**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Excalibur were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Taz joined the commentary team at the start of this match.
FTW Champ “The Machine” Brian Cage (with “Absolute” Ricky Starks) vs. #1 ranked “Hangman” Adam Page!
Team Taz jumped “Hangman” as he was making his entrance. Dark Order came out to even up the odds for Page! Brian Cage powerbombed “Hangman” Page on the ramp!
Cage chopped at Page and then hit a belly-to-belly suplex. He manhandled Page into the corner turnbuckles and then surprised him with another over the top suplex. Cage took Page to the outside of the ring and hurled him into the steel guardrail. Cage picked up Page and dropped him directly on the ring apron. Cage shot a half nelson for a near fall on “Hangman”.
Cage attempted a standing moonsault press but Page lifted his knees just in time to counter it. Cage wasted no time with a thrust kick to Page. He suplexed Page for another near fall. Cage charged at Page, but Page ducked it, sending Cage to the outside with his own momentum. Page crashed down with a spectacular moonsault onto Cage on the outside! Page tried for the Buckshot Lariat, but Cage had it scouted and countered with a powerbomb and then a buckle bomb! Cage connected with Drill Claw City and pinned “Hangman” Adam Page!
“You’ve gotta call this an upset,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Cage knocked off the #1 ranked Adam Page!” added Excalibur.
AEW World Tag Champs The Young Bucks and AAA Mega Champion, AEW & Impact World Champion Kenny Omega, along with The Good Brothers and Don Callis were in a limousine. Omega said despite Moxley and Kingston ramming a truck into their trailer last week, he is not afraid. “You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. Eddie Kingston, you want me? You’re gonna get one of our goons first—Michael Nakazawa!”
AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks—Matt & Nick Jackson (with Impact’s Don Callis) vs. Matt & Mike Sydal!
“The Sydal brothers have become one of the premier tag teams here in AEW,” said Excalibur.
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
“I’m the man who rebirthed The Elite,” said Callis.
Matt Jackson and Mike Sydal locked up. Matt hit a cross chop on Mike’s windpipe. Mike swept out Matt’s legs and used a standing moonsault press. Nick Jackson tagged in, and then Matt Sydal joined the fray with a tag. Matt stretched Nick Jackson and then the Sydal brothers used stereo dropkicks, displaying tremendous tandem offense. Mike Sydal ate a superkick from Matt Jackson, and then Matt clotheslined Matt Sydal. Matt Jackson strutted around the ring cockily.
Matt Sydal sprung into the ring and nailed Matt Jackson with a brainbuster for a near fall. Matt and Mike Sydal used stereo meteoras on Matt, but Nick Jackson made the save for his team!
“Matt Sydal is a shining star here tonight,” said Jim Ross.
Matt Sydal rocked Matt Jackson with a question mark kick. Matt Jackson was able to counter Matt Sydal by dropping him knee first on the top rope. Matt used a blatant low blow (ala Johnny Cage) on Mike Sydal. The Bucks finished off Mike Sydal with the BTE Trigger and scored the pin!
SCU’s Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels walked onto the ramp.
“Seems we’ve got the new Bucks. One thing has not changed is the promise I made last December. I said the next loss that CD and I suffered would be the end of SCU. But right now, we’re the biggest threat to your titles,” said Frankie.
“I look at the Bucks and I don’t see my friends anymore. Your attitudes suck. Now that we’re the number one contenders, we’re going to take your belts from you,” said Christopher Daniels.
A Jade Cargill video package aired:
“Managers want to sign me, but they want a percentage. It doesn’t work that way, I’m my own boss. If they want me, they’d better impress, because I’m…that…bitch,” she said.
Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes) vs. “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (with Trent? of Best Friends)!
Orange tried to place his hands in his pockets but Penta El Zero Miedo wouldn’t allow it. Orange Cassidy removed his sunglasses and tossed them outside the ring to Trent. Orange placed his hands in his pockets and used an arm drag on Penta El Zero Miedo!
Penta El Zero Miedo smashed Orange right across his knee with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Orange Cassidy rolled up Penta El Zero Miedo with a crucifix for a near fall. Penta El Zero Miedo intercepted Orange Cassidy’s tope suicida with one hand and then slammed him onto the apron!
“Has that ever been done before?” asked a stunned Tony Schiavone.
Back in the ring, Cassidy turned the tables with a diving crossbody. He attempted a DDT but Penta El Zero Miedo stopped Orange in his tracks and dropped him with a textbook brainbuster! Orange fired up but Penta El Zero Miedo countered the orange punch and then pancaked him with a package piledriver! Penta El Zero Miedo stomped on Orange Cassidy’s shoulders. They traded thrust kicks in the middle of the ring. Orange Cassidy pulped Penta El Zero Miedo with the Beach Break for a near fall!
