Tag: rampage live results

AEW Rampage live results: Two championship matches

Posted on by Suit Williams

Ahead of WrestleDream, two championship matches will air on tonight’s edition of AEW Rampage.

Eddie Kingston puts his NJPW Strong Openweight Championship on the line against Rocky Romero. Kingston recently became a double champion, winning the ROH World Championship from Claudio Castagnoli in a title vs. title match at Dynamite Grand Slam. Kingston is scheduled to defend both belts against Katsuyori Shibata at WrestleDream this Sunday.

The AEW Trios titles will also be defended tonight as The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn take on The Hardys & Brother Zay.

In another match with championship implications, Ruby Soho faces Hikaru Shida. The winner challenges Saraya for the AEW Women’s World Championship on the upcoming Title Tuesday edition of Dynamite on October 10.

The Righteous will be in action ahead of challenging for the ROH Tag Team titles at WrestleDream. At the pay-per-view, they’re facing MJF for the titles in a handicap match. MJF has to defend the titles on his own due to Adam Cole’s broken ankle.

Our live coverage starts at 10 p.m. Eastern time.

Excalibur & Taz were on the call this week, with Tony Schiavone on assignment and Chris Jericho preparing for his matches this weekend.

AEW World Trios Title Match – The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, & Billy Gunn) defeated Isiah Kassidy & The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) to retain the titles

This was the best possible version of this match. The Hardys looked much better in this trios setting.

This was the fourth defense by The Acclaimed.

Kassidy & Bowens started with a handshake before Kassidy used his speed to get the better of an exchange. Bowens came back with a jumping Fameasser before Caster tagged in. After a misdirection, Caster ended up on the wrong side of a Jeff Hardy splash for a nearfall. Caster evaded a Twist of Fate but couldn’t avoid a reverse kick.

Matt Hardy and Gunn tagged in, and after some hand signal shenanigans, Gunn took Hardy down with a shoulder block. Hardy avoided a corner charge before bashing Gunn’s head into the ropes. The challengers triple-teamed Gunn, hitting a pair of Poetry in Motions. The Acclaimed cleared the ring and hit Kassidy with Scissor Me Timbers for a nearfall.

The Acclaimed held serve on Kassidy after a commercial break. After a Matt Hardy distraction, Kassidy evaded a corner charge. Kassidy hit an enzuigiri on Gunn before tagging in Jeff Hardy, who ran wild on all three champions.

Hardy hit a Whisper in the Wind, and after a flurry of offense from the challengers, Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb on Gunn for a nearfall. The Acclaimed came back and ran wild on the Hardys, allowing Gunn to tag out to Bowens. Kassidy tagged in on the other side and hit a twisting facebuster on Caster. Kassidy followed with a springboard moonsault on Gunn, but springboarded into a double team from the Acclaimed. The Acclaimed hit the KRS-1 on Kassidy to win and retain the titles. It was announced here that The Acclaimed would defend the Trios Titles on WrestleDream: Zero Hour against New Japan’s TMDK – Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, & Bad Dude Tito.

Backstage, Eddie Kingston spoke on his STRONG Openweight Title match tonight against Rocky Romero. He respected Romero before getting interrupted by Jay Lethal & the Jarrett crew. Lethal said that he spent most of his life fighting for the ROH World Title, and Kingston was unfit to be ROH World Champion. Kingston laughed them off and left.

In video from last Saturday, Lexy Nair spoke to Andrade El Idolo after his loss to Jay White. Andrade asked Juice Robinson – who cost him the match – if they had a problem. Andrade told Robinson that he would see him in Seattle.

NJPW STRONG Openweight Title Match – Eddie Kingston defeated Rocky Romero to retain the title

A fun, hard-hitting bout here. A real highlight of AEW is having fun matches like this in the middle of any show.

This was Kingston’s third defense of the STRONG Openweight Title.

Romero won the opening exchange with a dropkick that sent Kingston into the corner. Excalibur talked about Romero’s success in Japan and Mexico as Romero took Kingston to the floor with a hurricanrana. Romero hit a pair of dives to Kingston on the outside. On the third try, Kingston caught Romero and hit a suplex on the floor as we went to a commercial.

We came back to see Romero fight out of a Northern Lights Bomb. Romero rocked Kingston with a jumping knee before tying Kingston in the ropes. Romero hit a spin kick before hitting a springboard dropkick for a nearfall. Romero went for Sliced Bread, but Kingston shoved him away and hit the machine gun chops in the corner. Kingston brought Romero to the top rope, but Romero hit an Avalanche Sliced Bread for a nearfall. Romero hit the Forever clotheslines but ran right into a Kingston Backfist. Kingston hit a second Backfist before locking on the Stretch Plum and scoring the submission win.

The two men bowed to each other after the match, with Romero raising Kingston’s hand. Katsuyori Shibata made his way to the ring to go face-to-face with his opponent at WrestleDream. The two men shook hands.

Aussie Open were backstage. Mark Davis was tired of hearing FTR walk around with their egos unchecked. Kyle Fletcher said that their loss to FTR last year broke them, but this year, they would take the AEW World Tag Team Titles and build their empire here in AEW.

The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) defeated Caleb Crush & Gunnar

A quick win for the Righteous before their WrestleDream title match. I’m impressed at the level of heat they’ve garnered this quickly into their run in AEW.

For anyone interested, this was not the Gunnar of TNA Impact fame. Dutch dropped both men with a double clothesline. Vincent sent Gunnar into a Bossman Slam from Dutch. Vincent did the same with Crush before tagging in and hitting Autumn Sunshine on Gunnar for the quick win.

We got a video from Ortiz, going over the history between himself and Mike Santana. We got clips of their highlights over the years, with sound from their longtime manager Konnan talking about how the two don’t talk anymore.

We got a video package highlighting Christian Cage & Darby Allin, hyping their match at WrestleDream. Backstage, Nick Wayne spoke about his role in their situation. He said that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be at ringside for Darby at WrestleDream, but he did want to finish his business with Luchasaurus. He wanted payback for Luchasaurus chokeslamming him at Wembley Stadium and would get it in a singles match on the WrestleDream Zero Hour.

We got a rundown of the Collision and WrestleDream cards.

Backstage, Renee Paquette spoke to Zack Sabre Jr. Sabre felt fresh as a daisy after his fifteen-hour flight from Japan. He said that a stiff breeze could knock Danielson over, much less a match with Sabre. Sabre said that Danielson didn’t have a year to retire, he barely had a weekend. Sabre was going to force Danielson to retire in Seattle for the second time in his career. He called it The Final Retirement before humming The Final Countdown. Be careful Zack, Europe will charge for that too.

AEW Women’s World Title #1 Contender’s Match – Hikaru Shida defeated Ruby Soho

An excellent Rampage main event. Shida and Soho had a fun match here, with a couple of good nearfalls that I thought would be the finish. It’s been good to see Shida stay in the mix in the women’s division.

The winner of this match will challenge Saraya on the October 10th Title Tuesday edition of Dynamite.

Shida knocked Soho down with a shoulder block, but Soho escaped the ten punches in the corner. Soho grabbed Shida by the hair and clubbered on Shida in the corner. Soho escaped the ten punches again, but Shida hit her with a reverse crossbody. Shida finally got the ten punches before hitting a missile dropkick as we went to a commercial break.

Both women were down as we came back from the commercial. They traded forearms before Shida hit a jumping knee. Shida followed with a brainbuster for a nearfall. Soho rolled out of the way of the Kitana, but Shida hit a missile dropkick off of the stairs to the floor. Shida carried Soho up the ramp, where they brawled before diving into the ring at a nine count. Soho hit Shida with a Saito suplex for a nearfall.

Soho grabbed Shida’s kendo stick, but only used it as a distraction. Soho went for the spray paint, but Shida caught it. The referee got knocked down in the process, costing Soho the win after she hit No Future. Soho went to hit Shida with the kendo stick, but Shida took it, cracked Soho in the head, and hit a Kitana. Aubrey Edwards came out to count the pin, but Soho was able to kick out. Soho avoided a Meteora before hitting an STO. Soho went for a top rope senton, but Shida got the knees up and hit a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Soho hit No Future, but Shida came back with the Kitana for the win.

After the match, Saraya came out to collect Soho and stare down her challenger for October 10th.

AEW Rampage Grand Slam live results: Sting & Darby Allin vs. Christian & Luchasaurus

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Grand Slam 2023 finishes up with a special two-hour edition of AEW Rampage tonight.

The show begins on TNT at 10 p.m. Eastern time. Sting will be in action, teaming with Darby Allin against Christian Cage & Luchasaurus. The match is airing one night before Luchasaurus defends his TNT title against Allin and Christian in a three-way match on Collision.

Two sets of Trios titles will be on the line tonight. The Young Bucks & Hangman Page are challenging Mogul Embassy for the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles, while The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn are defending their AEW Trios titles against The Dark Order.

The Kingdom, The Hardys, The Righteous, and Best Friends are facing off in a match with WrestleDream implications. The winning team earns a shot at MJF & Adam Cole’s ROH Tag Team titles at the October 1 pay-per-view.

Kris Statlander, Orange Cassidy & Hook are set to clash with Anna Jay, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker in a trios match. Mike Santana is also set for action, Skye Blue takes on Julia Hart, and we’ll hear from Sammy Guevara & Don Callis.

Taped at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York.

Excalibur, Tony Schivone, and Ian Riccaboni were on commentary.

Sting & Darby Allin defeated Luchasaurus & Christian Cage (7:40)

Sting paired off with Cage and Luchasaurus with Allin to start the match. Allin hit his high-speed plancha on Luchasaurus who was sitting on the long entrance ramp (so it didn’t look as impressive as usual). Allin took a bump into the ring post and then crashed into the barricade, and the crowd chanted “Please Don’t Die!” Since it’s Darby, he got back into the ring and was worked over by the heels.

Darby fought his way back with a springboard coffin drop, but Luchasaurus cut off Sting from getting the tag. The heels worked over Allin during the split screen break. Allin backflipped out of a chokeslam attempt, but Cage snapped Allin’s back against the ring ropes and Luchasaurus hit the chokeslam anyway for a near fall. Cage missed a flying headbutt from the top, and Allin got the tag to Sting.

Sting hit a pair of clotheslines and a spinebuster on Cage. Sting hit a Stinger Splash on Cage and Luchasaurus, then took Cage out with a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting hit Luchasaurus with the Scorpion Death Drop while Allin hit a Coffin Drop simultaneously, a very cool double team. Christian came back and tried the Killswitch on Allin, but Nick Waye got on the apron to distract Cage, and Allin reserved Cage’s finisher into a cradle and got the pinfall. 

Kris Statlander, Orange Cassidy and Hook vs. Anna Jay, Angelo Parker & Matt Menard (w/ Jake Hager) (8:10 aired)

Referee Bryce Remsberg clarified in the instructions that it’s “men with men, and women with women.” Hook tossed Menard and Parker around and nearly got the Redrum on Menard, but Menard got the tag to Anna Jay, which forced Statlander into the match. Statlander caught Jay with a delayed vertical suplex. While Statlander celebrated, Hager leveled Cassidy with a forearm, and Menard ambushed Hook on the floor.

Parker got the tag (which also made Hook legal because of the same gender rules), and caught Hook with a suplex for a near fall. Menard held Hook open for a running knee for another near fall.

After the commercial, Cassidy got the hot tag and hit a dropkick on Parker and Menard, then took Hager out with a plancha. All the babyfaces suplexed all the heels in a triple suplex for a huge pop. Hook suplexed Parker and Menard, then suplexed Parker on Menard. While Anna Jay distracted the ref, Hager hit Hook with a clothesline, and Cassidy took out Hager with the Orange Punch. Jay tried to put the sleeper on Cassidy, but Statlander pulled her into an electric chair drop. Hook took out Menard with the Redrum, and Cassidy hit the Orange Punch on Parker for the pinfall.

– QTV Segment. The QTV geeks kicked it to footage of QT Marshall defending his title. QT Marshall is looking for a tag team partner for next week, and despite the description of what QT was looking for fitting Aaron Solo to a T, Johnny TV accepted the job. 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed Don Callis, with Konosuke Takeshita. The crowd absolutely booed Callis out of the building. But Callis did his promo anyway. Callis pursued Jericho, but the man he really wanted was Sammy Guevara, and that’s who he got on Wednesday. Guevara’s wardrobe budget has improved 200% since joining up with Callis, and he shook Takeshita’s hand. Guevara thank Callis for showing him a real family, and turned on Jericho for holding him back. Guevara is also done with the fans, who couldn’t decide whether to cheer him or boo him. 

Just as Guevara said he was done with Chris Jericho, here came Chris Jericho. Jericho attacked Takeshita and Guevara. Just as Jericho got his hands on Callis, Takeshita hit him from behind with a chair. Guevara took the chair from Takehsita and really worked over Jericho, then both Takeshita and Guevara held Jericho open for Callis to get his shots in. Just before Callis murdered Jericho with a screwdriver (I mean, that’s what it looked like he was going for), Kenny Omega ran in with a pipe to chase off the heels. Riccobani: “Callis is that big of a piece of garbage, he put Jericho and Omega on the same side of things.” Jericho went for a really contrived spot where he accidentally “backed into” Omega, but Omega left without shaking Jericho’s hand. 

– Alex Marvez caught up with Kenny Omega in the back, who isn’t interested in helping Jericho so much as he wanted to get at Callis. Jericho interrupted. He knows it was their rivalry that started the company, but suggested he and Omega unite to take out the Don Callis family at WrestleDream. Omega accepts, and Jericho clarifies it’s Jericho, Omega and Kota Ibushi against the Don Callis family. “Who ya got?” 

The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) defeated The Hardy Boys (Matt & Jeff), The Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) and The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) to become the #1 Contenders for the ROH Tag Team Championship (9:23).

Jeff’s facepaint with eyes all over his face freaked me out. Also it’s been almost 15 minutes since the end of the last match, almost unheard of for Rampage.

The Best Friends and The Hardys briefly took out the heels. They almost celebrated with a group hug, but the heels rebounded to break that up. Taven hit a springboard kick on Dutch, then hit a dive on a bunch of his opponents on the floor. The Best Friends (after a celebratory hug) took out all of the heels on the floor with stereo somersault planchas.

After a split-screen break, the match has settled into a standard four-corners tag match. Matt hit the Side Effect on Vincent while Schiavone points out the inherent flaw in these type of matches: you tag out to another team, you take your team out of possibly winning the match. The Hardys double-teamed Vincent. Jeff and Matt hit Poetry in Motion on VIncent, and the match seemed to settle into The Righteous vs. The Hardys. 

And just as I typed that, Taven hit a kick on Dutch and Vincent took him out with a Russian leg sweep. Dutch hit the Black Hole Slam on three of his opponents, but Beretta counterd the move with a suplex. Bennett low-blowed Taylor and the Kingdom hit a spike piledriver for a near fall. Jeff Hardy got the tag and hit the Swanton on Taylor, but not before Vincent got a blind tag. Dutch pulled Jeff out of the ring and Vincent hit his own Swanton bomb. Vincent got the pin, and the shot at Better Than You, Bay-Bay? After building up the Kingdom as the obvious next opponents for weeks, the title match goes to The Righteous? 

After the match, the Kingdom took out the Best Friend with a bunch of chair shots. And that ends the first hour of Rampage. 

The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn defeated The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver) to retain the AEW World Trios Titles (10:40)

Reynolds and Caster started out exchanging headlocks. Caster caught Reynolds with a back hand and took control with an armbar. Gunn and Bowens hit a scissor double elbowdrop on Silver, but Reynolds broke up the Scissor Me Timbers. The Dark Order took out Bowens and Gunn on the floor, and Silver got a near fall on Caster with a German suplex.

The Dark Order worked over Caster during the split screen break. Silver kept posing while screaming “I’m Freaking Jacked, Baby!” Silver cut of Caster’s comeback with a german suplex, then Uno stomped away at Caster in the corner. Uno hit an avalanche in the corner and followed up with a short-arm clothesline. Caster caught Reynolds with a cradle for a near fall, then got the hot tag to Gunn, who dumped Silver and Uno, then dropped Reynolds with a hig back body drop. Reynolds avoided the Famasser but got knocked for a loop with a clothesline. Reynolds caught Bowens with a cradle for a near fall, but Bownes came back with the four-piece combo. The Arrival and Mic Drop almost finished off Reynolds, but Silver broke up the pin attempt.

