FOX Sports Mexico steps into the ring with All Elite Wrestling • FOX Sports Mexico acquires the multi-region broadcast rights to AEW, one of the hottest professional wrestling brands in the world. • AEW WrestleDream,<a href="https://biggoldbelt.com/reviews/tomb-raider-the-legend-of-lara-croft-review-2024-netflix/">…</a><p><a class="more-link" href="https://biggoldbelt.com/reviews/tomb-raider-the-legend-of-lara-croft-review-2024-netflix/">Continue reading →</a></p>…
WBD Networks to Continue to Be Home to Fan-Favorites AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision, with Simulcast Streaming on Max for First Time Starting January 2025 AEW Pay-Per-View Events to Be Distributed on Max at Discounted Price<a href="https://biggoldbelt.com/video/big-gold-belt-wrestling-podcast-done-deal/">…</a><p><a class="more-link" href="https://biggoldbelt.com/video/big-gold-belt-wrestling-podcast-done-deal/">Continue reading →</a></p>…
CONTAINS SPOILERS AEW COLLISION & BATTLE OF THE BELTS X was broadcast live from the Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY! It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!<a href="https://biggoldbelt.com/reviews/bmf-black-mafia-family-season-3-episode-7-recap-review-get-em-home/">…</a><p><a class="more-link" href="https://biggoldbelt.com/reviews/bmf-black-mafia-family-season-3-episode-7-recap-review-get-em-home/">Continue reading →</a></p>…
All Elite Wrestling presents a thrilling lineup with COLLISION and BATTLE OF THE BELTS X this Saturday on TNT. Featured matches include Toni Storm vs. AZM in an Eliminator Match, Blackpool Combat Club vs. Don Callis Family in tag action, and Roderick Strong vs. Rocky Romero. Champions Athena and HOOK defend their titles against Red Velvet and Shane Taylor, respectively. With DYNASTY 2024 approaching, the stakes are high for all competitors. Fans can catch up on the latest AEW action online before Wednesday’s DYNAMITE in Indianapolis.
Tonight’s AEW Rampage featured Orange Cassidy defeating Alex Reynolds amid distractions and interference. Post-match, tension rose among former Best Friends. TBS Champion Julia Hart retained her title against Leyla Hirsch, Zak Knight triumphed over Angelo Parker, and Jay White bested Matt Sydal, celebrating his group, the Bang Bang Gang. Upcoming events include AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts X and AEW DYNAMITE.
Wednesday night the AEW faithful saw a bloody Dustin Rhodes give his all in a World Title Eliminator Match with Samoa Joe, watched AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm assault #1 Contender Thunder Rosa, and saw the long-simmering tensions between FTR and The Young Bucks boil over once again! Now, this Friday night, the red-hot action that began on DYNAMITE will continue with an all-new RAMPAGE beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT! TBS Champion Julia Hart will defend her title against the returning “Legit” Leyla Hirsch in an Open House Rules contest, Orange Cassidy is in action after being betrayed by Trent Beretta, Jay White faces the challenge of Matt Sydal, and the hostilities between Zak Knight and Angelo Parker finally explodes!
Before the action begins, be sure to drop by the official AEW YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFN4JkGP_bVhAdBsoV9xftA/videos), as well as AEW's assorted social media platforms, to see highlights from Wednesday night's DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then be sure to tune into TNT this Saturday night at 8:00p ET/7:00p CT for a stacked COLLISION/BATTLE OF THE BELTS X including AEW International Champion Roderick Strong versus Rocky Romero!
OPEN HOUSE TBS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
Julia Hart(c) vs. Leyla Hirsch
It has been quite a long time since Leyla Hirsch has competed on the All Elite Wrestling stage, since the April 4, 2022 edition of DARK: ELEVATION as far as what was seen publicly, but fans who were in Agganis Arena in Boston on April 6th know differently. That night, during a match that would've aired on the April 11th edition of DARK: ELEVATION, Hirsch suffered an ACL tear that put her on the shelf for sixteen months!
Hirsch returned to action in July 2023, competing as part of the loaded Ring of Honor Women's Roster, challenging Athena for the Women's World Championship during ROH ON HONOR CLUB #32 last October, and made it to the Quarter-Finals of the ROH Women's World TV Championship. Hirsch has been exceptional during her Ring of Honor run those far, going 16-5 in singles competition since last July, just three of those losses coming in one-on-one competition, and now she returns to AEW competition with one goal in mind, ripping the TNT Championship away from Julia Hart!
The woman who's taken to calling herself “The Forever Face of TBS” was more than happy to accept the challenge, almost eager to welcome “Legit” Leyla into The House of Black, but from her actions this past Wednesday on DYNAMITE, one can't help but wonder if her focus is in the wrong place for Friday night.
So while Julia seems focused on Willow Nightingale, and to an extent Mercedes Moné, Leyla Hirsch is exclusively zeroed in on the TBS Championship around Julia Hart's waist. It's not about Julia for Leyla, it's not personal grudge of any kind, it is solely about the TBS Title, and that may make all the difference in this Open House match on Friday night!
ONE-ON-ONE…
ROH World Six-Man Champion “Switchblade” Jay White vs. Matt Sydal
After successfully retaining the ROH World Six-Man Championship titles at SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2024 against Alex Zayne, Lance Archer, and Minoru Suzuki, the animosity between The Bang Bang Gang and The Acclaimed erupted once again. It's clear these six men are headed for a war down the line, but this Friday night on RAMPAGE it's only “Switchblade” Jay White who will be in action. He said he was looking for a fight and challenged any one to step up, and it looks like Matt Sydal is the man willing to do just that!
These two men may have never fought one another in a singles match, but they are no strangers to one another. Back in 2016, on several NJPW events, these two competitors stepped into the ring with one another across four different matches. Three of those matches put Sydal and a very young Jay White on opposite sides of the ring, with Sydal's side picking up all three victories, but one of those bouts did put White and Sydal on the same team, though their union was not a victorious one.
But that was a Jay White barely three years into his career, that was Jay White pre-excursion, before the birth of “Switchblade”, and before the IWGP Championship ever adorned his waist. In the nearly eight years since their last encounter, Jay White has grown by leaps and bounds, ascended to the top of the wrestling business, and so it will quite interesting to see how Matt Sydal tackles this challenge. Everyone knows how talented a wrestler Sydal is, what he brings to the table, but he's been quite frustrated over the course of his AEW career, and looking for the big victory that gets him back into discussions of championship opportunities!
ORANGE IN ACTION…
AEW fans watched in horror last week as Trent Beretta drove his knee into the skull of Orange Cassidy following their AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament loss, and walked away without a word, leaving Chuck Taylor utterly stunned. Even with Kris Statlander tried to get an explanation from him, all Trent could do was whisper something in her ear, and walk out of the arena.
Suffice to say that the usually imperturbable Orange Cassidy has been quite the angry individual in the week since that betrayal, and this Friday night on RAMPAGE we will get to hear him speak on the situation for the very first time! In addition, the former 2-Time AEW International Champion will be in action, looking for someone to take his anger and frustration out on in an official capacity! We don't have to wonder or wait and see just who will step up to fight OC on Friday, because The Dark Order's Alex Reynolds has raised his hand! It's Alex's first singles match of 2024, and he's hoping to take advantage of Cassidy's hurt and confusion to score the biggest singles victory of his AEW career!
GRUDGE MATCH…
Zak Knight vs. “Cool Hand” Angelo Parker
Angelo Parker has been looking for this fight since the moment Zak Knight entered into All Elite Wrestling to join sister Saraya om her endeavor to destroy the relationship between Parker and Ruby Soho. Knight avoided the fight in Canada, even though Parker wanted it more than life itself, instead choosing to play mind games with the man and make him wait for the fight.
Well the waiting is over, now that Angelo Parker has nothing left but the fight, the fight is finally upon him this Friday night on RAMPAGE! There is no question that Zak Knight will have his sister Saraya and Harley Cameron at his side while Angelo will be all alone, but nothing is going to stop “Cool Hand” from trying to exact a pound of flesh from Zak Knight!
