In the much-awaited but often forgotten, no holds barred wrestling fight from Invasion of the Bodyslams Galway, Pete Dunne (Butch) takes on Chris Hero in a captivating clash of styles. In this match that remains top on any fan’s bucket list, expect technical wizardry, merciless shots to the ribs and soaring highflying moves all rolled into one.
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00:00Our main event!
00:02Don, we've seen all this, and we still haven't had our main event yet!
00:05The country's set for one fall!
00:08And it is for the MLW Heavyweight Championship!
00:13Introducing the two competitors!
00:15This is where the joking ends, Angle.
00:25OTT audience straight to their feet.
00:28In a show of respect to one of the world's greatest wrestlers.
00:33The knockout artist himself, all the way from the United States.
00:37He is something else.
00:40He is incredible.
00:43He is Chris Hero.
00:48Some of the folks in attendance here at the Black Box Theater.
00:52If they're unfamiliar with Chris Hero, they're about to find out what he's all about.
00:56He's not just one of Ireland's best.
00:58He's not just one of the best that you can see in Europe.
01:01He is literally one of the best wrestlers in the world.
01:05The king of wrestling, you might say.
01:09If you're a fantasy wrestling booker, you want to talk about your MVP.
01:14You want to talk about your number one draft pick.
01:17Chris Hero is on the top of every list of anyone who knows anything about the sport of professional wrestling.
01:26It simply doesn't get any better than this.
01:46For two nights back to back at the Tivoli Theater, in front of a sold out Dublin crowd.
01:52Chris Hero laid on the two top contenders for match of the year.
01:57So far in OTT.
02:00I think tonight's match we can talk about the clash of styles between the knockout artist Chris Hero.
02:05And our NLW Heavyweight Champion, the Bruiserweight Pete Dunne.
02:09I think the clash of styles here, the technical prowess, and the striking ability of all these wrestlers.
02:16This might not just be match of the year here in OTT.
02:19This could be match of the year full stop.
02:21Don't forget Dunne, title on the line here.
02:29If Chris Hero can get this done, we might be seeing an awful lot more of the hero.
02:34And I've got to tell you, that fills my heart with a whole heap of joy.
02:40Leave him alone, Foxy!
02:51Chris Hero ain't nothing but win, Chris Hero ain't nothing but win.
02:58Let's get this party started.
03:17The OTT crowd has grown to love the NLW Heavyweight Champion, Pete Dunne.
03:23Throughout the last few months, reactions have been changing.
03:25This is a man they hated, they despised for 18 months as he challenged for the championship.
03:31As he took on the best wrestlers that OTT and the rest of the world had to offer.
03:35But he's proved himself. He's arrived.
03:38He's at the top of his game.
03:40And this OTT crowd has no choice but to respect him.
03:44The most dominant champion in OTT history.
03:50The unstoppable Pete Dunne has been on a tear.
03:55In two years, defeated only once.
04:00This man is as good as it gets.
04:03Chris Hero has a job of work in front of him tonight.
04:07Ladies and gentlemen, now introducing the competitors for this, the main event of the evening.
04:18First, the challenger, on my right, he hails from Metropolis.
04:24He is the knockout artist, Chris Hero!
04:38Hero! Hero! Hero!
04:46And on my left, from Birmingham in England.
04:50He is the reigning, defending, NLW Heavyweight Champion, the unstoppable, Pete Dunne!
05:07Pete Dunne! Pete Dunne!
05:10You still hear the division in the OTT crowd.
05:15Pete Dunne has impressed them all, certainly.
05:18Pete Dunne has amazed them all, certainly.
05:21But he hasn't won over the hearts of a lot of this crowd just yet.
05:27You gotta remember though, when just a couple of nights ago, Chris Hero went up against Ryan Smile, the darling of the OTT crowd.
05:33The crowd was split there.
05:35When somebody like Chris Hero steps in the ring, everybody loses their mind.
05:50Chris Hero offers the hand.
05:51And you give those hands, you leave those fingers out there, Pete Dunne's gonna bite them off.
05:56Pete Dunne! Pete Dunne!
06:03Do not give Pete Dunne your hand, you may not get it back.
06:09Come on, Dunne!
06:11You know, Dunne, like you said, this is an interesting clash of styles here in the OTT ring.
06:17It'll be interesting to see, tactically, where these guys go early on.
06:27Impressive chain wrestling here.
06:29But would you expect anything less?
06:31We're watching Chris Hero versus Pete Dunne.
06:33Two of the best in the world, right here, in the Black Box Theater, at OTT.
