**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Excalibur were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
Taz joined the broadcast team at the start of the show.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
#1 ranked “Hangman” Adam Page vs. “Absolute” Ricky Starks (with Hook)!
This was the first-ever singles match between Page and Starks.
Starks tried for head scissors and then swung at Page; “Hangman” responded with a boot to Starks. Page plucked Starks out of midair (and an attempted leap frog) and slammed him. Page swung for the fences and dropped Starks with a clothesline and then a crossbody block over the top rope to the outside, folding up Starks like an accordion! Back in the ring, Page used a fallaway slam for a near fall on Ricky Starks.
Starks stepped out of the way and forced Page to collide with the bottom rope. Starks used a hard hammer throw into the turnbuckles, and then a forearm shiver across Page’s spine.
“These are the type of matches were you get to the next level,” noted Taz.
Page tried a belly to back suplex but Starks avoided disaster by landing on his feet. Starks attempted a springing clothesline but Page countered with a clothesline. Starks may have tweaked his ankle in the process. Page connected with a brainbuster for a two-count on Starks.
“That’s a dangerous maneuver,” said Jim Ross.
“Ricky Starks showing his tenacity by kicking out of it,” replied Excalibur.
Starks came out of nowhere with a sit-down Liger Bomb on Page.
“Ricky Starks will be a future champion here someday,” said Jim Ross.
Starks positioned himself on the top turnbuckle but Page met him up there and brought Starks crashing to the mat with an avalanche fallaway slam. He smashed Starks with another lariat.
“Ricky Starks cannot survive another shot like that,” said Excalibur.
Starks dodged the Buckshot Lariat and speared Page for a near fall! Starks attempted another Liger Bomb but Page used a standing switch and flipped Starks over. “Hangman” Page took advantage of Starks’ injured ankle and then submitted Starks!
After the match, Taz distracted Page while Hook used a chop block on “Hangman” Adam Page. Starks and Hook clubbed Page with forearms. “The Machine” Brian Cage came to the ring to join Team Taz but then The Dark Order sprinted down to come to the aid of their friend “Hangman” Adam Page!
The Elite were shown arriving outside; they entered their own private trailer.
Trent (with “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy) vs. Death Triangle’s Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Penta El Zero Miedo says: “Best Friends, you should have never reignited this feud with Death Triangle!
Penta El Zero Miedo was in control of Trent’s arm at the start of the match, but Trent grappled his opponent down with a headlock. Penta El Zero Miedo removed his glove and threw it at Trent. Penta El Zero Miedo chopped away at Trent’s chest. Trent ran into the ropes and then used high knees to take down Penta El Zero Miedo. Trent dropped his opponent with a stiff clothesline, and then used a tope con hilo to drive Penta El Zero Miedo to the arena floor! Jim Ross questioned Trent’s high risk offense, since Trent just returned from rehabbing an injury.
Trent attempted a spinning DDT but Penta El Zero Miedo moved and used a sling blade clothesline. Trent escaped a package piledriver and used an elbow shot with Penta El Zero Miedo—and he found his mark with a swinging DDT. Penta El Zero Miedo retaliated with a vicious destroyer!
Trent grabbed on with a half and half suplex and then blasted Penta El Zero Miedo with a running knee strike! Penta El Zero Miedo hit a thrust kick and then a backstabber on Trent, but Trent kicked out at the two-count.
“This is Trent’s biggest test since returning,” said Excalibur.
Penta El Zero Miedo planted Trent with a pump powerbomb-suplex combo. Penta El Zero Miedo tried a package piledriver on the apron but Trent escaped and used a piledriver of his own on Pent El Zero Miedo! Trent speared Penta El Zero Miedo on the outside!
Alex Abrahantes grabbed a microphone and distracted Trent. “Penta says your momma sucks,” said Alex. After more interference, Penta El Zero Miedo clocked Trent with a microphone and then used the package piledriver to pin Trent!
Next: A Special Jim Ross Sit Down Interview with The Pinnacle—MJF, Shawn Spears, Dax Harwood, Cash Wheeler, & Wardlow)!
Jim Ross said the world was buzzing about the upcoming BLOOD AND GUTS Match.
MJF said Tully was at home working on the playbook for the match, but he sent a new scarf. Wardlow unwrapped it and presented it to MJF. Wardlow mocked Chris Jericho’s comments from the previous week.
MJF ran down Chris Jericho, and said Jericho outsmarted everyone for thirty years until Jericho met MJF. “I’m not great for 25…I’m great period! I’m a top guy. We are the best faction! The Pinnacle. Not the Inner Circle. We are undefeated. If my memory serves me correctly, Chris, I already beat you. And that makes me better than you, and you know it. Don’t send out Mike Tyson, send out your family, and try to beat us. I’m not a mark for you, Chris, I’m a mark for your spot, and on May 5th at BLOOD AND GUTS, I’m going to take it!”
