Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week that the “prevailing belief” is that The Elite (Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Hangman Page) will remain with AEW. Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales discussed the issue on Wrestling Observer Radio on Friday.
“I never closed my mind on the idea they may go to WWE, it’s a lot more beneficial to their lifestyle to not,” Meltzer said. However, he did point out that WWE offers a level of exposure that AEW can’t.
“There’s a lot of benefit of having that exposure, especially late in your career after you retire,” he said.
Meltzer said that AEW may be a better choice for The Young Bucks, as they would be able to spend more time with their family. For Kenny Omega, it may be a matter of the schedule, which would be much tougher than AEW’s.
“There’s good arguments to go, but the schedule is a tough one,” Meltzer said.
Ultimately, it is a matter of choosing between money in WWE, or being able to have more freedom outside of it.
“It’s really more about lifestyle and fun,” Meltzer said. “Because even if you make big money in either place, what’s your decision, it’s either lifestyle or fun.”
The Blood & Guts match on last week’s Dynamite ran long and a post-match segment didn’t air as planned.
According to a report from SI.com’s Justin Barrasso, the plan was for the match to end 10-minutes before Dynamite went off the air, allowing time for a promo from Kenny Omega to close the show. However, the performers ran low of time near the end and a spot involving Hangman Page had to be scrapped in addition to Omega’s post-match comments.
“A big moment for Page was scratched because of the lack of time, but all of the other key points were hit, with the notable exception being the postmatch interview from Omega,” Barrasso wrote.
While it didn’t air on television, footage of Omega’s post-match comments and the handshake between The Elite and BCC have been shared on social media.
“If you guys want, I’ll shorten my career, I’ll shorten my life to keep this fight alive. But I’m willing to stick my hand out and shake yours if you guys will let bygones be bygones,” Omega said.
“If you guys want to keep doing it, so help me God, I’ll keep doing it. But I’m gonna do it with a newfound respect for each and every one of you. I’m gonna stick my hand out, just this once, just this once, as a sign of respect because I respect the hell out of you guys,” he continued.
Claudio Castagnoli spoke to Sports Illustrated following the match and stated that the handshake between The Elite and BCC “probably should have been on television.”
“We lost that battle, but we won the war. Thanks to the Blackpool Combat Club, now The Elite is better than ever. We brought them to a place they’ve never been, Castagnoli said.
“The postmatch between the BCC and The Elite, with Kenny talking and we all shook hands, that probably should have been on television, but it shows that there is nothing like being there in person. There is nothing like being there live.”
Our own Dave Meltzer rated this year’s Blood & Guts match four and three-quarter stars in the July 24, 2023 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Wheeler Yuta also wrestled the double-cage match with a partially torn hamstring that he suffered on the 7/5 Dynamite in a match against Omega. It was also noted that Jon Moxley pitched the idea of using a bed of nails in the match.
This week’s episode featured backstage footage of The Elite in Boston for Blood & Guts from TD Garden.
Backstage at Blood & Guts —
Brandon Cutler spoke with the ring crew about the double cage for Blood & Guts.
They revealed the cage weighs over 13,000 lbs and takes ten hours to set up.
Ryan Nemeth is back at the SAG-AFTRA strike —
Nemeth spoke with many people striking in Hollywood. He spoke with a horror writer who said multiple people on strike have to work multiple jobs and they are just asking for a small percentage of profits.
Nemeth also encouraged many of the striking workers to name him as their favorite wrestler. He encouraged people to purchase his merchandise at ShopAEW.com to help at least one person impacted by the ongoing strike.
Blood & Guts —
Brandon and Colt Cabana spoke with Charlie “the prop master” backstage about the bed of nails that would be used later that night in Blood & Guts. He wanted to show off that it was a real bed of nails.
The bed of nails consisted of over 1000 nails and over 200 screws. It weighed over a 100 pounds.
Footage of last week’s Blood & Guts match is shown.
Backstage footage of The Elite picking thumbnails out of their skin was shown.
On AEW Dynamite earlier this week, the rivalry between The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club came to a close in Blood & Guts.
The Elite & Kota Ibushi prevailed in the match, defeating Blackpool Combat Club inside of the two-ring cage. Blackpool Combat Club lost the match after their two partners, PAC and Konosuke Takeshita, walked out on them.
