The Battle Begins on Countdown to No Surrender: KUSHIDA & Knight vs. Myers & Edwards News / February 16, 2024 / by TNA Wrestling Staff Subscribe to TNA+ Join IMPACT Ultimate Insiders Get tickets Before…
The Big Gold Belt Podcast is back talking the latest in pro wrestling including:-With AEW grabbing free agents, should WWE be concerned or concentrate on re-signings?-Have the women earned a WrestleMania main event over The Rock?-Darby…
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
FTR’s Dax Harwood vs. Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley!
Moxley flipped off Dax, trying to get under Harwood’s skin. Moxley put his hands behind his back and invited Dax to hit him. Dax blasted Mox with stiff strikes and chops. Moxley hammered the jaw of Harwood with forearms. Moxley bit the side of Dax’s head.
Moxley applied a bulldog choke on Dax. Dax countered with a roll-up, but Mox kicked out quickly. Moxley kicked Dax with the heel of his boot, kicking upward at Harwood. Moxley whipped Dax into the barricade. Moxley catapulted Dax into the steel ring post!
Dax and Mox slugged it out back in the ring. After one last volley from each man landing flush on the jaw, they both fell to the mat. The fight moved to the top turnbuckle and Dax superplexed Moxley!
“A car crash in the center of the ring!” said Excalibur.
“Tough landing for both of them but Mox got the worst of it,” replied Taz.
Moxley changed levels, kicking Harwood in the leg and striking him in the head. Harwood dodged an arm bar attempt and countered with a sharpshooter on Moxley!
Justin Roberts announced that five minutes remained in the match.
Moxley escaped and back body drop Harwood. Dax fired back, spiking Mox with a piledriver for a near fall!
The fan chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Moxley rocked Dax with a cutter and then curb stomped him. Moxley nailed Dax with a piledriver, but Dax kicked out at the two-count! Dax countered a Paradigm Shift with a brain buster for a near fall! Justin Roberts announced there were two minutes remaining. Dax jumped off the top turnbuckle, but Mox countered with a rear naked choke and Dax tapped out!
Moxley wouldn’t release the hold! Cash Wheeler sprinted down, jumped in the ring and began to pummel Moxley. Claudio Castagnoli jumped into the ring and leveled Cash! Moxley put Dax in another sleeper while Claudio wrenched back on Cash Wheeler.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Don Callis, Takeshita, and Powerhouse Hobbs!
Callis said they’re a victim of their own success because no one wants to wrestle Takeshita or Hobbs and the Revolution pay-per-view is coming up. Callis said he looked within the family and put together a match: “The Alpha” Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay!
“The best part about this is the Don Callis Family wins and after Revolution you’ll all be talking about the Don Callis Family and the match of the decade!”
The Undisputed Kingdom’s Wardlow vs. Barrett Brown!
Adam Cole joined the commentary team for this match.
Wardlow hoisted up Brown onto the turnbuckle and then dropped Brown right into Wardlow’s own knee. Wardlow began posing and flexing, admiring himself on the big screen. Wardlow power bombed Brown and pinned him!
Footage aired from earlier in the day of EVPs the Young Bucks landing in a private jet, still wearing their white suits that were stained with the blood of Sting and Darby Allin!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland vs. Daniel Garcia!
Matt Menard joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Copeland missed a splash and Garcia rolled up Copeland for a near fall. Garcia brought Copeland down with a drop toehold. Garcia danced and stomped on both of Copeland’s knees. Garcia hammered Copeland’s head with elbows. Garcia jumped off the turnbuckles, but Copeland caught him and countered with a shoulder breaker.
Copeland baited Garcia into the corner and then wrenched on Garcia’s arm over the top rope. Garcia swept out Copeland’s legs. Garcia yanked Copeland down with a dragon screw leg whip! Garcia backed Copeland into the corner and stomped him down! Garcia connected with a running boot. Garcia worked on Copeland’s leg with another dragon screw. Garcia applied an STF on Copeland in the middle of the ring. Copeland countered into a front headlock.
Copeland met Garcia on the top turnbuckle and rocked Garcia with an avalanche Impaler! Copeland went for the spear, but Garcia kicked Copeland in the head! Garcia jackknifed Copeland for a near fall. Copeland escaped and hung on to Garcia, putting Garcia in a cross face submission!
The Patriarchy—Nick Wayne and Killswitch—jumped into the ring and began to beat down Copeland and Garcia. The match was thrown out. TNT Champion Christian Cage and Shayna Wayne walked down to the ring.
“Christian ordered that because he doesn’t want to face either of these men!” said Tony Schiavone.
Christian Cage pulled a chair from beneath the ring, but Matt Menard saw enough, got up and threated to whack Christian with his own chair! Killswitch ambushed Matt Menard from behind!
“Extinction from Killswitch! Daddy Magic never saw it coming!” said Excalibur.
Killswitch choke slammed Daniel Garcia in the ring! Nick Wayne and Killswitch set Garcia onto a chair, positioning him for a con-chair-to. Adam Copeland jumped into the ring with a chair of his own and cleaned house on the Patriarchy! Christian Cage and Adam Copeland swung their chairs at one another, but Christian dropped his chair upon impact! Christian Cage was down in the corner, begging off Adam Copeland, when Shayna Blazer snuck up from behind and hit Copeland with a low blow!
Nick Wayne rocked Copeland with the Wayne’s World! Killswitch hit Cope in the back of the neck with the Extinction! Christian Cage blasted Copeland with a con-chair-to!
“That was just disgusting,” said Taz.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe came to ring ahead of his 3-Way Battle at AEW Revolution on March 3rd ring with “Hangman” Adam Page & Swerve Strickland!
Samoa Joe: “My name is Samoa Joe and I stand here proudly your AEW World Champion. But tonight, I come here with the spirit of apology. When I became champion, I reenacted a ranking system to insure that only the very best victims were served up in front of me to destroy.
“Everything was going so well until last week when Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland battled tooth and nail for thirty minutes to a draw. The AEW Championship Committee took a page out of the Texas playbook and made my match bigger and dumber. We reward mediocrity around here. Instead of telling these pretenders they don’t belong in a ring with me, at Revolution I find myself in a three-way match.
“Obviously a crime has been committed against me and now there must be repercussions. You send your two bright stars in the ring with me, and I guarantee I’m hurting one if not both of them. They may walk in, but I guarantee they will both limp out. Because I am Samoa Joe, I stand here the AEW World Champion, and there is nothing anything can do about that.”
Swerve Strickland’s music began to play! Swerve walked down to the ring with Prince Nana.
Swerve: “Joe, when we started this whole thing, like I said it wasn’t supposed to be personal. But as we get closer to Revolution and you run your mouth, I can’t help but feel it’s become personal. When you became World Champion, you said the new champion protocol, you show up with your reputation and you show up with your resumé. You also said hunger is what defines the great. Well, if you look at me, I’m on my way to becoming one of the greatest of all time.
“No one outhustles me. No one outworks me. And no one out grinds me. So, check my résumé. 15 years I’ve been grinding so maybe one day someone will say Swerve you’ll go down as one of the greatest. And this year I proved that. Today is that day. I’ve gone toe to toe with former world champions and some of the best legends that AEW has to offer. And the same result every time. I’m the one left standing. At Revolution, nothing changes! Except for one difference, is the fact that I will be holding that championship above my head.”
Hangman Adam Page walked down to the ring!
Page: “Hold on, hold on! First, I want to set the record straight about last week’s match—I wasn’t mad. When you’re writing your Dynamite reports, don’t say I was mad. Last week was horses—t! Because I signed a contract for a match to determine the number one contender for the World championship. And the winner of that match became the number one contender. And he couldn’t do it. Swerve had 30 minutes and he couldn’t do it.
“So, if it were up to me, Joe, at Revolution, the match would be between two men who value and respect that championship for everything it stands for. But unfortunately, I don’t make the matches and it looks like Swerve, you have been added to this match. Swerve I’m going to need to look you in the eyes and hear this. After everything that you have done to me, you don’t deserve one second of my time. You don’t deserve for me to give you five more minutes because you couldn’t get the job done. And you, Swerve, you don’t deserve to be in this championship match!”
Samoa Joe: “This walking domestic dispute ends tonight! As far as you’re both concerned, I’m Samoa Joe, and come Revolution, I’m whipping both your asses!”
Up next: AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm had the world premiere of her newest film, Wet Ink!
“What do you do when you can’t change the past? You kill it!” said Storm, as she had a dagger tattooed through the bird tattoo that she once shared with “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo!
Renee Paquette was backstage to get Deonna Purrazzo’s reaction!
Deonna: “Renee, Toni Storm talks too much. So, I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Toni, I’m going to break your arm!”
AEW EVPs Nicholas and Matthew Jackson—The Young Bucks, pulled up to the arena in a stretch limo!
The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
vs.
Top Flight—Dante & Darius Martin!
Dante used an arm drag on Nick. Matt tagged in and gave a condescending fist bump to Dante. Dante and Darius battered Matt back and forth with strikes. Top Flight tried for sliding dropkicks but the Bucks dodged them.
Back in the ring, Top Flight concentrated on the arms of Matt Jackson. Matt shut down Darius and Dante after Nick got involved with a cheap shot. Darius kicked Matt in the back of the head with a guillotine like kick.
Dante tagged in and connected with a big springboard crossbody press on Matt for a near fall! Top Flight hit stereo sunset flips on the Bucks for a near fall. Matt caught Dante with a DDT! Top Flight got back in control and Darius launched off Dante and spiked Matt with a DDT! Nick broke up the pin attempt, but Dante drove him hard into the barricade with a tope! Darius nailed Matt with a Spanish Fly for a near fall!
Nick interfered to help Matt, and Matt put his foot on the ropes for leverage while trying to pin Darius. The ref saw Matt cheating and stopped him. As the ref was admonishing Nick (and Nick was using the opportunity to distract the ref), Matt kicked Darius between the legs! The Bucks smashed Darius with the EVP Trigger and pinned him!
Tony Schiavone interviewed the Bucks after the match.
Matt said they were undefeated this year, which makes them the top unbeatable team in AEW, in his opinion. “After beating a team like that, I think it’s safe to say we’re number one contenders!”
Matt said Tony Schiavone was under breach of contract by publicly disparaging the AEW EVPs. “That’s unprofessional. That is bush league, and you know it Tony,” said Matthew.
“That’s a $1000 fine! Do you have a problem with that? You heard me!” said Nick, as he shoved Tony, knocking him to the mat.
Matthew apologized saying his brother was a bit of a hot head. They offered to help Tony up but were really putting him in position for the EVP Trigger. Darby Allin sprinted to the ring with Sting’s baseball bat and the Bucks retreated!
Darby: “Young Bucks, remind everyone what was the original mission statement of AEW! It was to change the world! You know when I was homeless and AEW first started, and I begged for a job. Yet you saw nothing in me, and I had to sit by and watch all your s—t friends get hired! And thank God at the time there was an EVP here with a sense of brains, and I’m not talking about Kenny Omega!
“You did a little interview last year why you re-signed with AEW. You said you re-signed because the travel schedule was light, the money was good, it was no longer about changing the world. The mission statement was dead. I thought this was All Elite Wrestling, but it looks like this is All Friendship Wrestling. Think about the first episode of Dynamite. Darby Allin wasn’t on it. You know who was? Brandon Cutler! What the—?
“You guys want to be Sting’s final match. I don’t think you guys understand what you guys got yourselves into. You’re talking about a man who’s got nothing left to lose. It’s showtime!”
“The match has been made for Revolution, March 3rd, Sting’s last match, when he and Darby Allin put the AEW World Tag Team titles against the line against the Young Bucks!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang!
Jay White: “What’s the goal for the Bang Bang Scissor Gang? We’re running smoothly. We have new merch. We still have yet to test our cohesiveness in the ring.”
Daddy Ass: “What about this Friday we have a twelve-man match on Friday?”
Anthony Bowens said it was a great idea!
Willow Nightingale (with Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway) vs. Skye Blue (with TBS Champion Julia Hart)!
Blue blasted Willow with a shotgun dropkick. Willow did a cartwheel and scooped up Skye and body slammed her. Willow sent Skye Blue to the outside with a pounce!
Skye Blue connected with a thrust kick, but Willow walloped Blue with a lariat! Willow used a hip attack in the corner. Willow nailed Blue with a spinebuster for a near fall! Willow avoided a kick from Blue and sent Blue spilling to the floor with a pounce!
Willow set up Skye on the top turnbuckle. Skye escaped and power bombed Willow off the top rope for a near fall! Skye rocked Willow with the Code Blue, but Stokely jumped on the apron to distract the referee! Willow clobbered Skye Blue with the Doctor Bomb and scored the pin, thanks to the big assist from Stokely!
Main Event! Texas Death Match!
AEW International Champion “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy
vs.
ROH World Tag Champion Matt Taven!
The only way to win is by knockout or submission.
Taven chopped Orange in the corner. Taven knocked down Orange with a beautiful dropkick. Taven planted Orange with a Blue Thunder Bomb!
Cassidy whipped Taven into the guardrail. Orange baited Taven in and booted Taven in the jaw. They began to brawl into the crowd. Taven launched an elbow drop off the stage and landed on Orange who was on a table!
Taven propped up the partially broken table against the stage. Taven suplexed Orange against the table, breaking it in half! Orange’s head was busted open. Taven obliterated Orange with a running knee strike on the ramp!
Taven tossed Orange back into the ring. Taven spiked Orange with a DDT! Orange got to his feet before the 10-count. Taven pulled another table out from beneath the ring and propped it up against the broadcast booth. Cassidy jumped out at Taven with a tope!
Taven jumped off the turnbuckles and connected with a kick to Orange. Taven smashed into Orange with a dropkick. Taven ran and jumped over the top rope like a missile at Orange Cassidy, but Orange moved, and Taven went crashing through the table!
“What the hell did we just see?!” said Tony Schiavone.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Orange pulled a heart-shaped box of chocolates from under the ring. It had a tag that read: “To: OC, From Chuckie T. XOXO”. Orange opened the box, and it was filled with thumb tacks! Orange poured the thumbtacks onto the canvass. Taven shoved Orange from the turnbuckles right on top of the thumbtacks! Taven attempted to land a frog splash onto Orange, but Orange rolled out of the way and Taven landed right on top of the thumbtacks! Orange DDT’ed Taven into the thumbtacks!
Orange pulled a steel chain from beneath the ring. Mike Bennett ran down to the ring and smashed another heart-shaped box across the head of Cassidy! Bennett filled the ring with steel chairs. Trent walked down the ramp with a steel pipe! Trent swung the pipe right at Bennett’s head and it bashed into a steel chair, colliding into Bennett’s head! Taven hurled a steel chair at Trent’s head! Taven planted Trent face first into a steel chair! Orange was there, though, and drilled Taven with the Orange Punch! Orange planted Taven with a Beach Break on a chair on top of the tacks!
“There’s blood everywhere! My God!” said Schiavone.
Taven ripped at the pockets of Orange’s jeans. Orange wrapped the chain around his fist and smashed Taven with the Orange Punch! Roderick Strong ran to the ring and rocked Trent with a jumping knee strike! Trent had jumped in the way to protect Orange!
“Trent took the bullet for Orange,” said Excalibur.
Orange chucked Roddy out of the ring! Taven couldn’t get to his feet before the ref counted to 10 and Orange won via knockout!
“Orange is lucky to have a friend like Trent,” said Excalibur.
“Yes, he is. Trent took the bullet for Orange. What a Texas Death Match! That was nuts,” replied Taz.
“That’s one of the craziest we’ve ever seen,” added Tony Schiavone.
**Special programming note: This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at the special start time of 7/6c on TNT featuring:
-Queen Aminata vs. Anna Jay!
-No DQ Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK!
