8/21/2023: Pollo Dorado II (Mask) vs. AJ Knight (Hair)

There's a hush as the lights go down.

Cheers!

We get the announcers discussing how both seconds have been banned from ringside for this match and the camera cuts to a picture-in-picture of David Troy and Orville Newton, Knight and Dorado's seconds respectively, sitting together watching the screen.

Simple Plan's "Me Against the World" hits and AJ Knight storms out from the back to a mixed reaction, one that doesn't bother a man with a purpose.  He marches down the aisle, dropping his ring jacket in his path and climbs up onto the apron, steps through the ropes and motions to get things rolling.  Simple Plan fades out and Metallica begins, the stage hands begin assembling an elaborate display but Pollo Dorado II pulls himself out of the back, his cape being tugged and torn off as he escapes.  He looks out at the crowd and really soaks it in as the stage crew behind him looks confused.  He looks down, admiring his title and seems to tell himself he's ready and sprints down to the ring.  He slides into the ring, all the way to AJ almost as if he's daring his rival to take a shot before the bell.  AJ looks tempted, but he opts not to and Dorado is backed up into the corner by Ted Thomas without issue.

The mixed response doesn't interrupt his staredown with Dorado across the ring.

Dorado unfastens his belt and raises it high, chucking it to Thomas who catches it like he's a pro.  Thomas raises the title...

Ted Thomas waves and signals for the bell.  The two men circle around the ring as the duelling chants grow louder, with both fighter's section trying to outdo the other's.  The first lock-up results in a stalemate, Dorado drops to his knees to attempt a takedown but Knight relinquishes the collar-and-elbow tie-up and backs off, telling the cruiserweight champion to get back on his feet.  Dorado springs up, charging at AJ with a lock-up that puts both men on the ropes.  Thomas calls for a break and Dorado holds it for a few seconds, teasing that he might strike down on AJ... but psyches him out! AJ flinches, inadvertently poking Dorado in the eye! Dorado staggers away and AJ seizes the day, grabbing Dorado and yanking him down to the mat with a chin lock.  With Dorado's eyes blinking rapidly, AJ transitions into a cross armbreaker but Dorado is expertly defending it despite not being able to see everything that's going on.  Dorado "walks" across the mat while stuck in the hold and kicks AJ in the head!

As the two scramble back to a vertical base, AJ tries to grab him from behind but eats an elbow to the midsection.  They separate, but AJ fires off an elbow that gets returned in kind! Knight stumbles back and Dorado's cocked and loaded, but AJ quickly gains control and dumps himself onto the apron and lands on his feet on the floor, taking a walk.  Dorado tries to go out after him, but Thomas tries to keep things under control and calmly orders him back.  AJ swoops in and executes an ankle pick as Dorado is protesting, putting the champion in a leg lock.  Dorado fires off a couple inside forearm shots, which must've connected nicely as AJ abandons his strategy completely, jumping into side control but Dorado's kick once again serves as a stand-up as the champion rolls to his feet.  The two men compose themselves, seemingly recognizing simultaneously what is actually at stake here.  They lock-up, AJ grabs a front chancery as Dorado tries to push him off.  Dorado manages to spin out, leaps up and brings AJ down to the mat with a headscissors takedown! Dorado's legs are firmly wrapped around AJ's head, squeezing as he pushes off the mat.  AJ grimaces, but tries to remain calm as he scouts the location of the ring ropes then opts to try and stand up, but Dorado bridges... and whisks AJ back down to the mat with the hold still applied! Undeterred, AJ fights back up again and tries to stack Dorado, pinning his shoulders to the mat but Dorado rotates ever so clean and essentially huracanranas him! AJ is released from the hold as a result, bounces to his feet and grabs the ropes to control his momentum.  He then rushes, but Dorado dodges and trips him, a drop toe hold into the middle turnbuckle! AJ drops to the mat and rolls under the ropes for safety, but Dorado isn't playing this game and rushes in... dropkicking AJ out underneath the bottom rope! AJ hits the floor with a thud as Thomas dresses down the champion, not approving of the actions whatsoever. 

