After a huge pair of GRAND SLAM 2023 events at Arthur Ashe Stadium, All Elite Wrestling comes to Grand Rapids and the Van Andel Arena for a huge edition of COLLISION! The AEW World Tag Team Championship will be on the line as The Workhorsemen of Anthony Henry and JD Drake answer FTR’s Open Challenge and the TNT Championship will be at stake in a Three Way between champion Luchasaurus, his “mentor” Christian Cage, and 2-Time former champ Darby Allin!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE: Grand Slam was broadcast from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, NY!
Yourbroadcast team was Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
Darby Allin (with Nick Wayne) & Sting
vs.
TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage!
Both teams started the match brawling. Darby dropkicked Luchasaurus out of the ring and onto the ramp. Darby threw his body at Luchasaurus. Sting and Christian brawled outside the ring. Luchasaurus whipped Darby into the steel ring post!
Luchasaurus worked Darby over, bodyslamming him and then sending him into the turnbuckles. Christian tagged in but Darby connected with a springboard press. Luchasaurus spiked Darby with a chokeslam. Christian attempted a diving headbutt, but Darby dodged it, rolling out of the way.
Sting tagged in and wiped out Christian with two lariats and a spinebuster. Sting blasted Luchasaurus with right hands and then delivered a Stinger splash to Christian and Luchasaurus in the corner. Sting and Darby hit Luchasaurus with a Scorpion Death-Coffin Drop combo!
Darby blasted Christian Cage with a shotgun dropkick. Nick Wayne jumped up on the apron and Christian turned toward him. Darby rolled up a distracted Christian Cage and pinned him!
“Christian’s eyes are locked on Nick Wayne,” said Excalibur.
“Cool Hand” Angelo Parker, Anna Jay, & “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard (with Jake Hager)!
Angelo Parker and Matt Menard played mind games with Hook, tagging in and out at the start of the match. Anna Jay tagged in so Kris Statlander entered the ring. Anna Jay connected with a kick in the corner on Kris. Statlander nailed Anna Jay with a delayed vertical suplex.
Parker snap suplexed Hook. Menard tagged in and he and Parker rocked Hook with tandem offense. Orange Cassidy came in and cleaned house on Parker and Menard with a dropkick. Cassidy hit Hager with a tope suicida. Hook, Cassidy, and Statlander triple suplexed Menard, Parker, and Jay!
Hook hurled Parker and Menard with T-bone suplexes. As the ref was distracted, Hager hit Hook. Orange Cassidy rocked Hager with a punch. Hook locked in the RedRum on Daddy Magic. Cassidy pulped Parker with the Orange Punch and pinned him!
Up next: Tony Schiavone interviewed Don Callis in the ring!
Takeshita walked down to the ring with Callis.
Callis: “I just want to say one thing. A few weeks ago, the wrestling world was abuzz at my so-called pursuit of Chris Jericho. I didn’t end up with Jericho, but I ended up with the man I really wanted, the newest member of the Don Callis Family, Sammy Guevara!”
Sammy Guevara joined Callis and Takeshita in the ring!
Sammy: “You know, Don, believe it or not, I hated you. I hated you for a long time. I hated you almost as much as the audience hates you. I thought you were trying to rip apart my family but really you were just showing me I never had one until now.
“So why did I do that to Chris Jericho on Wednesday? The reason I turned on Jericho is because for the past four years he’s been holding me back, taking me for granted, just like all of you! I don’t need the fans. I’m done trying to earn your love. I have a hot wife at home, a beautiful baby girl, and a fat, fat paycheck.
“Chris Jericho is dead to me, and I never want to see him again!”
Chris Jericho’s music began to play and out walked the Ocho!
Jericho charged into the ring and dished out shots to Takeshita and Sammy! Jericho turned his attention to Callis, but Takeshita battered Jericho with a steel chair. Sammy took the chair and swung it at Chris Jericho, punishing his former mentor!
Callis punched Jericho as Jericho was held back by Takeshita and Sammy. Don pulled out a screwdriver and was about to use it on Jericho when out ran Kenny Omega!
Kenny Omega, steel pipe in hand, came to the aid of Chris Jericho! The Don Callis Family retreated!
“Did Omega do it to thwart Callis or to save Jericho?” wondered Ian.
Alex Marvez interviewed Kenny Omega backstage!
Jericho interrupted Omega.
Jericho: “Jericho and Omega united to take out Callis. His worst nightmare is coming true. And Sammy, you are a true Judas. So, let’s unite and take out the Don Callis Family at Wrestledream?”
Omega: “Don, your Wrestledream on October 1st is going to be more like a nightmare.”
Best Friends—Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta
vs.
The Hardys—Jeff & Matt
vs.
The Kingdom—Matt Taven & Mike Bennett
vs.
The Righteous—Dutch & Vincent!
The winner earns an ROH World Tag Title Match at Wrestledream.
A donnybrook broke out at the start of the match. Bennett rammed Taylor into the barricade. Taven went over the top with the Flight of the Conqueror. Best Friends jumped over the top and crashed onto the pile!
Jeff Hardy splashed Vincent. Dutch charged in but the Hardys sent him into Vincent in the corner. Dutch dropped Jeff Hardy with the Bossman slam. The Righteous went to work on Mike Bennett and then Matt Hardy.
Trent suplexed Dutch but Taven was there with a pump kick. Taylor caught Taven with a thrust kick. The Kingdom planted Taylor with the Hail Mary after a low blow from Bennett to Taylor. Jeff Hardy splashed Taylor with a Swanton bomb, but Vincent grabbed a blind tag. Vincent landed on Taylor with the Death From Above and pinned Taylor!
Taven and Bennett attacked the Best Friends with steel chairs after the match!
“They are unhinged!” said Ian.
AEW World Trios Championship Match!
The Acclaimed (c.)—Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, & Daddy Ass
vs.
The Dark Order—Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, & John Silver!
Caster used a shoulder tackle to take down Reynolds. Caster followed up with a deep arm drag. John Silver tagged but Caster hoisted him up and rammed him into the Acclaimed’s corner. Daddy Ass tagged in, and he and Bowens dropped elbows on Silver. Daddy Ass scoop slammed Silver. Bowens was looking for the Scissor Me Timbers, but Reynolds knocked him to the arena floor.
Evil Uno stomped a mudhole into Caster in the corner. Reynolds raked the eyes of Max Caster. Reynolds rocked Caster with a short arm clothesline for a two-count. Caster made the tag to Daddy Ass and Daddy Ass threw haymakers at the Dark Order! Reynolds side stepped the Fame Asser, but Billy Gunn tagged out to Bowens.
Bowens nailed Reynolds with the Arrival. Caster hit the Mic Drop. John Silver broke up the pin. Evil Uno cracked Caster in the head with one of the Trios belts as ref Aubrey Edwards was distracted. Bowens planted Reynolds and scored the pin!
“A huge defense of the AEW World Trios Championships! Dark Order pulled out all the stops,” said Excalibur.
Skye Blue vs. The House of Black’s Julia Hart (with Brody King)!
Skye Blue nailed Julia with a knee strike. Skye followed up with a snap suplex for a near fall. Blue charged at Julia, but Julia dodged it and grounded and pounded Skye Blue!
Skye Blue fired back with a flurry of offense. Julia dazed Skye on the top turnbuckle. Julia superplexed Skye Blue and followed up with a standing moonsault press.
Julia countered the Skyefall and then clocked her with a shot to the back of the head. Julia forced Skye Blue to tap out after Julia applied the Heartless submission!
“Julia Hart remains undefeated in 2023,” noted Excalibur.
Julia Hart wouldn’t release the hold. Willow Nightingale sprinted to the ring to come to the aid of Skye Blue. Ian and Excalibur wondered if perhaps this was Julia’s plan all along, to lure Willow out.
Mike Santana vs. Iron Savages’ Bronson!
Bronson hit Santana with a cheap shot. Mike Santana fired back with big chops to Bronson’s chest. Santana dazed Bronson with a cutter and followed up with a discus lariat. Santana rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida to Bronson!
Mike Santana splashed Bronson with a cannonball senton. Santana drilled Bronson, spiking him headfirst into the mat, and then pinned Bronson.
Ortiz walked onto the ramp and he and Santana had a stare down.
Main Event Time!
ROH World Six-Man Championship Match!
The Mogul Embassy (c.)—Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, & Toa Liona (with Prince Nana)
vs.
The Elite— “Hangman” Adam Page, & The Young Bucks—Matt & Nick Jackson!
Hangman unleashed a series of strikes on Brian Cage. Hangman followed up with a shooting star press off the apron onto Kaun! Nick hit a destroyer on Brian Cage. The Elite were about to hit the BTE Trigger on Brian Cage when Swerve Strickland walked out onto the ramp and had a stare down with Adam Page.
Brian Cage suplexed Nick Jackson into the ring. Bishop blasted Matt Jackson with a backstabber.
“Great teamwork,” said Tony Schiavone of the Gates of Agony.
Matt Jackson jumped off the turnbuckles and hit a crossbody press on the Gates of Agony outside the ring. Matt tagged Hangman and Hangman hit a moonsault on Brian Cage for a near fall!
“So explosive is Hangman,” said Tony Schiavone.
The Bucks flew to the outside with topes to the Gates of Agony. Brian Cage smashed Page with a waterwheel drop for a two-count! The Bucks invited the Gates to a superkick party!
The Mogul Embassy wiped out the Elite with triple firemen’s carries. Toa splashed Hangman and Cage covered Hangman, but Nick was there to make the save. The Bucks blasted the Gates with superkicks. Hangman rocked the Gates with a double Buckshot Lariat! Page spiked Cage with a Dead Eye for a near fall.
Swerve distracted Page on the apron. Cage tried to finish Page with the Drill Claw, but Page countered, rolled up Brian Cage and pinned him!
And new ROH World Six-Man Champions…The Elite!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from 1stBank Center in Broomfield, CO!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI featuring:
-Andrade El Idolo vs. “Switchblade” Jay White!
-AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: FTR (c.) vs. The Workhorsemen!
-RVD in action!
-Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale!
-3-Way match for the TNT Title: Luchasaurus (c.) vs. Christian Cage vs. Darby Allin!
-Texas Death Match: “Absolute” Ricky Starks vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
DYNAMITE: GRAND SLAM 2023 was as exciting a night as it gets here in All Elite Wrestling, featuring two championships changing hands to the detriment of The Blackpool Combat Club, but also MJF overcoming all the odds to not only defeat Samoa Joe in their AEW World Championship match, but also earn a handshake from the respected (and feared) ROH World TV Champion. In addition, Saraya retained the AEW Women’s World Championship, Chris Jericho relived a piece of his own history when Sammy Guevara betrayed him to Don Callis, and now RAMPAGE: GRAND SLAM 2023 continues the excitement for two hours this Friday night!
The Ring of Honor World Six-Man titles will be on the line as The Mogul Embassy, one day removed from a successful defense on Honor Club, will put the titles on the line against The Elite of Hangman Page and The Young Bucks! Plus, the AEW World Trios Championship will be at stake between The Acclaimed and The Dark Order, Mike Santana returns to action, a big Mixed Trios match is going down, and the next contenders for the ROH World Tag Titles held by Adam Cole and MJF will be determined! Also, ahead of their three way championship match on COLLISION in Grand Rapids, Darby Allin and Sting will take on Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus in tag team competition.
The night begins at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, so be sure to check out the official AEW YouTube channel prior to RAMPAGE to catch highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE: GRAND SLAM, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!
ROH WORLD SIX-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, & Toa Liona) vs.
The Elite (Adam Page, Matt Jackson, & Nick Jackson
With Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland set to do battle at WRESTLEDREAM in less than two weeks time, The Elite and The Mogul Embassy will lock horns this Friday night on RAMPAGE, and the ROH World Six-Man Championship will be at stake! Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona come into this fight having held the titles since FINAL BATTLE 2022, some 286 days, and turned away nine challenges to their crowns, including one Thursday night on Honor Club (www.watchroh.com).
Now no disrespect intended to their other challengers thus far, but this is unquestionably the toughest challenge Prince Nana’s unit has faced to date, despite the long layoff in their competing as a trio. See it’s only been a few weeks since this particular Elite group reformed as a trio, but they’ve experienced success in their reunion, scoring victories over both The BCC and Dark Order, and their past resume reinforces they danger The Elite represents.
See long before The Mogul Embassy was a gleam in the eye of Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana, BULLET CLUB reigned supreme over Ring of Honor, and with that came a 201 day reign as ROH World Six-Man Champions for Hangman Page and The Young Bucks. Sixth on the all-time list, this trio racked up eight championship victories over The Kingdom, CHAOS, and SCU, just to name a few, before losing to SCU in a rematch at the 16TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW.
Now, with the Seattle collision between Hangman and Swerve looming, The Elite aim to pick up their second run with the titles at the expense of Strickland’s crew. Fans have already seen one ROH championship change hands on AEW programming this week, will they bear witness to another on RAMPAGE: GRAND SLAM 2023?
TAG TEAM CONTEST…
Darby Allin & Sting vs. TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage
Christian Cage made the challenge for Saturday night on COLLISION, a Three Way TNT Championship bout between he, Darby Allin, and Luchasaurus, but in order to get there, he and his Right Hand of Destruction still have to through Friday night’s tag team battle against Darby Allin and “The Icon” Sting.
At ALL IN: LONDON, Darby and Sting shut down the tag team challenge of Christian and Swerve Strickland, in a Coffin Match no less, but that fight, in addition to everything he’s gone through since, has left Allin battered and bruised without giving himself time to heal up in the slightest. Christian may have gone through that battle as well, but he came out less the worse for wear, letting Swerve end up with much of that beating, and he’s got Luchasaurus on his side to throw in the way of the punishment as well.
Thankfully Darby has Sting to support him, genuine support not just the…human…shield who actually earned the TNT Championship that Christian Cage has been carrying around, and pick him up when the going gets rough, usually meaning when Darby is at the wrong end of the numbers game or his physically battered body needs a moment of rest.
Whoever comes out of RAMPAGE with the victory will have a distinct advantage heading into COLLISION in Grand Rapids, the kind of momentum that’s hard to fight, but when the numbers are essentially two-on-one in favor of the defending champion, the real one not Cage, a tag team victory may not amount to much. Still, every victory helps momentum, every victory helps psychologically, and every victory helps get Darby one step closer to bringing that TNT to his side in time for AEW’s WRESTLEDREAM return to his hometown!
WRESTLEDREAM OPPORTUNITY…
Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) vs. The Hardys (Jeff & Matt) vs. The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent)
***WINNER EARNS ROH WORLD TAG TITLE MATCH AT WRESTLEDREAM***
WRESTLEDREAM is less than two weeks away, and with this bout here, four teams are jockeying for the right to challenge Better Than You BayBay, Adam Cole and AEW World Champion MJF, for the ROH World Tag Team Championship! Of the four teams in contention, The Hardys and The Kingdom can both lay claim to previous status as champions, while The Best Friends have never held a championship of any kind together, and The Righteous can only claim status as former ROH World Six-Man Champions.
All have motivation to press on to Seattle on October 1st and try to claim the throne upon which Cole and Friedman sit, but which pair will be able to see through the chaos that is this sort of affair and find their way to victory? It’s going to be a wild time in Queens with this one come Friday night; which men will come out with their eyes on the prize?
AEW WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Daddy Ass, & Max Caster) vs.
The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, & John Silver)
Last time AEW was at Arthur Ashe Stadium for GRAND SLAM 2022, The Acclaimed captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship from Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. This year they enter that same hallowed ground as the defending World Trios Champions, and the aim to walk back out the same way they come in: titles around their waist, and surrounded by a sea of scissors.
All that Max Caster, Daddy Ass, and Anthony Bowens have to do is survive The Dark Order’s onslaught, something that Bowens proved unable to do last week when he fell to John Silver (not without some trickery from The Dark Order mind you). Alex Reynolds, Silver, and Evil Uno have proven quite the competent competitors, 8-2 on the year and 11-3 overall as a trio, with a huge victory over The Elite included in that 2023 total. But after all this time in AEW, championship success has continued to allude the group ever since Mr. Brodie Lee lost the TNT Championship back to Cody Rhodes several years ago. No tag team or singles title has found a home in The Dark Order, and this will mark The Dark Order’s second attempt to claim the titles, albeit the first for this particular unit, the only three left standing to hold up the claw.
Can The Dark Order finally find their way to being called champion? Or will Arthur Ashe Stadium continue to be Acclaimed territory as it was in 2022?
vs. “Cool Hand” Angelo Parker, Anna Jay, & “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard
-Mike Santana vs. Bronson
-Skye Blue vs. The House of Black’s Julia Hart
This Friday night, on a stacked two hour edition of RAMPAGE: GRAND SLAM 2023, the AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed will defend against The Dark Order, The Elite will challenge The Mogul Embassy for the ROH World Six-Man Titles, we will see the return of Mike Santana to singles action, and a new #1 Contender for the ROH World Tag Team Titles will be set! All that and more is coming to fans this Friday night at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences! Be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel ahead of time for highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE: GRAND SLAM 2023, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus THE CONTROL CENTER, and much, much more!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE: Grand Slam was broadcast live from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, NY!
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!
Title vs. Title Match!
ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli (with Wheeler Yuta)
vs.
NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston!
Ian Riccaboni joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Claudio rushed at Eddie and booted him in the face. They traded chops and forearms. The fight spilled outside of the ring! Eddie whipped Claudio into the steel guardrail. Eddie headbutted Claudio but Claudio fired back with a lariat.
Back in the ring Claudio gut wrenched Eddie nearly into a doctor bomb, planting him hard on the mat. Eddie German suplexed Claudio. Eddie tried for a backfist, but Claudio countered with the crown of his head. Claudio back suplexed Eddie Kingston onto the ramp!
Claudio clotheslined Eddie over the top rope and back into the ring. Claudio double stomped down onto the left arm of Claudio. Eddie moved out of the way of Claudio’s diving headbutt.
Claudio battered Eddie in the corner turnbuckles. Claudio nailed Eddie with a TKO for a near fall. Claudio blasted Eddie with boots to the face. Kingston baited Claudio in and nailed Claudio with two suplexes for a two-count. Eddie fired off a straight right to Claudio’s jaw, knocking Claudio to his knees. Claudio answered with a right hand of his own.
Claudio staggered Eddie with European uppercuts. Claudio headbutted Eddie and followed up with a short arm lariat. Claudio went for the ricola bomb, but Eddie reversed it for a near fall. Claudio hit the ricola bomb, but Eddie kicked out at the two-count!
“This crowd coming unglued in support of their own Eddie Kingston,” said Excalibur.
Eddie clocked Claudio with three back fists and followed up with a Northern Lights Bomb for a near fall on Claudio. Kingston fired off another backfist and then powerbombed Claudio for the pinfall victory!
And new Ring of Honor World Champion Eddie Kingston!
Claudio extended his hand and Eddie accepted. The Code of Honor was adhered to.
“It’s a great moment in the long history of Dynamite,” said Tony Schiavone.
Footage was shown from earlier of the Kingdom watching over an ‘injured’ Roderick Strong in a hospital bed.
Adam Cole came to visit.
“Where have you been?” asked Matt Taven.
Cole said he got there as fast as he could.
Cole: “I’m glad you’re doing okay, but I have to go. Max has a huge match against Samoa Joe.”
Roderick Strong: “Just go. Just friggin’ go.”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus!
