Lance Archer Defeats Hikuleo To Retain IWGP US Title
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Lance Archer shocked the world by winning the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship last week, and on the special “Fight for the Fallen” episode of AEW Dynamite, he defeated Hikuleo in his first official title defense.
The Murderhawk Monster @LanceHoyt has amazing agility!
Tune in to @tntdrama NOW to watch #AEWDynamite #FightForTheFallen LIVE! pic.twitter.com/oPv8dT9z9u
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 29, 2021
In what turned out to be a surprisingly quick match, Archer dominated Hikuleo early on, as he dropped the challenger with a huge boot. To his credit, Hikuleo fought back, as he clobbered Archer him with a flurry of punches before the champion kicked it up a notch and regained the upper hand.
A BIG #BlackOut for a BIG man! @LanceHoyt is STILL the #IWGP US Champion. He turns his attention now to @tanahashi1_100.
Tune in to @tntdrama NOW to watch #AEWDynamite #FightForTheFallen LIVE! pic.twitter.com/NRzTAJ1UcI
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 29, 2021
“The Murderhawk Monster” took control by drilling Hikuleo with several stiff strikes. After he dropped the challenger with a big superplex, he hit the Blackout for the decisive win. He already knows who his next challenger is, as New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Hiroshi Tanahashi challenged the winner of this bout to put their title on the line against him. After Archer pinned Hikuleo, the broadcast team announced that Archer will head to Japan to defend the gold against Tanahashi.
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