Jayme Lawson Interview by Big Gold Belt Media at the National Museum of African American History & Culture Red CarpetPremiere in Washington D.CJayme Lawson as Betty Shabazz-Synopsis:GENIUS: MLK/X follows both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin…
Kelvin Harrison Jr. Interview by Big Gold Belt Media at the National Museum of African American History & Culture Red CarpetPremiere in Washington D.CKelvin Harrison Jr. as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-Synopsis:GENIUS: MLK/X follows both Dr….
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!
Genius: MLK/X review by Big Gold Belt Media-Synopsis:GENIUS: MLK/X follows both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) and Malcom X (Aaron Pierre) from their formative years, where they were molded by strong fathers and…
Miller’s Girl review by Big Gold Belt Media-Synopsis:A talented young writer (Jenna Ortega) embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher (Martin Freeman) assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly complex web. As…
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe kicked off the show, dressed in a business suit, and eager to speak his mind!
Samoa Joe: “I stand before you your undisputed, undeniable AEW World Champion. And tonight is a night of celebration because a new championship endeavor, we embark upon tonight. No more will AEW Championship opportunities be given. No, tonight, they must be earned. That’s why all your favorite AEW superstars are going to battle tooth and nail in this ring, all for an opportunity at my championship gold.
“I come here with a warning. You may think you’re getting an opportunity at a championship. But I’m here to tell you it’s going to be an opportunity to have the worst night of your life. Anyone that comes in here, I’m going to do them like I did Hook last week. I will take everything from you!”
FTW Champion Hook’s music began to play! Hook entered the ring with a microphone.
HOOK: “Last week you won, I lost.”
Hook extended his hand and offered it to Samoa Joe before they embraced.
Hook: “I don’t know when, and I don’t know where, but I will see you again.”
Samoa Joe: “I bet you will. Now if you excuse me, I came here to survey the field, so you can get to the back of the line. Security, get the unworthy out of my ring.”
AEW Security entered the ring but Hook suplexed them until Hook had enough and stormed off, defiantly scowling at Samoa Joe on his way out.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe joined the broadcast team.
They began with a collar and elbow tie up. Page backed Penta into the ropes and then allowed for a clean break. It quickly escalated as both men brought heavy shots, blistering one another with chops. Penta connected with a thrust kick, but Page returned with a big boot of his own. Penta El Zero Miedo wiped out Hangman Page with a Sling Blade. Hangman retaliated with a fallaway slam and then a standing shooting star press for a near fall.
Penta El Zero Miedo hit a leg drop from off the bottom rope for a two-count on Page. They traded chops again. Hangman landed a thrust kick but then they knocked each other down with clotheslines, both men having the same idea.
Penta flew over the top rope with a tope con hiro and crashed onto Hangman Page outside the ring! Page dodged a double stomp and countered with a Death Valley Driver on Penta El Zero Miedo for a near fall. Penta planted Page in the center of the ring and nearly put away the former AEW World Champion.
Hangman Page stunned Penta El Zero Miedo with a pop up powerbomb. They traded strikes on the ring apron. Hangman went for the Buckshot Lariat, but Penta blocked it and nailed Hangman with the Made in Japan for a two-count!
Hangman Page drilled Penta El Zero Miedo with a Dead Eye on the apron! Page connected with the Buckshot Lariat and pinned Penta El Zero Miedo!
“Boy, that’s a big win as far as rankings go,” said Tony Schiavone.
Page pointed at Samoa Joe and his championship and yelled, “I am taking that away from you!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW International Champion “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy!
Renee wanted to know Orange’s reaction to Roderick Strong’s challenge.
Orange: “My reaction to that is okay. I will wrestle you for my International Championship at Revolution on March 3rd. If you want to wait that long, fine, but I’m not going to wait. I’m going to keep wrestling because that’s what I do. I told Tony to put some of my friends and enemies in a match on Rampage and the winner of that will face me for my championship on Collision. So, I guess Tony is going to do it.”
The Young Bucks—Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, were walking backstage when Alex Marvez approached them, hoping to get a word with them!
Nicholas: “Our first plan of action as executives? Let’s talk about your first plan of action. By showing a little more respect to us. By calling us by our passport names of Nicholas and Matthew Jackson.”
Matthew: “Alex, as the last two remaining, surviving, EVPs, backstage chatter and buzz is through the roof. We fixed the catering problem. Did you have lunch? You’re welcome. Most importantly we’re just here to make sure the show runs smoothly. Let’s have a killer show.”
Top Flight—Dante and Darius Martin were walking down the hall past the Young Bucks.
Nicholas: “Look who’s showing up so late tonight.”
Matthew: “Did you guys just get here?”
Darius: “No, we’ve been here since one.”
Matthew: “Why aren’t you in your gear and where’s your dang credentials?”
Dante: “Credentials? You guys hired us.”
Nicholas: “Next time it’s going to be a fine, but we love you guys.”
Matthew: “Hey, we’re just kidding.”
The Undisputed Kingdom’s Wardlow (with Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
vs.
Best Friend’s Trent Beretta (with Rocky Romero, Chuck Taylor, & AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy)!
Wardlow sent Trent for a loop with a big shoulder tackle right out of the gate! Wardlow hurled Trent halfway across the ring. Wardlow was looking for the Powerbomb Symphony, but Trent cradled him with a small package for a near fall.
Wardlow charged at Trent, but Trent ducked him and then dropkicked Wardlow through the ring ropes. Trent went over the top rope, but Wardlow countered with a beautiful anti air forearm. Wardlow whipped Trent into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Wardlow headbutted Trent in the chest. Trent countered a lariat with a jumping knee strike. Trent connected with a tope suicida. Trent walloped Wardlow with a steel chair. Trent rocked Wardlow with a half and half suplex in the ring, followed by a DDT. Trent spiked Wardlow with a piledriver for a near fall!
Trent climbed to the top rope and went for a crossbody, but Wardlow caught him and powerslammed Trent! Wardlow power bombed a limp Trent and pinned him! After the match, Wardlow tried to grab Trent again, but the Best Friends saw enough and entered the ring. The Undisputed Kingdom called off the “War Dog”.
Excalibur announced that this Saturday on Collision it’ll be the “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs Yuji Nagata!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm went face-to-face with “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo during an interview on the stage with Renee Paquette!
Luther the Butler and Mariah May joined Toni on the stage.
Toni: “I will speak first. Deonna, I believe you were recently body shamed. Which I think is ridiculous because there is so much more to shame about you. Yes, we do have history, but that doesn’t mean you can just waltz in here to get yourself a title shot! I have had many friends and all of them less talented than me. You may be the greatest technical wrestler in the world today but let me make one thing clear. If you step into that ring with me, I will twist your lips so hard you will need an epidural!”
Deonna: “This is insane. I didn’t come to AEW to make friends. I came to become the AEW Women’s World Champion. It just so happens, Toni, that the champion used to be my friend. But I have no problem earning a title opportunity and winning arm by arm. This isn’t the Toni Storm that I want to wrestle, this delusional sham.
“I want to wrestle the Toni Storm that lived on dojo floors with me, that moved to America and lived in my house. That Toni Storm was arguably one of the best in the world. And that Toni Storm is the one I want to beat for the AEW Women’s World Championship. So, I’m begging you, dig down deep inside yourself and find that version of yourself. And if you need a reminder, take a look at your ankle, because I’m sure it looks a lot like mine.”
Deonna revealed she and Toni had matching ankle tattoos.
Deonna: “You might have everyone here fooled, Toni, but not me.”
Toni: “You know what, Deonna You can take your little tattoo and blow it right out of your bumhole!”
Toni whipped a shoe at Deonna and Deonna threw a shoe right back at Toni! Deonna attempted to put Toni in the Venus De Milo but Mariah May grabbed Toni by the leg and yanked her away from Deonna’s grasp! Deonna pump kicked Luther in the face! Mariah May and Toni Storm were fleeing when Deonna took Toni’s World championship and hoisted it into the air!
“Could this be a vision of the future?” wondered Excalibur.
Jon Moxley was backstage!
Mox: “Since you first heard the words ‘Blackpool Combat Club’, do you know how many matches we’ve won. I don’t keep track, but trust me, it’s a lot. Do you know how many victory parties we’ve had? Zero. We don’t spend a lot of time patting each other on the back because we don’t have the time. There’s always another match around the corner. And that’s what it takes to be the best, to be elite.
“A lot of people come here, and they don’t know what elite means. In 2024 I will maim and torture anyone that can’t keep up in the ring! I’m going to do it every single time!”
Excalibur announced this Friday on Rampage it’ll be Jon Moxley against Shane Taylor Promotions’ Lee Moriarty!
Taya Valkyrie and Johnny TV requested a moment of our time!
Taya: “Let me reintroduce ourselves. I am Taya Valkyrie, and this is Johnny TV. The most TV-ready couple in AEW. Now I’ve been watching, and some things are really starting to piss me off. That girl that’s trying to jump to the head of the line? Deonna Listen, I’m not one of those girlies that don’t know who ‘the virtuosa’ is. I know her very well. So, I challenge you to a little match next week on Dynamite. And then after that you can get to the back of the line.”
Up next: Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) vs. Jeff Hardy (with Matt Hardy)!
Swerve used a side headlock takeover, looking to make a quick end to this, but Jeff escaped. Hardy rolled up Swerve, grabbing a handful of tights, but Swerve kicked out. Swerve nailed Jeff with a nasty back breaker. Swerve was going for an arm breaker, but Matt jumped on the apron and pointed at Swerve. As Swerve was distracted by Matt, Jeff kicked upwards at Swerve.
Jeff dropkicked Swerve in the back. Jeff used a Russian Leg Sweep. Jeff rammed Swerve into the top turnbuckle. Swerve swept out Jeff’s legs and then kicked him in the jaw. Swerve blasted Jeff with a neck breaker from the apron, as Jeff’s legs were hung up in the ropes. Swerve set up a folding chair and put Jeff on it. But Jeff got up and swept out Swerve’s legs. Jeff ran and leaped off the steel ring steps, crashing onto Swerve who was on the barricade!
Jeff knocked Swerve off the turnbuckles with a headbutt. Swerve climbed back up and clubbed Jeff with forearms. Jeff fought back, took flight and landed on Swerve! Jeff connected with a sling blade and then a Manhattan Drop. Jeff dropped an elbow, but Swerve kicked out at the two-count.
Swerve shoved Jeff Hardy over the top rope. Swerve pulled Jeff into the steel ring post! Swerve pulled Jeff onto the steel ring steps but Jeff countered with a Twist of Fate, driving Swerve’s forehead into the steps! Jeff climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for the Swanton, but Swerve rolled out of the way. Swerve blasted Jeff with the House Call for a near fall!
“What a kick out! I thought he had Hardy dead right there,” said Taz.
Swerve was looking for a Twits of Fate of his own, but Jeff reversed it with a cradle for a near fall. Jeff stunned Swerve with a series of jawbreakers. Swerve lured Jeff in and planted him with a flatliner. Swerve nailed Jeff with a delayed vertical suplex. Swerve crushed Jeff with the Swerve Stomp and pinned Jeff Hardy!
After a commercial break, Renee Paquette interviewed “Hangman” Adam Page backstage!
Renee congratulated Hangman on being 3-0 in 2024, which, in her opinion, should be putting him pretty close to the top of the rankings once they drop at the end of the month.
Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland interrupted Renee.
Swerve: “Why are you interviewing this man? Did you see what I just did out there to Jeff Hardy? I’m undefeated in 2024 as well. Another fun fact. Who is the last person that beat you, Hangman?”
Hangman: “It’s New Year, New Me, dumbass. So, I’m 3-0, and if I were a betting man, I would bet that someone is going to come along and knock you down these rankings before you get a whiff of the World title.”
Renee had some breaking news! “Next week on Dynamite both of you will be in Dealer’s Choice matches, choosing each other’s match,” Renee said.
“Well, they choose each other’s opponent,” added Tony Schiavone on commentary.
Thunder Rosa used a gator roll on Red Velvet until they reached the ropes. They got to their feet and traded arm drags. Red Velvet swept out Thunder Rosa’s legs on the ring apron. Red Velvet rocked Rosa with stiff chops.
A slug fest broke out in the ring. Thunder Rosa connected with a running clothesline in the corner, and they drove her knees into Red Velvet. Thunder Rosa hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall. Red Velvet stomped on Thunder Rosa’s midsection. Red Velvet followed up with a knee strike to the back of Thunder Rosa’s head.
Thunder Rosa blasted Red Velvet with a shotgun dropkick. Thunder Rosa finished off Red Velvet with the Tijuana Bomb and pinned her!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Darby Allin and Sting!
Darby Allin: “I want to take a few seconds to talk about a few things. Everyone always asks me what it’s like to tag with “the Icon” Sting. I want to talk about the impact that Sting has had on my career. It started back in 2015 in my first year in professional wrestling, when I saw this man’s career essentially end early from a neck injury. I thought to myself, ‘What if that was me? What if my life’s work was cut short?’
“And then all these years later I hear that Sting is coming to AEW. And I don’t know exactly what for because I heard he’d never wrestle again. And you remember this part, Sting. I flew to your house in Texas, you had a wrestling ring in your garage, and we were rolling around in the ring. And within five minutes I looked at you and what did I say to you? I looked you right in the eyes and I said, ‘You’ve still got it.’ And I’m not lying to you.”
The Young Bucks—Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were showing backstage, wearing headsets and watching monitors!
Darby: “And I told you to get back in this ring and finish the career on your own terms! And now look at us, 27-0, undefeated. And the rankings are back so I think that puts us in the top spot as number one contenders against Big Bill and Ricky Starks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. And we’d be kind of dumb asses not to take the opportunity. So, I’m going to look you in the eyes and say this one more time: ‘You’ve still got it.’ But I’m not alone this time. I think the fans agree that you’ve still got it!”
The fans chanted “You still got it! You still got it!”
Darby: “So what do you say, Sting? Do you want to end your career as AEW World Tag Team Champions? It’s all you, man.”
Sting: “Alright, I’m all in.”
After a commercial break, AEW World Tag Team Champions “Absolute” Ricky Starks and Big Bill responded to Sting and Darby Allin backstage!
Big Bill: “Sting and Darby Allin, thank you for finally having the respect to address us by name. Thank you for having the respect to address us as the AEW World Tag Champions. And as far as your challenge goes, we accept your challenge.”
Starks: “It’s kind of fitting, Sting, that you started your career with me and a partner of mine in your very first match back after six years. And it’s very fitting that now and the best partner I have will be the end of you. You are not making it to Revolution, so you might as well pay us the proper respect that we deserve. Lay down so we can walk right over you and Darby Allin.”
AEW World Trios Championship Match!
The Acclaimed—Anthony Bowens & Max Caster and Daddy Ass (c.) (with ROH World Six-Man Champions Bullet Club Gold)
vs.
The Mogul Embassy—Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona, & “The Machine” Brian Cage!
Brian Cage rammed Caster in the corner with his shoulder. Caster dropkicked Cage. Bowens grabbed a tag and chopped Brian Cage. Bowens pounded Cage with elbows to the back of the head.
Toa and Kaun doubled teamed Bowens in the Mogul Embassy’s corner, utilizing rapid tags. Bowens tried for a tag, but Kaun and Toa pulled Daddy Ass and Max Caster off the apron. Toa ate an elbow strike from Bowens. Daddy Ass finally got a tag and cleaned house on the Mogul Embassy!
Daddy Ass got pounced by Toa. Bowens rocked Toa with a thrust kick. Caster struck Brian Cage with a backhand. Kaun nailed Caster with a shotgun dropkick. Prince Nana slid a steel chair into the ring. The ref was distracted by Prince Nana. Bishop Kaun was about to whack Billy with the chair, but “Switchblade” Jay White yanked the chair out of Kaun’s hand!
“The Bang Bang Scissor Gang, they’ve got each other’s backs,” said Excalibur.
The Gunns power bombed Prince Nana through the timekeeper’s table!
“They were right, perhaps there is strength in numbers. Bullet Club Gold the difference makers tonight,” said Excalibur.
Billy Gunn rocked Bishop Kaun with the Fame-Asser! Bowens blasted Bishop with the Arrival! Caster hit the Mic Drop and finished off Bishop Kaun for the pinfall victory!
Main Event Time!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland vs. Minoru Suzuki!
Copeland and Suzuki slugged it out in the center of the ring. Copeland got his bell rung and collapsed to the mat. Copeland got back up and Suzuki crumbled him again with a solid forearm on the jaw. Copeland backdropped his way out of an attempted piledriver.
Copeland booted Suzuki through the ropes. Suzuki pulled Copeland onto the floor, but Copeland shoved Suzuki through the barricade. Copeland and Suzuki barely made it back into the ring, but they were able to break the ref’s count just in the nick of time.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Suzuki and Copeland were on their knees but exchanged stinging elbows. They got to their feet and traded open hand palm strikes, both men knocking one another down.
Tony Schiavone announced breaking news from Tony Khan! Two weeks away in Phoenix on Dynamite it’ll be AEW World Tag Team Champions “Absolute” Ricky Starks and Big Bill defending their titles against Sting and Darby Allin!
Suzuki had Copeland on spaghetti legs after more open palm strikes. Copeland spiked Suzuki with the Impaler! Copeland tried for a spear, but Suzuki countered with an arm bar! Copeland reached the ropes, forcing the ref to break up the hold.
Copeland speared Suzuki but Suzuki kicked out at the two-count! Suzuki locked in a rear naked sleeper! Copeland was fading fast. Copeland got to his feet and smashed Suzuki into an exposed turnbuckle corner. Copeland cracked Suzuki with the Killswitch, sending a clear message to Christian Cage! Copeland covered Suzuki and scored the pin!
TNT Champion Christian Cage was seen watching on a monitor backstage.
“Christian Cage looks discussed seeing that,” said Taz.
Copeland asked for a microphone.
Copeland: “I’ve never been hit that hard in my life. Suzuki, respect.”
Copeland offered his hand to Suzuki. Suzuki growled and walked away, not taking the loss easy.
Copeland: “I would have been disappointed if he did shake my hand. That was a war. The kind of war that Christian Cage knows nothing about. Christian, I am still coming for you!”
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:
-Anna Jay vs. Ruby Soho!
-Konosuke Takeshita vs. Christopher Daniels!
-Jon Moxley vs. Lee Moriary!
-Freshly Squeezed 4-Way! Kip Sabian vs. Komander vs. The Butcher vs. AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo! Winner gets a shot at the AEW International Championship this Saturday on Collision!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, LA:
-AEW International Championship Match! Orange Cassidy (c.) vs. Winner of Freshly Squeezed 4-Way on Rampage!
-Serena Deeb’s First Match Since 2022!
– “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Yuji Nagata!
-Mariah May vs. Lady Frost!
-The Escape The Cage Elimination Match! FTR & Daniel Garcia vs. House of Black!
Last week as jam-packed with action as new ROH World Six-Man Champions were crowned in BULLET CLUB GOLD, Jon Moxley returned to AEW action, plus Adam Copeland was tested by Dante Martin only to find out he’s got Minoru Suzuki next on his dance card! Did The Bang Bang Scissor Gang became a real thing? How did Thunder Rosa’s return to singles competition go? How did Jeff Hardy respond to losing to Darby Allin? All of that, and more, went down last week, but now our eyes turn to the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA for an all-new DYNAMITE! Copeland versus Suzuki, Jeff Hardy battling Swerve, a battle for the AEW World Trios Championship, “Timeless” Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo face-to-face, Hangman and Penta, and so much more on tap for the AEW faithful in attendance, and those watching around the world!
The road to REVOLUTION 2024 continues this Wednesday on DYNAMITE beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans! Before showtime, 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!
Yes, this is really happening; possibly the most unexpected of all matches thus far in 2024, possibly the most unexpected of either man’s career, Adam Copeland and Minoru Suzuki will do battle on DYNAMITE in the latest of the Cope Open Challenges! This contest will mark the fourth such challenge, but the first one where Adam knows in advance who he’s stepping into the ring to fight.
Griff Garrison, Lee Moriarty, and Dante Martin were all surprise opponents for “The Rated R Superstar”, men who stepped up on the night of the event, giving Copeland no time to prepare for individuals he’d never fought before while they had all spent their lives watching the Hall of Famer compete inside the squared circle.
