AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will defend his title against Preston Vance as part of Saturday’s Battle of the Belts IX from Norfolk, Virginia.
Cassidy, in his second run with the title, will be gunning for his eighth defense and his second one of the month while Vance is still in search of his first taste of AEW gold.
Both men were on the same team in an eight-man tag team match on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite — one that saw Vance score the winning pin.
The two have gone one-on-one just once back in September 2020 when Vance was known as Ten. Cassidy defended the formerly named All-Atlantic title against Vance and Rush in a three-way in October 2022.
The new bout joins the previously announced title matches between AEW Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks against Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara, and TBS Champion Julia Hart defending against Anna Jay.
The show will air following Collision at 10 PM Eastern on TNT:
AEW Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks defend against Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
TBS Champion Julia Hart defends against Anna Jay
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Preston Vance
Orange Cassidy will defend the AEW International Championship on the first Dynamite episode of 2024.
AEW revealed during Saturday’s Worlds End pay-per-view that Cassidy will face Dante Martin of Top Flight on the Wednesday, January 3 Dynamite with the International title on the line.
The bout was set up during a backstage promo segment at Worlds End. Martin is coming off a trios victory over Cassidy, as Dante, Darius Martin, and Action Andretti beat Cassidy, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta on Friday’s Rampage episode.
Martin returned to the ring last month after missing eight months with a leg injury suffered in a ladder match at ROH Supercard of Honor in March.
Already announced for Wednesday’s Dynamite is the AEW in-ring debut of Mariah May. May’s opponent has yet to be announced.
May accompanied Toni Storm to the ring for Storm’s successful Worlds End Women’s title defense against Riho.
The announced card for the Wednesday, January 3 Dynamite:
International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Dante Martin
A match for the International title has been made for AEW Collision Winter is Coming.
Bryan Keith was interviewed by Tony Schivone during ROH Final Battle on Friday. He said as the bounty hunter, he always collects, and he is here to collect gold. Orange Cassidy then walked up to Keith and said he had gold, and encouraged Keith to take it. He said he’d see Keith tomorrow at AEW Collision.
Keith earned the final spot in the Survival of the Fittest match during Final Battle’s Zero Hour pre-show, defeating Jack Cartwheel. Keith went far in the Survival of the Fittest six-way, being the fourth person eliminated in the match after being pinned by the eventual winner and new ROH Television Champion Kyle Fletcher.
Here is the lineup for Saturday’s Collision:
AEW International title: Orange Cassidy defends against Bryan Keith
AEW Continental Classic Blue League: Daniel Garcia vs. Eddie Kingston
AEW Continental Classic Blue League: Bryan Danielson vs. Brody King
AEW Continental Classic Blue League: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Andrade El Idolo
AEW has officially announced The Von Erichs & Orange Cassidy’s trios opponents for Friday’s Rampage Winter is Coming episode.
Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich, & Orange Cassidy with Kevin Von Erich in their corner will face Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, & Jake Hager in six-man tag team action on Friday’s show.
Three additional matches are also set for Friday’s episode.
In another trios contest, Top Flight’s Darius Martin & Dante Martin will team with Action Andretti against Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander, & El Hijo del Vikingo.
In a women’s division bout, Anna Jay will take on Red Velvet.
Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs of The Don Callis Family will also be in tag team action on the show against two enhancement talents.
Spoilers from Rampage which was taped Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas are available here.
The Rampage Winter is Coming lineup for Friday, December 15:
Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich & Orange Cassidy (w/Kevin Von Erich) vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker & Jake Hager
Penta El Zero Miedo, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander vs. Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti
Anna Jay vs. Red Velvet
Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher of The Don Callis Family in action
Orange Cassidy and The Von Erichs are teaming together this Friday.
During a segment on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Kevin Von Erich and his sons Marshall & Ross Von Erich were being interviewed when Orange Cassidy came up to them and said he needed partners for a match on Rampage. Danhausen and Trent Baretta seemed upset that Cassidy wouldn’t partner with them, but Cassidy told them that this was Texas. The Von Erichs agreed to back up Cassidy for his match on Friday. It wasn’t said who Cassidy and The Von Erichs would face.
Cassidy most recently wrestled on the December 8 edition of AEW Rampage, successfully defending the International title against Angelico. This would be the in-ring debut of Ross & Marshall Von Erich in AEW, who have wrestled in the past for MLW, Impact, and Pro Wrestling NOAH.
The Von Erichs were in Arlington, Texas during Wednesday’s Dynamite to promote the upcoming Iron Claw film, which tells the story of Fritz Von Erich and his sons Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike. The film opens in theatres on December 22.
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author.
AEW desperately needed to put together a well-conceived pay-per-view with Saturday’s Full Gear (8 PM Eastern) with a steady, reliable build. Friends, I have good news! They have largely accomplished that.
Almost everything on this card makes sense in storyline and most matches were given enough screen time to get the audience to care. At times, the booking can seem like Tony Khan playing a song that only he can hear. But Full Gear is a step in the right direction: a solid show to stabilize AEW moving into Worlds End in December and the start of a new year.
No AEW preview would be complete without checking in on an increasingly worrisome trend: the growing reliance on stars from the past. Popping a rating is good and high numbers of buys for PPVs are necessary. Both are vital in keeping a company financially healthy. But at some point, all eyes need to look toward the future and not six or eight weeks down the road (though AEW would be wise to do more of that as well) but months and years).
The question the big decision-makers should be trying to answer is, “What does this company look like in three years?” Succession planning is challenging in any industry, especially one like pro wrestling. The pool of talent is so small. Within this confined space, the quest for true game-changers, the elusive outliers, the singular HIMs and HERs of the world is a perpetual chase. In a sport rife with unpredictability, identifying who is next, and getting them there, is paramount.
AEW will deliver on Saturday as they always do. It’s good to be excited about the stories behind matches coming in. Time for some previews and predictions for all the matches announced as of Friday morning.
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. The Golden Jets (Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega)
Here’s the stipulation: If the Jets win, they get the Bucks’ future AEW Tag Team Championship opportunity. If the Bucks win, the Jets must disband as a team.
The Bucks are terrible friends, giving off some of the worst “guys being dudes” energy of all time. Whenever their friends are doing something that is not in service of whatever their weird agenda happens to be, they act like the toddler who was denied another piece of candy. Swerve Strickland breaks into Adam Page’s house? Sorry pal, can’t help you because we need you laser-focused on meaningless Trios titles. Kenny Omega engages in a brief and somewhat understandable dalliance with Chris Jericho? Apologies, my friend but you simply must defeat us in a tag team match or break up forever.
Omega and Jericho have had exactly five matches together as a team. Was their partnership elegantly constructed? Dear readers, it was not. But there are at least some understandable motivations behind it. Both are extremely Canadian and both hate Don Callis. Successful marriages are built on less. Yet, the Bucks are acting like Omega committed high treason.
This is the reason they, in canon, have no friends. Rather than support their friends in their endeavors, be it Omega now or Page in his entire AEW history, they whine and do whatever they can to take the shine away from their so-called friends. Notice only two people listed there? Curious!
The Bucks should always be terrible. They are so good at it.
Prediction: The Golden Jets
Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland (with, sigh, Ric Flair) vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
Is Flair going to get a full entrance on a PPV in 2023? Has it come to this? Usually, AEW’s decisions are, at best, met with fanfare and, at worst, with an eye roll. This is the first time that a “major announcement” — and I’m letting the word “major” carry a lot of water — was met with scorn and disgust by a large portion of AEW fans. The people are upset, and they have a right to be.
Spare me the excuses about Sting and Flair’s history. Bringing the man in for a one-off is one thing. Signing him to a long-term deal that includes a partnership with his terrible energy drink is another altogether. Flair has long since run out of goodwill. He remains a detestable relic that has lost whatever shreds of redeeming charm he had years ago. He deserves no place on our televisions.
The Flair signing is so laughable that I gave it space in #mycolumn before talking about Copeland’s PPV debut. I am trying to remain cautiously optimistic about what the now 50-year-old Copeland — a name I’m still having a hard time typing — can do in AEW on a full-time schedule. We’ve seen first-hand the trouble Bryan Danielson has had with staying healthy and working nearly a full schedule and he’s eight years younger.
