Bridgeport, Connecticut, hosts tonight’s AEW Dynamite with several high-profile matches and appearances.
AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita will face Adam Cole in a non-title match as Cole continues his quest to rack up three victories before Roderick Strong does for a shot at MJF at Full Gear. Strong will also look to go 3-0 as he battles Lance Archer in a falls count anywhere match.
After returning last week, Will Ospreay will make an appearance tonight as will AEW World Champion Jon Moxley as “Mox seizes the Superstation.”
The Full Gear four-way contender’s series continues as FTR face House of Black’s Brody King & Malakai Black.
Hangman Page & Christian Cage team up against Jay White & Juice Robinson while former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will go one-on-one with Lio Rush. Strickland’s Full Gear opponent Bobby Lashley will also appear tonight.
Britt Baker will return to the ring against Penelope Ford while Jamie Hayter is scheduled for an appearance.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone as The Patriarchy makes their entrance ahead of the opening contest.
Hangman Adam Page & Christian Cage (w/The Patriarchy) defeated Switchblade Jay White & Juice Robinson
(You almost had a feeling Robinson was taking the pin here, as he’s not really feuding with anyone Page or Cage. The numbers game were simply too much for the Bang Bang Gang in this one (even with HOOK running off Nick Wayne), as despite being unlikely teammates, Page & Cage were able to work well enough to squeak out the win. They kept the interaction between White & Page pretty even, as it made you want to see their rematch come Full Gear.)
Evenly paced back and forth from Page & White to start, until Cage made a blind tag right as Page got the upper hand. Cage immediately ate a hard buckle, allowing Robinson to tag in, as he fired off snap jabs until Page got the attention away, allowing Cage to hit a reverse neckbreaker. Robinson sent outside to The Patriarchy, as Nick Wayne got in a shot with the ref distracted. Back inside, Robinson lit up by corner strikes, as he was continuously isolated before being dumped to the floor again. Wayne sized Robinson up again, but HOOK appeared in the front row, pulled Wayne over the railing and brawled to the back, as a confused Cage looked on, allowing Robinson to hit a neckbreaker of his own on the floor.
Robinson made the hot tag to White, who fired off a series of chops and punches until trying a back suplex, which Page floated over onto his bad knee. It allowed a White dragon screw, as he spiked Page with a DDT, tried on Cage, who countered into a Killswitch, which White spun out of into a DDT of his own. Front chancery throw in the corner onto Page, as Robinson, who hit a corner charge and cannonball. Knee breaker and brainbuster from White to Page, as Robinson got a near fall. Cage pulled Robinson outside, but ate a Right Hand of God for his troubles. Page clobbered White with a springboard lariat, as Robinson, who was crotched in the corner, hit an Avalanche Fall Away Slam.
White cut off a Buckshot with a Flatliner, but Cage was there wanting a Killswitch. Another Hand of God from Robinson, as Page was dropped with a Sleeper Suplex. Blade Runner into the barricade on Cage, as Robinson fired off jabs to Page, looked for Juice is Loose, but Robinson rolled through into a roll-up. Mother Wayne distracted the ref long enough for there to be a two, as Kip Sabian brained Robinson with the World Title contract case, allowing Page to hit Dead Eye for the victory. Commentary correctly pointed out it took four people to defeat White & Robinson tonight.
-Renee Paquette is outside Mercedes Mone’s locker room and asks about her match at Full Gear against Kris Statlander. Mone scolds Paquette from even asking a question before she gets her catchphrase in. Mone also scolded Kamille for dropping her $20,000 coat and told her to go put it away. She said last week happened because Kamille can’t drive, as once she left, Statlander appeared in the background. Mone saw her and called for her bodyguard, but Kamille was chucked into the wall. Statlander & Mone brawled briefly before Statlander tackled Kamille through the door as Mone scurried away.
