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Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE: Big Business was broadcast live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tonight’s episode kicked off with Seven-Time Women’s World Champion Mercedes Moné making her AEW Dynamite debut!
The fans were chanting “CEO! CEO! CEO!”
“I think the women’s division—everything—here in AEW has just gotten a lot more interesting,” said Excalibur.
Mercedes Moné: “Boston, I’m home! If you guys could feel my heart right now, it’s beating out of my chest. First thing I want to say is thank you. Thank you for having my back these past two years. Thank you for giving me the courage and the strength to be here. Thank you for sticking with me through all of my lows, my highs, my milestones, my titles, my history making moments, thank you!
“And trust me, we are going to be creating so much magic, and so many moments, together. Because every single one of you, you are the reason I’m here. So, thank you. I love you guys. And if you only knew how much tonight means to me, how much this means to me, how much wrestling means to me. In so many ways wrestling has changed and saved my life.
“Wrestling has given me hopes, a place to dream. My dreams got me to lead a women’s evolution. My dreams made me to become the first ever woman to main event a pay-per-view in this very building. My dreams started when I was only 10 years old. And when I was 13 years old, I dropped out of school to take care of my brother. And I had a dream to become the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. And I want you to know, if I can do it, you can do it too.
“So, let’s get down to business. You want to know why I’m here? Because I need to be here. AEW is the only place where this revolution can be global, and we are going to make that happen. I’ve been watching week after week after week, and everyone in that locker room, I can’t wait to tear it up with you.
“But let’s start with tonight’s main event, Riho against Willow Nightingale. Now Willow, you and I have a lot of unfinished business. But right now, at Big Business. Mercedes Moné is All Elite! So, to our chairman, Tony Khan, thank you so much for that tweet, to all the AEW fans out there, please say hello to your new CEO!”
“This is going to be a moment that we never forget here in AEW,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Big Business going down in Boston,” added Excalibur.
AEW World Championship Match!
Samoa Joe (c.) vs. Wardlow (with the Undisputed Kingdom)
Wardlow whipped Samoa Joe hard into the ringside barricade. Wardlow rammed Joe into the steel ring steps. Back in the ring, Samoa Joe chopped Wardlow, but Wardlow planted Samoa Joe with a spinebuster.
“Not often that Samoa Joe gets manhandled like that,” said Excalibur.
Samoa Joe tested the chin of Wardlow, jabbing away at the challenger. Samoa Joe chopped at Wardlow. Wardlow fired back with a shoulder block off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Samoa Joe slipped free of a powerbomb and followed up with a high boot and then a senton to Wardlow.
Both men slugged it out in the center of the ring but Samoa Joe powerslammed Wardlow for a two-count. Wardlow’s knee buckled. The ref tried to stop Samoa Joe so the ref could check on Wardlow. As the ref turned his back to back Samoa Joe up, Wardlow thumbed Joe in the eyes. Perhaps Wardlow was playing possum. Wardlow blasted Samoa Joe with a knee strike for a near fall.
“That is the first time anyone has survived that knee from Wardlow,” said Excalibur.
Wardlow attempted a senton atomico, but Samoa Joe dodged it! Wardlow retaliated with a power bomb out of the corner. Samoa Joe applied the rear naked choke and Samoa Joe won via ref stoppage!
“That was a great, great win for the champion,” said Tony Schiavone.
Swerve Strickland walked out to the ring with a steel chain! AEW security tried to stop Swerve, but Swerve knocked them out of his way. Samoa Joe left the ring, not wanting any part of Swerve tonight.
Trios Match!
The Elite— “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks—EVPs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
vs.
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston & Death Triangle—PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo!
Kingston ignored a fist bump from Matthew and tagged in “The Bastard” Pac. “The Bastard” wiped out Matthew with a step up hurracanrana and followed up with a back breaker.
Penta El Zero Miedo nailed Nicholas with a thrust kick. Pac grabbed a tag and hit Nicholas with a big pump kick. Pac and Penta clocked Matthew with stereo thrust kicks. Okada tagged in and traded strikes with Kingston! Okada took down Kingston with a beautiful dropkick. Okada and the Bucks triple teamed Kingston in their corner with triple kicks!
Kingston fought out of the corner, crawling to his corner for a tag, but Okada and Nicholas pulled Penta and Pac off the ring apron. The Elite continued to isolate Eddie Kingston. Penta grabbed a tag and cleaned house on the Elite!
Pac blasted Okada with a shotgun dropkick. Pac and Penta took flight over the top rope, wiping out the Bucks on the arena floor. Penta smashed Nicholas with a double foot stomp from the top rope. Pac then landed on Nicholas with a 450 splash! Pac rocked Okada with a German Suplex.
Kingston blistered Okada’s chest with chops. Okada planted Kingston with a DDT. Penta clocked Matthew with a Canadian Destroyer. Nicholas blind sided Penta with a superkick. Nicholas removed his belt, wrapped it around his fist, and charged at Kingston, but Kingston countered with a hot shot, guillotining Nicholas’ throat across the top rope!
Matthew went to strike Kingston, but Kingston countered with a strike. As Matthew distracted the ref in the corner, Nicholas hit Kingston with a low blow between the legs. Okada clocked Kingston with the Rainmaker and pinned Kingston!
“When Okada lands that Rainmaker lariat, it is all over for his opponent,” said Excalibur.
Okada held up Kingston’s AEW Continental Crown Championship aloft after the match!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to talk about AEW Dynasty, live on pay-per-view, Sunday, April 21st and the match between “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Will Ospreay came out to the ring to discuss the upcoming match with Danielson at Dynasty.
Ospreay: “On April 21st, this match means so much to mean. Bryan Danielson left it in the ring every night for all these people. I’m glad he’s a fan of my work. Bryan, allow me to remind you of what you said once upon a time. After my match with Kenny Omega, everybody was talking about one move: the Tiger Driver 91.
“You see, Bryan, while I respect you, this match means a hell of a lot more to me. Because the moment I stepped foot in AEW, there has been a phrase that has been following me. Restore the feeling. Bruv, I am the feeling! This match is about reminding people what AEW is. You put the best wrestler in the world against the best wrestler of the 21st century, and only one man walks out the winner.
“The one thing I learned from Bryan Danielson is I can have respect for the man standing across from me but the moment I walk into this ring, it’s your life or it’s mine, and I don’t plan on dying, bruv!
“April 21st, this is about finding out who is the best wrestler in the world. And let me tell you, my name is Will Ospreay, and I am on another level!”
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo was backstage!
Purrazzo: “Toni Storm and Mariah, if you think this is over between us after Toni tapped out and you DDT’ed me on the ramp, then you’ve learned nothing about the Virtuosa. If this is a numbers game you want to play, then let’s play. I have no problem finding a partner and meeting you both next week in Toronto.
“And since you already have a tag team match this Friday on Rampage, maybe we’ll stick around and get a closer look. I suggest you watch for the shoe because it’s headed straight up your ass!”
“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Darby Allin!
Darby’s back was all bandaged up after his tag match with Sting against the Bucks from Revolution.
Jay White rammed Darby into the turnbuckles. Darby fired back with a shotgun dropkick. Darby climbed to the top and splashed Jay White with a back flip, throwing his body at Jay White. Darby rocketed back out of the ring with a tope suicida!
Jay White suplexed Darby onto a metal chair outside the ring! Jay White whipped Darby into the steel ring steps! Back in the ring, White chopped Darby in the back of the neck. Darby dodged a Stinger splash from White. Darby countered a Blade Runner with an over the top stunner and then a sunset flip for a near fall. Darby locked in the Last Supper, but Jay White managed to kick out at the two-count!
