A new trios match has been added to Forbidden Door.
After Chris Jericho and Big Bill defeated Private Party on AEW Collision, the two along with Bryan Keith continued to attack Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy until Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata came out for the save.
Joe then cut a promo saying that Jericho’s learning tree sucks, and they come from different backgrounds and different school of thoughts. He then issued the trios challenge for Forbidden Door. The match, however, has yet to be made official.
Jericho has debuted a new persona since taking the FTW Championship away from Hook, taking Big Bill and Bryan Keith under his “learning tree”, often giving patronizing advice to those he comes across.
Since his loss to Jericho at Double or Nothing thanks to Bryan Keith, Hook has been looking for revenge. He and Samoa Joe have since agreed to have each other’s backs, with Shibata joining them to form a trio. Earlier on Collision, the trio defeated Ari Daivari, Tony Nese, and Josh Woods of the Premier Athletes.
Friday’s early edition of AEW Rampage will see the return of former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in addition to PAC vs. Rocky Romero.
This will be Joe’s second match since he lost his title to Swerve Strickland at April’s Dynasty. He has not been announced for Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view, but has been involved in a storyline with motivating Hook during backstage segments. Hook and Katsuyori Shibata will challenge FTW Champion Chris Jericho in a three-way title match Sunday.
The PAC vs. Romero match is their first singles encounter since 2012 when they squared off in that year’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament. They were also on opposite ends of a 2007 tag team match in PWG.
In other action, Rush will look to go 3-0 against former factionmate Isiah Kassidy while TBS Champion Willow Nightingale will team with former champion Kris Statlander against Anna Jay and the well-regarded Alex Windsor who is making her promotional debut.
Friday’s show will air at 6 PM Eastern/3 PM Pacific due to NBA playoff coverage on TNT.
Here’s the current lineup that was taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Bakersfield, Colorado:
PAC vs. Rocky Romero
Samoa Joe vs. Dom Kubrick
Rush vs. Isiah Kassidy
Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay & Alex Windsor
Claudio Castagnoli will face Brian Cage in a singles match. Castagnoli challenged Mogul Embassay member and new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland on Saturday’s Collision, coming up short. Another match will see Samoa Joe face Isiah Kassidy. This will be the first time Joe has appeared on AEW television since losing to Strickland at Dynasty earlier this month.
We will also hear from Orange Cassidy. After Trent Beretta defeated Chuck Taylor in a Parking Lot Brawl on Rampage, he confronted Beretta and told him to stop. Beretta instead attacked Taylor’s ankle with a wrench and blamed Cassidy for what he had done.
Here is the updated lineup for AEW Dynamite:
FTW Champion Chris Jericho defends against Katsuyori Shibata
Swerve Strickland’s AEW World title challenger for Double or Nothing revealed
TNT Champion Adam Copeland defends against a member of The House of Black
For the first time ever, Swerve Strickland can call himself AEW World Champion after he defeated Samoa Joe in the main event of Sunday’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.
The end came when Strickland hit a second Swerve Stomp off the top rope for the pin, getting emotional before he took flight.
As noted on commentary, Strickland becomes AEW’s first African-American World Champion, their 11th overall World champion, and eighth unique World Champion.
His run toward the title began after he failed to advance to the finals of the first-ever Continental Classic last December. After six straight wins, he went to a 30-minute draw with blood rival Hangman Page this past February. He found his way into a three-way with Page and Joe for the title at March’s Revolution only to have his title win opportunity robbed by Page who didn’t make an appearance at Dynasty to thwart his rival.
Strickland then defeated Konosuke Takeshita in late-March to earn the shot.
Joe’s 113-day run with the title ends with three successful title defenses dating back to last December’s Worlds End when he defeated MJF for the title.
Strickland, who came out in full Black Panther garb for his entrance, survived the physical Joe who hit a Muscle Buster on the outside of the ring and later inside the ring.
Strickland set up the ending by jumping over Joe while on the top rope, hitting a power bomb and then the second Stomp for the win.
HE DID IT! Swerve Strickland is the NEW #AEW World Champion!
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend against Swerve Strickland as part of tonight’s first-ever AEW Dynasty from St. Louis, Missouri.
The show will feature a much-anticipated dream match as Bryan Danielson goes one-on-one with Will Ospreay.
In a ladder match for the vacant AEW Tag Team titles, the Young Bucks will face FTR for the fourth time ever.
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Thunder Rosa while TBS Champion Julia Hart defends against Willow Nightingale with Mercedes Mone set to face the winner next month.
AEW International Champion Roderick Strong defends against Kyle O’Reilly while AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against PAC.
FTW Champion Hook defends against Chris Jericho while Adam Copeland, Mark Briscoe & Eddie Kingston take on the House of Black.
The pre-show will see Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed vs. Jay White & The Gunns in a match to unify the AEW Trios and ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles in addition to other action.
Zero Hour
The WrestleAunts, Renee Paquette & RJ City, welcome us to Zero Hour as they run down tonight’s card and video packages for the show. The crowd started loud Swerve’s House chants throughout the first half hour. We see footage of The Young Bucks showing up earlier in the day in a Tesla Cybertruck, which Nicholas Jackson said his wasn’t one that was recalled.
Trent Beretta defeated Matt Sydal (w/Mike Sydal)
(Solid first win for Beretta in this heel role, as it’s nice they’re slowly building this storyline and not rushing it. We find out where Chuck Taylor’s loyalties lie this Wednesday on Dynamite.)
Being the hometown boy, Matt is accompanied by his brother Mike, who competed in AEW during the Daily’s Place era. Beretta still has the same Best Friends entrance music and video, but he came out through the heel tunnel. Beretta immediately threw a throat shot to Sydal, who answered with multiple snap hurricanranas. Beretta dodged a high kick and bailed outside, only to be met by a diving Sydal. The Slice and Mariposa connected for a Sydal near fall. Beretta responded with a brainbuster, but got “We Want Sue” chants from the crowd before sending Sydal to the floor, opting to pose. Back inside, Sydal was pulled out of the corner into a swinging back suplex for two. Sydal battled back with a spin kick into the reset.
Sydal connected with a series of kicks, ending in a question mark kick for a near fall. Beretta went to the eyes, which allowed for a half and half suplex before a big time lariat followed. Sydal once more battled back with a top rope Meteora, but again got two. Sydal brought Beretta to the corner, but Beretta slid out, swept the leg and spiked Sydal with a Gotch Style Piledriver for two. Beretta connected on the charging knee before sinking in a submission choke with the shin over the throat for the tap out. Beretta refused to let go until Mike jumped in to break it up, but he was also attacked by Beretta. Chuck Taylor hit the ring, as Beretta bailed and took the microphone. Beretta said he doesn’t know why Taylor isn’t responding to his calls and texts, instead acting like a prick. Beretta gives Taylor until Wednesday to tell him where he stands. As Beretta walked up the ramp, Orange Cassidy’s music hit and both men had a stare down on the ramp before Katsuyori Shibata entered and Beretta just bailed to lead us to the next match.
Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata defeated Shane Taylor & Lee Moriaty
(This started as a pretty standard tag team match, but this picked up in pace tremendously in the second half. Cassidy doesn’t seem to have many friends he can rely on, but luckily, Shibata is one of them. I’ll be interested in seeing who Chuck Taylor chooses to side with this week and where the Cassidy/Beretta feud leads to. As for Shane Taylor Promotions, they continue to put on very good matches, they just need to start getting victories more often.)
Anthony Ogogo joined commentary for this one, as Cassidy & Moriarty start things off trading ground work before Cassidy went to the pockets. The signature dropkick and kip up led to Shibata tagging in and bouncing Moriarty back and forth with uppercuts. Shibata wrestled Moriarty to the ground and got a quick surfboard before an escape led to a stalemate. Shibata grew tired of Moriarty and tossed him to Taylor, wanting the big man to enter the match, which he did. A chop battle ensued before Taylor went with a punch to the midsection. Shibata answered with boots to the face and chopped Taylor down with kicks before Cassidy tagged back in with an elbow drop fall off the top. Cassidy took out Moriarty with a dive, realized Taylor was waiting for him, so rolled back out and leveled Moriarty again. Ogogo was about to attack when Shibata put a stop to it, only to be blindsided by Taylor.
Moriarty gained control on Cassidy, allowing Taylor to connect with a legdrop on the edge of the apron. Cassidy remained worked over until Taylor missed a corner dive, allowing Shibata to make the hot tag and run wild, including his corner dropkick on Moriarty. Abdominal Stretch applied before Taylor came in, only to eat a wild shot from Shibata. Taylor was brought to the corner, where Shibata & Cassidy ramped up the dueling strikes, ending in a double dropkick. Moriarty ran in with a boot on Shibata, then snapped the fingers of Cassidy, who answered with a Stundog Millionaire. Moriaty side stepped the spinning DDT, nearly got the Border City Stretch, but led to a series of reversals until Cassidy spiked Moriarty with a DDT. Wild counters led to Taylor headbutting Cassidy, trying a package piledriver, but Shibata sank in a choke, while Cassidy was still upside down. Ogogo jumped on the apron and was knocked off just as quick, as Cassidy & Moriarty traded a series of pin attempts until Cassidy fired off an Orange Punch for the victory.
