Tag: darby allin

Cody Rhodes says Darby Allin can be ‘the face’ of AEW

Posted on by Ian Carey

Cody Rhodes had praise for Darby Allin during a recent interview.

Allin was recently interviewed by Superstar Crossover and was asked if he had any comments for Rhodes, who would be coming on the same show the following day. Allin said he wanted to thank Rhodes for getting him into AEW but also asked him if he thinks he can be “the face” of the company.

“First of all, I’d like to say thank you for getting me to AEW,” Allin said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Cody Rhodes, so, thank you to Cody Rhodes. Here’s a question, does he think I can actually be the face of AEW? Does he believe I can be the face of AEW? Because he got me here and he was here from day one when Mr. Darby was so insecure and didn’t know his true worth. Does he think I have what it takes to carry AEW into the future?”

Rhodes responded to Allin’s comments:

“The answer is a guaranteed yes. But don’t let Darby fool you. He was never insecure and he was never not confident. Darby is almost overconfident.”

“The experience that he’s had now with Sting, the experience he’s had seeing the different changes in the company—all of that – that is the experience that you need,” Rhodes continued.

He then added that while Darby could potentially become the face of AEW, others could fill that role as well.

“That spot is available to far more people than we think in every company,” Rhodes continued.

“It’s so much more fair than you think. If you look in the mirror and you say, ‘Hey, I want to be in John Cena’s spot.’ Look at John Cena’s schedule for the day. If you can do it, then perhaps you’re on the path to getting that spot. If you can do it every day, then perhaps you do get the spot. If you can do it every day plus one, then it’s yours. And I think it’s a far more fair business than people think.”

“So 100 percent (Darby can be the face of AEW) but there are other people that I would say that about as well. He certainly shouldn’t be remotely in doubt on whether he could do that or not, but also, like, the stupid climbing mountains and getting hit by buses… You can’t be the face of the company if you’re not relied upon, you know what I’m saying? You can’t wrestle anybody if you’re in a body cast, so that’s dumb. But I say that with love, of course.”

Rhodes’ full appearance on the show is available below.

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam live results: Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness

Posted on by Ryan Howard

AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness will renew their storied rivalry one more time at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam from Queens, New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Just shy of 15 years since their last meeting at ROH Glory by Honor on September 26, 2009, Danielson and McGuinness will once again lock horns during the final countdown of Danielson’s full-time career.

Darby Allin will put his guaranteed AEW World title shot on the line in a match against Jon Moxley.

AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks will defend their titles against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher while AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May puts her title on the line against Yuka Sakazaki.

FTW Champion Hook defends his title against Roderick Strong.

Prince Nana is also scheduled to provide an update on Swerve Strickland who has been out of action since losing an unsanctioned steel cage match to Hangman Page at this month’s All Out.

**********

AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam comes on the air with Oasis “F’n In The Bushes” hitting and out walks Nigel McGuinness for potentially the opening contest, as commentary still questions Bryan Danielson appearing. Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone & Jim Ross are on the call, as Ross said he searched catering three times for Danielson.

The standard theme music for Danielson played and he didn’t show up the first go around, so McGuinness took the mic and said The American Coward dropped the ball, demanded a ten count and Danielson stripped of the AEW World Title. The count was put on but at six The Final Countdown kicked in and out walked Danielson to a huge reaction.

AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness

(I thought this was an excellent back and forth opener with McGuinness looking great for being out of the ring for such a long time. The Casino Gauntlet is one thing, but to go about 20 minutes in a singles match with the World Champ is a different story. It was almost like he got the closure he wanted, even in defeat. It’ll be interesting if he continues to wrestle or if this was it. I certainly hope we see more of McGuinness in the ring, he’s been sorely missed, as has his entrance music.)

Almost 15 years ago to the day these two last battled in the ring at Glory By Honor VIII, as both men trade uppercuts early with McGuinness standing tall, yelling to Schiavone that it’s too easy. Danielson responded with a snap mare and punt to the back before a series of wrist lock counters, with Excalibur saying it’s a time machine to the 70s and catch as catch can. Overhand chops from McGuinness only woke Danielson up, putting a smile on McGuinness’ face. Uppercut exchange led to a kick to the thigh by Danielson, but McGuinness sold it low, but it was a ploy to gain the advantage. Both traded mounts and LeBell Lock attempts, with Danielson sinking it in, but the height of McGuinness got the ropes. McGuinness pulled Danielson to the outside and targeted the right arm, trying to drop the steps onto it, but Danielson escaped. They channel back to their ROH days and tease the spot pulling each other into the ring post, but thankfully we didn’t get either going head first into it.

Back inside, McGuinness applied the London Dungeon top wrist lock, as Danielson got the rope break and met McGuinness in the corner with a charging dropkick. Underhook suplex led to McGuinness cutting off Danielson in the ropes, tried a Tower of London, but Danielson escaped into the Busiaku Knee, landing on the bad arm. Yes Kicks fired off, as McGuinees answered with his handstand in the corner, but was chopped down, allowing Danielson to wrench the neck. McGuinness flipped back to his feet and fired off a combo for a near fall. McGuinness fought off a LeBell Lock by slamming the injured arm down, leading to the reset. Danielson tried an uppercut with the injured arm and collapsed, but did his moonsault out of the corner, only for McGuinness to hit his bounce back lariat, but Danielson kicked out at one to a huge pop.

Thumb to the eye led to the ripcord lariat for a McGuinness near fall before continuously going for London Dungeon once more. Anvil elbows by McGuinness, who hits the Tower of London for a close two. McGuinness almost applied a London Dungeon surfboard combo, but Danielson rolled through into anvil elbows. McGuinness hit a Busaiku Knee of his own, sending Danielson into a Nigel lariat attempt, but McGuinness was the one who hit the lariat for two. The way McGuinness fell allowed Danielson to work a LeBell Lock and despite fighting, McGuinness appeared to say thank you (it was bleeped, but it didn’t look like F you) before tapping out.

Christian Cage’s music hit after the bell and he slowly walked out with the Casino Gauntlet contract. Cage teased signing it, but Kip Sabian snuck up from behind and stole the pen from Cage’s hands. The chase was on until Cage ran into Claudio Castagnoli & PAC standing right behind the entrance tunnel. Cage scurried away after Sabian before things went to break.

**********

HOOK defeated Roderick Strong (w/The Kingdom) to retain the FTW Title

(Relatively quick defense for HOOK, but what we saw was good, as HOOK got the respect from Strong & The Kingdom post-match. The bigger story here was the retiring of the FTW Title, as it’s a smart move to allow HOOK to finally break off into something else. He’s done a great job with the title, but it’s time to compete for other gold.)

