CONTAINS SPOILERS
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
Your broadcast team was Excalibur, “Lionheart” Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone.
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
This…is…Rampage!
Best Friends— “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta (with Chuck Taylor)
vs.
The Dark Order—John Silver & Evil Uno!
Tony Schiavone sent out his condolences to the family of Jackie Crockett.
“God bless you, Jackie Crockett,” said Chris Jericho.
Evil Uno dropped Orange with a shoulder block. John Silver ran in from behind, but Orange hit Silver with a Manhattan drop. Orange and Trent hit Silver with a shoulder tackle. Trent took down Evil Uno with a drop toe hold. Orange climbed to the top rope, but Silver press slammed him. Trent hit Silver with a knee strike, but Evil Uno nailed Trent with a neck breaker.
Evil Uno stopped a DDT from Orange, but Orange wasted no time and followed up with the Stun Dog Millionaire! Evil Uno planted Orange with Something Evil for a near fall.
Orange kicked it into gear, kicking both members of Dark Order. Trent tagged in and dumped Evil Uno and John Silver with half and half suplexes! Trent tried for the Strong Zero, but Evil Uno booted Trent, and Silver countered the Strong Zero with a Canadian Destroyer!
Orange flew through the ropes and spiked Evil Uno with a DDT on the arena floor! Evil Uno used a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Orange in the ring. Dark Order used their combo offense on Trent. Orange pulped John Silver with the Orange Punch and then served one up to Evil Uno! Trent used the momentum from Orange’s punch on Silver to finish off Silver with the Strong Zero for the pin!
“That look on Orange Cassidy is a sign of exhaustion and that is not a good sign for Orange Cassidy and Trent heading into the AEW World Tag Team Championship Title Tournament,” said Excalibur.
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm (with Luther) & Mariah May
vs.
Kayla Sparks & Little Mean Kathleen!
“We’ve got a first. The first time that Toni Storm has agreed to tag with Mariah May,” said Tony Schiavone.
Toni and Mariah came out of the gates strong, going right after Little Mean Kathleen, looking to send a message to “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo. Kayla grabbed a tag but got dumped on her head by Toni with a German Suplex. Toni smashed Kayla with a hip attack. Mariah May followed up with a hip attack to Kayla! Toni Storm spiked LMK with the Storm Zero and then Mariah May grabbed the pin!
“What a great mentor Toni Storm is. She hit the hip attack and then let Mariah May make the pin,” noted Chris Jericho.
After the match, “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo walked onto the ramp and brought out her mystery tag partner…Thunder Rosa!
“The Virtuosa” and Thunder Rosa sprinted to the ring and Toni Storm and Mariah May made a very swift exit!
Purrazzo: “That’s what I thought, Toni. I guess we’ll see you two next week. Bye!”
“The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita (with Don Callis)
vs.
Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Komander avoided a big kick from Takeshita. Komander rolled up Takeshita, nailed him with a knee drop, and followed up with a lionsault! Komander tried to chop away at Takeshita, but Takeshita blasted Komander with a big boot to the face. Takeshita sent Komander soaring with an overhead release German suplex!
Takeshita was looking for a turnbuckle brain buster, but Komander reversed it with a stunner! Komander hit a moonsault off the top rope and onto Takeshita on the arena floor! Komander wiped out Takeshita with a springboard hurracanrana for a near fall on Takeshita!
Komander charged in at Takeshita, but Takeshita threw him to the mat. Takeshita countered a tornillo into a blue thunder bomb for a near fall on Komander! Komander reversed a power bomb attempt with a Destroyer for a two-count!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Komander attempted the rope walk shooting star press, but Takeshita raised his knees to counter it! Takeshita power bombed Komander and then clocked Komander with a knee strike! Takeshita walloped Komander with a spinning falcon arrow and then scored the pin on Komander!
“A return to form for ‘the Alpha,’” said Excalibur.
“Takeshita is the man, but I hate that he has Don Callis by his side,” replied Tony Schiavone.
A video package aired of “The Professor” Serena Deeb!
Main Event! Trios Match!
Undisputed Kingdom—ROH Tag Champs The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) & AEW International Champion Roderick Strong
vs.
Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti!
“Undisputed Kingdom are draped in gold tonight. A lot of history between the Undisputed Kingdom and Top Flight and it all comes to head tonight here in our main event,” said Excalibur.
