Tag: kota ibushi

The road to All In Texas continues on tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Kent, Washington.

After making his surprise return to the promotion on last week’s Collision, Kota Ibushi will wrestle his first AEW match since 2023 on tonight’s episode against Trent Beretta of The Don Callis Family. We will see what Ibushi has left in the tank after wrestling sparingly in 2024 and 2025 in Japan, competing a total of 11 times since his last AEW bout in November 2023, and just twice this year.

A pair of casino gauntlet matches for future World title shots are set for All In on July 12, and we will learn tonight which competitors will hold the advantageous number one spot in those bouts.

In a four-way for the number one spot in the men’s casino gauntlet, Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong, and ROH World Champion Bandido will face off.

In a four-way for the number one spot in the women’s casino gauntlet, it will be Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander vs. Thunder Rosa vs. ROH Women’s World Champion Athena.

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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Taz & Ian Riccaboni as we see Timeless Toni Storm (in her Carmen Sandiego attire) walking with Luther backstage until she’s attacked by Mercedes Mone. The ambush continues as Mone looks at the camera saying welcome to Dynamite before tossing Storm onto the ramp in the arena. Mone clocks an attendant holding a microphone, calls Storm a B*tch and applies the Statement Maker screaming to Storm she’s nothing but a stupid act. Referees and Christopher Daniels (who tries to get Mone to break the submission by just clapping at her, which was pretty hilarious) rush out until Mina Shirakawa & Luther make the save as Mone retreats, but says to Storm “dahling, let the games begin.”

The Young Bucks interrupt commentary’s opening rundown on the big screen, as they used their influence backstage to bump Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland’s tag match for right now and not the second hour as originally planned.

Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) vs. Blake Christian & Lee Johnson

(Fast paced opener with Christian & Johnson getting their offense in before Strickland & Ospreay ramped things up to take it. They work incredibly well together and the post-match challenge should set the stage for an incredible tag match at All In, that is, if The Bucks accept the challenge, which, as of this writing, isn’t official, yet.)

Ospreay literally ran to the ring still taping his wrists and his boots not even laced up yet, selling this was spur of the moment and abuse of power by The Bucks to push their tag match up. Strickland was still putting his new shirt on (I’m sure one you can purchase on ShopAEW) and got a huge reaction from the hometown crowd. Excalibur said Johnson & Christian didn’t look worried, as they might’ve been tipped off by The Bucks earlier about this match going on first.

Strickland & Johnson have a quick opening sequence with Johnson dodging a House Call and rolling suplex, as Christian & Ospreay (still rocking a shiner from two weeks ago’s thumbtack superkick) tag in, with Christian getting a snap head scissors and slap to the face. Manhattan Drop and hard chop receipt by Ospreay led to a double team running boot on Johnson, as Strickland connected on a bodyslam, while Ospreay hit a standing Sky Twister Press for two. Handspring corkscrew kick to Christian, as Ospreay followed it up with a slingshot cross body outside on Johnson. Right as Ospreay went for Pip, Pip, Cheerio, The Young Bucks entrance music hit, as Matthew & Nicholas take a seat and watch the action from the aisle, allowing for a distraction. Strickland ate a double stomp in the corner, as Christian wiped out Ospreay with a corkscrew dive into commercial with The Bucks applauding.

Johnson & Christian remained in control the entire break, as Johnson hit a Frog Splash and Christian with a 450 on Ospreay for two as things returned. Ospreay managed a wall walk enzugiri to create some space and made the hot tag to Strickland. With Christian trapped in the corner, Strickland catapulted Johnson onto his partner with a Buckle Bomb before hitting his signature uppercut out of the corner. Christian slid out of Big Pressure, but Strickland took a back bump, kipping up after Ospreay flew in and popped Johnson with a Hidden Blade in a great visual. Superkick into a Brainbuster combo connected, as Ospreay signaled to Strickland, who destroyed Christian with a House Call for the win.

Post-match, security had to separate Strickland & Ospreay from The Bucks, as Strickland took the mic and said they’re not going another year with this crap. The Franchise & The Feeling against The Young Bucks at All In. Ospreay said The Bucks might be the founding fathers of AEW, but it’s the people that supported them that AEW existed in the first place. Ospreay believes they’re all done with the power The Bucks have been abusing, as they’re making it more harm than good. At All In, Ospreay says to put the EVP titles on the line, as Strickland flew off the top with a Swerve Stomp onto the pile of security and referees, as The Bucks run off before answering the challenge officially.