Excalibur tried to tell us back when Strong tapped to REDRUM a few weeks ago, the ref missed the foot on the rope due to being so in the zone, which is a new one for me. HOOK tried an arm triangle early, but Taven & Bennett pulled Strong to the outside. HOOK just broke through and took the fight to Strong, who answered by throwing HOOK into the barricade. Bennett handed Strong a kendo stick, but he missed a swing, HOOK got possession and took everyone out, including a Russian leg sweep with it into the barricade. Numbers finally became too much, as Strong launched HOOK into the ring post, taking things to commercial.

Strong controlled the whole break until HOOK fought back right as things returned with a series of takedowns. Taven threw in a chair, as Strong wedged it in the corner, as that allowed Strong to escape REDRUM and drive HOOK into it. Big charging slam got a near fall, as Strong followed placing two chairs together, but HOOK hit a Judo throw through them for two. Strong exploded up and hit a fireman’s carry gutbuster onto the chair and Sick Kick for a close two of his own. HOOK floated over End of Heartache into REDRUM and Strong ultimately tapped.

Post match, Strong offered a handshake and HOOK accepted, as The Kingdom gave a nod of respect before leaving. Tony Schiavone interviewed HOOK ringside and brought up this being the 11th title defense for HOOK and how the FTW Title was created a short drive from there by his father. HOOK thanked Schiavone, but all good things come to an end. HOOK thanked everyone who has competed for this title and the fans who supported the title. From this moment on, the FTW Title is officially retired, as HOOK presented it to Taz, hugging him to a huge pop.

**********

The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defeated AEW International Champion Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles

(Action packed match and exactly what you’d expect from everyone involved. The storyline was Callis was the reason Fletcher & Ospreay lost, despite Ospreay being the one who wouldn’t allow Fletcher to pull the trigger with the screwdriver. I liked this chapter of the Ospreay/Callis Family story, as they can go a variety of ways out of this result.)

Don Callis joined commentary and said tonight will be the biggest night of his career. Sneak attack early by The Bucks, who hit a pop-up hurricanrana on Ospreay before Fletcher ate a double flying back elbow into a pose for the crowd. Ospreay & Fletcher respond with double team of their own, as The Bucks landed awkwardly onto one another until Ospreay hit a moonsault off the back of Fletcher. The Bucks went to the floor, as Ospreay & Fletcher hit dueling moonsaults off the top as things went to break.

The Bucks regained control during commercial and when things returned, Fletcher fought free with a Flatliner/DDT combo to roll to the Ospreay hot tag. Pip, Pip, Cheerio on Matthew before taking both Bucks out with a handspring Pele Kick. Standing Sky Twister Press on Nicholas for two, as Ospreay signaled for Hidden Blade, but Nicholas dodged into a corkscrew kick. Sliced Bread into the running knee for a near fall, as Ospreay was draped over the top and The Bucks hit the Swanton bounce back powerbomb for two. Fletcher was dispatched to the floor, as Ospreay kipped out of an EVP Trigger into a double Oscutter. Referee Rick Knox took a delayed time to check who was the legal man before making the count for two. Coriolis reversed, but Fletcher turned The Bucks inside out with a double clothesline. Nicholas countered a Liger Bomb into a facebuster, as Ospreay flew in with a 450 Splash, Nicholas hit a Destroyer, but the impact popped up Ospreay to hit a flying Hidden Blade for the reset. Fletcher tripped to the floor by Matthew, as Nicholas hit the punt kick and Ospreay hit with a hurricanrana off the apron by Nicholas. Fletcher set up and hit with a spike Tombstone on the apron, as they wanted a countout win, but Fletcher broke the count at 9, rolling into a charging knee from Nicholas into another commercial.

The Bucks tried a TK Driver, but Ospreay & Fletcher both countered into a double Styles Clash for two. Ospreay connected with Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker, but Nicholas broke up the count. Ospreay signaled for the Tiger Driver, but Nicholas saved his brother with a superkick. Fletcher in with multiple Snap Dragons and charging corner strikes, but Matthew met him with a running bulldog. Ospreay cut off More Bang For Your Buck initially, as Nicholas looked to spring for at TK Driver, but Ospreay flew in with a Cutter in mid-air. TK Driver for two by Fletcher, as Coriolis connected to follow, but Matthew kicked out. Ospreay yelled as Fletcher to end it, as he hit the corner brainbuster, but Nicholas barely broke it up.

Nicholas sent outside with Ospreay, as Fletcher flew out with a dive. Rick Knox checked on Nicholas, as Callis handed the screwdriver to Fletcher, scurrying away. Callis took the ref, as Fletcher looked to use the weapon, but Ospreay cut him off. He showed Knox the weapon and told Callis to get away, resulting in Ospreay getting clobbered with the Tag Title belt. Fletcher tried a roll-up, but got shoved into a belt shot by Nicholas. BTE Trigger connected for the victory.

Post-match, commentary brought up that if Callis didn’t intervene, Ospreay & Fletcher could’ve won the match. Callis checked on Fletcher, as a dejected Ospreay looked on.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Conglomeration, who officially welcomed Rocky Romero to conglomerate with The Conglomeration. Romero accepts, as Mark Briscoe said he’s wearing a Dem Boys shirt to remember how the Briscoes wrestled their last match together not too far from Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Learning Tree will suffer a Dem Boys ass whoopin on Collision. Kyle O’Reilly asked for the word of the day and Briscoe said it’s vociferous.

-Tony Schiavone is on stage and welcomes Prince Nana, who said it’s good to be in New York, Swerve’s House. Nana said he’s known Schiavone a long time, mentally, there’s nothing that can stop the most dangerous man in AEW. Physically, Swerve Strickland is not cleared to comeback, but fighting every day to return.

MVP then walks out from the heel tunnel and apologizes for the intrusion. He introduced himself and said he agreed, Strickland is the most dangerous man in AEW. It’s MVP’s opinion that Strickland is the most phenomenal talent to set foot in an AEW ring, his title run will be studied by future generations. MVP put over Strickland’s accomplishments, but also said he saw him lose his title and his house burned down. MVP says he views Strickland allowing Bryan Danielson walking around smiling as a failure on Strickland’s management, who would rather shill his coffee. MVP handed Nana his business card to give to Strickland, saying he’ll be ready to talk “business”. The crowd popped big for that line, as Nana looked very conflicted.

**********

-The Scapegoat Bus drives the streets of New York, heading to Arthur Ashe Stadium this Saturday, as Jack Perry’s Open Challenge for the TNT Title is brought up.

