Fight Game: WWE Bash in Berlin & NXT No Mercy previews

John LaRocca and I are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We kicked off with our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before going through our Top Five topics which included:

  • Memories of Sid Vicious
  • AEW All In fallout including comments made by Mercedes Mone about her match with Britt Baker
  • AEW All Out build on AEW Dynamite with thoughts on the Shane McMahon rumors
  • WWE Bash in Berlin preview
  • NXT No Mercy preview
  • AEW Dynamite coming to our hometown for the first time

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Bryan Danielson: My full-time career is over when I lose AEW World title

The future of AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson is now a bit clearer after proclaiming on Wednesday’s Dynamite that whenever he loses the title, his full-time in-ring career is done.

However, he doesn’t intend for that to be anytime soon.

Danielson closed the show with a promo where it was stated he would address his future. He said last Sunday at All In when he defeated Swerve Strickland for the title was the favorite moment of his entire career, citing his family being there and him winning the title that had eluded him in the past after trying and failing several times — all in front of more than 50,000 fans and his peers.

He referenced not having been under contract since August 1st, needing neck surgery sooner than later, and that his family is ready for him to come home. He also said AEW existing has made both pro wrestling and his life better.

He then revealed that after doing a lot of thinking, he had no intentions on retiring as champion and was going to instead be a fighting champion, but cautioned that whenever he was defeated for the title, he was done as a full-time performer.

Until then, he said it’s first come, first served for anyone in the locker room who was ready to take the title and end his run. Jack Perry answered the challenge and that match appears to be on for next month’s All Out pay-per-view from Chicago.

For quite some time, the 43-year-old Danielson has talked about having one final year as a full-time wrestler and recently revealed to Jim Ross in the lead-up to All In that he likely would have neck surgery by the end of the year.

Jack Perry challenges Bryan Danielson to AEW World title match at All Out

“The American Dragon” might not be retiring anytime soon, but the line is now growing for those looking to make that happen.

That line starts with reigning TNT Champion Jack Perry who made his intentions known at the end of Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, laying out Danielson and calling his shot for the September All Out pay-per-view.

Danielson closed the show with an announcement that despite his past proclamations, he will not retire as AEW World Champion and will defend the title for as long as he can. However, he will be done as a full-time wrestler when he loses the title.

He said he is going to be a fighting champion and knows there is a young locker room with plenty of people looking to end his run and career. He said it was first come, first served and then Perry appeared on the screen to give his pitch in that during this year’s Anarchy in the Arena match, he was the one to pin Danielson to end the match.

The video was a distraction as Perry then attacked Danielson from behind in the ring, laying him out with a knee strike and standing tall with both belts as the show ended.

As of this writing, the match has yet to be made official.

Danielson won the title at last Sunday’s All In, defeating Swerve Strickland in a title vs. career match. Perry is coming off a win in a coffin match over Darby Allin at the same show. Of note, Allin also has a future World title shot by virtue of his win at this year’s Royal Rampage match.

Here’s the current and anticipated card for Chicago:

  • AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson defends against Jack Perry*
  • AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defends against PAC
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Page in a steel cage match
  • CMLL Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale defends against Kris Statlander in a Chicago street fight
  • Daniel Garcia vs. MJF

*Not yet official

AEW Dynamite live results: The fallout from All In

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite features the fallout from All In and the build to All Out in less than two weeks’ time.

New AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson will address his future after winning the title from Swerve Strickland this past Sunday. Danielson has stated that this will be his final year as a full-time pro wrestler.

Strickland is also scheduled to speak on tonight’s episode.

New AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May will hold a celebration after defeating former mentor Toni Storm for the title at All In.

Jamie Hayter will return to the ring for the first time since May 2023 as she takes on Harley Cameron while new AEW signee and former WWE star Ricochet will make his Dynamite debut against Kyle Fletcher.

Hangman Page will take on Tomohiro Ishii while The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Mark Brisoce & Kyle O’Reilly) will team with Hook against Chris Jericho, Roderick Strong, Big Bill & Bryan Keith.

**********

It’s Wednesday and you what that means, as Excalibur welcomed us to this week’s Dynamite before he cued a recap of Bryan Danielson’s big AEW Championship win at All In: London 2024. We’ll hear from Danielson tonight. Hangman vs. Ishii, plus Jamie Hayter vs. Harley Cameron, and Ricochet vs. Kyle Fletcher were all hyped ahead.

Jon Moxley Returns

We start the evening with the surprise return of Jon Moxley to AEW, his first appearance since Forbidden Door 2024. The crowd reacted loudly for Moxley (who had his “Death Rider” theme music) as he walked through the crowd while Tony Schiavone headed to the ring in the hopes of interviewing Moxley.

Schiavone started right away by asking if Moxley was doing okay. Moxley said he was doing a lot of thinking as of late and that he was looking for a man who wasn’t here, but it was a conversation that needed to be done. That man Moxley was talking about was Darby Allin, as he told Allin that he wasn’t hard to find.

Moxley interrupted Schiavone by saying that this wasn’t “his” company anymore before walking off abruptly.

– The Conglomeration was interviewed by Renee Paquette regarding their matches tonight. Mark Briscoe said that Tomohiro Ishii was going to whoop some “cowboy ass” while the rest of the group would take care of business in the big eight-man tag match. Willow Nightingale said that she was going to challenge Kris Statlander to a Chicago Street Fight at All Out. Briscoe said his word of the day was “indefatigable”, which meant “unable to feel fatigue”, which is what we’d see later tonight. Ishii walked off ahead of his match which was coming up next.

**********

“Hangman” Adam Page def. Tomohiro Ishii

Page and Ishii started off in the middle of the ring, trading repeated elbows to one another in a heavy-hitting standoff. The exchange of elbows lasted for a couple of minutes until Page had Ishii stunned for a bit. Ishii countered with a shoulder block. We then had the two men exchanging chops. A very hard-hitting start for this match. The action went to picture-in-picture with Page in control.

We returned to live action with Page dropping Ishii head first with a DDT. Page threw Ishii back in the ring and went up to the top, connecting with the clothesline, but that got a two-count. Page remained in control as he worked over Ishii’s leg with a submission.

In the corner, Ishii fired back up by absorbing Page’s blows before he floored him with a headbutt. He then landed a back suplex on Page for the near fall. Now it was Ishii in control as he set Page up on the top turnbuckle. Ishii headbutted Page to stun him as he then hit an impressive superplex. That got a very close two-count.

Page slammed Ishii with a Death Valley Driver, but he got rocked with an Ishii German Suplex in response. Another exchange of strikes between the two ends with a double down as we headed to another picture-in-picture break.

Dynamite returned with the slugfestcontinuing as Ishii and Page exchanged counters of their big power moves. Page eventually got the upper hand after a German suplex as he then headed to the apron. Buckshot Lariat attempt by Page was countered into a Deadeye variant by Ishii as he then got flattened by a strong-style lariat for the two count.

Ishii headbutted Page, who responded with his discus elbow strike. More hard-hitting action that saw Page take over with a hard strike, followed by the Deadeye. He had Ishii in position for the Buckshot Lariat and finished Ishii off for the pin and win.

I really enjoyed this opener. Just two big men battering the hell out of each other. If this is it for Ishii’s summer excursion in AEW, you could not ask for a better ending.

**********

Swerve Strickland Makes a Challenge

– Before Page could celebrate, the music of Swerve Strickland interrupted, which signaled the arrival of the former AEW World Champion. Page got into Strickland’s face before he backed off as Strickland began to speak.

Strickland talked about how he could’ve gotten mad for Page getting involved during his AEW Title Match, but he can only feel sorry for Page. Strickland said that he saw that Page as a petulant child for the way he’s acted, and that even though he wasn’t the World Champion, he’ll always be regarded to one.

Page fired back by angrily saying that Strickland was not a champion, but a piece of shit. He said that Strickland wrestled Page three times and couldn’t do it alone. He said that he wanted Swerve all to himself. Strickland quickly responded by issuing the challenge for All Out: Page vs. Strickland one more time inside a Steel Cage.

Strickland said that he drove ten minutes up the road to Hangman’s house after the Revolution triple threat match, as he said that he saw Page and his pregnant wife. He said that it was the man Hangman Page was supposed to be. Strickland said that he focused his energies on becoming AEW Championship and that he’ll do it once more.

Page, meanwhile, became too obsessed with Strickland, which has caused his career to go up in flames, according to the former AEW World Champion. Strickland asked what kind of man Page will be in the Steel Cage at All Out, and what kind of man his kids will see. Page walked off angrily.

**********

Jamie Hayter def. Harley Cameron (w/ Saraya)

The fans chanted “welcome back” to Hayter as the match started with Cameron gaining momentum. Hayter fougth back and stomped Cameron in the corner before flooring her with a clothesline. Cameron escaped Hayter’s attempted slam as she attacked with kicks to the face.