Strong charged at Action and booted him in the head. Bennett tagged in and drove his boot into the throat of Andretti. Taven grabbed a tag and nailed Action with a dropkick. Dante entered the match and rolled up Taven for a one-count. Dante was looking for a DDT, but Taven shoved him off.
Darius tagged in and Dante used Darius as a springboard, knocking Bennett out of the ring and to the floor. Darius and Bennett traded chops in the center of the ring. Taven tripped Darius from the outside. Roderick came in and dropped Darius with an elbow strike.
Action rocked Roddy with a neck breaker back breaker combo, followed by a shooting star press. Action went for the pin on Roderick, but the Kingdom ran in to break it up. Action used a double back elbow on the Kingdom to take them off their feet. Action clocked Roderick with a roundhouse kick. Top Flight and Action Andretti took to the sky and hit the Undisputed Kingdom with tope suicidas!
The Undisputed Kingdom regained momentum, isolating Darius and working him over. Darius vaulted off the corner and cracked Roderick with a kick. Dante tagged in and baited in Bennett. Dante connected with a springboard crossbody on Bennett for a near fall.
Top Flight hit tandem offense on Bennett. Action splashed Bennett with a springboard 450 but Taven ran in to break up the pin attempt. Action jumped off the ropes, but Taven countered with a kick, knocking the wind out of Action. Taven and Bennett were looking for the spiked piledriver, but Action fought out of it. Taven jumped from the top turnbuckle, but Action retaliated with a trust kick.
Darius and Action were looking for a double suplex on Bennett, but Roderick ran in and nailed both with jumping knee strikes!
“That knee is so dangerous,” said Jericho.
Undisputed Kingdom spiked Action Andretti with their piledriver! Roderick Strong finished off Action with the End of Heartache and pinned 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 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!
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
...
Wednesday night was BIG BUSINESS indeed as “The CEO” Mercedes Mone made her debut for All Elite Wrestling, and immediately made her presence felt following Willow Nightingale's victory in the main event! It's clear that Mercedes has big plans in mind for AEW, and her history with Willow in NJPW STRONG may play a factor in that; however she goes, it's safe to say that business has picked up with her arrival on the AEW stage! Plus, we saw Samoa Joe retain his AEW World Championship against Wardlow, Lion HOOK defeat The Gates of Agony, The Elite score trios victory over Kingston & Death Triangle, and witnessed how Jay White's victory over Darby Allin led to the violent dissolution of The Bang Bang Scissor Gang!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vJV1teoOyV8?si=0qOa4TA0Fnv5y24v&start=291Beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT this Friday night, RAMPAGE goes down before the fans at TD Garden, and features a bout between two teams with the AEW World Tag Title Tournament on their minds, The Undisputed Kingdom in Trios Action, the AEW Women's World Champion and her protege in tag team action, and Komander battling Takeshita! Before the action begins, visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's other social media sites, to get caught up on highlights from Wednesday night's DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Be sure to join AEW this Saturday night in Ottawa, ON, Canada at the Canadian Tire Center for an all-new COLLISION featuring Kyle O'Reilly's return to in-ring competition!
TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT PREP...
Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Dark Order (Evil Uno & John Silver)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HX7QHNGGhno?si=ew8W0PM_AXrw8L0z&start=291The AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament is fast approaching, and it's been made abundantly clear by Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta that they aim to run the table in Chuck Taylor's absence! In fact, the former 2-Time AEW International Champion and his best friend have made it a point to hone their tag team efficiency over the past week, scoring a victory over Kip Sabian and Butcher on the last RAMPAGE, traveling to ROH for a tag team win over Cole Karter & Griff Garrison, and now they're back on RAMPAGE for another tag team contest!
Their opponents this week are a team that, rather surprisingly, are uniting for the very first time: Evil Uno and John Silver! Shockingly this is a Dark Order pairing that has never occurred before despite all their years standing together in The D.O., though they've been part of numerous trios and multi-man affairs. It is a similar situation to Trent and OC, this is only their third tag team outing, so essentially we've got two brand new teams trying to get prepared for the tag team tournament! Will this be a night for The Dark Order to rise up, or will the CHAOS Friends add another win to their growing resume?
TRIOS BATTLE...
