The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
On the latest edition of Doc Young’s Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and Victor Sosa look at AEW’s follow up to Full Gear, which is the beginning of the Continental Classic tournament.
WWE is on the road to Survivor Series, but Roman Reigns made it clear he’s thinking beyond that. He wants someone’s World title, but does that belong to Cody Rhodes or CM Punk?
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
The AEW Continental Classic will continue on next Wednesday’s Dynamite with a key match in the Blue League between Death Riders teammates.
Announced at the conclusion of Wednesday’s tournament kickoff, Jon Moxley will take on Claudio Castagnoli. Both men picked up victories and their first three points in the tournament Wednesday by virtue of their wins over Mascara Dorada and Orange Cassidy, respectively.
It will be their first singles match since 2017 when they were both in WWE.
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The show will also feature a semifinal bout in the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team title tournament as Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa battle Marina Shafir & Megan Bayne in a hardcore holiday death match.
The reason for the stipulation was Storm and Shirakawa earned the right to select one after winning a four-way at last Saturday’s Full Gear.
The winners will move on to face Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron in the finals at a date/location yet to be announced.
On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, Josh takes a break from the pro wrestling year in review series to delve into the current day and the AEW Continental Classic.
The tournament kicks off tonight so returning guest & our AEW pay-per-view previewer Mike DellaCamera returns for a 30-minute talk about the leagues, the matchups in the Gold and Blue league, and our picks for both the semifinals and finals at Worlds End.
Listen for free here or on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts (search Wrestling Observer).
The fall feud between AEW World Champion Hangman Page and former champion Samoa Joe continues on tonight’s AEW Full Gear from Newark, New Jersey, in a steel cage match.
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone will look to complete her set of titles as she challenges rival and AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander.
AEW World Tag Team Champions Brodido will defend against FTR who are looking for their third run with the gold.
Another rivalry enters its sixth chapter as TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Mark Briscoe in a no DQ match. If Briscoe loses, he joins the Don Callis Family.
A new champion will be crowned in a Casino Gauntlet bout for the new AEW National Championship while Kenny Omega, Jack Perry, and Luchasaurus take on The Young Bucks and Josh Alexander for $1 million storyline dollars.
Jon Moxley takes on Kyle O’Reilly in a no holds barred match, PAC goes one-on-one with Darby Allin, and the four remaining teams in the AEW Women’s World Tag Team title tournament battle in a four-way with the winners able to make a stipulation for their semifinal match.
Four matches will also be part of the Tailgate Brawl pre-show at 7 PM Eastern.
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(A pretty basic opener, with everyone getting in a bit of their signature spots. The Outrunners were the most over of the bunch, but the story was mainly about how Caster & Bowens can’t get on the same page, still. That story is bound to last forever apparently, as I will say, the fans loved Caster.)
Caster & Bowens got separate entrances and argued who would start first, as Bowens & Gunn began with fast pin attempts, leap frogs and takedowns. Series of jabs from Gunn, until a very awkward looking arm drag from Bowens led to Caster getting his Best Wrestler Alive chant going before he tagged in, as did Robinson. A distracted Caster was dropped with a Manhattan Drop and senton, as Magnum made the blind tag, but so did Bill. Magnum clobbered Keith on the apron, but Bill launched him to the commentators table, where Keith & Caster put the boots to Magnum heading to commercial.
Back from break, Bill missed a corner splash, allowing Floyd to tag in and run wild with bodyslams aplenty. Bulldog/Clothesline combo led to the Son of a B*tch elbow on Keith. Outrunners were posing and didn’t see Bowens flying in with a Fame-Asser, as the former Acclaimed teased Scissor Me Timbers, but Keith cut things off. Bowens planted Keith with The Arrival and Caster hit a Mic Drop, as instead of making a cover, they teased scissoring. Bill cut them off, but Bowens caught him with Rock, Paper, Scissors. Bowens looked around for Caster, but Robinson ran in and rolled him up for the win. Bowens was screaming at Caster, as Ace Austin joined his crew to celebrate, while Robinson got the bag of $200,000 and humped it, you read that right.
Match Result: Bang Bang Gang defeated Max Caster & Anthony Bowens, Big Bill & Bryan Keith & The Outrunners to win $200,000 when Robinson pinned Bowens
-Paul Wight joins commentary ahead of the upcoming match
-Samoa Joe is backstage with a crew of guys wearing Opps Dojo shirts. Joe said he now stands here alone due to Hangman Page’s recent actions, but tonight, Page will find out how really alone Joe is. What stands behind him is a movement of men who have been pushed aside, men of violence, men who exemplify The Opps. Joe won’t walk to the ring on his own, but with an army behind him, of wayward soldiers. Tonight, Page will learn the extent of what this movement truly incapsulates.
(The act just isn’t for me, but I’d be lying if I said The Costco Guys & Rizzler didn’t get a big reaction, especially when Justice hit the Diamond Cutter. Callis did have some great one liners in this one.)
Callis said The Rizzler looks like he’s on a day pass from the Home of Incorrigible Boys. Romero & Beretta were sent to the floor early, as AJ backdropped Marshall onto the pile outside and they immediately go to commercial about 60 seconds into the match. During picture-in-picture, Beretta & Romero gained control, isolating Marshall, as Callis got in some cheap shots as well.
Back from break, Romero missed a corner charge, as The Rizzler tended to Marshall outside. Romero got in his face, but Justice intervened. Beretta pie-faced Justice like he did back at All In and this brought Wight from the commentary table. Callis said he’d give Wight $100 if he chokeslammed one of the kids. Marshall hit a wild kick for the double down and this led to an AJ hot tag, planting Beretta with a powerslam and press slamming Romero before launching him over the top with a belly to belly. Beretta connected on a superkick flush, which AJ barely sold, before hitting a spinebuster.
Callis left commentary to trash talk AJ and the distraction was enough for Beretta to clock AJ with his cast and the Sexy Chuckie Knee, but AJ kicked out. RPG Vice hit a Strong Zero on AJ, but Marshall flew in with a top rope elbow to break it up. Romero connected on a standing Sliced Bread and ramped up the locomotion corner clotheslines. Beretta took the ref, as Romero was about to use the cast, when Justice came in the ring and hit a Diamond Cutter to a huge pop. Beretta grabbed Justice, but Wight clocked him with a huge right hand, which caused Beretta to stumble back and take a Blockbuster/Powerbomb combo for the win.
Match Result: Boom & Doom defeated RPG Vice when AJ pinned Beretta
-Alex Marvez is backstage with The Young Bucks & Josh Alexander, as Marvez asked about his Family already 0-1 tonight and how that affects momentum? Callis said not to worry, he’ll have 3 new Family members tonight, when Mark Briscoe & The Young Bucks officially join the ranks. Matt said tonight everything changes, as a million dollars will take them back to the glory days. Callis reminds them about his cut for his initial investment and all the bells and whistles he’s given The Bucks in recent weeks. Alexander promises to end Kenny Omega, just for Callis, who said they’ll also win the CMLL Trios Titles as well. Marvez informs Callis that Okada isn’t here yet. The Bucks said Callis should be concerned, as Callis said this could be The Bucks trying to stir stuff up since Okada was their best friend. Callis yelled “GIFT ME!” and a package flew into the shot, as Callis said it’s not money, but let’s go try it on.
(At some point they’re going to have to start actually doing something notable with HOOK & Kingston as a duo, they just seem wasted on quick pre-show matches.)
Drake & Henry attacked on the aisle and worked over HOOK immediately after the opening bell. HOOK battled back with a series of suplexes before tagging Kingston to a loud pop, as they dropped Drake with a double back suplex. Kingston spiked Henry with a DDT and made the cover, as HOOK applied REDRUM to Drake for the quick pin/submission.
Match Result: Eddie Kingston & HOOK defeated The Workhorsemen
(This was a fun mix of action, while continuing the on-going rivalry between Takeshita & Okada. These two are bound to clash, it’s just a matter of when and I think they’ve been doing a great job at teasing it for a long time. After having an off night last week on Dynamite, I should point out that Dorada looked great here and also Neon was wildly impressive in his AEW debut.)
Okada was nowhere to be found & Callis told us it’s travel issues. Despite being a 3 on 2 disadvantage, Hechicero & Takeshita stood tall before the opening bell, as Hechicero posted Mistico’s shoulder and drove a chair into it, violently wrenching and snapping it back. Doctors and Abrahantes helped Mistico to the back, as the bell officially started to begin the match. Neon & Dorada battled back with double dives, until Kazuchika Okada was seen pulling up to the arena in a sports car, as he got out in his gear, taking his sweet time, as this officially ends Tailgate Brawl, once again, it bleeds over into the actual PPV.
The PPV officially begins, with pyro setting off and a brawl happening in the ring until Okada’s music hits and he makes his full entrance with pyro of his own. Takeshita is just patiently waiting and watching, nearly getting rolled up by Dorada, who Takeshita quickly sent outside. Hechicero played peacemaker, as Okada offered a handshake, but flipped Takeshita off instead. Dorada & Neon collided both into each other, hitting thrust kicks and were about to hit dueling dives, when they were cut off by Okada & Takeshita. All 4 men fought in the corner for a pretty long time, as Mistico made his way back to the ring like he was brand new. Tiger Feint Kick, Enzugiri and double springboard cross body connected, as Mistico took out Takeshita with a hurricanrana and wild spinning armdrag on Okada. Hechicero tried an airplane spin, but Mistico countered into a head scissors and dive. Back inside, La Mistica spiked Takeshita, but Okada broke up the pin, clobbering Takeshita with punches in the back, throwing him outside before Takeshita could realize who it was. Neon was caught with a dropkick, but answered with an arm drag of his own. Takeshita returned and spiked Neon with a Bastard Driver into a release German Suplex. Takshita signaled for a Power Drive Knee, but Okada scurried in, tried a Rainmaker, almost intentionally missing and trying to take Takeshita’s head off, but Takeshita ducked.
The spot gets repeated on Dorada, but this time, Okada connected with a Rainmaker onto Takeshita, putting a huge smile on his face. Neon & Dorada cleared the ring and ping ponged Hechicero before both hit wildly impressive hurricanrana variations, following up with stereo moonsaults outside. Mistico & Hechicero left in the ring for a fast sequence, as another Tiger Feint Kick connected into La Magistral for two. Hechicero responded with a stiff pump corner knee, tried a powerbomb, but Mistico countered into a Poison Rana and quick La Mistica for the fast submission as Okada & Takeshita were held off ringside. Callis calmed both down on the aisle and left with Okada, as Takeshita was left visibly pissed off.
Match Result: El Sky Team defeated The Don Callis Family to retain the CMLL Trios Titles when Mistico submitted Hechicero
(Hell of a match between these two and the finish made sense, if you remember the villain of this match literally is called The Bastard. By any means necessary, PAC got the result he wanted and that killer instinct is something he could certainly say someone like Jon Moxley has been missing in recent months, if they choose to go that route. This was PAC’s biggest win since his return.)
Allin’s entrance was a video of his face covered in bandages in a hospital room, watching footage of him getting his ass kicked by PAC over the past few months. He smashed the TV with a baseball bat and walked out. Allin came to the ring with the bat, his right arm and midsection heavily taped. Despite all the violence between these two in the past, we started with arm drags, arm bars and pin attempts, giving PAC what he wanted, a wrestling match. John Woo dropkick sent PAC flying to the corner and he took a powder. Back inside, Allin again fired off quick takedowns and pin attempts before getting a Scorpion Death Lock. PAC got the ropes, as both fought to the apron, where PAC pressed Allin over his head and splat on the floor.
PAC brought Allin back in the ring, ripped away the bandages and wrenched his hands at the burnt skin. That was followed by a nasty looking guillotine on the bottom rope and even rougher looking hammer throw to the corner that saw Allin go flying between the ropes to the floor. Huge shotgun dropkick sent Allin flying, as the crowd chanted to PAC “You Can’t Kill Him”. Allin trapped PAC in the ring skirt and that gave him time to hit a torpedo Tope. With PAC placed on a chair ringside, Allin went up top and hit a missile dropkick, landing even harder than PAC on the impact. Back inside, Allin tried a float over stunner, but PAC countered into a bounce back German and overhead belly to belly in the corner. PAC went to charge, but Allin turned him inside out for a double down.
Coffin Splash was countered into a German, before PAC got a huge running start and waffled Allin with a lariat for two. The Brutalizer is applied, as Allin fought his way to the ropes, but PAC held on to the very last second. PAC repeatedly hit corner pump kicks, went up top, wanted Black Arrow, but crashed and burned. Allin quickly applied a Scorpion Death Lock, PAC was going to tap, but signaled for help. Wheeler Yuta sprinted out and ran distraction, as Allin let go of the hold, as he & referee Bryce went at Yuta. This allowed PAC to grab the baseball bat and crack Allin in the face with it, got rid of the evidence and stole the pin.
Match Result: PAC defeated Darby Allin
(Lots and lots of moving parts in this match, but for the most part, I think it all came off pretty well. They worked in both semi-final pairings interactions, while also doing a nice call back false finish to that of Blood and Guts. In the end, the team that could really have the most fun picking a stipulation for their semi-final, won it. I don’t know how that fairs for them actually winning that match though.)
I could’ve sworn I read this was a Tornado Tag, but apparently, it’s not. Storm charged right at Shafir at the bell, but Shafir quickly hit a Judo throw and tag to Bayne. Storm managed to battle back, tagged Shirakawa, who she used to slam onto Bayne. Rolling forearm connected, as Shirakawa followed with a springing enzugiri, which Bayne shook off into a huge Samoan Drop for two. Shafir back in and continued rag dolling Shirakawa, getting a Tiger Feint head scissors in the ropes, not realizing Blue made a blind tag. Storm was pulled from the apron before being able to make a tag, but Nightingale tagged in from Shirakawa, dishing out corner clotheslines before a cazadora splash with Cameron on Blue got a near fall.
Slugfest ensued with Blue & Cameron, who followed up with Sole Food and backstabber, only to miss the Shining Wizard. Hart tagged in and spiked Cameron with a DDT before she & Blue charged at Bayne & Shafir off the apron. It was so Hart could have room to do her rope walk clubbing blow, as Blue made the tag and hit a PK. Bayne had enough, pie facing Blue outside and launching Cameron with a fall away slam. Love Bombs & Sisters of Sin brawled on the floor, as Shafir kept Cameron isolated until Bayne was back in and planted with a desperation spinning DDT for the double down.