This Wednesday night, All Elite Wrestling brings DYNAMITE back to the Austin, TX area and our home at Cedar Park’s H-E-B Center! This has been one of the prime stops on AEW’s calendar since February 2020, with the fans inside the H-E-B always among the best in the land, and that will no doubt continue this time around as AEW brings the greatest professional wrestling on the planet back to town! With each man on the hunt for the TNT Championship, Adam Copeland and Daniel Garcia will clash in singles competition, and we will also see two former friend go to battle when Skye Blue meets Willow Nightingale inside the squared circle! In addition, we will hear from AEW World Champion Samoa Joe as well as his two REVOLUTION 2024 challengers, and The Young Bucks continue their goal of ascending the tag team rankings when they renew their rivalry with Top Flight!
With REVOLUTION 2024 fast approaching, everyone wants to be part of one of the sport’s most historic nights, and they are all chasing that opportunity this Wednesday on DYNAMITE! The night begings at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com (https://www.fite.tv/join/aew-plus/) for international fans, so be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFN4JkGP_bVhAdBsoV9xftA/videos), as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as the newest CONTROL CENTER, and more! Then, with no COLLISION this Saturday, we are back at it next Wednesday night in Tulsa, OK (https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-event/aew-dynamite-rampage–tulsa) for our debut at the BOK Center!
Having won all five of his matches in 2024, including four singles bouts, Adam Copeland is on the hunt for the TNT Championship, but more specifically the head of Christian Cage. As the third ranked competitor in the Men’s Singles division, “The Rated R Superstar” is right on the cusp of achieving his goal of one more match with his former tag partner and best friend. There’s only one problem blocking his path: Daniel Garcia!
See Garcia may not have the winning record of Copeland, he isn’t even in the rankings as of 2/10/24, but what he does have is momentum after winning four consecutive matches this year, including being the deciding force in the Escape The Cage match against The House of Black, topping Shane Taylor, and pinning Nick Wayne in the Trios Match against The Patriarchy. That final victory mentioned is the one spurring Garcia on towards a TNT Championship challenge, feeling that pinfall over Christian Cage’s “son” has given him reasonable justification for a championship bout.
Obviously this puts him at cross-purposes with Adam Copeland, and though Copeland respects Garcia’s ability and his gumption in wanting a TNT Championship match, he is adamant in showing Garcia he’s not on his level. Copeland’s may also be looking to use Garcia as an example for someone else looking to jump the line around the rankings. For both men, this match means a TNT Championship match at the expense of the other, and quite frankly, if Garcia wins, he should be wary of the consequences. Adam Copeland has proven throughout his career to not be the most stable of individuals when someone steps into his path, just ask Nick Wayne how his skull felt when he did it.
That being said, Copeland could also be impressed with what Garcia brings to the table if he proves victorious, and that’s not as big an “if” as it once was. Garcia is a former ROH Pure Champion, a man who holds a victory over Bryan Danielson, who learned under the tree of Chris Jericho, and now stands side-by-side with FTR. His growth since coming into AEW has been exponential, and this may be a case of perfect timing for Garcia to ascend to the next level of his career.
Will we see Adam Copeland earn his shot at vengeance, or will Garcia play spoiler to that goal and earn his own TNT Championship since January 2022?
Texas Death Match…
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy vs. ROH World Tag Champion Matt Taven
Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong are destined to fight at REVOLUTION 2024; though the challenge was made by Roddy weeks ago, and though he deferred Cassidy’s offer to fight any time, it became official during the last week that the International Championship will be at stake on March 3rd live on pay-per-view!
Though the fight is set in stone, that hasn’t stopped the Undisputed Kingdom from trying to take away Cassidy’s support system one man at a time. They started with Chuck Taylor, a man already recovering from injury, added Rocky Romero to that list, and then attempted to take out Orange ahead of the fight this past Saturday on COLLISION. With Cassidy worn down from his fight with Ishii, Taven and Bennett assaulted the International Champ, but thankfully “The Stone Pitbull” ran them off before the onslaught could get any worse.
Well Cassidy has had enough, and he aims to return the favor this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when he clashes with ROH World Tag Champion Matt Taven in a Texas Death Match! We’ve seen Cassidy get down right violent in the past, just look at his fights with Jon Moxley or the Stadium Stampede last year, and Taven has been in his fair share of brutal bouts, like the Fight Without Honor against Action Andretti & Darius Martin, but neither has been in Texas Death before now!
Can Matt Taven help wear Orange Cassidy down for Roddy Strong as REVOLUTION 2024 draws near? Or will the ROH World Tag Champion follow the path of so many before him and fall before the winningest competitor in AEW?
Singles Match…
Willow Nightingale vs. (#4)Skye Blue
Over the last two years, Skye Blue and Willow Nightingale have been partners in tag and trios, but more than that they have been friends with one another. In fact after Julia Hart first sprayed her black mist into the face of Skye, it was Willow who stood by her side as support while Kris Statlander questioned where Skye’s head was at. So imagine the feeling of betrayal Willow felt when Skye gave into the darkness and chose TBS Champion Julia Hart over those who’d been her supporters.
What’s rather fascinating about this dynamic is that it’s Julia and Skye who sought this fight out, but neither Stat nor Willow were going to ignore the challenge, and that’s why the original NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion laid this out for Skye Blue! Their first one-on-one encounter will go down Wednesday night as part of another stacked DYNAMITE, but there’s no doubt this is just the beginning of a new chapter in this rivalry between the TBS Champion, Skye, Statlander, and Willow!
FTR and The Blackpool Combat Club do not mess around; all it took was Jon Moxley challenging anyone to rise up to their level, telling any team that stepped up that they’d get stepped on, and out came the former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champs to answer the challenge.
Very few words were exchanged, certainly no back-and-forth duel on the microphone, all it took to push this confrontation into a pull-apart brawl was Mox pie-facing Dax Harwood. Mox is a smart man, he knew it wouldn’t take much to push the hot-tempered Harwood over the edge, and knowing Mox’s predilection for fighting, there’s little question about his intent. Security, as well as members of the locker room, came to separate the combatants, but that just made them each potential targets in the melee before the four men were removed from ringside.
Suffice to say there was no hesitation in making this first-time match for Wednesday night pitting two of AEW’s roughest against one another! Moxley and Harwood were on opposite sides of a DYNAMITE tag two years ago, and opponents for a Trios Fight Without Honor at ROH FINAL BATTLE 2023 just two months ago, but they’ve never thrown hands one-on-one before. That changes on Wednesday, and given the love of the fight each man has, neither is going to stop until the other is broken down!
Chasing the Champions…
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. (#3)Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
So The Young Bucks have decided to get back to work, throwing around their EVP status, and inserting themselves into the tag team championship picture once again now that Darby Allin and Sting are atop the division. It seems pretty clear that Matthew and Nicholas want to be the ones to end Sting’s run on a sour note at REVOLUTION 2024, but in order to get into that position, they’ve stated their willing to work up the rankings into a position of contention rather than play their EVP card to just slide into an AEW World Tag Team Championship Match on March 3rd. They started their journey up the rankings on Friday night’s RAMPAGE with a victory, but are taking a giant leap up in the quality of competition with a fight against some old rivals: Top Flight!
The last time these four men fought in tag team competition was just over a year ago, January 18th of 2023 to be exact, and it actually ended in a victory of the Martin Brothers. That, in turn, led to a pair of AEW World Trios Championship challenges for Top Flight & AR Fox, though neither resulted in the titles changing hands, and thus it’s been since February 17, 2023 that they’ve fought in any capacity. Overall the brothers Jackson hold a 2-1 lead over Dante and Darius in their head-to-head bouts, but there’s just been this whole new fire under Top Flight since Dante returned from injury at the end of November. They aren’t the unseasoned team of 2020 that The Young Bucks beat in Daily’s Place, they’re not even the duo the former AEW World Tag Champions beat on RAMPAGE in 2022, they’ve grown as individuals, as well as a team, and could very well disrupt the EVP’s plans the AEW World Tag Team Championship!
A week ago Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page, with a REVOLUTION 2024 World Championship opportunity at stake, engaged in one of the most memorable clashes in DYNAMITE’s four-plus year history. After thirty minutes of a breathtaking battle, the bout was ruled a time limit draw, and while Swerve Strickland was game for five more minutes, Hangman was content with being the man who blocked Swerve from a title bout with Samoa Joe. For Page it wasn’t a matter of winning the title match for himself, but rather about stopping The Mogul Embassy’s boss from getting the pay-per-view opportunity, and to Hangman a draw meant he was successful in achieving his goal.
Unfortunately for the former World Champion, AEW President Tony Khan had other ideas and ruled that as a result of the draw, both Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland would face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe at REVOLUTION 2024 in a Three Way Title Fight! It’s been nearly three years since the last time the AEW World Title was defended in a Three Way, and this Wednesday night we will hear from all three competitors involved in this situation!
Wet Ink…
All Elite Wrestling is back at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX with another awesome edition of DYNAMITE! For four years the Austin area has been a welcoming home to AEW, and this will doubtless continue this week when the AEW faithful watch The Young Bucks take on Top Flight, see Willow Nightingale clash with Skye Blue, and bear witness to Adam Copeland’s fight with Daniel Garcia! Plus, Toni Storm will premiere her latest film endeavor “Wet Ink”, and we will hear from all three men involved in the REVOLUTION 2024 World Championship match!
All that and so much more comes to you this week on DYNAMITE, just make 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, and COLLISION, as well as the newest edition of the CONTROL CENTER! There is no COLLISION this week, but we will be back at it next Wednesday night when All Elite Wrestling comes to Tulsa, OK and the BOK Center for the very first time!
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast live from The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV!
It’s Saturday night and you know what that means! Saturday night’s alright for fighting!
Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley
vs.
CMLL’s Esfinge & Star Jr.
Moxley took down Star Jr with a side headlock. Moxley grabbed Star’s hair. Star escaped and put Mox in a submission until Claudio came in and broke up the hold with a boot to Star. Moxley swung at Star, but Star ducked it and smacked Moxley in the mush. Star and Esfinge were about to go for stereo topes, but the BCC walked away. Esfinge and Star pumped the brakes.
Claudio tagged in and hurled Esfinge with the Giant Swing! Moxley grabbed a tag but so did Star Jr. Star shoved Claudio into Moxley. Star jumped off the top rope and took down both Moxley and Claudio. Esfinge and Star jumped out of the ring with a tope and a tope con hiro onto both members of the Blackpool Combat Club.
Star tried for a springboard, but Claudio countered with a European Uppercut. Moxley whipped Esfinge into the steel guardrail. Esfinge clocked Claudio with a thrust kick and then hit a monkey flip on Moxley. Esfinge tried to apply an Indian Death Lock pinning combo on Moxley, but Claudio jumped in to break up the pin. Star wiped out Moxley with a running lariat and then followed up with a tornillo on Claudio!
Moxley nearly decapitated Esfinge with a King Kong lariat for a near fall. Moxley ate a kick and then a risking knee strike from Moxley. Claudio gorilla press slammed Star right into a cutter from Moxley!
Claudio smashed Esfinge with the Ricola Bomb! Moxley put Star in an arm submission and forced him to tap out!
Moxley: “Gracias, amigos. You take that message back to CMLL in Mexico, or anywhere else in the world, and you tell any team that if they want to step up, they get stepped on!”
FTR—Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler—came down to the ring!
FTR had a stare down with BCC! It quickly escalated and the two teams traded fists!
“It did not take long for the fisticuffs to fly here,” said Tony Schiavone.
The locker room emptied as wrestlers and security guards tried to separate the BCC and FTR and contain them!
Daniel Garcia vs. Shane Taylor Promotion’s Shane Taylor (with Lee Moriarty)!
Matt Menard accompanied Garcia and then joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Taylor was throwing haymakers, but Garcia dodged them. Taylor knocked down Garcia with a shoulder block. Garcia came back with a dragon screw leg whip on Taylor. Shane Taylor shoved Garcia out of the ring with his leg. Taylor rammed Garcia into the ring apron and then whipped Garcia into the front row guardrail.
Garcia got out of the way of Taylor’s leg drop. Garcia dropkicked Taylor in the legs and then stomped him in the corner. Taylor retaliated with a pop up powerbomb and then a nasty right hand for a near fall.
Garcia escaped a package piledriver when Taylor’s leg gave out. Garcia locked on a kneebar, and Taylor tapped!
“Five in a row on Collision for Daniel Garcia,” said Tony Schiavone.
Lexy Nair interviewed Continental Champion Eddie Kingston backstage!
Kingston: “First off, Young Bucks, what you did on Dynamite was disgusting. You stole Sting and Darby’s thunder. Just like you Bryan Danielson. When you stole the thunder from Bryan Keith. That kind finally got a contract, and you took away his moment to get under his skin. Well, you did, and now I’m going to challenge you to a match at Revolution.
“Me and you, one on one, but I’m going to add a little stipulation. At the end of this match, after I beat you, you’re going to have to shake my hand. Because I know you don’t respect me. So now after I beat you again, you have to shake my hand and act like you respect me. And I know, and I pray, that that legit eats you up inside.”
“The Machine” Brian Cage (with Prince Nana) vs. The Outrunners—Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum!
“Chance”, the mascot of the Vegas Golden Knights, was ringside cheering on the Outrunners.
Brian Cage hit a German release suplex on Truth. He double suplexed the Outrunners. Cage stepped on the head of Turbo and Turbo submitted!
Chance did the Swerve dance with Prince Nana after the match. Brian Cage clubbed Chance from behind!
FTW Champion HOOK’s music began to play!
HOOK and Cage brawled on the ramp! The fight continued all the way to the back!
Lexy Nair was backstage with the Undisputed Kingdom and Tomohiro Ishii!
Taven: “I have a bone to pick with this goofy melvin right here. I used to be in Chaos and then one day I get knee surgery and no emails, no texts, no nothing from you Ishii!”
Roderick: “Ishii! None of that matters. The only thing that matters is if you win tonight, March 3rd at Revolution, I’m coming to beat you for the AEW International Title, and I’ve been waiting eight long years for this rematch. And I can’t wait to break you. So good luck.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
Schiavone: “4-0 in the Cope Open, I want to tell you this, as far as top contenders are concerned, as we know, at Revolution Samoa Joe has the two top contenders to deal with in that three-way match. You’re number three, which means you have your pick. We have the International Championship, we have a TNT Championship. What’s going through the mind of the Rated R Superstar right now?”
Copeland: “First off, if I had been at Dynamite, that wouldn’t have happened to Sting and Darby. So, Nicholas, Matthew, that’s a warning. Now you talked about the other championships that I can challenge for. There’s Christian Cage. There’s that TNT Championship that I won and had ripped out of my hands. So, I think you know where I’m leaning.”
Daniel Garcia’s music began to play, and Garcia came down to the ring.
Garcia: “Adam it sounds to me like you think you deserve a shot at the TNT title because you’ve been getting a lot of wins. And I could not agree with you more. I believe that championship opportunities should be rewarded through wins. But you’re not the only person that’s been picking up a lot of wins. Somebody else right in front of you has been on a hot streak. And I don’t mean any disrespect, but last week when I beat the Patriarchy, I looked at Christian Cage and saw that championship, and I thought maybe, just maybe I deserve a shot at the TNT title. The thing about me is I’ll fight through that line a million times over if it means I get to hold championship gold in AEW.”
Copeland: “Okay, and I can respect that. And you didn’t beat the Patriarchy by yourself. FTR helped you. But the FTR boys speak highly of you. And that’s enough for me. I respect you. But Daniel, if you’re saying you want a shot at the TNT Championship, I want a shot at the TNT Championship, I’ve got a proposal. Wednesday, Dynamite, you and I fight each other and the last man standing fights Christian. What do you say?”
Garcia: “I accept.”
Copeland: “Now I know you had a match tonight and that’s the only reason I’m not taking your face off right now. But make no mistake about it, you’re now threatening to take food off my family’s table, and that does not work for me. So, I am going to beat your ass next week.”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Stokely Hathaway!
Renee said she thought the addition of Stokely was working out for them, especially after their win last night against the Outcasts.
Stokely had words for Skye Blue and Julia Hart and said that there were only two bad asses that he knows in the AEW Women’s Division, and that’s the former TBS champion Kris Statlander and the first ever New Japan Strong Women’s champion Willow Nightingale.
