WRESTLING ASCENSION XXV: “CROWN THE STARS”
The grandest stage for modern-day gladiators. 25 events in the making, this is where careers change, legacies are defined, and new stars are crowned.
🔓 Opening Video Package
A cinematic video blends real footage and stylized animation. Narrated by a gravelly voice, it showcases the road each wrestler took to get here:
- Will Ospreay’s international dominance
- Hangman’s heart, scars, and title redemption
- Swerve’s rebellion vs Drew’s entitlement
- DIY’s climb back from injury hell
- CM Punk vs Cody: “The voice vs the heir.”
Cue pyro in a packed 20,000-seat stadium. Drones hover above creating symbols of Ospreay’s wings and Hangman’s noose.
Match 1: Konosuke Takeshita vs Santos Escobar
Strong Style vs Lucha Libre; a perfect clash of foundations.
- The match starts technical, both testing grips and takedowns.
- Escobar gains the early edge, using quick leg kicks and a springboard armdrag.
- Takeshita absorbs the pain and responds with stiff forearms and a devastating release German Suplex that sends Escobar flipping.
Mid-match highlight: Escobar attempts a top-rope hurricanrana, but Takeshita catches him mid-air and powerbombs him onto his knee.
Climax:
Escobar rallies with a sudden Phantom Driver, but only gets a two-count. As he climbs for a Frog Splash, Takeshita sprints up the ropes and nails a Super Blue Thunder Bomb, followed by a brutal Running Knee Strike.
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita (15:44)
Match 2: Malakai Black vs Killer Kross
A battle shrouded in darkness and aura. Entrance lights go out and return with a single spotlight.
- Black sits cross-legged in the ring as Kross walks in slowly, Scarlett watching from ringside.
- They begin in a Muay Thai clinch, exchanging knee strikes and low kicks.
- Kross powers Black into the corner with a running Saito Suplex.
Spot: Kross tries for the Doomsday Saito on the apron, but Black escapes with a snap elbow to the jaw and hits double knees off the top.
Finale: Kross signals for the Kross Jacket, but Malakai spins out and lands a Black Mass out of nowhere. Kross staggers, and a second Black Mass ends it.
Winner: Malakai Black (12:30)
Match 3: AJ Styles vs LA Knight
“Phenomenal” meets “Megastar”—crowd absolutely split.
- AJ controls early with chain wrestling and targeting LA’s knee.
- LA fights back with power slams and crowd-popping “YEAH!” taunts.
- Styles begins to show frustration, mocking Knight’s charisma.
High Spot: Knight hits a top-rope superplex followed by a springboard shoulder tackle. Near fall.
Styles responds: Calf Crusher locked in tight. Knight screams, almost taps, but powers out into a roll-up!
Final minute:
AJ dodges the BFT, runs the ropes, and hits a perfectly timed Phenomenal Forearm.
Winner: AJ Styles (13:10)
Match 4: Randy Orton vs Kenny Omega
A battle of cunning minds and deadly precision.
- Early mind games: Orton rolls out after every Omega flurry.
- Omega fires up with chops and a Kotaro Krusher. Orton targets the shoulder, tossing Omega into the steps.
- Crowd is hot—both men playing to their strengths.
Spots:
- Omega hits a Snap Dragon on the apron.
- Orton counters a V-Trigger with a mid-air RKO—but Kenny barely rolls out.
Finish: Omega lifts for One-Winged Angel, Orton slips behind and nails a second RKO, this time from the second rope.
Winner: Randy Orton (17:00)
🌀 Match 5: Ricochet vs Rey Mysterio
A mentor vs student dream match. Respectful but emotional.
- Opening minute = standing ovation. Ricochet hugs Rey, then slaps him—friendly fire.
- Chain lucha transitions. Ricochet springboards twice into a corkscrew elbow. Rey responds with 619 + West Coast Pop.
Spot of the night: Ricochet hits a reverse poison rana, and Rey lands on his feet—huge pop.
Climax:
Ricochet lands a Phoenix Splash, but Rey kicks out at 2. Ricochet hits a clean 630 Splash for the win.
Winner: Ricochet (14:20)
Match 6: Trios Title — Wardlow, Sammy Guevara & Jack Perry (c) vs Balor, Bronson Reed, Kyle Fletcher
- The action breaks down early. Sammy moonsaults to the outside, while Reed squashes Wardlow through the barricade.
- Kyle shines with fast-paced reversals and a massive Dragon Suplex on Perry.
- Balor mocks Guevara with shotgun dropkicks, but eats a Spanish Fly.
Ending Chaos:
- Reed hits Tsunami on Wardlow. Balor sets up Coup De Grace—but Guevara shoves him off.
- Perry tags in and counters a powerbomb into Killswitch on Kyle Fletcher.
Winners: Wardlow, Guevara & Jack Perry (STILL Champions) (11:45)
Match 7: TLC — DIY (c) vs Young Bucks
- A pure war. Ciampa throws Matt Jackson into a pyramid of chairs.
- Nick walks the top rope, moonsaults off the ladder through a table onto Gargano.
- DIY brings out the old-school vibes—slingshot DDTs, tag finishers.
Big Spot:
- Nick hits a 450 Splash off a 15-foot ladder onto Ciampa through two tables.
Finish:
- DIY handcuff Matt to the turnbuckle. Johnny climbs while Nick fights him one-handed.
- Fairy Tale Ending on a ladder, and DIY grab the belts.
Winners: DIY (STILL Champions) (22:10 – MOTN contender)
Match 8: Tag Gauntlet (#1 Contenders)
Order:
- Andrade & Speedball
- Motor City Machine Guns
- War Raiders
- Roddy & Kyle
- Brody King & Buddy
Key Spots:
- Speedball hits a double moonsault but gets taken out by MCMG’s Skull & Bones.
