A battle between two high-flyers is one of five matches set for this Friday’s AEW Rampage as Lio Rush takes on Komander.
Komander’s last AEW victory came in a trios squash match on the September 14th Collision where he teamed with Private Party in a win over Jon Cruz, Lord Crewe & Ren Jones. The luchador has one career victory in 18 AEW singles bouts, that being a July 2023 victory over Kip Sabian. He also will face Kyle Fletcher on Saturday’s Collision.
You have to go back even further for Rush’s last AEW victory which came on the August 31st Collision in a trios match. He has a 2-6 record in eight career AEW singles bouts with his last victory coming on the June 21st Rampage when he defeated Action Andretti.
The rest of the card will see LFI’s Rush, Beast Mortos & Dralistico in trios action agains the patchwork team of The Butcher, JD Drake & Beef; Taya Valkyrie against Zoey Lynn; Queen Aminata against Leila Grey; and a trios match between Top Flight & Action Andretti against the Dark Order.
Here’s the full lineup:
Lio Rush vs. Komander
LFI (Rush, Beast Mortos & Dralistico) vs. The Butcher, JD Drake & Beef
Taya Valkyrie vs. Zoey Lynn
Queen Aminata vs. Leila Grey
Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin) & Action Andretti vs. Dark Order (John Silver, Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno)
The first challenger for new Ring of Honor men’s TV Champion Brian Cage will be Komander following the events of Thursday’s ROH TV show on HonorClub.
Komander earned the shot by defeating Willie Mack on Thursday and will be looking for his first taste of either AEW or ROH gold. Cage upended Atlantis Jr. at last Saturday’s WrestleDream to win the title — his first singles title in either AEW or ROH.
The match is expected to air on next week’s ROH TV after being taped on Thursday in Stockton, California. While the two have shared the ring several times, this will be their first one-on-one matchup.
Komander will head into the match on a three-match winning streak in ROH while Cage is undefeated in the ROH ring at 15-0.
For the full spoilers from the AEW Collision/Battle of the Belts/ROH taping including what belts were defended, click here.
Penta El Zero Miedo will have one more match before his TNT title match on Wednesday.
Collision will see Penta take on Komander in the main event just days before his TNT title match on Dynamite. Komander won a Final Four Elimination match on AEW Rampage, defeating Bryan Keith, Action Andretti, and Daniel Garcia.
Saturday will also see the second spot in the AEW Tag Team title match at Dynasty be determined. FTR will face Top Flight in a semifinal match of the AEW Tag Team title tournament. The winners will go on to face The Young Bucks, who defeated Best Friends on Wednesday to advance.
Other matches will see Claudio Castagnoli take on The Butcher, Chris Jericho will team with Hook to take on Shane Taylor Promotions, House of Black will face Christopher Daniels, Matt Sydal, and Bryan Keith, and PAC will also be in action. Yuka Sakazaki, who has been out of action, will return to take on Trish Adora.
Due to NCAA Final Four coverage on TNT, this week’s Collision will have a special start time of 11:30 pm ET.
If anyone is still awake after that snoozer of a WrestleMania main event, we’re here with a late night Collision. Sir Elton John welcomed us to the show, with Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on the call.
AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Semi-Final Match – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
Top Flight got the first advantage of the match, hitting a quick strike combination that sent Wheeler to the floor. FTR took control soon after, rolling through Darius with double shoulder blocks. Neither team could hold control for long, with quick tags keeping the match at a high pace. Dante launched off of Darius to send Harwood to the floor, but Wheeler snuck a tag in on the way back into the ring. Harwood then baited Dante into a chase on the floor where Wheeler dropped him with a clothesline.
We came back from a commercial and saw Dante reverse a Harwood superplex for a nearfall. Darius tagged in, but Harwood took him down with a heavy chop. Darius fought his way out of the corner and caught Harwood in a backslide for a nearfall. Top Flight ran wild, with Darius hitting an outside-in facebuster for a nearfall. Things broke down, with Wheeler dragging Darius to the floor. Dante went for a frog splash, but Harwood got the knees up for a nearfall.
The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl, ending with Harwood launching Dante onto the ropes before Dante launched off into a Shatter Machine. FTR got the win, and they will face off with the Young Bucks to determine the first-ever three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions.
We got a Kazuchika Okada highlight package, written by the Young Bucks and narrated by Nigel McGuinness.
PAC defeated Encore Moore
PAC obliterated Moore, finishing him off with the Brutalizer. PAC took to the mic and challenged Kazuchika Okada to a Continental Championship match, noting that he will eagerly await a response.
Bryan Danielson spoke with Renee Paquette in a pre-taped interview. Danielson says that he doesn’t compete against anyone else to be the best, he works to better himself. Danielson says that he’s in a constant state of evolution, noting that he’s not the same person he was when he was 21. Danielson said that he got excited to test himself against Ospreay, noting that someone watched Ospreay’s match at Revolution next to Danielson and said that Ospreay may be the best wrestler they’ve ever seen. This wasn’t as much of a promo as it was a conversation between Danielson and Paquette.
Chris Jericho & Hook defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
Taylor pounded on Jericho in the corner with clubbering punches. Hook and Jericho were able to get Taylor over with a double suplex, but Taylor muscled Hook over into the corner for Moriarty to work over. Hook took Moriarty over with an exploder suplex. Jericho chopped Moriarty once he tagged in, but a swing from Taylor caused Jericho to lose his focus and allow Moriarty to boot him down into a commercial.
Jericho fought off both members of STP, hitting a Lionsault on Moriarty before getting the tag to Hook. Hook ran wild on Moriarty, hitting various suplexes on him. Hook couldn’t get Taylor up for a suplex but did low bridge him to the outside. Jericho tagged in but got caught by Moriarty in the Border City Stretch. Jericho transitioned out of that into the Walls of Jericho, and after Hook took Taylor up and over with an exploder, Moriarty tapped out.
After the match, Hook got jumped by…Anthony Ogogo? I’m surprised he’s not physically covered in mothballs. Taylor and Moriarty helped him beat down Hook and Jericho, with Ogogo knocking out Jericho with a straight right hand. They stood over Jericho with a Shane Taylor Promotions flag, so it seems like Ogogo has joined Moriarty and Taylor.
Dustin Rhodes was backstage. He agreed with the sentiment that he was underappreciated, as he stood across from so many stars in the business. He remembered when his father brought home the World Heavyweight Championship after winning it, holding it in his hands when he was nine years old. He still hasn’t done it for himself yet, so while understanding that the offer could easily be denied, he challenged Samoa Joe for the AEW World Title. All he wanted was a chance to achieve his dream, and Joe could make it possible. He feared no man, and Joe was no different.