Since his return in 2020, Copeland has already had two significant injuries, that being a torn triceps and a sprained MCL. The human body does not get better with age. Our mortal vessels have an expiration date, and we get closer to them every day. This is especially true for older wrestlers. Aging gracefully is rarely a thing in this industry.
Copeland being used like Christian would be the ideal way to get as much out of him as possible. Will he be as captivating as everyone’s favorite patriarch? Doubtful, considering Christian is a top-three act in all of wrestling right now and he’s not third on that list. Cautious in-ring time combined with interesting creative would give Copeland everything he needs to cap off his legendary career.
Prediction: Sting, Allin & Copeland
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland in a Texas Death Match
Swerve is an audacious, velvety performer: moving with a grace that still surprises even though he’s been on our screens for years. His current run in AEW has seen him fully realize all of his gifts. He knows who he is every second he’s on screen and it shows in his presentation. From the detail on his ring gear to the subtle eye and facial movements, everything is calculated and everything works. By any reasonable measure, this is an all-caps STAR with no qualifier needed. Frankly, I am tired of wondering when his rocket will launch. It’s been ready for a long time; someone just needs to hit the ignition switch.
Where Strickland is smooth and cool, Page is emotional and fiery. Far more than his never-ending on again/off again pals in The Elite, Page is the heart and soul of AEW. He is the heartbeat that can sustain the entire company. At his peak, there was no one the crowd got behind more. They desperately cared about him and his success. He is the best pure babyface in the company and should never be far from the main event.
The build to this is as good as anything AEW has done this year. A fired-up Hangman promo remains one of the best things in all of wrestling; it can sell a match by itself. If this rivalry is destined for a rubber match, maybe a last man standing match at Worlds End, so Page needs the win Saturday.
Prediction: Page
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill defend against LFI (Rush & Dralístico), FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood), and Kings of The Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) in a four-way ladder match
One of AEW’s trademarks is the multi-person sprint that over-performs and over-delivers. I think of it as their forever love letter to Pro Wrestling Guerilla. Every team in this match brings something unique and special. Ricky and Big Bill bring charisma, LFI bring chaotic unpredictability, and FTR is FTR with no exposition required. The Kings of The Black Throne bring their own very specific brand of strikes and presence. Throw all these things together and you have the makings of something fast and a whole bunch of fun.
This feels like the perfect show opening match. Let these guys go on first, light up the crowd, and leave it up to the rest of the roster to follow it up.
Prediction: Starks and Big Bill retain
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart and Skye Blue in a three-way
One of the longest-running women’s programs at AEW gets a chance to shine on a big stage. Blue’s black mist-initiated transformation has been an interesting, slow burn. It’s brought a welcome change in her character, taking it from someone who smiles and sticks out their tongue to someone with actual intrigue. Is she affected by the mist? Is she pretending to be affected by the mist? Has she actually been a spooky grump the whole time? Who knows, but those are all questions that can be answered in this match.
Hart as this weird agent of chaotic change in AEW is a fun development. Establishing the black mist as something that can corrupt someone’s heart (pun extremely intended) and change their alignment is a plot device that, if used judiciously and creatively, allows for some interesting storylines in the future. That future is bright. She gets more comfortable with her character each week and the growth in the ring isn’t far behind.
As interesting as this is, it still isn’t time for a title change. Statlander, somehow, gets third billing in this program. She’s still looking for the signature moment in her title reign, and the match or program that we can point to as the defining moment of her reign. Until she gets that, she shouldn’t drop the title.
Prediction: Statlander retains
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
Their first match forever legitimized Cassidy, not that he needed it. Even though he lost, it put the stamp on what was the best championship reign in AEW history — one that saw him throw all of his opponents into his Jansport and carry them to a great match with no skips at all. It established Cassidy as someone who can step into the main event and carry a show. It was a bloody, desperate affair that fundamentally changed him.
His evolution has been incredible. His fixation on beating Moxley and desire to keep the International championship added significant depth to his ever-growing character. For the first time, he cares about something. He’s on my short-list for wrestler of the year — an unfathomable statement to consider even two years ago — and another classic on Saturday could put him near the top of that list.
This sequel has a lot to live up to, but both of these guys always deliver. They are the two most reliable performers in AEW. Moxley gets injured? Better call Orange. Need an emergency World champion? Dial 1-800-Moxley. They might not always be there when you call, but they’re always on time. Like Swerve vs. Page, this is billed as a sequel and most sequels wind up being a trilogy. Moxley needs to win to get us there.
Prediction: Moxley wins the title
AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
Shida, neither pinned nor submitted in 2023, is the true north of the AEW women’s division. She is the ‘home’ button on your GPS. No matter where the company might be or how lost they are, she’s always going to get you right where you need to be. In a division that seems to be in constant need of a stabilizing force at the top, Shida continues to be that. Consistently great between the ropes, she has a knack for building to the big moments on the biggest shows. This is what a true Ace looks like.
I was teetering on the verge of being out on this Storm gimmick (and I still might be) until a few weeks ago when she explained how she ended up this way. Not coming out on top at Wembley Stadium broke her and sent her on a slow descent into madness. A small amount of exposition backstory made her less of a gimmick designed to get catchphrases over and more of an actual character. Granted, something like this has a definitive shelf life and I’m curious if they know how they are going pay this off as they have no idea how to land this plane.
It seems like Storm’s next program will involve the freshly signed Mariah May in an All About Eve-type program. Does she cost her the title here? Or help her win it? I hope it’s the former. Shida deserves a long reign at the top, and the women’s division could use more than one story at a time.
Prediction: Shida retains
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
The build to this has seen the best and worst of MJF. Proven time again to be a top-tier mic worker, MJF often falls into bad habits. Top among them is using his unique connection with the audience to attempt to get anything over, no matter how bad it is. One example specifically: calling Jay White tofu and getting the crowd to chant it.
On the one hand, it speaks to his talent that he can get a crowd to chant “tofu” just by mentioning it and holding up a microphone. On the other hand, it’s getting a crowd to chant “tofu.” It detracts from the moment at hand and serves absolutely nothing. Thankfully, they have moved away from the cringeworthy mic moments over the past month or so and toward a program that asks the existential question: can a person exist without any friends?
MJF has always been a man on an island. Even when part of The Pinnacle, it was Max and everyone else. His relationship with Wardlow was a marriage of convenience. Both of these associations were means to an end for MJF, either to push him up the card or to further establish him there. To him, though, they were real relationships. Of course they were — this is what he thought friendships were supposed to be. They’re supposed to be transactional. What good is someone if they can’t do something to benefit you?
That all changed when he met Adam Cole and got to experience an actual friendship — a reciprocal friendship where someone genuinely cared about him and his success. And now that Cole is gone, Max can identify for the first time what the emptiness in his life was. He wanders around backstage and is reminded of what isn’t there. He is, in many ways, the encapsulation of the loneliness epidemic in America where so many people have no close relationships. Even though he has a friend for the first time, he has never felt more alone.
I’m in total agreement with my colleague, the king Josh Nason, regarding White. He hasn’t been presented like a top guy. If a new fan turns on AEW, would they have any idea he’s a big deal? White is a big deal. He’s a former NJPW Grand Slam champion but isn’t presented that way. Bullet Club Gold is a wildly entertaining group, but nothing about them, or White, sadly, screams World champion. Except White is a world champion. He has been a world champion before and will be one again. It just won’t happen this weekend. Nothing about the build to this signals a title change.
Prior to their International title match at Full Gear, Jon Moxley & Orange Cassidy will square off in a tag match on AEW Dynamite.
It was announced during this week’s episode that Moxley & Wheeler Yuta of the Blackpool Combat Club will face Orange Cassidy & Hook on the Wednesday, November 15 AEW Dynamite show.
Both teams delivered promos on Wednesday’s episode to hype up the November 15 tag match.
Cassidy will defend the International Championship against Moxley at the Full Gear pay-per-view on Saturday, November 18 in a rematch of the main event of All Out from September 3. Moxley ended Cassidy’s first International title reign that night, then later lost the belt to Rey Fenix at Dynamite Grand Slam on September 20 in a match where Moxley suffered a concussion. Cassidy then regained the International title from Fenix on the October 10 Dynamite.