Switchblade Jay White & The Gunns (Austin & Colten) defeated The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Daddy Ass to unify the AEW & ROH Trios Titles
(While this match had it’s slow points, it picked up at the end and the whole crowd were really into it. Everyone performed really well, as I’m hoping this is it for this storyline and everyone moves on. White thankfully was the one to get the win, as come Double or Nothing, I can only hope he’s not on the pre-show once again.)
Caster had an extended freestyle that had a couple lines that could get him in trouble in the pre-match, as White bailed on starting the match immediately, as Colten & Bowens began things with a fast exchange. Bowens kept Colten grounded, before a blind tag by Austin led to Daddy Ass also making the tag. Billy faked helping his son up and locked on a headlock before having a nice back and forth with his son. Billy dropped his two boys with clotheslines before White tagged in and Billy, similar to a few weeks ago, continued to no sell for him. White bailed and made the blind tag to Colten, who attacked his dad from behind, which again, Billy no sold, so Colten tried to hug him. Billy punched Colten in the face and tagged in Caster, as the match broke down enough for The Acclaimed to hit Scissor Me Timbers on Austin.
Caster awkwardly missed a corner splash, allowing White to launch him into the barricade. Caster remained isolated, as White & The Gunns trash talked the crowd in the process. Bowens made the hot tag and wiped everyone out before a dropkick from Colten sent him to the floor, where White dropped him multiple times on the apron. Excalibur said Bowens carries the load for his team, similar to how he does on commentary, which popped Tony Schiavone & Taz. A double down led to Billy making the hot tag, as a series of haymakers on everyone connected before hitting the One and Only on Austin, as Colten flew in with a Fame Asser for a close two.
Billy avoided 3:10 to Yuma, as the match broke down, resulting in White clocking Billy in the back with the golden baseball bat. Billy was dropped with 3:10 to Yuma, but kicked out, causing much of the crowd to boo. The Acclaimed made the save, dispatched of The Gunns, leaving White alone to eat a series of superkicks. The Gunns distracted enough for Bowens & Caster to be sent outside, as White wanted Blade Runner on White, but again, Gunn no sold, hit the Fame Asser, as Caster hit a Mic Drop, Billy made the cover, but White kicked out. White & Billy traded finisher attempts until White hit Blade Runner and got the win to a huge pop.
AEW Dynasty
Kazuchika Okada defeated PAC to retain the Continental Title
(This has to rank up there with the best openers in AEW PPV history, as they set the bar incredibly high for the night. This more than lived up to the hype and I can only hope this isn’t the only time these two face one another. Okada’s ability to get the crowd to go crazy for him and then go against him in the span of seconds was incredible. I’m also so happy PAC is back and healthy, I’ve missed watching him crush it, as the post-match standing ovation he received was more than warranted.)
Jim Ross joins commentary for the opener, as there are “Holy Sh*t” chants right at the bell. The match began with a series of counters leading to PAC trying to ground the larger Okada. PAC with a snap hurricanrana that sent Okada to the floor, where PAC followed with a twisting dive, landing on his feet. Okada was driven into the barricade, as back inside, PAC wasted no time with an Avalanche Brainbuster for two. PAC started toying with Okada before going to the ropes, wasting too much time and Okada hit a dropkick to the outside. PAC smacked his leg on the edge of the apron on the fall. Back inside, Okada with a snap low dropkick, resulting in a loud ovation, as he returns the favor and toys with PAC, who slowly gets up and throws forearms. PAC tried a float over, but ran right into a perfect dropkick by Okada.
Okada draped PAC over the barricade and completely spiked PAC with a DDT on the floor. Okada smiled, content with the countout, but PAC beat the count at 9, only to be spiked with another DDT for two. PAC low bridged Okada over the top and followed with a spectacular moonsault off the top to the outside. Slugfest ensued back inside before PAC connected on a flying forearm before going up top and hit a missile dropkick. A series of kicks from PAC hit, but Okada avoided a final one, tried a German suplex, but PAC landed on his feet, hit a bounce back German, which Okada exploded up from into a Shotgun dropkick for the double down.
PAC charged but suffered an Air Raid Crash onto the knee of Okada for two. Okada connected on the top rope elbow, which led to a fake out of the Rainmaker pose, as he flipped off the crowd instead. PAC nearly got a flash roll up as a result, as he threw a superkick and lariat before a deadlift German hit for a close two. PAC wanted Black Arrow, but crashed and burned, as Okada dropped him with a Tombstone. PAC turned a Rainmaker into a cradle for two and victory roll before sinking in a crucifix Brutalizer. Okada gouged at the eyes, tried another Tombstone, but PAC reversed into one of his own. PAC went to the top, but Okada grabbed the leg of referee Paul Turner. PAC tried Black Arrow, but Okada got the knees up and connected on a Rainmaker for the victory. Okada made his way to the back, as PAC recovered long enough to get a much deserved standing ovation.
House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) defeated TNT Champion Adam Copeland, NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston & ROH Champion Mark Briscoe
(A very good match, which sets up the next TNT Title program, as the only interaction between Copeland & Black was the finish, I wonder if the black mist will turn Copeland evil down the line, as it has for others in the past? I also wouldn’t be surprised if Matthews & King go after Kingston & Briscoe’s individual titles as well. This feud is far from over as far as I’m concerned.)
Fast tags and action to start as Black & Briscoe and Copeland & Matthews were paired off in the early going. Black tagged himself in and stared down Copeland, as you can hear Kingston yelling at his partner to beat the sh*t out of him. Black, playing mind games, tagged in King, as Kingston followed and we get a big-time chop and forearm exchange. King absorbed kicks and chops, but not the enzugiri, which staggered King to the corner, where he suffered Kobashi machine gun chops. King reversed a whip and connected on a Black Hole Slam and corner cannonball. Kingston remained isolated before a release German suplex dropped Black to give Briscoe the hot tag and pick up the pace against Matthews. Redneck Kung-Fu connected, as Briscoe sent Matthews to the floor with a baseball slide as the match broke down with Black going at it with Kingston ringside. Matthews grabbed a chair, but Briscoe got ahold of it and used it as a launching pad to hit a somersault dive, clearing the post onto King.
Briscoe & Matthews fought to the apron, where Matthews hit a pump knee, dropping Briscoe into the clutches of King, who hit a rolling Death Valley Driver, bending the barricade in the process. Briscoe would be picked apart in the House of Black corner until fighting free and diving for the Copeland hot tag. Black bailed before Copeland could get his hands on him, as King ate a series of clotheslines. Kingston & Briscoe hit the ring to take out Black & Matthews, with Kingston throwing a chop so hard on King that he himself fell down. Black & Matthews took out Kingston & Briscoe with double corner powerbombs, leaving Copeland to hit a superplex on King, leaving all six men down.
Copeland tried an Impaler, but Matthews flew in with a Meteora. Everyone started hitting home run shots, leaving Kingston to hit a back fist on King, while Copeland hit the Impaler and Briscoe with the Froggy Bow, but Matthews broke the count. Just as Copeland & Black were about to go at it for the first time, the match broke down again, as a triple Spear by Copeland, Kingston & Briscoe dropped all of the House of Black. Copeland charged at Black, who misted him and hit The End kick to get the win.
Willow Nightingale defeated Julia Hart to win the TBS Title
(For as short as this match was, I thought it was a pretty good back and forth battle. Nightingale getting the win here made the most sense, as I’m happy there were no heel turns or interference and Nightingale got her moment, which got a massive pop. The match we all thought would happen, will take place at Double or Nothing, as Mercedes Mone finally makes her in ring debut to challenge Nightingale in Vegas.)
House Rules means Nightingale gets to pick a stipulation and that was Skye Blue & Kris Statlander was banned from ringside. This caught Statlander off guard, who walked to the stage with Nightingale for her entrance. Stokely Hathaway is on commentary and trading jabs with Taz immediately. Nightingale exploded out the gate, but as she went to the corner, was superkicked from Hart and tumbled to the floor. We can see Tony Schiavone hilariously protecting Hathaway as Hart threw Nightingale over into the time keepers table. Mercedes Mone is shown watching backstage, as Hart continued to stay in control back in the ring. Nightingale fought back, applying a sleeper, but Hart kicked her way free.
Hart charged right into a spinebuster, but Nightingale missed the follow up dropkick off the second. Hart applied Hartless, but Nightingale powered out and started firing up. Hart connected on a double stomp in the corner, wanted her top rope moonsault, but ate boots to the face, as Nightingale connected on a wild lariat. Nightingale hit the Doctor Bomb and pinned Hart clean, as Hathaway yelled “Chuck E Cheese, here we come!”
