Tag: aew results

AEW Collision is live tonight from the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio.

Announced for tonight’s show is an Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal match between Persephone and Hazuki.

The AEW Women’s World Tag Team titles will also be on the line tonight as champions Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) defend against TayJay (Anna Jay and Tay Melo).

The winner of Persephone vs. Hazuki will move on to the tournament semifinals to take on Mercedes Moné, who returned to the company on Dynamite and defeated Alex Windsor in the quarterfinals. On the other side of the bracket, Athena has advanced to the semifinals after her win over Mina Shirakawa, and she’ll face the winner of Skye Blue vs. Sareee, scheduled for Dynamite on Wednesday.

Announced for tonight’s AEW Collision:

• Persephone vs. Hazuki in an Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal match
• AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) defend against TayJay (Anna Jay and Tay Melo)

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay) vs. Divine Dominion (Lena Kross & Megan Bayne) for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship

Anna Jay made started the match with Megan Bayne, but it wasn’t long before Kross and Bayne were going for Divine Intervention. Jay slipped out and Melo and Jay hit a series of double team moves and dodges that kept Divine Dominion crashing into each other. Melo and Jay hit stereo crossbodies of the middle ropes to the floor on Kross and Bayne as they went to an ad break on TNT.

Kross and Bayne were able to isolate Jay on the floor after enticing Jay to chase her around the ring. Kross then started getting the heat on Anna Jay. Bayne hit a German suplex on Jay as they came back from break, and tagged out to Kross again. Kross charged Jay in the corner, but Jay dodged and hit a bulldog and tagged out Melo who hit a series of strikes and a spinning back fist to stun Bayne.

Melo hit a series of strikes in the corner and then scraped her boot on Bayne’s face. Melo tagged out to Jay and they went for a double team move, but Bayne powered out and tagged out to Kross. This did not help matters as they both ate superkicks, and then hit a double DDT on Kross for a 2-cout that Bayne broke up. Bayne and Kross then hit a German suplex/pump kick combo, and Tay Melo broke the pinfall up. All four women hit moves and did a quadruple down. After a scramble Jay locked the sleeper hold on Kross, but Kross walked her back to her corner and drove Jay into the corner before Bayne came in and they hit Divine Intervention for the pinfall. Solid tag match.

Result: Divine Dominion defeated TayJay to retain

–A hype video aired for Brody King and Swerve Strickland for Dynamite on Wednesday.

–Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta cut a promo on Konosuke Takeshita while Lance Archer and Jake Doyle beat the crap out of a ton of local talent in the background. This was quite fun.

Shane Taylor (w/ Shane Taylor Promotions) vs. Alan Angels

Alan Angels makes his return to AEW and immediately dies at the hands of Shane Taylor. After making a few dodges of Taylor’s offence, Taylor caught him with a forearm as he springboarded of the ropes and then hit a package piledriver for the pinfall.

Result: Shane Taylor defeated Alan Angels

–Shane Taylor took a mic and said that the Death Riders has been the most violent group in AEW, but as of this moment, Shane Taylor Promotions was the most violent group in AEW. Moxley noted that all they had to do was beat him, so Taylor said his crew should come down to the ring and get beat. The Death Riders music hit, and Jon Moxley led his crew to the ring to a massive pop from the crowd.

The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & PAC) (w/ Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, & Marina Shafir) vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty, Carlie Bravo, & Shawn Dean) (w/ Shane Taylor, Trish Adora, & Christyan XO)

Moxley started the match and took it right to Moxley, driving him back into the corner and isolating him. Bravo tagged in and started chopping Moxley, who just started getting fired up and asked him to hit him harder. Moxley turned him around after the next chop and hit ten punches in the corner before thumbing him in the eye and tagging out to PAC.

It was not long after this that it broke down into a 6 person brawl and Moxley dumped Shawn Dean into the front row as they went to an ad break on TNT. Claudio was beating on Carlie Bravo in the ring, and Shane Taylor indicated that this was just one of their gameplans to wear them out by surviving everything they had, even though Bravo was looking worse for wear as PAC tagged in. This changed when Shawn Dean tripped PAC from the floor and hit a cutter across the apron.

Shane Taylor Promotions isolated PAC with this and started beating on him in their corner, with Carlie Bravo punching PAC and biting him, taunting Mox for his thumb to the eye earlier. Dean hit a lariat from the second rope on PAC for a 2-count. Moxley started getting the crowd fired up to cheer for PAC to escape, and was going nuts on the apron, and the fans started a very loud chant for Moxley, and Shane Taylor Promotions cut off PAC from that very tag to a chorus of boos.

Moxley saw enough and started attacking everyone on the floor himself, but got beaten down. It did allow PAC to dodge a corner charge from Moriarty and hit a German suplex on him before tagging out Castagnoli though, which was a really nice “take one for the team” moment for Mox. Castagnoli hit a series of very violent forearms in the corner and then went for the Neutralizer, but Moriarty cut him off. Moxley and Castagnoli laid out Bravo and then PAC went for the Black Arrow, but Shane Taylor distracted the referee and Trish Adora shoved PAC’s feet from the ropes.

While the referee was distracted, Yuta hit a dive on Taylor while Marina Shafir took out Trish Adora and Christyan XO, letting the Death Riders lay out Carlie Bravo and did the brutalizer on him for the submission finish.

Result: The Death Riders defeated Shane Taylor Promotions

This match was fantastic. The Death Riders are incredible babyfaces in this match.

–A highlight video aired of all the major storylines from Dynamite, which was excellent. They should do this on every show.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Beef

Beef was surprisingly agile in this match, cartwheeling out of the way of a clothesline and hitting a dropkick. Beef went for a bulldog but Ciampa blocked it and yanked the hair to drop Beef before hitting a running knee on Beef. Nigel McGuinness said the cows were coming home. I laughed. Ciampa locked on the Liontamer and tapped Beef out, sending a message to Chris Jericho.

Result: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Beef

–Ciampa continued the attack after the match and locked the Liontamer on again on the floor and demanded that Tony Schaivone announce to the audience that Tommaso Ciampa was better than Chris Jericho. Schiavone said so, and Ciampa said that Schiavone has been friends with Jericho for years and even he knew the truth. Good promo here.

–Shane Taylor was backstage with Trish Adora and Taylor said that he wanted Jon Moxley to answer the age old question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Taylor said he failed his brother, as they picked off Wheeler Yuta and left him laying on the ground with The Death Riders nowhere to be seen. Taylor then challenged Moxley for the AEW Continental Championship on Dynamite.

Clark Connors (w/ David Finlay) vs. Juice Robinson (w/ The Bang Bang Gang)

These former Bullet Club members were set to battle here, with Connors immediately attacking Robinson and choking him with his own t-shirt. The announcers talked about how the Young Bucks pushed all of the War Dogs’ buttons noting that they were a discount Bullet Club compared to them. It is interesting how many different incarnations of the Bullet Club are present in AEW at the moment. Robinson started hitting a few jabs but Connors bailed, and Robinson mimed a dog relieving himself in Connors direction.

Connors did not enjoy this display and pulled Robinson from the ring and drove him into the guardrail. Connors continued this assault for a few minutes, including hitting some shoulder blocks in the corner, then a running shoulder tackle to a seated Robinson for a 2-count. Robinson and Connors shared punches, but Connors continued with this extended heat segment. Robinson started to fire up at some of the weak punches Connors threw and then hit a shoulder tackle and hit a back senton.

Robinson hit a series of punches and chops that backed Connors back to the corner and he hit a cannonball in the corner. Robinson then hit a powerbomb for a 2-count. Robinson signaled going for the Killswitch, but Connors shoved him aside and hit a powerslam for a 2-count. Connors went for a spear, but Robinson jumped over it and hit a lariat that sent Connors to the floor. Robinson hit a pescado to the floor and David Finlay ran down to try and hit Robinson with the shillelagh, but Robinson hit the Left Hand of God on Finlay. Robinson hit another Left Hand of God on Connors and went for Pulp Friction, but Finlay hit Robinson in the back and this led to Connors hitting a spear on Robinson for the pin.

Result: Clark Connors defeated Juice Robinson

This was a really solid match with Connors looking excellent, and Juice Robinson showing he is underutilized as a babyface.

–A hype video for the Survival of the Fittest match for the TBS Championship, with an excellent promo from Hikaru Shida in English and Japanese (with subtitles). Statlander, Mina Shirakawa, Harley Cameron, Queen Aminata, & Zayda Steel all commented on the match. This was very good.

–Jon Moxley was backtage with Marina Shafir, and said that STP and Taylor himself want what he and the Death Riders have, and made the move of attacking Yuta. Moxley said that Taylor needed to be sure he really wanted it, because when he got to the ring with Moxley on Wednesday he is going to find out what it means to face Moxley alone for the AEW Continental. This was a tremendous promo. Taylor and Moxley have done a fantastic job on this show building up a TV match for next week.

Los Faccion Ingobernable (Rush, Dralistico, & Sammy Guevara) vs. The Conglomeration (Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, & Orange Cassidy) for the AEW World Trios Championships

Sammy Guevara told Orange Cassidy to tranquilo, which is a bit redundant as he is always relaxed. Guevara baited Cassidy in and hit a kick, but Strong blind tagged in and threw Orange Cassidy at Guevara with a hip toss. Strong tagged in and hit a backbreaker before tagging Cassidy, who went to the top rope, decided it was too high, went to the middle, then to the bottom rope, before dropping to the mat and hitting a walking elbow. Guevara did not like this and turned it around on Cassidy and drove him back to his own corner.

LFI was going to hit a trio of kicks to the back of Cassidy, but he casually laid down to avoid this. They tried again, so he laid down again, and they then stomped him repeatedly. Guevara hit a top rope eye poke on Cassidy, which was hilarious. Cassidy, however, soon escaped and tagged out to Strong, who started turning this into a serious fight, destroying people with high impact moves. It broke down soon after this with Guevara hitting a moonsault off the top rope to the floor on Strong.

LFI continued to get the heat throughout the ad break on TNT, and finally hit their triple dropkick, but it was on Strong instead. Cassidy broke up the pinfall attempt and Rush looked like he was going to kill Cassidy for it before throwing him from the ring. Strong decided to stand up to Rush and start hitting hard chops, and suddenly we had an awesome mean guy match with both Rush and Strong hitting hard strikes and forearms.

Dralistico came in and Kyle O’Reilly countered a lung blower attempt with an ankle lock on Dralistico. Guevara saved him, but O’Reilly hit a rebounding lariat on both and tagged out to Cassidy who hit a tornado DDT on Guevara, but Dralistico blocked it and hit a lung blower on Cassidy. Cassidy was not down long and went for an Orange Punch, but he ate a punch from Rush. Rush then went for the horns, but Cassidy rolled to the floor. Strong and O’Reilly attacked Rush and sent him into the audience, while Dralistico hit a crossbody over the ring post and steps onto them, only for Cassidy to hit a tope suicida on Dralistico. Guevara came in and tried to hit Go to Hell on Cassidy, but Cassidy fought out, shoved Dralistico into Guevara and then hit an Orange Punch on both for the pinfall win.

Result: The Conglomeration defeated LFI

This made me want to see Rush and Roderick Strong in a 20ish minute match. Hopefully we’ll get to see that at some point.

–The Dogs were backstage talking about their feud with the Bang Bang Gang, and their ongoing conflict with the Young Bucks over being the #1 contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, so they wanted to settle it with the Bucks as soon as possible so they can get on to beating Cage & Cope.

–Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta walked up to the Conglomeration and they said that Andrade El Idolo was challenging Orange Casssidy to a match. Cassidy shrugged. Romero said, “Don’t say that!” Cassidy told them to get out of there because he accepted.

Hazuki vs. Persephone in a Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Match

Hazuki immediately locked a headlock on Persephone, but it was soon worked into an exchange of basic holds until they started countering pinfall attempts in very creative ways. Fun start to this match. Persephone dodged a clothesline, but Hazuki grabbed Persephone and went for a crossface that forced Persephone into grabbing the ropes. Persephone rolled through a sunset flip attempt and hit a shotgun dropkick on Hazuki for a 2-count.

Persephone went for a lionsault, but Hazuki countered and hit a back stabber. Persephone caught Hazuki as she went for a crossbody to the floor and slammed Hazuki on the mats outside before sending Hazuki back into the ring. Persephone charged Hazuki, but Hazuki immediately countered into a crossface, and as Persephone tried to get the ropes with her feet, Hazuki grabbed them and did a sort of inverted bow & arrow lock.

Persephone went for a crucifix bomb on Hazuki, but she slipped out and hit a hurricanrana from the middle ropes. As the match went on the audience got more and more into Hazuki, who hit a springboard shotgun dropkick for a 2-count. Hazuki then hit Persephone with a lung blower and went for a senton, but Persephone cut her off and hit a superplex. Persephone held on and then hit a jackhammer for a 2-count.

Persephone went for a crucifix bomb again, but Hazuki countered with a sunset flip for a 2-count. Persephone hit a trapped leg German suplex for a 2-count. Persephone went for a powerbomb, but Hazuki countered out, hit a lung blower, and then a La Magistral cradle for the pinfall. Hazuki has advanced to face Mercedes Mone in the next round of the tournament.

Result: Hazuki defeated Persephone

Both women shook hands after the match, and while there were some moments that were a little rough due to miscommunication, it ended up being pretty good just by how hard they worked.

–After the match, Mercedes Mone ran down and attacked Persephone from behind, hitting her with the Owen Hart Foundation title belt and locking on the Statement Maker. Hazuki ran down and made the save, but as she was checking on Persephone, Mone attacked and security came out to separate the two. Hazuki then hit a dive onto Mone and two or three security guards had to be pulled away from Mone, which proved quite difficult for the security as the show went off the air.

Final Thoughts

This was a fun show. The Death Riders and Shane Taylor Promotions match and promos were the best part of the show, in terms of action and build for next week, but nothing on this show stood out as bad. Most of it was even quite good. I liked how they dedicated time to adding a little heat to Mone and Hazuki at the end of the show. Thumbs up!

AEW Dynamite tonight is live from Philadelphia featuring the fallout from Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

MJF will celebrate his third AEW World Championship win on the show. The Owen Hart Foundation tournament will continue with a men’s quarterfinal match between Mark Davis and Jack Perry. Chris Jericho will wrestle Ricochet with everyone banned from ringside.

Also, new AEW World Tag Team Champions Adam Copeland and Christian Cage will give a five-second pose for the benefit of those with flash photography.

And Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida will wrestle in a Lights Out Philly Street Fight.

The full lineup for the show:

• MJF celebrates his AEW World Championship win
• Lights Out Philly Street Fight: Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida
• Men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament quarterfinal: Mark Davis vs. Jack Perry
• Men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament quarterfinal: Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli
• Rush vs. Brian Cage vs. Lio Rush vs. Orange Cassidy in a Superstation Showcase
• Jon Moxley, PAC & Will Ospreay vs. The Rascalz
• TayJay In Action
• Everyone banned from ringside: Chris Jericho vs. Ricochet
• Adam Copeland & Christian Cage five-second pose
• We’ll hear from Kevin Knight
• The fallout from Double or Nothing

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz as we go over Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland advancing in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament at Double or Nothing and tonight we’ll see the other two Quarterfinal matches.

Renee Paquette caught up with Ospreay after his win on Sunday saying he’s over the move about his win before going to the doctor when he runs into Kenny Omega already there with an icepack on his neck. Omega wants to address the elephant in the room, Death Riders, who he’s no stranger to. His worry is Ospreay can’t trust them, as they do what they say they’ll do and they’ve hurt both Omega & Ospreay in the past. Omega questions why Ospreay didn’t ask him to help instead and Ospreay said because Omega wasn’t there. Omega said he’s got his own way of going about things and way to bounce back like he used to both in and out of the ring. Omega gets the appeal of the Death Riders, they get the job done, he’s not saying not to trust them, but just be careful, as a friend. Jon Moxley walks in saying that’s good advice, as they all have their skeletons, don’t we? Moxley hands Ospreay an icepack and tells him the truck is outside. Omega said he’ll always be there for Ospreay, who told Omega not to give up on that World Title, Omega said you too. This was a very good opening segment.

Kevin Knight Explains His Actions at Double or Nothing

We see footage of Knight turning on Darby Allin after the conclusion to the main event on Sunday. He’s drowned out with “F*ck You Kevin” and “Shut the F*ck Up” chants as Knight said he told Allin not to let him & the fans down, which is exactly what he did, he blew it. Knight said just like the Sixers did against the Knicks, they let us down. Knight decided he’s not trusting the process any longer, instead, taking matters into his own hands, asking who the last person MJF was humbled by, The Jet, as it should’ve been him in the main event. Instead, Knight was watching from the sidelines and asks the crowd if he looks like a bench player? They chant yes, as Knight said he’s here to take over this whole damn company. Knight put trust into Allin, who told him never to waste any time, which is exactly what he did, leaving Allin in a pool of his own blood.

A sharp dressed Speedball Mike Bailey storms out saying he knows how vicious Knight is, it’s his best and worst quality, which is what makes them such a great team. Bailey said Knight gets impatient, gets ahead of himself and makes mistakes, which is what he did to Allin. Bailey said it’s not too late, if he apologizes, they can still make things right. Bailey offered a handshake, but Knight brushed by him with a shoulder, turned and popped Bailey with a microphone shot. Knight faked leaving before coming back and planting Bailey with a Rock Bottom. Taz was thrilled by Knight’s actions to kick off the program.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Demand and asks if Jericho has momentum going into tonight’s match following getting a pin at Double or Nothing? Ricochet said Jericho got lucky and Kaun said it’s because they attacked him 7 on 1. Ricochet said he’s got 2 wins over Jericho and everyone will find out what Jericho already knows, he’s Ricochet and he’s out of this world.

