Spy × Family Code: White review by Big Gold Belt Media with @AroundTheGeek-Synopsis:World peace is at stake and secret agent Twilight (aka Loid Forger) must undergo his most difficult mission yet—pretend to be a family man….
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
AEW World Title Eliminator Match!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes!
As Samoa Joe was making his entrance, Swerve Strickland ambushed the champ on the ramp! They brawled onto the arena floor. Swerve speared Samoa Joe through a table that Samoa Joe had propped against a guardrail. Security pushed Swerve back to the locker room. Samoa Joe eventually staggered to his feet and seemed to pursue Swerve.
Renee Paquette was backstage outside Orange Cassidy’s locker room.
Renee said that Orange would have a match on Rampage this Friday, and she was assured by Orange that he’d be addressing the heartless actions of Trent Beretta.
TNT Championship Match!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland (c.)
vs.
Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Penta speared Copeland and then stuck him with a diving double foot stomp for a near fall.
“Shock and awe right out of the box, trying to win the TNT Title,” said Taz.
Penta El Zero Miedo hit Copeland with a clothesline, knocking Copeland to the arena floor. Copeland got back in the ring and Penta greeted him with a chop to Copeland’s chest. Copeland rallied back with flying head scissors. Copeland and Penta El Zero Miedo both had the same idea, fighting fire with fire, clubbing each other with lariats and then high boots.
Penta El Zero Miedo had Copeland rocked after a sling blade. Penta flipped over the top rope with a dive onto Copeland. Back in the ring, Copeland found an opening, planting Penta face first on the mat.
Copeland applied a modified sharpshooter onto Penta El Zero Miedo, but Penta made the crawl to the bottom rope, forcing the ref to break the hold. Penta stunned Copeland with a stalling dropkick. Copeland secured the cross face on Penta, wrenching back, but once again Penta reached the ropes.
Copeland was looking for a Death Valley Driver on the apron, but Penta escaped. Penta charged at Copeland but Copeland power slammed Penta onto the apron! Copeland tried to spear Penta but inadvertently speared Alex Abrahantes. Penta got to his feet and clocked Copeland with a thrust kick.
Penta El Zero Miedo drilled Copeland with an avalanche Code Red! Penta jumped off the middle rope, but Copeland countered with a spear and pinned Penta El Zero Miedo!
After the match, the arena lights went out. The lights came back on, and TBS Champion Julia Hart was standing in front of Copeland. The House of Black’s Brody King blindsided Copeland and began to kick and stomp him. Brody smashed Copeland with a running boot. Brody applied a rear naked choke on Copeland.
Willow Nightingale sprinted to the ring and began to ground and pound Julia. Brody pulled Julia out of harm’s way. Copeland got back to his feet and decked Brody, forcing him out of the ring! Brody and Julia retreated, while Brody barked at Copeland.
Renee Paquette was backstage with ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe and “Mad King” Eddie Kingston!
TNT Champion Adam Copeland, Willow Nightingale, and Stokely Hathaway interrupted Renee’s interview.
Copeland said he wanted to make sure Briscoe and Kingston were good for their trios match against the House of Black at Dynasty. Briscoe and Kingston assured Copeland they were ready.
Stokely: “What about next week on Dynamite, you put that TNT Championship on the line against Willow Nightingale!”
Willow: “No, no, that’s not what we were saying Stokely. Brody, I saw you beating up on Adam. Julia, you tried to get me with the mist, but not this time. So Dynamite next week, what do you say we team up Adam?”
Copeland: “I’ve got an idea. Before Dynasty, before the three of us, the Rated Chicken Hawks, I just made that up, before we take out the House of Black, Willow, what do you say, me and you against Julia and Brody, next week on Dynamite?”
Willow: “Yeah!”
The Young Bucks—Nicholas & Matthew Jackson—were in their dressing room to present backstage footage from ALL IN: London 2023!
Matthew told Nicholas to set it up with a little context.
Nicholas said AEW has a massive pay-per-view coming up on April 21st, AEW Dynasty. Taking place at Dynasty will be the finals of the tag team tournament, featuring FTR against the Young Bucks. Nicholas said the last time they wrestled FTR was at All In, and he still has some wounds that haven’t healed.
Matthew said right before the match there was an incident backstage involving two individuals, “the first being the scapegoat in this entire situation, Jack Perry.” Nicholas interrupted Matthew and said the other individual “tried to make this entire show about himself. As a matter of fact, this individual happens to be good friends with FTR. Which got me thinking maybe FTR were the masterminds behind this entire thing.” Matthew said the incident threw them off their game and FTR’s win should come with an asterisk in the history books.
Nicholas said at Dynasty they weren’t shaking hands with FTR and called them pricks. “Be ready,” said Nicholas.
FTR—Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood—came out to the ring!
Cash: “Why are we showing this? What are you two hoping to accomplish other than having a built-in excuse as to why you lost at Wembley. I am sick and tired of hearing about this and talking about this. Everybody back there, us, we are ready to move on and put this in the past. But instead, we’re showing videos from eight months ago because the Bucks can’t let go that they lost to FTR. At Dynasty, we have to beat you. It’s not for legacy or history, it’s because I’m sick of you!”
Dax: “So that’s our bosses. Every interview they have they let us all know that without them, hundreds of people would be out of a job and without them AEW probably wouldn’t exist. The scary thing is I don’t necessarily disagree with them. Without the Young Bucks I might still be shaving Cash’s back.
“But because of the Young Bucks, we have something that makes them sick. We have eclipsed them as the absolute best tag team on this planet. And at one time the Bucks cared about AEW, but somewhere along the way, whether it was greed or jealously, you guys lost that. And now three other letters have taken over. The only thing you care about is what’s best for the EVPs. So, if it takes my last breath, on our backs, we will continue to build this place. We are building it for the future of all professional wrestlers. We are building this for every person who spends their hard earned money on one ticket to get lost in our drama and our action. We are doing this for you.
“And if the Young Bucks don’t want to be part of that AEW, grab your ball, go home, we got this. This ain’t about Wembley. This is about AEW, a company I love, an industry I love. But more importantly this is about the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Two teams walk in, one team walks out as the first ever three time AEW World Tag Team Champions. Young Bucks, you may have built this foundation, but we will put the roof on top of this house, just to blow it right off. Top guys out!”
Renee Paquette interview “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Ospreay: “I’ve been thinking about this all week. There’s this rumor going around that I’m afraid of the grind. I’ll be honest with you, I have no idea where this conversation has come from. I travel every single week from the US to the UK and back and I’m delivering some of the best professional wrestling matches this world has ever seen. And normally I wouldn’t take the bait, but since the guy who said it is only in the position he’s in because he was grinding on the boss’s daughter, you are in no position to tell me what the grind is all about because you have no idea what I fight for. So let this be a painful little jab back that you do not throw stones at an assassin with a machine gun.
“Now Bryan, you said I’m stronger and faster than you, which I am. And you said the only way you have a chance at beating me is if you can ground me, but healthier and younger and better men than you have tried and failed. But Bryan Danielson, you are a living legend in this game, and I cannot say I am the best wrestler in the world until I pin you at Dynasty. This is AEW where the best wrestle! It’s my time, Mr. Danielson, to show every single person what I’m about and why I’m the ace of AEW! Bryan Danielson, you find out Sunday, April 21st, why my name is Will Ospreay, and I am on another level!”
Trios Match!
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho, FTW Champion HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata
vs.
Shane Taylor Promotions— “The Guv’nor” Anthony Ogogo, Lee Moriarty, & Shane Taylor!
Jericho hit Moriarty with a shoulder block and then a lionsault for a near fall. Jericho battered Lee with short clotheslines in the corner. Jericho sent Moriarty for a ride with a hurracanrana off the top turnbuckle.
Shibata tagged in and mauled Moriarty with a forearm and then a round kick to the spine. Shane Taylor entered the match and Hook asked to be tagged in, so Shibata obliged. Taylor clubbed Hook with a lariat. Hook fired back with a German Suplex to Taylor!
Shibata tagged in and cracked Lee with a high boot in the corner. Shibata chopped down Lee and then decimated Lee with a running dropkick in the corner. Shibata went for a running kick to Lee, but Lee dodged it. Shibata inadvertently caught Jericho with the kick.
Shibata tried to tag out to Hook, but Jericho pulled Hook off the apron to prevent the tag. Jericho asked Hook what Shibata’s problem was. Hook and Jericho argued outside the ring, trying to sort things out. Shibata locked Lee in a sleeper. Shane Taylor ran in and clubbed Shibata with his right hand, and Lee grabbed the pin on Shibata!
“The argument between Chris Jericho and Hook left the door open for Shane Taylor to land that big right hand and put him out, setting him up for Lee Moriarty,” said Excalibur.
Tempers were flaring and Hook told Jericho to leave!
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Christiano Argento!
Okada leveled Argento with a big elbow strike. Okada wasn’t even breaking a sweat. Okada smashed Argento with a dropkick and then the rainmaker to score the pin!
Okada: “Hey Pac, I accept your challenge! I’ll see you at Dynasty.”
“The Bastard” Pac’s music began to play. Pac walked onto the stage and paced back and forth, staring at Okada! Pac walked to the ring to confront Okada, but the Bucks ran out and hit Pac from behind. The Elite triple teamed Pac. The Bucks nailed Pac with superkicks. FTR sprinted into the ring and cleaned house on the Bucks! FTR wanted to hit the Shatter Machine on Matthew, but Okada jumped back into the ring with a steel chair and whacked FTR with chair shots!
The Bucks blasted FTR with superkicks and then the EVP Trigger! Okada cracked Pac in the side of the head with a steel chair!
Backstage we heard from the ROH Six-Man Champions the Bang Bang Gang!
They ran down a list of their recent accomplishments, including “Switchblade” Jay White putting a beating on Billy Gunn. Jay White said he wanted another match on Rampage, but he wanted the Gunns to find him someone besides Billy.
Up Next: AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm hosted a Charleston Championship Champagne Toast for Thunder Rosa!
Renee Paquette was on the ramp and introduced Thunder Rosa first. Renee then welcomed Toni Storm “Toni Storm, the floor is yours, toast away,” said Renee.
Storm threw a glass of champagne into Thunder Rosa’s eyes! Storm cracked Thunder Rosa in the head with a silver tray. Storm smeared Thunder Rosa’s face paint. Deonna Purrazzo ran out to the aid of Thunder Rosa, but Thunder Rosa pushed Deonna away! Deonna stormed off!
Mariah May vs. Anna Jay!
Anna ducked a shot from Mariah and fired back with a chop to Mariah. The two exchanged overhand chops in the center of the ring. Anna nailed Mariah with a neck breaker. Mariah headbutted Anna Jay.
Mariah May scored with a dropkick. Anna dodged a hip attack and rallied back with forearms. Anna charged at Mariah and clobbered her with a kick in the corner. Mariah retaliated with a running hip attack. Mariah rolled up Anna and pinned her!
After the match, Anna applied the Queen Slayer, not taking the loss lightly. Mina Shirakawa from Stardom sprinted to the ring, having the back of her former partner in Japan, Mariah May. Anna Jay retreated to the back. Mina brought in two glasses of champagne, gave some to Mariah, and then kissed Mariah.
Alex Marvez was backstage with “The CEO” Mercedes Moné!
Mercedes: “Double or Nothing! Five years ago, history was made when AEW had their first pay-per-view there. And I’m a history maker. And I decided to make history yet again when I head to Vegas to be the TBS Champion because Moné changes everything.”
Marvez asked if Mercedes would rather face Julia Hart or Willow Nightingale, but before Mercedes could respond, the lights went out! Someone attacked Mercedes in the dark!
Main Event Time! AEW World Title Eliminator Match!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes!
Samoa Joe and Dustin Rhodes traded strikes. Samoa Joe whipped Dustin into the guardrail. Joe jabbed Dustin, but Dustin fired back with a lariat. Dustin Rhodes was taking the fight to the champion. Samoa Joe headbutted Dustin.
Samoa Joe rammed Dustin into the steel ring post! Dustin Rhodes was busted wide open! Samoa Joe bludgeoned Dustin with more strikes in the ring. Dustin turned things around with a powerslam!
Dustin Rhodes walloped Samoa Joe with a Code Red for a near fall. Dustin went for a running bulldog, but Samoa Joe countered with a lariat. Dustin Rhodes grabbed the World title and brought it into the ring. Dustin wanted to use it on Samoa Joe, but ref Paul Turner warned Dustin not to use it. Dustin put the championship belt down. Dustin nailed Samoa Joe with the Cross Rhodes for a two-count!
Dustin Rhodes charged at Samoa Joe, but Joe wiped out Dustin with an STO! Samoa Joe grabbed a steel chain out of the corner and wrapped it around his fist. It was the chain that previously belonged to Swerve Strickland. Ref Paul Turner removed the chain from the ring. As the ref was handing the chain to an AEW ring crew member, his back was turned, and Samoa Joe seized the opportunity to bash the championship belt into Dustin’s head! Samoa Joe covered a knocked out Dustin and pinned him!
Samoa Joe applied a sleeper to Dustin after the match, trying to send a message to Swerve Strickland. Swerve appeared out of nowhere and cracked Joe with the House Call kick! Swerve Strickland grabbed the steel chain and drilled Joe with a chain-wrapped fist!
The locker room emptied and kept both wrestlers apart! Prince Nana handed Swerve Strickland the AEW World Championship, and Swerve held it up, while Joe looked on, seething!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET!
Don’t miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts X live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, IN!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from DCU Center in Worcester, MA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
TNT Champion “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland came to the ring to kick off the show!
Copeland: “I came out here to talk to all of you. I didn’t bring out my TNT Title. There’s been a lot of negative B.S. that has been spewed this week. Screw that! I want to talk about positives, and if you’re a fan of pro wrestling, it is a great time to be a fan of pro wrestling.
“If you’re sitting here, if you’re watching at home, you’re a fan of pro wrestling. I am a fan of pro wrestling. I grew up on WWF. I watched NWA. I watched Stampede. I devoured it all because I love professional wrestling. I know you’ve heard this before but for nine years I had this torn away from me, but I worked to get it back because I love it so damn much.
“When I thought about my career, because I’m closer to the end than to the start, I knew I needed to end my career in AEW. I will put our locker room against anybody. I can face Will Ospreay. I can face Kenny Omega. Hangman, Swerve, Joe, Moxley, Darby, I can face FTR, the Young Bucks, The House of Black, and by the way, those are all first time ever matches. How crazy is that? That happens in AEW.
“I’ve got a lot of friends in the industry. They call me and say, ‘Hey, it looks like you’re having a blast there.’ It’s because I am. This is the most fun I’ve had in my 32 year professional career. So, I celebrate AEW. I celebrate the men who started AEW. That means the Bucks, that means Kenny, that means Cody, that means Tony Khan. These guys are all fans, just like all of you. We love this! AEW has pushed this industry into a better place! It has gotten more people to do what they love for a living, and that should be celebrated. AEW makes pro wrestling better. AEW makes wrestling more fun. And AEW is where the best wrestle!
“Thank you for hearing me out. I had to get that off my chest. I asked for this time out here, so thank you. So now it’s time to move forward. AEW is walking into the future. There’s a reason Okada, Mercedes, Ospreay, and I came here! So let me introduce to you a man that symbolizes everything AEW is going forward. I give to you “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!”
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Ospreay charged at Hobbs when the bell rang but Hobbs blocked Ospreay with a shoulder tackle. Will Ospreay fired back with a standing moonsault press onto Hobbs. Powerhouse Hobbs clubbed Will with a lariat.
Ospreay hit Hobbs with a clothesline, knocking Hobbs over the top rope. Will followed up by jumping over the top rope with a cross body press onto Hobbs on the arena floor. Ospreay tried for a springboard off the barricade, but Hobbs countered by grabbing him and nailing Will with a vertical suplex onto the steel ring steps!
Hobbs bashed Ospreay repeatedly into the apron with the World’s Strongest Slam. Hobbs flung Ospreay backwards, crashing onto the announcers’ desk! Back in the ring, Ospreay came back with a corkscrew kick, taking down Hobbs for the first time in the match.
Ospreay connected with a springboard flying forearm to Hobbs for a near fall. Will chopped at Hobbs’ chest, but Hobbs shrugged them off. Hobbs launched Will with a belly to belly suplex. Ospreay rallied back with a Stun dog Millionaire, but Hobbs cut the renewed momentum short with a powerslam.
Hobbs went for a frog splash, but Will dodged it. Will nailed Hobbs with an Os Cutter for a two-count! Ospreay connected with a heel kick, but Hobbs blasted Ospreay with a lariat!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Hobbs smashed Will with an avalanche powerslam for a near fall! Ospreay was clutching his midsection. Will hit a DDT on Hobbs and then crashed onto Hobbs with a Sky Twister! Ospreay wiped out Hobbs with the Hidden Blade and pinned Hobbs!
After the match, Callis had to hold Hobbs back from attacking Ospreay. Callis whispered something into Hobbs’ ear and Hobbs backed off.
“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
Archer ambushed Danielson as Archer entered the ring, before the bell. Danielson was just trying to survive early on, as Archer battered Bryan with stiff shots and then whipped Bryan into the turnbuckles. Archer charged at Danielson in the corner, but Danielson dodged him and countered with a dragon screw leg whip.
“Great strategy taking the big man off his feet,” said Schiavone.
Danielson stomped on the back of Archer’s knees and then kicked Archer in the hamstrings. Danielson dropkicked Archer on the inside of the knee, going after the base of Archer. Danielson attempted a tope to the outside on Archer, but Archer caught Danielson and choke slammed Danielson onto the ring apron! Archer grabbed an AEW crew member at ringside and body slammed him onto Danielson!
Danielson showed the fire, bringing the fight back to Archer in the ring. Danielson charged at Archer, perhaps looking for the running knee strike, but Archer countered with a massive cross body press!
“This is brutality by the MurderHawk Monster,” said Taz.
Archer grabbed Bryan’s wrist and was walking the top rope, but Danielson shoved Archer, forcing the Lance to lose his balance. Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock, but Archer reached the bottom rope with his legs, forcing the ref to break the hold. Danielson jumped off the apron with a knee strike to Archer’s head! He got Lance back into the ring, knowing Lance was rocked. Danielson knocked Archer to the mat with a missile dropkick from the top turnbuckle. Danielson lit up Archer’s chest with round kicks. Archer choke slammed Danielson out of nowhere for a near fall!
Archer was looking for the Black Out, but Danielson knocked Archer away with hammer and anvil strikes. Danielson dropped Archer to his knees with a running knee strike. Danielson drilled Archer with three roundhouse kicks to the head. Danielson smashed Archer with the running knee strike and pinned Archer!
“What a battle right there!” said Taz.
Renee Paquette was on the ramp to interview “Lionheart” Chris Jericho!
Jericho: “Renee, last week I told Hook I had a proposition for him where I offered to be his mentor. And even though he agreed, he said something to me that’s been sticking in my head all week. That’s why I want to talk to him right now. Hit the Hook signal!”
FTW Champion Hook came out and was clearly skeptical of Jericho.
Jericho: “Last week you said you’d love by advise by ‘I know who you are.’ And I understand that but when you play the game at the highest of levels like Chris Jericho does, the rules are different. It’s true. And once you understand that you’re going to understand what I’m trying to teach you. I’m not asking you to trust me 100% right now, but I’m asking you to believe in me as much as I believe in you.”
Hook: “Yeah, Chris, I believe in you. I believe in you so much that I got us a match on Collision. But Chris, I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
Shane Taylor Promotions’ Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty were backstage!
Lee said one surefire way to jump straight to the top in one night is to beat the golden child and the first World Champion in AEW. Taylor said on Collision, all they have to do is knock out “the Ocho” and Hook!
“On Collision, LionHook gets their ass beat by STP!” said Taylor.
AEW World Trios Champion Billy Gunn vs. ROH World Six-Man Champion Jay White!
Billy Gunn decked Jay White as Jay White was making his entrance! Billy Gunn whipped “Switchblade” Jay White into the barricade, not wasting anytime. The Acclaimed were backstage watching the match on a monitor. The Gunns were also watching backstage on a different monitor.
Billy went after Jay White through the crowd, ramming White into a trash can. Jay White hid behind one AEW security guard. Billy found him and bashed him into one of the hockey boards in the arena. Billy trounced Jay White all around the ringside area. Jay just could not escape the grasp of Billy.
Jay White escaped a vertical suplex attempt and shoved Billy into the guardrail. Billy hit Jay White back, dominating Jay White, nailing White with a lariat. Footage was shown of The Acclaimed backstage, who had been attacked!
Billy blasted White with the Fame Asser! Billy didn’t go for the cover, instead opting to inflict more damage on White.
“Jay White came in looking for a match. Billy didn’t want a match. He wanted retribution,” said Tony Schiavone.
Billy dropped another Fame Asser on Jay White. Billy grabbed a steel chair from outside the ring. Billy returned to the ring with the chair, but the Gunns jumped into the ring, shielding Jay White, pleading with Billy to show some mercy. Jay White used the opportunity to hit a low blow on Billy! Ref Aubrey Edwards called for the disqualification, awarding the match to Billy Gunn!
The Gunns held Billy down while Jay White was going to bash a chair against Billy’s head, but the Acclaimed’s music hit! The Acclaimed sprinted to the ring! The Acclaimed cleaned house on the Gunns! Jay White begged off the Acclaimed and retreated. Jay White tripped outside. The Acclaimed threw Jay White back into the ring. The Gunns were waiting, but the Acclaimed grounded and pounded the Gunns. Billy decked Jay White with a stiff right hand!
The Acclaimed set up the steel ring steps by the announcers’ table. The Acclaimed were about to suplex Jay White off the steps and onto the table when the Gunns grabbed White, pulled him down, and ran off through the crowd!
“This is far from over between these two teams,” said Excalibur.
We heard from Willow Nightingale, who will challenge TBS Champion Julia Hart at AEW Dynasty on Sunday, April 21st on pay-per-view.
Willow came out with Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander.
Renee Paquette asked Willow how it felt to have earned a championship match in a few weeks.