Nightingale tagged in, house of fire on Shafir, hitting an Oklahoma Stampede for two. Shafir floated over a Samoan Drop into a Rear Naked Choke, but Hart stole the tag. Bayne ran through Blue to break a count and the two heel teams started trash talking each other, missing the Shirakawa tag. DDT/Leg Lock combo to Hart & Blue, as Bayne made the blind tag and just ran over Hart. Fate’s Descent into Mothers Milk, as Bayne held off Storm, similar finish to Blood and Guts, this time, Storm got free and saved her partner. Storm & Shafir went at it, missing a Cameron blind tag, as Storm hit Shafir with a Thesz Press, turned into a Cameron cross body for two. Cameron ran into a choke bomb, but Hart & Blue broke the count. Bayne sent Hart & Blue flying a double German Suplex, but Nightingale launched Bayne with a Pounce and cannonball off the apron onto Shafir. With a pile outside, Shirakawa flew off the top onto everyone, leaving Cameron & Storm to trade a crazy amount of pin attempts until Storm hit her Big Package for the flash pin.
Match Result: The Timeless Love Bombs defeated Marina Shafir & Megan Bayne, The Babes of Wrath & Sisters of Sin when Storm pinned Cameron
(One of the best tag matches of the year in AEW, as these two absolutely held nothing back and the crowd were on fire, especially down the stretch. I sure hope Brodido remain a duo, even without the titles, as they are arguably one of the most successful thrown together duos and the fans love them. They both benefitted tremendously from this pairing, as did the tag division itself.)
Pre-match Big Stoke Productions straight out of the movie Belly, as Stokely was walking a club seeing highlights of FTR’s accomplishments before FTR made their entrance. Bandido started things off very quickly with a series of takedowns on both Harwood & Wheeler, forcing them to regroup. King slammed Wheeler onto Harwood before switching things up and it was Bandido slamming his partner onto Wheeler, popping the crowd. Bandido wanted to do The Macarena, but King told him no. Stokely ran distraction on the apron, but Bandido cleared him with a somersault dive, only FTR caught and slammed him face first on the commentary table. Crowd with a “Stokely Gets No Hoes” chant, as Nigel McGuinness said to his knowledge, there are plenty in New Jersey, a line that broke Excalibur.
Very rough looking double spinebuster by Bandido on FTR back inside, as Wheeler went to distract King on the apron, only to have his head knocked off by a forearm. Harwood took the ref and missed the tag Bandido made, waving it off, pissing King off and allowing FTR to double team Bandido. That lasted only momentarily, as Bandido was able to boot his way free and make the King hot tag. Wheeler was planted with a Black Hole Slam with so much torque that Wheeler almost flew out of his arms. Locomotion corner splashes, but Wheeler got a boot up and tried his hardest to hang on with a rear naked choke, only King used him as a weapon to hit a rolling DVD on Harwood. Double corner cannonball got a near fall, as Bandido joined, but was low bridged by Harwood.
FTR wanted a Power-Plex on King, who caught Wheeler coming in for a splash and hit a chokeslam, while Bandido flew in with a Frog Splash on Harwood. Kicks & chops to Harwood until King mowed through him with a lariat. King tried a dive, but Stokely shoved Harwood out of the way and took the bullet. Wheeler quickly spiked King with a Tornado DDT, as back inside, Bandido countered a rebound powerbomb by Harwood into a hurricanrana pin for two. FTR nearly got a Shatter Machine, Bandido countered that, but fell victim to the rebound powerbomb and big splash for a close two. Bandido spun out of a Spike Piledriver, posted Harwood and one arm pressed Wheeler over the top onto his partner. Quickly up to the top, Bandido followed with the highest of cross bodies onto FTR, leaving everyone down.
Back inside, Shatter Machine countered into a DDT, but Wheeler saved his partner from a 21-Plex, only to take the move himself. Bandido got to his feet, but spun around into Shatter Machine, but King broke the count at the last second. Wheeler was placed against the barricade, but King missed his cross body. Wheeler took one of the title belts and had a tug of war with King, as Bandido rolled up Harwood, with Wheeler smacking Bandido with the belt unaware of referee Paul Turner. Harwood got a roll-up, but Bandido kicked out, while Wheeler was smushed with a barricade cross body. Back inside, Harwood took a Shatter Machine by Brodido, but kicked out. Wheeler put a stop to the monkey flip 450 by crotching Bandido and wiping out King with a wild dive. Doomsday Device attempt was countered, with Bandido using the momentum into a backflip cross body for two. FTR fought with King on the apron, where they hit a Spike Piledriver on the edge of the ring, as back inside, Bandido tried a handspring, but was flattened for two. FTR quickly followed with a Spike Piledriver, but again, Bandido didn’t quit. Crowd are on their feet and losing their minds, as Bandido has a little fight left in him, but not enough to avoid Shatter Machine, which hits and FTR are 3-time AEW Tag Team Champions.
Match Result: FTR defeated Brodido to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles when Harwood pinned Bandido
-Bryan Danielson tags in on commentary and replaces Nigel McGuinness
(These matches are always so chaotic and fun, with this being no different. Lots of storylines continuing throughout and I really enjoyed this one. With the results of last Wednesday night, the winner of this could possibly be seen a surprise, but I think that is why Lashley & Ricochet went so short. We now have an inaugural National Champion and I’m looking forward to seeing how this title is handled going forward.)
After winning their respective qualifying matches on Dynamite, Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin entered at #1 & #2. Both tried taking each other down a few times, to no success, but they did have smiles on their faces. It went barely a minute before Ricochet was #3 with a mic saying the fans wanted them to fight, not wrestle. Gates of Agony attacked from behind, as Ricochet cracked MVP with the microphone repeatedly, saying he hopes Big Boom AJ is watching, that’s 5 Big Booms. Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun demolish Benjamin & Lashley ringside, leaving Ricochet alone in the ring. Tony Schiavone said entrant times are random, so no telling how long this will last (ok, then.) MVP was helped to the back, while Ricochet break danced. Kaun & Liona left, as Claudio Castagnoli is #4 and took Ricochet’s head off with an uppercut through the ropes. Gorilla press into the ring before a quick Giant Swing and uppercut for two. Ricochet turned the tables with a multi-revolution head scissors to the outside, as he was again met by a Death Rider, as Daniel Garcia is #5 and he popped Ricochet with a shot before shooting a double leg. Ricochet side-stepped and posted Castagnoli, as Orange Cassidy is #6. Garcia & Ricochet were up on the top, where Cassidy bipped Ricochet, allowing Garcia to hit a superplex. Garcia was chucked outside, Cassidy tried to steal the pin, but was picked up like a child by Castagnoli (Excalibur called is “sky jail” which was great).
Cassidy fought back with a dive onto Garcia outside, tried a sunset flip on Castagnoli, who powered out, only to eat a Stundog Millionaire and spinning DDT on Ricochet. Wheeler Yuta is #7, who Danielson calls an idiot for not having any urgency to get to the ring. 3 on 1 attack by the Death Riders on Cassidy, including locomotion corner strikes, which Ricochet tries to join in, but gets beaten down for his troubles. Kevin Knight is #8 and hits the highest leaping clothesline on the aisle on Yuta before launching off the apron with one on Garcia. Knight went for a top rope hurricanrana on Castagnoli, who caught him and both spilled to the apron. Roderick Strong is out at #9 and immediately plants Garcia with a backbreaker on the apron, running wild, catching a flying Knight with a backbreaker and an Angle Slam to Castagnoli and End of Heartache on Ricochet followed by a Sick Kick for two. Mark Davis is #10 and runs through everyone in his path, spiking Knight with a piledriver, crazy Awful Waffle to Ricochet and another piledriver to Cassidy for two. Speedball Mike Bailey is #11, who joins Knight in double teaming Davis, before both went for the cover. JetSpeed were about to go at it, until Davis started chopping both. Bailey took out Death Riders & Strong out with a springboard moonsault, while Davis took a springboard clothesline from Knight.
JetSpeed finally went at it, trading quick pin attempts, dodging everything the other threw before a stalemate got the crowd going. Garcia low blowed Bailey and sank in a Dragon Slayer, but Daddy Magic Matt Menard is #12 and Garcia lets the submission go. Intense stare down, as Menard runs wild on his former protégé, forcing Garcia to bail through the crowd with Menard in hot pursuit. Back in the ring, Meat chants from the crowd, as Davis & Castagnoli are facing off when Benjamin & Lashley join, they’ve recovered and a 4-way slugfest ensues until The Hurt Syndicate start laying everyone out with suplexes and slams. Ricochet tried a sneak attack, but got caught and his ass kicked as a result. Castagnoli & Davis cleaned things up, until Cassidy hit Davis with an Orange Punch. Ricochet was about to take one, but Yuta flew in with a Busiaku Knee, nearly stole the pin, but Knight hit a UFO Splash. Ricochet came out of nowhere with a Spirit Gun and got the victory. Kaun & Liona come back to the ring and present Ricochet with the National Title, raising him on their shoulders.
Match Result: Ricochet defeats Kevin Knight to become the Inaugural AEW National Champion
(Absolute brutal match and another in this amazing recent run for O’Reilly. Considering how violent Blood and Guts was, these two still managed a wildly entertaining bloodbatch with some pretty sick moments. The big story here is, Moxley submitted, again and you have to imagine his days are numbered as a Death Rider. Of course, that could be just fantasy booking, but I wouldn’t be surprised if something major happens soon. In regards to O’Reilly, with this win, you have to hope that he at least enters the Continental Classic and possibly wins it, I certainly would, he’s never been a hotter babyface, go all in with him and this momentum.)
O’Reilly shot a double leg at the opening bell and it led to both trading a series of standing switches. Moxley scrambled when O’Reilly tried a cross-arm-breaker, then hands behind his back, gave O’Reilly some free shots to play mind games. It led to a cheap shot, as both traded strikes in the corner. No Holds Barred, so Moxley fish hooked O’Reilly, who wrenched at Moxley’s finger. O’Reilly tried an Ankle Lock, causing Moxley to scramble outside to regroup, where Shafir gave him a fork. O’Reilly fought off being stabbed as long as he could, until Moxley got a full mount and went to town, stabbing the forehead and raking the body. O’Reilly is bleeding a good amount (I wouldn’t say to the level of Blood and Guts), while Moxley gives cross face shots and bites the forehead, a sick visual.
Moxley remains in full control, stabbing O’Reilly in the nipple with the fork, a line Excalibur was even reluctant to say, while Shafir had a smirk on her face ringside. Moxley tried a rear naked choke on the apron, which O’Reilly countered into a D’Arce Choke, transitioning into a cross-arm-breaker, forcing Moxley to roll outside, since there’s no rope breaks. O’Reilly hit a slingshot into the post and now we have a bleeding Moxley, who is sat on a chair and O’Reilly hits a diving knee from the apron. Back inside, Moxley tried a desperation Cutter, but O’Reilly countered into an Ankle Lock. Moxley spun out into a Triangle Choke, but O’Reilly got free. Moxley went back to the fork, but O’Reilly got it away, sank in a Triangle of his own and stabbed Moxley repeatedly. The blood pouring from Moxley’s head and the camera shot had everyone gross out. O’Reilly scrambled for a chain under the ring, as he gets in the ring and wraps it around Moxley’s neck, but at the same time, Moxley wraps it around O’Reilly’s neck as well. Both fight for suplexes and O’Reilly hits into the double down.
Each battle it out on their feet until Moxley gets a Bulldog Choke using the chain, but O’Reilly scrambles into a full mount, only Moxley presses on the throat to get free and apply a STF. O’Reilly has the fork and stabs the hand of Moxley to get free, but Moxley hit a Curb Stomp onto the chain. Moxley gets a chair and traps O’Reilly’s arm, Pillmanizing it. Death Rider spikes O’Reilly, as Moxley sank in a Kimura, only to be countered into an Ankle Lock. O’Reilly slammed Moxley’s leg onto the chain, wrapped it up and got the Ankle Lock once more, Moxley fought valiantly, but tapped out, again.
Post-match, a frustrated Moxley gave a nod to O’Reilly, who collapsed and was checked on by doctors. Moxley was going to leave, when he came back to the ring and attacked. Death Riders came to ringside, as Moxley left with them, as Roderick Strong & Orange Cassidy helped O’Reilly to the back. You can visibly see the Death Rider members not looking thrilled, especially PAC. Something is going to happen soon, it’s just a matter of when and how.
Match Result: Kyle O’Reilly submitted Jon Moxley
(If ever there was a time for a “You Deserve It” chant, it was tonight. The only thing I question is placing this and the No Holds Barred match back-to-back, as I completely understand how people would think this is simply too much and should be spaced out more on the card. With that aside, this was an absolute war and the happy ending many of us had hoped for. Briscoe had to go through hell to get it, but the image of him standing tall with the TNT Title is a much-deserved site to see.)
A wonderful tribute video package on Briscoe coming up through AEW and how he calls The Conglomeration his family, while also showing his real family as well. Both traded submission attempts early, as Fletcher caught Briscoe with a running boot off the apron. Briscoe blocked a PK on the apron, swept out the leg and chucked a chair at Fletcher’s face. Briscoe kept up the attack around ringside, placing Fletcher on the chair, biting him in the forehead, but missing a dive off the apron, as Fletcher caught and planted Briscoe through the chair with a brainbuster. Fletcher took too long to follow-up, as his legs were swept from the steps, causing him to land hard. Briscoe started bringing out weapons and placed Fletcher against a ladder, tried a somersault dive, but crashed and burned through the ladder. Fletcher violently launched the ladder into the face of Briscoe, busting him opened, who Callis said he only wants him to be hurt for a few months, not his career to be over, as Callis will own Briscoe’s life. Fletcher threw another ladder into the ring and continued to slam Briscoe on it, while Callis said Briscoe doesn’t have to walk to be his stooge.
