Multiverse United 2 (marketed as Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls) was an interpromotional professional wrestling pay-per-view event co-produced by Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on August 20, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and aired on FITE. It was the third event under the Multiverse chronology.
| Multiverse United 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |||
| Promotion | Impact Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling | ||
| Date | August 20, 2023 | ||
| City | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
| Venue | 2300 Arena | ||
| Attendance | 665 | ||
| Tagline(s) | For Whom the Bell Tolls | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| Multiverse chronology | |||
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Ten matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show. In the main event, Alex Shelley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Giulia defeated Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw and Momo Kohgo to retain the Strong Women's Championship, Sami Callihan defeated Douki in a South Philly Street Fight, Bullet Club (Kenta, ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) and Bullet Club War Dogs (Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors and David Finlay)) defeated The World (The DKC, El Phantasmo, Josh Alexander, PCO and Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa)) in a 12-man tag team match, Trey Miguel and Lio Rush defeated Hiromu Takahashi and Mike Bailey; and in the opening contest, Chris Sabin defeated Yoh, Bushi, El Desperado, Frankie Kazarian, Kevin Knight, Mao and Rich Swann in an eight-man Scramble match.
Production
editBackground
editMultiverse is a professional wrestling event promoted by Impact Wrestling. The first event, Multiverse of Matches took place on April 1, 2022, at the Fairmount Hotel in Dallas, Texas.[1][2] The second event, Multiverse United, took place on March 30, 2023, at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, California, thus establishing the Multiverse event as an annual tradition.[3][4] On April 16, 2023, at Rebellion, it was announced that Multiverse United 2 would take place on August 20, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5][6]
Storylines
editThe event will feature several professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on Impact's weekly television program.[7]
Event
edit| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentators | Tom Hannifan |
| Matthew Rehwoldt | |
| Veda Scott | |
| Ring announcers | Takuro Shibata |
| Alyssa Marino | |
| Referees | Daniel Spencer |
| Allison Leigh | |
| Frank Gastineau | |
| Red Shoes Unno |
Pre-show
editThere were two matches that took place on the pre-show. In the opener, Joe Hendry, Heath and Yuya Uemura faced Six or Nine (Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato) and Rocky Romero. In the closing stages, Wato delivered a ZigZag to Hendry, but Heath then delivered a leg lariat to Wato. Hendry then delivered simultaneous Fallaway Slams to Romero and Wato. Uemura then delivered a running bulldog and a diving crossbody to Taguchi for the three-count.
In the main event of the pre-show, Kenny King defended the Impact Digital Media Championship against Yoshinobu Kanemaru. In the closing stages, Kanemaru delivered a spinebuster and a standing moonsault for a two-count. King then delivered a spinebuster for a two-count. Kanemaru then pulled the referee away, attempting to deliver the Amber Mist, but King avoided it and delivered the Royal Flush to retain the title.
Preliminary matches
editThe opening contest of the event was an eight-man Scramble contested between Chris Sabin, Yoh, Frankie Kazarian, Kevin Knight, Bushi, Mao, El Desperado and Rich Swann. In the opening stages, Kazarian delivered a diving legdrop to Sabin. Desperado then delivered a cutter to Mao. Sabin and Kazarian then delivered a Tower of Doom to Mao, Swann and Desperado. Knight then delivered a frog splash to Swann, but Yoh broke up the pinfall. Kazarian then delivered a slingshot cutter to Knight, but Desperado then immediately delivered a spinebuster to Kazarian, allowing Sabin to deliver the Cradle Shock to Yoh for the win. After the match, Bushi sprayed mist into Sabin's eyes.
Next, Moose and Eddie Edwards faced TMDK (Shane Haste and Zack Sabre Jr.). In the closing stages, Edwards delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb to Sabre Jr. for a two-count. As Haste was attempting a suplex, Moose countered it into a uranage. Edwards then delivered the Boston Knee Party to Sabre Jr., but Haste then delivered a schoolboy pin to Moose for a two-count. Moose then delivered a Spear to Haste to pickup the victory.
In the next match, Giulia defended the Strong Openweight Championship against Gisele Shaw, Deonna Purrazzo and Momo Kohgo. In the opening stages, Kohgo delivered a diving crossbody and a 619 to Giulia. As Purrazzo was attempting the Queen's Gambit, Shaw countered it into a back body drop. Giulia then delivered an avalanche butterfly suplex to Shaw. Purrazzo then delivered a lungblower to Kohgo. Shaw then delivered an avalanche Spanish Fly to Purrazzo, but Kohgo and Giulia broke up the pinfall attempt. Giulia then delivered a Northern Lights Bomb to Shaw to retain the title. After the match, Kohgo attacked Giulia, but Giulia delivered the Glorious Driver to Kohgo.
The next match was a South Philly Street Fight contested between Sami Callihan and Douki. In the closing stages, Douki delivered an enzeguiri and a diving double foot stomp onto a pile of chairs for a two-count. Callihan then delivered a twisting neckbreaker for a nearfall. Douki them delivered a hurricarana into a ladder and a slingshot DDT for a two-count. As Douki was attempting the Douki Bomb, Callihan escaped it and delivered a lariat and the Cactus Driver '97 for another nearfall. As Callihan was attempting another Cactus Driver'97 onto a pile of chairs, Douki escaped it, but Callihan then delivered a low blow and the Cactus Driver '97 for the win.
