ACW #3: "We Have a Problem"

Injury: Rusev

Venue: Toyota Center (Houston, TX)

William Regal comes out and says he has a lot that he would like to say so he won’t mince words and he’ll get right to it. He has been made aware of who the man responsible for attacking CM Punk has come forward and that he will reveal himself tonight. Also on tonight’s show, we will know who will compete for the Agon Championship at Fight Night: Vegas. A rematch of last week, CM Punk will once again face A.J. Styles. Mike Bennett will make his debut against Moose, who is also debuting in the company, but both men have proven their worth and are worthy of competing for the World title.

Bully Ray’s music hits before Regal can speak again. He complains that none of the people who are in the match knows what it means to be the Agon Champion. Regal has a moment of agreeing and puts him in the last qualifying match against Hideo Itami.

Match 1:
Agon Championship Qualifier: Moose vs. Mike Bennett (w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett)

Moose enters first, but Mike Bennett attacks him from behind as Maria eggs him on. Leaving Moose at the top of the ramp, Mike and Maria go down to the ring. They take a bow as Moose comes to and charges down to the ring. Mike ushers Maria out quickly. Maria exits before Mike turns around and eats a spear. Moose goes for the pin, but Bennett kicks out at 2.

Moose doesn't let the situation bother him, picking up Mike and throwing him to the corner. Mike explodes out quickly with a big boot, sending Moose to the canvas. Bennett picks Moose up, sends him over the top rope. He gives a kick to the gut and goes right to the Hangman DDT. Bennett goes for the pin, but Moose gets his foot on the bottom rope. Bennett expresses his frustration.

Moose gets his wits about him and goes on the offensive, doing a fair share of high flying offense and the commentators make note of Moose's NFL past and how agile he is. Ending on a pop-up powerbomb, Moose gets a near fall. Bennett manages to hit the Miracle in Progress (Samoan driver) and gets the pinfall victory.

Winner via pinfall: Mike Bennett

Grabbing a microphone, Mike is met with a chorus of boos.

He talks about how he's glad Moose was his first opponent in ACW. Who better than a(n) (American) footballer who didn't have wrestling as his first love. Bennett then decides to make things personal as Moose stands up, expressing his regret that his (Moose's) wife couldn't be here to see this. A look of scorn crosses Moose's face during that while Bennett laughs. Moose charges, but Mike hides behind Maria in the corner of the ring. Mike and Maria taunt him as we cut away.

William Regal is in his office. He hears a knock on the door and sees TJP. Perkins knows that Regal has been busy, but he wants to talk about his shot at the Brothers of the Sands Championship, since it was unfairly taken from him. Regal says that TJP's assessment is rich, as he stole Matt Sydal's belt, but he will rectify it. He says tonight TJP will be in a Street Fight against Baron Corbin. If TJP wins, he will get a shot at the Brothers of the Sands Championship with a partner of his choosing. Since TJP has been particularly irksome, he adds that if Corbin wins, Corbin will be added to the Agon Championship match at Fight Night: Vegas.

Match 2:
Lone Star Street Fight: Baron Corbin vs. TJP (If TJP wins, he will get a shot at the Brothers of the Sands Championship with a partner of his choosing; if Corbin wins, he will be added to the Agon Championship match at Fight Night: Vegas)

The ring is set up accordingly. The ropes have been wrapped in barbed wire. Various weapons are all over the place: steel chairs, 2x4s, baseball bats, and even guitars (all acoustic, of course).
TJP goes straight for a dropkick, but is caught and slammed by Corbin. Baron gets into MMA style offense, going for a mount and repeatedly slams TJP’s head to the mat.

TJP gets his feet under Corbin, flip Corbin over, and kips up. Perkins goes on the offensive, hitting a senton. Corbin gets back up, but is immediately sent back down with a tornado DDT. Corbin goes out of the ring to collect himself. TJP opts to go airborne, going for a suicide dive. On the way out though, Corbin is able to grab a light tube and hits TJP across the head. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Corbin sends Perkins back in the hard way. Baron takes advantage again, taking the time to set up multiple chairs in the corners. He picks TJP up, sending him to one corner, going head first into the chair. Corbin then picks him up, trying to take him to the other corner. In a moment of pure adrenaline, TJP sends Corbin into the other chair that has been set up. Immediately after this, TJP hits a tiger suplex pin, but Corbin kicks out at 2.

