Sudden title defence sees Davis and Fletcher to V1
After injuries and travel woes put paid to Hiroshi Tanahashi and TJP’s appearances in Philadelphia on April 16, Collision in Philadelphia saw an impromptu STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship defence, Aussie Open taking on Lio Rush and Tomohiro Ishii.
Rush would start with Mark Davis, and after the Bad Child avoided early contact against both Dunkzilla and Kyle Fletcher, a heavy chop sent Rush to tagging Ishii; Rush would come back in too early however, and the champions took firm control of the junior heavyweight.
Rush tried time and again to fight from his knees, and when Rush was thrown by Davis to the CHAOS corner, Ishii insisted that his partner fight back on his own power. After a flurry of strikes and signature evasiveness, Rush was eventually able to earn his tag to the Stone Pitbull, and Ishii tore into both of Aussie Open.
A big knee from the Aussie Arrow to Ishii would stop the challengers’ offensive rally, and the champions sent their challengers back to back on the outside. Fletcher had designs on a quebrada to the floor, but Davis would save his partner from himself, only for Rush to hop in with a top rope frankensteiner. Taking advantage, Ishii used his partner as a literal weapon as they had Aussie Open on the back foot, but Dental Plan landed on Rush, who again had to get creative to bring Ishii back in against Davis.
Ishii and Davis traded stinging chops in the center to the roars of the 2300 Arena; Ishii landed the Vertical Drop Brainbuster, but his leg gave way in the process and a pinfall wasn’t forthcoming. Knowing his partner was in danger, Rush hit the ring and dove to Fletcher to try and create distance; moments later a flying elbow to Davis set Ishii up for a very near fall at the 15 minute mark.
Dunkzilla and the Stone Pitbull continued to trade, each knocking the other down as Rush brought himself back in. Fletcher interjected himself leading Davis to set for Close Your Eyes, but Ishii would break things up, and Rush capitalised with Final Hour, a last minute desperation breakup preventing the three count being rendered. ‘Fight forever’ chants rang out in the arena, as Rush nearly got three from a schoolboy on Fletcher; Ishii broke up a Corealis attempt at the 20 minute mark and set for a brainbuster but was countered into the Grimstone. Close Your Eyes landed on Rush, and then Corealis brought Aussie Open to V1.
