Kyle Fletcher defeated Tomohiro Ishii to finish his first TNT Championship defense to open “AEW Collision.”
Fletcher laid down the open challenge during Wednesday’s “AEW Dynamite” for his first defense since dethroning Dustin Rhodes in a Chicago Street Fight last week, along with his opponent later being confirmed because the “Stone Pitbull.” Ishii difficult Fletcher was his first singles match in AEW since January, losing after eight minutes in an attempt at Kazuchika Okada’s Continental Championship.
It was removed from an easy defense for Fletcher, with Ishii bringing the fight to the “Protostar” from the opening bell. But when all was said and done, the champion dropped his challenger with the vertical brainbuster to secure the winning pinfall after 16 minutes of motion.
Fletcher cut a promo after the bout, once more bringing up the concept he put Adam Cole and Rhodes on the shelf on his technique to capture the TNT title. He further said that at Forbidden Door, he wants NJPW to send their “pound-for-pound best” to face him within the ring – prompting some in the gang to call for Hiroshi Tanahashi – before closing the segment celebrating along with his title belt.
In a subsequent backstage segment, Don Callis reaffirmed Fletcher’s request for an NJPW star to face him, showing off a “one-in-a-kind” tie that the promotion had given him during his time working for them, and said when Fletcher was done with whichever talent they send, he’ll choke them with said tie.