A new eight-man tag team match has been added to Saturday’s Collision.
The go-home show for WrestleDream will have Bryan Danielson, Wheeler Yuta, and FTR square off against Ricky Starks, Big Bill, and Aussie Open in an all star eight-man tag team match. Zack Sabre Jr., who will face Danielson on Sunday, will be on commentary.
Danielson and Yuta have been feuding with Starks and Bill for the last several weeks. Danielson defeated Starks in a Texas Death match on last week’s Collision, with Big Bill and Yuta getting into a confrontation after checking on their men. On this week’s Dynamite, Yuta confronted Starks, challenging him to a match for WrestleDream.
FTR and Aussie Open will be in the same ring just 24 hours before their AEW Tag Team title match at WrestleDream. It will mark exactly one year since the two teams first met at NJPW’s Royal Quest II in England.
Here is the updated lineup for Saturday:
All star eight-man tag: Bryan Danielson, Wheeler Yuta, and FTR vs. Ricky Starks, Big Bill, and Aussie Open
The AEW Tag Team title match for WrestleDream is now set.
FTR will defend the Tag Team titles against Aussie Open on October 1 in Seattle. On Saturday’s Collision, Aussie Open quickly defeated PB Smooth and Wes Barkley. They then issued a challenge to FTR, saying that they wanted a match against them at WrestleDream regardless if it was for the Tag Team titles or not. Kyle Fletcher noted that the match would take place exactly one year after their match at Royal Quest, where FTR defeated Aussie Open to retain the IWGP Tag Team titles.
Following their successful title match against The Young Bucks at All In last month, FTR have started an open challenge series on AEW Collision. On this week’s show, they defeated The Iron Savages. Next week’s show will see them defend the AEW Tag Team titles against The Workhorsemen.
Later on Collision, Katsuyori Shibata appeared and announced he would be defending the ROH Pure Championship at WrestleDream. It wasn’t announced who he would face.
Here is the updated card for AEW WrestleDream:
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland
AEW Tag Team titles: FTR defend against Aussie Open
Katsuyori Shibata to defend the ROH Pure Championship
On one of the more newsworthy weeks the company has ever had, AEW returns to pay-per-view for the second time in eight days with tonight’s All Out from Chicago’s United Center.
The PPV comes one day after AEW fired CM Punk for his actions last Sunday at All In at London’s Wembley Stadium.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will look to extend his 30+ title defense streak as he faces former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
Bryan Danielson will make an earlier than expected return after breaking his forearm in June as he challenges Ricky Starks in a strap match.
Kenny Omega will finally get his chance to wrestle Konosuke Takeshita one-on-one.
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will team with past challengers The Young Bucks against Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns).
ROH Tag Team Champions MJF & Adam Cole will defend against Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver.
The PPV will also feature AEW Trios, TBS, TNT and ROH TV title defenses.
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Zero Hour
The Wrestle Aunts, Renee Paquette & RJ City kick things off in the ring and run down how to watch the show and tonight’s card.
-Bryan Danielson is backstage and said he watched Collision a few weeks ago after learning Ricky Steamboat would be on the show. Steamboat encouraged Danielson throughout his early career and was sickened when he saw Ricky Starks whip a 70 plus year old man. The last time Danielson was in a strap match, it was against someone he loved (against The Fiend) and they beat the sh*t out of each other, so he asks Starks what he’ll do to him?
Hangman Adam Page won the 20 Man Over Budget Charity Battle Royal and will donate $50,000 to a charity of his choosing
(A fun battle royal to get the crowd going tonight, as Page was cheered a lot more than you’d expect following everything that’s happened backstage in the last 24 hours in AEW. A few matches could come out of this, as Scorpio Sky eliminated almost all of the former J.A.S. crew, while Mogul Embassy eliminated Best Friends, so a potential tag match could happen.)
Other participants included Brian Cage, Toa Liona, Kyle Fletcher, Action Andretti, Scorpio Sky, Daniel Garcia, Mark Davis, Jake Hager, Matt Menard, Bishop Kaun, Chuck Taylor, Darius Martin, Dalton Castle, Angelo Parker, Komander, Shawn Spears, Serpentico, Tony Nese
Tony Nese ran down the crowd pre-match and wanted to do group training with the 19 other entrants. Best Friends, Andretti & Martin all launched Nese over the top onto Mark Sterling right at the bell. Castle & The Boys were beaten down by Mogul Embassy before everyone was wiped out by a Komander shooting star press. Serpentico tried to fight the entire former J.A.S. crew, but was eliminated. Spears & Garcia had a 10/Thrust off before both attacked Aussie Open and thrusted at each other. This resulted in Davis & Fletcher eliminating Spears. Numbers game got the best of Komander, as he was eliminated by The Embassy. The Boys saved Castle from being eliminated, but caught Parker as well and placed him down in the most anticlimactic elimination ever. Castle, however, was soon eliminated as well.
Martin was tossed by Garcia & Menard, as Taylor was dumped by the Gates of Agony. Kaun was eliminated by Hangman, while Menard was shown eliminated on the opposite side, with Hager eliminated by Sky soon after. Page & Beretta teamed up to dump Davis, as Sky sent Garcia to the floor. Cage & Liona eliminated Sky and we’re down to Andretti, Beretta, Page, Cage, Liona & Fletcher. Both Fletcher & Andretti got to show off their athleticism until Fletcher dumped Andretti after a running leg lariat. Fletcher & Beretta fought to the apron where Beretta hit a half and half to eliminated Fletcher.
Cage & Liona double teamed Beretta enough until Cage hit an F5 to the floor to eliminate him, leaving Page in a 2 on 1 disadvantage. Page fought off a Cage powerbomb and hit Liona with a Buckshot before dumping him. Cage tried a discus lariat, but instead hit a spinning neckbreaker. Cage & Page both fought over the top onto the apron until Page was able to hit a Dead Eye and Cage fell to the floor.
(You’re standard party match, as the first half was dominated with Blue being isolated and the second being everyone trading big moves. Athena could have multiple challengers for her title coming out of this, as I wouldn’t mind seeing Nightingale get another shot. Shida seems to be building a story with Britt Baker, so I don’t know if a ROH Women’s Title match would be on the horizon for her quite yet.)
Pre-match, Martinez & Diamante didn’t want Athena’s minion Starkz with them, but Athena convinced them otherwise. Athena chucked Diamante to the wolves at the bell and bailed as the team argued outside before being met with a Blue cross body. Diamante was briefly controlled in the corner, but a cheap shot from Martinez on Blue allowed Diamante to hit a Cross Rhodes to keep Blue isolated.
Athena started trash talking her own team, which allowed Blue to make the tag to Nightingale, who ran wild on the ROH Women’s Champion. The match broke down with Diamante wiping out Nightingale, as Shida did the deal on Diamante with a Falcon Arrow. Martinez caught a trapped Blue in the corner with a violent Spider German, as Nightingale charged and met a hung up Martinez with a cannonball. Athena & Shida were left standing to slug it out in a fun back and forth until both were pulled outside where Nightingale pounced Athena into the railing. Martinez was sent into the railing by Nightingale as well before hitting an assisted thrust kick Death Valley Driver on Diamante as Blue hit a sloppy Code Blue for the victory.
-Another La Faccion Ingobernable video is shown about rebuilding and how their time is now. They must bring the violence and dominate. Rush said they must take their titles and take over AEW. I assume this means Rush, Dralistico & Preston Vance are coming for the Trios Titles.
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Daddy Ass (w/Dennis Rodman) defeated Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh (w/Karen Jarrett & Sonjay Dutt) to retain the AEW Trios Titles
(This was the usual interference filled Jarrett match you’d expect, with their game plan blowing up in their faces. I wonder how much AEW paid Rodman to do a guitar shot and scissor with the Trios champions? Rodman looked like he was having a blast though and the Chicago crowd popped big for his spot.)
Pre-match, Dutt introduced his team by wearing an Isaiah Thomas Pistons jersey, as Singh faked a slam dunk on a hoop, but popped the basketball instead. Caster’s rap talked about Rodman being friends with Kim Jong Un and called Jarrett’s crew the 2023 Oddities. Daddy Ass said Mike Posey wasn’t the referee for this match and brought out Aubrey Edwards, which infuriated Karen Jarrett. The match broke down right at the bell, as Jarrett was hit with Scissor Me Timbers before Caster & Bowens did a Fargo Strut. Jarrett took the ref, as Singh got a cheap shot on Caster to allow Jarrett to do the proper Fargo Strut.
After being isolated, Caster finally made the hot tag to Bowens, who ran wild with strikes on Lethal. Karen tripped up Bowens, who made the tag to Daddy Ass and slugged it out with Singh, who hit a big boot and choke slam onto Bowens. Karen tried a guitar shot on Daddy Ass, but was caught by referee Aubrey, who shoved down Karen. This brought Rodman into the ring and he broke the guitar over Singh. Aubrey just stared at Rodman holding a broken guitar, as Lethal was planted with a Fame-Asser, The Arrival and Mic Drop to let the champs retain.
AEW All Out 2023
-Excalibur welcomes us alongside Nigel McGuinness & Kevin Kelly as the ROH Tag Titles are on the line in our opening contest.
Better Than You Bay-Bay (MJF & Adam Cole) defeated John Silver & Alex Reynolds (w/Evil Uno) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
(MJF & Cole wore matching Chicago Bulls #23 style tag team shirts, as I think it would’ve been a funny burn if MJF was Jordan and Cole would’ve been Pippen. This was a fun opener, as the crowd really wanted their Kangaroo Kicks and Double Clotheslines and was rewarded with both. I was going to say how MJF only wrestled for about 5 minutes in what was essentially a handicap match, but the post match really set things up potentially, as I wasn’t expecting the Joe & MJF brawl.)
Cole & Silver started with a fast opening sequence with the crowd chanting for a Kangaroo Kick and Double Clothesline, which Reynolds saved his partner from. MJF yelled to the crowd how Reynolds helped train him and got a sportsmanship chant going. An eye poke and Fargo Strut almost led to a Kangaroo Kick, but Silver attacked MJF from behind. MJF really selling the effects of neck injury he suffered in the main event of All In. Evil Uno took the ref outside, as Reynolds got a cheap shot with a chair to the neck of MJF. The doctors check on MJF and have to help him to the back, leaving Cole at a disadvantage.
