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AEW Collision Preview for December 23, 2023

December 23, 2023
Tagged as: #AllIn, 12, Action Andretti, AEW, AEW Collision, AEW Dark, AEW Dynamite, AEW News, AEW Rampage, All Elite, All Elite Wrestling, All out, AWAKENING, Battle of the Belts, Being the Elite, big, Bryan Danielson, BTE, Collision, Continental Classic, Double or Nothing, DUAL, Dynamite, Elite, Finals, Forbidden Door, From, Future, gold, HELP, Highlights, Jade Cargill, keith lee, kenny omega, LA, Martin, Max, Max Caster, Media, MJF, New, njpw, Orange Cassidy, OWN, Power, Rampage, Return, Returns, ring of honor, Rivalry, ROH, Saraya, SAW, SEE, sting, Swerve, Tag, TBS, The, The Acclaimed, title, TNT, Toni Storm, Tournament, video, Wednesday, Well, WON, Wrestlers, Wrestling, YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9lBY-Tekqu8?si=nthJRciug-DfJhtt

After an exciting pair of nights in Oklahoma City for DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, All Elite Wrestling returns to San Antonio for the first time in a year when the Freeman Coliseum hosted the 2022 Holiday Bash! This time we are coming to San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center and bringing COLLISION to River City with us! With the Gold League coming to a head in a Three Way fight between Moxley, Swerve, and Jay White in next week’s finals, eyes turn to the Continental Classic’s Blue League to see who will advance from this group!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XVr2C1uv2Jg?si=3NC52TzkurtlvMbu

This Saturday night, the final three matches in the Blue League take place to see whose points total puts them in the finals! The Blackpool Combat Club will be tested against itself when Bryan Danielson takes on Claudio Castagnoli for the first time in AEW, as well as their first bout in nearly three years! Andrade El Idolo and Eddie Kingston fight it out for the first time, and Daniel Garcia attempts to get on the board, and throw a monkey wrench in the works, by beating Brody King! The bouts begin at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and the best way to get ready is to visit the official AEW YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFN4JkGP_bVhAdBsoV9xftA/videos), as well as AEW’s other social media platforms, for highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as events from last week’s COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!

CONTINENTAL CLASSIC: BLUE LEAGUE…

Standings

Andrade El Idolo (9)

“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson (9)

Brody King (6)

Claudio Castagnoli (6)

ROH World Champion/NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston (6)

Daniel Garcia (0)

Bryan Danielson (9) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (6)

For the first time in All Elite Wrestling, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli will go head-to-head in their final match of the Continental Classic’s Blue League! These two members of The Blackpool Combat Club have quite a checkered past with one another, first coming to blows in September 2005 as part of the Ted Petty Invitational Tournament, fighting in multiple independents around the country, but it was their shared time in Ring of Honor that created both a strong rivalry and a mutual respect. Beginning with their June 28, 2008 match at VENDETTA II, the two men could lock-up in four singles matches, culminating in a No Disqualification bout at SOUTHERN HOSTILITY. Danielson won three of those four one-on-one bouts, including that final match, but their rivalry also included tag matches, Three Way fights, and Four Corner Survival matches. One of those Four Corner bouts, a ROH World Championship one, actually saw Claudio try to stomp Bryan’s skull in with a Steel Chair! The two had a few other matches after that No DQ bout, including a memorable Three Way at INSANITY UNLEASHED that also included Kenny Omega, but their final singles match as independent wrestlers actually took place in Germany for wXw on May 1, 2009.

Now that’s not to say their paths didn’t continue to cross over the next several years when the two occupied the same space once again, in fact from 2013-2021 they went one-on-one seven times, five of which were won by Danielson, with the last two going to Claudio. Prior to entering AEW, the two were actually working on the same page, and it’s that, along with the respect forged through their wars together, that likely led Danielson to bring Claudio into The Blackpool Combat Club!

Since FORBIDDEN DOOR 2022 when Claudio first arrived to replace Bryan in the scheduled match with Zack Sabre Jr., we’ve seen how well the two work together, and how The BCC operates like a well-oiled machine, but this night we will get to see how they operate as foes! Claudio is on a mission to fight his way into the finals, a real possibility if he defeats Danielson, while Bryan is on the precipice of securing his position with a victory. Unfortunately “The American Dragon” may be coming into this as the underdog, not due to skill or ability, but because of the injuries he’s sustained over the last year. We know he’s not 100% recovered from the broken arm suffered at FORBIDDEN DOOR 2023, we’ve seen how foes in the Continental Classic have gone after the still-healing orbital bone injury, that eye patch serving as a constant reminder to his opponents of what to target.

So how will this play out? We know the phrase “iron sharpens iron” is embedded in the ethos of the Blackpool Combat Club, but does that mean doing whatever is necessary to win when it is one of your own group who is most vulnerable? Will Claudio follow in the footsteps of Andrade and Brody King and attack the weakest part of Danielson’s anatomy? Or are there some lengths the BCC members won’t go to in order to win? We will find out when Claudio and Bryan lock-up this Saturday night! As for the probable outcomes, let’s save that for a minute…

Eddie Kingston (6) vs. Andrade El Idolo (9)

The start of this tournament was not favorable to ROH World/NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston. Despite putting both his titles into the mix to form, along with the Continental Championship, a modern American Triple Crown Championship, Kingston dropped his first two atches to Brody King and Bryan Danielson. Fighting out of a hole heading into this three remaining matches, “The Mad King” rallied with victories over long-time nemesis Claudio Castagnoli and newer rival Daniel Garcia, to notch himself six points in the tournament. Those two victories restored some hope that Kingston could actually win this tournament but, in a tournament filled with the best fighters in the world, Eddie has what may be his toughest fight in this last fight.

Unlike Eddie, Andrade El Idolo started this tournament with three consecutive victories in large part as a result of his willingness to do whatever it took to win. He topped Daniel Garcia to begin his streak, took advantage of Danielson fighting with that eye injury to get his six points, and used an exposed turnbuckle to help defeat Brody King in their fight for nine points. It was only Claudio Castagnoli’s willingness to do the same in their fight that kept Andrade from hitting the 12-point mark, instead putting him in a tie for points lead with Danielson.

So that is what’s at stake here for Andrade, potentially a definitive lead in the Blue League depending on how Bryan/Claudio plays out, but for Eddie it’s a fight for survival, his survival in this tournament, and his survival as a dual champion. If Kingston loses here, he can absolutely say goodbye to his ROH World Title and his NJPW STRONG Openweight as well as he will be mathematically eliminated from any hope of the Blue League Finals, much less the full tournament. This is truly do or die for Eddie Kingston…

Daniel Garcia (0) vs. Brody King (6)

The one man in the Blue League who has no hope of seeing the finals in Orlando is Daniel Garcia, his inability to notch any points in the previous four matches guaranteed that, but there is still the possibility he can play spoiler to the aspirations of one Brody King. It wouldn’t be the first time Garcia surprised the AEW faithful with a victory over this House of Black member, he did it at ST. PATRICK’S DAY SLAM 2023 back in March, so it’s certainly possible for him to repeat that feat. It has to be incredibly frustrating for Garcia to have had this opportunity and get nothing more than experience out of these fights. So is one win redemption for the failures that have come before this Saturday night? Mark Briscoe certainly experienced something akin to an awakening with his lone tournament victory on Wednesday night, perhaps Garcia can have his own moment of clarity, his own personal epiphany about what the future could hold. Then again, he’s got to step inside The House to try and get to that moment…

As for Brody King, victory in this tournament is not yet out of reach despite his loses to Andrade and Bryan Danielson. This current situation putting Brody, Claudio, and Eddie in a three-way tie at six points is rich with possible outcomes, but any hope for making it to the Blue League Finals hinges on Brody winning his fight, as well as requiring either Eddie or Claudio to win their fight. Now this is where things can get complicated, given how close the scores are between the five men still in the race, there are so many possible outcomes for this tournament.

The simplest outcome is that both Bryan and Andrade win, netting each 12 points, and putting those two in the finals next Wednesday night in Orlando. The outcome of Brody and Garcia is then irrelevant in the grand scheme of things because even with a win, the House of Black member has no choice with only nine points to his name. If Andrade and Claudio win, then El Idolo is the clear top man with 12 points, but the second place spot all depends on the outcome of King/Garcia. We could potentially see Bryan, Claudio, and Brody King all end up with 9 points to close the field, and that same situation plays out with Bryan and Eddie winning, only Bryan takes the top spot, while Andrade, Claudio, and Brody could potentially end with a three way 9-point tie.

There’s even one situation that could end the Blue League in a five-way tie! If Eddie Kingston, Claudio Castagnoli, and Brody King all win their respective fights, then everyone but Garcia ends this with 9 points to their name! It’s the wildest possible outcome, but given that we saw the Gold League end in a Three Way tie, anything is possible when athletes of this caliber are competing against one another. The most likely scenarios end with Bryan and/or Andrade in the top spot, but nothing will be certain until the bell rings at the end of each match! Who will head to Orlando next Wednesday to determine the winner of the Blue League?

A CHAMPION RETURNS…

TBS Champion Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Abadon & Thunder Rosa

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lo7tHbRmRGE?si=4MyJ-pwgkOc6oel8

We haven’t seen Thunder Rosa in action since the August 15, 2022 edition of DARK: ELEVATION where the then-AEW Women’s World Champion was victorious in a Trios match alongside Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm. Coming off a hard-fought title defense at BATTLE OF THE BELTS III against Jamie Hayter, and heading towards ALL OUT 2022, Rosa finally succumbed to a nagging back injury and was forced to relinquish her status as champion. Toni Storm would pick up that crown at ALL OUT 2022 in a Four Way with Dr. Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Hikaru Shida to begin her first stint atop the division, and from there the landscape has continued to shift in numerous ways in Rosa’s absence from competition.

That’s not to say Thunder has been completely AWOL from AEW, since the beginning of COLLISION she has served as one of the Spanish announcers for the program, but was still quite removed from any in-ring competition. During Thunder’s time away, she watched the title shift from Toni Storm to Jamie Hayter, saw Saraya become a part of All Elite Wrestling and form The Outcasts en route to experiencing her own time atop the division, and she saw Hikaru Shida become the first-ever 3-Time Women’s World Champion.

Rosa watched Toni Storm become “Timeless”, watched Skye Blue rise up the ranks through hard work and grit, saw Julia Hart transform from cheerleader to Princess of the House of Black, and watched the TBS Championship go from the grips of Jade Cargill to the waist of Kris Statlander to residing inside the walls of The House. That’s not all the Women’s division has experienced during the sixteen months Thunder has been unable to compete, there’s been a great deal of talent who’ve stepped up, some who have departed AEW, and some new faces who have entered the scene. Through it all, Thunder Rosa has had both the luxury of being able to observe it happen while suffering with the knowledge that she was unable to be in the mix herself.

That is until last week; when Abadon fell victim to the somewhat surprising attack of TBS Champion Julia Hart and Skye Blue, it was Thunder Rosa who rose up as an ally for “The Living Dead Girl”, saving them from a further beating, and surprising everyone with the later revelation that she would step up as Abadon’s partner in conjunction with AEW’s return to the city Thunder Rosa calls home! The last time Thunder competed for AEW in the River City was the ST. PATRICK’S DAY SLAM 2022 Cage Match where she bested Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D for the AEW Women’s World Championship, but by HOLIDAY BASH 2022 in December, “La Mera Mera” was on the sidelines.

So while the fight of this match is largely about Abadon’s issues with Julie Hart, the TBS Championship, and now Skye Blue, the return of Thunder Rosa in her hometown is a huge moment in her life, and a major moment for the Women’s Division! Once this match is done, win or lose, then the questions can be asked about what plans the former Women’s World Champion has for her return to competition, but for Saturday night at least, there will be at least a moment for San Antonio to celebrate the return of a champion!

AEW TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) and Daddy Ass(c) vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)

The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, though reigning as AEW World Trios Champions since August 27th, have been out of action since the November 8th edition of DYNAMITE where they were taken out by The Devil’s masked goons in response to their willingness to help MJF. That doesn’t change the fact that with nine defenses they are the most successful Trios Champions to date, but it does mean they may not be quite ready to get back into action with a fight like this against opponents such as these high-flying young men.

That’s right; in their first match in 45 days, The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass will put their AEW World Trios Championship on the line against Top Flight and Action Andretti! Though his layoff was much longer than that of the champions’, and the severity of his injuries potentially career-ending, Dante Martin has recently returned to competition alongside his brother and Andretti, and has looked superb in his handful of bouts.