(Dustin Rhodes could lose every match he’s ever in, and all he would need is a two-minute promo like this to get me invested in him again. An excellent promo, and an intriguing challenge to Samoa Joe for the title.)
Will Ospreay spoke with Renee Paquette backstage. He noted that everyone in AEW was a lot quicker than the people in New Japan, who work a more grounded style. He noted that makes him more confident to wrestle Bryan Danielson because he has experience fighting against that style. He called Danielson an S-tier pro wrestler, but Ospreay believes that he is the best wrestler of the 21st century. He wants to prove that he is the best wrestler in the world, and he can only do that by beating who he calls the best wrestler of all time.
(This was much more of a promo than the Danielson interview, as he both complimented Danielson while putting over his motivations and belief that he could beat him.)
House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) defeated Bryan Keith, Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
During the House of Black’s entrance, we got footage of Mark Briscoe winning the ROH World Title at Supercard of Honor. After some quick work to start, King dropped Daniels with a lariat as we went to a commercial.
After the commercial, Daniels fought his way to the corner to tag in Sydal. Sydal ran wild on Matthews but took a Gonzo Bomb from King. Keith got a blind tag in and got some shots in, but King leveled him with a lariat. Black laid out Daniels with the Black Mass. Keith caught Matthews with a rollup, but Matthews drilled him with a knee and hit Murphy’s Law for the win.
After the match, Adam Copeland’s music hit. He jumped them from behind as Black charged up the ramp. Mark Briscoe & FTR came out to help before The Young Bucks came out from their elevator. A Pier Six brawl broke out, as Copeland speared Matthews. Matthew Jackson ended up in the ring with the babyfaces, but Nicholas pulled him out of harm’s way.
Rocky Romero was backstage with Lexy Nair. He’s won titles all over the world, but he’s never won a title in AEW. He knows he can’t jump the line, but he challenged Roderick Strong to an eliminator match for the International Championship. Strong and the Undisputed Kingdom entered the scene, and despite believing that Rocky had little chance to win, Strong gave Romero the match.
It was announced that The Young Bucks will “present backstage footage from All In: London and will discuss it for the first time.” I feel like they are referencing something, but I just can’t put my finger on it.
Yuka Sakazaki defeated Trish Adora
This was a back-and-forth matchup, with Adora getting more offense than I thought he would. They traded forearms before Adora dropped Sakazaki with a German suplex. Sakazaki came right back with a high-angle powerslam. Adora hit a half-hatch suplex and a Bubba Bomb for a nearfall. Sakazaki dropped her with a Bang-a-rang type manuever before hitting the Magical Girl Splash for the win.
After the match, Serena Deeb came out and gave Sakazaki a round of applause.
We got a recap of Trent Beretta turning on the Best Friends.
Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard were backstage. Menard was fired up, and Garcia was motivated by being around great wrestlers in their prime. Garcia believed it was time to insert himself in the conversation with guys like Takeshita and Okada, and he would do it with Menard by his side.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated The Butcher
Butcher took a page out of Mike Tyson’s playbook and bit Castagnoli, but Castagnoli came back strong. Butcher took Castagnoli down with a backbreaker and focused on Castagnoli’s back. Castagnoli fired back with piston-like uppercuts before dropping Butcher with a lariat. Castagnoli got Butcher up for the Giant Swing, then hit the Neutralizer to score the win.
Julia Hart & Skye Blue were backstage in a dark room. She menaced Willow Nightingale & Mercedes Moné, saying that she would forever be the face of TBS.
Samoa Joe was backstage, saying that he had to keep up appearances as World Champion. He chided Dustin Rhodes for not saying what he said to his face and reminded him that things don’t work like that around here. He denied Rhodes’ challenge for the title but would give him a fight. He agreed to an eliminator match and promised to set an example for anyone who said his name.
Penta El Zero Miedo (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes)
I’ve watched all four major shows today – NJPW Sakura Genesis, NXT Stand & Deliver, WrestleMania Saturday, and this Collision – and this is one of the three best matches of the day. An outstanding effort from these two to end this late-night edition of Collision.
We got a quick lucha spot to start before Penta booted Komander on a handspring. Komander took Penta to the floor with a headscissors, but Penta caught Komander in a gorilla press and dumped him on the stairs. After the commercial, Komander sent Penta to the floor with a double revolution headscissors. Penta caught Komander with a superkick as Tony Schiavone announced Mariah May vs. Anna Jay for Dynamite, Julia Hart vs. Leyla Hirsch in an Open House match for next week’s Rampage, and Roderick Strong vs. Rocky Romero in an eliminator match for next week’s Battle of the Belts.
Penta hit a Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall. Komander flipped out of the Fear Factor and went for a pair of rollups before locking on a leg submission. Penta got to the ropes but Komander caught him with a Spanish Fly for a nearfall. Penta cut off Komander on the apron and hit a Canadian Destroyer, but Komander dropped Penta with a back body drop.
They got back in the ring and traded forearms and chops before Penta caught Komander off the ropes with a Made In Japan for a nearfall. The crowd chanted AEW as Komander flipped out of a superplex. Komander stepped up the ropes and hit a tornillo splash for a nearfall. Komander dropkicked Penta to the floor and hit a step-up moonsault to the floor. Komander went for the ropewalk shooting star, but Penta caught him with a codebreaker. Penta hit the Fear Factor for the win.
After the match, Adam Copeland stared down Penta from the stage as they will face off on Dynamite.
Going into detail with the name revelations in the Front Office Sports story by John Pollock, Brandon Thurston and Tim Marchman, more on the lawsuit, what it means in context, more notes not in the suit, Brock Lesnar update and the claims explained.
The heroic Mark Coleman story from the past week, as well as a look at his wrestling, MMA and pro wrestling careers.
The Mercedes Mone debut in AEW, what happened, ratings, live gate, money involved, and even a WWE comment
WrestleMania update, business notes, secondary market demand
Full coverage of UFC 299, business, what’s next for the fighters, how much of a superstar has Sean O’Malley become and what is next for him
Notes on SummerSlam coming to Cleveland
A study of WWE & AEW PPV buyers and how frequently each group has bought shows over the past year
The death of Yutaka Yoshie
A detailed look at Paul Levesque’s first Hall of Fame class and their respective backgrounds including multiple Muhammad Ali appearances in pro wrestling detailed, as well as the politics of the Hall of Fame, Vince McMahon, people not in and everyone going in this year
Joanna Jedrzejczyk enters UFC Hall of Fame
Major story on the 16 Carat Gold tournament
The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, including demos, competition, placing for the night, time slot and week
The first-ever all women’s show at Arena Mexico and how it did
MLW title defended at Arena Mexico
Stardom PPV coverage
All Japan Champion Carnival notes
NOAH heads to the U.K.