Hayter used her strength to block a springboard bulldog attempt by Cameron as she floored her with a big boot. She blocked a Sole Food attempt and repeatedly hit multiple backbreakers on Cameron, before she ended it with a Hayterade lariat for the one, two, three.

After the match Saraya ran off, clearly not wanting to face the returning Hayter.

Just a short and sweet match to get Hayter back into the fold. It’s just so great to see her back in AEW after she’s been gone for so long.

**********

Renee Paquette was backstage with Chris Jericho and the Learning Tree, plus Roderick Strong. She asked Big Bill about the positive reaction he got from the U.K. crowd. Bill said that fan reactions are like the leaves, they changed and that fall is just around the corner.

Jericho did his shtick as he said he was “proud” of HOOK for winning the FTW Championship. Roderick Strong said that he was proud of being in the “Jericho Vortex”, and he wanted Jericho’s help to take care of Orange Cassidy. Jericho said that Cassidy would “pay” for ruining his $7,000 suit a couple of years back (during their feud in the Pandemic Era of AEW). As everyone walked off, Bryan Keith shouted “you’ll pay the damn price”.

**********

– We got a recap of Will Ospreay’s win over MJF in the International/American Championship match at All In: London, as well as Daniel Garcia’s involvemen in the finish.

MJF Addresses All In: London

MJF showed up in his usual, non-American attire, as he sported some tape around his neck after he took Ospreay’s Tiger Driver ’91. MJF said that he’s been in so much pain and that he’s had a splitting headache, as he told the crowd to keep quiet or he’d go after everyone in the arena.

The fans chanted “shut the f&#! up” to MJF, who talked about how he lost “his” championship, his Diamond Ring, and got injured. He said he denounced his American citizenship, and that he didn’t want to be associated with this country, other than the “most magical place in the world”: Plainview, Long Island, NY.

MJF said he was sick of the fans living in lies, and that AEW without him was a “circus”. He turned his attention to Will Ospreay, as he claimed that he “cheated” to win and that this was not over yet. He warned Ospreay that just as he was close to winning the greatest prize in the history of the sport, he’s going to cut him off at the knees with a smile on his face.

MJF threatened Daniel Garcia next, but he got attacked from behind by Garcia himself. Garcia applied a guillotine on MJF and choked him out cold. He lifted MJF up for a piledriver, but had second thoughts. Garcia put MJF up the top rope and looked like he was going to hit an avalanche piledriver before security ran down to stop Garcia. This gave MJF a bit of a chance to get an advantage. That was shortlived, as Garcia battered MJF and looked to hit the avalanche piledriver one more time. Security and Christopher Daniels intervened before Garcia could finish the job. We then saw multiple security officials restraining both men before Garcia took the microphone.

Garcia said that he pawned off MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring for a round trip to London. He asked if MJF thought that was bad, that’s nothing compared to being stretchered out while his grandmother watched. Garcia said that seeing MJF suffer was his new “fetish” (in his words). All Garcia wants is to ruin MJF’s life, which is why he asked Tony Khan to grant him a match against Friedman at All Out. Garcia said that beating him in a match isn’t enough, dropping MJF on his head will bring him satisfaction. Garcia threw the microphone at MJF’s direction, actually making contact with Friedman.

**********

– A recap of Ricochet’s AEW debut at All In: London was shown.

All-Star Eight-Man Tag Match: HOOK, Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe def. Chris Jericho, Big Bill, Bryan Keith, Roderick Strong

HOOK and Jericho started off before Jericho tagged Keith in, which led to Cassidy being tagged in as the Conglomeration had the advantage early on. Briscoe worked over Keith before Big Bill entered the match. Bill avoided Briscoe’s attack and responded with some hard chops to the chest. Briscoe was left isolatred in the Learning Tree’s corner as things broke down with all eight men fighting in the ring and all over ringside to lead us into picture-in-picture.

Back from break, Jericho was working over Cassidy against the ropes. Cassidy escaped Jericho’s full nelson hold by putting his hands in his pockets, before hitting a hands-free dropkick on him. Cassidy avoided Keith as Briscoe got tagged in and unleashed his Redneck Kung-Fu on Big Bill and Keith. Briscoe was cleaning house on the heels before Strong snuck up and hit a patented backbreaker on him.

The Learning Tree regained the advantage as they isolated Briscoe from his corner and worked him over for a bit. O’Reilly got tagged in and was a house of fire until Big Bill found his way into the match and unleashed his own fury on his opponents. Cassidy was flattened by an amazing super-spinning Black Hole Slam by Bill to send us to another break.

We returned with O’Reilly being sized up by Big Bill, but he avoided calamity. Strong got tagged in, but HOOK found his way into the match. HOOK threw Strong with an overhead throw, then following that with the T-Bone Suplex on Big Bill.

Northern Lights Suplex pin attempt by HOOK got broken up by Keith. Orange Punch attempt was blocked by Keith, but Briscoe threw him out of the ring. Jericho cracked Briscoe with a running lariat and teased doing a dive to the outside, but he stopped to wave to the fans. HOOK threw him with a suplex as we saw successive dives from Cassidy and Briscoe to the outside.

In the ring, Strong and HOOK were the last men standing as HOOK countered End of Heartache into Redrum. Strong’s foot was underneath the rope, but referee Aubrey Edwards called the match to stop.

Post match, there were brawls breaking out in and outside the ring, as Undisputed Kingdom attacked HOOK, ending with a running knee from Strong.

Not really a great match, per se, but it happened and it appears we’re seeing HOOK feud with Roderick Strong for the FTW Championship. Look for this match to be a part of either All Out or the Grand Slam shows in September. Other than that, I just couldn’t get into this match, despite the talent involved.

**********

– Backstage, Mercedes Mone was hosting a party for another successful TBS Championship win, as Private Party appeared. They talked about Mone’s NJPW Strong Championship defense against Momo Watanabe at NJPW Capital Collision this Friday. The Private Party boys attempted to hit on Mone, but Kazuchika Okada appeared. Mone asked Okada how to say “bye bitch” in Japanese. Okada whispered in her ear as Mone said “sayonara, bitches” to Private Party.

**********

Mariah May’s AEW Women’s Championship Celebration

Tony Schiavone introduced our new AEW Women’s World Champion, Mariah May for this interview. Schiavone congratulated May for her win, but the new champion took the microphone. She said that the Women’s Championship Celebration was postponed because she wasn’t doing it in Champaign, because it should be called “Flat and Stale” instead. May said that the women of this town desperately needed some glamour, and that she can provide just that. May said that she was about to take of herr robe to show off to everyone. As May took off her robe, she had the Women’s World Title around her waist before she left.

**********

– We got remarks from the Grizzled Young Veterans after All In: London as they were confronted by the Young Bucks. The GYV said that they were here to stay in AEW and that they were coming for the tag team champions, so the Bucks needed to grit their teeth when they saw the GYV coming. Afterwards, we got remarks from the two about their upcoming tag match on Rampage this Friday.

**********

– A hype package for Konosuke Takeshita’s impressive run in the G1 Climax tournament was shown, as we saw a graphic for a four-way match on Rampage featuring Takeshita versus The Beast Mortos, Lio Rush, and Komander.

Ricochet def. Kyle Fletcher (w/ Don Callis)

Callis joined Excalibur, Schiavone, and Taz on commentary, as per the usual. Meanwhile in the ring, Fletcher and Ricochet shoved one another to start off. Ricochet did a series of impressive dodges on Fletcher before he sent him outside with a somersault dropkick. He feigned a running dive to land his signature pose in the middle of the ring.

Fletrcher avoided a dive from Ricochet and responded with a tope suicida of his own on the newcomer. Fletcher sent Ricochet over the barricade with a running boot as he taunted to the crowd afterwards. Another attempt at a running boot was met by a springboard meteora from Ricochet. This brought us to a picture-in-picture break.

We returned to our main event with Ricochet attempting to fight back after Fletcher took advantage during the break. Fletcher snuffed out that attack and placed Ricochet on the top turnbuckle. We got a standoff between the two, but Ricochet won out with a headbutt, then laying out Fletcher with a springboard clothesline.

Both men struggled to their feet as the fans chanted Ricochet’s name to rally him on. Ricochet caught Fletcher with a springboard body strike. The Enzuiguri was followed by the Northern Lights/Final Cut combo from Ricochet. Running shooting star press by Ricochet got a near fall.

Fletcher ran through Ricochet with repeated clotheslines that took him down hard. Ricochet responded with a rolling dropkick that sent Fletcher scurrying to the outside. Ricochet threw himself into Fletcher with a unique dive through the ropes. Ricochet’s dive was intercepted by Fletcher’s boot, as he got dropped with a brainbuster for the near fall.