Christian Cage: “Rampage: Grand Slam, we are going to walk through Sting and Darby Allin. And Darby I am ready to move on. I am bored with you. I have a little proposition for you Darby. This Saturday on Collision how about you step in the ring for a three-way match for the TNT Championship against me and Luchasaurus. If you want this shot, Darby, then Sting isn’t allowed at ringside.”
Chris Jericho vs. Sammy Guevara (with Monteasy)!
Monteasy rapped Sammy to the ring. Sammy was wearing a light up vest, an homage to Chris Jericho when he faced Shawn Michaels 21 years ago.
Sammy and Jericho exchanged chops right out of the gate. Jericho tripped and Sammy seized the moment with a corkscrew dropkick. Jericho hoisted up Sammy with an underhook and then hit a backbreaker. Sammy fired back with a corkscrew tornillo over the top rope onto Jericho on the arena floor.
Jericho countered a GTH attempt with the Codebreaker. Jericho suplexed Sammy off the apron and down onto the arena floor! Back in the ring Sammy lured in Jericho for a Spanish Fly for a near fall. Jericho retaliated with two nasty lariats.
Sammy grabbed Jericho and smashed his face with the Code Breaker for a two-count! Sammy charged at Jericho, knocking Jericho off the apron and onto the front of the announcer’s desk. Sammy jumped off the top rope with a moonsault onto Jericho. Sammy connected with a cutter.
“Both of these men have gone through a lot in a short amount of time,” said Tony Schiavone.
Jericho countered the GTH with the Walls! Sammy twisted his hips and escaped. Sammy cracked Chris with a rising knee strike. Sammy and Jericho jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle. Sammy got the upper hand with a cutter off the top rope!
Sammy attempted a top rope lionsault, but Jericho countered by raising his knees. Jericho hit a running bulldog on Sammy. Jericho nailed Sammy with the lionsault for a near fall. Sammy caught Jericho with a GTH! Sammy went for the shooting star press, but Jericho countered with the Code Breaker and scored the win!
Jericho and Sammy hugged after the match. Sammy kicked Jericho with a low blow!
“What have you done, Sammy?” asked Excalibur.
Don Callis walked down the ramp and into the ring! Don Callis patted Sammy on the shoulder and the two men left the ring together.
Earlier in the day MJF pulled up to the arena in his exotic sports car with Adam Cole!
MJF had strong words for Samoa Joe. Adam Cole’s phone rang and when he answered, it was Roderick Strong. Cole told Strong to calm down and walked away from MJF to console Roddy.
Renee Paquette tried to interview Sammy Guevara and Don Callis backstage!
Don said all would be revealed this Friday on Rampage.
Daniel Garcia got in Sammy’s face, but Callis insisted they walk away.
AEW International Championship Match!
Jon Moxley (c.) vs. Rey Fenix!
Fenix met Moxley on the ramp and they began to brawl before the bell even rang. Fenix jumped off the ramp, over the cameraman, and onto Moxley on the arena floor!
Moxley rocked Rey Fenix with a forearm and then stomped him face first into the mat. Moxley grounded and pounded Rey Fenix. Moxley tossed Rey Fenix over the barricade. Moxley drilled Rey Fenix with a draping DDT onto the arena floor!
“Fenix is in a world of hurt right now from Mox,” said Taz.
Rey Fenix caught Mox flush in the face with a kick and then followed up with a cutter. Rey Fenix frog splashed Moxley for a near fall! Rey Fenix charged at Moxley, but Moxley wiped him out with a King Kong Lariat!
Fenix propped Moxley onto the steel barricade, draping him over it. Rey Fenix jumped off the top rope and landed on Moxley with a leg drop to the back of the head! Back in the ring Moxley regained momentum with a Gotch style piledriver. But Rey retaliated with a diving double foot stomp for a two-count.
Moxley curb stomped Rey Fenix on the stage ramp! Moxley spiked Rey Fenix with a piledriver for a two-count. Rey Fenix hit Moxley with a senton atomico and then a piledriver. Fenix hit a second piledriver and pinned Moxley!
And new AEW International Champion Rey Fenix!
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Saraya (c.) (with Ruby Soho) vs. Toni Storm!
Saraya slapped Toni in the face. Toni Storm smiled and chopped at Saraya. After a distraction from Ruby, Saraya capitalized with a thrust kick to Toni.
Toni swept out the leg of Saraya. As the ref was distracted, Toni Storm cracked Saraya in the head with a high heel shoe for a near fall!
Toni Storm pulled off the bottom turnbuckle pad. Toni had a can of spray paint, but Ruby grabbed it out of Toni’s hands and tossed it to Saraya. Saraya sprayed it in Toni’s eyes and went for the pin after a DDT, but Toni kicked out. Saraya grabbed Toni to ram her head into the exposed turnbuckle, but Saraya didn’t have the heart to do it.
Toni Storm grabbed Saraya, kissed her on the mouth, and then spiked her with the Storm Zero for a two-count! Saraya dodged the Hip Attack and nailed Toni with the Knight Cap, grabbing the pinfall victory!
Main Event Time!
AEW World Championship Match!
MJF (c.) vs. ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe!
The fans chanted “He’s our scumbag! He’s our scumbag!”
MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eye. MJF jumped on the back of Samoa Joe, but Joe shrugged him to the mat. Tony Schiavone pointed out that Adam Cole was not ringside for Adam Cole’s match, despite Adam Cole promising MJF he’d be there for him tonight.
Samoa Joe began to work over MJF’s neck. MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eyes again. Joe ran MJF over with a boot to the head. Samoa Joe attempted the muscle buster, but MJF escaped. MJF staggered Samoa Joe with three short arm lariats. MJF went for a fourth, but Samoa Joe swung for the fences and nearly decapitated MJF with a lariat.
Samoa Joe headbutted MJF but MJF fired up and raked Samoa Joe’s back! MJF hammered Samoa Joe with punches to the head. MJF bit down on Samoa Joe’s forehead. MJF connected with the kangaroo kick!
MJF ran for a tope, but Samoa Joe countered with a kick. Samoa Joe spiked MJF with a Death Valley Driver on the apron!
“That’ll change your career, man,” said Taz.
Samoa Joe pulled a table out from beneath the ring. Samoa Joe pulled MJF out of the ring and planted him through the table!
“Samoa Joe can feel the AEW World Championship in his grasp,” said Excalibur.
Samoa Joe pulled the padding off the floor, exposing the concrete beneath it. Samoa Joe was looking for a piledriver, but MJF bit him. MJF attempted a piledriver, but he had to let go because his injured neck began to spasm. Samoa Joe stuck MJF with a piledriver on the exposed concrete!
Samoa Joe told MJF to give up, but MJF spat at Samoa Joe. MJF pulled out a Liger Bomb out of nowhere on Samoa Joe for a near fall!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Samoa Joe and MJF traded strikes in the center of the ring. Samoa Joe applied a sleeper. MJF pulled the ref in close and while the ref was distracted, MJF kicked back with a low blow to Samoa Joe. MJF pulled out the Dynamite Diamond Ring from his trunks.
MJF was about to clock Samoa Joe with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but Samoa Joe pulled the ref in front of him, and the ref spotted the illegal object! As ref Paul Turner threw the diamond ring to the outside, Samoa Joe kicked MJF with a low blow!
Samoa Joe nailed MJF with the muscle buster but somehow MJF kicked out at the two-count! Samoa Joe applied a sleeper. Adam Cole sprinted down to the ring and tried to motivate MJF! MJF got to his feet! MJF applied the sleeper on Samoa Joe, but Joe shoved MJF into the corner. Adam Cole jumped onto the ring apron. Samoa Joe tried to take a swing at Adam Cole. As Samoa Joe and the ref had their backs turned, MJF used his wrist tape around Samoa Joe’s neck! MJF choked out Samoa Joe and the ref stopped the match, with MJF retaining! MJF dropped the evidence and Adam Cole quickly picked it up and hid it in his pocket.
Samoa Joe got to his feet, and he shoved Adam Cole. MJF jumped in between them, acting as a human shield. Samoa Joe offered his hand to MJF. Samoa Joe shook MJF’s hand, giving the devil his due.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from 1stBank Center in Broomfield, CO!
This Friday tune in to a stacked two-hour episode of AEW RAMPAGE: Grand Slam beginning at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:
The night is upon us; for the third consecutive year, All Elite Wrestling descends upon the historic Arthur Ashe Stadium for GRAND SLAM, and with it comes two hours of the greatest professional wrestling in the world live on DYNAMITE this Wednesday! After winning the Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament, ROH World TV Champ Samoa Joe will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship while Toni Storm takes on her former Outcasts’ ally Saraya with the AEW Women’s World Championship on the line!
Plus, the long-standing grudge between Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston comes to the forefront when both men put their respective championships on the line in a title versus title fight, and two long-time friends collide for the first-time when Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara lock horns! And in his fourth championship fight in seventeen days, Jon Moxley will meet Rey Fenix in an International Championship fight!
DYNAMITE gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so be sure to check in on the official AEW YouTube channel and watch the highlights from last week’s action during DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, plus the CONTROL CENTER, and more!
In the span of five days from 9/8 to 9/13, the ROH World Television Champion conquered three of the toughest competitors in All Elite Wrestling on path through the Grand Slam World Championship Eliminator Tournament. It began with Jeff Hardy on the 9/8 edition of RAMPAGE, continued with Penta El Zero Miedo the following night on COLLISION, and culminated in a 2023 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament rematch with Roderick Strong. Nearly thirty-five minutes of battle was what it took to get Samoa Joe to the precipice of the AEW World Championship, now he just has to complete the mission by taking Maxwell Jacob Friedman down this Wednesday night at DYNAMITE: GRAND SLAM 2023.
For Joe, this is an issue that became more than just the desire to be AEW World Champion after MJF chose to attack Joe at ALL OUT 2023 following the ROH World TV Champion giving him a little shove as they crossed paths between matches. Given that MJF was coming out of a ROH World Tag Team Championship defense with a hurt neck, perhaps attacking the guy whose primary moves consist of either choking a man out or dropping them on their head with a Muscle Buster may not have been the brightest idea, but for Max it was about the insult of that moment, as well as an insult buried in their history.