Willow said that she thought Skye would have been right there with them, but Skye chose a different path. Willow said that she and Skye had done a lot together, but they still hadn’t fought one another.
Mark Briscoe vs. The House of Black’s Brody King (with TBS Champion Julia Hart)!
Mark chopped away at Brody, but Brody hoisted up Mark and threw him half way across the ring. Brody blasted Briscoe with a cannonball in the corner. Brody followed up with a running senton for a near fall.
Brody King battered Mark in the corner with a stiff chop and then a boot. Briscoe pulled Brody out of the ring. Mark jumped off the apron and nailed Brody with a neck breaker. Mark used a steel chair and launched himself off it to land on Brody with a tope con hiro!
Mark tried to pull a table out from beneath the ring, but the ref stopped him, admonishing Mark. Mark went for a plancha, but Brody caught him and slammed him onto a steel chair. Back in the ring, Brody planted Briscoe with a Bossman slam for a two-count.
Briscoe kicked Brody in the head, knocking Brody to the floor. Mark climbed to the top turnbuckle and connecting with a twisting moonsault, landing on his feet! Brody blocked a Death Valley Driver and then leveled Briscoe with a lariat!
Mark Briscoe climbed to the top, but Julia Hart jumped on the apron to distract Briscoe. Brody shoved Briscoe and sent Briscoe flying, crashing onto the table on the arena floor! Brody drilled Briscoe with a Gonzo Bomb and pinned Briscoe!
Brody held Mark back while Julia Hart hit Briscoe with a spike on the forehead! Mark was busted wide open!
“The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith was backstage with some strong words!
Keith: “It’s no secret that I’m all about my payday. So, when I came here to AEW, I’m looking to climb the ranks and collect my bounty, whether you’re good, bad, or ugly, you stand across the ring from me, you’d better be ready to pay up, sucker.”
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kiera Hogan!
Deonna Purrazzo yanked at Hogan’s arm. Kiera fired back with a hip attack. Deonna dodged a charging Kiera. Deonna went back to working on Kiera’s arm. Deonna drilled Hogan with a backstabber for a near fall.
Hogan caught Deonna with a thrust kick. Deonna blocked a piledriver attempt. Deonna applied the Venus De Milo and Hogan had to submit verbally!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm (with Mariah May & Luther the Butler) vs. Queen Aminata!
Toni had a headlock on Aminata. The Queen fought out of it and taunted Toni. Storm took down Queen Aminata with a Thesz Press. Toni Storm applied a full nelson. Toni Storm kicked Queen Aminata right in the face. Toni charged at Queen Aminata, but Aminata cradled Toni for a near fall!
Queen Aminata walloped Toni with a snap suplex. Toni spiked Aminata with a DDT but the challenger kicked out at the two-count. Queen Aminata retaliated with an Air Raid Crash for a near fall on the champ! “Timeless” Toni cracked Queen Aminata with a hip attack and then crunched Aminata with a piledriver for the pinfall victory!
Toni Storm: “Mister Schiavone, I know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But we’re in Henderson so stop looking at me like that. Darling, did you see that? Another fantastic technical show of brilliance. This week on Dynamite I will be releasing a brand new film!”
Main Event Time! AEW International Championship Match!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (c.) vs. “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii!
Ishii knocked Orange to the floor with a shoulder tackle. Ishii waffled Orange with chops to the chest!
“Orange Cassidy was freshly squeezed,” said Nigel.
Orange came back with a Stun Dog Millionaire and then a twisting DDT! Orange flew out of the ring with a tope suicida to Ishii. Orange spiked Ishii with another DDT for a two-count!
Orange jumped off the top rope and planted Ishii with a diving DDT! Orange stomped Ishii in the corner. Orange connected with a shotgun dropkick, but Ishii popped back up and pounced Orange!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Ishii blasted Cassidy with an avalanche brain buster and covered Orange for a near fall! Orange fired up but collapsed to the mat. Orange got up and went for the Beach Break, but Ishii reversed it and countered with a powerbomb! Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but Orange dodged it and cradled Ishii for a near fall.
Ishii headbutted Orange but Orange caught Ishii with an Orange Punch! Orange drilled Ishii with a Beach Break, but Ishii lifted his shoulder in the nick of time! Ishii nailed Orange with a dragon suplex. Ishii hit the sliding lariat, but Orange kicked out!
Ishii attempted the vertical brain buster, but Orange escaped! Orange decked Ishii with the Orange Punch! Ishii wouldn’t go down! Orange tried for another Orange Punch, but Ishii blocked it! Orange rolled up Ishii in a small package and pinned Ishii!
The Undisputed Kingdom surrounded the ring after the match! Taven and Bennett spiked Orange with a stuffed piledriver! Ishii sprinted back to the ring and the Undisputed Kingdom retreated! Trent came down with a steel chair as reinforcement!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ!
Your broadcast team was Excalibur, “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard and Tony Schiavone.
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
This…is…Rampage!
Trios Match!
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, & Trent Beretta
vs.
Undisputed Kingdom—ROH World Tag Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett, and Roderick Strong (with Adam Cole & Wardlow)!
Best Friends charged at the Undisputed Kingdom as the Undisputed Kingdom made their entrance. They were furious over Undisputed Kingdom for injuring Chuck Taylor.
Bennett booted Trent in the face. Trent jumped on Bennett, squashing him with double knees to the sternum. Taven tagged in and Rocky and Trent rocked Taven with stereo knee strikes. Trent followed up with a sliding knee for a near fall.
Roderick grabbed a blind tag, but Trent tossed Roddy with a German Suplex. Roddy pulled Trent off the turnbuckles and nailed Trent with a backbreaker. Taven and Bennett double teamed Trent in their corner.
“Great tag team continuity by Taven and Bennett,” said Excalibur.
Orange tagged in and cleaned house on Taven and Bennett. Orange planted Taven with a DDT and smashed Bennett with a Stun Dog Millionaire. Bennett blindsided Orange with a spinebuster. Cassidy connected with a thrust kick on Taven. Orange was looking for the Orange Punch, but Taven knocked Orange’s block off with a kick of his own!
Roderick Strong distracted the ref while Bennett blasted Orange with a low blow. Taven jumped off the top turnbuckle while Bennett held Orange and they pulped Orange with a stuffed piledriver.
Rocky was the legal man now, and he took flight, rocketing out of the ring and wiping out Bennett and Taven with a tope suicida. Rocky rocked Bennett with the Sliced Bread! Taven cut off Rocky’s flurry with a boot to the midsection. Romero took Taven down to the mat with a hurracanrana.
Rocky smashed Taven and Bennett with the Forever Clotheslines. Roddy came in with a blindside knee and then decimated Rocky with the End of Heartache backbreaker. Taven covered Rocky and scored the pin!
The Undisputed Kingdom set up chairs in the ring and Roddy planted Rocky right onto the chairs with the End of Heartache! Trent and Orange chased the Undisputed Kingdom out of the ring.
“Adding insult to injury, that was completely uncalled for by Roderick Strong,” said Excalibur.
The Young Bucks—Nicholas & Matthew Jackson vs. Mondo Rox & Robbie Lit!
Matthew seized on Robbie Lit, stomping him in the corner. Matthew bulldozed Robbie with a lariat. Nicholas tagged in and the Bucks used a backbreaker-neck breaker combo on Robbie.
Mondo got a tag and Nicholas kicked Mondo with a low blow as Matthew was distracting the referee. The Young Bucks smashed Mondo with the EVP Trigger and Matthew pinned Mondo!
Nicholas: “I am so tired of the disrespect that each and every one of you fans show us. I heard a heckler in the front row calling us by the wrong name. It’s time to show your EVPs a little more respect! Call us by our God-given names of Nicholas and Matthew Jackson!”
Matthew: “I apologize my brother is a bit of a hothead. Listen! Listen! The reason we’re out here in the first place is to say congratulations to AEW’s new Tag Team Champions Darby Allin and Sting! Incredible match! You’re putting your blood, sweat and tears on the line. You’ll be great champions but there is one caveat. I got an email, an injury report from Doc Sampson and apparently both Darb and Sting are a little bit banged up coming out of their big win. So, we just wanted to say we’re thinking about you guys, we’re praying for you guys, and we hope you’re ok.
“However, boys I want to make one thing clear. Our objective is to get our tag team titles back! And you may be looking at us and saying, ‘Oh, but you’re EVPs and you’re going to politic to do whatever it takes to do that!’ No, no, no. We’re going to play by the rules, climb up the rankings, and have competitive matches just like we did tonight on Rampage! We will get ranked, we will be number one contenders, and we will get our belts! And we’ll continue to climb up those rankings on Wednesday when you see Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, your EVPs in tag team action! We love you guys so much! Let’s have a killer show!”
“Tony Khan has just informed me that on Wednesday night on Dynamite Nicholas and Matthew will have some top flight competition when they face Dante and Darius Martin!” said Excalibur.
CMLL’s Mistico (with Esfinge & Star Jr.) vs. Matt Sydal!
Sydal and Mistico chain wrestled to start the match, exchanging a flurry of offense and going move for move with one another. Mistico hit Sydal with a tope suicida. Sydal jumped back in the ring and caught off Mistico’s momentum with a kick.
Matt Sydal placed Mistico in a bow and arrow submission. Sydal followed up with a senton splash. Mistico caught Sydal off guard with a crossbody press.
“This has been a back and forth battle,” said Excalibur.
Sydal caught Mistico in the face with a jumping knee strike. Sydal landed an Air Raid Crash for a near fall on Mistico. Mistico tried for a moonsault press but Sydal got the boots up, countering it! Sydal charged Mistico but Mistico walloped Sydal with a powerslam! Mistico hit a Spanish Fly on Sydal off the top rope and pinned Sydal!
“That was a desperation move by Mistico but man, it worked!” said Tony Schiavone.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Prince Nana and “The Machine” Brian Cage!
Brian Cage: “HOOK thinks he can hit me in the back with a chair and get away with it like a hit-and-run? Not today! I’m looking for HOOK. Where is he? Coincidentally, he’s not here. Of course he’s not here. He doesn’t want to feel the rage of Cage on Rampage.”
Prince Nana: “You know what? I think HOOK is at home reading a book because that’s what he needs to do instead of running around town hitting people with chairs in the back. Prince Nana knows how that feels. It happened to me on Wednesday, Renee.”
Cage: “Big deal, HOOK, you beat two guys the other night. I could beat two guys any day of the week. I could do that tomorrow. As a matter of fact, let’s do that on Collision. Any two sloppy Joes in the locker room that want to face me, come on down.”
The Outcasts—Ruby Soho & Saraya (with Harley Cameron)!
As Ruby was making her entrance on the ramp, she noticed there was a note scribbled on a piece of paper that was inside the pocket of her leather jacket.
Stokely Hathaway joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Kris took down Saraya with a side headlock. Statlander hit a dropkick. Willow and Ruby came in for their respective teams and Willow rocked Ruby with a Russian Leg Sweep. Willow followed up with a fisherman’s suplex. Statlander shoulder tackled Ruby, slammed her, and followed up with a sliding lariat.
Willow splashed Ruby in the corner. Willow climbed to the top turnbuckle. Harley grabbed Willow’s ankle and then Saraya shoved Ruby to the mat! Statlander tagged in and took Ruby off her feet with a powerslam.
Ruby and Saraya double teamed Statlander. Willow charged in to make the save but Saraya grabbed her and shoved her through the ropes. Saraya cracked Kris with a running knee strike and went for the cover, but Willow broke it up just in time.
Statlander clubbed Saraya with a discus lariat. Ruby rocked Statlander with the No Future kick! Ruby held Willow and Saraya went to strike Willow, but Willow escaped, forcing Saraya to inadvertently strike Ruby! Willow walloped Saraya and Ruby with a double clothesline.
Saraya and Kris traded forearms in the center of the ring. Statlander blasted Saraya with a massive roundhouse kick. Statlander planted Saraya with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall! Saraya caught Kris off guard with a jawbreaker. Saraya went for the tag, but Ruby refused, turning her back and jumping off the apron, leaving Saraya in the lurch.
“Tony, I wonder if that note that Ruby was reading had anything to do with this?”
Harley grabbed Ruby and tried to stop Ruby from walking away. Ruby turned around and decked Harley!
“Ruby Soho finally standing up for herself to Saraya,” said Excalibur.
Willow power bombed a shocked Saraya and pinned her!
After the match Stokely celebrated with both Kris and Willow!
Skye Blue appeared in the aisle, smirked, and waved at Kris and Willow. The arena lights went dark!
“What is going on here?” wondered Excalibur.
The lights came back on, and TBS Champion Julia Hart was standing beside Skye Blue! They were staring at Willow and Kris, taunting them as Julia held up her title.
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV featuring:
-AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy vs. Tomohiro Ishii!
– “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kiera Hogan!
-We’ll hear from the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Queen Aminata!
-BCC’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. CMLL’s Esfinge & Star Jr.!
& Much, much more!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX!
Toby Keith Passes Away News / February 6, 2024 / by IMPACT Wrestling Staff We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of country music legend Toby Keith – who appeared on the very…
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ!
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!
Winner earns Revolution 2024 World Title Match!
Swerve Strickland (#1 ranked) (with Prince Nana) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page (#2 ranked)!
Page slapped Swerve in the face. Swerve swept out Page’s legs. They tussled to the outside. Swerve whipped Page into the barricade. Swerve jumped over the barricade and crashed onto Page on the arena floor.
Back in the ring, Page chopped at Swerve’s chest. Swerve fired back with a high boot, catching Hangman flush in the face. Swerve stomped Page in the corner. Hangman retaliated with a fallaway slam. Page was a bit ticked off by the live crowd’s reaction to him, who were about 90% behind Swerve tonight.
Swerve climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Page yanked out Swerve’s legs. Page grounded and pounded Swerve on the mat. Swerve flattened out Page and locked him in a crucifix hold. Swerve was looking to snap Page’s arm. Hangman countered and clubbed Swerve in the back of Swerve’s head. Page rammed Swerve into the top turnbuckle and Swerve tumbled to the arena floor. Prince Nana kept his distance, just like Swerve had told him to do.
Hangman hurled Swerve into the barricade. Hangman nailed Swerve with a fallaway slam on the floor. Page blasted Swerve with a sliding kick in the ring. Page rolled up Swerve for a near fall. Page was looking for the buckshot lariat, but Swerve charged him. Page backdropped Swerve onto the floor. Swerve hit a flatliner on Page out of nowhere. Swerve drilled Page with a diving uppercut.
Swerve planted Hangman with a vertical suplex. Swerve connected with the House Call for a near fall.
“That was so close,” said Taz.
“And Swerve has wrestled a smart match tonight all without the help of Prince Nana,” added Excalibur.
Swerve was looking for a superplex, but Hangman chomped down on Swerve’s forehead. Page went for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Swerve landed on his feet! Swerve cracked Page with a kick to the head. Page rallied back with a pop-up powerbomb for a two-count on Swerve.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Swerve avoided a buckshot lariat from Page and fired back with his own buckshot lariat! Swerve splashed Page with the Swerve Stomp, but Page kicked out at the two-count! Swerve was looking for a piledriver on the barricade, but Hangman countered with a DDT!
Both men knocked one another down with big stereo boots—both men had the same idea. Swerve laughed at Page as Page was hitting him with fists. Swerve rocked Page with a backbreaker for a near fall. Swerve pounced on Page with the Swerve Stomp. Swerve pulled a table out from beneath the ring and set it up. Swerve went for a 450 splash, but Page countered by raising his knees! Justin Roberts announced five minutes remained. Page nearly decapitated Swerve with the buckshot lariat! Page covered Swerve but Swerve got his boot on the bottom rope to stop the ref’s count!
Hangman crushed Swerve with the Dead Eye on the apron! Page dropkicked Swerve as Swerve was getting back into the ring. Page cracked Prince Nana with a steel chair. Page yelled at Nana to stay out of this! When Page turned back around, Swerve pump kicked the steel chair into Page’s face!