Fletcher placed the broken ladder between the ropes and used it as a platform, only Briscoe hit an uppercut, threw the ladder to Fletcher and dropkicked him in the face with it. Briscoe popped Fletcher in the face with the ladder, causing him to bleed as a result, as Briscoe placed him on a table ringside, but Fletcher rolled to safety. Half and half suplex from Fletcher on the floor, as he placed six chairs up, but took too long, as Briscoe threw one in his face. Briscoe went to climb the ropes, but was distracted by Callis, as Fletcher launched Briscoe off and through the table. Another table placed in the ring corner, as Fletcher went for a Lawn Dart, Briscoe escaped, they trade Half and Halfs, while Briscoe wants Jay Driller, but Fletcher countered into a running Waterwheel Drop through the table. Last Ride Liger Bomb connects for two, as Fletcher goes to thumbtacks, spreading them all over the ring, placing them in Briscoe’s mouth and hitting a superkick. Briscoe escaped a Last Ride and spiked Fletcher into the tacks with a Fisherman’s Buster for two. Briscoe throws in two tables, one covered in Barbed Wire and a high ladder, which he sets a table up in front of. This takes forever, as Fletcher is on the apron and tries a brainbuster off through the tables, but Briscoe counters into a Blockbuster off the apron onto the chairs.
Back inside, Briscoe puts Fletcher on the table, climbs the ladder, but is cut-off. Briscoe fights Fletcher off and manages to hit an insane Froggy Bow crashing through the table. Crowd chanting This Is Awesome, as Briscoe pulls in the barbed wire table, but didn’t see Callis give a screwdriver to Fletcher. Briscoe blocks a shot initially, but Fletcher hits a low blow and starts stabbing Briscoe, licking the screwdriver, which Callis called sexy. Fletcher missed another shot, Briscoe hits a low blow of his own, Brainbuster into the thumbtacks, but Fletcher kicked out. Briscoe up top, but Fletcher shoved the referee into the ropes, crotching Briscoe. Fletcher places the screwdriver spike first up, wants the Avalanche Brainbuster, but Briscoe slid out, wanted a Cutthroat Driver, only to be stabbed in the head with the screwdriver. Fletcher hits his Brainbuster flush, but Briscoe kicked out. Fletcher wanted his Avalanche Brainbuster, but again, Briscoe escaped and hit an Avalanche Razor’s Edge through the barbed wire table. Jay Driller hits flush and Briscoe finally wins a title in AEW and the crowd are going nuts.
Match Result: Mark Briscoe defeats Kyle Fletcher to win the TNT Title
(If ever there was a PWG style party match, it was this one. Omega is such a masterful seller that I can never tell which is real and which is a work, so I can only hope the knee is a work and he’s ok. I’m really looking forward in where this story goes from here, as The Elite are back it seems and they have a furious Don Callis Army to have to deal with. How they follow-up on this should be lots of fun.)
The Young Bucks had a Wheel of Fortune video play for their entrance, as their gear that Don Callis paid for was covered in money and frills. Despite being 0-3 tonight, when asked about his chances in this match by Excalibur, Callis said he’s not concerned, as everything’s coming up Callis Family. Fast start by Nick & Perry, as they trade a series of springboard counters and arm drags leading to a tense stalemate. Fast tags by Omega & Jurassic Express until a cheap shot by Alexander dropped Omega, as Alexander stole a tag and went to work. Omega fought back with a slingshot cross body, but came up short and is holding his left leg, which is what Alexander targets immediately. Alexander was having success, when The Bucks tagged in and were immediately planted with a double Kotaro Crusher. Omega sent everyone outside and really had to work for a Terminator Dive, ultimately getting all of it.
Perry tried a cross body on Alexander on the apron, but was caught and slammed on the apron. The Bucks tried a dive, but Luchasaurus wasn’t in the right position and Nick landed pretty badly. Matt teased a moonsault on Perry, switching in mid-air to take out Omega on the floor, while he was distracted by Callis. Risky Business by The Bucks on Perry, who remained isolated until a desperation DDT planted Alexander for the double down and Luchasaurus came in with the hot tag. Choke Slams aplenty, as Luchasaurus hit a standing moonsault for two. The Bucks escape a double choke slam with a superkick, but Luchasaurus bounced back and all three are down via clotheslines. Omega tags in and Alexander runs for a tag, but The Bucks wouldn’t give it to him. You Can’t Escape half-way connected, missing the moonsault, as Matt hit a cazadora slam. Perry flew in with head scissors, as Nick launched in with a Destroyer on Luchasaurus, but proceeded to be blasted with a V-Trigger for the match reset.
Forearm battle by Omega & Alexader, as Omega hit a Snap Dragon, but Alexander (who is bleeding from the forehead) is able to sink in the Ankle Lock. While still in the submission, The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Omega, as The Bucks held off Jurassic Express. Omega just made the ropes, as Matt tagged in, The Bucks wanted a Meltzer Driver, but Luchasaurus made the save. The Bucks & Alexander connect on the assisted Tombstone for a near fall, as Countdown to Extinction was countered, but friendly fire by The Bucks and Alexander saw Omega make the save and sent Nick outside. Countdown to Extinction connects, but Alexander just broke the count. Double Doomsday was countered with The Bucks landing on their feet and ramping up a Superkick Party, accidentally hitting Alexander off the apron into a One Winged Angel by Omega on the floor. Perry tried a backslide on Matt, who slid through and The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Perry to win it.
Post-match, Callis came in the ring with Mark Davis, Hechicero, El Clon & Rocky Romero, telling him they’re rich once again and it’s time to celebrate. Callis went to walk The Bucks up the ramp with the bags of money, as The Family attack Omega in the ring. Matt & Nick ask Callis what this is about, as Callis wants them to go spend the money. The crowd chants You Sold Out, but The Bucks throw down the money and hit the ring, dishing out Superkicks to everyone. Jurassic Express check on Omega before offering a handshake to The Bucks, who accept. Omega slowly gets up and starts putting it together with the crowd chanting Hug It Out. The Bucks offer a handshake, Omega slaps it away and they hug and stand tall. The Callis Family is furious on the ramp, as they are holding all the money. Omega, Jurassic Express & The Bucks all leave on the babyface side of the stage.
Match Result: Josh Alexander & The Young Bucks defeated Kenny Omega & Jurassic Express to win $1,000,000 when Nick pinned Perry
(This started like a complete sprint, but once Mone started slowly working the arm, it’s when the crowd got quiet for a while. There were wildly impressive moments, the 14 Amigos being one for sure, but the crowd really got back into it down the stretch. I should point out that avalanche rib breaker from Statlander is going to be in highlight package for ages to come, as that was an incredible moment. Mone’s officially 0-2 in trying to win the AEW Women’s Title, as this was arguably Statlander’s biggest win in her AEW career to date. It’ll be very interesting in seeing where both go from here.)
Mone had her shirtless fellas holding all her titles down the aisle, while Statlander rolled out of a crashed spaceship off the side of the stage, which was pretty cool. Mone tried to pick the ankle early, but Statlander was there with counters and pin attempts. Statement Maker escaped, as Statlander hit a standing moonsault for two. Mone sent Statlander landing awkwardly to the floor, but she still caught a Mone dive and got a fireman’s carry up the steps to the apron. Mone missed a charge and Statlander connects with a huge superplex, floats over and misses a 450 Splash. Statlander rolls outside and clutches her left forearm and referee Aubrey quickly checks, but Mone flies in from off-screen with a Meteora and slamming Statlander shoulder first into the steps followed by another Meteroa. Tornado DDT into am arm-breaker back inside, as Mone wrenches at the wrist and arm. Statlander finally started to make a one-armed comeback, until Mone hit a double knees to the arm and snaps it back. Mone then rattled off 14 Amigos, one suplex for each belt she holds, which, despite being a heel, got the crowd applauding.
After all of that, Mone didn’t make a cover, instead went up top and missed a Frog Splash, with Statlander up-kicking her in the face. Statlander starts making her comeback with a spinning Fisherman’s Buster for a near fall. Mone responds by snapping the arm through the ropes on the apron, trying another Meteora, only Statlander countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb on the floor. Both ladies just make the count, as Mone hit her sunset flip into the corner. Mone signaled for the end, only to run into a lariat from Statlander. Mone desperately goes for an arm-bar, but Statlander countered into a ripcord belly-to-belly for two, then applying a Statement Maker of her own. Mone bent the wrist back and got the submission herself, only Statlander powered up and up the corner. Mone switched to a rear naked choke, Statlander switched to a fireman’s carry for an Avalanche Rib Breaker ala Dean Malenko for two.
Statlander wants Saturday Night Fever, but Mone counters and each trade Seatbelt pin attempts for two. Statlander manages a Package Piledriver, but Mone barely gets an arm on the rope. Mone fought out of the corner, looked for a Meteora, but was caught, only to switch and hit a Poison Rana and Meteora for two. Mone took a crazy amount to time to follow-up, allowing both to trade finisher attempts repeatedly, until Statlander avoids the head scissors to the corner and countered into Saturday Night Fever for the victory.
Match Result: Kris Statlander defeated Mercedes Mone to retain the AEW Women’s World Title
-Lexy Nair is backstage with Don Callis, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita & Hechicero (who is in charge of the money tonight). Callis said once Okada & Takeshita get on the same page, they’ll be the best team in AEW history. Okada & Takeshita blamed one another for losing the match tonight and Callis said Okada will defend his Continental Title in the Continental Classic and prove why he’s the best tournament wrestler of all time. Takeshita said that’s fine, as he’ll also be in the Continental Classic. Kyle Fletcher storms in and said Prot-Okada & Proto-Shita, both say they’re best friends, but weren’t there for him when he needed them, so he’s also entering the Continental Classic. Fletcher storms out and Okada told Takeshita look what he did to Kyle.
(On a night with some wild violence and serious bloody brawls, Samoa Joe decided to have the gusher of all gushers tonight and bled buckets. I’d love to see the amount of people who saw this finish coming at the start of the night. This was one of those shocking results that when it was all said and done, leaves me incredibly intrigued at what is next. An excellent main event and we’re off to the races.)
American Venom from Red Dead Redemption is the theme for Page, which was pretty awesome. Similar to Wednesday, Page has his ribs and neck taped, as Joe is the first to get slammed into the cage and is the first to bleed less then 2 minutes into the match. Page hit a moonsault out of the corner for two, as he took his boot to use as a weapon, but Joe got in a shot, teased the Ole Kick, only Page got up and repeatedly cracked Joe with the boot. Joe fought back, swinging for the fences with chops, as Page hit a series of clotheslines, went for a home run shot, only to be rammed head first into the cage and you guessed it, Page is bleeding now as well. Joe mowed Page down with a back elbow so hard that Page’s neck snapped on the bottom rope. Joe hit his picture-perfect snap powerslam for two, as both fight to their feet in a slugfest. Page backflips out of a German suplex and sends Joe into multiple sides of the cage.
Page slid out of a Coquina Clutch into one of his own, but both are covered in so much blood, they can easily escape. Joe spiked Page with a Uranage in the corner, as Joe is bleeding buckets now, but exposes a corner buckle, which Page fights off. Joe wants a Muscle Buster, but Page bit free and hit a sunset flip powerbomb. Katsuyori Shibata rushes to ringside and grabs the AEW World Title and starts climbing the cage. Page is just watching this happen until Eddie Kingston hits the ring and brawls with Shibata. In the ring, Joe collided with referee Paul Turner as Page hit a Dead Eye for the visible pin, but there was no ref. Powerhouse Hobbs comes to the ring and rips the lock off the cage door and enters with the World Title, but misses a belt shot on Page, who sent Hobbs face first into the cage. Joe used the distraction to apply the Coquina Clutch, but Page sent Joe crashing into the exposed buckle. Page used the opening of the door to hit a Buckshot, but there still was no referee. HOOK rushed to the ring and pleads with Paul Turner to wake up, only to grab the World Title, smile and crack Page with it, revealing an Opps shirt. Joe quickly hits a Muscle Buster on the belt, gets the pin and wins the title.
Post-match, the cage raises and HOOK hugs Joe (commentary question if HOOK has been part of The Opps all along), as Shibata and all of The Opps Dojo that was with Joe on the pre-show join Joe in the celebration until the lights went out. A video on the Tron shows a house on fire and we see Prince Nana saying “we’re in the money, my friend” before “Whose House?” hits and a completely new theme and entrance as the Most Dangerous Swerve Strickland returns. Nana is doing the Swerve Dance as the visual of Joe in the spotlight while he’s absolutely pouring blood is truly a sight to see. Joe tells everyone to step aside and welcomes Strickland to the ring, pointing at the still motionless Page. Strickland slowly takes off his jacket and eliminates the entire Opps Dojo while Joe, Hobbs, Shibata & HOOK bail. Page took care of the last Dojo dork before standing tall with Strickland to stare down the new AEW World Champion.
Match Result: Samoa Joe defeated Hangman Adam Page to win the AEW Men’s World Title
Image: AEW
Editor’s Note: The following is an opinion-based preview that reflects the views of the author and not the website.
I can feel AEW’s autumn fog lifting.
They ripped off a killer Blood and Guts last week and followed it up with a mostly solid week of TV, highlighted by the announcement of this year’s Continental Classic: AEW’s reliable creative defibrillator. Every year, the tournament gives Tony Khan a stable, crowd-pleasing tentpole to book around, and I’m hoping this installment brings the same spark.
Historically, the CC has triggered a significant shift in how hot the product feels. Suddenly, the matches are crisper, the promos tighten up, and the entire show carries a renewed sense of urgency. It’s the closest thing AEW has to flipping the ‘ON’ switch.
Hopefully the switch gets hit this Saturday from scenic Newark, New Jersey. Let’s run through the matches and predictions for this Saturday’s AEW Full Gear (8 PM Eastern main card start on PPV) and see how things shake out
Hopefully, the end of Blood and Guts reawakened something inside Kyle O’Reilly and reminded him of what and who he is — the violent artist. He felt unleashed and at home in that match, capped off by the full-on moment of tapping out Jon Moxley in a bed of broken glass.
As Moxley does with everyone, he dragged the violence out of O’Reilly, and I pray he dragged it out for good. I’m sure the Conglomeration version of O’Reilly has its fans, but I am not one. That’s not an act to be taken seriously. The post-show promo after that match was a great start, and this week’s Dynamite was an incredible follow-up.
