Tag: cope

Matt Hardy teases final tag team showdown with Cage & Cope after AEW Double or Nothing 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Matt Hardy celebrated Cage and Cope’s AEW Double or Nothing win while teasing one final chapter between the legendary tag teams someday. 

Hardy congratulated the new AEW Tag Team Champions with a throwback photo with them, himself and Jeff Hardy. He teased that they had ‘one more night of magic’ left in them potentially indicating a collision along the way. 

“Congrats to @Christian4Peeps & @RatedRCope on becoming @AEW Tag Team Champs. Great stuff! Not sure where, not sure when.. But we’ve got ONE more night of magic left in us.” 

The Hardy Boyz and Cage & Cope were instrumental to WWE’s tag team division in the Attitude Era. They modified the division with intense and chaotic TLC and ladder matches, becoming must-see attractions for tag team gold. And their rivalries remain some of the most influential feuds in wrestling history. 

The Hardy Boyz were reunited in AEW from 2020 to 2024 before returning to TNA where they are active competitors. 

At AEW Double or Nothing on May 24, Cage and Cope defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) in a New York Street Fight ‘I Quit’ match to win the titles. Had they lost, they would have been forced to retire as a tag team. 

Adam Copeland addresses AEW contract status, wants sendoff on his own terms  

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Adam Copeland feels he already had his retirement sendoff in 2011 after his neck injury. He addressed his wrestling future and the wear and tear on his body. 

In an exclusive interview with Clutch Points, Copeland talked about injuries and time away being added to his AEW contract. And signalling the uncertainty of its potential expiration. 

“I broke my leg, so there’s injury time added, and I had to go film Beekeeper (2) and Percy Jackson, so (that’s) added. Anytime I have to take a break, that gets added on the back end. I’m not even sure when it’s up.”

Considering a potential retirement tour like John Cena’s last year, Copeland stated his sendoff was already done in 2011. He was forced to retire due to a cervical spinal stenosis. However, nearly a decade later he returned at the 2020 Royal Rumble. 

“I already had my sendoff. This time, it’ll be my choice, and that makes it a different experience entirely. I don’t care if I get this big, tearful sendoff.” 

“I have no preconceived idea of what it needs to be.”

He also discussed the reduced wrestling schedule and the physical toll it has on his body at the age of 52. 

“That’s the interesting part. We’ve always talked about within the industry the best you feel is when you can wrestle the most, because it’s almost like you stay in this purgatory of pain and never really come out of it. You’re always kind of in that zone, and gosh, (if) you take two weeks off and take a bump, the first time it’s like, ‘Oh, man.’ And if you’re doing that live on national television or on pay-per-view, that can be a disconcerting thing.”

Copeland and Christian Cage will team up against FTR for the AEW Tag Team Titles at Double or Nothing this weekend. The stipulation is an ‘I Quit’ match but if Cope and Cage lose, they will retire as a tag team. 

“My very first pay-per-view appearance ever was in New York (at Madison Square Garden). It was at SummerSlam ’98 – that was the beginning of my pay-per-view career anyway. So New York holds a special place (in my heart).” 

The PPV will emanate from Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York on May 24. 

Willow Nightingale reveals praising from fellow AEW star Adam Copeland

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Willow Nightingale opened up about high points in her career, naming her experience working with Adam Copeland as one of them. 

Nightingale reflected on the proudest moment of her wrestling career in AEW during an interaction with Dani of Black Girl Wrestling. She named an instance with Bryan Danielson backstage after a match where she was upset about underperforming but he applauded her work.  

“I think I’ve been thinking recently about interactions I’ve had backstage with people I really admire.And how much that means to me. I recently remembered a match that I actually hate watching back. It’s a match that one of my biggest, I don’t I guess regret one of my biggest like in ring regrets after after that match Bryan Danielson actually comforted me and was like ‘hey, you know what I was actually going to say when you were giving us fire in that match and you were all amped up. I wanted more of that.’ He’s like ‘I wasn’t even going to critique the stuff you did. I was just going to..’ and I was crying and I was like, ‘Really? Thank you.’”

Nightingale added that working with Adam Copeland was a notable point in her AEW career. And he told her that she was the best babyface on the promotion. 

“Working with Cope, with Adam Copeland, that is something that has meant so much to me, and he’s said things to me, like, ‘I think you’re the best, biggest babyface that we have,’ and for him to see something like that in me, it moves me a lot.”

Nightingale and Copeland teamed up in April 2024 for a mixed tag team match against Brody King and Julia Hart. Last year she also assisted him in his feud with FTR. 

A couple of weeks ago, Nightingale issued an open challenge for the TBS Championship on Collision. This past weekend, she was attacked by Kamille who made her AEW return after nearly 530 days. 

Wrestling Weekly: TNA’s search for a new TV deal, is Karrion Kross a free agent?

Posted on by Victor Sosa

Image: WWE

It’s Friday and that means a new Wrestling Weekly with Les Thatcher & Vic Sosa.

TNA’s search for a new TV deal may directly impact (no pun intended) AEW. We’ll discuss that as well as the status of Karrion Kross, and where both WWE & AEW are headed on their way to Clash in Paris and Forbidden Door.

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Cope returns at AEW All In, saves Christian Cage

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

Adam “Cope” Copeland made his surprise return at Saturday’s AEW All In to aid an old friend: Christian Cage.

At the pay-per-view, The Patriarchy’s Nick Wayne, Kip Sabian and Mama Wayne had turned on Cage following their loss in the three-way AEW Tag Team title match. The group was in a confrontation with FTR when Wayne attacked Cage, laying him out.

As Sabian and Wayne were about to deliver a conchairto to Cage, Cope’s music hit and out he came with his spiked 4×4 in tow. He took out Wayne and Sabian on his way to the ring and then ran into the ring, taking out both FTR members with a double spear. Wayne attempted to hit Cope with a chair, but Cope hit it with Spike. He then speared Sabian and the heels ran away.

He then turned his attention to Cage, telling his friend/recent rival “Go find yourself” in a callback to a time when Cage told him to “Go f**k yourself.” He left Spike in the ring and departed.

Cope hasn’t been on AEW TV since being taken out by FTR at April’s Dynasty following their failed challenge of the Trios titles. A final run with his longtime friend Cage has been rumored as the plan for quite some time. Upon celebrating his 33rd year in wrestling, Cope said recently that his run “won’t last a lot longer.”

Cope celebrates 33 years in wrestling: ‘It won’t last a lot longer’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Adam Copeland, aka Cope, posted a statement on Tuesday celebrating his 33rd anniversary in wrestling.

Copeland had his first match on July 1, 1992. He had begun training with Ron Hutchinson and Sweet Daddy Siki the year prior after winning free classes in an essay-writing contest run by The Toronto Star.

On Monday, Copeland posted to Instagram that he knows his career won’t last much longer, so he’s going to soak it all in while he can.

