Global Takeover: Chicago

**Global Takeover: Chicago** was an independent professional wrestling pay-per-view promoted by the Indie Wrestling Federation. The event took place on September 23, 2023, at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The event aired live on traditional PPV outlets as well as streaming at no-additional-cost to IWF Network and Disney+ subscribers. While independently produced, the event featured wrestlers from BCW, Club UK Wrestling, Los Angeles Wrestling, Lucha Libre Mágica and Pro Wrestling Japan.

The card comprised a total of twelve matches, with nine matches airing on pay-per-view and three matches airing on the Global Takeover Zero Hour preshow on YouTube. The main event saw PWJ National Champion "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson take on Shin PWJ Champion Akira Tozawa and number one contender Kota Ibushi in a Title Unification triple threat match.

## Production

### Background

Global Takover is a series of pay-per-view (PPV) events established in response to the success of the independently produced All In. The event occurs on an irregular schedule, but is often aligned with pay-per-views hosted by World Class Championship Wrestling.

### Storylines

The event included matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined while storylines were produced on BCW's *Friday Night Adrenaline*, Club UK's self-titled weekly series, Lucha Libre Mágica's self-titled weekly series and Pro Wrestling Japan's *PWJ Fight Night* and *PWJ: Joshi Japan*.

## Event

### Pre-Show

The event kicked off with the Global Takeover Zero Hour preshow streaming on YouTube, the first match of which was a trios match between Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado and Kalisto) and the team of Rey Fenix, Caman Blanco Jr. and Hijo de Drago. Lucha House Party would dominate the early stages of the match but the team of Fenix, Blanco Jr and Drago quickly turned the tides of the match when Caman Blanco Jr launched Fenix from the top rope onto Lince Dorado for a two count. An onslaught of attacks from Hijo de Drago left all three members of Lucha House Party laid out, allowing Drago to earn the pinfall victory over Kalisto.

The next match to air on YouTube was a women's tag team match between The Empire of Pain (Ava Starks and Club UK Women's Champion Becca Van Cisley) and The Blackhearts (Tia Vixen and Skye Vixen). The Blackhearts came out swinging, utilizing quick tags to remain fresh while focusing on hurting the champion Becca Van Cisley. A reversal from Van Cisley allowed her to tag Starks in who quickly took the fight against Skye Vixen to ringside. An armbar at ringside incapacitated Skye, causing her to be unable to answer the referee's count giving The Empire a countout victory, much to the chagrin of the vocal crowd who proceeded to boo the finish for nearly five minutes.

The final match on the Zero Hour preshow was a PWJ Television Championship match between number one contender Kobayashi Yamamoto and defending champion Samoa Joe. From the opening bell, Joe dominated the match and never allowed Yamamoto a chance to recover or retaliate. Samoa Joe would earn the pinfall and retain his championship in just three minutes.

### Preliminary matches

The opening match to air on pay-per-view, as well as the main featured bout for Club UK Wrestling, was a British Rules match with a 20-minute time limit between Bulldog Buchanan and hometown favorite Hercules Hamilton for the Club UK World Championship. Challenger Bulldog Buchanan attacked first but quickly fell victim to Hamilton's strength and quickness. After a short trip to ringside in which both competitors were nearly disqualified, Buchanan managed to take back control until Hamilton's reversal into an armbar leading to a one-count. Hamilton would earn the first pinfall of the match at the 5:52 mark, putting himself in the go-ahead advantage. Hamilton kept the pressure on, refusing to let up or allow Buchanan any opportunity to recover. After a contentious two-count, Buchanan caught Hamilton from behind as he was arguing the referee, attempting a German suplex but getting countered with a suplex of Hamilton's own. A diving shoulder tackle from the top rope sealed the fate, allowing Hercules Hamilton to retain his championship.

The next match was the first of three bouts featuring wrestlers from Pro Wrestling Japan: a 6-woman triple threat elimination tag team match featuring the team of Hazuki and Aya Matsuda taking on Evolution (Mercedes Mone and Trinity Fatu in her PWJ debut) and The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella). The chaotic match almost immediately spilled onto ringside, with Aya Matsuda grabbing a table before being attacked by Nikki Bella with a sledgehammer. Mercedes Mone joined in on the assult until Nikki turned on Mone, throwing her into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Nikki covered Mone for a three-count and the first elimination. Hazuki would then immediately go after Brie Bella, pinning her in the corner for the second elimination. Nikki Bella would then attempt to avenge her sister by attacking Hazuki but was broken up by Trinity Fatu. Fatu then turned her attention to Aya Matsuda. Nikki Bella submitted Hazuki while Trinity continue to attack Matsuda, earning a two-count. Matsuda countered and sent Trinity to ringside, while she managed to cover Nikki for a three-count. Trinity returned to the ring with a ladder but Matsuda countered with a kendo stick. She then missed a splash from the top rope, allowing Trinity the opportunity to get the cover and the pinfall victory for Evolution.

