Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN!
Yourbroadcast team was Excalibur and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
8-Man Tag Match!
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, FTW Champion HOOK,
Danhausen, & Trent Beretta
vs.
Angelo Parker & Matt Menard (with Jake Hager),
and The Dark Order—Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno!
Danhausen cleaned house on the Dark Order. Hook tagged in and suddenly things broke down into a donnybrook with both teams brawling. Menard nailed Hook with a backbreaker. Menard power bombed Trent. Cassidy came in, pushed the pace and DDT’ed Menard. Evil Uno ate a German Suplex from Danhausen. Hook sent Parker for a ride with a T-bone suplex. Hook followed up with a suplex to Evil Uno!
ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta walked onto the ramp and had a stare down with Hook. Menard blindsided Hook as Hook was looking at Yuta.
Wheeler Yuta joined the broadcast booth.
“Hook should really learn not to take his eye off the ball,” said Wheeler Yuta.
The Dark Order double teamed Hook with running lariats. Hook fought back and made a tag to Trent. Trent walloped Alex Reynolds with German Suplexes. Trent hurled Evil Uno overhead with a half and half.
Orange Cassidy tagged in and dropkicked both Dark Order members. Orange staggered Evil Uno with a Stun Dog Millionaire. Reynolds ran in and booted Orange in the face. Trent went to the aid of Orange and tossed Evil Uno with a release German Suplex from the turnbuckles!
Danhausen squared off with Matt Menard, cursing Menard. Danhausen pulled out Jake Hager’s purple hat from his trunks and began to wear it and taunt Hager! Jake Hager was livid, jumping into the ring and immediately spilling out on the opposite side as he charged (and missed) Danhausen. Hook applied Red Rum on Parker while Danhausen cradled Menard and scored the pin!
Renee Paquette was interviewing Anna Jay, Ruby Soho and Saraya backstage!
Angelo Parker ran back from his match and told Anna Jay he was ready to go, and it’d be a team effort. Anna Jay said she didn’t want him out there tonight for the match.
“This is why I love her! Isn’t she great?” said Saraya.
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Sting and “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair!
Sting: “Lots of great memories here. Thank you for the memories, thank you Tony Khan, thank you Tony Schiavone, and the Nature Boy, Ric Flair!”
Ric Flair: “Wow! From 1972 to today and believe it or not, I’m still alive. And that’s saying a lot. Because I’ve covered a lot of ground and had a lot of fun. But there’s three or four people that are always going to be special in my life. Dusty Rhodes, Ricky the Dragon, and the guy I think I’ve wrestled at least 1500 times, Sting.
“To be back in my hometown and to be part of this ride. Think about the history of our business. I’ve been with him since ’88 and I’ll be with him until the end. And man, that doesn’t happen in real life, guys. And we’ve stayed as honest and as respectful with each other as the day we met, and that’s really unusual. We’re gonna dance all night and dance a little longer. Wooooo!”
The Don Callis Family—Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, & Kyle Fletcher (with Don Callis)
vs.
Three Local Wrestlers!
Hobbs, Takeshita, and Fletcher put on a total display of domination, planting their opponents hard onto the mat. Hobbs scored the pin with ease!
Don Callis: “Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega, the Golden Jets! You put two of the greatest of all time in a tag team and what do you got? You’ve got a team that could be the most dominant of all time. I know that wins and losses matter here in AEW, but in the Don Callis Family, the only thing that matters is winning! The Don Callis Family will continue dominating until there is nowhere for the Golden Jets to hide in All Elite Wrestling!”
Footage played from earlier in the night of Prince Nana with “The Machine” Brian Cage and the Workhorsemen!
Prince Nana: “Hey Brian, it’s an unbelievable time for the Mogul Embassy! We have the Gates of Agony out in Japan, killing it! But tonight, I need to go ahead and hire some people to help us out. Tonight, I’m going to need the Workhorsemen’s services.
“This can be a huge opportunity for both of you guys to prove a point to Swerve Strickland and to the Mogul Embassy. I paid you guys, do the job tonight, and we’ll see if you can be a part of the team. I believe in you guys!”
Trios Bout!
Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, & Skye Blue
vs.
Anna Jay and The Outcasts—Ruby Soho & Saraya!
Kris powered Anna to the mat and tagged in Shida. Kris and Shida dropped a double elbow on Anna. Skye Blue tagged in and hit a spinning kick on Anna Jay. Shida and Saraya tagged in for their respective teams. Shida hoisted up Saraya in a torture rack.
Kris planted Saraya with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Anna Jay ran in to break up the pin. Anna tried to apply the Queen Slayer on Statlander, but Statlander escaped. Shida cracked Saraya with a jumping knee strike. Anna walloped Kris with the Flatliner. Ruby Soho inadvertently kicked Anna Jay in the face. Statlander picked up Ruby Soho and planted her. Skye Blue pinned Soho with the Code Blue!
“At the end of the night it was Skye Blue and Kris Statlander working together,” said Excalibur.
Saraya grabbed Ruby by the hair and dragged her away.
Main Event Time! Trios Bout!
ROH World Six-Man Champion Brian Cage & The Workhorsemen—Anthony Henry & JD Drake (with Prince Nana)
vs.
El Hijo del Vikingo, Komander, & Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Brian Cage suplexed Komander. Penta tagged in and hit a cross body on Cage from the top rope. Anthony Henry grabbed a tag and ate a missile dropkick from El Hijo del Vikingo.
El Hijo del Vikingo wiped out Henry with an implosion dragon rana. JD Drake grabbed a tag and invited Vikingo to chop him. Vikingo chopped Drake and left a handprint on Drake’s chest. Drake fired back and leveled Vikingo!
Penta and Komander dropped Henry and Cage with stereo thrust kicks. Komander dropkicked Cage out of the ring with a boost from Penta. Cage was taken down with a series of sling blades from Penta. He followed up with a DDT to the Workhorsemen!
Komander used a springboard lung blower on Cage, held him, and allowed Vikingo to drop down with a double foot stomp. Penta followed up with a foot stomp of his own onto Cage for a near fall!
“That’s an amazing escape by Cage because he was hit by all three men,” said Schiavone.
Komander jumped in but got shoulder blocked by Cage in mid-air. Cage monkey flipped Komander into the waiting arms of Drake, who power bombed Komander. Drake catapulted Komander into a thrust kick from Henry! Drake held onto Komander so Henry could drop a double foot stomp from the top rope on Komander. Henry covered Komander for the pin, but Vikingo broke it up!
Henry spiked Vikingo with a piledriver. Penta was there and grabbed Henry and drilled him with the Made in Japan! Drake ran in and wiped out Penta. Cage held onto Komander, and Henry tried to boot Komander in the head, but Komander ducked. Henry inadvertently hit Cage instead!
“A miscommunication there,” said Excalibur.
Cage was furious and rocked Henry with a discus lariat! Prince Nana and Brian Cage walked away from the ring, abandoning the Workhorsemen!
Penta smashed Henry with the Fear Factor! Komander flipped onto Henry with a splash. Vikingo finished off Henry with a 630 senton and pinned Anthony Henry!
“The short fuse of Brian Cage would ultimately lead to the win,” said Excalibur.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, PA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Wednesday night was a wild on at the Target Center as the Gold League in the Continental Classic resumed action with three huge matches! Opening the night, Jon Moxley defeated Jay Lethal to mark himself the first competitor with six points in the league while Lethal continued without a point to his name. Then, fighting through tremendous pain, “El Toro Blanco” Rush managed to score his first 3 points over Mark Briscoe, leaving “The Sussex County Chicken” in the same boat as Jay Lethal. Finally, in the main event, Jay White and Swerve Strickland battled it out to see who would join Moxley with six point status, with the head of The Mogul Embassy notching the victory!
In addition, fans witnessed a tense confrontation between TNT Champion Christian Cage and Adam Copeland that has led to a championship bout next week in Montreal, saw Julia Hart retain her TBS Championship over Emi Sakura, and heard AEW World Champion MJF, whether Samoa Joe likes it or not, accept a challenge from The Devil!
Things are back to normal this Friday night as RAMPAGE begins at its regularly scheduled 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans. Drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, before showtime to up to speed with highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and this latest CONTROL CENTER!
EIGHT MAN ACTION…
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, FTW Champion HOOK, Danhausen, & Trent Beretta vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno), Angelo Parker, & Matt Menard
This one is stacked! Last week we saw Danhausen return to the AEW stage to lend a hand to his friends and now he’s jumping right into the fray this Friday night on RAMPAGE alongside them! Orange Cassidy, HOOK, and Trent Beretta welcome Danhausen to the fight as they take on a very unlikely quartet in The Dark Order’s Evil Uno and Alex Reynolds who are joined by Angelo Parker and Matt Menard!
The Dark Order have had issues with Parker and Menard dating back at least two years so it will be quite intriguing to see how they work together despite those past problems, just as it will be interesting to see if the tensions between Parker and Menard swirling around the former’s…interest…in Ruby Soho interfere in their ability to function as a team. Oh, and what about that hat?
TRIOS BOUT…
Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, & Skye Blue vs. Anna Jay and The Outcasts (Ruby Soho & Saraya)
Just last week, on the Thanksgiving Eve edition of DYNAMITE, we witnessed Skye Blue take advantage of the Angelo Parker distraction and pin Anna Jay while Ruby Soho was otherwise occupied. To say all of this has been a major annoyance to Saraya and Matt Menard would be an understatement, and it has certainly cost all parties victories since it first began some weeks ago. The fact that Saraya is now going to play nice with Anna Jay, perhaps because Anna’s also the one for her group trying to keep focused, is not going to sit well with Ruby either, but that’s a bit of the case for both sides of this Trios contest.
Ever since Skye Blue was misted by Julia Hart, with the subsequent transformation that has stemmed from it, she and Kris Statlander have been at odds. They haven’t come to blows, save for the TBS Championship victory Stat holds over Skye, but they are certainly not the friends they were six months ago. That leaves Hikaru Shida as the woman whose responsibility it will be to keep her partners on the same page, and not let their personal issues get in the way of winning this fight. For at least five of the six women involved this is about getting back into championship contention, for Ruby Soho, well one can only speculate if her head is on business or more personal matters, but both trios are capable of great things if they can stay on a unified front. Will that be the case this Friday night on RAMPAGE, or will one teams problems sink this opportunity?
A MOGUL TRYOUT…
ROH World Six-Man Champion Brian Cage & The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake) vs. El Hijo del Vikingo, Komander, & Penta El Zero Miedo
With The Gates of Agony embroiled in New Japan Pro Wrestling’s 2023 World Tag League that lasts until December 10th, The Mogul Embassy is down a few soldiers, and Brian Cage is out his ROH World Six-Man Championship partners. For Prince Nana that means recruitment season is upon us, and it begins (possibly also ends) with The Workhorsemen of JD Drake and Anthony Henry getting their opportunity to impress!
Unfortunately for this newborn trio, they’ve got their handful with another rather nascent unit in the form of Lucha Libre’s finest: former ROH World Tag & AEW World Tag Champion Penta El Zero Miedo, AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo, and AAA World Cruiserweight Champion Komander! Now these three men have worked together before, but as a quartet with Rey Fenix on several ROH ON HONOR CLUB events, and they’ve also fought as foes on several occasions, though always for the competition rather than any animosity.
With the Lucha contingent clearly looking ahead towards Top Flight and Action Andretti, will they be focused on the task at hand? Or will fans see two new men join The Mogul Embassy should JD Drake and Anthony Henry impress the Prince?
ALSO FEATURING:
-The Don Callis Family in action!
-“The Icon” Sting & “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair!!
-And more!!!
RAMPAGE returns to its regularly scheduled 10pm ET/9pm CT time slot on TNT this Friday night, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, and it is loaded with multi-man action all night long! Eight man tags, a huge Women’s Trios bout, The Mogul Embassy giving The Workhorsemen a tryout, and unfortunately Don Callis leading his “Family” into action! Be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, before showtime to up to speed with highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and this latest CONTROL CENTER!
Tonight’s AEW RAMPAGE & AEW COLLISION shows were broadcast live from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA!
Tony Schiavone, Kevin Kelly, and Nigel McGuinness were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
FTW Champion HOOK vs. Rocky Romero!
Rocky escaped a suplex and both men ran across the ring, delivering lariats, knocking one another down. Hook was first back to his feet. Hook hurled Rocky with a bigtime German Suplex. Rocky struck Hook with a rising knee strike and then a vertical suplex on the apron! Rocky followed up with the forever clotheslines back in the ring.
Hook rallied back with a vicious exploder suplex on Rocky. It was a high impact match in a very short time. Hook hit Rocky with body blows in the corner. Hook headbutted Rocky and got a near fall after a Northern Lights Suplex.
Rocky stunned Hook with Sliced Bread #2. Hook employed a leg sweep on Rocky. Hook countered a second attempt at the Sliced Bread with RedRum, and Hook won via ref stoppage!
Kris Statlander vs. Diamante!
Diamante tried to outpower Statlander, but once she realized she couldn’t, Diamante slapped Statlander. Kris knocked down Diamante with a shoulder block. Statlander powerslammed Diamante for a near fall. Mercedes Martinez walked out onto the ramp to scout Statlander.
Statlander was rolled up by Diamante for a two count. Diamante charged at Statlander, but Statlander was waiting for her with a powerslam. Diamante covered Kris after a cutter, but Kris kicked out. Diamante charted at Statlander, but Statlander countered with a discus lariat and scored the pin on Diamante!
Mercedes jumped in the ring and she and Diamante began to double team Kris. Willow Nightingale sprinted to the ring to even up the odds, coming to the rescue of the former TBS Champ Statlander!
The Kingdom—Mike Bennett and Matt Taven came out, asking the audience if they wanted to celebrate #NeckStrengthNovember!
Bennett said that Roderick Strong wasn’t here tonight because he was recovering from the match last week against Action Andretti, but luckily, Roddy is #neckstrong. Taven said MJF was the devil. Taven told MJF they are coming back for what’s theirs.
Duke Davis and Danny Jones got blindsided by the Kingdom, and the match began! Taven hit the Climax on Jones. Bennett spiked Davis on the ramp with a piledriver! Taven then connected with the aurora borealis for the pin!
Rampage Main Event Time!
ROH Pure Championship Match!
Katsuyori Shibata (c.) vs. Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta!
Jerry Lynn, Jimmy Jacobs, and Christopher Daniels were the judges.
The fans chanted “Shi-ba-ta! Shi-ba-ta!”
Shibata applied the bow and arrow submission to Yuta. Wheeler escaped and Shibata followed up with strong knee strikes. Shibata applied a leg submission and Wheeler grabbed the ropes, utilizing his first rope break of the match. Yuta was immediately issued a warning after a closed fist to Shibata’s face.
Shibata dropkicked Yuta’s head against the turnbuckle. Shibata applied the STF and Wheeler managed to reach the ropes, utilizing his second rope break of the match. Shibata put a sleeper on Yuta, but Yuta shucked him off. Wheeler fired himself out of the ring with a tope suicida to Shibata!
Yuta whipped Shibata into the guardrail. Shibata returned the favor, whipping Yuta into the guardrail. Back in the ring, Yuta ducked a PK from Shibata. Yuta knocked Shibata into the ref, hit a low blow while the ref had his back turned, and DDT’ed Shibata right on his head to score the pin!
And new ROH Pure Champion…Wheeler Yuta!
Shibata tried to shake Yuta’s hand after the match, but Yuta nailed Shibata with another low blow and then DDT’ed him.
FTW Champion Hook came down to the ring to check on Shibata. Yuta left, scowling at Hook and holding up the ROH Pure Championship.
The RAMPAGE portion of the evening kicked off!
Continental Classic Match—The Blue League!
Daniel Garcia vs. Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli!
Claudio Castagnoli quickly hit Garcia with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Claudio followed up with a body slam. Garcia lunged at Claudio with a guillotine, but Claudio muscled his way out of it. Garcia chopped at Claudio, but Claudio fired back with a European Uppercut.
Garcia charged at Claudio, knocking Claudio out of the ring with a running knee. Daniel hammered Claudio with stiff shots to the head. Garcia ran at Claudio, but Claudio caught him and swung him into the steel guardrail.
Claudio applied a sharpshooter in the ring. Garcia managed to trap Claudio and cradle him for a near fall. Claudio blasted Garcia with a European Uppercut. Claudio rocked Garcia with the Ricola Bomb and pinned him, earning three points!
Representing the Patriarchy…Killswitch vs. The Boys—Brent & Brandon Tate!
Brent was thrown overhead by Killswitch with a wheelbarrow suplex. Killswitch choke slammed Brandon over the top rope and down onto the edge of the ring! Killswitch clobbered Brent with a lariat to the back of the head and pinned him!
Killswitch grabbed two chairs and placed them into the ring. Killswitch choke slammed Brent onto the chair! Killswitch grabbed Brandon but then the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland jumped into the ring and cracked a chair over the back of Killswitch! Copeland smashed Killswitch with the con-chair-to!
Killswitch tried to get to his knees but Copeland curb stomped Killswitch onto the chair! Copeland nailed Killswitch with another con-chair-to!
After a commercial break, Lexy Nair interviewed Adam Copeland backstage.
Copeland: “Lexy, I like you, but go. You know what I have to say? I’m coming straight down the barrel to you, Jay. Or should I call you Christian Cage? Or better yet should I call you the Patriarch now? All of this, what just happened to Nick Wayne on Wednesday, what just happened to Killswitch, it’s all because of your insecurity!
“You couldn’t get past your own ego, could you, man? The night I got here, you were about to con-chair-to Sting. Last Wednesday, you were about to have Killswitch con-chair-to Nick Wayne. You know I’ve got a short fuse. You said you were going to break my neck while my children looked at me. You’re not just threatening me and my future, you’re threatening theirs. Now I’m hunting you. I’ve already got two heads on my wall. I’m going to change your soul. I’m going to kick your face in. I am going to take your TNT Title because it’s the most important thing in your world.
“I am challenging you. Dynamite, December 6th, Montreal, Adam Copeland versus Christian Cage for the TNT Championship. And I am going to go places you can’t go, and you haven’t been to because you don’t have that dog in you. I am going to take your TNT Title!”
The House of Black’s Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews
vs.
Komander & Gravity (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Buddy punted Gravity in the face and tagged out to Black. Malakai had a flurry of strikes for Gravity. Komander had a blind tag and caught Black off guard with a hurracanrana. Black planted Komander with a German Suplex for a near fall.
Komander connected with a shotgun dropkick off the top to both House of Black members. Komander nailed Black with a gut buster for a near fall. Gravity took flight with a tope con hiro but Black and Matthews caught him and blocked it. Komander walked the ropes from one turnbuckle from another and then springboarded off the top, taking out Black and Matthews on the arena floor!
Komander and Gravity each jumped off turnbuckles, but Black and Matthews countered by raising their knees. Black cracked Gravity with a knee lift, and Matthews smashed Komander with a knee lift!
Black ravaged Komander with a spinning back elbow and then sat on the mat, waiting for Komander to crawl to him. It was a trap. Buddy curb stomped Komander and then pinned him!
TBS Championship Match! House Rules Match!
Julia Hart (c.) vs. Lady Frost!
Lady Frost chose no count-outs for this match.
Julia Hart whipped Lady Frost into the steel guardrail. The rules were favoring Julia Hart here. Julia picked up a steel chair and placed it on the ground after being admonished by the ref. Lady Frost tried for a moonsault off the ring steps, but Julia dodged it. Lady Frost landed on her feet, but Julia was one step ahead with a thrust kick to the challenger.
Julia propped Lady Frost on the steel chair. Julia ran down the ramp and clotheslined a prone Lady Frost. Back in the ring, Julia applied the Heartless Submission and forced Lady Frost to tap out!
“Julia Hart’s first title defense is a successful one,” said Tony Schiavone.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Don Callis and Powerhouse Hobbs!
Don Callis: “I can’t figure out the calculation that got the Golden Jets—Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega—a tag team title shot. I can’t figure out how you make that calculation when the last time Hobbs had his hands on Jericho and Omega, he broke them, sent them to the hospital. And as Will would say, anyone can get got. And Kenny and Chris, we don’t need two guys to beat the Golden Jets. Hobbs is a one man wrecking crew.”
Powerhouse Hobbs: “It’s simple. I’m big, I’m black, and I’m jacked, and anybody can get it.”
FTR—Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler
vs.
The Righteous—Vincent & Dutch!
Dax used a lariat to knocked Dutch over the top rope. Dax backdropped Vincent out of the ring, and Vincent landed on Dutch. Back in the ring, Dutch splashed Dax for a two-count. Dutch was looking for a senton off the turnbuckles, but Dax dodged it. Vincent grabbed a tag, but Dax used a baseball slide through Vincent’s legs to tag out to Cash!
Cash cleaned house on the Righteous. Dutch grabbed a blind tag and planted Cash with a bossman slam! Dax tagged in and FTR hit the Shatter Machine on Vincent, allowing Dax to score the pin.
Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews walked toward the ring.
Black: “If we would come to the ring right now there would be no one coming to save you. No Claudio, no Yuta. See the misconception is that this place is not the brotherhood that you two think it is.”
The arena went dark. When the lights came back on, FTR were alone in the ring, but the House of Black had vanished.
Action Andretti and Darius Martin were backstage!
Action Andretti: “Eight months, that’s how long it’s been since Darius, and I have been teaming together. Darius, these past eight months, I feel like we’ve grown such a bond together. We’ve had so many great opportunities and I’ve heard that this Wednesday Dynamite is returning to your hometown in Minneapolis.”
Darius Martin: “Yeah, man, we have been building a lot of chemistry. But it seems like there’s something just a little bit off and I think I know what that might be.”
Dante Martin walked onto the scene!
Darius turned to Dante and said, “You ready to step up? It’s time to take flight.”
Dante Martin: “I’m back!”
Tony Schiavone interviewed AEW World Tag Team Champions “Absolute” Ricky Starks and Big Bill!
Ricky Starks: “We thought there was going to be more of a fight from Jericho.”
Big Bill: “These two guys call themselves the Golden Jets. To us you look more like the Golden Girls.”
Starks: “Nice. I like that. They traveled up and down the roads together. Me and Bill don’t even know each other that well. Bill, when’s my birthday?”
Big Bill: “No idea.”
Starks: “Exactly. But what I do know is that you two aren’t built like him.”
Big Bill: “Four years ago when I was in and out of the emergency room having seizures from alcohol withdrawal, I always knew I’d make it back to the top. When I couldn’t get out of bed and I was at the lowest point of my entire life, I always knew I’d make it back to the top! And when nobody believed in me and they counted me out, they said he’s washed, he’s done, I always knew I’d make it back to the top!
“And standing in this ring with this guy, with these titles, I’d say I was right. I made it back to the top. Now Chris and Kenny, we know all about you. We’re very aware of all of the accolades. And you two are two of the best to ever do this. But I don’t think you two realize what you’re dealing with. We are angry, we are motivated, and we’re not only going to beat the living hell out of you, we’re going to embarrass you. When I look at you two, I don’t see Jordan, I don’t see Pippen. When I look at you two, all I see are the dudes that hand Michael Jordan his Bazooka Joe bubble gum before starting lineups are introduced.”
Starks: “I don’t even watch basketball and I know all those people are really good. And I also know two things: one guy tells everybody he’s the best, and the other actually is. After you are done with me and Big Bill, I’m going to let you know one thing. Ricky Starks likes his gum minty fresh and Big Bill likes his Big Red, baby.”
“Limitless” Keith Lee vs. Lee Moriarty!
Lee Moriarty kicked Keith Lee on the thigh. Keith fired back with a kick of his own, but Moriarty ducked it. Keith Lee came back with a pounce on Moriarty!
Lee Moriarty grabbed an arm bar, but Keith Lee pulled him up with a bicep curl. Keith Lee walloped Moriarty with a lariat. Moriarty stunned Keith with a bulldog from the top rope. Moriarty springboarded but Keith countered with a headbutt and then finished him off with a powerslam for the pin!
After commercial break, Lexy Nair interviewed Keith Lee!
Keith Lee: “Initially I planned to come in here and tell you about how good and talented Lee Moriarty is. He is that damned good. But he’s no Keith Lee. And I’m tired of the misrepresentation and the lack of opportunity given to me. And now I’m here to take it. And when I say take it, that means him. You are who I want. And you know who you are.”
Nigel: “Smart money has got to be on Shane Taylor.”
Tony: “That’s the question for us to ponder.”
Main Event Time!
Continental Classic Match—The Blue League!
ROH World Champion & NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston
vs.
House of Black’s Brody King!
Brody and Eddie traded shoulder blocks. Then they exchanged chops in the center of the ring. Brody battered Kingston in the corner with a running cannonball. Outside the ring, Brody pummeled Kingston with more chops and then whipped Kingston into the steel ring steps. Brody charged at Kingston, but Kingston countered with a drop toehold, sending Brody colliding into the steps.