Jay White began to dig his fingers into Darby’s back. Darby retaliated with a scorpion death drop out of nowhere. Darby covered White but White got his feet on the bottom rope. Darby was looking for a Coffin Drop, but Jay White avoided it, and Darby crashed onto the edge of the ring apron!
“That was sickening,” said Taz.
Darby managed to jump into the ring, beating the ref’s count just in the nick of time, but Jay White was waiting for him. Jay White blasted Darby with the Blade Runner and scored the pin!
After the match, Jay White and the Gunns assaulted Darby Allin! The Gunns held Darby’s leg between a steel chair, and Jay White was about to smash it to smithereens with Sting’s baseball bat when…
The Acclaimed’s music began to play!
The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn sprinted to the ring to stop the Gunns and Jay White from hitting Darby’s ankle with the bat! The Acclaimed help Darby out of the ring. Billy Gunn took the baseball bat away from Jay White, but Jay White smashed a chair against Billy’s head!
Bowens and Caster turned around and saw that Billy Gunn had been knocked out. The Acclaimed jumped back into the ring but the Gunns began to club the Acclaimed with strikes.
“So much for the Bang Bang Scissor Gang,” said Tony Schiavone.
The Gunns bashed their championship belt into Bowens’ head. Austin Gunn broadsided Caster with the belt next!
“Bullet Club Gold showing their true colors here tonight,” said Excalibur.
The Gunns put Darby’s ankle back between the steel chair and Jay White walloped the ankle with the baseball bat!
LionHOOK—FTW Champion HOOK & “Lionheart” Chris Jericho
vs.
Gates of Agony—Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona!
Hook and Jericho hit a double suplex on Bishop. LionHOOK followed up with a double suplex on Liona. Jericho chopped at Kaun in the corner. Kaun ran Jericho over with a lariat. Toa tagged in and rammed into Jericho, who was hung up on the ropes.
Jericho connected with a lionsault on Kaun. Hook tagged in and bulldozed Bishop with a lariat and then a T-Bone suplex. Hook followed up with a Northern Lights Suplex to Bishop Kaun.
Gates of Agony regained momentum, but Hook put Kaun in Red Rum. Jericho dropkicked Toa and then Kuan tapped out to Hook’s Red Rum submission.
“For their first match together, boy, did they work well together,” said Tony Schiavone.
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kyle O’Reilly when he was interrupted by the Undisputed Kingdom!
Roderick Strong: “Kyle! You know how much respect I have for you. And if you want to do this on your own, do it on your own.”
Kyle: “Yeah, this Saturday, first match back, and I’m going to do it on my own.”
Riho was getting warmed up backstage ahead of her match against Willow when Mercedes walked by and introduced herself.
Mercedes: “I look forward to your match tonight.”
Renee Paquette interviewed FTW Champion HOOK and Chris Jericho backstage!
Jericho said that Hook showed him that he had future World champion written all over him.
Jericho: “But as much as I learned in the ring standing next to you, I still need to learn more. I need to know what it’s like standing in the ring across from you. That’s why next week on Dynamite, live from Toronto, I’m challenging you, ‘Lionheart’ Chris Jericho against HOOK in AEW for the first time ever. What do you say?”
HOOK: “Let’s do it.”
Main Event Time!
Willow Nightingale (accompanied by Stokely Hathaway & Kris Statlander) vs. Riho!
Willow connected with a running cross body. Riho rocked Willow with a running dropkick and then clocked Willow with a knee strike. Willow walloped Riho with a dropkick off the turnbuckles!
Riho hit a diving cross body on Willow for a near fall. Riho followed up with a Northern Lights suplex, but Willow kicked out at the two-count!
“Willow hit very hard that time,” said Tony Schiavone.
Riho climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for the diving double foot stomp, but Willow dodged it! Willow sent Riho flying with a running pounce! Willow tried for a senton off the apron, but Riho moved, sending Willow crashing on the arena floor! Riho ran off the apron and walloped Willow with the diving foot stomp!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Riho drilled Willow with a dragon suplex on the apron! Riho hit the double foot stomp again, but this time Willow kicked out at the two-count. Willow avoided a running knee strike from Riho. Willow landed a big lariat. Willow smashed Riho with the gut wrench doctor bomb and scored the pin fall victory!
After the match, the lights in the arena went dark!
When the lights came back on, TBS Champion Julia Hart was standing in the aisle! Skye Blue ambushed Willow, chop blocking her leg. Julia and Skye double teamed Willow in the ring! Skye held back Willow while Julia was about to crack Willow in the head with the TBS title when Mercedes Moné’s music hit!
Skye Blue charged up the ramp at Mercedes and Mercedes clocked her! Mercedes entered the ring and planted Julia!
“Mercedes Moné, wow, what a difference maker here tonight,” said Excalibur.
Mercedes turned her attention to Willow, and they smiled at each other, with Willow raising Mercedes’ arm.
“Great respect shown by Willow towards the CEO Mercedes Moné,” said Excalibur.
“There’s never been a better time to be a fan of AEW than right now!” added Tony Schiavone.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET featuring:
-The AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Bracketology will be announced!
-Best Friends vs. Dark Order!
-AEW Women’s World Champ “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May in action!
-Trios Match: Undisputed Kingdom vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti!
Don’t miss AEW Collision live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON featuring:
-Kyle O’Reilly vs. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
-& Much more!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON, featuring:
– “Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!
-We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné!
-AEW Continental Crown Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!
– Christian Cage (c.) vs. “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship in an I Quit Match!
After weeks of anticipation, DYNAMITE: BIG BU$INESS is upon us, and the TD Garden is going to be rocking on Wednesday night! AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend his title against a familiar foe in Wardlow, the man who earned this opportunity in REVOLUTION 2024’s All-Star Scramble, and we will witness the first-time clash between Darby Allin and ROH World Six-Man Champion “Switchblade” Jay White! But that’s not all; The New Elite of The Young Bucks and “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada will battle Death Triangle and Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston in Trios action, Willow Nightingale takes on former AEW Women’s World Champion Riho, and FTW Champion HOOK unites with Chris Jericho to battle The Gates of Agony!! All that, and so much more, is on tap for the AEW faithful this Wednesday night for DYNAMITE: BIG BU$INESS!
The show begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then join us Saturday night in Ottawa, ON, Canada (https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-event/aew-collision-ottawa) for our debut at the Canadian Tire Centre for an all-new COLLISION!
AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
Samoa Joe(c) vs. Wardlow
The history between AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Wardlow runs a bit further back than just “The War Dog” winning the All-Star 8-Man Scramble at REVOLUTION 2024 to earn a World Title match. Back in the fall of 2022, for the better part of two months Joe and Wardlow operated as something of a tag team, even being dubbed WarJoe for their battles against The Varsity Athletes, Gates of Agony, and The Factory. It wasn’t the most stable of partnerships, but it seemed function enough until November 11, 2022 when all came crashing down after then-TNT Champion Wardlow told Powerhouse Hobbs he was going to take all the championships in the company while standing before then-ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe.
Joe did not take kindly to that sentiment, cracked Wardlow with his ROH title belt, and slapped a Choke on the TNT Champion. This led to Joe becoming the TNT Champion at FULL GEAR 2022 in a Three Way with Wardlow and Powerhouse Hobbs, and then beating Wardlow in a singles match at NEW YEARS SMASH 2022 to close out the year. Darby Allin would beat Joe a week later to end that reign, but Joe regained the TNT Championship in short order, only to have Wardlow snatch it away at REVOLUTION 2023 in Joe’s first defense of that second reign.