While Silver argued with referee Aubrey Edwards, Uno hit Caster with one of the trios title belts. Reynolds got a near fall off the belt shot. Gunn hit Uno with a clothesline, and Silver hit Gunn with a somersault cannonball. Silver and Reynolds went for the Wombo Combo, but Caster cut it off with a Fameasser of his own. The Acclaimed finished off Reynolds with a move that started out like a Magic Killer, but they flipped Reynolds up into a crazy high powerbomb and what even was that? Love that finish, and it got the pinfall for The Acclaimed. 

Really good trios match. 

Julia Hart (w/ Brody King) defeated Syke Blue (7:12 aired)

Hart has a 24 match winning streak and is undefeated in 2023. I would have never called any of this for Hart when she debuted as a bubbly cheerleader on Dark in 2021.

Blue and Hart played mind games with each other to start, with Blue seemingly nonplussed by Hart’s antics. Hart pulled Blue in to whisper something in her ear, and Blue responded with a knee strike and suplex for a near fall. Hart avoided a charge in the corner and tripped Blue into the turnbuckles.

After a break, Blue mounted the comeback with forearms and a knee strike. Enziguri from Blue got a near fall. Blue went to the top, but Hart cut her off. Blue and Hart brawled on the top turnbuckle. Hart superplexed Blue, with Hart’s own legs still hooked on the turnbuckle. Hart then spinder-crawled into a moonsault for a near fall. Hart hung upside down in the corner for a minute, then did a handstand out of the corner into a moonsault for a near fall. Blue countered the Hartless, but Hart countered the counter with a crucifix for a near fall. Blue got a brief comeback, but Hart hit a sliding forearm to the back of the head, then locked in the Hartless to get the tap out. That is Hart’s 25th win in a row.

After the match, Hart locked in the Hartless again until Willow NIghtingale ran in to make the save. Hart hid behind King and taunted Nightingale, who checked on Blue.  It feels like Hart just has every aspect of this character down. 

– Bullet Club Gold (with the Cardblade, which should be called the Switchboard) cut a promo on Andrade El Idolo in advance of Jay White’s match with him tomorrow night. This was an excellent promo from White. 

Mike Santana defeated “Dirty Bulk” Bronson (2:25)

Bronson is from the Iron Savages (formerly Bear Conutry). Why are the Bear Country guys doing a gym rat gimmick when they don’t particularly look like gym rats?

Santana hit a rolling cutter and a discus lariat sent Bronson to the floor. Santana followed him out with a tope suicida. The crowd was solidly behind Santana. Santana hit a cannonball senton in the corner. Santana finished Bronson off with a high angle Jay Driller.

After the match, Ortiz came out on the ramp to talk to Santana, but Santana walked away from Ortiz. 

Collision Update: Hook & RVD will face Jeff Parker & Matt Menard, and Julia Hart will face Willow Nightingale in new matches for tomorrow night’s show. No new matches were added to Dynamite or WrestleDream. 

The Elite (The Young Bucks & Hangman Adam Page) defeated The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona w/ Prince Nana) to win the ROH World Six Man Titles.

The Elite came out to “Carry on My Wayward Son.” 

This match was just one crazy move after another.

Page hit a boot on Kaun who fell off the apron and landed in the arms of the Bucks. Page then hit a shooting star press onto Kaun while the Bucks held him off the apron.  Nick Jackson hit a springboard Canadian Destroyer on Cage. The Elite were about to hit a triple-team BTE Trigger on Cage, but Swerve Strickland’s music hit and he came out to observe from the stage. The Gates of Agony tossed Matt into a sitdown powerbomb from Cage for a near fall. Kaun hit Matt with a backstabber in the corner, and Liona dove into Jackson with an elbow while he was still hung up in the corner.

After a split-screen break (where the heels worked over Matt Jackson), Jackson hit a top rope crossbody to the floor on Liona and Kaun. Page got the tag and hit Cage with a boot. Page flipped out of a German suplex, hit a springboard lariat on Kaun and a moonsault on Cage for a near fall. The Bucks hit a pair of dives on The Gates of Agony, but Cage hit a water wheel drop (an Alabama Slam into a sitout powerbomb) for a near fall. Page countered a Cage’s attempt at death valley driver from the top with a super hurricanrana. The Bucks hit a pair of superkicks on Cage, and more superkicks on the Gates of Agony. The Bucks and Page went for the Dave Meltzer driver, but Cage caught Nick diving in. The champs hit all three of their opponents with Samoan drops (Cage’s might have been more like an F5), and Cage got another near fall on Page. 

Cage and Kaun held Page open for a middle rope splash from Liona for a near fall. The Bucks hit more superkicks, but The Gates took out the Young Bucks with clotheslines. Page hit a double Buckshot Lariat on the Gates. Page hit the Deadeye on Cage for another near fall. Strickland walked down the ramp to distract Page, allowing Cage to hit a discus lariat. Cage went for the Drill Claw, but Page countered that into a cradle for the pinfall. The Elite are once again the ROH World Six Man champions. This is the second reign for Page & The Young Bucks. 

After the match, Strickland and Page had an intense staredown while Swerve walked to the back (never breaking eye contact with Page). The Bucks encouraged Page to “celebrate the moment.” 

Final Thoughts:

Three years into this and it just occurred to me the could be calling this show “Grand Slampage.” 

This was the best Rampage of the year. 

AEW Rampage live results: TNT title match, tag team street fight

Posted on by Joseph Collins

TNT Champion Cody Rhodes will put his title on the line against Ethan Page on Friday’s New Year’s Smash edition of AEW Rampage.

This will be Rhodes’ first title defense in his third title reign. The match came together following a Wednesday Dynamite promo where Dan Lambert, Page and Scorpio Sky ripped on Rhodes which then brought out his wife, Brandi. Dustin Rhodes eventually came out to back her up, but got jumped by the trio.

In a much-talked about street fight, Penelope Ford and The Bunny take on Anna Jay and Tay Conti as they attempt to settle a feud that has raged for months.

Darby Allin faces Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed in a singles match, and there will be a Technique by Taz segment where he breaks down his son Hook’s finishing move, Redrum.

This week’s show was taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Jacksonville, Florida.

Our live coverage begins at 10 PM Eastern.

**********

Hosts are Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Ricky Starks. 

Darby Allin (w/ Sting) defeated Anthony Bowens (w/ Max Caster) (11:03)

Caster’s rap referenced booster shots and Ghislaine Maxwell. Allin’s “a little prick like a booster shot” and Bowens is “going to put him away like Ghislaine Maxwell.” Funny stuff. 

Allin was impressive on the mat early and scored a near fall with a La Magistral’s cradle attempt. Caster got on the apron to distract Allin, and Bowens knocked Allin out of the ring. From the ring, Bownes whipped Allin (standing on the ring apron) into the ringpost, and Allin took a man-sized bump off the post to the floor. 

After a split-screen commercial break, Bowens continued to dominate Allin. Allin came back with a pair of cradles for near fall. Allin but ran into an elbow, a backhand and a superkick from Bowens. Bowens set up a superplex, but Allin fought out of the move. Allin set up the coffin drop, but Bowens crotched Allin on the ropes, then hit his spinning DDT (the “Arrival”). Bowens went for the pin, but had his feet on the ropes, so the ref broke up the pin attempt. 

Allin and Bowens fought up the opposite ringpost, where Allin stepped on Bowens hand against the top of the post. Allin went for his suicide dive, but Caster got in the way. Sting took out Caster. Back in the ring, Allin hit the Code red for a near fall. Allin took both members of the Acclaimed out with the suicide dive, then threw Bowens back in the ring for the Coffin Drop and got the pinfall. 

After the match, Andrade El Idolo made his entrance, which distracted Sting and Darby Allin. The Acclaimed pounced, busting their boom box over Allin’s head and knocking Sting out with the chain.

– In “Technique by Taz,” Taz put over Hook’s array of suplexes and his finisher, the katahajime. 

Anna Jay & Tay Conti vs. Penelope Ford defeated  The Bunny in a Street Fight (10:42 aired)

Jay and Ford brought a trash can and steel chair out with them to start the fight. Bunny went a punch with the brass knuckles on Jay, but she blocked the punch with a steel chair. Jay used the brass knux on Bunny, who was opened up and bleeding like crazy. The fight went to the floor early on, and Ford hit Conti with a pump kick. Ford hit a moonsault from the top rope to the floor on Conti, who was laid out on a table. Ford drove her knees into Conti and the table didn’t break. 

Back in the ring, Ford broke a beer bottle over Conti’s head, and Conti bled. Ford and Bunny set up tables and chairs up in the ring. Jay suplexed Bunny though a pair of chairs set up in the ring, and the show went to a commercial break. 

After the commercial, Jay had Bunny locked in a sleeper, but Bunny broke the hold by sending them both through a table. On the floor, Ford hit Conti with a stunner onto a ladder lying on the floor. Ford found a sack of thumbtacks and dumped them on the mat. Jay superplexed Bunny into the tacks. Jay went for the pin, but Ford broke it up. Conti took Ford out with the Gotch style piledriver off the apron through a table on the floor. 

Bunny went the brass knuckles again, but slipped in the tacks, landing in a split onto a pile of the tacks. Ouch. Anna Jay wrapped her arm in barb wire and locked Bunny in the Queenslayer sleeper hold, and Bunny had to tap out. 

Absolute insanity. Even without the blood and tacks, this was a great performance from all four women. 

This was Conti’s 50th win in AEW. 

– Preview of the World Title match between Adam Page and Bryan Danielson for the first Dynamite on TBS. Excellent promo package. Still no announcement of who the judges wil be though. 

New Matches for Dynamite Wednesday (TBS debut): 

  • The only new match announced is MJF will be in action. 

Matches for AEW Rampage Friday (still on TNT):

  • Daniel Garcia & 2point0 v. Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz in a Street Fight.

Cody Rhodes (w/ Arn Anderson) defeated Ethan Page (w/ Dan Lambert & Scorpio Sky) to retain  the TNT Championship (14:13)

Mark Henry moderated the face-to-face main event promo. Dan Lambert and Arn Anderson did all the talking. 

Rhodes hit a quick powerslam early on and worked a side headlock. The crowd couldn’t decide whether to boo for Cody or chant for Cody, so they did both. Page hit a suplex. Anderson tripped up Page while he ran the ropes, and Cody hit him with a dropkick. “Let’s Go Cody/Cody Sucks!” chant. Rhodes set up a Cross Rhodes on the aporn, but Page escaped and sent Rhodes to the floor. Page followed up with a shoulder block from the apron to the floor. They brawled on the floor for a bit, with Page getting the advantage before the match went back to the ring. 

Page went for a suplex, but Rhodees escaped and clipped Page’s leg. Rhodes went to work on Page’s legs. Rhodes started to  set up a figure-four, but changed his mind and locked in an Indian Death Lock instead. Isn’t that a HHH move? 

During the last split screen break, Rhodes worked over Page’s leg. Page countered a suplex attempt with a face-first suplex, and caught Rhodes with a running shoulder block. Page really has the best running shoulder blocks. Page nailed a DDT (but not before stopping to flip off Arn Anderson) for a near fall. Scorpio Sky attack Cody Rhodes on the floor, and Dustin Rhodes ran in and attacked Sky. Dustin and Sky brawled through the crowd, never to be seen again.  

Back in the ring, Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes for a near fall. Rhodes tore away Page’s knee brace and the crowd booed. Rhodes setup Page for a move off the top rope, but Page countered and powerslammed Rhodes off the top rope for a near fall. Cody avoided the Ego’s Edge powerbomb and caught Page with the Disaster Kick for a near fall. Rhodes locked in the figure-four leglock. Page reversed the move and Cody got to the ropes. Rhodes went for the Tiger Driver 98, but Page countered with a jackknife cover for two. Page took Rhodes off the ropes with a cross armed iconoclasm. Page went for the Ego’s Edge again, but Rhodes countered into a pair of Cross Rhodes, and the Tiger Driver 98 to get the pinfall. 

Lambert did not look happy that Cody retained.

Final Thoughts: 

The women’s street fight was nuts. I don’t think the crowd hates Cody Rhodes, but I think they like to boo him. I’m interested to see what direction Darby Allin and Andrade El Idolo goes, and hopefully the Acclaimed and El Idolo stick together for a bit to help raise the Acclaimed’s profile. 

Good show. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

AEW Rampage live results: TNT title match, Hook in action

Posted on by Joseph Collins

The special Christmas night Holiday Bash edition of AEW Rampage will feature a TNT title match, the second match for popular top prospect Hook and more.

Sammy Guevara will look for the fifth defense of his TNT Championship as he defends against former champion Cody Rhodes. Rhodes came out two weeks ago on Dynamite and answered Guevara’s open challenge. He is coming off a win over Andrade El Idolo on the December 1st Dynamite.

After making his pro debut in a win over Fuego Del Sol on Rampage two weeks ago, Hook will return to singles action as he faces one half of Bear Country, Bear Bronson.

In singles action, Kris Statlander will take on Leyla Hirsch while Jungle Boy faces Isiah Kassidy of Private Party. 

This week’s matches were taped Wednesday after Dynamite in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Our live coverage begins at a special start time of 9 PM Eastern.

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Hosts are Taz, Excalibur, and Ricky Starks. 

Merry Christmas! I’m watching this at my parents’ house so my dad can watch it instead of being subjected to another Hallmark movie.

Jungle Boy (w/ Christian Cage & Luchasaurus) defeated Isiah Kassidy (w/ Matt Hardy & the HFO) (8:54)

Jungle Boy’s ribs and thigh were wrapped up with more tape than I used to wrap Christmas presents last night, and I use a significant amount of tape. Jungle Boy hit a great looking dropkick early, but Kassidy came back with a springboard cutter which sent Jungle Boy to the floor. Kassidy followed up with a tornio out of the ring, and springboard senton back in the ring for a one count. Kassidy choked Jungle Boy against the ropes, and then Matt Hardy caught Jungle Boy with a cheap shot. Kassidy remained dominant and the show went to a commercial. 

Back from break, Kassidy walked into a back elbow from Jungle Boy. Boy hit a stiff rebound lariat and a fisherman’s falcon arrow to get a near fall. Kassidy came back with an enziguri and a poison rana for a near fall. Jungle Boy hit a belly to belly suplex in the corner, then a German suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Jungle Boy dumped Kassidy to the floor and hit a tope suicidia. Marq Quen and Jora Johl tried to interfere, but Luchasaurus and Christian Cage disposed of them. Matt Hardy ate a spear from Cage on the floor. Back in the ring, Jungle Boy locked in the snare trap for the submission.

— Another Miro promo in all white aired. He will return with no flaws and will not be kept from his hot, flexible wife, he said. “Redemption doesn’t come with a smile. It comes with a price!” Miro is awesome.

Hook defeated Bear Bronson (3:06)

Before the match, Taz and Starks gave a rundown of their issues with Dante Martin. Powerhouse Hobbs was with the commentators to watch Hook’s match. 

Hook got a huge ovation from the crowd. Bronson caught him with a back elbow and an eye rake. Bronson hit a sit-out tombstone…that Hook no sold. He was immediately back on his feet. Hook hit a tremendous clothesline and northern lights suplex. He stopped to soak in the cheers from the crowd and then hit a fantastic head and arm trap suplex. Hook locked in the Redrum (the former katahajime) and Bronson tapped out quickly to remain undefeated at 2-0.

– Recap of the Daniel Garcia/Eddie Kingston feud. Kingston/Santana/Ortiz v. Garcia/2point0 is set for Dynamite on Wednesday. 

Kris Statlander (w/ Orange Cassidy) defeated Leyla Hirsch (6:23) 

Statlander got a near fall after a powerslam. She followed up with a long delayed vertical suplex for another near fall. Hirsch escaped a cobra clutch and came back with a cross-arm breaker, but Statlander powered up. Hirsch hit a gamingiri and a middle rope moonsault for a near fall. Hirsch slapped Statlander, and Statlander hit a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Hirsch with a German suplex for another near fall. Statlander caught Hirsch with an elbow, a big boot, and locked in a spider crab to get Hirsch to tap out. Good back and forth action. 