An eight-man street fight has already been announced for next week, with Chris Jericho, Paul Wight, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi taking on members of the DOn Callis Family.
The lineup for the Wednesday, November 15 Dynamite:
Street fight: Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Paul Wight & Kota Ibushi vs. The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Orange Cassidy & Hook
An International title match is set for next week’s Dynamite.
Orange Cassidy will defend the title against Blackpool Combat Club member Claudio Castagnoli. The end of Wednesday’s Dynamite saw Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson defeat Cassidy and NJPW’s Kazuchika Okada when Castagnoli pinned Cassidy.
After the match, Best Friends, Rocky Romero, and Hook came to the ring as Okada taunted Danielson, who was being tended to by medics after he took an Orange Punch and a Rainmaker. It was there that the International title match was announced for next week.
MJF also agreed to find three partners against Bullet Club Gold ‘next week’, although it was not specified if it would take place on next week’s Dynamite. MJF successfully defended his Dynamite Diamond Ring on Wednesday defeating Juice Robinson, but was jumped by all of Bullet Club Gold after the match. Both The Kingdom and The Acclaimed made the save for MJF, but MJF rejected the idea he would team with any of them.
Here is what’s set for next week’s AEW Dynamite:
AEW International title: Orange Cassidy defends against Claudio Castagnoli
At the start of Battle of the Belts on Saturday, Jon Moxley was exiting the ring with the rest of the Blackpool Combat Club when Cassidy came out, shoulder-checking Moxley as he made his way to the ring. Moxley had to be restrained as Cassidy entered the ring. Later in the show, Cassidy mentioned the incident and said that Danielson and Castagnoli have also been in his face. He challenged the two to a match at Dynamite, then revealed NJPW star Okada as his tag team partner.
In addition, Hikaru Shida will defend the AEW Women’s title against Ruby Soho, who defeated Skye Blue on AEW Rampage. Soho cut a promo on Saturday’s Collision, saying she needed to become a champion.
Renee Paquette will also have a sit-down interview with Chris Jericho. Two weeks ago on AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday, Powerhouse Hobbs quickly defeated Jericho, pinning him with his knee.
Here is the updated lineup for Wednesday’s Dynamite:
Dynamite Diamond Ring: MJF defends the ring against Juice Robinson
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Hangman Page & The Young Bucks defend against The Hardys & Brother Zay
AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Ruby Soho
Kazuchika Okada & Orange Cassidy vs. Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli
Tony Khan will have a gift for Sting
Chris Jericho sit-down interview with Renee Paquette
Orange Cassidy is once again the AEW International Champion.
Serving as a last-minute substitute after Jon Moxley was not medically cleared to compete for the International Championship, Cassidy defeated Rey Fenix to win the title at Dynamite Title Tuesday.
Cassidy used an Orange Punch and his Mouse Trap pinning combination to defeat Fenix and claim the International title for a second time on Tuesday, ending Fenix’s unplanned title reign.
Fenix won the title from Moxley at Dynamite Grand Slam on September 20 in a bout where Moxley was scheduled to win, but suffered a concussion and changed the match finish in the ring. Moxley has still not been medically cleared to compete after his injury.
Fenix defended the title on each Dynamite episode since Grand Slam, securing wins over Jeff Jarrett and Nick Jackson in successful title defenses before dropping the belt to Cassidy.
Cassidy’s initial International title reign stretched for 326 days and 31 defenses after defeating PAC for the belt on Dynamite in October 2022. His first reign came to an end at All Out on September 3 of this year where he lost to Moxley in the pay-per-view main event.
A new match has been set up for AEW Rampage Grand Slam.
Following the conclusion of Collision on Saturday night, AEW posted footage of Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Anna Jay confronting Hook, Orange Cassidy, and Kris Statlander in the locker room. The segment ended with the former Jericho Appreciation Society members issuing a challenge for Rampage Grand Slam.
“I’m reading the situation. I think they want a taste,” Parker says in the video. “How about the three of you meet us in the ring, Rampage Grand Slam?”
Rampage Grand Slam will be a two-hour show taped on Wednesday, September 20 from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queen’s, New York. It will air on Friday, September 22 on TNT. Three matches are officially confirmed for the show.
AEW Rampage Grand Slam 2023 announced lineup:
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony) defend against The Elite (The Young Bucks & Hangman Page)
AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) and Billy Gunn defend against Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver)
Darby Allin & Sting vs. Luchasaurus and Christian Cage
I had many reservations about Sunday’s AEW All Out which had most of its card announced Wednesday and Saturday. The build, to say the least, wasn’t solid. So it’s a good thing that the card itself ended up being one of the better shows of the year once everything was said and done. Who would have thought?
After nearly a year as champion, Orange Cassidy finally lost the AEW International title in the main event to Jon Moxley in a match that, shock of all shocks, was an excellent, bloody, back and forth battle. There were many times where I thought Cassidy had a shot to win, but ultimately, the story told here was that after so many great title defenses, he could not keep up with someone as unrelenting as Moxley, who finished off Cassidy with two death rider DDTs.
The main event was awesome in a show that featured plenty of awesome matches. But it wasn’t the best match on the card.
After Bryan Danielson returned on Saturday’s Collision to accept a strap match against Ricky Starks in a shocker, their match Sunday was incredible, one of the best strap matches I’ve ever seen, and what should be seen as a benchmark for what to do in the future.
Danielson utterly beat Starks within an inch of his life in a ridiculously brutal match, full of hard belt shots and, you guessed it, blood. Danielson won by taking the strap and choking the life out of Starks for the win. No, really: Starks’ face was turning red. It was gross, but incredible.
Here’s the rest of the rundown for this show, which continued the streak of very long AEW pay-per-views clocking in at almost five hours:
Bullet Club Gold scored a win over the odd pairing of FTR and The Young Bucks in a match that ended up being really good. They were put in a bad spot on the card as the show was well over the four-hour mark at this point, but everyone here looked great. It’s clear there’s more to the story between FTR and the Bucks, and we’ll likely see another match between the two down the line. Maybe in Seattle?
Konosuke Takeshita got the biggest win of his career by defeating Kenny Omega in their big singles match. This lived up to the hype as the two had an incredible athletic match. Omega tends to lose a lot in these big singles matches, but he’s Omega. That’s fine, he’s made. Takeshita needed a big win here to really solidify himself as a top name in AEW, and they did so here. Now it’s up to AEW to continue with that momentum as their track record for that is pretty spotty (remember Wardlow?).
The TBS Championship match was perfectly fine. Kris Statlander retained over Ruby Soho in a match where nobody did anything wrong. Toni Storm distracted Soho long enough for Statlander to get the win, furthering the split between The Outcasts. The main problem is everyone in this match feels like they’re just treading water. Statlander seems to be missing something she had before getting injured since returning in May. The Outcasts stable has just kind of been going along with no real direction and now they’re breaking up. None of this feels engaging at all.
Miro defeated Powerhouse Hobbs in a great match where the crowd made it special, chanting for “MEAT” at every possible turn. They wanted desperately for this to be great, and it elevated the match as a result. Just two guys going out there and having a cool back and forth match with big spots– exactly what was needed. After Miro won, Hobbs beat him up after shaking his hand until a woman who was not named made the save with a steel chair. That woman, formerly known as Lana in WWE, did not have a name here and the announcers went out of their way to not name her. The video screen, which read “HOT AND FLEXIBLE” did not name her. Miro then didn’t seem happy she was there and left in a weird ending to what was a really good match.
Darby Allin was unsuccessful in winning the TNT title from Luchasaurus, but man, did he work his ass off to have a real good match. He looked like a complete mess when this was all over. The finish felt like right out of the WWE playbook, but my assumption is that there is more to this storyline and we’re not totally done between these two just yet.
The ROH title matches seemed more like a backdrop to what appears to be MJF’s next AEW World title program as he got into it with Samoa Joe following an altercation between the two in between their title matches. They ended up getting into a brawl, having to be separated by security. The matches themselves were just matches, not really anything beyond your normal television fare.