Mariah May defeated Yuka Sakazaki to retain the AEW Women’s Title

(The crowd was quite quiet for this after the entrances and this had a series of sloppy moments that didn’t help things. May ultimately retained, but the crowd really never thought Sakazaki had a chance. Post match, Mina Shirakawa has returned, but it was for only about 30 seconds, so more on that to come.)

Sakazaki flew off the top with a dive during May’s entrance and followed up with a Tiger Feint Kick on the apron. The match officially begins in the ring, as both ladies slapped it out until a rolling elbow popped May, who dodged another Tiger Feint Kick, dragging Sakazaki to the floor. Shotgun dropkick sent Sakazaki flying, as back inside, May hit a spinning side slam for two. Another dropkick with Sakazaki trapped in the ropes, but Sakazaki counters the handstand head scissors into a choke in the ropes.

May brought Sakazaki in for May Day, but Sakazaki rolled through into a backslide for what looked like a three, as May didn’t get her shoulder up, but referee Aubrey didn’t make the count. Instead, we got a rolling pin attempt for a series of twos, as Sakazaki followed with a Merry Go Round, but May wiggled out into a headbutt and high stack German suplex for two. May didn’t get much of a spinning sit-out slam, as Sakazaki fired a thrust kick into a Northern Lights Bomb. Sakazaki wanted the Magical Girl Splash, but May got her knees up and followed with a charging knee into Storm Zero for the win.

Right as May was about to level Sakazaki with the title post-match, Willow Nightingale made the save. After a stare down with May, the music for Mina Shirakawa hit, distracting Nightingale enough for May to waffle her with the title. May ran into a confused Shirakawa’s arms and spun her around. Shirakawa was disappointed in May’s actions, as Sakazaki chased May off before staring down Shirakawa.

**********

Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) defeated Darby Allin to earn an AEW World Title Shot

(If you bet that Allin was going to take some gnarly bumps in this one, then you’d be correct, as Moxley beat the crap out of him for a long portion of this one. Allin had his moments, but Moxley wasn’t going to lose this one. They didn’t do an injury angle or anything to Allin, so I wonder what he’ll be doing come WrestleDream now that he’s lost his World Title match? The only confusing part of this whole thing was the post-match and Private Party & Komander attempting to make the save for Danielson, only to get beat up super quick, again. I have no idea why they’re getting a Trios Title match as a result, I would’ve given them at least a little bit of revenge following last week’s slaughter.)

Allin exploded out of the corner to start, but Moxley flattened him with a big boot and corner strikes. Moxley placed Allin’s mouth over the ring rope and kicked at it violently, busting open Allin’s mouth in the process. Moxley started zoning in on the left leg, as an Irish whip to the corner was so intense that Allin flew through the ropes to the floor. Moxley found himself trapped in the ring apron, allowing Allin to rake the back and piggy back Moxley, who shrugged Allin off. Allin exposed the top of the corner post and trapped Moxley’s arm in there, wrenching away, as Shafir got Moxley free. Allin hit a Coffin Drop to the floor before following with a low dive from the ring to the outside. Allin went to set up Moxley on a chair, but Shafir stood in his way and the delay allowed Moxley to hit a bodyslam on the apron. Moxley took the ref, as Shafir got in cheap shots before Moxley smushed Allin’s head between his boot and ring post with things going to commercial.

Back from break, Moxley continued the onslaught until Allin avoided Snake Eyes into a float over stunner. Moxley fell to the outside to the set-up chair, as Allin flew from the top with a missile dropkick, as back inside, the Code Red got a near fall. Allin exposed the corner buckle, but Moxley put on the brakes, hitting a John Woo dropkick. O’Connor Roll into a Coffin Splash from Allin, who applied a Fujiwara Armbar, but Moxley rolled out with Allin transitioning to a guillotine. Moxley placed Allin in the corner and paint-brushed the hell out of him to the outside. Shafir helped Moxley remove the mat around the ring, as Moxley screamed that Allin asked for this. Moxley wanted a Death Rider, but Allin floated over and Moxley ran into the steps. Allin tried another dive, but Moxley side-stepped and Allin went splat.

Flipping suplex onto the steps from Moxley, as Allin just barely beat the count. Allin tried throwing shots, but Moxley no sold, charged, only to run into the exposed buckle, letting Allin get a school-boy for two. Allin tried a Coffin Drop, but leapt into the waiting arms of Moxley, who sank in the Rear Naked Choke. Transition to the Bulldog Choke, as Allin visibly starts to fade, but almost a smile on the face had Allin get the ropes. Both fight to the corner, Allin wanted a superplex, but Shafir jumped on the apron for distraction. The delay was enough for Moxley to counter into an Avalanche Death Rider for the victory.

Post match, doctors ran to ringside to check on Allin as Bryan Danielson hit the ring with a tie and choked out Moxley. Shafir tried to stop him, as PAC & Claudio Castagnoli ran down and pulled him off. Private Party & Komander ran out to make the save, but were easily dispatched by the BCC. Danielson was about to hit a Busiaku Knee on Moxley, but Castagnoli & PAC pulled him to safety. The BCC bailed as Danielson took the mic and said if Moxley wanted war, then Danielson declares war. Danielson said come WrestleDream, he’s going to kick Moxley’s F’n head in. The Final Countdown played, as Danielson stared down a laughing Moxley in the crowd before thanking Private Party & Komander for trying to help him.

AEW Rampage: Grand Slam 9/27/24

  • Willow Nightingale vs. Taya Valkyrie

AEW Collision: Grand Slam 9/28/24

  • Jamie Hayter vs. Saraya in a Saraya’s Rules Match
  • Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe & Kyle O’Reilly in a Tornado Tag
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Sammy Guevara in a Continental Title Eliminator
  • Hangman Adam Page vs. Jeff Jarrett in a Lumberjack Strap Match
  • Jack Perry defends the TNT Title in an Open Challenge
  • Beast Mortos vs. Dralistico vs. Hologram
  • Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend the Trios Titles against Private Party & Komander

AEW Dynamite: 5 Year Anniversary 10/2/24

  • Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet for the AEW International Title
  • Dr. Britt Baker vs. Serena Deeb

AEW Collision live results: Bunkhouse Brawl for ROH Tag Team titles

Posted on by Suit Williams

A Bunkhouse Brawl for the Ring of Honor Tag Team titles headlines tonight’s live AEW Collision from Springfield, Massachussetts.

Sammy Guevara & Dustin Rhodes will defend the titles against former champions The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett). The former titleholders lost the gold back on the August 17th Collision in Arlington, Texas, while tonight marks the first defense for the champs.

The show will feature an all star ten-man tag team match with FTR, Hook and The Outrunners uniting to take on the Grizzled Young Veterans, Roderick Strong, The Beast Mortos, and Rush. The Outrunners made the save for FTR last Saturday after they were attacked by GYV after their match.

