Pyros light up the HWL Arena in St. Louis as we kick off this week’s edition of Overdrive with three matches planned for tonight, including a Women’s World Championship match as Nikki Cross defends against three more challengers here tonight. Also, it’s a meeting of two different Bullet Clubs when AJ Styles takes on Hangman Page and an international incident as MJF and Bandido each make their HWL debuts.

We are kicking things off with Bandido and MJF and as MJF makes his way to the ring with a microphone he mocks Bandido’s Mexican heritage and poverty while he himself grew up in the lap of luxury. MJF says he represents everything your average American wants to be and can’t while Bandido represents everything they despise. Because of that MJF says he’s going to get in that ring and dedicate his debut victory to… himself, because these people don’t deserve to have anybody fight for them. He says they are every bit as poor and of as low quality as Bandido is and he’s going to prove it.

Match #1 – MJF vs. Bandido

The two men square off as the match gets under way and as they go to tie-up, MJF kicks Bandido in the knee and follows up with a DDT. MJF goes for the quick cover, but Bandido kicks out at two. MJF puts the boots to Bandido and then bounces off the ropes, but Bandido kips up and nails MJF with a Thrust Kick to the gut. Bandido then follows up with a Facebreaker and MJF falls back through the ropes and out to the floor. Bandido then charges back and forth across the ring to build momentum before diving out over the top ropes and taking MJF down with a Tope Con Helo to the floor. Bandido puts MJF back into the ring and then climbs up onto the ring apron as MJF staggers back up to his feet. Bandido goes for a Sunset Flip, but MJF hooks the ropes to block it and then drops down to his knees and pummels Bandido with a flurry of right hands and starts pulling at his mask. Bandido tries to fight him off and the two men struggle up to their feet and MJF yanks the mask to the side, cutting off Bandido’s vision. MJF then rolls Bandido up, but Bandido kicks out for a near fall. MJF then bounces off the ropes and nails Bandido with a Running Lariat before he can reposition his mask to see again.  MJF then follows up with a Knee Drop across the skull and goes for the cover again, but again Bandido kicks out. MJF puts the boots to Bandido and starts to drag him back up to his feet, but Bandido fires back with a flurry of punches to the gut and connects with a Jawbreaker. Bandido then fixes his mask. He goes for a Superkick, but MJF ducks out of the way and Bandido nails the referee by mistake and MJF catches him with a Low Blow. MJF then rolls Bandido up, but the referee is down and out. MJF then goes out of the ring and takes a steal chair and slides it into the ring. MJF gets back in the ring and picks up the chair as Bandido has struggled to get back to his knees and MJF hits him across the back with the chair. MJF then puts the chair on the mat and sets up for a Piledriver onto the chair, but Bandido blocks it and knees MJF in the groin, giving him the receipt for the earlier Low Blow. Bandido then hooks MJF around the middle and runs him forward into the ropes before hitting the 21 Plex onto the chair. Bandido then clears the chair out of the ring and covers MJF as the referee recovers and crawls into position and makes the three count.

Bandido picks up his debut win and in the back our broadcast colleague is standing by with Big Sugar, who announces that at Fall Brawl this Sunday we have two War Games matches planned, including the first ever War Games match to be comprised entirely of women. What people may not be aware of, Big Sugar says, is earlier today he raised the stakes of these two matches. Now, instead of the winning team gaining bragging rights, there is much more at stake. Big Sugar says every member of the winning team will receive a championship match, a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship for the men’s match and a shot at the Women’s World Championship for the women’s match. Big Sugar says the champions coming out of Fall Brawl will be able to choose when and in what order they face the contenders that emerge from War Games, but there is a deadline. Big Sugar says when HWL is on Pay Per View in October at Halloween Havoc, any contender that the champions have not already defended against will all get their shot at those respective championships on that night. It should make for some interesting decisions. With that news, we take you now to a word from our sponsors.
 
Back from the break, our next contest is coming up as Hangman Page and AJ Styles make their way to the ring.

Match #2 – AJ Styles vs. Hangman Page

The two men square off as the match gets under way and Page charges Styles, who Leapfrogs over him and then follows up with a Pele Kick as Page spins back around. Styles then follows up with a Brainbuster and rolls out to the ring apron. Styles plays to the crowd as Page slowly recovers and stumbles back up to his feet and Styles comes flying back in off the top rope, looking for the Phenomenal Flying Forearm, but Page catches him in a Gutbuster.  Page then bounces off the ropes and connects with a Running Dropkick to the side of the head and makes the cover, but Styles kicks out.  Page tries to set up for the Deadeye, but Styles counters into a Back Body Drop out over the top rope and Page lands on the ring apron. Page nails Styles with a Forearm Shot and then somersaults into the ring and goes for a Buckshot Lariat, but Styles ducks out of the way.  Styles sends Page reeling with a series of big right hands and then whips him into the corner and follows him in with a Leaping Forearm Smash across the side of the head.  Page drops down in a heap in front of the corner and Styles goes up to the top rope and connects with a Shooting Star Press.  Styles then drags Page to the center of the ring and finishes him off with the Styles Clash for the three count.

Styles picks up the victory and we’re going to take you one more time to a word from our sponsors. When we come back, it will be Main Event time as Nikki Cross defends the Women’s World Championship.
 
Back from the break, Paige, Rhea Ripley and Tenille Dashwood have filled the ring for this Fatal 4-Way Match as the Women’s World Champion, Nikki Cross, makes her way to the ring.

Match #3 – Women’s World Championship – Fatal 4-Way Match – Nikki Cross vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Paige vs. Tenille Dashwood

The match gets under way and Cross nails Dashwood with a Running Crossbody Block and Dashwood rolls out to the floor. Paige and Ripley trade big right hands back and forth and Ripley connects with a  Snap Suplex.  Cross then nails Ripley with a Running Knee Lift and tries for the Fisherman’s Neckbreaker, but Ripley blocks it and throws the champion through the ropes and out to the floor. Dashwood then comes flying in off the top rope, trying for a Crossbody on Ripley, but Ripley catches her in a Powerslam. Ripley then stacks Paige and Dashwood up on each shoulder and delivers a Double Running Powerslam out of the corner. Cross then trips Ripley up from the floor and pulls her crotch first into the ring post.  Cross then climbs up to the top turnbuckle and drops down onto Ripley’s back with a Double Footstomp. Cross then Powerbombs Dashwood onto Paige and kicks Paige out of the ring. Cross then finishes Dashwood off with the Fisherman’s Neckbreaker and covers her for the three count.

Cross continues to steamroll the Women’s division with little or no opposition as she takes out three more opponents tonight in short order and the last inaugural championship reign in HWL still standing continues. Cross will defend the title Saturday at Fall Brawl against Bayley. Join us then, but for now we are signing off. See you next week on another episode of Overdrive.