The bell rang in Montreal, and six men immediately charged toward the pile of ladders stacked at ringside. The prize: a contract guaranteeing a match for the AEW International Championship. For the local fans, there was only one clear favorite — "Speedball" Mike Bailey, the hometown hero who had returned to the city where he first made a name for himself. Across the ring stood Jack Perry, Nick Wayne, El Clon, The Beast Mortos, and Komander, each with their own reasons to climb to the top.

Mortos was the first to grab a ladder, but Bailey and Komander quickly cut him off. The big man, however, tossed them aside and threw Bailey into the steel structure. Komander retaliated, only to be taken out by El Clon. Perry then entered the fray, but Nick Wayne used his aerial agility to wipe out Komander on the outside. Soon, all six men were brawling on the floor. They converged on the tallest ladder positioned at the entrance ramp. As five of them traded blows, Bailey climbed to the top of that ladder and launched himself into a massive moonsault, crashing onto everyone except Perry, who sidestepped the impact at the last second.

Perry responded with a moonsault of his own, landing on Bailey and Mortos. He then grabbed the tallest ladder and marched it back toward the ring, but Bailey intercepted him. The two fought on the apron until Wayne connected with a Wayne's World driver on Bailey, leaving Perry with a clear path. That window closed quickly when Mortos hoisted Perry with a Gorilla Press and hurled him to the floor. Komander then ran across the top rope and delivered a dropkick to Mortos, pinning him down with a ladder. The high-flyer nearly grabbed the hanging contract, but Mortos shoved him off. Komander saved himself by splashing onto Clon and Bailey below.

Two more ladders entered the ring, and all six men climbed. One by one, they fell, until only Mortos remained on top. Perry cut him off and introduced tables to the match. He sent Mortos through a table with a hurricanrana off the apron. Clon drove a double foot stomp through Bailey, sending him through a table. Komander then hit a tightrope dive onto Wayne, sending him through a third table. Clon took out Komander with a Made In Japan off a ladder structure, but Wayne answered by hitting a Phoenix Splash on Clon, putting him through a table on the outside.

With the ring cleared, Wayne attempted to climb but was met by Perry at the top. Perry hit a Canadian Destroyer off the ladder, both men crashing onto another ladder. The match reached its climax when Bailey locked onto Mortos, who was bridged across a ladder set up in the corner. Bailey delivered the Ultima Weapon, crushing Mortos against the steel. Staggering to his feet, Bailey saw the contract dangling above. He climbed the ladder, grabbed the paper, and the Montreal crowd erupted. "Speedball" Mike Bailey had won the number one contendership in his hometown.