SHOW 23: “Kingdoms Fall”
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City
Attendance: 20,156 (Sellout)
Theme Song: “Crisis of Faith” – Billy Talent
PRE-SHOW
Kyle Fletcher vs El Phantasmo
This is a fast-paced pre-show match between two of the top-tier hybrid wrestlers. ELP’s comedy antics mix with sudden bursts of athleticism. Fletcher keeps things grounded, targeting ELP’s back. After a tense sequence of reversals, Fletcher hits Grimstone to win.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
MAIN CARD
1. Tag Team #1 Contenders Fatal Four-Way Match
Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly vs Brody King & Buddy Matthews vs Motor City Machine Guns vs War Raiders
A hard-hitting, tactical opening match. Strong & O’Reilly fight with surgical precision, neutralizing the big men with submissions and quick tags. War Raiders dominate early but get double-teamed by MCMG and House of Black.
Finish: Chaos reigns. After Kyle hits a top-rope knee drop on Alex Shelley, Brody levels him with a lariat. Roddy comes flying in with a Jumping Knee to Matthews and follows up with a Strong Hold. Kyle recovers and hits a brainbuster on Shelley before pinning him clean.
Winners: Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly (#1 Contenders)
2. Adam Cole vs Killer Kross (w/ Scarlett)
Cole enters with a bandaged neck from previous attacks. Kross is slow, methodical, and dangerous. He dominates most of the match until Cole uses his speed and smarts to mount a comeback. Scarlett tries to interfere but Britt Baker makes a surprise run-in and superkicks her.
Finish: Cole hits the Panama Sunrise, followed by the Last Shot.
Winner: Adam Cole
- CHAOS vs Bullet Club Worldwide
(One-Fall 8-Man Tag Match)
Konosuke Takeshita, Rey Mysterio, Speedball Mike Bailey, Andrade El Idolo
vs
Finn Balor, Bronson Reed, Ricochet, Santos Escobar (w/ Dominik Mysterio)
Fast, wild, and full of high spots. Ricochet and Speedball steal the first five minutes. Andrade and Escobar revive their Lucha feud. Bronson and Takeshita have a stiff hoss exchange.
Finish: Rey sets up the 619 on Santos, but Dom distracts him. Santos ducks and Ricochet blind-tags in, hitting a 630 Splash on Rey for the clean win. Bullet Club stands tall.
Winners: Bullet Club Worldwide
4. Intercontinental Championship Match
Kevin Owens (c) vs Damian Priest
A gritty, physical war. KO targets the ribs, while Priest focuses on KO’s neck. The crowd eats up their stiff exchanges and wild spots: KO powerbombs Priest onto the apron, while Priest hits a Razor’s Edge onto the turnbuckle pad.
Finish: KO dodges South of Heaven and hits a Stunner, followed by a Package Piledriver.
Winner: Kevin Owens (retains)
5. #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way – Intercontinental Title
Kazuchika Okada vs LA Knight vs AJ Styles vs Malakai Black
This is a mix of heavy storytelling and fast reversals. LA Knight is red hot with the crowd, Malakai is mysterious and methodical, while Okada and AJ rekindle their NJPW legacy with stiff exchanges.
Finish: AJ hits a Phenomenal Forearm on Knight, but Black hits Black Mass on AJ. Okada returns, ducks another Black Mass, hits Dropkick, and a Rainmaker on LA Knight for the win.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada (#1 Contender)
6. CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre
(World Title Tournament Semifinal)
This is a gritty, storytelling-heavy match. Punk frustrates Drew early with slaps and heel antics. Drew hits a Claymore but Punk rolls out. Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice and uses heel tactics (exposing the turnbuckle, faking injuries).
Finish: Drew attempts another Claymore, but Punk pulls the exposed turnbuckle pad off, sends Drew into it, and hits the GTS.
Winner: CM Punk (advances to Show 24 Triple Threat)
7. Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton
(World Title Tournament Semifinal)
Two masters of ring psychology clash. Randy slows the match to a crawl, targeting Cody’s repaired pectoral. Cody rallies with Bionic Elbows and a Disaster Kick. Near the end, Orton teases a chair shot, but Cody stops him and shows restraint.
Finish: Cody nails Cross Rhodes three times in a row.
Winner: Cody Rhodes (advances to Show 24 Triple Threat)
8. Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay
(World Title Tournament Semifinal)
This is a 30-minute epic, the latest in their saga. Omega hits brutal V-Triggers, Ospreay lands a Sky Twister Press to the outside. A tense final 5 minutes see both nearly win—Omega hits a One-Winged Angel, but Ospreay grabs the bottom rope.
Finish: Ospreay lands a Hidden Blade, sets up the Storm Breaker, and pins Kenny clean.
Winner: Will Ospreay (advances to Show 24 Triple Threat)
9. 30-Minute Iron Team Match – World Tag Team Titles
DIY (c) vs Young Bucks vs Sammy Guevara & Jack Perry
Chaos from the start. Bucks score early with a Meltzer Driver. DIY tie it up with Meeting in the Middle on Jack. Sammy and Jack take the lead with an avalanche Spanish Fly + elbow combo. DIY fights back from 1–2 with gritty offense. Last five minutes are insane: Gargano saves Ciampa from a BTE Trigger, hits a Gargano Escape, and Jack taps with 0:03 remaining.
Final Score: DIY – 3, Bucks – 2, Sammy/Jack – 1
Winners: DIY (retain)
10. Main Event – World Championship
Hangman Adam Page (c) vs Swerve Strickland
This is the final chapter in a trilogy. Swerve is vicious and ultra-focused, targeting Hangman’s arm. Hangman is resilient and passionate. Mid-match: Swerve hits the Swerve Stomp on the apron. Hangman kicks out at 2.99. Crowd is molten.
Finish: Swerve sets up for House Call, but Hangman dodges and hits Deadeye. He lines up… BUCKSHOT LARIAT! He holds the pin for the three-count.
Winner: Hangman Adam Page (retains World Championship)
Post-match: CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Will Ospreay all appear at the stage as Hangman stares down his three potential challengers at Show 24: “The Throne Must Break”.