Dante is coming off a strong singles victory during Thursday night’s ROH ON HONOR CLUB presentation, while Darius and Action scored a Three Way Tag Team win of their own, and collectively this trio has picked up two big trios wins in the month since Dante’s return. Stepping up to challenge the champions is a huge undertaking for this young trio, but this may be the perfect time to knock The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass off their throne! Can the champions pick up where they left off before The Devil’s henchmen knocked them off the playing field, or did the time away stall the momentum they’d worked so hard to build and leave them easier targets for their challengers? We shall see this Saturday night on TNT!

ONE-ON-ONE…

ROH World Six-Man Champion Brian Cage vs. “Limitless” Keith Lee

Following his FINAL BATTLE 2023 victory over former tag team partner Shane Taylor, Lexy Nair interviewed Keith Lee under the assumption that Shane Taylor was the “him” Keith had been referring to, but “Limitless” quickly corrected her. Of course this would lead to speculation just who “him” actually was, but Keith Lee did not let that mystery simmer for very long when, as witnessed in the video above, he confronted The Mogul Embassy on COLLISION, making it abundantly clear that it was Swerve Strickland who he’d been talking about all along.

Clearly Keith feels like he’s let this unfinished business with this former AEW World Tag Team Championship partner go unresolved, and is ready to bring it to a conclusion, much like he did with the decade-long simmering issues with Shane Taylor. But before Keith can get his hands on Swerve, and while Strickland is still wrapped up in the Continental Classic, The Limitless One has to deal with “The Machine” Brian Cage!

Over the course of their careers, Cage and Lee have gone one-on-one three times, all prior to All Elite Wrestling’s existence, with the last being nearly four years ago. Each of those contests went in favor of Keith Lee, but a pair of Three Way contests they were involved in both went in Cage’s favor. But here in AEW, the only shared ring time these two behemoths have experienced has been mutual participation in the Blackjack Battle Royale at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2023 and an 8-Man tag in June won by Keith, Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin, and Sting.

So thus begins Keith Lee’s road to settle his score with Swerve Strickland, and if every member of The Mogul Embassy is thrown in his path, this is going to be a very rough journey indeed. But if anyone is capable of surviving that grueling gauntlet, it is “Limitless”, and if there is anyone capable of matching the combination of power and speed Lee possesses, it is “The Machine” Brian Cage! Can this ROH World Six-Man Champion stifle Keith Lee’s aspirations at the starting line?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/pQs1-0U0Kes?si=3sXjDcEFj-l-GM7L

All Elite Wrestling is coming back to San Antonio, TX this Saturday night for our debut at the Frost Bank Center, and with it comes an all-new, loaded edition of COLLISION! The Blue League battle for points wraps up this Saturday with Castagnoli versus Danielson, Kingston battling Andrade, and Garcia fighting King! Plus, the AEW World Trios Championship will be at stake when Daddy Ass and The Acclaimed return to action against Top Flight and Action Andretti, while San Antonio’s own Thunder Rosa returns after sixteen months to team with Abadon for a fight with TBS Champion Julia Hart and Skye Blue! COLLISION begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and to get prepared for it all, drop by the official AEW YouTube channel to watch highlights from this week’s editions of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as events from the last COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER!

AEW Collision Preview for November 4, 2023

November 4, 2023
Tagged as: #AllIn, AEW, AEW Collision, AEW Dark, AEW Dynamite, AEW News, AEW Rampage, All Elite, All Elite Wrestling, ALL IN, All out, Battle of the Belts, Being the Elite, big, BTE, Christian, Christian Cage, Dynamite, Elite, FOX, From, Full Gear, HELP, Highlights, LA, London, njpw, Orange Cassidy, ROH, SAW, Swerve, Tag, TBS, The, The Acclaimed, TNT, Well, Willow, Wrestledream, Wrestling, You, YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/embed/y_Fcy0Ju6as?si=kppAZLrIipIg5IKX

This Saturday night in Wichita, KS All Elite Wrestling makes its debut at the Intrust Bank Arena with a stacked up edition of COLLISION! The AEW World Trios Champions Daddy Ass and The Acclaimed will celebrate their 69th Day as the reigning champions and plan to celebrate it in style! Plus, Darby Allin and Lance Archer will clash in their first-ever bout, Willow Nightingale and Emi Sakura lock up in a rematch of their NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship match, and AR Fox looks for vengeance when he faces Swerve Strickland. But that’s not all, in addition there is a huge eight-man tag on tap featuring the unique pairings of FTR and LFI against the AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks and their partners in The Gates of Agony.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XKlm3FpZjZA?si=EVATfTsekigTn9Sx

COLLISION is coming to you this Saturday night on TNT, beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT, so before the night begins swing over to the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from this week’s episodes of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, the latest editions of CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!

THE ACCLAIMED’S 69 DAY CELEBRATION!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rz0YmnooOL4?si=AeGfmV8BkVJxQskf&start=376

At ALL IN: LONDON, before the largest crowd in All Elite Wrestling history, The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass defeated The House of Black to become the 5th AEW World Trios Champions and begin this reign that is already bordering on historic. In just 69 days, this trio has matched the number of successful defenses that The House achieved in their 175 days atop the division, leaving Billy Gunn and The Acclaimed just one victory away from being the most successful championship trio to date. In fact, aside from Billy and his sons 24-1 record, they are the winningest active trio at 19-2; in other words they have a lot to celebrate, and this Saturday night on COLLISION the World Trios Champions are having their 69-Day Celebration!

Join them in-person in Wichita, or live on TBS, for what will certainly be a one-of-a-kind party that only Daddy Ass and The Acclaimed could deliver!

SINGLES MATCH…

Darby Allin vs. “The Murderhawk Monster” Lance Archer

To date, the only interaction Darby Allin and Lance Archer have had inside the squared circle is their mutual participation in the ALL OUT 2020 Casino Battle Royale and the June 8, 2022 Casino Battle Royale on DYNAMITE. Besides that, they’ve never locked up in a tag, a trios, a singles, nothing, but that all changes this Saturday night on COLLISION!

For the first time, one of the most daredevil high-risk combatants in AEW’s history will clash with one of the most violent destructive forces AEW has ever tried to contain: Darby Allin versus Lance Archer. Archer’s last outings in AEW were when he challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship at BATTLE OF THE BELTS VII and followed that up with the destruction of Barrett Brown on the October 18th edition of DYNAMITE.

Now fresh off challenging the Guerrillas of Destiny for the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Titles at FIGHTING SPIRIT UNLEASHED 2023, Archer comes back to try and lay waste to Darby. Allin, coming into this fight, is possibly more banged up than he’s ever been, with a nagging shoulder injury that’s been affecting him since WRESTLEDREAM 2023 to the point that he hasn’t competed since that night in Seattle. Though he’s got a huge match on the horizon at FULL GEAR 2023, Darby is putting himself at risk to not even make it to the KIA Forum by taking this fight with “The Murderhawk Monster”. Win or lose, what condition will Darby Allin be in when he leaves Wichita and this fight with Archer?

EIGHT-MAN TAG…

FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) and LFI (Preston Vance & Rush)

vs.

AEW World Tag Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks and Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/R7Y30-iA5GY?si=VVyUzwSGB4-pbrJ3&start=183

Last week, after months away from the spotlight, the AEW faithful saw La Faccion Ingobernable return in full force on COLLISION to help FTR when Cash and Dax were faced with the combined might of Ricky Starks, Big Bill, and The House of Black. It was quite the surprising moment as one would anticipate LFI joining in on the gang assault of the former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champion, but instead Rush, Preston Vance, Dralistico, and Jose stood at their side to even out the numbers.

Well this Saturday night LFI will stand by the side of FTR once again as AEW World Tag Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks are joined by The Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony for a big eight-man tag team battle! This is going to be a wild one with eight men who just love to fight, and may even have some implications on the future of tag team division. A pinfall on Big Bill or Ricky Starks could be the ticket to a championship challenge, but a loss to them could knock one out of contention as well. Can any referee manage to contain the chaos that this fight will be, especially given what we’ve seen out of LFI in their recent videos?

GRUDGE MATCH…

AR Fox vs. Swerve Strickland

It wasn’t that long ago that AR Fox stood side-by-side with Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana to invade the home of Nick Wayne for the purpose of assaulting the young man to send Darby Allin a message. The reality of it was simply Swerve using AR Fox, preying on his anxieties and worries, to drive a wedge between he and Darby, and it worked, albeit temporarily, but once it was no longer convenient, Swerve dumped Fox cold prior to ALL IN: LONDON.

Seeing the error of his ways, Fox attempted to make amends with both Darby and Nick Wayne, though only the former was willing to accept the apology, and perhaps that willingness of Allin’s played a role in Nick’s decision to join up with Christian Cage. That’s neither here nor there for tonight though, tonight is all about AR Fox setting his sights on revenge against Swerve Strickland for what was done to him. Though it was Fox’s decision to sign up with The Mogul Embassy, it certainly wasn’t with the expectation of being stabbed in the back as soon as his usefulness to Swerve was done.

So this is a night of hopeful redemption for AR Fox, a chance to wash away his sins, and begin anew free of the stain of the Mogul Embassy! Can he do it, or will Swerve stomp Fox’s chest in as part of his message to Hangman Page ahead of FULL GEAR 2023?

HEAD-TO-HEAD…

Willow Nightingale vs. Emi Sakura

https://www.youtube.com/embed/UVOiTX_eaQc?si=hdxUmivt3x1HsZ8h&start=140

On the June 2nd edition of RAMPAGE, in her first defense of the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship, Willow Nightingale bested Emi Sakura in a hard-hitting bout indicative of what the newborn championship means to those involved. That wasn’t their first encounter, they’ve been on opposing sides of several tags and trios over the last year, but it was their only singles match to date prior to this Saturday night!

So with that June loss in mind, Emi Sakura steps back into the ring with Willow to try and even the score, while Willow has this week’s happenings with Skye Blue and Julia Hart, as well as her loss to Hikaru Shida, floating around her mind. As AEW makes its debut in Wichita, will it be Emi’s night or Willow’s night?

THE SUSSEX COUNTY CHICKEN ARRIVES!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/s71-qHIOC40?si=p38FcmMSjfqoakDW&start=376

After making his return to All Elite Wrestling in Philadelphia last week on RAMPAGE, Mark Briscoe will be in the house this Saturday night to make his COLLISION debut! It’s been some time since the 13-Time ROH World Tag Champion has been in action, an injury keeping him sidelined for the last several months, so what brings him to Wichita this weekend? Tune in to find out!

This Saturday night AEW makes its debut in Wichita at the Intrust Bank Arena with a stacked night of COLLISION! LFI and FTR take on Big Bill, Ricky Starks, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona while Mercedes Martinez and Willow Nightingale go head-to-head, Darby Allin and Lance Archer lock up, AR Fox and Swerve Strickland go one-on-one, and so much more!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Z9BgOI2H-I?si=AjNgryXm8NYL6cM_

Prior to the night getting started, be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from this week’s episodes of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, the latest editions of CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!

AEW Dynamite Preview for November 1, 2023

November 1, 2023
Tagged as: Adam Cole, AEW, AEW Dark, AEW Dynamite, AEW News, AEW Rampage, All Elite, All Elite Wrestling, Battle of the Belts, Being the Elite, belt, big, Breaking, Bryan Danielson, BTE, Bullet Club, chris jericho, don callis, Dust, Dynamite, Elite, Forbidden Door, FOX, From, Full Gear, gold, HELP, Highlights, Jericho, Juice Robinson, kenny omega, Max, Max Caster, MJF, njpw, Orange Cassidy, OWN, Power, ROH, SAW, SEE, Show, Switch, Tag, TBS, The, The Acclaimed, the man, title, Toni Storm, Wednesday, Well, Willow, WON, Wrestling, YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/embed/83MiJcWtEOc?si=ZTlIs0hiMA7ELgqv&start=168

Saturday night’s edition of COLLISION brought the AEW faithful an epic World Championship match between Kenny Omega and Maxwell Jacob Friedman that saw the defending champion top his challenger to not only retain, but to also cement his status as the longest-reigning AEW World Champion of all time. As of Wednesday November 1st MJF has officially hit the 347-day mark of his reign atop the mountain, thus surpassing Kenny Omega’s record, and leaving him with one World Championship record left to break, that being Moxley’s nine successful defenses. A win over Jay White at FULL GEAR 2023 would tie that marker, but Max still has a ways to go before he gets to The KIA Forum, and part of that is his fight with The Bang Bang Gang on DYNAMITE!

