With Bryan Alvarez having a sick day, Wrestling Observer Live with myself and special guest “Filthy” Tom Lawlor is back and, as always, there’s a lot to get into.
Wednesday night’s AEW Dynamite set the table for much of what we’ll be seeing coming up this weekend at All Out. We look at the card.
Plus, CM Punk receives the Iron Mike Mazurki Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club, our thoughts on adult and/or seasonal beverages, and so much more!
Orange Cassidy will officially defend the AEW International title at All Out.
Cassidy successfully defended the title against Penta El 0 M on Wednesday’s Rampage. As a result, Cassidy will now move to All Out this Sunday in Chicago, where he will face Jon Moxley.
After Cassidy won on Wednesday, he cut a promo in the ring saying he doesn’t talk much but he said he was hurt, and with each title defense the backpack was getting a little heavier. But he told Moxley that he was going to need more than a fork to beat him. Moxley came to the ring and the two had a staredown to close the show.
The Blackpool Combat Club have been targeting Best Friends in recent weeks. At Sunday’s All In in Wembley Stadium, Cassidy teamed with Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor, Eddie Kingston, and Penta El 0 M to defeat The Blackpool Combat Club, Santana, and Ortiz in a Stadium Stampede match. During the All In media scrum, it was announced that Moxley would face the winner of the International title match on Dynamite at All Out.
Here is the updated card for All Out in Chicago on Sunday:
AEW International title: Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
TBS Championship: Kris Statlander defends against Ruby Soho
TNT Championship: Luchasaurus vs. Darby Allin
ROH Tag Team titles: Adam Cole & MJF defend against winners of a battle royal on Rampage
ROH Television title: Samoa Joe defends against Shane Taylor
Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta
Cassidy and Penta were on the same team for Sunday’s Stadium Stampede victory as well as in a trios match on Saturday’s Collision. This will be their second-ever singles match and first since an April 2021 Dynamite.
In either case, the champion will have recent history with Moxley. Cassidy has been involved with Moxley for several weeks as he and his Best Friends teammates have feuded with the Blackpool Combat Club while Penta recently competed in a three-way with Moxley and Trent Beretta from Best Friends in an anything goes match.
Cassidy and Moxley have never had a singles match while Moxley and Penta have had two.
Here’s the current lineup for All Out:
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy or Penta El Zero Miedo defend against Jon Moxley
TNT Champion Luchasaurus defends against Darby Allin
Miro vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Ruby Soho
An Orange Cassidy International title defense has been announced for next week’s AEW Dynamite.
It was announced on Saturday’s Collision that Cassidy will defend the title this coming Wednesday on Dynamite, the show following AEW All In at Wembley Stadium and the go-home show for AEW All Out, which takes place next Sunday in Chicago. It wasn’t said who Cassidy will be facing.
At All In, Orange Cassidy is set to team with Best Friends, Eddie Kingston, and Penta El 0 M against The Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta) and Santana & Ortiz.
Since winning the International title, Orange Cassidy has consistently been defending the championship across all of AEW’s shows. Recent title defenses has seen Cassidy defeat the likes of Swerve Strickland, Lance Archer, AR Fox, Johnny TV, Wheeler Yuta, and Aaron Solo, the latter of which took place on Friday’s Rampage.
This coming week’s edition of Dynamite will be airing live at the NOW Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
The final stop before Sunday’s AEW All In has arrived with Saturday’s AEW Collision from Duluth, Georgia.
The headliner will be an all star eight-man tag team match which will see “Real World’s Champion” CM Punk team with Sting, Darby Allin & a mystery partner against Jay White, Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage & Luchasaurus with Samoa Joe on commentary.
Ahead of their participation in a Stadium Stampede match Sunday, Orange Cassidy, Penta El Zero Miedo will face The Butcher, The Blade & Kip Sabian.
Jack Perry is claiming he will retire the FTW title on tonight’s show.
Dark Order’s John Silver & Alex Reynolds will return to AEW TV as they face Darius Martin & Action Andretti.
Owen Hart women’s tournament winner Willow Nightingale will take on Robyn Renegade.
Two big men will be in singles action as both Keith Lee and Big Bill will compete against opponents to be named.
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Kevin Kelly and Caprice Coleman – filling in for Nigel McGuinness – welcomed us to Collision, less than 12 hours before All In Wembley.
The Funeral of the FTW Championship
FTW Champion Jack Perry made his way to the ring, with pallbearers bringing out the FTW Title on a black stand. Oh, like Paul Bearer. I just got the pun. Perry has grown fond of the FTW Title, noting that in 100 years, he will be the legacy of FTW. He played a video of the fun times he has had with the championship, showing him showering and biking with the title belt.
Perry said that it was time to send the title to a better place, pulling out a sledgehammer. The lights went out, with a video of Hook playing on the screen. Hook said that the title was his bloodline, and he was coming to take it back. When the lights came up, Hook was behind Perry in the ring. Hook ducked a sledgehammer shot and threw Perry around the ring before hitting a T-Bone suplex through a table in the corner. Hook took the mic and simply said “Wembley. Sunday.”
