Multiverse United 2 (marketed as Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls) was an interpromotional

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

pay-per-view Pay-per-view (PPV) is a type of pay television or webcast service that enables a viewer to pay to watch individual events via private telecast. Events can be purchased through a multichannel television platform using their electronic program ...

event Event may refer to: Gatherings of people * Ceremony, an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion * Convention (meeting), a gathering of individuals engaged in some common interest * Event management, the organization of eve ...

co-produced by

Impact Wrestling Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (abbreviated as TNA Wrestling or TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Canadian media company owned by busine ...

and

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW). It took place on August 20, 2023, at the

2300 Arena 2300 Arena is a multipurpose indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, used primarily for professional wrestling, boxing, mixed martial arts, and concert events. Originally known as Viking Hall, the venue has since been named XPW Arena, New A ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

and aired on

FITE Fite may refer to: People *Bobby Fite (born 1968), American film and television actor *Charlene Fite (born 1950), American politician *Gilbert Fite (1918–2010), American historian *Harvey Fite (1903–1976), American sculptor and painter *Lanny ...

. It was the third event under the

Multiverse The multiverse is the hypothetical set of all universes. Together, these universes are presumed to comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, information, and the physical laws and constants that describ ...

chronology. Ten matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show. In the main event,

Alex Shelley Patrick Kenneth Martin (born May 23, 1983), better known by the ring name Alex Shelley, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand. He is widely known for his tenure ...

defeated

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

to retain the

Impact World Championship The TNA World Championship is a professional wrestling Professional wrestling championship#World championships, world championship created and promoted by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). It is the promotion's principal championship. Like mo ...

. In other prominent matches, Giulia defeated

Deonna Purrazzo Deonna Lynn Purrazzo (born June 10, 1994) is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Purrazzo began training in December 2012, and then started wrestling in various independent promotions the following y ...

Gisele Shaw Gisele Mayordo (born 30 October 1989), known professionally as Gisele Shaw, is a Filipino-Canadian professional wrestler. She is known for her work in England with various promotions including Progress Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling, hav ...

and

Momo Kohgo better known by her ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler. She works for World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is a member of Stars. A former model and actress, Kohgo is also known for her time in P's Party and Actwres girl'Z. Profess ...

to retain the

Strong Women's Championship The is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The creation of the championship was announced by NJPW on April 27, 2023. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's Strong brand ...

Sami Callihan Samuel Alton Johnston (born September 1, 1987), better known by the ring name Sami Callihan, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and promoter. He is signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestlin ...

defeated

Douki , better known by his ring name Douki (stylised in ''all caps'' as DOUKI), is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the House of Torture faction and one-half of the current IWGP Junior H ...

in a South Philly Street Fight,

Bullet Club , stylized as BULLET CLUB and sometimes shortened to BC, is a professional wrestling Glossary of professional wrestling terms#stable, stable primarily appearing in the Japanese Professional wrestling promotion, promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling ...

(

Kenta Kenta (廉侍) is a masculine Japanese given name. (written: , , , or in katakana). Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese baseball player *, Japanese film director *, Japanese kickboxer *, Japanese professional wrestler *, Japane ...

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

(

Ace Austin Austin James Highley (born February 28, 1997), better known by the ring name Ace Austin, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is a former three-time TNA X Division C ...

and

Chris Bey Daquan Christopher Johnson-Bey (born February 13, 1996), better known by the ring name Chris Bey, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), but has been on hiatus due to a broken neck that he suf ...

) and Bullet Club War Dogs ( Alex Coughlin,

Clark Connors Connor Deutsch (born October 6, 1993), better known by his ring name Clark Connors, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Bullet Club stable and ...

and David Finlay)) defeated The World (The DKC,

El Phantasmo Riley Vigier (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he performs under the ring name El Phantasmo (often shortened to ELP) and is the NJPW World Tel ...

Josh Alexander Joshua Lemay (born May 29, 1987), better known by his ring name Josh Alexander, is a Canadian Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of the Don Callis Family. He also makes a ...

, PCO and

Guerrillas of Destiny The Tongans, formerly known as Guerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D), is a Tongan-American professional wrestling tag team currently signed with WWE, founded by and consisting of brothers Alipate Leone and Tevita Fifita, who both perform on the Smack ...

(

Tama Tonga Alipate Aloisio Fifita Leone (born October 15, 1982), better known by his ring name Tama Tonga (), is a Tongan-American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand where he is a former WWE Tag Team Ch ...

and

Tanga Loa Tevita Tu'amoeloa Fetaiakimoeata Koloamatangi Fifita (born May 7, 1983) is a Tongan-American professional wrestler. As of May 2024, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Tonga Loa, as a member of The ...