Fletcher sized Ricochet up with a running dropkick and attempted his belly to back tombstone. Ricochet landed on his feet kicked Fletcher in the head, following that with a Death Valley Driver. Again, only a near fall. Ricochet finally got the win after finishing Fletcher off with his lifting reverse DDT called “Vertigo”. And that’s it, over. Ricochet wins in his AEW Dynamite debut.

Fantastic debut from Ricochet and Kyle Fletcher was the perfect dance partner for him in this singles debut for AEW’s newest signee.

After the match, the new AEW International Champion Will Ospreay made his entrance, with a microphone in hand. Before Ospreay could say anything, PAC snuck up from behind and hit a poison rana on him. PAC told Ospreay that he should not forget The Bastard. He welcomed Ricochet to AEW and then told him to get to the back of the line as Ospreay belonged to him.

**********

– Jon Moxley was asked about what he meant earlier tonight as he walked up to some backstage personnel. Marina Shafir appeared and attacked the backstage personnel. Moxley said this was a lesson in humility as he walked off. Shafir shoved the camera to the ground before she too also walked off.

Bryan Danielson Addresses His Future

The new AEW World Champion made his way to the ring with his new AEW Championship and a great reaction from the crowd. The fans chanted “you deserved it” at Danielson.

Danielson started by saying that after trying and failing repeatedly, he was now the AEW World Champion. He said that over 50,000 people in Wembley Stadium, his family saw his biggest moment, and that his daughter said that this was the best day of her life. Danielson said that when he saw his peers congratulating him in the back, he knew this was the biggest moment of his entire career.

But, when he got to the press conference after All In, he was asked “what’s next?”. Danielson leveled with us by saying his AEW contract expires on August 31st, that he’ll need neck surgery, and that his family is ready for him to come home soon.

Danielson said that he has loved pro wrestling his entire life and that AEW’s existence has made pro wrestling better and his own life better. He says that it’s not time to go home yet and that he’ll fight for his AEW World Championship as hard as he can. However, if he loses the belt, it’s going to be all over, but until then, he’s got a lot of heads to kick in. Danielson says he’s going to throw out an open challenge for All Out to take on all comers. Before he can continue, “Scapegoat” Jack Perry interrupted.

Perry said that his future is to be the World Heavyweight Champion and to retire The American Dragon. He says that Danielson’s future is behind him, presaging a sneak attack in the ring by Perry on Danielson. Perry hit a devastating running knee on Danielson and raised both his TNT Championship and the AEW Championship to end the show as the fans rained down the boos on The Scapegoat.

The Latest: Bryan Danielson to address wrestling future on AEW Dynamite, NXT No Mercy card


Welcome to another episode of The Latest with Denise Salcedo breaking down the biggest wrestling news headlines of the week so far.

Topics:

–Tony Khan touts AEW All In 2024 attendance, PPV buys

— Bryan Danielson to address his wrestling future on AEW Dynamite

— Kevin Owens has less than six months left on WWE contract

— Rosemary makes surprise appearance on WWE NXT, wrestles Kelani Jordan

— Guest referee added to WWE NXT No Mercy title match

— NXT No Mercy Match Card

— Roxanne Perez Interview Highlights

We’re Live, Pal: The fallout from AEW All In

It’s another episode of We’re Live, Pal which is also available for free on YouTube below. Andrew Zarian and I are back to talk about what’s going on in wrestling today.

We kicked off the show paying our respects to the family of Sid Vicious and talked about what we remembered from his career most.

We also talked about the major stories coming out of last weekend’s AEW All In: London including Bryan Danielson’s AEW World title win and what the story might be from here on out. We also talked about the Casino gauntlet being a marquee match for AEW and one that they could use to draw on pay-per-view.

We also talked about the impending AEW TV rights deal before looking ahead to WWE Bash in Berlin.

You can follow us on Twitter.

For website subscribers, you can click here to listen (sub needed).

Bryan Danielson to address his wrestling future on AEW Dynamite

This Wednesday night, Bryan Danielson is set to address what his AEW World Championship means for his wrestling future.

Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland in the main event of All In to become the new AEW World Champion. With the victory, Danielson extended his in-ring career at least a little bit longer. The match had a stipulation where Danielson — who is winding down his full-time career in the ring – would have retired if he lost.

Tony Khan has announced that Danielson will speak about his future this Wednesday on Dynamite.

“NEW @AEW World Champion @BryanDanielson will address his wrestling future after his historic win at #AEWAllInLondon live TOMORROW on TBS!,” Khan tweeted. “I promise you won’t want to miss Wednesday Night Dynamite TOMORROW!”

Danielson is the ninth person to ever hold the AEW World Championship belt, following in the footsteps of Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, CM Punk, MJF, Samoa Joe, and Strickland.

At the post-show press conference on Sunday, Danielson said All In was “without a doubt” his favorite moment of his career. Danielson’s wife Brie Garcia and their two children made the trip to London and watched the main event from the front row.

State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois is the venue for Dynamite this Wednesday.

AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, August 28) —

  • New AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson addresses his wrestling future
  • Ricochet vs. Kyle Fletcher
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Harley Cameron
  • Chris Jericho, Big Bill, Bryan Keith & Roderick Strong vs. Hook, Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly & Mark Briscoe

Filthy Observer Live: Sid Vicious passes away, WWE Raw preview, AEW All In thoughts

With Bryan on the way home from London, Filthy Tom Lawlor joins Mike Sempervive to talk about Sunday’s AEW All In pay-per-view and its fallout. Plus, the passing of Sid Vicious, what’s on tap for tonight’s Raw, and more!

Click Here for the Commercial-Free Download (subscription required)

AEW All In review: The Final Countdown

There’s nothing better than a Bryan Danielson main event match.

The end of this year’s All In at Wembley Stadium saw Danielson, ultimate babyface in physical peril against champion Swerve Strickland, beat the odds by submitting Strickland to win the AEW World Championship for the first time. The show ended with Danielson, his wife Brie, and their two children celebrating in the ring as a gigantic fireworks display lit up Wembley Stadium. It was an incredible main event to cap off a very good show. Although there have been better pay-per-views this year overall, it will be very tough to match the performances of Danielson and Strickland on this night.

It wasn’t just the match that made this an excellent main event, even though the wrestling was pretty awesome. This had everything bad faith ‘fans’ of pro wrestling complain about when it comes to grifting off of AEW disdain: the cool video packages, the big entrances, the great wrestling, and the emotional aftermath. This is how you tell stories in pro wrestling.

I’ll be the first to admit that for some of AEW’s main events, not everything is there, even if the wrestling is out of this world. But this main event felt different than the others. It felt like AEW touching upon things that WWE is known for when they are firing off on all cylinders. No, this can’t match Cody’s championship win, which was built over two years. But it did an excellent job of making me invested in the story they are telling.

Bryan Danielson’s future isn’t clear, as he’s intentionally made his future vague. Despite now being AEW World Champion, he is working without a contract, and is still winding down his career as he transitions to a part-time wrestler. We’ll know more where his future lies this coming Wednesday, where he’s scheduled to appear on Dynamite.

Here’s the rest of the main card:

  • Jack Perry beating Darby Allin was more of a backdrop to everything that happened after the match, with Sting coming out to Seek and Destroy and  proceeded to, in fact, seek and destroy The Young Bucks and Jack Perry. The match was fine, particularly made memorable by Allin’s nasty bumps. I would never attempt to fall off the stage with my feet and hands tied together, geez.
  • Mechanically, Britt Baker and Mercedes Mone had a fine match. Problem is, the crowd simply wasn’t into this after watching MJF and Will Ospreay. And the finish, where Mone simply threw Baker into the ropes and pinned her with the Mone Maker, didn’t exactly excite me about watching another match between these two down the road. Nothing they did was wrong per se, but this was more about the placing on the card than anything.
  • As expected, Will Ospreay defeated MJF in an excellent match, finally hitting the Tiger Driver 91 for the win. I wouldn’t say it was as good as their hour-long match from a few weeks ago, which was a match of the year contender. But you can’t ask more from one of the top matches on one of the biggest shows of the year. MJF doesn’t get enough credit for being a top tier wrestler and Will Ospreay is well on his way to winning back-to-back Wrestler of the Year awards.
  • The Casino Battle Royal was probably the best battle royal AEW has put out. Seeing Nigel McGuiness wrestle for the first time in over a decade was damn cool and it was a delight to see him go against the likes of Zack Sabre Jr. and Kyle O’Reilly, showing he can still hang with them. Putting some of AEW’s best talent like Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe also helped a lot. The finish was…whatever. I don’t know what is going on with Killswitch and Christian Cage as one week Killswitch is ready to turn and the next minute he’s helping Cage out anyway. This has been going on for nearly a year at this point. Still, the match itself was big win and one of the more fun matches on the show.
  • The Tag Team title match was a perfectly fine three-way. I kinda expected a bit more considering who was in the ring, but everyone looked good. Grizzled Young Veterans ran out after The Bucks retained and pretty much made it clear they were in the running for the titles, so that should be a fun new addition to a division that needs some new people in the mix.
  • Hook and Chris Jericho was a fine weapons match. I did like the build to the big spot where Big Bill flew off the apron and into the barbed wire table. I also liked the finish, with Taz taking out Bryan Keith, which allowed Hook to score the submission win.
  • Toni Storm and Mariah May was pretty good. I thought the right person won as with a Mariah May win, the feud can continue, and this is a feud that still has juice to it. Perhaps a stipulation match on one of AEW’s upcoming big shows. There’s also the Mina Shirakawa situation, as she will probably play a role in the continuing story.
  • The London Ladder match to open the show was very good. Not the best out of the 1400 ladder matches I’ve seen this year, but a good opener to kick off the night. I don’t have anything else to add here other than I am VERY GOOD on not seeing another ladder match for the rest of 2024 or even all of 2025 for that matter. The stipulation has been DONE TO DEATH. And it’s not just AEW, as WWE and NXT have both spammed this match like nobody’s business. 