Post match, Statlander came to the ring with Hathaway for a group hug before Mercedes Mone interrupted, coming to the ring. Statlander & Hathaway went to the floor, as Mone & Nightingale had a face off in the ring, with Nightingale holding her title high in the air. The Double or Nothing PPV graphic is shown, as the match is official. Nightingale celebrated with her family ringside, as Mone gave one final look from the stage.
Roderick Strong defeated Kyle O’Reilly to retain the International Title
(Just a flat out excellent wrestling match between two of the best in the business. Strong continued the Messiah of the Backbreaker moniker, as similar to his Revolution match with Orange Cassidy, there were backbreakers galore. O’Reilly put up one heck of a fight, but Strong won this one clean, despite the attempted interference never taking place by Wardlow, who seems to already be on the outs with The Undisputed Kingdom.)
Excalibur documents the history these two have had as opponents in Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as it was very evenly matched in the early going, with counters aplenty. O’Reilly threw kicks at the leg of Strong, who pulled him in for a pin attempt, long enough to pop up and hit a perfect leg lariat to gain control briefly. Both men went at the others shoulders, as a plethora of kicks from O’Reilly led to Strong catching and countering into a backbreaker. Strong set up O’Reilly in the corner and delivered a backbreaker on the turnbuckle, but opted to dish out punches instead of a pin attempt.
A loud chop from Strong seemingly woke up O’Reilly, but Strong switched to boots to keep O’Reilly down. Strong continued to deliver backbreakers, including a Torture Rack into the double knees, but only managed two. O’Reilly fought off End of Heartache into a guillotine, as O’Reilly let go and lit up Strong with strikes before sinking in a knee bar. Strong managed a desperation Angle Slam, as a series of charging forearms nearly led to a step-up knee, but O’Reilly dodged, hung up Strong and hit a top rope guillotine knee. O’Reilly went up top and hit a diving knee to the knee of Strong, sinking in the knee bar again. Strong kicked free, as both threw heavy forearms with Strong turning to another backbreaker.
Strong connected on a superplex, but each man held on and traded near falls. Both to their feet trading kicks and chops until O’Reilly hit a snap German, tried his home run shot, but Strong fired a desperation pump knee into the double down. Both up and O’Reilly got the guillotine choke, but Strong hung-up O’Reilly by the neck in the ropes. O’Reilly fought back on the apron, as Strong took the ref and Wardlow came down, tried to get involved, but was caught by the ref and he backed off. O’Reilly got a crucifix, but Strong got out and hit a fireman’s carry double knee, which O’Reilly answered with a Nigel bounce back lariat. O’Reilly sank in a cross-arm breaker, but Strong got the ropes. Strong got up and hit a flying boot, followed up by the End of Heartache for the victory.
Post match, Adam Cole was rolled to the stage by Mike Bennett & Matt Taven before standing out of the wheelchair and power walking to the ring. The Kingdom holds up Strong on their shoulders, as Cole gives a long glare behind the back of Wardlow before celebrating with the rest of the crew. Seeds planted for Wardlow already getting booted from the group.
Chris Jericho defeated HOOK to win the FTW Title
(This was HOOK’s best match in his career so far I’d say, save for maybe the match with Samoa Joe he had a few months ago. The crowd was loudly behind him from the start and really laid into Jericho with some tough chants in this. “The Learning Tree” is the nickname they’re going with for Jericho now, which seems more like a tagline than nickname, but I digress. This story is just getting going, as HOOK continues to grow into a solid worker and Jericho did bring the best out of him in this one.)
Jericho offered a fist bump to start and HOOK accepted, as the match began with trading chops and punches until HOOK hit a series of overhead suplexes before sending Jericho to the floor. HOOK leapt for a shot off the apron, but missed by a mile, as Jericho still sold and Excalibur said it was a glancing blow. Jericho slammed HOOK into the announce table in front of Taz before setting a table up ringside, tried a powerbomb, but HOOK escaped and hit a German suplex, as Jericho came within inches of catching the corner of the steps. HOOK got a trash can lid and waffled Jericho with it, but tried too much, as Jericho caught him with a boot and DDT on the lid for a two count.
Both men fought to the apron and HOOK delivered a T-Bone off it through the set-up table, shattering it, giving HOOK a two count. Back in the ring, HOOK hits another German suplex to the chants of “Go Home Jericho” from the crowd. Jericho fought back with a corner clothesline and top rope hurricanrana, which Jericho himself nearly fell on his head doing. Jericho threw in more weapons, wanted a trash can shot, but HOOK hit another German. HOOK put the trash can over Jericho and smashed it with a kendo stick before delivering a T-Bone on a trapped Jericho for two.
HOOK brought another table to the ring, set it up in the corner and delivered another throw, only to walk into a Code Breaker for the double down. Both men slug it out, as Jericho, who is getting “Please Retire” chants now from a little bit of the crowd, rakes HOOK’s eyes, but missed a corner fist drop. HOOK applied REDRUM, but Jericho fell back onto the corner table. Jericho made the cover and put his feet on the ropes, causing the ref to briefly stop the count, but she realized it’s FTW Rules, so she just counted, but HOOK kicked out. HOOK tried a leg lock, but Jericho countered into the Walls of Jericho, but escaped into a small package for two.
REDRUM applied again, this time Jericho hit a mule kick and the Judas Effect, but HOOK kicked out. Jericho hit another Judas Effect, but once more, HOOK kicked out. Jericho told HOOK to stay down before grabbing his baseball bat. HOOK stumbled to his feet and flipped Jericho off before Jericho hit HOOK in the face with the bat to get the win. Before the pin, the crowd exploded, as Taz took his headset off and they thought he was about to get involved, but he didn’t. Post match, Taz told Jericho to leave, as doctors checked on HOOK.
Timeless Toni Storm (w/Luther & Mariah May) defeated Thunder Rosa to retain the AEW Women’s Title
(A very good match with the crowd having dueling chants for both throughout. You could certainly continue to build the dissention between Rosa & Purrazzo out of this and also Storm resorted to a low kick to lead to the finish. The question Excalibur presented post match was who could beat Toni Storm? I was hoping for a return of someone tonight, but that didn’t happen, at least not quite yet.)
Nigel McGuinness joins commentary for this, as Taz went to the back with HOOK and said “It’s Shoe-time!” Rosa had a mask on until the bell rang and she took it off to reveal none of her signature face paint. Storm wasted no time with an early assault, but Rosa quickly responded with hard chops. Storm responded with a stiff kick to the ribs and beal, but Rosa hit a head scissors that sent Storm to the floor. Rosa went up top and hit a Tornillo that took out Storm & Luther before May got in her face, but quickly backed off. Back inside, Rosa fired off clubbing blows before trying a cross body, which Storm caught into a backbreaker.
Storm kept grounded Rosa before Rosa exploded out with a shotgun dropkick and crucifix bomb for a near fall. Rosa brought Storm to the apron and delivered a brutal Death Valley Driver, as Rosa trash talked some Storm fans ringside beforehand. Rosa wanted a Fire Thunder Driver, but her back gave out, as Storm hit a backstabber out of the corner. A spinning corner DDT led to a fisherman’s suplex for two. Rosa battled back with a roll up into a double stomp for two of her own before going up top, missing a double foot stomp, rolling through and ran into a Storm Sky High.
Storm kept targeting the lower back before Rosa turned things into a forearm battle, which changed to slaps. Each woman traded snap Germans before Mariah May jumped on the apron to run distraction, but Deonna Purrazzo ran out and wiped out May & Luther. May got up and brawled with Purrazzo to the back, as this distracted Rosa, allowing Storm to hit another release German, Sweet Cheek Music and Storm Zero, but Rosa kicked out. Storm sank in the Texas Cloverleaf, but Rosa got the ropes. Rosa side stepped Storm, hit a backstabber and got a Cobra Clutch crossface, but this time Storm grabbed the apron. The ref fixed the apron, allowing Storm to hit a low kick and another Storm Zero to get the win. Luther carried Storm up the ramp as Excalibur questioned who can beat Toni Storm?
Will Ospreay defeated Bryan Danielson
(I don’t think I’ve ever cheered for a 60 minute time limit more than I did for this absolute classic. That didn’t happen obviously, but it’s going to take a whole hell of a lot to beat this for Match of the Year. This more than delivered on the hype, which was already at an all time high. This hit multiple levels and resulted in the crowd getting even louder. The finish leaves room for a rematch (hopefully) as Ospreay didn’t know just how injured Danielson was before he hit the exclamation mark on the victory. I’m really looking forward to seeing where they go from here. This was incredible storytelling.)
