Atlantis Jr. will defend the Ring of Honor men’s TV title against Brian Cage on the Zero Hour pre-show portion of next Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream.
The champion has successfully defended the title three times since winning the gold as part of a June CMLL event while Cage is undefeated in 13 straight singles matches on the red and black brand dating back to April 2022.
The two have never squared off one-on-one, but have shared the ring twice this past summer. Cage has never held an ROH singles title.
Here’s the updated lineup for the Saturday, October 12 PPV from Tacoma, Washington:
AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson defends against Jon Moxley
TNT Champion Jack Perry defends against Katsuyori Shibata
AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defends against Ricochet & Konosuke Takeshita in a three-way
ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe defends against Chris Jericho
Darby Allin vs. TBD
Zero Hour: ROH men’s TV Champion Atlantis Jr. defends against Brian Cage
Ring of Honor TV Champion Atlantis Jr. will defend his title in a six-way Survival of the Fittest match on Friday’s Death Before Dishonor card.
The other five combatants are Lio Rush, Shane Taylor, Johnny TV, Brian Cage and Lee Johnson. As a preview, Atlantis Jr. will team with Rush against Johnny TV and Taylor on Thursday’s ROH TV.
It will be the second defense of the title the CMLL star won in June.
Here’s the current lineup for Friday’s streaming special from Arlington, Texas:
ROH World Championship: Mark Briscoe defends against Roderick Strong
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against Queen Aminata
ROH TV Champion Atlantis Jr. defends against Lio Rush, Shane Taylor, Johnny TV, Brian Cage and Lee Johnson in a Survival of the Fittest match
ROH Women’s World TV Champion Billie Starkz defends against Red Velvet
ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta defends against Lee Moriarty
The full lineup for the special Saturday edition of AEW Rampage has been released, headlined by Kyle O’Reilly vs. Lee Moriarty.
O’Reilly is coming off a loss to TNT Champion Adam Copeland on last week’s Collision while Moriarty was defeated by Will Ospreay the week prior. He hasn’t won a singles match in AEW since an August 2023 dark match before the 200th episode of Dynamite.
After falling in defeat to AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland on Dynamite, Brian Cage will look to rebound as he takes on former AEW Tag Team and Trios Champion Anthony Bowens.
Former AEW Women’s title challenger Deonna Purrazzo will take on Robyn Renegade while Rush will look to go 2-0 in his return to AEW as he goes heads-up with Cody Chhun.
The show, taped Thursday in Portland, Oregon, will air after Collision Saturday at 10 PM Eastern on TNT.
An eliminator match for the AEW World title is set for the next Dynamite.
Swerve Strickland will face Brian Cage in a singles match following the events of Saturday’s Collision. As Cage explained why The Mogul Embassay turned on Swerve, they were attacked by the AEW World Champion. Cage managed to escape as Swerve single-handedly took out both Toa Liona and Kaun.
Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson will team together, taking on Kyle Fletcher and NJPW’s Jeff Cobb. Tony Schiavone framed the match as Don Callis looking for revenge after Moxley defeated and injured Powerhouse Hobbs in their IWGP World title match.
Members of The Elite will also be in action. Kazuchika Okada will face Dax Harwood after FTR, Eddie Kingston, and Danielson confronted The Elite at the end of Wednesday’s Dynamite. After Okada issued the challenge and walked away, Christopher Daniels angrily confronted Matt Jackson over The Elite’s recent actions. The Young Bucks will now face Daniels and Matt Sydal in a tag match on Dynamite.
Other segments will include Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone’s contract signing for Double or Nothing, and Hook will return after his FTW Championship loss at Dynasty to Chris Jericho.
During Rampage, it was announced that Toni Storm will face Harley Cameron. Will Ospreay will meet Roderick Strong face-to-face, and Adam Copeland will call out Malakai Black after challenging him to a barbed wire steel cage match at Double or Nothing.
Here is the updated card for AEW Dynamite:
AEW World title eliminator: Swerve Strickland vs. Brian Cage
Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson vs. Kyle Fletcher & Jeff Cob
Dax Harwood vs. Kazuchika Okada
The Young Bucks vs. Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels
Toni Storm vs. Harley Cameron
Mercedes Mone-Willow Nightingale contract signing
Will Ospreay-Roderick Strong face-to-face
Adam Copeland calls out Malakai Black for Double or Nothing.
After weeks of altercations, Coldhearted Handsome Devil HOOK defends the FTW Title vs former champ "The Machine" Brian Cage on TBS TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/M9u3nUreRU
Hook is in his second run with the title and will be looking for his ninth combined defense. He lost the belt to Jack Perry at Blood & Guts 2023 but won it back at All In the following month.
Cage was the champion for 377 days from July 2020 to July 2021, although he only successfully defended the title twice in his reign.