He wrote:

“On Canada Day 33 yrs ago I made my wrestling debut. In Oakland Raiders Zubaz and a pair of Converse. Nowhere to go but up. Since then, I’ve travelled the world. Literally. Everywhere you can think of. From Moose Landing to Monterrey, from Bloodvein to Bucharest. It’s been a long, fruitful, soul expanding, soul diminishing, amazing, frustrating, exhausting, exhilarating journey over 3 decades. The best part? I hear every one of you when I blast out of that entranceway and sing Metalingus at the top of your lungs. It’s never been lost on me what a privilege that is. Australia I’m lookin at you! It won’t last a lot longer so I’m gonna soak in every second. Thank you for coming along on this ride with me.”

Cope previously told Sam Roberts in January 2024 that he felt he had a “two-year window” left in his in-ring career.

The 51-year-old hasn’t wrestled since FTR turned on him after Rated FTR lost to The Death Riders at AEW Dynasty. Last week, Fightful reported that the plan had once been for Copeland to return in time for All In on July 12, where he would team with Christian Cage against FTR. However, Christian reportedly asked for the match to be delayed so that he can finish up his storyline with Nick Wayne.

AEW notes: Trios title challenge, Cope, Chris Jericho, new faction name

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Here are some follow-up notes from Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite — the follow-up to last Sunday’s Dynasty pay-per-view.

Trios title challenge

Following Samoa Joe & Hook’s victory over Wheeler Yuta & Claudio Castagnoli in the main event and the subsequent brawl with the Death Riders, Joe issued a challenge on behalf of Hook and Katsuyori Shibata for the AEW Trios titles that Yuta, Castagnoli and PAC currently hold.

The challenge has yet to be accepted, but a potential wrench in the plan is the foot injury PAC suffered in his match with Swerve Strickland earlier in the night. As of this writing, it’s unknown what the extent of the injury is and how long he could be out of action.

Cope out

During the broadcast, the announce team recapped FTR turning on Adam “Cope” Copeland at Dynasty and questioned whether he will ever return to wrestling due to his history of neck injuries. They said the former TNT Champion is out indefinitely while FTR will be on Collision this Saturday to address the attack. It’s likely they also confront Tony Schiavone who took Dax Harwood to task and invoked the name of his daughter in doing so.

New Callis Family members?

During a backstage promo flanked by Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita, Don Callis said that due to a rash of injuries in the group, they are accepting potential new members so people should send their resumes, phone numbers and bank accounts because they’ll go straight to the top.

He didn’t mention the injured by name which is Brian Cage (knee injury) and Mark Davis (foot injury) that will keep them out of action for a while.

Chris Jericho has had enough

As part of an in-ring promo, Chris Jericho informed Big Bill and Bryan Keith that he is disappointed with everyone’s failed efforts at Dynasty (Jericho losing the ROH World title with Bill and Keith unable to win the AEW Tag Team titles). Therefore, he is leaving until Bill and Keith until they change that disappointment in him. He later shown leaving the venue in a car to drive the point home.

Jericho’s band Fozzy is about to embark on a one-month tour that begins next Thursday and runs through Monday, May 12th. Of note, there is only one Wednesday date on the schedule (April 30th).

Undisputed No More

In a backstage promo, new TNT Champion Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong introduced what appears to be a new faction name for this new chapter in their history: The Paragon which Cole said is “undisputed.”

The three had been going by the Undisputed Kingdom along with Mike Bennett & Matt Taven. However, Bennett and Taven haven’t been on AEW or ROH TV since December’s Final Battle. Their last AEW appearance was in early-November and it’s unclear what their future is with the Tony Khan-owned promotions.

Cope vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Owen Hart Cup bracket reveal announced for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Matt Boone

Two new matches have been added to the growing lineup for next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

Adam Copeland vs. Claudio Castagnoli was confirmed during a backstage segment with Castagnoli and The Death Riders on the March 29 episode of AEW Collision on TNT and Max in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“For what you did to me, I bet you think that was oh so ruthless,” Castagnoli said while sending a message to “The Rated-R Superstar” directly into the lens of the camera. “But I know you are losing your edge and you are just trying to cope with it. That’s why I’m going to beat you to a pulp.”

Later in the show, the bout was confirmed.

Also joining the 4/2 Dynamite lineup is AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Penelope Ford in non-title women’s action, as well as the unveiling of the brackets for the 2025 Owen Hart Cup tournament for both the men and the women.

Next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 2 from Peoria, Illinois, and will serve as the “go-home show” for the AEW Dynasty 2025 pay-per-view on April 6 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Here is the updated lineup:

  • Mixed tornado tag team match: Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland & Willow Nightingale
  • Will Ospreay returns
  • Cope vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • Toni Storm vs. Penelope Ford
  • Men’s and women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament bracket reveal

Adam Copeland believes AEW is ‘a bit punk rock’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Adam Copeland believes AEW is similar to punk rock.

He said as much during a recent interview with TV Insider when asked about fan backlash to his street fight with Jon Moxley last week on Dynamite.

Moxley vs. Cope featured several hardcore spots, including Cope hitting Moxley in the back with a spiked baseball bat, which became stuck in Moxley’s skin afterward.

“I look at wrestling as a variety show. That means you bring a lot of different things to the table with that,” Copeland said when asked about the polarizing reaction the match received.

“There can be some comedy, straight up wrestling, hardcore matches. That has always been the case. It’s also not really out of the ballpark of what Moxley and I do every once in a while. Think about me and [Mick] Foley. I’m sure there are a lot of people that were disturbed by that too. There are also a lot of people who enjoy horror movies. There are people who enjoy romcoms. I think wrestling can bring that all to the table. I think that is what AEW does.”

He continued to say that what fans see in AEW won’t always be pretty.

“I also feel like AEW is not afraid to take some risks. For a lack of a better analogy, we’re kind of a bit punk rock. It’s not always going to be pretty. It’s an alternative. It’s something different. I think if you look throughout the history of the company, it’s not something new. Darby Allin was falling off ladders and glass and thumbtacks. It has always been there to an extent. Let’s also face it. If you have two wrestlers coming out to wrestle a technical match every match, that can get pretty boring.”

Also during the interview, Cope spoke about filming season two of the TV series Percy Jackson while out of action with a broken leg suffered at Double or Nothing in May. Filming began in Vancouver last August.

“For whatever reason Disney was on board with me continuing wrestling while I filmed,” Copeland said. “For instance, in my scenes for Season 2, I still had my broken leg. It was my first day walking without my boot. I took off the boot and was like, ‘Yeah, I can walk. I’m good.’ We got that in the can. I think my wrestling limits what I can actually attach myself to, and that’s fine, because wrestling from a work perspective is my top priority.”

“The acting kind of fell in my lap and the type of storytelling I love almost as much as wrestling. I still want to continue to do it, but it will have to wrap around my wrestling commitments.”