Hangman Page won the Over Budget Battle Royal, winning $50,000 dollars for a charity of his choice, the Chicago Public Education Fund. It was every single battle royal you’ve ever seen, but it was fun towards the end with Page last eliminating Brian Cage.
The Acclaimed retained the AEW Trios titles over Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, and Jay Lethal in a match that was just kinda there with the usual Jarrett antics. I don’t mind seeing a Jarrett family spotfest once in a while, but after that Texas Chain Saw Massacre match from a few weeks ago, I don’t need to see another one for months. They’re wacky and fun, but the matches feel like overkill.
The women’s trios match was good and seemed to maybe set up a future ROH Women’s title match between Athena and Hikaru Shida, which I’m all for.
AEW is inching closer to monthly pay-per-view events with their next PPV set for Sunday, October 1st with their first-ever WrestleDream in Seattle. On the plus side, I am hopeful the build towards that card becomes clear after this week’s AEW shows. On the minus side, dear lord, there is too much wrestling content. I’ve done three of these in the last week. Help.
On one of the more newsworthy weeks the company has ever had, AEW returns to pay-per-view for the second time in eight days with tonight’s All Out from Chicago’s United Center.
The PPV comes one day after AEW fired CM Punk for his actions last Sunday at All In at London’s Wembley Stadium.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will look to extend his 30+ title defense streak as he faces former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
Bryan Danielson will make an earlier than expected return after breaking his forearm in June as he challenges Ricky Starks in a strap match.
Kenny Omega will finally get his chance to wrestle Konosuke Takeshita one-on-one.
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will team with past challengers The Young Bucks against Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns).
ROH Tag Team Champions MJF & Adam Cole will defend against Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver.
The PPV will also feature AEW Trios, TBS, TNT and ROH TV title defenses.
**********
Zero Hour
The Wrestle Aunts, Renee Paquette & RJ City kick things off in the ring and run down how to watch the show and tonight’s card.
-Bryan Danielson is backstage and said he watched Collision a few weeks ago after learning Ricky Steamboat would be on the show. Steamboat encouraged Danielson throughout his early career and was sickened when he saw Ricky Starks whip a 70 plus year old man. The last time Danielson was in a strap match, it was against someone he loved (against The Fiend) and they beat the sh*t out of each other, so he asks Starks what he’ll do to him?
Hangman Adam Page won the 20 Man Over Budget Charity Battle Royal and will donate $50,000 to a charity of his choosing
(A fun battle royal to get the crowd going tonight, as Page was cheered a lot more than you’d expect following everything that’s happened backstage in the last 24 hours in AEW. A few matches could come out of this, as Scorpio Sky eliminated almost all of the former J.A.S. crew, while Mogul Embassy eliminated Best Friends, so a potential tag match could happen.)
Other participants included Brian Cage, Toa Liona, Kyle Fletcher, Action Andretti, Scorpio Sky, Daniel Garcia, Mark Davis, Jake Hager, Matt Menard, Bishop Kaun, Chuck Taylor, Darius Martin, Dalton Castle, Angelo Parker, Komander, Shawn Spears, Serpentico, Tony Nese
Tony Nese ran down the crowd pre-match and wanted to do group training with the 19 other entrants. Best Friends, Andretti & Martin all launched Nese over the top onto Mark Sterling right at the bell. Castle & The Boys were beaten down by Mogul Embassy before everyone was wiped out by a Komander shooting star press. Serpentico tried to fight the entire former J.A.S. crew, but was eliminated. Spears & Garcia had a 10/Thrust off before both attacked Aussie Open and thrusted at each other. This resulted in Davis & Fletcher eliminating Spears. Numbers game got the best of Komander, as he was eliminated by The Embassy. The Boys saved Castle from being eliminated, but caught Parker as well and placed him down in the most anticlimactic elimination ever. Castle, however, was soon eliminated as well.
Martin was tossed by Garcia & Menard, as Taylor was dumped by the Gates of Agony. Kaun was eliminated by Hangman, while Menard was shown eliminated on the opposite side, with Hager eliminated by Sky soon after. Page & Beretta teamed up to dump Davis, as Sky sent Garcia to the floor. Cage & Liona eliminated Sky and we’re down to Andretti, Beretta, Page, Cage, Liona & Fletcher. Both Fletcher & Andretti got to show off their athleticism until Fletcher dumped Andretti after a running leg lariat. Fletcher & Beretta fought to the apron where Beretta hit a half and half to eliminated Fletcher.
Cage & Liona double teamed Beretta enough until Cage hit an F5 to the floor to eliminate him, leaving Page in a 2 on 1 disadvantage. Page fought off a Cage powerbomb and hit Liona with a Buckshot before dumping him. Cage tried a discus lariat, but instead hit a spinning neckbreaker. Cage & Page both fought over the top onto the apron until Page was able to hit a Dead Eye and Cage fell to the floor.
(You’re standard party match, as the first half was dominated with Blue being isolated and the second being everyone trading big moves. Athena could have multiple challengers for her title coming out of this, as I wouldn’t mind seeing Nightingale get another shot. Shida seems to be building a story with Britt Baker, so I don’t know if a ROH Women’s Title match would be on the horizon for her quite yet.)
Pre-match, Martinez & Diamante didn’t want Athena’s minion Starkz with them, but Athena convinced them otherwise. Athena chucked Diamante to the wolves at the bell and bailed as the team argued outside before being met with a Blue cross body. Diamante was briefly controlled in the corner, but a cheap shot from Martinez on Blue allowed Diamante to hit a Cross Rhodes to keep Blue isolated.
Athena started trash talking her own team, which allowed Blue to make the tag to Nightingale, who ran wild on the ROH Women’s Champion. The match broke down with Diamante wiping out Nightingale, as Shida did the deal on Diamante with a Falcon Arrow. Martinez caught a trapped Blue in the corner with a violent Spider German, as Nightingale charged and met a hung up Martinez with a cannonball. Athena & Shida were left standing to slug it out in a fun back and forth until both were pulled outside where Nightingale pounced Athena into the railing. Martinez was sent into the railing by Nightingale as well before hitting an assisted thrust kick Death Valley Driver on Diamante as Blue hit a sloppy Code Blue for the victory.
-Another La Faccion Ingobernable video is shown about rebuilding and how their time is now. They must bring the violence and dominate. Rush said they must take their titles and take over AEW. I assume this means Rush, Dralistico & Preston Vance are coming for the Trios Titles.
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Daddy Ass (w/Dennis Rodman) defeated Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh (w/Karen Jarrett & Sonjay Dutt) to retain the AEW Trios Titles
(This was the usual interference filled Jarrett match you’d expect, with their game plan blowing up in their faces. I wonder how much AEW paid Rodman to do a guitar shot and scissor with the Trios champions? Rodman looked like he was having a blast though and the Chicago crowd popped big for his spot.)
Pre-match, Dutt introduced his team by wearing an Isaiah Thomas Pistons jersey, as Singh faked a slam dunk on a hoop, but popped the basketball instead. Caster’s rap talked about Rodman being friends with Kim Jong Un and called Jarrett’s crew the 2023 Oddities. Daddy Ass said Mike Posey wasn’t the referee for this match and brought out Aubrey Edwards, which infuriated Karen Jarrett. The match broke down right at the bell, as Jarrett was hit with Scissor Me Timbers before Caster & Bowens did a Fargo Strut. Jarrett took the ref, as Singh got a cheap shot on Caster to allow Jarrett to do the proper Fargo Strut.
After being isolated, Caster finally made the hot tag to Bowens, who ran wild with strikes on Lethal. Karen tripped up Bowens, who made the tag to Daddy Ass and slugged it out with Singh, who hit a big boot and choke slam onto Bowens. Karen tried a guitar shot on Daddy Ass, but was caught by referee Aubrey, who shoved down Karen. This brought Rodman into the ring and he broke the guitar over Singh. Aubrey just stared at Rodman holding a broken guitar, as Lethal was planted with a Fame-Asser, The Arrival and Mic Drop to let the champs retain.
AEW All Out 2023
-Excalibur welcomes us alongside Nigel McGuinness & Kevin Kelly as the ROH Tag Titles are on the line in our opening contest.