Justin Roberts announced this as an absolute Dream Match and I wouldn’t argue that one bit as “Holy Sh*t”, “AEW” & “Both These Guys” chants rang out. Each man tried to use their strength early, Danielson with the ground game and Ospreay with the speed, but each had it scouted, resulting in multiple stalemates. An insane series of counters of kicks from one another led to another stalemate and “Fight Forever” chants. Ospreay picked the leg and Danielson easily got up, flipping off Ospreay, who answered with hard chops, which Danielson responded with. Don Callis, who is on commentary, got F Don Callis chants as well, as Danielson applied a rolling cravat, but Ospreay flipped out into a snap dropkick. A quick head scissors from Ospreay put him in control until Danielson woke up via a chop, but Ospreay answered with a pop-up stun gun and slingshot cross body. Callis was upset Ospreay was playing to the crowd.
Back inside, Danielson caught a springing Ospreay with a kick to the ribs and proceeded to keep him grounded. Ospreay battled back with chops, but Danielson lit up the ribs until doing a corner backflip, only to be met with an Ospreay corkscrew kick for the double down. Pip Pip Cheerio connected, as Kawada Kicks were stopped by Danielson, who threw more stiff uppercuts until Ospreay exploded with a wall walk enzugiri, sending Danielson outside. Ospreay delivered a picture-perfect twisting moonsault, as back inside, a top rope elbow strike to the back connected. Ospreay wanted Hidden Blade, but Danielson kicked out to avoid it and hit a Tiger Suplex for two. Anvil elbow poured down, as Cattle Mutilation was locked on, but Ospreay used his size to get the ropes.
Danielson hit the corner dropkicks, he tried a corner hurricanrana, landing smack on his head in the process which no one seemed to notice, but Ospreay landed on his feet. Ospreay followed with a Tiger Driver for a near fall, but took too long in the corner, as Danielson cut him off with a gnarly Avalanche Tiger Suplex that was insane, as Ospreay got his foot on the ropes at two. Danielson fired off kicks, until a PK woke Ospreay up, who asked for more, so Danielson obliged. Danielson slapped Ospreay in the face, so Ospreay leveled Danielson in the face with a forearm, crumbling him. They go to the apron, where Ospreay wanted a Tiger Driver, but thankfully Danielson escaped, only to eat a thrust kick and Oscutter on the edge of the ring. While Danielson was being checked on by referee Bryce, Ospreay flew in with a Hidden Blade off the apron. Ospreay opted to take the countout, but Danielson broke the count.
Ospreay was right there to hit a springboard dropkick and high stack powerbomb, but Danielson kicked out at two. Ospreay tried another Oscutter, this time with Danielson trying a LeBell Lock, but opted for a guillotine. Ospreay tried a counter, but Danielson hit a beautiful La Mistica into a LeBell Lock. Danielson wrenched at the arm, but again, Ospreay got his foot on the ropes. Yes Kicks into the Buzzsaw Kick, as Ospreay intercepted a Busaiku Knee, but Danielson turned a powerbomb into a snap hurricanrana pin for two. Both trade pin attempts, Ospreay flips out, missed Hidden Blade, as Danielson flew in with a Busiaku Knee for the closest two of the match, as the crowd is going nuts. Danielson said it’s time to kick his head in, as boots rained down to Yes/No dueling chants. Ospreay fought out of the LeBell Lock with forearms, but Danielson got the triangle choke, which Ospreay countered into a Styles Clash.
Both trade headbutts and punches from their knees, before Danielson hit a combo into a Regal Plex, which Ospreay no sold into Hidden Blade. Ospreay tried an Oscutter, but Danielson hit a Busiaku Knee in mid-air, as this match has somehow hit another level. Both rose in separate corners, as Ospreay took off the elbow pad and both exploded out, with Ospreay connecting first with the flying foream and Tiger Driver 93. The ref immediately called for the doctor to check Danielson, as Ospreay didn’t realize it and he fired out with a Hidden Blade to get the win. Post match, Danielson is in serious pain, as doctors told Ospreay Danielson was hurt before the finish and Ospreay was caught off guard by it. Excalibur told us before the next match that Danielson was able to walk to the back with doctors assistance.
The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defeated FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) in a Ladder Match to win the vacant AEW World Tag Team Titles
(You could tell the crowd was exhausted following the epic they just witnessed, so there were times when they were quiet in this, but reacted really strong to the big time bumps. There were a lot of those bumps, as this was a TLC match pretty much with quite a few table bumps as well as your usual ladder spots. These two put everything into this one, as a lot of credit to all involved, this was wild. The finish was very predictable, as Jack Perry made his first AEW appearance since All In London and was escorted from the building as a result for what Excalibur said was a criminal offense and trespassing.)
Both teams dodged the others finishers early before FTR quickly went for ladders, only to get cut off. While Harwood ate a ladder shot, Wheeler came in with a baseball slide on the ladder onto both Bucks. A scramble back in the ring with a ladder set up, as FTR was sent into the ladder before a Superkick Party from The Bucks. Matthew & Nicholas were both sent into the ladder, as Wheeler set up multiple tables around ringside before Harwood ate a drop toe hold holding a ladder into the steps. Wheeler was set up on a ladder bridge held by Matthew, while Nicholas hit a somersault dive onto it. The Bucks climbed a tall ladder in the ring, as Harwood made the save, but he’s bleeding now from the ring steps shot.
The Bucks light up Harwood with chair shots, as he’s bleeding a gusher before being sandwiched between the ladder, as Matthew hit repeated chair shots. Wheeler tried to save, but also suffered a chair shot for his troubles. The Bucks launched Wheeler into the ladder in the corner before setting up a ladder bridge ringside, which Wheeler delivered a moonsault off of. Wheeler tried a piledriver on the bridge, but Nicholas pulled out the leg and crotched him. While trapped in the ladder, The Bucks hit an EVP Trigger on Wheeler before targeting Harwood back inside. The Bucks wanted a suplex to the floor through a table, but Wheeler, who recovered insanely quickly all things considered, returns and cleans house.
Match almost resets, as both teams try climbing the ladder, but Matthew ends up dropped by a Steiner Bulldog off the top rope, as Harwood locks in a Sharpshooter. Wheeler trapped Matthew under the ladder, as Nicholas made the save, but ate a slingshot powerbomb. While Matthew was on the apron, Wheeler charged full steam and speared him through the ropes through the table. Opposite side, Nicholas countered a powerbomb into a hurricanrana off the apron, sending Harwood through another table. Somehow all four men recovered enough to all climb the ladders in the ring, with Matthew standing tall, but Harwood blocked a superkick, took off the shoe and hit a Shatter Machine off the ladder. Nicholas returned with a chair and got in a few shots, before taking too long to climb a ladder in the corner, resulting in FTR connecting on a Power Plex off separate ladders.
Both teams fight to the floor, where Nicholas had another table set up and hit a 450 Splash onto Wheeler through it. Meanwhile, Harwood delivered a piledriver onto Matthew on the ladder bridge and it somewhat gave out and each landed really badly. Harwood sets a ladder up, but Nicholas springboards onto it and hits a sunset flip bomb off it. Nicholas climbs, but Wheeler breaks it up, sends Nicholas outside and tries a dive, but crashes and burns through a table. At this point “Please Be Careful” chants are heard, as Harwood & Nicholas fight up to the belts, but Harwood smacks him with a belt. A “fan” in a Sting mask hits the ring and shoves Harwood off the ladder, but security takes the mask off to reveal Jack Perry. Nicholas climbs the ladder and gets the belt, as security escorts Perry from the building. Excalibur said it’s trespassing, a criminal offense.
Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Title
(I thought this was a really good main event with Strickland winning the title to a massive ovation and reaction. The Era of Strickland officially begins and it’ll be fun to see how his reign goes from here and who challenges first. Credit to Joe for being a fantastic World Champion, as I’m curious for what is next for him as well. This was a very good end to a great PPV.)
Jim Ross once again joins commentary for the main event, as Strickland came out in Black Panther gear as Prince Nana placed the late Jimmy Rave’s jacket on him as a tribute to the original Embassy. Joe got the advantage early with strikes, tried his usual side step walk off to avoid a strike, but Strickland had it scouted and took the fight to Joe, sending him outside. Strickland tried a dive, but Joe caught him and drove him onto the announce table, then launched him clear over it. Joe rips a mat off the ringside area to expose the concrete, but doing this allowed Strickland to hit a Fosbury Flop. Joe nearly it a Muscle Buster on the floor, but Strickland escaped, charged and Joe hit a snap powerslam on the concrete.
