Iron Grip Pro Wrestling – Show 42: “Storm Before the Glory”
Live from the O2 Arena, London, England – 17,500 in attendance
Commentary: Nigel McGuinness, Excalibur, and Mauro Ranallo
Pre-Show Match: Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus vs War Raiders vs DIY vs Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG)
Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus enter first to a thunderous ovation, the crowd roaring “Jungle Boy!” in rhythm. The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) storm out next, massive and menacing, ready to crush anyone who dares oppose them. DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) make their reunion official with a determined glare, and finally, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Guns, receive a hero’s welcome from long-time fans chanting “M-C-M-G!”
The bell rings, and the action explodes instantly. MCMG’s precision double-teams contrast DIY’s intensity, while Jungle Boy’s agility and Luchasaurus’s power even the odds. War Raiders dominate early—Erik tossing Jungle Boy like a ragdoll and Ivar flattening Gargano with a splash. The pace is relentless, with constant tags and breathtaking sequences.
Midway through, DIY and MCMG face off in a respectful but fierce exchange—superkicks, enzuigiris, and tandem dropkicks lighting up the crowd. Luchasaurus wipes out everyone with a moonsault from the apron, setting up Jungle Boy for a Snare Trap on Sabin. But as he locks it in, Ivar crushes both with a Viking Splash.
The finish comes when the War Raiders hit Fallout on Jungle Boy for the decisive pin. They roar in victory as the fans chant “This is wrestling!”
Winners: The War Raiders
Match 1: Mustafa Ali & Kevin Knight vs “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Cedric Alexander
The night opens with blistering speed and athleticism. The fans are barely seated before all four men are in motion—springboards, counters, and lightning exchanges. Cedric Alexander takes early control, using his veteran savvy to ground Knight, while Speedball picks apart Ali with stiff kicks to the chest that echo through the O2.
Ali rallies back with a 450 Splash, but Bailey kicks out at two. Knight takes flight with a Sky High Dropkick that nearly decapitates Cedric. All four collide in a wild sequence—Ali hits Rolling X-Factor, Bailey answers with Ultima Weapon, and Knight breaks the pin by diving from the top onto the pile.
The finish comes when Bailey misses a moonsault, Ali capitalizes, hitting 450 Splash for the win. The crowd gives a standing ovation as both teams shake hands post-match.
Winners: Mustafa Ali & Kevin Knight
Match 2: Andrade El Idolo, Rush, & Dragon Lee vs Santos Escobar, Bronson Reed, & Kyle Fletcher
A combustible mix of egos and nations collides. Andrade and Santos start with a chess match of reversals, each showing lucha mastery. Rush mocks Bronson Reed, only to be crushed by the “Colossal” one. Dragon Lee’s speed dazzles, taking out Fletcher and Escobar with consecutive topés.
Midway, Andrade and Rush have a near-collision, tension flaring. Escobar seizes the moment with a Phantom Driver on Andrade, but Dragon Lee breaks it up. The finish sees Andrade dodge a Tsunami Splash from Reed and hit a Hammerlock DDT to score the three count.
After the match, Rush shoves Andrade, but Dragon Lee calms the storm—for now.
Winners: Andrade, Rush, & Dragon Lee
Match 3: The Hurt Business Promo & Eight-Man Tag
Swerve Strickland, Bobby Lashley, Carmelo Hayes, & Shelton Benjamin vs Drew McIntyre, Gallus (Mark & Joe Coffey), & Jack Morris
The Hurt Business stand center-ring. Lashley says, “We’re done being overlooked. We are Iron Grip.” Swerve adds, “No one’s safe when we’re in the building.”
Drew McIntyre’s music hits, cutting them off. He’s flanked by Gallus and Jack Morris. “You want a fight? Let’s have one.”
The match breaks down fast. Lashley and Drew battle like gladiators, while Gallus and the Hurt Business brawl at ringside. Hayes shines mid-match, hitting his Fade Away leg drop on Joe Coffey.
The ending sees Shelton isolated; Drew hits a Claymore, but Swerve tags himself in blind, nails Mark Coffey with a House Call, and pins him. Lashley and Swerve stare down Drew as the Hurt Business stand tall.
Winners: The Hurt Business (Swerve, Lashley, Hayes & Benjamin)
Match 4: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Rey Mysterio – Cruiserweight Title
The O2 crowd buzzes for this dream bout. Rey’s experience meets Hiromu’s chaos. The two trade crisp reversals early, with Rey’s 619 attempt countered into a Powerbomb by Hiromu.
Rey hits a Springboard Moonsault DDT, nearly ending it. Hiromu retaliates with a Sunset Flip Bomb to the floor, leaving Rey writhing. After an emotional closing stretch, Hiromu counters a second 619 into Time Bomb II for the victory.
Post-match, Hiromu bows deeply to Rey, and the legend raises the champion’s hand.
Winner and STILL Cruiserweight Champion: Hiromu Takahashi
Match 5: Damian Priest & Karrion Kross (c) vs Randy Orton & AJ Styles – Tag Titles Street Fight
Pure carnage. Weapons litter the ring. Orton and AJ enter first, attacking immediately. Priest smashes Orton with a trash can, Kross chains AJ to the ropes.
