Dax Harwood has a opened up on his time in The Pinnacle.
Harwood addressed the AEW faction during the latest episode of FTR with Dax Harwood. He spoke about a promo segment the group had the week after forming in March 2021 and MJF not wanting Tully Blanchard to have time to talk during it.
Harwood said:
Max was the one doing all the talking and Tully was just sitting there. So, I told you the previous week, if you have a manager, the manager has to be a difference maker in your career because if he’s not a difference maker in your career then why is he there?
Me and Cash, we would sacrifice us and sacrifice our ‘cool stuff’ to give something to Tully, always. Whether it was in the match with – we’ll talk about it later – Darby and Sting where Tully was the factor and the reason the match ended. We always gave him time to talk because if we didn’t then our group was dead in the water because then it was just three people together.
So, before this promo, I remember talking to Max and I said, ‘Hey, I think we should allow Tully to do something, some of the talking,’ because that promo was 10 minutes long or whatever. Max was like, ‘No no, I really think I should do all the talking.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but we’ve got one of the greatest talkers of all time, Tully Blanchard, and he’s our manager and he’s the reason we’re all tied together, I think he should say a little something.’ Max didn’t see that my way and so Tully just sat in the back and so did everybody else.
Later in the show, a write-in question asked Harwood if he could go back and change anything from his time in the Pinnacle, what would it be?
Harwood responded:
I wouldn’t have joined it, that would be what I’d change.
Harwood would continue to say that one member of the faction may have felt as though they were “bigger than the group.”
I think one person in the group probably thought that he was bigger than the group, maybe, and probably felt that this was just designed for him, maybe, and maybe he wasn’t the only person that thought that too.
I think, at first, someone and maybe a couple of other people outside of our group too, felt that this was a vehicle for just [MJF] and them. We felt, us and Wardlow, we felt that – and I say us being me, Cash, Spears, and Wardlow – felt that if we all worked together, we could all get over, and we could all get each other over. And obviously Max was going to be the main event guy winning the world belt, we knew that, but we felt that everybody could benefit from this group and, in turn, benefit who we individually work with and, in turn, benefit AEW’s business. It just didn’t pan out that way.
Last week, AEW congratulated some members of its roster who were voted winners in the 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards. However, the company did not acknowledge FTR winning the tag team of the year and did not mention them being involved in the feud of the year with the Briscoes. Harwood also commented on this slight during his podcast.
Harwood said:
I did feel slighted, I can’t lie. It was just because we worked so hard last year and we did, with what I feel was not the best content, not the best effort to maximize our momentum from last year, I feel we did our best to make everything work. For them not to acknowledge us, it hurt me a bit because – and I’m sure Road Dogg will say I’m taking this too seriously – but it did hurt me a bit because I worked so hard last year. Cash and I both worked so extremely hard to make 2022 a year that will go down in the FTR history books.
I’m just so glad that they did at least acknowledge the Briscoes and give Jay that moment to shine.
I started thinking, we are a team that’s got a little bit of buzz about us, we’ve been doing this awhile and we have no clue, they have no clue more importantly, what our future is going to be. So, should I really be upset at the fact that they omitted us? Because I don’t know if I owned the company and I didn’t know if my employee or my talent or whatever was going to be there in a month, would I highlight him or her?
Harwood was then asked to comment on those who think FTR might be working an angle to make it look as though there are bad feelings between them and AEW. He was asked about the possibility of FTR being the jokers in Wednesday’s Tag Team Casino Royale.
I can’t tell you the truth, I wouldn’t want to do that to AEW, I wouldn’t want to do that to us, whatever that truth is. Whether we will be there in the battle royal or not, I wouldn’t want to ruin that for anybody, the fans included. So, I will say, just watch Wednesday and we’ll see.
He continued to say, however, that he was not working an angle when he posted to Twitter about AEW not mentioning FTR’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. Harwood also mentioned that FTR have told AEW they are ready to comeback and would work until their contracts expire in April. He said they haven’t heard back from the company and get the sense they are not very happy with them.
AEW presents a Blood & Guts match on tonight’s Dynamite.