Brody rallied back, splashing Kingston against the barricade. Back in the ring Brody body slammed Kingston and then connected with a senton splash. Brody tried to whip Kingston into the turnbuckles, but Kingston’s legs gave out and he crumbled to the mat.
Kingston collected himself and out of nowhere, in a desperate move, Kingston clubbed Brody with a lariat. Eddie went for an exploder suplex, but Brody countered with a German Suplex. Kingston shocked Brody with a spinning backfist for a near fall!
They traded chops again! Brody switched to forearms. Eddie spiked Brody with a DDT for a near fall! Eddie charged at Brody King, but Brody planted Kingston. Brody was looking for a lariat, but Eddie countered with an exploder and then a half-and-half suplex. Kingston followed up with a third suplex for a two-count on Brody!
Brody nailed Kingston with a piledriver for a two-count. Eddie ducked a lariat and cracked Brody with a spinning backfist! Brody decimated Kingston with Dante’s Inferno and then pinned him! Brody has earned three points!
“Holy smokes! What have we just seen? This is what the Continental Classic is all about,” said Tony Schiavone.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
AEW presented Full Gearlive from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, CA!
It’s Saturday and you know what that means!
The Zero Hour portion of the show kicked off!
Your announce team for Zero Hour was Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness.
ROH World Championship Match!
Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Jay Lethal (with Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, & Satnam Singh)!
Stokely Hathaway joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Kingston clotheslined Lethal over the top rope, sending Lethal crashing onto the arena floor. Back in the ring they traded stiff chops. Lethal pulled Kingston out of the ring and sent the champ headfirst into the steel ring post. Lethal took Kingston down with a snap suplex. Lethal followed up with a beautiful overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Lethal executed the Lethal Combination. Kingston countered the Lethal Injection with a suplex.
Karen Jarrett distracted the ref while Lethal crawled towards Jeff Jarrett’s guitar. Ortiz appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the guitar and smashed it over Dutt’s head. Kingston countered the Lethal Injection again and then pinned Lethal after a spinning backfist!
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli
vs.
House of Black’s Buddy Matthews!
Buddy Matthews went right after Claudio right out of the gate. Claudio blasted Buddy with a European Uppercut outside the ring. Buddy rocked Claudio with a rising knee and Claudio answered with a lariat. Buddy tried for a meteora, but Claudio caught him and countered with the Big Swing!
Buddy employed the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Claudio deadlifted Buddy into a cutter. Claudio accelerated into an uppercut. Claudio planted Buddy with the Ricola Bomb and then placed Buddy in the sharpshooter, forcing Buddy to tap out!
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match!
MJF (c.) & Samoa Joe vs. The Gunns—Austin & Colten!
MJF stomped Colten in the corner. MJF hit the Gunns with a double clothesline. Samoa Joe tagged himself in. Samoa Joe wiped out the Gunns with a tope suicida. Joe connected with a senton on Colten. Joe jabbed away at Colten.
Colten swiped MJF with a clothesline as the ref was distracted. Austin Gunn grabbed a tag and kicked MJF in the back. The Gunns employed quick tags and worked over MJF with tandem offense.
Samoa Joe tagged in and cleaned house on the Gunns. Samoa Joe powerslammed Austin for a near fall. Samoa Joe was setting up Austin for a muscle buster, but MJF tagged in. MJF went for a muscle buster of his own on Austin but Colten dropkicked MJF. The champ fired back with a double DDT on the Gunns. MJF was looking for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe tagged himself in. The Gunns escaped muscle busters from MJF and Samoa Joe. The Gunns nailed Samoa Joe with the 3:10 to Yuma. MJF broke up the pin attempt.
Adam Cole came out and walked down the ramp on crutches. As the Gunns were distracted, Samoa Joe finished off Colten with a submission. MJF and Adam Cole hugged outside the ring.
After the match Samoa Joe got in MJF’s face. Samoa Joe and MJF shook hands, with MJF being a man of his word. Samoa Joe is now in line for a shot at the World title, as he helped MJF defend the ROH Tag titles tonight. Samoa Joe left and then the Gunns blindsided MJF in front of Adam Cole. Colten held down MJF while Austin cracked MJF in the leg with a steel chair! Adam Cole was forced to watch helplessly on crutches. Ref Paul Turner called for Doc Sampson to check on MJF who was writhing in pain.
MJF was stretchered out of the ring by the AEW medical team. MJF was loaded into an ambulance, and he yelled at Adam Cole, “Promise me you won’t let them take my championship!”
“How can Adam Cole live up to that promise, a man with one leg,” wondered Nigel.
The main portion of Full Gear began.
Trios Match!
“Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland, Darby Allin & Sting (with “Nature Boy” Ric Flair)
vs.
TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, & Nick Wayne!
Nick Wayne cracked Darby Allin with a cheap shot. Darby grappled Nick Wayne to the mat. Darby followed up with two deep arm drags. Sting tagged in and threw Nick Wayne through the ropes and to the floor. Sting whipped Nick Wayne into the steel barricade.
Copeland tagged in and Christian Cage immediately tagged out to Luchasaurus. Luchasaurus charged at Cope with a clothesline. Cope escaped a chokeslam attempt. Darby tagged in but ate a right hand from Luchasaurus. Luchasaurus choke slammed Darby over the top rope and onto the ring apron.
Christian Cage stomped on Darby and then tagged out to Nick Wayne. Nick punted Darby in the shoulder. Luchasaurus entered the ring and slammed Darby, and then Nick Wayne followed up with a senton for a near fall. Darby nailed Nick with a Code Red from the top turnbuckle. Christian Cage crawled under the ring, popped up on the other side, pulled Copeland down and rammed him into the ring post! Christian taunted Darby, telling him to make the tag. Christian poured on the punishment.
Adam Copeland entered the match and unleashed hell on Luchasaurus. Copeland rocked Luchasaurus with an Impaler. Copeland threw Wayne over the top rope at Luchasaurus. Darby rocketed out of the ring with a tope at Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus!
Sting and Copeland hammered Luchasaurus. They hit Luchasaurus with a tandem Scorpion Death Drop. Luchasaurus battered Copeland with a lariat to the back of the neck. Christian Cage taunted Ric Flair and Flair chopped Christian. Christian connected with a low blow. Christian Cage tried to hit Copeland with the championship belt, but Copeland ducked, and Cage inadvertently hit Luchasaurus. Christian Cage abandoned his team. Sting splashed Luchasaurus and then Copeland hit the spear! Darby nailed Luchasaurus with the Coffin Drop and then Copeland pinned Luchasaurus!
Tony Schiavone was on the ramp with ref Bryce Remsburg and called out representatives of Bullet Club Gold—The Gunns. Instead “Switchblade” Jay White came out. “Tell them old man,” said Jay White.
Tony Schiavone: “I hate to say this, but unfortunately MJF is injured and will not be able to defend the title tonight. The match tonight between MJF and Jay White has been cancelled. And now by default, your new AEW World Champion is Jay White—”
Adam Cole’s music hit!
Adam Cole: “Jay, there is not a shot in hell you’re leaving the KIA Forum with Max’s championship. I made a promise to my friend, and I had a talk with Tony Khan and if MJF can’t defend his title tonight, I will do it for him, one leg or not. Tonight’s main event will be Jay White versus Adam Cole baybay!”
Jay White: “Let me refresh your damaged memory. I took you out once before. If you want to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, I’ll take you out once and for all!”
AEW International Championship Match!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (with HOOK)
vs. Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley (with Wheeler Yuta)!
Taz joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Moxley sent Cassidy onto the announcers’ table. Mox hoisted up Cassidy and dropped him across the barricade. Moxley chopped at Orange and taunted him. Moxley drove Orange to the mat with a Bossman slam.
Orange rocked Mox with a diving DDT. Moxley was busted wide open. Orange flew out of the ring with an elbow suicida to Moxley. Orange hit Mox with another one! Orange cracked Mox with a third elbow suicida, right on the jaw!
Orange countered a Death Rider with a Stun Dog Millionaire! Mox grounded and pounded Orange Cassidy and then transitioned into a bulldog choke on Orange! Orange jumped on Mox’s back and applied the Red Rum! Moxley was able to get to the ropes, forcing the ref break. Moxley stunned Orange with a cutter and then a Gotch style piledriver for a two-count!
Orange dropkicked Moxley and Moxley collided headfirst into an exposed turnbuckle corner. Orange pulped Mox with three Orange Punches! And then a fourth! And then a fifth Orange Punch! And a sixth Orange Punch! Orange followed up with the Beach Break and pinned Jon Moxley!
It was announced that Tony Khan made the match official for tonight’s main event: “Switchblade” Jay White vs. Adam Cole for the AEW World Championship!
Additionally, Mark Briscoe was announced as the next participant in the Continental Classic, which begins this Wednesday on Dynamite!
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Hikaru Shida (c.) vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm (with Luther the Butler)!
Storm and Shida exchanged forearms. Shida stormed Toni with a running knee strike. Mariah May was watching on a monitor backstage. Shida chopped Storm in the chest. Toni backed Shida into the corner with rapid fire chops. Storm pounced on Shida with a running bulldog.
Luther handed Toni two shoes. The ref saw one of the shoes and pulled it away, but Storm had a second shoe hidden in her trunks. Storm cracked Shida in the head with the shoe while the ref had her back turned. Shida fired back with a Strong Zero. Shida hit the question mark kick and then a Falcon Arrow for a near fall on “Timeless” Toni Storm!
Storm avoided a meteora and Shida’s ankle buckled on the landing. Storm applied an ankle lock. Shida reached the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold. Storm pulled off one of Shida’s boots. Shida grabbed a kendo stick, but Luther tried to pull it away. Shida wrecked Luther with the kendo stick.
Storm walloped Shida with a German Suplex. Storm had a metal tray in her trunks. Storm bashed Shida with her hip attack and pinned Shida!
And new AEW Women’s World Champion… “Timeless” Toni Storm!
Mariah May walked out and handed Toni Storm a bouquet of flowers.
Renee Paquette was backstage with ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston!
Eddie Kingston said he had his eyes on the Continental Classic. He said he wanted to up the game a little bit. “I want to put the New Japan Strong Openweight Championship and the ROH World Championship on the line in each of my matches in the tournament. Let’s make this the biggest and best tournament in pro wrestling.”
AEW World Tag Team Championship Ladder Match!
Big Bill & “Absolute” Ricky Starks (c.)
vs.
FTR—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood
vs.
LFI—Dralistico & Rush
vs.
Kings of the Black Throne—Brody King & Malakai Black!
Dax starched Malakai with a right hand. Malakai knocked a ladder into Dax’s mouth. Rush and Cash whacked one another with nasty shots, forearms and elbows. Cash threw his body through the ropes at Brody, Rush, and Big Bill! Dralistico jumped over the top with a tope con hiro and took out the pile!
Ricky Starks climbed to the top, but Malakai knocked him off his perch. Malakai moonsaulted out of the ring and onto the pile! Dax superplexed Starks out of the ring and onto the men outside!
“There are bodies everywhere on the outside. You knew it was going to be physical,” said Taz.
Big Bill and Brody King collided with one another in the center of the ring, exchanging wild, clubbing shots. Rush and Dax rammed them with ladders. Dax threw his ladder at Rush. Dralistico dropkicked Dax, who had his head in between rungs of the ladder. Dralistico staggered Cash with a corkscrew kick. Dralistico climbed the ladder, but Cash shoved the ladder down!
Cash powerslammed Rush, catching Rush midflight. Cash started climbing the ladder, but Malakai pulled Cash down. Black slingshotted a ladder into the face of Wheeler.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Cash Wheeler spiked Black with a piledriver on a ladder! Brody attempted a tope suicida, but Big Bill pulled up a ladder and Brody crashed into it. Starks speared Dralistico and then speared Rush. Starks drilled Dax with a swinging DDT. Starks sent Black overhead with a suplex into a ladder.
Brody King cannonballed Dax, who was against a ladder that was propped against the turnbuckles. Brody began to climb the ladder toward the titles, but Big Bill yanked the ladder out from beneath Brody. Dralistico lunged off the ropes with a lung blower to Big Bill. Rush rammed Big Bill with a ladder, sandwiching Big Bill in the corner. Rush rocked Big Bill with the Bull’s Horns, kicking a ladder into Bill’s face!
Starks and Rush climbed opposite sides of the ladder. Dax grabbed a taller ladder and began the climb towards the titles. Cash grabbed another ladder, but Brody backdropped him. Dralistico planted Brody with a poison rana. Brody decimated Dralistico with a Gonzo Bomb on a ladder that was propped up between the ring and the guardrail!
Cash Wheeler climbed to the top rope and splashed Brody on the ladder, sacrificing his own body. Dax climbed up a ladder toward the titles, but Ricky Starks met him up top. Black pulled Dax down and connected with the End. Starks grabbed the titles and the champions retained!
TBS Championship Match!
Kris Statlander (c.) vs. Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue!
As Skye Blue was making her entrance, she removed her baseball cap, stomped on it, and put a crown on.
Kris body slammed Julia and then body slammed Skye. Skye Blue rolled up Kris from behind for a near fall. Julia jumped on Statlander’s back, but Statlander shucked her off. Skye Blue clocked Kris with a knee strike. Statlander double suplexed Skye and Julia on the arena floor, reversing their attempt on Statlander.
Skye Blue offered her hand to Julia and Julia accepted it…and then began to bounce Skye Blue’s head off the mat repeatedly. Blue mounted Julia and began to pound her with shots. She followed up with the PK to Julia. Kris charged at Skye and Julia with knee strikes.
Skye nailed Kris with a neck breaker. Julia rallied back with an elbow to Skye Blue. Julia took Statlander off her feet with a lariat. Skye Blue rocked Hart with a thrust kick. Julia moonsaulted Skye Blue but Statlander pulled Julia off Blue to break up the pin attempt. Statlander powerslammed Julia on the arena floor. Skye Blue blasted Kris with a Code Blue for a near fall!
Julia applied the Heartless Lock to Skye Blue, but Kris grabbed Julia and sent her overhead with a German Suplex! Then Kris sent Skye flying high with a German Suplex. Kris crushed Skye with the Saturday Night Fever and went for the pin, but instead Julia knocked Kris away, covered Skye, and won the match!
And new TBS Champion…Julia Hart!
“Man, she stole that win and it was perfectly done,” said Taz.
Tony Schiavone was in the ring for the blockbuster contract signing!
“Ladies and gentlemen let’s bring in the newest member of All Elite Wrestling,” said Schiavone.
Will Ospreay walked down to the ring!
Will Ospreay signed the contract and made it official!
Ospreay: “It feels great! Listen up. I’m happy to be a part of the team, but I am not going to come in just yet. When I was 22 years old, I was part of New Japan Pro Wrestling. I’m 30 years old now, so I’m begging all of you, let me finish up, and then I’ll be on the road to Revolution. And then I’ll be all yours, but more importantly, I am All Elite, bruv! Mr. Tony Khan, do us a favor. Line up the best that you got, especially for Wembley Stadium, because I’m going to show ‘em all what elite really looks like, bruv!”
Texas Death Match!
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)!
Page cleaned Swerve’s clock with a Buckshot Lariat right at the bell. Hangman taped Swerve’s wrists together. Hangman had a staple gun and began stapling Swerve’s body! Page plastered Swerve in the side of the head with a steel chair!
“Hangman Adam Page is completely unhinged,” said Excalibur.
Page grabbed a steel chair wrapped in barb wire. Page swung it at Swerve, but Swerve saved himself by kicking Page between the legs. Prince Nana had scissors and cut Swerve free of the tape.
Swerve pulled the staple gun and stapled Page right between the eyes. Swerve sent Hangman headfirst into the barbed wire wrapped steel chair.
“I feel like I’m back in Philly. This is wild!” said Taz.
Swerve pulled a cinder block out from beneath the ring. Hangman and Swerve brawled on the ring apron. Swerve spiked Hangman with a Death Valley Driver on the cinder block!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Swerve delivered a piledriver on top of the guardrail! Back in the ring, Page planted Swerve with a fallaway slam. Page sent Swerve flying with another fallaway slam. Page wrapped barbed wire around Swerve’s head. Page trapped Swerve’s arm against his body by wrapping the barbed wire around him. Page hit another fallaway slam. Page moonsaulted off the post and landed on Swerve with the barbed wire wrapped steel chair!
“This is hard to watch,” said Nigel.
Swerve intercepted the Buckshot Lariat attempt. Swerve booted the chair into Page’s head. Page reversed a tombstone and dropped Swerve onto the barbed wire wrapped steel chair with a tombstone piledriver of his own!
“This goes beyond pro wrestling. This is evolutionary,” said Nigel.
Swerve power bombed Page onto the barbed wire wrapped chair and followed up with the Swerve Stomp! Swerve grabbed a black bag from beneath the ring. Swerve spilled the bag onto Page’s back. It was full of broken glass. Swerve connected with a 450 splash onto Page, who had glass all over his bag. Swerve followed up with the JML Driver!
Swerve placed a board covered with barb wire and bridged it between two chairs in the ring. Page chomped down on Swerve’s forehead. Page planted Swerve with a fallaway slam off the top and followed up with a Dead Eye on the barbed wire!
Page wrapped the barbed wire around Swerve’s head and face. Page blasted Swerve with a Buckshot barbed wire lariat! Prince Nana pulled Swerve out of the ring to break the ref’s count. Brian Cage ambushed Page from behind and power bombed him! Brian Cage pulled out a table and set it up on the arena floor. Page cracked Cage with a barbed wire wrapped rolling elbow. Adam Page almost broke Nana in half with a Dead Eye through the table! Swerve shattered the cinder block on Hangman Page!
Swerve wrapped a chain around Page’s throat, and then Swerve yanked on the chain after it was draped across ring post. Page couldn’t answer the ten count and Swerve was declared the winner!
“By the grace of God, this one is over,” said Nigel.
Tag Team Title Opportunity vs. Tag Team Break-up!
The Golden Jets—Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega
vs.
The Young Bucks—Matt & Nick Jackson!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Chris Jericho and Matt Jackson chain wrestled. Jericho chopped at Matt and then Omega tagged himself in, allowing Matt some time to step away from Jericho and his swarm of chops. Matt mauled Omega with a flurry of shots to the back of the head. Omega answered with a hurracanrana. Omega launched himself with the Terminator Dive and landed on Matt Jackson!
Chris Jericho slid into Nick Jackson with a baseball dropkick. The Bucks went to work on Jericho’s arm, trying to take out the arm Jericho uses for the Judas Effect. Jericho dropkicked Nick Jackson from the middle rope and then tagged out to Omega.
Omega took Matt down with a snapdragon suplex. Omega wiped out both Bucks with his offense. Omega moonsaulted out of the ring and onto Matt Jackson. Omega followed up with a crossbody press to Nick, but Nick countered by rolling through for a near fall. Omega smashed Nick with a knee strike.
Jericho lionsaulted onto both Young Bucks! Jericho was looking for the Walls, but Matt Jackson kicked Jericho in the injured arm. Nick Jackson connected with a rolling roundhouse to Jericho. Matt was looking for a rana, but Jericho put the brakes on and sat down with the Walls of Jericho. Matt used the heel of his boot to kick Jericho in the arm and escape the hold.
Matt Jackson sent the Golden Jets flying with double Northern Lights Suplexes. Jericho lawn darted Matt Jackson’s face into the mat. Matt held Jericho while Nick connected with a senton. Nick Jackson kicked Jericho between the legs. The ref admonished Nick and while she had her back turned, Matt kicked Omega between the legs!
Nick Jackson rocked Jericho with the Judas Effect! The Bucks bashed Jericho with the BTE Trigger. Somehow Jericho kicked out of Matt’s pin attempt. Nick Jackson superkicked Jericho on the injured arm. Omega tagged in and stunned Nick with a V Trigger. Omega lifted off Nick for a One Winged Angel, but Nick reversed it with a rana. Matt planted Omega with a One Winged Angel and Nick covered Omega, but the Cleaner kicked out!
The fan chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Omega drilled Matt Jackson with a German Suplex. Nick Jackson starched Omega with a superkick. Jericho ate a superkick from Matt Jackson. Omega clocked Matt with a V Trigger and then finished him off with the One Winged Angel to score the pin!
“And now Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho can challenge for the AEW World Tag Team Titles anytime they choose,” said Excalibur.
Nick Jackson was furious at the loss and began tearing apart the announcers’ desk. Omega extended his hand to the Bucks, but the Bucks stormed off.
Main Event Time!
AEW World Championship Match!
Originally scheduled as: MJF (c.) vs. Bullet Club Gold’s “Switchblade” Jay White!
Adam Cole came to the ring on crutches.
Jay White was introduced and walked to the ring with the Gunns by his side.
Justin Roberts announced Adam Cole as representing MJF.
“This is going to be a massacre,” said Taz.
Before the bell rang, an ambulance driven by MJF pulled into the back of the arena. MJF hobbled to the ring!
MJF slapped Switchblade in the face, but Switchblade went right to work on MJF’s injured left leg. Jay White diverted the attention of the ref while the Gunns stomped on MJF outside the ring. The ref eventually saw the Gunns interfering and ejected them from ringside.
MJF turned the tables on Jay White and chomped down on White’s forehead. MJF fired up and hit the kangaroo kick on Switchblade. Jay White dropkicked MJF in the bad leg. Jay White spiked MJF with a DDT. Jay White planted MJF with a uranage for a near fall.
“I hate to say it, but I think the presence of Adam Cole at ringside is distracting MJF,” said Excalibur.
MJF gouged at Jay’s eyes and then DDT’ed him on the floor. MJF slammed Jay White onto the announcers’ desk. MJF dropped an elbow from the top turnbuckle right onto Jay White on the arena floor!
The fans chanted “He’s our scumbag! He’s our scumbag!”
Back in the ring, Jay White employed a dragon screw leg whip on MJF. Jay White tied up MJF in the Tree of Woe. Jay White climbed to the top, but MJF yanked White down to the mat. Jay White climbed back up and nailed MJF with an avalanche uranage for a two-count!
MJF countered the Blade Runner with a spinning elbow. Jay White answered with a release German Suplex. MJF spiked White with a tombstone piledriver. MJF jumped over the top rope and caught Jay White with a cutter, planting him on the arena floor!
“We are witnessing MJF take risks like he never has in his entire career,” said Excalibur.
Back in the ring Jay White went back to work on MJF’s injured leg. Jay White spat at Adam Cole and then applied the figure four to MJF. Adam Cole had a towel and was contemplating throwing it into the ring to end the match. MJF reversed the figure four. Jay White made a desperate dive and grabbed the bottom rope to force the break. Adam Cole had his ROH Tag Title and was thinking about using it against Jay White, but Jay White grabbed it away and smacked MJF in the head with it! Jay White covered MJF but MJF kicked out at two!
Jay White was yanking on MJF’s leg, but MJF shoved him away, with White colliding with the ref and knocking him down. Adam Cole slipped the Dynamite Diamond Ring into the ring, but before MJF could retrieve it, Jay White grabbed it. MJF hit White with a low blow before White could use the Dynamite Diamond Ring. MJF slipped the Dynamite Diamond Ring on his hand. The Gunns ran down and MJF clocked them! Jay White was looking for the Blade Runner, but MJF cracked Jay with the Dynamite Diamond Ring and pinned Switchblade!
And still AEW World Champion…MJF!
Missed what the entire wrestling world is buzzing about? Order the replay of the historic AEW Full Gear 2023! It’s available on all traditional cable and satellite providers in the United States and Canada, Bleacher Report, Fite International, PPV.COM, and more! See AEW Full Gear 2023 for yourself!
Catch the fallout from Full Gear on AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view this Saturday night, November 18th, for FULL GEAR 2023 live from the fabulous KIA Forum in Los Angeles, CA! AEW’s return to the West Coast has already been an exciting endeavor, and now it comes to a head with multiple championship bouts, epic grudge matches, strained friendships, and the top shelf professional wrestling the world has come to expect from the athletes of All Elite Wrestling! Click here for all the details on how the AEW faithful around the world can watch our November tradition, then sit back, strap in, and get ready for a rocket ship of a ride in Cali!
On November 1st, just four days after beating Kenny Omega on COLLISION, Maxwell Jacob Friedman became the longest reigning AEW World Champion in AEW’s history, surpassing the 346-day marker set by “The Cleaner” between WINTER IS COMING 2020 when he beat Jon Moxley and FULL GEAR 2021 when he lost to Hangman Page. One week later, on the November 8th DYNAMITE in Portland, MJF defeated Daniel Garcia in a World Championship defense, thereby tying the mark of 9 successful defenses set by Moxley during his reign from REVOLUTION 2020 where be bested Chris Jericho to the aforementioned WINTER IS COMING 2020 loss.