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Will Ospreay Calls Out Kyle Fletcher
Tony Schiavone is in the ring and welcomes Ospreay to the ring to a huge ovation. Ospreay said there’s a lot of questions he needs answers to and politely asks Schiavone to leave, as he wants to talk with Kyle Fletcher. His wish is granted, as Fletcher walks out and said Don Callis begged him not to come out by himself, but brought up how Ospreay opted to stay home and lick his wounds a few weeks ago when Fletcher called him out. If he lays a finger on Fletcher, The Family will make sure he’s out longer than three weeks. Ospreay said he’s been in those Family meetings and knows Fletcher isn’t alone, so get whatever else he has planned, as Fletcher pulls out the screwdriver and tossed it to Ospreay, who chucked it from the ring.
Ospreay brought up Fletcher living in his home during the pandemic and joining the United Empire with Mark Davis. Fletcher knows Ospreay better than anyone, knowing where he lives, where he works out, even picking his son up from school. Fletcher said Ospreay wants to take credit for someone else’s success, while Don Callis opened his eyes to the truth, as Ospreay did all those things for himself, like always. Fletcher isn’t a Will Ospreay clone and called Ospreay selfish and a hypocrite, doing exactly what Ospreay would’ve done in his position. Ospreay told Fletcher to pick a lane, either he’s nothing like him or he’s an Ospreay clone. Sure, he stabbed Okada & Kenny Omega in the back, but before that, he was a 3-time Junior Heavyweight Champ, 2 time Best of Super Juniors winner. What has Fletcher done that’s not Aussie Open related, he’s done nothing on his own.
Fletcher said it’s about what he’s going to do, as he wants a match with Ospreay at Full Gear. Ospreay said this is what it’s all about, his 5 minutes of fame on PPV. Since Ospreay has been here, there’s been 4 World Champions and none of them can hold a candle to what he can do. Ospreay accepts the match and brings up watching Fletcher shave his head with his 6 year old by his side at home. His hand was numb from the Tiger Driver he suffered and promised to be the one to take this all away from Fletcher at Full Gear. Fletcher said if Ospreay thought before was bad, it’s nothing compared to Full Gear.
Brian Cage & Lance Archer came to the ring, as Ospreay laughed and said he’s also got some backup. Mark Davis & Powerhouse Hobbs came in and the brawl was on until Davis & Fletcher had a stare down. That was brief, as Ospreay took the fight to Fletcher and hit a dive. Everyone but Archer brawled away, as Roderick Strong’s music hit and he charged out with a kendo stick and they fought to the back, as the next match begins immediately.
Roderick Strong defeated Lance Archer in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
(A far quicker match than I expected, as despite not getting in a ton of offense, he got off enough to win the match. I wish this went longer, as it was a fun brawl in the crowd the entire time. The win sees Strong advance to Full Gear and for the time being it’s a singles match with MJF, who again, we saw watching from his home for about 5 seconds, which has been the case the last few weeks.)
It’s almost completely dark, but apparently Excalibur knows that Archer slammed Strong through a table and got a two count before things went right to commercial. Back from break, Strong momentarily gained the upper hand until Brian Cage showed up again, wanted a chokeslam/powerbomb with Archer, but Matt Taven & Mike Bennett made the save. Bennett & Cage brawled away as Archer waffled Taven with a big boot, both stood on top of the guard rail, chokeslamming Taven onto two security guards. Archer wanted to do the same to Strong, who crotched Archer and hit forearms before a chair was tossed into the face. Strong leapt over the barricade with a jumping knee and got the a pretty quick pin.
We saw MJF watching from his home smiling, as Strong took the mic in the ring and screamed that at Full Gear, this all ends and he’ll finish his ass. Konosuke Takeshita appeared from behind and continued to beat down Strong until Adam Cole charged out and they slugged it out until the referee ran to the ring and started their match.
AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defeated Adam Cole
(I thought this was a really good match and really wasn’t that surprised by the finish, considering Don Callis was presented with MJF’s ring last week. Having MJF vs. Strong at the PPV gives them more time to build up to when Cole finally gets his one on one match against MJF, presumably at World’s End. If they’re going to do the match, you’d want MJF to be on TV to build it up, so once his movie is done shooting, he can come back and they’ll be off to the races. I also appreciated that Takeshita didn’t take a pin two weeks in a row, after losing the tag match last week.)
