Tag: best friends

Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli will be in tag team action on this week’s AEW Dynamite. 

Coming off last week’s loss in Blood & Guts, Moxley & Castagnoli will look to rebound against Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix of The Lucha Bros, and Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor of Best Friends in a triple threat match. 

Orange Cassidy is set to defend the AEW International Championship against AR Fox. The bout will be Fox’s sixth title shot in 25 career AEW matches. Including tag bouts, Fox’s career AEW record stands at 10-14 coming into the bout.  

Darby Allin will go one-on-one with Swerve Strickland. Allin won last week’s Royal Rampage to earn a TNT title shot at next month’s All Out pay-per-view. 

After a win over Skye Blue on last week’s Collision, Taya Valkyrie will face Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. on Dynamite. 

PAC vs. Gravity, plus a promo from MJF & Adam Cole are also set for the show. 

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

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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz, as they run down the card for the evening before going to a video package about the history between Darby Allin & AR Fox. The advice that Fox gave to Allin is documented, as Allin put over how Fox gave him a place to stay for free while training. Allin said if anyone deserves a shot, it’s AR Fox, as without him, there might not be a Darby Allin.

Orange Cassidy defeated AR Fox to retain the AEW International Title

(An action packed opener, with the crowd showing support for both guys throughout. The post match was very interesting, as the attack by Fox was very unexpected and led to Darby Allin questioning why his friend would do what he did after he vouched for Fox to get this title shot.)

This is Fox’s sixth title match in AEW, as he was previously unsuccessful in four Trios Title bouts and one TNT Title match against Samoa Joe last November. Meanwhile, this is Cassidy’s 27^th title defense of the International Title as Excalibur runs down all the injuries Cassidy has suffered over the course of his reign. Fox tried keeping Cassidy grounded early, but Cassidy responded with the hands in pocket mind games and powdered, only to eat a quick moonsault to the floor by Fox. Back inside, Fox used his speed to hit a roll through suplex, which Cassidy countered into a Stundog Millionaire. Fox answered by kicking out of the corner with a leaping cutter and twisting brainbuster for a near fall. Fox stayed in control for a majority of the commercial break.

Cassidy fought out of a third neckbreaker by Fox before both traded big boots to the face. Each man blocked cutter attempts before hitting a double neckbreaker for the reset. Cassidy went up and over in the corner and repeatedly slammed Fox head first into the buckle. Fox sent Cassidy to the outside and hit a huge somersault dive and senton back inside for a close two. Cassidy countered Lo Mein Pain into a dive outside of his own and spinning DDT back in the ring that led to Beach Break, but Fox kicked out. Fox blocked the Orange Punch, set Cassidy up in the corner and hit Lo Mein Pain for a close near fall of his own. Cassidy rolled to the apron, but Fox was there to hit a Rolling Thunder and DDT back inside. Fox missed a top rope 450, seemed to tweak his ankle, allowing Cassidy to wrench at it and get the Mouse Trap for the victory. Post match, Cassidy put his sunglasses on Fox, who snapped them in half and attacked Cassidy as a furious Darby Allin screamed at Fox at the ramp asking him what that was about and Fox didn’t have an answer.

After all that, Cassidy was trying to recover when Jon Moxley ran through the crowd and laid out Cassidy with the Death Rider, as Excalibur talked about Cassidy getting involved at the end of Claudio Castagnoli’s match in ROH Death Before Dishonor.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Chris Jericho & Don Callis, who talked about fans wanting Jericho to becoming part of Callis’ family. Callis said for Jericho to imagine a dream team with Konosuke Takeshita and Jericho said he’s willing to give it a try. Callis said their opponents will be Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara as Callis said that Jericho wanted them to spread their wings, as Jericho reluctantly accepted. Callis commissioned a work of art of their 1995 promo with Bad News Allen and there’s a painting shown of Bad News in the sky looking over Callis & Jericho.