)) in a 12-man tag team match,

Trey Miguel Trey McBrayer (born August 30, 1994), better known by his ring name Trey Miguel, is an American professional wrestler, where he is a member of The Rascalz tag team. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He also makes appearances ...

and

Lio Rush Lionel Gerard Green (born November 11, 1994), better known by the ring name Lio Rush, is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is one-half of CRU with Action Andretti. He also performs ...

defeated

Hiromu Takahashi (born December 4, 1989) is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the ''Los Ingobernables de Japón'' stable. Takahashi made his debut for NJPW on Augus ...

and Mike Bailey; and in the opening contest,

Chris Sabin Joshua Harter (born February 4, 1982), better known by the ring name Chris Sabin, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 f ...

defeated Yoh, Bushi, El Desperado,

Frankie Kazarian Frank Benedict Gerdelman (born August 4, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and musician signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), performing under the ring name Frankie Kazarian. He is also known for his wo ...

, Kevin Knight, Mao and

Rich Swann Richard Anthony Swann (born February 15, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. he is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He is a former Impact World Champion, TNA World Heavyweight Championship (2020–2021), ...

in an eight-man Scramble match.

Production

Background

Multiverse is a

event promoted by

. The first event,

Multiverse of Matches Multiverse of Matches was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) List of Impact Wrestling pay-per-view events, event produced by Impact Wrestling as a part of WrestleCon. It took place on April 1, 2022, at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel in Dallas, ...

took place on April 1, 2022, at the Fairmount Hotel in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

. The second event, Multiverse United, took place on March 30, 2023, at the Globe Theater in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, thus establishing the Multiverse event as an annual tradition. On April 16, 2023, at

Rebellion Rebellion is an uprising that resists and is organized against one's government. A rebel is a person who engages in a rebellion. A rebel group is a consciously coordinated group that seeks to gain political control over an entire state or a ...

, it was announced that Multiverse United 2 would take place on August 20, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Storylines

The event will feature several

professional wrestling matches Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick, gimmick matches" in the Glossary of professional wrestling terms, jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick m ...

, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing

scripted ''Scripted'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Icon for Hire. It was released on Tooth & Nail Records on August 23, 2011, and went on to break the label's new artist record for albums sold during the first week of release. Backgr ...

feuds A feud , also known in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, private war, or mob war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because ...

, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portray

heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...

villains A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on Impact's weekly television program.

Event

Pre-show

There were two matches that took place on the pre-show. In the opener,

Joe Hendry Joe Hendry (born 1 May 1988) is a Scottish Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and musician. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), while also making appearances for partner promotion WWE on its NXT (WWE brand), NXT WW ...

Heath A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...

and

Yuya Uemura is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former Provisional KOPW Champion. He has also made appearances for Impact Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions and Game Change ...

faced Six or Nine (

Ryusuke Taguchi is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, trained by and performing for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a former List of IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions, two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, List of IWGP Junior He ...

and Master Wato) and

Rocky Romero John Raymond Rivera (born October 28, 1982), better known by his ring name Rocky Romero (ロッキー・ロメロ, ''Rokkī Romero''), is a Cuban-American professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and All Elite Wrest ...

. In the closing stages, Wato delivered a ZigZag to Hendry, but Heath then delivered a leg lariat to Wato. Hendry then delivered simultaneous Fallaway Slams to Romero and Wato. Uemura then delivered a running bulldog and a diving crossbody to Taguchi for the three-count. In the main event of the pre-show, Kenny King defended the

Impact Digital Media Championship The TNA Digital Media Championship was a professional wrestling television championship created and promoted by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). It was an intergender tertiary championship, openly available to both male and female wrestlers. ...

against

Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is a member of House of Torture and a former member of Bullet Club. He also works as a backstage producer for NJPW. Professional wrestling career ...

. In the closing stages, Kanemaru delivered a spinebuster and a standing moonsault for a two-count. King then delivered a spinebuster for a two-count. Kanemaru then pulled the referee away, attempting to deliver the Amber Mist, but King avoided it and delivered the ''Royal Flush'' to retain the title.

Preliminary matches

The opening contest of the event was an eight-man Scramble contested between Chris Sabin, Yoh, Frankie Kazarian, Kevin Knight, Bushi, Mao, El Desperado and Rich Swann. In the opening stages, Kazarian delivered a diving legdrop to Sabin. Desperado then delivered a cutter to Mao. Sabin and Kazarian then delivered a Tower of Doom to Mao, Swann and Desperado. Knight then delivered a frog splash to Swann, but Yoh broke up the pinfall. Kazarian then delivered a slingshot cutter to Knight, but Desperado then immediately delivered a spinebuster to Kazarian, allowing Sabin to deliver the Cradle Shock to Yoh for the win. After the match, Bushi sprayed mist into Sabin's eyes. Next,

Moose The moose (: 'moose'; used in North America) or elk (: 'elk' or 'elks'; used in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is also the tal ...

and Eddie Edwards faced TMDK (

Shane Haste Shane Veryzer (born 24 September 1985), known by his ring name Shane Haste, is an Australian professional wrestler. He works for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK). He is best known for his te ...

and

Zack Sabre Jr. Lucas James Uggles Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), known by his ring name and its abbreviated form ZSJ, is an English-born professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is the second and current leader of the ...