06:42Chris Hero, a big, imposing presence in the ring.
06:45Look at the size of Pete Dunne.
06:47Pete Dunne!
06:55I don't think it's gonna matter too much what the crowd reaction is to Pete Dunne.
06:58He's used to people hating him.
07:00If they like him, maybe that's just a bonus.
07:02He tends to block it out when he's in the ring, and focus on his opponent.
07:06That's what's smart, that's why he's champ.
07:09Come on, Dunne!
07:14Dunne, torquing that arm.
07:16Torquing the wrist.
07:18Transition to hammerlock.
07:30Chris Hero, no slouch with his own wristlock.
07:38What do you say?
07:43Nip-up from Dunne.
07:46Gains control.
07:47Moves towards attacking that shoulder.
07:51There's a lot of mind games at this point in the match.
07:53At the very start, you're not gonna win the match instantly.
07:55You wanna figure out what your opponent's bringing tonight.
07:57Figure out their level of intensity.
07:59How easily can you take them down?
08:01And what have they got in store for you when they get back up?
08:04The cravat on early.
08:06What way is he gonna take it?
08:09Transition to the headlock.
08:13Chris Hero happens to stay in control of this.
08:18John Fox starts to counter the ropes.
08:22And there you have it.
08:24The irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
08:28And that'll show you just how evenly matched these two competitors are.
08:39Again, stalemate in the center of the ring.
08:45Who's gonna get the upper hand here?
08:46And what's it gonna take, Dunne?
09:02Hero offering Pete Dunne the opportunity to gather the momentum.
09:07Oh!
09:09Cheap shot Dunne.
09:10Shades of Chris Hero there.
09:11Clearly a well-scouted opponent.
09:13Giving him a taste of his own medicine.
09:15Repeated uppercuts to the jaw of the American.
09:20Burn the bruiser weight.
09:21Oh!
09:23That's classic Chris Hero.
09:25The bait and switch.
09:27And a senton!
09:28And a senton!
09:34Suddenly the tide has turned in this match.
09:42Oh!
09:43Huge kick.
09:46I think about this.
09:47If he knocks out Pete Dunne's teeth,
09:49that takes away the biting arsenal that Pete Dunne brings to the table.
09:52It could be genius.
09:54Yes, that might be the nuclear option, but it would certainly be effective.
09:58Oh!
09:59He's going the right way towards it.
10:01Until you've experienced those elbows in the flesh,
10:05in person at a live event like this, Dunne,
10:08it's hard to do them justice.
10:11Senton again!
10:12Another senton.
10:15Full weight of Chris Hero down on the ribcage of Pete Dunne.
10:19Pete Dunne had to kind of wriggle out of that one.
10:20Couldn't quite kick out.
10:21Had to move his own body weight.
10:28Another kick to the face.
10:31Pete Dunne checking for teeth there.
10:33You're right, Dunne.
10:34I think that would actually be a tactical hero.
10:36And again!
10:37It is!
10:38It's absolute genius.
10:40For those who haven't seen Pete Dunne before,
10:42he is known for biting the fingers of his opponent,
10:44testing the limits of the rules.
10:47If he doesn't have a tooth left in his head,
10:48maybe that's why he's wearing the gum shield.
10:50As you said, Dunne,
10:51almost no one in OTT has been able to find a way past Pete Dunne.
10:57No one's ever tried this technique before.
10:59Maybe Chris Hero's onto something.
11:01Pete Dunne still unpinned in OTT.
11:04One submission, the only blemish on his record.
11:09Pete Dunne's standing tall.
11:11No matter what Chris Hero's throwing at him,
11:13it's Pete Dunne all over.
11:14One of the toughest guys you'll ever see.
11:16And that is the resilience that the OTT crowd admires so much.
11:21He's almost headbutting the forearm of Chris Hero.
11:24He's eating these shots over and over.
11:26And now one of his own.
11:27Oh my god, his full body weight.
11:29Hero straight down to his knees.
11:31He took himself off his feet.
11:32There's a look of disbelief on his face.
11:40I don't know if Chris Hero's ever been hit like that.
11:46The agility of Pete Dunne.
11:50That's the waist lock, but off the ropes.
11:53Oh yes.
11:54Take the big man down.
11:55Isolate that knee.
11:57And that can come into play later in the match.
11:59Hero's hurt.
12:01Hero's yet to get back up.
12:03And Dunne, you've got to say wisely,
12:06going straight to work those knees right now.
12:10Tremendous pressure on the joint here.