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A brief video of HOOK walking and taking a seat at the subway is shown before the subway speeds past and HOOK was gone.

Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta cut a PSA backstage telling kids not to play with fire or mess with the Blackpool Combat Club. Castagnoli said the beating PAC suffered at Death Before Dishonor is nothing compared to what he’d get when they cross paths again. Jon Moxley walked in and gave a warning to Lucha Bros & Best Friends, who will pay tonight for PAC’s mistake.

Jack Perry addresses HOOK & the FTW Title

Tony Schiavone introduced the new FTW Champion, who walked out with his Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony playing and new I Beat HOOK shirt. Schiavone got the crowd to start really booing Perry, who said after one loss, HOOK realized he can’t hang with the big boys, so he’s now on the train to nowhere. The FTW Title wasn’t what Perry was talking about when he said he wanted to win gold in 2023 in AEW and said as soon as he put his hands on the title, it became the real deal. Perry said he is the best wrestler ever to hold the title and ran down Taz and his friends.

This brought out Jerry Lynn, who said in ECW, they paved the way for the current generation. Without ECW, there never would have been a Jungle Boy and told Perry to keep running his mouth; it will get his ass kicked. Lynn squared up, but Perry said he’s not dressed to fight, instead challenging Lynn to show up next week. next week before leaving. So I guess we’re getting Jack Perry against Jerry Lynn? Who had that on their 2023 Wrestling Bingo card? I certainly wasn’t expecting that.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Britt Baker, asking her reaction to Taya Valkyrie’s comments on Collision. Baker thanked Valkyrie and said she’s excited for their first time meeting, but will drag Valkyrie to the deep end and remind everyone that TBS is The Britt Show.

PAC submitted Gravity

(While most of this happened during commercial, the internet did get it’s reference to the irony of this match being booked in the first place. And as a bonus, we got Taz singing a little John Mayer. This was pretty much a dominating showing needed to put PAC back in the win column in AEW.)

During his entrance, Gravity actually acted like he was walking on the moon. PAC brilliantly tried to reintroduce himself to Gravity, as he was previously known as The Man That Gravity forgot. Taz meanwhile, shoe horned and briefly serenaded us with John Mayer’s ‘Gravity’. Gravity used his speed to send PAC to the floor early and tried to play mind games, only to eat a dropkick through the ropes by PAC, who stayed in control the entire picture in picture.

Back from commercial we saw the Blackpool Combat Club watching from their locker room. Gravity fought out of the corner with a leaping cross body, but PAC responded with a series of kicks. Both men went to the top and PAC connected with an avalanche brainbuster and quickly got the submission using the Brutalizer.

-We see post match comments from Renee Paquette with the Blind Eliminator Tournament winners MJF & Adam Cole. When Cole was about to start the promo, MJF cut him off and trash talked both members of FTR, mocking Dax Harwood constantly cutting the same promos and MJF will punch him so hard in the face he’ll spit out CM Punk’s jockstrap. The only initials that matter aren’t FTR, it’s MJF. Cole said never in a million years did he expect to be friends with MJF and said he has nothing to worry about with touching the AEW World Title post match. Cole said MJF is becoming one of his best friends and MJF said win, lose or draw, he wants Cole to know he’s getting a rematch for the World Title. Roderick Strong stormed in and shoved MJF, saying Cole shouldn’t trust him. Cole told MJF to leave as he said he loves Strong, but he’s pushing Cole away because he’s showing he doesn’t trust him.

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-Comments from FTR last week are shown with Renee Paquette as Wheeler said he’s excited about Collision on Saturday, but feels bad Adam Cole has been dragged into this. They respect Cole, but they hate MJF, calling him a generational ass kisser. Everyone who has been with MJF, including his fiancé, once they get to know him, they leave him. Harwood said he won’t get gimmicked up like MJF, since this is real to him. At Collision, MJF won’t make a mockery of professional wrestling and he’ll beat the sh*t out of Max on Saturday. Harwood apologizes to Cole, but says they are beating them at Collision.

Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeated Darby Allin (w/Nick Wayne)

(These two continue to add to their great series of matches, as this was just as wild as you’d expect. The Death Valley Driver spot was unreal and I question how Allin’s spine wasn’t broken, which, that’s not the only time I’ve questioned that in his matches. The finish you could really see coming after the opener tonight and it’s a way to actually do something with AR Fox, who, up to this point, had been just another guy on the roster. Aligning with Strickland hopefully allows him to break out a little bit going forward.)

After an early back and forth, we nearly saw an identical ending to the Royal Rampage on Friday with Allin on the apron this time, with Strickland diving to the outside, only to eat a Code Red as a result. Allin chucked Strickland into the steps, repositioned them, but Strickland reversed a whip, Allin cleared the steps, as Strickland launched off the steps with a massive House Call kick. Strickland controlled the entire break, working over Allin’s wrist and taunting Wayne in the process.

Strickland connected on a roll through Flatliner and huge suplex before both men traded a series of roll ups ending with Strickland kicking out of the Last Supper. Strickland rolled to the apron and Allin speared him through the ropes and landed right on his head on the outside in the process. Back inside, Strickland rolled out to the floor again and this time caught a charging Allin with a knee lift in mid air. Back inside again, Strickland hit a Swerve Stomp, but Allin kicked out. Both men went up to the top and Allin managed an avalanche over the top stunner sending Strickland to the apron. Allin wanted a Coffin Drop, but Strickland pulled out the feet and hit an unreal and violent looking Death Valley Driver off the second rope onto the edge of the ring.

The referee was distracted by Nana & Wayne, as Allin was about to roll back into the ring, but a hooded ring attendant shoved him into the ring post and put back into the ring. Strickland connected with the JML Driver to get the win. The masked man was AR Fox, who attacked Allin & Nick Wayne post match, trying a move with Allin’s skateboard and failing miserably. Prince Nana presented a Mogul Embassy shirt to Fox, who proudly put it on.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Anna Jay & Tay Conti as Chris Jericho walked up and told them all to come into his dressing room. The painting Don Callis presented Jericho earlier is hung up and Jericho said forget about that, asking how the baby is to Tay Conti, who said the baby is fine, but asks what is going on with Jericho? Parker was about to give back his comb to Jericho, but said not quite yet. Anna Jay said Jericho is being selfish and said like Hager said; they can’t give Jericho their 100%. Everyone but Menard left, who told Jericho to figure things out, fast, before leaving himself.

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Britt Baker submitted Taya Valkyrie

(Sometimes things just don’t gel right and this was one of those times. Both ladies tried hard, but that messed up spot early turned the crowd. While they did get them back with the forearm exchange, it just seemed things were off. Regardless, this was a needed win for Baker, who continues to get back on the winning track following an early elimination in the Owen Hart Tournament.)

Baker worked an early headlock, but Valkyrie used her power to gain control with her running corner knees. With the wrist trapped, Valkyrie fired off stiff chops and short arm lariat, but Baker tried a misdirect, only to sort of fall to Road to Valhalla. The crowd booed, as the whole spot looked really clunky, so I’m not sure whether or not Valkyrie was supposed to hit a proper one. Regardless, Baker’s didn’t get up enough, so Valkyrie just mounted and dished out strikes heading into break.

When they returned, the crowd still was booing, as Valkyrie was trapped in a Baker cravat and ate knee strikes. Valkyrie was sent into the corner, stumbled out and Baker hit a rip cord strike, only for Valkyrie to kick out at one. A forearm battle commenced as both ladies traded kicks and Valkyrie just dove for a lariat. Baker wanted Panama Sunrise, Valkyrie countered into a Northern Lights, but Baker got back in control, tried again and got the Panama Sunrise for two. Baker took too long putting on her glove and Valkyrie hit a Spear, wanted Road to Valhalla, but Baker spun out into Lock Jaw for the win.