The FTW Title match between Perry & Hook was shown to be signed for the All In Zero Hour.
We got a video package covering the history between MJF & Adam Cole and their All In main event.
Eddie Kingston, Orange Cassidy & Penta El Zero Miedo (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Kip Sabian, The Butcher, & The Blade (w/Penelope Ford)
After shenanigans with Penta, Sabian, Abrahantes, & Ford, the match quickly broke down into a Pier Six brawl. Penta was outnumbered by Butcher and Blade but was able to hit a running Death Valley Driver on Blade into Butcher in the corner. Sabian crotched Penta in the corner before Cassidy dived onto him.
After an exchange in the ring, Sabian feigned a dive before baiting Cassidy into a double team from Butcher and Blade. Butcher cut Cassidy off with a knee to the back, leading to a Sabian cannonball in the corner. The rudos clubbered Cassidy as we went to commercial.
Cassidy was still fighting to the corner as we came back from the break. Cassidy made the tag to Penta, who ran wild until Butcher cut him off with a boot. Butcher asked for Kingston to tag in, and Kingston obliged. They ran at each other until Butcher got knocked into the corner, with Sabian tagging in. The match broke down again, with Cassidy taking out Butcher and Blade. The match ended with Kingston hitting a sliding lariat on Sabian to score the win.
We came back with the Best Friends in the ring with their teammates for All In. Trent Beretta was upset at the disrespect the Blackpool Combat Club showed his mother, so they’re going to Wembley to take them out. Orange Cassidy took the mic from Kingston, but before he spoke, the Blackpool Combat Club, Santana & Ortiz appeared on the screen. Santana said he spent a year on the shelf, which is when he found out who his real friends were. Castagnoli said that Kingston blamed everyone but himself for his issues. Ortiz said that everyone gets what they deserve.
Kingston walked to the back to find them, but they had already left. Kingston said that he understood what Santana and Ortiz did, but he would gut them all the same. He told Moxley to stay out of his way. He said that he would bury Yuta and that he would save Castagnoli for last. Kingston said that he would burn Claudio and scar him for life.
We got a video package with sitdown interviews between The Young Bucks & FTR. The Bucks talked about creating the FTR name, with a different meaning at first. Dax Harwood said that they came to AEW for the match against the Bucks and that FTR would prove that they were the better team at Wembley.
Alex Reynolds & John Silver defeated Action Andretti & Darius Martin
After some early work, Andretti and Martin double-teamed Reynolds to gain an advantage. Silver got a blind tag in before picking up Andretti on a jackknife pin and powerbombing him onto Reynolds’ knees. Dark Order hit a double-team dropkick on Andretti and posed as we went to commercial.
Andretti fought to make the tag to Martin as we came back from the break. Martin ran wild, dropping both Reynolds and Silver with a neckbreaker/DDT combination. Andretti tagged in and hit a shotgun dropkick that sent Reynolds into a German suplex from Martin for a nearfall. Andretti hit a springboard 450 for a nearfall that was broken up by Silver. Silver ran wild with kicks before an elevated uppercut took Andretti out. Reynolds and Silver hit their strike combination on Martin to score the win.
We cut to an interview from Wednesday with Darby Allin & Nick Wayne. They were quickly joined by AR Fox, who explained to Wayne that his actions were out of panic. He was afraid he had let everyone down, so he joined up with the Mogul Affiliates. Fox said that he lost his father too, and while he couldn’t give him his blood back, he’d give him his word. Wayne walked away without a word, while Allin told Fox that he knew he was sorry. I’m glad they came back to that point, and I’m glad that Wayne stood up for himself here.
We got a music video with The Acclaimed dissing the House of Black. The song was about getting knocked down and getting back up again. My favorite bar was “blowin’ up the House of Black like Oppenheimer.”
We got a promo for the four-way Women’s Title match at Wembley, with words from Hikaru Shida, Britt Baker, Saraya, & Toni Storm.
Big Bill (w/Ricky Starks) defeated Vary Morales
Big Bill dropped Morales with a gorilla press slam before swinging him around with a hair mare. A big splash and a big boot followed before Big Bill scored the win with a massive chokeslam.
After the match, Ricky Starks grabbed the mic and praised Morales, saying that he reminded him of a young Steamboat. He reminded everyone what he did to Steamboat by whipping Morales. He said that he would be back next week with a bigger strap before whipping Morales until referees pulled him away.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Ruby Soho. Ruby officially challenged Kris Statlander for her TBS Title at All Out in Chicago, saying that while Statlander was more than a woman, she would always be less than an Outcast.
Nightingale was in firm control early, dropping Renegade with a back elbow and a low crossbody for a nearfall. Nightingale hit two of the three amigos, before hitting a fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Renegade bailed out to confer with her sister before Nightingale booted Charlette. She went to boot Robyn, but Robyn caught the leg and swept her down on the apron as we went to commercial.