Both men slowly get up, not wasting a moment when they get back to their feet. TJP tries to go to a jumping neckbreaker, but Corbin catches him and hits the Deep Six. Corbin goes for the pin, but TJP kicks out at the last second.

TJP gets back up. In an effort to buy some time, TJP hits a brain buster. He then goes outside of the ring, looking around for an object to use against his adversary. He comes upon one of the guitars on the outside, grabs it by the neck, and reenters the ring. Perkins takes to the corner, yelling to Corbin to get up. Corbin is able to get a double-leg take down into hammer fists. TJP tries to get Corbin into a Kimura Lock, but is unable to fully get it locked in. Corbin retreats and goes to the corner for a frog splash. Corbin gets halfway across the ring before TJP hits the El Kabong. TJP goes for the pin, but gets a near fall. Upon returning to their feet, Corbin eats a Detonation Kick. TJP gets the pinfall victory.

Winner via pinfall: TJP

TJP looks to be incapacitated from the encounter. Official Earl Hebner goes to check on TJP. Upon getting no response, he throws up the X and TJP is stretchered out. Corbin is able to leave under his own power.

DJ Z comes out a load of boos. He laments about being shown up last week by Rusev and says he will do everything in his power to make sure that this will not happen again. He wants to issue an open challenge, but says he will save that for next week. Before he can leave though "The Next Big Thing" comes through the speakers.

Brock Lesnar comes to the top of the ramp looking like a madman. He makes his way to the ring as DJ Z can only stand in awe of The Beast Incarnate. Upon stepping in the ring, he immediately goes after DJ Z. Giving a series of punches, after which he takes DJ Z to Suplex City, delivering about fifteen German Suplexes in rapid succession. He then delivers two emphatic F5s.

With DJ Z lying unconscious in the middle of the ring, Lesnar grabs a microphone. Brock says he thinks it's cute that Regal has an "enforcer" and that he was happy to decimate, to humiliate Bobby Lashley last week. He puts the entire roster on notice, saying anyone who stands in his way will meet the fate that Lashley and now DJ Z have. He throws down the microphone and exits the ring.

Match 3:
Rezar (w/ Akam & Paul Ellering) vs. Mayweather (w/ Wilcox)

Rezar embraces his MMA background and goes right for Mayweather. The two lock up in the center and have a match that is more grounded and technical. Neither man can really get the upper hand on the other while Paul Ellering is barking orders to Rezar and Wilcox is encouraging Mayweather.

Rezar and Mayweather trade blows, between punches and forearms. The match then goes outside of the ring. A.O.P. and V.O.W. get in each others faces and begin to duke it out there, with Akam fighting Wilcox and Rezar fighting Mayweather. As the referee cannot regain control, he calls for the bell.

Match declared a no contest

A vignette airs. We see an empty ring, with a light shining down into it.
Coming down from the rafters, a microphone descends into the ring. It ends with "Coming Soon" right next to the microphone in a close up shot.

Match 4:
Domina of ACW Semifinals: Awesome Kong vs. Taryn Terrell

Taryn tries to go for a spear, but is quickly intercepted by Kong. From there, it is an entirely one-sided affair. Kong tosses Terrell like a ragdoll. Taryn tries to get in a modicum of offense, but is immediately cut off by a spinning back-fist.
Kong then hits the Awesome Bomb (sitout powerbomb) and gets the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Awesome Kong

*Post-match: Kong steps on Terrell’s throat. While Earl Hebner tries to get her to get to the back, Rogan and Sonnen put over Kong strongly, both expressing apprehension as to whether anyone in ACW or even the world can beat her.

Taeler Hendrix is backstage with William Regal. She talks about how it is an outrage that the true Domina has been left off of shows and has been confined to backstage areas. Regal expresses his understanding, but has cited the tournament and there only being so much time HOWEVER he is willing to give her a match next week against another veteran of NMCW, Deonna Purrazzo.

Match 5:
Agon Championship Qualifier: Bully Ray vs. Hideo Itami

Bully tries to go for the quick W, hitting a pop-up powerbomb, but Hideo kicks out at 2. Itami then rolls out to take a quick pause. Hideo then jumps back on the apron, goes top rope and hits a missile dropkick. Bully rolls out and hits a big boot. He then picks up Itami and goes into a series of German Suplexes. Bully Ray dominates a good portion of the match, primarily using his power. While about to hit the Bionic Elbow, Hideo hits the Busaiku Kick and gets the pinfall victory.

Winner via pinfall: Hideo Itami

Rogan and Sonnen talk about the David and Goliath upset that has just happened here. They don't know which is more surprising: this or TJP defeating Baron Corbin earlier in the evening.