The chaos spills everywhere. AJ hits a Phenomenal Forearm off a ladder onto Kross, while Orton RKOs Priest through a table. Scarlett distracts Randy long enough for Kross to choke him out with a Kross Jacket. Priest delivers The Reckoning on AJ onto a pile of chairs to seal the win.
Winners and STILL Tag Team Champions: Damian Priest & Karrion Kross
Match 6: Wardlow & Paragon (c) vs Young Bucks & Ricochet – Trios Titles
The crowd is electric for this. Wardlow’s power contrasts with the flash of the Bucks and Ricochet. The champs dominate early, with Wardlow running wild—powerbombs for everyone.
But then—betrayal. Midway, as Wardlow signals for another Powerbomb Symphony, O’Reilly and Strong hesitate. The Bucks grin. Suddenly, Strong smashes Wardlow with a steel chair! The O2 gasps. O’Reilly and Strong stomp Wardlow down, joining the Bucks and Ricochet in a shocking alliance.
Ricochet hits a 630 Splash on Wardlow, followed by the Meltzer Driver from the Bucks. Strong makes the cover. One… two… three.
After the bell, O’Reilly and Strong tear off their Paragon armbands. The Bucks throw them Bullet Club shirts. Adam Cole’s music hits—he walks out smirking, throwing up the “Too Sweet.” Cole hugs his reunited brothers as the crowd showers them with boos.
Winners and NEW Trios Champions: The Young Bucks & Ricochet (with Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly joining Bullet Club)
Match 7: Malakai Black vs Brody King – No Holds Barred
A brutal war between former brothers of the House of Black. From the start, it’s pure violence—chairs, tables, and steel steps. Brody dominates early, slamming Malakai through a table.
Malakai responds with strikes and a Black Mass, but Brody kicks out at one! The O2 explodes. Malakai goes for another, but Brody catches him mid-kick and chokeslams him onto thumbtacks.
Brody finishes it with a Gonzo Bomb through the announce table. He covers, blood dripping from both men—1… 2… 3.
After the match, Brody drags Malakai up and whispers something before leaving him motionless.
Winner: Brody King
Match 8: Finn Bálor (c) vs Hangman Page vs Adam Cole – Intercontinental Title
This triple threat is nonstop action. Hangman and Cole briefly team up to neutralize Bálor, but the alliance implodes within minutes.
Page hits a Buckshot Lariat on Bálor, but Cole superkicks him immediately. Bálor recovers, hitting a Coup de Grâce on Cole for a near fall. The three exchange signature moves in rapid fire until Bálor rolls Page up out of nowhere for the win.
Winner and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Finn Bálor
Main Event: Will Ospreay (c) vs Kazuchika Okada vs CM Punk vs KENTA – World Heavyweight Title (500 words)
The O2 Arena stands in awe—four eras collide. Ospreay, the champion and hometown hero. Okada, the Rainmaker. Punk, the veteran rebel. KENTA, the cold striker.
The match begins methodically—Okada and Ospreay resume their eternal rivalry, while Punk and KENTA reignite their bitter feud over the GTS. KENTA immediately targets Punk’s knee with vicious kicks. Okada and Ospreay counter each other’s offense in a dazzling exchange that ends in a double dropkick and a stare-down.
Punk, opportunistic as ever, rolls both men out and poses to loud boos. KENTA cuts him off with a Busai Knee, nearly scoring a shocking early pin. Ospreay saves it, launching into a Hidden Blade that drops KENTA cold.
Okada seizes momentum with a Tombstone on Ospreay, followed by a Rainmaker, but Punk breaks the count. The crowd chants “FIGHT FOREVER!” as all four men lie sprawled.
The pace escalates to chaos—KENTA and Punk brawl up the ramp, exchanging stiff forearms. KENTA goes for GTS, Punk escapes, and hits his own GTS in return—poetic justice. As KENTA crumbles, Punk staggers back to the ring.
Inside, Ospreay and Okada go to war—Okada connects with a Rainmaker, but Ospreay no-sells, hitting Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker! He covers—1… 2… Punk dives in and pulls Ospreay off!
The crowd boos mercilessly. Punk smirks, drags Okada up, and hits another GTS—but his knee gives out. Ospreay capitalizes, trying a Storm Breaker, but Punk counters mid-air into a Small Package—1… 2… 3!
Winner and NEW World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
The O2 erupts in shock. Punk clutches the title, smirking as the crowd rains boos. KENTA glares from the aisle, Okada sits in disbelief, and Ospreay seethes in the corner. Punk yells, “Best in the world!” As Punk goes to celebrate the lights flicker. When they come back on Brody King hits Punk with a huge lariat followed by 3 Gonzo Bombs. King holds the title up to end the show as he’s flanked by Balor, Kross, Priest, Hiromu, and KENTA.
Iron Grip Pro Wrestling fades to black on the image of CM Punk laying motionless in the ring and the Dark Reign holding all the gold.
