The Triple Threader - Jul. 17, 2023
Welcome to the Triple Threader, covering the three stories from the world of professional wrestling.
Paul Heyman laid out after a superkick from Jey Uso. (Courtesy: WWE)
Get your (Super)Kicks
It was a fairly eventful week in the WWE. On SmackDown, Jey Uso is still on the prowl for Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns to avenge the attack he and Solo Sikoa orchestrated on his twin Jimmy. Expecting to hear from the Tribal Chief, he was instead interrupted by Solo and Special Counsel Paul Heyman, leading to a wild brawl that would send the Enforcer reeling and put Wiseman on his back via a superkick. Meanwhile, WWE Women’s Champion Asuka survives Bianca Belair and an attempted cash-in by IYO SKY, while on RAW tonight, Brock Lesnar is scheduled to return for Cody Rhodes’ challenge.
FTR and Bullet Club Gold square off. (Courtesy: All Elite Wrestling)
The Hart to Fight
AEW had a busy week of their own, with a tag team classic, and two Owen Hart winners. First, the impromptu team of Adam Cole and AEW World Champion MJF advanced to the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament, and they will compete against Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara in the final. A win out of that matchup will send the victors to an AEW World Tag Team Title shot against FTR on Collision in two weeks. Speaking of the champs and Collision, they successfully defended their belts against Bullet Club Gold (Switchblade Jay White and Juice Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 falls match that went on for 58 minutes, and is being touted as one of the best tag team title matches this year. Men’s and Women’s Owen Hart Tournament winners were also crowned as Ricky Starks and Willow Nightingale took home their respective crowns.
Trinity triumphantly lifting the Knockouts World Title. (Courtesy: Impact Wrestling)
Legal to get wild
Impact Wrestling’s Slammiversary was one for history books, as 5 title changes took place on the event that commemorates the company’s 21st anniversary. Kenny King became the new Digital Media Champion, Lio Rush beat Chris Sabin for the X Division Title, SUBCULTURE (Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster) were crowned new Tag Team Champs by virtue of their four-way win, Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly defeated The Coven for the Knockouts Tag Titles, and Trinity put away Deonna Purrazzo to become the new Knockouts World Champion. The one person that survived the swarm of title changes was Impact World Champion Alex Shelley, who defeated former champion Nick Aldis in the main event.