Episode 197 of Being The Elite caught up with the cast as they adjusted to life in quarantine.
Some highlights include:
Matt Jackson ate some coffee beans and told his son that the coffee shop was open for business.
Nick Jackson gave a status report. He has been playing an arcade game recommended by Adam Cole “before he died.”
Nick and his wife welcomed the birth of a son. Nick said the baby’s name is Michael, so if he becomes a wrestler, he’ll be named Michael Jackson. [Editor’s note: also if he does not become a wrestler]
Matt and Nick worked out with Brandon Cutler in Nick’s home gym. Matt coughed but assured the guys he does not have coronavirus.
Kenny Omega gave an update from the set of Dynamite. He assured us that Colt Cabana was not in the room. Cabana’s face appeared on the television screen behind Omega.
Christopher Daniels had a 50th birthday party. His guest joined him via video conference. His gifts included a mask, toilet paper, bottled water and hand sanitizer.
Peter Avalon called Cutler from a landline while listening to a record player to taunt him about losing to Cabana.
Luchasaurus said he needs to find his tail.
Matt answered fan questions.
Hangman Page played Animal Crossing, watched Tiger King and worked out in full gear, all while ignoring calls from Nick, Kenny, Cody and Matt.
Four matches have been set for next week’s AEW Dynamite.
It was confirmed on tonight’s episode of Dynamite that Kris Statlander will still get her AEW Women’s title match that was originally set for tonight next week. AEW allowed Statlander to honor a booking for Bar Wrestling that was accepted prior to her signing with the company, hence why tonight’s Women’s title match was changed to a four-way.
Christopher Daniels will also be in action, taking on Sammy Guevara. SCU were doing a backstage promo when Guevara came up to them and singled out Daniels. In response, Daniels issued a challenge to Guevara, who accepted.
A tag team match featuring Kenny Omega & Hangman Page against Private Party was also made after Page confronted Private Party backstage. Hangman, who joined the commentary team for the main event, was surprised to learn that he would be teaming with Omega when the match was officially announced.
Another tag team match will have Cody and Dustin Rhodes taking on the Lucha Bros.
Next week’s episode of Dynamite will take place at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi.
Both members of The Lucha Bros will have singles matches on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite.
AEW announced today that Pentagon Jr. vs. Christopher Daniels has been added to the lineup for Wednesday’s Dynamite. Fenix vs. Trent Barreta had already been confirmed for the show.
Daniels was taken out of the AEW Tag Team title tournament before it began after being attacked by The Lucha Bros and given a package piledriver on the ramp by Pentagon. Scorpio Sky filled in for him as SCU went on to win the titles by defeating Pentagon & Fenix in the finals of the tournament.
SCU retained their titles against Private Party and The Lucha Bros in a three-way match at Full Gear. In a post-match angle, Daniels made his return dressed as Pentagon and saved Sky and Frankie Kazarian from The Lucha Bros.
Pentagon was eliminated from the Dynamite Dozen battle royal on November 20 after being distracted by Daniels.
Wednesday’s Dynamite is taking place at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The Young Bucks & Dustin Rhodes vs. Santana, Ortiz & Sammy Guevara in a six-man tag match and Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela are also set for the episode.
The SCU duo of Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky are the first AEW Tag Team champions.
The new champions were crowned tonight in the main event of Dynamite, defeating the Lucha Bros.. Pentagon Jr. had Sky in the package piledriver position as Fenix went to the top for a double foot stomp, but Kazarian managed to shove Fenix to the floor. Sky responded by countering Pentagon with a small package, picking up the win and the titles.
The title win caps off a tournament that started on the second week of AEW television. The Lucha Bros. defeated Jurassic Express and Private Party to reach the finals, while SCU defeated Best Friends and The Dark Order.
Christopher Daniels was originally set to team with Kazarian for the tournament. However, he was jumped by the Lucha Bros. prior to their match against Best Friends back on October 16. On commentary the following week, announcers said he would be out 6-8 weeks.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express were originally set to present the winners with the titles. They were jumped by Santana and Ortiz, however, with Ricky Morton taking a powerbomb through a platform on the stage.
AEW has added a six-man tag match to the card for All Out.
Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) is set for the pay-per-view. The match announcement was made on today’s episode of Being the Elite.
Stunt accompanied Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy for their three-way tag match against The Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) and Angelico & Jack Evans at Fight for the Fallen last month. It was later announced that Stunt has officially joined the AEW roster.
