AEW Dynamite airs live tonight from Boston with The Golden Elite facing Blackpool Combat Club in the third annual Blood & Guts match.
Kota Ibushi makes his AEW debut, teaming with Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson), and Hangman Page as The Golden Elite. They take on a Blackpool Combat Club team comprised of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita, and PAC.
Moxley, Castagnoli, and Yuta will take part in the Blood & Guts match for a second consecutive year, with this year’s seven other competitors taking part in the match for the first time.
World Champion MJF & Adam Cole team in the finals of the Blind Eliminator Tournament against Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia. The winning team will earn a shot at FTR’s AEW Tag Team Championship.
The FTW Championship is also on the line, as Hook defends the title against “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry in a grudge match.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz, as Tarzan Boy played, but Jungle Boy Jack Perry never came out. Instead, we saw a video of Perry in the desert pulling a body with Jungle Boy’s boots into a grave and he dug the hole. A limousine pulled up and Perry stepped inside as he was announced simply as Jack Perry and walked out to his new music, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
Jack Perry defeated HOOK to win the FTW Title
(It appears Jungle Boy is officially dead and buried, as the new theme and look for Perry set the stage for handing HOOK his first loss. This feud is far from over and this was a good first battle between the two. My one complaint was the ref bump looked absurd and made Paul Turner look ridiculous in the process. Pun intended, but by hook or by crook, Perry did what was needed to win his first singles title in his AEW career.)
Despite Taz literally being right there on commentary, Excalibur asked Tony Schiavone to give the history of the FTW Title. HOOK immediately went after Perry, who bailed outside and was launched over the barricade with HOOK going right out after, launching off the barricade with a Superman punch. Back inside, Perry got an eye rake and dropkick to gain control. The crowd really let Perry hear it as the fight went back to the floor during commercial.
HOOK fought off a German suplex off the apron and delivered an Exploder suplex to the floor with both landing super hard. HOOK went to throw Perry back inside, but Perry posed HOOK and connected with a draping DDT off the apron. Perry was content with a countout win, but HOOK broke the count at 9 as Perry hit a release German, but HOOK no sold and hit a multiple bridging Germans for two. HOOK went for a third, but Perry grabbed the ref, hit a mule kick and charging forearm to the neck for a close near fall.
Perry grabbed the FTW Title and brought it in the ring, as referee Paul Turner awkwardly tried to take it from him, but got sandwiched instead. HOOK hit a head and arm suplex, had the visible pin, but the ref was down. HOOK went to revive the official when Perry grabbed the FTW Title and waffled HOOK. Perry draped an arm over HOOK, getting the win and the title, ending the undefeated streak of HOOK in the process.
-We see footage of Alex Marvez earlier today seeing Chris Jericho & Don Callis having a meal together when Callis’ security spots them and shoves him away.
-Footage of MJF & Adam Cole last night at Kowloon restaurant with Cole saying MJF has to face his fear of one of the things Max hates most, spicy food and not poor people, which MJF thought it’d be. Another chapter in the bonding of Better Than You Bay Bay, as they ate spicy food and drank what they thought was water, but it was 100 proof alcohol. A drunken Cole & MJF thought the waiter looked like Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara and were about to give him a double clothesline when the video ended.
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-We see Alex Marvez outside of the arena earlier today waiting for Don Callis’ limousine to pull up as he arrived with Chris Jericho. Marvez asked if Jericho has made a decision with both calling him a fat headed idiot.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. defeated Kayla Sparks
(With the Owen Hart Cup over, this was a way to get Baker back on the winning track after being eliminated so early in the tournament.)
Baker hit a Sling Blade, double underhook suplex and Lock Jaw for the quick victory.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Adam Cole & MJF who talk about winning the Blind Eliminator Tournament tonight. MJF presented Cole with matching trunks, while Cole had matching ring jackets made. There was one final surprise Cole had, as they walked off and Roderick Strong came into the shot yelling for Cole. Paquette tried to tell him what just happened, but he didn’t want to hear it, looking dejected again.
-Chris Jericho joined commentary before the match, cutting his music off before the crowd could sing along to the Judas chorus. The surprise Cole was referencing was he had a mash-up made with his & MJF’s entrance themes, which popped MJF like crazy. I know I was late to the party on this, but Cole & MJF have completely won me over as a buddy duo.
AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole defeated Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia to win the Blind Eliminator Tournament
(I did my best to describe what took place in the pre-match, but I can’t recommend seeking it out more, as it was a whole lot of fun. We finally got our pay off to the build of the double clothesline spot and it made the crowd go wild. Post match not only planted more seeds of dissention between Jericho & his crew, but we also saw cracks in the friendship between Cole & MJF. The time will come, assuredly sooner rather than later, but this pairing has turned into a lot of fun while it’s lasted.)
