ACW #1: "Gateway to the Best"
[Injury: CM Punk]
Agon Championship Wrestling
Episode 1: "Gateway to the Best"
Venue/Location:
Scottrade Center/St. Louis, Missouri
[LIVE on SyFy]
William Regal comes out to a large pop. He thanks the fans that have been with him since day one even up to taking down Pete Dunne (which barred Dunne from being in any promotion managed by Regal). While he regrets NMCW couldn't stay intact, he is glad that he has been given a second chance in ACW. Outlining the show for tonight: old friends The Miz and Aron Rex will do battle. A classic England vs. Ireland battle will go down between Magnus and Sheamus. Also an 8 woman tournament will be determine who is the Domina of ACW. Tonight, Maria Kanellis-Bennett will take on Taryn Terrell and Rebel will face Alexa Bliss. Finally, in the main event: a 6 person steel cage match will determine the ACW Champion of the Cage. Participants are then announced. Regal departs.
Match 1: The Miz (w/ Maryse) vs. Aron Rex
After The Miz and Rex have made their respective entrances, they stare down as the commentators put over Rex’s time as Miz’s stunt double. Miz hits Rex with a cheap shot and the match gets underway. Miz tries to work the leg, seemingly as if he is going to set up the Figure 4. The crowd tries to rally behind Rex. The match goes fairly back and forth. Maryse climbs up onto the apron, attempting to distract Rex. Aron then whips Miz in her direction, but he (Miz) is able to stop before running into her, but Aron gets the roll-up pin.
Winner: Aron Rex via pinfall
Backstage:
One of the cameramen and Charly Caruso are walking backstage and Charly screams upon seeing CM Punk incapacitated. They stay there until GM William Regal is on the scene. Punk eventually comes to and Regal asks what Punk can remember. Punk then says he can’t even remember coming to the arena today. Punk is then taken to a local medical facility.
Match 2: Domina of ACW Quarterfinal: Alexa Bliss vs. Rebel
When Alexa and Rebel are both in the ring, Alexa forcefully grabs the mic from Bruce Buffer. She talks about how she was the first woman to hold the RAW and SmackDown Women's Championships. She doesn't care who she has to destroy and that she didn't come to ACW to be fucking cheerleader (immediately glares at Rebel). Rebel goes after Bliss as the bell rings. Rebel unloads on Bliss, using Hammer Fist after Hammer Fist. Senior official Earl Hebner is able to pull Rebel off.
Alexa tries to end the match quickly, but Rebel is using her flexibility coupled with mind games to her advantage. Bliss is getting annoyed, filling the arena with incensed screams. While trying to go for a split legged leg drop though, Bliss is able to counter, hitting a snap power-bomb. Bliss then hits Rebel with a blast from the past, using the Twisted Bliss (rounding moonsault). Bliss gets the pin.
Winner: Alexa Bliss via pinfall
Cathy Kelley is backstage with TJP. He is holding both Brothers of the Sands Championship belts. They are talking about the past and NMCW. While TJP regrets that Sydal couldn’t come over as well he has said he might just find another Cruiserweight to bring into CW-Octane. Enter Austin Aries and TJP goes from being all smiles to looking incredibly surprised. “Hi buddy.”, Aries playfully jabs at TJ. He goes on to talk about “unfinished business” that they have from WWE and they’re going to settle it…tonight. AND UP NEXT.
Match 3: Austin Aries vs. TJP
TJP tries to avoid Aries as much as humanly possible. They go around and around the ring until finally Aries decides to turn back around and hit TJP with a hellacious clothesline outside of the ring. Aries then dominates the match physically, not letting TJP get any offense in. TJP seemingly turns the tide, but from out of nowhere, Baron Corbin comes out to the ring and levels both Aries and TJP, leaving them in the middle of the ring.