Better Than You Bay-Bay (MJF & Adam Cole) defeated John Silver & Alex Reynolds (w/Evil Uno) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
(MJF & Cole wore matching Chicago Bulls #23 style tag team shirts, as I think it would’ve been a funny burn if MJF was Jordan and Cole would’ve been Pippen. This was a fun opener, as the crowd really wanted their Kangaroo Kicks and Double Clotheslines and was rewarded with both. I was going to say how MJF only wrestled for about 5 minutes in what was essentially a handicap match, but the post match really set things up potentially, as I wasn’t expecting the Joe & MJF brawl.)
Cole & Silver started with a fast opening sequence with the crowd chanting for a Kangaroo Kick and Double Clothesline, which Reynolds saved his partner from. MJF yelled to the crowd how Reynolds helped train him and got a sportsmanship chant going. An eye poke and Fargo Strut almost led to a Kangaroo Kick, but Silver attacked MJF from behind. MJF really selling the effects of neck injury he suffered in the main event of All In. Evil Uno took the ref outside, as Reynolds got a cheap shot with a chair to the neck of MJF. The doctors check on MJF and have to help him to the back, leaving Cole at a disadvantage.
Cole cut off a diving Silver with an enzugiri in mid air and caught a leaping Reynolds with a superkick. Back inside, Cole wanted Panama Sunrise, but Silver countered into a combo of kicks and Fisherman’s Buster for two. Referee again was taken, as Evil Uno posted Cole outside, with Excalibur talking about the mean streak Dark Order have found again, being first introduced to them by the late Brodie Lee. Cole countered a Silver brainbuster into a neckbreaker onto the knee, as Uno flipped Cole off in his corner with Silver & Reynolds hitting the Wombo Combo for a close near fall.
Silver & Reynolds called for and connected with a Double Clothesline for two, as Reynolds grabbed a tag title, but Cole avoided and wiped out both men. Crowd chanted for MJF and right on cue, he stormed to the ring against doctors orders and made the hot tag, running wild. A double eye poke and double noggin knocker as Excalibur compared him to Jordan in the flu game. Miscommunication by Silver & Reynolds led to a Kangaroo Kick connecting to make the crowd explode. Uno ate a superkick on the apron, as the Double Clothesline was called and hit on Reynolds with Cole getting the pin.
Post match, MJF went to walk up the ramp on his own accord, but Samoa Joe’s music hit and he shoved past MJF on the stage. Cole tried to tell his partner to leave it alone, as MJF hit the ring and started a fight with Joe, who hooked a guillotine quickly. Security and agents rushed the ring with Joe smirking and an angry MJF wanting to fight, ultimately being escorted to the back by Cole and company.
Samoa Joe defeated Shane Taylor to retain the ROH TV Title
(This was like two trucks smashing into each other repeatedly, as both men beat the hell out of each other tonight. Even in defeat, Taylor stood his ground with Joe, who has to be seen a future contender for the AEW Title after tonight, which I’m all for.)
Kevin Kelly said this shouldn’t last long, with heavyweight fights not going 15 rounds with both men trading stiff strikes early before Taylor just mowed down Joe with a lariat. The match spilled outside where Taylor got the upper hand. Taylor kept Joe grounded back inside, but only managed a one count. Joe clipped Taylor with an enzugiri and followed with a massive elbow suicida. Joe connected with his combo of a Manhattan Drop, big boot and senton, but Taylor kicked out at one. Taylor again clocked Joe with a lariat, but while on the apron, Joe locked on the rear naked choke. Taylor draped Joe over the ropes an hit a Tower of London stunner variation before hitting a splash for two.
Taylor fired off more lariats before Joe exploded with one of his own, crumbling Taylor in the process. A slugfest ensued before Joe brutally hit a forearm and series of knee lifts until the Coquina Clutch was applied and Taylor tapped out.
Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) defeated Darby Allin (w/Nick Wayne) to retain the TNT Title
(A very solid story told here and more than just big guy vs. little guy, as Cage’s outside involvement with Wayne led to the decision Allin had to make whether to save his friend or try to win the title. The decision cost him, as Cage & Luchasaurus standing strong means this story can continue, as they really put over how Allin taking all these big time blows might have finally caught up to him.)
Jim Ross replaced Kevin Kelly on commentary prior to the match as Allin low bridged Luchasaurus, who caught a leaping Allin and launched him into the railing violently. Luchasaurus had Allin in a wheelbarrow and swung him into the ring steps as Cage ordered to finish him, as Allin is bleeding. Luchasaurus trapped Allin under the steps and proceeded to walk up them with Allin screaming in pain. Finally in the ring, Luchasaurus hit a spinning side suplex and wild headbutt to a charging Allin. After a choke slam attempt, Allin back flipped out and hit a springboard cross body. Allin tried a follow up cross body off the top, but bounced off Luchasaurus like a ball.
Allin battled back, set up Luchasaurus on a chair outside and did a somersault dive from the top to the floor and just clipped Luchasaurus enough to avoid disaster. Back inside, Luchasaurus almost hit a Torture Rack backbreaker, but Allin countered into a Crucifix Bomb for two. Allin wanted a Coffin Splash, but Luchasaurus caught him into a release German that dropped Allin right on his head. Cage demanded Wayne throw the towel in for Allin, who was locked in a Torture Rack. Allin flipped free and wiped out Cage with a low tope before getting caught in the Luchasaurus clutches coming back in.
Allin bit free from the grasps and hit an Avalanche Code Red which Luchasaurus did not kick out in time for, as Rick Knox had to pull the count and the crowd was pissed. Allin went to the top, but Cage clocked Wayne with a chair shot in the back and Cage said he was going to hit a Con-Chair-To if Allin leapt. Luchasaurus cut Allin off in the corner and hit multiple Tombstone Piledrivers before hitting a Snake Eyes and lariat to the back of the head to retain the title. Post match, Cage threw Wayne into the ring and forced him to watch as Cage was about to hit a Con-Chair-To when Shawn Spears, Carlie Bravo, Shawn Dean, Trent Baretta, Acion Andretti, Ethan Page and others made the save with Cage & Luchasaurus bailing with Cage clutching the TNT Title.
Miro defeated Powerhouse Hobbs
(Excalibur referenced a great line Big E has said in the past saying this match was big meaty men, slappin meat. Little did I know that was only the beginning of the meat references, as the crowd proceeded to deliver “Slap That Meat” “This Is Meaty” “Meat Forever” and “Holy Meat” chants. The crowd gave both a standing ovation, as this match stole the show so far and it’s going to take a hell of a lot to beat this. I could watch these two beat each other up over and over again. The post match attack by Hobbs and the debut of CJ Perry means we’re hopefully just getting started with this feud, which is wonderful for everyone, especially the fans.)
Each man was able to throw the other to the mat after early lock ups, as Miro relentlessly unloaded corner strikes. Miro tried to explode with a lariat, but Hobbs didn’t budge and ran through Miro with a lariat of his own. Miro battled back with his spin kick and used his agility to hit a perfect dropkick. Hobbs used his amazing strength and hit an overhead belly to belly and stayed in control with another overhead throw. Hobbs missed a corner charge and spilled outside, where Miro met him with a somersault senton off the apron.
Miro drove Hobbs repeatedly into the railing, but Hobbs slapped Miro in the face and tried wearing him down back in the ring. Miro fought back, as both men collided repeatedly with charges in the ropes, as the crowd chanted “Meat!” after each time. Miro hit a succession of lariats, with Hobbs not going down until finally Miro wound up and dropped him. Miro channeled his best Sheamus for 10 corner forearms in the ropes until Hobbs spun around and hit a front face suplex on Miro in the ring. Hobbs went up top, but Miro cut him off and hit a huge superplex with the crowd on their feet.
Miro hit his thrust kick, but missed a second and Hobbs hit a spinning powerslam for two. Hobbs got his answers to the early lariats in by hitting multiple ones, until Miro mowed him down with one and hit the thrust kick for two. Miro called for Game Over, but Hobbs was able to power out, backpack Miro and drive him into the corner. Hobbs caught a leaping Miro with a spinebuster for the closest two of the match. Hobbs tried Game Over, but Miro answered with a spinebuster of his own and Game Over locked in tightly, as Hobbs tapped out.