NOAH tag team tournament ends and notes
Update on New Japan Cup
What to look for in the NCAA wrestling tournament in two weeks
Former WWE wrestlers wedding notes
Lots of TNA business news and build to the next PPV
Will Ospreay talks why he chose AEW
Tag team tournament notes
Update on AEW Revolution, WWE Elimination Chamber, TNA Hard to Kill and Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua PPV numbers as well as PFL vs Bellator
Kenny Omega talks surprise match that was being set up for him
Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
Takeshita talks Ospreay match
International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about the weekend news. We had our week in review show talking highlights from the Observer, Mark Coleman, WWE Hall of Fame, Mercedes debut and Dynamite rating.
Mark Coleman was actually out of the hospital briefly, but was brought back after complaining of numbness in his arm and chest pain. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and has been bedridden again.
Dark Side of the Ring was nominated for these Canadian Screen awards:
Best Factual Series
Best Visual Research (Abdullah the Butcher episode)
Best Photography in a Documentary (Marty Janetty episode)
Best Picture Editing (The Graham Dynasty)
Two matches that I haven’t seen yet from today that are getting rave reviews are Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yuma Aoyagi on today’s DDT show at Korakuen Hall and the main event on that show where Yuki Ueno retained the KO-D title over Harashima. If you like technical wrestling, the Bryan Danielson vs. Katsuyori Shibata match last night was excellent. The crowd loved it. Other bouts we’ve heard to go out of your way to see are Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino vs. Yuma Anzai & Ryuki Honda from today’s DDT show and the Ricky Knight Jr. vs. Leyton Buzzard RevPro match.
Last night in Canada, they were going to air Collision on TSN because it’s in Canada. Normally Collision doesn’t air but episodes taped in Canada do. Even though TSN has six channels, they decided not to air it live. It was scheduled for midnight but because tennis ran long, it didn’t start until 12:45 a.m. For those setting their DVR’s they probably missed a lot of the ending of it.
The semifinals of the New Japan Cup at 5:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow from Fukushima has Sanada vs. Hirooki Goto and Evil vs. Yota Tsuji. The finals are on Wednesday in Nagaoka.
On Amazing Race Wednesday night, there was a Lucha Libre Battle Royal. This season was actually filmed two years ago. The show was taped in Puerto Vallarta and a young Zandokan Jr., before he gained prominence in CMLL, was one of the wrestlers in the Battle Royal.
Komander was injured in Wednesday’s match with Konosuke Takeshita. Pac was to face Komander last night on Collision. Aaron Solo was the replacement.
WWE from last night in Augusta, GA (thanks to Shannon Walsh and Wrestling Nutshell):
R-Truth b Dominik Mysterio via DQ due to interference from Finn Balor and Damian Priest. New Day made the save
R-Truth & New Day beat Priest & Balor & Dominick when R-Truth made Dominik submit to the STF.
A.J. Styles b Carlito with the calf slicer submission
Rhea Ripley won three-way over Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler to keep the women’s tite using the rip tide on Baszler
Sami Zayn b Shinsuke Nakamura
Omos b Akira Tozawa with a tree slam
Bianca Belair & Naomi b Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane when Belair pinned Sane with the KO-D
Cody Rhodes b Drew McIntyre in a street fight after putting him through a table
Samoa Joe turned 45 today. MJF turned 28 a few days ago.
Road House, with Conor McGregor as one of the stars, debuts on Prime Video on Thursday. McGregor said he’s got two fights left on his UFC contract but doesn’t know as UFC hasn’t offered him a date. From the UFC perspective, with their PPV money guaranteed by ESPN, there is no special impetus like in the past to get McGregor to fight as much as possible.
Jose Aldo is coming out of retirement to fight Jonathan Martinez on 5/4 in Rio de Janeiro on UFC 301. Aldo confirmed the fight on his Instagram account. Aldo hasn’t fought MMA since losing to Merab Dvalishvili in 2022.
Updated card for the three-hour AEW special on Wednesday night from Toronto:
Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage I quit match for TNT title
Eddie Kingston vs. Kazuchika Okad for the Continental title
Hook vs. Chris Jericho
Thunder Rosa & Deonna Purrazzo vs. Toni Storm & Mariah May
Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander street fight
Orange Cassidy & Trent Baretta vs. Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher in the tag team title tournament
AEW will be running Daily’s Place on 4/24 through 4/27. The reason they are there is because that’s the week of the NFL draft.
A&E tonight has John Cena vs. Randy Orton for WWE Rivals at 8 p.m. Eastern and the bio on DDP at 9 p.m.
Bille Starkz vs. Queen Aminata to create the first ROH women’s TV champion will be added to the 4/5 ROH Supercard of Honor special.
Tag team tournament winners Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa, who were to challenge Jack Morris & Anthony Greene for the GHC tag titles today in Yokohama, ended up being replaced by Saxon Huxley & Timothy Thatcher in that match because Kiyomiya suffered a spinal cord concussion during training earlier in the week. Morris & Grene retained in the main event.
The Stardom Cinderella tournament has the semifinals and finals on Wednesday in Nagoya. The semifinals are Ruaka vs. Hanan and Mei Seira vs. AZM. Today in Shiga, Seira beat Ami Sohrei via over the top rope, Hanan beat Starlight Kid, Ruaka beat Xena and AZM beat Miyu Amasaki. The main event on Wednesday is Maika vs. Utami Hayashishita for the World of Stardom title.
TNA’s Under Siege PPV in Albany, NY, was supposed to go on sale yesterday, but didn’t. A new on-sale date will be announced.
Parker Boudreaux debuted in AAA this weekend.
This is a list of those coming to WrestleCon in Philadelphia and doing autograph signings: Ronda Rousey, Ric Flair, Tony Shiavone, Bobby Fulton, Abdullah the Butcher, Jim Duggan, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Stars, Thunder Rosa, Bryan Keith, Paul Walter Hauser, Enzo, Kelly Kelly, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Sgt. Slaughter, Atsushi Onita, Tajiri, Willow Nightingale, The Bunny, Xia Brookside, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Josh Alexander, Mike Santana, Jonathan Gresham, Jordynne Grace, Queen Aniomanta, Chavo Guerrero, Hector Guerrero, Steve Blackman, Elias, Lisa Marie Varon, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, Jerry Lawler Jake Roberts, Bob Orton, Mistico, Matt Riddle, Steph De Lander, Summer Rae, Tod Gordon, Nic Nemeth, Stnig, Rob Van Dam, Kevin Nash The Hardys, Lita, Dan Malenko, Mikey Whipwreck, John Nord, Terri Runnels, Warlord, Barbarian, Alicia Fox, Colt Cabana, Mil Muertes, Maria Kanellis, Mariah May, Rikishi ODB, Demolition, Tommy Rich, Lince Dorado, Tony Atlas, Masha Slamvoch, Godfather, Anna Jay, Tito Santana, Brooke Adams and more.