Also last Saturday, Hikaru Shida continued her third reign as AEW Women’s World Champion by defeating Abadon in a Fright Night Fight, the aforementioned BULLET CLUB GOLD was successful in picking up two victories in their Saturday night fights, and Samoa Joe continued his march towards breaking Jay Lethal’s 567-day record reign as ROH World TV Champion with his victory over Rhett Titus!

DYNAMITE is stacked for AEW’s debut in Louisville, KY at the KFC YUM! Center with MJF possibly taking on the entirety of BULLET CLUB GOLD by himself, Hikaru Shida facing Willow Nightingale’s challenge, the AEW International Championship on the line, and more! The night begins at at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so swing by the official AEW YouTube channel to watch highlights from last week’s DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, an unforgettable COLLISION, as well as this week’s CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!

EIGHT-MAN TAG MATCH…

AEW World & ROH World Tag Champion MJF, ???, ???, & ???

vs. BULLET CLUB GOLD (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Jay White, & Juice Robinson)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/qlIAH9PxiTo?si=mI0WGdh9CfXavtxo&start=168

As of Wednesday, after topping Kenny Omega in their epic COLLISION bout, Maxwell Jacob Friedman has officially become the longest-reigning AEW World Champion in history, surpassing Omega, with the only record associated with that championship left to break being the most championship defenses. That record is currently held by Jon Moxley during his first title reign, holding steady at nine, with MJF having the potential to tie it at FULL GEAR 2023 when he faces “Switchblade” Jay White in his next title defense. The fact that Jay has physical possession of the MJF’s prized Triple B is meaningless to the actual lineage, just merely a tool for “King Switch” to use to antagonize the actual champion as long as the belt sits in the BC GOLD camp.

Clearly the issue is getting to Max as he attempted, despite having that match with Omega on his plate later in the night, to reclaim the title belt following Jay White’s victory over AR Fox. Once again unsuccessful in his attempt, MJF now has to take on the whole of The Bang Bang Gang this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE if wants to get the Triple B back from Jay White. There’s only one problem, Max has essentially told everyone willing to help him out to kick rocks, not The Kingdom, not Roderick Strong, not The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, and as far as Samoa Joe’s offer, well Max didn’t scream Joe’s name for help, but he didn’t say no either.

So who will it be? Will it even be anyone? Is there anyone MJF will accept help from, or who will even be willing to stick their neck out for him? After all, despite his recent titling towards the side of the angels, this man is still The Devil who perpetrated a great deal of pain and suffering on many individuals throughout All Elite Wrestling, and why anyone would trust him is generally beyond logic. Yet here is Joe offering a hand, albeit with that championship caveat, and Max Caster searching for friendship based on their shared history at the Create A Pro Academy, while The Kingdom and Roderick Strong are doing it to stay in Adam Cole’s good graces.That’s a lot of firepower that could be on Max’s side, but he doesn’t want a part of any of it, even with the full power of BULLET CLUB GOLD standing in front of him. There’s brave, and then there is foolhardy, and it is very clear which of the two that the AEW World Champion is choosing…

AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Orange Cassidy(c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli

On Wednesday night in Philadelphia, Claudio Castagnoli pinned AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy to win the bout for the Blackpool Combat Club. Unfortunately that victory came at a cost to “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson as Claudio detailed Saturday night on COLLISION. Whether it was The Rainmaker Clothesline or The Orange Punch, the end result was Danielson suffering a fracture to his orbital bone. So while Claudio had the thrill of pinning a champion, he also had the agony of knowing his BCC brother was down at the hands of their opponents.

For Claudio, there can at least be some solace knowing that he can get revenge for Danielson in short order because, as a result of pinning Cassidy on DYNAMITE, the former 2-Time ROH World Champion will challenge for the AEW International Championship! This marks the first time Castagnoli, a former 2-Time ROH World Champion, will challenge for a singles title in All Elite Wrestling, with that recent AEW World Tag Title loss to Big Bill & Ricky Starks being Claudio’s only other AEW title fight.

Orange has proven he won’t back down from any fight, he even had the gumption to shoulder into Jon Moxley unprovoked which nearly led into a brawl of its own at BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII, and he has stated his intention to move forward in his second reign as International Champion just like he did with the first. That means defending at every opportunity against every opponent who wants an opportunity, despite the physical and mental toll it took on the man. It was obvious, and OC didn’t hide it, that losing the title shook him to the core and he lost some sense of identity without it around his waist. Reclaiming it, albeit from Rey Fenix rather than Mox, restored some of that identity, but it is not a reach to assume Cassidy wants another fight with Moxley; why else purposefully run into the man? But before that’s even a possibility, Cassidy has to survive the onslaught of The Swiss Superman in his next championship defense! Will the AEW International Championship return to The Blackpool Combat Club this Wednesday night in Louisville?

TAG TEAM CHALLENGE…

Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ang vs. Golden Jets (Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega)

Much to the chagrin of Daniel Garcia, and the utter annoyance of Anna Jay, last Friday on RAMPAGE Daddy Magic, Cool Hand Ang, and maybe even Jake Hager, seemed buy into the garbage that Don Callis was selling to them. It certainly took some of the focus of Anna’s attempts to earn that COLLISION title match with Shida, in fact she was the one that Abadon defeated to take the title match, and perhaps knowing that some of her friends were focused on other business kept her from focusing 100% on her own.

Disappointingly, Menard and Parker have decided to take Don Callis up on his offer and this Wednesday night in Louisville, they will face Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho in tag team action! The Golden Jets, as Jericho dubbed them, are coming into this one with Omega fresh off a hard-fought AEW World Championship bout with MJF this past Saturday night and Chris Jericho hopefully recovered from the assault he suffered at the hands of Powerhouse Hobbs!

Will Callis’ newfound allies be successful against the two former AEW World Champions, or will the unlikely allies be victorious and frustrate Callis?

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Hikaru Shida(c) vs. Willow Nightingale

https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWSobRJB5-E?si=7F-yVW4geE6YxNqq&start=168

Coming off a COLLISION’s Fright Fight with Abadon, the AEW Women’s World Champion is right back in action defending her title against all-comers, and the next one to step up to the plate is fan favorite Willow Nightingale!

As of late Willow has invested her time in whatever is going on with Skye Blue since both were misted by Julia Hart’s “spooky dust” (as Willow dubbed it), and we’ve all seen it bring some changes to Skye while Nightingale has remained true to herself. TBS Champion Kris Statlander tried to bridge the gap on COLLISION to no avail, and now with this opportunity on her table, Willow Nightingale is really going to have to put Skye on the back burner and focus on the task at hand. This is just Willow’s second opportunity at the title, the first coming back at FORBIDDEN DOOR 2023 against Toni Storm, and her second ever match with Hikaru Shida with the first actually taking place on the Jericho Cruise earlier this year.

Will Willow be frustrated by Shida in this championship bid, or can the first-ever NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion add an AEW title to her trophy case as well? Tune in Wednesday night to see how it all goes down!

DYNAMITE comes your way with AEW’s Louisville, KY debut hailing from the KFC YUM! Center. We will see AEW World Champion MJF, and perhaps some partners, taking on the whole of The Bang Bang Gang, Hikaru Shida defends her title against Willow Nightingale, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy fights The BCC’s Claudio Castagnoli, and much more in store! The show kicks off at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, and at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel to catch highlights from last week’s DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as this week’s CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!

AEW Dynamite Preview for October 25, 2023

October 25, 2023
Tagged as: 2024, 209, Adam Cole, AEW, AEW Dark, AEW Dynamite, AEW News, AEW Rampage, All Elite, All Elite Wrestling, ALL IN, All out, Battle of the Belts, Being the Elite, belt, Bryan Danielson, BTE, Bucks, Bullet Club, chris jericho, Christian, Christian Cage, don callis, Dynamite, Elite, Event, Finals, Fired, Forbidden Door, From, Full Gear, gold, Hangman Adam Page, HELP, Highlights, Jade Cargill, Jericho, Juice Robinson, London, Max, Max Caster, MJF, Orange Cassidy, OWN, Professional Wrestling, Returns, Revolution, ROH, ROH Wrestling, Saraya, SEE, share, Show, sting, Swerve, Tag, TBS, Test, The, The Acclaimed, the man, the young bucks, title, TNT, Toni Storm, Tony Khan, Tournament, Wednesday, Well, WON, Wrestledream, Wrestling, Young Bucks, YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/embed/_9VrmRqRfDM?si=1BlI598LbYO71Hq2

After a jam-packed week of action with three events, All Elite Wrestling returns to one of DYNAMITE’s first homes at the Liacouras Center on the Philadelphia campus of Temple University! With it comes the Dynamite Diamond Ring clash between AEW World & ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF and BULLET CLUB GOLD’s Juice Robinson ahead of Max’s scheduled clash with “Switchblade” Jay White at FULL GEAR 2023! In addition, Hikaru Shida will put her AEW Women’s World Championship on the line against Ruby Soho, Rob Van Dam and HOOK will clash with The Dark Order, and we will hear from Chris Jericho as he sits down with Renee Paquette!

But that’s not all: we will also see a huge dream team match-up as AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy brings Kazuchika Okada back to AEW for a tag team clash with Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli of The Blackpool Combat Club! In addition, AEW President Tony Khan has a gift for “The Icon” Sting after his stunning announcement last week, and The Elite will put their ROH World Six-Man Championship on the line against The Hardys and Brother Zay!

DYNAMITE is loaded for AEW’s return to Philadelphia, and the action gets underway beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans! Before the night starts, visit the official AEW YouTube channel to watch highlights from last week’s DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION and BATTLE OF THE BELTS, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!

DYNAMITE DIAMOND RING MATCH…

AEW World & ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF vs. “Rock Hard” Juice Robinson

https://www.youtube.com/embed/h7YT96gSsEY?si=aEdUS4wRjsySHB6j&start=113

As of this moment, AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman is set to clash with BULLET CLUB GOLD’s “Switchblade” Jay White at FULL GEAR 2023 (https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-event/aew-full-gear-2023) on Saturday November 18th, and with that on the horizon, The Bang Bang Gang has done everything they can to make Max’s life hellish. They’ve attacked him, stolen his Triple B championship belt, mocked the Dynamite Diamond Ring MJF has managed to keep in his possession since 2019, and now after Juice Robinson won the Battle Royale last week, they aim to rob him of that accessory as well.

Sure Max, or at least someone wearing his signature devil mask, and a gang of other disguised individuals fired back at Jay White by assaulting him backstage, but circumstantial evidence aside, and taking the man’s word with a grain of salt, MJF claims the mask was stolen from his bags. Now historically speaking Maxwell Jacob Friedman has not been the most trustworthy individual, but his somewhat matured attitude towards everything lends him a credibility he didn’t have earlier this year.

But MJF is going to have to put all that aside, everything BC GOLD has put him through the last several weeks and the distractions of everything surrounding Adam Cole’s surgery, and focus on the task at hand with Juice Robinson. With Cole’s out, and MJF clearly not interested in the help offered by Max Caster, the AEW World Champion is quite alone in a situation where Juice and The Bang Bang Gang will absolutely use their numbers to further break MJF down before FULL GEAR 2023.

Will “Rock Hard” be the first person not named MJF to lay claim to the Dynamite Diamond Ring? Max won the Battle Royale, and the subsequent singles match, three years running while last year defended the AEW World Title, as well as possession of the ring, in a match versus Ricky Starks. So while history is on MJF’s side, the other side has four men on it who will conspire together to insure the current holder of the Dynamite Diamond Ring doesn’t spend another night with it on his finger…

A DREAM TEAM…

AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy & Kazuchika Okada

vs.

Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli)

Four months ago to the day, at FORBIDDEN DOOR 2023, Bryan Danielson defeated “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada with a broken arm. It was the culmination of a hard-hitting twenty-eight minute fight, one fans had dreamed about seeing for years finally coming to fruition, that far exceeded expectations, and left people clamoring for more. Okada, for one, was certainly game for a rematch, quoted as saying “If there is a time to have a rematch, I’d like to win even if I have to break both of Danielson’s arms next time.”!

Well, as Orange Cassidy announced to the world after winning his BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII International Championship defense against John Silver, “The Rainmaker” will have that chance this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when he returns to AEW for this tag team dream match! The multi-time IWGP Champion will team with the 2-Time AEW International Champion to take on The Blackpool Combat Club of Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli!