That’s not say Copeland didn’t have some awareness of each young man’s abilities, he is someone who watches everything and everyone as much as possible, but a couple years of tape on someone versus a couple decades is a huge difference. That being said, there’s no experience like actually sharing the ring with an opponent, it’s something no amount of tape study can prepare you for, and Dante, Griff, and Lee all learned that first hand.
But this Wednesday night will be a different experience because, as in response to Adam’s comment that none of the more seasoned fighters have stepped up to the plate, he will get one of the most experienced fighters in the whole of the professional wrestling landscape!
The legendary Minoru Suzuki is coming back to All Elite Wrestling for a fight with Adam Copeland, and is that a sentence anyone thought would ever be written, much less a match that would actually happen?!? In many ways, this is one of the most important fights of Copeland’s historic career, an opportunity to step way outside the wheel house, and take on a man as versed in submissions as he is striking, as willing to choke you unconscious as to knock you out, a champion everyone he’s gone, “The King of Pancrase”, Minoru Suzuki. MiSu has proven himself quite the sadistic, relishing in the pain of his opponents, but fans have absolutely witnessed that in Copeland over the course of his career. Will this one come down to a question of which man can be more wicked than the other? This is not to be missed!
WHO WILL BE NEXT?
Last week, in a hard-won fight against FTW Champion HOOK, Samoa Joe successfully retained the AEW World Championship. There were many moments where it seemed “The Cold-Hearted, Handsome Devil” just could not be put down, but ultimately he had no choice but to succumb to the overwhelming force that is Samoa Joe.
That defeat didn’t stop HOOK from exchanging words with Joe as he recovered from the beating, leading to the FTW Champ getting dropped with a low blow and another Muscle Buster, and even then, with the support of the ropes, HOOK pulled himself to his feet and kept talking at the champ. Luckily for HOOK, before Samoa Joe could inflict even more damage, Adam Page arrived to the ring to ward off the AEW World Champion. So with Swerve Strickland watching on from ringside, Hangman in the ring, and HOOK still conscious despite the beating, Samoa Joe walked away from the ring knowing who had him in their crosshairs.
This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, we will hear from the AEW World Champion about what is next on his agenda, or perhaps that should be who is next!
ONE-ON-ONE…
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
Given that these two competitors have each been part of All Elite Wrestling since the very beginning, it is astounding that they’ve never once faced off in singles competition. They’ve danced in tag team affairs, a realm where their record is 1-1, and a multi-man affair from February 5, 2020, but no contact save several Battle Royals since their February 19, 2020 AEW World Tag Team Championship bout. Well that all changes this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when, for the very first time, these two AEW stalwarts will go one-on-one!
With Rey Fenix on the injured list, Penta has seen a bit more singles competition than usual, but that doesn’t make him a stranger this realm of competition; after all, he’s been a solo champion many times over throughout his career, just never in All Elite Wrestling. As for Hangman, his credential as former AEW World Champion speaks for itself, and he’s rolling into this having won his last three consecutive singles bouts with one goal on his mind: get the championship back around his waist. Clearly there’s a Swerve Strickland issue lingering in Page’s mind, but the end game is becoming 2-Time World Champion, and that means facing everyone he has to in order to get there. If the title is still around Joe’s waist when that time comes, all the better for Hangman, but no matter who is is, Page has a Buckshot Lariat with their name on it…provided he can show no fear and get past Penta El Zero Miedo!
FACE-TO-FACE…
Clearly AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm hasn’t completely parted ways with reality; as evidenced by the video embedded above, Storm actually does recall her history with Deonna Purrazzo, a relationship that dates back to their shared time in Japan’s Stardom promotion. That time together included bouts as both ally and foe, and even featured a championship fight over their SWA Undisputed Women’s World Title, but that wasn’t the end of their interactions.
They’d meet again in their life pre-AEW, but that didn’t stop Toni Storm from pretending like she had no idea who Deonna was when they finally shared space in All Elite Wrestling. So is this all a mind game from The Timeless One? Where does “Timeless” begin? Or should the question be, where does the Toni Storm we all knew for the first period of her AEW tenure end and this “Timeless” persona come into being? It’s certainly not the person that Deonna Purrazzo knew in Japan, or in the United Kingdom, and hopefully she realizes that as this situation continues to escalate towards the inevitable World Championship clash these women are destined for!
This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, we will all see how it unfolds when these two women are face-to-face on TBS! Will shoes be thrown? Will Mariah May and/or Luther be on-hand, and if so what will their presence mean to these proceedings? Tune in Wednesday night to see what else could possibly come out of Toni Storm’s mouth!
As Swerve Strickland and Jeff Hardy prepare to fight for the very first time, take a look at where these two men currently stand in their All Elite Wrestling careers. Swerve is red-hot at the moment, on a mission to become AEW World Champion, and has declared his intentions, not just to the world, but specifically straight to Samoa Joe’s face. He has no fear about standing toe-to-toe with the AEW World Champion, no interest in anything that “Hangman” Adam Page has to say about their issues, but much like the former AEW World Champ, will do anything he needs to do, fight anyone he needs to fight, in order to make his championship aspirations a reality.
Conversely, Jeff Hardy has experienced a great deal of loss over his last year with All Elite Wrestling. With a record of 8-12 across 2023, seven of those losses came over Jeff’s last ten matches, with two singles losses to his 2023 record as well. While Jeff has not competed in a slew of singles matches, he has not won any since that victory over Darby Allin in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament creeping on two years ago. To add to that, though The Hardys long ago earned consideration as a premiere tag team, they lost six consecutive tag bouts in 2023 before scoring their lone victory in a non-televised match fighting the teams of The Butcher & Blade and Daniel Garcia/Matt Menard. Suffice to say, it’s not been a the best year for the multi-time World Champions, but they’ve declared that changed is afoot, and that was on full display when Jeff Hardy, after losing to Darby Allin on RAMPAGE, bailed out on Darby’s show of respect.
That brings these two competitors to this Wednesday night in Savannah where they will go one-on-one for the very first time! Both men have a goal for their careers, goals certainly at odds with each other, so who will prevail when they lock up on DYNAMITE?
TIME TO FIGHT…
The Undisputed Kingdom’s Wardlow vs. Best Friend’s Trent Beretta
Since unveiling himself as the man behind the devil mask, Adam Cole has repeatedly told the world that Roderick Strong was in pursuit of the AEW International Championship, that ROH World Tag Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett were coming for all the tag teams, and that Wardlow would be AEW World Champion. Of course there’s the comments Cole has made about “The War Dog” handing over the title when the time is rest, though that could also be tongue-in-cheek mocking how MJF used to talk to Wardlow when he was under Max’s thumb, but that’s a situation to be unpacked somewhere down the line.
For now, look at everything Wardlow does as in service of his championship aspirations, and should it be Samoa Joe holding the gold if and when that times comes, all the better given their history with the TNT Championship. The path to title contention has to begin somewhere, with someone, and for Wardlow that person is Trent Beretta, and that somewhere is this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE! This marks Wardlow’s first match under the Undisputed Kingdom banner, and in part it could also be looked at as part of Roderick Strong’s push towards challenging Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship match. After all, this is one of OC’s best friends taking on one of Roddy’s undisputed allies, so there’s more than one layer to this first-ever meeting between Trent Beretta and Wardlow!
AEW WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
Daddy Ass & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster)(c) vs.
The Mogul Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage, & Toa Liona)
Last week was quite a big one for both of the trios engaged in this championship fight on Wednesday night, and their moments are rather tied together as both involve BULLET CLUB GOLD. For The Mogul Embassy, it was watching the ROH World Six-Man Championship titles slip from their grasp on DYNAMITE as BC GOLD emerged from their clash as the new champions. The end came when Jay White caught Bishop Kaun with his Bladerunner to score the three count, but that triumphant moment wasn’t the last of the week for The Bang Bang Gang!
Come COLLISION, White and The Gunns had a face-to-face with the AEW World Trios Champions, the latter looking for a response to their proposition to unify forces in opposition to The Undisputed Kingdom. It came as a bit of a shock that the six men actually drew together, but under the circumstances it was likely the best decision for all involved, and certainly puts all three Gunns, Jay White, Max Caster, and Anthony Bowens at an advantage opposite anyone who tries them. It will be interesting to see where Juice Robinson stands on this decision, but at least Rock Card Juice Board is on the same page with everything.
So now all the events of last week come together on DYNAMITE when the recently-dethroned Mogul Embassy come calling on The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass with Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona aiming to fill the void left behind by the loss of their ROH World Six-Man Championship with the AEW World Trios Championship! This is the first time Prince Nana’s monsters have challenged for these belts and clearly, as 2-Time ROH Six-Man Champions, they have what it takes to dethrone the current champions, and disrupt this newly formed Bang Bang Scissor Gang alliance! It would be wonderful revenge for The Mogul Embassy to take these titles from BC GOLD’s new allies, can they pull it off this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE? Or will the BBSG kick off their new alliance with victory?
The world heard what The Young Bucks had to say last week on DYNAMITE, their words about why they chose to step onto the stage in Jacksonville when Sting was asked who he’d be facing for his final match at REVOLUTION 2024(https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-event/aew-revolution-2024), but how much stock one puts into what Matthew and Nicholas had to say likely varies from person-to-person. Cataloging all their issues with All Elite Wrestling, and people who’ve come through the locker room, but then saying they don’t see Sting as one of those individuals just reeks of seeking justification for their actions.
Well this week we anticipate hearing from Darby Allin and Sting, and getting their response to what The Young Bucks had to say! Will this be the night that a match is officially made for AEW’s March 3rd pay-per-view event? Do not miss out on what “The Icon” and Darby have to share with the AEW faithful!
After sixteen months away, time spent recovering from injury, joining the Spanish announce team for COLLISION, and generally being unsure if a return to in-ring competition would be the payoff for all the pain, sacrifice, and rehabilitation, Thunder Rosa stepped back between the ropes on the final COLLISION of 2023. That night, on her home field of San Antonio, and with Abadon as her partner, Rosa was victorious in tag team action! It was a sign to the rest of the Women’s Division that “La Mera Mera” was back to claim her place atop the division, but she hadn’t been tested in singles competition since BATTLE OF THE BELTS III on August 6, 2022.
Her second match back at DYNAMITE: HOMECOMING 2024 didn’t put that muscle to the test either, though that eight-woman tag also ended in victory for Rosa’s team, but four days ago there was no more postponing the inevitable. On last Saturday’s COLLISION, the former AEW Women’s World Champion stepped into the ring with rising star Queen Aminata, a woman who’d impressed in her AEW bouts with Kris Statlander, Mariah May, Hikaru Shida, as well as in ROH competition. Aminata, even in her losses, had proven herself to be a hard-hitting competitor, one not afraid to throw hands with her opponents, and proven herself capable taking former World Champions into rough waters. This was going to be a tough fight for Rosa’s return to singles competition, but in victory the former World Champion felt empowered:
Thunder’s road back to the top continues this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE when, for the first time, she locks up with Red Velvet in singles competition! Red returned to AEW action last November after her own nine month layoff thanks to injury, coming back with aspirations of ascending to the top of the division, but was frustrated out of the gate by Julia Hart just prior to The House of Black member winning the TBS Championship. She topped Ruby Soho, but fell to Skye Blue in a TBS Title Eliminator match, and was beaten by Deonna Purrazzo two weeks ago on COLLISION. Suffice to say Red needs this victory as much as Thunder Rosa if she wants to get into contention for either of the division’s championships, and she’ aims to give “La Mera Mera” the toughest fight of her comeback thus far!
This Wednesday, AEW returns to the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA for a stacked DYNAMITE, getting underway at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com (https://www.fite.tv/join/aew-plus/) for international fans, and featuring one huge bout after another! Adam Copeland meets Minoru Suzuki in a match no one could’ve imagined ever happening, the AEW World Trios Title will be at stake, Jeff Hardy locks-up with Swerve Strickland, as well as “Timeless” Toni Storm going face-to-face with Deonna Purrazzo! All that and more is coming to the AEW faithful this week, so before the show gets underway, make a point to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorte 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 join us on Saturday in Bossier City, Louisiana for a COLLISION featuring a Trios Elimination Cage Match between The House of Black and FTR/Daniel Garcia!
writer/director Jade Halley Bartlett review by Big Gold Belt Media-SYNOPSIS: A talented young writer (Jenna Ortega) embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher (Martin Freeman) assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly…
Tonight’s AEW COLLISION was broadcast from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, MO!
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 Jon Moxley
vs.
Shane Taylor Promotions’ Shane Taylor (with Lee Moriarty)!
Taylor jabbed at Moxley, taking the fight right to Mox. Jon Moxley fired back with kicks and chops. Taylor stunned Moxley with a stiff shot to the jaw. Moxley popped back up and both men traded forearms. Taylor whipped Moxley into the corner and then connected with a running lariat, leaving Mox gasping for air.
Moxley was looking for a piledriver, but Taylor countered with a backdrop. They began to brawl outside the ring. Moxley hurled Taylor into the steel ring steps. Taylor got back into the ring, but Lee Moriarty cracked Moxley with a pump kick. Taylor dropped Moxley with a side slam for a near fall. Taylor tried for a splash off the second turnbuckle, but Moxley rolled out of the way.
Moxley rocked Taylor with a cutter out of nowhere. Moxley battered Shane Taylor in the corner. Taylor retaliated with a side suplex, but Moxley came back with a suplex of his own. Moxley nailed Taylor with the King Kong Lariat. Taylor nearly decapitated Moxley with a Western Lariat.
Moxley and Taylor traded headbutts! Taylor planted Moxley but Moxley trapped Taylor in a triangle choke. Taylor deadlifted Moxley and slammed him back down, escaping the choke. It backfired and Moxley started pounding Taylor with the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Moxley clocked Taylor with a flying knee strike.
Moxley applied a rear naked choke. Moxley bridged backwards and Taylor was out cold. Moxley won via ref stoppage!
Moxley: “Everybody watching hear this. Right now, I am pissed off. I am pissed off beyond belief. I am hungry beyond belief. From this moment on I am not taking any crap from anyone or anything. In the year of 2024 anyone who wants to step in the ring with me, anyone who calls themselves a colleague or teammate, you only have to do one thing: keep the hell up!”
The “Cope Open” Challenge Match!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland vs. Top Flight’s Dante Martin!
They shook hands before the match, showing mutual respect.
Dante took down Copeland with two big arm drags. Copeland tried for a cross body press off the second turnbuckle, but Dante dodged it. Copeland blocked a kick and then rammed Dante’s head into the turnbuckle. Copeland was trying to take away the equilibrium of Dante, going after Dante’s ear.
Dante clocked Copeland with a reverse question mark kick. Dante was looking for a springboard, but Adam knocked Dante off the top rope. Dante wiped out Copeland with a hurracanrana from the apron. Dante Martin followed up with a tope! Dante followed up with a crossbody press for a near fall on Copeland.
“Dante Martin is pulling out all the stops,” said Kevin Kelly.
Copeland stopped Dante in his tracks with a DDT. Copeland went for the spear, but Dante moved out of the way! Dante retaliated with a moonsault and covered Copeland, but Copeland’s boot touched the ropes, breaking the referee’s count. The crowd was stunned. Dante stunned Copeland with a sunset powerbomb off the top rope, but Copeland managed to kick out at two!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Dante springboarded off the top, but Copeland speared Dante midair! Copeland cranked on the Grindhouse and Dante Martin submitted!
“A standing ovation for Dante Martin!” said Nigel.
Tony Schiavone interviewed Adam Copeland in the ring after the match.
Copeland: “Tony, it gets harder and harder every week. What was I thinking with this Cope Open? I have to give all the credit to Dante Martin. I see all these young guys stepping up to take a bite out of me. I am going to keep coming out here, and working hard, and working hard, and working hard, just like Christian Cage said he was going to when he first came to AEW.
“And Tony, God bless you, I’m going to keep working until I get the TNT Championship and bring it back to TNT. And get in here every Saturday so these people can see their championship, our championship, defended. The next time I set foot in this ring in this great city, I’m going to be your TNT champ.”
Lexy Nair was backstage interviewing Top Flight and Action Andretti when Private Party interrupted!
Private Party started taunting Top Flight because Dante and Darius lost to them when Private Party returned.
Action Andretti: “Sure, you guys got the W, but as far as we saw, Marq Quen grabbed the ropes to get that pinfall!”
Marq Quen: “Nah, I lost my balance. It happens.”
Isiah Kassidy: “Imagine what would happen if we partied with Adam Copeland? We both beat Dante and we’re both Rated R!”
Darius: “If you’re so confident, how about we run it back? I mean, unless you guys are afraid.”
Isiah: “We will, anytime.”
Thunder Rosa vs. Queen Aminata!
“It looks like Top Flight wants another match with Private Party, and I think they deserve it,” said Tony Schiavone.
Thunder Rosa cracked Queen Aminata with a stiff chop. Thunder Rosa grabbed a side headlock. Thunder Rosa knocked Aminata down with a shoulder tackle. Queen Aminata nailed Thunder Rosa with a back breaker.
Thunder Rosa rocked Aminata with a running dropkick. Aminata rallied back with a snap mare and then kicked Thunder Rosa in the back. Aminata walloped Rosa with a hip attack. Thunder Rosa dodged a second hip attack and then took the wind out of Aminata with a double knee strike. Thunder Rosa followed up with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall.
Queen Aminata headbutted Thunder Rosa and then blasted her with an air raid crash for a two-count! Queen Aminata climbed up, looking for the double stomp, but Thunder Rosa pulled her down. Thunder Rosa took Queen Aminata off her feet with a shotgun dropkick. Thunder Rosa planted Aminata with the Tijuana Bomb and then scored the pin!
Ring of Honor World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Bullet Club Gold— “Switchblade” Jay White, and the Gunns—Austin and Colten Gunn, came out to the ring!
Jay White: “We feel it, the people feel it, it’s a different vibe, with the Collision Cowboys back on Saturday night. But something is missing still.”
Austin pulled a cardboard cut out of Juice Robinson from beneath the ring and stood it next to them.
AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass stormed onto the stage!
Daddy Ass: “We’re just out here to congratulate you guys over your recent title win. And we are the AEW Trios Champions. But we can do so much more!”
Max Caster: “That’s right, Bang Bang Gang. It’s one thing to get to the top of AEW, but it’s another thing to stay there. Just think if we were a supergroup. Together we’d be unstoppable in the ring, unstoppable in the back, unstoppable where it counts—with all the people. And I know the people want to see Billy Gunn with some singles gold.”
The fans started chanting “Daddy Ass! Daddy Ass! Daddy Ass!”
Max Caster: “I know the people want to see the Gunns with tag team titles, and Jay, I know the people want to see you as the World Heavyweight Champion. Listen! This is not our ceiling.”
The fans now chanted “Bang Bang Scissor Gang! Bang Bang Scissor Gang!”
Anthony Bowens: “The Acclaimed—we’ve been given the runaround before and we’re not going to take it anymore. We want an answer now. You don’t just have to answer to us. You have to answer to St. Louis. Do you want to see the Acclaimed and Bullet Club Gold unite?”
The fans chanted “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Bowens: “Of course you do! Everyone loves the Acclaimed! Scissors up! Guns up! Guys, this could be us every single week! The Bang Bang Scissor Gang!”
The Bang Bang Gang and the Acclaimed scissored with their hands and the crowd erupted!
“The formation of the Bang Bang Scissor Gang!” said Kevin Kelly.
“What a moment and you saw it live on Collision on TNT,” added Tony Schiavone.
Backstage footage aired from this past week’s Dynamite, with AEW Women’s Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm, Mariah May, and Luther the Butler addressing “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo!
Toni Storm: “Fine, I know who you are, Ms. Purrazzo. Yes, I remember our time very well, I remember our dojo days in the land of the rising sun. And as for me, I am cursed with this rampant sexuality. I will meet you, I will complete you, and then I will beat you!”
The House of Black’s Buddy Matthews (with Malakai Black & Brody King)
vs.
Daniel Garcia!
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Before the match began, FTR—Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, walked down to the ring to corner Daniel Garcia.