Winners: Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland when Strickland pinned Christian

-Highlights of Kota Ibushi’s unexpected return last week on Collision was shown and footage of DDT-Pro of The Golden Lovers and the history of Ibushi & Kenny Omega

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Matthew & Nicholas Jackson are backstage, calling Strickland a dumbass for what he just did. Matthew said he just put his hands on an AEW official and suspends him for a week without pay. Kazuchika Okada walks in with Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta, as Matthew tells Romero they like them, but his boss is kind of a jerk. He says by any means necessary they need to make Okada the first Unified Champion at All In and destroy Kenny Omega, but start with Kota Ibushi tonight. Beretta said he’s going to dismantle Ibushi, which delighted The Bucks, as everyone walks away, except Takeshita & Okada, who had a face-off. Takeshita reminded Okada this is only temporary, as Okada smirks and walks off.

Kota Ibushi vs. Trent Beretta (w/Rocky Romero)

(Relatively short, but solid return for Ibushi in his first actual singles match in AEW, while it’s Beretta’s first single since Double or Nothing last year. Both got their share of offense in this 7-minute match and Ibushi’s second match is already set up for next week, in what should be one hell of a showdown with Kazuchika Okada.)

Nice back and forth scramble from both in the opening moments, with Ibushi gaining a near fall via crucifix, followed up by a standing dropkick. Romero runs distraction, allowing Beretta to steamroll Ibushi and follows with forearms in the ropes before hitting a running boot to the outside. Beretta took the ref, giving Romero a chance to get his licks in before Beretta sent Ibushi into the barricade and back to the ring. Beretta charged, but Ibushi hit a snap powerslam for the reset. Combo strikes and standing moonsault by Ibushi got two, but as he looked for a half and half, Beretta managed an enzugiri to regain control. Beretta hit the Sexy Chuckie Knee and Gotch Style Piledriver, but Ibushi kicked out.

Paint brushing Ibushi only woke him up, as Beretta hit a Snap Dragon, but Ibushi no sold and planted Beretta with a Snap Dragon of his own. Crowd loudly behind Ibushi, as both trade close near falls until Beretta hit almost a Rainmaker variation. Ibushi blocked a home run shot, dragged Beretta to the mat and hit a gnarly standing double stomp before cracking Beretta with a V-Trigger and Kamigoye for the win.

Before Ibushi could celebrate much, the coin drop sounded and Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada walks to the ring and has a face-to-face stare down before retreating. We’re told Tony Khan has made it official, Ibushi faces Okada next week on the 300^th episode of Dynamite.

Winner: Kota Ibushi defeated Trent Beretta via Kamigoye

-Jon Moxley is sitting in a stairwell and said the only thing we have is the present moment and it slips through out fingers like sand, which Page has lost a thousand times before, but here it’s back in his hands again. Moxley said Page is afraid to become what the world needs him to be, as he’s not so special. For someone like Moxley, someone like Page, makes him absolutely sick and he has no sympathy for his crybaby emo crap. The World Champion doesn’t take a single ounce of crap from anyone. Page shies away from the gifts he’s been given, but he’s not what the fans think he is. While Page is debating personal turmoil, Moxley doesn’t care about what he’s playing around with, as All In, he’ll lay him out with forearms and choking him out. After All In, Page will be left looking for another job.

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-Renee Paquette is backstage with AR Fox, saying he has a lot of momentum going (I’m sorry, what?), despite losing to Jon Moxley on Collision last week. Ricochet interrupts and says Fox has momentum and said he has everything he’s been looking for to help him get gold in AEW. Ricochet invites Fox to team up with him tonight against JetSpeed and before Fox can answer, Ricochet shakes his hand and thanks him for accepting.

Ricochet & AR Fox vs. JetSpeed (Speedball Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight)

(The match itself was fine and Fox got his chance to shine more so than Ricochet, who is still searching for backup. The post-match was pretty noteworthy in that JetSpeed, once again, got annihilated by The Hurt Syndicate and this somehow is supposed to make us want to see this match at All In? With only a few weeks to go before the show, they’re going to have to do a hell of a lot to rehab Bailey & Knight to make them look like credible contenders, because right now, despite being popular babyfaces, the interest is pretty non-existent.)