AEW Women’s World Title Match!
AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida vs. #1 ranked Tay Conti (with The Dark Order)!
Excalibur noted that there is a ton of mutual respect between the champion and the challenger alike.
“This is an amazing opportunity for Tay Conti,” said Jim Ross.
“We’ll find out what she’s made of here tonight,” replied Tony Schiavone.
Excalibur said Shida was the pandemic champion and was fighting to defend her title in front of a packed arena. Shida has 333 days as champion.
Shida and Tay bowed to one another before the match. They locked up and Tay Conti ducked a clean shot from Shida. Tay Conti replied with a stiff forearm, and then another to Shida. And then Shida got the upper hand in the slugfest with strikes and knees. Tay Conti blocked a judo throw from Shida and then flipped Shida to the mat with her own judo throw. Conti nailed Shida with two knees to the jaw! Tay Conti’s Brazilian Jiu jitsu was on display but Shida rolled to the outside. Shida swept out Tay’s legs and then used her trademark running knee on the challenger. Shida rocked Tay with a brainbuster on the outside!
Shida tried to submit Tay with a bow and arrow. Shida transitioned over with a camel clutch, and then she repeatedly smacked Tay’s head into the mat. Shida positioned Tay onto the turnbuckles and suplexed her. Tay blasted Shida with a thrust kick, and then grabbed Shida’s wrist and walloped her with judo throws and a running boot! Conti connected with a senton off the spine of the champion for a near fall!
“That may be the first time we ever saw Tay Conti go up to the top rope,” said Excalibur.
Shida rocked Conti with a knee strike and then a falcon arrow, but Tay Conti kicked out before the three count! They went up to the top rope and Shida got the better of Conti with “the Witch’s Shot”! Shida looked for the katana but Tay rolled through and then caught Shida with the Tay-KO! Shida kicked out! Shida countered the DD-Tay! Shida blocked a kick from Tay and dropped her in a backbreaker. Shida followed up with the katana for the pin!
“Great match,” said Tony Schiavone.
“The knee right between the eyes of Tay Conti allows Shida to retain the championship,” remarked Excalibur.
Dr. Britt Baker walked out onto the ramp at the end of the match, and it was revealed she is now the #1 ranked contender. Shida launched her kendo stick at her and Baker moved out of the way.
Miro was backstage and said it’s another week and there’s no Kip. Miro said nothing will keep him from his destiny. “You got a title, you got a problem. The real question is which champion do I beat first?”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle about BLOOD AND GUTS on May 5th, live on DYNAMITE!
Jericho said BLOOD AND GUTS is going to be one of the most violent, brutal matches ever! He said the trail of tears began last week when “Iron” Mike Tyson knocked out Cash Wheeler. Jake Hager said he had straws for all the members of The Pinnacle so they could suck up their food after the Inner Circle was finished with them. Santana said May 5th, they were going to see the size of Pinnacle’s heart…because they already saw the color of their blood. Jericho said he believes that MJF still thinks he’s singing show tunes on the Rosie O’Donnell Show. Jericho said it’s fun to make fun about The Pinnacle, but BLOOD AND GUTS will be a lesson in violence that no one will ever forget. Jericho said we’re crazier than you, MJF…and you know it!
Up next: QT Marshall (with The Factory—Aaron Solow, & Nick Comoroto) vs. Billy Gunn!
Billy Gunn punished QT with heavy right hands at the start of the match. He Irish whipped QT Marshall and sent him flying to the outside of the ring. Gunn pancaked QT spine-first on the ring apron.
“QT is getting tossed around here,” said Excalibur.
Nick Comoroto and Aaron Solow approached Billy Gunn, and then Nick rammed Billy into the ring post! Austin and Colten Gunn jumped the rail and brawled with The Factory on the outside of ring!
Back in the ring, QT connected with forearms and then a massive piledriver on Billy Gunn for a near fall!
“Whoa, I thought QT stole one there,” said Excalibur.
“QT thinks he’s a mob boss with The Factory,” noted Tony Schiavone.
Billy Gunn rallied back with big right hands! Billy countered the diamond cutter. As the referee was distracted by QT, Anthony Ogogo ran out and waffled Billy with the bolo punch. QT finished the match after a diamond cutter. Anthony Ogogo handed QT a chair, but before QT could use it on Billy, “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes ran out to the ring with a bull rope! Dustin hammered away at QT and then powerslammed him! Ogogo rolled up his sleeves and distracted Dustin while Nick Comoroto jumped into the ring. Dustin smashed the wooden folding chair over Nick Comoroto’s head, and Nick barely budged!
The Elite were shown in their private trailer with their private cameraman—Brandon Cutler.
Impact’s Don Callis said there’s never been an assembly of talent like this, and that Kenny Omega was about to be the Impact World Champ. Matt Jackson said there were responsible for All Elite Wrestling. Matt Jackson said Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston should come and find them.