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Daniel Garcia, Jake Hager, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker of the Jericho Appreciation Society will face a Blackpool Combat Club-led team, featuring Club members Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, plus the Club-adjacent trio of Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz.
This will be the Dynamite debut for the newly-signed Claudio, who made his first AEW appearance on Sunday at Forbidden Door.
The TBS Championship will also be on the line in Detroit this evening, as Jade Cargill puts her title and 33-0 record up against Leila Grey.
Orange Cassidy will face Men of the Year/American Top Team member Ethan Page in a match set up on social media via a Dan Lambert promo.
Christian Cage will again speak on tonight’s Dynamite. He addressed his recent turn against Jungle Boy on last week’s Dynamite, and shot an angle with Jungle Boy’s tag team partner, Luchasaurus.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Show Report —
There were two rings set up for Blood & Guts.
Orange Cassidy got a new theme — it’s “Jane” by Jefferson Starship.
Before the match, Dan Lambert, bottle of orange juice in hand, spoke. He said Orange couldn’t match up to a heavyweight like Page before accusing the Best Friends of not having managers’ licenses. The official ejected them before the match started.
Orange Cassidy (w/ Best Friends) defeated Ethan Page (w/ Dan Lambert)
Orange immediately did the hands-in-pockets schtick and landed a tope suicida. Back in, Orange hit a diving crossbody but only got one. Page eventually cut him off with a big shoulder block. He mocked Orange and beat him down with slams and suplexes.
After a commercial, Orange took a high kick and a twisting brainbuster for two. Page went for Ego’s Edge, but Orange countered it by reaching into his pockets. He reversed a second attempt into a hurricanrana and climbed the ropes, but Lambert distracted Orange, allowing Page to turn it into a powerslam for two.
Page flipped off a kid in the crowd, but Orange countered a brainbuster attempt into the stunner before nailing a spinning DDT for a near fall. Orange called for the Orange Punch, but Lambert hopped on the apron, and Orange gave him his light strikes. He took Lambert’s orange juice and spit in his face before hitting two Orange Punches and a body slam (which he had fought hard for in the match) for the win.
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Christian Cage speaks
Tony Schiavone introduced him and brought him out. Christian was asked what he had to say but was drowned out by boos. He was asked by management to come out and apologize for his comments last week, specifically about Jungle Boy’s father. Christian said “Jungle Boy, I’m sorry… your entire family isn’t dead.” He corrected himself to say everyone *except* Jungle Boy’s mother.
Christian said the only good thing about Detroit is that it’s close to Canada. He may have requested a match this week, but it’s not for him.
Luchasaurus came out with new music, gear, and entrance gimmicks.
Luchasaurus (w/ Christian Cage) defeated Serpentico
Serpentico ran right into a headbutt and a German suplex. Luchasaurus planted Serpentico with a facebuster and locked on a nerve hold Snare Trap for the win in under a minute.
– After the match, Christian told Luchasaurus to continue the attack, and he obliged with a chokeslam on the floor.
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Scorpio Sky and Wardlow were backstage for a face to face. Sky said he was the champion for a reason. Wardlow said he didn’t care about American Top Team, he’d beat everyone’s ass, and he’d take home the title. Sky challenged him for the match next week — in a Street Fight.
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Max Caster called Danhausen a “Juggalo” and mocked Flint, MI’s drinking water.
This was billed as Danhausen alongside two mystery partners, and they turned out to be FTR.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & Danhausen defeated Max Caster & The Gunn Club (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) (w/ Billy Gunn & Anthony Bowens)
Austin and Cash started off. Dax and then Danhausen entered the match; when the latter tagged in, the Gunn Club and Caster isolated him in the corner through a commercial. Danhausen eventually escaped to reach Dax. FTR hit stereo rolling Germans to the Gunn Club. Austin hit kind of a neckbreaker, forcing Dax to tag in Danhausen.
The demon waif landed a pump kick on Austin and went for a Go To Sleep. Billy distracted the official and Bowens ran in with the crutch, revealing he’s healed from his injury, but Danhausen avoided the crutch strike which struck Austin. Danhausen covered for the win.