The two parted ways after that, Wardlow getting wrapped up with Powerhouse Hobbs while Joe continued his epic ROH World TV Title run as well as began his pursuit of MJF’s AEW World Championship. For Wardlow that path led to triumph and tragedy, losing the title to Hobbs just three days later, before regaining it for a third time, only to have it ripped away by Christian Cage and Luchas…Killswitch. After that, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that Wardlow floundered. He disappeared from television for four months, came back and resumed decimating one individual after another while sporting MJF’s initials on his wrist tape, but it wasn’t until the masks were ripped away, and he was revealed as member of the Undisputed Kingdom that things came into focus.
Wardlow, along with Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett, accomplished their larger goal of destroying MJF’s life by helping to weaken him for Samoa Joe to take the AEW World Championship at WORLDS END. Following that, each man declared their individual goals, and for Wardlow that meant taking what he felt he’d deserved since destroying MJF at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2022: the AEW World Championship. All Wardlow had to do was find his angle to a championship opportunity, and that came in Greensboro when he won the All-Star Scramble and earned a future title match, a result that occurred just a couple hours before Samoa Joe survived both Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland to retain the AEW World Championship.
With the title match in place, all that was needed was setting the date in stone, and that happened last Wednesday night on DYNAMITE following Joe and Swerve’s tag team victory over Wardlow’s partners in the Undisputed Kingdom, your ROH World Tag Team Champions Taven and Bennett. This Wednesday night, when AEW returns to TD Garden for the first time since BLOOD & GUTS 2023, it will be BIG BU$INESS, and there isn’t much that’s bigger business than the AEW World Championship! In this rubber match, Wardlow gets his very first crack at the most coveted championship in professional wrestling, and he does it knowing that the last time he met Samoa Joe one-on-one, he was the won who walked away with a championship title around his waist!
What’s rather frightening though is the difference between Samoa Joe circa March 2023 and Samoa Joe in March 2024; though he has always been one of the most intimidating men in wrestling today, the last 75 days have seen Joe unleash an intensity unfamiliar to AEW audiences. It was as if his pursuit of the AEW World Championship began to open a door he’d left closed for many years, and the first night he walked onto DYNAMITE as the AEW World Champion, said door swung wide open and the landscape of AEW quaked in fear. This is Joe unleashed, this is Joe with everything he’s wanted from the moment he came to All Elite Wrestling, and this is a Samoa Joe who will stop at nothing to make sure it remains his forevermore. It may sound trite to say that the person who beats Joe may have to kill him, but with one look at the way Joe carries that AEW World Title, it’s hard to not take that as his truth.
This Wednesday night in Boston, Wardlow is going to have to find a way to break Joe like no one ever has before in order to become the AEW World Champion, but if he can maintain that fury, if he can keep that righteous anger burning, then Wardlow may be able to do just that. All eyes will be on the TD Garden this Wednesday night, can Wardlow become the champion he’s longed to be in front of their gaze?
TRIOS BATTLE…
The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson, & Nicholas Jackson)
vs.
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston & Death Triangle (PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo)
Last week on DYNAMITE, “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada made his first appearance for All Elite Wrestling as a certified member of AEW locker room, and while that should’ve been a joyous occasion, it was marred by the former multi-time IWPG Heavyweight Champion signing on with The Elite following The EVPs official dismissal of Kenny Omega and Hangman Page. As if that wasn’t disappointing enough, Okada made that choice at the expense of Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston, and when Kingston tried for a measure of revenge on COLLISION a few days later, he paid for it then as well; at least until “The Bastard” PAC made his return to AEW
Now we come to BIG BU$INESS this Wednesday night at the TD Garden, and the challenge laid out by Kingston Saturday night. A Trios bout between this new Elite and the rather wild combination of the Continental Crown Champion, Penta El Zero Miedo, and “The Bastard”! One would have to go back nearly three years, to one of the finals events of AEW’s extended stay at Daily’s Place, to find the last time those three men stood together on the same side, coincidentally enough it was also in opposition to The Young Bucks, albeit with Brandon Cutler as their third. Kingston and Penta are close, though it hasn’t always been the easiest of roads, but PAC and Eddie aren’t exactly best friends. Still, they’ve proven they can function as a unit when driven by mutual goals, and eradicating this version of The Elite right out of the gate is certainly a goal worth fighting for.
Make no mistake, this is a pivotal fight in the careers of all men involved; it’s the first big match of Okada’s new endeavor as Elite, it’s PAC’s return to the fold for the first time since July 26th, and it’s AEW’s return to TD Garden! Who will rise in the face of the increased heat of the spotlight that’ll be shone on this match, as well as the entire BIG BU$INESS event?
Before the dust had even settled in Greensboro, before the crew had even finished tearing down the REVOLUTION 2024 set, AEW GM Tony Khan had announced that Darby Allin would fight ROH World Six-Man Champion “Switchblade” Jay White at DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS! At the moment Darby was informed of this, during the Media Scrum following the pay-per-view, he certainly didn’t look to be in any condition for a fight of this caliber, but anyone who’s paid attention to the career of the former World Tag Team Champion knows that he won’t let anything stop him from entering the fight, not even an impending trip to Mt. Everest on March 27th.
But will Darby Allin be in any condition to make that trip after this Wednesday night’s fight with “Switchblade” Jay White? After the words exchanged last week between Darby and “King Switch”, this bout has heated up quite quickly, and is a huge part of AEW’s return to TD Garden!
Given that Jay White is perpetually supported by The Gunns, Austin and Colten, the question has to be asked if they will get themselves involved in the bout? Or will the influence of The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass actually sway The Bang Bang Gang to fight on the up-and-up? As for Darby, what does his future look like in the post-Sting landscape of All Elite Wrestling? With so much of his last three years spent at Sting’s side, how will the former 2-Time TNT Champion move forward in his career standing by himself? This Wednesday night, as part of BIG BU$INESS, we will all see what the future entails!
SINGLES MATCH…
Willow Nightingale vs. Riho
A week ago former TBS Champion Kris Statlander stepped into the ring for a fight with original AEW Women’s World Champion Riho for the first time in four years, and though it was a hard-fought battle from Stat, it was Riho who took home the victory, moving herself one step closer to a potential championship bout.
But Riho and Kris Statlander aren’t the only women looking for a title opportunity, former NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale is also on the hunt for the TBS Championship around Julia Hart’s waist, and just like her tag partner, the road also goes through Riho! Prior to this, the only engagement between the two women took place on the November 14, 2022 edition of DARK: ELEVATION when they teamed up to defeat Emi Sakura and Mei Suruga, a match that coincidentally also took place in Boston, just four miles away at Agganis Arena.
Will Willow win out where Kris Statlander came up short one week ago? And how will Stokely Hathaway play a role in this bout because, let’s face it, he can’t help but find a way to insert himself into any match…
TAG TEAM BOUT…
FTW Champion HOOK & Chris Jericho vs. Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
It’s an unlikely alliance yet here we are; Chris Jericho and FTW Champion HOOK are set to stand on the same side of the ring with The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) standing in opposition. All of this stems from the All-Star 8-man at REVOLUTION 2024, Jericho and HOOK’s participation in the match, HOOK’s rivalry with Brian Cage, and his victory over “The Machine” last week on DYNAMITE! It all coalesced into Jericho assisting HOOK, HOOK assisting the OG AEW World Champion, and now this tag team bout between The Gates of Agony and HOOK/Jericho. Jericho has some experience with The Gates after defeating them with Kenny Omega as his partner, but HOOK has never set foot in the ring with either Toa Liona or Bishop Kaun, and given that he and Jericho are entering into this unity for the first time, it’s going to be quite interesting to see how they function as a unit.
