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AEW BATTLE OF THE BELTS VI REPORT
APRIL 7, 2023
RECORDED AT THE RYAN CENTER IN KINGSTON, RI
AIRED ON TNT
REPORT BY PATRICK MOYNAHAN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur
Ring announcer: Dasha Gonzalez
– The opening of Rampage aired, and JR welcomed us to the show. Ross was joined by Excalibur, and Tony Schiavone.
(1) ORANGE CASSIDY (w/Best Friends) vs. Dralistico (w/Rush & José & Perro Peligroso) – International Championship
Dralistico took his time to get things started. The two locked up and worked at a fast back-and-forth pace. Dralistico took Cassidy to the outside who tried to regain his composure with the help of Best Friends. Cassidy slapped Dralistico across the chest, then bounced off the ropes before walking the top rope. Cassidy put his hand in his pocket then came off the top and calmly placed the other hand in the other pocket. Cassidy hit an arm drag, then a dropkick to knock Dralistico to the outside.Cassidy went to the top but Jose pulled him off. Both outside teams started to brawl until Dralistico flew over the top to wipe them all out. Best Friends and Rush and Peligroso fought up the ramp. [c]
Cassidy flew off the rope with a crossbody, then hit a Michinoku Driver for a close count. Cassidy followed up with a spinning DDT for another close count. Jose again distracted Cassidy but was knocked to the outside. Dralistico took advantage and hit a code breaker on Cassidy for two. Cassidy hit Stundog Millionaire, then went to the top. Dralistico cut him off and met Cassidy on the top rope The two battled back and forth with a series of forearms. Cassidy fired away with a number of shots until Dralistico hit a headbutt, then a hurricanrana. Dralistico locked in an arm submission but Cassidy wriggled to the ropes for the break.
Cassidy tried for Beach Break but Dralistico reversed it into the Canadian Destroyer then covered for two. Cassidy went to the outside and took out Jose with Orange Punch. Dralistico met Cassidy in the ring with a running kick, but Cassidy fired back with Orange Punch for the win.
WINNER: Orange Cassidy in 11:00
(Moynahan’s Take: Awesome title match and a great way to kick off the show. Cassidy continues his great run as International champ, and the interesting storyline of who will dethrone him continues.)
– After the match, Malaki Black was shown on the screen. He said he wasn’t done with Cassidy just yet as Buddy Murphy then approached the camera and challenged Cassidy for his title. [c]
– Lexy Nair was backstage with Mark Briscoe to talk about his recent loss to Samoa Joe at ROH Supercard of Honor. Briscoe didn’t want to talk about the loss but rather tonight’s Lucha Bros. title defense. Jay Lethal entered and told Briscoe he didn’t let anyone down. Lethal asked him why the two weren’t working together since that seemed logical. Briscoe shook Lethal’s hand until Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, and Sonjay Dutt appeared. Briscoe did not look happy.
(2) JADE CARGILL (w/Mark Sterling & Leyla Grey) vs. BILLIE STARKZ – TNT Championship
Cargill seemed to downplay Starkz from the start as Starkz slapped Cargill across the face. Cargill knocked Starkz down in return and nailed her with a number of shots in the corner. Cargill hit a backbreaker then spanked Starkz. Starkz fired right back and hit a double knee to the back of Cargill. Cargill caught Starkz and hit a fall away slam. Starkz got a boot in Cargill’s face but was quickly sent through the ropes to the outside. [c]
Cargill had Starkz locked in a headlock, then threw her to the mat. Starkz kicked away at Cargill as Jim Ross reminded us for what seemed like the fifteenth time that Starkz is only 18. Starkz knocked Cargill to the outside then followed her out. Cargill sent Starkz back inside but Starkz fired right back. Cargill was sent into the corner, then rolled up by Starkz for a close count. Starkz hit a flatliner then got another close count/ Starkz went to the top as the crowd cheered her name. She attempted a senton bomb but Cargill raised her knees. Starkz revered Jaded but Cargill hit her with a pump kick, then hit Jaded for the win.
WINNER: Jade Cargill in 9:00
– Taya Valkyrie came to the ring after the match. Jade swung at her with the TBS title but Taya moved and knocked Jade to the ground. Both hit the ring as Taya went for her own finisher, but Jade scurried to the outside.
