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After securing the AEW International Championship at WrestleDream with the help of The Don Callis Family, Konosuke Takeshita is wasting no time in defending his newly won title — though it won’t be in AEW. According to PWInsider, Takeshita’s first defense will take place against former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander on October 20, during the second night of Maple Leaf Wrestling’s Forged In Excellence event in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Takeshita was already confirmed to compete at the event, and his match with Alexander had been set before he became champion. However, with the title now on the line, the stakes have been significantly raised. The two previously clashed at Garden State Pro Wrestling in July 2022, where their match ended in a 20-minute time limit draw.
Takeshita’s busy weekend continues on October 19, where he’ll battle “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a highly anticipated rematch. The two last faced off in the PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2023 final, where Bailey emerged victorious.
AEW and ROH Stars Set to Appear
The Forged In Excellence event will feature a mix of AEW and ROH talent, signaling the relaunch of the Canadian promotion under the leadership of Scott D’Amore, former TNA President. Key matches include:
- ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs. Gisele Shaw (title defense)
- QT Marshall vs. Bhupindar Gujjar
- Appearances from Harley Cameron, Rocky Romero, and Don Callis
Both nights of the event will be streamed live on TrillerTV, adding further excitement to the debut weekend of Maple Leaf Wrestling.