After the match, Statlander tried to shake Hirsch’s hand (like they did before the match started), but Hirsch swatted it away.

Main Event Promo Time: Mark Henry asked how Cody can focus on this match when he’s got one foot out the door (because of all his outside projects). Arn Anderson is disrespectful to Guevara, and Guevara thinks this match is a bigger match for Cody than for himself. “It’s TIME for the MAIN EVENT!”

Cody Rhodes defeated Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship (15:08) 

This match opened the first episode of Dynamite. Brock Anderson and Lee Johnson came out with Arn & Cod to the stage, but went to the back. This match hit the ring with about 20 minutes left in the show. 

David Crockett was at ringside to present the championship to the winner. 

Cody got a somewhat mixed reaction from the fans, while Guevara was solidly cheered. Also, Cody wasn’t wearing his trademark weight belt. Guevara started out fast early on, stealing Cody’s trademark drop-down uppercut. Guevara sent Cody to the floor with a dropkick and Cody went into the crowd to stall. 

Back in the ring, Cody slowed the match down with a side headlock. Dueling “Let’s go Cody/Cody SUCKS!” chant. Cody went for the Flair flop, and Guevara caught him and hip tossed him back in the ring. Guevara went for a disaster kick, but Cody ducked and hit a springboard cutter. The fight went to the floor, and Guevara sent Rhodes into the ringside stairs. Guevara went for a shooting star press, but Rhodes dodged it. Guevara landed on his feet, but Rhodes grabbed him by the arm and sent it into the steel barricade. Back in the ring, Rhodes worked over Guevara’s arm with a short-arm scissors. 

Rhodes dominated the match through  a picture-in-picture commercial break, continuing to work over Guevara’s arm. Rhodes dropped Guevara face-first out of a vertical suplex, but missed a moonsault. Guevara hit an enziguri and a double jump cutter for a near fall. Guevara hit the Cross Rhodes on Cody, but Rhodes rolled to the floor before Guevara could make a cover. Guevara hit a double jump 450 to the floor on Cody, which was pretty insane. Guevara went for a jumping hurricanrana, but Rhodes caught him and powerbomb Guevara into three “fans” in the front row. 

Back in the ring, Cody hit the disaster kick. Rhodes went for the Cross Rhodes, but Guevara countered. Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes on the second try, and it got a two count. Guevara was still out on his feet though. Rhodes went for a reverse superplex, but Guevara countered that into a GTH! But, Rhodes kicked out of that. 

Guevara went to the top for the 630 splash, but Rhodes got his knees up. Rhodes then hit Guevara with two Cross Rhodes and a Tiger Driver 98 to get the pin and his 3rd TNT Championship. Excellent match. 

The fans roundly booed the new champion, and the Nightmare Family came out to celebrate the new champion. David Crockett presented Cody with the championship while Guevara watched, slumped in corner. Rhodes held up the belt and celebrated and the crowd kept booing Rhodes’ celebration. 

Final Thoughts: 

I’m sure the internet reaction to Cody winning the TNT title again will be rational and measured. 

Kassidy looked really good in his match with Jungle Boy, and might be better off as a singles guy for a little bit. The young talent got a chance to shine on this show and all of them looked great tonight.

AEW Rampage live results: Superkliq & Fish vs. Best Friends & Romero

Posted on by Joseph Collins

The Superkliq & Bobby Fish will be in eight-man tag team action on Friday’s AEW Rampage.

The Young Bucks, Adam Cole and Fish will take on Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Trent and Rocky Romero of Best Friends. The two sides have been feuding for several weeks with the Best Friends looking to get revenge after being beaten down by the heels last week after Cole defeated Wheeler Yuta.

In a ten-man tag, AEW Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers will team with Santana & Ortiz and Eddie Kingston to take on Daniel Garcia, 2point0 and The Acclaimed.

In a submission match, Tay Conti will take on Penelope Ford in a grudge match between the two heated rivals.

Friday’s show will also see the return of ATT’s Dan Lambert in his first AEW appearance since ATT and Men of the Year lost to The Inner Circle at November’s Full Gear.

This week’s matches were taped on Wednesday in Garland, Texas, after Dynamite.

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Hosts are Taz, Excalibur, and Ricky Starks 

Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Trent and Rocky Romero (w/ Wheeler Yuta) defeated The Young Bucks, Adam Cole & Bobby Fish (w/ Brandon Cutler) (13:28) 

Confirmed for Dynamite on Wednesday during the entrances is the first TBS Title Tournament semi-final match, Ruby Soho v. Nyla Rose. 

Chuck Taylor and Matt Jackson started out, and Taylor hit the standing sliced bread for an early near fall. Rocky Romero got the tag and hit Matt with a step up hurricanrana, and Matt quickly tagged in Bobby Fish. 

Tags were soon made to make Orange Cassidy and Adam Cole the legal men in the ring. It looked like they’d face off, but Cole thought better of it and tagged out to Nick Jackson instead. This was an excellent exchange that saw both men do a top rope walk the tightrope spot and ended with the heels running in and taking out Cassidy. Then on the floor, The Bucks and Cole powerbombed Beretta on the edge of the ring apron, and back in the ring the Superkliq superkicked Cassidy. The show went to the split-screen ad break. 

Back from break, Cassidy was double-teamed by the Bucks for a near fall. Cole set up Cassidy for the running double superkick from the Bucks, but the Best Friends tripped up the Bucks while they ran the ropes, and Cassidy cradled Cole for a near fall. Cassidy countered a Panama Sunrise attempt from Cole, then got the hot tag to Baretta. 

Beretta came in like a house of fire. He hit a half-and-half suplex on Nick Jackson, then double clotheslined Nick and Cole. Beretta hit a senton on Cole on the apron, then nailed Fish with a spear on the floor. A diving splash on Nick Jackson got Beretta a near fall. Romero and Beretta hit a double knee strike on Nick Jackson. The former Roppongi 3K double teamed Nick Jackson. Romero hit a top rope dropkick on Nick’s back, and Beretta slid in with a knee strike. Then the Best Friends hit the half and half/soul food combination on Cole, and Taylor hit a tope con hilo on Fish and Matt Jackson on the floor.  Beretta went to the middle rope for a move, but he was yanked off the ropes by Nick Jackson, hitting his neck against the turnbuckle. The Bucks and Cole hit a triple team neckbreaker on Baretta, and Fish came in with a  top rope splash for a near fall. 

Fish hit a top rope falcon arrow on Beretta for a near fall, but Cassidy broke up the pin attempt. Cassidy set up the Orange Punch, but Cole cut him off with a pump kick. Romero hit a heel kick on Cole, and then hit a tope suicida on the floor. Nick hit a twisting plancha on Romero and Taylor, and then Cassidy hit the Orange Punch on Matt, sending him to the floor. Cassidy then hit a top rope springboard senton on the pile on the floor. Back in the ring, Beretta hit Fish with the Strong Zero and held him down for the pin. This was crazy bonkers great. It probably should have been the party match that followed Danielson/Page on Dynamite to keep the million viewers that match had at its peak.

– Dan Lambert cut an in-ring promo with the Men of the Year. Lambert trashed Tony Khan, calling him two-faced. Lambert said Khan is giving the title matches to “undeserving EVPs” and started to trash Cody Rhodes, which of course brought out Cody. Rhodes is so screwed as a babyface if he can’t get cheered against Dan Lambert. Rhodes and Lambert took turns stealing the mic from each other in a funny bit, and then without saying anything Cody attacked the Men of the Year. Cody was quickly overwhelmed. Dustin Rhodes ran in to save his brother, but Lambert distracted Dustin and soon both Rhodes brothers  were down. Sammy Guevara finally ran in and hit a double jump cutter on Scorpio Sky, and ran off the Men of the Year. Guevara and Cody Rhodes will fight for the TNT title on the Christmas Night episode of Rampage. 

– Quick promos for the TBS Title Tournament semi-final matches from the remaining women involved. 

Tay Conti (w/ Anna Jay) defeated Penelope Ford (w/ The Bunny) in a submission match (5:20)

Conti jumped Ford before the bell and hit a pump kick early on. Conti got a half-crab early on, but Bunny helped Ford get to the ropes to force a break. Conti also got a juji gatame for another submission attempt, again broken by Ford getting the ropes. Bunny distracted Conti when she locked in another submission attempt. Ford caught Conti in a dragon sleeper. Ford caught Conti with a handspring cutter, then rolled into a cravat for another submission attempt. Conti came back with a pump kick, then countered a cazadora attempt by dropping down. Conti chicken-winged Ford’s arm with her leg, then pulled back on Ford’s neck, and Ford quickly tapped out. 

After the match, Bunny nailed Conti with the brass knuckles, and Anna Jay chased off Ford and Bunny with a steel chair. So I guess this feud must continue. 

– The Owen Hart Cup: Excalibur announced that both men’s and women’s tournaments will take place next May and wrap up at Double or Nothing, and that Dr. Martha Hart would present trophies to the winners. The graphic for the tournaments looked to be the traditional single elimination brackets. More details will come on Wednesday’s Dynamite. 

Run down of new matches for upcoming shows: 

  • Adam Cole vs. Orange Cassidy was added to Dynamite on Wednesday. 
  • Hook vs. Bear Bronson was added to Rampage which will air next Saturday (Christmas Day) at 9pm.
  • And the first match for Battle of the Belts on January 8th, Dr. Britt Baker will defend the AEW World Women’s title against Riho. 

Main Event Face to Face Promo Segment: Mark Henry moderates. Kingston cut off the 2point0 guys from their nonsense, then told Mark Henry it was time to do his thing “and all that jazz.” “It’s TIME for the MAIN EVENT.” 

2point0, Daniel Garcia and The Acclaimed defeated Eddie Kingston, Santana, Ortiz and Lucha Bros (w/ Alex Abrahantes) (8:31)

Kingston and his team attacked the heels on their way to the ring, robbing us of the opportunity to be offended by Max Caster’s rap. Lots of brawling around the ring before the match officially started with Penta and Caster in the ring. Taz tried to claim Penta’s chest protector was loaded with steel, which Excalibur quickly refuted. “Stop sticking up for the masked guys all the time!” The Lucha Bros were incredibly over with the crowd, and Caster took a beating from both Penta and Fenix. Santana and Ortiz hit some wild double teams on Anthony Bowens and the show took its last split-screen break.  

Back from the break, Santana hit a springboard moonsault on both Parker and Lee of 2point0, and got the tag to Penta. Penta hit sling blades on 2point0. Fenix got the tag and hit a punt on Bowens, then a tor-knee-do on Garcia for a near fall. Kingston got the tag so he could get after Garcia, but the 2point0 guys pulled him out of the ring. Penix and Penta hit stereo dives on the 2point0 guys. Santana hit a piledriver on Garcia, and Kingston hit an exploder suplex on Bowens. Garcia then got a rollup on Kingston and held his tights to get the surprise win. 

After the match, Bowens hit Kingston with the boombox. Jungle Boy’s music played, and the heels stood facing the stage waiting for Jurassic Express. Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus and Christian Cage ran in from the crowd and attack the heels from behind, chasing them off. Then, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus made a point of giving the Lucha Bros their belts back, teasing a future match between the number one contenders Jurassic Express and the World Tag Champions the Lucha Bros.

Final Thoughts: 

I would think Cody teaming with his brother against Lambert’s crew would get the fans behind him again, but if that doesn’t do it, I don’t know what will. Also the announcement regarding the Owen Hart cup was kind of a nothingburger. The 8 man tag was great, the 10 man was fine, and the submission match was pretty skippable. 

AEW Rampage live results: Guevara vs. Nese TNT title match

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Friday’s AEW Rampage will feature TNT Champion Sammy Guevara defending the gold against Tony Nese.

Since debuting in AEW in November, Nese has been undefeated and got the shot via Guevara’s open challenge policy. Nese laid out Guevara in a backstage segment nearly two weeks ago, saying the only reason he had the belt was because guys like him weren’t available yet.

In a bit of a change, Penta El Zero Miedo and PAC will take on FTR. This was originally set to be a 2-out-of-3 falls AEW Tag Team title match between the Lucha Bros and FTR but Rey Fenix couldn’t make the show due to visa issues, hence PAC’s inclusion.

Jade Cargill will look to remain undefeated as she goes one-on-one with Janai Kai, a student of Thunder Rosa. Rosa will also be on commentary and is Cargill’s opponent in the next round of the TBS title tournament.

This week’s matches were taped Wednesday in Duluth, Georgia.

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Your hosts are Excalibur, Taz and Ricky Starks. Chris Jericho was out with an injury, suffered on Wednesday in an attck from 2point0. I heard he had to seek treatment in Europe.

Sammy Guevara defeated Tony Nese in a match for the TNT Championship (12:53)

Guevara still had his DDP tribute rib injury. 

Guevara nailed a perfect twisting tope suicida through the ropes on Nese, and threw him about the ring steps and barricade around ringside. Even though he was on offense, Guevara was selling injured ribs. Nese caught Guevara with an elevated stomach buster for a near fall. Nese snapped Guevara’s neck across the top rope, then followed up with a springboard moonsault from the middle rope for a near fall. Nese worked over Guevara with a body scissors and the show went to its first picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Nese grabbed a single-leg boston crab and drove a knee into Guevara’s ribs while applying the hold. Guevara came back with a series of clotheslines and a double jump springboard cutter for a near fall. Nese countered a GTH attempt into another single crab, but Guevara maneuvered that into a small package for a near fall. Another series of counters ended with Guevara hitting a Spanish Fly for a near fall.  

Guevara hit a top rope springboard moonsault on Nese to the floor. Nese came back with his own twisting tope suicida on the floor and a 450 splash in the ring for a near fall. Nese powerbomed Guevara into the corner, but Guevara came back with a leaping pump kick and the GTH to get the pin. 

– Christian Cage cut a promo for Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus. They are scouting the tag champions tonight. Cage’s promo was practically screaming “heel turn on Jungle Boy” and I can’t wait. 

Jade Cargill (w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling) defeated “The Kick Demon” Janai Kai (0:31)

Thunder Rosa joined the commentary team for this match. Cargill gave Rosa the old side-eye on the way to the ring. 

Cargill offered Kai a free attempt at a side headlock, and then immediately threw her off. Pump kick and Jaded Slam finished off Kai. 

After the match, Cargill jumped Kai, and Rosa ran in from commentary to make the save. A bunch of referees broke up the fight, and Rosa looked to be getting the better of Cargill. 

– Adam Cole and The Young Bucks cut a promo on Orange Cassidy and the Best Friends. Notable was Don Callis randomly walking through the background of the promo. The Young Bucks will come back on Wednesday to face two members of the Best Friends. 

– Recap of the Chris Jericho/Eddie Kingston/2point0 angle from last week. Kingston in a backstage segment promised he didn’t care about Jericho, but still wanted to get his hands on 2point0. 

– Preview of Bryan Danielson vs. John Silver. Danielson got an awesome low-key dig on Silver: “You become the five people you spend the most time with. Does John Silver spend his time with elite people?” 

– Newly announced for Dynamite: Young Bucks v. Chuck Taylor & Rocky Romero. 

Main Event Promo: Mark Henry asked PAC how he can wrestle with one eye. This quickly devolved into a shouting match, and Henry had to shut them up with, “It’s time for the main event!” Is that a t-shirt for him yet? If it’s not, it should be. 

FTR (w/ Tully Blanchard) defeated Penta El Zero Miedo and PAC (w/ Alex Abrahantes) (18:19)

Rey Fenix is “injured,” diagnosed with “travel difficulticulitis.” PAC is wearing an eye patch after being “blinded” by Malakai Black’s mist from last week on Dynamite. 

Penta and Cash Wheeler started out with some pretty good mat work. PAC and Penta combined to nail a double basement dropkick on Wheeler. Harwood got the tag and PAC hip tossed and body slammed Harwood. PAC with a high back body drop. Penta came in with the double stomp off  the top to Harwood tailbone for a near fall. Wheeler broke up the pin attempt and FTR double teamed Penta to get the advantage.

Penta was in trouble for a bit in the FTR corner, but got the tag and PAC devastated Harwood with kicks. Everything PAC did was so crisp and intense… until he went for a springboard and tripped over his feet, into a forearm from Harwood. FTR took the advantage and the show went to its final picture-in-picture break.

