3/20/2023 - Spring Chicken

A shot of the ring as we return from break.  "Me Against the World" by Simple Plan begins as the fans break into a mixed reaction.  The vocals kick in as AJ Knight emerges from the back, clad in a singlet with the blue and gold of Lion's Road.  His ring jacket, a classic Lion's Road one with "ACE" across the back.  He stops in the aisle as David Troy hustles out behind him, dressed in jeans and a hoodie.  He slaps AJ on the back and utters something, AJ nods and the duo walk down to the ring.  As AJ Knight climbs in, Simple Plan is replaced by the opening notes of "Ecstasy of Gold" by Metallica.  The camera pans around the crowd, showing many cheering and stops on a sign...

AJ Knight is warming up as the song finally kicks in.  Out walks Pollo Dorado II with the gold around his waist, a Pollo Road ring jacket and Orville Newton accompanying him.  Dorado keeps his head down, walking down the aisle - slapping hands, but remaining focused.  Some fans try and grab his jacket, but Newton politely asks them to refrain.  Dorado gets up on the apron and explodes to the corner turnbuckle, raising his arm to the roar of the Toronto crowd as the solo kicks in.  He jumps down and immediately AJ starts on him with the trash talk.  Dorado keeps his back to AJ, but flashes a half smile at the camera as he unfastens his title.  He hands it to Ted Thomas as Mason Marvelle steps into the middle of the ring.

He shakes hands with both fighters and leaves.

Knight gets a mixed reaction, but he doesn't care one bit - he's smiling across the ring at Dorado.

"TUBBY!" gets a wave from Thomas as Marvelle leaves the ring.  He quickly checks both men over before the bell sounds and the crowd rumbles! The two men step out from their corners and circle around, each respecting the other's skill.  The first collar-and-elbow tie-up sees AJ back Pollo Dorado back into the ropes and when Thomas calls for a break, AJ says something to PD2 before slapping him!

DORADO SLAPS HIM RIGHT BACK!

The crowd pops as Dorado cracks him with a follow up elbow, but AJ comes back with a shot of his own.  Dorado is wobbled by the shot, so AJ grabs him by the wrist and quickly whips him into the ropes.  On the return, a superkick finds its mark! Dorado's head snaps and he falls down onto all fours.  AJ grabs his arm and drops on top, applying the Templar Stretch - the over-the-shoulder crossface! The crowd is loud! AJ tries his best to drag Dorado away from the ropes, but the champion is fighting it - swinging his legs and arms - and finally gets the rope break! Unfortunately for the masked champion, AJ doesn't relent.  He gets up and puts the boots to his opponent, referee Ted Thomas' count reaches four and he gets in between the two.  Dorado rolls out to the floor as Thomas dresses down AJ, telling him he will not hesitate to issue a yellow card - he's been warned! AJ brushes him off and yells at the "coward" to get back inside, but Dorado sits up and uses nearly the whole count to recuperate before heading back in at nine.  Thomas has to intercept AJ as Dorado gets onto the apron, backing him up against the opposite ropes as Dorado gets inside.  AJ grabs him in a cravate and cranks on it, pulling him down to the mat.  He stomps on his back, then drives a knee down on it.  He holds his knee on Dorado's back, then pivots and grabs a leg... applying a single leg crab! 

Dorado says NO! in response to Thomas' question of whether he wants to give up.  AJ replies, "Where's the accent!?" as Dorado pushes up off the mat, but the challenger boots Dorado in the back of the head and drives his knee between the shoulder blades as he cranks the hold again.  With Dorado forced back down to the mat, AJ readjusts a bit but this allows Dorado to slink underneath and though he doesn't get all the way to where he'd like to be, he gets far enough that AJ sees no point in trying to redo it.  He relinquishes his grip on Dorado's leg and pulls him up...

DDT!

A quick snap and Dorado's back down on the mat! AJ smirks at the camera, while Troy yells at him to cover.  AJ rolls Dorado onto his back, hooking the leg.

1...

...

2-NO!

