Location: Argganis Arena Boston, Ma
Jim Ross: "Hello wrestling fans.....and thank you for inviting us into your homes! We are coming to you live from Boston, Massachusetts via The Highspots Network. Where tonight, the road to Parade of Champions begins for 12 of the IWA's very best ladies! As we present to you the opening round matchups to determine the first ever IWA Womens World Champion! Business is about to pick up between these young ladies, that's for damn sure, as they all want to take their place into wrestling history. Fans, let's not wait any longer. It's time to kick off the Road to Parade of Champions!" Match One: Bianca Belair (Glory) vs Indi Hartwell (APW) They battled over an armbar early, Hartwell with a kick to knock Belair down and Hartwell hit two clotheslines. Hartwell with a dropkick. Jim Ross talks on commentary that Belair may have the advantage in this bout because he knows that Hartwell arrived just hours ago from her flight in from Australia. Hartwell worked over Belair with chops followed by a hard forearm to the chest. Belair pulled Hartwell off the turnbuckle for a takedown. Belair whipped Hartwell down by the hair followed by a standing moonsault. Belair picked up Hartwell for a suplex, then had difficulty holding her up, and Belair suplexed Hartwell. Hartwell with a knee uppercut followed by a running dropkick. Hartwell had Belair on the shoulders followed by a face first slam, 1......2......two count. Hartwell used her hands to hook the legs of Belair, who fought out of it and kicked Hartwell into the ring post. Belair with a rollup followed by a spinebuster into a pin attempt, 1.....2......two count. Belair set up Hartwell on the top rope....Hartwell with a hard slap...... Belair with a hard slap and then they took turns hitting each other with hard slaps. Belair used her hair to whip it into the ribs of Hartwell. Belair held Hartwell above her with a press slam on Hartwell. The fans chanted “EST” for Belair as she does her little stance in the ring. Belair climbs up and tried a moonsault.....Hartwell got the knees up and they fought out of finishers. Hartwell with a jumping kick, but then Belair came back with a Spear. Belair and Hartwell exchanged punches with fans chanting “women’s wrestling” as Hartwell hit a kick and Belair with a forearm. Hartwell with a kick to the shoulder. Hartwell charged right into Belair, who gave her a back body drop over the top to the floor. Belair hit a somersault dive over the top onto Hartwell!! Both women are down. Hartwell got back up with a slam that sent Belair into the top of the steps. Back in the ring, Hartwell charged but Belair moved and Hartwell sent Belair into the top turnbuckle. As Belair stumbles back out, Hartwell hits the pumphandle DDT......1........2.....3!! Indi Hartwell advances to next weeks Semi-Finals!
Jim Ross: "Bygawd....Indi Hartwell made me eat my words! No jetlag at all for that young lady! Fans, do not sleep on this young lady in this tournament. She has been on the verge of big things for months. But the question remains...... can she finally win the big one at Parade of Champions? To get there, she will have to win her match next week. I for one, have my eyes on these young sensation." Match Two: Dakota Kai (APW) vs Britt Baker (World Class) Shoving contest in the middle of the ring ensues. Kai with a couple forearm shots, Baker bails out to the ring. Back and forth action. High knee lift, fameasser, cover, two. Baker with a choke in the ring, then another with her foot. Kick to the face, cover, two-count. Baker continues to talk some smack. She then says to the camera to to let everyone know "This is my division." Kai heads out and attacks from behind, but Baker gets sent into a barricade. Then Kai lands a rising kick, then hits a suplex. Back in the ring, Kai with a suplex, cover, 1.....2.....two-count. Dakota throws a kick, misses, roll-up by Baker, but Dakota
goes right into an armbar, but Baker immediately gets to the bottom rope. Baker with slingblade, followed by a butterfly suplex, 1......2.......NO!!
Baker goes for lockjaw, but Kai is able to get a foot on the ropes before too much damage is done. Back and forth shots. Baker with a superkick. Kai with a Michinoku driver, cover, 1......2.....NO! Baker goes for lockjaw, gets it in, and goes for the mandible claw, but Dakota fights it off.
Twisting suplex, cover, 1.....2.....NO. Baker with a kick to the face of Kai. Baker is smiling at the camera. Baker ends up on the apron, both throwing forearms at each other now. Kai brings Baker up to the second rope. Baker rakes the eyes then kicks Kai off the ropes. Kai climbs right back up and both end up on the second rope again. Dakota just lifts Baker up for a superplex but as they come off the turnbuckles, Baker shifts and grabs Dakota as they hit the mat and locks in the Lockjaw!! Kai fights to make the ropes, but it's no use, Baker has it locked in. Kai fights some more to escape..... then taps out!!