Jericho vs. Ricochet – Everyone Banned from Ringside

(I thought this was a very good match, as these two have worked very well together since Jericho returned a few months ago. I enjoyed how it was no interference, as it was a good end to this story for the time being and Jericho is already off to the races with his next program. I guess Jericho only works exclusively with bald wrestlers now, as this feud with Ciampa should be quite fun and new.)

Excalibur said Jericho had a pretty sizeable welt on his leg from Stadium Stampede and his dive onto a table that didn’t break. Ricochet quickly hits a series of dropkicks and slingshot dive outside, as he follows with a springboard lariat back inside and running Shooting Star for two. Ricochet went for another springboard, but Jericho met him with a right hand and hit a dive off the top to the floor of his own. Taking too long clearing the announce table, Ricochet front suplexed Jericho onto the table, both climbed atop, where Jericho shot a double leg into the Walls of Jericho. Ricochet fought back on the apron, sweeping out the legs sending Jericho crashing down, as he slamming him into the steps to stay in control.

Both fought back up to the apron, where Jericho escaped a fireman’s carry and spiked Ricochet with a Death Valley Driver, causing both to crumble on the floor. Back inside, they slug it out with Yay/Bald dueling chants, as Jericho ramps up the shoulder tackles and double sledge from the top. Running bulldog set the stage for Jericho to try a Lionsault, slipped briefly on the ropes, improved great a counter with a back elbow and brainbuster for two. Ricochet pulled Jericho by the hair over the top, caught him with a springboard dropkick and Tope Suicida to follow. Corkscrew plancha connects, as Ricochet connects with a brainbuster on the floor and orders referee Aubrey to put the count on Jericho, who beat the count, but rolled in position for a Phoenix Splash and close two.

Ricochet whiffed on a Spirt Gun, Jericho swept out the legs again into the Walls of Jericho. The bad knee gave out, as Jericho missed a Judas Effect, Ricochet leaned against Aubrey, who Jericho nearly clocked, allowing Ricochet to get a low blow and Rico-sault for a near fall. Placing Jericho in position, Ricochet went up top, crashed and burned on a 630, as Jericho popped up into a Code Breaker for two. Judas Effect absolutely waffled Ricochet, as Jericho opted for a Lionsault to get the win.

Post-match, Tommaso Ciampa blindsided Jericho, choking him out with his t-shirt before wearing Jericho out with punches. Lowering the knee pad, Ciampa decked Jericho with a charging knee and stood tall by mocking a Jericho pose.

Match Result: Jericho defeated Ricochet

-Andrade El Idolo is backstage and said now that the stupid Stadium Stampede is over, he can focus on winning the World Title and beating MJF. Does MJF think he’s better than Andrade? How you know?

**********

Rush vs. Brian Cage vs. Lio Rush vs. AEW Trios Champion Orange Cassidy in a Superstation Showcase 4-Way

(Chaotic party match, as there were some spots that were clunky, but all in all, the fans were into this and especially Lio Rush’s gimmick. Hopefully they have something planned for him, as he has something here with this Blackheart character. I can only assume Rush is still looking for an AEW World Title shot, as he called his shot last week, but we never heard if he intends on challenging MJF or what exactly the winner gained from this. We get the return of Jake Doyle in all this chaos and I hope he’s not lost in the Callis Family crew and he’s showcased like prior to his injury.)

Cassidy’s new shirt is phenomenal, if you haven’t seen it, is a sideways face on his chest and you can have your sunglasses rest perfectly as if Cassidy is wearing them. During Rush’s entrance, Lio, who is already leaking black liquid from the mouth, told the camera that they’re twins, which was hilarious. Cassidy & Lio were dispatched early and Rush & Cage slugged it out. Botched head scissors still took Rush over enough, as both no sold lariats, popped up, as Rush hit a snap German, but Cage responded with a pop-up DVD for two. Cassidy & Lio broke things up, as Cassidy looked genuinely scared of Lio as he ramped up his little kicks. Lio did his misdirect, tried a sunset flip, but Cassidy went to the pockets, rolled through, hit his dropkick and kip up to stand tall. Lio avoided a dive with a handstand kick, but ran into Cage’s clutches. Lio got a hurricanrana, another handstand kick before galloping around the ring, trying a Tope, which Cage caught, so Cassidy ran in with a Tope to take both out. Rush teased a dive and hit the LFI pose as things settled down.

Rush tried a superplex inside, but Lio bit the leg and hit a twisting enzugiri. Cassidy kept getting crotched in the corner by everyone in the match, as Cage turned Lio inside out with a lariat before Cassidy was able to fight the big man off and hit a falling splash for two. Cage proved he’s a machine with a suplex from the outside in, but Rush flew in with a dropkick. Cage planted Rush with a Jackhammer for two, as Lio returned with a striking combo, but Cage spiked him with a Falcon Arrow, as Cage did the deal for a near fall. Cassidy dove off the top and countered a suplex into a Stundog followed by a spinning DDT for two. Diving Tornado DDT to the floor by Cassidy on Cage, as we see Rocky Romero & Lance Archer appear ringside. Archer blocks an Orange Punch, as Romero gets booted and Archer ate an Orange Punch. Jake Doyle returned and blindsided Cassidy, as Roderick Strong rushed ringside to brawl with Doyle backstage, as Archer carried Cassidy out with them.

It’s now a singles match, Rush & Lio had a face-off, as Lio caught him with a bounce back Stunner and misdirect Spear for two. Lio leapt off the top, but Rush caught him with a right hand. Quickly outside, Rush smashed Lio into multiple barricades before choking Lio out with a cable chord ringside. Since it’s a 4-way, there’s no DQ, as back inside, Rush stomped away in the corner before delivering Bulls Horns for the victory.

Match Result: Rush defeated Brian Cage, Lio Rush & Orange Cassidy when Rush pinned Lio

-Renee Paquette is backstage awaiting word from MJF, who walks in dragging the AEW World Title, dropping it on the floor, as we see he’s carrying his Triple B. Kevin Knight walks in and MJF thanks him for what he did after the main event, saying he knows Knight wanted to show off for him and said he appreciates that. Knight said it wasn’t for MJF, it’s because Darby Allin blew his shot. MJF said that’s fine, he’ll see Knight around. MJF left and Kyle Fletcher walks in eyeing the TNT Title. Don Callis said so much young athleticism, is the territory safe? Callis said if Knight ever wants to get serious about being Jet 2 Belts, you know where to find them.

-Video package for Mark Briscoe is shown

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Brawling Birds, as Jamie Hayter said next time, she will take the title from Thekla, who she at least got to take her head off at the PPV. Alex Windsor said it’s unfortunate about Willow Nightingale’s injury and when she returns, they can throw down. Paquette asks about facing the Wild Card and unknown, as Windsor said she fought all over the world and will prove she deserves to be part of the conversation of being one of the best in the world. She brings up both chasing their Wembley dreams along with her Billy, as Hayter said one way or another, The Birds will come out on top. We learn that Windsor will face the Wild Card next week on Dynamite.

MJF World Title Celebration is Interrupted

Balloons are in the ring, as Justin Roberts introduces the 3-time AEW World Champion, as MJF is carried out on a throne. MJF said Darby Allin is probably hanging his head in shame, as yet again, he defeated him with a move as basic as a headlock takeover. More importantly, pro wrestling has been around since the 1800’s and only 8 men in major promotions have been World Champion by 30 years of age. They’ll be writing about MJF in the history books and until the sun explodes. MJF hopes these schmucks realize how lucky they are to witness greatness in real time. It’s the greatest era imaginable because it’s all about MJF, as he’s a three-time, three-time, three-time champion of the world. #1, ain’t nobody close, a generational talent, as the fans need to do the right thing and bow before the greatest of all time. A massive banner with 3x World Champion falls down briefly before Mark Briscoe interrupts the celebration, as he tore down the banner.

Briscoe said MJF doesn’t fit in Philly, it’s like how a penguin is wandering through a desert and not one of those exotic penguins. They’re in Philly, where some of the toughest human beings live and MJF sticks out like a sore thumb, tough MJF is not. Briscoe said MJF is so self-absorbed and actually believe he’s better than everyone, so let him remind MJF that it wasn’t long ago that Briscoe pinned him. Therefore, Briscoe wants a World Title shot and asks if MJF will continue to be a soft little b*tch or will he Man Up? MJF said no because unlike everyone in this company, he understands AEW is a business and optically speaking, it’s bad that an emo freak like Darby Allin even sniffed the World Title, you think Mark Briscoe can champion? If Briscoe challenged for the title, it’d probably put the company out of business and said he’s nowhere near the level of the Devil.

MJF left up the aisle, but Rush walks out behind him (well that answers my question from the last match). Rush said MJF says he’s a fighting champion, but it’s funny, Briscoe is a chicken farmer, while MJF is a chicken sh*t. Rush said he’s almost beaten MJF before and talked about his challenge made for the title and if you mess with the bull, you get the horns. MJF asks if Rush thinks he’s cool that he’s bilingual, he’s not the only guy who can speak different languages, so listen up, senior. If anyone has earned a title shot, it’s Rush, as he’s got a good look, cute catchphrase, more marketable than the piece of sh*t Briscoe and asks if Rush wants a title shot tonight? Rush agrees, but MJF says psych, next week, for the World Title, the Bull is about to lock horns with The Devil.

-Jungle Jack Perry is on the Jurassic Express bus saying he’s had his battles with Mark Davis, as the stakes tonight are higher than they ever been. This might just be the beginning of Jack Perry’s World Title Express Tour and if you don’t like it, F*ck You! Luchasaurus pulls over and Perry was reluctant, but obliges and we get a Rocky montage of eating raw eggs, running up the steps and in the streets with Perry doing the Rocky pose.

Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal

(If you love haymakers, have I got the match for you, as this was 99.9% clubbing strikes and gave this a completely different feel. King now moves on to face a familiar foe in Swerve Strickland in the Semi-Finals. I hope we get at least a promo or something from Castagnoli later about how the Death Riders are priming Will Ospreay for this tournament, while he just lost in the opening round. It feels that should at least be mentioned in a promo, no?)

Renee Paquette was ringside pre-match and brought up both men splitting wins in the 2023-2024 Continental Classic. Castagnoli had a hit and run strategy to start until King started firing loud chops. Castagnoli answers with uppercuts of his own, as both trade lariats until Castagnoli spills outside to regroup. King joins him, as they exchange a prolonged strike exchange, nearly getting counted out, as they dove in just in time to ramp up the strikes some more and throughout the entire commercial. Schiavone made a Kyle Schwarber home run reference that hilariously repulsed Taz.

Both men collide like trucks with lariats and fall simultaneously to their knees, where overhand chops are traded before each face plant. Castagnoli is up and really kicked into gear uppercuts aplenty before King got a boot up and ramped up a Violence Party in the corner. King started barking, but turned his back and Castagnoli exploded out with another uppercut. King stayed strong, dropped Castagnoli in the corner and connected with a Cannonball, which Taz questions if it was the first actual move in the match and not a strike. King wanted a dive, but was uppercut before takeoff, as Castagnoli connected on a discus uppercut, flipped out of a Neutralizer, as both collided multiple times. Chop, lariat, elbow combo from King, who wanted a Gonzo Bomb, but Castagnoli slid out, tried a springboard, but ate a forearm in mid-air. King charged into a pop-up uppercut, but never went down, instead, swung for the fences to hit a King Kong Lariat for the win.

Match Result: Brody King defeated Claudio Castagnoli to advance in the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

**********

Cope & Cage Have Their 5-Second AEW Tag Team Title Pose Crashed

Cage was about to tell the fans to sit down and shut up when Cope cut him off, asking if he heard that ovation? Cage said what, he didn’t say he banged any of their mothers, but then again, maybe he did. Cope said the 90s were a crazy time. Cage put over FTR as being the best tag team they’ve ever shared the ring with, they brought out the best in them and are Top Guys, they just aren’t the Tippy Top. Cope said FTR agreed to an I Quit Match with the stip of possibly never teaming again, but they’d never quit, instead, they got their careers back. It’s time to live in the now with FTR in the rearview and said it’s time to do something they haven’t done in 25 years, for the benefit of those with flash photography, they’ll hit a 5-Second Pose. Cage said he’s not doing it, but said they don’t even make flash photography anymore, which Cope said that’s where he’s wrong. Cope said about 20 years ago, he went to the store and bought these just for this scenario, as he dumps a bag of disposable cameras from under the ring and hands a bunch out ringside and how to properly use them if you’re under 25. Taz swears if Cope gives him one, he’ll double leg him.

Before the pose could start, The Dogs attack from behind, as David Finlay & Clark Connors attack Cage’s injured forearm outside, smashing the shillelagh against the ring steps. Finlay placed the steps onto Cage’s hand and Connors double stomped down from the apron. Cope had been blasted with the shillelagh before and Cage got one for good measure back in the ring. Finlay lifted Cope up, as he told Connors to show him how it’s done, as he laid out Cope with a Spear. Connors orders a photographer ringside to take a photo of the downed champions with a disposable camera. Connors said The Dogs present a new 5-second Pose, Your Next AEW Tag Team Champions, as they stand over the fallen Cope & Cage.

-Prince Nana is backstage with Swerve Strickland saying that he’s taking the Owen back to Wembley and there, he will win the AEW World Title once again. Strickland applauds Brody King and said if it wasn’t for Swerve, no one would know who King was. Strickland doesn’t care about Bandido’s condition right now, but one thing he’s learned is conflict creates cash and looks forward to making a lot of it with King. Whose House?

TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay) vs. Ava Everett & Allie Katch

Divine Dominion cut an inset promo pre-match saying they’ll be timing TayJay and they’ll fall victim just like everyone else. Jay immediately popped Katch with a hook kick and flying slam before tagging in Melo for locomotion corner strikes. Katch stumbles back to tag Everett, who walked right into a pump kick. Jay returns for a running low Blockbuster, Melo with a running knee, as a Gory Special/Knee Lift finishes the job in quick order.

Match Result: TayJay defeated Ava Everett & Allie Katch when Jay pinned Everett

-A furious Speedball Mike Bailey was backstage and said if Kevin Knight wants to walk down separate paths, so be it and challenges Knight to a match one on one, but we never learn of when as we go to commercial.

**********

Luchasaurus pulls up to the arena in the Jurassic Express, as Jungle Jack Perry steps out letting out a loud woooo.

AEW National Champion Mark Davis (w/Don Callis) vs. Jungle Jack Perry in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal

(An excellent thriller this was, as I’d say this was the best of their series of matches. Perry put up one hell of a fight and had plenty of hope spots winning this, but ultimately, it made far more sense for Davis to be the one to face Ospreay in the Semi-Finals, especially considering Davis just defeated Ospreay via referee stoppage not that long ago.)

Davis is rocking an eye patch, as Excalibur said it’s from nearly losing an eye in Stadium Stampede, as we got a video package from a bunch of highlights from that match, including Perry attempting to run down Davis with his bus (and having the cops called in the process). Callis joined commentary, as Davis attacked Perry at the bell, mowing him down with a corner splash and standing senton. Perry went right at the eye, ripped the patch away and put it on himself. Perry tried a charge, but bounced right off Davis (the patch went flying in the process), as Perry sent him to the floor and hit three separate dives. The brawl kept going ringside, where Perry briefly stared down Callis, allowing Davis to chuck Perry clear over the barricade and Perry came up clutching his ankle. Taz made a Richard Simmons reference during commercial saying it’s what Perry’s pants remind him of, as Excalibur said they’ve had to explain the Superstation, flash photography and now Richard Simmons to young viewers tonight.

Davis continues to beat the piss out of Perry around ringside and back in the ring, where Davis wore him out with a series of clotheslines. Perry was launched from the apron to the barricade, as Callis said he’s a punk, but put over his toughness. Davis sat in the corner and did a Taz cross arm pose, which Taz said was gimmick infringement. Perry just broke the count and dodged a Davis senton, as he took Davis to the apron where Perry connected with a hurricanrana to the floor. Perry, quickly up top for a Moonsault outside and another back inside for two. Perry got the knees up from a senton, launched off Davis’ back for a leaping senton of his own for a near fall of his own. For some reason, Perry keeps going for a piledriver, which Davis easily escaped, but Perry low bridged and got just enough of a baseball slide cazadora bulldog. Back to the apron, Davis clobbered Perry back into the ring, pulled him right back out and spiked him with a violent suplex on the edge of the ring causing Perry to literally fly out of his shoes.

Back inside, Davis tore off Perry’s socks and stomped down onto them repeatedly. Excalibur popped Taz when he said he’s never remembered anyone wrestling barefoot winning a match in Philadelphia. Both fight up into the corner, where Perry got a guillotine before falling with an Avalanche DDT spiking Davis. Sliced Bread #2 got a near fall, as Davis rolled through a piledriver attempt into an enzugiri, tried his bounce back lariat, Perry had it scouted, as they exchange quick pin attempts. Finally, after so many attempts, Perry connects on a piledriver, but only netted two. Snare Trap applied, but Davis just managed the ropes. Perry wanted a Sacrifice Knee, but was swatted out of mid-air, as Davis turned Perry inside out with his bounce back lariat, only Perry kicked out. Perry held on for dear life to avoid the gut-wrench piledriver, as Perry slapped Davis repeatedly, only pissing him off. Perry wanted a superplex, but lost his balance due to being barefoot, as Davis powered him up into a spinning Avalanche Piledriver for the win and close the Dynamite portion of the show.

Match Result: Mark Davis defeated Jungle Jack Perry to advance in the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

-Renee Paquette came into the ring with Davis & Callis saying next week it’ll be Davis vs. Will Ospreay in the Semi-Finals of the Owen Tournament. Callis says he hopes Ospreay was watching, as next week, Davis will put him on the shelf. He knows Ospreay better than his own mother and was never the Chosen One, neither was Konosuke Takeshita. The only Chosen One of the Callis Family was Kyle By God Fletcher.

