John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast, starting off the show talking about, who else, but CM Punk as he made his return to WWE last Saturday at Survivor Series.
We then got to the rest of the Top 5 which included:
Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship is official for the Wednesday, December 6 AEW Dynamite.
After Copeland issued a challenge to Cage on last Saturday’s Collision show, Cage responded during an in-ring promo segment on Wednesday’s Dynamite. Cage teased burying the hatchet with Copeland, but it was a ruse and he attempted to hit Copeland with the title belt. Copeland avoided the attack, left Cage laying, then told him to “Go f— yourself” in a callback to a previous Cage promo on Copeland.
The match was officially announced for next week later in Wednesday’s program.
Two additional matches were teased for the December 6 Dynamite, although neither was officially announced.
Following an in-ring assault from masked attackers on MJF & Samoa Joe, a message from The Devil played on Dynamite challenging MJF & Joe to face two of the masked men in tag team action next week.
It was also revealed in a backstage promo segment with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm that the champ will be defending her title “next week,” possibly against Mariah May.
Copeland challenged Cage to a match for the December 6 edition of AEW Dynamite, which will be held at The Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. He said that there were two heads on his wall now that he took out Killswitch earlier in the night. He told Cage that he wanted to take his TNT title as it means the most to him, while to Copeland, it’s only secondary.
Earlier in the night, Killswitch was attacking both of The Boys after their match when Copeland came out for the save, laying out Killswitch. After Killswitch got up after one conchairto, Copeland gave Killswitch multiple conchairtos until Killswitch stopped moving.
Copeland has been targeting Cage and the rest of the Patriarchy since Cage flatly rejected Copeland’s offer of reuniting their tag team. On Wednesday’s Dynamite, Copeland came out to attack Cage but ended up targeting Nick Wayne instead, hitting him with a spear. Then, in front of his mother, Copeland gave Wayne a conchairto.
On Wednesday’s Dynamite, Cage blamed Luchasaurus for losing the six-man tag team match at Full Gear last Saturday and told him to take a knee. He said he thought about it and rechristened Luchasaurus under the name Killswitch. Nick Wayne got on his knee as well, but Cage told him to stand up, saying he should never take a knee to another man. He told Wayne that he would be given the nickname The Prodigy.
Luchasaurus didn’t seem sure about the situation and got up. Cage argued with Luchasaurus as Nick Wayne’s mother, Shayna, came to the ring. Cage insulted Shayna and Nick Wayne’s late father, Buddy Wayne. Luchasaurus got in front of the two as Cage shoved Luchasaurus, accidentally colliding into Shayna as she fell to the floor.
Cage instructed Nick Wayne to grab a chair for a conchairto. Cage ordered Luchasaurus to do it, but Luchasaurus paused until Adam Copeland made the save. Luchasaurus took Cage out of the ring before Copeland could get to him. Copeland responded by spearing Wayne twice then gave him a conchairto in front of his mother, who was still recovering in the ring.
Cage, Wayne, and Luchasaurus lost to Copeland, Sting, and Darby Allin at last week’s Full Gear, with Luchasaurus taking the pin.
AEW has announced a new segment for the Full Gear fallout edition of Dynamite.
On Dynamite this Wednesday, Christian Cage will “rechristen” Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne. The trio is coming off a loss to Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland at Full Gear.
AEW wrote:
#AEWDynamite LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT @WintrustArena 8/7c | @TBSNetwork
Tomorrow night on Thanksgiving Eve, TNT Champion The Patriarch @Christian4Peeps will rechristen @luchasaurus & @thenickwayne
Don’t miss Wednesday Night Dynamite TOMORROW! 8/7c | TBS
Luchasaurus was pinned in the trios match at Full Gear after taking a Stinger Splash from Sting, a spear from Copeland, and a Coffin Drop from Allin. Right before the finish, Christian ran away through the crowd as Copeland tried to go after him. Christian had attempted to hit Copeland with the TNT title belt but accidentally struck Luchasaurus.
Christian, Luchasaurus & Wayne have been given the name “The Patriarchy” in AEW.
Wednesday’s Dynamite is AEW’s annual Thanksgiving eve episode of the show from Chicago. The episode will also feature the start of AEW’s Continental Classic tournament.
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author.
AEW desperately needed to put together a well-conceived pay-per-view with Saturday’s Full Gear (8 PM Eastern) with a steady, reliable build. Friends, I have good news! They have largely accomplished that.
Almost everything on this card makes sense in storyline and most matches were given enough screen time to get the audience to care. At times, the booking can seem like Tony Khan playing a song that only he can hear. But Full Gear is a step in the right direction: a solid show to stabilize AEW moving into Worlds End in December and the start of a new year.
No AEW preview would be complete without checking in on an increasingly worrisome trend: the growing reliance on stars from the past. Popping a rating is good and high numbers of buys for PPVs are necessary. Both are vital in keeping a company financially healthy. But at some point, all eyes need to look toward the future and not six or eight weeks down the road (though AEW would be wise to do more of that as well) but months and years).
The question the big decision-makers should be trying to answer is, “What does this company look like in three years?” Succession planning is challenging in any industry, especially one like pro wrestling. The pool of talent is so small. Within this confined space, the quest for true game-changers, the elusive outliers, the singular HIMs and HERs of the world is a perpetual chase. In a sport rife with unpredictability, identifying who is next, and getting them there, is paramount.
AEW will deliver on Saturday as they always do. It’s good to be excited about the stories behind matches coming in. Time for some previews and predictions for all the matches announced as of Friday morning.
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. The Golden Jets (Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega)
Here’s the stipulation: If the Jets win, they get the Bucks’ future AEW Tag Team Championship opportunity. If the Bucks win, the Jets must disband as a team.
The Bucks are terrible friends, giving off some of the worst “guys being dudes” energy of all time. Whenever their friends are doing something that is not in service of whatever their weird agenda happens to be, they act like the toddler who was denied another piece of candy. Swerve Strickland breaks into Adam Page’s house? Sorry pal, can’t help you because we need you laser-focused on meaningless Trios titles. Kenny Omega engages in a brief and somewhat understandable dalliance with Chris Jericho? Apologies, my friend but you simply must defeat us in a tag team match or break up forever.
Omega and Jericho have had exactly five matches together as a team. Was their partnership elegantly constructed? Dear readers, it was not. But there are at least some understandable motivations behind it. Both are extremely Canadian and both hate Don Callis. Successful marriages are built on less. Yet, the Bucks are acting like Omega committed high treason.
This is the reason they, in canon, have no friends. Rather than support their friends in their endeavors, be it Omega now or Page in his entire AEW history, they whine and do whatever they can to take the shine away from their so-called friends. Notice only two people listed there? Curious!
The Bucks should always be terrible. They are so good at it.
Prediction: The Golden Jets
Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland (with, sigh, Ric Flair) vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
Is Flair going to get a full entrance on a PPV in 2023? Has it come to this? Usually, AEW’s decisions are, at best, met with fanfare and, at worst, with an eye roll. This is the first time that a “major announcement” — and I’m letting the word “major” carry a lot of water — was met with scorn and disgust by a large portion of AEW fans. The people are upset, and they have a right to be.
Spare me the excuses about Sting and Flair’s history. Bringing the man in for a one-off is one thing. Signing him to a long-term deal that includes a partnership with his terrible energy drink is another altogether. Flair has long since run out of goodwill. He remains a detestable relic that has lost whatever shreds of redeeming charm he had years ago. He deserves no place on our televisions.
The Flair signing is so laughable that I gave it space in #mycolumn before talking about Copeland’s PPV debut. I am trying to remain cautiously optimistic about what the now 50-year-old Copeland — a name I’m still having a hard time typing — can do in AEW on a full-time schedule. We’ve seen first-hand the trouble Bryan Danielson has had with staying healthy and working nearly a full schedule and he’s eight years younger.
Since his return in 2020, Copeland has already had two significant injuries, that being a torn triceps and a sprained MCL. The human body does not get better with age. Our mortal vessels have an expiration date, and we get closer to them every day. This is especially true for older wrestlers. Aging gracefully is rarely a thing in this industry.
Copeland being used like Christian would be the ideal way to get as much out of him as possible. Will he be as captivating as everyone’s favorite patriarch? Doubtful, considering Christian is a top-three act in all of wrestling right now and he’s not third on that list. Cautious in-ring time combined with interesting creative would give Copeland everything he needs to cap off his legendary career.
Prediction: Sting, Allin & Copeland
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland in a Texas Death Match
Swerve is an audacious, velvety performer: moving with a grace that still surprises even though he’s been on our screens for years. His current run in AEW has seen him fully realize all of his gifts. He knows who he is every second he’s on screen and it shows in his presentation. From the detail on his ring gear to the subtle eye and facial movements, everything is calculated and everything works. By any reasonable measure, this is an all-caps STAR with no qualifier needed. Frankly, I am tired of wondering when his rocket will launch. It’s been ready for a long time; someone just needs to hit the ignition switch.
Where Strickland is smooth and cool, Page is emotional and fiery. Far more than his never-ending on again/off again pals in The Elite, Page is the heart and soul of AEW. He is the heartbeat that can sustain the entire company. At his peak, there was no one the crowd got behind more. They desperately cared about him and his success. He is the best pure babyface in the company and should never be far from the main event.
The build to this is as good as anything AEW has done this year. A fired-up Hangman promo remains one of the best things in all of wrestling; it can sell a match by itself. If this rivalry is destined for a rubber match, maybe a last man standing match at Worlds End, so Page needs the win Saturday.
Prediction: Page
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill defend against LFI (Rush & Dralístico), FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood), and Kings of The Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) in a four-way ladder match
One of AEW’s trademarks is the multi-person sprint that over-performs and over-delivers. I think of it as their forever love letter to Pro Wrestling Guerilla. Every team in this match brings something unique and special. Ricky and Big Bill bring charisma, LFI bring chaotic unpredictability, and FTR is FTR with no exposition required. The Kings of The Black Throne bring their own very specific brand of strikes and presence. Throw all these things together and you have the makings of something fast and a whole bunch of fun.
This feels like the perfect show opening match. Let these guys go on first, light up the crowd, and leave it up to the rest of the roster to follow it up.
Prediction: Starks and Big Bill retain
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart and Skye Blue in a three-way
One of the longest-running women’s programs at AEW gets a chance to shine on a big stage. Blue’s black mist-initiated transformation has been an interesting, slow burn. It’s brought a welcome change in her character, taking it from someone who smiles and sticks out their tongue to someone with actual intrigue. Is she affected by the mist? Is she pretending to be affected by the mist? Has she actually been a spooky grump the whole time? Who knows, but those are all questions that can be answered in this match.
Hart as this weird agent of chaotic change in AEW is a fun development. Establishing the black mist as something that can corrupt someone’s heart (pun extremely intended) and change their alignment is a plot device that, if used judiciously and creatively, allows for some interesting storylines in the future. That future is bright. She gets more comfortable with her character each week and the growth in the ring isn’t far behind.
