It’s title inauguration time! “Iron” Mike Tyson comes out holding the new TNT Championship, and it’s a red belt with silver plates but apparently that’s only temporary. Lance Archer comes out and, as always, beats some random dude on his way to the ring.
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP
LANCE ARCHER W/JAKE ROBERTS VS. CODY W/ARN ANDERSON
The bell rings and Archer instantly hits The Blackout but Cody rolls to the outside. Archer gets Cody back inside and goes for the claw but Cody counters into an armbar. Archer kicks him in the face to break free, then Cody chops him in the chest but Lance no-sells it. Cody pulls his hair and hits a springboard but Archer hits him in mid-air with a shoulder.
Archer leaves the ring and starts removing the padding on the floor but Cody comes back with a suicide dive and fighting him through the crowd. Cody gets on a railing but Archer grabs him and throws him over the railing onto the floor at ringside. Archer gets Cody in the ring but runs into a boot, only to hit a big lariat.
Archer walks the top rope and hits a moonsault for a two-count. Archer chops Cody and slaps him in the corner. Cody counters a suplex and hits one of his own. Archer comes right back with an overhead suplex, then removes the top turnbuckle. Cody sends him into the exposed buckle, then beats him down. Cody leaves the ring and drags Archer around the ring post and contorts him.
Cody gets back inside but Archer lifts him up for a military press and tosses him over the ropes to the floor. Lance goes out and stands on Cody’s chest and neck, then puts him back in the ring. Cody takes a headlock and punches Archer, but the big man breaks free and hits an STO. Archer lands a spinning splash in the corner for a two-count.
The action spills to the floor again, and Lance whips Cody into the ring post. Lance knocks Cody down and talks trash, manhandling him. Cody counters a pin to apply the LeBell Lock but Jake Roberts gets on the apron and distracts him. Cody counters a back suplex and hits Archer with a DDT, then stares at Roberts, who gets mad and tries to come inside. A minute later, Archer hits Cody with a spinebuster and stares at Anderson.
Cody hits the springboard cutter and scores a big one count. Cody gets fired-up and lands some Dusty jabs and the bionic elbow, followed by a Final Reckoning. Cody signals for the end and grabs Archer for the CrossRhodes but Lance kicks out. Cody, playing on rumours, hits a Stinger Splash, but Archer comes right back with a chokeslam for a near-fall. Archer gets the claw and slams Cody’s head a few times but then he falls over himself.
Archer goes up top and walks the rope again and gets to the other side but Arn Anderson crotches him, then Cody hits an avalanche reverse suplex and almost spiked Archer. Another referee comes out and says Anderson interfered, so the referee evicts him – that’s hilarious considering AEW’s referees barely ever follow rules. Anderson and Jake are sent to the back, and Archer hits Cody with a release German suplex.
Roberts comes back out with the snake but Mike Tyson gets in his face and takes his shirt off. Roberts backs off and Tyson stares down Archer. Cody counters The Blackout and hits two CrossRhodes for the win!
WINNER AND FIRST TNT CHAMPION: CODY
Tyson comes into the ring and presents Cody with the TNT Championship, They pose together, then Tyson leaves and Cody celebrates alone.