Fletcher walks out with Rocky Romero and told Callis to give him some sugar before they hug. Now, they can talk about the elephant in the room, how could Fletcher come back from such a catastrophic injury in such record time? How can you break you leg in two places and come back in 2 months? It’s because he’s a picture-perfect performer and happy to announce he’s 100% cleared for in-ring competition. There’s one more driving factor to come back and that’s to cut the dead weight from the Don Callis Family. For a year, Fletcher tried to hold The Family together, while Takeshita tried to drive a wedge between them, always doing what’s best for him. Takeshita never cared about The Family or Fletcher, who really wanted to sit atop the wrestling world with him, ProtoShita running it all, but it’ll never happen, as Konosuke Takeshita is a selfish prick.

Right on cue, Takeshita’s music hit and out walked the new International Champion, as he held the title in the air before being joined by The Conglomeration. They all look to hit the ring, as Fletcher, Davis & Romero bail being outnumbered. Takeshita took the mic saying he got his title back and simply said he wants Fletcher.

-Will Ospreay is backstage applauding Mark Davis on his win and talked about their well-documented history dating back to the United Empire. Ospreay faced Davis last time at 50%, but now, he’s 100% and nothing is stopping him from Wembley. Death Riders walk in and say it’s go time. Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir give him fist bumps, while PAC denies him, as they leave one way and Ospreay heads to the ring via stage.

Will Ospreay & Death Riders (AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley & PAC w/Marina Shafir) vs. The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed)

(Very effective trios match to get Ospreay over as a Death Rider adjacent and seemingly gaining PAC’s respect as a result. I’ve enjoyed this partnership between Ospreay & the crew, also the involvement briefly with Kenny Omega and look forward to seeing where it eventually goes, especially if/when Ospreay wins the World Title.)

Moxley & PAC attacked before the bell, but Ospreay didn’t join. Xavier & Ospreay started officially, with Ospreay absolutely flattening Xavier with a big-boot in mid-air off a leapfrog attempt. PAC was very reluctant to tag Ospreay initially, but did, as fast tags to Moxley & Wentz led to Wentz showing no fear throwing a series of chops before being mowed down with a running back elbow. Ospreay rolled through Pip, Pip, Cheerio, as he took a locomotion of corner strikes until Wentz & Reed took flight with double dives on Moxley & PAC. Ospreay was isolated, resulting in Moxley & PAC coaching him to get free, but Wentz hit a handspring pump knee, until Ospreay responded with a handspring double Pele to Wentz & Xavier. Ospreay hesitated before making the tag to PAC, who took Reed’s head off with a lariat, tilt-a-whirl back breaker to Xavier and overhead throw to Wentz. PAC hit a release German on Xavier right on his noggin and another to stack Reed on Wentz in the corner for two.

Moxley eagerly got back in, as he & PAC were joined by Ospreay for a merry go round of corner strikes until Moxley dropped Reed with a Cutter. Stereo double dives from Ospreay & PAC onto Wentz & Xavier, as Reed kicked out of a Moxley piledriver. Death Rider into a cradle by Reed, who kipped up into a Cutter of his own, but opted to pose briefly, giving Moxley a chance to hit another lariat. Double stomp to the arm off the top by Ospreay, who hit La Masitica, while Moxley & PAC trapped Xaxier & Reed with Rear Naked Choke/Brutalizer. Ospreay locked in Death Ground on Reed and got the submission, as PAC gave a head nod and fist bump to Ospreay post-match.

Match Result: Will Ospreay & Death Riders defeated The Rascalz when

-We go backstage to The Opps, where Samoa Joe admits it hasn’t been the best week for the organization, but doesn’t mean the mission changes. We stand in opposition of anyone in their way and brings up HOOK wrapping up filming his first movie, Shibata owns a hottest chain of Pachinko parlors and Bowens will get the opportunity he deserves. Hollywood calls, Joe says he’ll be stepping away for a few months and expects them all to hold it down. Joe hugs all of them before giving a nod to HOOK, who took over standing in the middle, Bowens almost looked like he was going to, but held back. I’m going to assume Joe is leaving to film Twisted Metal season 3.

-Video package for Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida is shown

**********

-Lexy Nair is backstage and wants a word with TayJay, but run into Divine Dominion, as Lena Kross said that only lasted 30 seconds. Nair takes literally 2 steps and sees TayJay laid out, asking if they’re alright and tells the camera they’ll need a minute, instead of, you know, calling for help from anyone, which I thought was hilarious.

Andrade El Idolo vs. Ace Austin

Incredibly quick pace to start, with Austin nearly getting his squatting DVD, but Andrade escaped as they trade a series of standing switches before Andrade flies into the ropes and does his pose. Austin tried to use his speed to catch Andrade in the corner, but Andrade put on the brakes and sent Austin crashing outside where he followed with his Tornillo out the corner. Andrade did his weekly selfie with a female fan, who literally piggy backed Andrade over the barricade, so he picked he took the pic and placed her back in the front row. Austin was still down throughout this, until he fought back inside with a pump knee and sit-out suplex. Squatting DVD missed again, as Andrade got a boot up, but ate a corner enzugiri. Austin went to the apron and hit a twisting head scissors from the outside in and finally hit the squatting DVD for two.

In another fireman’s carry, Austin carried Andrade up the ropes, but Andrade countered into a powerbomb for a rough landing. Andrade wanted the corner double knees, no one was home, as Austin flew in with his springboard twisting kick. Austin called for The Fold, but Andrade popped him with his spinning back elbow and The DM for the win. Excalibur put over that win or lose, Austin again matches up well with high caliber talent.

Match Result: Andrade El Idolo defeated Ace Austin

**********

Prior to the main event, Excalibur talked about these Lights Out matches happening when competitors have so much animosity against one another there’s no other option, which I think is interesting, considering these two just had their falling out on Sunday.

Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander in Lights Out Philadelphia Street Fight

(Action/Plunder packed main event with weapons aplenty and a pretty definitive winner, with Statlander standing tall. I assume this feud continues or maybe it doesn’t? I was terrified that we’d get an insanely unnecessary Harley Cameron heel turn to end this match, but she showed up and just cheered Statlander on for the finish. Don’t get me wrong, Cameron is great, but I think the whole crowd was caught off guard on why she was there and didn’t know how to react initially, either. I’m not sure where Statlander goes after this win, as maybe she’ll bet the Wild Card next week to face Alex Windsor? Or then again, maybe not.)

Bell sounds and both ladies trade punches in bunches until a thrust kick from Statlander took Shida outside to regroup. Jumping knee off the apron from Statlander, who grabbed a chair under the ring, but literally slid it right to Shida, who popped Statlander in the ribs. Shida wedged the chair in the corner, but took too long and Statlander slingshot her into it. Shida responded with kendo stick shots, before going outside, where apparently a fan threw her an apple (is Carlito here or something?) that she punched Statlander with 10 times. Shida drove the apple into Statlander’s mouth and hit a Buzzsaw Kick. Taking too long on the apron, Statlander powerbombed Shida off to the floor. Both ladies brawl backstage (which garnered boos from the crowd), as Shida suplexed Statlander on a guard rail before they spilled back down the aisle.

Shida went backstage and rode out on a bicycle, running over Statlander’s hand before clocking her with the bike. Thankfully Excalibur delivered the Dusty Rhodes gem “He Got a Bicycle!” line during commercial to make us WCW fans happy. Shida suplexed Statlander into the corner where the chair was set-up before applying a crossface with the kendo stick. Sandman-esque White Russian Leg Sweep using the kendo stick before she placed a chair under Statlander’s face on the apron and hit a running knee lift. More chairs tossed into the ring by Shida, who took too long going up top, as Statlander met her with a superplex onto the chairs. Spinning sit-out fisherman’s suplex got Statlander a near fall, as she dragged Shida onto the chairs, but missed a top rope Moonsault. Meteora onto the chairs from Shida connected for two of her own.

Both ladies slug it out in the middle of the ring, as Shida did the deal with a Falcon Arrow, but Statlander kipped up, shocking Shida. Chucking a fastball chair shot right to the face of Shida, as Statlander went outside to set a table to really pop the crowd, as on the opposite side, Shida was stacking up chairs, as she caught a charging Statlander with a drop toe hold onto them. Statlander battled back with a DVD onto the seated chairs before going back under the ring for fluorescent light tubes. Shida pleaded that they were friends, as Statlander foolishly just put them down and had her eyes raked in the process, allowing Shida to hit a running knee. Back inside, Kitana decked Statlander before she smashed the light tubes over Statlander’s back and hit another Falcon Arrow, but Statlander kicked out.

Shida lit up the bloodied back of Statlander with kendo stick shots, awkwardly placing a chair against Statlander’s head in the ropes, which Statlander easily got out of, smashing it into Shida’s face. Both ladies fought to the apron, where Shida tried one last kendo stick shot, but Statlander blocked, smashed the kendo stick in half, stabbing Shida into the head with it before delivering Wednesday Night Fever off the apron through the table. Back inside, Statlander was going to finish it off, when Harley Cameron ran out, handed Statlander another kendo stick, as she got in one last shot before another Wednesday Night Fever got the win. Cameron & Statlander hugged and headed up the aisle as Shida looked furious in the ring to end the show.

Match Result: Kris Statlander defeated Hikaru Shida

AEW Collision 5/30/26

• The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) defend the AEW Trios Titles against Lance Archer, Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta
• Status of the Vacant TBS Title Addressed
• Divine Dominion vs. TayJay in a 5-Minute Tag Team Title Eliminator Match

AEW Dynamite 6/3/26

• MJF defends the AEW World Title against Rush
• Kevin Knight vs. Speedball Mike Bailey for the TNT Title
• Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal
• Alex Windsor vs. the Wild Card in a Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal

AEW Dynamite is live tonight from the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine.

It will be a three-hour block of programming this week, as one hour of Collision is being added onto the usual show.

Darby Allin will once again defend his AEW World title in the main event. This week, he will put his belt on the line against Mike Bailey, with the winner moving on to face MJF at Double or Nothing.

The full lineup for the show:

• AEW World Championship Match: Darby Allin vs. Mike Bailey
• AEW Tag Team Championship Match: FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong
• AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly
• AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match: Megan Bayne and Lena Kross hold a five-minute eliminator challenge
• Anything Goes Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Tommaso Ciampa
• Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
• AEW Women’s Champion Thekla, ROH Women’s Champion Athena, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue vs. Thunder Rosa, Mina Shirakawa, Alex Windsor, and Jamie Hayter
• Swerve Strickland returns to AEW programming

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur running down tonight’s card before we go to Jericho & The Young Bucks earlier today out by a lighthouse. They talk about the history of Stadium Stampede and call Jericho another founding father, despite years ago he beat their dad’s ass (Jericho said he might’ve deserved it). Jericho put over The Bucks as the best tag team in wrestling history and Nick said it’s water under the bridge. Tonight, Ricochet, Mark Davis & Andrade won’t know what hit them. A callback to Being The Elite years ago before they teamed on the Jericho Cruise, they debate whether to call their team The Bucks of Jericho or Y2Jackson. They settle on The Bucks of Jericho…or is it Y2Jackson as their full name. 2 names, 1 team.

The Bucks of Jericho…or is it Y2Jackson? (Jericho & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Ricochet, IWGP Global Champion Andrade El Idolo & AEW National Champion Mark Davis (w/Don Callis)

(Action packed party match to kick off the show and give us a preview of what we can expect at Stadium Stampede, as match I will say already that I will try my best to keep up with all the action in this on Sunday. I like the callback to The Bucks of Jericho from years ago and the loss here tonight does lead me to believe the babyfaces could be walking away with the W at the PPV. Maybe I’m missing something, but as of this moment, I’m baffled on why Jack Perry hit the ring with onions.)

Callis joins commentary and said he’s known Jericho for such a long time that he stooged off all the info on him to his team. Jericho started things off by firing early chops to Andrade, who opted to quickly go outside and gets some digits from female fans ringside before taking photos with them. Jerichow as out after and chopped Andrade back inside, where The Bucks & Jericho hit a trifecta springboard splash/moonsault/fist drop combo. Davis made a tag and easily took over on Nick, who used his speed to escape the heel corner and fast tag to Matt, who ran wild with a wall walk on Ricochet to get a Sliced Bread on Andrade. Superkick flush outside to Davis, as back inside, Matt went for rolling Northern Lights on Andrade, until he switched to a Cazadora Facebuster on Ricochet and double Northern Lights on both men. The Bucks hit dueling dives outside, until Jericho dives onto the pile. The Bucks of Jericho or is it Y2Jackson hit a trio pose, but the heels quickly regroup and take over, isolating Nick (Ricochet took his headband and is wearing it now).

Nick was able to hit his Lucha Libre arm drag to battle back and make the hot tag to Jericho, who clobbered Andrade with a double sledge and bulldog. Ricochet cut off a Lionsault, as the match broke down until The Bucks of Jericho do a trifecta of corner punches into a 3-way hurricanranas. Jericho missed a Judas Effect on Andrade who ducked right into a double superkick from The Bucks for two. Superkick Party unleashed on everyone in their path until Andrade is able to stop it with a Three Amigos and finally one on Nick onto his brother. Andrade slowly goes up top, tries his rolling Moonsault, but Matt got the knees up. Launching off his brothers back into a Destroyer on Andrade, who suffered a BTE Trigger to follow. Ricochet broke the count with a Rico-sault, so Jericho tried a Walls of Jericho, but Ricochet spun free, bicycle knee, only Jericho clotheslined and hit a baseball slide to the floor. Jericho & Ricochet brawl into the crowd and up onto the time keepers table, where Ricochet wanted a suplex, only Jericho countered into a back suplex causing both to crash through the table.

Davis cut off The Bucks momentum back inside, but Matt ducked and Andrade wiped out his partner with his spinning back elbow. Andrade ate a BTE Trigger, but somehow kicked out, as everyone thought that was it. The Bucks signal for a Meltzer Driver, only referee Aubrey is distracted by Davis trying to bring a chair in. Clark Connors & David Finlay sprint out, as Connors trips up Nick, while Finlay cracks Matt with a shillelagh out of nowhere for Andrade to steal the pin.

The Gates of Agony run out to get in their shots with the heels in the post-match until Jack Perry hits the ring with a bag of onions (I’m not kidding) and pops Liona with it, who no sold. The Hurt Syndicate’s music hits and out run Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin and the brawl is on to give us a preview of Stadium Stampede this Sunday. Everyone brawls around the arena leaving Lashley to lay out Liona with a huge spear to stand tall.

Match Result: Ricochet, Andrade El Idolo & Mark Davis defeated The Bucks of Jericho…or is it Y2Jackson? when Andrade pinned Matt

-Video package on Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the International Title at Double or Nothing is shown. Don Callis said to get this out of both of their systems, as they are Jordan & Pippen.

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Darby Allin and asks why he constantly wants to defend the title so frequently? Allin said he has no choice, it’s exactly what he thought it’d be, the greatest feeling in the world to be World Champion. It’s so big for Sunday and MJF’s hair on the line because he’s the most vain person in the world, so every red carpet he walks, he’ll be haunted by it and eat him alive. Tonight, Speedball, he’ll do anything it takes to hold onto the title and wants Bailey to do the same. Whatever happens tonight, he’s going to do whatever it takes. We then go to a video history package on Allin vs. MJF and Allin’s insane title reign he’s been on since winning the AEW World Title.

Mark Briscoe vs. Tommaso Ciampa in an Anything Goes Match

(What a battle this was, as neither man held anything back and treated this like it was a PPV caliber fight. The crowd were loud throughout and we got some seriously brutal moments in this, as Briscoe successfully got his revenge. I wonder what each man will go from here, as I wish both would’ve somehow been in the Owen Tournament, but the roster is so stacked as is, I think come Continental Classic season, we’ll see both Briscoe & Ciampa in that tournament.)

Briscoe (who is wearing a white tank top, so expect that to get bloody) brought out a trash can filled with weapons, as both slug it out in the middle of the ring at the opening bell. Briscoe swung with the trash can, but Ciampa took out the knees and used weapons first. More plunder from under the ring, as Ciampa brought out a trash can, only got his hand caught in a rat trap, so Briscoe had it ready for him. Briscoe set up a table ringside, sat Ciampa on a chair, cleared the table with a Blockbuster from the apron. Wrapping a chain around Ciampa’s throat, Briscoe placed him on the table, but was too slow going up top, so Ciampa sent Briscoe crashing through the table. Back inside, Ciampa gets a cheese grater and rakes it across the forehead and right on cue, Briscoe is bleeding to the sound of “You Sick F*ck” chants. Ciampa then took a crowbar and drove it into Briscoe’s mouth before throwing a ladder into the ring. With a trash can over Briscoe’s head, Ciampa swung for the fences with a kendo stick before tossing the bloodied Briscoe outside, placing a chair around the throat and posting him.

During picture-in-picture, for some reason Ciampa got into the face of Taz briefly and Taz said Ciampa better watch out, he’ll get his ass choked out by his metal limbs. Ciampa actually pulled out a stuffed animal chicken from under the ring to mock Briscoe, put the boots to it, used the cheese grater and hit a lungblower on it before making the cover for 2, as Briscoe broke the count (that’s a sentence I just wrote). Bleeding buckets, Briscoe sprayed Ciampa with a fire extinguisher and an Exploder sent Ciampa crashing outside. Briscoe set up a table ringside and used a staple gun to staple barbed wire onto it. Briscoe focused on that too long, allowing Ciampa to take over and rake the barbed wire into Briscoe’s face. Ciampa took papers from the commentary table and stapled them to Briscoe’s head, as he crawled around the ring with them still stuck. Ciampa put on a thumbtack covered knee pad on, but missed a charge and Briscoe hit a drop toe hold into the ladder in the corner. Briscoe got a screwdriver and stabbed away at a now bloodied Ciampa. Escaping a DVD in the corner, Ciampa hit a suplex on the ladder into the corner for two.