Next, Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira) faced TMDK (Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles). In the closing stages, Akira delivered an assisted senton to Fujita for a two-count. Akira them delivered a poison Rana to Eagles. Fujita then locked in a leg lock on Akira, but Akira reached the ropes. Akira then delivered a step-up tope con giro to both Fujita and Eagles on the outside. TJP them delivered a frog splash to Fujita for a two-count. Fujita then delivered a belly-to-belly suplex to TJP for another two-count. As Eagles was attempting a superkick to Akira, Eagles accidentally superkicked Fujita, allowing TJP and Akira to deliver simultaneous knees to Fujita to pickup the victory.
The next bout was a 12-man tag team match contested between Bullet Club (Kenta, Chris Bey, Ace Austin, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin and David Finlay) and The World (The DKC, El Phantasmo, Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa). In the opening stages, Coughlin delivered a gutwrench suplex to PCO. Connors them delivered a powerslam to DKC for a two-count. Austin then delivered a headscissors takedown to Alexander. El Phantasmo delivered a springboard moonsault to Finlay, but Austin broke up the pin attempt. PCO and The DKC then delivered a chokeslam/diving splash combination to Finlay for a two-count. PCO then delivered the PCO-sault to everyone on the outside. Alexander then delivered a double suplex to both Austin and Bey. As Kenta was attempting the GTS, Alexander countered it into an ankle lock, but Kenta escaped it. As The DKC was attempting another diving splash, Finlay got the knees up and delivered a powerbomb to The DKC to win. The match. After the match, Bullet Club attacked all the members of The World.
In the penultimate match, Trey Miguel and Lio Rush took on Hiromu Takahashi and Mike Bailey in a tag team match. In the closing stages, Rush delivered a fisherman driver to Bailey for a two-count. Takahashi then delivered a falcon Arrow to Miguel for a two-count. Takahashi then delivered a pop-up powerbomb to Miguel, but as Takahashi was attempting a superkick, Miguel avoided it into a schoolboy pin for a two-count. Takahashi and Bailey then delivered a fireman's carry/Ultima Weapon combination on Miguel, but Rush broke up the pin attempt. Rush then delivered a springboard stunner to Takahashi for nearfall. As Takahashi was attempting the Time Bomb, Miguel blocked it and delivered a Meteora. Takahashi then delivered a Death Valley Driver, but as he was attempting to pin Rush, Miguel distracted the referee, allowing Rush to deliver a low blow to Takahashi and use a schoolboy pin for the win.
Main event
editIn the main event, Alex Shelley defended the Impact World Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi. In the opening stages, Shelley delivered Sliced Bread #2 and locked in the Border City Stretch, but Tanahashi reached the ropes. Shelley then kicked Tanahashi's hand into the barricade and delivered a running clothesline. Tanahashi then delivered a dragonscrew in the ropes, but Shelley then delivered an enzeguiri. Tanahashi then delivered three Twist and Shouts and a slingblade for a two-count. Shelley then delivered the Boma Ye, a ripcord lariat and The Rainmaker for a nearfall. Shelley then delivered an avalanche Air Raid Crash for another two-count. Shelley then delivered a superkick and the Shell Shock to retain the title.
Results
editReferences
edit- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (February 15, 2022). "IMPACT Wrestling Delivers Back To Back Shows At WrestleCon On April 1st, Starting At 9 p.m." Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Lafferriere, Nicolas (February 15, 2022). "IMPACT Wrestling anuncia un evento interpromocional para la semana de WrestleMania" (in Spanish). Solowrestling.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Carey, Ian (February 8, 2023). "Impact & NJPW announce Multiverse United event, three matches set". Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (February 8, 2023). "NJPW And IMPACT Announce Joint Event On March 30, Matches Include Mike Bailey vs. Will Ospreay". Fightful Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (April 16, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling Announces Dates For Slammiversary, Multiverse United 2, And More". Fightful. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Nason, Josh (April 16, 2023). "Impact announces Slammiversary, NJPW Multiverse United 2 dates". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 14, 2023). "Digital Media Championship & 6-Man Tag Team Action LIVE & FREE on Countdown to Multiverse United 2". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 17, 2023). "Multiverse United 2: Purrazzo, Shaw & Kohgo Challenge Giulia for STRONG Women's Title, TJP & Akira to Battle Eagles & Fujita". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "IMPACT vs TMDK: Moose & Eddie Edwards Unite to Battle Zack Sabre Jr & Shane Haste at Multiverse United 2 – IMPACT Wrestling". IMPACT Wrestling. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Sami Callihan Collides With DOUKI at Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls". IMPACT Wrestling. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "It's Bullet Club vs The World at Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls". IMPACT Wrestling. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 15, 2023). "Mike Bailey Teams With Hiromu Takahashi to Battle Lio Rush & Trey Miguel at Multiverse United 2". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 27, 2023). "Hiroshi Tanahashi Accepts Alex Shelley's Challenge for IMPACT World Title Dream Match at Multiverse United 2". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (August 20, 2023). "Impact Wrestling and NJPW Multiverse United 2 results: McGuire's in-person review of Alex Shelley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Impact World Championship, Mike Bailey and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Lio Rush and Trey Miguel, Sami Callihan vs. Douki". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 20, 2023.