As interesting as this is, it still isn’t time for a title change. Statlander, somehow, gets third billing in this program. She’s still looking for the signature moment in her title reign, and the match or program that we can point to as the defining moment of her reign. Until she gets that, she shouldn’t drop the title.
Prediction: Statlander retains
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
Their first match forever legitimized Cassidy, not that he needed it. Even though he lost, it put the stamp on what was the best championship reign in AEW history — one that saw him throw all of his opponents into his Jansport and carry them to a great match with no skips at all. It established Cassidy as someone who can step into the main event and carry a show. It was a bloody, desperate affair that fundamentally changed him.
His evolution has been incredible. His fixation on beating Moxley and desire to keep the International championship added significant depth to his ever-growing character. For the first time, he cares about something. He’s on my short-list for wrestler of the year — an unfathomable statement to consider even two years ago — and another classic on Saturday could put him near the top of that list.
This sequel has a lot to live up to, but both of these guys always deliver. They are the two most reliable performers in AEW. Moxley gets injured? Better call Orange. Need an emergency World champion? Dial 1-800-Moxley. They might not always be there when you call, but they’re always on time. Like Swerve vs. Page, this is billed as a sequel and most sequels wind up being a trilogy. Moxley needs to win to get us there.
Prediction: Moxley wins the title
AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
Shida, neither pinned nor submitted in 2023, is the true north of the AEW women’s division. She is the ‘home’ button on your GPS. No matter where the company might be or how lost they are, she’s always going to get you right where you need to be. In a division that seems to be in constant need of a stabilizing force at the top, Shida continues to be that. Consistently great between the ropes, she has a knack for building to the big moments on the biggest shows. This is what a true Ace looks like.
I was teetering on the verge of being out on this Storm gimmick (and I still might be) until a few weeks ago when she explained how she ended up this way. Not coming out on top at Wembley Stadium broke her and sent her on a slow descent into madness. A small amount of exposition backstory made her less of a gimmick designed to get catchphrases over and more of an actual character. Granted, something like this has a definitive shelf life and I’m curious if they know how they are going pay this off as they have no idea how to land this plane.
It seems like Storm’s next program will involve the freshly signed Mariah May in an All About Eve-type program. Does she cost her the title here? Or help her win it? I hope it’s the former. Shida deserves a long reign at the top, and the women’s division could use more than one story at a time.
Prediction: Shida retains
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
The build to this has seen the best and worst of MJF. Proven time again to be a top-tier mic worker, MJF often falls into bad habits. Top among them is using his unique connection with the audience to attempt to get anything over, no matter how bad it is. One example specifically: calling Jay White tofu and getting the crowd to chant it.
On the one hand, it speaks to his talent that he can get a crowd to chant “tofu” just by mentioning it and holding up a microphone. On the other hand, it’s getting a crowd to chant “tofu.” It detracts from the moment at hand and serves absolutely nothing. Thankfully, they have moved away from the cringeworthy mic moments over the past month or so and toward a program that asks the existential question: can a person exist without any friends?
MJF has always been a man on an island. Even when part of The Pinnacle, it was Max and everyone else. His relationship with Wardlow was a marriage of convenience. Both of these associations were means to an end for MJF, either to push him up the card or to further establish him there. To him, though, they were real relationships. Of course they were — this is what he thought friendships were supposed to be. They’re supposed to be transactional. What good is someone if they can’t do something to benefit you?
That all changed when he met Adam Cole and got to experience an actual friendship — a reciprocal friendship where someone genuinely cared about him and his success. And now that Cole is gone, Max can identify for the first time what the emptiness in his life was. He wanders around backstage and is reminded of what isn’t there. He is, in many ways, the encapsulation of the loneliness epidemic in America where so many people have no close relationships. Even though he has a friend for the first time, he has never felt more alone.
I’m in total agreement with my colleague, the king Josh Nason, regarding White. He hasn’t been presented like a top guy. If a new fan turns on AEW, would they have any idea he’s a big deal? White is a big deal. He’s a former NJPW Grand Slam champion but isn’t presented that way. Bullet Club Gold is a wildly entertaining group, but nothing about them, or White, sadly, screams World champion. Except White is a world champion. He has been a world champion before and will be one again. It just won’t happen this weekend. Nothing about the build to this signals a title change.
Three title matches are set for this week’s AEW Collision.
Christian Cage will defend the TNT Championship against Bryan Danielson. Danielson won a number one contender’s match at AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday, defeating Swerve Strickland.
Two other title matches will have Kris Statlander defend the TBS Championship against Skye Blue and Samoa Joe defending the ROH Television title against Willie Mack. Blue defeated Emi Sakura on Rampage Friday to earn the TBS title match.
Adam Copeland will also be appearing live. Copeland recently had his first match in AEW on Tuesday, defeating Luchasaurus. Copeland has been looking for answers from Christian Cage after Cage flatly rejected Copeland’s offer of reuniting their tag team.
Ricky Starks and Big Bill will also speak after winning the AEW Tag Team titles on last week’s Collision, defeating FTR in a matter of minutes.
Brian Cage will also be in action, taking on Komander in a match between strength and speed.
Collision will air in its normal time slot Saturday at 8 pm ET.
***
No pre-roll videos this week, as we jump right into the Elton John intro video. Tony Schiavone joined Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness on the commentary desk this week.
Adam Copeland Speaks
This segment basically put the feuds on Collision into one segment while hyping the main event. I’ll say that I didn’t like Copeland eating into Starks’ promo with his jabs. It felt like he was just trying to get the last word on him.
Adam Copeland opened the show. He wanted Christian Cage to explain more of what he had to say on Dynamite. Cage made his entrance, alongside Luchasaurus, Nick Wayne, a security force, and a large man in a suit. Cage isn’t surprised that Copeland would walk onto Collision and ask for answers. Cage asked Copeland to hit the bricks before he had Copeland removed from the building like he had the Blackpool Combat Club removed.
Bryan Danielson joined proceedings, letting Christian know that Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne were banned from ringside as well. Ricky Starks & Big Bill entered the scene, unhappy that these guys were taking up their television time. Starks doesn’t respect Copeland or Danielson, but he does respect Christian. Starks and Copeland traded barbs before Starks challenged him and Danielson to fight it out here.
FTR came out. Cash Wheeler said that AEW medical gave them a choice to wrestle or sit out last week, but they chose to fight. It didn’t work out for them, but they were willing to earn their way back to the tag team titles. Danielson wanted to have his match with Cage right now, but Cage shoved the security into Danielson, starting a giant brawl. Copeland, FTR, and Danielson fought off the security and stood tall to end the segment.
We got a video package showing AEW World Champion MJF taking part in a Stand Up To Jewish Hate charity event, alongside New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman.
ROH World Television Title Match – Samoa Joe defeated Willie Mack to retain
The two men traded shoulder blocks until Joe dropped Mack and clubbered him in the corner. Mack sent Joe to the floor with a jumping knee before following Joe to the floor with a plancha.
Mack was making Joe’s nurples purple as we came back from the break. Mack laid in running strikes to Joe in the corner before hitting a cannonball for a nearfall. Joe and Mack traded strikes in the ring before Joe caught Mack with a Manhattan Drop. He hit a big boot and a senton for a nearfall on Mack. Joe caught Mack with a tight powerslam for a nearfall.
Mack caught Joe’s boot and hit a stunner for a nearfall. Mack went to the top rope, but Joe cut him off and hit the Muscle Buster for the win and the successful title defense. The announcers told us that Joe was 20 days away from breaking the record for longest ROH Television Title reign of all time.
Lexy Nair was backstage with CJ Perry. She wanted to help people who were tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching others succeed. Action Andretti entered the frame, introducing himself to Perry and making it known that he was only one call away.
We got a video package hyping the return of Danhausen, featuring a plug of his merchandise.
Juice Robinson (w/ Jay White & The Gunns) defeated Christopher Daniels
Daniels kept Robinson on the back foot with arm drags until Robinson sent Daniels neck-first into the middle rope. The Gunns got cheap shots in on Daniels as the announcers told us that the winner of the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal on this week’s Dynamite would get a match against MJF for the ring on the next week’s Dynamite from Philadelphia.
Robinson drilled Daniels with punches before landing the Left Hand of God and a senton for a nearfall. Robinson went for Juice Is Loose, but Daniels reversed it into a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Daniels put Robinson down with an STO before firing up and hitting a second STO. Daniels hit a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall.
Daniels went for the Angel’s Wings, but Robinson shoved him in the corner and hit another Left Hand of God. Robinson followed with a cannonball before scoring the win with the Juice is Loose. After the match, White dropped to a knee and offered Robinson a diamond ring of his own. Robinson accepted it before drilling Daniels with a ring-assisted punch to the face.
Robinson took the mic, telling MJF that he could knock people out with a ring too. Robinson was knocking people out for years, and he didn’t need a ring to do it. Robinson threatened to pawn off MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring after he won it in order to fund a vacation for the Bang Bang Gang. Jay White told MJF that all of this was happening because of the attack that he still believes MJF perpetrated a few weeks ago. Bullet Club Gold was going to take everything from him, and it would end with White as AEW World Champion.
We got a promo from Dustin Rhodes, who was excited to come back to Texas and win the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal. He wanted the ring, and a chance to fulfill his dream of winning the AEW World Title.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Nick Wayne, and she informed him that Jim Ross would be having a sitdown interview with him and his mother on Dynamite. Wayne was surprised but said he would tell the world why he turned on Darby Allin on Dynamite.
Kyle Fletcher defeated Boulder
Boulder overpowered Fletcher to start, not budging on a shoulder block attempt. Boulder sent Fletcher flying with a gorilla press slam, but Fletcher sent Boulder to the apron and booted him down. Fletcher hit a suicide dive before bringing Boulder back into the ring and hitting a Yakuza Kick.
Boulder reversed a suplex and went up for a Vader Bomb, but Fletcher cut him off and hit a powerbomb. A running kick to the back of the head led to Fletcher scoring the win with the Dragon Sleeper.
Renee Paquette was backstage with The Acclaimed, and she congratulated them for defending the Trios Titles three times in a week. Billy Gunn let Max Caster know that they would help Caster out with his MJF stuff if it mattered to him. They offered him some advice, telling him to simply compliment Renee. Caster then requested to go on Renee’s podcast, with the offer getting denied. 2.0 and Jake Hager made their way in and made a challenge for the Trios Titles for next week in Nashville, with that offer being accepted.
AEW TBS Title Match – Kris Statlander defeated Skye Blue to retain
A solid title match here, as these two got the crowd into the action by the end. Blue seems to be on track for some type of character change, which would be beneficial. Her in-ring ability has improved over the course of her AEW career.
The announcers hyped a change in attitude for Blue ever since getting misted by Julia Hart. Statlander used her size advantage to counter Blue’s offense early on. Blue slipped onto the apron and booted Statlander before hitting a neckbreaker in the ropes as we went to a commercial.