After the show went off the air, there was a moment where The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club were able to at least momentarily put their issues aside. The two factions shook hands, expressing their mutual respect for each other.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Castagnoli discussed the post-show moment, saying that it’s something he thinks probably should have aired on television.
Castagnoli also said that, despite losing the match, he thinks Blackpool Combat Club accomplished something by making The Elite play by their rules.
“That’s what we wanted to come across. We lost that battle but we won the war. Thanks to the Blackpool Combat Club, now The Elite is better than ever. We brought them to a place they’ve never been,” Castagnoli said.
“The post-match between the BCC and The Elite, with Kenny talking and we all shook hands, that probably should have been on television, but it shows that there is nothing like being there in-person. There is nothing like being there live.”
Castagnoli told Sports Illustrated that he thinks the Blood & Guts match delivered on its high expectations.
“It was the spectacle of blood and guts that people expected, and even exceeded that,” Castagnoli said. “We had modifications from last year with the separate entrances, which helped. There’s only been two other of these matches in AEW, but I thought it delivered.”
The dissension between Castagnoli and PAC in Blood & Guts leads to the main event of tonight’s ROH Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view. Castagnoli is defending his ROH World Championship against PAC at the PPV.
The Golden Elite claimed victory in the annual Blood & Guts match on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite in Boston.
The Golden Elite squad of The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson), Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and the debuting Kota Ibushi defeated the Blackpool Combat Club side featuring Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita, and PAC via submission when Yuta passed out while being choked with a chain by Page. It appeared at first that the call was a referee stoppage, but commentary pushed that Moxley submitted with Yuta unable to respond while being choked out.
The finish came after PAC and Takeshita walked out on the match, The Young Bucks kept Castagnoli at bay, and Moxley was handcuffed to the ring ropes. PAC walked out after a series of miscommunication spots with Castagnoli, while Takeshita bailed on the match at the behest of Don Callis as it became clear that The Golden Elite had the upper hand.
The wild brawl included Matt Jackson hitting a series of northern lights suplexes on Yuta on the top of the cage, glass, thumbtacks, a table, a chair, a bed of nails, as well as the aforementioned chain and handcuffs.
The Pinnacle (MJF, Wardlow, FTR & Shawn Spears) defeated The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) in the first Blood & Guts match on the May 5, 2021 Dynamite.
In last year’s edition, Blackpool Combat Club (Moxley, Castagnoli & Yuta) and Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz defeated The Jericho Appreciation Society (Jericho, Guevara, Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker) on the June 29, 2022 Dynamite.
The fifth members of the upcoming Blood & Guts match will be revealed this Wednesday.
Tony Khan on Twitter Monday afternoon revealed that the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite will choose their fifth members on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
“With #BloodAndGuts in Boston only 1 week away, Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite will each reveal the 5th man joining their teams this week on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite,” Khan wrote.
Next week’s show in Boston will have The Elite (Hangman Page, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega) take on Konosuke Takeshita and the Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Jon Moxley). It has been pushed that due to Eddie Kingston competing in NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament and Bryan Danielson currently out due to injury, both teams need one more member.
Here’s the current lineup for Wednesday:
Chris Jericho vs. Komander
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament semifinal: Ruby Soho vs. Skye Blue
Blind Eliminator Tournament semifinal: MJF & Adam Cole vs. Big Bill & Brian Cage
Blind Eliminator Tournament semifinal: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia
With AEW’s third-ever Blood & Guts match coming up in two weeks, the teams are starting to come together with two potentially high-profile exceptions.
On Wednesday’s Dynamite, the five-on-five double cage match had its first eight men confirmed as The Elite will have Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, and Hangman Page on one side with the Blackpool Combat Club bringing Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Konosuke Takeshita on the other.
That leaves one member per team remaining with the BCC’s Bryan Danielson on the shelf with a broken forearm and noted Castagnoli antagonist Eddie Kingston in Japan for the annual NJPW G1 tournament.
Following the taping for this Friday’s Rampage, Omega addressed the Edmonton crowd and said he would give a hint about their mystery partner. As he has said before, he recently took time off and didn’t stay home, but rather took a trip “not to Canada” to recruit an old friend. That friend cares about Omega, the people in the ring (the Bucks and Page), AEW, and about changing the face of professional wrestling.
Some fans were chanting for Omega’s former teammate and free agent Kota Ibushi which Omega didn’t attempt to downplay.
Ibushi’s deal with NJPW ended in January of this year and AEW head Tony Khan said that bringing Ibushi in would be “something to consider.”