I’m excited to see what the NHB stipulation brings. If this lands, KOR is suddenly, and unexpectedly, a key player in AEW’s upper mid-card. What a wonderful development that would be. Mox has done a remarkable (and honestly shocking) amount of losing for a company ace. If he loses again, O’Reilly might be making a climb up the AEW pecking order.
And I’ll end with a question: Is this a Roderick Strong heel turn?
Prediction: Moxley wins
This is a match with two men who have no regard for the integrity of their spinal columns. Allin’s bump freak proclivities require no explanation or exposition, but PAC is right there with him when it comes to the willingness to being spiked on his head. An enthusiastic and frequent vertebrae compressor, his absence from TV allows us to forget that no one is willing to eat a DDT quite like our newly short-haired king.
This pairing is long overdue. PAC is at his best when he gets to be cruel; Darby is at his best when someone tries to kill him. Even if there was no story between these two, the pairing is one worth watching. Instead, we have something compelling: Darby’s continual antagonism of the Death Riders and PAC’s desire to bend him (and everyone really) into a pretzel.
Pencil in a few groan-inducing bumps, Darby nearly paralyzing himself, and the slow realization that AEW will absolutely let these two try to fold each other like beach chairs.
Prediction: Darby Allin
The winning team gets to pick a stipulation for their semifinal match in the Women’s World Tag Team title tournament.
A four-way like this should feel like a showcase of a thriving division and, in most cases, it does. The Babes of Wrath bring energy and personality every time they show up, even if they skew too close to a comedy act for my liking (Willow should be champion).
The Sisters of Sin know who they are and what the act should be while the Timeless Love Bombs (lol) are pure camp and charisma. Full credit to Toni Storm for effortlessly slotting down from the main event scene to lend serious weight to the tournament. Bayne and Shafir work well as two unique forces of nature thrown together by circumstance. With more time to gel and unite in storyline, the accidental pairing of monsters could realistically anchor the division through its infancy.
And that gets to the heart of it: this still feels like a collection of potential rather than a field of established contenders. There’s talent everywhere, but not enough definition. If even one or two of these teams had been given a month more build or a reason to exist beyond the bracket, this could feel like a true showcase instead of a promising sketch. This division certainly isn’t struggling; it sometimes lacks the connective tissue needed to feel cohesive.
Prediction: Bayne & Shafir
This feels like it only exists to keep The Elite on the treadmill while AEW tries to figure out where the hell to point Kenny Omega next.
On Josh Nason’s podcast, we ended up talking about the diminishing supply of “true Kenny Omega matches” left, and he said something that stuck with me: every Omega match should feel like an event. Given the miles on his body, there’s no room for throwaways.
That’s why this match worries me. It doesn’t feel like it’s building to a spectacle; it just feels like a placeholder. Kenny doesn’t need elaborate stories or six weeks of promos. You can have him point at Josh Alexander, Kevin Knight, or Takeshita and say, “Let’s go” and boom, you’ve got something meaningful. Instead, we’re back in Elite-adjacent territory and the last time AEW went down that road, the returns were…uneven, to be kind.
Jurassic Express is here because AEW still thinks that brand has juice (they don’t) and think Alexander is excellent at professional wrestling (he is!). The Bucks seem like they won’t be joining the Don Callis family, and that’s what will cost them the match.
Prediction: Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express
My favorite part of writing these columns is the moment I hit “Submit Draft.” My second favorite part is coming up with the titles. And ironically, this column’s title was the only time I enjoyed referencing AEW’s ballooning championship collection (For my PTA heads, my other working title was ‘A Few Small Championships’).
Between AEW and the specter of ROH, there are simply too many belts for any of them to carry weight. Scarcity gives championships meaning and hierarchy gives a roster shape. AEW keeps adding gold like it has a hidden quota to hit, and every new belt chips away at the value of the others. The pecking order gets muddied as we inch toward a future where anyone even moderately competent has hardware. That’s not prestige, that’s clutter.
Prediction: I don’t know, probably Bobby Lashley? Don’t make me do this one.
If Briscoe loses, he will be forced to join the Don Callis Family.
Even though this feud still has a little juice left, it’s past its expiration date. This is their third PPV meeting of the year and while the first two matches ranged from good to genuinely great depending on your taste, the rivalry has been stretched thin. The heat just isn’t there anymore. If AEW wanted this to truly matter, the moment to put the TNT title on Briscoe was WrestleDream. That was the peak. Everything since has been diminishing returns.
The TNT Championship isn’t a title that benefits from a year-long saga and in this case, it’s been secondary to the feud the entire time. We’d celebrate a Briscoe triumph even without a belt attached. What people want is simple: Briscoe finally giving the smug prince of the Callis family his long-overdue comeuppance.
But stretching this any further won’t add meaning and continues to dilute what once could have landed with weight. Imagine if Briscoe had won the title months ago? That would have been ideal. Nevertheless, his time is now.
Prediction: Mark Briscoe
This match rules on paper: compatible styles, clearly evident chemistry, and, most importantly, the existence of Bandido. The man is a pro wrestling treasure with so much physical charisma, it’s sickening. Everything he does is must-see (he pinned Okada for god’s sake!). If that doesn’t tell you what AEW thinks of his future, nothing will.
FTR has been in an almost endless holding pattern, and, at long last, it seems like they have real forward momentum. Brodido, meanwhile, is still fresh and fun. The problem with fresh and fun is that it has a finite shelf life. History tells us that thrown-together tag teams rarely sustain momentum forever, no matter how good they are. AEW also loves the quick-hit shock run to give the unexpected team a little pop, then slide the belts back to the long-term pillars when it’s time to resume the Serious Stories™.
Here’s the twist, though: Brodido is too fun and too popular to cut off this early…which is exactly why FTR needs to win. A heel FTR paired with Stokely Hathaway has infinitely more long-term juice as champions than as chasers and beating such a popular team cements them as heels. Brodido can stay hot without the belts; FTR needs them.
Prediction: FTR
This is the biggest test of Kris Statlander’s career. Can she go 15+ minutes with the women’s division’s version of the Best Bout Machine? Statlander has always been at her best when she’s pushed. When the moment demands something more, she finds it.
Winning the title was a genuine shock; the Toni Storm match at WrestleDream validated that surprise. But this? This is the one that seals the deal. A win over Mone establishes Statlander not just as champion, but as a made woman on top of the card for as long as she wants it.
As for the endless and agonising online whining about Mone collecting belts, please. Breathe some fresh air. Many of the titles she’s holding come from companies so small they barely have websites, let alone Wikipedia pages. The idea that putting their belts on a legitimate global star is “bad for their business” is galaxy-brained nonsense. If anything, she’s giving these titles oxygen and relevance they couldn’t dream of on their own.
More importantly, those complaints miss the entire point of the character. She’s collecting belts precisely because she can’t win the one that matters: the AEW Women’s World Championship. The overcompensating, the theatricality, the bravado are all armor covering the fact that she feels incomplete without that title. She’s chasing validation she can’t quite grasp, and she knows it. If you can’t see that this is interesting character work, try activating your frontal lobe.
Prediction: Kris Statlander
Samoa Joe brings a gravity that few on the roster can. The second he steps into a segment, the air gets heavy and the stakes rise. A steel cage is the perfect setting for him. When you wrestle Joe, there is no escape.
There’s a slight problem in this case: Page has his own propensities towards violence and a bloodlust all his own. He’s not afraid to be trapped in a cage with Joe, just like he wasn’t afraid to have a Texas Death Match with Jon Moxley. Sure, he’s the babyface champion now, but the other side of his coin is stained in blood.
Hangman’s reign has been good. Characterising it as boring might be a little short-sighted. No reign could ever match the catharsis of his ascent, capped by pulling the World title out from the briefcase and into the light. We’ll always remember that, but we need something to remember what happened after.
It would be a remarkable surprise for Hangman to lose on Saturday, but there’s too much meat on the bone. He’s never better than when he leans into his brutal side, and the cage allows for that. Page’s run at the top continues.
Prediction: Hangman Adam Page
Image: WWE
It’s the Friday edition of Wrestling Weekly with Vic Sosa and Les Thatcher.
We lost a piece of wrestling history this week with the passing of legendary announcer Bob Caudle. Les talks about getting to know Bob in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, working with him there, and in Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
We’ll also look at John Cena’s final WWE Raw at Madison Square Garden, and give our predictions for AEW Full Gear.
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
A brand new violent match has been added to the Full Gear 2025 card.
For several weeks now, fans have been witnessing Kyle O’Reilly engaged in a rivalry against Jon Moxley. O’Reilly and Moxley have faced each other twice in the past month, but without a concrete result each time. Looking to finally settle the score, O’Reilly and Moxley are now set to meet once again in a No Holds Barred match at Full Gear 2025.
Following Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli’s win over Roderick Strong and Orange Cassidy, fans saw The Death Riders launch a violent attack on the duo before Kyle O’Reilly ran out to make the save. Locking in an ankle lock on Moxley and refusing to release it, O’Reilly escalated the confrontation and ultimately challenged the former World Champion to a match at Full Gear.
Shortly after the challenge was issued, the match was officially confirmed. On November 22nd, O’Reilly and Moxley will collide for the third time this year to decide a definitive winner.
Set to take place from the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, here is the complete updated match card for Full Gear 2025.
Kyle Fletcher names AEW’s two locker room leaders.
Since its launch in 2019, All Elite Wrestling has emerged as a major rival to WWE. Co-founded by Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Tony Khan, the promotion initially boasted veterans like Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho, among others. Now, nearly six years later, current TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher has identified Jon Moxley and Orange Cassidy as key leaders within the locker room.
Speaking to TMZ’s Inside The Ring, Fletcher said, “I don’t necessarily like the term ‘locker room leader’ because it’s not like one person stands in the middle of the locker room every time and goes like, ‘clean up your trash.’” With a direct bash at The Undertaker, Fletcher continued, “It’s not like Undertaker in the 90s. It just doesn’t really exist nowadays. I think there are certain people that everyone else just looks to and respects. It’s a very natural and organic thing.”
Emphasizing Moxley and Cassidy’s reputation in the locker room, the youngster said, “I think the one that is the most obvious right now is maybe like Jon Moxley. Mox is just one of those people that he lives and breathes AEW and just wants it to succeed more than anything and he’s always another one of those people that is always around and always there to offer some super cool insight, that you might not normally think of. Another one is Orange Cassidy since coming back, he’s been a great guy that people can look to and really respect and lead by example.”
Fletcher joined All Elite Wrestling in 2022 and has since then been a regular part of the roster. The 26-year-old rose to prominence after breaking up with Will Ospreay and starting his own path. Currently, the TNT Champion recently retained his title against Scorpio Sky on the November 15th edition of Collision.
A few days ago, former WWE and ECW star Stevie Richards heaped praise on Logan Paul. He claimed that the part-time wrestler/full-time influencer is better than “everybody in AEW”.
However, the comments were not taken lightly by Fletcher, who said, “I don’t know if he believes that wholeheartedly.” In his interview with TMZ, Fletcher added, “If he does, like I said, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I think that opinion is bullsh*t personally. I think the roster that we have at AEW, the matches that are that you see on a weekly, bi-weekly, like monthly basis—I am astounded. Like, I can’t even keep up. Like, I watch one match that I go that’s the best match I’ve seen this year. And then the next week I’ll see the another match that I think is the best match this year. It’s just it’s an absurd, it’s an absolutely absurd claim to make.”
Image: AEW
It’s Friday and a new Wrestling Weekly has arrived with Les Thatcher and Vic Sosa.
After his first-ever Intercontinental title win, John Cena is a WWE Grand Slam champion, but who will he face in his final match?
Jon Moxley tapped out again at this week’s AEW Blood and Guts but, how long will the Death Riders be willing to put up with him?
We look at all that and much more on today’s show. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
The Advantage Battle series ahead of this Wednesday’s AEW Blood & Guts matches concludes on tonight’s live AEW Collision from Houston, Texas.
For the men, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will take on Roderick Strong in match three of the series where the winner will gain the man advantage for this Wednesday’s double cage match.
For the women, it will be former AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter against Skye Blue in match two with Thekla vs. Harley Cameron in the deciding bout if necessary.
Our live coverage begins at 8 PM Eastern.
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Juice Robinson was very over in this match and looking more and more like his wacky self in this match, which is good news. Harwood and Robinson exchanged some arm drags and headlocks to the delight of the fans. Harwood hit a brutal chop in the corner on Robinson, and Robinson turned it around and hit some of his own, and the fans went crazy. Robinson tried to hit 10 punches in the corner, but Wheeler came into to break it up, and Robinson pivoted and hit a flying crossbody on Wheeler. That was great.
Wheeler was sent over the top rope to the floor by Austin Gunn, and he crashed into Dax Harwood. FTR managed to take the leg of Robinson and started working over his left knee. Robinson managed to hit a double DDT on FTR as Austin Gunn made the hot tag, hitting a slingblade on Harwood, and the classic Billy Gunn jabs and a little Road Dogg like dance before dropping Harwood again. Gunn countered a back body drop into a cradle for a 2-count. Wheeler low bridged Gunn as he hit the ropes, and Gunn crashed to the floor after hitting the apron hard.
Austin Gunn sent Harwood to the floor when they came back from break and hit a double crossbody with Wheeler and both men were down. Robinson tags in and bonks the heads of FTR together before hitting a cannonball and a pecado to the floor. Robinson countered a sharpshooter attempt with a cradle and then hit the Left Hand of God on Harwood before eating a powerslam from Wheeler. Austin Gunn came in and hit a crossbody that sent Wheeler to the floor. Hathaway pulled the masks of two fans in the front row and it was actually Bandido and Gravity. Hathaway ran away and was cut off by JetSpeed. Bandido superkicked Hathaway and Wheeler, and as Harwood was distracted Gunn hit a Fameasser on him letting Robinson hit a DDT for the pinfall win. The Bang Bang Gang have beaten the number one contenders!
Result: The Bang Bang Gang defeated FTR via pinfall
This was an excellent tag match with an unexpected finish. I suspect that the Bang Bang Gang will face off against the winner of Brodido and FTR after AEW Full Gear.