And that is All In 2024. I don’t think this is as strong as other AEW pay-per-views this year as there were other cards that had deeper, better undercards. Regardess, it’s an aboslute thumbs up show with a main event I highly recommended.

Next up for AEW…All Out in two weeks. At least they waited a week this year before another big show.

Wrestling Observer Radio: AEW All In review live from London

Image: AEW

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez are back with their thoughts and recap of AEW All In from London’s Wembley Stadium.

From Bryan Danielson winning the AEW World title to the surprises in the Casino gauntlet match to Will Ospreay vs. MJF, it’s all here.

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Bryan Danielson: AEW All In was ‘without a doubt’ favorite moment of my career

With his family making the trip over to London to see him win the AEW World Championship, All In 2024 was “without a doubt” Bryan Danielson’s favorite moment of his career.

“I feel pretty great. People ask me all the time what my favorite moment is in wrestling, and I can never give them one answer because I’ve loved all of it,” Danielson said at the post-show press conference. “But this is the first time she [his daughter Birdie] remembers seeing me wrestle live. This is the first time my son’s ever seen me wrestle live. And without a doubt, that was my favorite moment in my entire career.”

Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland at Wembley Stadium to become the new AEW World Champion. Danielson’s wife Brie Garcia, their daughter Birdie, and son Buddy were all in the front row cheering him on. After the match, they got into the ring and celebrated Danielson’s victory with him.

The match had a title vs. career stipulation where Danielson would have retired if he lost. He now enters the final stretch of his full-time in-ring career as AEW World Champion.

Despite losing at All In, Strickland tweeted that this was also the best moment of his career so far.

https://twitter.com/swerveconfident/status/1828045518020264411

Danielson said at the press conference that Strickland was an incredible World Champion for AEW. He praised Strickland for being a wonderful performer and human being.

Bryan Danielson appearance, Ricochet vs. Kyle Fletcher set for AEW Dynamite

Image: AEW

Ricochet’s AEW Dynamite debut is taking place soon.

In a social media exclusive following AEW All In, Don Callis revealed that his protege Kyle Fletcher would face off against Ricochet this Wednesday.

The promo had Callis talking about how someone came up to him and said they were excited about this one guy. Callis thought they were talking about Kyle Fletcher, but actually it was about Ricochet making his debut in the Casino gauntlet match.

Callis said he knows all the sickos are excited about Ricochet having a banger, but he’s excited about crushing him under his boot. Fletcher said he can’t wait to drop Ricochet on his head.

New AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson will also appear in Champaign, Illinois, on Wednesday to give an update on his future. During the All In media scrum, Danielson said he hadn’t thought much about his future past All In and wasn’t sure about what was going to happen. He said he may have an announcement on Dynamite.

Here is the updated card for this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite:

  • AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson will appear
  • Kyle Fletcher vs. Ricochet

Wrestling Observer Live: AEW All In post show

Image: AEW

The Sunday edition of Wrestling Observer Live is now online and features a complete wrap-up of AEW All In. I’m filling in for Andrew Zarian this week due to technical issues.

Spoiler alert: this show is nothing but spoilers:

  • We talk about AEW All In results
  • The surprises, debuts & returns
  • What was good, what was great, and what was that?
  • Fan reviews from social media, namely X
  • How I think fans will react to the creative direction coming out of the show

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Bryan Danielson avoids retirement, wins AEW World title at All In

Bryan Danielson refuses to go gently into that good night.

With his career on the line, Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland in the main event of All In to win the AEW World Championship. It’s the first championship that Danielson has held in his AEW career. Going back to when he was in WWE, this is Danielson’s first title reign since 2019.

It was a submission that got the victory for Danielson in this instant classic, marking the first time Strickland has ever tapped out in AEW. The match had a title vs. career stipulation where Danielson would have retired if he lost. He now enters the final few months of his full-time in-ring career as AEW World Champion.

Danielson celebrated in the ring with his family after the match. His Blackpool Combat Club stablemates Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta were also there for the celebration. During the match, Danielson’s wife Brie Garcia, their daughter Birdie, and son Buddy were all in the front row cheering him on. The match included a spot where Strickland beat down Danielson at ringside while mocking his family.

There was also a distraction by Hangman Page during the match. Helping to cost his arch nemesis Strickland the title, Page appeared at ringside and needed to be held back by security. The distraction led to Danielson hitting a Busaiku Knee strike for a near fall.

Both Danielson and Strickland had special entrances at All In. Tony Khan again licensed “The Final Countdown” by Europe — which was Danielson’s theme music in Ring of Honor — for this show. Rapper Bun B made an appearance as part of Strickland’s entrance.

Danielson joins Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, CM Punk, MJF, Samoa Joe, and Strickland on the list of wrestlers who have held the AEW World title. Strickland had been champion since April.

AEW All In London live results: Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson title vs. career match

Bryan Danielson’s career will be on the line against Swerve Strickland’s AEW World title in the main event of today’s AEW All In from London’s Wembley Stadium.

In a rematch from their nearly hour-long bout that saw MJF win the AEW International title and renamed it the American title, the reigning champion will defend against former champion and local favorite Will Ospreay.

AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will defend against former friend Mariah May while TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Britt Baker in a first time ever match.

AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks will defend against both FTR and The Acclaimed, as AEW Trios Champions The Patriarchy defend against PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta, the Bang Bang Gang, and House of Black in a London Ladder match.

The show will also feature a Casino gauntlet match that ends with the first pin or submission.

TNT Champion Jack Perry will defend his title against Darby Allin in a coffin match while FTW Champion Chris Jericho will defend against Hook.

The Zero Hour pre-show will feature Willow Nightingale & Tomohiro Ishii against Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway.

**********

Zero Hour

The WrestleAunts (Renee Paquette & RJ City) welcome us to Zero Hour alongside Jeff Jarrett. RJ gives a helpful reminder to us all to urinate now, as there will be no time to pee later. They all run down tonight’s card before throwing it to Lexy Nair & Arkady Aura at the entrance ramp, who debate whether Taylor Swift will show up tonight.

Taz joined the booth to talk about the FTW Title match, while Madison Rayne joined to go over Mercedes Mone vs. Britt Baker. Lexy Nair was backstage with the coffin for the TNT Title match that has flowers next to memorial photos of both Jack Perry & Darby Allin. Nair said she talked to Perry earlier today, who said the only way he’d lose this match, is if he’s dead.

Nigel McGuinness was backstage and talked about the main event. He said Bryan Danielson’s timing is awful, as he crashed a party he wasn’t invited to yet last week on Dynamite. Tonight, Danielson’s luck will run out and God will look down and see the end of Bryan Danielson’s career. We then go to footage of Renee Paquette’s interview with Brie Danielson, who said while there might be a hole backstage with her husband possibly retired, he’s coached so many that his legacy will live on. She also said Swerve Strickland karma is coming for what he said about her family. Brie said Bryan has been so fulfilled in wrestling the past three years, he’s finally able to potentially walk away and be happy. Footage was then shown earlier today of Tony Khan having Swerve Strickland sign his AEW contract extension.

Private Party come to the stage as hosts of All In, hyping the crowd for the show, despite being on the heel team for the upcoming match.

Tommy Billington, Kip Sabian, Rocky Romero, Kyle Fletcher, Action Andretti, Lio Rush & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) defeated Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh (w/Sonjay Dutt), Anthony Ogogo, Ariya Daivari, Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen), John Silver & Alex Reynolds (w/Evil Uno)

(Just a massive party match to get the crowd going to start the show. With so many guys involved, only about half them were on the apron, so as to not obstruct the view I assume.)