This match marks the first time Okada has been in Philadelphia since ROH WRESTLING Episode #209, available on Honor Club now, was taped in August 2015! It’s been over eight years since “The Rainmaker” graced the City of Brotherly Love, and now he’s back for this huge tag team collision that’s as much about OC and Jon Moxley as it is Danielson/Okada. Moxley may not be cleared for combat quite yet, but clearly he and “Freshly Squeezed” are on a collision course revolving around that AEW International Championship. What Orange did when he purposefully shoulder bumped Moxley was way outside the norm for the 2-Time International Champion, as was the manner in which he lofted the belt overhead as Mox was pulled away by his BCC brethren, as if Orange was challenging the man who beat him for the belt back at GRAND SLAM 2023.

So while OC and Mox may not get their hands on one another quite yet, Cassidy is more than happy to fight the other members of The Blackpool Combat Club this week, and no matter who the victor is when the final bell rings, the AEW faithful are all winners! This is Danielson and Okada in the ring once more, this is Danielson and OC fighting for the first time, Claudio and Okada for the first time, and it goes down this Wednesday night on TBS! Dreams do come true…

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Hikaru Shida(c) vs. Ruby Soho

It is clear as day that Ruby Soho is beyond frustrated with her championship situation, or rather lack thereof, in All Elite Wrestling: frustrated at GRAND SLAM 2021 by Dr. Britt Baker in their AEW Women’s World Championship fight, and beaten by Jade Cargill in the finals of the TBS Championship Tournament on January 5, 2022. Then it was the loss at REVOLUTION 2023 in a Three Way World Championship fight with Jamie Hayter and Saraya, the defeat at Kris Statlander’s hands in their TBS Championship bout at ALL OUT 2023, and the loss to Hikaru Shida in their #1 Contender’s match on the 9/29/23 edition of RAMPAGE, a victory that Shida parlayed into her third reign as champion at Saraya’s expense.

So with all that piled on her head, not to mention everything that’s gone down with “Timeless” Toni Storm, Ruby is hellbent on finally becoming a champion in All Elite Wrestling, to the point where she made this challenge to Hikaru Shida despite having ate that loss a month ago. Ruby wants what she feels she deserves, and given her temperament when she delivered those words on COLLISION, she may be willing to do anything to make it happen.

For Shida, this is a possibly a chance to move past The Outcasts, to add a championship win over Ruby Soho to that of her recent one over Saraya and her DYNAMITE #200 one over Toni Storm. It’s also the opportunity to celebrate this third championship reign the way Shida couldn’t with the second when Saraya stole it from her at ALL IN: LONDON, by pinning Storm, after just twenty-five days. Can Ruby bring Shida’s third championship reign to an even shorter conclusion than her second and finally achieve what she’s craved since her first day in AEW?

ROH WORLD SIX-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

The Elite (Hangman Adam Page, Matt Jackson, & Nick Jackson)

vs.

Brother Zay & The Hardys (Jeff & Matt)

The Elite of Adam Page and The Young Bucks captured the ROH World Six-Man Championship titles from The Mogul Embassy at RAMPAGE: GRAND SLAM 2023, beginning their second reign as champions some five and a half years after the conclusion of their first. While all three men have been distracted with other business in the months since that victory, none have forgotten about their responsibility as champions and how that entails actually defending the titles.

It is with that in mind that Hangman and the brothers Jackson laid out an Open Challenge for this Wednesday night in Philadelphia, leaving the door open for any three individuals to walk through and try to claim the titles for themselves. Well it looks like two men men named Hardy heard the call, and found their third in another named Brother Zay who’s grown quite close to Matt and Jeff over the last couple years. Now The Hardys and Zay have only gone the trios route on two instances, once to challenge Daddy Ass and The Acclaimed for the AEW World Trios Titles and another to face Garcia, Parker, and Menard, and have lost on both occasions, but that isn’t going to stop them from taking the gamble when there’s a championship at stake.

The Hardys do know a thing or two about beating The Young Bucks, while Matt, Hangman, and Brother Zay have some history of their own here in AEW; which trio will walk away dominant and which will be despondent?

TAG TEAM CHALLENGE…

The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. FTW Champion HOOK & Rob Van Dam

The Dark Order are quite unhappy with the outcome of John Silver’s AEW International Championship fight with Orange Cassidy that took place at BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII. Though Silver fought the good fight, “Freshly Squeezed” left with the championship still in his backpack, but for John and Alex Reynolds the deal isn’t over yet.

As they said, since they can’t get their hands on OC this Wednesday seeing as how he’s got that tag match already on his plate, they’ve elected to target a pair of his friends in Rob Van Dam and the FTW Champion HOOK. This being Philadelphia, the home of the promotion where RVD really made his name in professional wrestling, it’s akin to a homecoming for the multi-time World Champion, a return to a city he hasn’t competed in since December 2022, and only six times in the last decade at that. Together, though it’s only been that one match thus far, RVD and HOOK have gelled quite well as a tag team, but they will be put to the test by Alex Reynolds and John Silver on Wednesday night.

Those two Dark Order members are one of the most experienced pairs in All Elite Wrestling, having worked as a team since 2011, and captured multiple championships together before their entry into AEW. Though they’ve been frustrated as team, only challenging one time for the AEW World Tag Titles and once for the ROH tag belts, that doesn’t change the fact they are a dangerous duo with a chip on their shoulder and a reborn malice in their hearts.

Orange Cassidy may be the target of their animosity, but it’s Cassidy’s friends potentially taking stray bullets this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE. Obviously The Dark Order doesn’t care who feels their wrath, as long as it hurts Orange Cassidy in the process…

A GIFT FOR STING…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BeVv8BbZIEk?si=c2n2DBRp2siILr9C

A week ago we heard “The Icon” Sting tell the world that REVOLUTION 2024, wherever that may take place and on whatever date it may take place, will be his last day competing as a professional wrestler. Though he has often used the line “The only for certain about Sting is that nothing is for certain”, “The Icon” made a point to say that this was for certain. Exactly what shape that final night will take remains to be seen, and luckily we all still have several months to show the man our appreciation for everything he’s meant to professional wrestling, and to so many lives around the world.

One man who intends to show his appreciation for Sting this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE is AEW’s CEO Tony Khan, and he apparently has a gift for “The Icon” he intends to present right here in Philadelphia. It’s a city Sting’s quite familiar with, a place where’s he’s won and lost championships, and a city whose wrestling history he’s been a part of since 1987; what will this next trip to Philly mean to “The Icon” as he heads towards the end of the road next year?

CHRIS JERICHO & RENEE PAQUETTE…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tiONqBXsIq0?si=egBFwcBeOQRqlZpf&start=59

Powerhouse Hobbs decimated Chris Jericho like no man has done since the inception of All Elite Wrestling, and possibly like no man has ever done to Chris in the whole of his career. It was an explosion of so much pent-up within the former TNT Champion, years and years of emotion and rage, and though it was Don Callis who harnessed those emotions to unleash upon Chris Jericho, it was Powerhouse who did the damage.

Now, after the AEW faithful being subjected to Don Callis and his ilk last week, it is time for Chris Jericho to share his thoughts with the world, something he will do when he sits down with Renee Paquette this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE. How is Jericho feeling? What is running through his head after Callis’ latest affront and after hearing Powerhouse Hobbs’ words? The AEW faithful will find out Wednesday night on TBS!

SWERVE’S GOT WORDS…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/OoV7KNa-A7c?si=PZgIyda3-BvDh-Vr

This Wednesday night in Philly Swerve Strickland has some thoughts to share regarding “Hangman” Adam Page and his involvement in Strickland’s match with Bryan Danielson. In the mind of Swerve, if Page hadn’t inserted himself into the fracas it would’ve been Strickland challenging Christian Cage for the TNT Championship instead of “The American Dragon”, and Swerve would’ve won the title whereas Danielson lost.

The reality is that Hangman, despite having an upcoming match with Jay White on his plate, chose to put himself into that fight to stop Swerve Strickland from cheating the same way he did at WRESTLEDREAM to defeat Page. Hangman was only there to make sure it was fair, and that is what played a part in costing Swerve his TNT Championship opportunity.

So on DYNAMITE, in the City of Brotherly Love, Swerve Strickland aims to address the former AEW World Champion about this situation, and we shall see what that leads to, especially considering Hangman has a ROH World Six-Man Championship title defense already on his plate for the evening.

This Wednesday night, DYNAMITE comes back to Philadelphia’s Liacouras Center with a jam-packed night of action beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans! Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale winner Juice Robinson takes on AEW World Champion MJF with his prized Dynamite Diamond Ring at stake, Kazuchika Okada returns to AEW to team with Orange Cassidy for a tag team bout with The BCC, Hikaru Shida defends the AEW Women’s World Championship against Ruby Soho, and so much more set to go down! Be sure to drop by the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, BATTLE OF THE BELTS, and COLLISION, as well as the newest edition of THE CONTROL CENTER to get prepared!

AEW Battle of the Belts VIII – 10/21/23

October 22, 2023
Tagged as: AEW, AEW Dark, AEW Dynamite, AEW News, AEW Rampage, All Elite Wrestling, Battle of the Belts, Being the Elite, BTE, The

