Multiverse United

Last updated
Multiverse United
Multiverse United.jpg
Promotional poster
Promotion Impact Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 30, 2023
City Los Angeles, California
VenueGlobe Theater
Tagline(s)Only the Strong Survive
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
Impact:
Hard To Kill
NJPW:
NJPW 51st Anniversary Show		Next →
Impact:
Rebellion
NJPW:
Sakura Genesis
Multiverse chronology
← Previous
Multiverse of Matches 		Next →
Multiverse United 2

Multiverse United (marketed as Multiverse United: Only the Strong Survive) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as a part of WrestleCon. It took place on March 30, 2023, at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, California. The event was the second Multiverse event promoted by Impact during WrestleMania Weekend as part of WrestleCon, following Multiverse of Matches in 2022, thus establishing the Multiverse event as an annual tradition.

Contents

Nine matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Mike Bailey. In other prominent matches, Kenta defeated Minoru Suzuki to retain the Strong Openweight Championship, Trey Miguel retained the Impact X Division Championship in a Six-way Scramble, and Bullet Club (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) retained the Impact World Tag Team Championship in a four-way tag team match.

Production

Background

On February 9, 2023, Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) announced they were co-producing an event as part of that year's WrestleCon called Multiverse United: Only the Strong Survive, taking place at the Globe Theater on Thursday, March 30, 2023, airing live on FITE. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Storylines

The event featured several professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on Impact's weekly television program. [5]

Event

Pre-show

There was only one match on the pre-show, with Yuya Uemura facing Gabriel Kidd. Uemura won after an overhead suplex and a diving crossbody. [6]

Preliminary matches

In the opener, Trey Miguel defended the Impact X Division Championship against Clark Connors, Frankie Kazarian, Kevin Knight, Rich Swann, and Rocky Romero in a Six-way Scramble. In the end, as Knight jumped from the top rope, Connors countered with a spear in mid-air. Miguel then tossed Connors and pinned Knight to retain his title. [6]

Next, Eddie Edwards, Joe Hendry, and Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor and J. R. Kratos) faced Alex Coughlin, Callihan, Fred Rosser, and PCO. The latter won after Callihan delivered a low blow and a Spike Piledriver to Hendry, and PCO performed the PCO-Sault on Kratos to win the match. [6]

In the next bout, Jeff Cobb took on Moose. In the end, Cobb countered a move into the Tour of the Islands for the win. [6]

Next, Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw, Masha Slamovich, and Miyu Yamashita squared off to determine who will head to Rebellion to challenge for the Impact Knockouts World Championship. In the end, Slamovich delivered an Air Raid Crash to Purrazzo. Yamashita then hit a Roundhouse Kick. Purrazzo then delivered a powerbomb and the Queen's Gambit on Shaw for the win. [6]

In the next match, Bullet Club (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) defended the Impact World Tag Team Championship against Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis), The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, and TMDK (Bad Dude Tito and Shane Haste). In the closing stages, Aussie Open delivered the Pendulum Powerbomb to Bey for a near fall. Bullet Club delivered Roundhouse Kicks to Tito, and then delivered the Art of Finesse/The Fold combination to retain the titles. [6]

Next, Kushida faced Lio Rush. In the closing stages, Rush hit a suicide dive to Kushida on the outside. Kushida then locked in the Hoverboard Lock, but Rush escaped. Rush delivered the Come Up, but Kushida reached the bottom ropes. As Rush leaped into the air, Kushida countered it into the Hoverboard Lock for a tapout. After the match, both men embraced each other. [6]

In the penultimate match, Kenta defended the Strong Openweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki. In the end, Kenta delivered a diving double-foot stomp for a two-count. As Kenta was looking for the GTH, Suzuki escaped into a sleeper, but Kenta escaped. Then, unbeknownst to the referee, Kenta delivered a low blow and rolled up Suzuki, with his feet on the ropes, for the win. [6]