Paul Walter Hauser vs. Sami Callihan was added to the Mark Hitchcock Memorial show on 4/5 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena. The show is about to sell out. Mike Bailey faces Rob Van Dam on the show.
There is a Grapple Con event on 4/20 in Orlando at the Rosen Centre with Ron Simmons, a World Class panel with One Man Gang, Missy Hyatt, Al Perez, Brian Adias, Jack Victory and Marc Lorrance plus Stan Hansen, Larry Zbyszko, D-Von Dudley, Kimberly Page, Serana Deeb, Matt Riddle, AJ Francis, McKenzie Mitchell , Bushwhacker Luke Williams and Ivelisse.
CZW will be running the Murphy Rec Center in Philadelphia on 4/7 at 1 p.m. over Mania weekend. Rich Swann is on the show.
Jesus “Ricardo” Rodriguez said today that he is celebrating two years of sobriety.
Wrestling Revolver from last night in Clive IA:
Ace Austin b Rich Swann
Jake Something b Madman Fulton
Marina Shafir b Mike Bailey
Lince Dorado & Samuray del Sol b Grizzled Young Veterans to win Revolver tag titles
Paul Walter Hauser b Matt Cardona in a no DQ match. Bully Ray helped Hauser and power bombed Cardona through a flaming table.
Gringo Loco over Kevin Knight, Jake Crist, Myron Reed, Brent Oakley, Warhorse and Damian Chambers
Alex Shelley b JT Dunn to keep the Revolver title
Steve Maclin & Killer Kelly & Alex Colon & Rickey Shane Page b Mance Warner & Matthew Juice & 1 Called Manders & Masha Slamovich in an Elimination Games match which is a combination War Games and elimination match
Konosuke Takeshita faces Komander on tonight’s AEW Rampage.
In Takeshita’s first match since dropping a bout to Will Ospreay at Revolution earlier this month, the star returns to the ring against Komander in the lone singles match on tonight’s episode.
Three more matches are also set for tonight’s show.
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm will team with Mariah May against two enhancement talents on tonight’s episode.
Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta of Best Friends will take on The Dark Order’s Evil Uno & John Silver in tag team action on this evening’s show.
In a trios match, Top Flight’s Darius Martin, Dante Martin & Action Andretti will face AEW International Champion Roderick Strong & ROH World Tag Team Champions Mike Bennett & Matt Taven of The Undisputed Kingdom.
This week’s Rampage episode was taped Wednesday night in Boston at TD Garden. Spoilers from the show are available here.
Taped in Bo$$ton, Ma$$achu$ett$.
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone & Chris Jericho were on commentary. On the outset, Tony offered condolences to the family of Jackie Crockett, who passed away this week.
Trent Beretta & Orange Cassidy (w/ Chuck Taylor) defeated Evil Uno & John Silver (9:45)
The two guys from Dark Order, who have been a team since literally the first AEW show, are, according to Excalibur, going to “play spoiler” to Trent & Cassidy, who started teaming last week. I mean I know it’s not THIS iteration of the Dark Order that debuted 5 years ago but I still kinda feel the Dark Order should be the favorites here.
Anyway, this was all comedy. Beretta dropped Uno with a back suplex for a near fall. Cassidy went for a move off the top, but Silver pressed him out of the corner and slammed him. Beretta caught Silver with a standing meteora. Cassidy caught Uno with a Slumdog Millionaire, but Uno came back with Everything is Evil for a near fall.
After a split-screen break, Beretta got the tag and hit a bunch of suplexes on his opponents. Beretta went for a Strong Zero, but Uno caught Beretta with a boot and turned the move into a code red for the near fall. On the floor, Silver caught Taylor with a senton, Beretta caught Silver with a spear, Uno came off the top with a cannonball onto Beretta and Cassidy dove in with a DDT on Uno.
Back in the ring, Uno took out Cassidy with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Silver and Uno combined for their own version of the Wombo Combo for another near fall. Silver tried for a piledriver on Silver, but Cassidy dove in with an Orange Punch. Beretta rolled Silver into the Strong Zero while Cassidy took out Uno with an Orange Punch, and Beretta got the pinfall.
– A vignette of the Righteous, Vincent and Dutch, digging graves.
– Saraya and Harley Cameron screamed and Zack Knight, and Knight beat up two randoms backstage. Angelo Parker jumped in with a solid right, and the fight was broken up by backstage officials.
Mariah May (as Toni Storm Classic) & “Timeless” Toni Storm (w/ Luther) vs. Kayla Sparks & LMK
Timeless Toni asked the fans to turn off all cellular devices during the show, then jumped her opponents before the bell. Storm debuted a new version of the hip attack (I think), where she just thrusted her bum into her opponent, sitting on the bat. Mariah hit LMK with a spinning side slam to pop the crowd. Storm dumped each of her opponents with a release German suplex. Sparks got a classic hip attack from both the Tonis, then Storm finished off Skarps with the stuff piledriver. Storm hit LMK with one more hip attack while Mariah collected the pinfall.
After the match, Deonna Purrazzo came out with her new tag team partner… Thunder Rosa. “She’s back!” exclaimed Jericho, who I guess doesn’t watch Collision. Rosa and Purrazzo ran Toni and May off.
– Queen Aminata (undefeated in Ring of Honor) cut a promo on Red Velvet ahead of their Ring of Honor Women’s TV title tournament match next Thursday.
AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Brackets:
Young Bucks v. Private Party
Undisputed Kingdom v. the winners of Best Friends v. The Don Callis Family (Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
Ricky Starks & Big Bill v. Top Flight
FTR v. the winners of Infantry & House of Black (Brody King & Buddy Matthews)
That’s it??? This promotion has a hundred teams and we’re getting 10 of them in this tournament. LAME.
Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) defeated Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes) (8:32 aired)
Takeshita flipped Komander over with a German suplex, then worked him over with a chinlock into the split screen break. During the split-screen break they worked in that awesome new AEW commercial which features Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone & Julia Hart working out.
After the break, Komader walked the ropes and hit Takeshita with a moonsault on the floor. Back in the ring, Komander hit a springboard hurricanrana into a cradle for a near fall. Takeshita caught Komander coming into the corner and threw him literally halfway across the ring. Komander sprung off the ropes and into a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Takeshita leveled Komander with a forearm. Takeshita went for a last ride powerbomb, but Komander countered that into a code red for a near fall. Komander went to the top, Takeshita tried to catch him with a superpelx, but Komader escaped and hit a destroyer for a near fall. Komader went for a shooting star press off the ropes, but Takeshita got his knees up. Takeshita hit a pop-up powerbomb, a running knee, and a spinning falcon arrow to get the pinfall. Tremendous stuff here. I can’t believe this was the match they decided to cut into with a full-screen commercial break.
