Tag: Ricochet

Three Continental Classic matches announced for AEW Rampage

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Three Continental Classic matches are set for Rampage.

Friday’s show will see two Blue League and one Gold League match take place. In the Blue League, Daniel Garcia will meet The Beast Mortos. Garcia drew against Kazuchika Okada in his first match, but The Beast Mortos failed to take out Kyle Fletcher in his. Okada will also be in action taking on Mark Briscoe, who was unsuccessful in his first tournament match against Shelton Benjamin.

In the Gold League, Komander will make his debut by taking on Ricochet. Komander is replacing Juice Robinson, who is unable to continue in the tournament due to injury. Ricochet is coming off a loss in his first tournament match against Claudio Castagnoli.

Tournament action kicked off last week on Dynamite, and will wrap up at Worlds End on December 28.

Here is the updated card for Rampage:

  • Continental Classic Blue League: Daniel Garcia vs. The Beast Mortos
  • Continental Classic Blue League: Kazuchika Okada vs. Mark Briscoe
  • Continental Classic Gold League: Ricochet vs. Komander

Ricochet on working with young AEW talent: ‘We’re all learning from each other’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ricochet has enjoyed working with a new generation of high-flyers in AEW.

During an appearance on Casual Conversations with The Classic, Ricochet was asked about being a veteran now and working with wrestlers like Dante Martin and Nick Wayne who were influenced by his style of competition. Ricochet said this younger generation asks him questions and he gives them advice, but he’s learning from them as well because wrestling is always evolving.

“It’s been awesome. Yeah, they absolutely pick my brain, they ask questions, they want to know things. But I still am asking them questions. Again, because wrestling is evolving. Like you said, they’re trying to bring our style up,” Ricochet said.

“So we’re all learning from each other still. As much as they can learn from me, I’m still learning from them. And the same goes for like — you know, I’m still learning from guys like Adam [Copeland] and Christian [Cage]. And Dean Malenko is there. And Chris Jericho is there. And all those guys are there I’m still learning from, at the same time I’m learning from the Nick Waynes and so on. So it’s cool to see how the learning goes both ways.”

After departing WWE, the 36-year-old Ricochet debuted for AEW this summer. He already has victories over both Martin and Wayne during his AEW run.

Ricochet is currently participating in the Continental Classic. He has a 0-1 record in the Gold League so far with a loss to Claudio Castagnoli. The other Gold League participants are Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Brody King, and Juice Robinson — though Robinson’s status is in question due to a foot injury.

Ricochet’s full appearance on Casual Conversations with The Classic can be watched below:

Two Continental Classic matches official for AEW Dynamite Winter is Coming

Posted on by Josh Nason

A pair of high-profile Continental Classic matches are official for the Winter is Coming edition of AEW Dynamite, set for Wednesday, December 11th in Kansas City, Missouri.

After defeating Juice Robinson in his Classic debut Saturday on Collision, Will Ospreay will return for his second tournament match against Claudio Castagnoli in Gold league action. It will be their second-ever singles encounter with the first coming this past April which Ospreay won.

Castagnoli is coming off a Classic win over Ricochet this past Wednesday and is set to take on King this Wednesday as both men look to go 2-0.

The other Gold league match will see the aforementioned King take on Ricochet for the first time ever. The high flyer is not scheduled for this Wednesday or Saturday as of now.

The new additions joins the already announced AEW Women’s World title match between champion Mariah May and challenger Mina Shirakawa in addition to MJF vs. the Dynamite Diamond battle royal winner.

Here’s the current lineup for December 11th:

  • Continental Classic Gold league: Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • Continental Classic Gold league: Brody King vs. Ricochet
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Mina Shirakawa
  • MJF vs. Dynamite Diamond battle royal winner

Continental Classic matches announced for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The first matches for the Continental Classic are now set.

Tony Khan on social media announced the first three matches of the tournament. In the Gold League, Darby Allin will take on Brody King while Ricochet will face Claudio Castagnoli. Meanwhile in the Blue League, Shelton Benjamin will face Mark Briscoe.

The twelve participants for the tournament were announced during a selection special that aired on Sunday. The wrestlers have been split up into two groups, the Blue League and the Gold League. The winners of each league will face off in the finals of the tournament at Worlds End, which takes place on December 30 in Uniondale, New York. Whoever wins the tournament will become Continental Champion, a title currently held by Kazuchika Okada.

Here is the updated card for Dynamite:

  • ROH World Champion Chris Jericho defends against Tomohiro Ishii
  • AEW Continental Classic Gold League: Darby Allin vs. Brody King
  • AEW Continental Classic Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Ricochet
  • AEW Continental Classic Blue League: Shelton Benjamin vs. Mark Briscoe

AEW reveals full list of participants for Continental Classic tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The full list of participants for this year’s Continental Classic tournament have been revealed.

AEW gave details of the tournament on a Selection Special stream that aired on Sunday. It will kick off this Wednesday on Dynamite and will conclude at AEW’s next pay-per-view, Worlds End, on December 28 in Orlando. Similar to last year, the twelve wrestlers will be divided into two groups, the Blue League and the Gold League. The winners of both leagues will meet at Worlds End.

This year’s entrants include:

Blue League

  • AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada
  • Kyle Fletcher
  • TNT Champion Daniel Garcia
  • The Beast Mortos
  • Mark Briscoe
  • Shelton Benjamin

Gold League

  • Will Ospreay
  • Juice Robinson
  • Brody King
  • Ricochet
  • AEW Trios Champion Claudio Castagnoli
  • Darby Allin

Each match in the Continental Classic will be held under a 20-minute time limit, with everyone banned from ringside. A win is three points, a draw will earn both wrestlers one point, and a loss is zero points.

Eddie Kingston won the inaugural Continental Classic last year, defeating Bryan Danielson in the finals. His win briefly unified the AEW Continental, ROH World, and New Japan Strong titles.

AEW Full Gear preview & predictions: Death Riders on the storm

Posted on by Mike DellaCamera

Image: AEW

The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects that of the author and not of the website.

The Sopranos, long may it reign, had a habit of loading up the penultimate episodes of a season and dealing with the fallout in the finale. Two of the best episodes in the show’s history (“The Knight in White Satin Armor” and “Long Term Parking”) didn’t end their respective seasons, but were powerhouse episodes that stayed with viewers more than two decades later. 

Last year’s Full Gear offered something similar. We saw the bloody, gruesome beginning of the Hangman Page/Swerve Strickland saga which kickstarted Swerve’s run at the top of the card. It also saw the start of “Timeless” Toni Storm’s lengthy run with the Women’s title. Both of those characters and stories began ramping up after Full Gear and there are a few candidates for this year:

  • Daniel Garcia: It’s well past time for him to make a jump into being a consistent main character.
  • Kyle Fletcher: Can he use his match with Will Ospreay as a launching pad to something bigger like Swerve did?
  • Orange Cassidy: Does he have a real chance to be the hero that conquers Jon Moxley’s Death Riders or is he keeping the seat warm for the true protagonist in the story, Darby Allin?

Other than this bit of self-created intrigue, this show feels flat. It was done no favors by a tragically weak go-home show on Wednesday. There’s been too much recycling of tired WWE-style tropes and hodgepodge booking decisions lately. AEW does not feel cohesive. Too many of the performers feel like they are performing in isolation. The connective tissue to so much of this is missing. Hopefully, the Continental Classic portends a return to AEW’s bread-and-butter: really, really good professional wrestling. Last year’s tournament was a doozy, and they need this one to be the same.