**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION & Battle of the Belts VIII was broadcast live from the FedExForum in Memphis, TN!
Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
Dream Match!
Andrade El Idolo
vs.
Blackpool Combat Club’s “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
They chain wrestled to start the match, both men having a feeling out process. Bryan wrenched Andrade’s neck with a bow and arrow type submission. Andrade escaped and smiled at Danielson.
Andrade was looking for the figure four, but Danielson kicked him away. Danielson and Andrade traded chops. Bryan began switching it up with kicks to Andrade. And then a headbutt. Danielson jumped off the apron with a running knee strike to Andrade.
Andrade connected with a flying forearm. Andrade sent Danielson outside with a springboard dropkick. Andrade moonsaulted out of the ring and onto Danielson.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Andrade smashed Danielson with a split legged moonsault for a near fall. Danielson headbutted Andrade and followed up with a dropkick from the top rope. Andrade came back with a dragon screw leg whip. Andrade had Bryan in the Tree of Woe and squashed him with a double stomp from the top.
Danielson countered Andrade’s moonsault by raising his knees. He stomped on Andrade’s head and then applied the LeBell Lock. Andrade escaped and trapped Danielson in the figure four. Danielson grabbed the ropes to force the ref break. Danielson and Andrade traded cradles and pin attempts, with Danielson ultimately getting the win!
“Both men wanted the best, and they got the best. But it was Bryan Danielson who got lucky tonight with a quick rollup of Andrade El Idolo,” said Nigel.
The arena lights went dark!
They turned back on, and Malakai Black was in the center of the ring! Black knocked out Danielson with a spin kick! The BCC ran to the ring, but the lights went out again. When the lights returned, Malakai Black had vanished.
Skye Blue vs. Hollyhood Haley!
Skye Blue shoved Haley. Blue knocked Hollyhood off her feet, mounted her, and grounded and pounded her. Skye connected with a thrust kick and followed up with a running powerbomb. Skye Blue rolled up Haley and pinned her.
Bullet Club Gold’s The Gunns—Austin & Colten Gunn (with “Switchblade” Jay White)
vs.
Outrunners!
Turbo used an arm drag on Colten. Colten fired back with a stiff strike and then he stomped Turbo in the corner of the ring.
Austin tagged in and rammed the Outrunners together. The Gunns finished things off with the 3:10 to Yuma and pinned Turbo.
“Mission statement from the Gunns tonight, they want gold,” said Kevin Kelly.
After the match, the lights in the arena went dark! A man in a Devil mask was watching on from somewhere in the arena.
“Man, Jay White looks spooked,” said Kevin Kelly.
The fans chanted “MJF! MJF! MJF!”
Memphis Street Fight!
ROH World & NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston
vs.
Jeff Jarrett (with Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh, and Jay Lethal)!
If Jeff Jarrett wins, Jay Lethal get a Ring Of Honor World Championship Match.
Legendary Memphis announcer Dave Brown joined commentary for this match.
Jarrett swung a trash can lid at Kingston and Kingston blocked it. Kingston whacked Jeff with a kendo stick. Jarrett blasted Eddie with a cooler. Jeff rammed Eddie into the guardrail.
Kingston squeezed ketchup and mustard on Jarrett. Karen distracted Eddie and then Jay Lethal rocked Eddie with a cutter off the ramp and then through a table!
Back in the ring, Jeff cracked Eddie with a lead pipe on the leg. Jarrett went to work on Eddie’s leg and knee with a trash can! Jarrett bashed Eddie with a bar tabletop. Jarrett locked in the figure four in the center of the ring. Eddie flipped off Jeff!
Kingston reversed the figure four. Jay Lethal jumped off the top rope but Eddie rolled out of the way. Eddie chopped Lethal and Jarrett in the chest. Kingston fired off machine gun chops. Karen got in the ring and distracted Eddie, but Eddie cracked Jeff with a spinning back fist for a near fall.
Jeff Jarrett went for the Lethal Injection, but Eddie countered with a half and half. Kingston wiped out Satnam with a guitar shot. Jeff smashed Eddie with the Stroke for a near fall! Satnam choke slammed Eddie and then Jarrett hit another Stroke. Lethal connected with the Lethal Injection. Jarrett covered Eddie and pinned him.
“This is an absolute mugging,” said Nigel.
Action Andretti vs. “The Redeemer” Miro!
“Hot and flexible” CJ Perry came down to the ring before the match started, taking a ringside seat to scout things.
Miro battered Action in the corner. Andretti dropkicked Miro as Miro came rushing in. Miro clubbed Andretti with a lariat. Action came back with a jawbreaker to Miro.
Miro ate a kick from Andretti. Action rocked Miro with shots in the corner, but Miro shoved him away. Action flipped over the top rope with a tope con hiro and landed on Miro, right in front of CJ Perry on the floor.
Miro countered a cross body by planting Andretti. Miro went for the Game Over, but Action slipped out and then spiked Miro with a DDT! Action followed up with a shotgun dropkick! Action hit a springboard 450 but Miro kicked out immediately. Miro stunned Action with a thrust kick and then applied the Game Over. The ref stopped the match and awarded the victory to Miro.
Eddie Kingston was backstage getting stitched up.
Kingston: “Jay Lethal, do you know why I made you jump through hoops to earn this title shot? It’s because you call a man who’s not your blood ‘uncle.’ The Jay Lethal I knew used to love pro wrestling, until you started hanging out with Jeff Jarrett. You are not a pro wrestler anymore, Jay. You are Jeff Jarrett’s bitch. You’ve lost your way. Get your title shot. Go ahead, congrats, but you better find your way before you come at me again.”
FTR—Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler
vs.
Bad Thad Brown & Darian Bengston!
Bad Thad took advantage of Cash having his back turned but Cash came right back with a press slam.
The arena lights went out again! When the lights returned, Malakai Black was standing in the ring!
“It’s Malakai Black again!” said Tony Schiavone.
The lights went back out. This time when the lights came back on, the House of Black were standing there, and they ambushed FTR! Brody King cracked Cash with the cast on his wrist!
“The House of Black returning to Collision tonight with authority,” said Kevin Kelly.
Main Event Time!
AEW World Tag Team Championship Match!
Big Bill & “Absolute” Ricky Starks (c.)
vs.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta!
Jim Ross joined the broadcast team to provide his main event analysis.
Big Bill mauled Yuta with overhead chops. Wheeler fought back but after being distracted by Starks, Big Bill shoved Yuta off the apron. Starks whipped Yuta into the guardrail.
Big Bill planted Yuta with a Big Bossman slam! Bill hammered Yuta with an elbow drop. Claudio tagged in and cleaned house on Starks with European Uppercuts! Claudio clubbed Starks with lariats in the corner, shot after shot stinging Starks. Claudio dropkicked Starks after a single ax handle off the ropes.
Claudio had a full head of steam and ran around the ring and cracked Starks with a European Uppercut, and then dished out a massive uppercut to Big Bill! Claudio connected with a running lariat on Starks in the center of the ring.
Claudio put Starks in the Giant Swing! Yuta dropkicked the head of Starks. Big Bill ran in and tried to chokeslam Claudio and Yuta at the same time, but the BCC fought out of his grip. Yuta climbed to the top of Claudio’s back for the Fast Ball Special, but the House of Black ran to the ring and knocked Claudio down. Starks speared Yuta and pinned Yuta after the Rochambeau!
The House of Black circled the tag champs after the match. The House of Black triple teamed Wheeler Yuta. Danielson sprinted down but Starks and Brody stomped on him. FTR intervened, trying to even up the odds, but the House of Black had them outnumbered with the assistance of Big Bill and Ricky Starks.
Jon Moxley returned! He entered the fray, and he threw Buddy Matthews out of the ring! The FTR and the BCC teamed up, forcing the House of Black and Starks and Big Bill to retreat! Starks entered the ring again, thinking the House of Black were behind him, but they left him on his own. FTR hit Starks with the Big Rig!
“The House of Black have made their statement tonight!” said Nigel.
Battle Of The Belts VIII began…
AEW International Championship Match!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (c.)
vs.
Dark Order’s John Silver (with Alex Reynolds)!
As Orange Cassidy was making his entrance, Moxley was leaving the ring. They bumped into each other on the ramp and then had to be pulled apart. Moxley had to be held back.
John Silver cracked Cassidy with kicks on the ring apron. Orange climbed to the top turnbuckle. Silver grabbed him and planed him face first across the ring apron! Back in the ring, Orange tried for a backslide, but Silver escaped. Orange came back with the Stun Dog Millionaire and then the Beach Break for a near fall!
Alex Reynolds grabbed the title belt and cracked Cassidy in the head with it. Silver rolled up Orange for a near fall. Silver nailed Orange with an airplane spin type maneuver for a two-count. Orange pulped Silver with the Orange Punch and pinned Silver!
Lexy Nair interviewed Andrade El Idolo backstage!
Andrade was interrupted by CJ Parker. She said with a little guidance, he could become the biggest wrestling star in the world.
Tony Nese (with “Smart” Mark Sterling)
vs.
ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe!
Samoa Joe jabbed at Nese. Tony Nese kicked Joe and back elbowed him. Nese went for a moonsault, but Joe stepped out of the way. Samoa Joe steamrolled right over Tony Nese! Samoa Joe finished off Tony Nese with the Muscle Buster and pinned him!
Samoa Joe: “MJF…tonight I bring you a gift, my friend. The gift of foresight and what you foresee is that I am coming for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. Now Max, what you do with this gift is very, very important.
“You can give me what I want, or Max, I can put you in a position where you are forced to give me what I want. Because I am Samoa Joe, the one true king of television, and I will be the next AEW World Heavyweight Champion!”
TBS Championship Match!
Kris Statlander (c.) vs. Willow Nightingale!
Kris leapfrogged Willow and then knocked her down with a shoulder tackle. Outside the ring, Willow rammed Kris into the steel post. Willow followed up with a cannonball against the steel steps.
Willow cracked Kris with rapid fire headbutts. Willow hurled Kris across the ring. She caught Kris in the corner and clocked her with rapid fire lariats. Kris swept out Willow’s legs and connected with a somersault senton. Kris dazed Willow with a Saturday Night Fever Blue for a near fall.
Willow charged at Kris with a big pounce! Kris spiked Willow with a DDT for a near fall! Willow hoisted up Kris and planted her with an avalanche Death Valley Driver off the top for a two-count!
Willow choked Kris and crashed into Kris with a cannonball in the corner. Willow climbed to the top, but Kris got up and powerbombed Willow! Kris splashed Willow with a 450 and pinned Willow!
Kris offered her hand to Willow but Skye Blue ran down and told Willow to refuse. Willow thought about it and then accepted Kris’ hand. Willow walked away without Skye Blue.
Skye Blue looked disgusted as Willow walked away from her.
Lexy Nair interviewed AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy backstage!
“Jon Moxley, you got in my face. Your friends, Claudio, Bryan, they got in my face. I don’t care about Yuta. How about Bryan and Claudio meet me and Okada in Philadelphia this Wednesday on Dynamite. And then we can fight.”
Main Event Time!
AEW World Trios Championship Match!
The Acclaimed—Anthony Bowens and Max Caster, & Daddy Ass (c.)
vs.
Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, & Daniel Garcia!
Anna Jay jumped into the ring to stop Garcia from doing his dance. The ref ejected Anna Jay from the ring. Matt Menard seized the moment and blindsided Bowens.
Bowens fought back with strikes to Menard and Parker. Daddy Ass tagged in, and he and Bowens dropped a double elbow on Menard. Caster hit a double ax handle from the top rope on Menard. Garcia tagged in and put the boots to Caster.
Bowens was triple teamed in the corner. Daddy Ass tagged in and cleaned house on all three members of the competition. He scoop slammed Menard. Bowens smashed Menard with the Scissor Me Timbers.
Garcia went to do his dance, but Caster rolled him up from behind for a near fall. Garcia clotheslined Caster and then danced. Daddy Ass smashed Garcia with the Fame Asser. The Acclaimed planted Garcia and Bowens pinned him!
“He shouldn’t have danced,” said Tony Schiavone.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Article source: allelitewrestling.com

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After two huge nights on DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, All Elite Wrestling is right back at it this Saturday night with two massive events in a single evening! COLLISION and BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII come to you this Saturday night from the FedEx Forum in Memphis and kick off on TNT starting at 8pm ET/9pm CT! Between the two events, four championships will be at stake, including The Blackpool Combat Club challenging Big Bill and Ricky Starks for the AEW World Tag Titles, The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass defending the AEW World Trios Championship, Kris Statlander facing Willow Nightingale for the TBS Title, and Orange Cassidy making the first defense of his second AEW International Championship reign against John Silver! Plus Action Andretti tries to survive Miro and Jeff Jarrett meets Eddie Kingston in a Memphis Street Fight where a potential championship match for Jay Lethal is at stake!

Before the night begins, make a point to drop by the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from this week’s episodes of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, the latest editions of CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!

COLLISION

AEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Big Bill & Ricky Starks(c) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1i-Na4CO3l8?si=vGnIPugzedjOBY2z

The hostilities between The Blackpool Combat Club and the new AEW World Tag Tag Champions has been relentless over the last several weeks. Originally born as an issue between Ricky Starks and Bryan Danielson, it has grown into something bigger and now the entire BCC is involved in the scenario.

Now, with Big Bill and Ricky Starks decimating FTR to claim the tag championship, there are titles involved as well and after their dominating performance on RAMPAGE, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta will challenge for the gold! This BCC duo are 11-2 in tag team competition, have won their last four bouts following that win Friday night, and have far greater tag team experience than the champs.

That being said, in their wins over Danielson/Claudio and FTR, Big Bill and “Absolute” Ricky Starks have looked tremendous, complimenting each other as a team, and clearly doing something right with how they handled Dax and Cash to win the belts. In their time in AEW, no team has beaten down FTR the way Bill and Ricky did, and hopefully Claudio and Yuta were paying close attention to how that went down.

COLLISION has the potential to be a huge night for the Blackpool Combat Club, will it include the crowning of new AEW World Tag Team Champions?

DREAM MATCH…

Andrade El Idolo vs. “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson

The other reason it could be a huge night for BCC is right here: the first AEW clash between “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and Andrade El Idolo, a dream match between two of professional wrestling’s greatest competitors, each who want little more than to test themselves against the best from around the world!

It’s been five years since their last one-on-one fight took place, and both have grown tremendously as competitors, each traversing their own paths of championship success, heartbreaks and loss, paths that ultimately led both men to All Elite Wrestling where they debuted just a few months apart from each other. Andrade has been on a tear since the launch of COLLISION, the only blemish on his record being a loss to Jay White, giving him five wins over the last six bouts. On the other side, Bryan has six wins over his last seven matches, that loss being the TNT Championship bout with Christian Cage last week, and that includes defeating New Japan’s Kazuchika Okada with a broken arm.

So in this clash of the world’s finest, will it be a triumph for Danielson and The Blackpool Combat Club, or will it be Andrade El Idolo with the victory?

ONE-ON-ONE…

Action Andretti vs. “The Redeemer” Miro

Miro is not a happy man; despite his successes since the premiere of COLLISION, he finds himself unhappy with the AEW arrival of his wife CJ Perry, and her intentions to launch a management company. “The Redeemer” made it clear he renounced his wife, his god, essentially everything he felt was holding him back from being a true destroyer, so much so that when she did arrive at ALL OUT 2023, in the moment it seemed Miro didn’t even believe she was real.

Clearly that has changed, and Miro seems intent on stopping CJ from gaining any traction with any potential clients, as Action Andretti found out the hard way after he showed interest in CJ’s services:

So this Saturday night on COLLISION, in a fight he may live to regret, Action Andretti will go head-to-head with Miro after the events of last week. It’s clear Miro wants no other man anywhere near his wife, even in a professional situation, though he doesn’t want her involved in his career either, and Action Andretti may be used as the example to any others looking to CJ Perry for managerial guidance.

