Tag: Interim Aew World Championship

The Interim AEW World Championship and the TNT Championship are both on the line on tonight’s Dynamite. 

Interim World title holder Jon Moxley will defend against Brody King tonight. King won a Royal Rampage battle royal last week to earn the title shot. 

Scorpio Sky will defend the TNT Championship against Wardlow in a street fight on tonight’s episode. 

The newly named ThunderStorm duo of AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm will be in tag team action against Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir in a match set up on last week’s Rampage. 

Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland will team against The Butcher and The Blade in a bout that was also set up on last week’s Rampage. Based on a video released on social media today, Strickland appears set to feud with Tony Nese stemming from Swerve eliminating Nese from the Royal Rampage last week. 

Christian Cage and Luchasaurus have been announced for an appearance. 

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. 

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Show Report —

Sky came out with a full entourage, including Dan Lambert, Ethan Page, and plenty of “fighters” who appeared to be indie wrestlers. 

TNT Championship Street Fight: Wardlow defeated Scorpio Sky (c) (w/ American Top Team) to win the title

They laid into each other right away, with Wardlow knocking Sky down on a shoulder block. Sky came back with a simple kick between the legs, but Wardlow fired up with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Wardlow continued tossing Sky around until a distraction from Lambert on the floor led to Wardlow being sent into the steel steps. 

Sky and co. maintained the advantage through a commercial break. Wardlow started a comeback and landed a diving senton bomb. He called for the Powerbomb Symphony, but all of American Top Team ran in, so Wardlow had to dispatch them, tossing one onto a pile of the others. Sky took advantage of the distraction with a belt shot, but Wardlow kicked out for a good near fall.

Wardlow escaped the TKO, pushed Sky into Lambert, and pulled down the straps to hit the Powerbomb Symphony. Three powerbombs later, Wardlow was the new TNT Champion.

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Jon Moxley was backstage. He said he wouldn’t be caught off guard: he knows what kind of monster he’s taking on in Brody King. But people are forgetting that Moxley’s a monster too, beating Tanahashi’s face in and cutting people up in Blood & Guts. He knows who King is, and Moxley will find out just how bad he wants it. “Step up or get stepped on.”

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Mark Sterling and Tony Nese were backstage. They had a petition trying to get Swerve Strickland removed from the roster and asked Lee to sign it. Lee said they might have some issues, but Swerve’s still his partner, and they’re still winning — unlike Nese.

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Christian Cage and Luchasaurus appearance

Christian said the fans want to know why after he turned, Luchasaurus decided to remain aligned with him. 

Matt Hardy’s music interrupted. He called Christian the “Michael Jordan of being an asshole.” He said Jungle Boy is his friend, and Christian screwed him over, which Jungle Boy didn’t deserve. Christian said Matt didn’t know half the things he knew about Jungle Boy; “You’re starting to make your brother sound like the sober one.”

Hardy said Christian was just here to use Luchasaurus to make as much money as possible. He knows he’s hypocritical here; he did the same thing to Private Party and Butcher and Blade, but he regrets it. Matt’s here to make sure nobody else gets taken advantage of. 

Christian said Matt was only out here because of his massive ego. He can’t stand when his name isn’t in the headlines. Matt will use his kids and wife, his property, and even turn a blind eye to his brother’s issues just so he can ride his coattails for one last run. Meanwhile, Christian’s the hottest star in wrestling, and Matt just wanted to be near him. He called Matt the biggest embarrassment to his family.

Matt had it and attacked Christian but was quickly taken down by Luchasaurus. The big man booted Matt’s head into the ring post and chokeslammed him through the timekeeper’s table.

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A video package recapped Blood & Guts. Menard said he did it for Jericho. Regal said he had never seen such destruction. Kingston said he wanted more. 

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Claudio Castagnoli and Jake Hager were backstage with Tony Schiavone. Hager said Claudio wasn’t as tough and hard as him, pointing out Claudio had never won a world championship — unlike him. Claudio said he beat Sabre and then Jericho’s team at Blood & Guts. Next week, he’ll go 3-0 against Hager.

