The raucous Boston crowd roared to life as EBWF Warfare kicked off live from TD Garden. The camera panned over signs and screaming fans before cutting to the commentary table.
Mauro Ranallo: Get ready, folks. It’s time for Warfare! What a night we have ahead of us, Nigel! The road to Total Supremacy continues, and we’re starting things off with a blockbuster quarterfinal match!
Nigel McGuinness: Two dangerous men, one crown in sight. Randy Orton, a legend of this business, taking on one of the most technically proficient strikers in EBWF—Kyle O’Reilly. Let’s get to it!
The lights dimmed and “The Viper” flashed on the screen as Randy Orton made his way down to the ring to a thunderous ovation. Dressed in his signature black hoodie and trunks, Orton looked calm and methodical, eyes fixed on the squared circle. Moments later, the entrance of Kyle O’Reilly brought a slightly mixed reaction from the Boston faithful. The martial artist marched to the ring with determination, throwing quick shadow kicks and loosening up his shoulders. Once the bell rang, the crowd settled in, anticipation thick in the air. Orton and O’Reilly locked up center-ring, jockeying for position. Kyle slipped behind Orton with a waistlock, but Orton reversed into a standing switch and shoved Kyle off the ropes. On the rebound, Orton attempted a back elbow, but Kyle ducked and caught him with a stiff leg kick to the thigh.
Nigel McGuinness: That’s how you chop down a Viper! Target the base!
Kyle stayed on the attack with a flurry of shoot kicks and palm strikes, keeping Orton momentarily off balance. He swept Orton’s legs out and hit a running knee to the ribs for a one-count. The veteran Orton rolled outside, composing himself. As Kyle attempted a baseball slide, Orton yanked him by the ankles and slammed him back-first into the barricade.
Mauro Ranallo: VINTAGE ORTON! Turning the tide on the outside like only he can!
Back in the ring, Orton slowed the pace. He grounded Kyle with a gutwrench suplex, then methodically stomped each limb before dropping a knee across Kyle’s sternum. He followed with a European uppercut that sent Kyle stumbling into the corner. Orton perched Kyle on the top rope and delivered a thunderous superplex, shaking the ring. He hooked the leg.
1…
2…
Kickout!
Orton’s expression remained stoic, but he began to tighten his grip, literally and metaphorically. He cinched in a rear chinlock, driving his forearm across O’Reilly’s jaw. The crowd clapped, rallying Kyle, who fought up and broke the hold with a series of elbows. Out of nowhere, Kyle exploded with a running forearm smash, followed by a double underhook suplex into an armbar transition. Orton flailed but managed to reach the bottom rope with his boot, forcing the break.
Nigel McGuinness: That’s the danger of Kyle O’Reilly—he can end the match from any angle!
Kyle hit a brainbuster, then measured Orton for the Penalty Kick. He charged forward—only for Orton to dodge and drill him with a snap powerslam. Orton pounded the mat, signaling the RKO. He stalked Kyle, but O’Reilly surprised him with a kneebar takedown, twisting violently on the joint. Orton screamed in pain but clawed his way toward the ropes. The crowd gasped as he barely reached them, the official ordering another break. Kyle stood up, signaling the end. He lifted Orton into a fireman’s carry, perhaps setting up for the Axe and Smash. Orton elbowed his way out and shoved Kyle into the ropes. On the rebound— RKO OUTTA NOWHERE!
Mauro Ranallo: HE STRUCK LIKE A COILED SERPENT!
Orton covered.
1…
2…
3!
The bell rang and the crowd erupted.
Christy Hemme: Here is your winner… and advancing to King of the Ring semifinals… Randy Orton!
Nigel McGuinness: What a statement win for Orton, Mauro. He absorbed everything Kyle threw at him and came away with the kill shot!
Mauro Ranallo: O’Reilly looked like a future king tonight, but The Viper reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous men in EBWF history. Randy Orton moves one step closer to the crown.
