Chris Jericho formed the “Jericho Appreciation Society” on tonight’s AEW Dynamite, turning on Inner Circle stablemates Santana and Ortiz.
Jericho turned on Santana, Ortiz, and Eddie Kingston after he attacked them with a baseball bat, joining forces with 2point0 and Daniel Garcia who originally attacked Jericho and Kingston. After they powerbombed Kingston through a table, Jericho announced the formation of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
Tonight’s episode of Dynamite opened with Jericho asking Eddie Kingston to come out, seemingly remorseful for not shaking Kingston’s hand like he said he would after Kingston defeated him at Revolution. After the two exchanged words, they shook hands. 2point0 and Daniel Garcia then arrived, attacking Jericho and Kingston. Santana and Ortiz came for the save and set up one of 2point0 to be attacked with Jericho’s baseball bat. However, Jericho instead attacked Santana and Ortiz with the bat. When Jake Hager ran in, he sided with Jericho, attacking Santana, Ortiz, and Kingston.
Dissension had formed between Jericho and Inner Circle members Santana and Ortiz in recent weeks. It eventually led to a match, where Ortiz and Santana defeated Jericho and Hager in a tag team match on the February 16 edition of Dynamite.
It’s Monday and you know what that means: a six-match AEW Dark: Elevation taped last Wednesday at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Paul Wight and Mark Henry were on the call tonight.
Lance Archer defeated Cameron Stewart
As usually happens on Dark shows, Archer brought his opponent to the ring and then destroyed him. Archer hit several lariats and then the Blackout to win the match and improve his record to 48-10. After the match, Stewart ate another lariat. It’s safe to say that Stan Hansen would happy with what he saw here from Archer.
Ruby Soho defeated Session Moth Martina
This was the AEW debut of Martina. Soho worked her left arm and shoulder while Martina used her trademark bants to confuse Soho to no avail. Soho hit No Future for the win.
Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) defeated Ray Jaz
Garcia (19-15) won this short match with a scorpion deathlock.
Scorpio Sky (w/ Ethan Page & Dan Lambert) defeated Shawn Dean
Lambert interfered on Sky’s behalf during the match. Sky targeted Dean’s back with several backbreakers. Sky finished off “The Captain” with the TKO ahead of his challenge of TNT Champion Sammy Guevara Wednesday.
While Sky has been undefeated over the last year, this match was also marked the end of Dean’s 2022 win streak.
Kris Statlander defeated Emi Sakura
Sakura attacked Statlander before the bell rang and gained an early advantage, but Statlander used her strength to turn things around. Powerslams and back breakers were her allies in this match as were a sidekick and the Big Bang Theory that helped her pick up the linear victory after Sunday’s loss to Leyla Hirsch.
Wheeler Yuta defeated Aaron Solo
This was a clash between two wrestlers that use speed as their primary weapon. Solo was too distracted working the crowd which Yuta used to his advantage. During the match, QT Marshall came out to distract both the ref and Yuta, but Yuta outsmarted everyone and pretended that Marshall attacked him to get him kicked out of ringside. Yuta used a mouse trap to win and improve his overall record to 20-15.
Final Thoughts:
AEW initially uploaded the wrong episode of Elevation for 26 minutes showing last week’s instead which was kind of funny. Must have been a long night after Sunday’s Revolution show.
The show was fast and to the point. The matches were fine but a special shoutout must go for the main event that was both a fun match and longer than most matches on this episode.
It’s Tuesday and you know what that means: an eleven-match AEW Dark taped in The All Elite Zone at Universal Studios. As usual, Taz and Excalibur were on the call.
Lee Johnson defeated Darian Bengston
Bengston and Johnson were pretty much equal in terms of speed and things were pretty much a tie between both wrestlers. Bengston tried to go for a moonsault but failed to hit his target. Johnson then connected with theFisherman’s Buster for the win. Johnson was able to pick up his first win of 2022 in AEW and his record is now 1-1.
Sonny Kiss defeated Ashton Starr
Sonny started the match with a very impressive hurracarrana and Starr, not wanting to be outclassed, pulled off a great tilt a whirl backbreaker. Sonny Kiss with a Gamengiri was able to pick the win. His record is 2-1 in 2022 following this match.
The Acclaimed defeated B. Jack & Donovan Izzolena
This match was the AEW debut of Jack and Izzolena. Squash match, Max Caster with a Mic Drop to Izzolena and Bowens covered to improve their overall tag team record to 34-8.