Nightingale fought out of a chinlock as we came back from the break. She hit the main event spinebuster for a nearfall. Nightingale sent Renegade into the corner, but Renegade bailed out of the way on a cannonball. Renegade hit a missile dropkick for a nearfall before booting Nightingale off of the apron. Nightingale came back by suplexing both of the Renegades on the floor before hitting Robyn with the Babe With The Powerbomb for the win.
We got a video package of the AEW stars taking over London. Saraya was on a talk show, and Chris Jericho brought Fozzy to Europe.
We got a video package hyping the Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Miro match for All Out in Chicago.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with TBS Champion Kris Statlander. Statlander says that she’s tired of the Outcasts and their shenanigans before accepting Ruby Soho’s challenge for All Out in Chicago.
Keith Lee defeated Zicky Dice
Dice slapped Lee in the face and hit him with forearms before Lee pounced him across the ring. Lee popped Dice up and hit a massive powerbomb for the win.
We got an update on Preston Vance and Dralistico, who we last saw being kidnapped in Mexico at the behest of Rush & Jose The Assistant. Vance and Dralistico were being beaten bloody but fought back and fought off their assailants. Jose came in, pleased at the violence as we saw that this story would be continued.
Samoa Joe came out to the ring. He was told by AEW management that if he interfered in this main event, he would jeopardize his match against CM Punk at Wembley. Joe says that in order to help with that, he’ll join the commentary desk so that everyone can see where he is and what he is doing. He said that while Punk hid under a mask like a coward to jump him last week, Joe would give him the ass-kicking he deserved at Wembley.
We got a rundown of the All In Wembley card, with Jack Perry vs. Hook being made under FTW Rules. They announced that Orange Cassidy would defend the AEW International Title next week on Dynamite in Chicago if he was physically able to do so.
CM Punk, Darby Allin, Hook & Sting defeated Brian Cage, Swerve Strickland, Jay White & Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage & Prince Nana)
This was a fun mix of names in the Collision main event, making for a wild scene going into All In.
Punk started the match with Strickland. Punk caught Strickland on a leapfrog, teasing a Go To Sleep, before Strickland slipped away and tagged in White. White asked for Punk to tag in Sting, but dropped Punk as we went to tag out. Punk dropped White with a back suplex before tagging Hook, who fired up with body shots. Allin tagged in and went to work on White’s arm before Punk came in to continue the work.
White slipped away before Sting could get in on the arm party, tagging Luchasaurus. Allin tagged in Sting, who helped him hit splashes on Luchasaurus. Punk tagged in but got goozled on a splash attempt. Punk fought away, but the combination of Nana and Cage on the outside allowed Luchasaurus to get the advantage.
White was working on Punk as we came back from commercial break. A backbreaker on Punk scored a nearfall before White tagged in Strickland. Swerve clubbered on Punk before going for a Swerve Stomp attempt. Punk moved out of the way and tagged Hook, who ran wild on Strickland with judo throws and suplexes. White clawed at Hook from the apron, allowing Swerve to send him to the floor. There, White and Cage threw Hook into the barricades. Cage tagged in and beat on Hook as we went to break.
We came back from the commercial with Cage sending Hook up and over with a fallaway slam. Hook came back with a T-Bone suplex, then a vertical suplex when Cage tried to cut off a tag. White and Punk tagged in, with Punk running wild. Punk hit rising knees on both Strickland and White before dropping them with a bulldog/clothesline combination.
Punk hit an elbow drop on White before going for a GTS. Strickland got involved, with the match breaking down into a Pier Six brawl. Cage ended up the legal man and ended up getting caught with a Go To Sleep. Punk looked square at Samoa Joe at commentary before locking on the Coquina Clutch. Cage tapped out, with Joe noting that the match officially ended then. Joe attacked Punk, Darby attacked Luchasaurus, Jack Perry came out to attack Hook. All hell broke loose, with chairs and kendo sticks being used. Perry and Hook brawled in the crowd as Joe dropped Punk with his World Title as we faded to black.
Several new matches were announced for Saturday’s AEW Collision — the go-home for Sunday’s All In.
Keith Lee returns to action for the first time since the August 2nd Rampage. He last was seen teaming with The Hardys vs. The Butcher, The Blade & Kip Sabian.
Big Bill will also be in action, managed by Ricky Starks.
Willow Nightingale will take on Robyn Renegade while Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver face Darius Martin & Action Andretti.
The additions joins the previously announced all star eight-man tag team match featuring CM Punk, Sting, Darby Allin and a mystery partner vs. Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Jay White & Luchasaurus, and a trios match with Orange Cassidy, Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo teaming up.
