Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 live results: Alex Shelley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
For the second time, Impact Wrestling and NJPW will come together for a co-promoted event as part of Multiverse United 2 from the famed 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The show will feature three title matches, headlined by Impact World Champion Alex Shelley, who will defend his title against former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi.
In another, NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia will make her debut in this series as she defends against Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw and Momo Kohgo in a four-way.
X-Division Champion Lio Rush will team with former champion Trey Miguel to battle IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey.
In another fast-paced affair, it will be Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Kevin Knight vs. BUSHI vs. Mao vs. El Desperado in a seven-way scramble
NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. will team with Shane Haste to battle Moose & Eddie Edwards.
Other featured matches include Bullet Club vs. The World in a 12-man tag, Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defending against Yoshinobu Kanemaru and more.
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Pre-Show:
Joe Hendry, Yuya Uemura, & Heath defeated Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato
Uemura and Hendry did a dramatic pose at the end of Hendry’s music, and Taguchi wandered into the shot and gave a thumbs up before Wato and Romero also joined in. I already love this match. Romero and Heath started the match as the announcers talked about Romero’s recent exploits and success in CMLL.
Romero hit a hurricanrana on Heath and tagged out to Taguchi, and Taguchi posed on the middle ropes preparing for his Funky Weapon to be used. Unfortunately, he wasn’t looking at who ran into him, and did not realize that Heath sent Romero into his posterior. Not to be deterred by this, Taguchi continued utilizing his Funky Weapon on Hendry and Heath before tagging out to Wato, who Hendry lariated to death.
Wato sent Heath crashing into Hendry and hit a move on both men before hitting a hurricanrana on Uemura. Wato, Romero, and Taguchi all hit planchas to the floor. Wato attempted to springboard into the ring, but Heath cut him off and beat Wato around ringside before tagging out to Hendry.
Hendry hit a stalling vertical suplex on Wato for a 2-count. Uemura slammed Wato and tagged out to Heath. Wato actually hit a wake up call on Hendry and tagged out to Romero, who hit two forever clotheslines on him. Hendry blocked the third and hit a fallaway slam on Romero and Wato at the same time.
Taguchi missed a Funky Weapon attack on Uemura, and Uemura hit the ropes and hit a hard forearm and bulldog on Taguchi. Uemura hit a huge uranage on Tauguchi and a crossbody for the pinfall.
Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Just 5 Guys) to retain
Good match, though hurt by it being two heels and the fans not really knowing who Kanemaru is (which is a shame, because he’s really good).
Kanemaru and King did crisscross in the middle of the ring before Kanemaru dropkicked King right in the knee to take the bigger man down. Kanemaru continued his basic offence with headlock takeovers until King raked the eyes and necked Kanemaru on the ropes. Kanemaru hit an inverted DDT on King to make a bit of a comeback, before missing a moonsault, but landing on his feet and hitting the ropes right away before nailing a tornado DDT for a 2-count.
Kanemaru went for the moonsault a second time, but only got a 2-count. Kanemaru hit an enziguri on King and then tried to spit whisky into the face of King, but King dodged and hit an Eddy Gordo kick before hitting a royal flush for the win.
Impact x NJPW Multiverse United II Main Card
Chris Sabin defeated MAO, Kevin Knight, Rich Swann, YOH (CHAOS), BUSHI (LIJ), Frankie Kazarian and El Desperado (Strong Style) in a scramble match
Great match here to open the show, with all eight men being given a shot to shine. Sabin winning was probably the right call.
All eight men did a lock up, creating a huddle, before there were 4 headlocks, and then 4 planchas to the floor, with Kevin Knight looking like he landed face first on the floor. MAO faced off with Swann alone in the ring, cartwheeling over MAO and hitting a kick. YOH came in and took it to Swann, hitting a drop toe hold and a dropkick.
Knight came back in and dropped YOH with a hip toss into a cartwheel and dropkick. Sabin sneaked back into the ring and hit a Manhattan drop and a European uppercut in the corner. Desperado and MAO ended up in the ring, and Desperado offered a handshake and forearmed Desperado right in the face to the delight of the crowd.