Cope is scheduled to take part in a sit-down interview with Tony Schiavone and FTR on tonight’s episode of Dynamite. His full interview with TV Insider is available here.

AEW Dynamite live results: Moxley vs. Cope World title street fight

Posted on by Ryan Howard

The AEW World Championship is on the line in a street fight on tonight’s episode.

Jon Moxley defends the AEW title against Cope in a street fight tonight in a rematch from the main event of Revolution, where Cope’s one-on-one bout with Mox became a three-way for the title with Christian Cage involved. Moxley defeated Cage with a bulldog choke, leaving Cope with a rematch claim. The winner of tonight’s match will defend the title against number one contender Swerve Strickland at the Dynasty pay-per-view on April 6.

In another bout with Dynasty implications, the four-way final of the International title eliminator tournament is set for tonight’s show. Mike Bailey vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Ricochet vs. Mark Davis will decide who wins the tournament and will challenge Kenny Omega for the AEW International Championship at Dynasty.

TBS Champion Mercedes Mone will be in action on tonight’s episode against Billie Starkz, the “minion” of ROH Women’s World Champion Athena, as the seeds continue to be planted for a Mone vs. Athena meeting.

Megan Bayne will go one-on-one with Kris Statlander in another women’s division contest on the show. Bayne defeated Statlander in their prior AEW Dynamite meeting on February 19.

**********

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Taz & Tony Schiavone as they run down tonight’s card and talks about the blizzard conditions going on outside.

Ricochet & Speedball Mike Bailey defeated Orange Cassidy & Mark Davis in a 4 Way Title Eliminator Tournament Final to earn an International Title shot at Dynasty

(Wild and action-packed opener, as everyone involved got their moments throughout, as Bailey & Cassidy were super over with the crowd, who hated Ricochet, while Davis was the monster the whole time. Ricochet played the role of vulture in this one, as he snuck in and got a double pin to make this a 3-way at Dynasty in what should be an incredible match. Commentary really kept talking about thinking Cassidy might’ve torn his bicep in this, which I really hope doesn’t end up being true.)

Don Callis joined commentary, as it’s Bailey who got a loud chant from the crowd to start, so Callis calls him a scumbag for being from Quebec. Cassidy plays early mind games, slowly somersaulting into a one-man stalemate that got Holy Sh*t chants before a lightning quick start from everyone, as Davis was sent outside and Ricochet faked a group dive. Bailey lit him up with speedball kicks, until Cassidy was in with his little kicks and hands in the pockets. Bailey tries a series of kicks, but Cassidy countered all, kipping up, only to be pulled outside by Ricochet and tossed into the barricade. Taking too long posing, Bailey flew in with a baseball slide hurricanrana. Davis, picking his moment, cut of a dive and powerbombed Bailey on the edge of the ring, caught a diving Cassidy and planted him with a back suplex as well. Ricochet literally hit and ran, allowing Bialey to get a roll-up for two. Davis no sold Bailey’s chops and demolished him with one shot of his own, Cassidy suffered the same fate. Ricochet grabbed Callis’ headset and said he’s not stupid like Schiavone, who would charge right into the ring, it’s about picking your spot.

Ricochet tried to steal a pin on Cassidy, but was launched outside by Davis. Bailey & Cassidy tried a double team, but were thwarted with a series of sentons. Cassidy tried a Stundog, but held Davis down enough for a Bailey flying double knees to the back. Ricochet & Bailey take turns hitting standing Shooting Star Presses, as the match starts breaking down until all three opt to go after Davis. Ricochet wanted to take a breather, but it backfired and he was fed to Davis, who ran down everyone into break.

Davis controlled nearly the entire commercial, but Cassidy finally hit a suplex to a huge pop, only to be attacked from behind by Ricochet. Vertigo missed, allowing Cassidy to hit a déjà vu head scissors, but Ricochet countered the spinning DDT into a Northern Lights. While going for a roll through, Cassidy countered into a Stundog, while holding his right arm, as commentary question if he’s tore his bicep. Bailey hit a dive outside on Ricochet & Davis, as back inside, Cassidy rolled through a hurricanrana for a two count. Roundhouse kick and Falcon Arrow from Bailey, who went up top for a big Shooting Star Press for two, as Davis pulled Bailey outside, but was met by a diving Ricochet. Back inside, Ricochet up top for a Shooting Star Press of his own, but Cassidy kicked out.

Handspring kick sent Davis back outside, as Bailey was back in and ate a combo of strikes and turned inside out with a lariat. Ricochet hit a powerbomb into a DVD for a near fall, but Cassidy recovered to hit his spinning DDT and dropped Bailey with Beach Break. Davis returned, missed an enzugiri, ate an Orange Punch for a close two, as Ricochet flew in with a springboard lariat. Bailey & Ricochet were left alone throwing wild kicks and counters until both were mowed down by Davis lariats. One arm powerbomb on Bailey led to a pop-up powerbomb on Ricochet before a pendulum piledriver spiked Cassidy, only for Bailey to save it nearly. Crazy series of near falls by Davis & Bailey, who hit his backflip double knees, roundhouse kick to the head, but as Bailey went for a backslide, Ricochet jumped in and got the pin as well with his feet on the ropes. Referee Bryce told Justin Roberts that both Bailey & Ricochet won the match and move on to Dynasty.

**********

-Video package on The Hurt Syndicate is shown, as Nigel McGuinness is heard calling them the Walking Armageddon.

Mercedes Mone defeated Billie Starkz to retain the TBS Title

(This turned into a hell of a match, as Starkz put up a fine effort, but even in defeat, she got a lot of fans out of this. There were points where I was really wondering if we’d get the flash upset of the year, but understand Mone should hold onto the title longer. All signs point to Athena eventually being a challenger for the TBS Title, when that happens, is up in the air. I hope Starkz sticks around on the AEW roster after this, she’s a great talent that I hopes get showcased more going forward.)

Commentary put over Starkz’s brief success in AEW, but mostly in Ring of Honor, as we get a nice highlight video of her past few years. Excalibur is also really driving home Mone’s undefeated record in AEW so far. Big match intros from Justin Roberts, as Starkz offers a handshake, but Mone decked her into the ropes and paint brushed the head. Snapmare into a Meteora got a quick near fall, as Starkz fights out of the corner with a Tornado DDT, but as she signaled for her top rope senton, Mone bailed outside, so Starkz met her with a suicide dive and somersault senton off the second rope. Back inside, Starkz up top and hit her top rope senton flush, but Mone, in serious pain, kicked out. Starkz wanted the Sugoi Driver, but Mone escaped into a backstabber, as she dispatched of Starkz to the outside heading to break.