Conversely, there was no hints given on Wednesday about who could join the BCC for the violent match which will be held at Boston’s TD Garden as part of the Wednesday, July 19th Dynamite.
**********
On the same week AEW began to celebrate their 100th episode of Rampage coming up Friday, they also began their focus on next month’s 200th episode of Dynamite.
That show will take place on Wednesday, August 2nd at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. The company’s weekly flagship show first bowed on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, in Washington, DC.
For the first time in its short history, the Blood & Guts double cage match will head to Boston, Massachusetts, for the July 19th AEW Dynamite with The Elite and the Blackpool Combat Club teams as its two competing teams.
After the Young Bucks & Hangman Page defeated Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds, John Silver & Evil Uno on Wednesday’s Dynamite, the entire BCC (sans Bryan Danielson) & Konosuke Takeshita attacked the Elite members. That eventually included Eddie Kingston who ran down to try to help, but was beaten down himself.
After Jon Moxley bloodied Page’s head with a screwdriver, he took the microphone to say this feud had to end between these two teams and it would do so in Boston with the Blood & Guts match.
The wrestlers in the match weren’t officially announced.
This will be the third-ever such Blood & Guts match. It debuted in May 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida, with the MJF-led Pinnacle vs. Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle. Just over a year later, the Jericho Appreciation Society took on the Blackpool Combat Club, Santana & Ortiz and Kingston in Detroit.
The video kicks off this week with footage of Matt & Nick Jackson recording voiceovers for the upcoming Fight Forever video game.
After the intro, the Young Bucks and their kids are in the ring ahead of last week’s Dynamite.
Brandon Cutler and Ryan Nemeth do handstands —
For reasons that were never made clear, both Ryan Nemeth and Brandon Cutler demonstrated handstands.
Nemeth was particularly good at them but he still walks kind of weird.
Clips from Dynamite —
Highlights of The Elite’s backstage segment with The Dark Order last week is shown.
Later, Hangman Page asked -1 in the back where The Dark Order is. He told them they were in the bathroom but Hangman didn’t believe him.
After Hangman left, Uno, Reynolds, and Silver then came out of the bathroom in a celebratory fashion (Silver was particularly pleased with how things went in there). They asked who -1 was talking to and he told them Adam Cole.
Hollywood Hunk Secrets —
Nemeth revealed that he doesn’t live in Hollywood, he actually lives in Encino.
He also said that wrestling wasn’t his first dream. He really wanted to be a Shark Rodeo Champion but unfortunately, that is not something that exists.
Nemeth revealed several other secrets about himself.
Matt Jackson receives emails Chili’s and Wendy’s —
The Elite were sitting around in the back and Nick was wondering if Dave Meltzer had rated their last match yet (Meltzer gave the Anarchy in the Arena match five stars).
Matt then revealed he got an email from Chili’s about giving them a second chance contract after Matt screwed up their original deal.
Matt then got another email from Wendy’s. He said both deals were for life-changing money but they are exclusive so they have to pick one or the other. Hangman and Nick decide to trust Matt with the decision.
The most important stretch in AEW’s history kicks off this Sunday.
The next few months will see the debut of the new Collision show, the imminent return of CM Punk, Forbidden Door II, and the biggest show they’ve ever run with All In at Wembley Stadium. The little promotion that could is suddenly the massive promotion that did.
This is a company with a tremendous reach and a big financial commitment from its television partners. Come June, there will be at least seven hours of AEW programming every week. That doesn’t even count Ring of Honor, AEW All Access, or anything else that makes its way to television. Now that they’re enormous — something a company that could wind up nearly filling Wembley Stadium certainly is — the expectations increase exponentially. It’s up to them to build on this momentum and use the extra resources to take the company to the next level. The roster is ready. There’s enough talent to make all of this work and do something historic. The future of AEW has never been brighter.
The future is limitless, but this card is just…fine? It’s probably the most skippable AEW show in recent memory. It’s a card designed to bridge the gap until the next big thing — the debut of Collision — before AEW fully opens up the engines leading into a summer full of tentpole events. I doubt this will reach the heights of some previous shows (though AEW has shocked me before), but I don’t think anyone is going to be asking for their money back either.
Let’s preview Sunday’s Double or Nothing (7:30 PM Eastern pre-show/8 PM Eastern main card on PPV) and see what shakes out.
