A match for CM Punk’s AEW Championship is set for next week’s Collision.
Punk will defend the title against Ricky Starks, who has pinned Punk by using the ropes for the last two weeks in a row. The match was set up on Saturday’s Collision after Starks agreed to a match with a special outside enforcer. Tony Schiavone at the end of the segment announced that Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat would be the outside enforcer for the match.
Saturday’s show had CM Punk come to the ring for an interview with Schiavone, holding a bag. He later revealed that the bag contained the AEW World Championship that he has been holding since defeating Jon Moxley at All Out last September. He declared himself the Real World Champion and reiterated that he has never been beaten for the championship.
Two more title matches were also set up for next week’s Collision. Kris Statlander will defend the TBS Championship against Mercedes Martinez, who attacked Statlander on Saturday after she made the save for Martinez’s opponent Kiera Hogan. And after Big Bill & Brian Cage won a Tag Team Eliminator Battle Royal match on Friday’s Rampage, they will challenge FTR for the Tag Team titles.
Here is the lineup thus far for next week’s Collision:
Real World Championship: CM Punk defends against Ricky Starks
AEW Tag Team titles: FTR defend against Big Bill & Brian Cage
TBS Championship: Kris Statlander defends against Mercedes Martinez
The Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show is back with tons to talk about in our look at AEW Collision from Saturday with fallout from Ricky Starks winning the Owen Hart Cup, a fun tag main event and more. Then, our WEEKLY LIVE Q&A RETURNS! A fun show as always so check it out~!
After last week’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament finals, Ricky Starks will celebrate his victory over CM Punk on tonight’s AEW Collision from Newark, New Jersey.
However, Punk will be on tonight’s show as well and is “looking for a fight.” Whether that is with Starks or someone else remains to be seen.
The AEW Trios titles will be on the line as the House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) defend against The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn from May’s Double or Nothing. They will be looking for the sixth defense of the titles.
Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) will look to rebound from last week’s loss to AEW Tag Team Champions FTR as they take on Darius Martin & Action Andretti.
FTR will also be on the program in a promo.
Taya Valkyrie is also looking to rebound from last week as she lost to AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm. Valkyrie faces Skye Blue tonight.
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Collision returned to the United States, in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Ian Riccaboni and Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
In our pre-show hype videos, we got words from The Acclaimed, Andretti & Martin, Bullet Club Gold, and Ricky Starks.
After the introduction package, Tony Schiavone welcomed out Owen Hart Cup winner Ricky Starks. Starks got a comical amount of pyro, reminiscent of Kevin Nash on that one episode of Nitro. Schiavone asked Starks about his use of the ropes to win the tournament as the crowd told Starks that he deserved it. After showing off his Louis Vuitton bag, he says that it doesn’t matter how he did it, all that matter is that it was done and that he was the winner.
After blowing off a question about Jushin Thunder Liger, he says that while he appreciates the sentiment from the fans, he doesn’t want to be a pillar. The Pillars never won the Owen Hart Cup, he did. Out walked CM Punk to a mixed reaction that leaned negative. Punk says he’s not mad at Starks, he’s actually a bit proud of him. Punk won’t act like he’s never cheated. He can live with the loss but asks Starks if he can live with the fact that he couldn’t beat Punk without cheating.
Punk goes to leave, but Starks says that his Vuitton bag is as empty as the red bag Punk’s been carrying around. Punk comes back and gets in Starks’ face. He says that Starks is just like MJF in that they just don’t want Punk to have it. Punk calls himself the Real World Champion before TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage enter the scene. Cage says that they don’t want to be in New Jersey longer than they have to be, so he’ll ask one question. What kind of man carries around a title that he didn’t win?
Cage goes to leave, but Darby Allin – Royal Rampage winner – comes out. He addresses Starks and Punk before telling Luchasaurus that he’s going to win the TNT Title at All Out in Chicago. Allin suggests a tag team match, with Allin and Punk teaming against Starks and Cage. Schiavone says that Khan has made it official.
Riccaboni and McGuinness threw to video of Andrade El Idolo being removed from the building to make sure he wouldn’t interfere with the Trios Title match tonight.
Jay White & Juice Robinson (w/ The Gunns) defeated Action Andretti & Darius Martin
White and Martin started, with the announcers putting over his cardio after wrestling in the hour-long match last week against FTR. Martin fought off a double-team and tagged in Andretti, who hit Robinson with a corkscrew moonsault. Andretti and Martin ran wild on Robinson until Robinson cut off Andretti with a side kick. White tagged in and clubbered on Andretti in the corner before Robinson dropped Andretti with a neckbreaker off the apron. As the crowd chanted Daddy Doesn’t Love You to the Gunns, Bullet Club posed as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Andretti fought for the tag to Martin as we came back from break. Martin made the tag and ran wild, dropping White and Robinson with a combination DDT/Death Drop. Martin hit a top rope crossbody to White for a nearfall. Martin sent Robinson and White to the floor, setting up Andretti to hit an Arabian Press moonsault on both of them. Andretti booted White into a German suplex for a nearfall.
Andretti went for the split-legged moonsault, but Robinson cut him off, hanging him in the Tree of Woe. Robinson hit cannonballs on both men before hitting his pendulum DDT on Andretti. White hit the Blade Runner to score the win. The Gunns tossed Andretti and Martin out of the ring before celebrating with White and Robinson.
The announcers highlighted Willow Nightingale’s week, with her Owen Hart Cup win last week on Collision and her standout performance in the ROH Death Before Dishonor main event against Athena. I reviewed Death Before Dishonor for this site, and I cannot recommend that match enough. Go out of your way to see it.
Miro defeated Nick Comoroto
This crowd was into Miro. It’s time to do something with him that isn’t a squash.
Comoroto attacked Miro during his entrance. Comoroto controlled Miro early on, hitting corner splashes. Miro dodged one and hit a German suplex. Miro hit the big side kick and ripped his shirt off. He called for the Game Over and locked it on for the quick win.
We got a highlight package for FTR, highlighting their numerous title wins over the course of their AEW careers. We will hear from them later tonight.
AEW World Trios Title Match – The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) (w/Julia Hart) (c) defeated The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, & Billy Gunn)
This was a surprisingly quick win, but the story here is the post-match.