Things returned with Starkz wanting a Tombstone, but Mone countered into seemingly a Tombstone/Lungblower for two. Excalibur put over Starkz having a 4.0 average in high school while wrestling, as Taz pointed out his was 3.9, as Schiavone called him GPA Jones, which broke everyone on commentary. Mone wanted Three Amigos, but Starkz countered right at the end into a neckbreaker on the knee. Crowd loudly behind Starkz, who hit a rolling elbow and high stack German suplex for a close two. Mone caught a charging Starkz in the corner with a face buster in the buckle, but Starkz avoided Mone Maker, hit a pump knee and spin kick, but Mone answered with a discus lariat into the double down in a great sequence.

Starkz slid through a backstabber for a two count, as the ladies traded near falls until Starkz got a John Woo dropkick. A violent Water Wheel Drop into the corner from Starkz, who again, looked for the Sugoi Driver, but Mone just barely got her foot on the rope and Starkz couldn’t believe it as the fans chanted This Is Awesome. Starkz went for a somersault senton off the top to the apron, but Mone moved and Starkz crashed and burned on the edge of the ring. Mone pulled her back into the ring, locked on the Statement Maker and got the submission.

-Video package from The Outrunners, who are the unofficial mascots to the Omaha Mavericks, as footage of them amping up the team before their March Madness game against St. Johns tomorrow night.

-We’re told coming up next, Jon Moxley vs. Cope in a Street Fight for the AEW Title

**********

-Footage of MVP & MJF’s in ring segment last week was shown, ending in MVP’s offer to MJF to accept his offer to join up with The Hurt Syndicate. We go backstage to MJF, holding the business card and said many are placing their bets on who will be the next AEW World Champion? Some think it’s Darby Allin, who MJF has beaten twice with a side headlock and could be dead on a mountain. Some think Will Ospreay, who MJF beat for the International Title last year. Some think it could be Hangman Page, but says there’s only one thoroughbred to put your chips on and you’re looking at him. Looking at the business card has gotten him thinking, the title is held by Dictator Jon, who has an army surrounding him, so maybe he needs a kliq of his own, but the last time he trusted someone, he got burned, so MVP will have his answer next week. MJF said the time for daddy crying over spilled milk is over and it’s about time again to pop some champagne.

Jon Moxley defeated Cope in a Street Fight to retain the AEW World Title

(The positives, this was a lot better than the Revolution match, as the fans were really into it and weren’t exhausted by seeing three 5 star matches back to back to back. This turned incredibly violent and the spiked board spot to Moxley’s back was one of the grossest moments in AEW history. Now, the negative, it was exactly the kind of finish you’d expect from this reign of Moxley, which is beyond overkill at this point. This had more run-ins than a House of Torture match and that’s saying something. I know when Moxley loses the title it’ll be a huge pop, but I’ll be happy to have a break from all the interference. I am intrigued by Dax Harwood walking out on Cope post-match, as a positive out of all the run-ins was a lot of directions you could go after this.)

Moxley was making his entrance by walking outside of the arena, but was met by Cope, who attacked him from behind and they brawled into a loading truck as the bell sounded. Cope smacked a guitar against Moxley’s leg before dropkicking him out of the truck into the garage door. Moxley recovered, smashed Cope against the door before grabbing the briefcase (presumably holding the AEW World Title) and cracked Cope in the head with it. They brawl into the arena, as Cope decked Moxley with a microphone before blasting him with a trash can and hitting a snap suplex on the floor. Moxley battled back with a Rear Naked Choke before slamming Cope’s head against the LED board. Moxley pulled out a kendo stick and wore out Cope. Both spilled into the crowd once again, as Moxley trash talked the fans, allowing Cope a chance to get back into this, as things went back ringside. Cleaning off the commentary table, the brief delay allowed Moxley to recover and drop Cope with a Paradigm Shift on the solid oak table, as doctors tended to Cope as things went to break.

When things returned, Moxley had set up a table ringside and was laying in chair shots to the back in the ring before choking Cope with the legs of the chair. Moxley wanted to Pillmanize the neck, as he went to the top, but Cope recovered, chucked the chair at the face of Moxley and joined him in the corner, raking the back and hitting a superplex as Prince Nana was shown watching on backstage. Forearm battle ramped up, as Cope delivered a series a lariats and flapjack before going under the ring to reveal Spike, the nail covered board. Cope rolled into the ring and was immediately dropped by a Moxley cutter. Moxley slid another table in the ring, but in taking time to set it up, Cope grabbed Spike and hit him in the ribs and back before delivering a suplex onto it and it was literally stuck in the back of Moxley, as the fans are losing their minds, this is gnarly.

Wheeler Yuta hit the ring, took out Cope with a Busiaku Knee, as Yuta tried getting the board out of Moxley’s back and it initially wouldn’t come out, which was sick. Referee Paul Turner finally got it free, as Yuta charged at Cope, but was hit with a pop-up powerbomb through a table. All of a sudden, Claudio Castagnoli & PAC made their returns and attacked Cope, looking for a Con-Chair-To, but FTR sprinted out from the back, as Cash Wheeler wiped out Castagnoli with a dive, as Dax Harwood planted Moxley with a piledriver before tackling PAC outside. Moxley & Cope remained, as they slowly rose to their feet and Cope hit a Spear through the table. Cope made the cover, but Marina Shafir returned and broke up the count. Willow Nightingale ran out and wiped-out Shafir with a clothesline and cannonball off the apron to the floor. Kip Sabian ran in and ate a Spear, as Nick Wayne flew in with Wayne’s World, as Moxley made the cover, but Cope kicked out. Bulldog Choke applied, Cope went out and Moxley retained. Mother Wayne looked on with Sabian & Nick, as the Death Riders gathering up and bailing, flipping fans off, with Prince Nana shown making a phone call in the back.

Post-match, Nightingale & Wheeler tended to Cope, who reached up for Harwood’s hand, but he didn’t offer it, instead, he left. Wheeler went to ask his partner what was up, but Harwood violently shoved his partner away and walked to the back. Wheeler helped up Cope and hugged him before going after his partner, as Nightingale gave Cope the ring, as the fans gave him a loud ovation. Commentary questioned if this was Cope’s last bite at the apple, his last chance at the AEW World Title?

**********

-Footage of The Learning Tree laying out Bandido & Gravity at Revolution Zero Hour was shown. Bandido was backstage with Renee Paquette, who said wrestling runs through his veins, he understands the dangers, but what Jericho did to his family, humiliating them, is something he’ll never forgive Chris Jericho for. Bandido said on Collision, he hopes Jericho shows up and gives him his brothers mask back. Johnny TV struts in and says who cares, as Bandido isn’t ratings, but wrestling Johnny on Slam Dunk Sunday would do more ratings than the Super Bowl (ok, sure) and Bandido accepts.

Will Ospreay defeated AR Fox

(It’s weird to see Ospreay in the match of the week where a lot of it happened during commercial, but Ospreay got in a few of his signature moves, while Fox did the same as well. The crowd got to see Osperay, who is still visibly feeling that Spanish Fly off the cage against Kyle Fletcher. Ospreay’s road to the Owen Hart Cup and AEW World Title is just getting going.)