Main event

In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi faced Mike Bailey. On the outside, Bailey delivered a Springboard moonsault to Tanahashi. As Bailey was entering the ring, Tanahashi delivered a dragon screw on the ropes. As Bailey was looking for a tornado kick, Tanahashi countered into a Sling Blade. Bailey then delivered a top-rope hurricanrana and hit the tornado kick, but Tanahashi escaped the Ultima Weapon. Tanahashi then hit the High Fly Flow to pickup the victory. After the match, Tanahashi helped Bailey to his feet. [6]

Results

No.Results [7] StipulationsTimes [8] [9]
1P Yuya Uemura defeated Gabriel Kidd by pinfall Singles match [10] 7:52
2 Trey Miguel (c) defeated Clark Connors, Frankie Kazarian, Kevin Knight, Rich Swann, and Rocky Romero by pinfall Six-way Scramble for the Impact X Division Championship [11] 7:11
3 Alex Coughlin, Callihan, Fred Rosser, and PCO defeated Eddie Edwards, Joe Hendry, and Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor and J. R. Kratos) by pinfall Eight-man tag team match [12] 12:24
4 Jeff Cobb defeated Moose by pinfall Singles match [2] 11:51
5 Deonna Purrazzo defeated Gisele Shaw, Masha Slamovich, and Miyu Yamashita by pinfall Four-way match [13]
Winner was added to the Impact Knockouts World Championship match at Rebellion.		9:20
6 ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis), The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), and TMDK (Bad Dude Tito and Shane Haste) by pinfall Four-way tag team match for the Impact World Tag Team Championship [14] 13:22
7 Kushida defeated Lio Rush by submission Singles match [15] 12:42
8 Kenta (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki by pinfall Singles match for the Strong Openweight Championship [10] [16] 15:27
9 Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Mike Bailey by pinfall Singles match [2] [10] 15:16
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
P – the match was broadcast on the pre-show

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiroshi Tanahashi</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, sports executive and podcaster. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director of the promotion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenta Kobayashi</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Kenta Kobayashi, known mononymously as Kenta, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently works for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Bullet Club stable. A former amateur kickboxer, Kobayashi's wrestling style is based upon strong kicks and strikes. Kobayashi pioneered both the Go 2 Sleep and Busaiku Knee kick finishing maneuvers, later popularized by CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minoru Suzuki</span> Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist

Minoru Suzuki is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, currently working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as a freelancer. In NJPW, he has held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship as well as twice holding the NEVER Openweight Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hirooki Goto</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Hirooki Goto is a Japanese professional wrestler. Since his debut, he has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toru Yano</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Toru Yano, is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was the KOPW 2020 and the KOPW 2021. He is a four time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He is also a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and two-time GHC Tag Team Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kushida (wrestler)</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Yujiro Kushida is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, better known by his mononymous ring name Kushida. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Struggle (2017)</span> 2017 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Power Struggle (2017) was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on November 5, 2017, in Osaka, Osaka, at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. It was the seventh event under the Power Struggle name. The event featured ten matches, headlined by Hiroshi Tanahashi defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Kota Ibushi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestle Kingdom 13</span> 2019 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2019 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It was the twenty-eighth January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the thirteenth promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name. The event was streamed live on NJPW World and FITE TV and was aired on tape delay on AXS TV. Wrestle Kingdom is traditionally NJPW's biggest event of the year and has been described as their equivalent to WWE's WrestleMania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NJPW Royal Quest</span> 2019 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Royal Quest was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on August 31, 2019 at the Copper Box Arena in London, England and was streamed live on FITE TV. It was the first-ever event independently promoted by NJPW in the United Kingdom.

Connor Deutsch, better known by his ring name Clark Connors, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Bullet Club stable and is Formerly one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions alongside Drilla Moloney. Also in NJPW, Connors was the winner of the 2020 Lion's Break Crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle in the Valley (2023)</span> New Japan Pro-Wrestling pay-per-view event

Battle in the Valley was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on February 18, 2023, at San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. It was the second event under the Battle in the Valley chronology.