Buddy Matthews shoved Garcia to the mat. Buddy followed up with a big shoulder tackle. FTR shouted words of encouragement to Garcia, telling Garcia to outwrestle Matthews. Buddy spiked Garcia with a DDT. Buddy walloped Garcia with a knee strike on the apron. Garcia rallied back with a piledriver on the apron!
“Guys, we may be getting a double count out here,” said Tony Schiavone.
Both men made it back into the ring just in the nick of time before the 10-count. Garcia stormed Buddy with fists of fire and then stepped on Buddy’s head. Garcia applied a figure four around the ring post, shades of the great Bret “the Hitman” Hart! Back in the ring, Garcia applied the sharpshooter! Buddy grabbed Garcia’s head and began bashing it against the mat, escaping the sharpshooter.
Buddy blasted Garcia with knee strikes! Buddy nailed Garcia with a deadlift jackhammer for a near fall! Buddy was looking for a powerbomb, but Garcia slipped out, and scored the surprise jackknife pin!
The House of Black and FTR and Garcia began to brawl! Referees and security tried to separate the two teams. The locker room emptied and rushed to the ring, trying to tear the teams apart!
“I’m not so sure anyone can stop this! My God what are we watching!” yelled Schiavone.
“Only these six men can settle this!” added Kevin Kelly.
After a commercial break, Lexy Nair caught up with FTR and Daniel Garcia backstage for their comments!
Dax Harwood: “This has been going on for too long! I think we need to end it! Next week, six man tag, elimination style, inside a cage! Top guys out!”
The Undisputed Kingdom’s Roderick Strong (with ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett)
vs.
Matt Sydal!
Strong and Sydal chain wrestled, going hold for hold. Sydal connected with a spinning kick and then a plancha. Roddy caught Matt Sydal and drilled him with a perfect back breaker. Sydal took Roddy down with a hurracanrana. Sydal staggered Strong with a spinning heel kick. Sydal rocked Roderick with a meteora.
“Fans we have breaking news from Tony Khan! Next week Elimination Trios Steel Cage Match live on Collision! FTR and Daniel Garcia against the House of Black!” announced Tony Schiavone.
Sydal covered Roddy after an air raid crash, but Roddy escaped before the three-count. Roderick retaliated with a big knee lift. Roddy finished off Sydal with the End of Heartache and then pinned Sydal!
“Perfect strategy from Roderick Strong,” said Nigel.
Roddy looked into the camera and said, “Orange Cassidy, you see that?”
Danielson took down Kingston and blasted Kingston in the spine with a kick. Kingston used a snap mare takeover and kicked Danielson in the back! Ortiz tagged in and he and Kingston double suplexed Danielson.
Claudio grabbed a tag and tore off Ortiz’s shirt. Claudio clubbed Ortiz with European Uppercuts. Ortiz fought off Danielson and Claudio until the numbers became too much for him. Claudio drove Ortiz back into the BCC’s corner with his power. Claudio hurled Ortiz around the ring with the Giant Swing!
Danielson tagged in and walloped Ortiz with kicks. Ortiz got to his feet and nailed Bryan with a clothesline.
Tony Schiavone announced he had breaking news from Tony Khan; the ranking system is returning to AEW, so every win is crucial!
Ortiz tagged out to Kingston, and Claudio tagged in. Claudio and Ortiz exchanged chops and forearms in the center of the ring, going back and forth. Claudio slapped Eddie in the face! Eddie answered with machine gun chops to Claudio’s chest! Kingston sent Claudio crashing and burning with an exploder suplex!
Claudio connected with a short arm clothesline for a two-count. Danielson tagged in and cracked Kingston with a flying headbutt, a move made famous by Kansas City’s own Harley Race. Kingston stunned Danielson with a DDT out of nowhere! Ortiz tagged in and he and Kingston dropped Danielson with tandem offense. Ortiz hit a tope on Danielson, and Kingston hit one on Claudio on the other side of the ring!
“Nobody has had the back of Kingston quite like Ortiz,” said Kevin Kelly.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Danielson put Ortiz in the LeBell Lock. Ortiz reached the ropes. Danielson captured the wrists of Ortiz and began to stomp on his head. Claudio forced Kingston to watch the assault on Ortiz. Danielson nailed Ortiz with a running knee strike and pinned Ortiz!
After the match, Danielson told Kingston he would not hold his titles long and then spat at him! Danielson left the ring, smirking, while Kingston checked on Ortiz.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, SC!
Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
TNT Championship Match!
“The Patriarch” Christian Cage (c.) (with Nick Wayne & Killswitch)
vs.
“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes!
The fans chanted “Let’s go Dustin! Let’s go Dustin! Let’s go Dustin!”
Christian Cage hit Dustin with a cheap shot, kicking him in the abdomen. Rhodes fired back with a scoop slam. Christian rolled out of the ring, swept out Dustin’s legs, and was about to pull Dustin by the legs into the ring post. Instead, Dustin pulled back, sending Christian headfirst into the steel ring post. Dustin flew off the ring steps with a clothesline, taking the fight to the champion outside the ring.
Rhodes hit Christian Cage with a haymaker. Christian Cage took a huge risk and jumped off the turnbuckles and landed on Dustin Rhodes outside the ring. Back in the ring, Dustin strung together a flurry of offense and punctuated it with a bulldog for a near fall!
Dustin rocked Christian with a Code Red for a two-count! Christian played possum, begging off Dustin but then pulling him down onto the ropes. Dustin went for a tope, but Christian countered with a stiff strike. Christian connected with a frog splash for a two-count on Rhodes.
Christian grabbed his title from the timekeeper’s table. Christian was about to smash the title against Dustin’s head, but ref Aubrey Edwards grabbed it away. As the ref was distracted, Dustin rolled up Christian in a small package. Nick Wayne jumped in the ring and reversed the cradle attempt, rolling Christian on top of Dustin. “The Natural” managed to kick out!
“That was quick thinking by Nick Wayne. It didn’t work but it was smart,” said Taz.
Dustin slugged Christian. Dustin superplexed Christian Cage as more interference from Nick Wayne backfired. Dustin Rhodes rocked Christian with the Cross Rhodes for a near fall! Nick Wayne grabbed at Dustin’s ankle. Dustin met Wayne outside the ring while Christian distracted the ref. Killswitch diverted Dustin’s attention this time, and Nick Wayne climbed to the top turnbuckle. Nick went for Wayne’s World, but Dustin countered with a Canadian Destroyer on the arena floor!
Dustin got back into the ring and Christian speared him! Christian smashed Dustin with the Killswitch but Dustin kicked out at the two-count! Dustin got back up, but Christian connected with a second Killswitch and pinned Dustin!
“That spear was a direct message to Adam Copeland,” said Taz.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Swerve Strickland!
Swerve said not only did he have his eyes on the main event, but he also has his eyes everywhere. He said it didn’t matter if it was Samoa Joe or Hook who came out as champion. Swerve said he’s the most dangerous man going after the most coveted prize in the industry. Renee mentioned “Hangman” Adam Page, another man going after that prize. Swerve said, “Like I said, I’ve got eyes everywhere.” Swerve said he’s beaten Hangman twice now and he’s got no reason to prove it again.
Renee Paquette interviewed “The Ocho” Chris Jericho backstage!
Jericho said the Don Callis Family ripped those AEW World Tag Team championship belts out of his and Sammy Guevara’s hands at Battle of the Belts last Saturday. “Takeshita, Hobbs, you caused us to lose, and you injured Sammy. Now, even though I just beat you in Tokyo, Takeshita, suddenly that match doesn’t mean as much anymore. I’m going to seek and destroy your ass!”
Matt Sydal interrupted and questioned why Jericho was losing it over this defeat. “To get over this loss, you have to get back in that ring and you have to fight somebody who’s beaten you before, like me.”
Jericho: “You’re asking for a match? I respect you as a wrestler. Some would even say you’re born to do this. Maybe we need to do this match on Rampage, but I’ve got to warn you, I’ve got a lot of pent up aggression. So be careful what you wish for. I’ll see you on Friday.”
Komander & Penta El Zero Miedo (with Rey Fenix and Alex Abrahantes)!
Orange and Penta El Zero Miedo had a stare down in the center of the ring. Penta blasted Orange with round kicks. Orange attempted a DDT, but Penta countered with a massive thrust kick. Penta was about to fly out of the ring, but Trent cut him off. Komander tagged in and hit a missile dropkick on Trent.
Trent suplexed Komander with a half-and-half and then returned Orange back to the ring. Orange covered Komander for a near fall. Komander took Trent over the top rope with his legs. Komander up kicked at Cassidy. Penta tagged in and stunned Orange with a sling blade, and then a second sling blade! Penta pulped Orange with the Made in Japan, good for a two-count!
Orange spiked Penta with a DDT. Trent tagged in and pie faced Komander. Trent hammered Komander against the ropes. Komander cradled Trent for a near fall. Trent chopped Komander, backing him up to his corner. Penta tagged in, jumped off Komander’s back, and walloped Trent with an assisted Canadian Destroyer! Komander walked the ropes and splashed Trent. Komander covered Trent for the pin, but Orange jumped in to break it up.
Komander climbed to the top turnbuckle and tried for the Phoenix Splash. Trent dodged it and returned fire with a knee strike! Penta popped up out of nowhere and nailed Trent with a thunderous thrust kick. Penta springboarded off the ropes but Orange jumped in, shoved Trent out of the way, and rocked Penta with the Beach Break! Cassidy cracked Komander with the Orange Punch! Trent hoisted up Komander, hit the Crunchy, and pinned Komander!
After the match, the Undisputed Kingdom walked onto the ramp and down to the ring!
Roderick Strong: “I know you’ve heard me say it to the fans and other people, but I came out here to say it to your face, Orange. So, take off your glasses and look me in the eyes! Orange, take your glasses off now! We can end you right now if we wanted to.
“Listen, you have been a fighting champion, willing to take on anyone at any time, but tonight you decided to wrestle in a tag match and not defend the AEW International Championship. But why? Is it all becoming too much? Are you afraid you don’t have enough in the tank to keep it? Or are you afraid of me coming for it, and you can’t face it? It belongs to me and I’m coming for it. I’m here to make you face it!”
Orange Cassidy: “Alright, you know what. You got it. Let’s do it, right here, right now.”
Roderick Strong: “No, no, not right now. You, you’re going to have to wait until March 3rd, live on pay-per-view on Revolution. Because I want you for the next six weeks to live with that, to accept that, to wake up every day knowing that you’re just keeping my title warm for me.”
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview “Hangman” Adam Page!
Page: “If you think back on the past five years, you will not find another soul on the planet who cared more about the AEW World Championship than I have. Who treated it with reverence. Who needed it. But in 2024, not only will I win it, but I will also put my name on it and keep it there for as long as I can.
“Swerve seems to think about me a lot. I don’t think about him at all. If he says he can beat me, I would say it doesn’t matter. Because he’s not the World Champion. Samoa Joe is. I’ll be watching tonight. And if Hook wins, God be with you.”
Mark Briscoe walked onto the ramp to honor his brother, Jay!
The Briscoe family was in the front row.
Mark Briscoe: “I come to you tonight representing the baddest tag team in the history of this planet, the Briscoe Brothers. Tragically, one year ago tonight, my brother passed on in a car accident. He moved onto the next level of existence. My nieces were in the truck with him, and tragically they told my oldest niece she’ll never walk again. However, damn it, God is on the throne! We won’t stop because we can’t stop!”
Mark’s niece walked onto the stage!
Mark Briscoe: “We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!”
A tribute package aired honoring Jay Briscoe.
#Demboys
Renee Paquette had a sit down interview with the Young Bucks—Nick and Matt Jackson!
Nick: “I’m sorry to cut you off, but can you show us some respect and call us by our God-given names, Nicholas and Matthew? We’re executive vice presidents around here, and it’s time to take this job a little more seriously.”
Matt: “Good point.”
Renee: “We’ve heard about the public tantrums, the rumors…”
Matt: “Rumors, you want to go there? I think I know which rumor you’re talking about. You don’t believe the things they say or write about us, do you? None of those are true. Let’s say hypothetically some of those things were true. What would you do to preserve and protect your life’s work? What would you do to protect your baby? I know what I would do. So just think of that the next time you come at us with rumors again. And again, this is all hypothetical, but what would you be willing to lose?
“Also, would you be willing to lose your relationship with coworkers and your friends? How about your legacy and reputation, out the window. If you knew all that in hindsight, would you do all that if it meant there’d be a healthy, sustainable company called AEW? I’ll answer that. Hell yeah. And speaking of there being a company around, you got your paycheck this week, right? You’re welcome.”
Renee: “Switching gears, let’s talk Sting.”
Matt: “When we started AEW there in the beginning, you weren’t there, so you wouldn’t know. But we used to say, ‘Change the world.’ We were disrupters. We were changing the world and somewhere along the way, we lost our way. It’s like the culture shifted and toxicity crept into the locker room. It was just different. I think I know why. I think it’s because we started to lean on yesterday’s self-serving, cancerous superstars.
“And you mentioned Sting. This isn’t about Sting. Sting is none of those things. Sting is great. Sting is a role model employee. I’m envious of the way they talk about Sting. Maybe they’ll talk about us like that one day. However, it’s what Sting represents. Sting is the last of that dying breed. And the image of Sting isn’t in line with what we wanted to do with AEW. We wanted to change the world. Unfortunately for Sting, we’re going to have to say goodbye to Sting and everybody like Sting. And we would never ask anybody to do anything that we weren’t willing to do ourselves.”
Nick: “Good point.”
Renee: “Is that an official call out to Sting at Revolution for his final match?”
Nick: “As EVPs, we’ll pull some strings.”
ROH World Six-Man Championship Match!
The Mogul Embassy (c.)—Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona, & “The Machine” Brian Cage
vs.
Bullet Club Gold— “Switchblade” Jay White, and The Gunns—Austin & Colten!
Toa backed up Jay White. Toa tried for a chop, but Jay ducked it. Jay blistered up Toa’s chest with chops of his own. Toa retaliated with a heavy chop and then multiple knee strikes to Jay’s lower back.
Bishop Kaun tagged in and continued the assault on White. Jay White landed a dragon screw leg whip and tagged out to Colten. Colten stomped on Kaun and then Austin tagged in. Cage grabbed a tag but ate some right hands from Austin. Brian Cage retaliated with a German Suplex. The Gates of Agony double teamed Austin, double teaming him.
Colten tagged in and cleaned house on the Mogul Embassy! Colten nailed Cage with a neck breaker. Toa ran in and sent Colten for a ride with a wicked pounce! The Gates of Agony hurled Colten into Cage and Cage power bombed Colten! Kaun connected with an Air Raid Crash, but Austin and Jay ran in to make the save and break up the pin.
Jay White shoved Cage into the steel ring post! Jay White lit up Bishop with heavy chops, sending thunderous echoes throughout the arena. The Gunns blasted Cage with the 3:10 to Yuma! Bishop Kaun split leg dropkicked the Gunns. Kaun distracted the ref while Prince Nana tripped up Jay White. Kaun hit a lung blower on Jay White for a near fall. Prince Nana jumped in the ring with the belt, ready to hit White while Kaun distracted the ref. Anthony Bowens sprinted to the ring and pulled the belt away from Prince Nana! Jay White rocked Kaun with the Blade Runner and pinned him!
And new ROH World Six-Man Champions…Bullet Club Gold!
AEW Trios Champs The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass came out onto the ramp and saluted Bullet Club Gold with the scissor hand gesture.
“Could we be seeing the genesis of the Bang Bang Scissor Gang?” wondered Excalibur.
The Undisputed Kingdom’s Adam Cole and Wardlow were backstage!
Cole: “Wardlow hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he’s capable of, but now with the Undisputed Kingdom, this man will be unbeatable. This man will go down as the most dominant AEW professional wrestler of all time, I promise you that. And just wait and see until Wardlow continues to run over opponent after opponent after opponent until there is nothing left but the AEW World Championship, which will then be the property of the Undisputed Kingdom. Ain’t that right, big man?”
Wardlow: “Boom!”
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo vs. Anna Jay!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm joined the commentary team for this match. She was flanked by Mariah May and Luther the Butler.
Deonna hit an uppercut to Anna’s arm. Anna fired back with a neck breaker over the ropes on Deonna. Deonna rocked Anna with clotheslines. Deonna pump kicked Anna for a near fall. Anna cracked Deonna with a backstabber for a two-count.
Anna tried to lock in the Queen Slayer, but Deonna rolled through. They traded forearms. Deonna flattened out Anna, locked on the Venus de Milo, and Anna was forced to submit!
Renee Paquette interviewed Deonna Purrazzo in the ring!
Renee: “Toni Storm said she’d like to meet with you, but the champ is right there. Is there anything you’d like to say to her?”
Deonna: “Absolutely. Toni, I don’t know what’s gotten into you. We’ve known each other for a long time. We used to be like sisters. And it’s clear since I arrived at AEW that you’ve changed. But you know what? So, have I. You might have been friends with Deonna Purrazzo, but you have never met the greatest technical wrestler in the world, ‘the Virtuosa.’”
Toni: “Technical? You’re technical? Well technically speaking, you’re an artificially tanned hack. My past is none of your concern. I aught to march right in that ring and sock you right in that box! But we must go to commercial. So, chin up, t-ts out, and watch for the shoe!”
Mariah May threw a shoe at Deonna! Deonna threw it back!
Toni: “You’re toast! You’re going down!”
Luther carried Toni away on his shoulders.
Top Flight—Dante & Darius Martin vs. Private Party—Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy!
Kassidy and Darius exchanged a flurry of offense, each countering the other, going hold for hold! Dante and Marq grabbed tags. Marq Quen went after Dante’s ankle. Kassidy hit a big springboard crossbody on Dante.
Marq Quen hit two planchas on both members of Top Flight! Quen went to the top turnbuckle and connected with a 450 splash, but Dante managed to kick out! Top Flight rocked Marq Quen with a quick combination. Dante cracked Quen in the nose with a knee strike. Isiah stunned Dante with a step over kick.
Private Party served up Gin & Juice on Dante! Darius ran in to make the save but Marq Quen rolled him up, and with the help of the ropes, scored the pin!
“Whoa a little highway robbery there,” said Taz.
Excalibur wondered if it was intentional or if it was just instinct.
“Either way, Top Flight feeling like they were wronged here tonight,” said Excalibur.
A Sting and Darby Allin video package aired!
“This story is going to end with me and Sting as AEW World champions,” said Darby.
Sting: “It’s showtime.”
Main Event Time! AEW World Championship Match!
Samoa Joe (c.) vs. FTW Champion HOOK!
Hook charged into battle, peppering the champ with shots. Samoa Joe immediately sent Hook to the outside. Samoa Joe whipped Hook at the barricade, but Hook jumped onto the barricade and then jumped back at Joe with a shot!
Back in the ring, Samoa Joe sent Hook into the ropes and then drove him hard to the mat with a running back elbow. Samoa Joe jabbed at Hook with right hands! Samoa Joe pummeled Hook in the corner with more strikes.
Samoa Joe walloped Hook with a kick and then an elbow drop for a two-count. Hook was looking for a T-bone suplex, but Samoa Joe stopped him with an elbow strike. Hook tripped Samoa Joe and then clobbered him with a wild ride hand from off the apron! Samoa Joe spiked Hook onto the announcer’s desk, and it collapsed under Hook!
Hook flipped off Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe power bombed Hook onto the ring apron! The ref had Doc Sampson examine Hook at ringside. Hook wouldn’t stay down; he shoved the doctor away and got back into the ring. Samoa Joe powerslammed Hook for a near fall!
“What is this man made of?” wondered Excalibur.
Samoa Joe nailed Hook with a Death Valley Driver for a two-count! Hook was still alive, despite being put through hell! Samoa Joe planted Hook with a muscle buster and Hook kicked out at the one-count!
Hook blasted Samoa Joe with three consecutive lariats. Hook sent Samoa Joe for a ride with a T-bone suplex! Hook tried to lock in the Red Rum, but Samoa Joe blocked it! Samoa Joe countered with his own submission. The ref raised Hook’s arm three times, but Hook didn’t respond. The ref ended the match, declaring Samoa Joe the winner.