Marina Shafir defeated Danielle Kamela
This match was the AEW debut of Kamela. Kamela worked Shafir’s left arm and shoulder for a good portion of the match. Shafir followed it up with a brutal bow and arrow to Kamela’s lower back. Shafir with a modified gogoplata won this match by submission and improved her 2022 record to 3-0, remaining undefeated.
Dante Martin defeated Jack Evans (w/ Jora Johl & Angelico)
This match had a very hot start. Martin tried to go for his usual high-flying stuff, but Evan’s experience helped him anticipate and counter any move from Martin. Evans used some llaveo (grappling) on this match to try to ground Martin, all while Johl and Angelico helped him from ringside. Evans worked most of the match on Martin’s chest with kicks and chops. Evans during the match pulled off a Suicidal Rider kick, a staple from The Great Sasuke. Dante Martin connected with an outside tornillo and the nosedive, and he was able to win this match and improve his overall record to 42-20.
Abadon defeated Sahara Seven
Sahara Seven dropped the biggest scream someone has never done during a match with Abadon, and it was pretty funny. This was basically a squash match. Abadon was able to win this match with a leg hook stomp and Abadon’s record is now 28-3.
Diamante defeated Vipress
Short match, Diamante with Code Red won this match, and her overall record is 35-19.
Kiera Hogan defeated Kelsey Raegan
This was the AEW debut of Kelsey Raegan. Hogan with several dropkicks during the match was able to keep Raegan at bay. A superkick by Hogan was able to end the match and improve her record to 5-1.
Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) defeated Josh Woods
Two technical wrestlers going at it. Woods worked Garcia’s left arm, all while using his size to take control of the match. Garica slowly took Woods down and took control of the match with his grappling. Garcia got a near fall with a stacked Saito suplex. Garcia tried to go for a Scorpion Deathlock, but Woods was able to counter into a small package. Garcia with a Gotch-style piledriver was able to win the match and his record is now 18-15.
Shawn Dean defeated Will Austin
Dean before this match talked about the upcoming Who We Are album and his track. Dean tried to go for a suicide dive but Austin connected with a kick and was able to stop Dean. However, Dean came back with a combination of a frog splash and The Deal was able to score the win. His record is now 3-0 in 2022.
Orange Cassidy & Wheeler Yuta defeated Aaron Solo & Nick Comoroto (w/ QT Marshall)
Wheeler Yuta made the mistake of trying to overpower Nick Comoroto and paid big time for that mistake. Comoroto took Cassidy’s sunglasses off him with a kick, Cassidy was able to get them back and put them back on. Marshall intervened in favor of Solo and Comoroto during this match and was later sent to the back by referee Bryce Remsburg. This match had all the comedy bits we are used to in Orange Cassidy’s matches. An Orange Punch and a German Suplex from Yuta on Solo was all Cassidy and Yuta needed to win.
Final Thoughts:
Taz and Excalibur were fun to listen to as usual, especially anything regarding Taz and his hatred of Bryce Remsburg. The Wingmen had a fun backstage promo segment talking about fashion and spring. Dante Martin vs. Jack Evans the highlight of the show, but I would also recommend watching Garcia vs. Woods and the main event.
Two new matches have been added to tonight’s AEW Dynamite card.
Bryan Danielson will face Daniel Garcia in a bout announced this evening on social media.
Garcia is the 2022 PWG Battle of Los Angeles winner, the most prestigious tournament in indie wrestling.
Also added to the card, Ricky Starks will face Preston “10” Vance in a Face of the Revolution qualifying match. The winner will advance to the ladder match at the Revolution pay-per-view.
The lineup for tonight’s Dynamite:
Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia
Malakai Black & Brody King vs. PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo
TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. The Bunny
Chris Jericho & Eddie Kingston face-to-face
Tag team battle royale for a spot in the AEW Tag Team title match at Revolution: The Young Bucks vs. 2point0 vs. Santana & Ortiz vs. Best Friends vs. Gunn Club vs. FTR vs. Private Party vs. John Silver & Alex Reynolds vs. The Butcher & The Blade vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
Face of the Revolution qualifying match: Ricky Starks vs. 10
Four new matches have been announced for the NJPW Strong: Rivals taping in February.
AEW’s Daniel Garcia will be in action on the show, facing Yuya Uemura. Garcia is the second AEW talent set for the show, as Christopher Daniels vs. Gabriel Kidd was announced for the show last week.