The New Beginning in Osaka was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on February 11, 2023 in Osaka at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. It was the thirty-sixth event under the New Beginning name and the seventh to take place in Osaka, with the last back in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebellion (2023)</span> 2023 Impact Wrestling event

The 2023 Rebellion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on April 16, 2023, at the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was the fifth event under the Rebellion chronology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacrifice (2023)</span> 2023 Impact Wrestling event

The 2023 Sacrifice was a professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. The event took place on March 24, 2023, at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and aired on Impact Plus and YouTube. It was the 14th event under the Sacrifice chronology, and Impact's first televised event in Canada since 2019. The event also featured wrestlers from partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bound for Glory (2023)</span> 2023 Impact Wrestling pay-per-view event

The 2023 Bound for Glory was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on October 21, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. It was the 19th event under the Bound for Glory chronology, and the second to be held in the Chicago area, following the 2019 event. The event also featured various wrestlers from partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling Dontaku 2023</span> NJPW professional wrestling event in Fukuoka, Japan

Wrestling Dontaku was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on May 3, 2023, in Fukuoka, at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. It was the 18th event under the Wrestling Dontaku name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital Collision (2023)</span> 2023 New Japan Pro-Wrestling professional wrestling event

Capital Collision (2023) was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on April 15, 2023, at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. Wrestlers from NJPW's partner promotions, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Impact Wrestling, also appeared on the card. This was the second event to be held under the Capital Collision name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multiverse United 2</span> Co-promoted professional wrestling pay-per-view event series

Multiverse United 2 was an interpromotional professional wrestling pay-per-view event co-produced by Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on August 20, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and aired on FITE. It was the third event under the Multiverse chronology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergence (2023)</span> 2023 Impact Wrestling event

The 2023 Emergence was the fourth annual Emergence professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on August 27, 2023, at the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and aired on Impact Plus and YouTube. It was the fourth event under the Emergence chronology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Dude Tito</span> American professional wrestler

Tito Escondido, better known by his ring name Bad Dude Tito, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of The Mighty Don't Kneel stable, and Major League Wrestling (MLW).

References

  1. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (February 8, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling & New Japan Pro-Wrestling Announce Major Co-Produced Live Show, Set For Thursday, March 30th in Los Angeles". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "NJPW and IMPACT Join Forces for Multiverse United". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ Carey, Ian (February 8, 2023). "Impact & NJPW announce Multiverse United event, three matches set". Figure Four Online . Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (February 8, 2023). "NJPW And IMPACT Announce Joint Event On March 30, Matches Include Mike Bailey vs. Will Ospreay". Fightful Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Powell, Jason (March 30, 2023). "Impact Wrestling and NJPW Multiverse United results: Powell's live review of Kenta vs. Minoru Suzuki for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Mike Bailey, Moose vs. Jeff Cobb, Kushida vs. Lio Rush, Ace Austin and Chris Bey vs. Aussie Open vs. TDMK vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin for the Impact Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  7. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 30, 2023). "Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive 2023 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Impact Wrestling/NJPW Countdown To Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive". Cagematch. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Impact Wrestling/NJPW Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive". Cagematch. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 21, 2023). "Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Mike Bailey, KENTA vs Minoru Suzuki, Yuya Uemura vs Gabriel Kidd Charged & Ready for Multiverse United". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 9, 2023). "IMPACT & NJPW Stars Vie for X-Division Title in High-Stakes Scramble Match at Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 10, 2023). "Star-Studded 8-Man Tag Team Bout Just Announced for Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 25, 2023). "Purrazzo, Shaw, Yamashita & Slamovich Clash at Multiverse United for Knockouts World Title Opportunity". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 10, 2023). "4-Way IMPACT World Tag Team Title Match Added to Stacked Card for Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  15. ↑ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 28, 2023). "Lio Rush Steps Up to KUSHIDA This Thursday at Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ Defelice, Robert (March 9, 2023). "Minoru Suzuki vs. KENTA, IMPACT X-Division Scramble Set For Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive". Fightful Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.