AEW Dynamite Preview for March 27, 2024

AEW Dynamite Preview for March 27, 2024

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Last Wednesday night was jam-packed with three hours of AEW programming, starting with our traditional two hours of DYNAMITE, then immediately followed by RAMPAGE as it aired on a special night! During those three hours, the AEW faithful witnessed Adam Copeland earn back the TNT Championship by going through a hellacious “I Quit” match with Christian Cage, and saw Kazuchika Okada defeat Eddie Kingston to claim the AEW Continental Championship! In addition, Skye Blue and TBS Champion Julia Hart beat Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale in a Street Fight,  Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta won their Wild Card bout in the Tag Title Tournament, and FTW Champion HOOK defeated Chris Jericho!

This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, live from Quebec City, QC and the Centre Videotron, we will witness a rematch seven years in the making, one that many thought would never come to pass, when Katsuyori Shibata takes on Will Ospreay! Plus, Konosuke Takeshita will go head-to-head with Swerve Strickland, and the Quarter-Finals of the AEW World Tag Title Tournament begin when The Young Bucks meet Private Party!

Then join All Elite Wrestling in London, ON for Saturday’s COLLISION, live from the Budweiser Gardens,  for The Infantry versus FTR in the Quarter-Finals of the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament, and so much more!

SEVEN YEARS IN THE WAITING…

“The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata

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Eleven matches; that is how many times Katsuyori Shibata and Will Ospreay stepped into the ring between January 5th and February 11th of 2017. Seven of those times it was Shibata who came out on top, but only one of those victories came in the form of a singles match, the very last one at NJPW’s THE NEW BEGINNING IN OSAKA 2017 event. The other ten matches were all fought in trios and multi-man bouts, all save that RevPro British Heavyweight Championship fight on February 11th won by Shibata, but unfortunately a rematch never came to pass as Shibata’s career came to an end just two months later after an IWGP Heavyweight Title fight with Kazuchika Okada at SAKURA GENESIS 2017. 

Then the unimaginable happened; four years and six months later, during the G1 CLIMAX 2021 tour, Shibata shocked the world when he stepped into the ring with Zack Sabre Jr. for a five minute Grappling Rules contest! Two and a half months later, at WRESTLE KINGDOM 16, Shibata would get back into the ring with Ren Narita for a full-blow professional wrestling match, then ten months later, on the 11/4/22 edition of RAMPAGE, Shibata would make his in-ring debut for AEW in an International Championship loss to Orange Cassidy. Given the time between those two matches, it was reasonable to question whether or not Shibata was returning to full-time competition or if those were just a couple matches to test his own limits. The answer came on March 31, 2023 when, at ROH’s SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2023 event, Shibata won the ROH Pure Championship from Wheeler Yuta, and spent the next eight months tearing it up on both AEW and ROH events, as well as traveling to RevPro for their 11TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW. 

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After losing the Pure Championship back to Yuta last November, Shibata returned to Japan, but made a monumental return to AEW action on the March 16th COLLISION when he battled Bryan Danielson in a certified Dream Match. Here were two men that both thought their in-ring careers finished at some point in the years prior, two men who defied the odds and the expectations of medical professionals, two men who were now fighting better than they had at any previous point in their careers, and they were going to war for the AEW faithful. Danielson ultimately won the fight, and there was another man watching on who took what happened as a test he needed to take upon himself.

That man was Will Ospreay, and with his own bout against Bryan Danielson set for AEW DYNASTY on April 21st, he felt the need to test himself against Katsuyori Shibata, to see if he could succeed in 2024 where he did not in 2017, and thus made a challenge to “The Wrestler” for the fight going down this Wednesday night! Can Ospreay follow in Danielson’s footsteps and score a victory over Katsuyori Shibata in Quebec City? Or will Shibata repeat history in this monumental rematch seven years in the making?

ONE-ON-ONE…

“The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita vs. Swerve Strickland

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Thus far in 2024, Konosuke Takeshita holds a record of 5-1 in singles matches, and 10-2 over the last twelve months in that field. That’s a run that includes victories over Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, Kyle Fletcher, as well as Rocky Romero this past Wednesday night, and has shown the world that “The Alpha” is one of the most fearsome competitors in All Elite Wrestling today. 

Over the course of his last eleven one-on-one match-ups Swerve Strickland lost exactly one time, his Continental Classic Gold League fight with Jon Moxley on 12/13/23, and was taken to a 30-Minute time limit draw by Hangman Page on 2/7/24. It’s been an incredible run for Strickland as well, and even if you factor in his two Three Way losses in the Gold League Finals and at REVOLUTION 2024, it doesn’t change that run because wasn’t the man who took the fall in either of those matches. There are few men who’ve been on a hotter streak that Swerve Strickland, and that run has put Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship in Swerve’s crosshairs.

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For the very first time these two men, each at the top of their game, will lock horns this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, and there is certainly the possibility that the future of the AEW World Championship hinges on the result of this match! Both Takeshita and Swerve have reasonable claims to being the next challenger for Samoa Joe, based on their respective records and, in the case of Swerve, the fact he wasn’t defeated in the Three Way at REVOLUTION ’24. 

As announced Tuesday night by AEW GM Tony Khan, this match will determine the next challenger for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship! With that added factor, there is no doubt Samoa Joe will have his eyes on this contest as his next contender is determined!

AEW WORLD TAG TITLE TOURNAMENT QUARTER-FINAL MATCH…

The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen

On October 9, 2019, in the very first match of the original AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament, Private Party shocked the world when they defeated The Young Bucks to advance out of the Quarter-Finals. Though Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen would fall to The Lucha Brothers in the Semi-Finals, the impact was made, and the world had been forced to stand up and recognize Private Party.

A year later The Young Bucks would even up the score, pinning Isiah Kassidy to win a Four Way #1 Contenders match on 10/21/20, and would follow that up with a traditional tag team victory over Private Party on November 4th a few weeks later. Since that bout over three years ago, the two teams only met in one Trios match, though Isiah has a little more experience fighting the brothers Jackson with other partners during Marq Quen’s injury recovery, but not one other tag team match between Private Party and The Young Bucks since 2020.

That all changes this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when, in the Quarter-Finals of the AEW World Tag Title Tournament, The Young Bucks and Private Party meet again! Since Marq Quen’s return to action in 2024, Private Party is 2-2 in tag team action, though one of those losses came in a Three Way tag with Top Flight and Bryan Keith/Komander where neither Quen nor Kassidy were the ones pinned to lose the match.  As for The EVPs, in 2024 they are 3-1 in tag team action, but to be honest about their record, two of those victories came over local competitors who frankly had no chance at actually beating the former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champions. 

The Young Bucks have a mission of becoming the first 3-Time AEW Tag Champions while Private Party have one to capture those belts for the very first time, and only one team can get closer to their objective. Will it be The Young Bucks or Private Party who advances to the Semi-Finals? And will it be The Undisputed Kingdom or the Orange Cassidy/Trent Beretta tandem who meets them there?

AEW WORLD TAG TITLE TOURNAMENT QUARTER-FINAL MATCH…

The Undisputed Kingdom (ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs.

Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta

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The AEW World Tag Title Tournament kicks off in full-force this Wednesday night with the aforementioned Young Bucks/Private Party match, and this Quarter-Final match pitting ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett against Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta!

Though OC and Trent have never faced this Undisputed Kingdom tandem in a tag match, Cassidy’s fight with Roderick Strong have made them all quite familiar with one another, in fact the former 2-Time International Champion beat both Taven and Bennett in singles matches on the road to REVOLUTION 2024. But on that same road, as part of their mission to remove Cassidy’s support system, The Undisputed Kingdom put a hurting on Trent Beretta, so that makes this tag team encounter as much a method of revenge as it is an opportunity to move forward in the tournament to face the winner of the Private Party/Young Bucks bout!

TBS CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDER MATCH…

Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue vs. Anna Jay

***Mercedes Moné on commentary***

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The TBS Championship is a prize greatly coveted by the women of All Elite Wrestling, and this Wednesday night four competitors will clash to see who moves on to DYNASTY 2024 to face Julia Hart! All four of these women have plenty of story with Julia Hart, especially Statlander, Nightingale, and Skye Blue given their months of battle since FULL GEAR 2023, but Anna Jay has her own reasons for wanting another fight with Julia Hart.

Hart has been the bane of Anna Jay’s AEW existence, in three bouts it has been Julia who’s won each one, including a TBS Championship fight at BATTLE OF THE BELTS IX back in January. Statlander is the woman that Julia Hart took the TBS Championship from, though technically she did not defeat Kris to win in, but Statlander has yet to be granted a rematch. Coincidentally, Julia earned that title fight at FULL GEAR 2023 by defeating Willow Nightingale in an Eliminator Bout, and of course there’s the relationship between Hart and Skye Blue that’s blossomed since Hart misted Skye many months ago. At first they were at odds, but over time the two women became thick as thieves, and have come to operate as quite the fearsome tag team, actually beating Stat and Willow in a Street Fight last Wednesday night on RAMPAGE!

This is quite the intriguing Four Way, and it will be interesting to see how TBS Champion Julia Hart responds to the outcome of the fight, especially if it is Skye Blue who earns herself the DYNASTY 2024 title match!

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Join us Wednesday night for DYNAMITE, hailing from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC, and featuring the first Quarter-Final match in the AEW World Tag Title Tournament between The Young Bucks and Private Party, Takeshita versus Swerve, and a rematch years in the making between Katsuyori Shibata and Will Ospreay!!!

The meets us this Saturday in London, ON at the Budweiser Gardens for the return of COLLISION featuring former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champions FTR taking on The Infantry in a Quarter-Final match-up of the AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament!

AEW Returns to Las Vegas for Memorial Day Double Header

AEW Returns to Las Vegas for Memorial Day Double Header

AEW Returns to Las Vegas for Memorial Day Double Header:  

AEW: DOUBLE OR NOTHING and AEW: Collision

— MGM Grand Garden Arena Hosts DOUBLE OR NOTHING on Sunday, May 26 and AEW: Collision on Saturday, May 25

 

— AEW: Dynamite returns to Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 29,

and AEW: Collision debuts at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs for a special taping —

March 27, 2024 – Five years ago, AEW’s inaugural DOUBLE OR NOTHING pay-per-view event in Las Vegas revolutionized the professional wrestling industry, and propelled AEW on its meteoric rise around the world.  Today, AEW CEO Tony Khan announced that Las Vegas will once again host the marquee DOUBLE OR NOTHING event on Sunday, May 26, live from MGM Grand Garden Arena.  

As part of DOUBLE OR NOTHING weekend, TNT’s “AEW: Collision” will also be held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 25.  In addition, TBS’ “AEW: Dynamite” will emanate from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 29, followed by a special taping of “AEW: Collision” on Thursday, May 30, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, Calif.

Tickets for the upcoming Las Vegas and Los Angeles events go on sale this Saturday, March 30, via AEWTix.com, AXS.com and Ticketmaster.com.  On sale information for “AEW: Collision” in Palm Springs will be announced soon.  Fans interested in exclusive presale opportunities can register to become an AEW Insider by visiting www.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

Adam Copeland Captures the TNT Championship

Adam Copeland Captures the TNT Championship

TNT Championship I Quit Match!

“The Patriarch” Christian Cage (c.) vs. “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!

Copeland was looking for the spear right away, but Christian bailed out of the ring. Copeland blasted Christian with a sliding dropkick. Copeland chased Christian through the crowd, and they began to brawl in the penalty box.

Copeland propped a ladder across the guardrail and the announcers’ desk. Copeland pulled Christian down hard on the ladder!

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Copeland inverted the ladder in the ring and then slammed Christian against it stomach first! Copeland rammed Christian shoulder first into the steel ring post. Cope pulled a table out from under the ring. Copeland placed the ladder against the guardrail. Cope went to spear Christian through the table, but Christian leapfrogged over Copeland and then rammed Copeland into the ring post! Copeland was busted wide open!

Christian jumped off the top turnbuckle and splashed Copeland through the table outside the ring! Christian catapulted Copeland into a ladder that was placed on the turnbuckles. Copeland dodged a frog splash. Copeland locked in a cross face submission but Christian gouged Copeland in the eyes. Both men went for the spear and collided into one another!

Shayna Wayne ambushed Copeland, hitting him with a hockey stick for a low blow! Christian Cage cracked the hockey stick across Copeland’s back! Christian grabbed a barb wire wrapped chair from beneath the ring. Christian set Copeland’s head across one chair and tried for the con-chair-to with the barb wire chair, but Copeland moved out of the way in the nick of time!

Copeland hit Christian with the hockey stick across the face. Copeland pulled the drawstring from his pants and wrapped it around Christian’s throat, pulling back. Killswitch and Nick Wayne jumped into the ring and began to stomp Copeland!

Mother Wayne entered the ring and slapped Copeland as Nick Wayne and Killswitch held him back. Matt Menard and Daniel Garcia ran to the ring and cleaned house of Nick Wayne and Killswitch, evening the odds for Copeland!

Copeland climbed the ladder and splashed Killswitch and Nick Wayne outside the ring! Garcia had handcuffs. Garcia and Menard handcuffed Killswitch to the ropes while Copeland handcuffed Nick Wayne in the opposite corner. Mother Wayne retreated from the ring!

