Penelope Ford vs Athena

For Penelope Ford, who returned last week in Minneapolis for a Dark Elevation taping, this would be her first match back on AEW TV since January. As we’re two weeks out from All Out and all signs point to Athena taking on Jade Cargill for the TBS Title, this result seems pretty predictable, although it does arrive with some things that could get teased: Does Jade Cargill come out after the match? Will we get another acknowledgement of Kip “Box On His Head” Sabian from Penelope? And of course, the evaluating the action itself. Athena a long time solid in ring performer and Penelope Ford, for my money, has always been very underrated.

Penelope Ford comes out with some pretty crazy eye makeup! Athena comes out with her metal wings which always pops me and Chris Jericho. Excalibur tells me Penelope’s makeup is a nod to the House of Dragons (corporate synergy FTW!).

Penelope Ford goes for a handspring back elbow but Athena catches her in a waste lock. She goes to German Suplex Ford but Ford reverses it into a throw which places Athena on the ropes. Penelope delivers running knees to Athena’s back on the ropes and then launches herself over the top rop onto Athena on the apron. We forget how good Penelope Ford is.

During PIP Penelope hits her handspring elbow and hits a pump kick for two. Athena comes back with some elbow strikes and a nice roll up for two. Athena with a thrust kick, goes for a clothesline but Penelope Matrixes back to dodge it and then hits a Stunner. 2-count again.

We come back from commercial to Athena & Penelope on the floor with Athena hitting a Shot Gun Dropkick on Penelope into the barricade right by Kip Sabian. Athena rolls her back in the ring and hits the O-Face for the win.

Post match, Athena is jumped by Baddies Leila Grey and Kiera Hogan. As she’s being held down, Jade Cargill comes out with Stokely Hathaway but more importantly, she’s holding a sledgehammer. She destroy’s Athena’s winged jacket (Nooooooo!!!) and then makes her way to the ring. Athena has fought off the baddies but just in time to catch a sledgehammer to the stomach from Jade.

It’s safe to say this is the direction for All Out.