DYNAMITE was another great night in the history of our sport as “The Icon” Sting told the world that REVOLUTION 2024 would be his last night in professional wrestling, and though that landmark announcement may be the biggest wrestling news item coming out of Texas this week, we also say Juice Robinson win the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale. That means he and MJF will go one-on-one in Philadelphia with the Dynamite Diamond Ring at stake. We witnessed chaos unfold between Sting, Darby Allin, Christian Cage, Nick Wayne, and Luchasaurus and heard from Adam Copeland regarding his future with Christian Cage. Oh, and we had to suffer through Don Callis...
https://www.youtube.com/embed/tiONqBXsIq0?si=6Yi3AcC0EMhKIw-BThis Friday night RAMPAGE will feature a Three Way contest pitting Brother Zay, John Silver, and Kip Sabian against each other with a BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII International Championship opportunity at stake, plus The BCC is in action, Skye Blue clashes with The Outcasts' Ruby Soho, and it all kicks off with the historic clash between CMLL's Historic Middleweight Champion Mistico and Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky Romero!
The night gets underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so visit the official AEW YouTube channel before RAMPAGE begins to see highlights from this week's DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and a great deal more!
MEXICO'S POUND-FOR-POUND-CROWN...
CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky “Azucar” Romero
vs.
CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion Mistico
From the very beginning, All Elite Wrestling has prided itself on being a place that welcomes competitors from all around the wrestling landscape, and championships from all promotions. It began with the AAA World Tag Titles being the first championships ever defended in AEW at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2019, and has continued over the years with the AAA Mega Title, the NWA World Women's Title, the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship, the IMPACT Tag Titles, the IMPACT World Title, the IWGP Tag Team Titles, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, the AAA World Mixed Tag Titles, the Regina Di WAVE Title, the NJPW STRONG Women's Championship, the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship, the AAA Latin American Title, and the NJPW World TV Title. So many companies, and so many wrestlers, have been represented in All Elite Wrestling, and this Friday night on RAMPAGE, we are extremely proud to add a new entrant into that list: Consejo Mundial De Lucha Libre, or more generally referred to as CMLL.
As the video above so encapsulates, this bout pitting CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky “Azucar” Romero against CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion Mistico is quite the historic clash. While Mistico has held his championship since August 21, 2018, an astounding 1,887 days come Friday night, Romero has reigned since January 20th of this year, and is coming off a hard-fought defense last Saturday at The Arena in Philadelphia in which he added an additional championship to his trophy case.
Now these two men will collide in All Elite Wrestling for their very first singles match! Though they've been on opposite sides of numerous matches over the last year, never has it been in a one-on-one situation, and not with stakes as high as this Pound-For-Pound Crown! AEW is so fortunate to be able to host this contest, showcasing two of the best in the world, and present the amazing CMLL experience to the world!
AEW International Championship Contender Match...
Brother Zay vs. John Silver vs. Kip Sabian
***WINNER CHALLENGES AT BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII***
With BATTLE OF THE BELTS just twenty-four hours away, three men will collide in a first-fall match to see which one will meet the now 2-Time AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy in a title bout! For all of these men championship success has been difficult to come by, and even getting a title fight has been difficult for some: the last time Isiah Kassidy challenged for a singles championship was on February 4, 2022 when he fought Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship while for John Silver it was March 24, 2021 when he challenged Darby Allin for that TNT Championship. At least in the case of Kip Sabian he's had a title fight this year, challenging Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship at BATTLE OF THE BELTS V back in January.
Suffice it to say all three of these men are hungry for gold, hungry to prove themselves deserving of championship opportunities, and this Friday night on RAMPAGE, one of them will earn just that with a victory in this Three Way contest!
TAG TEAM WARM-UP...
Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) in action!
The Blackpool Combat Club of Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta will be in tag team action this Friday night on RAMPAGE, looking to get a warm-up in before their AEW World Tag Team Championship clash with Big Bill and Ricky Starks on COLLISION! This particular BCC pairing has won ten of their twelve bouts as a team, four consecutive heading into this Friday, and are looking to add a fifth straight victory as they prepare to bring gold back to The BCC at the expense of their enemies. Pray for whoever steps into the ring with these two killers come Friday night...
ONE-ON-ONE...
Skye Blue vs. Ruby Soho
Skye Blue is coming off a TBS Championship loss to Kris Statlander last Saturday night on COLLISION, and with that loss came a rather poor showing of sportsmanship from Skye. Rather than shake the hand of the champion following the bout, a gesture initiated by Statlander out of respect for the fight they'd just had, Skye bailed out with Willow Nightingale there basically asking Statlander to back down.
So while Willow Nightingale may now have a TBS Championship fight coming to her at BATTLE OF THE BELTS VIII on Saturday, on Friday night Skye Blue has to step into the ring with an old friend and current foe in one Ruby Soho. Now The Outcasts aren't exactly in the best state of mind after Saraya lost the AEW Women's World Championship to Hikaru Shida last week at TITLE TUESDAY, so combine that with the history between Skye and Soho, as well as Skye's current state of mind, and this is quite an intriguing match-up.
We know what tactics Soho and Saraya will stoop to in order to get their victories, but what will Skye Blue do in order to get hers? Her aggression has been cranked up to 11 since Julia Hart sprayed her with that black mist, will that be the key to Skye Blue finally getting her first victory over Ruby Soho after so many failed attempts?
RAMPAGE begins at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so swing by the official AEW YouTube channel before to the show for highlights from Wednesday's DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!
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**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!
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!
Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)
vs.
“Switchblade” Jay White (with Bullet Club Gold)!
“Massive reaction for Penta here tonight,” said Taz.
Jay White walked out wearing the championship he stole from rightful AEW World champion MJF.
Penta wiped out Bullet Club Gold, jumping over the top rope and crashing onto them as they made their entrance. Penta followed up with a sling blade to Jay White! Penta El Zero Miedo crushed White with a diving double foot stomp for a near fall.
Jay White spiked Penta El Zero Miedo with a DDT. Jay White hit a snap suplex on Penta El Zero Miedo. Penta connected with a thrust kick. Penta was looking for a monkey flip in the corner, but Jay White dodged it and then chopped Penta, sending Penta crashing to the arena floor.
Penta El Zero Miedo retaliated with two consecutive sling blades to Switchblade! Penta jumped over the top rope, landing on Jay White on the arena floor! Back in the ring, Penta and White exchanged chops. Penta planted Jay White with a spinning Death Valley Driver! Penta was looking for the package piledriver, but Jay White countered with a uranage.
Jay White drilled Penta El Zero Miedo with a brain buster for a two-count. Jay White nailed Penta with a sleeper suplex. Penta countered the Blade Runner with Made in Japan for a two-count! The Gunns distracted the ref while Juice clocked Penta with the left hand! Jay White smashed Penta with the Blade Runner and pinned him!
Jay White: “Cut my music! You know who sucks? It’s MJF. Because where is MJF? He’s not here. But you know who’s here? J-A-Y. Because I’m a real world champion. I’m a truly elite world champion. And Max, I’m still waiting on your answer to my very generous offer. I’m assuming you can’t find anyone who wants to team up with you to try to take back the Bang Bang Belt. Until then, I’ll lead by example.”
Juice Robinson: “Spoiler alert! Tonight, in your main event, the ‘stray bullet’ Juice Robinson is going to win the battle royal. After I win the right to face MJF for this Dynamite Diamond Ring, we’re taking his ring and we’re going to pawn it and I’m getting another gold tooth!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with the AEW World Champion MJF!
MJF: “I could have run out there like every single dumb good guy in the history of pro wrestling. But I’m not a good guy. I’m a scum bag. Jay White, I will get back my Triple B before Full Gear. Juice Robinson, I pray to God that you win tonight because next week it’ll be your left hand of God against the right hand of the devil!
“As far as an update on Adam Cole—”
AEW Trios Champs The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass interrupted the interview.
Max Caster: “If you want your world title back from Jay White, they said an 8-man tag, us three and you, we’ll get all the belts and we’ll scissor after we win.”
MJF: “How about no.”
Max Caster: “Then how about I get in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, win that, and then next week I’ll win your ring and you’re gonna have to put a ring on it!”
Daddy Ass: “That guy is such a scumbag.”
Max Caster: “Yeah, but he’s my scumbag.”
World Title Eliminator Match! “Student vs. Teacher”!
AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida
vs.
Emi Sakura!
Sakura ambushed Shida as Shida was entering the ring. Sakura collided into Shida with a shoulder tackle. They traded chops in the center of the ring. Sakura went for a running cross body, but Shida countered with a knee strike.
Sakura dropkicked Shida in the face while Shida was on her knees. Sakura splashed Shida in the corner with a running cross body press. Sakura sent Shida crashing to the floor after a running cross body as Shida was standing on the ring apron. Shida took down Sakura with a hurracanrana. Shida followed up with a missile dropkick for a near fall.
Emi planted Shida with a Tiger Driver for a two-count! Shida dodged a moonsault and blasted Emi with the katana! Sakura nailed Shida with a back breaker. Shida fired back with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Shida rocked Emi with a knee strike and pinned her!
Earlier in the day, the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland was backstage with Renee Paquette and gave his Rated- R Rebuttal to TNT Champion Christian Cage!
Adam Copeland: “Things have not been going smoothly. I don’t understand what’s happened. The whole idea in coming here was to end my career with Christian Cage and team with him. And he sounded on board with that until it got real.
“I sat down this week and began replaying my relationship with him over the years. We’ve known each other since the 6th grade. We were best friends in high school and in college. We both entered an essay contest to get into wrestling school. I wrote in and he didn’t. Fast forward and I got the dream gig and I always said, to whoever would listen, you’ve gotta see my friend.
“For whatever reason, over the years, it’s always been Adam and Jay. And it’s stuck with him, and I feel it’s frustrated him. He said I had a rocket strapped to my back, but I worked hard. I’m surprised that this keeps repeating at this stage in our lives. He’s riding high right now. He came here first, and I didn’t intend to take away his spotlight. I don’t want his TNT Title. I’m not going to fight him. What that means for me, I don’t know. One thing I do know is eventually Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus are going to leave him high and dry. And I’ll be there to pick him up.”
Wardlow vs. Ryan Nemeth!
Nick charged at Wardlow but Wardlow powerbombed him. The ref stopped the match after a single powerbomb!