7 men all locked submissions on each other, and BUSHI ran around the ring trying to figure out who to lock a submission on, before deciding on YOH and falling back into the ropes to break the submission. All 7 men then beat on BUSHI for his lack of assistance towards any of them. Desperado and MAO tried to hit a superplex on Swann, but Kazarian and Sabin hit a tower of doom power bomb on the 3 men, letting Knight hit a huge splash on Swann for a 2-count.
MAO was making himself a star in this, as all 8 men entered a scramble with MAO hitting a cutter before others hit a series of moves. Sabin hit a flatliner on Knight while hitting a DDT on YOH and a cradle shock for the win.
BUSHI went to shake hands with Sabin, but spit black poison mist into Sabin’s face.
Moose & Eddie Edwards Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste (TMDK)
Sabre was very over when he came out as the fans sung his name. Edwards and ZSJ started the match with a great technical exchange, but Sabre soon made him pay like everyone else does too, tearing at the arm of Edwards before tagging out to Haste, who hit a dropkick to the head on Edwards for a 2-count.
ZSJ tagged back in and proceeded to tie Edwards up and work over the arm, tagging out again to Haste. Edwards did manage to hit a backpack stunner on Haste, and Moose got a 2-count out of it. Moose held the arms of Haste back before hitting a brutal chop that dropped Haste to the mat. Moose and Edwards kept control of Haste, beating him down with hard strikes.
Haste managed to hit a hurricanrana on Edwards and tagged out to ZSJ. ZSJ then locked on an octopus stretch on Edwards, but Edwards fought out. Edwards was quickly trapped in a submission again by Sabre, then he kicked Moose in the face which just made him angry. Moose charged at Edwards but ZSJ pulled the ropes down and sent him crashing to the floor before hitting a PK from the apron.
Edwards and Sabre exchanged chops and kicks, ending with Edwards hitting a blue thunder bomb and both men were down. Haste and Moose tagged in and started brawling. Haste hit a big cannonball in the corner for a 2-count. Moose hit a big uranage and then a pump kick on Sabre, but Sabre responded with a tornado DDT on Moose while Edwards ran in and hit a lariat on Sabre.
Moose and Haste got up and started exchanging forearms. Haste went for the dynamic bomb, but Moose countered into a powerbomb of his own. Haste rolled through and Moose flew into a flying triangle choke from Sabre. Sabre, while being held by Moose in the air, switched to a rear naked choke which allowed Haste to hit a flying knee on Moose to drop him. Moose missed a spear and Haste got a 2-count with a roll up. Moose managed to hit a spear on Haste for the pinfall.
NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia (Donna del Mondo) defeated Momo Kohgo (Stars), Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw to retain
Giulia and Kohgo came across as massive stars to this audience, with Giulia, in particular, looking incredible. This match was 100% designed to get Giulia over to American audiences. This was great.
Shaw and Kohgo were headlocked by Purrazo and Giulia respectively, before Giulia and Purrazzo tried to face off to a great reaction from the audience. Gisele Shaw took credit for women’s wrestling, but then ate a dropkick to the face from Giulia. Giulia used Kohgo as a weapon to kick Purrazzo before hitting a backsuplex for a 2-count.
Kohgo ran up the ropes and hit a crossbody on Giulia for a 2-count. Shaw broke up a second pinfall attempt. Purrazzo hit a Russian leg sweep on Shaw before going for the Queen’s Gambit, but Shaw fought out. Purrazzo hit the ropes, but Giulia puled her from the ring, letting Kohgo hitting a crossbody off the top rope onto both Giulia and Purrazzo.
Shaw tried to hit a dive to the floor, but fell a little short, crashing into the apron and then falling onto the others. A few fans chanted something very rude but were silenced by the rest of the audience. Who would have thought that would happen in the ECW Arena in 2023? All 4 wrestlers hit a series of move before falling to the mat, and struggling to get to their feet before brawling back and forth.
Giulia and Kohgo had a brief alliance before Purrazzo and Shaw broke it up, leading to Shaw kicking Purrazzo on the top ropes. Shaw managed to hit a Spanish fly on Purrazzo, but it was broken up by Kohgo and Giulia. Kohgo hit a tornado DDT on Shaw but ate a drop toe hold into the corner and a Saito suplex by Giulia. Purrazzo rushed in and hit the Queen’s Gambit on Giulia, but Giulia kicked out.