Blue peppered Statlander with shots, but Statlander came back with an offensive combination of her own. Statlander hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Blue fought out of Saturday Night Fever to hit a satellite DDT for a nearfall. Blue went to the top rope, but Statlander cut her off. Blue slipped through Statlander’s legs and hit an avalanche powerbomb for a nearfall. Blue went for a high crossbody, but Statlander caught her and hit a powerslam for a nearfall.
They traded strikes, with Blue landing several thrust kicks and a rising knee. Blue went for a headscissors, but Statlander held her in position for Saturday Night Fever and got the win. After the match, Willow Nightingale came out to help Blue up as Statlander walked away.
Kyle Fletcher was backstage, hoping to prove that he could hang as a singles wrestler while his partner Mark Davis was recovering from injury. He made a challenge to Kenny Omega for Dynamite.
We got a video package hyping La Faccion Ingobernable. Rush, Preston Vance, Dralistico, and Jose The Assistant talked about what it meant to be Ingobernable before warning that if you messed with the bull, you’d get the horns.
Keith Lee defeated Turbo Floyd
Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty were watching from backstage. Lee pounced Floyd before scoring the almost-immediate win with the Spirit Bomb.
Miro was backstage, noting that he’s been tempted recently with his wife CJ Perry around. He says that her temptations are surrounding her now and that she won’t be able to resist them. He will destroy any man that comes near her to make sure that doesn’t happen, before showing a beaten Action Andretti.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card, with the additions of a new Toni Storm film, a Sting promo, and the confirmation of the Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega match.
We got a video package for next Friday’s lucha-flavored Rampage main event, as Rocky Romero will take on Mistico in a battle of two of CMLL’s top champions. It was announced that next week’s Collision will see Miro take on Action Andretti.
AEW TNT Title Match – Christian Cage defeated Bryan Danielson to retain
An excellent main event between these two veterans, definitely a match to seek out. Interesting to see that despite winning the tag team titles, Ricky Starks isn’t finished with Bryan Danielson.
Jim Ross joined the commentary desk for the main event, as has been established. Cage and Danielson started with a technical exchange that went to a stalemate. Danielson continually took Cage to the mat, forcing Cage to the floor to escape a LeBell Lock attempt as we went to a commercial break.
Danielson took Cage down to the mat as we came back from the commercial. He locked on the surfboard stretch on Cage before bridging it down for a pin cover and a nearfall. Cage slipped to the apron and picked Danielson’s ankle, but Danielson reversed an Irish Whip and sent Cage into the barricade. Danielson hit a running knee into the barricades before bringing Cage back into the ring, where he locked on a series of submissions that transitioned into a pin cover for a nearfall.
Cage poked Danielson in the eyes and dropped him with an armbreaker to take control. Danielson sent Cage into the turnbuckles sternum-first. Danielson went for a diving headbutt, but Cage moved. Danielson was favoring his right arm, and Cage went after it. Danielson sent Cage to the floor and went for a suicide dive, but Cage cut him off with a palm strike. Cage hit a pendulum kick to Danielson on the apron before dropping Danielson on the apron with a hammerlock back suplex. Danielson was screaming about his arm as we went to another commercial.
Cage twice sent Danielson’s arm into the announce table as the announcers reiterated that there was no time limit and that the show would continue until there was a winner. Cage brought Danielson to the top rope, but Danielson sent Cage to the mat and hit the diving headbutt. They traded strikes as Cage was bleeding from the forehead. Danielson fired up, making a one-armed comeback.
Danielson kicked Cage until Cage bailed to ringside, where Danielson followed with a suicide dive. Danielson hit a missile dropkick for a nearfall. Cage countered a top rope hurricanrana by rolling through for a sunset flip for a nearfall. Cage dropped Danielson’s neck on the top rope before hitting a frog splash for a nearfall. Cage went for the Killswitch, but Danielson forced Cage onto his knees and hammered him with kicks. Cage ducked the head kick before dropping Danielson with a hammerlock reverse DDT.
Cage went for a spear, but Danielson kicked him and hit the head kick for a nearfall. Danielson kicked Cage’s head in and loaded up for the Busaiku Knee, but Christian cut him off with the spear. Christian hit the Killswitch, but only got a nearfall. Danielson ducked another spear and hit the Busaiku Knee for a nearfall.
Danielson locked on the LeBell Lock, but Cage reached the ropes. Danielson dragged Cage to the middle of the ring but couldn’t reapply the hold due to his damaged arm. Big Bill made his way to ringside, running distraction on the referee as Ricky Starks knocked Danielson out with his tag team title belt. Cage rolled on top of Danielson to score the win and retain the title.
Everyone, including Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne, stomped on Danielson until FTR and Adam Copeland ran out to even the odds. Copeland laid out Wayne with a spear to stand tall at the end of the show.
During this match, it was announced that The Acclaimed would defend the AEW Trios Titles against 2.0 and Daniel Garcia on Battle of the Belts VIII next week, immediately following Collision.
Bryan Danielson is the new number one contender to the TNT Championship and challenging for the title on this week’s AEW Collision.
Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland at Dynamite Title Tuesday to become the number one contender to Christian Cage’s TNT Championship. It was announced as Title Tuesday kicked off that the title match was set for this Saturday, October 14 on Collision with a special 7 p.m. Eastern start time on TNT.
Both Cage and Danielson were involved in the main event segment on Title Tuesday as well, with Cage attempting to interfere in the main event bout between Adam Copeland and Luchasaurus. Cage’s interference backfired and Copeland hit Luchasaurus with the TNT title belt. That led to a spot where Luchasaurus thought Cage hit him with the belt instead. Copeland then hit a spear for the pin.
After the bout, Nick Wayne, Mogul Embassy, Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta, and Danielson all ran in for a big brawl. The closing scene of the episode saw Cage tapping out to Danielson’s LeBell Lock submission.
The TNT title bout remains the only item announced so far for this week’s Collision. For the second consecutive week the show will start at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Christian Cage will give Adam Copeland answers on Tuesday’s Dynamite.
Cage announced at the end of Collision on Saturday that he will give answers to his recent actions against Copeland on Tuesday’s Dynamite. Copeland had come out in the final segment of the show to ask Cage to explain his recent actions. Copeland had attempted to reunite with Cage on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite, but Cage refused, flatly telling Copeland to “go f*** yourself”.
After Cage spoke, Copeland was confronted by his opponent for Tuesday, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne. The numbers game soon played into the equation and despite Darby Allin coming out for the save, both ended up being laid out to end the show.
Here is the updated lineup for AEW Dynamite’s Title Tuesday:
AEW Women’s World Championship: Saraya defends against Hikaru Shida
AEW International Championship: Rey Fenix defends against Jon Moxley
TNT Championship number one contender’s match: Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland
Christian Cage will be defending the TNT Championship on next week’s Collision.
Cage will either defend the title against Swerve Strickland or Bryan Danielson. The two will meet on a special edition of AEW Dynamite on Tuesday to determine the next challenger for Cage.
On Saturday’s Collision, Adam Copeland came out and said that he wanted answers from Christian Cage after Cage rejected Copeland’s offer to reunite their tag team back on Wednesday’s Dynamite, telling Copleand to “go f*** yourself”.
Cage appeared backstage and said he would explain his actions on Tuesday, if Copeland could make it by then. It was then that Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne came to the ring and attacked Copeland. Darby Allin attempted to come out for the save, but he too was laid out.
Earlier in the show, Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony attacked Danielson after he defeated Kyle Fletcher. Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta came out for the save, setting up a match for next Friday’s Rampage.
Here is everything announced thus far for next week’s AEW Collision:
TNT Championship: Christian Cage defends against either Swerve Strickland or Bryan Danielson
Adam Copleand will respond to Christian Cage on tonight’s AEW Collision.
The end of Dynamite on Wednesday saw Copeland attempt to mend fences with Christian Cage, suggesting that the two team together for the first time since 2011. The two hugged, but Cage destroyed any chance of a reunion with Copleand by telling him to “go f*** yourself”. The show ended with a stunned Copeland seeing not only Cage on the entranceway, but Luchasaurus, his opponent on Tuesday.
Two title matches will also take place. After winning a four-way number one contenders match on Rampage, Komander will challenge Eddie Kingston for the ROH World title. After pinning FTR last week, Ricky Starks and Big Bill will challenge for the AEW Tag Team titles.
Also in action is Bryan Danielson, who will face Kyle Fletcher. Toni Storm will also appear, taking on Kiera Hogan under her new ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm persona.
Collision will start one hour earlier on Saturday, beginning at 7 pm ET.
The cold open promos have words from Bryan Danielson, Kyle Fletcher, Big Bill & Ricky Starks, Eddie Kingston, & FTR. Ian Riccaboni & Nigel McGuinness were on the call from Salt Lake City, as the tag team title match kicked off the show.
AEW World Tag Team Title Match – Big Bill & Ricky Starks defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) to win the titles
A surprising result, with FTR getting blitzed and beaten decisively. Big Bill and Starks have been a great pairing since coming together, and Starks’ performance this summer was deserving of a high-level spot in AEW.
Starks jumped Harwood at the bell, knocking Wheeler off of the apron. Starks threw Harwood into the corner posts before hitting a tornado DDT for a nearfall. The ringside doctor attended to Wheeler, who said in his pre-show promo that he had a fractured rib. Bill tagged in and booted Harwood before sending him to the floor. Starks directed Bill to handle Wheeler, which he did by chokeslamming him through the announce table.
Bill sent Harwood back into the ring, but Harwood ducked a pair of corner splashes. Harwood failed at a Sharpshooter attempt, getting booted by Bill as a result. Bill hit a chokeslam and went for a cover, but Starks wanted him to hit another one. Bill obliged, but Starks wanted another chokeslam. Bill hit the third chokeslam, but Starks still wasn’t satisfied. Bill tagged Starks in, who hit the spear to win the tag team titles.
We got a recap of Powerhouse Hobbs attacking Chris Jericho on Dynamite, leading to their match this Tuesday on Dynamite. We got a glimpse of FTR being brought to the back as Bryan Danielson made his entrance.
Bryan Danielson defeated Kyle Fletcher
Fletcher has been pegged as a future star for a while as part of Aussie Open, but he got a great opportunity to shine here against Danielson. Fletcher looked great here, with Danielson escaping with a win. The post-match angle was a neat touch, with Swerve sending his goons after Danielson to get an advantage ahead of their match on Dynamite.
Fletcher overpowered Danielson to start, laying in a shoulder block and a kick to the spine. Fletcher continued to strong-arm Danielson until he got caught with a kitchen sink knee. Danielson locked on a Mexican surfboard before laying in forearms to Fletcher’s head. The two went back and forth before Fletcher sent Danielson to the apron and booted him to the floor. Fletcher hit Danielson with a wild suicide dive, with both men flying into the barricade as we went to a commercial.
Fletcher held serve on Danielson as we came back from the commercial, but Danielson slipped out of a bodyslam and hit a running clothesline. Danielson laid in the Yes kicks, hitting the head kick for a nearfall. Danielson clubbered on Fletcher in the corner with kicks and chops before taking Fletcher to the top rope and hitting a hurricanrana. Danielson hit a pair of running dropkicks, but Fletcher followed up with a Yakuza Kick and a brainbuster for a nearfall.