Fast series of switches, as both blocked the others cutter attempt into a stalemate, as Ospreay was still selling the effects of his Cage Match at Revolution. Leg sweep on the apron by Fox, who hit an up and over double stomp to the ribs before floating back in, looking for a brainbuster, but Ospreay countered into a Stundog. Fox went outside, as Ospreay flew out with a slingshot dive as things went to break.

Fox controlled during commercial, but things ramped up right as things continued, as Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Hook kick decked Fox, who ducked Hidden Blade, hit a short Cutter and Helluva Kick. Ospreay managed to get a Cheeky Nandos Kick, but took too long to follow up, allowing Fox to answer with Lo-Mein Pain, missing the 450 Splash follow, as Ospreay clobbered him with Hidden Blade to win it.

-Match graphic for the AEW World Title at Dynasty between Jon Moxley & Swerve Strickland is shown as Renee Paquette said it’s official for the PPV before welcoming Hangman Adam Page. Paquette asks what his thoughts are about Strickland getting this match and Page said he’s said he’d never let Strickland hold the AEW World Title again and he’s a man of his word, but after what he’s gone though with MJF, he realizes his focus needs to be on himself. Page officially joins the field for the Owen Hart Cup and become the next AEW World Champion.

-As Excalibur runs down the cards for Collision this weekend, a video package for Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata 3 on Saturday Night Slam is shown, as both are 1-1 in their series.

**********

-Mercedes Mone is backstage with Renee Paquette, who asked her thoughts on that kid, Billie Starkz, putting up a great fight tonight. Mone questioned who trained Starkz, but said if it was her, Starkz would’ve had a chance at winning tonight, but cackled saying who’s she kidding, no she wouldn’t. There’s no stopping the Mone Train, as it’s now onto 17-0. Taz said Mone is so likeable.

Timeless Toni Storm, with Luther by her side, joined commentary before the main event to a massive ovation from the crowd, as she skipped her way to the table with Taz singing Skip to My Lou. Excalibur congratulated Storm on her victory in The Hollywood Ending at Revolution, as Storm said she heard Schiavone had a Hollywood Ending, but had to pay $45 for it, which popped Taz.

Megan Bayne (w/Penelope Ford) defeated Kris Statlander

(I will not disagree with anyone who still questions why The Hollywood Ending didn’t get top billing over the AEW World Title match at Revolution, but this one did tonight. That said, this was an impressive main event and Bayne’s best showing in AEW thus far, despite literally never cutting a promo (nor has Ford for her for that matter I don’t think). Storm did a fantastic job in the post-match really amping the crowd up to see this title match at Dynasty. This accomplished exactly what it was meant to do in making continuing to make Bayne look like a monster that Storm must try and slay.)

Bayne sent Statlander to the floor in the early going, but Statlander battled back with a moonsault off the apron and shotgun dropkick back inside. Storm said Statlander has done this impossible, earn her respect. Storm refers to herself as the Stormodo Dragon, as Bayne caught Statlander’s cross body attempt, but Statlander got free with a short dropkick for one. Back elbow out of the corner by Statlander, who followed up with a charging corner knee. She tried again, but ran into a Bayne boot and Exploder. Storm said the thighs on these women are made for crushing watermelons, as Ford ran distraction on the apron successfully, with Statlander being hit with a back suplex from the apron into to the ring heading into break.

Bayne hit a running Liger Bomb when things returned, looked for Fate’s Decent, but Statlander got free and hit an Axe Kick for the double down. Both ladies slugged it out while sitting, as they rose to their feet with Statlander hitting an enzugiri. Referee Aubrey blatantly sees Ford trip Statlander, but just ejects her instead of disqualifying Bayne. Storm said farewell sugar tits, as Statlander avoided a pump kick into a powerbomb and spinning sit-out slam for two. Statlander went for another leaping back elbow, but it led to both ladies trading release German suplexes. Both kept no-selling until a leaping lariat sent Statlander to the floor. Bayne connected on the Tope Suicida, as back inside, she hit a Falcon Arrow for two. Low bridge to the apron by Statlander, who hit a draping DDT and somersault senton to the floor. Bayne reversed a whip and launched Statlander into Storm before laying out Statlander with Fate’s Decent on the outside. Bayne told Storm to watch this, as she laid out Statlander with another Fate’s Decent to win the match.

Post-match, Storm taped up her right hand and came in the ring for a slug-fest with Bayne, as security and officials separated the two to little success. Storm clotheslined Bayne over the top, landing on her feet as Storm grabbed the microphone and said Bayne was a big bitch and she always said the bigger they are the harder they come, so it’s time they get tantric. Bayne keeps looking at her title, but not much to say, so she’ll make it easy for her, they’ll have a date at Dynasty and she’ll make her thighs shake, her body quake and leave with this strap on, as she’s Timeless Toni Storm and she’ll rip her tits off.

AEW Collision Saturday Night Slam 3/21/25

  • Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Cole for the TNT Title with Everyone Banned from Ringside
  • Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata 3
  • Konosuke Takeshita, Brian Cage & Lance Archer vs. Mark Briscoe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Rocky Romero
  • Max Caster Open Challenge

AEW Collision Sunday Night Slam 3/22/25

  • Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Top Flight & AR Fox for the AEW Trios Titles
  • Hologram & Komander vs. The Beast Mortos & Dralistico
  • Harley Cameron In Action
  • Bandido vs. Johnny TV

AEW Dynamite 3/26/25

  • Kenny Omega Live
  • MJF Answers MVP

Jon Moxley vs. Cope street fight with Dynasty implications set for next AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

After the two went at it in the main event of this past Sunday’s Revolution, AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and Cope will run it back next Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.

This time, it will be a street fight with the winner moving on to April’s Dynasty to defend against no. 1 contender Swerve Strickland.

The match was announced on Wednesday’s fallout edition of Dynamite ahead of a post-Revolution interview with Strickland who said he first won the World title at last year’s Dynasty and will do it again this year. Cope then walked in and said he could be champion before Dynasty and there’s a chance he’ll be defending against him. The two then bumped fists in respect.

The Revolution match became a three-way as Christian Cage cashed in his World title shot contract earned at last August’s All In. However, Cage failed in his opportunity and was choked out by Moxley as Cope laid prone on the mat.

Moxley later cut his own backstage promo and said he underestimated Cope and should have finished him off before Cage even got in there. He said he never makes the same mistake twice.

Here’s the current card for Omaha, Nebraska:

  • AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against Cope in a street fight
  • AEW International title eliminator four-way for title shot at Dynasty

AEW Revolution review: Mox & Cope do their match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The most annoying thing about Sunday’s AEW Revolution was that up until the main event, this was a surefire show of the year contender.