Excalibur, Tony Schiavone & Matt Menard are joined by Don Callis on the call and talk about the big winner’s purse. Fast start by Lethal & Billington, who dodged a Figure 4 and traded a series of chops before Ogogo & Sabian tag in to hometown pops. Sabian used his speed, which continued Andretti, who ate a cheap shot, leading to a 16 man stand off and brawl. This left Rush & Singh, who had a stare down, which was a sight to see. The babyfaces dog piled on Singh, who tossed them all to the floor before press slamming Rush onto the pile.

With Andretti isolated, Uno & Dutt whacked him with papers as a tribute to the late Mr. Brodie Lee. Finally, Andretti battled back with a handspring elbow and made the hot tag to Sabian, who was a house of fire. Inverted stunner and cannonball led to a springboard moonsault to the floor, as Fletcher made the tag and Callis was hyped on commentary. Fletcher destroyed Private Party and even knocked Singh to the floor before a brainbuster spiked Reynolds. Blind tag from Dante, who hit a springboard dropkick and it led to a triple slingshot dive and quadruple dive off each post.

Private Party fought back with the Silly String and Gin n’ Juice on Sabian, but opted to pose, allowing Romero to fly in with a double DDT. Billington hit a top rope headbutt, but Ogogo came in with a pop-up right hand. Fletcher laid out Ogogo with a Tombstone, while Silver & Reynolds took him out with the Wombo Combo. Darius hit a double DDT, Daivari came in with a wrist lock DDT of his own, but it was Dante who hit the top rope frog splash to get the win.

AEW Grand Slam Australia will be taking place February 15, 2025

Willow Nightingale & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway

(With this win, Nightingale gets to select the stipulation for her singles match with Statlander at All Out. While this was mostly focused on the ladies, which was smart ahead of their next chapter, the comedy with Ishii & Hathaway was pretty great, too.)

Hathaway was carried to the stage on a bed, Excalibur said he’s re-creating the Michael Jackson “Remember the Time” music video. Hathaway immediately tagged out to avoid Ishii, as the women started off, countering everything the other threw before slugging it out. Spinebuster planted Statlander, but Hathaway low bridged Nightingale in the ropes, sending her crashing outside. Statlander did a victory lap after hitting a cross body, but it allowed Nightingale to connect with a discus lariat. Nightingale jaw jacked with Hathaway, allowing Statlander to hit a DDT through the ropes and stay in control.

Back inside, Nightingale tried mounting a comeback, but was dropped with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Nightingale spun out of a Death Valley Driver attempt and hit a senton before another slugfest commenced. Nightingale dodged a lariat and hit a DVD of her own for the double down. Ishii & Hathaway made the tag and Hathaway started throwing chops and shoulder tackles, but Ishii no sold. Hathaway bumped all over befor Statlander saved him from a brainbuster. Statlander fired off strikes and this time Ishii no sold and was planted with a Hathaway spinebuster, but Ishii popped right up. Hathaway hit a drop toe hold into the corner and Stinger Splash before delivering 10 punches, only for Ishii to hit a powerbomb. Both ladies back in, with Nightingale no selling a German suplex and hit a massive Pounce. Sliding lariat cracked Hathaway and Ishii got the win.

-Tony Schiavone is on stage to welcome Tony Khan & Dr. Martha Hart, who wished the Owen Hart Foundation Cup winners good luck in their title matches tonight. Hart brought up Canada & the US first and got booed, but when she mentioned England, she got cheered.

AEW & NJPW will present Forbidden Door in London on August 24, 2025.

Dustin Rhodes, Sammy Guevara, Katsuyori Shibata, Ross & Marshall Von Erich (w/Kevin Von Erich) defeated Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona

(Another party match before the main card kicks off, as it was cool to see Kevin Von Erich have this moment with his sons. The powerbomb Shibata took in this was rough, as was the finish where Guevara just crushed Taven with the Swanton. Aside from that, the crowd responded big to the post-match scuffle.)

The heels attacked on the stage before the bell, but Guevara distracted the ref long enough for there to be a quadruple Unnatural Kick. Guevara hit a springboard on Kaun, as the match officially began with Guevara showing his speed with his corkscrew dropkick. Guevara & Cage had a face-off, showing they’re actually wearing matching colored gear before Guevara hit a dive to the outside on Kaun and springboard cutter back inside on Cage. Liona mowed Guevara down and remained isolated until Rhodes made the tag to a loud pop. Manhattan drop, running knee and snap powerslams led to Bennett cutting off Cross Rhodes. The match broke down with high impact moves before Taven cleared the top for a dive that wiped nearly everyone out. Rhodes remained and teased a dive, but put on the brakes and opted for a Spin-a-roonie. Cage put a stop to this and hit a F5 on Rhodes over the top onto the pile. Cage did a somersault dive and somehow managed to not be caught by the 8 men on the floor. Guevara came flying off the top with a Shooting Star Press on the pile, leaving Rhodes alone in the ring with Taven and got a Code Red for two.

Guevara went up top, but was knocked off by Cage, who went up top, also cut off by the Von Erichs. Gates of Agony cut them off and hit a big Tower of Doom spot, all while Shibata had Bennett in the sleeper. Bennett got free and hit a DVD, while Taven flew in with a running knee. Rhodes spiked Taven with Cross Rhodes, as Liona & Kaun took out the Von Erichs. Cage caught a flying Guevara with a spinning side slam and Shibata took a brutal swinging powerbomb. They tried one on Guevara, who countered into a hurricanrana. The match continued to break down, as Shibata destroyed Bennett in the corner with his stalling dropkick, as Marshall hit a massive moonsault. Final Cut from Rhodes, as Guevara followed by just crushing Taven with a Swanton for the win.

Post match, the heels attacked and left Kevin Von Erich alone, as Taven got in his face, only to suffer the Iron Claw. The faces all popped back up for Claws of their own, clearing the ring and standing tall.

The Return of Jamie Hayter

Saraya came to the stage with Harley Cameron & the entire Knight Family. Cameron screamed at the crowd that Saraya is pissed and the show can not go on. Saraya said she is the Queen of England and the crowd will respect her. She won the title last year and this All In, she’s not even on the show. She’s the best wrestler to come out of England and this show will not go on until she gets the respect she deserves.

Jamie Hayter’s music hits and she gets a massive ovation, as she took down all the Knight Family on her way to the ring. Hayter chucked Cameron aside and got in the ring before Sweet Saraya attacked from behind, but was sent outside as well. Saraya bailed, leaving Cameron to suffer the Hayter-ade, as Hayter stood tall after being out of action for almost a year and a half.

With 10 minutes left on Zero Hour, we begin entrances for the Four Way London Ladder Match for the Trios Titles.

AEW All In

PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta defeated The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch & Nick Wayne), Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson, Austin & Colten Gunn) & House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) in a London Ladder Match to win the AEW Trios Titles

(I loved that they did the entrances to end Zero Hour and wasted no time getting the opener started. This was a car crash as you’d expect in a match like this, as everyone got in their big-time spot. The finish was somewhat unexpected, considering PAC, Castagnoli & Yuta just became a team last night on Collision, but House of Black showing respect post-match leads one to believe a potential Trios match could happen as early as All Out. The cracks continue to form in The Patriarchy and Killswitch storming out will I’m sure lead to Cage berating him more.)

Bell sounded right when the PPV came on the air and Cage ran for his life to the back immediately, as King set up tables ringside, while everyone took turns trying to climb, but were cut off. King ate a dropkick to the face with the ladder by Colten, as Black hit a moonsault to a pile outside, as Yuta & Matthews followed with dives. PAC was left alone and the crowd went wild, as he connected on a Sky Twister Press, leaving The Gunns to wait for him back inside. They turn into The Dudley’s with a Wassup Headbutt and Get the Tables chant, but delayed too long and King steamrolled them over before hitting a wild Tope to the outside. With everyone down, Cage ran out from the back and tried to climb, but was launched over the top by Castagnoli & King, but he was caught by everyone not part of The Partiarcy and was beat mercilessly. Mother Wayne set a ladder up and tried to climb, but The Gunns got her to back off. Their attention was turned enough for Killswitch to appear and lay out everyone in his path with chokeslams, including one on Matthews on the apron and Black onto a ladder. Killswitch & King had a stare down, but Wayne flew in with Wayne’s World on King through a table.

Killswitch went to climb for the belts, but Cage stopped him, wanting to do it himself. Yuta & Robinson shoved the ladder down, but House of Black took control with a triple corner attack on Yuta. King was dropped with 3:10 to Yuma, but Castagnoli avoided one with a flying uppercut. Robinson suffered a Giant Swing, mid-revolution dropkick from Yuta and Black Arrow from PAC before hitting double dives with Yuta onto Black & Matthews. King & Castagnoli slugged it out on a ladder, but The Gunns cut them off with chair shots. Three tables brought in the ring, as King & Castagnoli climbed the ladder with The Gunns backpacked onto them, ultimately falling back through the tables.