Back from the break, Wheeler has PAC locked in a Cobra Clutch. PAC fought out of it and sent Wheeler to the floor, but Harwood threw his partner back in the ring so he could get the tag. PAC got Harwood with an enziguri and went to tag Penta, but Wheeler pulled Penta to the floor. FTP hit the Demolition Decapitation elbow for a near fall, but referee Rick Knox stopped the count because the illegal member of FTR was making the pin! Harwood took PAC to the top for a superplex, but PAC fought out of it, shoved Harwood to the mat and hit a shotgun dropkick. 

Wheeler tried to cut off PAC from getting the tag, but PAC backdropped him and got the tag to Penta. Slingblade and chops for both members of FTR. Penta hit a cazadora on Wheeler into a DDT on Harwood. Penta was flying all over the places, taking out both members of FTR with ease. Penta hit the backstabber on Wheeler for another near fall. 

Wheeler countered Penta’s attempt at a package piledriver.  Wheeler held up Penta in a wheelbarrow and Harwood flew off the top with a legdrop (a Midnight Express tribute) for another near fall. Penta hit a corkscrew code red on Harwood for another near fall. PAC got the tag and went for a crossbody, but Harwood rolled through and got a near fall. Hardwood with a picture-perfect tiger driver for another near fall. Blanchard got on the apron to argue the last near fall, and PAC and Blanchard collided. In the confusion, PAC got a near fall with a roll up and bridge. 

On the floor, Wheeler hit a DDT on Penta. PAC clotheslined Harwood to the floor, and PAC came off the top with a moonsault to the floor. PAC is about to finish off Harwood on the apron, but Malakai Black came out of nowhere to spit mist in PAC’s good eye. Harwood rolled up a now completely blind PAC for the pinfall. Excellent match. 

After the match, FTR tore the mask off of Penta. And Black attacked PAC, gouging his eye out. Black held up his hand with PAC’s blood on it to close the show. 

Final Thoughts: 

That was a very heel-heat heavy ending, with PAC now completely blind and Penta unmasked. But it’s setting up PAC vs. Black and another  FTR v. Lucha Bros match. 

Pretty good show this week. 

AEW Rampage live results: Eddie Kingston vs. Daniel Garcia

Posted on by Joseph Collins

The Black Friday edition of AEW Rampage will feature three matches, one of which has a future title shot on the line.

Eddie Kingston will face Daniel Garcia in a battle of New York State natives. This came together when Kingston was doing a backstage promo and Garcia and 2point0 interrupted to run Kingston down. It continued last Wednesday as Garcia and 2point0 again harassed Kingston with Garcia throwing hot coffee in Kingston’s face during a pull-apart brawl.

AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker will face former champion Riho in a Black Friday Deal match where Riho can earn a future title shot with a win. This came together because it was revealed Wednesday that Riho wasn’t eliminated in the recent Casino Women’s Battle Royal and thus deserved the opportunity.

The show’s third match will see Adam Cole and Bobby Fish team up once again as they take on Orange Cassidy and Wheeler Yuta of Best Friends.

This week’s matches were taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Chicago, Illinois.

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Happy Black Friday Rampage! 

Your hosts are Excalibur, Taz, Ricky Starks and Chris Jericho. 

Adam Cole & Bobby Fish defeated  Orange Cassidy & Wheeler Yuta (12:52) 

Chuck Taylor and Kris Statlander walked out with Cassidy and Yuta, but returned to the back. 

Cole stopped Cassidy from putting his hands in his pockets so he could do his “Adam Cole bay-bay!” taunt with the crowd. The story of the opening moments continued to be Cassidy teasing getting his hands in his pockets, and Cole preventing him. Yuta was also far more energetic than Cassidy. Yuta got caught on the middle rope and Cole pulled him to the mat. This gave Cole and Fish the advantage. Fish hit a neckbreaker and the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from break, Yuta dumped Cole to the floor and hit Fish with an enziguri. Yuta almost got the tag to Cassidy, but Cole pulled Cassidy to the floor. Yuta caught both his opponents with elbows and a middle rope dropkick, then tagged in Cassidy, who got his hands in his pockets! Cassidy hit both his opponents with a dropkick, then sent both Cole and Fish down to the floor with one rana. Cassidy came though the ropes with a tope suicida and Yuta came off the top with a crossbody to the floor. 

Back in the ring, Yuta hit a frog splash on Cole for a near fall. Cassidy hit a slumdog millionaire, Yuta followed up with a German suplex and Cassidy finished the sequence with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Fish came back with an exploder. Cole followed in with a knee strike and Fish locked in a kneebar on Cassidy. Yuta broke that up and Cassidy hit Beach Break on Cole. Fish came back with an exploder on Cassidy, but Yuta got the tag. 

Yuta hit an Angle slam on Fish for a near fall. Yuta went to the top, but Cole crotched him. Cole whipped Cassidy into the ring steps, and Fish hit a top rope falcon arrow on Yuta to get the pinfall. 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed Tony Nese (too many Tonys around here! Call one of them Budge.). Nese challenged Sammy Guevara for the TNT title. Guevara showed up to accept the challenge. After a brief confrontation, Nese punched Guevara’s bad ribs, sending him to the ground. 

– In a backstage segment, FTR challenged Lucha Bros to a 2 out of 3 falls match. 

Riho defeated Dr. Britt Baker, DMD (w/ Rebel & Jamie Hayter) in a Black Friday Deal Match (7:26 aired)

By virtue of winning this non-title match,  Riho will get a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship. 

Hayter accompanied Baker, but did not look happy to be there, still angry about losing on Dynamite. Baker went for the Lockjaw early on, but she escaped to the ropes, where Baker stomped her. While Baker distracted the ref, Hayer and Rebel choked Riho against the ropes. Riho came back with a pair of dropkicks that sent Baker to the floor, and Riho hit a top rope crossbody on Baker and Rebel on the floor. 

Back in the ring, Baker caught Riho charging and sent her headfirst into the middle turnbuckle, and the show went to break. 

Baker hit a slingblade for a near fall. On commentary,  Excalibur made a point  to say Britt has never beaten Riho. Riho hit  a head scissors and a charging knee into the corner.  Baker responded with a suplex into the corner and went for the  Air Raid Crash, but Riho slipped out and planted Baker with a dragon suplex for a near fall. Baker hit the Air Raid Crash on the second try for a near fall. Riho came back with a northern lights suplex for a near fall, and followed up with a double foot stomp from the top for another near fall. Baker went for a fisherman’s neckbreaker, but Riho slipped out of it and cradled Baker for the pinfall. 

Next Wednesday on Dynamite: 

  • Cody Rhodes vs. Andrade El Idolo in an Atlanta Street fight.
  • TBS Title Quarterfinal: Ruby Soho v. Kris Statlander
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Alan Angels
  • Billy & Colton Gunn  vs. Sting & Darby Allin 

Next Friday for Rampage: 

  • TNT Title: Sammy Guevara v. Tony Nese 
  • AEW World Tag Titles, 2 out of 3 falls: The Lucha Bros vs. FTR

That is a loaded up Rampage for next week.  

Mark Henry moderates the face-to-face segment. The 2point0 guys ran their mouths. Kingston said talk is cheap. “It’s time for the main event!”

Eddie Kingston defeated Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) (14:58)

This match told a very good story of Garcia trying to outwork Kingston on the mat, but Kingston coming back with strikes or powerful throws to counter Garcia’s wrestling. 

Lots of good matwork from both guys to start. Garcia tried to turn the match into a slugfest and that went very badly for him. The 2point0 guys pulled Garcia to the floor, and Kingston took them both out. When Kingston went back in the ring, Garcia caught him with a kick and took control. Garcia tried to whip Kingston out of the corner, but Kingston overpowered him with chops, then poked him in the eye.

Kingston hit a knee off the middle rope, then started selling his knee. Garcia came back with a doublechop to the throat and started to go after Kingston’s leg. Kingston came back by biting Garcia and throwing him down face first out of a suplex. The show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Garcia stomped away at Kingston while controlling his arm. Garcia tried to whip Kingston into the turnbuckle, but Kingston’s knee gave out. Garcia then walked into an exploder suplex. Garcia went for a kneebar, but Kington made the ropes. Garcia kept work in the leg and got a jackknife cover, but Kingston rolled out of it and powerbombed Garcia. 

Kingston went for a half and half suplex, but Garcia countered into another heel hook. Garcia battered Kingston away with hammer punches. Kingston caught Garcia with a half and half suplex. Garcia kept instinctively going to the ropes whenever he was in trouble. Both guys exchanged crazy strikes back and forth, and Kingston hit an enziguri. Garcia came back with a lariat and both guys were down. 

Garcia dropped a knee on Kingston, and Kingston came back with a slap.  Garcia went for a piledriver, Kingston hit a Saito suplex. He went for the spinning backfist, Garcia ducked but Kingston hit it on the second try. Kingston got the pinfall. 

Very good match. 

2point0 jumped Kingston after the match. Chris Jericho left the commentary desk and made the save. Jericho had already been annoyed with 2point0 on commentary so that made sense. Kingston didn’t exactly look thrilled with Jericho. Then again, Kingston rarely looks thrilled with anybody. 

Final Thoughts: 

Nothing wrong with this week’s show, although Rampage definitely felt like a “b-show” this week. But with the announced lineup so far, it will be hard to say that about next week’s show. 

AEW Rampage live results: Cole & Fish vs. Jurassic Express

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Friday’s AEW Rampage will see former Undisputed Era members Adam Cole and Bobby Fish reunite as they take on Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus of Jurassic Express.

The match was made on Wednesday’s Dynamite as Cole tries to get revenge on behalf of the SuperKliq following their falls count anywhere loss to Jurassic Express and Christian Cage. The Young Bucks weren’t cleared to compete so Cole recruited his old NXT teammate to take up the fight on their behalf.

Another quarterfinal of the TBS title tournament will be part of the show as Jade Cargill takes on rival Red Velvet. Velvet advanced with a win over The Bunny in the first round while the undefeated Cargill earned a bye.

In an interesting clash of styles, Darby Allin will look to rebound from his Full Gear loss to MJF as he battles Billy Gunn, leader of the Gunn Club.

This week’s show was taped Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia.

**********

Darby Allin (w/ Sting) defeated  Billy Gunn (w/ Austin & Colten Gunn) (8:32)

Billy Gunn wrestling? This isn’t Dark. 

Allin’s ribs were taped and he was selling sore ribs from his match with MJF. Billy Gunn offered a test of strength to Allin, and Allin slapped him. Billy responded by ignoring a dropkick and backdropping Allin. Billy tossed Allin around the ringside area and stared at Sting. And Allin sold.  Billy dodged Allin’s suicide dive and Allin wiped out on the floor. Billy Gunn did nothing at all and Allin bumped all over the place to try and make the match interesting. It’s didn’t work. 

Back from the picture-in-picture break, Allin hit the coffin drop on the floor on both Austin and Colten. Then Billy Gunn tossed Allin around some more. BIlly missed his version of the Stinger splash, and Allin hit the flip stunner and a sloppy code red. Allin hit the coffin drop and Billy kicked out after one. Allin hit a second coffin drop and finally got the pinfall. 

I hated this. Allin only got offense in the last 30 seconds of the match. The rest was Allin bumping for Gunn. This was not a good way to open the show. 

After the match, the Gunn sons attacked Allin, and Sting made the save. Billy Gunn laid out Sting, and the Gunn Club stood tall over Sting and Allin. 

– In a backstage interview with Tony Schiavone, QT Marshall challenged CM Punk to a match for Dynamite in Chicago. 

– In a pretaped interview, Chris Jericho talked up The Inner Circle’s victory at Full Gear.  The Men of the Year responded in their own pretaped interview and promised American Top Team would be back. 

TBS Tournament Quarterfinal: Jade Cargill (w/ Smart Mark Sterling) defeated Red Velvet (6:08 aired) 

After an initial back and forth, Cargill muscled Velvet over with a fallaway slam. Cargill followed with a pumphandle slam, dumping Velvet face first on the mat. Velvet came back with a leg lariat that sent Cargill to the floor. Velvet went for a tope, but Cargill caught her with a palm strike. Cargill dropped Velvet with an uranage on the ring apron and the show went to a break. 

After the break, Cargill beeled Velvet across the ring and did some pushups. Velvet came back with clotheslines and a bulldog. Cargill dodged Velvet with a leapfrog, then leveled her with a pump kick. Cargill went for the jaded, but Velvet kicked off the ropes and got a near fall with a cradle. Velvet hit a spear for another near fall. Velvet went for the final slice, but Cargill countered into the jaded slam to get the win. 

Some timing issues aside, this wasn’t a bad match. 

– Thunder Rosa cut a promo on Jamie Hayter. The Rosa/Hayter TBS Title Tournament Quarterfinal match is Wednesday night. 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed CM Punk. Punk/Marshall is official for the Wednesday night as well. “We’ll see who the turkey is.” 

Announced for “Black Friday Rampage” next week is Daniel Garcia v. Eddie Kingston.  The “Winter is Coming” episode of Dynamite is official for Garland, Texas on December 15th. 

Face to Face interview. The Young Bucks ranted about the beating they took on Saturday. Jungle Boy got the burn of the night, “When I saw my first Bobby Fish match, I won.” Adam Cole and his very good friend Bobby Fish didn’t have much to say after that. Mark Henry asked Christian if he was worried about interference from the Bucks, and Christian held up a steel chair. “It’s time for the main event!” 

Jurassic Express defeated Adam Cole & Bobby Fish (15:26) 

Adam Cole and Junge Boy started the match. Fish got the tag and hit a slingshot senton on Jungle Boy. Jungle Boy came back with an armdrag and a dropkick, then made the tag to Luchasaurus. Luchasaurus won a kick exchange with Fish, and Jungle Boy came in with a top rope senton to get a near fall. Cole caught Jungle Boy with a knee and a gamengiri from the apron. The heels took over on Jungle Boy as the show went to a picture in picture break.

After the break, Fish had Jungle Boy in a chinlock. Jungle Boy escaped and hit the rebound lariat. Tags were made on both sides, and Luchasaurus dominated both Cole and Fish. The crowd was firmly behind Luchasaurus as he floored his oppoents with a double clothesline. Luchasaurus tried for a double goozle, but Cole escaped and caught Luchasaurus with a pump kick. Jungle Boy got the tag and Jurassic Express got a double team cutter on Cole for a near fall. A pair of kicks took out Luchasaurus, and Cole and Fish hit a brainbuster/head kick combo  on Jungle Boy. Fish hit a tope on Luchasaurus on the floor as Cole got the near fall on Jungle Boy. 

This left Jungle Boy and Cole one on one for a nice exchange. Jungle Boy went for the snare trap, but Cole escaped and both men hit superkicks. Cole went for the Panama sunrise, but Luchasaurus came in and powerbombed Cole. Jungle Boy hit an elbow to the back of Cole’s head for a pin attempt that Fish broke up. Fish got the tag from Cole and worked over Jungle Boy’s leg with kicks and a dragon screw leg whip. Fish charged, but Jungle Boy suplexed Fish into the corner. 

The still-not-cleared Young Bucks came out to distract Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy. This brought out Christian with a steel chair to chase the Bucks and Cole away from the ring. Fish tried to get win with a roll up, but Jungle Boy countered into the snare trap, and after a bit of a struggle, Fish submitted. This is the second time in as many weeks that Cole has left Fish for dead. 

Final Thoughts: 

The main event saved the show, but I was really turned off by Billy Gunn dominating Allin. The story between the Gunns and Sting/Allin does not look like it’s over. Even if it’s only a two week program, that’s two weeks too long for me. 

AEW Rampage live results: Cassidy vs. Hardy lumberjack match

Posted on by Joseph Collins

With Full Gear coming up on Saturday, Friday’s live edition of AEW Rampage from Minneapolis, Minnesota, will feature a lumberjack match in addition to a grudge match based on the events of Wednesday’s Dynamite.