The Gates ended their 2023 as participants in the NJPW World Tag League, scoring four points overall, but in 2024 they’ve taken a step back from Mogul Embassy business as Swerve Strickland made it a point to pursue his AEW World Championship dreams without Embassy involvement. That’s done now; Kaun and Toa are back in business this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, and they aim to deliver a message to everyone in the AEW locker room by decimating the original AEW World Champ and the current FTW Champion!
DYNAMITE: BIG BU$INESS is finally here and the TD Garden better be ready for an epic night! The AEW World Championship will be at stake when Samoa Joe and Wardlow rekindle their rivalry, we will see Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston unite with PAC and Penta El Zero Miedo to take on The Elite, and FTW Champion HOOK tags up with Chris Jericho to battle The Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony! In addition, Darby Allin and Jay White lock horn, Willow Nightingale battles the original AEW Women’s World Champion Riho, and there is plenty more coming your way from Boston this Wednesday night!
DYNAMITE begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so drop by AEW’s official YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to catch highlights from last week’s editions of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then on Saturday night we head to Ottawa, ON, Canada for our debut at the Canadian Tire Centre with an all-new COLLISION!
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After a tremendous night of action on RAMPAGE, All Elite Wrestling continues on a hot streak this Saturday night with an all-new COLLISION! Emanating from Gas South Arena in Gwinnett County, AEW presents two hours of hard-hitting professional wrestling action with Bryan Danielson taking on Shane Taylor, the new Elite of The Young Bucks and “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada in action, Chris Jericho taking on AAA’s Titan, and Toni Storm’s 1st ever Toni Awards! Plus Mark Briscoe will team up with Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett for an Atlanta Street Fight against The House of Black, and Mariah May will step back into competition after her performance as Toni Storm last Sunday night!
The night gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and the AEW faithful can get prepped for it by visiting the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s other social media platforms, for highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then join us next Wednesday evening in Boston for DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS coming to you from the TD Garden, and already looking to be another of the biggest nights in AEW’s television history!
ATLANTA STREET FIGHT…
Mark Briscoe, Jay Lethal, & Jeff Jarrett vs.
The House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews, & Malakai Black)
Well, a week ago we all watched as Mark Briscoe attempted to use pyro to set fire to Buddy Matthews, and this week it looks like the situation is about to get even hotter because The House of Black is looking to burn Mark Briscoe’s world down around him! Yet in situations such as these, though he may seem like a fraying rope, Mark Briscoe is actually in his happy place…
Though will he be happy with Jeff Jarrett standing by his side? Can he put aside his distrust of Double J long enough to focus on the fight with The House? Can Mark take the trust he has in Jay Lethal, a man he has called one of his best friends, and apply it to Jarrett? If he can’t, then Mark’s trio is doomed for failure against the onslaught of Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Malakai Black, but if Mark, Lethal, and Double J can get it together, they just might be able to burn The House down to its foundation!
THE NEW ELITE IN ACTION!
There had been a buzz around the wrestling landscape that “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada could be making his way to All Elite Wrestling on a more permanent basis. Sure he’d dipped his toes in the elite waters with the FORBIDDEN DOOR events, and even stepped into the DYNAMITE ring to team up with Orange Cassidy, but it wasn’t until this past Wednesday night that the world learned that Okada was indeed All Elite!
Unfortunately, as Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston learned the hard way, Okada wasn’t just All Elite, he was now also one of The Elite. That’s right, Okada came to AEW from NJPW and immediately signed on the dotted line with The EVP’s, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson! Now there’s a great deal of history between the three men dating back to 2010 with Okada’s first forays into the United States, as well as their engagements in NJPW several years later, but it was still quite a shock to see “The Rainmaker” standing over the fallen Kingston with those two individuals rather than fighting them at Kingston’s side.
Well this Saturday night on COLLISION it won’t be a sneak attack putting The Young Bucks and Okada together, it will be the first Trios match together for this new iteration of The Elite, and whoever steps into the ring across from them best be wary. Matthew and Nicholas are none too happy after the events of REVOLUTION 2024, and though the addition of Okada may have boosted their spirits, they are still looking for some poor unfortunate souls to take out their frustration.
ONE-ON-ONE…
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. Titan
He has been the CMLL World Welterweight Champion for over 1,500 days, he is a member of Los Ingobernables de Japon in NJPW, and is one of the most exciting high-flyers in Lucha Libre today! He is Titan (pronounced Tee-tan), and this Saturday night he makes his AEW debut on COLLISION against “Lionheart” Chris Jericho!
As the original AEW World Champion, Jericho is one of the standard bearers, but his career has deep roots in Mexico with CMLL, including fighting a different man competing under the Titan name in his very first match. It’s where “Lionheart” was born as “Corazon de Leon”, and where Jericho learned much of the skills that bolstered him to international stardom in the first place.
As was witnessed recently when Jericho took on Atlantis Jr., the involvement of CMLL in All Elite Wrestling has given “The Ocho” a new fire, a new outlet to focus his energies towards, though he is being pulled in multiple directions given his engagement with HOOK, and his perpetual issues with The Don Callis Family. If Jericho wants to have the same success with Titan that he had with Atlantis Jr, he better have his head in this particular game on COLLISION, or the CMLL World Welterweight Champion is going to add “Corazon de Leon” to the list of his fallen opponents!
SINGLES MATCH…
“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Taylor
This past Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, the professional wrestling world witnessed a moment they’d been longing to see for years when “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson stood in the ring with “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay. It was a moment that seemingly would never happen, but then Ospreay officially signed on with All Elite Wrestling and it became a distinct possibility, though not one fans expected to see come together so quickly! Bryan’s intent in spoiling Ospreay’s moment at the end of DYNAMITE was clear, he wants a fight, but until we hear from the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion we can only assume he feels the same.
But that’s not the issue at hand, at least not for Bryan Danielson, his issue is the fight looming on Saturday night with Shane Taylor! Hopefully Bryan was paying attention when his BCC mate Jon Moxley went to war with Taylor several weeks ago, hopefully Bryan uses Moxley as a resource to learn what Shane T brings to the table, because what Danielson is going to get is a hellacious fight. Danielson has been hit by the hardest strikers in the world throughout his career, but he’s never been hit by the former ROH World TV Champion, and there are few men who can compare. After the war Bryan went through at REVOLUTION 2024 with Eddie Kingston, is he up to the task?
LUCHA LIBRE!
Mistico vs. Angelico
AEW fans have gotten familiar with Mistico since his epic clash with Rocky Romero last October first introduced CMLL to All Elite Wrestling while his bout with Matt Sydal, as well as the 8-Man tag that preceded it, helped further showcase his skills. This Saturday night on COLLISION, the current World Historic Middleweight Champion will return to AEW for a bout with a man with whom he shared the AAA ring a handful of times between 2014 and 2015: Angelico!
Between two Three Way tags, one being a AAA World Tag Title bout, and a Trios bout, Angelico’s teams hold one victory over Mistico’s, while Mistico’s hold none over Angelico’s, but this is a solo affair, and in that vein of professional wrestling Mistico has excelled. He is one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet, the most famous Luchador in modern wrestling, a man who changed the game for man, and now he’s back in All Elite Wrestling to give Angelico the toughest test of his AEW career! If Angelico can pull out a victory, it will be the biggest one of his career, the biggest moment of his professional wrestling career, and it will put Angelico on the map worldwide!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Mariah May vs. Trish Adora
She finally got it! After months of desperately searching for the approval of AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, Mariah May finally got a bit of approval from her idol, she just had to cosplay as Toni Storm in order to get what she craved. Clearly the how of it all was of no matter to Mariah, all that mattered is it happened, and that just leaves one to wonder if this Saturday night on COLLISION, when Mariah is back in action against The Infantry’s Trish Adora, will she continue to dress the part of old Toni Storm, or if May will return to her own style? Whichever it may be, her head best be in the game otherwise the hard-hitting Adora is going to knock it off Mariah’s shoulders first chance she gets!