First, let’s see how things shake out this Saturday. Here’s my previews and predictions for Saturday (8 PM Eastern main card start on PPV):

MJF vs. Roderick Strong

The sooner AEW moves past this “story,” the better. It is a jumbled, unnecessary mess. MJF’s contributions to this consist of pre-tapes shot on a seven-megapixel Logitech camera from 2006. And, in case you forgot, Strong is supposed to be the bad guy in this! Remember The Devil™ storyline from last year? Of course, you do. We all do. We all wish we didn’t. But here MJF is, running down Roddy’s family while he cuts a generic babyface promo. There is nothing here now, and there won’t be anything even if Adam Cole winds up wrestling MJF at Worlds End. All parties are best served to end this and move on toward anything else. At least this should be good between the bells. 

Prediction: MJF

Jay White vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

Page is incapable of being boring. Whether it’s his anxiety, a promo about worker’s rights, or his descent into simmering lunacy, he is must-see. Few wrestlers in AEW draw consistent eyeballs, but Page is one of them. He is their most successfully versatile performer. Other wrestlers can switch alignments like he does, but none do it as well. He’s succeeded no matter what he’s been given and should be positioned much higher on the card. 

Every show needs a match like this. It plays off of history, has good mic work, and fits both characters. It’s an easy, paint-by-numbers booking.  I am higher on White than most, it seems. Perhaps I am disarmed and misled by his accent, but I generally like him. I do wonder what his ceiling is, though. He exudes confidence, cuts promos full of venom and has precise character work, but I can’t help wondering if his fate is to be the guy who comes close without ever actually getting to the top. There’s always going to be someone just a little bit better. 

White has had Hangman’s number throughout their careers and will give him another check in the loss column this weekend. 

Prediction: White

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher and his sudden tattoos aren’t there yet, but AEW wants him to get there. They need him to get there. They’re giving him the space and the time to smooth out the edges on regular TV. He’s not anything special on the microphone, but he’s getting better. He’s growing like an actor graduating from bit parts to meatier roles. Each week, the nervous energy turns more toward ease with his oodles of raw athleticism and talent coalescing into something potentially special. Giving the ball to someone this inexperienced is a gamble. With Fletcher, it’s starting to feel less so.

Positioning Ospreay as The Guy on PPVs is another smart decision. This is not someone who should be deployed for filler episodes. He’s modeled his game after Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada: two of the best big-match performers of this generation. What makes Omega’s whole Best Bout Machine gimmick work is that not every match is the “Best Bout.” That’s the model Ospreay needs to follow during his peak years. He doesn’t need to give someone the match of their life on a random Wednesday night in February. Kicking out of the Stormbreaker or Hidden Blade should mean something, not moves that take us to commercial. Keep the bullets in the chamber for the brightest lights and biggest stages. That way the matches, and moments, mean more. 

As bright as Fletcher’s star might be, Ospreay’s is still brighter. He’s the most over wrestler in the company and he adds to his big show resume with a win.

Prediction: Ospreay

Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley

Time and again, Strickland has plunged himself into the deep end, daring to test his mettle against the best of his generation. His position as top-tier talent is cemented; an unteachable cocktail of charisma, presentation, and edge. On Saturday, his biggest challenge yet casts quite a shadow.

Hopefully freed from corporate storytelling’s straitjacket, Lashley seems poised to soar, or to steamroll AEW. AEW has the market cornered on mid-sized wrestlers who can fly around the ring. He’s a different type of athletic marvel. What they’re missing, and what’s always been missing, is someone this physically imposing. Few are more imposing than big Bob Lashley. His brute strength and explosiveness combined with Swerve’s puzzle box of unpredictability and penchant for the moment make for a match worth watching. This is a rare occasion where it doesn’t quite matter how we got to our destination, but we sure are happy to be here.

Swerve remains teflon. A loss here won’t hurt him at all and losing to Lashley, combined with his recent losses to Danielson and Page, would introduce some fascinating struggle to a character that has otherwise shined on major shows. A win for Lashley would go a long way to establish The Hurt Syndicate as a serious force in AEW.

Prediction: Lashley

AEW Tag Team Champions Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) defend against The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd), Kings of the Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) and The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) in a four-way

How long are we going to continue to do this with The Acclaimed? An act long past its expiration date, constantly bogged down by the anchor of Caster. Bowens deserves so much more than waiting around for a Caster heel turn that no one cares about. Not a soul. 

Edgelord gimmicks are less successful in wrestling than they are in real life. They’re even worse when the “edgy” content isn’t even funny. Unfunny, corny, and bad at wrestling is not a three-ingredient dish that anyone, let alone the wrestling audience at large, has an interest in eating. The idea of him in The Hurt Syndicate is a laughable one. There is no quicker way to kill momentum than by adding a dash of “Platinum.”

Fortunately, the other teams in the match are all different types of good. Refreshingly, they have gimmicks that are more than “good wrestlers.” Private Party, House of Black, and The Outrunners are all different types of teams that wrestle different types of matches. Diversity is paramount in wrestling (and in life!) and leads to quality matches which this should be. I’m mostly excited about this one! 

Prediction: Private Party retains

AEW TNT Champion Jack Perry defends against Daniel Garcia

We have tried and we have learned all we need to about Perry. There is no failure because something doesn’t work; there is only failure in the absence of effort. Perry could have coasted along as a member of Jurassic Express, equal parts doomed and privileged to be a mid-card, crowd-pleasing act. But in the search for the elusive ceiling — the search for something greater — change was needed. If Perry was going to become an actual pillar of the company, he couldn’t remain static.

The change has not worked. Perry is no more believable as a top guy now than when he started. He is neither top class as a worker, a talker, or in any other way. He’s above average in all three and can play an important but lesser role as long as he wants. But we know what the ceiling is now; a ceiling artificially raised by entrance music. 

If I went through my old columns, I’d imagine the phrase ‘now or never’ shows up more than anything else. I’ll continue that overuse here because it is actually now or never with Garcia. The collective heart of AEW cannot take another stop-and-start. It cannot take more stalled momentum. An audience that has been dying to embrace Garcia needs at least some kind of crowning moment to hold on to. I’d argue winning the TNT championship is much less than beating MJF clean on a PPV show, but who am I? I’m just a guy that clickity clacks his days away. Let us love something, one time.

Prediction: Garcia wins the title

AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Ricochet

This is a match, once again, added late in the week and well past bedtime for all East Coast Dads. It is also a match that reflects the evolution in my pro wrestling fandom more than any other. Like a lot of fans, Ring of Honor was my first discovery when I started venturing outside the WWE monolith. I was taken by not only the charming grime, but the different styles of wrestling on the shows.

But nothing opened my eyes more than Pro Wrestling Guerilla. The stacked supershows run out of Reseda immediately captivated me. I looked forward to their show trailers and DVD sales more than anything else, and Ricochet was front and center of that. I had never seen someone be able to show off athleticism like that. I fell for the flips, and off I went.

As I’ve grown, I’m less drawn to the overly choreographed flippy stuff. Now it’s the ones that hit hard that pull my eyes to a screen — that explosive strong style. If you’ve read any of my columns over the past year or so, you know that I think Takeshita is the present and future of pro wrestling. He’s a perfect prospect, and a real litmus test for Ricochet. If he wants to prove he can hang with the best wrestlers in the world, few are better than the current International champion. He can probably hang, but he probably can’t win.