Willow: “I am feeling motherfluffin’ great! I really love this city because for years and years I was busting my butt in this town. Kris and I would wrestle in this town at a little place called the White Eagle. So many of us have had great nights there. This is like a home away from home. This is where I learned who Willow Nightingale is, where I figured myself out.
“Your cheers reassured me. This applause is what helped blossom me into the woman standing in front of you today, this woman who will be challenging Julia Hart for the TBS Championship at Dynasty. And I know I will be the smiling face of TNT!”
Stokely: “Last week Willow had a banger and knocked it out of the park. Week after week she impresses me and impresses the entire world!”
“The CEO” Mercedes Moné walked onto the ramp!
Moné: “Now Willow, I can’t wait to watch you tear it up with Julia at Dynasty. Because whoever is going to be the TBS Champion at Double or Nothing, I get next. Because in Vegas, Moné means everything!”
AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Semi Final Match!
At AEW Dynasty 2024 the winning team faces the winner of FTR vs. Top Flight.
Matthew suplexed Trent across the ring with Northern Lights Suplexes. Trent retaliated with a double knee strike. Nicholas swept out Trent’s legs, wiping out Trent on the apron. Orange attempted a tope suicida, but the Bucks blocked it! The Bucks power bombed Orange on the apron! Then they power bombed Trent on the apron!
Nicholas ripped the top turnbuckle pad off the corner. Orange tried for a double hurracanrana, but the Bucks blocked it. Matthew spiked Orange with a DDT. The Bucks were looking for the EVP Trigger on Orange, but Orange dodged it and the Bucks collided. Orange rocked the Bucks with separate DDTs, fighting through the pain. Orange blasted Nicholas with a diving DDT for a near fall!
Trent and Orange pulped Matthew with a modified TK Driver for a near fall. Nicholas was there to break up the pin attempt. Trent was looking for the crunchy on Nicholas but Matthew superkicked Trent, the momentum allowing for Nicholas to plant Trent with the Code Red! Matthew superkicked Chuck Taylor outside the ring, and then threatened Sue with a superkick but she spotted him, stopping him in his tracks!
“He was going to kick Sue! What’s wrong with that man?” yelled Schiavone.
Sue slapped Matthew and then Orange followed up with the Orange Punch! Trent rammed Matthew with a knee strike inside the ring! Orange wiped out Nicholas with a tope suicida! Trent had Matthew set up for the crunchy and Orange stomped down, adding impact to the move! Trent had Matthew tied up for the pin, but Nicholas jumped in to break it up in the nick of time!
“Wow, what a massive save by Nicholas,” said Taz.
Orange rocked Nicholas with an Orange Punch! Once again Orange hit a tope to Nicholas outside the ring! Matthew catapulted Trent into the exposed turnbuckle, grabbed Trent’s tights, and stole the pin!
“The Young Bucks have made it to the finals at Dynasty!” said Excalibur.
“What a victory for the Bucks. Like it or not, it was impressive,” replied Taz.
After the match, the Best Friends were about to give the people what they wanted with a hug, but Trent betrayed his partners and smashed into Orange with a running knee strike!
“What the—? What did we just see?” asked Taz.
“Chuck has no idea either,” said Schiavone.
Trent walked out on Orange, Chuck, and Sue!
Thunder Rosa (#1 ranked) vs. Mariah May (#2 ranked) (with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm and Luther)!
Toni Storm joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Thunder Rosa chopped Mariah May in the corner. Rosa charged at May but May dodged her. Mariah May smashed Thunder Rosa with a hip attack in the corner! Thunder Rosa took down Mariah with a hurracanrana onto the arena floor. Thunder Rosa used a diving cross body on Mariah May against the barricade.
“I am getting worried here,” said Toni Storm.
Thunder Rosa jumped off the top looking for the foot stomp but Mariah May rolled out of the way. Thunder Rosa reversed the May Day for a near fall. Mariah May hit Thunder Rosa with a knockout shot. Rosa escaped the May Day with a backstabber. Thunder Rosa flattened Mariah May with the Tijuana Bomb and scored the pin!
“Thunder Rosa is the number one contender for ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm’s title,” said Excalibur.
Penta El Zero Miedo was backstage with Alex Abrahantes!
Penta El Zero Miedo challenged Adam Copeland to a match for the TNT Championship next week on Dynamite!
Up next: The AEW World Championship Contract Signing between Champ Samoa Joe & challenger Swerve Strickland!
It was time to make their AEW World Championship Match for AEW Dynasty official!
Samoa Joe sat down at a table that was set up in the ring. Swerve paced on his side of the ring. The World Champion signed the contract first.
Samoa Joe: “Now Swerve, we’re out here in front of a lot of people who seem to care about you. I think you’re working on bad information. I’ve watched your rise in AEW. How else could this fairy tale end but with a big victory and everybody celebrating a new champion? See Swerve, that’s the bad information you’ve been working on.
“I’m about to tell this man the truth. Signing this contract is a big mistake. Let me put into terms that maybe a rapper can barely understand. I’m going to beat you so bad, it’s going to make it seem like maybe you left the party too late. So now that you have the right information, why don’t you do the right thing?”
Swerve: “Before I sign this contract Joe, just know I’ve wanted this moment my entire life. My destination was full of a lot of obstacles, but when I arrived, that journey was sweet. It took me all the way to Dynasty. And we’ve built a Dynasty in AEW with signings like Okada, Mercedes, and Will Ospreay. Joe, I understand this championship is bigger than the both of us. I understand the dangers of facing you for it. You are the definition of a killer. But so am I. April 21st at Dynasty, I show you that I am every bit of that man! I grab the keys to the Dynasty, and I turn AEW into who’s house?”
The crowd answered: “Swerve’s house!”
Swerve: “Now run the fade on that, bitch!”
Samoa Joe shoved Swerve from across the table! Swerve answered with a devastating right hand strike! Swerve wrapped his steel chain around Joe’s neck! Samoa Joe turned around and headbutted Swerve! Samoa Joe wrapped the chain around his fist and walloped Swerve in the head. Samoa Joe rocked Swerve with more strikes, and Swerve was busted open! The refs ran out and tried to pull Samoa Joe off Swerve.
Samoa Joe began to walk to the back. Swerve grabbed the microphone, laughed and said, “I love this. That’s all you got? Then I’m taking this championship from you.”
Swerve took the pen, dipped in the blood and signed the contract. Samoa Joe jumped back into the ring, grabbed Swerve, and smashed Swerve through the table! Samoa Joe held his championship above Swerve and taunted him!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET featuring:
-Serena Deeb vs. Trish Adora!
– “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. House of Black’s Malakai Black!
-AEW International Championship Eliminator Match: Roderick Strong (c.) vs. London Lightning!
-Final Four Elimination Match: Daniel Garcia vs. Action Andretti vs. Komander vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
Special Start Time This Saturday don’t miss AEW Collision on TNT at 11:30/10:30c!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV!
This past Wednesday night AEW came to Quebec City for the first time, and what a tremendous night of action came with that debut! Katsuyori Shibata and Will Ospreay kicked off the night with a tremendous fight that truly tested the mettle of “The Aerial Assassin” en route to his victory, and the evening closed with another top shelf contest between Konosuke Takeshita and Swerve Strickland that earned Swerve the #1 Contender position to Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship!
In addition, fans watched both The Young Bucks and the Orange Cassidy/Trent Beretta tandem advance in the West Bracket of the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament, and Willow Nightingale earn a TBS Championship fight at DYNASTY 2024 on April 21st!
Back on TNT at 10pm ET/9pm CT, RAMPAGE goes down this Friday night in Quebec City, and features the Undisputed Kingdom in action as AEW International Champion Roderick Strong takes on Quebec’s own “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard in an Eliminator bout, and Dustin Rhodes battles The Butcher, while both Mariah May and “The Virtuosa” will be in singles action! Before the fights begin, be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media sites, to catch highlights from Wednesday night’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then be sure to join AEW this Saturday night in London, ON for COLLISION’s return featuring the The BCC & Shibata versus Lance Archer & The Righteous!
ELIMINATOR MATCH…
AEW International Champion Roderick Strong vs. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard
At REVOLUTION 2024 Roderick Strong ended the second AEW International Championship reign of Orange Cassidy, but in the weeks since has not been in a championship situation. He, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett took down Action Andretti and Top Flight a few weeks ago, but Roddy has not been a situation where his title has been in the balance. That changes this Friday night on RAMPAGE when, in an Eliminator bout, Roderick Strong takes on Quebec’s own “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard!
An Eliminator bout means that if Menard can defeat Strong he will earn a future International Championship match, a first for his AEW career as Menard has never challenged for an AEW singles championship. That’s not to say he hasn’t been in this position before, he last fought in an Eliminator Match against Jon Moxley on the 10/28/22 edition of RAMPAGE, but he’s never managed to secure a title match in the singles field.
But with a strong home field advantage over Roderick, with Quebec City rallying behind him, this Friday night could be the night that “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard gets closer to achieving his own championship dreams!
ONE-ON-ONE…
“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes vs. The Butcher
Dating back to the earliest days of All Elite Wrestling, there have been issues aplenty between The Butcher and “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes. They first stepped into the ring opposite one another 1/15/20 edition of DYNAMITE, a Trios match uniting Butcher and Blade with MJF as they defeated Dustin, QT Marshal, and Diamond Dallas Page, but that wasn’t their last encounter. Butcher and Blade would fall to The Natural Nightmares in a Bunkhouse Match on the 11/11/20 DYNAMITE, and they would cross paths many times over the next three-plus years in Battle Royals, and even a wild eight-man tag from the 12/16/22 edition of RAMPAGE.
Yet in all that the two men never met in singles competition, but that changes this Friday night on RAMPAGE when the challenge made on DYNAMITE culminates in a head-to-head clash between “The Natural” and Butch! Rhodes, in many ways, is as good as he’s ever been, the vast experience and knowledge he’s gained over thirty-five years balancing out the things that age inevitably takes away, making Dustin just as dangerous a foe as he was twenty-five years ago!
As for Butcher, his experience level pales in comparison to “The Natural”, but he’s spent his entire tenure in AEW learning, growing, and honing his body into a crumb-crippling machine. Whether it’s in tag team competition with The Blade, or in his occasional singles bouts, The Butcher continues to grow by leaps-and-bounds with every fight, and his power may just be the key ingredient to pulling out a victory over “The Natural” in RAMPAGE’s opening contest!
ALSO FEATURING:
MARIAH MAY (W/ TONI STORM & LUTHER) IN ACTION!
“THE VIRTUOSA” DEONNA PURRAZZO IN SINGLES COMPETITION!!
AND MORE!!!
This Friday night RAMPAGE is back at its regularly scheduled time and network, 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, and what an hour of action AEW has in store for its faithful fans. AEW International Champion Roderick Strong steps into the ring to face “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard in an Eliminator Match, meaning if Menard wins than he will get a future title match with Roddy! Plus, as we saw in their confrontation on Wednesday night, Dustin Rhodes and The Butcher renew their old rivalry in a one-on-one fight, and both Mariah May and Deonna Purrazzo will be in singles competition!
Before the bell rings, drop on by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, to catch highlights from DYNAMITE, plus previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then join All Elite Wrestling this Saturday night in London, ON for an all-new COLLISION featuring the East Bracket Quarter-Finals in the AEW World Tag Title Tournament!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
“The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata!
Will shot in for a single leg but Shibata defended and mounted Will. Shibata grounded Will on the mat and went for a cross arm breaker, but Will got to the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold. Ospreay and Shibata chain wrestled, British style. Shibata went for the PK, but Will dodged it!
Shibata cracked Will with forearms, but Will charged at Shibata with a dropkick, taking Shibata off his feet. Will battered Shibata with forearms and then dropkicked Shibata in the corner, taking pages out of Shibata’s playbook. Ospreay jumped over the top rope and connected with a crossbody press to Shibata on the floor.
As Ospreay was getting back into the ring, Shibata caught Ospreay flush in the face with a running front kick! Shibata suplexed Will on the arena floor and then blasted Will with a brutal round kick to Will’s back!
Shibata applied a figure four leg lock on Ospreay, but Ospreay was able to counter it and escaped. They got to their feet and Will chopped Shibata. Shibata answered with a suplex.
“This is a rematch seven years in the making,” said Excalibur.
Shibata whipped Will into the barricade. Will springboarded off the barricade and connected with a forearm shot to Shibata. Will followed up with another springboard forearm into the ring. Shibata nailed Will with a forearm and Will crumbled into a heap on the mat. Shibata jabbed and chopped Will, breaking him down in the corner. Shibata rocked Will with his trademark running dropkick in the corner.
Ospreay connected with a thrust kick. Shibata anticipated Will’s next move and countered with an STF. Will reached to the ropes, forcing the ref to break the submission. Ospreay intercepted Shibata’s PK. They traded forearm strikes in the center of the ring. Ospreay had a surge of adrenaline and smashed Shibata in the back of the head with a jumping high round kick!
Shibata locked Will in a sleeper and then suplexed Will. Shibata put the sleeper back on, but Ospreay fought out of it and stomped Shibata on the back of the head! Will smashed Shibata with the Os-Cutter but Shibata kicked out at the one-count!
Will hit a back drop suplex and then wiped out Shibata with a back elbow uppercut. Will walloped Shibata with a Tiger Driver and then finished Shibata off with the Hidden Blade, pinning Shibata!
“What a war we witnessed here tonight,” said Excalibur.
Renee Paquette was backstage with The Young Bucks—Matthew and Nicholas Jackson!
Matthew said they had some goals when they returned to AEW. The first was to retire Sting, and the second was to restructure the Elite, and they did that by bringing in Okada. Matthew said his biggest goal is to get their AEW World Tag Team Championships back. And they’re going to beat Private Party tonight to get one step closer to getting their titles back.
The Continental Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada pulled up in an exotic sports car for the next match!
AEW World Tag Title Tournament Quarter-Final Match!
The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
vs.
Private Party—Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen!
Private Party wiped out the Bucks with stereo tope suicidas. Matthew whipped Zay over the barricade. Private Party fired back with the Silly String off the barricade onto Matthew. Nicholas planted Quen with a Falcon Arrow off the barricade! The Bucks were trying to win by count out.
Zay helped Mark Quen back into the ring, breaking the ref’s count. Nicholas suplexed Quen onto Matthew’s knees. Brother Zay got the hot tag, scored with a thrust kick to Matthew and then did a moonsault onto Nicholas who was on the arena floor!
Nicholas nailed Quen with a German Suplex. Nicholas planted Quen with a suplex on the edge of the ring. Private Party rallied back with the Gin & Juice on Nicholas!
“Perfection by Private Party,” said Taz.
Private Party hit the More Bang for Your Buck on Matthew, but Nicholas jumped in to break up the pin attempt! Nicholas grabbed the ring bell and brought it into the ring, but the ref pulled it out of Nicholas’ hands. As the ref was distracted, Nicholas kicked Zay with a low blow! Quen took one of the title belts off the podium and cracked Matthew in the head with it. Zay went to pin Matthew, but Nicholas grabbed Matthew’s leg and put Matthew’s foot on the rope to break the pin.
Quen attempted a 630 splash on Matthew, but Matthew dodged it. Nicholas tagged in and they blasted Quen with the EVP Trigger and pinned him!
“The Bucks move on, boys,” said Taz.
A video aired of Darby Allin with Tony Hawk, talking about how much skateboarding meant to them growing up, and the impact it had on their lives. Visit skatepark.org for more information on how you can help out.
Renee Paquette was backstage with FTW Champion HOOK and Chris Jericho!
Jericho said he’s never been in the ring with anyone quite like Hook. Jericho, with 33 years of experience in the ring, said he’d be happy to help Hook sharpen his skills and become the World Champion that he knows Hook can be.
“If you want my advice, I’m here for you,” said Jericho.
Hook: “I appreciate your praise, Chris. And of course I’ll take advice from you, you’re Chris Jericho. But you are Chris Jericho. I know who you are.”
Jericho: “Okay, and I know who you are. But more importantly, I know who you can be.”
Hook: “Let’s get it.”
Jericho: “Let’s get it.”
TBS Championship #1 Contender Match!
Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue vs. Anna Jay
“The CEO” Mercedes Moné was on commentary for this match.
Skye Blue caught Kris out of the gate with a thrust kick. Anna caught Willow with a kick to the chin. Willow splashed Anna in the corner and followed up with a lariat. Skye Blue planted Willow with a DDT.
Statlander body slammed Blue and rocked her with a sliding lariat. Statlander went for a body slam on Anna, but Anna escaped. Statlander knocked Anna down with a shoulder tackle. Skye Blue tripped up Kris from outside the ring, but Willow was there to pounce Skye!
“A blindside pounce!” said Excalibur.
Willow was right in front of Mercedes when she pounced Skye. Mercedes and Willow locked eyes. Mercedes smirked at Willow, neither backing down.
Back in the ring, Kris fought off Skye Blue and Anna Jay. Anna Jay superplexed Kris and covered her but Willow hit Anna with a senton to break up the pin. Skye blasted Willow with the Code Blue, but Statlander broke it up. Kris cracked Blue with a back breaker. Willow walloped Anna Jay with a shotgun dropkick.
Skye shoved Kris into Willow. Willow countered a dragon suplex attempt by Skye on the apron by drilling Skye with a Death Valley Driver on the apron! Willow power bombed Anna Jay and pinned Anna Jay!
TBS Champion Julia Hart jumped into the ring, blindsiding Willow by smacking Willow with Julia’s championship belt! Julia held her belt high, and she and Mercedes had a stare down!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview the legendary Dustin Rhodes!
Dustin said he’s started 2024 off with a bang. Dustin said at 55 years old, he’s just as passionate about wrestling as he’s ever been.
The Butcher interrupted Dustin! Butcher challenged Dustin to a match for Friday’s Rampage! Dustin accepted, saying Butcher will find out why Dustin is a “Natural born legend!”
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm paid a visit to the studios of Turner Classic Movies and Ben Mankiewicz, the host of Turner Classic Movies!
Toni told Mankiewicz to watch out for the shoe and then tossed it over her head as she walked off the set.
AEW World Tag Title Tournament Quarter-Final Match!
The Undisputed Kingdom—ROH World Tag Team Champs Matt Taven & Mike Bennett (with International Champion Roderick Strong)
Orange decked Taven! Bennett took Trent off his feet with a lariat. Trent flew out of the ring with a tope and took out Taven. Bennet jumped out of the ring and wiped out Trent. Orange took to the skies and jumped off the top turnbuckle, his hands in his pockets, and crashed onto Taven and Bennett!
Trent drove Bennett down with a double knee strike. Taven rocked Trent with a thrust kick. Bennett spiked Trent with a piledriver on the apron!
Orange Cassidy grabbed a tag and hit Bennett with a cross body press. Orange served one up for Taven! Orange blasted Bennett with the Stun Dog Millionaire! Taven came in and pulped Orange with a running knee strike! Taven and Bennett hit the Proton Pack, with Bennett covering Orange for a near fall!
Trent spiked Taven with a DDT! And Orange followed up with a DDT on Taven! Trent nailed Taven with a running knee strike! Strong jumped on the ring apron but Chuck Taylor pulled him back down! Roddy wiped out Taylor with his right hand! Roddy jumped into the ring to get away from Orange, dropped his title in the process, and jumped out. Orange chased after Roddy and connected with an elbow suicida!
The ref was removing the International Title from the ring when Taven and Bennett had Trent set up for their finisher. As the ref was distracted, Chuck knocked Taven off the turnbuckles. Trent rolled up Bennett with a jackknife pin and scored the victory!
“What a win!” said Schiavone.
“Interesting turn of events but congrats to Cassidy and Trent,” said Taz.
Orange, Trent, and Chuck were about to give the people what they want—the big hug, when The Bucks’ music hit! Nicholas and Matthew Jackson walked onto the ramp and stared at Orange and Trent!
Next week on Dynamite it’ll be the Young Bucks against the Best Friends in the AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinals!
Renee Paquette was backstage with Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle said it felt good to rip the band-aid off with his return match and victory against “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith. Kyle said AEW has a deep roster and there’s no such thing as an easy match. He said he loves the Undisputed Kingdom but he’s going to prove he can do it without them again this week on Collision.
Main Event Time!
“The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita (with Don Callis) vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)!
Swerve rolled up Takeshita for a near fall. Swerve was looking for the short arm scissors, but Takeshita got to the ropes. Takeshita connected with the Takeshita-line!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe was watching the match on a monitor backstage, obviously having a keen interesting in this number one contender’s match.
Swerve blasted Takeshita with a diving European uppercut to the back of Takeshita’s neck. Swerve rocked Takeshita with a neck breaker over the middle rope. Swerve followed up with a backbreaker, but Takeshita fired back with a brain buster on Swerve!
Swerve nailed Takeshita with a German Suplex, but Takeshita got right to his feet and knocked Swerve’s block off with a devastating forearm! Swerve launched into a hurracanrana over the top rope and onto Takeshita on the floor!
Swerve followed up with a big diving cross body, but Takeshita kicked out at the one-count. Takeshita smoked Swerve with a knockout shot! Takeshita nailed Swerve with a running knee strike. Takeshita flipped over the top rope and landed hard on Swerve!
Takeshita hoisted up Swerve for a brain buster on the top turnbuckle, but Swerve fought out of it. Takeshita headbutted Swerve in the ribs. Swerve chopped out the legs out Takeshita with swift kicks. Swerve drilled Takeshita with a DDT off the turnbuckles! Swerve splashed Takeshita with a sky twister for a near fall!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Takeshita fired back with a reverse hurracanrana and followed up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall on Swerve!
“Takeshita can’t believe Swerve kicked out of that,” said Taz.
Swerve clobbered Takeshita with a straight right hand! Takeshita stunned Swerve with a jumping knee strike! Swerve planted Takeshita on the crown of his head! Swerve squashed Takeshita with the Swerve Stomp on the apron! Swerve returned to the top, jumped at Takeshita, but Takeshita countered with a powerbomb! Swerve escaped a brain buster attempt, but Takeshita was prepared with a wheelbarrow suplex to Swerve. Takeshita flattened Swerve with a Power Drive Knee, but Swerve kicked out at the two-count!