As MJF tells it, and as video shows it, one day many years ago, long before Maxwell Jacob Freidman was a name on anyone’s lips, Samoa Joe showed him the kind of disregard that can often befall a rookie when engaging with their seniors. For Joe it was a moment he likely forgot about until MJF began to make his name thus leading the internet to incessantly share the clip, especially once Joe and Max came to share the same space here in AEW. But for MJF, much like his interactions with William Regal many years ago, it was not something that ever left his head space, and in truth something that helped to motivate Max to the heights he’s reached today. It’s pretty clear by now that MJF has had a career fueled by a mix of anger, self-loathing, a need for retribution, and false bravado.
In fact, it would be reasonable to say that it’s only through this friendship with Adam Cole that MJF has found a semblance of motivation based on more than just those things, based on discovering actual self-worth, and an appreciation for those who have supported him despite his massive shortcomings as a decent human being. So the fact that Joe chose to attack Adam Cole as his last statement to MJF prior to this fight, well that is something sure to push Maxwell back into his darkest places, deep into the devil inside, and to add those actions to the ones Samoa Joe committed in 2016 to further motivate his desire to smash the Samoan monster.
There’s just one problem: MJF’s neck, and that it represents a huge target for a man as merciless as the ROH World Television Champion. He will look to suplex Max on that weakened neck until MJF looks like a bobblehead, Joe will look to wrap his arms around that stem and squeeze it until no breath remains in the lungs of Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and he will aim to hoist Max from the top rope, his neck flush against Joe’s shoulder, and to drop the AEW World Champion down with a Muscle Buster to end the misery. Be it the Choke, the Muscle Buster, his signature Island Driver, a massive lariat, or even his underrated Brainbuster, Samoa Joe has a million ways to grind that injured neck of MJF’s to dust.
MJF is going to have to dip into every dirty trick he has in his book to survive this fight with the AEW World Championship still in his possession. Max’s devil will have to come out in all its wretched glory, and even then, it may not be enough to stop Samoa Joe from claiming his first AEW championship title. Just as was the case when he claimed the Ring of Honor Title on March 2003, it would be appropriate if Joe’s first AEW championship was the AEW World Championship, and at this point, in his condition, there may not be anything Max can do to stop Joe’s ascension.
This is a journey that has encompassed the last two decades in the lives of Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston, a journey that started during the dawning days of their wrestling careers, and with their first time sharing the ring somewhere in Indiana back in October 2004. They trained together, lived together, fought together, and most importantly, fought each other both inside the ring and out. From their first singles match back in January 2006, through eleven bouts across five different wrestling promotions, up to March 13, 2011, the scales tipped heavily in favor of Claudio with nine wins to Kingston’s two.
One of those bouts was a Respect Match where, upon losing, Eddie was supposed to tell Claudio he respected him, but instead Kingston told the man he did not respect him, and then leveled him with a spinning backfist. As Claudio lay there unconscious, Kingston’s last words to him as he left the ring were “I know you”, and later that night Double C proved Eddie right when he betrayed the entire promotion they were working for at the time, but this is why several weeks ago, Claudio claimed Kingston still owed him a handshake.
There certainly wasn’t going to be respect shown after what ended up being their last one-on-one bout for twelve years, not after the match ended with Claudio beating Eddie thanks to a chain-assisted European Uppercut, and then proceeding to whip him with a belt. Sadly for Kingston, there was a chance to rectify the situation as Claudio departed for “the land of make-believe” as Eddie called it, and did so in a fashion that only served to further infuriate “The Mad King”.
Thus when Claudio came to All Elite Wrestling to join The Blackpool Combat Club, making him an immediate ally of Kingston’s in the second Blood & Guts Cage Match, it infuriated Eddie and it was only due to his relationship with Jon Moxley that Eddie played nice throughout the bout. Still, the hate burned strong, the kind of hate that not time nor distance can quell, the kind of hate that follows both men wherever they go, even to ROH’s SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2023 event where Kingston failed once more to defeat Claudio when the ROH World Championship was at stake.
It was a fight Kingston took injured, an injury that kept him on the shelf for three months, but the hate brought him back for FORBIDDEN DOOR 2023 and even united him with The Elite, men he despises but strange bedfellows and all that, to defeat The Blackpool Combat Club. Just like that, the war with Claudio picked up right where it left off, just as it had after a dozen years apart, and now it has brought them to this point, on Eddie Kingston’s home turf, in front of his family and loved ones, where he will put his NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship on the line against the ROH World Championship of Claudio Castagnoli. Two titles are on the line, but after two decades, this is a fight that means so much more than words can encapsulate, they can only hope to convey a fragment of what it all means.
Will this be the end? Can there ever be an end with hate that runs this deep, with disrespect this ingrained in their dynamic, and bonds shattered so completely? Are Eddie Kingston and Claudio Castagnoli destined for mutually assured destruction, or will Arthur Ashe Stadium finally be the place where their demons are exorcised?
Speaking of demons, just what has possessed Toni Storm in the weeks since she lost the AEW Women’s World Championship to Hikaru Shida, and had her psyche further fractured by the actions of her fellow Outcasts? Since their formation, it’s always been a lingering question of what may happen should multiple members of The Outcasts find themselves in contention for the AEW Women’s World Champions, and while Saraya, Ruby Soho, and Toni Storm all insisted that things would be fine between them, the reality reared its ugly head as ALL IN: LONDON drew closer.
Then that night, when both Saraya and Toni Storm were in the title match aiming to end Shida’s second reign as champion, it became clear as crystal just what mattered most, and that was getting the championship title around the waist of Saraya. It didn’t matter that Toni striking Saraya’s mother was completely accidental, a fight still broke out between the two Outcasts, and it didn’t matter that Ruby had done nothing in that moment but try to quell the situation, she still got laid out by Toni for her efforts, and it all ultimately led to Saraya pinning Toni to claim the AEW Women’s World Championship.
And then the wheels fell off, though The Outcasts seemed to keep it together for a few days prior to ALL OUT 2023, but that was clearly not the case as Toni Storm cost Ruby Soho the TBS Championship, or rather it be said, prevented Soho from cheating to defeat Kris Statlander, and instead made sure the playing field was a bit more level. That choice made it clear that Toni Storm was an Outcast no more, and her winning the Four Way Eliminator Match to earn this championship fight absolutely solidifies Toni’s excommunication from the group.
But what has Toni become in the last several weeks? She’s clearly not in the same head space she was prior DYNAMITE #200 when she lost the belt to Shida, but just what is this space Toni occupies now? Is this all a mind game? Is it something Saraya and Ruby Soho can even prepare for heading into GRAND SLAM 2023 for the champ’s first title defense? One has to figure that no one knows Saraya like Ruby and Toni, but do Ruby and Saraya know this Toni Storm? After working so hard to come back from a career-ending injury, and having the fans embrace her a year ago at GRAND SLAM 2022 only to turn their backs on what she brought to the table, walking out of Arthur Ashe still champion is essential to Saraya. Can Toni Storm crush that dream and become the first 3-Time AEW Women’s World Champion? Or will Saraya find a way to not only top her old friend, but also rub it in the face of all those who turned away from her since last year?
AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
Jon Moxley(c) vs. Rey Fenix
This Wednesday night, in a first-ever match-up, Jon Moxley will defend his AEW International Champion against one-half of the Lucha Brothers, a former AEW & ROH World Tag Team Champion, the incomparable Rey Fenix! As much as this is about the title, it’s also about revenge for Rey Fenix for what went down on the 8/9/23 edition of DYNAMITE between The Blackpool Combat Club and The Lucha Brothers, what was done to his brother in that match, and the injury that kept Fenix from competing in Stadium Stampede at ALL IN: LONDON.
Fenix has never held a singles championship in AEW, though he’s challenged Kenny Omega for the World Title, Hobbs for the TNT Title, Orange Cassidy for the All-Atlantic prior to its leveling up, even taking part in the Blackjack Battle Royale for the International Title at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2023, but has yet to achieve that singles success to rival his tag team accolades.
So right here, this fight with Jon Moxley, it’s a chance to kill those two proverbial birds, Fenix can get his revenge for that Mox and The BCC did to him and his brother and claim his first AEW singles championship at the same time! Though Fenix prefers his competition honorable, he’s shown in the past a willingness to get down and dirty, even spilling blood in a fight with his own brother several years ago, so Moxley best be prepared for a man as willing to go there as he.
It is clear the defending International Champion intends to keep the same pace as the man he dethroned, likely aiming to surpass the lofty standard set by Orange Cassidy during his reign, but just like it did with “Freshly Squeezed”, eventually it will catch up to Moxley, the question is whether it will be sooner or later, and just who the man will be to lay him low? Will it be Rey Fenix this Wednesday night at GRAND SLAM 2023? Tune into TNT starting at 8pm ET/7pm CT to find out!
With a history dating back to the very first episode of DYNAMITE, looping from The Inner Circle to The Jericho Appreciation Society, Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara have been through a great deal together, most of it standing side-by-side. They went through the introduction of concepts like Stadium Stampede and Blood & Guts together, competed for the AEW World Trios Championship and were early challengers to the AEW World Tag Team Championship together, and even fought each other over the ROH World Championship at FULL GEAR 2022.
Though Sammy walked away from Jericho and The Inner Circle when it was needed for his own well-being, he came back to the fold when The Jericho Appreciation Society was born, and even spoke of his allegiance to “The DemoGod” when all the others in The J.A.S. abandoned the man for how they felt he took them for granted.
But even with the closest of friends, between the dearest of partners, there comes a time when not all is right, and when even brothers come to blows. That is what is about to happen this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when, for the first time, Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara collide in singles competition! Though they’ve expressed their desire to unite and pursue tag team success, their egos, and pershaps even some ill will for recent events, has made it difficult for the two men to stay on the same page, even in victory. Perhaps Jericho feels that Sammy is more underling than equal, perhaps Guevara feels the student has surpassed the teacher, whatever the case may be, these two brothers came to the conclusion that the only way past their issues is to confront them with violence done unto each other.