These are two huge milestones in the history of All Elite Wrestling, as well as in the professional career of Maxwell Jacob Friedman, not to neglect his fifth consecutive victory where the Dynamite Diamond Ring is concerned, but unfortunately MJF has had to celebrate both this championship milestones without his precious Triple B, the AEW World Championship title. For weeks now “Switchblade” Jay White has been parading around with the physical title belt and using his possession of it to proclaim himself the real AEW World Champion. While White is certainly championship material, his status as a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is testament to that, he is not the AEW World Champion regardless of his physically holding the title belt.
While he’s not champion, what “King Switch” has been is a thorn in MJF’s side that he’s been unable to remove, a foe Max has been unable to get a leg up on, and man surrounded by three other men willing to get their hands dirty in order to lend “Switchblade” an assist when it is need. Jay White is also one of just two people who’ve pinned MJF’s shoulders to the mat since he returned to the fold at ALL OUT 2022, the other being Dax Harwood the night Better Than You BayBay challenged FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. To say Jay White has the psychological edge heading into this fight would be an understatement, and though initially it seemed the Devil-masked individual, and their gang of black clad thugs, that have encircled this bout was MJF’s balance to everything White had done, it became clear after White’s victory over Mark Briscoe that they (a) The Devil was not MJF and (b) they were not on the side of the World Champion either. Even though their initial arrival on the scene was at the expense of Jay White, this time around they left The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass laying, even chucking Anthony Bowens through a window.
So after everything that has gone done between MJF, his allies, Jay White, and BULLET CLUB GOLD, the two men will finally go one-on-one for the AEW World Championship! It’s MJF’s chance to become the most successful champion in AEW history by breaking Mox’s record, it’s Jay White’s opportunity to ascend to the throne in All Elite Wrestling just as he did in New Japan, and it plays out this Saturday night live on pay-per-view from the legendary KIA Forum!
Though it’s been a little more than ten years since the very first time Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida stepped into the ring with one another, that fight from the REINA promotion is their lone fight away from All Elite Wrestling and a tag team one won by Storm and her partner.
It would be nine years before Storm and Shida saw each other inside the squared circle again, only now they were working as partners on DARK: ELEVATION #74, teaming with Willow Nightingale as their third to top Emi Sakura, Marina Shafir, and former AEW Women’s World Champion Nyla Rose. The two women would actually team up several more times in 2022, actually proving quite successful both as a team and a trio, but the AEW Women’s World Championship would enter the picture.
At ALL OUT 2022, with the title having been vacated as a result of Thunder Rosa’s injury, Toni Storm bested Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D, Jamie Hayter, and Shida to win her first title, acquired by pinning Hayter, and since she was not the woman pinned, lining up Shida for a title fight of her own. That first singles bout between the women would go down on TITLE TUESDAY 2022, and end with Toni Storm still the reigning champion.
The two women would go their separate ways, reconnecting in May 2023, but unlike Shida who had stayed true to the side of angels, Toni Storm had aligned herself with Ruby Soho and Saraya to form The Outcasts. The alliance-turned-rivalry would blossom into a Women’s World Championship match at the 200th episode of DYNAMITE and that fight would end with “The Shining Samurai” becoming a 2-Time World Champion. Sadly it was a short-lived title reign as Saraya would bring it to an end just 25 days later at ALL IN: LONDON, though not by pinning Shida, but rather by putting down Toni Storm to claim the victory. That pinfall on Toni would prove a breaking point for Storm’s role in The Outcasts as she began to spiral out into the woman we see now, and the Women’s World Champion defeating Toni at GRAND SLAM 2023 completely broke the camel’s back.
The Women’s World Championship would end up back in Shida’s possession after TITLE TUESDAY 2023, making her the first 3-Time champ in the division, but as for Toni Storm, a week prior to Shida’s win at DYNAMITE: 2023 ANNIVERSARY, we all witnessed Toni spiral out on RJ City before making her “Timeless” declaration.
Now lost in this “Timeless” Hollywood starlet delusion, Toni has declared this year’s FULL GEAR event as her “Hollywood Homecoming” and “Quest for the Gold”, heaping a great deal of the blame for her woes on Shida’s lap despite it being The Outcasts, Toni’s former friends, who caused much of that misfortune. As for Shida, while Toni has been experiencing this break from reality, she has posted three successful title defenses against Ruby Soho, Willow Nightingale, and that unforgettable Fright Night Fight with Abadon on COLLISION. Meanwhile Storm has not been inside the ring since an October 7th victory over Kiera Hogan, which means she may be well-rested and healed up from any nagging issues, but heading into FULL GEAR 2023 is she ready for a fight, especially the type of fight Hikaru Shida will undoubtedly bring?
The defending Women’s World Champion does not want this third reign to end as abruptly as the second, and thus she will throw every bit of her arsenal at “Timeless” Toni Storm to insure this go-round isn’t a repeat of the second. While she may hold the spot as longest-reigning Women’s World Champion of all-time at 372 days, so too does Shida hold the position for shortest with that 25 days reign, and if Toni beats her on Saturday night, she’ll also have the second shortest time with the title as well. That’s not the history Shida intends to make…
After 326 days and 31 championship defenses, Orange Cassidy had the AEW International Championship ripped from his waist by former 3-Time AEW World Champion Jon Moxley at ALL OUT 2023. It was a violent bout, one in which Cassidy was brutalized like never before in his career, but it was a beating that earned him the respect of Mox, not an easy thing to acquire by any means.
Unfortunately for Moxley, his time as International Champion did not come close to touching the records set by Cassidy during his reign because on his fourth defense of the title, just 17 days in, Rey Fenix dropped Moxley hard, and wrested the championship from The BCC member’s grasp. It was a shock to be certain, a win many considered an upset despite Fenix’s championship pedigree, and one that actually put Mox on the injury list for several weeks as far as AEW was concerned, though that didn’t stop the man from fighting for OTT in England and Ireland, for NJPW in Osaka, and at NJPW STRONG’s event at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, the home of FINAL BATTLE 2023.
Meanwhile, during the month that Moxley was kept on the sidelines before his OTT trip, Orange Cassidy had the opportunity to challenge Fenix for the International Championship, a one-on-one rematch of their 11/2/22 Three Way title fight early in Orange’s reign, and just like that fight, it ended with “Freshly Squeezed” getting his hand raised in victory. So not only was OC the longest-reigning International Champion in that title’s short life, not only is he the most successful champion in all of AEW history with those 31 defenses, but now he is also the only 2-Time Champion in the history of the International Title.
Seeming somewhat lost after losing the title to Mox, Cassidy seems rejuvenated by his reclamation of the championship, as if it helped salve the lingering injuries he’d sustained over those 326 days, and reinvigorated him for this second run atop the division. He’s already bested John Silver and Mox’s BCC brother Claudio Castagnoli in championship defenses, but this Saturday night at The KIA Forum, he’s got to get back into the fight with the man who battered him not that long ago.
It’s obvious that Cassidy wants this fight, why else would he have shoulder-bumped Mox after the show of respect Moxley gave him after their fight, provoking the man, almost rubbing it into his face that OC had taken the belt back from the man who beat Moxley. The situation began to blow up this past Wednesday on DYNAMITE as The BCC of Moxley and Yuta met Cassidy and HOOK in a tag team battle, and not only did The BCC defeat championship pair when Yuta pinned HOOK, but Moxley ate a straight shot from an Orange Punch and did not even go down to a knee! It very clearly shook OC to see his primary weapon have no effect on the man he’s got to fight on Saturday night; will we see the same reaction if Cassidy scores with an Orange Punch in the championship match, or can it actually put the 3-Time AEW World Champion and former International Champion down?
Moxley says FULL GEAR 2023 will be a course correction, a moment where he shows the world that Cassidy is actually who Jon Moxley says he is, and he puts the 2-Time International Champion back in his place. Will this be the case when the final bell rings, or will Cassidy do what he has done repeatedly since coming to All Elite Wrestling and show Jon Moxley he is as real as The BCC?
Swerve Strickland came into this entire ordeal with former AEW World Champion Hangman Page with the intent of proving he was worthy of a top spot in the AEW pantheon. A former AEW World Tag Champion, just like Hangman, Swerve has relentlessly pursued that top tier status ever since violently parting ways with Keith Lee and nothing has deterred those aspirations, not even being locked in a coffin by Darby Allin and Sting.
So when Page and Swerve went into battle at WRESTLEDREAM, Strickland viewed it as his opportunity to snatch the spot while Hangman saw it as his moment to get back on track with his own career after spending a great deal of 2023 wrapped up in Elite business with Blackpool Combat Club and then, surprisingly, winning the ROH World Six-Man Titles from Swerve’s allies in The Mogul Embassy. But instead of Swerve proving his merits on his own, he resorted to an assist from Prince Nana and his crown to defeat Hangman, and shortly thereafter, when the opportunity arose to fight Bryan Danielson for a shot at TNT Championship, Swerve tried the same tactic. Thankfully Hangman was on the spot to stop that crime from being committed, but that only served to escalate the issues, and next thing Hangman knew, Swerve and Prince Nana were breaking into Page’s house.
That disturbing scenario is best left untouched, suffice to say that Swerve committed the heinous sin of dragging family into this issue that started as a professional jockeying for position, making it as personal as any issues experienced in All Elite Wrestling. We heard Hangman speak his mind about this, tearing Swerve down to the core with every bit of personal drama Strickland has experienced, and capping it all off by assaulting Nana since the two Texas Death combatants were forbidden from any physical content on DYNAMITE.
But that rule doesn’t extend beyond the borders of AEW…
At Pro Wrestling Revolver’s UNREAL event, as Swerve and Nana stood in the ring talking about the FULL GEAR 2023 fight, Hangman attacked out of nowhere, and promised that he would beat Swerve’s ass this Saturday night. Swerve chose to make this personal, messing with a man’s family, so much so that it led others like Penta El Zero Miedo to fight the him, but once Hangman chose to oblige Swerve and join him in the muck and mire, it was bound to get ugly. Fans have seen the former AEW World Champion in Texas Death before, he’s undefeated in that stipulation here in AEW, and that’s because he’s willing to get uglier and dirtier than anyone else when the fight comes.
Swerve led this into ugliness by his actions outside the ring, will he be able to get that ugly when the bell rings on Saturday night?
TRIOS MATCH…
Adam Copeland, Darby Allin, & Sting vs. TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, & Nick Wayne
It was a huge moment at WRESTLEDREAM when “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland arrived on the scene in All Elite Wrestling and stood side-by-side with Sting and Darby Allin in opposition to TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and sadly also Nick Wayne. In the weeks since then, we have heard Sting announce to the world that he would bring his legendary career to its end at REVOLUTION 2024, we heard Copeland repeatedly say he would not fight his best friend, we saw Ric Flair come into the equation to ride this home stretch out with “The Icon”, and we’ve watched Christian Cage continue to be a horrible human being.
But after hearing Cage after being attacked by Cage’s “sons”, after hearing Christian threaten to break his neck, Adam Copeland has agreed to ride into battle alongside Sting and Darby Allin this Saturday night at FULL GEAR 2023! We witnessed these three men get their first reps in as a trio against The Righteous and Lance Archer, and though they looked very solid in action, they are still new to the idea of working with one another. In truth, it’s not all that different from the situation with Christian’s Patriarchy, much like Darby and Sting, Christian and Luchasaurus have spent a great deal of time together and formed their own dynamic, and much like Adam Copeland, Nick Wayne is a new ingredient to that formula. Unlike the Darby/Sting/Copeland trio though, The Patriarchy all fall under the direction of Christian Cage, they do not think for themselves, they follow the direction of their erstwhile father figure, and only his direction.
Their opponents are individuals, allies, friends; it’s not a case of Darby falling into a subordinate role just because of Sting and Copeland’s seniority or being led by their direction. This will be a trio operating on the same page but making use of their varied levels of experience, pooling their assorted resources and knowledge, and applying each other’s best attributes to the fights. There is obviously a concern about the history between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland, how all that friendship, those roads traveled together, those championships held as a team, the time spent with each other’s families, how will all that play into this Trios fight at FULL GEAR 2023? All of it has to be nagging at the back of Copeland’s skull, but will it effect his ability to fight? We will all see this Saturday night…
TAG TEAM BATTLE…
The Golden Jets (Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
***TAG TEAM TITLE OPPORTUNITY VS. TAG TEAM BREAK-UP***
It was at WRESTLEDREAM that The Young Bucks earned a future shot at the AEW World Tag Team Titles at a moment of their choosing; they did so by defeating The Lucha Brothers, The Gunns, as well as the team of HOOK and Orange Cassidy. Since that PPV event, we’ve seen Nick Jackson lose to AEW International Champion Nick Jackson, The Young Bucks & Hangman Page lose the ROH World Six-Man Championship back to The Mogul Embassy after just one successful defense, and watched The Young Bucks completely lose their cool after that championship defeat.
Over the last few months we’ve also seen Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho form one of the most unlikely pairings in AEW’s history, brought together by their mutual issues with Don Callis and his Family, putting aside their own sordid history in order to fight against Callis’ relentless onslaught. Clearly this is not a situation that sits well with the brothers Jackson; call it jealousy over the relationship with Jericho or call it caution given that the history between Jericho and The Elite created Stadium Stampede, either way it is driving a rift between Omega and The Young Bucks.
Now we now from history that The Young Bucks do not deal well with their friends having other friends, we witnessed it many moons ago with Adam Cole and reDRagon, but when it’s a man such as Jericho with whom there was so much bad blood from the first year of AEW, it’s got to be infinitely worse. That is why this match is going down, after all when there’s an issue between professional wrestlers the best place to settle it is inside the squared circle, and why not amp up the stakes when both teams have something to lose?
And what are those stakes? If The Young Bucks win, then the existence of The Golden Jets comes to an end. There will be no more team of Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, no more fighting the good fight together against a common foe, they will just be quits as soon as that bell rings. But if The Golden Jets win, then Matt and Nick will have to say goodbye to the World Tag Team Championship match they earned at WRESTLEDREAM! That opportunity will belong to The Golden Jets, no Young Bucks championship match on the horizon, just Jericho and Omega maintaining their dynamic to challenge whoever wins Saturday night’s Ladder Match. And what of the relationship between Omega and The Young Bucks? Well it has survived a great deal, and it has endured, but they haven’t been at this point before where so much hostility has put them at odds.
Previously that was Hangman with Omega trying to keep the peace as best he could for as long as he could; only now there is no cooler head trying to prevail, just four men looking to fight, and we shall see if the friendship between The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega can survive the ordeal.
TBS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
Kris Statlander(c) vs. Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue
Kris Statlander is a breakneck pace as the TBS Champion; in the span of 174 days, Stat has successfully defended the title on 16 occasions against fourteen different women. For perspective, by that point in her historic TBS Championship reign, the longest title reign in AEW history across all divisions, Jade Cargill had only defended the title eight times while Orange Cassidy, the most successful champion across all divisions in AEW, was also heading towards his 17th defense against Dralistico.
This Saturday at FULL GEAR 2023, Statlander heads into her 17th defense against two foes she’s already beaten in one-on-one contests, but who she now must contend with in a Three Way situation. To make matters more intriguing, there is an entire other dynamic between Julia Hart and Skye Blue that has little to do with Statlander. Ever since Hart misted Skye, the latter has taken a turn towards the dark, so much so that there was absolutely a concern she’d walk through the doors of The House of Black and be lost to her friends forever. Though Skye would repeatedly rebuke the handshake of help of the TBS Champion, when the moment came between choosing between Willow Nightingale and Julia Hart, Skye turned and sprayed her own blue mist into the face of The House of Black’s Hart.
So with each woman’s position set, the light of Statlander, the dark of Julia, and the chaotic middle of Blue, they will now collide on Saturday night with the TBS Championship on the line! This will mark the first defense for Stat that’s involved multiple challengers, will that be the ticket to ending this potentially historic reign? Or will the strife between Julia Hart and Skye Blue be the key to the champion retaining her championship?
AEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER MATCH…
Big Bill & Ricky Starks(c) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. LFI (Dralistico & Rush) vs. The House of Black (Brody King & Malakai Black)
A Ladder Match, only one other time in the history of AEW have the World Tag Team Titles been at stake in a Ladder match, and that was the night The Young Bucks beat Jurassic Express to start their defenseless 28-day second reign, as well as the night Christian Cage first stabbed Jack Perry in the back.
But four teams fighting to climb the rungs to championship status? That is a whole new ballgame, and one likely to end up in plenty of pain, suffering, and punishment! Just yesterday the AEW faithful witnessed the chaos that erupted between these eight men, especially Dax and Rush as they battled to a No Contest, now put that into a situation with no rules, the freedom to use weapons, and with a title at stake. This will be an intensely physical situation, and even though Ricky Starks is the one who laid the stipulation on the table, not necessarily the best one for the champions to retain their titles. They may not have to worry about a pinfall or submission happening to someone else to lose their status, but Big Bill and Ricky Starks constantly have to be concerned about stopping someone else climbing the ladder. There are six bodies besides theirs all with the same goal, but only one has to ascend to the top of the ladder and pull down the belts.
All Elite Wrestling is back on pay-per-view this Saturday night with FULL GEAR 2023 coming to you live from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles! This PPV experience is loaded with multiple championship bouts, including a Four Way Ladder Match for the AEW World Tag Titles, as well as huge grudge matches, and all the elite class professional wrestling fans expect from an All Elite Wrestling pay-per-view! All the details on how to watch FULL GEAR 2023 can be found here, so if you can’t be there in-person, you have to join us through your preferred method for the greatest PPV experience professional wrestling has to offer! And don’t forget to join us for the FULL GEAR: ZERO HOURprior to the start of the PPV where the ROH World Title and the ROH World Tag Team Titles will be defended!
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, CA!
Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Friday night and you know what that means! Friday night’s alright for fighting!
To kick off the show Tony Schiavone was in the ring with TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne!
Christian Cage: “It’s lucky for you that tomorrow night at Full Gear, not only do you get to see Sting’s last match you Los Angeles, you’ll get to see Sting’s last match ever. I’m sick of people calling him an ‘icon.’ Tomorrow night Sting, it’s all gonna be over.
“And what’s interesting to me is what’s going to happen to Darby Allin when he loses that mentor of his. Hey Darby, if you ever find yourself in need of some fatherly guidance, you know who to turn to. And Ric Flair, I know you’ll be ringside tomorrow, but if you stick your nose in our business tomorrow, it’ll be your literal come to Jesus moment.
“Adam Copeland, if you haven’t already, after Full Gear tomorrow you’re going to regret signing that contract with AEW. You came here to try to steal my spotlight. Here’s the thing, Adam, I am not the same person I was back when. I am Christian Cage, the patriarch of AEW. While you were the golden boy, I was in the trenches, clawing and scratching for every inch. And Beth, keep the girls up late and keep them close to the TV, because Adam I’m going to guarantee you that I will break your neck.
“As the TNT Champion, the powers-that-be want me on the program every second I can. So, I’ll be in action tonight in the four-way. After the four-way tonight, I’m going to keep running things here in AEW. I don’t work within the system. I am the system.”
Lexy Nair was backstage with the AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and “Absolute” Ricky Starks!
Big Bill: “Ricky or myself do not have to be pinned or submitted tomorrow to lose the tag team titles. So, Ricky went and spoke with Tony Khan.”
Ricky Starks: “Tony is a fair man and he allowed me to pick a stipulation in our favor. I am selecting a ladder match. That’s right, a very short climb for Big Bill here. Tomorrow at Full Gear, when we walk out of L.A., we’re walking out as champions, we’re walking out in style, and most importantly, we’re walking out at the greatest tag team champions you’ve ever seen.”
“The Redeemer” Miro vs. Daniel Garcia!
Miro snatched Garcia and threw him overhead with a suplex. Miro stomped on Daniel Garcia in the corner. Miro followed up with another suplex. Miro smashed Garcia with a short arm lariat. He suplexed Garcia yet again!
Miro turned his back for a moment and Garcia charged at him. Garcia jabbed at Miro with right hands. Miro stopped a cross body and planted Garcia hard on the mat. Garcia backed up Miro with strikes after a chop block. Garcia dropkicked Miro. “The Redeemer” clobbered Garcia with a big boot to the face!
Garcia hit a belly to back suplex on Miro. Garcia was about to dance, but Matt Menard ran to the ring, jumped on the apron and told him not to dance. Miro charged at Garcia, but Garcia moved. Miro collided into Matt Menard. Garcia applied a cross face to Miro, but Miro escaped. Miro then muscled his way out of a sharpshooter. Miro locked on the Game Over submission hold and Garcia was out. The ref stopped the match and awarded the victor to Miro!
CJ Perry and Andrade El Idolo were backstage with Lexy Nair!
Andrade: “I’m so happy.”
CJ Perry: “Andrade is the best wrestler in my opinion. And that’s why I have entered him into the Continental Classic.”
Andrade: “You spoke with Tony?”
CJ Perry: “Yes, and if you win, you’re going to get an extra bonus.”
CJ whispered into Andrade’s ear. “Are you sure?” he asked. CJ nodded. Andrade said, “I trust you,” and they shook hands.
Kings of the Black Throne—Malakai Black & Brody King
vs.
The Boys—Brent & Brandon!
Malakai Black applied a wrist lock to Brent. Black blasted Brent with a spinning back elbow. Brody King tagged in, and Brent tagged out to his brother Brandon.
Brent grabbed Brody’s leg and Brandon charged at Brody. Brody backdropped Brandon out of the ring. The Kings finished off Brent with Dante’s Inferno and pinned him.
Trent Beretta vs. Penta El Zero Miedo vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage vs. Komander!
The winner receives a TNT Championship match tonight during Rampage.
Penta El Zero Miedo got in Brian Cage’s face, but “The Machine” knocked him right down. Komander and Penta nailed Cage with thrust kicks, knocking Cage out of the ring. Komander followed up with a tornillo. Trent hit Penta with a back elbow.
Trent and Penta traded chops in the middle of the ring. Trent cracked Penta with a knee strike and then sent him flying with a half and half suplex. Komander walked the top rope, but Cage shook the ropes and knocked Komander down. Cage suplexed Komander out of the ring and down onto Trent and Penta on the arena floor!
Brian Cage whipped Trent into the steel guardrail. Cage sent Penta in the guardrail. Cage planted Komander on the ring apron. Penta and Komander teamed up to hit Cage with an assisted cannonball. Trent nailed Komander with a high angle German suplex. Trent rocked Penta with German suplexes. Trent took down Cage with a poison rana, but Cage got up and clobbered Trent with a lariat.
Penta punted Cage in the head. Penta drilled Trent with a thrust kick. Penta walloped Cage with a sling blade. Penta got a near fall on Trent after hitting him with the Made in Japan! Penta jumped off Komander’s back and flew out of the ring with a tope con hiro on Cage. Trent crushed Komander with the Strong Zero and pinned him!
Lexy Nair was backstage with Don Callis and Powerhouse Hobbs!
Don Callis: “Paul Wight is out on the shelf. Done! Powerhouse Hobbs slammed a 450 pound giant, a living legend, through the windshield of a car, and broke him.”
Hobbs: “Anyone can get it! I took out a giant. A multiple time world champion. I’m big, I’m black, I’m jacked. Paul, I know you’re resting away. But stay away because anyone can get it.”
Wardlow vs. Evan Daniels!
Wardlow rushed his opponent and power bombed him! Wardlow followed up with a swanton off the top. Wardlow hit the powerbomb symphony. The ref stopped the match as Daniels was unable to continue.
“Wardlow has only one thing on his mind: MJF,” said Tony Schiavone.
FTR’s Dax Harwood (with Cash Wheeler)
vs.
LFI’s Rush (with Dralistico, Preston Vance, & Jose the Assistant)!
AEW World Tag Team Champion “Absolute” Ricky Starks joined the broadcast booth for this match. His tag partner Big Bill stood behind him.
Rush rocked Dax with a shoulder tackle. Dax dodged Rush and nailed him with a flying forearm. They brawled outside the ring, with Rush running Dax into the steel guardrail. Back in the ring they traded chops to the chest.
“They’re just wearing the leather out of each other!” said Nigel.
Dax drilled Rush with two German Suplexes. Rush shoved Dax as Dax was on the top turnbuckle. Dax lost his balance. Rush superplexed Dax Harwood for a near fall.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Both men blasted the other with open palm strikes until they knocked one another down! Rush rocked Dax with a belly to back suplex for a two-count. Dax spiked Rush with a piledriver for a near fall!
Rush got out of the ring and shoved Ricky Starks! Rush was about to go for the Bull’s Horns, but Starks jumped into the ring and speared Rush! The match was declared a no-contest.
Cash Wheeler ran down to the ring and began to brawl with Big Bill. The Kings of the Black Throne came down the ramp. Brody King and Big Bill tried to pull a ladder out from beneath the ring, but Cash flew out onto them. Security ran down to break up the melee!
Lexy Nair was backstage with Action Andretti!
The Kingdom and Roderick Strong interrupted Andretti as he was trying to give a medical update on Darius Martin.