Swerve smashed Page with the Swerve Stomp. Swerve’s ankle buckled upon landing. Hangman reversed the JML Driver and then snapped at Swerve’s ankle. On the apron, Page was thinking dragon screw leg whip, but Swerve kicked him first. Swerve hoisted up Page and planted him through the table outside the ring with the deadeye!
Swerve climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for the Swerve Stomp, but Page dodged it and Swerve collapsed immediately, his injured ankle not able to support the landing. Swerve countered the buckshot lariat from Page with the JML Driver!
“Swerve’s ankle is hurting, though, he can’t cover!” said Tony Schiavone.
Swerve went for the cover and the ref counted 1…2…and the bell rang!
Justin Roberts announced that the time limit expired, and the match went to a time limit draw!
Swerve: “No, no, I didn’t go through all this just for this to end like this. Hangman, I’m not letting you get away with this so easily. You know how this goes. Five more minutes.”
Page was smiling.
Page: “Swerve, tonight you had to beat me to become the number one contender. And Swerve, you didn’t do it! You will not be the World champion! For you, it is over!”
Tony Schiavone: “Hang on one minute. Tony Khan has just talked with me. This is not done. Because we know have two number one contenders. And that means at Revolution, there will be a three way match for the World title against Samoa Joe!”
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview AEW World Champion Samoa Joe!
Samoa Joe: “I cannot believe I am dealing with this right now! Once again, we celebrate mediocrity! This was a draw! The powers-that-be have stacked the deck against me and they don’t want me as champion, but it is not your choice!
“I am Samoa Joe. I am the AEW World Champion! No matter what you do, come Revolution I walk out AEW World Champion. It is only a shame that the both of you will suffer because of it!”
Eliminator Match!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm (with Luther & Mariah May)
vs. Red Velvet!
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Toni took down Red Velvet with a side headlock. Velvet fired back with a leg lariat. Storm jumped on Red Velvet and pummeled her with lefts and rights. Toni planted Red Velvet with the Sky High for a near fall.
Red Velvet blasted Toni with a big time bulldog. Velvet rocked Toni with a double knee strike. Red Velvet splashed Toni with a standing moonsault for a near fall. Toni tripped Red Velvet and then smashed her with a hip attack. Toni spiked Red Velvet with a DDT for a near fall.
Toni ducked a corkscrew kick from Red Velvet. Toni applied an ankle lock and forced Red Velvet to tap out! Toni would not release the ankle lock. Deonna got in the ring, but Luther separated the two of them!
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Trent, and Rocky Romero!
Renee asked them about their trios match on Rampage against the Undisputed Kingdom, and if Orange was worried about the wear and tear on his body he might have from that match ahead of his Collision match against Ishii. Orange said “yeah, but it’ll be fine.” Orange said they were going to check on the injured Chuck Taylor now, but Rocky would be subbing for Chuck on Rampage.
Trios Match!
Blackpool Combat Club—Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, & Jon Moxley
vs.
CMLL’s Hechicero, Mascara Dorada, & Volador Jr.!
Hechicero took down Danielson with a shoulder tackle. Hechicero put Danielson into a crucifix cradle for a near fall. Claudio tagged in and Dorada fired an overhand chop. Claudio tripped Dorado and planted him hard.
Moxley and Volador Jr tagged in for their respective teams. They traded forearm strikes. Volador took down Mox with a hurracanrana and followed up with a tope suicida. Moxley retaliated with a tope suicida of his own!
Claudio hurled Volador in the Giant Swing! Mox tagged in and covered Volador, but Volador kicked out at the two-count. Volador connected with a thrust kick. Dorado launched off Moxley and clobbered Danielson with a corkscrew kick. Volador and Hechicero connected with stereo topes on the BCC and then Dorado followed up with a shooting star press off the middle rope to the outside!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Hechicero spiked Danielson with a backbreaker and then Dorado followed up with a 450 splash for a near fall! Volador rocked Mox with a backstabber, but Danielson was there to hit Volador with a running knee strike!
Hechicero and Claudio exchanged strikes. Hechicero placed Claudio in a leg lock. Danielson stomped on Hechicero until Hechicero released Claudio. Hechicero placed Danielson in the stretched muffler. Moxley kicked Hechicero in the ribs to break it up. Moxley clobbered Dorada and Volador with a stereo clothesline. Claudio blasted Hechicero with a massive European Uppercut. Hechicero retaliated with a guillotine leg drop for a near fall!
Claudio shoved Hechicero backwards and Hechicero inadvertently collided into the ref who was standing behind him. Claudio struck Hechicero with a low blow while the ref was still collecting himself. Claudio covered Hechicero and scored the pin!
“The luchadores at ringside are just livid,” said Tony Schiavone.
Mistico, Esfinge and Star Jr. jumped into the ring! Christopher Daniels, Matt Sydal, Angelo Parker and Matt Menard sprinted down to even up the odds for the BCC! The luchadores retreated!
Backstage, a camera crew caught the Undisputed Kingdom assaulting Chuck Taylor!
Adam Cole rolled up in his wheelchair and said, “Get well soon, Chuck!”
“We need to get some medical attention for Chuck Taylor! What is the meaning of this?” asked Excalibur.
AEW CEO & GM Tony Khan had a major announcement!
“Like so many of you, I am excited by tonight’s big announcement. You might have heard earlier today that the TD Garden announced AEW is returning to Boston on March 13th! That will be a very important night for AEW and the entire pro wrestling industry because Wednesday, March 13th, five weeks from tonight will be AEW: Big Business, live in Boston. You’re not going to want to miss this show. Tickets go on sale this Saturday. The event takes place five weeks from tonight, and if you can’t join us live in Boston, you’re going to want to join us right here on TBS on March 13th because Big Business is going to be one of the most important nights ever in AEW and a night that the entire pro wrestling industry will remember.”
Chris Jericho vs. The Don Callis Family’s Konosuke Takeshita!
Jericho sent Takeshita over the top rope with a lariat. Hobbs and Callis approached Takeshita and Callis slapped Takeshita in the face, showing him some tough love. Takeshita whipped Jericho into the barricade. Takeshita nailed Jericho with a brain buster on the arena floor!
Takeshita splashed Jericho with a senton in the ring. “The Alpha” hit the Takeshita Line on Jericho. Hobbs swiped at Jericho’s leg and Takeshita struck Jericho from behind. Sammy Guevara clocked Hobbs with a steel chair from out of nowhere!
Hobbs grabbed the chair from Sammy and threw it down. Sammy used his quickness and jumped off the ring steps and delivered a cutter to Hobbs! Sammy struck Hobbs with the steel chair again. Inside the ring, Jericho dodged a jumping knee strike from Takeshita. Jericho dropkicked Takeshita from the turnbuckles. Jericho jumped off the turnbuckles and crash landed on Takeshita outside the ring.
Takeshita flattened Jericho with a fireman’s carry. Takeshita ran and flipped over the top rope and wiped out Jericho outside the ring! Jericho countered Takeshita’s senton by raising his knees. Jericho went for a lionsault, but Takeshita likewise got the knees up to counter it!
Takeshita flung Jericho backwards with a wheelbarrow suplex. Jericho countered the Takeshita Line with the Code Breaker for a near fall! Jericho went for the lionsault, but Takeshita grabbed him and spiked Jericho with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Jericho kicked out at the two-count. Jericho positioned himself on the top turnbuckle and was punching down on Takeshita. Takeshita slipped under and pulled Jericho’s face into the turnbuckle! Takeshita rocked Jericho with an avalanche blue thunder bomb! Jericho kicked out just in time!
Takeshita connected with the power drive knee. Jericho countered a second knee strike attempt with the Walls of Jericho! Don Callis threw a steel chair into the ring, but the ref saw it and grabbed it. As the ref had his back turned, throwing the chair out of the ring, Don Callis jumped on the apron and blasted Jericho in the head with a screwdriver! Takeshita applied the lion tamer on Jericho, but Jericho refused to give up! Jericho tried to reach the ropes, but Takeshita pulled Jericho to the center of the ring and finally Jericho was forced to tap!
“I have never seen anyone beat Chris Jericho with the Lion Tamer!” said Excalibur.
“Me neither! That was so impressive,” replied Taz.
Main Event Time! AEW World Tag Team Championship Tornado Match!
“Absolute” Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c.) vs. Darby Allin & Sting!
Big Bill whipped Darby into the barricade right in front of Sting’s family. Sting brawled with Starks through the crowd. Sting slammed a trash can onto Starks’ back. Darby lured Big Bill and Starks closer to him…and Sting jumped off a balcony and wiped out the tag champs beneath him!
“I can’t believe what we just saw,” said Excalibur.
Sting splashed Big Bill against the barricade! Big Bill fired back with a clubbing strike. Darby rocketed out of the ring like a missile, but Big Bill caught him and planted him with the Bossman Slam!
Big Bill bounced Darby’s head against the mat! Big Bill hurled Darby overhead and behind him! Big Bill pulled out a table from beneath the ring. Starks told Big Bill to press slam Darby. Big Bill lifted Darby up, but Sting charged in, knocking Starks and sending him colliding into Big Bill.
Sting took on Big Bill and Starks, dishing out big right hands to the champs! Starks grabbed Sting from behind and spiked him with the Scorpion Death Drop! Starks covered Sting but Darby broke up the pin!
“Great save by Darby Allin,” said Taz.
Darby nailed Big Bill with a Coffin Splash in the corner. Sting followed up with the Stinger Splash! Darby decimated Big Bill with a Code Red! Darby hit the Coffin Drop on Big Bill outside the ring! Starks tried for a dropkick on Sting, but Sting stopped in his tracks, avoiding it. Sting applied the Scorpion Death Lock on Starks! Big Bill, with Darby Allin on his back, climbed onto the apron, attempting to break up Sting’s finisher. Darby turned around, gouged Big Bill’s eyes, and forced Big Bill to fall off the apron and through the table!
“Big Bill was driven through the table by Darby,” said Excalibur.
Starks crawled and grabbed the ropes, but there are no rope breaks in a Tornado Match! Starks was able to pull his body far enough under the ropes that Sting lost his grip. Sting went for the Stinger Splash, but Starks moved, ripping the buckle pad out of the way! Sting collided with the exposed turnbuckle! Starks speared Sting but Sting managed to kick out at the two-count!
Starks went for another spear, but Sting caught Starks! Sting drilled Starks with a Scorpion Death Drop and pinned Starks!
And new AEW World Tag Team Champions…Darby Allin and Sting!
“History has been made!” said Tony Schiavone.
Sting’s sons got into the ring to congratulate their father!
“He’s got gold again!” said Tony Schiavone.
The Young Bucks—Mattew and Nicholas Jackson, ambushed Sting and Darby Allin with white baseball bats! They assaulted Sting’s sons next!
“They stole the spotlight from the new Tag Team champions and are putting the beating on them,” said Taz.
The Bucks smashed a busted open Darby with the BTE Trigger!
“Tony, Matthew called me into their office earlier today and said it is now called the EVP Trigger,” said Excalibur.
Matthew held Sting back while Nicholas hit Sting with the bat! Nicholas punted Sting in the head! The Young Bucks grabbed the belts and tossed them on top of Darby and Sting.
“The Young Bucks, like it or not, made a heavy statement right now,” said Taz.
“This is beyond the pale. Nicholas and Matthew Jackson will never recover from what went down tonight. Their reputation is destroyed,” said Excalibur.
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 Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV featuring:
-AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy vs. Tomohiro Ishii!
-We’ll hear from the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
-BCC’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. CMLL’s Esfinge & Star Jr.!
& Much, much more!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX!
Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
Keith and Kingston traded shots, with Eddie rocking Keith with knees to the face. Both tried for suplexes but neither man budged. Kevin Kelly informed us that Bryan Keith just returned from a tour in Japan.
Keith stunned Kingston with a mule kick. Kingston was clutching his jaw. Outside the ring, Keith whipped Kingston into the barricade, with Kingston’s right arm and shoulder taking the brunt of it.
“Bryan Keith is starting to show he’s got the goods,” said Kevin.
“Giving Eddie one hell of a fight,” replied Schiavone.
Keith headbutted Kingston, knocking Kingston off the turnbuckles and sending Kingston tumbling to the arena floor. Kingston got back up on the apron, but Keith connected with a pump kick. Keith followed up with a cannonball senton.
Kingston fired back with an exploder suplex. Keith hit one of his own and then rocked Kingston with a Liger Bomb for a near fall.
“Eddie Kingston is in trouble. You can see it on his face,” said Schiavone.
Eddie blasted Keith with a backfist and then a suplex for a two-count. Kingston blistered Keith’s chest with rapid fire chops. Eddie applied a sleeper and then spiked Keith with a DDT for a near fall. Eddie smashed Keith with the spinning back fist and pinned Bryan Keith!
Tony Schiavone entered the ring to interview Kingston.
Kingston: “Go talk to Bounty Hunter, not me.”
Tony Schiavone: “Starting tonight Bryan Keith is All Elite!”
Kingston hugged Keith.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson’s music hit! Danielson made his way to the ring, and Nigel said Danielson was trying to steal Keith’s thunder. Kevin Kelly said Danielson was trying to provoke Kingston. Danielson held up Bryan Keith’s arm, congratulating him on joining the AEW roster.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. CMLL’s Hechicero!
“Hechicero is the greatest technical wrestler to come out of Mexico in the last 20 years,” said Nigel.
Hechicero grappled Danielson to the mat. Both men were looking for leg locks. Danielson put Hechicero in a surfboard submission, but Hechicero escaped. Hechicero rolled Bryan around in a surfboard, but Danielson got to the ropes to force the ref to break the hold.
“Danielson looks frustrated,” said Kevin Kelly.
Danielson swatted Hechicero in the thigh with a leg kick. Danielson was stunned by a guillotine leg drop. Hechicero caught Danielson in a rear naked choke, but Danielson grabbed the bottom rope. Hechicero chopped at Danielson’s chest. Hechicero was one step ahead and cracked Danielson with a jumping knee strike in the corner.
“Put this dragon to sleep!” said Nigel.
Danielson knocked Hechicero off the top rope with a headbutt. Danielson went for a diving headbutt, but Hechicero countered, tying up Danielson in a pretzel and cradling Danielson for a near fall.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Hechicero jumped over the top rope with a tope, crashing onto Danielson on the arena floor! Back in the ring, Bryan hit a double underhook suplex. Danielson applied the LeBell Lock. Hechicero escaped and locked up Danielson, but Danielson inched his way to the ropes.
Danielson found his mark with round kicks to Hechicero’s chest. Hechicero picked up Bryan with a spinning hammerlock into a back breaker! Danielson took down Hechicero with a dragon screw leg whip. Hechicero cradled Danielson but Danielson reversed it and pinned Hechicero!
Hechicero attacked Danielson after the match! BCC’s Claudio Castagnoli sprinted to the ring and forced Hechicero to retreat!
FTW Champion HOOK vs. The Outrunners—Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum!
Hook used a judo throw but was poked in the eyes when the ref was distracted. The Outrunners double teamed Hook. Hook double clotheslined them and sent them flying with overhead suplexes. Hook applied the Redrum to Truth and forced him to tap right out!
“It takes a lot of guts to fight two men,” said Nigel.
Tony Schiavone interviewed Mark Briscoe!
Mark: “I told FTR I’d be there for them last week. I came out to the aid of my blood brothers FTR and my good friend Danny Garcia. That’s what we do. I wasn’t five feet onto that stage when the House of Black threw me off like a sack of taters. But fast forward and it was FTR, Garcia and Briscoe with their hands held high. You knock us down and we get back up.
“After 20 years of being one half of the baddest tag team on the planet, now all of a sudden, I’m flying solo. Everything didn’t go my way, but that’s alright. You shoot me, you’d better kill me. We fight until we can’t fight no more!”
The arena lights went dark!
The House of Black appeared on the giant screen!