Caster’s rap included jabs at Matthews, who charged Caster on the ramp to start the match. A Pier Six brawl broke out at ringside as Matthews and Caster started in the ring. King crushed Gunn and Bowens into the barricade with splashes. The champions isolated Caster as his partners crawled to the corner. Caster fought his way to the corner as the crowd taunted Matthews with Dirty Dom chants, as Mysterio is paired up with Matthews’ girlfriend Rhea Ripley.
King tried taking out Bowens and Gunn again, but Gunn took him down with punches. Caster made the tag to Gunn, who ran wild on the House before taking a massive lariat from King. Black hit the Black Mass on Gunn to score the emphatic victory. As Gunn recovered, Black whispered something to Gunn before leaving.
Back in the ring, Gunn began unlacing his boots as the crowd begged him not to. They chanted You Still Got It at him, making Gunn tear up. But Gunn took his boots off and left them in the ring, pushing his way past the Acclaimed to leave.
We got a recap of the Royal Rampage, where Darby Allin won a TNT Title shot at All Out.
Tony Schiavone welcomed FTR to the ring. Wheeler talked about unfinished business with several teams – Aussie Open, The Acclaimed, the Young Bucks – but they must focus on MJF and Adam Cole first. He tells Adam Cole not to trust MJF, as they know from first-hand experience. Harwood tells a story about his dad making him get a job when he was a teenager. He was made fun of by well-off kids who had money handed to them. He thinks Cole and MJF see the tag team titles as a joke, with the comedy skits and the dance breaks. He’s sacrificed his body to make FTR the best tag team in the world, and next week, there will be no comedy. He’s going to do to Cole and MJF what he should have done to those kids when he was a teenager and kick their asses. Top guys out. Solid promo.
We got a highlight package of Blood and Guts from Wednesday.
Taya Valkyrie defeated Skye Blue
Valkyrie patted Blue on the head before shoving her down. She shrugged off a waist lock before chopping Blue in the corner. Blue fired up with chops before getting knocked down with a shoulder block. Blue avoided a charge and hit a rising knee but got knocked off the apron and speared on the floor by Valkyrie. Valkyrie hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Valkyrie knocked Blue down with a lariat as we returned to full-screen action. Blue won a strike exchange before firing up, hitting a rising knee and a low kick. Blue hit a high crossbody for a nearfall. She set up Skyfall, but Valkyrie tied Blue up in the ropes to hit a sliding German suplex. Blue hit a pair of kicks but ran right into a lariat. Valkyrie tied up Blue’s legs and hit a curb stomp to score the win.
Valkyrie grabbed the microphone and bragged about winning. She noted that Britt Baker won her match on Dynamite this week, albeit against an extra. She challenged Baker to a match this Wednesday on Dynamite.
We got a video package highlighting AR Fox’s win on the Death Before Dishonor Zero Hour over Shane Taylor, leading into his International Championship match this Wednesday on Dynamite.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card, featuring:
– AR Fox vs. Orange Cassidy for the International Championship
– Darby Allin vs. Swerve Strickland
– Britt Baker vs. Taya Valkyrie
– PAC vs. Gravity
– Castagnoli & Moxley vs. The Lucha Brothers vs. Best Friends
– We hear from Adam Cole & MJF.
We got our Collision card for next Saturday:
– FTR vs. Adam Cole & MJF for the AEW World Tag Team Titles
– El Hijo del Vikingo, Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. Juice Robinson & The Gunns
– Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo in a rematch from the debut edition of Collision
Ricky Starks & Christian Cage defeated CM Punk & Darby Allin
A fine main event. Starks winning with the ropes for a second time is setting up a payoff, either with the referee catching him or his opponent kicking out anyway. Starks had a vocal fanbase here, a week after cheating to win a prestigious tournament. The situation with Punk being a divisive babyface makes everything energetic, but it muddies up a lot of the face/heel division surrounding him.
Cage came out wearing the TNT Title. Starks and Cage both got on the apron, assuming the other would start the match. The referee counted them up to nine before Starks got in the ring. Punk immediately rolled him up and teased a Go To Sleep before Starks tagged Cage, who got pinballed around by Punk. Punk and Allin controlled Cage’s arm as Punk mocked Starks. Starks avoided a tag until Christian got Punk in control. Punk and Allin hit dives to Starks and Cage as we went to commercial, with the announcers teasing big breaking news for next week’s Collision on the other side of the break.
Back from commercial, and the breaking news is that next week’s match between Buddy Matthews and Andrade El Idolo will be a ladder match, with Andrade’s mask as the prize above the ring and the House of Black banned from ringside. A bit wacky, but still a compelling match. Speaking of matches, Cage and Starks worked over Punk. Starks went Old School on Punk before tagging Cage back in. We got a glimpse of Scorpio Sky in a Scorpio Sky-Box watching this match. I will not apologize for the pun there.
Punk made the hot tag to Allin, who ran wild on Starks and Cage. Allin hit a dive into Starks but ran into Luchasaurus on a dive attempt to Cage. Cage threw Allin into the announce desk before tagging in Starks to beat down Allin. Starks hit Snake Eyes on Allin before flooring him with a lariat for a nearfall as we go to another picture-in-picture break.
Allin beat a countout as we came back to full screen. More clubbering on Allin before Allin moved out of the way of a diving headbutt. Starks ripped Punk off the apron, leaving Allin with no one to tag when he broke free from Cage. Allin fought his way free and made the tag to Punk, who ran wild with rising knees. Punk did a random cartwheel in the middle of his comeback, with Riccaboni calling it a tribute to New Jersey native Bam Bam Bigelow.
Punk hit the Pepsi Twist on Cage for a nearfall. Punk hit a high crossbody, but Christian rolled through for a sneaky nearfall. Punk knocked Christian off the top rope, then went up and hit an elbow drop for a nearfall. Cage tagged in Starks, who ran right into a GTS attempt. Starks turned it into a rollup for a nearfall. They traded strikes before Punk floored Starks with a high kick. Punk tagged in Allin, who avoided a spear upon entry. Starks then speared Allin out of the air before hitting a Rochambeau for a nearfall.