Prior to the bell, MJF & Garcia had what can only be described as a Thrust Off. This turned into a full blown Dance Battle, as MJF jumped ringside and literally hit the music as Garcia & Guevara were first and obviously had a routine planned out ready for this moment. MJF took the stage and did his dance before Cole thrusted so often and terribly that the music scratched and MJF begged him to stop. This was one of the most surreal, yet amazing openings to an AEW match ever. Garcia & Guevara attacked immediately, but bailed when Cole & MJF yelled for a double clothesline. MJF hit the ropes tirelessly, faking a dive before opting to pose, as Garcia took control soon after into commercial break.
MJF remained isolated the whole break before MJF fell head first into the groin of Guevara, which Taz called Yam-Bag Yahtzee. MJF dodged a double clothesline and made the hot tag to Cole, who ran wild, dropping Garcia with a series of superkicks, but missed the Panama Sunrise. Garcia opted to thrust at referee Bryce and ate a Cole superkick, as did a springing Guevara. Cole & MJF signaled for the double clothesline, but Guevara ducked and hit a double standing Spanish Fly. MJF dodged a super Cutter and tried Cross Rhodes, but Guevara avoided and Cole made a blind tag. Garcia hit a double chop block and sank in the Dragon Slayer on Cole, who got the ropes. Garcia was backdropped to the floor onto Guevara, as Cole told MJF to do the dive. Hesitant at first, MJF connected on the tope on both outside and the crowd lost their minds. Back inside, Cole hit the Panama Sunrise on Garcia, tagged MJF and they finally hit the elusive double clothesline with MJF getting the pin and win.
Jericho tried to cheer up Guevara & Garcia at the ramp, but both men walked away from him, similar to Jake Hager walking away last week. Meanwhile, in the ring, Cole held the AEW Title and MJF ripped it away furious before cooler heads prevailed with both hugging, but MJF giving a look when Cole turned his back. FTR’s music hit, as Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler came to the ring for the face off, as the match is set for July 29th on Collision for the AEW Tag Team Titles.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Best Friends, Kris Statlander, Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin & Nick Wayne. Paquette talked about Allin & Wayne being in the Royal Rampage this Friday, while Statlander will be facing Marina Shafir for the TBS Title on Rampage as well. Allin said Swerve Strickland will also be in the Royal Rampage, but asks Cassidy if he’ll do him a favor and give someone a shot that helped him out when he was homeless, that being AR Fox. Cassidy says Allin & he are cool, so he grants the shot to Fox next week on Dynamite. Best Friends tried doing an all hands in, but Allin & Wayne walked off with Paquette being the only one who joined in.
-Chompy The Shark joined commentary to plug Shark Week starting Sunday as Taz said if the shark touched him, he’s tossing it off the stage.
-A video package on the history of The Golden Elite & Blackpool Combat Club is shown, as the main event is up next.
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The Golden Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), Hangman Adam Page & Kota Ibushi) defeated Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita & PAC) in a Blood & Guts Match
(An incredibly violent and action packed war to put an end to such a hard hitting saga. I wrote a lot about this match because a hell of a lot happened. This was my favorite Blood & Guts match that AEW has done as this was filled with holy sh*t moments. If you aren’t a fan of violence, I don’t know what to tell you, as this match lived up to the billing. At one point the crowd chanted they wanted fire and I’m thrilled they didn’t get their wish as I think they had just run out of things to chant for, since they had already gotten glass, tacks, chairs, nails, tables, forks, screwdrivers, etc. You have multiple stories you could tell coming out of this match, especially since two teammates bailed on the BCC. It’ll be interesting the direction they go heading into All In & All Out.)
Omega & Castagnoli began for their respective teams and it was Castagnoli getting the upper hand as we were told the BCC won the coin toss and will be getting the early advantage. Omega hit a cross body off the top and launched Castagnoli into the second ring. After Castagnoli regained control, Omega hit an up and over in the corner, snap hurricanrana and drunk slam as PAC was the next entrant and caught Omega with a quick missile dropkick. PAC & Castagnoli had a brief face off before beating down Omega during commercial.
Hangman Page joined the match right when they returned from break and the crowd is already on fire. Page caught PAC on a cross body and hit a fall away slam before wiping out Castagnoli with a springing clothesline and moonsault off the top rope. Page & Omega showed great teamwork and why they were former Tag Team Champions with their double team pop up German suplex on PAC. Castagoli was able to dropkick Omega against the cage repeatedly and gain control just as Jon Moxley entered the arena. Page was waiting for Moxley, who jumped in with a screwdriver and stabbed Page & Omega repeatedly with it, even biting the fingers of Omega. Moxley handed Castagnoli a fork, before grabbing a bucket from under the ring, dumping broken glass out. Before anything could happen, Nick Jackson ran to the ring and hit a dropkick on Moxley, landing on the glass. Thankfully Moxley had a jacket on to absorb a lot of it.