– After the match, Austin shoved Bowens, but Billy defended the Acclaimed and shoved his son back.
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Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh cut a video promo. Dutt and Lethal demanded Joe sign the contract to defend the title at ROH Death Before Dishonor, and Satnam said “Jay’s gonna kill you.”
Jade manhandled Grey right from the start, hitting a fallaway slam and kipping up. Grey fired up with a rising knee, but Jade leveled her with a pump kick before hitting Jaded for the win in just a couple minutes.
– After the match, Hathaway was about to speak, but Jade grabbed the mic and said she was tired of everyone in the back bitching and moaning. She demanded that Hathaway give her some real real competition.
Hathaway said only someone who didn’t even work for AEW had the wherewithal to step up. He called Athena “lazy.” Athena and Kris Statlander ran out and attacked Jade and Hogan, but then Grey surprised them by stopping Athena from hitting the O-Face. Jade and company stood tall.
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The Young Bucks were backstage. They said Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI want a shot at their AEW World Tag Team Championships, but they’ll have to beat them in an Eliminator match first.
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AEW Rampage (6/29) lineup:
Young Bucks vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
Toni Storm vs. Nyla Rose
The Royal Rampage: 20-man battle royal for an Interim AEW World Championship match
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Jim Ross joined commentary as they lowered the cage. William Regal joined commentary during Claudio’s entrance.
Jericho Appreciation Society came out in preposterous matching red outfits.
Kingston had a kendo stick, Santana had a barbed wire bat, and Ortiz had some sick face paint.
It’s classic WarGames rules — staggered entrants, no disqualification, and the match can only be won once everyone has entered the match.
BLOOD & GUTS: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler YUTA), Eddie Kingston, Santana, & Ortiz defeated Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, & Angelo Parker) (w/ Tay Conti)
This was a great WarGames-style match — I’d say about the quality of last year’s. Moxley and Claudio were the real lifeblood of the match, but I have to shout out 2point0 as they were unbelievably consistent glue guys who did everything possible to put their opponents over. Guevara’s stunt was spectacular as expected.
Guevara and Claudio started things off — the bell rang at ten past the hour. Claudio manhandled Guevara and laid in running uppercuts. He continued a gnarly beatdown of Guevara until Guevara climbed to try and escape; Claudio pursued and pulled him down onto the ropes. Guevara sprung on the ropes to escape Claudio and returned fire with a pop-up cutter. Guevara celebrated, allowing Claudio to go for the giant swing, but Garcia was the next entrant and cut Claudio off before a commercial.
Once back, YUTA evened the odds and entered. He crushed Garcia with repeated Germans before doing the same to Guevara. Hager was next in for J.A.S., and he took out YUTA with a slam. The two big men (Claudio and Hager) took out smaller opponents with throws, then faced off in the ring in a rematch of the 2014 Survivor Series kickoff show. Claudio got the upper hand, but the man advantage allowed Garcia to get involved and J.A.S. to take over.
J.A.S. continued to dominate until Moxley came in for his side. He hit the ex-plex on Guevara and took out Garcia. Claudio bulldogged Hager onto a chair. Moxley produced a fork and carved up Garcia’s forehead. Claudio beat down Guevara right in front of Conti. Moxley and YUTA hit a Hart Attack on Garcia, who had a gushing cut on his forehead.
Parker was in next for J.A.S., but his opponents were firmly in control, and he just ran away until they finally cornered him. Claudio crushed him with a gutwrench suplex. Finally, the other J.A.S. members recovered and attacked their opponents with weapons, with Hager smashing Claudio’s ankle with a chair.
Ortiz evened things for his team and ran wild ahead of a break. During said break, Moxley hit a piledriver on Parker onto broken glass, busting him open. Upon return, however, Menard entered the match and smashed his opponents with a chair. Moxley was busted open as well.
There was an obnoxious “we want tables!” chant; thankfully, Santana obliged upon entering the match (in addition to bringing in his barbed wire bat). Santana ran wild but when he hit a uranage on an opponent, he appeared to hurt his leg legitimately. Moxley grabbed skewers and stabbed them into Menard’s forehead, but Menard stopped the attack with a low blow. YUTA and Garcia peppered each other with stiff slaps.