Rocky Romero will take on Black Tiger at Rivals. Black Tiger began targeting Romero at the New Japan Showdown taping in Philadelphia last October.
Also announced, Kevin Blackwood will make his NJPW debut, facing Ariya Daivari. Blackwood will be a participant in this weekend’s PWG Battle of Los Angeles tournament.
Bullet Club’s Hikuleo will also take on Kevin Knight at Rivals.
Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes in the interim TNT Championship match at tonight’s AEW Battle of the Belts show in Charlotte to win the title.
Guevara pinned Rhodes with a cradle after escaping a Tiger Driver attempt to lay claim to the interim title. The interim TNT Championship was established after Cody Rhodes was not medically cleared to wrestle on tonight’s show.
A new challenger for the interim TNT title was quickly established on tonight’s show. After Guevara’s win, Daniel Garcia came to the ring and confronted him. The two went face-to-face, then Guevara issued a challenge to Garcia in a post-match interview backstage. It was announced later in the show that the match is official for this coming Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
Guevara is a former TNT Champion, having held the title from September to December 2021. He dropped the belt to Cody on the Christmas night Rampage, taped December 22.
AEW has announced the first match for the Friday, January 7 edition of Rampage.
In a rematch from this past week’s Dynamite, Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz will face Daniel Garcia and 2point0’s Matt Lee and Jeff Parker. This time, the bout will have a no DQ, no holds barred stipulation.
Garcia and 2point0 defeated Kingston, Santana and Ortiz on the Dynamite New Year’s Smash episode after Lee pinned Santana with a roll-up. The match further served as a backdrop to the beginnings of a Kingston-Chris Jericho feud, as Jericho made the save for Kingston, Santana and Ortiz after the match, clearing the ring with a baseball bat.
The January 7 Rampage will be preceded by Dynamite’s TBS debut on Wednesday, January 5, and followed by a Battle of the Belts special on TNT on Saturday, January 8. The AEW World title will be on the line on Dynamite, as Hangman Page defends against Bryan Danielson. Dr. Britt Baker will defend the AEW Women’s World title against Riho at Battle of the Belts.
AEW taped matches for this Friday’s Rampage following tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Garland, Texas:
Trent, Chuck Taylor, Orange Cassidy, and Rocky Romero defeated The Young Bucks, Bobby Fish, and Adam Cole in an eight-man tag team match. Trent pinned Fish to win the match.
Dan Lambert returned to AEW and cut a promo. He was interrupted by Cody Rhodes. This eventually led to Men of the Year (Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page) jumping Cody. Dustin Rhodes came out to even things, but was also attacked until Sammy Guevara made the save.
Tay Conti defeated Penelope Ford in a submission match.
Daniel Garcia, The Acclaimed, and 2point0 defeated Eddie Kingston, Santana, Ortiz, and The Lucha Bros. in a ten-man tag match.
AEW next week will be holding AEW Dynamite and taping Rampage at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. Matches already announced for Dynamite include MJF & FTR vs. Darby Allin, Sting, and CM Punk in a six-man tag match and Malakai Black vs. Griff Garrison.
The sixth entrant for this year’s PWG Battle of Los Angeles is now set.
PWG announced this evening that Daniel Garcia will be a participant in next month’s tournament, marking his first-ever entry. Others announced so far include Lio Rush, Alex Shelly, JONAH, Kevin Blackwood, and Black Taurus.
Garcia signed with All Elite Wrestling in October after regularly appearing for the company for most of the year. He has aligned himself with 2point0, and together hey are currently feuding with Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston. On AEW, he has faced the likes of CM Punk, Jon Moxley, and Darby Allin. He has also made appearances on New Japan Strong, Limitless Wrestling, and Game Changer Wrestling in the last year.
This year’s Battle of Los Angeles will take place on Saturday, January 29, and Sunday, January 20 at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California. It will be the sixteenth edition of the tournament and the first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing tournaments in 2020 and 2021.
The Black Friday edition of AEW Rampage will feature three matches, one of which has a future title shot on the line.
Eddie Kingston will face Daniel Garcia in a battle of New York State natives. This came together when Kingston was doing a backstage promo and Garcia and 2point0 interrupted to run Kingston down. It continued last Wednesday as Garcia and 2point0 again harassed Kingston with Garcia throwing hot coffee in Kingston’s face during a pull-apart brawl.
AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker will face former champion Riho in a Black Friday Deal match where Riho can earn a future title shot with a win. This came together because it was revealed Wednesday that Riho wasn’t eliminated in the recent Casino Women’s Battle Royal and thus deserved the opportunity.