Tony Schiavone entered the ring to interview Wardlow.
Schiavone: “Everyone knows your back, but what are you back for?”
Wardlow held up his fist and showed off his wrist tape, which had the letters “MJF” written on it.
Schiavone: “Whoa. That says MJF.”
Wardlow left the ring, bumping into Tony and knocking him to the mat.
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kenny Omega ahead of his match tonight against Kyle Fletcher.
Kenny said maybe soon we’d soon the Kenny of old and he’d go after the World Championship.
AEW World Champion MJF walked onto the set.
MJF: “Kenny Omega, the measuring stick. World Champion, MJF. I’ve always been a massive fan of Kenny Omega.”
Omega: “I appreciate it.”
MJF: “So I just wanted to say I’d love to shake your hand.”
MJF leaned in as he shook Omega’s hand and whispered, “13 days, bitch.”
Omega: “13 days, huh? We’ll see about that.”
Footage was shown from earlier in the day from Roderick Strong’s humble abode!
Mike Bennett was playing the bongos. Matt Taven was listening with his plush giraffe, and Roderick Strong was resting on the other couch. Adam Cole brought Roderick Strong coffee.
Strong took a sip and spit it out, saying Adam knew that he hates hot coffee! Strong apologized and asked Cole to make them PB&J sandwiches. Strong then complained that Adam Cole left the crust on the sandwich.
Cole: “I have done everything I can to possibly help you! I haven’t talked to Max in weeks practically. And I need to get surgery. I’m done with this!”
Adam Cole left. Roderick Strong turned to the Kingdom and said he knew what he was going to have to do to get his best friend back. “I guess I’m going to have to be nice to that scumbag MJF.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Don Callis!
Callis walked to the ring with Powerhouse Hobbs and Takeshita!
Don Callis: “I’ve got something to say. Last week the Don Callis Family made history. Because in over 30 years in one of the greatest careers of all time, Chris Jericho has never been manhandled like he was last week. Because last week Will Hobbs broke Chris Jericho in half.”
Powerhouse Hobbs: “February 22nd, 1998, was supposed to be the greatest day of my life. I had the chance to meet my hero, Chris Jericho. My grandmother got me front row tickets to meet you. And you walked past that old lady, told her to shut up, and looked at me and told me to sit down. 25 years, Chris, I held on to frustration. I swore the day I got to whoop you, I was going to hurt you over and over and over.
“As I looked at you, Chris, you were lifeless. So, what did I do. I picked you up and gave you spinebuster after spinebuster after spinebuster. I loved it!”
Don Callis: “All Will Hobbs’ life, he’s been told by people who supposedly love him to bottle up the hate and violence. Well now Will has a new family, and we don’t tell you to bottle it up. We tell you to be what you are. And he’s a killing machine! And we are not done with Jericho. We are going to unleash Will Hobbs on AEW! We are on a roll! We are undefeated in four months except for one match, where Sammy Guevara was hurt by Chris Jericho.
“And I had to get a replacement. I had to get a scab worker to come in, a young man named Kyle Fletcher. He let us down. He screwed the Don Callis Family.”
Kyle Fletcher came down to the ring!
Fletcher got into Callis’ face, but Hobbs squared up with Fletcher.
Callis: “No, no, I want to hear this. Say what you gotta say, kid.”
Fletcher: “As far as I can recall, I did that match for you as a favor after Will Ospreay called and said, ‘Don Callis is on his knees begging me to do this match.’ And maybe I was the weakest link that night, but tonight I have another chance against Kenny Omega one on one. And I’m going to prove to everyone, especially you, that I don’t need anybody’s help to beat Kenny Omega.”
Callis: “You know what? I like the confidence. I’ll tell you what, Kyle. You beat Kenny Omega tonight, and you and I may have an opportunity to discuss next week.”
Kenny Omega’s music began to play, and Omega made his entrance!
Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega!
Fletcher got the jump on Omega as Omega entered the ring. Kenny jabbed Fletcher with stiff shots. Omega chopped at Kyle Fletcher.
Fletcher grounded and pounded on Omega. Kenny fired back with a vertical suplex. Omega jumped over the top rope with a cross body press down onto Kyle Fletcher.
Fletcher rocked Omega with a kick, knocking Omega off the apron and onto the arena floor. Fletcher whipped Omega into the steel guardrail, sending him over the barricade. Omega nailed Fletcher with a hurracanrana. Omega was looking for the Terminator Dive, but Fletcher grabbed Omega’s ankle.
Both men traded chops outside the ring. Kenny charged at Kyle, but Kyle tripped him, and Omega crashed into the barricade. Omega wiped out Fletcher with a middle rope moonsault. Kenny clocked Kyle with a dropkick from the top rope to the lower back.
Kyle spiked Omega with a half and half suplex. Fletcher followed up with a brainbuster for a near fall. Fletcher lawn darted Omega into the turnbuckle pad. Fletcher kicked Omega in the back of the head. Omega spiked Fletcher with a reverse hurracanrana and followed up with a powerbomb and a V-Trigger for a two-count!
Kenny went for the One-Winged Angel. Fletcher countered with a dragon sleeper. Omega escaped and planted Kyle with a snap dragon suplex. Omega rammed into Fletcher with a knee strike and then pinned Kyle with the One Winged Angel!
Don Callis: “This kid is such a miserable disappointment!”
“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. Barrett Brown!
Archer choke slammed his opponent on the ring apron! Archer suplexed Brown. Archer smashed into his opponent three consecutive times in the corner. Archer planted Brown and pinned him!
Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland were on the streets!
Nana: “Some of the top rappers have been here. And now you get to release the remix of the Big Pressure video this Friday on YouTube. What an exciting time!”
Swerve: “Why am I not excited? Because I should be celebrating my music video along with being the TNT Champion. There’s only one reason I’m not. It’s because of you Hangman Page. It wasn’t a personal thing. It was Swerve versus the opportunity. But now it’s personal and you couldn’t leave well enough alone after I beat you at WrestleDream. Nobody cares less about life than me. Just remember this. It’s not always you that pays for your actions.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Sting!
Sting: “Shall I say the word? Before I say the word, I want to reflect a little bit with all of you. That word makes me think about all the years traveling down the road with guys like Lex Luger, Rick and Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell. I traveled up and down the road with these guys and we’d look at the generation ahead of us, guys like Dusty Rhodes. Dusty Rhodes being the most charismatic human being I’ve ever seen in my whole life.
“Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan transcended wrestling and I did learn something from the guy. But one of the guys I really want to give a lot to is the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. Thank you for all of the moments. I remember the Clash of the Champions 1988, the very first title match that I had with you, and you put me on the map. What a moment that was.
“We used to wonder though, what makes these guys want to come year after year, decade after decade, what more do they have to prove. Here I am all these years later. And I understand why they hung on. It is the roar of the fans. That’s what makes us keep coming back for more.
“So, getting back to that word. That word. It makes me, before I quite get there. I know what some of you are thinking. ‘He retired once already.’ I gotta tell you, that retirement in 2015 just didn’t sit right with me. Which brings me now to the word ‘retirement’ again.
“I want to address it live and in color on Dynamite. I started my very first match with AEW was Revolution 2021. And my very last match will be Revolution 2024. One more key thing that you all need to know. The only thing for sure about Sting is my retirement, Revolution 2024 is for sure.”
Jim Ross had a sitdown interview with Nick Wayne and Nick Wayne’s mom!
Jim Ross: “Nick, I can’t get over what you did to Darby Allin. He’s like a brother to you.”
Nick Wayne’s mom: “It was shocking to me J.R. I can’t make sense of it. Darby has been like a brother to you, Nick. This is just so out of character for you. And Christian? The things that he has said about your father, and to me! Nick, I don’t recognize you right now.”
Nick Wayne: “That’s enough! It was always about Darby Allin. I was always in his shadows. It was always him. They congratulated him for getting me here. It’s time for me to prove why I’m here. And I’m under a new father figure now. Christian Cage. A better father figure than dad ever was.”
TNT Champion Christian Cage walked onto the set and put his hand on Nick’s shoulder.
Christian Cage: “Are you ready to come home, son?”
Nick Wayne’s mom: “Nick, no!”
Nick Wayne: “Don’t touch me! You were a terrible mother!”
Nick Wayne got slapped by his mother!
She apologized and Nick said, “You’re dead to me.”
Nick and Christian left the room and Darby was there, laying them both out!
Darby hammered away at Nick, stumbling onto the stage! Luchasaurus snuck up behind Darby and cracked him with his forearm! Sting came out to even up the odds, sweeping out the leg of Christian Cage! Sting rammed Luchasaurus into the guardrail! Sting went to apply the Scorpion Deathlock on Christian in the ring, but Luchasaurus pulled Christian out of the ring to safety.
Main Event Time!
Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale!
The winner earns their shot to face AEW World Champion MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes was the first participant out to the ring. AEW World Champion MJF joined the broadcast booth for the main event.
Matt Hardy slugged it out with Jake Hager. Jeff Hardy tried to hoist Juice Robinson over the top. Johnny TV and Daniel Garcia were about to have a dance off, but Menard stopped Garcia. Jeff splashed Menard in the corner.
Hager hurled Matt Hardy over the top rope and eliminated him. MJF walked to ringside. MJF offered cash to Dustin and whispered in his ear, wanting him to eliminate Juice Robinson. Dustin kicked Juice between the legs!
Komander hit a springboard dropkick to Hager. Menard and Garcia caught Komander and eliminated him. Trent suplexed Garcia. Dustin smashed Garcia with a Canadian Destroyer. Trent rammed into Hager and knocked him to the arena floor.
Menard eliminated Trent. Jeff Hardy was thrown over the top by Garcia. Daniel Garcia inadvertently collided with Menard. Garcia eliminated Dustin Rhodes. Caster tossed Garcia out of the match. Max was trying to push Juice out of the ring. Caster kicked Juice. Caster charged at Juice, but Juice speared him between the ropes.
Juice and Caster jockeyed for position on the ring apron. Juice gouged Max Caster’s eyes. Caster pushed Juice off the top rope. Caster hit the Mic Drop! Jay White ambushed MJF at the broadcast booth. They began to brawl on the ramp!