So like a pair of Cain’s without an Abel in sight, Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara will lock horns inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, and we shall see if either survives to pursue their supposed tag team aspirations!
DYNAMITE begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel and catch up on highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well the newest edition of THE CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA!
Nigel McGuinness and Kevin Kelly were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
Blackpool Combat Club—Bryan Danielson & ROH World Champ Claudio Castagnoli
vs.
“Absolute” Ricky Starks & Big Bill!
Ricky Starks was playing mind games with Danielson and immediately tagged out to Big Bill before any contact was made. Big Bill shoved Bryan into the corner and chopped away at him. Danielson dropkicked Big Bill’s knee. Big Bill was thrown backwards into the corner. Claudio tagged in and Big Bill challenged him to a test of strength. Big Bill kicked Claudio in the midsection.
Claudio clocked Big Bill with a European uppercut. Big Bill hit Claudio and Danielson with a double clothesline and tagged out to Starks. Danielson walloped Starks with round kicks. Danielson unleashed a flurry of offense in the corner. Starks distracted Danielson long enough for Big Bill to sneak in a massive boot to Danielson’s head.
Claudio and Big Bill tagged in for their respective teams. Claudio served up multiple European uppercuts, staggering Big Bill. Claudio hoisted up Big Bill and then drove him down onto the mat for a near fall. Claudio was looking for the Big Swing, but Big Bill escaped and choke slammed Claudio for a two-count.
Ricky Starks tagged in, but Claudio grabbed him and twirled him around the ring like helicopter blades with the Big Swing! Danielson hit a tope suicida on Big Bill. Meanwhile, Starks transitioned into a DDT on Claudio for a near fall.
Starks charged at Claudio, but Claudio countered with a devastating uppercut for a near fall. Danielson tagged in and dished out his trademark kicks to Starks. Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock, but Starks escaped and speared Danielson. Claudio jumped in to break up the pin attempt.
Danielson went for a belly to back suplex from the top rope, but Starks shifted his momentum midflight. Starks connected with a low blow when the ref was distracted. Starks rocked Danielson with the roshambo and pinned Danielson!
The Young Bucks were backstage with “Hangman” Adam Page!
The Bucks and Page challenged the Mogul Embassy to an ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship match on AEW Rampage: Grand Slam next week!
Powerhouse Hobbs said no one is safe in the next chapter in the Book of Hobbs!
Hobbs: “No one is safe!”
“The Redeemer” Miro said Hobbs should be thanking him and they’ll have to meet again someday! There is unfinished business between the two of them Miro also questioned his God about the temptation of Miro’s hot and flexible wife.
AEW World Tag Team Championship Match!
FTR (c.)—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood
vs.
Iron Savages—Bronson & Boulder (with Jakked Jameson)!
The fans chanted “FTR! FTR! FTR!”
FTR quickly hit the Shatter Machine on Jakked Jameson, who taunted Dax before the match began.
Bronson and Boulder drilled Cash with splashes, but Dax jumped in to break up the pin attempt. The Iron Savages rocked Cash with a back breaker and then a powerbomb for a near fall.
Dax Harwood tagged in, but Boulder knocked him down with a shoulder tackle. Boulder went for a moonsault, but Dax dodged it. FTR rocked Bronson with the Shatter Machine. FTR finished off Boulder with the Power and Glory combo, with Cash scoring the pin!
The Workhorsemen jumped into the ring after the match and challenged FTR to an upcoming title match. Aussie Open were watching backstage on a monitor.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Keith Lee!
The interview was interrupted by Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty! Shane said Lee was the newest member of Shane Taylor Promotions. Things got tense between Keith Lee and Shane Taylor Promotions.
The Acclaimed’s Anthony Bowens (with Max Caster & Billy Gunn)
vs.
The Dark Order’s John Silver!
Before the match, John Silver grabbed a microphone.
Silver: “This contract you signed, I guess you didn’t read it, because it said Caster and Billy are banned from ringside. So hit the bricks.”
Silver attacked Bowens from behind. Bowens countered with strikes to Silver in the corner. Bowens body slammed Silver.
Bowens took down Silver with a leg lariat. Bowens and Silver exchanged forearms. Bowens blasted Silver with a clothesline. Silver fired back with explosive offense including a German suplex.
Bowens clocked Silver with a knee strike. Silver rolled out of the ring. Evil Uno climbed out from beneath the ring and blindsided Bowens! Silver took advantage of this, cracked Bowens and pinned him!
“What an upset!” said Nigel.
NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston was backstage!
Kingston said Claudio decided not to respect him. “He left potholes in that road that many of us had to clean up. Renee told me to fix it and I’ve been trying to fix it! You know what Claudio? This will be it. I don’t care, win or lose, this will be it! You think I’m going to let you come to New York and end this with my shoulders on the mat? You are out of your mind! All of New York has my back! You ain’t ready for the misery!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Orange Cassidy and FTW Champ HOOK!
Orange: “We should do a tag match or something. Grand Slam?”
HOOK: “Let’s do it.”
Aussie Open—Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis
vs.
Pretty Boy Smooth & Wes Barkley!
The United Empire’s Aussie Open made quick work of their opponents and pinned Barkley after the pendulum spinebuster!
Davis: “FTR- you paying attention?”
Fletcher: “Yesterday we did the job in under a minute and I’m gonna guess we did it even quicker tonight! You talk about winning championships everywhere you’ve been, but so have Aussie Open. Right now, right here, we are calling our shot. October 1st, 2023, one year to the day since we last stepped into the ring together. Wrestledream. Seattle. Live on pay-per-view, AEW Tag Team Championships on the line or not, Aussie Open versus FTR!”
RJ City interviewed Toni Storm ahead of her match on Wednesday against AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya!
Toni Storm: “I haven’t changed. This business has. I thought this business was about being stars and making money. If it makes me the odd woman out, then so be it.”
Andrade El Idolo vs. Scorpio Sky!
Andrade offered to shake Scorpio Sky’s hand, but Sky declined. Andrade El Idolo worked over Sky’s arm. Sky tripped up Andrade and they chain wrestled. Andrade El Idolo punished Sky with a dragon screw leg whip. Andrade climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Andrade shoved him off, with Andrade’s back crashing onto the edge of the ring!
Back in the ring, Andrade pummeled Sky with a series of dragon screw leg whips. Sky rallied back with a flip over the top rope, crashing onto Andrade El Idolo. Sky got up, clutching his knee.
“Not the best of landings,” said Kevin Kelly.
Back in the ring, Andrade rocked Sky with a vicious back elbow. Andrade locked on the Figure Eight and Scorpio Sky tapped out!
Bullet Club Gold’s “Switchblade” Jay White walked out with the Gunns and Juice Robinson!
Jay White: “I wasn’t here last week but I was watching my boys. And I was watching you watching my boys. It looked like you were having a lot of fun watching the Bang Bang Gang. Andrade, these are my boys, you can’t have them.
“But I think you want that Switchblade spotlight. Everyone wants it, no one can handle it. How about next week you can learn firsthand that those lights are too bright? This is the Switchblade Era! And if that doesn’t work for you, we can do it right now.”
Security had to separate Andrade El Idolo and Jay White!
Tony Schiavone was backstage with ROH Pure champion Shibata!
(Via his iPhone translator) Shibata: “Today I am one of the best wrestlers in the world. October 1st at Wrestledream, I’m coming.”
Up next: The Hardys—Jeff & Matt
vs.
The Righteous—Dutch & Vincent!
“You can feel the momentum starting to build with Matt and Jeff,” said Kevin Kelly.
Vincent grounded and pounded Matt Hardy. Matt got up and rammed Vincent’s head onto the turnbuckles. Jeff tagged in and connected with a jawbreaker on Vincent.
Dutch got a blind tag and planted Matt with the Black Out slam. Matt rallied back with a Side Effect to Vincent. Jeff tagged in and cleaned house on the Righteous. Matt and Jeff knocked Dutch over the top rope with a double clothesline.
Jeff was looking for the Swanton bomb, but Dutch knocked him down. Vincent rocked Jeff and pinned him!
“Can you believe it! This is a night of upsets like no other!” said Nigel.
Dutch: “We are the Righteous. Two believers who see truth in the liars’ eyes.”
Vincent: “Speaking of truth, man, we just defeated one of the greatest tag teams in the world. And like it or not, man, the people in the world are just prisoners to false icons. Fooled by the con man. Listening to the devil on their shoulder. But I don’t believe in the devil, man. We are here to tell you the truth.”
Vincent made it clear that the Righteous wants a piece of the team of Better Than You BayBay.
Tony Schiavone was backstage with “Absolute” Ricky Starks and Big Bill!
Starks: “Bryan Danielson, next week on Collision it’s you and me in a Texas Death Match! I’m going to put a whole end to this fiasco that’s known as Bryan Danielson.”
Main Event Time!
TBS Championship Match!
Kris Statlander (c.) vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.!
Jim Ross joined the broadcast team to provide his main event analysis.
Statlander had the strength advantage and body slammed Baker. Britt fired back with a forearm. Things broke down and they traded strikes with one another. After dodging a sling blade attempt, Statlander powerslammed Baker for a near fall.
Statlander took down the champ with two sling blades! Kris rallied back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Kris planted her with another Bomb for a two-count. Baker curb stomped Kris.
Baker applied her surgical glove. Baker was looking for the Lock Jaw, but Kris blocked it. They got to their feet and traded shots again. Kris clocked Baker with a high kick, but Baker fired back with a thrust kick of her own. Statlander reared back and walloped Baker with a lariat.