Prediction: Takeshita retains

TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Kris Statlander

The sudden and sad splintering of Statlander from Stokley Hathaway is unfortunate. One day, they were together, aligned against Willow Nightingale in a street fight. The next, they were nothing. They didn’t exist. Vapor. It’s a shame because it was clicking for me. It let Statlander show some of her personality and unique sense of humor. Now she’s back into a generic babyface role which is fine, but like Jack Perry, fine might be the ceiling in that role.

God bless Mone for continuing to do the most at all times. She’s putting in a lot of effort to elevate a program that feels like a TV build rather than one that belongs on a major show. I am confident this will deliver in the ring. Statlander is solid-to-very good whenever she gets a chance, and Mercedes is at her best when going against someone bigger. I have high hopes for the match, and low hopes for a title change.

Prediction: Mone talks

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against Orange Cassidy

Up until a few months ago, it had been a surprisingly forgettable year for Moxley. An empty IWGP championship reign ended with a hollow loss to Tetsuya Naito. Some good enough but forgettable TV matches. But now? He’s as dynamic as he’s ever been. A reinvigorated ronin. The Ace of Everything is in the best shape of his life and fully engaged. Nothing is off-limits for him. No ceiling exists for this version of Moxley. He can be whatever he wants and shape AEW to his will.

This version of Mox is a looming, seemingly unconquerable force of nature — an Anton Chigurh-like presence. This is the creation of the first real “big bad” of AEW. Sure, they’ve had heels (early Jericho, belt collector Omega, MJF) but none felt like this. None of them felt like something that could block out the sun and reshape the company. None felt inevitable. The scariest villains are the ones completely driven by purpose.

As much as I enjoy the Death Riders part of the story — their matches, promos, presence, fashion choices, etc. — the rest is lacking. Outside of Cassidy and Darby Allin, there isn’t much for them to be afraid of. The Dark Order holding the line in the parking lot? Surely not. The rest of The Conglomeration standing up for AEW? Not a needle mover in the bunch.  No disrespect to the Rocky Romeros and Dark Orders of the world, but they are not equipped to be the protagonists that can save the company.

If heavy hitters don’t engage in this story, success could be elusive. A caveat: if the rumored plans of a triumphant Young Bucks/Elite return to save the day, the success won’t be elusive, it will be non-existent. This is the chance to really do something. Even if Allin is the one who saves the company, the inclusion of The Elite would only serve to tarnish that. This is an opportunity to build something different and establish something new at the top. More of the same isn’t what AEW needs to get to the next level.

Whoever winds up overcoming Mox must be prepared for war. Taking him down won’t happen on the first try. The conqueror must fail, get back up, and keep coming. Their will must be tested, and this is only the first question of the test. It’s a test Cassidy will fail.

Prediction: Moxley retains

Ricochet vs. Konosuke Takeshita International title match set for AEW Full Gear

Posted on by Josh Nason

Another title match has been announced for this Saturday’s AEW Full Gear as AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita will defend the title against Ricochet.

The two have been at odds since October’s WrestleDream when Kyle Fletcher attacked Will Ospreay, causing him to lose the title to Takeshita in a three-way that also included Ricochet. Since then, Ricochet has chased Takeshita around North America which included a surprise appearance at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut weekend.

The two have battled in a pair of tag team matches since then which included an eight-man that took place Wednesday.

This will be the third title defense for Takeshita, but his first in AEW. Ricochet is 7-0 in straight-up singles matches in his early AEW career.

Here’s the current card for Newark, New Jersey:

  • AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against Orange Cassidy
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Kris Statlander
  • TNT Champion Jack Perry defends against Daniel Garcia
  • AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Ricochet
  • Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
  • Jay White vs. Hangman Page
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Swerve Strickland
  • MJF vs. Roderick Strong
  • Mariah May & Mina Shirakawa champagne celebration
  • Four-way match for AEW Tag Team titles: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) defends against The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd), House of Black (Malakai Black & Brody King), and The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)
  • Zero Hour: Big Boom A.J. vs. QT Marshall

Ricochet wants AEW World title run: ‘I’m going to prove I can carry a company’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Ricochet is ready to show the wrestling world he can be a top guy.

During a recent interview with Justin Barrasso for Undisputed, the 36-year-old said he has some lofty goals now that he’s in AEW, including becoming a World Champion. 

“I’m going to show everyone that I’m the man,” he said. “I’m going to prove I can carry a company. It’s time to show everyone why I’m here.”

“I was talking with my wife about this, and I said there was this one hurdle in my career I need to jump, and that is being the top dog,” he continued. “Becoming the best, that’s not why I started wrestling. I was a 14-year-old kid, and wrestling kept me off the streets. It was fun, it allowed me to travel, and I fell in love with it. That was always my goal, but it’s different now.”

“I believe I’m one of the best, and I’m going to show it here.”

“So much is possible. It’s a new beginning. There is no guarantee it will work. But for the past 21 years, it’s worked out pretty well everywhere I’ve worked. This is my chance to get to the next level.”

Ricochet also addressed his decision not to re-sign with WWE, where he worked from 2018 to 2024. He says his leaving is not a knock on the company. 

“WWE is killing it, they’re doing great,” he said. “For the Ricochet character, this was the right move. It’s not a knock on them. For me, being at AEW is the way to go. I’m really happy with the decision I made. It’s better to have two top promotions, it’s better for the market. And this is the place Ricochet is going to be able to show everything he can do.”

“It’s really freaking cool that people wanted me to stay. But it feels right here, it feels natural. This is a place where I can finally show the world who I am.”

“AEW is a company built on people betting on themselves. This is really the place for me.”

Ricochet will be in action tonight on AEW Dynamite. He’s scheduled to team with Mark Davis, Will Ospreay, and Powerhouse Hobbs against the Don Callis Family in an eight-man tag team match. 

AEW Rampage live results: Ricochet vs. Dante Martin

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Two high-flying standouts square off in the featured match on this week’s AEW Rampage.

Ricochet will face Dante Martin on tonight’s show as he continues to climb the ranks on his way to an International title shot at Konosuke Takeshita. Dante and brother Darius were unsuccessful as a tag team as part of the four-way Full Gear contender’s series, losing to The Outrunners their last time out as a duo.

Former ROH Champion Mark Briscoe will face Ari Daivari in singles competition on the program, while Komander will take on Rocky Romero in another one-on-one contest.

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida will take on Top Flight’s Flight Attendant Leila Grey.

LFI’s Rush & The Beast Mortos will team up against former MLW regular Richard Holliday and Alec Price in the show’s lone tag team matchup.

Tonight’s AEW Rampage episode was taped Wednesday night, November 13 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Spoilers from the show are available here.

**********

Taped in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Matt Menard, Tony Schiavone & Excalibur were on commentary.

Hikaru Shida defeated Leila Grey

Shida got a near fall after a dropkick off the middle rope. Grey blocked a kicked and rolled up Shida for a near fall. Shida hit the Falcon Arrow and got the pinfall.

– Renee Paquette interviewed Harley Cameron, who played a guitar and sang a song about a little girl, “not a child because that would be weird, but someone who is small in stature” until she ran out of time. Honestly the whole show should be just Paquette interviewing Cameron until it gets cancelled. The ratings would improve.

Mark Briscoe vs. Ari Daivari (w/ Mark Sterling)

Briscoe hit a suplex for a near fall. He followed up with some redneck kung fu. On the floor, Briscoe tossed Daivari into the ringside barricade and the brawled around ringside. Sterling broke up Briscoe’s attempt at using a chair for a springboard, and this distracted giave Daivari the opportunity to take control.