It's an exciting week for AEW and it continues Friday night on TNT starting at 10pm ET/9pm CT with an all-new RAMPAGE featuring a collection of the greatest professional wrestlers on the planet! The House of Black's Julia Hart defends her TBS Championship against “Legit” Leyla Hirsch in an Open House Rules match, Orange Cassidy in action, Cool Hand Ang and Zak Knight finally meeting in the ring, and more!
Before the bell rings, check out the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's numerous social media outlets, to watch highlights from this past Wednesday's edition of DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then this Saturday night COLLISION is back at 8:00p ET/7:00p CT on TNT, immediately followed by BATTLE OF THE BELTS X, and an AEW International Championship Eliminator Match between Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero!
— New York, Illinois, Washington, New Jersey and Florida Added as Hosts
of Upcoming AEW Pay-Per-Views —
April 11, 2024 – Following AEW’s biggest pay-per-view schedule in company history last year and the record-breaking success of the recent AEW: Revolution, AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan today announced the remaining dates and locations for this year’s events. The full 2024 pay-per-view schedule includes:
Sunday, April 21 – AEW: Dynasty at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis
Sunday, May 26 – AEW: Double or Nothing at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
Sunday, June 30 – AEW: Forbidden Door at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
Sunday, August 25 – AEW: All In London at Wembley Stadium in London, UK
Sunday, September 1 – AEW: All Out at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Saturday, October 12 – AEW: WrestleDream at Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash.
Saturday, November 23 – AEW: Full Gear at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Saturday, December 28 – AEW: World’s End at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla.
“Last month’s AEW: Revolution was the best pay-per-view event in company history, further cementing AEW’s dominance as the leader in cutting-edge professional wrestling pay-per-view events worldwide,” said Khan. “With AEW: Dynasty on the horizon next Sunday, we are solidifying our remaining 2024 pay-per-view schedule by returning to familiar places and debuting in iconic locations, giving fans around the world the opportunity to make plans in advance to be part of the excitement live in-person."
Tickets for AEW: Dynasty in St. Louis, AEW: Double Or Nothing in Las Vegasand AEW: All In London in the UK are currently on sale via AEWTix.com. Additional information on the remaining events, including on sale dates, will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans interested in exclusive presale opportunities can register to become an AEW Insider by visiting allelitewrestling.com/aew-insider.
About AEW
Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, AEW is a red-hot professional wrestling promotion featuring a world-class roster that is injecting new spirit, freshness and energy into the industry. “AEW: Dynamite” airs every Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS, “AEW: Rampage” airs every Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET on TNT, and “AEW: Collision” airs every Saturday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TNT. AEW’s multi-platform content also includes “AEW Unrestricted,” a weekly podcast series. For more info, check out Twitter.com/AEW; Instagram.com/AEW; YouTube.com/AEW; Facebook.com/AEW
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV!
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!
AEW World Title Eliminator Match!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes!
As Samoa Joe was making his entrance, Swerve Strickland ambushed the champ on the ramp! They brawled onto the arena floor. Swerve speared Samoa Joe through a table that Samoa Joe had propped against a guardrail. Security pushed Swerve back to the locker room. Samoa Joe eventually staggered to his feet and seemed to pursue Swerve.
Renee Paquette was backstage outside Orange Cassidy’s locker room.
Renee said that Orange would have a match on Rampage this Friday, and she was assured by Orange that he’d be addressing the heartless actions of Trent Beretta.
TNT Championship Match!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland (c.)
vs.
Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Penta speared Copeland and then stuck him with a diving double foot stomp for a near fall.
“Shock and awe right out of the box, trying to win the TNT Title,” said Taz.
Penta El Zero Miedo hit Copeland with a clothesline, knocking Copeland to the arena floor. Copeland got back in the ring and Penta greeted him with a chop to Copeland’s chest. Copeland rallied back with flying head scissors. Copeland and Penta El Zero Miedo both had the same idea, fighting fire with fire, clubbing each other with lariats and then high boots.
Penta El Zero Miedo had Copeland rocked after a sling blade. Penta flipped over the top rope with a dive onto Copeland. Back in the ring, Copeland found an opening, planting Penta face first on the mat.
Copeland applied a modified sharpshooter onto Penta El Zero Miedo, but Penta made the crawl to the bottom rope, forcing the ref to break the hold. Penta stunned Copeland with a stalling dropkick. Copeland secured the cross face on Penta, wrenching back, but once again Penta reached the ropes.
Copeland was looking for a Death Valley Driver on the apron, but Penta escaped. Penta charged at Copeland but Copeland power slammed Penta onto the apron! Copeland tried to spear Penta but inadvertently speared Alex Abrahantes. Penta got to his feet and clocked Copeland with a thrust kick.
Penta El Zero Miedo drilled Copeland with an avalanche Code Red! Penta jumped off the middle rope, but Copeland countered with a spear and pinned Penta El Zero Miedo!
After the match, the arena lights went out. The lights came back on, and TBS Champion Julia Hart was standing in front of Copeland. The House of Black’s Brody King blindsided Copeland and began to kick and stomp him. Brody smashed Copeland with a running boot. Brody applied a rear naked choke on Copeland.
Willow Nightingale sprinted to the ring and began to ground and pound Julia. Brody pulled Julia out of harm’s way. Copeland got back to his feet and decked Brody, forcing him out of the ring! Brody and Julia retreated, while Brody barked at Copeland.
Renee Paquette was backstage with ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe and “Mad King” Eddie Kingston!
TNT Champion Adam Copeland, Willow Nightingale, and Stokely Hathaway interrupted Renee’s interview.
Copeland said he wanted to make sure Briscoe and Kingston were good for their trios match against the House of Black at Dynasty. Briscoe and Kingston assured Copeland they were ready.
Stokely: “What about next week on Dynamite, you put that TNT Championship on the line against Willow Nightingale!”
Willow: “No, no, that’s not what we were saying Stokely. Brody, I saw you beating up on Adam. Julia, you tried to get me with the mist, but not this time. So Dynamite next week, what do you say we team up Adam?”
Copeland: “I’ve got an idea. Before Dynasty, before the three of us, the Rated Chicken Hawks, I just made that up, before we take out the House of Black, Willow, what do you say, me and you against Julia and Brody, next week on Dynamite?”
Willow: “Yeah!”
The Young Bucks—Nicholas & Matthew Jackson—were in their dressing room to present backstage footage from ALL IN: London 2023!
Matthew told Nicholas to set it up with a little context.
Nicholas said AEW has a massive pay-per-view coming up on April 21st, AEW Dynasty. Taking place at Dynasty will be the finals of the tag team tournament, featuring FTR against the Young Bucks. Nicholas said the last time they wrestled FTR was at All In, and he still has some wounds that haven’t healed.
Matthew said right before the match there was an incident backstage involving two individuals, “the first being the scapegoat in this entire situation, Jack Perry.” Nicholas interrupted Matthew and said the other individual “tried to make this entire show about himself. As a matter of fact, this individual happens to be good friends with FTR. Which got me thinking maybe FTR were the masterminds behind this entire thing.” Matthew said the incident threw them off their game and FTR’s win should come with an asterisk in the history books.
Nicholas said at Dynasty they weren’t shaking hands with FTR and called them pricks. “Be ready,” said Nicholas.
FTR—Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood—came out to the ring!
Cash: “Why are we showing this? What are you two hoping to accomplish other than having a built-in excuse as to why you lost at Wembley. I am sick and tired of hearing about this and talking about this. Everybody back there, us, we are ready to move on and put this in the past. But instead, we’re showing videos from eight months ago because the Bucks can’t let go that they lost to FTR. At Dynasty, we have to beat you. It’s not for legacy or history, it’s because I’m sick of you!”