Baker went for the Pittsburgh Sunrise, but Statlander blocked it. Kris went for a powerbomb, but Baker escaped. Baker planted Kris with the Angel’s Wings and followed up with a curb stomp for a near fall. Baker managed to apply the Lock Jaw, but Statlander cradled her and pinned Baker!
“That was a hell of a counter. She saved her championship,” said Jim Ross.
Julia Hart was seen watching from the rafters.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: Grand Slam on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, NY!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH!
Yourbroadcast team was Excalibur, Chris Jericho, and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
The Lucha Brothers—Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix—and The Hardys—Matt & Jeff
vs.
Jay Lethal, “The Last Outlaw” Jeff Jarrett, The Butcher & The Blade!
“Interesting to see how these guys work together,” said Tony Schiavone.
Fenix blasted Lethal with a missile dropkick. Fenix took Butcher down with a thrust kick to the head. Jeff Hardy tagged in and worked over Butcher’s shoulder. Matt Hardy tagged in and dropped an elbow on Butcher’s arm. Matt continued to work over Butcher’s arm. The Hardys double suplexed the Butcher and then the Blade.
After some interference from Sonjay Dutt, Butcher and Jay Lethal got the advantage on Matt Hardy. Lethal drove Matt spine first into the corner.
Jeff Jarrett nailed Matt Hardy with a Russian leg sweep. Blade tagged in and nailed Matt Hardy with strikes in the corner. Matt Hardy desperately needed to make a tag as he was isolated by the opposing team. Rey Fenix tagged in and cracked Blade with a kick and then a rolling cutter! Fenix ran the top of the ropes and punted Lethal and Jarrett in the head!
Penta El Zero Miedo flipped over the top rope and wiped out Butcher, Lethal and Jarrett on the floor. Alex Abrahantes knocked Sonjay Dutt off the apron. Alex poked Kip Sabian in the eyes. Alex jumped off the top rope but was caught by Satnam Singh.
Rey Fenix and the Blade traded strikes in the center of the ring. Rey Fenix planted the Blade right on his head and scored the victory via pin!
Satnam Singh nailed Jeff and Matt Hardy at the top of the ramp. The Righteous—Vincent and Dutch walked out and stared at the Hardys.
Renee Paquette interviewed Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., backstage!
Baker said the last few months haven’t gone as she’d planned. Baker said she is championship material and she said she is going to become the first female to hold the AEW Women’s World Title and the TBS Title! “Whoever wins tonight, Jade or Kris, you’ll be wrestling me tomorrow night in the main event of Collision!” said Baker.
The Kingdom—Matt Taven & Mike Bennett
vs.
“The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal!
Mike Bennett chopped Daniels. CD fired back with a drop toe hold. Sydal tagged in and slammed Daniels on top of Bennett.
Matt Taven tagged in and was hit with a barrage of kicks from Sydal.
“Sydal’s kicks are lethal, man,” said Tony Schiavone.
Daniels tagged back in and worked over Taven. Bennett grabbed Daniels’ leg, allowing Taven to connect with a shot. Bennett ducked a roundhouse kick from Sydal. Taven splashed Daniels in the corner. Taven and Bennett used their combo finisher, the Proton Pack, and then Taven pinned Daniels.
Taven: “We have to rush back to the hospital. Our poor friend Roderick Strong is suffering. He’s in poor neck health. But I don’t blame Samoa Joe. I blame Adam Cole. So, what we want to do is take back what’s rightfully ours—the Ring of Honor Tag Team Titles!”
Bennett: “Roddy, we’re coming home baby!”
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview the Mogul Embassy!
Prince Nana: “The Young Bucks put their stinking feet in my face!”
Swerve Strickland: “Bucks, you have a whole different energy about you since appearing on my podcast. And Hangman, you ran to the Elite. We’re going to handle business. The Gates of Agony and Brian Cage against the Hung Bucks at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam!”
AEW World Trios Champions the Acclaimed—Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, & Billy Gunn
vs.
Peter Avalon & The Outrunners!
Billy Gunn had Turbo Floyd in his grip. Turbo Floyd chopped Billy down. Peter Avalon chop blocked Billy but Billy tagged Bowens.
Bowens drilled Avalon with the Fame Asser. Billy body slammed Avalon. Bowens nailed Avalon with the Scissor Me Timbers. Billy followed up with a fame-asser. Caster hit the Mic Drop and pinned “Pretty” Peter!
The Dark Order walked onto the ramp after the match!
John Silver said the Dark Order wanted the Trios Championships! Evil Uno said one of them would face one of the Acclaimed tomorrow to prove they were worth the Acclaimed’s time.
Anthony Bowens said he’d accept the challenge and the Dark Order could select a member of their own to face off tomorrow night on Collision.
“Pick whoever you want,” said Bowens.
Aussie Open—Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis
vs.
Damian Chambers & Lord Crewe!
Davis and Fletcher swarmed Chambers and Crewe. Aussie served up the Aussie sandwich. Crewe was planted with the Coriolis and Fletcher pinned him!
“Wrestling like two men with a point to prove, Aussie Open dominant tonight,” said Excalibur.
Main Event Time!
TBS Championship Match!
Kris Statlander (c.) vs. Jade Cargill (with “Smart” Mark Sterling)!
They locked horns and went to a stalemate in the early goings. Jade hit Kris with a knee to the midsection. Britt Baker was watching the match on a monitor backstage.
Kris and Jade clobbered one another, trading lariats. Statlander caught Jade and body slammed her. Statlander jumped off the apron with a cross body, but Jade caught her and then slammed her onto the apron.
Jade and Kris jockeyed for position in the ring, battling over a suplex. Jade overpowered Kris and nailed her with a delayed vertical suplex.
“Great match, both women, leaving it all on the mat here,” said Tony Schiavone.
Statlander battered Jade in the corner with forearms. Kris followed up with a knee strike. Kris planted Jade with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Mark Sterling jumped on the apron. Kris ate a pump kick because of the distraction. Jade choke slammed Statlander for a near fall.
Jade tried for a spear, but Kris dodged it. Kris spiked Jade with an inverted Friday Night Fever and pinned Jade Cargill!
“An incredible back and forth battle but Kris Statlander leaves no doubt that she has earned the TBS Championship.”
After the match Jade and Kris hugged one another out of respect.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: Grand Slam on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, NY!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
AEW International Championship Match!
Jon Moxley (c.) vs. Big Bill (with “Absolute” Ricky Starks)!
Moxley used some round kicks to try to topple Big Bill. Bill blasted the champ with a massive right hand. Big Bill followed up with overhand chops. Big Bill was taking the fight right to Moxley and manhandling him.
Moxley fired off two clotheslines, but Bill booted Mox in the head, knocking him out of the ring. Ricky Starks kicked Moxley outside the ring. Moxley reversed an Irish whip and sent Big Bill into the steel ring steps.
Big Bill sent Jon Moxley over the timekeeper’s table. Moxley was busted wide open! Back in the ring, Moxley regained momentum and dug his fingers into Big Bill’s flesh! Moxley superplexed Big Bill.
Big Bill hit the Bossman Slam on Jon Moxley for a near fall. Moxley and Big Bill traded shots in the center of the ring. Moxley countered a boot with a King Kong lariat for a two-count. Moxley punished Big Bill with the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Moxley planted Big Bill with a cutter, but Big Bill rolled out of the ring. Moxley climbed to the top rope, but Ricky shoved Mox as the ref was checking on Big Bill.
Bryan Danielson sprinted to the ring and peppered Ricky Starks with right hands, evening up the odds! Starks whipped Danielson into the ring steps. Big Bill chokeslammed Big Bill for a near fall on Moxley.
“Mox is losing a lot of blood right now. It looks like a crime scene,” said Taz.
Big Bill tried to hoist up Moxley with a chokeslam, but Moxley countered with a submission hold and forced Big Bill to tap out!
After the match Ricky Starks and Big Bill tried to continue their attack. ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli ran down to help his BCC teammates. Starks was furious with these developments. Starks and Big Bill retreated.
It was announced that Moxley will put his title on the line next week on Dynamite against Rey Fenix!
Renee Paquette was backstage with Roderick Strong and the Kingdom!
Adam Cole interrupted the interview and said Strong wrestling Samoa Joe was a horrible idea.
Strong: “You’re only worried about Max. And you should be because after I beat Joe, I’m going to beat MJF next week. Because I am a wrestling legend!”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring soDon Callis and Konosuke Takeshita could reveal their next target!
Callis: “We just beat Kenny Omega twice in one week. Show some respect! We’ve been celebrating. I’ve learned a lot from Takeshita about Japanese culture. When you’re the top wrestler in a promotion, they call you the Ace. He’s better than Okada. Better than Inoki. When you beat Kenny Omega once, they call you the Ace. When you beat Omega twice in seven days, they call you the Alpha!
“Henceforth you will all refer to Takeshita as the Alpha. I never had the empathy thing. Because when you’re the Alpha, you don’t feel anything, you take. Kenny, beating you twice isn’t enough for us. We broke your body. Now we’re going to break your heart.
“I promise to reveal through our creation who the next target of the Alpha will be, and Kenny, this one is going to kill you. The next target is none other than the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kota Ibushi!
“And Kenny, I want you to know right now, we’re not just going to beat Ibushi, we’re going to butcher him. We’re going to burn him. And I’m going to love the fact that while we’re spilling his blood in the ring, you’re going to be at home helpless, watching like the pathetic cuck that you are.”
Alex Marvez was backstage with the BCC!
Danielson: “We love it when things escalate. So, here’s a challenge. This Saturday at Collision, Ricky Starks, Big Bill, you two against me and Claudio Castagnoli!”
Rey Fenix entered the fray and began to shout at Moxley, but Alex Abrahantes and the refs held him back. Meanwhile, Eddie Kingston laughed in Claudio’s face and said, “One more week!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with FTW Champion HOOK!
Orange Cassidy interrupted!
Orange: “I was walking around and saw Hook all mad about something. What do you have to be mad about?”