Sterling distracted Briscoe when he went to the top, and Daivari caught Briscoe with a sleeper. A short-arm lariat followed up with a hammerlock DDT got Daivari a near fall. Briscoe mounted his comeback with more redneck kung fu and a series of forearms. Briscoe hit a fisherman’s buster for two. Daivari blocked a Jay Driller and hit a superkick. Daivari charged into a Death Valley Driver and Briscoe went to the top, but Daivari crotched him. Daivari then tried for a Jay Driller, but Briscoe escaped. Sterling distracted Briscoe, so Rocky Romero ran interference and took out Sterling. Romero tossed Briscoe the chair, and Briscoe hit his launchpad plancha onto Sterling and Daivari, then dropped the Froggy Bow for the pinfall. This went far too long for what it was, but was fine.

Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes) v. Rocky Romero

MVP was shown watching the match in the back. After some even lucha exchanges, Romero started to overpower Komander. Romero delivered a superplex and both guys were down.

Komander hit a walking-the-ropes springboard moonsault coming out of a commerical. After a series of reversals and counters, Komander hit a springboard dropkick off the middle rope. Romero kicked Komander in the face when he went for a moonsault. Romero hit a running sliced bread for a near fall. Komander rammed Romero in the corner with a running powerslam. Komander walked the top rope and hit a shooting star press for the pinfall. I thought Rocky was winning this, but then remembered that Komander has a bigger match tomorrow night on Collision with Shelton Benjamin.

– Lexi Nair’s interview with Anna Jay was interruped by Taya Valkyrie. Valkyrie offered Jay some insurnace for her no-dq Women’s World Title match, but Jay would have none of it.

Rush & The Beast Mortos (w/ Dralistico) defeated Richard Holliday & Alec Price

Mortos destroyed Price with a powerslam and a pop-up Samoan Drop. Rush tagged in and Holiday held his own with Rush for about 12 seconds. Rush tossed him to the floor and bounced his head off the ring barricade. Rush brutalized the poor job guy. Back in the ring, Rush hit the running shotgun dropkick in the corner and got the pinfall.

– Lexi Nair asked MVP if he was scouting talent in AEW. MVP thinks some talent in AEW needs motivation and better management, while others are arrognat talent that needs to be beaten down. Guess what kind of talent Swerve Strickland is? MVP also had kind things to say about Komander and Ricochet.

– Hype package for Anna Jay v. Mariah May for Collision tomorrow night.

Ricochet defeated Dante Martin

Richochet kept Martin from getting to the rope to break a wrist lock, so Dante countered by flipping out of it. Dante went for a sunset flip, but Ricochet countered it somehow with his own sunset flip. Ricochet snapped off a mean looking dropkick. The fight went to the floor, where both guys avoided moonsaults. Back in the ring, more creative avoidance of each other’s offense ended with Ricochet hitting a gamengiri and a springboard clothesline.

After a long split-screen break, Martin went for a double-jump springboard moonsault but it was more like a carthwheel into a a knee to Ricochet’s head. Martin hit a springboard frog splash for a near fall. Ricochet hit a Northern Lights suplex and rolled right out of that and into a brainbuster. A standing shooting star press got Ricochet a near fall. Martin tried a springboard into a bulldog, but Ricochet turned that into a Blue Thunder Bomb for another near fall.

Martin countered a Vertigo attempt with a cradle, but Ricochet dropped him with a backdrop suplex. Ricochet hit a sliding elbow strike and got the pinfall.

After the match, Ricochet helped Martin to his feet and they showed each other respect after a good match.

Powerhouse Hobbs returns, teams with Ricochet on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Powerhouse Hobbs is back.

Ricochet introduced Hobbs as his mystery partner in the main event of Dynamite, where he and Hobbs went on to defeat Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher. Following the bout, Fletcher took out Hobbs with a steel chair. Mark Davis came out and confronted Fletcher, but was met by Lance Archer and Brian Cage. Will Ospreay then came out to make the save, clearing the ring as the show went off the air. 

Prior to the match, Ricochet explained that Hobbs’ contract with the Don Callis Family had expired last month, and Hobbs was mad that no one checked in on him during his recovery.

Hobbs was injured back on the April 24 edition of Dynamite, where he blew out the patellar tendon in his knee during a match against Jon Moxley for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. In recent months, he had been backstage at AEW shows meeting with doctors, and in October revealed he was cleared for an in-ring return.

AEW Dynamite live results: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli & PAC

Posted on by Ryan Howard

AEW strikes back at Jon Moxley’s Death Riders on tonight’s Dynamite from Manchester, NH.

Fighting for AEW’s honor, Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin will team up against Moxley’s allies Claudio Castagnoli and PAC a week after Allin descended from the rafters to return and brawl with Moxley’s group.

After their in-ring confrontation last week after Adam Cole defeated Buddy Matthews, Malakai Black and Cole will go one-on-one. Cole needs to win three in a row in order to get a shot at MJF at Full Gear.

After his debut last week, Bobby Lashley will appear live alongside The Hurt Syndicate’s MVP and Shelton Benjamin.

AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher will face Ricochet & a mystery partner.

In a Fight Without Honor, The Learning Tree’s Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith will face The Conglomeration’s Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii.

Penelope Ford will face Jamie Hayter, while Christian Cage and Hook are set for a face-to-face confrontation.

**********

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Nigel McGuinness as they throw it to Tony Schiavone in the ring who introduces The Hurt Syndicate to the arena.

The Hurt Syndicate Address AEW

MVP officially introduces himself to the AEW crowd, as Shelton Benjamin was next and his resume was run down to a strong ovation. Lashley was next, and got a massive ovation. MVP brought up handing out Hurt Syndicate business cards, saying if you accept it, it’ll change your life, if you reject it, this is what happens, throwing to the big screen and Swerve Strickland being laid out last week. Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana then come to the stage and have to be held back by officials, as Strickland had a steel chain in hand, looking for a fight. Strickland yells at Lashley for a match at Full Gear and MVP accepts. Lashley, never taking his sunglasses off, stared him down from the ring.

-Video package highlighting Orange Cassidy’s quest to battle the Death Riders is shown before tonight’s opening contest.

Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin defeated AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli & PAC (w/Wheeler Yuta) via disqualification

(Strong opener, with the crowd really behind Cassidy & Allin and their multiple comebacks. The ending wasn’t a surprise, as I assume we’re getting a Castagnoli & Allin singles match soon and this was also a way for the Death Riders to get back some of their heat after being finally outmatched last week. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a Death Riders vs. Conglomeration match coming out of this.)

Castagnoli & PAC charged up the ramp to go at Cassidy, who lured them up there as Allin dove from the top of the entrance tunnel to wipe out both. PAC & Cassidy brawled ringside, as Allin piggybacked Castagnoli with a sleeper before being driven into the barricade. The match officially began, with Castagnoli & PAC both getting the upper hand in and out of the ring, until Cassidy side stepped a PAC dropkick and delivered a brutal PK. Cassidy momentarily distracted himself staring down at Yuta, giving PAC time to hit a Helluva Kick. Cassidy fought off the avalanche brainbuster, sending PAC crashing to the mat before hitting a diving DDT for two. Castagnoli made the save with backbreakers aplenty, as the match reset into commercial.

