Darby Allin makes his fifth title defense as AEW World Champion

Darby Allin continued to shape and add prestige to his first reign as AEW World Champion after defeating Konosuke Takeshita in the main event of the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, which aired last night from the Harrah's Cherokee Center- Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina. The champion survived the tremendous offense of "The Alpha", having to deliver up to four Coffin Drops to overcome him.

Match Development

Darby tried to catch Takeshita off guard as soon as the bell rang, but the Japanese wrestler wouldn't allow it. "The Alpha" hit the champion hard, who ended up seeking refuge at ringside to catch his breath. Konosuke quickly went after him, unleashing a flurry of knee strikes. After that, he dragged the metal stairs to set up his next move, but it was Allin who turned them to his advantage.

The action moved to the apron, where Takeshita surprised the champion with a tremendous Blue Thunder Bomb that left both men reeling. "The Alpha" brought Allin back into the ring to finish him off with a lariat, but the champion managed to interrupt the subsequent three count. Takeshita continued punishing his opponent's body, delivering a powerbomb.

The action continued, with Darby surviving a combo of Hitodenashi Driver + Wheelbarrow Suplex, a big boot in the corner, a tremendous superplex with a bridge from the second rope, and an unrelenting Power Drive Knee. Concerned about the champion's resilience, Don Callis handed Konosuke his Diamond Ring to use as a weapon, but "The Alpha" refused to win in that manner. 

This led to the final phase of the match, with Allin surprising Takeshita with a code red from the second rope and then executing a Coffin Drop towards ringside. The action moved to the metal stairs, where Darby delivered an inverted DDT. Allin brought his opponent back into the ring to execute a second Coffin Drop, but it still wasn't enough to defeat him.

Allin performed a third Coffin Drop, but this time the Japanese wrestler countered with his knees. "The Alpha" followed up with a Power Drive Knee, only for the champion to respond with a Scorpion Death Lock. Takeshita managed to crawl to the ropes to force a break, but the champion didn't give him time to get up. Allin launched himself with a Coffin Drop to impact his rival's back. A final Coffin Drop put an end to Konosuke's resistance, as he could do nothing to interrupt the three count.

Thus, Allin adds his fifth title defense in just one month of reign. Darby won the championship 29 days ago by defeating MJF against all odds in the main event of the special episode of AEW Dynamite Spring BreatThru. Allin will defend the gold against its former holder at Double or Nothing, where "The Devil" will also put something precious on the line: his hair, as both agreed in the contract signing that took place in the final minutes of the show.