Takeshita was looking for an avalanche blue thunder, but Swerve knocked Takeshita down to the mat. Takeshita avoided the Swerve Stomp. Swerve countered a blue thunder bomb attempt, sending Takeshita into the corner turnbuckles. Swerve rocked Takeshita with the House Call kick! Swerve hit the Swerve Stomp, but Takeshita kicked out! Takeshita blasted Swerve with a jumping knee strike. Swerve countered a pop-up power bomb attempt with the Swerve Stomp! Swerve planted Takeshita with the Big Pressure and pinned Takeshita!
“Well, if that isn’t a 5-star match, I don’t know what is,” said Tony Schiavone.
Renee Paquette interviewed AEW World Champion Samoa Joe after the match, asking for his thoughts about facing Swerve Strickland.
Samoa Joe: “You should ask him how he’s feeling right now. Next week, Swerve, when you walk down to that ring and sign onto that dotted line, I am going to make sure that you understand what you are asking for. You think you’re ready. No, no, you’re not that man.”
“Swerve Strickland will face Samoa Joe at Dynasty for the AEW World Championship on Sunday, April 21st, live on pay-per-view!” said Excalibur.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET!
Don’t miss AEW Collision live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Budweiser Gardens in London, ON featuring:
–AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Big Bill & “Absolute” Ricky Starks vs. Top Flight!
-Kyle O’Reilly in action!
-AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match: FTR vs. The Infantry!
-Trios Match: The Righteous & Lance Archer vs. Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, & Katsuyori Shibata!
-The return of the “Cope Open!” TNT Champion “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland will put his championship on the line!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from DCU Center in Worcester, MA!
Last Wednesday night was jam-packed with three hours of AEW programming, starting with our traditional two hours of DYNAMITE, then immediately followed by RAMPAGE as it aired on a special night! During those three hours, the AEW faithful witnessed Adam Copeland earn back the TNT Championship by going through a hellacious “I Quit” match with Christian Cage, and saw Kazuchika Okada defeat Eddie Kingston to claim the AEW Continental Championship! In addition, Skye Blue and TBS Champion Julia Hart beat Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale in a Street Fight, Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta won their Wild Card bout in the Tag Title Tournament, and FTW Champion HOOK defeated Chris Jericho!
This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, live from Quebec City, QC and the Centre Videotron, we will witness a rematch seven years in the making, one that many thought would never come to pass, when Katsuyori Shibata takes on Will Ospreay! Plus, Konosuke Takeshita will go head-to-head with Swerve Strickland, and the Quarter-Finals of the AEW World Tag Title Tournament begin when The Young Bucks meet Private Party!
Then join All Elite Wrestling in London, ON for Saturday’s COLLISION, live from the Budweiser Gardens, for The Infantry versus FTR in the Quarter-Finals of the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament, and so much more!
SEVEN YEARS IN THE WAITING…
“The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Eleven matches; that is how many times Katsuyori Shibata and Will Ospreay stepped into the ring between January 5th and February 11th of 2017. Seven of those times it was Shibata who came out on top, but only one of those victories came in the form of a singles match, the very last one at NJPW’s THE NEW BEGINNING IN OSAKA 2017 event. The other ten matches were all fought in trios and multi-man bouts, all save that RevPro British Heavyweight Championship fight on February 11th won by Shibata, but unfortunately a rematch never came to pass as Shibata’s career came to an end just two months later after an IWGP Heavyweight Title fight with Kazuchika Okada at SAKURA GENESIS 2017.
Then the unimaginable happened; four years and six months later, during the G1 CLIMAX 2021 tour, Shibata shocked the world when he stepped into the ring with Zack Sabre Jr. for a five minute Grappling Rules contest! Two and a half months later, at WRESTLE KINGDOM 16, Shibata would get back into the ring with Ren Narita for a full-blow professional wrestling match, then ten months later, on the 11/4/22 edition of RAMPAGE, Shibata would make his in-ring debut for AEW in an International Championship loss to Orange Cassidy. Given the time between those two matches, it was reasonable to question whether or not Shibata was returning to full-time competition or if those were just a couple matches to test his own limits. The answer came on March 31, 2023 when, at ROH’s SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2023 event, Shibata won the ROH Pure Championship from Wheeler Yuta, and spent the next eight months tearing it up on both AEW and ROH events, as well as traveling to RevPro for their 11TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW.
After losing the Pure Championship back to Yuta last November, Shibata returned to Japan, but made a monumental return to AEW action on the March 16th COLLISION when he battled Bryan Danielson in a certified Dream Match. Here were two men that both thought their in-ring careers finished at some point in the years prior, two men who defied the odds and the expectations of medical professionals, two men who were now fighting better than they had at any previous point in their careers, and they were going to war for the AEW faithful. Danielson ultimately won the fight, and there was another man watching on who took what happened as a test he needed to take upon himself.
That man was Will Ospreay, and with his own bout against Bryan Danielson set for AEW DYNASTY on April 21st, he felt the need to test himself against Katsuyori Shibata, to see if he could succeed in 2024 where he did not in 2017, and thus made a challenge to “The Wrestler” for the fight going down this Wednesday night! Can Ospreay follow in Danielson’s footsteps and score a victory over Katsuyori Shibata in Quebec City? Or will Shibata repeat history in this monumental rematch seven years in the making?
ONE-ON-ONE…
“The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita vs. Swerve Strickland
Thus far in 2024, Konosuke Takeshita holds a record of 5-1 in singles matches, and 10-2 over the last twelve months in that field. That’s a run that includes victories over Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, Kyle Fletcher, as well as Rocky Romero this past Wednesday night, and has shown the world that “The Alpha” is one of the most fearsome competitors in All Elite Wrestling today.
Over the course of his last eleven one-on-one match-ups Swerve Strickland lost exactly one time, his Continental Classic Gold League fight with Jon Moxley on 12/13/23, and was taken to a 30-Minute time limit draw by Hangman Page on 2/7/24. It’s been an incredible run for Strickland as well, and even if you factor in his two Three Way losses in the Gold League Finals and at REVOLUTION 2024, it doesn’t change that run because wasn’t the man who took the fall in either of those matches. There are few men who’ve been on a hotter streak that Swerve Strickland, and that run has put Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship in Swerve’s crosshairs.
For the very first time these two men, each at the top of their game, will lock horns this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, and there is certainly the possibility that the future of the AEW World Championship hinges on the result of this match! Both Takeshita and Swerve have reasonable claims to being the next challenger for Samoa Joe, based on their respective records and, in the case of Swerve, the fact he wasn’t defeated in the Three Way at REVOLUTION ’24.
As announced Tuesday night by AEW GM Tony Khan, this match will determine the next challenger for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship! With that added factor, there is no doubt Samoa Joe will have his eyes on this contest as his next contender is determined!
AEW WORLD TAG TITLE TOURNAMENT QUARTER-FINAL MATCH…
The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen
On October 9, 2019, in the very first match of the original AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament, Private Party shocked the world when they defeated The Young Bucks to advance out of the Quarter-Finals. Though Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen would fall to The Lucha Brothers in the Semi-Finals, the impact was made, and the world had been forced to stand up and recognize Private Party.
A year later The Young Bucks would even up the score, pinning Isiah Kassidy to win a Four Way #1 Contenders match on 10/21/20, and would follow that up with a traditional tag team victory over Private Party on November 4th a few weeks later. Since that bout over three years ago, the two teams only met in one Trios match, though Isiah has a little more experience fighting the brothers Jackson with other partners during Marq Quen’s injury recovery, but not one other tag team match between Private Party and The Young Bucks since 2020.
That all changes this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when, in the Quarter-Finals of the AEW World Tag Title Tournament, The Young Bucks and Private Party meet again! Since Marq Quen’s return to action in 2024, Private Party is 2-2 in tag team action, though one of those losses came in a Three Way tag with Top Flight and Bryan Keith/Komander where neither Quen nor Kassidy were the ones pinned to lose the match. As for The EVPs, in 2024 they are 3-1 in tag team action, but to be honest about their record, two of those victories came over local competitors who frankly had no chance at actually beating the former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champions.
The Young Bucks have a mission of becoming the first 3-Time AEW Tag Champions while Private Party have one to capture those belts for the very first time, and only one team can get closer to their objective. Will it be The Young Bucks or Private Party who advances to the Semi-Finals? And will it be The Undisputed Kingdom or the Orange Cassidy/Trent Beretta tandem who meets them there?
AEW WORLD TAG TITLE TOURNAMENT QUARTER-FINAL MATCH…
The Undisputed Kingdom (ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs.
The AEW World Tag Title Tournament kicks off in full-force this Wednesday night with the aforementioned Young Bucks/Private Party match, and this Quarter-Final match pitting ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett against Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta!
Though OC and Trent have never faced this Undisputed Kingdom tandem in a tag match, Cassidy’s fight with Roderick Strong have made them all quite familiar with one another, in fact the former 2-Time International Champion beat both Taven and Bennett in singles matches on the road to REVOLUTION 2024. But on that same road, as part of their mission to remove Cassidy’s support system, The Undisputed Kingdom put a hurting on Trent Beretta, so that makes this tag team encounter as much a method of revenge as it is an opportunity to move forward in the tournament to face the winner of the Private Party/Young Bucks bout!
TBS CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDER MATCH…
Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue vs. Anna Jay
The TBS Championship is a prize greatly coveted by the women of All Elite Wrestling, and this Wednesday night four competitors will clash to see who moves on to DYNASTY 2024 to face Julia Hart! All four of these women have plenty of story with Julia Hart, especially Statlander, Nightingale, and Skye Blue given their months of battle since FULL GEAR 2023, but Anna Jay has her own reasons for wanting another fight with Julia Hart.
Hart has been the bane of Anna Jay’s AEW existence, in three bouts it has been Julia who’s won each one, including a TBS Championship fight at BATTLE OF THE BELTS IX back in January. Statlander is the woman that Julia Hart took the TBS Championship from, though technically she did not defeat Kris to win in, but Statlander has yet to be granted a rematch. Coincidentally, Julia earned that title fight at FULL GEAR 2023 by defeating Willow Nightingale in an Eliminator Bout, and of course there’s the relationship between Hart and Skye Blue that’s blossomed since Hart misted Skye many months ago. At first they were at odds, but over time the two women became thick as thieves, and have come to operate as quite the fearsome tag team, actually beating Stat and Willow in a Street Fight last Wednesday night on RAMPAGE!
This is quite the intriguing Four Way, and it will be interesting to see how TBS Champion Julia Hart responds to the outcome of the fight, especially if it is Skye Blue who earns herself the DYNASTY 2024 title match!
Join us Wednesday night for DYNAMITE, hailing from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC, and featuring the first Quarter-Final match in the AEW World Tag Title Tournament between The Young Bucks and Private Party, Takeshita versus Swerve, and a rematch years in the making between Katsuyori Shibata and Will Ospreay!!!
The meets us this Saturday in London, ON at the Budweiser Gardens for the return of COLLISION featuring former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champions FTR taking on The Infantry in a Quarter-Final match-up of the AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament!
Tonight’s double header episode of AEW DYNAMITE & AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast live from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tony Schiavone kicked off the show in the ring to interview “The CEO” Mercedes Moné!
The fans chanted “CEO! CEO! CEO!”
Mercedes: “Toronto, please say hello to your new CEO. I am still on such a high since last week at Big Business. I missed you guys. I missed all of this! I am so excited to be her in AEW. A lot of you guys don’t know this, but all of this almost got taken away from me 10 months ago. I almost had a career ending injury in a match against Willow Nightingale.
“I know this is in the past and I’m in a new home of AEW. A lot of people may not know who Mercedes Moné is, so I asked the production truck to play a highlight video so you can get a taste of your new CEO.
“As you see, I was rocking and rolling, I was kicking butt all over the world but then it got taken away from me. But I knew I needed to be back, and I needed to be here. Minor setbacks make for major comebacks and now I’m here as your CEO. I am not here to lead a women’s evolution. I’ve done that before. I am here to lead a women’s global revolution. I can here to face the very best women in AEW and all over the globe.
“About last week when Julia Hart and Skye Blue attacked Willow, they must not have heard that I have unfinished business with Willow. And anybody that messes with my business will get bankrupt. There’s a price you pay when you mess with Mercedes Moné.”
The arena lights went dark!
The lights came back on, and Julia Hart was standing in the aisle, smirking at Mercedes. Skye Blue tried to ambush Mercedes, but Mercedes dropped Blue! Julie Hart jumped in, and Mercedes hoisted up Julia for the Money Maker, but Skye Blue pulled Julia to safety!
Skye Blue and Julia Hart pulled steel chairs out from beneath the ring. They were about to enter the ring to attack Mercedes with the chairs, but Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander sprinted to the ring with chairs of their own, coming to the aid of Mercedes!
The lights went dark again! When they came back on, Willow had a chair, and it appeared she was set to whack Mercedes with it, but she put it down.
“I think she was going to hit Mercedes with it,” said Schiavone.
Mercedes pointed at Willow and said she had her eyes on her.
AEW Continental Championship Match!
“Mad King” Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!
“The world is ready for this one,” said Tony Schiavone.
Kingston hit Okada with a flurry of offense, and then blistered the challenger with chops. Okada hammered back with an elbow to the back of Kingston’s head. Okada spiked Kingston with a DDT on the arena floor!
Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were watching backstage, wearing headsets and producing the match.
Okada nailed Kingston with a neck breaker. Okada followed up with a dropkick to the side of Kingston’s head. Kingston fired back with a double over hook suplex and then a back heel trip. Kingston blasted Okada with machine gun chops in the corner. Kingston rocked Okada with a German suplex and then a sliding forearm. Okada rallied back with a dropkick.
Eddie stunned Okada with a spinning back fist for a near fall. Okada attempted to hit the Rainmaker, but Kingston got his arms up to block it. Okada gouged Kingston’s eyes. Okada planted Kingston on the mat and rocked Eddie with the Rainmaker, scoring the pin!
New AEW Continental Champions… “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada!
“History was made here tonight,” said Taz.
“Okada wasting no time,” replied Excalibur.
“The Bastard” Pac’s music hit! Pac walked onto the ramp and stared a hole into Okada, making his presence known to the Rainmaker!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Swerve Strickland!
Renee said that Swerve went after AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, and wanted to know what his intentions were.
Swerve: “The AEW World Championship, Renee. Samoa Joe attempted to embarrass me by choking me out. Unfortunately for him I have a history of choking people out myself. I want to fight so I’m going to offer an open challenge tonight.”
Next Renee Paquette interviewed Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale ahead of tonight’s street fight!
Mercedes Moné walked onto the scene and interrupted them.
Kris: “You know, I’ve been meaning to say this. Thank you for having Willow’s back last week.”
Mercedes: “Of course. That’s what a CEO does. You see, a CEO stands up for what she believes in. And I’m excited to watch your street fight tonight. Because you know what they say: payback’s a bitch. And thanks for having my back out there tonight, Kris. It was nice meeting you.”
Willow: “Mercedes, I just wanted to say—”
Mercedes: “You’ve done enough!”
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!
Hook dumped Jericho on the back of his head with a T-bone suplex right out of the gates!
“I don’t think Jericho expected that,” said Schiavone.
Hook battered Jericho in the corner. Jericho fired back with chops. Hook sent Jericho for a ride once again with another T-bone suplex. Hook dodged Jericho and planted Jericho with two more suplexes. Hook folded Jericho in half with another suplex!
“We are witnessing a lopsided affair. Hook is dominating Chris Jericho,” said Excalibur.
Jericho booted Hook in the face and rammed Hook with a shoulder block. Jericho jumped off the top turnbuckle, but Hook caught him and suplexed him. Jericho tried to rally back with a lionsault for a near fall.
Hook charged at Jericho, but Jericho countered by throwing Hook. Jericho put Hook on the top turnbuckle, looking for a top rope hurracanrana, but Hook managed to apply the Red Rum on Jericho! Chris Jericho broke the grip and was looking for the Walls, but Hook countered by rolling up Jericho and pinning Jericho!
“What an inside cradle out of nowhere!” said Taz.
“That might be the biggest victory of Hook’s career thus far. Hook just pinned the first ever AEW World Champion,” said Excalibur.
Jericho fist bumped Hook after the match, both men displaying mutual respect for one another.
We heard from the Undisputed Kingdom’s Adam Cole!
Cole: “I hate the feeling of being disappointed. Last week Wardlow you disappointed me. You challenged Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship, and you failed. Wardlow, you had one damn job and you failed. And right now, I should be—you should be—the AEW World Champion.
“Instead, you have a new goal and that’s to make sure the Undisputed Kingdom hangs onto the gold that we have. You’re going to make sure that Taven and Bennett keep those Ring of Honor World Tag Team titles. You are going to make sure that Roderick Strong keeps the AEW International Championship. And then maybe we’ll forgive you.
“Wardlow I’m not saying this out of anger. I’m saying this because I care about you. I want what’s best for you. I want you to reach your true potential. So don’t screw it up.”
Renee Paquette interviewed Chris Jericho backstage!
Jericho: “Last week I said I wanted to face Hook one on one for a reason. I was hoping he did what he did tonight. Hook, you showed me something I haven’t seen in a long time. You are a future World Champion. You are every bit of a bad, bad man as everyone says you are. And after tonight you’ve got my respect. And next week, Hook, on Dynamite, I’ve got a proposition for you.”
Tony Schiavone interviewed “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay in the ring!
Ospreay: “I’ll clear the air right now. Last time I was here I was a little bit of a naughty boy. I’ve changed. I’m here for the betterment of AEW. I am here to give you guys Elite levels of professional wrestling.
“I said what I wanted to say about Bryan Danielson until I saw Collision. I hope all the lads studied his match against Shibata on Collision. That was pro wrestling. Bryan in one breath you said you were grateful to be stepping into the ring with me, but in the other breath you said I couldn’t walk in your shoes.
“Maybe he’s right because when I would go over to Japan, I’d see his shoes and there’s no way I could fit into them, because they’re too small for me. What I did in Japan was elevate professional wrestling. But apparently, I can’t walk in your shoes? Want me to prove it? All right, Shibata, long time no see. Seven years ago, I wrestled Shibata and he beat the piss out of me. But the 23-year old me is different than the 30-year old me because I’ve got a point to prove. So next week on Dynamite, Shibata, meet me in this ring. Danielson, sit home and watch and let me show you what I’m all about.”
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May
vs.
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa!
Deonna and Thunder Rosa sprinted toward the ring and took the attack to Toni and Mariah, swarming them. Mariah grabbed Deonna by the hair and yanked her to the mat. Mariah followed up with a dropkick.
Deonna turned the tables with a double clothesline to Toni and Mariah. Thunder Rosa grabbed a tag and launched off the bag of Deonna to splash Toni in the corner with a lariat. Thunder Rosa followed up with a running lariat. Luther tried to take a swipe at Thunder Rosa. As Thunder Rosa was distracted by Luther, Toni Storm knocked Rosa to the floor with a running hip attack!
Deonna grabbed a tag and punted Mariah in the face with a pump kick. Thunder Rosa tagged herself in and Deonna didn’t seem happy about it. Thunder Rosa drilled Mariah with a Death Valley Driver in the center of the ring! Toni Storm grabbed Thunder Rosa from behind and nailed Rosa with a German Suplex!
Toni Storm cracked Thunder Rosa in the corner with a hip attack! Toni tried for a piledriver, but Thunder Rosa countered with a jackknife pin and scored the victory!
Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) vs. The Butcher!
Swerve headbutted Butcher, catching Butcher by surprise. Swerve booted Butcher in the face. Butcher blasted Swerve with a strike to the face. Swerve double stomped Butcher on the back.
Swerve rocked Butcher with the House Call kick! Swerve crunched Butcher with the Swerve Stomp right on target. Swerve applied a submission hold and forced Butcher to tap!
“That may be Swerve’s first submission victory in an AEW ring,” said Excalibur.
Swerve: “Samoa Joe before I met you, I had nothing but respect for you. But then when I got to know you, I felt a little indifferent. Then after awhile I started disliking you. And now I’m getting close to hating you. And as I stand with this chain in my possession, every day I think about wrapping it around your neck and hanging it from the post, but I don’t have enough chain for that big ass neck.
“Every week you’re going to keep sending security to watch your back. Every week I’m going to take them out until you give me what I want!”
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe walked down to the ring!
Samoa Joe: “Well what to do with someone like you, Swerve. Logic should dictate that I ignore you completely because contrary to what you believe, I beat you at Revolution and you’ve been shoved down the championship ladder.
“You still believe that the impossible is possible. You still believe that if you stand toe to toe with me that you can box with a god. And the problem with that belief is it becomes infections. And then all these people believe they can be great too. And that’s all find and dandy until someone like me shows up and smashes you in the face and takes everything you have. And it was at that realization that I knew exactly what to do with someone like you. And that is to give you exactly what you want!”
Don Callis: “Whoa, whoa, whoa guys. It strikes me, Swerve, that I guess when you’re in Swerve’s House, you can just put yourself in a World title match. And Swerve, it strikes me that you and Takeshita have the same amount of wins. The difference is Takeshita is undefeated outside the Don Callis Family. So, Swerve I’m thinking maybe Takeshita needs to show you what it tastes like to lose to the family.
“And if you’re feeling good about that Swerve, I’m happy to teach you a lesson that I’ve taught many people. This is not Swerve’s House. This is the Don Callis House!”
Swerve: “If I had more time and I wasn’t distracted by what I’ve got going on, I’d burn the Don Callis Family Tree down to a crisp. But you know what? I accept. I will take on Takeshita. And when I’m done with him, I’m coming for you again Joe.”
Excalibur: “I’ve been informed that next week on Dynamite, it is official: Konosuke Takeshita against Swerve Strickland!”
TNT Championship I Quit Match!
“The Patriarch” Christian Cage (c.) vs. “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
Copeland was looking for the spear right away, but Christian bailed out of the ring. Copeland blasted Christian with a sliding dropkick. Copeland chased Christian through the crowd, and they began to brawl in the penalty box.