Tonight’s Dynamite takes place at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. A new set and stage will debut on the show and The Young Bucks are advertised to have a huge announcement.
A trios match with Revolution implications takes place on AEW Dynamite.
World Champion Samoa Joe teams with Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage against Hangman Page, Hook & Rob Van Dam in a six-man tag team bout on tonight’s episode. Joe is set to defend the World title against Strickland & Page in a three-way at the Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday, March 3.
Blackpool Combat Club will square off with FTR in tag team action on the show as well, as BCC’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli face FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler. Moxley defeated Harwood on last week’s Dynamite as a feud between the two teams heats up as they look to climb the tag team rankings.
Both participants in the Women’s World title match at Revolution will also be in singles competition on tonight’s episode. Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm will be in action, as will her Revolution challenger Deonna Purrazzo.
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz as they go to the entrances for the opening contest of the evening.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli went to a 20 Minute Time Limit
(To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t paying attention to the announced 20 Minute Time Limit at the start of the match, so I was caught completely by surprised when I heard Justin Roberts announce 5 minutes remaining at one point. While it might not be ideal to do another time limit draw after Swerve Strickland & Hangman Page a few weeks ago, to get this rematch to happen at Revolution, the finish made complete sense. These two beat the hell out of each other, the crowd were into it and should be even better in a few weeks.)
Quick tags from both teams in the early going, as after Moxley & Wheeler started quick, it was Wheeler who wasn’t backing down with Castagnoli during an uppercut exchange. After suffering a double team, Moxley regrouped outside and came in trading brutal head butts with Wheeler. Harwood flew off the top for a double cross body, as Castagnoli & Moxley opted to take the fight to the floor. Harwood took the bullet, shoving Wheeler out of the way from a Moxley Tope, but Wheeler retaliated, sending Moxley into the steps. Back inside, Moxley again was double teamed in the corner, as FTR heeled it up with the assisted abdominal stretch spot, getting caught immediately by the ref. After eating a double slingshot throat first under the bottom rope, Moxley exploded out of the corner with a lariat. Castagnoli ran wild briefly and delivered a double back suplex. Harwood went after Moxley on the floor, but ultimately suffered a stuff piledriver with Castagnoli leaping off the apron, taking things to picture in picture.
Harwood was controlled during the entire break, but broke free from Castagnoli’s clutches and Wheeler & Moxley made the tag, with Wheeler a house of fire. Wheeler spun out of a Paradigm Shift into a brainbuster for two as we’re given a 5 minute call from Justin Roberts. Castagnoli saved his partner from a Shatter Machine, but Moxley missed a blind tag from Harwood and was dropped with an assisted powerbomb for two. FTR wanted the Power-Plex, but Castagnoli uppercut Wheeler out of the corner. Harwood avoided a Doomsday Device, posted Castagnoli and hit his part of the Power-Plex, but Moxley got his knees up on a diving Wheeler. Castagnoli immediately did a Giant Swing on Harwood, with Moxley doing the Tyson Kidd special, dropkicking him mid revolution. Anvil elbows from Moxley, who switched to a Bulldog Choke, as Castagnoli locked a choke in on Wheeler, who just fell back onto Moxley, with everyone down with 2 minutes remaining.
Harwood & Moxley slugged it out before Harwood got the Sharpshooter locked in. Castagnoli followed suit by applying one to Wheeler, as Castagnoli & Harwood had a slap battle with both submissions applied. They both let go as Harwood planted Castagnoli with a piledriver, but Moxley nearly stole a pin off a crucifix for two. Moxley was sent off the ropes and was about to suffer Shatter Machine when the bell sounded and the time limit expired. Both teams continued to slug it out with officials, security and other wrestlers running down to break it up, having little success.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Orange Cassidy and runs down the recent history between Best Friends and The Kingdom, along with Cassidy’s matches along the way, including last weeks Texas Death Match. She turns to the doctor, who said unfortunately or fortunately, Cassidy has met minimal medical clearance, so he’s cleared. Paquette said that’s insane, but the doctor said what can he do, Cassidy is minimally cleared. With Trent Beretta apparently not cleared, Cassidy said he’ll take his match with Mike Bennett tonight.
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-We see footage of the Rev Pro show this weekend with Orange Cassidy popping up as a surprise to defend his International Title in a 7 Way match.
-Alex Marvez is backstage with FTR, who said they were 10 more seconds away from winning that match with the BCC. Harwood was about to lay out the challenge for Revolution when Castagnoli Moxley came in, held back by officials, as they argued before anything could officially be set for the Pay Per View.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defeated Mike Bennett (w/Matt Taven)
(With Cassidy taking out Taven last week, it makes sense for Bennett to be next on his revenge tour on his way to Roderick Strong at Revolution. I know Jake Hager is from Oklahoma, but I don’t know why he saved Cassidy here, as they’ve never had any friendship. We were told afterwards that Hager is wrestling Strong on Friday, so I guess that’s all the reason we need.)