Pre-show: The Firm (Ethan Page & The Gunns) vs. Hook & The Hardys for the rights to Page’s contract
There are two wolves in every man. The one that knows a nine-match PPV on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend is a bad idea, and the one that books this card anyway. Wasn’t there just a cinematic match with all these people? Don’t those usually mean the end of feuds? I am confused and I am tired.
I do love some of the individual pieces here. Austin & Colten Gunn had the hardest entrance ever in AEW when they came out to 50 Cent’s “Many Men” Page has been entertaining and under-appreciated for almost as long as I’ve watched wrestling. And now Hook has been sent to replace the injured Isiah Kassidy/Brother Zay. He is very entertaining and is a future star, but Hook is Hook and the people sure do love El Diablo Guapo.
Let’s keep this one short: Hook comes out, gets his stuff in, the Hardys fire up the nostalgia machine, and the crowd gets sent home happy.
Prediction: Hook & the Hardys
Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho in an unsanctioned match
This is a great way for Cole to make his return to pay-per-view, and the usual criticism of Jericho inserting himself to steal someone’s shine is misguided here. The number one bay bay is coming back from a frighteningly serious series of concussions, and someone like Jericho who doesn’t wrestle the standard AEW super indie style is as safe and stable as an opponent gets.
An unsanctioned match might seem scary for someone coming off of brain injury, but these types of matches are typically so well choreographed and planned that there should be significantly less risk.
Babyface Adam Cole sure is something. The crowd has always loved him, and now they get to show him just how deep that love is. If he’s next up for MJF, count me as excited. Two of the best talkers in the company getting a chance to build a program should be something else. MJF really needs someone who can hang with him on the mic after his Herculean efforts carrying the wet paper bag that is the four pillars feud by his lonesome. Can’t wait.
Prediction: Adam Cole
The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega & Hangman Page) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson) in an Anarchy in the Arena match
“Higher levels, bigger devils.”
Yet another all-time line from the god Jon Moxley and an appropriately biblical one for what promises to be a divine affair. The first Anarchy in the Arena bout was one of the best matches in AEW history as the visuals and moments will be used in video packages long after the current generation of AEW has hung up their boots. This, along with Blood and Guts, are their signature matches — their versions of Hell In A Cell and TLC.
These are matches that get busted out for the big stars with the big stakes, and come with appropriately massive expectations. If there was ever a group that can live up to those expectations, it’s these eight cats.
Your mileage may vary on the winding, exhausting tale of The Elite and their will they/won’t they friendship (relationship? lovership?). And I get it. It’s a lot! It’s overwrought and hackneyed at times, but man does the live crowd want it. They just eat it up. The building came apart when Page’s music hit a couple of weeks ago. The reunion of four of the people responsible for the existence of the company is objectively a big deal, regardless of whether or not it’s a bit tiresome.
At times, and perhaps too often, The Elite are meta caricatures of wrestling. The Blackpool Combat Club is the other side of that. Gritty, real-ass wrestlers. No wink-wink behind the curtain stuff. Just four dudes that are going to wallop you, stretch you, and make you regret stepping in the ring with them. All of them have their roles and play them perfectly, none more so than Danielson who remains a flawless pro wrestler. This is him at his best. He’s a blessing every second he’s on-screen, a beacon that lights the edges of the world.
Prediction: Blackpool Combat Club
Orange Cassidy defends the AEW International title in a 21-man Blackjack battle royal
Cassidy’s run with the International Championship is the best title reign in AEW history. Week after week, he’s had good to great matches with every type of wrestler you can imagine. Play the underdog against Big Bill? Done. Match Bandido move for move and spot for spot? No problem. Cassidy is so far beyond the “just a gimmick” moniker that he never deserved. He made this title matter and made it the workhorse title that it desperately needed to be.
Having mid-card titles like this are so important. They, obviously, add needed stakes to both one-off matches and feuds, but also serve to elevate the World title. The big prize should not be defended on TV regularly and should be saved for moments that truly deserve the highest stakes. When it is defended, it should feel like the proper spectacle it is.
As good as Cassidy has been, this feels like a safe way to take the title off him. Since winning the title in early October, Cassidy has wrestled in over 40 matches with most of them incredibly physical. It’s easy to think that his gimmick means he’s taking it easy, but he absolutely is not. Even standard AEW matches are taxing and grueling. Doing that weekly for seven months takes a huge toll. It’s time for a much-deserved break for the hardest-working man in AEW.