Orton stood tall on the second turnbuckle, arms raised, as the Boston crowd gave him a standing ovation. Warfare was just getting started.
As Warfare returned from commercial, the camera panned across the sold-out TD Garden, before cutting back to Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness at ringside.
Mauro Ranallo: Welcome back! The Queen of the Ring tournament continues tonight, and we’re about to witness the final first-round match – Alexa Bliss versus Himeka versus the 8-time EBWF Women’s Champion and 2-time former Queen of the Ring, Trish Stratus!
Nigel McGuinness: What a field, Mauro. Three beloved superstars, but only one can advance–and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“Immortal” by Adema hit, and the crowd gave a warm reaction as Alexa Bliss made her way to the ring, confident and focused. Alexa exchanged a few high-fives with fans before sliding into the ring and posing on the turnbuckle.
Mauro Ranallo: Alexa Bliss knows what it’s like to sit at the top of the mountain – like Trish Stratus, she’s a former EBWF Women’s Champion, and tonight she’s looking to begin her climb again.
Himeka came out next, nodding in appreciation at the fans as she made her way down the ramp. As she reached the ring, Himeka stepped between the ropes and locked eyes with Bliss, then turned her attention towards the stage.
Nigel McGuinness: Himeka might be the wildcard here, Mauro. Her combination of size, speed, and strength is deadly… could she claim the crown and go on to challenge her Oedo Tai teammate, Mina Shirakawa, for the title?
The crowd erupted as “Time to Rock & Roll (with Bossy intro)” hit, and Trish Stratus stepped out onto the stage. She stood at the top of the ramp, soaking it all in, then pointed to the fans and smiled before heading down the ramp. As Trish entered the ring, she nodded respectfully to both Alexa and Himeka. The referee called for the bell, getting the match underway. All three women circled cautiously, each wary of being the first to make a move. Alexa struck first with a forearm to Himeka, but Himeka barely flinched. Trish then caught Alexa with a clothesline, but Himeka grabbed Trish from behind and hit a release German suplex!
Nigel McGuinness: Good lord! Trish got folded up like a lawn chair!
Himeka turned and lifted Alexa into the air, slamming her down with a body slam. She went for a quick elbow drop, but Alexa rolled out of the way. Trish got back to her feet and joined Alexa for a double dropkick, sending Himeka through the ropes to the outside.
Mauro Ranallo: Temporary teamwork from Trish and Alexa – but make no mistake, this is every woman for herself.
Alexa turned on Trish immediately, catching her with a right hand. She whipped Trish into the corner and followed up with a running double knee strike. Alexa then climbed to the top rope, setting Trish up for a tornado DDT… but Trish blocked it, climbed the ropes, and hit Alexa with a superplex! She hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1… 2… Alexa kicked out! As Trish got to her feet, Himeka reached under the bottom rope and grabbed Trish by the legs, yanking her out of the ring. She whipped Trish into the barricade, then re-entered the ring and set her sights on Alexa. She charged with a lariat, but Alexa ducked and countered with a low dropkick to Himeka’s knee. Himeka staggered, and Alexa grabbed her, hitting a snap DDT! She hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1… 2… Himeka kicked out!
Nigel McGuinness: Alexa Bliss is throwing everything she’s got at Himeka, but the Jumbo Princess won’t stay down!
As Alexa pulled Himeka to her feet, Trish climbed to the top rope and hit a diving crossbody that caught both Alexa and Himeka off guard! The crowd erupted as Trish stood tall, fired up. She grabbed Alexa and whipped her into the ropes, hitting an arm drag, then turned and caught Himeka with a Chick Kick that sent her stumbling back into the corner.
Mauro Ranallo: Vintage Trish Stratus! She's building momentum here in Boston!
Trish charged at Himeka in the corner, but Himeka countered with a back elbow. As Trish staggered backwards, Himeka moved out of the corner… but Alexa charged towards them, taking both women down with a double clothesline! Alexa then grabbed Trish, setting her up for a DDT… but Trish blocked it, spun behind her, and hit a neckbreaker. As Trish got back to her feet, Himeka grabbed her and lifted her up for a powerbomb… but Trish countered with a hurricanrana, sending Himeka crashing into the middle turnbuckle!