Dax: “So that’s our bosses. Every interview they have they let us all know that without them, hundreds of people would be out of a job and without them AEW probably wouldn’t exist. The scary thing is I don’t necessarily disagree with them. Without the Young Bucks I might still be shaving Cash’s back.
“But because of the Young Bucks, we have something that makes them sick. We have eclipsed them as the absolute best tag team on this planet. And at one time the Bucks cared about AEW, but somewhere along the way, whether it was greed or jealously, you guys lost that. And now three other letters have taken over. The only thing you care about is what’s best for the EVPs. So, if it takes my last breath, on our backs, we will continue to build this place. We are building it for the future of all professional wrestlers. We are building this for every person who spends their hard earned money on one ticket to get lost in our drama and our action. We are doing this for you.
“And if the Young Bucks don’t want to be part of that AEW, grab your ball, go home, we got this. This ain’t about Wembley. This is about AEW, a company I love, an industry I love. But more importantly this is about the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Two teams walk in, one team walks out as the first ever three time AEW World Tag Team Champions. Young Bucks, you may have built this foundation, but we will put the roof on top of this house, just to blow it right off. Top guys out!”
Renee Paquette interview “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Ospreay: “I’ve been thinking about this all week. There’s this rumor going around that I’m afraid of the grind. I’ll be honest with you, I have no idea where this conversation has come from. I travel every single week from the US to the UK and back and I’m delivering some of the best professional wrestling matches this world has ever seen. And normally I wouldn’t take the bait, but since the guy who said it is only in the position he’s in because he was grinding on the boss’s daughter, you are in no position to tell me what the grind is all about because you have no idea what I fight for. So let this be a painful little jab back that you do not throw stones at an assassin with a machine gun.
“Now Bryan, you said I’m stronger and faster than you, which I am. And you said the only way you have a chance at beating me is if you can ground me, but healthier and younger and better men than you have tried and failed. But Bryan Danielson, you are a living legend in this game, and I cannot say I am the best wrestler in the world until I pin you at Dynasty. This is AEW where the best wrestle! It’s my time, Mr. Danielson, to show every single person what I’m about and why I’m the ace of AEW! Bryan Danielson, you find out Sunday, April 21st, why my name is Will Ospreay, and I am on another level!”
Trios Match!
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho, FTW Champion HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata
vs.
Shane Taylor Promotions— “The Guv’nor” Anthony Ogogo, Lee Moriarty, & Shane Taylor!
Jericho hit Moriarty with a shoulder block and then a lionsault for a near fall. Jericho battered Lee with short clotheslines in the corner. Jericho sent Moriarty for a ride with a hurracanrana off the top turnbuckle.
Shibata tagged in and mauled Moriarty with a forearm and then a round kick to the spine. Shane Taylor entered the match and Hook asked to be tagged in, so Shibata obliged. Taylor clubbed Hook with a lariat. Hook fired back with a German Suplex to Taylor!
Shibata tagged in and cracked Lee with a high boot in the corner. Shibata chopped down Lee and then decimated Lee with a running dropkick in the corner. Shibata went for a running kick to Lee, but Lee dodged it. Shibata inadvertently caught Jericho with the kick.
Shibata tried to tag out to Hook, but Jericho pulled Hook off the apron to prevent the tag. Jericho asked Hook what Shibata’s problem was. Hook and Jericho argued outside the ring, trying to sort things out. Shibata locked Lee in a sleeper. Shane Taylor ran in and clubbed Shibata with his right hand, and Lee grabbed the pin on Shibata!
“The argument between Chris Jericho and Hook left the door open for Shane Taylor to land that big right hand and put him out, setting him up for Lee Moriarty,” said Excalibur.
Tempers were flaring and Hook told Jericho to leave!
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Christiano Argento!
Okada leveled Argento with a big elbow strike. Okada wasn’t even breaking a sweat. Okada smashed Argento with a dropkick and then the rainmaker to score the pin!
Okada: “Hey Pac, I accept your challenge! I’ll see you at Dynasty.”
“The Bastard” Pac’s music began to play. Pac walked onto the stage and paced back and forth, staring at Okada! Pac walked to the ring to confront Okada, but the Bucks ran out and hit Pac from behind. The Elite triple teamed Pac. The Bucks nailed Pac with superkicks. FTR sprinted into the ring and cleaned house on the Bucks! FTR wanted to hit the Shatter Machine on Matthew, but Okada jumped back into the ring with a steel chair and whacked FTR with chair shots!
The Bucks blasted FTR with superkicks and then the EVP Trigger! Okada cracked Pac in the side of the head with a steel chair!
Backstage we heard from the ROH Six-Man Champions the Bang Bang Gang!
They ran down a list of their recent accomplishments, including “Switchblade” Jay White putting a beating on Billy Gunn. Jay White said he wanted another match on Rampage, but he wanted the Gunns to find him someone besides Billy.
Up Next: AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm hosted a Charleston Championship Champagne Toast for Thunder Rosa!
Renee Paquette was on the ramp and introduced Thunder Rosa first. Renee then welcomed Toni Storm “Toni Storm, the floor is yours, toast away,” said Renee.
Storm threw a glass of champagne into Thunder Rosa’s eyes! Storm cracked Thunder Rosa in the head with a silver tray. Storm smeared Thunder Rosa’s face paint. Deonna Purrazzo ran out to the aid of Thunder Rosa, but Thunder Rosa pushed Deonna away! Deonna stormed off!
Mariah May vs. Anna Jay!
Anna ducked a shot from Mariah and fired back with a chop to Mariah. The two exchanged overhand chops in the center of the ring. Anna nailed Mariah with a neck breaker. Mariah headbutted Anna Jay.
Mariah May scored with a dropkick. Anna dodged a hip attack and rallied back with forearms. Anna charged at Mariah and clobbered her with a kick in the corner. Mariah retaliated with a running hip attack. Mariah rolled up Anna and pinned her!
After the match, Anna applied the Queen Slayer, not taking the loss lightly. Mina Shirakawa from Stardom sprinted to the ring, having the back of her former partner in Japan, Mariah May. Anna Jay retreated to the back. Mina brought in two glasses of champagne, gave some to Mariah, and then kissed Mariah.
Alex Marvez was backstage with “The CEO” Mercedes Moné!
Mercedes: “Double or Nothing! Five years ago, history was made when AEW had their first pay-per-view there. And I’m a history maker. And I decided to make history yet again when I head to Vegas to be the TBS Champion because Moné changes everything.”
Marvez asked if Mercedes would rather face Julia Hart or Willow Nightingale, but before Mercedes could respond, the lights went out! Someone attacked Mercedes in the dark!
Main Event Time! AEW World Title Eliminator Match!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes!
Samoa Joe and Dustin Rhodes traded strikes. Samoa Joe whipped Dustin into the guardrail. Joe jabbed Dustin, but Dustin fired back with a lariat. Dustin Rhodes was taking the fight to the champion. Samoa Joe headbutted Dustin.
Samoa Joe rammed Dustin into the steel ring post! Dustin Rhodes was busted wide open! Samoa Joe bludgeoned Dustin with more strikes in the ring. Dustin turned things around with a powerslam!
Dustin Rhodes walloped Samoa Joe with a Code Red for a near fall. Dustin went for a running bulldog, but Samoa Joe countered with a lariat. Dustin Rhodes grabbed the World title and brought it into the ring. Dustin wanted to use it on Samoa Joe, but ref Paul Turner warned Dustin not to use it. Dustin put the championship belt down. Dustin nailed Samoa Joe with the Cross Rhodes for a two-count!
Dustin Rhodes charged at Samoa Joe, but Joe wiped out Dustin with an STO! Samoa Joe grabbed a steel chain out of the corner and wrapped it around his fist. It was the chain that previously belonged to Swerve Strickland. Ref Paul Turner removed the chain from the ring. As the ref was handing the chain to an AEW ring crew member, his back was turned, and Samoa Joe seized the opportunity to bash the championship belt into Dustin’s head! Samoa Joe covered a knocked out Dustin and pinned him!