Fast sequence from Matthews & Wayne, who hit another Wayne’s World, but ate a ladder to the face by Black. Wayne sent Black to the floor and hit a running Destroyer from the ring to the outside through a table. Robinson threw in a massive ladder, but as he climbed, Cage crotched him on the top rope. PAC tried a springboard, but Cage chucked a ladder in his face and hit a brutal Killswitch onto the set-up chair. Mother Wayne tossed Cage some sort of spray and he misted Yuta off a ladder before hitting multiple chair shots to the back. Robinson hit a low blow on Cage, blocked the spray from Mother Wayne and misted her instead. Robinson teased putting her through a table, but Killswitch appeared, hit a running boot and Robinson crashed through the table.

Killswitch helped Cage up the ladder, but Matthews put a stop to it, throwing a ladder in his face. Matthews climbed a shorter ladder, as Cage leapt from one ladder to another, putting Matthews through a table with a Spear. Killswitch put Cage on his shoulders and climbed the ladder, but PAC made the save, booting Cage down and grabbed one of the titles to win it. Cage berated Killswitch for screwing up in the post-match, as Castagnoli & Yuta climbed up and grabbed the other belts. Black & King got in the ring and showed respect, shaking and raising PAC’s hand.

Mariah May defeated Timeless Toni Storm (w/Luther) to win the AEW Women’s Title

(A story 9 months in the making was the exact culmination of the new champion you had hoped for. These two ladies knocked it out of the park for this entire feud. The finish didn’t make you think a rematch was imminent, but I can’t wait to see what’s next for all involved.)

May’s mother was sitting ringside and we’re told this was only the second time she’s seen her daughter wrestle. Storm’s entrance consisted of a picture of her at Wembley Stadium in 1924 before Luther made his return to the stage, bowing to the crowd, presenting the AEW Women’s Champion. After an early stare down, both ladies immediately turned it into a hockey fight, dodging one another’s finishers until May hit a shotgun dropkick. Mina Shirakawa was shown watching from the crowd, as Storm started no selling chops that led to a chop battle. Storm faked high and hit a DDT, but May avoided a hip attack in the ropes and connected with a powerbomb to the floor. May spat in Luther’s face, as back inside, the Mariah Go Round spinning side slam kept May in control. Handstand head scissors out of the corner, as May slapped Storm, bringing her to her knees.

Similar to the scene of May laying out Storm in Calgary, she planted a kiss on the forehead, but Storm briefly fought back, only to be flattened with a May back suplex. Storm rolled outside and May hit a leaping knee off the apron, as May herself took a pretty gnarly back bump in the process. May walked over and planted a kiss on the forehead of Nigel McGuinness, before a shotgun dropkick flattened Luther. May then walked over and slapped her own mother before Storm flew in with a hip attack through the ropes a Storm Zero onto the ring steps. Storm walked over and consoled May’s mother, clutching her to her bosom.

May is bleeding now, as Storm unloaded ten punches back inside. Multiple beals sent May flying before Storm went for a roundhouse shot, only for May to spit in her face. Storm hit a Choke Bomb for two, but May fought back with a corner high kick and missile dropkick from the top. Multiple Sweet Cheek Music’s connected, but as May went for a fourth, Storm popped up with a huge lariat and German suplex before delivering a Sweet Cheek Music of her own before Storm Zero got a close two. May flipped Storm off, slapping her repeatedly before a slugfest ensued. Referee Aubrey tried to step in, but got shoved away by both ladies, who hit low punt kicks on each other before each hit a headbutt at the same time for the double down.

May dodged Storm Zero and hit May Day, but Storm kicked out. May tried to grab the Women’s Title, but Luther’s hand came up from the floor and stopped her, flipping May off in the process. May opted to grab the bloody shoe, but Storm put a stop to it. May begged off, as Storm couldn’t bring herself to do it. May got a jackknife pin attempt for two, but popped up, hit a running knee to the neck, kissed Storm on the head and hit Storm Zero for the victory. May celebrated up the ramp with the title, as Storm got to her feet almost smiling to the crowd, who was loudly cheering and chanting for her.

HOOK defeated Chris Jericho (w/Big Bill & Bryan Keith) to win the FTW Title

(Well, this was essentially a handicap match for the entire time, but I question why HOOK ripped off his eye patch so late in the match to reveal he could see fine? He went blinded into a 3 on 1 disadvantage for a real long time. I assume this feud is over, as there’s nothing left to do. The moment between father & son that led to the finish was great, though.)

Jericho was played to the ring by Fozzy as he sang Spotlight, which because he’s heel, didn’t get nearly as big of a reaction as Judas did last year at Wembley. Taz’s flatline sound played before HOOK’s music hit and he made his entrance. Taz fittingly joined commentary for this match, as HOOK was attacked immediately by Bill & Keith. Jericho hit a Code Breaker for a near fall, as HOOK fought back by hitting a T-Bone on Keith and low bridging Bill to the floor. Jericho hit a low blow and went under the ring for pool cues and bag of cricket balls. Jericho dumped the bag, but the balls were so far apart that when HOOK hit a back suplex, he missed all of them. HOOK grabbed a cricket bat and smacked Jericho in the back before trying to hit the cricket balls at Jericho, couldn’t connect, so he just chucked them at Jericho. The bat said “Hi, Guys” on it, as HOOK hit a T-Bone using the bat.

Keith smacked HOOK with a trash can lid, allowing Jericho to lock in the Walls of Jericho. HOOK escaped and locked in a Walls of Jericho of his own, but Bill broke it up. It was still 3 on 1, as Bill & Keith set up a table with a barbed wire board on it. Bill tried a chokeslam, but HOOK escaped, posted Bill and hit a low blow on Keith. Jericho raked the one good eye of HOOK and hit a trash can shot, but HOOK dodged a Judas Effect and hit a T-Bone. HOOK ripped off the eye patch and said he can see fine, which, why didn’t you do that to begin the match? Anyways, another T-Bone from HOOK, but Bill grabbed ahold of him on the apron. Jericho swung the pool cue, but HOOK dodged and Bill took a shot that put him through the barbed wire table.

Keith went to run distraction with the FTW Title belt, but Taz left commentary and pulled Keith off the apron, applying the Tazmission all while HOOK sank in REDRUM on Jericho for the submission victory. HOOK & Taz hugged post-match in a really cool moment.

The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defeated The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens w/Daddy Ass) & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles

(So much was crammed into this match, that everyone got off plenty of offense and looked good. The Bucks stealing the win made sense, but I just hope it doesn’t take them so long to have more frequent title defenses. Post match, it certainly looks like their next challengers have arrived.)

The Bucks were dressed as The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and had a tron video to go with it. The Acclaimed came out last and got music to get a massive Scissor Me Daddy chant going before their entrance. Caster got to do his live rap, talking about FTR having Bret Hart matches in their spank bank, while saying the only think The Bucks ever had to pump was their penises. Quick start from Caster & Harwood, but as The Bucks tried to get involved, they were dispatched initially, but a blind tag put The Bucks in control of Wheeler with an assisted Sliced Bread into PK. Neckbreaker/Backbreaker combo from The Bucks, as Wheeler was kept grounded, until he laid out Matthew with a pop-up powerslam. With Harwood down from Nicholas cutting him off, Wheeler reluctantly crawled to The Acclaimed’s corner, where Bowens made the tag and we got a double Scissor Me Timbers on The Bucks. Blind tag by Harwood, as The Acclaimed scissored, only to get laid out with suplexes for their troubles.

Tag by Matthew, who suffered more German suplexes, including a 2 for 1 on both Bucks for a near fall. Matthew tried fighting out of the corner, so Bowens & Harwood hit a double superplex, as Wheeler leapt to finish the Power-Plex, but Matthew got the knees up. Caster missed a Mic Drop and Nicholas missed a Swanton, leaving everyone down. Nicholas ran wild, but as he was about to hit a TK Driver, Wheeler launched him off the top, but Nicholas hit a moonsault instead onto The Acclaimed. Matthew was dropped with Shatter Machine, but Nicholas pulled the ref out before the count. Daddy Ass put a chase on Nicholas, but ate a superkick from Matthew.

With Nicholas down outside, Matthew asked Caster to help with the EVP Trigger and he did, but eventually helped Wheeler take out Matthew with a Shatter Machine. Bowens flew in with a Blockbuster on Wheeler to break up the pin, as The Acclaimed went for their double team finish, but Matthew took the ref, allowing a Nicholas low blow. The Bucks pump up their shoes and deliver a Superkick Party for two. Nicholas thew a title in the ring for referee Rick Knox to play fetch, as Matthew took the other title, but Daddy Ass cut him off with a Fame-Asser. The Arrival by Bowens, Mic Drop by Caster, but Nicholas broke the pin. Wheeler took out The Acclaimed outside with a wild dive, leaving Harwood alone with The Bucks, as Matthew was rolled up, but Harwood shoved off into a belt shot. Harwood kicked out, but The Bucks hit an EVP Trigger to retain.