And speaking of “Timeless” Toni Storm…
1ST EVER TONI AWARDS…
After her victory at REVOLUTION 2024, it seems like AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm is intending to present herself with a Toni (with an “I” for legal purposes) Award for her performance! Mind you, it was clear as day to the viewing audience that Toni tapped out to Deonna Purrazzo during the course of the match, but the official missed the moment and thus it was not “The Virtuosa” who left Greensboro as new champion. So is Toni Storm actually deserving of an award? She certainly seems to believe so, and we will see if she actually celebrates herself this Saturday night on COLLISION!
COLLISION begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT this Saturday night on TNT, featuring Danielson versus Taylor, an Atlanta Street Fight, Mariah May, The Toni Awards, and more, so before the first bell, visit the official AEW YouTube channel, plus AEW’s other social media sites, to catch up on highlights from Wednesday’s DYNAMITE, Friday’s RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then meet us in Beantown next Wednesday for DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS at the TD Garden with Wardlow challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship, Willow Nightingale versus Riho, and so much more!
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The official announcement of an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament! The arrival of “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada as both an official member of All Elite Wrestling and as the newest addition to The Elite! Ospreay versus Fletcher! And that’s just a sampling of what DYNAMITE brought to the AEW faithful this past Wednesday night at the Gas South Arena! With a new set design and a new season underway, All Elite Wrestling moved forward into the post-Sting era in explosive fashion, and it continues this Friday night on TNT with RAMPAGE!
Before the action starts, drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media sites, to catch up on highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and let’s not forget REVOLUTION 2024! Then be sure to join AEW next Wednesday night for DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS coming your way from the TD Garden in Boston, an event already shaping up to be one of the most unforgettable in AEW’s television history!
TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT WARM-UP…
Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Kip Sabian & The Butcher
We know there’s a tournament coming up this month to fill the AEW World Tag Team Championship vacancy created by Sting’s retirement and Darby Allin’s unwillingness to continue on without “The Icon” as his partner, and while the locker room awaits the bracketing, teams are already throwing their names in the hat.
As we heard on Wednesday night in the interview embedded above, Chuck Taylor still isn’t cleared for action, meaning The Best Friends will have to continue never having held a championship together, but that doesn’t mean Trent Beretta and Orange Cassidy can’t give the tournament a try as a team! With that in mind, the former 2-Time International Champion will tag up with Beretta this Friday night on RAMPAGE to do battle with some familiar foes making their first appearance as a tandem.
Kip Sabian and The Butcher have been united for quite some time, competing in Trios matches with The Blade, and just generally supporting each other’s careers, but this Friday will mark the first time the two have fought as a tag team! Best Friends have had their far share of interaction with Butcher & Blade over the last four years, while Cassidy defended the International Championship against both Kip Sabian and The Butcher over the course of his two title runs. In short, all four of these men know each other quite well, which should make for quite the intriguing match-up as both duos hope to earn their way into the World Tag Title Tournament when the brackets are set!
TBS CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN CHALLENGE…
Julia Hart(c) vs. Robyn Renegade
After losing in tag team action during the REVOLUTION 2024: ZERO HOUR, TBS Champion Julia Hart is hearing challenges coming her way from Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander, and though Stat’s loss to Riho on Wednesday night may not have done her any favors in getting the rematch she’s thus far been denied, Willow remains in the hunt with a fight of her own against Riho set for DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS.
In response to the challenges laid before her, Julia Hart put out an Open Challenge of her own with the intention to remind the other women in All Elite Wrestling just who is holding the TBS Championship. Situations like this are the perfect opportunity for the unlikeliest of challengers to step up and try to shock the world, and that is exactly what we have this Friday night with Robyn Renegade stepping up to plate! Renegade is no stranger to a TBS Title Open Challenge, she actually answered the call when Kris Statlander did the same on the 9/9/23 edition of COLLISION, though obviously coming up short in that challenge.
Still, that’s the sort of thing that can either bolster a competitor’s hunger or discourage them from continuing the fight, and clearly Robyn Renegade has chosen the former! Can she upset the TBS Champion and throw a massive monkey wrench into the works, or will Renegade end up as an example to Willow, Statlander, and any other woman with designs on Julia Hart’s TBS Championship?
THREE WAY TAG BATTLE…
Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith & Komander
As is the case with the other tag team battle taking place on RAMPAGE, this Three Way fight is absolutely an opportunity for all six men to make a statement as to why they should be included in the brackets. Ever since Private Party returned to tag team competition, they’ve looked better than ever, but have made enemies out of Top Flight over the course of their two outings this year.
As for Bryan Kieth and Komander, this will mark just their second outing as a tag team, the first taking place two months ago when the met ROH World Tag Team Champions The Kingdom in a Proving Ground match to try and earn a title opportunity but came up short. Now they are looking for another path to greatness, perhaps through a bid in that impending World Tag Title Tournament, and a victory here over two well-established teams could get the eyes on them required for consideration.
If the tensions between Private Party and Top Flight get in the way, then Bryan Keith and Komander could find themselves with an upset victory Friday night, but even that is going to come with a fight, because best believe all three duos are bringing their A-game as the tag teams in AEW jockey for position!
ALSO FEATURING…
Action Andretti vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
After clashing in a Three Way tag team bout two weeks ago on RAMPAGE, this Friday night will see Action Andretti and Penta El Zero Miedo go one-on-one for the very first time! In their two televised matches, Action’s team holds one victory and Penta’s holds one, but this being the first time they’ve ventured into the realm of singles competition, it is anyone’s ball game. Penta clearly has more experience that Andretti, but Action has proven himself capable of shocking the world in the past (just ask Chris Jericho) so don’t count him out either.
Which of these two amazing athletes will get their hand raised on RAMPAGE? Tune in Friday night to TNT to find out!!
RAMPAGE comes your way from the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA and it is loaded with action! TBS Champion Julia Hart laid out an Open Challenge on Wednesday night, and it looks like Robyn Renegade has stepped up to answer, plus Orange Cassidy will be in tag team action alongside Trent Beretta as the two take on Kip Sabian and The Butcher! In addition, we will see Top Flight, Private Party, and the Bryan Keith/Komander tandem collide in a Three Way tag, as well as Penta El Zero Miedo battling Action Andretti! That gets underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT so prior to bell time, swing on by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to catch up on highlights from Wednesday’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and of course REVOLUTION 2024!
Tonight’s season premiere episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tony Schiavone kicked off the show in the ring to interview Swerve Strickland!
Swerve: “What’s Swerve’s house without the keys? I couldn’t get the job done this past Sunday. You know who did? Samoa Joe did. Here I stand, no gold around my waist. Part of me think it’s karma for all the bad things I’ve done in AEW. Maybe I’m paying for it now.
“Maybe I’m not supposed to be a champion here. Maybe I’m supposed to be a role player and be the guy that gets close enough but can’t quite grasp it, and I’ve gotta settle for this. I’m going to tell you all a little something. Something about Sunday felt different. Something about Revolution felt very different. It felt like people were truly rooting for me for the first time. It felt like y’all wanted me to win and make history.
“The fact remains nothing changes from this point on. Samoa Joe, whether you’re still holding the World championship or not, I’m coming for you. That I promise!”
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe came down to the ring!
Samoa Joe: “You know for a man who I beat down the other day, you sure are talking funny. Making a lot of promises to these good people that you will never keep. In fact, I came out here to give us a reality check. Here we are in Swerve’s House. But unfortunately, your house exists in my world. So instead of coming out here and disappointing these people about how you’re almost the champion, I thought I’d come out here and let them gaze upon an actual World Champion.”