Joe kept up the attack back inside, sweeping out the leg of Strickland, causing him to face plant as a result. Joe grounded Strickland, who would try to battle back, only to be mowed down by Joe. They battled to the outside, where Joe tried a home run shot against the ring post, Strickland dodged and Joe smacked the steel, allowing Strickland to zone in. Back inside, Strickland connected on a bounce back German for a near fall, as Joe tried a desperation Coquina Clutch, but Strickland kicked free. With Joe set up in the corner, Strickland hit a diving arm breaker before slapping on a short arm scissors transitioning into a cross arm breaker. Joe powered up into a Buckle Bomb and quickly followed with a Muscle Buster for a close two, which shocked Joe.
Joe grabbed the AEW Title, but Strickland met him coming into the ring with a House Call and 450 Splash with Joe hung up in the ropes. Swerve Stomp hit flush, but Joe kicked out. Joe desperately raked at the eyes, grabbed the AEW Title, as Nana took the ref to tell him, as Strickland dodged a belt shot, but Joe sank in the Coquina Clutch. Strickland wrenched at the bad arm to get free, then snapped it back, as Nana yelled to break it. Strickland delivered another House Call, but Joe once more kicked out. Strickland took too long to follow and this time Joe cut him off. Strickland almost looked for an Avalanche Swerve Stomp, but seemed to overshoot his target and opted for a powerbomb out of the corner. One final proper Swerve Stomp connected flush and Strickland got the victory and the championship.
Joe quickly went to the back post match, as streamers poured down on Strickland, who celebrated with Nana and the fans ringside, as pyro went off to celebrate the new champion. The crowd went wild for this finish. Strickland was crying on the ring steps before holding the title high once more to close the show.
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author and not our website.
Yet again, friends, AEW finds itself wrapped up in yet another unnecessary, self-created mess of a media cycle. Forget The Masters: this is fast becoming a tradition unlike any other.
The focus, yet again, is not on the excellent card for Sunday’s Dynasty (8 PM Eastern on PPV from St. Louis), but on more exhausting behind-the-scenes intrigue.
Showing the CM Punk/Jack Perry footage from All In nearly two weeks ago on Dynamite was a mistake, full stop. As much as I respect pettiness, and God knows I do, this was a low floor, low ceiling decision and exactly the type of decision they would be wise to avoid.
How exactly did seeing this footage change anything for the better? All it did was put Punk’s name on the tip of the wrestling world’s tongue (though to be fair, it is frequently there). There were no Punk chants at AEW shows, but there are now. It was a short-sighted play with negative long-term fallout.
Even though the Young Bucks and FTR did their best by spinning it into the storyline, the damage was done. It’s a wrestling truism that there’s no such thing as bad heat, but I’d argue that a returning Perry getting showered with chants for a wrestler from a rival promotion is exactly that. It makes everyone involved look small.
If this article ran on The Ringer, it would be titles “Winners and Losers of the Jungle Boy/CM Punk footage.” The only winner? Punk, of course. Brandon Thurston said it best: he really is a top guy in two companies. The sooner the obsession with the past ends, the better for everyone in AEW.
With my soapbox put away, let’s run through another promising AEW pay-per-view card with some main card predictions:
FTW Champion Hook defends against Chris Jericho
No matter the question, the answer is never “more Chris Jericho.” That is not a panacea for what ails AEW or anyone, really. He is a vampire getting undeserved regular TV and PPV time at the expense of both a talented roster and the audience’s respect. Look at what the other wrestling legends in AEW are doing. Christian Cage is doing the best work of his career and helping elevate younger wrestlers. Adam Copeland is doing the same. Jericho does what he does for one person, himself. Not being on TV is a fate worse than death to him.
Even though this isn’t the best opponent for Hook, matches on big shows like this are necessary for his growth and should have been happening far sooner. The chaos agent inside me wants Jericho to win but I simply will not have it.
Prediction: Hook retains
Adam Copeland, Mark Briscoe, & Eddie Kingston vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King)
Copeland, Briscoe, and Kingston are just three guys being dudes. Copeland and Briscoe are brimming with some of the most powerful dad energy on television. Pair that with Kingston bringing his trademark level of chaos makes for a wonderful juxtaposition.
Most of their backstage interviews go something like this:
Copeland: Standard wrestling promo with a corny joke
Briscoe: “God is good.”
Kingston: “Malakai Black, you looked at me with both eyes and where I come from, that means one of us has to die and it’s not going to be me.”
House of Black works so well as a trio because they each bring something completely different that plays to their strengths. Matthews is a muscle hamster that moves with incredible power and suddenness (him vs. PAC again soon, please), Black brings striking and aura, and then, there is King.
The king is saved for last because he’s, well, he’s the best. People yearn for Matthews and Black singles runs, but I want nothing more than Big Bad Brody King to get some solo shine. Equal parts powerful and agile, he is a throwback to a territory-style hoss; one tailor-made for either a TNT or International title reign. He had the mixed tag against Copeland on Wednesday, and I’d love to see this match lead to something there.
Prediction: Copeland, Briscoe & Kingston
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against PAC
AEW is better when PAC is around. Hell, wrestling is better when PAC is around. Still one of the most enthusiastic sellers and explosive performers in modern wrestling, his return makes us realize how much he was missed. There’s always a place in wrestling for someone this angry.
His anger is different than Eddie Kingston’s. Where Kingston is generally perturbed, PAC seems angry that others dare even inhabit his world. Their existence is a source of disgust to him. Other than when the bell rings, my favorite part about the PAC experience is that he always looks the same with black trunks and bicep bands. That’s it and that’s all. I can’t even picture him wearing anything other than his ring gear, let alone something with a collar. Regardless, I’m thrilled he’s back if you couldn’t tell.
The arrival of Okada in AEW is one of the better presentations for a debut in recent memory. There was no time wasted when he formally showed up as he immediately rocked Kingston, aligned with The Elite, and won a championship. There was no pandering to the crowd, no happy to be here promos; just a whole bunch of being a smug jerk, which is Okada’s perfect character alignment. It allows him to work to his strengths: lengthy, control-focused matches with memorable finishing stretches. He is far more charismatic and interesting playing this role compared to being a generic babyface.
This suits him well, and so does having a championship. He’ll keep it this weekend.
Prediction: Okada retains
AEW International Champion Roderick Strong defends against Kyle O’Reilly
O’Reilly is another wonderful return. I have, depressingly, been consuming wrestling long enough to have seen the entirety of O’Reilly’s career. We are similar in age and seeing him grow from a young boy to a full-grown man with a family resonates.
There are moments when we observe someone navigating life’s challenges in a spotlight that amplifies their experiences, mirroring our own. It fosters a unique sense of connection and empathy, knowing that we travel parallel paths through life’s hurdles, both public and private. His triumphant return to the ring is inspiring and a testament to the indomitable will to pursue one’s dreams.
At 40 years old, Strong is still a certifiable monster. A cardio king with an unlimited gas tank, he should be wrestling regularly on TV and having killer matches. Orange Cassidy made this the International title a workhorse title, and there are few better than Strong to carry that mantle forward. He is made for TV matches, ones that are crazy sprints full of non-stop moves. That’s kind of his bag, bay.
This is his first real match since he won the title in early March, odd since this was the title that used to be defended weekly on the non-Rampage shows. That needs to continue. There are too many belts in AEW, but this one deserves far more attention than it’s currently getting.
As much as I love O’Reilly and am thrilled to see him back doing what he loves, big Rod Strong needs to keep the title
Prediction: Strong retains
TBS Champion Julia Hart defends against Willow Nightingale
This is Willow’s moment. She is as good as babyfaces get and is ready for a title. In some ways, she is the nice version of Kingston as fans relate to her similarly to how they relate to him. She is genuine and vulnerable on the microphone (her Dynamite promo a few weeks ago was the best she’s had), but a killer between the ropes. The approaches couldn’t be more different, but they connect with the audience at similar levels.
Hart’s TBS title reign has been fine as are most first-time title reigns. But, Hart has stayed dripping with superstar potential. Not many 22-year-olds can say they had a months-long title reign on TV. Even if it was just a fine run, those reps are invaluable towards her getting to her ceiling as a performer. The presentation and presence are already realized, the rest should come in time.
These are two people who the women’s division in AEW should be built around in the years to come. Julia had her run and it’s time for Willow to have hers.
Prediction: Nightingale wins the title
Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
The Ospreay haters must have been fuming when Danielson, the Lisan al Gaib of wrestling, lavished him with the highest of praise:
“He has such a great grasp of what the modern professional wrestling fan wants. When I see him, I think he’s the best wrestler in the world for modern wrestling fans as far as what they enjoy.”
As always, our king speaks the truth. Often, you can distill the best Ospreay match down to five minutes and get 95% of the experience. We have attention spans shorter than a goldfish, so of course a dude that has between seven and ten jaw-dropping moments of athleticism per match resonates. The dopamine-addled brains of modern society, mine included, can’t handle much more than that. Many of you probably picked up your phone while reading this paragraph. I don’t take it personally, I did the same thing writing it. We can’t focus, we can’t just be.
In a word full of inattention, Ospreay might just be the best wrestler for it.