Garcia and Menard pinballed Christian Cage with strikes and then Copeland speared Christian! Copeland handcuffed Christian in the corner. Copeland pulled the case containing Spike from beneath the ring. Copeland swung Spike at Christian, cracking him between the legs! Copeland went to hit Christian again, but this time Christian said, “I quit!”

And new TNT Champion “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!

Kazuchika Okada is the New AEW Continental Champion

Kazuchika Okada is the New AEW Continental Champion

AEW Continental Championship Match!

“Mad King” Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!

“The world is ready for this one,” said Tony Schiavone. 

Kingston hit Okada with a flurry of offense, and then blistered the challenger with chops. Okada hammered back with an elbow to the back of Kingston’s head. Okada spiked Kingston with a DDT on the arena floor!

Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were watching backstage, wearing headsets and producing the match. 

Okada nailed Kingston with a neck breaker. Okada followed up with a dropkick to the side of Kingston’s head. Kingston fired back with a double over hook suplex and then a back heel trip. Kingston blasted Okada with machine gun chops in the corner. Kingston rocked Okada with a German suplex and then a sliding forearm. Okada rallied back with a dropkick.

Eddie stunned Okada with a spinning back fist for a near fall. Okada attempted to hit the Rainmaker, but Kingston got his arms up to block it. Okada gouged Kingston’s eyes. Okada planted Kingston on the mat and rocked Eddie with the Rainmaker, scoring the pin!

New AEW Continental Champion… “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada!

“History was made here tonight,” said Taz.

“Okada wasting no time,” replied Excalibur.

“The Bastard” Pac’s music hit! Pac walked onto the ramp and stared a hole into Okada, making his presence known to the Rainmaker!

AEW Dynamite and Rampage Results for March 20, 2024

AEW Dynamite and Rampage Results for March 20, 2024

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Tonight’s double header episode of AEW DYNAMITE & AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast live from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON!

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!

Tony Schiavone kicked off the show in the ring to interview “The CEO” Mercedes Moné!

The fans chanted “CEO! CEO! CEO!”

Mercedes: “Toronto, please say hello to your new CEO. I am still on such a high since last week at Big Business. I missed you guys. I missed all of this! I am so excited to be her in AEW. A lot of you guys don’t know this, but all of this almost got taken away from me 10 months ago. I almost had a career ending injury in a match against Willow Nightingale. 

“I know this is in the past and I’m in a new home of AEW. A lot of people may not know who Mercedes Moné is, so I asked the production truck to play a highlight video so you can get a taste of your new CEO.

“As you see, I was rocking and rolling, I was kicking butt all over the world but then it got taken away from me. But I knew I needed to be back, and I needed to be here. Minor setbacks make for major comebacks and now I’m here as your CEO. I am not here to lead a women’s evolution. I’ve done that before. I am here to lead a women’s global revolution. I can here to face the very best women in AEW and all over the globe. 

“About last week when Julia Hart and Skye Blue attacked Willow, they must not have heard that I have unfinished business with Willow. And anybody that messes with my business will get bankrupt. There’s a price you pay when you mess with Mercedes Moné.”

The arena lights went dark!

The lights came back on, and Julia Hart was standing in the aisle, smirking at Mercedes. Skye Blue tried to ambush Mercedes, but Mercedes dropped Blue! Julie Hart jumped in, and Mercedes hoisted up Julia for the Money Maker, but Skye Blue pulled Julia to safety!

Skye Blue and Julia Hart pulled steel chairs out from beneath the ring. They were about to enter the ring to attack Mercedes with the chairs, but Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander sprinted to the ring with chairs of their own, coming to the aid of Mercedes!

The lights went dark again! When they came back on, Willow had a chair, and it appeared she was set to whack Mercedes with it, but she put it down.

“I think she was going to hit Mercedes with it,” said Schiavone. 

Mercedes pointed at Willow and said she had her eyes on her.

AEW Continental Championship Match!

“Mad King” Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!

“The world is ready for this one,” said Tony Schiavone. 

Kingston hit Okada with a flurry of offense, and then blistered the challenger with chops. Okada hammered back with an elbow to the back of Kingston’s head. Okada spiked Kingston with a DDT on the arena floor!

Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were watching backstage, wearing headsets and producing the match. 

Okada nailed Kingston with a neck breaker. Okada followed up with a dropkick to the side of Kingston’s head. Kingston fired back with a double over hook suplex and then a back heel trip. Kingston blasted Okada with machine gun chops in the corner. Kingston rocked Okada with a German suplex and then a sliding forearm. Okada rallied back with a dropkick.

Eddie stunned Okada with a spinning back fist for a near fall. Okada attempted to hit the Rainmaker, but Kingston got his arms up to block it. Okada gouged Kingston’s eyes. Okada planted Kingston on the mat and rocked Eddie with the Rainmaker, scoring the pin!

New AEW Continental Champions… “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada!

“History was made here tonight,” said Taz.

“Okada wasting no time,” replied Excalibur.

“The Bastard” Pac’s music hit! Pac walked onto the ramp and stared a hole into Okada, making his presence known to the Rainmaker!

Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Swerve Strickland!

Renee said that Swerve went after AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, and wanted to know what his intentions were.

Swerve: “The AEW World Championship, Renee. Samoa Joe attempted to embarrass me by choking me out. Unfortunately for him I have a history of choking people out myself. I want to fight so I’m going to offer an open challenge tonight.”

Next Renee Paquette interviewed Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale ahead of tonight’s street fight!

Mercedes Moné walked onto the scene and interrupted them. 

Kris: “You know, I’ve been meaning to say this. Thank you for having Willow’s back last week.”

Mercedes: “Of course. That’s what a CEO does. You see, a CEO stands up for what she believes in. And I’m excited to watch your street fight tonight. Because you know what they say: payback’s a bitch. And thanks for having my back out there tonight, Kris. It was nice meeting you.”

Willow: “Mercedes, I just wanted to say—”

Mercedes: “You’ve done enough!”

“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!

Hook dumped Jericho on the back of his head with a T-bone suplex right out of the gates!

“I don’t think Jericho expected that,” said Schiavone.

Hook battered Jericho in the corner. Jericho fired back with chops. Hook sent Jericho for a ride once again with another T-bone suplex. Hook dodged Jericho and planted Jericho with two more suplexes. Hook folded Jericho in half with another suplex!

“We are witnessing a lopsided affair. Hook is dominating Chris Jericho,” said Excalibur.

Jericho booted Hook in the face and rammed Hook with a shoulder block. Jericho jumped off the top turnbuckle, but Hook caught him and suplexed him. Jericho tried to rally back with a lionsault for a near fall.

Hook charged at Jericho, but Jericho countered by throwing Hook. Jericho put Hook on the top turnbuckle, looking for a top rope hurracanrana, but Hook managed to apply the Red Rum on Jericho! Chris Jericho broke the grip and was looking for the Walls, but Hook countered by rolling up Jericho and pinning Jericho!

“What an inside cradle out of nowhere!” said Taz.

“That might be the biggest victory of Hook’s career thus far. Hook just pinned the first ever AEW World Champion,” said Excalibur.

Jericho fist bumped Hook after the match, both men displaying mutual respect for one another.

We heard from the Undisputed Kingdom’s Adam Cole!

Cole: “I hate the feeling of being disappointed. Last week Wardlow you disappointed me. You challenged Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship, and you failed. Wardlow, you had one damn job and you failed. And right now, I should be—you should be—the AEW World Champion. 

“Instead, you have a new goal and that’s to make sure the Undisputed Kingdom hangs onto the gold that we have. You’re going to make sure that Taven and Bennett keep those Ring of Honor World Tag Team titles. You are going to make sure that Roderick Strong keeps the AEW International Championship. And then maybe we’ll forgive you.

“Wardlow I’m not saying this out of anger. I’m saying this because I care about you. I want what’s best for you. I want you to reach your true potential. So don’t screw it up.”

Renee Paquette interviewed Chris Jericho backstage!

Jericho: “Last week I said I wanted to face Hook one on one for a reason. I was hoping he did what he did tonight. Hook, you showed me something I haven’t seen in a long time. You are a future World Champion. You are every bit of a bad, bad man as everyone says you are. And after tonight you’ve got my respect. And next week, Hook, on Dynamite, I’ve got a proposition for you.”

Tony Schiavone interviewed “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay in the ring!

Ospreay: “I’ll clear the air right now. Last time I was here I was a little bit of a naughty boy. I’ve changed. I’m here for the betterment of AEW. I am here to give you guys Elite levels of professional wrestling. 

“I said what I wanted to say about Bryan Danielson until I saw Collision. I hope all the lads studied his match against Shibata on Collision. That was pro wrestling. Bryan in one breath you said you were grateful to be stepping into the ring with me, but in the other breath you said I couldn’t walk in your shoes.

“Maybe he’s right because when I would go over to Japan, I’d see his shoes and there’s no way I could fit into them, because they’re too small for me. What I did in Japan was elevate professional wrestling. But apparently, I can’t walk in your shoes? Want me to prove it? All right, Shibata, long time no see. Seven years ago, I wrestled Shibata and he beat the piss out of me. But the 23-year old me is different than the 30-year old me because I’ve got a point to prove. So next week on Dynamite, Shibata, meet me in this ring. Danielson, sit home and watch and let me show you what I’m all about.”

AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May

vs.

“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa!

Deonna and Thunder Rosa sprinted toward the ring and took the attack to Toni and Mariah, swarming them. Mariah grabbed Deonna by the hair and yanked her to the mat. Mariah followed up with a dropkick. 

Deonna turned the tables with a double clothesline to Toni and Mariah. Thunder Rosa grabbed a tag and launched off the bag of Deonna to splash Toni in the corner with a lariat. Thunder Rosa followed up with a running lariat. Luther tried to take a swipe at Thunder Rosa. As Thunder Rosa was distracted by Luther, Toni Storm knocked Rosa to the floor with a running hip attack!

Deonna grabbed a tag and punted Mariah in the face with a pump kick. Thunder Rosa tagged herself in and Deonna didn’t seem happy about it. Thunder Rosa drilled Mariah with a Death Valley Driver in the center of the ring! Toni Storm grabbed Thunder Rosa from behind and nailed Rosa with a German Suplex!

Toni Storm cracked Thunder Rosa in the corner with a hip attack! Toni tried for a piledriver, but Thunder Rosa countered with a jackknife pin and scored the victory!

Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) vs. The Butcher!

Swerve headbutted Butcher, catching Butcher by surprise. Swerve booted Butcher in the face. Butcher blasted Swerve with a strike to the face. Swerve double stomped Butcher on the back. 

Swerve rocked Butcher with the House Call kick! Swerve crunched Butcher with the Swerve Stomp right on target. Swerve applied a submission hold and forced Butcher to tap!

“That may be Swerve’s first submission victory in an AEW ring,” said Excalibur.

Swerve: “Samoa Joe before I met you, I had nothing but respect for you. But then when I got to know you, I felt a little indifferent. Then after awhile I started disliking you. And now I’m getting close to hating you. And as I stand with this chain in my possession, every day I think about wrapping it around your neck and hanging it from the post, but I don’t have enough chain for that big ass neck.

“Every week you’re going to keep sending security to watch your back. Every week I’m going to take them out until you give me what I want!”

AEW World Champion Samoa Joe walked down to the ring!

Samoa Joe: “Well what to do with someone like you, Swerve. Logic should dictate that I ignore you completely because contrary to what you believe, I beat you at Revolution and you’ve been shoved down the championship ladder. 

“You still believe that the impossible is possible. You still believe that if you stand toe to toe with me that you can box with a god. And the problem with that belief is it becomes infections. And then all these people believe they can be great too. And that’s all find and dandy until someone like me shows up and smashes you in the face and takes everything you have. And it was at that realization that I knew exactly what to do with someone like you. And that is to give you exactly what you want!”

Don Callis: “Whoa, whoa, whoa guys. It strikes me, Swerve, that I guess when you’re in Swerve’s House, you can just put yourself in a World title match. And Swerve, it strikes me that you and Takeshita have the same amount of wins. The difference is Takeshita is undefeated outside the Don Callis Family. So, Swerve I’m thinking maybe Takeshita needs to show you what it tastes like to lose to the family. 

“And if you’re feeling good about that Swerve, I’m happy to teach you a lesson that I’ve taught many people. This is not Swerve’s House. This is the Don Callis House!”

Swerve: “If I had more time and I wasn’t distracted by what I’ve got going on, I’d burn the Don Callis Family Tree down to a crisp. But you know what? I accept. I will take on Takeshita. And when I’m done with him, I’m coming for you again Joe.”

Excalibur: “I’ve been informed that next week on Dynamite, it is official: Konosuke Takeshita against Swerve Strickland!”

TNT Championship I Quit Match!

“The Patriarch” Christian Cage (c.) vs. “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!

Copeland was looking for the spear right away, but Christian bailed out of the ring. Copeland blasted Christian with a sliding dropkick. Copeland chased Christian through the crowd, and they began to brawl in the penalty box.

Copeland propped a ladder across the guardrail and the announcers’ desk. Copeland pulled Christian down hard on the ladder!

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Copeland inverted the ladder in the ring and then slammed Christian against it stomach first! Copeland rammed Christian shoulder first into the steel ring post. Cope pulled a table out from under the ring. Copeland placed the ladder against the guardrail. Cope went to spear Christian through the table, but Christian leapfrogged over Copeland and then rammed Copeland into the ring post! Copeland was busted wide open!