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Swerve in our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland) defeated The Butcher & The Blade (w/ The Bunny)

Blade started off opposite Lee. He slapped Lee in the face and was immediately leveled by him, leading to Butcher tagging in. Lee gave Butcher a biel off the second rope, and Butcher was frustrated, running out to grab a chair before Blade talked him down.

Swerve and Blade tagged in. They had a bit of miscommunication on a drop-down leapfrog exchange but recovered in time for Swerve to tag in Lee, who knocked Blade down. They took turns tagging in and attacking Blade until interference from Bunny allowed B&B to take control ahead of the commercial.

Back from break, a diving uppercut from Swerve allowed him to tag in Lee, who ran wild on both Butcher and Blade. They continued to dominate until Lee inadvertently took out his partner Swerve, allowing Butcher to crush Swerve with a lariat for a good near fall. 

Swerve fired back, taking out Butcher with his running thrust kick, then he and Lee hit a doomsday senton for the win. 

– After the match, Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks interrupted. Hobbs was tired of the disrespect. Starks was tired of them asking like they’re somebody. There’s levels to this, and Lee and Swerve aren’t on their level. Starks got hot and said he’d beat their ass right now.

The Young Bucks’ music interrupted. Matt put over the tag division before reminding everyone who the top dogs are in the division. Nick referenced the Observer, saying the had a ****½ star match at Double or Nothing — an off night for the Bucks — but they couldn’t get the job done. Instead, it was the Bucks who beat Jurassic Express.

Matt proposed they go “triple or nothing” next week. They were drowned out by a loud “FTR” chant, which the Bucks clearly didn’t expect. The three-way tag was made for next week.

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House of Black cut a video promo. Black said he envied the pain Moxley inflicts on himself and others, but Brody King will leave his mark on him even further. 

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Eddie Kingston promo

Schiavone asked Kingston about Jericho, but before Kingston answered, he congratulated Wardlow and then everyone on his team at Blood & Guts — even Claudio. He turned his attention to Jericho, who didn’t bleed. 

Jericho interrupted on the video board, where he had Tay Conti slam a car door onto Ruby Soho’s hand. 

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Dark Order promo

Moments like these are why it’s impossible not to root for AEW.

Rochester is the late Brodie Lee’s hometown. The cast was Evil Uno, John Silver, Alex Reynolds, 10, Anna Jay, and of course -1. Silver hyped up the crowd, and Evil Uno teased a disbandment, but he then said the Dark Order is here to stay. They have a proclamation, and he knows who should say it.

Uno handed the mic to -1, but then QT Marshall interrupted, calling -1 a “charity case.” QT said Brodie Lee was a legend, but -1 takes after his mother. He challenged -1 to a fight, but then Hangman Page’s music interrupted, He and the whole Dark Order beat down QT, with 10 hitting Brodie’s discus lariat. -1 said he’d wait to pin QT until he’s 19. 

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Jim Ross was brought out for hour two.

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Rush (w/ Andrade El Ídolo & José the Assistant) defeated Penta Oscuro (w/ Rey Fénix & Alex Abrahantes)

Rush looked awesome in his AEW singles debut.

They traded overhand chops right at the bell. Penta got the upper hand with an armdrag on the floor, but Rush cut him off with a strong forearm. Rush beat Penta down and taunted. Penta fired back and took Rush out with a tope con giro. The two competitors’ associates had a dust-up before the break.

Back from commercial, Rush hit a powerslam for two. Penta returned fire, leading to another strong chop exchange and simultaneous headbutts. Rush hit a nice rising knee for two. 

They continued to just beat the daylight out of each other. Rush hit a missile dropkick for two more. He followed it up with a senton for yet another two count. Rush called for the bull horn dropkick, but Penta cut him off and hit the Fear Factor. Penta covered, but Andrade put his foot on the ropes with the official’s view obscured. 

Rush then low blowed Penta and tore off Penta’s mask, rolling him up for the win.

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Samoa Joe (c) vs. Jay Lethal for the ROH Television Championship was announced for Death Before Dishonor.

Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh were backstage. Dutt was ecstatic, saying Lethal would win the title. Lethal said he wouldn’t take Joe lightly, but he would take his championship.

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Sterling and Nese were backstage looking for more signatures getting Swerve fired. They ran into the Best Friends, who scoffed at them. After some Sterling/Danhausen shenanigans, Nese vs. Orange Cassidy was booked for Rampage.