Commentary talked about how the Undisputed Kingdom laid out Chuck Taylor & Rocky Romero, while Trent Beretta wasn’t cleared after the ending of the main event last week, leaving Cassidy flying solo. Cassidy charged up the ramp, ducked a Bennett belt shot attempt and leveled Taven with a Superman Punch. The match officially began in the ring, with Bennett quickly taking over on offense, but Cassidy hit a Stundog Millionaire and spinning DDT. Roderick Strong hit the ring and distracted the ref long enough for Bennett to punch Cassidy low and hit a piledriver for two.
Bennett controlled the entire commercial break and took a headset from commentary to run down Cassidy. All this did was allow Cassidy to recover and hit multiple dives. Bennett responded with a spinebuster on the apron and Death Valley Driver on the floor. Back inside, Bennett took too long to follow up, as Cassidy exploded out with a desperation Orange Punch. Bennett fought off Beach Break and hit a Gotch Style Piledriver for a close near fall. Multiple roaring elbows dropped Cassidy, who countered a third piledriver attempt into Beach Break out of nowhere for the win.
Right as the bell sounded, Matt Taven hit the ring with Roderick Strong, who was going to hit a knee when Oklahoma’s Jake Hager ran out to make the save and clear the ring. The crowd popped loud for their hometown Hager, who we’re told will face Roderick Strong this week on Rampage.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Angelo Parker, asking him about his date tonight with Ruby Soho. Parker said he’s excited when Soho walked in wearing a dress, as Parker asked if she’s ready to go as a car pulls up and Soho asks if that’s for them. Parker said no, as they have a Lyft. They leave and we see Ric Flair getting out of the car.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Ric Flair and asks about Sting’s final match at Revolution. Flair said he doesn’t care who likes it, he felt upset he’s not a bigger part of things. Flair isn’t upset at Sting, but disappointed he hasn’t been around for three or four weeks, so he’s going to explore some options. Flair walks away before knocking on The Young Bucks locker room, asking if they have time to talk. They welcome him in, but close the door on the camera.
Christian Cage Makes Things Personal With Daniel Garcia
Tony Schiavone welcomes Daniel Garcia to the ring and talks about what happened last week, with Adam Copeland being unable to compete after Christian Cage’s attack. Schiavone informs Garcia that he will receive a TNT Title match against Cage at Revolution and got You Deserve It chants from the crowd. Garcia thanked the crowd and said a few months ago, he was at his lowest on his losing streak, but at the end of the Continental Classic, all he needed as three seconds and winning his final match changed his life. Every time he got down on himself, the fans picked him up and Garcia thanks them restoring his confidence. Garcia said he was about to make Copeland tap out last week and promises that wasn’t the last time they’ll see one another. Garcia has a message for Christian Cage, whose music hit immediately, as the entire Patriarchy came to the stage.
Cage said Adam Copeland will never have another shot at the TNT Title and the only reason Garcia was in harm’s way last week was because of Copeland. Cage said he doesn’t believe he should wrestle Garcia at Revolution, as Garcia isn’t ready. Cage said Garcia’s constant distractions like dancing and catering to the fans is what will keep him from being great. Cage said he knows about Garcia’s dark childhood and brings up Jackie Garcia from Buffalo, who was married to David Garcia, Daniel’s father, who is dead. Cage said it’d be a fairytale ending for Garcia to win the TNT Title in tribute to his father, but they both know his father was a piece of crap, loser alcoholic. Unlike his father, Cage doesn’t want to hurt Garcia; he wants him to realize his full potential. Cage doesn’t want to be Garcia’s opponent; he wants to be his father. Garcia said if Cage mentions his mother again and since Cage likes to bring up his father, come to the ring and he’ll put Cage in the ground right next to him.
Cage nodded to Nick Wayne, who hit the ring and was immediately put in the Dragon Tamer. Killswitch was next, who came to the ring, but was leveled from behind by a Matt Menard chair shot. Menard & Garcia stood tall in the ring with chairs, as Cage said he doesn’t want to hurt Garcia, he just wants to guide him.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Hangman Adam Page, Rob Van Dam & HOOK and asks about the main event tonight. Page said tonight is full of opportunities, as HOOK can get revenge on Brian Cage and RVD can get revenge on Swerve Strickland, who had he beaten a few weeks ago, we wouldn’t have been in the situation they’re in to begin with. RVD said he wasn’t happy about it and asked if Prince Nana was even there, as he heard Nana might have something he’s interested in (implying weed, which Page said months ago he’d beat Nana up and take). A frustrated Page cut him off and stormed out.