Jim Ross: "She might be as arrogant as they come, but fans, once the Good Doctor gets that Lockjaw applied it's over! Its one of the most dangerous moves in her arsenal. And I'm not sure anycone break it once she gets it applied." Match Three: Io Shirai (XWA) vs Awesome Kong (Beyond) Shirai looks a little concerned about the size differential as the ref calls for the bell and Kong quickly starts across the ring, stalking Io. Shirai ducks a clothesline but Kong knocks her down with her girth. They lock up and Shirai climbs the ropes to bring Kong’s head into the turnbuckle. She hits a head scissors takedown and a drop toehold. She goes for a Boston crab but Kong easily powers out. She tosses Shirai around by her hair and hits a legdrop for 2. She hits a two-handed chokeslam and chops Shirai against the ropes. She clotheslines Shirai against the ropes and tosses her to the floor. She whips Shirai into the barricade and rolls her back into the ring. Shirai counters a bodyslam to a sleeper hold but Kong whips her off. Kong puts the sleeper hold on Shirai and swings her into a slam. Io counters a side slam to a DDT for 2. She dodges an avalanche and hits a running forearm. She beats Kong down in the corner and hits the Panic Attack. Kong is too big for Shirai to drag her out of the corner for a pin attempt. Kong blocks the Desecrator and puts on an inverted torture rack in which she slams the bottom of Shirai's feet into the back of her head. She climbs the ropes but Io cuts her off and goes for her DVD. Kong easily blocks that and hits a dropkick off the second. She climbs back to the second rope and hits a splash for 2. Kong just walks around the ring as the ref checks on Io. Kong lifts Shirai, who hits a swinging DDT and Kong bails. Shirai follows her out with a crossbody off the top. Back in the ring Shirai hits a double stomp and a standing moonsault, 1.....2.....NO. Kong comes back with a lariat for 2. She hits the pedigree, 1......2.....NO! She hits a sit-out powerbomb, 1......2.....NO. Shirai gets a roll up for 2. Kong stands up and hits a spinning backhand and the spiderbomb! 1.....2......3!! Awesome Kong advances to the Semi-Finals!
Jim Ross: "What a Slobberknocker! Fans, as long as this beast of a woman is still in this tournament, business will pick up! I know it's my job to be impartial as possible, but how can you bet against her? She has everyone dominated in size, experience, and to be honest...... shes just a damn scary woman! And you could very well be looking at the first IWA Womens World Champion!" Match Four: Rhea Ripley vs Sherri Martel Ripley charges, but Martel blocks it and punches away at her. Ripley quickly hits a flapjack and punches her on the mat. Martel rolls her over and continues to punch away at her. Martel gets out of the ring and runs around the ring. Ripley chases and gets her in the ring. Ripley quickly gets out, so Martel hits her with a suicide dive. Martel chops her at ringside and gets her in the ring. Ripley quickly grabs her and pulls the hair before knocking her off the apron. Ripley then kicks Martel into the barricade. Ripley gets Martel in the ring and throws her into the middle turnbuckle. Ripley stomps her down before driving her shoulder into the midsection. Ripley is stomping away at Martel’s shoulder. Ripley throws her into the middle of the ring for a near fall. Ripley applies a body scissor. Martel tries to roll onto her, but Ripley kicks out at one while keeping the hold applied. Martel manages to turn around and forearm out. Ripley fights out and kicks her in the midsection. Ripley hits a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Ripley hits two scoop slams, targeting the back of Martel, for a near fall. Ripley goes for an inverted Texas Cloverleaf, but Martel kicks her away. Martel misses a strike, and Ripley dropkicks her down for a two count. Ripley connects with two leg drops for another two count. Ripley peppers her with kicks before hitting the ropes, but Martel hits her with a vicious head-butt.
Both women are down. They start trading blows from the knees before getting to their feet. They then get into a hockey fight. They lose energy, but then each get a burst to do another hockey fight. Martel hits two German Suplexes before Ripley fights her off. Martel goes for a sleeper but Ripley gets out. Ripley goes for Riptide, but Martel counters into a pin for a near fall. Ripley gets out of the sleeper again, and they trade pins. Ripley then locks in an inverted Texas Cloverleaf. Martel manages to crawl to the bottom rope, but Ripley drags her back to the middle of the ring. Martel twists out and applies an ankle lock. Ripley gets out and goes to the corner. Martel hits a running hip attack before connecting with a bridged German Suplex for a near fall. Martel punches and kicks her, but Ripley pulls her down by the hair. Ripley hits the Riptide, 1.....2.....Martel kicks out!! Ripley cannot believe it.