Both exchange heavy handed shots, until Ciampa hit a charging knee with that thumbtack covered knee pad. Placing two chairs next to each other, Ciampa looks for the same move he took Briscoe out for three months with, an Avalanche Psycho Killer, but Briscoe escaped, put the chairs back to back and hit a gnarly Iconoclasm onto the chairs. Taking him quickly to the apron, Jay Driller through the barbed wire table connected before Briscoe quickly took it back inside and up top with a Froggy Bow to win a bloody war.

Match Result: Mark Briscoe defeated Tommaso Ciampa

**********

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and was about to talk about the upcoming Owen Hart Tournament matches at Double or Nothing when he’s interrupted by Prince Nana, who said Schiavone is dressed like a substitute teacher trying to teach these fools and told him to get out the ring. Nana introduced Swerve Strickland, who slowly walked out, until being attacked by Bandido. Slamming Strickland into the barricade, Bandido took flight with a somersault dive before smashing Strickland into the steps. Nana tried using a chair from behind, was caught, but caused enough distraction for Strickland to take out Bandido’s leg and dish out punches in bunches in the ring. Setting a chair up in the ring, Strickland wanted a Vertebreaker on the chair (similar to Supercard of Honor last week), but Bandido escaped and hit a one arm press slam. Bandido was about to try a 21-Plex, Strickland grabbed the chair and we get an awkward exchange of Strickland just throwing the chair at Bandido, who caught it and the two stared at each other until Strickland bailed. I was surprised how quiet the crowd was for this brawl, as I enjoyed it.

Willow Nightingale Relinquishes the TBS Title and Withdraws from the Owen Hart Tournament

TBS Champion Willow Nightingale is backstage saying winning that title was one of the greatest moments of her career and talks about winning the Owen before and the TBS Title prior to that. However, she knew if she beat Mercedes Mone for the TBS Title, she knew she’d prove to herself that she’s everything she believed she could be. She told herself; she’d fight day in and out to any challenger who steps up and if she couldn’t do that, she doesn’t deserve to be champion. Unfortunately, during her title defense against Red Velvet, she injured her right shoulder. As much as she wants to fight in front of her family at Double or Nothing against Alex Windsor and win the tournament. She unfortunately has to pull out of the Owen Hart Tournament and also relinquish the TBS Title. After 10 successful defenses, she’s proud to be the face of TBS and doesn’t know when she’ll be back, but when she does, she’s coming back to the top. Nightingale thanks everyone with a smile on her face and walks away, as we see her spot is now a Wild Card spot to face Alex Windsor. We’re told Athena vs. Mina Shirakawa will take place at the PPV. Commentary put over Nightingale for being such a class act and they feel horrible for her having to give up her TBS Title.

Jon Moxley vs. AEW Trios Champion Kyle O’Reilly in an AEW Continental Title Eliminator

(Damn fine wrestling match this was, as you could get a sense this was going to a draw at the slower pace these two were on. It built up down the stretch and we got a very fun sprint that got the crowd biting at an O’Reilly win. I assume we’re getting the rematch at the PPV, but that card is so stacked, I wouldn’t mind it being held on a Dynamite. Whenever it does take place, it should be even better than this one tonight.)

Renee Paquette is ringside talking about how this is O’Reilly’s first true test in singles action since returning from injury. She asked her husband how the history with O’Reilly submitting him multiple times in the past and he told her he’s a better man today than I was yesterday. Very even back and forth ground work from both to kick things off, as this is a full-on grappling match, until Moxley just pops O’Reilly with a forearm and boot to gain control before zoning in on the left wrist. O’Reilly switched levels and hit a leg sweep that led to corner kicks to the leg, as Moxley tried shaking his leg out, but ate a snap suplex for two. Both slug it out with forearms and jabs until they start paint brushing one another before Moxley cracks O’Reilly in the ribs and he crumbled putting a smile on Moxley’s face. More body shots from Moxley, as O’Reilly hit a low bridge to the outside, wanted a dive, but put on the brakes after hitting the ropes, selling the ribs. Moxley continued wearing O’Reilly down for an extended period of time, as we get a 10-minute call from Arkady Aura.

O’Reilly was able to fight back with a suplex into the corner, as Moxley clutched at his left leg. Each trade corner charges, until a kitchen sink from O’Reilly led to a diving knee from the second rope. Both spill outside and hit with multiple running boots until a double clothesline leave both down. They battle back to the ring and up in the corner, where Moxley bites away at the head of O’Reilly and rakes the back at the 15-minute call right as Moxley hits a superplex. O’Reilly escaped a Bulldog Choke into an Ankle Lock, as Moxley escaped back into a Gator Roll into the Bulldog, but O’Reilly got a rope break. To the apron they go, Moxley tried a piledriver, but O’Reilly slammed the bad arm down onto the edge of the ring and hit a running dropkick against the barricade.

Back inside, Moxley explodes out with a Cutter for two before pouncing with forearms. O’Reilly scrambled into an arm-triangle, switched to an Exploder before a PK caught Moxley flush, but O’Reilly collapsed. Each get to their feet at the 60-second call, as Moxley missed a Curb Stomp and O’Reilly sinks in the Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring, grape vining the leg. The crowd, who has been quietly really taking this match in, are going nuts at Moxley teasing a tap, but the bell sounds and we get a draw.

Post-match, O’Reilly stormed over and got the microphone saying he didn’t survive a damn thing and Moxley barely survived him. O’Reilly has a legit claim to the Continental Title and says the rematch will be No Time Limit and Moxley will be out of luck.

Match Result: Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly ended in a 20-minute time limit draw

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida to ask about their thoughts on Willow Nightingale vacating the TBS Title. Statlander began to talk and was immediately interrupted by Shida, who said they will fight together on Sunday and they’ll be watching the ladies closely in the Owen Hart Tournament. Statlander (who told Paquette she’ll be cleared on Sunday) told Shida to watch it and stormed off, so Shida told the ladies to get ready. This was pretty awkward; they need to do the full-blown Shida turn soon.

**********

-Rush is backstage already laying out a challenge to Darby Allin for the AEW World Title if he defeats MJF this Sunday. If you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

ROH Women’s Champion Athena & Triangle of Madness (AEW Women’s Champion Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue) vs. Thunder Rosa, Mina Shirakawa & The Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor)

Rosa & Athena with a fast start, until Windsor made the tag and immediately ate a chop to the throat from Athena. Tag to Blue, as Hayter made a blind tag, came in so fast she accidentally booted her own partner before taking Blue down for two. Thekla & Shirakawa tag in, with Shirakawa quickly hitting a snap dropkick to the back and shimmy to pop the crowd. Shirakawa dodges a corner charge and hit her Tornillo for two. Athena hit a cheap shot to allow Thekla to take control and isolate Shirakawa in her corner for an extended period. Athena came in hot with a handspring forearm into an inside cradle for two, as Shirakawa responded almost with a La Mistica for the double down. Tag to Rosa & Blue, as it’s Rosa who’s a house of fire with a flying corner clothesline and double down. Stalling dropkick into the ropes led to a Northern Lights for two. Thekla made the save, but ran into a Hayt-breaker, Hart was there with a lungblower, Windsor met her with a Blue Thunder Bomb, Athena with her version of Something Evil, as Athena kept cleaning house until a double uppercut with Rosa left all 8 women down.

Shirakawa cut off an Athena dive with a high kick, as she tried a cross body off the apron, Athena caught her, only Shirakawa spun into a DDT on the floor. Blind tag from Thekla, who ate a shotgun dropkick from Rosa, as Blue blindsided her with a running knee strike. She tried Code Blue, but was tripped up outside by The Brawling Birds who hit a leg sweep/big boot combo. Thekla went to use the AEW Women’s Title, but referee Mike Posey took it from her and the distraction allowed Hart to mist Rosa. Thekla quickly in to steal the pin, as the babyface team tended to Rosa as the heels celebrated up the aisle.

Match Result: Athena & Triangle of Madness defeated Thunder Rosa, Mina Shirakawa & The Brawling Birds when Thekla pinned Rosa

-Kevin Knight is backstage with Speedball Mike Bailey hyping him up before his World Title match tonight and said they can be the faces of AEW together. Knight said when Bailey wins the World Title, don’t forget about the little people and wants another shot at that title and Bailey already agrees to it.

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage trying to interview the Death Riders, who are all doing push-ups, asking Moxley what he will do this Sunday at the PPV against Kyle O’Reilly under No Time Limit? Moxley thanks O’Reilly for what he’s done for him, for pushing him to be better, driving him crazy for not finding a way to beat him. Thank you for giving him a chance to practice what he preaches, win, lose or draw, O’Reilly has done something extraordinary, tapped him out twice, but what are the odds he does it three times? What are your odds at Double or Nothing, when this time, the house will win, Game 7 is the only game that matters, when everything is on the line, does Moxley miss?

Darby Allin vs. Speedball Mike Bailey for the AEW World Title

(You know that the title reign of Allin has been so insane when this would probably be considered the tamest of all the battles he’s had so far. This had some serious hard-hitting kicks from Bailey, who had his moments to win this, but Allin was not going to be denied this close to Double or Nothing. The very interesting thing was the post-match promo from Kevin Knight, as some could view this as a last second encouragement to Allin, but I could certainly see Knight turning heel in the not so distant future, which would be interesting to see unfold.)

Excalibur mentions Allin’s interview released today with Andreas Hale on ESPN.com and encouraged everyone to go read it. MJF’s music hit before the bell and he joined commentary, as Bailey exploded out with a big boot, dropkick out of the corner and corkscrew kick, as he teased Ultimate Weapon, but Allin rolled to the apron. Bailey lit up Allin with kicks, swept out the leg causing Allin to take a neck bump on the apron before Bailey hit a Triangle Moonsault. MJF brings up Bailey dressed in Grimace purple, as Bailey hit leaping double knees to the ribs ringside and another off the ring steps. Bailey went to the barricade, but Allin swept the legs out this time and hit a Scorpion Death Drop on top of the barricade.

Allin kept Bailey grounded back inside, locking in a guillotine, so Bailey charged through the ropes and both crumbled outside. Both slug it out ringside, where Allin dropped the ring steps onto the bare foot of Bailey, who managed to still hit a thrust kick with his free leg. Once he got free, Allin was right there to meet him with a wild Tope, but tried a Coffin Splash back inside and leapt right into a backstabber by Bailey. Corkscrew corner kick connects, but missed Ultimate Weapon, so Allin quickly hit a Coffin Drop to the back. MJF got up and placed Bailey’s foot on the ropes to break the count. Kevin Knight sprinted out and got into MJF’s face as he told the TNT Champ to relax, he’s doing commentary. Bailey nearly caught Allin in with a headlock pin for two, as Allin countered into La Magistral, but Bailey countered into a Straightjacket bridge for two. Wild roundhouse kick clocked Allin, as Bailey followed up with Time Adventure for a close near fall.

PK led to a moonsault double knees and thrust kick that knocked Allin back to the corner, where Bailey wanted a Flamingo Driver, Allin escaped into a Scorpion Death Drop. Allin locked in the Scorpion Death Lock, as Knight encouraged his partner to fight to the ropes and he did. Allin quickly hit another Coffin Drop to the back, reapplied the Scorpion Death Lock, as Bailey was reaching out to Knight, but ultimately tapped out. MJF stormed off through the crowd, as he knows there’s no more obstacles heading into Sunday, his hair will be on the line.

Match Result: Darby Allin defeated Speedball Mike Bailey to retain the AEW World Title

Collision kicks off with Knight taking the mic and telling Bailey to keep his head up, as he gave Allin the best fight of his title reign and that he’s proud of him. Knight is proud of how Bailey fought tonight and told Allin we haven’t seen a champion like him ever in AEW, truly proving this is where the best wrestle, as no one has heart like Darby Allin. With that being said, it’s up to Allin to humble MJF’s arrogant ass. If Knight can beat MJF, he knows Allin can do it and shave him bald and afterwards, they’ll send his ass back to Turkey. Just know, they’ll be ready and waiting, so don’t let The Jet and the crowd down, as they’re counting on him

JetSpeed helped Allin up and left, as this allowed MJF to attack Allin from behind. We see Bald signs in the crowd, as the crowd chant Bald at MJF, who held up the AEW World Title saying he’ll win it a third time. MJF went under the ring and took out some hair clippers, went to use them on Allin, but was fought off, Allin got a takedown and control of the clippers. He was about to get some of MJF’s hair, but MJF scurried away up the aisle with a terrified look on his face.

-Death Riders hyped up Will Ospreay backstage before making his entrance for the upcoming match.

Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata

(Hard fought win here for Ospreay, as I’m surprised he didn’t win again with the submission he used last week on Ace Austin, but Paquette did mention how Shibata has never submitted, which, that’d even be more of a reason to use it and look stronger, no? I digress, as the post-match promo from both Joe, but especially Ospreay, was excellent as it will truly be shocking if anyone other than him wins this men’s Owen Hart Tournament.)

Renee Paquette is ringside and brings up Ospreay’s new armbar submission called Death Ground and brings up tonight, he faces Shibata, a man who has never been submitted. Bell sounds and Shibata immediately hit a leaping cross arm bar forcing Ospreay to get a rope break. Shibata offered a handshake, but Ospreay flipped him off and picked the ankle. Shibata escaped, took Ospreay to the apron and hit a snap suplex, held on and connected on another ringside. Sitting Ospreay down on a chair, Shibata teased a charge, put on the brakes and just booted Ospreay right in the mush. Back inside, Ospreay hit a Helluva Kick and corner forearms, but Shibata was right there to hit some of his own. A big boot sent Shibata outside, as Ospreay hit his slingshot cross body. Shibata managed to regain control by sending Ospreay into the barricade and delivering anvil elbows back inside, targeting the neck of Ospreay.

Out of nowhere, Ospreay explodes out into a handspring corkscrew kick to get back in the driver’s seat, as Pip, Pip, Cheerio connects for two. Kawada kicks led to a powerbomb attempt, which Shibata floated through into a guillotine. Ospreay got the ropes, but Shibata hit his stalling corner dropkick and half and half suplex for two. Ospreay starts firing up, no selling kicks and battles back, but Shibata no sells kicks of his own. Explosive spinning elbow from Ospreay, who did the deal and hit a Falcon Arrow to follow. Flying forearm to the back of the neck off the top, as Ospreay signaled for Hidden Blade, but Anthony Bowens showed up ringside to trip him up and allow Shibata to hit a Hidden Blade of his own for two. We see Marina Shafir & Claudio Castagnoli watching from the crowd, as Shafir jumped the barricade and Bowens scurried away. Low blow from Shibata on Ospreay, as a cross-arm breaker was applied, but Ospreay got a high stack to powerbomb out transitioning into a Styles Clash. Hidden Blade wiped out Shibata for the win.

Post-match, Samoa Joe’s music hits and the leader of The Opps walks out. Joe said Will and his wonderful friends coming to his rescue again, but don’t worry, he’s not out here for him. In a very short time, Joe will have Ospreay all to himself, he’s only out here because he’s looking after his friends. Ospreay chose not to be Joe’s friend, so he’ll suffer because of it. At Double or Nothing, Joe will give Ospreay exactly what he wants, his dream match and guarantees he’ll put his ass to sleep.

Ospreay said this Sunday is a dream come true, but Joe insists it’s a nightmare. Ospreay said his nightmare situation is waking up next to his wife, grabbing her ass, looking at his phone and seeing everyone talk about how he doesn’t have it anymore and lost too much weight, no sh*t, he had neck surgery. Ospreay talks about the high stakes and the winner of the Owen Hart Tournament getting a World Title shot at the biggest stadium of his life, fulfilling his countries dream and his own dream, as he’s got a whole country on his back. Ospreay’s nightmare died at the hands of the Death Riders, they killed the old Ospreay and rebooted him into a killer, an assassin. Sunday, Ospreay starts his road to his dream, he’s winning the Owen and AEW World Championship. Hell of a promo from Joe & Ospreay.

Match Result: Will Ospreay defeated Katsuyori Shibata

-Adam Copeland & Christian Cage are sitting backstage and talk about the origins of their friendship talking about someday becoming Tag Team Champions. They’ve done everything together, even finding out they’re having daughters 6 weeks apart (Cage hilariously looked disgusted at that), as this is real. For over 30 years, they’ve been coming into fans TV screens every week, that’s a real connection and it’s what FTR wants to kill, they want to end their tag team. Copeland wants the best version of FTR, the ones who dropped his wife on her head. They want to beat the best FTR and make them say I Quit. Cage said FTR has made some questionable choices and he always says when you’re born you look like you’re family and when you die, you look like your choices. Double or Nothing, they’re going to f*ck you up.

Rush vs. TJ Crawford

Crawford wanted a handshake, Rush gave it to him, but didn’t let go and instead hit a brutal forearm. Loud chops and more forearms in the corner led to the Bulls Horns for the win in another slaughter.

Match Result: Rush defeated TJ Crawford

**********

Divine Dominion (Lena Kross & Megan Bayne) vs. Elle Valentine & Kayla Lopez in an AEW Women’s Tag Team Title Eliminator 5-Minute Challenge

Renee Paquette is ringside and puts over the champions before Kross quiets her saying let’s see how long this is going to last. Bayne wasted no time driving shoulders into the corner on Valentine, who dodged a charge, hit one chop and had a huge smile on her face. “You F’d Up” chants, as the smile turned to panic, as a pissed off Bayne brought Valentine to her corner, where Kross lit her up with rapid fire elbows and spinning side suplex. Lopez made a tag and immediately had her face booted off by Kross, as locomotion corner boots led to a release German by Bayne. Stereo delayed vertical suplexes led to the double chokeslam on Lopez for the win with 2:10 left.