Christian jumped off the top turnbuckle and splashed Copeland through the table outside the ring! Christian catapulted Copeland into a ladder that was placed on the turnbuckles. Copeland dodged a frog splash. Copeland locked in a cross face submission but Christian gouged Copeland in the eyes. Both men went for the spear and collided into one another!

Shayna Wayne ambushed Copeland, hitting him with a hockey stick for a low blow! Christian Cage cracked the hockey stick across Copeland’s back! Christian grabbed a barb wire wrapped chair from beneath the ring. Christian set Copeland’s head across one chair and tried for the con-chair-to with the barb wire chair, but Copeland moved out of the way in the nick of time!

Copeland hit Christian with the hockey stick across the face. Copeland pulled the drawstring from his pants and wrapped it around Christian’s throat, pulling back. Killswitch and Nick Wayne jumped into the ring and began to stomp Copeland!

Mother Wayne entered the ring and slapped Copeland as Nick Wayne and Killswitch held him back. Matt Menard and Daniel Garcia ran to the ring and cleaned house of Nick Wayne and Killswitch, evening the odds for Copeland!

Copeland climbed the ladder and splashed Killswitch and Nick Wayne outside the ring! Garcia had handcuffs. Garcia and Menard handcuffed Killswitch to the ropes while Copeland handcuffed Nick Wayne in the opposite corner. Mother Wayne retreated from the ring!

Garcia and Menard pinballed Christian Cage with strikes and then Copeland speared Christian! Copeland handcuffed Christian in the corner. Copeland pulled the case containing Spike from beneath the ring. Copeland swung Spike at Christian, cracking him between the legs! Copeland went to hit Christian again, but this time Christian said, “I quit!”

And new TNT Champion “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!

AEW Rampage began!

“Switchblade” Jay White and The Gunns had strong words for Darby Allin from poolside in Florida!

Jay White mocked Darby’s broken foot. “Switchblade” showed off Sting’s bat, which he had painted gold. They taunted The Acclaimed and Darby.

Trios Champs The Acclaimed walked onto the ramp!

Caster said Billy Gunn wasn’t cleared to travel after what happened to him last week at the hands of Jay White. Caster offered Jay White a one-way first class ticket to anywhere he wanted to go, as long as it wasn’t here. But he knows Jay White is too stupid to take him up on that offer. “When you bring your stupid ass back here with your ass boys, we’ll be here to hunt you down.”

Bowens said he was pissed off because The Gunns and Jay White didn’t show up tonight. Bowens said Jay White was not a catalyst, he is a coward. 

AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Wild Card Match!

Best Friends— “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy & Trent

vs.

The Don Callis Family’s Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher!

Matt Menard was on commentary for Rampage.

Hobbs spiked Orange with a spinebuster, and Trent ran in to break up the pin attempt! Hobbs planted Orange onto the apron repeatedly. Orange dodged a splash from Hobbs. Trent tagged in and drove Fletcher down with double knees. Trent wiped out Hobbs and Fletcher on the floor with a swan dive!

Hobbs and Fletcher stunned Trent with a pendulum bomb! Trent fired back with a DDT on Fletcher. Orange tagged in and connected with a crossbody to Fletcher and then he knocked Hobbs with an elbow suicida. Cassidy pumped Fletcher with a DDT and tried to cover Fletcher, but Hobbs broke it up.

Hobbs put Orange in a torture rack. Trent freed up Orange, ramming a knee into Hobbs so Orange could roll up Hobbs for a near fall! Hobbs bulldozed Orange to the mat! Orange rallied back with a Stun Dog Millionaire on Fletcher while Trent followed up with a half and half!

Hobbs pulped Orange and Trent with a double shoulder tackle. Hobbs rag dolled Orange into the LED lights. Trent stomped Hobbs so Orange could crush Hobbs with a Beach Break! Fletcher avoided the Orange Punch and countered with a spinning tombstone for a near fall on Orange!

Trent nailed Fletcher with an avalanche half and half! Orange drilled Fletcher with a diving DDT! Orange rocked Fletcher with the Orange Punch and pinned Fletcher!

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kevin Matthews!

Shibata pounded Matthews into the corner and followed up with a running dropkick! Shibata took Matthews over the top with a suplex for a near fall. Matthews fired back with a lariat. Shibata went behind, locked in a sleeper, but Shibata released it. Shibata cracked Matthews with the PK and pinned Matthews!

The Don Callis Family’s Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero!

Rocky chopped Takeshita in the chest. Rocky rocked Takeshita with a strike to the face. Rocky wiped out Takeshita with a step up hurracanrana. Rocky followed up with the forever clotheslines. Takeshita countered with a boot and then a running basement dropkick!

Takeshita swung at Rocky but Rocky ducked and Takeshita struck the steel ring post! Rocky followed up with a tope suicida! Rocky hit the running sliced bread for a two-count on Takeshita! Rocky wrenched back on Takeshita’s arm. 

Don Callis jumped on the ring apron to distract the ref. Rocky turned his attention to Don Callis and Takeshita seized the moment to boot Rocky in the face! Rocky avoided a power drive knee, but Takeshita spiked Rocky with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall!

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Takeshita decimated Rocky with a forearm strike. Takeshita followed up with a Falcon Arrow and pinned Rocky!

Street Fight!

Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale 

vs.

TBS Champion Julia Hart & Skye Blue!

Kris clocked Julia with a drop toe hold on a chair. Willow dropkicked Julia as Julia was wedged between the chair. Willow pulled a table out from beneath the ring and slid it into the ring. Skye Blue came to Julia’s aid. Skye wiped out Kris and Willow. 

Skye held Kris back while Julia pulled out a steel spike. Julia charged at Kris with the spike, but Kris moved out of the way, causing Julia to inadvertently hit Skye in the face with the spike!

“Absolute carnage!” said Excalibur.

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Willow tried to power bomb Skye on the announcers’ desk, but Sky countered with a Code Blue! Skye Blue emptied a bag of thumbtacks into the ring. Statlander had her own bag and emptied thumbtacks in the ring too!

Skye Blue power bombed Statlander into the tacks, but Statlander kicked out at the two-count! Skye put the tacks in Kris’ mouth and then rocked Kris with a thrust kick! Skye covered Kris but Kris kicked out! Skye climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Willow jumped onto the apron, grabbing Skye and planting her through two tables on the arena floor with a Death Valley Driver!

Statlander attempted a 450 splash from the top, but Julia rolled out of the way! Julia locked in Heartless and Statlander tapped out!

Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, QC!

Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com

And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!

AEW Dynamite and Rampage Preview for March 20th, 2024

AEW Dynamite and Rampage Preview for March 20th, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSfvUEeKUL0?si=-9NCMxcQ_nErYUPC

We are on the road to DYNASTY live on PPV April 21st, hailing from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, MO, and we already know Bryan Danielson will go to battle with Will Ospreay in a dream match for the ages! We also know that the AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament will culminate that night, and on COLLISION fans witnessed The Infantry score a huge upset over House of Black to move past the Wild Card round. This Wednesday night in Toronto, All Elite Wrestling returns to the Coca-Cola Coliseum and with that comes another red-hot edition of DYNAMITE! We’ve got Adam Copeland and Christian Cage in an “I Quit” match for the TNT Champion, the Continental Championship on the line with Kazuchika Okada challenging Eddie Kingston, HOOK and Chris Jericho going one-on-one, and AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm teaming with Mariah May to battle Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/CUPx87_E4Vk?si=zZ8fDCElkpNEb8zG

But wait, there’s more! Not only will the AEW faithful in Toronto get to experience AEW’s flagship, the whole world will also get to see RAMPAGE live, as it happens, immediately following DYNAMITE on TBS! That’s right, AEW is bringing three huge hours of action to TBS this Wednesday, and RAMPAGE will feature another Wild Card match in the Tag Title Tournament, as well as a Street Fight pitting Statlander and Willow against the TBS Champion and Skye Blue!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/RSKxGjmvZKE?si=zQIKHTWSgheJdS1s&start=201

The show starts at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so drop in on 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 next Wednesday night for DYNAMITE’s debut in Quebec, City and the Centre Videotron! 

TNT Championship I Quit Match…

Christian Cage(c) vs. Adam Copeland

https://www.youtube.com/embed/G3Ga4qjCgfM?si=bEYUbphrY2HcbzAs

Three minutes and thirty-two seconds; that is how long Adam Copeland could claim to be TNT Champion after beating Christian Cage at WORLDS END. Then Killswitch, having earned a guaranteed TNT Championship during the ZERO HOUR, struck down the new champion to try and capitalize on the situation. Sadly it was Christian who got to take advantage of it all, convincing Killswitch to bequeath his title shot to “The Patriarch”, and ending Copeland’s TNT Title reign just 212 seconds after it began. 

Copeland had every reason to demand a rematch, despite Cage’s insistence that he go to the back of the line, but instead Adam began his “Cope Open” to earn another shot, and took on every person who stepped up to the plate. Griff Garrison, Lee Moriarty, Dante Martin, and the legendary Minoru Suzuki all put Copeland to the test in their own fashion, but Adam beat each one, leading to a confrontation with another man in pursuit of Cage’s title, Daniel Garcia. Like true sportsmen, Copeland and Garcia agree to meet in singles combat with the next TNT Championship match going to the winner, but like a true scumbag, Christian Cage and his Patriachy stuck their nose into the fight, causing a No Contest result, and allowing Cage to put Copeland on the shelf with a Con-chair-to.

But they left Garcia intact, and though he didn’t claim the TNT Championship at REVOLUTION 2024, it’s really only because Nick Wayne and the Patriarchy were there to make sure Christian Cage survived Greensboro as champion. Take them out of the equation, and the AEW faithful would’ve been calling Daniel Garcia the new TNT Champion. It would’ve been quite fascinating to see how Copeland would’ve responded to someone else being the one to knock Christian off the TNT mountaintop, but that’s not how the hand played out, instead Cage has to actually deal with the repercussions of his assault on Adam Copeland with the future of the TNT Championship hanging in the balance!

Furthermore, the future of the championship won’t be decided in a regular match, not after everything that’s taken place between these two men since Copeland first arrived in AEW, the TNT Championship will be contested in an “I Quit” match this Wednesday night in Toronto! This is just the second such bout in the history of All Elite Wrestling, the first taking place at FULL GEAR 2020 between Eddie Kingston and then-AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, and coincidentally that too was a fight between friends-turned-enemies. That is about where the similarities end, neither Moxley nor Kingston threatened violence with a nail-embedded 2×4 for one, and though their bond had history, it isn’t thirty-plus years deep.

That’s what makes this entire scenario so painful, yet so intriguing; the careers of Adam Copeland and Christian Cage have played out before the world for the last twenty-five years, their lives have unfolded before the eyes of wrestling fans, their triumphs and tragedies have been public consumption, and a vast majority of it took place with them supporting one another. Even at the times they were on opposing sides, it wasn’t as ugly as situations have gotten here in AEW, it never seemed past the point of no return as it does now.

With AEW’s return to Toronto, one of these two competitors will be forced to say “I Quit” in front of the entire world. One man will have to capitulate to the others onslaught and give up their TNT Championship dream, but more than that, give up on the hope of reconciling differences with one another. Either Christian Cage or Adam Copeland will leave the Coca-Cola Coliseum as TNT Champion, that is certain, but what is uncertain is what the future of the relationship between these two men could possibly look like after the hell that’s been traversed over the last several months.

Continental Championship Match…

Eddie Kingston(c) vs. Kazuchika Okada

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fxRuwgjok0?si=K0bITgzbf-0Pxukd&start=201

Five months ago, at NJPW’s RUMBLE ON 44th STREET event, Eddie Kingston and Kazuchika Okada stood inside the ring as allies, a tag team facing down the BULLET CLUB GOLD tandem of Jay White and Juice Robinson, though their ending came with “Switchblade” pinning “The Mad King”. Skip ahead to March 6, 2024 and Kingston confronting The Young Bucks in the middle of the ring as the two found a way to gloat about their loss to Sting and Darby Allin at REVOLUTION 2024 a few days prior. The two EVPs made a choice to assault the Continental Crown Champion, teaming up on Kingston after a low blow neutralized him for a moment, but it seemed that the arrival of Kazuchika Okada would bring an end to the attack.

Turned out it was all a ruse at Eddie’s expense, and Okada chose that moment to show the world that not only was he officially All Elite, but he was also now one of The Elite alongside Matthew and Nicholas Jackson! To say that choice by Okada was disappointing would be a gross understatement, but it certainly proved a successful alliance as this new unit managed to defeat Kingston, PAC, and Penta El Zero Miedo in Trios competition, with Okada pinning Eddie to secure the victory. Sure it took another low blow from Matthew to allow Okada to hit The Rainmaker lariat, but with the win secured, it set Okada up for an immediate shot at the AEW Continental Championship. 

That title fight goes down this Wednesday night in Toronto, and it actually marks the first defense of the Continental Championship separate from the rest of Continental Crown, meaning it will be fought under Continental Rules, meaning absolutely no interference will be tolerated. Coincidentally, Kingston is also set to defend the ROH World Championship at ROH’s SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2024 event on April 5th, a match separate from the rest of the Crown as well.

