Tag: Konosuke Takeshita

The number one spot in the rankings is on the line on tonight’s AEW Dynamite. 

Swerve Strickland will face Konosuke Takeshita on tonight’s episode, and according to Tony Khan, the winner will vault to the top of the new rankings set to be revealed following tonight’s episode. The winner will then be in line to challenge Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship at next month’s Dynasty pay-per-view.

A TBS Championship number one contender’s match is also set, with Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue vs. Anna Jay, with Mercedes Mone on commentary for the match. The winner gets a shot at Julia Hart’s TBS title at Dynasty. 

Two quarterfinals matches in the Tag Team title tournament will also take place, with Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom, plus Young Bucks vs. Private Party. 

Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata has also been announced for tonight’s Dynamite in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz as we go to the entrances for the opening contest.

Will Ospreay defeated Katsuyori Shibata

(This was a fantastic opener, which should surprise no one. It was a back-and-forth battle for most of the match and I’m happy Shibata didn’t take nearly as many bumps on his head that I thought he would, though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hold my breath when Ospreay went for his Storm Driver. Ospreay continues to be wildly over with the crowd from the moment he walks out on stage.)

Before the match began, we were shown footage of the first singles match between these two from the New Japan New Beginning in Osaka show from 2017. Both men traded ground work early, as each man showcased a series of counters until Ospreay dodged a PK into a stalemate. Ospreay exploded out of the corner with a shotgun dropkick and fired off forearms leading to a stalling corner dropkick, a page out of Shibata’s playbook. Shibata bailed to the floor, but was met with an Ospreay slingshot dive. Ospreay took way too long to go back to the ring and ate a running boot by Shibata to the outside. Both men traded strikes until Shibata flattened Ospreay with a suplex on the floor. Back inside, Shibata zoned in on the legs, Ospreay attempted to fight back with chops, only to eat a Saito Suplex that took things to commercial.

Back from break, Ospreay regained the advantage, but was caught on a dive attempt and booted into the guard rail. Shibata tried another whip, but Ospreay leapt over the railing and jumped off it with a forearm. Pip Pip Cheerio connected back inside for two, but Kawada kicks just woke Shibata up, who no sold, ultimately dropping Ospreay with one shot. Shibata couldn’t keep Ospreay down in the corner, so Tenryu style chops led to the stalling dropkick. An underhook throw from Shibata tried to lead to the abdominal stretch, but switched to the Octopus Hold. Ospreay got the ropes as both traded snap German suplexes until Ospreay tried his handspring Pele kick, only this time, Shibata countered into a STF. Ospreay got the ropes to escape submission again, blocking a PK to deliver more forearms. Shibata, however, would eat three shots to land one, as Ospreay continued to collapse until firing up with a kip up enzugiri into the double down.

Shibata ducked Hidden Blade and hit a Sleeper Suplex before a rear naked choke saw Ospreay fade, but got the arm up at two. Shibata was hung up in the ropes, as Ospreay hit a springboard dropkick and Oscutter, which Shibata kicked out at one. Both up, trading lariats, but an Ospreay hook kick led to a backdrop suplex and wild forearm for two. Ospreay connected with the Storm Driver 93, as Shibata sat up and told Ospreay to bring it, which Ospreay did, connecting with Hidden Blade for the win. Post match, Ospreay showed respect, bowing to Shibata, who hugged Ospreay in return.

-A video package for the career of Bryan Danielson is shown, highlighting his time in Ring of Honor & New Japan Pro Wrestling before Excalibur talked about his career ending for three years. After making a comeback, his debut in AEW was shown, as Danielson said the final year of his career will be the greatest of his career. That continues at Dynasty against Will Ospreay.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, who said it was an ambush talking about Private Party beating them in one of the first episodes of Dynamite. Matthew said they returned to AEW to do certain things, retire Sting, restructure The Elite, bringing in Kazuchika Okada, but most importantly, getting their AEW Tag Team Titles back. The only way to right a wrong is by beating Private Party tonight, as Matthew said Paquette was doing a great job, but should smile more. They walk off with Nicholas asking where Alex Marvez was.

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-Kazuchika Okada was shown arriving to the arena in his sports car, with the Continental Title in hand.