Darby Allin, who is set to face Jon Moxley at Wednesday’s Grand Slam, will take on Evil Uno while AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May, who will defend against Yuka Sakazaki Wednesday, will square off with Lady Frost in non-title action.

**********

Collision kicked off with plunder all around the ring for the opening match. Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.

Bunkhouse Brawl for ROH World Tag Team Titles – Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara (c) defeated The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)

A fun, fast-paced plunder brawl to kick off the show. The Rhodes and Guevara team is working wonders, as Guevara gets to benefit from Rhodes and his eternal goodwill with the fans. I’d expect these two to continue to get shine on the road to All In: Texas next year.

The champions came out first in jeans and jumped the challengers on the ramp to kick off the title defense. Rhodes used his father’s belt buckle to carve up Bennett while Guevara hit a moonsault off the barricade to Taven. Bennett sent Rhodes into a chair in the corner to take him out for a moment. Guevara had a chair flung in his face to cut off a dive before the Kingdom hit a suicide doomsday device from the ring to the floor.

Rhodes menaced both of the Kingdom with a tazer, but they cut him off with a double superkick. Rhodes fought Bennett away and took Taven off the stage with a bulldog through barbed wire tables. Bennett sent Rhodes into the ring, but Guevara pulled him off the apron with a cutter through another table as we went to a commercial.

After the commercial break, Guevara climbed a ladder before a now-bloodied Taven shoved him off the ladder through two tables. A bloody Rhodes fought both men off with double crotch grabs, then got his hands on a cowbell and ran wild with it. Rhodes sent Taven into a chair with a powerslam, then suplexed him through the chair for a nearfall. Bennett sent Rhodes through two chairs with a Death Valley Driver, then held a chair in place for a Just The Tip with the chair.

Guevara cut off the pin and hit Taven with the Go To Hell. Guevara set Bennett up in the corner for Shattered Dreams, which Rhodes hit with a barbed wire cowboy boot. Rhodes hit the Final Reckoning, then held Bennett in place for a Guevara senton off of a ladder for the win.

Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, & Hologram were backstage with Lexy Nair when The Premier Athletes immediately cut them off. Mark Sterling noted that his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts named today AEW Day, and that he was going to make sure there were no Conglomeration shenanigans tonight. Mark Briscoe took offense, calling Sterling a “shenanigator” and bringing in Rocky Romero as an equalizer for their team.

We got a short video hyping Britt Baker’s return to the ring at the Dynamite 5 Year Anniversary show on October 2.

Tony Schiavone announced that after the events of last week, Queen Aminata demanded a match with Serena Deeb and will get it tonight.

Evil Uno was backstage with Lexy Nair ahead of his match with Darby Allin. He was upset that people were overlooking him when Allin entered the frame. Allin warned Uno that Jon Moxley was starting a war and that he looked down on everyone else in AEW. Allin challenged Uno not to wrestle him tonight, but to fight him tonight and prove Moxley wrong.

Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, & Hologram (w/ Rocky Romero) defeated The Premier Athletes (Ari Daivari, Josh Woods, & Tony Nese) (w/ Mark Sterling)

Hologram took the first advantage of the match, evading Nese in the corner before hitting a ropewalk dropkick. The Athletes caught O’Reilly in the corner and laid the boots to him as we went to a commercial. I normally fast-forward the commercials, but there was one for the season premiere of 911, in which a truck crashed and sent 22 MILLION KILLER BEES into the streets. And they called a bunch of firefighters to…wrangle them up, I guess? I just about died. Why were there so many bees in a truck? What is Jennifer Love Hewitt supposed to do about it?

I wiped the tears out of my eyes for Hologram’s hot tag. He got cut off but tagged in Briscoe for his own hot tag. Briscoe hit a Death Valley Bomb and went up for the Froggy Bow, but Sterling cut him off. Romero got Sterling in place for a Hologram dive, and Briscoe hit the Jay Driller on Woods for the win.

(MxM Collection taking tips from Jean Pierre Lafitte, it seems.)

Non-Title Match – Mariah May defeated Lady Frost

May blew McGuinness a kiss on commentary, allowing Frost to steal a roll-up for a nearfall. May took control with a Mariah-Go-Round spinning sidewalk slam. May took Frost off the top rope with a headscissors and hit a John Woo dropkick, but Frost came back with a cartwheel off of May’s back into a dropkick. May and Frost traded German suplexes before May hit a headbutt and a running knee. May hit the Storm Zero for the win.

During this match, it was announced that the Learning Tree would take on The Conglomeration (Cassidy, Briscoe, & O’Reilly) next week on Collision: Grand Slam in a Tornado Trios Match.

We got a video package for the Women’s Title match next week on Dynamite: Grand Slam between Mariah May & Yuka Sakazaki.

Willow Nightingale was backstage with Lexy Nair. Nightingale said that she was still hurting from her loss at All Out but was looking forward to the future. Deonna Purrazzo & Taya Valkyrie entered the frame to chew out Nightingale for not looking out for her friend Yuka Sakazaki over the past few weeks. Purrazzo offered Sakazaki protection, drawing Nightingale’s objection. Valkyrie got in Nightingale’s face, and a challenge was made for next week’s Rampage.

(I can’t say that a Purrazzo & Valkyrie team excites me very much.)

The Acclaimed were in the back. Caster insulted MxM Collection with a freestyle, saying that their style was weak and that MxM was stealing the Acclaimed’s style to get themselves noticed.

We got a video package for Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley on Dynamite: Grand Slam that also brought up the group’s pleas to Wheeler Yuta to join them.

Darby Allin defeated Evil Uno (w/ Alex Reynolds)

Much better than it looked on paper, as Allin fired Uno up to fight hard in the pre-tape. Allin is one of the most consistently good TV wrestlers in the world, as he never takes a night off in the ring and always finds an interesting angle to approach a match.

Uno slapped Allin in the face to start, then clubbered on him in the corner. Reynolds distracted the referee to allow Uno to whip Allin with his belt. Allin came back with a suicide dive and tore into Uno’s mask, but a Reynolds distraction allowed Uno to pinball Allin around ringside. A piledriver got uno a nearfall. Allin caught Uno in a Bully Choke, a move that Jon Moxley used to beat Uno in the past, but Uno got to the ropes. Uno hit a buckle bomb and a flatliner for a nearfall.

Reynolds helped Uno fight off a sunset flip, forcing Allin to hit him with a suicide dive. Allin side-stepped an Uno cannonball off the apron, then hit a Coffin Drop to the floor. Allin hit a Coffin Drop in the ring to score the win.