Penta El Zero Miedo ran across the ring and smashed Orange Cassidy with a thrust kick. Orange Cassidy hit the Stun Dog Millionaire out of nowhere and then connected with a diving DDT! Orange used a spinning DDT but somehow Penta El Zero Miedo kicked out! Alex distracted Orange Cassidy, but Orange waffled Penta El Zero Miedo with Alex’s microphone while the referee wasn’t looking. Orange Cassidy picked up the victory!
Tony Schiavone interviewed Dr. Britt Baker backstage earlier in the day.
“I am at the top of the profound, respected, and logical wins, losses ranking. I think it’s time we remind our champion why I’m the face of the women’s division,” said Baker.
It was time for the parley ahead of BLOOD AND GUTS!
The Inner Circle & The Pinnacle Face to Face!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring ahead of both teams. The Pinnacle came out with personal security. The Inner Circle had their own security detail—bodyguards on Harleys.
“It’ll be two rings. It’ll start one on one. And then every two minutes, another man enters the ring, alternating, until all members are in. We’ll find out who gets the advantage tonight,” said Schiavone.
Shawn Spears said he had a warning for the Inner Circle. “Jericho is leading you into deep water.”
Sammy Guevara: “Spears, I don’t believe you. Ever since you came into AEW, you’ve been a failure. May 5th, you’re gonna fail again. I’m gonna fight everybody. You want the advantage, you’ve got it.”
Cash Wheeler told Santana and Ortiz that they better not bring their soft versions to BLOOD AND GUTS, because they’ll never make it out.
Dax Harwood said the Inner Circle was in his world now, and he’s not afraid to die.
Santana said in seven days, the Pinnacle will be locked up with the Inner Circle.
MJF: “As a gentleman, I’d like to thank Chris Jericho. Without you, there is no AEW. You were the top guy, the draw, the bridge for the lapsed fan. And all the while you managed to create the best group in pro wrestling, the Inner Circle. I’ll give that to you. However, Chris, I can’t imagine the pressure you must feel. ‘Cause let’s face it, man, every time you come out here, if you don’t hit a homerun, you’re taking food out of everyone’s mouth in this company. You look exhausted, Chris. You don’t have to worry anymore, Chris, because come next week at BLOOD AND GUTS, I’m going to take that heavy burden of a crown off your head. And the Pinnacle will take its place at the top of the mountain. When I look down at your mangled body after BLOOD AND GUTS, I will once again say ‘thank you.’”
Chris Jericho: “How do you think you can inherit a spot just because you want it? It doesn’t work that way. You want a spot? You’ve gotta earn it. At 25 years old, I headlined arenas in Japan and Mexico and that’s where I learned respect. If you want my spot, a good place to start earning it is at BLOOD AND GUTS. You want to talk about a family? The Inner Circle is a family, part of AEW since Day 1. You’re going to have to kill us to make us surrender. And when that doesn’t happen, we’re going to step on you like the pile of crap you are. If 1969 was the Summer of Love, 2021 will be the Summer of Pain for the Pinnacle. And next week at BLOOD AND GUTS, summer starts early for you!”
Up next: “Mad King” Eddie Kingston vs. Michael Nakazawa!
Kingston came to the ring and said he wasn’t having any part of this. Kingston called out Kenny Omega. Nakazawa bludgeoned Kingston from behind with a laptop!
Kingston dropped elbows onto the back of Nakazawa’s head. He followed up with an exploder and then a back fist! Kingston put Nakazawa’s ankle in between a chair and threatened to break it unless Omega got in the ring. Omega said Nakazawa knew what he signed up for. Kingston ordered Brandon Cutler to the ring instead, but Jon Moxley ran out. Mox applied a sleeper to the AEW World Champion and then Kingston placed Omega’s ankle in between the chair!
Kingston told Don Callis he’d break Omega’s ankle unless Callis agreed to a match between Omega and Nakazawa against Kingston and Moxley next week. Callis agreed!
Taz was backstage being interviewed by Tony Schiavone.
Christian Cage walked out to address Taz: “You talk a big game, Taz, but to back it up, you surround yourself with Team Taz. Just to feed your own ego. I represent everything you wish you could do. I will not allow you to leech off me. So go ahead and send Team Taz after me one by one, and they’ll learn a lesson. Hopefully before it’s too late they’ll realize they’d be better off without you.”