Copeland propped a ladder across the guardrail and the announcers’ desk. Copeland pulled Christian down hard on the ladder!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Copeland inverted the ladder in the ring and then slammed Christian against it stomach first! Copeland rammed Christian shoulder first into the steel ring post. Cope pulled a table out from under the ring. Copeland placed the ladder against the guardrail. Cope went to spear Christian through the table, but Christian leapfrogged over Copeland and then rammed Copeland into the ring post! Copeland was busted wide open!
Christian jumped off the top turnbuckle and splashed Copeland through the table outside the ring! Christian catapulted Copeland into a ladder that was placed on the turnbuckles. Copeland dodged a frog splash. Copeland locked in a cross face submission but Christian gouged Copeland in the eyes. Both men went for the spear and collided into one another!
Shayna Wayne ambushed Copeland, hitting him with a hockey stick for a low blow! Christian Cage cracked the hockey stick across Copeland’s back! Christian grabbed a barb wire wrapped chair from beneath the ring. Christian set Copeland’s head across one chair and tried for the con-chair-to with the barb wire chair, but Copeland moved out of the way in the nick of time!
Copeland hit Christian with the hockey stick across the face. Copeland pulled the drawstring from his pants and wrapped it around Christian’s throat, pulling back. Killswitch and Nick Wayne jumped into the ring and began to stomp Copeland!
Mother Wayne entered the ring and slapped Copeland as Nick Wayne and Killswitch held him back. Matt Menard and Daniel Garcia ran to the ring and cleaned house of Nick Wayne and Killswitch, evening the odds for Copeland!
Copeland climbed the ladder and splashed Killswitch and Nick Wayne outside the ring! Garcia had handcuffs. Garcia and Menard handcuffed Killswitch to the ropes while Copeland handcuffed Nick Wayne in the opposite corner. Mother Wayne retreated from the ring!
Garcia and Menard pinballed Christian Cage with strikes and then Copeland speared Christian! Copeland handcuffed Christian in the corner. Copeland pulled the case containing Spike from beneath the ring. Copeland swung Spike at Christian, cracking him between the legs! Copeland went to hit Christian again, but this time Christian said, “I quit!”
And new TNT Champion “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
AEW Rampage began!
“Switchblade” Jay White and The Gunns had strong words for Darby Allin from poolside in Florida!
Jay White mocked Darby’s broken foot. “Switchblade” showed off Sting’s bat, which he had painted gold. They taunted The Acclaimed and Darby.
Trios Champs The Acclaimed walked onto the ramp!
Caster said Billy Gunn wasn’t cleared to travel after what happened to him last week at the hands of Jay White. Caster offered Jay White a one-way first class ticket to anywhere he wanted to go, as long as it wasn’t here. But he knows Jay White is too stupid to take him up on that offer. “When you bring your stupid ass back here with your ass boys, we’ll be here to hunt you down.”
Bowens said he was pissed off because The Gunns and Jay White didn’t show up tonight. Bowens said Jay White was not a catalyst, he is a coward.
AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Wild Card Match!
Best Friends— “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy & Trent
vs.
The Don Callis Family’s Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher!
Matt Menard was on commentary for Rampage.
Hobbs spiked Orange with a spinebuster, and Trent ran in to break up the pin attempt! Hobbs planted Orange onto the apron repeatedly. Orange dodged a splash from Hobbs. Trent tagged in and drove Fletcher down with double knees. Trent wiped out Hobbs and Fletcher on the floor with a swan dive!
Hobbs and Fletcher stunned Trent with a pendulum bomb! Trent fired back with a DDT on Fletcher. Orange tagged in and connected with a crossbody to Fletcher and then he knocked Hobbs with an elbow suicida. Cassidy pumped Fletcher with a DDT and tried to cover Fletcher, but Hobbs broke it up.
Hobbs put Orange in a torture rack. Trent freed up Orange, ramming a knee into Hobbs so Orange could roll up Hobbs for a near fall! Hobbs bulldozed Orange to the mat! Orange rallied back with a Stun Dog Millionaire on Fletcher while Trent followed up with a half and half!
Hobbs pulped Orange and Trent with a double shoulder tackle. Hobbs rag dolled Orange into the LED lights. Trent stomped Hobbs so Orange could crush Hobbs with a Beach Break! Fletcher avoided the Orange Punch and countered with a spinning tombstone for a near fall on Orange!
Trent nailed Fletcher with an avalanche half and half! Orange drilled Fletcher with a diving DDT! Orange rocked Fletcher with the Orange Punch and pinned Fletcher!
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kevin Matthews!
Shibata pounded Matthews into the corner and followed up with a running dropkick! Shibata took Matthews over the top with a suplex for a near fall. Matthews fired back with a lariat. Shibata went behind, locked in a sleeper, but Shibata released it. Shibata cracked Matthews with the PK and pinned Matthews!
The Don Callis Family’s Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero!
Rocky chopped Takeshita in the chest. Rocky rocked Takeshita with a strike to the face. Rocky wiped out Takeshita with a step up hurracanrana. Rocky followed up with the forever clotheslines. Takeshita countered with a boot and then a running basement dropkick!
Takeshita swung at Rocky but Rocky ducked and Takeshita struck the steel ring post! Rocky followed up with a tope suicida! Rocky hit the running sliced bread for a two-count on Takeshita! Rocky wrenched back on Takeshita’s arm.
Don Callis jumped on the ring apron to distract the ref. Rocky turned his attention to Don Callis and Takeshita seized the moment to boot Rocky in the face! Rocky avoided a power drive knee, but Takeshita spiked Rocky with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Takeshita decimated Rocky with a forearm strike. Takeshita followed up with a Falcon Arrow and pinned Rocky!
Street Fight!
Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale
vs.
TBS Champion Julia Hart & Skye Blue!
Kris clocked Julia with a drop toe hold on a chair. Willow dropkicked Julia as Julia was wedged between the chair. Willow pulled a table out from beneath the ring and slid it into the ring. Skye Blue came to Julia’s aid. Skye wiped out Kris and Willow.
Skye held Kris back while Julia pulled out a steel spike. Julia charged at Kris with the spike, but Kris moved out of the way, causing Julia to inadvertently hit Skye in the face with the spike!
“Absolute carnage!” said Excalibur.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Willow tried to power bomb Skye on the announcers’ desk, but Sky countered with a Code Blue! Skye Blue emptied a bag of thumbtacks into the ring. Statlander had her own bag and emptied thumbtacks in the ring too!
Skye Blue power bombed Statlander into the tacks, but Statlander kicked out at the two-count! Skye put the tacks in Kris’ mouth and then rocked Kris with a thrust kick! Skye covered Kris but Kris kicked out! Skye climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Willow jumped onto the apron, grabbing Skye and planting her through two tables on the arena floor with a Death Valley Driver!
Statlander attempted a 450 splash from the top, but Julia rolled out of the way! Julia locked in Heartless and Statlander tapped out!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE: Big Business was broadcast live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tonight’s episode kicked off with Seven-Time Women’s World Champion Mercedes Moné making her AEW Dynamite debut!
The fans were chanting “CEO! CEO! CEO!”
“I think the women’s division—everything—here in AEW has just gotten a lot more interesting,” said Excalibur.
Mercedes Moné: “Boston, I’m home! If you guys could feel my heart right now, it’s beating out of my chest. First thing I want to say is thank you. Thank you for having my back these past two years. Thank you for giving me the courage and the strength to be here. Thank you for sticking with me through all of my lows, my highs, my milestones, my titles, my history making moments, thank you!
“And trust me, we are going to be creating so much magic, and so many moments, together. Because every single one of you, you are the reason I’m here. So, thank you. I love you guys. And if you only knew how much tonight means to me, how much this means to me, how much wrestling means to me. In so many ways wrestling has changed and saved my life.
“Wrestling has given me hopes, a place to dream. My dreams got me to lead a women’s evolution. My dreams made me to become the first ever woman to main event a pay-per-view in this very building. My dreams started when I was only 10 years old. And when I was 13 years old, I dropped out of school to take care of my brother. And I had a dream to become the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. And I want you to know, if I can do it, you can do it too.
“So, let’s get down to business. You want to know why I’m here? Because I need to be here. AEW is the only place where this revolution can be global, and we are going to make that happen. I’ve been watching week after week after week, and everyone in that locker room, I can’t wait to tear it up with you.
“But let’s start with tonight’s main event, Riho against Willow Nightingale. Now Willow, you and I have a lot of unfinished business. But right now, at Big Business. Mercedes Moné is All Elite! So, to our chairman, Tony Khan, thank you so much for that tweet, to all the AEW fans out there, please say hello to your new CEO!”
“This is going to be a moment that we never forget here in AEW,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Big Business going down in Boston,” added Excalibur.
AEW World Championship Match!
Samoa Joe (c.) vs. Wardlow (with the Undisputed Kingdom)
Wardlow whipped Samoa Joe hard into the ringside barricade. Wardlow rammed Joe into the steel ring steps. Back in the ring, Samoa Joe chopped Wardlow, but Wardlow planted Samoa Joe with a spinebuster.
“Not often that Samoa Joe gets manhandled like that,” said Excalibur.
Samoa Joe tested the chin of Wardlow, jabbing away at the challenger. Samoa Joe chopped at Wardlow. Wardlow fired back with a shoulder block off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Samoa Joe slipped free of a powerbomb and followed up with a high boot and then a senton to Wardlow.
Both men slugged it out in the center of the ring but Samoa Joe powerslammed Wardlow for a two-count. Wardlow’s knee buckled. The ref tried to stop Samoa Joe so the ref could check on Wardlow. As the ref turned his back to back Samoa Joe up, Wardlow thumbed Joe in the eyes. Perhaps Wardlow was playing possum. Wardlow blasted Samoa Joe with a knee strike for a near fall.
“That is the first time anyone has survived that knee from Wardlow,” said Excalibur.
Wardlow attempted a senton atomico, but Samoa Joe dodged it! Wardlow retaliated with a power bomb out of the corner. Samoa Joe applied the rear naked choke and Samoa Joe won via ref stoppage!
“That was a great, great win for the champion,” said Tony Schiavone.
Swerve Strickland walked out to the ring with a steel chain! AEW security tried to stop Swerve, but Swerve knocked them out of his way. Samoa Joe left the ring, not wanting any part of Swerve tonight.
Trios Match!
The Elite— “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks—EVPs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
vs.
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston & Death Triangle—PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo!
Kingston ignored a fist bump from Matthew and tagged in “The Bastard” Pac. “The Bastard” wiped out Matthew with a step up hurracanrana and followed up with a back breaker.
Penta El Zero Miedo nailed Nicholas with a thrust kick. Pac grabbed a tag and hit Nicholas with a big pump kick. Pac and Penta clocked Matthew with stereo thrust kicks. Okada tagged in and traded strikes with Kingston! Okada took down Kingston with a beautiful dropkick. Okada and the Bucks triple teamed Kingston in their corner with triple kicks!
Kingston fought out of the corner, crawling to his corner for a tag, but Okada and Nicholas pulled Penta and Pac off the ring apron. The Elite continued to isolate Eddie Kingston. Penta grabbed a tag and cleaned house on the Elite!
Pac blasted Okada with a shotgun dropkick. Pac and Penta took flight over the top rope, wiping out the Bucks on the arena floor. Penta smashed Nicholas with a double foot stomp from the top rope. Pac then landed on Nicholas with a 450 splash! Pac rocked Okada with a German Suplex.
Kingston blistered Okada’s chest with chops. Okada planted Kingston with a DDT. Penta clocked Matthew with a Canadian Destroyer. Nicholas blind sided Penta with a superkick. Nicholas removed his belt, wrapped it around his fist, and charged at Kingston, but Kingston countered with a hot shot, guillotining Nicholas’ throat across the top rope!
Matthew went to strike Kingston, but Kingston countered with a strike. As Matthew distracted the ref in the corner, Nicholas hit Kingston with a low blow between the legs. Okada clocked Kingston with the Rainmaker and pinned Kingston!
“When Okada lands that Rainmaker lariat, it is all over for his opponent,” said Excalibur.
Okada held up Kingston’s AEW Continental Crown Championship aloft after the match!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to talk about AEW Dynasty, live on pay-per-view, Sunday, April 21st and the match between “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Will Ospreay came out to the ring to discuss the upcoming match with Danielson at Dynasty.
Ospreay: “On April 21st, this match means so much to mean. Bryan Danielson left it in the ring every night for all these people. I’m glad he’s a fan of my work. Bryan, allow me to remind you of what you said once upon a time. After my match with Kenny Omega, everybody was talking about one move: the Tiger Driver 91.
“You see, Bryan, while I respect you, this match means a hell of a lot more to me. Because the moment I stepped foot in AEW, there has been a phrase that has been following me. Restore the feeling. Bruv, I am the feeling! This match is about reminding people what AEW is. You put the best wrestler in the world against the best wrestler of the 21st century, and only one man walks out the winner.
“The one thing I learned from Bryan Danielson is I can have respect for the man standing across from me but the moment I walk into this ring, it’s your life or it’s mine, and I don’t plan on dying, bruv!
“April 21st, this is about finding out who is the best wrestler in the world. And let me tell you, my name is Will Ospreay, and I am on another level!”
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo was backstage!
Purrazzo: “Toni Storm and Mariah, if you think this is over between us after Toni tapped out and you DDT’ed me on the ramp, then you’ve learned nothing about the Virtuosa. If this is a numbers game you want to play, then let’s play. I have no problem finding a partner and meeting you both next week in Toronto.
“And since you already have a tag team match this Friday on Rampage, maybe we’ll stick around and get a closer look. I suggest you watch for the shoe because it’s headed straight up your ass!”
“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Darby Allin!
Darby’s back was all bandaged up after his tag match with Sting against the Bucks from Revolution.
Jay White rammed Darby into the turnbuckles. Darby fired back with a shotgun dropkick. Darby climbed to the top and splashed Jay White with a back flip, throwing his body at Jay White. Darby rocketed back out of the ring with a tope suicida!
Jay White suplexed Darby onto a metal chair outside the ring! Jay White whipped Darby into the steel ring steps! Back in the ring, White chopped Darby in the back of the neck. Darby dodged a Stinger splash from White. Darby countered a Blade Runner with an over the top stunner and then a sunset flip for a near fall. Darby locked in the Last Supper, but Jay White managed to kick out at the two-count!
Jay White began to dig his fingers into Darby’s back. Darby retaliated with a scorpion death drop out of nowhere. Darby covered White but White got his feet on the bottom rope. Darby was looking for a Coffin Drop, but Jay White avoided it, and Darby crashed onto the edge of the ring apron!
“That was sickening,” said Taz.
Darby managed to jump into the ring, beating the ref’s count just in the nick of time, but Jay White was waiting for him. Jay White blasted Darby with the Blade Runner and scored the pin!
After the match, Jay White and the Gunns assaulted Darby Allin! The Gunns held Darby’s leg between a steel chair, and Jay White was about to smash it to smithereens with Sting’s baseball bat when…
The Acclaimed’s music began to play!
The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn sprinted to the ring to stop the Gunns and Jay White from hitting Darby’s ankle with the bat! The Acclaimed help Darby out of the ring. Billy Gunn took the baseball bat away from Jay White, but Jay White smashed a chair against Billy’s head!
Bowens and Caster turned around and saw that Billy Gunn had been knocked out. The Acclaimed jumped back into the ring but the Gunns began to club the Acclaimed with strikes.
“So much for the Bang Bang Scissor Gang,” said Tony Schiavone.
The Gunns bashed their championship belt into Bowens’ head. Austin Gunn broadsided Caster with the belt next!
“Bullet Club Gold showing their true colors here tonight,” said Excalibur.
The Gunns put Darby’s ankle back between the steel chair and Jay White walloped the ankle with the baseball bat!
LionHOOK—FTW Champion HOOK & “Lionheart” Chris Jericho
vs.
Gates of Agony—Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona!
Hook and Jericho hit a double suplex on Bishop. LionHOOK followed up with a double suplex on Liona. Jericho chopped at Kaun in the corner. Kaun ran Jericho over with a lariat. Toa tagged in and rammed into Jericho, who was hung up on the ropes.
Jericho connected with a lionsault on Kaun. Hook tagged in and bulldozed Bishop with a lariat and then a T-Bone suplex. Hook followed up with a Northern Lights Suplex to Bishop Kaun.
Gates of Agony regained momentum, but Hook put Kaun in Red Rum. Jericho dropkicked Toa and then Kuan tapped out to Hook’s Red Rum submission.
“For their first match together, boy, did they work well together,” said Tony Schiavone.
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kyle O’Reilly when he was interrupted by the Undisputed Kingdom!
Roderick Strong: “Kyle! You know how much respect I have for you. And if you want to do this on your own, do it on your own.”
Kyle: “Yeah, this Saturday, first match back, and I’m going to do it on my own.”
Riho was getting warmed up backstage ahead of her match against Willow when Mercedes walked by and introduced herself.
Mercedes: “I look forward to your match tonight.”
Renee Paquette interviewed FTW Champion HOOK and Chris Jericho backstage!
Jericho said that Hook showed him that he had future World champion written all over him.
Jericho: “But as much as I learned in the ring standing next to you, I still need to learn more. I need to know what it’s like standing in the ring across from you. That’s why next week on Dynamite, live from Toronto, I’m challenging you, ‘Lionheart’ Chris Jericho against HOOK in AEW for the first time ever. What do you say?”
HOOK: “Let’s do it.”
Main Event Time!
Willow Nightingale (accompanied by Stokely Hathaway & Kris Statlander) vs. Riho!
Willow connected with a running cross body. Riho rocked Willow with a running dropkick and then clocked Willow with a knee strike. Willow walloped Riho with a dropkick off the turnbuckles!
Riho hit a diving cross body on Willow for a near fall. Riho followed up with a Northern Lights suplex, but Willow kicked out at the two-count!
“Willow hit very hard that time,” said Tony Schiavone.
Riho climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for the diving double foot stomp, but Willow dodged it! Willow sent Riho flying with a running pounce! Willow tried for a senton off the apron, but Riho moved, sending Willow crashing on the arena floor! Riho ran off the apron and walloped Willow with the diving foot stomp!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Riho drilled Willow with a dragon suplex on the apron! Riho hit the double foot stomp again, but this time Willow kicked out at the two-count. Willow avoided a running knee strike from Riho. Willow landed a big lariat. Willow smashed Riho with the gut wrench doctor bomb and scored the pin fall victory!
After the match, the lights in the arena went dark!
When the lights came back on, TBS Champion Julia Hart was standing in the aisle! Skye Blue ambushed Willow, chop blocking her leg. Julia and Skye double teamed Willow in the ring! Skye held back Willow while Julia was about to crack Willow in the head with the TBS title when Mercedes Moné’s music hit!
Skye Blue charged up the ramp at Mercedes and Mercedes clocked her! Mercedes entered the ring and planted Julia!
“Mercedes Moné, wow, what a difference maker here tonight,” said Excalibur.
Mercedes turned her attention to Willow, and they smiled at each other, with Willow raising Mercedes’ arm.
“Great respect shown by Willow towards the CEO Mercedes Moné,” said Excalibur.
“There’s never been a better time to be a fan of AEW than right now!” added Tony Schiavone.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET featuring:
-The AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Bracketology will be announced!
-Best Friends vs. Dark Order!
-AEW Women’s World Champ “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May in action!
-Trios Match: Undisputed Kingdom vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti!
Don’t miss AEW Collision live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON featuring:
-Kyle O’Reilly vs. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
-& Much more!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON, featuring:
– “Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!
-We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné!
-AEW Continental Crown Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!
– Christian Cage (c.) vs. “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship in an I Quit Match!
After a tremendous night of action on RAMPAGE, All Elite Wrestling continues on a hot streak this Saturday night with an all-new COLLISION! Emanating from Gas South Arena in Gwinnett County, AEW presents two hours of hard-hitting professional wrestling action with Bryan Danielson taking on Shane Taylor, the new Elite of The Young Bucks and “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada in action, Chris Jericho taking on AAA’s Titan, and Toni Storm’s 1st ever Toni Awards! Plus Mark Briscoe will team up with Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett for an Atlanta Street Fight against The House of Black, and Mariah May will step back into competition after her performance as Toni Storm last Sunday night!
The night gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and the AEW faithful can get prepped for it by visiting the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s other social media platforms, for highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then join us next Wednesday evening in Boston for DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS coming to you from the TD Garden, and already looking to be another of the biggest nights in AEW’s television history!
ATLANTA STREET FIGHT…
Mark Briscoe, Jay Lethal, & Jeff Jarrett vs.
The House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews, & Malakai Black)
Well, a week ago we all watched as Mark Briscoe attempted to use pyro to set fire to Buddy Matthews, and this week it looks like the situation is about to get even hotter because The House of Black is looking to burn Mark Briscoe’s world down around him! Yet in situations such as these, though he may seem like a fraying rope, Mark Briscoe is actually in his happy place…
Though will he be happy with Jeff Jarrett standing by his side? Can he put aside his distrust of Double J long enough to focus on the fight with The House? Can Mark take the trust he has in Jay Lethal, a man he has called one of his best friends, and apply it to Jarrett? If he can’t, then Mark’s trio is doomed for failure against the onslaught of Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Malakai Black, but if Mark, Lethal, and Double J can get it together, they just might be able to burn The House down to its foundation!
THE NEW ELITE IN ACTION!
There had been a buzz around the wrestling landscape that “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada could be making his way to All Elite Wrestling on a more permanent basis. Sure he’d dipped his toes in the elite waters with the FORBIDDEN DOOR events, and even stepped into the DYNAMITE ring to team up with Orange Cassidy, but it wasn’t until this past Wednesday night that the world learned that Okada was indeed All Elite!