“Hook wrestled the match of a lifetime. The good news for Hook is this is only the beginning. Hook has quite a career ahead of him,” said Ian.
As Samoa Joe was leaving with his title, Hook yelled, “Is that all you got?”
Samoa Joe jumped back into the ring and kicked Hook between the legs! Samoa Joe planted Hook with another muscle buster!
“Not after this match! Joe didn’t need to do this,” said Excalibur.
Hook was undaunted and got back to his feet, pointing at Samoa Joe who was outside the ring! Samoa Joe got back into the ring. “Hangman” Adam Page sprinted to the ring, having seen enough out of Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe finally left the ring, glaring at Hangman Page. Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana appeared in the front row! Swerve was smirking at Page and Samoa Joe. Hangman helped Hook to his feet.
“Hook put up a hell of a fight, but he came up short. That’s all right. He will be a world champion. That will happen,” said Taz.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA!
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 Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, MO!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE: Homecoming was broadcast live from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL!
Your broadcast team was Excalibur, Jim Ross, and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
Continental Crown Championship Match!
Eddie Kingston (c.) vs. ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta!
Yuta and Kingston chain wrestled at the start of the match. Yuta applied pressure to Eddie’s wrist and arm. Yuta kicked Eddie in the head, taunting him. Eddie got to his feet and smacked Yuta in the face with an open palm strike. Yuta fired back with a tope, driving Eddie into the barricade.
Yuta connected with a big cross body press. Yuta charged at Kingston in the corner, but Kingston moved out of the way. Kingston used his rapid fire chops to Yuta’s chest. They brawled outside the ring. Yuta drove Kingston shoulder first into the barricade. Yuta focused his attack on Kingston’s right arm, stomping on it.
Back in the ring, Wheeler Yuta dropkicked Eddie Kingston. Yuta planted Kingston shoulder first onto the mat. Yuta slapped Kingston in the face. Eddie had enough and hit Yuta with a capture suplex. Kingston followed up with an exploder suplex. Both men were hurting, and both men were down.
Yuta charged at Kingston, but Kingston countered with a DDT for a near fall. Kingston blistered the chest of Yuta with more chops. They jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle and Yuta spiked Kingston with a diving DDT. Kingston escaped the pin attempt by touching the bottom rope with his boot!
Wheeler Yuta smashed Eddie with hammer and anvil elbows. Yuta applied a cross arm breaker. Yuta wrenched up on the wrist of Kingston. The champ grabbed the bottom rope to force the ref to break the hold. Yuta nailed Eddie with a German Suplex for a close near fall. Yuta climbed to the top and splashed Eddie for a two-count!
Wheeler shoved the ref out of the way and booted Eddie in the face. Eddie got to his feet and cracked Yuta with a spinning back fist. Eddie blasted Yuta with a half and half suplex, followed up with a Northern Lights Bomb, and pinned Yuta!
Renee Paquette was backstage with The Hardys and Mark Briscoe!
Renee asked if the fans could expect to see more of the Hardys and Mark teaming up as a trio.
Briscoe: “Renee, the Hardy Boys and Big Chicken himself kicked ass and took names and I have a feeling we’re not done!”
Jeff: “Not only did we kick ass in the ring, but we also kicked ass in the ratings. Viewership, demos, all categories.”
Matt: “Myself and Jeff, we want to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles, but I could see some Trios gold in the future of this combination. You know why we have so much respect for you? Because when we fought you and your brother, you brought it to us like no one else! We were meant to be a trio. And I see great things in our future!”
Jeff Hardy put a Hardys Boys necklace around Mark’s neck.
Matt: “As of right now, you’re one of us!”
Swerve Strickland vs. Matt Sydal!
Sydal tried to score a pin early on. Swerve answered with a back breaker, showing off his mean streak. Swerve cracked Sydal with a flying European Uppercut.
“There’s sheer confidence on Swerve’s face,” said Excalibur.
“There should be,” replied Tony Schiavone.
Sydal took down Swerve with a rana and then a rising knee strike. Swerve came back with a back breaker once again. Sydal connected with an Air Raid Crash for a near fall. Swerve rallied back with a rolling flatliner and then a vertical suplex. Sydal dodged the Swerve Stomp. Swerve came back with a JML Driver and pinned Sydal!
“A very impressive victory,” said Jim Ross.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Top Flight and Action Andretti!
Private Party interrupted them! Dante Martin took issue with Private Party interrupting them for a second time. Private Party challenged any two of them to a match, and Top Flight and Action Andretti seemed up to the task!
Hikaru Shida vs. Queen Aminata!
Shida shoved at the Queen and then took her down with a shoulder tackle. Aminata slipped out of the corner and rocked Shida with a hip attack and then a running boot to the side of Shida’s head. Aminata kicked Shida in the small of the back.
Shida invited Aminata to kick her and Aminata answered. Aminata tried for a running knee, but Shida intercepted it and countered with a dragon screw leg whip. Aminata headbutted Shida to the sternum and followed up with a German Suplex. Shida dazed her opponent with a short arm lariat.
Shida stunned Aminata with a jumping knee. Shida spiked Aminata with a Falcon Arrow with a near fall. Shida finished off Aminata with the katana and pinned the Queen! They hugged after the match.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Ruby Soho and Saraya!
Renee wished Ruby a happy belated birthday. Renee said it seemed like the addition of Harley Cameron has been great for them.
Saraya: “Yeah, there’s a reason why she’s not here. I mean, Ruby, I have to show you something, and I’m sorry, this is going to break your heart. The only reason I’m going to show you this is because I love you. And I’m sorry it’s on your birthday.”
Saraya pushed play on a remote control and hidden footage aired of Harley backstage, approaching Angelo Parker. Harley grabbed Parker by the face and pulled him in for a kiss. Saraya paused the footage.
Saraya: “Yeah, I don’t want to say I told you so Ruby, but…”
Angelo Parker walked onto the set singing Happy Birthday, holding a birthday cake. Ruby shoved the cake in Angelo’s face and told him to go to hell! She stormed off!
Saraya looked at Angelo and said, “I always in.”
Parker: “It’s not what it looks like!”
Parker hit play on the remote control and the footage continued, and it was clear he was pushing away from Harley, not wanting her kiss. But Ruby, Saraya, and Renee had already left.
Main Event Time!
The Dark Order—Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, & John Silver (with -1)
Angelo Parker came out with the cake still on his face. Excalibur noted that Parker never kissed Harley, but Ruby didn’t see that part of the footage play out.
Hager was fired up and rocked John Silver with a stiff shot. Menard tagged in and rammed Silver into the turnbuckle. Alex Reynolds grabbed a blind tag and connected with a flying uppercut to Menard.
The Dark Order triple teamed Menard in the corner with a flurry of offense. Evil Uno planted Parker with a neck breaker. Uno splashed Parker with a senton from the top for a near fall. Silver booted Parker in the back of the head. The Dark Order hit the pendulum bomb on Parker but Menard broke up the pin just in time!
Menard swept out the leg of Silver. Menard and Parker nailed Reynolds with a double DDT. Hager splashed Reynolds with the Hager Bomb for a near fall. Negative One pulled out Jake Hager’s hat and distracted Hager. Hager grabbed the hat out of Negative One’s hand. Silver and Reynolds rocked Hager with tandem offense as Hager had been scolding Negative One. After a jackknife, Reynolds pinned Hager!
“A very special win for Dark Order to cap off our return to Daily’s Place,” said Excalibur.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, SC!
Special Programming Note: Don’t miss AEW Collision and Battle Of The Belts IX on Saturday on TNT beginning at 8/7c from Chartway Arena in Norfolk, VA featuring:
-ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship Match: Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony (c.) vs. Lance Archer & The Righteous!
-Deonna Purrazzo vs. Red Velvet!
– “Hangman” Adam Page making his return to Norfolk!
– “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland in an Open Challenge!
-Trios Match: FTR & Daniel Garcia vs. House of Black!
-TBS Championship Match: Julia Hart (c.) vs. Anna Jay!
-AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy (c.) vs. Preston Vance!
-AEW World Tag Team Championship Street Fight: “Absolute” Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c.)
vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Coming out of ,,WORLDS END and kicking off 2024, All Elite Wrestling began a new chapter with Samoa Joe taking the helm as AEW World Champion and the revelation that Adam Cole had been The Devil in MJF’s life the whole time. Those two elements changed the landscape of AEW moving into the new year, and then there was the arrival of Deonna Purrazzo on the heels of Mariah May’s in-ring debut, but at least some things remain the same, like Orange Cassidy still AEW International Champion after his fight with Dante Martin Wednesday night, and Wheeler Yuta still ROH Pure Champion after Friday’s fight with Komander.
The new era for AEW continues this Saturday with 2024’s first COLLISION, but it comes with a mix of something old and something new! The rivalry between The House of Black and FTR has been simmering for months, and will explode in tag team warfare this Saturday night while Eddie Kingston defends his Continental Crown for the very first time against Trent Beretta! It comes with AEW’s return to the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC this Saturday night for COLLISION, live on TNT, begin at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT! Get prepared for the night’s festivities 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 moments from WORLDS END 2023, plus the latest CONTROL CENTER, and so much more!
TAG TEAM GRUDGE MATCH…
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. The House of Black (Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)
On the October 7th edition of COLLISION, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood were decimated by Big Bill and Ricky Starks resulting in the loss of the AEW World Tag Team Championship. It was a heartbreaking, physical dissection of the defending champs, one that left FTR still feeling the bruises on October 21st when they returned to in-ring competition. Just a minute into that tag team match the lights in the arena went out, and when they returned Malakai Black stood opposite Cash and Dax. Before either could react, the lights were doused once again, and this time when they flared back to life, it wasn’t just Malakai standing there, he’d been joined by Buddy Matthews and Brody King, leading to a 3-on-2 assault on FTR.
It seemed a similar scenario would play out a week later when, after Starks defeated Dax in singles competition, the lights went out once more and The House of Black, who’d been watching the bout from a distance, appeared inside the ring. It was only the arrival of LFI that balanced the scales, leading to the most unlikely of temporary alliances between FTR and LFI, but one that was destined to be short-lived as FULL GEAR 2023 put FTR, LFI of RUSH and Dralistico, as well as Brody King and Malakai Black, in a Ladder Match against Big Bill and Ricky Starks with the AEW World Tag Titles hanging in the balance.
Starks and Bill would retain, the end coming when Starks smashed one of the hanging belts into the skull of Cash Wheeler, but that did nothing to quell the fires burning between FTR and The House. Malakai and company were on the spot to make verbal allusions after FTR beat The Righteous, and when FTR came to fight The House after they defeated Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels, Cash and Dax were instead subjected to, first, an offer to join The House, and then a brutal assault they left both unconscious in the ring.
Then it got personal; three weeks ago, the December 16th edition of COLLISION, Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black put Dax’s wife and child into the conversation, burning a picture of the three of them, and telling FTR that The House was their family now. The challenge for this tag team fight was finally made when Cash and Dax came to the aid of Daniel Garcia and Matt Menard following Garcia’s victory over Brody King.
So it all comes down to this Saturday night as former 2-Time AEW World Tag Champions FTR meet The House of Black as honored by Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews; the tension, the animosity, the vitriol between these two units has reached a fever pitch, and it will explode live on COLLISION come Saturday night! With as personal as their issue has gotten, the AEW official tasked with maintaining order is going to have their hands full…
This is a match full of firsts; not only is it the first defense of the Continental Crown since its creation at WORLDS END last Saturday night, it is also the first time Eddie Kingston and Trent Beretta will step into the ring for a fight! They stood on the same side of the ring at ALL IN: LONDON in Stadium Stampede, and both were part of the ALL OUT 2020 Casino Battle Royale, but this will be the first time they’ve ever been foes in a traditional match.
But this isn’t just a match is it? This is Eddie Kingston fighting for his life’s work, something he already put at risk when he laid the ROH World Championship and NJPW STRONG Openweight Title on the line to create, along with the AEW Continental Title, this Continental Crown. Every fight Kingston had during the Continental Classic Tournament put his status as a double champion at risk, but “The Mad King” persevered through adversity and loss to win the Blue League, capping it off with a victory over Jon Moxley in the Finals at WORLDS END.
There is no way Kingston will let this crown slip off his head easily, Trent Beretta is going to have to utterly incapacitate Eddie in order to win this match, but there’s just something about Beretta as of late that makes it seem like he’d be willing to go to such lengths. Fans have seen the man get down and dirty in Parking Lot Brawls before, so they know Trent Beretta is capable of the violence it may take to put Eddie Kingston down.
The thing with Eddie though is that he knew the second he beat Jon Moxley, he’d become a target for any individual striving for championship success. It’s not a matter of shattering a dream, Kingston isn’t a dreamer, he’s a fighter and one who knows that as long as he laces up the boots, the fight will never end. Every day someone will be gunning for him, after all he’s a man hoarding three different championships from three different companies, making him a target for people from every single one. Trent Beretta just happens to be the first, and even if Kingston makes it past him, there will be another and another and another waiting to take their shot at the Continental Crown upon The Mad King’s head!
STING’S FINAL CHARLOTTE APPEARANCE!
Darby Allin & Sting vs. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
Ahead of their fight with The Don Callis Family on ,,DYNAMITE: HOMECOMING 2024 in Jacksonville, Darby Allin and “The Icon” Sting will be in tag team action this Saturday night! It’s a huge opportunity for The Workhorsemen of Anthony Henry and JD Drake, facing Darby and Sting, given the amount of respect and admiration the pair have for “The Icon”, but it’s also so much more than that. See this night at Bojangles Coliseum will be Sting’s last fight in Charlotte, a wrestling city synonymous with his career, where he’s fought Eddie Gilbert, battled inside War Games, as well as fought the likes of Sid Vicious, Cactus Jack, and yes, Ric Flair, for championship gold!
In fact, the last match Sting had in Charlotte took place at the Bojangles almost five years ago to the day, and featured him defending a World Championship! So now he returns to Charlotte, with both Darby Allin and Ric Flair at this side, to bid farewell to the fans of the Queen City, and give The Workhorsemen the kind of wrestling lesson that can only be given by someone with his experience! Join AEW this Saturday night in Charlotte as we continue on the Road to ,,REVOLUTION 2024 and Sting’s final professional wrestling match.
ADAM COPELAND RESPONDS…
At WORLDS END 2023 Adam Copeland managed to experience ultimate triumph and catastrophic tragedy within minutes of one another. In a vicious No DQ Match with Christian Cage, Copeland defeated “The Patriarch” to become the new TNT Champion but taking advantage of the situation, Killswitch brutally assaulted Copeland in hopes of using the TNT Championship match contract he’d earned during ZERO HOUR. Unfortunately for the former Luchasaurus, he was convinced by Christian to hand over the contract, and the ex-champion took back the TNT Championship he’d lost only moments earlier.
Well the world heard what Christian Cage had to say about the situation this past Wednesday on DYNAMITE, basically denying he ever lost the title and this is one continuous run, so this Saturday night we will hear from the other half of that equation! Adam Copeland has to have a lot on his mind about this situation, and we will get a piece of it on COLLISION!
All Elite Wrestling is back in Charlotte, NC at the ,,Bojangles Coliseum this Saturday night with the first COLLISION of 2024! In one of the most anticipated tag matches in recent memory, FTR will finally fight The House of Black as honored by Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black, and Eddie Kingston will defend his Continental Crown for the very first time against Trent Beretta after that Best Friend won DYNAMITE’s Four Way bout! Those two stellar contests, and more, are set to come your way when COLLISION kicks off at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT. All you need to do is get prepared by dropping in on the official AEW YouTube channel to watch highlights from this week’s editions of DYNAMITE and RAMPAGE, as well as events from WORLDS END 2023, and the latest CONTROL CENTER!
The Devil has been revealed and his name is Adam Cole, surround by the Undisputed Kingdom of Wardlow, Roderick Strong, and ROH World Tag Champs Mike Bennett & Matt Taven, they have promised to reign down hell upon the rest of AEW with eyes set on all the titles! DYNAMITE brought us that proclamation, as well as Orange Cassidy defending his International Championship against Dante Martin, Mariah May making her in-ring debut only to have it spoiled by the arrival of Deonna Purrazzo, and plenty more as AEW launched full-force into 2024!
That brings us to this Friday on RAMPAGE, emanating from the Prudential Center in New Jersey, and getting underway at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans! 3-Time ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta will take on the high-flying Komander, Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander will be in tag team action, The Hardys and The Briscoes collide with Kip Sabian, Butcher, and Blade in Trios competition, and Anna Jay aims to finally score a victory on 3-Time Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida! 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!
TRIOS MATCH…
The Hardys (Jeff & Matt) and Mark Briscoe vs. Kip Sabian, The Butcher, & The Blade
This ought to be a hard-fought Trios affair as there’s plenty of history wrapped up in the competitors involved! For months, The Butcher and The Blade worked for Matt Hardy as part of his Hardy Family Office, and while they seemed content with just making money as Hardy’s henchmen, Matt has shown tremendous regret for his behavior during those months of his AEW career. It’s let to multiple confrontations between them in the time since, including a wild Tag Team Tables Match in April 2022, and The Hardys most recently winning an non-televised Three Way Tag in Ontario, CA over Butch and Blade. Back in August, with Keith Lee at their side, Matt and Jeff also scored a victory over this trio, but this time around, the brothers Hardy have allied with one of their most fearsome foes from years past: Mark Briscoe!
Mark and Matt had their lone singles match in June 2013 for Ring of Honor, and battled over the ROH World Tag Titles in March 2017, with Matt and Jeff beating Mark and Jay in that Las Vegas battle, and they’ve even fought in AEW once before just prior to REVOLUTION 2023 with Mark and The Lucha Brothers defeating The Firm of Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy, and Lee Moriarty. So with this first time uniting, can Mark and The Hardys look past their history as opponents and work together as allies?
PURE RULES MATCH…
ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Komander
This is going to be quite the fascinating clash of styles, of that there is no doubt, after all Komander is know for his high-flying, death-defying style of Lucha Libre not for grappling, technical wrestling, and submissions. That being said, Pure Wrestling is not necessarily defined by the style that current champion Wheeler Yuta employs, but rather the intent of emphasizing competition in its purest form. It’s all in the hands of the competitors involved on how to proceed under the rules a Pure Championship match engages, or in the case of someone like the man Yuta has become, how to circumvent the rules when possible.
Now in his third reign atop the Pure Division, Yuta comes into this first-ever fight with Komander having bested Katsuyori Shibata to claim the belt, and successfully defended it on two instances over the last 40 days, one against Matt Sydal and the other opposite “Filthy” Tom Lawlor. Will Komander be the one to bring an end to the reign of Yuta, or will The BCC’s youngest member continue to find ways to win while the rest of us watch his ego grow ever larger with each one?
ONE-ON-ONE…
Anna Jay vs. Hikaru Shida
Hikaru Shida has been the bane of many competitors existence since her AEW debut at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2019; Abadon, Emi Sakura, and Penelope Ford are just a few of the women who have battled the former 3-Time AEW Women’s World Champion on multiple occasions yet have never been able to defeat “The Shining Samurai”. Another such competitor is Anna Jay, a woman who made her AEW debut on the April 1, 2020 DYNAMITE opposite Shida, and has yet to find victory over the course of three singles match, two being title fights.
The most recent of those took place on August 9th of 2023 with an end result the same as every previous encounter, but Anna Jay remains undaunted in her self-belief, and what better way to start 2024 then by breaking this Shida curse! Away from the 2023 drama of Angelo Parker and Ruby Soho, or that of Matt Menard and Daniel Garcia, can the new year start with a clean slate for Anna Jay?
-ALSO FEATURING KRIS STATLANDER & WILLOW NIGHTINGALE IN TAG TEAM ACTION!!!
Coming to you from Newark, NJ, RAMPAGE begins at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, and features Wheeler Yuta putting his ROH Pure Championship on the line against Komander, Anna Jay trying to break the Shida curse, The Hardys uniting with Mark Briscoe for Trios competition, and the Statlander/Nightingale duo in action! 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!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ!
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!
Kicking off the first Dynamite of the new year… “The Devil” Adam Cole came to the ring to explain his shocking betrayal of MJF!