Post match, both men shook hands until Hobbs attacked Miro from behind and started to choke him out. We then see the debut of Miro’s hot and flexible wife, the former Lana, CJ Perry, hit the ring to a huge ovation and clock Hobbs in the back with a chair, which he no sold. Hobbs turned his back enough for Miro to recover and hit a chair shot to both the back and the head. Perry smiled at her husband, but Miro didn’t know what to think of it and left her in the ring, yelling that she’s not real.
Kris Statlander defeated Ruby Soho (w/Saraya) for the TBS Title
(These two had the unenviable task to follow the last war we just saw. It started slow, but both ladies put together a real hard hitting and very good match. The finish pretty much seals the deal with Toni Storm leaving The Outcasts, as the interference that brought them so many wins, finally blew up in their faces.)
Soho has her Rancid theme back for this match, with Statlander channeling her best Derek Zoolander impression with Blue Steel during her entrance. Both ladies traded standing tall and posing in the early going, as Soho missed a corner charge and Statlander connected with an awkward running knee. Statlander sent Soho into the railing outside and chased after Saraya long enough for Soho to hit a missile dropkick off the apron. Soho kept Statlander grounded in the ring and cut the champion off with a heel trip for two.
Statlander fought back with kicks, including a desperation No Future kick to lead to a double down. Statlander kept avoiding corner charges until she lit up Soho with a violence party in the corner. A nice snap powerslam followed, as Statlander hit her spinning fisherman’s driver for a near fall. Statlander applied a Gory Special, but Soho countered into a roll up and cradle for two. Soho countered Sunday Night Fever into a roll up before both ladies got up and collided with cross body attempts for a reset.
Saraya ripped up a fans sign ringside, as Soho was cut off in the ropes, where Statlander hit sort of an Avalanche Tour of the Islands for a close two. Statlander got a fireman’s carry, but Soho turned it into a Poison Rana, DDT and low hurricanrana for the closest near fall of the match. Statlander was able to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Saraya’s trash talk allowed Soho to hit No Future and Destination Unknown, but Statlander kicked out. Saraya took the ref, as Soho wanted to use the spray paint, but Toni Storm appeared and took the can away from Soho, who turned around and was dropped with Sunday Night Fever for the Statlander win.
Bryan Danielson defeated Ricky Starks in a No DQ Strap Match
(I was surprised as anyone when Danielson returned a month earlier than expected from injury. This match thankfully didn’t have many bumps on the injured arm, as both men made everything involving the strap mean something, from start to finish. This was a fantastic showing not just from Danielson, but Starks especially, who held his own and reminds us why he’s one of the young guns in this company. Starks never quit and instead opted to go out on his shield.)
Ricky Steamboat joined commentary for this match, as The Final Countdown plays for Danielson, which the crowd loved, myself included. Starks attacked prior to the bell and whipped Danielson with his weight belt repeatedly on the floor, cracking Danielson with the buckle of the belt, busting Danielson opened. For some reason, it was that moment referee Aubrey started the match officially. Starks choked Danielson with the strap and dragged him all over the floor before stomping on the head on top of the ropes.
Starks continued his assault in the ring, as Danielson fought back with headbutts and kicks, but Starks whipped Danielson in the side of the head with the strap. Danielson is bleeding buckets, as Starks wanted a superplex, but Danielson slid through and crotched Starks. Danielson violently whipped Starks repeatedly and got his revenge, choking Starks, who was trapped in the Tree of Woe. A baseball slide sent Starks to the floor, but Starks used the strap to pull Danielson in and crack him in the face. Starks opted to trash talk Steamboat, as Danielson was able to post Starks in the process, busting him open as well.
Danielson continued to whip Starks as McGuinness on commentary pleaded for things to stop, as Steamboat said it was Starks who wanted this match. Danielson hit his corner dropkicks, but Starks fired out and turned Danielson inside out with a lariat. Starks started violently whipping the hell out of Danielson over and over, as Danielson started shaking them off to the You F’d Up chants rang through the arena. Starks gassed out, as Danielson answered with whips and kicks aplenty to the point of Starks crumbling and the crowd applauding on their feet. Big Bill appeared and went to attack Danielson when Steamboat jumped off commentary and fought off the big man. Bill had Steamboat in his clutches, but Danielson launched Starks over the top onto Bill and Danielson followed with a dive onto both of them.
Danielson went for his kicks back inside, when Starks exploded out with a Spear for a close two. Starks went for Roshambo, but Danielson slid out, hit the Busaiku Knee, as Starks kicked out. Danielson started kicking Starks’ head in before applying the LeBell Lock, wrapping the strap around the throat and Starks expression was masterful here, as he didn’t submit, instead opting to pass out.
-Nigel McGuinness informs us the charity Hangman Adam Page was donating his winning $50,000 to will be Chicago Public Education Fund.
Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta defeated Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata
(I’m very surprised that Kingston ate the pin here, even if it felt like it came out of nowhere and he got caught. Everyone looked very solid in this match, as I certainly want to see Castagnoli defend his title against not only Shibata, but Kingston again eventually.)
Taz joined commentary, as Kingston wore a shirt that read Claudio Sucks Eggs as tribute to the late great Terry Funk. Yuta & Shibata grappled early with Shibata connecting with Kawada kicks with Castagnoli wanting the tag and Yuta obliging. Castagnoli hit strikes, but missed a dropkick, so did Shibata with his PK. Kingston tagged in and Castagnoli bailed, having Yuta tag in and get his ass kicked by Kingston before the brawl was on outside with Kingston & Castagnoli until Yuta connected on a dive and Castagnoli drove Kingston into the railing.
Kingston remained isolated until a STO on Yuta allowed Shibata to make the hot tag. Shibata & Castagnoli took turns with charging corner strikes, as Shibata was the one to stand tall with his stalling running dropkick leading to a butterfly suplex. Shibata transitioned into a triangle choke, but Castagnoli escaped as he & Yuta connected on a fastball special for a near fall. Shibata then exploded out with a backfist that crumbled Yuta. With Yuta locked in a submission, Shibata no sold Castagnoli strikes and got an ankle lock at the same time.
Kingston made the tag and planted Yuta with a DDT after Yuta tried to skin the cat. Machine gun chops led to an Exploder, as Castagnoli cut Kingston off with a big boot. Yuta was caught with a pump kick by Shibata into a Saito Suplex from Kingston. Shibata & Castagnoli traded uppercuts until an overhand right by Shibata dropped Castagnoli with the fight continuing outside. Kingston & Yuta had a nice exchange with Yuta dropping Kingston on his head with a suplex, as Kingston fired back with an enzugiri and stiff slaps. Finally it was Kingston and Castagnoli, who started throwing bombs until Castagnoli hit a Neutralizer for two.
Kingston floated out of a Ricola Bomb and hit the spinning backfist that led to a Northern Lights Bomb for two. Yuta ate a backfist of his own and fell into the choke by Shibata on the apron. Kingston turned around and Castagnoli hit a massive uppercut and got the pin on Kingston with Shibata stuck on the apron.
(For the first time in his career, Takeshita has officially pinned Omega. Commentary really put over how this is another loss for Omega without Callis in his corner. A fantastic match, with the crowd really into it, as they seemed to be completely caught off guard by the finish. It almost felt like they were expecting this to reach yet another level when the finish happened.)
Omega is rocking his DDT inspired gear tonight. Takeshita got the best of Omega after the feeling out process, dropping Omega on his neck with a scary high angle backdrop driver that Omega rolled outside after. Takeshita hit a running boot, but Omega responded with You Can’t Escape on the floor. Back inside, Omega punted Takeshita and followed up with his dunk slam, sinking in the Indian Deathlock. A slap exchange ensued until Takeshita went for the eyes. Takeshita-line hit, but Omega floated over in the corner, wanted a hurricanrana, but Takeshita blocked and threw Omega face first into the buckle. To the floor again, this time with Takeshita hitting a brainbuster and pulling out chairs, but the ref scolded him. With the ref’s attention turned, Callis stacked the chairs onto Omega and Takeshita hit a senton over the top on top of them. Takeshita mocked Omega before hitting a Helluva Kick and Blue Thunder Bomb for two.