Match 6:
Domina of ACW Semifinals: Alexa Bliss vs. Racheal Ellering (w/ Paul Ellering)

Alexa and Racheal start off surprisingly technical, with Racheal getting the upper hand on Bliss. Bliss is able to get out of the hammer lock and goes right to the forearm smash straight to a leg sweep. Alexa goes on to play mind games with Racheal.

Racheal is getting frustrated, but trying to stay positive; however, Paul is still flustered from the events earlier. This seems to rub onto Racheal, something the commentators take note of. Ellering goes on the offensive, taking Bliss to the corner and hitting a series of European Uppercuts, but Bliss is able to hit an emphatic forearm smash.

Bliss hits a tilt-a-whirl headscissors take down, sending Ellering outside of the ring. Racheal climbs back up, but Bliss hits a kick to the gut, hooking Ellering in the ropes. Bliss goes out to the apron, but Ellering hits a Superman Punch, sending Bliss to the floor. Ellering then goes for a springboard leg drop, but Bliss moves out of the way before picking Racheal up and hitting the chokehold STO. Alexa brings Racheal back into the ring, hits the snap DDT and gets the pinfall victory.

Winner via pinfall: Alexa Bliss

*Alexa grabs a microphone, glaring directly at Racheal and Paul and sings a brief rendition of "Daddy's Girl" (originally by Red Sovine). Boos rain down from the crowd and we get one close up shot of Paul hugging Racheal.

As Alexa finishes taunting, Awesome Kong's music hits and Bliss instantly changes from elation to sheer horror. Kong gets to the ring, steals Bliss' mic. She says it might be all fun and games for her (Bliss), but at Fight Night: Vegas, Bliss steps into Kong's playpen. Kong hits a spinning backfist and the lifting underhook slam and leaves the ring.

A.J. Styles is trying to collect himself backstage as he comes up on CM Punk. He tells Punk that last week wasn't meant to be anything personal and makes it known that he doesn't want to do this match, but he isn't going to simply lay down. Punk says he would have been disappointed if A.J. had done that. Punk discloses that he has been going through a bunch of stuff in his life, mostly between him and A.J. (Lee) and he just wants to get back to a bit of normalcy. Punk just wants to move forward. The two shake hands and Styles moves on down the hall.*

Rogan: Mike Bennett and Hideo Itami have punched their tickets for Vegas, who will join them? Main event coming up next!!!

Match 7:
Agon Championship qualifier: A.J. Styles vs. CM Punk

As Punk enters, Chael Sonnen puts over his friendship with CM Punk and expresses his support. Rogan talks about their match last week and if impact, if any, will Punk's attacker have on this match. Styles makes his entrance in spectacular fashion.

CM Punk and Styles meet in the center and abide by the Code of Honor, shaking hands. The two lock up and engage in fairly basic chain wrestling, with the occasional move to the ground. A.J. comes out with the upper hand, hitting a side Russian leg sweep. Styles then hits a snap German suplex, but doesn't let go. Styles then hits two more, letting him go into the turnbuckles on the third. Punk gets back into it, as Punk is able to get a kick off when Styles tries to hit a forearm. Punk gets Styles into the corner, hits the running knee and goes straight into the running bulldog. The crowd is divided, but leaning towards Punk. The crowd goes nuts when A.J. mounts a comeback though. "The smarks are going totally apeshit.", remarks Sonnen. A.J. hits a series of elbows into the Pele Kick. Punk then hits a roundhouse kick, stunning Styles.

Trying to go for the GTS, Punk accidentally knocks out the referee. Punk hits the GTS, goes for the pin, but the ref is down. Frustrated, Punk tries to get in another GTS for good measure. Before he can though, a hooded figure runs out with a lead pipe and hits Punk right in the head. The mysterious figure then places Styles over Punk. The figure climbs out of the ring and hides by the apron. The ref comes to and makes the count.

Winner via pinfall: A.J. Styles

CM Punk has come to and sees the hooded figure standing across from him in the corner. Punk can be seen mouthing “Who the fuck are you?” The figure pulls down his hood and the fans of ACW as well as Punk are in absolute shock to see Conor McGregor. Sonnen and Rogan are both stunned to see what has happened. Sonnen is nothing but happy, saying you have to do what you have to do get ahead. He went on to say he would attack his friend (Punk) too if it meant getting further.

Notorious glares at CM Punk as the screen fades to black.