Samoa Joe applied a sleeper to Dustin after the match, trying to send a message to Swerve Strickland. Swerve appeared out of nowhere and cracked Joe with the House Call kick! Swerve Strickland grabbed the steel chain and drilled Joe with a chain-wrapped fist!
The locker room emptied and kept both wrestlers apart! Prince Nana handed Swerve Strickland the AEW World Championship, and Swerve held it up, while Joe looked on, seething!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET!
Don’t miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts X live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, IN!
DYNAMITE comes to you from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV, AEW's first time back since August 17th of 2022, and with it comes a loaded night of action! AEW World Champion Samoa Joe faces Dustin Rhodes in an Eliminator contest, the TNT Championship will be at stake when Adam Copeland faces Penta El Zero Miedo, and AEW Women's World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm is apparently planning a Charleston Champagne Toast for Thunder Rosa. In addition, LionHOOK will team with Katsuyori Shibata to do battle with Shane Taylor Promotions while Anna Jay has a rematch with Mariah May, and The Young Bucks have promised to present backstage footage from ALL IN: LONDON! Then for those in attendance who get to experience RAMPAGE before the rest of the world, TBS Champion Julia Hart defends in an Open House match against “Legit” Leyla Hirsch!
All that comes your way this Wednesday night, live on TBS starting at 8pm ET/7pm CT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, but don't forget to drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's various social media platforms, for highlights from last week's episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER!
Then join us Saturday night at the Truist Arena in Northern Kentucky for COLLISION and BATTLE OF THE BELTS X featuring Rocky Romero facing Roderick Strong in an AEW International Championship Eliminator Match!
ELIMINATOR MATCH…
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes
Aside from both occupying space in a Battle Royal on January 3, 2008, Dustin Rhodes and Samoa Joe have never shared the ring in any traditional match. Not a singles, not a tag or trios, nothing of the sort, but that will change this Wednesday night when the two competitors square off for the very first time! It began with a challenge laid out on the table by “The Natural”, the desire to fight Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship, but that challenge was rebuked by a champion who does not see Rhodes as deserving of a title match. Depending on how one views it, that's not an inaccurate response, after all Rhodes is 15-13 in singles matches across his AEW career, 2-1 in 2024, and not grouped in the rankings, but only taking that into account is very much a “what have you done for me lately” approach.
At 54 years of age, “The Natural” has been fighting inside the squared circle for thirty-five years of his life, and has won numerous championships throughout the course of that hall of fame career. He's battled everyone from Toshiaki Kawada to Scott Hall, from Giant Baba to Jeff Jarrett, and from Sammy Guevara to Bryan Danielson; he's been an inspiration and a teacher, a friend and a foe, but one thing he's never been is the World Champion, representing a company, holding the title as the man with a target on his back.
This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, with an AEW World Championship Eliminator opportunity in the palm of his hand, “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes can take the first step towards finally achieving that dream by defeating Samoa Joe. With that victory, as Samoa Joe said in his interview, Dustin Rhodes would become the top contender to the World Championship, jumping the line ahead of Swerve Strickland, who earned his title opportunity at DYNASTY 2024 on April 21st, as well as Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy, and Eddie Kingston. It's a huge opportunity for Dustin, the closest he has ever been to challenging for the AEW World Championship, but can he take that next step forward and become the top contender? Joe hasn't been beaten in a singles match since GRAND SLAM 2023 when he fell to MJF in their first AEW World Championship match; that's nine consecutive wins, one in a Three Way Match, and eight of those were championship bouts. Rhodes has a tremendous mountain to climb in Charleston; will fans see him step up into the role of challenger after ascending to the summit?
Coming off a tremendous Cope Open TNT Championship defense against Matt Cardona, Adam Copeland was issued a challenge by former AEW World Tag Champion Penta El Zero Miedo for a TNT Title fight! Cope is certainly not going to walk away from any challenge, definitely not turning one down, one can't help but wonder if he knows what he's getting himself into with this fight?
Though most of Penta's All Elite Wrestling tenure has been in the tag team or trios divisions, he's had his fair share of championship challenges in the singles ranks. He last fought for the TNT Title March 25th of last year, falling to Powerhouse Hobbs on that edition of RAMPAGE, but he's also challenged Orange Cassidy for the International Championship, Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title, as well as been involved in multiple contender's matches over the last five years, and that's just in AEW!
Step outside of the realm of All Elite Wrestling, and one will see that Penta El Zero Miedo has had thirteen singles champion reigns across the wrestling landscape! Be it in the United States or Mexico, Penta has proven himself as singles competitor many time over, and depending on what homework Adam Copeland has done, that may come as a surprise to the defending TNT Champion. Now these Cope Opens have forced Adam to stretch himself as a professional wrestler, with fighting a wide range of styles from Minoru Suzuki to Cardona to Dante Martin one doesn't have much choice, and Penta El Zero Miedo represents another way Copeland will have to adapt his game.
Can the former AEW World Tag Champion win his first singles title since 2018, and his first-ever All Elite Wrestling one? Or will this fight demonstrate that Adam Copeland may be the most resilient, adaptable competitor on the AEW roster?
CHARLESTON CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPAGNE TOAST…
We know that former AEW Women's World Champion Thunder Rosa will face current AEW Women's World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm at DYNASTY 2024 on April 21st in St. Louis, but what we don't know is just what Storm has planned with this Charleston Championship Champagne Toast. It's clear that this is a heated issue, the words exchanged between Storm and Rosa have been less than complimentary to say the least, so there's zero chance this toast will be a celebration of “La Mera Mera”, more likely the champion giving herself a toast ahead of her next title fight. But how will that play out on Wednesday night at the Charleston Coliseum? Is it going to break down to fisticuffs between Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm?
TRIOS MATCH…
LionHOOK (Chris Jerisho, FTW Champion HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata) vs.
Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Lee Moriarty, & Shane Taylor)
Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty may have lost the fight to LionHOOK last week, but it certainly did look like it in the aftermath of the match, not when “The Guv'nor” Anthony Ogogo was throwing fists alongside the members of Shane Taylor Promotions. Having been absent from the AEW landscape for eleven months, Ogogo made a return to AEW screens during the ZERO HOUR prior to ALL IN: LONDON, but disappeared for another seven months until the tremendous impact Ogogo made upon Chris Jericho's face with this return following the LionHOOK victory over STP on last week's COLLISION. It was quite a shock to see “The Guv'nor” back in All Elite Wrestling after he'd been utterly silent for so long, but he wasn't just sitting at home doing nothing during his time away.
In fact Ogogo was doing the best thing possible for his career and putting in ring work outside of All Elite Wrestling. He's put in the work with RevPro and PROGRESS in England, competed for Southern Honor Wrestling in Atlanta, as well as several other United States independents, all to keep himself in prime fighting condition and garner more experience until the time came to return to AEW action. Well that call came from Shane Taylor ahead of this past COLLISION, and we will see if it pays off this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when Ogogo, Shane Taylor, and Lee Moriarty take on LionHOOK and their surprising third man, Katsuyori Shibata!
Now this will mark Ogogo's first match on DYNAMITE in nearly three years, as well as his first time uniting with STP in a match, but so too is it Shibata's first outing with Jericho and HOOK as his partners, though not his first time standing side-by-side with the FTW Champion. That took place last November when he, HOOK, and Orange Cassidy were victorious over Jericho's former JAS allies of Daddy Magic, Cool Hand Ang, and Jake Hager.
As much of a statement as STP made last COLLISION, Shane Taylor Promotions is definitely in need of a statement victory and one over LionHOOK and Shibata certainly fits that bill! Can they accomplish that this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE?
Coming off a tremendous victory over Stardom's Momo Kohgo at SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2024 this past Friday, but still quite frustrated from her loss to Thunder Rosa last week, Mariah May comes to DYNAMITE looking for another fight, and it looks like she's got one waiting from Anna Jay!
