinfall before anyone could break it up.

WINNERS: The 323 via pinfall @ 15:09

Primetime Championship
Marilyn Lee Cross (c) Vs. Josh Goldstein

• The fans were definitely hyped up for this one as the main event was set to start. The crowd leaned slightly more towards Goldstein at the start.
• These two moved around the ring slowly to try and feel each other out, making plans. Cross looked for a jumping forearm that Goldstein countered into an arm drag. She rolled to her feet and he grabbed her hand and ran up the corner and came flipping back down to the mat and flipped her over with a monkey flip.
• It was clear that Goldstein wanted to try and keep Cross off balance with quick moves and in the beginning it seemed to work.
• Goldstein looked for a headscissors takedown and flipped Cross down to the mat. She popped up and came right at him with the Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear)! Cross covered and Goldstein kicked out at one.
• A big tiger suplex from Cross seemed to do some damage to the neck and shoulder of Goldstein but after being quickly checked on he was ready to go and went right at Cross. Goldstein jumped up and brought Cross down with a victory roll for just one.
• Goldstein clotheslined Cross over the top rope and was fired up as the crowd got behind him. He ran at the ropes and went up and over with a plancha and took out Cross! Goldstein pulled Cross up and rolled her into the ring and jumped to the apron. He went to the top rope and he connected with a moonsault! He covered and picked up a two count pinfall before Cross kicked out.
• Goldstein quickly got Cross into position and locked her in a La Tapatia (Mexican Surfboard). Cross was clearly in pain but wouldn’t submit when checked on. Goldstein had to watch his shoulders and brought her down and then pulled back on her neck as she was on her knees. Cross was able to get his fingers apart and lunged forward to break on the ropes.
• Cross was slow to her feet and Goldstein charged and looked for a crossbody but she was able to roll forward and dodge it. She stood and rocked Goldstein with Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot)! Goldstein hit the mat and started to sit up and Cross came running off the ropes and hit Knee Harvey Oswald (Running Knee to the side of an opponent's head)! She covered and was shocked as Goldstein kicked out at two!
• Cross looked around and pulled Goldstein up slowly. She told him to stay down and hit the ropes and looked for John Wilkes Boot (Running Yakuza Kick to the back of the head) but Goldstein caught her with a pele kick! Cross fell into the ropes and leaned outwards on the middle rope. This let Goldstein deliver his The 718/The East Coast Schlock (Tiger feint kick to the head of an opponent draped over the second rope followed by a springboard dragonrana for the roll-up) combo! He covered as the crowd counted along and he got two as Cross kicked out!
• A “5 minute warning” was given.
• Goldstein tried to roll Cross up again but she kicked out. Both competitors were up and Goldstein looked for another victory roll but this time Cross countered with Button Down (Big Bang Theory)! She pulled back on the legs of Goldstein for the cover and got two before he kicked out.
• Both were slow moving at this point but were up as the fans were buzzing. Cross looked for another Mary Go Round but Goldstein ducked it and hit the ropes, coming back with the Chutzpah Boot (Running Bicycle Kick)! He hit the ropes and looked for the Dreidel Drop (Somersault Leg Drop) but Cross moved. She went right into the Hungry Jaws (Dragon Sleeper w/ body scissors)! Goldstein refused to submit and was almost out of the hold. The bell sounded as time had expired!

DRAW: VIA TIME LIMIT @ 30:00 AND STILL EW PRIMETIME CHAMPION: Marilyn Lee Cross

Cross raised her hand in victory thinking that she had won but heard that it was a time limit draw but smiled when she was announced AND STILL. Goldstein was talking to the referee as Cross exited the ring with the Primetime Title. We ended with Goldstein nodding as he was talking with Molly Reynolds.