Mike Bennett: “He’s got a bruised ego and a weak neck.”
Roderick Strong: “Fellas, I found my next victim.”
Matt Taven: “Who is it?”
Roderick Strong: “Action!”
Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta vs. The House of Black’s Buddy Matthews!
Wheeler dropkicked Buddy and sent him out of the ring. Buddy hip tossed Yuta into the steel guardrail. Buddy blasted Wheeler with a pump kick to the face.
Both men fought on the ring apron. Buddy hurled Wheeler off the apron, sending Wheeler colliding with the announcers’ table. Back in the ring, Buddy unleashed an array of kicks. Yuta connected with a wild swing.
Wheeler tried for a German Suplex, but Buddy broke loose. Buddy walloped Wheeler with a back kick. Yuta grabbed a near fall after a German Suplex. Wheeler rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida. Buddy picked up Yuta and dropped him across the turnbuckles. Wheeler jumped off with a double ax handle to the back of Buddy’s neck and back. Buddy connected with a running powerbomb and then curb stomped Yuta, grabbing the pin!
Buddy Matthews grabbed a steel chair after the match, hoping to continue the punishment. Claudio Castagnoli sprinted to the ring to protect Wheeler.
Claudio: “If you want the attention of the Blackpool Combat Club, you don’t have to cut some spooky promo. All you have to do is ask. You’ve been pissing me off for a few weeks now and honestly, I like to make my challenges here in the light. What do you say if it’s you and me right here tomorrow at Full Gear?”
Shida hit Ruby with a throwaway slam. Kris tagged in and swept out Ruby’s legs. Saraya grabbed a tag, but Kris shoulder tackled her for a two-count.
Julia Hart was watching Kris with a keen eye backstage on a monitor.
Statlander double suplexed Saraya and Soho. Shida tagged in and knocked down Saraya and Soho with a cross body from the top rope.
Skye Blue was watching backstage on a monitor.
Angelo Parker was sitting in the front row, cheering on Ruby Soho.
Kris connected with a spinning discus lariat on Soho. Kris followed up with a running knee to Ruby Soho. Statlander hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Ruby for a near fall. Saraya tagged in and she and Ruby tried a double suplex on Shida, but Shida blocked it. Saraya and Shida traded forearms.
Shida wiped out Saraya with a running knee strike. Shida jumped off the top rope, but Saraya countered with a thrust kick. Angelo Parker jumped over the barricade to check on Ruby Soho. Saraya didn’t like what she saw, as she was left alone to fend for herself. Kris Statlander speared Angelo Parker on the arena floor. Meanwhile, in the ring, Shida wiped out Saraya with the Katana and pinned her!
Earlier in the day, Tony Schiavone had a sitdown interview with AEW World & ROH Tag champ MJF!
MJF: “I made a promise and I intend to keep it. As much as I know Austin and Colten Gunn are ugly, they’re very talented. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win during Zero Hour. Because I told my best friend Adam Cole that these ROH Tag titles will be waiting here when he comes back from injury. And let’s be honest, I’m responsible for him being injured.
“When Jay White stole my belt, I realized Jay White is insecure. He stole that belt not to prove anything to the world, but he’s trying to prove something to himself. The championship doesn’t make the man. The man makes the championship. That’s why tomorrow you’re going to lose because nobody is on the level of the devil.
“When you ask me about the likelihood about beating the Gunns and Jay White all in one night, I’d say slim to none. But unfortunately for Jay White and all my detractors, I just so happen to like those odds.”
The Rampage portion of the evening kicked off!
“The Ocho” Chris Jericho joined the broadcast table for Rampage.
TNT Championship Match!
Christian Cage (c.) (with Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne)
vs.
Trent Beretta!
Trent flew over the top rope with a huge crossbody to Christian on the arena floor. Nick Wayne grabbed Trent from behind and Christian charged at Trent, nailing him with a cheap shot. Trent speared Christian through the ropes.
Trent went for a spinning DDT, but Christian dodged it. Trent blocked a DDT from Christian. Trent hit a hurracanrana on Christian for a near fall. Christian moved out of the way of Trent’s crossbody press. Trent countered a spear with a knee strike and then spiked Christian with a tornado DDT for a near fall.
“Trent has the momentum here. Christian is on the run,” said Jericho.
Trent clobbered Christian with the Strong Zero for a two-count! Luchasaurus distracted Trent. Christian Cage seized the moment and blindsided Trent. Christian Cage crushed Trent with the Kill Switch and pinned Trent!
After a commercial break, Chris Jericho had a message for the Young Bucks!
Jericho: “Matt and Nick seem to have an issue because I stole their buddy Kenny. I didn’t steal anyone. The Golden Jets are going to beat the Bucks tomorrow and become the number one contenders. See you tomorrow kids!”
“Timeless” Toni Storm (with Luther the Butler) vs. Emi Sakura!
Toni tried to hand Emi a script, but Emi ripped it up. Emi chopped at Toni Storm. Toni knocked Emi out of the ring with her hip attack. Toni stood up on the apron and Emi fired back with a cross body press.
Toni rocked Emi with a running bulldog. Toni was looking for a hip attack, but Emi countered with a Tiger Driver for a near fall. Emi followed up with a backbreaker across the knee for a two-count. Toni dodged a moonsault from Emi.
Toni rammed Emi with a hip attack. Toni planted Emi with a piledriver and pinned Emi!
“Tomorrow is Toni’s Hollywood homecoming as she faces AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida,” said Tony Schiavone.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh. Standing across them was ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston!
Jay Lethal: “I’ve asked for this time because I wanted to make things crystal clear for Eddie Kingston. You have one day left as the ROH World Champion because we have spoken to Stokely, and he has made it official. Tomorrow night at Zero Hour it’s going to be Eddie Kingston versus Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship. Ever since you lost in that Memphis Street Fight against Jeff Jarrett granting me a shot at your championship, you’ve done nothing but duck and hide from us the whole time.”
Eddie Kingston: “Look at me. You know me. Why are you speaking like them? You know what I can do. And I know what you can do, but not with them. You have become a coward just like them.”
Kingston turned around and Ortiz showed up and nodded at him.
Rampage Main Event Time!
Roderick Strong (with The Kingdom—Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
vs.
Action Andretti!
Strong charged at Action as Action entered the ring. Action hit back with a dropkick to Roderick Strong. Action Andretti chopped Roderick in the chest. Roderick cracked Action with a backbreaker.
Action rocked Roderick with a spinning neck breaker. Action countered a sunset flip with a suplex. Action blasted Roddy with a back elbow. The Kingdom checked on Roddy outside the ring. Action wiped out the Kingdom with a running kick. Action hit a Spanish Fly on Strong.
The fans chanted “Neck Strong!”
Roddy got to his feet! Roddy finished off Action with the End of Heartache and pinned Action Andretti!
Renee Paquette had a sitdown interview with “Switchblade” Jay White!
Jay White: “Who is the devil? In my mind, all you have to focus on is that the AEW World Championship is with someone that lives up to the E in All Elite Wrestling. Remember MJF isn’t going to even make it to the main event with me because the Gunns will take care of him first during Zero Hour.
“MJF is trying to brainwash everyone and make them think MJF belongs in the same breath as J-A-Y. When things go my way, you’re going to get more of the Bang Bang Gang.”
MJF stormed onto the scene and attacked Jay White! “Switchblade” begged Max to stop. Juice Robinson blindsided MJF and then threw MJF into Jay White’s locker room! MJF smashed the TV monitor over Juice Robinson’s head!
MJF chased Jay White to the ring. MJF grounded and pounded Jay White! The Gunns sprinted to the ring to try to help Jay White, but MJF took them down too! MJF picked up his belt and kissed it! MJF was about to bash Jay White with the belt, but the Gunn Club hit MJF from behind! Bullet Club Gold triple teamed MJF and ripped the belt out of his hands! The Gunns held back MJF as Jay White was about to ram the belt into MJF’s head when Samoa Joe ran to the ring!
Bullet Club Gold retreated!
“It looks like MJF has found a tag team partner,” said Nigel.
“But has he?” wondered Tony Schiavone.
Samoa Joe stared at MJF and extended his hand. MJF accepted!
“Joe will team with MJF tomorrow!” said Tony Schiavone.
“The AEW World Champion has made a deal with the devil,” replied Nigel.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL!
This Saturday witness history live on pay-per-view and order AEW FULL GEAR 2023 from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, CA!
Watch AEW Full Gear Zero Hour at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT on YouTube, hosted by Renee Paquette, RJ City, and Stokely Hathaway!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy & FTW Champion HOOK
vs.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta!
Cassidy and Hook ran into the crowd to get the jump on Mox and Yuta! The fight broke out onto the arena floor with all four men brawling! Moxley stomped on Orange. Yuta and Hook got in the ring and the match was officially underway!
Yuta body slammed Hook. The FTW Champ threw Yuta with the El Camino. Moxley tagged in and ate an elbow strike from Hook. Moxley held onto Hook and Yuta dropkicked Hook after a tag. Hook t-boned Moxley and tagged out to Orange Cassidy. Orange planted Mox with a diving DDT! Orange was holding his ribs.
Cassidy was looking for a DDT, but Mox held onto him, and Yuta rushed in with a lariat to Orange. The BCC were working beautifully as a team. Moxley taunted Orange with kicks and slaps. Orange fired back with a dropkick.
Hook tagged in, as did Yuta. They traded strikes in the center of the ring. Hook backed Yuta into the corner with a headbutt and followed up with a Northern Lights Suplex. Yuta tossed Hook with a German Suplex. Yuta followed up with a rolling elbow strike. Moxley ran in and nailed Hook with a blindside shot.
Hook leveled Yua with a lariat. Moxley ran in and stunned Hook with a cutter. Orange blasted Moxley with the Orange Punch and Moxley simply absorbed it, eating it for lunch. Hook tried to apply the Red Rum, but Yuta hit Hook from behind. Moxley impaled Hook with the Death Rider and Yuta pinned Hook with the seatbelt rollup!
“We just saw the FTW Champion get pinned by Wheeler Yuta!” said Excalibur.
“You ain’t pinning Hook and walking away. This is just getting started. I promise you,” added Taz.
Mox: “Orange Cassidy, you are nothing, you ain’t never been nothing, this weekend at Full Gear, I’m gonna grind you into dust and walk out International Champion and there’s not a damn thing you can do to stop me!”
Ahead of their Texas Death Match this Saturday at FULL GEAR, Swerve Strickland and “Hangman” Adam Page had a face-to-face with Tony Schiavone in the ring!
If the two men attack each other tonight, both will be banned for the rest of 2023.
Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana came to the ring first. “Hangman” Adam Page came out next, and he marched straight to the ring, his eyes locked with Swerve.
Hangman Page: “Why did Swerve go into my house? Because you are a coward. You are a fraud. You are a worthless waste of human life. You told me two months ago that you wanted to be World Champion, but I can look at you and you don’t have it in you. You can’t cut it. You are not the man that you think you are. Look at me! You’re the one who wanted to make this personal!
“You surround yourself with ‘yes men’. And if you weren’t so dumb, you’d realize Nana is just here to use you. Swerve, Prince Nana makes his living off of your back. Look at me! You are not a man at all. You are a child. I worked with kids for a long time, and I taught them a lot of lessons, and this Saturday I teach you the last lesson of your pathetic life. You should never have come into my house. We don’t need lawyers or cops because at Full Gear I am your judge, jury and executioner.
“And Swerve, one thing I forgot to mention. Tonight’s stipulation was that you and I couldn’t lay hands on one another. But Nana, they didn’t say anything about us!”
Hangman Page jumped on Prince Nana and grounded and pounded him! Security separated Page from Nana and Page nailed the security team, blasting one with the Buckshot Lariat!
Lexy Nair was backstage with Roderick Strong and the Kingdom!
Roddy said he knew who the devil was and needed to call his best friend, Adam Cole. They called Adam Cole over Skype. “It’s definitely Max!”
Adam Cole: “Max is not the devil! With all the accusations, maybe you’re the devil, Roddy.”
Adam Cole hung up.
“Why will he not listen to me?” asked Roderick Strong.
TBS Title Eliminator Match!
Red Velvet vs. Skye Blue
The winner moves on to the TBS Title Match at Full Gear on Saturday.
Red Velvet grabbed a wrist lock on Blue but Blue escaped and countered with a hammer lock. TBS Champion Kris Statlander was watching the match from backstage.
Red Velvet swept out Skye’s legs and hit her with a standing moonsault. Red Velvet boxed Blue in the corner. Skye Blue rocked Red Velvet with a DDT on the apron. Blue whipped Red Velvet into the steel guardrail.
Skye Blue cracked Red Velvet with a thrust kick. They exchanged rollups and then knocked each other down with simultaneous thrust kicks. Red Velvet nailed with double knees to the back. Skye Blue hit the Skye Fall on Red Velvet for a near fall! Red Velvet countered a rising knee from Skye Blue with a powerbomb for a two-count!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Skye Blue countered the Just Desserts with a thrust kick. Red Velvet returned first. Skye Blue intercepted a corkscrew and pinned Red Velvet after the Code Blue!
Julia Hart was seen watching from backstage.
“The Redeemer” Miro had words for CJ Perry!
“My eyes have been open for awhile now. Truth is, CJ doesn’t just bring out the worst in herself. She brings out the worst in me too. Let the Redeemer give you a piece of advice Daniel Garcia. I don’t pray to God anymore, but you should start. This is the word of the Redeemer!”
Mariah May was backstage with RJ City, waiting to meet Toni Storm!
Mariah knocked on the door and the butler let her in. Toni Storm was on a couch, resting. Toni Storm didn’t give much time for Mariah, and then told Luther to have him contact Tony Khan to book her a tune-up match for Friday.
Samoa Joe vs. Jon Cruz!
Samoa Joe jabbed at Cruz. Samoa Joe splashed him in the corner. Samoa Joe leveled Cruz with the lariat and then won via tap out!
Samoa Joe: “My name is Samoa Joe. And I come from Southern California. So MJF, since you’re in my hood, once again I extend my offer of friendship. And trust me, the time is limited Max, because you’re going to find out whether you have my friendship or not, because I am Samoa Joe and I am inevitable!”
The Young Bucks—Matt & Nick Jackson
vs.
Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Komander and Nick Jackson traded a flurry of fiery offense. All four men entered the ring and the Bucks superkicked their opponents, while Penta and Komander had the same idea with thrust kicks. The Bucks shook the hands of their opponents and then superkicked them!
“The Bucks firing on all cylinders here tonight,” said Excalibur.
Komander connected with a crossbody on Matt Jackson. The Bucks were there waiting though and hit Komander with their tandem offense. Komander took down Nick Jackson with a step up hurracanrana. Komander did the tightrope walk into a hurracanrana on Nick, and then sent Nick flying onto Matt Jackson on the arena floor!
Penta flipped over the top rope and crashed onto Nick with a tope con hiro! Penta blasted the Bucks with thrust kicks. Komander nailed the Bucks with a double DDT off the shoulders of Penta. Penta rocked Matt with a Made in Japan for a near fall!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Matt Jackson tossed Komander and Penta with a double Northern Lights Suplex! The Bucks were looking for a Meltzer Driver, but Komander sent Matt crashing into Nick. Penta destroyed Nick with a Fear Factor on the apron! Komander surprised Matt with a hurracanrana for a near fall!
“That was super close!” said Taz.
“I’ve seen things here in this match that I’ve never seen before,” replied Tony Schiavone.
Matt Jackson and Penta El Zero Miedo traded shots in the center of the ring. Penta stunned Matt with a thrust kick, but then Matt fired off a superkick. Nick Jackson tagged in and scored with a superkick. Komander springboarded but Nick Jackson cracked him with a low blow and followed up with the Judas Effect! The Bucks bashed Komander with the BTE Trigger and scored the pin!
“I’ve seen the Bucks stretch the rules before but never blatantly kick a man between the legs when the ref’s back was turned,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Will this be a taste of what the Golden Jets get on Saturday at Full Gear?” wondered Excalibur.
Lexy Nair was backstage with the Young Bucks after a commercial break.
Kenny Omega approached them and questioned why they cheated during their match tonight.
Nick Jackson: “Our heat is not with you. It’s with Jericho.”
Chris Jericho: “Don’t waste your time with these jackasses. We’ve got a match to win tonight.”
Matt Jackson shoved Chris Jericho and security had to separate them.
The Gunns—Austin and Colten Gunn (with Juice Robinson)
vs.
Peter Avalon and Jacoby Watts!
The Gunns made a statement win with the 3:10 to Yuma, quickly winning the match!
Colten: “Max, that match was two on two, so imagine at the pay-per-view when it’s two on one. Those titles are about to be gone!”
“Who will MJF find? Will he turn to Samoa Joe to tag with him this Saturday to defend the ROH World Tag Team Championship? Or will it go to Bullet Club Gold?” asked Excalibur.
A highlight package aired of Wardlow!
“Max, as God as my witness, I’m going to make the devil my b—ch!”
Like A Dragon Gaiden Street Fight!
Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, & Paul Wight
vs.
“The Machine” Brian Cage, & The Don Callis Family—Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, & Powerhouse Hobbs!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
The teams began to brawl on the ramp! Jericho hit Fletcher with his baseball bat. Hobbs went right after Paul Wight. Paul Wight choke slammed Fletcher off the stage and through a table!
Takeshita hit Ibushi with an elbow strike, but Ibushi absorbed it. Omega jumped in the ring and face planted Takeshita. Paul Wight smacked Hobbs into a car outside the arena. Jericho rattled Cage with a crate over the head!
Takeshita whipped Omega headfirst into a sign! Ibushi rode a bike down the ramp, but Cage struck him with a lariat! Hobbs body slammed Paul Wight onto the hood of a car! Takeshita swung the bike around the ring and hit Jericho, Omega, and Ibushi. Takeshita nailed Ibushi with a brain buster on the bike!
Omega pulled a table out from beneath the ring and set it up. Takeshita and Jericho brawled out to the VIP Club area of the arena. Cage and Fletcher isolated Omega in the ring. Cage and Fletcher suplexed Omega onto a pallet in the ring! Omega connected with a jumping knee strike and followed up with a snap dragon suplex on Cage. Omega had a bottle in his hand and smashed it on Fletcher’s head!
Takeshita jumped off a refrigerator, but Jericho sprayed a fire extinguisher at him and then nailed him with the Judas Effect. Hobbs charged in the ring and nailed Omega and Ibushi with double clotheslines. Hobbs drove Omega down with the World’s Most Dangerous Slam! Brian Cage superplexed Omega out of the ring and through the tables on the arena floor! Hobbs planted Ibushi with a spinebuster!
Hobbs splashed Jericho in the corner. Fletcher rocked Omega with a snap dragon suplex. Fletcher grabbed Ibushi and spiked him with a piledriver off the apron and through a sign that was propped up on steel chairs!
Omega connected with a rising knee strike to Hobbs and Jericho followed up with the Judas Effect! Jericho and Omega taped Hobbs to the ropes! Omega smacked Hobbs with a glass bottle! Cage drove Jericho down into the mat and then tried for a Drill Claw on Omega. Omega escaped and spiked Cage with a reverse hurracanrana! Omega fired off the V Trigger on Cage and then on Hobbs. Omega pinned Cage after spiking him with the One Winged Angel!
AEW World Champion & ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF had some strong words after last week’s brutal attack on the Acclaimed and Daddy Ass!
MJF: “It’s become very apparent to me that no matter how hard I try to outrun my past, it’s going to catch up with me. And every time I try to open myself up, those people get hurt. So, what I’d like to say to the Acclaimed is the same thing I said to Adam Cole—I’m sorry that you got hurt and I hope you feel better.
“Ever since I could remember all I wanted to be was a World Champion and I have spent every moment of my life trying to make that happen. I am proud to say that I have made it to that mountain top. The air up here is thin. And as I look down this mountain, I see men climbing with the only intention to shove me off the top.
“And I’m afraid I could lose everything I worked for in the blink of an eye. And I’m afraid I’m going to let you guys down. The old me in this situation would have tucked and ran. But I’m done letting the past dictate my future. Yeah, I’m afraid, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up my spot at the top of the mountain. You’d better send a whole damn army up that mountain to knock me down!
“Jay White, November 18th at Full Gear, you have a chance to take my spot. But I don’t think you can. I don’t think anyone can because my name is MJF, and I am better than you and you know it! And a message to the man who stole my devil mask who hired those goons. I am going to find out who you are and when I do there will be hell to pay!”
“Switchblade” Jay White walked onto the ramp!
Jay White: “Max, you’re going to make me sick so just stop. Drop the act because you are embarrassing yourself. You’re trying so hard to be the hero and that’s not who you are. You are the villain. Always have been, always will be. And you’re not fooling anyone. You’ve told us time and time again, you are the devil. You’re not the hero, Max. You’re not these peoples’ hero.
“Max you should know better. You should know how quickly they will drop you because you mean nothing. You haven’t changed. I know that you know that I am speaking truth right now. And I know that you know your days as the AEW World Champion are numbered. You know at Full Gear you will bleed with the Switchblade. And if you’re not down with that I have two words for you: get him.”
Bullet Club Gold jumped into the ring. Max was able to fend off the Gunns for a bit but then Juice Robinson blasted MJF with his infamous left hand punch. The Gunns spiked MJF with the 3:10 to Yuma. Switchblade rocked MJF with the Blade Runner and mockingly pinned him for the three count!
Samoa Joe was watching on a monitor backstage.
“That offer still stands, MJF. You might want to take Joe up on it,” said Taz.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL!
Special Programming note: this Friday tune in to AEW COLLISION at 8/7c and then RAMPAGE at 10/9c on TNT!
This Saturday witness history live on pay-per-view and order AEW FULL GEAR 2023 from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, CA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
With FULL GEAR 2023 coming to the world this Saturday night live on pay-per-view, All Elite Wrestling is heading into the home stretch! It begins this Wednesday night in Ontario, CA at the Toyota Arena with a jam-packed edition of AEW’s flagship program! From the LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN Street Fight pitting Omega/Jericho/Ibushi/Wight against Brian Cage and The Don Callis Family to the TBS Championship Eliminator Match to the AEW World Champion speaking his mind, the AEW faithful are in store for a wild ride.
The night begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so make a point to visit the official AEW YouTube channel to get caught up on the action with highlights from recent episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as this week’s CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN STREET FIGHT…
Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, & Paul Wight vs.
Brian Cage & The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, & Powerhouse Hobbs)
The next four days are set to be some of the most crucial in the life of both Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, and that begins with this LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN Street Fight on DYNAMITE! As Don Callis has continued to amass a family around him, so too has he persisted on making life hellish for both Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, two men who’ve been a part of his life for many years, but who he decided somewhere along the way were albatrosses around his neck. He’s stabbed them in the back, quite literally in the case of Omega though that was in the head, turned their allies into enemies, and emboldened their enemies to do unnecessary levels of harm.
But what Don didn’t count on was that the torment heaped upon Jericho and Omega would actually bring the former enemies together; after all these were two men who absolutely destroyed each other at WRESTLE KINGDOM 12 inside the Tokyo Dome, who blistered one another at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2019, and who were on opposite sides of AEW’s first definitive rivalry between The Inner Circle and The Elite.
Their union, dubbed The Golden Jets by Jericho, has experienced victory over The Gates of Agony, over Kyle Fletcher and Takeshita, and over Jericho’s former allies Angelo Parker and Matt Menard. They did suffer a trios loss at WRESTLE DREAM to Takeshita, Will Ospreay, and Sammy Guevara, with Kota Ibushi working as their third, but nothing has brought an end to this situation. Not Callis bringing Powerhouse Hobbs into the fold to utterly decimate Chris Jericho, not the addition of Paul Wight to the situation, nor Prince Nana selling the services of Brian Cage to Don Callis to bolster his Family’s side for this Street Fight.
Nothing has satisfied Don Callis’ need to inflict pain and violence on his former friends and all those who support them, and perhaps nothing will, but that’s not going to stop The Golden Jets, Paul Wight, and Kota Ibushi from trying to end it. Can this Street Fight be that ending? Can it be the night that Chris and Kenny finally find a way to purge their lives of the Don Callis poison? And if they do, even if they don’t, what will they be coming into this Saturday’s fight against The Young Bucks at FULL GEAR 2023?
TAG TEAM GRUDGE MATCH…
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy & FTW Champion HOOK vs.
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta)
Ahead of their FULL GEAR 2023 International Championship rematch, Orange Cassidy and Jon Moxley are set to clash in a tag team battle. While Moxley has turned to his Blackpool Combat Club brother Wheeler Yuta for his partner this Wednesday night, the 2-Time International Champion has looked to one of his more newly acquired allies in FTW Champion HOOK!
As a team HOOK and OC only have one previous outing, that Four Way tag at WRESTLEDREAM, and although they were not the winning team, neither were they the team that got pinned by The Young Bucks. Conversely Mox and Yuta are 1-0 in their only outing as a team, but they are a pair that train together, that bleed together, that share the same mindset and mentality when it comes to competition. The BCC are, in many ways, of one mind in their approach to professional wrestling, and that makes them a very dangerous entity.