Cole’s music continued to play as he clotheslined Takeshita over the top to the outside, allowing Cole to do his Adam Cole Bay-Bay pose for the crowd. Cole wanted Panama Sunrise, but Takeshita leveled him with a wild elbow strike in mid-air as things went to picture in picture. Back from break, Cole hit his neckbreaker onto the knee for a near fall, as he tried a superkick follow-up, but Takeshita really had to work for, but successfully turned it into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Ref checked on Cole, who foolishly tried a forearm battle, as Takeshita no sold a few before scored with a big time shot. Cole responded with a pump kick and enzugiri, tried to lower The Boom, but Takeshita ducked and hit a rolling elbow. Takeshita wanted a brainbuster, but Cole quickly countered into one on the knee for a close two.
Cole wanted Panama Sunrise once more, but Takeshita countered, swung Cole around into the Bastard Driver, power German and massive lariat that turned Cole inside out, but kicked out at two. Takeshtia missed the big knee, leapt for a Takeshita-line, but Cole hit a superkick in mid-air followed by the Panama Sunrise. Cole dropped the knee pad, wanted The Boom, but Takeshita rolled outside and placed the Dynamite Diamond ring on unbeknownst to Cole & the ref. Takeshtia decked Cole with the loaded shot, KO’d him and got the victory. MJF was shown laughing maniacally, as Takeshita showed off the diamond ring before hiding the evidence.
Roderick Strong sprinted out and tried to attack Takeshita, who quickly hit a punt kick low. Takeshita put the ring back on and wanted to KO him as well, but Kyle O’Reilly ran out with a chair, as Takeshita bailed. Takeshita celebrated up the ramp, but didn’t see Ricochet behind him, who hit a superkick, causing Takeshita to scurry away. Ricochet held up the International Title, as back in the ring, O’Reilly helped up Strong as Cole offered a handshake to him, but O’Reilly walked away, staring them down from the stage.
-We see a black truck back up into the arena, as the Death Riders have arrived to “take over the Superstation.”
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-Renee Paquette welcomes The Hurt Syndicate backstage and asks Bobby Lashley about his match at Full Gear with Swerve Strickland. MVP cut Paquette off before she could ask if Lashley is prepared, as he put over Lashley and asks how it feels to potentially end a young man’s career at Full Gear. Lashley said he will make an example out of Strickland and will hurt him. MVP said they’ll be watching Strickland’s match later tonight.
We see JD Drake stumble out from the back, as he’s being worn out with a steel chair by Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta, as we’re told Drake was supposed to be competing later tonight. Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir storm out, as Shafir forces a cameraman into the ring.
Jon Moxley Seizes the Superstation
Moxley took a mic and said he’s been thinking of Orange Cassidy the past few days and how Chuck Taylor is drinking his food through a straw because Cassidy wasn’t able to save him. Wheeler Yuta belongs to Moxley because Cassidy wasn’t able to save him. The pressure is building for Full Gear, but Cassidy is cool as a cucumber with his hands in his pockets. Moxley will make an example of him at Full Gear, brutalizing him, stomping his face into hamburger meat, so badly his own mother won’t recognize him. Everyone who calls themselves a contender will run and hide, as they will do whatever the hell they want because they have the power.
Orange Cassidy’s music hits and he calmly walks out before being joined by Rocky Romero & Mark Briscoe. Cassidy says hello, he agrees with Moxley, it’s all because of what’s in the briefcase, the symbol of AEW, it represents all of us, everything pro wrestling can be, the AEW World Championship. They can fight all over the place, but the only way to win the title is by wrestling, as despite not liking to do anything, he’s wrestled the most out of anyone in AEW and reminds Moxley how he beat him before and he’ll do it again. Cassidy said Moxley brings up playing chess and brings up removing pawns before he can take the king, so next week, he’s wrestling Wheeler Yuta.