In the aforementioned lumberjack match, Orange Cassidy will take on rival Matt Hardy. Hardy, The Blade and Isiah Kassidy jumped Cassidy, Chuck Taylor and Wheeler Yuta Wednesday after Yuta’s loss to Wardlow. Hardy put Cassidy’s head through a chair and then delivered a Twist of Fate to lay him out.

In another match born from Dynamite, Jungle Boy will face Bobby Fish. Fish attacked Jungle Boy after his win over Anthony Bowens, later learned to be at the behest of former NXT stablemate Adam Cole. Cole then suggested Fish wrestle Jungle Boy on Rampage to soften him up for the Cole/Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express/Christian Cage match at Full Gear. 

Jade Cargill will celebrate her first year under an AEW deal by taking on Santana Garrett. Cargill is preparing for her upcoming match against Red Velvet in the TBS title tournament.

**********

We are LIVE from the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN with Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho and Ricky Starks on commentary. 

Jungle Boy defeated Bobby Fish (10:14)

Jericho dropped “that fact is undisputed” on commentary when Excalibur said Bobby Fish was doing the dirty work of the Superkliq, also laying breadcrumbs for the inevitable Undisputed Era (or whatever Cole’s group will end up being called) v. Elite feud. 

Jungle Boy rushed the ring early and attacked Fish early, but when he went for a move on the ropes, Fish knocked him out of the ring in an ugly-looking bump. Fish got an advantage on the floor, but back in the ring Jungle Boy regained control. Jungle Boy battered Fish with chops in the corner. 

The fight went to the floor again when Jungle Boy tried to suplex Fish out of the ring. Fish whipped Jungle Boy into the barricade and worked on his arm. The fight continued on the floor as the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Jungle Boy hit a basement dropkick and his stiff rebound lariat. But Fish kept working on the arm. Fish got a nearfall after a hammerlock back suplex. Jungle Boy caught Fish with a belly to belly suplex into the turnbuckles, then got a nearfall after a German suplex with a bridge. Fish went back to his attack on the arm. He caught Jungle Boy with the exploder suplex into the ropes for a very, very close nearfall. Jungle Boy was out of it (even though he kicked out) and his left arm was hanging lifelessly, and Fish kicked away at it. But, Jungle Boy caught Fish’s last kick, and hooked Fish in the snare trap and got the submission. 

Post match, Adam Cole ran in and attacked Jungle Boy. Fish popped up and immediately helped Cole beat down Jungle Boy. Cole grabbed a pair of chairs for a conchairto, but Christian and Luchasarus ran off Cole. Cole abandoned Fish (you might say he hung Fish out to dry?), leaving him to take the Killswitch from Christian. The Young Bucks and their stooge came out and joined Cole to exchange taunts with the babyfaces in the ring from the safety of the entrance stage.

– Quick promo for the Miro/Bryan Danielson match tomorrow night. Miro is on fire as a promo right now. These were most likely clips from the “Road to Full Gear” show that airs later tonight.

– Adam Cole and the Young Bucks were about to cut a promo for the pay-per-view, but Adam Page interrupted. Page apologized to the Young Bucks for throwing away their friendship. Page knows he cost the Young Bucks a world tag title shot last year, but this summer the Bucks cost Page a title shot in the ten man elimination match. Page tells the Bucks if they interfere in his match tomorrow night, he will ruin them. A very effective promo. 

Jade Cargill (w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling) defeated Santana Garrett (1:59) 

Red Velvet was shown watching in the crowd. There was also a cake at ringside celebrating Jade’s one year anniversary with AEW and if you don’t know where this is going this must be your first night watching wrestling. 

Cargill went to the floor to taunt Red Velvet early, and threw Santana into the crowd onto Garrett. Back in the ring, Cargill ended Garrett with the Jaded Slam (Glam Slam). 

And of course, after the match Velvet speared Cargill, then sent Sterling face-first into the cake. Velvet and Cargill fought on the floor until they were separated by referees. 

– Quick promo for Eddie Kingston and CM Punk. Punk: “How is Eddie Kingston going to beat himself at Full Gear?” Kingston: “I wanted you [Punk] to fight me in the parking lot.” 

Dante Martin defeated Ariya Daivari (5:33)

Lio Rush was not with Martin to advise him, which the members of Team Taz would take advantage of after the match. On commentary, Taz talked up Martin and had all of Team Taz behind him (literally behind him) watching the match. 

Martin got a great hometown pop from the crowd.   “Both these guys!” chant from the crowd. Martin went for a springboard but Daivari caught him and sent him face-first into the turnbuckle.

Daivari caught Martin with a clothesline and hit a frog splash for a near fall. Daivari was very deliberate when he was on offense. Martin caught Daivari with a cradle for a near fall, avoided a charge that sent Daivari to the floor, and then hit a top from springboard crossbody to the floor. Martin won with the double jump moonsault. 

After the match, Hook and Powerhouse Hobbs gave Martin a contract to join Team Taz, while Ricky Starks encouraged Martin to sign the contract over the house mic. 

– Rundown of the Full Gear card, with a focus on the Tay Conti/Britt Baker match.

– Mark Henry moderated the face-to-face segment between Matt Henry and Orange Cassidy. Cassidy promised the feud would be over after tonight.

Matt Hardy defeated Orange Cassidy in a Lumberjack Match (10:25)

Hardy offered $20,000 to any of the lumberjacks around the ring who could take out Orange Cassidy for him, which triggered a brawl between all of the lumberjacks at ringside. Cassidy is still wearing the DDP-tribute rib tape to sell his injured ribs from the Hobbs and Miro matches from the last month. 

Cassidy was tossed out early on by the Gunn Club, but he dispatched them pretty easily. Then Hardy tossed Casssidy to the side where Private Party and the Blade were, and they attacked, sending Cassidy into the ringside barricade. Back in the ring, Hardy dominated Cassidy and the show went to its last picture-in-picture break. 

Hardy dumped Cassidy back to the floor, and members of the Wingmen and the Factory beat on Cassidy’s ribs. The Best Friends (dressed like lumberjacks because they’re awesome) hit a pair of tope con hilos over the top rope onto all the lumberjacks attacking Cassidy. Cassidy then dove back into the ring and hit a tope suicida on Private Party on the other side of the ring. Back in the ring, Cassidy dumped Hardy and The Best Friends propelled Cassidy over the top onto the pile of bodies on the floor. 

Cassidy hit a top rope crossbody which Hardy sold like Cassidy broke his nose. Hardy was playing possum though, and he came back with a side effect for a near fall. Hardy went for the twist of fate, but Cassidy countered into a spinning DDT.  Cassidy tried to go to the top, but Isiah Kassidy tripped Orange Cassidy up. More members of the Best Friends and the Hardy family kept interfering in the match. Yuta hit a nice looking Olympic Slam on Blade, and Taylor hit a stuff piledriver on Isiah Kassidy. Hardy hit Chuck Taylor with the twist of fate.  Cassidy hit the beach break on Hardy. 

Cassidy set up the orange punch, and Solo got on the apron so Cassidy nailed him. Bunny and Statlander got into a brawl in the ring, and in all the confusion, Blade came in with the brass knuckles and knocked out Cassidy. Hardy then dropped an elbow that completely missed Cassidy, but it didn’t matter as Hardy then got the pinfall. 

After the match, Blade knocked out more of the babyface lumberjacks with the brass knuckles and Hardy locked Orange Cassidy in the leech. Bunny also got the brass knuckles and used them to hit Kris Statlander. The Hardy Family stood tall to end the show. 

Bad ending to an otherwise great show.

Final Thoughts: 

This show was a great 50 minute hard sell for Full Gear tomorrow night, but a real bad ending. No way should Orange Cassidy have lost that match. 

But still, very good hype job for Full Gear. 

AEW Rampage live results: Adam Cole vs. John Silver

Posted on by Joseph Collins

With Full Gear rapidly approaching, the feud between The Elite and Dark Order will continue on Friday’s live AEW Rampage from St. Louis as Adam Cole will face John Silver for the first time ever.

Both men will be making their Rampage in-ring debuts as well when they square off at the Chaifetz Arena in St Louis, Missouri. One of the storylines for this match was made on the BTE YouTube show as Silver has been trying to give Cole the nickname “Budge.”

CM Punk and Eddie Kingston will come face-to-face following their troubles that began on last week’s Rampage. Kingston interrupted Punk’s promo backstage after losing to Bryan Danielson in an AEW World title eliminator tournament match. That led to Punk calling out Kingston for a confrontation during a promo on Wednesday’s Dynamite ahead of what many assume to be a match at Full Gear.

The TBS Championship Tournament’s first round will conclude as The Bunny takes on Red Velvet. The winner moves on to face Jade Cargill, who has a bye, in the second round.

In a late addition to the card, Bryan Danielson will take on Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed ahead of the former challenge of Miro at Full Gear.

**********

We are live from St. Louis with Excalibur, Taz & Ricky Starks 

Bryan Danielson defeated Anthony Bowen (w/ Max Caster) (9:04)

Danielson adjusted ring announcer Justin Roberts’ tie before the match. Caster’s rap included the line that The Acclaimed “ends careers faster than your [Danielson’s] father-in-law” and everyone on commentary lost it at that line.  

Bowens actually kept up with Danielson on the mat early, and got a near fall with a crucifix.  Danielson floored Bowens with a high kick and backed him in the corner for chops and kicks. Bowens came back with chopes of his own, and Bowens responded with forearms. Bowens went for a vertical suplex, but Danielson caught him with a knee to break that up, and went for the cross arm breaker. Bowens got to the ropes, so Danielson kicked him out of the ring. 

Danielson went for a kick on the floor, but Bowens blocked the kick, then dropped Danielson face first on the apron. Caster clotheslined Danielson on the floor and the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Danielson hit Bowens with a series of forearms and a flying clothesline. Danielson followed up with the yes! kicks for a near fall. Danielson missed a dropkick in the corner, and Bownes caught Danielson with “the arrival,” an inverted DDT with his opponent tied up in the ropes. Danielson came back and backdropped Bowens out on top of Caster on the floor. Danielson then flew off the top ropes with a crossbody block on both members of the Acclaimed on the floor. Danielson with a top rope shotgun dropkick, the big stomps and then the LeBelle lock forced Bowens to tap out.

– After a recap of the FTR/Andrade/Cody angle from Wednesday on Dynamite, Andrade is shown in the back paying off MJF for the services of FTR for the next two weeks. Dax Harwood challenged PAC for next week.

CM Punk/Eddie Kingston confrontation.

Punk entrance started before the commercial, then when they returned from break Punk was jogging around the ring. “I just wanted everyone at home to think I was jogging for three and a half minutes.” Punk called out Kingston, and Kingston’s music played but he didn’t come out right away. So Punk taunted him a bit and Kingston stormed out and you could just feel this was going to be awesome. 

“You want an apology? Answer me when I’m talking to you!” Punk and Kingston started out in opposite corners along the diagonal of the ring and the additional distance between them added something to the promo. But by the end of this, they were both in each other faces.  Kingston blamed his absence on Wednesday on needing COVID tests because he didn’t want to potentially make anyone (or their kids) sick. Kingston apologized to the fans, but didn’t have an apology for Punk. Kingston looked up to all the independent stars in the locker room like Samoa Joe, the Amazing Red and Homicide when he first started out. But CM Punk always looked down Kingston and judged him. Kingston felt like Punk held him back, but Punk said Kingston couldn’t live up to the high standard Punk  — and Homicide, Samoa Joe, and even Bryan Danielson — set. “Because you’re a bum.” 

“Would a bum main event Full Gear?” Kingston told Punk no one in the locker room wants him in AEW, and Kingston challenged Punk for Full Gear. Punk was thinking Kingston was more suited for a match on Elevation or Dark, which only enraged Kingston further. “Fight me! Fight me! Fight me at Full Gear!” Punk asked the crowd (who obviously approved) and agreed to the match at Full Gear. Just when it looked like Punk is going to leave, Kingston told Punk after the match he could go away for seven more years. Punk headbutted Kingston and the fight was on. It didn’t take long for the referees and officials to run in to try and break up what turned out to be a massive pull apart brawl in the ring. Just when it seemed like the first wave of officials got them apart, Kingston broke free and lept back at Punk, and more officials poured out. Then when it looked like ordered was established again, Punk dove over everyone trying to restrain him and got back at Kingston again. 

As the crowd chanted “let them fight!” Excalibur announced Tony Khan made CM Punk v. Eddie Kingston official for Full Gear. 

At different points in the promo, both Punk and Kingston were cheered and booed. This was an excellent promo segment and did an amazing job setting up the Punk/Kingston match at Full Gear. 

– And in the back, Jungle Boy, Christian and Luchasaurus challenged The Young Bucks and Adam Cole for Full Gear in a Falls Count Anywhere match.

Red Velvet defeated The Bunny (3:34) 

Velvet charged the ring and attacked The Bunny before the bell. When The Bunny dropped to the floor, Velvet followed her out with a clothesline.  Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling watched from seats in the front row.  Bunny sent Velvet headfirst into the steps. Bunny did that ugly, contrived spot where she dropkicks her opponent in the back while their neck is wedged against the middle turnbuckle. 

Velvet came back with a leg lariat and a stunner for a near fall. Bunny got a near fall after a death valley driver. Bunny went for Down the rabbit hole, but Velvet countered that into the Final Slice neckbreaker and got the pinfall. 

Velvet will now take on Jade Cargill in the next round of the tournament.

Mark Henry moderated the face-to-face with John Silver and BUDGE, uh, sorry, Adam Cole. Silver is just trying to help the new kid on the block, but Cole is having none of it. 

Rundown for upcoming shows:

Next week’s Dynamite: 

  • Pac v. Dax Harwood 
  • Thunder Rosa, Tay Conti & Anna Jay vs. Dr. Britt Baker, Rebel & Jamie Hayter 
  • Matt Sydal & Lee Moriarty v. Dante Marin & Lio Rush 
  • Bryan Danielson v. Rocky Romero 
  • The World title match contract signing for Full Gear between Adam Page & Kenny Omega 

And added to Full Gear, Eddie Kingston v. CM Punk and the Jurassic Express/Christian v. Superkilq falls count anywhere match. 

Adam Cole (w/ The Young Bucks) defeated John Silver (11:03)

While Cole had the Bucks with him, Silver sent the rest of the Dark Order to the back and came out for the match on his own. Excalibur recapped the BTE storyline between SIlver and Cole (that Silver wants Cole to be his manager, change in name and cut his hair) and the other commentators ran down how stupid all that sounds. 

But I mean, no one in charge of creative for a wrestling company would ever come up with something that dumb. 

Anyway, Silver mimicked Cole’s “Bay-bay!” taunt and got a big boot. Silver came back with a gorilla press slam, dropping Cole on the top rope, and beeling him across the ring. They fought out to the apron, and Cole snapmared Silver onto the hardest part of the ring. On the floor, Cole locked Silver in a camel clutch so the Young Bucks could kiss his cheeks, and the show went to its last picture-in-picture (sorry Lance Storm, that’s what Excalibur is calling it) break. 

Back from break, Silver is coming back with kicks. Cole went for a rana, but Silver blocked the move with a sit-down powerbomb for a near fall. Cole and Silver exchanged forearms. Cole and Silver exchanged fast kicks. Silver went for a suplex, but Cole countered it into the suplex/neckbreaker where he drops his opponent on his knee for a near fall. 

Cole charged into a lariat from Silver, and Silver hit a german suplex. Silver went for a cover after a punt, but Matt Jackson put Cole’s foot on the ropes to stop the count. The Dark Order ran out to confront the Bucks, which distracted the ref. Cole went for a low blow, but Silver blocked it and hit Cole with a low kick of his own, then Silver dropped Cole with a spinning Liger bomb for another near fall. Silver went for a superplex, but Cole fought out of it. Cole went for a panama sunrise, but Silver overpowered Cole and backed him in the corner. Silver charged, but Cole caught him with a pair of superkicks. Cole lowered the boom on Silver and got the pin. 

Great match, which the crowd was very into by the end.

Final Thoughts: 

As the kids say, this episode of Rampage slaps. The Danielson and Cole matches were very good, and the CM Punk/Eddie Kingston segment was an all-timer. 

AEW Rampage live results: Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston

Posted on by Joseph Collins

AEW Rampage will see Bryan Danielson take on Eddie Kingston in a World title eliminator tournament semifinal match.