Cole cut off a diving Silver with an enzugiri in mid air and caught a leaping Reynolds with a superkick. Back inside, Cole wanted Panama Sunrise, but Silver countered into a combo of kicks and Fisherman’s Buster for two. Referee again was taken, as Evil Uno posted Cole outside, with Excalibur talking about the mean streak Dark Order have found again, being first introduced to them by the late Brodie Lee. Cole countered a Silver brainbuster into a neckbreaker onto the knee, as Uno flipped Cole off in his corner with Silver & Reynolds hitting the Wombo Combo for a close near fall.
Silver & Reynolds called for and connected with a Double Clothesline for two, as Reynolds grabbed a tag title, but Cole avoided and wiped out both men. Crowd chanted for MJF and right on cue, he stormed to the ring against doctors orders and made the hot tag, running wild. A double eye poke and double noggin knocker as Excalibur compared him to Jordan in the flu game. Miscommunication by Silver & Reynolds led to a Kangaroo Kick connecting to make the crowd explode. Uno ate a superkick on the apron, as the Double Clothesline was called and hit on Reynolds with Cole getting the pin.
Post match, MJF went to walk up the ramp on his own accord, but Samoa Joe’s music hit and he shoved past MJF on the stage. Cole tried to tell his partner to leave it alone, as MJF hit the ring and started a fight with Joe, who hooked a guillotine quickly. Security and agents rushed the ring with Joe smirking and an angry MJF wanting to fight, ultimately being escorted to the back by Cole and company.
Samoa Joe defeated Shane Taylor to retain the ROH TV Title
(This was like two trucks smashing into each other repeatedly, as both men beat the hell out of each other tonight. Even in defeat, Taylor stood his ground with Joe, who has to be seen a future contender for the AEW Title after tonight, which I’m all for.)
Kevin Kelly said this shouldn’t last long, with heavyweight fights not going 15 rounds with both men trading stiff strikes early before Taylor just mowed down Joe with a lariat. The match spilled outside where Taylor got the upper hand. Taylor kept Joe grounded back inside, but only managed a one count. Joe clipped Taylor with an enzugiri and followed with a massive elbow suicida. Joe connected with his combo of a Manhattan Drop, big boot and senton, but Taylor kicked out at one. Taylor again clocked Joe with a lariat, but while on the apron, Joe locked on the rear naked choke. Taylor draped Joe over the ropes an hit a Tower of London stunner variation before hitting a splash for two.
Taylor fired off more lariats before Joe exploded with one of his own, crumbling Taylor in the process. A slugfest ensued before Joe brutally hit a forearm and series of knee lifts until the Coquina Clutch was applied and Taylor tapped out.
Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) defeated Darby Allin (w/Nick Wayne) to retain the TNT Title
(A very solid story told here and more than just big guy vs. little guy, as Cage’s outside involvement with Wayne led to the decision Allin had to make whether to save his friend or try to win the title. The decision cost him, as Cage & Luchasaurus standing strong means this story can continue, as they really put over how Allin taking all these big time blows might have finally caught up to him.)
Jim Ross replaced Kevin Kelly on commentary prior to the match as Allin low bridged Luchasaurus, who caught a leaping Allin and launched him into the railing violently. Luchasaurus had Allin in a wheelbarrow and swung him into the ring steps as Cage ordered to finish him, as Allin is bleeding. Luchasaurus trapped Allin under the steps and proceeded to walk up them with Allin screaming in pain. Finally in the ring, Luchasaurus hit a spinning side suplex and wild headbutt to a charging Allin. After a choke slam attempt, Allin back flipped out and hit a springboard cross body. Allin tried a follow up cross body off the top, but bounced off Luchasaurus like a ball.
Allin battled back, set up Luchasaurus on a chair outside and did a somersault dive from the top to the floor and just clipped Luchasaurus enough to avoid disaster. Back inside, Luchasaurus almost hit a Torture Rack backbreaker, but Allin countered into a Crucifix Bomb for two. Allin wanted a Coffin Splash, but Luchasaurus caught him into a release German that dropped Allin right on his head. Cage demanded Wayne throw the towel in for Allin, who was locked in a Torture Rack. Allin flipped free and wiped out Cage with a low tope before getting caught in the Luchasaurus clutches coming back in.
Allin bit free from the grasps and hit an Avalanche Code Red which Luchasaurus did not kick out in time for, as Rick Knox had to pull the count and the crowd was pissed. Allin went to the top, but Cage clocked Wayne with a chair shot in the back and Cage said he was going to hit a Con-Chair-To if Allin leapt. Luchasaurus cut Allin off in the corner and hit multiple Tombstone Piledrivers before hitting a Snake Eyes and lariat to the back of the head to retain the title. Post match, Cage threw Wayne into the ring and forced him to watch as Cage was about to hit a Con-Chair-To when Shawn Spears, Carlie Bravo, Shawn Dean, Trent Baretta, Acion Andretti, Ethan Page and others made the save with Cage & Luchasaurus bailing with Cage clutching the TNT Title.
Miro defeated Powerhouse Hobbs
(Excalibur referenced a great line Big E has said in the past saying this match was big meaty men, slappin meat. Little did I know that was only the beginning of the meat references, as the crowd proceeded to deliver “Slap That Meat” “This Is Meaty” “Meat Forever” and “Holy Meat” chants. The crowd gave both a standing ovation, as this match stole the show so far and it’s going to take a hell of a lot to beat this. I could watch these two beat each other up over and over again. The post match attack by Hobbs and the debut of CJ Perry means we’re hopefully just getting started with this feud, which is wonderful for everyone, especially the fans.)
Each man was able to throw the other to the mat after early lock ups, as Miro relentlessly unloaded corner strikes. Miro tried to explode with a lariat, but Hobbs didn’t budge and ran through Miro with a lariat of his own. Miro battled back with his spin kick and used his agility to hit a perfect dropkick. Hobbs used his amazing strength and hit an overhead belly to belly and stayed in control with another overhead throw. Hobbs missed a corner charge and spilled outside, where Miro met him with a somersault senton off the apron.
Miro drove Hobbs repeatedly into the railing, but Hobbs slapped Miro in the face and tried wearing him down back in the ring. Miro fought back, as both men collided repeatedly with charges in the ropes, as the crowd chanted “Meat!” after each time. Miro hit a succession of lariats, with Hobbs not going down until finally Miro wound up and dropped him. Miro channeled his best Sheamus for 10 corner forearms in the ropes until Hobbs spun around and hit a front face suplex on Miro in the ring. Hobbs went up top, but Miro cut him off and hit a huge superplex with the crowd on their feet.
Miro hit his thrust kick, but missed a second and Hobbs hit a spinning powerslam for two. Hobbs got his answers to the early lariats in by hitting multiple ones, until Miro mowed him down with one and hit the thrust kick for two. Miro called for Game Over, but Hobbs was able to power out, backpack Miro and drive him into the corner. Hobbs caught a leaping Miro with a spinebuster for the closest two of the match. Hobbs tried Game Over, but Miro answered with a spinebuster of his own and Game Over locked in tightly, as Hobbs tapped out.
Post match, both men shook hands until Hobbs attacked Miro from behind and started to choke him out. We then see the debut of Miro’s hot and flexible wife, the former Lana, CJ Perry, hit the ring to a huge ovation and clock Hobbs in the back with a chair, which he no sold. Hobbs turned his back enough for Miro to recover and hit a chair shot to both the back and the head. Perry smiled at her husband, but Miro didn’t know what to think of it and left her in the ring, yelling that she’s not real.
Kris Statlander defeated Ruby Soho (w/Saraya) for the TBS Title
(These two had the unenviable task to follow the last war we just saw. It started slow, but both ladies put together a real hard hitting and very good match. The finish pretty much seals the deal with Toni Storm leaving The Outcasts, as the interference that brought them so many wins, finally blew up in their faces.)
Soho has her Rancid theme back for this match, with Statlander channeling her best Derek Zoolander impression with Blue Steel during her entrance. Both ladies traded standing tall and posing in the early going, as Soho missed a corner charge and Statlander connected with an awkward running knee. Statlander sent Soho into the railing outside and chased after Saraya long enough for Soho to hit a missile dropkick off the apron. Soho kept Statlander grounded in the ring and cut the champion off with a heel trip for two.
Statlander fought back with kicks, including a desperation No Future kick to lead to a double down. Statlander kept avoiding corner charges until she lit up Soho with a violence party in the corner. A nice snap powerslam followed, as Statlander hit her spinning fisherman’s driver for a near fall. Statlander applied a Gory Special, but Soho countered into a roll up and cradle for two. Soho countered Sunday Night Fever into a roll up before both ladies got up and collided with cross body attempts for a reset.
Saraya ripped up a fans sign ringside, as Soho was cut off in the ropes, where Statlander hit sort of an Avalanche Tour of the Islands for a close two. Statlander got a fireman’s carry, but Soho turned it into a Poison Rana, DDT and low hurricanrana for the closest near fall of the match. Statlander was able to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Saraya’s trash talk allowed Soho to hit No Future and Destination Unknown, but Statlander kicked out. Saraya took the ref, as Soho wanted to use the spray paint, but Toni Storm appeared and took the can away from Soho, who turned around and was dropped with Sunday Night Fever for the Statlander win.
Bryan Danielson defeated Ricky Starks in a No DQ Strap Match
(I was surprised as anyone when Danielson returned a month earlier than expected from injury. This match thankfully didn’t have many bumps on the injured arm, as both men made everything involving the strap mean something, from start to finish. This was a fantastic showing not just from Danielson, but Starks especially, who held his own and reminds us why he’s one of the young guns in this company. Starks never quit and instead opted to go out on his shield.)
Ricky Steamboat joined commentary for this match, as The Final Countdown plays for Danielson, which the crowd loved, myself included. Starks attacked prior to the bell and whipped Danielson with his weight belt repeatedly on the floor, cracking Danielson with the buckle of the belt, busting Danielson opened. For some reason, it was that moment referee Aubrey started the match officially. Starks choked Danielson with the strap and dragged him all over the floor before stomping on the head on top of the ropes.
Starks continued his assault in the ring, as Danielson fought back with headbutts and kicks, but Starks whipped Danielson in the side of the head with the strap. Danielson is bleeding buckets, as Starks wanted a superplex, but Danielson slid through and crotched Starks. Danielson violently whipped Starks repeatedly and got his revenge, choking Starks, who was trapped in the Tree of Woe. A baseball slide sent Starks to the floor, but Starks used the strap to pull Danielson in and crack him in the face. Starks opted to trash talk Steamboat, as Danielson was able to post Starks in the process, busting him open as well.