The Undisputed Kingdom (AEW International Champion Roderick Strong & ROH World Tag Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
REVOLUTION 2024 was a landmark night for The Undisputed Kingdom with Roderick Strong defeating Orange Cassidy to become the new AEW International Champion and Wardlow winning the All-Star 8-Man Scramble to earn a shot at Samoa Joe's AEW World Championship. Unfortunately for Wardlow and The UK, BIG BUSINESS was not his night to ascend to the top of the mountain as Samoa Joe emerged victorious in their TD Garden clash. It's disappointing for The United Kingdom as a whole, of that there is no doubt, but at least on RAMPAGE they can try to reclaim a piece of the joy they felt on March 3rd.
This Friday night in Boston, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett will step into the ring for Trios competition and standing across from them will be Top Flight and Action Andretti! Now all three of these men have some history (Taven and Bennett fought Action and Darius in a Fight Without Honor during HONOR CLUB #12 last year, Roddy claimed Action aggravated his neck injury in their singles match last November), and after the incident between BC GOLD and The Acclaimed on Wednesday the Trios Division is certainly experiencing a shake-up, making this quite the intriguing fight!
SINGLES BOUT...
Komander vs. “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita
Takeshita is coming off one of the most unforgettable matches in AEW's history with his bout at REVOLUTION 2024 against Will Ospreay, and though it may have been a loss for “The Alpha”, it still marked him as belonging in the upper echelon of professional wrestlers. For any who may have doubted his skill, that fight showed the world Takeshita gives as good as he gets with those considered the best in the world, and it's only a matter of time before he claims a spot atop everyone's list! This Friday night on RAMPAGE, “The Alpha” has an opportunity to add another battle to his list of memorable match-ups when he faces someone whose skill set swings the opposite direction of Ospreay, the high-flying, gravity-defying, rope-walking Komander!
The two actually met once in singles competition back in January 2023 during PWG's BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES event, a bout won by Takeshita, and each was a participant in the 2023 Face of the Revolution Ladder Match won by Powerhouse Hobbs, so this is a chance for Komander to even the score with Takeshita for that BOLA loss, and score the biggest victory of his AEW tenure! This is sure to be a match showcasing the best of professional wrestling styles, so do not miss on in this clash between Komander and Takeshita on Friday night!!!
ALSO FEATURING:
-AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm & Mariah May in tag team action!
RAMPAGE comes your way this Friday night at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, and it's quite the loaded hour of action! The Undisputed Kingdom will be in Trios Action against Top Flight and Action Andretti as Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta face The Dark Order in tag team action! Plus AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm and Mariah May will also be in tag team competition as they prep for Deonna Purrazzo and her mystery partner, and Komander will take on The Don Callis Family's Takeshita! Prior to bell time, stop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's various social media platforms, to get caught up on highlights from DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS, plus previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then this Saturday night AEW kicks off a four stop swing through Canada at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Center for an all-new COLLISION featuring Kyle O'Reilly's return opposite “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vzDhzKnMgKM?si=VKN4be1ikSZWrphj ...
CONTAINS SPOILERS
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!
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
...
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!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ze9OkyhQsuM?si=v5fKD10frwJUhvwfThe 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)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/9GYxUuhNhcw?si=10AOPXDXEGZcN2xV&start=230Last 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
https://www.youtube.com/embed/xg2DmLSr7uU?si=NjzVTw_mXBjnOrxYNow 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$INESS event?
ONE-ON-ONE...
“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Darby Allin
https://www.youtube.com/embed/EqDOJRtLQCw?si=4xLfEkSvaQjJs5B-&start=326Before the dust had even settled in Greensboro, before the crew had even finished tearing down the REVOLUTION 2024 set, AEW GM Tony Khan had announced that Darby Allin would fight ROH World Six-Man Champion “Switchblade” Jay White at DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS! At the moment Darby was informed of this, during the Media Scrum following the pay-per-view, he certainly didn't look to be in any condition for a fight of this caliber, but anyone who's paid attention to the career of the former World Tag Team Champion knows that he won't let anything stop him from entering the fight, not even an impending trip to Mt. Everest on March 27th.
But will Darby Allin be in any condition to make that trip after this Wednesday night's fight with “Switchblade” Jay White? After the words exchanged last week between Darby and “King Switch”, this bout has heated up quite quickly, and is a huge part of AEW's return to TD Garden!
