The English announce team notes that Zack Sabre Jr. has been keeping a busy schedule lately, including defending this title against Action Andretti earlier this week on AEW Rampage. Of course, none of his challengers are the size of Jeff Cobb. They get right in each other’s faces and start jawing before the bell.
Cobb fires out of his corner when the match begins, but the champ is able to stand his ground with a series of kicks. A jumping shoulder block changes that, but Sabre reverses a Tour of the Island attempt and grabs Cobb’s arm.
The challengers gets a couple of two counts, then pushes Sabre off him at one following a dropkick to the back of the head. This is a furious pace so far, undoubtedly because of the 15-minute time limit.
Cobb’s forearm shots are answered in kind, but Jeff simply hits much harder. ZSJ waves Cobb in for more and is sent back down to the canvas. A backdrop sees Cobb crawl over for another cover, but ZSJ kicks out at two.
Sabre finally gets a chance to really stretch Cobb for the first time, switching from limb to limb as only he does. It takes all of Cobb’s strength to roll his foe off of him, but those holds took their toll.
Cobb picks up momentum, slinging Sabre into the corner pads repeatedly. ZSJ is able to grab a sleeper but takes an electric chair drop that leaves both men slow to rise from the mat.
Sabre goes back to work on Cobb’s arm and shows his strength with a suplex, then a penalty kick that leads to several unsuccessful covers. Cobb fires back with an overhead release suplez and nearly wins with a bridging pin combination that gets the crowd to react.
After hitting a Spin Cycle, Sabre is suplexed yet again. Cobb tries for the Tour of the Islands, but ZSJ counters with a crucifix rollup and manages to keep Cobb’s shoulders down for three.
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