The crowd gave out justified This Is Awesome chants as Fletcher chopped Danielson in the corner. Danielson vaulted over Fletcher in the corner, but Fletcher hit a superkick. Danielson avoided another Yakuza Kick, then hammered Fletcher with chops and kicks to Fletcher’s knee. Danielson caught Fletcher in an ankle lock, then pulled him up into a bridging German suplex for a nearfall.
Fletcher switched positions on a waistlock, then hit a Dragon Suplex on the American Dragon for a nearfall. Fletcher hit a jumping kick to the back of Danielson’s head, but Danielson slipped out of a twisting Tombstone attempt. Danielson ran into a Falcon Arrow from Fletcher for a nearfall. Fletcher locked on a chinlock, then transitioned into a nasty Dragon Sleeper hold. Danielson got to the ropes, so Fletcher brought Danielson to the top rope. After some hammer-and-anvil elbows, Fletcher hit a reverse superplex and transitioned it into the Dragon Sleeper. Danielson slipped out, then caught Fletcher in a European Clutch to score the flash pin.
After the match, The Gates of Agony jumped Danielson ahead of Danielson’s match against Swerve Strickland this Tuesday. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta hit the ring and ran them off.
We got a recap of the tag team title change before we went backstage, where Tony Schiavone was backstage with new AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks. Bill said that they beat the so-called best tag team in the world, before noting how nice it was that real stars were tag team champions. Starks denied FTR any kind of rematch, noting that they are the faces of Collision and the new top dogs around AEW.
Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson & The Gunns) (w/ Jay White) defeated Metalik, Gravity, & Angelico (w/ Serpentico)
White came out with the AEW World Heavyweight Title, having stolen it from MJF this past Wednesday on Dynamite. Gravity outpaced Austin Gunn, hitting a handspring lucha armdrag before spacewalking to the corner for a tag to Metalik. Robinson tagged in but took a reverse Slingblade for a nearfall for Metalik. The lucha team kept control on Robinson until Robinson hit a kitchen sink knee on Gravity. Colton Gunn hit a big dropkick on Gravity as we went to a commercial break.
Bullet Club Gold held serve on their opponents as we came back from the break. Robinson hit his signature punches before Austin tagged in to hit his flashy punches. Gravity baited Colton in for a roll-up pin before tagging Angelico. Angelico ran wild, tying both Gunns in dual submission holds. Robinson broke it up with a Left Hand of God punch to the face.
Gravity sent Robinson to the floor, but a Gunn foiled a springboard moonsault attempt. Metalik got outnumbered before taking the 3:10 To Yuma from the Gunns. Robinson hit his frontway DDT for the win.
After the match, Jay White got the mic. White told MJF that AEW needed a champion that was truly elite. White was there, but MJF wasn’t. Maybe he was at home nursing his or Adam Cole’s injuries. White said that champions defend their titles and thought about defending “his” title against Hangman Page this Tuesday on Dynamite. However, since Hangman had never beaten White, White decided he was only worthy of an eliminator match. White said that MJF should sit back and watch as a real champion takes care of business on Dynamite.
We got a promo from Nick Wayne. Wayne said that he had known Darby Allin since he was eight years old, but when Wayne turned eleven, Allin bailed on him. Nick always lived in Darby’s shadow, just like Christian Cage had to live in Adam Copeland’s shadow. Nick said that Christian had become the father figure he always needed, and turned his back to Darby the way Darby turned his back on him.
AEW World Trios Title Match – The Acclaimed (Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, Billy Gunn) defeated Iron Savages (Boulder, Bronson, & Jacked Jameson) to retain
The Acclaimed had their big moment at Wembley. It’s time to move on.
After some shirt shenanigans, Jameson jumped Gunn from behind. The Savages triple-teamed Gunn until Gunn got a tag out to Bowens. Bowens and Gunn hit a double team elbow for a nearfall. Boulder sent Bowens flying with a flapjack before we went to a commercial.
Bowens moved out of the way of a Boulder moonsault before getting the tag out to Caster. Caster ran wild, sending all three Iron Savages up and over with Death Valley Drivers. Boulder & Bronson hit a double spinebuster for a nearfall. Boulder went for a double suplex on Gunn and Caster, but Gunn and Caster took Boulder up and over. Scissor Me Timbers hit, before the Acclaim To Fame and the Mic Drop scored the win for the champs.
We got a video package on Keith Lee and Shane Taylor’s history from Ring of Honor, with both men commenting on their current issues. Taylor was pissed at the idea of Lee being seen as better than him, while Lee told Taylor to run.
Toni Storm defeated Kiera Hogan
Timeless Toni sure is wacky.
Storm handed Hogan a script for the match, which Hogan threw back in her face. Might want to save that for backstage. Hogan hit a hip attack in the ropes before landing a side kick for a nearfall. Storm got back in control, hitting a pair of hairmares. Storm went for a hip attack off the apron, but Hogan ducked it and chopped Storm’s behind. Hogan hit a crossbody for a nearfall. Storm begged off before dragging Hogan into the turnbuckle and hitting the hip attack off the apron. Storm told us to stay tuned during the commercial, after which we went to a commercial.
Hogan hit a missile dropkick as we came back from the commercial. Hogan hit a hip attack and a sliding kick for a nearfall. Storm hit a Sky High for a nearfall, after which she menaced the referee. Hogan rolled up Storm for a nearfall, then hit a step-up guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Storm took a bite out of Hogan before hitting a hip attack. Storm followed with Storm Zero for the win.
Renee Paquette was backstage with Ruby Soho. Soho complained about Hikaru Shida allegedly cheating to beat her, but she would be ringside to help her Outcast partner Saraya beat Shida on Title Tuesday. Paquette informed her that she was banned from ringside, but Soho was still confident that Saraya would handle business against Shida.
ROH World Title Match – Eddie Kingston defeated Komander to retain
This looked like an odd style match-up on paper, but these two worked well together to have a solid title match.
Jim Ross was on commentary for the in-ring main event. Komander outpaced Kingston to start, sending Kingston to the floor. Kingston moved out of the way of a dive, but Komander caught Kingston in the ring in a Cobra Twist. Kingston got to the ropes and popped Komander with a chop. Kingston hit the machine gun chops before sending Komander flying with a T-Bone Suplex as we went to a commercial.
The two men traded strikes as we came back from commercial. Komander hit a tornado splash for a nearfall. Komander hit a spinning back heel kick and a standing moonsault for another nearfall. Komander hit a baseball slide to send Kingston to the floor. Komander used the corner post to vault over the top and dive onto Kingston.
Komander hit a step-up 450 for a nearfall. Kingston cut off another dive before the two got into a strike battle on the top rope. Kingston won the battle with headbutts, but Komander reversed a superplex to score a nearfall. Kingston caught Komander with a uranage for a nearfall, then followed with a lariat for another nearfall. Komander ducked a backfist, then hit a handspring DDT for a nearfall. Kingston caught Komander with a backfist for the win.
We got a rundown of the card for Dynamite: Title Tuesday. Rampage will see Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta vs. Gates of Agony, and next week on Collision, TNT Champion Christian Cage will defend his title against the winner of the Danielson/Strickland match on Dynamite.
Adam Copeland Speaks
An effective angle, heating up Copeland’s first AEW match on Tuesday. A solid Collision overall, even with the rough start to the second hour.
Copeland started by saluting Jim Ross for signing him to his first contract all those years ago. He said that his plans for Dynamite didn’t go as planned, with Christian Cage denying his request to team up in AEW. Copeland talked about how his neck issues kept him out of the ring for nine years, while Cage spent seven years on the sidelines as well. The two men talked about teaming up for the longest time, but as time went on, Cage started talking to Copeland less often. Copeland wanted some answers as to what was going on, so he called out Cage to get them.
Christian Cage appeared on the video screen, laughing at Copeland’s request. He said he would give Copeland his answers on Dynamite on Tuesday, then questioned if Copeland would even make it there. Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne made their way to the ring, but Copeland got the jump on them. Copeland hit the Impaler DDT on Wayne and loaded up for a spear, but Luchasaurus caught him and hit a chokeslam. Luchasaurus hit the rabbit lariat – now called The Extinction – before grabbing a pair of chairs.
Darby Allin’s music hit before Allin took out Luchasaurus with a pair of chairs. Allin hesitated to hit Wayne with the chair, but after clearing out Luchasaurus, Wayne hit a dropkick on Allin. Luchasaurus ripped Allin into the corner, then ripped the brace off of Allin’s arm. Wayne hit a Con-Chair-To to Allin’s arm, and the two stood tall over Copeland and Allin as we faded out.
A two-out-of-three falls match for the TNT Championship headlines AEW WrestleDream from Seattle, Washington, as Christian Cage will defend the TNT title against former champion Darby Allin.
Cage has held the title since last Saturday while Allin is a two-time former TNT title holder.
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in what is billed as a dream match between two of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time is also set for the show.
Ring of Honor Tag Team Champion MJF will defend the titles in a handicap match against The Righteous after Adam Cole suffered a broken ankle while ROH World Champion & NJPW Strong Champion Eddie Kingston defends both titles against Katsuyori Shibata.
In the lone women’s match on the PPV, TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart.
Highlighting the rest of the 14-match card, the Don Callis Family (Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita & Sammy Guevara) will face Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Chris Jericho.
Zero Hour
Stokely Hathaway and The Wrestle Aunts, Renee Paquette & RJ City, welcome us to Zero Hour and run down the entire card before throwing it to multiple video packages. These were primarily the ones we saw from the Countdown show on Friday.
Lexy Nair is backstage waiting for Ricky Starks to arrive, as he called a security guard C.W. Anderson and said tonight he proves why Wheeler Yuta is the whipping boy of the Blackpool Combat Club. Starks can’t wait to tap dance all over Yuta’s face and called Nair sweet, but so dumb as we walked away.
After a few more video packages, Lexy Nair is with Eddie Kingston backstage, who said it’s weird to be holding multiple titles. Kingston talked about how high of regard Antonio Inoki had for professional wrestling when ROH Commissioner Stokely Hathaway interrupted. Hathaway called him a contrarian and that confused Kingston, who was informed by Hathaway he’ll learn what he has to say on Wednesday. Kingston asked Nair if that’s her dude and Nair denied that, saying Hathaway was Big Bill’s buddy.
A video package of the AEW talent talking about the history of Antonio Inoki is shown. Bryan Danielson said he didn’t think he’d be a professional wrestler if it wasn’t for Inoki and said this is Tony Khan’s tribute to Antonio Inoki.
Tony Khan was in the ring alongside Rocky Romero, Katsuyori Shibata and Inoki’s grandchildren and presented them with flowers and did a chant in Inoki’s honor. We did briefly get a cut away to Christian Cage smirking backstage after this happened. A music video for tonight’s card was shown before going to our opening Zero Hour contest.
Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, ROH Women’s Champion Athena & Billie Starkz defeated Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Mercedes Martinez & Diamante
(A pretty quick match to get the crowd going, as the ladies really didn’t get to do all that much aside from Athena, who got to have a few high impact moments. The crowd was loudly behind Kojima’s team, as it makes sense for him to get a pin to start the night.)
We Want Bread chants started for Kojima and Jim Ross wanted to know what that meant, so Excalibur simply put that Kojima loves baked goods. Starkz & Athena got the early advantage over Martinez & Diamante with Athena connecting on Croyt’s Wrath before doing a double dive with Starkz to the floor. Athena wanted a shot at Taylor, but she was forced to tag out in favor of Lee. After trading shoulder blocks, Lee got just enough of a hurricanrana on Taylor, before Moriarty was pressed high in the air, allowing Taylor to get a cheap shot to take control. That was brief, as Kojima tagged in and he lit up Moriarty with machine gun chops. Moriarty tried a standing switch, but Kojima spun out into a DDT.
Diamante broke things up until Starkz popped her with a shot leading to all the women spilling to the floor once again. Taylor tried charging at Lee, but was planted with a massive spinebuster. Moriarty wiped out Lee, but posed too long, allowing Athena to catch him with the O-Face out of nowhere. Lee followed up with the Ground Zero and Kojima finished things off with a lariat to get the win.
(My goodness, if you enjoy catch wrestling, this was some really good stuff. For only knowing this match was going to happen 24 hours ago, this delivered and I do hope Barnett gets his wish and this happens again, with more time the next round. I also have no idea how long he’ll be out, but an amped up Jon Moxley on commentary is something I’d love more of on occasion.)
Moxley joined commentary for the match, as he came to the ring through the crowd with Castagnoli to the tune of Wild Thing. Moxley said Barnett has been his secret weapon in helping him train in recent years and thinks Barnett feels Castagnoli could be better, thus why he took the match, to teach Castagnoli a thing or two. After nearly getting an opening arm bar, Barnett shot a single leg into a spinebuster. Castagnoli rolled out into an arm bar, which Barnett spun into a knee bar. Castagnoli hooked on a crucifix and Moxley screamed to elbow that son of a bitch repeatedly. Barnett escaped and connected on a quick dragon screw, targeting the knee again.
Castagnoli took out the legs and nearly got the giant swing, but a rope break put a stop to that. Barnett started firing off leg kicks, frustrating Castagnoli, who briefly lit up Barnett with uppercuts. Barnett tried an abdominal stretch, but Castagnoli escaped, leading us to a forearm battle. Barnett switched to knees in the clinch and connected on a spinning heel kick followed by a suplex. Escaping a full mount, Castagnoli got his giant swing and traded more stiff shots until connecting on a wild lariat, Neutralizer and ground Octopus Hold, which Castagnoli spun into a pinfall.
Post match, Barnett demanded the microphone and said he heard a lot about Castagnoli, who is highly regarded. Hearing about it is one thing, but being in the ring is another and they are all right. Barnett came in with no expectations, but leaves with the highest respect for Castagnoli, saying Inoki would be a fan of his. Barnett said this isn’t over though; Castagnoli owes him more time, so this will happen again. Castagnoli said anytime, anyplace and both hugged.
Luchasaurus defeated Nick Wayne
(A rather dominant performance from Luchasaurus, as Wayne had a few hope spots, but this was controlled primarily by the dinosaur. I was briefly surprised Wayne didn’t get the win, but if Luchasaurus is going to remain in the TNT Title picture, a win here was necessary.)
Wayne received a huge reaction from his hometown crowd, as he exploded out of the corner with a dropkick, which Luchasaurus no sold and dropped Wayne on his head with a release German. Repeated overhead corner chops into a spinning side slam connected as Excalibur confirms Christian Cage vs. Darby Allin is tonight’s main event. Wayne flipped out of a choke slam, followed with a thrust kick and enzugiri, but Luchasaurus quickly mowed him down with a headbutt. A violent chokeslam over the top onto the apron, as Wayne was left crawling near his mother, who was in the front row. Luchasaurus wheelbarrowed Wayne and flung him into the barricade. Back inside, Luchasaurus missed a corner charge, allowing Wayne to hit a huge moonsault for a near fall. Multiple thrust kicks led to a missed Wayne’s World, as Luchasaurus clobbered him in the back of the neck with a lariat to get the win.
The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass defeated TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Bad Dude Tito) to retain the AEW Trios Titles
(The only thing missing from this party match was the commercial break and picture in picture in the middle of the heat portion. This was your usual Acclaimed & Daddy Ass match, with TMDK getting off a few good moments, but ultimately didn’t stand a chance.)
I got a kick out of Caster getting in a Slapjack reference when talking about Haste in the opening freestyle. Caster was isolated early in the wrong corner, but easily fought out and tagged in Daddy Ass, who wouldn’t budge when Haste tried a hip toss. Tito & Nicholls were dispatched, allowing Bowens to connect with Scissor Me Timbers. A triple scissor led to ref Aubrey scolding the tag champs, as this let TMDK get a cheap shot on Bowens to take control.
Finally, a hot tag to Daddy Ass was made again and he cleaned house on TMDK until Tito avoided a Fame-Asser and hit a stalling German. Haste & Nicholls were able to briefly get the best of The Acclaimed, with Haste using his partner as a launch pad for a huge corner cannonball. Daddy Ass to the rescue again, as he dropped Tito with a Fame-Asser, Bowens hit the Arrival and Caster with the Mic Drop to retain the titles.
AEW WrestleDream
-Excalibur welcomes us alongside Nigel McGuinness & Taz as the ROH Tag Titles are on the line in our opening contest.
Before the match began, MJF cut his music and said someone went into his locker room and stole his devil mask, denying that he was responsible for laying out tofu Jay White. MJF called The Righteous a bunch of Devil’s Rejects dickheads and said he’s going to bodyslam Dutch and tie Vincent’s dreadlocks up in a bow and shove them up Dutch’s ass.
AEW World Champion MJF defeated The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
(While this was a fun opener and MJF does a great job getting the crowd into it, I’m kind of over MJF being placed in the opening contest of PPV’s. He’s the AEW World Champion and should be utilized as such. The Righteous got a few weeks build as challengers, but ultimately were comedy fodder at the end of this.)
Dutch allowed MJF to try a bodyslam to start, but failed, as MJF bailed to the floor and got massaged by a few fans. MJF wanted sportsmanship and adhered to the Code of Honor, shaking Dutch’s hand before poking him in the eye and Fargo Strut. MJF slingshot Vincent in and almost made good on his pre-match promise, but Dutch hit a lariat followed by a ripcord variety. After a sliding flatliner, MJF got more eye pokes and instinctually wanted to make a tag, but no one was there. MJF turned around and nearly got a bodyslam, but Dutch collapsed on top for two. A powerbomb, swanton bomb and Boss Man Slam series led to another near fall. The Righteous hit their signature spinning Acid Drop, but once more MJF kicked out and they couldn’t believe it.
Dutch took the ref, as Vincent tried to shatter MJF’s ankles with a chair, but MJF grabbed the groin of Vincent, letting it go right as referee Bryce turned to notice the chair. Vincent ultimately missed a second swanton as MJF turned into a house of fire, finally getting his bodyslam on Dutch. MJF proceeded to in fact drive Vincen’t head first into the ass of Dutch and hit the Kangaroo Kick, before connecting with the Heat Seeker on Dutch to get the win, feet on the ropes for good measure.
Eddie Kingston defeated Katsuyori Shibata to retain the ROH World & NJPW Strong Titles
(This was a battle from the get go, as I liked how Excalibur mentioned if this was for Shibata’s ROH Pure Title, Kingston would’ve been out of rope breaks with the amount of times he was relying on them to get out of submissions. The back and forth striking exchanges in this match was very good and Kingston giving the ring to Shibata to take a bow post match was super class act.)
Both men welcomed the strikes from the other early and Kingston lowered the straps about 30 seconds into the match. Shibata applied a short arm scissor, transitioning into an ankle lock with a grapevine, switching once more into a figure four. A rope break from Kingston allowed Shibata to briefly get a bow and arrow before Kingston escaped a head lock with a high angle back drop driver. Machine gun corner chops dropped Shibata, who reversed a corner whip into a charging boot and signature stalling dropkick. A float over suplex got a near fall, as Shibata tried Kawada kicks, which just woke up Kingston. Both men traded boots and lariats, neither going down until finally both started to crumble. Kingston hit an Exploder, but Shibata fired up with a STO into the double down.
With the wrist controlled, Shibata hit a ripcord chop into the Cobra Twist. Shibata switched to the Octopus Hold and Kingston collapsed, nearly fading, but got to the ropes in time. Both traded a succession of spinning back fists until Shibata charged with a PK into another reset. A striking battle ensued until Kingston hit a backfist, which Shibata kicked out at one. Northern Lights Bomb connected, as did another backfist and a high stack powerbomb to get the Kingston victory. Shibata raised the hand of Kingston post match and Kingston signaled to the back to play Shibata’s music, as he gave Shibata to the ring to take a bow.
Kris Statlander defeated Julia Hart (w/Brody King) to retain the TBS Title
(The crowd really got into this match towards the end and we got a This Is Awesome chant after Hart hit her finisher. Hart held her own in her PPV singles debut and you can see just how much she’s improved in the time she’s been in AEW.)
Taz tagged out and Tony Schiavone joined the booth for this one as Statlander used the power advantage early, nearly hitting the corner charge, with Hart regrouping. Statlander connected on multiple shoulder blocks until Hart hit a thrust kick and hurricanrana. Countering a monkey flip, Statlander hit a suplex, but Hart dragged Statlander to the floor. In a fireman’s carry, Statlander carried Hart up the steps to the apron, as Hart escaped and swept the leg, driving Statlander into the barricade. Back inside, Hart worked over the back, trying for a step up senton, but slipped off Statlander’s back, not getting all of it.
An abdominal stretch with a neck crank was briefly applied until Statlander escaped with a snap powerslam. The second try, Statlander got her corner charge knee and followed with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Hart escaped Sunday Night Fever, as Statlander stumbled into the ropes, with King trash talking. This led to Hart trying to mist Statlander, who slapped the mist out of Hart’s mouth and hit a spinning fisherman’s buster for two. A dead lift German led to Statlander going to the ropes, but Hart cut her off with the overhead belly to belly. Hart connected on her moonsault to a huge pop from the crowd, but got a near fall. Hart locked in Hartless, but the strength of Statlander allowed her to get to her feet and hit a Tombstone followed by Sunday Night Fever to retain.
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) defeated The Gunns (Austin & Colten), The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & AEW International Champion Rey Fenix w/Alex Abrahantes) & Orange Cassidy & FTW Champion HOOK to earn a future AEW Tag Team Title shot
(The Bucks get the future Tag Title shot, but perhaps a bigger story is Rey Fenix was taken out of this match after about a minutes worth of action. His shoulder had been heavily taped and we never saw him again, leaving Penta to go at it alone. As for the match, this should surprise no one, this was action packed and nearly everyone got in their moments. Similar to the 4 way on Dynamite last week, this match felt like it could end at any time.)