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During The Acclaimed’s entrance, the Gunn Club grabbed the mic from Caster, not letting him do his rap like usual.

The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & The Gunn Club (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) (w/ Billy Gunn) defeated Ruffin It (Bear Boulder, Bear Bronson, & Leon Ruffin) & Fuego Del Sol

Just about everyone got involved in the action early on. The Acclaimed and the Gunn Club struggled to work together, but eventually Bowens took control with a facebuster on Boulder. Caster hit the Mic Drop and covered, but Austin had tagged in and stole the pin to win.

– After the match, the two teams continued to have issues until Billy broke it up — that is, before Billy leveled Caster with a lariat. Bowens struggled to his feet and wanted Billy to “scissor” him, but Billy instead hit him with the Fame-asser.

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A Miro video promo aired. He said Malakai Black was someone who preyed on the flawed, which doesn’t work on Miro, who is flawless. “The Redeemer is coming.”

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ThunderStorm (Thunder Rosa & Toni Storm) defeated Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir

Storm got the upper hand on Shafir right away, leading to her and Rosa dominating with frequent tags. A few minutes in, Nyla hadn’t even tagged in yet. She was only able to enter the match after whacking Storm with an umbrella (get it? because they’re facing a team named “thunderstorm?”), leading to her team taking control.

After a commercial, Rosa got the hot tag and brought the fire to Nyla with chops and forearms. She hit running boots, but Nyla cut her off and hit a uranage before tagging in Shafir, who hit a pumphandle suplex for two. Storm cut Rose off with a DDT and destroyed Shafir with her hip attack, then ThunderStorm hit a combo Fire Thunder Driver for the win.

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Jade Cargill and the Baddies were backstage. Jade was annoyed about Hathaway recruiting Leyla Grey to the Baddies last week, but Hathaway said it took a special type of finesse to turn someone to their side. Jade said if she doesn’t deliver, he’d be in trouble.

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AEW Rampage (7/6) lineup —

• Eddie Kingston vs. Konosuke Takeshita
• Serena Deeb & Mercedes Martinez in action
• Jonathan Gresham & Lee Moriarty vs. Gates of Agony
• Orange Cassidy vs. Tony Nese

AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest (7/13) lineup —

• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jake Hager
• AEW World Tag Team Championships: Young Bucks (c) vs. Swerve in our Glory vs. Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs

ROH Death Before Dishonor (7/23) lineup —

• ROH Television Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Jay Lethal
• ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler YUTA (c) vs. Daniel Garcia

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Daniel Garcia was backstage. He said YUTA doesn’t strike an ounce of fear into his heart. He’ll see YUTA at Death Before Dishonor.

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FTR were backstage. Cash said no match had ever taken as much out of them as their match at Supercard of Honor. Death Before Dishonor is coming up, and there are still some who don’t think they’re the best in the world. They challenged the Briscoes for one more match. 

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William Regal joined commentary.

Interim AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) defeated Brody King

This was a strong title main event and a good showcase for King.

King immediately pushed Moxley into the corner and smashed him with a chop. They traded forearms until King sent Moxley to the floor and whipped him into the barricade. Moxley tried to fight back, but King was able to back body drop him onto the ramp.

Back in the ring, Moxley got King off his feet and applied a figure four leglock. He continued to target King’s left leg until King popped up and laid in strikes followed by a black hole slam for two. 

After a break, Moxley earned a moment of reprieve in avoiding a cannonball senton from King. He raked King’s back and bit at his face before hitting a superplex. A dragon suplex from Moxley followed for two. 

Moxley kicked King’s head in, but a comeback lariat from King allowed him to nail a straight piledriver for a near fall. King locked on a sleeper and dangled Moxley from the top rope, similar to how he eliminated Darby Allin to win last week’s battle royale. He followed it up with a running cannonball for another near fall.

King wanted the Fire Thunder Driver, but Moxley escaped and rolled King up for two. Moxley hit an underhook DDT and followed it up with hammer-and-anvil elbows. He looked for the Bulldog Choke and modified into a sleeper. King fell backwards to break the hold, but Moxley popped up and locked it on again, leading to a referee stoppage.

– The show went off the air at three past the top of the hour.