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The Lucha Bros (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley and Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)

(A pretty jam packed main event, with the story playing a lot into what happened after the ROH Title match at Death Before Dishonor. That is where the bad blood started, as Castagnoli & Moxley once again found themselves on the losing end to close Dynamite, an unfamiliar territory for them as commentary said. I wouldn’t have minded Best Friends getting a win here, but if the story plays eventually more into PAC bailing on the BCC, it makes sense his Death Triangle buddies got the win here.)

Lucha Bros & Best Friends started fighting before The BCC even got to the ring, as the brawl was on with everyone. Taylor & Moxley brawled up the ramp before everyone else joined on the floor and Taylor hit a somersault dive off the stage onto the pile. Back to the ring, Fenix & Castagnoli had a nice exchange with Fenix doing a massive springboard arm drag, only to eat a Sexy Chuckie Knee from Beretta. Moxley jumped in with a cutter and Castagnoli cleaned house on everyone else with uppercuts. Fenix fell back into a tag from Beretta, who tackled Fenix for revenge of getting whacked in the face with a chair at Death Before Dishonor last Friday. Beretta missed a knee on Castagnoli, but did hit a Saito Suplex before trying a dive, only to eat an uppercut before takeoff. Moxley tagged in and destroyed Beretta with a King Kong Lariat into commercial break.

Beretta fought out of the corner with a missile dropkick on Castagnoli, tagging Taylor, who dropped Moxley with Sole Food. Moxley tried turning the tables, but ate a jump knee and German suplex by Taylor. Penta made the blind tag on Moxley and fired off Sling Blade and back stabber on Taylor. All six men started slugging it out in the ring until Best Friends just decided to hug and give the people what they wanted. Moxley & Castagnoli were sent outside and Lucha Bros were planted with dueling piledrivers from Taylor & Beretta.

Lucha Bros gained control with superkicks and submission attempts, as Penta snapped back on the arm of Beretta before hitting Made in Penta. Castagnoli & Moxley broke things up, beating down Best Friends with anvil elbows, stomps and powerbomb by Castagnoli on Taylor. Castagnoli wanted a Ricola Bomb, but Orange Cassidy’s music hit and he laid out Wheeler Yuta on the ramp. Cassidy slugged it out with Moxley as Beretta dropped Castagnoli with a Crunchie, but was told Castagnoli wasn’t the legal man, how in the world with all this chaos did Paul Turner keep track of that? The Lucha Bros jumped in and laid out Beretta with Fear Factor and Penta got the win.

Post match, commentary talked about how The BCC are in unfamiliar territory losing multiple matches, as Best Friends & Cassidy kept brawling with The BCC before Lucha Bros kind of made Moxley back off, as he bailed all while everyone else brawled. Excalibur informed us Moxley vs. Beretta vs. Penta next week in an Anything Goes three way on the 200^th episode of Dynamite.

AEW Rampage 7/28/23

· Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose

· Tag Team Battle Royale featuring Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh, Big Bill & Brian Cage, Ethan Page & Brother Zay, The Hardy Boys, Butcher & The Blade, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker, Luther & Serpentico and Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal with the winners receiving an AEW Tag Team Title match

· Scorpio Sky vs. Kip Sabian

· The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) Will Be In Action

AEW Collision 7/29/23

· FTR defend the AEW Tag Team Titles against AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole

· Andrade El Idolo vs. Buddy Matthews in a Ladder Match for Idolo’s Mask

· El Hijo del Vikingo, Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. Juice Robinson & The Gunns

AEW Dynamite 8/2/23

· Jack Perry face to face with Jerry Lynn

· Chris Jericho & Konosuke Takeshita vs. Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia

· Jon Moxley vs. Trent Beretta vs. Penta el zero Miedo in an Anything Goes Match