The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defeated Private Party (Zay & Quen) to advance in the AEW Tag Team Title Tournament

(Aside from the messed up looking EVP Trigger finish, I enjoyed this match quite a bit, as they had nice call backs to the Private Party upset in the early Dynamite days. You knew The Bucks weren’t losing this; however, Zay & Quen did have their chances.)

Zay shrugged off a fist bump from Matthew, instead getting a quick series of near falls until Matthew ran through him with a back elbow. Quen made a blind tag before The Bucks got any double team going, as both Zay & Quen did stereo back flips into superkicks, leading to a double Tope. Matthew recovered and tried to send both Private Party over the guard rail, but it resulted in a Silly String by Zay. Nicholas & Quen both fought standing on the railing until Nicholas connected with a Falcon Arrow off it to a huge reaction, as Okada was shown backstage, nodding in approval. Zay helped Quen back in the ring at a nine count, but was met by a suplex into a back breaker. The Bucks would remain in control during picture in picture.

Zay finally broke up the offense, allowing Quen to hit a Side Effect into the double down, as Zay made the hot tag and ran wild. An enzugiri to Matthew while on the apron led to Zay hitting a moonsault on Nicholas on the outside. Springboard cross body back inside on Matthew got a near fall, as the crowd were chanting for Private Party. Zay missed a Twist of Fate, as The Bucks connected on an Avalanche Sliced Bread Powerbomb combo for two, which Quen broke up. Quen pulled his partner to their corner to make the tag, despite not fully recovering from the beating during commercial, as Nicholas hit a German suplex on the apron. The Bucks signaled for the Tony Khan Driver, but Zay held onto Nicholas and Quen rolled up Matthew for two, a call back to their first match. More Bang for Your Buck attempt missed, but Gin n’ Juice connected, as Zay & Quen followed up with More Bang for Your Buck of their own, only Nicholas broke up the count.

A frustrated Nicholas grabbed the ring bell, as Rick Knox took it away, allowing Matthew to hit a low blow. Quen flew in with a Tag Title belt shot, but Nicholas put his brother’s foot on the rope. Quen tried a 630, but crashed and burned, allowing The Bucks to try an EVP Trigger, only Nicholas slipped and got the exact chant you’d expect. It didn’t matter, as The Bucks both covered Quen and got the victory. Post match, Okada again showed his approval backstage.

-A video package on Konosuke Takeshita is shown ahead of tonight’s main event.

-Mercedes Mone is shown arriving to the arena, as up next, she’ll be on commentary for the women’s 4-way match.

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-Darby Allin, on crutches, is at a skate park with Tony Hawk and talked about how he was supposed to climb Mount Everest for Hawk’s charity the Skate Park Project, but unfortunately broke his foot. Hawk talked about his charity and how to help out with the cause.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with HOOK & Chris Jericho, who talked about HOOK exceeding his expectations last week in their match. Jericho is fine being HOOK’s first pinfall win in AEW and put over HOOK’s skills. Jericho said after 33 years in this business, he’s willing to give HOOK advice to be a potential World Champion. HOOK thanked and accepted the advice, but reminds him, he’s Chris Jericho. Jericho said he knows who HOOK is and what he’s capable of being. Both men fist bump and I guess a mentorship is official.

Willow Nightingale defeated Skye Blue, Julia Hart & Kris Statlander to earn a TBS Title shot at AEW Dynasty

(Mone was asked who she would like to face in her AEW debut and she gave interest to basically everyone but Nightingale, who she seemingly ignored. Nightingale got the big win here, as I would not be surprised if she takes home the TBS Title at Dynasty and that title leads to her continued story with Mone. I’ve enjoyed how they’re playing off the history both of these two have with one another.)

We’re told Mercedes Mone is on commentary not to scout competition, but to try to help improve the women’s division. I’m not sure why it can’t be both, but alright. Anyways, credit Stokely Hathaway, who walked out with Nightingale, ran back up the ramp and came out with Statlander as well.

Match began with a series of quick pin attempts, as Blue was sent to the floor crashing onto Statlander, leaving it down to Jay & Nightingale in the ring, as a splash in the corner led to a charging low cross body for a Nightingale two. Blue broke things up with a quick DDT on Nightingale, but Statlander made the save with a sliding lariat, as Jay followed with a low neckbreaker. Statlander showed off her power, but Blue again put a stop to things on the outside, only to be launched by a Nightingale Pounce. A stare down between Nightingale & Mone took things to commercial.