Swerve: “Don’t talk your back on me, Joe. You’re talking real spicy. How about you put this title on the line tonight? Actually, I don’t want to wait until tonight. How about we do this right now?”
The Undisputed Kingdom’s music interrupted Swerve, and the Undisputed Kingdom rolled out onto the ramp!
Adam Cole: “The only story coming out of Revolution worth talking about is the Undisputed Kingdom. Roderick Strong is your new AEW International Champion. Mike Bennett and Matt Taven are still the greatest ROH Tag Champions of all time. And then there’s Swerve and Samoa Joe. Joe, you’re only champion because we allowed it to happen. And Swerve, in six months, no one will give a damn about you. You’re not going to win the World championship, but I’ll tell you who is: Wardlow.”
Swerve: “It’s funny you’re telling me I need to get to the back of the line. How many times did you fail, yet you got opportunity after opportunity.”
Adam Cole: You think you’re funny? How about this? The greatest ROH Tag Champions of all time against you and Samoa Joe next week?”
Swerve: “Why wait until next week?”
Adam Cole: “The match is happening next week!”
Tony Schiavone: “Pardon me. I heard from Tony Khan. The match is happening right now.”
ROH World Tag Team Champions Mike Bennett & Matt Taven
vs.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland!
Samoa Joe booted Taven in the head and flattened him with a senton for a near fall. Samoa Joe hit Taven with a headbutt. Bennett grabbed a blind tag and began to strike Samoa Joe after a swift kick from Matt Taven.
Strickland tagged himself in and cleaned house on Taven and Bennett. Swerve blasted Bennett with a brain buster! Swerve climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Taven cut him off. Swerve shoved Taven away and nailed Taven with the double foot stomp and followed up with the House Call! Swerve planted Taven and scored the pin!
“No help from Joe, Swerve did it on his own, pretty much,” said Taz.
Wardlow walked down the ramp. Swerve was distracted by him, and while his back was turned, Samoa Joe locked Swerve in a sleeper.
“Joe just used Strickland as an example to Wardlow,” said Taz.
And it was made official for next week on Dynamite: Big Business—it’ll be AEW World Champion Samoa Joe placing his title on the line against Wardlow!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview FTW Champion HOOK!
Chris Jericho interrupted Renee.
Jericho: “You know Hook, the first match I worked as “Lionheart” Chris Jericho in this country was against your father. He suplexed me on my head. I’ve never forgotten that. But I’ve always felt like I had a little connection to Taz because of it, which made me feel like I have a little connection to you. But I never really respected you, Hook, until you dumped me on my head this past Sunday at Revolution. And when I was in the ring with you, I realized maybe you are the real deal. So, congrats on that.”
Jericho fist bumped Hook and smiled.
Next: A huge announcement from AEW EVPs The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson!
Nicholas: “Actually we have two huge announcements.”
Matthew: “How about we make those announcements in the ring tonight?”
FTW Championship Match!
HOOK (c.) vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage!
Cage cracked Hook with a thrust kick. Cage followed up with a suplex and then a running elbow to Hook in the corner. Cage sent Hook flying with a belly to belly suplex. Cage pulled a chair from beneath the ring and wedged it into the corner. Hook blasted Cage in the face with a fire extinguisher. Hook clocked Cage in the head with a trash can lid.
Hook jumped off the ring steps, but Cage caught Hook and powerslammed Hook on the arena floor. Cage charged at Hook, but Hook dodged him, sending Cage crashing through the barricade.
Back in the ring, Hook countered an F5 and spiked Cage with a DDT on a steel chair! Hook nailed Cage with a T-bone suplex! Hook smashed a trash can onto Cage and then suplexed Cage onto a steel guardrail for a near fall!
Brian Cage escaped the Red Rum. Cage smacked Hook with an F5 onto a chair. Brian Cage took a bag and emptied it, spilling thumbtacks onto the ring. Hook cracked a kendo stick across Cage’s back and then suplexed Cage into the thumbtacks!
Hook clubbed Cage. Hook applied the Red Rum, but Cage sat back into the thumbtacks! Hook wouldn’t let go, despite being in the thumb tacks, and put Brian Cage to sleep! Hook won via ref stoppage!
Out of nowhere, The Gates of Agony ambushed Hook! Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona stomped Hook!
Chris Jericho sprinted to the ring with his baseball bat, coming to the aid of Hook, and cleared the ring of the Gates of Agony!
It was announced that across the coming weeks, the AEW World Tag Team Championships will be decided in a tournament!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy, Trent, and Chuck Taylor!
Renee: “What’s next for you Orange?”
Orange: “Well, you know, it’s going to be the same thing I always do. And that’s to do what ever I can to fill up my backpack up with another championship.”
Renee: “Let’s talk about these new vacated AEW World championships. Trent and Chuck, are you guys going to be in the tournament?”
Chuck: “Renee, it is high time that the Best Friends win the big one, but unfortunately, the boys aren’t back in town. I’m not cleared, my ankle is still hurt. But I think these two should enter that dang tournament and win the whole dang thing. And guess what? Friday night on Rampage, you guys got your first match.”
Trent: “Boys, it’s time to win the big one.”
Killswitch (with the Patriarch) vs. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard!
TNT Champion Christian Cage joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Menard charged at Killswitch, not wasting anytime, throwing forearms at Killswitch. Menard ran into Killswitch, but Killswitch countered with a chokeslam! Killswitch clobbered Menard with a lariat to the back of the neck and then pinned him!
“Killswitch just made his father very, very proud,” said Christian Cage.
Killswitch continued his onslaught after the match, but Daniel Garcia ran to the ring to even up the odds! Garcia pummeled Killswitch in the corner! Nick Wayne jumped into the ring, but Garcia backed him off with strikes. Garcia turned around and was wiped out by a massive boot from Killswitch! Nick Wayne walloped Garcia with Wayne’s World!
“There’s nothing Nick Wayne can’t do under my guidance,” said Christian Cage.
Christian Cage and the Patriarchy celebrated on the ramp until “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland ran up from behind and attacked Killswitch with a steel chair! Copeland choked out Nick Wayne and then set his sights on Christian Cage, but Christian began to back away. Mother Wayne went to strike Copeland with a low blow, but Copeland blocked it! Copeland charged after Christian Cage, but Cage retreated! Adam Copeland chased Christian Cage through the arena and then backstage! Christian Cage jumped into someone’s SUV, highjacked it, and drove away!
Adam Copeland looked into the camera.
Copeland: “I know you’re going to see this. This has to end where it started. Toronto, March 20th, Dynamite, Copeland-Cage 3 for the TNT Championship in an I-Quit Match!”
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle: “I hate admitting this, but for awhile there, I didn’t think that I’d ever wrestle again. But to be here now, to be cleared, to feel the love from the fans, to get a second chance at the only thing I’ve ever been good at, to get a second chance to provide for my family, I’m just grateful.
“I’ve got nothing but love and respect for the Undisputed Kingdom, but you’ve got to understand that I feel like I’ve fallen so far down the mountain, I don’t know which path to take. Now that I’ve got a second chance, I’ve just got to do it on my own.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview AEW EVPs The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson!
The Bucks kicked Schiavone out of the ring. Nicholas said the Bucks were entering themselves into the tag tournament and getting the titles back.
Matthew said they had two huge announcements. The first item pertains to two of their dear friends. Matthew said “Hangman” Adam Page crossed the line at Revolution by putting his hands on two AEW officials, so he’d be suspended from the Elite without pay. Matthew also said Kenny was fired from the Elite. Matthew was about to make another announcement until the Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston walked down to the ring!