It was only two months ago on the February 23rd edition of RAMPAGE that Mariah May defeated Anna Jay in their first meeting, so the memory is still quite fresh in the mind of both competitors. The question is which one will rise to the occasion Wednesday to take home the victory? Will it be Mariah May redeeming herself for the loss to Thunder Rosa, or will it be Anna Jay bouncing back from three straight AEW losses?
ALL IN: LONDON REVISITED…
This Wednesday night, All Elite Wrestling returns to the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV for the first time since August 17th of 2022, and with it comes a huge night of action and drama! AEW World Champion Samoa Joe fights Dustin Rhodes in an Eliminator Match, The Young Bucks are promising to show never-before-seen footage from ALL IN: LONDON, AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm is promising a Championship Champagne Celebration for Thunder Rosa, and her understudy Mariah May will face Anna Jay in a rematch of their April encounter! All that and more comes to you this Wednesday night live on TNT starting at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, but don't forget to drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's various social media platforms, for highlights from last week's episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER!
Then Saturday night, from the Truist Arena in Northern Kentucky, AEW presents a huge night of action with COLLISION and BATTLE OF THE BELTS X including AEW International Champion Roderick Strong fighting an Eliminator Bout against a man he called ally many years ago: Rocky “Azucar” Romero!
AEW Launches All Elite Arcade, New Gaming Podcast Hosted
by Evil Uno and Adam Cole
— Available Each Week On Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the AEW Games You Tube Channel, AEW’s Top Gamers and Special Weekly Guests will Dive into the Latest Gaming News, Launches and Their Own Video Game Adventures —
April 10, 2024 – Following the continued success of AEW Unrestricted and multiple talent-hosted podcasts, AEW’s resident gamers Evil Uno and Adam Cole – known within the gaming community as TheCHUGS – today announced the launch of the All Elite Arcade podcast, which will cover the hottest news, reviews and games they are currently playing.
The first episode of All Elite Arcade launches this Monday, April 15, and episodes will be available to watch every Monday on the AEW Games YouTube channel and for listening on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Weekly episodes will feature special guests from the AEW roster and the gaming community, sitting down with Uno and CHUGS to cover everything hot in the world of gaming.
Fans can check out Uno and CHUGS’ trailer for the launch of All Elite Arcadehere, and can subscribe to the AEW Games YouTube channel to stay up to date on the latest episodes as they drop.
About AEW
Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, AEW is a red-hot professional wrestling promotion featuring a world-class roster that is injecting new spirit, freshness and energy into the industry. “AEW: Dynamite” airs every Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS, “AEW: Rampage” airs every Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET on TNT, and “AEW: Collision” airs every Saturday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TNT. AEW’s multi-platform content also includes “AEW Unrestricted,” a weekly podcast series. For more info, check out Twitter.com/AEW; Instagram.com/AEW; YouTube.com/AEW; Facebook.com/AEW
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast from DCU Center in Worcester, MA!
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Semi Final Match!
FTR—Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler
vs.
Top Flight—Darius & Dante Martin!
The winning team faces The Young Bucks at AEW Dynasty 2024.
Top Flight used tandem offense on Cash, but Cash used his veteran experience, quickly rolling out of the ring. Dante used an arm drag to takedown Dax. Dante hit a sunset flip for a two-count on Dax.
Darius tagged in but Dax was ready for him. Dax tagged Cash and they rammed Darius with a double shoulder tackle. Dante was able to reach to Darius for a tag, but Cash chopped away at Dante. Then Dax hoisted up Dante, placing him on the top turnbuckle. Dante escaped and rolled up Dax for a near fall. Dante rocked Dax and Cash with dropkicks.
Dax lured Dante outside so Cash, who was lying in wait, could smash Dante with a clothesline. FTR catapulted Dante throat first into the bottom rope. Dax drilled Dante with a spinebuster for a two-count. Dax went for a superplex, but Dante transitioned midflight, landing on top of Dax!
Darius tagged in and went for a cross body press but Cash shoved Dax out of the way, sacrificing himself for his partner Dax. Darius got slugged by Dax, driving him to his knees. Darius cradled Dax in a small package for a near fall.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Darius planted Dax with a flatliner for another near fall! Dante went for a frog splash, but Dax countered by raising his knees right into Dante’s ribcage. Cash rocked Darius with a brain buster. FTR blasted Dante with the Shatter Machine and Cash pinned Dante!
“The winner between FTR and the Young Bucks at Dynasty will be the first ever three time tag champs,” said Tony Schiavone.
“The Bastard” Pac vs. Encore Moore!
Pac rocked Encore with a pump kick and then stomped him in the corner. Pac brutally assaulted Encore Moore in the ring. Pac snapped Encore with vertical suplexes and then hit a brainbuster on him. Pac wanted to make a statement, locking the Brutalizer on Moore and forcing Moore to tap out!
Pac: “All Elite Wrestling, I told you, I warned you, I am done waiting for opportunities that I deserve. So now, now I take matters into my own hands. Make no bones about it, I am on a mission. A mission to remind everybody exactly who I am: the best wrestler on the face of planet Earth. Therefore, Okada, Japanese superstar, champion, I’m calling you out, lad. Do you think you can survive the Bastard, because I don’t. I will eagerly await a response.”
“Pac has officially called out the Continental Champion Okada,” said Tony Schiavone.
LionHOOK— “Lionheart” Chris Jericho
& FTW Champion HOOK
vs.
Shane Taylor Promotions’ Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty!
Taylor muscled Jericho into the corner and jabbed at him. Taylor splashed Jericho in the other corner. Jericho tagged Hook and they double suplexed Shane Taylor!
Lee Moriarty tagged in, but Hook sent Moriarty flying with an overhead suplex. Hook tagged Jericho in, and Jericho lit up Lee with chops to the chest. Hook came back in and tossed Lee around with Judo throws. Hook jumped off the top with a double ax handle to Shane Taylor outside the ring.
Lee locked Jericho in the Border City Stretch! Jericho escaped and applied the Lion Tamer on Moriarty! Hook entered the ring and managed to suplex Shane Taylor! Finally, Lee tapped out to Jericho!
Anthony Ogogo sprinted to the ring and ambushed Jericho and Hook! Ogogo pounded away on Hook. Ogogo turned his attention to Jericho and stomped on him in the corner. Hook got to his feet, but Shane Taylor came in and knocked Hook down.
“There’s some kind of allegiance here,” said Nigel.
Lee and Shane held Jericho and then Anthony Ogogo knocked out Jericho with a devastating punch!
“What a blockbuster acquisition for Shane Taylor Promotions!” said Nigel.
Trios Match!
House Of Black—Malakai Black, Brody King, & Buddy Matthews
vs.
“Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, Matt Sydal,
& “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
Keith cracked Malakai with forearms. Keith rocked Black with an exploder suplex. Black fired back with a rising knee strike. Matt Sydal and Brody King tagged in for their respective teams. Daniels came in and he and Sydal tried to chop down Brody with their kicks. Brody bulldozed them with a double lariat. Brody followed up with another lariat to Daniels, the legal man.
Matt Sydal tagged in and took down Buddy with a hurracanrana. Sydal rolled up Buddy for a near fall. Buddy hoisted up Sydal and caught him in the jaw with a knee lift! Brody drilled Sydal with Dante’s Inferno! Bryan Keith ran in to make the save. Brody nearly decapitated Bryan with a lariat! The House of Black triple teamed Keith in the corner.
The House of Black surrounded Christopher Daniels. Black blasted Daniels with a roundhouse kick. Matthews staggered Keith with a jumping knee strike and then pinned him after a pump handle slam!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland’s music began to play. Black walked up the ramp, looking for Copeland. But Copeland blindsided Matthews and Brody from behind. Black sprinted back to the ring to attack Copeland. Mark Briscoe and FTR ran down to the ring to come to the aid of Copeland!
The Young Bucks—Matthew and Nicholas Jackson—came out, but FTR met them on the ramp and the two teams brawled! Back in the ring, Copeland speared Brody! Briscoe whipped a chair into Buddy’s head and Copeland speared Buddy!