Then there are all the other factors that play into this match; Jon Moxley’s ALL OUT 2023 victory over Orange Cassidy that ended his International Championship reign, Cassidy’s victory over Rey Fenix that brought him his second reign after Mox fell to Rey shortly after ALL OUT, and that shoulder bump delivered from “Freshly Squeezed” to Mox that turned their story into something a bit uglier.
So the question is coming out of this tag match, regardless of who wins, what will be left of Moxley and Cassidy come FULL GEAR 2023 on Saturday night? Will they tear each other to pieces on DYNAMITE in an attempt to gain the last minute advantage? How will Yuta and HOOK factor into this outcome, and will that evolve into a rivalry all its own? Tune into TBS this Wednesday night to watch the explosion!
TBS TITLE ELIMINATOR BOUT…
Red Velvet vs. Skye Blue
***WINNER MOVES ONTO TBS TITLE MATCH AT FULL GEAR***
The hunt for the TBS Championship is heating up with Kris Statlander set to defend at FULL GEAR 2023 in a Three Way bout! After her victory over Willow Nightingale on COLLISION, Julia Hart has earned her spot in the title fight with the third participant in the championship match to be determined this Wednesday night in Ontario!
With Red Velvet having topped Ruby Soho on last Friday night’s edition of RAMPAGE, and Skye Blue beating Marina Shafir the week prior, these two will now lock-up to determine the second woman challenging Kris Statlander on Saturday! In all six of their fights, five of which took place in All Elite Wrestling, Red Velvet has been victorious with the count being twice in singles matches, three times in trios, and once in a tag, but the last of those was ten months ago, and Skye Blue has changed quite a bit since that encounter.
The darkness of Julia Hart has seeped into Skye Blue, and although it didn’t bring her fully into the embrace of The House of Black, it has brought out a darker side to Skye, one that stands in direct contrast to the women she’s called friends, namely Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander. As for Red Velvet, she is freshly back from the injured list after nine months recovering, and just two bouts into this comeback. The first of her fights ended in a loss to, of all people, Julia Hart, while the second was that aforementioned victory over Ruby Soho, and that victory has helped land Red in this position. Before her injury, acquiring the TBS Championship was a goal of Red Velvet’s and now she’s on the precipice of having another opportunity to do just that.
Will the history dominated by Red Velvet continue to play out in that fashion, or will this tilt towards the darkness lead Skye Blue to her first victory over Red Velvet?
A RIVALRY REVISTED WITH A TWIST…
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs.
Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes)
The last time AEW was in Ontario, CA at the Toyota Arena, The Young Bucks took on The Lucha Brothers in another chapter of their legendary rivalry, and that night it was the brothers Jackson who took home the winner’s share of the purse. That fight was also the last time the two teams clashed in a traditional tag, although they were each part of the Four Way #1 Contender’s bout at WRESTLEDREAM, a bout that ended with Penta pinned after eating a BTE Trigger.
This Wednesday night All Elite Wrestling is back in Ontario, essentially Matt and Nick’s home court, and while a rematch between the two brother duos was potentially on the table, with Rey Fenix still not cleared for competition it is the high-flying luchador Komander who will step up in Fenix’s stead! This contest will mark the first time Komander and The Young Bucks have shared the ring together, tilting an advantage towards he and Penta because at least that half of The Lucha Bros can inform Komander of what to expect. Penta has done it all against the Bucks: been inside a Steel Cage, fought them in Escalera de la Muerte twice, had traditional tag bouts, Trios contests, and even battled Matt in a Four Way fight just over a month ago on DYNAMITE.
Aside from perhaps Hangman and Kenny Omega, there is no one in the AEW locker room who knows The Young Bucks like The Lucha Brothers do, thus it falls on Penta El Zero Miedo to convey this knowledge to Komander, so the two can parlay it into victory just before The Young Buck’s FULL GEAR 2023 date with The Golden Jets. The only other time Komander and Penta have been teammates took place on a September 29th event in Laredo, TX as Komander stepped up in Fenix’s stead there as well, and though they were not victorious, they showed great promise as a duo. That promise is going to have to become something more though if they hope to topple The Young Bucks, especially with everything Matt and Nick have on the line come Saturday night in Los Angeles!
A week ago, after watching Jay White defeat Mark Briscoe in a fight with that FULL GEAR 2023 championship title opportunity hanging in the balance, AEW World Champion MJF snuck into the ring from behind BULLET CLUB GOLD with every intention of getting his Triple B belt back. One-by-one Max knocked them on their butts, leaving only himself and Jay White standing, but when MJF slid the Dynamite Diamond Ring on his finger, “Switchblade” bailed on the fight.
As The Bang Bang Gang listened from the stage, MJF get a lot off his chest about their upcoming match at the fabulous Forum, but as Max finished the lights went out, the big screen clicked on, and the AEW faithful witnessed The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass laid out by a foursome of of black-clad assailants. The assault got particularly nasty when Anthony Bowens was tossed through a window and into an office nearby; not one of the four attackers sported that Devil mask commonly associated with MJF, but that masked visage did pop on the screen before the fade to black, sending Max racing to the back to check on his recently acquired allies.
As MJF stood in the carnage, Samoa Joe walked onto the scene to reinforce his previous message to Max that the AEW World Champ needed back-up he could count on, before walking off with a chuckle. Not that long ago, when Jay White was the one assaulted, it was reasonably assumed that MJF was the one in the mask and lying that the property had been stolen from his locker room. Given that this most recent incident took place at the expense of MJF allies, with the man himself standing in the ring as it happened, it is obviously not Maxwell Jacob Friedman sporting the mask again, but perhaps we will learn something new this Wednesday night when MJF speaks to the incident on DYNAMITE!
AEW returns to the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA for the final DYNAMITE before FULL GEAR 2023! We’ve got The Young Bucks versus Penta & Komander on tap, as well as a potentially violent explosion between the teams of Mox/Yuta and Cassidy/HOOK, and Skye Blue fighting Red Velvet with a TBS Championship opportunity at stake! We will also hear from AEW World Champion MJF as he responds to the attack on the AEW World Trios Champions, and who can forget the LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN Street Fight! The action gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, and at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel to catch-up on highlights from recent episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as this week’s CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from the Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA!
Nigel McGuinness 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!
Andrade El Idolo vs. Daniel Garcia (with Matt Menard & Angelo Parker)!
Before the match began, CJ Perry walked down the ramp and stood next to Andrade. They nodded and smiled at one another.
“It looks like Andrade and CJ Perry have made an agreement,” said Tony Schiavone.
Miro was watching on a monitor backstage.
Garcia and Andrade locked up with a stiff collar and elbow tie up. Andrade grabbed a full arm twist, but Garcia escaped. Andrade applied a side headlock.
Garcia was about to perform his dance, but Andrade rocked him with a shoulder tackle. Garcia fired off forearm shots to Andrade El Idolo. Garcia dropkicked Andrade. Garcia missed a knee drop. Andrade jumped off the top turnbuckle with a big crossbody to Garcia.
Daniel Garcia caught Andrade with a dragon screw leg whip through the ropes. Garcia charged at Andrade El Idolo with a running knee strike. Garcia danced in front of CJ Perry.
Daniel Garcia nailed Andrade with a German Suplex. Garcia attempted a superplex but Andrade El Idolo headbutted Garcia, knocking him to the mat. Garcia grabbed an ankle lock on Andrade. Garcia wrenched on the leg. Andrade tried to fight the pain instead of going to the ropes. Garcia chop blocked Andrade, but Andrade retaliated with two dragon screw leg whips. Andrade hit Garcia with a running forearm shot!
Andrade got a full head of steam and rammed Garcia with a double knee strike in the turnbuckles! Garcia managed to pick up Andrade with a vertical suplex. Andrade returned the favor with vertical suplexes of his own. Garcia answered with a brainbuster for a near fall!
Andrade scoop slammed Daniel Garcia. Andrade climbed to the top turnbuckle and connected with a moonsault for a two-count.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Garcia absorbed a flurry of forearms from Garcia. Andrade connected with a pump kick and applied the figure four. Andrade transitioned into the figure eight and forced Daniel Garcia to tap out!
CJ Perry hugged Andrade after the match. Miro was watching backstage, grinning at the sight of CJ Perry and Andrade celebrating Andrade’s victory.
Nick Wayne (with TNT Champion Christian Cage & Luchasaurus)
vs.
Dalton Castle (with The Boys)!
Dalton Castle grappled Nick Wayne to the mat. Dalton Castle suplexed Nick Wayne and rammed his knee into Wayne’s back. Castle rocked Wayne with another gut wrench suplex.
Nick Wayne stunned Castle with a flying forearm shot. Nick Wayne followed up with a snap mare. Nick Wayne countered a German Suplex attempt with a forward roll. Dalton Castle threw Nick Wayne with a suplex. Nick Wayne tried for Wayne’s World, but Castle blocked it with a German Suplex.
Luchasaurus chokeslammed the Boys on the arena floor! Dalton charged at Nick, but Nick moved, sending Dalton right into the ring post. Nick Wayne planted Dalton with Wayne’s World and won the match via pin fall!
“Hangman” Adam Page was backstage with words for Swerve Strickland!
Page: “At Full Gear, I take you down into a fiery abyss for eternity. And you’ll face me in a Texas Death Match!
“Take some time and look around your house. Look at pictures of your family and imagine every single moment that you could have had with them. I want you to know that you will never be there, not while you can walk, not while you can talk, Swerve. Because at Full Gear I take you to the bottom. I take you to the abyss. And every November, I’ll walk with my son, and I’ll piss on your grave. Swerve Strickland, what could have been.”
LFI’s RUSH & Dralistico (with Jose the Assistant & Preston Vance)
vs.
The Workhorsemen—Anthony Henry & JD Drake!
Dralistico and Henry chain wrestled at the start of the match. Henry back kicked Dralistico in the stomach. JD Drake tagged in and splashed Dralistico. Dralistico chopped Drake but Drake absorbed it.
Rush tagged in and traded chops with JD Drake. Rush rocked Drake with a shotgun dropkick and then stomped Drake. Henry ran in but Rush shoved Henry over the top rope, sending Henry tumbling to the arena floor.
Rush and Dralistico connected with a double dropkick on JD Drake. The Workhorsemen double teamed Dralistico. Rush tagged in and cleaned house on the Workhorsemen. Rush clobbered Henry with a spinning forearm.
JD Drake and Anthony Henry staggered Dralistico with tandem offense. Drake connected with a cannonball on Dralistico. Drake went for a moonsault, but Dralistico dodged it. Rush charged at Drake with the Bull’s Horns and pinned JD Drake!
“A great win for the LFI,” said Tony Schiavone.
The House of Black were backstage!
Malakai Black: “Perhaps we have not been direct enough. How about we obtain the one thing that you desire the most in this company and make you chase us?”
Brody King: “Big Bill, Ricky Starks, the Kings of the Black Throne are coming for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.”
Julia Hart: “How about if I beat Willow tonight on Collision, you, Kris Statlander, have to give me a rematch for the TBS Title at Full Gear?”
Darius Martin (with Action Andretti) vs. Roderick Strong (with The Kingdom)!
The Kingdom rolled Roderick to the ring in a wheelchair.
Strong bullied Darius into the corner. Strong wrenched on Martin’s arm and wrist. Darius retaliated with a beautiful dropkick.
Darius connected with a big cross body off the top rope for a near fall on Roderick Strong. Roddy lured Darius in and then blasted him with a back breaker. Roddy chopped Darius in the corner. Roderick followed up with another back breaker.
Roderick hit Darius with a perfect dropkick. Darius stunned Roderick with a jawbreaker. Darius battered Roderick in the corner with chops. Roderick waffled Darius with the Sick Kick and finished him off with the End of Heartache, scoring the pin on Darius!
“The King of Neck Health Awareness, Roderick Strong, victorious tonight,” said Nigel.
The Kingdom assaulted Darius after the match with the wiener punch and then a spiked piledriver. Action Andretti sprinted to the ring, but the Kingdom ran away.
The House of Black’s Julia Hart (with Brody King) vs. Willow Nightingale!
Willow pointed at her eye, remembering what Julia Hart did to her. Willow hurled Julia across the ring. Willow body slammed Julia Hart.
Skye Blue was watching on a monitor backstage.
Willow planted Julia with a side slam. Outside the ring, Julia and Willow traded strikes. Willow connected with a vertical suplex on Julia on the arena floor.
Back in the ring, Julia stomped on Willow’s left arm and hand. Willow powered out with a clothesline to Julia Hart. Willow splashed Julia with a hip attack in the corner. Willow booted Julia in the chest. Willow planted Julia with a spinebuster for a near fall.
Julia charged at Willow with a hip check in the corner. Julia applied the Heartless Lock, but Willow stood up. Julia hammered away at Willow’s back. Willow pounced Julia! Outside the ring, Willow shoved Julia into the steel ring steps. Willow charged at Julia, but Julia moved, sending Willow crashing into the steps. Willow slammed Julia with a half and half full nelson for a near fall. Julia cracked Willow with a lariat to the back of the head. Julia scored the pin after a moonsault press!
“The bride of darkness wants revenge!” said Nigel.
Powerhouse Hobbs (with Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher) vs. Alexander!
Paul Wight joined the commentary team for the next match.
Hobbs clubbed his opponent and then planted him with a spinebuster. Hobbs quickly pinned his opponent and then stared at Paul Wight.
Don Callis: “I have one thing to say. The Don Callis Family is the greatest family in the history of professional wrestling. In just a few short days the family will be involved in the street fight on Dynamite. Not too long enough Will Hobbs broke Chris Jericho. So, what did Jericho do? Jericho found the last friend he had after I deserted him and he picked up the phone and he called the last friend he could call, would just happens to be the biggest man in professional wrestling, Mr. Paul Wight.
“And when Chris called, I’m sure Paul said, ‘Anything you need my friend.’ Paul, I’m thinking you got shortchanged in the brain department because only an idiot would face the Don Callis Family after what we’ve done to Omega, Jericho and Ibushi. But Paul, it’s not too late. Paul, we both know Jericho is going to try to use you like he tried to use me.
“Paul, I’m a big fan of your work. It’s not too late to pull the pin and leave Jericho hanging in the street fight. I see a scared giant. It’s okay to be scared of me because I run things up in here. I think I might just have to do a little something here. I buried two giants in my career and I’m happy to do it to a third. Will, bury this fool!”
Hobbs taunted Paul Wight and Paul Wight did not back down!
Main Event Time!
Trios Match!
Sting, Darby Allin, & “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland
vs.
“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer, & The Righteous—Vincent & Dutch (with Jake “The Snake” Roberts)!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Big Dutch knocked Copeland down to the mat. Copeland connected with a flying lariat and tagged out to Darby Allin.
Darby put Vincent in a side headlock. Vincent kicked Darby in the face and headbutted Darby’s jaw. Lance Archer tagged in, and Sting demanded Darby tag him in.
Sting ducked a lariat from Archer. Sting chopped at Archer. Sting knocked Archer over the top rope with a clothesline.
Sting punted Dutch off the top turnbuckle pad. Archer caught Sting midflight and planted him. Archer and the Righteous worked over Sting in their corner. Vincent chomped down on Sting’s forehead. The Righteous collided with Sting in the corner with running elbows, one after another. Lance Archer stomped on Sting.
Sting rocked Vincent with a shoulder tackle. Darby tagged in and blasted Vincent with a shotgun dropkick. Darby tried for a Code Red on Vincent but Dutch nailed Darby with a lariat.
Lance Archer launched Darby with a suplex. The Righteous tried tandem offense but Darby shoved Vincent into Dutch! Archer pulled Sting off the apron and rammed him into the guardrail. Copeland tagged in and flew off the top turnbuckle with a double clothesline for the Righteous. Copeland speared Lance Archer. Copeland jumped through the rope with a tope suicida onto the Righteous and Archer!
Darby Coffin Dropped Archer outside the ring. Copeland went for the spear, but Dutch countered with a Bossman slam! Sting grabbed Dutch in a Scorpion Death Drop and Copeland dropped an elbow on Dutch! Sting splashed Vincent in the corner and Copeland speared Vincent for the pinfall victory!
“Big win, to say the least,” said Tony Schiavone.
TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne walked onto the ramp!
Christian Cage raised his title overhead and smirked at Sting, Copeland, and Darby!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Moda Center in Portland, OR!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast live from the Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA!
Yourbroadcast team was Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
AEW World Tag Team Champion “Absolute” Ricky Starks (with Big Bill)
vs.
LFI’s Preston Vance (with Jose the Assistant)!
Big Bill joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Vance pushed Starks into the corner turnbuckles. Preston Vance stomped on Starks. Preston Vance followed up with a big pump kick to Ricky Starks. Preston whipped Starks into the steel guardrail. Starks reversed things, ramming Preston into the steel ring post!
Starks suplexed Preston onto the entrance ramp! Back in the ring, Vance regained momentum by planting Starks with a massive spinebuster! Starks fired back with discus lariat. Preston tried for this full nelson, but Ricky countered with a cradle for a near fall.
Big Bill jumped up onto the apron and distracted Preston Vance. Starks seized the opportunity to spear Preston Vance and pin him! The AEW World Tag Champs double teamed Preston until Rush and Dralistico ran to the ring to even up the odds for their LFI partner Preston Vance. Big Bill and Ricky Starks quicky retreated out of the ring!
Renee Paquette was backstage with Chris Jericho!
Jericho: “Takeshita has been on a roll lately. He’s one of the best pro wrestlers in the world today. But you’re facing one of the best pro wrestlers in the history of the business. Takeshita, this Sunday, in Tokyo, I am going to get my revenge on you. I’m going to teach you a lesson at DDT in Tokyo. You’re facing Chris Jericho. I’ve done it all. And Takeshita, as good as you are, I am better. And I’m going to show you what it’s like to be in the ring with an angry and pissed off Chris Jericho. This Sunday in Tokyo, Japan, Takeshita, I am going to get my revenge on you!”
Lexy Nair was backstage with Don Callis and Prince Nana!
Nana: “Lexi, I’m doing my due diligence. When you dig deep into your pockets, Don, what happens?”
Callis: “Sammy is on the shelf. Jericho is going to get taken care of by Takeshita. And I have made a deal with Prince Nana to rent the services of “the Machine” Brian Cage to team up with my family this Wednesday in the Man Who Erased His Name Street Fight!
Lexy Nair was backstage with Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, Satnam Singh, and Sonjay Dutt.
Jay Lethal: “I’m going to prove to the world that I outclass ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston in every way.”
Ortiz walked onto the scene!
Ortiz: “You had a lot to say about me last week. How about you say it to my face?”
Karen Jarrett: “If I were you, I’d watch what you say.”
Jay Lethal: “You might get jumped.”
Ortiz: “See, Jay, you need all these people to fight for you.”
Ortiz swung at Jay Lethal. Satnam Singh grabbed Ortiz and planted him hard on a cargo case!
Red Velvet vs. Ruby Soho (with Saraya)!
Tony Schiavone reminded us that Ruby said she wanted to do this alone, so Saraya went to the back.
Ruby got right in the face of Red Velvet. Ruby stomped on Red Velvet’s foot and then rammed her with a shoulder block. Red Velvet retaliated with a big leg lariat, staggering Ruby into the corner. Red Velvet worked over Ruby with body shots.
Red Velvet rammed Ruby with double knees and followed up with a standing moonsault for a near fall. Ruby hoisted Red Velvet on the top rope and then rocked her with a running kick. Ruby nailed Red Velvet with two consecutive back drop drivers!
“Ruby is relentless!” said Tony Schiavone.
An AEW production assistant delivered flowers to Ruby Soho during the middle of the match.
“Apparently she’s got a secret admirer,” said Tony Schiavone.
Red Velvet ducked punches from Ruby. Red Velvet cracked Ruby with a kick and pinned her!
“Clearly the distraction from the bouquet of flowers played into this match,” said Nigel.
“Wow! What a win for Red Velvet!” replied Tony Schiavone.
The Kingdom—Matt Taven & Mike Bennett (with Roderick Strong)
vs.
Two Local Wrestlers!
The Kingdom made short order of the competition, finishing them off with the Neck Check and grabbing a decisive victory. After the match, Roderick Strong ripped off his neck brace, jumped in the ring, hit a back breaker on one of the Kingdom’s downed opponents, and then ran back to his wheelchair!
Lexy Nair was backstage with Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard and Angelo Parker!
Garcia: “I am really sick of being sad. I went through the AEW roster page. I found Andrade El Idolo. This Saturday on Collision, let’s get it on!”
Ruby Soho and Saraya walked by. Saraya was clearly upset with the bouquet of flowers that Ruby was sent. Saraya looked at Matt Menard and said, “We’ve got big problems.” Menard agreed!
After a commercial break, Lexy Nair was backstage with The Kingdom and Roderick Strong!
Action Andretti and Darius Martin interrupted. Action said last time the four of them wrestled, he and Darius beat the Kingdom. Roderick Strong said he found his first victim. “Darius!” he shouted, and pointed at Darius Martin.
Main Event Time!
AAA Cruiserweight Champion Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)
& AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo
vs.
FTR—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood!
Komander swiped at Dax’s thigh with a stiff kick. Dax fired back with a snap mare and a shoulder block. Komander dropkicked Dax Harwood. El Hijo del Vikingo and Cash Wheeler tagged in for their respective teams.
Vikingo, unabated, flipped off the top rope into a hurracanrana on Cash. Vikingo rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida straight at Cash. Vikingo’s momentum sent him crashing headfirst into the commentary team’s table!
FTR used tandem offense in the ring to double team Vikingo. Komander and Vikingo utilized their own tandem offense with a fiery flurry. Vikingo dropkicked Dax from the top rope. Komander took down Dax with a hurracanrana for a near fall!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Dax Harwood superplexed Vikingo, but Vikingo countered midflight and landed on top of Dax. Vikingo and Komander hit stereo 630 splashes on FTR for a near fall! Dax countered a shooting star press from Vikingo with a piledriver for a near fall!
Dax used a slingshot powerbomb on Vikingo, but Komander was there to break up the pin attempt. Komander walked the ropes, but Dax dodged it and FTR smashed Komander with the Big Rig, scoring the pin on Komander!
All four competitors embraced after the match.
“Pro wrestling at its best,” said Nigel.
After the match, the House of Black were seen watching the match backstage.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA!
Don’t miss AEW Collision tomorrow on TNT at 8/7c from the Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
For the first time, All Elite Wrestling is coming to Oakland, CAand bringing a live edition of RAMPAGE with it! With a week to go until FULL GEAR 2023, The Oakland Arena will be rocking with all the athletes of AEW jockeying for superiority before that pay-per-view extravaganza, including a huge tag match pitting former 2-Time AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR against AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo and AAA World Cruiserweight/World Tag Champion Komander! Plus those in attendance on Friday night will get to see COLLISION one day early, featuring another big tag team bout with La Faccion Ingobernable’s RUSH and Dralistico, as well as Edge, Sting, and Darby Allin putting in Trios work against The Righteous and Lance Archer!
Live action begins at at 10pm ET/9pm CT live on TNT, and at AEWPlus.com for international fans, but if you’ll be in attendance in Oakland, the party begins at 6:30pm PT! Before the night begins, make sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel to watch highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, as well as this week’s CONTROL CENTER, and much more!
TAG TEAM BATTLE…
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo & AAA World Cruiserweight/World Tag Champion Komander
It was just over a month ago that FTR were enjoying their second reign as AEW World Tag Team Champions, a goal finally accomplished after fighting since FULL GEAR 2020 to reclaim the titles they lost to The Young Bucks. Over the span of 185 days, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood had toppled The Gunns, BULLET CLUB GOLD in an epic 2/3 Falls Match, Jarrett and Lethal, Better Than You BayBay, Big Bill and Brian Cage, The Young Bucks at ALL IN: LONDON, Aussie Open at WRESTLEDREAM, all en route to matching the record of nine successful title defenses held by both The Young Bucks in their first reign, as well as by Kenny Omega/Hangman Page during theirs.
The along came Big Bill and Ricky Starks, in just their second match as a team, to smash their way through FTR and end that run in just under five minutes. It was a beating unlike any Cash and Dax had taken since coming to AEW in 2020, one that kept them out of action for a few weeks as they recovered, only to be waylaid in their return to competition by The House of Black. FTR would however be back in the ring last week as part of a wild eight-man tag pitting Cash, Dax, Preston Vance and Rush against The Gates of Agony and the AEW World Tag Champions. Despite the rather uneasy alliance of FTR and LFI, that foursome did manage to secure the victory, only for LFI to bail and for FTR to get attacked by The House once more. The surprising arrival of Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta brought that to an abrupt end though, creating another rather unusual alliance between FTR and the BCC in the face of that common enemy.