MEMPHIS STREET FIGHT…

ROH World & NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston

vs. Jeff Jarrett

***IF JARRETT WINS, JAY LETHAL GETS A ROH CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH***

Jay Lethal wants a shot at the ROH World Championship, he wants to join the Adam Cole Club as a 3-Time holder of the title, but apparently he doesn’t want to earn it himself through hard work in the ring, he just wants it handed to him because of past accomplishments. Now Eddie Kingston will gladly fight anyone and accept any challengers, but it is clear that Lethal and his contingent have a plan in mind as Lethal’s title opportunity is now married to this Memphis Street Fight between the ROH World Champion and Jeff Jarrett!

If Jarrett wins, Lethal will get his championship match with Eddie Kingston, and given the nature of a Street Fight, there has to be plans in motion between Jarrett, Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh, and Karen Jarrett. There’s no doubt Eddie will have to contend with all of that in order to survive this scenario on Saturday, and given the path Kingston has chosen in his travels through AEW and ROH, he will likely have to do it alone.

BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII

AEW WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens/Max Caster) & Daddy Ass(c)

vs.

Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia, & Matt Menard

TBS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Kris Statlander(c) vs. Willow Nightingale

https://www.youtube.com/embed/33EamAZEk2I?si=FWTYAXB7hvRH5IYe&start=384

Though this is a match that Kris Statlander requested, a championship opportunity she wanted to offer Willow Nightingale, it may prove to be Stat’s last if she can’t get her focus on the task at hand. Based on what went down on RAMPAGE, and Kris getting involved in the aftermath of Skye Blue’s fight with Ruby Soho, it seems the TBS Champion is a bit distracted by attitude Skye has adopted since being misted by Julia Hart several weeks ago.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mxvwseefsKY?si=sDXIeosvyv22xo_U&start=258

Interestingly enough, following Statlander and Skye’s championship match last Saturday on COLLISION, it was Willow Nightingale who came to the ring following the match to quell what seemed a potentially combustible situation. As Skye swatted away the helping hand of Statlander, it was Nightingale who seemed to say she had it under control and encouraged Statlander to back off.

Will this ongoing situation affect the TBS Championship match going down during BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII on Saturday night? Where will the focus of Statlander and Nightingale be when they lock up? This will be the first clash between these two women in AEW, and the fourth singles match of their career with the first going down in September 2017. Historically speaking, Willow has dominated their match history, winning all three of their previous encounters, so will that history repeat itself on Saturday and give us a new TBS Champion?

AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Orange Cassidy(c) vs. John Silver

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2BKkT49PjxE?si=G527Tk0T7W4hGsIM

Friday night on RAMPAGE, John Silver scored a victory over Brother Zay and Kip Sabian to earn this title fight with Orange Cassidy, his first singles championship match since March 24, 2021 when he challenged Darby Allin for the TNT Championship and just his second overall. Though he’s been in the mix for Trios and Tag championships over the years, the singles ranks have largely been untouched by Silver, having competed in just twenty singles matches, and carrying a record of thirteen wins and seven losses in those fights.

One of those losses, the first loss as a matter of fact, took place nearly three years ago at FULL GEAR 2020 and the man who had his raised in victory that night in Jacksonville was none other than “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy. Fast forward to 2023 and Cassidy has enjoyed great success in the singles ranks, standing as the only 2-Time International Champion and holding the record for most successful championship defenses of any title in the whole of AEW. In addition, at 326 days in that first run, he’s also one of the longest reigning champions of any AEW title holder, with only Jade Cargill, Hikaru Shida, MJF, and Kenny Omega holding titles for a longer.

Conversely John Silver has not held any championships, and neither has any member of The Dark Order since the late-Mr. Brodie Lee lost the TNT Championship back to Cody Rhodes in their vicious Dog Collar Match on the October 7, 2020 edition of DYNAMITE. That’s three years without a title for Silver and his kin, and he aims to end that drought this Saturday at BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII!

COLLISION and BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII come to you this Saturday night on TNT starting at 8pm ET/9pm CT, and feature four championship matches between the events, as well as a Memphis Street Fight with a potential title match at stake there as well! It all goes down at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from this week’s episodes of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, the latest editions of CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!

**CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!

Your broadcast team was Excalibur and Tony Schiavone!

It’s Friday night and you know what that means!

2/3 Falls Match!

CMLL’s World Historic Middleweight Champion, the Luchador Legend Mistico

vs.

CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky “Azucar” Romero!

Rocky ran into Mistico with a shoulder block. Rocky hit an arm drag but Mistico used an arm drag of his own. There was a stalemate early on.

Mistico came over the top with a tornillo, taking out Rocky on the arena floor. After a Russian leg sweep, Mistico wrenched back on Rocky’s knee and forced Rocky to tap, taking the first fall.

Rocky Romero tore at Mistico’s mask, and the ref had to warn him to stop. Rocky charged Mistico and took him off his feet with his Forever Clotheslines. Mistico clubbed Rocky with elbows but Rocky snap suplexed Mistico on the apron! Rocky followed up with a tope suicida!

Rocky superplexed Mistico back into the ring for a near fall. Rocky locked in the camel clutch in the center of the ring. Rocky stomped the back of Mistico’s head. Rocky pinned Mistico after the Sliced Bread!

“One fall apiece. This match is now sudden death,” said Excalibur.

Mistico took flight, jumping over the post and crashing onto Romero on the arena floor! Mistico scoop slammed Rocky. Mistico went for a moonsault but Rocky got his boots up to defend. Rocky blasted Mistico with an avalanche sliced bread but somehow Mistico kicked out at the two-count!

Mistico rocked Romero with the Spanish Fly for a near fall. Rocky smashed Mistico with a jawbreaker. Mistico planted Rocky with a destroyer. Mistico forced Rocky to tap out after the Fujiarwa armbar.

Footage was shown from last Wednesday of Jay Lethal and ROH World Champion facing off backstage!

Lethal: “You only want that championship because it was held by your trainer Homicide. Let me put an end to this sad reign. So, I demand that I get a Ring of Honor World Title shot!”

Stokely Hathaway said he had an idea. This Saturday, it’ll be Jeff Jarrett versus Eddie Kingston, and if Jeff wins, Jay Lethal will get a shot at the ROH World Championship.

Kingston: “You don’t have to mention Homicide’s name. You think I don’t know about Memphis wrestling, Jeff? I grew up on that. I’m going to take you out and I’m going to eat you alive.”

Jarrett: “See you Saturday.”

Three Way Match!

AEW International Championship Contender Match!

Brother Zay vs. Dark Order’s John Silver vs. Kip Sabian!

The winner challenges at Battle of the Belts VIII.

Brother Zay slipped behind and nailed Kip with a neck breaker. John Silver clubbed Zay from behind. Silver stunned Sabian with a German Suplex for a near fall.

Sabian swept out Silver’s leg. Kip took flight with an Arabian moonsault to Silver. Brother Zay jumped over the top rope and took out everyone with his perfect landing. Zay connected with a Swanton Bomb on Kip for a near fall. John Silver punted Brother Zay in the head and pinned him.

John Silver will face Orange Cassidy tomorrow for the AEW International Championship.

Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta

vs.

“The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith & Exodus Prime!

Bryan booted Yuta in the face and chopped Yuta, backing him into the corner. Yuta suplexed Keith. Exodus Prime tagged in, and Yuta catapulted him into Claudio’s arms, and Claudio planted him!

Claudio put Prime in the Giant Swing! He swung Prime and Yuta dropkicked Prime in the head! They finished things off with the Fastball Special, and Yuta grabbed the pin on Prime!

Renee Paquette was backstage with Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Jake Hager, and Anna Jay!

Menard: “It’s not about the dancing anymore. You’ve got a real problem Garcia.”

Hager: “Enough! Figure this out! I didn’t give up the hat for this!”

Anna: “Jake’s right. If you guys have any chance of winning tomorrow, then get it together right now.”

Angelo: “She’s right. If we want to win tomorrow, Matt and Garcia need to squash it.”

Menard: “I hate that dance, Garcia, but I love you. Consider it squashed.”

Garcia and Menard shook hands.

Garcia: “You are looking at your new AEW Trios Champions.”

ROH World Trios Champs The Young Bucks and “Hangman” Adam Page were backstage!

Hangman: “We haven’t forgotten about our responsibility to defend these belts.”

Nick Jackson: “Good point. And I think we should defend them on Wednesday. We’ll take on anyone! An open challenge for any trio.”

Main Event Time!

Skye Blue vs. The Outcasts’ Ruby Soho (with Saraya)!

Skye Blue peppered Ruby with shots and then grabbed a handful of hair. Ruby drove Skye down with a back heel kick. Ruby followed up with a short arm lariat. Skye connected with a thrust kick. Skye charged at Ruby, but Ruby telegraphed it and countered with an elbow.

Ruby rocked Skye, punting her in the head. Skye raked Ruby’s eyes. Skye cracked Ruby with her knee and then chop blocked Ruby. Skye hit a DDT neck breaker combo on Ruby for a near fall.

Saraya grabbed Blue’s boot. Ruby capitalized with a suplex on Skye for a two-count.

“The numbers coming back to haunt Skye Blue,” said Excalibur.

Skye Blue powerbombed Ruby out of the corner. She grounded and pounded Ruby. Skye popped Saraya with a shot! Ruby connected with the No Future Kick, but Skye managed to kick out! Skye countered the Destination Unknown with a backslide for a near fall.

Saraya swiped Skye in the head twice with the can of spray paint. Ruby rolled up Skye Blue and pinned her!

“A major assist from Saraya,” said Excalibur.

Saraya and Ruby stomped on Skye Blue after the match.

The TBS Champion Kris Statlander sprinted to the ring and evened up the odds. The Outcasts retreated. Kris offered to help Skye to her feet, but Skye bailed out, wanting no assistance from Kris Statlander.

Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!

Don’t miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts VIII on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN!

And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BeVv8BbZIEk?si=PNgb6ljs-keym8sB

DYNAMITE was another great night in the history of our sport as “The Icon” Sting told the world that REVOLUTION 2024 would be his last night in professional wrestling, and though that landmark announcement may be the biggest wrestling news item coming out of Texas this week, we also say Juice Robinson win the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale. That means he and MJF will go one-on-one in Philadelphia with the Dynamite Diamond Ring at stake. We witnessed chaos unfold between Sting, Darby Allin, Christian Cage, Nick Wayne, and Luchasaurus and heard from Adam Copeland regarding his future with Christian Cage. Oh, and we had to suffer through Don Callis…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tiONqBXsIq0?si=6Yi3AcC0EMhKIw-B

This Friday night RAMPAGE will feature a Three Way contest pitting Brother Zay, John Silver, and Kip Sabian against each other with a BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII International Championship opportunity at stake, plus The BCC is in action, Skye Blue clashes with The Outcasts’ Ruby Soho, and it all kicks off with the historic clash between CMLL’s Historic Middleweight Champion Mistico and Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky Romero!

The night gets underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so visit the official AEW YouTube channel before RAMPAGE begins to see highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and a great deal more!

MEXICO’S POUND-FOR-POUND-CROWN…

CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky “Azucar” Romero

vs.

CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion Mistico

From the very beginning, All Elite Wrestling has prided itself on being a place that welcomes competitors from all around the wrestling landscape, and championships from all promotions. It began with the AAA World Tag Titles being the first championships ever defended in AEW at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2019, and has continued over the years with the AAA Mega Title, the NWA World Women’s Title, the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship, the IMPACT Tag Titles, the IMPACT World Title, the IWGP Tag Team Titles, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, the AAA World Mixed Tag Titles, the Regina Di WAVE Title, the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship, the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship, the AAA Latin American Title, and the NJPW World TV Title. So many companies, and so many wrestlers, have been represented in All Elite Wrestling, and this Friday night on RAMPAGE, we are extremely proud to add a new entrant into that list: Consejo Mundial De Lucha Libre, or more generally referred to as CMLL.

As the video above so encapsulates, this bout pitting CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky “Azucar” Romero against CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion Mistico is quite the historic clash. While Mistico has held his championship since August 21, 2018, an astounding 1,887 days come Friday night, Romero has reigned since January 20th of this year, and is coming off a hard-fought defense last Saturday at The Arena in Philadelphia in which he added an additional championship to his trophy case.

Now these two men will collide in All Elite Wrestling for their very first singles match! Though they’ve been on opposite sides of numerous matches over the last year, never has it been in a one-on-one situation, and not with stakes as high as this Pound-For-Pound Crown! AEW is so fortunate to be able to host this contest, showcasing two of the best in the world, and present the amazing CMLL experience to the world!