Storm is now being introduced as hailing from Stage 7 at Warner Studios, as she rushed Winnell at the bell. Winnell got off a few strikes, but Storm met her with a Thesz Press and punches in bunches. Storm connected on a corner splash and running bulldog, as Sweet Cheek Music and Storm Zero followed. Storm applied the ankle lock she called Break a Leg before applying a Venus De Milo for the submission, taking a page out of Deonna Purrazzo’s playbook.
As Storm was helped out of the ring by Luther, Purrazzo’s entrance hit and it’s time for her match, stealing the spotlight from Storm, who just ran to the back, I think to get out of the camera shot before Madison Rayne’s entrance. Taz covered this up by saying Storm was visibly upset.
Deonna Purrazzo defeated Madison Rayne
(This was Rayne’s first match in AEW in little over a year, as commentary talked about how she was Purrazzo’s mentor. This was the match that mostly took place during commercial, but what we did see felt very slow. I really hope Rayne is ok after taking such a scary bump on her head, a bump, for some reason, was replayed as part of a Turbo Tax sponsorship post match.)
Some early mat wrestling to start things off, with Rayne the first to start throwing punches after hitting a leg trip. Purrazzo did a misdirect leg sweep, sending Rayne to the floor, where she met her with a baseball slide that took us to commercial. Rayne took control during break, but a double clothesline led to the reset. Purrazzo fired up with a series of offense, hitting a Side Russian Leg Sweep until a slow forearm exchange led to Purrazzo trying a Flatliner, but Rayne rotated and landed right on her head violently. The ref checked on Rayne, as the doctor was right there ringside, but Paul Turner said she was ok and Purrazzo quickly put on Toni Storm’s ankle lock, Break a Leg, to get the quick tap. Toni Storm hit the ring post match with a shoe, but ate a pump kick by Purazzo. Luther ran distraction long enough for Storm to attack from behind and clamp on the Break a Leg. Storm let the hold go and applied a crazy amount of lipstick before staring down with Purrazzo. The black and white and color they used for the same shot between both ladies was pretty cool visually.
-We hear comments from Darby Allin & Sting, as Allin said material objects we chase we think define us, don’t mean a thing. Allin shows some photos of Sting’s sons with their dad at the same age The Young Bucks children are right now. Allin said the only thing that matters in the end, is family. Sting walked into the shot and agreed, saying in all his years in wrestling, no one has ever messed with his family until The Bucks. Sting said a lot has been going on over the last week for his family, including losing his father, which makes him think about his own mortality. Sting used to think he was invincible, but time catches up to everyone, catching up with himself for sure. Sting realizes he’s not invincible, but realizes everything he has left in him, he’s bringing to Revolution. The Bucks have a fight on their hands, the fight of their lives. This was a brief but fantastic promo by the Stinger.
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-Tony Schiavone introduces Wardlow to the ring, as he walks out pissed off and told Schiavone to get out of the ring before he knocks him on his old ass again. Wardlow said two years ago, thousands of people were chanting his name in a matter that hasn’t been heard or seen in decades. Apparently the rocket strapped to his back was put on upside down, as he’s been screwed time after time again. Wardlow said you’d think the one home grown mega start would’ve been champion a long time ago, but he’s never received a World Title shot, something people in the back should be thrown in jail for. Wardlow brought up the “Best in the World” and “Real World Champion” whose body is still falling apart because of him. Wardlow brought up how he squashed MJF like no one else has. Finally, Wardlow mentions choking Samoa Joe out and how suits and shiny titles look better on him than Joe. Wardlow said he’s the uncrowned king of AEW and it’s time he starts eating like one, as he’s everything a World Champion is supposed to be. If anyone wants to get in his way, this is no longer wrestling, this…is…War.
-We hear post match comments from the Bang Bang Scissor Gang following their 12 Man Tag victory on Rampage last week. Daddy Ass apologizes running into Switchblade Jay White during the match, as White said it’s fine and suggest he, Austin Gunn & Daddy Ass are the Collision Cowboys this Saturday. Anthony Bowens said it doesn’t matter the combo, everyone loves The Acclaimed, Bang Bang.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with the Don Callis Family, asking Callis if he’s given any more thoughts on how the match between Will Ospreay & Konosuke Takeshita will affect the Family after Revolution. Callis said it’ll help them big time, as win or lose, the best wrestlers in the world will still be part of the Family. Callis is on his way to the UK to pick up Ospreay himself to bring him to Revolution. Callis called Sammy Guevara a fly in the ointment and a little cuck who Meat Madness Powerhouse Hobbs and himself will deal with on Rampage.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) defeated Hangman Adam Page, FTW Champion HOOK & Rob Van Dam
(This was quite the party match main event, with multiple commercial breaks and a whole heck of a lot of chaotic action throughout. With RVD involved, you knew if anyone was eating a pin or submission, it’d be him, as Joe standing tall when all was said and done made the most sense. Despite playing the heel in recent weeks, Page was cheered here quite a bit.)