This bout is also Kazuchika Okada’s first singles match as an official member of the AEW roster, though not his first in All Elite Wrestling; in fact he’s 0-2 in one-on-one matches over his limited AEW experience, meaning he may see this as the match to make a statement to the rest of the AEW locker room, as well as an opportunity to claim his first AEW championship in rapid fashion. After overcoming Bryan Danielson at REVOLUTION 2024, after getting “The American Dragon” to actually shake his hand and acknowledge respect for “The Mad King”, it seemed Eddie had found a way to channel his inner fury into a positive, controlled fashion, but this situation with Okada and The Young Bucks seems to have shaken that resolve.

The Kingston who got in The EVPs faces was not restrained, the man who fought in that Trios match was not as focused as he was in Greensboro; could that be his undoing this Wednesday night when the Continental Championship is at stake? Will we see Okada add another championship to his resume? Will it be Kingston who adds another victory to this impressive run of nine consecutive singles matches, a run that includes Claudio Castagnoli, ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta, Bryan Keith, and two over Bryan Danielson?

Singles Match…

FTW Champion HOOK vs. Chris Jericho

FTW Champion HOOK and Chris Jericho recently found themselves with a common foe in The Mogul Embassy; in HOOK’s case it was Brian Cage in pursuit of the FTW Championship and for Jericho it was putting himself in the middle of that situation. When the original AEW World Champion elected to help HOOK when The Gates of Agony attacked him, Jericho became another target for Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona, and they didn’t wait long to let him know. It was only a few days between the attack on HOOK and the one on Jericho, and just as “Lionheart” helped “The Cold-Hearted, Handsome Devil”, so too did HOOK assist Chris. 

That led the two men to actually team up against The Gates of Agony; not only did they team up, the unlikely pair actually won the bout over Kaun & Toa, but that was not to be the end of their association, in fact Jericho himself made the challenge for this bout taking place on Wednesday night! Now one need only look at Jericho’s history in AEW for enough reason to question the man’s motivations for wanting this bout, but his desire to test HOOK does seem legitimate, not like a cover for ulterior motives. 

Interestingly it was just over 28 years ago that Jericho fought HOOK’s father Taz for the first time, actually scoring a DQ victory over “The Human Suplex Machine” that night in Philadelphia, so it is rather wild that Jericho is now fighting HOOK almost three decades later. It’s a testament not only to the longevity of Jericho’s career and how he’s operated at the highest levels, but also his willingness to mix it up with the younger generations when he could very well use his status to avoid ever having to lose face should he lose a bout like this.

It’s almost as if Jericho wants to make sure the landscape of wrestling is in good hands when the time comes for him to step away from in-ring competition, and perhaps that’s why the fights with Atlantis Jr, Titan, and now HOOK. It’s going to be interesting to see how this one plays out, will it be Jericho’s experience that lead to victory or will we see the youth of HOOK lead him to the biggest victory of his career? The FTW Champion tested Samoa Joe like few others in AEW have, can he do the same to Jericho?

Tag Team Grudge Match…

AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa

At one point during their REVOLUTION 2024 championship match, “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo had “Timeless” Toni Storm dead to rights, tapping out to her Venus de Milo submission hold, but the official was not in position to make the call thanks to Mariah May. Still, the world saw the AEW Women’s World Champ giving up even if the referee did not, and though it may not mean Purrazzo stands as the World Champion at this moment, it certainly gives her a viable claim to a rematch, and every justification to refer to herself as the “uncrowned champion” if she so chose. It’s quite clear Toni Storm wants to avoid a championship rematch with Deonna at this juncture, but unfortunately for Storm, she can’t dodge the tag team match scheduled for this Wednesday evening, a match she agreed to without even knowing who Deonna’s partner would be!

Turns out there’s another woman with some unfinished Toni Storm business, though it may be more accurate to say it’s unfinished World Title business, and that is “La Mera Mera” Thunder Rosa! Unfortunately for Rosa, due to injury she had to vacate the AEW Women’s World Championship in September 2022, a vacancy that was filled by Toni Storm at ALL OUT 2022 when she beat Dr. Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Hikaru Shida in a Four Way bout. It was the first of Storm’s three championship reigns, and though it lasted just 76 days before Hayter dethroned her, it fueled the fire (and possibly the personality break) that has led “Timeless” to where she is today. In the time Rosa missed, the landscape of the AEW Women’s Division shifted quite a bit and now she finds herself fighting for a shot at the title she never lost, and perhaps this tag team contest is a way to that end game. A victory over Storm could put Rosa into contention, after all she’s won six straight matches since her return to action, four of those in singles competition, and if she could pin Toni in this fight, well it would have to put her name into the running for the next title fight. 

And that’s what makes this pairing of Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo quite interesting, they are two women with the goal of claiming the AEW Women’s World Championship from Toni Storm, but does that put them at cross-purposes as partners? Mariah May is obviously all in on supporting Toni and doing whatever she needs, can the same be said for “La Mera Mera” and “The Virtuosa”?

The CEO Comes to Ontario…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgaNUI5rGmM?si=FhGI7B3ZnY6YZF_J&start=367

Last week on DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS, Mercedes Moné made a huge impact with her arrival in All Elite Wrestling! It wasn’t just the words she spoke at the top of the program, but also her actions at the end of the night when Moné lent a helping hand to Willow Nightingale as TBS Champion Julia Hart and Skye Blue assaulted her. She dropped Skye Blue, planted Julia Hart, and actually shared a moment of respect with Willow Nightingale despite the fact Willow beat her to become the first NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion last year.

Now we will hear from “The CEO of AEW” this Wednesday night live on DYNAMITE, and you know the ears and ears of Julia Hart and Skye Blue, as well as the rest of the AEW Women’s locker room, are going to be fixed on what Mercedes Moné has to say!

But that’s not all…

That’s right; immediately following the conclusion of DYNAMITE, we will roll right into RAMPAGE on TBS, for three straight hours of the greatest professional wrestling on the planet! The second Wild Card Match in the AEW World Tag Title Tournament is set to go down pitting The Don Callis Family against Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta, and it’s Street Fight time when Willow and Kris Statlander meet the TBS Champion and Skye Blue! Those two tremendous bouts, and a whole lot more, are coming to the AEW faithful immediately after the conclusion of DYNAMITE, making for one huge night of professional wrestling in Toronto!

AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Wild Card Match…

The Don Callis Family (ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs)

vs.

Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta

***WINNER FACES TAVEN/BENNETT IN QUARTER-FINALS***

https://www.youtube.com/embed/p1e0m2uJ_MI?si=71hfGFOxLZNQHxQu&start=201

Last Saturday night on COLLISION, fans witnessed a tremendous upset when The Infantry defeated House of Black in the first Wild Card match, albeit with a little help from a revenge-seeking Mark Briscoe, meaning Capt. Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo move on to face FTR in the Quarter-Finals.

This Wednesday night during RAMPAGE the second Wild Card contest will take place when The Don Callis Family, represented by Powerhouse Hobbs and ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher, take on former 2-Time AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta! As odd as it may be, especially with the OC/Trent pairing, neither of these teams are particularly experienced as a duo. The Callis crew have only teamed up once other time at RAMPAGE: WINTER IS COMING 2023, while the Cassidy/Beretta team only have 3 AEW matches and 1 ROH match under their belts this year, though to be fair OC and Trent have a wealth of experience working together in multi-man matches over the history of AEW.

The winner of this contest moves on to face ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett in the Quarter-Final round, and it’s quite difficult to pick a winner in this tag team affair. The power and precision of The Don Callis Family team versus the top tier all-around game of the OC/Trent pair; it’s quite the pick’em for the Wild Card round!

Street Fight…

TBS Champion Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale

As mentioned already, Willow Nightingale was the victim of an assault by TBS Champion Julia Hart and Skye Blue following her victory over Riho last Wednesday night. It was only the efforts of Mercedes Moné that saved the former NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion from serious injury, but it certainly left a question of where Kris Statlander was to help out her friend.

We would find out after the fact that the former TBS Champion was assaulted backstage, preventing her from assisting Nightingale, but on this Wednesday’s special edition of RAMPAGE it’s time for Julia Hart and Skye Blue to pay the piper in the form of a Street Fight! Willow and Statlander have already proven successful in that field, defeating Diamante and Mercedes Martinez last December under that stipulation, and now they’re prepared to bring the fight to the TBS Champion and her ally! This has been raging in one form or another since Julia Hart claimed the TBS Championship for herself at FULL GEAR 2023, will this be the night the scores are finally settled? 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rnkg5Ae00QE? si=7eXgHTb30sYR8d-K&start=367

AEW’s three hour block of the best wrestling on the planet begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, in addition to AEWPlus.com for international fans, so visit the official AEW YouTube channel before showtime, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to catch highlights from previous editions of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, plus the latest CONTROL CENTER with Tony Schiavone! Then join AEW next Wednesday night for our debut in Quebec, City at the Centre Videotron for an all-new live DYNAMITE! 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/q2Fcpjkh-t8?si=hi9jGiQdWsJemFL8&start=367

AEW Collision Results for March 16, 2024

AEW Collision Results for March 16, 2024

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON!

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.

“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Katsuyori Shibata!

Danielson and Shibata chain wrestled at the start of the match. Danielson bridged his way out of wristlock. Shibata tried to keep his distance from Danielson’s kicks. They locked up and traded kicks. Danielson stomped on the back of Shibata’s knees, targeting the hamstrings. Danielson kicked Shibata in the spine.

Shibata rocked Danielson with forearms, but Danielson countered with a butterfly suplex. Danielson put Shibata in a surfboard submission, but Shibata escaped. Danielson and Shibata traded chops until Danielson went low and dropped Shibata with a single leg takedown.

Shibata suplexed Danielson out of the ring and followed up with a running PK from the apron. Danielson rallied back with a running dropkick, but Shibata chased after Danielson and clocked the American Dragon with a running boot in the corner.

Danielson tried for a discus elbow, but Shibata countered and planted Danielson hard with a trip. Shibata and Danielson clinched one another and exchanged knee strikes. Shibata drilled Danielson with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. 

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Danielson rocked Shibata with a running knee strike. Danielson applied the LeBell Lock. Shibata managed to reach the ropes with his boot, forcing the ref to break the hold. Shibata taunted Danielson, inviting Danielson to kick him. Danielson obliged, and then Shibata served up straight pump kicks to Danielson. Shibata blistered Bryan with kicks to the chest. Now Danielson taunted Shibata and invited Shibata to kick him. 

They both sat down and slapped one another with open palm strikes! Danielson caught Shibata in the back of the head with a kick. Shibata dodged Danielson’s charging knee strike and put Danielson in the Iron Octopus. Danielson escaped after putting his boot on the ropes. They grappled until Danielson was able to cradle Shibata and score the pin!

“Take a look at the fans standing up, loving what they see from Danielson and Shibata,” said Schiavone.

“A hell of a match,” replied Nigel. 

After the match, they hugged one another as a sign of mutual respect.

TBS Championship Match!

The House of Black’s Julia Hart (c.) vs. The Infantry’s Trish Adora!

This match took place under “House Rules.” The loser will be banned from ringside during their respective team’s match later tonight. 

Trish knocked down Julia with a shoulder block. Julia escaped a body slam attempt and rammed Adora headfirst into the steel ring steps. Julia whipped Trish into the ringside barricade. Trish retaliated with a shoulder breaker back in the ring.

Julia dodged a pump kick and then blasted Trish with a running lariat. Trish rocked Julia with a German Suplex from her knees for a near fall on Julia. The champ fired back with a thrust kick. Julia nailed Trish with a moonsault and pinned Trish, racking up another win.

Lexy Nair was backstage to interview Harley Cameron and Zak Knight!

Zak: “Angelo Parker wants to fight me? I’ll give you a fight, but I’m not doing it here in Canada. You want to fight? I’ll fight but it’ll be on my terms!”

Daniel Garcia vs. Shane Taylor Promotion’s Lee Moriarty (with Shane Taylor)!

“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined the broadcast booth for this match.

Garcia blasted Moriarty with a shotgun dropkick. Shane Taylor distracted Garcia on the arena floor, long enough for Lee to rocket out of the ring with a tope suicida to Garcia. 

Lee Moriarty swung at Garica, but Garica answered with strikes and then stomped Moriarty in the corner. Moriarty cracked Garcia in the back of the head with a jumping kick. Moriarty hit a double foot stomp on Garcia. Moriarty went for the Fang, but Garcia countered and locked in a vicious heel hook, forcing Moriarty to tap out!

“The Bastard” Pac vs. Aaron Solo!

Solo came out of the gates strong, with a flurry of offense on Pac! “The Bastard” stomped on Solo.

The fans chanted “Welcome back!” at Pac.

Pac’s quick feet knocked Solo to the mat. Pac rocked Solo with a shotgun dropkick off the top rope. 

“Seamless offense. No wasted motion,” said Nigel about Pac.

Pac splashed Solo with the Black Arrow! Pac, wanting to make a statement, put Solo in the Brutalizer submission and won via ref stoppage!

Pac: “Tony, Tony, Tony. I told you, the Bastard’s back and I am looking for trouble. But you see, Aaron Solo is not exactly what I had in mind. Tony Khan, I am looking for trouble, so find me some, or I will find it myself.”

Bryan Danielson was backstage meditating. 

Danielson: “I’m grateful that I was about to have a match with Shibata tonight. I’m grateful that I have a match with Will Ospreay coming up at Dynasty on Sunday, April 21st. He said when he gets in the ring it’s live or die and he doesn’t plan on dying. He can’t walk in my shoes. Shibata and I were told we would never be able to wrestle again. But we banged on death’s door. Say what you want about what you’re willing to do. I know what I’m willing to do. And I don’t think you’re ready for that.”