Starks took Allin up for a superplex, but Allin turned it into a Death Drop from the top rope for a nearfall that Cage broke up. Punk got involved, taking Cage to the floor and hitting a GTS. Allin set up a Coffin Drop, but Luchasaurus crotched him on the top rope. Starks set up a second Rochambeau, but Allin reversed it into a rollup. Starks reversed that rollup, grabbing the ropes to win again.
One week after Ricky Starks defeated CM Punk in the finals of the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament, both men will appear on Saturday’s AEW Collision.
Starks will be on hand in Newark, New Jersey, to celebrate his victory while, according to Excalibur on AEW Rampage, Punk has said he will be in Newark “and looking for a fight.”
Following their staredown with title challengers Adam Cole & MJF on Wednesday, AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will have some comments ahead of their title defense next Saturday on Collision.
The men that failed to wrest the titles from FTR last Saturday — Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White & Juice Robinson — will take on Action Andretti & Darius Martin as they look to get back on the winning track.
In a similar situation, Taya Valkyrie will look to rebound from her loss to AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm last Saturday as she takes on Skye Blue.
The new additions join the previously announced Trios title match between champions House of Black and The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn.
Here’s the full lineup:
Taya Valkyrie vs. Skye Blue
CM Punk and Ricky Starks appearances
FTR appearance
Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson)
AEW Trios Champions House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) defend against The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn
Ricky Starks has won this year’s men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
Starks pinned CM Punk on Saturday’s Collision to win the tournament. The finish of the match had the two rolling up one another in a near fall sequence. Starks shifted his weight to cover Punk and grabbed the top rope for leverage, scoring the win.
As Collision ended and Battle of the Belts VII began, Starks exited the ring as CM Punk sat up, stunned. Starks snatched the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament trophy from Jushin Thunder Liger, completely ignoring him as he made his exit.
Earlier on Collision, Willow Nightingale defeated Ruby Soho to win the women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
CM Punk had defeated Satoshi Kojima at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and Samoa Joe on last week’s episode of Collision to make it to Saturday’s finals. Ricky Starks, meanwhile, defeated Juice Robinson on the July 1 edition of Collision and Powerhouse Hobbs on last week’s show.
AEW will make their debut tonight in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, as Collision will feature the finals of the second-ever Owen Hart Foundation tournaments.
On the men’s side, CM Punk will face Ricky Starks for the first time ever. Punk advanced with wins over Satoshi Kojima and Samoa Joe to get here while Starks defeated Juice Robinson and Powerhouse Hobbs.
On the women’s side, Willow Nightingale will face former partner-turned-rival Ruby Soho. Soho got wins over Britt Baker and Skye Blue while Nightingale beat Nyla Rose and Athena to punch her ticket. Soho was unsuccessful in last year’s final that Baker won.
Nightingale and Soho have faced off once before in singles action with Soho picking up the victory in March.
After losing in a title eliminator last Saturday, AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will defend against Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White & Juice Robinson in a two-out-of-three falls match.
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We got our pre-roll videos, featuring comments from everyone in our key matches tonight. After a few weeks, I can do without these videos. Instead of the good kind of old-school, they feel antiquated and lame.
This week’s Collision takes place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as part of the Calgary Stampede. Joining Nigel McGuinness on commentary this week is Ian Riccaboni, as Kevin Kelly is in Japan doing commentary for New Japan’s G1 Climax tournament.
AEW World Tag Team Title Two Out Of Three Falls Match – FTR defeated Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) 2 falls to 1 to retain the titles
I’ll get my small criticisms out of the way first. There was a lot of dead time in this one. The first fall was a lot of stalling, which tipped me off that this one was going long. Despite that, this was an incredible effort from these teams as they came together to have an excellent match. They peaked all three falls well, bringing the crowd to a fever pitch by the end of the third fall. This one will be talked about for a long time as the first Collision classic.
A good bit of stalling to start, which makes me think this one will be going long. Once they got started, White got the better of Harwood with armdrags. Both men made tags, with Wheeler sending Robinson out of the ring with a shoulder block as we went to our first picture-in-picture break.
As we came back from the commercial, Harwood tripped White up on a dropdown before hitting a side Russian leg sweep for a nearfall. Harwood caught White in a Cobra Twist, taunting Robinson as he grabbed the rope for leverage. Tags made on both sides led to Robinson dropping Wheeler with the Left Hand of God. The two traded pinfalls before Wheeler press slammed Robinson and tagged in Harwood. Harwood laid out Robinson with a chop before chopping him more in the corner.
As Harwood and Robinson traded headlocks, the announcers told us that Malakai Black & Brody King would be in tag team action tonight. After some headlock exchanges, Robinson sent Harwood shoulder-first into the ringpost before tagging in White. White leathered Harwood with chops. Harwood fought back but missed a corner splash and hit the ringpost head-first. White laid both Harwood and Wheeler out with DDTs before hitting a DVD for a nearfall. White dropped Harwood down with a facebuster before pulling him up and over with a bridging German suplex for a nearfall. Harwood fought back with chops before knocking White down with a lariat.
Things quickly broke down into a four-way scramble that ended with Robinson cutting off a Shatter Machine attempt and punching Wheeler with the Left Hand of God. That led to White hitting the Blade Runner to score the first fall as we went to a full screen break.
Robinson worked over Harwood’s arm as we came back from the break. Wheeler tagged in and laid into White, dropping him with a lariat for a nearfall. White came back with a back suplex before tagging out to Robinson, who laid into Wheeler with a pair of sentons. Robinson and White isolated Wheeler, with White clawing at Wheeler’s eyes to stop him from going for the tag. White hit Wheeler with a slingshot into the bottom rope before Robinson dropped Wheeler with a DDT on the floor.
More clubbering on Wheeler before Wheeler got his knees up on a Robinson senton to cut him off. Wheeler went for a sunset flip on Robinson, but White tagged in and went after the eyes again. Wheeler caught White with a headscissors before making the tag to Harwood, who ran wild on the challengers. Harwood got a pair of nearfalls on Robinson before sending him flying with two German suplexes. Harwood hit a brainbuster for a nearfall.