Cole was accompanied by Roderick Strong, Wardlow, and the ROH World Tag Team Champions—The Kingdom—Mike Bennett and Matt Taven.
Strong: “Everybody shut up and listen to my best friend Adam!”
Cole: “You guys don’t have sympathy for me? I find it ironic that so many people were shocked by what happened at Worlds End, which means you’re all stupid, and you don’t know right from wrong. You think we’re the bad guys because we betrayed MJF? The guy who has run his mouth about everyone in the locker room and all of you fans? If that makes me the devil, then buy me a first class ticket straight to hell.
“MJF is a narcissist. The only person that MJF cares about is MJF. And he’s had his claws hooked in AEW for far too long. And I think it’s a time for a change. Someday most of that locker room will thank me. Hell, someday Tony Khan will thank me because MJF is gone and he’s never coming back.
“There’s a lot of reasons why I did what I did. MJF would have done the same to me, I just beat him to the punch. Adam Cole never needed MJF. MJF needed Adam Cole. I sacrificed everything for that friendship. That’s how I broke my ankle. I’m the one that lost something! Not him!
“MJF needed Adam Cole. None of you would have been cheering for MJF without Adam Cole. Better Than You BayBay—that’s me. In the beginning this was all about the AEW World Championship. But then it turned out to be something more. This is about ripping out a man’s heart and bringing him to his knees. MJF is dead!
“I’ll tell you who is very much alive. That is the Undisputed Kingdom. And aside from our disdain for the guy who doesn’t work here anymore, that is to win championship gold. We have the ROH World Tag Team Champions The Kingdom. My real best friend Adam Cole who is going to go after the International Championship. And Wardlow, finally with a group who respects him, he will go after the AEW World Championship. And when the time is right, Wardlow will forfeit the AEW World Championship and give it to me.
“And speaking of that, congratulations to Samoa Joe. It was a real pleasure doing business with you. It was a pleasure to take out Hangman Adam Page. And by the time Wardlow is ready, I hope you are not the AEW World Champion, because it would suck to hurt you as a friend. AEW needed change and we gave it to you. The Undisputed Kingdom starts a new era, and the devil is here to stay, baybay!”
“Switchblade” Jay White walked onto the ramp!
Jay White: “My good friend Adam Cole, baybay. Or as we now know you to be, the Devil, huh? I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your edge after all. What I don’t like is being collateral for your cause and for making me the catalyst when you had your friends jump me. And I’m not alone.”
Colten and Austin Gunn came out and the Gunns and Jay White jumped into the ring and began brawling with the Undisputed Kingdom! Bullet Club Gold were outnumbered until The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass charged to the ring! The Undisputed Kingdom retreated!
“The Acclaimed came to the aid of Bullet Club Gold is not how I expected to begin this year,” said Excalibur.
AEW International Championship Match!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (c.) vs. Top Flight’s Dante Martin!
Dante and Orange exchanged pinning combinations at the start of the match. They continued to chain wrestle. Dante remained composed despite facing the veteran Cassidy. Dante applied a deep cradle for a near fall, and then Orange slid out of the ring to slow down Dante’s momentum.
Cassidy baited Dante to the outside and then followed up with an elbow suicida. Orange rammed Dante into the steel barricade. Cassidy ran towards Dante Martin and dropkicked him. Dante reversed a suplex attempt and nailed Orange with a snap suplex onto the arena floor. Dante flew at Cassidy with a tope suicida, pushing the pace. Dante followed up with a springboard crossbody press for a two-count.
“When Dante gets up in the air it’s almost like time stops for a moment,” said Taz.
Dante began to play mind games with the champ, brushing him with light kicks and strikes. Cassidy had enough and connected with a thrust kick. Cassidy stomped at Dante in the corner, the intensity picking up with each subsequent strike. Cassidy spiked Dante with a DDT for a near fall!
“That was a crazy landing on that DDT! Talk about an exclamation point,” said Taz.
Orange blasted Dante with a diving DDT, driving Dante’s head down into the mat, good for another near fall. Dante ducked an Orange Punch. Dante escaped the Beach Break and then rocked Orange with a knee strike to the face! Dante hit a senton to Orange’s back. Dante climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Cassidy rolled, trying to get out of the ray. Dante walked the ropes and flew across the ring, splashing Orange! The champ moved out of the way of a senton. Orange crushed Dante with the Orange Punch and then pinned Dante!
FTW Champ Hook and Danhausen came down to check on Orange Cassidy, while Action Andretti and Darius Martin came to collect Dante. Orange offered his hand to Dante and shook it, showing good sportsmanship.
Private Party—Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen made their returns!
Marq Quen: “Allow me to reintroduce ourselves! We’ve been keeping tabs on the tag division. The tag division has been missing some flavor! And most importantly the tag division has been missing Private Party!”
Isiah Kassidy: “We’re putting every tag team on notice. That means all of you, FTR, the Young Bucks, and the Hardys. We say new year, new champs!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm and Luther the Butler!
Toni: “This isn’t New York. This is New Jersey. I belong on Broadway. So, I’m going to call it a night. I’m not going to watch Mariah May’s debut. She needs to pay her dues, and what better way than wrestling in New Jersey!
Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews accepted FTR’s challenge!
The House of Black said if they beat FTR, Cash and Dax would need to disown their family and walk back with their new family—the House of Black! It’s set for this Saturday live on Collision!
Renee Paquette was backstage with Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland!
Prince Nana: “Daniel Garcia is a respected competitor, but does he know he’s getting into the ring with the boss of bosses?”
Swerve: “Earlier tonight Daniel was talking about big pressure. It’s not about making diamonds with us, it’s about making pain. And in 2024 I’m looking for championship gold. So, I guess it’s up to you, Samoa Joe, so be ready!
Mariah May vs. Queen Aminata!
Mariah May blasted Queen Aminata with an open palm strike. Mariah chopped at Aminata. Mariah followed up with a solid dropkick. Aminata was tied up in the ropes and Mariah May blasted her from behind with another running dropkick!
Queen Aminata fired back with a few slaps to Mariah’s face. Aminata kicked Mariah in the spine and then followed up with a running knee strike. Mariah May exploded out of the corner with a sling blade. Mariah finished off Queen Aminata with the May Day and pinned Aminata!
Renee Paquette interviewed Mariah May in the ring after the match.
Mariah May: “I can’t believe it! I won my AEW debut! I’ve wanted to be a wrestler since I was a little kid, so the fact that I’m in this ring on AEW is surreal to me. And I hope Miss Toni Storm is watching wherever she is. This is the first Dynamite of the New Year and it’s all about Mariah. But my only regret is we had to do this in New Jersey.”
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo walked down to the ring, upstaging Mariah May!
Deonna: “Renee, I’m sure you know this but I’m from New Jersey! And if Toni Storm doesn’t want to be here, then trust me, we all don’t want her here either. But Mariah, I have a message that you can pass along to Miss Storm. It doesn’t matter where she runs or hides, I will find her because Mariah I am All Elite! And we are in the Age of the Virtuosa!”
Mariah May: “Okay, well, Deonna, I’m not the messenger so tell her yourself!”
Mariah May slapped Deonna and Deonna slapped back, knocking Mariah off her feet!
2x TNT Champion Christian Cage gave his 2024 State of The Union!
Christian Cage came to the ring with Shayna Wayne, “the Prodigy” Nick Wayne, and Killswitch!
Shayna Wayne took the microphone from Tony Schiavone and addressed the fans. “You boo me? You boo a mother? How dare you? I demand you people get on your feet right now and pay respect to the greatest TNT Champion that ever lived, our father, “the Patriarch” Christian Cage.”
Christian Cage: “Tony, it has been 200 days since I won this championship on the very first episode of Collision. It has been an historic run for sure. And if you interrupt me again, I’m going to have Mother Wayne put you across her knee and discipline you.
“I went through a war at Worlds End and there are a few people I need to thank. First of all, Mother Wayne, for understanding the vision. A mother’s work is never done. Secondly, I’d like to thank my pride and joy, the apple of my eye, Nick Wayne, who put his body on the line. Adam Copeland tried to put Nick’s career to an end at the age of 18. I just want to say I love you, Nick.
“And lastly, I’d like to thank the man that sealed the victory at Worlds End, the man that put the final nail in the coffin that is Adam Copeland. I would like to thank myself!”
The fans chanted “Luchasaurus! Luchasaurus!”
Christian Cage: “I’d like to address Adam Copeland for the final time. I’ve beaten you twice. It’s to the back of the line and there’s no more title shots for you. I could make fun of you and say you grew up without a father. Or I could mention how your mother is no longer with us. But all I need to say is Christian Cage is superior to you. I’d like to think we left a little bit of our souls in the ring at Worlds End, but the difference is, one of us doesn’t have a soul. And that’s why I stand before you as the TNT Champion.
“So, this is a warning for anyone that has eyes for my TNT Championship. What happened at Worlds End is just a glimpse at what I’ll do to hold onto my title! This is the most important championship in this company. And I will remain the TNT Champion for as long as I want until I decide to hand off this title to Nick Wayne to carry on my legacy. We are the faces of AEW, now and forever!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Harley Cameron, Saraya, and Ruby Soho!
Ruby thanked Harley for her help this past Friday.
Harley: “I’ll do anything!”
Saraya: “I said she’d do anything. I didn’t say she’d be sane.”
Saraya warned Harley to cool it. Renee wondered what was going on before the Outcasts walked off.
Darby Allin vs. The Don Callis Family’s Konosuke Takeshita!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Takeshita grabbed Darby and planted him hard on the mat. Takeshita went for a wheelbarrow suplex, but Darby landed on his feet. Takeshita hit Darby with a big back body drop, with Darby arcing high into the air before crashing hard.
Darby rocketed out of the ring with a tope, but Takeshita countered with a wicked knee strike! Takeshita nailed Darby with a rolling German Suplex on the ramp! Darby managed to get to his feet and fly out of the ring with a tope like a human battering ram at Takeshita!
Takeshita countered the Code Red, planting Darby for a near fall. Takeshita was looking for a running knee strike in the corner, but Darby escaped the ring. Takeshita charged at Darby, but Darby dodged it, sending Takeshita crashing into the guardrail. Darby connected with a Coffin Drop on the outside!
“Darby will throw caution at the wind. He doesn’t care,” said Taz.
Darby was waiting for Takeshita as Takeshita entered the ring. Darby blasted Takeshita with a Code Red for a two-count. Darby went for another Coffin Drop but Takeshita lifted his knees, blocking the move and punishing Darby at the same time. Takeshita made Darby eat a lariat, dropping Darby. Don Callis signaled for Takeshita to finish it. Takeshita rocked Darby with a running boot in the corner. Takeshita hoisted Darby up on the top rope and followed up with an avalanche German Suplex! Takeshita connected with the power drive knee and then pinned Darby!
“A statement victory for the ‘Alpha’ to start the New Year,” said Excalibur.
After the match, Don Callis made a challenge! Callis invited Sting and Darby Allin to face Takeshita and Hobbs at Daily’s Place!
Continental Title Eliminator Match!
Trent Beretta vs. ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion Brian Cage vs. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith vs. AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo!
The winner fights Eddie Kingston on Collision.
Danhausen was watching from ringside.
Brian Cage plowed into Trent and Bryan. Vikingo connected with a tope suicida to Cage. Keith clobbered Trent with forearms. Keith connected with a high boot to Trent’s jaw. Vikingo used a big arm drag on Bryan Keith.
Brian Cage blocked a hurracanrana from Vikingo and then Cage hurled Vikingo overhead. Trent jumped over the top rope and landed on Cage with a cross body on the arena floor. Cage stunned Trent with a brain buster on the floor!
Vikingo dropkicked “the Machine” from the top rope. Vikingo climbed to the top, but Bryan Keith stopped him with a jumping headbutt. Cage kicked Keith in the midsection. Trent threw Cage with a release German Suplex from the top and then connected with a running knee strike.
Cage power bombed Trent for a near fall. Danhausen jumped into the ring and cursed Cage. Brian Cage picked up Danhausen but Keith and Vikingo landed thrust kicks and took down Cage. Keith charged at Trent with the diving battering ram head butt for a two-count on Trent. Keith was looking for a Tiger Driver, but Trent countered, planted Keith and pinned him!
Trent has earned a shot at Kingston’s Continental Crown Championship this Saturday at Collision!
Renee Paquette was backstage with Daddy Magic to interview him when they were interrupted by “Hangman” Adam Page!
Adam Page: “A few weeks ago Samoa Joe had a bunch of goons put me through a car windshield. So, I am here tonight to beat somebody’s ass! And if I can’t find the World Champion, it’ll be Adam Cole. If it’s not Adam Cole, it’ll be you. I dare somebody to give me a reason!”
Main Event Time!
Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) vs. Daniel Garcia!
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined the broadcast team for this match.
Swerve knocked Garcia to the mat with a shoulder block. Swerve rolled up Garcia for a near fall. Garcia sent Swerve spilling to the outside with a jumping knee strike. Garcia whipped Swerve into the barricade. Garcia and Prince Nana had a dance off! Garcia heard Swerve coming up from behind, but Garcia was waiting for him and rammed him into the ring post.
Prince Nana grabbed Garcia’s boot. Swerve booted Garcia and then drilled Daniel Garcia with a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron! Swerve created distance with a European Uppercut. Garcia pounded Swerve down to the mat. Garcia dropkicked Swerve. Garcia grabbed a near fall after a stalling suplex on Swerve.
Swerve nailed Garcia with a back breaker. Swerve got into Daddy Magic’s face. Garcia bulldozed Swerve. Garcia put Swerve in the sharpshooter on the announcer’s table. Swerve managed to escape as they both rolled off the table and onto the floor.
Garcia superplexed Swerve back into the ring. Swerve hung on and served up a suplex of his own! Swerve had the upper hand, but just barely. Garcia grabbed Swerve by the wrists and yanked him right into a knee strike. Swerve lured Daniel into a flatliner! Swerve connected with the House Call, but Garcia kicked out at the two-count!
Swerve climbed to the top and crushed Garcia with the Swerve Stomp for another near fall! Garcia rolled up Swerve with a crucifix for a near fall. Swerve cracked Garcia with the House Call and finished off Garcia with the JML Driver, pinning Garcia!
“Is 2024 going to be the year of Swerve Strickland? He put AEW World Champion Samoa Joe on notice,” said Excalibur.
Swerve offered his hand to Garcia, and as Garcia went to accept, Prince Nana clocked Garcia with a low blow! Daddy Magic had enough! Daddy Magic began to bludgeon Swerve with strikes until Swerve kicked him low. “Hangman” Adam Page stormed to the ring with purpose! Page struck Swerve and they began to brawl, both men throwing bombs! Security tried to separate the two men! Page broke free and jumped on Swerve! Page was peeled off Strickland. Then Swerve broke free and lunged at Page until they were pried apart again!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL!
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 Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
WORLDS END proved to be exactly that for Maxwell Jacob Friedman as, in front of his hometown audience, he saw the AEW World Championship slip away to Samoa Joe and witnessed his best friend Adam Cole reveal himself as The Devil. Flanked by The Kingdom of Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow, Cole watched as his associates demolished the dethroned champion. Why Cole and these men have traveled this path remains to be learned, though it’s been clear for months Wardlow’s wanted Max’s head, and perhaps we will find out more soon.
In addition, the bums around the world rejoiced as Eddie Kingston defeated Jon Moxley in the finals of the Continental Classic to not only retain his ROH World & NJPW STRONG Openweight Titles, but to also become the first Continental Champion, and the holder of the Continental Crown! It was one of the most emotional moments in AEW’s history, and likely the biggest in the career of Eddie Kingston. WORLDS END was also a night that saw the wildest TNT Championship situation imaginable, including the shortest title reign in history, and Killswitch make a surprising decision in the heat of the moment. Toni Storm retained her AEW Women’s World Championship, as did Julia Hart with the TBS Title, and so much more went down on AEW’s final PPV presentation of 2023!
With a new year upon us, and a new AEW World Champion at the helm, All Elite Wrestling embarks down a new path but starting on familiar territory. The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ will host the first DYNAMITE of 2024 and with it comes an AEW International Championship Match where Orange Cassidy will defend against Top Flight’s Dante Martin! In addition, after two months of anticipation, Mariah May will finally make her in-ring debut this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE!
The first AEW event of 2024 begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, for highlights from WORLDS END, as well last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, the newest CONTROL CENTER, and more!
At WORLDS END this past Saturday, the longest reigning ROH World Champion and ROH World Television Champion of all-time added another accolade to his resume: AEW World Champion. Samoa Joe, after eighteen minutes of a tremendous fight, choked Maxwell Jacob Friedman unconscious to end the longest and most successful AEW World Championship reign experienced since Chris Jericho first won the crown at ALL OUT 2019.
While the way the remainder of the evening played out for MJF will haunt him for some time, knowing that he is no longer the champion will likely linger the longest, especially as he watches DYNAMITE this Wednesday night, healing up from the various injuries sustained over his championship run, and sees Samoa Joe walk to the ring with the AEW World Championship over his shoulder. The added knowledge that the Triple B is in a dumpster somewhere on Long Island may just make it even more painful…
But that’s MJF’s burden to handle; the question at hand is where does Samoa Joe go from here? He made it abundantly clear in the Media Scrum that anyone can try to step to the champ, that he’d fight Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland and anyone else who wants a piece of the action. So who will be brave enough to be the first? We already witnessed Hangman and Joe have a confrontation in recent weeks, will it be him? Will it be Swerve who said his road to the title started December 31st? We will find out soon enough if anyone is willing to put it all on the line for a shot at greatness…
THE DEVIL REVEALED…
Why Adam? Why? That’s the question on everyone’s mind after seeing Adam Cole sitting in that chair Saturday night, surrounded by Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Wardlow, and Roderick Strong, with The Devil’s Mask tossed on the broken body of former AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman. After spending months tolerating Max’s behavior, helping him grow into a legitimately better version of himself, and seemingly driving a wedge into his relationship with Roderick Strong, why did Adam Cole put in all that effort to drive a knife between the shoulder blades of MJF? Has this been the plan since the Blind Eliminator Tournament over the summer? Since after ALL IN: LONDON? Or maybe after Cole got hurt at GRAND SLAM 2023 trying to help MJF in his first match with Samoa Joe?
It’s all speculation at the moment, but tonight on DYNAMITE, we expect to get some answers from Adam Cole about why he donned The Devil mask and betrayed Maxwell Jacob Friedman!
The last time Dante Martin challenged for a singles championship was on the June 3, 2022 edition of RAMPAGE when he challenged Scorpio Sky for the TNT Championship. Obviously that was not his night to claim a singles title, but it was one of many nights that proved with getting experience under his belt, Dante was destined for success with his brother, as well as on his own. Unfortunately a freak injury at SUPERCARD OF HONOR 2023 derailed Dante’s career for months on end, but in truth he’s fortunate the injury didn’t flat out end his wrestling journey.
But since returning from that injury with a November 29th Trios victory on DYNAMITE, Dante has looked superb both in AEW and ROH action. He’s racked up victories in five of the six matches he’s been involved in, the only loss coming to Daddy Ass and The Acclaimed in an AEW World Trios Championship bout, and seemingly hasn’t missed a step. Dante’s confidence is high, something that can often be lacking when returning from injury, and that helped boost his trio to a victory last Friday night on RAMPAGE over Roppongi Vice and AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy.
It may not have been a pinfall on Orange Cassidy, but it was still Dante scoring the pinfall win over his OC’s team, and as such the fighting International Champion is willing to give this half of Top Flight an opportunity to end the run! Can Dante begin the new year by marking the first title change of 2024? Or will “Freshly Squeezed” ground the man’s dream and move forward into the year with the title still in his backpack?
THE DEBUT…
Mariah May vs. Queen Aminata
November 8th; that is the day All Elite Wrestling officially announced the signing of Mariah May. May, a standout from the Japanese promotion Stardom reigned as a Goddesses of Stardom Champion alongside Mina Shirakawa during her tenure with the company, with her primary motivation for touring there being to follow in the footsteps of Toni Storm. See “The Timeless One” called Stardom home from 2016 until 2019, and even reigned as the World of Stardom Champion for 258 days, so being thus inspired by the path of Toni Storm, it was an experience Mariah May had to take.