Claudio Castagnoli vs. “The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer!

They rammed each other with shoulder blocks, neither man budged. Claudio scoop slammed Archer, but Archer got right up! Claudio and Archer slugged it out, two battling bulls in the ring. Claudio clocked Archer with a lariat, knocking Archer over the top rope. 

Claudio attempted a running European Uppercut on the floor, but Archer blocked it. Archer followed up with a cannonball senton off the apron and onto Claudio! Archer nailed Claudio with a side slam in the ring. 

Archer signaled for a DDT, but Claudio reversed it and stunned Archer with a big vertical suplex. Archer tried to walk the ropes, but Claudio pulled him down and cracked him with a European Uppercut!

Claudio climbed up the turnbuckles, but Archer blasted him with a rising knee strike. Archer choke slammed Claudio for a near fall! Claudio came back with a Death Valley Driver on Archer! Claudio hit a cutter on Archer from the top turnbuckle for a near fall. 

The fans chanted “Swing! Swing! Swing!”

Claudio got Archer in the Giant Swing but The Righteous—Vincent and Dutch—sprinted down the ramp and ambushed Claudio in the ring!

The Righteous attacked Claudio until Bryan Danielson came down to even up the odds for his fellow Blackpool Combat Club teammate! The numbers were too many, and they swarmed Danielson! Shibata sprinted to the ring with a chair, and Archer and The Righteous retreated!

“This match has been thrown out, but what a match it was,” said Tony Schiavone.

“This one is far from over,” replied Nigel.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Ruby Soho and “Cool Hand” Angelo Parker!

Parker: “This is a second home to me, and I was ready for a fight tonight. Zak is a coward. He doesn’t want to have a match. He’ll have a fight tonight!”

Ruby: “If you go looking for a fight, you’ll have to do it without me.”

Parker: “You’re right. I’ll leave it alone for tonight.”

Kyle O’Reilly vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!

Kyle cracked Keith with a forearm. Keith baited Kyle in and connected with a spinning kick. Keith put O’Reilly in an abdominal stretch. Keith transitioned with a DDT, spiking Kyle right on his head and neck!

Kyle put Bryan Keith in a triangle choke. Kyle gave up the submission attempt in search of something else. Keith battled back with a double underhook power bomb, though. Kyle fired back with a lariat, a brain buster, and then the Armageddon submission hold, forcing Bryan Keith to tap out!

The Undisputed Kingdom came out to help Kyle celebrate.

“What a return to action!” said Nigel. 

Lexy Nair was backstage to interview Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa!

Lexy said Deonna and Thunder Rosa have never teamed before, but they’re scheduled to face Toni Storm and Mariah May next week on Dynamite.

Thunder Rosa: “Toni and Mariah want drama We are going to give you drama. We are going to stop all the games and all the jokes. We have a mission. It is TV time.”

AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Wild Card Match!

The Infantry—Carlie Bravo & Captain Shawn Dean

vs.

The House of Black’s Brody King & Buddy Matthews!

The winning team faces FTR in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

The House of Black wasted no time pummeling the Infantry outside the ring, seeking and destroying. 

“This match may not even happen,” said Nigel.

“You’re right, this match hasn’t even started, but the House of Black have decimated their opponents on the floor,” replied Schiavone.

The ref asked the Infantry if they could compete, and the Infantry wouldn’t back down!

Shawn Dean splashed Brody and Buddy in the corner. Brody fired back with a monstrous lariat! The House of Black took turns battering Carlie. They hit Dante’s Inferno on Dean, but Carlie broke up the pin attempt. The House of Black circled the Infantry, stalking them in the ring.

Brody spiked Carlie Bravo on the announcers’ desk! Buddy curb stomped Shawn Dean! Julia Hart whispered into Buddy’s ear, and he smiled. Buddy climbed to the top turnbuckle. The ref had his back turned on Buddy, as he was admonishing Julia Hart on the apron. Mark Briscoe ran down to the ring and whacked Buddy in the head with a steel chair! Brody King followed Briscoe up the arena steps, leaving Buddy in the ring. Shawn Dean crawled over and covered Buddy, scoring the pin!

“I can’t believe it! The Infantry won!” said a shocked Schiavone. 

“The Infantry didn’t win it. Mark Briscoe won it,” replied Nigel.

Malakai Black stormed down to the ring, furiously staring at Mark Briscoe!

Ahead of this Wednesday’s TNT Championship “I Quit” Match against champion Christian Cage, we heard from the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!

Adam Copeland carried the case with the words “Spike” stenciled on it. 

“I have no idea what is in the box, but it really scared away Christian Cage last time,” said Tony Schiavone. 

Adam Copeland: “This Wednesday, it’s fitting that I fight a guy who I thought for 40 years was my best friend. So Christian Cage, I’m talking to you now. I’m not going to call you Jay. Jay’s dead. You’ve become Christian Cage. The ego is out of control. 

“We used to talk about chasing our dreams and crushing our dreams. We did that! And then I fast forward to now. We had talked about me coming to AEW. You were on board. I came here to retire with you. I didn’t come here to take away your shine. At World’s End, I failed, and I’m not used to repeated failures. I picked myself up and walked forward.

“I earned that title shot. You and the Patriarchy took me out with the con-chair-to, a move we created. So maybe that’s fitting too. But when I was out, I got a call from a man who in the past has had to remind me of who I am. And he called again to remind me of who I am. So, I created Spike.”

Copeland opened the box and pulled out a 2×4 with nails sticking out of it!

Copeland: “Spike is hungry. She wants to take a bit out of you, Christian Cage. So that phone call from Mrs. Foley’s baby boy worked, because I remember who I am! I have kept it bottled up. I am the Rated R Superstar. This Wednesday you’re going to be in the hospital. Spike and I are going to take away your pride and make you say two words. And those two words are ‘I quit!’ 40 years after this started in our hometown, it ends!”

Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON, featuring:

-AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa!

– “Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!

-We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné!

-AEW Continental Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!

– Christian Cage (c.) vs. “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship in an I Quit Match!

Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com

And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!

AEW Collision Preview for March 16, 2024

AEW Collision Preview for March 16, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/embed/H4VxEaSPGQs?si=4HBgVb4xYMVNhPbx

This Saturday night All Elite Wrestling begins a tour of Canada with a visit to Ottawa, ON, Canada and the Canadian Tire Center for an all-new edition of COLLISION! It was already set to be an exciting night with the return of Kyle O’Reilly to in-ring competition for a fight with “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith, but then the heat got cranked way up with the announcement of Katsuyori Shibata’s return to action for a match with “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson! As if that wasn’t enough, an enraged Julia Hart opened up the House of Black’s doors with a TBS Open Challenge invitation, and The Infantry’s Trish Adora has stepped up in response, plus The House of Black’s Buddy Matthews & Brody King will meet The Infantry’s Carlie Bravo and Capt. Shawn Dean in the first World Tag Team Title Tournament Wild Card match!

The night begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and fans around the world can get prepared by visiting the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to watch highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then come join us next Wednesday in Toronto at the Coca-Cola Coliseum (https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-event/aew-dynamite-rampage-toronto) for a loaded edition of DYNAMITE featuring Christian Cage defending his TNT Championship against Adam Copeland in an “I Quit” Match!!!

DREAMS CONTINUE TO COME TRUE…

“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Katsuyori Shibata

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3HEX6eZoTLM?si=jnfon28ZdsGmUk8y&start=90

In so many ways the last year in the career of “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson has felt like one dream after another coming to fruition, if not for Bryan than at least for the fans of his work inside the squared circle. They’ve got to witness Danielson fight Kazuchika Okada twice, Zack Sabre Jr. twice, Timothy Thatcher, Yuji Nagata, Jun Akiyama, and Hechicero, not to mention the countless top shelf fights he’s had against opponent like Eddie Kingston, Swerve, RUSH, Ricky Starks, and his own BCC mate Claudio Castagnoli. It’s been one of the wildest years in Danielson’s career, and that’s with having to take time off due to a broken arm and a fractured orbital bone, so imagine what else could have been had he not been required to let his body heal.

And yet it’s only March 16th, meaning there are plenty of days left on the calendar of what Danielson has referred to as his last full-time year of professional wrestling, and that there are plenty of dreams left to be fulfilled both for “The American Dragon” and his fans! We already know one of those will come true at DYNASTY on April 21st when he faces Will Ospreay for the first time, but another comes to pass this Saturday night on COLLISION when Bryan Danielson goes one-on-one for Katsuyori Shibata for their first encounter!

Just about a year ago, following his ROH Pure Championship victory over Wheeler Yuta at ROH SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2023, Shibata told the world that winning that championship meant he was one step closer to fighting Bryan Danielson, and though he may have taken some time to take those steps, including Shibata having to return to Japan following his loss to Yuta on 11/25/23, we are finally there! 

This is a dream that seemed impossible, especially given that at various points both athletes thought their respective in-ring careers would be over, but on COLLISION it becomes reality, and fans will be able to rejoice when two of the most dangerous strikers, and most dangerous grapplers, in the history of the game step inside the squared circle as opponents. After nearly four months out of action, Shibata is certainly going to be tested with this battle against Bryan, but so too will “The American Dragon” be pushed to his limits as he prepares for Will Ospreay in five weeks time. This is a fight both men want, both men need, and fight fans around the world have been praying they would get to experience before the sun set on either competitors career!

RETURN TO ACTION!

Kyle O’Reilly vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith

Imagine having your livelihood taken away in an instant, your dream smashed, and it all happening while you were unconscious. That is what happened to Kyle O’Reilly, that is what happened in 2022 when he went under the knife for one surgery only to wake up and discover complications from that left him with a wholely different problem to handle. Unable to use his arm for the most basic of day-to-day functions, Kyle never thought he’d be able to use that arm to hold his child again, much less get back into the ring for a fight, yet here we are, 647 days removed from Kyle’s last match against Jon Moxley, and his indomitable spirit has led Kyle back to the place he never thought he’d experience again: the inside of a wrestling ring!

There is so much emotion wrapped up in this return to action on Saturday night, so much trepidation about what might happen when he steps back between the ropes, and yet Kyle O’Reilly has chosen to do it with one of the hottest prospects in the game today in “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith. Keith may seem like an overnight sensation to some, a man who skyrocketed into the AEW spotlight because of his showing at ROH’s FINAL BATTLE 2023 event, but in reality he’s an overnight sensation ten years in the making. His Survival of the Fittest performance may have been the launching pad into AEW, the fight with Eddie Kingston may have been the icing on the cake that got him a contract, but it was fights against men like Timothy Thatcher, Masato Tanaka, Rocky Romero, as well as his performance in PWG’s 2023 BOLA that woke the world up to his abilities. 

Since his arrival in AEW men like Malakai Black, Kingston, Orange Cassidy, and Claudio Castagnoli have experienced the hard-hitting fight Keith brings to the table, and clearly Kyle O’Reilly has watched this from a distance as well, with “Bounty Hunter” leaving enough of an impression that he’s who Kyle wants to test himself against after nearly two years away from the fight! As Kyle said, right into the fire, but it’s the only way O’Reilly is going to know what he still has inside, what he needs to find again, and what needs to change for the future to look as bright as did when he stepped into the ring on June 8, 2022.

However this fight goes, win or lose, it is a triumph for Kyle O’Reilly to know he worked his way back into fighting condition after staring the end of his career, and frankly his life as he knew it, right in the eyes. It’s not an easy thing to come back from the brink, he could’ve slipped away and quietly thrown in the towel on his wrestling career, but instead he chose to fight for everything he loves, for everything from the ability to hold his child to the ability to throw a punch, and that is why this Saturday night is a type of victory no matter the result of the match. To be able to claim a win on top of that victory though, now that would be even sweeter…

TBS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

The House of Black’s Julia Hart(c) vs. The Infantry’s Trish Adora

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgaNUI5rGmM?si=9ZJ-nqmdRaFxt_ho&start=341

Making a decision while lost in the heat of anger is not always the best time for a potentially life-changing decision and yet here Julia Hart finds herself. Just days after being embarrassed by Mercedes Mone on DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS, the TBS Champion is throwing open the doors of The House once again for an Open Challenge, and this time the call is being answered by The Infantry’s Trish Adora! 

Coming off a tremendous battle with Mariah May last Saturday night, Adora is looking to bolster her reputation as one of the best women competing today, and between the Mariah fight, her battle with Riho on RAMPAGE prior to that, the ROH Women’s World TV Title Tournament contest with Mercedes Martinez, and her NJPW STRONG Women’s Title bout with Giulia back in January, it’s hard to argue against Trish’s abilities. She simply needs to put it all together and she will be one of the deadliest women competing in AEW, ROH, or frankly anywhere else in the world, and there’s no better moment to pull it all together than this Saturday night when she enters The House for a TBS Championship Match!

This is first-time bout, meaning a case of neither woman having first-hand experience with the other, only knowing what they’ve seen on tape, and trying to figure out how to turn that into a formula for victory. We know Julia is going to be fighting angry, looking to hurt any woman who would’ve answered this Open Challenge, but will that be her undoing? Will her own emotions towards Mone and Willow Nightingale blind her from focusing on Trish Adora This could be the prime night for Adora to rock the foundations of The House and claim the TBS Championship for The Infantry!