Nick ran wild, sending Castanoli & PAC almost colliding and brief argument before Jackson laid them both out. Nick hit a double springboard hurricanrana that dropped Castagnoli onto the glass, but Moxley quickly hit suplex on Nick, stomping down glass onto the chest. Castagnoli & Moxley hit a double suplex on Omega onto the glass as Wheeler Yuta was in next, running to the ring with a chair during commercial. Even in picture in picture, the camera unfortunately cut right as Yuta dropped Nick with a brainbuster onto the set up chair. Omega tried a springboard on Moxley, who shoved Omega back first into the cage. Omega found himself trapped between the cage and the ring when Matt Jackson entered and dropped PAC with a face buster and Yuta with a DDT onto the chair.
I could be wrong, but Moxley is I believe the first person to officially bleed as The Young Bucks connected with Risky Business. Omega emerged from under the ring as Moxley mounted a comeback with Castanoli’s help on The Bucks with suplexes and uppercuts. Yuta meanwhile, was driven face first into the glass by Omega with Konosuke Takeshita the final entrant for the BCC as Don Callis joined commentary. Takeshita cracked Page with a chair and hit The Bucks with dueling suplexes before turning Omega inside out with a lariat. Moxley brought out a bed of nails with Taz calling him a horror movie dude. Omega blocked the first shot, but Moxley hit a shotgun dropkick sending Omega into the nails followed by a bodyslam by Moxley. Callis loved it as even Castagnoli looked at Moxley with an impressed reaction.
Kota Ibushi’s music hit to a monster reaction, as Yuta sprinted up the ramp and was laid out. Ibushi laid out Castagnoli, PAC & Takeshita as Ibushi stared down Moxley, who stomped down on Omega’s hand onto the nails, flipping Ibushi off. Both men started a wild strike exchange until PAC & Castagnoli ate a double Pele kick before Moxley was dropped onto the nails by Ibushi who followed with a standing moonsault. Ibushi clutched his wrist, as The Golden Lovers were going to do the BTE Trigger on Takeshita, but PAC & Castagnoli made the save. Nick was pressed over Castagnoli’s head and launched into the cage before they went to commercial.
Yuta & Matt Jackson had been brawling on the stage before both decided to climb to the top of the cage. Matt did his rolling Northern Lights suplexes up there, but Yuta countered the final one into a DDT. Yuta wisely climbed down the cage as Excalibur plugged the American Red Cross during Blood & Guts and even acknowledged how wild that was. PAC & Castagnoli were about to do double piledrivers on Page & Nick when Matt rained down thumbtacks from the top of the cage and PAC & Castagnoli got backdropped onto them in one of the coolest visuals I’ve seen. All 10 men are finally in the ring and The Elite hit You Can’t Escape, standing shooting star, top rope elbow & 450 Splash combo on PAC heading into the final commercial break.
During picture in picture, The Bucks & Page hit an assisted Tombstone & Dead Eye combo as Nick set up a table teetering between the rings. We had four superplexes in succession by The BCC and finally PAC held onto the top of the cage and swung into a double stomp through the table on Nick in an incredible moment. The back of Jon Moxley was shown and it was quite the gnarly image as each team regrouped in separate rings before a 10 man brawl commenced. Everyone took turns hitting home run shots with PAC being planted with a Snap Dragon into the glass. Omega tried One Winged Angel, but PAC countered into the Brutalizer. The BCC had 4 submissions applied while Matt ate the Giant Swing into the Sharpshooter.
Ibushi broke free and busted up all the submissions, really having to work to break up Castagnoli’s. Omega ate corner splashes when miscommunication occurred again between Castagnoli & PAC, who had to be separated by Yuta, Takeshtia & Moxley. PAC flipped off everyone before getting bolt cutters under the ring, snapped the cage door and bailing, slamming the door at Castagnoli. Omega fired up with Snap Dragons, Page hit a Buckshot on Castagnoli, and a Buckshot Trigger on Yuta with Omega. Moxley was handcuffed, as Callis pulled Takeshita from the match and they also bailed leaving it 5 on 3. Yuta meanwhile was busted open with a thumbtack covered shoe by Matt Jackson. Page wrapped a chain around the throat of Yuta and he passed out, ending the match, as Moxley was forced to watch handcuffed as The Golden Elite had their hands raised.
AEW Rampage 7/21/23
· 20 Man Royal Rampage with the winner getting a TNT Title shot at All Out. Participants shown were Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Big Bill, The Gates of Agony, Swerve Stickland, Brian Cage, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Jake Hager, Ethan Page, Matt Sydal, Brother Zay, Matt Hardy, Darby Allin, Nick Wayne, The Butcher, The Blade, Komander & Minoru Suzuki
· Kris Statlander defends the TBS Title against Marina Shafir
· The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass takes on QT Marshall, Johnny TV & Aaron Solo
AEW Collision 7/22/23
· Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews defend the AEW Trios Titles against The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Daddy Ass
AEW Dynamite 7/26/23
· Orange Cassidy defends the AEW International Title against AR Fox