Moxley said we’ll see if Cassidy has the guts to pull the trigger on Yuta next week. Come Full Gear, Moxley has one message to anyone who wants what he’s got, abandon all hope. The Death Riders were going to retreat, but we see someone leap off the balcony onto Moxley, Castagnoli & Yuta, as it’s Darby Allin in a Sting mask. Cassidy, Romero & Briscoe ran and kept brawling as Moxley & Shaffir bailed to the back and went to leave in their truck, minus Wheeler Yuta, when Allin leapt into the bed on the truck. Castagnoli got out and tackled Allin into the garage door and did a huge Giant Swing on him into it. Castagnoli got back in the truck, as Yuta leapt into the bed and The Death Riders drove off with The Conglomeration checking on Allin, screaming for Castagnoli to come back and fight.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Learning Tree, as she asks if Chris Jericho accepts Tomohiro Ishii’s challenge for the ROH Title in 2 weeks in Chicago on Dynamite. Jericho said he has a soft spot for Ishii, as they’ve known each other for nearly 30 years, while Ishii was a young boy who carried his bags and washed his back in the shower. Jericho brought up their match 2 years ago in Chicago on Dynamite, one of his favorite matches, accepting the challenge. Jericho said he’s gone onto bigger and better things, The Nueve and ROH Champion, mentions Jay Briscoe as a former ROH Champion before Bryan Keith said Jericho will blow Ishii’s dumbass away.
-Excalibur tells us the Continental Classic will kick off in 2 weeks on Dynamite.
Dr. Britt Baker defeated Penelope Ford
(Baker’s first match since her illness last month, as the finish was a fun way to show that she can apply the Lockjaw out of nowhere. Baker’s last match prior to her absence last month was against Serena Deeb and it looks like that’s where we’re going from here once more.)
Both ladies trade wrist locks until Baker fired off a series of forearms. Charging neckbreaker connects, as Ford takes a powder, opting to play cat and mouse. Ford swept out the legs and popped Baker in the face with a forearm before a springboard double knee put her in control during commercial.
Ford tried a handspring forearm, but Baker blocked it into a flatliner in the corner. Baker got some head of steam with a Sling Blade, but as she went for corner punches, Ford slid out and dropped Baker face first into the buckle. Handspring forearm hit, as did the charging boot, but as she got a fireman’s carry, Baker slid out, tried a ripcord lariat, but Ford hit a Matrix Cutter for two. Ford went for a moonsault, but Baker moved, hit a thrust kick and spinning neckbreaker. Baker took way too long to put on the glove for Lockjaw, as Ford dropkicked her from behind and applied the Muta Lock. While in the hold, Baker was able to get the Lockjaw and the counter led to the submission win.
Post match, Serena Deeb came to the stage and trash talked, with Baker looking at the camera saying no one cared.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with the returning Mina Shirakawa, who said she’s missed Mariah May so much and can’t wait for the champagne celebration with her when she defeats Anna Jay on Collision. Harley Cameron walks in and pounds the glass of champagne saying some say Shirakawa is the Harley Cameron of Japan. She challenges Shirakawa to a match on Collision, tit for tit, may the best woman win. Both women start shimmying, as Paquette tried putting a stop to it. Excalibur said now Paquette knows how he feels sitting between Schiavone & McGuinness on commentary. This segment was hysterical and Cameron is one of the funniest characters on the roster.
Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeated Lio Rush
Both men trade corkscrew counters in the ropes, as Rush tried a springboard, Strickland dodged, Rush backflipped to the floor, but Strickland was right there to flip right into a stare down. Rush raked the eyes, but Strickled targeted the midsection before going back inside. Strickland wanted a Swerve Stomp, but Rush did a handspring into the ropes, crotching Strickland sending him outside as they went to commercial.
Back from break, both men fought to the apron where Strickland hit a big boot before rolling back into the ring with a suplex. Strickland measured Rush with a diving uppercut to the back. Rush managed a misdirect Spanish Fly for two, as he tried a leaping hurricanrana off the announce table, but Strickland looked for a powerbomb, only for Rush to leap out onto the steps and hit a Poison Rana. Diving low dive, as back inside, Rush hit the Frog Splash for a close two. Bounce back Stunner countered from Strickland, who wanted Big Pressure, as Rush rolled through into a pin, held the ropes and Nana pointed it out. Enzugiri connected, as he wanted another Poison Rana, only this time, Strickland powered him into Big Pressure for the win.
Post match, Strickland took the mic and said now that he’s back, everyone wants to use his equity and accolades to make a statement. Rush tried tonight, Shelton Benjamin tried a few weeks ago, but he’s going to have to keep reminding people whose house it is. While their match is at Full Gear, he wants to fight here tonight in Stamford (they’re in Bridgeport) and calls out Lashley.