Match Result: Divine Dominion defeated Elle Valentine & Kayla Lopez to retain the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles

-A video package on the previous Hair matches in AEW is shown, as we saw Ortiz shave his head after losing to Chris Jericho a few years back and also Wheeler Yuta having his hair shaved bald in Australia at Grand Slam.

Excalibur runs down the entire Double or Nothing card

**********

FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler w/Stokely) vs. AEW Trios Champions The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong) for the AEW Tag Team Titles

(For a match that went 15-minutes over the top of the hour and had multiple commercial breaks, I was kind of let down by the finish here. In no way because FTR won, of course they should’ve, but more of just due to it being a ref cowering and foreign object quick finish after a near 20-minute match. Up until the finish, I enjoyed the match for the most part, thought I didn’t think we needed multiple hot tags this late in the show. As much as I enjoy FTR as heel tag team champions, I think having Cope & Cage winning on Sunday and getting some new matches for the titles would be refreshing, especially with so much on the line for them.)

Before FTR could even get their ring jackets off, Cassidy nearly caught them with a flash pin with his hands in his pockets for two. FTR were going to leave (Wheeler hilariously called someone a bearded lady ringside), but Strong put a stop to it, as Cassidy dove (or did he just fall) from the top onto the pile. Strong brought Harwood into the ring for a huge back body drop, as Cassidy teased an Orange Punch, but Wheeler saved his partner and FTR regrouped. They were able to get control of Strong and slingshot him under the bottom rope, with Stokely getting in some cheap shots of his own. Strong was isolated for an extended time, until a double clothesline led to the reset with Wheeler.

Cassidy made the hot tag and diving cross body off the top on Harwood, tried a spinning DDT on Wheeler, FTR tried a double team, Strong saved his partner and hit a chop/sunset flip combo for two. Strong took Harwood outside, as Cassidy hit an Elbow Suicida before Wheeler got a blind tag, leading to a Harwood spinebuster for two. Wheeler taunted Strong while applying a Cobra Clutch on Cassidy, who slid free, dodged multiple Harwood elbows and ducked a wild Wheeler dive on the apron. Strong went after Wheeler on the apron to cost him a tag, leading to Harwood spiking Cassidy with a piledriver for two. Excalibur told us we’re taking our final commercial break of the evening 5 past the top of the hour.

After working on Cassidy for close to 5-minutes, he dodged a Wheeler splash and made the hot tag to Strong, who ran wild with chops and back breakers before tagging Cassidy back in and used him as an exhausted projectile. Diving DDT connects on Wheeler for two, as Strong took out Harwood with a baseball slide. Harwood recovered and posted Strong, as Cassidy avoided Shatter Machine and nearly got a flash pin on Wheeler. Strong was slammed into the barricade, as FTR mocked the little kicks on Cassidy, wanted a double suplex, but Strong hit a Sick Kick into a Cassidy cradle for two. Stokely got up on the apron with Christian Cage’s watch, as Cassidy ducked, Harwood collided with Stokely on the apron and Cassidy got yet another roll-up for two. Stundog Millionaire led to Cassidy signaling for Orange Punch, only he ran right into Shatter Machine, but Strong broke it up. Cassidy hit a backslide on Harwood, who just kicked out at two, as Cassidy nearly ran into referee Paul Turner, who ducked and covered, allowing Stokely to punch Cassidy with the watch and Harwood get the roll-up for the win.

Match Result: FTR defeated The Conglomeration to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles when Harwood pinned Cassidy

AEW Double or Nothing 5/24/26

• Darby Allin vs. MJF in a Title vs. Hair Match for the AEW World Title
• Thekla vs. Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women’s Title
• Jericho, The Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) & Jungle Jack Perry) & The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/MVP) vs. The Demand (Ricochet, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun), AEW National Champion Mark Davis, Andrade El Idolo & The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) in Anarchy in the Arena
• FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Cage & Cope (Christian Cage & Adam Copeland) in an I Quit Match for the AEW Tag Team Titles
• Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly in a No Time Limit Match for the AEW Continental Title
• Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Title
• Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal
• Swerve Strickland vs. ROH Champion Bandido in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal
• ROH Women’s Champion Athena vs. Mina Shirakawa in a Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal
• Renee Paquette & Mick Foley Host the Buy In

AEW Dynamite is live tonight from Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

Announced for the show, Darby Allin will once again defend the AEW World Championship. His challenger will be Konosuke Takeshita of the Don Callis Family.

TNT Champion Kevin Knight will also hold an open challenge.

FTR will team with Tommaso Ciampa, David Finlay, and Clark Connors against The Young Bucks, Christian Cage, Adam Copeland, and Orange Cassidy.

Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin in singles competition is also scheduled.

The full lineup is below:

• Triangle of Madness (Skye Blue, Julia Hart, & Thekla) vs. Brawling Birds (Alex Windsor & Jamie Hayter) & Hikaru Shida
• Kevin Knight TNT Championship open challenge
• Darby Allin (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW World Championship
• FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler), Tommaso Ciampa, War Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Christian Cage, Adam Copeland & Orange Cassidy
• MJF to make an appearance
• Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin
• Men’s and Women’s AEW Owen Hart Foundation brackets to be announced

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.

*************************************

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Taz & Tony Schiavone as they run down tonight’s card that opens up with a big 10-man tag.

Renee Paquette earlier today tried to catch up with MJF backstage, asking about Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita tonight and if Allin wins, MJF will face him at Double or Nothing with his hair on the line. MJF ignores her, then walks by bald officials, backstage personnel, Christopher Daniels, Sonjay Dutt, John Silver, Tommaso Ciampa and finally Ricochet, who tells MJF not to worry, he’ll look great, just not as good as himself.

AEW Trios Champion Orange Cassidy, The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson), Christian Cage & Adam Copeland vs. AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler), Tommaso Ciampa & The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors)

(Big party match to kick off the show, with the unlikely babyface team working very well here and if you wondered what it looked like for Adam Copeland to throw a superkick with The Bucks, your question was indeed answered. These chaotic tags are always action packed and this was no different.)

Cassidy hilariously held his pockets open to try and catch some of the money raining down during The Bucks entrance. Copeland & The Bucks got the matching gear memo, as the bell sounded and it’s an all-out brawl to start, as Stokely is hiding behind the commentary table. The Bucks & Dogs brawl into the crowd, while Copeland & Harwood slug it out, as Cassidy floats over in the corner, but Harwood joins for a superplex. Cassidy answers with a Stundog Millionaire and spinning DDT, but Wheeler got in a cheap shot to isolate Cassidy in the heel corner. Cassidy dodged a corner splash from Harwood and made a hot tag to Nick, as there’s a meeting of the minds for FTR, who ate a double spin kick, while The Dogs took a Lucha Libre head scissors/arm drag combo. Matt joined his brother to dish out a superkick, as The Dogs took stereo running bulldogs, while FTR ate a corkscrew dive to the outside. Matt with his signature rolling Northern Lights to The Dogs, as The Bucks called for a Superkick Party, but were tripped up by Stokely. They brought him into the ring, as Stokely offered up Cage’s stolen watch, but The Bucks opted to throw superkicks at everyone in their paths. Tag to Cage, as The Bucks call for a Triple Superkick, but Copeland took the ref and Cage opted to punt Wheeler low instead for two.

Cage again was taunted by Stokely and the watch, which gave Ciampa a chance to target the injured forearm of Cage, posting it repeatedly. Stokely joined commentary and Taz immediately broke him by saying he was blown up. The heels pulled all the babyfaces from the apron right as Cage leapt for a hot tag, as he continued to get worked over until he clonked heads with Harwood into a reset. Copeland & Connors get their first action of the match with tags, as Finlay was sent flying onto FTR with a backdrop outside. Big boot to Connors, as Copeland called for a Spear, was tripped by Finlay, who ate a superkick and slingshot facebuster/moonsault combo to the outside. Connors took a triple shot in the corner by Cage & The Bucks, as the slowest somersault and corner splash by Cassidy followed. Chaos until Cage, Cassidy & The Bucks all went up to corners, for quadruple splashes, all while Copland planted Connors with an Impaler in the middle for two.

The Bucks hit stereo dives on Finlay & Ciampa, as Cage & Cassidy had a face-off in the center of the ring, with Cassidy putting Cage’s hands into his pockets, so Cage chucked him over the top onto a pile before doing a dive himself. Copeland is left alone and teased a dive, but ran right into a Shatter Machine from FTR, but Cassidy broke the pin. Cassidy ramped up the little kicks, The Bucks saved him from Shatter Machine, as the match broke down with everyone hitting high impact moves until Connors launched Cage to the outside with a Spear. Connors wanted one on Copeland, who leapfrogged and Connors took out Harwood. Connors slowly turned around and ate a Superkick Party from Copeland & The Bucks, Orange Punch from Cassidy, Spear from Copeland to get the pin.

Match Result: Orange Cassidy, The Young Bucks, Christian Cage & Adam Copeland defeated FTR, Tommaso Ciampa & The Dogs when Copeland pinned Connors

-Earlier today, another training session with the Death Riders and Will Ospreay is shown, as Daniel Garcia said Young Boy Billy has some tricks up his sleeve. Ospreay is doing neck raises, as Moxley is showing how to properly apply a bulldog choke on Wheeler Yuta. Moxley asked how Opsreay’s feeling and he said it’s the best his neck felt in years. Moxley brings up the night Ospreay won Best of Super Juniors and how he wasn’t hurt, he could fly like a bird, such a simpler time, the joy of doing it, then everyone came in and tried to make things overcomplicated. Years pass, life happens, family, responsibilities, bad things and choices catch up to you, this weight weighs down the shoulders, feels like you can’t fly. Moxley tells Ospreay nothing is different, all those things will still be there, but he can still fly, it’s just Ospreay is more dangerous, a bird of prey. Tonight, don’t go out there to protect anything, neck, image, reputation, go out to give something. Moxley turns and yells at Yuta before getting back to work, as Ospreay took in the advice given.

**********

-We get a video package highlighting the history of Stadium Stampede. Jericho said come Double or Nothing, this will be a devil’s dance with destruction…bald. We go backstage to The Demand saying Jericho talks out of his ass a lot and brings up Mark Davis beating Jack Perry last week on Collision for the National Title. Ricochet rounds out his team of 7 and brings in Andrade El Idolo, David Finlay & Clark Connors, who said they want revenge on The Bucks for recent weeks. Finlay said if you want violence, carnage and chaos, who better to call on than The Dogs?

Speedball Mike Bailey (w/Kevin Knight) vs. Westbrook

Both trade counters, as each man shows off impressive agility, until Westbrook stumbles big time flipping around in the corner (yikes). They recover, Westbrook misses a springboard, as Bailey met him with a spin corner kick flush and Ultimate Weapon for the quick win. That’s three wins in seven days for Bailey.

Match Result: Speedball Mike Bailey defeated Westbrook

Justin Roberts gets in the ring and does an intro for Knight, who is ready to defend his TNT Title in an Open Challenge. This was answered by the returning Brian Cage, who was joined by Lance Archer and RPG Vice (Rocky & Trent seemed to be cosplaying as Miami Vice tonight).

Kevin Knight (w/Speedball Mike Bailey) vs. Brian Cage (w/Lance Archer) in a TNT Title Open Challenge

(It’s great to see Cage back in action after such an extended time out, but thankfully he’s built like a horse and his sheer power saved Knight from taking some real bad bumps here. Knight can keep his Open Challenges going and I’m interested in who will answer them in the future, while Bailey called his shot in the post-match, not for his tag partners title, but an even bigger prize, the AEW World Title.)

After 14-months, Cage is back, as Renee Paquette is ringside saying Cage is ready to make up for lost time and despite not getting to talk with him earlier today, Cage is clearly as jacked as ever and ready to bring gold to the Don Callis Family. Cage immediately did curls with Knight, who flipped over to his feet, tried shoulder tackles and bounced off Cage like a ball. Cage avoided a leaping DDT and fired off a thrust kick, as he kept working over Knight in the corner until a dropkick off the apron sent Cage outside. Knight got a head of steam, Cage was supposed to catch him off a Tope, but Knight just flew right by Cage, who picked up Knight and hit a F5 onto the apron. Cage is easily having his way with Knight, as he called for a Drillclaw, Knight floated over, tried his leaping DDT, but used the momentum to hang up Cage throat first on the top rope. Springboard dropkick led to a reset, as Knight used his speed to avoid the power of Cage.

Pop-up dropkick sent Cage outside, Knight tried a somersault dive and this time, was caught by Cage, who wanted a powerbomb, but Knight countered into a hurricanrana into the steps. Leaping lariat from the apron finally took Cage off his feet, as Bailey caught Archer flush with a thrust kick before he could trip up Knight. This distracted Knight enough for Cage to hit a suplex from the apron in for two, as Bailey took out Archer with a springboard moonsault. Knight leapt over a Cage discus lariat and finally hit his leaping DDT for two. Knight went for his standing hurricanrana from the mat in the corner, slipped, Cage used his pure power to just pull Knight up and they completed the move, leading to a UFO Splash for the win.

Post-match, Bailey took a mic and congratulated Knight for a hell of a win. Knight did the same to Bailey and welcomed Cage back after a hard-hitting battle. Knight said he still can’t get over losing to Darby Allin, but Bailey said he’s a future AEW World Champion and everyone knows it. Knight appreciates the support and Bailey has always been in his corner, saying someday Bailey will be champion as well. Bailey said he’s right and calls out the winner of Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita. Bailey said Takeshita was his greatest rival in Japan and as much as he wants to see MJF bald, he’s coming for Allin’s World Championship.

Match Result: Kevin Knight defeated Brian Cage to retain the TNT Title

**********

Excalibur reveals the bracket for the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and they are as follows

• Samoa Joe vs. Will Osperay (taking place at Double or Nothing)
• Mark Davis vs. Jungle Jack Perry
• Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido (taking place at Double or Nothing)
• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King

We go to Perry, who is backstage with his knife saying Mark Davis is no champion to him, as he’s built like an Australian grizzly bear and still relied on backup hitting him with a golf club to win his National Title. Perry said to bring all your friends and give everyone you’ve got at Double or Nothing, but after the PPV, it’s back to roots and he’s going to be focused on winning the Owen Hart Foundation tournament and challenging for the AEW World Title. If you don’t like that, f*ck you.

Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin

(Excellent first-time meeting between these two, as I initially thought they should’ve waited until after the match to announce the men’s Owen bracket. However, the post-match made sense on why they did it pre-match. Ospreay has quite the journey to get to win this Owen Tournament and he’s clearly the odds on favorite and the only Death Rider in his way is Castagnoli, who is on the opposite side of the bracket. All roads look like Ospreay vs. Strickland.)

Far more mat based work from Ospreay to start, as he’s targeting body parts and going to work on Austin’s left arm and shoulder. Austin tries to pick up the pace with a drop toehold, head kick and leaping leg drop for two. Ospreay pops right up and throws some stiff forearms, so Austin was able to get a Muta-Lock. Ospreay got the ropes, tried a hurricanrana, but Austin showed off his great strength, putting on the brakes and doing his squat into a Death Valley Driver for two.

During the entire commercial, Austin worked over Ospreay’s neck, until finally Ospreay got a boot up in the corner that led to Pip, Pip, Cheerio. Combo of kicks led to a standing Sky Twister Press for a near fall. Handspring corkscrew kick sent Austin outside, but he dodged a slingshot cross body from Ospreay, did his handstand on the apron and slingshot cross body of his own. Austin tried to skin the cat to the floor for a head scissors, but Ospreay was ready to meet him with a thrust kick. Leaping forearm to the back of the neck connects back inside, followed by an Oscutter for two. Ospreay signals for Hidden Blade, Austin dodges with a double stomp on the head to the mat. Multiple corner lariats from Austin, who set up Ospreay in the ropes, caught him with an enzugiri and from the outside in gets a head scissors. Austin got a wildly awesome spinning leg lock into a cradle for two before hitting a snazzy spinning Air Raid Crash Flatliner for another near fall.

Austin took Ospreay back up in the corner, as Ospreay quickly got a joint lock to the arm, popped at the elbow, missed Cheeky Nandos. Austin escaped, tried his springboard twisting legdrop, but leapt right into a sit-out powerbomb from Ospreay. Both slug it out until Ospreay fired off a rolling elbow, hook kick, missed Storm Breaker, as Austin hit his springboard spin kick. Austin wanted The Fold, was flipped over to his feet and waffled by a standing Hidden Blade. Ospreay signaled for a proper one, pulled up and instead punt kicked out the left leg and applied a cross-arm-breaker causing Austin to instantly tap.

Post-match, Ospreay shook Austin’s hand and put him over before telling the fans his neck feels good. Samoa Joe’s music hits, as Joe walks out with Katsuyori Shibata & Anthony Bowens saying he wanted to make sure Ospreay was listening, since the last few weeks, it seems he had a hard time hearing Joe. Fate has put them together in the first round of the Owen Hart Tournament and brings up Ospreay’s choices and consequences. Had Ospreay joined The Opps, he could’ve had a bye in the first round, as that’s what Joe does for his friends, but instead, Ospreay decided to be Jon Moxley’s lap dog. Ospreay made his choice and Double or Nothing, Joe will make him suffer the consequences. Joe wishes Ospreay well, while his friends feel slighted and he doesn’t put leashes on his friends.

Bowens & Shibata head to the ring when the Death Riders music hits. The entire crew come from the stands, leaving The Opps outnumbered forced to regroup as they retreat. Ospreay slowly looks back at Moxley, who gives a nod.