The show’s third match will see Adam Cole and Bobby Fish team up once again as they take on Orange Cassidy and Wheeler Yuta of Best Friends.
This week’s matches were taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Chicago, Illinois.
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Happy Black Friday Rampage!
Your hosts are Excalibur, Taz, Ricky Starks and Chris Jericho.
Adam Cole & Bobby Fish defeated Orange Cassidy & Wheeler Yuta (12:52)
Chuck Taylor and Kris Statlander walked out with Cassidy and Yuta, but returned to the back.
Cole stopped Cassidy from putting his hands in his pockets so he could do his “Adam Cole bay-bay!” taunt with the crowd. The story of the opening moments continued to be Cassidy teasing getting his hands in his pockets, and Cole preventing him. Yuta was also far more energetic than Cassidy. Yuta got caught on the middle rope and Cole pulled him to the mat. This gave Cole and Fish the advantage. Fish hit a neckbreaker and the show went to a picture-in-picture break.
Back from break, Yuta dumped Cole to the floor and hit Fish with an enziguri. Yuta almost got the tag to Cassidy, but Cole pulled Cassidy to the floor. Yuta caught both his opponents with elbows and a middle rope dropkick, then tagged in Cassidy, who got his hands in his pockets! Cassidy hit both his opponents with a dropkick, then sent both Cole and Fish down to the floor with one rana. Cassidy came though the ropes with a tope suicida and Yuta came off the top with a crossbody to the floor.
Back in the ring, Yuta hit a frog splash on Cole for a near fall. Cassidy hit a slumdog millionaire, Yuta followed up with a German suplex and Cassidy finished the sequence with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Fish came back with an exploder. Cole followed in with a knee strike and Fish locked in a kneebar on Cassidy. Yuta broke that up and Cassidy hit Beach Break on Cole. Fish came back with an exploder on Cassidy, but Yuta got the tag.
Yuta hit an Angle slam on Fish for a near fall. Yuta went to the top, but Cole crotched him. Cole whipped Cassidy into the ring steps, and Fish hit a top rope falcon arrow on Yuta to get the pinfall.
– Tony Schiavone interviewed Tony Nese (too many Tonys around here! Call one of them Budge.). Nese challenged Sammy Guevara for the TNT title. Guevara showed up to accept the challenge. After a brief confrontation, Nese punched Guevara’s bad ribs, sending him to the ground.
– In a backstage segment, FTR challenged Lucha Bros to a 2 out of 3 falls match.
Riho defeated Dr. Britt Baker, DMD (w/ Rebel & Jamie Hayter) in a Black Friday Deal Match (7:26 aired)
By virtue of winning this non-title match, Riho will get a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Hayter accompanied Baker, but did not look happy to be there, still angry about losing on Dynamite. Baker went for the Lockjaw early on, but she escaped to the ropes, where Baker stomped her. While Baker distracted the ref, Hayer and Rebel choked Riho against the ropes. Riho came back with a pair of dropkicks that sent Baker to the floor, and Riho hit a top rope crossbody on Baker and Rebel on the floor.
Back in the ring, Baker caught Riho charging and sent her headfirst into the middle turnbuckle, and the show went to break.
Baker hit a slingblade for a near fall. On commentary, Excalibur made a point to say Britt has never beaten Riho. Riho hit a head scissors and a charging knee into the corner. Baker responded with a suplex into the corner and went for the Air Raid Crash, but Riho slipped out and planted Baker with a dragon suplex for a near fall. Baker hit the Air Raid Crash on the second try for a near fall. Riho came back with a northern lights suplex for a near fall, and followed up with a double foot stomp from the top for another near fall. Baker went for a fisherman’s neckbreaker, but Riho slipped out of it and cradled Baker for the pinfall.
Next Wednesday on Dynamite:
Cody Rhodes vs. Andrade El Idolo in an Atlanta Street fight.
TBS Title Quarterfinal: Ruby Soho v. Kris Statlander
Bryan Danielson vs. Alan Angels
Billy & Colton Gunn vs. Sting & Darby Allin
Next Friday for Rampage:
TNT Title: Sammy Guevara v. Tony Nese
AEW World Tag Titles, 2 out of 3 falls: The Lucha Bros vs. FTR
That is a loaded up Rampage for next week.
Mark Henry moderates the face-to-face segment. The 2point0 guys ran their mouths. Kingston said talk is cheap. “It’s time for the main event!”