The Saddledome came alive with This Is Awesome chants as Harwood went for the Sharpshooter, but Robinson kicked him off and tagged in White. White hit a suplex into the turnbuckles that Robinson followed with a cannonball for a nearfall. White sent Harwood to the floor before teasing a stuff piledriver on Wheeler with Robinson. But FTR came back as Harwood hit a sunset flip off the ropes for a nearfall. FTR hit the Redneck Boogie on White, shouting out the Briscoes, for a close nearfall. FTR went for the Powerplex on White, but White got the knees up on Wheeler’s splash. Robinson came off the ropes with a Frog Splash on Harwood for another nearfall. This crowd is at a fever pitch as the match resets. FTR quickly got the second fall with some misdirection leading to the Shatter Machine on Robinson.
Back from commercial, and a Pier Six brawl broke out during the break. White backdropped his way out of a piledriver on the apron. Harwood got White in powerbomb position on the floor, but White took Harwood over the barricade. The doctors came to check on both men, but the match continued as White and Harwood brawled with each other in the crowd. Harwood dropped White with a suplex on the concrete, before FTR brought White back to ringside with a double suplex. Robinson came in, but FTR dropped him with a double suplex as well. White beat the countout before leading to the West Side Story staredown. They brawled with each other, with Wheeler suplexing Robinson over the ropes to the floor as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Harwood got to the ropes to get out of a White submission as we came back. White tuned up the band but put Harwood in the Sharpshooter instead to big boos. Harwood reached the ropes and fought off a double-team attempt. Harwood brought White to the top rope before bringing him down hard with a back superplex. We got a 55-minute call as Robinson cut off a Harwood tag. White hit a bridging back suplex for a nearfall. White teased the Bladerunner, but Harwood pulled him into a Sharpshooter. Wheeler cut off Robinson and put him in a Sharpshooter. FTR couldn’t hold the position on the Sharpshooter and collapsed. Robinson tagged in, but Harwood snatched him into the Sharpshooter again. Robinson tapped out, giving FTR the deciding second fall and the win to a big pop.
After the match, FTR offered a handshake. Instead, White and Robinson spat on their hands and left. I’ve heard that might be a fine nowadays.
– We got a hype package for Blood and Guts this Wednesday, hyping it as the bloodiest match in AEW.
Owen Hart Foundation 2023 Women’s Tournament Final Match – Willow Nightingale defeated Ruby Soho
Soho came out solo, with the announcers noting that she made it to the finals last year. Nightingale started the match in control, countering Soho’s offense before hitting a trio of suplexes for a nearfall. Soho avoided a charge in the corner and tied Nightingale in the ropes, hitting her with knees to the chest. Soho got a nearfall as we went to picture-in-picture break.
Back from the break as Nightingale hit an enzuigiri. Nightingale fired up on Soho, clubbering on her in the corner. Soho hit a back elbow, but Nightingale pulled her into an Oklahoma Stampede for a nearfall. A pinning predicament led to a forearm exchange, which led to Soho getting a rollup for a nearfall. Nightingale hit a main event spinebuster and locked on a single leg crab. Soho got to the ropes, where she grabbed her spraypaint can. She put it in Nightingale’s hands and feigned innocence before clawing the eyes and hitting the No Future for a nearfall. Soho went for the paint again, but Nightingale hit a pounce that sent the can out of the ring. Nightingale hit the Babe With The Powerbomb to win the tournament. Tony Khan raised Nightingale’s hand as the announcers noted that Martha Hart would have an official ceremony for both tournament winners during Battle of the Belts.
– We cut to a video from last week, where Tony Schiavane was looking to talk to Powerhouse Hobbs after QTV accidentally cost him his tournament match against Ricky Starks. QT Marshall and Harley Cameron went into his locker room, with Marshall pleading his case to Hobbs. Hobbs seemed to buy it.
Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King & Malachi Black) defeated Artemis Spencer & Randy Myers
King powered one of the men into the corner, forcing a tag. Black tagged in, kicking the legs out of his opponent. Black locked on a knee bar as King hit a senton. This was a destruction that brought out Andrade El Idolo. Black hit the Black Mass for the win as referees held Andrade back. The House of Black taunted Andrade with his stolen mask.
– The announcers ran down the Battle of the Belts card before running down the Blood and Guts Dynamite card, featuring the Blood and Guts match, the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Finals with Adam Cole & MJF taking on Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia, and an FTW Title match with Hook defending against Jack Perry. They then announce that next Friday’s Rampage will feature the return of the Royal Rampage match.
Owen Hart Foundation 2023 Men’s Tournament Final Match – Ricky Starks defeated CM Punk
This was fine. The work was nothing special, but the crowd was electric for and against Punk.
Punk had a mixed reaction coming out here. Dueling chants for both men as they traded arm wringers to start. Starks knocked Punk down with a shoulder block before taunting him with the Go To Sleep pose. Punk hip-tossed Starks to the floor as we went to commercial.
Starks avoided a corner charge as we came back from the break. Starks went Old School on Punk as the announcers noted that the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger would be helping to present the trophy to the winner of this match. Punk heated up on Starks, hitting a big kick to the back. Punk bodyslammed Starks before hitting the Bret Hart second rope elbow. Wrong brother, Punk. A Russian leg sweep scored a nearfall for Punk. Punk laid out Starks with a leg lariat as the crowd continued to be mixed for Punk. Another bodyslam set up the elbow, but Starks cut him off as we went to break again.
Punk hit the rising knee as we came back from commercial. Starks booted Punk on a corner charge, but Punk cut off a satellite DDT and hit a La Magistral cradle for a nearfall. Another rising knee scored for Punk, but Starks got the DDT for a nearfall. Starks went to the top rope, but Punk sat up out of the way of an elbow drop. Punk hit the Pepsi Twist for a nearfall. Both men met in the middle with crossbodies, crashing into each other for a double down.
They had a strike exchange that fired up Starks, but Punk caught Starks with a Piledriver for a nearfall. Punk called for the Go To Sleep, but Starks elbowed out and hit a spear that sent Punk to the floor. Starks dragged Punk back into the ring and went for another spear, but Punk caught him in a front guillotine that forced Starks to the ropes. Punk brought Starks to the top rope and hit a hurricanrana. They rolled through each other’s pins until Starks got the pin with second rope in hand. Starks celebrated as Punk sat in shock as we cut to Battle of the Belts.