And you know what? Even after that nonsense, I am still going to consider it a top notch show anyway because a match like Jon Moxley vs. Adam Copeland isn’t going to drag me or this show down.

To be fair, Cope and Mox had to follow a steel cage match where Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher did literally everything under the sun in one of the craziest cage matches in recorded history. Their situation was a tough one, to be sure. But even taking that into account, I can’t understand why a match like this ended the show where the last two or three matches before it would have closed things on a high note. But that didn’t happen as Mox and Cope went out there, did their match, and it wasn’t particularly good.

After weeks of Copeland hunting down most of Mox’s crew, he proceeded to have a technical wrestling battle with Moxley. And by battle, I mean Mox sat there and did holds. Cope then sat there and did holds, and vice versa. For a match that had been built on Cope taking every single member of the Death Riders down so he could get his hands on Mox, going out there and simply doing a wrestling match felt off psychologically.

Then there was the ref bump and, what do you know, Wheeler Yuta came out. On the last episode of Dynamite, it was teased that Yuta was tired of being yelled at by Mox and it was implied he wasn’t going to help him Sunday. (Never mind this was at least the second or third time they’ve teased Yuta might turn on the Death Riders and Cope looked like an utter fool for letting him go.) So wouldn’t you know it, shock of all shocks, when the time came, Yuta in fact did not turn on the Death Riders and proceeded to lay out Cope. Wow. What a shock.

As usual with the Death Riders storyline, Suddenly A Bunch Of Stuff Happened. Jay White came out and interfered but accidentally struck Cope with the briefcase. Then Christian Cage came out and cashed in his anytime, anywhere title shot that he won back in August. And after all these months of teasing his cash in, here’s how it ended: Christian hit a spear and a Killswitch but Mox came to and put Christian in his bulldog choke. Christian cutely attempted to cover Cope, but Mox pulled him off and Christian submitted, the end. The Death Riders live on.

Swerve Strickland, who won a number one contender’s match earlier in the show, took out Mox with a dive off a balcony to end the show, so that’s kinda cool but it didn’t erase the last 30 minutes.

The ending to Revolution reminded me of those WCW shows in 1997 where you would get a great undercard but a totally abysmal main event. This wasn’t as bad as some of the worst WCW main events but, boy, was it a flat ending to an otherwise excellent show.

Here’s a rundown of the rest of the card:

  • Two things can be true about the steel cage match that took place between Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher. This was a brutal, violent, amazing spectacle full of incredible spots, something that won’t be forgotten for a long time. The problem was once they hit the high point, they continued and did so many crazy nearfalls that it bordered on parody. Once Mark Davis ran in for a second time in this cage match where there can’t be any interference, I was beginning to wonder what the finish was going to be. Would it be the really cool Oscutter off the cage? The Styles Clash onto the thumbtacks? The (multiple) screwdriver stabbings? The crazy Spanish fly off the cage? No, but all of that happened for some very close nearfalls. The answer? After all of that, Fletcher was pinned with a Tiger Driver 91. There were a lot of cool things, and I want to stress that overall, I thought the cage match was great, but there was A LOT going on, probably too much by the end.
  • Like the main event, Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita had to follow a really violent spectacle in the Hollywood Ending, but unlike the main event, I thought they did a good job. I wasn’t expecting this kind of match where Omega sold and sold and sold for a long time, but they did a good job building toward the end and I enjoyed the crucifix finish. I didn’t imagine Omega winning the title but it does make sense as Takeshita got the win in their previous match.
  • Toni Storm and Mariah May had their Hollywood Ending and I must say, it was one hell of a brawl and maybe the best thing on the show in terms of overall execution. This was a fast-paced, brutal spectacle full of violence. Both women bled buckets, especially Toni. There was tons of glass and using that glass to spill more blood. Lots of piledrivers and big moves on surfaces that were not a pro wrestling ring. The aftermath of the bout where “THE END” was shown on screen as Storm continued to lie next to her former friend I thought was also a nice touch. This story kind of dragged in places, especially when Storm vanished for months, but now that it’s all said and done, I thought it was a very well done story. Who would have thought All About Eve would inspire a wrestling storyline in the 2020s?
  • The Hurt Business defeating The Outrunners was nothing special. I don’t really have anything to say about it other than The Hurt Business is probably not losing for a long time. Next!
  • There wasn’t much to Kazuchika Okada defeating Brody King either. Nothing wrong with it, I thought it was a good hard-hitting match, but it’s one of those bouts that gets lost in a sea of really great matches. Okada won, just biding time until they do the Omega match in July.
  • Swerve Strickland gained revenge over Ricochet in what I thought was an excellent back and forth match, probably the best bell-to-bell wrestling match on the show. Ricochet has found his footing as a heel and it’s helped out his matches a ton. Swerve is one of the best in the world and showcased it here yet again. Swerve is next for Moxley and while this may just be me ready to move on from the Death Riders storyline, I’m all for him to win the title again next month.
  • Momo Watanabe failed to win the TBS title from Mercedes Mone. These two had a very good, hard-hitting match. And when I mean hard-hitting, I mean Watanabe kicked Mone repeatedly. Hard. It didn’t seem fun, but Mone picked up the win after a hard battle. I’m kinda at the point where I’m wondering what the endgame is for Mone’s run with the TBS title, but she’s been consistently good so there’s no rush either, I guess.
  • Hangman Page defeated MJF in what I thought was an excellent opener, probably right there with Ricochet and Swerve. MJF’s petulant behavior, jealous over Page’s popularity, played out in full force here, particularly near the end when he started throwing a fit. Also, that Angel’s Wings spot towards the end looked like it HURT. This ended up being a very well-worked match, and with Page’s victory, he should get a World title match sooner than later.

Christian Cage fails in World title cash-in at AEW Revolution

Posted on by Josh Nason

The will he/won’t he AEW World title contract cash-in opportunity Christian Cage won last August turned out to be a failure for the former TNT Champion.

Cage made a surprise appearance in the main event of Sunday’s AEW Revolution, signing his contract and inserting himself into the bout between champion Jon Moxley and Adam “Cope” Copeland.

Dressed in a black hoodie to conceal his identity, Cage appeared and pulled referee Bryce Remsburg out of the ring after Cope hit Moxley with a spear and was about to pin him. Cage then nailed Cope with the metal case that held the contract before signing it.

He hit his own spear on Cope for a nearfall and then hit the Killswitch, but Moxley snuck back in and ensnared him in a bulldog choke before he could make the cover. At one point, Cage got his hand on Cope to try and sneak the pin but Moxley pulled him back and eventually, Cage passed out to end the match.

Cage won the title opportunity in the Casino gauntlet match at All In from Wembley Stadium last August.