Danielson continued to whip Starks as McGuinness on commentary pleaded for things to stop, as Steamboat said it was Starks who wanted this match. Danielson hit his corner dropkicks, but Starks fired out and turned Danielson inside out with a lariat. Starks started violently whipping the hell out of Danielson over and over, as Danielson started shaking them off to the You F’d Up chants rang through the arena. Starks gassed out, as Danielson answered with whips and kicks aplenty to the point of Starks crumbling and the crowd applauding on their feet. Big Bill appeared and went to attack Danielson when Steamboat jumped off commentary and fought off the big man. Bill had Steamboat in his clutches, but Danielson launched Starks over the top onto Bill and Danielson followed with a dive onto both of them.
Danielson went for his kicks back inside, when Starks exploded out with a Spear for a close two. Starks went for Roshambo, but Danielson slid out, hit the Busaiku Knee, as Starks kicked out. Danielson started kicking Starks’ head in before applying the LeBell Lock, wrapping the strap around the throat and Starks expression was masterful here, as he didn’t submit, instead opting to pass out.
-Nigel McGuinness informs us the charity Hangman Adam Page was donating his winning $50,000 to will be Chicago Public Education Fund.
Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta defeated Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata
(I’m very surprised that Kingston ate the pin here, even if it felt like it came out of nowhere and he got caught. Everyone looked very solid in this match, as I certainly want to see Castagnoli defend his title against not only Shibata, but Kingston again eventually.)
Taz joined commentary, as Kingston wore a shirt that read Claudio Sucks Eggs as tribute to the late great Terry Funk. Yuta & Shibata grappled early with Shibata connecting with Kawada kicks with Castagnoli wanting the tag and Yuta obliging. Castagnoli hit strikes, but missed a dropkick, so did Shibata with his PK. Kingston tagged in and Castagnoli bailed, having Yuta tag in and get his ass kicked by Kingston before the brawl was on outside with Kingston & Castagnoli until Yuta connected on a dive and Castagnoli drove Kingston into the railing.
Kingston remained isolated until a STO on Yuta allowed Shibata to make the hot tag. Shibata & Castagnoli took turns with charging corner strikes, as Shibata was the one to stand tall with his stalling running dropkick leading to a butterfly suplex. Shibata transitioned into a triangle choke, but Castagnoli escaped as he & Yuta connected on a fastball special for a near fall. Shibata then exploded out with a backfist that crumbled Yuta. With Yuta locked in a submission, Shibata no sold Castagnoli strikes and got an ankle lock at the same time.
Kingston made the tag and planted Yuta with a DDT after Yuta tried to skin the cat. Machine gun chops led to an Exploder, as Castagnoli cut Kingston off with a big boot. Yuta was caught with a pump kick by Shibata into a Saito Suplex from Kingston. Shibata & Castagnoli traded uppercuts until an overhand right by Shibata dropped Castagnoli with the fight continuing outside. Kingston & Yuta had a nice exchange with Yuta dropping Kingston on his head with a suplex, as Kingston fired back with an enzugiri and stiff slaps. Finally it was Kingston and Castagnoli, who started throwing bombs until Castagnoli hit a Neutralizer for two.
Kingston floated out of a Ricola Bomb and hit the spinning backfist that led to a Northern Lights Bomb for two. Yuta ate a backfist of his own and fell into the choke by Shibata on the apron. Kingston turned around and Castagnoli hit a massive uppercut and got the pin on Kingston with Shibata stuck on the apron.
(For the first time in his career, Takeshita has officially pinned Omega. Commentary really put over how this is another loss for Omega without Callis in his corner. A fantastic match, with the crowd really into it, as they seemed to be completely caught off guard by the finish. It almost felt like they were expecting this to reach yet another level when the finish happened.)
Omega is rocking his DDT inspired gear tonight. Takeshita got the best of Omega after the feeling out process, dropping Omega on his neck with a scary high angle backdrop driver that Omega rolled outside after. Takeshita hit a running boot, but Omega responded with You Can’t Escape on the floor. Back inside, Omega punted Takeshita and followed up with his dunk slam, sinking in the Indian Deathlock. A slap exchange ensued until Takeshita went for the eyes. Takeshita-line hit, but Omega floated over in the corner, wanted a hurricanrana, but Takeshita blocked and threw Omega face first into the buckle. To the floor again, this time with Takeshita hitting a brainbuster and pulling out chairs, but the ref scolded him. With the ref’s attention turned, Callis stacked the chairs onto Omega and Takeshita hit a senton over the top on top of them. Takeshita mocked Omega before hitting a Helluva Kick and Blue Thunder Bomb for two.
Takeshita continued to pick Omega apart until Omega got his knees up on a top rope senton attempt. A jumping knee sent Takeshita outside, as Omega followed with a Terminator Dive. Missile dropkick connected flush, followed by two Snap Dragons, knee strike and Poison Rana for a two. Both men flipped out of German attempts and traded pumping knee strikes until Takeshita turned Omega inside out with a wild lariat. Omega floated out of a powerbomb into one of his own and knee strike to follow. V-Trigger connected, but Takeshita countered a One Winged Angel into a Crunchie. Omega barely has strength in his legs and started swinging wildly, connecting enough, but Takeshtia fought back with forearms with Omega answering with a desperation lariat.
A leaping V-Trigger hit in the corner, as Omega wanted an Avalanche One Winged Angel, which Takeshita escaped into a wild Avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb for a close near fall. Power Drive Knee hit for Takeshita, who couldn’t believe it was only two. Takeshita took the ref and Callis tried to stab Omega with the screwdriver, but missed, as Omega hit a ripcord V-Trigger. Takeshtia grabbed the screwdriver and almost used it during a One Winged Angel, but referee Paul Turner saw it and took it away. Both men traded roll ups with Takeshtia hitting wheelbarrow throw into a Power Driver Knee, but Omega kicked out and the crowd is going nuts. Takeshita exposed the knee and hit a home run knee strike to crumble Omega and get the pin to shock the crowd.
Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns (Austin & Colten) defeated FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
(This felt like a Collision main event, as it got a lot of time and was a party match feel, everyone getting in their signature offense. The crowd loudly booed the Bucks to start the match, but it became more even when the match got going. With the win, commentary talked about The Gunns potentially getting another tag team title shot in the future.)
Colten & Wheeler had a fast opening sequence with Austin making a quick tag and using his speed to briefly have the upper hand until Wheeler fired off arm drags and a hurricanrana. The Bucks made fast tags and were booed by the United Center crowd, but they soaked it in during their double team maneuvers. Harwood & White jumped in and picked up where they left off on Collision briefly until Robinson made the tag and isolated Harwood. With The Gunns & Robinson too busy throwing guns up, Harwood fired off chops to everyone and White found himself isolated by FTR. White managed to chop block Wheeler’s leg and the tide turned again before an 8 man showdown took place leading to a brawl.
A quadruple atomic drop sent all of Bullet Club Gold colliding until FTR & The Bucks locked in Sharpshooters for all. Referee Rick Knox restored order, but it allowed Harwood to be trapped in the wrong corner yet again and isolated for an extended period. Harwood finally got free and made the tag to Nick, who was a house of fire to the mix reaction of cheers and boos. The Bucks ran wild with their signature offense until Wheeler blocked a Matt superkick and instead hit a double superkick on Austin. Nick tried his slingshot face buster and moonsault to the floor, but he cleared Juice on his attempt. Matt & Harwood hit a spike piledriver on Austin, but it was broken up.
The match broke down Bullet Club Gold trying for a triple superplex, but White, Robinson & Colten all getting crotched. This led to a Power-Plex, Elbow Drop, 450 Splash combo from FTR & The Bucks. Everyone started hitting dives, leaving Austin & Harwood left in the ring colliding with a double clothesline. Finisher attempts were countered until Nick & Wheeler hit a Shatter Machine with Matt & Harwood hit BTE Trigger for two on White. Colten laid out Matt with a Fame-Asser outside, as White laid out Wheeler with Blade Runner, as Colten picked up the pieces and stole the pin as a result. Nick said to Wheeler that he was late for breaking up the pin post match.
Jon Moxley defeated Orange Cassidy to win the AEW International Title
(And with that, one of the greatest title reigns in AEW history comes to an end and it happened after an absolute war. Both men knocked this one out of the park, as Moxley continues to be the man to rely on when things go haywire for the company, while Cassidy is simply incredible with the storytelling he’s able to tell, especially during this reign.)
The BCC and Best Friends & Kris Statlander walked with champion and challenger respectively backstage prior to both man’s entrance. Cassidy started fast, but Moxley avoided Orange Punch and hit multiple suplexes. Cassidy fought back on the apron, hitting a cross body, but Moxley rolled through and stomped down repeatedly onto the face. Cassidy popped off a Stundog Millionaire and dive outside, as Cassidy tried his DDT, but Moxley countered into an inside out suplex. Moxley rag dolled Cassidy on the outside, posted him and Cassidy was busted open as a result, as Moxley pounced on top of the commentary table, biting at the head. Moxley waited for Cassidy to beat the count and immediately hit a stalling piledriver. Moxley bit at the head again, as Cassidy’s blood is on the mouth of Moxley, which is pretty gross.
Moxley is relentless with cross face strikes, as Cassidy tries fighting back, with Moxley mocking the hands in the pockets. Moxley wanted a superplex, but Cassidy turned the tables and raked the back, biting Moxley’s head to fight fire with fire. A diving DDT was followed by the spinning DDT, as Moxley avoided Orange Punch with jabs, but Cassidy took a page out of Shibata’s playbook with a PK and Orange Punch for two. Moxley countered Beach Break into a Gotch Style Piledriver and Cassidy nearly got a flash crucifix, but Moxley got the rear naked choke. Moxley transitioned to an arm breaker and LeBell Lock, as Cassidy nearly tapped, but didn’t. Cassidy got the ropes and fell to the outside, where Moxley exposed the floor by ripping off the mats. Cassidy countered a piledriver and hit Beach Break onto the floor followed by a dropkick sending Moxley’s head into the steps.
Moxley beat the count, but Cassidy hit multiple Orange Punches, the third being blocked into a Cutter. Cassidy spun out of Death Rider into another Orange Punch and huge Spear for a near fall. Pocket offense from Cassidy, which got more and more intense to fire up the crowd until Moxley hit a wild lariat, which Cassidy no sold, so Moxley hit it again for two. Death Rider connected, but Cassidy just rolled a shoulder barely up. Cassidy is dripping blood, as he rose to his feet and flipped off Moxley, who flattened Cassidy with a home run Death Rider to win the title.