HOOK wanted to start against Joe, who slammed HOOK down multiple times, bringing a smile to Joe as a result. HOOK switched to body shots and a flying clothesline that took Joe down, as Joe turned the table in the corner with body strikes of his own before tagging in Cage. HOOK escaped and made a tag to RVD, who had a quick sequence with Cage, who showed off his strength, leading to a double team with Strickland. After a series of switches, Page made the blind tag and came face to face with Strickland after RVD side stepped a Flatliner attempt. Before things got physical, HOOK & Cage pulled their teammates back for some reason, as Cage & Page remained during commercial.
Back from break, it was HOOK held up in a Cage delayed vertical suplex for two. Cage wanted a Death Valley Driver, but HOOK countered enough into a DDT, leading to a RVD hot tag, angering Page that he didn’t get it. RVD ran wild, hitting Rolling Thunder on Strickland and Five Star Frog Splash on Cage for two. Joe argued with referee Aubrey, as Strickland blindsided Page on the apron with a running boot. Fast tags made by Joe’s team, as they head to another commercial.
RVD was isolated the entire break before Joe missed a charge and RVD hit a spin kick into the double down. Page & Cage made the double tag, as Page sprinted right at Strickland to get his revenge before dropping Cage with a hurricanrana. Strickland side stepped a slingshot dive, but Page hit a pump kick to counter a Strickland rolling Flatliner. Back inside, Page dropped Cage with a Death Valley Driver, but Joe was there to clobber him with a running boot. The match broke down with everyone hitting a high impact move leaving Page to choose between a Buckshot on Cage or Moonsault on Strickland and he chose Strickland, as Cage cut him off before the move could happen. HOOK was there and we got a Tower of Doom spot. HOOK sank in REDRUM on Cage, who made a blind tag to Joe. HOOK ate a pop up powerbomb by Cage and a brutal House Call from Strickland, as Page flew in with a Buckshot on Cage.
Joe, Strickland & Page were left alone in the ring, as the Revolution graphic showed at the bottom of the screen. Strickland & Joe took out Page, who rolled to the floor and Joe hit a Tope. Strickland went for a pump kick off the apron, but missed Page and took out Joe. Page then powerbombed Strickland off the apron through the announce table. Joe ducked a Buckshot back inside and hit a snap powerslam for two, as RVD took out Cage with a slingshot splash and made the tag. Joe was waiting, but didn’t see HOOK waiting and ate an Exploder. RVD went up for the Five Star, but Cage shoved him off and wiped out HOOK with a discus lariat. Joe sank on the Coquina Clutch, as RVD faded and passed out.
Joe held up the AEW Title, as Strickland looked on with Nana, while Page kept telling the camera man not to shoot him, as he was holding his ankle. Hopefully Page isn’t legit injured.
AEW Rampage 2/23/24
· Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will be In Action
· Roderick Strong battles Jake Hager
· Private Party & Matt Sydal vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti vs. Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander & Bryan Keith
· Mariah May takes on Anna Jay
· We hear from Sammy Guevara
AEW Collision 2/24/24
· Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
· Switchblade Jay White, Austin Gunn & Daddy Ass in Trios Action
AEW wrestler Brian Cage is currently working through a torn lat.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, Cage wrote that he wrestled with a torn lat on last night’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Cage, Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona & Lance Archer lost to Preston Vance, Adam Copeland, Orange Cassidy & Dustin Rhodes in an eight-man tag bout on the show. The match was in honor of the late Brodie Lee.
Cage suffered the torn latissimus muscle during a four-way match on the January 3 episode of Dynamite. It happened when Trent Beretta gave Cage a German suplex from the second rope.
“Welllllll, I may or may not have gotten a ‘boo boo’ last Wednesday night on Dynamite,” Cage wrote earlier this week. “But I’m not a man, I’m a machine! And the show must go on.”
Beretta won last week’s four-way match and advanced to challenge Eddie Kingston for the Continental Crown on AEW Collision. Kingston defeated Beretta to retain.
The Mogul Embassy (Cage, Kaun & Liona) are the current ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions. They’re defending against Archer & The Righteous on Collision this Saturday.
Brian Cage and Melissa Santos have welcomed another baby into the world.
On Tuesday night, cage announced via social media that Santos has given birth to a baby boy named Logan.
Cage wrote:
Pumping out babies like a “f’n machine” & glad to be back into “newborn” fatherhood. Actually, @ThisIsMelSantos was the real machine this time. Now it’s time to go streets of cage/rage tomorrow in my old stomping grounds of Ontario, CA. @aew Like a Dragon streetfight
Pumping out babies like a "f'n machine" & glad to be back into "newborn" fatherhood. Actually, @ThisIsMelSantos was the real machine this time.