All Out is taking place at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois this Saturday (August 31). Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
Chris Jericho vs. Hangman Page for the AEW World Championship
Kenny Omega vs. PAC
AAA Tag Team Champions The Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) defending against The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) in a ladder match
Cody Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears
Hikaru Shida vs. Riho
Darby Allin vs. Joey Janela vs. Jimmy Havoc
Best Friends (Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor) vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) (winning team gets a first-round bye in AEW’s Tag Team title tournament)
Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky)
Women’s Casino Battle Royale (pre-show)
Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs. Angelico & Jack Evans (pre-show)
This week’s Being the Elite is available to watch below:
The Lucha Bros and SoCal Uncensored will be facing off at AEW Fight for the Fallen this Saturday.
On this week’s Being the Elite, Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian was announced for Fight for the Fallen. The show is being held at Daily’s Place Amphitheater in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday (July 13) and is benefiting Jacksonville’s Victim Assistance Advisory Council.
Christopher Daniels will be in Sky & Kazarian’s corner for the match.
The Lucha Bros lost to The Young Bucks at Double or Nothing in May. Pentagon & Fenix then teamed with Laredo Kid against The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega at Fyter Fest, with Omega pinning Laredo Kid to get the win.
Sky, Kazarian & Daniels defeated CIMA, T-Hawk & El Lindaman at Double or Nothing. Daniels lost a singles match against CIMA at Fyter Fest, and Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor defeated Private Party and Sky & Kazarian in a triple threat match on the Fyter Fest pre-show. As a stipulation of winning that match, Barreta & Taylor will advance to All Out and get the chance to earn a first-round bye in AEW’s Tag Team title tournament.
Fight for the Fallen will air for free on B/R Live in the United States and Canada and will be available to purchase as an iPPV via Fite TV elsewhere. Here’s the updated card for the show:
The Young Bucks vs. Cody & Dustin Rhodes
Kenny Omega vs. CIMA
Brandi Rhodes vs. Allie
Hangman Page vs. Kip Sabian
Jimmy Havoc, Darby Allin & Joey Janela vs. MJF, Sammy Guevara & Shawn Spears
Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian
Going into Final Battle last night, much of the intrigue for the pay-per-view was what it would confirm about the futures of Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and SoCal Uncensored.
While nothing has been officially announced about what’s next for the wrestlers in question, all of them lost at Final Battle. Jay Lethal retained the ROH World Championship against Cody, The Briscoes won the ROH Tag Team titles in a Ladder War against Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian and The Young Bucks, Jeff Cobb retained his Television title against Page, and Marty Scurll (whose contract isn’t up) defeated Christopher Daniels.
The Young Bucks did a post-show speech last night with Cody, Page, SCU, and Scurll in the ring. Nick Jackson started it by saying that the Hammerstein Ballroom is his favorite arena to wrestle in.
Matt Jackson then said it wasn’t going to be “some emotional farewell speech or anything like that.” He mentioned that The Young Bucks started in ROH over 10 years ago and called the past two years the greatest time of his life. He said he loves former ROH owner Cary Silkin and everyone in the ring.
Matt said ROH’s Joe Koff, Greg Gilleland, and Gary Juster have been incredible to work with. He said he wouldn’t have become the person or wrestler he is without their support, everyone in the back, his wife, and their families. In what appeared to be a reference to All Elite Wrestling, Matt said to the crowd, “Everybody in this ring, all of you — we’re all elite, right?”
Matt said the timer is ticking and something is about to go down. He doesn’t know what, but he hopes you watch Being the Elite. The crowd chanted “Double or Nothing.”
Matt closed the speech by saying they will be back in New York City. The Young Bucks, Cody, Page, Kazarian, Sky, Daniels, and Scurll all raised each other’s arms.
ROH’s fallout from Final Battle will take place tonight as the promotion holds a set of television tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
Video of last night’s speech is available to watch below:
Ring of Honor has officially confirmed Marty Scurll vs. Christopher Daniels for Final Battle and announced some stakes for the match.
ROH announced Scurll vs. Daniels for Final Battle today, with Scurll putting his future ROH World title shot (which he won by winning Survival of the Fittest 2018) on the line against Daniels. Scurll last eliminated Daniels in a six-way match to win the tournament.
Scurll vs. Daniels also plays into the storyline of Daniels and the rest of SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) needing leverage to get Joe Koff to renew their ROH contracts. Kazarian & Sky currently hold the ROH Tag Team titles.
Final Battle is taking place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Friday, December 14. Jay Lethal defending the ROH World Championship against Cody Rhodes, Hangman Page challenging for Jeff Cobb’s Television title, Sumie Sakai defending her Women of Honor World title in a four-way match, Matt Taven vs. Dalton Castle, Jonathan Gresham vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and Bully Ray vs. Flip Gordon in an I Quit match have also been publicly confirmed for the pay-per-view.
Kazarian & Sky defending their Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks and The Briscoes in a ladder match also looks to be set for Final Battle.
Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, and BJ Whitmer called the action from Las Vegas.