MJF grounded and pounded Jay White and got his AEW World Championship back! Jay White connected with a low blow to the champ. Juice Robinson dug into his pocket and pulled out his ring. Juice slugged Caster with the Left Hand of God with the ring on it! Juice eliminated Caster and Jay White took the championship belt back from MJF!
“Juice did it!” said Taz.
“And it is official. One week from tonight at Dynamite it’ll be Juice Robinson against MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring!” added Excalibur.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:
For Mexico’s Pound-For-Pound Crown!
CMLL’s World Historic Middleweight Champion, the Luchador Legend Mistico
vs.
CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky Romero!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!
Don’t miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts VIII on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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After witnessed two championships change hands last Tuesday during DYNAMITE: TITLE TUESDAY, AEW's flagship returns to its regular time for our debut at the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX! With that debut comes the 2023 Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, the winner facing MJF for that Dynamite Diamond Ring, as well as a first-time encounter between Penta El Zero Miedo and Jay White, Kenny Omega answering Kyle Fletcher's challenge, Toni Storm's next blockbuster, “The Icon” Sting, and so much more!!!
This Wednesday night DYNAMITE is back in home time slot, beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans! Before the night begins, nake sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel to watch highlights from last week's DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
DYNAMITE DOZEN BATTLE ROYALE...
Including: Dustin Rhodes, Juice Robinson, and more!!!
The first three years of the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale the format was such that the last two men standing would move on to a singles match the following week to determine ownership of the Dynamite Diamond Ring. 2019 Battle Royale result put MJF opposite Hangman Page in their only singles match to date, ultimately leading to Max becoming the inaugural holder of the pricey accessory. 2020's winners would be MJF and Orange Cassidy, and that too would result in MJF retaining possession of the ring in their lone head-to-head clash. 2021's Battle Royale took place in front of MJF's hometown Long Island crowd, and resulted in he and Dante Martin meeting in their only one-on-one fight, as well as MJF once again keeping the ring on his finger.
2022 would be a different story though; with MJF having defeated Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship at FULL GEAR a few weeks prior, it was decided that the winner of the Battle Royale would face Max at WINTER IS COMING 2022 with both the ring and the title at stake. “Absolute” Ricky Starks would last eliminate Matt Hardy and Ethan Page to earn his shot, but unfortunately he would leave the match with MJF, their only singles meeting as well, with an empty finger and an empty waist. No ring, no championship, just MJF keeping the ring for the fourth straight year as well as making his first successful championship defense.
Now here we are nearly one year later with MJF still the AEW World Champion, and that ring still adorning his finger, although it hasn't been put to nefarious use nearly as much over the last few months as it has in the past. This Wednesday night in Rosenberg, TX, when AEW debuts at the Fort Bend Epicenter, someone will earn an opportunity to give the Dynamite Diamond Ring its first new home, and we know that both Juice Robinson and Dustin Rhodes have claimed their spot in the Battle Royale. For the latter it's about legacy, for the former its about taking something from MJF before he defends the AEW World Championship against “King Switch” Jay White at FULL GEAR 2023. But before anyone looks to the fight with Max, they've got to win the Battle Royal first, and that is never an easy feat!
SINGLES MATCH...
Penta El Zero Miedo vs. “Switchblade” Jay White
Speaking of Jay White, though he will likely have an eye on the outcome of the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, he will have his own hands full in Texas when he meets Penta El Zero Miedo in singles combat! This first-time meeting of these two men comes as a result of Jay White and BC GOLD interrupting Renee Paquette asking Penta for an update on his brother Rey Fenix after Rey lost the AEW International Championship to Orange Cassidy.
White and company had no skin in that game, no stake in the status of Fenix, OC, or Penta, but yet there they were en masse choosing to insert their voice into the conversation and mock The Lucha Brothers for their lack of championship belts. Of course Jay White persists in his claim that he earned the Triple B rightfully belonging to Maxwell Jacob Friedman, a claim that in his heart even Jay knows is false, but it doesn't stop him from running off at the mouth, and ending up in fights like the one he's about to enter on Wednesday night.
Unlike Jay, Penta El Zero Miedo has earned multiple championships in All Elite Wrestling, posting status as a former AEW World Tag Team Champion with his brother, as well as a former AEW World Trios Champion with Rey and “The Bastard” PAC, but this fight will obviously not be held with anyone standing in Penta's corner waiting for a tag. Nor will anyone be in White's corner for a tag, but there's a good chance the rest of the Bang Bang Gang will be there up to no good.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...
Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega
Kyle Fletcher is a brave man, possibly foolish, but absolutely brave, and on a mission to be, in his words, “...in the conversation of the best to ever do it”. Stepping into the ring with FTR twice, Bryan Danielson twice, Chris Jericho, and Kenny Omega in the span of the week between September 30th and October 7th is certainly one way to work the mission. Calling out the only former AEW World, Tag, and Trios Champion is absolutely another way to do it, and that's exactly what Fletcher did on COLLISION following his victory over The Iron Savage's Boulder when he challenged Kenny Omega to a fight!
The only way to become the best is to beat the best, and the only way to make that possible is to be in the ring with them in the first place, so kudos to the former ROH World Tag Champion for his gumption, but this Wednesday night Kyle has to put his proverbial money where his mouth is and actually fight “The Cleaner” one-on-one! Unlike their previous tag team encounter where Fletcher was a last minute substitute for the injured Sammy Guevara, both men have now had several days to prepare for this contest so we shall see if that opportunity shifts the outcome either way. Fletcher no doubt will spend those days with Don Callis in his ear pointing out Kenny's supposed flaws and weak spots, and possibly with Don, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Takeshita in his corner during the match as well.
After the beating Omega took from Hobbs two weeks ago, is he anywhere near 100% and ready for a fight? And after they were there at Omega's side during his recovery time last week, will The Young Bucks be at his side to balance the scales?
RATED R REBUTTAL...
JIM ROSS SITS DOWN WITH NICK AND HIS MOM...
When last we saw Nick Wayne he was on the receiving end of a spear from Adam Copeland to close out COLLISION, but that may feel like a walk in the park on a crisp Autumn day compared to what's in store for the young man this Wednesday night. For the first time since watching Nick betray Darby Wayne at WRESTLEDREAM, the AEW faithful will hear from Nick Wayne's mother Shayna when she and her son sit-down with Jim Ross on DYNAMITE!
Given everything that Darby has meant to Nick and his family over the years, and what that family has in turn met to the former 2-Time TNT Champion, one can only imagine the disappointment Shayna feels about her son choosing Christian Cage over Darby Allin, especially given the way Christian has talked about Nick's mother over the last several weeks!
STING RETURNS!
And speaking of that betrayal, another man victimized by Nick Wayne's betrayal was “The Icon” Sting and it was only the timely arrival of Adam Copeland at WRESTLEDREAM that saved him from suffering a worse fate at the hands of Wayne, Christian Cage, and Luchasaurus.
Now we have not heard from Sting since that night in Seattle, but this Wednesday in Texas “The Icon” will be back in the house to address the AEW faithful! What will Sting have to say about the events that unfolded at WRESTLEDREAM, about AEW's newest arrival Adam Copeland, and about what the future holds for him?
A TIMELESS BLOCKBUSTER!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5Ed8zotgp0?si=PDvG9MpA820BwhQSLast week the AEW faithful witnessed the premiere of Toni Storm's “Lover's Lament”, a silent feature in two acts, that wrapped up shortly after a title screen that read “Miss Storm you are needed on set” came across the screen. Coincidentally, or not, it was shortly thereafter that the former 2-Time AEW Women's Champion entered the scene during Shida's title fight with Saraya to chase off Ruby Soho.
This week on DYNAMITE, it appears we are all invited to the premiere of “Timeless” Toni Storm's next cinematic masterpiece! How can she possibly follow-up “Lover's Lament”? Tune in Wednesday night to TBS to witness the next blockbuster added to Storm's resume!
This Wednesday night, DYNAMITE returns to its regularly scheduled start of 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, and brings to the Fort Bend Epicenter the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, “Switchblade” versus Penta, Aussie Open versus Elite, “The Icon”, “Timeless” Toni, and so much more! Be sure to check out the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from last week's episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as the newest edition of THE CONTROL CENTER to get prepared for AEW's debut in Rosenberg, TX!
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**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH!
Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
The “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland came out to the ring to kick off the show!
Adam Copeland: “This week on Dynamite, Christian Cage had a whole lot of things to say. In his deluded mind, I think he actually believes them. I had to come out here and address what he had to say…”
Christian Cage’s music began to play!
The TNT Champion walked onto the ramp with Nick Wayne, Luchasaurus, and a team of AEW security!
Christian Cage: “You gotta lot of nerve and you really proved my point. You really think you’re that special, huh? You just walk out here on Collision, my show, by the way, take up this opening segment while I’m in the main event. That doesn’t sit right with me, so I brought my security detail out here because I’m sure you’re upset with what I said. But this security is for your protection, not mine.
“I’m just going to cut to the chase here. Why don’t you nicely step out of that ring, walk back up that ramp, and hit the bricks, because you see what’s going to happen if you stick around much longer here in AEW? It’s going to be like you’re from Toledo, Ohio, because it’s like you’ll be known for nothing.
“So, get to stepping or I’ll have my security team remove you. Just like I had the BCC escorted from the arena so there won’t be any funny business tonight with Bryan Danielson. I want a straight up fight with Bryan Danielson, and I know that’s not going to happen if you’re here and they’re here. I’m going to prove what I have known all along, as the TNT Champion, I am without a doubt the best wrestler in the world.”
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson walked down the ramp!
Danielson: “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You know, Christian Cage, I’m happy to hear that you want a fair fight because I’ve got some news for you. I’ve talked to Tony Khan and in the interest of having a fair fight, Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne have been banned from ringside.
“And now we’re going to find out between you and me, who is the better man and who deserves to be the TNT Champion!”
“Absolute” Ricky Starks and Big Bill—the AEW Tag Team Champions, walked down the ring next!
Ricky Starks: “No, no, no. I’m looking at a bunch of guys who are taking up my time, and Big Bill’s time. So, excuse me for breaking up this little bash here but I’ll be damned if I let it go any longer. And truthfully speaking, I have no respect for you Adam Copeland, I have no respect for you Bryan. But I have respect for you, Christian, the only AEW Champion who stands in this ring until, well, right now.”
Ricky Starks stepped into the ring.