Now it's time to go streets of cage/rage tomorrow in my old stomping grounds of Ontario, CA. @aew Like a Dragon streetfight! pic.twitter.com/GHeGKcx07z
Cage and Santos were married in 2019. This is the couple’s second child together. In 2018, Santos announced the birth of their daughter, Skylar Faith Button.
Cage will have little time at home with his wife and newborn as he’s scheduled to wrestle on tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Ontario, California. He’ll team with The Don Callis Family against Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight in the Like A Dragon Gaiden Street Fight on the show.
Brian Cage will be in the Like a Dragon street fight.
On Friday’s Rampage, Don Callis and Prince Nana were interviewed. Callis said that since Sammy Guevara is injured and expecting a child soon, he won’t be in the street fight. He instead has worked a deal with Prince Nana and will borrow Brian Cage for the match this coming Wednesday.
Cage will now team with Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Powerhouse Hobbs against Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Paul Wight. The match is sponsored by Sega’s latest entry in the Like a Dragon franchise, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
The match was set up two weeks ago, with Don Callis challenging Omega and Jericho to a street fight. Omega and Jericho agreed, with Omega saying that Ibushi would be on their team. Wight then entered the arena and laid out Fletcher, making him the fourth person on Jericho’s team.
Here is the lineup for Wednesday’s Dynamite:
Like a Dragon street fight: Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Kota Ibushi, and Paul Wight vs. Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs, Kyle Fletcher, and Konosuke Takeshita
Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta vs. Orange Cassidy and Hook
One of the matches that was scheduled for tonight’s episode of AEW Collision didn’t end up taking place.
Brian Cage vs. Komander was supposed to happen on Collision tonight, but Tony Khan announced that the bout has been postponed due to a “late injury.” A new date for it hasn’t been announced.
Khan wrote: “Due to late injury, this @KomandercrMX vs @briancagegmsi match has been postponed. Thank you all watching #AEWCollision tonight on TNT!”
Khan didn’t state whether it’s Cage or Komander who suffered the injury.
“Sorry, everyone. Was looking fwd to throwing komander over lake Michigan, so hopefully, there’s a lake nearby on the redue,” Cage posted. “Thanks for the match, Tony. Looking fwd to this and more to come”
Cage recently was on a tour for World Series Wrestling in Australia. The last show on the tour took place on October 13. World Series Wrestling also honored Cage by making him the first inductee into the promotion’s Hall of Fame.
Komander was in action on the October 7 episode of Collision. Eddie Kingston retained the ROH World Championship against Komander on that show.
Brian Cage says that he is briefly sidelined and has addressed missing AAA Triplemania XXXI Mexico City
Cage was scheduled for the four way AAA Latin America Championship match on Saturday’s show but was replaced by Texano Jr.
In his video, Cage explained that he was in an emergency room and would not make his flight to Mexico for the show. He did not specifically address what medical issue he is dealing with.
“I’m currently in the ER right now with inconsiderate patients playing their Instagram videos in the background on full volume,” Cage says in the video. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I’ll be making my flight or my scheduled match up for Triplemania this Saturday. I wish I was joking, I wish I was lying, I wish this was part of the plan but unfortunately, it’s not.”
For those who have asked or hoped to see me at #TriplemaniaXXXI last night, here's why I wasn't there. I'm gonna be just fine. Only sidelined very briefly, I'll be gtg next week! pic.twitter.com/2K61gNqR9m
Big Bill and Brian Cage are the next contenders for the AEW Tag Team titles.
Bill and Cage won a battle royal on Friday’s Rampage, last eliminating The Butcher together to win the battle royal. The winner of the battle royal will get a shot at the AEW Tag Team titles, which are currently held by FTR.
The two first teamed up as part of a AEW Blind Eliminator Tag Team title tournament that took place earlier this month. On the July 5 edition of Dynamite, they teamed for the first time, defeating Matt Sydal and Trent Berretta. They ended up losing to Adam Cole and MJF on the July 15 edition of Dynamite. Cole and MJF eventually went on to win the tournament.
Since the end of The Firm stable, Big Bill and Lee Moriarty have continued their tag team. The duo won a squash match on last week’s ROH on HonorClub. Cage is one third of the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions with The Gates of Agony.
The next AEW Tag Team title match will take place on Saturday’s Collision, with Cole & MJF taking on FTR.
After two matches on AEW Rampage, the semifinals are now confirmed in the Blind Eliminator tag team tournament and will take place on this Wednesday’s Dynamite from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
In one, AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole will take on Big Bill & Brian Cage. Bill & Cage defeated Matt Sydal & Trent Beretta Friday to advance while MJF & Cole defeated The Butcher & Matt Menard on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
In the other, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin will face Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia of the Jericho Appreciation Society. Guevara & Garcia advanced Friday with their win over Jeff Jarrett & Matt Hardy while Cassidy & Allin edged out Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
The eventual tournament winners will earn a future AEW Tag Team title shot.