- War Raiders run wild with slams and splashes, but Kyle’s triangle choke eliminates them.
- Final = House of Black vs UE: Murphy’s Law + Lariat combo ends it.
Winners: Brody King & Buddy Matthews (Total time: 18:30)
☠️ Match 9: Swerve Strickland vs Drew McIntyre
Loser Leaves the Company – Career vs Career
Background:
Swerve: a rebel king who clawed his way to the top.
Drew: a fallen warrior desperate to hold on. This is personal.
Entrance:
- Swerve walks in with a live hip-hop performance, draped in black and gold.
- Drew enters in a long warrior’s cloak with a sword, not smiling once.
Match Begins:
- They immediately brawl—no collar-and-elbow tie-up, just fists.
- Swerve lands a House Call kick 90 seconds in—Drew rolls out.
- Drew slams Swerve onto the announce table and yells, “This is MY company!”
Mid-match:
- Drew goes for a Claymore, Swerve ducks and hits a rolling flatliner.
- Swerve lands a 450 Splash for a near fall. Crowd is going wild.
- Scarlett reappears on the ramp (distraction). The ref looks at her.
Climax:
- Swerve has Drew in position for the JML Driver—Drew rakes his eyes!
- Ref misses it. Drew pulls out brass knuckles hidden in his trunks and clocks Swerve.
- Claymore Kick—1, 2, 3. Crowd gasps. Silence.
Winner: Drew McIntyre (16:50)
Swerve lies motionless. Fans chant “Thank you Swerve” as Drew walks up the ramp without looking back.
🎭 Match 10: CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes
“The Voice of the Voiceless” vs “The Heir to the Throne”
A battle of ideologies, legacy, and ego.
Background Package:
- Punk mocks Cody’s legacy in promos, saying, “You were born into a kingdom I burned down.”
- Cody declares: “I don’t just fight for my name—I fight to honor this sport.”
Entrance:
- Cody enters with a custom gold-and-white coat and pyro.
- Punk wears the classic ROH trunks, looking dead serious.
Match Breakdown:
- Slow, psychological pacing early. Punk toys with Cody—slaps him, calls him “Dusty’s biggest mistake.”
- Cody erupts and takes Punk down with mounted punches.
- They trade Figure Fours, Cross Rhodes attempts, and Punk’s Anaconda Vice.
Emotional Peak:
- Cody hits two Cross Rhodes, and the crowd thinks it’s over—kickout at 2.999.
- Punk low blows Cody while the ref checks a dislodged turnbuckle.
Finish:
- Punk lifts Cody and lands a GTS, but it’s not enough. He grabs Cody’s weight belt, smacks him with it while the ref is distracted again, and hits a second GTS.
Winner: CM Punk (20:00)
Punk smirks, sits cross-legged next to Cody’s fallen body, soaking in boos and applause.
💎 Match 11: Kevin Owens (c) vs Kazuchika Okada vs Adam Cole vs Damian Priest
Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4-Way
Fast-Paced Chaos:
- Owens and Cole brawl out of the gate, continuing their old feud.
- Okada and Priest have a staredown. Priest gains control early, slamming Cole with South of Heaven.
- KO cannonballs Okada and follows with a moonsault, but Cole superkicks him mid-air!
Spot Madness:
- Cole hits a Panama Sunrise on Priest onto a chair.
- Okada dropkicks Cole out of the ring and lands a top-rope elbow onto Owens.
- Rainmaker pose—Owens stuns him! 1…2… Cole breaks it.
Finish:
- KO sets up Cole for a package piledriver on the apron. Priest interrupts with a Razor’s Edge onto the barricade.
- Inside the ring, Okada counters Priest’s South of Heaven into a short-arm Rainmaker, then hits a second spinning variant.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada (NEW Intercontinental Champion) (19:30)
Confetti blasts. The crowd gives a standing ovation. Owens sits on the floor, nodding respectfully.
🎇 MAIN EVENT: Hangman Adam Page (c) vs Will Ospreay – World Championship
The Final Chapter: The Workhorse vs The Sky King
Video Promo:
- Ospreay: “I’m not the future—I’m the best NOW.”
- Hangman: “This title saved me. You’ll have to kill me to take it.”
Entrances:
- Hangman enters on horseback to a country remix of his theme.
- Ospreay walks in with winged robes, dragon pyro shooting above him.
Match Start:
- Dueling chants. Ospreay hits a quick OsCutter in the first 2 minutes for a near fall.
- Hangman shakes it off, lands a Fallaway Slam + Kip-up combo to turn the tide.
- He hits a Moonsault off the top to the floor—barely avoids the barricade.
Brutality Escalates:
- Ospreay German suplexes Hangman on the apron.
- Hangman hits Dead Eye on the outside, both barely beat the 10-count.
- Ospreay attempts Storm Breaker—Hangman flips out into a Buckshot Lariat!
- 1… 2… KICKOUT.
Closing Sequence (electric crowd):
- Ospreay dodges a second Buckshot, lands Hidden Blade, then Storm Breaker—2.99!
- He goes up top—Super OsCutter!
- Lifts Hangman for a final Hidden Blade to the back of the head, then one more Storm Breaker.
Winner: Will Ospreay (NEW World Champion) (27:00)
🎊 Post-Match:
- Ospreay collapses to his knees, sobbing. Confetti drops. He holds the title skyward.
- Hangman, bloodied, sits against the ropes and nods. They don’t shake hands—but they share a glance.
- The show ends with a wide shot of Ospreay on the turnbuckle, silhouetted in gold streamers and roaring fans.