The finals for the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament is now set.
CM Punk will meet Ricky Starks in the finals, which will take place on next week’s episode of Collision. The two had a brief staredown before this week’s Collision ended.
Starks defeated Powerhouse Hobbs after QT Marshall inadvertently distracted the referee, causing Hobbs himself to become distracted. This allowed Starks to hit a spear and pin Hobbs. After the match, Marshall attempted to apologize to Hobbs, but Hobbs had none of it and shoved Marshall. He also attacked Aaron Solo after he became involved.
Punk defeated Samoa Joe for the first time in his career in their fourth encounter against one another, with the first three taking part in Ring of Honor. Punk won with a victory roll. After the match, Punk attempted to shake the hand of Joe, who obliged at first. However, it was a trap as Joe attempted to choke out Punk with the coquina clutch. FTR ran down for the save.
Both the men’s and women’s finals will take place at the Saddledome in Calgary. Matches between Ruby Soho & Skye Blue on next week’s Dynamite and Willow Nightingale & Athena on Rampage will determine the women’s finals.
The quarterfinal round of the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament will conclude on tonight’s AEW Rampage from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
In the main event, Samoa Joe will resume his Ring of Honor rivalry with Roderick Strong for the opportunity to move on and face CM Punk in the semifinals. Punk will be on commentary for the match.
On the other side of the bracket, Ricky Starks will take on Juice Robinson and Dustin Rhodes will face Powerhouse Hobbs with the winners clashing in the semifinals.
For the first time, AEW World Champion MJF will make his Collision in-ring debut against an opponent to be named.
After returning on the debut episode of Collision, Miro will be in action once again against an opponent to be named.
TBS Champion Kris Statlander will look to continue her early run as titleholder as she defends against Lady Frost.
Our live coverage begins at 8 PM Eastern.
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Taped in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
I hear Saturday nights are alright for fighting.
Backstage promos from Powerhouse Hobbs, Roderick Strong, and Samoa Joe were the cold open for the show.
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness were ringside for commentary.
AEW World Champion MJF defeated Kip Morris in a non-title match (0:28)
MJF jumped Ontario native Kip Morris before the bell, hit the Heat Seeker, and then tapped him out with a crossface. MJF was dressed in red, white, and blue to agitate the Canadian crowd.
After the match, MJF got the mic and started running down everyone from Canada, and offered to defend the title against anyone from Hamilton. A rather large journeyman performer slowly made his way to the ring, but was outpaced by Hamilton native Ethan Page. Page slapped the mic out of MJF’s hand and ran down his family’s history in Hamilton. Page cut a great babyface promo and accepted the challenge from Friedman, a “bare minimum b*tch.”
MJF defeated Ethan Page to retain the AEW World Championship (10:58)
Page went for the crucifix powerbomb early, but MJF escaped and clipped Page’s knee. Friedman worked over Page’s knee and ankle. Page fought his way out of a leg lace and shocked Page with a jawbreaker. MJF caught Page coming out of the corner with an Alabama Slam, then slapped on a half-crab to continue to work over Page’s bad wheel. Page tried several different means of escape, but MJF was able to counter them and keep the hold on until Page finally made the bottom rope. On breaking the hold, MJF sold his own exhaustion for the effort it took to keep Page in the hold which was a great little touch.
Back from a split screen break, Page caught MJF with a cutter. MJF tried to kick Page’s knee to cut off his comeback, but Page fought through the pain and hit a series of clotheslines and a rana to maintain control. Page hit an Iconoclasm into a vertical powerslam to get a near fall. Page went for the Ego’s Edge, but MJF escaped and walked right into a Twist of Fate.
Page went to the top, but Page was unsteady, and MJF crotched him. MJF set up a superplex, but Page fought out and powerslammed MJF from the middle rope for another near fall. Page went for the Ego’s Edge a third time, but Page’s legs gave out under the weight of MJF. MJF caught Page with a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes, then dropped Page with the Heat Seeker to get the pinfall. Tremendous psychology throughout this one, and I hope this was a permanent face-turn for Ethan Page.
Powerhouse Hobbs (w/ QT Marshall and Harley Cameron) defeated Dustin Rhodes in a Quarter Final match to advance in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament (10:06 aired)
Sadly, Marshall and Cameron were still hanging around with Hobbs for this match.
Rhodes escaped a press-slam attempt from Hobbs, but Marshall tripped up Rhodes. This distraction allowed Hobbs to send Rhodes to the floor with a body block. On the floor, Marshall ran Rhodes headfirst into the ringpost while Hobbs distracted referee Aubrey Edwards. As a result, Rhodes was busted open, and Hobbs worked on the cut into a split-screen break.
Back from the break, Hobbs got a near fall. Rhodes started to fight back with right hands and a pair of lariats. Hobbs blocked a spinning powerslam from Rhodes, but Rhodes blocked whatever Hobbs was going for and turned it into a Cross Rhodes! Rhodes followed up with a piledriver for a near fall.
Rhodes hit a sloppy Code Red for another near fall (he couldn’t get his legs under Hobbs shoulders). Marshall tried to interfere and got waylaid with an uppercut, but it was still enough of a distraction for Hobbs to hit an avalanche and a spinebuster… for a one count. Rhodes hit the spinning powerslam for a near fall. Rhodes went for a figure-four, but Hobbs kicked out of it and sent Rhodes into a right hand from Marshall. Hobbs then hit the spinebuster and got the pinfall to advance to the semi-final. His opponent for the next round will be determined later in the show. This was a very good match.
Miro defeated Anthony Henry (3:09)
Miro has taken another step up the jobber ladder with the Workhorsmen’s Anthony Henry, who isn’t quite a no-name, although he’s more of a tag team competitor with JD Drake.
Henry actually caught Miro charging with a boot and came off the top with a stomp. Henry hit an enziguri and a series of forearms. Miro body blocked Henry against the ropes, then slammed him to the mat with an enziguri. A big machka kick and the Game Over got the submission victory for Miro.