Here’s the current lineup for Wednesday:
Chris Jericho vs. Komander
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament semifinal: Ruby Soho vs. Skye Blue
Blind Eliminator Tournament semifinal: MJF & Adam Cole vs. Big Bill & Brian Cage
Blind Eliminator Tournament semifinal: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia
In a rematch from nearly two weeks ago, the Young Bucks & Hangman Page will take on Dark Order on tonight’s 100th episode of AEW Rampage.
Page, Matt & Nick Jackson defeated John Silver, Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno on last week’s Dynamite but the Dark Order declined to help Page and the Bucks in a post-match attack from the Blackpool Combat Club.
The show will feature two matches in the eight-team Blind Eliminator tournament with the two winning teams moving onto next Wednesday’s semifinals on Dynamite.
In one, Jeff Jarrett & Matt Hardy will team for the first time since 2011 in Impact Wrestling as they face Jericho Appreciation Society’s Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara. In the other, Brian Cage & Big Bill will team for the first time ever against Matt Sydal & Trent Beretta.
Former AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida will face Marina Shafir for the second time ever.
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Taped in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, it’s Rampage 100!
Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and Chris Jericho were on commentary.
The Dark Order (John Silver, Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno) defeated The Young Bucks & Adam Page (12:54).
There was no follow-up from the end of Dynamite Wednesday and how it led to this match.
Matt and Page hit a pair of dives early on the floor. In the ring, Matt Jackson gave Reynolds the locomotion Northern Lights suplex. Page followed that up with the powerbomb into the Bucks corner, who added a pair of enziguris to the back of Reynolds’s head. Ricky Business from the Bucks got two. Uno pulled the ropes open on Matt Jackson, and he fell to the floor and took a beating from Uno and Silver on the outside.
Silver caught Matt Jackson with a brainbuster for a near fall during the split-screen break. After the split-screen break, Jackson fought out of a back superplex attempt and dove onto Uno and Silver on the floor. He got the hot tag to Page. Page slipped on a springboard lariat attempt, but managed to still hit Uno with a lariat. Page gave Silvera fallaway slam and hit a plancha on Reynolds on the floor.
Page hit a top rope lariat on Reynolds for a near fall. Uno hit Page with a boot on the apron, and Sliver and Reynolds caught Page to set the move up again. But, the Young Bucks took them out with superkicks. Page gave Uno a boot to the floor, and then two followed that up with a shooting star press to the floor while the Bucks held Uno. Back in the ring, Page hit Reynolds with a lariat and Matt Jackson came off the top with an elbow for two.
The Bucks went for the Meltzer Driver, but Reynolds escaped. Silver and Reynolds tried to set up Matt for their rapid-fire finish, but Nick broke that up. The Bucks hit the Meltzer Diver on Reynolds for two. Tags were made on both sides to Page and Uno. Uno hit a boot, but Page came back with a lariat. Silver caught Page with a german suplex, but the Bucks ran in with superkicks for everybody.
The Bucks held Uno open for the Buckshot Lariat, but Silver and Reynolds kept Page from hitting the move. The Bucks took them out with dives to the floor. Page went for the Buckshot, but Uno pulled the ref in the way. Then, Konosuke Takeshita came out of the crowd to distract the referee. Uno hit Page with a low blow, and Claudio Castignoli ran in with an uppercut. Uno rolled up Page for the upset pin.
After the match, the Dark Order were more than happy to get out of the way of Castignoli and Takeshita, who entered the ring with steel chairs. Kenny Omega ran in with his own chair to chase off the BCC.
– A QTV segment recapping their recent successes. Harley Cameron still thinks she and Anthony Bowens will make a great couple, and Johnny TV kicked a perfectly good MP3 player into the trash to show how much he hates the Acclaimed’s music. He couldn’t just delete the tracks?
Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia vs. Matt Hardy & Jeff Jarrett (w/ Jarrett’s Oddities) to advance in the Blind Eliminator Tournament (7:38 aired).
Guevara came to the ring slapping hands with the crowd like a babyface. The winners of this match will face the Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin pairing on Dynamite Wednesday.
Hardy and Garcia started the match with a dance vs. “Delete!” off. There was a dueling chant for Karen Jarrett. Some of the fans loved her, and some did not.
Jarrett gave Guevara a hiptoss and then did the Fargo Strut. Guevara came back with a dropkick that sent Jarrett to the floor. Guevara went for a dive on Jarrett, but Jarrett pulled Jay Lethal in the way and he took the bump.
After a commercial, Hardy sent Garcia headfirst into all of the turnbuckles in one corner of the ring. A pull up-sit out powerbomb from Hardy got a near fall. Hardy hit a splash mountain out of the corner for another near fall. Hardy went for the Twist of Fate, but Garcia escaped and got the tag to Guevara.