Cassidy’s ribs were worked over the entire break before finally side stepping a charging Castagnoli in the corner, diving for an Allin hot tag. Crowd erupts, as Allin ran wild, hitting a Coffin Drop from the ring to the floor on PAC before leaping into the clutches of Castagnoli. Allin avoided a Giant Swing, but Castagnoli launched him high in the sky with a back drop for two. Castagnoli powered Allin into a spinning backbreaker until PAC followed with a stalling German suplex for two of his own. Locomotion uppercuts in the corner until PAC dropped Allin with a brainbuster, followed by an avalanche variety for a close near fall broken up by Cassidy. Series of reversals led to a Cassidy hot tag this time, as he took PAC from corner to corner head first into the buckle. Cross body off the top on PAC, as a Stundog Millionaire into a Code Red dropped Castagnoli. Both Allin & Cassidy took turns hitting dives, as back inside Cassidy spiked PAC with a spinning DDT.

Yuta tried to jump in the ring, but ate an Orange Punch, as did Castagnoli on the apron. Marina Shafir appeared and kicked referee Bryce from the ring, allowing Jon Moxley to show up and choke out Cassidy. Allin made the save with a skateboard shot to the back until Yuta jumped Allin and the match was officially called off. Allin managed to fight off PAC, Yuta & Castagnoli with his skateboard, ducking a Shafir briefcase shot, only to run into a Castagnoli uppercut. Castagnoli launched Allin violently into the ring post off a gorilla press as back in the ring, the Death Riders had a 5 on 1 attack on Cassy with Moxley hugging Yuta, ordering Shafir & PAC to hold Cassidy up. They followed orders, as Yuta hit a Busaiku Knee. The Conglomeration’s music hit, as Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii hit the ring, as the Death Riders retreat.

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Ricochet, asking who his mystery partner will be in the main event. Ricochet said he could pick anyone, as so many have issues with the Don Callis Family, but will keep it a secret for now. The Hurt Syndicate approach, as Ricochet said it’s nice to see them while MVP said they just want to wish him good luck. Ricochet tells them to watch him work and MVP said they will.

Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii defeated ROH World Champion Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith in a Fight Without Honor

(Weapons galore, as the result was expected, especially with the return of Ishii last week to be the first challenger in this reign of Jericho for the ROH Title. The crowd were really into this and all the wild moments, with Briscoe doing exactly what you’d assume, going absolutely nuts when a Fight Without Honor is happening. I’m glad they’re seeming to pivot from Briscoe being the contender for the ROH Title, as he needs to be focused on AEW for a while, I feel.)

All out brawl from the jump, as Briscoe decked Jericho with the ROH Title, while O’Reilly hit a Dragon Screw on Big Bill over the top rope, which was a cool visual. Jericho avoided a Jay Driller off the apron through a table, but not Ishii, who hit a backdrop driver on Jericho through the table. Bill was there to hit a big boot, as Briscoe launched off a chair over the post with a dive onto the big man. O’Reilly & Keith were left brawling on the apron before both fell off through a table together. Briscoe set up a ladder against the barricade, but took too long and suffered a chokeslam through it by Bill, as complete carnage took things to picture in picture.

The Learning Tree controlled the break, but Briscoe & Jericho both grabbed chairs and swung it out until Jericho dropped first and ate a shot to the back. Keith suffered the same fate, but Bill was there with a series of big boots and impressive Boss Man Slam on O’Reilly. Bill missed a corner charge and was lit up by all three Conglomeration members until a high/low from Ishii & O’Reilly sent him outside. Jericho tried a Lion Tamer on Briscoe, but Ishii met him with chops. Briscoe wanted a Jay Driller, but Keith made the save with a kendo stick, as O’Reilly & Bill fought to the back, leaving it a tag match in the ring.

Tower of Doom spot was turned into Briscoe hitting a powerbomb on Jericho while Ishii hit a superplex on Keith. Bill is shown stalking O’Reilly in the back and then into the arena, as he set up multiple tables while O’Reilly was down. Bill wanted a huge chokeslam off loading crates, but O’Reilly locked in a guillotine. Both men fell from the crates and they crashed through the tables. Back in the ring, Briscoe charged with a ladder, but Jericho hit a dropkick into it. Briscoe ducked a chair shot and managed a Jay Driller, but opted to set up a ladder and table instead of making the cover. Jericho was placed on the table, as Briscoe went to the top of the ladder for a massive Froggy Bow, but Keith just broke the pin. Ishii no sold some lariats and flattened Keith, who was taken out by a diving Briscoe leaving Ishii alone with Jericho, hitting a sliding lariat. A vertical drop brainbuster followed and Ishii pinned the ROH World Champion.

**********

-The Death Riders were seen leaving the arena as Jon Moxley said just so there’s no confusion, Wheeler Yuta doesn’t owe Orange Cassidy anything. Being a nice guy doesn’t buy loyalty, only a cause does. Yuta isn’t Cassidy’s student, he’s a soldier under Moxley’s command. He calls Darby Allin a disappointment he had high hopes for before shoving Yuta out of the camera shot. Moxley said there’s a time to kill, heal, destroy and build, as it’s time for those to stop playing at the thing you want people to think you take seriously. Moxley leaves with Shafir by his side.

Adam Cole defeated Malakai Black

(These two have always worked well together over the course of their careers and this was no different. Similar to last week, there were times in this match that allowed the crowd not to just cheer for Black, but boo Cole for kicking out of The End, which, I don’t know was the intended reaction they wanted. The finish was interesting, as the respect Black had for Cole almost led to Black accepting his fate and letting Cole hit his finisher. It’ll be interesting in who MJF called on the phone in the post-match, which I’m assuming has something to do with the final hurdle for Cole, or perhaps the second hurdle for Strong.)

Excalibur brings up how Cole has never beaten Black in all their singles matches in their career, as Black is 6-0. McGuinness said this is Black’s first singles match since “retiring” Adam Copeland in their cage match at Double or Nothing. Quick series of back-and-forth takedowns traded until Black caught a superkick and slowly placed the injured ankle down, refusing to take the easy route and target Cole’s weakness. Black opts to work the wrist before firing off an inside leg kick to force Cole to regroup outside. Black was quickly out after, but Cole battled back, wanting a Heatseeker, only for Black to avoid, dive off the apron, with Cole hitting a superkick in mid-air to take things to commercial.

When they return, Cole immediately hit a fireman’s carry neckbreaker for two before wanting Panama Sunrise, ultimately hitting it. The momentum took Black to his feet and he fired off a pump knee into the reset as both collapsed, Black managing a near fall, as he fell onto Cole. Both up for a slugfest until Cole superkicked out the leg, but Black swept the leg in return, going to the corner slow, allowing Cole to cut him off. Black countered a superplex, wanting a sunset bomb, but hit another pump knee instead. Both trade superkicks until Cole hit the neckbreaker on the knee. Cole charged and Black hit The End flush, but Cole kicked out to some boos from the crowd.

Black tried dragging Cole up, collapsing initially, but it was a ruse, as he caught Black with a superkick followed by a Panama Sunrise and another superkick to get another reset. Cole up first, as Black tried to get up, but instead sat with his legs crossed, telling Cole to essentially put him out of his misery. Cole hit The Boom and got the win, as the fans didn’t really know what to think of Black seemingly falling on his sword. We saw Kyle O’Reilly watching backstage getting worked on by the trainer, as Cole was seen thanking Black, who slowly recovered. Cole offered a handshake, as Black shrugged it away, instead hugging Cole.

After Black left, Cole took the microphone and put him over as one of the best he’s ever faced in his 16-year career. The crowd cheered Black loudly, as he gave a nod to them. Cole said he has one more win left to get his hands on MJF, as Roderick Strong has two more to go. Cole said everyone wonders if Cole & Strong both get three wins, what will happen? Cole talked to Tony Khan and said it would be a Triple Threat at Full Gear with Cole, Strong & MJF. Cole guaranteed MJF getting the ass kicking of a lifetime courtesy of the Undisputed Kingdom.