Back from break, all four ladies went at it in the ring before Nightingale was tossed outside and Statlander ran wild on Jay & Blue, who was planted with a spinning Fisherman’s Driver for two. Statlander wanted a 450, but Jay cut her off with a superplex. Nightingale ran in and sandwiched both ladies with a senton, as Blue was nearly planted with a Doctor Bomb, but rolled through for two. Code Blue connected, but Statlander broke the count and hit a powerbomb back breaker. Jay came in and delivered a Gory Bomb on Statlander onto Blue, but only got two. Statlander avoided the Queen Slayer and sent Jay into a Nightingale shotgun dropkick, leaving Statlander & Nightingale facing off, but Blue put a stop to it. Blue hung up Nightingale in the ropes, wanted a suplex, but Nightingale instead hit a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Jay rolled through Wednesday Night Fever, sent Statlander packing, but Nightingale was there to hit a Doctor Bomb and get the win.

Julia Hart appeared immediately and laid out Nightingale with a TBS belt shot before staring down Mone, who left commentary. Hart bailed as Statlander & Hathaway checked on Nightingale, who officially gets a TBS Title shot at Dynasty.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Dustin Rhodes, who we’re told is 3-1 in 2024 and asks what is next for him? Rhodes said he’s started the year off with a bang, but right now, at 55 years old, he’s as passionate as he’s ever been. The Butcher walks in, Rhodes acts like he has bad breath and Butcher said it’s his mustache, it has its own musk. Butcher asks if Rhodes remembers their Bunkhouse Match from a few years back and said he has some receipts with his name on it and challenges Rhodes to a match on Rampage. Rhodes accepts, says he’s a Natural Born Legend and is loved in Canada and refuses to be a stepping stone.

-Video is shown of Timeless Toni Storm visiting the set of Turner Classic Movies and host Ben Mankiewicz, who congratulates Storm on being AEW World Champion and redefining the art of pro wrestling. Storm congratulates Mankiewicz on whatever he does and gets him to say Chin Up and Watch for The Shoe, as he refuses to say the Tits Out portion of the tag line.

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-A video package for Swerve Strickland is shown ahead of tonight’s main event.

Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta (w/Chuck Taylor) defeated The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) to advance in the AEW Tag Team Title Tournament

(This was an action-packed tag match, as I wasn’t surprised at the result, with The Bucks advancing earlier tonight. Although, last week, Adam Cole said in his promo how it was Wardlow’s job to make sure The Kingdom keep winning. Wardlow was nowhere to be found tonight, so I guess his services are only needed to ROH Tag Team and International Title matches.)

Bell sounded and Cassidy just casually sauntered over to Taven on the apron and decked him with a punch. Taven immediately sent Cassidy into the steps, but was met with a Beretta dive. Bennett followed suit and flew in with a dive of his own, before Cassidy wiped out the pile with a dive off the top with both hands in his pockets. Back inside, Cassidy was dropped off the apron, but Beretta delivered rolling German suplexes on Taven, who fought off the third, forcing Beretta to his corner. Beretta fought back with a Meteora to Bennett, but Taven dropkicked out the leg, allowing Bennett to his a piledriver on the apron. Lots of moves on the apron tonight, as that’s what took things to picture in picture.

The Kingdom controlled during break, as Bennett connected on a nice spinebuster, but Beretta got the knees up on a Taven Lionsault, which led to a Cassidy hot tag. Cassidy connected on a top rope cross body on Taven, but while Bennett blocked the twisting DDT, Cassidy managed to pop off a Stundog Millionaire, only to eat a Taven charging knee. The Proton Pack connected for Taven & Bennett, but Cassidy kicked out at two. Taven wanted the Spike Piledriver, but was crotched by Beretta. The match broke down, as Beretta connected on a Tornado DDT, followed by Cassidy spinning DDT. Beretta delivered the charging knee strike, as Cassidy & Beretta wanted a hug, but Roderick Strong appeared and ran distraction, dropping Taylor. Cassidy wiped out Strong with a dive, as back inside, Taven tried the Spike Piledriver once more, but again, was crotched, this time by Taylor. Beretta got a jackknife on Bennett for the flash pin. Best Friends will now face The Young Bucks in the Semi-Finals next week, as The Bucks came to the stage to have a brief face off. They took their elevator entrance for 10 seconds before going right back down it, which was actually pretty hilarious.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Kyle O’Reilly and congratulates him on his win over Bryan Keith on Collision a few weeks ago. O’Reilly said it felt good to pull that band-aid off after such a long time, but the AEW roster is stacked. Paquette asked if he’s rejoining Undisputed Kingdom and he said no, as he did it on his own against Bryan Keith, he’ll do it on his own again. O’Reilly said on Collision, he’ll once again prove he belongs.