The BCC celebrate with Moxley and the International Title at the ramp, as Cassidy is left in the ring to recover to chants of his name by the Chicago crowd. The show goes off the air with the fans chanting for Cassidy.
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author.
What if I told you that you could spend 50 American dollars to watch an episode of Dynamite? Does that sound like something you might be interested in?
I will not bury the lede here: Sunday’s AEW All Out (8 PM Eastern from Chicago on PPV) is not a good show on paper. The fact that it’s even happening is another example of AEW’s continued short-sightedness. There was no compelling reason to run another major show a week after the biggest show they’ve ever run.
This isn’t revisionist history either. When this run of shows was announced, anyone with an internet connection wondered how this would work. And the answer is that it just isn’t working. Running this schedule requires an insane level of logistical planning and luck to go off without a hitch. I don’t know how closely you’ve been paying attention, but planning and luck are two things that remain sorely lacking in AEW. So bear witness, cats and kittens, to AEW’s first official B-level pay-per-view. It took a while to get there, but we’ve finally arrived.
Even though I am on the verge of AEW exhaustion, I will not abandon you, my dear readers. Come with me as we preview the extremely lackluster card. Please note this includes everything announced as of Saturday morning.
You can also hear me talk about this card and All In on this week’s Josh Nason’s Punch-Out.
Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)
Few things are more alluring than the main event version of Omega. Even though his match against Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door wasn’t the official main event, it was still a major attraction. The clock is ticking on his peak, and if we’re being honest, it’s ticking on his career. How many more chances will he have to put on a vintage Tokyo Dome-level performance for AEW? With only a handful of major shows a year, they should be using this as a chance to make a star. And what better star to make than Takeshita?
Takeshita is the goods, the truth, the future — he’s everything. Whatever a company could ever want in a wrestler exists in this 28-year-old. He moves like a top 1% athlete. His hands are cinder blocks; his forearm to Ishii at Forbidden Door almost gave the entire announce team a stroke. This is as special of a performer as there is in pro wrestling. He pinned Omega at All In, nd nothing would do more to establish him as a GUY in AEW than another win on Sunday. If they have a direction in mind, this is the time to pull the trigger.
Prediction: Takeshita
TNT Champion Luchasaurus (w/ Christian Cage) defends against Darby Allin
This is Luchasaurus’s best role: a stand-in for someone with star power. He’s great/good/perfectly fine as a big heater with, and I’ll be generous here, an interesting look. But Christian is the star of this pairing and one of the two or three best things in AEW proper. His ongoing war on dads should win feud of the year on this website. His turtlenecks should win best gear — a category invented by me just now. The man will be 50 in November and is doing the best work of his entire career. The benefit of having someone like him on the roster can’t be understated. Someone who can sell a feud, who knows how to ad lib in front of a crowd, and who can generate surface-of-Mercury level heat is well worth whatever Tony Khan is paying him.
Allin remains one of the most consistently booked wrestlers on the roster. He almost always has something meaningful to do on a relatively important place of the card. It’s allowed him to grow and has conditioned the audience to know that when he’s on screen, something important is happening or a gruesome apron spot or both! The title means more to Allin than it does to the combination of Christian and Luchasaurus, and a title change needs to happen somewhere on this card. This is the place, even though I hate it.
Prediction: Allin wins the title
ROH Tag Team Champions Adam Cole & MJF defend against Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver)
I love it when guys drop the kneepad. Their kneecaps look so tiny and cute. It’s supposed to be this big dramatic reveal, but all I can think about is how small they look. Every time Cole reveals his baby knee, I just chuckle. It can’t possibly hurt anyone — it’s too tiny! All of this is to say, that there isn’t much to write about here. Dark Order won Friday’s battle royal on Rampage and earned the privilege of being rolled over by Better Than You Bay Bay. The crowd just eats this pairing up and, even though this match doesn’t make any sense, they couldn’t run this show without Cole and MJF getting TV time.
I didn’t need to update this after the winner of the battle royal was announced as the opponent simply did not matter. It’s a kangaroo kick, double clothesline, and the 1-2-3.
Prediction: Cole and MJF retain
Miro vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
It’s so good to have Miro back and cutting angry promos about higher powers and flexible wives. He’s still a little directionless, something unfortunately not unique to him, but this match is a great way to remind the audience just how good he is in the ring. For years, we have lamented about Miro’s unrealized potential. It’s time to let him show the world what he can do.
Hobbs is still doing the Book of Hobbs thing and seems like he might be getting another push. At some point, AEW needs to make up its mind about what to do with him. He and Ricky Starks have had more pushes started and abandoned in the last 18 months than most wrestlers do in their entire careers. Hobbs’ last push was confusingly derailed by a partnership (?) with QT Marshall (???) and QTV (?????). On the bad decision scale that’s up there with either Blockbuster opting to not buy Netflix and all of Game of Thrones’ 8th season.
This should show us who is in line for a big push moving forward. I say “should” instead of “will” not to cover my bases, but because who knows if it will actually lead to anything of substance.
Prediction: Miro
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR & The Young Bucks vs. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns)
A show like this wouldn’t be complete without a Teddy Long SmackDown Special, aka the “Can they coexist?” combo platter. There is no earthly reason for FTR and the Bucks to ever team up, let alone agree to a match MINUTES AFTER they just wrestled their rubber match at Wembley Stadium.
Since so much of the card doesn’t make any sense, I’ll throw logic out for this one. This has a chance to be a really fun house show match. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks kept the t-shirts on for this one and let FTR do most of the leg work. Bullet Club Gold has been great at the lighter moments and this entire match should be a lighter moment. Despite itself, this should work and be a decent amount of fun. For this card, that’s a huge win.
Prediction: Bang Bang Gang
ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe defends against Shane Taylor
God, how good is Samoa Joe? He is, of course, a spectacular talent in every facet of pro wrestling. Whether it’s in the ring, on the mic, or in the commentary booth, he’s as good as it gets. A friend of mine said Joe is firmly in his top three favorite wrestlers of all time. He presented it like it was a hot take, and while it’s certainly on the warmer side, I couldn’t find myself disagreeing.
He’s only had two World title runs, one each in ROH and TNA/Impact, which is astounding. He capped out in WWE with both the NXT and U.S. Championships. It’s a testament to his excellence that he can be so revered, and such a legend without a ton of formal ‘top of the card’ success.
Prediction: Samoa Joe retains
Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)
Imagine having Shibata on your PPV and announcing it on Twitter at 10:30 at night four days before the show. What, and I can’t stress this enough, are we doing here? Every match Shibata has is a miracle and should be a special event. It should be heavily promoted as the big deal it is. It should not be relegated to a Twitter announcement.
The real draw here, though, is another interaction between Kingston and Castagnoli. The two can barely be in the same city, let alone ring, without wanting to kill each other. The power of their hatred could reignite a dying star. I hope that this is the beginning of the long-awaited end to this feud. It deserves a proper blow-off and I don’t mean at Final Battle. It should be on the biggest stage it can be with as many eyes on it as possible. TK, my boy, I don’t ask for much, but please put that on Wrestle Dream or Full Gear instead of relegating it to one of the ROH properties.
Prediction: Kingston and Shibata
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Ruby Soho
Statlander came back, beat Jade Cargill, and then…just kind of hung out? A multi-year undefeated streak ended, and the (more than a) woman who ended it, feels just like she always has. This was one of the easiest opportunities to make a star. The whole point of a streak like that is to immediately make someone and rocket them to the main event level. Statlander was a perfect pick for that. They nailed the hard part, which is picking the star, and to not capitalize on it is, at best, negligent, and, at worse, is yet another reflection of where the women’s division stands in the eyes of the AEW booking team.
This match should be very good. It’s a nice mix of styles and Soho has more TV wrestling experience than just about any woman on the roster. Statlander always works best with a stable, veteran presence that can take the lead in a match. That’s exactly what Soho is great at. She’ll make Statlander look like the star she should be. Hopefully, this reignites her momentum and gets her ready for more than just the TBS Championship.
Prediction: Statlander retains
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
This is one of the few matches that belongs on a Sunday pay-per-view and not just a special episode of Dynamite. Their resumes speak for themselves. Up until this year, Moxley was the forever MVP of AEW. Whenever they needed someone for something, for anything really, Mox was always on speed dial. It kind of became a joke that he’d never be able to take a long overdue vacation.
But during all that something funny happened. Cassidy won the International Championship and made it mean something. This is a serious title now thanks entirely to him and the work that he’s put in during his reign. There have been many times when I thought he’d drop the belt, but it hasn’t happened. What has happened is that Cassidy is, without a doubt, on the shortlist for wrestler of the year, and if we voted today, he would have my vote. Week in, week out regardless of opponent, he is putting on main event caliber matches while having main event caliber injuries. He’s the MVP of AEW.
MJF might be at the top of the card, and others might have more name recognition, but somehow a guy who wrestles in denim joggers and doesn’t have a catchphrase, became the most important performer in the entire company. Whenever he loses the title, he deserves the vacation that Moxley still hasn’t taken.
As good as this title reign has been, it’s missing one signature defense. A win over Moxley would cap off one of the best runs with a title in AEW, and firmly establish Cassidy as one of the actual pillars of AEW.
An eight-man tag team match has been set for Sunday’s All Out.
The Young Bucks and FTR will team together to take on all four members of Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Juice Robinson, and The Gunns).
A vignette that aired on Wednesday showed FTR confronting The Young Bucks after All In about not shaking hands after their match. As The Young Bucks were expressing their frustration in losing, Bullet Club Gold appeared and mocked them, leading to Wheeler suggesting an eight-man tag match at All Out, with both teams accepting.
A match for the ROH Television Championship was also announced, with former champion Shane Taylor taking on current champion Samoa Joe. A promo with Taylor aired talking about how he was champion for a long time, and would defeat Joe at All Out.
The ROH Tag Team titles will also be on the line with Adam Cole and MJF defending against the winners of a battle royal that will take place on Rampage this Friday.
After Dynamite ended, another match was added to the card on social media, with Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta teaming up to take on Eddie Kingston and ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata.
On a new Vinny & Craig Show, the honorable Vince Verhei & Craig Proper talk about, what else, Sunday’s AEW All In from London’s Wembley Stadium.
From MJF & Adam Cole’s friendship surviving to FTR winning their trilogy bout with the Young Bucks to STING to everything in between, the guys have you covered as only they can.