Dorado pushes Thomas aside and exits the ring, grabbing AJ and slamming him into the ring apron.  He then lifts him up and stuffs him back inside, then climbs up and through the r-no! AJ grabs a leg and kicks Dorado in the hamstring, then steps backward into the centre of the ring still holding the leg.  With Dorado hopping in place, he tries an enzuigiri but AJ easily ducks it and then slaps on a single leg crab hold! AJ inititally sits on the small of Dorado's back, but gets up and presses his knee down against the lower back.  Shelzi points out that it's like an anchor, as AJ's body weight is all focused on the knee in the back.  Dorado has to try and power out, knocking AJ off balance or claw his way to the ropes.  Hewitt responds that he's kind of doing both as we see Dorado alternating between the methods.  AJ stands up, steps over and applies a toe hold, then reaches up for the facelock... STF! With his right arm, AJ torques on Dorado's head... but his left arm hammers across his opponent's masked face! AJ relents, releasing the toe hold, but quickly grabs the left arm and tries to apply the Templar Stretch... but Dorado grabs hold of the ropes.  AJ gets up, grabs Dorado's leg and tries to drag him into the middle of the ring but gets upkicked!

Dorado tries to quickly back roll to his feet, but AJ dashes across and greets him with a rolling elbow smash! AJ uses his left hand to hold Dorado's face in place, then his right to drive the elbow strikes into the jaw/neck area.  He then spots Dorado's left arm hanging over the top rope, so he grabs it between the ropes and plants his foot on the middle rope for extra leverage.  Dorado grunts in pain as Thomas begins the five count, AJ's eyes are other worldly as Thomas reaches five and produces a yellow card! AJ releases it, takes a few steps back and starts to proceed again.  However, Thomas tells him he'll red card him if he doesn't back the hell up! The crowd pops and AJ's defiant nature wants so badly to defy, but he has to play it smart and back up.  Dorado clutches his arm as he leans against the turnbuckles, staring across the ring at AJ Knight.  Knight beckons him on.

Dorado doesn't bite, he pulls a page out of AJ's textbook and leans back against the ropes, props his feet up and sticks his good arm behind his head.  The crowd laughs as AJ's patience is tested, he looks at Thomas and you can almost see the out-of-body experience going on as Knight's body struggles to stay put.  Thomas yells at Dorado, telling him to fight or he's issuing a card.  Dorado shrugs, and Thomas holds true - a yellow card for Dorado also!

A Pollo Bucket official yells at Ted Thomas from ringside, giving AJ enough time to freely attack Dorado without recourse.  Dorado however grabs him and applies a hanging armbar! The crowd oohs as AJ has to quickly work, climbing the ropes and dumping him and Dorado both out to the apron and the floor to prevent serious injury.  On the floor, the two trade slaps to the face.  Knight gets up and knees Dorado in the midsection, then grabs the back of his head and slams him off the timekeeper's table.  Dorado rests for a second, but grabs a stack of papers and chucks it up - Dorado then grabs AJ and dings his head off the ring bell.  Ted Thomas is out, trying to restore order as the Pollo Bucket officials are beginning to crowd the scene also.  The original Pollo Dorado is shown still seated, but watching intently.  A group of security members and police officers come to ringside and apprehend the Pollo Bucket officials as Thomas refocuses on the match at hand, the crowd is loving this!

Separate shots of Dorado and AJ show both men struggling to their feet.  AJ has been bloodied up a bit, while Dorado has a tear in his mask from striking the table.  Both men climb back inside the ring, but it's the champion who gets in first.  He grabs AJ in a front chancery, hooks an arm and hauls him up and over for a half hatch suplex.  He floats over and transitions, turning it into a crucifix hold... but instead of a pin, Dorado brings his knee up and blasts AJ in the head! One knee has AJ discombobulated, as the challenger wrangles his arm free of Dorado's legs and...

TEMPLAR STRETCH

BY POLLO DORADO!