Kingston said he was warned that if he talked crap about the Bucks, he’d be fined, so he threw a wad of cash at Nicholas Jackson and said he might as well fine him now! Matthew told Eddie not to air their grievances on national television and put his arm around Kingston. Nicholas moved closer and grabbed Kingston, but Kingston knocked Nicholas down and then struck Matthew! As Kingston and Nicholas were tussling, Matthew connected with a low blow to Kingston and then Nicholas followed up with a thrust kick!
The Bucks were about to smash Kingston with the EVP Trigger when suddenly…
“The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada’s music began to play!
Okada came down to the ring as the arena became unglued! Okada got in the ring, and it appeared he was about to help Kingston. Instead, Okada grabbed Kingston and rocked him with the rainmaker clothesline!
Nicholas: “One announcement we forgot to make! The newest member of the Elite…” The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada!
“Omega is out, Okada is in! I can’t believe it!” said Tony Schiavone.
“Is Okada targeting the Continental Crown, gesturing at his waist and pointing to Kingston? Kazuchika Okada is All Elite, and the newest member of the Elite. What a shocking turn of events,” added Excalibur.
Kris Statlander (with Stokely Hathaway) vs. Riho!
Riho dropkicked Statlander. Riho followed up with a drop toehold, but Kris got up and shoulder blocked Riho. Kris put Riho in a bear hug. Statlander nailed Riho with a vertical suplex.
Statlander pressed Riho and then planted her hard on the mat! Riho connected with a dropkick and rallied back with a big hammering elbow in the corner. Riho rocked Kris with a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall.
Riho climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Kris dodged the double stomp. Kris clubbed Riho in the face with a clothesline. Kris followed up with two more forearms. Riho was playing possum, jumped off the top rope, but Statlander rolled through. Riho slipped behind and nailed Kris with a dragon suplex for a two-count!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Stokely Hathaway placed a chain in the ring for Kris, and then jumped onto the apron to distract the ref. Statlander picked up the chain, and it was clear she was torn, but then tossed the chain away. Riho charged at Statlander, but Statlander put on the brakes and suplexed Riho!
Statlander planted Riho with a German Suplex. Statlander picked up Riho, but Riho rolled through and pinned Statlander!
“What a win! What a comeback! Statlander is shocked, she should have used the chain,” said Taz.
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm, Mariah May, and Luther!
Storm said this Saturday on Collision she’d be presenting the first ever “Toni” award.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Stokely Hathaway and Willow Nightingale!
Renee asked Stokely what went wrong out there.
Stokely: “Kris Statlander wanted to do things here way. She is my favorite. I just wish she listened to those who love her the most.”
Renee: “I have good news I’ve just been informed. Next week on Dynamite: Big Business, you will be going one on one with Riho.”
Willow: “Stokely, I know what you were trying to do out there, but next week we have to do things my way. I know I can beat Riho, the former Women’s Champion. And Julia Hart, I’ve got my sights set on you and the TBS Championship. I am going to become the face of TBS, I just have to get through Riho first.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Darby Allin ahead of his match against “Switchblade” Jay White at Dynamite: Big Business!
Tony asked Darby what it would be like without Sting.
Darby: “I’m lacerated, I’m beat up, I’m tired. Next week at Big Business I’ve got a match against Jay White. And then on March 27th, I’m flying to go climb Mount Everest. There is no guarantee that I’m going to come back alive from Mount Everest. I just want to take this moment to thank every fan and AEW for giving me this dream. And if next week is my last match, I’m going to go out fighting for my life! And as for this AEW World Tag championship, everybody asks me why I don’t just find a new partner and keep defending it. Let’s get serious here, Tony. I can’t replace Sting. So next team that wins this, congratulations.”
“Darby Allin is relinquishing the AEW World Tag Team Championship,” said Excalibur.
The Bullet Club Gold came out onto the ramp!
“Switchblade” Jay White: “Whoa, I am sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt this little sob story but Darby, you’re just such an elusive guy, I didn’t know if I’d get the chance to talk to you face to face. Congrats on an amazing night at Revolution.
“You were willing to risk it all when you jumped off the top of the ladder. Our EVPs moved out of the way, and you went crashing through the glass all by yourself. Between you and me and Atlanta, I don’t really care that this is all people are talking about. There’s no one to watch after you now. But you don’t have to get in the ring with me. Trust me, nobody would think any less of you after what you’ve been through. Because Darby remember, if you do decide to get in the ring with me, there’s a lot worse things that can happen than a few scratches.
“So, I have a better idea. Instead of a match, why don’t you come back, and you can hang with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang. We have a nickname for you already: Darby Scissorhands.”
Darby: “Are you done? I’m going to get right to the point. You came to AEW and did what? I don’t believe the hype. If you think you’re as good as you say you are, you’d come out here alone. I’ll see you at Big Business on Dynamite next week!”
The House of Black were backstage with strong words for Mark Briscoe!
They said they’d fight fire with fire!
Brody King: “Just let us know if we need to dig one grave or three after Collision this Saturday.”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Mark Briscoe!
Briscoe: “Saturday night, let’s do it! Atlanta Street Fight, anything goes on Collision!”
Jay Lethal interrupted and said he had Mark’s back. And he’d bring Jeff Jarrett with him.
Main Event Time!
ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Fletcher and Ospreay hugged as the bell rang.
Fletcher hit Ospreay with a shoulder tackle. Ospreay took down Fletcher with a step up hurracanrana. Will chopped Fletcher in the chest. Fletcher reversed an Irish Whip and sent Ospreay into the turnbuckles. Will, with an injured back from Revolution, crumbled to the mat, writhing in pain.
Will rallied back and hit a tope on Fletcher. Will suplexed Fletcher for a near fall. Fletcher had the Os Cutter scouted and nailed Will with a suplex and then a brain buster! Fletcher and Ospreay exchanged chops in the center of the ring.
Fletcher tried to block the Os Cutter with a Styles Clash, but Will countered with a DDT! Fletcher ducked the Hidden Blade and countered with Snake Eyes into the middle turnbuckle! Ospreay staggered Fletcher with a heel kick and then blasted Fletcher with an Os Cutter on the apron!
Ospreay countered a tombstone piledriver with a poison rana to Fletcher! Ospreay climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Fletcher knocked Will down. Fletcher attempted an avalanche dragon suplex, but Will landed on his feet! Will power bombed Fletcher but Fletcher kicked out at the two-count! Ospreay decimated Fletcher with an avalanche poison rana! Ospreay caught Fletcher with a Spanish Fly and then an Os Cutter, but Kyle kicked out!
“How tough is Kyle Fletcher?” asked Excalibur.
“Double tough,” replied Don Callis.
Ospreay finished off Fletcher with the Hidden Blade and pinned Fletcher!
After the match, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson came down to the ring!
Danielson smiled at Fletcher and the two had a stare down.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: Big Business on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
Halo Season 2 Episode 6 Review & Recap “Aleria” by Big Gold Belt Media with @AroundTheGeek-Episode Synopsis:Episode 6 – “Onyx”John seeks revenge on a secret ONI planet. Perez trains to become a new kind of soldier….
In the aftermath of REVOLUTION 2024 and “The Icon” Sting’s amazing final match, All Elite Wrestling returns to the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA for TWO huge nights of professional wrestling starting on March 6th with DYNAMITE! With Sting going out undefeated, and as ½ of the AEW World Tag Team Champions, what does the future of those titles look like? During the REVOLUTION Media Scrum AEW GM Tony Khan mentioned holding a tournament to crown new champions, so what shape will that take? And knowing that we are now on the road to DYNASTY 2024 on April 21st in St. Louis, how will the AEW locker room step up for that pay-per-view extravaganza coming to the Chaifetz Arena Do not miss out on this Wednesday’s DYNAMITE as the future of AEW takes shape!