Here’s the updated card for Saturday which was taped after Dynamite this past Wednesday:
Sting, Darby Allin, CM Punk & a mystery partner vs. Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Luchasaurus & Jay White
Willow Nightingale vs. Robyn Renegade
Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. Darius Martin & Action Andretti
Eddie Kingston, Penta El Zero Miedo & Orange Cassidy vs. Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade
Two title defenses and a women’s tag team match highlight the final AEW Rampage before this Sunday’s All In.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will attempt to secure his 30th title defense as he takes on QTV’s Aaron Solo. Cassidy will be in action Sunday as part of his first-ever Stadium Stampede match.
The AAA Latin American title will be defended for the first time on AEW TV as champion QT Marshall defends against Gravity. Marshall will also take time for a sit-down interview with Jim Ross.
Ahead of their four-way for the AEW Women’s title on Sunday, reigning champion Hikaru Shida will team with former champion Britt Baker to take on former champion Toni Storm & Saraya.
Reigning TNT Champion Luchasaurus will be in non-title action against an opponent to be named. His next challenge will come in the “all star” eight-man tag team main event of Saturday’s Collision.
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An In Memoriam graphic for Windham Rotunda opened the show.
Taped in Lexington, Kentucky.
Excalibur and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Orange Cassidy defeated Aaron Solo (w/ Harley Cameron) to retain the AEW International Title (9:12)
Kinda weird the International Title isn’t being defended on AEW’s second-ever international pay-per-view.
Tony Schiavone doesn’t understand why Aaron Solo is spraying his mouth with the breath spray, which kinda makes me feel bad for Tony’s wife. Cassidy worked a side headlock. Solo countered with a head scissors, which Cassidy escaped with a headstand. Cassidy put his hands in his pockets. Cassidy impressively gave Solo a hip toss while his hands were in his pockets. The fight went to the floor, where Solo used Cameron as a human shield. Cassidy gave her the “high impact” kicks, ducked a clothesline from Solo and hit a running tope. Cameron tripped up Cassidy to allow Solo to hit a modified uranage going into the split-screen break.
After the break, Solo and Cassidy were battling over a vertical suplex. Cassidy sent Solo headfirst into the turnbuckles, then came off the top rope with a crossbody. Lots of counter-wrestling from both guys, until Cassidy hit a Slumdog Millionaire and a spinning DDT for a near fall. Cameron started singing into the house mic, distracting Cassidy to allow Solo to hit a spinning kick. Solo followed up with a terrible looking suplex for a near fall. Solo came off the top with a double stomp for another near fall. Solo got Cameron’s boot and hit Cassidy with it for another near fall. Cassidy countered a pedigree attempt, then hit the Orange Punch and Beach Break to get the pinfall. This was fine, as Cassidy’s storied International title run continues.
– JR conducted a sit-down interview with new AAA Latin American champion QT Marshall. Marshall puts the “pro” in “professional wrestler” and wanted to dispel the notion that his relationship with Tony Khan gives him opportunities others dont get. After all, he had to go to another company to get a championship. He’s not just simply a guy who latches himself onto other guys like Cody Rhodes and Powerhouse Hobbs. Also why isn’t there a QT Marshall an action figure, but his mother can order 150,000 Excalibur figures? This was a good promo from Marshall.
– Promo for Samoa Joe/CM Punk at All In on Sunday.
QT Marshall defeated Gravity to retain the AAA Latin American Championship (8:46)
An updated look and presentation for Marshall, which emphasizes the pride Marshall has representing Mexico as a AAA champion. Marshall and Gravity exchange promos in Spanish before the match. Gravity started out fast with a tope con hilo that looked like it could have gone very badly. Marshall caught Gravity coming off the top with a forearm, then powerbombed him against the ring apron.
Marshall put Gravity down with a forearm. Gravity caught Marshall with a couple of pin attempts for near falls. Gravity countered a powerbomb attempt with a Canadian Destroyer for another near fall. Marshall caught Gravity with a combination backbreaker/flatliner. Gravity countered a powerbomb attempt with a rana, and hit a series of superkicks. Gravity used his brother Bandido’s 21-plex for another close near fall.
Marshall came back with a short-arm lariat. Marshall set up a diamond cutter from the top (Gravity was in a superplex position), but Gravity escaped. Now, Marshall was in the superlex position and Gravity Samoan-dropped him from the middle rope for another near fall. Marshall caught Gravity with a pop-up cutter, then finished him with the “Dirt Sheet Driver” (a vertical suplex into a sit-out powerbomb) and got the pinfall. Between the promo and the match, this was an excellent showcase for Marshall.
– The Dark Order cut a promo. They are back to being bad guys after Death Before Dishonor, last month’s ROH pay-per-view.
Luchasaurus defeated R. Jones (1:12)
Luchasaurus is the TNT champion, but he did not wear his belt to the ring. Chokeslam and a clothesline to the back of the end finished off Jones.
After the match, Christian was shown watching the match with the TNT Championship belt over his shoulder.
– All In promo for Adam Cole v. MJF.