The biggest wrestling show of the year has to be just that. Sunday’s All In (1 PM Eastern from London’s Wembley Stadium), the most important show since AEW became a proper company, needs to be can’t miss (sports) entertainment. This should be a card full of massive feuds, dream matches, and worthwhile conclusions to long-simmering stories.
Not having Kenny Omega in a singles match or CM Punk trying to regain the title he never lost are just some of the more egregious misses.
The lead-up to what should be AEW’s magnum opus has unfolded with a lamentable lack of finesse, leaving even their most ardent supporters with shrugged shoulders. This is a haphazardly constructed card, devoid of any narrative finesse that defines the truly historic shows.
But what am I even saying? When the bell rings, all of this will probably be forgotten, and the performers will deliver like they always do. Consistently relying on high-quality in-ring performances to make up for subpar builds is a dangerous rope to walk and it’s become a rope AEW increasingly finds themselves crossing.
These misses won’t be felt in this particular box office, but you only get one chance to run “the biggest wrestling show of all time.” You can’t just slap a “part 2’ or an ‘Again’ at the end of that moniker and expect folks to buy in. By running a second major show the following week, they put themselves in an unwinnable position. They have to try and book for two shows at the same time when the focus should be entirely on All In.
Fans will forgive a subpar All Out card and Chicago will get over it if they run a B-show. Book for the show that people could remember forever, not the one they will forget by the following Dynamite. The lineup for All Out somehow being better than All In will be my Joker origin story.
AEW is in desperate need of good news and solid momentum. This is the biggest two-week stretch in the short promotion’s history. Sunday in sunny London town will, for better or worse, define the future of AEW.
Now, as always, let’s preview the action.
AEW Trios Champions House of Black (Buddy Matthews, Brody King & Malakai Black) defend against The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) and Billy Gunn
I don’t even care that this got announced four days before the show. I was smiling like a goon when Gunn came out on Wednesday night. Getting The Acclaimed on the Wembley card is a great call. They aren’t as popular as they were at their peak, but the crowd still loves them and is really going to love Gunn being back. The number one thing a wrestling show should do is make the crowd happy and few things make a crowd happier than an Acclaimed live entrance.
I love The House of Black. They have been workhorses on Collision and the individual styles of King, Matthews and Black fit so well together. Their presentation is top-notch and they never disappoint in the ring. But this is really about giving the fans what they want and Daddy Ass/Bad Ass getting some gold will do exactly that.
Prediction: The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn win the titles
Darby Allin & Sting vs. Christian Cage & Swerve Strickland
I had a wonderful preview written about this match. The booking wasn’t complicated; it was straightforward and simple. Strickland and Allin are rivals from the same area, Fox and Allin have a long history, and Sting is Sting. Throw in some Nick Wayne-related assault, and folks, that was a story worth telling. No winks and nods to the internet, no meta commentary about the state of wrestling just paint-by-numbers storytelling. It was the best-booked match on the card.
For reasons that remain unclear, Fox was replaced with Christian Cage. (At least it wasn’t Brian Cage!) Even if this was done because Fox had visa issues, is injured, or whatever, this is such a confusing mess. At best, it’s another example of sloppy decision-making with little foresight. If there was even a risk that he might not be able to make the trip, why have him there in the first place? It’s a shame, because Fox was a great fit with Swerve, and someone who grinded on the indies as long as he did deserved a spot on the card.
If nothing else, All In will do one thing that fans should remember forever: give Sting a massive, well-deserved platform. 80,000+ people going absolute nuts for the 64-year-old Stinger is going to be incredible. He spent much of the internet age of wrestling in TNA before his far too brief WWE run. His one WrestleMania moment was nowhere near good enough for a performer of his caliber. Few things are worse booking decisions than having HHH beat Sting at WrestleMania. On Saturday, The Icon will get to cap his career on the biggest stage, a stage he so deeply deserves.
Prediction: Sting & Allin
The Golden Elite (Hangman Page, Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson & Jay White) and Konosuke Takeshita
Again, if this is truly the biggest wrestling show in history, having Omega in a multi-man match is a huge miss. No slight to anyone in the match, but there are levels to this. Omega is a man who broke and rebroke the star rating system that this site popularized. This is also a man held together by KT tape and positive thoughts. He doesn’t have a ton of big matches left in him. If this isn’t the place to use one of the bullets left in that chamber, what is? Maybe they are saving the big singles match with Takeshita for All Out, but that should happen in London, not Chicago.
Collision has become the best weekly wrestling show due in large part to Bullet Club Gold aka The Bang Bang Gang which is one of the silliest and best monikers in wrestling. They should lose the Bullet Club part completely and just go by that. White’s sense of humor and timing has been a revelation. Collision puts all of its talents in positions to succeed and gives them time do to so. It is consistently the best weekly wrestling show.
Prediction: The Golden Elite
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) & Santana and Ortiz vs. Eddie Kingston, Penta El Zero Miedo, Orange Cassidy & Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor) in a Stadium Stampede match
It broke my heart to delete “and Rey Fenix” rom the match listing. Fenix is one of the best wrestlers in the world, and there are very few people who can replace him and what he is capable of doing in the ring. It’s a huge bummer he’s missing the show, but it is a delight seeing Santana and Ortiz back together in AEW. Santana, with his hair looking straight-up delicious, is the goods. Look for him to show out on Sunday. Hopefully he and Ortiz put any issues they had to bed because they are such a good team.
I’m never going to turn my nose up at a Stadium Stampede match, but this is not a feud that warrants a spectacle like this. More than most matches on the card, this seems like a way to clearly set up matches at All Out like Moxley vs. Cassidy and Kingston vs. Castagnoli. Both will be great, but using one of AEW’s signature spectacles to get there is backward. This should be the blow-off to a program, not a transition into the next stage.
Prediction: Blackpool Combat Club & Santana and Ortiz
Will Ospreay vs. Chris Jericho
Another match that came out of nowhere and a match that would have been better served by more than one week of build. Can Jericho even work a Ospreay match now? I’m a bit worried that he will try to keep up with one of the more insane people in modern wrestling who wrestles such a physical, taxing style. Not only that, he has to wrestle Ospreay after a live performance of Judas. Brother is going to be gasping for air before the bell even rings.
Who are we supposed to root for here? Is Jericho supposed to be the sympathetic babyface after being so terrible to his friends that they all left him? How is the audience supposed to root for him when he just tried to link up with someone well-established as the most loathsome character on AEW programming? Not only that, but Ospreay is the hometown boy. There is a zero percent chance he’s getting booed no matter how hard he tries.
Ospreay beat Omega in a match that’s on the shortlist for match of the year. He finally beat Okada. There is no chance he loses in a home game.
Prediction: Will Ospreay
AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm, Saraya and Britt Baker in a four-way
Each wrestler brings something unique to this match and AEW in general. Shida is a well-deserving, wholesome champion. Storm is the best overall talent in the division and is doing incredible work with her failed Hollywood glamour character who throws footwear at backstage interviewers. Saraya brings, by far, the most notoriety, name recognition, and Britishness. Baker is the homegrown talent conspicuously absent from the main stage and premier spotlight. Four great talents who should be able to create something lasting and meaningful on Saturday.
Rather than put together a cohesive story, AEW fell back on hastily spinning up a tournament to get the Women’s title match on the card: a crutch they too often lean on. The song remains the same, no matter how many times the record gets spun. There had been such little interaction between the four of them that I had to double-check this match was happening. Dynamite had an Adam Cole and MJF sit-down but this only got a 60 second pretape, a Ruby Soho singles match, and a tag team main event on Rampage.
Shida just won the title three weeks ago and AEW rarely hot potatoes their World championships. I’ve seen some talk of crowning Saraya because of where the show is, but I can’t see that happening
Prediction: Shida retains
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defend against the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
As is federally mandated (attention FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, etc.), no major wrestling show can exist without someone, somewhere claiming to be the greatest of all time.
Exhausting in a vacuum, the claims and subsequent discussions are completely warranted here. I don’t write much about WWE on this site, nor do I have any real desire to, but it’s these two teams along with The Usos that make up the conversation for the greatest tag team of the modern generation and perhaps all-time. The main difference between The Usos, who are legitimately great, and these two teams, is that both the brothers Jackson and FTR have had enough memorable, historic matches that I don’t even need to list them here. Naming a memorable Usos match? That’s a much bigger challenge. They have had countless matches with The New Day, but how many stand out? How many compare to The Bucks Ladder Wars with The Briscoes or FTR’s trilogy with those same Briscoes? The answer is they don’t. That’s why these are the two best tag teams of the modern era and two of the best in history.
Both teams have proven themselves across multiple companies and wildly different match types. A complaint directed towards a lot of Young Bucks matches is they all follow the same formula with the same moves, and sure, I’ll somewhat allow for that. You can’t say that about FTR. They have proven (actually, beyond proven) that they can wrestle any style, against any opponent, in any match type. That’s true greatness, and that’s why they are the best to ever do it. They had people in a full lather about a tag team match on a Saturday night in the middle of the summer. If that’s not greatness, I don’t know what is.
Bell-to-bell, this should be the best match on the card as no one does high-stakes tag team wrestling like AEW. Before Cash Wheeler’s legal situation, I thought it was Top Guys, over. The last thing AEW needs right now is more uncertainty and putting the title on The Bucks is the safer, more stable move
Prediction: The Young Bucks win the titles
CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe
Punk’s gravitational pull is unlike anything else in this industry. Like him or not, he is the sun that everything in AEW orbits around. When he’s on screen, he commands our eyes and ears. He demands we put down our phones and pay attention. When he’s not on screen, we’re wondering where he is. In a world increasingly full of NPCs – non-playable characters if you’re nasty – he is the Main Character, the star attraction. Of course, drama and intrigue follow him wherever he goes; it’s what makes him special. It made him special in WWE, it made him special in his unfortunate attempt at MMA, and keeps him special today in AEW. Historical greatness is frequently divisive, so why should he be any different?
At risk of being lost in this gravity, is Joe from Samoa. The only reason he hasn’t been swallowed by it completely is through his sheer force of will and talent. The true king of television is exactly that. He is appointment viewing no matter how long (or short) the match may be. Bar for bar, he is the most consistently excellent promo in the company (full apologies to Eddie Kingston, Jon Moxley, etc.) and remains their most believable mic artist. Like so many of our favorites, he’s closer to the end than the beginning and his current run is as good as anything he’s ever done. Long may he reign.
Even though I’d love to see Joe take this, there are so many other stories to be told and money to be made with Punk as the uncrowned champion. He keeps his belt.