Hook: “You were a great champion.”
Orange: “Thanks, you are too!”
They fist-bumped and Orange said he was still so tired.
Women’s World Title Eliminator Four Way Match!
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose vs. Toni Storm!
The winner will face AEW Women’s Champion Saraya next week at Grand Slam.
Nyle Rose plowed into Baker and Shida with double clotheslines. Toni Storm shoved Shida into Britt Baker, with Baker tumbling out of the ring. Shida followed up with a crossbody onto the women on the arena floor!
Shida nailed Baker with a brain buster. Baker was looking for a thrust kick on Shida, but Shida turned around and Baker stopped herself. Nyla Rose chokeslammed Britt Baker. Shida cracked Nyla with the Katana Kick. As Shida was going for the cover, Britt Baker blasted Shida with a thrust kick. Toni Storm saw the opening, rolled up Britt Baker, and pinned her, stealing the victory!
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW Women’s Champion Saraya and Ruby Soho!
Saraya: “Congrats, Toni, you did it and you did it without us. But Toni lost everything to me. She lost her top spot, and she lost her mind. She’s crazy. But she’s also going to lose the match against me at Grand Slam and then she’ll be left with nothing!”
Up Next: Le Sex Gods— “The Ocho” Chris Jericho and “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara had their face to face!
Jericho and Guevara will be wrestling each other next week on Dynamite: Grand Slam.
Jericho: “Next week, right here on Dynamite at Grand Slam in New York City, it’s Le Sex Gods going one on one, Jericho versus Guevara, for the first time ever. Lots of history between us. We’ve been together since the first episode of Dynamite.”
Jericho introduced a highlight package showing all the pivotal moments from Le Sex Gods’ history over the past four years.
“That was beautiful,” said Taz.
Sammy: “Chris, I have a confession. I still don’t know the lyrics to ‘Judas.’”
Jericho: “I saw a kid on one of the NWA pay-per-view prelim matches and I was blown away and told Tony Khan, we need to sign this kid Sammy. I knew he had what it took to be a big star and I wanted him to be with me so I could help him out as much as I possibly could.
“Over the years I’ve watched Sammy grow from a boy to a man. I’ve seen him win titles, get married, and now your wife is ready to give birth to a baby girl. I’m really proud of all you’ve accomplished over the past four years.”
Sammy: “I know the typical wrestling thing is to talk trash, but I don’t want to do that. I want to come out here before one of the biggest matches of my career and say thank you. Thank you for changing my life and for changing the lives of so many people in the back. Without Chris Jericho there is no AEW.
“But truthfully Chris, I didn’t come to this company to just be your sidekick. I want to become world champion. I want them to look at me the way they look at Mox or the way they look at you. I don’t want to be in your shadow, so that’s why I need to beat you next week.”
Jericho: “You were never brought in to be Chris Jericho’s side kick. You were brought in to be a main event player and you are getting closer and closer every week. And that’s why I told you that you have to do it on your own. Next week you have that opportunity. You have to beat me to get to the next level. But if you’re going to beat Chris Jericho, you’re going to have to be the best Sammy Guevara ever if you’re going to have a chance to beat me. But I don’t think you’re ready to beat me yet.”
Sammy: “And there it is. It’s whatever Jericho wants. So next week I’m going to beat you as this man, not the 2018 me at the NWA pay-per-view, but this Sammy is going to beat you, we’re going to shake hands, and we’re going to win some tag team titles.”
Jericho: “Let me make something perfectly clear, Sammy. Next week I’m going to give you the match of your life. And I’m not going to go easy on you. I’m going to beat the living hell out of you. And I expect the exact same thing from you.”
Sammy: “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Excalibur: “I think we might have a battle for the ages next week.”
Taz: “Sammy is a pro, and he knows what’s at stake.”
Clips were shown from after Dynamite last week with Renee Paquette interviewing MJF!
MJF was told he wasn’t cleared to wrestle until Grand Slam.
MJF: “There are two talents I want to make it to the finals because I hate their guts: Roddy Strong, if you make it through this tournament, I will rip your head off. You’re a manipulative person. Samoa Joe, you think I’m afraid of you? Nah. You might not realize this, but this New York Pitbull has got a lot of bite. If you wrestle me, I’m going to choke you out!
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage (with Prince Nana)!
Cage clocked Page with an elbow strike. Page retaliated with two big boots to Brian Cage. Hangman hit a lariat off the turnbuckles to the Machine. Hangman went over the top rope, but Brian Cage intercepted him. Page reversed a powerbomb with a hurracanrana, sending Brian Cage into the steel ring post!
Brian Cage nearly decapitated Page with a lariat. Page sent Cage into the ropes after a hurracanrana. Page hit the area code shot on Cage.
Swerve Strickland’s music hit, and Swerve walked out onto the ramp!
Cage took advantage of the distraction and hurled Cage from the ring apron on the outside to the inside of the ring with a German Suplex! Brian Cage powerslammed Page and followed up with a moonsault, but Hangman dodged it.
Hangman rocked Brian Cage with a lariat, the momentum carrying both men over the top rope and onto the floor. Hangman jumped off the top rope and Cage caught him again. Adam Page countered with a crucifix bomb.
Hangman climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit Cage with a moonsault on the arena floor! Hangman followed up with a big crossbody press for a near fall on the Machine. Brian Cage dazed Page with a German Suplex.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Hangman swept out Cage’s legs. Hangman attempted the Buckshot Lariat, but Cage countered, but Page fired back with a Deadeye in the center of the ring, scoring the pin!
“Hell of a match by these two men,” said Taz.
“If Swerve was mad before, he has to be pissed off now,” added Excalibur.
“Well, he poked the bear,” added Taz.
Hangman Page: “What passion, what drive, just oozing out of your body as you brood on top of the ramp as you watched me kick Cage’s ass. Last week you said you wanted my spot, but you sent Cage out. Last week I thought you had some balls but tonight I’m pretty sure you’re just keeping them stowed away in Prince Nana’s Burger King crown.”
Swerve: “What up, turd? Them sound like fighting words to me, Hangman. You think this’ll be solved tonight? We do this when I say, where I say. And it just so happens I chose the great state that birthed Swerve Strickland. October 1st, in the City of Seatle, WrestleDream. Me and you, Hangman. But I’m going to make sure you don’t get comfortable by the time you get there, isn’t that right Brian Cage?”
Brian Cage ambushed “Hangman” Adam Page from behind! The Young Bucks jumped into the ring and superkicked the Machine! The Bucks served up superkicks for Prince Nana as well!
Renee Paquette was backstage with Daniel Garcia!
Garcia: “I thought you came here to talk about me but you’re asking about Sammy or Jericho. Why don’t we talk about the career of Garcia”
Don Callis interrupted!
Callis: “The Don Callis family is going to create a Utopian Meritocracy—”
Garcia got in Callis’ face and did his dance, and then walked off!
Callis: “Wow, that’s money! Renee, that’s money!”
Don Callis chased after Daniel Garcia, grinning ear to ear.
Darby Allin & Nick Wayne
vs.
Matt Menard & Angelo Parker (with Jake Hager and Anna Jay)!
As the match started, Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus walked onto the ramp and then joined the broadcast booth.
Christian Cage said Nick Wayne needed a better mentor than Darby Allin.
Nick Wayne clipped Matt Menard with an enziguri. Jake Hager grabbed Darby from outside the ring. Matt Menard powerbombed Nick Wayne.
Darby tagged in and nailed Menard and Parker with the Coffin Splash! He followed up with a dropkick in the corner on both men. Darby connected with a Code Red on Parker for a near fall.
“Darby has issues with the back from that Coffin Match, you can tell,” said Taz.
Nick grabbed a blind tag and walloped Parker with Wayne’s World. Matt Menard pulled Parker out of the pinning predicament. Darby flew off the apron with a senton on Menard. Darby hit the Coffin Drop on Parker and pinned him!
Christian Cage stood up, saying he was getting tired of these guys.
Christian Cage: “Very impressive victory. Nick Wayne, after I went home last week, I was scrolling through your mom’s Instagram account. Your mom doesn’t post enough bikini pics. But don’t worry. I sent her a special request on the side.
“There’s still a lot of talk about Darby and Sting’s win in London, and as the Franchise here, it’s embarrassing. Now I just want to remind everyone I did not take the loss for that match, and I didn’t have my regular partner with me. So, I propose next week, Darby Allin and Sting against me and Luchasaurus. If you’ve got the balls, I’ll see you in New York City!”
Main Event Time!
Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals!
ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe vs. Roderick Strong (with The Kingdom)!
Samoa Joe applied a wrist lock and then headbutted Roddy’s hands, trying to neutralize Roddy’s infamous chops. Roderick Strong was wiped out with a shoulder tackle from Samoa Joe. Joe followed up with jabs in the corner, breaking down Strong in the corner.
Roddy rallied back with a quick kick to Samoa Joe’s face. Strong connected with a dropkick. Strong cranked on Joe’s neck. Samoa Joe nailed Roddy with the Manhattan Drop and followed up with a senton.
Samoa Joe powerslammed Roderick Strong for a near fall. Roddy escaped a powerbomb and staggered Joe with a shoulder tackle. Roddy blasted Joe with a knee strike underneath the jaw. Samoa Joe planted Strong with a uranage! Samoa Joe was looking for the Muscle Buster, but Mike Bennett jumped on the apron to distract Samoa Joe. Roderick Strong stunned Samoa Joe with the Sick Kick for a near fall.
“What a battle here,” said Taz.
Samoa Joe battered Roderick Strong out of the air and then applied the submission, forcing Roderick Strong to tap out!
Samoa Joe will be facing AEW World Champion MJF next week on Dynamite: Grand Slam!
Samoa Joe: “Oh Max! It seems my little prophecy has come true and next week, I go to your backyard and I’m coming for you. Because I’m going to beat you down and take everything you have kid. Everything.”
