7/13/2024 - Grand Rapids, Michigan

In the evening's opening lightning bout, SANGRE tried to start things off with an advantage but attacking the... "eyes" of NEXUS.  However, Dr. Victor Turing's creation countered with his super strength and then snapmared SANGRE to the back, delivering a kick to the back.  SANGRE arched up in pain and got right in NEXUS' face, doubling him over with a cheap shot knee to the lower abdomen/possibly a low blow.  SANGRE followed with a series of kicks, chopping the AI down to the mat.  SANGRE rushed out to the apron and climbed up top, he leapt off looking for a meteora but NEXUS caught him and punished him with an Atomic Drop!

As the match reached the five minute mark, SANGRE trapped NEXUS in a Dragon sleeper and tried to move him down to the mat.  NEXUS fought it hard and countered, powering SANGRE up onto his shoulders and executing a body slam! SANGRE once again felt the pain in his back, but fought through it... only to run into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker! With SANGRE writhing in pain on the mat, Dr. Victor Turing called for things to finish! NEXUS grabbed SANGRE and tried to apply his own Dragon sleeper variation, the Data Drain but SANGRE kneed his way out of it.  With NEXUS staggered, SANGRE scored with a rolling koppu kick then a running knee strike as NEXUS was down! SANGRE climbed up top and waited until NEXUS was up... then leapt off with a huracanrana! He nailed it with beautiful precision and kept hold for the pin, but NEXUS countered at two and scored the three!

SANGRE got up livid, questioning Gideon Dube's count and then stormed over to NEXUS - backing him into the corner.  He admired NEXUS' body suit and then aggressively slapped him on the chest, congratulating him in Spanish before leaving. 

AJ Knight vs. Roy Vezina last fought in November 2023 when Knight was the cruiserweight champion and Vezina 'stole' El Cerdo Mostaza's title shot for himself.  This encounter kicked off with some technical skills on display.  Knight, the veteran, took control early and arm dragged Vezina to the mat before applying an arm lock to ground his younger foe.  Keeping the hold applied, Knight began transitioning in an approach to weaken Vezina's arm.  Vezina struggled to find his way out of this predicament, only making himself frustrated with every attempt.  Despite this, he created some space by clamping on some headscissors and sending AJ to the mat.  However, the former champion immediately responded by putting Vezina back down to the mat with a drop toe hold.

Vezina was clearly not enjoying AJ's technical dominance and took a walk around ringside, inviting the jeers of the Grand Rapids crowd.  Attempting to shift momentum into his favour, Vezina resorted to underhanded tactics, like using the ropes for leverage during submission holds and eye pokes when Gideon Dube's view was obstructed. Each time, Knight thwarted these attempts with precision and quick thinking. A pivotal moment came when Vezina tried to execute a sneaky low blow, only for Knight to catch his hand and transition into a hammerlock. Knight then executed a bridging German suplex, which nearly resulted in a pinfall.

Vezina left the ring again, tipping over some chairs at ringside and pointing angrily at a fan who yelled at him.  Vezina grabbed the rail and threatened him, but AJ Knight got tired of waiting inside the ring and came out after him.  Canada's Finest Export grabbed a chair and threw at AJ's feet, trying to trip him up - and did so to a degree.  Roy Vezina got back in the ring and tried to remove the turnbuckle pad, but referee Gideon Dube put a stop to that.  Vezina grabbed AJ as he came inside the ring and whipped him into the ropes, he tried his running 12-6 elbow but AJ countered it into a crossface! Vezina's grunts and groans let everyone know that the earlier work on the arm was not making this a pleasant experience, but the self-proclaimed Mr. Canada made his way to the ropes to force a break. 