– “The Professor” Serena Deeb (w/ the Mountie’s hat) cut a promo where she vowed to become champion.
Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett & Matt Taven v. Top Flight & Action Andretti
I caught a little bit of ROH last night. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Maria Bennett-Kanellis is wasting her time with Griff Garrison on that show and not part of the Undisputed Kingdom.
Strong jumped Andretti before the bell to start. Taven hit a nice–looking dropkick on Andretti for a near fall. Darius Martin got the tag and flew all over the ring against Taven. Darius fought off both Bennett and Taven two against one, then tagged in his brother Darius.
Back in the ring, Taven tripped up Darius and Bennett hit a rolling forearm. Strong got the tag and got caught with an atomic drop and a dropkick. Andretti got the tag and had a nice exchange with Strong. Andretti caught him with a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Andretti took Taven & Bennett out with a back handspring elbow, then caught Strong with a spinning kick. Top Flight and Andretti took out their opponents with dives on the floor.
During the split-screen break, The Undisputed Kingdom got the advantage.
After the break, Darius hit a Lionsault (Jericho wants royalties) and got the tag to his brother. Dante hit Bennett with a crossbody for a near fall. Darius caught Bennet with a flatliner, and Andretti came off the top with a springboard 450. Andretti sprung off the ropes and into a kick from Bennett for a near fall. Andretti got out of a spike piledriver attempt and rolled up Bennett for a near fall. Taven dove off the top and into a superkick from Andretti. He caught Strong with a superkick as well.
Darius & Andretti with for a double suplex on Bennett, but Strong ran in and hit them both with a high knee. Andretti got caught with a spike piledriver from Bennett & Taven, then suffered the End of Heartache from Strong. Strong got the pinfall.
This was good stuff.
Final Thoughts:
The Acclaimed. The Gunn Club. Some version of Penta & either Komander or PAC. The Righteous (who were featured on this show). The Gates of Agony (who always look great). Jericho and Hook (why not?). Or the Jarrett/Lethal combination. Add them and it’s a lot more fun as a sixteen team tournament. And where are Claudio and Moxley, who beat FTR at Revolution two weeks ago?!?
A match for the International title has been made official for Saturday’s Collision.
Komander won the Freshly Squeezed Four-Way that took place on AEW Rampage, defeating The Butcher, Kip Sabian, and Hijo del Vikingo. After the match, Orange Cassidy came to the ring, took the International title out of his backpack and posed to close out the show.
Eddie Kingston will also be in action Saturday, taking on Willie Mack. The Continental Crown Champion cut a promo on Friday offering Mack a non-title match, pointing out their shared independent scene background.
A tag team match pitting Blackpool Combat Club members Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley against Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty will also go down. After Moxley made Moriarty pass out in the opener of Rampage, Taylor attacked Moxley as he was attempting to recover. Both Moriarty and Taylor then proceeded to put the boots to Moxley.
Here is the updated Collision card:
Escape the cage elimination match: FTR & Daniel Garcia vs. The House of Black
AEW International title: Orange Cassidy defends against Komander
Eddie Kingston vs. Willie Mack
Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty
Fresh off a defeat to former AEW Tag Team Champions FTR on AEW Rampage, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander will team up again to try to get back on track.
The duo will take on former Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal as part of this Thursday’s ROH on HonorClub.
Vikingo and Komander have teamed three times before, defeating The WorkHorsemen in July, losing to then-ROH Tag Team Champions Aussie Open in August, and then losing the aforementioned FTR bout.
Daniels and Sydal haven’t had much luck in sparse AEW matches since reuniting this year which has also carried over to ROH where they are 0-3 dating back to May.
In another new bout announced for Thursday, the Bollywood Boyz will return to ROH after getting squashed in 40 seconds by The Gunns on AEW Dynamite as they face The Boys in a battle of brothers.
Trent Beretta will look to get back in the winner’s circle as he faces Peter Avalon.
Here’s the current announced lineup for Thursday:
ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston defends against Dalton Castle.
The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate) vs. The Bollywood Boyz (Harv & Gurv Shira)
El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander vs. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
Trent Beretta vs. Peter Avalon
The Outrunners in action
Marina Shafir in action
Leyla Hirsch & Rachael Ellering vs. The Renegades (Charlette & Robyn)
AEW Rampage airs live tonight from Oakland, California with a tag team match set to headline.
FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler will face AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo & AAA Cruiserweight Champion Komander in tag team action on tonight’s episode.
Komander & Vikingo wrestled on last week’s Rampage in a Lucha del Dia de los Muertos triple threat match won by Penta El Zero Miedo.
Harwood & Wheeler are coming off a victory in an eight-man tag match on last week’s Collision where they teamed with Preston Vance & Rush of La Faccion Ingobernable against the AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks, and Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun.
FTR is aiming to get back into the Tag Team title picture after dropping the belts to Starks & Big Bill on the October 7 Collision episode and ending their second reign as AEW Tag Team Champions.
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Rampage is live for the first time in forever from Oakland, California, with Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on commentary.
Ricky Starks (w/ Big Bill) defeated Preston Vance (w/ Jose the Assistant) (7:13)
Big Bill joined the commentary team. Vance battered Starks in the corner to start. Starks made a brief comeback, but Vance knocked him for a loop with a pump kick. The fight went to the floor, where Vance whipped Starks into the ring barricades. Starks sent Vance into the ringpost head first, then stopped to do commentary on his own match. The fight continued on the floor, with Starks suplexing Vance on the entrance ramp.
Starks continued his dominance through the break, and got a near fall after a legdrop on the ring apron. Vance hit a back elbow, a shoulder block off the middle rope and a series of clotheslines. Vance hit his spinebuster (which is his second best move) to no reaction. Starks reversed a discus lariat into a spinning DDT for a near fall. Vance hit a sit-out death valley driver for another near fall. Vance was getting better reactions during the empty-arena Dark tapings in 2021.
Vance went for a full nelson, but Starks dropped out and into a cradle for two. Vance hit another sit-out death valley driver. Vance was setting up another attempt at the discus lariat, but Bill left commentary and nailed Vance from behind. Starks hit Vance with a spear for a pinfall.
After the match, the tag chaps took some cheap shots on Vance, but Rush and Drulistico came out to make the save.
– Chris Jericho cut a promo with Rene Paquette for his match on Sunday in DDT with Takeshita. After the promo, Schiavone said the match was taking place in the Tokyo Dome, but that can’t be right.