MJF was shown, I guess from his home, furious at what he just saw, as he made a phone call saying he needs them to pay someone a visit.

-The Full Gear 4-Way Contenders Series begins this weekend on Collision to determine the three challengers on who will face Private Party for the Tag Team Titles.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Switchblade Jay White and asked him about the vile things Hangman Page said about him last week. As White was running down what Page said, Page charged into the shot and the two brawled into the arena. Page beat down a security guard, allowing White to grab a chair and try for a home run shot, but Page tackled him into the barricade. Page trapped White’s ankle between the railing and was about to use a chair on it until Juice Robinson ran in to make the save. White got free and brawled with Page into the ring, but Page escaped into the crowd, limping while doing so. White took the microphone and begged for Page to tell him what he was going to do to him at Full Gear. White said he’s going to dismantle Page at Full Gear and will have fun doing it. White said Page told him he’d leave White behind, but he’s never been ahead of him and Page’s leg will be his downfall. Perhaps White will be the first to make Page tap-out.

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Kris Statlander, who appears to be arriving to the arena 90 minutes into the show, asking about her recently announced TBS Title match at Full Gear against Mercedes Mone. Statlander said she can’t wait for Full Gear and walks off screen before we hear a car screeching and see that Statlander jumped out of the way of a truck being driven by Kamille. Mone was in the passenger’s seat and scolded Kamille for missing, ordering her to go after Statlander. She was unsuccessful, as Statlander fought off both, slamming Kamille into the car door and hitting a Rock Bottom onto the hood of the car to Mone. More cracks in the partnership between Mone & Kamille in this segment.

Christian Cage & HOOK Face to Face

The Patriarchy came to the ring, as Cage held up the AEW World Title contract and told the fans to shut their mouths. Cage said security were at the aisle for HOOK’s protection before officially welcoming Kip Sabian to the family, as he’s a fatherless loser like many. Cage plays the clip of Sabian stealing his pen before almost cashing in his contract last month, as Cage then said Sabian was wise enough to realize the BCC, who were standing backstage at the time, would’ve interfered and cost him his World Title match. Cage said in that moment, Sabian did more for him than any of his other sons ever have, glaring at Nick Wayne. Cage said he loves Sabian, hugging him until HOOK’s signal is seen, the music hits and he comes to the stage.

HOOK said whatever it is Cage has to say, make it good and fast, he doesn’t have much patience. Cage said HOOK is a wild card with crazy eyes, he’s an ass kicker, but said he needs a son like him. Cage realized if he was going to be his son, he needed Taz out of the picture, as it was out of a place of love. He took out Taz with a led pipe to the leg, questioning why he didn’t just tell HOOK who did it, as he saw it was Cage who was behind this, why did he force HOOK to find his own answers? Cage said Taz buckled under the pressure of the bright lights and hid behind the commentary table and asks if that’s what HOOK wants to do or does he want to be a World Champion like Cage? Cage said no one cares that Taz is alive and wishes he was dead, as HOOK broke through the security, but The Patriarchy all bailed and the guards were left getting their asses kicked and choked out. Cage is smiling at the entrance as HOOK, standing tall, screams he wants a one-on-one match.

-Alex Marvez is backstage with Don Callis and asks about his new team of Lance Archer & Brian Cage before a big man approaches, offers an envelope and ring box before playing a message on his phone. It’s from “The Devil” as MJF said he needs Callis to do something for him and said there’s more money where that came from. MJF also said do what needs to be done, bay-bay and not to scuff up his ring or he’ll have someone scuff him up. The man walks off, with Callis putting the Dynamite Diamond ring on and admiring it.

Jamie Hayter defeated Penelope Ford

(I was about ready to criticize how little offense Hayter had, but I liked that the Hayter-ade came out of nowhere and once she hits it, it’s all over.)

Ford attacked Hayter at the bell as she was posing in the corner, getting a full mount, firing off strikes. Ford missed a corner charge, allowing Hayter to hit a high back suplex and returned the favor with punches in bunches of her own. Ford fought back with her handspring elbow and charging boot. Trip kick into the ropes led to a snap dropkick by Ford for another two count. Ford missed a moonsault, allowing Hayter to fly in with a dropkick and spiked Ford with a brainbuster. Hayter tried a lariat, but Ford did a matrix into a cutter for a nice near fall. Hayter fought out of a fireman’s carry and just like that, hit a Hayter-ade for the win.

-Mina Shirakawa video is shown, as she’s returning to AEW next week

**********

-A video package for Kazuchika Okada was shown. Jim Ross called him is one of his favorite talents ever in wrestling. Most people who are knowledgeable will have in their Top 5 wrestlers of all time. Excalibur said if Okada wins the Continental Classic, he will tie Masahiro Chono for the most tournament wins for a Japanese talent, bringing up the G1 Climax legacy left by Chono. Okada shrugged off Chono’s previous G1 Climax wins and mentioned how he will win the Continental Classic this year and defend the Continental Title. This was a good quick little video to put over Okada’s history of big tournament wins ahead of the Continental Classic.

Ricochet & Powerhouse Hobbs defeated AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher

(I thought this was a great main event with the returning Hobbs more than holding his own in there, looking like a future contender for the International Title. Ricochet is obviously next in line, so getting a pin on the champ made sense here, but I look forward in seeing what Hobbs does going forward now that he’s healthy, as he’s been a missed presence on TV. The post-match was filled with a bunch of run-ins, but most importantly, Will Ospreay, who is finally back and out for revenge on Fletcher, presumably at Full Gear.)

Ricochet took the mic and called Takeshita & Fletcher morons for allowing him to pick a mystery partner. Ricochet someone’s contract was allowed to expire with the Don Callis Family and he’s really pissed off that they had seemingly forgotten all about him. Powerhouse Hobbs makes his entrance to a loud ovation and he storms to the ring with Ricochet and the match is on. Hobbs mowed down both Takeshita & Fletcher with a shoulder tackle, as McGuinness said it’s a rare oversight by Don Callis for letting Hobbs’ contract to expire, while Excalibur said once Hobbs was injured, Callis had no use for him any longer and turned to Lance Archer & Brian Cage.

Takeshita started no-selling Ricochet chops ringside and flattened him with a forearm, as Hobbs dropped Fletcher before stalking Takeshita. Ricochet stood on the shoulders of Hobbs and moonsaulted off to the floor onto Takeshita & Fletcher to a huge pop. Delayed vertical suplex from Hobbs on Fletcher before tagging in Ricochet. A momentary distraction from Takeshita allowed Fletcher to hit a draping DDT through the ropes to gain control, as stereo big boots had Ricochet isolated throughout the break.

Adam Cole was shown watching backstage, as we’re told Cole vs. Takeshita will take place next week for Cole’s final hurdle to get to Full Gear. Hot tag from Hobbs, who ran wild with a lariat on Fletcher and snap powerslam on Takeshita. Meat chants from the crowd, as Hobbs hit an Avalanche Tour of the Islands, but Fletcher broke the pin attempt, causing Hobbs to chuck him from the ring. Hobbs lowers the straps, but the delay allowed Takeshita to fire off a forearm, which Hobbs slowly rose up from. Forearm exchange by Hobbs & Takeshita led to Hobbs winning that war, but Takeshita managed a stalling German suplex. Hobbs answered with a wild lariat in the double down in a really fun back and forth.