Malakai Black: “Well Mark, that’s beautiful. That’s really touching. You like magic tricks? I love magic tricks. I specifically like the one where the magician makes people disappear. Because that is what we intend to do to you and everything you just spoke about. We are going to eradicate you from the history of professional wrestling, and it’ll happen just like this.”
Malakai Black snapped his fingers and the House of Black disappeared from the screen. The lights in the arena turned back on and Mark Briscoe was alone in the ring.
Malakai Black: “See, it’s that easy.”
“Mind games from the House of Black,” said Nigel.
Queen Aminata vs. “The Professor” Serena Deeb!
Deeb grappled Aminata to the mat, showing off why she is a technical tyrant. Deeb applied a half crab, but Queen Aminata reached the ropes. Queen hit a snap suplex on Serena Deeb. Serena Deeb used a guillotine neck breaker. Deeb disoriented Aminata and brought her down with a back slide. Aminata cracked Deeb with a head butt and then a hip attack.
Deeb dodged a running knee strike from Queen Aminata. Deeb wrapped Aminata’s legs around the ring post and applied the figure four. Deeb applied the Serenity Lock and Aminata tapped out!
Out next: The #1 Contender for the AEW World Championship—Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana!
Swerve: “Hey Tony Schiavone, you know it’s Black History Month, right? I’m noble enough to show appreciation to all the people who paved the way for me to talk to you tonight. People like Ron Simmons. Kofi Kingston. How about Athena, what up sis? And very soon we’re going to add another name to that list. Who’s house? This Wednesday I’ve got an opportunity to become AEW World Champion.
“Now about Hangman Page, this is a man that’s in my way of my quest of becoming great. He has left scars on my body. He has shed my blood. This is a man I’ve beaten twice now. You know what they say, third time is a charge. But when I put him behind him, I become black history, and then I move on to Samoa Joe and I become AEW World Champion.
“Nana, you understand Mogul Embassy is family and it is business? Trust me, I want you there right by my side. No interferences. Because there’s going to be no more excuses. Is that right, Hangman Page? I’ll see you Wednesday. Who’s house?”
Red Velvet vs. Vertvixen!
Red Velvet took down Vertvixen with a leg lariat. Red Velvet planted Vertvixen with a bulldog. She blasted Vertvixen with body shots. Red Velvet smashed Vertvixen with a running knee strike, and then after stirring it up, she pinned Vertvixen.
Trios Match!
The Patriarchy—TNT Champion Christian Cage, Killswitch, & Nick Wayne
vs.
Daniel Garcia & FTR—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood!
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined commentary for this match.
Dax cracked Nick Wayne with a stiff chop. Christian Cage tagged in, but Dax grabbed an inside cradle for a near fall. Nick Wayne tagged back in and slapped Dax in the face! Garcia wanted in so Dax tagged him.
Garcia hit Wayne with two shoulder tackles. Nick Wayne slapped Garcia in the face and taunted him by dancing. Nick Wayne charged at Garcia, but Garcia chucked Wayne over the top rope. Christian Cage entered the fray again and took some of the steam out of Garcia’s momentum. Christian Cage worked over Garcia in the corner. Garcia fought out of the corner and went for a sunset flip. Christian escaped and went for a diving headbutt, but Garcia rolled out of the way.
Cash Wheeler tagged in and cleaned house on the Patriarchy. FTR knocked down Killswitch with the high-low, but Killswitch wasn’t the legal man. Nick Wayne climbed to the top rope, but Dax met him up there. Dax superplexed Nick Wayne!
Killswitch came in and back body dropped Dax. Killswitch choke slammed Dax after interference from Christian Cage. Chrisitan went for the killswitch, but he and Dax collided heads, both men falling to the mat. Christian tagged out to Nick Wayne, and Daniel Garcia tagged in.
Garcia tossed Wayne with a suplex. Garcia stomped Wayne in the corner and then pummeled him with strikes. Garcia opened up the ropes so Cash could fly out with a tope suicida on Killswitch! Garcia rocked Nick Wayne with a brain buster for a near fall!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Nick Wayne hit a fisherman’s suplex for a two-count on Garcia. Daniel Garcia answered with a big swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Garcia climbed to the top, but Christian knocked him down, right into a Wayne’s World!
Cash jumped in and powerslammed Nick Wayne! Killswitch was there to choke slam Cash! Garcia rammed Killswitch into the steel ring post. Garcia turned around and was flattened by a spear from TNT champ Christian Cage! Dax got back in the ring and applied the sharpshooter on Christian. Nick Wayne jumped off the turnbuckles and drilled Dax with the Wayne’s World cutter.
“Party time for the Patriarchy,” said Nigel.
Nick Wayne attempted to go for the spear, like father like son, but Garcia countered it with a jackknife pin and scored the victory!
“That’s two weeks in a row,” said Daddy Magic.
Garcia started at Christian Cage, who was standing outside the ring. Garcia taunted Christian Cage by doing his dance. Christian Cage eyed Daniel Garcia with a sour look on his face.
“I think it’s a look of concern from Christian Cage. Daniel Garcia may have staked a claim for a title shot at Christian Cage,” said Tony Schiavone.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ featuring:
-Trios Match: The Stars of CMLL vs. Blackpool Combat Club!
-AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c.) vs. Red Velvet!
-Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita!
-AEW World Tag Championship Tornado Match: Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c.) vs. Sting & Darby Allin!
-Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page: Winner Gets a Shot at the AEW World Championship at Revolution!
RAMPAGE was wild night, especially with that main event win from the CMLL contingent, and All Elite Wrestling keeps the action going this Saturday night on COLLISION! Emanating from the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, TX, COLLISION will feature Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston battling a man who has made quite an impact on AEW and ROH over the last two months, “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith! And speaking of that CMLL contingent, ahead of their trios match on DYNAMITE, Hechicero will be in action against Blackpool Combat Club representative “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson, plus Serena Deeb takes on Queen Aminata, The Patriarchy battles FTR & Daniel Garcia, and more!!!
The night gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and the AEW faithful can get prepared for the action-packed evening by visiting the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s other social media platforms, for highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
A TECHNICIAN’S DREAM…
“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Hechicero
He is in the top three for longest reigning NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Champions, reigned as CMLL World Heavyweight Champions for 409 days, and spent 245 days atop the CMLL Trios division alongside Los Infernales partners Eufora and Mephisto. He is Hechicero, and for twenty three years he has been competing inside the squared circle, primarily in Mexico, but he has competed in the United States for PWG, was part of the original ROH World Six-Man Championship tournament in 2016, and has stepped into the rings of New Japan Pro Wrestling during his career as well. He is known as “The Mad Scientist of CMLL”, “The Alchemist of the Ring”, and “The Man who was born to Wrestle”, and in facing Hechicero, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson is going to have his work cut out for him!
Stylistically, this is a sublime pairing, pitting two of the greatest technical wizards of the day against one another, but so too are both men capable of throwing down in a fight when the situation calls, the brazen assault Jon Moxley is proof enough of that.
The world knows Bryan Danielson is winding down his in-ring career, declaring 2024 to be his last full-time year of competition, but we also know he isn’t going out with a whimper. For Bryan this last year is a search for the best fights, the toughest competition, and opponents he never had the opportunity to fight over the years, perhaps even that personal dream match he has with CMLL’s Blue Panther. This battle with Hechicero qualifies as all of the above, with fans getting a glimpse at what he brings to the table just last night on RAMPAGE, and no doubt Danielson was paying close attention to that because, regardless of who wins here, The Blackpool Combat Club has a date with the CMLL contingent this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith
Ever since ROH’s FINAL BATTLE 2023 event, “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith has been building his reputation with the AEW faithful, as well as within the locker room. Orange Cassidy gave him an opportunity to fight for the International Championship on COLLISION: WINTER IS COMING 2023 based on his Survival of the Fittest 2023 performance, Keith competed in a Four Way for a shot at the Continental Crown on the first DYNAMITE of 2024, and less than a week ago, returned from his first trip to Japan where he fought for DDT Pro Wrestling, getting the opportunity to compete in historic Korauken Hall!
After eleven years busting his tail competing everywhere he could, it seems “The Bounty Hunter” is finally getting the eyes of the wrestling world upon him thanks to hard work, grit, and determination, and that is something the Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston can appreciate. That is why this Saturday night on COLLISION, though the championships are not at stake, “The Mad King” will step into the ring with the Bryan Keith for their first-ever meeting, and test the mettle of “The Bounty Hunter”! Should Bryan Keith defeat the Continental Crown Champion, it will no doubt boost his profile and the look he gets when it comes time for the next set of rankings to be reviewed.
Can Bryan Keith knock the crown off Kingston’s head this Saturday night? Or will Eddie notch his eight consecutive singles victory on COLLISION?
It was a long, hard road back to the ring for “The Professor of Professional Wrestling” but Serena Deeb managed to overcome every bit of adversity thrown her way outside of the ring, so she could step back into the squared circle, and get back to showing the world why she is unquestionably one of the greatest competitors to ever lace up the proverbial boots. Robyn Renegade experienced it last Saturday night, and this week on COLLISION it will be the red-hot Queen Aminata who tests herself against the purveyor of Deeb’s Dojo!
Aminata had an excellent effort against Willow Nightingale on RAMPAGE last night, albeit a losing one, but today is another day and this is another fight, another chance to prove she deserves to dance with the best in the business, to be labeled as an Elite right alongside her contemporaries. Deeb is going to be tested by this fight, she’s going to get hit and get hit hard at that, just look at Aminata’s fights with Thunder, Willow, Shida, and others to see her willingness to throw hands. Will this be Queen Aminata’s night to finally score that big victory, the one that breaks her through to the next level? She was so close on Friday, can this fight be the one that makes her?
TRIOS MATCH…
The Patriarchy (TNT Champion Christian Cage, Killswitch, & Nick Wayne) vs.
Daniel Garcia and FTR cannot possibly be feeling 100%, and we are not talking the general sub-100 that comes from being a professional fighter, we are talking the kind of pain that comes from taking part in a brutal Steel Cage Match against three of the nastiest fighters in All Elite Wrestling. We are talking the pain of being assaulted before the match even starts, and then pushing yourself through that feeling to get back in the fight alongside your friends. That’s what Daniel Garcia had to do last Saturday night when he was left laying backstage prior to the Cage Match, making his status for the fight questionable, but yet he pushed through it, and when they ended up the last two men in the cage, he went toe-to-toe with Malakai Black, and won the match for his trio!
Despite that, despite the aching Garcia, Cash Wheeler, and Dax Harwood have to be feeling deep into their bones, they are stepping back into the fight, and it is with good reason. When the rankings were released on January 31st, FTR and Garcia discovered they were the fourth ranked unit in the Trios Division, meaning a championship opportunity could be within their reach after a few more victories! So back to the grind they go, right back into the fray, and they are doing so against a trio that, while loaded with talent, has only fought together on one other occasion: The Patriarchy of TNT Champion Christian Cage, Nick Wayne, and Killswitch.
We know Adam Copeland is gunning for another shot at Cage, and the TNT Championship, but he’s willing to put in the work with these Cope Open Challenges to get there, but Christian Cage has other business to focus on, business such as building his Patriarchy up into viable trios contenders, and avoiding another fight with his former best friend at all costs. With Nick Wayne and Killswitch at his side, and Mother Wayne ringside, Christian Cage’s “family” is a very dangerous unit, and considering what Garcia and FTR went through in the steel cage, The Patriarchy may find themselves an easier fight than had this gone down two weeks ago. That’s not to say it will be easy, not by any means where these three are concerned, just that FTR & Garcia battered and bruised, potentially making them a little easier for The Patriarchy to take advantage of come COLLISION!
This Saturday night, All Elite Wrestling brings the action to the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, TX with an all-new COLLISION featuring Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston fighting “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith,The BCC’s own Bryan Danielson taking on CMLL representative Hechicero ahead of their Trios clash on DYNAMITE, The Patriarchy battling Daniel Garcia & FTR, and Serena Deeb taking on Queen Aminata!
The night gets underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT, and the AEW faithful can get prepared for the action-packed evening by visiting the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s other social media platforms, for highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA!
Your broadcast team was Excalibur and Tony Schiavone.
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
This…is…Rampage!
Top Flight—Dante & Darius Martin (with Action Andretti)
vs.
Private Party—Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen!
“Both teams have an abundance of confidence and think they’re the best. You know what? Why not think it,” said Tony Schiavone.
Top Flight used tandem offense on Marq Quen. They isolated Quen in their corner. Darius swept out Quen’s leg and Dante hit Quen with a DDT, demonstrating beautiful combo offense. Quen pulled a dropkick out of midair and then tagged in Isiah.
Isiah rocked Darius with a stunner. Quen came in and drove Darius face first with a stomp. Quen rolled up Darius, holding the ropes, but Andretti caught him red handed and alerted the referee. Darius rocked Zay with a Pele kick and then tagged out to Dante.
Dante connected with a big cross body press on Zay for a near fall. Zay fought his way out of Top Flight’s technical prowess and planted Dante with the Silly String! Quen connected with a shooting star press on Dante, but Darius jumped in to break up the pin attempt. Dante stunned Quen with a thrust kick and then spiked him down on the mat, scoring the pin!
“I would love to see a rubber match between these two teams,” said Excalibur.
Top Flight extended their hands as a sign of good sportsmanship, but Private Party didn’t want any part of it.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Sammy Guevara!
Sammy: “Losing always sucks, but this loss against the tag champs in that Street Fight with Jericho feels different. We were this close to finally becoming the AEW World Tag Team champions, titles we’ve been chasing since 2019. Maybe this loss stings a little bit more because it’s not just about me anymore. I have a little girl at home that depends on me to go to work to provide a better future for her.
“So those championships don’t just represent the best, they represent a better life. And Will Hobbs and the Don Callis Family took that away from me! My wife! My family! So now this is personal. I’m medically cleared now, but I’m not going to wait for a match. Will Hobbs, I hope you’re watching. You don’t know where, you don’t know when, but I’m coming for you.”
Sonjay Dutt was backstage with Jeff and Karen Jarrett, and Satnam Singh!
Sonjay: “Jay is late as always. Jeff, you think he wants us to really work out?”
Jeff: “Sonjay, I’m a two-time hall of famer. I damn sure ain’t getting in the ring today.”
Jay Lethal walked into the room.
Lethal: “All right, I made it. I’ve got some great drills I want to go over in the ring. Hey, why are you still in your suit, Sonjay?”
Sonjay: “I’m not working out, but Karen has her workout clothes on.”
Karen: “I’m not working out, but I narrowed down the team names and I put up a photoshoot for next week.”
Lethal: “Fine. Satnam, are we working out or not?”
Satnam: “Jay, I’m undefeated. You need to work out. You lost all your matches.”
Lethal: “Fine, no practice today.”
Jeff: “Jay, that’s the problem! I’m sick of it. You’re the problem of the team, and your problem is you’re too damn nice. What brought us together is that we were both ruthless SOBs. That’s what we gotta get back to. I’m running the meeting next week. I’ll tell you boys where and when.”
AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match!
“Absolute” Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c.)
vs.
The Dark Order—Alex Reynolds & John Silver!
Darby Allin joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Silver and Reynolds got the jump on Starks and Bill. Evil Uno grabbed Big Bill’s leg from outside the ring. Silver power bombed Starks onto Reynolds’ knees for a near fall. Big Bill tagged in and bulldozed the Dark Order with a double clothesline.
Big Bill pummeled Reynolds with stiff shots. Evil Uno distracted Big Bill. Reynolds pushed Bill to the outside and followed up with a tope suicida, but Big Bill intercepted him. Silver rammed into Bill with a cannonball senton.
Back in the ring, Big Bill spiked Reynolds with the Bossman slam. Starks grabbed a tag and clubbed Reynolds with forearms and then body slammed him. Ricky splashed Reynolds in the corner with a flying elbow. Starks was looking for a spear, but Evil Uno tripped him up. Starks got out of the ring and speared Evil Uno on the arena floor!