). In the closing stages, Edwards delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb to Sabre Jr. for a two-count. As Haste was attempting a suplex, Moose countered it into a uranage. Edwards then delivered the ''Boston Knee Party'' to Sabre Jr., but Haste then delivered a schoolboy pin to Moose for a two-count. Moose then delivered a Spear to Haste to pickup the victory. In the next match, Giulia defended the

Strong Openweight Championship The is a professional wrestling world championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The title was officially announced on April 2, 2021, and the inaugural champion was Tom Lawlor. The reigning champion is Tom ...

against Gisele Shaw, Deonna Purrazzo and Momo Kohgo. In the opening stages, Kohgo delivered a diving crossbody and a 619 to Giulia. As Purrazzo was attempting the Queen's Gambit, Shaw countered it into a back body drop. Giulia then delivered an avalanche butterfly suplex to Shaw. Purrazzo then delivered a lungblower to Kohgo. Shaw then delivered an avalanche Spanish Fly to Purrazzo, but Kohgo and Giulia broke up the pinfall attempt. Giulia then delivered a Northern Lights Bomb to Shaw to retain the title. After the match, Kohgo attacked Giulia, but Giulia delivered the ''Glorious Driver'' to Kohgo. The next match was a South Philly Street Fight contested between Sami Callihan and Douki. In the closing stages, Douki delivered an enzeguiri and a diving double foot stomp onto a pile of chairs for a two-count. Callihan then delivered a twisting neckbreaker for a nearfall. Douki them delivered a hurricarana into a ladder and a slingshot DDT for a two-count. As Douki was attempting the Douki Bomb, Callihan escaped it and delivered a lariat and the Cactus Driver '97 for another nearfall. As Callihan was attempting another Cactus Driver'97 onto a pile of chairs, Douki escaped it, but Callihan then delivered a low blow and the Cactus Driver '97 for the win. Next, Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira) faced TMDK (Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles). In the closing stages, Akira delivered an assisted senton to Fujita for a two-count. Akira them delivered a poison Rana to Eagles. Fujita then locked in a leg lock on Akira, but Akira reached the ropes. Akira then delivered a step-up tope con giro to both Fujita and Eagles on the outside. TJP them delivered a frog splash to Fujita for a two-count. Fujita then delivered a belly-to-belly suplex to TJP for another two-count. As Eagles was attempting a superkick to Akira, Eagles accidentally superkicked Fujita, allowing TJP and Akira to deliver simultaneous knees to Fujita to pickup the victory. The next bout was a 12-man tag team match contested between Bullet Club (Kenta, Chris Bey, Ace Austin, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin and David Finlay) and The World (The DKC, El Phantasmo, Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa). In the opening stages, Coughlin delivered a gutwrench suplex to PCO. Connors them delivered a powerslam to DKC for a two-count. Austin then delivered a headscissors takedown to Alexander. El Phantasmo delivered a springboard moonsault to Finlay, but Austin broke up the pin attempt. PCO and The DKC then delivered a chokeslam/diving splash combination to Finlay for a two-count. PCO then delivered the PCO-sault to everyone on the outside. Alexander then delivered a double suplex to both Austin and Bey. As Kenta was attempting the GTS, Alexander countered it into an ankle lock, but Kenta escaped it. As The DKC was attempting another diving splash, Finlay got the knees up and delivered a powerbomb to The DKC to win. The match. After the match, Bullet Club attacked all the members of The World. In the penultimate match, Trey Miguel and Lio Rush took on Hiromu Takahashi and Mike Bailey in a

tag team match Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a storyline. ...

. In the closing stages, Rush delivered a fisherman driver to Bailey for a two-count. Takahashi then delivered a falcon Arrow to Miguel for a two-count. Takahashi then delivered a pop-up powerbomb to Miguel, but as Takahashi was attempting a superkick, Miguel avoided it into a schoolboy pin for a two-count. Takahashi and Bailey then delivered a fireman's carry/Ultima Weapon combination on Miguel, but Rush broke up the pin attempt. Rush then delivered a springboard stunner to Takahashi for nearfall. As Takahashi was attempting the Time Bomb, Miguel blocked it and delivered a Meteora. Takahashi then delivered a Death Valley Driver, but as he was attempting to pin Rush, Miguel distracted the referee, allowing Rush to deliver a low blow to Takahashi and use a schoolboy pin for the win.

Main event

In the main event, Alex Shelley defended the

against Hiroshi Tanahashi. In the opening stages, Shelley delivered Sliced Bread #2 and locked in the Border City Stretch, but Tanahashi reached the ropes. Shelley then kicked Tanahashi's hand into the barricade and delivered a running clothesline. Tanahashi then delivered a dragonscrew in the ropes, but Shelley then delivered an enzeguiri. Tanahashi then delivered three ''Twist and Shouts'' and a slingblade for a two-count. Shelley then delivered the Boma Ye, a ripcord lariat and ''The Rainmaker'' for a nearfall. Shelley then delivered an avalanche Air Raid Crash for another two-count. Shelley then delivered a superkick and the Shell Shock to retain the title.

Results

References

External links

Official website
{{New Japan Pro Wrestling events 2023 Impact Wrestling pay-per-view events 2023 in Philadelphia 2023 in professional wrestling August 2023 in the United States Professional wrestling joint shows Professional wrestling shows in Philadelphia