Unfortunately, as Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston learned the hard way, Okada wasn’t just All Elite, he was now also one of The Elite. That’s right, Okada came to AEW from NJPW and immediately signed on the dotted line with The EVP’s, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson! Now there’s a great deal of history between the three men dating back to 2010 with Okada’s first forays into the United States, as well as their engagements in NJPW several years later, but it was still quite a shock to see “The Rainmaker” standing over the fallen Kingston with those two individuals rather than fighting them at Kingston’s side.
Well this Saturday night on COLLISION it won’t be a sneak attack putting The Young Bucks and Okada together, it will be the first Trios match together for this new iteration of The Elite, and whoever steps into the ring across from them best be wary. Matthew and Nicholas are none too happy after the events of REVOLUTION 2024, and though the addition of Okada may have boosted their spirits, they are still looking for some poor unfortunate souls to take out their frustration.
ONE-ON-ONE…
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. Titan
He has been the CMLL World Welterweight Champion for over 1,500 days, he is a member of Los Ingobernables de Japon in NJPW, and is one of the most exciting high-flyers in Lucha Libre today! He is Titan (pronounced Tee-tan), and this Saturday night he makes his AEW debut on COLLISION against “Lionheart” Chris Jericho!
As the original AEW World Champion, Jericho is one of the standard bearers, but his career has deep roots in Mexico with CMLL, including fighting a different man competing under the Titan name in his very first match. It’s where “Lionheart” was born as “Corazon de Leon”, and where Jericho learned much of the skills that bolstered him to international stardom in the first place.
As was witnessed recently when Jericho took on Atlantis Jr., the involvement of CMLL in All Elite Wrestling has given “The Ocho” a new fire, a new outlet to focus his energies towards, though he is being pulled in multiple directions given his engagement with HOOK, and his perpetual issues with The Don Callis Family. If Jericho wants to have the same success with Titan that he had with Atlantis Jr, he better have his head in this particular game on COLLISION, or the CMLL World Welterweight Champion is going to add “Corazon de Leon” to the list of his fallen opponents!
SINGLES MATCH…
“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Taylor
This past Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, the professional wrestling world witnessed a moment they’d been longing to see for years when “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson stood in the ring with “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay. It was a moment that seemingly would never happen, but then Ospreay officially signed on with All Elite Wrestling and it became a distinct possibility, though not one fans expected to see come together so quickly! Bryan’s intent in spoiling Ospreay’s moment at the end of DYNAMITE was clear, he wants a fight, but until we hear from the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion we can only assume he feels the same.
But that’s not the issue at hand, at least not for Bryan Danielson, his issue is the fight looming on Saturday night with Shane Taylor! Hopefully Bryan was paying attention when his BCC mate Jon Moxley went to war with Taylor several weeks ago, hopefully Bryan uses Moxley as a resource to learn what Shane T brings to the table, because what Danielson is going to get is a hellacious fight. Danielson has been hit by the hardest strikers in the world throughout his career, but he’s never been hit by the former ROH World TV Champion, and there are few men who can compare. After the war Bryan went through at REVOLUTION 2024 with Eddie Kingston, is he up to the task?
LUCHA LIBRE!
Mistico vs. Angelico
AEW fans have gotten familiar with Mistico since his epic clash with Rocky Romero last October first introduced CMLL to All Elite Wrestling while his bout with Matt Sydal, as well as the 8-Man tag that preceded it, helped further showcase his skills. This Saturday night on COLLISION, the current World Historic Middleweight Champion will return to AEW for a bout with a man with whom he shared the AAA ring a handful of times between 2014 and 2015: Angelico!
Between two Three Way tags, one being a AAA World Tag Title bout, and a Trios bout, Angelico’s teams hold one victory over Mistico’s, while Mistico’s hold none over Angelico’s, but this is a solo affair, and in that vein of professional wrestling Mistico has excelled. He is one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet, the most famous Luchador in modern wrestling, a man who changed the game for man, and now he’s back in All Elite Wrestling to give Angelico the toughest test of his AEW career! If Angelico can pull out a victory, it will be the biggest one of his career, the biggest moment of his professional wrestling career, and it will put Angelico on the map worldwide!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Mariah May vs. Trish Adora
She finally got it! After months of desperately searching for the approval of AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, Mariah May finally got a bit of approval from her idol, she just had to cosplay as Toni Storm in order to get what she craved. Clearly the how of it all was of no matter to Mariah, all that mattered is it happened, and that just leaves one to wonder if this Saturday night on COLLISION, when Mariah is back in action against The Infantry’s Trish Adora, will she continue to dress the part of old Toni Storm, or if May will return to her own style? Whichever it may be, her head best be in the game otherwise the hard-hitting Adora is going to knock it off Mariah’s shoulders first chance she gets!
And speaking of “Timeless” Toni Storm…
1ST EVER TONI AWARDS…
After her victory at REVOLUTION 2024, it seems like AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm is intending to present herself with a Toni (with an “I” for legal purposes) Award for her performance! Mind you, it was clear as day to the viewing audience that Toni tapped out to Deonna Purrazzo during the course of the match, but the official missed the moment and thus it was not “The Virtuosa” who left Greensboro as new champion. So is Toni Storm actually deserving of an award? She certainly seems to believe so, and we will see if she actually celebrates herself this Saturday night on COLLISION!
COLLISION begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT this Saturday night on TNT, featuring Danielson versus Taylor, an Atlanta Street Fight, Mariah May, The Toni Awards, and more, so before the first bell, visit the official AEW YouTube channel, plus AEW’s other social media sites, to catch up on highlights from Wednesday’s DYNAMITE, Friday’s RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then meet us in Beantown next Wednesday for DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS at the TD Garden with Wardlow challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship, Willow Nightingale versus Riho, and so much more!
Tonight’s season premiere episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tony Schiavone kicked off the show in the ring to interview Swerve Strickland!
Swerve: “What’s Swerve’s house without the keys? I couldn’t get the job done this past Sunday. You know who did? Samoa Joe did. Here I stand, no gold around my waist. Part of me think it’s karma for all the bad things I’ve done in AEW. Maybe I’m paying for it now.
“Maybe I’m not supposed to be a champion here. Maybe I’m supposed to be a role player and be the guy that gets close enough but can’t quite grasp it, and I’ve gotta settle for this. I’m going to tell you all a little something. Something about Sunday felt different. Something about Revolution felt very different. It felt like people were truly rooting for me for the first time. It felt like y’all wanted me to win and make history.
“The fact remains nothing changes from this point on. Samoa Joe, whether you’re still holding the World championship or not, I’m coming for you. That I promise!”
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe came down to the ring!
Samoa Joe: “You know for a man who I beat down the other day, you sure are talking funny. Making a lot of promises to these good people that you will never keep. In fact, I came out here to give us a reality check. Here we are in Swerve’s House. But unfortunately, your house exists in my world. So instead of coming out here and disappointing these people about how you’re almost the champion, I thought I’d come out here and let them gaze upon an actual World Champion.”
Swerve: “Don’t talk your back on me, Joe. You’re talking real spicy. How about you put this title on the line tonight? Actually, I don’t want to wait until tonight. How about we do this right now?”
The Undisputed Kingdom’s music interrupted Swerve, and the Undisputed Kingdom rolled out onto the ramp!
Adam Cole: “The only story coming out of Revolution worth talking about is the Undisputed Kingdom. Roderick Strong is your new AEW International Champion. Mike Bennett and Matt Taven are still the greatest ROH Tag Champions of all time. And then there’s Swerve and Samoa Joe. Joe, you’re only champion because we allowed it to happen. And Swerve, in six months, no one will give a damn about you. You’re not going to win the World championship, but I’ll tell you who is: Wardlow.”
Swerve: “It’s funny you’re telling me I need to get to the back of the line. How many times did you fail, yet you got opportunity after opportunity.”
Adam Cole: You think you’re funny? How about this? The greatest ROH Tag Champions of all time against you and Samoa Joe next week?”
Swerve: “Why wait until next week?”
Adam Cole: “The match is happening next week!”
Tony Schiavone: “Pardon me. I heard from Tony Khan. The match is happening right now.”
ROH World Tag Team Champions Mike Bennett & Matt Taven
vs.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland!
Samoa Joe booted Taven in the head and flattened him with a senton for a near fall. Samoa Joe hit Taven with a headbutt. Bennett grabbed a blind tag and began to strike Samoa Joe after a swift kick from Matt Taven.
Strickland tagged himself in and cleaned house on Taven and Bennett. Swerve blasted Bennett with a brain buster! Swerve climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Taven cut him off. Swerve shoved Taven away and nailed Taven with the double foot stomp and followed up with the House Call! Swerve planted Taven and scored the pin!
“No help from Joe, Swerve did it on his own, pretty much,” said Taz.
Wardlow walked down the ramp. Swerve was distracted by him, and while his back was turned, Samoa Joe locked Swerve in a sleeper.
“Joe just used Strickland as an example to Wardlow,” said Taz.
And it was made official for next week on Dynamite: Big Business—it’ll be AEW World Champion Samoa Joe placing his title on the line against Wardlow!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview FTW Champion HOOK!
Chris Jericho interrupted Renee.
Jericho: “You know Hook, the first match I worked as “Lionheart” Chris Jericho in this country was against your father. He suplexed me on my head. I’ve never forgotten that. But I’ve always felt like I had a little connection to Taz because of it, which made me feel like I have a little connection to you. But I never really respected you, Hook, until you dumped me on my head this past Sunday at Revolution. And when I was in the ring with you, I realized maybe you are the real deal. So, congrats on that.”
Jericho fist bumped Hook and smiled.
Next: A huge announcement from AEW EVPs The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson!
Nicholas: “Actually we have two huge announcements.”
Matthew: “How about we make those announcements in the ring tonight?”
FTW Championship Match!
HOOK (c.) vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage!
Cage cracked Hook with a thrust kick. Cage followed up with a suplex and then a running elbow to Hook in the corner. Cage sent Hook flying with a belly to belly suplex. Cage pulled a chair from beneath the ring and wedged it into the corner. Hook blasted Cage in the face with a fire extinguisher. Hook clocked Cage in the head with a trash can lid.
Hook jumped off the ring steps, but Cage caught Hook and powerslammed Hook on the arena floor. Cage charged at Hook, but Hook dodged him, sending Cage crashing through the barricade.
Back in the ring, Hook countered an F5 and spiked Cage with a DDT on a steel chair! Hook nailed Cage with a T-bone suplex! Hook smashed a trash can onto Cage and then suplexed Cage onto a steel guardrail for a near fall!
Brian Cage escaped the Red Rum. Cage smacked Hook with an F5 onto a chair. Brian Cage took a bag and emptied it, spilling thumbtacks onto the ring. Hook cracked a kendo stick across Cage’s back and then suplexed Cage into the thumbtacks!
Hook clubbed Cage. Hook applied the Red Rum, but Cage sat back into the thumbtacks! Hook wouldn’t let go, despite being in the thumb tacks, and put Brian Cage to sleep! Hook won via ref stoppage!
Out of nowhere, The Gates of Agony ambushed Hook! Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona stomped Hook!
Chris Jericho sprinted to the ring with his baseball bat, coming to the aid of Hook, and cleared the ring of the Gates of Agony!
It was announced that across the coming weeks, the AEW World Tag Team Championships will be decided in a tournament!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy, Trent, and Chuck Taylor!
Renee: “What’s next for you Orange?”
Orange: “Well, you know, it’s going to be the same thing I always do. And that’s to do what ever I can to fill up my backpack up with another championship.”
Renee: “Let’s talk about these new vacated AEW World championships. Trent and Chuck, are you guys going to be in the tournament?”
Chuck: “Renee, it is high time that the Best Friends win the big one, but unfortunately, the boys aren’t back in town. I’m not cleared, my ankle is still hurt. But I think these two should enter that dang tournament and win the whole dang thing. And guess what? Friday night on Rampage, you guys got your first match.”
Trent: “Boys, it’s time to win the big one.”
Killswitch (with the Patriarch) vs. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard!
TNT Champion Christian Cage joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Menard charged at Killswitch, not wasting anytime, throwing forearms at Killswitch. Menard ran into Killswitch, but Killswitch countered with a chokeslam! Killswitch clobbered Menard with a lariat to the back of the neck and then pinned him!
“Killswitch just made his father very, very proud,” said Christian Cage.
Killswitch continued his onslaught after the match, but Daniel Garcia ran to the ring to even up the odds! Garcia pummeled Killswitch in the corner! Nick Wayne jumped into the ring, but Garcia backed him off with strikes. Garcia turned around and was wiped out by a massive boot from Killswitch! Nick Wayne walloped Garcia with Wayne’s World!
“There’s nothing Nick Wayne can’t do under my guidance,” said Christian Cage.
Christian Cage and the Patriarchy celebrated on the ramp until “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland ran up from behind and attacked Killswitch with a steel chair! Copeland choked out Nick Wayne and then set his sights on Christian Cage, but Christian began to back away. Mother Wayne went to strike Copeland with a low blow, but Copeland blocked it! Copeland charged after Christian Cage, but Cage retreated! Adam Copeland chased Christian Cage through the arena and then backstage! Christian Cage jumped into someone’s SUV, highjacked it, and drove away!
Adam Copeland looked into the camera.
Copeland: “I know you’re going to see this. This has to end where it started. Toronto, March 20th, Dynamite, Copeland-Cage 3 for the TNT Championship in an I-Quit Match!”
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle: “I hate admitting this, but for awhile there, I didn’t think that I’d ever wrestle again. But to be here now, to be cleared, to feel the love from the fans, to get a second chance at the only thing I’ve ever been good at, to get a second chance to provide for my family, I’m just grateful.
“I’ve got nothing but love and respect for the Undisputed Kingdom, but you’ve got to understand that I feel like I’ve fallen so far down the mountain, I don’t know which path to take. Now that I’ve got a second chance, I’ve just got to do it on my own.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview AEW EVPs The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson!
The Bucks kicked Schiavone out of the ring. Nicholas said the Bucks were entering themselves into the tag tournament and getting the titles back.
Matthew said they had two huge announcements. The first item pertains to two of their dear friends. Matthew said “Hangman” Adam Page crossed the line at Revolution by putting his hands on two AEW officials, so he’d be suspended from the Elite without pay. Matthew also said Kenny was fired from the Elite. Matthew was about to make another announcement until the Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston walked down to the ring!
Kingston said he was warned that if he talked crap about the Bucks, he’d be fined, so he threw a wad of cash at Nicholas Jackson and said he might as well fine him now! Matthew told Eddie not to air their grievances on national television and put his arm around Kingston. Nicholas moved closer and grabbed Kingston, but Kingston knocked Nicholas down and then struck Matthew! As Kingston and Nicholas were tussling, Matthew connected with a low blow to Kingston and then Nicholas followed up with a thrust kick!
The Bucks were about to smash Kingston with the EVP Trigger when suddenly…
“The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada’s music began to play!
Okada came down to the ring as the arena became unglued! Okada got in the ring, and it appeared he was about to help Kingston. Instead, Okada grabbed Kingston and rocked him with the rainmaker clothesline!
Nicholas: “One announcement we forgot to make! The newest member of the Elite…” The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada!
“Omega is out, Okada is in! I can’t believe it!” said Tony Schiavone.
“Is Okada targeting the Continental Crown, gesturing at his waist and pointing to Kingston? Kazuchika Okada is All Elite, and the newest member of the Elite. What a shocking turn of events,” added Excalibur.
Kris Statlander (with Stokely Hathaway) vs. Riho!
Riho dropkicked Statlander. Riho followed up with a drop toehold, but Kris got up and shoulder blocked Riho. Kris put Riho in a bear hug. Statlander nailed Riho with a vertical suplex.
Statlander pressed Riho and then planted her hard on the mat! Riho connected with a dropkick and rallied back with a big hammering elbow in the corner. Riho rocked Kris with a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall.
Riho climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Kris dodged the double stomp. Kris clubbed Riho in the face with a clothesline. Kris followed up with two more forearms. Riho was playing possum, jumped off the top rope, but Statlander rolled through. Riho slipped behind and nailed Kris with a dragon suplex for a two-count!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Stokely Hathaway placed a chain in the ring for Kris, and then jumped onto the apron to distract the ref. Statlander picked up the chain, and it was clear she was torn, but then tossed the chain away. Riho charged at Statlander, but Statlander put on the brakes and suplexed Riho!
Statlander planted Riho with a German Suplex. Statlander picked up Riho, but Riho rolled through and pinned Statlander!
“What a win! What a comeback! Statlander is shocked, she should have used the chain,” said Taz.
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm, Mariah May, and Luther!
Storm said this Saturday on Collision she’d be presenting the first ever “Toni” award.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Stokely Hathaway and Willow Nightingale!
Renee asked Stokely what went wrong out there.
Stokely: “Kris Statlander wanted to do things here way. She is my favorite. I just wish she listened to those who love her the most.”
Renee: “I have good news I’ve just been informed. Next week on Dynamite: Big Business, you will be going one on one with Riho.”
Willow: “Stokely, I know what you were trying to do out there, but next week we have to do things my way. I know I can beat Riho, the former Women’s Champion. And Julia Hart, I’ve got my sights set on you and the TBS Championship. I am going to become the face of TBS, I just have to get through Riho first.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Darby Allin ahead of his match against “Switchblade” Jay White at Dynamite: Big Business!
Tony asked Darby what it would be like without Sting.
Darby: “I’m lacerated, I’m beat up, I’m tired. Next week at Big Business I’ve got a match against Jay White. And then on March 27th, I’m flying to go climb Mount Everest. There is no guarantee that I’m going to come back alive from Mount Everest. I just want to take this moment to thank every fan and AEW for giving me this dream. And if next week is my last match, I’m going to go out fighting for my life! And as for this AEW World Tag championship, everybody asks me why I don’t just find a new partner and keep defending it. Let’s get serious here, Tony. I can’t replace Sting. So next team that wins this, congratulations.”
“Darby Allin is relinquishing the AEW World Tag Team Championship,” said Excalibur.
The Bullet Club Gold came out onto the ramp!
“Switchblade” Jay White: “Whoa, I am sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt this little sob story but Darby, you’re just such an elusive guy, I didn’t know if I’d get the chance to talk to you face to face. Congrats on an amazing night at Revolution.
“You were willing to risk it all when you jumped off the top of the ladder. Our EVPs moved out of the way, and you went crashing through the glass all by yourself. Between you and me and Atlanta, I don’t really care that this is all people are talking about. There’s no one to watch after you now. But you don’t have to get in the ring with me. Trust me, nobody would think any less of you after what you’ve been through. Because Darby remember, if you do decide to get in the ring with me, there’s a lot worse things that can happen than a few scratches.
“So, I have a better idea. Instead of a match, why don’t you come back, and you can hang with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang. We have a nickname for you already: Darby Scissorhands.”
Darby: “Are you done? I’m going to get right to the point. You came to AEW and did what? I don’t believe the hype. If you think you’re as good as you say you are, you’d come out here alone. I’ll see you at Big Business on Dynamite next week!”
The House of Black were backstage with strong words for Mark Briscoe!
They said they’d fight fire with fire!
Brody King: “Just let us know if we need to dig one grave or three after Collision this Saturday.”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Mark Briscoe!
Briscoe: “Saturday night, let’s do it! Atlanta Street Fight, anything goes on Collision!”
Jay Lethal interrupted and said he had Mark’s back. And he’d bring Jeff Jarrett with him.
Main Event Time!
ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Fletcher and Ospreay hugged as the bell rang.
Fletcher hit Ospreay with a shoulder tackle. Ospreay took down Fletcher with a step up hurracanrana. Will chopped Fletcher in the chest. Fletcher reversed an Irish Whip and sent Ospreay into the turnbuckles. Will, with an injured back from Revolution, crumbled to the mat, writhing in pain.
Will rallied back and hit a tope on Fletcher. Will suplexed Fletcher for a near fall. Fletcher had the Os Cutter scouted and nailed Will with a suplex and then a brain buster! Fletcher and Ospreay exchanged chops in the center of the ring.
Fletcher tried to block the Os Cutter with a Styles Clash, but Will countered with a DDT! Fletcher ducked the Hidden Blade and countered with Snake Eyes into the middle turnbuckle! Ospreay staggered Fletcher with a heel kick and then blasted Fletcher with an Os Cutter on the apron!
Ospreay countered a tombstone piledriver with a poison rana to Fletcher! Ospreay climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Fletcher knocked Will down. Fletcher attempted an avalanche dragon suplex, but Will landed on his feet! Will power bombed Fletcher but Fletcher kicked out at the two-count! Ospreay decimated Fletcher with an avalanche poison rana! Ospreay caught Fletcher with a Spanish Fly and then an Os Cutter, but Kyle kicked out!
“How tough is Kyle Fletcher?” asked Excalibur.
“Double tough,” replied Don Callis.
Ospreay finished off Fletcher with the Hidden Blade and pinned Fletcher!
After the match, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson came down to the ring!
Danielson smiled at Fletcher and the two had a stare down.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: Big Business on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
In the aftermath of REVOLUTION 2024 and “The Icon” Sting’s amazing final match, All Elite Wrestling returns to the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA for TWO huge nights of professional wrestling starting on March 6th with DYNAMITE! With Sting going out undefeated, and as ½ of the AEW World Tag Team Champions, what does the future of those titles look like? During the REVOLUTION Media Scrum AEW GM Tony Khan mentioned holding a tournament to crown new champions, so what shape will that take? And knowing that we are now on the road to DYNASTY 2024 on April 21st in St. Louis, how will the AEW locker room step up for that pay-per-view extravaganza coming to the Chaifetz Arena Do not miss out on this Wednesday’s DYNAMITE as the future of AEW takes shape!
DYNAMITE begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of REVOLUTION 2024, DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more! Then join us this Thursday night right back at Gas South for a night of COLLISION!
SINGLES MATCH…
ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay
What a fight Will Ospreay had on Sunday night at REVOLUTION 2024! He and Konosuke Takeshita, despite both being Don Callis Family members, decimated one another in hopes of achieving victory, but ultimately the decision went to “The Aerial Assassin”. So taxing was the battle that during the post-PPV media scrum AEW GM Tony Khan noted that Ospreay might not be medically cleared to compete in this contest with Kyle Fletcher that was announced during the REVOLUTION broadcast. Thankfully for all parties involved, but primarily for the health of Ospreay, he was cleared to compete and this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, we will witness two friends collide in their first singles match since October 2020!