But he’s not because he is wrestling the best wrestler in the world and the best wrestler of all time in Danielson. It will be interesting to compare this match to the Ospreay/Kenny Omega matches that received so much attention last year. In many ways, Ospreay is the Pokemon evolution of Omega in that both are explosive, athletic marvels with unlimited stamina and adamantium necks. Both are top 1% athletes, pushing the limits of what a human body can do in the ring without exploding.
Danielson is none of those things. He approaches wrestling with far more subtlety. An artist of the highest form, he grinds, stretches, and strikes his opponents until he breaks their will and spirit. In other words, he is the stylistic opposite of Ospreay who just hits his opponents with bomb after bomb.
The best wrestler of all time vs. perhaps the best modern wrestler happens Sunday. This is as big of a match as AEW can put on, and I can’t wait.
Prediction: Ospreay
Young Bucks vs. FTR in a ladder match for the vacant AEW Tag Team titles
I already went long about the All In footage earlier so I won’t belabor that point. It’s too bad that it’s overshadowing another match between two of the best tag teams ever.
Since I was critical up front, let me play my own devil’s advocate and offer a more…generous reading of the decision to air the footage. The previous match at All In for whatever reason didn’t click. It didn’t feel like anything we hadn’t seen before. It felt like an empty exhibition rather than an emphatic third match in a trilogy. It was certainly good. but it wasn’t at the level we all know it could be. Weaving in the excuse, no matter how thin, that what happened backstage at All In had an impact on the quality of the match works if you really squint. It does lean into what the Young Bucks do better than almost anyone else: making the audience want to see them get beat up.
No one takes a beating like Matt and Nick Jackson. They’ve been doing it around the world for years and it always works. Sting’s retirement match was nearly perfect, and a ton of credit for that goes to the Bucks who did everything humanly possible to make Sting look like a hero going out. They are weasly, they are slimy, and they are just begging to be punched in the face. More so than any other great tag team of the modern era (Hardys, FTR, Motor City Machine Guns, etc.), they have the unique ability to be hated. It speaks to their skills as heels that two guys who wrestle in such an aesthetically pleasing style can get a crowd to loathe them. History will have a complicated relationship with them, as it does with any level of greatness, but we should all appreciate them while we can.
Logic would dictate that the Bucks win here. The whole Elite thing works best when all the slime puppies have gold. Jack Perry probably gets involved, something I definitely don’t care about, and helps them win.
Prediction: Young Bucks win the titles
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Thunder Rosa
Nothing about this is compelling as Storm’s gimmick prevents her feuds from getting any serious juice. Her last program with Deonna Purrazzo should have been filled with emotional weight as these women effectively grew up with each other in wrestling. But the program ultimately fell flat. If one character barely takes anything seriously, how is the audience supposed to? At its core, that is the issue with the “Timeless” gimmick. It’s been the same thing for months. Even if her opponent tries to introduce some gravitas, her character is so unserious that it just doesn’t matter.
This program with Rosa is more of the same. She’s become just another character sacrificed at the “Timeless” altar and that’s a shame. Storm is an incredible in-ring talent, much like many women in AEW. Until the gimmick goes away, or the character gets changed, the song will remain the same.
Prediction: Storm retains
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Swerve Strickland
Joe, the champion, reminds us that God is in his heaven and all is right with the world.
Joe can do anything and make it big with gravitas. He is a pillar of stability in a company that too frequently depends on it. He and Jon Moxley allow AEW to weather all storms. Joe is reliably excellent in the ring and transcendent on the microphone; a true legend of modern wrestling that will only be remembered even more fondly when his time in the ring ends.
As wonderful as Joe is, and as much as I would love him to stay champion forever, this is Strickland’s time. This is the moment where he cements himself as one of the top guys in all of wrestling. It doesn’t feel as emotionally charged as when Hangman Page won the title back in 2021, but the builds that led to coronations are similar. It’s appropriate, too, considering his matches with Page pushed him into that upper echelon of main event-level performers.
The criticisms I have with Swerve are nits that don’t even need to be picked (he can be a little loosey-goosey in the ring with too many unnecessary rolls and somersaults.) But he’s got it all figured out and has for some time now. He seethes, he broods, and he delivers in every area. Last year was the beginning of his rise to the top of AEW. On Sunday, he claims his rightful place there. Who’s house?
On a new Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and I give our AEW Dynasty picks and take a look at a bunch of questions now facing The Bloodline in WWE post-WrestleMania 40 like who is the current Tribal Chief?
The AEW World Championship match for Dynasty is now set.
Swerve Strickland defeated Konosuke Takeshita to determine the new number one contender for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship on Wednesday’s Dynamite. It was confirmed right after his victory that their title match will take place at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in New Orleans.
Strickland has been looking to get another championship match after the events of Revolution, which saw Joe retain the title against Hangman Page and Strickland in a three-way bout after Joe submitted Page. Following the number one contender’s match on Wednesday, an upset Joe backstage told Renee Paquette that after Strickland signs the dotted line next week, he will make Strickland realize just what he’s asking for.
Willow Nightingale won a four-way match on Dynamite to become the new number one contender for the TBS Championship, defeating Skye Blue, Anna Jay, and Kris Statlander. New AEW signee Mercedes Mone was at ringside. After the match, TBS Champion Julia Hart attacked Nightingale and had a staredown with Mone.
Here is the updated lineup for Dynasty:
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe defends against Swerve Strickland
TBS Championship: Julia Hart defends against Willow Nightingale
Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
Tournament final to determine new AEW World Tag Team Champions
It’s Friday and that means a new edition of Wrestling Weekly.
Life must go on in AEW after Sting’s retirement last Sunday at Revolution, so Les Thatcher and I discuss what they have got lined up after watching this week’s AEW Dynamite.
We also discuss the big angle leading into WWE WrestleMania 40 as The Rock and Roman Reigns appear to be getting on the same page for now, at least. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will answer their challenge tonight on SmackDown to add another wrinkle to the proceedings.
An AEW World Championship match has been added to the Big Business card.
As revealed during Wednesday’s Dynamite season premiere, Samoa Joe will defend the AEW World title against Wardlow at Big Business in Boston on Wednesday, March 13.
Wardlow earned the title show with a victory at last Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view in an eight-man scramble match.
Also added to the Big Business lineup, Willow Nightingale will go one-on-one with Riho. Willow will look to avenge Kris Statlander’s loss to Riho on this week’s Dynamite after Statlander refused to cheat with help from Stokely Hathaway to earn a victory.
Already announced for Boston is a Darby Allin vs. Jay White singles match.
The special Big Business edition of Dynamite is set for Wednesday, March 13 at TD Garden in Boston. The show is expected to feature the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone, and airs in its usual 8 p.m. Eastern time slot on TBS.
The updated Big Business lineup:
Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is expected
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Wardlow
A trios match with Revolution implications takes place on AEW Dynamite.
World Champion Samoa Joe teams with Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage against Hangman Page, Hook & Rob Van Dam in a six-man tag team bout on tonight’s episode. Joe is set to defend the World title against Strickland & Page in a three-way at the Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday, March 3.
Blackpool Combat Club will square off with FTR in tag team action on the show as well, as BCC’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli face FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler. Moxley defeated Harwood on last week’s Dynamite as a feud between the two teams heats up as they look to climb the tag team rankings.
Both participants in the Women’s World title match at Revolution will also be in singles competition on tonight’s episode. Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm will be in action, as will her Revolution challenger Deonna Purrazzo.
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz as they go to the entrances for the opening contest of the evening.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli went to a 20 Minute Time Limit
(To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t paying attention to the announced 20 Minute Time Limit at the start of the match, so I was caught completely by surprised when I heard Justin Roberts announce 5 minutes remaining at one point. While it might not be ideal to do another time limit draw after Swerve Strickland & Hangman Page a few weeks ago, to get this rematch to happen at Revolution, the finish made complete sense. These two beat the hell out of each other, the crowd were into it and should be even better in a few weeks.)
Quick tags from both teams in the early going, as after Moxley & Wheeler started quick, it was Wheeler who wasn’t backing down with Castagnoli during an uppercut exchange. After suffering a double team, Moxley regrouped outside and came in trading brutal head butts with Wheeler. Harwood flew off the top for a double cross body, as Castagnoli & Moxley opted to take the fight to the floor. Harwood took the bullet, shoving Wheeler out of the way from a Moxley Tope, but Wheeler retaliated, sending Moxley into the steps. Back inside, Moxley again was double teamed in the corner, as FTR heeled it up with the assisted abdominal stretch spot, getting caught immediately by the ref. After eating a double slingshot throat first under the bottom rope, Moxley exploded out of the corner with a lariat. Castagnoli ran wild briefly and delivered a double back suplex. Harwood went after Moxley on the floor, but ultimately suffered a stuff piledriver with Castagnoli leaping off the apron, taking things to picture in picture.