With five minutes left in the bout, Vezina curled up under the bottom rope and claimed his arm was hurt.  Dr. Nick Pierson came by to check him out, but AJ Knight was not having it and dragged Vezina back into the ring.  Vezina nailed a cheap shot on AJ and then dashed forward, clutching AJ's hair as he leapt over the top rope and brought the Crusader throat first down over the top rope! Vezina laughed at the fans booing him at ringside and climbed back onto the apron, slowly reentering the ring now in firm control.  He stalked AJ, waiting for him to get up and hurled himself at the Crusader's head/neck with a double axe handle smash.  With AJ down, Vezina used his forearm to saw back and forth over the bridge of AJ's nose.  He then got up and dropped a knee on it, forcing AJ to roll out of the ring.  Vezina climbed up top and offered no reprieve, driving another double axe handle down on AJ as he attempted to recuperate!

Vezina didn't send AJ back inside the ring immediately though, he once again jawed with fans before Gideon Dube came out as Marvelle announced two minutes left in the match.  Dube told Vezina to get things back inside.  Vezina argued, then shoved Dube who backed up a step... then shoved Roy! The crowd erupted as Vezina fell on his ass and got up, livid and right in Dube's face, threatening to clock him! Dube reminded him of the referee shirt... but before he cold reply, Knight hit Vezina from behind and knocked him into the ring apron! The crowd chanted along as AJ smashed his head against it five times before grabbing Vezina's arm and wrapping it around the bottom rope, he then put his foot against the ring and cranked back.  Dube counted to four and AJ relented, shoving Vezina back inside the ring.  With Canada's Finest Export in a bad way, Knight slides and stomps on the arm, then tries to apply the Templar Stretch - the over-the-shoulder crossface... but Vezina rolls sideways and brings AJ with him!

1...

...

2...

...

3!

The fans boo as Vezina steals the victory in the closing minute of the match.  AJ watches as Vezina raises his good arm in victory, clutching the bad one to his chest. 

Kalidah catches Newton with the mandible claw! He drives him to the mat and Newton is fading, but AJ's assistance helps Newton swing a leg over the bottom rope and break up the hold.  Newton rolls out of the ring on the adjacent side, hoping to buy himself a few moments...

WAIT!

AJ Knight gets struck from behind by...

Harv Norris and Rick Hull!?

Indeed, two thirds of the Punch Line begin pummelling AJ Knight.  Newton is still recovering as referee Tubby Thomas abandons his count and goes out to help the security break up the fracas at ringside.  Kalidah stands with his hands on his hips...

He gets spun around!

BUT BLOCKS ROY VEZINA'S SHOT WITH THE PUCK!

Kalidah thumps Vezina with a throat thrust, knocking him to the mat and scrambling out under the ropes.  Kalidah follows hi--

VEZINA SPRAYS HIM WITH A WATER BOTTLE!

Kalidah falls to the mat clutching his face, writhing in pain on the mat.  Newton has since crawled back in, Vezina storms as Lotte grabs his bad arm! He turns and threatens to hit her, but she falls down! The Punch Line are being escorted out by security and AJ Knight, seeing the situation...

Newton looks at AJ, then the crowd... who are just as mixed as he is.  One, it's the bad, bad Kalidah but two, he seems to be in some serious pain.  AJ shouts again and Newton shakes his head no and tells Thomas that Kalidah is injured! Thomas quickly checks on him, calls for Dr. Nick Pierson and the two quickly call for the bell.  Thomas and Mason Marvelle convene, then Marvelle takes the microphone.

Newton yanks Marvelle's arm down, apologizes, then whispers something into his ear...

The fans boo, but there are some that admire Orville Newton's sportsmanship.  AJ Knight grabs Newton and ushers him out of the ring, looking at Kalidah a few times as medical staff work to remove his mask.  You can hear Newton repeatedly say, "I can't win like that!" as the clip fades. 

1. NEXUS beat SANGRE by pinfall in 7:09 with a huracanrana cutback cradle.

2. Roy Vezina beat AJ Knight by pinfall in 14:47 with

3. King of Iron Championship: Kalidah vs. Orville Newton ended in a no contest in 12:03 when Kalidah was injured, Newton refused the victory.