Sonjay Dutt distracted the referee, and Lethal slid Jarrett’s guitar into the ring for Hardy. Hardy kicked it away, then walked into the GTH from Guevara. Garcia got the blind tag and got the pin, sending his team to the semi-finals.
After the match, Jarrett’s crew jumped Matt Hardy. Brother Zay tried to make the save, but he was overwhelmed and disposed of by Satnam Singh. Ethan Page ran in and evened the odds up enough to chase the heels away. I hope this is a genuine turn from Page.
Hikaru Shida defeated “The Problem” Marina Shafir (3:31)
Jericho put over Shafir as one of Ronda Rousey’s “Four Horsewomen.” Shafir dumped Shida out of a torture rack for a near fall. Shida came back with a series of forearms and a sliding knee for a near fall. Shida missed a dropkick off the top. Sharif went for an ankle lock, but Shida escaped, hit a kick, and landed the falcon arrow for another near fall. Katana kick got Shida the pinfall.
– Renee Paquette interviewed Kris Statlander, who has already defended her TBS title six times. Statlander is “the defeater of the undefeated,” which she and Paquette believe would make a really good t-shirt. Statlander ends with, “Kris Stat is where it’s at.” I think that would also make a very good shirt!
Big Bill & Brian Cage defeated Trent Beretta & Matt Sydal to advance in the Blind Eliminator Tournament. (12:24)
The winners here will face MJF and Adam Cole on Dynamite Wednesday, where I hope everyone will continue to learn about friendship from Max and Cole.
Beretta sent Big Bill to the floor with a leverage move over the ropes. Beretta tried to follow him out with a dive, but Bill caught him and chokeslammed him onto the ring apron. Bill slammed him back-first into the ring post, then tossed him to the floor. Bill played up his cocky heel persona and it was great.
During the split-screen break, Cage and Bill took turns tossing Beretta around the ring. Once the commercial ended, Beretta hit Cage with a spinning DDT and got the hot tag to Sydal. Sydal took Cage down with a series of kicks. Cage hit a kick of his own and went for the Drill Claw, but Sydal countered it into a hurricanrana for a near fall.
Sydal cut off Bill when he tried to interfere, and Beretta ran to hold Bill open for a kneedrop off the top from Sydal. Beretta followed up with a sliding kneedrop. Then Cage floored them both with a double lariat.
The fight went to the floor, and Cage tossed Sydal into the crowd. Beretta hit Cage with a spear, and Sydal came off the barricade with a meteora on Big Bill.
Back in the ring, Beretta and Sydal came off the top rope on Bill and Cage, but Bill hit Beretta with a black hole slam and Cage hit Sydal with a jackhammer. They went for a double pin but only got two. Cage and Bill accidentally clotheslined each other, and Beretta hit Bill with a half-and-half. Sydal came off the top with a meteora, but Cage caught him and tossed him into the turnbuckles. Cage set up Sydal for a powerbomb off the top, but Beretta popped up and German suplexed Page off the top rope! Beretta followed up with a piledriver, and Sydal came off the top with a meteora on Cage for another near fall.
Sydal and Beretta gave Bill a double superkick, but Bill shrugged it off and gave them a double clothesline. Cage and Bill fished off Sydal with an awesome double-team move: Cage held up Sydal for a powerbomb, and Bill killed him with a stiff lariat to get the pinfall.
Bill and Cage will now face MJF & Adam Cole in the semi-finals of the Blind Eliminator Tournament.
This was a great main event.
Final Thoughts: There was more star power in the opening match than in the last month of Rampage. They should do that more often. If you DVR’d this show, it’s worth checking out.
Brian Cage will remain in AEW and Ring of Honor, according to a Fightful report on Tuesday.
The outlet reported that Cage has signed a new multi-year contract to remain in the Tony Khan-owned companies.
The timeframe of the agreement getting done was over the last few weeks and around the same time the creative process was started with The Embassy (Cage’s current group) merging with Swerve Strickland’s Mogul Affiliates.
Fightful previously reported that the 38-year-old and Khan had come to an agreement that his deal would expire after March’s ROH Supercard of Honor. It was seen as as compromise on AEW reportedly wanting to add injury time to the end of his existing deal.
However, Cage, Kaun and Toa Liona didn’t lose the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles at Supercard of Honor, raising questions as to what Cage’s status was.
The initial reports had WWE showing interest in Cage, but according to Fightful, “he ended up liking the offer made by AEW.”
He first signed with the company in the spring of 2020, debuting at May’s AEW Double or Nothing and winning the Casino ladder match. His extension was picked up in the early part of 2022 which surprised some as he went unused by AEW from October 2021 through September 2022.