Copeland, backed by FTR and Briscoe, had Malakai Black cornered. Black retreated, seeing the numbers were against him. Nicholas pulled Matthew out of the ring, saving his brother from being beaten at the hands of FTR.
The Infantry’s Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki!
Trish took down Yuka with a shoulder tackle. Sakazaki used a forward roll takedown and then a sliding lariat on Trish Adora. Trish grabbed Yuka and nailed her with the Blackhole back breaker.
Trish applied a cross face, but Yuka got to the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold. Yuka rattled Trish with a dropkick from the top rope. Trish suplexed Yuka, countering an attempt by Yuka. Trish and Yuka traded forearms in the center of the ring.
Yuka planted Trish with a high angle drop. Trish rallied back with a full nelson sit out for a near fall. Yuka hoisted up Trish, spun her around and dropped her face first! Yuka splashed Trish from off the ropes and scored the victory!
“Yuka returns to AEW for the first time in almost 14 months with a win,” said Tony Schiavone.
“The Professor” Serena Deeb walked onto the stage, smiled and applauded Yuka.
“Deeb likes what she sees, but very soon school will be in session,” said Nigel.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli
vs.
The Butcher!
Both men locked up. Butcher chomped on Claudio’s head. Claudio fired back with a shoulder tackle and a scoop slam. Claudio squashed Butcher with a double stomp. Butcher blasted Claudio with a back breaker and a suplex.
Butcher battered Claudio with forearms shots. Butcher applied a cross face submission on Claudio. Claudio got to his feet, with Butcher on his back! Claudio drilled Butcher with a Death Valley Driver. Claudio walloped Butcher with European Uppercuts. Claudio hurled Butcher around with the Giant Swing! Claudio planted Butcher with the Neutralizer and pinned Butcher!
“Another win for a member of the BCC,” said Tony Schiavone.
Main Event Time!
Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes) vs. Komander!
“Penta will have a chance to become the TNT Champion when he faces Adam Copeland in the ‘Cope Open’ this Wednesday on Dynamite,” said Tony Schiavone.
Penta El Zero Miedo and Komander exchanged a flurry of offense, countering one another to a stalemate at the start of the match. Komander chopped Penta and then cracked him with a kick. Komander went for a handstand elbow but Penta followed him and wiped him out before Komander complete the move.
Komander took down Penta with a hurracanrana. Komander jumped out of the ring with a tope, but Penta caught him and pressed him, dropping Komander hard onto the steel ring steps! Penta clocked Komander with an overhand chop. Komander rocketed out of the ring with a tope to Penta El Zero Miedo!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Komander jumped off the top turnbuckle, but Penta caught him flush in the throat with a thrust kick! Penta stunned Komander with a Sling Blade and then a Destroyer for a near fall! Komander rocked Penta with a Spanish Fly out of nowhere! Penta retaliated with a Destroyer on the apron! Komander had plenty of fight left in him and back dropped Penta on the ramp!
Back in the ring, it became a war of attrition, with both men trading strikes. Penta planted Komander with the Made in Japan, but somehow, Komander kicked out before the three-count! Komander splashed Penta with a tornillo for a near fall!
“What is it going to take to win this thing?” wondered Schiavone.
Komander moonsaulted off the ropes and onto Penta on the arena floor! Komander walked the top rope and flipped but Penta was waiting for him with a lung blower! Penta finished off Komander with the Fear Factor and pinned Komander!
“Penta wins it but there were no losers in this match,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Standing ovation here and both these men deserve it,” added Nigel.
TNT Champion Adam Copeland walked onto the ramp and smirked at Penta El Zero Miedo. Copeland and Penta had a stare down ahead of their match this Wednesday, with neither man backing down.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV!
DYNASTY 2024 is getting closer, and after this past Wednesday night the AEW World Championship was made official with Swerve's blood, one-half of the finals of the AEW World Tag Tournament were set when The Young Bucks beat Best Friends, Thunder Rosa earned her way into an AEW Women's World Championship match with “Timeless” Toni Storm, and that was just DYNAMITE! RAMPAGE brought The House of Black's Malakai Black topping Christopher Daniels, AEW International Champion Roderick Strong victorious in an Eliminator Bout, Serena Deeb taking home another win, and Daniel Garcia scoring a huge victory in that Final Four Elimination battle!
That brings us to this Saturday night for a loaded edition of COLLISION that gets underway at a special start time of 11:30pm ET on TNT! It features The House of Black in Trios action, the return of Yuka Sakazaki, Penta El Zero Miedo taking on Komander, and perhaps most importantly, the other Semi-Final match in the AEW World Tag Title Tournament between FTR and Top Flight! Fans around the world can get prepared for all the action with a visit to the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's various social media platforms, to catch highlights from this week's DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then come join us next Wednesday in Charleston, WV at the Charleston Coliseum featuring a TNT Championship bout between Adam Copeland and former AEW World Tag Champion Penta El Zero Miedo!
AEW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL…
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
It's been more than sixteen monthssince the last time FTR and Top Flight locked horns in tag team competition, and in that match Dax and Cash were in the midst of their ROH World Tag Team Championship reign. In fact, that victory over Dante and Darius Martin was the final defense of FTR's title run before they were defeated by Jay and Mark Briscoe at FINAL BATTLE 2022's unforgettable Double Dog Collar Match. It was one of the many championship accomplishments that FTR has achieved over their careers, accomplishments that included the AEW World Tag Titles two times over, but now their mission is to make it a historic third time around, but they've got to get past Top Flight this Saturday night!
Now the career of Top Flight has been wrought with difficulties, Darius fell to an injury in February 2021 that kept him on the shelf for thirteen months, and then a month after his return, Darius fell to another injury that kept him out of action for seven months of 2022. Then, just as Top Flight seemed to be getting back into their groove, just four months after Darius' return, Dante suffered a near career ending injury at ROH's SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2023 event that ultimately put him out of action eight months! Yet they keep bouncing back, stronger than they were before, hungrier than ever, and now the Martin brothers are ready to take that next step towards becoming AEW World Tag Champions for the first time.
TAG TEAM BOUT…
Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty) vs.
LionHOOK (Chris Jericho & FTW Champion HOOK)
Chris Jericho may have once again adopted his “Lionheart” moniker, but FTW Champion HOOK is still wary of the original AEW World Champion because of his track record within All Elite Wrestling. Jericho may be doing his best to try and get HOOK to sit under his learning tree, to believe in Jericho as much as Jericho believes in HOOK. The 2-Time FTW Champ is on guard, but he is still willing to see what “Lionheart” has to teach, and set-up a match for their LionHOOK team this Saturday on COLLISION!
It's not going to be an easy night for Jericho and HOOK though because they've got a fight on their hands when it comes to Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty! STP is always primed for a fight, and though they are quite the imposing force once the bell rings, they've yet to get on the kind of roll a team needs to truly make an impact on the division. Knocking Chris Jericho down a peg while also topping the FTW Champion are certainly moves to build that kind of momentum, and that's what STP aims to do this Saturday night on COLLISION!
SINGLES MATCH…
Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Komander
As we heard this past Wednesday night, former AEW World Tag Champion Penta El Zero Miedo is on the hunt for his first singles championship in All Elite Wrestling, and as such he's set his sights on answering the Cope Open Challenge! That's right, next week on DYNAMITE, live from Charleston, WV, Penta meets Adam Copeland in a TNT Championship match, but before he gets to the Charleston Coliseum, Penta has to step into the ring with a man he's called partner many times over the last year, the high-flying Komander!
Well they've fought in a couple of Four Way contests (both for championship opportunities coincidentally), as well as a Three Way contest, this will mark the first time the two Luchadors have met in a singles bout. They've teamed in All Elite Wrestling, they've teamed in Ring of Honor, they even teamed up on the Jericho Cruise, but somehow they've never gone one-on-one prior to this late night Saturday COLLISION. With Penta stepping up to challenge for the TNT Championship for the first time since the March 25, 2023 edition of RAMPAGE, this fight with Komander has an added importance as a win here serves to build momentum while a loss puts the man fighting out of a hole at the worst possible time.