–Kyle Fletcher was backstage with Renee Paquette and they talked about his upcoming match against Mark Briscoe at AEW Full Gear. Fletcher said that either way, Briscoe wins – if he wins the match, he gets the TNT title, and if he loses, he gets to join the Don Callis Family, which is the greatest win he could ever achieve (according to Fletcher). Okada walked up and apologized that Takeshita wasn’t there, saying that he was there to support him instead, and after Full Gear, they would become a tag team named ProtOkada. Fletcher and Renee talked about how it was a catchy name.
Fletcher and Austin started with Fletcher using his size advantage to throw Austin around the ring. Fletcher blocked an arm drag but after a series of counters was led into it, and Austin attempted a crucifix pin that got a 2-count. Fletcher rolled to the floor to slow the pace down and started arguing with the fans to regain his composure. When they got back into the ring, Fletcher immediately hit a Mafia kick on Austin.
Austin responded with a kick to the back and another pinfall attempt followed by a fast dropkick that sent Fletcher back into the corner. Austin went for springboard crossbody, but Fletcher caught him and hit a swinging backbreaker and a full nelson slam that left Austin in the middle of the ring trying to recover. Fletcher hit a hard chop, and Austin hit a few of his own, but Fletcher hit a flying forearm and continued his assault. Austin hit a knee and a Russian Leg sweep followed by a legdrop that caused Fletcher to roll to the floor again. Austin hit a Fosbury Flop and almost missed, but Fletcher saved his life on that one.
Austin hit a jumping knee and a straitjacket DDT for a 2-count. Austin tried to hit a hurricanrana off the apron, but Fletcher caught him and hit a powerbomb on the apron before hitting a Last Ride sitout powerbomb for a 2-count. Austin hit a massive Mafia kick in the corner, but Austin dodged the brainbuster and sent Fletcher crashing into the corner.
Austin hit a series of lariats in the corner. Austin went for a headscissors off the top rope, but Fletcher caught him and countered into a tombstone position, but Austin countered into a headscissors for a 2-count. Austin went for the Fold but Fletcher dodged it and floated over, and after a series of counters lawndarted Austin into the middle ropes, but missed a Mafia kick, letting Austin hit a springboard kick. Austin went for The Fold, but Fletcher caught him and hit a brainbuster mid move for a 2-count. Fletcher went for another brainbuster, but Austin countered into a series of pinfall attempts until Fletcher took his head off with a lariat and another Mafia kick and the brainbuster on the top rope for the pinfall. What a match.
Result: Kyle Fletcher defeated Ace Austin to retain the TNT Championship
–A recap video aired of Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir beating people, including Bayne’s recent return to Stardom.
–Kris Statlander was backstage talking about her upcoming match with Mercedes Mone, and she said that she has two things that Mone does not have. The first is focus, as Statlander is fully focused on the AEW Women’s World Championship, and Mone’s focus is not divided, but she was going to make sure that she was focused with what she does to her at Full Gear. The second, of course, is the AEW Women’s World Championship.
–Moxley was backstage with the Death Riders and Don Callis walked up, saying that they have worked together in the past to mutual benefit, and that they have a chance to eliminate Mark Briscoe for them. PAC said that they were no longer playing around, but whatever they want to do with what is left of Mark Briscoe is fine with them. Callis offered them a favour if they do it, and Moxley walked up and got right in Callis’ face, saying “Do we look like we need a favour?” Callis shook his head quietly and the Death Riders walked away, but Claudio Castagnoli walked away staring at Kyle Fletcher and his TNT Championship. This was great.
This was a fairly quick squash match with Melo and Jay destroying Maya World first, and then Hyan, ending with a Gory Special (by Anna Jay) into a kick (by Tay Melo) for the pinfall win.
Result: TayJay defeatd Hyan & Maya World
–Athena was backstage with Lexy Nair and talked about how Harley Cameron managed to pin her to eliminate her and Mercedes Mone from the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament. Athena said that if Harley Cameron survived Blood & Guts she was going to beat her up in ROH for her own benefit, and turn Harley Cameron into a puppet.
Hayter went for a lariat early on, but Blue rolled to the floor and led Hayter on a chase around the ring. Blue couldn’t escape, but managed to slip out of a suplex and sent Hayter into the ring steps. When they came back into the ring Hayter countered an Irish Whip and hit ten punches in the corner, but Blue hit a flatliner into the middle turn buckle. Blue missed a cartwheel into an elbow but hit a superkick for a 2-count.
Blue hit a series of strikes in the corner and a boot choke. Hayter hit a hard forearm on the floor and a suplex on Blue after teasing it earlier. Hayter picked up Blue, but Blue no sold the suplex and countered a throw by throwing Hayter in the ring. That was weird. Blue yanked the hair of Hayter and locked on a chinlock. Hayter hit a German suplex on Blue as they came back from break and a dropkick off the middle ropes. Hayter missed the Hayterade and they exchanged a series of pinfall attempts. Hayter hit an enziguri, blocked a fireman’s carry, and exchanged forearms with Blue. Hayter eventually hit a headbutt and both women collapsed into a pinfall attempt on Blue for a 2-count.
Blue hit a Cheeky Nandos kick in the corner and powerbombed Hayter out of the corner for a 2-count. Blue went for Code Blue, but Hayter countered into a pinfall attempt, and after a quick exchange, Hayter hit a lariat for the pinfall.
Result: Jamie Hayter defeated Skye Blue
–Thekla and Julia Hart ran down and began beating on Hayter, but Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron ran down to make the save. Security ran out to pull the wrestlers apart as they tried to get order restored for Harley Cameron and Thekla next.
–Dean Malenko narrated the video hyping Blood & Guts, and it was great.
The crowd went nuts as soon as they came back from break as these two immediately started throwing punches. That was great. Cameron hit a dropkick that sent Thekla to the floor. Thekla suplexed Cameron on the floor several times, leaving her in pain. Thekla choked Cameron on the ropes, hit a snapmare, and a superkick to Cameron for a 2-count. Cameron hit some forearms in the corner, but Thekla turned it around and hit a chop that dropped Cameron.
Thekla locked on the Rings of Saturn, but decided to rake the face of Cameron while in the move, which led to the referee breaking it. Thekla choked Cameron in the ropes with her headscissors, a tarantula type move, breaking before 5. Tony Schiavone said that he didn’t know if it was a good idea for Thekla to toy with Harley Cameron, and Thekla responded with “Yes it is,” though her response could have been to a chant, but it was great timing either way.
Regardless, she was wrong, and Cameron fired up and hit some running attacks in the corner and a slingblade for a 2-count. Cameron hit a kick over the top rope after dodging Thekla, but Thekla caught Cameron on the ropes and exchanged forearms. Cameron went for a sunset flip powerbomb but Thekla stayed hooked to the turnbuckle, so Cameron put her in the Tree of Woe and hit a dropick for a 2-count. Cameron missed a Swanton bomb, and Thekla did her spider pose and hit a spear for the win.
Result: Thekla defeated Harley Cameron
The heels have the advantage going into the Women’s Blood & Guts match, and I suspect the Death Riders will too in the next match.
–JetSpeed was backstage with Lexy Nair and said that they would be entering the Casino Gauntlet match at AEW Full Gear for a chance to win the AEW National Championship, as they wanted to stay busy until they have a chance to face Brodido or FTR sometime after Full Gear.
–Max Caster and Anthony Bowens were backstage with Lexy Nair and they talked about how the Acclaimed is ultimately done, and despite their respect for Jerry Lynn, it wasn’t working. Bowens said he had a match for the Tailgate Brawl, and Caster also revealed he had one, and both of them were confused. Lexy Nair informed them of data Tony Khan gave her, saying their ratings, merch, and pay were higher together, so they should figure it out. Bowens and Caster threatened to quit, while Caster said he was loved enough alone, and Bowens did all the media events alone, somewhat putting him over, before saying Caster was the better wrestler. They both left in a huff. This is not a good storyline.
This match was tailor made for me, as Strong and Moxley exchanged some great technical wrestling in at the start. Moxley and Strong grapple for several minutes, exchanging submission attempts, and Moxley flees the ring as soon as they break apart and Strong shoves him away. Moxley stomped down on the elbow of Strong, looking to stop Strong’s chopping ability. Moxley hit some strikes to the ribs and hit a shoulder block to the stomach of Strong. Moxley stopped Strong from hitting some forearms by trying to dislocate his fingers, but Strong whipped Moxley into the steps and hit a back suplex on the guardrail. Strong did the same on another one, and then glanced at his real life wife, Marina Shafir, which let Moxley slam Strong into the steps to break the offence.
Moxley kicked the stairs in frustration, and Moxley locked a full nelson on while they were on the floor before sending Strong face first into the steps. Moxley continued the assault in the ring after Shafir spit on Strong, which popped the crowd. Moxley locked on the figure four, and Strong sat up and hit some forearms forcing Mox to break it. Moxley locked a half crab on Strong and leaned back, planting his foot in the back of Strong’s knee and pulling back, forcing Strong to escape to the ropes.
Moxley hit a double arm suplex off the middle ropes, and Strong kicked out. Strong hit a kick as Moxley charged him and Strong then hit a big protoplex for a 2-count and a tiger driver for a 2-count. Strong turned it into a Stronghold in the middle of the ring as Moxley kicked out, but Moxley pulled Strong into a cradle for a 2-count. Both men exchanged forearms in the ring before Strong hit a big dropkick to drop Moxley.
Strong hit a big superplex on Moxley to the delight of the fans. Marina Shafir got involved and distracted the referee, allowing Wheeler Yuta to run down to the ring and try to hit Strong with a chair, but the referee caught him. As the referee ejected Shafir and Yuta, PAC jumped the guardrail and hit Strong with a pump kick, leaving Strong on the mat. Strong comes in before the 10-count, but walks right into a curb stomp that he kicks out of. Moxley hits some ground and pound and tries for an armbar, but Strong fights it off until he gets his feet in the ropes to break the submission.
Moxley distracted the referee by threatening him but the referee sees PAC pull a table out from under the ring and sets it up. The referee warns PAC, but lets him do it. As Moxley tried to hit Strong with a piledriver off the apron through the table, Kyle O’Reilly comes out and takes out PAC. Strong then is attacked by Daniel Garcia, but Strong hits a uranage that sends Garcia through the table. Moxley knocks Strong off the apron, but Strong hits a full nelson slam on the ring steps on Moxley, leaving him laid out on the floor. Moxley tried to get back in the ring, but a hand grabbed his foot from under the ring and tripped Moxley, letting Strong win by countout.
Result: Roderick Strong defeats Jon Moxley by countout
–Darby Allin was clearly the one under the ring, and PAC faced being tased by him as he reached under the ring. Allin came out and posed with the taser as the show went off the air, and his team have the advantage over the Death Riders.
Not a usual stipulation with a War Games type match, but the babyfaces having the advantage over the Death Riders was kind of predictable at this point. I am not sure I like it, as the heels having the advantage is the easiest way to do these matches, but we shall see what Tony Khan comes up with for Dynamite next week.
Final Thoughts
Excellent episode of AEW Collision this week with a ton of good wrestling, a hot crowd, and some good promos. This was definitely more eventful than the usual Collision, and I hope with the matches announced beforehand more will watch it, as it was a very good show.
AEW Blood & Guts – November 12, 2025
AEW Full Gear Tailgate Brawl – November 22, 2025
AEW Full Gear Card – November 22, 2025
Tony Khan has officially announced a huge rematch for AEW Fright Night Dynamite.
Later this week on the October 29th edition of AEW Fright Night Dynamite in Edinburg, Texas, fans are set to witness Jon Moxley and Kyle O’Reilly collide once again. Following the controversial finish to their match last week, the duo are again set to clash for a definitive winner this time.
Last week O’Reilly defeated Moxley by disqualification after the former World Champion attacked the referee to get out of the match. This week, the two talented stars are set to run back their much-awaited bout.
Moxley and O’Reilly first wrestled in June 2022, with the former coming out victorious. Last week marked their second singles match. Now, with a third bout confirmed, fans are eager to see which wrestler will gain the upper hand in their rivalry.
Earlier today, All Elite Wrestling also announced another exciting tag match for Fright Night Dynamite featuring Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia.
Apart from Moxley vs O’Reilly, All Elite Wrestling also announced a number of other matches scheduled for Fright Night Dynamite. Here are the following matches that are set to take place this Wednesday:
Image: WWE
On a new edition of Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and Vic Sosa look at how AEW followed up another incredible PPV with last Saturday’s WrestleDream, their thoughts on the Women’s Tag Team title tournament, and Jon Moxley’s fear of submission holds.
In WWE, is Jey Uso willing to stop at nothing for another chance at the World Heavyweight title? Could Becky Lynch be headed toward a match with a referee?
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
Former AEW coach Sarah Stock has criticized a spot from the Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin I Quit match at AEW WrestleDream.
Stock, who departed AEW in April, took issue with Moxley shoving Allin’s head into an aquarium filled with water on Saturday’s pay-per-view, saying it could lead to kids trying to mimic the move.
AEW posted a clip of the spot along with the caption, “SOMEBODY STOP THIS!”
Stock responded to the post:
“You know who should stop this? Mothers. With their remote control. This is worse than the plastic bag over the head. Kids are going to end up dead trying this stuff at home.”
Fightful Select reported in April that Stock was no longer with AEW, although the nature of her departure was not revealed. It was reported that she had raised issues regarding AEW’s “mental health program and department being shifted,” but it was unclear if this was related to her leaving the company.
Stock first joined AEW as a coach in 2023 after having worked in a similar role for WWE from 2015 until being released at the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020.
Sting made his return to AEW during Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream, aiding former World Tag Team Champion partner Darby Allin in the main event ‘I Quit’ match against Jon Moxley.
After Moxley was attempting to drown Allin in an aquarium several times, the lights went out and the grey-haired and goateed Sting appeared with his bat in tow. He then choked out Moxley with the bat, hit PAC and Claudio Castagnoli, shattered the aquarium, and tossed the bat to Allin.
Marina Shafir then got in Sting’s face only to be carried to the back by “The Icon.”
Allin later used Sting’s Scorpion Deathlock (while Moxley was writing in a puddle of water and broken glass) to make Moxley say “I Quit.”
Sting’s last on-screen appearance came at 2024’s All In, freeing Allin from a coffin that the Young Bucks and Jack Perry were about to set on fire. He also appeared in a non-televised segment following an August AEW Collision from Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena to take part in an Eddie Gilbert tribute.