AEW International Championship Contender Match…

Brother Zay vs. John Silver vs. Kip Sabian

***WINNER CHALLENGES AT BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII***

With BATTLE OF THE BELTS just twenty-four hours away, three men will collide in a first-fall match to see which one will meet the now 2-Time AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy in a title bout! For all of these men championship success has been difficult to come by, and even getting a title fight has been difficult for some: the last time Isiah Kassidy challenged for a singles championship was on February 4, 2022 when he fought Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship while for John Silver it was March 24, 2021 when he challenged Darby Allin for that TNT Championship. At least in the case of Kip Sabian he’s had a title fight this year, challenging Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship at BATTLE OF THE BELTS V back in January.

Suffice it to say all three of these men are hungry for gold, hungry to prove themselves deserving of championship opportunities, and this Friday night on RAMPAGE, one of them will earn just that with a victory in this Three Way contest!

TAG TEAM WARM-UP…

Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) in action!

The Blackpool Combat Club of Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta will be in tag team action this Friday night on RAMPAGE, looking to get a warm-up in before their AEW World Tag Team Championship clash with Big Bill and Ricky Starks on COLLISION! This particular BCC pairing has won ten of their twelve bouts as a team, four consecutive heading into this Friday, and are looking to add a fifth straight victory as they prepare to bring gold back to The BCC at the expense of their enemies. Pray for whoever steps into the ring with these two killers come Friday night…

ONE-ON-ONE…

Skye Blue vs. Ruby Soho

Skye Blue is coming off a TBS Championship loss to Kris Statlander last Saturday night on COLLISION, and with that loss came a rather poor showing of sportsmanship from Skye. Rather than shake the hand of the champion following the bout, a gesture initiated by Statlander out of respect for the fight they’d just had, Skye bailed out with Willow Nightingale there basically asking Statlander to back down.

So while Willow Nightingale may now have a TBS Championship fight coming to her at BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII on Saturday, on Friday night Skye Blue has to step into the ring with an old friend and current foe in one Ruby Soho. Now The Outcasts aren’t exactly in the best state of mind after Saraya lost the AEW Women’s World Championship to Hikaru Shida last week at TITLE TUESDAY, so combine that with the history between Skye and Soho, as well as Skye’s current state of mind, and this is quite an intriguing match-up.

We know what tactics Soho and Saraya will stoop to in order to get their victories, but what will Skye Blue do in order to get hers? Her aggression has been cranked up to 11 since Julia Hart sprayed her with that black mist, will that be the key to Skye Blue finally getting her first victory over Ruby Soho after so many failed attempts?

RAMPAGE begins at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so swing by the official AEW YouTube channel before to the show for highlights from Wednesday’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!

**CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!

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!

Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)

vs.

“Switchblade” Jay White (with Bullet Club Gold)!

“Massive reaction for Penta here tonight,” said Taz.

Jay White walked out wearing the championship he stole from rightful AEW World champion MJF.

Penta wiped out Bullet Club Gold, jumping over the top rope and crashing onto them as they made their entrance. Penta followed up with a sling blade to Jay White! Penta El Zero Miedo crushed White with a diving double foot stomp for a near fall.

Jay White spiked Penta El Zero Miedo with a DDT. Jay White hit a snap suplex on Penta El Zero Miedo. Penta connected with a thrust kick. Penta was looking for a monkey flip in the corner, but Jay White dodged it and then chopped Penta, sending Penta crashing to the arena floor.

Penta El Zero Miedo retaliated with two consecutive sling blades to Switchblade! Penta jumped over the top rope, landing on Jay White on the arena floor! Back in the ring, Penta and White exchanged chops. Penta planted Jay White with a spinning Death Valley Driver! Penta was looking for the package piledriver, but Jay White countered with a uranage.

Jay White drilled Penta El Zero Miedo with a brain buster for a two-count. Jay White nailed Penta with a sleeper suplex. Penta countered the Blade Runner with Made in Japan for a two-count! The Gunns distracted the ref while Juice clocked Penta with the left hand! Jay White smashed Penta with the Blade Runner and pinned him!

Jay White: “Cut my music! You know who sucks? It’s MJF. Because where is MJF? He’s not here. But you know who’s here? J-A-Y. Because I’m a real world champion. I’m a truly elite world champion. And Max, I’m still waiting on your answer to my very generous offer. I’m assuming you can’t find anyone who wants to team up with you to try to take back the Bang Bang Belt. Until then, I’ll lead by example.”

Juice Robinson: “Spoiler alert! Tonight, in your main event, the ‘stray bullet’ Juice Robinson is going to win the battle royal. After I win the right to face MJF for this Dynamite Diamond Ring, we’re taking his ring and we’re going to pawn it and I’m getting another gold tooth!”

Renee Paquette was backstage with the AEW World Champion MJF!

MJF: “I could have run out there like every single dumb good guy in the history of pro wrestling. But I’m not a good guy. I’m a scum bag. Jay White, I will get back my Triple B before Full Gear. Juice Robinson, I pray to God that you win tonight because next week it’ll be your left hand of God against the right hand of the devil!

“As far as an update on Adam Cole—”

AEW Trios Champs The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass interrupted the interview.

Max Caster: “If you want your world title back from Jay White, they said an 8-man tag, us three and you, we’ll get all the belts and we’ll scissor after we win.”

MJF: “How about no.”

Max Caster: “Then how about I get in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, win that, and then next week I’ll win your ring and you’re gonna have to put a ring on it!”

Daddy Ass: “That guy is such a scumbag.”

Max Caster: “Yeah, but he’s my scumbag.”

World Title Eliminator Match! “Student vs. Teacher”!

AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida

vs.

Emi Sakura!

Sakura ambushed Shida as Shida was entering the ring. Sakura collided into Shida with a shoulder tackle. They traded chops in the center of the ring. Sakura went for a running cross body, but Shida countered with a knee strike.

Sakura dropkicked Shida in the face while Shida was on her knees. Sakura splashed Shida in the corner with a running cross body press. Sakura sent Shida crashing to the floor after a running cross body as Shida was standing on the ring apron. Shida took down Sakura with a hurracanrana. Shida followed up with a missile dropkick for a near fall.

Emi planted Shida with a Tiger Driver for a two-count! Shida dodged a moonsault and blasted Emi with the katana! Sakura nailed Shida with a back breaker. Shida fired back with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Shida rocked Emi with a knee strike and pinned her!

Earlier in the day, the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland was backstage with Renee Paquette and gave his Rated- R Rebuttal to TNT Champion Christian Cage!

Adam Copeland: “Things have not been going smoothly. I don’t understand what’s happened. The whole idea in coming here was to end my career with Christian Cage and team with him. And he sounded on board with that until it got real.

“I sat down this week and began replaying my relationship with him over the years. We’ve known each other since the 6th grade. We were best friends in high school and in college. We both entered an essay contest to get into wrestling school. I wrote in and he didn’t. Fast forward and I got the dream gig and I always said, to whoever would listen, you’ve gotta see my friend.

“For whatever reason, over the years, it’s always been Adam and Jay. And it’s stuck with him, and I feel it’s frustrated him. He said I had a rocket strapped to my back, but I worked hard. I’m surprised that this keeps repeating at this stage in our lives. He’s riding high right now. He came here first, and I didn’t intend to take away his spotlight. I don’t want his TNT Title. I’m not going to fight him. What that means for me, I don’t know. One thing I do know is eventually Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus are going to leave him high and dry. And I’ll be there to pick him up.”

Wardlow vs. Ryan Nemeth!

Nick charged at Wardlow but Wardlow powerbombed him. The ref stopped the match after a single powerbomb!

Tony Schiavone entered the ring to interview Wardlow.

Schiavone: “Everyone knows your back, but what are you back for?”

Wardlow held up his fist and showed off his wrist tape, which had the letters “MJF” written on it.

Schiavone: “Whoa. That says MJF.”

Wardlow left the ring, bumping into Tony and knocking him to the mat.

Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kenny Omega ahead of his match tonight against Kyle Fletcher.

Kenny said maybe soon we’d soon the Kenny of old and he’d go after the World Championship.

AEW World Champion MJF walked onto the set.

MJF: “Kenny Omega, the measuring stick. World Champion, MJF. I’ve always been a massive fan of Kenny Omega.”

Omega: “I appreciate it.”

MJF: “So I just wanted to say I’d love to shake your hand.”

MJF leaned in as he shook Omega’s hand and whispered, “13 days, bitch.”

Omega: “13 days, huh? We’ll see about that.”

Footage was shown from earlier in the day from Roderick Strong’s humble abode!

Mike Bennett was playing the bongos. Matt Taven was listening with his plush giraffe, and Roderick Strong was resting on the other couch. Adam Cole brought Roderick Strong coffee.

Strong took a sip and spit it out, saying Adam knew that he hates hot coffee! Strong apologized and asked Cole to make them PB&J sandwiches. Strong then complained that Adam Cole left the crust on the sandwich.

Cole: “I have done everything I can to possibly help you! I haven’t talked to Max in weeks practically. And I need to get surgery. I’m done with this!”

Adam Cole left. Roderick Strong turned to the Kingdom and said he knew what he was going to have to do to get his best friend back. “I guess I’m going to have to be nice to that scumbag MJF.”

Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Don Callis!

Callis walked to the ring with Powerhouse Hobbs and Takeshita!

Don Callis: “I’ve got something to say. Last week the Don Callis Family made history. Because in over 30 years in one of the greatest careers of all time, Chris Jericho has never been manhandled like he was last week. Because last week Will Hobbs broke Chris Jericho in half.”

Powerhouse Hobbs: “February 22nd, 1998, was supposed to be the greatest day of my life. I had the chance to meet my hero, Chris Jericho. My grandmother got me front row tickets to meet you. And you walked past that old lady, told her to shut up, and looked at me and told me to sit down. 25 years, Chris, I held on to frustration. I swore the day I got to whoop you, I was going to hurt you over and over and over.

“As I looked at you, Chris, you were lifeless. So, what did I do. I picked you up and gave you spinebuster after spinebuster after spinebuster. I loved it!”

Don Callis: “All Will Hobbs’ life, he’s been told by people who supposedly love him to bottle up the hate and violence. Well now Will has a new family, and we don’t tell you to bottle it up. We tell you to be what you are. And he’s a killing machine! And we are not done with Jericho. We are going to unleash Will Hobbs on AEW! We are on a roll! We are undefeated in four months except for one match, where Sammy Guevara was hurt by Chris Jericho.

“And I had to get a replacement. I had to get a scab worker to come in, a young man named Kyle Fletcher. He let us down. He screwed the Don Callis Family.”

Kyle Fletcher came down to the ring!

Fletcher got into Callis’ face, but Hobbs squared up with Fletcher.

Callis: “No, no, I want to hear this. Say what you gotta say, kid.”

Fletcher: “As far as I can recall, I did that match for you as a favor after Will Ospreay called and said, ‘Don Callis is on his knees begging me to do this match.’ And maybe I was the weakest link that night, but tonight I have another chance against Kenny Omega one on one. And I’m going to prove to everyone, especially you, that I don’t need anybody’s help to beat Kenny Omega.”

Callis: “You know what? I like the confidence. I’ll tell you what, Kyle. You beat Kenny Omega tonight, and you and I may have an opportunity to discuss next week.”

Kenny Omega’s music began to play, and Omega made his entrance!

Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega!

Fletcher got the jump on Omega as Omega entered the ring. Kenny jabbed Fletcher with stiff shots. Omega chopped at Kyle Fletcher.

Fletcher grounded and pounded on Omega. Kenny fired back with a vertical suplex. Omega jumped over the top rope with a cross body press down onto Kyle Fletcher.

Fletcher rocked Omega with a kick, knocking Omega off the apron and onto the arena floor. Fletcher whipped Omega into the steel guardrail, sending him over the barricade. Omega nailed Fletcher with a hurracanrana. Omega was looking for the Terminator Dive, but Fletcher grabbed Omega’s ankle.

Both men traded chops outside the ring. Kenny charged at Kyle, but Kyle tripped him, and Omega crashed into the barricade. Omega wiped out Fletcher with a middle rope moonsault. Kenny clocked Kyle with a dropkick from the top rope to the lower back.

Kyle spiked Omega with a half and half suplex. Fletcher followed up with a brainbuster for a near fall. Fletcher lawn darted Omega into the turnbuckle pad. Fletcher kicked Omega in the back of the head. Omega spiked Fletcher with a reverse hurracanrana and followed up with a powerbomb and a V-Trigger for a two-count!