– Tony Schiavone interviewed The Bullet Club Gold members, which now include the Gunn Club. For a crowd that didn’t seem to react to much on Wednesday, Jay White and the Bullet Club got a good amount of heat. The Gunns joined up with the Bullet Club because White and Robinson have experience all over the world. The Gunns started running down all the people they’ve beaten recently, including CM Punk, which actually got a bit of a “CM Punk!” chant from the crowd. Schiavone then announced that all the other members of the Bullet Club would be barred from the ring during Robinson’s tournament match later. White took the mic and barred Schinvone from talking for the rest of the interview, and called out Punk for bringing his red bag out a few weeks ago. He didn’t seem too interested in Punk’s bag, but White did challenge FTR for the AEW Tag Team Titles (with Juice Robinson as his partner).
This led to a promo from Punk’s crew in the back. Punk called MJF’s belt a replica from ShopAEW.com, and FTR accepted Jay White’s challenge. This whole segment ran a little long, but Jay White was great. A feud with Punk should establish Jay White as a top-tier player.
Ricky Starks defeated Juice Robinson in a Quarter Final match to advance in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament (15:19)
Dueling chants for Starks and Robinson to start, while they exchanged arm-ringers, headlocks, and hip-tosses. Robinson tripped up Starks on a drop-down, and Starks flopped awkwardly face-first on the middle rope. Robinson worked over Starks’s leg and slammedStarks into the ropes legs-first.
After a split-screen break, Robinson hit a cannonball in the corner for a near fall. Robinson has been so dominant through the break that McGuinness started channeling Bobby Heenan on commentary and insisted Robinson just be given the victory. And almost on cue, Starks mounted a comeback. Starks hit a DDT, but couldn’t quite land a kip up. Starks with the Snake Eyes and a tornado DDT for another near fall. Robinson countered a hanging DDT with a hot shot, then hit a leg lariat for a near fall.
Robinson locked on the Texas Cloverleaf. Starks got out of the hold with a rope break. Robinson almost got the pin with a rollup and a handful of tights. Starks hit a high-angle back suplex for a near fall. After not reacting for much of the match, the crowd started a weak chant for Starks.
Robinson went for a hurricanrana off the top, but Starks blocked it by holding onto the ropes. Starks missed a dive off the top and Robinson hit a spear for a near fall. Robinson went for his inverted DDT finish, but Starks countered and hit a spear. Starks tried for the roshambeaux, and while Robinson escaped, Starks rolled him up with a jackknife cover for the pin. This match felt about five minutes too long.
After the match, the rest of the Bulle Club surrounded the ring to attack Starks, but CM Punk and FTR ran in (to jeers for Punk, as noted by McGuinness) to chase them off.
– Lexi Nair’s interview with Christian Cage is interrupted by Shawn Spears, who wants a shot at the TNT Champion, Luchasaurus.
Kris Statlander defeated Lady Frost to retain the AEW TBS Championship (6:40 aired)
Lady Frost’s grandfather was a tag team partner of Bruno Sammartino. Frost did a lot of pointless flipping around throughout the match. She flipped into a forearm from Statlander and got suplexed out of a casadora attempt.
After a break, Frost ducked a kick from Statlander and got a German suplex. She countered a tombstone attempt with a spinning DDT for a near fall. Frost tried some more flippy stuff, which almost immediately backfired and Statlander floored her with a clothesline. Statlander finished off Frost with the Saturday Night Fever and got the pinfall. This wasn’t a great match.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Andrade El Idolo. Last week, The House of Black stole Andrade’s mask and he wants it back. The House of Black appeared on the monitor backstage and Malakai Black promised to give the mast back all in good time. El Idolo didn’t react like he was planning on being very patient.
For Collision next week: FTR will face Juice Robinson & Jay White in a title eliminator. Athena and Willow Nightingale square off in the Owen Hart Women’s Tournament semi-final match. Both of the men’s semi-final matches will also take place next week, Ricky Starks versus Powerhouse Hobbs and CM Punk versus the winner of the next match.
Samoa Joe defeated Roderick Strong via ref stoppage in a Quarter Final match to advance in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament (13:27)
CM Punk came out to a fairly mixed reaction to join the commentary team. This reaction became more favorable as the match went on.
Roddy gave Joe four of five shots, but it only took one forearm from Joe to put Strong down. Strong leveraged Joe out to the floor and hit him with a dropkick. On the floor, it was more of the same where Joe took three or four shots from Strong, then leveled him with one hard forearm.
Back in the ring, Strong got Joe down and worked a chinlock. Joe escaped the chilock and dropped Strong with a back elbow. Strong charged at Joe in the corner, but got caught with a uranage for a near fall.
Joe dominated for most of the split-screen break, but Strong hit a high knee for a near fall coming out of the commercial. Strong went for a side backbreaker, but Joe forearmed his way out of that. Joe hit a reverse atomic drop, running boot and a senton for a near fall. On commentary, Punk called the fans of Collision “Colliders,” and apparently the Colliders want to see Punk fight Samoa Joe.
Joe wore down Strong with a neck vice, but missed a second senton. Strong started to make a comeback while the crowd chanted for CM Punk. Strong hit three flying clotheslines that didn’t take Joe off his feet. Finally, a dropkick knocked Joe down. Strong caught Joe running and gave him a side backbreaker, then hit a running boot for a near fall.
Strong came off the middle ropes with a dropkick for a near fall, then followed up with an Olympic Slam for a near fall. Strong caught Joe with a jumping knee. Strong went for a suplex, but Joe countered into the Coquina Clutch and choked Strong out. Joe won via ref stoppage.
This sets up CM Punk v. Samoa Joe in the other semi-final for the Owen Hart tournament. On commentary, McGuinness pointed out that Punk has never beat Joe in a one-on-one match.
After the match, Punk and Joe exchanged dirty looks. Joe grabbed a chair , and a gaggle of referees and security were out to keep Punk and Joe separated. Joe slid back in the ring and dropped Strong on the chair. Adam Cole ran out to check on Strong, and the medical team put a cervical collar on Strong and loaded him onto a backboard. The medical staff helped Strong onto a stretcher and took him to the back as the show ended.