Match Result: Will Ospreay defeated Ace Austin

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Don Callis & Konosuke Takeshita ahead of tonight’s main event. Callis said Takeshita will be heading into Double or Nothing World Champion. MJF walks in and puts over Takeshita (not without bringing up beating him 3 years ago) and said he can’t think of a better idea than Takeshita vs. MJF 2 and shakes Takeshita’s hand. Takeshita says something in Japanese before leaving, as Callis said that’s a good pep talk, but MJF said he didn’t mean any of it, he’s having a full-blown panic attack, he doesn’t want to end up a bald freak. Callis was briefly insulted until MJF apologized and gave Callis his Dynamite Diamond Ring to use tonight if necessary. Andrade walks in and shows off his flowing locks, causing MJF to leave. Andrade signaled to Callis that the World Title will soon be his and all Callis could say was Bueno, Bueno.

**********

Excalibur announces the bracket for the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

• Persephone vs. Hazuki
• TBS Champion Willow Nightingale vs. Alex Windsor (taking place at Double or Nothing)
• Mina Shirakawa vs. ROH Women’s Champion Athena
• Skye Blue vs. Sareee

Renee Paquette is backstage with The Conglomeration, as Orange Cassidy said they have a shot at the Tag Team Titles and Kyle O’Reilly said it should be Roderick Strong who teams with Cassidy. O’Reilly said he has some unfinished business with the man who put him on the shelf and asks Jon Moxley when they’re going to do this for the Continental Title? Willow Nightingale brings out her TBS Title from a backpack and said she’s ready to win the Owen Hart Tournament again and hold all the gold. Cassidy said they haven’t done a Word of the Day in a while. Enter the returning Mark Briscoe who said today’s word is Reunification, as Briscoe is back with his boys and girl and lays it out simple, Tommaso Ciampa, next Wednesday, he wants his ass near his hometown in Maryland. Briscoe loses his damn mind and walks out, as everyone follows out of the shot with Cassidy telling Paquette that was an awful lot of yelling.

Triangle of Madness (AEW Women’s Champion Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue) vs. The Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor) & Hikaru Shida

Heels tried to attack at the bell, but are quickly thwarted outside. All 6 women brawl, leaving Blue & Hayter fighting while standing on the barricade. The Birds do a double gorilla press on Blue, slamming her face first onto the apron, as Thekla came flying in with a huge cross body onto Hayter & Windsor. Trifecta of chops by the Triangle of Madness against the announce table before slamming The Birds & Shida into the apron. Hayter gets isolated back inside before Thekla & Hart lock in stereo Tarantulas in the ropes on The Birds as Blue nails dropkicks.

Hayter was able to battle back and wanted a tag to Shida, who really thought about making a tag until finally deciding to. Shida delivered a suplex to Hart in the corner where Thekla was laid out, as Shida popped Thekla with a big right hand, only to run into a thrust kick to the ribs. Commentary tells us Kris Statlander wasn’t cleared tonight, as a minor injury prevented her from traveling, but she’ll be ready for the PPV. Spider pose from Thekla, who dropped Shida with a Spear, only The Birds mowed down the Sisters of Sin to break the cover.

Tag by Windsor, who pounced on top of Thekla, leading to a double team high boot/leg sweep by The Birds. They signal for Two Birds One Stone, but Blue pulls Hayter to the outside and crashes her into the steps. Shida came in with a jumping knee, ate a thrust kick from Blue, who turned right into a Hayt-breaker. Hart came in with a lungblower before planted with a Windsor sit-out spinebuster. Blue made a blind tag, missed Code Blue and ate a hard headbutt from Windsor. The Birds sandwiched Blue in the middle, was about to hit Two Birds One Stone when Thekla flew in with the Women’s Title to clock Jamie Hayter for the DQ.

Blue sank in a Dragon Sleeper on Windsor, as Thekla whipped away. Hart misted an official off the apron, as Shida grabbed her kendo stick and smiled ringside before leaving the Triangle of Madness beating down The Birds. Willow Nightingale, Thunder Rosa & Mina Shirakawa sprint passed Shida on the aisle and make the save, as Triangle of Madness scatter.

Match Result: The Brawling Birds & Hikaru Shida defeated Triangle of Madness via disqualification

-We get a video package on Rush, the success he’s had over his career and recent hot streak.

**********

Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis) for the AEW World Title

(Another week, another thrilling title defense, as the wheels have yet to fall out for Allin in his incredible title reign. This is by far the most impressive AEW World Title reign that has only lasted a month (so far). As much as I’ve loved this reign, for Allin’s health, I want MJF to regain the title at Double or Nothing. Allin has absolutely earned a much-deserved vacation after such a crazy run he’s been on.)

Renee Paquette is ringside and brings up in 2024 when Takeshita defeated Allin, as Don Callis is as confident than ever that Takeshita will be leaving tonight AEW World Champion. We get footage of Allin’s successful defense against PAC at Fairway to Hell last weekend in a match that was a lot of fun and I recommend checking out. Callis joined commentary and said all those hard matches Allin has had, Takeshita is ready to attack.

Bell sounds, Allin hits a quick dropkick to the outside, tried a Tope, was caught and smashed into the ring post by Takeshita. Running boot sent Allin flying to the opposite side of the ring before being brought back inside for a one count. Allin tried fighting back, but was starched with a wild Takeshita right hand. Big time beal in the corner before Takeshita brought Allin up in the corner, where Allin bit free, tried a diving shoulder block, but bounced off Takeshita like a ball. Massive back body drop sent Allin back outside, as Callis shows off that he’s wearing MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring. Repeated knees from Takeshita outside, as Allin is bleeding from the mouth and commentary questions internal bleeding. Takeshita re-positions the ring steps, wanted a Power Drive Knee into them, but Allin moved and Takeshita collided into the steps. Allin launched off the steps with a shotgun dropkick before hitting his wild Tope, which saw himself crash into the announce table in the process.

Both fight to the apron, Allin wanted a Coffin Splash from the ropes, but was caught and Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb from the apron to the floor in your weekly Darby Goes Splat moment. Callis demands the Doctor check on Allin and we’re told the Doctor said Allin was fine (which is absolutely ridiculous he never even checked on the poor guy). Takeshita brought Allin back inside and hit a huge lariat for two before delivering a brutal standing powerbomb. Allin did a sunset flip, Takeshita rolled through, Allin kicked out the leg right into a Guillotine. Takeshita powered out, as Allin went for a Code Red, Takeshita spun him around into a Bastard Driver and wheelbarrow German. Helluva Kick popped Allin in the corner, as Takeshita brought him up top for the gnarliest Avalanche German Superplex for a two count. Power Drive Knee clobbers Allin, who just manages to kick out.

El Clon ran out from the back to run distraction on referee Bryce, allowing Callis to hand Takeshita the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Takeshita debated it, but decided to throw it away as Callis called him crazy. The delay allowed an Allin inside cradle for two, as Takeshita popped up to fire off a huge forearm. Takeshita wanted an Avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb, but Allin fought out into an Avalanche Code Red into the Last Supper for a close near fall. Allin ran up top and hit a massive Coffin Drop from the top to the floor. Allin just broke the count before being rag dolled to the floor by Takeshita. Takeshita wanted a brainbuster on the steps, but Allin slipped out into a Scorpion Death Drop on the steps before going up top for a Coffin Drop to the floor. Takeshita kicked out back inside, Allin went for another Coffin Drop, Takeshita got the knees up, Power Drive Knee hits, as Takeshita wanted a powerbomb, only Allin countered into a Scorpion Death Lock. Takeshita bit at his own thumb, got the rope break, but right in position for Allin to hit multiple Coffin Drops for the win in a thriller.

Match Result: Darby Allin defeated Konosuke Takeshita to retain the AEW World Title

Post-match, Allin needed a water before taking a mic and demanding MJF get his ass out here to sign the contract. Ring attendants quickly scurry and place a table and chairs in the ring as MJF’s music hits and he reluctantly walks out. Allin has a smirk on his face and signs the contract, as MJF took a long look at it before stepping back. Excalibur said it’s only hair, it’ll grow back and Taz said yeah, but it cost Max a lot of money. MJF took a seat and said Allin looks like he has rabies and hopes he’s had fun holding MY AEW World Title. There’s a small part (MJF is talking penis size of someone from North Carolina small) that feels bad for Allin, who will never holding this title again. He has as good a shot of holding this title as Hangman Adam Page does. MJF calls Allin a dime a dozen, stunt man, as people like to pretend life is about friends and family when it’s only about legacy. Allin’s legacy is that of a kid who had 15-minutes of fame, as people will pretend he’s made an impact when he hasn’t the fans will know deep down that Allin is just a prick who got lucky, who is too reckless and stupid to stay on top. Double or Nothing, MJF’s legacy will be the 3-time World Champion at 30 years of age, the greatest of all time. Allin brags about climbing the mountain top, when MJF is the mountain.

Allin said only someone who is so vain is worried about his legacy, as Allin only cares about living in the moment, so sign the contract, at Double or Nothing he’ll make Maxwell Jacob Friedman a bald-headed b*tch. MJF slowly signed, held up the contract and shot a double leg on Allin with right hands. MJF cleared the ring and leveled Allin with the Dynamite Diamond Ring before holding up the AEW World Title dropping it onto Allin. MJF was about to leave, but came back to attempt to deliver an Avalanche Tombstone from the corner for good measure when Kevin Knight sprinted out to make the save, as MJF scurried away.

AEW Collision 5/16/26

• Divine Dominion 5-Minute Tag Team Title Challenge

AEW Dynamite/Collision 5/20/26

• Tommaso Ciampa vs. Mark Briscoe

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Four segments have been advertised for the show ahead of time. Chris Jericho will address his AEW return from last week in Winnipeg on tonight’s episode. Kenny Omega is also advertised as he prepares to challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship in Vancouver on Sunday at AEW Dynasty.

Also scheduled for Wednesday’s show, Queen Aminata returns to the ring for the first time in six months and will receive a TBS Championship match against Willow Nightingale.

A trios match is also set for tonight, with Andrade El Idolo, Mark Davis, and Konosuke Takeshita of the Don Callis Family facing Darby Allin, Bandido, and Jack Perry.

• Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Queen Aminata for the AEW TBS title
• Chris Jericho to address his return
• Darby Allin, Bandido & Jack Perry vs. Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Davis, & Andrade El Idolo)
• Kenny Omega to speak

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us, but we cut backstage to Will Ospreay & Jon Moxley slugging it out in the parking lot, but all the Death Riders make the save and start beating Ospreay down until a car pulls up and Alex Windsor gets out of the driver’s seat. New IWGP World Champion Callum Newman, Henare & Francesco Akira step out of the car and the brawl is on. Akira leaps off the hood of a car onto Claudio Castagnoli, Henare slammed Wheeler Yuta onto it, as Shafir & Windsor spill out into the crowd, as does Moxley & Ospreay, fighting in the ring. Shafir saves Moxley, but Windsor decks her with a lariat. Newman & PAC are paired off ringside, as Moxley & Daniel Garcia put the boots to Ospreay until Henare sprints out from the back, launching Moxley with a Pounce. Akira flies in with an assisted dropkick on Garcia, as PAC returns and tries a lariat on Henare, who no sells, allowing Newman to run in with a big boot and slingshot dive outside onto PAC. Castagnoli runs out to dish out uppercuts aplenty, but he & Henare tumble to the floor. Moxley locks Ospreay in a Rear Naked Choke, but Ospreay rolls out right at Newman hits Moxley with a top rope double stomp. Moxley escapes a Tiger Driver, as Death Riders bail, leaving The United Empire standing tall in one hell of a start to Dynamite.

Ospreay takes the mic and said he flew to Japan to bring Henare, Akira, the youngest Heavyweight champ of all time, Callum Newman. He’s going to give Moxley about 90 minutes, challenging them tonight in the main event, Death Riders vs. United Empire.

-Don Callis is backstage to talk about Kyle Fletcher having to vacate the TNT Title, saying it’s thrown a wrench into their plans of becoming the longest TNT Champion of all time. Now, the TNT Title will be up for grabs in a Casino Gauntlet at Dynasty and was ready to make ProtOkada vs. The Young Bucks at the PPV, but he already has a pivot that will blow your minds. Okada & Takeshita, he only hears when will they fight, when he’s like Phil Jackson, and like Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen, he kept those stars together and you won’t see them fight for a very long time, as Callis calls the shots. Callis said he might take the money MJF paid them for getting rid of Darby Allin, pick up Connor McDavid and hit the town. Tonight, they are Kyle Fletcher Strong.

National Champion Jungle Jack Perry, Bandido & Darby Allin vs. The Don Callis Family (Andrade El Idolo, Konosuke Takeshita & Mark Davis)

(I first want to say RIP Bo Lueders, guitarist for Harm’s Way and close friend of Brody King, who is attending the funeral, thus why Bandido replaced his tag partner in this match tonight. The match was an action packed party match and one that was controlled a lot by The Callis Family, who looked great in this one. I was surprised Davis, who had laid out Perry with his trifecta of moves, didn’t just pin him, instead it was Andrade standing tall. The post-match, more chaos aplenty, as we set up not only Takeshita & Okada vs. The Bucks at Dynasty, but keep the wheels going of the never-ending bad blood between the two crown jewels of the Callis Family.)

Bell sounded and Andrade immediately left up the ramp, confusing Allin, who quickly hit Takeshita with a Code Red for two. Davis almost got his gut-wrench piledriver, but Perry flew in with a missile dropkick. Perry & Bandido hit double dives to the floor, as Allin took the mic, called Andrade one of the best wrestlers in the world, but stop being Don Callis’ little b*tch. Andrade came back to the stage, but Takeshtia laid out Allin with a Chaos Theory suplex down the aisle. Callis came to the ring to join commentary, as Takeshita worked over Allin back in the ring. Perry made a tag, cazadora arm drag to the outside on Takeshita, as Davis was sent out with him, allowing Perry to hit a big moonsault. Back inside, Perry tried leaping off the top, but was swatted in mid-air like a fly by a Takeshita forearm. Callis said Fletcher being injured will unite his Family and make them stronger than ever. Andrade dropped Perry over the guard rail before posing with yet another female fan ringside, taking a selfie that Callis said would cost her $60 Canadian.

Nigel McGuinness said Andrade could break up any marriage within a quarter mile and Callis said you’re calling him El Homewrecker and hopes they can get a sponsorship. Perry was worked over for an extended time until he avoided a Davis leaping senton and splash, catching him with an enzugiri and hot tag to Bandido. Cazadora hurricanrana on Davis, Gorilla Press to Takeshita onto Davis, as he signaled for 21-Plex, but Takeshita rolled out into a perfect Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Davis tried to catch Bandido with his bounce back lariat, only Bandido countered into a snap hurricanrana pin for two. Another enzugiri delivered, Takeshita comes in with a wild forearm, Perry met him with a Poison Rana, as Andrade tripped him up, only played to the crowd, giving Allin a chance to hit a Tope. Allin went after Callis, but Davis made the save, sending Allin crashing into the guard rail. Davis & Takeshita swing Allin clear over the railing and timekeepers table, crashing hard. Bandido was slammed on the edge of the ring with a powerbomb, as Perry tried fighting everyone back inside, but was clobbered with a home run right hand, bounce back lariat and gut wrench piledriver by Davis. Andrade came in to pick up the pieces and hit The DM on Perry for the win.

Post-match, Andrade kept making the belt gesture to Callis, as Perry had the boots put to him, as Bandido & Allin crawled back in. Andrade pointed to the Dynasty sign before punting Allin low, as Bandido was sent outside, while Callis gouged the eyes of Perry. The Young Bucks music hit and they sprint out to save Perry and take the fight to Davis & Takeshita until more Don Callis Family members hit the ring. Lance Archer, Hechicero, El Clon all take superkicks, as Davis took a BTE Trigger for good measure. Takeshita was about to take a Meltzer Driver, but Kazuchika Okada ran out and put a stop to it. Takeshita & Okada on the same page momentarily, putting the boots to The Bucks as they stare each other down, shove one another and start trading forearms. The Family step in to separate the two, as The Rascalz appear in the ring and hit a triple dive onto the entire Family, aside from Okada, who laughed in Takeshita’s face. That distraction allowed Myron Reed to lay out Okada with a huge dive, as we’re told Okada will face Reed on Collision for the International Title.

Match Result: The Don Callis Family defeated Jungle Jack Perry, Brody King & Darby Allin when Andrade pinned Perry

-Lexy Nair is backstage with Doc Sampson and said last week, MJF was trying to get into Kenny Omega’s head with what he said the doctor’s told him. Sampson said Omega did have issues with diverticulitis, but he’s in the best shape of his life, cleared by surgeons and by him and he’s not happy with MJF doing that. He has to get back to work and if Nair had any other questions, just ask.

**********

Willow Nightingale vs. Queen Aminata in a TBS Title Open Challenge

(A very competitive match in Aminata’s return, as she showed a lot of aggression here, looking excellent, even in defeat. A strong showing for Nightingale as well, as I’m glad we’re getting more TBS Title defenses in recent weeks and it certainly looks like Shida wants another shot, despite losing last week in her return on Collision.)

Aminata’s first match back in 5 months, as she dropped Nightingale with a swinging Fisherman’s Suplex out the gate for a quick near fall. Nightingale was forced to regroup, but Aminata was right out after her, with both trading stiff shots. Hikaru Shida is seen watching on in the crowd, as Aminata missed a running boot against the railing, as Nightingale sent her crashing into it. Back inside, Aminata is clutching her neck, as Nightingale unloaded a series of short arm lariats. Flying arm drag from Aminata, who followed up with a running PK for two.

Chocolate Kisses dished out, as Aminata kept Nightingale grounded until a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker turned the tables. Shotgun dropkick off the middle rope, followed by a Death Valley Driver for two. Aminata dodged a corner cannonball, rolled outside, but didn’t create enough distance, as Nightingale flew off the apron with a somersault senton. Back inside, Nightingale tried a moonsault, but crashed and burned, as Aminata exploded out with a forearm for a close near fall. Aminata went up top and hit a double stomp, but again, Nightingale kicked out. Both trade stiff shots, as Nightingale dares Aminata to hit her like she wants to be champ and Aminata obliged, cutting off a Nightingale Pounce with a forearm, but Nightingale bounced up off the ropes into a home run lariat into the double down.