Danielson advanced by defeating Dustin Rhodes while Kingston bested Lance Archer. This will be their first match since a 2010 Chikara show and only their second singles clash ever. The winner moves on to face the winner of Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy at Full Gear.

In a trilogy match, Dante Martin will face Matt Sydal. The two squared off twice in June in matches that received rave reviews, but Martin came up short on both occasions. This was originally slated to be Martin and Lio Rush vs. Matt and Mike Sydal, but was changed due to a Mike injury.

AEW Women’s Champion Dr. Britt Baker will be in non-title action for the second straight Rampage as she faces Abadon in the company’s first Trick or Treat match. The “treat” is that if Abadon wins, she’ll receive a future shot at the title while the “trick” is that it’s a no dq match.

CM Punk will also have a backstage promo on the show as well.

This week’s matches were taped after Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite in Boston.

**********

Your hosts are Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho & Ricky Starks 

Bryan Danielson defeated Eddie Kingston to advance to the finals of the World Title Eliminator Tournament (16:23)

They told a great story of Danielson clearly being the better wrestler, but Kingston being too tough and/or stubborn to give up. 

Dueling “Let’s go Eddie! Let’s go Bryan!” chants to start. Kingston backed Danielson into the ropes for a hard chop. Both men were very cautious in the early going. Danielson caught Kingston with kicks and chops in the corner, but Kingston countered with machine gun chops. Danielson came back with a flying clothesline and a dropkick into the corner as the action picked up. On the floor, a frustrated Kingston tossed a folding chair around ringside. 

Back in the ring, Kingston tried to control Danielson on the mat, but Danielson easily maneuvered out of it. Danielson looked mildly annoyed with Kingston’s attempt to wrestle him, and started to work over his arm. Kingston came back with a knee to the midsection and more chops. After exchanging headbutts, Kingston hit a flying dropkick to a pop from the crowd.  

Kingston backed Dnaileson into the ring for more chops to take control as the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Danielson knocked Kingston to the floor. Danielson tried to follow with flying knees, but Kingston caught him with a Saito suplex on the floor. Kingston went back in the ring to take the count-out victory, but Danielson got back into the ring before the 10 count. 

Kingston hit another Saito suplex for a near fall, then locked in the stretch plum. Danielson got to the ropes to break the hold. 

Danielson’s chest looked like hamburger meat after all the hard chops from Kingston. Kingston set up Danielson for a superplex, but Bryan broke it up with a headbutt. There are way too many headbutts in this match for a dude who spent 4 years on the shelf with concussion issues. Danielson came back with a top rope back superplex and both guys were down. 

Danielson made it to his feet first and began exchanging strikes with Kingston. Kingston won the exchange with an enziguri, but Danielson came back with a hook kick and then the “yes” kicks to Kingston’s chest. Danielson went for the running knee, but Kingston dropped down to avoid it. Danielson came down with elbows and forearms, then locked on a Fujiarwa armbar. Kingston fought out of the hold and countered with a DDT. 

Both men recovered and exchanged strikes again. Kingston went for an enziguri but Danielson blocked it. Kingston then hit the spinning back fist and both guys were down. Kingston crawled over to Danielson, but he crawled right into a triangle choke. Danielson rained down on Kingston’s head with elbows while he was locked in the choke, and Kingston had no choice but to pass out… not before flipping off Danielson first, however. 

Absolute classic. Danielson advanced to the final round at Full Gear. 

During the break, Danielson tried to show Kingston some respect with a handshake, but Kingston walked away instead. 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed CM Punk. This was interrupted by Eddie Kingston screaming about his loss off camera, then eventually Kingston got into CM Punk’s face. Punk called Kingston “unprofessional” and asked Kingston if he wanted to go to sleep again. Kingston and Punk had to be separated by Ruby Soho, among others. This very clearly sets up a Full Gear match.

Dante Martin (w/ Lio Rush) defeated Matt Sydal (10:58)

This was promoted as the third match in the trilogy. Sydal won the first two. This match was just as good as the others but with the right guy going over. 

Sydal got in between Martin and Rush while Rush was trying to “coach” him. Honestly, Martin is already bigger than both these guys. I’d like to see him involved in something else, but it’s a okay spot for him to get some shine as a singles competitor. 

Sydal tried a snapmare on Martin but Martin landed on his feet. After some back and forth, Martin hit a springboard shotgun dropkick off the top that sent Sydal to the floor. Martin followed up with a springboard moonsault to the floor and the show went to another picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Martin hit a gamengiri after being pretty well dominated during the picture-in-picture. Sydal got Martin with a hook kick and Martin’s selling was fantastic. Sydal followed up with a standing mariposa. After a high sunset flip for two, Martin hit a double footstomp on the chest on a standing Sydal for a near fall. Martin went to the top rope, but Sydal caught him with a jumping rana. Martin was able to get a crucifix for a nearfall. Sydal went for the lightning spiral, but Martin flipped through it and landed on his feet, then hit a flip stunner on Sydal. Martin then came off the top with the double springboard moonsault and held Sydal down for the three. 

The commentators were a little too quick to give Lio Rush the credit for Martin finally getting over the hump with Sydal. Great match. 

– Mark Henry moderated the Abadon and Britt Baker face-to-face. Abandon growled and spat up blood in response to Henry’s question. “It looks like Abadon doesn’t has a comment.” Baker’s stooges were painted up like zombies, and while Baker talked, Abadon left. “Well, Abadon is gone, so…” This was great. 

Card Rundown: Newly announced for next week’s live Rampage, Red Velvet v. the Bunny in the TBS tournament and John Silver v. Adam Cole. No new matches were made for Wednesday’s Dynamite. 

AEW World Champion Dr. Britt Baker (w/ Rebel & Jamie Hayter) defeated Abadon in a non-title “Trick or Treat” no disqualification match (7:27 aired)

This started out kind of slow but turned into a heck of a match. 

Abadon hit a stunner early, and Baker went to the floor to get help from Hayer and Rebel, and the show went to a commercial. 

Back from break, Abandon hit a senton on Baker who was under a chair. Abadon wedged a chair in the corner, and Baker sent Abadon headfirst into the chair. Hayter and Rebel pulled Abadon out of the ring. Abadon pulled Baker out of the ring, but Baker hit a swinging neckbreaker on Abadon onto a table, which did not break. Baker tried to suplex Abadon through the table, and it didn’t break from that, either. Abadon sat up and no-sold both moves. 

Abadon tossed Baker back in the ring and found a sack of thumbtacks under the ring. Starks: “I hate these bags.”  Abadon poured the tacks onto the mat. After a struggle which saw both women tease bumps into the tacks, Abadon drove Baker into the tacks with a uranage. But, this only got a two count. Baker came back by throwing a chair at Abadon’s face. Baker wedged Abadon’s head into the chair and gave her a curb stomp. Baker went for the glove, and Abadon sat up. Baker had a look of sheer terror on her face, then she superkicked Abadon. Baker grabbed a handful of tacks and shoved them into Abadon’s mouth, then superkicked her again. Baker went for lockjaw, but hesitated at sticking her fingers in Abadon’s mouth. Abadon grabbed Baker’s hand and bit down on her fingers. Finally, Hayter and Rebel interfered. Abadon went after Rebel and bit her face, which allowed Baker to roll up Abadon for the pin. 

Final Thoughts:

Abadon will give me nightmares tonight so thanks for that. Britt Baker may be crazy, taking bumps into thumbtacks. Baker’s facial expressions throughout the match were great. She looked terrifed whenever Abadon would make her comebacks. I hope this proves to be a star making performance for Abadon and she gets more of a push. But Abadon might have just gotten this spot because it was Halloween. 

Setting up Punk/Kingston and Danielson vs. (probably) Moxley for Full Gear is loading up an already loaded card. 

Great show. Definitely worth checking out. 

AEW Rampage live results: PAC vs. Andrade El Idolo II

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Friday’s AEW Rampage will see the rematch between rivals PAC and Andrade El Idolo in addition to the kickoff of the AEW World Championship eliminator tournament.

This will be their second meeting in as many months with Andrade picking up the win on the September 10th Rampage after it was originally slated for All Out. The two have been at odds since Andrade’s arrival in the company following Double Or Nothing.

The second edition of the World title eliminator tournament will kick off as Powerhouse Hobbs takes on Orange Cassidy. The two first met in a singles match on AEW Dark in July 2020. The winner will advance to face either Jon Moxley or Dark Order’s 10 in the next round.

Women’s Champion Dr. Britt Baker will face Anna Jay in a non-title singles encounter. This came about when Jay and Baker got into an argument backstage following a Jay interview with Tony Schiavone last week.

The bracket for the upcoming TBS title tournament is set to be revealed as well.

**********

Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho and Ricky Starks are on commentary. 

Orange Cassidy (w/ Chuck Taylor) defeated Powerhouse Hobbs (w/ Hook) (8:04) to advance to the semi-finals of the World title eliminator tournament. 

Pre-match recaps showed how last year on Dark, Cassidy defeated Hobbs in 12 seconds with the orange punch, as well as how beat up Cassidy was in the ladder match two weeks ago on Dynamite.  Cassidy came out wearing the DDP tribute rib tape. 

Hobbs hit a spinebuster very early on for a near fall, and took the fight to the floor,  working over Cassidy’s injured ribs and back. Matt Hardy cheered on Hobbs from the crowd. Back in the ring, Hobbs methodically hit a variety of suplexes on Cassidy. Cassidy tried to counter a suplex attempt with a spinning DDT, but Hobbs blocked it and clotheslined Cassidy. Hobbs was in control as the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Hobbs continued to dominate. Cassidy tried a crossbody off the top, but Hobbs caught him and put Cassidy in the torture rack. Cassidy broke free with elbows and got a near fall with a small package.  Cassidy went for the orange punch but Hobbs bullied him into the corner, then followed up with a pair of avalanches. Hobbs worked over Cassidy in the corner and refused to adhere to the referees instructions, angering the ref. Hobbs manhandled the ref, and Hook got up on the apron to try and calm down Hobbs. In this confusion, Cassidy caught Hobbs in the mousetrap and got the pinfall to advance to the next round. Cassidy faces the winner of the Jon Moxley vs. 10 match in the semi-finals. 

– In the World Title Eliminator Tournament, Bryand Danielson vs. Dustin Rhodes and Eddie Kingston vs. Lance Arrcher are set for Dynamite tomorrow, and Moxley/10 is set for Wednesday in Boston. 

– Tony Schiavone called out Penta and Alex Abrahantes for an interview (Jericho on commentary explained Rey Fenix was injured in the finish of last Saturday’s match). They were distracted by two fans in green masks in the crowd. Penta (thinking they were FTR) confronted them and ripped off their hoods, but they were just some dudes. FTR and Tully Blanchard jumped Penta and Abrahantes from behind, taking them out.  FTR celebrated their skulduggery by holding up their AAA title belts and the Lucha Bros’ AEW World title belts. Pac ran out to make the save. This definitely teased an FTR/Lucha Bros rematch at the pay-per-view. 

Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D (w/ Rebel & Jamie Hayter) defeated Anna Jay (6:51 aired) 

Anna Jay looked great in what was perhaps her most high-profile match in AEW. This match also helped set up Baker’s potential opponent for Full Gear. 

After exchanging forearms, both women went for their submissions early, and saw their opponent quickly and easily escape. The crowd was solidly behind Baker, although Jay did have her fans. Baker worked over Jay’s arm, but Jay reversed and caught Baker with a thrust kick. Jay caught Baker with a flat liner and went for the Koji clutch, but Baker escaped. Baker used a hair pull to send Jay headfirst into the turnbuckles and winked to the camera. 

After a long commercial break (nearly four minutes!), Baker hit Jay with a slingblade and a twisting neck breaker for a near fall. Baker got the glove from Rebel, but Jay caught Baker with a DDT and sliding dropkick for a near fall. Jay went for the Queenslayer sleeper, but Baker got the ropes. They exchanged crucifixes for near falls, and Jay got the sleeper on Baker. Hayter distracted Jay from the apron, and Baker almost got a pin off the distraction. Jay superkicked Baker to the floor and got the sleeper again. Baker tried the Bret Hart pin from WrestleMania 8, but that didn’t work and Jay kept her locked in the hold. Finally, Baker got to the ropes, and snapped Jay’s neck against the middle rope. Baker caught Jay with a superkick, then tied her up in the lockjaw. Jay had to tap. Britt gave Jay a lot and both women came out looking strong. 

Post-match, Baker locked in the lock jaw on Jay again, and Tay Conti ran out and made the save. Conti chased off Baker, who left the Women’s world title belt in the ring. Conti held up the belt and taunted Baker, teasing a potential match at Full Gear. 

– In a rundown of Dynamite for tomorrow night, the only new match announced is Jungle Boy vs. Brandon Cutler.  On next week’s Ramage, the winner of Danielson/Rhodes will take on the winner of Archer/Kingston. 

The TBS Tournament bracket. 

Four women will get first round byes. The tournament will begin tomorrow night on AEW Saturday Dynamite. 

  • Thunder Rosa gets a bye, and faces the winner of Anna Jay vs. Jamie Hayter.
  • Jade Cardill gets a bye, and faces the winner of The Bunny vs. Red Velvet.
  • Nyla Rose gets a bye, and faces the winner of Serena Deeb vs. Hikaru Shida (this match will happen Wednesday on Dynamite).
  • And Kris Statlander gets a bye and faces the winner of Penelope Ford and Ruby Soho (this match will happen tomorrow night).

Tony Schiavone moderates the face-to-face segment between Andrade and Pac before the main event. What happened to Mark Henry? Bryan Alvarez is going to be so disappointed! Tony delivers Henry’s line, but it wasn’t the same.

Pac defeated Andrade El Idolo (16:18)

This match was all kinds of awesome. 

Everyone is barred from ringside. Well I mean, except for El Idolo and Pac and the referee. But everyone else stays in the back. 

In the first 30 seconds Pac snapped off two superkicks, a German suplex and a tope con hilo. He went to the top for the Black Arrow but El Idolo crotched him on the ropes. El Idolo went for a double knee in the corner, but Pac dodged it and hit a superkick. El Idolo asked Pac to give him his best shot, so Pac took his head off with a boot. 

El Idolo caught Pac with a boot that sent him to the floor, and El Idolo hit a spinning springboard plancha to the floor. With both guys selling on the floor, the show went to its last picture-in-picture break.

Back from break, El Idolo hit the three amigos for a near fall while the crowd chanted “Eddy!” Pac elbowed out of a waistlock, only to walk right into a boot. El Idolo went for a slingshot dropkick while Pac was slumped against the ropes, but Pac dropped out of the way and El Idolo crashed and burned to the floor, taking an ugly bump. 

Pac came out to the floor with a rana which sent El Idolo backfirst into a chair. Referee Aubrey Edwards checked with El Idolo, who continued the match. Pac came off the top with fantastic moonsault onto El Idolo. “Fight forever!” chants from the crowd, and I’m on board with that. Pac teased a move from the top, and El Idolo popped up, and right inot a kick from Pac. A slingshot cutter from Pac got another near fall. Pac went for the brutalizer but El Idolo got to the ropes before Pac could lock it in. 

Pac and El Idolo ended up on the ring apron exchanging strikes. El Idolo drove Pac back-first into the apron from an inverted DDT position. El Idolo then followed that up with a slingshot DDT out of the ring onto the ring apron, and this time both men crashed and burned to the floor. 

El Idolo went to the top for a moonsault, but Pac crotched him. Pac then delivered a top rope avalanche brainbuster and covered El Idolo… for two. El Idolo recovered and began exchanging slaps and forearms with Pac. Pac caught El Idolo with a superkick and a poison rana. El Idolo countered with a back elbow and both went for pinning combinations. El Idolo went for a hammerlock DDT, but Pac countered with a cradle and got the pinfall, and the lights went out. 

When the lights  came back on,  Malakai Black appeared and spat mist in Pac’s face. Black got a chair from under the ring, but Arn Anderson came down the entrance to distract Black and El Idolo. Cody Rhodes ran in through the crowd, taking out both El Idolo and Black. Rhodes hit his fantastic spinning powerslam on Black and grabbed the chair. He went for Black with the chair, but Black ducked out of the ring. 