Match Ends in a No Contest
Match 4: Domina of ACW Quarterfinal: Maria Kanellis-Bennett (w/ Mike Bennett) vs. Taryn Terrell
The bell rings, but Maria ushers for Mike to come up and give a kiss for good luck to which the crowd boos. When Maria turns around though, she eats a spear from Terrell, who gets the quick pin.
Winner: Taryn Terrell via pinfall
Charly Caruso is in an interview room with Taeler Hendrix. They talk about the Tournament to determine the Domina of ACW. Taeler is immediately outraged and insists that this title is still hers. She calls out William Regal and demands that she faces the winner of the Tournament. She says she was never pinned, never submitted to lose her title (holds up the Domina of NMCW belt). She finishes saying she is the true Domina and will prove it to anyone, anywhere.
Match 5: Drew Gulak vs. Ken Shamrock
Drew Gulak enters first. He grabs a microphone and talks about how liberated he feels being freed from 205 Live. He’s glad he has found himself a genuine No Fly Zone to call home. He is freed from the danger that comes with it….upon this, Ken Shamrock’s music hits and Ken makes his signature entrance. When he gets to the corner and yells, Gulak is terrified.
The match begins and the two engage in chain wrestling, with Shamrock getting the upper hand. Chael and Joe are both putting over Shamrock’s time in UFC as well as being an innovator in both UFC and WWE. Shamrock throws Gulak into the corner, sending him into the ring post. Pulling Gulak from the corner, Shamrock hits a belly to belly suplex, going to a near fall. Shamrock then gets Drew into a rear naked choke, resulting in the submission.
Winner: Ken Shamrock via submission
Joe Rogan steps into the ring. They talk about the match and Shamrock's motivation. Ken talks about his rivalry with Cody Rhodes and that took him to his Breaking Point. He might not be able to get his hands on Cody, but he can still continue on.
Match 6: Sheamus vs. Magnus
Sheamus and Magnus engage in a hard-hitting match. Magnus is using everything he can to his advantage, going as far as pressing Sheamus' throat to the ropes. He breaks at 4, but Sheamus is pulling back in a coughing fit. The commentary team notices how this Magnus is much different from the man we saw in NMCW. Chael is absolutely loving this version while Joe is experiencing some apprehension. Sheamus gets back into the match, doling out several forearm strikes. He then hits the Irish Curse Backbreaker, the Brogue Kick, and gets the pinfall victory.
Winner: Sheamus via pinfall
Match 7: ACW Champion of the Cage (Steel Cage Match): Conor McGregor vs. Moose vs. Luke Harper vs. A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Ivelisse Velez
The match starts, but no one is wanting to go after Ivelisse. Velez then takes a shot to go right after Samoa Joe, taking him off balance and stopping everyone in the ring. This is soon broken by Conor going after Luke Harper, hitting him with a punch to the face and goes right to body shots.
Notable battles:
Samoa Joe vs. Luke Harper
These two definitely have the more hard hitting battle, but their face-off is not without a fair share of flying showing off their versatility. At multiple points, they utilize high risk action from the top rope.
Ivelisse vs. A.J. Styles
Velez and Styles engage more in chain wrestling than anything else. The commentary team puts over the impressive way that Ivelisse has embraced this challenge being the only woman in the match. Velez and A.J. continue chain wrestling with the occasional strike.
Moose vs. Joe
Joe keeps his offense more grounded to take on Moose. Their battle mostly consists of trading strikes and multiple submission attempts.
Conor vs. A.J. Styles
Conor and A.J. get into a boxing match of sorts after the middle of the ring is cleared out. A.J. tries to lock in the calf killer, but it is broken up by Velez, after she kicks him in the face. Velez falls victim to a suplex by Joe. A.J. hits Joe with a Pele Kick. Conor hits A.J. in the face while everyone else is incapacitated and gets the pinfall victory.
Winner: Conor McGregor via pinfall
McGregor grabs the title belt and holds it high above his head. Joe Rogan once again steps in the ring. "What's going through your head, Conor?" Conor simply states, "Many wrestlers spend their entire careers chasing a title...I won one in ONE NIGHT!"