Kenny went for the One-Winged Angel. Fletcher countered with a dragon sleeper. Omega escaped and planted Kyle with a snap dragon suplex. Omega rammed into Fletcher with a knee strike and then pinned Kyle with the One Winged Angel!

Don Callis: “This kid is such a miserable disappointment!”

“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. Barrett Brown!

Archer choke slammed his opponent on the ring apron! Archer suplexed Brown. Archer smashed into his opponent three consecutive times in the corner. Archer planted Brown and pinned him!

Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland were on the streets!

Nana: “Some of the top rappers have been here. And now you get to release the remix of the Big Pressure video this Friday on YouTube. What an exciting time!”

Swerve: “Why am I not excited? Because I should be celebrating my music video along with being the TNT Champion. There’s only one reason I’m not. It’s because of you Hangman Page. It wasn’t a personal thing. It was Swerve versus the opportunity. But now it’s personal and you couldn’t leave well enough alone after I beat you at WrestleDream. Nobody cares less about life than me. Just remember this. It’s not always you that pays for your actions.”

Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Sting!

Sting: “Shall I say the word? Before I say the word, I want to reflect a little bit with all of you. That word makes me think about all the years traveling down the road with guys like Lex Luger, Rick and Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell. I traveled up and down the road with these guys and we’d look at the generation ahead of us, guys like Dusty Rhodes. Dusty Rhodes being the most charismatic human being I’ve ever seen in my whole life.

“Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan transcended wrestling and I did learn something from the guy. But one of the guys I really want to give a lot to is the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. Thank you for all of the moments. I remember the Clash of the Champions 1988, the very first title match that I had with you, and you put me on the map. What a moment that was.

“We used to wonder though, what makes these guys want to come year after year, decade after decade, what more do they have to prove. Here I am all these years later. And I understand why they hung on. It is the roar of the fans. That’s what makes us keep coming back for more.

“So, getting back to that word. That word. It makes me, before I quite get there. I know what some of you are thinking. ‘He retired once already.’ I gotta tell you, that retirement in 2015 just didn’t sit right with me. Which brings me now to the word ‘retirement’ again.

“I want to address it live and in color on Dynamite. I started my very first match with AEW was Revolution 2021. And my very last match will be Revolution 2024. One more key thing that you all need to know. The only thing for sure about Sting is my retirement, Revolution 2024 is for sure.”

Jim Ross had a sitdown interview with Nick Wayne and Nick Wayne’s mom!

Jim Ross: “Nick, I can’t get over what you did to Darby Allin. He’s like a brother to you.”

Nick Wayne’s mom: “It was shocking to me J.R. I can’t make sense of it. Darby has been like a brother to you, Nick. This is just so out of character for you. And Christian? The things that he has said about your father, and to me! Nick, I don’t recognize you right now.”

Nick Wayne: “That’s enough! It was always about Darby Allin. I was always in his shadows. It was always him. They congratulated him for getting me here. It’s time for me to prove why I’m here. And I’m under a new father figure now. Christian Cage. A better father figure than dad ever was.”

TNT Champion Christian Cage walked onto the set and put his hand on Nick’s shoulder.

Christian Cage: “Are you ready to come home, son?”

Nick Wayne’s mom: “Nick, no!”

Nick Wayne: “Don’t touch me! You were a terrible mother!”

Nick Wayne got slapped by his mother!

She apologized and Nick said, “You’re dead to me.”

Nick and Christian left the room and Darby was there, laying them both out!

Darby hammered away at Nick, stumbling onto the stage! Luchasaurus snuck up behind Darby and cracked him with his forearm! Sting came out to even up the odds, sweeping out the leg of Christian Cage! Sting rammed Luchasaurus into the guardrail! Sting went to apply the Scorpion Deathlock on Christian in the ring, but Luchasaurus pulled Christian out of the ring to safety.

Main Event Time!

Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale!

The winner earns their shot to face AEW World Champion MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring.

“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes was the first participant out to the ring. AEW World Champion MJF joined the broadcast booth for the main event.

Matt Hardy slugged it out with Jake Hager. Jeff Hardy tried to hoist Juice Robinson over the top. Johnny TV and Daniel Garcia were about to have a dance off, but Menard stopped Garcia. Jeff splashed Menard in the corner.

Hager hurled Matt Hardy over the top rope and eliminated him. MJF walked to ringside. MJF offered cash to Dustin and whispered in his ear, wanting him to eliminate Juice Robinson. Dustin kicked Juice between the legs!

Komander hit a springboard dropkick to Hager. Menard and Garcia caught Komander and eliminated him. Trent suplexed Garcia. Dustin smashed Garcia with a Canadian Destroyer. Trent rammed into Hager and knocked him to the arena floor.

Menard eliminated Trent. Jeff Hardy was thrown over the top by Garcia. Daniel Garcia inadvertently collided with Menard. Garcia eliminated Dustin Rhodes. Caster tossed Garcia out of the match. Max was trying to push Juice out of the ring. Caster kicked Juice. Caster charged at Juice, but Juice speared him between the ropes.

Juice and Caster jockeyed for position on the ring apron. Juice gouged Max Caster’s eyes. Caster pushed Juice off the top rope. Caster hit the Mic Drop! Jay White ambushed MJF at the broadcast booth. They began to brawl on the ramp!

MJF grounded and pounded Jay White and got his AEW World Championship back! Jay White connected with a low blow to the champ. Juice Robinson dug into his pocket and pulled out his ring. Juice slugged Caster with the Left Hand of God with the ring on it! Juice eliminated Caster and Jay White took the championship belt back from MJF!

“Juice did it!” said Taz.

“And it is official. One week from tonight at Dynamite it’ll be Juice Robinson against MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring!” added Excalibur.

This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:

For Mexico’s Pound-For-Pound Crown!

CMLL’s World Historic Middleweight Champion, the Luchador Legend Mistico

vs.

CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky Romero!

Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!

Don’t miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts VIII on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN!

And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5Ed8zotgp0?si=UuifMjz0o61AALo7

DYNAMITE: TITLE TUESDAY was a landmark night in AEW as the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland made his triumphant in-ring debut opposite Luchasaurus, leading to a wild situation involving the TNT Champion, his two “sons”, The BCC, and The Gates of Agony. Plus the AEW faithful witnessed the crowning of two new champions as Orange Cassidy reclaimed the AEW International Championship and Hikaru Shida did the same with the AEW Women’s World Championship! That makes her the first 3-Timer and OC the first 2-Timer for their respective titles, but it also means there’s fresh targets on their backs with all those gunning for the titles themselves.

This Friday RAMPAGE picks up the action where DYNAMITE left off, featuring a Trios bout pitting Garcia, Menard, and Parker against Brother Zay and The Hardys, Lethal versus Beretta as the former eyes the ROH World Championship, Skye Blue and Emi Sakura colliding, and The Blackpool Combat Club going head-up with The Gates of Agony!

TRIOS ACTION…

Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia, & Matt Menard vs. Brother Zay & The Hardys (Jeff & Matt)

Last week, in an 8-Man Tag, it was The Best Friends and The Hardys who got a victory over the former J.A.S quartet of Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, Jake Hager, and Daniel Garcia, and suffice to say it caused a great deal of friction among the members of that little family who’ve chosen to stay together after they all walked away from Chris Jericho.

Thus when Daniel Garcia chose to check in on Jericho after Powerhouse Hobbs’ utter domination of “The Ocho”, it did not sit well with Matt Menard, nor the others who chose to leave Jericho in their past. Garcia may have had a rational reason for checking on his former mentor’s health, but given the bad taste left in the mouth of Menard, Parker, Anna Jay, and Hager, no excuse would have sufficed.

So this Friday night on RAMPAGE, when Garcia, Menard, and Parker go into Trios action against The Hardys and Brother Zay it will be quite interesting to see how the machine functions. The three of them have been quite successful as a trio in the past, winning 10 of their 15 fights to date, but they’ve never been quite so strained as they are right now. Everyone else seems to be looking to move on with their life while Garcia is feeling some sort of way about the situation; will that prevent the three men from working together to defeat The Hardy Party, or will they pull together like they did when they left Jericho behind and be a success?

ONE-ON-ONE…

Jay Lethal vs. Trent Beretta

It was very clear during the TITLE TUESDAY: BUY-IN that Jay Lethal and his motley crew have a vested interest in Eddie Kingston, specifically in his ROH World Championship. As a former 2-Time Champion whose combined reigns just squeeze him past Samoa Joe’s lone run to make Lethal the man with the most time spent as ROH World Champion, he has designs on joining the Adam Cole club as a 3-Time Champion, and doing so at the expense of “The Mad King”. Now we know Eddie is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, and even put both his ROH World and NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship on the line in the same match. He did it against Shibata and won, he did it on Tuesday night against Minoru Suzuki and survived, so there’s no doubt he’d give Lethal the chance as well if he were to ever step up and request the title shot.

But that’s not the way Lethal, Jeff and Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, or Satnam Singh do business; it’s far more likely they will attack the man behind his back, and run their mouths off when the numbers are heavily in their favor. It doesn’t matter that Lethal has the skill inside the squared circle to make all their shenanigans unnecessary, it’s just that the whole contingent would rather do everything they can to try and insure success for one another.

And that’s what Trent Beretta has to look out for when he and Lethal go one-on-one this Friday night on RAMPAGE! There is little doubt Lethal will be accompanied by his entourage to this match, it just falls on Beretta to have eyes in the back, the sides, and the top of his head to try and stay wary of their actions. Trent fell victim to Lethal once before in November 2022, hopefully he can avoid the same fate on Friday night and put a little damper on Lethal’s championship aspirations!

HEAD-TO-HEAD…

Skye Blue vs. Emi Sakura

Both of these woman are arguably at a crossroads in their AEW career as both have their championship aspirations, but both have been frustrated in actually achieving that goal. Emi Sakura was one of Kris Statlander’s recent challengers for the TBS Championship, but failed to dethrone Stat in that endeavor, and it’s been almost four years, FULL GEAR 2019 to be exact, since the last time Emi challenged for the Women’s World Title.

As for Skye Blue, though one of the youngest competitors in the division, she has put in a tremendous amount of work since coming into AEW. From her first match on April 21, 2021 to now, Skye has competed in 100 matches, leaving only Nyla Rose, Hikaru Shida, Emi Sakura, and Dr. Britt Baker ahead of her. With that century mark has come one TBS Championship bout against Jade Cargill at BATTLE OF THE BELTS V, and a trio of AEW Women’s World Title fights with Toni Storm. All of those championship opportunities have come in 2023, but none have borne any fruit for Skye.

So that leaves both women coming into this singles match on Friday night with a goal to get back on the right track, get back into title contention, and finally put a championship belt around their waist! The last time these two met in a singles bout was the October 4, 2021 edition of DARK: ELEVATION, a match won by Emi, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t fought plenty in tags and trios in the years since. Unfortunately for Skye, the balance of the scales tips heavily in the favor of Emi Sakura with 12 of the 18 encounters going in Sakura’s favor.

Can Skye begin to tip those scales a little more in her favor this Friday night on TNT?

TAG TEAM CLASH…

Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

We saw it at the end of DYNAMITE: TITLE TUESDAY when chaos erupted in the aftermath of Adam Copeland’s victory over Luchasaurus, and it all began with Nick Wayne attacking Copeland after the match. That brought Bryan Danielson, Christian Cage’s opponent for COLLISION down to the ring, which in turn brought Yuta and Claudio, which begot Gates of Agony and Swerve, which brought out Hangman Page, and utter madness ensued. When the dust cleared, we were left with Christian Cage trapped in the LaBell Lock by Danielson as Adam Copeland looked on.

So while Cage and Danielson have their date on Saturday in Toledo, this Friday night on RAMPAGE it’s his Blackpool Combat Club compatriots who have theirs with Gates of Agony! Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun are two of the most fearsome men in all of professional wrestling, a mix of savagery, speed, and power like few others competing in AEW. Their tools are part of the dynamic that have made this iteration of Prince Nana’s Embassy the most feared that has every existed. Those two, combined with Brian Cage and Swerve Strickland, have made The Mogul Embassy a dominating force and on RAMPAGE The Gates of Agony will clash with one of AEW’s other dominant units in The BCC.

Whose skill set will prove the better on Friday night? Tune into TNT beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT to watch the fights go down!

RAMPAGE gets started at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel prior to the show for highlights from Wednesday’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!