The collision between TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher and Tomohiro Ishii began with both men going nose-to-nose in the center of the ring. Fletcher struck first with a forearm, triggering an extended exchange of heavy shots until a single blow from the champion staggered Ishii. They traded shoulder tackles, with Ishii finally dropping Fletcher with a lariat. A rapid series of counters followed, Fletcher ducking an enzuigiri before both men retreated to opposite corners. Fletcher rolled to the floor to regroup.
Back inside, Ishii chopped away at the champion, but Fletcher fired back with one massive chop that forced Ishii to a knee. Fletcher sent Ishii into the corner, only for the challenger to explode out with a shoulder tackle. Ishii followed with more chops in the corner, but Fletcher broke free with a big boot to the jaw and a scoop slam. Ishii recovered to land a Saito suplex, but Fletcher regained control with a devastating Michinoku Driver.

Coming out of the break, Ishii rocked Fletcher with a leaping headbutt on the top rope before hitting a superplex for a near fall. The battle spilled to the apron, where Fletcher blasted Ishii with two sharp kicks to the jaw before delivering a punishing brainbuster on the edge of the ring. Back in the ring, Fletcher connected with a top-rope flying elbow for two.
Fletcher aimed for another knockout kick, but Ishii countered with a German suplex and an enzuigiri. The two traded forearms until Fletcher floored Ishii with a lariat and another big kick in the corner. The champion set up for an avalanche brainbuster, but Ishii slipped free and drilled Fletcher with a running powerbomb.
The match built to a fever pitch as both men countered suplex attempts. Fletcher hit a high knee in the corner and a powerbomb for two, then blasted Ishii with a kick to the midsection and another to the head. Ishii answered with a lariat out of the corner, but Fletcher absorbed it and immediately planted the challenger with the sheer drop brainbuster to secure the pinfall and retain the TNT Championship.

After retaining the TNT Championship, Kyle Fletcher took the microphone in Roanoke and immediately framed the moment as historic: “Oh, Roanoke, Virginia, you have just witnessed history.” He called the defense “the very first offense in what will go down as the greatest title reign in AEW history,” and positioned Tomohiro Ishii as “the latest bonafide legend around the world that I have mopped the floor with.” 
Pivoting to what’s next, Fletcher said, “And that is where I start thinking about Forbidden Door.” Linking Ishii to his own past abroad, he continued, “And being in here with Ishiimakes me think about my new Japan days.” Then came the challenge: “New Japan, I want you to send your pound for pound best at Forbidden Door to face me for the TNT Championship,” Fletcher declared. 
He closed with a blunt prediction of the outcome: “But whoever it is does not matter because the result will be the same. I will be holding this championship high above my head. And you and everyone around the world will have no choice but to say my full name.”


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