A recap aired of the finish of the ROH World Championship match between Jay Lethal and Will Ospreay from Death Before Dishonor, which ended with Lethal retaining. Lethal’s celebration was cut short as The Kingdom, featuring Matt Taven’s new haircut, laid him out.
The Kingdom came to the ring with what they were claiming to be the real ROH World Championship belt. Taven stood stoically, sporting an amazing sparkly purple robe and a crown.
TK O’Ryan screamed at Bobby Cruise and Todd Sinclair to stand still while he spoke. O’Ryan made Cruise read a list of all of Taven’s accomplishments, including a declaration that Taven was the real ROH World Champion.
Before the first match, a video package of Jeff Cobb’s reign of terror so far in ROH aired to hype up him challenging Punishment Martinez for the ROH Television Championship on next week’s show.
Kenny King defeated Chase Owens
The announcers reminded us that King has been on a winning streak, but lately has chosen to use nefarious means to get his wins. King greeted Owens with some technical offense — ending with a fancy Japanese arm drag and a few kip ups.
After the break, Owens was in control and was working over the neck of King. That didn’t last long as King managed to get the advantage by landing a spinning dive onto Owens. He followed that up with a high crossbody block off the top turnbuckle.
Owens regained the upper hand with a Shining Wizard knee. A unique neckbreaker earned Owens a two count. He then went for a package piledriver, but King fought out. Owens went for a slingshot belly-to-back suplex, but King landed on his feet and appeared to have injured his knee. However, it was a ploy to get Owens to lower his guard, which allowed King to roll him up for the win.
Backstage, Coast 2 Coast were talking about being undefeated in 2018. They looked forward to their ROH Tag Team Championship match against The Briscoes next week.
They replayed the angle with Riccaboni getting involved to assist Colt Cabana in an attempt to silence Bully Ray.
Shane Taylor vs. Flip Gordon didn’t happen
Before this could get started, Gordon grabbed a microphone and addressed Bully Ray putting Cabana through a table at Death Before Dishonor. Gordon explained that Ray cheated during their match and that he should have been declared the winner.
Ray came out to trash talk, and during the exchange, Silas Young slid into the ring and delivered a low blow to Gordon. Taylor then blasted Gordon with a chair. For good measure, Young landed Misery on Gordon.
The Young Bucks defeated Los Ingobernobles de Japon (EVIL & SANADA), Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T), and SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) in a four corners tag match
This started off as a melee. The match had not yet even begun and The Young Bucks were already hitting dives. Nearly everyone hit a crazy dive in a sequence that ended with Nick Jackson wiping everyone out from the top rope to the floor. After that, Best Friends recovered and finally had time to hug each other before they hit stereo cannonball dives. Then, the bell finally rang.
SANADA and Daniels officially started the match. SANADA used the Paradise Lock on both members of SoCal Uncensored and tagged in EVIL. He went to work on the rear end of Daniels, which included EVIL catching a boot from Daniels and handing it off to the referee. That allowed EVIL to superkick Daniels in the bum. Daniels eventually fought out of it and returned the favor — doing the same thing back to EVIL.
Best Friends decided that they needed to strut around while wearing their sunglasses. They both got in and found themselves on the wrong end of a Nick Jackson lucha head scissors maneuver and a reverse Code Red.
After the break, EVIL continued to use the referee to assist him with the Magic Killer as SANADA had been indisposed at the moment. A parade of kicks and strikes left the Best Friends standing alone again. They landed a spike Dudebuster on Matt Jackson, but Nick broke it up with a Swanton.
An exchange of finishers created total chaos until the Bucks hosted a superkick party that laid waste to everyone. They isolated Beretta and landed the Five Star Meltzer Driver on him for the win.
CORRECTION: This article originally stated that Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels won the titles. It was Kazarian & Scorpio Sky.
**********
The Tag Team titles changed hands during Sunday night’s Ring of Honor television tapings.
During tonight’s television tapings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky defeated The Young Bucks and The Briscoe Brothers in a triple threat tag team match to win the titles. Previous champions the Briscoe Brothers, who were on their ninth reign as champions, held the titles for 217 days, winning them back on March 9 at the 16th anniversary show.
For most of this year, SoCal Uncensored have been fighting for their spot in the company. After trying to leverage a better deal with Joe Koff, Koff instead said he would let their contracts expire at the end of the year. Since then, the group’s goal has been to become champions and stay champions until after Final Battle so that they will have better leverage and remain with the company.
Back in March, SoCal Uncensored won the six man tag team titles in an effort to remain champions through the end of the year, but lost the titles to The Kingdom a few months later in May.
On the same night as Cody Rhodes makes his first title defense, former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis will also be in action.