After wrapping up in Stardom on September 30th, May showed up in AEW with aspirations of meeting Toni Storm, becoming friends with Toni Storm, and just being in the proximity of the current AEW Women’s World Champion. Mariah’s even asked Toni to be at ringside for this debut match, but it seemed like “Timeless” couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge the request being made by a woman whose name she couldn’t be bothered to remember.
Still, even if Toni Storm can’t remember her name, it’s clear from the reaction of the AEW faithful in the arenas, as well as those online, that they know who Mariah May is and have been patiently waiting for her in-ring debut. Well that day is finally upon us, so it’s all on Mariah to make it a memorable one and leave an impression on the AEW Women’s World Champion, otherwise it will be Queen Aminata who makes her mark by spoiling the AEW premiere of “The Glamour”!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Swerve Strickland vs. Daniel Garcia
The last several months in the careers of these two men could not be more different; since WRESTLEDREAM, Swerve Strickland has been on an absolute tear in All Elite Wrestling, winning nine of his last twelve bouts, including that unforgettable Texas Death Match with Hangman Page at FULL GEAR 2023, and had the best pinfall ratio in the Continental Classic. After scoring three straight victories in the Gold League, Swerve experienced his first pinfall loss at the hands of Jon Moxley. Still, with a victory in his final points match-up, Strickland managed to work his way into a Three Way League Final with Mox and Jay White, only to see Moxley pin White to advance to the overall Finals. But with Moxley losing to Eddie Kingston in the tournament finals, that means Swerve was the only man in the entire Continental Classic to only be pinned one time, and he capped off his year with a win over Dustin Rhodes in lieu of Keith Lee being unable to compete.
As for Daniel Garcia, he’s experienced just three victories in his last twelve matches with two of those coming over the course of the last week. It’s been a rough road for the man as of late, a frustrating one that’s often put him at odds with friend Matt Menard, but when he pinned Brody King in their final Blue League match, it felt like perhaps it had all been worth it. That feeling was further amplified at WORLDS END where, as part of the All-Star Eight-Man Tag, Garcia actually scored the winning pinfall for his team, a unit consisting of Blackpool Combat Club members Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli, as well as Mark Briscoe.
It was a triumphant way to end the year for both men, but DYNAMITE marks the beginning of a new one for All Elite Wrestling, and that means nose right back to the grindstone. Swerve stated in the WORLDS END Media Scrum that his mission of becoming World Champion began the day after the pay-per-view, and that means a fight with Daniel Garcia on his plate for Wednesday night! For both men this is the kind of fight that can shape the rest of the year, and neither wants to let 2024 start on a bad foot. This will be two men fighting with every thing they’ve got in their body and soul; may the best one win…
CHRISTIAN CAGE’S 2024 STATE OF THE UNION…
What on Earth just happened? That had to be the thought spiraling through the mind of Adam Copeland after seeing the TNT Championship ripped away just minutes after he pinned Christian Cage to claim it for himself. From the moment Paul Turner’s hand counted three to end Cage’s first TNT Championship run to the second it hit three to begin his second, just three minutes and thirty-two seconds had passed, officially making Copeland the shortest reigning champion in AEW history. It should have been a moment of triumph for Adam, putting to rest the toxic relationship with Christian Cage, but ever the opportunist, “The Patriarch” managed to take Killswitch’s moment and make it his own. Whatever Cage whispered to the former Luchasaurus was enough to make the monster surrender the TNT Championship match he’d earned earlier in the night into Christian’s hands after Killswitch had done all the dirty work to incapacitate Copeland.
So now Christian Cage walks into DYNAMITE as a 2-Time TNT Champion, and it looks like we will all have to suffer through him delivering a State of the Union-style address to the AEW faithful. It will undoubtedly be filled with heaping of self-praise, with little credit given to Killswitch for doing the actual work, and likely little acknowledgment of the fact Adam Copeland beat him in the middle of the ring at WORLDS END. The question Christian Cage should be asking himself as he prepares to deliver this speech is whether or not Adam Copeland will be watching, listening, waiting, for his opportunity to deliver much-deserved retribution?
A new era is upon us with 2023, the era of AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, and it begins when All Elite Wrestling returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for the first DYNAMITE of 2024! On tap is an AEW International Championship Match pitting Orange Cassidy against challenger Dante Martin, as well as the greatly anticipated in-ring debut of Mariah May, and so much more!
It all begins again at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, so be sure to drop in on the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s various social media platforms, for highlights from WORLDS END, as well last week’s episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, and COLLISION, the newest CONTROL CENTER, and more!
AEW presented Worlds End live from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, NY!
It’s Saturday and you know what that means!
The Zero Hour portion of the show kicked off!
Your announce team for Zero Hour was Excalibur, Taz, and Nigel McGuinness.
Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale!
Stokely Hathaway joined the commentary team for this match.
Willow connected with a crossbody press off the middle rope for a near fall. Willow followed up with a running clothesline and then flipped off the apron, landing on Statlander. Back in the ring, Statlander applied the pressure with body scissors. Willow got to her feet and scored with a kick to Kris. Willow nailed Kris with a massive spinebuster for a two-count.
Kris hoisted Willow up on her shoulders and planted her on her face. Willow fired back with a running pounce! Willow cannonballed Kris in the corner and followed up with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Kris blasted Willow with a scissor kick across the spine. Willow grabbed Kris off the top turnbuckle and power bombed her onto the apron!
Willow reversed Saturday Night Fever will a roll-up for a near fall. Kris tried for a 450 but Willow dodged it. Willow hit the Doctor Bomb and pinned Statlander!
A vignette aired showcasing the impending return of Serena Deeb!
TNT Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royale!
The winner of this 20-man battle royale will earn a shot at the TNT Championship anytime, anywhere.
Lance Archer and Killswitch were buried under tables while the other competitors whacked away at them with steel chairs. Trent whipped Serpentico over the top rope and eliminated him. Kip Sabian charged at Dalton Castle and knocked him to the arena floor.
Danhausen kicked Johnny TV out of the ring as Johnny was trying to pull Trent out. Lee Johnson connected with a body press to Kip Sabian. Angelo Parker eliminated Lee. Dark Order tossed out Cool Hand Ang. Kip cannonballed Alex Reynolds and then eliminated Reynolds.
Butcher sent John Silver packing. Trent and Rocky rocked Kip with a double knee strike. Bryan Keith kicked Kip out. Danhausen tried to curse Keith, but Butcher cut him off. Keith suplexed the Butcher. Blade charged at Keith and rammed him out to the floor. Lance Archer escaped the pile of lumber and entered the match. Daddy Magic chopped at Archer. The MurderHawk Monster clubbed Daddy Magic and made him vanish from the match. Archer eliminated Christopher Daniels.
Archer picked up Rocky and threw him over the top and sent him crashing onto Daniels. Darius Martin and Action Andretti worked in tandem on Archer. Killswitch emerged and choke slammed Darius and Action. Archer and Killswitch threw Action and Darius out of the ring. Blade ate a big boot from Archer before being tossed out. Killswitch booted Blade out of the match.
Trent and Danhausen grabbed Lance Archer and flipped him over the top and to the floor. Trent and Danhausen hugged, but then Trent eliminated Danhausen. Trent charged at Killswitch with a running knee strike. And then a second, and then a third knee strike! Killswitch caught Trent and planted him with a chokeslam. Killswitch clobbered Trent with a European Uppercut on the apron and then won the match!
FTW Championship Match/FTW Rules!
HOOK (c.) vs. ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta!
Yuta charged at Hook as Hook was making his entrance. Hook pounded away with strikes at Yuta in the corner. Hook headbutted Yuta. They brawled onto the ramp. Hook sent Yuta for a ride with a suplex. Yuta grabbed a trash can lid from under the ring and swung for the fences, clocking Hook in the head.
Yuta whipped Hook into the steel barricade. Yuta was grinding his boot into Hook’s head. Hook jumped into the ring, but Yuta was waiting for him. Yuta had a stop sign and slammed it into Hook’s back. Yuta sat out with a senton for a near fall on Hook.
Hook suplexed Yuta with a Northern Lights throw for a near fall. Yuta countered the Red Rum with a release German Suplex. Yuta chomped on Hook’s forehead and then connected with a fisherman’s suplex. Hook caught Yuta and suplexed him into the trash can with a high cradle. Hook tried for the Red Rum, but Yuta sat back and smashed Hook onto the trash can. Yuta spiked Hook with a DDT on the stop sign for a two-count.
Yuta grabbed a two-by-four, but Hook found a hockey stick. Hook cracked the hockey stick over Yuta’s back. Hook used the remnants of the stick, applied Red Rum, and made Yuta tap out!
The pay-per-view portion of the night kicked off with…
All Star 8-Man Tag Match!
Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, Mark Briscoe, & Daniel Garcia
vs.
Brody King, Jay White, Jay Lethal, & Rush!
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined the commentary team for this match.
Rush and Claudio started shoving one another. It escalated to stiff chops and forearms. Claudio booted Rush but Rush retaliated with a German Suplex. Jay Lethal and Mark Briscoe tagged in for their respective teams.
Lethal dropkicked Mark but Mark answered with some redneck kung fu. Danielson and Jay White grabbed tags. The crowd came alive at the sight of these two competitors entering the ring to square off. Danielson tried for the Le Bell Lock, but Jay White quickly grabbed the ropes to force the ref to break the hold. The “Switchblade” chopped Danielson in the chest, lighting him up. Danielson whipped White into the turnbuckles and then walloped White with round kicks.
Danielson took down Jay White with a hurracanrana. Bryan fired off more round kicks and then Daniel Garcia grabbed a blind tag. Danielson wasn’t happy. Brody King entered the ring and Garcia tried to use his quickness against Brody. Brody blasted Garcia with a Bossman Slam! Brody got in Matt Menard’s face and taunted him.
Garcia’s nose was busted, and Jay White body slammed him. Garcia finally reached the corner and tagged Mark Briscoe. Mark took down Jay White with a flying forearm. Briscoe dropped a Cactus elbow off the apron onto Rush. Back in the ring Briscoe planted Jay White with a fisherman’s bomb for a near fall!
Jay Lethal tagged in and superplexed Mark Briscoe from the top! Brody King and Claudio Castagnoli tagged in. Claudio hit a vertical suplex on Brody! Rush charged at Danielson’ with the Bull’s Horns while Brody cannonballed Claudio. But Claudio answered with the Giant Swing, and then Danielson punctuated it with a dropkick to Brody’s head!
“We’ve got bodies flying everywhere!” said Matt Menard.
Garcia got rocked by Jay’s Lethal Combination. Jay Lethal applied the figure four on Garcia. Briscoe stunned Lethal with the Froggy Bow off the top. Claudio sent Jay White flying with a pop up uppercut. Garcia bypassed the Lethal Injection and folded up Lethal for the pin!
“Garcia said he thinks he fits in, and boy did he prove it here tonight,” said Excalibur.
Brody King blindsided Daddy Magic. Sonjay Dutt came out to give Lethal a talking to.
“The Redeemer” Miro vs. Andrade El Idolo (with CJ Perry)!
Miro bulldozed Andrade from behind as Andrade was entering the ring. Andrade tried for a tope suicida, but Miro cut him of at the pass with a stiff shot. Miro turned Andrade inside out with a suplex overhead, throwing him with ease.
Miro shouted at CJ Perry, “Is this what you wanted?!”
Andrade shoved Miro and Miro went flying over the commentary team’s desk. Andrade whipped Miro into the ring steps. They both got into the ring and traded stiff chops. Andrade used a dragon screw leg whip out of nowhere and followed up with a crossbody off the top turnbuckle. Andrade moonsaulted out of the ring and onto Miro on the arena floor. Andrade connected with another moonsault, this time in the ring, for a near fall on Miro.
Andrade charged at Miro, but Miro made him pay with a massive boot to the face! Miro was feeding off his fury. Miro stomped on Andrade’s back and then applied Game Over. CJ Perry yelled at Andrade, “Do not tap!” Andrade managed to reach the ropes and forced the ref to break the hold. Miro shouted at CJ Perry, “You should cheer for your husband!”
Andrade rocked Miro with the spinning back elbow for a two-count. Andrade applied the figure four leg lock. Andrade transitioned into the figure eight but Miro countered, reversing it. Andrade turned it back over, applying the pressure to Miro. Andrade bridged up, but CJ Perry swept out Andrade’s arms while the ref wasn’t looking! Miro scored with a kick for a near fall on Andrade. Miro trapped Andrade in the Game Over submission and forced Andrade to tap out!
CJ Perry blew a kiss at Miro after the match!
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c.) (with Luther the Butler) vs. Riho!
Toni body slammed Riho and covered her, but Riho bridged right out of it. Riho used a bulldog out of the corner, but Toni kicked out at the one-count. Riho jumped off the apron, but Luther caught her, and then Luther handed Riho to Toni. “Timeless” Toni body slammed Riho on the arena floor.
Riho tried to body slam Toni, but Riho’s back seized up. Toni spotted it and went to work on Riho’s lower back. Toni applied the Texas Cloverleaf, punishing Riho’s lower back. Riho tried to reach the ropes, but Luther pulled the ropes back. The ref saw this and ejected Luther from ringside.
Riho connected with the area code shot! Riho body slammed Toni Storm. Riho jumped off the top and crashed down on the champion with a diving cross body! Riho double stomped Toni on the apron. Riho nailed Toni with a dragon suplex!
Toni Storm retaliated with the Storm Zero, but somehow Riho kicked out! Riho climbed the turnbuckles, but Toni yanked her down. Toni spiked Riho with a DDT and pinned Riho, retaining her championship!
Mariah May came to the ring with a bucket of rose petals. Mariah poured the petals over Toni, helping her idol celebrate her victory tonight.
Lexy Nair was backstage to interview Dante Martin!
Dante: “I’ve been doing good, but good’s not good enough. Last night I got the pin on Rampage.”
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy walked onto the set. Orange told Dante to try to take his title his Wednesday on Dynamite!
Dustin Rhodes vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)!
Dustin was taking the place of Keith Lee, who wasn’t cleared by the doctor to wrestle today due to injury.
Prince Nana set up a cinder block and put Dustin’s ankle on it. Swerve jumped off the apron with a double stomp, smashing Dustin’s ankle and the cinder block! The match hadn’t even officially started. The AEW medical staff and referees help Dustin up, trying to walk him to the back. Dustin couldn’t put any weight on his ankle. Dustin refused to give up and forced his way back to the ring!
“This is ill advised by Dustin Rhodes tonight,” said Excalibur.
Dustin told the ref to ring the bell. Swerve came in hot with a kick to Dustin’s head! Swerve dropkicked Dustin in the knee. Swerve set up Dustin for a superplex. Dustin headbutted his way out of it, knocking Swerve down to the mat. Dustin connected with a crossbody press for a near fall.
Dustin stunned Swerve with a Canadian Destroyer and then a snapping powerslam for a two-count. Prince Nana looked panicked. Dustin blasted Swerve with the UnNatural Kick. Dustin spiked Swerve with a piledriver and then the Cross Rhodes for a two-count!
“If Dustin wins this, what a comeback it would be,” said Tony Schiavone.
Swerve rolled through with a flatliner! Swerve applied a single leg crab on Dustin. Swerve transitioned to a stretch muffler and then stomped on Dustin’s head. Dustin made it to the ropes, showing off his mat sense and toughness. Dustin popped middle fingers at Swerve and then spat at Swerve! Swerve was infuriated and nailed Dustin with the House Call! Swerve wrecked Dustin with a second House Call kick! Swerve finished off Dustin with the Double Stomp from the top rope and pinned Dustin!
“Swerve is victorious but not a happy expression on his face,” said Excalibur.
“I will not have my time wasted anymore,” Swerve said, as he looked into the camera.
8-Man Tag Match!
Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, & Sting
vs.
AEW World Tag Champions Big Bill & “Absolute” Ricky Starks, and The Don Callis Family—Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs!
Takeshita dropped Sammy with a headbutt. Sammy tagged Jericho in, and Jericho ate a Takeshita line. Starks grabbed a tag and Starks flipped off Jericho. Hobbs tagged himself in and Starks wasn’t happy. Hobbs rammed into Jericho with a shoulder tackle.
Big Bill tagged in and battered Jericho with clubbing shots. Darby jumped in with a dropkick to Big Bill. Takeshita entered the fray, but Darby connected with a lateral press. Darby drilled Takeshita with a Code Red for a near fall! Darby climbed the top for a Coffin Drop but Don Callis distracted him from the apron. Takeshita hoisted up Darby and decimated him with an avalanche helicopter blue thunder bomb!
Hobbs and Big Bill grabbed Darby and swung him across the ring like a sack of potatoes! Starks entered the match and went for a Stinger Splash, but Darby dodged it. Sting tagged in and threw haymakers all over the ring!
Starks walked the rope and dropped an elbow on Sting’s arm. Sting drove Sting to the mat and stomped him. Sammy tagged himself in. Sammy came off the turnbuckles with a cutter. Big Bill jumped in the ring and planted Sammy with a Bossman Slam. Jericho came to even up the odds and smashed Big Bill with a Code Breaker. Hobbs wrecked Jericho with a spinebuster from behind. Hobbs pancaked Jericho with the World’s Most Dangerous Slam. Darby splashed Jericho into Hobbs! Darby impaled Hobbs with a Scorpion Death Drop!
Takeshita suplexed Darby and Sammy with a German Suplex! Sting swept out Takeshita’s leg and applied the Scorpion Death Lock! Callis jumped into the ring with Sting’s baseball bat, forcing Sting to let go of the hold. Callis backed off when Sting saw him. Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho to Hobbs. Starks popped Jericho in the face with a thrust kick.
Darby rocketed out of the ring at Big Bill like a human battering ram! Starks speared Sammy for a near fall! Sammy rocked Starks with a thrust kick and then the GTH! Sammy climbed to the top and walloped Starks with a shooting star press, scoring the pin on Starks!
TBS Championship Match! House Rules Match!
Julia Hart (c.) vs. Abadon!
Abadon chose the stipulation to have biting made legal for this match!
The crowd chanted “This is spooky! This is spooky!”
Abadon hit a cutter out of the gate! Abadon battered Julia in the corner with lariats.
“Those shots will wear Julia out,” said Taz.
Julia fired back, ramming Abadon’s head into the mat! Julia grabbed Abadon in a crucifix for a near fall. Julia hurled Abadon through the ropes and onto the arena floor. Julia suplexed Abadon onto the cold arena floor. Abadon chomped down on Julia’s arm, taking a bite out of the champion!
Abadon followed up with a lung blower for a near fall. Julia came back with a superplex. Julia blindsided Abadon with a running lariat to the back of the head. Abadon caught Julia in the side of the head with a running knee strike. Abadon bit Julia’s forehead. Skye Blue crawled out from beneath the ring and hit Abadon while the ref was distracted. Skye hid back under the ring, but Abadon pulled her out and cracked Skye with a jumped knee strike! Julia Hart blindsided Abadon again, bashing Abadon’s head into the steel steps. Julia Hart scored the victory after a backflipping knee strike from the top rope onto Abadon’s chest!
TNT Championship No Disqualification Match!
“The Patriarch” Christian Cage (c.) (with Mother Wayne & Nick Wayne)
vs. “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
Copeland charged at Christian Cage as Christian was making his entrance. Cope hammered Christian Cage with fists. Copeland sent Christian flying into the barricade. The fans chanted “We want tables!” and Copeland smiled. Christian Cage retreated from the ring. Copeland followed him but Cage was waiting with a thrust kick.
Adam Copeland whipped Christian into the steel ring steps. Christian tried to escape, walking up the arena steps. Copeland followed him. Copeland jumped off the top of the 100 section with a crossbody press onto Christian Cage!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Copeland ran across the barricade, jumped off, and clotheslined Christian Cage! Copeland tried to spear Christian, but Christian dodged it and sent Copeland flying into the steel ring post. Christian stomped on Copeland’s neck on the ring steps! Copeland’s eye began to swell up, blood trickling down his face.