Eddie Kingston defeated Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) (14:58)
This match told a very good story of Garcia trying to outwork Kingston on the mat, but Kingston coming back with strikes or powerful throws to counter Garcia’s wrestling.
Lots of good matwork from both guys to start. Garcia tried to turn the match into a slugfest and that went very badly for him. The 2point0 guys pulled Garcia to the floor, and Kingston took them both out. When Kingston went back in the ring, Garcia caught him with a kick and took control. Garcia tried to whip Kingston out of the corner, but Kingston overpowered him with chops, then poked him in the eye.
Kingston hit a knee off the middle rope, then started selling his knee. Garcia came back with a doublechop to the throat and started to go after Kingston’s leg. Kingston came back by biting Garcia and throwing him down face first out of a suplex. The show went to a picture-in-picture break.
Back from the break, Garcia stomped away at Kingston while controlling his arm. Garcia tried to whip Kingston into the turnbuckle, but Kingston’s knee gave out. Garcia then walked into an exploder suplex. Garcia went for a kneebar, but Kington made the ropes. Garcia kept work in the leg and got a jackknife cover, but Kingston rolled out of it and powerbombed Garcia.
Kingston went for a half and half suplex, but Garcia countered into another heel hook. Garcia battered Kingston away with hammer punches. Kingston caught Garcia with a half and half suplex. Garcia kept instinctively going to the ropes whenever he was in trouble. Both guys exchanged crazy strikes back and forth, and Kingston hit an enziguri. Garcia came back with a lariat and both guys were down.
Garcia dropped a knee on Kingston, and Kingston came back with a slap. Garcia went for a piledriver, Kingston hit a Saito suplex. He went for the spinning backfist, Garcia ducked but Kingston hit it on the second try. Kingston got the pinfall.
Very good match.
2point0 jumped Kingston after the match. Chris Jericho left the commentary desk and made the save. Jericho had already been annoyed with 2point0 on commentary so that made sense. Kingston didn’t exactly look thrilled with Jericho. Then again, Kingston rarely looks thrilled with anybody.
Final Thoughts:
Nothing wrong with this week’s show, although Rampage definitely felt like a “b-show” this week. But with the announced lineup so far, it will be hard to say that about next week’s show.
AEW has made the first match announcement for the November 26 episode of Rampage. Eddie Kingston will take on Daniel Garcia on the show.
Kingston was last in action at the November 13 Full Gear pay-per-view event, where he lost to CM Punk.
Garcia’s last AEW match took place at the October 24 Dark tapings at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, where he defeated Rickey Shane Page. That episode aired on November 2. Garcia has been signed to a full-time deal with AEW, with the official announcement coming from the company on October 19.
AEW Rampage Black Friday will be taped Wednesday, November 24 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. More matches for the show will be announced on this Wednesday’s Dynamite Thanksgiving, also taking place at the Wintrust Arena. Dynamite Thanksgiving will be airing live.
AEW Rampage Black Friday, airing Friday, November 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern time —
AEW head Tony Khan announced the news on Twitter Tuesday following a report by Fightful that, along with Lee Moriarty, the indie standout had already signed a deal at some point.
On Twitter, Khan said that Garcia [sic] “came into AEW with a great reputation built through his hard work on the indies, & he’s continued to work hard here in AEW + he’s shown no fear, never backing down from anyone, even the best in the world. Thank you & welcome to the team Daniel Garcia!”
Garcia tweeted, “I told myself that I didn’t want to sign somewhere just to say I got a contract. I wanted to go somewhere that would help me become the best wrestler in the world. I know AEW is where I can become that. I plan on being a major player in this company for a very long time.”
Garcia has been one of the indies’ busiest talents this year, working all over the country against top talents like Minoru Suzuki, Christopher Daniels, Davey Richards, Alex Shelley, Jay White, Josh Alexander, Tom Lawlor, JD Drake, Moriarty and others.
The 23-year-old debuted on a September 2020 edition of AEW Dark, teaming with Buffalo, NY, teammate Kevin Blackwood in a losing effort to Joey Janela and Sonny Kiss. That was followed by another tag team loss to fellow Buffalo brethren The Butcher & The Blade.
Garcia returned in May 2021 with occasional appearances on Dark and Dark: Elevation before making his Dynamite debut in August 2021, teaming with 2point0 in a losing effort to Jon Moxley, Darby Allin and Eddie Kingston.