Harwood was controlled during the entire break, but broke free from Castagnoli’s clutches and Wheeler & Moxley made the tag, with Wheeler a house of fire. Wheeler spun out of a Paradigm Shift into a brainbuster for two as we’re given a 5 minute call from Justin Roberts. Castagnoli saved his partner from a Shatter Machine, but Moxley missed a blind tag from Harwood and was dropped with an assisted powerbomb for two. FTR wanted the Power-Plex, but Castagnoli uppercut Wheeler out of the corner. Harwood avoided a Doomsday Device, posted Castagnoli and hit his part of the Power-Plex, but Moxley got his knees up on a diving Wheeler. Castagnoli immediately did a Giant Swing on Harwood, with Moxley doing the Tyson Kidd special, dropkicking him mid revolution. Anvil elbows from Moxley, who switched to a Bulldog Choke, as Castagnoli locked a choke in on Wheeler, who just fell back onto Moxley, with everyone down with 2 minutes remaining.
Harwood & Moxley slugged it out before Harwood got the Sharpshooter locked in. Castagnoli followed suit by applying one to Wheeler, as Castagnoli & Harwood had a slap battle with both submissions applied. They both let go as Harwood planted Castagnoli with a piledriver, but Moxley nearly stole a pin off a crucifix for two. Moxley was sent off the ropes and was about to suffer Shatter Machine when the bell sounded and the time limit expired. Both teams continued to slug it out with officials, security and other wrestlers running down to break it up, having little success.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Orange Cassidy and runs down the recent history between Best Friends and The Kingdom, along with Cassidy’s matches along the way, including last weeks Texas Death Match. She turns to the doctor, who said unfortunately or fortunately, Cassidy has met minimal medical clearance, so he’s cleared. Paquette said that’s insane, but the doctor said what can he do, Cassidy is minimally cleared. With Trent Beretta apparently not cleared, Cassidy said he’ll take his match with Mike Bennett tonight.
**********
-We see footage of the Rev Pro show this weekend with Orange Cassidy popping up as a surprise to defend his International Title in a 7 Way match.
-Alex Marvez is backstage with FTR, who said they were 10 more seconds away from winning that match with the BCC. Harwood was about to lay out the challenge for Revolution when Castagnoli Moxley came in, held back by officials, as they argued before anything could officially be set for the Pay Per View.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defeated Mike Bennett (w/Matt Taven)
(With Cassidy taking out Taven last week, it makes sense for Bennett to be next on his revenge tour on his way to Roderick Strong at Revolution. I know Jake Hager is from Oklahoma, but I don’t know why he saved Cassidy here, as they’ve never had any friendship. We were told afterwards that Hager is wrestling Strong on Friday, so I guess that’s all the reason we need.)
Commentary talked about how the Undisputed Kingdom laid out Chuck Taylor & Rocky Romero, while Trent Beretta wasn’t cleared after the ending of the main event last week, leaving Cassidy flying solo. Cassidy charged up the ramp, ducked a Bennett belt shot attempt and leveled Taven with a Superman Punch. The match officially began in the ring, with Bennett quickly taking over on offense, but Cassidy hit a Stundog Millionaire and spinning DDT. Roderick Strong hit the ring and distracted the ref long enough for Bennett to punch Cassidy low and hit a piledriver for two.
Bennett controlled the entire commercial break and took a headset from commentary to run down Cassidy. All this did was allow Cassidy to recover and hit multiple dives. Bennett responded with a spinebuster on the apron and Death Valley Driver on the floor. Back inside, Bennett took too long to follow up, as Cassidy exploded out with a desperation Orange Punch. Bennett fought off Beach Break and hit a Gotch Style Piledriver for a close near fall. Multiple roaring elbows dropped Cassidy, who countered a third piledriver attempt into Beach Break out of nowhere for the win.
Right as the bell sounded, Matt Taven hit the ring with Roderick Strong, who was going to hit a knee when Oklahoma’s Jake Hager ran out to make the save and clear the ring. The crowd popped loud for their hometown Hager, who we’re told will face Roderick Strong this week on Rampage.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Angelo Parker, asking him about his date tonight with Ruby Soho. Parker said he’s excited when Soho walked in wearing a dress, as Parker asked if she’s ready to go as a car pulls up and Soho asks if that’s for them. Parker said no, as they have a Lyft. They leave and we see Ric Flair getting out of the car.
**********
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Ric Flair and asks about Sting’s final match at Revolution. Flair said he doesn’t care who likes it, he felt upset he’s not a bigger part of things. Flair isn’t upset at Sting, but disappointed he hasn’t been around for three or four weeks, so he’s going to explore some options. Flair walks away before knocking on The Young Bucks locker room, asking if they have time to talk. They welcome him in, but close the door on the camera.
Christian Cage Makes Things Personal With Daniel Garcia
Tony Schiavone welcomes Daniel Garcia to the ring and talks about what happened last week, with Adam Copeland being unable to compete after Christian Cage’s attack. Schiavone informs Garcia that he will receive a TNT Title match against Cage at Revolution and got You Deserve It chants from the crowd. Garcia thanked the crowd and said a few months ago, he was at his lowest on his losing streak, but at the end of the Continental Classic, all he needed as three seconds and winning his final match changed his life. Every time he got down on himself, the fans picked him up and Garcia thanks them restoring his confidence. Garcia said he was about to make Copeland tap out last week and promises that wasn’t the last time they’ll see one another. Garcia has a message for Christian Cage, whose music hit immediately, as the entire Patriarchy came to the stage.
Cage said Adam Copeland will never have another shot at the TNT Title and the only reason Garcia was in harm’s way last week was because of Copeland. Cage said he doesn’t believe he should wrestle Garcia at Revolution, as Garcia isn’t ready. Cage said Garcia’s constant distractions like dancing and catering to the fans is what will keep him from being great. Cage said he knows about Garcia’s dark childhood and brings up Jackie Garcia from Buffalo, who was married to David Garcia, Daniel’s father, who is dead. Cage said it’d be a fairytale ending for Garcia to win the TNT Title in tribute to his father, but they both know his father was a piece of crap, loser alcoholic. Unlike his father, Cage doesn’t want to hurt Garcia; he wants him to realize his full potential. Cage doesn’t want to be Garcia’s opponent; he wants to be his father. Garcia said if Cage mentions his mother again and since Cage likes to bring up his father, come to the ring and he’ll put Cage in the ground right next to him.
Cage nodded to Nick Wayne, who hit the ring and was immediately put in the Dragon Tamer. Killswitch was next, who came to the ring, but was leveled from behind by a Matt Menard chair shot. Menard & Garcia stood tall in the ring with chairs, as Cage said he doesn’t want to hurt Garcia, he just wants to guide him.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Hangman Adam Page, Rob Van Dam & HOOK and asks about the main event tonight. Page said tonight is full of opportunities, as HOOK can get revenge on Brian Cage and RVD can get revenge on Swerve Strickland, who had he beaten a few weeks ago, we wouldn’t have been in the situation they’re in to begin with. RVD said he wasn’t happy about it and asked if Prince Nana was even there, as he heard Nana might have something he’s interested in (implying weed, which Page said months ago he’d beat Nana up and take). A frustrated Page cut him off and stormed out.
Storm is now being introduced as hailing from Stage 7 at Warner Studios, as she rushed Winnell at the bell. Winnell got off a few strikes, but Storm met her with a Thesz Press and punches in bunches. Storm connected on a corner splash and running bulldog, as Sweet Cheek Music and Storm Zero followed. Storm applied the ankle lock she called Break a Leg before applying a Venus De Milo for the submission, taking a page out of Deonna Purrazzo’s playbook.
As Storm was helped out of the ring by Luther, Purrazzo’s entrance hit and it’s time for her match, stealing the spotlight from Storm, who just ran to the back, I think to get out of the camera shot before Madison Rayne’s entrance. Taz covered this up by saying Storm was visibly upset.
Deonna Purrazzo defeated Madison Rayne
(This was Rayne’s first match in AEW in little over a year, as commentary talked about how she was Purrazzo’s mentor. This was the match that mostly took place during commercial, but what we did see felt very slow. I really hope Rayne is ok after taking such a scary bump on her head, a bump, for some reason, was replayed as part of a Turbo Tax sponsorship post match.)
Some early mat wrestling to start things off, with Rayne the first to start throwing punches after hitting a leg trip. Purrazzo did a misdirect leg sweep, sending Rayne to the floor, where she met her with a baseball slide that took us to commercial. Rayne took control during break, but a double clothesline led to the reset. Purrazzo fired up with a series of offense, hitting a Side Russian Leg Sweep until a slow forearm exchange led to Purrazzo trying a Flatliner, but Rayne rotated and landed right on her head violently. The ref checked on Rayne, as the doctor was right there ringside, but Paul Turner said she was ok and Purrazzo quickly put on Toni Storm’s ankle lock, Break a Leg, to get the quick tap. Toni Storm hit the ring post match with a shoe, but ate a pump kick by Purazzo. Luther ran distraction long enough for Storm to attack from behind and clamp on the Break a Leg. Storm let the hold go and applied a crazy amount of lipstick before staring down with Purrazzo. The black and white and color they used for the same shot between both ladies was pretty cool visually.