Nigel McGuinness: Trish Stratus is fighting like a woman possessed!
Trish then turned her attention back to Alexa, who was back to her feet. She swung a forearm at Trish, but Trish blocked it, kicked Alexa in the midsection, and ran toward the ropes. She sprang off the middle rope and drove Alexa face-first into the mat, hitting the Stratusfaction! She hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1… 2… 3! The bell rang and the Boston crowd erupted once more.
Mauro Ranallo: Stratusfaction guaranteed! Trish Stratus advances in the Queen of the Ring tournament!
Nigel McGuinness: That was a hard-fought battle by all three women, but tonight belonged to Trish.
Trish rose to her feet and had her arm raised by the referee. She climbed the turnbuckle and pointed to the crowd, mouthing “Thank you” as the TD Garden roared its approval.
Mauro Ranallo: What a moment here in Boston. Trish moves one step closer to the throne – and the Queen of the Ring crown.
As the camera returned from commercial, the spotlight was already on the ring, where Christian Cage stood confidently, pacing from corner to corner. The TD Garden crowd buzzed with anticipation, knowing who was coming next. Suddenly, the lights dimmed and the unmistakable opening chords of “Judas” by Fozzy hit the speakers. The Boston fans erupted, rising to their feet in unison.
Mauro Ranallo: And listen to this ovation! The fans singing every word—this is a moment every time he steps through the curtain!
Nigel McGuinness: Say what you will about his ego, but Chris Jericho is the most decorated EBWF World Champion of all time. He’s done it all, and he’s still chasing greatness.
“You are beautiful on the inside…”
The crowd sang the chorus with full voice as Chris Jericho emerged, arms outstretched, bathed in red and gold light. Dressed in a sparkling black jacket, tights with gold trim, and a smug grin, Jericho soaked in the reception before strutting down the ramp. He entered the ring, never taking his eyes off Christian Cage, who leaned against the turnbuckle, unimpressed. The bell rang and the two veterans circled each other slowly before locking up. Jericho shoved Christian back into the corner, breaking with a smug smirk. Christian responded with a slap across the face.
Nigel McGuinness: There’s no love lost between these two, Mauro. Bitter rivals, and two of the most experienced minds in the business.
Jericho fired back with a flurry of chops, backing Christian into the ropes. He whipped Christian across the ring and hit a spinning heel kick on the rebound. Jericho covered early.
1…
Kickout.
Jericho stayed on the offense, hitting a snap suplex and floating over into another pin—another quick kickout from Cage. Christian fought back with a thumb to the eye behind the referee’s back, then connected with a neckbreaker. He slowed the pace, methodically targeting Jericho’s shoulder with stomps and an arm trap surfboard stretch.
Mauro Ranallo: Classic Christian Cage. Pick a body part, dissect it, and wear it down to nothing.
Cage kept control, hitting a pendulum backbreaker, then a diving European uppercut from the middle rope. He went for the cover.
1…
2…
Kickout!
Frustrated, Christian began taunting Jericho, yelling, “You’re not the same guy anymore!” That only seemed to wake Jericho up. Jericho ducked a clothesline and responded with a springboard dropkick that sent Cage crashing to the floor. The Boston crowd popped as Jericho climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit a crossbody to the outside, taking both men down. Back in the ring, Jericho went for the Lionsault, but Christian got the knees up. Cage quickly capitalized, hitting the Impaler DDT.
1…
2…
Mauro Ranallo: Jericho got the shoulder up!
Christian pulled Jericho to his feet and set up for the Killswitch, but Jericho spun out and rolled him up.
1…
2…
Kickout.
Both men scrambled to their feet. Jericho ducked another shot and hit the Codebreaker out of nowhere!
Mauro Ranallo: An emphatic Codebreaker! That could be it!