The AEW World title will be on the line as part of tonight’s AEW WrestleDream from St. Louis, Missouri.
Hangman Page will put the championship up against former titleholder Samoa Joe in a first time one-on-one match.
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander will defend against former champion Toni Storm in their first-ever singles match.
In an I Quit match, Darby Allin and Jon Moxley will attempt to settle their differences.
In the two other title matches, Brodido will defend the AEW World Tag Team Championship against Konosuke Takeshita & Kazuchika Okada while Kyle Fletcher defends the TNT title against Mark Briscoe.
The Young Bucks battle Jurassic Express for $500,000 while The Hurt Syndicate takes on The Demand in a tornado trios match.
The main card is rounded out by an appearance from TBS Champion Mercedes Mone and Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla.
The Tailgate Brawl pre-show begins at 7 PM Eastern with four tag team bouts.
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A video package for Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley’s I Quit Match is shown to kick off the Tailgate Brawl, with this feud truly kicking off at last years WrestleDream when Moxley & the Blackpool Combat Club retired Bryan Danielson. This leads to the opening contest, as Marina Shafir gave fist bumps to her crew before letting them go to the ring on their own. The Conglomeration’s tron video is right out of Saved By The Bell, as Roderick Strong reluctantly joined his team’s entrance after being urged by Kyle O’Reilly.
(This was a Collision level main event party match, as everyone got their offense in and despite being the first match on the pre-show, had the crowd loudly going out the gate. With this win by the Death Riders, the ball is in their leader Jon Moxley’s court if they want to walk away undefeated on the night.)
Tony Schiavone, Daddy Magic & Nigel McGuinness are on the call, as Strong & O’Reilly lit up Garcia with strikes to start, until Yuta made the tag, only to walk into an arm drag. The fans are already loudly booing Yuta, who blocked a Stundog from Cassidy, tagged PAC, who connected on a guillotine legdrop off the second. PAC allowed Cassidy to recover, as things went to break.
We return to Ishii & Castagnoli slugging it out, until Ishii ramps it up with shoulder tackles, until Castagnoli delivered one of his own. After trading suplex attempts, Ishii was successful, until Yuta tried a cheap shot, but ate a forearm. The distraction allowed Garcia & PAC to floor the opposition and keep Ishii isolated, as Yuta delivered Anvil elbows. Ishii managed to mow down Garcia & Yuta with a double clothesline and make the Cassidy lukewarm tag. Stundog to Yuta, but Garcia was there for a rear naked choke. Cassidy escaped and delivered a flying clothesline off the top, before PAC came in and was spiked by a spinning DDT. Castagnoli ate a PK, but blocked an Orange Punch in the Giant Swing. Cassidy tried sitting his way up mid revolution and got a rear naked choke of his own, while Strong & O’Reilly locked in abdominal stretches on Yuta & Garcia. PAC broke things up, as Castagnoli swung Cassidy around, blocked the Stundog into a no handed airplane spin into an F5. Pin attempt was broke up by Paragon, as there’s a second commercial break.
Cassidy flew out of a choke hold by Castagnoli into a hurricanrana, as Strong made the tag and ran wild with backbreakers aplenty. Blind tag by O’Reilly, who punted Garcia in the chest with a kick before double hip tossing Yuta with Strong. Castagnoli cleaned house, side-stepping the Strong/O’Reilly high low with a double clothesline. Ishii tagged in and started throwing German Suplexes on everyone in his path, until PAC answered with a bounce back German of his own. The match broke down ringside, as Yuta laid out O’Reilly with a Busiaku Knee, Cassidy fired off an Orange Punch on Cassidy, while Ishii turned PAC inside out with a lariat. Garcia grabbed the refs foot, giving distraction long enough for Ishii to get blindsided by a PAC running knee to steal the pin.
Match Result: Death Riders defeated The Conglomeration when PAC pinned Ishii
-Video package on Hangman Adam Page vs. Samoa Joe for the AEW Men’s World Title later tonight.
Excalibur tagged in for Daddy Magic, as there was an inset promo from LFI, which we didn’t hear much of due to audio issues. All we really got was Rush saying his Mess with the Bull, You Get the Horns line, as it was essentially to tell us LFI isn’t done with Eddie Kingston. HOOK & Kingston immediately destroyed Garrison & Karter ringside to start, but The Frat House turned the tables back inside, with Karter hitting a picture-perfect dropkick and Garrison with a huge splash, as Kingston was isolated. Garrison missed a second splash, as Kingston hit a shoulder tackle off the second, before HOOK made the hot tag with suplexes in bunches. Kingston joined and we got stereo overhead throws. HOOK brought Jameson in the hard way before Kingston lit him up with Kobashi machine gun chops. Garrison tried a discus forearm, but HOOK side-stepped and Karter ate the shot. Backfist by Kingston led to REDRUM from HOOK, as Karter tapped out.
Post-match, we saw LFI watching on by the stage, as I need to point out that Beast Mortos was wearing a suit jacket.
Match Result: Eddie Kingston & HOOK defeated The Frat House when HOOK submitted Karter
-Big Boom AJ & Big Justice are having a Tailgate Party for the PPV in Boca Raton, FL. They just plugged the show, while also saying come Full Gear next month, they’ll bring the boom to Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta, as they’ll face AJ & a partner of his choosing. Romero & Beretta walked in, trash talked the internet guys, as AJ got his ass kicked, while Justice was crying over his dad after Romero & Beretta walked off. This was, whatever, at least it’s on the pre-show, this actually made me view Romero & Beretta as babyfaces if you ask me.
(Aside from one messed up spot down the stretch, I thought this was an action-packed tag and the crowd was very much into it, even giving it a This Is Awesome chant. Commentary made sure to point out the upcoming Women’s Tag Team Titles being created soon, but didn’t give us anymore details except that they’re coming.)
Ford mocked Cameron after some early takedowns, but Cameron shot a double leg before tagging in Nightingale. 10 short arm lariats delivered to Ford, before locomotion corner splashes led to Cameron tagging back in for a short dropkick. Ford scurried free, tagged Bayne, who immediately asked for Nightingale. Cheap shot by Ford, but it led to nothing, as Nightingale got a near fall on Bayne. Ford tried to jump in for a double team, but Nightingale mowed both down with a double clothesline. Double enzugiri with Cameron & Nightingale, before a cazadora assisted splash on Ford led to a double suplex attempt on Bayne, who countered by suplexing both Cameron & Nightingale. Ford followed up by moonsaulting off the top to the floor onto both ladies as things went to break.
Things return right as Cameron managed a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Bayne, leading to a Nightingale hot tag, as she ran wild with clotheslines. Pounce launched Bayne, as Ford was flattened with a Spinebuster for two. Doctor Bomb was countered into a hurricanrana by Ford, as Bayne tagged in for an assisted Stunner for a near fall. Cameron ran in with a backstabber on Ford, but Bayne laid her out with a flying clothesline. Nightingale spiked Bayne with a DVD, but Ford was there with a Matrix Cutter into the reset.
Nightingale & Bayne traded shots, until a huge lariat connected by Nightingale before tagging in Cameron. Bayne fought off both women with a flying lariat out of the corner. Tag made by Ford, who went up top for a Doomsday Device, but Cameron rolled through and Ford crashed hard. Bayne was sent outside, as Nightingale met her with a cannonball off the apron. Ford tried I think a fireman’s carry double knee, but got none of it, so thankfully Cameron kicked out. Cameron blocked a boot, then drove Ford down with a pump-handle suplex before tagging Nightingale, who hit a Doctor Bomb for the win.
Match Result: Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron defeated Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford when Nightingale pinned Ford
With only 5 minutes left of the Tailgate Brawl, Tony Schiavone really put over how this match could bleed over into the PPV, something he said was unheard of. FTR attacked before the bell, but JetSpeed quickly turned the tables with a series of dropkicks and dueling slingshot dives. Harwood reversed an irish whip and slammed Bailey into the ring steps, as Knight leapt off the barricade for a dive. Back inside, Harwood decked Knight before Wheeler joined for a double suplex, but Bailey saved his partner. Each team try to suplex the other until everyone spill over the top, crashing outside. The end credit was shown for Tailgate Brawl, despite a minute being left, as Excalibur tells us to tune in to the PPV to see the finish.
Pyro was set off as the crowd were going nuts, as FTR & JetSpeed turned things up to 100, as they slugged it out, until Harwood wanted a piledriver on Bailey on the apron, but Bailey countered into a backflip double knee. Wheeler sprinted in, Bailey dodged and took out both FTR with a springboard moonsault. Back inside, Shooting Star Press was rolled through by Bailey, who hit a hurricanrana thrust kick on Harwood, as Knight hit a rolling splash for two. Wheeler tripped Bailey to the floor, but Knight hit a leaping DDT on Harwood for another near fall. Knight sent Wheeler outside, wanted a dive, but Stokely grabbed the foot. Knight sent all three colliding before spiking Harwood with a Sky High for a close two.
Harwood was able to battle back with a Sharpshooter, but Knight just managed the rope break. FTR wanted a Power-Plex, but Bailey put a stop to it. An amazing spot where Harwood had Wheeler backflip out of a back suplex into a position to hit Knight with Shatter Machine, but Bailey flew in with a Shooting Star double knees to break the count. Machine gun kicks by Bailey, who, after all this action, made the legal tag before having a chop battle with Harwood. This turned to slaps, as the fans are losing their minds for this until Bailey threw a thrust kick and spin kick in the corner, but was cut off in the corner. Harwood hit a superplex, but Bailey got the knees up from a Wheeler splash. Harwood got his knees up from Knight UFO Splash, as Bailey got a backslide on Harwood, it was a three, but the ref slightly pulled the count. Time Adventure clobbered Harwood, as Wheeler came in, but Knight sent him packing. As Bailey went for a suplex on Harwood from the outside in, Stokely swept out the legs, held the feet and FTR stole the pin.
Post-match, Stokely trash talked children ringside so much I think one of them shoved Stokely, who ordered security to throw them out.
Match Result: FTR defeated JetSpeed when Harwood pinned Bailey
-Tony Schiavone is ringside with Charlie Thesz, the wife of the late great Lou Thesz, who thanks Schiavone so much for having her, she couldn’t be happier to be here.
(This was incredibly hard hitting, as both ladies didn’t hold back. This could’ve gone either way and at one point towards the finish, I thought Thekla was going to walk away with the victory. This is a good preview of what we’ll hopefully get come Blood & Guts in a few weeks, despite not knowing the teams officially as of yet, which is something we’ll learn soon hopefully.)
Both connected on early big boots before each trade full mount punches in bunches. Hayter ramped up machine gun chops, causing Thekla to take a powder. Tilt a whirl head scissors back inside by Thekla, but Hayter answered by running through her with a shoulder tackle. Hayter went to the floor, slamming Thekla into the barricade and steps. Placing Thekla right in front of Charlie Thesz, Hayter chopped Thekla before shaking Thesz’s hand. The brief delay allowed Thekla to crack Hayter with a running boot and wild top rope cross body. Thekla violently slammed Hayter into the barricade in front of Thesz and faked a handshake, which got loud jeers.
Back inside, Thekla remained in control with a low thrust kick and multiple near falls. Tarantula head scissors in the corner, as Hayter tried powering out, but collapsed with Thekla still having the head locked. After being picked apart for minutes, Hayter finally battled back with an exploder and missile dropkick from the corner for two. Thekla fought back from the apron, went up top, but Hayter side stepped, Thekla rolled through, both missed corner charges until Thekla just popped Hayter with wild slap. Thekla was trapped in the Tree of Woe, but quickly powered up, only for Hayter to headbutt her in the face. Hayter missed a second missile dropkick, both traded high kicks, until Hayter nailed a fireman’s carry neckbreaker for the double down.
Both took turns throwing home run strikes that got more and more stiff, as Hayter wanted a Hayter-ade, but Thekla countered into the Black Widow. Hayter managed to escape, but Thekla locked in the Death Trap, with Hayter just managing the rope break. Thekla argued with referee Bryce, leading to Hayter to hit a Hayt-breaker for two. Thekla floated out of a back suplex, did her Spider bridge and laid out Hayter with a Spear, but Hayter’s foot was under the rope. Spider pose again, as Thekla wanted another Spear, but Hayter took her head off with a lariat, then hit a proper Hayter-ade for the win.
Post-match, Queen Aminata hit the ring to celebrate with Hayter, as Julia Hart & Skye Blue were standing on the ramp as Thekla was crawling to them.
Match Result: Jamie Hayter defeated Thekla
(A classic PWG style tag match, with this crowd being so loud throughout it. Everyone was on their A game for this one, as Jurassic Express are right back in the Tag Title picture, as it’s nice to see them back as a duo and the fans being behind them. They continue to tease The Bucks & Omega mending fences, as I assume that’s what’s next, since Omega & Perry are back on the same page. Only time will tell.)
A hilarious graphic reading Young Bucks Bucks was shown on the big screen, showing all the expenses Matt & Nick have spent over the last few weeks after winning their last $500,000, with only $32.17 left in their accounts. The theme music was a computer saying “Insufficient Funds, Transaction Denied” as The Bucks tried taking money from fans ringside, who said they’d pay to take a selfie with them before they looked at the bag full of $500,000 awarded to the winner.
Loud Luchasaurus & Jungle Jack chants from the St. Louis crowd, as it was Perry & Matt who kicked things off. Perry mocked The Elite hand gesture before flipping Matt off, who got a chop to the windpipe before tagging Nick, whose left side is taped up. Perry avoided a double hip toss, took down Nick with a hurricanrana and kipped up into a pose. Luchasaurus in now, as Nick tried to use his speed, hit a chop to the back, but only annoyed the dinosaur as a result. Blind tag to Matt, as The Bucks tried an assisted pop-up hurricanrana, but Luchasaurus caught Nick and chucked him into Matt. Perry repositioned the tag rope on a different corner, as it was distraction for Luchasaurus to bite at Matt. Hip toss, low dropkick, big boot combo, as The Bucks try running away, but Luchasaurus took them out with a moonsault off the apron. Perry followed by clearing the top with a dive onto Matt & Nick, smirking at the camera afterwards.