– Rundown for Collision: new matches added were the return of Keith Lee and Alex Reynolds & John Silver v. Darius Martin & Action Andretti. Maybe Willow Nightingale v. Robyn Renegade, if that wasn’t announced on Wednesday.
– Excalibur also ran down the cards for All In and All Out, but nothing new was announced.
Saraya & Toni Storm (w/ Ruby Soho) defeated Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D & Hikaru Shida (11:52)
The heels attacked before the bell. Baker and Saraya fought in the ring and Storm and Shida fought on the floor. Soho tripped up Baker from the outside and Saraya took control. Storm hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. Saraya drove her knee into Baker’s midsection. Storm sent Baker to the floor with a hip attack. Soho pounded on Baker on the outside until TBS Champion Kris Statlander ran in and attacked Soho, then carried her to the back to even things up.
After a split-screen break, Storm taunted Shida with the Women’s World title belt, and Baker was still being worked over by the heels. Baker caught Storm with a neckbreaker and finally got the tag to Shida. Shida hit a jumping knee strike while the fans chanted “let’s go Shida!” Shida suplexed Saraya on Storm (say that five times fast) for a near fall. Storm and Shida exchanged forearms, and Shida caught Storm with a enziguri. Baker tried to run and hit a rolling elbow, but Storm caught her with a German suplex.
Saraya tossed Baker back into her corner and forced Baker to tag back into the ring. Storm hit another hip attack on Baker. Baker took a double-team powerbomb for another near fall, and soon all four women were down. They got back on their feet and started lugging it out. Shida hit Saraya with a Falcon Arron, and Baker gave Saraya the Twist and Shout for another near fall. Storm went to use the spray paint on Baker, but Shida saved Baker and took the spray paint instead. Shida, blinded, accidentally hit Baker, and Saraya hit her finish on Baker (the Nightcap, formerly the Rampaige) for the pinfall. This was clunky.
As the show went off the air, Shida was still blinded on the floor, and Storm and Saraya engaged in a tug of war over the AEW World Women’s championship belt.
Final Thoughts:
QT Marshall’s match and promo was a revelation tonight. They need to get rid of the QTV nonsense and give Marshall a more serious push. Nothing was at the level of last week’s opener, but the first two matches were good enough to make it a worthwhile hour.
A match that will set the stage for All In will main event Friday’s AEW Rampage as Britt Baker & AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida take on Saraya & Toni Storm.
The four participants will compete in a four-way Sunday for Shida’s championship.
After Shida defeated Storm for the title, a mini-tournament was created to find participants for the four-way. Storm earned an automatic bye due to her rematch clause while Shida, Baker and Saraya all had to earn their way in.
Rampage will also feature two title matches.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will look to keep his long winning streak going as he defends against Aaron Solo. With a win, Cassidy will hit 30 title defenses. Cassidy will be part of a Stadium Stampede match on Sunday.
AAA Latin American Champion QT Marshall will defend his newly-won championship for the first time on AEW TV as he takes on Gravity. Marshall will also have a sit-down interview with Jim Ross.
TNT Champion Luchasaurus will also be in non-title action against an opponent to be named. He is preparing to defend his title against Darby Allin at next month’s All Out.
Here is the lineup announced for Rampage:
Hikaru Shida & Britt Baker vs. Saraya & Toni Storm
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Aaron Solo
AAA Latin American Champion QT Marshall defends against Gravity
In a most unusual match, Jeff Jarrett will take on Jeff Hardy in a Texas Chain Saw Massacre death match on this Wednesday’s Fight for the Fallen edition of AEW Dynamite.
The match is a sponsorship for the new video game that is aligned with the famous movie. It will be their first singles match since a December 2011 cage match at TNA Final Resolution.
Jarrett told Hardy they should both bring their crews, so there will be plenty of people involved.
In another new bout, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will defend against former partner Wheeler Yuta. Cassidy defeated Johnny TV on Friday’s Rampage to score his 28th title defense while Yuta is still looking for his first run with AEW gold.
Here’s the current card for this Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee:
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Wheeler Yuta
Jeff Jarrett vs. Jeff Hardy death match
MJF & Adam Cole talk about All In
Darby Allin & Nick Wayne vs. Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
Winner advances to AEW All In Women’s title four-way: Britt Baker vs. The Bunny
The AEW International title will be on the line as part of Friday’s AEW Rampage.
Orange Cassidy will be gunning for his 28th title defense as he faces Johnny TV of QTV. The former John Morrison is looking for his first AEW gold of any kind while Cassidy is two months away from a year-long reign as champion.
In the second of three qualifying matches for an AEW Women’s title four-way at All In, Saraya will take on Skye Blue. The winner will join champion Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm who have already qualified with one final match (Britt Baker vs. The Bunny) taking place this Wednesday.
Darby Allin will face Brian Cage of The Mogul Embassy days after it was announced that Allin & Sting will take on the group’s Swerve Strickland & AR Fox in a coffin match at All In.