Both ladies rise, as Amianta tried another swinging suplex, but Nightingale got a high stack backslide for two. Aminata put on the brakes for the Doctor Bomb and countered into an Air Raid Crash for a close two. Nightingale hit a big boot and Pounce that launched Aminata outside, as Nightingale brought her back in for a Doctor Bomb for the win. Post-match, Nightingale shook Aminata’s hand, as Shida shook her head looking on.

Match Result: Willow Nightingale defeated Queen Aminata to retain the TBS Title

-A very good and detailed video package of MJF’s impact of the sport of professional wrestling is shown.

**********

Chris Jericho Addresses His AEW Return

Big ovation and reaction for Jericho, who said it’s great to be back in AEW and Dynamite, ready to sign his new contract just a few kilometers down the road where he started his career at the Ponoka Moose Hall. Jericho has taken a lot of risks in his career, including taking one of the biggest in 2019 on AEW and he’s so happy to continue to help build the company he helped start. It’s a risk that paid off, as some the risks have paid off, while others haven’t, he’s had some stinkers, but it’s ok, he loves pro wrestling. He respects this business and that’s why he’s in the best shape of his career, what the fans deserve. It doesn’t matter if he’s in the opener, main event, not on the show at all, he wants to helps others and this company, which is all that matters to him. Loud Jericho chants, as he said it’s the perfect time to sign this contract when Ricochet’s music hits and out walks The Demand.

Ricochet said Canada freakin sucks, he hates it here, but didn’t come out here to talk about that, he came to talk to Jericho, they come in peace. If they came out here to hurt Jericho, Kaun would’ve already pulled the trigger. They want Jericho to do himself a favor and just don’t, don’t do any of this, don’t come back, why would he want to, out a year he’s bound to be rusty. They both know there’s a difference between sing shape and ring shape, but he’ll give credit where it’s due, Jericho is one of the best AEW champions of all time and without him, AEW might not have had the rise that it did. He doesn’t know how much AEW Jericho has been watching, but Ricochet is kind of the man right now, attendance is up, ratings are up and he’s the inaugural National Champion. It’s all due to The Rise of Ricochet, as he speaks for everyone in saying no one wants Jericho here and get out of AEW before he gets himself hurt.

Jericho can’t believe how bald Ricochet is, but he respects him, only he doesn’t give a sh*t what he thinks. Jericho has a clause in his contract saying he can choose anyone he wants to wrestle at Dynasty on Sunday. He can choose Kaun or Liona, the popcorn guy in the 14^th row, his nephew from Alberta or Conor McGregor himself (I think he was going for Connor McDavid), but said he has a decision to make. Instantly Jericho said he made his mind up saying he hasn’t had to do this in 10 years, but for Ricochet, it’s valid. You know what happens when you’re bald, wearing a fancy pants sweatsuit and when Jericho needs an opponent when he doesn’t have one? Jericho reveals his personalized clipboard and said Ricochet just made the list, signing the contract, saying he’ll see Ricochet on Sunday.

-Lexy Nair is backstage with The Don Callis Family and said Andrade will take care of Darby Allin and said while he wanted ProtOkada vs. The Young Bucks, something the fans were drooling to see, but he has something even bigger and better, Takeshita & Okada vs. The Bucks. Takeshita said no and Callis was insulted, saying this is for Kyle, they need to come together and beat The Bucks. Takeshita agrees, but said he wants to challenge Okada for the International Title. Callis said he needs this match to happen and said it’s fine, if they get the job done at Dynasty, Takeshita gets his title shot and they can get it out of their system. Callis demands they shake hands and they do, as Okada pulls him in, saying Takeshita is Scottie Pippen, Okada is Michael Jordan. They have to be pulled apart to end the segment.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Mascara Dorada for the #1 Spot in the TNT Title Casino Gauntlet at Dynasty

The TNT Title is placed on the commentary table, as Ciampa gives a long look at Silvy before the match begins. Ciampa tried working over the arm, but Dorada’s speed prevented that from happening, as both trade quick pin attempts until Ciampa scurries out of a LeBell Lock to the outside to look at the title again. Back inside, Ciampa side-stepped a flipping Dorada, who grabbed the arm, scaled the ropes into a double springboard arm drag. Thrust kick sent Ciampa outside, where he dodged a Dorada dive and clobbered him with a running knee. Ciampa wanted another back inside, as Dorada avoided and the two exchanged chops before Dorada got hurricanrana from the corner and Tornillo outside to follow.

Ciampa was able to gain control and slam Dorada repeatedly into the commentary table and railing, but back inside, Dorada answered with a wild arm drag and hurricanrana. Ciampa tried to sweep out the legs on the apron, but Dorada hurdled, hit a PK and massive moonsault off the ring post to the outside. Quickly back inside, 450 Splash connects, but Ciampa kicked out. Back inside, Ciampa ate a leg lariat, as Dorada tried a handspring, but Ciampa hit a low dropkick and Project Ciampa for the closest near fall of the match. Ciampa wanted his Psycho Driller but Dorada slid out with a flipping Electric Chair neckbreaker for two. Dorada went up top for a moonsault, but Ciampa got the boots up, lowered the knee pad, charged, but ate a round house kick. Dorada tried another kick, but got hung up in the ropes, allowing Ciampa to hit Widow’s Bell and the running knee for the win.

Match Result: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Mascara Dorada to earn the #1 Spot in the TNT Title Casino Gauntlet at Dynasty

-The Dogs are backstage talking about losing the 8-man tag last week on Collision, but not to worry, they have two bodies. Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong are shown beaten down, as Gabe Kidd said The Conglomeration have no one left and question how Mistico & JetSpeed think they can run the Trios division when there’s a three headed dog ready to bite their heads off? Clark Connors said they’re all back together now, as he took Cassidy’s glasses for himself. Finlay said on Collision, they’re coming for their bodies and gold.

**********

-Lexy Nair is backstage with Thekla and said to Jamie Hayter that the kingdom has changed and she’s never going to touch the Women’s Title again now that Thekla is champ. She calls Hayter the dumbest b*tch there is and will show exactly that at Dynasty.

Adam Copeland & Christian Cage Address FTR

Copeland said jealousy and pettiness is what started all of this and blew up Rated FTR. They said they were in Copeland’s shadow, claiming to be glorified henchmen, when it’s not Copeland’s fault that it was reality slapping them in their cold, dumb faces. Copeland said at Dynasty, the C&C Dynasty take their rightful place on top of the mountain as AEW Tag Team Champions. Cage said wherever FTR are, sit down and shut their mouths as he conducts business. FTR have not only piss off Cage & Cope, but also the entire country of Canada. As everyone’s favorite father figure, Cage said they’re been very naughty, so naughty Cage paid a visit to both of their mother’s. Just so there’s no confusion, Cage said he banged them both. Cage doesn’t want Stokely’s mother to feel left out, so when he visits her, it’ll be as one half of the Tag Team Champions.

FTR & Stokely came out to the stage, as RPG Vice blindsided Copeland & Cage in the ring, as FTR joined Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero in the beatdown, as RPG Vice hit Copeland in the ribs with a chair and Beretta hit a running knee. Wheeler escaped a Killswitch and sent Cage into a belt shot by Stokely, as FTR held up Cage and Stokely hit a Spear. FTR placed Cage’s arm through a chair, as Wheeler went up to Pillmanize it, as Stokely first stole Cage’s watch and then Wheeler stomped down on the arm. FTR stood tall holding the Tag Team Titles, as Excalibur pleaded for medical attention for Cage.

**********

-Darby Allin is backstage and said people would say he has a death wish and he doesn’t care about anything in this life, when it’s the exact opposite, he cares too much. He’s scared that maybe he can’t win the big one and be the face of this company, as doing that means you need to be World Champion. Andrade doesn’t understand what he’s gotten himself into on Sunday, whoever walks out between Omega & MJF, Allin needs this win more than anything. In a world that always says you’re not enough, Allin is enough and needs this more than anyone could ever imagine.

Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Daniel Garcia) vs. The United Empire (Will Ospreay, Callum Newman, Henare & Francisco Akira) in Chaos in Canada

(Chaos in Canada was definitely the right name for this, as this was a very fun intro for the United Empire boys. I thought Newman, Henare & Akira all got to show off what they are capable of, as the fans were behind them from the jump. This match was also your reminder (if you happened to foolishly forget) that Castagnoli is a friggin horse and was the MVP of the Death Riders tonight. It was a great go-home for Moxley & Ospreay, who finally has backup and the numbers aren’t as one sided as they’ve been for so long.)

Excalibur brought up how Ospreay won the IWGP Title at 28, while Newman won it this past week at the age of 23. Death Riders attacked during their entrance, as Ospreay hit a Pip, Pip, Cheerio off the guard rail on Moxley. Castagnoli gorilla pressed Akira on the stage into a knee breaker, as Alex Windsor rushes out and starts up a brawl with Marina Shafir. Henare suffered the same fate as Akira, who shows back up with a ladder to deck Castagnoli, Garcia & PAC before bringing the ladder to the ring. It’s set up, as Akira climbs and dives off the top onto a pile of Death Riders, with Castagnoli shown clutching his right ankle in the process.

United Empire continue to be in the driver’s seat, as a table is set-up ringside while continuing to pick apart the Death Riders. PAC delivered a neckbreaker to Ospreay, before going after Akira, as the two have a lighting quick sequence ending in Akira hitting a huge leg lariat. Newman & Ospreay hit double dives onto Moxley & Castagnoli before pulling out another table and ring steps. Newman & Ospreay want a double suplex through it, but Castagnoli makes the save, launching Newman onto the barricade and caught a leaping Ospreay into a huge back breaker. It’s the Death Riders turn in control, as Akira is triple teamed in the ring with locomotion corner strikes. Newman rushes back in and shoots a double leg on Castagnoli, but suffered the same fate as Akira as a result. Moxley continues beating Henare ringside, before turning to Ospreay, biting at the ear. Henare took locomotion strikes, until he exploded out and dropped everyone in his path with clotheslines. Outside, Henare brought Garcia up the steps and again, Castagnoli made the save, catching a leaping Henare, walked him all around ringside and suplexed Henare through the table on the opposite side of the ring.

Moxley brought out kendo sticks, broke them apart and used the jagged edges to rake the back of Ospreay before trying to stab Ospreay in the eye, but Ospreay thankfully fought that off. Moxley, always thinking on his feet, opted to jam the broken kendo stick up Ospreay’s nose and that got exactly the chant you’d imagine. A table was placed in the corner, as Moxley flipped off the crowd before spiking Ospreay with a piledriver. Moxley sank in a rear naked choke, but Ospreay escaped in the corner right as Henare ran in with a running knee. Everyone gets in the ring and hits home run shots, as Castagnoli cleared Henare, Newman dropped Castagnoli, PAC with the bounce back German on Newman, Akira took out PAC, Garcia clobbered Akira with a big boot, as Ospreay tried a Hidden Blade on Moxley, but Garcia was there to sink in the Dragon Tamer, as Moxley hit a Curb Stomp. Garcia made the cover, but Newman broke the count, sending Garcia outside.

Akira showed no fear with Moxley, who tried his best, but was turned inside out with a lariat. Slugfest ensues with Moxley & Newman, who hit a rolling elbow, thrust kick and was joined by Ospreay to hit dueling Oscutters on Moxley & Garcia for a double two count. Castagnoli saved Moxley from a Tiger Driver and hit the Giant Swing. Blue Thunder Bomb by Henare on PAC, as Akira tried a slingshot dive on Castagnoli, was caught and taken up the steps to go through the table, but Henare made the save and tackled Castagnoli through the table. Akira tried to put Garcia through the table, but it didn’t break, neither did his second try via double stomp. Newman flew off the top with a splash on PAC through another table, as it leaves Ospreay & Moxley to slug it out. Ospreay tried Pip, Pip, Cheerio, but landed right into multiple Paradigm Shifts. Moxley tried for a fourth, but Newman returned to deck Moxley with a clothesline and sent him up in the corner for Ospreay to put him through the table with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay & Newman pile on Moxley to get the pin.

Post-match, Newman told Ospreay to finish off Moxley and with a smile on his face, Ospreay was about to, when Castagnoli tackled Moxley to the outside, saving him. Death Riders were nearly all left in a heap on the aisle, as Ospreay was staring them down.

Match Result: United Empire defeated Death Riders when Ospreay & Newman pinned Moxley

-Similar to the video package that MJF got earlier in the night, we get one for Kenny Omega, highlighting his career from Ring of Honor & Pro Wrestling Guerrilla before going to DDT Pro & New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was a phenomenal highlight reel for Omega, documenting his rise and success in AEW as the first Triple Crown Champion before diverticulitis almost ended his career and life.

Kenny Omega & MJF Face-Off One Last Time

Tony Schiavone is in the ring (10 minutes after the top of the hour) to introduce Omega to the ring, as he walks out in a snazzy suit to a big ovation. Omega said it’s a very nostalgic feeling being here, as it’s been about 25 years, as he put over the independent wrestling scene he drove to watch. Last week, he almost lost his cool if it wasn’t for Speedball Bailey talking him off the ledge. Omega said it wasn’t the Ibushi comment MJF made or the diverticulitis line that commentary brings up every single time he wrestles. Omega said while it hurt really bad, as one famous man said, cry me a river. He can’t lie, at one point, sympathy was a good thing, but every single week, it got old. What set Omega off was thinking of all his nicknames in his career, they aren’t just words, he’s never said it about himself, it’s what the fans have referred to him as and he appreciates hearing it every time. AEW used to be just a concept where maybe fans could see the best wrestle, while the end of the day, what made MJF famous is flapping his gums. Omega remembers when he talked his sh*t, but knows that anything MJF can do, he can do better. He started thinking, maybe it should’ve been MJF who was pissed, as he realized all he can do is talk, knowing he could never do what Omega did in Japan or tell a story like he and a few others can.

Now, Omega realizes why he lost his cool, all this you see before you, he felt it was all on him, all Omega’s responsibility and save the place where the best wrestle. Omega said that he was wrong, it’s not just his legacy, it’s all their legacy and it doesn’t matter where they’re at, the fans deserve a champion who wears the belt with pride and it’s not IF Omega uses his weaknesses into strengths. While Omega might not be the same as he was before, it’s about working harder to protect the things he was afraid of before. Omega will take that title from MJF and start righting the wrongs Max has committed in this company. So be it, so it shall come to pass, at Dynasty, it will be MJF’s last defense and that, Omega can promise.

MJF’s music hits as a Burberry carpet is rolled out for the AEW World Champion who makes his way to the ring. MJF said he heard Omega talking like he was going to beat him in 2026 and he almost believed it; Omega is getting better at this talking thing. Deep down, the fans want to believe in Omega because they’re all scared sh*tless, realizing this could be Omega’s last shot, when MJF knows it will be. The clock is ticking on Omega’s career and brings up beating Omega the first time they wrestled and Omega had said he was at 70%. What’s his excuse going to be after Sunday when he’s allegedly 100%? Omega is going to find out the hard way like everyone else, you bring the best version of himself, he’ll find out like the rest, you aren’t on the level of The Devil. In front of everyone in Canada and the World, their God will fall and the Devil will rise on the throne where he belongs. It’s because I’m Maxwell Jacob Friedman and I’m Better Than You and You Know It.

Omega said he learns a little more about MJF each time they speak. He realizes what it means to MJF to protect his title and mockingly says to his “pal” to let bygones be bygones and give the photographers here what they want and shake Omega’s damn hand, Max. MJF fakes like he was leaving, tried a cheap shot, but ate a V-Trigger, as Omega steps on the finger and takes off the Dynamite Diamond Ring, placing it on his own finger. Omega knows MJF, he’s studied him and seen this a mile away. At the PPV, it’s not going to be how it’s always been, it won’t be MJF hitting his line, it’ll be Omega bidding everyone adieu, Goodbye and Goodnight, bang! Omega drops the ring onto the chest of MJF and leaves up the ramp, as MJF is recovering to end the show.

AEW Collision 4/11/26

• JetSpeed & Mistico vs. The Dogs for the AEW Trios Titles
• Rush vs. Anthony Bowens for the #2 Spot in the TNT Title Casino Gauntlet at Dynasty
• Kazuchika Okada vs. Myron Reed for the AEW International Title
• The Young Bucks vs. Hechicero & El Clon
• Thekla & Marina Shafir vs. The Brawling Birds
• The Hurt Syndicate Return to Action

AEW Dynasty 4/12/26

• MJF vs. Kenny Omega for the AEW World Title
• Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay for the AEW Continental Title
• Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women’s World Title
• FTR vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage for the AEW World Tag Team Titles
• Andrade El Idolo vs. Darby Allin
• Chris Jericho vs. Ricochet
• Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Young Bucks
• Casino Gauntlet for the Vacant TNT Title
• Zero Hour: Marina Shafir vs. Alex Windsor

AEW Dynamite is live tonight from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The company is now two weeks out from its next pay-per-view, AEW Dynasty, set for Sunday, April 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Scheduled for the April 1 show is a trios match pitting Kenny Omega, Brody King, and AEW National Champion Jack Perry against Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona, The Demand.

A contract signing for the AEW World Championship match at Dynasty will also take place, with champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman and the hometown favorite Kenny Omega set to appear.

Will Ospreay’s rivalry with the Death Riders continues, as he faces PAC on tonight’s show ahead of his Dynasty match against Jon Moxley.