Heading into the International Title match this Wednesday, Nick & Fenix start things off with a mirrored opening sequence of strikes and superkicks, with Fenix clutching his shoulder, until Cassidy made the tag. Fenix ducked an Orange Punch, tried a fireman’s carry, but the taped up shoulder gave out and Penta was forced to make the tag. The Gunns did a number on Fenix outside and one on Penta as well, as Colten made the tag and hit a perfect dropkick on Cassidy. The Gunns stood tall and tried to pin each other to win the match, but the ref wouldn’t allow it. That’s a spot their father had done with the New Age Outlaws back in the day, which didn’t fly here, but I loved the callback.
The Bucks sent The Gunns tumbling outside, as Cassidy gave a long stare to HOOK before making the tag and having a faceoff with Matt Jackson. HOOK lit up Matt with midsection punches before both men took turns trading a series of Northern Lights suplexes until hit an overhead throw. Cassidy & HOOK connected on a double suplex on The Gunns, as Cassidy hit a dive on both Bucks. We’re told the doctor took out Fenix, as commentary questions if we’d see him again. Penta tried Fear Factor on Austin, but Colten made the save and The Gunns took over on HOOK, who finally fought free and made the desperation tag to Penta, who ran wild.
Colten was dropped with Made in Penta, but Austin saved his brother by hitting a Quick Draw. The match broke down, as Nick hit his slingshot face buster on Austin and moonsault to the floor on Cassidy. HOOK made a blind tag on Penta, who wiped out a stack of guys on the floor, as HOOK had REDRUM locked on Austin, but Nick made the blind tag before Austin tapped. Nick hit a 450 on both men for two. Penta hit a dueling Widows Peak/Fear Factor with an assist from Nick doing a double stomp, as Penta was ultimately dropped with a BTE Trigger to give The Bucks the victory.
(This was match of the night thus far as both men knocked it out of the park. The roles were reversed here, as Page worked heel great and there was no way Swerve was going to be booed in his house. Despite those roles reversed, Strickland is still a heel after all, so the finish had to come with at least a little shenanigans, despite not being the actual finish. With this win, I hope Strickland continues to climb the ranks and becomes a contender for the World Title soon.)
The crowd was loudly behind Strickland as we got Swerve’s House and Hangman Sucks chants. Page played into the heel role well for this, as he taunted the crowd after grounding Strickland early. Strickland managed a fast head scissors and diving uppercut off the second to soak in the cheers. Page countered a tilt a whirl into a fall away slam, as he kipped up to boos, following up with his corner lariat to the floor, where he hit an apron bomb into a powerbomb on the barricade. The moonsault off the top to the floor connected, as did a pop up powerbomb back inside for two. A tope was what hit next for Page, as he zoned in on the hand he stabbed with the pen during the contract signing on Dynamite.
Page hit a top rope clothesline, but after a forearm exchange, Strickland strung together a Flatliner and Brainbuster sequence. Strickland took too long on the top and was cut off by Page, who wanted an avalanche fall away slam, but Strickland fought free and hit a Swerve Stomp on a hung up Hangman. House Call hit flush, but a double stomp off the top on the apron did not, as Page wanted a Dead Eye, but Strickland tossed him face first into the metal of the turnbuckle. Strickland looked for a piledriver off the steps, but Page countered into Dead Eye on them insead. Back inside, Strickland fought off the Buckshot until Page bit at the injured hand, as a Buckshot was countered into Strickland stomping back on a twisted up Page arm.
The doctors attended to Page on the apron, as Strickland came flying in with a Swerve Stomp off the top while Prince Nana danced all around ringside. Strickland followed with a 450 on the injured arm for a near fall. Page escaped a cross arm breaker with a rope break, as Page rolled through a JML Driver and turned Strickland inside out with a lariat. Both men reset and Strickland hit a snap German, went for another stomp, but Page avoided and hit the Buckshot with the injured arm, not allowing a follow up in time. Nana was caught putting the foot on the rope for a break and ejected by the ref, as the arguing allowed Strickland to grab Nana’s jeweled crown and deck Page for a close near fall. Two more House Calls connected again for Strickland, who followed with the JML Driver to give Strickland the biggest win in his AEW career.
-Seattle Supersonics great Shawn Kemp is shown front row enjoying the action.
Ricky Starks (w/Big Bill) defeated Wheeler Yuta
(These two had the tough task of following Strickland & Page and did a good job in the position they were in. This felt like a Collision match, but both guys had a hard hitting back and forth match with Starks getting a much needed PPV singles win after his loss to Bryan Danielson in the Texas Death Match.)
Jon Moxley & Jim Ross rejoin the commentary table, as Moxley wanted to be there for Yuta’s first solo excursion on an AEW PPV. Moxley apologized for his language on Zero Hour and immediately yelled at Yuta to make Starks “pay for that sh*t”, as Excalibur brought up a swear jar. After an opening chain wrestling back and forth, it turned to slaps and chops, with Starks winning that battle. Starks did his rope walk strike and overhead throw with Moxley continuing to yell for Yuta to get back into this, dropping more swears, but it wouldn’t be Moxley if he didn’t. Yuta hit an Angle Slam and Moxley gave a shoutout to the late Justice Pain, as Big Bill made his way to ringside.
The appearance of Bill was long enough to distract Yuta and let Starks hit his signature spinning DDT. Yuta avoided Roshambo, but Starks hit a pop up powerbomb with so much intensity Starks himself almost did a somersault in the process. Starks mocked the anvil elbows, which just pissed off Yuta, who hulked up, only to be leveled with a Starks lariat. Yuta avoided another DDT and chucked Starks onto Bill, who nearly chokeslammed Yuta, who floated over and posted Bill. Back inside, anvil elbows by Yuta led to a seatbelt pin for two. Yuta tried to skin the cat on the bottom rope, but Starks met him with a huge Spear and Roshambo to win it.
Bryan Danielson defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
(This was an absolute wrestling clinic, one that delivered exactly what you would’ve hoped for and more. I really enjoyed Moxley on commentary, as he sounded like a dude who loves wrestling getting to watch the two best technical wrestlers in the world ten feet away from him. You can also really tell seeds are at least hopefully being planted for something to happen between Danielson & Nigel McGuinness, as Nigel has really been talking more and more about wanting to see Danielson lose. I hope we get a match in the future. I also hope another Sabre & Danielson battle happens down the line.)
Moxley remains on commentary super hyped for this one, as he’s dissecting the mindset of both men, as Danielson got two early takedowns and showed Sabre he was up two. Danielson wanted a hip toss, but Sabre countered right into a Cobra Twist, which Danielson countered into a roll up. Sabre escaped into an arm breaker, which Danielson countered into an Indian Death Lock. With their legs intertwined, both men did headstands until a stalemate occurred. Moxley brought up how Danielson is into weird stuff, tantric stuff and Excalibur hilariously changed the topic to Billy Robinson & Antonio Inoki. Sabre locked on a Romero Special, but Danielson literally just powered up and walked out of it, locking on one of his own. Moxley said this is a Johnson swinging contest. Sabre wanted a bow and arrow, but Danielson exploded out into another reset.
Sabre finally zoned in on the right arm, wrapping it up and twisting before snapping away at the fingers. Danielson moonsaulted out of the corner and hit a rolling single leg crab almost ala Lance Storm. Sabre got the ropes, as Danielson punted away with kicks to the left leg followed by the most violent dragon screw. Danielson went for another, but Sabre countered, twisting his feet around the neck. Sabre went to the corner and Danielson followed with boots and anvil elbows. Sabre snapped the arm and applied a kimura until headbutts to the midsection got Danielson free with an Avalanche Butterfly Superplex. Danielson really fought for the submission used to submit Okada at Forbidden Door, but Sabre got the ropes.
Yes Kicks connected, as Danielson said it was time for Sabre to get his f’n head kicked in and Moxley said the swear could be added to his tab. Sabre avoided Busaiku Knee into a series of close nearfalls led to a European Clutch for two, as Moxley and the crowd are on their feet. Sabre avoided a corner charge, tried a Clutch again, but Danielson countered into Cattle Mutilation and we got another wild series of counters until Sabre cranked away at the wrist and fingers. With both men wrapped up like pretzels, Danielson spat in the face of Sabre as slaps and kicks to the face were back and forth aplenty. Uppercuts to the arm by Sabre, as Danielson kept kicking at the hamstring. Both men wanted a backslide and threw stiff back elbows to get it.
Sabre hit a PK to the bad arm and connected with a Zack Driver before slapping on a submission. Nigel McGuinness is on his feet, screaming to see Danielson submit, as a rope break led to him calling Danielson a coward. Yes Kicks by Sabre led to a cross arm breaker once more, which Danielson escaped into a Regal Plex and Busaiku Knee for two. With the crowd on their feet, Danielson hit another Busaiku Knee, this time getting the win. Moxley put it perfectly when he said Holy Sh*t. Post match, Sabre didn’t shake the hand, as Danielson gave a hug to referee Aubrey in a pretty cool full circle moment for her dating back to Danielson retiring years ago and Aubrey being the girl in the crowd crying at the time.
Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara & Will Ospreay (w/Don Callis) defeated Chris Jericho & The Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi)
(This was an action packed party match, with of course Callis interjecting in the finish. I almost thought this went longer than needed, but the moment I thought that, the crowd were on their feet and really into it, so I admit being wrong on that one. This was a needed win to establish the Don Callis Family as threats and especially Guevara in his feud with Jericho.)
The tron for the Don Callis Family is a shot of The Last Supper with Callis in the middle, which is hysterical. Omega & Ospreay start things off to a huge ovation from the crowd and have a lighting quick opening sequence into a stalemate. Guevara tagged in to annoy the entire crowd and proceeded to hit his leapfrog backflip dropkick. Jericho tagged in and lit up Guevara with chops before Guevara bailed, flipping Jericho off and Ospreay was left eating chops. Guevara jumped on commentary briefly and talked about how Omega & Jericho hitting a double suplex is illegal and how referee Aubrey sucks. A six way face off ensues and a hockey fight sent Callis’ Family to the floor. Jericho, Omega & Ibushi gave a chant to Antonio Inoki before hitting a trifecta of slingshot dives.
Back inside, Ospreay quickly turned the table with his backflip kick on Omega, as Takeshita saw his first official action, connecting with a Takeshtia-line. Ospreay made the tag and nearly ate You Can’t Escape, but got the knees up on the Omega moonsault, applying an abdominal stretch with help from all his partners and Callis. Aubrey caught them and kicked the hand free, but Omega remained isolated and planted with a Takeshita Blue Thunder Bomb. Guevara hit a Senton Atomico, but Ibushi saved his partner to break the count. Omega fought out of the corner with three face palm dunks and Jericho made the hot tag, getting an abdominal stretch on Guevara, getting help from Omega & Ibushi to return the favor.