Given that Jay White is perpetually supported by The Gunns, Austin and Colten, the question has to be asked if they will get themselves involved in the bout? Or will the influence of The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass actually sway The Bang Bang Gang to fight on the up-and-up? As for Darby, what does his future look like in the post-Sting landscape of All Elite Wrestling? With so much of his last three years spent at Sting's side, how will the former 2-Time TNT Champion move forward in his career standing by himself? This Wednesday night, as part of BIG BU$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)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/s_qmxbdjnho?si=sjSuJ4snp-iOR7_-&start=326It'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!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/4nNZN0oqdmU?si=uIMNQAcLpifMo9oXDYNAMITE: 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!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/iweidRmLn4U?si=lYTRuKYeFau7Q-UI&start=326DYNAMITE 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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CONTAINS SPOILERS
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast from the Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA!
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson
vs. Shane Taylor (with Lee Moriarty of Shane Taylor Promotions)!
The fans chanted “Let’s go Bryan! Let’s go Bryan!”
Taylor threw Danielson halfway across the ring! Danielson grappled Taylor to the mat and connected with hammer and anvil blows until Taylor escaped. Taylor rocked Danielson with a shot to the jaw!
Taylor blistered Bryan’s chest with thunderous chops. Danielson returned fire with kicks to Taylor. Danielson got Taylor to the mat and stomped on Taylor’s leg. Danielson tied up Taylor’s leg in the ropes and nailed Taylor with a running dropkick. Taylor blocked a kick and countered with a massive knee lift to Danielson, sending Danielson spilling out of the ring.
Shane Taylor squashed Danielson with a guillotine leg drop on the apron! Taylor cracked Danielson with another chop to the chest. Danielson charged off the ropes and dropkicked Taylor’s knee. Taylor tried to splash Danielson in the corner, but Danielson dodged it. Danielson wrenched Taylor’s leg across the ring post. Danielson blasted Taylor with a dropkick off the top rope. Danielson clobbered Taylor with kicks to Taylor’s leg. Taylor dropped to his knees and Danielson clocked Taylor with a kick to the head. Danielson covered Taylor but Taylor kicked out at the one-count!
Danielson got a head of steam and charged at Taylor with a running up-kick. Taylor retaliated with a lariat for a near fall on Danielson. Taylor headbutted Danielson in the chest and then hit a big splash for a two-count on Danielson!
“Did you see the look on Shane Taylor’s face? He hit Danielson with everything,” said Schiavone.
Danielson dodged a cannonball from Taylor. Danielson blasted Taylor with the running knee strike and pinned Shane Taylor!
“Bryan Danielson is amazing. You have to admit it!” said Schiavone.
“I have to admit nothing. He got lucky,” replied Nigel.
Will Ospreay’s music hit and Ospreay walked down to the ring!
Ospreay: “I want to have a chat with Danielson. Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for the match we just saw. It’s so incredible watching you work, the number of years you’ve been doing this, and you’re still performing at the highest of levels.
“In the short time that I’ve been here, I’ve noticed a lot of things. The thing I notice when you walk up and down these hallways, people go, ‘Wow, that’s Bryan Danielson.’ You set the bar. You’ve set the standard here. On behalf of everyone, if you don’t mind, thank you for everything that you’ve done. But you interrupted me on my main event during Dynamite. So, I’ve got this warm feeling in my belly that maybe you have something you want to ask me.”
Danielson: “That’s about half right. I have something I want to ask you. And I have something I want to say to you. First, welcome to AEW! And secondly, I saw the match that you had with Takeshita at Revolution. Not only did you win, but that was one of the best damn matches that I’ve ever seen. But I also listened to you in the media scrum afterwards, where he said for years he’s been screaming that he’s the best wrestler in the world, and he came to prove it. Well, I want to give you the chance to prove it. What do you say? Bryan Danielson versus Will Ospreay at AEW Dynasty on Sunday, April 21st?”
Ospreay: “Yes, bruv!”
Trios Match!
The Elite— “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks—EVPs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
vs.
Jon Cruz, Liam Grey, & Adrian Alanis!
Okada wanted to start the match, so Nicholas Jackson tagged him in. Alanis struck Okada with forearms, but Okada returned fire with a beautiful dropkick! Liam tagged in and was rocked by the Rainmaker clothesline, and Okada pinned Liam in short order!