Ricky Starks: “Bryan Danielson, don’t think I forgot about the things I had to do to deal with you and the BCC and all this other crap. The difference between you and me, Bryan, is I’m actually a real AEW champion. So, if you two don’t like what I said, how about you guys get with me and my friends and we can do the damn thing right now, if it’s a fight you’re looking for.”
FTR—Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood—walked to the ring next!
Cash Wheeler: “Seven days ago AEW medical gave us an option. They said we didn’t have to go out and defend the titles because we are banged up. But the show must go on, so we said we’d defend the titles. Obviously, that was the wrong choice. But that doesn’t make you, Ricky and Big Bill, the best tag team on the planet. That is reserved for FTR.
“So maybe we don’t get an immediate rematch. That’s fine. We will earn a rematch. But titles or not, you gotta now we’re coming for those necks.”
Dax Harwood: “Everybody is banged up. We all gotta work and we made a decision and last week, one night only, you were better than FTR. And I heard you and your friends wanted a fight. And Saturday night’s alright for a fight, Toledo.”
Danielson: “And speaking of that, Christian Cage, why don’t you and I do our match right now!”
Security charged at Danielson, Copeland, and FTR! Luchasaurus, Nick Wayne, and Christian Cage high tailed it out of the ring and Danielson, Copeland, and FTR cleaned house on the security!
Ring Of Honor World TV Championship Match!
Samoa Joe (c.) vs. Willie Mack!
Willie tried a shoulder block on Samoa Joe and Joe didn’t budge. Samoa Joe rammed into Willie Mack and knocked him off his feet! Samoa Joa jabbed at Willie Mack in the corner turnbuckles.
Willie Mack fired off the ropes with a leg lariat. He connected with a plancha on Samoa Joe!
Willie crushed Samoa Joe with a cannonball in the corner! Samoa Joe booted Willie and then splashed him with a running senton for a near fall.
Samoa Joe powerslammed Willie Mack for a two-count. Willie nailed Joe with a cutter in the center of the ring for a near fall. Willie climbed to the top for the 6-star frog splash, but Samoa Joe countered with a muscle buster! Samoa Joe covered Willie and pinned him!
Lexy Nair was backstage with “the hot and flexible” CJ Perry!
CJ Perry: “I would ask my future clients if they ever sat on the side and felt like someone else was getting the spotlight? If you feel that way, I know exactly how you feel. That’s the story of my life and I am here to help guide people in AEW. So, if you’re in the locker room and you want to become champion, come find the woman that helps make men.”
Action Andretti walked onto the set.
Action: “CJ, I’ve gotta say, I feel like I could really benefit from having someone like you guide and manage me. And I’m just one phone call away. And if you don’t know, now you know I’m Action Andretti.”
CJ: “Nice to meet you. Can’t wait to get a call.”
Juice Robison (with Bullet Club Gold)
vs.
“Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels!
Daniels took down Juice with an arm drag. CD applied the pressure on Juice.
Juice rocketed Daniels into the ropes, throat first. Juice charged at Daniels with a stiff elbow shot. Juice jabbed at the Fallen Angel. Juice followed up with a standing senton for a near fall. Christopher Daniels suplexed Juice and hit Juice with an STO.
Daniels smashed Juice with a high angle Death Valley Driver. Daniels tried for the Angels Wings, but Juice shoved Daniels into the turnbuckles. Juice crushed CD with a running cannonball. Juice planted Daniels and pinned him.
“The juice is loose. Juice Robinson now sets his sights on Wednesday night as part of the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale to see who will go on to face MJF for the Dynamite Diamond ring,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Jay White versus Penta El Zero Miedo as well,” added Kevin Kelly.
After the match, “Switchblade” Jay White placed a ring on Juice’s finger. The Gunns held up Christopher Daniels and Juice clocked Daniels with the lethal left hand!
Juice Robinson: “MJF, you think you’re the only man in the world who can knock a guy out with a ring on his fist? I’ve been knocking losers out like you for years with nothing on this hand. In fact, this ring right here, I got from TJ Maxx. It ain’t the ring when it comes to the Stray Bullet. It’s the left hand I got, and I don’t need anything on it. Wednesday after I win your little battle royal, I’m gonna take that ring from you Max and then we’re gonna take a trip to the local pawn shop. And we’re gonna pawn that and the Bang Bang Gang will go on a vacation.”
“Switchblade” Jay White: “Look Max, when you wonder why this is all happening to you, you have one boy to blame and that is MJF. You see, MJF, you brought this all on yourself when you jumped me from behind in your devil mask with your paid off gimp squad because we all know you have no friends.
“So now your world is falling apart, and it starts when Juice takes your precious little ring, and it culminates at Full Gear when your world crumbles for good when I am officially crowned the AEW World Heavyweight Champion! Guns up!”
A vignette aired for Dustin Rhodes!
Dustin Rhodes: “Well Houston, we have a problem! Because I am the storm. ‘The Natural’ Dustin Rhodes is coming back to Texas where he belongs. And Dustin Rhodes today, in 2023, is as good as he’s ever been. And this Wednesday, I am coming to win the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal. And then MJF, I’m coming for that diamond ring, but more importantly, a chance for a lifelong dream of mine—to become the AEW World Heavyweight Champion. My path to glory starts this Wednesday night on TBS where it all began and where legends live forever!”
Lexy Nair was backstage with Nick Wayne! Lexy informed him that this Wednesday he would have a sit down interview with Jim Ross and Nick Wayne’s mom!
Nick Wayne: “A sit down interview? With my mom? For what? The whole world wants to know what I did to Darby Allin and apparently my mom wants to know? Then I guess they can find out on Dynamite.”
Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher vs. Iron Savages’ Boulder!
Boulder shoved Fletcher to the mat. Fletcher applied a side headlock. Fletcher clubbed Boulder with forearms. Boulder press slammed Kyle Fletcher.
Fletcher rocked Boulder with a leg lariat, knocking Boulder to the arena floor. Fletcher flew over the top rope with a dive onto Boulder!
Kyle Fletcher powerbombed Boulder from the top rope. Fletcher locked on the dragon sleeper and made Boulder tap out!
“Interesting with the dragon sleeper,” said Tony Schiavone.
Renee Paquette was backstage with the AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass!
Billy Gunn: “We have been Trios Champs for 48 days!”
Max Caster: “I just hope MJF sees all the hard work we’ve been putting in.”
Billy Gunn: “We have to work on your relationship skills because they’re absolutely rotten.”
Anthony Bowens: “The Twitter stuff, it’s all a bit aggressive. We can make friends and we can help you make friends.”
Billy and Anthony coached Caster with a few pointers and told him to try them on Renee for practice. Caster asked Renee about the “Oral Sessions” and totally offended her.
Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia and Jake Hager crashed the interview.
Menard: “Real smooth, idiot.”
Parker: “MJF thinks you’re an absolute loser.”
Menard: “How about Memphis, you put those titles on the line. We’re getting a taste of the title.”
Caster: “We’ll see you in Memphis!”
TBS Championship Match!
Kris Statlander (c.) vs. Skye Blue!
Skye Blue’s demeanor has changed since Julia Hart blew mist in her eyes. Blue grabbed a handful of Kris’ hair. Skye Blue cracked Kris with a back elbow.
Skye Blue nailed Kris with a neck breaker across the ropes. Kris fired back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Blue planted Kris with a satellite DDT for a two-count.
Blue hit an avalanche powerbomb. Blue jumped off the top rope with a crossbody, but Statlander countered with a powerslam. Blue rocked Kris with thrust kicks. Statlander caught Blue with Saturday Night Fever and pinned Skye Blue!
Statlander tried to help up Skye Blue after the match. Skye Blue slapped away Kris’ hand. Willow Nightingale sprinted to the ring to try to talk some sense into Skye.
Kyle Fletcher was backstage!
Fletcher: “First off, I want to send some well wishes to Mark Davis. But saying that, Davis being out gives me an opportunity to prove that on my own two feet, I am one of the best professional wrestlers in this world. There is a man in this company that I consider to be the measuring stick. This Wednesday I am calling you out, Kenny Omega, and I will prove I am one of the best, with or without someone in my corner!”
“Limitless” Keith Lee vs. The Outrunners’ Turbo Floyd!
Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty of Shane Taylor Promotions had a vested interest, watching this match on a monitor backstage.
Keith Lee threw Floyd over his head! Lee pounced on Turbo Floyd! Keith Lee powerbombed Floyd and pinned him!
“The Redeemer” Miro was backstage with some thought provoking words…and actions!
Miro: “The last few weeks have been testing with my wife being around. But I know what’s going to happen now that she’s here. Because evil seduces you under bright lights. So now she’ll be surrounded by all the things she loves. Let this be a warning, I am willing to destroy every man to protect the one woman. This is the promise of the Redeemer!”
Miro threw Action Andretti to the ground!
Main Event Time!
TNT Championship Match!
Christian Cage (c.) vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
Jim Ross joined the broadcast booth to provide main event analysis.
Danielson worked over Cage in a bow and arrow submission move. Danielson whipped Christian Cage into the steel barricade. Danielson followed up with a running dropkick. Danielson threw Christian Cage back into the ring and worked on Christian Cage’s knee.
Christian Cage charged at Danielson, but Danielson back dropped Cage out of the ring. Danielson sprinted at Christian Cage, looking for a tope suicida, but Christian Cage countered with a massive uppercut!
“What a smart move by the TNT Champion,” said Jim Ross.
Danielson tried to suplex Christian off the ring apron, but Christian kicked Danielson and shoved him into the ring post. Chrisitan Cage planted Danielson with a hammerlock slam on the apron, right on Danielson’s surgically repaired arm!
They jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle. Danielson headbutted Cage, knocking him off the turnbuckles. Bryan rocked Cage with a diving headbutt. Christian Cage was busted wide open!
Danielson clobbered Christian Cage with toxic round kicks. Danielson jumped onto Christian with a tope suicida.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Christian Cage poked Danielson in the eye. Christian followed up with a frog splash for a near fall! Christian was looking for the Kill Switch, but Danielson countered with kicks to Cage’s sternum. Danielson missed a round kick and Christian planted him on his face! Christian Cage charged at Danielson, looking for the spear, but Danielson countered with a knee! Danielson blasted Christian with a stiff kick for a near fall!