ROH Tag Team Champions Aussie Open will face The Outrunners in non-title action.
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Taped in Columbus, Ohio.
Tony Schiavone, Chris Jericho and Excalibur were on commentary.
Darby Allin defeated Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana) (10:46)
Allin started out fast with Cage and hit him with a high speed tope, but Cage soon overpowered Allin to take control. On the floor, Cage picked up Allin for a vertical suplex, then walked up the ringsteps and dumped Allin back in the ring. Cage then dead-lifted Allin into a superplex while standing on the middle rope.
The fight went back to the floor. Allin had Cage in a sleeper, and Cage broke the hold by throwing himself and Allin through the time keeper’s table. Cage dumped Allin onto the ring apron with a back suplex.
Cage dominated Allin through the split-screen break. After the break, Cage hit a pair of powerbombs for a near fall. Allin tripped Cage on the ring apron with his belt, then came off the top with a Coffin Drop that sent both guys tumbling to the floor. Back in the ring, Allin hit a code red for a near fall. After interference from Nana, Cage hit the F-10 on Allin, but Cage didn’t hook the leg and Allin kicked out. Cage took Allin up to the middle rope for what looked like a super samoan drop, but Allin countered that into a crucifix bomb. Cage went for a suplex, but Allin caught Cage with a small package to get the pin.
After the match, Luchasaurus ran in and chokeslammed Allin to remind the audience about the only match booked for All Out. Christian (with the TNT belt over his shoulder) watched approvingly on a monitor in the back.
–In the back, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D told Renee Paquette she respects Bunny working hard to come back, but she will beat her next week to take her place in the “historical” women’s title match at All In.
– A brief video package highlighted NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston’s run in the G1 tournament.
Orange Cassidy defeated Johnny TV (with the QTV crew) to retain the International Title (8:25)
Harley Cameron sang the entrance music for Johnny TV. This was Orange Cassidy’s 28th straight successful title defense. Tony Schiavone chided Jericho on commentary for the way the Jericho Appreciation Society abandoned him on Wednesday.
Harley Cameron distracted the referee with her feminine wiles, and the QTV guys entered the ring from all sides to jump Cassidy. Just as they were about to pounce, Cassidy turned the referee around, and he ejected the entire QTV crew from ringside. Wheeler Yuta came out of the crowd to distract Cassidy, and TV caught him with a springboard kick to take control.
During the split-screen break, Wheeler Yuta joined the commentary team. Yuta continued the tradition started by William Regal of calling Excalibur “The Man in the Mask.”
Cassidy went for a tornado DDT, but TV blocked it and hit a neckbreaker for a near fall. TV then hit an even more convoluted neckbreaker for another near fall. TV missed “the Superstation” (his finisher) and Cassidy came off the top with a diving DDT. Cassidy hit the tornado DDT, an Orange Punch adn the Beach Break to get the pinfall.
After the match, Yuta slowly skulked back to ringside, and Cassidy grabbed the house mic to challenge Yuta. Soon the rest of the BCC surrounded the ring. The BCC didn’t attack Cassidy and leave him beaten and bloody (like they could have, according to Yuta), but instead Yuta challenged Cassidy for the International Title at Dynamte in Nashville next week. That should be very good.
– Ian Riccaboni ran down the history of the Ring of Honor World Tag Team championship. This was unintentionally the best commercial for HonorClub they’ve ever done.
ROH World Tag Team Champions Aussie Open defeated The Outrunners (2:12)
The Outrunners are Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd and they’re “channeling the 1980’s” according to their graphic. Aussie Open destroyed the Outrunners. I don’t think the Outrunners got one offensive move the entire match, and Aussie Open won with the Coriolis.
After the match, Aussie Open mocked MJF and Adam Cole (which got the crowd to chant “Double Clothesline!”) and accepted the challenge from MJF and Cole for Zero Hour.
– Jeff Jarrett announced the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre Death Match Championship” as a tie-in to a video game that’s coming out. Leatherface may be at Dynamite for a Death Match between Jeff Jarrett and Jeff Hardy. Spoiler alert: the winner will be Jeff.
Saraya (w/ the Outcasts) v. Syke Blue to qualify for the AEW World Women’s title match at All In.
Blue and Saraya went back and forth exchanging pin attempts early. Blue went for a sunset flip, but Saraya shifted her weight to cradle Blue, which she countered by shifting her weight back, and this went back and forth for a bit. Saraya went to the floor to regroup. Blue tried to follow her out with a cannonball, but Saraya dodged her and Blue hit the floor.
Saraya got all the heat during the split-screen break. Saraya got a near fall after a pair of knees. Saraya then locked in a chinlock. Blue came back with a tijeras and her own running knee for a near fall. Blue escaped a suplex attempt, hit a superkick and caught Saraya with the Code Blue, but Toni Storm distracted the ref. Ruby Soho got Blue’s attention on the other side of the ring and sprayed her in the face with spray paint. Saraya hit her old finisher, the “Rampaige” and got the pinfall. She ended Rampage with a Rampaige! I love it. Excalibur might have called it the “Good Night” instead, which I like a little less but I understand.