As his AEW career has evolved, he has remained aligned with 2point0 and has seen singles action against CM Punk, Moxley and Allin.
Fightful also added that the deal Moriarty was offered in Cincinnati, Ohio, was a full-time deal and he was given the option to sign the deal at that point. No reason was given why there was a six-week delay in the formal #AllElite announcement.
It’s assumed both will given the opportunity to fulfill any remaining independent dates.
CM Punk returns to AEW Rampage Friday night for a one-on-one battle with Daniel Garcia.
The match was made Wednesday during a promo where Punk challenged Garcia. They have had run-ins in the past as part of the Darby Allin/Sting/2point0 storyline.
That is just one of four matches on this week’s show as the Lucha Bros put the Tag Team titles on the line against The Acclaimed. Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix will be looking for the second defense of the gold they won at All Out from The Young Bucks while Max Caster and Anthony Bowens will look to extend their long winning streak.
A Philadelphia street fight will also be part of the show as FTW Champion Ricky Starks will defend against Brian Cage. This was also set up Wednesday as Cage laid Starks out after the champion did a in-ring promo claiming the former champion wasn’t there.
Jade Cargill will look to keep her undefeated streak alive as she takes on Skye Blue. Both women are looking ahead to the TBS Title tournament that starts in 2022.
Friday’s show was taped after Dynamite in Philadelphia.
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Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Taz are on commentary.
We lead off with 2point0 & Daniel Garcia and CM Punk in the “face to face” promo, moderated by Mark Henry. Punk called 2point0 “the Nasty Boys little brothers.”
CM Punk defeated Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) (14:05)
A recap of Garcia and 2point0 beating down Punk in Chicago was shown before the match. Punk was wearing long tights which is not the look I’m used to for him.
Crowd was massively behind Punk tonight. Punk with some nice mat work early. Punk got a heel hook off a single leg takedown, and Garcia had to force the break by grabbing the ropes. Garcia hit a hard chop on Punk in the corner, so Punk slapped Garcia and slammed him hard to the mat. Twice. Garcia slid out of a third slam attempt and hit Punk with an elbow to the back. Punk went for the GTS, but Garcia escaped with some help from 2point0. The 2point0 guys worked over Punk’s legs behind the ref’s back as the show went to a 90 second picture-in-picture ad break.
Back from the break, Garcia continued to work over Punk’s legs. The crowd got behind CM Punk as he started to make a comeback, but when Punk went for a kick Garcia cut off his comeback with another attack to his right leg. Punk went for a vertical suplex, but Garcia slid out of the move and clipped Punk in the back of the knee. Garcia went for a charging dropkick in the corner, but Punk dropped out of the way. Garcia went to attack the leg again, but Punk caught him with a knee strike. Punk hit a bionic elbow like another dude from Chicago sometimes does and made his comeback. Punk hit a stiff kick for a near fall.
Punk made his comeback in earnest, nailing Garcia with a leg lariat and a neckbreaker for another near fall. Punk went for a short arm clothesline, but Garcia countered into an Angle slam for two. Garcia went for the scorpion deathlock, but Punk battled out with fists and a short arm clothesline. Pepsi twist got a near fall for Punk. Punk went for the GTS, but Garcia rolled through and got Punk in the scorpion deathlock. Punk almost made the ropes, and was able to escape the hold when Garcia tried to pull him into the center of the ring. Punk then sent a charging Garcia into the members of 2point0 when they got up on the apron. Punk then came off the top with a crossbody to the floor on all three guys.
Back in the ring, Punk nailed a springboard clothesline, then a picture perfect piledriver. Punk slapped on the Anaconda vice, and Garcia tapped out. Another great match for Punk on Rampage.
– Tony Schiovone interviewed Lio Rush, Dante Martin and Matt Sydal. Sydal thought Lio Rush was all talk and filling Martin’s head with false promises. Rush suggested he could show he was more than talk by getting a match for Sydal against CM Punk for Rampage next week. Sydal loved that idea, and on commentary Excalibur confirmed the match was made for Rampage next week.
AEW World Tag Team Champions The Lucha Bros (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated The Acclaimed (5:16)
Caster mentioned Ben Simmons, Rocky Balboa, and Arn Anderson in his pre-match rap. They also praised Gritty (the Flyers mascot). The Lucha Bros brought both the AEW and AAA tag team title belts with them.