Danielson captured Christian’s wrists and stomped on his head. Danielson ran towards Christian, ready to hit with his knee strike, but Christian Cage countered with a spear! Christian planted Bryan with the Kill Switch but somehow Bryan kicked out at two!
Christian ran at Danielson with another spear, but Danielson dodged it! Danielson hit the running knee on Christian Cage! Danielson covered Cage but Cage kicked out! Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock! Christian reached the ropes with his boots. Danielson pulled Christian back to the center of the ring and tried for the Le Bell Lock again, but his damaged arm wouldn’t allow him to complete the hold and lock it in.
Big Bill came to the ring and distracted the ref! Ricky Starks jumped into the ring and blasted Danielson in the head with his tag team title belt! Christian covered Danielson and pinned him!
“It took three guys to get it done,” said Jim Ross.
After the match, Luchasaurus, Nick Wayne, Big Bill, and Ricky Starks stomped and kicked Danielson! FTR rushed down to help even up the odds for Danielson! Adam Copeland hit the ring and hit anything that moved! Copeland was going toe to toe with Luchasaurus! FTR clobbered Big Bill, knocking him out of the ring! Big Bill pulled Starks out of the ring before FTR could inflict anymore punishment. Copeland booted Luchasaurus right in the face and out of the ring! Copeland speared Nick Wayne!
“You asked for it, kid, you got it,” said Tony Schiavone.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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All Elite Wrestling has made it abundantly clear that Saturday night's alright for fighting, and this Saturday on COLLISION will be no different! With AEW's debut at Toledo's Huntington Center, there are three championship fights on tap with the TBS, the TNT, and ROH World TV Championships at stake. The first contested between Kris Statlander and Skye Blue with the second between defending champion Christian Cage and challenger Bryan Danielson, the man who defeated Swerve Strickland on DYNAMITE: TITLE TUESDAY to earn the opportunity! As for the latter, as Samoa Joe nears a championship record currently held by Jay Lethal, he welcomes the challenge of Willie Mack! These two hard-hitting big men are looking forward to throwing down in Toledo, and we know Joe also has his eye on the prize currently around MJF's waist: the AEW World Championship!
COLLISION is back at its normal start time of 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT on TNT, so make a point to visit the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from this week's episodes of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest editions of CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH...
Christian Cage(c) vs. “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson
https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2A8-uKBmio?si=UBRAusKhonnFbIkV&start=513When last we saw Christian Cage he was trapped in Bryan Danielson's LaBell Lock, with best friend Adam Copeland looking on, as DYNAMITE:TITLE TUESDAY faded to black. The efforts of Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne to bring harm to Adam after he bested Cage's “Right Hand of Destruction” were ultimately for naught as a scene also involving Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, The Gates of Agony, Swerve Strickland, and Hangman Page played out until it was just Bryan, Copeland, and Christian left inside the squared circle.
Though there is clearly a level of respect between The BCC and Adam Copeland, the primary reason for Danielson's involvement in this entire scenario is the TNT Championship. Earlier in the night, in the opening match of DYNAMITE, Bryan Danielson survived the fight with Swerve Strickland, with a little help from Hangman to prevent Swerve's cheating, to earn this shot at the TNT Championship. Danielson, coming off victories over Swerve, Zack Sabre Jr. Ricky Starks, and Kyle Fletcher, not to mention defeating Kazuchika Okada with a broken arm, is operating on a level unlike any he has before. Perhaps it's the knowledge that this is his last full-time year in professional wrestling that is driving him to that next echelon, perhaps it's because he chose to share that information with the world that is really causing him to push himself harder than ever before.
Whatever the case may be, Christian Cage has to be prepared to deal with a version of Danielson unlike any with which he is familiar, and these two are rather familiar with one another. Though it's been since February 17, 2014 that they last went one-on-one, they shared the ring here in All Elite Wrestling as friends on October 2021, and before either called AEW home, they'd been on opposite sides of the ring as far back as May 12, 2006 at Ring of Honor's HOW WE ROLL event.
But just as this Danielson is unlike any version of the man Christian Cage has faced, so too is this TNT Champion version of Christian a far worse, far more vile, far more despicable man than “The American Dragon” has dealt with previously. Cage's list of crimes and insults has been well documented, the official AEW YouTube Page even has a playlist detailing his despicable act, and his (ab)use of Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne has only made it even clearer how low Christian Cage will stoop to claim he is the greatest wrestler in the world.
Given that Bryan is frequently labeled with that G.O.A.T tag, Cage might consider this a battle of the greatest to do it, but that would require the TNT Champion to actually recognize anyone else as being close to his level, and the AEW faithful know that Christian gives credit to no man or woman other than himself. So on Saturday night, when COLLISION comes to Toledo for the very first time, can Bryan Danielson defy the odds and Cage's willingness to cut any corners and finally capture his first championship in All Elite Wrestling? He was unable to do so at REVOLUTION 2023 when faced with MJF, unable to do so when he twice challenged Adam Page, and unable to do it when he fought Jon Moxley in the 2022 Grand Slam Tournament of Champions. With this being his first chance at claiming the TNT Championship, will it be the American Dragon's night, or will Christian Cage somehow find another way to escape seeming certain demise with the TNT Title still in his possession?
ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH...
Samoa Joe(c) vs. Willie Mack
Ten years ago; that was the one and only time Samoa Joe and Willie Mack ever shared a ring prior to this coming Saturday night, and on that November night in California's City of Commerce, it was Samoa Joe who emerged triumphant. By that point Joe had already been a multi-time World Champion, had helped establish Ring of Honor as the most influential wrestling promotion of the 21st Century, had traversed the globe, and become one of the most feared competitors in pro wrestling. Willie Mack, six or seven years into his career at that point, was really building steam in places like PWG, APW, CWFH, and had begun to branch out beyond the West Coast in tournaments like CZW's Best of the Best and AIW's JT Lightning Invitational, but California would generally remain his home base.
Fast forward a decade later and the two men find themselves inside the same circles once again, competing for Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling, with Joe the dominant champion once again. With 549 days spent as ROH World TV Champion, Joe is just 19 days away from surpassing his former protege Jay Lethal as the longest reigning TV Champion of all-time, a feat that would give Samoa Joe that designation with two different Ring of Honor championships. While Lethal's 36 successful defenses are likely a number that will remain forever out of reach, Joe has absolutely asserted himself with a dominance that no other Television Champion has before him.
Shane Taylor may be a close second in that regards, but the victory Samoa Joe has over him puts Joe on top of that comparison. So can Willie Mack be the one to step up to the throne and knock the King of Television off? Mack is a hard-hitting man just like the TV Champion, has no problem throwing down with fists and elbows, and it very well may be the biggest night of his wrestling career if Willie can actually be the one to end Joe's reign. It is clear that, in addition to his duties as ROH World TV Champion, Joe still has designs on the AEW World Championship held by MJF, but before he concerns himself with Max, Joe best keep his eye on Willie Mack this Saturday night lest he find himself leaving Toledo short a championship title.
TBS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH...
Kris Statlander(c) vs. Skye Blue
https://www.youtube.com/embed/qo-MnTn5GuY?si=88vvGx-DFY-80p3OAfter defeating Emi Sakura Friday night on RAMPAGE, Skye Blue will get what she's been chasing, a championship opportunity, this time in the form of a TBS Championship challenge against friend Kris Statlander! Though Skye has been a bit...off...since her encounter with The House of Black's Julia Hart got her misted, it did lead to that victory, and now she'll face Statlander for the very first time!
Despite their friendship, these two have never shared a ring with one another as friend or foe prior to Saturday night. Whether or not that is beneficial to either woman's goal of being champion remains to be seen; neither has first-hand knowledge of each other's capabilities making it a bit harder to prepare counters and counters-to-counters, leaving tape study as the best way to prepare for this bout, also the fact each has had barely 24 hours to game plan leaves both on something close to equal footing.
Will Statlander continue to push towards her goal of surpassing Jade Cargill as the most dominant TBS Champion in AEW history? Or will Skye Blue claim her first AEW title and begin to build her legacy?
THE RATED R SUPERSTAR HAS ARRIVED!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/PvXJ_H5VnCA?si=07F5Pb3CI2_YCiwbTuesday night on DYNAMITE fans witnessed Adam Copeland make his AEW in-ring debut with a victory of “The Right Hand of Destruction” Luchasaurus. While that moment was triumphant, Nick Wayne and TBS Champion Christian Cage did their best to make the remainder of the night a terrible one for “The Rated R Superstar”. Luckily Copeland had some support in the form of The Blackpool Combat Club, and even though the situation ended in chaos also involving Adam Page and The Mogul Embassy, ultimately Christian Cage ended up in Bryan Danielson's LaBell Lock while Adam stood on and witnessed it.
This Saturday on COLLISION Adam Copeland will be back in the house to address what went down on Tuesday, and perhaps lay out what his next steps will be! Copeland made it clear that he initially came to AEW to reunite with his best friend Christian, but with the events that have gone down since his debut at WRESTLEDREAM, is that still Copeland's goal?
ALSO FEATURING:
-AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks in the house!
-AAA Cruiserweight & AAA World Tag Champion Komander vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage!
COLLISION debuts in Toledo, OH at the Huntington Center this Saturday night and brings three titles fights to the dance! The ROH World TV Title is at stake between Samoa Joe and Willie Mack while Christian Cage puts his TNT Championship on the line against “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Skye Blue! The bouts begin at a our regular time of 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT on TNT, so make a point to visit the official AEW YouTube channel for highlights from this week's episodes of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, the latest editions of CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!
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**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, MO!
Your broadcast team was Excalibur, Paul Wight, and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, & Angelo Parker (with Jake Hager)
vs.
Brother Zay & The Hardys—Matt & Jeff!
Garcia grappled Brother Zay to the mat. Zay fired back with an arm drag and a dropkick. Matt Hardy tagged in and dropped an elbow on Garcia. Jeff tagged in and hit a diving splash on Garcia.
After Parker distracted Brother Zay, Garcia nailed Zay with a running forearm. Angelo Parker and Matt Menard whipped Garcia into Brother Zay in the turnbuckles. Brother Zay blasted Garcia with a cutter and then tagged out to Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy cleared the ring and hammered away on Parker. Matt Hardy followed up with a powerbomb on Parker for a near fall. Garcia was about to do his dance, but Matt Menard tagged himself in and scolded Garcia.