We got a recap of the Hangman Page/Jeff Jarrett interaction from Dynamite. In video from after Dynamite, Jeff & Karen Jarrett were with Renee Paquette. To his wife’s dismay, Jarrett challenged Hangman Page to a Lumberjack Strap Match at Grand Slam. Jarrett named a few people he had in mind to be lumberjacks, like the Dark Order, Jay Lethal, & Satnam Singh. He had enough of Page’s attitude and his ego and was going to kick his ass at Grand Slam.

Serena Deeb defeated Queen Aminata

The crowd wasn’t into this match to start, chanting for Willow instead. By the end, these two earned This Is Awesome chants as they had a very good TV match here.

Deeb outwrestled Aminata to start, catching her in a seated surfboard stretch. Aminata had a short flurry before Deeb took Aminata down with a neckbreaker in the ropes. After a commercial break, Aminata fought out of an Octopus Stretch with a sidewalk slam.

Aminata made her comeback, hitting a swinging suplex for a nearfall. Aminata dropped Deeb with a German suplex before hitting a sliding kick for a nearfall. Deeb came back with a hammerlock lariat for a nearfall. We got a pinning predicament before Deeb hit a chop block. Aminata hit Deeb with the Brain Drain headbutt, but it sent Deeb to the floor. Deeb caught Aminata with a Dragon Screw on the way back into the ring, then hit the Detox in the ring for the win.

We got a recap of the Harley Cameron vs. Hikaru Shida match from Rampage. It featured interference from both Saraya & Jamie Hayter, leading to Saraya challenging Jamie Hayter to a Saraya’s Rules match for Grand Slam. Saraya & Cameron were with Renee Paquette backstage. Cameron ran down what Saraya’s Rules were, all of them essentially saying that Saraya could cheat and that Cameron could interfere.

Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara were backstage with Lexy Nair. They put each other over before Guevara noted that he wanted two titles like Rhodes had. He challenged Kazuchika Okada to an eliminator match for Grand Slam and said that if he won, he’d take his title match at the 5-Year Anniversary Dynamite the following week.

(Sammy Guevara vs. Kazuchika Okada. What the hell does that look like? I guess we’ll find out next week.)

All-Star Ten Man Tag Team Match – Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson), Roderick Strong, Rush & The Beast Mortos defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood), Hook & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)

This felt like a throwback to CM Punk’s Collision, with a multi-man tag main event that went one commercial break too long. It’s good to see Rush get a win, though.

Wheeler & Drake started, but a big brawl kicked off and the babyfaces pinballed Strong around before Mortos saved him from the Redrum. After a commercial, Mortos had control of Harwood and hit him with a cannonball. Rush tagged in and stomped on Harwood before hitting his pose. Gibson tagged in but got overwhelmed by Harwood. Hook tagged in but took a double clothesline from the Veterans for a nearfall.

Strong and Hook got after it, with Hook laying the rudos out with strikes before sending Strong flying with a T-Bone suplex. The rudos took control of Hook as we went to another commercial. Hook made the tag to Floyd, who ran wild with bodyslams. Magnum tagged in to hit the Predator elbow drop. They hit Drake with the Shatter Machine, but the pin got broken up and a Pier Six brawl broke out.

Gibson cut off Magnum with a throat chop. Magnum got worked on by the rudos into and through the commercial break before getting the tag to Harwood. We got German suplexes from the tecnicos before another Pier Six brawl broke out. Strong and Hook brawled to the back, and Rush and Harwood were left in the ring. FTR set up the Shatter Machine, but Mortos broke it up before hitting the spinning tornillo to the crowd on the floor. Another Shatter Machine attempt got broken up by Mortos, who worked together with Rush to lay Harwood out. Rush hit the Bull’s Horns and pinned Harwood to get the win.

Serena Deeb was backstage and challenged Britt Baker to a match on the 5 Year Anniversary Dynamite from Pittsburgh on October 2.

Nigel McGuinness Town Hall

A very good promo from McGuinness to close out the show. I liked Schiavone standing up for Danielson in his absence and calling out McGuinness for trying to manipulate the situation outside of Danielson’s control. McGuinness really got it across how his obsession with Danielson had driven him crazy and how badly he needed the Danielson match to prove himself right after over a decade of retirement. A great final sell for Grand Slam.

Nigel McGuinness was on the stage, noting that Bryan Danielson had still refused to answer his challenge for Grand Slam. He accused Danielson of faking his injury, and that the reality was that Danielson feared McGuinness. McGuinness said that if Danielson wouldn’t do it for them, and if he wouldn’t do it so his family couldn’t be embarrassed by him anymore, he should do it for the fans.

Tony Schiavone took to the stage and said that he knew that McGuinness was trying to manipulate Danielson into a match. He said that Danielson wasn’t afraid of McGuinness and that he would fight McGuinness if he was cleared. Schiavone said that in his five decades of calling wrestling, Danielson was the greatest wrestler he had ever seen. McGuinness said that if anybody else had said that to him, they would have gotten laid out.

He told Schiavone to sit back down, then told Danielson that it was his destiny to get one more match with Danielson. He spent years shouting at the moon about how he was as good as Danielson, but no one believed him. There were only two people who knew what he was saying was the truth, himself and Danielson. Danielson knew that McGuinness was better than him and refused to give McGuinness his vindication. McGuinness hoped Danielson showed up, and if he didn’t, he hoped the devil heard his prayers.

Darby Allin, Mariah May matches added to AEW Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two new singles matches are set for the Saturday, September 21 AEW Collision episode.

Darby Allin will be in action on this week’s Collision against Dark Order’s Evil Uno in a new bout announced late Friday. The match is a tune-up for Allin who puts his guaranteed AEW World title shot on the line in a match against Jon Moxley on next Wednesday’s Dynamite Grand Slam.

Also added to Saturday’s card, Women’s World Champion Mariah May will take on Lady Frost in a non-title affair. May will also be in action at Dynamite Grand Slam, defending her title against Yuka Sakazaki.

Already announced for Collision are a Bunkhouse Brawl for the ROH Tag Team titles, plus a 10-man tag team match.

The updated lineup for the Saturday, September 21 AEW Collision:

  • Bunkhouse Brawl: ROH Tag Team Champions Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara defend against The Undisputed Kingdom’s Mike Bennett & Matt Taven
  • FTR, The Outrunners & Hook vs. Grizzled Young Veterans, Roderick Strong, The Beast Mortos & Rush
  • Darby Allin vs. Evil Uno
  • Mariah May vs. Lady Frost

Wrestling Weekly: AEW All Out thoughts & the road to Grand Slam

Posted on by Victor Sosa

Image: AEW

On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, it’s all about last Saturday’s AEW All Out and the subsequent road to this month’s Grand Slam with a match we can’t wait to see, regardless of how we got there.