12:15He needs to get those arms hooked.
12:17You're looking at MCL, ACL, PCL.
12:21Damage right across the knee.
12:22And there goes the glove shield.
12:26Slamming those knees down.
12:30This is a great tactic.
12:31If you are losing anything in weight or height to your opponent,
12:34work on the legs.
12:36You can take him down.
12:37Like I said, everybody's the same size on the floor.
12:44Stamping on the face of Chris Hero.
12:48Some brutality will be done.
12:51You don't see in other performers.
12:56Again, Dunne using the hair to his advantage.
13:01It's not within the rules,
13:03but it's getting the job done.
13:05Cranking on that neck here of Chris Hero.
13:08Chris Hero.
13:11Chris Hero's in trouble.
13:14Forearm.
13:16Pressing down on the carotid artery.
13:19Starving the brain.
13:21And then the head.
13:22Pressing down on the carotid artery.
13:24Starving the brain and the blood flow.
13:27Chris Hero might go to sleep here.
13:29And if he does,
13:30and that arm drop three times.
13:31And then Dunne's made the rope.
13:34That is a huge advantage of being the size of Chris Hero is.
13:37You're never too far from the ropes.
13:39We talked about the striking ability of these two men.
13:41They're showing it to us now.
13:43And now Pete Dunne working on isolating.
13:46The unusual body parts that he likes to isolate.
13:48Likes to work things like fingers, nose.
13:51Everybody's sensitive there.
13:53Hero makes that rope again.
13:55And he's got it.
13:57And he's got it.
13:59And he's got it.
14:01And he's got it.
14:03And he's got it.
14:05And he's got it.
14:06And he's got it.
14:08And he's got it.
14:10And he's got it.
14:11And he's got it.
14:17You can go to the gym everyday.
14:19You can work on all sorts of resistance training.
14:21But there's nothing you can do
14:23To strengthen the tolerance pain in the finger.
14:28Bobby the brain healer always said
14:30In a fight you're only as strong as your eyes and your balls.
14:33I think we can add fingers to that list.
14:34as Pete Dunne has been using that to his advantage, but again always in with a
14:44fighting chance Chris Hero, Dunne laying the boot into the ankle of Hero again
14:58Chopping down the oak tree. Knee to the head.
15:05Disdainful jabs. I don't know if Dunne wants to do this. He could be waking a sleeping bear.
15:15That's the thing though, a bear would be agile enough to kick you in the face.
15:22Hero's angry. I think he likes it.
15:29Trading blows in the center of the ring.
15:36Another boot to the face. Headbutt off the ropes. Oh, neck breaker from Chris Hero.
15:48The fans love it. Both men down. First to their feet could get a huge advantage.
15:56Chris Hero's taking the easy way. The athleticism of the big guy. Splashing
16:04into the corner. Oh my god. Knee to the head. That could be it. We could have a new champ.
16:11One, two. And by the narrowest of margins, the champ gets the shoulder up. The bruiser weight
16:20remains unpinned. We've seen this before though. The hair's coming down. Chris Hero means business.
16:28Usually signifies an attitude change in Chris Hero's mind.
16:33Very smart from Dunne. Using the ring to his advantage. Stopping the momentum of Chris Hero.
16:44Stopping him from being pulled. Chris Hero to back up plan. And another.
16:54How much of a punishment can Pete Dunne take? Huge elbow. Hero to the outside. Dunne takes
17:06flight. Oh my god. The elbow to the concrete floor. What an elbow from Hero. Elbow to the face.
17:17Concrete floor to the back of the skull. Chris Hero among the crowd. Think about it this way.
17:23Dunne had his entire body weight behind this momentum. All Hero needed to do was lift his elbow.
17:30What are we going to see here? Oh my god. Nearly kicking the head clean off Pete Dunne. Feeding
17:48off the momentum of the crowd here at the Black Box Theater and delivering a huge boot to the
17:53face of Pete Dunne. 500 Crazy Gold Legions on their feet. Are we going to see another? Rubber
17:59bandits on their feet. Dunne had it scouted that time. Hero went to the well once too often.
18:09Got a boot in his face for his troubles. What does that do to you psychologically?
18:23Where your opponent manages to hurt your hand by just moving. Taking a simple step.
18:27Oh no. Hero's most effective weapon may well have been taken out by that steel ring post.
18:40Dunne is smart from Dunne. Dunne knows exactly what he's doing. He's targeting it instantly.
18:46He's double patted that elbow. Hopefully Hero's mind is going to help him.