Ring of Honor has announced that Aldis will be wrestling at their post-Death Before Dishonor television tapings at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada this Saturday. Aldis is set to face Christopher Daniels.
Willie Mack will challenge for Cody’s NWA title at Saturday’s tapings. The match comes in advance of Aldis getting his rematch for Cody’s title in the main event of the NWA’s 70th Anniversary Show in Nashville, Tennessee on October 21.
Death Before Dishonor is taking place at the Orleans Arena tomorrow night.
Here’s the updated lineup for Saturday’s tapings:
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Cody defending against Willie Mack
Coast 2 Coast (LSG & Shaheem Ali) challenging for the ROH Tag Team titles
Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & KUSHIDA
The Young Bucks vs. EVIL & SANADA vs. Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor vs. either The Briscoes or Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian (whichever team loses the Tag Team title match at Death Before Dishonor)
Marty Scurll vs. Chris Sabin (will be for the ROH Television Championship if Sabin defeats Punishment Martinez at Death Before Dishonor)
It will be The Briscoes defending their titles against SoCal Uncensored members Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian at the PPV. The teams have been feuding since Best in the World in June, where SCU said they wanted the titles after making the save while The Briscoes were attacking The Young Bucks.
The Briscoes are also set to face Kazarian & Scorpio Sky in a non-title match at All In (during the Zero Hour broadcast on WGN America) this Saturday.
Death Before Dishonor is taking place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 28. The Bullet Club (Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page) will take on Chaos (Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero, Beretta & Chuckie T) in a 10-man tag match, and Jay Lethal vs. Will Ospreay for the ROH World Championship and Sumie Sakai vs. Tenille Dashwood for the Women of Honor title were set up for the PPV at ROH’s television tapings over the weekend.
Though the show is now under two months away, wrestlers still continue to be announced for All In.
Three more regulars of the Being the Elite cast were confirmed for the event today as SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky) were added. Their angle on Being the Elite recently has been Daniels trying to frame “Arrow” star Stephen Amell for the storyline “murder” of Joey Ryan’s character. On the most recent episode, Amell was cleared due to insufficient evidence and having an alibi.
A wrestler was also removed from the All In card this week, with Cody Rhodes confirming that Deonna Purrazzo won’t be able to appear on the show. She’s expected to report to NXT soon.
A match for All in will be announced later today, making it the first one to be revealed for the event since the announcement of Cody challenging for the NWA title. Cody has said they’ll likely be rolling out matches week by week, but he doesn’t think they’ll ever release the full card prior to the show. It’s taking place at the Sears Centre Arena in the Chicago area on September 1.
While NXT TakeOver: War Games was going on, Ring of Honor was also in Texas last night for night two of this year’s Survival of the Fittest tournament. The show saw Cody Rhodes defend his ROH World Championship against Christopher Daniels in a Texas Death Match as well.
– Jonathan Gresham defeated Vinny Marseglia in a Survival of the Fittest first round match
– Flip Gordon defeated TK O’Ryan in a Survival of the Fittest first round match
– Matt Taven defeated Cheeseburger in a Survival of the Fittest first round match
– Deonna Purrazzo defeated Karen Q in a no DQ match
– ROH World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns defeated The Dawgs (Rhett Titus & Will Ferrara), Rey Cometa & Esfinge, and Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser to retain their titles
– Marty Scurll defeated Josh Woods
– ROH World Television Champion Kenny King defeated Scorpio Sky to retain his title
– Dalton Castle & Jay Lethal defeated The Young Bucks
– ROH World Champion Cody defeated Christopher Daniels in a Texas Death Match to retain his title
The finish came when Cody powerbombed Daniels through a flaming table. Daniels suffered some mild burns during that spot, but the belief is he’ll be able to wrestle at ROH’s show in Oklahoma City tonight.
This match was set up as the culmination of Cody and Daniels’ rivalry. Cody tweeted after it, “This chapter of my career with @facdaniels has been full of surprises and I am better for it. It ended tonight. Thank you Dallas.”
Both Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian were injured at Ring of Honor events in Texas this weekend.
Kazarian took a bad bump taking the Indytaker move, a spike piledriver, during the finish of Friday night’s main event in San Antonio, a match with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes & Stephen Amell vs. Daniels, Kazarian, Scorpio Sky & Flip Gordon. Kazarian didn’t work last night in Dallas, and flew back home to California before the show. It was thought on Friday to have been a possible stinger.
Daniels suffered mild burns last night in Dallas from a spot where he took a powerbomb through a flaming table. Cody defeated Daniels in a Texas Death Match to retain the ROH World Championship at the show.
Those at ROH believe the injury to Kazarian is not serious, but he won’t be on tonight’s show in Oklahoma City. The belief is that Daniels will be able to work tonight’s show.
