'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2. Veny vs. Emi Sakura (AEW Women's Title Eliminator first-round match)
Veny began the AEW tournament match well with a drop step to get behind Emi, who got back with a front chancery. Sakura delivered the Mongolian chops. She brought Veny back to her feet and sent her flying across the ring. Emi's hair whips were vicious!
Sakura locked in the Romero Special on Veny, who writhed in pain. Sakura shoved her boot into Veny's face in the corner. It was all Emi!
Emi's brutal chops were finding their mark. Veny responded with a back handspring elbow. She leaped over the top and followed with a strike and a diving crossbody.
Sakura rolled over to the outside. Veny went to the top and crashed onto Sakura on the floor with the Orihara moonsault. Veny looked for the springboard attack, but Sakura broke her momentum. Emi executed a neck breaker and a flipping senton. She didn't go for the pin and preferred to talk trash at Veny.
Sakura targeted Veny with an underhook backbreaker, but Veny stopped her at the top with a Venus hammer uppercut. Veny then dropped Sakura with the springboard variation of a side headlock takedown.
Sakura was down in the corner, and Veny connected with a running shooting star press for a near fall.
Veny showed perseverance in the AEW match, but Sakura turned it around with a standing dragon sleeper hold. 'We will rock you' chants melodically echoed around the empty hall.
She stunned Veny with a diving crossbody in the corner followed by a Vader bomb. Veny got her knees up in time to counter the second Vader bomb. Veny stepped over and locked in a submission move, which could have been the end of the AEW match.
Sakura somehow broke the hold and connected with a big right. Sakura followed a leg kick with a monstrous chop.
Veny reacted with a roundhouse kick, and she got two near falls with subsequent kicking combos. Sakura responded with Angel's Wings. Both competitors were down in the intense AEW match.
They got up to the feet and traded punches, forearm strikes, and headbutts in the middle of the ring. This was a stiff battle!
Both women weren't willing to back down as they matched each other blow for blow. Sakura was on her roller skates as she ate almost a dozen different strikes. Veny went up and delivered the shotgun dropkick for another near fall.
Back on the feet, Sakura landed a left for a quick fall. A pinning sequence ended in a stalemate as ten minutes had elapsed in the AEW match. Sakura charged in for a right but got rocked with a leg lariat from Veny.
Veny then delivered a sit-out chokeslam for yet another near fall. She was looking for the big moonsault press from the top, but Sakura rolled in.
Emi went for the cradle pin, but Veny was kicked out. The veteran rolled into a Dragon Sleeper hold as Veny began to fade. Sakura finished the AEW match with the Tiger Driver. Another great match!
Result: Emi Sakura def. Veny to advance to the next round of the AEW Women's Title Eliminator tournament
Grade: A