Match notes:

  • Swerve Strickland laid Moxley out with a Swerve Stomp from a high guardrail to end the show, a show of force after he earned the next title shot earlier in the night with his win over Ricochet.
  • At one point, both Moxley and Cope were laid out after a double clothesline and Wheeler Yuta came out. After teasing hitting Moxley, he re-aligned with him instead after their fallout last week.
  • Yuta tossed in the briefcase holding the World title, but Jay White ran out to even things out. He then swung the case at Moxley, but the champion ducked and Cope was knocked out, barely getting his shoulder up as Moxley tried to pin him. White and Yuta then brawled to the back.
  • The match, coming after the Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher cage match spectacle before it and at the end of a five-hour show, took a bit to get the crowd fully invested, especially as Moxley was dominating early in his methodical fashion.

AEW Revolution preview & predictions: Back to the future

Posted on by Mike DellaCamera

Image: AEW

The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects that of the author and not our website.

AEW ended 2024 on a down note. The loss of Bryan Danielson into pseudo-retirement left a yawning void. The person who anchored their programming for a full year was gone. In his place was a once promising heel faction that is now milquetoast at best; a group of people who attempted murder multiple times on television somehow became run of the mill heels, their matches full of interference and unsatisfying finishes instead of company-defining violence.

Compounded with the fact that there was no promise of a David to topple this wanna be-Goliath, AEW felt adrift. But then, a funny thing happened. They got back to basics. They remembered what they were built on: killer in-ring action with interesting enough stories to support it. It’s like a lightbulb went off, they realized the wealth of talent on the roster, and leaned into it.

Revolution is, in many ways, the future. There are young wrestlers up and down the card that would be World champions in any company. MJF (28), Hangman Page (33), Swerve Strickland (34), Will Ospreay (31), Kyle Fletcher (26), Konosuke Takeshita (29) and Mercedes Mone (33) represent, frankly, an appalling collection of talent. Any number of them can be the face of the company. Blending this youth with the still valuable experience of the older talents on the roster (Samoa Joe, Cope, Christian Cage, etc.) is how a company grows exponentially. Over-indexing on the veterans is how they stagnate.

Whether it’s Tony Khan taking a heavier role in day-to-day creative, Kenny Omega returning or wrestlers just finding their groove, AEW has emerged from the ashes of 2024 with a promising year ahead. A good year is more important now than ever with WWE being hotter than a Middle Eastern climate. This card is a great start to their PPV year with an on-paper lineup that looks as good as anything they’ve ever run.

Let’s preview Sunday’s show (8 PM Eastern main card from Los Angeles, California on PPV):

MJF vs. Hangman Adam Page

MJF said it himself: Hangman is the main character of AEW. I’d take it a step further and say that they both fill that role: the man the crowd loves to hate and the man the crowd loves to love. Page has proven to be one of the most versatile performers in wrestling, able to coax reactions out of the audience regardless of how his character is aligned. Connection like that is a gift and his happens to be a transcendent one, aided by playing three-dimensional characters.

He does not live in a linear space and is never a bad guy just ‘because.’ There are justifiable reasons for everything he does. Whether we agree with them is a matter of our respective codes of ethics, but nothing he’s done has been unfounded. His descent into madness started because someone broke into his house and threatened his family. That does something to a person. It transforms them. It transformed him into what he is now and what he’s always been at his core: the heart of AEW.

The realism of his performance and the subsequent connection it provides leads to what we always want: immersion. The goal of watching anything performative is not to ignore it or wonder what’s happening on our phones. Rather, it’s the opposite. We yearn to connect to it and feel something. We don’t want to think of anything else other than what we see on screen or in the arena. When Hangman is on that screen, he is the moment and the crowd hangs on every word and action.

His opponent in this match is his opposite as a performer. Where Hangman leans into gray areas and non-traditional wrestling roles, MJF plays the tried and true hits. When engaged and interested, he’s as good a heel as there is. When he indulges in his bad habits (lame insults and over-reliance on ‘the real world’) he becomes much less so.

But one thing is true with MJF: he raises his game to meet his dance partner where they are. With Hangman operating at a top level, MJF has had no choice but to match him and match him he has. This is as invigorated as Max has felt in quite some time. He could sink his teeth into this program and it’s shown in the quality of results. This is a match with nothing on the line, but it’s important because MJF and Page made it that way.

Prediction: Page

Ricochet vs. Swerve Strickland in a World title number one contender’s match

Prince Nana added weight to this. What otherwise could have been a paint-by-numbers program has introduced the ideas of friendship, loss, and legacy. It’s easy to label Nana as a sidecar to Swerve’s incredible act, but he’s much more. He’s so ingrained in the universe of Swerve’s character that we can lose sight of him. But whenever he’s been called upon for more, he has shined. His promo on the February 26th Dynamite has stayed with me. He showed his pain and how deeply he’s hurt by losing his robe.

It’s so important to him that he’s willing to walk away from something that’s brought him such fulfillment and success. This isn’t a cheesy breakup angle; this is about someone who is hurting and seeking help from a friend. They have fought through challenges together, struggled, and reached the peak as a unit. What defines a great friend is the ability to selflessly uplift each other. Nana’s done that for Swerve and now it’s time for Swerve to help him. 

Ricochet has been unlocked as a heel. He’s always performed best when he’s cocky, and he’s always been able to do it. The smiling ‘happy to be here’ persona doesn’t resonate, doesn’t work, and hasn’t for years in wrestling. The tried and true heel tactics still work, but the Hulk Hogan/John Cena style of pure good guy rarely does. You can’t just smile and be happy to be there. It’s boring and has been done hundreds of times.

In modern wrestling, a character needs depth to thrive. Ricochet realized the crowd doesn’t love him like they used to and it changed him. As a result, he became so much more interesting. A geek with an edge is a tough thing to sell, but Ricochet has done it and developed into a valuable player for AEW. 

As good as the turn has been, it still needs time to marinate. It’s not something that feels like a main event level act just yet. What does? The return of the Most Dangerous Man in AEW. The World title picture needs life, and Swerve is just the man to provide it. 

Prediction: Swerve

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher in a steel cage match

Fletcher’s growth over the last year has been stratospheric. He’s taken to being a heel better than anyone could have expected. Instead of filling the space in matches with more moves and more action — things he is preternaturally gifted at — he is filling them with less. By taking fewer opportunities to show his impressive skill and using the space to pose and preen, he’s denying the crowd something they want.

To temper oneself by suppressing a gift that less than one percent of people have is tremendous restraint for someone raised in the ‘moment making’ era of wrestling. Fletcher can do everything in the ring, but by deciding to do less and focusing on the space between, he is learning a lesson that can sometimes take decades and is positioning himself for a potentially historic career.

In some ways, he is learning the right lessons from Ospreay’s career. The move to AEW has certainly helped curb some of his worst habits. Far less prone to overwhelming bouts of self-indulgence and forgetful selling, Ospreay is an example of someone who too often finds himself trying to create something momentous at the expense of something memorable. For better or for worse, he is a pro wrestling maximalist even when the situation doesn’t require it.