Prediction: Not Orange Cassidy
AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter defends against Toni Storm
Since January, Hayter has wrestled in three singles matches which seems low for the top woman in the company. Sure, there were some visa issues that complicated things, but only three matches for a woman this good and that the crowd can’t get enough of is far, far too few.
Too often, she’s been getting second or even third billing as the champion. Too often, she’s standing beside Britt Baker during promos without saying much. Too often, the story of The Outcasts doing nothing of substance gets more TV time than the woman who should be the face of the division. And that’s just it: Jamie Hayter has never been presented as the true face of the division. She’s an afterthought in everyone else’s stories and doesn’t have her own. A star this bright should never be dimmed this much.
Hayter’s injury makes this whole situation murkier. If she’s going to miss time, it makes all the sense in the world to put the title on Storm. It gives The Outcasts something to do outside of just spray painting everyone and loving green. It would give time for Hayter rest up for a huge return at All In later this summer.
Prediction: Toni Storm wins the title
TNT Champion Wardlow defends against Christian Cage in a ladder match
What a difference a year makes. Coming out of last year’s Double or Nothing, Wardlow was it, baby. No one was hotter than the War Daddy. Now? He’s a dryer on the fluff setting. Lukewarm would be giving him too much credit. As is often the case, it’s through no fault of his own. The inconsistent booking and constant devaluing of the TNT title have created this perfect cocktail of mediocrity and mild reactions.
Cage is probably the best pure, old-school heel in AEW. (Yes, this includes MJF because people want to like him.) No one wants to like Cage and no one even wants to tolerate him. He knows exactly how to get the reactions he wants. Like an expert harpist, he plucks the right strings at the exact right times. He knows which notes will resonate the most, and plays them at just the right tempo. From his words to his expertly curated selection of turtlenecks and jackets, he’s exactly the right person to start helping Wardlow get his momentum back and become someone who matters in AEW.
Prediction: Wardlow retains
TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Taya Valkyrie
A question that’s been rolling around in my ever-smoothing brain: is Cargill’s undefeated streak losing its luster? She still feels unstoppable, but it’s starting to feel routine. Never in my life could I imagine a world where a spectacle like Cargill feels like a regular wrestler. She hasn’t done anything meaningful since her program with Red Velvet in January. Prior to that, there was a bit of something with Willow Nightingale and Athena, but that was a year ago.
Two meaningful programs in a calendar year aren’t enough. A winning streak alone isn’t enough to be compelling, especially if the audience doesn’t believe she can actually lose. The presentation is still top shelf, but everything else is not. Sooner or later, there needs to be something for the audience to invest in or else it’s just empty calories.
There is no reason for squash matches this far into an undefeated streak. If this holding pattern is a result of waiting for Kris Stalander to come back healthy, that is just as inexcusable. AEW has never struck me as a place allergic to creative risks, so why not take the chance to make someone in one night? Whoever breaks Jade’s streak is made. Are there really no other in-house options to do just that?
If you squint, you can convince yourself there’s a story here, but certainly not enough to warrant the end of a winning streak. Their first match was nothing special, or even good, but it at least planted the seeds for an actual program with backstory. No shade meant to Valkyrie but her being the one to end the winning streak would be a fantastic disappointment.
Prediction: Jade Cargill retains
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR defend against Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal with Mark Briscoe as guest referee
Once again, and as always, god bless Jeff Jarrett. This 55-year-old carnie still has the best facials in all of wrestling. Whenever he hits a big move or gets away with something, he looks like a four-year-old that found a really cool bug at the park that they can’t wait to show you. And, of course, he found a way to work his wife (Karen Jarrett) into this angle. He’s been playing the same hits for years, and they still sound as good as ever. He’s so close to assembling the Jeff Jarrett set of infinity rings. Never change, Jeff. Never grow old.
This match probably won’t be a classic like we’ve come to expect from big FTR matches, but it should be a beautiful, overwrought mess. Ref bumps, interference galore, maybe a missed three count or two, you name it. But there will not be a title change. At least not as part of a program that is best suited for the 9:00 hour of Dynamite, not a pay-per-view.