Purrazzo locked an armbar on Giulia while Shaw locked one on Kohgo, and they started kicking each other while holding the submission. This turned into an all out brawl with Purrazzo. Shaw hit a spinebuster on Kohgo, but soon ate a Northern Lights Bomb from Giulia on Shaw for the win.
Kohgo attacked Giulia after the match but ate the Glorious Bomb for her attack.
Sami Callihan defeated Douki (Just 5 Guys) in a South Philly Street Fight
If you like hardcore matches, this is one for you. Good match here, and Douki really did get over with the audience, especially with that last near fall.
Sami Callhian grabbed the mic before the match and said that they were missing something tonight, thinking they were missing some extreme violence in the ECW Arena. He then suggested they have a hardcore match, and Douki agreed, hitting an enziguri on Callihan and a tope suicida. Douki grabbed a chair and started beating on Callihan.
Callihan caught Douki as he tried to charge and hit a Death Valley Driver on the floor. Callihan threw chairs into the ring, and the fans chanted “Just 5 Chairs!” but Callihan laughed and threw a sixth chair in. Callihan grabbed his 8×4 photo and gave Douki a papercut on the webbing of his fingers and on his armpit.
Douki hit a throat thrust, but Callihan hit an exploder suplex through a setup chair for a 2-count. Callihan hit Douki with a chair. Callihan put a chair in the corner and tried to send Douki into it. Douki blocked a German suplex and hit an enziguri. Callihan tried to charge Douki, but Douki dropped into a splits and laid facedown on the mat as Callihan flew over him and into the chair lodged in the corner.
Douki pulled out a kendo stick and started hitting Callihan with it. Callihan blocked a shot and stole the cane before posing and screaming “Sandman pose!” Douki blocked the kendo stick shot with a chair and hit a drop toe hold onto the chair before posing like Tommy Dreamer. Douki hit a flying stomp on Callihan as he was covered in chairs for a 2-count.
Douki went for a slingshot DDT, but Callihan caught him and hit a slingshot suplex into a twist and shout on Douki. Callihan setup a ladder in the corner and tried to powerbomb Douki onto it, but Douki countered with a hurricanrana, sending Callihan in face first and hitting the slingshot DDT for a 2-count. Douki put the ladder on Callihan and tried to hit a senton, but Callihan moved and Douki crashed hard into the ladder. Callihan hit a lariat and then the Cactus Driver ‘97 for a 2-count that everyone thought was a finish, including some people chanting rudely at the referee, but he was right.
Callihan setup 4 chairs (Just 4 Chairs?!) and went for the Cactus Driver on the chairs, but Douki fought out. Callihan then grabbed Douki low and hit the Cactus Driver on the chairs for the pinfall.
Catch 22 (TJP & Francesco Akira) (United Empire) defeated Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita (TMDK)
This was a really good match. Fujita was given a lot of chances to shine and show that he is a young lion on the rise.
Akira & Fujita started the match, exchanging some basic technical wrestling. Fujita hit a big dropkick on Akira before hitting some hard chops. TJP blind tagged in and hit a series of moves with Akira on Fujita. Eagles tagged in and launched himself off the back of Fujita into a dropkick on Akira.
Eagles hit a low dropkick on Akira letting Fujita roll into a leg lock on Akira, who made it to the ropes quickly to escape. Akira hit a hurricanrana on Fujita before TJP grabbed his hand and assisted him in running up the ropes into a dive onto both Eagles and Fujita. Akira responded to a hard chop by Fujita with an even harder one. TJP tagged in and launched Akira from an electric chair into a senton for a 2-count on Fujita.
Eagles put a leg submission on Akira to work him over, leaving him limping. Akira managed to hit a poison rana on Eagles and crawled over to TJP for the hot tag. Akira and TJP hit the Alley Oop while TJP then hit a frog splash for a 2-count on Fujita. Fujita hit a belly-to-belly on TJP for a 2-count. Eagles accidently hit a superkick on his own partner, leading to Catch 22 being able to hit the Knee Knee for the pinfall.
–Speedball Mike Bailey was backstage, talking about his win at the All-Star Junior Festival the night before and how he was going to soon challenge the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi. But for tonight, they will be teaming together against Lio Rush & Trey Miguel.