AJ rolls Dorado onto his stomach, placing a knee in the lower back and then grasps his hands underneath Dorado's chin.  AJ is shit talking Dorado something awful as he wrenches on the hold, all the while Ted Thomas is in great position.  Dorado musters out a "NO!" as he slowly begins to turn his body onto its side.  AJ's knee slides off and he opts to abandon the hold, giving Dorado time to roll out underneath the bottom rope.  Unfortunately for the champion, AJ executes a baseball slide that sends Dorado down onto the floor! After an unpleasant fall, Dorado immediately starts getting up but AJ exits and goes right after him - he grabs Dorado's mask and slams him head first into the ring apron! Dorado falls to his knees, but AJ picks him up and stuffs him back inside the ring.  AJ slides in behind him, grabbing an arm and dragging him into a seated position.  He wraps his arms around Dorado's and applies a double chickenwing! AJ leans forward, putting all kinds of pressure on Dorado who begins trying to lift his legs and plant his feet into the mat to reverse course.  As the Dorado chants grow louder and louder, Dorado succeeds!

AJ releases the double chickenwing and Dorado falls forward, AJ falls against the top rope favouring his back.  Dorado slinks back out of the ring as AJ is recuperating, but he does notice - and makes no effort to go after him.  Thomas checks on AJ, taking his pain seriously, but the challenger assures him he's OK.  Shelzi wonders if he might've pinched a nerve on the back-up into the corner but AJ emerges showing no signs of discomfort as Dorado slowly climbs onto the apron, then quickly back into the ring.  The two men circle around and for the first time in this match, AJ's eyes are the only part of him doing the talking.  They lock-up and AJ drives Dorado back into the ropes and instead of a clean break, AJ drives his forearm back and forth over Dorado's masked face... then clocks him with an elbow! Thomas issues a yellow card!

AJ backs up, but Dorado closes the distance with a shotei! He grabs AJ and nails him with a European uppercut, then a second, then a third! Dorado has AJ against the ropes... and spins around...

ROLLING E-NO!

AJ LARIATS HIM!

Dorado falls and AJ grabs his arm, applying a Fujiwara armbar!

Despite a solid forty five seconds in the hold, Dorado is able to drape his foot over the bottom rope to cause a break.  AJ does so with little issue, not wanting to fall into foul trouble in such an important bout.  The two men get up and AJ immediately tries to go back to the arm with the Fujiwara, but Dorado fights him away.  AJ instead grabs the arm, wrings it and tucks it behind Dorado's back...

BODY SLAM!

Dorado's weight all comes down on his arm, leaving the champion in considerable pain.  AJ tries to follow up, but Dorado senses danger and uses his legs to keep AJ away from his arm.  AJ gets a little too eager and falls right into a triangle choke! AJ quickly side steps and gets his feet in the ropes to break the hold, but Dorado doesn't just release it - he upkicks AJ in the face! AJ goes down and rolls out of the ring.  Dorado gets up, clutching his arm to his chest and looks at the corner...

The crowd roars with approval!

Dorado begins climbing, struggling a bit with one arm.  He leaps off, taking AJ out with a somersault plancha! Minimizing the damage his arm could take in that situation, he grabs AJ and hurriedly tries to throw him back inside but the arm is giving him problems.  He gets AJ in there, but is forced to halt his momentum as Dr. Nick Pierson comes around to check him out.

Pierson gives him the OK and Dorado slides in.  AJ goes for a lariat attack, but Dorado ducks and grabs him as he turns around...

NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX!

Dorado rolls backwards out of it, bouncing off the ropes and using that momentum to fuel his dropkick to the face! He quickly covers!

1...

...

2...

...

NO!

Dorado quickly goes behind, applying a double chickenwing but AJ is up to his knees and fighting it.  Dorado clubs him in the back of the head a couple times, then tries again but AJ fights right back to a vertical base.  Dorado drops the grip, grabbing a rear waist hold but AJ executes a standing switch and grabs Dorado's wrist.  He ripcords him...

HOLY OU-NO!

STRAIGHT JACKET GERMAN SUPLEX FROM DORADO!

1...

...

2-THE BRIDGE FAILS!

AJ is getting back up as Dorado lays on the mat, but the champion rolls to his side and beats him to his feet.  He grabs AJ and executes an Aussie-style suplex.  A slightly easier bridge to maintain.

1...

...

2-NO!

AJ breaks free and rolls backwards into the corner.  Dorado gets up, sees his challenge vulnerable and drives right in...

AJ CATCHES HIM!

INVERTED ATOMIC DROP!

Dorado hops in place before being kicked, doubling him over.  AJ snaps off a quick swinging neckbreaker and rolls over to make the cover, but Dorado has rolled away! AJ forces him to crawl the distance and drapes his body across.

1...

...

2-NO!