Also, we talk about enhancement talents and whether doing that work for the big groups can hinder their ability to be seen as stars in the future.

We do talk some WWE at the onset, looking ahead at tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Bret Hart’s appearance on Raw, and the rest of what’s happening these days.

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin set for AEW Dynamite Grand Slam

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A new match with World title implications is set for AEW Dynamite Grand Slam on September 25.

As announced during Wednesday’s Dynamite, Darby Allin will no longer be challenging Bryan Danielson for the AEW World title at Grand Slam, instead putting his guaranteed shot on the line against Jon Moxley at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Moxley and Allin agreed to the bout during an in-ring confrontation Wednesday with Moxley insinuating that Danielson was too injured to defend his title in two weeks. Moxley had called out Allin for a talk when he made his return several weeks ago.

Later in the same episode, Nigel McGuinness issued a challenge to Danielson for Grand Slam to add further intrigue to the title situation ahead of the Grand Slam stadium show.

Allin earned the guaranteed World title shot by virtue of winning the Royal Rampage battle royale in July. Moxley ended his association with Danielson by turning against the current World Champion at last Saturday’s All Out pay-per-view.

Moxley is a three-time former AEW World Champion, while Allin has yet to claim the promotion’s top prize.

Our ongoing coverage from Wednesday’s Dynamite is here.

Here’s the current lineup for September 25th in Queens, New York:

  • AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Nicholas & Matthew Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
  • Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot

Jon Moxley returns on AEW Dynamite, calls out Darby Allin & aligns with Marina Shafir

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time since June’s Forbidden Door, Jon Moxley returned on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite in a surprise appearance, calling out Darby Allin and later aligning with Marina Shafir.

With a new shaved head, Moxley, more brooding than usual, came out through the crowd to new music and stalked to the ring. Tony Schiavone then went to get some thoughts from the former AEW World Champion which were brief.

Moxley said he’s been doing a lot of thinking about things that need to get done and wanted to have a conversation with someone that isn’t there — someone who is both nothing like him and just like him: Allin. He then closed by saying it’s about time you and I had a talk and trust me, I’m not hard to find.

As Schiavone was then running down the show, Moxley came back and said to Schiavone that this will take some time for people to wrap their heads around, but this is not your company anymore which left the announcer confused as Moxley left through the crowd.

Before the show’s final segment, Moxley was shown walking in the back where he picked a fight with security guards before Shafir then joined in. Moxley opined what they need more of around here is “a lesson in humility” before the two left and Shafir pushed down the cameraman.

Moxley and Allin have both teamed with each other and fought each other during their tenures in AEW. The two last squared off against each other on a July 2020 Dynamite when Moxley defended his then-World title against Allin. Their only other AEW singles match was on a November 2019 Dynamite that Moxley also won.

Moxley’s last appearance was in a loss to Tetsuya Naito at the aforementioned Forbidden Door in a match that saw Moxley lose the IWGP World title.

It was never announced why Moxley was gone for nearly two months.

AEW has discussed Darby Allin getting World title run

Posted on by Joseph Currier

An AEW World Championship run could be in the cards for Darby Allin.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week, Dave Meltzer mentioned that AEW has seriously discussed Allin getting a run with the World Championship, though it’s not clear when that would happen. Allin is set to challenge either Swerve Strickland or Bryan Danielson for the title at Dynamite Grand Slam next month.

“We’ve heard talk of Allin getting a run as champion no matter who wins [between Strickland and Danielson],” Meltzer wrote. “We know that’s been talked about seriously, but as to when, that’s less clear.”

Strickland is defending the AEW World Championship against Danielson at AEW All In this Sunday. If Danielson loses, he will retire from active competition.

Allin also has a title match scheduled for All In. He’s challenging Jack Perry for the TNT Championship in a Coffin Match.

A member of the AEW roster since 2019, Allin is a former TNT Champion and AEW Tag Team Champion but has never held the World title. He won AEW’s Royal Rampage battle royal last month, earning a World Championship shot at Grand Slam. That show is taking place from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York on Wednesday, September 25.

On Dynamite last night, Allin & FTR defeated Perry & The Young Bucks in a trios match.

Darby Allin on renewed Mount Everest plans & scouting where ‘to fall off of’ at AEW All In: Texas

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

It’s not even the end of summer 2024 yet and AEW’s Darby Allin is already planning both a big climb and a big fall in 2025.

As part of the media surrounding last week’s announcement of All In coming to Arlington, Texas’ Globe Life Field next July, Allin caught up with the Dallas Morning News where the topics of both climbing Mount Everest and next summer’s big pay-per-view came up.

The oft-injured Allin had to withdraw from his plans to climb Mount Everest in March after suffering a broken foot during a match with Jay White at Dynamite: Big Business. He was set to depart roughly two weeks after the match, but those plans had to change.

Allin told the media outlet that he is still planning on attempting the climb next April.

“You can only climb it two months out of the year. If you could climb it any month, I would have been there right now. But, you know, you gotta wait a year,” he said, adding that he did training for nine months that others said would take years to accomplish.

“Everybody’s saying, like, ‘Maybe (the foot break) is a sign that you shouldn’t do it.’ And I said, ‘Hell no, that’s a sign I should do it next year.’ It’s been such a roller coaster of emotions going into it. But like, I wanted to do it before, but now I really want to do it. It’s just, like, the moment was taken away. I’m super excited for it,” he said.

Allin, who challenges TBS Champion Jack Perry in a coffin match at this Sunday’s All In: London, confirmed a Renee Paquette tweet that he was already scouting out Globe Life Field for next year’s All In in an effort to pull something off that would leave a “lasting impression” on those watching and perhaps inspire other future wrestlers to do the same.

“…I was just walking around, looking around like, ‘What can I fall off of?’ To me, going to all these buildings, there’s such an aura and vibe to these stadiums. And every time I’m walking in, I’m like, ‘What can I do that will leave a lasting impression?’ And I put myself in the shoes of being like a fourth grade kid, you know what I mean? Like, if I saw something, what will I remember for my entire life? Because, with this wrestling stuff, it’s pretty wild how much of an impact you can have on people’s lives. I don’t take it for granted. It’s pretty crazy, you know, just how you can inspire somebody and change the whole trajectory of their life,” he said.

Allin later equated his effort to creating memorable moments like ones he watched with Mick Foley and Jeff Hardy where if that moment changes one life like it did for him, it was worth it.

“So if I need to sacrifice myself at Globe Life Field, ok,” he said.

Trios match added to AEW Dynamite lineup

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW has made a new match announcement for tonight’s All In go-home episode of Dynamite.