Final Thoughts:
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness were fantastic on commentary. The crowd seemed more enthusiastic for parts of this show than Dynamite on Wednesday, even though it was essentially the same crowd. Punk/Joe and Starks/Hobbs should both be very good matches next week. It seems at least on this show some of the heat on Punk died down a little bit.
With the second AEW Owen Hart Foundation tournament set to begin this month, the men’s field has its first two official entrants.
On the debut edition of AEW Collision Saturday, former TNT Champion Powerhouse Hobbs and former FTW Champion Ricky Starks said they are both entering the tournament which kicks off this month on AEW TV as continues at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
The Face of TNT #PowerhouseHobbs just entered himself into the Owen Hart Tournament!
AEW head Tony Khan has said the tournament will end on Saturday, July 15th in AEW’s Calgary, Alberta, Canada debut as part of a live episode of Collision. The official start date has yet to be announced.
Neither Hobbs or Starks were in last year’s men’s tournament.
It has not been announced if last year’s tournament format will remain the same which includes qualifying matches to whittle down to eight participants.
Last year featured one bye and and seven qualifying matches. Cole defeated Samoa Joe and Britt Baker beat Ruby Soho at Double or Nothing to become the men’s and women’s tournament winners, respectively.
Ricky Starks does not want to be mentioned in conversations about the pillars of AEW.
Darby Allin, Jack Perry, Sammy Guevara, and MJF are often referred to as AEW’s “four pillars” with Britt Baker sometimes being mentioned as part of the group as well. The idea is they are all young wrestlers who didn’t have national television exposure before joining AEW and are expected to be a big part of the company now and in the future.
The name is a take on All Japan Pro Wrestling’s “Four Pillars of Heaven” Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Akira Taue.
During an appearance on The Corner Podcast, Starks was asked about being considered another of AEW’s pillars.
Starks responded:
I actually hate the idea of pillars. I loathe the idea of a pillar because one, it’s a full gimmick and it came from one guy. There’s nothing behind it. To say that these four dudes are the pillars of the company, do you know what you are doing by saying that? F everybody else who did anything, those people don’t matter, it’s these three guys that we deem, ‘I have bestowed this sacred title upon thee and I want you to for forth and do with it..’ No, I don’t believe in that. It’s a very sweet gesture to say Ricky should be considered a fifth pillar, baby, I don’t need to be a pillar, ok? I can be a foundation, I can be the roof, I can be the person outside maintaining the lawn. I don’t need none of that because to me that’s a box within itself.
Starks continued:
To say that these four guys are the ones that are going to make or break it, let’s see the numbers. Y’all want to talk about ratings? Let’s see the ratings for y’all, huh? Let’s see how much money y’all make if y’all want to keep bringing up all this BS, let’s see it, pen to paper. How are the quarterly hours doing when y’all are on TV? Let’s see it.
Starks continued to say he doesn’t want to be mentioned in conversations about the pillars of AEW at all.
I don’t even like the conversation. I don’t even want to be included, keep me away from that. I don’t want that. I don’t want to be considered a pillar, this ain’t All Japan. I bet I tell Max to his face you don’t know nothing about All Japan.
Starks is currently involved in a program with Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White and Juice Robinson on AEW programming. Their rivalry continued on Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view when all three were entered into the Blackjack Battle Royal for the International Championship.
Several matches and a new promo were announced for this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
One of them is a Tres de Mayo trios battle royal that will see six teams and a combined 18 men.
Participants are The Butcher, The Blade, & Kip Sabian; Lucha Brothers & El Hijo del Vikingo; Varsity Athletes (Ari Daivari, Josh Woods & Tony Nese); Dark Order (John Silver, Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds); The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn; and QTV (QT Marshall, Powerhouse Hobbs & Aaron Solo).
No future AEW Trios title match was announced for the winner.
The Elite (Kenny Omega & the Young Bucks) will be on hand to share some thoughts about their recent run-ins with the Blackpool Combat Club. Omega vs. Jon Moxley in a steel cage match was also announced Friday for the May 10th Dynamite.
After an effort at their first encounter was thwarted by Jay White’s AEW return, Ricky Starks will once again attempt to take on Juice Robinson.
Saraya of The Outcasts will wrestle Willow Nightingale for the first time ever.
The new additions join the previously announced MJF & Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin & “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry tag team match where if Allin and Perry win, a four-way AEW World title match between all men will be made for Double or Nothing.
The other match previously announced is an eight-man tag featuring the AEW in-ring debut of Roderick Strong alongside Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy & Bandido against Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
Here’s the current card:
The Elite promo
Ricky Starks vs. Juice Robinson
Saraya vs. Willow Nightingale
MJF & Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin & Jack Perry with Double or Nothing AEW World title match stipulations on the line
Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy & Bandido vs. Jericho Appreciation Society (Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker)
Friday’s early edition of AEW Rampage will feature the maiden voyage of Jay White and Juice Robinson’s Bullet Club Gold.
Friday’s show will air at 6:30 PM Eastern due to the NHL playoffs on TNT.
The team will take on Ricky Starks and Shawn Spears. Starks came to Spears’ aid two Dynamites ago when White and Robinson attacked him.
After Jeff Jarrett defeated Dax Harwood Wednesday due to outside distractions, FTR’s Cash Wheeler will look to even the score as he faces Jay Lethal in a rare singles match for Wheeler.
Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) will reunite as a tag team against opponents to be named while Anna Jay A.S. will take on Ashley D’Amboise.
The show will also feature an in-ring promo by former AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed.
The Outcasts (Toni Storm, Saraya and Ruby Soho) will also be heard from in another promo segment.
**********
Taped from Sunrise, Florida. Jim Ross, Excalibur and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Jay White & Juice Robinson defeated Ricky Starks & Shawn Spears (9:50)
The match started fast with Starks and Spears rushing the ring. Both teams brawled around ringside, White paired off with Spears and Robinson with Starks. White choked out Spears with a microphone cable. Back in the ring, Stars worked Robinson over in the corner with chops. Spears tagged in and got a near fall with a legdrop. The babyfaces worked over Robinson in their corner. White caught Spears with a knee from the ring apron, and Robinson hit a leg lariat. Robinson sent Spears to the floor, where White suplexed him face first onto the ring apron.