Jericho was his team’s final entrant, and he came in with Floyd the Bat. Ortiz immediately took him out with a DDT and choked him with a chair. There was essentially a parade of big moves, concluded with Cesaro running wild, but Jericho eventually cut him off with a Codebreaker.
The official start of the match occurred when Kingston entered. He casually beat down the J.A.S. with kendo stick shots. Jericho tried to escape the cage but was cornered by Kingston, who smashed him repeatedly with the stick. Kingston produced what appeared to be rubbing alcohol, but was cut off before he could use it. I have to note that Parker had an absolutely disgusting crimson mask at this point.
Blackpool Combat Club’s team was in control, and they powerbombed Hager through a table. Santana was still injured, practically immobile — it looked like a legitimate knee injury. YUTA and Moxley produced multiple bags of thumbtacks as Claudio and Ortiz exposed the ring boards. Moxley suplexed Menard onto the tacks, and Parker was practically strung up by the ankles in a nasty spot. BCC and company were firmly in control ahead of another commercial break.
Once back, Kingston and Jericho were going at it. Kingston got the upper hand, but Jericho took him out with a fire extinguisher. Conti got involved and took out the official, leading to Ruby Soho coming out and brawling with her.
Jericho escaped the structure and climbed on top of it. Kingston pursued him to the top. They fought, leading to Kingston nailing him with the Uraken. Guevara climbed up top too, cutting off Kingston’s attack on Jericho. They were a little aimless for a while; Jericho could audibly be heard calling spots.
In a preposterous and spectacular moment, Kingston hit Guevara with a low blow and tossed him off the top of Blood & Guts through a something like a table at ringside.
After one final commercial, Jericho put Kingston in the Walls on top of the structure. Claudio climbed and booted Jericho to break up the submission. He gave Jericho the giant swing on top of the cage and went for the Sharpshooter, but Menard climbed up and cut him off. Kingston locked Jericho in the Stretch Plum and Claudio applied the Sharpshooter. Menard tapped out, giving BCC’s team the win.
– After the match, Kingston was frustrated because he wanted to tap out Jericho, but Claudio won the match before he could. He also looked like he might be injured as he didn’t really move from a seated position on top of the cage until the very end.
All of BCC’s team except Santana came to the top of the structure to celebrate.
MJF has named the stipulations in order for Chris Jericho to get another match against him.
During tonight’s AEW Dynamite, Jericho and MJF discussed the terms of the deal. MJF said he wanted to take something Jericho did, make Moxley wrestle the entire Inner Circle, and make it better. MJF cited a Greek mythology story called “Labors of Hercules”, saying that Jericho will have five labors, with the first four being members of the Pinnacle. Jericho would have to defeat all four men back-to-back in order to reach the fifth labor, MJF. Jericho accepted the stipulation.
After everything was signed, MJF said the deal would be off if Jericho didn’t shake his hand. Jericho shook his hand, but didn’t let go, instead hitting the Judas Effect, laying out MJF to close out the segment.
Jericho and MJF have feuded ever since MJF turned on The Inner Circle and formed his own group, The Pinnacle. Prior to that, MJF defeated Jericho to join Inner Circle at AEW Full Gear back in November. Once the Pinnacle was formed, The Inner Circle then faced the Pinnacle in a Blood and Guts match back on the May 5th edition of Dynamite. MJF got the win for his team after he threatened to throw Jericho off the cage and to the floor. The Inner Circle surrendered, but MJF threw Jericho off the cage anyway.
Five segments have been announced for this Friday’s Dynamite.
AEW’s social media confirmed that Rhodes will meet with Tony Schiavone for an interview this Friday. The announcement comes as Rhodes lost a tag match this past week, where he teamed with Lee Johnson against QT Marshall and Anthony Ogogo. Marshall ended up pinning Rhodes after Ogogo nailed Rhodes with a punch. Rhodes and Ogogo also met at Double or Nothing last month, where Rhodes picked up the win.
A match was added following AEW Dark: Elevation. In storyline, Matt Hardy has hired Angelico to take out Christian Cage. Christian and Matt Hardy have been feuding since Christian eliminated Hardy from the Casino Battle Royal at Double or Nothing.
Darby Allin and Sting has are also set to make an announcement. This comes after Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky made a challenge to Allin, saying he could find any tag team partner of his choosing except for Sting.
Additionally, The Pinnacle is scheduled to speak following their Stadium Stampede loss at Double or Nothing last month. Lance Archer, who lost to Miro at the same event, is also scheduled for action.
In all, the current card for Dynamite this Friday includes:
Miro vs. Evil Uno of the Dark Order for the TNT title
The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler vs. Eddie Kingston, PAC, and Penta El Zero Miedo
Hangman Page and 10 of The Dark Order vs. Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs
Christian Cage vs. Angelico
Cody Rhodes to make an announcement
Darby Allin and Sting to make an announcement
The Pinnacle to speak following Stadium Stampede loss
Lance Archer in action
Don Callis also mentioned on last week’s Dynamite that he would expose a “conspiracy” between AEW World Champion Kenny Omega on the next episode of Dynamite.
The Inner Circle will remain a unit after winning tonight’s Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing.
After a match that featured brawling all over the TIAA Bank Field stadium, the finish had the action spill back into the Daily’s Place in front of live fans. Sammy Guevara and Shawn Spears were in the ring. After some tense back and forth action. Guevara scored the win after hitting a 630 splash.
The match started with The Inner Circle scaling down from the top of the stadium to the floor. MJF, who arrived at the stadium in a limo, went to hide inside. The rest of The Pinnacle arrived in a truck, and from there the two groups splintered into brawling all over the arena. Jericho paired with MJF, FTR paired with Ortiz and Santana, Wardlow met with Jake Hager and Guevara with Spears. Cameos included head coach of the Jaguars Urban Meyer during a Jericho-MJF scene and Konnan during a FTR-Ortiz and Santana scene.
The two teams have been feuding ever since MJF turned on Jericho and The Inner Circle, forming his own faction. The Pinnacle defeated The Inner Circle in the first ever Blood and Guts match. Jericho and the rest of the Inner Circle wanted another match. MJF then challenged the group to a Stadium Stampede match with the stipulation that if The Inner Circle were to lose, they would disband. Jericho agreed to the match and the stipulation the following week.
The Inner Circle will speak with Tony Schiavone on this Wednesday’s live AEW Dynamite.
The Chris Jericho-led faction has been firmly entrenched in a feud with the MJF-led Pinnacle since MJF turned on the group on the post-Revolution episode of Dynamite. On last week’s show, Jericho defeated FTR’s Dax Harwood in a match that featured Mike Tyson as special ringside enforcer. Jericho announced afterward that the boxing legend was now “an ancillary member” of the group.
A new segment has been announced for next week’s AEW Dynamite.
Jim Ross will sit down with The Pinnacle. This follows events from last week’s Dynamite, where Chris Jericho defeated Dax Harwood despite the interference from the rest of The Pinnacle. Mike Tyson, who was the special ringside enforcer for the match, prevented Cash Wheeler from using Chris Jericho’s bat. That allowed Jericho to pick up the win with the Judas Effect. After the match, Jericho confirmed that Tyson was an auxillary member of The Inner Circle.
The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle have been feuding since The Pinnacle’s formation, with MJF forming a group with FTR, Tully Blanchard, Wardlow, and Shawn Spears after he was ousted from The Inner Circle. The two groups will meet in a Blood and Guts match on May 5.
Also announced for next week’s Dynamite:
Darby Allin vs. Jungle Boy for the TNT title
Hikaru Shida vs. Tay Conti for the AEW World Women’s title
Mike Tyson was a special enforcer for a Chris Jericho-Dax Harwood match that took place tonight on Dynamite.
Tyson took part in the finish of the match, where members of The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle were brawling. Cash Wheeler took Jericho’s baseball bat and went to attack Jericho but Tyson punched out Wheeler before he could attack. Jericho then escaped from a powerbomb attempt by Harwood and hit the Judas Effect for the win.
After the match, Jericho announced that Tyson was an official auxiliary member of The Inner Circle.
Two segments aired earlier in the show showing both Jericho and MJF talking to Tyson, who emphasized in both segments that he would call the action right down the middle. He went as far as to reject a blank check that MJF had given him.
Tyson re-appeared in AEW last week, assisting Jericho as he was being beaten down by members of The Pinnacle. Jericho explained tonight that he apologized to Tyson for their brawl that took place last year after MJF turned on Jericho.
Mike Tyson appeared on AEW Dynamite tonight, aligning himself with The Inner Circle.
Earlier in the show, Jericho and The Inner Circle came out to issue a Blood and Guts match challenge to The Pinnacle. Later backstage, The Pinnacle retaliated and attacked Jericho as he was cutting a promo. They barricaded the Inner Circle’s locker room door and took Jericho to ringside where they continued their attack. It was at that moment that Tyson came out and helped Jericho, taking down Shawn Spears. The rest of the Inner Circle broke down their door and made it to the ring to clear the ring.
It was later announced that Tyson would appear on next week’s Dynamite as a special enforcer for a match between Chris Jericho and Dax Harwood.
Tyson appeared for the promotion last May, confronting Jericho along with a group of MMA friends that included Rashad Evans, Henry Cejudo, and Vitor Belfort. That show ended in a brawl between members of Tyson’s group and The Inner Circle.
AEW’s first-ever Blood and Guts match will take place next month.
Chris Jericho and the rest of the Inner Circle (Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana, and Ortiz) appeared on Dynamite tonight and challenged MJF and The Pinnacle (Shawn Spears, Wardlow, and FTR) to a Blood and Guts match on the Wednesday, May 5 episode of Dynamite. Similar to a WarGames match, Blood and Guts will feature two rings enclosed in a steel cage, with wrestlers coming in during timed intervals.
The Blood and Guts match was originally scheduled to debut with members of The Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and Cody Rhodes) taking on members of The Inner Circle on the March 25, 2020 edition of Dynamite. However, that event was postponed following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his promo tonight, Jericho said that he brought MJF into The Inner Circle to keep him down, but he didn’t expect to be outsmarted. He said that MJF is not as good as he thinks he is and will never be better than Jericho. Jericho then made the Blood and Guts match for May 5.
MJF has announced his stable will be going by the name The Pinnacle.
The new name was established during tonight’s episode of Dynamite. Tully Blanchard mentioned that after they attacked and laid out The Inner Circle last week, they reached the pinnacle of the sport after climbing the mountiantop. MJF referenced Blanchard’s phrase later in the segment, establishing the name.
MJF’s new stable arrived at the end of last week’s Dynamite. Consisting of himself, Blancard, Shawn Spears. FTR, and Wardlow, they proceeded to destroy The Inner Circle, including Sammy Guevara, who realigned himself with the group during the segment. The Pinnacle cemented the beatdown by laying out Jericho with a powerbomb off the stage and onto a platform. None of the Inner Circle appeared on tonight’s episode of Dynamite.
In one of the final segments before tonight’s main event, The Pinnacle walked over to The Inner Circle’s locker room and removed the name plate and putting up their own, making the locker room theirs.
Ring of Honor has put out the first episode of their new webseries, The Pinnacle, on their YouTube page. You can see the episode below.
The video, produced by Lightning One (who are also behind the NWA’s Ten Pounds of Gold series) mainly focuses on what Ring of Honor is and how it differentiates itself from other promotions. Founded in 2002, ROH initially focused on in-ring wrestling, with stars such as Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, CM Punk and others becoming stars in the WWE. The video continued to push this, emphasizing in the in-ring wrestling as well as the Code of Honor.
Notable stars such as Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, The Briscoes, Jay Lethal, and Flip Goron among others talked about their Ring of Honor experience and why they feel ROH stands out from others.
It also plugged the upcoming Final Battle card which will take place on December 14. Cody will challenge Jay Lethal for the ROH title in the main event.