AEW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE TOURNAMENT WILD CARD MATCH…

***WINNER FACES FTR IN QUARTER-FINALS***

The brackets for the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament have been set and we know the finals will take place at DYNASTY on April 21st in St. Louis, now it’s a matter of seeing which two teams survive the road to get there, with the Wild Card duos having the longest road to the top! The first of the two Wild Card match-ups takes place this Saturday night on COLLISION when The House of Black, honored by Brody King and Buddy Matthews, lock-up with The Infantry of Carlie Bravo and Capt. Shawn Dean, with the winners moving on the Quarter-Final round to face FTR!

On paper it’s reasonable to assume The House moves through The Infantry to renew their rivalry with Cash and Dax, but after the confrontation that took place between Captain, Carlie, Cash, and Dax last week, it’s a safe bet that The Infantry is coming to Canada ready to go to war! They are unquestionably the underdogs in this entire tournament, meaning they are going to bring the fight to The House that much harder, and the fact that the teams in the Wild Card bouts have to win four matches to earn the vacant championship is not fact lost on any of them either. It’s an uphill battle for The Infantry, but one that the two veterans are more than willing to undertake in order to prove themselves the equals of the other teams slotted into the field. This could be The Infantry’s night to break out in front of the eyes of the world, or it could be the night The House of Black uses Bravo and Dean as examples to all others standing in their path to tag team glory!

FIGHTING FOR FAMILY…

“Cool Hand” Angelo Parker vs. Zak Knight

It’s clear as crystal that Zak Knight, brother of Saraya, is unhinged, running around the backstage area assaulting random people at the behest of his sister, and doing her bidding when it comes to Angelo Parker. It’s also evident that Parker isn’t just going to sit back and wait for the next attack, he’s taking the fight right to its source, and after what happened on RAMPAGE last night, that means a one-on-one fight this Saturday in Ottawa! While this may be Zak’s first fight inside an AEW ring, he put up a trio of dominating wins on HONOR CLUB earlier this year, and he’s got a career dating back to when he was just ten years old! That’s twenty-two years of experience in his life, and it includes facing his own family members, Okada & Ishii, Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Steve Corino, Doug Williams, and plenty more top tier talent across the UK scene. 

He’s a violent man who enjoys the pain he inflicts on others, and with two vindictive people in Saraya and Harley Cameron at his side, this isn’t going to be a fight without its outside involvement. Hopefully Ruby Soho can provide some balance to that situation, otherwise Cool Hand Ang is going to be in for a rough night in Ottawa!

ALSO:

-We will hear from Adam Copeland ahead of his TNT Championship “I Quit” Match on Wednesday!

-“The Bastard” PAC vs. Komander!!

-And more!!!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/58i8K3JKvmM?si=nOnP6la4-Scb1kna

COLLISION kicks off at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, live from the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa, ON, Canada and what a jam-packed night it will be! With Shibata versus Danielson, Hart versus Adora, O’Reilly versus Keith, and so much on tap, it’s going to be one memorable night, and you can get ready for it by visiting the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to watch highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! 

Then be sure to join us at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum next Wednesday night for a stacked edition of DYNAMITE showcasing Christian Cage defending his TNT Championship against Adam Copeland in an “I Quit” Match and Eddie Kingston putting the AEW Continental Championship at stake against Kazuchika Okada!!!

AEW Rampage Results for March 15, 2024

AEW Rampage Results for March 15, 2024

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!

Your broadcast team was Excalibur, “Lionheart” Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone.

It’s Friday night and you know what that means!

This…is…Rampage!

Best Friends— “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta (with Chuck Taylor)

vs.

The Dark Order—John Silver & Evil Uno!

Tony Schiavone sent out his condolences to the family of Jackie Crockett. 

“God bless you, Jackie Crockett,” said Chris Jericho.

Evil Uno dropped Orange with a shoulder block. John Silver ran in from behind, but Orange hit Silver with a Manhattan drop. Orange and Trent hit Silver with a shoulder tackle. Trent took down Evil Uno with a drop toe hold. Orange climbed to the top rope, but Silver press slammed him. Trent hit Silver with a knee strike, but Evil Uno nailed Trent with a neck breaker.

Evil Uno stopped a DDT from Orange, but Orange wasted no time and followed up with the Stun Dog Millionaire! Evil Uno planted Orange with Something Evil for a near fall. 

Orange kicked it into gear, kicking both members of Dark Order. Trent tagged in and dumped Evil Uno and John Silver with half and half suplexes! Trent tried for the Strong Zero, but Evil Uno booted Trent, and Silver countered the Strong Zero with a Canadian Destroyer! 

Orange flew through the ropes and spiked Evil Uno with a DDT on the arena floor! Evil Uno used a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Orange in the ring. Dark Order used their combo offense on Trent. Orange pulped John Silver with the Orange Punch and then served one up to Evil Uno! Trent used the momentum from Orange’s punch on Silver to finish off Silver with the Strong Zero for the pin!

“That look on Orange Cassidy is a sign of exhaustion and that is not a good sign for Orange Cassidy and Trent heading into the AEW World Tag Team Championship Title Tournament,” said Excalibur. 

AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm (with Luther) & Mariah May

vs.

Kayla Sparks & Little Mean Kathleen!

“We’ve got a first. The first time that Toni Storm has agreed to tag with Mariah May,” said Tony Schiavone.

Toni and Mariah came out of the gates strong, going right after Little Mean Kathleen, looking to send a message to “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo. Kayla grabbed a tag but got dumped on her head by Toni with a German Suplex. Toni smashed Kayla with a hip attack. Mariah May followed up with a hip attack to Kayla! Toni Storm spiked LMK with the Storm Zero and then Mariah May grabbed the pin!

“What a great mentor Toni Storm is. She hit the hip attack and then let Mariah May make the pin,” noted Chris Jericho.

After the match, “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo walked onto the ramp and brought out her mystery tag partner…Thunder Rosa!

“The Virtuosa” and Thunder Rosa sprinted to the ring and Toni Storm and Mariah May made a very swift exit!

Purrazzo: “That’s what I thought, Toni. I guess we’ll see you two next week. Bye!”

“The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita (with Don Callis)

vs.

Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)!

Komander avoided a big kick from Takeshita. Komander rolled up Takeshita, nailed him with a knee drop, and followed up with a lionsault! Komander tried to chop away at Takeshita, but Takeshita blasted Komander with a big boot to the face. Takeshita sent Komander soaring with an overhead release German suplex!

Takeshita was looking for a turnbuckle brain buster, but Komander reversed it with a stunner! Komander hit a moonsault off the top rope and onto Takeshita on the arena floor! Komander wiped out Takeshita with a springboard hurracanrana for a near fall on Takeshita!

Komander charged in at Takeshita, but Takeshita threw him to the mat. Takeshita countered a tornillo into a blue thunder bomb for a near fall on Komander! Komander reversed a power bomb attempt with a Destroyer for a two-count!

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Komander attempted the rope walk shooting star press, but Takeshita raised his knees to counter it! Takeshita power bombed Komander and then clocked Komander with a knee strike! Takeshita walloped Komander with a spinning falcon arrow and then scored the pin on Komander!

“A return to form for ‘the Alpha,’” said Excalibur.

“Takeshita is the man, but I hate that he has Don Callis by his side,” replied Tony Schiavone.

A video package aired of “The Professor” Serena Deeb!

Main Event! Trios Match!

Undisputed Kingdom—ROH Tag Champs The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) & AEW International Champion Roderick Strong

vs.

Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti!

“Undisputed Kingdom are draped in gold tonight. A lot of history between the Undisputed Kingdom and Top Flight and it all comes to head tonight here in our main event,” said Excalibur.

Strong charged at Action and booted him in the head. Bennett tagged in and drove his boot into the throat of Andretti. Taven grabbed a tag and nailed Action with a dropkick. Dante entered the match and rolled up Taven for a one-count. Dante was looking for a DDT, but Taven shoved him off. 

Darius tagged in and Dante used Darius as a springboard, knocking Bennett out of the ring and to the floor. Darius and Bennett traded chops in the center of the ring. Taven tripped Darius from the outside. Roderick came in and dropped Darius with an elbow strike. 

Action rocked Roddy with a neck breaker back breaker combo, followed by a shooting star press. Action went for the pin on Roderick, but the Kingdom ran in to break it up. Action used a double back elbow on the Kingdom to take them off their feet. Action clocked Roderick with a roundhouse kick. Top Flight and Action Andretti took to the sky and hit the Undisputed Kingdom with tope suicidas!

The Undisputed Kingdom regained momentum, isolating Darius and working him over. Darius vaulted off the corner and cracked Roderick with a kick. Dante tagged in and baited in Bennett. Dante connected with a springboard crossbody on Bennett for a near fall.

Top Flight hit tandem offense on Bennett. Action splashed Bennett with a springboard 450 but Taven ran in to break up the pin attempt. Action jumped off the ropes, but Taven countered with a kick, knocking the wind out of Action. Taven and Bennett were looking for the spiked piledriver, but Action fought out of it. Taven jumped from the top turnbuckle, but Action retaliated with a trust kick.

Darius and Action were looking for a double suplex on Bennett, but Roderick ran in and nailed both with jumping knee strikes! 

“That knee is so dangerous,” said Jericho.

Undisputed Kingdom spiked Action Andretti with their piledriver! Roderick Strong finished off Action with the End of Heartache and pinned Action Andretti!

Don’t miss AEW Collision live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON featuring:

-Kyle O’Reilly vs. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!

-& Much more!

Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON, featuring:

– “Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!

-We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné!

-AEW Continental Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!

– Christian Cage (c.) vs. “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship in an I Quit Match!

Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com

And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!

AEW Rampage Preview for March 15, 2024

AEW Rampage Preview for March 15, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/embed/sOK6pqm7Luw?si=GiDS2PcMOscbKWKO

Wednesday night was BIG BUSINESS indeed as “The CEO” Mercedes Mone made her debut for All Elite Wrestling, and immediately made her presence felt following Willow Nightingale’s victory in the main event! It’s clear that Mercedes has big plans in mind for AEW, and her history with Willow in NJPW STRONG may play a factor in that; however she goes, it’s safe to say that business has picked up with her arrival on the AEW stage! Plus, we saw Samoa Joe retain his AEW World Championship against Wardlow, Lion HOOK defeat The Gates of Agony, The Elite score trios victory over Kingston & Death Triangle, and witnessed how Jay White’s victory over Darby Allin led to the violent dissolution of The Bang Bang Scissor Gang!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vJV1teoOyV8?si=0qOa4TA0Fnv5y24v&start=291

Beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT this Friday night, RAMPAGE goes down before the fans at TD Garden, and features a bout between two teams with the AEW World Tag Title Tournament on their minds, The Undisputed Kingdom in Trios Action, the AEW Women’s World Champion and her protege in tag team action, and Komander battling Takeshita! Before the action begins, visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s other social media sites, to get caught up on highlights from Wednesday night’s DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Be sure to join AEW this Saturday night in Ottawa, ON, Canada at the Canadian Tire Center for an all-new COLLISION featuring Kyle O’Reilly’s return to in-ring competition!

TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT PREP…

Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Dark Order (Evil Uno & John Silver)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/HX7QHNGGhno?si=ew8W0PM_AXrw8L0z&start=291

The AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament is fast approaching, and it’s been made abundantly clear by Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta that they aim to run the table in Chuck Taylor’s absence! In fact, the former 2-Time AEW International Champion and his best friend have made it a point to hone their tag team efficiency over the past week, scoring a victory over Kip Sabian and Butcher on the last RAMPAGE, traveling to ROH for a tag team win over Cole Karter & Griff Garrison, and now they’re back on RAMPAGE for another tag team contest!

Their opponents this week are a team that, rather surprisingly, are uniting for the very first time: Evil Uno and John Silver! Shockingly this is a Dark Order pairing that has never occurred before despite all their years standing together in The D.O., though they’ve been part of numerous trios and multi-man affairs. It is a similar situation to Trent and OC, this is only their third tag team outing, so essentially we’ve got two brand new teams trying to get prepared for the tag team tournament! Will this be a night for The Dark Order to rise up, or will the CHAOS Friends add another win to their growing resume?

TRIOS BATTLE…

The Undisputed Kingdom (AEW International Champion Roderick Strong & ROH World Tag Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) 

vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)

REVOLUTION 2024 was a landmark night for The Undisputed Kingdom with Roderick Strong defeating Orange Cassidy to become the new AEW International Champion and Wardlow winning the All-Star 8-Man Scramble to earn a shot at Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship. Unfortunately for Wardlow and The UK, BIG BUSINESS was not his night to ascend to the top of the mountain as Samoa Joe emerged victorious in their TD Garden clash. It’s disappointing for The United Kingdom as a whole, of that there is no doubt, but at least on RAMPAGE they can try to reclaim a piece of the joy they felt on March 3rd.

This Friday night in Boston, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett will step into the ring for Trios competition and standing across from them will be Top Flight and Action Andretti! Now all three of these men have some history (Taven and Bennett fought Action and Darius in a Fight Without Honor  during HONOR CLUB #12 last year, Roddy claimed Action aggravated his neck injury in their singles match last November), and after the incident between BC GOLD and The Acclaimed on Wednesday the Trios Division is certainly experiencing a shake-up, making this quite the intriguing fight!