The Acclaimed jumps the Lucha Bros before they can even get in the ring, and Caster sent Fenix into the ringpost headfirst before the bell. The action got in the ring and the Lucha Bros took control with a series of superkicks and a double team splash.
Bowens caught Fenix with a shot from the boombox when he went for a tope through the ropes, and the Acclaimed took control in the ring against Penta. The Acclaimed used a double team legsweep on Penta and got a near fall. Penta got a cazadora on Bowens and flew into a DDT on Caster, then got the tag to Fenix. Fenix punished Bowens with a series of kicks. Caster ran in and got a hook kick, and Fenix hit a stunner on Bowens for two. Caster came back with a superkick on Fenix that he sold by flipping onto his head. Soon everybody hit everybody with superkicks and both teams were selling on the mat.
Match settled to Fenix and Bowens in the ring, and Bowens hit the uragane/side slam on Fenix to set up the mic drop from Caster. Penta pushed Caster off the top, and then hit the double foot stomp on Bowens tailbone. Penta and Fenix combined for the double team piledriver on Bowens to get the win. Fun, fast paced match.
– Recap of the Casino ladder match from Wednesday. “Hangman” Adam Page is back! And he won! Highlights of the match and Page’s return are shown.
Jade Cargill (w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling) defeated Sky Blue (1:02)
A pre-match video package of comments from potential TBS title tournament participants aired before this match, including comments from both Blue and Cargill (as well as others). Cargill does not think Sky Blue deserves to be in the TBS title tournament and was out to prove it with this match.
Cargill hit a fallaway slam, pump kick, and glam slam to finish off Blue in short order. Cargill tried to beatdown Blue after the match, but Thunder Rosa ran in with a steel chair to send Cargill packing.
Upcoming Show Rundown.
For Rampage next week (which is live from Miami) : Sydal vs. Punk, Bunny vs. Ruby Soho, and the Jericho/Hager/Guevara vs. Men of the Year & Junior Dos Santos six man match. For Dynamite (live on Saturday 10/16) : Bobby Fish vs. Bryan Danielson, the Lucha Bros defend the AAA tag titles against “A Masked Tag Team known only to be close friends of Andrade El Idolo” (a descirption that will have the interenet wildly speculating all week), and Malakai Black vs Dante Martin. Also, the World Title Eliminator tournament is back, and the brackets for the will be revealed on Dynamite. The finals of the tournament will take place at Full Gear.
Another face-to-face interview moderated by Mark Henry, this time between Ricky Starks and Brian Cage. “It’s time for the main event!
FTW Champion Ricky Starks defeated Brian Cage in a Philly Street Fight (10:40)
Starks introduced a steel chair in the match from the onset, but Cage got it and used it to beat Starks. The fight went to the floor, and Cage dropped Starks on the ring apron with a back suplex. Back in the ring, Cage threw a bunch of plunder into the ring. Starks got ahold of a pool cue and used it on Starks, then hit a tornado DDT for a near fall as the show went to a picture-in-picture break.
Back from break, Cage pump handled suplexed Starks onto a trashcan for a near fall. Hook ran in with the FTW Belt and tried to take Cage out but Cage caught him with a clothesline. Hobbs ran in and got taken out as well. Starks hit Cage with the title belt and a spear for a near fall. Starks went for a second spear, but Cage ducked and Starks ran headfirst into a chair that had been wedged between the turnbuckles. Cage hit a discus lariat for another nearfall, but Hobbs broke up the pin attempt. Cage hit Hobbs with a gamengiri, then Cage went to superplex Hobbs. Hook ran back in and nailed Cage with a low blow. A bloodied Starks then hit the Roshambeaux on Cage and got the pin.
Taz left the commentary table to celebrate with Team Taz to close the show.
Final Thoughts:
I would have taken the Jade Cargill squash off here to give more time to the Lucha Bros match, but otherwise another fun show that flew by. CM Punk on the show again next week? Yeah I’ll take that. All his matches have been great thus far.
There hasn’t been a Rampage yet that has failed to deliver, and this show was no exception.
Four matches have been announced for this Friday’s Rampage.
CM Punk will face Daniel Garcia in a singles match. This followed a promo that took place on Dynamite tonight where Punk challenged Garcia. The two have had altercations in the past, specifically prior to All Out.
Ricky Starks will meet Brian Cage in a Philadelphia street fight for the FTW title. Starks also did an in-ring promo saying that Cage wasn’t there, and that he was going to challenge Cage to the match. This brought out Cage, who laid out the person who beat him for the title.