Perry used a fans sign to whack Matt in the head with, until back inside, Matt superkicked the leg out in the ropes, allowing Nick to hit a slingshot swanton. Luchasaurus ate a PK on the apron, as Matt followed with a moonsault off the barricade before smelling the bag of cash. The Bucks continued to pick apart Perry until the bounce back double stomp powerbomb was countered into a hurricanrana by Perry who leapt for the Luchasaurus hot tag. Big time beals, corner chops and lariats led to Luchasaurus standing tall. Double choke slam was countered into a double leg sweep and PK, as The Bucks did their pose, but Luchasaurus rose from the ashes, kipped up, ducked a superkick, laid out Matt with a thrust kick and chokeslammed Nick on his brother. Wild hurricanran to the floor by Perry, who sprung back inside with an assisted Tombstone Cutter to give Luchasaurus a near fall.
Doomsday Device is fought out of by Nick, as Perry rolled through, blind tag by Matt, as The Bucks hit a sunset German suplex combo. Superkick in the corner, as the bounce back double stomp powerbomb hit, but Perry kicked out. Both teams found themselves in a Chicken Fight on the floor, until Matt hit a flipping Cutter off the apron on Luchasaurus, while Nick hit a running Destroyer on Perry. Back inside, The Bucks wanted an TK Driver, but both collided, until Perry tried a head scissors on the apron, but ate a powerbomb for his troubles. Assisted Package Piledriver off the top, Excalibur said The Bucks dusted off an oldie (shoutout to Big Kev), but Perry kicked out. The Bucks wanted a BTE Trigger, Perry rolled through, tried a double DDT, but The Bucks countered, got the BTE Trigger, but Luchasaurus broke it up. More Bang for Your Bucks, countered, as Perry hit a top rope hurricanrana into a German suplex, as Luchasaurus hit a backflip splash, Perry sprinted in with a Destroyer, then hit a proper Doomsday Device, but Matt kicked out.
Perry punched Matt right in the ribs before hitting a TK Driver until Nick broke it up. Countdown to Extinction was avoided, as The Bucks hit a Superkick Party, including two on Luchasaurus and one in mid-air on Perry. BTE Trigger hits, but Perry kicked out. The Bucks called for a TK Driver, but Luchasaurus chokeslammed Nick in mid-air, as Perry hit a Poison-Rana on Matt. Countdown to Extinction connects, as Perry put away Matt.
Post-match, Perry & Luchasaurus offered their hands to The Bucks, who got up on their own. Perry offered some money to them, but they were attacked by Mark Davis, Josh Alexander & Lance Archer. Alexander got in The Bucks face, as Matt & Nick opted to walk away, until Kenny Omega’s music hit. Omega walked out, tried to get The Bucks to join him, but sprinted to the ring in a 3-on-1. Jurassic Express helped even the odds and sent The Don Callis Family packing. Omega returned the favor from the help Jurassic Express gave him in recent weeks. Omega got a scarf from someone in the crowd and held up a sign that read Inoki Forever.
Match Result: Jurassic Express defeated The Young Bucks to win $500,000 when Perry pinned Matt
(I was skeptical when this match was announced and the stip was just like the Street Fight a few weeks ago. However, I give all 6 of these men credit, this felt completely different than their previous clashes, and aside from a table spot, didn’t rely on weapons at all, which is smart. The Hurt Syndicate vs. The Opps seem to be next on the schedule, which should be quite something to say the least, opening up a whole new series of matches.)
We’re told this is also for the #1 Contender for the Trios Titles, as The Demand attacked during The Hurt Syndicate’s entrance. Benjamin fought back, turning Ricochet inside out with a lariat and applying an ankle lock on Kaun. Knee lift from Ricochet broke it up, as a running Shooting Star got two after MVP broke it up. Lashley saved MVP from getting picked apart, as Kaun was launched on the floor with an overhead suplex. Ricochet flew in with a dive, Lashley didn’t go down, so Liona mowed him down with a Pounce up the ramp. Lashley was placed on a table ringside, as G.O.A. Opened the Gates on Benjamin off the steps through Lashley and the table. MVP was left surrounded in the ring and was beaten down as a result. Step-up Shooting Star Press off the back of Liona by Ricochet, but Benjamin broke the count, only to be sent packing again.
MVP was able to side-step all three Demand members, as Lashley turned into a train and steamrolled everyone ringside. Ricochet was turned inside out with a lariat, while G.O.A. were dropped with a DDT/Flatliner combo. Dominator by Lashley to Ricochet, who kicked out at two. Lashley wanted a stalling superplex, but G.O.A. made the save with a super Tower of Doom almost for two. Kaun laid out Benjamin with a Big Ending, then took out MVP & Lashley with a slingshot dive. Ricochet wanted a dive, but Benjamin got a quick go-behind and launched Ricochet over the top onto the pile with a German Suplex before clearing the top with a dive. Thrust Kick popped Kaun, as Benjamin was low bridged by Ricochet, who tried a springboard on MVP, who side-stepped and hit the Ballin elbow. Fisherman’s Suplex hit, but Liona broke it up. Lashley & Liona traded submission attempts, until Benjamin flew in with a pump knee, giving Lashley a chance to hit the Spear on Liona. Ricochet was surrounded now, but Kaun pulled him to safety, opting to take the bullet for him. Knee strike by Benjamin led to another Spear by Lashley for the win.
Match Result: The Hurt Syndicate defeated The Demand to become #1 Contenders for the AEW Trios Titles when Lashley pinned Kaun
(A slower start than you might expect, but these two ramped it up in a major way the second half. The crowd will forever cheer for Mark Briscoe and I’m in the camp of thinking he should’ve won the title tonight, as Fletcher has proved he belongs in the main event level of talent in AEW. However, I understand with The Don Callis Family having a ton of titles, you don’t want Fletcher losing his so soon. An absolute excellent match.)
Callis joined commentary and said Fletcher is an Adonis, which you can’t spell without Don. Callis also said Briscoe has a genius IQ for a Golden Retriever, as after an early feeling out process, Briscoe hit a slingshot dive and bit at Fletcher before hitting a snap suplex on the floor, followed by a Cactus Elbow. Briscoe chucked a chair in the ring, tried to do his launch off it, but Fletcher grabbed it and took it to the floor. The brief delay allowed Briscoe to hit a baseball slide, had Fletcher take a seat, as it was followed by a somersault dive through the ropes, as Callis headed for higher ground. Briscoe wanted a Blockbuster off the apron, but Fletcher dodged and Briscoe went splat. Fletcher quickly set the ring steps up on its side and powerbombed Briscoe onto them.
Fletcher remained in firm control back inside, planting Briscoe with a Michinoku Driver for two. Both traded big boots, hit simultaneously, then collided with a double clothesline, turning one another inside out, which looked great on the slo-mo replay. Each exchange chops until Briscoe fired off a flying forearm, flipped out of a backdrop attempt into a Fisherman Buster for two. DVD countered, as Fletcher tried a lawn dart, Briscoe slipped free, Fletcher avoided Jay Driller into a Half and Half followed by a leg lariat and huge sit-out Last Ride powerbomb for two. Running corner boot connects, Briscoe floated over the brainbuster attempt, but Fletcher hit another running boot before heading up top. Fletcher wanted the brainbuster, Briscoe slid out, turned Fletcher around, wanted an Avalanche Splash Mountain Bomb, but Fletcher fought out and hit a big time superplex into the double down.
Fletcher tried a PK from the apron, Briscoe blocked, but ate a thrust kick flush. Fletcher tried a brainbuster, but Briscoe countered into a Jay Driller on the edge of the ring. Fletcher tried to get feeling going in his hands, as Briscoe threw him back inside, only to miss the Froggy Bow. A third running corner boot connects for Fletcher, but once more, Briscoe avoided the brainbuster, hung up Fletcher on the top rope, as Briscoe hit the Froggy Bow and another follow-up one on the outside. Briscoe completed the trifecta, hitting a third back inside, but Fletcher kicked out. Fletcher escaped a Jay Driller, traded pin attempts, until Briscoe hit an exploder, Fletcher still fought off a Jay Driller, this time into another Half and Half, but Briscoe fired up into a home run lariat. Jay Driller landed, but Fletcher got a literal finger on the ropes.
Briscoe wanted a Cutthroat Driver, but Fletcher grabbed the ref for leverage, shoved Briscoe into the ref, punted Briscoe low and hit a brainbuster, but Briscoe got a shoulder up. Fletcher had a gif worthy reaction, as a running knee caught Briscoe flush, but again, kicked out. Lawn dart and flying corner kick hits, as Fletcher quickly set Briscoe up for an Avalanche Brainbuster, connects and got the victory.
Post-match, El Clon came to the stage to celebrate with Fletcher & Callis, while The Conglomeration all were out to check on Briscoe.
Match Result: Kyle Fletcher defeated Mark Briscoe to retain the TNT Title
(I thought this turned into a great women’s title match, as both champion and challenger brought it tonight in their first time singles meeting. This was a needed title defense for this to be a strong reign for Statlander, as I’m genuinely interested in seeing where Storm goes from here. The vignettes alone should be worth that journey.)
Video package on Storm was shown pre-entrance as she said she’s ready to make her murder, but death is not ready for her. Statlander had a video with her AEW career highlights and it said they thought she was a woman, but she’s so much more. To protect, to defend, to lead the world as champion, the cosmic champion, Godspeed Stat Daddy. Statlander had a galactic entrance and two extras that helped her with her attire.
Very even feeling out process, as neither could build much momentum in the early going, as the takedowns and kip ups from Statlander visibly frustrated Storm. Finally able to hit a shoulder block, Storm mocked Statlander’s pose and hit a hip attack through the ropes. Battling back on the floor, Statlander hit her pendulum moonsault off the apron as she hoisted Storm onto her shoulders, walked up the steps and just dumped Storm into the ring before flat out squashing her with a slingshot senton. Body scissors wore Storm down, as Statlander transitioned into a rear naked choke, which Storm escaped from, only to run right into a huge lariat. Springing corner Vader Bomb got Statlander, which was followed by a twisting variation for a near fall. Statlander took too much time to follow-up, allowing Storm to his a suplex into the corner.
Storm fired up, tried a Sky High, but Statlander threw a kick to the ribs and spinning face plant driver. Statlander charged in the corner, but ran right into a Storm Tornado DDT and Tiger Driver for two. Sit-out reverse Hammerlock Driver connected for Storm, but she missed a follow-up hip attack in the ropes, giving Statlander a chance to roll through into a submission, only Storm got the rope break. Dueling chants as Storm slid out of an electric chair and sank in the TCM Chicken Wing, but Statlander got the ropes this time. Big Package by Storm got a near fall, but Statlander quickly up into a Blue Thunder Bomb and did the deal with the Falcon Arrow for two into the double down. Thrust kick from Statlander, as Storm avoided Staturday Night Fever into a head scissors into the corner. Violent Sweet Cheek Music landed, but Statlander avoided taking Storm Zero, which led to the Area 451 splash for a close near fall.
Storm up first and hit another Storm Zero, but again, Statlander kicked out. Statlander just about got the Seatbelt Pin again, but Storm kicked out. Each traded and no sold release Germans until Statlander hit a discus lariat and Staturday Night Fever before locking in the head scissors submission once more. Storm tried to fold Statlander up, but the kick-out allowed Statlander to sink it in deeper. Storm tried valiantly to escape, screaming to Statlander to “f’n kill her” as Statlander let go of the submission and hit another Staturday Night Fever for the pin.
Post-match, Storm took the title from referee Aubrey and gave it to Statlander before they hugged. Storm gave Statlander the ring, as she held the title high after an impressive title defense.
Match Result: Kris Statlander defeated Timeless Toni Storm to retain the AEW Women’s World Title
Mercedes Mone’s music hits and out walks 10 belts Mone, dressed like Selena, as she was in CMLL last night. The Frat House are dancing dorks ringside, as they’re the ones holding all of Mone’s titles, with Mone having the TBS Title. Mone congratulated Statlander on her win, but get the hell out of her ring. Mone shooed her away, as Statlander said she has her eye on her before leaving. Mone said for St. Louis to say hello to the longest reigning TBS Champion of all time, Ultimo Mone (Ultimone is so much better if we’re being honest). The music for the ROH Interim Women’s TV Champion, Mina Shirakawa hits and she has answered the Open Challenge.
(This was in a tough spot to follow the previous title match. Despite thinking it went slightly a bit too long, I think it turned into a very good one, as once Shirakawa kicked out of Mone’s finish, that shocked the crowd and got them behind her. This is another case, though, where it’s going to take such a strong challenger for Mone to lose anytime soon. Shirakawa will always be beloved by the fans, I’m not sure many believed she was going to be that challenger. I assume we’re getting Statlander vs. Mone again soon, with Mone going for yet another title, which, now that she’s broken Ultimo Dragon’s record, what’s the end game here? She’s going to have to lose eventually.)
Shirakawa immediately applied a Figure Four, causing Mone to scramble to the ropes and take a powder. Shirakawa mocked the CEO dance and did one of her own, as she rolled Mone up for two. Springboard arm-drag by Mone into a Statement Maker attempt, but Shirakawa avoided it into a tilt-a-whirl leg sweep. Surfboard Stretch applied, as Shirakawa again does the CEO dance before hitting a Buzzsaw Kick, only to try it once too many, as Mone ducked into a Crossface. Backstabber into the Lungblower connects, but Shirakawa kicks out. Double knees land flush in the corner for Mone, but Shirakawa answered with a huge DDT. Mone spun out of a suplex and followed with the Three Amigos, continuously walking over the fallen Shirakawa. Meteora hit for two, as Mone went up top, but missed the Frog Splash, as Shirakawa got the knees up. Snap suplex by Shirakawa led to the reset, as the fans were cheering for Shirakawa loudly.
Both ladies trade forearms and dropkicks, until Shirakawa hit a slingshot while the legs were trapped in a Cloverleaf position. Shirakawa zoned in on the left leg before an over-the-top Tornillo got two. Sling Blade connects off the top, but Mone managed to kick out. Glamourous Driver Mina hits flush, but Mone just got a shoulder up. Figure Four applied, but again, Mone got the rope break, as both ladies went out to the apron, where Mone got a lungblower, which had to do more damage to herself than her opponent. Meteora followed, but Shirakawa kicked out back inside. Mone hit another Meteora off the second and sunset bomb into the corner landed, but a final Meteora didn’t, as Shirakawa caught Mone with a backfist before going back t to the Figure Four.