The crowd pops as the wobbled AJ Knight is placed in his own signature submission hold! Blood drips the visible portion of his face as many fans scream for him to tap while others respond with "NO!" AJ is shaking his head at Thomas' questioning, trying to use his free arm to turn his body toward the ropes...

Indeed, a replay shows Dorado readjusting his grip and AJ taking a finger into his mouth and chomping down.  Dorado tries to fight through the pain, cranking the hold but inadvertently falls over with AJ on top!

1...

...

2...

NO!

The announcers discuss on Thomas doesn't have the virtue of instant replay like they do at the desk, so the biting will likely slide.  AJ quickly applies a Templar Stretch of his own! Dorado's bad arm is over the shoulder! Dorado clutches the back of his mask and then digs in, trying to crawl to the ropes.  He comes within inches as AJ gets up, stomps on the arm several times and drags him back into the centre, applying a Fujiwara armbar and then slyly transitioning back into the Stretch! A commotion in the aisle as Orville Newton charges down, slinking through security.  He has a white towel in his hands and he raises it... as the crowd shouts "NO!" and the kid looks very conflicted.  AJ yells at him, too, but the audio doesn't pick it up cleanly.  Ted Thomas steps toward the ropes, telling Newton he has to go to the back.  Newton nods and tucks the towel into his pocket as he backs up the aisle.  Dorado's arm reaches out toward Orville, but then he tucks it close to his body...

DORADO ROLLS IT INTO A CRADLE!

1...

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2...

...

3-NO!

2.9!

Newton nearly jumped out of his boots in the aisle, but falls to his knees realizing it was only a two count!

AJ gets up and clamps on a front chancery, but Dorado charges him back into the corner turnbuckles! AJ briefly lets go, but clamps down again and hops onto the second rope...

TORNADO DDT!

Dizzy and tired, AJ falls to a knee as he grabs Dorado and pulls him back up to his knees.  He grabs the arm, hammerlocks it...

DDT!

The Knightfall connects!

AJ lays there for a moment, then forces whatever's left in his body to roll over and cover, he pulls at the tights to hook a leg!

1...

...

2...

...

3-NO!

ARM ON THE ROPE!

AJ slaps the arm down and covers again, forgetting the leg.

1...

...

2...

...

LEG ON THE ROPE!

AJ shakes his head, pulls Dorado up by the mask and nearly trips but gets his balance and plants him with another Knightfall DDT! AJ hops over and immediately applies another Templar Stretch! 

He goes to crank back...

The crowd goes quiet!

Thomas tells AJ to break it!

DORADO TAPPED!

AJ is in disbelief! He doesn't know what to do with himself, seemingly wanting to inflict more punishment but suddenly overcome with emotion.  He rolls over and buries his head into the mat as Mason Marvelle hands Thomas the belt and the referee hands it to AJ, who takes it without looking.  Orville Newton stands shocked in the aisle, but hurriedly rushes the ring and checks on his mentor.  The original Pollo Dorado is shown getting up and leaving in a huff. 

AJ is up and holding his title, yelling at Dorado to get up and take it off.  Newton tries to interject, but is shot down by both men.  Dorado gets up and falls back against the ropes, clutching his arm to his torso.  He asks Newton to undo the mask, reassuring him it's OK.  AJ stands smiling, but clearly in some pain of his own.  Newton has the mask fully unlaced and Dorado reaches up and yanks it off...

AJ's "I knew it!" echoes throughout the venue as the crowd breaks into a "MATT!" chant which AJ can only shake his head at.  Knight tells him to give him the mask, so Pulver stands up off the ropes...

AND CHUCKS IT INTO THE CROWD!

Clutching his other arm to himself, he smirks at AJ and exits as security forms at ringside to escort him out. Knight is left kinda speechless in the moment as Newton hurries behind his mentor.  David Troy passes the duo in the aisle and slides in, congratulating AJ on the win and towels off his face and hair.  He then raises AJ's arm in victory, but can't help but look at the World's Cruiserweight Championship dangling between them.