-We hear comments from Darby Allin & Sting, as Allin said material objects we chase we think define us, don’t mean a thing. Allin shows some photos of Sting’s sons with their dad at the same age The Young Bucks children are right now. Allin said the only thing that matters in the end, is family. Sting walked into the shot and agreed, saying in all his years in wrestling, no one has ever messed with his family until The Bucks. Sting said a lot has been going on over the last week for his family, including losing his father, which makes him think about his own mortality. Sting used to think he was invincible, but time catches up to everyone, catching up with himself for sure. Sting realizes he’s not invincible, but realizes everything he has left in him, he’s bringing to Revolution. The Bucks have a fight on their hands, the fight of their lives. This was a brief but fantastic promo by the Stinger.
**********
-Tony Schiavone introduces Wardlow to the ring, as he walks out pissed off and told Schiavone to get out of the ring before he knocks him on his old ass again. Wardlow said two years ago, thousands of people were chanting his name in a matter that hasn’t been heard or seen in decades. Apparently the rocket strapped to his back was put on upside down, as he’s been screwed time after time again. Wardlow said you’d think the one home grown mega start would’ve been champion a long time ago, but he’s never received a World Title shot, something people in the back should be thrown in jail for. Wardlow brought up the “Best in the World” and “Real World Champion” whose body is still falling apart because of him. Wardlow brought up how he squashed MJF like no one else has. Finally, Wardlow mentions choking Samoa Joe out and how suits and shiny titles look better on him than Joe. Wardlow said he’s the uncrowned king of AEW and it’s time he starts eating like one, as he’s everything a World Champion is supposed to be. If anyone wants to get in his way, this is no longer wrestling, this…is…War.
-We hear post match comments from the Bang Bang Scissor Gang following their 12 Man Tag victory on Rampage last week. Daddy Ass apologizes running into Switchblade Jay White during the match, as White said it’s fine and suggest he, Austin Gunn & Daddy Ass are the Collision Cowboys this Saturday. Anthony Bowens said it doesn’t matter the combo, everyone loves The Acclaimed, Bang Bang.
**********
-Renee Paquette is backstage with the Don Callis Family, asking Callis if he’s given any more thoughts on how the match between Will Ospreay & Konosuke Takeshita will affect the Family after Revolution. Callis said it’ll help them big time, as win or lose, the best wrestlers in the world will still be part of the Family. Callis is on his way to the UK to pick up Ospreay himself to bring him to Revolution. Callis called Sammy Guevara a fly in the ointment and a little cuck who Meat Madness Powerhouse Hobbs and himself will deal with on Rampage.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) defeated Hangman Adam Page, FTW Champion HOOK & Rob Van Dam
(This was quite the party match main event, with multiple commercial breaks and a whole heck of a lot of chaotic action throughout. With RVD involved, you knew if anyone was eating a pin or submission, it’d be him, as Joe standing tall when all was said and done made the most sense. Despite playing the heel in recent weeks, Page was cheered here quite a bit.)
HOOK wanted to start against Joe, who slammed HOOK down multiple times, bringing a smile to Joe as a result. HOOK switched to body shots and a flying clothesline that took Joe down, as Joe turned the table in the corner with body strikes of his own before tagging in Cage. HOOK escaped and made a tag to RVD, who had a quick sequence with Cage, who showed off his strength, leading to a double team with Strickland. After a series of switches, Page made the blind tag and came face to face with Strickland after RVD side stepped a Flatliner attempt. Before things got physical, HOOK & Cage pulled their teammates back for some reason, as Cage & Page remained during commercial.
Back from break, it was HOOK held up in a Cage delayed vertical suplex for two. Cage wanted a Death Valley Driver, but HOOK countered enough into a DDT, leading to a RVD hot tag, angering Page that he didn’t get it. RVD ran wild, hitting Rolling Thunder on Strickland and Five Star Frog Splash on Cage for two. Joe argued with referee Aubrey, as Strickland blindsided Page on the apron with a running boot. Fast tags made by Joe’s team, as they head to another commercial.
RVD was isolated the entire break before Joe missed a charge and RVD hit a spin kick into the double down. Page & Cage made the double tag, as Page sprinted right at Strickland to get his revenge before dropping Cage with a hurricanrana. Strickland side stepped a slingshot dive, but Page hit a pump kick to counter a Strickland rolling Flatliner. Back inside, Page dropped Cage with a Death Valley Driver, but Joe was there to clobber him with a running boot. The match broke down with everyone hitting a high impact move leaving Page to choose between a Buckshot on Cage or Moonsault on Strickland and he chose Strickland, as Cage cut him off before the move could happen. HOOK was there and we got a Tower of Doom spot. HOOK sank in REDRUM on Cage, who made a blind tag to Joe. HOOK ate a pop up powerbomb by Cage and a brutal House Call from Strickland, as Page flew in with a Buckshot on Cage.
Joe, Strickland & Page were left alone in the ring, as the Revolution graphic showed at the bottom of the screen. Strickland & Joe took out Page, who rolled to the floor and Joe hit a Tope. Strickland went for a pump kick off the apron, but missed Page and took out Joe. Page then powerbombed Strickland off the apron through the announce table. Joe ducked a Buckshot back inside and hit a snap powerslam for two, as RVD took out Cage with a slingshot splash and made the tag. Joe was waiting, but didn’t see HOOK waiting and ate an Exploder. RVD went up for the Five Star, but Cage shoved him off and wiped out HOOK with a discus lariat. Joe sank on the Coquina Clutch, as RVD faded and passed out.
Joe held up the AEW Title, as Strickland looked on with Nana, while Page kept telling the camera man not to shoot him, as he was holding his ankle. Hopefully Page isn’t legit injured.
AEW Rampage 2/23/24
· Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will be In Action
· Roderick Strong battles Jake Hager
· Private Party & Matt Sydal vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti vs. Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander & Bryan Keith
· Mariah May takes on Anna Jay
· We hear from Sammy Guevara
AEW Collision 2/24/24
· Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
· Switchblade Jay White, Austin Gunn & Daddy Ass in Trios Action
John LaRocca and I are back with another episode of The Fight Game Podcast.
We kicked off the show talking about the great job Samoa Joe has been doing as AEW World champion. We look at his program with Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page and discuss who should be champion coming out of next month’s AEW Revolution.
We then got to the rest of our Top 5 which included:
Darby Allin’s promo on AEW Dynamite being a step backward
The main event angle/angles for WWE WrestleMania
A look at the updated Elimination Chamber and Revolution cards
A three-way match for the AEW World Championship is now set for Revolution.
Samoa Joe will meet Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland on March 3 following the events of Wednesday’s Dynamite. It was also confirmed that Toni Storm will defend the AEW Women’s Championship against Deonna Purrazzo.
The open to Dynamite saw Page and Swerve Strickland, who are at the top of AEW’s rankings, wrestle to a time limit draw. After confusion ensued, Tony Schiavone announced that as a result of the draw, there are now two number one contenders for the AEW World title, and thus it would be a three-way at Revolution.
It was announced prior to a match between Storm and Red Velvet that the Women’s Championship would also be on the line at Revolution. Since debuting for AEW last month, Purrazzo has been looking to challenge Storm. The two have had several confrontations with Purrazzo questioning Storm’s recent change and is looking for the Storm she used to be friends with.
Here is the current card for Revolution:
Sting’s retirement match
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe defends against Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy defends against Roderick Strong
AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo
The AEW World Champion will be on commentary for Swerve Strickland’s match on Dynamite this week.
AEW has announced that Samoa Joe will join the commentary team for Strickland’s match against a yet-to-be-announced opponent on this Wednesday’s Dynamite episode. Strickland and Hangman Page are taking part in Dealer’s Choice matches on the show. Strickland has chosen Toa Liona as Page’s opponent, but Page hasn’t revealed who he’s chosen to face Strickland.
Rivals Strickland and Page both have their sights set on challenging Joe for the AEW World Championship.
Joe won the AEW World Championship from MJF at last month’s Worlds End pay-per-view. He’s made one title defense since then, retaining against Hook.
UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans is hosting Dynamite this Wednesday night. Here’s everything that’s been announced for the show:
Jon Moxley vs. Jeff Hardy
Dealer’s Choice: Swerve Strickland vs. an opponent of Hangman Page’s choosing (w/ Samoa Joe on commentary)
Dealer’s Choice: Hangman Page vs. Toa Liona
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Taya Valkyrie (w/ Toni Storm on commentary)