While not thought of as a singles competitor in the auspices of All Elite Wrestling, Penta is highly decorated in that role in his non-AEW endeavors, and just wants to add some more singles gold to that resume!
SINGLES BATTLE…
The Butcher vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Two tags, a Three Way Tag, and a Trios bout; that's how many times The Butcher and Claudio Castagnoli have stood opposite the ring from one another in non-Battle Royal matches, and in all but the Three Way Tag, it was The Blackpool Combat Club that came out victorious (that honor went to Top Flight). Yet in the nearly two years since “The Swiss Superman” made his All Elite Wrestling debut, the two combatants have never locked horns in a singles match, that is until this Saturday night on COLLISION!
When two of the biggest, most powerful men in the AEW locker room butt heads, you know it's going to be, as Jim Ross would say, a slobberknocker of a match! Who will win out in this battle of the big, bald, and bad?!?
AEW fans have not seen Yuka Sakazaki in action since the 2/13/23 edition of DARK: ELEVATION, but “The Magical Girl” returns to All Elite Wrestling this Saturday night on COLLISION! From the moment she made her debut at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2019, Yuka has left quite the impression on the All Elite Wrestling fans, and the women she's fought inside the squared circle. She holds victories over Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D, Penelope Ford, Mei Suruga, Emi Sakura, and Billie Starkz, to name a few, boasts a 10-4 record in singles matches, and is 14-7 overall, but she's never had a championship opportunity in AEW, and isn't that the fight is ultimately all about?
Well with this return to AEW action, after taking a few months off from competition to heal from nagging injuries, perhaps Yuka can work her way towards a title opportunity, but first she must contend with the hard-hitting challenge of The Infantry's Trish Adora! Adora comes into this fight having just gone through it with Serena Deeb on RAMPAGE, but is ready to bounce back from that loss to spoil Yuka's return to All Elite Wrestling!
ALSO FEATURING…
-The House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews, & Malakai Black) vs. Christopher Daniels, Matt Sydal, & “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Ketih
The Semi-Finals of the AEW World Tag Title Tournament come to a close this week on COLLISION when FTR meets Top Flight, Penta El Zero Miedo battles Komander as he heads towards a TNT Championship contest with Adam Copeland, and the BCC's Claudio Castagnoli meets The Butcher in singles competition. As if that wasn't enough, Yuka Sakazaki returns to AEW competition to meet Trish Adora, LionHOOK battles Shane Taylor Promotions, and The House of Black will be in Trios competition!
The night gets underway a little later than usual, kicking off at 11:30pm ET on TNT, and fans around the world can get ready for it all at the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's assorted social media outlets! There fans can watch highlights from Wednesday's edition of DYNAMITE and Friday's RAMPAGE episode, as well as the CONTROL CENTER with Tony Schiavone! Then join All Elite Wrestling in Charleston, WV at the Charleston Coliseum for a TNT Championship bout pitting Adam Copeland against former AEW World Tag Champion Penta El Zero Miedo!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the Budweiser Gardens in London, ON!
Yourbroadcast team was Nigel McGuinness, Ian Riccaboni, and Tony Schiavone.
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
This…is…Rampage!
“The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels
vs.
House Of Black’s Malakai Black (with Buddy Matthews)!
Daniels grappled Black to the mat, but Black escaped and hit a shoulder tackle. Daniels used a side headlock takedown and then an arm drag. Black showed off his striking prowess, decking Daniels with a knee to the jaw. Daniels was dazed getting to his feet. Black knocked Daniels out of the ring with a front kick and Buddy Matthews blindsided the Fallen Angel with a cheap shot.
Daniels retaliated with a Flatliner on Black. Daniels dropped Black with an STO! Black countered a uranage. Daniels drilled Black with a high angle Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Daniels hooked both arms for the Angels Wings, but Black escaped.
Malakai clobbered Daniels with a round kick to the back of Daniels’ head. Black blasted Daniels with a roundhouse kick to Daniels’ jaw and pinned a knocked out Daniels!
“And now the House of Black awaits Dynasty where they’ll face Kingston, Copeland, and Briscoe,” said Schiavone.
AEW International Championship Eliminator Match!
Undisputed Kingdom’s Roderick Strong (c.) (with ROH World Tag Team Champs Mike Bennett and Matt Taven)
vs.
London Lightning!
Strong: “Welcome to the first ever Roderick Strong International Challenge. Come over here young man, I want to ask you a few things. What’s your name?”
Strong’s opponent answered, “I’m London Lightning, from where here in London, Ontario!”
Strong: “Hey, why did your parents name you after a place where nobody has accomplished anything ever? It’s true, I’m a champion, I know. Now here’s the big one. What do you think your chances are against a wrestling legend like me?”
London: “I would say with the people behind me tonight, with the people watching from home, my mother cheering me on from the couch, my odds are better than yours!”
Roderick: “Not only do I think you’re stupid, but I know you’re stupid.”
Roderick hit a shoulder tackle on London, but London fired back with a jumping knee strike. Strong slung London right into the mat. Roderick blistered London with chops in the corner. Roderick stomped London on the back. Roderick nailed London with a back breaker.
London used a Manhattan drop and then a lariat to put down Strong. London Lightning suplexed Roddy. London Lightning climbed to the top, but Roddy rolled out of the ring. London Lightning pulled Roderick back into the ring. London jumped over the top rope with a cross body to the outside on Taven. Wardlow appeared out of nowhere and steamrolled London with a lariat! Roderick finished London Lighting with a Texas Cloverleaf, forcing the challenger to tap out!
“There is certainly strength in numbers, with Roderick capitalizing on Wardlow’s assistance,” said Nigel.
“The Professor” Serena Deeb
vs.
The Infantry’s Trish Adora!
Deeb took down Adora with a dragon screw leg whip. Deeb put Trish in the Paradise Lock and then dropkicked Trish.
Trish stunned Deeb with a backbreaker! They exchanged chops in the corner. Deeb paint brushed Trish and then struck with a dragon screw leg whip. Deeb nailed Trish with a back breaker across the middle rope. Deeb continued to work over Trish’s knee with another dragon screw. Adora rallied back with a full nelson bomb for a near fall!
Deeb wiped out Adora with a German Suplex. Deeb applied the Serenity Lock and Adora submitted!
Final Four Elimination Match!
Daniel Garcia vs. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith vs. Action Andretti vs. Komander!
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Keith and Garcia brawled around the ring while Action and Komander traded a flurry of offense in the ring. Keith hit Action from behind. Keith shook hands with Komander and then they double teamed Andretti with a double gut buster.
Garcia cleaned house on Komander, Keith, and Andretti! Keith cracked Garcia with a knee strike for a near fall. Komander took down Keith with a hurracanrana and pinned Keith. Bryan Keith was the first man eliminated.
Komander pump kicked Andretti. Garcia planted Komander with a suplex. Garcia and Andretti wiped out one another with lariats. Andretti and Garcia slugged it out on the apron. Action nailed Garcia with a Death Valley Driver on the edge of the ring! Action followed up with an Arabian Press to Garcia. Komander knocked them both down with a springboard moontsault. Komander went for another springboard, but Action caught him and countered with a cutter, pinning Komander with the Lights, Camera, Action!
Garcia and Andretti were the final two participants. Garcia chop blocked Action Andretti. Garcia started to work over Andretti’s knee. Andretti clobbered Garcia with a back breaker into a neck breaker. Andretti went for a standing moonsault, but Garcia countered with an ankle lock! Andretti rolled forward and escaped!
Action Andretti jumped over the top with a crossbody to Garcia on the arena floor. Andretti hoisted up Garcia, but Andretti’s leg gave out. They traded forearms until Garcia kicked Andretti in the knee. Andretti rocked Garcia with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall! Garcia caught Andretti in a knee bar and forced Andretti to tap out!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV!