Adam Cole came down to the ring. Roderick fell to the mat, clutching his neck. The Kingdom told Adam Cole that this was his fault.
Excalibur questioned whether or not Roderick Strong was really injured or if this was a ruse.
The medical staff placed Roderick Strong on a backboard and stretchered him to the back. The Kingdom told Adam Cole not to follow them or Roderick to the back. Samoa Joe struck from behind, blindsiding Adam Cole and choking him out!
“I’m going to take everything from you, Max!” said Samoa Joe.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: Grand Slam on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, NY!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
ALL OUT 2023 is in the books, and GRAND SLAM 2023 is right around the corner, and in-between All Elite Wrestling has some exciting stops along the way! This Wednesday night, we return to Indianapolis, IN and the Farmer’s Coliseum!
After seeing the Jericho Appreciation Society crumble around him, and dropping the match at ALL IN: LONDON to Will Ospreay, Chris Jericho has chosen to reunite with Sammy Guevara and bring Le Sex Gods into the tag team championship hunt! Plus, Hangman Page has some thoughts to share after winning the Over Budget Charity Battle Royale on the ALL OUT 2023: ZERO HOUR, AEW World Champion/ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF has something to say to ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe after their interaction on Sunday night, and the Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament begins!
DYNAMITE kicks off at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel and catch up on highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as ALL IN: LONDON, ALL OUT 2023, plus the newest edition of THE CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
GRAND SLAM WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR TOURNAMENT QUARTER-FINAL…
Over the next several weeks, eight men will compete in the Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament to determine MJF’s challenger for DYNAMITE: GRAND SLAM 2023 on September 20th; we learned last week that Roderick Strong, despite his still healing neck, would be cleared to participate in this tournament, and he has promised to do what Adam Cole could not, that being defeat MJF to claim the championship. Before that can happen though, Strong has to actually win the tournament, and that means three opponents all trying to stop Roddy from achieving his goals as they strive to achieve their own.
The first of those opponents, and possibly the last of them, is one with whom Roderick Strong is quite familiar, though it’s been eight years since their last collision, and his name is Trent Beretta! First meeting in singles competition back in 2013 in the hallowed halls of Reseda, Strong and Beretta have fought in one-on-one bouts on three occasions and Roderick holds the advantage 2-1. Now those three bouts are not their only meetings over the last ten years, in fact when looked at on the whole, in their five bouts as opponent, it’s Beretta who holds the advantage 3-2.
Now they actually did team up one time in February 2014 and, sheer coincidence, one of the two men they faced happened to be the future “Hangman” Adam Page. Sadly the Roddy/Trent team was not a successful one, lasting just that one match, and they would resume a life as foes, albeit a brief one. Well this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, Roderick and Trent will reignite that old rivalry, if only for a night, as each pursues their goal of facing Maxwell Jacob Friedman at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 20th! For Trent this is just about proving to himself, and the world, he is a premiere fighter both as a singles and a tag with Chuck Taylor, but for Roddy this is far more personal. The end of this road means fighting a man who Roderick believes destroyed his friendship with Adam Cole, who Roddy sees as usurping his position as Adam’s best friend, and the opportunity to get him in the ring is too good to pass up. There may be a long road to travel to get there, but the benefits are worth the work in the mind of Strong who would likely do anything to lay his chops into the flesh of Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
So can Roderick, fighting with this injured neck, rise to the occasion and continue on the path to GRAND SLAM 2023? Or will Trent Beretta stifle Strong at the starting line, leaving “Mr. ROH” further frustrated, and further away from his aspiration of showing up Adam Cole? And, the question should be asked, where does The Kingdom of Mike Bennett and Matt Taven fit into this scenario?
GRAND SLAM WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR TOURNAMENT QUARTER-FINAL…
It’s been a rough couple weeks for Darby Allin; he was battered in London during the tag team Coffin Match, he and Sting walking out the victors, but the former 2-Time TNT Champion saying as a result he is in more pain than he’s ever experienced in his life. Given everything we’ve seen Allin put himself through since joining AEW, that is saying a considerable amount, and that’s just from what happened at ALL IN: LONDON. Factor in this past Sunday, the fact that Darby is still a 2-Time TNT Champion rather than the reigning 3-Time, and all the hurt put on him by Luchasaurus, and then maybe one can garner an idea about where Darby Allin is at coming into this match.
And that’s just the physical side of things; mentally, he’s likely a bit out of sorts as well, especially given the tension between Nick Wayne and himself stemming from Darby’s willingness to forgive AR Fox’s transgressions. It’s hard to blame young Mister Wayne, after all Fox did participate in The Mogul Embassy’s assault on his late father’s training facility and on Nick himself. Fox did leave Nick laying in his own blood, and who knows if Fox would’ve ever been apologetic for his actions if Swerve Strickland and The Mogul Embassy hadn’t evicted him from their unit.
Suffice it to say when Darby accepted Fox’s apology, it did not sit well with Nick Wayne, but despite that fact, Nick was still there when Darby needed him both in England and in Chicago this past Sunday night, though it almost cost Wayne dearly at Christian Cage’s hands. So with both men, particularly Darby, still recovering from all this trauma, they will engage in the first one-on-one bout of their career! The winner of this will advance one step closer towards challenging MJF for the AEW World Championship at GRAND SLAM 2023 on September 20th, so there is a great deal at stake in this battle of mentor and protege.
Will the wounds of the last several weeks catch up with Darby and leave him vulnerable to young Mr. Wayne, or will Darby’s experience with fighting battered allow him to survive this bout and fight another day?
TAG TEAM BOUT…
Le Sex Gods (Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara) vs. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
From the beginning of DYNAMITE, Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho have been part of each other’s lives, initially as The Inner Circle and later with The Jericho Appreciation Society, they have been bonded through thick and thin. Through Stadium Stampedes and Blood & Guts cages, they’ve been there for one another at nearly every turn since Jericho first brought “The Spanish God” under his tutelage.
Yes there has been separation, Guevara was the first man to walk away from The Inner Circle ahead of The J.A.S. being formed and they had their issues over the ROH World Championship, but when it’s come down to brass tacks, Sammy has always stuck by Jericho. As the entire J.A.S. walked away from “The Ocho” in the midst of his indecision regarding Don Callis, it was only Guevara who continued to show support for Jericho, and it continues to be Sammy by his side when all others have abandoned the original AEW World Champion.
So with this reunited duo setting their sights on the tag team division, it is very clear former ROH World Tag Team Champions Aussie Open have their issues with Le Sex Gods. Part of that may be due to Jericho’s issues with their United Empire cohort Will Ospreay, part of that may just be a warning of what’s in store for Jericho and Guevara if they choose to seriously compete in the tag team ranks. With a 6-5 record in those ranks since AEW’s inception, Le Sex Gods are just 1-1 in 2023 with their last tag bout being a loss to Darby Allin & Sting on June 28th. In other words, they’ve got a long way to go to be in contention for FTR’s AEW World Tag Team Championship titles, but if that’s the goal, may as well start with one of the baddest teams in All Elite Wrestling!
MJF IS NOT HAPPY…
Sunday night in Chicago was a great night if you entered the United Center as a champion; in four of the five championship bouts, it was the defending champion who retained, and that trend started with the ROH World Tag Team Champions Adam Cole & MJF, collectively dubbed Better Than You Bay Bay. Their fight against The Dark Order took its toll on both men, particularly MJF when Alex Reynolds dug up some of the old Dark Order nastiness and drove a steel chair into Max’s neck. Now that neck had been banged up in London during the course of his World Title defense against his own partner, and Alex took advantage of the referee’s distraction to deliver the weapon-assisted blow.
The situation forced Adam Cole to fly solo for quite some time, but eventually the AEW World Champion dragged himself back into the fray, and the defending ROH World Tag Champs found a way to defeat The Dark Order. MJF’s choice to return to the fight only served to exacerbate his injured neck, leading to AEW’s medical staff attending to the man for quite some time after the match, long enough that the next match had to send its competitors to the ring. Unfortunately for MJF, the first man to the ring was ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe, and in a moment hearkening back to Brooklyn circa 2016, Joe shoved Maxwell out of his way, and continued to the ring with a satisfied smile on his face.
Max wasn’t having it, but given his debilitated condition, there was little his body was going to let him do, and thus he ended up with Joe’s arms around his throat. Not the greatest moment for the AEW World Champion, but he wasn’t about to take Samoa Joe’s disrespect lightly regardless of the condition he was in after retaining the ROH World Tag Titles.
So this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, the AEW World Champion will be in the arena live and apparently with the intent to address what happened with Samoa Joe. As Joe’s inches towards Jay Lethal’s record as the longest-reigning ROH World TV Champ of all-time, does it seem the best idea for an injured MJF to confront the man?
HANGMAN FOR CHARITY…
During the ZERO HOUR on Sunday night, former AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page managed to survive a fight with nineteen other men to win the Over Budget Charity Battle Royal. For the victor of that fray would go a donation in their name of $50,000 to a charity of their choice. Hangman chose the Chicago Public Education Fund to receive the money, rather unsurprising given his own history as a teacher, but now that that victory is in the rear view, it’s time for Page to talk about his future.
With that in mind, the AEW faithful will hear from Hangman this Wednesday night; what he will have to say, where his head is at, we will all find out together live on TBS when DYNAMITE kicks off at 8pm ET!
This Wednesday night All Elite Wrestling returns to Indianapolis and the Farmer’s Coliseum for an all-new DYNAMITE, and the beginning of the road to GRAND SLAM 2023! The Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament kicks off with two Quarter-Final matches, AEW World Champion MJF will be on-hand live to address ALL OUT 2023’s engagement with Samoa Joe, Hangman Page will be in the house, and Le Sex Gods will be in action against Aussie Open!
DYNAMITE begins kicks off at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international fans, so be sure to check in on the official AEW YouTube channel and see highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, as well as ALL IN: LONDON and ALL OUT 2023, and so much more!