(Moynahan’s Take: This may have been both Jade Cargil’’s longest and best match to date. Well done by both her and Starkz.)
– Alex Marvez was backstage and entered The Elite’s dressing room. Only Michael Nakazawa and Brandon Cutler were inside. Cutler said BCC were a bunch of bullies and said they needed to stand tall and not back down from the bullies. Nakazawa said “no more.” [c]
– Mark Henry was backstage on split screen with participants from tonight’s main event. QT Marshall said that it only made sense they would win tonight since Powerhouse Hobbs already beat Penta and Fenix in one-one matches. After Fenix and Penta spoke, Henry announced that it was time for the main event.
(3) LUCHA BROTHERS (w/Alex Abrahantes) vs. POWERHOUSE HOBBS & QT MARSHALL – ROH Tag Team Titles
Penta and Marshall kicked things off for their respective teams. Penta immediately got in Marshall’s face, who mocked Penta in return. Penta nailed Marshall in the stomach, then kicked him as the two traded reversals that ended in a stalemate. Marshall shoved Penta’s face. Penta slapped Marshall across the chest in return as Hobbs made the tag. Penta and Hobbs traded blows until Fenix nailed Hobbs from the apron. Hobbs accidentally rocked Marshall off the apron after Penta moved. Fenix flew off the top to take Hobbs out, then flew through the ropes and nailed Marshall with a tope. Hobbs stopped things in their tracks by knocking Penta to the mat, then slammed Fenix down hard. Fenix hit Marshall with a spinning back kick, then tagged in Penta who took it to both Hobbs and Marshall alone. Penta was taken down with a double shoulder tackle. [c]
Hobbs had Penta on the mat, who tried making a tag to Fenix but Marshall took him off the apron in time. Hobbs and Marshall double teamed Penta inside the ring. Marshall hit a powerbomb and went for the pin but it was broken up by Fenix. Penta hit Marshall with the Sling Blade, then hit double knees to the back of Hobbs. Penta tagged Fenix who took out both Marshall and Hobbs by himself. Lucha Bros. double teamed Marshall, and Fenix covered for a close two count.
Penta made the tag and flew off the top with a crossbody. Penta hit a DDT with the help of Fenix. Fenix flew off the top with a splash, then covered, which was broken up by Hobbs. Marshall hit a springboard kick but got a kick of his own by Fenix. Penta hit another backstabber but Marshall hit him with a Diamond Cutter. Fenix followed up on Marshall with a code red. Hobbs made the tag and went toe-to-toe with Penta. The two traded blows until Hobbs poked Penta’s eyes.
Fenix walked the top rope and kicked Hobbs across the face. Luch Bros. then hit Hobbs with a double team as Fenix came off the top and Penta took out Marshall with a Destroyer. Hobbs kicked out of the pin attempt as Lucha Bros’ hit a double superkick on him. Hobbs fired back by taking out both Lucha Bros. Marshall tagged back in and was met with a spin kick by Fenix. Fenix went back to the top as Aaron Solo distracted from the apron. Alex Abrahantes made the save but the rest of the QTV crew took out Abrahantes. Marshall rolled Fenix up then hooked the ropes but Fenix kicked out. Hobbs powerbombed Penta across the apron as Fenix rolled up Marshall inside the ring for the win.
WINNERS: Lucha Bros. in 15:00
(Moynahan’s Take: A really great main event to end a strong two hours of wrestling. While I never truly doubted the Lucha Bros. coming away with the win, I admit there were moments I was ready to be shocked with where this may end up going.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: A nice hour of wrestling, but when coupled with tonight’s Rampage, this show wrapped up a really strong live two-hour block. I credit the crowd for staying loud for most of the night, especially after sitting through a ROH taping prior to Rampage. This may just end up being one of my favorite Battle of Belt shows, which I realize isn’t saying much, but I think the live atmosphere is the right way to go here; especially if AEW continues to refuse to build these shows up with any fanfare. Until the next BoTBs, stay safe everyone!
This is one-third of a report of the first third (only) of the show. Someone is asleep at the switch (reported this yesterday and it was ignored, so trying again).