– Lexy Nair wasin the back with Don Callis and Prince Nana, who looked to be negotiating. Callis announced that Brian Cage will be the fourth man in the “Like a Dragon” Street Fight on Wednesday (replacing the presumed to be particiaping Sammy Guevara, who is still out with an injury).
– Lexi Nair interviewed Jeff Jarrett’s crew in the locker room as the parade of interviews continued. Jay Lethal’s promo was interrupted by Ortiz. Lethal and Karen Jarrett warned Ortiz to walk away before he got “jumped,” but Ortiz started swinging anyway and wound up chokeslammed on a production crate.
Red Velvet defeated Ruby Soho (9:04)
Saraya briefly came out with Soho, but went to the back and left Soho to fight alone. Velvet caught Soho with a leg lariat, then worked her over with jabs in the corner. Velvet went for a casadora, but Soho sent her into the ropes, knocking the wind out of Red Velvet.
After a long commercial, Velvet made her comeback. She hit the casadora and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Soho hit pair of backdrop suplexes. Soho sent Velvet headfirst into the middle turnbuckle. Then a production assistant delivered flowers to Soho in the middle of the match. “Apparently she’s got a secret admirer.” Apparently Schivone isn’t watching the TV shows either if he doesn’t’ know who Soho’s admirer is. Velvet got a cradle off the distraction from the flowers, then hit a spinning kick to get the upset victory.
During this match, Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart was announced for Collision.
“No neck November is in full effect, baby!” Roderick Strong dedicated the next match to his best friend, Adam Cole.
The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) defeated Danny Rose & Ricky Gee (0:48)
Bennett and Taven finished off Rose with the “neck check” which is a jumping neckbreaker out of a power bomb. After the match, Strong sprung from his wheelchair to hit Rose with a backstabber and immediately jumped back into his wheelchair.
– Danny Garcia –with Matt Menard and Angelo Parker– challenged Andrade El Idolo for Collision. Saraya and Ruby Soho interrupted the interview to confront Parker about the mid-match flower delivery. Well, Saraya was more confrontational than Soho, who seemed enamored with the flowers and Parker. Saraya and Menard sent the love birds away in opposite directions, then agreed they “had a problem.” What do they have against love?
Garcia v. Andrade was made official for Collision later in the show.
– In the back, Darius Martin & Action Andretti confronted Roderick Strong & the Kingdom. Strong decided that “DARIUS!” would be his first victim.
FTR defeated Komander & El Hijo Del Vikingo (w/ Alex Abrahantes) (11:42)
Dax Harwood and Komander started the match, and after a brief feeling out period they were off to the races. Komader got a one cout after a dropkick. Komader tagged in Vikingo, and the crowd was solidly behind Vikingo. Vikingo caught Cash Wheeler with a hook kick and an enziguri, then hit a springboard inverted rana. Vikingo went for a high speed plancha, but Wheeler moved and he went headfirst right into the commentary table. The show almost instantly went to a split screen break.
The ring doctor checked on Vikingo during the break, but soon the match was back in the ring. Vikingo did a few spots during the split screen break, and eventually got the tag to Komander. Vikingo and Komander hit a pair of crazy dives coming out of the break.
Harwood rolled through on a top rope crossbody for a near fall. Vikingo hit a top rope dropkick on Harwood, who fell into a cradle from Komader for another near fall. Harwood crotched VIkingo on the top rope. FTR went for the Powerplex, but the Luchadors countered (Komader caught Wheeler with a rana on the top rope, while Vikingo shifted his weight when Harwood went for the superplex into a crossbody). Komader and VIkingo then hit stereo 450s on FTR for another near fall.
Komader did a handspring into a Gory special from Wheeler. Vikingo almost broke his neck again on a Lionsault, but Harwood caught him and hit a tombstone for a near fall. Vikingo countered the slingshot powerbomb into a sunset flip for a near fall, then countered a second attempt at the slingshot powerbomb into a rana and cradle for a near fall.
Harwood hit the slingshot powerbomb on Vikingo on the third try, but Komader had gotten the tag. He cradled Harwood for a near fall. Komander ducked a charg from Harwood, who hit the turnbuckle headfirst. Komader walked the ropes for a shooting star press, but Harwood got out of the way. Komader landed on his feet, but FTR caught him with the Big Rig/Shatter Machine. Wheeler got the pinfall on Komander.
Both teams showed each other respect after the match. This match was absolutely insane. Even though the outcome was never in doubt. it was still the best thing on the show by a country mile.
Just as Schiavone was closing the show, the lights went out, and The House of Black appeared on screen to applaud FTR.
Final Thoughts:
I’m going to be shocked if Vikingo doesn’t wind up out for a bit with a concussion. This show was all about setting up Collision, but check out that main event if you can.
A match on the October 20 edition of Rampage was pulled last minute when one wrestler refused to put the other over.
Metalik and Komander were scheduled to have a singles match on the show. However, our own Dave Meltzer reported in today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Metalik was not willing to lose the match, resulting in it being scrapped from the show.
“The reason the 10/25 Rampage show had only three matches instead of four is because Komander vs. Metalik was booked for the show and then pulled when Metalik refused to put Komander over,” Meltzer wrote. “Metalik still worked Collision a few days later but that can’t have helped his standing here.”
Metalik had just lost to Komander in a singles match taped for ROH TV on October 14. The match aired on October 19. Metalik was back on the October 28 ROH taping and wrestled in a four-way with Angelico, Slim J, and Gringo Loco. Last week, Metalik was in Tijuana for a show with The Crash on November 3.
As for Komander, his availability for AAA TV tapings on Saturdays is now in doubt, as AEW wants him to work their weekend shows.
“AEW pretty much said they wanted Komander every Saturday and that leaves it being difficult to book since AAA’s TVs are often on Saturdays,” Meltzer wrote.
A tag team match has been announced for the Friday, November 10 edition of AEW Rampage.
As revealed during Wednesday’s Dynamite, FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler will team against El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander on Friday’s Rampage.
FTR is coming off a victory in an eight-man tag on last Saturday’s Collision show where they teamed with La Faccion Ingobernable’s Rush & Preston Vance in a winning effort against AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill & Gates of Agony’s Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona.
Both Vikingo & Komander were in action on last week’s Rampage in a triple threat match featuring Penta El Zero Miedo where Penta came away with the win. That match was Vikingo’s first on AEW TV since the September 1 Rampage episode where Vikingo & Nick Wayne defeated Kip Sabian & Gringo Loco.
This is the first match announced for this week’s live Rampage episode in Oakland, California airing at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
This Saturday’s Collision show will also be taped Friday in Oakland.
A Lucha del Dia de los Muertos match has been announced for Rampage.
El Hijo Del Vikingo, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Komander will meet in a three-way match that will air Friday.