18:54Hero looks unimpressed. The bruiserweight Pete Dunne has been tossing Atlas stones since he was
19:01a 14 year old child. He has incredible power. But it's not enough to get Chris Hero off his feet.
19:08See there the pain in his expression when he used that elbow. Deadlift German Suplex.
19:18Springing to the outside. To the second rope. To the top. Pete Dunne takes flight.
19:23Oh double foot stomp. That's it.
19:26So close. So close to retaining his NLW championship. But Chris Hero he wants to
19:35take that belt home. Chris Hero finding it within himself. To find a way to kick out
19:49of that pin. Chris Hero still in this match Dunne. Pete looks like he has a plan. He's
19:55feeding off the energy of this crowd. And Hero. Huge kick to the head of Hero.
20:04And now he wants it done. Oh my god. That's it. He's kicked his head off.
20:12Go for the backslide. Hero. Oh my god. Step over. Oh we've seen this before.
20:25Spikes him head first in the center of the ring. One. Two. Oh my god. What's it gonna take tonight?
20:31What's it gonna take for Chris Hero to put Pete Dunne down and take that championship home with him?
20:36He spiked him clean on the top of his head. Driving him head first. With the combined
20:42weight of both fighters into the ring canvas. Pete Dunne's worried about the neck Dunne.
20:48The crowd showing their appreciation for both men at this is awesome chant.
20:56Referee LaFox no choice but to start the count. Both men still down. Chris Hero showing signs of life.
21:10Look at the face of Pete Dunne. Watch out behind you Hero.
21:19Hero's spending too much time caring about what these fans are saying about him.
21:24It's not out of nowhere, isn't it?
21:29Both men giving everything.
21:39Very smart from don't go to the knee. Hook Hero's knee and stop that momentum.
21:51Oh my god. That's Pete out. But has Hero done damage to himself? And Pete's up.
22:02Pete Dunne still alive after that vicious headbutt. Blocks the attempt at the suplex again.
22:11But has Pete Dunne just bought himself a stay of execution? Chris Hero.
22:17One of Pete's own signature moves against him. And a huge elbow. For what must be the 15th time at this point.
22:25That's him up. No. Reversal. Reversal.
22:30Could that be it? One. Two. So close from both. And he's got the submission hold locked on.
22:36Working that arm. Right in the center of the ring. Hero's nowhere near the ropes.
22:43You can see the force applied by Pete Dunne. Working on that joint. That arm could go but he's made the ropes.
22:50Pete's not letting go.
22:54We talked about the size of Hero. Getting to his advantage. Those legs can always be near a rope.
22:57He can always crawl. He can always make it.
23:01That elbow's giving him trouble though. You can see it.
23:05And if it's hurting that bad, how can he swing it at the jaw of Pete Dunne?
23:09He's trying to stretch it out.
23:12Pete saw all of that. Pete now knows that's a target.
23:16That elbow might have popped.
23:23I don't know why Hero's elbow wasn't gone.
23:32Attacking again. That's instinctive from Hero. Instinctive.
23:37You can see the grimace on the face as soon as it landed.
23:41Stomps to the jaw.
23:46Is Hero out?
23:52Hero motionless on the ring mat here.
23:59I don't know that he's picked up unconscious.
24:02Again returning to that elbow. This could be crucial.
24:05Ruthless efficiency.
24:08Here comes the gum shield.
24:10The gum shield is removed.
24:12The trademark of Pete Dunne.
24:16Chris Hero might be going home not only without the belt but without a finger.
24:19No!
24:23Huge chops from Hero.
24:26Oh my god!
24:28The gum shield knocked from the mouth of Pete Dunne.
24:32That was unprotected.
24:34The elbow to clean out of his mouth.
24:38And he's sticking it where the sun don't shine.
24:40There was no elbow pad and Dunne did not have a gum shield.
24:43And now a huge kick.
24:46That's going to loosen some molars.
24:56Huge enziguri from Dunne.
24:59And a receipt from Chris Hero.
25:02From Chris Hero.
25:07Catches the elbow and fights it.
25:13Headbutting the elbow. Unique tactic.
25:16And now he's got him down. That elbow's already weakened.
25:21Chris Hero taps.
25:22He couldn't see it for the sake of his career.
25:24For the sake of his career Chris Hero taps.
25:26Genius from Dunne.
25:28Referee Lyle Fox.
25:32I don't love you! I love you!
25:39Referee Lyle Fox was watching the face of Chris Hero.
25:41Watching the hand of Chris Hero.
25:43He did not see.