Jeff Hardy tagged in and clobbered Angelo Parker with clotheslines. Jeff followed up with a basement dropkick. Matt Menard ran in to break up Jeff’s pin attempt on Parker. Angelo Parker ran in, but Matt Hardy caught him with a Side Effect. Brother Zay splashed Parker with the Poetry in Motion. Jeff Hardy went up top for the swanton, but Jake Hager knocked Jeff off his balance. Inside the ring Daniel Garcia spiked Brother Zay with a DDT and pinned him!
Matt Menard stormed off and left the ring after seeing Garcia dancing again.
Footage was shown from Dynamite. Renee Paquette tried to interview Penta El Zero Miedo who was with Alex Abrahantes.
Renee was asking for an update on Rey Fenix’s condition when Penta was interrupted by Bullet Club Gold!
Ahead of their match this Wednesday on Dynamite, “Switchblade” Jay White said Penta had “zero fear and zero belts.”
Penta El Zero Miedo called Jay White a thief for stealing the AEW World Title.
After a commercial break, Renee Paquette interviewed Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, and Jake Hager!
Renee said she sensed some tension amongst them.
Matt Menard: “Great team victory here tonight but I can’t stand Garcia’s dancing.”
Parker told Menard to chill out because the dancing got it done tonight.
Hager: “Enough! We won, boys. Squash this.”
Menard: “You want me to squash this? Everybody needs to squash it!”
Matt Menard stormed off!
Jay Lethal (with Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh, Jeff & Karen Jarrett)
vs. Trent Beretta (with Chuck Taylor)!
Lethal got the jump on Trent. Lethal looked into the camera and told Eddie Kingston that he was going to be the next ROH World Champion.
Trent smashed Lethal with double knees. Lethal scoop slammed Trent. Lethal was looking for the figure four but Trent countered and grounded and pounded Lethal.
Trent took down Lethal with a hurracanrana and followed up with a thrust kick. Trent went for a running cross body press but Lethal ducked! Trent’s momentum sent him crashing into the ropes! Trent speared Lethal outside the ring. Jay Lethal ran the knee of Trent into the steel ring post.
Trent wiped out Lethal with a pescado, but Trent came up clutching his knee. Trent nailed Lethal with a German Suplex. Trent hit a second German Suplex. Lethal was looking for the Lethal Injection but Trent countered with the half-and-half for a near fall.
Lethal locked on the figure four in the center of the ring. Lethal clocked Trent with a thrust kick to Trent’s face. Trent countered a rolling elbow with a jumping knee strike to Lethal. Jay Lethal kicked the back of Trent’s knee, followed up with the Lethal Injection and pinned Trent!
Ortiz was backstage with harsh words for Mike Santana, saying Santana stood next to him for many years, but never stood with him.
Mike Santana walked onto the scene. “Where were you for the past 14 months after my surgery? Where were you?”
Ortiz: “Holding you up!”
Santana: “I’m going to end you!”
Skye Blue vs. Emi Sakura!
“Skye Blue seems a little dour,” said Paul Wight.
“I’m sure it has something to do with what Julia Hart did to her,” replied Tony Schiavone.
Skye Blue tried to cradle Emi, but Emi stomped on Blue. Emi dumped Skye Blue over the top rope. Emi charged at Skye Blue and crushed her against the steel ring steps.
Emi Sakura chopped away at Skye Blue. Sakura charged at Skye, but Skye got her boot up. She followed up with a DDT for a near fall. Sakura countered the Skye Fall by chomping on Skye’s hands. Sakura nailed Skye Blue with a back breaker.
Skye Blue nailed Emi with a thrust kick and pinned Emi after the Code Blue!
Main Event Time!
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta
vs.
The Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony—Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (with Prince Nana)!
Wheeler Yuta grappled Bishop to the mat with a deep hammer lock. Bishop Kaun fought out of it and shoved Yuta into the corner turnbuckles. Wheeler Yuta slapped him. Yuta scoop slammed Kaun and then squashed him with a senton.
Claudio tagged in and smashed Kaun with a double foot stomp. Yuta tagged back in, but Bishop Kaun shoved Yuta into a stiff elbow from Toa Liona. Bishop Kaun whipped Yuta back and forth into the barricade.
Claudio clobbered Toa Liona with European Uppercuts. Claudio tried for the Neutralizer, but Liona back dropped out of it. Claudio was looking for the Giant Swing, but Bishop Kaun had a blind tag and blindsided Claudio.
Claudio put Kaun in the Giant Swing and then Yuta dropkicked Kaun in the head! Prince Nana jumped into the ring and Claudio chased him out and to the back. Inside the ring, Yuta was isolated. Kaun smashed Yuta with a double underhook face buster, but Yuta kicked out at two!
Wheeler Yuta chopped away at the Gates of Agony. The Gates planted Yuta and Toa covered him, but Yuta kicked out! Claudio ran back to the ring and cleaned house on the Gates! Yuta climbed to the top turnbuckle and Claudio threw him with the Fast Ball Special, and Yuta pinned Bishop Kaun!
“What a showcase of Wheeler Yuta’s heart tonight! So impressed with that young man,” said Paul Wight.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT from the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH featuring:
-TBS Champion Kris Statlander putting her title at stake against Skye Blue!
-AAA World Cruiserweight Champ Komander vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage!
-We’ll hear from the new AEW World Tag Team Champs Ricky Starks & Big Bill!
-The “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland appears live!
-ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe defending against Willie Mack!
-TNT Champion Christian Cage putting his title on the line against “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
...
DYNAMITE: TITLE TUESDAY was a landmark night in AEW as the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland made his triumphant in-ring debut opposite Luchasaurus, leading to a wild situation involving the TNT Champion, his two “sons”, The BCC, and The Gates of Agony. Plus the AEW faithful witnessed the crowning of two new champions as Orange Cassidy reclaimed the AEW International Championship and Hikaru Shida did the same with the AEW Women's World Championship! That makes her the first 3-Timer and OC the first 2-Timer for their respective titles, but it also means there's fresh targets on their backs with all those gunning for the titles themselves.
This Friday RAMPAGE picks up the action where DYNAMITE left off, featuring a Trios bout pitting Garcia, Menard, and Parker against Brother Zay and The Hardys, Lethal versus Beretta as the former eyes the ROH World Championship, Skye Blue and Emi Sakura colliding, and The Blackpool Combat Club going head-up with The Gates of Agony!
The night gets underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so visit the official AEW YouTube channel before RAMPAGE begins to see highlights from this week's DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and a great deal more!
TRIOS ACTION...
Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia, & Matt Menard vs. Brother Zay & The Hardys (Jeff & Matt)
Last week, in an 8-Man Tag, it was The Best Friends and The Hardys who got a victory over the former J.A.S quartet of Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, Jake Hager, and Daniel Garcia, and suffice to say it caused a great deal of friction among the members of that little family who've chosen to stay together after they all walked away from Chris Jericho.
Thus when Daniel Garcia chose to check in on Jericho after Powerhouse Hobbs' utter domination of “The Ocho”, it did not sit well with Matt Menard, nor the others who chose to leave Jericho in their past. Garcia may have had a rational reason for checking on his former mentor's health, but given the bad taste left in the mouth of Menard, Parker, Anna Jay, and Hager, no excuse would have sufficed.
So this Friday night on RAMPAGE, when Garcia, Menard, and Parker go into Trios action against The Hardys and Brother Zay it will be quite interesting to see how the machine functions. The three of them have been quite successful as a trio in the past, winning 10 of their 15 fights to date, but they've never been quite so strained as they are right now. Everyone else seems to be looking to move on with their life while Garcia is feeling some sort of way about the situation; will that prevent the three men from working together to defeat The Hardy Party, or will they pull together like they did when they left Jericho behind and be a success?
ONE-ON-ONE...
Jay Lethal vs. Trent Beretta
It was very clear during the TITLE TUESDAY: BUY-IN that Jay Lethal and his motley crew have a vested interest in Eddie Kingston, specifically in his ROH World Championship. As a former 2-Time Champion whose combined reigns just squeeze him past Samoa Joe's lone run to make Lethal the man with the most time spent as ROH World Champion, he has designs on joining the Adam Cole club as a 3-Time Champion, and doing so at the expense of “The Mad King”. Now we know Eddie is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, and even put both his ROH World and NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship on the line in the same match. He did it against Shibata and won, he did it on Tuesday night against Minoru Suzuki and survived, so there's no doubt he'd give Lethal the chance as well if he were to ever step up and request the title shot.
But that's not the way Lethal, Jeff and Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, or Satnam Singh do business; it's far more likely they will attack the man behind his back, and run their mouths off when the numbers are heavily in their favor. It doesn't matter that Lethal has the skill inside the squared circle to make all their shenanigans unnecessary, it's just that the whole contingent would rather do everything they can to try and insure success for one another.
And that's what Trent Beretta has to look out for when he and Lethal go one-on-one this Friday night on RAMPAGE! There is little doubt Lethal will be accompanied by his entourage to this match, it just falls on Beretta to have eyes in the back, the sides, and the top of his head to try and stay wary of their actions. Trent fell victim to Lethal once before in November 2022, hopefully he can avoid the same fate on Friday night and put a little damper on Lethal's championship aspirations!
HEAD-TO-HEAD...
Skye Blue vs. Emi Sakura
Both of these woman are arguably at a crossroads in their AEW career as both have their championship aspirations, but both have been frustrated in actually achieving that goal. Emi Sakura was one of Kris Statlander's recent challengers for the TBS Championship, but failed to dethrone Stat in that endeavor, and it's been almost four years, FULL GEAR 2019 to be exact, since the last time Emi challenged for the Women's World Title.
As for Skye Blue, though one of the youngest competitors in the division, she has put in a tremendous amount of work since coming into AEW. From her first match on April 21, 2021 to now, Skye has competed in 100 matches, leaving only Nyla Rose, Hikaru Shida, Emi Sakura, and Dr. Britt Baker ahead of her. With that century mark has come one TBS Championship bout against Jade Cargill at BATTLE OF THE BELTS V, and a trio of AEW Women's World Title fights with Toni Storm. All of those championship opportunities have come in 2023, but none have borne any fruit for Skye.