The in-ring relationship between Fletcher and Ospreay dates back to December 2018 and battles over the PROGRESS Tag Team Championships, including a near 45-minute Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match won by Aussie Open of Fletcher and Mark Davis. The two would also unite Melbourne City Wrestling in Australia to challenge for that company’s tag team championship, as well as go head-to-head over RevPro’s Undisputed British Heavyweight Title held by Ospreay. Their fights as foes, and their time as allies, led Ospreay to recruit Aussie Open to his United Empire group in NJPW, and that collective proved a most formidable force in New Japan, RevPro, OTT, and here in AEW where they took part in the inaugural tournament to crown the first AEW World Trios Champions.
Though it’s been many months since Fletcher and Ospreay occupied the same space, their friendship has endured, but now that they’re both under the AEW umbrella, and in the Callis Family, the sky is the limit on what they could accomplish together! But before that possibility becomes a reality, the current ROH World Television Champion and the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion are going to go one-on-one! For Ospreay this will mark his first match on DYNAMITE since 8/31/22, and his first singles bout on AEW’s flagship since 6/15/22, so he’s going to be coming in to make a statement to the fans watching around the world as well everyone in the AEW locker room. For Fletcher this also carries the potential for a statement victory, and as ROH World TV Champion (a title Ospreay himself held for 2 days in 2016) would be a huge bolster to his profile heading towards SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2024 in Philadelphia.
One question need be asked though; how many intrafamilial fights can The Don Callis Family withstand?
ONE-ON-ONE…
Former TBS Champion Kris Statlander vs. Former Women’s World Champion Riho
It’s been over four years since the last time Kris Statlander and Riho met inside the AEW ring for a one-on-one match, long before the creation of the TBS Championship, and just three months into Riho’s reign as the first AEW Women’s World Champion. Unfortunately for Riho, it also turned out to be her final successful title defense as Nyla Rose would bring her reign crashing to an end one month later.
Stat and Riho would compete against one another in a Four Way in March 2020, and be partners in a pair of Trios match in 2021, but have not shared a ring since the 11/16/21 edition of DARK, but with Riho’s return to AEW competition last Friday night on RAMPAGE, and Kris’s tag team victory on the REVOLUTION 2024: ZERO HOUR, the two will meet once more this Wednesday night!
It’s clear from Stokely’s post-match comments that championships are the ultimate goal of Statlander and Willow Nightingale, and scoring a victory over the first-ever Women’s World Champion would be a huge boost for Statlander in that regards, just as a win over the former TBS Champ would be a boon to Riho’s return, after all she’s never challenged for the championship currently around the waist of Julia Hart. As for Stat, she hasn’t yet received a rematch for the TBS Championship she wasn’t actually beaten for, nor has she challenged for the AEW Women’s World Title since ALL OUT 2021 during Dr. Britt Baker’s reign, so this is going to be a hotly contested battle between two women looking to become contenders!
THE FUTURE OF THE TAG TEAM TITLES?
Though it was quite the unforgettable, emotional, historic night this past Sunday at REVOLUTION 2024 as All Elite Wrestling honored the iconic career of Sting, one thing that cannot go unmentioned is the fact that he and Darby Allin ended the night still the reigning AEW World Tag Team Champions. It was a milestone for Sting to retire undefeated in AEW, and an even greater accomplishment to do so with the championship around his waist, but with his retirement from competition, and Darby with no plans to continue on as tag team without Sting, the AEW World Tag Team Championship was declared vacant by AEW GM Tony Khan during the post-PPV Media Scrum. In addition, Tony Khan also made mention of a tournament being held to crown new champions, something akin to AEW’s own March Madness brackets, and that’s already led to several AEW tag teams throwing their names into the hats.
So what will this tournament look like? How will the future of the AEW World Tag Team Championship titles take shape? Only time will tell, but it is a question on the lips of teams around the world who love nothing more than to be the ones to claim the vacant crown as their own! Also, given their defeat in Sunday night’s World Tag Team Championship match, one can’t help but wonder if the above post from The Young Bucks has anything to do with this situation…
FTW CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
HOOK(c) vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage
It’s been building for weeks now, reaching a fever pitch during the All-Star 8-Man Scramble Sunday night, and finally on Wednesday night, “The Machine” Brian Cage will clash with FTW Champion HOOK with the title on the line! Given the history of the two men under the Team Taz banner, not to mention the sheer fact that HOOK’s father was the one who not only brought Cage to AEW but also bequeathed him the FTW Championship in the first place, this is going to be a heated affair.
In addition to the REVOLUTION 2024 Scramble, these two competitors have been on opposing sides of a pair of multi-man matches in 2024 with Brian Cage’s side winning both bouts, but this will mark their first-ever singles match. Between his two reigns with the title, HOOK has been FTW Champion for 549 out of the last 588 days, with his first reign comprising 357 of those days, leaving him twenty days shy of surpassing Cage’s tenure as champion, and twenty-one shy of Ricky Starks’ record of 378.
Can HOOK make it past “The Machine” this Wednesday on DYNAMITE and continue the long trek towards breaking the records set by his former Team Taz allies? Or will Brian Cage, with the support of Prince Nana and The Mogul Embassy, begin a second reign of domination as FTW Champion?
IS THE UNDISPUTED AGE UPON US?
Coming out of REVOLUTION 2024 there is one thing for certain, The Undisputed Kingdom is on top of the world! Not only did Roderick Strong dethrone 2-Time AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy to claim that title as his own, but Wardlow also dominated in the All-Star 8-Man Scramble match to earn a future AEW World Championship match with Samoa Joe. Between Strong and Taven/Bennett, The UK already has two championships in their camp, with the potential for a third down the line, and thus are clearly riding high based on the words shared in the video above. Yet an unknown variable was inserted into the mix this past Sunday night when Kyle O’Reilly made his long-awaited return to All Elite Wrestling following Strong’s victory over OC! For a moment it seemed like Kyle would fight his friends, then like he would join their ranks, but ultimately Kyle simply whispered something into Roderick’s ear before walking away from the ring with eyes full of emotion.
While The Undisputed Kingdom has much to celebrate, there are many questions to be asked, such as what does their future hold as it pertains to Kyle O’Reilly and how long will Wardlow have to wait for his shot at AEW World Champion Samoa Joe? Tune in this Wednesday night to DYNAMITE to see how it all unfolds for O’Reilly, Adam Cole, new AEW International Champion Roderick Strong, ROH World Tag Champions Taven & Bennett, and new #1 Contender Wardlow!
DYNAMITE comes your way at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, with ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher taking on Will Ospreay, former TBS Champion Kris Statlander battling the original Women’s World Champion Riho, and plenty more on tap! Make a point to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from REVOLUTION 2024, as well as last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more! Then join us this Thursday night right back at Gas South for a night of COLLISION!
Welcome to the beginning of the end; the first night in the final week for the legendary in-ring career of “The Icon” Sting! Fans around the world have been dreading this week since October 18th when the man first told us all about his intentions to draw the curtain with REVOLUTION 2024, and now we are only a matter of days away from that monumental night. But there is still a good deal of business to conduct in these next several days, and it begins this Wednesday night in Huntsville, AL!
The last time AEW was in Huntsville was as part of the HOUSE RULES tour last June, but it’s been since February 5, 2020 that this magnificent venue has hosted AEW’s flagship program! So for the final night of live action before REVOLUTION 2024, we make our return to the Von Braun Center for Sting’s final DYNAMITE! Plus, ahead of their respective matches on Sunday night, The Blackpool Combat Club will meet FTR and Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston in Trios action PLUS “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay makes his first appearance on DYNAMITE as an official member of the AEW locker room!
DYNAMITE gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so swing by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then join us this Sunday night for REVOLUTION 2024 for AEW’s first pay-per-view of the year, and Sting’s final professional wrestling match!
We are just four days away from REVOLUTION 2024 where FTR will clash with The Blackpool Combat Club and Bryan Danielson is set to challenge Eddie Kingston for the Continental Crown, but before that takes places, this two matches will merge into one for a huge Trios battle!
Last Saturday night we witnessed Bryan Danielson kick Jun Akiyama in the groin after the multi-time World Champion slapped “The American Dragon” across the face in response to Bryan disrespecting Eddie Kingston yet again. The brawl that erupted between Kingston and Bryan brought Claudio to the ring first, but he was followed quickly by Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, sending the two BCC members scurrying, but also forcing the hand of AEW GM Tony Khan to sign this Trios bout before COLLISION even went off the air!
This is one last chance to get an advantage before heading to Greensboro on Sunday, one last match before their respective contests to exert a level of dominance over your foe, and that is such an important aspect of what’s going on between these six men. For the FTR/BCC dynamic, there is a level of respect between the four men for their abilities inside the squared circle, but each team wants to prove themselves the better, and that supersedes all else. Cash or Dax getting the fall on Mox or Claudio heading into Sunday would be a huge statement, as would vice versa, especially after their frustrating time limit draw.
Now Bryan and Eddie is a vastly different story; just listen to the words Danielson spoke prior to his match with Jun Akiyama. There is no respect there flowing from “The American Dragon” to “The Mad King”, not one iota of it, conversely if you listen to the commentary Eddie provided during the match, he has a great deal of respect for Bryan Danielson’s abilities inside that ring. Kingston recognizes that Bryan is one of the greatest competitors to ever lace up a pair of boots, but what Eddie can’t abide is the judgment he feels Danielson has dumped on him over the last twenty years. It seems nothing Kingston does will ever change Bryan’s feelings, but what he can do is pin Bryan’s shoulders to the mat on Wednesday in this Trios match before they head into the fifth singles match of their careers on Sunday. It would serve Bryan right to suffer that fate after his actions on Saturday, but that being said, what would it do to Eddie to take the “L” before the championship fight at REVOLUTION 2024?
This is it; this Wednesday night, 1,183 days since his first appearance at WINTER IS COMING 2020, “The Icon” Sting will make his final appearance on DYNAMITE live from Huntsville, AL and the Von Braun Center! It’s been a decade since the last time Sting set foot in this venue, and nearly thirty-six since his first time when he stepped inside an enclosed Steel Cage alongside Lex Luger, Nikita Koloff, and The Road Warriors to battle The Four Horsemen. Huntsville is a city that has witnessed Sting fight for championships, both singles and tag team, as well as go to battle against men like the late Bam Bam Bigelow and Kurt Angle.
Now, with the AEW World Tag Team Championship around his waist and partner Darby Allin at his side, Sting will return to Huntsville one last time for his final DYNAMITE appearance! It’s sure to be a special moment for the champions, but one has to wonder if EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson will let the moment remain special or if they will attempt to ruin this one as they ruined Darby and Sting’s championship victory several weeks ago!
A LEGACY…
Chris Jericho vs. Atlantis Jr.
It has been almost thirty years since the last time Chris Jericho, then known as Corazon de Leon, faced CMLL legend Atlantis in singles competition. It was on 4/15/94 that Jericho fell to Atlantis in the first round of a one night Gran Prix tournament, but those matches against one another were not their norm. In fact, a great many matches that took place during Jericho’s CMLL tenure actually found him and Atlantis on the same team, often in trios with a rotating cast as their third. The last time on record that Atlantis and Chris Jericho united was September 10, 1995, some three years before Atlantis Jr. was even born, but this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, there will be somewhat of a reunion!
Atlantis Jr, the older of Atlantis’ two wrestling sons, was born in 1998, first began training for his in-ring career at the tender age of 12, and Atlantis Jr. has stated that his first-ever match took place in 2017. During the course of these last seven years, Atlantis Jr. has competed not only in CMLL, but also for NJPW STRONG as well as NJPW proper, not to mention numerous independent promotions around Mexico and in the United States. He currently reigns as the World Historic Light Heavyweight Champion, and up until February 5th was 1/3 of the CMLL World Trios Champions with Star Jr. and Volador Jr.
This Wednesday night, thanks to the partnership between CMLL and AEW, Atlantis Jr will make his way to All Elite Wrestling for the first time, and take on a man quite well known to his family in Chris Jericho; not only that, but Atlantis himself will be in his son’s corner for this bout against his former tag team partner! Now Jericho has been out of action since Konosuke Takeshita beat him back on February 7th while Atlantis Jr. is only recently returned from the CMLL/NJPW joint FANTASICA MANIA 2024 tour in Japan, and coming off a 2/3 Falls Victory on CMLL’s February 26th event in Mexico. Will those factors play a role in the outcome of this generational clash? Will Don Callis and his “family” find a way to insert themselves into Jericho’s life once more for the sole purpose of creating chaos? There are many questions that swirl around this legacy match, but putting those aside, this will be a piece of history watching Atlantis and Atlantis Jr come to AEW for a fight with El Corazon de Leon!
GRUDGE MATCH…
Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue
On the October 14th edition of COLLISION, Skye Blue stepped up to challenge Kris Statlander for the TBS Championship but came up short in her title bid. After the pinfall, the defending champion attempted to shake the hand of her opponent, at the time her friend, and Skye refused the gesture. Willow Nightingale came down to the ring to quell the situation, but it was clear that night something deeper was going on with Skye.
Fast forward to FULL GEAR 2023 and the Three Way championship match where Statlander defended against both Julia Hart and Skye Blue, only to see the title slip away when Hart stole the winning pinfall from Kris and stole her TBS Championship. The changes in Skye were evident that night when, upon her entrance, she threw down her trademark baseball cap, stomped on it, and replaced it with a crown, but the true depth of her transformation wouldn’t reveal itself until a few weeks after that pay-per-view extravaganza.
Heading towards a clash at WORLDS END, TBS Champion Julia Hart and Abadon were in the midst of a fight on the 12/16/23 edition of COLLISION when Skye Blue appeared, seemingly to help Abadon beat down Hart, but it became quickly apparent that Skye was there to assault Hart’s would-be challenger, cementing their unholy alliance at the expense of “The Living Dead Girl”.
On the 12/27 edition of DYNAMITE, Skye Blue and Kris Statlander would clash once again, no championship on the line this time, just the desire to settle a grudge after Skye turning her back on Stat and Willow Nightingale to align with Julia Hart. Unlike their first meeting which was one fair and square by Statlander, this outcome of this bout was directly influenced by the involvement of Julia Hart when she struck the former TBS Champion, leaving Kris vulnerable for Skye to hit an Avalanche Code Blue and score the pinfall victory.
Since that night the tensions between the two pairs of women have only escalated; at DYNAMITE: HOMECOMING 2024, Statlander and Willow were on the winning side of an Eight-Woman Tag that included Julia Hart and Skye Blue on the losing side, and Willow scored a victory over Skye two weeks ago on DYNAMITE, albeit with some unwanted assistance from Stokely Hathaway.
So that brings us to this Wednesday night where, in their rubber match, Kris Statlander and Skye Blue will go head-to-head one more time! During AEW’s last visit to Huntsville, Statlander successfully defended the TBS Championship over Lady Frost while Skye Blue was on the losing end of a Four Way AEW Women’s World Championship match with Toni Storm, Anna Jay, and Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. Will this Wednesday night be a repeat of that June evening for Statlander, or will Skye Blue turn around her fortunes from that summer stop at Von Braun to earn victory? And just where how will the TBS Champion, Willow Nightingale, and Stokely Hathaway play a role in the outcome?
OSPREAY IS ALL ELITE!
As Don Callis mentioned in the interview above from last week’s edition of DYNAMITE, he was personally traveling to England to scoop up Will Ospreay and bring him to the United States in advance of this Wednesday night. Though the AEW faithful have seen Ospreay on DYNAMITE before, this week in Huntsville will mark the first time the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has appeared as an official member of the AEW roster!
Ospreay has made it clear he’s coming to AEW with the intention of blowing away everything he’s already done in his impressive career, and that begins this Sunday night at REVOLUTION 2024 when he takes on fellow Callis Family member Konosuke Takeshita, but what will Ospreay have to say to the AEW faithful in advance of this highly anticipated bout? We will find out when he arrives at the Von Braun Center this Wednesday night for DYNAMITE!
ALSO:
DYNAMITE begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as the newest CONTROL CENTER! Then make it a point to join AEW on Sunday night for REVOLUTION 2024 (https://www.allelitewrestling.com/watchrevolution2024) to bear witness to Sting’s final professional wrestling match, multiple championship matches, including Samoa Joe defending his AEW World Title against both Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page, as well as the first match for Will Ospreay as an official member of the AEW locker room!
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AEW presented All In: London live from Wembley Stadium today!
It’s Sunday and you know what that means!
The Zero Hour portion of the show kicked off! Your announce team for Zero Hour was Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, & Taz!
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match!
Aussie Open (c.)—Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis
vs.
Better Than You BayBay—AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole!
Aussie Open blindsided Cole and MJF at the start of the match. They bashed Cole and MJF with the collider outside the ring!
Davis planted MJF and splashed him for a two count. Fletcher whipped Cole into the steel guardrail. MJF was looking for the kangaroo kick, but Davis clipped him from behind. Cole made the tag and kicked Davis in the jaw, and then dished one out to Fletcher.
Fletcher charged at Cole and Cole superkicked him. MJF and Cole went for the double clothesline, but Davis pulled Fletcher out of the ring. Aussie Open pulled out Cole and swarmed him before MJF could do his dive. Aussie Open nailed MJF with the Aussie Arrow for a near fall.
MJF connected with the kangaroo kick on Aussie Open! MJF and Cole hit the double clothesline on Kyle Fletcher and Cole pinned Fletcher!
Your new ROH World Tag Team Champions…Better Than You BayBay!
Seven-Time Women’s World Champion Mercedes Mone was shown watching the action in the stadium seats!
Jim Ross joined the broadcast booth for the second half of Zero Hour!
FTW Championship Match!
Jack Perry (c.) vs. HOOK!
Jack Perry arrived in a limo. Jack Perry exited the vehicle and stood on the roof, holding up his FTW Championship. Hook walked up the ramp and the two began to brawl! Hook hurled Jack Perry across the hood of the vehicle. Hook sent Jack Perry hard into the open door of the limo. Jack Perry suplexed Hook on top of the car!
Jack Perry channeled RVD and used a Rolling Thunder on Hook on the hood of the car. Hook planted Perry with a fisherman buster suplex onto the front windshield! Jack Perry fired back with a draping DDT on Hook. Jack Perry teased going Coast-to-Coast but then gave the packed stadium the double middle fingers instead.
Perry crunched Hook with three German Suplexes. Hook rallied back with a German Suplex of his own for a near fall. He hit a second German on Perry! Hook T-boned Perry into the turnbuckles! Perry nailed Hook with a Tiger Driver for a two-count. Hook dodged a moonsault. Hook bashed Perry with a trashcan on the skull. Hook locked in Red Rum and forced Jack Perry to tap out!
Your new FTW Champion…HOOK!
Nigel McGuinness joined the broadcast booth for the next match.
The broadcast team to start the pay-per-view portion of the event was Excalibur, Jim Ross, and Nigel McGuinness.
“Real World Championship” Match!
CM Punk (c.) vs. Samoa Joe!
Samoa Joe and CM Punk locked up, with Joe muscling Punk into the turnbuckles. Punk smiled as he put Joe in a headlock. Samoa Joe slid out of the ring and chopped at Punk. Back in the ring, Samoa Joe rattled CM Punk with chops and a headbutt.
CM Punk dumped Samoa Joe on his head with a hurracanrana. CM Punk tried for a dive over the top rope, but Samoa Joe moved, with Punk crashing onto the arena floor. Punk tried for a hurracanrana, but Samoa Joe caught him and swung him through the bottom of the broadcast table. Punk was busted wide open! Samoa Joe targeted the laceration with jabs.
Samoa Joe clocked CM Punk with a high boot and then sat out with a senton splash for a near fall. CM Punk got in an instinctive headshot, dropping Samoa Joe with a roundhouse kick. CM Punk hit a leg drop on Samoa Joe, but Joe kicked out at the one-count. Samoa Joe powerslammed CM Punk. Samoa Joe countered an incoming knee strike with a powerbomb. Joe transitioned into an STF on Punk. CM Punk escaped and collapsed Joe with a roundhouse kick.
CM Punk paid homage to Terry Funk with a spinning toe hold on Samoa Joe. CM Punk attempted the rising knee strike again, but Samoa Joe countered with the STJoe! Samoa Joe was looking for an avalanche brainbuster, but Punk chomped down on Joe’s head. CM Punk nailed Samoa Joe with the Pepsi Plunge and pinned him!
Trios Match!
The Golden Elite—Kenny Omega, “Hangman” Adam Page, & Kota Ibushi
vs.
Bullet Club Gold—Juice Robinson, Jay White—& Konosuke Takeshita (with Don Callis)!
Don Callis joined the broadcast booth for this match. The Gunns were ringside with Bullet Club Gold.
Omega and Hangman ping ponged Juice with chops! Ibushi tagged in and Juice immediately tagged out to Jay White. Ibushi tried for a roundhouse kick, but Jay ducked it. Jay smashed Ibushi with forearms, but Ibushi didn’t budge. Ibushi blasted Switchblade with a hard kick.
Takeshita entered the fray, but Omega took him down with a hurracanrana. Omega wiped out Takeshita and Jay White with the Terminator Dive!
Ibushi and Takeshita squared off and exchanged forearms. Takeshita clocked Omega with the Takeshita line! Hangman grabbed a tag and Page cleaned house on Juice and Switchblade. Hangman hit Jay White with a dive from the top rope for a near fall. Jay White escaped a Dead Eye attempt. Ibushi tagged in and nailed White with a standing moonsault press.
Ibushi, Omega, and Page triple teamed Jay White. Ibushi planted Jay White with a German Suplex for a near fall. Jay White rallied back, spiking Ibushi with a uranage. Omega and Takeshita tagged in for their respective teams. Omega dished out snapdragon suplexes all around. Takeshita was there to wallop Omega with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall!