Christian Cage grabbed a kendo stick. Christian cracked Copeland in the back over and over with the kendo stick! Christian was using the kendo stick to choke Copeland. Nick Wayne tossed a couple of chairs to Christian. Christian put the chair across Copeland’s back, sat on it, and applied a Boston Crab. All of Christian’s body weight was on the chair, punishing the back of Copeland.
Christian had a metal rod, swung it at Copeland, but Copeland ducked it. Copeland planted Christian onto the mat and then bashed him with the kendo stick! Copeland applied the cross face in the center of the ring, putting the metal rod in Christian’s mouth and pulling back! Christian managed to grab the bottom rope and pull himself free. Copeland pulled a ladder from beneath the ring!
Copeland catapulted Christian Cage face-first into the ladder, which was wedged between the ropes. Christian swung the kendo stick at Copeland. Christian Cage climbed the ladder. Copeland got to his feet and climbed the other side of the ladder. Christian whiplashed Copeland with a sunset powerbomb from the top of the ladder for a near fall!
Christian Cage pulled two tables from beneath the ring. Christian and Nick Wayne set up a table near the ring. Copeland went for a spear, but Nick Wayne pulled Christian away. Copeland cracked Christian with a chair across the spine. Copeland nailed Christian Cage with an Impaler on the chair!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Copeland was going for the conchairto, but Nick Wayne pulled the chair out of Copeland’s hands. Christian Cage blindsided Copeland with a low blow. Nick Wayne pushed a table into the ring. Christian Cage propped up the table against the turnbuckles. Christian tried to spear Copeland, but Copeland avoided it. Copeland answered with a spear of his own, putting Christian through the table! Copeland went for the cover, but Shayna Wayne pulled the ref out of the ring!
Nick Wayne rammed the TNT Title into Copeland’s head. Nick Wayne followed up with the Wayne’s World, bashing Copeland’s head onto the arena floor. Cage used the Killswitch for a near fall!
Christian Cage and Nick Wayne poured lighter fluid on a table! Nick Wayne lit the table on fire! Copeland speared Cage! Copeland put more lighter fluid on the table! Copeland power bombed Nick Wayne off the apron and through the burning table!
Christian tried to hit Copeland with the title belt, but Copeland blocked it and stopped Christian in his tracks with a low blow! Copeland smashed Christian with the Killswitch and pinned him!
New TNT Champion…” The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
Killswitch appeared out of nowhere! Killswitch choke slammed Copeland! Killswitch set up a chair and then choke slammed Copeland on it! Killswitch had his TNT Title contract and was about to hand it to the ref. Christian Cage jumped in between Killswitch and the ref. Christian demanded the contract from Killswitch. Christian made Killswitch surrender the contract after whispering into Killswitch’s ear. Christian signed the contract, handed it to the referee. The ref rang the bell, and we had another TNT Title Championship Match! Christian Cage speared Adam Copeland and pinned him!
And new TNT Champion… “The Patriarch” Christian Cage!
Continental Classic Championship Finals Match!
Gold League Winner Jon Moxley vs. Blue League Winner Eddie Kingston!
The “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson joined the commentary team for this match.
Moxley took down Eddie with a drop toe hold. Eddie went into the guard and blew a kiss to Moxley. Eddie kicked Moxley, forcing Moxley to take a few steps back. Moxley used a snap mare and then kicked Kingston in the lower back.
Kingston and Moxley traded chops in the center of the ring. Kingston caught Moxley with a kick to the back of the head. Kingston followed up with a tope suicida, but Eddie landed hard on his neck and shoulder.
Moxley baited Kingston and then German Suplexed him. Moxley spiked Kingston with the Paradigm Shift on the floor. Moxley punished Kingston with kicks to the chest. Kingston got to his feet and chopped at Moxley. Moxley blocked one of the chops with his forearm and Kingston felt pain right away. Moxley drove Kingston down on his neck with a piledriver for a near fall.
“Kingston is the hometown favorite, but Moxley just let the oxygen out of the arena,” said Excalibur.
Moxley applied an STF, but Kingston bit Moxley’s hand. Moxley began to get frustrated. Kingston chopped Moxley and brought Moxley down to his knees with it. They traded more chops. Moxley went to the ropes and Eddie tossed him with an exploder suplex! Eddie followed up with a spinning backfist. Both men went down.
Kingston dropped Mox with a DDT. Moxley retaliated with a cutter. Kingston connected with a second spinning backfist, but Moxley answered with a lariat. Kingston smashed Mox with a Northern Lights Bomb for a near fall. Kingston put Mox in a bulldog choke. Kingston transitioned to hammer and anvil elbows. He went to the bulldog choke on Moxley again. Moxley escaped and put Kingston in a bulldog choke of his own!
Kingston escaped and cracked Mox with a spinning backfist. Kingston planted Mox with another Northern Lights Bomb for a two-count! Mox wrecked Kingston with a lariat. Moxley was clutching his arm afterwards. They traded headbutts from their knees. They got to their feet and traded open palm strikes. Eddie spun around with the backfist and pinned Moxley!
“Oh man, Eddie Kingston did it!” said Taz.
The referee handed the three belts to Eddie Kingston and the crowd chanted “You deserve it! You deserve it!”
Moxley and Kingston hugged after the match.
“Eddie Kingston is the first ever Continental Crown Champion,” said Excalibur.
Tonight’s Main Event! AEW World Championship Match!
MJF (c.) vs. Samoa Joe!
The sold out arena chanted “He’s our scumbag! He’s our scumbag!”
MJF pointed to the entrance ramp and Adam Cole’s music hit, baybay! Adam Cole came down to the ring on crutches. Cole stood in his best friend’s corner, and MJF smiled.
MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eye and then kicked him. MJF charged at Samoa Joe, but Joe grabbed him and slammed him to the mat. MJF clutched his arm. Samoa Joe punched MJF in the shoulder and then stomped a mudhole into him. Samoa Joe hit a leg drop on MJF’s arm. Samoa Joe put a tight grip on MJF’s shoulder. MJF fought out of it with a series of chops. Samoa Joe booted the champ in the face!
“Max is in deep you know what right now,” said Taz.
Samoa Joe went for the muscle buster, but Max escaped. MJF grabbed an inside cradle for a near fall. MJF tried to schoolboy Samoa Joe and Joe kicked out of it. MJF went for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe anticipated it and blocked it. MJF went to skin the cat, but as MJF was inverted, Samoa Joe kicked MJF in the head. Samoa Joe dived out of the ring with an elbow suicida and mowed down MJF.
Samoa Joe planted Max with a Death Valley Driver in the center of the ring. Joe nailed MJF with a German Suplex and then a dragon suplex. Samoa Joe followed up with a straitjacket suplex! Samoa Joe decimated MJF with a muscle buster on the ring apron! MJF landed directly on his injured left shoulder. Joe covered MJF but MJF managed to kick out at two.
MJF headbutted Joe. MJF connected with a rolling elbow strike to the back of Joe’s head. MJF chomped on Samoa Joe’s forehead. MJF tried for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe booted Max out of the air. MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eyes. MJF tried to hoist up Samoa Joe, but MJF collapsed under the weight. MJF ran into Samoa Joe, throwing his body at Joe. MJF landed the heat seeker on Samoa Joe for a two-count! MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar on Samoa Joe. The challenger escaped and put MJF into an arm bar. Samoa Joe wrenched upwards. Adam Cole cheered on MJF, and MJF was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold.
Samoa Joe applied a sleeper. MJF pushed backwards, inadvertently shoving Samoa Joe into the referee. The ref collapsed. MJF smiled. MJF stunned Samoa Joe with a low blow. MJF hoisted up Samoa Joe and pancaked him! The ref finally turned around and began to count the pin, but Samoa Joe kicked out at two! MJF signaled for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Adam Cole had trouble finding it, and in the meantime, Samoa Joe grabbed Max from behind. Samoa Joe wrapped MJF in a deep submission. The referee lifted up MJF’s arm three times and MJF didn’t respond. MJF was choked out!
And new All Elite World Champion Samoa Joe!
Adam Cole got into the ring to console MJF. The Devil’s masked men surrounded the ring. They swarmed MJF and Adam Cole!
Adam Cole said, “Hey, hit me!”
One of the masked goons had a steel chair. MJF yelled, “No, don’t hit him! Hit me!”
The masked goon with the chair turned around and raised the chair, about to swing it at Adam Cole.
The arena lights went dark!
When the lights returned, Adam Cole was free, and he was sitting in the chair! The masked goons stood behind Cole. The masked goons removed their masks—it was Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, and Wardlow!
MJF, with tears streaming down his face, in complete disbelief, yelled, “How could you do this, man?”
Roderick Strong rammed into MJF with a jumping knee strike! Taven and Bennett began to pound MJF with fists. Wardlow power bombed MJF! Adam Cole sat on the chair the entire time. Cole pulled the Devil mask out from behind his jacket. Adam Cole dropped the mask onto MJF and laughed!
“Why? The question is how long have they been planning this!” wondered Tony Schiavone.
“The world of MJF has ended,” added Excalibur.
Missed what the entire wrestling world is buzzing about? Order the replay of the historic AEW Worlds End 2023! It’s available on all traditional cable and satellite providers in the United States and Canada, Bleacher Report, Fite International, PPV.COM, and more! See AEW Worlds End 2023 for yourself!
Catch the fallout from Worlds End on AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE: New Year’s Smash was broadcast from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL!
Your broadcast team was Excalibur and Tony Schiavone!
It’s Friday night and you know what that means!
Rampage kicked off with Chris Jericho coming down to the ring!
Jericho: “We had a huge night on Dynamite last Wednesday when Sammy Guevara quit the Don Callis Family, and of course they had to gang up and attack him. So, I came down to help out Sammy, and then Sting and Darby came out to help us. Which leads to the huge eight-man tag at Worlds End tomorrow, and I’ll be tagging with Sting for the first time ever.
“Sting told me he would have my back. And he was a man of his word. And I’ve got a lot of respect for Sting too. Now before we can go to Worlds End, I need to figure out a few things with Sammy Guevara. So, Sammy, come on out and let’s discuss a few things in this ring now.”
Sammy Guevara’s music hit, and he joined Jericho in the ring.
Excalibur wondered if time healed all wounds.
Jericho: “They love you here tonight in Orlando. And I’ve always been a fan of yours. A few months ago, we had a great match on Dynamite, and instead of celebrating that match together, you turned on me and joined the Don Callis Family. I want to ask you man to man, why?”
Sammy: “Chris, it’s hard being in your shadow man. Name any accolade, you’ve done it all. And maybe somewhere along the line I started blaming you for why I wasn’t where I needed to be. I felt like you were holding back but really, I was just holding myself back. It’s time I stop blaming others and I become the man that I know I am.
“I was at home reflecting, and I know I’m that man. I should have been the good friend that you were to me. So really, all I can offer you is, I’m sorry.”
Jericho: “Well Sammy, I accept your apology and I want to say the same to you. I’m sorry, too, and I want to tell you why. Maybe sometimes I’m a little controlling, but I’ve always been one of your biggest fans. I brought you here to AEW. I had you in the Inner Circle, the JAS, and here right now. I’ve always believed in you, and I always will, okay? So let me ask you this: we have the eight-man tag at Worlds End, but after that, I still have a tag team opportunity for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. And I need a partner. So, I want to ask you, will you reunite with Chris Jericho and reunite Le Sex Gods?”
Sammy looked at Jericho and hugged him!
Jericho: “Le Sex Gods are back, baby!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Daniel Garcia and Matt Menard!
Matt Menard: “How about the biggest win of Garcia’s career last Saturday night, taken away by the House of Black!”
Garcia: “House of Black, I’m absolutely sick of people like you thinking you can walk in here and walk all over people like us. We’re not having it anymore. We’re gonna fight back. It might not be today, it might not be tomorrow, but we’re gonna get you back. I promise you that. Pay up.”
Ruby Soho (with Saraya & Harley Cameron) vs. “The Problem” Marina Shafir (with Nyla Rose)!
Ruby dodged a kick from Marina and then grabbed Marina by the hair, pulling her down to the mat. Marina fired back with vicious kicks. Harley grabbed at Marina’s leg and Ruby tripped Marina, taking advantage of the distraction.
Marina smashed Ruby with a running lariat. She followed up with a backbreaker to Ruby. Marina dropkicked Ruby. Saraya jumped onto the ring apron, but Nyla yanked her down. Harley flung herself onto Nyla’s back, but Nyla powered her to the arena floor. Saraya jumped over the guardrail and ran away. Nyla chased after her through the fans. Ruby blasted Marina with the No Future kick for a near fall.
Marina grabbed Ruby but once again, Harley tried to get involved and popped up onto the ring apron. Marina swung at Harley, but Harley avoided it. Ruby rolled up Marina from behind, hung onto Marina’s tights, and pinned her!
Backstage, the Don Callis Family, along with AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Absolute Ricky Starks had some choice words for Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting, and Darby Allin ahead of their match at Worlds End tomorrow!
Callis: “Your world ends tomorrow!”
Powerhouse Hobbs: “Look at this team. Tomorrow night the four of you find out why I’m big, black, and jacked.”
Kyle Fletcher: “Hell yeah, tomorrow night on pay-per-view, you’ll find out why the Don Callis Family is the top of the food chain. Along with our new friends Big Bill and Ricky Starks.”
Big Bill: “Tomorrow night, in my backyard, in front of my friends and family, us four are going to whoop all four of your asses.”
Ricky Starks: “Congratulations Chris Jericho. You found four other idiots. This is my retirement gift to you, Sting. You will not make it to Revolution after tomorrow night.”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale!
Renee said Willow asked for this time to address some of the rumors going around at the hands of Stokely Hathaway.
Willow: “Honestly, I just want to make sure you and I are cool, Kris. He’s trying to say I’m taking all the credit for the Street Fight. You yourself are an amazing wrestler. I was kinda thinking, I’m from Long Island, you’re from Long Island, and we’ve got Worlds End coming up in Long Island. I’d really love to share the ring again.”
Stokely Hathaway interrupted!
Stokely: “Share the ring together? I think that’s a great idea. But I have a question for you. What took you so long to save your so-called bestie on Dynamite? How about you two share the ring against each other one on one at Worlds End?”
Statlander: “I’d really like that, actually. I really respect you as a wrestler and as a friend, and so, Worlds End?”
Willow agreed to the match for tomorrow!
ROH Pure Championship Match!
Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta (c.) vs. Matt Sydal!
Your judges were Jimmy Jacobs, “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, and Sarah Stock.
They began the match with some incredible chain wrestling. Sydal escaped a crucifix pin attempt, and then nearly caught Yuta himself. Yuta chopped Sydal but Sydal answered with a chop of his own.
Sydal nailed Yuta with a roundhouse kick. Yuta retaliated with a suplex, hit a snap mare, and then dropped a knee on Sydal. Yuta dropkicked Sydal and covered him for a near fall. Sydal connected with the air raid crash for a two-count on Yuta!
Yuta slipped behind Sydal and rocked him with a bridging German suplex for a near fall. Yuta tied up Sydal in a submission, but Sydal managed to reach the ropes with his boot, utilizing his first rope break.
Yuta smashed Sydal with hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Yuta transitioned to putting Sydal into the seatbelt and pinned Matt Sydal!
Danhausen walked onto the ramp after the match!
Danhausen: “Yuta, it is Danhausen, the ROH legend myself, and I have decided to appoint myself the fourth judge. I noticed you’re wrestling my good friend and sometimes tag team partner Hook at Worlds End. I’ve been keeping a close eyeball on you. You cheated and therefore I have to disqualify you. You lost!”
Wheeler Yuta decked Danhausen! Yuta spiked Danhausen with a DDT. Yuta hammered Danhausen with elbows until FTW Champion Hook headed straight to the ring to even up the odds. Yuta bailed right away!
Main Event Time! Trios Match!
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, & Trent Beretta
vs.
Action Andretti & Top Flight—Dante & Darius Martin!
Cassidy rolled up Andretti with a crucifix for a near fall. Orange put his hands in his pockets and dropkicked Action. Trent tagged in and hit an elbow on Action Andretti. Darius grabbed a tag and put Trent in a side headlock. Trent and Darius traded chops to the chest.
Dante tagged in and splashed Trent with a stalling senton over the top. Top Flight and Action Andretti connected with a triple tope suicida on their opponents! Back in the ring, Rocky and Andretti slugged it out. Action took Rocky off his feet, jumping off the top rope with a cross body press.
Dante and Trent tagged in for their respective teams. Dante connected with a big crossbody press for a near fall. Top Flight used their tandem offense and Darius nailed Trent with a flatliner but Orange broke up the pin attempt. Orange crushed Darius with a Stun dog Millionaire. Action hit a 450 springboard on Trent but Rocky and Orange broke up the pin attempt.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Trent drove Darius down with a suplex. Andretti wiped out Trent with a moonsault to the floor. Rocky climbed to the top, but Action kicked Rocky in the head, stunning him. Trent came up from behind and hurled Action with a release German suplex off the top turnbuckle!
Orange went for the Orange Punch, but Dante countered! Rocky tagged in but Dante planted him and scored the pin!
“This was the win that Top Flight and Action Andretti were looking for,” said Excalibur.
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ!
Don’t miss AEW Worlds End live on pay-per-view on Saturday beginning with Zero Hour at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, NY!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
On the final DYNAMITE of 2023, the AEW faithful watched as Samoa Joe stabbed AEW World Champion MJF right between the shoulder blades to cost him the ROH World Tag Team Championship to The Devil’s Masked Men! We also witnessed both Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston advance to the Continental Classic Tournament Finals taking place at WORLDS END, Sammy Guevara apparently reunited with Chris Jericho, Mariah May announce her in-ring debut for the first DYNAMITE of 2024, and so much more! It was an action-packed edition of AEW’s flagship as we barrel towards WORLDS END this Saturday night on pay-per-view!
There’s only one more sleep until WORLDS END, but before you close your eyes, there’s a matter of Friday night RAMPAGE! Coming to you from Orlando, the night begins at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, and features AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta in Trios action against Action Andretti and Top Flight, plus Ruby Soho goes one-on-one with Marina Shafir, but now with Harley Cameron apparently attached to her side! And less than 24 hours before he engages in a FTW Rules fight with HOOK, ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta puts his title on the line against former ROH Tag Champion Matt Sydal! We will also hear from Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara after their moment with The Don Callis Family as well as AEW World Champion MJF after he was betrayed by Samoa Joe!
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!
TRIOS MATCH…
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, & Trent Beretta
vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
For the second week in a row, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy has taken the off-handed comments of someone as a challenge. Last week it was his own friend Rocky Romero, and this time around it is the high-flying trio of Action Andretti and Top Flight who “Freshly Squeezed”, and apparently Trent Beretta, assume are looking for a fight!
Well this Friday night on RAMPAGE, less than twenty-four hours before AEW’s last PPV presentation of the year, Cassidy and his friends will clash with Action and his in a huge Trios match! Andretti and the Martin brothers are coming off a hard-fought loss in their AEW World Trios Championship challenge last Saturday night on COLLISION, and are hungry to get another shot at The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass. A victory over the International Champion, Trent Beretta, and Rocky Romero would go a long way towards the three young men achieving that goal, and who knows, if they can get that victory by beating OC, it could even mean a future date with the AEW International Championship!
Knowing what these six men are capable of, this match is certainly going to be a wild one full of high-flying action, hard-hitting offense, and the finest trios competition you’ll see anywhere in professional wrestling today!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir
Well it seems whether she likes it or not, Ruby Soho has a…helper…in the form of one Harley Cameron. It’s quite clear that Soho does not want this, but Saraya is making it happen no matter what her friend wishes. Obviously that phone call from Angelo Parker was more important to Soho than anything Saraya had to say, but perhaps this is all the former AEW Women’s World Champion’s way of apologizing for her treatment of Soho the last several weeks.
It was only a couple weeks ago that Soho challenged Saraya to go it alone against Riho to earn the WORLDS END championship match with Toni Storm, and the former champion failed to rise up on her own merits. So maybe employing Harley is as much a birthday present as a mea culpa, but regardless of the reason, hopefully it pays off for The Outcasts and isn’t just another distraction for Ruby Soho. That’s the last thing she needs when having to deal with a problem like “The Problem” Marina Shafir!