SINGLES BOUT…

Komander vs. “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita

Takeshita is coming off one of the most unforgettable matches in AEW’s history with his bout at REVOLUTION 2024 against Will Ospreay, and though it may have been a loss for “The Alpha”, it still marked him as belonging in the upper echelon of professional wrestlers. For any who may have doubted his skill, that fight showed the world Takeshita gives as good as he gets with those considered the best in the world, and it’s only a matter of time before he claims a spot atop everyone’s list! This Friday night on RAMPAGE, “The Alpha” has an opportunity to add another battle to his list of memorable match-ups when he faces someone whose skill set swings the opposite direction of Ospreay, the high-flying, gravity-defying, rope-walking Komander!

The two actually met once in singles competition back in January 2023 during PWG’s BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES event, a bout won by Takeshita, and each was a participant in the 2023 Face of the Revolution Ladder Match won by Powerhouse Hobbs, so this is a chance for Komander to even the score with Takeshita for that BOLA loss, and score the biggest victory of his AEW tenure! This is sure to be a match showcasing the best of professional wrestling styles, so do not miss on in this clash between Komander and Takeshita on Friday night!!!

ALSO FEATURING:

-AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm & Mariah May in tag team action!

RAMPAGE comes your way this Friday night at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, and it’s quite the loaded hour of action! The Undisputed Kingdom will be in Trios Action against Top Flight and Action Andretti as Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta face The Dark Order in tag team action! Plus AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm and Mariah May will also be in tag team competition as they prep for Deonna Purrazzo and her mystery partner, and Komander will take on The Don Callis Family’s Takeshita! Prior to bell time, stop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to get caught up on highlights from DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS, plus previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then this Saturday night AEW kicks off a four stop swing through Canada at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Center for an all-new COLLISION featuring Kyle O’Reilly’s return opposite “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vzDhzKnMgKM?si=VKN4be1ikSZWrphj

AEW Dynamite: Big Business Results

AEW Dynamite: Big Business Results

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE: Big Business was broadcast live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA!

Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.

It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!

Tonight’s episode kicked off with Seven-Time Women’s World Champion Mercedes Moné making her AEW Dynamite debut!

The fans were chanting “CEO! CEO! CEO!”

“I think the women’s division—everything—here in AEW has just gotten a lot more interesting,” said Excalibur.

Mercedes Moné: “Boston, I’m home! If you guys could feel my heart right now, it’s beating out of my chest. First thing I want to say is thank you. Thank you for having my back these past two years. Thank you for giving me the courage and the strength to be here. Thank you for sticking with me through all of my lows, my highs, my milestones, my titles, my history making moments, thank you! 

“And trust me, we are going to be creating so much magic, and so many moments, together. Because every single one of you, you are the reason I’m here. So, thank you. I love you guys. And if you only knew how much tonight means to me, how much this means to me, how much wrestling means to me. In so many ways wrestling has changed and saved my life. 

“Wrestling has given me hopes, a place to dream. My dreams got me to lead a women’s evolution. My dreams made me to become the first ever woman to main event a pay-per-view in this very building. My dreams started when I was only 10 years old. And when I was 13 years old, I dropped out of school to take care of my brother. And I had a dream to become the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. And I want you to know, if I can do it, you can do it too. 

“So, let’s get down to business. You want to know why I’m here? Because I need to be here. AEW is the only place where this revolution can be global, and we are going to make that happen. I’ve been watching week after week after week, and everyone in that locker room, I can’t wait to tear it up with you. 

“But let’s start with tonight’s main event, Riho against Willow Nightingale. Now Willow, you and I have a lot of unfinished business. But right now, at Big Business. Mercedes Moné is All Elite! So, to our chairman, Tony Khan, thank you so much for that tweet, to all the AEW fans out there, please say hello to your new CEO!”

“This is going to be a moment that we never forget here in AEW,” said Tony Schiavone.

“Big Business going down in Boston,” added Excalibur. 

AEW World Championship Match!

Samoa Joe (c.) vs. Wardlow (with the Undisputed Kingdom)

Wardlow whipped Samoa Joe hard into the ringside barricade. Wardlow rammed Joe into the steel ring steps. Back in the ring, Samoa Joe chopped Wardlow, but Wardlow planted Samoa Joe with a spinebuster. 

“Not often that Samoa Joe gets manhandled like that,” said Excalibur.

Samoa Joe tested the chin of Wardlow, jabbing away at the challenger. Samoa Joe chopped at Wardlow. Wardlow fired back with a shoulder block off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Samoa Joe slipped free of a powerbomb and followed up with a high boot and then a senton to Wardlow.

Both men slugged it out in the center of the ring but Samoa Joe powerslammed Wardlow for a two-count. Wardlow’s knee buckled. The ref tried to stop Samoa Joe so the ref could check on Wardlow. As the ref turned his back to back Samoa Joe up, Wardlow thumbed Joe in the eyes. Perhaps Wardlow was playing possum. Wardlow blasted Samoa Joe with a knee strike for a near fall. 

“That is the first time anyone has survived that knee from Wardlow,” said Excalibur.

Wardlow attempted a senton atomico, but Samoa Joe dodged it! Wardlow retaliated with a power bomb out of the corner. Samoa Joe applied the rear naked choke and Samoa Joe won via ref stoppage!

“That was a great, great win for the champion,” said Tony Schiavone.

Swerve Strickland walked out to the ring with a steel chain! AEW security tried to stop Swerve, but Swerve knocked them out of his way. Samoa Joe left the ring, not wanting any part of Swerve tonight.

Trios Match!

The Elite— “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks—EVPs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson

vs.

Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston & Death Triangle—PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo!

Kingston ignored a fist bump from Matthew and tagged in “The Bastard” Pac. “The Bastard” wiped out Matthew with a step up hurracanrana and followed up with a back breaker.

Penta El Zero Miedo nailed Nicholas with a thrust kick. Pac grabbed a tag and hit Nicholas with a big pump kick. Pac and Penta clocked Matthew with stereo thrust kicks. Okada tagged in and traded strikes with Kingston! Okada took down Kingston with a beautiful dropkick. Okada and the Bucks triple teamed Kingston in their corner with triple kicks!

Kingston fought out of the corner, crawling to his corner for a tag, but Okada and Nicholas pulled Penta and Pac off the ring apron. The Elite continued to isolate Eddie Kingston. Penta grabbed a tag and cleaned house on the Elite!

Pac blasted Okada with a shotgun dropkick. Pac and Penta took flight over the top rope, wiping out the Bucks on the arena floor. Penta smashed Nicholas with a double foot stomp from the top rope. Pac then landed on Nicholas with a 450 splash! Pac rocked Okada with a German Suplex.

Kingston blistered Okada’s chest with chops. Okada planted Kingston with a DDT. Penta clocked Matthew with a Canadian Destroyer. Nicholas blind sided Penta with a superkick. Nicholas removed his belt, wrapped it around his fist, and charged at Kingston, but Kingston countered with a hot shot, guillotining Nicholas’ throat across the top rope!

Matthew went to strike Kingston, but Kingston countered with a strike. As Matthew distracted the ref in the corner, Nicholas hit Kingston with a low blow between the legs. Okada clocked Kingston with the Rainmaker and pinned Kingston!

“When Okada lands that Rainmaker lariat, it is all over for his opponent,” said Excalibur.

Okada held up Kingston’s AEW Continental Crown Championship aloft after the match! 

Tony Schiavone was in the ring to talk about AEW Dynasty, live on pay-per-view, Sunday, April 21st and the match between “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!

Will Ospreay came out to the ring to discuss the upcoming match with Danielson at Dynasty.

Ospreay: “On April 21st, this match means so much to mean. Bryan Danielson left it in the ring every night for all these people. I’m glad he’s a fan of my work. Bryan, allow me to remind you of what you said once upon a time. After my match with Kenny Omega, everybody was talking about one move: the Tiger Driver 91. 

“You see, Bryan, while I respect you, this match means a hell of a lot more to me. Because the moment I stepped foot in AEW, there has been a phrase that has been following me. Restore the feeling. Bruv, I am the feeling! This match is about reminding people what AEW is. You put the best wrestler in the world against the best wrestler of the 21st century, and only one man walks out the winner.

“The one thing I learned from Bryan Danielson is I can have respect for the man standing across from me but the moment I walk into this ring, it’s your life or it’s mine, and I don’t plan on dying, bruv!

“April 21st, this is about finding out who is the best wrestler in the world. And let me tell you, my name is Will Ospreay, and I am on another level!”

“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo was backstage!

Purrazzo: “Toni Storm and Mariah, if you think this is over between us after Toni tapped out and you DDT’ed me on the ramp, then you’ve learned nothing about the Virtuosa. If this is a numbers game you want to play, then let’s play. I have no problem finding a partner and meeting you both next week in Toronto. 

“And since you already have a tag team match this Friday on Rampage, maybe we’ll stick around and get a closer look. I suggest you watch for the shoe because it’s headed straight up your ass!”

“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Darby Allin!

Darby’s back was all bandaged up after his tag match with Sting against the Bucks from Revolution. 

Jay White rammed Darby into the turnbuckles. Darby fired back with a shotgun dropkick. Darby climbed to the top and splashed Jay White with a back flip, throwing his body at Jay White. Darby rocketed back out of the ring with a tope suicida!

Jay White suplexed Darby onto a metal chair outside the ring! Jay White whipped Darby into the steel ring steps! Back in the ring, White chopped Darby in the back of the neck. Darby dodged a Stinger splash from White. Darby countered a Blade Runner with an over the top stunner and then a sunset flip for a near fall. Darby locked in the Last Supper, but Jay White managed to kick out at the two-count!

Jay White began to dig his fingers into Darby’s back. Darby retaliated with a scorpion death drop out of nowhere. Darby covered White but White got his feet on the bottom rope. Darby was looking for a Coffin Drop, but Jay White avoided it, and Darby crashed onto the edge of the ring apron!

“That was sickening,” said Taz.

Darby managed to jump into the ring, beating the ref’s count just in the nick of time, but Jay White was waiting for him. Jay White blasted Darby with the Blade Runner and scored the pin!

After the match, Jay White and the Gunns assaulted Darby Allin! The Gunns held Darby’s leg between a steel chair, and Jay White was about to smash it to smithereens with Sting’s baseball bat when…

The Acclaimed’s music began to play!

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn sprinted to the ring to stop the Gunns and Jay White from hitting Darby’s ankle with the bat! The Acclaimed help Darby out of the ring. Billy Gunn took the baseball bat away from Jay White, but Jay White smashed a chair against Billy’s head!

Bowens and Caster turned around and saw that Billy Gunn had been knocked out. The Acclaimed jumped back into the ring but the Gunns began to club the Acclaimed with strikes. 

“So much for the Bang Bang Scissor Gang,” said Tony Schiavone.

The Gunns bashed their championship belt into Bowens’ head. Austin Gunn broadsided Caster with the belt next!

“Bullet Club Gold showing their true colors here tonight,” said Excalibur.

The Gunns put Darby’s ankle back between the steel chair and Jay White walloped the ankle with the baseball bat!

LionHOOK—FTW Champion HOOK & “Lionheart” Chris Jericho 

vs. 

Gates of Agony—Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona!

Hook and Jericho hit a double suplex on Bishop. LionHOOK followed up with a double suplex on Liona. Jericho chopped at Kaun in the corner. Kaun ran Jericho over with a lariat. Toa tagged in and rammed into Jericho, who was hung up on the ropes. 

Jericho connected with a lionsault on Kaun. Hook tagged in and bulldozed Bishop with a lariat and then a T-Bone suplex. Hook followed up with a Northern Lights Suplex to Bishop Kaun. 

Gates of Agony regained momentum, but Hook put Kaun in Red Rum. Jericho dropkicked Toa and then Kuan tapped out to Hook’s Red Rum submission. 

“For their first match together, boy, did they work well together,” said Tony Schiavone.

Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kyle O’Reilly when he was interrupted by the Undisputed Kingdom!

Roderick Strong: “Kyle! You know how much respect I have for you. And if you want to do this on your own, do it on your own.”

Kyle: “Yeah, this Saturday, first match back, and I’m going to do it on my own.”

Riho was getting warmed up backstage ahead of her match against Willow when Mercedes walked by and introduced herself.

Mercedes: “I look forward to your match tonight.”

Renee Paquette interviewed FTW Champion HOOK and Chris Jericho backstage!

Jericho said that Hook showed him that he had future World champion written all over him. 

Jericho: “But as much as I learned in the ring standing next to you, I still need to learn more. I need to know what it’s like standing in the ring across from you. That’s why next week on Dynamite, live from Toronto, I’m challenging you, ‘Lionheart’ Chris Jericho against HOOK in AEW for the first time ever. What do you say?”

HOOK: “Let’s do it.”

Main Event Time!

Willow Nightingale (accompanied by Stokely Hathaway & Kris Statlander) vs. Riho!

Willow connected with a running cross body. Riho rocked Willow with a running dropkick and then clocked Willow with a knee strike. Willow walloped Riho with a dropkick off the turnbuckles!

Riho hit a diving cross body on Willow for a near fall. Riho followed up with a Northern Lights suplex, but Willow kicked out at the two-count! 

“Willow hit very hard that time,” said Tony Schiavone.

Riho climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for the diving double foot stomp, but Willow dodged it! Willow sent Riho flying with a running pounce! Willow tried for a senton off the apron, but Riho moved, sending Willow crashing on the arena floor! Riho ran off the apron and walloped Willow with the diving foot stomp!