Post match, James Drake & Zack Gibson appeared and got in the ring for a stare down with The Bucks, who bailed, so the Grizzled Young Veterans attacked FTR instead. They hit a high low on Wheeler before again staring down The Bucks saying they’d see them soon.

Christian Cage won the Casino Gauntlet to earn an AEW World Title shot

(This match was so much fun from the very start, but the finish kind of sucked the wind out of the entire audience, as it’s a result we’ve seemingly seen before. With all the talent involved, to go back to Cage earning a World Title shot was an odd choice. And teasing the Luchasaurus turn has been done so much as this point, do many people really care anymore? Regardless, the returns, debuts, fun moments far outweighed the end result, as they could have so many matches stemming from this match alone.)

Orange Cassidy was the first entrant and his entrance was straight out of the Mr. Bean show, which was incredible. Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada was the second entrant and got a massive ovation. Okada wanted a hug from Cassidy, who obliged his former CHAOS member, but it was a ruse and Okada cracked him with shots to the neck. Rainmaker attempt was blocked with hands in the pockets and got a quick roll-up for two before Okada hit a flapjack. Nigel McGuinness is out 3 to the tune of Oasis ‘F’n in the Bushes’ to a wild reaction from the crowd and stare down with Okada. A series of fake outs from McGuinness led to him slapping Okada right in the face. Corner hand stand led to a series of discus lariats for two. Kyle O’Reilly was 4 and he hit a sliding knee strike on McGuinness before Okada put a stop to it. Stundog Millionaire by Cassidy, who ducked a Rainmaker and Okada got hit with a High/Low as G1 Climax winner Zack Sabre Jr. was entrant 5 to another loud pop.

Cassidy went for another Stundog, but Sabre escaped into a submission. Sabre sent O’Reilly packing and it was a McGuinness & Sabre face-off and we got a crazy great striking exchange. Taz put over how AEW commentators are kicking ass tonight. Okada & Sabre squared off, as Okada hit the Air Raid Crash neckbreaker. Top rope elbow connected, as Okada flipped the crowd off faking a Rainmaker pose. Roderick Strong is 6, as Sabre welcomed his former PWG rival to the ring, all while Okada was still locked in a submission. Strong dished out a series of backbreakers, as within 30 seconds, ROH Champion Mark Briscoe was in at 7. Redneck Kung-Fu dished out on Strong & Okada, but Sabre sent him to the floor onto Okada. O’Reilly & Sabre had a technical series of counters before Briscoe flew off the apron with a dive on Sabre. Cassidy set a chair up and Briscoe hit a dive onto a Strong & McGuinness. With The Conglomeration standing tall, Hangman Page is 8 and went at them all, as he dodged a Cassidy dive and took the fight to Briscoe & O’Reilly. Okada & Sabre were sent outside, as Cassidy was dropped with a Fall Away Slam, as Okada ate a slingshot dive, while Strong took a powerbomb on the apron. Cassidy dodged a Buckshot, but suffered Dead Eye for two.

Jeff Jarrett is 9 and continued to be wildly over as he was last night on Collision. Jarrett was a house of fire, hitting everyone in sight before doing a Fargo Strut. Page escaped corner punches and powerbombed Jarrett from the ring onto a pile. Karen Jarrett was on the apron and Page grabbed her by the throat, but let go, as Ricochet is 10 to a huge pop. Wasting no time showing off his speed, Ricochet sent Page outside, as O’Reilly & Strong were soon after and Ricochet hit a springboard Shooting Star to the floor. Christian Cage is 11 and he comes out clutching his ribs, but was wiped out with a Ricochet dive immediately. Buckshot Lariat on Ricochet, as Page made the cover, but Okada lightly tapped him to break it up, pissing Page off. Okada escaped Dead Eye, but rolling elbow from Page led to a Buckshot attempt, but Karen Jarrett hooked the leg. Jeff showed up and El Kabonged Page with a guitar. Rainmaker by Okada on Jarrett, but Sabre ducked a Rainmaker into an arm submission. Cassidy nearly stole it with a crucifix, as he & Sabre traded a wild series of pin attempts. Cassidy hit the Orange Punch, as Strong came in with End of Heartache, but Briscoe flew in with a Froggy Bow. McGuinness spun out of a Jay Driller, but hung-up O’Reilly with Briscoe and hit Tower of London for a close two.

Strong saved O’Reilly initially from a lariat, but McGuinness hit his bounce back lariat. Cage flew in with a Spear on McGuinness, but Luchasaurus not Killswitch was 12 and Cage was shocked. He had a face-off with Cage, but instead opted to chokeslam O’Reilly and put Cage on top for the win. Page was furious on the outside, as the crowd was incredibly let down by this result.

Will Ospreay defeated MJF to win the AEW International Title

(Credit to everyone in this, as the crowd was on a whole other level for Ospreay, while MJF was the perfect villain. These two had a much different match than their near 60 minute classic on Dynamite and we also got the return of Daniel Garcia, whose business is far from over with MJF. This ended the only way it could’ve possibly finished. This was a great match and great Wembley moment.)

Ospreay had a visually phenomenal Assassin’s Creed Shadows themed entrance and video package. To say his reaction was loud would be an insane understatement. MJF’s entrance had ladies waving American Flags and he came out with Lex Luger 93 trunks, a USA robe and top hat as the big American flag with 50 MJF faces was revealed. Bell sounded and it’s a slugfest immediately, but MJF went to the eyes, only to be sent outside and dropped with an Ospreay slingshot cross body and Sasuke Special. Back inside, MJF dodged Hidden Blade and Oscutter, but Ospreay avoided the Tombstone and we got a series of near falls. MJF avoided a Poison Rana and hit a powerbomb on the knee for two. MJF hit the Kangaroo Kick, but Ospreay dodged the Heatseeker and connected on Pip, Pip, Cheerio for the reset.

MJF opted for the hip swivel after an eye poke, which just let Ospreay recover with a wall walk enzugiri and handspring corkscrew kick for two. Snot rocket from MJF, so Ospreay hit Kawada Kicks, snot rocket of his own and standing Sky Twister Press, as MJF rolled to the floor. Crowd into it, as Ospreay wanted another Sasuke Special, but this time MJF caught him mid-air with a Tombstone. MJF said anyone can flip, as he tried a springboard moonsault, but Ospreay moved, MJF landed on his feet and Ospreay hit a Spanish Fly. With MJF draped over the top rope, Ospreay hit a Shooting Star for two. MJF battled back with a Cross Rhodes, spiking Ospreay for a near fall. Ospreay avoided a brainbuster with a Stundog Millionaire followed by an Oscutter, and double jump Oscutter for two, as MJF got a rope break.

MJF faked a leg injury while dodging Storm Breaker, but ultimately hit a gnarly snap piledriver that spiked Ospreay for two. Both men slowly up, as MJF popped Ospreay with a rolling elbow, but Ospreay floated over a lariat and responded with a Storm Breaker for two. The crowd is chanting for the Tiger Driver, as Ospreay instead, wanted Hidden Blade, but MJF rolled to the apron. Oscutter attempt, but MJF fell back and Ospreay crashed and burned. MJF connected on a Panama Sunrise on the edge of the ring and demanded referee Bryce count, but Ospreay just managed to break the count. MJF teased Hidden Blade, but Ospreay collapsed. Heatseeker dodged, as Ospreay hit a Hook Kick and Oscutter on the apron. Ospreay wanted a diving Hidden Blade off the apron, but MJF dodged and Ospreay hit the camera man. MJF grabbed the American Title and waffled Ospreay, who went for a charge, but Ospreay kicked out. MJF hit the brainbuster, but again, Ospreay kicked out.

MJF tried Hidden Blade, but this time Ospreay ducked and MJF was sent into referee Bryce, who bumped to the floor. MJF bit Ospreay, yelled for Tiger Driver, but Ospreay spun out, wanted the move, only for MJF to hit a low blow. MJF put a foreign object on his hand, but a masked man appeared on the apron and shoved MJF down. It was revealed to be Daniel Garcia, as MJF was stunned, so Ospreay took his head off with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay successfully connected on the Tiger Driver 91 and won the title.

Post match, Ospreay tossed the American Title aside, as Christopher Daniels appeared and presented Ospreay with the International Title and Justin Roberts announced him as the International Champion.

Mercedes Mone (w/Kamille) defeated Dr. Britt Baker to retain the TBS Title

(This was tough, as the crowd was exhausted after the previous match and were incredibly quiet for a majority of this. The Kamille ejection was the loudest reaction of the match and that was Baker’s biggest hope spot. The finish felt very clunky, but the champion ultimately retained.)