Ricochet & Fletcher tag in and pick up the speed, with Fletcher hitting a big boot, but missed a corner charge. Ricochet tried a springboard cross body, but was caught by Fletcher, who turned it into a sit-out Liger Bomb for two. Hobbs sent to the floor, as Takeshita wanted an avalanche powerbomb on Ricochet, who countered into a hurricanrana in mid-air. Ricochet wanted a 450 on Takeshita, but missed, rolled through and Takeshita hit a pump knee. Head scissors into an attempted gut-wrench German, but Ricochet landed on his feet, tried a Poison Rana, but Takeshita held on and Fletcher flew in with a Doomsday Device for two. Ricochet avoided the Power Drive Knee, hit Takeshita with a thrust kick, as Fletcher was steamrolled outside by Hobbs. Takeshita wanted a home run lariat on Ricochet, but Hobbs shoved him out of the way and took the bullet. Ricochet flew off the top for a hurricanrana, Takeshita initially caught him, but Ricochet snapped through with a pin attempt for two. Shooting Star Press connected for another two, but The Spear Gun charging lariat got the job done and the win.

Post-match, Fletcher grabbed a steel chair and smacked Hobbs on the apron followed by one to the back of Ricochet. Fletcher wanted a Tiger Driver when Mark Davis hit the ring to make the save, trying to drag Fletcher to the back, but a shoving match occurred with Davis shoving down Fletcher. Lance Archer & Brian Cage hit the ring and attacked Davis, laying him out with Fletcher watching on. Adam Cole ran out, but Takeshita cut him off and brawled with him immediately to the back ahead of their match next week. Fletcher went and grabbed a chair to put Davis out of commission until Will Ospreay’s music hit and Ospreay sprinted out from the back to a huge ovation with his fists taped. Cage & Archer saved Fletcher initially, but Hobbs, Davis & Ricochet all recovered and made the save. Fletcher almost ate a Hidden Blade, but bailed before Ospreay could hit. Ospreay, Hobbs, Ricochet & Davis stared down the Don Callis Family to end the show.

AEW Collision (11/9/24)

  • Death Riders (PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) defend the AEW Trios Titles against The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii)
  • The Outrunners vs. Top Flight in a Full Gear Contenders Series
  • Nick Wayne vs. AR Fox

AEW Dynamite (11/13/24)

  • FTR vs. House of Black in a Full Gear Contenders Series
  • Adam Cole vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Ricochet felt like he was ‘starting over’ in WWE, signing with AEW ‘felt right’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Ricochet addressed his WWE departure and signing with AEW during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet.

The 36-year-old debuted for WWE in January 2018 and continued to perform for the promotion until being written off WWE programming in an angle on the June 10, 2024, episode of Raw. After six and a half years, Ricochet officially left WWE this summer and debuted for AEW at All In in the Casino Gauntlet match.

Ricochet told CVV that he felt like he was “starting over” in WWE despite having been with the company for as long as he had.

“I felt like I was able to be on the next level of performers there, I guess. But I still feel like I was starting over again. I felt like I was starting over with the Bron Breakkers and the Iljas and the Carmelos and the new guys just coming in. I feel like Ricochet was with those guys coming back in, it’s like, man I’ve already been here for five or six years, I want to be doing something else.”

Ricochet noted that his decision to sign with AEW was not simply a matter of choosing the highest bidder.

“I wasn’t going to go to the highest bidder, I was just going to go to whoever was going to make me feel good and ignite that spark again, because I felt like that fire that was burning inside of me was still there, but it was just like little embers that needed that gasoline on it to really make it ignite. At the time, I felt like AEW could be the gasoline for my fire. Since being there, I feel like I made the right choice. Just even getting to be in there with the guys that I’ve been in there with Lio and AR Fox and even Nick Wayne, someone I’ve never been in there with, Sammy Guevara, Mortos, people I’ve never worked with that I’ve been excited with, but also people like AR Fox and Lio, who I’ve worked with before years ago, now we’re both different performers. So I really think that had a lot to do with it. But there was no specific moment where something happened and I just flipped the switch and that’s where I’m going. I just think it’s what felt right.”

Ricochet also addressed his partner, Samantha Irvin’s, recent departure from WWE and the fan response to Irvin’s comments that she did not enjoy being a ring announcer.

 “I think ring announcing was only supposed to be the way in, she wanted to be a character. That’s what she’s been her whole life. She’s been stage performing her whole life, drama club to stage performing, to traveling the world doing stage performance. So that’s kind of what she hoped, and then I think once WrestleMania happened, I think she was like, that’s the highest I’m going to get. Because for her, she’s a performer. It’s funny because it’s hard to explain, when you’re just a performer, I guess announcing, because now she’s getting hate because she said she didn’t enjoy announcing, but she enjoyed making the WWE Universe feel emotions, and She enjoyed using her voice to help promote and help move the company forward, but just literally, the act of ‘Coming to the ring and weighing at 230…’ This is just my Example. It’s like having Mariah Carey, but she’s just a ring announcer, and you don’t get any of the other stuff.” 

Ricochet’s full interview is available below.

AEW star issues IWGP World Heavyweight title challenge for NJPW Wrestle Dynasty

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Zack Sabre Jr. has his hands full in January.

After Shota Umino issued a challenge to Sabre following his successful IWGP World Heavyweight title defense at Power Struggle, Ricochet’s AEW music suddenly played. From behind, Ricochet springboarded off the ropes and laid out Sabre. He then cut a promo saying it’s been six years since he’s been in New Japan and wanted a shot at Sabre’s title, issuing the challenge for January 5 at Wrestle Dynasty. 

Ricochet then said he was going to give Sabre a parting gift as he went to the corner. Umino, who had left the ring, came back and made the save for Sabre. He attempted to help Sabre back on his feet, but Sabre attacked Umino in response and turned his focus back on Ricochet. An unhappy Umino then attacked Sabre and posed with the IWGP World Heavyweight title as the Wrestle Kingdom theme played.

On social media, Ricochet responded to his surprise appearance, writing: “Had to remind the world that I’m still the f****** man around here.”

After leaving WWE earlier this year, Ricochet made his debut for AEW at All In back in August. In recent weeks, he has focused on Konosuke Takeshita and the AEW International Championship, making a surprise appearance at a Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling event last month. He and a mystery partner will face Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher this Wednesday on Dynamite.

Hurt Syndicate appearance, new tag team match set for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Hurt Syndicate will be live this Wednesday on Dynamite.

It was announced on Saturday’s Collision that MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley would be at Dynamite this Wednesday in Manchester, New Hampshire. Tony Schiavone noted on commentary that Lashley has not signed a contract with AEW yet, and Tony Khan has been looking to finalize the deal.

MVP and Shelton Benjamin made their debut at WrestleDream last month, first confronting Prince Nana and later came face to face with Swerve Strickland, who rejected MVP’s suggestion to join the group. Swerve met Benjamin in a match this past week on Dynamite. Strickland emerged victorious but was met by a debuting Lashley. All three members of the Hurt Syndicate ended up attacking Strickland and Nana, establishing their presence in AEW.

A tag team match will also take place pitting the Don Callis family’s Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita taking on Ricochet and a mystery partner. Fletcher and Takeshita cut a promo on Ricochet during Collision, issuing the challenge with Fletcher telling Ricochet to literally pick anyone on the roster to tag with him.