Bell sounded and Ricochet told Fox he’d start, but quickly found himself being bounced back and forth between eating punches by Bailey & Knight. Ricochet quickly tagged in Fox, who sent Bailey outside, swept the leg from Knight, hit an over-the-top double stomp on the apron on Knight, then launched off him with a somersault senton on Bailey. Fox kept Knight back inside, as Ricochet got the crowd to chant for his partner. Knight fought out of a fireman’s carry, sent a charging Ricochet to the floor, as Fox was thrown out by Bailey, as JetSpeed hit dueling dives heading into commercial.

Back from break, Ricochet & Fox were bickering on who to give a suplex to Knight and started shoving one another, allowing Knight to back drop Ricochet to the floor and make a hot tag to Bailey. Machine gun kicks on Fox, as Bailey followed with a running Shooting Star Press for two. Double dropkick by JetSpeed, as they follow with a rolling pop-up lariat on Fox for another near fall. Bailey tagged, but Ricochet smashed him into the steps, giving Fox a chance to hit a Tope Suicida. Back inside, Lo-Mein Pain connects, as Bailey tagged Knight, but Fox leapt for a tag, only Ricochet left him high and dry. Knight hit a standing dropkick and Sky High on Fox before going up top for the UFO Splash to get the win as Ricochet watched from the aisle.

A dejected Fox was left alone, as JetSpeed walked up the ramp to Tony Schiavone, who called them red hot in the tag team division. Bailey said the Tag Team Titles have been held hostage and it’s time someone comes to their rescue. Knight said the titles need to come home around the waists of JetSpeed. Knight tried mocking MVP’s old theme song, but they were blindsided by The Hurt Syndicate, who beat the living hell out of Bailey & Knight, as MJF & MVP applauded as Lashley & Benjamin wrecked shop. MJF & MVP set up a table on the aisle, as Benjamin choked out Knight, set him up on the table, as Lashley spinebustered Bailey through his partner through the table.

MVP took the mic and said now that they’ve taken care of that piece of business, told production to hit their music, as they made their way to the ring with JetSpeed left in a heap.

Winners: JetSpeed defeated Ricochet & AR Fox when Knight pinned Fox via UFO Splash

The Hurt Syndicate Address Their Enemies

MVP did a roll call as he begs somebody stand up to the AEW Tag Team Champions. If JetSpeed can even stand up after that beating, he’ll be willing to give them a title opportunity at All In, on the condition that they can walk. MVP turns the mic over to the young genius, MJF, who talked about unmasking and defeating Mistico (MVP stopped MJF briefly and riled up the crowd more, telling them to shut up and insulting the fans saying they haven’t seen a star since the days of the Sonics). MJF said he’s going to enter a qualifying match next week for the Casino Gauntlet on another step back to what’s rightfully his, not dictator Jon’s or the crooked Cowboy Hangman, but his AEW World Championship. MJF said to hit their music, but Mark Briscoe’s music hits to a huge reaction.

Briscoe said everyone knows MJF can hear himself talk all night long, but production said they have a time limit, so if MJF could be so kindly, get out of the ring so he could do his business. MJF said he doesn’t give a damn what time it is, they can take up as much as they want, as unlike Briscoe, they’re actually stars. MJF said the fans relate to Briscoe because they have as many bills in their pockets as Briscoe has teeth in his mouth. Briscoe will do what he always does and lose, so go back to his ranch picking up chicken sh*t, you blue collared b*tch.

Briscoe said he sees MJF’s inner turmoil and pain, as all these hurtful comments is from growing up bullied, so the Word of the Day is Empathy (which got a chant), so please allow Briscoe to empathize, as it feels like MJF is trying to make up for something. If Briscoe was MJF, going 30 years with a tiny kosher pickle in his pants, he’d want to hang out with The Hurt Syndicate, too. This line popped Lashley & Benjamin, who are holding back laughter. Kosher Pickle chants from Seattle, as MVP said they’ll leave the ring for Briscoe to do what he does better than anyone else, lose. They slowly walk by Briscoe, who heads to the ring for the upcoming 4-way to see who gets the first spot in the men’s Casino Gauntlet. I need to point out there was a hilarious back and forth banter between Excalibur & Taz on how to properly pronounce the word gherkin and it’s something that took me back to the old AEW Dark days. Taz reminded us the “h is silent”.

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ROH World Champion Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Roderick Strong for the #1 Spot in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet at All In

(Match of the Night so far, as these four put on one hell of a 4-way. Everyone seemed to be involved and there was very little time where it felt like it was one on one. The crowd was loudly behind Briscoe, as usual, but especially after the promo he had just cut prior, as it was almost a given he would be walking away with the W. Getting the first spot in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet will only amp the crowd up more come All In when Briscoe makes his entrance.)