Shirakawa charged, Mone got a drop toe hold and tried to steal it with feet on the ropes and handful of tights, but was caught by the ref. Mone sent Shirakawa into the ref, got an eye poke and sank in the Statement Maker. Shirakawa escaped, cazadora, Figure Four attempt again, but Mone cradled out, hit the Mone Maker, but Shirakawa got a rope break, which got the crowd back into this. Mone is pissed off, as she slowly picked Shirakawa up, told her she’ll never have her title, tried the Mone Maker again, but Shirakawa backed her into the corner repeatedly. Shirakawa charged, as Mone got a backslide and foot on the bottom rope to steal it.
Post-match, confetti reigns down on Mone, who officially breaks Ultimo Dragon’s record (you can debate some of the titles if you’d like, but she’s a heel, I get it) as Kris Statlander ran out. Mone tried a right hand, but Statlander blocked and drove Mone down with a Samoan Drop. Mone scurried away, as Statlander held up the AEW Women’s World Title.
Match Result: Mercedes Mone defeated Mina Shirakawa to retain the TBS Title and win the ROH Interim Women’s Title
(I thought it was going to take a hell of a lot to top The Bucks vs. Jurassic Express for best tag match of the night, but this certainly did just that in my opinion. From the bad blood finally coming to ahead with Okada “accidentally” hitting a Rainmaker on Takeshita, to King’s constant encouragement to Bandido to never give up on himself, this had it all, Macarena included and was Match of the Night so far for me. It should surprise no one that these four were able to have such an incredible match as they did.)
Okada & Bandido exchanged good sportsmanship rope breaks before ramping it up, Okada avoiding a dropkick and dropping an elbow right to the back before tagging Takeshita. Intense face-off by Takeshita & Bandido, channeling back to their ROH World Title match earlier this year, as Bandido fired off a fast head scissors before tagging in King, where a chop battle just flattened Takeshita. Wiggling free from a powerbomb, Takeshita fired off a Takeshita-line leading to Okada tagging back in. It was actually King that was isolated early, but Okada woke up the giant, who ran through both Okada & Takeshita before Bandido made the tag with a wild Tornillo off the top and head stand that stalled Okada in his tracks. With an assist from King, Bandido launched off the top rope with a moonsault onto both Takeshita & Okada.
King squashed Takeshita with a cross body against the barricade, while Bandido wiped out Okada as well. Back inside, Takeshita was lit up by thrust kick and sliding lariat before the cazadora splash connected. Bandido was about to finally get his wish at getting King to do the Macarena, but Okada put a stop to that, doing the Macarena while flipping the crowd off simultaneously, absolutely amazing. Okada & Takeshita zoned in on the bad shoulder of Bandido and kept him isolated, as Okada did his no height elbow off the top and was going to give the Rainmaker middle finger, when Takeshita flew in with a senton on Bandido and had a stare down with Okada, who was still flipping the bird. The delay allowed Bandido to break free and make the hot tag to King, who threw heavy shots, ducked a Takeshita-line and flatten Takeshita with a Samoan Drop. Okada came in and was hit with a corner DVD onto Takeshita, as King followed with a Cannonball on both men. Massive chop to the throat of Okada while up in the corner, but Okada bit at the nose and hit the Air Raid Crash onto the knee for the double down.
Bandido tagged in and fired off a Code Red on Takeshita, who was out at two. Takeshita side-stepped a corner splash, both threw a home run shot at the same time, with Bandido connecting first with a backfist. Bandido tried a 21-Plex, but Takeshita blocked into a Bastard Driver attempt, but Bandido landed on his feet off a German attempt, Okada flew in with a shotgun dropkick, King ran through Okada, as Takeshita threw a Power Drive Knee until Bandido & Takeshita traded Poison Ranas. Cannonball on Okada by King, who fell back into the Blue Thunder Bomb by Takeshita, but Bandido flew off the top with a Shooting Star Press for a two count in an incredible sequence hard to keep up with.
Callis left commentary to check on Okada, who gave a thumbs up, as Takeshita ripped the tape off Bandido’s shoulder. Takeshita no sold strikes until Bandido fired off a pop-up hurricanrana for two, but Takeshita recovered first with a Power Drive Knee. Takeshita lowered the knee, but Okada stole the tag, as he wanted a Rainmaker, but Bandido rolled through into a cazadora double stomp. Tag to King, who sank in the hanging choke off the apron on Takeshita, as he collapsed outside, as Bandido launched off King’s shoulder into a dive outside on Takeshita. Okada was lit up with chops and corner splashes, as the assisted Dante’s Inferno connected, but Takeshita broke the count. Takeshita escaped a Doomsday Device and sent King into Bandido in the corner. Incredibly impressive Bastard Driver into the wheelbarrow German, but King no sold and turned Takeshita inside out with a lariat. Bandido leapt for a cross body on Okada, who hit a picture perfect dropkick in mid-air. Bandido escaped a Rainmaker, tried a 21-Plex, but Takeshita saved his partner, only for King to try and suplex all 3 men (partner included) at the same time, as the crowd went nuts.
King had a slugfest with Takeshita & Okada, who answered with dueling dropkick & pump knee. Bandido was ping ponged back and forth with strikes until a suplex from Okada led to a missed Takeshita knee. Bandido, still having fight, ducked a Rainmaker, as Okada waffled Takeshita. Okada said he was sorry, but with a big smile on his face. Okada walked right into X-Knee, but Bandido couldn’t do the 21-Plex due to the bad arm. King returned and spiked Okada with a sitout DVD, as King encouraged his partner to not give up before taking out Takeshita with a dive. Bandido took the advice and hit a one-armed 21-Plex and pinned Okada to retain in a thriller.
Post-match, Callis was pissed, as Bandido brought a child wearing his mask into the ring to celebrate and hold up a title. Takeshita was left looking on from the ramp, as it was Callis who was tending to Okada. King refused Bandido to leave the ring before granting him what he’s always wanted, he did the Macarena.
Match Result: Brodido defeated Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles when Bandido pinned Okada
-Renee Paquette is backstage and approaches a visibly distraught Timeless Toni Storm, who couldn’t answer the question where she goes from here. Mina Shirakawa walked up, as Storm said they both lost everything, while Shirakawa hugged her and said no, they have each other. They weaped, as Storm consoled Shirakawa, looking off into the distance.
(This felt like one of those hard-hitting Joe ROH World Title matches circa 2003-2004. These two beat the living crap out of one another and it took everything that Page had to put Joe down. The post-match is very interesting and something I didn’t expect coming and really looking forward to seeing where they go from here. The Joe vs. Page feud is not just a one and done as many might have thought.)
Dueling chants during the feeling out process, as Joe didn’t budge much from early Page offense, instead, mowed right through him with a shoulder tackle and regroup outside. Page answered with a leg lariat and cross arm breaker in the ropes on Joe’s taped up left arm. Both trade chops until again, Joe trucked Page with a back elbow before lighting him up with jabs. Placing Page on a chair ringside, Joe fired a big boot right to the face, but took too long to follow-up, giving Page a chance to hit his springboard lariat, slingshot cross body and was going to try the Orihara Moonsault, but Joe stepped out of distance. That seemed to catch Page off guard, as Joe fought him off briefly in the ring, but Page low bridged, tried the Orihara Moonsault, only Joe side stepped and Page flew out of camera shot. Joe recovered, but Page flew in from off camera with a shotgun dropkick into the guard rail. Back inside, Page charged, but right into a STO from Joe, who followed washing the face of Page with boots before decking him with the Ole Kick. Page tried to fight back, but ran right into a kitchen sink, Manhattan Drop, big boot and running senton signature combo for two. Again, Page tried to get back into it, but Joe hit his snap powerslam to remain in control.
Joe fired off more jabs, only this time, Page starting firing up and turning it into a chop battle. Enzugiri staggered Joe, but a German suplex was supposed to see Page land on his feet, but it was actually on his neck. Despite that, Page recovered and sent Joe to the apron, where a big boot hit. Page wanted the Orihara Moonsault, but Joe rolled back in the ring, Page repositioned, tried a proper moonsault, but got none of it. Both start trading strikes, until Joe hit Kawada Kicks, powerbomb into the STF, transition into the Crossface, but Page got the rope. Joe brought Page up in the corner, as Page fought free with chops and Sunset Bomb for two. Joe went back to Kawada Kicks, but Page screamed “come on motherf*cker!” as Joe sank in the choke, Page escaped, tried a Buckshot, but landed right into the Coquina Clutch. Page started fading, but there was still fight, getting the rope break. Page escaped a Muscle Buster and spiked Joe with Dead Eye for the closest near fall of the match. Page went to the apron, hit one Buckshot, Joe didn’t go down, hit a second Buckshot, Joe didn’t go down, threw one final Buckshot, Joe crumbled and Page got the victory.
Post-match, Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs came to the ring to tend to Joe, as the crowd chanted for Joe loudly. Page & Joe shook hands as Joe raised Page’s hand, but leveled him with a clothesline. Hobbs & Shibata started putting the boots to Page, as Joe cracked him in the head with the AEW World Title. Hobbs & Shibata set Page up in the corner, where Joe hit a Muscle Buster onto the title. Joe stepped onto and over the body of Page and walked off with The Opps, flipping off fans on his way to the back.
Match Result: Hangman Adam Page defeated Samoa Joe to retain the AEW Men’s World Title
-Mercedes Mone is backstage and talks about Kris Statlander ruining her historic night. It’s time for Mone to disrespect Statlander and she’s beaten her twice already, so time to come after her AEW Women’s Championship, challenging Statlander to a title match at Full Gear.
-We’re told The Opps will defend against The Hurt Syndicate this Wednesday on Dynamite for the Trios Title. Also, the Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament bracket will be announced. Finally, Kazuchika Okada will defend the AEW Unified Title against Bandido.
(It takes an awful lot for pro wrestling fans in 2025 to chant things like “This is F’D Up” “This is Murder” and “WTF?” but moments in this war certainly made those valid. I will say, the blood was kept to a minimum, as these two were incredibly creative in terms of holy sh*t spots. Ultimately, Allin, with an assist from an old friend, finally did what he’d never been able to do, defeat Jon Moxley. Where each go from here is going to be incredibly compelling, as this main event isn’t going to be for everyone, but my goodness did it deliver what it promised.)
Bell sounded and Allin laid down the AEW flag in the center of the ring, which Moxley stepped right on, so Allin quickly sent Moxley outside with a follow-up wild somersault dive. Moxley went back to the ring, as Shafir tripped up Allin long enough for Moxley to explode with a John Woo dropkick. Moxley put Allin’s mouth on the ropes and kicked at it before wrapping his fist in a chain and punching Allin repeatedly with it, causing him to bleed from the mouth. Moxley seemingly guillotined Allin on the middle ropes, destroying Allin’s ear, before going outside and throwing Allin back first into the sharp part of the steps. Moxley asked Allin how far does he want this to go? Placing Allin’s hand on the step, Moxley ordered Shafir to go get some bamboo skewers and drove one under the fingernail of Allin in a pretty damn sick spot. Moxley bit at the fingers, as Allin screamed “F No” on whether he’d quit. Moxley tried to whip Allin into the steps, but Allin leapt over and launched off the steps with a huge dropkick.
Back inside, forearms and chops thrown by both until a combo lit up Moxley into a Code Red. Allin wrapped the AEW flag around the throat and hung Moxley over the top, as Moxley started panicking like he did at All In against Hangman Page, but this time he gouged at Allin’s eye. Allin went for a Coffin Drop off the top, but Shafir pulled Moxley to safety and Allin went thud on the apron. Moxley hugged Shafir for saving him before tossing Allin back in the ring, where Moxley took his belt off and whipped the hell out of Allin over and over. Moxley became frustrated, as Allin piggy backed him, only to be planted with a release German suplex. Allin crawled to his bag with Moxley’s back turned and sprayed lighter fluid into Moxley’s eyes. Allin scurried over to grab a lighter, Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia sprinted out, but were sprayed with the lighter fluid as well. The distraction allowed Moxley to hit a Cutter, as PAC & Claudio Castagnoli was out and threw a towel to Moxley to wipe the lighter fluid off himself.
Moxley went to Allin’s bag of tricks and pulled out a stun gun. Allin fought it off, but Shafir hit a low blow, Moxley stunned Allin in the midsection before hitting a Paradigm Shift through a chair. Tony Schiavone told commentary Ole Anderson hit him with a stun gun in 1990, which was a hilarious line during such a serious match. Moxley cranked at the Bulldog Choke, but Allin flipped Moxley off. With two tables set up ringside, Castagnoli teased gorilla pressing Allin threw them, but slowly turned, told commentary to move, he charged and launched Allin from the ring through the commentary table. Castagnoli & PAC pulled Allin over to the opposing side of the ring, where Moxley hit a Paradigm Shift from the apron through the two set-up tables. “This Is Murder” chants from the crowd, who are bordering on speechless from what they’re seeing.
Moxley screamed that no one cares about Allin, but he does and pleads for Allin to quit, but he doesn’t. With Moxley screaming at Allin, Death Riders brought an aquarium into the ring and filled it with water, as Shafir poured water on Allin to wake him up, as they threw him into the ring. “WTF” chants from the crowd now, as Moxley starts trying to drown Allin. Every time Moxley pulls Allin out of the water, Allin refuses to quit, as the crowd chants “This Is F’d Up” until the lights go out.
They come back on and Sting is in the ring (gray hair, gray beard and all), standing behind a Moxley with a baseball bat. Moxley gets choked out by the bat, as Sting starts beating the hell out of the Death Riders with the bat before shattering the aquarium. Moxley is shocked as Sting tosses the bat to Allin. Sting went to leave, Shafir got in his face and started talking trash, when Sting put her over his shoulder and took her out. Moxley stood in the middle of the ring, offering Allin a shot and he certainly took it. Bat shots to the ribs and legs before wrapping the AEW flag around Moxley’s throat and hitting the Scorpion Death Drop. Coffin Drop off the top followed, as the Scorpion Death Lock was applied and Moxley quit.
Post-match, Allin raised the AEW flag high as he clutched it to end the show.
Match Result: Darby Allin defeated Jon Moxley