Takeshita continued to pick Omega apart until Omega got his knees up on a top rope senton attempt. A jumping knee sent Takeshita outside, as Omega followed with a Terminator Dive. Missile dropkick connected flush, followed by two Snap Dragons, knee strike and Poison Rana for a two. Both men flipped out of German attempts and traded pumping knee strikes until Takeshita turned Omega inside out with a wild lariat. Omega floated out of a powerbomb into one of his own and knee strike to follow. V-Trigger connected, but Takeshita countered a One Winged Angel into a Crunchie. Omega barely has strength in his legs and started swinging wildly, connecting enough, but Takeshtia fought back with forearms with Omega answering with a desperation lariat.
A leaping V-Trigger hit in the corner, as Omega wanted an Avalanche One Winged Angel, which Takeshita escaped into a wild Avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb for a close near fall. Power Drive Knee hit for Takeshita, who couldn’t believe it was only two. Takeshita took the ref and Callis tried to stab Omega with the screwdriver, but missed, as Omega hit a ripcord V-Trigger. Takeshtia grabbed the screwdriver and almost used it during a One Winged Angel, but referee Paul Turner saw it and took it away. Both men traded roll ups with Takeshtia hitting wheelbarrow throw into a Power Driver Knee, but Omega kicked out and the crowd is going nuts. Takeshita exposed the knee and hit a home run knee strike to crumble Omega and get the pin to shock the crowd.
Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns (Austin & Colten) defeated FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
(This felt like a Collision main event, as it got a lot of time and was a party match feel, everyone getting in their signature offense. The crowd loudly booed the Bucks to start the match, but it became more even when the match got going. With the win, commentary talked about The Gunns potentially getting another tag team title shot in the future.)
Colten & Wheeler had a fast opening sequence with Austin making a quick tag and using his speed to briefly have the upper hand until Wheeler fired off arm drags and a hurricanrana. The Bucks made fast tags and were booed by the United Center crowd, but they soaked it in during their double team maneuvers. Harwood & White jumped in and picked up where they left off on Collision briefly until Robinson made the tag and isolated Harwood. With The Gunns & Robinson too busy throwing guns up, Harwood fired off chops to everyone and White found himself isolated by FTR. White managed to chop block Wheeler’s leg and the tide turned again before an 8 man showdown took place leading to a brawl.
A quadruple atomic drop sent all of Bullet Club Gold colliding until FTR & The Bucks locked in Sharpshooters for all. Referee Rick Knox restored order, but it allowed Harwood to be trapped in the wrong corner yet again and isolated for an extended period. Harwood finally got free and made the tag to Nick, who was a house of fire to the mix reaction of cheers and boos. The Bucks ran wild with their signature offense until Wheeler blocked a Matt superkick and instead hit a double superkick on Austin. Nick tried his slingshot face buster and moonsault to the floor, but he cleared Juice on his attempt. Matt & Harwood hit a spike piledriver on Austin, but it was broken up.
The match broke down Bullet Club Gold trying for a triple superplex, but White, Robinson & Colten all getting crotched. This led to a Power-Plex, Elbow Drop, 450 Splash combo from FTR & The Bucks. Everyone started hitting dives, leaving Austin & Harwood left in the ring colliding with a double clothesline. Finisher attempts were countered until Nick & Wheeler hit a Shatter Machine with Matt & Harwood hit BTE Trigger for two on White. Colten laid out Matt with a Fame-Asser outside, as White laid out Wheeler with Blade Runner, as Colten picked up the pieces and stole the pin as a result. Nick said to Wheeler that he was late for breaking up the pin post match.
Jon Moxley defeated Orange Cassidy to win the AEW International Title
(And with that, one of the greatest title reigns in AEW history comes to an end and it happened after an absolute war. Both men knocked this one out of the park, as Moxley continues to be the man to rely on when things go haywire for the company, while Cassidy is simply incredible with the storytelling he’s able to tell, especially during this reign.)
The BCC and Best Friends & Kris Statlander walked with champion and challenger respectively backstage prior to both man’s entrance. Cassidy started fast, but Moxley avoided Orange Punch and hit multiple suplexes. Cassidy fought back on the apron, hitting a cross body, but Moxley rolled through and stomped down repeatedly onto the face. Cassidy popped off a Stundog Millionaire and dive outside, as Cassidy tried his DDT, but Moxley countered into an inside out suplex. Moxley rag dolled Cassidy on the outside, posted him and Cassidy was busted open as a result, as Moxley pounced on top of the commentary table, biting at the head. Moxley waited for Cassidy to beat the count and immediately hit a stalling piledriver. Moxley bit at the head again, as Cassidy’s blood is on the mouth of Moxley, which is pretty gross.
Moxley is relentless with cross face strikes, as Cassidy tries fighting back, with Moxley mocking the hands in the pockets. Moxley wanted a superplex, but Cassidy turned the tables and raked the back, biting Moxley’s head to fight fire with fire. A diving DDT was followed by the spinning DDT, as Moxley avoided Orange Punch with jabs, but Cassidy took a page out of Shibata’s playbook with a PK and Orange Punch for two. Moxley countered Beach Break into a Gotch Style Piledriver and Cassidy nearly got a flash crucifix, but Moxley got the rear naked choke. Moxley transitioned to an arm breaker and LeBell Lock, as Cassidy nearly tapped, but didn’t. Cassidy got the ropes and fell to the outside, where Moxley exposed the floor by ripping off the mats. Cassidy countered a piledriver and hit Beach Break onto the floor followed by a dropkick sending Moxley’s head into the steps.
Moxley beat the count, but Cassidy hit multiple Orange Punches, the third being blocked into a Cutter. Cassidy spun out of Death Rider into another Orange Punch and huge Spear for a near fall. Pocket offense from Cassidy, which got more and more intense to fire up the crowd until Moxley hit a wild lariat, which Cassidy no sold, so Moxley hit it again for two. Death Rider connected, but Cassidy just rolled a shoulder barely up. Cassidy is dripping blood, as he rose to his feet and flipped off Moxley, who flattened Cassidy with a home run Death Rider to win the title.
The BCC celebrate with Moxley and the International Title at the ramp, as Cassidy is left in the ring to recover to chants of his name by the Chicago crowd. The show goes off the air with the fans chanting for Cassidy.
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author.
What if I told you that you could spend 50 American dollars to watch an episode of Dynamite? Does that sound like something you might be interested in?
I will not bury the lede here: Sunday’s AEW All Out (8 PM Eastern from Chicago on PPV) is not a good show on paper. The fact that it’s even happening is another example of AEW’s continued short-sightedness. There was no compelling reason to run another major show a week after the biggest show they’ve ever run.
This isn’t revisionist history either. When this run of shows was announced, anyone with an internet connection wondered how this would work. And the answer is that it just isn’t working. Running this schedule requires an insane level of logistical planning and luck to go off without a hitch. I don’t know how closely you’ve been paying attention, but planning and luck are two things that remain sorely lacking in AEW. So bear witness, cats and kittens, to AEW’s first official B-level pay-per-view. It took a while to get there, but we’ve finally arrived.
Even though I am on the verge of AEW exhaustion, I will not abandon you, my dear readers. Come with me as we preview the extremely lackluster card. Please note this includes everything announced as of Saturday morning.
You can also hear me talk about this card and All In on this week’s Josh Nason’s Punch-Out.
Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)
Few things are more alluring than the main event version of Omega. Even though his match against Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door wasn’t the official main event, it was still a major attraction. The clock is ticking on his peak, and if we’re being honest, it’s ticking on his career. How many more chances will he have to put on a vintage Tokyo Dome-level performance for AEW? With only a handful of major shows a year, they should be using this as a chance to make a star. And what better star to make than Takeshita?
