AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland
Strickland gets a special entrance as he’s dressed like Black Panther.
Strickland gets a special entrance as he’s dressed like Killmonger from Black Panther. Joe and Strickland feel each other out. Strickland sends Joe to the outside. He goes to dive onto Joe but gets slammed onto the broadcast table. Joe uncovers some of the floor, but Swerve hits a diving knee. Joe goes for a Muscle Buster, but Swerve counters. Joe hits a powerslam onto the bare concrete. Joe drills Swerve with a barrage of strikes.
Swerve fires back with some strikes. Joe overpowers Strickland and grounds him. He rocks Swerve with some stiff strikes. Strickland dodges a punch, forcing Joe to hit the ring post. Swerve wrenches the arm over the turnbuckle. Swerve targets Joe’s arm and dumps him with a German suplex. Strickland evades the Coquina Clutch and catches Joe with a flatliner. Swerve keeps honing in on the arm. Joe rallies and hits a Muscle Buster for a two-count. Joe grabs the title, but Swerve kicks him and hits a 450 Splash. He hits the Swerve Stomp for a two-count.
Joe goes to hit Swerve with the title but winds up locking in the Coquina Clutch. Strickland refuses to give up, as he escapes. He snaps Joe’s arm. Swerve hits the House Call for a two-count. Joe fires up, but Swerve fights him off and powerbombs him off the second rope. Swerve hits the Swerve Stomp for the win.
Winner and new AEW World Champion: Swerve Strickland
Strickland celebrates after the bell as confetti rains down.