Silver peppered Starks with kicks. Starks rallied back with the roshambo and pinned Silver! Darby stared at Starks from the broadcast booth. Big Bill screamed at Darby, taunting him ahead of their match this Wednesday on Dynamite.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Powerhouse Hobbs and Don Callis!
Don Callis: “I feel sick to my stomach because I’m tired of hearing about Sammy’s family. Congratulations. You’re medically cleared, but you’re obviously not mentally cleared. Because if you were, you’d know that you’re not hunting Will Hobbs, Will Hobbs is hunting you.”
Powerhouse Hobbs: “You see, Sammy, I know exactly what I took away from you and Chris Jericho. But what you don’t realize is I always have a family. I have three mouths at home that depend on their daddy. You think this is the first time in my life that someone tried to hunt me? Check my track record, dawg, you’d just better hope I don’t see you first.”
Willow flattened out Queen Aminata with a big shoulder tackle. Aminata cradled Willow but Willow kicked out at one. Willow scoop slammed Aminata. Willow dropkicked Aminata from the turnbuckles.
Queen Aminata swept out the legs of Willow as Willow was looking for a senton from the apron. Aminata headbutted Willow and followed up with a German Suplex. Aminata went for a hip attack, but Willow dodged it. Willow cannonballed Aminata and drilled her with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Willow hit the doctor bomb and pinned Queen Aminata!
Renee Paquette was backstage with The Best Friends—AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero, & Chuck Taylor!
Orange: “I knew if I asked for this time that Roddy and his friends would come in and interrupt us. So, they’re probably going to do that in 3…2…1.”
Trent: “What if they don’t show up?”
Orange: “I didn’t think of that.”
Roderick Strong: “Orange!”
Roderick Strong interrupted the interview, and he had Adam Cole and the Undisputed Kingdom in tow.
Orange: “Roddy, I was looking for you because everyone knows you and I are going to fight each other March 3rd at Revolution for my International Championship. But you and your friends keep doing things that are making my friends really angry. So why don’t all of you guys get with all of us and then we fight each other?”
Adam Cole: “That’s a great idea. I’d recommend a four on four but ol’ Chuckie T is too injured to compete! So instead, I’m going to recommend a three on three. I’m talking about my best bud Roderick Strong, and Mike Bennett and Matt Taven against you Rocky Romero, you Trent, and you Orange.”
Roddy: “I love that idea. And how about we do it on Rampage next week?”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Stokely Hathaway!
They were interrupted by Saraya, Harley Cameron, and Ruby Soho.
Stokely: “Hey, last time I checked this was Rampage, not Dawson’s Creek.”
Saraya: “I don’t know what that means.”
Willow: “This was my time.”
Stokely: “Listen, if anyone is going to make fun of Willow, it’s going to be me.”
Willow: “Really, you mean that? Listen, Ruby, you’re insulting us, you’re taking up our time. If that’s what you want to do, we can settle this in the ring. Next week! So, we’ll see you there!”
Main Event Time! CMLL’s Hechicero, Mascara Dorada, Mistico, & Volador Jr.
vs.
“Cool Hand” Angelo Parker, “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard, “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, & Matt Sydal!
Sydal and Dorada began for their respective teams. Sydal took him down with a hurracanrana. Volador tagged in, but Matt Menard whipped him into the ropes. Volador connected with a thrust kick.
Mistico and Daniels entered the ring. Mistico nailed Daniels with a big handspring elbow. Mistico kicked Daniels in the corner. Hechicero dropkicked Daniels. Volador planted Daniels with a lung blower. Dorada hit a running shooting star press on Daniels.
Daniels planted Dorada with a heel trip and tagged out to Parker. Menard, Parker, and Sydal triple teamed Dorada with a flurry of offense. Sydal punished Dorada with a bow and arrow submission hold.
Hechicero grabbed a tag and dropped Daniels with a running lariat. Hechicero locked on a sleeper on Daniels in the ropes. Hechicero blasted Daniels with a springboard forearm. Daniels retaliated with a flatliner. Things broke down as both teams entered and began to brawl! Volador took out Parker with a tope! Mistico jumped from the top and crashed onto Daddy Magic! Dorado wiped out Sydal with a tornillo into an arm drag. Dorado dived over the top and wiped out the pile!
Back in the ring, Daniels was looking for the Angel’s Wings on Hechicero, but Hechicero countered with a back drop. Hechicero followed up with a rising knee strike in the corner. Herchicero cradled Daniels and pinned him!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, TX featuring:
-Queen Aminata vs. Serena Deeb!
-Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
-Trios Match: TNT Champ Christian Cage & The Patriarchy vs. FTR & Daniel Garcia!
– “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Hechicero!
-And so much more!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ featuring:
-Trios Match: The Stars of CMLL vs. Blackpool Combat Club!
-AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c.) vs. Red Velvet!
-Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita!
-AEW World Tag Championship Tornado Match: Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c.) vs. Sting & Darby Allin!
-Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page: Winner Gets a Shot at the AEW World Championship at Revolution!
This Friday’s edition of RAMPAGE comes to you from New Orleans and the UNO Lakefront Arena, beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, and includes some monumental match-ups! In your main event, the quartet from CMLL will take on the four men who assisted Jon Moxley on Wednesday night, and Willow Nightingale will throwdown with Queen Aminata! Plus, we will hear from AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy and The Best Friends, witness a rematch between Private Party and Top Flight, and see AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks take on The Dark Order in an Eliminator match!
Before the show begins, drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, to catch up on highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER!
CMLL VS. AEW…
Hechicero, Mascara Dorada, Mistico, & Volador Jr. vs. Angelo Parker, Christopher Daniels, Matt Menard, & Matt Sydal
When the announcement was made that four competitors from the CMLL promotion in Mexico would be appearing for All Elite Wrestling, the excitement level was through the roof. Mistico stoked those fires back in October with this 2/3 Falls bout against Rocky Romero, and the additions of Hechicero, Mascara Dorada, and Volador Jr, only amplified AEW fans’ desire to see their brand of professional wrestling injected into All Elite Wrestling.
Well on Wednesday night those four men certainly injected their presence right into the top of AEW by assaulting Jon Moxley following his victory over Jeff Hardy! Without the rest of The Blackpool Combat Club in the house, one would’ve thought Mox was a man on an island, but perhaps due to the amount of respect he’s built over the years, a most unlikely assortment of men from the AEW locker room hit the ring to stand by his side. Christopher Daniels, Matt Sydal, Angelo Parker, and Matt Menard all stepped up in defense of Moxley, as well as AEW, in the face of this assault by the CMLL quartet!
Well this Friday night, in the main event of RAMPAGE, those four AEW stalwarts will have another opportunity to stand tall for the land they love when they fight all four Luchadors in an eight-man tag! This comes less than twenty-four hours before Hechicero battles Bryan Danielson on COLLISION, and is sure to be a wild ride for the fans experiencing it in-person, as well as those watching on TNT! What will this CMLL contingent bring to the table, and will the AEW quartet be prepared?
ELIMINATOR MATCH…
AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver)
Big Bill and Ricky Starks have a major challenge on their plate next Wednesday night when AEW returns to Phoenix and the Footprint Center for DYNAMITE. It’s not just that they’ll be defending their AEW World Tag Team Championship, it’s that they will be defending them against the unbeaten tandem of Darby Allin and Sting! There’s an irony in the fact that Sting and Darby began their alliance fighting Ricky Starks, and that they could win their first championship together by beating him as well, but that’s something “Absolute” will have to put out of his mind for the time being as this Friday on RAMPAGE, they’ve got potential challengers gunning for them!
The Dark Order of Alex Reynolds and John Silver have been on a bit of a tag team roll lately; they’ve won six straight tag team bouts dating back to November 1st, are 3-0 in 2024, and that record has landed them the number two position in the Tag Team rankings released Wednesday night! In addition, it has earned Silver and Reynolds this Eliminator contest where they could potentially score a championship match with Big Bill and Ricky Starks! The Dark Order has strong momentum heading into this one, but so do the champions, the only difference is Alex and John have nothing else to focus on while Bill and Ricky have Sting and Darby looking over their shoulders and lingering on their brain!
Can that be the key to The Dark Order earning themselves their first AEW Tag Team Championship match in over two years?
ONE-ON-ONE…
Willow Nightingale vs. Queen Aminata
It’s been over two years since these two women last met inside the squared circle, but this Friday night on RAMPAGE, Willow Nightingale and Queen Aminata will lock-up in the first AEW meeting! On September 11, 2021 it was Willow who walked out of the match with the victory, but with how both have grown as competitors in the time since, it’s going to be very intriguing to see how this one plays out. Queen Aminata, though failing to score any victories, has impressed fans and pundits alike with her fights against Thunder Rosa, Mariah May, Hikaru Shida, and Kris Statlander over recent weeks, proving herself to be on the cusp of breaking through to that next level. She hits hard, and she can take the return fire, and that alone will take her right to the brink, but to truly become next level, Aminata has to start picking up the wins.
Now with all the drama going on between Kris Statlander, Willow, and Stokely Hathaway (or should that be drama created by Stokely), this may be the most opportune time to score a marquee victory for Queen Aminata. If Willow is distracted by that business, especially with both Stat and Stoke coming ringside with her, then Aminata will certainly score her first major victory in All Elite Wrestling.
TAG TEAM GRUDGE MATCH…
Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen)
Several weeks ago, when DYNAMITE swung through North Charleston, SC, Private Party scored a huge tag team victory over Top Flight in the former’s first match since December 2, 2022. It was a tremendous fight, one that showcased the skills of both young teams, and Private Party looked exceptional despite Marq Quen’s long road to recovery stalling their tag team momentum. Unfortunately, after being unable to put down the Martin brothers for a three count, Marq resorted to a rope-assisted pinfall in order to get the victory, somewhat dampening the overall feel of the contest, and what should’ve been a comeback to celebrate.
That’s not wholely accurate, Private Party has certainly been celebrating the victory like it was perfectly legit, like Marq didn’t mean to hook the ropes for leverage, and he and Isiah are certainly walking around like they proved themselves the better team. Well this Friday night on RAMPAGE, Private Party will have a chance to show once and for all who is the best between these two young teams because Top Flight is getting their rematch! Not only that, but this time Action Andretti has promised to be at ringside to make sure there are no more shenanigans from Isiah or Marq that cost Top Flight the bout!
On Wednesday night we saw The Undisputed Kingdom’s Wardlow decimate Komander, the latest ally of AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy to be targeted by The UK, and as if that wasn’t enough, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett were primed to continue assaulting the man after the bout. Thankfully Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta, and Orange Cassidy were on-the-spot to prevent any further damage from being inflicted on Komander, but rather than fight with them, The Undisputed Kingdom elected to leave the ring.
OC knows that Roderick Strong is trying to drag their potential fight out to REVOLUTION 2024, likely to see “Freshly Squeezed” get worn out the way he was before Jon Moxley ended the last International Championship reign, but Cassidy has made it clear he’s got no intention of stopping his way of doing business. That being said, this Friday night on RAMPAGE, we will hear from Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, and Trent Beretta about this situation!
The UNO Lakefront Arena in The Big Easy is where the fights go down this Friday night on RAMPAGE, and it gets underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans! We will hear from AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy and The Best Friends, as well as witness four of CMLL’s best take on four of AEW’s best, Willow and Queen Aminata go head-to-head, and The Dark Order attempt to earn a shot at the AEW World Tag Titles in an Eliminator fight with the champs! To top it all off, two of AEW’s most impressive young teams will dance again when Top Flight goes a second round with Private Party!
Before the night gets underway, be sure to drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s other social media platforms, to catch up on highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, plus the latest CONTROL CENTER!
Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels Talks NXT Vengeance Day 2024-The 2024 NXT Vengeance Day is the upcoming 12th Vengeance professional wrestling event produced by WWE, and the fourth annual held for the…
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA!
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!
Jeff Hardy vs. Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley!
CMLL’s Mistico, Hechicero, Mascara Dorada 2.0, and Volador Jr. were watching from ringside.
Moxley backed Hardy into the corner and pounded him with strikes. Hardy jumped off the apron and landed on Moxley. Hardy choked Moxley with Hardy’s towel. Excalibur notified us that the rules would be relaxed for this match.
Moxley drove Hardy down with a tope suicida! Moxley dumped Hardy onto the guardrail and then knocked Hardy down with a clothesline. Moxley stomped on Hardy’s hand. Moxley walloped Hardy in the chest with round kicks. Jeff Hardy back dropped Moxley.
Jon Moxley whipped Hardy hard into the turnbuckles. He followed up by catapulting Jeff’s throat into the bottom rope. Moxley hurled Hardy into the barricade right in front of the luchadores. Hardy reversed another throw, this time whipping Moxley into, and over, the barricade. The luchadores shoved Moxley, and Mox flipped them off.
Jeff Hardy threw a steel chair into Moxley’s face. Hardy jumped off the steel ring steps but Moxley anticipated it and slugged Hardy in the face. Moxley took Excalibur’s pen, put it threw Jeff’s earlobe, and then twisted it. Hardy had enough and hit Moxley with a dropkick.
Hardy connected with the Manhattan Drop. Moxley retaliated, spiking Hardy with a piledriver for a near fall. Hardy nailed Mox with a Twist of Fate on the apron. Hardy climbed to the top and flipped onto Moxley for a two-count. Hardy climbed up again, but Moxley met him up there, raking Hardy’s back. Moxley superplexed Hardy.
Hardy and Moxley traded strikes in the center of the ring. Moxley escaped a Twist of Fate and countered with a cutter. Hardy escaped the Paradigm Shift and countered with a Russian Leg Sweep. Hardy hit Mox with a stunner and then a Twist of Fate! Jeff climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for the Swanton, but Mox moved out of the way. Jeff crashed and burned. Moxley applied a choke hold and put Jeff Hardy to sleep! Mox won via ref stoppage!
Moxley offered his hand to Jeff Hardy, but Jeff Hardy flipped off Moxley.
“I did not expect that out of Jeff Hardy,” said Taz.
The CMLL wrestlers jumped the barricade and got into the ring! Moxley tried to fend them off, but the odds were too great. The BCC weren’t in the building tonight, so this was a 4-on-1 beatdown! The locker room cleared out, forcing the luchadores to exit the ring!
Dealer’s Choice Match!
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Toa Liona!
Page was swinging with big right hands. Toa cracked Page in the ribs with a knee strike. Hangman connected with a sliding lariat on Toa, right on target. Hangman jumped off the turnbuckles and delivered two lariats to Toa, but Toa shrugged them off. Toa flattened Hangman with a diving crossbody off the apron and onto the arena floor.
Toa pounced on Page with a running shoulder block. The force sent Page over the top rope and crashing onto the floor. Toa had Page in the Tree of Woe and then followed up with a diving headbutt, smashing him like he was a human missile. Hangman smashed Toa with a tope suicida.
Hangman hit a big cross body press on Toa for a near fall. Hangman tried for the Dead Eye, but Toa was too much weight, and he smothered Page. Toa rocked Page with a thrust kick in the jaw for a near fall. Hangman blocked the Raw Mana and then swung for the fences with a lariat. Page got Toa up and drilled him with the Dead Eye! Toa got right back up and clobbered Page with a headbutt! This time Toa hit the Raw Mana, but Page kicked out at the two-count!
Toa connected with a running senton on the apron. Toa went for a moonsault off the apron, but Page dodged it. Page climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit his own moonsault on Toa! Page attempted the Buckshot Lariat, Toa ducked it and hoisted Hangman for a Samoan Drop! Page held on, cradled Toa, and scored the pin!
“I was just informed by Tony Khan that after Dynamite tonight, the rankings will be revealed!” said Excalibur.
Toa charged at Hangman, but Hangman ducked, sending Toa spilling to the floor.
Footage was shown from earlier in the day of EVPs Nicholas and Matthew Jackson—The Young Bucks—arriving at the arena in their chauffeured limo!
A production assistant handed them the show format, accidentally calling them Nick and Matt. Nicholas scolded the PA, and told him to refer to them as Nicholas and Matthew. Nicholas also said the PA would be fined because of that slip up!