FTR will team up with Darby Allin as they take on The Young Bucks & Jack Perry in trios action on Dynamite. The show is AEW’s Cardiff, Wales debut. It’s being taped at Utilita Arena this afternoon before airing on TBS tonight.

The trios bout will serve as a preview for two of the matches taking place at All In this Sunday. The Young Bucks are defending their AEW Tag Team titles against FTR and The Acclaimed in a three-way match at the pay-per-view, while Allin is challenging Perry for the TNT Championship in a Coffin Match.

Dynamite and Collision are both being taped in Cardiff today. The Collision episode will air on TNT this Saturday night, the eve of All In.

Here’s the updated Dynamite lineup:

AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, August 21) —

  • “Final Showdown” between Swerve Strickland and Bryan Danielson
  • AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Claudio Castagnoli
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Saraya
  • MJF & Will Ospreay face-to-face
  • Chris Jericho vs. Tommy Billington
  • Hook vs. Big Bill
  • FTR & Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks & Jack Perry
  • Mercedes Mone & Britt Baker contract signing

Sting on AEW All In 2025 in Texas: I’ll be watching from ‘somewhere’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Sting says he’ll be watching AEW All In from Texas next year.

AEW announced on Friday that All In will be held in Arlington’s Globe Life Field on July 12, 2025. Sting, who lives nearby, responded to the news, writing on X that he will be watching the show from “somewhere.”

“Hmmm… just down the road. I’ll be watching from ‘somewhere,'” he wrote.

Sting has not appeared on AEW programming since his retirement match AEW Revolution. However, Darby Allin recently noted in an interview with WFAA that Sting had been backstage at recent episodes of AEW Collision at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas as he lives close by.

“He’s been backstage at some of the Collisions. I keep telling him you’ve gotta come out and have a mini-golf battle,” Allin said on the show. He continued to say that he is still training Sting’s son, Steven Borden.

“He’s doing really good,” Allin said of Steven’s training. “It’s funny because he’s never had, when it comes to wrestling, he’s never had that itch, like I want to be a pro wrestler. So, he did that spot in Sting’s last match at Revolution where he splashed one of The Young Bucks in the corner and then he just said, ‘Dad, I want to do this.'”

First Casino gauntlet entrant set, stipulation made for Darby Allin vs. Jack Perry at AEW All In

Posted on by Josh Nason

The first entrant for the Casino gauntlet match at this month’s AEW All In is now set after a three-way on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

Orange Cassidy defeated both Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong in a three-way to determine who would guarantee they have a shot at participating in the gauntlet in which the winner earns a future AEW World title match.

Cassidy pinned O’Reilly with a crucifix after O’Reilly was attempting to get Strong in an armbar as a counter to End of Heartache.

As the rules of the gauntlet match go, two men will start but the bout ends after the first pinfall or submission, meaning the earlier a wrestler enters the better.

**********

After a backstage brawl between TNT Champion Jack Perry and Darby Allin, their title bout for London’s Wembley Stadium is now a coffin match.

After a promo during a video package, Allin came out to the ring and then got jumped by the champion. A brawl ensued and eventually ended up backstage where Perry put Allin under a large bay door and then threatened to roll a cart into his prone head twice before being stopped by security. Perry then called for the new stipulation which was later made official.

At last year’s All In, Perry battled Hook for the FTW title where the infamous “cry me a river” line was uttered that led to a backstage skirmish between he and CM Punk that helped lead to Punk’s exit from the company.

On that same show, Allin competed alongside Sting in a tag team coffin match against Swerve Strickland and Christian Cage. Allin is undefeated in four AEW coffin matches, three of them as a singles wrestler.

Here’s the current AEW All In card for Sunday, August 25 from London’s Wembley Stadium:

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Bryan Danielson
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Mariah May
  • AEW American Champion MJF defends against Will Ospreay
  • TNT Champion Jack Perry defends against Darby Allin in a coffin match
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Britt Baker
  • Casino gauntlet match for future AEW World title shot
  • FTW Champion Chris Jericho defends against Hook
  • Zero Hour: Willow Nightingale & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway

Swerve Strickland World title eliminator one of several additions to AEW Collision

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will prepare for his non-title match against Wheeler Yuta on Wednesday’s Dynamite with a title eliminator match on Saturday’s AEW Collision.

The news was revealed during Friday’s Rampage and the match is of the open challenge variety with an opponent yet to be named.

After stepping in for Mark Briscoe and Tomohiro Ishii on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite, former AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will take on The Outrunners. FTR and The Acclaimed came face-to-face on Wednesday as both try to position themselves for a shot at current champions The Young Bucks.

In an unusual pairing, Darby Allin will team with Hologram to take on The Varsity Athletes’ Josh Woods & Tony Nese. The Athletes were unable to defeat Hologram & Mistico last week.

In a battle of former LFI stablemates, Rush will go one-on-one with Preston Vance. It’s Vance’s first match anywhere since January.

Former AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida will be in action.

Here’s the current card for Saturday’s live show in Arlington, Texas:

  • AEW World title eliminator: Swerve Strickland vs. TBA
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
  • Darby Allin & Hologram vs. Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods & Tony Nese)
  • AEW Trios title eliminator: House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson & The Gunns) with Christian Cage as special guest referee
  • Hikaru Shida vs. TBA
  • Rush vs. Preston Vance
  • Deonna Purrazzo vs. Thunder Rose in a Texas bullrope match

AEW Rampage live results: Darby Allin vs. The Butcher

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Darby Allin will be in action on tonight’s AEW Rampage.

Allin will face The Butcheras he looks to continue his roll ahead of his challenge of Jack Perry for the TNT Championship at All In, followed by his challenge for the AEW World Championship at Dynamite Grand Slam in late-September.

This will be their third-ever meeting with Allin unbeaten thus far (2-0).

Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta will take on Rocky Romero ahead of his non-title match with AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland on this Wednesday’s Dynamite. Bryan Danielson will be on commentary.

In a battle of former Women’s World Champions, Saraya will face Nyla Rose.

Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) will face two enhancement talents and we will also hear from new ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champion Dustin Rhodes on tonight’s program.

This week’s Rampage was taped Wednesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Spoilers from the show are available here.

**********

Taped in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

An “In Memoriam” graphic for Kevin Sullivan opened the show.

Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Matt Menard were on commentary.

Darby Allin defeated The Butcher (10:24)

An actual star wrestling on Rampage. 

Butcher started out fast and slammed Allin into the ropes, then pulled him out of the corner for a modified powerbomb. Allin was bleeding from the mouth less than a minute in. The fight went to the floor, where Butcher sent Allin into the steps and stepped on his head. Allin avoided a crossbody against the ring barricade, then came off the top to the floor with the Coffin Drop. 