But this week FTR will be right back in the mix as they take on two of Lucha Libre’s finest athletes, both champions in their own right with the AAA promotion, the team of Komander and El Hijo Del Vikingo! Now as a result of their rivalry with The Lucha Brothers, Dax and Cash have had some experience fighting competitors versed in the Lucha style, but as superb as Penta and Fenix are, they’re approach is quite different than Vikingo and Komander, and FTR is going to be in for a wild ride this Friday night!
Can Dax and Cash overcome? Will they need eyes in the back of their heads where The House of Black is concerned? Or will we see the two AAA champions reign supreme over the former 2-Time AEW Tag Champs?
JERICHO TALKS DRAGON GAIDEN…
Ahead of the LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN STREET FIGHT going down on Wednesday night’s DYNAMITE, we will hear from Chris Jericho on RAMPAGE on Friday night! What will “The Ocho” have to say before he goes to war with The Don Callis Family? Tune into TNT to find out!
RAMPAGE begins at at 10pm ET/9pm CT live on TNT, and at AEWPlus.com for international fans, but if you plan to be at the Oakland Arenafor the action, the night gets underway at 6:30pm PT! Prior to the fights, drop into the official AEW YouTube channel to catch highlights from Wednesday’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, this week’s CONTROL CENTER, and much more!
Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Moda Center in Portland, OR!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tony Schiavone was backstage with AEW World Champion MJF to kick off the show!
MJF: “Congratulations Jay White, because you are not going to pin me again like you did last week!”
MJF’s phone began to vibrate, and it was Adam Cole calling.
MJF: “Adam, what’s going on?”
Adam Cole: “Hey man, I’m really worried about you man. It kills me that I can’t be there with you, but I have to tell you this as your best friend. Full Gear is coming up. This match against the Gunns and I know you really don’t want to hear this but if you want to win this match, I think you’ve gotta take Samoa Joe up on his offer.”
MJF: “Again with this? You’ve been telling me all week. It’s not happening, and I don’t need him. I can defend our titles and that’s a promise. I’m going to handle Bullet Club Gold after I handle Daniel Garcia.”
Daniel Garcia interrupted MJF by walking onto the set with Matt Menard and Angelo Parker!
Garcia: “You’re going to handle me, huh?”
MJF: “You want to have a chat? Why do you think I agreed to this World title shot tonight? Do you think it’s because of your perfect win-loss record? Nah, I don’t think so. It’s because I believe in you. It’s because I see a little bit of myself in you back when I would listen to quote-unquote veterans, trying to tell me how to run my business. I’ve proven it’s talent over tenure. So, tonight am I getting Danny Garcia the sports entertainer or am I getting the professional wrestler?”
Garcia: “Tonight, you get a professional wrestler.”
Roderick Strong and the Kingdom rolled onto the set.
Roderick Strong: “Yo, Max, I know you already know this, but I am a wrestling legend, and I could easily give you some tips, dude.”
MJF: “You know what’s funny? You were a wrestling legend. You have turned into a complete joke. Adam, I’ve gotta go wrestle. I love you.”
Roderick: “Adam, don’t you see that. That’s exactly what the devil would do, dude. He would walk away.”
Adam Cole hung up.
Roderick: “It’s time to remind everyone exactly who the hell I am!”
AEW World Championship Match!
MJF (c.) vs. Daniel Garcia (with Matt Menard & Angelo Parker)!
MJF locked up with Garcia and then taunted Garcia by doing Garcia’s dance. Garcia grappled MJF to the mat. MJF offered his hand to Garcia as a sign of sportsmanship. Garcia slapped it away and MJF thumbed Garcia in the eyes.
MJF began to work over Garcia’s arm, concentrating his offense there. Garcia fired back with a flurry of forearms and strikes. Garcia followed up with a high release German Suplex. Garcia nailed MJF with a brainbuster for a near fall.
MJF double stomped on Garcia’s elbow. MJF rocked Garcia with a shoulder breaker. MJF stunned Garcia with a DDT for a near fall.
“Garcia deserves a lot of credit kicking out of that hammer lock DDT because that was nasty,” said Taz.
Garcia dodged a Panama Sunrise from MJF and then chopped the champ down with kicks to the legs. Garcia spiked MJF with a piledriver for a near fall. Garcia locked in the Dragon Tamer! MJF countered and transitioned with the Salt of the Earth arm bar, forcing Garcia to tap out!
MJF offered his hand to Garcia as a sign of respect. Garcia reached for it, but Angelo Parker and Matt Menard pulled Garcia away.
Darby Allin & Sting vs. The Outrunners—Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum!
The Outrunners double teamed Darby in their corner of the ring. Sting tagged in and he and Darby chopped Turbo Floyd. Sting knocked Turbo over the top with a lariat. Truth pulled Darby out of the ring and whipped him into the barricade. Sting clubbed the Outrunners with lariats. Sting applied the Scorpion Death Lock and won via tap out!
Earlier in the day there was a sit-down interview between AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida & “Timeless” Toni Storm, conducted by Tony Schiavone!
Shida: “What happened to you Toni Storm? You want this title? I don’t think so. You want attention paid to your silly acting!”
Toni Storm: “You happened to me, darling. I was meant to walk into Wembley with that title, and then you happened. You don’t happen anymore. I happen. I couldn’t make history, so I became history. You may have that title, but you will never have the spotlight.”
Shida: “You know what? What will happen is what always happens. I will beat you at Full Gear.”
Toni: “Very well. There’s a saying in showbusiness. Chin up, t!ts out, and watch for the shoe!”
Shida knocked the shoe away and Shida and Toni glared at one another.
Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
“Hangman” Adam Page was banned from ringside for this match.
Swerve nailed Penta with a diving European uppercut. Swerve wrenched down on Penta’s fingers. Penta El Zero Miedo and Swerve traded chops. Swerve stomped on Penta’s fingers.
Penta planted Swerve with a backstabber. Swerve rolled out of the ring, Penta ran for the tope suicida, but Swerve countered with a European Uppercut. Swerve dropped Penta on the steel ring steps. Penta jumped over the top rope with a tope con hiro on Swerve!
Swerve blocked the Made in Japan. Swerve was looking for the JML Driver, but it was blocked. They knocked each other down with lariats, each man having the same idea! Penta hit two sling blades on Swerve. Penta hit a driver on Swerve for a two-count.
Penta El Zero Miedo blasted Swerve with a destroyer on the apron! Penta connected with diving foot stomps for a two-count on Swerve.
“What a match! Holy smokes,” said Tony Schiavone.
Swerve stomped Penta over the top rope, landing on Penta’s ribs! Swerve climbed to the top turnbuckle and attempted a 450 splash, but Penta dodged it. Penta snapped back on Swerve’s arm! Penta crushed Swerve with the Made in Japan but Swerve kicked out at two!
Penta punted Swerve on the arm. Penta tried for the Fear Factor, but Swerve escaped. Swerve drove Swerve down hard and then stomped on Penta’s arm. Swerve stomped, crashing down on Penta and pinning him for the victory.
After the match, Swerve began to pull at the mask of Penta El Zero Miedo, but “Hangman” Adam Page ran into the ring with a steel chair. Page chased Swerve out of the ring and waffled Swerve in the back with a steel chair!
“Hangman is like a man possessed! He’s crazy,” said Tony Schiavone.
Hangman jumped off the stage with Swerve, spiking him through a table with the Dead Eye!
Alex Marvez was backstage with Bullet Club Gold’s “Switchblade” Jay White, Juice Robinson, and the Gunns!
Jay White: “I am here with the Bang Bang Belt. We took a vacation, but I still turned in to Collision and what did I see? After I pinned MJF last week on Dynamite, he said, ‘Hey Jay, what don’t you go compare our names on some graph chart on the internet. Max, you want me to play along? I’ll indulge you. Maybe the graphs are like that because you spend all your time searching your name hoping one day, you’ll see those graphs in a way that will appease all those insecurities of yours.
“Jay White will always be better than you and everybody knows it. I am truly elite, and I will show that tonight against Mark Briscoe. MJF you just sit back, watch, and breathe.”
Renee Paquette interviewedthe Golden Jets—Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega, ahead of their Dynamite match against The Don Callis Family that’ll be taking place next Wednesday.
Jericho: “I think when Don proposed this match, he didn’t think that Kota Ibushi and Paul Wight would have our backs and be our partners. You see, we’ve got some good friends.”
The Young Bucks—Matt and Nick Jackson, walked onto the set and interrupted.
Matt Jackson: “You know, we actually set up camp with the extras in the broom closet. Because there’s no space in our locker room. Chris’ bag is so big. Hey, but I like what you’re doing here. This whole tag team thing? Sweet promo. I even heard you had a really cool, new name. The Golden Jets! I bet you came up with that, huh, Chris?
“You know another cool name? I remember one. The Elite. The guys who started this whole damn place. That’s a cool name too.”
Jericho: “That’s so funny, you didn’t have Kenny’s back when Will Hobbs was beating the hell out of him a few weeks ago with a steel chair. I remember essentially it was the four of us starting AEW, who helped get this company off the ground.”
Matt Jackson: “You would say that. You would put yourself up on the pedestal with us. Because the way I remember it, we created the revolution and you just waltzed in and cashed another big check, didn’t you Chris?”
Jericho: “I want you to remember who you’re talking to here. You’re talking to Kenny F’n Omega and Chris Jericho. We’re two of the greatest to ever do this in the history of pro wrestling. So even though you might be the greatest tag team in the world, I’ll give you all the credit for that. I still think that Jericho and Omega can beat you.”
Nick Jackson: “Can beat us? There’s a big show coming up.”
Matt Jackson: “The light bulb just went off. I don’t think you guys are booked either. It’s called Full Gear. How about Kenny Omega, our best friend, and Chris Jericho, against Nick and Matt Jackson, the Young Bucks, the best damn tag team of all time. You said it yourself.”
Chris Jericho: “Well, uh, I kinda like that idea. But let’s put a little more steam on it. How about when Jericho and Omega beat the Young Bucks at Full Gear, and we will beat you, that guaranteed title shot that you’re sitting on, goes to us.”
Matt Jackson: “I like the way you’re thinking here Chris. How about when we beat you, and we will, right in the middle, clean as a whistle, how about this whole Golden Jets thing is no more. And we can start doing the Elite again, how about that Kenny?”
Kenny Omega: “Look, if this is about who is the greatest tag team of all time, it’s you. I don’t want to wrestle you guys. But if you’re asking me, do I think I can beat you? We’ve been down that road. I’ve done it before. You want to talk about Ibushi? You want to talk about Hangman? Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho can rise to the challenge. We can do it. So, if you guys really want to face us, we’ll do it. And then maybe you’ll clean up your act and then maybe you’ll start acting like real adults instead of sissy, bitchy children. I think you had to hear it from someone like me. So, see you in L.A. at Full Gear.”
Jericho: “Bucks, I’ll be happy to take you to the woodshed and beat your little spoiled brat asses. And by the way, I have my own dressing room.”
ROH World TV Championship Match!
Samoa Joe (c.) vs. “Limitless” Keith Lee!
Samoa Joe and Keith Lee locked horns like two massive bulls. Samoa Joe took a side headlock on Keith Lee. Joe gouged Keith’s eyes and then dropped him with a running shoulder block.
Keith Lee fired back with a shoulder tackle of his own. Keith Lee pounded Joe in the corner with big hooks. Samoa Joe chopped at Lee and then began to work over Lee’s body with jabs, pounding him down in the corner.
Keith Lee came back with a cross body to Samoa Joe. The champ hoisted up Keith Lee and dropped Lee with a knee breaker. Samoa Joe began to stomp Keith Lee.
Keith Lee got back up to his feet, but Samoa Joe took him down with a dragon screw leg whip. Joe followed up with a Manhattan drop. Keith Lee countered the senton with a German Suplex to Samoa Joe!
Keith Lee blocked a lariat from Samoa Joe. Keith Lee smashed Samoa Joe with a pop up powerbomb for a near fall. Samoa Joe slipped behind Keith Lee, locked in the hooks for the rear naked choke, and the ref stopped the match. Samoa Joe was awarded the match as Keith Lee faded.
Samoa Joe: “What stands before you is the greatest Ring of Honor Television Champion of all time. But I did not come here to merely be your television champion. I said hunger is what defines the greats. Well consider me officially hungry.
“As of tonight, I vacate the ROH Television Championship. Because the next gold that is going to be on my shoulder will be the AEW World Championship whether you like it or not, Max!”
AEW International Champion “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy and FTW Champion HOOK were backstage!
Orange Cassidy: “Jon Moxley, you must have lost your mind, saying that I overlooked you, that I don’t respect you. You are the only person that I have been thinking about since you left me in a pool of my own blood in Chicago after taking my International Championship. And I’m sorry that when the opportunity knocked, I didn’t pick up the piece of Rey Fenix, I picked up the pieces of the International Championship that you dropped. And now holding it, it doesn’t feel the same. Because I need to beat you. I have to beat you in order to be the International Champion that I know I am. And at Full Gear, I will beat you.”
The Gunns—Austin & Colten (with Juice Robinson)
vs.
The Bollywood Boyz!
The Gunns quickly hit the 3:10 to Yuma and won the match, right out of the gates!
Colten: “Hey Max, you are a liar. You have been lying to these people for years. You are not a generational talent. You’ve been telling sob story after sob story. That’s not what a generational talent does. Me and Austin, we were made for TV. We’ve been doing this for three years. We are former AEW Tag champs. We are about to be ROH Tag Champs because we are generational talents.”
Austin: “Max, you’re an embarrassment as a champion. For the past three months, you’ve defended the ROH Tag titles one time! Now the only friends you have left are on the other side of this guardrail. And I pray to God you pick one of them as your partner for Full Gear so we can send them on a ride on the 3:10 to Yuma. Max, Full Gear, November 18th, the ROH Titles go back in the hands of a real tag team!”
AEW World Champion and ROH Tag Team Champion MJF was watching on a monitor backstage when Samoa Joe approached him. MJF walked away.
Jon Moxley was backstage with Wheeler Yuta!
Moxley: “We heard what Orange Cassidy had to say and I knew it! I’ve been getting calls all week to let Orange off the hook. I knew that Orange knew exactly what he was doing. It’s about the laws of nature. This business is a jungle. And the BCC are a dominant pack of predators. What kind of example would I be setting for young Wheeler if I didn’t beat the piss out of you, Orange? What kind of example would you be setting for Hook? Teaching him he can just do and say what he wants, and it’ll be fine? You don’t even deserve to get to Full Gear. So, the minute we land at LAX, it’s on. Gang warfare. You and whoever you want to bring.”
Wheeler: “Hook, you might think you’re some tough guy, but I guarantee you, you crossed the wrong crew. See you in Cali, pretty boy.”
The House of Black’s Julia Hart vs. Red Velvet!
Julia shoved Red Velvet into the turnbuckles. Red Velvet rolled up Julia Hart for a pin attempt. Red Velvet used an arm drag to take down Julia Hart.
Red Velvet hammered Julia in the corner with body strikes. Red Velvet splashed Julia Hart with double knees and then a standing moonsault press for a two-count. Red Velvet pulled Julia off the top turnbuckle with an iconoclasm.
Julia stomped on the ribs of Red Velvet. Julia smashed Red Velvet with a moonsault and pinned Red Velvet! Julia locked in Heartless after the bell.
Skye Blue came down to the ring and had a stare down with Julia Hart. TBS Champion Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale walked to the ring. Willow checked on Red Velvet. Julia glanced over at Kris Statlander and then left.
RJ City was backstage to introduce the newest AEW signing…Mariah May!
Mariah May: “I’m so excited to be in AEW. I’ve wrestled all over the world. I just came from Stardom in Japan and I’m so excited to be a part of the AEW Women’s division. And I’m a big fan of your work. Toni Storm is the reason I’m here. I went to Japan because Toni went to Japan. Toni’s in AEW so I’m in AEW.”
RJ: “Maybe next week I could introduce you.”
Mariah May: “You’re going to introduce me to Toni Storm?!”
Main Event Time!
“Switchblade” Jay White (with Bullet Club Gold) vs. Mark Briscoe!
The Full Gear 2023 title shot is on the line here.
Mark Briscoe spiked Jay White with a side suplex. He followed up with a vertical suplex for a two-count on Jay White. Mark knocked Jay White out of the ring with his redneck kung fu. Mark jumped off the apron with a running elbow to Jay White on the arena floor!
Juice Robinson diverted the attention of the ref while the Gunns grabbed Mark Briscoe’s boot. Jay White dodged Mark Briscoe and planted Mark with a DDT!
Jay White pretended his knee was injured. The ref turned to check on Jay White while Bullet Club Gold stomped on Mark Briscoe outside the ring.
Mark Briscoe tried to build some momentum with a dropkick off the top rope. Mark and Jay White traded shots in the center of the ring. Mark hammered away with chops and elbow strikes. Mark Briscoe nailed Jay White with a neck breaker for a near fall.
Mark Briscoe hit a fishermen’s buster on Jay White for a two-count, Jay White just barely escaping. Jay White gouged at Mark’s eyes. Jay White connected with a dragon screw on Mark’s leg. Mark fired back with a Death Valley Driver. Mark climbed to the top for the froggy bow, smashed Jay, and covered him for a near fall!
Jay White rocked Mark Briscoe with a uranage. Jay White planted Mark with the Kiwi Crusher for a two-count! Jay White chop blocked Mark Briscoe. Mark escaped the Blade Runner with an exploder suplex. Mark walloped Jay with a lariat. Mark called for the Jay Driller, but Jay White backdropped his way out of it. Jay White targeted the neck of Mark with a sleeper suplex. Jay spiked Mark with a brainbuster.
Mark countered the Blade Runner with redneck kung fu. Jay served up with sleeper suplex and then spiked Mark! Jay White finished off Mark with the Blade Runner and pinned Mark Briscoe!
After the match, MJF snuck into the ring and cleaned house on Bullet Club Gold with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Only Jay White was left in the ring with MJF! “Switchblade” Jay White retreated out of the ring!
MJF: “Look at me Jay White. I hope you’ve had fun playing dress up as top guy. Because pretty soon play time is almost over. Because you’ll have to get in the ring with the real World champion. With a generational talent. With MJF! When I won that title, I made a promise to myself that I was going to go down as the greatest AEW World Champion of all time or die trying. And that’s what you’ll be dealing with Jay.
“You’ll have to kill me to beat me. I’m not fighting just for me anymore. For the first time in my life, I’m fighting for everyone who has been on this journey with me since day one. I am fighting for Adam Cole. I am fighting for you watching at home. I am fighting for everyone in this arena! ‘Cause I’m not just a scumbag. I’m their scumbag! So, I got one question Jay. Full Gear, will the leader of the Bang Bang Gang, will you be able to be the first man to pull the trigger?!”
The arena lights went out! Footage played from backstage of masked men attacking the Acclaimed and Billy Gunn!
“It seems like whoever helps MJF is in harm’s way,” said Excalibur.
The footage scrambled and then a person wearing a devil mask appeared on the screen for a split second!
The lights turned back on in the arena and MJF was standing in the ring alone. MJF sprinted to the back to check on the Acclaimed!
Samoa Joe approached MJF backstage. “Looks like you’re running out of friends, champ,” said Samoa Joe, as he laughed and walked away.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA!
Special Programming note: This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE live at 10/9c on TNT!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY!
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!
Renee Paquette interviewed AEW World Champion MJF to kick off the show!
MJF: “I’ve got a list of everybody on the roster and hopefully there are three who aren’t complete A-holes. In the meantime, I’ve got my brochacho for life, Adam Cole, on the video chat for some advice.”
Adam Cole: “You know what makes me happy? The fact that you are officially the longest reigning AEW World Champion of all time. At this point you’re the greatest AEW World Champion of all time and that’s something to be really proud of. I wish I could be there right now because it feels like the entire world is gunning for you. I think you should at least consider Samoa Joe’s offer.”
MJF: “The last time I wrestled that guy he almost broke my neck. But listen I gotta go and find three partners for tonight. And just so you know, I promise you I’m going to successfully defend our ROH Tag Titles at the Full Gear pay-per-view. I’ll see you around.”
Roderick Strong rolled up in his wheelchair with the Kingdom!
Strong: “Can you believe Max leaving mid conversation? You know I’d never do that to you, right? But also, serious question, are we still pretending that he’s obviously not the devil? Like, because he seems like the devil to me.”
Adam Cole lost his connection.
Strong: “Adam! Adam!”
The transmission was interrupted by an image of someone wearing the devil mask!
Claudio Castagnoli hoisted up Orange and planted him. He followed up with a body slam to the champ, and then a double foot stomp. Claudio began to tenderize the body of Orange with multiple knee strikes and then an uppercut forearm.
Claudio countered a cross body press off the top rope with a back breaker on Orange, and then switched to a gut wrench rib breaker. Orange Cassidy rolled out of the ring, trying to play head games with Claudio, but Claudio ran around the ring and clubbed Orange with a forearm.
Orange shoved Claudio into the steel ring post and followed up with a tope suicida. Orange went for a second attempt, but Claudio caught Orange and dropped him across the top of the steel barricade.
FTW Champ HOOK walked to the ring, but the referee ejected both HOOK and Wheeler from ringside!
Claudio rocked Orange with a delayed vertical suplex back into the ring! Claudio charged at Orange, but Orange dodged him. Claudio collided into the steel ring post. Orange jumped out of the ring and caught Claudio with a DDT on the arena floor.
Orange cracked Claudio with the Stun Dog Millionaire. Orange went for a DDT, but Claudio countered with the Giant Swing! Claudio applied the Sharpshooter. Orange tried to escape but Claudio transitioned into a cross face! Claudio cracked Orange with a European Uppercut for a near fall.
Claudio put Orange in a sleeper hold. Orange began to fade. Orange escaped and clocked Claudio with the Orange Punch! Orange smashed Claudio with the Beach Break but Claudio rolled out of the ring, showing off his tremendous instincts and ring awareness.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Orange began to stomp Claudio. Orange clobbered Claudio with a running PK. Orange pulped Claudio with a DDT for a two-count. Orange got a hurracanrana on Claudio, grabbed his legs, and pinned him!
After the match, Jon Moxley came down to the ring! Orange charged at Mox, but Mox slammed him right down and began to ground and pound him!
“Orange is getting battered alone!” said Excalibur.
“This is an assault were watching right now,” replied Tony Schiavone.
MJF was knocking on Kenny Omega’s door!
Chris Jericho answered the door.
MJF: “Is Kenny in there?”
Jericho smiled and then slammed the door in MJF’s face.
As MJF was walking away, Wardlow shoved MJF against the wall!
Wardlow: “You took everything away from me! Now I’m going to take everything from you when you least expect it.”
Wardlow let go of MJF and MJF huffed away. As MJF turned the corner, The Acclaimed were waiting for him.
Max Caster: “Why don’t you team with us?”
MJF walked away, clearly frustrated.
After a commercial break, Jon Moxley was backstage!
Moxley: “I showed you respect, Orange, when no one would. I let you walk out on your own power in Chicago. I did not have to do that. Did you just write me off like everybody else did? Right now, I’m not doing too good so maybe this isn’t about you.
“Maybe you’re just the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. It doesn’t matter either way, Full Gear, I’m going to beat you within an inch of your life with my bare hands. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Just because I can.”
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship Match!
“Hangman” Adam Page & The Young Bucks (c.)—Nick & Matt Jackson
vs.
The Gates of Agony—Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona, & “The Machine” Brian Cage!
Hangman was fighting this match with revenge on his mind. The Bucks dropkicked Cage and Liona. Hangman jumped off the turnbuckles with a lariat to Kaun. Matt Jackson splashed Kaun with a cannonball in the corner. Nick Jackson smashed Kaun with a senton!
Page hit Toa with a discus lariat. Hangman knocked Toa over the top rope with a lariat. He followed up with a pop-up powerbomb on Bishop Kaun. Page was about to go for the Buckshot Lariat when Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana walked onto the ramp!
Swerve: “Who’s house? As a matter of fact, last week I was at your house!”
Page got a look at Swerve and sprinted up the ramp toward him! Nana and Swerve retreated backstage as Hangman charged after them.
The Bucks were left alone with a three on two situation. Nick Jackson superkicked Bishop Kaun. Brian Cage ate a superkick from Nick Jackson. Cage battered Nick with a lariat and then a suplex from the apron and back into the ring!
Matt Jackson peppered the head of Bishop Kaun with right hands! The numbers were catching up with the Bucks. The Gates of Agony spiked Matt Jackson! Brian Cage shoulder blocked Nick Jackson.
“The odds are against the Bucks right now,” said Tony Schiavone.
“They’re doomed,” added Taz.
Cage powerbombed Nick Jackson and then cracked him with a knee strike. The Gates planted Nick and then Bishop Kaun pinned Nick Jackson.
And new ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions…The Mogul Embassy!