Ripley connects with a pair of deliberate short-arm clotheslines. Ripley pulls her up for a third, but Martel ducks and hits a head-butt. Martel connects with a superplex, 1.....2......but Ripley kicks out! They slowly get to their feet and trade punches. Martel bounces off the ropes with a crossbody but Rhea catches her, then transitions...... RIPTIDE!! 1.....2......3!! Rhea Ripley advances to the Semi-Finals.
Jim Ross: "Bygawd!! What a match we just witnessed! The veteran, Martel gave Ripley all she wanted and then some. This might be the upset of the tournament. That Riptide could be the move to secure Rhea Ripleys first world title." Match Five: Gail Kim vs Melissa Anderson After Melissa gets in Gail’s face to start the match, Gail jumps her and beats her down in the corner. Gail leaps up to Andersons shoulders but Anderson blocks a Victory Roll attempt only for Gail to still take her down and get a nearfall after a Leg Drop. Anderson rolls out and was jawing with fans as she turns around Gail hits her with a corner post 619. Gail then does the Guillotine Leg Drop as Anderson went for a shoulder block through the ropes. As Gail sets up for the ring post Figure Four Anderson Kicks her into the guardrail.
As Gail climbs up the ropes, Anderson kicks her legs out from her and then hits a Springboard Codebreaker for a nearfall! Anderson hits a Shortarm Clothesline and then goes for a Backdrop Driver but Gail blocks it. Gail hits the ropes and then connects with a Snap Suplex as Anderson tried to follow her.
Gail hits the ropes again and eats a nasty Forearm Smash from Anderson, who then hangs Gail up in the ropes and attempts a Running Elbow Smash but Gail moves and locks in the Hanging Octopus! Anderson breaks the hold and counters into a Backbreaker followed by a Saito Suplex for a nearfall!
Anderson taunts Gail as she chops Gail and then sidesteps a charging Gail sending her crashing into the floor at ringside. Anderson climbs up top but Gail cuts her off with a series of forearms. The two exchange strikes on the apron – with each girl on a side of the ring post – and then they pull each other face-first into the ring post.
As Anderson tries to roll back in the ring, Gail grabs her legs and wraps her around the ring post with the Ring Post Figure Four. Back in the ring they exchange slaps and forearms capped off by a Running Clothesline from Gail. Gail hits a Diving Cross Body off the top for a nearfall! Gail goes for Eat Defeat but Anderson kicks her off and sends Gail crashing onto the ramp. Anderson goes for a Suplex on the ramp but Gail blocks it and then goes for a clothesline. Anderson blocks it and then Full Nelson Slams Gail off the ramp and onto the floor!
Anderson rolls inside and demands the ref to count Gail out. 1......2......3......4......5.......6......7......8......9......Gail is able to break the 10-count before being counted out, which causes Anderson to become enraged. Anderson goes for the Buzzsaw DDT but Gail blocks it only for Anderson to go for the Slingshot Suplex. Gail blocks it and hits Eat Defeat! 1......2......Anderson is able to kick out, though, which frustrates Gail.
Gail climbs up top but Anderson cuts her off and climbs up with her. Gail puts Anderson in a Dragon Sleeper but Anderson breaks it by BITING Gail’s arm! Anderson then Super Press Slams Gail off the top! 1.....2...... Gail is still able to kick out but Anderson rolls right over into a Crossface! Gail fights it off briefly but Gail rolls to the center of the ring and escapes. Kim grabs Anderson......EAT DEFEAT!! 1......2......3!! Gail Kim advances to the Semi-Finals.
Jim Ross: "What a classic! Those two ladies just put on a clinic and shown what a pro wrestling match should be! That was damn entertaining folks! I for one, wouldnt mind seeing these two ladies meeting up again down the road. Fans we have one more......" Ross is interrupted by the appearance of Paul E. Dangerously and the World Class Heavyweight champion.....Lance Archer!
Paul E. Dangerously: "What you have Jim Ross, is to sit there and keep your mouth shut! We have something to say! We are sitting in the back and we get the memo..... apparantly Dusty Rhodes is on Pro Wrestling This Week, and he wants to talk about The Dangerous Alliance. As he should! The entire wrestling World is talking about us. But poor Dusty is on the show, giving excuses on why he ducked his tail and ran, instead of facing my Murderhawk! Instead, Dusty wants to talk about hard times...... if you will...... having to be the son of a plumber and working in shit his whole childhood! Its touching Dusty, it truly is!