Bullet Club (Ace Austin, Chris Bey, KENTA, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin & David Finlay) defeated The World (The DKC, PCO, Josh Alexander, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & El Phantasmo)
I’m a bit surprised that Josh Alexander’s return match was one in a losing capacity, but he was not pinned, so it’s not a big deal. NJPW’s goal is to clearly continuing trying to establish Finlay’s version of Bullet Club as a top heel faction, and this match helped towards that.
David Finlay and Tama Tonga started the match, with Finlay spitting in the face of Tonga, who started brawling immediately. Not long after it broke down to a brawl between everyone on the floor. By the time Tama Tonga and Finlay were back in the ring, PCO tagged in and Finlay backed away and tagged in Alex Coughlin.
PCO and Coughlin exchanged hard chops to the delight of the fans. Coughlin effortlessly hit a wheelbarrow suplex on PCO, but PCO stood up, screamed, and hit a clothesline that took both men to the floor. A brawl broke out between everyone as this happened. The DKC and Clark Connors ended up in the ring, with The DKC hitting a flipping dropkick on Connors, but Connors responded with a big powerslam.
Alexander tagged in and ran wild, suplexing everyone, but was soon overwhelmed by the numbers of the Bullet Club. Ace Austin pulled a card from his sleave and gave a papercut to the webbing of Alexander’s finger. Bullet Club and The World team broke down and brawled all over the place until PCO hit a moonsault over the corner post to the floor on everyone. The DKC then tried to hit a splash on Finlay, but Finlay got his knees up and hit a massive powerbomb for the 3-count.
Both teams continued brawling after the match, but Bullet Club eventually stood tall in the ring.
Trey Miguel & Lio Rush defeated Mike Bailey & Hiromu Takahashi
This was a really good match, with all 4 men looking great, and an unexpected heel win from the X-Division champion. Another Impact star goes over in this. This is making me think Tanahashi has to win in the main event, because NJPW has took a lot of losses on this one.
Bailey and Lio Rush got in the ring and as Bailey offered a handshake to Rush, who slapped him. They then moved so fast that I would have to type around 300 words a minute to keep up. Bailey hit a kick on Rush and got a 2-count. Takahashi and Bailey hit a double dropkick on Rush to the delight of the fans.
Rush and Miguel managed to isolate Takahashi and hit a series of hard ground and pound strikes, only breaking to tag out.
Rush hit a fisherman’s driver on Bailey for a 2-count. Rush hit a dive on Bailey on the floor and both men exchanged kicks in the ring that dropped them both. Miguel and Takahashi exchanged hard chops and uppercuts before Takahashi finally hit a falcon arrow for a 2-count. Miguel and Rush started double teaming Takahashi, with Rush hitting a spinning kick to a downed Takahashi for a 2-count.
Takahashi hit a pop up powerbomb on Miguel, but Miguel countered a superkick from Takahashi into a school boy. Takahashi and Bailey hit double superkicks on Miguel before Takahashi picked up Miguel in a fireman’s carry, and Bailey flew of the ropes with an Ultima Weapon. I was worried this would drive Takahashi face first into the mat, but he seemed to barely avoid that. Regardless, Rush broke up the pinfall attempt. Miguel slid to the floor into a tornado DDT on Bailey while Rush hit a springboard stunner on Takahashi for a 2-count.
Takahashi and Rush spilled to the floor and Takahashi went for the Time Bomb on the floor, but Miguel launched himself off the apron onto the back of Rush into a meteora. Back in the ring, Miguel managed to just distract the referee enough after a Death Valley Driver by Takahashi for Rush to recover and hit a low blow to roll up Takahashi for the win.
Rush grabbed a mic and said that things have changed since the last time him and Takahashi were in the ring, as he had a title of his own now. Rush said it wasn’t enough though, and he wanted more. He wanted the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and Takahashi appeared to accept the match. Mike Bailey was not happy about this, as Takahashi wanted the match now, but Rush left, saying he had a date elsewhere. It now seems like Rush and Bailey are in competition to see who gets the shot first. Takahashi screamed “YEAH!” and the fans chanted it at him. Gimmick infringement!