ROH PURE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH…
Wheeler Yuta(c) vs. Matt Sydal
Though Yuta has a FTW Championship match at WORLDS END: ZERO HOUR on tap, one contested under FTW Rules, he is set to take on a challenge to his ROH Pure Championship at RAMPAGE, less than 24 hours prior to his clash with HOOK. His opponent this Friday night in Orlando: former ROH Tag Team Champion Matt Sydal!
Though Sydal was part of the 2020 Pure Title Tournament that reintroduced the championship after a fourteen year hiatus, Sydal has never fought in a Pure Rules match, much less a Pure Title bout, making this uncharted territory for the veteran of the mat wars.
Is it wise for Yuta to step into a championship bout so close to his FTW Rules fight with HOOK? Is it worth risking injury, or worse, losing the Pure Championship before WORLDS END? Apparently for someone the mindset of Yuta, someone with The Blackpool Combat Club mentality, the answer is yes. Hopefully Yuta doesn’t go to sleep Friday night regretting his decision…
The relationship between Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho, likely because it dates back to the dawn of DYNAMITE, has been quite tumultuous over the last four years. They’ve generally stood on the same side of the battle, though it has occasionally been a tense situation, justifiably so given the power dynamic of the relationship. Jericho has often seen Sammy as his understudy, as beneath him, while at a certain point the former 3-Time TNT Champion felt he’d proven himself an equal. It popped up during the dissolution of The Inner Circle, when Jericho was reigning as ROH World Champion, and blew up completely in the aftermath of The Jericho Appreciation Society. The final straw, or so it seemed at the moment, was Guevara choosing to stand alongside Don Callis in opposition to “The Ocho”.
Shortly thereafter “The Spanish God” suffered a serious concussion, and during his recovery from that injury, witnessed the birth of he and Tay Melo’s child, and it made a shift in where Guevara’s head is at. No longer dredging in the same depths as Don Callis, Guevara would’ve ended up another victim of a Callis Family assault if not for the arrival of Chris Jericho, followed by Darby Allin and Sting.
So where does that leave Chris Jericho and Sammy after that surprising save? We will hear what the original AEW World Champion has to say about the matter this Friday night on RAMPAGE!
It’s the final night before WORLDS END, and that means Friday night RAMPAGE is on deck! Emanating from Orlando, matches begin at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for international fans, and include Action Andretti and Top Flight fighting AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta in Trios action as well as plus Ruby Soho going head-to-head with Marina Shafir. In addition, Matt Sydal will challenge ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta just 24 hours before The BCC member steps into a FTW Rules match with HOOK! We also anticipate hearing from Chris Jericho after what happened with The Don Callis Family and Sammy Guevara!
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!
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE: New Year’s Smash was broadcast live from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL!
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!
Continental Classic League Final Standings:
Gold League
Jon Moxley (12)
Swerve Strickland (12)
Jay White (12)
Rush (6)
Mark Briscoe (3)
Jay Lethal (0)
Blue League
“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson (10)
ROH World Champion/NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston (9)
Andrade El Idolo (9)
Brody King (6)
Claudio Castagnoli (6)
Daniel Garcia (3)
Continental Classic: Gold League Final!
Jon Moxley vs. “Switchblade” Jay White vs. Swerve Strickland!
“Here we go! Who is going to go into the final for the Gold League?” wondered Taz.
Swerve was looking for a quick win, rolling up Mox from behind. Mox kicked out and then he and Swerve traded forearms. Moxley delivered some big headbutts. Swerve and Moxley brawled around the ring while Jay White watched on. Swerve and Mox grabbed White and tossed him over the barricade. Mox then chucked Swerve over the barricade!
Swerve put Moxley on a chair and then charged into him with a running knee. The forced pushed Moxley backwards, with Moxley landing on his shoulder. “Switchblade” Jay White snuck up behind Moxley and nailed him with a chop block. Jay White hammered down right hands on the head of Moxley. Jay White suplexed Moxley onto a steel chair.
Back in the ring, Jay White chopped at Swerve and then suplexed Swerve into the corner. Jay White tried to suplex Swerve but Swerve countered with a kick from the apron. Moxley took down Jay White with a pump kick. Swerve was there waiting but Moxley got a boot up and then raked the back of Swerve. Swerve connected with a big lariat to Moxley and then a flying European Uppercut to the back of Moxley’s head and neck.
Swerve backdropped Moxley over the top rope. Swerve climbed to the top and rocked Mox and White with a diving frog splash to them on the arena floor! Moxley retaliated with a tope suicida, driving Swerve back to the barricade.
Moxley spiked Swerve with a piledriver for a near fall. Moxley followed up with the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Moxley tried for a superplex, but Swerve fought it way out. Swerve jumped off the turnbuckles, but Moxley countered with a boot and a DDT for a two-count. Moxley cleared off the timekeeper’s table. Mox was looking for a piledriver but Jay White whacked Mox with a chair to the back, and then he hammered Moxley’s leg and left knee with the chair. Jay White jumped back into the ring and Swerve cradled him for a near fall.
Swerve blasted Jay White with a solid right hand shot. Swerve plastered White with the House Call kick! Swerve powerslammed White. Swerve smashed White with a 450 splash, but Mox was there to kick Swerve and break up Swerve’s pin attempt on White!
“We are witnessing a classic,” said Excalibur.
Moxley locked a bulldog choke on Jay White! Swerve rocked Mox with the House Call! Jay White pushed Swerve into Moxley and Moxley defended with a King Kong Lariat. Jay White planted Mox with the Blade Runner and went for the cover but Swerve shoved Mox off White, breaking the pin to protect his own chances at winning the match.
The fans chanted “Fight forever! Fight forever!”
Jay White smacked Moxley with a steel chair and then cracked Swerve in the ribs. Jay White propped the chair between the turnbuckle pads. Swerve grabbed Jay White and whipped him into the chair. Moxley and Swerve stood there and traded open hand shots in the center of the ring! Swerve caught Moxley with two pump kicks. Swerve walloped Mox with a discus lariat! Swerve was looking for the JML Driver but Mox bit on Swerve’s fingers. Swerve climbed up for the Swerve Stomp, but Jay White knocked him down. Moxley impaled Jay White with the Death Rider and scored the pin!
Jon Moxley is the winner of the Gold League and is going to the finals this Saturday at the Worlds End pay-per-view!
Tony Schiavone was backstage with Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana!
Swerve: “I wanted this so bad. This Continental Classic was bringing life back into this business. I proved I’m one of the best in the industry, if not the best. I didn’t get pinned. Jay White got pinned. Somebody is looking for me on Collision? Keith Lee, yeah? You want me? I got nothing to do this Saturday, I’ll be there at Worlds End!”
Tony Schiavone presented Swerve with a contract to wrestle Keith Lee on Saturday at Worlds End.
Swerve: “We’ll see if he shows up this Saturday,” said Swerve.
Renee Paquette interviewed Mariah May on the ramp!
Mariah May: “You’ve all waited so patiently for my debut and I’m here to tell you when it’s going to be. I didn’t feel 2023 had the best energy. Not enough glamour. So, my debut will be next week on the first Dynamite of the new year. Because 2024 is all about Mariah.”
Riho ran out and chased Mariah May to the ring!
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm sprinted down, but Riho tripped her up! Riho jumped off the top rope, crashing onto Toni Storm and Luther the Butler with flying crossbody press!
Backstage, Top Flight—Darius and Dante Martin, and Action Andretti had some words after their match last week with the Acclaimed and Daddy Ass!
Dante: “There are plenty of trios for us to fight.”
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, and Trent walked onto the set.
Orange: “We’ll see you guys Friday.”
Rocky: “Honestly, Orange did the same thing to me last week. See you guys Friday.”
Action: “Well, this Friday, Rampage, challenge accepted.”
A highlight package aired of “The Redeemer” Miro, and Miro threw out a challenge to Andrade El Idolo at Worlds End this Saturday!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring for Don Callis Family’s Boxing Week Celebration!
ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Don Callis came out!
Don Callis: “I have something important to say. As you may or may not know, there’s been a lot of stuff going around outside the wrestling business the past couple of weeks. Family stuff. It’s been a very difficult two weeks for me. And guys you know what I’m talking about and at times like this, you need your family. And I couldn’t have gotten through it without my family by me. And I’ve gotten all of you guys some Boxing gifts to show my appreciation.
Don Callis unveiled a painting of him and Powerhouse. And then one of him with Takeshita. He had one of him and Kyle revealed.
Don Callis: “Finally, the Don Callis Family feels complete.”
Sammy Guevara’s music hit, and Sammy walked to the ring, making his return!
Don Callis: “What’s up?”
Sammy: “Long time no talk, Don.”
Don: “Didn’t you get the gift I sent for the kid? I’m glad you’re here. To show my appreciation, I got a gift for you. This is a painting just for you I did specially.”
Sammy unveiled the painting, and it was a portrait of Sammy holding his newborn, surrounded by the Don Callis Family.
Sammy: “Don, I have one question for you. Who the hell told you to put my baby on that?”
Don: “No one but look at it again. You’ve got your whole family there supporting you and Sammy, let’s be honest, you’re not exactly mentally capable of being a parent.”
Sammy: “You’re worried about my parenting when you need to be worried about leading this group. You make everything about you. I’ve head people that I would never expect ask me how I was going when I got concussed. But I never got a message from you.”
Don: “You’re disappointed that I didn’t call you? I’m disappointed that you dropped the ball when you got hurt and dropped the ball when you had the greatest opportunity you’ve ever had. I’m disappointed that you were on leave while you were out having a baby. So, you choose the other family, or you choose the Don Callis Family. If you answer wrong, you’re going to be remembered as just as big a failure as a wrestler as you’re about to be as a parent.”
Sammy heard enough and shoved Don Callis to the mat!
Powerhouse Hobbs bulldozed Sammy and the rest of the Callis Family began to stomp on Sammy. Chris Jericho ran to the ring and hit Hobbs and Takeshita with Floyd, his baseball bat. The rest of the Callis family retreated from the ring. Jericho swung at the paintings and smashed them with his bat. For the final painting, he offered his bat to Sammy and invited him to smash it. Sammy swung the bat and shattered the portrait!
Jericho and Sammy hugged. AEW World Tag Team Champions “Absolute” Ricky Starks and Big Bill blindsided Jericho and Sammy from behind!
“Where did they come from?” asked Excalibur.
Starks and Big Bill swarmed Sammy and Jericho!
The arena lights went black! When the arena lights came back on, Sting and Darby Allin were in the ring! Sting whacked Big Bill with his baseball bat! Darby dropkicked Starks! Sting and Jericho took turns hammering away at Big Bill with their baseball bats!
“Sting and Darby Allin and they had the back of Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara! What an improbably turn of events,” said Excalibur.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Roderick Strong!
Roddy: “Renee! Thank you for this time. Me and the fellows have been working on something for the past five days.”
The Kingdom had a bulletin board full of suspects, connected by yarn, trying to decipher who the Devil was.
Roddy: “All roads lead to…Max is the devil. Listen to me, Max. I’m going to prove you’re the devil. You are eventually going to be exposed. Because Max is the devil!”
Continental Classic: Blue League Final!
ROH World & NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston
vs.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
Danielson was testing Eddie’s patience, but Eddie grabbed Danielson with a suplex and followed up with a tope suicida. Kingston chopped at Danielson outside the ring. Danielson whipped Kingston into the barricade, but Kingston came back with a double sledge.
Danielson gouged at Kingston’s eyes. Danielson connected with round kicks, tenderizing Kingston in the corner. Eddie cracked Danielson with headbutts. Danielson staggered Kingston on the apron with a DDT and then followed up with a flying knee!
Back in the ring, Danielson was looking for the Le Bell Lock, but Kingston scooted away back towards the ropes. Danielson taunted and berated Kingston: “They’re all saying you’re a bum!” Kingston sent Danielson for a ride with an exploder suplex!
Kingston went for the spinning backfist, but Danielson blocked it. Kingston followed up with a DDT and now the fans chanted “Let’s go Eddie!” Kingston wrecked Danielson in the corner with brutal chops.
“Danielson wanted this aggression from Kingston,” said Excalibur.
“Well, he’s getting it,” replied Taz.
Danielson managed to put Kingston in the Le Bell Lock! Kingston crawled to the ropes to force the ref to break the hold. Danielson blasted Kingston with kicks and then a snap suplex. Danielson climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Eddie charged to the corner and chopped Danielson, stalling Bryan’s progress. Danielson slipped between Eddie’s legs and then pulled him backwards in a Tree of Woe. Danielson kicked Eddie, who was tied up in the ropes. Danielson smashed Eddie with a running dropkick.
Danielson tried to suplex Eddie off the turnbuckles, but Eddie shifted and landed on top of Bryan’s injured eye. Danielson kicked Eddie on the inside of the knee and brought him down. Kingston fired back with more chops, bringing Danielson to his knees! Danielson blocked a chop and hurled Eddie with a shoulder capture suplex for a near fall!
Kingston connected with a lariat and then followed up with a Northern Lights Bomb for a near fall on Danielson! Bryan found the strength to connect with a running knee strike for a two-count on Eddie! Danielson battered Kingston with the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Danielson captured Eddie’s wrists and stomped on Eddie’s head! Eddie flipped off Danielson. Eddie blocked Danielson’s running knee strike with a spinning back fist! Kingston hurled Danielson with a half and half. Danielson caught Kingston with a roundhouse kick! Eddie smashed Danielson again with a spinning backfist! Kingston power bombed Danielson and pinned him!
Eddie Kingston is the winner of the Blue League Division!
“Not only has Eddie finally defeated Bryan Danielson, but he is also one step closer to that Continental Crown,” said Excalibur.
Jon Moxley walked down the ramp and entered the ring to check on Danielson. Kingston sneered at Moxley.
Moxley: “Eddie, all I’ve ever asked of you, every time I stuck my neck out for you, all I’ve ever asked is for you to give 100%. And for a guy who thinks the whole world is against him, you’ve got a lot of people who love you. Listen to this building, man. Everybody here in Orlando loves Eddie Kingston. AEW fans across the country and the world love Eddie Kingston.
“Every person in the building on Saturday at Worlds End in New York City is going to love Eddie Kingston. And they don’t care whether you win or lose. But they deserve your very best. They deserve your maximum effort. Problem is, I know you better than you know yourself. I know you can’t beat me, and you know you can’t beat me. So, for my money, you’ve already lost. You’ve already given up. You’re already making excuses, but that’s not going to fly this time. A couple years ago I gave you the shot of your lifetime and I let you off the hook. This time you’re not going to get one single favor. You want to be a Triple Crown Champion just like all your heroes? You’re going to have to earn every inch.”
Kingston: “You talked enough. Let me tell you something. Don’t come out here and treat me like your young boy Yuta. Because I ain’t no young boy. Remember something: I broke in before you. You’re lucky I let you breathe. But I’m going to tell you something. You’re right. I’m one of the most down people. I hate myself more than I hate anybody else. But on Saturday the king of the bums is going to push you. You told me once when I wanted to quit AEW, you said, ‘You are not allowed to quit because we need people like you around to shape the younger guys. So, is that what you want, Jon? I’m going to give you everything I have. You better show your fighting spirit because I’m going to show you mine and I’m going to bust you up and enjoy it.”
Lexy Nair had a sitdown interview with TNT Champion Christian Cage and “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland!
Lexy introduced the viewers to Shayna Wayne, Nick Wayne, and the TNT Champion Christian Cage.
Christian Cage: “First of all, it’s Mother Wayne and the ‘Prodigy’ Nick Wayne, and I’ve been sitting here all night waiting for Adam Copeland to show up.”
Copeland stormed the set!
Copeland threw Nick Wayne into a cargo box. Christian and Copeland began to slug it out! AEW Security did their best to pry Copeland off Christian. Copeland fought free while Christian Cage tried to escape through a side door. Adam Copeland caught up with Christian Cage and shoved him against a concrete wall! Wrestlers pried them apart while Copeland yelled, “You’re mine! You’re mine!”
Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue!
Stokely Hathaway joined the broadcast booth for this match.
“Skye Blue has changed. She looks different, she approaches her matches differently,” said Tony Schiavone.
“Well, I think her buddy Julia Hart rubbed off on her,” replied Taz.
Skye slapped Kris in the face. Kris rammed Skye with a shoulder tackle and followed up with a scoop slam. Kris took down Skye with a dropkick. Kris blocked a suplex from Skye. Kris countered with a delayed vertical suplex.
Skye cracked Kris with a rising knee strike and then a pump kick to the side of the head. Skye planted Statlander on the ring apron, using Kris’ own momentum against her. Kris rolled through with a deadlift German Suplex for a near fall on Skye.
Skye ducked a kick and connected with a thrust kick. Skye hit the Code Blue for a near fall on Statlander. Skye jumped off the top rope looking for a hurracanrana, but Statlander caught her and rocked Skye with a powerbomb for a two-count. Kris kicked Skye and Skye played possum while the ref checked on her. Julia Hart jumped out of nowhere and clocked Kris Statlander with the TBS Championship. The ref didn’t see it! Skye walloped Kris with an avalanche Code Blue and pinned Statlander!
Skye Blue attacked Kris Statlander after the match. Julia Hart and Skye Blue double teamed Statlander. Willow Nightingale ran to the ring to help Kris! Willow dished out clotheslines and Skye and Julia ran from Willow!
As Skye Blue and Julia Hart retreated from the ring, Abadon appeared and stared at Julia! Skye Blue and Julia Hart jumped off the ramp and took a side route away from Abadon!
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Ruby Soho and Saraya!
Renee asked Ruby how she felt knowing she’s taking on Marina Shafir this Friday on Rampage.
Saraya: “I’m really excited for you, but I can’t keep this in. I’m so sorry, Ruby, but you know it’s your birthday next month and I’ve been giving you so many gifts. Well, I thought I’d give you something special for Rampage. I got you a little help. C’mon in Harley! Look at her, she’ll do anything.”
Ruby’s phone rang and she apologized but she had to take the call.
Saraya: “Is that Angelo? Tell him I said hi. I love that guy.”
Ruby left to answer the phone. Renee asked how Saraya’s partnership with Harley came together.
Saraya: “Why don’t I show you. Go on.”
Harley pulled a knife from behind her back!
Saraya: “Whoa, let’s try the other thing. We’ll fill you in next week Renee. Put that knife back. Put that back.”
Main Event Time! Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship Match!
AEW World & ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF & Samoa Joe
vs.
The Devil’s Masked Men!
The masked men were in the ring. And then MJF was introduced, and he walked down the ramp. When Samoa Joe was introduced by Justin Roberts, he didn’t walk out to the ring. Footage played on the big screen from backstage, where Samoa Joe was on the ground, injured. Samoa Joe was holding his right leg, writhing in pain.
MJF told the ref, “I’m doing this match!”
MJF took the fight right to the masked men, stomping one of them in the corner. Samoa Joe tried to pull the mask off, but the other masked man pulled MJF’s throat first across the top rope. MJF rammed one of the masked men into the steel ring post. He tried to pull off the mask, but a third masked man crawled out from beneath the ring and clocked MJF with a steel pipe on MJF’s injured shoulder. One of the masked men nailed MJF with the heat seeker and scored the pin while the other masked man held his legs. The Devil’s Masked Men are the new ROH World Tag Team Champions!
More masked men began to swarm MJF in the ring! Samoa Joe hobbled to the ring with a steel chair under his arm! The masked men retreated away from Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe helped MJF to his feet and then the Devil appeared on the big screen. The Devil disappeared but the following words appeared:
“Pleasure doing business with you.”
MJF stared at the message and then Samoa Joe cracked MJF in the back with the steel chair!
“Has Joe been working with the Devil this whole time?” asked Excalibur.
“I think Joe definitely has been working with the Devil,” replied Taz.
“Guys, I agree. He’s in league with the Devil himself,” added Tony Schiavone.
Samoa Joe was walking fine now and picked up MJF. Joe planted MJF with the Muscle Buster in the center of the ring!
Samoa Joe picked up the AEW World Title and held it up overhead!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE: New Year’s Smash at 10pm ET on TNT!
Don’t miss AEW Worlds End live on pay-per-view on Saturday beginning with Zero Hour at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, NY!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