Nice angle to set up Black/Rhodes III. Rhodes was cheered by the fans for making the save.

Final Thoughts: 

It’s a little depressing to think about how far along Anna Jay would be if she didn’t spend so many months on the shelf this year. She looked great against Baker. I have no doubt Jay will get to the next level in AEW, however.  Her match did seem to set up Tay Conti vs. Britt Baker in what should be a fantastic world title match for the pay-per-view. As someone who’s watched Conti develop on Dark and Elevation all year, I’m very excited for that match. 

But the main event was fantastic, a must see match. Although I think going to the Cody angle right away hurt the finish a bit. Nonetheless, fantastic and the best match I’ve seen… well in a week since Suzuki/Danielson. AEW continues to deliver stellar action on Friday night.

AEW Rampage live results: CM Punk vs. Daniel Garcia

Posted on by Joseph Collins

CM Punk returns to AEW Rampage Friday night for a one-on-one battle with Daniel Garcia.

The match was made Wednesday during a promo where Punk challenged Garcia. They have had run-ins in the past as part of the Darby Allin/Sting/2point0 storyline.

That is just one of four matches on this week’s show as the Lucha Bros put the Tag Team titles on the line against The Acclaimed. Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix will be looking for the second defense of the gold they won at All Out from The Young Bucks while Max Caster and Anthony Bowens will look to extend their long winning streak.

A Philadelphia street fight will also be part of the show as FTW Champion Ricky Starks will defend against Brian Cage. This was also set up Wednesday as Cage laid Starks out after the champion did a in-ring promo claiming the former champion wasn’t there.

Jade Cargill will look to keep her undefeated streak alive as she takes on Skye Blue. Both women are looking ahead to the TBS Title tournament that starts in 2022.

Friday’s show was taped after Dynamite in Philadelphia.

**********

Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Taz are on commentary. 

We lead off with 2point0 & Daniel Garcia and CM Punk in the “face to face” promo, moderated by Mark Henry. Punk called 2point0 “the Nasty Boys little brothers.” 

CM Punk defeated  Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) (14:05) 

A recap of Garcia and 2point0 beating down Punk in Chicago was shown before the match. Punk was wearing long tights which is not the look I’m used to for him.

Crowd was massively behind Punk tonight. Punk with some nice mat work early. Punk got a heel hook off a single leg takedown, and Garcia had to force the break by grabbing the ropes. Garcia hit a hard chop on Punk in the corner, so Punk slapped Garcia and slammed him hard to the mat. Twice. Garcia slid out of a third slam attempt and hit Punk with an elbow to the back. Punk went for the GTS, but Garcia escaped with some help from 2point0. The 2point0 guys worked over Punk’s legs behind the ref’s back as the show went to a 90 second picture-in-picture ad break. 

Back from the break, Garcia continued to work  over Punk’s legs. The crowd got behind CM Punk as he started to make a comeback, but when Punk went for a kick Garcia cut off his comeback with another attack to his right leg. Punk went for a vertical suplex, but Garcia slid out of the move and clipped Punk in the back of the knee. Garcia went for a charging dropkick in the corner, but Punk dropped out of the way. Garcia went to attack the leg again, but Punk caught him with a knee strike. Punk hit a bionic elbow like another dude from Chicago sometimes does and made his comeback. Punk hit a stiff kick for a near fall. 

Punk made his comeback in earnest, nailing Garcia with a leg lariat and a neckbreaker for another near fall. Punk went for a short arm clothesline, but Garcia countered into an Angle slam for two. Garcia went for the scorpion deathlock, but Punk battled out with fists and a short arm clothesline. Pepsi twist got a near fall for Punk. Punk went for the GTS, but Garcia rolled through and got Punk in the scorpion deathlock. Punk almost made the ropes, and was able to escape the hold when Garcia tried to pull him into the center of the ring. Punk then sent a charging Garcia into the members of 2point0 when they got up on the apron. Punk then came off the top with a crossbody to the floor on all three guys. 

Back in the ring, Punk nailed a springboard clothesline, then a picture perfect piledriver. Punk slapped on the Anaconda vice, and Garcia tapped out. Another great match for Punk on Rampage. 

– Tony Schiovone interviewed Lio Rush, Dante Martin and Matt Sydal. Sydal thought Lio Rush was all talk and filling Martin’s head with false promises. Rush suggested he could show he was more than talk by getting a match for Sydal against CM Punk for Rampage next week. Sydal loved that idea, and on commentary Excalibur confirmed the match was made for Rampage next week.

AEW World Tag Team Champions The Lucha Bros (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated The Acclaimed (5:16)

Caster mentioned Ben Simmons, Rocky Balboa, and Arn Anderson in his pre-match rap. They also praised Gritty (the Flyers mascot).   The Lucha Bros brought both the AEW and AAA tag team title belts with them. 

The Acclaimed jumps the Lucha Bros before they can even get in the ring, and Caster sent Fenix into the ringpost headfirst before the bell. The action got in the ring and the Lucha Bros took control with a series of superkicks and a double team splash. 

Bowens caught Fenix with a shot from the boombox when he went for a tope through the ropes, and the Acclaimed took control in the ring against Penta. The Acclaimed used a double team legsweep on Penta and got a near fall. Penta got a cazadora on Bowens and flew into a DDT on Caster, then got the tag to Fenix.  Fenix punished Bowens with a series of kicks. Caster ran in and got a hook kick, and Fenix hit a stunner on Bowens for two. Caster came back with a superkick on Fenix that he sold by flipping onto his head. Soon everybody hit everybody with superkicks and both teams were selling on the mat. 

Match settled to Fenix and Bowens in the ring, and Bowens hit the uragane/side slam on Fenix to set up the mic drop from Caster. Penta pushed Caster off the top, and then hit the double foot stomp on Bowens tailbone. Penta and Fenix combined for the double team piledriver on Bowens to get the win. Fun, fast paced match. 

– Recap of the Casino ladder match from Wednesday. “Hangman” Adam Page is back! And he won! Highlights of the match and Page’s return are shown. 

Jade Cargill (w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling) defeated Sky Blue (1:02) 

A pre-match video package of comments from potential TBS title tournament participants aired before this match, including comments from both Blue and Cargill (as well as others). Cargill does not think Sky Blue deserves to be in the TBS title tournament and was out to prove it with this match. 

Cargill hit a fallaway slam, pump kick, and glam slam to finish off Blue in short order. Cargill tried to beatdown Blue after the match, but Thunder Rosa ran in with a steel chair to send Cargill packing. 

Upcoming Show Rundown. 

For Rampage next week (which is live from Miami) : Sydal vs. Punk, Bunny vs. Ruby Soho, and the Jericho/Hager/Guevara  vs. Men of the Year & Junior Dos Santos six man match.  For Dynamite (live on Saturday 10/16) : Bobby Fish vs. Bryan Danielson, the Lucha Bros defend the AAA tag titles against “A Masked Tag Team known only to be close friends of  Andrade El Idolo” (a descirption that will have the interenet wildly speculating all week), and Malakai Black vs Dante Martin. Also, the World Title Eliminator tournament is back, and the brackets for the will be revealed on Dynamite. The finals of the tournament will take place at Full Gear. 

Another face-to-face interview moderated by Mark Henry, this time between Ricky Starks and Brian Cage. “It’s time for the main event! 

FTW Champion Ricky Starks defeated Brian Cage in a Philly Street Fight (10:40)

Starks introduced a steel chair in the match from the onset, but Cage got it and used it to beat Starks. The fight went to the floor, and Cage dropped Starks on the ring apron with a back suplex. Back in the ring, Cage threw a bunch of plunder into the ring. Starks got ahold of a pool cue and used it on Starks, then hit a tornado DDT for a near fall as the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from break, Cage pump handled suplexed Starks onto a trashcan for a near fall. Hook ran in with the FTW Belt and tried to take Cage out but Cage caught him with a clothesline. Hobbs ran in and got taken out as well. Starks hit Cage with the title belt and a spear for a near fall. Starks went for a second spear, but Cage ducked and Starks ran headfirst into a chair that had been wedged between the turnbuckles. Cage hit a discus lariat for another nearfall, but Hobbs broke up the pin attempt. Cage hit Hobbs with a gamengiri, then Cage went to superplex Hobbs. Hook ran back in and nailed Cage with a low blow.  A bloodied Starks then hit the Roshambeaux on Cage and got the pin. 

Taz left the commentary table to celebrate with Team Taz to close the show. 

Final Thoughts: 

I would have taken the Jade Cargill squash off here to give more time to the Lucha Bros match, but otherwise another fun show that flew by. CM Punk on the show again next week? Yeah I’ll take that. All his matches have been great thus far. 

There hasn’t been a Rampage yet that has failed to deliver, and this show was no exception. 

AEW Rampage live results: Bryan Danielson vs. Nick Jackson

Posted on by Joseph Collins

For the first time since May 2009, Bryan Danielson will wrestle Nick Jackson in the featured match on AEW Rampage.

Danielson and Jackson have never had a singles match, but competed against each other once in a PWG tag team match. On Wednesday’s Dynamite, Danielson challenged any member of The Elite to a match after World Champion Kenny Omega declined a rematch.

Friday’s taped show from Rochester, New York, will also see a three-way women’s match with former Women’s Champion Nyla Rose vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Jade Cargill. All three have been at odds since the women’s Casino Battle Royale. Cargill will look to remain undefeated since her debut while Rosa is looking to maintain her status as the number one contender to the title.

In AEW’s first-ever hair vs. hair match, Orange Cassidy will take on Jack Evans of the Hardy Family Office. Cassidy and Matt Hardy originally appeared set for this match instead, but Hardy volunteered the TH2 member instead.

**********

Your hosts are Excalibur, Taz, and… oh just these two? Well, not for long. 

Bryan Danielson defeated Nick Jackson (w/ Matt Jackson & Brandon Cutler) (15:35) 

A brief rundown of the six-man from last Friday is shown before this match. 

Jackson worked a side headlock early on and took Danielson down with a shoulder tackle. Jackson taunted Danielson by jumping to the floor and fooling with the cold spray, so Danielson hit him with a tope through the ropes. Back in the ring, Danielson hit a shotgun dropkick off the top and clawed away at Jackson’s face (“I have till five!”) before putting him in the Dragon sleeper. Jackson escaped quickly and exchanged forearms with Danielson before flooring the American Dragon with a rebound lariat. 

The crowd chanted “Your gonna get your f*cking head kicked in!” at Jackson, who got caught in a butterfly suplex. Danielson worked over Jackson’s arm, then tied him up the ropes to lay in a series of forearms. Back suplex (with the arm trapped) got a near fall, and Bryan continued to work over the arm. Danielson tortured Jackson’s arm, bending it at the wrist and elbow, then stepping back on Jackson’s arm into a pin attempt. Jackson mounted a brief comeback, but Danielson came back relentlessly with forearms, chops, and kicks. Jackson got a armdrag on Danielson, dodged a dropkick in the corner, then dumped Danielson to the floor. Matt Jackson hit Danielson with a spear on the floor and the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from break, Nick Jackson hit a high knee in the corner and bulldogged Danielson out of the corner. Jackson laid heavy kicks in Danielson’s chest, but he absorbed them all, and started leaning into the kicks. Danielson got up and spit in Jackson’s face, then battered him with kicks and chops. Danielson hit the flying clothesline, then laid into Jackson with heavy kicks to the chest and shoulder while the crowd chanted “YES!” A big round kick to the head for the finale got a near fall. 

With Jackson slumped in the corner, Danielson hit two running dropkicks, but on the third, Jackson came out with a pair of superkicks and got a near fall. Jackson went for a 450 splash, but Danielson got his knees up and locked in the LeBell lock. Jackson quickly got the ropes and rolled to the apron. Danielson followed and battered Jackson with more kicks, but missed the last one and kicked the ringpost. Jackson hit a superkick and then a release german suplex on the ring apron (Danielson clearly landed on his shoulder). Jackson followed up with the escalara on the floor. 

Back in the ring, Jackson locked in the sharpshooter. Danielson escaped to the ropes and rolled to the floor. Jackson went for a kick on Danielson, who ducked and Jackson’s kick found Brandon Cutler instead. Danielson suplexed Nick Jackson on the floor, then took out Matt Jackson on the ring apron with a forearm. Nick Jackson rolled up Danielson for another nearfall. Danielson came back with a tiger suplex into a series of elbow smashes onto Jackson’s chest. Danielson then transition into the cattle mutilation and got the tap out! Excellent, excellent match! 

After the match, Kenny Omega and Adam Cole ran out to check on Nick Jackson, and Christian and the Jurassic Express followed to make sure the Elite didn’t try to attack Danielson. Of course, this broke down quickly with Omega running away, Matt Jackson getting the Killswitch from Christian, and Cole getting locked in the snare trap by Jungle Boy. Omega tried to run in to make the save, and wound up caught in the LeBell Lock from Danielson! Both Omega and Cole “tapped out” to Danielson and Jungle Boy. Great post-match segment to add heat to the 8 man tag on Wednesday’s Dynamite. 

– Hook and Powerhouse Hobbs cut to a Ricky Starks promo that was more like a car commercial about how much Starks hates Brian Cage. 

And back from break, Ricky Starks is now on commentary. 

– CM Punk interview. He has started to settle into the groove at AEW, and is ready for whatever is next. Just a brief pretape from Punk. 

Jade Cargill (w/ Smart Mark Sterling) defeated Nyla Rose (w/ Vicki Guerrero) and  Thunder Rosa in a Triple Threat by pinning Rosa (5:24 aired)

Clips of Rose and Cargill jumping Rosa before All Out last month are shown, as well as the eliminations between the three at the All Out Casino Battle Royal to help set up this match. On that night, Rose eliminated Cargill, and Rosa eliminated Rose. 

After Rose powerslammed Rosa to take her out of the match, Cargill and Rose exchanged forearms in the ring. Cargill hit Rose with a pumpkick and then clotheslined her to the floor.  Cargill then turned her attention to Rosa, who flew off the top rope with a shotgun dropkick. The show went to break. 

Back from break, there’s a trash can in the ring and Rosa dropkick Cargill against the ropes. Rosa dropkicked the trash can into Cargill’s chest and got a near fall. Rose went for a chokeslam on Rosa, but she shoved Rose away and into a spinebuster from Cargill. Rose came back and locked in a single leg crab on Cargill. Rosa broke that up by dropkicking Rose and got a near fall. 

Rosa went for a dropkick in the corner on Rose, but missed. Rosa and Rose fought on the apron where a table was set up during the break. Rose set up Rosa up for something off the turnbuckles, but Rosa slid out and powerbombed Rose through the table. 

On the other side of the ring, Mark Sterling slipped Cargill a steal chair. As Rosa tried to drag Rose back into the ring, Cargill attacked Rosa from behind with the chair. Cargill went to town beating on Rosa with the chair, and just pinned Rosa after several chair shots. I liked that finish. 

– Malakai Black cuts a pretaped promo from a dark stairwell. He’s tired of the Nightmare Family and Cody Rhodes, and is ready to move onto the other souls in this company. 

– Sammy Guevara promo about his TNT title win. There were brief clips of the celebration after Guevara’s title win. Guevara now has the classic TNT title back (not the retired version, the black strap version of the title). 

– Dynamite Rundown: No new matches since Wednesday, but Pac, Jon Moxley, Andrade El Idolo and Lance Archer are all announced for the Casino Ladder match on Wednesday. Two more will be announced later, plus the Joker to come the night of the show. 

Mark Henry with the face-to-face promo with Evans and Matt Hardy face-to-face with Orange Cassidy. Cassidy: “What’s this match? What am I doing?” Henry explains the terms to Cassidy, that if he loses he’s getting his head shaved. “Oh. I guess I’m not going to lose then.” 

Orange Cassidy defeated Jack Evans (w/ Matt Hardy) in a Hair vs. Hair match (10:47) 

Starks put his money on Evans, despite Taz’s advice to not bet on wrestling. Cassidy tossed Evans around by his hair. Hardy pulled Cassidy out of the ring and hit him with a right hand, and Evans followed up with a 450 splash onto the floor. Let’s take a picture-in-picture break, featuring a Rhodes to the Top commercial! 