“Louisville Lucha Libre Lovers, celebrate Day of the Dead TOMORROW with this crazy 3 way fight @kfc_yumcenter + fans nationwide can see it FRIDAY on Rampage!” Khan posted on X Tuesday night.
This will be Vikingo’s first AEW match since late September, when he teamed up with Gravity and Metalik to defeat Angelico, Serpentico, and JD Drake on an episode of ROH television.
Penta El Zero Mideo was last seen losing to Jay White on the October 18 edition of Dynamite. Komander most recently was unsuccessful in defeating Eddie Kingston in a ROH Championship match that aired on the October 7 edition of Collision.
Here is the lineup thus far for Friday’s Rampage:
Lucha del Dia de los Muertos: El Hijo Del Vikingo vs. Penta El 0 Miedo vs. Komander
One of the matches that was scheduled for tonight’s episode of AEW Collision didn’t end up taking place.
Brian Cage vs. Komander was supposed to happen on Collision tonight, but Tony Khan announced that the bout has been postponed due to a “late injury.” A new date for it hasn’t been announced.
Khan wrote: “Due to late injury, this @KomandercrMX vs @briancagegmsi match has been postponed. Thank you all watching #AEWCollision tonight on TNT!”
Khan didn’t state whether it’s Cage or Komander who suffered the injury.
“Sorry, everyone. Was looking fwd to throwing komander over lake Michigan, so hopefully, there’s a lake nearby on the redue,” Cage posted. “Thanks for the match, Tony. Looking fwd to this and more to come”
Cage recently was on a tour for World Series Wrestling in Australia. The last show on the tour took place on October 13. World Series Wrestling also honored Cage by making him the first inductee into the promotion’s Hall of Fame.
Komander was in action on the October 7 episode of Collision. Eddie Kingston retained the ROH World Championship against Komander on that show.
A four-way match for a shot at the ROH World Championship will take place on Rampage this Friday.
Johnny TV, Komander, Lince Dorado, and Penta El 0 Miedo will battle it out to determine the first challenger for Eddie Kingston’s ROH World Championship. On Dynamite, Stokely Hathaway, who is on the ROH Board of Directors, appeared and announced that Kingston would be doing commentary for the match.
This will mark the AEW debut of Lince Dorado, formerly of WWE, who has appeared in MLW, Impact, and CMLL recently.
Also announced for Rampage is a tag match with Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida teaming up to take on Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir. An eight-man tag team match will also take place, with Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker taking on The Hardys and The Best Friends.
Here is the updated lineup for Friday’s Rampage:
Four-way match for ROH Championship shot: Johnny TV vs. Komander vs. Lince Dorado vs. Penta El 0 Miedo
Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir
Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia vs. The Hardys and The Best Friends
Three championship matches are scheduled as part of tonight’s ROH TV on HonorClub.
Athena will put her ROH Women’s World Championship on the line against Angelina Love on the show. She will be seeking her 14th successful title defense. This will be Love’s first match in ROH since Tony Khan purchased the company. She is a former Women of Honor Champion, having held the title briefly in 2019.
Katsuyori Shibata will also put the ROH Pure Championship on the line tonight. He defends the title against Nick Wayne, who will be making his ROH debut.
ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions The Mogul Embassy will defend their titles on Thursday’s show as well when they face Willie Mack and The Infantry. Brian Cage and The Gates of Agony’s title defense against The Hung Bucks will air on Friday’s episode of Rampage.
Other matches scheduled for tonight’s show include Leyla Hirsch and The Renegades taking on Willow Nightingale, Skye Blue, and Kiera Hogan, Lee Johnson vs. Lee Moriarty, Ethan Page vs. VSK, and more.
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The show started with a promo from the new Ring of Honor World Champion Eddie Kingston, who talked about not liking Claudio Castagnoli, but respecting his talents. He dedicated the title win to former ROH World Champion Xavier, who passed away in 2020.
ROH Pure Title Match – Katsuyori Shibata (c) defeated Nick Wayne
This was Shibata’s sixth title defense. The judges for this title match were Dalton Castle, Jerry Lynn, and Jimmy Jacobs.
The two jockeyed for position early on, with Shibata almost scoring with a Penalty Kick. Shibata snatched on an ankle lock soon after, with Wayne having to use his first rope break at 2:30. Wayne feigned injury to bait Shibata to the floor, but Shibata sent Wayne into the barricades anyway. Shibata held serve on Wayne until Wayne knocked Shibata down with a running forearm.
Wayne knocked Shibata into the corner before hitting Shibata’s signature shotgun dropkick on Shibata himself. Shibata woke up and drilled Wayne with a forearm before following with the shotgun dropkick on Wayne. Shibata locked on the Cobra Twist, forcing Wayne to use his second rope break at 8:00. Wayne immediately used his third rope break to escape a hold before dropping Shibata with a neckbreaker for a nearfall.
Wayne hit a pair of high kicks and went for Wayne’s World, but Shibata caught him in a sleeper hold. Shibata sat Wayne down and hit the Penalty Kick to win and retain the title.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Lee Johnson, who was quickly interrupted by Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor. Moriarty mockingly offered a handshake before Taylor got in Johnson’s face. They broke away before things got physical.
Diamante defeated Catie Brite
This was a quick showcase for Diamante, who won with Rolling The Dice.
Lexy Nair was backstage with The Infantry & Willie Mack. Carlie Bravo said that they have become one of the hottest teams in ROH, and alongside Willie Mack, they would win the titles.
Lee Moriarty (w/Shane Taylor) defeated Lee Johnson
It’s a Lee Derby here in State College, PA. After jockeying for position, Johnson picked up the pace and sent Moriarty to the floor with a dropkick. Johnson met Moriarty on the floor and peppered him with chops. Back in the ring, Moriarty cut off Johnson with a kitchen sink knee. Moriarty hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall.
Johnson fought out of a Ground Cobra and avoided another kitchen sink knee before taking Moriarty down with a lariat. Johnson fired up, hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Moriarty yanked Johnson into the turnbuckle, but Johnson drilled Moriarty with a superkick. Johnson hit a frog splash, but Moriarty got his foot on the ropes to break the pin. Moriarty dropped Johnson on the ropes neck first before hitting a leg lariat to score the clean win.
In a pre-tape, Athena held Minion Training with Billie Starkz & Lexy Nair. Their tasks included rigorous exercise, booing Willow Nightingale, and attempting to scare the Renegade Twins. According to Athena, Lexy passed her training, but Starkz did not. This was very silly.
After the opening salvo, Adora had Martinez in a fireman’s carry before Diamante distracted her. Martinez laid Adora out with a main event spinebuster. Diamante got some shots in on Adora while the referee was distracted by Martinez. Martinez hit the Anarchist Suplex for a nearfall.