After a split-screen break, the heels controlled the match with Spears in their corner. Spears fought back, but White cut him off with a dropkick to the knee. Spears countered a suplex from White and got the tag to Starks, who flattened Robinson with a clothesline. Robinson blocked a DDT, but Starks countered with a Northern Lights Driver, then clotheslined White to the floor. Starks hit a superplex on Robinson, and Spears followed up with a splash off the top for a near fall.
Spears went for death valley driver on Robsinson, but he countered with a eye rake. Spears caught White with a sky high for a near fall. Spears went for the death valley driver on White, but he slid out and caught Spears with a smooth as silk Blade Runner, and got the pinfall. Great finish, so-so match.
– Lexi Nair interviewed the Hardy Boys and Hook in the backstage area. Isaiah Kassidy is missing. Was this an angle from Dynamite? Apparently the Firm kidnapped Kassidy at Applebees, and have him in a different area backstage. Ethan Page threatened to have Big Bill chokeslam Kassidy off some scaffolding unless Matt Hardy agrees to make The Firm Deletion match next Friday at Rampage. Matt agrees, and then Big Bill chokeslammed Kassidy off the scaffolding anyway. Hook promised the Firm will be deleted next week.
Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) defeated Brady Pierce & Charlie James (2:08)
Lee tossed James across the ring with a beel throw, and then beeled Rhodes into both their opponents. Lee dropped James with the Spirit Bomb and got the pinfall.
After the match, the Mogul Embassy came out to confront Lee and Rhodes from the stage.
– Lexi Nair’s interview with Sammy Guevara was interrupted by Tay Melo, who read Sammy the riot act. Tay told Sammy MJF isn’t his friend, and he’s shouldn’t blow his opportunity at the World title by laying down for MJF.
Anna Jay A.S. defeated Ashley D’Amboise (4:43 aired)
Most of the first four minutes of this match took place in a split screen window, and Jay was absolutely dominant. After the commercial, Jay caught D’Amboise with a hangwoman’s neckbreaker and then locked in the Queenslayer sleeper for the tap out. This was a glorified squash.
After the match, Julia Hart attacked Jay from behind, and they brawled around ringside until the referees broke things up.
– The Outcasts said the usual but this time they were wearing t-shirts with a picture of Britt Baker’s black eye. Saraya will face Willow Nightingale on Dynamite next Wednesday.
The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn defeated Cameron Stewart, Ryzin, and a third local talent (0:50)
Max Caster referenced Ron Desantis, the new Little Mermaid, and the recently fired Don Lemon in his rap to the ring.
And the rap was longer than the match. The Famouser, the Arrival and the Mic Drop finished off Cameron in short order.
– On Dynamite Wednesday May 10th, Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley will face off in a steel cage.
– New for Dynamite next week, Juice Robinson will finally go one-on-one with Ricky Starks, and there will be a Trios battle royal with six teams.
Mark Briscoe came to the ring as a “ringside enforcer” for this match.
There was a funny bit where Lethal tried to get in a Fargo Strut, but Wheeler kept interrupting him. Lethal worked over Wheeler’s midsection. Wheeler countered a Lethal Injection and clotheslined Lethal to the floor.
After a split-screen break, Lethal had Wheeler trapped in an abdominal stretch. On commentary, JR claimed the abdominal stretch used to be an automatic submission. Sonjay Dutt tried to interfere, but Mark Briscoe stopped him. Back in the ring, Wheeler got a near fall with a small package. Lethal dropped Wheeler ribs first across the top rope, continuing to work over Wheeler’s midsection. The psychology here was very strong.
Lethal came off the top with an elbow drop, but Wheeler got his knees up. Wheeler came back with body shots and forearms. Wheeler hit a powerslam and a spinning DDT for a near fall. Wheeler kept trying for a piledriver, but Lethal kept escaping and hit the Lethal Combination.
Lethal went for the Lethal Injection, but Wheeler countered into a Gory Bomb for a near fall. Sonjay Dutt slid in the ring to distract the ref, which brought Briscoe up onto the ring apron. While Briscoe and Dutt argued on the apron, Lethal sent Wheeler crashing into Briscoe. Lethal then hit the Lethal Injection and got the pinfall.
This was a very solid professional wrestling match.
The Bullet Club Gold duo of Jay White and Juice Robinson will take on recent rivals Ricky Starks and Shawn Spears on this Friday’s AEW Rampage.
The show will start at 5:30 PM Eastern due to the NHL playoffs on TNT.
White made his return to AEW as an official roster member several weeks ago, attacking Starks as he was set to face Robinson. Last Wednesday, Starks came to Spears’ aid as Robinson and White gave him a beatdown following White’s win over Komander.
After Jeff Jarrett defeated Dax Harwood Wednesday, a battle of their respective teammates is on tap as FTR’s Cash Wheeler takes on Jay Lethal.
Anna Jay A.S. will go one-on-one with Ashley D’Amboise.
Promos from The Acclaimed and The Outcasts (Toni Storm, Ruby Soho & Saraya) will also be on the show.
The new additions join the previously announced match featuring Naturally Limitless (Keith Lee & Dustin Rhodes) against opponents to be named.
Here’s the lineup being taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite:
Ricky Starks & Shawn Spears vs. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson)
Cash Wheeler vs. Jay Lethal
Anna Jay vs. Ashley D’Amboise
Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) vs. TBA
Ricky Starks and Juice Robinson will meet on April 5.
A match between the two was made official on Saturday’s AEW Dynamite. That show will be held at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.
Saturday’s Rampage had Starks calling out Robinson. Robinson appeared, but balked at the idea of facing Starks in Independence or St. Louis, the home of this coming Wednesday’s Dynamite. Robinson instead said he would meet him in New York in two weeks.
Starks and Robinson have been feuding since the Dynamite following Revolution. Starks had come to the ring to talk about what was next when the Bullet Club logo appeared on the video screen. That was a distraction as Robinson laid him out from behind.
Robinson signed with AEW back in December. His first high profile match took place back at ROH Final Battle, where he unsuccessfully challenged Samoa Joe for the ROH Television Championship.