Mone was brought on stage by palace guards, in a carriage that had corgis with her, with Kamille alongside. There was a tug of war for Mone between Baker & Kamille to start, as Mone hit an early kick, but Baker responded with a quick hip toss and Lockjaw attempt, but Mone bailed onto the shoulders of Kamille. Mone held up the TBS Title before having a pretty bad scrap in the corner until Baker again went for her finisher, but Mone avoided it. Baker signaled for a Panama Sunrise, but got distracted by Kamille, allowing a back breaker on the top rope by Mone.

Mone kept going after the back and hit an awkward slingshot back breaker over the knee before hitting a better looking one on the second try. Baker fired back with forearms and ripcord strike, but her back gave out, allowing Mone to hit Three Amigos, which got zero reaction. Mone connected on a violent double knee to the back out of the corner, but Baker cut off Mone in the ropes. Mone with an avalanche bodyslam, but missed a follow-up dive. Baker tried a Curb Stomp, but Mone spiked her with a powerbomb. Mone charged, only for Baker to hit a Cutter into the double down. Mone missed another charge, ate a discus forearm and neckbreaker, as Baker connected on a Sling Blade and butterfly slam. Baker put on her glove, but Mone escaped Lockjaw, hit a neckbreaker and took the glove off and put it on herself. Mone took too long to follow-up and Baker hit an Air Raid Crash. Baker re-gained possession of the glove, tried another Air Raid Crash, but Mone rolled through, tried Mone Maker, only for Baker to get a near fall. Mone battled back with a backstabber into the reset.

Mone stomped on the back out of the corner, as she wanted another avalanche bodyslam, only this time, Baker spun out and it was Mone who took the slam. Curb Stomp from Baker, as she went for the cover, but Kamille seemingly put the foot on the rope, even thought it looked like she missed her cue, or Mone’s foot didn’t make the ropes. Mone went to use the TBS Title, but referee Paul Turner caught her and had to wrestle the belt away. Baker took the IWGP Women’s Title from Kamille and tossed it back, phantom bumping, doing the Eddie Guerrero spot, getting Kamille ejected, as Mone was dropped with a Panama Sunrise and Curb Stomp for two. Baker finally got Lockjaw, but Mone bit at the hand to free herself. Mone just rag-dolled Baker into the ropes and hit Mone Maker for the win.

Jack Perry defeated Darby Allin for the TNT Title in a Coffin Match

(While this was a hard-hitting battle from the start, this didn’t go nearly as long as I thought it would and was surprised when this ended. The post-match was the big story here, as The Elite were about to put Allin out of action for good, but the Stinger wouldn’t let that happen to his buddy.)

Allin skateboarded to the ring and commentary pointed out how he has tacks placed all around his face. Allin hit a running dive right at the bell and beat the hell out of Perry with a chair. Allin hit a dropkick off the top to a seated Perry ringside, but due to the tacks, Perry tried throwing punches and just messed his own hand up. Allin placed Perry against the coffin, tried a dive, but Perry moved and Allin bounced horribly off the coffin. Perry dumped a bag of glass in the ring and got a huge reaction from the crowd. He took too long to follow-up, as Allin hit a slam onto the glass, busting open Perry’s back. We get “F CM Punk” chants as Taz mentions how this isn’t the first time Perry has bumped on glass at Wembley. Allin went up top, but Perry swept the legs out, pulled tape from under the ring and taped up Allin’s wrists. Allin is bleeding, but still managed a Coffin Drop to the floor as Perry had gone to the coffin.

Both men fought up the ramp and Perry hit a hard powerbomb before whipping Allin with his own belt and tied his feet up. Perry mocked Allin trying to get up before chucking Allin off the stage through tables. Perry brought the body bag over to Allin and zipped him into it before dragging him to and placing him in the coffin. Allin rose up like a zombie, so Perry hit the running knee and spat on Allin, closing the lid, winning the match.

Post match, The Young Bucks walked to the ring with a gas can, as Perry lifted the lid and Nicholas dumped gas on Allin. Perry lit the lighter, but the lights went out and Sting appeared on stage as Seek & Destroy played. Sting marched to the ring, as The Bucks & Perry charged, but ate bat shots. Perry decked Sting in the back with a chair, but Sting no sold and Perry bailed, leaving The Bucks to take a double Scorpion Death Drop. Sting went to the coffin and helped free Allin, who stood tall with the Stinger as they stared down Perry.

Bryan Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) to win the AEW World Title

(An all timer of a main event, with the storytelling an emotion behind this at another level. The crowd lost their minds for the final few minutes and was there every step of the way, even when booing Strickland and his heel antics. I’m happy the Page appearance didn’t lead to the finish, but it certainly means we’re getting another match in that story, presumably at All Out. The visual of Danielson standing tall with his family, all while the BCC are holding titles was a great way to cap off a great show.)

Danielson’s entrance had a video package of him meditating and seeing flashbacks over his career from pretty much everywhere he’s wrestled aside from WWE. Also, footage of him spending time with his family, saying they make him the best possible version of himself and he will always choose them, always. The Final Countdown plays as Danielson gets a crazy reaction from the crowd before kissing his wife & kids ringside. DJ Whoo Kid asked the crowd Whose House, as Prince Nana waved Strickland to the stage, placing the late Jimmy Rave’s Embassy jacket on him while Flash Garments & Bun B rapped him to the ring. Jim Ross has joined commentary for this main event as well.

Early strike exchange led to a stare down before Strickland glanced over at Brie & the kids, lighting a fire under Danielson, who lit up Strickland with kicks going after the shoulder. Strickland escaped a LeBell Lock, got a slingshot over the top, as he wanted a dive, but Danielson side-stepped. Strickland landed on his feet, but Danielson springboarded off the top into a somersault dive. Back inside, Danielson charged, but Strickland hit a tilt a whirl slam and vertical suplex. Strickland kept Danielson grounded, zoning in on the leg, but as Danielson had a crucifix applied on the standing Strickland on the apron, Danielson’s leg clipped referee Paul Turner. Nana placed the ring bell on the apron and Strickland hit a Death Valley Driver, busting Danielson opened badly. Danielson beat the count, as Strickland questioned why he’s doing this to his family.

Strickland dragged Danielson in front of his family and stomped down on his face repeatedly as he told them he had to do this to their father, all while Nana did his dance. Strickland brought Danielson to the ropes and hit an avalanche Angle Slam as Birdie was shown hiding her eyes. Strickland tried a Swerve Stomp, but Danielson avoided it into the Regal Stretch. Strickland broke free, hit an up kick, but Danielson turned him inside out with a wild lariat. Danielson charged repeatedly with corner strikes before Strickland cut him off with a leaping Flatliner. Danielson fought back with a Cattle Mutilation attempt, but turned it into a Tiger Suplex. Yes Kicks by Danielson, as Strickland collapsed in the corner. Both men went up to the top where Danielson connected on a wild avalanche Tiger Suplex for two.

Danielson said it’s time to kick Strickland’s head in and he did just that, repeatedly before sinking in Cattle Mutilation. Strickland bridged up and countered into a Vertebreaker as referee Paul Turner called in the doctors. Strickland quickly chased them away and hit a Swerve Stomp, but Danielson kicked out. Multiple House Calls connected, as Danielson reached out to his family, telling them he’s sorry, while Strickland hit another House Call for a close two, which the crowd went nuts for. Excalibur questioned if he was apologizing for what he’s put them through or what he’s about to do.

Strickland tried Yes Kicks, but after each one, Danielson hulked up and told his family he loves them so much. Danielson slapped Strickland in the face and lit him up with Yes Kicks before sinking in a triangle choke and got anvil elbows. Strickland powered out, but Danielson hit a suplex that dropped Strickland on his head. Busiaku Knee hit, but Strickland no sold and shrugged it off, hitting another House Call. Strickland smiled at Danielson’s family and hit Big Pressure, but Danielson kicked out and the crowd are on their feet. The first time anyone has kicked out of that move.

Strickland mocked the Yes chant, as Hangman Adam Page appeared and launched security and Prince Nana to the floor before being swarmed by more security. Strickland’s attention turned long enough for Danielson to hit a Busiaku Knee, but Strickland kicked out. Both men trade forearms to “This Is Awesome” chants and it turned to headbutts, as Strickland tried a rolling Flatliner, but Danielson hit another Busiaku Knee. Yes chants ring out and the visual at Wembley is insane, as Danielson sank in the LeBell Lock. Strickland tried to break free, but Danielson snapped his fingers, locked on the submission again and got the submission victory.

Post match, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & PAC help Danielson’s family over the barricade and he celebrates with his wife, son & daughter in the ring as confetti rains down to The Final Countdown. Birdie is holding the AEW World Title, while Buddy loved the confetti as pyro goes off at Wembley to close the show.