So that leaves both women coming into this singles match on Friday night with a goal to get back on the right track, get back into title contention, and finally put a championship belt around their waist! The last time these two met in a singles bout was the October 4, 2021 edition of DARK: ELEVATION, a match won by Emi, but that doesn't mean they haven't fought plenty in tags and trios in the years since. Unfortunately for Skye, the balance of the scales tips heavily in the favor of Emi Sakura with 12 of the 18 encounters going in Sakura's favor.
Can Skye begin to tip those scales a little more in her favor this Friday night on TNT?
TAG TEAM CLASH...
Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
We saw it at the end of DYNAMITE: TITLE TUESDAY when chaos erupted in the aftermath of Adam Copeland's victory over Luchasaurus, and it all began with Nick Wayne attacking Copeland after the match. That brought Bryan Danielson, Christian Cage's opponent for COLLISION down to the ring, which in turn brought Yuta and Claudio, which begot Gates of Agony and Swerve, which brought out Hangman Page, and utter madness ensued. When the dust cleared, we were left with Christian Cage trapped in the LaBell Lock by Danielson as Adam Copeland looked on.
So while Cage and Danielson have their date on Saturday in Toledo, this Friday night on RAMPAGE it's his Blackpool Combat Club compatriots who have theirs with Gates of Agony! Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun are two of the most fearsome men in all of professional wrestling, a mix of savagery, speed, and power like few others competing in AEW. Their tools are part of the dynamic that have made this iteration of Prince Nana's Embassy the most feared that has every existed. Those two, combined with Brian Cage and Swerve Strickland, have made The Mogul Embassy a dominating force and on RAMPAGE The Gates of Agony will clash with one of AEW's other dominant units in The BCC.
Whose skill set will prove the better on Friday night? Tune into TNT beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT to watch the fights go down!
RAMPAGE gets started at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel prior to the show for highlights from Wednesday's DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!
...
**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE: Title Tuesday was broadcast live from the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, MO!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Tuesday night and you know what that means!
ROH World & NJPW Strong Openweight Title Match!
Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Minoru Suzuki!
Suzuki invited Kingston to chop him. Kingston took the straps down and he and Suzuki exchanged chops to the chest, blistering one another! Suzuki blasted Kingston with a forearm, knocking him to the mat and stunning him.
“Kingston on roller skates,” said Excalibur.
Kingston fired himself up and plastered Suzuki with a stiff chop. He followed up with rapid, machine gun style chops to Suzuki’s chest. Kingston backed Suzuki into the corner with more chops.
Backstage, Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Satnam Singh were watching on the monitor.
After a Northern Lights Bomb, Kingston grabbed the pin on Suzuki and retained the title!
AEW President & CEO Tony Khan made an appearance backstage and advised that Jon Moxley hasn’t been medically cleared for tonight’s match.
FTW Champion HOOK interrupted, along with Orange Cassidy, and HOOK insisted Orange Cassidy fill in for Mox. Tony Khan agreed and made the match official between Orange Cassidy and AEW International Champion Rey Fenix!
Buy-In concluded, and AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday kicked off with…
TNT Champion Christian Cage appearing from inside the production truck!
Christian Cage: “This is without a doubt the biggest AEW Dynamite ever, Title Tuesday. And how fitting is it that the first thing you see is Christian Cage. And there are serious implications for my title tonight, with Swerve Strickland and Bryan Danielson squaring off to determine who will face me this Saturday on Collision!
“In the main event, my right hand of destruction is going to end the run of Adam Copeland before it even gets started. But before that match, I may have to walk out and elaborate on those three words I left you hanging with last week.
“And as the face of TNT, the face of Warner Brothers Discovery, I’ve procured the first 30 minutes of Dynamite commercial free. You’re welcome. Now start this show!”
#1 Contenders Match for the TNT Championship!
The Mogul Embassy’s Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)
vs.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
There was a stalemate early on. Danielson tried for a knee bar, but Swerve escaped. Swerve slapped Danielson in the face and Danielson fired back with a slap to Swerve. After each man reversed cradles from the other, it was clear they were evenly matched.
The fans began to chant “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Danielson booted Swerve in the jaw. They traded strikes on the apron. Swerve nailed Danielson with a side slam on the corner of the ring! Danielson came up clutching his back.
Swerve powerslammed Danielson and then transitioned into a brainbuster for a near fall on the American Dragon. Swerve went for a 450 splash, but Danielson raised his knees. Danielson rocked Swerve with a jumping knee strike off the apron! Danielson dropkicked Swerve from the top turnbuckle.
Danielson clocked Swerve with repeated round kicks. Danielson charged off the ropes, but Swerve connected with a kick to the body. Swerve positioned Danielson on the corner of the ring, hanging him by the feet and legs. Swerve crashed down on Danielson with a double foot stomp!
Swerve went for another foot stomp inside the ring, but Danielson countered with a single leg crab. Danielson transitioned into a heel hook, but Swerve managed to grab the bottom rope. Danielson back suplexed Swerve from the top turnbuckle! Danielson was clutching his surgically repaired arm.
Danielson captured Swerve’s wrists and hammered the face of Swerve with kicks! Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock, but Swerve used his leg to get to the bottom rope and force the break. Danielson was setting up to charge at Swerve, running first into the turnbuckle to gather speed, but upon impact he collapsed, holding onto his midsection. Swerve capitalized with the House Call! Swerve jumped down with the Swerve Stomp on Danielson, but Danielson kicked out at two! Excalibur and Taz speculated that Danielson injured his liver.
Prince Nana distracted the ref while Swerve went to grab the crown that Nana left behind. “Hangman” Adam Page grabbed it out of Swerve’s hands! Danielson went for the running knee, but Swerve tried to counter with the JML Driver, but Danielson countered that with a cradle, but Swerve kicked out! Danielson went back to the wishing well again and smacked Swerve with the running knee strike and pinned Swerve!
This Saturday on Collision it’ll be Christian Cage defending the TNT Championship against Bryan Danielson! Swerve and Prince Nana sneered at “Hangman” Adam Page after the match.
A vignette aired for ROH Television Champion Samoa Joe!
“This Saturday at Collision I begin my road to AEW World Championship gold. I’ll show the world why I am violence manifest. Domination made flesh. Why I am the man who goes out there and takes what he wants from anybody he wants to. This Saturday at Collision I begin my ascension towards greatness.”
Powerhouse Hobbs (with Don Callis) vs. Chris Jericho!
Jericho and Hobbs slugged it out! Hobbs got the upper hand. Hobbs nailed Jericho with a spinebuster for a near fall. Hobbs grounded and pounded Jericho and then delivered a second spinebuster!
Hobbs hoisted up Jericho and drilled him with a third spinebuster. Hobbs headbutted Jericho right between the eyes. Hobbs hit another spinebuster on Jericho.
Don Callis yelled “Hurt him! Hurt him!”
Hobbs planted Jericho with another spinebuster. Jericho cradled his midsection. Jericho fought back with shoulder tackles. Jericho connected with a Code Breaker on Hobbs for a two-count. Hobbs fired back with another spinebuster.
Jericho chop blocked Hobbs. Jericho applied the Walls on Hobbs, sitting back deep. Hobbs escaped and slammed Jericho. Hobbs hammered Jericho with punches. Hobbs spiked Jericho with another slam. Hobbs put his knee on Jericho’s face and pinned him!
“I’ve never seen Jericho dominated quite like this,” said Excalibur.
“Powerhouse Hobbs just dismantled one of the greatest ever in Chris Jericho,” said Taz.
“What a victory,” replied Tony Schiavone.
“And what a recruit for the Don Callis Family,” added Excalibur.
After the match Hobbs picked up Jericho and planted him hard on the mat again!
Footage was shown from earlier in the day from Roderick Strong’s humble abode.
Roderick Strong was in his backyard with the Kingdom and Adam Cole.
Adam Cole said he’d been there nearly a week, needed to get his surgery done, but wanted to know what else Roddy wanted him to do.
Strong: “I need you to cut my grass.”
Cole mowed the lawn on one leg while the other leg was on his injury mobility scooter. They went back into the house and Cole said he thought it was weird that there was no service and no TV in the house. He wanted to see what his friend MJF was up to.
Strong: “TV is the devil. The absolute devil.”
Cole wanted to leave to get surgery but Strong said he needed just one more thing.
AEW International Championship Match!
Rey Fenix (c.) (with Alex Abrahantes) vs. “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy!
Orange charged at Rey Fenix and dished out forearms. Fenix fired back with lariats. Fenix was looking for a German Suplex, but his back gave out.
Rey Fenix cracked Orange with a thrust kick. Fenix hit a frog splash for a near fall, wrestling with purpose and trying to end the match quickly.
“When you’re hurting, you want to end it quickly,” said Taz.
Outside the ring, Orange Cassidy whipped Rey Fenix into the steel guardrail. Orange rammed Rey Fenix into the steel ring post. Orange swept out Rey Fenix’s leg. Orange climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Rey Fenix hit him with a flying uppercut. Rey Fenix was looking for a muscle buster, but his back gave out. Orange countered with a diving DDT and then another DDT for a two-count on Rey Fenix!
Orange tried for the Orange Punch, but Rey Fenix countered with a thrust kick. Rey Fenix tried to charge at Orange, but his back gave out again. Orange Cassidy blasted Rey Fenix with the Beach Break for a near fall. Orange pulped Rey Fenix with the Orange Punch and after tying him up in the mousetrap, Orange Cassidy pinned Rey Fenix!
And once again AEW International Champion…Orange Cassidy!
The Best Friends, Rocky Romero, and HOOK came out to congratulate Orange Cassidy.
Wardlow vs. Matt Sydal!
Wardlow ran at Sydal and rammed him into the turnbuckles. Wardlow powerbombed Sydal. He powerbombed Sydal again. And then again! Wardlow powerbombed Sydal again and the ref stopped the match, declaring Wardlow the winner!
Renee Paquette was backstage trying to get a medical update on Chris Jericho!
Daniel Garcia came to check on Jericho. Matt Menard grabbed Garcia by the shoulder and said, “What are you doing?”
Garcia said, “I’m being a human. I’m checking on somebody that we cared about.”
Menard: “I’ve had just about enough. We’re better than this. We’re better than this now.”
Menard walked away and then Garcia followed.
Bullet Club Gold’s “Switchblade” Jay White
vs.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion “Hangman” Adam Page!
