The first match has been announced for AEW Battle of the Belts V.
On the December 30 episode of AEW Rampage, Orange Cassidy defended the AEW All-Atlantic Championship against Trent Beretta. Kip Sabian was on commentary for the match, and it was clear that he had a plan to drive the two friends apart. In the closing stages of the bout, a distraction from Penelope Ford helped Cassidy score the win, and Beretta, clearly frustrated, stormed away after the bell. Sabian then picked up a victory over a local competitor using Cassidy's signature Orange Punch.
Later in the showow, the broadcast team confirmed that Cassidy will defend the title against Sabian on AEW Battle of the Belts V on January 6.
Battle of the Belts.
— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) December 31, 2022
Orange Cassidy vs. Kip Sabian.#AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/tVkaxHCae0
Sabian unsuccessfully challenged PAC for the title on the Zero Hour pre-show ahead of AEW All Out on September 4. Cassidy later defeated PAC to win the title on the October 12 episode of AEW Dynamite. He has been feuding with Sabian in recent weeks; Sabian picked Cassidy's opponent on the December 9 episode of AEW Rampage, and it turned out to be Trent Seven. The next week, Cassidy, Beretta, Chuck Taylor, and Dustin Rhodes defeated Sabian, Seven, The Butcher and The Blade. Cassidy and Sabian also brawled during the Christmas Casino Trios Royale on the December 23 episode of Rampage.
The card for AEW Battle of the Belts V is below.
AEW Battle of the Belts V
- AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Kip Sabian
Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Battle of the Belts as it airs on Friday, January 6.
Catch up on our coverage of AEW Rampage here. For a full review, check out our post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.