Prediction: FTR retains
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Sammy Guevara, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Darby Allin in a four-way
By orders of magnitude, this is the weakest main event in AEW PPV history. MJF has done everything he could to create something compelling here, but ultimately the other three “pillars” just aren’t up to the task. The more we put the pillars under a microscope, the more they wilt. The only one that has truly flourished and become exactly what he claims to be is MJF. The generational talent label has never been more apt or more deserved. He’s the only true top of the card talent. The rest are just lost in his gravity — completely overshadowed and outclassed by someone who is superior in every way.
The worst thing for Sammy, Darby, and Jungle Jack was the pillars moniker. It came out of nowhere and was immediately met with mockery. These guys are the future foundation of the company? These are the guys being spoken of in the same breath as the four pillars of Heaven? It was a bold statement that did nothing for any of them, much like this feud hasn’t. It’s only served as a reminder of what they aren’t.
They have been running the same promos for a month now. I need this, I love this, I gave up everything for this, etc. If that’s all there is to say, there really isn’t anything to say. Rinse and repeat babyface promos aren’t enough. Generic ‘this is all I’ve dreamed about’ promos aren’t enough. This has been so flat that I can’t help but wonder if there’s a post-match angle planned, maybe something big to close the show and propel AEW full speed ahead towards Collision.
The Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite will square off in an Anarchy in the Arena match on May 28.
The end of Wednesday’s Dynamite saw Hangman Page making his return to the company, helping The Elite take out members of the Blackpool Combat Club. Page closed the show by issuing the challenge for AEW Double or Nothing.
Don Callis came out for the final segment of Dynamite to explain why he turned on Kenny Omega last week. After saying that there wouldn’t be a Kenny Omega without a Don Callis, Omega came out to contront him. As security held Omega back, The Blackpool Combat Club attacked him from behind. After Jon Moxley cut a promo in the ring, The Young Bucks came out to aid Omega with weapons. That was when Page made his return to the company, wearing an eyepatch. Together, they took out the BCC.
The last Anarchy in the Arena match took place at last year’s Double or Nothing. On that show, The Jericho Appreciation Society defeated members of The Blackpool Combat Club in a 5 on 5 anything goes match that saw everyone fight all over the arena.
Here is the updated lineup for Double or Nothing:
AEW World Championship: MJF defends against Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy Jack Perry, and Darby Allin
AEW Tag Team titles: FTR vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal with Mark Briscoe as special referee
AEW International title: Orange Cassidy defends in a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal
TNT title: Wardlow defends against Christian Cage in a ladder match
AEW Women’s title: Jamie Hayter defends against Toni Storm
Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite (Kenny Omega, Young Bucks, and Hangman Page) vs. The Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta)
Jon Moxley believes there’s nothing better in wrestling right now than the rivalry between his Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite.
Ahead of his steel cage match with Kenny Omega on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Moxley spoke with Sports Illustrated about the ongoing feud between the two factions.
Moxley said:
“The BCC vs. The Elite, this rivalry is the absolute apex of professional wrestling right now. We’re going to have a great crowd and we have the steel cage. It’s got all the ingredients for a really memorable night.”
The Blackpool Combat Club was born at AEW Revolution 2022. Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in singles competition that night and William Regal came out to break up a post-match brawl between the two. Wheeler Yuta would be invited into the faction the following month and Claudio Castagnoli would join that June.
“The BCC is real,” says Moxley. “It’s only been around for a year, but those guys have been my partners for like 10 years. I don’t have many close friends in the business. Danielson and Claudio, those two are on that list. They’re best friends, training partners, and I’ve spent so much time in the ring with them.”
Wednesday’s cage match between Moxley and Omega will renew a rivalry that was born on the first-ever edition of Dynamite in 2019. The two have wrestled three singles matches against each other, although their “Lights Out” match doesn’t officially count toward their win/loss records.
“Another thing me and Kenny have in common is that no matter how our bodies feel, when people give us their time and money, we put it all on the line,” Moxley continued. “We just don’t know any other way to do it.”
Moxley defeated Omega in the unsanctioned match at Full Gear 2019, Omega then beat Moxley for the AEW World title at Winter is Coming 2020. He then successfully defended the title against him in an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch at Revolution 2021.
Matt Jackson explains The Elite/Hangman Page drama —
The video opens this week with Matt Jackson trying to explain the history between Hangman Page and The Elite to Konosuke Takeshita. Nick Jackson refers to it as the best story in wrestling history but Takeshita said the Bloodline is better.