Bandido & Takeshita and Strong & Briscoe paired off to start, as Bandido wall walked Takeshita, who answered with a big boot. Bandido hit a tilt-a-whirl arm drag to the outside, but Takeshita avoided a dive and launched Bandido into the barricade. Strong caught Briscoe leaping off the top with a right hand to the midsection, as a baseball slide caught Takeshita and Bandido ate a Blockbuster off the apron. Briscoe high fived fans, giving Strong a chance to hit a baseball slide of his own and in control heading into break.

All four men are slugging it out when things return, until Strong & Briscoe start a chop battle. Strong cut off the charge with a dropkick, planted Bandido with a backbreaker, sent Takeshita over the top outside, then launched Briscoe out onto him. Bandido & Strong both collided with a double down. Both rose up and started swinging, until Bandido hit a pop-up cutter, wanted a Frog Splash, but Takeshita sent him crashing outside. Takeshita climbed, but Briscoe did the same thing, causing Takeshita to crash and burn. Briscoe missed a Froggy Bow on Strong, as both traded chops and strikes until Strong hit an Angle Slam and locomotion forearms until Takeshita flew in with a Helluva Kick. Takeshita hit a Superplex, but with both down, Briscoe & Bandido hit Froggy Bow & Frog Splashes respectively for close near falls.

Slap battle by Bandido & Briscoe, who flipped out of a back drop, but had his legs swiped out, Bandido tried a 21 Plex, but Takeshita came in to hit a double German Suplex (Excalibur called a 42 Plex). Strong escaped a Blue Thunder Bomb, hit a gutbuster, but as he charged for a Sick Kick, was planted by a Takeshita Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Bandido blindsided Takeshtia and hit the X-Knee, allowing Bandido to hit a 21 Plex, but Takeshita rolled outside. Strong cut off a Bandido dive with End of Heartache, but before he could recover, Briscoe flew in with a Froggy Bow to get the win and first spot in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet. The Hurt Syndicate were watching backstage, as MVP was applauding, MJF looked annoyed, as Lashley gave him a fist bump.

Winner: Mark Briscoe defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Roderick Strong & Bandido to earn the 1^st spot in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet at All In

-Adam Cole is backstage talking about how the Don Callis Family has been a thorn in his side for too long. Cole issues an Open Challenge for his TNT Title tomorrow on Collision to any Family member.

ROH Women’s Champion Athena (w/Billie Starkz) vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander for the #1 Spot in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at All In

(This match had it’s moments, mainly with Statlander & Nightingale going at it, but towards the end, there were times when it felt very clunky and folks were in the wrong position. Rosa & Athena had an awkward sequence, but you could tell those two will be paired off going forward, as will Nightingale & Statlander. This potential involvement with Statlander & Death Riders has added an intriguing element in this story and I really hope it ends with Statlander & Nightingale on the same page, potentially as the first rumored AEW Women’s Tag Champions, it’s just a matter of getting there, as I don’t think we need yet another Statlander heel turn.)

Excalibur asked for Riccaboni’s freestyle for Nightingale’s entrance like he does with Caprice Coleman on Ring of Honor, but Taz put a stop to it, saying he’d attack him if he continued, as this is not ROH. Athena used Statlander as a shield before slapping Nightingale, which didn’t work out well, as Statlander fed Athena to the wolves, as Nightingale hit a somersault senton off the apron onto her. Rosa hit a springboard arm drag on Statlander, who was sent to the apron by Nightingale, as everyone took turns hitting tilt-a-whirl head scissors on one another. Locomotion corner strikes by Athena on everyone in her path, as she went up for the O-Face, but Statlander cut her off with a Helluva Kick. Rosa joined her in the ropes, as Nightingale walked over and completed the Tower of Doom spot, with Nightingale posing into commercial.

Back from break, rolling fireman’s carry by Athena, who tried it one too many times, as Rosa sort of countered into a crucifix for two. Nightingale & Statlander came in and cleaned house, leaving both face-to-face. Statlander tried a backflip head scissors, but Nightingale countered, they both teased Doctor Bombs until Athena broke it up. Athena tried a double suplex, but was planted by Nightingale & Statlander, who turned into a Rosa missile dropkick. Cazadora into a double stomp on Nightingale got Rosa a near fall, as Athena backflipped out of a suplex, tried a head scissors, but the two kind of were on different pages briefly. They trade near falls again, until Statlander had to change directions multiple times before slamming Rosa down onto Athena.