Omega cracked Takeshita with a poison rana! Hangman was looking for the Buckshot Lariat, but the Gunns jumped up on the apron. Page knocked them to the floor and then took them out with a moonsault. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat on Takeshita but Jay White shoved Takeshita out of the way. Switchblade sent Page flying with a half and half suplex. Ibushi rocked Jay White with a running knee strike.
Juice Robinson scored with a leg lariat on Ibushi, but Omega was there to facepalm and dunk Juice onto the mat. Takeshita decimated Ibushi with a jumping knee strike!
“Ibushi is in dire straits,” said Jim Ross.
Hangman hit Takeshita with a blindside Buckshot Lariat! Jay White was trying for a Blade Runner on Omega, but Omega escaped and countered with a massive knee strike. Omega cracked Juice with a knee strike! Omega connected with a V Trigger on Jay White! Out of nowhere, Takeshita rolled up Omega and pinned him!
“Did you see that?! We just changed the world,” said Don Callis.
AEW World Tag Team Championship Match!
FTR (c.)—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood
vs.
The Young Bucks—Matt & Nick Jackson!
The Young Bucks’ attire was an homage to Freddie Mercury.
There were dueling chants for “Let’s go Young Bucks! F-T-R!”
Nick Jackson scoop slammed Cash Wheeler. Cash answered with a slam of his own onto Matt Jackson. FTR employed quick tags, but the Bucks had a similar strategy. The Bucks sent FTR over the top rope and down onto the arena floor with stereo clotheslines. Nick connected with a corkscrew over the top onto FTR!
“The Bucks have found their groove,” said Jim Ross.
Nick Jackson stuck Cash with a senton for a near fall. Matt Jackson dropped an elbow on Cash, ala Bret Hart. Cash tried to tag out to Dax but Matt superkicked Dax, preventing the tag. Matt DDT’ed Cash. Nick Jackson springboarded but Cash fended it off with a forearm.
Dax grabbed a tag and suplexed Nick onto Matt Jackson. Dax nailed Matt with three German Suplexes. Matt answered with his locomotion Northern Lights. Matt used a stalling Northern Lights Suplex on Dax for a two-count. Dax answered with a German of his own!
“This is an outstanding match,” said Jim Ross.
Dax applied a sharpshooter to Matt. Cash put Nick in a sharpshooter on the apron! FTR spiked Nick with a piledriver, with Cash getting a near fall. Matt saved Nick from the Shatter Machine! The Bucks blasted Dax with superkicks! The Bucks spiked Dax with a piledriver, and Nick scored a near fall.
Dax dodged the BTE Trigger and then Cash speared Nick through the ropes! FTR nailed Matt with the FTR Trigger and followed up with the Shatter Machine! Matt kicked out at the two-count!
Cash attempted a springboard 450 but Matt moved out of the way! He superkicked Cash and scored a near fall! The Bucks hit Cash with the BTE Trigger, but Dax broke up the pin attempt that followed. The Bucks smacked Dax with a Shatter Machine! The Bucks rocked Cash with a second BTE Trigger, but Cash kicked out of the pin attempt!
Wembley chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
The Young Bucks were thinking Meltzer Driver, but FTR countered with the Shatter Machine on Nick, with Cash pinned Nick!
FTR offered their hands as a sign of respect to the Young Bucks, but the Young Bucks turned away and left the ring.
Stadium Stampede Match!
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & Mike Santana and Ortiz
vs.
Eddie Kingston, Penta El Zero Miedo, Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor!
Tony Schiavone joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Kingston charged straight for Claudio! Both teams paired off and brawled around the ring! Santana and Ortiz and the Best Friends traded strikes in the ring.
Moxley used a branding iron on his opponents! Penta smacked Santana and Ortiz with a steel chair! Penta dropped both of them with sling blades!
Moxley planted Penta with a cutter. He followed up with a Paradigm Shift on Penta. Moxley pulled out skewers, but Penta whacked Mox with a steel chair! Penta spiked the skewers in Moxley’s head and followed up with the Made in Japan!
Claudio and Kingston brawled throughout the concourse! Mike Santana powerbombed Penta onto two steel chairs in the ring! Moxley mauled Orange Cassidy with a fork! Orange was busted wide open! Moxley planted Orange with a brainbuster onto a steel chair! Moxley raked a barb wire board onto Trent’s face.
Ortiz cracked Trent with a kendo stick that was wrapped in barb wire. Kingston jabbed Wheeler with an umbrella in the mouth. Santana and Ortiz powerbombed Trent onto a ladder in the corner. Moxley sent Trent flying onto a plank covered in barb wire. Ortiz splashed Trent for a near fall.
Moxley spiked Trent with a piledriver onto the ring steps! Ortiz continued to attack Orange with a fork to the head!
A white minivan pulled up. It was Trent’s mom Sue! Mox kissed her and Trent began smashing the BCC with trays of Sue’s cookies! Music began to rumble, and Penta Oscuro came out through the entrance!
“Penta looking for revenge for what was done to his brother!” said Excalibur.
Penta and Santana traded stiff shots on top of the ladder and then the ladder collapsed under their combined weight. Penta went back up and smashed Santana with a sunset powerbomb through two tables!
Orange and the Best Friends swarmed Wheeler Yuta in the ring. Ortiz punished Chuck Taylor with baking sheet shots. Yuta pulled out a screwdriver and charged at Chuck Taylor, but Taylor dodged the attack. Chuck planted Wheeler with the Awful Waffle, but Claudio jumped into the ring and broke up the pin. Moxley rocketed out of the ring, through the ropes and straight at Chuck Taylor!
Claudio grabbed Orange Cassidy and put him in the Giant Swing! Trent superplexed Ortiz off the top turnbuckle and through tables on the arena floor! Cassidy clocked Claudio with three Orange Punches for a near fall! Orange wrapped tape around his fist, broke a bottle into a bucket, and then placed his fist in there. Orange pulled out his taped fist and it was covered in broken glass! Moxley dropped Orange with his right hand before Orange could do any damage to Claudio.
Orange DDT’ed Mox into the broken glass! Claudio hoisted up Orange and pulped him with a European Uppercut!
Eddie Kingston marched to the ring with a steel chair wrapped in barbed wire, like Terry Funk, battering anyone in his path! Kingston smacked Claudio repeatedly with the chair! Moxley pulled the chair out of Kingston’s hands, and they had a bloody stare down! Moxley was looking for the Paradigm Shift, but Kingston countered with a spinning backfist. Kingston tackled Moxley through a table. Orange connected with a broken glass Orange Punch to Claudio and pinned him!
“Holy smokes he won it!” said Tony Schiavone.
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Hikaru Shida (c.) vs. Saraya vs. Toni Storm vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.!
Saraya made her entrance with her family and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” playing!
Toni Storm walked to the ring with “God Save the Queen” echoing throughout Wembley.
Saraya and Storm worked in tandem to powerbomb Shida. Baker hit a neck breaker on Saraya for a near fall. Toni smashed Baker with a hip attack in the corner. Saraya and Toni began to argue as they both went to cover Baker for the pin attempt.
“Things are breaking down before our eyes,” said Excalibur.
Shida stacked the Outcasts in the corner and then charged at them with a running knee strike. Shida suplexed Saraya into Toni Storm. Baker walloped Storm with the sling blade. Saraya blindsided Baker with a thrust kick.
Saraya’s mom was in the front row and held back Baker while Storm chopped Baker. Storm charged at Baker, but Baker dodged her, and Storm inadvertently collided with Saraya’s mom! Saraya clubbed Toni with her forearm. Toni answered in kind! Toni Storm stripped off the bottom turnbuckle pad and propped Saraya against it. Storm was setting her up for the hip attack when Ruby Soho sprinted to the ring, trying to restore some order between her fellow Outcasts.
Ruby pleaded with Storm, but Storm knocked her down! Saraya got up and connected with a thrust kick to Toni Storm. Shida rocked Saraya with a missile dropkick. Baker dropped Shida with a swinging neck breaker.
“So many moving parts,” said Excalibur.
Saraya tied up Storm in a submission, but Baker was there to curb stomp Storm! Shida hammered Baker with strikes. Shida hoisted up Baker and planted her with the Falcon Arrow on Saraya! Shida crushed Saraya with a meteora for a near fall.
Shida walloped Saraya with the Katana Kick, but Baker broke up the pin attempt. Baker was trying to apply the Lock Jaw on Shida. Saraya grabbed a can of paint and sprayed it into Toni Storm’s eyes! Saraya spiked Storm with the Knightcap and pinned her!
Your new AEW Women’s World Champion…Saraya!
Coffin Match!
Darby Allin & Sting
vs.
Swerve Strickland & Christian Cage (with TNT Champion Luchasaurus)!
Sting and Christian Cage had a stare down, but Swerve attacked Sting from behind. Sting knocked down Swerve with a lariat. Darby opened the coffin and pulled out a jacket covered in thumbtacks. Sting had a cricket bat! Sting cracked Prince Nana with the cricket bat! Then he hit Swerve with it. Sting and Darby put on thumb tack jackets! Sting and Darby used Stinger Splashes and Coffin Splashes on Swerve and Prince Nana in the corner!
Swerve speared Sting and Christian speared Darby! Christian used wrist tape and tied up Darby’s arms behind his back. Swerve drove the cricket bat into Sting’s throat. Darby dodged and spear from Christian and followed up with a moonsault with his wrists still taped behind his back! Darby connected with a cannonball dive to Swerve outside the ring!
Sting spinebustered Swerve onto the coffin! Christian Cage blindsided Sting and rammed him into the steel ring steps. Christian attempted the con-chair-to on Darby, but Darby escaped. Darby blasted Christian with a shotgun dropkick. Swerve grabbed Darby but Darby countered with an over the top stunner on the apron. Sting jumped off the apron and splashed Swerve, who was on top of a table on the arena floor! Sting went back up and dropped an elbow, this time pushing Swerve right through the table, splitting it in half!
Darby jumped off the top turnbuckle and dropkicked Christian Cage, who was propped up on a chair on the arena floor! Darby and Sting propped up the coffin against the ring and tried to slam the lid shut on Christian, but Christian pushed the lid back to prevent it from closing. Luchasaurus hit Sting and Darby from behind, saving Christian Cage. Luchasaurus threw Darby like a lawn dart against the coffin! Nick Wayne ran down and hit Luchasaurus in the back with a skateboard!
Luchasaurus dropped Nick Wayne with a headbutt. Luchasaurus choke slammed Nick Wayne onto the skateboard! Luchasaurus picked up Nick Wayne and carried him on his shoulders to the back.
Darby went for a Coffin Splash off the top turnbuckle and down onto Swerve who was on top of the coffin, but Swerve moved!
“It was a Coffin Flop for Darby Allin!” said Excalibur.
Sting splashed Christian and Swerve in the ring. Sting put the Scorpion Death lock on Christian. Swerve cracked Sting in the back with a steel chair.
“That just pissed him off!” said Excalibur.
Christian Cage used a baseball bat to low blow Sting! Swerve jumped off the top rope and hit the double stomp on Sting! The coffin was placed into the ring. Swerve shoved Sting into the coffin. Swerve tossed the bat into the coffin, wanting to bury Sting and the bat together. Swerve tried to shut the coffin lid, but Sting used the baseball bat to prevent the lid from closing.
Swerve bodyslammed Sting on top of the coffin. Swerve went for a 450 splash onto Sting on the coffin, but Sting rolled out of the way! Darby gouged Christian Cage in the eyes. Sting nailed Swerve with a Scorpion Death Drop on top of the coffin! Darby smashed Swerve with the Coffin Drop…onto the lid of the coffin and slid the coffin lid shut on Swerve!
Chris Jericho (with Sammy Guevara) vs. IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay (with Don Callis)!
Fozzy played Jericho to the ring, as Jericho sang “Judas”!
Jericho took down Will with a shoulder tackle. Ospreay dropkicked Jericho. Ospreay followed up with Sky Twister Press to Jericho on the floor!
Ospreay and Jericho exchanged forearms. Jericho caught Ospreay flush in the face with a springboard dropkick. Jericho followed up with a sliding baseball dropkick. Jericho rocked Will with a German Suplex on the ring apron!
Ospreay rallied back with a corkscrew kick to Jericho. He followed up with a standing shooting star press to Jericho for a near fall. Jericho had a lot left in the tank, though, and took down Will with a hurracanrana off the top rope.
The lionsault was countered by Ospreay. Ospreay followed up with a shooting star press onto Jericho, who was draped across the ropes. Jericho came back with a Code Breaker on the Aerial Assassin.
Will blocked the Judas Effect and countered with a hook kick to Jericho. Will spiked Jericho with the Os-cutter for a near fall. Jericho countered the Storm Breaker and put Will in the Walls of Jericho! Don Callis jumped on the ring apron. While the ref was dealing with Don, Sammy hit Will in the head with Jericho’s bat!
Jericho charged at Will, but Will countered with a Spanish Fly for a two-count. Jericho stunned Will with the Code Breaker. Jericho hit Will with an Os-cutter! Jericho nailed Will with a low blow and then cracked him with the Judas Effect for a near fall! Ospreay clocked Jericho with a combination Judas Effect/Hidden Blade. Will followed up with the Storm Breaker for a near fall on Jericho!
“Chris Jericho refusing to quit!” said Nigel.
Will rocked Jericho with the Hidden Blade. Will nailed Jericho with a second Storm Breaker and pinned Jericho!
After the match, Sammy helped up Jericho. A dejected Jericho pushed Sammy away.
Nigel McGuinness was in the ring with a microphone!
“London, England, what a moment! What a night. 81,035 fans! Tonight, we made a new world record in pro wrestling paid attendance!”
House Rules Match!
AEW World Trios Championship Match!
House of Black (c.)—Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews, & Brody King
vs.
The Acclaimed—Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, & Badd Ass Billy Gunn!
The stipulation was No Holds Barred.
Buddy Matthews flew over the top rope and wiped out both members of the Acclaimed. Brody King hit a tope on the Acclaimed. Julia Hart entered the ring, but Billy Gunn and Max held her down while Anthony Bowens dropped the Scissor Me Timbers!
Brody charged at Billy, but Billy dodged him, sending Brody crashing into the steel guardrail. Malakai and Matthews double teamed Billy but Billy took them down with stiff shots. He splashed them in the corner.
Bowens planted Malakai with the Arrival. Buddy prevented the Mic Drop, shoving Caster. Buddy dropped the meteora on Caster. The House of Black swarmed Bowens in the corner with the three headed hydra.
Brody wrapped a steel chain around his fist and went to crack Bowens with it. Bowens escaped Malakai’s grasp and Brody accidentally hit Malakai! The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn each hit fame-assers on Buddy. Billy went for the pin, but Julia Hart pulled referee Aubrey Edwards out of the ring, preventing her from making the count.
Malakai rocked Billy with the End kick, but Billy kicked out! Bowens smashed Brody with the Arrival and Caster followed up with the Mic Drop. Billy hit the Fame Asser, and the Acclaimed followed up with a second Arrival and Mic Drop, covering Brody for the pin!
New AEW Trios Champions…The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn!
Main Event Time!
AEW World Championship Match!
MJF (c.) vs. Adam Cole!
The match began with two friends taking in the moment, displaying good sportsmanship, but it quickly broke down. Cole stomped MJF in the corner after pulling ref Bryce Remsburg in MJF’s path.
Cole grabbed a handful of MJF’s hair and yanked him to the mat. MJF responded in kind.
“MJF is upset with his best friend,” said Excalibur.
Cole attacked with a thrust kick. “We may be friends but I’m better than you,” said Adam Cole.
Cole ripped MJF’s t-shirt off him. MJF blocked a superkick and scoop slammed Cole. MJF whipped Cole into the turnbuckles.
“That was a terrible landing on multiple levels,” said Excalibur.
MJF hit a dive through the ropes onto Cole! MJF and Cole traded pinfall attempts, neither man with the clear advantage. Cole stunned MJF with a pump kick. MJF powerbombed Cole onto his outstretched knee!
MJF was looking for the Panama Sunset but Cole superkicked MJF. Cole nailed MJF with the heat seeker! Cole whipped MJF into the steel ring steps. Cole drilled MJF with a sheer drop brainbuster on the steel ring steps!
“Is Cole concerned about his friend or concerned about MJF being counted out?” asked Nigel.
Cole was about to hit the Panama Sunrise, but MJF couldn’t get to his feet and stumbled out of the ring. MJF dismantled the top of the broadcast booth. MJF was going to tombstone Cole on top of the booth, but MJF put him down, unable to put his friend through the table. Instead, Cole spiked MJF with a tombstone on top of the broadcast table!
Cole rolled MJF back into the ring, but MJF kicked out at the two-count! MJF thumbed Cole in the eye. MJF nailed Cole with a rolling elbow strike. Cole fired back with a Canadian Destroyer, but Max retaliated with a last ditch kick.
“Both men down flat, exhausted, from physical punishment from each other,” said Taz.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
The champion and challenger called for the double clothesline! They ran into each other with clotheslines, falling on top of each other! The ref counted to three and it was declared a draw!
“A double pin! It’s a draw!,” said Excalibur.
Ring Announcer Justin Roberts announced the match was a draw.
Adam Cole grabbed a microphone and said, “No freakin’ way! Max, five more minutes!”
MJF replied, “No. Five minutes isn’t enough, Adam. We’re going until we’ve got a winner in Wembley!”
MJF blocked a superkick from Cole, but then Cole thumbed MJF in the eyes. Cole charged at MJF and MJF ducked, with Adam Cole inadvertently running into the referee and knocking him down!
“Bryce Remsburg just got decked!” said Excalibur.
“He got popped inadvertently there,” replied Taz.
MJF sat up with a big grin on his face!
“It’s playtime now for Max with the referee down,” said Taz.
MJF grabbed a steel chair and threw it to Adam Cole. Cole threw it back. Neither wanted it. Max placed the chair around his head to make it look like Cole hit him with it. The ref got to his feet and questioned Cole. MJF rolled up Cole for a near fall. MJF followed up with a thrust kick! MJF drilled Cole with the heat seeker! Cole kicked out at two!
Cole nailed MJF with a straitjacket German Suplex on the apron! Cole spiked MJF with a Panama Sunrise off the apron and onto the floor! Cole rolled MJF into the ring, but MJF kicked out at two!
Cole was setting up MJF for another Panama Sunrise. MJF pulled the ref into Cole’s way, and Cole inadvertently hit the ref with the Panama Sunrise! MJF pulled the Dynamite Diamond Ring out of his trunks. MJF was on the verge of tears, torn, not sure what to do! He pulled the ring off and put it back in his trunks. Out of nowhere, Roderick Strong jumped in the ring behind MJF!
Roderick Strong kicked MJF between the legs! Cole climbed back up and drilled MJF with the Panama Sunrise. Cole dropped his kneepad and lowered the boom with the knee strike. The ref was still out. The ref finally crawled over and started to make the count. MJF kicked out at two!
“Wembley Stadium is on its feet!” said Excalibur.
Roderick Strong threw the AEW World Title into the ring and told Cole to use it on MJF! “Do it, Adam! I’m your best friend!” screamed Roderick.
Cole picked up the title and then threw it out of the ring. Roderick Strong walked out on Adam Cole! MJF cradled Adam Cole and pinned him!
Still AEW World Champion…MJF!
After the match, MJF said it was okay and that the people still loved Cole. MJF brought the ROH World Tag Team Titles into the ring and handed one to Cole, but Cole threw it down!
“I get it. You never cared about me! You only cared about the belt. You’re a fake!” said MJF.
MJF picked up the AEW World Championship and tossed it at Adam Cole. MJF told Cole to get it over with, turning his back to Cole. Adam Cole picked up the title. Roderick Strong jumped on the apron and ordered Adam Cole to hit MJF with it! Adam Cole was tempted but threw the belt down. MJF and Adam Cole hugged it out!
The Kingdom held back Roderick Strong as MJF and Adam Cole celebrated in the ring.
Excalibur announced that AEW will be returning to Wembley on Sunday, August 25th, 2024!
Missed what the entire wrestling world is buzzing about? Order the replay of the historic AEW All In: London! It’s available on all traditional cable and satellite providers in the United States and Canada, Bleacher Report, Fite International, PPV.COM, and more! See AEW All In: London for yourself!
Catch all the fall out on AEW DYNAMITE on TBS this Wednesday live at 8/7ct from NOW Arena in Chicago, IL!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
This Sunday, All Elite Wrestling comes to London for the most important event in AEW history since the first DOUBLE OR NOTHING in 2019, and the largest event in All Elite history! In front over 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium, and before a worldwide pay-per-view audience, AEW presents ALL IN: LONDON on Bleacher Report, traditional cable & satellite providers in the United States and Canada, FITE INTERNATIONAL, PPV.COM, and more!
With seven championship matches between the PPV proper and the ZERO HOUR, as well as the return of Stadium Stampede, AEW’s first Tag Team Coffin Match, a Generational Dream Bout, and so much more! The pay-per-view action begins at 6pm BST/1pm EST, with the ZERO HOUR kicking off at 12pm ET/9am PT, featuring an ROH World Tag Team Championship match pitting Aussie Open against Adam Cole & MJF, as well as a FTW Championship Match between Jack Perry and HOOK!
It all began on June 7th in Colorado Springs when Adam Cole and MJF were face-to-face on DYNAMITE, and by the end of the conversation Cole embarrassed the AEW World Champion into a match. It may not have been a championship bout, but on June 14th in Washington, DC, when AEW returned to where DYNAMITE first began in 2019, Cole and MJF met in an Eliminator fight, meaning if Cole beat the champion, he would earn a future title match.
Unfortunately for Cole, despite giving Max a taste of his own medicine by using the AEW World Championship belt as a weapon, and MJF him with both The Boom and The Panama Sunrise, the time limit expired and Cole was left empty handed. He hadn’t earned a future title match, and there was certainly no way MJF was going to gift him one just because they had a good fight. That was certainly not something in Max’s nature, not at that point two months ago, but then something happened, something called the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament. With a future AEW World Tag Team Championship opportunity awaiting the victors, random names were drawn to create tag teams who would then populate the brackets for an eight-team tournament.