Ibushi finally tags in and does the Le Sex Gods pose with Jericho before dropping Guevara with a moonsault press. The Golden Lovers break out their signature offense ending in a Kotaro Crusher from Omega, as both Omega & Ibushi hit stereo moonsaults to the floor, as Jericho hit a Lionsault on Guevara for two. A powerbomb into a German connected, but Takeshita hit three German suplexes, with the ones Omega & Ibushi suffered landing high on their neck. Ospreay & Takeshita both went for Hidden Blade and the Power Drive Knee, but Jericho ducked and both men collided. Omega hit the Terminator Dive on Ospreay & Takeshita, as Guevara hit the Spanish Fly on Jericho for two and wild Shooting Star on the floor onto Omega.
We missed Jericho hitting a Code Breaker on Guevara, as Omega & Ospreay had another back and forth ending in a Snap Dragon. Guevara flew in with a top rope cutter and got just enough to stun Omega. Ospreay hit Ibushi with a high powerbomb, as Takeshita hit Omega with a Power Drive Knee. Jericho hulked up, but the numbers were too much, leaving Ibushi the last man standing against three. Ibushi no sold and starched Ospreay & Guevara and had a wild sequence trading lariats with Takeshita into the double down. The match broke down with home run shots from everyone until Ospreay countered One Winged Angel to the floor and followed with a Sky Twister Press on the Golden Lovers.
Ospreay took the bullet and ate a Judas Effect, shoving Guevara out of the way, as referee Aubrey was tending to him long enough to miss Jericho’s visual pin on Guevara off a corner hurricanrana. Jericho tried the Walls of Jericho, as Don Callis got a bat shot in, as Guevara crawled over to steal the win, as Ospreay held off Ibushi & Omega.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles
(While the crowd did do dueling chants, it seemed like they were tired following the last two matches. These two teams put on a damn fine wrestling match with some really close near falls for the challengers. I have no idea is Mark Davis actually broke his wrist, but he was really clutching at it the second half of this one. Credit to toughing it out, also Kyle Fletcher was awesome as well. With FTR’s win here, we’re going to get FTR vs. Young Bucks 4 down the line.)
Harwood & Wheeler worked over Fletcher in the early going with fast tags made until Davis tagged in and had a loud chop battle with Harwood. Davis hit a bodyslam and standing senton before a chop lariat combo connected high near Harwood’s throat. More chops led to Fletcher & Davis avoiding ten corner punches by running Harwood & Wheeler into each other and it was followed up by one on the floor as well. Wheeler spent time isolated and was flattened with a back suplex powerbomb combo for a near fall. In the process of knocking Harwood off the apron, Fletcher was hung up in the corner, as Wheeler connected on a back suplex off the top for the double down.
Wheeler finally managed to break free and make the hot tag to Harwood, who ran wild with strikes and lariats. Despite Fletcher being flattened by a lariat, Davis didn’t budge initially, so Harwood wound up for a home run lariat. Rolling Germans on Fletcher by Harwood, who went up top, missing a diving headbutt. The Aussie Arrow connected for two, as Wheeler & Davis fought to the floor while Harwood hit his signature slingshot powerbomb on Fletcher. Harwood was sent to the floor, as Wheeler was set up in a Doomsday Device and Davis absolutely clocked Wheeler with a jump kick off the top.
Fletcher & Davis wanted a Power Plex, but Wheeler & Harwood fought off and hit one of their own. Wheeler tried for a cover, but a diving Fletcher onto Harwood dropped them onto the cover. Davis is clutching his left wrist, as he & Fletcher hit a double lariat on Wheeler, wanted Coriolis, but Harwood made the save. Fletcher & Davis managed to hit Shatter Machine and Coriolis, but again Harwood broke things up. Wheeler was about to suffer a Spike Piledriver on the apron, but Harwood cut it off and it was Davis who was dropped instead. While set up in the corner, Fletcher ate a Super Shatter Machine and FTR retained.
Christian Cage defeated Darby Allin to retain the TNT Title in a 2 out of 3 Falls match
(What a story this was, Cage is such an incredible heel and I was about to talk about how good Allin’s selling is, but let’s face it, it’s not selling. How he’s able to take the bumps he does is beyond me. The turn of Nick Wayne was only the beginning of what was to come and we in fact had the anticipated debut of Adam Copeland, who I was thrilled still had his familiar theme music from WWE. It’s going to be really fun and interesting to see where things go from here, as the visual of Copeland standing with Sting & Allin was quite the sight to see.)
I certainly did not expect trading wrist locks and headlocks to start this match, but it did. Taz pointed out this was Allin showing Cage that he could indeed outwrestle the TNT Champion. Coffin Splash attempt nearly countered into a Killswitch, but Allin pulled Cage’s shirt over his head and got a flash jackknife roll up to steal the first fall.
Cage regrouped and stared down Nick Wayne’s mother ringside and got a cheap shot on Allin to take control, standing on Allin’s back, choking him in the ropes. Slow and methodical on his attack, Cage went for a top rope splash and missed, allowing Allin to hit a Code Red for a super close two. O’Connor Roll into a springboard cross body from Allin, who was eventually chucked outside to allow Cage to catch a breather before launching Allin into the barricade. Cage slowly walked up to Nick Wayne’s mother, who had a smile on her face, but suckered Cage in, throwing a drink in his face. Allin flew in with a low tope and Coffin Drop to the floor before trying a proper one in the ring, with Cage getting his knees up. Cage sent Allin flying off the apron face first into the commentary table. Cage repositioned the ring steps, as he fought on the apron with Allin, who tried a charge, but ate an eye poke. Cage suplexed Allin to the floor, bodyslammed him onto the steps and finally a bodyslam off the apron onto the edge of the steps in a violent spot that ended in a countout win to let Cage even it up at 1-1.
Referee Bryce and the doctor checked on Allin, as Cage started untying the canvas from the frame of the ring. The stretcher was brought down and quiet in the arena as we keep seeing replays of that violent bodyslam on the edge of the steps. During all of this, Cage kept ripping the ring up and exposing the wooden paneling before going to the top and hitting a wild Frog Splash onto the stretcher Allin was on. Cage rolled Allin into the ring, as after all of that, referee Bryce asked if Allin still wanted to go and Allin said yes. Cage connected with a Killswitch onto the wood, but Allin kicked out.
Allin side stepped a Spear, but Cage locked in a Scorpion Death Lock with Allin ultimately getting the ropes. Allin gouged at the eyes and managed a desperation Scorpion Death Drop before hitting a Coffin Drop, as Cage kicked out. Allin wanted another one, but Cage cut him off with a sunset flip powerbomb onto the wood. Cage wanted a Spear, but Allin side stepped and Cage wiped out referee Bryce. Cage got a low blow, grabbed his TNT Title and wanted to use it until Nick Wayne appeared, taking away the title. The chase was on until Allin told Wayne to use the title and Wayne said he’s doing this for his mom, dad & himself before blasting Allin with the title. Cage revived the ref and got the pin.
Cage gave Wayne a kiss on the head and hugged him post match, standing tall over Allin. Wayne slapped Allin and beat him down until Sting appeared and made his way to the ring. Sting attacked Wayne & Cage, as Luchasaurus appeared and the numbers were too much. Cage wanted a Con-Chair-To but the lights went out and video saying Our Feature Presentation is shown and video of an unknown figure is driving the streets of Seattle.
That unknown figure is revealed to be Adam Copeland, who is using his Metalingus theme song fans are familiar with. Copeland took the chair from Cage and Wayne set up Sting, but Copeland waffled Wayne in the back and laid out both he & Luchasaurus with Spears as Cage bailed with his TNT Title. The show ends with Copeland & Cage have a stare down with the Rated R Superstar arriving in AEW standing tall with Sting & Darby Allin, who extended his hand and Copeland shook it, Sting’s as well.
A frequent criticism about AEW is that they have too much talent with too few ideas on how to use them. What is depth to one person is bloat and excess to another.
It’s shows like Sunday’s AEW WrestleDream (8 PM EST from Seattle, Washington’s Climate Pledge Arena on PPV) that show the incredible fountain of talent at Tony Khan’s disposal and remind us that yes, depth is important.
Sunday is a card, much like September’s All Out, that has neither of the biggest championships defended. It’s a card with no clear, definitive main event, but that still offers a compelling product. There are no duds (unless you count The Righteous) and all the matches either offer intrigue or the promise of an incredible in-ring product. It might not have your favorite flavor of ice cream, but the thing about ice cream is that regardless of the flavor, it’s always good.
The biggest attraction Sunday, and for however long he chooses to keep wrestling, is Bryan Danielson: a man responsible for so many modern wrestling fans falling in love with, or rekindling a lost love of, pro wrestling. There’s a much longer piece about his tremendous impact on wrestling and his historical greatness, but that is for another day.
Whenever he decides to hang up his boots to happily live off the grid and be the best weird dad he can be, his absence will be glaring. A man who influenced an entire generation cannot be replaced, nor should anyone try. He is a one-of-one talent, and has my vote as the greatest wrestler of all time.
So join me, friends, as we venture to the idyllic Pacific Northwest, resplendent as it is, and preview the inaugural WrestleDream. This is everything announced as of Saturday morning prior to Collision.
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
There are moments of magic in the world and we don’t have to look that hard to find them. Picture sitting outside at a restaurant on a late May evening. You sit close enough to the street to hear car engines idling at stop lights, but not close enough to smell the gasoline. A graveyard of nearly empty glasses flecked with condensation lines amidst the small, slatted table with uncomfortable chairs. Your partner’s cheeks are flushed and so are yours. You lean over to kiss them. Their lips are soft and warm. You can feel them smile as you do it. The world gets quiet and starts to move at half-speed. You part your lips and see their eyes open a moment before yours. You can’t imagine anything ever feeling this good.
That is all to say that this match is a reminder that true beauty does exist.
These are two perfect pro wrestlers, drawn to each other by a shared love of stretching limbs and crushing joints. These are two delightful weirdos with their own idiosyncrasies: ZSJ’s meandering promos and nicknames and Bryan Danielson’s, well, everything. This is a match years in the making and one sure to be a feast for our eyes. If this really is the beginning of the last act of the American Dragon, there are a few better ways to kick it off than having a dream match in front of his home crowd. A genius-level artist of the purest and silliest form, each moment with Danielson should be treasured. There is only so much time left.
Prediction: Danielson
Ricky Starks vs. Wheeler Yuta
Back-to-back PPVs with Big Rick Starks on them? We are blessed and I will not let the opportunity to sing his praises slip by. Starks emits a smoldering, stylish ember in a sea of normalcy, a beacon of charisma that lights up a room, a crowd, and televisions like the first rays of spring sunshine after a long winter. His excess charisma could light even the furthest reaches of our universe. Starks’ ascension up the card cannot, and should not, be stopped. What’s working for him is what has always worked: everything. His current feud with Danielson should forever establish him as not just someone with potential, but as someone who has realized it. He should be closing shows. Whether it’s promos or matches, he is in the position to be the person who sends the crowd home happy for years to come. He is now and forever, absolute.
Yuta is great in his role as the whipping boy of the Blackpool Combat Club, but he is punching out of his depth here. Starks is leagues beyond him as a performer and he’s going to show that on Sunday.