Backstage, Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page had to be pried apart by AEW security!
After the match, Matt Jackson went berserk, hitting a steel chair against the ring post over and over!
“This is about coming after somebody’s family,” said Excalibur.
After a commercial break, MJF’s pursuit to find tag partners continued.
MJF was about to knock on Samoa Joe’s locker room door but thought twice about it. MJF walked down the hall instead. The Acclaimed were there waiting for him. Caster said, “Pick us!” MJF stormed off.
Up next: Tony Schiavone interviewed the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland in the ring!
Adam Copeland: “Last week Sting got in my face. He also said we go a long way back. And we do. Because Sting and I have had a lot of the same injuries. So, we’ve been a sounding board for one another, and I respect the hell out of that man.
“I also respect Darby Allin because I think he is one of the lynch pins of this company and of this industry going forward. But Tony, I know you want answers. What am I going to do? Am I going to team with Sting and Darby Allin at Full Gear?”
TNT Champion Christian Cage came out onto the ramp with Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne!
Christian Cage: “Adam, before you give your answer, I just want to paint a little picture for you. I am going to retire Sting at Full Gear whether he likes it or not. And also, you haven’t seen Darby Allin around much lately, and if you have, you’ve noticed he has a gimp arm that’ll never be the same after I dumped him on the stairs at WrestleDream.
“Now I don’t think I need to remind you, Adam, or anybody else of your neck problems. And I’d hate for this fairy tale of yours to turn into a nightmare so I’m going to suggest you back down from me right now. If you know what’s good for you, Adam, you’ll back down from me or else I’m going to snap your neck and leave you in a wheelchair. You used to be somebody, but I can also see this isn’t sinking in. So, guys give him a little preview!”
Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne charged at Adam Copeland in the ring!
Copeland fought off Wayne and Luchasaurus. Christian Cage was in the ring alone with Adam Copeland. Luchasaurus ambushed Copeland as Copeland was staring down Cage. Nick Wayne connected with the Wayne’s World on Copeland!
Sting came to the ring! Sting cracked Nick Wayne with a shot to the face. Darby Allin ran down like a bat out of hell and drilled Christian Cage!
Christian Cage turned things around and began to stomp and kick Darby. Adam Copeland was primed and ready and speared Christian Cage!
Copeland: “You want to snap my neck?! I’m going to beat your ass! It is on! Sting, you were right. Sting and Darby, you want a partner at Full Gear? I’m your man!”
Up Next: An Important Announcement from AEW CEO, President & GM Tony Khan!
Tony Khan was standing next to Nigel McGuinness.
Nigel: “Tony, from what I understand you have a huge announcement for all our fans all over the world.”
Tony Khan: “It’s been a great year for AEW. And now, all over the world, Christmas trees are going up all over the world. It’s the start of the holiday season. I can’t think of a better gift to give to the wrestling fan, your family, your friends, your loved ones, than a ticket to next year’s AEW ALL IN coming August 25th, 2024. Tickets are on sale one month from now, December 1st. But you don’t have to wait until December 1st. You can sign up right now. Get the best tickets early.”
Nigel: “Tony here is my scoop. If you want access to the best tickets before the general public, you can sign up now at Ticketmaster.co.uk/aewwembley2024. Priority and early access presales begin November 27th, with details being emailed to everyone that has registered.”
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard & “Cool Hand Ang” Angelo Parker (with Jake Hager)
vs.
Golden Jets—Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega!
The Don Callis Family stood behind the broadcast booth as Don Callis sat in on commentary for this match.
Jericho chopped away at Menard and Parker. Omega tagged in. Omega and Jericho hit a tandem suplex on Menard. The Golden Jets followed up with a double shoulder block on Parker.
Jericho dropkicked Menard and then connected with the Code Breaker on Parker. Omega hit the terminator dive on Hager! Menard smacked Jericho in the face with a bat as the ref was distracted. Parker covered Jericho but Jericho kicked out. Parker swung at Jericho with the baseball bat. Jericho dodged it. Jericho decimated Parker with the Judas Effect and pinned him!
Don Callis: “I’ve got something to say! I’ve gotta give you credit, guys. Takeshita destroyed Kenny. Hobbs broke Jericho in two. And you guys are still back! You’re like cockroaches. You’re hard to get rid of. So maybe we have to take it up a notch.
“Maybe this doesn’t get finished in a wrestling match. Maybe this gets finished on the streets. So, if you’ve got the guts to face the greatest family in professional wrestling in a street fight in Ontario, California on Dynamite, then step up to the plate, you dummies!”
Jericho: “He just called us dummies, Kenny. What are we going to do?”
Omega: “You just said the magic word. You want a street fight. None of this was ever about playing by the rules. None of this was about winning matches. It was all about hurting me and hurting Chris. It was all for you. You want a street fight? Yeah, we accept it, but we’re not going to accept it alone. You want to bring your family along, well trust me, we’ve got an extra spot for Ibushi on our side.”
Callis: “You know I’m not a dummy, so I know by my math you’re still a man short.”
Omega: “I’m all out of ideas, Chris, can you help me?”
Jericho: “I look at Will Hobbs right here, the man that annihilated me a few weeks ago. And Hobbs is a big, big man, but I’ve got a friend who is even bigger.”
Callis: “No one is bigger than Will Hobbs!”
Jericho: “Maybe not a normal man, but as big as Will Hobbs is, he’s not a giant.”
Paul Wight walked onto the ramp! Paul Wight knocked out Kyle Fletcher with one punch!
Excalibur: “A match made! Dynamite in two weeks, the street fight in Ontario, California!”
After a commercial break, Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho!
Jericho: “In two weeks, the Don Callis Family has to face the Golden Jets, Kota Ibushi, and the biggest man in pro wrestling, Paul Wight!
The Young Bucks were in the locker room. Matt Jackson interrupted.
Matt Jackson: “Kenny, we’re friends, right? What was the whole point of the Elite getting back together if none of us have each other’s backs anymore. Who invited Jericho into our locker room?”
Jericho: “Don’t take it out on me because you lost your Trios titles. You weren’t good enough tonight. Watch your mouth when you talk to me.”
Omega: “Like Chris, hate Chris, he is aligned with us against the Don Callis Family.”
Matt Jackson: “Him and Don are cut from the same cloth. He’s going to screw you over just like Don did. Enjoy our locker room. Just clean up when you’re done!”
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Hikaru Shida (c.) vs. Willow Nightingale!
Willow rolled up Shida for a near fall. Willow followed up with a shoulder block and then a low cross body for a two-count. Shida charged at Willow and rattled Willow with a knee to the back of the head. Shida followed up with a diving cross body to the outside.
Shida suplexed Willow. Shida booted Willow in the face. Willow answered with a high boot of her own. Willow cracked Shida with a spinebuster for a two-count.
Shida dropkicked Willow off the turnbuckles. Shida hit an avalanche falcon arrow, but Willow kicked out immediately! Willow pounced the champion! Willow smashed Shida with the Death Valley Driver for a near fall! Shida cracked Willow with the knee strike. Shida unsheathed the shining katana and pinned Willow!
“Three defenses in seven days. That is an impressive streak for the AEW Women’s World Champion,” said Excalibur.
Willow and Shida hugged after the match, showing mutual respect for one another.
“Timeless” Toni Storm came out onto the ramp after the match! Shida sprinted up the ramp and blasted Toni with a knee strike! Shida chased Storm backstage!
The arena lights went dark! When the lights turned back on, Julia Hart was in the ring, standing behind Willow! Julia offered her hand to Willow. Skye Blue jumped into the ring and got in between Julia and Willow. Skye stared at Julia.
Julia nodded at Skye Blue. Skye turned around, looked at Willow, then turned back around and sprayed mist into Julia’s eyes!
“I think Skye Blue is going to pay for that,” said Taz.
Backstage, MJF was sitting on the floor when the Acclaimed approached him!
Daddy Ass: “Still no luck finding partners?”
Bowens: “Max, no one likes you except for Caster. I don’t know why you haven’t picked us in the first place because everyone loves the Acclaimed.”
Caster: “That’s right and if you team with us, you gotta scissor us and just wear what’s in this bag.”
MJF: “No, we will never tag! Do you understand me? And jokes on you, I’ve got one more group on my list.”
MJF turned around and he should be standing there? Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh, laughing!
Jeff Jarrett: “Max, we’re here to help.”
Renee Paquette was backstage when she was interrupted by Roderick Strong and the Kingdom!
They dialed Adam Cole on speakerphone. Roddy said Cole had to hear this.
Adam Cole: “Hello?”
Strong: “Adam! Hey, can you believe Max didn’t even attempt to ask us to be his tag team partners tonight? Especially after I’ve been so nice to him. What a jerk, huh?”
Cole: “Roddy, shut the hell up, man.”
Cole hung up.
Main Event Time!
8-Man Tag Match!
AEW World & ROH World Tag Champion MJF & Three Mystery Partners
vs.
Bullet Club Gold’s Austin & Colten Gunn, “Switchblade” Jay White, & Juice Robinson!
The Acclaimed came out to team with MJF!
MJF made his entrance in Acclaimed-inspired gear!
MJF charged at Jay White but White ducked out of harm’s way and hid behind Bullet Club Gold. Bowens and Juice tagged in. Juice connected with a shoulder block. Bowens clubbed Juice with an elbow.
Daddy Ass and Austin Gunn faced off. Austin jabbed at his father. Daddy Ass fired back with a big right hand. Jay White tagged in and chopped Daddy Ass. But Daddy Ass dropped Jay White with a chop.
Bowens connected with Scissor Me Timbers on Colten Gunn. Colten stomped Caster in the corner. Switchblade cracked Caster with a knife edge chop. MJF tagged in and cleaned house on the Gunns and Juice Robinson! Bullet Club Gold got bounced all over the ring, but Jay White ran out of the ring!
MJF chased Jay White around the ring. Jay White jumped into the ring and MJF followed, but Austin chop blocked him. MJF countered the 3:10 to Yuma with a DDT to Colten! MJF connected with the kangaroo kick on Austin and Juice! Jay White snuck behind MJF and drilled the champ with the Blade Runner! Jay White pinned MJF!
“He just pinned the World Champion!” said Taz.
Jay White was going to hit MJF with the belt after the match but The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass jumped in to save him. They chased Bullet Club Gold out of the ring. MJF was prone and Jay White was still in the ring. Jay White wanted to waffle MJF with the title belt, but Max Caster came in and took the bullet for MJF!
“Max Caster pushed MJF out of the way to save him from that blindside shot from Switchblade Jay White,” said Excalibur.
After the match, MJF, the Acclaimed, and Daddy Ass had a four-way scissor party!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:
AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo
vs.
Penta El Zero Miedo
vs.
AAA World Cruiserweight Champion Komander!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Moda Center in Portland, OR!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, KS!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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)
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?
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!
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT!
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!
AR Fox vs. “Switchblade” Jay White (with Bullet Club Gold)!
Jay White grappled Fox to the mat with a side headlock takedown. Fox came back with a cutter. Fox followed up with a swift kick to Jay White, knocking White out of the ring. Fox nailed Jay White with a shooting star press, posting off the turnbuckles and landing on White on the arena floor.
Back in the ring, Jay White threw Fox into the turnbuckles with a half and half suplex. Jay White spiked AR Fox with a DDT. AR Fox regained momentum, hitting Bullet Club Gold with a tope con hiro, and then he hit one on Jay White! AR Fox smashed Jay White with a twisting vertical suplex and then a 450 splash off the top for a near fall on “Switchblade”!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Jay White rocked Fox with a half and half suplex and then finished him off with the Blade Runner, scoring the pin.
“You make one mistake against Jay White, and he will make you pay every single time,” said Kevin Kelly.
After the match, MJF snuck to the ring in a hoody and tried to steal his world title back from Jay White. He was outnumbered by Bullet Club Gold and had to leg go of the title, discretion being the better part of valor.
AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass said next week on Collision they’re going to celebrate 69 days as champs!
The Boys—Brandon & Brent (with Dalton Castle)
vs.
The Gunns—Austin & Colten (with Bullet Club Gold)!
The Boys showed off their quickness, getting in some great tandem offense on Austin. The Gunns fired back with the 3:10 to Yuma and won in decisive fashion.
The Gunns will be facing MJF and a yet-to-be-named partner at AEW Full Gear: Zero Hour, on Saturday, November 18th for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
Lexy Nair was backstage with “Hollywood Hunk” Ryan Nemeth!
Ryan: “I have a huge surprise. Big movie coming out next month. National comedy tour. But I want the success I’m having in Hollywood translate to success in AEW, which is why I brought you here.”
Nemeth turned and pointed to the dressing room door of “Hot And Flexible” CJ Perry.
Nemeth knocked on the door and “The Redeemer” Miro answered! Miro invited him in, the door closed, and Miro mauled Nemeth!
Fright Night Fight!
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Hikaru Shida (c.) vs. Abadon!
Shida and Abadon locked up. Abadon was looking to bite Shida, but Shida kicked her away. Abadon grabbed a skeleton bone and swung it at Shida, but Shida countered with a dropkick.
Abadon hid under the ring and tried to pull Shida under the ring. Abadon snuck up from the other side and ambushed Shida. Abadon cracked Shida across the back with a trash can lid.
Abadon and Shida collided against each other with double clotheslines, both having the same idea. Abadon found a baseball bat, but Shida got behind Abadon and choked her with it. Abadon cracked Shida with a kick in the face. Abadon poured out a bucket of candy and smashed Shida with a blockbuster on the candy!
Shida rocked Abadon with a shot from the kendo stick. Shida placed a pumpkin on top of Abadon’s head and smashed her with the katana kick, scoring the pinfall victory!
“What a win for Shida,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Timeless” Toni Storm came out and pranced around the ring.
ROH World Television Championship Match!
Samoa Joe (c.) vs. Rhett Titus!
Rhett wrenched on Samoa Joe’s wrist. Samoa Joe bulldozed his way right through Titus. Samoa Joe drove Titus down with jabs in the corner. Samoa Joe chopped at Titus. Rhett Titus jumped off the top turnbuckle, but Samoa Joe simply walked out of the way.
Rhett Titus ran into Samoa Joe with two big boots. He went for a third time, but Samoa Joe planted Titus and then forced Titus to tap out!
“Domination made flesh!” said Kevin Kelly.
Footage aired from last night’s Rampage of Renee Paquette interviewing the QTV crew!
QT Marshall said that when he won the AAA Latin American Title, he told the world he was going to defend it with honor and prestige across the world. “I’m back in AEW and I plan on defending it against some of the luchadores because I’m told AEW has the best luchadores in the world.”
Up Next: An Injury update on the “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
Claudio Castagnoli said Danielson had a broken orbital bone and it was either from the Orange Punch or the Rainmaker. “I don’t know, and I don’t care because I’m going to make both of you pay for what you’ve done for my friend. Okada, be it in the Unites States or Japan, I am coming for you. I will find you and I will make you pay.
“Orange, you and me on Wednesday on Dynamite for your International Championship. I know what I’m going to do and what I’m capable of and it frightens me. You hurt one of the Blackpool Combat Club and now I’m going to hurt you. See you on Wednesday. Good luck.”
FTR’s Dax Harwood (with Cash Wheeler)
vs.
AEW World Tag Team Champion “Absolute” Ricky Starks (with Big Bill)!
Before the match began the lights in the arena went dark.
The lights came back on, and The House of Black were seen scouting the match.
Dax and Starks chain wrestled. They traded arm drags. Dax grabbed a side headlock takeover.
“What is the House of Black’s motivation for being here?” wondered Tony Schiavone.
Dax tried for a diving headbutt, but Ricky moved out of the way. Starks nailed Dax with a leg drop across the throat while Dax was on the edge of the ring. Dax went for a baseball slide, but Starks trapped him in the ring skirt. Starks started to pummel him with shots and then nailed him with a suplex on the ramp.
Dax rallied back and superplexed Ricky Starks. Both men hit the mat hard! Ricky rammed Harwood with a lariat. Dax clobbered Ricky with strikes. Dax grabbed an inside cradle for a near fall.
Dax blocked a tornado DDT and countered with a brainbuster for a near fall on Starks. Starks went for the spear, but Dax cracked him with a rising knee. Dax spiked Ricky with a piledriver. Dax went for the cover, but Big Bill pulled Dax out of the ring by the boot. Back in the ring, Ricky crushed Dax with a piledriver and pinned him!
“That’s the door closing on FTR, at least for the time being,” said Kevin Kelly.
“I’m not so sure about that,” replied Tony Schiavone.
The arena went dark again. This time when the lights returned on, Julia Hart was standing on the ramp surrounded by a shroud of fog. The lights went back out and this time when the came back on, the House of Black were in the ring, circling Ricky Starks and Big Bill!
“They’ve surrounded the champions,” said Kevin Kelly.
The House of Black then turned their attention to FTR!
La Faccion Ingobernable stormed down to the ring!
“It’s LFI!” said Tony Schiavone.
“Who are they looking at?” asked Kevin Kelly.
LFI helped FTR and began to slug it out with the House of Black! Big Bill and Ricky Starks retreated!
“LFI and FTR together in the ring! Incredible! Who would have thought this?” said Schiavone.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Andrade El Idolo!
Lexy asked about Andrade’s dealings with CJ Perry, as well as the return of LFI.
Andrade El Idolo: “I am a businessman. This is my business. Nobody else.”
TBS Champion Kris Statlander was backstage with Lexy Nair.
Statlander asked for some time to speak with Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue. Statlander said whatever was going on between Willow and Skye needed to be settled now.
Willow: “Skye, I felt this tension between us, and it’s growing stronger. And ever since we both got misted from Julia, something is getting worse with you.”
Skye: “Anything that I have to say with Julia is between her and I.”
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli
vs.
“Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams!
Claudio Castagnoli clobbered Tracy Williams with repeated European Uppercuts! Claudio clubbed Tracy with lariats. Claudio finished off “Hot Sauce” with a European Uppercut and then pinned him.
MJF was seen getting warmed up backstage.
MJF was approached by Samoa Joe.
Samoa Joe: “I could be your friend, Max. You just need to give me a rematch at your championship. If you find yourself in a bad way tonight, you just gotta scream my name and I’ll be your friend. Good luck. Dangerous opponent. I’ll keep my ears pricked up.”
Main Event Time!
AEW World Championship Match!
MJF (c.) vs. Kenny Omega!
Jim Ross joined the broadcast booth to provide his main event analysis.
Both men had each other scouted out early in the match, going hold for hold with one another. MJF offered his hand to Omega as a sign of good sportsmanship. Omega accepted and then MJF poked Omega in the eyes.
Omega backdropped MJF out of the ring. Omega hit the Terminator Dive on MJF! The champ fired back, jumping over the top rope and flipping onto Omega!
Omega jumped off the top rope with a cross body press to MJF. Omega tried for a hurracanrana, but MJF countered with a powerbomb back breaker combo. MJF planted Kenny with a stuffed DDT, good for a near fall.
Omega nailed MJF with a snapdragon suplex. Omega dropkicked MJF’s kneecap. Omega wiped out MJF with a lariat, sending MJF to the arena floor. Omega followed up with a moonsault to MJF. Omega rocked MJF with a missile dropkick from the top rope to the back of the head. Omega went for a moonsault, but MJF countered by raising his knees!
MJF chomped down on Omega’s forehead. MJF arm whipped Omega into the turnbuckles. MJF cracked Kenny with the kangaroo kick.
Omega connected with a sliding baseball kick, sending MJF into the broadcast booth. Kenny pulled a table out from beneath the ring. Back in the ring, they exchanged cradles. Kenny buckle bombed MJF, but the champ came out of the corner with a massive lariat to the Cleaner!
They battled on the ring apron. Kenny drilled MJF with a snapdragon suplex on the edge of the ring! Omega powerbombed MJF off the apron and through the table on the floor!
“My God what a main event here on Collision!” said Jim Ross.
Back in the ring, Kenny connected with a knee strike. MJF countered the One Winged Angel with a Poison Rana! Omega fired back with a Poison Rana of his own!
“Back and forth, back and forth!” said Jim Ross.
The fans chanted “Fight forever! Fight forever!”
MJF hit a double stomp on Omega’s arm. Omega rallied back with a jumping knee strike. MJF planted Omega with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
“State of the art pro wrestling,” said Nigel.
MJF stunned Omega with a thrust kick. Omega came back with a piledriver, but MJF got his boot on the rope to stop the ref’s count. Omega powerbombed MJF on the guardrail. Omega removed the protective guard from the rail. He threw MJF back into the ring, so they didn’t get counted out.
Kenny was on the top turnbuckle, but MJF charged into the ropes, knocking Omega down. MJF climbed to the top, but Omega countered with a snake eyes from the top. Omega drove his knee into the back of MJF’s head. Omega blasted MJF with a snap dragon suplex and a running knee strike for a near fall! Kenny smashed MJF with the V Trigger. He followed up with another V Trigger. Omega hoisted up MJF for the One Winged Angel, but Don Callis ran to the ring. Omega put MJF down when he saw Callis.
As Omega was distracted by a screwdriver wielding Callis, MJF rolled up Omega from behind. Omega countered by reversing the rollup. MJF kicked out but Omega came back with a running knee strike! MJF kicked out of the pin attempt!
Don Callis climbed the ring steps. Ref Paul Turner ejected Don Callis. Omega hoisted up MJF for the One Winged Angel again, but MJF rolled forward for a pin. Omega rolled back to counter. It was another stale mate.
MJF caught Kenny in the Heat Seeker, but Kenny kicked out at the two-count! MJF went for the Panama Sunrise on Kenny and Kenny ended up countering with a pin attempt, but MJF kicked out! MJF kicked Kenny in the face and drilled Kenny with the Panama Sunrise. MJF finally finished off Omega with another Heat Seeker, pinning the Cleaner!
Samoa Joe was shown watching the match from backstage. Wardlow was also seen scouting the match from backstage. Powerhouse Hobbs was watching the match too. Jay White and Bullet Club Gold were taking mental notes as well.
“Everybody gunning for MJF,” said Tony Schiavone.
Kenny Omega and MJF hugged after the match.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!
Yourbroadcast team was Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
No Count Out, No Disqualification Match!
Mike Santana vs. Ortiz!
Mike Santana made the first move, throwing an elbow into Ortiz’s face. The action spilled to the outside with Ortiz grounding and pounding Santana, and then Ortiz smashed a trash can across Santana.
Ortiz whacked Santana with a kendo stick, going after Santana’s surgically repaired knee. Ortiz pulled a table out from beneath the ring. Mike Santana and Ortiz traded open hand shots. Santana suplexed Ortiz back into the ring. Santana wiped out Ortiz on the floor with a moonsault!
Ortiz powerbombed Mike Santana through a table outside the ring. Mike Santana suplexed Ortiz off the apron and onto a pile of chairs on the floor! Back in the ring, Santana and Ortiz traded suplexes!
“Over a decade together, both men with the same idea,” said Excalibur.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Santana spiked Ortiz with a roll-through cutter for a near fall on Ortiz. Ortiz powerslammed Mike Santana and followed up with a brainbuster for a two-count. Mike Santana rocked Ortiz with a nasty lariat. Santana lunged at Ortiz with a cannonball splash in the corner. Mike Santana powerbombed Ortiz and pinned him for the victory.
After the match, Santana wanted to fist bump Ortiz and Ortiz declined. Sonjay Dutt jumped into the ring, trying to get a word with Ortiz. Sonjay Dutt whispered into Ortiz’s ear and seemed to catch his interest.
Kenny Omega was backstage talking about tomorrow’s match with AEW World Champion MJF!
“Switchblade” Jay White interrupted.
Jay White: “All the best and if all goes well, a truly elite champion will be waiting for you at Full Gear. Goodbye. Goodnight. Bang.”
AEW World Champion MJF was backstage ahead of his title match tomorrow against Kenny Omega!
Don Callis entered the room.
Callis: “Think about this: Maxwell Jacob Friedman and the Don Callis Family together.”
MJF: “Don, are you kidding me? This is insane. How did I never think of this? Think of the limitless opportunities for us with me, and with your help, I can move up the ranks around here. I mean maybe one day I can become world champion. Oh wait, that’s right, tough luck but I don’t need your help.”
Kip Sabian was in the ring with Penelope Ford!
Sabian was running down the fans in Philadelphia.
Mark Briscoe’s music hit! Mark heard enough of Kip Sabian and came to the ring, making his return to AEW.
Kip Sabian began to mock Mark and Mark slugged Sabian! Mark hit Sabian with a clothesline and knocked Sabian out of the ring.
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Anna Jay ahead of tonight’s match.
Anna was with Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Jake Hager.
Don Callis interrupted. He said was looking for a good tag team. He told Menard and Parker that if they took care of Jericho and Omega for him, he’d help them out. Garcia wasn’t buying it. Anna Jay told them to get it together because tonight was about her.
Abadon vs. Skye Blue vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay!
The winner earns a title shot at AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida tomorrow on Collision.