A car horn started beeping outside the trailer, interrupting Kenny Omega. “What is out there?” asked Omega.
Moxley was behind the wheel of pick-up truck. Kingston was riding shotgun. They broadsided the Elite’s trailer. They got out of the truck and Mox smashed the trailer’s windows with a pipe. Kingston and Mox climbed into the trailer but The Elite were nowhere to be found.
“So much for The Elite. See ya,” said Tony Schiavone.
“You screw with Moxley, you’re asking for trouble,” added Jim Ross.
This was followed by Christian Cage vs. “Powerhouse” Hobbs!
Taz joined the commentary team again for this match. Taz noted that his team had been banned from ringside for what happened earlier tonight. Taz said next week “Hangman” Adam Page will have to face “The Machine” Brian Cage in the ring!
There was a collar and elbow tie up. Hobbs backed Christian Cage into the corner turnbuckle. They locked up again and Christian Cage was muscled to the floor of the ramp. Christian Cage got behind Hobbs but Hobbs powered out and then slammed Christian Cage to the mat. Christian Cage backed Hobbs back to the barricade with a diving dropkick. Hobbs launched Christian Cage over the barricade.
Christian Cage attempted for the Kill Switch back in the ring, but Hobbs muscled out of that! Hobbs whipped Christian Cage across the ring and then stepped on him with all of his weight. Hobbs went for a splash but Christian Cage was ready for him, lifting up his knees in defense. Christian Cage used a pendulum kick and then a diving uppercut for a near fall on Hobbs.
Hobbs used a spinebuster and then Christian Cage connected with a back elbow. Christian Cage powerbombed Hobbs from the corner and then smashed down with a frog splash! Hobbs kicked out and squashed Christian Cage with a hip attack splash. Christian Cage jumped on Hobbs’ back and was trying for a sleeper but Cage rammed Hobbs into the turnbuckle after a stampede. Christian Cage picked up the victory after the Kill Switch!
“That momentary lapse cost Hobbs the victory,” said Excalibur.
Ricky Starks ran down to check on Hobbs, and Christian Cage stared down Starks as Cage left the ring.
As a highlight package aired, Jade Cargill said every manager in AEW was looking to sign her talents. She said they better make her a hell of a deal.
“She’s money,” said Jim Ross.
It was time for our main event: a TNT Title Match!
TNT Champion Darby Allin (with Sting) vs. #3 ranked Jungle Boy (with Luchasaurus)!
“Darby is all in every time he steps into the ring,” said Jim Ross.
Jungle Boy backed Darby into the turnbuckles. Darby reversed positioning and walked to the center of the ring. Darby used a leg sleep and then Jungle Boy bridged out of it.
“Darby is looking to make this a technical affair,” observed Excalibur.
Jungle Boy hooked Darby with a crucifix but the champ escaped. Darby took down Jungle Boy with a fireman’s takeover. Jungle Boy quickly came back and was searching for the snare trap but Darby was having none of it. They went to the outside and began to brawl. Jungle Boy grabbed Darby and rammed him into the steel barricade, and then both toppled over it to the other side.
Jungle Boy turned Darby inside out with a belly to back suplex and then a tiger suplex for a near fall! Darby came over the top and blasted Jungle Boy with an amazing stunner! Darby sprinted and used his full body to splash Jungle Boy, but then Jungle Boy sent Darby on the back of his head with reverse scissors. He followed up with two tope suicidas.
“We could see a new TNT champ!” said Tony Schiavone.
Darby used a guillotine over the top rope out of desperation, making it a dirty fight, playing into his strengths. Darby sandwiched Jungle Boy with a Coffin Drop on the ring apron! Luchasaurus helped Jungle Boy back into the ring with a bit of a boost. Sting walked onto the ramp and had words for Luchasaurus. Sting and Luchasaurus began to brawl and fought through the tunnel. Jungle Boy decimated Darby with a brainbuster but Darby kicked out! Jungle Boy locked in the snare trap! Darby Allin was fading fast! Darby willed himself to the bottom rope, forcing the ref to break the hold. Jungle Boy punished Darby with the Romero Special. He locked in the snare trap again but Darby escaped again after yanking the hair of his opponent. Out of nowhere, Darby countered a sunset flip with the Last Supper and pinned Jungle Boy!
And still TNT Champion…Darby Allin!
Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page rushed the ring and assaulted Darby Allin with kicks and then the Ego’s Edge. “The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer came to the aid of Darby Allin but he was stopped with a low blow. Sting returned with a baseball bat and Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page retreated to the outside!
Be sure to catch AEW DYNAMITE next Wednesday live on TNT! Don’t forget AEW DARK: ELEVATION every Monday at 7/6c and AEW DARK every Tuesday at 7/6c on the official AEW YouTube channel!
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