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-Highlights of Adam Copeland & Christian Cage’s I Quit Match from last week was shown and Copeland winning the TNT Title. The Cope-Open returns on Collision, this time with the TNT Title on the line.

Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeated Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis) to become #1 Contender for the AEW World Title

(Just an excellent main event for two of the best young stars AEW has to offer. These two built this match so well and reached another level after the final commercial break. I know Takeshita needs a big win, but this is Strickland’s time and has now earned his AEW Title shot at Dynasty. I wouldn’t be shocked if Strickland fulfils his destiny that night, despite Joe being a fantastic champion.)

A handshake seemed to start things, but neither let go and Strickland just stepped over into a headlock. Takeshita tried a whip to the ropes, but Strickland flipped out and applied a short arm scissors, which was applied much quicker than last week in his match with The Butcher. Takeshtia escaped and fired off a Takeshita-line as Samoa Joe is shown watching backstage. Strickland responded with an uppercut off the second to the back and hanging neckbreaker through the ropes. Both men slugged it out before Strickland delivered a nice back breaker, but a quick counter into a brainbuster put Takeshita in back control. Takeshita refused to allow the ref to give Strickland time to recover and fired off more forearms, with Strickland clutching his neck. Strickland tried a snap bounce back German suplex, but Takeshita no sold and sent Strickland outside with a violent forearm, taking things to commercial.

Takeshita worked over the neck and arm during break, as Strickland tried to start a forearm exchange and suffered as a result, as Takeshita connected on more, but was sent outside. Strickland got enough of a hurricanrana from the ring to the floor, as back inside a top rope cross body only managed a one count. Strickland tried for a combo of strikes, but his neck gave out and Takeshita hit a home run forearm that crumbled Strickland. Takeshita blocked a rolling Flatliner attempt into a Fireman’s Carry Facebuster, charging knee and somersault dive on the floor. Back inside, Takeshita wanted the violent corner brainbuster he hit on Will Ospreay at Revolution, but thankfully Strickland fought out, trapped Takeshita in the corner and hit a hanging DDT. Sky Twister Press connected with ease for Strickland, but Takeshita kicked out.

Takeshita fought out of Big Pressure with a Poison Rana into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a close near fall. Takeshita took too long to capitalize, allowing Strickland to fire off a straight right hand, tried the rolling Flatliner again, this time Takeshita hit a pump knee in mid-air. Strickland didn’t manage to stay down long, as he finally hit the rolling Flatliner, dropping Takeshita on his head. Strickland connected on the Swerve Stomp on the apron, as back inside, Strickland tried another Stomp, but Takeshita countered into a powerbomb. A crazy series of counters led to Takeshita avoiding Big Pressure into the wheelbarrow German and Power Drive Knee, but Strickland barely managed a shoulder up. Takeshita wanted an Avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb, but Strickland fought out, delivered House Call and Swerve Stomp, but Takeshita kicked out. Strickland couldn’t believe it, as both men traded a pop-up head butt and jumping knee, but Strickland fired up with a standing Swerve Stomp and Big Pressure for the victory.

A visibly upset Samoa Joe was approached by Renee Paquette, asking how he feels after Strickland’s win. Joe said it’s baffling this is a man celebrating the biggest fate he’s ever going to catch in his life. When Strickland walks to the ring next week and signs on the dotted line, Joe will make him realize just what he’s asking for. Joe said Strickland isn’t ready, he’s not that man. Strickland is shown celebrating in the ring, making the motion he’s the next champ.

AEW Rampage 3/29/24

· Dustin Rhodes vs. The Butcher

AEW Collision 3/30/24

· Adam Copeland TNT Title Open Challenge

· Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Katsuyori Shibata take on The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) & Lance Archer

· FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) in an AEW Tag Team Title Tournament Quarter Final

· Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) in an AEW Tag Team Title Tournament Quarter Final

· Kyle O’Reilly will be In Action

AEW Dynamite 4/3/24

· The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta in an AEW Tag Team Title Tournament Semi Final