Prediction: CM Punk
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Adam Cole
Even though this is not for me, I’ll still admit this pairing has been a shocking delight. Even though this is the most WWE thing AEW has ever done, the charisma and chemistry between the two carries the day. From the pre-taped vignettes to the live promos and everything in between, it all works far better than an enemy-turned-friend program should which is a testament to the singular talents of Cole and MJF.
The major issue with all of this is that it isn’t big enough for the main event of the biggest show in company history. It lacks the gravitas. Like everything else on the card, it needed more time — more time to establish them as a team and more time to make the inevitable turn that much more powerful.
The easy booking here is in the Cole turn, not MJF. MJF getting screwed over by Cole (and maybe big Rod Strong) sets MJF up for the chance to work as a true face for the first time. And it’s not like the audience can hate him more than they usually do. His turning on Cole won’t add to his character; it would just be more of the same. But Cole — fresh off a long absence and joyous return — turning on MJF would give this program legs and establish a new top-of-the-card heel for the babyfaces to feud with. Allowing MJF to have the crowd fully behind him would be something new and exciting. However, there is a huge Punk-related ‘BUT’ here.
Regardless of who wins, it would be inexcusable for the show to end without Punk coming out to confront the winner. If that’s the case, it makes more sense for him to confront MJF than Cole. Closing the show with the two biggest stars in the company setting up the next big title program will give AEW some needed momentum heading into 2024.
Despite his recent arrest, it’s expected that FTR’s Cash Wheeler will be wrestling at AEW All In this Sunday.
SI FanNation reported today that Wheeler is expected to be in London for Sunday’s pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium. FTR are scheduled to defend their AEW Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks at the event.
It was revealed on August 18 that Wheeler was facing a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. The charge, which is a third-degree felony, stems from a July 27 incident where Wheeler is alleged to have pointed a handgun at another motorist while driving. At an arraignment last Friday after Wheeler turned himself in, the matter was referred to as a “road rage-type incident.”
Wheeler has no prior history with the alleged victim.
“There is no certainty on whether Wheeler informed AEW CEO Tony Khan ahead of time about the arrest,” SI FanNation wrote. “Khan is conducting a media briefing session this afternoon, and the topic of FTR, and specifically Wheeler, is bound to arise. Considering the magnitude of Sunday’s show, it is likely in AEW’s best interests to have Wheeler perform at All In and then deal with consequences after the show.”
A video package still promoting the FTR vs. Young Bucks match aired on AEW Collision this past Saturday.
All In at Wembley Stadium is the biggest event in AEW’s four-year history. The pre-show starts at noon Eastern time on Sunday (August 27). The main card then begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Should the Young Bucks/FTR match still take place? That was the question asked on Wrestling Observer Radio Friday.
On Friday, it was revealed that Cash Wheeler appeared in court following an incident that took place in July where Wheeler drew a weapon at a motorist during a road rage incident. He was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm and has since bonded out. This all comes just days before All In on August 27 in Wembley Stadium.
“It puts Tony Khan in a really bad position,” Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio. “Because you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
“He can go to England. They can do the match if they really wanted to,” he added, “There will be much criticism if they do. I think there will be less criticism if they don’t, but then you got to replicate a match that was possibly going to be the best match on the show.”
Garrett Gonzales asked if perhaps they could do it the following week at All Out in Chicago. But Meltzer thought that if they were to do the match so soon, they may as well just do it at All In. But he also said that perhaps it may be best to wait it out.
“If he’s cleared and everything’s right at that point do you do the match I would say 100%,” he said. “But that could be a month, could be three months, who knows how the court proceedings are going to go.”
Tonight’s Fight for the Fallen edition of AEW Collision from Lexington, Kentucky, will be the next step toward next Sunday’s All In from London’s Wembley Stadium.
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will appear ahead of their title defense against the Young Bucks. It’s unknown if this will be a live promo or taped and will be their first on-screen appearance since Cash Wheeler was arrested on Friday.
Ahead of his challenge of TNT Champion Luchasaurus at All Out, former champion Darby Allin will take on Christian Cage, the man who has been parading as titleholder after Luchasaurus won it.
Willow Nightingale’s recent feud with Diamante will continue as they go one-on-one.
Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White will return to singles action for the night as he faces Dalton Castle.
Powerhouse Hobbs will be in action while the man who he attacked last week following a challenge — Miro — will be on hand as well.
Both Samoa Joe and Ricky Starks will be in the house for promos.
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After our cold open promos from Darby Allin, Bullet Club Gold, Dalton Castle, & Samoa Joe, Kevin Kelly welcomed us to Collision. Kelly and Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
Samoa Joe vs. The Golden Vampire never started
Joe’s opponent, named by Kevin Kelly as the Golden Vampire, attacked Joe before the bell. He fought Joe around ringside before shoving the referee down. He got in the ring and hit a rising knee before laying out Joe with a Go To Sleep. The Golden Vampire then unmasked to reveal CM Punk. Punk took the microphone and officially accepted Joe’s challenge for All In, with saltier language.
We got a video package hyping the history of the All In event, with Kevin Kelly noting that more tickets have been sold for that show than any other event in history.
Jay White (w/ Bullet Club Gold) defeated Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys)
Castle took White down with a single leg, forcing White to the ropes. White tried to send Castle to the floor, but the Boys sent Castle back into the ring, where he hit a pair of waistlock takedowns on White. White chopped Castle in the corner and stuffed a couple of suplex attempts. Castle went for a running knee into the corner, but White ducked and Castle flew to the floor. Bullet Club Gold chased the Boys around ringside as we went to commercial.
Castle fought out of White’s control as we came back from commercial. White walked into a Castle suplex, then ate a back elbow. Castle hit his running knee into the corner before sending White overhead with a pair of suplexes. White tried fighting out of a third suplex, but Castle hit a stalling German suplex with a bridge for a nearfall.
Castle pulled White up for Bangarang, but White grabbed the ropes and low-bridged him out of the ring. White chopped Castle on the announce table, but when he tried to send Castle into the ring, Castle rebounded off of the apron to hit a hurricanrana. Bullet Club Gold tried to interfere, but the Boys took them out with a dive. White recovered with a uranage for a nearfall. White hit the Blade Buster before scoring the win with the Blade Runner.
After the commercial break, Tony Schiavone was in the ring with Bullet Club Gold. White said that if Omega knew what was good for him, he’d stay in the hospital bed they put him in. He said that the Elite lied to everyone when they said that they were the best part of Bullet Club, and at Wembley, Bullet Club Gold will set the record straight. Robinson said that it only took 2 minutes to take out Kenny Omega, and they would handle them all at All In. The Gunns said that they would deal with the Bucks and Omega on Wednesday, but they wanted a warmup match right now.
Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson & The Gunns) defeated Iron Savages (Bronson, Boulder, Jacked Jameson)
The Savages took the fight to Austin Gunn to start, but Robinson cut off Bronson on the apron for the Gold team to take advantage. After a Robinson cannonball, the Gold team mocked the Elite with their pose. Robinson hit a V-Trigger on Bronson before Colton Gunn sent him to the floor as we went to break.
Boulder tagged in as we came back from commercial. Boulder ran wild, dropping both Gunns with a double End of Days. He caught Robinson on a crossbody and dumped him onto the Gunns. The match devolved into a Pier Six brawl. The Gunns couldn’t hit Boulder with a 3:10 to Yuma, but Austin Gunn hit a Fameasser instead. Robinson scored the win on Jameson with his facebuster.
The announcers recapped The Acclaimed’s recent actions, starting with the apparent retirement of Billy Gunn. They then recapped the House of Black’s attack on the Acclaimed from Wednesday, where they left Caster bloody and stole Gunn’s boots. We cut to a video package of the House of Black throwing Gunn’s boots away, with Malachi Black telling Gunn he was a shadow of himself.
We got a video of Jose The Assistant taking a call from Rush, who was not happy about La Faccion Ingobernable’s recent losing streak. Rush wanted Jose to bring them to Mexico, and they obliged. Preston Vance & Dralistico partied before being pulled into a van by several masked men. Was Rush the man that kidnapped Samoa Joe all those years ago? One can only wonder.
Tony Schiavone was backstage with Ricky Starks. He clarified that Starks’ suspension wasn’t 30 days long, rather it was 28 days, that being 4 full weeks. With Starks having served two of those 4 weeks, that means his suspension ends the night before All Out in Chicago. Starks said he would be bringing chaos tonight, with Big Bill entering the frame. After that, we got a stylized video package of Starks, saying that he had been distracted lately. Now, he’s focused, and now he’s dangerous.
Big Bill (w/ Ricky Starks) defeated Derek Neal
Bill came out to Starks’ music. Bill ran through Neal, chokeslamming him for the win within two minutes. After the match, Bill held Neal down so Starks could whip him with the belt.
We got a video package of Sting & Darby Allin attacking AR Fox at his wrestling academy. Allin said that he wanted a scrap of Fox left for Wembley to put in a coffin. We then turned to Wednesday’s Dynamite, where Nick Wayne said he wanted revenge on Mogul Affiliates for attacking him at his home. It will be Allin & Wayne vs. Fox & Swerve Strickland on Dynamite.
Willow Nightingale defeated Diamante
Diamante tried to keep Nightingale held down, but Nightingale stuffed a headscissors attempt and hit a backbreaker. Nightingale dropped Diamante on the apron, leading Mercedes Martinez to make her way to ringside. Nightingale went for an Oklahoma Stampede, but Diamante dropped Nightingale with a chop block.
Nightingale dropped Diamante with a set of clotheslines as we came back from commercial. Nightingale ran wild on Diamante, hitting a main event spinebuster for a nearfall. Diamante yanked Nightingale off the top rope, then hit a set of running knees into the corner. Diamante hit an Asai DDT for a nearfall. Nightingale brought Diamante to the top rope, and after fighting off a powerbomb attempt, Nightingale hit a dropkick.
Martinez pulled Diamante out of the ring, bringing Kris Statlander to ringside to suplex Martinez on the ramp. Nightingale hit a pounce on Diamante on the floor before bringing her back into the ring and getting the win with the Babe With The Powerbomb.
We got a video package hyping FTR vs. The Young Bucks at All In. Both members of FTR spoke about how the Bucks have their accolades, but FTR will be the ones to win the rubber match.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Toni Storm. Nair announced that next week on Rampage, we will see the four women in the AEW Title match at All In in a tag match, with Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida taking on Storm & Saraya. Storm said not to question the bond between the Outcasts, and that she would take her place in history as the first three-time AEW Women’s Champion.
Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Kevin Ku
Ku went for a standing crossbody, but Hobbs stood tall and sent Ku flying. Hobbs hit a splash in the corner before taking Ku up and down with a back superplex. Hobbs clubbered Ku with lariats before hitting the main event spinebuster for the win. He was calling out Miro at points in this match, and he sent a message by locking on the Accolade after the match.
Miro popped up on the video screen. He said that he used to follow a book, but now he walks alone. He said that redemption would come for Hobbs at All Out and that he would piss on his cold, dead body. Jesus.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card. We also got the Collision card, with an All-Star Eight Man Tag with no names announced. We will hear from the stars of the show in London the night before All In as well.
Darby Allin defeated Christian Cage (w/Luchasaurus)
This match ramped up to a fever pitch by the end, with Allin scoring an important win in one of his two concurrent feuds.
The two started the match off slowly, with Allin working on Cage’s arm. Cage dropped Allin on his hammerlocked arm before he whipped Allin into the buckles hard as we went to commercial.
Back from commercial with Allin trying a series of pinfalls on Cage. Cage rung up Allin’s neck on the ropes before sending him into the barricade. Cage taunted Allin with the TNT Title before popping him with a punch, then dropping him with a hammerlock slam. Cage modified his reverse DDT, dropping Allin with his arm hammerlocked. Cage set up for a spear, but Allin kicked him and hit a Code Red for a nearfall. Allin blinded Cage with his turtleneck, leading to the two knocking heads as we went to another commercial.
Allin fired up with Coffin Splashes as we came back. Allin sent Cage into the turnbuckles with a shotgun dropkick. Allin went to the top rope, but instead of going after Cage, he dove onto Luchasaurus. Luchasaurus caught him and led him into a Cage lariat on the floor. Allin hit a drop toe hold onto Christian into a chair, before sitting Christian in the chair and hitting a missile dropkick off the top rope to the floor.
Allin set up the Coffin Drop in the ring, but Cage rolled to the apron. Allin went for the Coffin Drop anyway, but Luchasaurus pulled Cage out of the way, forcing Allin to land on the apron with a nasty thud. The referee sent Luchasaurus to the back, but that allowed Cage to hit Allin with the TNT Title. Allin fell to the floor, and when Cage pulled him back into the ring, he only got a nearfall.
Allin sidestepped a spear and dropkicked Cage into the corner. Allin brought Cage to the top rope, but Cage hit a sunset flip powerbomb and a spear for a nearfall. Cage cut off a surging Allin with a lariat and went for an Unprettier, but Allin caught him in a jackknife cover for the win.
After the match, Tony Schiavone went to speak to Allin, but Luchasaurus came back out. Cage dropped Allin from behind with the TNT Title, with Luchasaurus dropping Allin with a chokeslam. Cage covered Allin, with Luchasaurus forcing him to count to three and announce him as the winner and still TNT Champion. Cage and Luchasaurus stood tall to end the show.
FTR are set to appear on Saturday’s Fight for the Fallen edition of AEW Collision.
The AEW Tag Team Champions will make their first appearance since news of Cash Wheeler’s aggrevated assault arrest became known on Friday. The two are currently set to defend their tag titles against The Young Bucks at All In on August 27.
A match between Dalton Castle and Jay White was also added to Saturday’s show by Tony Khan on Friday night.
2 of wrestling's most dynamic stars, 2 former world champions fight 1-on-1 to raise funds for @MauiFoodBank at AEW Collision in Kentucky on TNT TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/1oayMP5lfa
Ricky Starks will also make an appearance. On last week’s Collision, he announced that he had been suspended 30 days from wrestling in AEW due to attacking Ricky Steamboat. However, he said that he had secured a manager’s license.
Powerhouse Hobbs will be in action after challenging Miro on last week’s show to a match at All Out. When Miro came out, he was ambushed by members of QTV. However, it was Hobbs who eventually laid out Miro. It was also announced that we will be hearing from Miro on Saturday.
Here is the lineup for Saturday’s Collision:
Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage
Willow Nightingale vs. Diamante
Jay White vs. Dalton Castle
Ricky Starks to discuss his comments from last week
Further details are available regarding the incident that led to Cash Wheeler being charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.
The Orange County Clerk has posted the Affidavit to To Issue Warrant that was filed on July 28, one day after Wheeler is alleged to have brandished a weapon during a “road rage” incident in Florida. The affidavit includes a report from the responding police officer.
Officer M. Bowhay of the Orlando Police Department wrote in his report that the alleged victim says Wheeler pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him and was driving his Jeep Gladiator in and out of traffic recklessly.
Some names and addresses have been redacted from Officer Bowhay’s report below.
On July 27, 2023, at 0959 I, Officer M. Bowhay #19932, responded to (address redacted) in reference to an aggravated assault with a firearm call. Upon my arrival I spoke to the victim, (name redacted), who provided me with a sworn written/verbal statement that said the following: (The victim) stated he was driving west on Interstate 4 north of Exit 83. He noticed a Jeep Gladiator weaving in and out of traffic honking its horn, so he moved over to the far-right lane to let the Jeep pass.
(The victim) said the Jeep took the right shoulder to drive around him on the passenger side of his vehicle. (The victim) looked over and noticed a white male with a beard pointing a black semi-automatic handgun out of the driver’s window at him with a strong stare.
(The victim) said he feared for his life at this time. (The victim) stated he slowed down to get out of the way of the firearm and ended up behind the suspect vehicle at this time. At this time both were committed to exit 83 (Ivanhoe Blvd). (The victim) took pictures of the Jeep as it turned right onto College Park Drive and began to drive reckless. (The victim) said the Jeep beared Florida tag EFRC72. After taking the picture, (The victim) said he called 911 and gave the vehicle information to dispatch the details of what occurred. He explained he could not be late for work and asked an officer to meet him at his work (name of business and address redacted).
I created a photo line-up using ELVIS (a database used by law enforcement for investigative purposes). Elvis selected five random photos based on the suspect’s Florida driver’s license picture and put them in a randomized order with the suspect being the sixth picture. Officer Blinn #34211 met with (The victim) and presented him with the photo lineup instructions and the photo lineup. (The victim) quickly selected the correct picture, photo #2, of the suspect, later identified as, Daniel M. Wheeler, W/M D.O.B 5/17/1987 with 100% certainty. (See Officer Blinn’s supplement for more details.) Based on (The victim’s) sworn statement and the positive photo lineup identification, probable cause exist to charge Wheeler with, aggravated assault with a firearm violation of F.S.S. 784.021(1)(A)-1.
AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman also issued a comment regarding the matter. In a statement posted to Twitter, MJF says The Young Bucks and FTR will wrestle in London’s Wembley Stadium later this month.
MJF wrote:
Kinda disappointed how many dorks there are on this app that jump to conclusions so quick. A ton of peoples privilege is showing. We’re all human. We’re all flawed. We all make mistakes. Take it from a guy who’s made more mistakes than most. I’ve had my ups and downs with FTR but Cash wheeler is a great dude and a bad ass. You’re getting FTR Vs Young Bucks in front of 80k plus on august 27th. Talk about that ya dweebs.
Kinda disappointed how many dorks there are on this app that jump to conclusions so quick. A ton of peoples privilege is showing.
We’re all human. We’re all flawed. We all make mistakes. Take it from a guy who’s made more mistakes than most.
Cash Wheeler is facing a third-degree felony charge stemming from a road rage incident in Florida.
As first reported by The Orlando Sentinel, Wheeler has been charged with one count of aggravated assault with a firearm and booked in Circuit Court.
Wheeler is alleged to have flashed a handgun at another person during a road rage incident on July 27. A warrant for his arrest was filed the following day. According to county records, he pled not guilty through a lawyer on August 3 and turned himself in on Friday morning to Orlando Police.
Wheeler appeared in court for a hearing on Friday afternoon. He was given a $2500 bond, ordered to turn in any weapons he owns, and to have no contact with the alleged victim.
“AEW has been made aware of the charge, and we are closely monitoring the situation. (Wheeler) is fully cooperating with local authorities,” the company stated to the Orlando Sentinel.
According to Hanlon Law, the maximum penalty for the charge in Florida is five years in prison or five years probation, plus a $5000 fine. The firm notes that even first-time offenders can face jail time for the offense.
From Hanlon Law regarding aggravated assault with a firearm charges:
Florida Statutes section 784.021 requires a prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt certain elements to obtain a conviction for aggravated assault. These are that the defendant intentionally and illegally threatened through words or acts to do violence to the alleged victim, the defendant appeared to be able to carry out this threat at the time, the threat created in the alleged victim a reasonable fear that violence was about to happen, and the assault was made with a deadly weapon or a fully formed conscious intent to perpetrate a felony.
Wheeler along with his FTR teammate, Dax Harwood, is scheduled to defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks at All In later this month.
CM Punk and AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will unite once more to attempt to win the AEW Trios titles in the main event of tonight’s AEW Collision.
Punk, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler will attempt to wrest the titles from the House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) for the first time. The House of Black will be looking for the eighth defense of the titles they won at March’s Revolution.
Recent Punk antagonist Ricky Starks will be on the show to share his thoughts after losing to Punk last Saturday.
TBS Champion Kris Statlander will team with Willow Nightingale against Mercedes Martinez & Diamante. Statlander defeated Martinez last Saturday and was attacked by the heels before Nightingale made the save.
After Billy Gunn appeared to retire several weeks ago in a loss to the House of Black, The Acclaimed will return to tag team action.
Powerhouse Hobbs will also be on hand to share some thoughts as he is split from QTV.
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The Collision cold open saw words from the Acclaimed, Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus, and the challengers for the Trios Titles, CM Punk & FTR. Ian Riccaboni & Nigel McGuinness welcomed us to the show, running down tonight’s card and the All In card before recapping Ricky Starks’ attack on Ricky Steamboat last week.
Ricky Starks Speaks
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomed Ricky Starks. Starks came out to boos, with the belt he used to whip Steamboat in his hands. Schiavone announced that Starks had been suspended from wrestling for 30 days. Starks said that he did what he had to do to Steamboat because there are consequences to everyone’s actions. Starks said that he figured that AEW would suspend him, so he got a manager’s license to make sure he stays on his show.
Starks told CM Punk since he brought Ricky Steamboat into proceedings, that the blood was on his hands. He turned Punk’s words against him, asking Punk if he could live with his win. He said that starting next week, he would start a war and bring it to Punk’s front door. Starks left to raucous cheers. Another great promo from Starks and an interesting direction for this feud with Punk, as it will have to be resolved after the upcoming pay-per-views.
