Adam Cole defeats Tomohiro Ishii with Jay White’s assistance

On the back of the announcement of AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door this week, AEW Rampage saw a preview of June 26’s action in Chicago, as Adam Cole of the ‘Undisputed Elite’ took on CHAOS’ Tomohiro Ishii for a place in the Owen hart Foundation tournament. 

Ishii, seconded by Orange Cassidy and Rocky Romero, was quick to take down Cole, and met the arrogant star’s taunts with a hard elbow. Ishii kept up the offence out on the floor, but a lariat would meet the steel ringpost to give Cole the advantage. Cole would keep up the pressure with a big neckbreaker, but elbow shots to Ishii in the corner proved to be a grave mistake. 

A powerslam connected for Ishii, as did a high and tight back suplex for two. Cole would fight out of a powerbomb and landed an Ushigoroshi to get space, but he couldn’t keep Ishii down for long, falling prey to a delayed second rope superplex. Showing his toughness, Cole kicked out of the move, and a sliding lariat to boot, before countering a Vertical Drop Brainbuster with the Last Call for two. 

Ishii would roar in the face of a thrust kick follow up, and concussive blows saw both men down. First to his feet, Ishii signalled for the Vertical Drop, but was distracted when jay White made his way to ringside, and threw Romero into the ring steps. As the referee’s attention was diverted, Cole hit White’s rival Ishii with a low blow, and then the Boom to the back of the head for three.