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston charged into the ring and tried to strike Okada with his title belt! The Elite had Kingston outnumbered and began to stomp him. Penta El Zero Miedo sprinted to the ring and wiped out the Bucks with sling blades! Okada ducked the sling blade from Penta and countered with a neck breaker across his knee!
“And now it’s three on two. Penta and Kingston are at the mercy of our EVPs and Okada,” said Schiavone.
“The Bastard” Pac made his return! Pac stormed to the ring, dropkicked Matthew and the rocked Nicholas with a pump kick! Pac and Okada had a stare down. They traded forearms. Pac used his quickness, staggering Okada with kicks and then a vicious German Suplex! The Bucks pulled Okada out of the ring to safety!
Pac: “I’ll make this very clear for you. The Bastard’s back! And I promise you I’m just looking for trouble. So, if it’s trouble you’re after, you’re barking up the correct tree, you understand me? Boys, you want some, I’ll give it to you!”
Kingston: “Hey, Big Business, Boston, Dynamite, next week, six man tag. I’ll see you there!”
Mariah May vs. Trish Adora!
Mariah took down Trish with a side headlock takeover. Trish rolled up Mariah for a near fall. Mariah blasted Trish with a shotgun dropkick! Mariah tried for the hip attack, but Trish avoided it. Trish wiped out May with a pump kick and then a senton splash for a near fall.
Mariah grabbed Trish by the hair and yanked her down to the mat. Trish suplexed Mariah from her knees for a near fall. Mariah May clocked Trish with a headbutt and then pinned her after the May Day!
“Mariah May continues her undefeated streak. Now 5-0,” said Tony Schiavone.
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm appeared on the ramp to present the first annual Toni Award!
Mariah May was the only nominee…and surprise, surprise, Mariah May was the winner!
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo ambushed Toni Storm from behind! Mariah May came to the aid of Toni Storm and spiked Deonna with a DDT on the ramp! Toni Storm presented Mariah with a shoe as a trophy.
The fans chanted “You deserve it! You deserve it!”
“Well, you know what they say, Toni, if the shoe fits,” said Nigel.
Nick Wayne (with the Patriarchy) vs. Adam Priest!
Nick Wayne hit a shoulder tackle and then a hurracanrana on Priest. Adam Priest rallied back with a European Uppercut. Nick Wayne dumped Priest onto the arena floor. Back in the ring, Nick Wayne nailed Priest with a fisherman’s suplex. Nick Wayne planted Priest with Wayne’s World and pinned Priest!
TNT Champion Christian Cage grabbed a sign from a masked fan at ringside and tore it up. The fan pulled Christian Cage over the barricade!
“Is this a luchador? Is this somebody from CMLL?” asked Schiavone.
The luchador took off his mask and revealed himself. It was the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland! Copeland had the TNT belt in the ring. Copeland brought a case in the ring, too. Copeland opened the box, but Christian Cage back peddled.
“What’s in the box? Whatever is in the box has put the TNT Champion in reverse!” said Schiavone.
Copeland: “Get your stupid little mouth ready to say two words! Toronto, Dynamite, TNT Championship, Cope-Cage 3!”
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. CMLL’s Titan!
Jericho and Titan exchanged chops in the center of the ring. Titan clocked Jericho with a matrix type kick. Titan followed up with a double springboard into a hurracanrana. Titan wiped out Jericho with a tope suicida.
They jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle, but Jericho grabbed Titan by the mask and planted him on the mat headfirst! Titan rallied back with a PK kick and then dived over the top rope, landing on “Lionheart” on the arena floor!
Titan jumped back into the ring with a double foot stomp on Jericho. Jericho turned things around with a butterfly into a backbreaker for a near fall. Titan dodged the lionsault and then stunned Jericho with a spinning DDT for a two-count on Jericho.
Titan climbed to the top turnbuckle and rocked Jericho with a double foot stomp to the sternum for a near fall on Jericho! Jericho escaped Titan’s signature submission hold. Titan ducked the Judas Effect and stunned Jericho with a matrix kick. Titan nailed Jericho with a Death Valley Bomb for a two-count.
Titan attempted a springboard hurracanrana, but Jericho caught him and countered with the Lion Tamer, forcing Titan to tap out!
After the match, the Gates of Agony—Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona—ambushed Chris Jericho!
FTW Champion Hook came down to the ring with a kendo stick and walloped the Gates of Agony with the kendo stick!
