Incredibly, Adam Cole makes his way down to the ring on crutches and even sort of does his “boom” bit. Jay White mocks Cole while still clutching the AEW world title, dressed in the same gear he wore while defeating Cole (and two others) at the original Forbidden Door.
Referee Bryce Remsburg doesn’t look happy about these circumstances, and White keeps mocking his opponent as he hops on one leg across the ring. But just as the action looks like it will begin, an ambulance pulls up, and a limping MJF pulls up (apparently having stolen the ambulance). A group of security guards and officials try to stop him, but MJF makes his way to the ring.
A quick discussion between friends leads to MJF telling Cole he’s got this. But does he? MJF looks like he can barely put any weight on his injured left leg, and White happily takes advantage. Switchblade stomps away on him in the corner, following with chops and a slam for a near fall.
Cole looks understandably concerned as the fans try to rally their scumbag. The Gunns attack MJF while Remsburg is occupied with White, leading to another near fall. They do it again, but this time the champ at least attempts some resistance, and he’s able to kick out a second time.
The Gunns get a steel chair but are caught this time, and Remsburg gets a big pop when he ejects Austin and Colten. Cole sends them off with double birds.
White, however, takes the time to belittle both Cole and MJF. The champ verbally berates his challenger and gets in his first burst of offense. MJF tees off with right hands in the corner and bites his forehead to boot.
Even with an injured leg, MJF hits the Kangaroo Kick and kips up. He’s considering a dive but takes a low dropkick and a short-arm DDT for a two count. Agony is obvious on MJF’s face as he can’t even be whipped across the ring without collapsing in pain.
MJF pulls out a unique twist on a mule kick in the corner, buying himself a respite. He thinks Panama Sunrise but White evades it and hits a uranage for another two count.
The champ is sent hard to the floor as the announcers suggest White is in complete control. That changes quickly as MJF pulls off a DDT on the floor. MJF clears off the announce table, and it collapses as soon as he puts White on it. No matter, as MJF launches himself off the top rope anyway and just drops an elbow all the way to the floor.
Understandably, both men are down but the fans are clapping for their champ. Remsburg starts another count, but MJF is up and chucks White back in the ring. The fans reward MJF with a “he’s our scumbag” chant, but White hits a dragon screw and puts the champion in the Tree of Woe. Even from that position, MJF hurls White down only to get his leg taken out again.
An avalanche uranage can’t feel good for MJF, but he’s able to kick out at two yet again. Max is fired up and waves Switchblade in for more chops, and he’s able to escape a Blade Runner only to get hit with several more moves, ending with a deadlift release German suplex.
Both men try roll-ups, and even grabbing the ropes doesn’t work for MJF. He connects on a pildriver, though, with White taking a hard bump. MJF tries for the Heatseeker but gets shoved backward and ends up face down on the canvas.
MJF gathers himself and launches a running cutter over the top rope all the way to the floor. It takes a while, but Max is able to finally cover for two.
It’s hard for MJF to put weight on his knee again, so Cole goes back to work on his motivation. The ringside doctor comes to check on the champ but he won’t entertain any suggestions of quitting. A wrenching dragon screw may make him regret it, not to mention a second one.
White taunts Cole before locking in a Figure Four, which seems like it would have MJF in big trouble. Cole considers throwing in the towel even as MJF takes some chops too. Finally, MJF flips the hold over, and White now suffers as he takes a while to reach the rope and breaks the hold.
Cole has the title belt in hand, but it ends up with White, and Switchblade uses it … only to see MJF somehow kick out. Remsburg takes an accidental bump from White, and MJF smiles as Cole produces his Dynamite Diamond Ring. But White is up quickly and gets the ring.
As Switchblade moves in, MJF nails him with a low blow and reclaims the ring. The Gunns return but are quickly fought off, and MJF connects with the ring. He covers White and a recovered Remsburg makes the three count.
[lawrence-related id=41128]