AJ rolls off in frustration, but quickly grabs Dorado by the mask - forcing him to his feet or risk being unmasked.  AJ grabs the bad arm and wrings it, then hammerlocks it... he tries to grab the head for the DDT but Dorado drives the back of his head into AJ's jaw and they fall back against the ropes.  AJ still has the hammerlock applied though and he pivots back into the centre of the ri--

GANNOSUKE CLUTCH!

David Troy grabs his head in disbelief.

1...

...

2...

...

3-NO!

2.9!

Orville Newton drops to the ground, covering his head as the camera switches to AJ muttering "son of a bitch..." then to Dorado, who looks worn as all hell.  AJ staggers to his feet, falling to his knees a couple times before recovering.  He waits in the corner as Dorado climbs back up...

THEN MAKES HIS MOVE!

SUPERKICK!

It connects flush!

Dorado goes down! Troy is yelling at AJ to cover him, but Knight is on the opposite side of the ring and very disoriented.  Troy's directing him, AJ starts crawling... but then gets up to his feet.  He grabs Dorado by the mask and drops down, applying the Templar Stretch! The over-the-shoulder crossface! Orville Newton dashes around ringside, nearly tripping over Troy as he gets to the closest side to the two fighters inside the ring. 

Orville seems to be speaking in code, but whatever it is - Dorado's understanding it through the grimaces of pain.  He moves ever so slightly each time AJ tries to adjust, then finally...

ROLLS AJ INTO A PIN!

1...

...

2...

...

3-NO!

AGAIN ONLY TWO!

Someone who isn't is AJ Knight, who clubs down on Dorado repeatedly with forearms before wringing the arm...

HAMMERLOCKS IT!

Dorado struggles a bit, but AJ hits the DDT!

THE KNIGHTFALL CONNECTS!

1...

...

2...

...

3-DORADO KICKS OUT!

AJ's expression goes from jubilant to pure shock as he sees Thomas' two fingers staring him in the face.  He looks at Troy, but his newfound partner can't offer up an explanation either.  Orville Newton is biting his nails, while Shelzi wonders if the brief struggle during the trash talk from AJ allowed Dorado to reposition.  AJ starts driving forearms into Dorado's head until he exhausts himself - which at this stage of the match doesn't take long.  AJ pulls himself up and tries to drag Dorado with him, but falls on his behind.  He gets back up and tries again, dragging Dorado a bit further before falling again but this time, it's because he slung Dorado into the corner! AJ gets back up and rushes in, driving a shoulder to the midsection.  He pulls his upper body away and does it again, then grabs Dorado's thighs and lifts him up onto the top rope.  AJ hits him with a forearm as he starts to climb up, he gets onto the second rope, then one foot on the top, then the other...

HOOKS THE ARMS...

The crowd goes quiet!

AJ isn't happy with the grip and tries to readjust, but Dorado pops up and clocks him with an elbow! AJ falls off onto the mat below! Newton is jumping for joy, yelling at Dorado to do it! Dorado tries to navigate the top rope in his tired state, bringing his feet into proper position for the Golden Bird Splash proves to be a tedious effort.  AJ gets back up and smashes Dorado from behind, crotching him unintentionally.  The crowd gasps as AJ climbs through the ropes, then up the turnbuckle and hooks the arms again - but facing into the ring this time.  AJ notices he has to readjust Dorado's legs for this to work properly and gets the first one, but the second one is interrupted by the sound of the bell!

The crowd boos, AJ Knight's face expresses their disappointment way better than their vocalization.  David Troy gets up on the apron and tries to help AJ down, but Knight refuses the help.  He climbs down and grabs the title from the timekeeper's table and chucks it inside the ring.  Troy asks him what he's doing, but gets no response.  Newton falls over as he pulls Dorado down off the top rope, bringing both men to the mat.  Pollo Dorado kind of shoves him away as he sees his belt, struggling to get up.  He crawls to it, grabs it but AJ's foot prevents it from being picked up.  Dorado painfully climbs to his feet, meeting AJ eye to eye.  AJ offers up some words, but our crappy in-ring mics aren't picking it up.  AJ reaches down and picks up the belt, Ted Thomas tells him to hand it back and AJ offers it up.  Dorado goes to grab it, but AJ drops it.

AND FLIPS HIM OFF!

Dorado shakes his head as Knight leaves the ring, Troy greets him outside with a bottle of water and the duo walk to the back leaving Dorado to be attended to by medics.