“Hook and Jericho standing together. Jericho was being decimated by the Gates of Agony until Hook helped him out,” said Schiavone.
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview FTR—Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler!
Cash: “I think it’s safe to say Sunday did not go according to plan for FTR. And that’s life. It happens. Life can knock you down and kick you while you’re there. But all we can do it get up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward. 2024 marks 10 years of FTR.
“So, with that being said, what is next for FTR? We just so happened to have an AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament around the corner. And if you didn’t know, now you know we’re officially throwing our names into the ring. And in doing so I hope we run into Mox and Claudio, any form of BCC again, and when we do so, they’re a stepping stone for us becoming the first ever three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions!”
Dax: “Tony, Collision has been built on the back of tag team wrestling. It would be easy for me to tell you we’re the greatest tag team of all time. But there’s one thing I’m not. I’m not a liar. You saw the pay-per-view and I can’t confidently say that FTR has been firing on all cylinders. And in saying that I have a little bit of self-doubt. I don’t even know if FTR should be in this tournament for the World Tag Team Championships.
“But if you’ll have us, I promise you we’ll give you every ounce of energy until we roll over and can’t get back up. And until then, hopefully we’ll become your first ever three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions. Top guys, out!”
The Infantry—the Captain Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo—came down the ramp and entered the ring! The Infantry shook the hands of FTR and said, “May the best team win, because we’re coming for your spot!”
CMLL’s Mistico vs. Angelico (with Serpentico)!
Mistico ducked a lariat attempt from Angelico and countered with a springboard back elbow. Serpentico jumped on the ring apron to distract Mistico, and Angelico seized the opportunity to crack Mistico with a pump kick. Angelico followed up with a side suplex on Mistico, but Mistico kicked out at the one-count.
Mistico used the top rope as a springboard to dropkick Angelico. Mistico jumped over the top with a plancha into a hurracanrana onto Angelico on the floor! Mistico hit a tornillo on Angelico back in the ring for a near fall. Mistico splashed Angelico for a two-count.
Angelico and Mistico traded running lariats. After a flurry of offense, Mistico applied La Mistica and forced Angelico to tap out!
Atlanta Street Fight!
House of Black—Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews, & Brody King
vs.
Mark Briscoe, Jay Lethal, & Jeff Jarrett!
Jarrett carried plunder out to the ring, wielding a trash can at Buddy! Lethal lunged out with a tope suicida to Brody King! Mark Briscoe stomped a mudhole in Malakai!
Brody charged at Lethal, but Lethal countered with a drop toe hold, sending Brody crashing onto a steel chair. Mark Briscoe and Buddy Matthews brawled around the ring. Lethal used a chair as a launching pad but he launched into a big elbow strike from Brody King! Brody followed up with a running cross body, smashing Lethal through a table propped up on the barricade.
Brody shoved Mark Briscoe off the top turnbuckle and sent Mark soaring through the air! Mark landed on a pile of steel chairs on the arena floor! Brody power bombed Briscoe through a table. Buddy poured lighter fluid on a table. Malakai grabbed a lighter.
Sonjay Dutt hit Buddy from behind, but Buddy didn’t budge. Julia Hart walked out and handed Buddy a can of gasoline. Budy poured the gas on Sonjay. Karen Jarrett came out from the tunnel and hit Buddy with a low blow. Sonjay shoved Buddy of the ramp, sending him crashing through a table. Julia Hart blew mist into Karen’s eyes!
Brody and Lethal brawled on the apron. Jeff Jarrett smashed a guitar over Brody’s head, and Brody fell off the apron, crashing through the table on the floor. Malakai Black blasted Jeff Jarett with a roundhouse kick.
Malakai Black pulled out a spike and went to strike Mark, but Mark blocked it! Mark nailed Black with the Jay Driller! Mark had the spike, but Julia Hart grabbed Mark’s ankle. Mark Briscoe flipped over the top rope, using a steel chair as a catapult, but Malakai and Buddy caught Mark and power bombed him onto the apron. Julia Hart ignited the table and then Malakai and Buddy power bombed Mark Briscoe through the flaming table! They put Briscoe back into the ring and Malakai scored the pin!
“The house always wins,” said Nigel.
“But Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett proved to be good partners for Mark Briscoe,” replied Tony Schiavone.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: Big Business on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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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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