Drop toe hold sent Statlander crashing into the ropes by Rosa, who hit her stalling dropkick. She tried again, but Athena pulled her to the outside and ordered Starkz to get her ROH championship. Starkz rushed it over, but by the time she returned, Rosa slammed Athena into the steps. Rosa wanted a suplex, but Athena countered with one off the steps. Back in the ring, Nightingale squashed Statlander with a corner cannonball, but Statlander fought out of a Doctor Bomb. Marina Shafir walked out from the back to distract Nightingale, as Wheeler Yuta spun Nightingale around, but she flattened him with a Pounce. This delay allowed Statlander to flatten Nightingale with Staturday Night Fever for the win. Shafir smirked, as she dragged Yuta away with Statlander realizing the assist she just got.

Winner: Kris Statlander defeated Willow Nightingale, Thunder Rosa & Athena to earn the 1^st spot in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at All In

-Recap of Collision and Christian Cage wanting his son Nick Wayne to walk beside him to become the first father & son AEW Tag Team Champions is shown. We’re told Cage & Wayne will face Big Bill & Bryan Keith on Collision

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-Renee Paquette is backstage with FTR & Big Stoke, as she brings up The Outrunners interrupting their 8-man tag last week on Collision, running them off. Hathaway said it’s egregious that Truth & Turbo got involved and said he suggested good old-fashioned vandalism in response, but Dax & Cash are upstanding men of the community and outvoted him. They issue a challenge to The Outrunners tomorrow on Collision to settle it a much more respectable way.

Hangman Adam Page vs. The Beast Mortos

(I have two complaints about this main event, one is that I wish it went longer, these two worked incredibly well with one another. The other, I really don’t need Page trying and missing his Orihara Moonsault this close to All In, as I winced when he landed on his feet. We need to keep Page as healthy as possible before his showdown with Moxley. The post-match gave Moxley the one-up on Page, as he firmly has Page’s former best friends behind him, with The Bucks blaming Page for forcing their hand. Entertaining chaos to end the show this week.)

Mortos was able to weather and avoid the fast offense from Page and fired off a headbutt that connected, as both traded corner strikes until Page moved and Mortos crashed and burned outside. Springboard lariat dropped Mortos, as Page brought him back in the ring and hit a fall away slam back to the corner as Page controlled the action into commercial.

Page blocked another Mortos headbutt, but the third attempt connected. Mortos swung wildly and missed a discus lariat, giving Page a chance to hit one of his own for two. Mortos fought off Dead Eye initially, but Page hit a pop-up powerbomb for another near fall. Page missed an Orihara Moonsault, landing on his feet, as Mortos quickly sprinted back in the ring and out with a Tornillo. Back inside, pop-up Samoan Drop hit for Mortos to get a near fall, as did the follow-up lungblower. Page wiggled out of a Tombstone, but Mortos managed to swing into a spike. Page answered with a Poison Rana and wild lariat, as Page followed with a Buckshot Lariat that crumbled Mortos for the victory.

Post-match, the lights went out and when they came on, The Young Bucks had Page’s arms and laid him out with an EVP Trigger. Matthew & Nicholas screamed at Page that this is all his fault as the Death Riders music hit and Jon Moxley walks out with Marina Shafir & Wheeler Yuta to pick up the pieces. Page was surrounded, as Shafir handed Moxley a chain that he wrapped around Page’s throat, choking him out. The Opps try hitting the ring, but The Bucks & Yuta are holding them off before Will Ospreay sprints out and they all break through. Death Riders & The Bucks bail through the crowd, as doctors tend to Page. Moxley told the camera at All In, he’ll show the World what the one champion looks like.

Winner: Hangman Adam Page defeated The Beast Mortos via Buckshot Lariat

AEW Collision 6/26/25

• Adam Cole vs. Josh Alexander for the TNT Title
• FTR Calls Out The Outrunners
• Templario & Brody King vs. Hechicero & Rocky Romero
• Christian Cage & Nick Wayne vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith
• Queen Aminata vs. Skye Blue
• Kyle Fletcher vs. Kyle O’Reilly

AEW Dynamite 300 7/2/25

• Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi
• MJF Competes in a Casino Gauntlet Qualifier
• Mercedes Mone vs. Mina Shirakawa