Adora caught Martinez with a bridging German suplex from her knees before following with a senton for a nearfall. Martinez hit a half-and-half suplex before hitting a running forearm. Martinez followed with a rabbit forearm before locking on the Brass City Sleeper to score the submission win.
ROH Women’s World Title Match – Athena (w/Billie Starkz) (c) defeated Angelina Love
This was Athena’s fifteenth defense of the title.
Athena is wrestling in street clothes. The two traded kip-ups before Athena dropped Love with a back heel kick and a meteora for a nearfall. Love rolled to the floor and apprehended Starkz, then sent Starkz into Athena to gain control. Back in the ring, Love hit a sidewalk slam for a nearfall.
Athena bit her way out of a chinlock before firing up with a combo that ended with a low enzuigiri. Athena hit a handspring forearm before going to the top rope, but Love cut her off. Love ducked a corner charge before hitting the Botox Injection for a nearfall. Athena came back with her double knee facebuster to win and retain.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Maria Kanellis-Bennett, Cole Karter, & Griff Garrison. Garrison said that he felt he’s lost a step since returning from injury and that teaming with Karter seemed like a relatively good idea.
Hogan quickly got the upper hand on Robyn Renegade, hitting a hip attack and a low dropkick for a nearfall. Blue tagged in and hit a rising knee before landing a superkick for a nearfall. Charlette and Hirsch yanked Blue’s partners off the ropes before the Renegades hit a double suplex on Blue for a nearfall.
Maria Kanellis-Bennett made her way to the stage to watch.The Renegades double-teamed Blue before Hirsch tagged in. Hirsch rag-dolled Blue around with suplexes before snatching Blue’s arm in a cross armbreaker. Blue rolled her up to escape before tagging in Nightingale, who ran wild on all three opponents.
Nightingale hit a double suplex on both Renegades for a nearfall. The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl before Nightingale hit a Pounce on Hirsch. Nightingale hit a DVD on Charlette before Blue hit a Code Blue to score the win.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Mark Sterling, Tony Nese, & Spanish Announce Project. Nese was very condescending to his partners tonight.
Ethan Page defeated VSK
Page hit a powerslam and set up for Ego’s Edge, but VSK escaped and fought back. Page hit a cradle slam, similar to Rhea Ripley’s Riptide, before hitting the outside-in cutter to score the quick win.
El Hijo del Vikingo, Gravity & Metalik (w/Alex Abrahantes) vs. Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) & Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling)
Metalik started off with Serpentico, quickly taking him down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Gravity & Angelico tagged in, with Gravity sending Angelico to the floor with a lucha armdrag. Vikingo & Nese came in, with Vikingo hammering Nese with kicks before sending him to the floor with a dropkick. Vikingo hit a step-up twisting tornillo to the floor before his partners followed with dives of their own.
Metalik came in, but Sterling cut him off in the ropes and allowed Nese to take control. Angelico tagged in and tied Metalik in knots before he reached the ropes, all the while arguing with Nese. Angelico brought Metalik to the top rope, but Metalik brought him down with a sunset flip powerbomb. Gravity tagged in and ran wild, hitting a powerslam and a standing moonsault for a nearfall.
The match broke down into a Pier Five brawl – Vikingo hasn’t been around since the dive – before Nese tried to unmask Gravity. Serpentico took offense to that, leading to both SAP members bailing on the match. Metalik tagged in and hit a rope walk senton for the win.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Ethan Page. He hasn’t felt this good in a while, not since he challenged MJF for the AEW World Title in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. He wanted to get back to that feeling, so he’s here in ROH to keep competing.
Action Andretti & Darius Martin defeated Cole Karter & Griff Garrison (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett)
Karter was outpaced by Martin, so he quickly tagged out to Garrison. Andretti & Martin outsmarted Garrison, fooling him with a blind tag to score with a double team. After Karter and Maria tripped up Martin, Garrison dropped him with a big boot. Karter kept control of Martin, with Maria helping on the outside to Garrison’s dismay.
Martin fought off a double team to make the tag to Andretti, who ran wild on both men. After a scramble, Karter tried getting a roll-up with his feet on the ropes. Garrison knocked his feet off the ropes, not wanting to cheat to win. Martin and Andretti took advantage, isolating Karter before Andretti hit a springboard 450 to score the win.
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Title Match – The Mogul Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona) (w/Prince Nana) (c) defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) & Willie Mack (w/Trish Adora)
This was the Mogul Embassy’s tenth title defense.
Bravo & Dean isolated Kaun with a wishbone before Liona tagged in. Liona dropped Bravo with a lariat before Kaun came in with a senton. Cage tagged in to continue the offensive on Bravo. Bravo fought his way to the tag to Mack, who took Cage down multiple times.
Mack fought off all three of the Embassy before hitting a yakuza kick on Cage for a nearfall. Cage cut Mack off and hit his outside-in superplex. Bravo tagged in and dropped both Cage and Kaun before avoiding Liona’s charge. The Infantry isolated Liona, drilling him with kicks before Mack hit a Stunner. The Infantry hit a double suplex on Liona before tagging Mack. Mack hit a frog splash on Cage for a nearfall.
The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl, with the Embassy isolating Mack. Liona and Kaun hit Open The Gates on Mack to score the win and retain the titles.
AEW head Tony Khan took to Twitter less than an hour before Dynamite was set to go live to say he “changed some plans” for tonight’s show.
Khan said the reasons for the unspecified changes were due to both “minor illnesses to big talent traveling this week” in addition to Hurricane Idalia (currently affecting the southeast United States) causing issues with flights.
Khan tweeted several new matches for the show from Chicago’s NOW Arena for the final Dynamite before Sunday’s All Out:
NJPW Strong Champion Eddie Kingston defends against Wheeler Yuta: Both men were part of the Stadium Stampede match at Sunday’s All In
Jon Moxley vs. Komander: Komander will be trying to get revenge on behalf of Rey Fenix who Moxley “injured” last Wednesday, taking him out of Sunday’s All In Stadium Stampede match in storyline.
TBS Champion Kris Statlander, Hikaru Shida & Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose, Emi Sakura & Marina Shafir: Shida lost her AEW Women’s title in the four-way match at All In while Statlander defends against Ruby Soho this Sunday.
The previously announced Adam Cole promo segment and AEW International title defense featuring champion Orange Cassidy vs. Penta El Zero Miedo are still on.
Due to minor illnesses to big talent traveling this week, + Hurricane Idalia affecting flights, I've changed some plans for #AEWDynamite TONIGHT!
Coming off All In, @AEW's greatest night + the most tickets sold for any wrestling show ever, expect a great Dynamite TONIGHT on TBS!