Back from the break, Cassidy dodged a handspring elbow from Evans, and then hit a pair of planchas on both ends of the ring, one on Evans and one on Matt Hardy. Cassidy went for the spinning DDT, but Evans countered into a Northern lights suplex and transitioned into the Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Standing skytwister press from Evans gets another two count. Evans went to the top for a Skytwister splash off the top… but missed. Cassidy hit the spinning DDT, then came off the top with a diving DDT for a very close nearfall. 

The Butcher, Blade & Bunny are out for moral support. But the Best Friends sneak though the crowd and stand between the HFO members and the ring. This brought out the rest of the HFO (Private Party, Angelico and Jora Johl) but the Dark Order join the Best Friends. Amid this standoff, back in the ring Orange Cassidy hit the Orange Punch on Evans and got the pinfall. 

While the Best Friends prepare to give Evans a haircut, Hardy sends Angelico to try and get through the wall of people protecting the ring.  The Dark Order dispose of him easily, and rather than try and stop the hair cut, Matt Hardy and the rest of the HFO retreat. “For the greater good!” 

Cassidy and the Best Friends gave Evans a haircut. While all this is going on, Orange Cassidy and Matt Hardy (WHAT?) are the last two announced participants for the Casino Ladder Match on Wednesday. Finally, in the best finish they could possibly do, the Dark Order and the Best Friends all give -1 a big group hug to end the show. 

Final Thoughts: 

The Danielson/Jackson match was excellent, and the finish to the show was great. Matt Hardy in a ladder match sounds like a terrible idea to me, and we still have the Joker to figure out for that match. 

Overall, a fun show.

AEW Rampage Grand Slam live results: Lights Out tag, Punk in action

Posted on by Joseph Collins

For the first time in its short history, AEW Rampage expands to two hours for a special Grand Slam edition of the show that was taped Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.

CM Punk will have his first non-PPV match in over seven years as he takes on Powerhouse Hobbs. This started coming together after All Out when Taz told Punk to not think about calling out any of Team Taz when looking for his next opponent.

The Super Kliq of The Young Bucks and Adam Cole will team up to face Jurassic Express and Christian Cage. All six men got into it on Wednesday following the Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega match.

In a Lights Out match, Jon Moxley and hometown favorite Eddie Kingston will take on the reunited Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer.

The rest of the show will see Chris Jericho and Jake Hager against the Dan Lambert-led Men of the Year; Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers and Santana & Ortiz against The Butcher & The Blade and Private Party; and Anna Jay against Penelope Ford.

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Excalibur, Ricky Starks and Taz were the commentary team for the night (Jericho would be here but he is wrestling later). 

CM Punk defeated Powerhouse Hobbs (w/ Hook) (13:33)

It’s clobberin’ time for the first time on free TV in seven years, as CM Punk made his return to wrestling on television. Punk started off fast with kicks to Hobbs’s legs and forearms, but Hobbs came back with punches of his own and a rake to the face. Punk responded with a drop toehold and more kicks to the leg. Punk hit a Russian leg sweep and then gave Hook the finger.  Punk went for the GTS early, but Hook distracted Punk, Hobbs escaped and crushed Punk with a crossbody for a near fall. 

Hobbs slowed the pace down with a chinlock and forearms. Hobbs literally whipped Punk from pillar to post. Punk slid out of a suplex attempt and got a near fall with an O’Conner roll, and Hobbs responded with a pounce-style bodyblock for another near fall. Hobbs then stole the Mark Henry spot where, while his opponent was prone on the ropes, Hobbs jumped on their back and basically through the opponent to the floor. This led to a quick in-picture ad break. 

Back from the break, Hobbs punished Punk with a bearhug. Punk broke the hold with right hands, and caught Hobbs with a leg lariat and a swinging neckbreaker to regain the momentum. Punk hit the charging knee in the corner and short-arm clothesline. Punk then dropped a top rope elbow for a near fall. The crowed chanted “You still got it!” for Punk. 

Punk went for the GTS, but Hobbs counted it and maneuvered Punk into a spinebuster for a near fall. Hobbs picked up Punk for the Town Business, but Punk slid through and locked in a sleeper. Hobbs started to fade, but he turned into Punk and dropped him with a back suplex. Hobbs hit a stampede powerslam, but it only got two. Hobbs went to the middle rope, and made the mistake of doing the GTS taunt,  which gave Punk the time to recover and hit some forearms. Punk went for a hurricanrana off the top, and although Hobbs tried to block it, Punk powered Hobbs over and hit the move. This got another near fall. 

Punk went for the cross arm breaker, and then switched over into a triangle choke, but Hobbs powered up and powerbombed Punk for two. Hobbs and Punk began exchanging forearms in the ring. Punk got the advantage and landed a roundhouse kick to knock down Hobbs. Hook got up on the apron a second time, and Punk went to confront him. Hobbs charged at Punk, Punk ducked, and Hobbs collided with Hook, sending him to the mat. Punk then hit the GTS on Hobbs and got the pinfall. Great match!

– Quick recap of Thunder Rosa, Nyla Rose and Jade Cargill feud and fallout from the All Out Casino Battle Royal. Sounded like it’s leading to a three way match. 

Adam Cole & The Young Bucks (w/ Brandon Cutler & Luke Gallows) defeated Christian Cage & Jurassic Express (w/ Marko Stunt) (10:56 aired)

Don Callis came out with the Bucks, then  joined the crowded commentary desk for this match. The Bucks and Cole are officially known again as “The Superkliq ” and made their AEW Trios debut tonight. Man does this company need trios titles. 

Cole teased starting out with Cage, then immediately tagged out to Matt Jackson. Christian dominated Matt early and got a near fall with a back elbow off the middle rope. Jungle Boy got the tag and he and Christian double-teamed the Bucks. Matt hit Jungle Boy with a double chop to the throat. The Bucks tried to double team Jungle Boy, but Jungle Boy was able to get the advantage and send both Bucks out to the floor. 

Jungle Boy began to stare down Cole, and he chased Cole to the floor and around the ring. Jungle Boy turned the corner and ran right into a double superkick from the Bucks. Back in the ring, Cole held Jungle Boy in a chinlock while the Bucks ran the ropes. They both stopped to give Cole a kiss on the cheek, then superkicked Jungle Boy as the show went to a break.

Back from the break, Jungle Boy escaped the Bucks and got the tag to Luchasaurus. Luchasarus went for a double chokeslam on both Bucks, but Cole broke that up. Luchasarus then chokeslammed Cole on top of one of the Bucks. Luchasarus then grabbed Nick Jackson on the top rope and chokeslammed him for a near fall. Luchasuarus had him by the throat for the cover, but terrible referee Rick Knox didn’t notice. 

The match broke down. Cole and one of the Bucks hit a double superkick on Luchasarus. The Bucks went for More Bnag for Your Buck on Jungle Boy, but he took Nick down with a top rope hurricanrana, German suplexed Matt and Christian flew in with a flying headbutt and Jungle Boy got a near fall. JB went for the snare trap on Matt, but Luke Gallows distracted him to break that up. 

Tags were made on both side to Luchasaurus and Cole, but soon all six men were in the ring and it was pure chaos. Cole and Luchasaurus knocked each other out with pump kicks. The Bucks, Christian and Jungle Boy all fought on the ramp. Matt Jackson low blowed Christian and threw him off the ramp to the floor. Then The Bucks dumped Christian to the floor as well. 

Back in the ring, Cole hit a shining wizard on Luchasaurus for a near fall. Cole then hit the Panama Sunrise on Luchasaurus, The Bucks  hit the BTE trigger, and Cole lowered the boom to get the three count. 

After the match, Adam Cole and Jungle Boy stared each other down. 

The Men of the Year (w/ Dan Lambert)  defeated Chris Jericho & Jake Hager (10:48 aired)

Even Taz shuts up on commentary so we can hear the 20,000 fans in the stadium. Ricky Starks points out that the song the fans are singing is about Chris Jericho turning on the fans!

Jericho and Scorpio Sky (who is the first man to pin Jericho in an AEW ring) start out, and Jericho battered him with chops and a back suplex. Jericho flipped off Page on the apron, then battered Sky in the corner with a series of clotheslines. Hager got the tag, fell victim to a jawbreaker, and Page was able to get the tag. Page was immediately hip-tossed by Hager. Hager followed up with a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Jericho got the tag and Page kicked Jericho’s head off. The show goes to a picture in picture break while the Men of the Year are dominating Jericho. 

During the picture-in-picture, Hager got the tag and ran wild on Page and Sky until Page tripped up Hager on the apron, then flew off the apron to the floor with a shoulder tackle. Back in the ring, Sky wore down Hager with a chinlock. Sky hit a chop block on Hager’s knee. Hager came back with a clothesline on Page. Jericho and Sky got the hot tags, and Jericho hit a springboard dropkick to knock Page off the apron, then dropped Sky with a fist off the top rope. Jericho hit the Lionsault for a near fall. Hager tagged in a hit a huge beel and a Hager bomb for a near fall. Hager got the ankle lock on Sky, and Jericho locked in the Walls of Jericho, and that’s the end of the first hour! 

Hour 2 saw Lamberg get on the apron to distract the babyfaces and break up the submission holds. Hager ran the ropes and Lambert tripped him up, and this allowed Sky to roll up Hager with a small package to get the pin! 

After match, Hager took out the Men of the Year,  Jericho and Hager got their hands on Lambert. Then, emerging from the crowd were the members  of America’s top team.  Junior Dos Santos, Paige Van Zant, and Austin Vanderford, Andre Arlovski and Dalton Rosta and Jorge Masvidal surrounded the ring. They all attacked Jericho and Hager. Paige Van Zant worked over Jericho with brass knuckle punches to the gut, and then Jorge Masvidal hit a running knee to Jericho’s head, which took him out and busted him open. Great angle. 

Lucha Bros & Santana & Ortiz (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated  Private Party & The Butcher & The Blade (w/ Matt Hardy & Jack Evans) (5:55 aired) 

Crazy brawl to start, that ended with all of the HFO on the floor and all of the babyfaces hitting crazy over the top dives to the floor on their opponents. Penta and Ortiz then combine for a double team splash on Blade for a near fall. Lots of insane double teams in and out of the ring. Private Party hit Ortiz with a crazy flippling DDT on the floor. Hardy then threatened to cut the hair of Ortiz. This brought out Orange Cassidy. Jack Evans tried to cut him off at the aisle, but ate the orange punch. The show went to another quick break.

Back from break, Santana and Ortiz double teamed Blade. Private Party got the tag in and Kassidy hit a crazy neckbreaker/Stunner on Santana. Penta got the tag in and took out Kassidy. Butcher came in and took out Penta. Fenix hit the hook kick on Butcher, then got a pump kick from Blade. Blade followed up with a flying clothesline and both guys were down. 

Quen went for the shooting star press on Santana, but Santana avoided it and the Lucha Bros hit the Fear Factor on Quen. Satnana and Ortiz followed up with the street sweeper and Santana got the pin on Quen. This was insanity. 

– Post match, Tony Schivone interviewed Matt Hardy, who challenged Orange Cassidy to a hair v. hair match… on behalf of Jack Evans. “You better win, Jack.” Jack looked less than enthused about this. 

– Sammy Guevara and Fuego Del Sol came out on the stage to do Sammy’s gimmick with the signs/cue cards, but Miro attacked. Guevara got destoryed and Del Sol was beeled off the stage and through some tables on the floor. Miro then locked in the game over on Guevara. “The Next TNT Champ.” That card was torn up by Miro. 

– Video package with Andrade El Idolo. He challenges Pac again, this time without Chavo so Pac won’t have an excuse for losing. 

Penelope Ford defeated Anna Jay (3:07 aired) 

Jay attacked Ford on the entrance ramp before the bell. Ford briefly got the advantage in the ring, but Jay dumped Ford to the floor and whipped her into the post and barricade around ringside. Back in the ring, Jay continued to dominate and went for the sleeper. The Bunny came down the ramp and distracted Jay, causing her to break the hold. This distraction gave Ford the advantage. Ford choked Jay on the ropes and the show went to a break.

Back from break, Ford and Jay were exchanging slaps. Jay went for the sleeper again, but Ford broke it by backing Jay into the corner. Bunny jumped up on the apron to distract the ref, and at the same time throw brass knucks to Ford. Ford hit Jay with knux and got the pin.

Post match, Ford and Bunny beat down Jay, and Tay Conti ran in and tried to make the save. She got a brief advantage on Ford, but Bunny stomped her back and Ford knocked out Jay with the knuckles. 

The Hardy Family Office came out to keep anyone from making the save, and they stood with their backs to the ring. Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander came out, and were backed up by the Dark Order. All of the Dark Order. This 12 on 5 advantage for the babyfaces sent the HFO packing. 

In the ring, Alex Reynolds and Preston Vance tried to apologize to Evil Uno and Stu Grayson, but Stu and Uno left, along with Colt Cabana. Although Cabana looked more confused than committed to leaving with the other two. Nonetheless, the divide within the Dark Order continues. 

Update for Wednesday’s Dynamite: Jungle Boy v. Adam Cole, and Penelope Ford & The Bunny v. Anna Jay & Tay Conti. For next Friday’s Rampage: Orange Cassidy v. Jack Evans in the hair versus hair match. 

– Face to face, Mark Henry interviewed  Suzuki Gun and Moxley and Kingston. This broke down quickly. Archer thought things were unfair in Cincinnati, but New York is Kingston’s town! 

Lil Uzi Vert was enjoying himself in the crowd. If that means anything to you, you are probably much younger than me. 

The lights went out to signify the end of the official card and it’s time for the Lights Out Match. 

Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston defeated Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki in a Lights Out Match (11:44 aired)

They started Kaze Ni Nare in the middle of song to make sure the crowd got to sing along. We have about 16 minutes of TV time remaining.

Archer brought out some plunder to the ring. The brawl started on the floor. Moxley paired off with Suzuki and Kingston with Archer. Suzuki and Moxley dueled with chairs on the entrance ramp. Suzuki and Kingston then paired off in the ring and there was a massive chant for Eddie. Kingston hit a chop and Suzuki laughed it off before responding with chops of his own. Kingston tooked Suzuki down and brought a table in the ring. Suzuki booted Kingston through the table, taking him out for a bit. Moxley and Archer in the ring, and Archer took Moxley down with a boot. 

Archer dropped to the floor and found four AEW young boys to beat up. Like, where did they even come from? Archer then chokeslammed Moxley from the ring apron to the pile of AEW young boys (the commentators called them “ring attendants”) on the floor. 

Archer found a strap under the ring. Back in the ring, Moxley and Suzuki exchanged forearms, then Archer hung Moxley with the strap. The show went to its last commercial break.

Back from break, Archer and Suzuki have taped Moxley’s arms behind his back with duct tape, and they whipped Moxley with the leather strap. Did Kingston go to get concessions or something? He’s been gone forever, and I heard lines were bad. Anyway, Suzuki worked over Moxley with a single crab, and then Archer beat him about with a trash can lid. Kingston finally came around but Archer cut him off on the floor. 

Suzuki and Archer kept working over Moxley in the ring. Moxley made the mistake of spitting in Suzuki’s face, so he punched him and tried to bite his head off. Literally. Moxley couldn’t defend himself because his hands were still taped up. And just as I typed that, Moxley tried to go on offense with headbutts. Kingston finally made it back in the ring and took down Suzuki with an enziguri, then stunned Archer with an eyepoke and the machine gun chops. Kingston hit an exploder on Archer, but Suzuki got him in the sleeper, and Archer followed up with a helicopter black hole slam. 

Suzuki set up chairs in the ring, and Archer set up Kingston for a black hole slam. Before Archer could hit the move, unfamiliar music played and the name Homicide was displayed on the ramp. “The baddest wrestler to ever come out of New York,” (according to Excalibur) Homicide ran in from the crowd and attacked the heels, then cut Moxley free. This allowed Moxley and Kingston to come back. Moxley hit a DDT on Archer. Kingston put a trash can on Archer’s head, then beat the can with a kendo stick for a full 30-40 seconds. Kingston then got the pin. 

Homicide is apparently in All Elite Wrestling, and Kingston, Moxley, and Homicide celebrated to end the show.

Final Thoughts: 

Great night of wrestling. This show + Dynamite would be a strong contender for pay-per-view of the year. Go watch all this.