Back in the ring, Allin came off the top for a crossbody, but he just bounced off the Butcher. Butcher followed up with a shotgun dropkick. Butcher tossed Allin through the ropes to the floor. 

After a split-screen break, Butcher locked Allin in a Texas Cloverleaf. Just as Allin was making the ropes, Butcher pulled Allin up into a powerbomb for another near fall. Butcher propped Allin up on the ropes and then slapped him to the floor. On the floor, Butcher slung Allin’s head into the ring barricade, powerbombed him into the post, then back suplexed him on the edge of the ring barricade. 

Allin came back with a tope suicida that barely caught Butcher. Back in the ring, Allin hit a pair of Coffin Splashes in the corner. He went for a thirdCoffin Splash, but Butcher countered with a sleeper, then a powerbomb for a near fall. 

Butcher set up Allin for a superplex, but Allin countered with an avalanche Code Red, Allin followed up with a Coffin Drop and got the pinfall.

– Rush and Don Callis were not happy about Rush’s loss on Dynamite Wednesday. Callis booked Rush a match with Preston Vance (remember him?) to prove that Rush will dowhatever it takes to be the best. Callis just doesn’t want a victory, he wants Vance hurt. 

Preston Vance?

– Last Wednesday after Dynamite, Jeff Jarrett was putting himself over to Renee Paquette, then Adam Page started a fight with Jarrett and his pals. Afterwards, Jay Lethal challenged Page for Wednesday on Dynamite. 

Wheeler Yuta (w/ Bryan Danielson) defeated  Rocky “Azucar” Romero (9:53) 

Danielson joined the commentary team for the match. 

Lots of matwork to start. Both guys exchanged side headlocks until Yuta caught Romero with a backdrop suplex. Yuta backed Romero into the corner for some chops, but Romero fired back. Yuta sidestepped a charge from Romero to send him to the floor, then followed up with a tope suicida. 

During the commercial break, Yuta caught a sliced bread #2 on the floor. Back in the ring, Romero worked a chinlock as Swerve Strickland was shown watching from the back. Romero hit the forever clothclines until Yuta came out of the corner and took Romero out with a lariat. After both guys exchanged chops, Yuta hit a reverse atomic drop and an enziguri. 

Yuta went to the top rope, but Romero cut him off. Romero hit a top rope hurricanrana, then hit a Sliced Bread inside the ring for two. Romero tried it again, but Yuta countered with a cross legged tombstone piledriver. Romeo is dead, and after the hammer and tong elbows, Yuta locked in Cattle Mutilation for the submission. Great showcase for Yuta. 

– Renee Paquette interviewed Willow Nightingale. Nightingale expressed her annoyance with Stokley Hathaway. Tomohiro Ishii interrupted to mention he’s annoyed by Hathaway too, and this gave Nightingale an idea. To be continued… at Wembley? 

Private Party defeated  Dave Dawson & Zane Dawson (3:57)

During this match, Tony Schiavone called Wednesday’s Dynamite card “loaded,” which is an exaggeration on the level with him calling 1999 Nitros the greatest night in the history of our sport. Wednesday’s card currently has two squash matches and a face-to-face between Claudio Castignoli & Kazuchika Okada.

Quen did a great job building up a bodyslam spot with the much larger Zane Dawson. Zay caught Dave Dawson with a rana and the Silly String. Zay hit one of the Dawson brothers with a stunner and a sliced bread, then they double teamed  the other with the Gin and Juice and got the pinfall. Back to the creek for the Dawsons. 

– Deonna Purrazzo hyped up her bullrope match with Thunder Rosa tomorrow night.

– Dustin Rhodes cut a promo about his winning the ROH World Six Man Titles, his first title in AEW. Then Rhodes teamed with Sammy Guevara in ROH. Rhodes challenged the ROH World Tag Team champions. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett responded with a low kick to Rhodes. Rhodes and Guevara v. the ROH tag champs would have been a good match for that ROH ppv two weeks ago.

Saraya (w/ Harley Cameron) defeated Nyla Rose (10:33) 

Saraya attacked Rose from behind as she was distracted by Cameron and she fell to the floor. Back in the ring. Saraya went for a sleeper but Rose shrugged her off. Saraya worked over Rose with some forearms in the corner, but Rose reversed it into some body shots. Saraya dropped to the floor. Rose followed her out, and Saraya tied her up in the ring apron to take control. 

After a long commercial, Saraya tried for a sunset flip, but Rose sat on her for a near fall. Rose hit a clothesline, a side suplex and a senton. Rose went for a splash, but Saraya got her knees up. Saraya hit a knee strike and the Nightcap for a near fall. Cameron called for the “Turn the Page” and Saraya shouted “That’s not what it’s called anymore.” Rose came back with a thrust kick for a near fall. Rose and Saraya took each other out with a double clothesline. 

Rose hit a chokeslam, but Cameron got on the apron to distract the ref. This drew Rose to the outside. Saraya tried to sneak up behind Rose, but she caught Saraya with a forearm. Rose tried to suplex Saraya back into the ring, but Cameron swept Rose’s legs and Saraya fell on top of Rose. Cameron held onto Rose’s legs and Saraya got the pinfall. The Warrior/Rude finish from WrestleMania V! Love it! 

After the match, Schiavone ran down the card for Collision: 

  • FTR v. The Outrunners 
  • House of Black v. The Bang Bang Gang 
  • Thunder Rosa v. Deonna Purrazzo in a Bullrope Match 
  • Rush v. Preston Vance 
  • Hikaru Shida in action 
  • Darby Alllin & Hologram v. The Premiere Athletes 
  • And Swerve Strickland in an eliminator match. 

They probably should have promoted an appearance from the world champion before 10:59 on Friday night.

Darby Allin set for action on AEW Rampage

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Four matches are set for Friday’s AEW Rampage episode, including Darby Allin in action.

AEW announced Allin in action for Friday’s show during Wednesday’s Dynamite. Friday’s Rampage was taped Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Allin faced The Butcher in singles competition.

Three more matches are also set for Friday’s Rampage.

Wheeler Yuta of Blackpool Combat Club will take on Rocky Romero in another singles bout taped for Friday’s show.

In a tag team bout, Private Party’s Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen will face the enhancement talent duo of Dave Dawson & Zane Dawson.

In a women’s division contest, Nyla Rose faces Saraya in a battle of former AEW Women’s World Champions.

Spoilers from the Rampage taping are available here.

The lineup for Friday’s AEW Rampage airing at 10 p.m. Eastern time on TNT:

  • Darby Allin vs. The Butcher
  • Wheeler Yuta vs. Rocky Romero
  • Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs. Dave Dawson & Zane Dawson
  • Saraya vs. Nyla Rose