The Lucha Brothers will defend the AEW World Tag Team titles against The Acclaimed, who appeared on tonight’s show. Max Caster cut a rap on the Lucha Bros. saying they’ll be the next champions.
Jade Cargill will face Skye Blue in a singles match. Both appeared in promos earlier in the show talking about the upcoming TBS title tournament. The title, which will be contested in the AEW’s women’s division, was introduced on tonight’s show.
Alexander hit a single leg and locked in a new crank early, Garcia countered quickly, but Alexander seem to have a counter for each of Garcia’s counters. Great technical grappling on showcase here from both.
Alexander used a an impressive stalling vertical suplex. Things got chippy between the two midway through this and the two exchanged hard slaps in the face between moves. This added a realistic flavor to it, like a flashier Young Lions-type match.
RC was able to slap on a guillotine choke and pulled Alexander into his full guard. Alexander stood up and tried to suplex Garcia off of him, but Garcia transitioned to the back and locked in a rear naked choke variation while hanging on Alexander’s back. Garcia is much smaller than Alexander so the visual is that much more striking. Garcia tried a figure four, but Alexander broke the hold. He then powered up and dropped Alexander with a backdrop Suplex.
When Garcia ran at him with a kick, Alexander caught him in a cradle, lifted him up and slammed him across his knee, a cool cradle backbreaker variation. He then stacked Garcia and deadlifted him to a power bomb before sticking him with a Jay Driller for the win.
TJP defeated Rey Horus
These two opened with a number of crafty and really smooth counter exchanges. Horus used a twisting cazadora thing, and then went for a dive. TJP halted that and set him up for a springboard basement dropkick on the apron.
TJP slowed things down midway through this, using a mix of submissions and holds. Horus was finally able to land his dive to the floor, somersaulting over the corner post onto TJP.
TJP would counter and land a few more hard face kicks before finally connecting with the running kick.
He would later land a Detonation kick and frog splash to put Horus away in just over ten minutes.
Afterwards, TJP said “In wrestling, there’s a saying that a good wrestler never has a bad match two times in a row, and great wrestlers never have bad matches.” That’s why he has great matches, and that’s why he had to beat Horus, since he lost last time.
Hikuleo defeated Matt Morris
They locked up after the bell, and Hikuleo forced Morris into the corner. Before he broke the hold, Hikuleo patted Morris on the head in a patronizing way.
He tried stomping Morris’ arm on the mat moments later, but Morris escaped as Hikuleo’s boot hit the mat. The youngest of Haku’s sons flashed Morris the two-fingers “this close” gesture.
Later, Morris missed a pescado to the floor. Hikuleo actually caught him in mid-air, then slammed him spine-first into the corner post. Hikuleo’s been booked like a monster this summer.
On commentary, Kevin Kelly told an interesting story about Hikuleo when he was training in the dojo early on and broke his hand three weeks earlier, but didn’t tell anybody. He just toughed it out.
Both Morris’ and Hikuleo’s chests began turning red as this went on. They laid in the chops in this one. Hikuleo controlled much of this match, but towards then end, Morris was able to low-bridge Hikuleo over the top rope and out onto the floor before taking him out with a running cannonball off the apron.
Back in the ring, Morris connected with a swanton off the top for a two-count. Hikuleo answered with a hard lariat for a two of his own. When he went for the Tongan Driller, Morris slipped out and locked in a sleeper. He must have watched the opener, because Danny Garcia used a similar escape in his match with Josh Alexander.
Finally, after a snap powerslam and the Tongan Driller, Hikuleo was able to put Morris away for the win.
**********
Despite the match being over, Hikuleo continued to torture Morris in the ring and began strangling him. He then pulled out a table from underneath the ring and attempted another Tongan Driller on Morris, this time through the table. Just as he lifted Morris into the fireman’s carry, Juice Robinson appeared for the save. Morris escaped to the floor.
Robinson tried putting Hikuleo through the table, but he slipped out of Robinson’s grasp before anything could happen. They jaw-jacked with each other as Hikuleo walked to the back.
The show wrapped with Robinson and Morris heading to the back to the tune of Robinson’s theme song.
Final thoughts:
BBQ Brawl turned out to be yet another good episode of NJPW Strong. It also felt like a fresher episode than in past weeks. We didn’t see any multi-man tag team matches, just singles bouts between with newer faces or less established guests.
Go out of your way to catch the opener between Josh Alexander and Danny Garcia if you get a chance, because that was excellent.
