Clark Connors Wins The DEFY World Championship At DEFY AFTERMATH

DEFY finally has their new world champion. 

It’s been quite the whirlwind for DEFY Wrestling in 2025. On February 8th, the former Ricky Starks beat KENTA to become the new DEFY World Champion. That was the weekend before AEW surprisingly released Starks from his contract. 

Starks made his NXT debut during the same week he was released from AEW. Now, WWE has been more lenient about letting their talents work independent shows, but it wasn’t the case for Starks as he was forced to relinquish the DEFY World title due to his commitment to NXT.

DEFY AFTERMATH

SAT. MARCH 15th | WA HALL

DEFY SUPER 8XGP will crown a new DEFY World Champion! Participants and matches will be announced soon.

Do not miss this historic event!

Tickets: https://t.co/gf7u4WnJdY pic.twitter.com/KiLUexkf0t

— DEFY Wrestling (@defyNW) February 28, 2025

DEFY finally decided on crowning a new champion with a single night tournament that started off with two four-way matches that determined the final two competitors. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Clark Connors won the first match by beating LaBron Kozone, Marcus Mathers, and Titus Alexander. Starboy Charlie won the second by defeating Bishop Kaun, Evan Rivers, and Jordan Oasis.

The finals came down to Connors and Charlie, with the former successfully beating the latter to become the DEFY World Champion for the first time of his career. In fact, this is Connors first singles title as he’s only won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Connors is a New Japan Pro-Wrestling mainstay, but he branches out to different promotions such as DEFY, AEW, and Game Changer Wrestling. 

And NEW DEFY World Champion....Clark Connors! pic.twitter.com/2FXzFiXjsq

— DEFY Wrestling (@defyNW) March 16, 2025

Though the Super 8XGP Tournament dominated DEFY Aftermath, there were still other notable matches that took place such as the bloody battle between The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra & Harv Sihra) and C4 (Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas).

Check out the full results of DEFY’s latest show:
 

DEFY Aftermath Results

• Super 8XGP Tournament First Round Four Way: Clark Connors defeats LaBron Kozone and Marcus Mathers and Titus Alexander
• Super 8XGP Tournament First Round Four Way: Starboy Charlie defeats Bishop Kaun and Evan Rivers and Jordan Oasis
• Midnight Heat (Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson) def. The Flamin' Aces (Spencer Scott & Zaye Perez)
• DEFY To Survive: Rhio def. Anna Beretta and Brooke Havok and Danika Della Rouge and Liiza Hall and Nicole Matthews and Tara Zep and Vert Vixen
• Double Chain: C4 (Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas) def. The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra & Harv Sihra)
• Super 8XGP Tournament Final - DEFY World Championship: Clark Connors def. Starboy Charlie