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain
I do not say this lightly, but this was the biggest win of Alex Shelley’s career, beating who may be the greatest wrestler of all time. Hiroshi Tanahashi was a key person in the career of Shelley when he was in Japan, and now he got to beat one of his mentors in the main event of a joint PPV between Impact and NJPW. This match was excellent, and Tanahashi had the fans believing he could win, which he always does. If you enjoy a Japanese style main event match, like a G1 main event, you’ll love this match. It would have fit in with almost any of the matches of the G1.
Tanahashi and Shelley started off slow, working a more grounded and technical style. Shelley stopped a corner charge and hit a knee to the arm of Tanahashi off the middle rope while Tanahashi was grabbing the ropes. Shelley began doing what he does best, working over the arm and trying to wear Tanahashi down.
Tanahashi repaid Shelley for the arm attack and went after the knee of Shelley, including working him over on the floor. The fans screamed “One more!” as he stomped Shelley’s knee, so he responded, asking if they wanted one more. They screamed yes at him, and he obliged to a great reaction. Tanahashi is the best, getting the most out of stomping a knee.
Tanahashi sent Shelley into the ring, but Shelley got up quickly and hit a slingshot over the top rope to the apron onto the arm of Tanahashi. Shelley hit a flying knee off the apron and started to attack the arm around the ringpost. Shelley, at this point, essentially started working as the heel in the match as the fans were chanting for Tanahashi.
It got a little divided, but Shelley was standing on the hair of Tanahashi before looking at the fans as they chanted. Shelley slowly came back in, so Tanahashi grabbed Shelley’s right leg and then dropkicked the left leg so Shelley was forced to fall to the mat. Tanahashi resumed stomping the leg in the corner before hitting a dropkick to Shelley’s left leg which was draped over the ropes.
Shelley started hitting forearms to Tanahashi’s left arm while Tanahashi kicked the left knee of Shelley. Shelley burst from the ropes with a forearm that dropped Tanahashi. Shelley baited Tanahashi in and hit a sliced bread #2 for a 2-count before transitioning into the Border City Stretch. Tanahashi got his foot on the ropes, but Shelley leaned back and locked in in further and only broke when the referee got to 4.
Tanahashi rolled to the apron but couldn’t escape the attack and Shelley did an arm breaker over the ropes. Tanahashi was willing to take that though, as it afforded him a chance to grab the left leg of Shelley and hit a dragon screw through the ropes. Tanahashi then hit a dropkick to Shelley’s left knee and locked on a cloverleaf.
Tanahashi stumbled forward trying to lock it in, unable to fully lock it on dew to his arm, but Tanahashi went right back to the knee with another dragon screw. Shelley and Tanahashi exchanged strikes, with Tanahashi grabbing the left leg of Shelley, so Shelley responded with an enziguri with his right leg to drop the legend.
Tanahashi and Shelley exchanged forearms again, showing their fighting spirit. Tanahashi hit a European uppercut that dropped Shelley. He went for a twist and shout, but Shelley cut him off with an arm breaker. Shelley got Tanahashi up in a fireman’s carry, but Tanahashi slipped out and hit three twist and shouts before hitting a sling blade for a 2-count. Tanahashi called for the High Fly Flow but Shelley moved and Tanahashi crashed to the mat. Shelley the Boma Ye, a big knee, to the back of the head of Tanahashi before hitting a Rainmaker for a 2-count. Shelley hit the finishers of Tanahashi’s biggest rivals – Shinsuke Nakamura, with the Boma Ye, and Kazuchika Okada, with the Rainmaker.
Tanahashi held on with an Irish whip attempt and hit a sling blade before going to the top rope again, but Shelley cut him off. Shelley put Tanahashi into a fireman’s carry and then hit an air raid crash from the top rope and Tanahashi barely kicked out. Shelley hit a superkick to the face of Tanahashi before hitting Shell Shock for the pinfall.
Final Thoughts:
One of the things that surprised the most about this show as not its quality, but how many matches Impact had on the winning side. I suspected it to be much more balanced than it was, but it is clear by some of the post match angles and challenges that were setup that NJPW was happy to put the Impact guys over in this one for the most part. Ironically, it was Josh Alexander on the losing side in his match, while ABC got the win. Nonetheless, this was a great show and one that is worth watching.