Jericho didn’t cover. Instead, he stood up, looking to the crowd and extending his arms again as they cheered. He turned Christian over and locked in the Walls of Jericho.
Nigel McGuinness: He’s got it hooked deep! Look at the torque on the lower back—Christian might have no choice!
Christian clawed forward, fingertips away from the ropes, but Jericho dragged him back to center-ring. After several agonizing seconds, Cage had no choice but to tap.
DING DING DING!
Christy Hemme: Here is your winner… and advancing to the semifinals… Chris Jericho!
Mauro Ranallo: The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla just punched his ticket to the next round!
Nigel McGuinness: What a performance, Mauro. Two legends putting on a clinic, but the veteran instincts of Jericho proved too much in the end.
As Jericho stood tall, the crowd once again broke into song.
“I’m become, I’m become, I’m becoming…”
Jericho mouthed the lyrics, basking in the moment, arms raised high as Warfare rolled on.
As Warfare returned from the final commercial break of the evening, “Cult of Personality” hit and the fans inside TD Garden erupted as CM Punk made his way to the ring.
Mauro Ranallo: This is it – the final quarter final match of this year’s King of the Ring tournament. Who will join Chris Jericho, Randy Orton and Edge in the semi-finals… will it be CM Punk or Jon Moxley?
Nigel McGuinness: Two blue‑chip fighters, former World Champions, both loved by the EBWF fans… but make no mistake about it, Mauro, we’re in for a war tonight!
When Punk was in the ring, “Unscripted Divide” hit and Jon Moxley came out to a mixed reaction from the crowd. As soon as Moxley entered the ring, he locked eyes with Punk, who stared right back, a steely expression on his face. There were duelling chants for both superstars as the referee called for the bell. The two men locked up instantly, before Moxley broke free and shoved Punk away. Moxley then went for a lariat, but Punk ducked underneath it and hit Moxley with an uppercut. As Moxley stumbled, Punk drove him back into the corner with a flurry of strikes – knee lifts to the ribs, followed by hard forearms to the face. Moxley shoved him away and threw up both middle fingers, drawing a roar from the Boston crowd. Punk responded with a smirk… then charged back in with a high knee to the jaw, followed by a short-arm lariat that took Moxley down.
Mauro Ranallo: Punk showing no hesitation here – he knows exactly the kind of fight Moxley brings, and he’s meeting it head on!
Nigel McGuinness: These two are going to beat the hell out of each other, and neither man will quit unless he’s unconscious!
Punk dropped down and pummeled Moxley in the face several times, then grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him up into position for the GTS! He hoisted Moxley onto his shoulders… but Moxley elbowed his way free and slid behind Punk, shoving him hard into the ropes. Punk bounced off and turned into a stiff elbow strike from Moxley that sent him staggering into the corner. Moxley followed up with rapid-fire chops and then bit Punk on the forehead!
Nigel McGuinness: He’s biting him! That’s disgusting!
Mauro Ranallo: That’s vintage Moxley–he’ll bend the rules ‘til they scream for mercy!
The referee warned Moxley, but the damage was done – Punk stumbled out of the corner with blood trickling down from a cut on his forehead. Moxley grinned and grabbed Punk by the head, dragging him toward the ropes, and slamming his face into the turnbuckle pad repeatedly.
Mauro Ranallo: Punk’s been busted open early here, and that cut’s going to make things worse with every passing second.
Moxley threw Punk through the ropes and followed him to the outside. He whipped Punk into the steel steps, then stalked after him, slamming him into the barricade before connecting with a boot to the side of the head. The referee followed them, showing leniency as the brawl continued in the crowd. Moxley shoved a fan’s chair out of the way and grabbed Punk, lifting him up for a vertical suplex onto the concrete floor! The crowd gasped as Punk writhed in pain. Moxley dragged him back over the barricade and rolled him into the ring, then stomped on Punk several times.
Nigel McGuinness: CM Punk in all kinds of trouble here… I hope we’ve got the EMTs on standby, Mauro!