Switchblade came out wearing the AEW World Championship Title. Bullet Club Gold rode out on big wheels.
“He stole that title from MJF,” said Taz.
Hangman flew over the top rope and landed on Jay White on the outside of the ring. Back in the ring, Jay White grabbed a chin lock on Page. They traded strikes. Jay White took down Adam Page with a dragon screw leg whip.
Hangman caught Switchblade and drilled him with a Death Valley Driver. Page sent White soaring with a fallaway slam and followed up with a standing moonsault for a near fall. Hangman powerbombed Jay White on the apron!
“That was a thud right there,” said Taz.
Jay White suplexed Adam Page into the turnbuckles. White drilled Page with a knee breaker right on the apron! Hangman came back with a blockbuster off the top rope, but Page was clutching his knee after the landing.
Jay White connected with an uranage for a near fall. Hangman dropped Jay White with a rolling elbow. Hangman was looking for the Buckshot Lariat, but Jay White countered with a dragon screw.
Hangman guillotined Jay White on the top rope. Hangman nailed Jay White with a moonsault on the arena floor. Back in the ring Jay White lured Hangman in and rocked him with a German Suplex. Jay White chop blocked Hangman. Page got to his feet and walloped Jay White with a lariat!
Hangman went for the Buckshot, but Jay White tried to counter with the Blade Runner, but Page countered with the Dead Eye! Bullet Club Gold panicked outside the ring. Page covered White but White kicked out at two!
Bullet Club Gold distracted the ref while Prince Nana crept up with his crown in his hand. Hangman saw Prince Nana and turned his attention toward him, but Jay White grabbed a handful of Page’s tights, rolled him up and pinned him!
After the match, an enraged Hangman limped up the ramp and tried to catch up with the retreating Prince Nana!
AEW World Champion MJF came out on the ramp!
MJF: “Cut my music! Look at me Jay White! You wanted the main event match, bright lights, Full Gear for the World Title, you got it, you’re welcome. Now give me back my belt! Be a man!”
Jay White: “We don’t want to hear anymore from MJF. No, no, we want to hear from J-A-Y. Your scumbag wants the Triple B, you want the Bang Bang belt? I was going to say yes until you were so rude, so the answer is no.”
MJF: “I’ll be the bigger man here. Jay, I know you because I was you. You are the guy who doesn’t give a damn about anybody else. You will use and abuse people. You and I both know you don’t care about any of those three in the Bullet Club Gold. You are using them, and I know because that is right out of the MJF playbook.
“For the first time in my life I have earned the respect of these fans. Now Jay White there are two things in this life I care about: my brother, Adam Cole, who is out right now injured. And that’s my cross to bear. And there is that title you’re holding. You call it a belt. That’s not a belt. That is my livelihood. That is my legacy. Because when you win the AEW World Title, that makes you the best wrestler in the world.
“Jay, if you weren’t surrounded by those idiots, I would have already taken back what’s mine. Jay White, I know how talented you are. I am sure someday you will join the very exclusive club of being an AEW World Champion, however, that day is not today. Do you understand me? So, I’m going to ask you to do the hard thing for once in your life. Dig deep, be a man, show some dignity to this sport, to AEW and to these fans, and give me back what you have not yet earned.”
Jay White: “You’re just coming out here and asking me to give it back to you. How is that earning it? Thank you for coming out and asking me nicely instead of jumping me from behind in your cute little devil mask.
“But you’re just asking for this. You can’t just ask for this. You must earn it. You must earn it, officially. And you have a match coming up November 18th at Full Gear. You’ll get your chance, but you’ll fail. But if you can’t be patient, you could just come down and take it.
“But something tells me with us five here, and you don’t have no friends, but if you can find three friends who can tolerate you, you come up with your four against the Bang Bang Gang, and if you win, maybe you’ll get the Bang Bang Belt back.”
Juice Robinson: “And MJF, before you leave, I heard through the grapevine that next week there is a Dynamite Diamond Dozen Battle Royale for a chance to win that stupid ring that you care about so much! So, throw my name in because I’m going to win the battle royale and I’m going to win that ring and we’re going to take away everything you love. And I’ve got a roll of quarters here with your name on it. So, after we ruin your life, I’m going to—”
MJF: “Hey! You come at me with that roll of quarters and I’m going to end your life!”
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Saraya (c.) vs. Hikaru Shida!
Saraya shoved at Shida. Shida turned Saraya around and battered her with forearms. Shida scored with a running knee strike.
Shida rocked Saraya with a rising knee strike outside the ring. Someone dressed all in black tried to ambush Shida. They were holding a can of spray paint. It was Ruby Soho!
Shida turned the can around and sprayed Ruby Soho in the eyes! Soho ran up the ramp, but “Timeless” Toni Storm was there, clobbering her with the shoe! Toni Storm chased Ruby Soho over the guardrail and through the fans!
Shida drilled Saraya with a jumping knee strike. Shida hammered Saraya with punches. She followed up with a missile dropkick for a near fall on Saraya.
Saraya yanked Shida by the wrist, sending Shida tumbling onto the edge of the ring! Shida stunned Saraya with a stalling German Suplex on the ring apron. She followed up with a meteora off the apron onto Saraya. Shida rammed Saraya with a running knee for a near fall.
Shida clocked Saraya with a question mark kick. Shida climbed to the top turnbuckle and Saraya countered with a thrust kick. Saraya crushed Shida with the Knight Cap for a two-count! Saraya put a can of spray paint in her waistband and grabbed the kendo stick. Ref Paul Turner saw the kendo stick and pulled it away. As the ref turned his back to toss the kendo stick out of the ring, Saraya went to her backup plan and sprayed Shida in the eyes with the can of paint! Saraya drilled Shida with a second Knight Cap, but Shida kicked out at two!
“Hikaru Shida will not be denied!” said Excalibur.
Shida planted Saraya with the Falcon Arrow. She went to cover Saraya, but Saraya countered. Shida countered that, rolling up Saraya and pinning her!
And new AEW Women’s World Champion…Hikaru Shida!
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW World Champion MJF!
MJF: “I’m just not in the mood to be interviewed. I just want to call my boy and get some advice. Please pick up Adam.”
Adam Cole answered. MJF said he’d been trying to get ahold of Adam Cole for days.
Adam Cole apologized and said he was still helping Roderick Strong because Strong was injured.
MJF: “Adam, I need your help. I’m getting attacked left and right by Bullet Club Gold. They stole the triple B. Samoa Joe apparently wants another title shot. And Juice Robinson has opened some old wounds, dude.”
Adam Cole: “Max, can you hear me? Roddy is in the middle of nowhere.”
The phone lost reception and the line went dead.
The Acclaimed walked up to MJF. Caster said he overhead the phone call. Caster said he figured the Acclaimed could team with MJF to take on the Bang Bang Gang. MJF walked away, upset.
Daddy Ass told Caster to hold on one second. “When did you think you could just offer up our services? And what is your infatuation with MJF?” asked Daddy Ass.
Caster: “We started wrestling together. I’ve known him for 10 years. And he’s my friend. I think he needs our help. Plus, I like when he plays hard to get.”
Main Event Time!
“Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland
vs.
Luchasaurus (with TNT Champion Christian Cage)!
Before the match, Christian Cage said he is not Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne’s leader. He is their father. Christian Cage asked why Adam Copeland didn’t want to help him when he was getting held back a few years ago and Adam was being pushed to the moon. “You need me. I don’t need you! But I can’t say I blame you for being a fan, Adam. I have a lot of fans around the world. In fact, I know your wife Beth is a huge fan.”
Adam Copeland charged to the ring! Nick Wayne grabbed onto Copeland’s leg. Luchasaurus booted Copeland in the face. Luchasaurus followed up with the Extinction lariat before the bell rang!
Luchasaurus spiked Adam Copeland with a tombstone piledriver for a near fall. Christian Cage sat on the ramp, watching the match.
Luchasaurus whipped Adam Copeland into the turnbuckles. Luchasaurus body slammed Adam Copeland. Luchasaurus fired off a combination of strikes to Adam Copeland. Luchasaurus suplexed Adam Copeland.
Outside the ring, Nick Wayne shoved Adam Copeland into the ring post! Luchasaurus pulled the ring steps. He was going to plant Copeland on them. Copeland fired back with shots and then DDT’ed Luchasaurus onto the arena floor!
Copeland splashed Luchasaurus across the back! Cope connected with elbow strikes but Luchasaurus countered with a headbutt. Copeland blocked a chokeslam and rocked Luchasaurus with an Impaler DDT for a near fall!
Copeland and Luchasaurus jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle. Cope superplexed Luchasaurus! Christian Cage walked closer to the ring and the ref was distracted. The ref turned around, ordering Christian Cage to back away. While this was happening, Nick Wayne propped up a chair between the turnbuckles. Copeland went for the spear, but Luchasaurus dodged him, sending Cope headfirst into the steel chair!
Luchasaurus choke slammed Copeland, but Copeland kicked out! Copeland avoided the Extinction from Luchasaurus. Copeland ran off the ring, jumped off the ring steps, and speared Luchasaurus on the arena floor!
Back in the ring, Cope was looking for another spear. Nick Wayne jumped onto the ring apron and distracted the ref while Christian Cage jumped on the other side of the ring. Christian Cage was going to hit Copeland with the TNT Championship, but Copeland yanked it out of Christian Cage’s hands and rammed it into Luchasaurus’ head! Copeland threw the title back to Christian Cage. Luchasaurus turned around and thought Christian Cage was the one who hit him with it! Luchasaurus turned around and Copeland speared him! Copeland covered Luchasaurus and pinned him for the victory!
After the match, Nick Wayne chop blocked Adam Copeland. Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus stomped Copeland. Danielson ran to the ring and clocked Christian. Danielson jumped into the ring and went after Nick Wayne. Luchasaurus drilled Danielson with a high boot. Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli sprinted to the ring to even up the odds. The Mogul Embassy came down and began to brawl with the Blackpool Combat Club! “Hangman” Adam Page joined the fray and he and Swerve exchanged strikes. Copeland speared Nick Wayne. Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock on Christian Cage and Cage tapped!
“Will this be the scene this Saturday on Collision at a special 7pm start time?! Christian Cage! Bryan Danielson! One on one for the TNT Championship!”
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!
***Special start time at 7/6c! Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT from the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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