Up next was a Joshi Japan Championship match between challenger "Michin" Mia Yim and defending champion Xia Li. Champion Xia Li came out with a desire to put her opponent away early, earning a two-count in the first minute of the contest. Despite the kickout, Xia did not let up, continuing her assault on the challenger and hitting her with two tornado kicks in a row before pinning her to retain her championship in less than two minutes. The short squash match angered many of the fans in attendance who proceeded to boo the finish long after the match ended.

The fourth match to air on pay-per-view was a Winner Takes All triple threat match between Hunter Hicks, Madison Reyes and Baker Burnstorm for the BCW Women's Championship and LAW Women's Championship. Hunter Hicks initially allowed Reyes and Burnstorm to attack each other while she watched from ringside. Eventually she returned to the ring with a kendo stick in hand, brutally attack both women and not letting up her assault. The fight spilled out into ringside where a multitude of weapons were employed by all three women including kendo sticks, a sledge hammer and multiple steel chairs. Hicks submitted Burnstorm at ringside then quickly threw Reyes into the ring where she submitted her for the victory. With the victory, Hicks not only retained her LAW Women's Championship but also began her first ever reign as BCW Women's Champion.

The fifth match of the evening was a tag team match between the team of Eddie Sharp & Jason Reed and The Empire of Pain (Adam Winters and Evan Baldwin) for the vacant Club UK Tag Team Championship. Both teams emerged victorious in their respective triple threat elimination tag team qualifying matches on *Club UK* in order to advance to this championship opportunity. The Empire of Pain would utilize quick tags in order to stay fresh and keep the heat on Jason Reed before Eddie Sharp interfered and created an opportunity for Reed to tag out. Sharp would then focus his attention on punishing Evan Baldwin, forcing him to tag Winters into the match who managed to turn the tides back in favor of The Empire. Winters got Reed in a bearhug who seemed about to pass out when Sharp intervened, allowing the tag to be made after a quick double team attack. Despite his best efforts though, Sharp fell victim to Adam Winters who picked up the pinfall victory and the vacant tag belts.

Up next was the main featured bout for Los Angeles Wrestling: a steel cage match between Brody Chase and Brett Burnstorm for the LAW Championship. Brody Chase attempted an early escape up the cage wall but was thrown to the mat by Burnstorm who then continued to target the leg of Chase. After a brutal assault, Burnstorm asked for the cage door but was attacked from behind by Chase. The two traded blows before Burnstorm whipped Chase into the cage wall and attempted to climb up the side. Chase then knocked him back to the mat and hit a neckbreaker for a two-count. While Burnstorm recovered, Chase began his climb up the wall but was ripped down by Burnstorm and immediately placed into the Achilles' lock before managing to break the hold. Chase managed to take back control following a sharpshooter and took Burnstorm to his absolute limit before attempting one final ascent up the cage wall. By the time Burnstorm realized what was happening, Chase was already on his way down for the victory and the championship belt.

The seventh match of the pay-per-view, a triple threat match for the LLM National Women's Championship, served as the featured bout for Lucha Libre Mágica. Lluvia put her belt on the line against Jarochita and La Cangrejita Loca after the two wrestled to a time-limit draw on the most recent episode of *Lucha Libre Live*. Jarochita proceeded to walk out of the match after Lluvia hit her with a stiff arm. The match then continued as a one on one bout, with La Cangrejita Loca dominating the contest from bell to bell and earning the pinfall victory in just over three minutes to begin her first ever reign as LLM National Women's Champion.

The co-main event was also the featured bout for Berzerk Championship Wrestling: a Falls Count Anywhere match between Jaden Brazy and Barron Blade for the BCW Heavyweight Championship. Both competitors came out swinging, looking to set the tempo early and establish dominance although neither man could gain the upper hand. Eventually, the match spilled out into ringside where Brazy would quickly cover Blade for a one-count and then a second one-count moments later. Blade, biding his time, would counter Brazy's attack with a stunner on the concrete floor, earning the pinfall victory and retaining his championship with relative ease.

### Main event

The main event was also the main featured bout for Pro Wrestling Japan: a Triple Threat Title Unification match between number one contender Kota Ibushi, self declared champion Akira Tozawa and National Champion Bryan Danielson for the PWJ National Championship and Shin PWJ Championship. The three men were equally matched and put on a war for the fans in attendance. Initially, Bryan Danielson hung back and watched as Akira Tozawa and Kota Ibushi attacked one another, eventually jumping in when Ibushi had his back turned. Danielson would then dominate the next portion of the match, not letting up in his assault on Ibushi as well as Tozawa. Eventually the match spilled into ringside where Ibushi busted open Danielson after sending him face first into the ring post. Danielson, unable to get to Ibushi, Irish whipped Tozawa into the steel barricade, busting him open. When Danielson turned around, however, Ibushi was waiting with a kendo stick, striking Danielson across the skull multiple times. The three men would then find themselves back in the ring where, after a two-count on Danielson, Ibushi managed to send him to ringside not realizing that Tozawa was waiting to pounce. He hit Ibushi with a spear for the pinfall victory and the newly unified PWJ National Championship.