After the match, the Outcasts beat up on Saraya to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Happy two-year anniversary for Rampage. This wasn’t as exciting as that first episode two years ago, but it was a perfectly cromulent hour of wrestling.
The following are spoilers for this Friday’s AEW Rampage, taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Columbus, Ohio.
These come courtesy of PWInsider:
Darby Allin defeated Brian Cage. The Mogul Embassy attacked Allin after the match, but Sting made the save. It was announced on Dynamite that Sting & Allin will face Swerve Strickland & AR Fox in a coffin match at this month’s All In.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defeated Johnny TV (John Morrison) to retain the title. After the match, the Blackpool Combat Club came out to stare down Cassidy.
In a four-woman tournament to advance to a four-way AEW Women’s title match at All In, Saraya defeated Skye Blue. Afterward, Toni Storm and Ruby Soho joined in an attack on Blue until Madison Rayne returned to make the save. Rayne has been out of action with an injury.
ROH Tag Team Champions Aussie Open defeated The Outrunners, accepting the challenge from MJF & Adam Cole for All In.
Orange Cassidy will defend the AEW International Championship on this Friday’s Rampage.
As announced during Wednesday’s Dynamite, Cassidy will defend the International title against QTV’s Johnny TV on the Friday, August 11th edition.
Also announced for this week’s Rampage, Darby Allin will be in action against The Mogul Embassy’s Brian Cage. The match stems from an angle during Wednesday’s Dynamite where Allin & Sting battled The Mogul Embassy in an in-ring brawl. Sting & Allin vs. Swerve Strickland & AR Fox in a coffin match has been announced for the Sunday, August 27 All In pay-per-view.
A tournament to determine the participants in the AEW Women’s Championship match at All In will also continue on Rampage as Saraya faces Skye Blue. The winner will be added to a four-way match at All In for the Women’s title.
Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm have already qualified with the winner of next week’s Britt Baker vs. The Bunny bout rounding out the competitors.
Here’s the lineup for this week’s Rampage:
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy defends against Johnny TV
Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage
Winner added to Women’s Championship match at All In: Saraya vs. Skye Blue
Are we starting to see signs of a card for AEW All In?
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed All In on Thursday morning’s Wrestling Observer Radio. With only a few weeks to go until the big show in Wembley Stadium, no matches have been confirmed for the card.
“We are four weeks away from All In and we don’t have any matches yet,” Alvarez pointed out. “We’re still waiting.”
Meltzer said he thought based on Wednesday’s shows that Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley, MJF vs. Adam Cole, and Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Chris Jericho & Konosuke Takeshita were all possible matches. While those may be top matches, for a soon-to-be historical stadium show, there’s something missing.
“I don’t know, man. For 80,000-85,000 seats, I don’t feel a dream match,” Meltzer said.
Meltzer also wondered if UK native Will Ospreay, one of the top wrestling talents in the world, would be able to be on the card.
“It’s a real miss if he’s not on the show,” Meltzer said.
In addition to his active in-ring schedule, Orange Cassidy reportedly has a new role backstage in AEW as well.
According to a report from Fightful Select, the 39-year-old has picked up some additional work as a producer/agent for the company.
Cassidy is said to have produced the recent Big Bill & Brian Cage vs. Matt Sydal & Trent Beretta match on the 7/7 Rampage (taped 7/5). He also produced a recent Kingdom vs. Infantry match in Ring of Honor.
Cassidy is a 19-year pro and made his in-ring debut in 2004.
Cassidy’s reign with the AEW International Championship (formerly the All Atlantic Championship) now sits at 285 days and 26 successful title defenses. He last defended the belt by defeating Lance Archer via count out at Battle of the Belts VII in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. AR Fox will be next to challenge for Cassidy’s title. That match will take place on Wednesday’s edition of Dynamite from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York.
Cassidy was voted “Best Gimmick” in the 2020 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. The highest rated match of his career was against Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door 2022. Our own Dave Meltzer rated the match four and three-quarter stars.
The seventh edition of AEW Battle of the Belts will kick off right after the conclusion of AEW Collision from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Per usual, three title matches will make up the card — all of which are for AEW championships. Additionally, all three are first time ever matchups.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm will defend against Taya Valkyrie, who has been a champion in Impact, AAA and MLW among other places. Storm came out on Friday’s Rampage to ridicule Valkyrie after a victory and ended up getting talked into a title defense instead.
In another match made Friday, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Lance Archer. Archer picked up a victory over Trent Beretta and then called his shot for a title match against Cassidy. Cassidy came out to help his friend, leading to Archer and Roberts stealing his belt and Jansport backpack.
TNT Champion Luchasaurus will have the first defense of his title as he faces Shawn Spears.
**********The night continues with Battle of the Belts VII coming live from Calgary, Alberta, Canada as part of the Calgary Stampede. Ian Riccaboni and Nigel McGuinness are on the call.
We came back to the scene that ended Collision, with Ricky Starks winning the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament over CM Punk. Starks got out of dodge quickly, snatching the trophy out of the hands of special guest Jushin Thunder Liger and bailing. An easy payday for Liger.
AEW International Title Match – Orange Cassidy defeated Lance Archer (w/Jake Roberts) by countout to retain
This was a good opener, as Cassidy used his smarts to survive another defense against a monster of an opponent. A weak finish, but I don’t think they’ll leave this hanging here.
Archer and Cassidy got off to a jump start, with Cassidy jumping Archer during his entrance. Archer brought Cassidy to the top rope and hammered him with a forearm. Archer set up the Blackout, but Cassidy fought out. Archer hit a rising knee to Cassidy on the top rope, then went for the Blackout again. Cassidy slipped down and locked on a sleeper hold. Archer slammed Cassidy down and hit a shoulder block that forced Cassidy to the floor.
Cassidy rolled to the other side of the ring before hitting Jake Roberts with his soft kicks. It baited Archer to his side, but Archer caught Cassidy on a hurricanrana attempt and threw him into the barricade. Archer began flinging security around, allowing Cassidy to dropkick Archer into the barricade. Cassidy began flinging security guards into Archer, but Archer came back up and flung Cassidy into the barricades again. They both beat the ten count into the ring, where Archer hit a big forearm as we went to break.
Back from the break, Cassidy went for a flying DDT, but Archer caught him and flung him across the ring with a suplex. Cassidy tried to hit a Stundog Millionaire, but Archer stuffed it and hit a barge attack. Cassidy went for a satellite DDT, but Archer caught him again. Cassidy went low, hitting a chop block. He got Archer down to his knees and called for the Orange Punch. Archer caught the punch and laid Cassidy out with a Bossman Slam for a nearfall.
Cassidy ducked a lariat and bailed to the floor where Roberts set up the DDT, but Archer stopped him. Cassidy hit a basement dropkick before hitting a DDT on the floor in front of Roberts. Archer got back up on the apron and taunted Cassidy, but Cassidy punched Archer to the floor. Cassidy fell into the ring, where the referee made the ten count. Cassidy wins by countout.
– Tony Schiavone was in the ring and welcomed The Acclaimed. They accepted QTV’s challenge, saying that they would beat them in and out of the Royal Rampage. Bowens then announced that next Saturday on Collision, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn would get a rematch for the AEW Trios Titles against the House of Black. They then scissored with Tony Schiavone as we went to break.
AEW Women’s World Title Match – Toni Storm defeated Taya Valkyrie by satellite interruption to retain
Valkyrie is the hometown babyface here. Storm charged her to start, but Valkyrie fought back and sent Storm to the floor. Valkyrie hit a knee lift to Storm before following up with running knees for a nearfall. Storm hooked Valkyrie over the top rope, forcing her to the floor where she tossed her around with hairmares. Valkyrie came back with a hairmare of her own as we went to break.
Back from break, as Valkyrie avoided a hip attack and fired up on Storm. She hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a one count, but followed with a hip attack of her own for a nearfall. The feed seemed to go out as we abruptly went to commercial. We came back to footage from last week’s Collision, where Julia Hart took on a local competitor. I’m assuming there’s technical problems in Calgary. We cut back in to the commentators welcoming us back, noting that there was a satellite interruption due to storms in the Calgary area. They later told us that Storm retained, showing Ruby Soho interfering and allowing Storm to hit the Storm Zero to win. Well, there you go.
– Tony Schiavone welcomed out Willow Nightingale and Ricky Starks before welcoming out Dr. Martha Hart for the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament ceremony. She gave a nice speech about the history of Calgary to the Hart Family before officially presenting Nightingale and Starks with their commemorative title belts.
AEW TNT Title Match – Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) defeated Shawn Spears to retain
Scorpio Sky was shown watching in the back as the bell rang. Luchasaurus cut Spears off with a big punch as we went to commercial break. Spears hit the ten punches in the corner as we came back from break. He hammered Luchasaurus with short-arm clotheslines before eventually dropping him with one. Spears booted Luchasaurus on the apron before booting his head against the post. Spears chased Cage around ringside, leading to Luchasaurus chokeslamming Spears through a table at ringside.
Luchasaurus brought Spears back into the ring, where Spears reversed a chokeslam into a rollup for a nearfall. Luchasaurus kicked out and hit the chokeslam, but Spears kicked out at two. Christian set up Spears’ chair in the corner, but Luchasaurus ended up going headfirst into the chair. Spears rolled him up, but Luchasaurus kicked out. Spears set up the C4, but Christian distracted him, allowing Luchasaurus to hit the lariat to the back of the head to win and retain the title. Christian celebrated with the title as we faded out.