Up next: Wardlow (with the Undisputed Kingdom) vs. Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Adam Cole joined commentary for this match.
Wardlow flung Komander to the mat as Komander tried for a collar and elbow tie up.
“That’s raw power,” said Adam Cole.
Komander fired back with a pair of dropkicks. Wardlow popped up Wardlow and power slammed him! Wardlow threw Komander across the ring, the force spinning Komander like a propeller.
Komander walked the ropes and dropkicked Wardlow, creating an opening for himself. Komander hit the Phoenix Splash for a near fall. Wardlow power bombed Komander and pinned him!
Roderick Strong: “Komander! You should have taken the deal that I offered you on Saturday. But now you’re going to pay the price!”
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy and the Best Friends stormed down to the ring to even up the odds!
The fans chanted “Freshly Squeezed! Freshly Squeezed!”
Roderick Strong: “Shut up! Hey, thanks for coming out here. See ya later.”
Tony Schiavone had a sit down interview with Sting and Darby Allin, and AEW World Tag Team Champions “Absolute” Ricky Starks and Bill Big ahead of their title match next week on Dynamite!
Starks: “I just thought it’d be appropriate for both of you to talk to us since this is about respect now. I wanted to take this time out to personally tell you Sting, not to forget that this journey in AEW started with me, Sting.”
Sting: “What did I do? You didn’t tell me what I did?”
Starks: “Well, you had your first win here over me. And that does not sit right.”
Darby: “You want to talk about respect? That’s what this is about, right? You’re saying you respect the Icon?”
Starks: “Absolutely.”
Darby: “That’s a load of crap. This is a stepping stone for you Ricky. You don’t respect Sting. I don’t think you respect anyone. This man’s career is not a stepping stone!”
Starks: “You’re the one who had to attach yourself to someone like Sting! The point I am making is next week, two things are going to happen, and I want you to know. I am going to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships, me and Big Bill are going to be the AEW World Tag Team Champions. And secondly, I’m going to get my lick back on you. The chip on my shoulder? Guess what? It ends next week. I am going to make sure you don’t even make it to your retirement. Darby, you on the other hand, I have no respect for you. There is no space in my body for respect for you. Who are you?”
Big Bill: I’m hearing a lot of talking out of Sting and Darby. You two run your mouths. All you two have done is brag about how you’re going to go into Revolution without ever mentioning us. You have done what everyone else here has done, you’ve overlooked us. Next Wednesday you two represent everybody else here. And we’re going to take out all of our frustrations on you two.”
Sting: “Ricky I guess I’ll start out with you. You said I was the first one that got face to face with you. I kind of admired something about you in those days because you were the only one in those days who had balls to get in my face and talk some smack. And as far as respect goes, you have to earn that, Ricky. And you, Big Bill, I have faced many big men before in the ring. The only difference between you and them is they were killers. I’m not so sure about you yet.”
Darby: “Alright Ricky, I’m just going to end it here. Look, I respect you, I respect what you do in this ring, but every time you point the finger at somebody else, there’s only one person to blame, and that’s you.”
Starks threw his drink into Darby’s face!
Starks: “Hit me!”
Sting: “I’ve always hated talk. Darby will hit you…in Phoenix. Oh, and I will too.”
ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher (with Don Callis & Powerhouse Hobbs)
vs.
Chris Jericho!
Things broke down immediately with Jericho and Fletcher pummeling one another with stiff shots. Fletcher planted Jericho with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall! Jericho connected with a dropkick off the turnbuckles.
Jericho charged after Don Callis outside the ring. Fletcher caught up with Jericho and blindsided Jericho. Fletcher kicked Jericho in the spine. Fletcher climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Jericho met him up there! Jericho sent Fletcher down hard with a hurracanrana!
Hobbs distracted the ref while Don Callis swept out Jericho’s leg. Fletcher stomped on Jericho. Chris Jericho was sent flying with a half and half suplex from Fletcher. Kyle Fletcher blasted Jericho with a brain buster for a near fall!
Jericho dropped a double sledge from the top. Jericho drove Fletcher face first into the mat. Jericho was looking for a lionsault, but Hobbs cracked Jericho while the ref was distracted by Callis!
“They caught Jericho right in the middle of one of his favorite moves,” said Schiavone.
Jericho countered a piledriver, sweeping out Fletcher’s legs and putting on the Walls of Jericho! Fletcher lunged for the ropes, grabbed them, and forced the ref to break the hold. Fletcher stunned Jericho with a thrust kick.
Jericho smashed Fletcher with a Code Breaker out of nowhere! Jericho climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Fletcher blasted Jericho with a kick. Fletcher planted Jericho with a brain buster on the corner for a near fall.
Fletcher kicked Jericho in the back of the head and followed up with a thrust kick. Fletcher ducked the Judas Effect! Fletcher rocked Jericho with a rolling roundhouse kick! Fletcher rocketed outside the ring with a tope suicida, but Jericho countered with the Judas Effect! Powerhouse Hobbs charged at Jericho, but Jericho side stepped him, sending Hobbs into the steel ring steps!
Jericho rolled Fletcher back into the ring. Jericho climbed to the top turnbuckle and nearly decapitated Fletcher with a Judas Effect off the top! Jericho covered Fletcher and pinned him!
“Jericho earned that win,” said Schiavone.
“Boy, did he ever. But I want to point out that it took two Judas Effects to put down Kyle Fletcher,” added Excalibur.
After the match, “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita, the man that will face Jericho on next week’s Dynamite, walked onto the ramp and stared at Jericho!
Out next: Ring of Honor World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Bullet Club Gold— “Switchblade” Jay White, and The Gunns—Austin and Colten…along with AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass—The Bang Bang Scissor Gang!
Jay White: “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I love your guys’ thing. I’m a big fan of scissoring. But don’t forget we have our own thing, too. Guns up!”
Max Caster: “Yo! Yo! Yo! Listen! You’re looking at the six men who have dominated trios wrestling for years. But it’s not just the six of us. There is somebody missing. Bowens, get Cardblade!”
Colten said they fired Cardblade a long time ago. “Austin, get the Juiceboard!”
Austin: “If you’re not down with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang, then we’ve got…”
Daddy Ass grabbed the microphone from Austin’s hands.
Daddy Ass: “I am literally standing right here.”
Austin: “Dad, this is kinda my thing.”
Daddy Ass: “Well it was my thing first. Shall we some him how to do it? So, if you’re not down with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang, we got two words for ya! Guns up!”
Taya Valkyrie (with Johnny TV) vs. “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm was on commentary for this match. She was accompanied by Luther the Butler and Mariah May.
Taya grabbed a handful of Deonna hair and pushed her back into the turnbuckles. Deonna pulled Taya to the mat with a wristlock. Johnny TV distracted Deonna while Taya speared Deonna on the ramp!
Back in the ring, Deonna connected with two lariats and a knee lift. Deonna blasted Taya with a pump kick. Taya fired back with a sliding lariat. Deonna smashed Taya with a sliding dropkick. Deonna grabbed Taya and whipped her into Toni!
Deonna smacked Taya with a pump kick. Deonna put Taya into a submission while staring at Toni Storm and forced Taya to tap out!”
“For the first time all night, Toni Storm with nothing to say, but perhaps a statement victory by Deonna Purrazzo,” said Excalibur.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Darby Allin!
Renee: “I would love to talk to you about your admiration for the Young Bucks.”
Darby: “Excuse me?”
Matthew and Nicholas Jackson showed up wearing headsets. They said it was a great question and Darby should answer it. They told Renee she deserved a raise, clearly having put her up to it.
Darby: “Did you tell her to say that?”
Matthew: “We love you Darb. You’re an AEW Original. ‘Change the world.’ You fit that quote. Young. Hot. Star. Just like us. I just have one thing I’m a little perturbed about. Why are you letting a 65-year old blood sucking leech take more money from you, out of your pocket. I mean, save some for the rest of us, am I right, Darb? Once Sting is gone, I have a really good idea for a new gimmick. Why don’t the three of us get together and become a new, hot trio?”
Nicholas: “All jokes aside, Darby, we’ve been back for a month now and you’re ducking, you’re dodging us, you’re being unprofessional. You got a problem with us or what?”
Darby: “No offense but there’s only one thing on my mind and that’s the AEW World Tag Team Championships.”
Matthew: “Is that right? I guess we’re going to have to get his attention a different way.”
Main Event Time! Dealer’s Choice Match!
Swerve Strickland vs. Rob Van Dam!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe joined the broadcast booth for this match.
The fans chanted “RVD! RVD! RVD!”
Page appeared on the screen before the match and told Swerve that not only did Page get to pick the opponent, but he also got to pick the match. “So tonight, Swerve, you’re wrestling RVD not in a normal match but in a hardcore match. Goodluck.”
RVD hurled a steel chair at Swerve! RVD whipped Swerve into the guardrail. RVD followed up with a leg lariat! And then RVD blasted Swerve with a round kick. RVD smashed Swerve with a leg drop on the apron!
The fans chanted “You still got it! You still got it!”
RVD hoisted Swerve onto the barricade and then rocked him with a leg drop off the apron! Back in the ring, Swerve rammed RVD into a steel chair that was propped between the turnbuckles. Rob used a reversal and sent Swerve into the chair. RVD followed up with Rolling Thunder.
RVD dropkicked a chair into Swerve’s face, crushing Swerve in the corner. Swerve countered a monkey flip and power bombed RVD onto a steel chair for a near fall. RVD deposited Swerve on the top rope. RVD climbed to the top turnbuckle. Out of nowhere, Brian Cage jumped up onto the apron and shoved RVD to the mat!
FTW Champion HOOK sprinted to the ring with a steel chair in hand!
HOOK waffled Cage in the back with a steel chair! HOOK and Cage brawled ringside as RVD watched on. Swerve snuck up behind RVD, but RVD reversed Swerve’s grasp and nailed him with a kick. Swerve dodged the Rolling Thunder and planted RVD for a near fall.
Swerve set up a steel chair outside the ring. Swerve backed Van Dam into the chair with a kick. Swerve wrecked RVD with a stomp from the apron onto the steel chair! The back of RVD’s head hit the ring steps. Swerve climbed to the top rope, but RVD threw a chair at Swerve, sending Swerve crashing off the top rope and down through a table on the arena floor!
RVD sandwiched Swerve between two steel chairs. RVD attempted the five-star frog splash, but Swerve dodged it! Swerve smacked RVD with the House Call Kick, while RVD was holding a steel chair! The chair went right on target against RVD’s head! Swerve covered RVD but RVD kicked out at two! Swerve went to the top rope, but RVD met Swerve up there. Swerve shoved RVD’s face into the turnbuckle, knocking RVD to the mat! RVD flipped off Swerve, but nonetheless, Swerve crushed RVD with the Swerve Stomp and pinned Van Dam!
Hangman Page marched down to the ring with a microphone!
Adam Page: “Congratulations you evil bastard! Swerve later tonight the rankings for the AEW World Championship come out and despite my best efforts, we are both undefeated. So, I can only assume that we are both at the top of that list. And you said that you wanted Samoa Joe. You said you wanted the AEW World Championship. I need you to look in my eyes. I will never let that happen! Swerve I am the next World champion. Not you!”
Swerve: “You still just don’t get it. I’ve beaten you twice now! I got nothing to prove! Not to you, not to anyone else. You just can’t beat me!”
Adam Page: “You keep saying that because I think you believe if you say it enough it’ll be true. The two times we fought, you didn’t beat me. It took all of the Mogul Embassy. Swerve, I know that man to man, when it counts, you can’t lace my boots.”
Swerve: “You know what? You must want suffering or something. But I’ll give you what you want. Me and you! One more time! This is the third time and after that we are done! After I move past you, all I care about is that AEW World Championship!”
Excalibur announced that Tony Khan just made it official! Next week on Dynamite! Swerve Strickland vs. “Hangman” Adam Page. The winner gets a shot at the AEW World Championship at Revolution!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:
-Top Flight vs. Private Party!
-AEW World Tag Champs “Absolute” Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Dark Order!
-Willow Nightingale vs. Queen Aminata!
-We’ll hear from AEW International Champ Orange Cassidy & Best Friends!
– CMLL’s Mistico, Hechicero, Mascara Dorada 2.0, & Volador Jr
vs. Christopher Daniels, Matt Sydal, Angelo Parker, & Matt Menard!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, TX featuring:
-Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
– “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Hechicero!
-And so much more!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ featuring:
-Trios Match: The Stars of CMLL vs. Blackpool Combat Club!
-Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita!
-AEW World Tag Championship Match: Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c.) vs. Sting & Darby Allin!
-Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page: Winner Gets a Shot at the AEW World Championship at Revolution!
The landscape of All Elite Wrestling keeps getting more competitive with each passing week, and the knowledge that new rankings will drop shortly has only exacerbated the drive to victory for the members of the AEW locker room. Wins and losses matter more than ever before, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe has made that abundantly clear each time he’s spoken, and plenty of people want that next shot at his title. That means they need to win, win, win, no matter what, and the same goes for the people pursuing Toni Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship, and all the other titles under the AEW banner!
Those fights continue this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, when AEW returns to the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans with a loaded edition of AEW’s flagship program! Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page will engage in a Dealer’s Choice scenario where each man hand-picks the others opponent for the evening. An old rivalry will pick right back up when Deonna Purrazzo takes on Taya Valkyrie for the first time in AEW, while another rivalry rages on as Chris Jericho battles Don Callis Family member Kyle Fletcher!
REVOLUTION 2024 is coming upon us fast, and this Wednesday DYNAMITE brings us one step closer starting at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans! Prior to that kickoff, be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, for highlights from last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, as well as the newest CONTROL CENTER, and more! Then it’s time for the Elimination Trios Cage Match on Saturday night in Bossier City, Louisiana pitting The House of Black against FTR and Daniel Garcia!
DEALER’S CHOICE # 1…
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Toa Liona
Last week it was laid out that “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland would be placed in a Dealer’s Choice situation; what this meant was that each man would choose the other’s opponent for this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE. It did not take long for the boss of The Mogul Embassy to lay out Hangman’s foe for the evening, keeping choice in the family, and selecting one-half of The Gates of Agony, the monstrous Toa Liona!
In his first televised singles match on AEW programming, the behemoth of the Mogul Embassy will attempt to massacre Swerve Strickland’s greatest enemy! Hangman has fought monsters and giants before, but likely not one with the sheer unrestrained savagery of Toa Liona, certainly not one whose sole purpose may not be to win the match but simply to maim the former AEW World Champ. One can only guess under what marching orders Toa will be dispatched into this fight, but whether he’s coming to defeat Hangman, or simply to hurt Hangman on behalf of Swerve Strickland, Adam Page is going to just lay down and die. He will give Toa Liona the toughest fight that man has ever had, and that is saying something considering what The Gates of Agony just went through in New Japan with Tag League.
DEALER’S CHOICE # 2…
Swerve Strickland vs. ?????
While Swerve Strickland had no problem laying all his cards on the table to reveal fellow Mogul Embassy member Toa Liona as Hangman Page’s foe this Wednesday, the former AEW World Champion did not offer the same.
Instead, playing his cards close to the vest, Page told Swerve he would have to “wait the whole f’n show” to find out his opponent for this Dealer’s Choice scenario. Now for any professional wrestling fan, that seems like a dead giveaway for who Strickland’s opponent will be; after all there is but one man in the wrestling world associated with Hangman’s chosen verbiage. That being said, Hangman could be throwing out a red herring, a misdirect to keep Swerve Strickland on his toes, expecting one opponent while he will actually be facing another. It looks like the AEW faithful will be waiting right alongside the boss of The Mogul Embassy to see who walks onto that stage to fight Swerve Strickland!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Taya Valkyrie vs. Deonna Purrazzo
***TONI STORM ON COMMENTARY***
Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo are no strangers to one another; they’ve battled each other in singles bouts, tag team competition, in the United States, in Mexico, and in multiple promotions; Taya is even the woman who ended Purrazzo’s 252-day reign as the AAA Reina de Reinas champion! Their last interaction inside the ring was nearly a year ago as part of AAA’s LUCHA LIBRE WORLD CUP 2023 event, a match won by Deonna’s team, but in one-on-one competition it is “La Wera Loca” who holds the advantage with two victories to The Virtuosa’s one.