Cole and MJF would be the first team put together for the tournament, and while it seemed inevitable they would implode under the weight of their recent history, the exact opposite actually happened. Not only did they did defeat Matt Menard & The Butcher and Big Bill & Brian Cage en route to the finals, they actually managed to win the whole tournament by beating Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara! On top of that, much to the chagrin of Cole’s long-time friend Roderick Strong, Adam and Maxwell actually developed the most unlikely friendship. The two men could not be more different from each other, and yet through their tournament time, their loss to FTR in the AEW World Tag Team Championship bout, and their unique bonding activities away from the ring, these two competitors have actually found mutual respect and even a brotherly love. The most shocking thing to come out of all of this isn’t MJF and Cole becoming friends, it’s that Maxwell Jacob Friedman has actually come to embrace the fans cheering his name and proudly calling themselves his devil worshipers, he’s even been seen slapping hands and hugging children. Given the road MJF has traveled his entire AEW career, if not his entire professional wrestling life, this is the most shocking part of the path to ALL IN: LONDON. Oh, and the fact that MJF actually stuck to the promise he laid out to Cole prior to that FTR bout, that MJF would give Adam Cole an AEW World Championship fight regardless of the championship bout outcome.
Clearly they did not walk away from the bout as new AEW World Tag Team Champions, but in a move that was a true shock, as well as an indicator that perhaps MJF was genuine in his friendship with Cole, the title fight was set for ALL IN: LONDON! What has been most intriguing since that bout was set was seeing if the friendship would implode under the shadow of the AEW World Championship fight, but instead it has seemed to grow stronger, although both Cole and MJF have had their moments when they’ve nearly snuck one on the other man, but has had the side effect of apparently decimating the friendship between Roderick Strong and Adam Cole in the process, driving Strong towards The Kingdom, who experienced their own issues with Cole many years ago in Ring of Honor.
It’s wild to think that mere hours after Adam Cole and the AEW World Champion unite on the ZERO HOUR in an attempt to dethrone Aussie Open as ROH World Tag Team Champions that they will then face one another for the most coveted prize in professional wrestling today.
It will be quite fascinating to see how the outcome of that ZERO HOUR bout factors into the main event of ALL IN: LONDON. Will Adam Cole and MJF enter as the new ROH World Tag Team Champions, or will they enter into the biggest match of their careers as beaten men? Will it be a tag team bout that breaks the bond they’ve built over the last couple months, or one that strengthens the ties enough to survive however the World Championship fight plays out? And just who will walk into Chicago, mere days after this, as the reigning champion looking towards whatever ALL OUT 2023 may have in store for him?
AEW World Tag Team Championship Match
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (c) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
The date was November 7th and the event FULL GEAR 2020; it was huge night for several reasons, one being that it was the most people watching AEW in-person since the Pandemic changed our world, but also that it was the night one of pro wrestling’s dream matches finally became reality. After years of debate over who was the better team, The Young Bucks and FTR finally clashed, and with the AEW World Tag Team Championship titles at stake. That night it would be The Young Bucks who walked away victorious, capturing the AEW Tag Titles for the very first time, and at least on that night, staking their claim as the top team in professional wrestling today.
It would be quite some time before we saw Cash, Dax, Matt, and Nick collide in a tag team bout, seventeen months to be precise, and on that night in Boston, with both the ROH World Tag Titles and the AAA Tag Titles at stake, it would be FTR who left Agganis Arena with the win, and both sets of championship titles.
So when FTR finally reclaimed the AEW World Tag Team Championship, defeating The Gunns in April of this year, the speculation began about when fans might get to see a rubber match between these two duos. That speculation came to an end on August 5th when, after defeating Big Bill & Brian Cage in a championship bout, FTR challenged The Young Bucks to a fight at Wembley Stadium! The biggest tag team championship bout for the biggest event in All Elite Wrestling history; it made perfect sense, and The Young Bucks would agree just a few nights later!
So on this grand stage, in front of more than 80,000 of the AEW faithful, and with countless more watching around the world, will we see the heart and soul of All Elite Wrestling become 3-Time AEW World Tag Team Champions or will it Billion Star FTR who lays claim to the best tag team moniker while also retaining their championship titles?
AEW Women’s World Championship Four Way Match
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Saraya vs. Toni Storm vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD
What a tangled web this AEW Women’s World Championship bout has become after last Friday night’s tag team bout on RAMPAGE. Defending Champion Shida and Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D teamed up to take on The Outcasts Saraya and Toni Storm in a preview of the Four Way taking place on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.
While there was certainly hope with all four women that this would be an opportunity to get a last minute advantage, and though that is what happened for The Outcasts, it also created a whole mess of tension between all four competitors. The history between Shida and Baker, the one where the latter ended the former’s historic first title reign, seemed to have been set aside as they united against the threat of The Outcasts, but when a blinded Shida decked her own partner, inadvertently setting Britt up to be beaten by Saraya, it was not the best way to put the former foes on the same page against The Outcasts during Sunday’s event. Prior to that moment, it seemed possible that Shida and the Good Doctor could at least unite to insure neither Outcast left Wembley with the Women’s World Championship, but after that blow on Friday, compiled with their history over AEW’s existence, it seems highly unlikely they will find common ground.
That being said, it seemed like a given that The Outcasts would have common ground in the mission to dethrone Shida, and while that may be the case, the way Saraya and Toni Storm left things on Friday night, it seems there could be something rotten in the locker room of The Outcasts. Toni aims to be the first 3-Time champion, while Saraya hopes to not only win her first championship in AEW, but also her first championship in nine years, and those two goals are clearly in conflict. So the question on Sunday will be, if it comes down to either Saraya or Toni Storm getting the victory and the title, will the other allow that to happen? And if there is some dissension in the ranks of The Outcasts, will that provide the opening either Hikaru Shida or Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D need to have their hand raised in victory before 80,000 strong?
Stadium Stampede Match
Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta), Eddie Kingston, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy & Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Blackpool Combat Club (ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta), Santana & Ortiz
It’s been a couple years since Stadium Stampede has reared its head in All Elite Wrestling, since DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2021 to be precise, but this Sunday at Wembley Stadium, before the largest crowd in AEW history, one of the most unpredictable matches in company history makes its return! But it’s not just the match making its return, it’s also several of the competitors returning to action after time away, and some of the strangest bedfellows imaginable!
First off, who would’ve ever thought Eddie Kingston would be standing side-by-side with Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, and AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy? On top of that, who would’ve thought that, given how toxic their AEW relationship was in past, that the Lucha Brothers would once again stand beside Eddie Kingston, or that Penta and Fenix would unite with The Best Friends given their own violent history as foes?
And could anyone possibly have predicated that two of Eddie Kingston’s oldest friends, two men who spent a great deal of time trying to end Jon Moxley’s career early in AEW’s history, would side up with The Blackpool Combat Club against Eddie in this Stadium Stampede? But then again, the last time we saw Ortiz in All Elite Wrestling, he and Kingston had a massive falling out as a result of House of Black machinations, and they were throwing down with one another. That may have been six months ago, but it was a wound never healed, much less addressed, and it appears this is just one chicken that’s come home to roost for Kingston. The other comes in the form of Santana, a man who has been on the shelf since June 2022’s Blood & Guts match in Detroit recovering from injury, a match he was in at the request of Kingston, and a man who it seems Kingston forgot about in the aftermath of that war.
It’s clear that Kingston’s hatred for Claudio Castagnoli is what’s driving this for him, but for the rest of his group, it’s about what The Blackpool Combat Club has done to them over the last several weeks. The Best Friends and Orange Cassidy have been repeatedly assaulted, look at the Parking Lot Fight from RAMPAGE for a microcosm of what this dynamic has looked like The BCC lost Blood & Guts to The Golden Elite six weeks ago. It feels as if that loss, and how it came to pass, has spiraled Mox, Claudio, and Yuta into a flurry of violence, and The Luchas and Best Friends have been the targets for assorted reasons. The connection to “The Bastard” PAC put a crosshairs on Penta and Fenix, leading to Rey being eliminated from even competing in this match this past Wednesday on DYNAMITE, while Yuta’s connection to The Best Friends, as well as events from ROH’s DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 2023 PPV event, led them into this fracas.
And now it will all explode in utterly unpredictable fashion this Sunday at ALL IN: LONDON! How much frustration must Santana have pent-up after over a year away from the fight? How much does Ortiz want to punch Kingston in the mouth for how they left things? For that matter, how much violence do all these men want to inflict upon one another for everything that’s happened over the last several weeks, as well as for everything that’s tied these men together in various fashion both here in All Elite Wrestling, and in their lives before entering into AEW? This will be officially sanctioned chaos, and it is coming to Wembley Stadium this Sunday!
AEW World Trios Championship Match
The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) (w/Julia Hart) (c) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Billy Gunn
The House of Black couldn’t leave well-enough alone; the AEW World Trios Champions had twice-defeated The Acclaimed in championship fights, and even driven Billy Gunn into retirement, thinking he didn’t have it as a competitor any more, and was better off hanging up his boots in front of the entire world as he sat in the middle of the ring.
But that wasn’t enough for Malakai Black, Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Julia Hart; perhaps it was the insistence from Max and Anthony that they still believed, with Billy, they were the best trio in All Elite Wrestling. Perhaps they needed to send a message to The Acclaimed of what would happen if they ever came near The House again, and perhaps the disposal of Billy’s boots into the trash bin was part of the message of what would happen should they come knocking on The House’s door once again.
Instead, what The House got was a very angry Max Caster and Anthony Bowens who didn’t care about the numbers, and still wanted a fight with the World Trios Champions knowing they would be, no pun intended, outgunned. So when The Acclaimed’s music hit, as Brody King was preparing to level Anthony Bowens with the same chain used to bloody Max Caster, it was a shock to the former AEW World Tag Team Champions that their friend and mentor was on the spot to not just disperse The House of Black, but to also make a challenge for this match set to take place at Wembley Stadium!
So with The Acclaimed reunited at full strength, this past Saturday on COLLISION the trio decided to share one last verse with their foes before heading into battle at ALL IN: LONDON:
Will The House of Black make a clean sweep of The Acclaimed in this, their third championship fight, and once again prove that it is they who are the most dominant trio in All Elite Wrestling? Or will The Acclaimed take the lessons learned from their previous outings, add that to the renewed confidence demonstrated by Billy Gunn, and turn it into championship success?
“Real” AEW World Championship Match
CM Punk (c) vs. Samoa Joe
ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe was a happy man on Saturday night, if only for a brief moment, because he knew that come Sunday at ALL IN: LONDON he would be getting the fight he’d been wanting ever since CM Punk defeated him during the 2023 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. At first Joe was indignant that Punk didn’t even bother responding to the challenge, which led to Joe removing Punk from the equation when he and FTR challenge The House of Black for the AEW World Trios Championship.
Punk’s response came in the form of a little deception, entering the ring to fight Joe under the guise of Golden Vampire, and laying the ROH World TV Champion low with a GTS before accepting the challenge for this fight at Wembley Stadium. Samoa Joe and CM Punk fighting in England feels appropriate for a number of reasons, one being that their last singles match prior to AEW took place 100 miles away in Conventry back in March 2005, and another being that over 80,000 fans will experience the next chapter in this landmark feud for modern wrestling history. The Trilogy, as it is known to Ring of Honor fans, defined independent wrestling for the 2000’s and beyond, shaped an entire generation of wrestlers who came along afterwards, and helped to save Ring of Honor during one of its most tumultuous times.
As if the heated rivalry between these two warriors wasn’t enough, add in the factor of Punk’s Championship belt, and this is escalated to a whole new level. Whereas the match during The Owen still carried some of the respect built between the two over the years prior, what has led Punk and Joe to this next chapter in their story has been utterly devoid of it. And that calm, peaceful Samoa Joe that sat down on Saturday to do commentary during the main event, that all went out the window when CM Punk chose to apply Joe’s signature choke to Brian Cage in order to win the match. Suffice to say that was the trigger moment that led to the utter chaos that capped off COLLISION, but will it be what ends the night on Sunday for Punk? Will he fall victim to Joe’s choke as he did so many years ago at ROH’s ALL STAR EXTRAGANZA II event, or it will the ROH World TV Champion be put to sleep like he was just a week ago?
Dream Match…
Chris Jericho vs. IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay
This heated up rather quickly; something that began as Don Callis playing his games with people’s lives rapidly turned into a situation in which his games are an afterthought to the hostilities between Chris Jericho and Will Ospreay that exploded during their contract signing this past Wednesday on DYNAMITE.
As Ospreay laid out everything he was fighting for this Sunday at Wembley Stadium, Chris Jericho took credit for the mere fact that the IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion was in that position in the first place. “The Ocho” brought up a five year old phone call as being the reason Ospreay transformed into the wrestler he is today rather than ending up in a wheelchair, and though “The Aerial Assassin” may not have known that was a possibility, Jericho also said he and Will would’ve collided two years ago if not for the pandemic disrupting the plan.
So although Don Callis may have orchestrated the moment in which Ospreay leveled Jericho from behind, this has become about something bigger than Callis stabbing Jericho in the back despite the original AEW World Champion being willing to join the family. This is a generational dream match, two of the greatest competing today, coming from drastically different places in their careers, but both wanting to be known as the absolute best wrestler walking the planet today, and there is no bigger stage to to fight it out than in front of 80,000+ fans inside the biggest venue England has to offer! Ospreay is heading into this after a tremendous showing during NJPW’s G1 Climax Tournament, and after defeating Shingo Takagi at RevPro just 24 hours before ALL IN: LONDON is set to begin. Conversely Jericho heads into this having watched his Appreciation Society, save Sammy Guevara, dissolved right in front of him all because he couldn’t make the choice between Don Callis and The J.A.S. It was only after he’d lost everything that Jericho gave Callis a “yes”, and the fact that Callis anticipated a “no” is what set this ball rolling.
Jericho has made it clear this is the most important match of his life, perhaps more so because of all he’s lost in the last several weeks, and this is the most important event on which he’s ever fought. For Ospreay the same is true, he wants to add Jericho’s name to the list that includes Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, David Finlay, and Shingo Takagi as some of the men he’s beaten in the last two months. For Will it’s about supporting a family, it’s about doing it in his home country on the biggest stage AEW has ever had, and doing it at the expense of a certified legend who still competes at the highest levels.
Of course Don Callis lurks at the shadows around this match, of course he wants to make sure Jericho doesn’t not walk out of Wembley with a win, the words “your head on a platter” were what he spoke regarding what he offered Ospreay to come fight Jericho, and while he did his best to screw Kenny Omega at FORBIDDEN DOOR 2023, will Callis be there to try to do it to Jericho this Sunday in London?
Trios Match…
BULLET CLUB GOLD (Jay White & Juice Robinson) & Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis) vs. The Golden Elite (Adam Page, Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi)
It seems Don Callis will sign up with anyone he can to make Kenny Omega’s life a living hell. First he threw in his lot with The Blackpool Combat Club ahead of Blood & Guts, only to pull Konosuke Takeshita from the fray when things started to get hairy for The BCC after “The Bastard” PAC bailed on them. Callis, and Takeshita for that matter, are lucky The BCC have been occupied with other matters and vengeance hasn’t swung their way for that abandonment.
Now it seems Callis has thrown his favor the way of BULLET CLUB GOLD as they assaulted Kenny Omega while he was in the midst of an interview with Jim Ross. It’s clear this is where they all felt safe accosting Omega, during a situation where there was not a soul available to help him, and yet they still did so with a distinct numbers advantage that “The Cleaner” could not possible have overcome.
And perhaps BC GOLD thought they’d face little repercussion as The Young Bucks would be wrapped up in their own dealings with FTR, Cash and Dax being other people with some BC GOLD bad blood, but thankfully the former AEW World Champion has friends beyond the brothers Jackson.
So it will be this Sunday night that, for the very first time, The Golden Lovers and Hangman Page compete in Trios action to take on another nascent trio in Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Konosuke Takeshita! It’s clear Don Callis is on a revenge trip when it comes to Kenny, will aim any gun he can at the man he once considered family, and will fire any bullets he finds at the former AEW World Champion. This week it’s BULLET CLUB GOLD, but should Kenny, Hangman, and Kota Ibushi turn away this attack, what will Callis throw at Omega next? What will Kenny have to do in order to shut Don Callis down for good?
BULLET CLUB GOLD is supremely confident riding into London, just listen to how they address the situation in the video embedded above, and are utterly convinced their Bang Bang Gang are the dominant force in All Elite Wrestling, but if they can shut down Omega, Ibushi, and Hangman at Wembley, they may be right!
Tag Team Coffin Match…
Christian Cage & Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin & Sting
Originally the challenge to this Tag Team Coffin Match was made to AR Fox and Swerve Strickland, but as was seen this past Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, following their tag team loss to Darby Allin and Nick Wayne, Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana fired Fox from The Mogul Embassy, leaving Brian Cage to deliver the killing blow.
This brought out Darby, Nick, and Sting back to run off The Mogul Embassy, despite Fox’s betrayal of the men, which in turn brought Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus out as well. The arrival of Cage and the actual TNT Champion led to the announcement that it would be Christian Cage, rather than AR Fox, who would travel to Wembley Stadium for the Tag Team Coffin Match!
It looks like all of Darby Allin’s enemies are lining up against him for this fight as his issues with Christian and Luchasaurus, set to take center stage at ALL OUT 2023 where Darby will fight Luchasaurus for the TNT Championship, merge with those involving Swerve Strickland, and explode in AEW’s first ever Tag Team Coffin Match! Given that it’s Luchasaurus who will actually do the heavy lifting in Chicago, and not Christian Cage, there’s a great deal of concern about what condition Darby will be in for September 3rd at The United Center, but ultimately he and Sting have to focus on one fight at a time, and it’s a fight that’s been part of Darby’s AEW career for quite some time now. For a detailed look at how we got here, check out this history package, but suffice to say that Darby and Swerve have history that predates All Elite Wrestling, and it’s only gotten uglier in the time that both men have been part of the company.
With 80,000-plus cheering them on, Darby Allin and Sting come to Wembley this Saturday not to praise Christian and Swerve, but to lock them inside a coffin and take the first step towards clearing the table. Part one happens in Wembley when the coffin lid is closed on Christian and Swerve, part two takes place in Chicago when Darby Allin becomes a 3-Time TNT Champion; at least that’s their hope.
ZERO HOUR…
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match…
Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) (c) vs. Adam Cole & MJF
Suffice to say that the main event of ALL IN: LONDON is going to be greatly affected by the events of the ZERO HOUR beginning at 12pm ET/9am PT on AEW’s official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@AEW/featured). Adam Cole, having never won the ROH World Tag Team Championship, and MJF, having never competed in anything involving Ring of Honor, will challenge the defending ROH World Tag Team Champs Aussie Open ahead of their fight over the AEW World Championship later in the night!
Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis, after capturing the titles at ROH’s DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 2023 pay-per-view event, have successfully defended the championship on four occasions, including this past Wednesday on DYNAMITE against The Hardys. They are on quite the roll since their July title victory, but face incredibly tough competition in MJF and Cole who, although relatively new to tag team competition, were victorious in the Blind Eliminator Tag Tournament, and gave FTR a tremendous fight in the AEW World Tag Team Championship loss a few weeks back. Amazingly enough, even with their AEW World Title fight on the horizon, Cole and Friedman have managed to keep their new-found friendship intact. Both men seem intent on maintaining the friendship, despite the protestations of Cole’s long-time friend Roderick Strong, the seeming impossibility that MJF can be trusted at all, and the championship fight coming just a few hours after this tag team title bout.
Can Aussie Open use the circumstances of the evening to their advantage and retain the ROH World Tag Team Titles? Or will the bromance of Cole and MJF lead to success as a team just before the biggest fight of both men’s careers? And if the match plays out in the favor of Aussie Open, how will that affect the AEW World Championship Match, as well as the relationship between championship and challenger? In the history of the ZERO HOUR/BUY-IN, this is the most important match that’s ever taken place, but will it be Aussie Open or MJF/Cole who history remembers as the victor?
Jack Perry may have entered into the Gas South Arena on Saturday night with the intention of smashing the FTW Championship to bits, but “The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil” HOOK had other plans for his former friend, and they didn’t include seeing the championship his father created left in the history books with Perry’s face plastered as its final champion.
The chaos that was the final COLLISION before ALL IN: LONDON would culminate in a crazy brawl involving fighters all slated to compete at Wembley Stadium, but it was Jack Perry who snuck in the back door, having nothing to do with the 10-Man Tag main event, and attacked his challenger. It started when Jack betrayed HOOK at FORBIDDEN DOOR 2023, was followed by Perry running from the then-FTW Champion for weeks, before finally having to answer for his betrayal inside the squared circle. Surprisingly Jack handed HOOK his first loss that night in Boston, and even bested Rob Van Dam several weeks ago in Columbus, but HOOK wasn’t going to standby for long given Perry’s threats of what he would do after beating RVD.
Jack Perry can’t run from this one, not even when he’s in London some 5,500 miles away from his Los Angeles home, even there HOOK will be waiting, and retribution will be waiting with him!
This Sunday the biggest event in AEW history goes down at Wembley Stadium when All Elite Wrestling presents ALL IN: LONDON in front of more than 80,000 fans in London, and before a worldwide audience on Bleacher Report, traditional cable & satellite providers in the United States and Canada, FITE INTERNATIONAL, PPV.COM, and more!
From Adam Cole challenging MJF for the AEW World Championship to the return of Stadium Stampede, from AEW’s first Tag Team Coffin Match to a loaded AEW Woman’s World Championship Four Way, and from a Dream Bout pitting Chris Jericho against Will Osprey to FTR/Young Bucks Round Three, and so much more, this is a loaded event from top-to-bottom! The pay-per-view action starts at 6pm BST/1pm EST, with the ZERO HOUR getting underway at 12pm ET/9am PT, and includes the ROH World Tag Team Championship match between Aussie Open and Adam Cole/MJF, plus a FTW Championship Grudge Match between Jack Perry and HOOK!
Whether you’re there in-person or watching on PPV, you are all a part of history that would not have been possible without the support of the AEW faithful around the world!