If I come off as consistently critical of such an acclaimed and talented wrestler, it is because there are so few with his physical gifts. Those with the most talent face the most scrutiny.  I just want less, and subsequently more, from him.

A loss for Ospreay means nothing, but a win for Fletcher means everything. He gets the biggest one of his career on Sunday.

Prediction: Fletcher

AEW World Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)

From day one in AEW, the Hurt Syndicate have been stars. Most ex-WWE acts struggle after an initial push before finding something that works with the aforementioned Ricochet being a perfect example. Not Bobby, Shelton and MVP. They came in with an established act that should never have ended. From presentation to promos to in-ring, the Hurt Syndicate does everything at such a high level while bringing much needed fresh air to the tag team division.

Historically, AEW’s tag division has been full of high work-rate champions. Having a physical, bruising team like the Hurt Business on top changes the dynamic for the better. 

The Outrunners are never going to be the best tag team in the world, but they are absolutely going to be someone’s favorite tag team and there is value in that. Acts like this are necessary for a well-rounded company. Not everyone can be a top act, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try to be fully developed characters that connect with the audience. Low-card, fan-favorite acts round out a roster and The Outrunners are exactly what they should be.

Prediction: The Hurt Syndicate retains

AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Kenny Omega

The return of a modern god of pro wrestling cannot be wasted. Omega almost transcends description at this point. Being on the shelf for over a year and returning with that match with Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Kingdom? What an absolute freak. A legendary wrestling sicko.

The days of him having classic matches on the regular are likely over. There are still bullets in the chamber, but they aren’t going to fire as frequently. He’s still fully capable of having classic matches, and he gave us proof of concept on January 4th. It was just a different kind of special. The once remarkable athleticism and explosiveness were lessened, but the match remained captivating. Omega has a unique wrestling mind, one that knows how to structure, how to build to an inflection point, and how to take us on a ride home. As his ability to drop jaws with pure physical prowess lessens, his ability to capture minds, and hearts, remains. This is the transition of an all-time great to the next stage of his career.

This match needs to be different than the ones they’ve had before. Omega is not the athlete that Takeshita is at this point in his career, and he knows it. He’s never doubted his capabilities as an all-time performer, but he’s lost to Takeshita twice already and knows what a third loss means. He desperately needs to prove that even in this new season of his career, he’s the better wrestler. Trading bombs and huge moves with Big Soup is the recipe for an unwinnable disaster, but Omega has forgotten more about wrestling than most people will ever know. His path to a win involves using more of his mind and less of his body.

There are still two PPVs to get through, but the money match at All In is with Okada, ideally with belts on the line (hopefully with some kind of unification). The build to that should start at Revolution.

Prediction: Kenny Omega wins the title

AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Brody King

This might sound odd, but I wish this were the main event of a Dynamite rather than here. Top to bottom, this card is loaded, so much so that this runs the risk of being lost. No shade to either of these cats intended. King is long overdue for some singles shine and Okada is Okada — one of the best wrestlers of this century. I worry there will be too much of the same. But then again, if Okada flips the ‘big match’ switch, this could steal the whole show. 

Here’s the list of wrestlers who’ve beaten Okada clean, one-on-one in AEW: Bryan Danielson (2x) and Kyle Fletcher. How beautiful would it be to have Brody on that list? In a match with Ricochet, Okada, and Strickland, he was the one getting the chants and biggest reactions. The crowd has loved him forever and he deserves the opportunity to bathe in their appreciation with success and gold. Unfortunately, there are probably bigger plans for Okada that require a title around his waist.

Prediction: Okada retains

TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Momo Watanabe

The doubters have been silenced. The haters continue shouting into the void as they know no other way. Through it all, Mone sits atop the wrestling world. Her matches with Kris Statlander were remarkable. Her match with Hazuki was sensational. She tossed Harley Cameron into her backpack and carried her to a solid match at Grand Slam Australia. Few wrestlers are better at big match wrestling.

She is both a floor lifter and ceiling raiser, and is a talent that will be appreciated far more once she’s done. There isn’t much she hasn’t accomplished in wrestling. One of the few things left is a run towards the AEW Women’s World Championship. Mone vs Toni Storm for both belts at All In sounds like a (no pun intended) money match to me. To get there, she needs to keep her title. 

Prediction: Mone retains

AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Mariah May in a Hollywood Ending match

This is the real main event and what should be the final chapter in a 12+ month story. Regardless of your feelings about “Timeless,” it’s one of the more impressive character performances in modern wrestling. A gimmick that should have expired long ago, she has somehow kept it fresh and relevant. This would have been fodder for eye rolls and channel changes in the hands of less dedicated and weaker performers. In a sea of expected and flat characters, this continues to stand out as something different and always worth the time. 

May’s run up to the title was a combination of great writing and great performance. The same writing that brought her success undermined her time as champion. She was rarely given anything substantial to do, and her character devolved into a stereotypical ‘mean champion’ trope. It often felt, correctly I might add, that she was waiting for Storm to come back around. May needs a soft reset to get away from the only meaningful program she’s been involved with in AEW. Her future as a performer remains as bright as ever. She just needs some time and some tweaks. 

A Hollywood Ending match promises finality and even though all signs point to Storm retaining, is this the end of the “Timeless” character? It’s impossible to separate “Timeless” (I am so tired of typing this) Toni and May from each other. Their stories are so intertwined, is it reasonable to expect that one can’t exist without the other? The most interesting outcome sees Storm retain, May get a break, and “Timeless” Toni retires to Sunset Boulevard – this show is in Los Angeles, after all – and Storm reinvents herself once again.

Prediction: Storm retains

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against Cope

An unfortunate truth about this match is that a clean outcome isn’t satisfying. Not a ringing endorsement of the main event scene! The Death Riders are an unsuccessful experiment. Extending Moxley’s run with the title is just kicking the can down the road. A 51-year-old Cope being the one to overcome the heel champion is equally empty. The intrigue lies in the gray. Credit to AEW for having multiple outside options that impact the main event’s outcome. 

I rarely do in-depth fantasy booking in this space, but indulge my thinking for a moment. This week’s Dynamite introduced both Jay White and Wheeler Yuta as additional ingredients in the de facto main event. A White heel turn could not have been telegraphed any harder, to the point it feels like a red herring. We’ve also been hit over the head with the idea that Moxley is truly all alone. The heel all alone, but the face with someone in their corner for support? I wonder what could happen there.

Imagine a world where Cope is close to winning, White tries to cost him the match, Yuta stops him, but Moxley retains. This gives everyone something more interesting to do. White is properly aligned as a heel and can have a serious program with Cope. Yuta splinters The Death Riders while Strickland can be the one to take down Moxley at April’s Dynasty. I don’t know how likely this is, but I’d leave Revolution feeling better about where the top title is.

Prediction: Moxley retains