DYNAMITE begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of REVOLUTION 2024, DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more! Then join us this Thursday night right back at Gas South for a night of COLLISION!
SINGLES MATCH…
ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay
What a fight Will Ospreay had on Sunday night at REVOLUTION 2024! He and Konosuke Takeshita, despite both being Don Callis Family members, decimated one another in hopes of achieving victory, but ultimately the decision went to “The Aerial Assassin”. So taxing was the battle that during the post-PPV media scrum AEW GM Tony Khan noted that Ospreay might not be medically cleared to compete in this contest with Kyle Fletcher that was announced during the REVOLUTION broadcast. Thankfully for all parties involved, but primarily for the health of Ospreay, he was cleared to compete and this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, we will witness two friends collide in their first singles match since October 2020!
The in-ring relationship between Fletcher and Ospreay dates back to December 2018 and battles over the PROGRESS Tag Team Championships, including a near 45-minute Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match won by Aussie Open of Fletcher and Mark Davis. The two would also unite Melbourne City Wrestling in Australia to challenge for that company’s tag team championship, as well as go head-to-head over RevPro’s Undisputed British Heavyweight Title held by Ospreay. Their fights as foes, and their time as allies, led Ospreay to recruit Aussie Open to his United Empire group in NJPW, and that collective proved a most formidable force in New Japan, RevPro, OTT, and here in AEW where they took part in the inaugural tournament to crown the first AEW World Trios Champions.
Though it’s been many months since Fletcher and Ospreay occupied the same space, their friendship has endured, but now that they’re both under the AEW umbrella, and in the Callis Family, the sky is the limit on what they could accomplish together! But before that possibility becomes a reality, the current ROH World Television Champion and the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion are going to go one-on-one! For Ospreay this will mark his first match on DYNAMITE since 8/31/22, and his first singles bout on AEW’s flagship since 6/15/22, so he’s going to be coming in to make a statement to the fans watching around the world as well everyone in the AEW locker room. For Fletcher this also carries the potential for a statement victory, and as ROH World TV Champion (a title Ospreay himself held for 2 days in 2016) would be a huge bolster to his profile heading towards SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2024 in Philadelphia.
One question need be asked though; how many intrafamilial fights can The Don Callis Family withstand?
ONE-ON-ONE…
Former TBS Champion Kris Statlander vs. Former Women’s World Champion Riho
It’s been over four years since the last time Kris Statlander and Riho met inside the AEW ring for a one-on-one match, long before the creation of the TBS Championship, and just three months into Riho’s reign as the first AEW Women’s World Champion. Unfortunately for Riho, it also turned out to be her final successful title defense as Nyla Rose would bring her reign crashing to an end one month later.
Stat and Riho would compete against one another in a Four Way in March 2020, and be partners in a pair of Trios match in 2021, but have not shared a ring since the 11/16/21 edition of DARK, but with Riho’s return to AEW competition last Friday night on RAMPAGE, and Kris’s tag team victory on the REVOLUTION 2024: ZERO HOUR, the two will meet once more this Wednesday night!
It’s clear from Stokely’s post-match comments that championships are the ultimate goal of Statlander and Willow Nightingale, and scoring a victory over the first-ever Women’s World Champion would be a huge boost for Statlander in that regards, just as a win over the former TBS Champ would be a boon to Riho’s return, after all she’s never challenged for the championship currently around the waist of Julia Hart. As for Stat, she hasn’t yet received a rematch for the TBS Championship she wasn’t actually beaten for, nor has she challenged for the AEW Women’s World Title since ALL OUT 2021 during Dr. Britt Baker’s reign, so this is going to be a hotly contested battle between two women looking to become contenders!
THE FUTURE OF THE TAG TEAM TITLES?
Though it was quite the unforgettable, emotional, historic night this past Sunday at REVOLUTION 2024 as All Elite Wrestling honored the iconic career of Sting, one thing that cannot go unmentioned is the fact that he and Darby Allin ended the night still the reigning AEW World Tag Team Champions. It was a milestone for Sting to retire undefeated in AEW, and an even greater accomplishment to do so with the championship around his waist, but with his retirement from competition, and Darby with no plans to continue on as tag team without Sting, the AEW World Tag Team Championship was declared vacant by AEW GM Tony Khan during the post-PPV Media Scrum. In addition, Tony Khan also made mention of a tournament being held to crown new champions, something akin to AEW’s own March Madness brackets, and that’s already led to several AEW tag teams throwing their names into the hats.
So what will this tournament look like? How will the future of the AEW World Tag Team Championship titles take shape? Only time will tell, but it is a question on the lips of teams around the world who love nothing more than to be the ones to claim the vacant crown as their own! Also, given their defeat in Sunday night’s World Tag Team Championship match, one can’t help but wonder if the above post from The Young Bucks has anything to do with this situation…
FTW CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
HOOK(c) vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage
It’s been building for weeks now, reaching a fever pitch during the All-Star 8-Man Scramble Sunday night, and finally on Wednesday night, “The Machine” Brian Cage will clash with FTW Champion HOOK with the title on the line! Given the history of the two men under the Team Taz banner, not to mention the sheer fact that HOOK’s father was the one who not only brought Cage to AEW but also bequeathed him the FTW Championship in the first place, this is going to be a heated affair.
In addition to the REVOLUTION 2024 Scramble, these two competitors have been on opposing sides of a pair of multi-man matches in 2024 with Brian Cage’s side winning both bouts, but this will mark their first-ever singles match. Between his two reigns with the title, HOOK has been FTW Champion for 549 out of the last 588 days, with his first reign comprising 357 of those days, leaving him twenty days shy of surpassing Cage’s tenure as champion, and twenty-one shy of Ricky Starks’ record of 378.
Can HOOK make it past “The Machine” this Wednesday on DYNAMITE and continue the long trek towards breaking the records set by his former Team Taz allies? Or will Brian Cage, with the support of Prince Nana and The Mogul Embassy, begin a second reign of domination as FTW Champion?
IS THE UNDISPUTED AGE UPON US?
Coming out of REVOLUTION 2024 there is one thing for certain, The Undisputed Kingdom is on top of the world! Not only did Roderick Strong dethrone 2-Time AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy to claim that title as his own, but Wardlow also dominated in the All-Star 8-Man Scramble match to earn a future AEW World Championship match with Samoa Joe. Between Strong and Taven/Bennett, The UK already has two championships in their camp, with the potential for a third down the line, and thus are clearly riding high based on the words shared in the video above. Yet an unknown variable was inserted into the mix this past Sunday night when Kyle O’Reilly made his long-awaited return to All Elite Wrestling following Strong’s victory over OC! For a moment it seemed like Kyle would fight his friends, then like he would join their ranks, but ultimately Kyle simply whispered something into Roderick’s ear before walking away from the ring with eyes full of emotion.
While The Undisputed Kingdom has much to celebrate, there are many questions to be asked, such as what does their future hold as it pertains to Kyle O’Reilly and how long will Wardlow have to wait for his shot at AEW World Champion Samoa Joe? Tune in this Wednesday night to DYNAMITE to see how it all unfolds for O’Reilly, Adam Cole, new AEW International Champion Roderick Strong, ROH World Tag Champions Taven & Bennett, and new #1 Contender Wardlow!
DYNAMITE comes your way at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, with ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher taking on Will Ospreay, former TBS Champion Kris Statlander battling the original Women’s World Champion Riho, and plenty more on tap! Make a point to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from REVOLUTION 2024, as well as last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more! Then join us this Thursday night right back at Gas South for a night of COLLISION!
