To no surprise, the crowd is split for these two. Both have a good fan base behind them. We begin with some mat wrestling and such, along with clean breaks. Knuckle lock, Jones in control and gets the arm drag. Seated hammerlock, Pride works into a head scissors, escapes and gets a side headlock takedown. Jones with the head scissors, Pride escapes and back to the feet they go. Test of strength now, Pride with the advantage and Jones is down. Jones bridges, Pride tries to break the bridge down, monkey flip by Jones, and then by Pride as they maintain the knuckle lock. Some good variations of holds there, Jones gets a dropkick and then a snap DDT for 2.
Jones works the arm bar, Pride to his feet and gets pulled back down. Side headlock by Pride, off the ropes and a shoulder block by Pride. Tries another, drop toehold and Jones tries the AJ Lock (Cross Armbreaker), countered and knees to the head by Pride. Jones to the ropes and then to the floor. Pride went for the suicide dive, but Jones knees him in the head a she went through the ropes. Jones up top and MISSES a dropkick. Knees to the back by Pride, and a cover for 2. Hammerlock by Pride, and then rolls into a Japanese stranglehold but Jones gets the ropes for the clean break. Chops by Pride, followed by a running knee strike. Slingshot forearm strike and Pride is really working the neck and head of Alex Jones. Back into the ring and Pride covers for 2. Figure four leglock From Jay Pride, Jones leans back and the ref counts 2 before AJ manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We’re about 10-minutes in now and Jones gets a flying leg lariat. Uppercuts connect for Jones, off the ropes and then kills Pride with another uppercut. A whip to the corner, and Jones gets the charging forearm and a suplex gets 2. Surfboard time by Jones, Pride stops it so he stomps the knees to the mat. A knee to the gut, kicks to the back and a cover for 2. Jones now works the ankle lock! Pride to the ropes and begins to fight back, tiger suplex countered by Pride and delivers some stiff elbows. Jones with a back flip counter, clotheslines Jones to the floor and then gets the summersault plancha over the top rope! The Cardiff crowd loved that one.
Back into the ring we go, to the corner and knees again by Pride. Suplex and Jones to the apron, elbows again, drops the elbow pad and unloads on Jones. Jones kicks the arm into the ring post, hurting the exposed elbow. Jones rips the arm off of the ropes and then goes up top…missile dropkick and a nip up hurricanrana! Cross armbar try by Jones, Pride fights but Jones goes into the AJ-Lock! Pride rolls, to his feet, and gets himself free.
“World of Sport Special” (Rebound/pendulum lariat) by Jay Pride! AJ out at 2. Jones moves quickly, triangle hold locked in! Pride fights, rolls up Jones for 2, but then Jones goes right into an arm scissors but Pride gets the ropes. Tiger suplex try, countered, another counter and Pride gets a running knee strike. Jones blocks a brain buster, but Pride gets a roaring elbow. Goes for the pin, but Jones gets the AJ-Lock, escape, and a small package by Pride for 2! Awesome set of moves and counters!
Pride sets Jones up top, chops, goes up top with him and Jones fights and gets a hanging triangle choke! Jones breaks and falls to the floor. A dropkick by Pride as Jones comes back in, up top and a superplex into a float over for 2! Pride gets the Before A Fall (Canadian rack into single knee backbreaker) for another 2! Jones ducks a lariat and gets Pride in a hammerlock, spinning him round and looking for a clothesline, but Jay ducks and grabs AJ, hoisting him up over his shoulder. Pride Eater? (Sitout belly to belly piledriver)….. NO! Jones throws his legs forward and manages to flip out of the move somehow. AJ-GURI (step-up enziguri) connects! 2 count from Jones. SPIRAL TAP! Another 2!! So many near falls, the crowd are loving this.
Jones is pissed at not ending it there, he lurks behind Pride as he gets to his feet. He graps around Jay’s waist, looking for a German Suplex. But Pride moves quickly to throw his arms up and back, grabbing the head of Jones and dropping down with a chin-breaker. Jones still has his arms locked around Pride, and is effectively leaning over him. Pride uses this to his advantage because as he stands back up, AJ is now over his shoulder! PRIDE EATER!!! And this one is over!
Your winner, Jay Pride!
A great battle between two superb stars here in Cardiff, but it’s Jay Pride who edges this one and walks out with his hand raised.