Abadon German Suplexed Skye Blue. Willow rolled up Abadon, but Abadon rolled through. Abadon chop blocked Willow and Skye. Abadon connected with a double lung blower.
“Timeless” Toni Storm walked onto the ramp with her butler Luther to scout the match.
Willow connected with a double dropkick to Skye and Abadon. Willow splashed Skye and Abadon in the corner with lariats. Willow pounced Anna Jay! Skye connected with a cross body press on Willow for a near fall.
Willow rocked Anna with a spinebuster and then Skye Blue stunned Willow with a thrust kick. Willow countered the Code Blue. Anna was looking for the Queen Slayer on Abadon, but Skye broke it up with a thrust kick to Anna. Willow swept out the legs of Skye Blue and pulled her out of the ring. Abadon planted Skye Blue on the head and pinned her!
AEW World Trios Champions the Acclaimed and Daddy Ass were backstage!
Caster said he had a big surprise. He said they are almost at 69 days as champs, and he wants to celebrate next week on Collision. Caster said he wants MJF to sit in the front row. Bowens said he didn’t want Max there.
Highlights were shown from a press conference last Wednesday with AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Tony Khan, and Claudio Castagnoli. This, ahead of next week’s match between Orange and Claudio on Dynamite.
Orange was wearing a suit and said he just wanted to show everyone he looks better in a suit than Claudio.
Claudio: “Is that it? Mind games?”
Main Event Time!
Konosuke Takeshita of The Don Callis Family (with Powerhouse Hobbs & Don Callis)
vs.
Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletch!
Don Callis joined the broadcast booth for this match. Hobbs stood behind Callis.
Takeshita hit a shoulder tackle on Fletcher. Kyle Fletcher countered a Blue Thunder Bomb. Fletcher scoop slammed Takeshita.
Fletcher rammed Takeshita into the steel guardrail on the floor. Back in the ring Takeshita blasted Fletcher with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall!
Takeshita cracked Fletcher in the back with a knee strike. Fletcher kicked Takeshita, knocking Takeshita off the turnbuckles. Fletcher flew out of the ring with the Aussie Arrow on the Alpha. Fletcher followed up with a crossbody press for a near fall on Takeshita.
Takeshita connected with a big rolling elbow strike. Takeshita rocked Fletcher with a poison rana. Fletcher rallied back with a brainbuster for a two-count.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Takeshita cracked Fletcher with a wicked knee strike after countering a thrust kick, pinning Fletcher!
Don Callis and Powerhouse Hobbs headed to the ring. Fletcher jumped into the ring and hit Takeshita and Hobbs with a steel chair. Hobbs grabbed Kyle by the throat and muscled him into the corner. Don Callis had Powerhouse Hobbs step aside. Callis told Fletcher, “That was great! That is the hate we want! You earned it!”
“Is he inviting Kyle Fletcher to join the Don Callis Family?” wondered Excalibur.
“Obviously that’s what’s going on,” replied Tony Schiavone.
“Don Callis may have found his young apprentice in Kyle Fletcher,” said Excalibur.
Fletcher left the ring with the Don Callis Family!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT featuring AEW World Champion MJF vs. former World Champ Kenny Omega!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
DYNAMITE in Philadelphia was a wild ride this past Wednesday; not only did “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair arrive on the scene to stand at Sting’s side, but “The Icon” was also challenged to a fight by TNT Champion Christian Cage for FULL GEAR 2023! Plus, we witnessed Kazuchika Okada make his DYNAMITE debut alongside Orange Cassidy to fight The BCC, but unfortunately for the AEW International Champion, it ended with Claudio pinning OC and earning himself a championship fight next week. Hikaru Shida retained her AEW Women’s World Championship over Ruby Soho, The Elite retained their ROH World Six-Man Titles, and not only did MJF keep possession of the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but he also found himself with an unexpected challenger:
That’s right, on COLLISION, MJF will defend his AEW World Championship against former champion Kenny Omega, and should Maxwell retain, he will be on track to break Omega’s 346-day record as the longest reigning champion in AEW history! But that’s on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun, and before we get there, there’s RAMPAGE, and that has three big fights on tap! Ortiz and Mike Santana, the former Proud ‘n’ Powerful, will kick things off with a No DQ, No Countout fight that no one ever thought they would see! Plus, we will find out the next challenger to Shida’s Women’s World Title when four of ROH’s best compete for a title match also set for this Saturday night, and after his falling out with Don Callis’ Family, Kyle Fletcher will clash with Takeshita!
AEW’s Friday night fights get underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so check out the official AEW YouTube channel prior to 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!
NO COUNT OUT, NO DISQUALIFICATION…
Mike Santana vs. Ortiz
This has been a long time coming; Mike Santana and Ortiz have been part of each other’s lives for over a decade, they are Tag Team Champions 15-times over across multiple wrestling promotions throughout their careers, and were bonded as Proud & Powerful from the inception of All Elite Wrestling until the injury suffered by Santana at Blood & Guts 2022. At least that was the perception most had following their return to the AEW landscape to compete at ALL IN: LONDON’s Stadium Stampede. Based on the words shared by Ortiz in the video above, it seems the issues between these two men predate that 2022 injury, it’s just that it all finally fell apart in the aftermath.
Since London these two men, once among the upper echelon of tag team wrestling, have engaged in something tantamount to a cold war; a great deal of words exchanged, their feelings and emotions laid bare for the AEW faithful to see, and each looking to the other as the party responsible for how this all started.
For this team who first made their impact on AEW during ALL OUT 2019 at the expense of The Young Bucks, it looks like this Friday night in Philadelphia will be the end of their road traveled together. With no disqualifications and no count outs, Mike Santana and Ortiz will fight each other one-on-one for the first time since 2016, and possibly for the last time ever. Both men want to be done with one another, to put each other in the rear view, and move on with their careers on their own, but before either can, they must put an end to each other.
No one knows Ortiz like Santana, nor does anyone know Santana like Ortiz, and each will bring all that knowledge, all that venom, all those feelings and emotions to this fight, with the hope of being the one still standing at the end of the fight…
COLLISION TITLE MATCH AT STAKE…
Abadon vs. Skye Blue vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay
Out of action since June, this Friday night Abadon returns to AEW competition and jumps right into the fire! With a shot at Hikaru Shida’s AEW Women’s World Championship on the line this Saturday night, Abadon will compete against Skye Blue, Willow Nightingale, and Anna Jay in a Four Way bout!
Of these four women, only Skye Blue has never locked horns with Shida, only stood by her side as an ally, and of the three who have been in the ring with the 3-Time Women’s World Champ, not one of them has scored a victory over her. Of the three loses on Abadon’s record, two of them have been to Shida and one in a championship bout while Anna Jay has fallen three times to Shida, twice in title fights, and Willow has just one loss to Shida with no championship involved. Skye Blue is the only one with a clean slate opposite Shida, and that may play in her favor should she make it through this fray on Friday, but she’s got to get to COLLISION first!
Hikaru Shida will be ready for the fight no matter which woman comes out of this contender’s bout on top, but considering she just went through one championship fight already this week, one has to ask how her body’s feeling following a fight with Ruby Soho? At least Shida will have a few days to recover while the winner of this has less than twenty-four hours to prepare for their championship opportunity!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kyle Fletcher
When Sammy Guevara went down with injury, Don Callis pulled Kyle Fletcher into his world of drama to be Konosuke Takeshita’s partner against Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. Though Callis’ duo lost, Fletcher was every bit the impressive athlete in this match that he’d shown to be as a team with Mark Davis. Still, the fact they lost didn’t stop Callis from putting all the blame on Kyle’s shoulders, and thus when Fletcher went head-to-head with Kenny Omega and lost, with Callis sitting there on commentary, it only gave Don more fuel with which to denigrate one-half of Aussie Open.
Well this Friday night on RAMPAGE, Kyle Fletcher will have his opportunity to shove it all right back in Don Callis’ smug face when he takes on “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita in singles competition! It’s the second time in their careers these two men have faced off, the first taking place in England back in January 2020 and won by Takeshita. Will the results be the same nearly four years later, or will Kyle Fletcher be able to reckon with the numbers of the Don Callis Family and take home the victory?
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! And do not miss the biggest night in COLLISION history this Saturday when MJF and Kenny Omega meet for the very first time and with the AEW World Championship at stake no less!
Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!
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!
Renee Paquette kicked off the show interviewing AEW World & ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF!
MJF dialed Adam Cole on his iPhone. Cole answered, but before MJF could get a word in, The Kingdom—Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, and Roderick Strong (in a wheelchair and neck brace) interrupted.
“Adam!” screamed Roddy.
“Is that you Roddy?” asked Cole on speakerphone.
“Yeah, it’s me,” replied Roddy.
“Max, I gotta get going, but I’ll call you later,” said Cole.
“Roddy, what the hell do you want?” asked MJF.
Roddy: “Listen, I’ve been thinking. You’re obviously the man behind the devil mask. But say we live in a world where we pretend you’re not. And for the sake of our mutual best friend Adam, I’ll take pity on you, and I’ll help you with Bullet Club Gold.”
Max replied, mockingly, “You’re going to help me? Dude, thank you so much.” Max pushed the wheelchair that Roddy was in backwards.
MJF: “Jay White, tonight I send you a message in blood! Tonight, I got a bullet with your name on it, Juice Robinson!”
The screen went black and then a man in a devil mask appeared!
Dynamite Diamond Ring Match!
AEW World & ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF
vs.
Bullet Club Gold’s “Rock Hard” Juice Robinson (with Austin & Colten Gunn)!
A very motivated MJF took down Juice Robinson and then stomped him in the corner! MJF whipped Juice into the steel guardrails. MJF flipped Juice over the timekeeper’s table. MJF charged at Juice and nailed him with a knee strike!
MJF smacked Juice’s head into the steel ring steps. Juice was busted wide open! The Gunns distracted MJF and Juice pulled MJF headfirst into the ring steps. Colten distracted the ref, so Juice was able to choke MJF with MJF’s scarf.
“Switchblade” Jay White walked onto the ramp, holding the AEW World Championship, to scout the match! Jay White joined the broadcast booth for the match.
MJF hit a lariat on Juice and followed up with a body slam. MJF chomped down on Juice’s head. MJF rocked Juice Robinson with the kangaroo kick! The Gunns swept out the legs of MJF and Juice cracked MJF with a leg lariat to the jaw.
MJF poked Robinson in the eyes. Juice spat at MJF and then cracked MJF with the Left Hand of God! Juice powerbombed MJF for a near fall!
“Juice’s frustration evident after that powerbomb,” said Excalibur.
MJF tried for the Heat Seeker, but Juice blocked it. Juice charged after MJF, but MJF tied up Juice in the ring apron. As MJF was getting back into the ring, Juice kicked the ropes and then nailed MJF with the Juice Is Loose for a near fall!
The Gunns were distracting the ref while Juice put on his fake ring. In the meantime, MJF put his Dynamite Diamond Ring on. Juice swung but MJF ducked it and countered with a loaded shot of his own, knocking Juice to the mat! MJF smashed Juice with the Heat Seeker and pinned him.
The Gunns swarmed MJF after the match!
The Kingdom rolled Roderick Strong down the ramp to the ring in a wheelchair!
Roddy ordered the Kingdom to get into the ring, and they did! Taven and Bennett jumped in and slugged it out with the Gunns!
“I can’t believe what we’re seeing!” said Excalibur.
Jay White ran into the ring. The Gunns held up MJF and Jay White was about to hit him with the AEW World Championship but then The Acclaimed’s music hit!
The AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass jumped into the ring and forced Bullet Club Gold to retreat!
Jay White: “Hey! Max, listen, focus, follow the sound of my sweet, exotic accent. Forget about Kenny, forget about Samoa Joe, forget about Wardlow, forget about the devil mask, and your gimp squad, and focus on the only thing that matters and that’s the man standing right here with the Bang Bang Belt! Max, I’m telling you that you will never get your grubby little hands on it again because at Full Gear I will pummel your face into the ground, and you will breathe with the Switchblade!”
Colten Gunn: “And you have something me and Austin want, and that’s the ROH World Tag Team Titles! So Max, what do you say, November 18th, Full Gear, MJF versus the Gunns.”
Austin Gunn: “Whether it’s MJF that shows up that night or the devil himself, it doesn’t matter because we’ve got two guns, one for each of ‘em.”
MJF: “Shut the hell up! You want a shot at the ROH Tag Titles at Full Gear, you got ‘em. And Jay White, I will see you at Full Gear. But I’m not waiting that long to get my hands on you. Next week in the main event of Dynamite, I take you up on your offer. You four versus me and three tag partners of my choosing, and when I win, you will give me back the Triple B because nobody is on the level of the devil!”
Roderick Strong: “Max! Max! Listen to me. You’re obviously going to pick us, right?”
MJF: “You three do me a favor. Get those two big boys on your lap and use that wheelchair to roll off a cliff!”
Max Caster: “Hey so that means you’re going to pick us, right?”
MJF: “Listen very carefully Caster. I’ve known you since I was 18 years old. I never liked you. And if you think I’m going to tag with you, you’ve got another thing coming. I would never tag with you. You understand me?”
Caster: “So you’re saying there’s a chance?”
Bowens: “Don’t you know that everyone loves the Acclaimed!?”
Caster: “Ok, but at least do me one favor. Scissor me!”
MJF walked away and said, “Not a shot.”
As MJF was walking up the ramp, Kenny Omega’s music began to play and out walked Omega!
Omega and MJF had a stare down.
Omega: “Hey Max, you seem to have a lot going on here. You have something that I want. But I’ve got something that you want. Even though I have no right to ask, and if you’re the type of scumbag that I think you are, you’ll laugh in my face. But if you are the champion that I think the fans want you to be, you’re gonna hear me out. I want that belt, Max, and I deserve the right to defend my streak. And if you are truly better than me and you know it, then Max, don’t be afraid to show it, pal.”
MJF: “Ok, how about the Cleaner versus the Devil, this Saturday night, for the AEW World Championship! May the best man win. And Kenny, he will, because my name is MJF and I’m better than you and you know it!”
Omega: “And I supposed on that note, we must bid these people adieu. Good night, and goodbye. And Max, three days, bitch.”
Footage aired of Wardlow!
He said he had to watch MJF while Wardlow was at home. The devil’s claws are in him, and now he’s going to take away everything MJF has!
The Dark Order—Alex Reynolds & John Silver
vs.
FTW Champion HOOK & Rob Van Dam!
Hook grappled Reynolds to the mat and then applied a side headlock. RVD tagged in and used a nice deep arm drag on Reynolds. Dark Order ambushed RVD with cheap shots.
RVD monkey flipped John Silver. Hook flipped Reynolds with a fireman’s carry. Hook tossed Silver with a Northern Lights. RVD blasted Silver with a leaping leg drop. RVD crushed Silver with the Rolling Thunder for a near fall.
Hook was looking for Red Rum on Silver, but Reynolds ran in to break it up. RVD leveled Reynolds with a kick. RVD smashed Reynolds with the five star frog splash Hook grabbed Silver in the Red Rum and forced him to tap out!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to introduce Darby Allin and Sting!
Sting: “I’m glad to be here right now because I want to thank some people that I forgot last week. I want to thank Philadelphia. It’s been a great run, and a lot of that run was right here in front of you. I also want to thank my tag team partner Darby Allin. I could not have come this far without Darby by my side.
“Darby is the man. Secondly, I want to thank somebody who made this happen. Tony Khan. Tony, I want to thank you for making that phone call to allow me to wrestle a little longer. And Tony is asking for the microphone so here you go.”
Tony Schiavone: “Speaking on behalf of Tony Khan, it is Tony Khan who should thank you for what you’ve met to AEW. You arrived on the scene early in 2021. Your first match was at Revolution 2021, and now your final match will be at Revolution 2024. And we are proud to be a part of Sting’s great career.
“Fans, it was 35 years ago that on this network, TBS, Sting put it on the map. He put professional wrestling on the map on TBS. It elevated him to the icon that he is now. And you heard about it earlier this week that Tony Khan had a special gift for Sting. And I’m proud to bring out that special gift right now.”
“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair walked out to the ring!
“Royalty is in the house,” said Taz.
Sting and Ric Flair hugged in the ring.
Ric Flair: “You know that in life there are moments that are magical. There are few and they are far between. And that’s the magic of the chemistry of whatever you do that makes you the best. 35 years ago, Sting and I made history on TBS. Brother, I’ve told him this, to go 55 minutes in a match 35 years ago or tonight is hard. He never took a deep breath. He is not only one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of this business, but damnit, he’s probably the nicest guys I’ve ever known.
“So, when I got an invitation from Mr. Khan to be a part of this, time flies, but I want to ride this out with you man. Woooo!”
TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne walked onto the ramp!
Christian Cage: “So Tony Khan is a billionaire, and this is the gift that he gets Sting for his retirement? So, he basically gave you a suit, some gold chains, and a black liver. Relax, people, I know Ric Flair is not dead. The real reason I’m out here is because last week Sting and Darby Allin decided to stick their nose in my business yet again.
“Darby, how is your arm feeling? You still have some sour grapes that I beat you in your hometown at WrestleDream, huh? I’ll give you one more chance. So go ahead and take a look at something you’ll never be: a champion. Now it’s obvious that this situation isn’t going to go away until I make it go away. So, this is my proposition to you two: I know, Sting, you have this beautiful dream in your head that you want to make it to Revolution because you started with AEW at Revolution in 2021. You’ve got this beautiful picture painted for yourself.
“But I don’t want to wait until Revolution for you to be gone. I want you to be gone right now! So, I’m saying there’s three of us, and when I look in the ring, I see the two of you and I see Ric Flair. I mean, hey, you can take Ric Flair as a partner if you want, but he’s one superkick away from his pacemaker kicking out. At Full Gear, get yourselves a partner, and your retirement is going to come early. And it’s not going to be a celebration. It’s going to be more like a funeral.”
Sting: “Hold on! First of all, Darby and I, we’re going to find a partner, and second, we accept your challenge. See you there!”
Earlier in the day, Renee Paquette had a sitdown interview with Chris Jericho!
Jericho: “As a pro wrestler for 33 years, I can’t ever remember having a beat down like I did at the hands of Powerhouse Hobbs. The thing that is hurting the most for me is my ego. As an athlete, you’re always self-reflecting. One thing I’ve always had is immense self confidence in myself. Last week I didn’t see it coming. Hobbs came at me right out of the gate. I couldn’t get out of the hole that he continued to dig with my body.
“I have to wonder if I still have what it takes to beat Will Hobbs. Is it time to step back or should I get even stronger and know that I’m Chris Jericho. Is it time to get some sort of revenge? Don Callis has a whole family. He’s got a lot of friends in that family. Chris Jericho has a lot of friends too. And some of those friends are even bigger than Will Hobbs. Maybe it’s time to give them a call.”
ROH World Six-Man Championship Match!
The Elite (c.)— “Hangman” Adam Page, & The Young Bucks—Matt and Nick Jackson
vs.
The Hardys—Jeff & Matt, & Brother Zay!
Nick knocked down Zay with a shoulder tackle. Nick nailed Zay with a neck breaker. Hatman hit a forearm off the top rope to Brother Zay.
Matt Jackson tagged in and slapped Adam Page in the face. Matt Jackson and Matt Hardy shoved one another. Matt Hardy hit the Side Effect after a blind side knee from Jeff Hardy to Matt Jackson. Brother Zay wiped out Page and Nick Jackson with a tornillo.
Matt Jackson threw Matt Hardy and Brother Zay overhead with a Northern Lights Suplex. Hangman tagged in and cleaned house. Hangman hit the Death Valley Driver on Zay for a near fall. Brother Zay spiked Page with a DDT after an assisted Silly String from Jeff Hardy!
Matt Hardy rocked Matt Jackson with the Twist of Fate. Jeff splashed Matt Jackson with the Swanton Bomb, but Nick was there to break up the pin attempt! Hangman stunned Zay with the Buckshot Lariat. The Elite finished off Zay with the BTE Trigger and Matt Jackson pinned Brother Zay!
Live footage played on the giant screen above the entrance ramp. It was Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland “visiting” Hangman Page’s house!
They walked around Page’s house. They went to a baby crib. “You owe me a debt, Hangman, and since you’re not here, is it Hangman Jr. who will owe me something. You will. Just not today.”
Swerve Strickland tossed a Mogul Embassy shirt into the crib of Hangman Jr. and said he’d never forget that this was his father’s fault!
Renee Paquette was backstage with the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
Copeland said he still wasn’t going to face Christian Cage. Copeland said his friendship was more important than anything that’s ever happened within this business.
Darby Allin and Sting interrupted.
Darby: “Adam, I know you came to AEW to ride off into the sunset with your best friend, but that’s not the type of world we’re living in. Do you think last week I wanted to break Nick Wayne’s face? No. But it’s kill or be killed here.”
Copeland: “Darby, you know how much I respect you.”
Sting: “I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation right now. I know what it’s like to have the blinders on. I was up and down the road with Lex Luger, and I had the blinders on. You know the legend out there? I learned from him. I see right through guys like Christian. I can see right through him. You need to open your eyes up before it’s too late. Are you hearing me? Listen to what I’m saying before it’s too late! We go way back. Don’t mess it up now! Get with it!”
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Hikaru Shida (c.) vs. Ruby Soho!
Ruby chopped at Shida. The champ hit a crossbody and then slammed Ruby.
Soho connected with a back heel kick. Shida blasted Soho with a missile dropkick. Soho caught Shida with the No Future outside the ring!
Shida landed an elbow strike. She hoisted up Soho in a torture rack. Shida followed up with a sliding elbow for a near fall on Ruby Soho. Ruby pulled the middle turnbuckle pad off. The ref pulled it away from her, but Ruby grabbed the can of spray paint and tossed it to Shida, setting her up for when the ref turned back around. Ruby acted like she’d been sprayed in the eyes.
“All the ref has to do is look at Ruby’s face. There’s no spray paint on it,” said Excalibur.
Ruby jumped back into the ring with the title belt, but Shida went to defend herself by spraying the paint, but instead she sprayed the title belt! The ref took the belt away and as she had her back turned, Ruby unwrapped her wrist tape, choked Shida, and then stunned her with Destination Unknown! Shida was able to kick out at two!
“That was super close,” said Taz.
Shida fired back with the katana kick. Ruby kicked out! Shida nailed Ruby with a knee strike and then the Falcon Arrow! Shida went to cover Ruby, but Ruby reversed it for a pin attempt. Shida shoved her away, sending Ruby right into the exposed turnbuckle! Shida finished off Ruby with the katana and pinned her!
After the match “Timeless” Toni Storm walked onto the ramp! We learned earlier tonight that Timeless Toni Storm will have her Hollywood Homecoming: The Quest for Gold at Full Gear, live on pay-per-view on Saturday, November 18th!
Renee Paquette interviewed MJF backstage ahead of his match this Saturday on Collision against Kenny Omega!
Samoa Joe interrupted!
Samoa Joe: “Congratulations! You’re a man who suffers from a severe lack of friendship. You need people watching out for you. So, I come here with a simple offer. I will be that person and I will be your friend.”
MJF: “Sounds good to me!”
Samoa Joe: “On one condition. You give me my rematch for the AEW World Championship. You don’t have to answer me now, but with the way things are going, I’m sure I’ll have my answer soon enough.”
Main Event Time!
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy & Kazuchika Okada
Danielson had wrist control on Orange Cassidy. Claudio tagged in and body slammed Orange.
Okada tagged in and locked up with Claudio. Okada and Claudio exchanged forearms and uppercuts in the center of the ring. Orange tagged in and splashed Claudio from the top rope.
Danielson tagged in and dropped a knee on Orange for a near fall. Claudio’s gut wrench was countered by Orange with a DDT. Okada and Danielson tagged in for their respective teams.
Danielson and Claudio traded chops. Danielson connected with round kicks. Okada came back with a running back elbow and then he spiked Danielson with a DDT for a near fall. Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock to Okada, but Okada escaped. Danielson countered the rainmaker with chops.
Orange tagged in and went for a DDT on Claudio, but Claudio countered, but then Orange countered with a Stundog Millionaire and then a DDT. Claudio put Orange in the Giant Swing! Claudio sat back in the Scorpion Death Lock. Okada jumped in to break it up. Okada slammed Claudio and then smashed Claudio with an elbow drop from the top rope. Okada and Orange hugged but Danielson jumped from the top with a dropkick to them both!
Okada cracked Danielson with a dropkick. Cassidy hit the Orange Punch and Okada followed up with the Rainmaker to Danielson! Claudio entered the fray with a diving European Uppercut to Okada. Claudio dished out an uppercut to Orange Cassidy and pinned him!
After the match, Danielson was clutching the side of his face. Moxley, Yuta, and Claudio checked on him. Best Friends, Rocky Romero, and Hook came to the ring to check on Orange too.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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
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 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?
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!
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!
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…
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!