Also scheduled, Mina Shirakawa will team with Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor, The Brawling Birds, to face Thekla, Skye Blue, and Julia Hart, The Triangle of Madness.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Tony Schiavone welcoming us in the ring for the Contract Signing, but continues to get cut-off by pyro. Schiavone is confused until Judas starts playing with JERICHO written on the tron as a returning Chris Jericho walks out to his hometown Winnipeg crowd, who are singing along loudly before giving him Welcome Back/Welcome Home chants. Jericho simply said “I’m home” before putting the mic down. Excalibur is joined by Nigel McGuinness & Schiavone and talk about Jericho being gone for a year, as we see him hugging family seated ringside.

We cut backstage to Jon Moxley getting his ass kicked by Will Ospreay, as Wheeler Yuta tries to intervene, but suffers the same fate. Security and Marina Shafir rush in, as Ospreay is ushered out, screaming that he will “f’n kill Moxley.”

MJF & Kenny Omega AEW World Title Dynasty Contract Signing

Commentary tells us if Omega instigates physicality, he’ll forfeit his title match at Dynasty, while if MJF instigates, he’ll forfeit his AEW World Title. Both men sit down and quickly put pen to paper making if official. MJF went to talk, but was cut-off by Omega, telling him to shut his mouth. Omega knows MJF rehearsed what he was going to say tonight, thinking he’s hot stuff in his shades, scarf, suit and hair plugs, but it isn’t going to work this time. Omega said Max thinks everyone is here for the champ, fooling everyone, including the boss in the back, but they’re not here for MJF, they’re here to watch the best wrestle. When Omega signed the contract, he’s here for the title. When he was on death’s doorstep, telling fans a real world problem that plagued his life, the fans stood behind him because they wanted something better than MJF. If MJF is The Devil, Omega might have to be The God who strikes him down and make sure he’s never close to that title ever again.

MJF stands and applauds before kicking his feet up, laughing that this is Omega at 100%. He runs down the Canadian fans and takes shots at Kota Ibushi before telling Omega he’s one gust of wind away from retirement. MJF wants to talk about what keeps Omega up at night, asking the crowd if they want to know why Omega is so enamored with winning the World Title all of a sudden? It’s because before Omega returned to AEW, he visited the doctor, where he learned his diverticulitis is to the point where his intestines can explode at any moment. Omega is in a race against time to cement his legacy, but the news gets worse, at Dynasty, when The Devil gets done with you, all his disciples will be ashamed that their God is nothing more than a false idol who’d be better off dead.

Omega flipped the table and MJF dared him to hit him, but Speedball Mike Bailey rushed to the ring to hold Omega back. Bailey said MJF is afraid of Omega, wanting him to hit him tonight so the match is off at Dynasty. Bailey said MJF should be thanking Omega, as without Omega, there’s no AEW and no AEW means no MJF. Max needs to realize that Omega is a living legend, while MJF isn’t on his level, he’s a legend in his own mind. Bailey said he wants to kick some sense into MJF’s head and wants a match right here and now. Omega asked Max if he should tell the fans the bad news? Omega said he’s right, his intestines aren’t the same as they used to be, but he’s be without intestines than without balls like MJF. Max said if Bailey wants him in the main event tonight, he’s got it, he’ll make an example out of him in this dump of a country, as MJF is from the only country that matters, the United States of America and Bailey will be wrestling an American Hero.

Excalibur tells us Tony Khan has made it official and if Bailey wins tonight, he’ll get the first title match against whomever wins the main event of Dynasty. The Demand’s music hits and they’re out for the opening trios contest.

**********

National Champion Jack Perry, Brody King & Kenny Omega vs. The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

(Your action-packed trios match to get the Winnipeg crowd going, as The Demand had plenty of offense, with G.O.A. looking especially impressive. You knew Omega was having to get the win for his team tonight, as the crowd popped huge for his pinfall.)

Omega & Kaun kick things off, as Ricochet got an early cheap shot to the back, allowing fast tags by The Demand, who try to isolate Omega out the gate. Ricochet tried a cheap shot on Perry, who ducked, allowing Omega to hit a backdrop. King & Perry come in for locomotion corner splashes on Ricochet, who gets flattened with a King running senton. Brawl breaks out ringside, allowing Perry to hit a Moonsault onto the pile. Back inside, we get a battle for a triple suplex that’s won by the babyfaces, as they stand tall. Kaun made a blind tag, low bridged Perry to the outside, as Liona sprinted in, launching Perry with a Pounce, as Ricochet looks at the camera saying “cry me a river!”

Perry was worked over an extended time, until finally he was able to clock Ricochet with a comebacker lariat for the double down. Hot tag to Omega, who ran wild with sledges and boots before planting Kaun with You Can’t Escape for two. Snap Dragons to Ricochet & Kaun, only Liona fought his off, but ran right into a pump knee and finally Snap Dragon by Omega, as King flew in with a corner cannonball for two. Kaun mounted a comeback, sending Omega & King outside, as Liona met them with charging Pounces. Ricochet followed up with a trifecta of Topes, as back inside, a shotgun dropkick by Kaun led to a springboard 450 from Ricochet on Omega for a near fall. Omega was left alone, as The Demand tried an assisted Doomsday, but Perry made the save, sending all three outside, tried a somersault dive, was caught by G.O.A. so King flew in with a dive onto the entire pile. Omega ramped up the crowd, wanting a Terminator Dive, but Ricochet cut him off with a springboard clothesline and Fosbury Flop onto King outside. Quickly back up top, Ricochet rolled through a 450 Splash, as Omega was up and hit a pump knee, missed a V-Trigger, as Ricochet spiked him with a Poison Rana for the reset.

G.O.A. sent King into the railing, but King ducked a charging Liona and tackled him over the barricade through the time-keepers table. Ricochet missed a Spirit Gun on Omega inside, hit an enzugiri and planted him with Vertigo for a close two. Ricochet again wanted a Spirit Gun, but Perry flew in with a Sacrifice Knee on Kaun ringside, distracting Ricochet long enough for Omega to try a One-Winged Angel, but Ricochet slid out and Omega collided with Perry. Ricochet tried to put Omega away, but Omega escaped, hit a V-Trigger and planted Ricochet with a One-Winged Angel to win it.

Match Result: Jack Perry, Brody King & Kenny Omega defeated The Demand when Omega pinned Ricochet

-We go backstage to TBS Champion Willow Nightingale and talked about Collision tomorrow night and wanting to defend her title against the very best, so tune in to see who steps up.

-Renee Paquette is backstage saying she’s been informed that Christian Cage & Adam Copeland are here and right on cue, they walk right in with chairs in hand. Copeland said they’re here to take out anyone who is in their way and has to tell Cage not to swing a chair at Paquette, reminding him that she’s not in their way.

**********

-Copeland & Cage barge into FTR’s locker room and find RPG Vice relaxing, telling them both FTR are on Collision tomorrow. Cage said to Copeland that it looks like they’re in their way and take out Beretta & Romero with chairs, telling them to give FTR that message.

-Renee Paquette is ringside prior to our next match, talking about Ospreay facing one of the most lethal athletes in wrestling in only his second match back. PAC told Paquette earlier that he couldn’t care less about Ospreay’s fairytale return and this is going to be one you can’t miss.

Will Ospreay vs. PAC

(Was this at the level of their PPV match from last year at All Out, no, however, Ospreay’s neck was the bigger story here in how you really question if he’s bitten off more than he can chew going at this alone against the Death Riders. This of course was still an excellent match and one of the stronger ones you’ll see on Dynamite this year I’m sure, as Ospreay was able to do just enough to survive in his second match back from surgery. I liked how in the post-match, Moxley could’ve chose to end Ospreay, but opted not to, showing the numbers could be way too much for Ospreay when all is said and done.)

PAC made his entrance first, but ran through the crowd and blindsided Ospreay during his entrance, dropping him with a brainbuster on the ramp. The doctor tended to Ospreay, who is clutching his neck, screaming in pain, as PAC slowly walks back to the ring. Ospreay disregarded the doctor, pleading with him to think about his neck, as he got in the ring and told referee Paul Turner he could go, so that was all Turner needed to hear and ignore the doctor, as the bell sounded and Ospreay got clobbered with a big boot from PAC, who targeted the neck immediately. PAC slowly picked Ospreay apart the entire picture-in-picture break, as he worked over the neck with a cravat for an extended time. Ospreay finally was able to flip out, go to the apron and hit Pip, Pip, Cheerio for the double down.

Ospreay hits his handspring corkscrew kick for a near fall. PAC was about to take a Cheeky Nandos kick in the corner, but kicked free, tried a moonsault swinging DDT, only Ospreay put on the brakes and countered into a brainbuster followed up by a 450 Splash off the top for two. Ospreay signals for Hidden Blade, but PAC wisely rolled outside. Ospreay went up top, was shoved off, as both men slug it out on the apron, where Ospreay tried a sunset bomb off the apron, but PAC held on, threw a thrust kick and hit a moonsault swinging DDT, spiking Ospreay on the floor. Ospreay just broke the count at 9, but rolled right into a Brutalizer, scrambling quickly to the ropes. PAC held on until the very last moment, as he brought Ospreay to the top and absolutely launched Ospreay clear across the ring with an Avalanche Belly-to-Belly for two.

PAC went up top and connected with a missile dropkick for two, which he heavily disputed with Turner. Ospreay started hulking up and it led to a slugfest, until PAC ducked a wall walk enzugiri into a snap German for two. PAC charged for a cross-body, but Ospreay caught him into a swinging slam into a powerbomb, held on and got a Styles Clash for a close near fall. Ospreay took too long climbing the ropes and was crotched, as PAC flipped off the crowd before trying an Avalanche Poison Rana, only Ospreay landed on his feet, charged, right into a snap hurricanana by PAC for two. Ospreay floated over multiple times, PAC hit a pop-up flapjack and turned Ospreay inside out with a lariat that folded up Ospreay on his neck. PAC hits a Tombstone flush, as he went up top for a Black Arrow to the back before sinking in the Brutalizer. Ospreay powered his way to his feet momentarily, but collapsed and was about to pass out, almost getting a toe on the ropes, when PAC rolled through, tried to reposition, only Ospreay caught him in a roll-up for the flash pin.

Post-match, PAC went to attack more and jaw jacked with the ref briefly, giving Ospreay time to deck him with a Hidden Blade. Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia sprint to the ring and attack, as Claudio Castagnoli brings a chair in and places it around Ospreay’s neck. Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir are the last to join the crew, as Moxley holds Castagnoli off from Pillmanizing the neck. Moxley took a mic and said look at the situation Ospreay finds himself in, how did he think this would go being 6 on 1? This could’ve been a real bad night for him, but Moxley will give him advice, next time, use your head or you’ll lose it, permanently. Moxley said this isn’t personal, telling Ospreay not to make it personal. Death Riders all leave, as Ospreay is left slowly recovering with the help from officials taking the chair from around his neck.

Match Result: Will Ospreay defeated PAC

**********

Triangle of Madness (AEW Women’s Champion Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue) vs. Mina Shirakawa & The Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor)

Thekla mocked Shirakawa to start, as she missed the blind tag from Blue, who sent Shirakawa crashing to the mat. Shirakawa dodged a corner charge and decked Blue with a spring kick and running slam before tagging Windsor, who cleaned house. Blind tag by Hayter, as The Birds hit an assisted sunset flip/charging boot for two. Blue ate a locomotion of corner charges, leading to a Tornillo from Shirakawa. Hart got a cheap shot, leading to Thekla decking Shirakawa with a running boot and leaping double stomp off the apron to the back.

Shirakawa was still able to fight back inside and tag Windsor, who was distracted momentarily by Hart, allowing Thekla to tag in and work her over. Similar to the opening trios match, we get another struggle for a triple suplex and it was the babyface team who just got enough of it. Thekla & Windsor slug it out until Windsor fired off a headbutt, staggering both, as Shirakawa tags in and runs wild. Excalibur talks about Shirakawa wanting revenge for whoever killed Timeless Toni Storm, as McGuinness reminds him that she’s not actually dead. Shirakawa hit a running knee strike on Thekla, Blue met her with a spinning full nelson slam, as Windsor was in with a spinebuster. Hart met her with a lungblower, Hayter with a Hayt-breaker, Thekla a roundhouse kick before both Thekla & Shirakawa nailed dueling high kicks for a complete reset.

Shirakawa sent Blue crashing outside and tagged in Hayter, as The Birds clobbered Hart with a double lariat, wanted Two Birds One Stone, but Thekla tried to hit Hayter with brass knucks, but Hayter was ready. She fed Thekla to Windsor, who hit a headbutt and it was Thekla who ate Two Birds One Stone. Hart tried an Octopus Hold, but Hayter spun her out and hit Hayter-ade for the win, giving the Triangle of Madness their first loss as a trio.

Match Result: Mina Shirakawa & The Brawling Birds defeated The Triangle of Madness when Hayter pinned Hart

–Darby Allin’s music hit and he stormed out to the stage reminding MJF that he’s going to hold that throttle until he sees God or the AEW Championshiop. Since he hasn’t seen God yet, he wants The Devil instead and questions why they’re playing games with the Don Callis Family. Allin hopes Omega beats MJF at Dynasty, it doesn’t actually matter who, just as long as someone ends his egotistical run he’s on and orders MJF to come to the ring.

Don Callis walks out with his Family, saying MJF has paid his family a lot of money to deliver a message. MJF said if Allin can defeat his handpicked member of the Callis Family at Dynasty, he’ll grant him a Title shot. Callis said they agree on many things and they both agree that member should be Andrade (who was taken off guard). Callis said MJF paid him to do something else, get him. Lance Archer, El Clon & Hechicero went to hit the ring, as Allin chucked his skateboard at Archer, as Brody King & Jack Perry made the save by attacking Clon & Hechicero. King & Perry both slowly stepped in the ring and stared down Allin, both of which we’re reminded have history with Allin, until Kenny Omega’s music hits. Allin walks to the stage to meet Omega and nods to him before making his way to the back. Omega is left high-fiving fans as they go to commercial.

**********

AEW World Champion MJF vs. AEW Trios Champion Speedball Mike Bailey

(An excellent main event, with MJF being able to get some of the easiest heel heat possible playing the American Hero in Winnipeg. It was the perfect time to bring back the USA gear and flag, as the fans wanted to see Bailey kick Max’s head off. I loved that this was a match won with zero shenanigans by MJF and proved that he can be World Champ without relying on the diamond ring so often. Bailey put up a hell of a fight, but MJF was in no way losing this one, as I enjoyed how even Omega himself had to admit he was impressed by the performance.)

Omega stayed for commentary, as MJF was rocking his red, white and blue gear, saluting the camera as he made his entrance, with Justin Roberts calling him “The American Hero” as the big American flag came down with 50 MJF faces instead of stars. MJF attacked Bailey before the bell, as referee Bryce had to check to see if he was ok, as Bailey said he was, dodging a charging MJF, lighting him up with kicks. MJF pulled Bryce in his way to avoid Time Adventure, getting an eye poke, sending Bailey to the floor. MJF slammed Bailey into the steps before mocking Omega reminding him time’s ticking. Bailey was worked over back inside, as he tried a hurricanrana, only was caught and spiked with a backbreaker on the knee by MJF, who tried to mock the karate crane pose, but had his legs swept out. Bailey fired up with a combo of kicks and running Shooting Star for two, as MJF quickly bailed outside.

Bailey decked MJF off the apron with a pump kick and followed it up with his Triangle Moonsault to the floor. Canadian crowd loudly behind Bailey, who hit a springboard dropkick back inside, as he went up for Ultimate Weapon, only MJF slowly rolled to the opposite apron, luring Bailey in, hanging him up on the ropes. Bailey quickly met MJF back inside with multiple near falls, before a straightjacket sunset flip got a near fall. Thrust kick to the chops, but MJF answered with a series of strikes, charging right into a Collision Course by Bailey for two. Bailey tried a springboard hurricanrana, only MJF was right there to plant him with a Liger Bomb for two into the reset. MJF wanted a Heatseeker, Bailey escaped, dodged a baseball slide and kept the sequence going with a huge springboard moonsault onto MJF outside.

Bailey continued to light up MJF ringside with kicks before taking him back inside for two. MJF again went to the eyes, as both trade suplex attempts until Bailey did the deal by hitting a Falcon Arrow. Bailey slowly went up top, but MJF leapt for the top rope and crotched him. MJF brought Bailey to the apron, wanted a Dead Eye, but Bailey broke free with a backdrop into a moonsault double knee. Back inside, Bailey tried Ultimate Weapon, rolled through, Helluva Kick connected and a Snap Dragon to follow. Roundhouse kick clobbered MJF and a corkscrew kick followed in the corner, as Bailey finally hit Ultimate Weapon, but MJF got a foot on the ropes. Bailey tried another moonsault double knee on the apron, but crashed and burned, allowing MJF to hit a Tombstone on the apron. MJF saluted and said God Bless America before hitting a Heatseeker for the win, staring Omega down. Omega said it was a Herculean performance from Bailey, but he can’t take anything away from MJF, he won that one fair and square, he’s obviously ready for Dynasty.

Post-match, MJF got in a series of quick punches in on Bailey, as Omega jumped in to make the save, as MJF bailed, telling Omega to look at his future. MJF went to the back, as referee Bryce, the doctor & Omega tended to Bailey. It felt like something else was going to happen, but Omega just slowly helped Bailey up and raised his hand, which Bailey returned the favor, raising Omega’s hand to go off the air.

Match Result: MJF defeated Speedball Mike Bailey

AEW Collision 4/2/26

• Willow Nightingale TBS Title Open Challenge
• AEW Men’s Tag Team Champions FTR in Action
• AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion in Action
• Jon Moxley vs. Anthony Bowens in a Continental Title Eliminator
• Juice Robinson vs. Tommaso Ciampa
• Andrade el Idolo & Mark Davis vs. The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Dezmond Xavier)
• Kevin Knight, Mistico, Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Clark Connors & David Finlay in an 8-Man Tornado Tag