Takeshita is the goods, the truth, the future — he’s everything. Whatever a company could ever want in a wrestler exists in this 28-year-old. He moves like a top 1% athlete. His hands are cinder blocks; his forearm to Ishii at Forbidden Door almost gave the entire announce team a stroke. This is as special of a performer as there is in pro wrestling. He pinned Omega at All In, nd nothing would do more to establish him as a GUY in AEW than another win on Sunday. If they have a direction in mind, this is the time to pull the trigger.
Prediction: Takeshita
TNT Champion Luchasaurus (w/ Christian Cage) defends against Darby Allin
This is Luchasaurus’s best role: a stand-in for someone with star power. He’s great/good/perfectly fine as a big heater with, and I’ll be generous here, an interesting look. But Christian is the star of this pairing and one of the two or three best things in AEW proper. His ongoing war on dads should win feud of the year on this website. His turtlenecks should win best gear — a category invented by me just now. The man will be 50 in November and is doing the best work of his entire career. The benefit of having someone like him on the roster can’t be understated. Someone who can sell a feud, who knows how to ad lib in front of a crowd, and who can generate surface-of-Mercury level heat is well worth whatever Tony Khan is paying him.
Allin remains one of the most consistently booked wrestlers on the roster. He almost always has something meaningful to do on a relatively important place of the card. It’s allowed him to grow and has conditioned the audience to know that when he’s on screen, something important is happening or a gruesome apron spot or both! The title means more to Allin than it does to the combination of Christian and Luchasaurus, and a title change needs to happen somewhere on this card. This is the place, even though I hate it.
Prediction: Allin wins the title
ROH Tag Team Champions Adam Cole & MJF defend against Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver)
I love it when guys drop the kneepad. Their kneecaps look so tiny and cute. It’s supposed to be this big dramatic reveal, but all I can think about is how small they look. Every time Cole reveals his baby knee, I just chuckle. It can’t possibly hurt anyone — it’s too tiny! All of this is to say, that there isn’t much to write about here. Dark Order won Friday’s battle royal on Rampage and earned the privilege of being rolled over by Better Than You Bay Bay. The crowd just eats this pairing up and, even though this match doesn’t make any sense, they couldn’t run this show without Cole and MJF getting TV time.
I didn’t need to update this after the winner of the battle royal was announced as the opponent simply did not matter. It’s a kangaroo kick, double clothesline, and the 1-2-3.
Prediction: Cole and MJF retain
Miro vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
It’s so good to have Miro back and cutting angry promos about higher powers and flexible wives. He’s still a little directionless, something unfortunately not unique to him, but this match is a great way to remind the audience just how good he is in the ring. For years, we have lamented about Miro’s unrealized potential. It’s time to let him show the world what he can do.
Hobbs is still doing the Book of Hobbs thing and seems like he might be getting another push. At some point, AEW needs to make up its mind about what to do with him. He and Ricky Starks have had more pushes started and abandoned in the last 18 months than most wrestlers do in their entire careers. Hobbs’ last push was confusingly derailed by a partnership (?) with QT Marshall (???) and QTV (?????). On the bad decision scale that’s up there with either Blockbuster opting to not buy Netflix and all of Game of Thrones’ 8th season.
This should show us who is in line for a big push moving forward. I say “should” instead of “will” not to cover my bases, but because who knows if it will actually lead to anything of substance.
Prediction: Miro
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR & The Young Bucks vs. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns)
A show like this wouldn’t be complete without a Teddy Long SmackDown Special, aka the “Can they coexist?” combo platter. There is no earthly reason for FTR and the Bucks to ever team up, let alone agree to a match MINUTES AFTER they just wrestled their rubber match at Wembley Stadium.
Since so much of the card doesn’t make any sense, I’ll throw logic out for this one. This has a chance to be a really fun house show match. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks kept the t-shirts on for this one and let FTR do most of the leg work. Bullet Club Gold has been great at the lighter moments and this entire match should be a lighter moment. Despite itself, this should work and be a decent amount of fun. For this card, that’s a huge win.
Prediction: Bang Bang Gang
ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe defends against Shane Taylor
God, how good is Samoa Joe? He is, of course, a spectacular talent in every facet of pro wrestling. Whether it’s in the ring, on the mic, or in the commentary booth, he’s as good as it gets. A friend of mine said Joe is firmly in his top three favorite wrestlers of all time. He presented it like it was a hot take, and while it’s certainly on the warmer side, I couldn’t find myself disagreeing.
He’s only had two World title runs, one each in ROH and TNA/Impact, which is astounding. He capped out in WWE with both the NXT and U.S. Championships. It’s a testament to his excellence that he can be so revered, and such a legend without a ton of formal ‘top of the card’ success.
Prediction: Samoa Joe retains
Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)
Imagine having Shibata on your PPV and announcing it on Twitter at 10:30 at night four days before the show. What, and I can’t stress this enough, are we doing here? Every match Shibata has is a miracle and should be a special event. It should be heavily promoted as the big deal it is. It should not be relegated to a Twitter announcement.
The real draw here, though, is another interaction between Kingston and Castagnoli. The two can barely be in the same city, let alone ring, without wanting to kill each other. The power of their hatred could reignite a dying star. I hope that this is the beginning of the long-awaited end to this feud. It deserves a proper blow-off and I don’t mean at Final Battle. It should be on the biggest stage it can be with as many eyes on it as possible. TK, my boy, I don’t ask for much, but please put that on Wrestle Dream or Full Gear instead of relegating it to one of the ROH properties.
Prediction: Kingston and Shibata
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Ruby Soho
Statlander came back, beat Jade Cargill, and then…just kind of hung out? A multi-year undefeated streak ended, and the (more than a) woman who ended it, feels just like she always has. This was one of the easiest opportunities to make a star. The whole point of a streak like that is to immediately make someone and rocket them to the main event level. Statlander was a perfect pick for that. They nailed the hard part, which is picking the star, and to not capitalize on it is, at best, negligent, and, at worse, is yet another reflection of where the women’s division stands in the eyes of the AEW booking team.
This match should be very good. It’s a nice mix of styles and Soho has more TV wrestling experience than just about any woman on the roster. Statlander always works best with a stable, veteran presence that can take the lead in a match. That’s exactly what Soho is great at. She’ll make Statlander look like the star she should be. Hopefully, this reignites her momentum and gets her ready for more than just the TBS Championship.
Prediction: Statlander retains
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
This is one of the few matches that belongs on a Sunday pay-per-view and not just a special episode of Dynamite. Their resumes speak for themselves. Up until this year, Moxley was the forever MVP of AEW. Whenever they needed someone for something, for anything really, Mox was always on speed dial. It kind of became a joke that he’d never be able to take a long overdue vacation.
But during all that something funny happened. Cassidy won the International Championship and made it mean something. This is a serious title now thanks entirely to him and the work that he’s put in during his reign. There have been many times when I thought he’d drop the belt, but it hasn’t happened. What has happened is that Cassidy is, without a doubt, on the shortlist for wrestler of the year, and if we voted today, he would have my vote. Week in, week out regardless of opponent, he is putting on main event caliber matches while having main event caliber injuries. He’s the MVP of AEW.
MJF might be at the top of the card, and others might have more name recognition, but somehow a guy who wrestles in denim joggers and doesn’t have a catchphrase, became the most important performer in the entire company. Whenever he loses the title, he deserves the vacation that Moxley still hasn’t taken.
As good as this title reign has been, it’s missing one signature defense. A win over Moxley would cap off one of the best runs with a title in AEW, and firmly establish Cassidy as one of the actual pillars of AEW.
Last Sunday, it was the highest of highs for AEW as they packed in 81,000+ into London’s Wembley Stadium for All In which was, by all accounts, a major win for the company and for the business in general for those willing to move past their AEW hatred.
But the focus on that mega-event has resulted in Sunday’s All Out — AEW’s 21st-ever domestic PPV — feeling like the most skippable one. Considering the prestige this show has had in past years, it’s a major turn for the company.
On this week’s Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, myself and AEW preview specialist Mike DellaCamera look at this eight-day stretch between shows and try to parse out how this happened and what to make of the lineup for All Out (prior to anything new revealed on Collision.)
Was All In just too much of a focus? Why is CM Punk not to fully blame? Is Tony Khan fine with taking a mulligan on Sunday considering the success of All In? All that and more is discussed.