The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”

Riho drilled Willow with a dragon suplex on the apron! Riho hit the double foot stomp again, but this time Willow kicked out at the two-count. Willow avoided a running knee strike from Riho. Willow landed a big lariat. Willow smashed Riho with the gut wrench doctor bomb and scored the pin fall victory!

After the match, the lights in the arena went dark!

When the lights came back on, TBS Champion Julia Hart was standing in the aisle! Skye Blue ambushed Willow, chop blocking her leg. Julia and Skye double teamed Willow in the ring! Skye held back Willow while Julia was about to crack Willow in the head with the TBS title when Mercedes Moné’s music hit!

Skye Blue charged up the ramp at Mercedes and Mercedes clocked her! Mercedes entered the ring and planted Julia!

“Mercedes Moné, wow, what a difference maker here tonight,” said Excalibur.

Mercedes turned her attention to Willow, and they smiled at each other, with Willow raising Mercedes’ arm. 

“Great respect shown by Willow towards the CEO Mercedes Moné,” said Excalibur.

“There’s never been a better time to be a fan of AEW than right now!” added Tony Schiavone.

This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET featuring:

-The AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Bracketology will be announced!

-Best Friends vs. Dark Order!

-AEW Women’s World Champ “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May in action!

-Trios Match: Undisputed Kingdom vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti!

Don’t miss AEW Collision live on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON featuring:

-Kyle O’Reilly vs. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!

-& Much more!

Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON, featuring:

– “Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. FTW Champion HOOK!

-We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné!

-AEW Continental Crown Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Kazuchika Okada!

– Christian Cage (c.) vs. “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship in an I Quit Match!

Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com

And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!

AEW Dynamite: Big Business Preview

AEW Dynamite: Big Business Preview

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nbo3DvZQHY?si=9BF8yRTUfRChQnnN

After weeks of anticipation, DYNAMITE: BIG BU$INESS is upon us, and the TD Garden is going to be rocking on Wednesday night! AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend his title against a familiar foe in Wardlow, the man who earned this opportunity in REVOLUTION 2024’s All-Star Scramble, and we will witness the first-time clash between Darby Allin and ROH World Six-Man Champion “Switchblade” Jay White! But that’s not all; The New Elite of The Young Bucks and “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada will battle Death Triangle and Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston in Trios action, Willow Nightingale takes on former AEW Women’s World Champion Riho, and FTW Champion HOOK unites with Chris Jericho to battle The Gates of Agony!! All that, and so much more, is on tap for the AEW faithful this Wednesday night for DYNAMITE: BIG BU$INESS!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ze9OkyhQsuM?si=v5fKD10frwJUhvwf

The show begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then join us Saturday night in Ottawa, ON, Canada (https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-event/aew-collision-ottawa) for our debut at the Canadian Tire Centre for an all-new COLLISION!

AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…

Samoa Joe(c) vs. Wardlow 

The history between AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Wardlow runs a bit further back than just “The War Dog” winning the All-Star 8-Man Scramble at REVOLUTION 2024 to earn a World Title match. Back in the fall of 2022, for the better part of two months Joe and Wardlow operated as something of a tag team, even being dubbed WarJoe for their battles against The Varsity Athletes, Gates of Agony, and The Factory. It wasn’t the most stable of partnerships, but it seemed function enough until November 11, 2022 when all came crashing down after then-TNT Champion Wardlow told Powerhouse Hobbs he was going to take all the championships in the company while standing before then-ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe.

Joe did not take kindly to that sentiment, cracked Wardlow with his ROH title belt, and slapped a Choke on the TNT Champion. This led to Joe becoming the TNT Champion at FULL GEAR 2022 in a Three Way with Wardlow and Powerhouse Hobbs, and then beating Wardlow in a singles match at NEW YEARS SMASH 2022 to close out the year. Darby Allin would beat Joe a week later to end that reign, but Joe regained the TNT Championship in short order, only to have Wardlow snatch it away at REVOLUTION 2023 in Joe’s first defense of that second reign. 

The two parted ways after that, Wardlow getting wrapped up with Powerhouse Hobbs while Joe continued his epic ROH World TV Title run as well as began his pursuit of MJF’s AEW World Championship. For Wardlow that path led to triumph and tragedy, losing the title to Hobbs just three days later, before regaining it for a third time, only to have it ripped away by Christian Cage and Luchas…Killswitch. After that, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that Wardlow floundered. He disappeared from television for four months, came back and resumed decimating one individual after another while sporting MJF’s initials on his wrist tape, but it wasn’t until the masks were ripped away, and he was revealed as member of the Undisputed Kingdom that things came into focus.

Wardlow, along with Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett, accomplished their larger goal of destroying MJF’s life by helping to weaken him for Samoa Joe to take the AEW World Championship at WORLDS END. Following that, each man declared their individual goals, and for Wardlow that meant taking what he felt he’d deserved since destroying MJF at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2022: the AEW World Championship. All Wardlow had to do was find his angle to a championship opportunity, and that came in Greensboro when he won the All-Star Scramble and earned a future title match, a result that occurred just a couple hours before Samoa Joe survived both Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland to retain the AEW World Championship.

With the title match in place, all that was needed was setting the date in stone, and that happened last Wednesday night on DYNAMITE following Joe and Swerve’s tag team victory over Wardlow’s partners in the Undisputed Kingdom, your ROH World Tag Team Champions Taven and Bennett. This Wednesday night, when AEW returns to TD Garden for the first time since BLOOD & GUTS 2023, it will be BIG BU$INESS, and there isn’t much that’s bigger business than the AEW World Championship! In this rubber match, Wardlow gets his very first crack at the most coveted championship in professional wrestling, and he does it knowing that the last time he met Samoa Joe one-on-one, he was the won who walked away with a championship title around his waist!

What’s rather frightening though is the difference between Samoa Joe circa March 2023 and Samoa Joe in March 2024; though he has always been one of the most intimidating men in wrestling today, the last 75 days have seen Joe unleash an intensity unfamiliar to AEW audiences. It was as if his pursuit of the AEW World Championship began to open a door he’d left closed for many years, and the first night he walked onto DYNAMITE as the AEW World Champion, said door swung wide open and the landscape of AEW quaked in fear. This is Joe unleashed, this is Joe with everything he’s wanted from the moment he came to All Elite Wrestling, and this is a Samoa Joe who will stop at nothing to make sure it remains his forevermore. It may sound trite to say that the person who beats Joe may have to kill him, but with one look at the way Joe carries that AEW World Title, it’s hard to not take that as his truth. 

This Wednesday night in Boston, Wardlow is going to have to find a way to break Joe like no one ever has before in order to become the AEW World Champion, but if he can maintain that fury, if he can keep that righteous anger burning, then Wardlow may be able to do just that. All eyes will be on the TD Garden this Wednesday night, can Wardlow become the champion he’s longed to be in front of their gaze?

TRIOS BATTLE…

The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson, & Nicholas Jackson)

vs.

Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston & Death Triangle (PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9GYxUuhNhcw?si=10AOPXDXEGZcN2xV&start=230

Last week on DYNAMITE, “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada made his first appearance for All Elite Wrestling as a certified member of AEW locker room, and while that should’ve been a joyous occasion, it was marred by the former multi-time IWPG Heavyweight Champion signing on with The Elite following The EVPs official dismissal of Kenny Omega and Hangman Page. As if that wasn’t disappointing enough, Okada made that choice at the expense of Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston, and when Kingston tried for a measure of revenge on COLLISION a few days later, he paid for it then as well; at least until “The Bastard” PAC made his return to AEW

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xg2DmLSr7uU?si=NjzVTw_mXBjnOrxY

Now we come to BIG BU$INESS this Wednesday night at the TD Garden, and the challenge laid out by Kingston Saturday night. A Trios bout between this new Elite and the rather wild combination of the Continental Crown Champion, Penta El Zero Miedo, and “The Bastard”! One would have to go back nearly three years, to one of the finals events of AEW’s extended stay at Daily’s Place, to find the last time those three men stood together on the same side, coincidentally enough it was also in opposition to The Young Bucks, albeit with Brandon Cutler as their third. Kingston and Penta are close, though it hasn’t always been the easiest of roads, but PAC and Eddie aren’t exactly best friends. Still, they’ve proven they can function as a unit when driven by mutual goals, and eradicating this version of The Elite right out of the gate is certainly a goal worth fighting for.

Make no mistake, this is a pivotal fight in the careers of all men involved; it’s the first big match of Okada’s new endeavor as Elite, it’s PAC’s return to the fold for the first time since July 26th, and it’s AEW’s return to TD Garden! Who will rise in the face of the increased heat of the spotlight that’ll be shone on this match, as well as the entire BIG BU$INESS event?

ONE-ON-ONE…

“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Darby Allin

https://www.youtube.com/embed/EqDOJRtLQCw?si=4xLfEkSvaQjJs5B-&start=326

Before the dust had even settled in Greensboro, before the crew had even finished tearing down the REVOLUTION 2024 set, AEW GM Tony Khan had announced that Darby Allin would fight ROH World Six-Man Champion “Switchblade” Jay White at DYNAMITE: BIG BUSINESS! At the moment Darby was informed of this, during the Media Scrum following the pay-per-view, he certainly didn’t look to be in any condition for a fight of this caliber, but anyone who’s paid attention to the career of the former World Tag Team Champion knows that he won’t let anything stop him from entering the fight, not even an impending trip to Mt. Everest on March 27th. 

But will Darby Allin be in any condition to make that trip after this Wednesday night’s fight with “Switchblade” Jay White? After the words exchanged last week between Darby and “King Switch”, this bout has heated up quite quickly, and is a huge part of AEW’s return to TD Garden! 

Given that Jay White is perpetually supported by The Gunns, Austin and Colten, the question has to be asked if they will get themselves involved in the bout? Or will the influence of The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass actually sway The Bang Bang Gang to fight on the up-and-up? As for Darby, what does his future look like in the post-Sting landscape of All Elite Wrestling? With so much of his last three years spent at Sting’s side, how will the former 2-Time TNT Champion move forward in his career standing by himself? This Wednesday night, as part of BIG BU$INESS, we will all see what the future entails!

SINGLES MATCH…

Willow Nightingale vs. Riho

A week ago former TBS Champion Kris Statlander stepped into the ring for a fight with original AEW Women’s World Champion Riho for the first time in four years, and though it was a hard-fought battle from Stat, it was Riho who took home the victory, moving herself one step closer to a potential championship bout.

But Riho and Kris Statlander aren’t the only women looking for a title opportunity, former NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale is also on the hunt for the TBS Championship around Julia Hart’s waist, and just like her tag partner, the road also goes through Riho! Prior to this, the only engagement between the two women took place on the November 14, 2022 edition of DARK: ELEVATION when they teamed up to defeat Emi Sakura and Mei Suruga, a match that coincidentally also took place in Boston, just four miles away at Agganis Arena.

Will Willow win out where Kris Statlander came up short one week ago? And how will Stokely Hathaway play a role in this bout because, let’s face it, he can’t help but find a way to insert himself into any match…

TAG TEAM BOUT…

FTW Champion HOOK & Chris Jericho vs. Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/s_qmxbdjnho?si=sjSuJ4snp-iOR7_-&start=326

It’s an unlikely alliance yet here we are; Chris Jericho and FTW Champion HOOK are set to stand on the same side of the ring with The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) standing in opposition. All of this stems from the All-Star 8-man at REVOLUTION 2024, Jericho and HOOK’s participation in the match, HOOK’s rivalry with Brian Cage, and his victory over “The Machine” last week on DYNAMITE! It all coalesced into Jericho assisting HOOK, HOOK assisting the OG AEW World Champion, and now this tag team bout between The Gates of Agony and HOOK/Jericho. Jericho has some experience with The Gates after defeating them with Kenny Omega as his partner, but HOOK has never set foot in the ring with either Toa Liona or Bishop Kaun, and given that he and Jericho are entering into this unity for the first time, it’s going to be quite interesting to see how they function as a unit.

The Gates ended their 2023 as participants in the NJPW World Tag League, scoring four points overall, but in 2024 they’ve taken a step back from Mogul Embassy business as Swerve Strickland made it a point to pursue his AEW World Championship dreams without Embassy involvement. That’s done now; Kaun and Toa are back in business this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, and they aim to deliver a message to everyone in the AEW locker room by decimating the original AEW World Champ and the current FTW Champion! 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/4nNZN0oqdmU?si=uIMNQAcLpifMo9oX

DYNAMITE: BIG BU$INESS is finally here and the TD Garden better be ready for an epic night! The AEW World Championship will be at stake when Samoa Joe and Wardlow rekindle their rivalry, we will see Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston unite with PAC and Penta El Zero Miedo to take on The Elite, and FTW Champion HOOK tags up with Chris Jericho to battle The Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony!  In addition, Darby Allin and Jay White lock horn, Willow Nightingale battles the original AEW Women’s World Champion Riho, and there is plenty more coming your way from Boston this Wednesday night!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iweidRmLn4U?si=lYTRuKYeFau7Q-UI&start=326

DYNAMITE begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so drop by AEW’s official YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to catch highlights from last week’s editions of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then on Saturday night we head to Ottawa, ON, Canada for our debut at the Canadian Tire Centre with an all-new COLLISION!