But the fact of the matter is you know nothing about hard times. Ya see Dusty..... while you was 14 years old working in shit everyday then going home that evening and playing catch with your Dad, this man, Lance Archer was the living definition of hard times. See when Lance was a child he had to wait for his old man to come home every night from being at the bar all day. And his old man would come in and destroy the house, then look for Lance and slap him around. Until.....that one day ...... when Lance Archer told himself he wasnt going to take it anymore. And you know what happened? As usual his old man came in liquored up and was looking to do the norm.....until this man stood up.....and kicked his own Fathers ass! He beat him so bad that his old man ducked his tail and ran away.....never to be seen again!
Ironic...... seems that you Dusty Rhodes have alot in common with The Murderhawks Father.....you both take an asskicking......duck your tails.....and run away! So Dusty, keep sitting in the bars, telling tales to losers like Jungle Boy or whoever else cares to listen. But if a fight is what your truly looking for...... you know where to find us.....we will still be here.....wearing the belt we took from you!" Main Event: Asuka vs Charlotte w/Paul E. Dangerously The introductions are made and the ref calls for the bell. Asuka offers a handshake and Charlotte is having none of it. Flair then runs over Asuka with a forearm. Asuka attacks Flair and kicks her in the back of the head. Flair shoulders away at her, but Asuka fights back. Flair sidesteps a dropkick and goes for a kick, but Asuka blocks it. Flair fights out and boots Asuka down. Flair pulls Asuka out of the ring and throws her over the commentary table. The fight around ringside with Flair beating on Asuka at ringside before Paul E. has some words to try and calm Charlotte down. Asuka fights back and gets in the ring. Asuka goes for a hip attack in the ring, but Flair catches her. Asuka elbows her off and applies an octopus stretch. Flair rolls through a roll-up and dropkicks her.
Flair slams Asuka down and bounces her face off the mat. Flair applies a surfboard and knees her in the back a few times. Asuka fights back and knocks her out of the ring before attacking. Charlotte soon gets back in control and hits Asuka with a baseball slide. Flair punches her at ringside. Asuka fights back and goes to the top rope. Flair knocks her off to the floor.
Charlotte chops Asuka down. Asuka kicks back and hits a hip attack for a two count. Flair rolls her up for a two count. Asuka immediately applies an arm bar. Flair forearms out and beats her down. Asuka hits the ropes for a hip attack, but Flair catches her and hits a high angle back suplex for a two count.
Flair kicks her in the face a few times before stretching her on the ropes. Charlotte hits a snapmare and applies a chin lock. Flair knees her down before Asuka fights out. Charlotte kicks away at her, and Asuka is writhing in pain. Asuka forearms her in the face before Charlotte fights back. Asuka hits a missile dropkick to take Charlotte down.
Asuka avoids a big boot and hits a German Suplex. Asuka hits a running hip attack before kicking away at her. Asuka hits the ropes and hip attacks her out of the ring. Charlotte fights back as Asuka goes outside. Asuka viciously kicks her in the face to stop her. They’re on the apron, and Charlotte annihilates her with a big boot. Charlotte gets on the turnbuckles and hits Asuka with a moonsault block! Charlotte gets her in the ring before slamming her leg off the ring post. Asuka soon pulls Charlotte into the post to stun her. Charlotte forearms Asuka back and avoids a hip attack. Charlotte big boots her for a near fall.
Asuka knees Charlotte trying for a spear to pick up a near fall. Asuka goes for an Asuka Lock, but Charlotte rolls her up for a two count. Asuka tries again, but Charlotte somehow twists out. Charlotte spears her down for another near fall! They trade wild and stiff forearms before Charlotte twists out of an arm bar attempt. Charlotte clips the leg of Asuka! Charlotte goes for the Figure-Eight but Asuka rolls her up, 1.....2......NO! Charlotte reverses it, 1.....2......Asuka puts her foot on the bottom rope.......3!!
Charlotte gets up celebrating! The ref is trying to explain that Asuka had her foot on the rope and the match isnt over! Paul E. is on the apron arguing with the ref. Charlotte turns around...... ASUKA SPEWS GREEN MIST IN CHARLOTTES EYES!! ASUKA KICK TO CHARLOTTES HEAD. ASUKA COVERS, 1......2.......3!!! ASUKA ADVANCES TO THE SEMI FINALS! Asuka bails out of the ring as Paul E. gives the ref hell in the ring. Asuka celebrates her win as show fades to black.
Next Week's Matches:
Awesome Kong vs Indi Hartwell
Britt Baker vs Rhea Ripley
Gail Kim vs Asuka