Prediction: Starks
ROH Tag Team Champion MJF defends against The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) in a handicap match
I was told to expect less Ring of Honor on AEW TV moving forward. I was promised, in fact. Is this really all AEW had for Adam Cole and MJF? The Righteous? In this economy?! But Mike, you’ll say, it’s all in service of something bigger!
To you, dear reader, I’ll politely respond that I understand. I’ll remind you that I deeply love you and always will, but this is still unfortunate. The number of good, available tag teams stretches longer than the highway to eternity. There is no end to worthy contenders for these titles — both on the roster and otherwise. Contenders that would actually provide intrigue and could provide, at least, a great in-ring product. Alas, this is all we have. On Dynamite this week, Excalibur said, “The Righteous have exploded onto the tag team scene in AEW” and that certainly is a statement to make on live television.
Adam Cole could wrestle this match with his leg in a boot and win this match. MJF on two legs is more than enough to get it done against two men.
Prediction: MJF retains for Better Than You Babay
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. The Gunns (Austin & Colten) vs. Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo) vs. Orange Cassidy & Hook for a future AEW Tag Team title shot
Cassidy went from main eventing All Out with Jon Moxley to this. There are two reasonable explanations for this and neither of them good. Either this is keeping him on TV but giving his body a much-needed break, or, more likely, AEW had no real plan post-title reign. One or both can be true, but neither are acceptable.
I assure you, and am imploring Tony Khan to understand that it is possible to have plans for wrestlers after they drop a title. Darby Allin almost always has something to do and MJF always had a major program even before he won the big belt. OC was, and hopefully still is, one of the more popular acts in the company. He should always have something of substance to do.
This looks like the multi-team PWG tribute match that seems to find its way onto most AEW shows: a crazy sprint filled with high spots, gif-able moments, all done in service of heating up the crowd. Sounds like the perfect opener to me. It’s going to be a whole bunch of fun and can go a number of ways. The only outcome that doesn’t make sense would be the Bucks winning. It seems like the Bucks/FTR book is closed, at least for now. The Lucha Brothers are the freshest matchup for FTR and they’ll take this one.
Prediction: Lucha Brothers
TNT Champion Christian Cage defends against Darby Allin in a two-out-of-three falls match
The king, Josh Nason, had me on his podcast in the week leading up to All In where we talked (bemoaned, really) about the state of the TNT Championship and what it currently means. Calling it a secondary title does a great disservice to the International title – the actual secondary title. It’s become tertiary, at best. But Christian is doing his best to change that. The belt sitting on his shoulder gives it more meaning than it’s had in years. A polished champion doing must-see TV every week has elevated the belt to heights not seen since the pandemic era of AEW.
I know this is kind of “Darby’s title” and the show is in his hometown, but taking it from Christian would be a massive mistake. Christian is in a position to continue elevating the belt and can use it to help make a new star. What does winning the TNT title for a third time really do for Darby? He’s already the guy who hangs out with Sting; how much more of a rub can he possibly need? Against all odds, Christian has made us care about a title that was floundering. He deserves the chance to keep doing it.
Prediction: Cage retains
Ring of Honor World Champion & New Japan Strong Champion Eddie Kingston defends against Katsuyori Shibata
When the referee’s hand slapped the mat for the third time declaring Kingston the new ROH World Champion, Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted. It was the sound of dreams realized, the audible embodiment of years spent grinding in the shadows. A story that almost quietly ended many times had its fitting conclusion. Kingston, once the perennial underdog, finally reached the summit. It was a victory not just for Kingston, but for every heart that beats to the rhythm of perseverance, resilience, and an unconquerable spirit.
His counterpart in determination and spirit is his opponent on Sunday. Shibata’s return to a somewhat regular wrestling schedule is a miracle. From nearly dying in a ring to being the Ring of Honor Pure Champion is a story befitting the wrestling industry. An industry where people have survived plane crashes, lightning strikes, and multiple broken necks gets another reminder of the power of the resolute mind. Shibata’s comeback stands as a reminder that the fighting spirit knows no bounds and that sometimes, miracles can happen.
This is the match I’m looking forward to most. Two men with tremendous respect for wrestling and each other. I can’t wait.
Prediction: Kingston retains
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defend against Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
A very good tag team match with two very good tag teams will happen on Sunday. FTR will continue their year-long run of having sensational matches with everyone but, somehow, the Young Bucks. They have incredible chemistry with any team and any style. The living legend moniker is fitting; equally well-earned and deserved. They are historically great and will continue to be until they decide to go do something else. I hope they never do.
These two teams have done it before – exactly a year ago at New Japan’s Royal Quest II. It was a match that received near universal praise and certainly played a part in Aussie Open getting signed with AEW. The bar is awfully high and we know FTR is up to the challenge. But are the Aussies? This is their biggest match on the biggest stage with the wide eyes of the wrestling world on them. The stage might not be too much, but their opponents happen to be just that.
Prediction: FTR retains
Chris Jericho & The Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) vs. The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara and Will Ospreay) (w/ Don Callis)
Leading into All In, I was sitting on my sad Ibushi take. Just wait, I said to my empty office. Wait until after All In before reacting. See how our beautiful son performs. All In has long since passed my thought remains the same. The Kota Ibushi we all fell in love with, the craziest diamond that ever did shine, is probably gone forever. He’s just not the same. The brightest light in the sky has begun to dim. Years of an impossibly physical style combined with such an extended absence have taken their toll on a man who is one of the most gifted wrestlers of the 21st century.
Ibushi in his prime was a force of nature — an athletic marvel that seemed to be unbound by the traditional laws of human biology. Hands, feet, and knees made of cinderblocks, but a neck somehow made of either rubber or adamantium. But physics and Father Time remain irritatingly undefeated. Plenty of wrestlers have reinvented themselves after their bodies began to fail them. I hope Ibushi can do the same. A wrestling world without him just won’t be as bright. Given the chance to write about Ibushi, I will take every opportunity.
Getting to do that instead of having to write some combination of ‘Jericho and Guevara’ over and over again is a welcome privilege. There is simply no reason for this to still be happening. The audience has made their feelings on Guevara very clear. He’s a mid-card heel who can get heat and make a babyface look great. You know what’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. That is the type of performer that has belonged on a televised wrestling program since the advent of wrestling and television. And that’s where he should stay. How many opportunities to be more is he going to get?
In the past month, Takeshita has pinned Omega twice. Since June, Ospreay has beat Jericho and Omega clean as a sheet. There is no way they lose on Sunday.
Prediction: The Don Callis Family
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart (w/ Brody King)
Hart is a rising star. She has become fully comfortable with her character and it has allowed her natural charisma to shine through. Anyone can put on black, wear a cool hat, and look spooky. It’s one thing to have a gimmick, but it’s another to have presence — something she has in spades. Yes, the mist helps (because who doesn’t love the mist?), but this is a performer who is coming into their own at a frighteningly young age. Having this much comfort as a performer at 21 is staggering. At 21, I thought a wispy goatee was the pinnacle of facial hair and could barely exist on my own. Hart has the owner of the company openly singing her praises. Big, big things are ahead.
As bright as Hart’s star is, she is not quite ready for the former (?) alien in Statlander. Statlander dethroned the dearly departed Jade Cargill and beat her again in a hell of a rematch. The time for a change is not now. The only argument for her losing is if there are imminent big plans for her like World title plans. Either way, she, like the two men I’ll talk about next, is a performer they should be building around, and getting her ready for a run at the top of the women’s division.
Prediction: Statlander retains
Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page
Along with the aforementioned Ricky Starks and Kris Statlander, these are two performers AEW should be building around. Swerve, 33, and Page, 32, check every box anyone could ever want in a performer. Wrestling ability, microphone skills, presence, easy and natural charisma: both have it all and both have been desperate for something meaningful to sink their teeth into.
Page has been seemingly adrift since he lost the World title last summer and I’m sorry, but winning the ROH Six-Man titles does not count as meaningful. Strickland has overcome the AEW trademarked momentum stops and starts since he joined the company, all while being saddled with two of the more worthless stables in the company. He is a singular star that can stand on his own. Pairing him with other talents that can’t come close to matching his ability only drags him down. Prince Nana forever, though.
The promos leading up to this have been some of the better non-Eddie Kingston promos in recent AEW. It speaks to the talents of both Page and Strickland that they had almost no interaction leading up to this program and so quickly made it mean something. More of Page stabbing people with writing utensils, and less of meandering Chris Jericho vanity projects. Give guys (and girls) with main event ceilings the space to reach them. That’s how you wind up with a galaxy of stars.
It appears that we now know which match will be going on last at AEW WrestleDream.
During the Countdown special for the pay-per-view, Darby Allin said his match against Christian Cage will be the main event of WrestleDream. Allin is challenging Christian for the TNT Championship in a two-out-of-three falls match.
“You haven’t seen sh*t until you’ve wrestled Darby in Seattle,” Allin said. “At WrestleDream — in the main event — you are fighting someone that you’ve never seen before.”
Allin also said he’s waited to be in the main event of an AEW pay-per-view “for so long.”
WrestleDream is taking place from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle this Sunday (October 1). Seattle is Allin’s hometown. The PPV is also a homecoming for Washington natives Bryan Danielson, Swerve Strickland, and Nick Wayne.
Christian vs. Allin going on last will only add to the speculation that WWE Hall of Famer Edge (Adam Copeland) could be making his AEW debut at WrestleDream. Edge’s WWE contract expires at the end of September. He was removed from the WWE SmackDown intro for Friday night’s episode.
The full Countdown special is available to watch below:
The WrestleDream main card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. There will also be a Zero Hour pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
Two-out-of-three falls match: TNT ChampionChristian Cage defends against Darby Allin
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland
AEW Tag Team ChampionsFTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defend against Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
ROH Tag Team ChampionMJF defends against The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) in a handicap match
NJPW Strong Openweight & ROH World ChampionEddie Kingston defends both titles against Katsuyori Shibata
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart
Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Chris Jericho vs. Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita & Sammy Guevara
Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo) vs. Hook & Orange Cassidy vs. The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) for a future AEW Tag Team title shot
Ricky Starks vs. Wheeler Yuta
Zero Hour: AEW Trios ChampionsMax Caster, Anthony Bowens & Billy Gunn defend against TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Bad Dude Tito)
A new segment has been announced for AEW Dynamite.
Jim Ross will interview Darby Allin and Christian Cage on Wednesday’s show.
The announcement comes after Cage won the TNT Championship on Saturday’s edition of Collision in a triple-threat match against Allin and defending champion Luchasaurus. It was later announced that Cage will defend the title against Allin in a best two-of-three falls match at WrestleDream on October 1.
AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, September 27 will take place from the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. It’s the final stop before the promotion heads to Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday for Collision and WrestleDream the following night.
AEW Dynamite lineup:
Contract signing for WrestleDream between Swerve Strickland & Hangman Page
We’ll hear from MJF and Adam Cole
Jim Ross sit-down interview with Darby Allin and TNT Champion Christian Cage
Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale
Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Matt Jackson vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Austin Gunn
