In a world where every move matters, Daniel Garcia proved he’s got the steps to tango with the best, defeating Katsuyori Shibata to retain his AEW TNT Championship.

The match, billed as a clash of styles and mentors, was Garcia’s second title defense since claiming the gold, and it came with a little extra drama—Garcia entered the bout with a not-so-sparkling 0-1 record against the seasoned Shibata. But if anyone knows how to rewrite history, it’s the man with the belt.

The match began with classic grappling, transitioned into an impromptu slap-fest, and crescendoed with the kind of counter-wrestling that made even the commentary team consider career changes. Garcia, showing off his “wrestling with rhythm” philosophy, narrowly escaped Shibata’s octopus stretch before turning the tables with a dragon-screw leg whip. It was like watching a figure skater nail a triple axel—if figure skating involved chops to the chest and thousand-yard stares.

Shibata wasn’t about to let Garcia glide away with an easy win. The challenger slapped on a figure-four that had fans squirming in their seats, but Garcia wiggled his way to salvation via the ropes. In the end, after exchanging big moves and even bigger slaps, Garcia pulled a fast one with a ripcord roll-up that left Shibata staring at the lights.

Post-match, the two competitors showed respect, shaking hands and raising each other’s arms—a sportsmanlike ending that, in wrestling terms, is as rare as a clean referee count. Garcia, however, wasn’t done talking, using his post-match mic time to call out Gabe Kidd, the latest in a line of challengers seemingly determined to knock the champ off his groove.

Shibata, for his part, left with dignity intact—and possibly a welt or two. Garcia, meanwhile, danced off into the backstage area, presumably to challenge gravity, physics, and anyone else who might stand in his way.

By Joseph Gallery

I like ice cream, taking a back seat, wondering who I am, and pretending kayfabe is real. May or may not be the Real Dark Brandon. For the LOLZ. MALARKEY!

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