Moxley pulled Punk to his feet and hit a headlock driver, then hooked the leg. The referee counted – 1… 2… Punk kicked out! Moxley reacted quickly, immediately sitting Punk up and hitting a series of hammer and anvil elbows, before knocking him back down with a boot to the face and applying a kneebar.
Mauro Ranallo: Moxley’s turned his focus to the knee now – he knows that will make it hard for Punk to hit the GTS!
As Punk tried to break free, Moxley grabbed the other leg, transitioning into a Figure Four Leglock! Punk cried out in pain, firing punches at Moxley to try and force him to break the hold. Finally, Moxley relented… but then hit Punk with a piledriver! Moxley hooked the leg, and the referee counted – 1… 2… Punk kicked out!
Mauro Ranallo: Punk's still alive, but how much more can he take?
Nigel McGuinness: This is just violence, plain and simple.
Moxley shook his head, then pulled Punk to his feet and set him up for the Death Rider… but Punk broke free, hit Moxley with a knee to the midsection, then threw him shoulder-first into the turnbuckle! As Mox clutched his arm in the corner, Punk hit a running knee strike, before taking him down with a bulldog and locking Moxley in the Anaconda Vice! Moxley screamed, but he was able to get to the ropes, and the referee ordered Punk to break the hold. As both men got to their feet, Punk caught Moxley with a roundhouse kick to the temple, then climbed to the top rope and hit an elbow drop! He hooked the leg and the referee counted – 1… 2… Moxley kicked out! The crowd were on their feet, and there were dueling chants of “Let’s Go Moxley!” and “CM Punk!”
Mauro Ranallo: Boston can’t decide who to cheer for… and neither man is backing down!
As both men got to their feet, Punk went for a big boot, but Moxley ducked underneath it and got behind Punk, hitting a release German suplex. Moxley then ran against the ropes, going for the rebound lariat… but Punk dodged it, and hit a neckbreaker! Punk then signaled for the GTS, and lifted Moxley up… but Moxley broke free, and hit Punk with the Death Rider! He hooked the leg, and the referee counted – 1… 2… Punk kicked out just before the 3!
Nigel McGuinness: I can’t believe it, Mauro! I thought it was game over for CM Punk then!
Moxley pounded the mat in frustration, then grabbed Punk, going for the Bulldog Choke… but Punk rolled away before Mox could lock it in fully, rolling out of the ring to give himself a moment to recover. Moxley followed Punk to the outside, but as he grabbed Punk, Punk hit him with a heatbutt before whipping Moxley headfirst into the ring post! As Moxley stumbled backwards, blood trickled down his face.
Mauro Ranallo: Mamma Mia! Now both these men are bleeding, Nigel!
The referee tried to check on Moxley, but Moxley shoved him away, then began swinging wildly at Punk. The two men exchanged right hands back and forth, but Punk was able to gain the upper hand, and he lifted Moxley up, hitting a GTS on the outside! The referee began counting Moxley out, but Punk shook his head.
Nigel McGuinness: CM Punk doesn’t want to win by count out… he wants to finish this in the ring!
Punk dragged Moxley to his feet, throwing him back into the ring, then hoisted Moxley up again, hitting a second GTS! Exhausted and bloody, Punk slumped over Moxley, hooking the leg. The referee counted – 1… 2… 3!
Mauro Ranallo: CM Punk survives the war and advances to the King of the Ring semi-finals!
Nigel McGuinness: What a fight… that was nothing short of carnage.
As the referee raised Punk’s arm, both men lay on the mat, exhausted and bloodied. Punk pulled himself up and nodded respectfully toward Moxley, who was stirring in the corner.
Mauro Ranallo: That was everything we expected and more. CM Punk joins Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, and Edge in the Final Four… and the King of the Ring just got even more dangerous.
The show ended with a shot of CM Punk standing tall on the turnbuckle, blood on his face, soaking in the adulation of the Boston crowd.