This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, the two world-class competitors will renew their rivalry with their first clash under the auspices of All Elite Wrestling! Taya feels like Deonna is attempting to jump the line into a championship fight without earning her way there, somewhat ironic considering Taya’s fourth ever AEW fight was a TBS Championship match and this fight will mark Purrazzo’s third since signing with AEW, and fourth overall.
So with both women championship contender hopefuls, can “The Virtuosa” even the tally with “La Wera Loca” and continue pushing towards a title fight with “Timeless” Toni Storm? Speaking of the champ, she will be joining the commentary team for this match and you never know what she will have to say about any subject at hand!
FIGHTING THE FAMILY…
ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher vs. Chris Jericho
Don Callis and his ilk have been that thorn in Jericho’s paw for months now, ever since Callis chose to stab the man in the back rather than take him in as part of the Family. What’s always been ironic about Callis’ choice is that all signs pointed to the original AEW World Champion signing on with his long-time friend, but the perpetually paranoid Callis assumed he’d be stabbed in the back first, and decided to get Jericho first.
It’s led us down the path of Jericho and Will Ospreay having an epic collision, Jericho being destroyed by Powerhouse Hobbs, slamming Jericho and Kenny Omega into an unintended alliance, Chris going to DDT Pro Wrestling in Japan to fight Takeshita, and these acts of betrayal inadvertently causing a reunion between Chris and Sammy Guevara. Throughout the entire ordeal, Callis has never stopped trying to make life hellish for “The Ocho”, and that continues this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when Chris, fresh off his signature cruise, returns to AEW’s flagship to take on ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher!
Now Kyle’s on a tremendous run as of late, winning five straight singles matches, including Survival of the Fittest at FINAL BATTLE 2023 and three consecutive title defenses, with his last singles loss ironically coming at the hands of Takeshita back in October. With Jericho already slotted to face Takeshita next week as part of AEW’s return to Phoenix, is this fight more about a victory for Fletcher or about hurting Jericho for the rest of the Callis Family? A victory over Jericho would be huge for the ROH World TV Champion, but is that what Don cares with this fight? Or does Callis just want Kyle to soften up his former friend for the future fights?
MAKING THE RANKINGS…
Jeff Hardy vs. Jon Moxley
In a previous life, they dance in tags and trios, they were even been partners on a couple of occasions, but never before in their careers have Jeff Hardy and Jon Moxley gone one-on-one inside the squared circle. This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE that changes; for the first time ever, with the rankings set to make their return this week, Hardy and Moxley will lock up! Moxley has won eight of his last ten fights, as well as all three of his 2024 bouts, while Hardy is struggling to get himself back on track, both as a singles competitor, and as a team with brother Matt. Of his last ten fight, Jeff has won but three, and none of this in singles competition; In fact, Hardy has not won a singles match in AEW since beating Darby Allin in the 2022 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, though he has infrequently competed under those circumstances.
As he has made quite clear to the rest of the AEW locker room, Moxley considers himself (and the rest of The BCC) the measuring stick of All Elite Wrestling, and anyone who expects to ascend up the ladder is going to have to go through them first. Can Jeff Hardy do that and score a long-awaited singles victory, or will be the former 3-Time AEW World Champion picking up his fourth consecutive victory as the rankings return to prominence?
This Wednesday night, All Elite Wrestling is back in New Orleans at the UNO Lakefront Arena with a loaded-up edition of DYNAMITE, starting at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans! For starters, we’ve got Dealer’s Choice with Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page choosing the other man’s opponent for the evening; now we are already aware of Swerve picking Toa Liona for Hangman, but we will have to wait to see who Page chooses for Swerve until it’s time for that fight! AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm will be on commentary as Taya Valkyrie faces an old rival in Deonna Purrazzo, and Chris Jericho picks up his fight against the Don Callis Family with ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher!
All that and more comes your way this week on DYNAMITE, so before the show gets underway, make a point 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, and COLLISION, as well as the newest edition of the CONTROL CENTER! Then come on down to Edinburg, TX and the Bert Ogden Arena this Saturday for an all-new edition of COLLISION!
Shane Taylor Promotions—Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor!
The teams brawled around ringside. Moxley choked Shane Taylor with his Blackpool Combat Club t-shirt. Taylor decked Moxley with a stiff shot, knocking Mox to the mat. Taylor mauled Mox in the corner with forearms. Moxley dodged a splash and tagged out to Claudio.
Claudio rocked Taylor with European Uppercuts. Lee Moriarty jumped in and put Claudio in an octopus hold while Taylor hit Claudio with a cheap shot. Taylor whipped Moxley into the metal ring steps. Claudio charged at Taylor, but Taylor moved; Claudio’s own momentum carried him into and over the steel guardrail.
Shane Taylor used his bulk and dropped a leg on Claudio on the apron. Claudio fought out of the opposition’s corner until Lee trapped him with a suplex and then an arm bar. Taylor tagged in and slammed Claudio. Taylor followed up with his second leg drop of the match. Claudio blocked a suplex attempt from Shane Taylor and walloped Taylor with a vertical suplex of his own.
Moxley tagged in and cleaned house. Moxley hoisted up Lee and planted him with a release suplex. Moxley ate an elbow from Lee. Lee climbed the turnbuckles, about to go for a dropkick, when Claudio jumped in and shoved Moxley out of harm’s way. Claudio caught Moriarty and placed him in the Giant Swing! Shane Taylor entered the ring, and he slugged it out with Claudio. Claudio knocked Taylor out of the ring with a lariat.
Lee snuck up behind Moxley, but Moxley stuffed him with a cutter! Taylor tagged in but Claudio came in from behind, grabbed Taylor, and Moxley nearly decapitated Taylor with the Hart Attack. Claudio pounced on Taylor with a double foot stomp! Moxley captured Taylor’s wrists and stomped on Taylor’s head. Moxley locked in a rear naked choke on Taylor and won the match via ref stoppage!
Lexy Nair was backstage with the Undisputed Kingdom and Komander!
The Undisputed Kingdom had a few words they wanted to say to Komander before Komander’s big match tonight with Orange Cassidy. Roddy told Komander that he had a match scheduled with Orange at Revolution. Roddy said Komander could be the champion for five weeks…until Roddy beats Komander at Revolution. “But obviously, the only way that can happen is with our help,” Roddy said.
Roddy asked if they had a deal, and grabbed Komander’s hand, shaking it, as Komander looked confused.
“He had no idea with they were talking about,” said Tony Schiavone.
AEW International Championship Match!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (c.) vs. Komander!
Orange and Komander chain wrestled at the start of the match. They went to a stalemate. Finally, Orange blasted Komander with a Stundog Millionaire and a spinning DDT.
The Undisputed Kingdom walked down the ramp and set up chairs ringside, looking to scout the match.
Komander rattled Cassidy with a DDT! Orange regained momentum with a thrust kick. Komander came back with a Destroyer and then a lung blower for a near fall on Cassidy. Komander frog splashed Orange, but Orange kicked out at the two-count.
Orange grabbed Komander and bashed him with the Beach Break out of nowhere! Komander ducked the Orange Punch and then took down Orange with a hurracanrana for a near fall. Roderick distracted the referee while the Kingdom held back Orange. Roddy was motioning to Komander, perched up on the ropes, telling him the door was open. Komander ran the tight tope, leaped off the top, but Orange moved! Komander crashed into Mike Bennett and Matt Taven!
Komander jumped back into the ring, but Orange wasted no time and drilled Komander with the Orange Punch and scored the pin! Roderick was in the ring, applauding Orange. Roddy presented the belt to Orange but dropped it at Orange’s feet before Orange could grab ahold of it.
A camera crew was dispatched to capture a scene backstage!
Daniel Garcia was on the concrete floor, writhing in pain, a bloody mess, while Daddy Magic “Matt Menard” check on him. Menard signaled for help!
Mariah May vs. Lady Frost!
Mariah May shoved Lady Frost. Lady Frost fired off an ice cold chop. Mariah May yanked Lady Frost by the hair. Mariah May thawed out Frost with a shotgun dropkick. Mariah May ducked a kick but Lady Frost flung May with a release German Suplex.
Lady Frost spiked Mariah May with the Chiller Driller. Mariah May retaliated with a dropkick off the top rope. Lady Frost clobbered Mariah with a handspring into a cannonball. Lady Frost climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Mariah met her up there. Mariah May nailed Lady Frost with May Day and pinned Lady Frost!
“Mariah May has arrived in AEW! I know talent when I see it!” said Nigel.
Swerve Strickland had some choice words for “Hangman” Adam Page ahead of the upcoming Dealer’s Choice Match this Wednesday on Dynamite!
Swerve said he was sending Toa Liona to inflict punishment on Page on Dynamite!
After a commercial break, “Hangman” Adam Page responded to Swerve!
“Swerve, I get to pick your opponent, but nothing says I have to tell you who you’ll face. So, I guess you’ll have to wait the whole f’n show to find out!”
Continental Crown Championship Eliminator Match!
“Mad King” Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. Willie Mack!
Willie Mack charged at Kingston and booted him. Mack smashed Kingston with a brain buster for a near fall! Willie Mack clobbered Kingston with a big splash in the corner and followed up with a standing moonsault for a two-count!
Kingston chopped and kicked Mack, rebounding nicely. Eddie launched Mack with an Exploder Suplex. Mack power bombed Kingston for a near fall. They exchanged chops in the center of the ring, blistering the chest of one another. Willie staggered the champ with a short jab. Willie hit a stunner. Willie went for the six-star frog splash, but Eddie countered by raising his knees into Willie’s ribs. Kingston cracked Mack with the spinning backfist and pinned Mack!
As Eddie was walking to the back, “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson made his entrance for his match. Danielson walked past Kingston and ignored Kingston.
Eddie Kingston decided to join the broadcast booth for the next match…
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. “Blue Justice” Yuji Nagata!
Nagata grabbed a wrist lock on Bryan. Bryan escaped and locked up with Nagata. Nagata lit up Bryan with kicks and stomps in the corner. Bryan returned in kind. Bryan suplexed Nagata and tried to lock in an arm bar. Nagata rolled to the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold.
Danielson started to work on Nagata’s knees, dropkicking Nagata’s knee as he was trapped in the ropes. Danielson followed up with a shotgun dropkick from the top. Danielson smashed Nagata with the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Nagata fired back with an exploder suplex.
Nagata was looking for the Nagata Lock. Danielson was struggling to escape. Danielson reversed it and applied a heel hook. Nagata escaped and cracked Danielson with the Justice Boot.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Danielson tried to headbutt Nagata off the top rope, but Nagata wouldn’t go down, Blue Justice showing off his monstrous fighting spirit. Nagata hit an avalanche exploder and then put Danielson in the Fujiwara Arm Bar. Danielson reached the ropes with his boots, forcing the ref to break the hold.
Danielson used a dragon screw leg whip on Nagata. Danielson and Nagata traded round kicks. Danielson caught Nagata in the back of the head with a kick. Danielson rocked Nagata with a running knee strike and pinned Nagata!
Danielson and Nagata shook hands after the match, showing mutual respect. Danielson flipped off Kingston as Danielson was returning to the dressing room.
Lexy Nair was backstage looking for a medical update on Daniel Garcia from FTR!
Mark Briscoe approached FTR. “My brothers, you all know we’ve been to war against each other, and I would love to go to war on your side. So, if DG isn’t cleared tonight, look no further.”
Dax: “We’ll see if Daniel wants to go tonight, but if we need someone, you’ll be the first person we call.”
Renee Paquette interviewed “The Machine” Brian Cage backstage!
Cage: “We’re no longer the ROH Six-Man Champions. We didn’t become the AEW Trios Champions. And speaking of champions, why in the world is everyone talking about the FTW Champion HOOK? Speaking of Team Taz, that was all me. I was the first FTW Champion here in AEW. And all you hear about is HOOK.”
FTW Champion HOOK interrupted Cage.
HOOK: “Any time you want another shot at this, I’m right here.”
“The Professor” Serena Deeb vs. Robyn Renegade!
The fans chanted “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!”, cheering on the returning Deeb.
Robyn slapped Deeb and Deeb slapped her right back. Deeb knocked Renegade down with a lariat. Deeb rocked Robyn with a neck breaker. Deeb drilled Renegade with the Deeb Tox. Deeb applied the Serenity Lock and forced Renegade to tap out!
Deeb: “I have one question: did you miss me? For the past 15 months, I’ve been sitting at home asking myself if I’m coming back, how I’m coming back, and tonight I’m standing in this ring, and it feels damn good to be back!
“And amongst all of the questions, one thing has always been certain in my mind. And it’s been why. First, I’m here to elevate this Women’s Division. Second, I’m here to put the wrestling back in All Elite Wrestling. And third, I am back to become champion. This is not just what I do. This is who I am. And the Professor is back!”
The stars of CMLL are coming to AEW! Catch Mistico, Mascara Dorada, Volador Jr., and Hechicero next Friday on AEW Rampage!
Main Event Time! Six-Man Elimination Steel Cage Match!
Mark Briscoe & FTR—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood
vs.
The House of Black—Brody King, Buddy Matthews, & Malakai Black!
It appeared that Mark Briscoe was replacing the injured Daniel Garcia. As Briscoe was making his entrance, the lights went out. When the lights returned, the House of Black stood behind Briscoe. They threw him off the ramp and sent him crashing through a table below!
FTR sprinted up the ramp, but they were outnumbered by the House of Black. Cash grabbed two tables from beneath the ring. Buddy catapulted Dax into the steel cage! Garcia appeared on the ramp, throwing a steel chair at Brody! Black backdropped a bandaged up Garcia onto the ramp. Malakai threw Garcia and Dax into the ring.
The House of Black triple teamed Dax in the ring. Cash climbed to the top of the cage, jumped off the very top, and wiped out the entire House of Black below!
Dax planted Malakai Black with a spinebuster. Brody cracked Cash with the Bossman Slam. Buddy and Malakai hurled Garcia into the cage. The House of Black began to scale the cage. FTR and Garcia pulled the House of Black down, preventing them from escaping the cage and winning the match.
FTR walked to the cage door. The ref opened the door. Garcia stopped FTR and said, “We’re not done with them yet!” FTR hit the Shatter Machine on Black. Brody King retaliated on FTR. Matthews destroyed Dax with a kick. Cash curb stomped Matthews. Dax rocked Black with a brain buster!
“Look at the bodies! Listen to the fans chanting FTR!” said Schiavone.
Dax was leaving the cage when Brody speared him! Both men escaped the cage.
“Once you leave you can’t go back in!” said Schiavone.
Matthews scored with a meteora on Garcia. Matthews began to scale the chain link, but Cash climbed up after him. Buddy rammed Cash’s head into the cage. Cash lost his grip and plummeted down, crashing onto a table at ringside!
“I don’t know if he realizes it or not, but Cash has escaped the cage,” said Tony Schiavone.
“He didn’t escape the table,” replied Nigel.
Garcia rammed Black into the cage, knocking Buddy off the cage and threw the other table! Black caught Garcia with a knee strike! Garcia rallied back with a running lariat!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Julia Hart appeared out of nowhere, scaled the cage, and sprayed black mist into Garcia’s eyes!
“Garcia has been blinded!” said Schiavone.
Malakai ordered the referee to open the cage door. Garcia screamed at Black, “Come and finish me!”
“Garcia dared Black to come back in!” said Schiavone.
Daniel Garcia ducked a roundhouse kick from Black! Garcia drilled Black with a piledriver onto a steel chair! Garcia, still blinded, began to climb the wall of the cage while Black crawled to the cage door! Mark Briscoe slammed the cage door in Black’s face! Garcia managed to escape the cage! FTR and Daniel Garcia celebrated with Mark Briscoe!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA!
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