The Young Bucks deal with Ebay collectors at the airport —
The Young Bucks are at the airport and spotted some Ebay sellers wanting their autographs. So, they gave them their “house show signatures.”
Later when they arrive at the Hard Rock, it’s teased that Matt Jackson has something hidden in his backpack.
Leva Bates visits a confession booth —
Leva Bates goes to a confession booth (run by Ryzin) and mentions her husband, Peter Avalon, has been gone for two months and she’s been having some unpure thoughts about several AEW roster members. It took her so long to list off all those she’s had unpure thoughts about that Ryzin falls asleep.
Ryan Nemeth in front of a green screen (he still walks funny) —
Nemeth was taking photos in front of a green screen when his partner made more complaints about how he walks in such a weird way. They ended up cancelling the shoot as a result.
Alex Reynolds knows Matt Jackson’s secret —
The Dark Order visit The Elite’s locker room. They admit that perhaps The Elite are better friends to Hangman Page than they are. They teased that The Young Bucks would never betray their friends, especially not on a pay-per-view.
Alex Reynolds then whispered in Matt Jackson’s ear, “if you don’t tell them, I will.”
Shortly after, Matt Jackson is shown with his backpack arriving back at the hotel. The camera focuses on his backpack as ominous music plays in the background. What does Matt have in the backpack????
When Matt gets back to his room he opens the backpack and starts pulling out cheese puffs and eating them.
A post credit scene featured Nick Jackson telling Omega that Takeshita said the Bloodline storyline was better than theirs. Omega said they were still second or third best so it’s no big deal.
Several matches and a new promo were announced for this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
One of them is a Tres de Mayo trios battle royal that will see six teams and a combined 18 men.
Participants are The Butcher, The Blade, & Kip Sabian; Lucha Brothers & El Hijo del Vikingo; Varsity Athletes (Ari Daivari, Josh Woods & Tony Nese); Dark Order (John Silver, Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds); The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn; and QTV (QT Marshall, Powerhouse Hobbs & Aaron Solo).
No future AEW Trios title match was announced for the winner.
The Elite (Kenny Omega & the Young Bucks) will be on hand to share some thoughts about their recent run-ins with the Blackpool Combat Club. Omega vs. Jon Moxley in a steel cage match was also announced Friday for the May 10th Dynamite.
After an effort at their first encounter was thwarted by Jay White’s AEW return, Ricky Starks will once again attempt to take on Juice Robinson.
Saraya of The Outcasts will wrestle Willow Nightingale for the first time ever.
The new additions join the previously announced MJF & Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin & “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry tag team match where if Allin and Perry win, a four-way AEW World title match between all men will be made for Double or Nothing.
The other match previously announced is an eight-man tag featuring the AEW in-ring debut of Roderick Strong alongside Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy & Bandido against Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
Here’s the current card:
The Elite promo
Ricky Starks vs. Juice Robinson
Saraya vs. Willow Nightingale
MJF & Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin & Jack Perry with Double or Nothing AEW World title match stipulations on the line
Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy & Bandido vs. Jericho Appreciation Society (Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker)
Amongst all the news regarding CM Punk and the new AEW Saturday night show, one thing is still true: the situation between Punk and The Elite remains unresolved.
Pat Laprade joined Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales on Wrestling Observer Radio Saturday to discuss the situation between CM Punk and The Elite, who will appear to be working on two different shows starting in June.
“ [Punk] is going to be on one show, they are going to be on Dynamite, only meet on pay-per-views and I’m like, but this thing isn’t resolved yet,” Laprade said. “I mean how can you bring a guy back. It’s almost worse than Bret and Shawn from, I don’t know, 25 years ago.”
Meltzer agreed that it’s a worse situation than the issues between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels in 1997, as he pointed out that after the two got into their backstage fight, they eventually agreed to continue to work together. Meltzer said that some in AEW backstage wonder when the next backstage drama could start up.
“I know people in the company..the mood of the people that I know there that aren’t any of the people we just mentioned…it’s kinda like, when’s the next explosion going to happen? We know it’s going to happen, we just don’t know when,” Meltzer said.
Meltzer explained that the idea seems to be that people think the backstage situation has improved, even as ratings and attendance remain soft. Punk could be the answer that AEW needs to improve business, even if it means the potential for more backstage drama.
“The thought is of course if he delivers, if Punk delivers the numbers that he did when he first came in…but we don’t know if that’s going to happen, we don’t know it’s not going to happen,” he said.