We got a video package highlighting the two matches between FTR & The Young Bucks as a preview of their rubber match at All In.
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) defeated The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/ Jacked Jameson)
The Acclaimed came out with Billy Gunn’s boots, with Bowens quickly realizing he had to cut off his introduction. The Acclaimed double-teamed Bronson before Boulder tagged in. The bigger Boulder survived their offense and dropped them both with a Samoan Drop/fallaway slam combination as we went to the commercial.
Caster avoided a big splash from Bronson as we came back from the commercial. Bowens made the hot tag and ran wild until Boulder sent him flying with a flapjack. The Savages hit a dual Main Event Spinebuster on Bowens for a nearfall that was broken up by Caster. They went for their big Tower Splash, but Caster dropkicked Bronson off of Boulder’s shoulders. Caster hit a Death Valley Driver on Boulder before the Acclaimed hit Scissor Me Timbers on an interfering Jameson. The Acclaimed hit dual Fameassers on the Savages, with Caster scoring the pin and the win.
After the match, Caster grabbed the mic and announced that they’ll be wrestling on Dynamite this Wednesday. They have the spirit of Billy Gunn with them, and that will keep them moving back to the top. Bowens says the crowd never got a chance to say goodbye to Gunn, so he has them all throw up the scissors in tribute.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Bullet Club Gold. They brag about their recent accomplishments, with White saying that they are the “most elite” version of Bullet Club yet. White says that while there are some guys who call themselves elite, they don’t have that right. The Young Bucks don’t have the right to call themselves the best brother tag team in wrestling either, as that claim goes to the Gunns. The Gunns will be coming to Dynamite this Wednesday to prove it.
We got a video package recapping the history between MJF & Adam Cole to hype the Wembley main event.
Statlander and Diamante started off, with Diamante keeping Statlander off of her feet until Statlander caught her on a crossbody. Nightingale tagged in and hit a low crossbody for a nearfall. Martinez held onto Diamante to thwart a Pounce attempt, with Diamante hitting a basement dropkick to take control. Martinez locked Nightingale in a Paradise Lock and hit a pose with Diamante. They double-dropkicked Nightingale out of the hold as we went to the commercial.
Nightingale fought off a two-on-one attack as we came back from break. Nightingale hit a main event spinebuster on Diamante onto Martinez before tagging in the TBS Champion. Statlander ran wild, with Nightingale joining her to hit stereo sentons. Martinez sent Statlander into Nightingale, sending Nightingale off of the apron. After sending Statlander to the floor, Martinez tossed Diamante onto her opponents on the floor.
The match devolved into a Pier Four brawl. Eventually, Martinez caught Nightingale in a pin and scored the win with Diamante helping with leverage.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Toni Storm. Storm said she was depressed after losing the title, but she felt better now that she and Saraya are in the Women’s Title match at All In. Storm insulted the other women in the locker room, calling them “backstabbing, insecure, toxic little girls.” Nair reminded Storm that Hikaru Shida had earned a spot in the match, which infuriated Storm. She walked off, throwing a shoe at Nair as she sent us back ringside.
ROH Television Champion Samoa Joe defeated Andrew Everett
Riccaboni informed us that Joe was two weeks away from reaching 500 days as TV Champion in this reign. Everett showcased his agility, but Joe quickly dispatched him with the Coquina Clutch.
After the match, Joe took to the mic and reminded everyone of his challenge to CM Punk last week. He was met with the deafening silence of a coward. He gave Punk the courtesy of asking for the match, but now he will have to convince him.
The TNT Champion Speaks
After the announcers ran down the current card for All In, TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage made their way to the ring. They recapped Luchasaurus’ attack on Darby Allin last night on Rampage, an attack that made a little girl in the crowd cry. Christian insulted the crowd, noting that they were the second best at a lot of things. Michael Jordan was the second-best basketball player of all time to LeBron James – which is correct – while Ric Flair was second best compared to Christian.
He turned his attention to Darby Allin, noting that he’ll never be the TNT Champion as long as Christian has it. Christian said that Allin paints half of his face because he’s half dead inside. Christian said that if Allin kept coming after him, he’d make sure to give him the other 50% and finish the job.
Arn & Brock Anderson came out, noting that this was Horsemen Country. Arn reminded Luchasaurus that he was the TNT Champion before Christian cut him off. Christian reminded everyone that he and Luchasaurus took the Andersons out a few months ago, with Arn saying that they never forgot. Brock then charged the ring and the bell rang.
TNT Championship – Luchasaurus (c) defeated Brock Anderson
Riccaboni announced on commentary that Tony Khan sanctioned this as a TNT Title match, due to Christian saying that he would accept an open challenge from Anderson tonight. Luchasaurus dominated Anderson before we went to a commercial. Back from the break, Anderson mounted a slight comeback before Luchasaurus dropped him with a chokeslam. Luchasaurus hit a rabbit lariat to retain the title.
After the match, Darby Allin jumped Christian and Luchasaurus with a skateboard. Allin hit a skateboard-assisted double stomp to Luchasaurus’ back, sending him out of the ring. Allin challenged Christian to a singles match next week, which Christian accepted.
Powerhouse Hobbs Speaks
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomed Powerhouse Hobbs. Hobbs said that last week, an opportunity presented itself for a big match at All Out in Chicago. Hobbs said that he had been distracted lately, so he went back home to read from the Book of Hobbs. The next chapter of the Book of Hobbs is entitled Redemption. He says in order to redeem himself after losing the TNT Title and losing out in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, he has to call out The Redeemer. Hobbs called out Miro for a fight.
Miro came out, but he was attacked by Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo, associates of QT Marshall. Miro dealt with them but walked into a main event spinebuster from Hobbs. Hobbs laid the Book of Hobbs on Miro’s prone body before leaving the scene.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card for this Wednesday, featuring Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta for the AEW International Championship and the match between The Gunns and The Young Bucks made official. Next week on Collision, we will see Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage, as well as Diamante vs. Willow Nightingale.
AEW World Trios Title Match – The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) (w/Julia Hart) (c) defeated CMFTR (Cash Wheeler, CM Punk & Dax Harwood)
A fine main event, although this continues the trend of Punk matches going a commercial break too long. Samoa Joe made good on his promise, and Punk’s direction for Wembley looks clear.
Jim Ross joined commentary for this main event. Punk came out to his typical mixed reaction. Punk and FTR got the advantage on Matthews early on with quick offense, but King held onto Matthews on an Irish Whip and tagged in. The crowd barked for King as he took the fight to Harwood, but Harwood went low on King with a dropkick. The challengers all went after King, with FTR eventually double dropkicking him out of the ring.
Malachi Black tagged in to face off against Punk, with the crowd reacting strongly to their faceoff. Black knocked FTR off the apron but walked into a Go To Sleep attempt. Black escaped it and went for Black Mass, but Punk ducked it and sat down cross-legged. Black sat with him before the other men got in the ring and kicked off a Pier Six brawl that took us to the commercial.
Matthews dropped Harwood with a rope-assisted DDT as we came back from the commercial. The House of Black kept Harwood isolated before Harwood dropped Black with a DDT. Punk tagged in and ran wild on Matthews, hitting the rising knee before hitting both Black and Matthews with high kicks. Punk hit a Rainmaker on Matthews before going up for an elbow drop. Julia Hart took the referee’s attention so that Black could crotch Punk on the top rope. King tagged in and hit a cannonball before we went to another commercial.
The House of Black isolated Punk as we came back from the break. Punk caught Matthews with a surprise GTS before making the tag out to Wheeler. Wheeler took the fight to King and Black, with Harwood helping to send all three champions to the floor. Wheeler hit a massive dive to the floor before hitting a top-rope bulldog on King for a nearfall. King overpowered FTR and hit a double suplex.
Harwood cut King off as he went to the top rope. FTR hit a double superplex, with Punk following with an elbow drop for a nearfall. They hit a trios Shatter Machine on King before Matthews and Black came in. After a multi-person brawl, everyone was down. Punk hit a dive to Matthews on the floor, but Samoa Joe dragged him into the crowd and choked him out. Hart ran a distraction, allowing King to hit a discus lariat on Harwood for the win.
FTR is hopeful that CMFTR vs. The Elite will happen eventually.
Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood vs. The Young Bucks III will take place later this month in London’s Wembley Stadium. However, the AEW tag champions recently told DAZN that they believe the more time passes, the more likely it is that they will be able to team with CM Punk to face the Bucks and other members of The Elite.
“I think if the cards fall in the right place and, you know, the story is right and the opportunity calls for it then hell yeah, you can do it,” Harwood said about a potential CMFTR vs. Elite match.
“I think wrestling is all about making the most money for yourselves and for the company you work for and I think that everybody here all agrees with that and the more time passes, the more likely I think it is that we can get to there. But you never really know, and I don’t want to say ‘yes’ but I hope so.”
CMFTR will challenge The House of Black for the Trios titles on Saturday’s edition of Collision from the Greensboro Coliseum. It will be the third time Wheeler and Harwood have teamed with Punk since he returned.
“I think that Punk is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time,” Harwood continued. “Look at his track record, his resume, and the things he’s done in wrestling especially when, you know, the business, at one point, was completely against him and what he represented.”
Following Saturday’s match for the Trios belts, FTR will be looking ahead to All In later this month. They will defend the AEW Tag Team titles against the Young Bucks in what Harwood says could be the biggest match of their careers.
“I think it has the potential to be the biggest match of Cash and I’s career,” Harwood said. “Before we even came to AEW, all you heard about was FTR versus Young Bucks. Or, excuse me, The Revival versus the Young Bucks, what would happen if those two teams got in the ring?”
The Young Bucks vs. FTR head-to-head series is tied 1-1. The Bucks beat FTR for the tag titles at Full Gear 2020 but FTR avenged the loss on an episode of Dynamite in April 2022. The rubber match is now scheduled to take place in front of 80,000 people in London.
“It always felt like it needed the biggest platform possible and now, after all this time, we finally get it,” Wheeler said. “It really is the biggest platform possible.
“Wembley could be, and probably will be, the biggest, highest-attended wrestling event in history. And what better way to have what could be the biggest tag team match of a generation than right there?” Wheeler continued.
Harwood continued to talk about the “underlying tension” between FTR and the Young Bucks.
“I feel that there’s some underlying tension between the two teams, not saying that we dislike each other, but there’s some underlying tension,” Harwood said. “We honestly think we’re the best tag team of the generation, and could be the best tag team of all time, and I think they feel the same way about themselves.”