After this past Wednesday, the paper is signed (in blood), sealed, and delivered for our AEW World Championship match at DYNASTY 2024 in St. Louis on April 21st, and we also know that The Young Bucks will be competing in the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Finals against the winner of FTR and Top Flight. In addition, we learned that AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm will have to face Thunder Rosain a title fight on that pay-per-view extravaganza, and we bore witness to Will Ospreay surviving Powerhouse Hobbs as his April 21st bout with Bryan Danielson draws near!
This Friday the action continues, first with ROH's SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2024 starting at 8pm ET/7pm CT, and then we continue our loaded week of events with an all-new RAMPAGE at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT! We've got a very intriguing first-time for AEW match between “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, “The Professor” Serena Deeb in action as she continues to climb the rankings, AEW International Champion Roderick Strong in action, and a big Final Four Elimination bout pitting Action Andretti, Bryan Keith, Daniel Garcia, and Komander against one another!
Before the action gets underway, be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel , as well as AEW's assorted social media platforms, to see highlights from Wednesday night's DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then be sure to tune into TNT this Saturday night beginning at 11:30p ET/10:30p CT for a loaded COLLISION featuring FTR versus Top Flight in the second Semi-Final bout of the AEW World Tag Title Tournament!
A CHALLENGE ISSUED…
“The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. Malakai Black
After seeing Malakai Black confront Adam Copeland after his Cope Open TNT Championship Match against Matt Cardona, “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels elected to make a challenge of his own to the master of The House of Black. This may be the first singles match in All Elite Wrestling between the two men, but it is not their first match against one another. In fact it was only four months ago that Malakai and Buddy Matthews topped Daniels and Matt Sydal in tag team action, but two years prior to that, on a Northeast Wrestling event in Poughkeepsie, NY, Malakai actually bested “The Fallen Angel” in singles competition.
So not only is this Friday night on RAMPAGE an opportunity for Daniels to test the mettle of Malakai in a head-to-head bout, it's also a chance to even the score with Black for that bout January 2022 meeting, and perhaps to catch the attention of the TNT Champion as well. After all, it was very clear from what happened on COLLISION that Malakai Black has eyes on Adam Copeland and that title, so if “The Fallen Angel” can get one over on Malakai this Friday, perhaps he can also work himself into a position to challenge for Copeland's hard-earned TNT Championship!
FINAL FOUR ELIMINATION BOUT…
Action Andretti vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith vs. Daniel Garcia vs. Komander
This is going to be a wild one Friday night as AEW offers up a little March madness of its own in the form of a Four Way Elimination bout featuring a quartet of the best young athletes in All Elite Wrestling! It's a combination of hard-hitting striking, tough as nails grappling, high-flying maneuvers, and good old fashioned wrestling when Andretti, Keith, Garcia, and Komander lock-up on RAMPAGE! A bit of an outlier for AEW multi-man bouts, this one is being fought under Elimination Rules rather than first pinfall, meaning there is no urgency in breaking up every pinfall that takes place because it behooves each man to let another get eliminated from the fray.
There are quite a few interesting dynamics at play in this Final Four Elimination as well, ones that could factor into how the game is played and how alliances may be formed to help whittle it down to two men. Take Komander and Bryan Keith, they have served as tag partners both in ROH, as well as in AEW on several occasions, and both were involved in the Elimination Survival of the Fittest contest at ROH's FINAL BATTLE 2023 event last December. Komander has been on opposite sides of several Trios matches against Action Andretti, while this will be the only time he's shared a ring with Daniel Garcia outside of Battle Royal situations. Speaking of Garcia, he was actually beaten by Action Andretti in January 2023, but this will mark the first time he's ever been inside a ring with “The Bounty Hunter” in any fashion.
So with all those little threads wrapping these men together, who will be the one to survive the Final Four and be the last one standing to cut the proverbial net?
SINGLES MATCH…
(5)Serena Deeb vs. Trish Adora
“The Professor of Professional Wrestling” Serena Deeb has defeated Lady Frost, Robyn Renegade, and Queen Aminata since returning to in-ring competition on the January 27th edition of COLLISION, with each victory in service of accomplishing a goal that eluded her prior to her 15-month absence: an AEW Championship. Those victories earned Deeb the number five spot in the March 27th Rankings update, but that spot isn't good enough, that spot isn't what “The Professor” came back for, she wants the spot Thunder Rosa occupies, she wants what Thunder Rosawon on Wednesday night, and Serena Deeb will break apart every woman in the AEW locker room in order to get there.
The work towards that goal continues this Friday night on RAMPAGE when Serena meets The Infantry's Trish Adora in their very first singles match! Like so many other young competitors, it feels like Adora is on the cusp of breaking through to that next level as an athlete, that she is just missing one little thing that enables her to get those big wins that get her noticed, get her into the rankings, and get her into conversations about championship fights. While Trish may have looked great in her 2024 fights with Mariah May and Riho, and while she may have given Julia Hart a run for her money in a TBS Championship match, the reality is Adora was only in that title fight because Julia made it an Open House Challenge. Trish Adora was not in a championship situation because of a stellar win percentage, or because she'd won a contender's bout, she was there because she was one with enough guts to enter The House of Black and fight its Queen on her terms.
Saying all that is no discount to Trish's abilities inside the ring, in fact it's meant as a credit to the fire in her belly, but also to illustrate that she has to find that element that makes her a contender because she earned her way into that spot with wins, by beating top competition, and showing that she's got what it takes to wear an AEW Championship around her waist. Facing “The Professor of Professional Wrestling” is a big step in the right direction, there are few women who can give Trish Adora that on-the-job learning experience like Serena Deeb, and if Adora can find a way to victory, it will be because she earned it the hard way.
So will Trish Adora be the next woman Serena Deeb steps on the climb up the rankings, or will she be the first woman in 2024 to put Deeb down for a three count?
ELIMINATOR MATCH…
AEW International Champion Roderick Strong vs. London Lightning
Last week in Quebec City, it was “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard who stepped up to the International Title Eliminator Challenge and faced Roderick Strong in a one-on-one contest, or at least on paper it was a one-on-one contest, with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett lurking at ringside the reality was more like a three-on-one situation. That numbers advantage directly led to Menard's defeat at Roderick's hands, and could've ended in a much worse assault had Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta not been on the spot to run The Undisputed Kingdom off.
Well this week on RAMPAGE, another individual is stepping up to the International Challenge in hopes of earning himself a title opportunity against “The Messiah of the Backbreaker”, a young man by the name of London Lightning. London is taking a huge leap in accepting this Eliminator Match, he's a kid with barely a year of experience under his belt, coming off a pair of losses in Ring of Honor to Lee Johnson and Evil Uno, but who is brave enough to take this unbelievable opportunity to score an AEW International Championship match!
There's no doubt Roderick has every conceivable advantage here, but any given night a match can wildly swing in unexpected directions, and that is what London Lightning is hoping to experience this Friday on RAMPAGE! If he can earn himself an International Championship match by beating Roderick Strong, it'll be an upset rivaling Action Andretti's over Chris Jericho, and a situation that immediately puts London Lightning's name in headlines!
This jam-packed week of AEW/ROH action continue Friday night on TNT beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT with an all-new RAMPAGE featuring four tremendous contests! AEW International Champion Roderick Strong will be in action, as well “The Professor” Serena Deeb, and we kick the night off with “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels taking on The House of Black's Malakai Black in singles competition! As if that wasn't enough, there's also the Final Four Elimination contest where Action Andretti, Bryan Keith, Daniel Garcia, and Komander do battle to see who the last man standing will be!
Prior to bell time, make a point to check out the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's numerous social media outlets, to watch highlights from this past Wednesday's edition of DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! And don't forget, this Saturday night COLLISION gets underway at 11:30p ET/10:30p CT on TNT with a stacked card highlighted by LionHOOK versus Shane Taylor Promotions and the second Semi-Final Match in the AEW World Tag Title Tournament!