Kris Statlander (with “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy) vs. Penelope Ford (with “Superbad” Kip Sabian!
Statlander powerslammed Ford! She followed up with a military press, dropping Ford onto the canvas! Penelope Ford missed a knee dive when Kris rolled out of the way.
Kip distracted Kris. This allowed Penelope to boot Kris Statlander and then drop a diving knee! They traded forearms in a slugfest until Statlander used a back heel trip-lariat combo on Ford. Statlander smashed Ford with a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Penelope Ford came out of nowhere with a flipping neck breaker on Statlander, but Statlander kicked out. Statlander hit the Solar Eclipse for a two-count! Penelope Ford caught Statlander with a heel kick. Penelope went for a handspring elbow but Statlander countered with the Big Bang Theory and it was enough to finish off Ford!
Time for a Trios Tag Team Match!
The Nightmare Family—“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes, Billy Gunn and Lee Johnson vs. The Factory—QT Marshall, Aaron Solow, Nick Comoroto (with Anthony Ogogo)!
The Nightmare Family and The Factory brawled all over ringside to begin the match! Billy got kicked by QT from behind. Nick Comoroto tagged in and used a backbreaker on Billy. Nick squeezed Billy with a bear hug.
“Nick Comoroto is a powerhouse,” said Tony Schiavone.
Dustin Rhodes tagged in and delivered shot after shot to Nick Comoroto, but Nick answered with a running clothesline. QT and The Factory took turns working over Dustin with quick tags. Lee Johnson tagged in and hung Solow out to dry with a neck breaker. Johnson connected with a blue thunderbomb, but Nick Comoroto made the save for his team. QT Marshall ran in, but Johnson dumped him out of the ring. Anthony Ogogo pulverized Billy and Lee Johnson with punches. QT Marshall pinned Lee Johnson after Ogogo’s thunderous punch!
Austin and Colton Gunn ran in and sent QT Marshall retreating. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes surprised QT Marshall by exiting the Nightmare Express bus. QT and Cody battled on the roof of the bus! Cody applied the figure four on top of the bus and QT tapped!
“Cody Rhodes making his return to AEW and making QT pay!” said Excalibur.
Just announced: next week it’ll be Cody Rhodes vs QT Marshall!
And on May 12th on DYNAMITE…IWGP US CHAMPION Jon Moxley vs. Yuji Nagata!
Backstage, Miro ambushed Kip Sabian!
“Where have you been!?” asked Miro, as he slammed the door shut on Kip’s hand.
Our Main Event!
TNT Champion Darby Allin (with Sting) vs. 10 (accompanied by Dark Order)!
“Number 10 was hand-picked by ‘The Exalted One’ Mr. Brodie Lee,” said Excalibur.
10 backed Darby into the turnbuckles and allowed for a clean break. 10 knocked Darby hard to the mat with a shoulder tackle. Darby grabbed a headlock but 10 overpowered him with a backbreaker. Darby caught 10 with a right hand to the jaw! Darby escaped a powerbomb attempt and used a chop block on 10. Darby jumped off the top turnbuckle but 10 deflected Darby with a stiff shoulder.
10 stopped Darby in his tracks with a spinebuster! 10 dropped Darby with a single arm powerbomb!
“He is an exceptionally powerful athlete,” said Excalibur.
Darby came over the top with a stunner. Darby attempted the armbar, bending 10’s fingers back, until he was able to lock it on. 10 grabbed the ropes and forced the ref break. 10 rolled to the outside and Darby followed him. 10 hoisted Darby and rammed him into the steel barricade. 10 took a moment to stare down Sting.
Darby dropped a flipping dive onto 10. The Dark Order moved in, but Sting backed them off. While this was transpiring, Ethan Page jumped over the barricade and rammed Darby’s head into the steel post! The referee didn’t see any of this when it went down! 10 used a wheelbarrow until a German suplex for a near fall on Darby Allin! 10 tried to lock in his full nelson but Darby countered by ripping 10’s mask and then gouging 10’s eyes! 10 finally locked in the full nelson but Darby pushed off the turnbuckle and managed to pin 10!
“Darby was able to withstand that blindside attack by Ethan Page,” noted Excalibur.
“This was one hell of a match,” said Tony Schiavone.
“I don’t know how Darby does it, but he does,” said Jim Ross.
After the match, Scorpio Sky ambushed Sting, applying the heel hook. Ethan Page jumped back in and continued the assault on Darby Allin. Then Lance Archer and 10 ran off Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky!
Next week it’s BLOOD AND GUTS!
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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