The Hurt Syndicate’s music hits and out walked MVP & Lashley to the stage. MVP said if he wanted a fight with a Syndicate member, all he had to do was ask. The crowd is chanting “This is Bridgeport” to correct Strickland, as Lashley took his jacket off, as MVP said there’s strength in numbers. Shelton Benjamin attacked Strickland from behind before tossing him to the feet of Lashley outside, who launched Strickland repeatedly into the barricade. Lashley went into the ring after Prince Nana and launched him into the corner before crumbling outside.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Jamie Hayter and asks what is next? Hayter said it’s a good question, as she’s come back to right the wrongs, she’s corrected some of them, but now, she’s thinking of one thing. The camera went dark and we get another Julia Hart vignette, as she awakens from her bed after being shot in the heart with an arrow in the last vignette on Collision. Brody King had called her saying it’s time to come home. Hart walks to the mirror and screams as she puts on her black hat and steps out the window.
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The AEW Tag Team Champions, Private Party, made their way to the stage to watch the upcoming main event match.
Kings of the Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) defeated FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) in a Full Gear Contenders Series
(This was a hell of a main event with This is Awesome and Fight Forever chants rightfully given by the crowd. I was pleasantly surprised by the finish of this, as I think I was with many in thinking FTR was going to win. House of Black needed a win after taking a series of singles losses to Adam Cole the past two weeks, so this was a reminder to those of just how great they are. I hope this continues after Full Gear and they remain contenders, as they certainly deserve to be.)
FTR took a sip of Private Party’s drinks before heading to the ring, as it was Harwood & King to start things off briefly, with King standing tall after a chop exchange. Wheeler made a quick tag, picked up the pace, but King hit a big-time back drop and double hand chop before tagging Black. Snap hurricanrana and deep arm drag, as Harwood tagged back in and suffered an arm drag as well. Nice back and forth sequence, as Harwood blocked a PK, some Muay Thai kicks from Black, who ultimately takes a seat, daring Harwood to fight. Wheeler made a blind tag, as Harwood suckered Black into a chase, allowing Wheeler to level him with a lariat as FTR mocked the seated pose with things going to commercial.
FTR kept Black isolated almost the entire break before King was finally able to make the hot tag. King wasted no time running wild with chops and shoulder tackles, punishing Wheeler & Harwood with corner clotheslines and splashes. Overhead throw on Wheeler, as Harwood was sent into his partner in the corner and King hit the Cannonball for two. King wanted a superplex on Wheeler, but Harwood saved his partner, allowing Wheeler to try a sunset flip, with Harwood hitting a diving clothesline into the powerbomb for two. Black pulled Wheeler outside and sent him into the steps, as Harwood ate the pop-up knee lift from Black, who followed with a moonsault to the floor on Wheeler, as Harwood was flattened with a King powerbomb for a close near fall.
The match broke down, as Black was sent back outside and King sent to the corner. FTR wanted the Power-Plex, King took the superplex, but got the knees up on Wheeler with Black flying off the top with a double stomp on Harwood for two. Dante’s Inferno attempt blocked, as Wheeler saved his partner, sent King into Black and connected with Shatter Machine, but Black pulled Harwood outside. Black was pulled to the apron by Wheeler, as Harwood recovered and they hit a spike piledriver on Black, but King was there to fly with a dive onto both Harwood & Wheeler. King Kong lariat leveled Harwood multiple times and got multiple near falls, as King couldn’t believe it. King dragged a rubber legged Harwood to his feet, applied the rear naked choke and Harwood went out cold, giving King the win.
Post match, King nodded to Black, as they helped Harwood & Wheeler up, shaking their hands, showing respect as Private Party watched on as things went off the air.
AEW Collision (11/16/24)
- Mariah May vs. Anna Jay in a No DQ Match for the AEW Women’s Title (if Jay loses, she no longer can compete for the AEW Women’s Title as long as May is champion)
- The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. Los Faccion Ingobernables (Rush & Beast Mortos) in a Full Gear Contenders Series
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Harley Cameron
- Daniel Garcia vs. Johnny TV
AEW Dynamite (11/20/24)
- Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta
- Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli
