Former AEW World Champion MJF is once again returning to the indies for a match, this time against fellow AEW roster member QT Marshall.
MJF will face Marshall as part of Boca Raton (Florida) Championship Wrestling’s Festival of Fights on Sunday, December 15th. The former champion will also host a ticketed meet and greet before the event.
This will be MJF’s first U.S. indie match since his appearance for Create-A-Pro Wrestling in May 2023. Since returning from an extended absence earlier this year, he has also wrestled for RevPro in the UK and CMLL in Mexico in addition to AEW.
Despite their lengthy careers, the two men have only shared the ring twice and competed against each other in a singles match just once — that being on the 2020 Jericho Cruise.
While Marshall is preparing for his televised AEW in-ring return as part of November’s Full Gear against Costco Guy A.J., he routinely works indie shows in addition to dark matches for AEW.
One of social media’s biggest breakout stars of 2024 is officially set to make his AEW debut.
AEW has confirmed that AJ Befumo — a former indie wrestler who has gained famed on TikTok — will step back into the ring against QT Marshall on the Full Gear pre-show next month. Befumo has signed a one-match deal with AEW and, earlier this month, challenged Marshall to face him at Full Gear.
The pay-per-view is being held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, November 23.
“You wanted to do this for free on the Zero Hour, in front of all your friends and family. Well, AJ, just because you think that New Jersey is your hometown — I got another thing coming for you,” Marshall said in a promo. “New Jersey, I was born. New Jersey, I was raised. And in New Jersey, at Full Gear, I’m going to beat you. I’m going to embarrass you. I’m going to prove to you that 20 years ago when you walked away from professional wrestling and passed the torch to me, QT Marshall, you made the absolute right decision of your life.
“And I’m going to send you back to TikTok land. I’m going to embarrass you in front of your friends, your family, in front of Big Justice. Because AJ, you’re going to bring the boom — but QT Marshall is going to bring the doom.”
Befumo went by the name Eric Justice in his past career as an indie wrestler. He’s billed as Big Boom AJ for this match against Marshall.
On TikTok, Befumo and his son Big Justice (Eric Befumo) have become known as the “Costco Guys,” filming their trips to the wholesale store and expressing their love for Costco’s chicken bake and double chunk chocolate cookie.
They went viral with their song “We Bring the Boom” this summer.
Big Justice will be in Befumo’s corner for the Full Gear match.
Here’s what’s been announced for Full Gear so far:
The much-anticipated AEW debut of A.J. from the Costco Guys appears to be taking place in a familiar spot for the viral social media star.
In a promo released by indie Coastal Championship Wrestling on Saturday, A.J. Befumo said he wants to face QT Marshall at November’s AEW Full Gear pay-per-view from Newark, New Jersey.
Befumo went after Marshall, the reigning CCW Champion, during the indie show last week which is what helped set up his challenge. He attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey and lives in Boca Raton, Florida, with the other well-known members of his family.
In late-September, Befumo, a former indie wrestler, revealed he signed a one-match deal with AEW and in early-October, he shot an angle during a Barstool Sports appearance with Marshall, a fellow New Jersey native, who turned on him and said he would be his opponent after a history that dates back years.
When confirmed, it will be Marshall’s first AEW action since a late-July dark match and first televised bout since August 2023.
Befumo became a TikTok star along with his son this year, garnering over 1.3 million followers for the song “We Bring The Boom!” The two are major fans of the Costco stores and two items in particular that includes the aforementioned double chocolate chunk cookies and chicken bakes.
BIG BOOM AJ arrived at BASH 45 last week in Miami and answered the challenge of QT Marshall! đź’Ą
AJ is a former independent wrestler who performed under the name Eric Justice in the late 90s and early 2000s. He became a star on TikTok along with his son Erik (aka Big Justice) earlier this year due to the success of their song, “We Bring The BOOM!”
Earlier this week, he announced he signed a one-match contract to come out of retirement and wrestle in AEW. He and Big Justice were at Barstool Sports’ studios recently when Marshall revealed he wants to be A.J.’s opponent.
“I’m going to embarrass you. It’s going to be me vs. you. One of the good things about being Vice President of Creative in AEW, is I basically get to say and do whatever I like,” Marshall said.
“A.J., I’m challenging you one-on-one, you vs. me, and I’m going to embarrass you right in front of your little son,” he continued.
“A.J., you weren’t all elite 20 years ago, and I don’t believe you’re all elite now.”
Marshall is returning to the executive role he previously held with the organization but will not be an in-ring talent, as first reported by Fightful and confirmed by our own Dave Meltzer.
As part of the deal, Marshall is free to wrestle for other promotions except WWE.
Marshall announced his resignation from AEW on November 27, 2023, stating “the company has changed a lot since 2019 and is heading in a different direction and I feel that it’s best I do the same as we only get one chance to go All In!”
His AEW departure was addressed on the November 28 episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, with Meltzer noting Marshall was looking to focus on his in-ring career and “wants to be a wrestling star.”
Marshall has only wrestled sparingly since dropping the AAA Latin American Title to Octagon Jr. at Guerra De Titanes 2023 on November 19.
He has also teamed up with Dusty Rhodes’ daughter, Teil Rhodes, to revive her father’s old promotion, Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling. The promotion had its first event back on February 8. The show featured wrestlers such as Glacier, Scotty Riggs, The Infantry, Aaron Solo, and Marshall.
Thank you to everyone who came out to see us @Turnbuckle_CW last night. It was great to see so many old friends and young talent. Shout out to @QTMarshall for his hard work and passion ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/UcVLW0xlly
Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman reported Tuesday that according to sources close to Marshall, the wrestler’s belief is that AEW is moving in a “NJPW-related direction” with more of a focus on in-ring vs. storytelling.
If accurate, that would align with Marshall’s comment in his announcement that “AEW has changed a lot since 2019 and is heading in a different direction…”
Hausman also reported that after Marshall’s friend and Nightmare Factory partner Cody Rhodes departed for WWE, Marshall’s influence began to “deteriorate quickly” despite his role as a Vice President of Show & Event Coordination. He also wanted to focus more on being an in-ring talent vs. a coach, something he had made known.
The main question is where Marshall could be going next. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the situation with Meltzer opining that usually in these situations, a landing spot has already been determined. He said people have said to him that they aren’t sure that’s the case here.
Meltzer said many people in AEW were aware for months that Marshall was leaving while others didn’t although it wasn’t because it was a secret. Those who Meltzer communicated with were very positive and sympathetic in their comments for Marshall.
However, despite Marshall’s friendship with Rhodes, it’s unknown if his next destination is WWE. Hausman reported that those close to Marshall think he would want to be an in-ring performer for WWE vs. a Performance Center coach since he has his school already.
“At the moment, he does not believe that WWE will allow him to wrestle and coach, which he may be open to if it were an option,” Hausman wrote.
Meltzer said Marshall “wants to be a wrestling star” which is part of his frustration that he’s aired internally. He added that he would be shocked if Rhodes didn’t make a push for Marshall within WWE.
Marshall, the former AAA Latin American Champion, wrestled 11 times for AEW and five times for Ring of Honor this year.
Marshall announced on Monday that he was resigning from AEW, leaving the company at the end of the year. He noted in his statement that the company is “heading in a different direction”, and “it is best I do the same”.
His full statement, which he posted on X, is as follows:
Thank you AEW. Thank you Tony Khan. I’ve had the privilege of being here since day 1 and I’ve written over 750 different formats for All Elite Wrestling and always with pride. As much as I’ve enjoyed being a VP, Manager of Talent Relations, and wearing a myriad of hats, the company has changed a lot since 2019 and is heading in a different direction and I feel that it’s best I do the same as we only get one chance to go All In! I have officially resigned from AEW and will have fulfilled all obligations by the end of 2023.
Thank you to everyone from the front office to the production truck to some of the hardest working talent in the sport! Most importantly, thank you to those who booed, cheered, and took part in this season of my life.
Marshall, who had been with the company since its inception in 2019, was named Vice President of Show and Creative Coordination last year. In recent months, he has made appearances with AAA, losing the Latin American Championship to Octagon Jr. on November 19. His last in-ring appearance in AEW was on October 25, defeating Brandon Cutler, Colt Cabana, and Lince Dorado in a six-man tag team match with Johnny TV and Aaron Solo.
The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:
What did people think of Full Gear as compared to the other AEW PPVs of late
Performers and match of the week
Lots of good and bad thoughts on Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page
A look at WWE vs. AEW when it comes to free agent signings of late
What Will Ospreay will and won’t mean for AEW
Full details of why Ronda Rousey appeared on the ROH show this week and it’s not what you think
Who is the top free agent out there right now
Thoughts on the MJF/Cole/White/Gunns storyline
Realities of AEW’s enemies and how the Strickland vs. Page match fits into that discussion
Logic issues and creative license in wrestling
Impromptu and using instinct in reacting when things mess up in a match
Why Ospreay signed with AEW and why it was announced this week
PPV numbers early on and what is says about more PPV shows
Live show business notes
Theater business notes
Full match coverage
Sorting out the Bellator/PFL deal and looking at the business aspect, top talent, show plans, next two PPV show ideas and more
Company talks 2024 schedule plans for Bellator and PFL
The top fighters under contract at this point to the new group
Hall of Fame updates and reaction to last week’s issue
Greatest tag teams of all-time
A look at a likely 2024 ballot
A look at Survivor Series plans, plus public demand and interest level
A look in depth at the Continental Classic, the good and bad of it
A look at this last week’s UFC show and notes about future shows
The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, the segment-by-segment, changes in each group, competition, and where wrestling stands in the weekly numbers
World title match doesn’t get over on major show and why
Promotion running a business deal with major company to get major discount on a famous product
New team will be taking over the name of one of the best tag teams in history
Major changes in Stardom hierarchy and what happened to lead to it
Stardom titles vacant and steps on filling those vacancies
Stardom PPV rundown
Fantastica Mania 2024 notes
What dream match was planned for January in California and where it stands right now
New Japan tag tournament notes
All Japan tag team tournament notes
A look back at one mystery in the death of WCW
Wrestlers suspended for working an unlicensed show
Full details on Ronda Rousey’s appearance at AEW show in Los Angeles
Young Bucks repackaging
Darby climbing Mount Everest and details
What day will a number of new free agents be available
Looking at the ones AEW could sign
Two new rulings in Cung Le case and what kind of money figures are being bandied about
A look at WWE arena business and future show ticket sales, has it peaked, what does future say
AEW future ticket sales
International TV ratings and streaming numbers
Reigns next match and who it’s not with
Levesque booking philosophy
A look at the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week
Notes on December television schedule for both AEW and WWE including a show not airing, and a double taping planned
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Monday Update
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking C.M. Punk, Tammy Sytch, MJF, QT Marshall, Raw, Match of the Year and lots of other topics on a very newsworthy Monday with Wrestling Observer radio tonight.
MJF noted today that he has a torn labrum but would be facing Samoa Joe for the AEW title on 12/30 in Uniondale, NY. Wrestlers frequently wrestle on that injury, not that it’s necessarily advisable, but it has been done. In fact, MJF had a torn labrum, although not as bad as this injury, when he did his singles PPV match with Jungle Boy which was one of the biggest matches of his career as far as elevating his stock. Right now the planned treatment is rehab and stem cell treatment rather than surgery. Devon Storm (Crowbar), who is a physical therapist wrote on Twitter, “Depending on the size and location of the ear (which is not known) and how it affects his performance MJF may be able to continue wrestling with just physical therapy and short term activity modification. He noted that if he was a quarterback or a pitcher in baseball it would be a bigger issue.
QT Marshall, who handled the format writing for AEW and was Vice President & Manage of Talent Relations, announced today that he will be leaving the promotion at the end of this year. “As much as I’ve enjoyed being a VP, Manager of Talent Relations and wearing a myriad of hats, the company has changed a lot since 2019 and is heading in a different direction and I feel that it’s best I do the same, as we only get one chance to go All In.” He thanked everyone. Marshall was super involved in many aspects and to me this is a very significant development. Marshall is close with Cody Rhodes and it’ll likely be clear soon as to what this all means.
Raw tonight is from Nashville. The first hour will be commercial free as they are going for a monster rating. With C.M. Punk and Randy Orton both on the show, they are looking at the biggest rating since the show after SummerSlam if not longer than that. The NFL will hurt, but the game is the Vikings (6-5) vs. Bears (3-8), which is an historical rivalry but neither team is among the top draws this year. Cody Rhodes also announced he would make an announcement. The show features a tag team turmoil match for a title shot with New Day, The Creeds, Giovanni Vinci & Ludvig Kaiser, Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa, Indu Sher, Otis & Akira Tozawa and perhaps others, plus Piper Niven & Chelsea Green defend the women’s tag titles against Natalya & Tegan Nox and Bronson Reed vs. Ivar. There were about 10,000 tickets out as of this morning and I’d expect a major walk-up for the show. We’re looking for live reports from Nashville with the Main Event matches and anything post-show to [email protected] Dixie Carter, who lives in Nashville, is at the show.–We’re looking for your thoughts on Survivor Series, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
The first day of the presale for All In 2024 in London was today. We have no numbers at press time which would indicate nothing remarkable, past Ton Khan saying it’s off to a good start. A lot of tickets were priced much higher than last year which was the main reaction we had, and others noted there’s no reason to rush to buy tickets with so many months left. UK historian John Lister noted that he’s definitely going to the show, but it’s not going to sell out so why put the money in Ticketmaster’s hands rather than keep it in your own hands for nine months and also figured prices would eventually drop. One person told us that a seat he paid 82 pounds for last year is now 367 pounds and that every seat in the section is over 300 pounds. From what we were told, the Fite map didn’t allow people to select a specific seat and frustrated many. Ticketmaster went up hours later and allowed people to select a seat, but it was noted the high price for the best seats.
Drew McIntyre is fine with the company in the sense he worked the main event last night in Peoria, IL in a three-way with Seth Rollins (who won of course) and Shinsuke Nakamura (who lost the fall of course). McIntyre played kind of an over-the-top babyface almost a smarmy face type role. Rollins was cheered but also had chants for Punk directed at him and he cut a promo about it, never saying Punk’s name but playing into the angle they ran on Saturday after the show.
AEW on Wednesday has Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston, Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia vs. Andrade in the Continental Classic tournament. Nothing else has been announced.
NXT tomorrow has Tony D’Angelo & Stacks Lorenzo vs. Humberto Carrillo & Angel Garza for the tag titles, and Wes Lee vs. Cameron Grimes vs,. Bronson Reed vs. Johnny Gargano with the winner facing Dominik Mysterio for the North American title at Deadline.
Our 11th book, covering 1991, is now available through Amazon around the world. For the U.S. it can be accessed here.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was shown in a video pointing what appears to be a gun at a man whose face was blurred out and another video showing he and another person chasing someone who appears to be the same man, shoving to the ground and holding him at gunpoint as lights flash in he background. Strickland said that the man was drunk and stomping on a girl and security followed him, he hit a curb, drove on the rim, jumped out and tried to run into Strickland’s house. Strickland said he first thought the guy was stealing his car and the man was later arrested.
Tony Ferguson’s May arrest on DUI charges was settled after a deal with prosecutors. The misdemeanor DUI charge was dismissed with Ferguson pleading no contest to a lesser charge of reckless driving on a highway. Ferguson will receive one year probation. This comes from a case in May where Ferguson was taken into custody after allegedly crashing into two parked cars outside a nightclub in Hollywood, CA.
The New Japan tag team tournament continues the tag tournament shows both tomorrow and Wednesday morning. Tomorrow in Nagoya is the Gates of Agony vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd, Great O’Khan & Henare vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste and Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa. Wednesday in Osaka has Hikuleo & El Phantasmo vs. Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza, Taichi & Yuya Uemura vs. Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr., Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki vs. Lance Archer & Alex Zayne and Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji
Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio and Seth Rollins vs Shinsuke Nakamura are being advertised as dark matches for Friday’s Smackdown tapings in Brooklyn.
At the August TMart Promotions convention in Charlotte, they will honor World Class Wrestling with Kevin Von Erich, John Nord, Rod Price, and Brian Adias, plus will honor the Von Erich family. There will also be a reunion of The Glamour Girls and Jumping Bomb Angels, who had some of the best matches on WWE house shows for a period in the late 80s.
Add Yuna Mizumori to the list of Stardom injuries. She was hurt on Saturday’s show and will be out for at least the next few shows.
Josh Bishop vs Matthew Justice was added to the 12/7 MLW show in New York at the Melrose Ballroom.
QT Marshall has confirmed he signed a short-term contract extension with AEW recently.
Marshall’s deal now reportedly extends to the end of 2023. The two sides are said to be negotiating a longer term talent contract for the 38-year-old.
Marshall spoke with Jofo in the Ring recently and confirmed the news.
“I will say this. I have always worked for AEW. I’m one of the Vice Presidents, that is a job that I have. The talent is just a second thing that I have as well. I’m lucky, I have two jobs like Brandon Cutler, two contracts,” he said. “Yes, we’ve made another agreement and we’ll see what happens. I think until the end of the year – I don’t know, the dirt sheets know more than me, I don’t know how – Yes, I’m there. I won’t be going anywhere else except AAA and as many independent shows as I possibly can.”
Marshall has been with the company since its inception in 2019. He was originally hired as a producer and on-air talent but was later named AEW’s Vice President of Show and Creative Coordination in August 2022.
QT Marshall and AEW have reportedly agreed to a short-term extension.
According to a report from Fightful, the deal will keep Marshall under contract for the remainder of 2023.
Reports surfaced last month that a short-term deal was likely as the two sides negotiate a new contract for the 38-year-old.
Marshall has been with the company as an on-air talent and producer since its inception in 2019. He was named AEW’s Vice President of Show and Creative Coordination in August 2022.
Additionally, Marshall is a co-owner of and trainer for The Nightmare Factory in Atlanta. The school has produced several talents who have worked on AEW and ROH programming including Ashley D’Amboise, Brooke Havok, Angelica Risk, and The Infantry’s Carlie Bravo.
Marshall won AAA’s Latin American Championship last month at TriplemanĂa XXXI in Mexico City. He defeated Pentagon Jr, Dralistico, and Texano Jr. in a four-way match to win the vacant title.
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.
**********
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
QT Marshall is the new AAA Latin American Champion.
Marshall appeared at Saturday’s AAA Triplemania event in Mexico City, pinning Pentagon Jr. in a match that also featured Dralistico and Brian Cage. The finish of the match had Marshall remove Pentagon’s mask, then pinned him to win the championship.
The Latin American title was held by Fenix until last month, when he announced his departure from AAA due to commitments elsewhere.. The title was vacated as a result.
In the main event, Psycho Clown defeated Sam Adonis in a four-way match that also featured LA Park and Rush. The stipulations of the match were that whoever was pinned in the match either had to lose their mask or their hair. There was a bunch of interference during the bout, including AEW’s Preston Vance making an appearance. The show ended with Psycho Clown being stretchered out due to taking a marionette towards the end of the match and Adonis’ hair being shaved off.
Elsewhere on the card, Flammer defeated Taya Valkyrie to win the AAA Reina de Reinas title. In the co-main event, Hijo Del Vikingo retained the AAA Mega Heavyweight title in a four-way defeating Daga, Speedball Mike Bailey, and Jack Cartwheel.
After a two-month break, Josh Nason’s Punch-Out has returned following last week’s head-scratching edition of AEW Dynamite.
Joining me is past guest Jesse Collings of Wrestlenomics and Voices of Wrestling.
The main focus is Wardlow, who lost the TNT title on Dynamite just days after regaining it at Revolution. After last year’s Double or Nothing win over MJF, I felt like he was tabbed for stardom in AEW. Then, we got what we got. We discuss the timeline with some differing opinions on where things went wrong or if they were even destined to go right to begin with.
We then delve into the bizarre Twitter war between AEW vice president & wrestler QT Marshall and Wrestling Inc.’s Raj Giri, and whether it’s a bad look for a company VP to be conducting himself in such a manner on a public forum.
We also talk about my personal rules/desires for PPV fallout shows, whether ROH HonorClub numbers are disappointing, taking WWE for granted for their levels of production, and more.
WWE’s John Cena paid a visit to Cody Rhodes and QT Marshall’s Nightmare Factory training facility as a guest speaker to the school’s trainees.
The Nightmare Factory’s Twitter account posted a photo of Cena with members of the school’s ninth training camp, noting that Cena spoke to the class ahead of their showcase event coming up on March 23, and thanking Cena, referring to him as the GOAT in emoji form:
Cena and Rhodes had a brief interaction on this week’s WWE Raw show in Boston, where Cena returned to the company to set up his WrestleMania 39 bout against Austin Theory for the United States Championship.
After winning the 2023 men’s Royal Rumble match, Rhodes is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania, a two-night event set for Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2.
Nightmare Factory’s website lists Rhodes and QT Marshall as co-owners and coaches, former WCW star Glacier as another coach, and Carolyn Cuellari as the school’s nutritionist.