The lineup for the Wednesday, November 6 AEW Dynamite:

  • Adam Cole vs. Malakai Black
  • Fight Without Honor: Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii
  • Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli & PAC
  • The Patriarchy confronts Hook
  • Penelope Ford vs. Jamie Hayter
  • Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher vs. Ricochet & TBA
  • The Hurt Syndicate will appear

AEW Collision live results: Ricochet vs. Lio Rush

Posted on by Suit Williams

For the first time ever, Ricochet will battle Lio Rush in the one of the featured bouts on tonight’s live AEW Collision from Cedar Rapids, Iowa — the company’s debut show in the city.

Ricochet is looking to remain undefeated in singles matches while Rush is looking to rebound from a recent defeat to the debuting Shelton Benjamin.

Former AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will take on the new look La Faccion Ingobernable of Rush & Dralistico. In other tag team action, The Outrunners will battle MxM Collection.

Anna Jay will look for her sixth straight win when she faces Viva Van while Penelope Ford will make her in-ring return for the first time since February 2023 when she faces Robyn Renegade.

In search of a rematch with Hangman Page, Jay White will go one-on-one with Shane Taylor.

Wheeler Yuta will be on hand to talk with Nigel McGuinness in a sit-down interview.

**********

AEW Collision comes to us live from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The show started with an exclusive video from after Dynamite. The AEW babyface army was surrounding the injured Chuck Taylor as he was stretchered out. Orange Cassidy shoved Daniel Garcia, saying he didn’t want to be involved because something like this would happen. Garcia told Cassidy that he had to do something about it now, and Cassidy said he would do something about it on Wednesday.

Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were at the commentary desk, noting that Chuck Taylor was recovering from the attack at the hospital.

Jay White (w/ Juice Robinson) defeated Shane Taylor (w/ Lee Moriarty)

I’m enjoying White’s work since his return, with his dedicated leg work giving him the slightest of openings to get the win. A Hangman Page rematch was fairly obvious after the interference in the Christian Cage match, and now we have a set date for it at the PPV.

White went for the leg of Taylor before Moriarty interference allowed Taylor to land a big forearm. Taylor landed a big leg drop on the apron before jaw-jacking at the fans. After a commercial break, White dodged a leg drop in the ring and began a comeback, chopping away at Taylor in the corner. White landed a dragon screw leg whip and a kneebar stunner before scoring a nearfall with a DDT.

Taylor took a clothesline before headbutting White and dropping him with a uranage. White ducked a lariat and caught Taylor with a flatliner, followed by a side suplex. White hit a big uranage of his own for a nearfall. Moriarty tried to interfere again, but Robinson bounced him off the apron. Taylor hit White with a knee lift, but suffered from the knee work White had done earlier. Taylor went for the Marcus Garvey Driver, but the knee gave out, allowing White to hit the Blade Runner for the win.

White took the microphone after the match, noting that both Taylor and Hangman Page hit a lot harder than he does. He said that he got under Page’s skin because, despite Page’s accomplishments, White has always been better than him. White offered Page one last shot at redemption, challenging him to a match at Full Gear.

Ricochet was backstage with Lexy Nair, who asked about MVP’s managerial offer on Dynamite. Ricochet said that he planned on doing his own thing, leading to Lio Rush entering the frame. He noted that he also got an offer from MVP before telling Ricochet to not overlook him tonight.

Kyle Fletcher and his big buzzcut were backstage with Lexy Nair, who said he was here on Don Callis Family business. He would keep an eye on Ricochet on behalf of Konosuke Takeshita. Fletcher said that if Will Ospreay answered his challenge on Dynamite, he would be going on the shelf for a long time. And if he didn’t? Ospreay would prove that he was a coward. Fletcher said that he would be in action next week on Collision either way, wanting a new challenge after disposing of Ospreay.

Penelope Ford defeated Robyn Renegade

This was Ford’s first match in nearly 750 days. Renegade got some offense in, including a rope-hung DDT. But Ford ended up scoring the win with a gutbuster and the Muta Lock. After the match, Jamie Hayter appeared on the JumboTron, taking a page out of Ford’s book. She reiterated her challenge for the November 6th Dynamite.

FTR & The Outrunners were backstage with Lexy Nair. They were hyping each other up for their respective matches before the Outrunners made their way to the ring, with Dax Harwood noting that the Outrunners road to the AEW Tag Team Titles began tonight.

The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) defeated MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)

The Outrunners are a solid comedy team. My limit when it comes to comedy is when my intelligence is insulted, and these guys are far from doing that. They’re just a parody of territory wrestling, and I can live with that.

We got posing from Mansoor and Magnum to start before a shoulder block took Mansoor down. Madden snuck a tag in before blindsiding Floyd with a back elbow. Johnny TV was watching backstage as Madden challenged Floyd to a test of strength. Madden bailed first, but the Outrunners peppered him with dropkicks to send him out of the ring. They shot Mansoor onto Madden on the floor as we went to a commercial break.

Back from the break, MxM kept Magnum away from his corner. They hit a leg lariat variant on the Hart Attack for a nearfall. Magnum fought his way to the corner and made the tag to Floyd, who ran wild. Madden caught both of the Outrunners with a goozle, but they fought him off and hit an assisted bodyslam. They dropped Madden on top of Mansoor before hitting the Predator elbow drop. MxM came back with the old Beer Money finisher, but Floyd kicked out. The Doomsday Device was countered, and the Outrunners hit Total Recall for the win.

Wheeler Yuta Interview with Nigel McGuinness

I really enjoyed this interview. McGuinness having some sympathy for Danielson after the attack was a nice touch, with Yuta framing it perfectly as the Joker being upset that someone else killed Batman. Yuta came across like someone trying to convince himself that he had no choice but to join Moxley’s crew.

Wheeler Yuta sat down with Nigel McGuinness, who asked Yuta why he suffocated Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream. McGuinness said that he wanted to hear what Yuta had to say because he had to answer for it one day. Yuta mocked McGuinness, saying that they killed Batman before the Joker could. He questioned whether that was what McGuinness wanted, with all of the trash talk McGuinness had spoken about Danielson. McGuinness said that he wanted to prove that he was a better wrestler than Danielson, but Yuta went much further than that.

Yuta said that they gave Danielson a warrior’s death. The American Dragon that McGuinness knew was long dead, and they just put him out of his misery and got him out of the way for the greater good. McGuinness asked where it would stop after Yuta helped put his trainer Chuck Taylor on the shelf. Yuta said that if it wasn’t for the BCC, he’d be sitting beside a corpse, hoping it would rise up to save the day. If they were willing to do that to the people they loved, what would they do to everyone else for the greater good?

La Faccion Ingobernable & Jake Roberts were backstage. Roberts said that while FTR had proven a lot in wrestling, they hadn’t proven that they could hang with LFI. Roberts gave away their game plan, noting that they would go after Harwood’s bad shoulder and that there wasn’t anything they could do to stop them.

Ricochet defeated Lio Rush

Despite being the smaller man, Rush was a very good aggressor in this match. A good match here, with Ricochet continuing to settle into his groove in AEW.

Rush was the aggressor to start, sending Ricochet to the floor with a handspring. Ricochet came back with a hurricane boot to take control. Ricochet caught Rush with a 619 in the corner, then stuffed a Spanish Fly attempt before rocking Rush with a knee. Rush feigned being knocked out before sending Ricochet to the floor and landing a pair of dives as we went to commercial.

After the break, Rush took Ricochet off the top into the ropes. Ricochet evaded a frog splash before running wild on offense, hitting a running shooting star for a nearfall. Rush fought Ricochet off with a stunner and cut him off with a clothesline. Ricochet countered the Rush Hour with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall, calling out Takeshita in the process. Ricochet went for Vertigo, but Rush caught him with a nearfall after almost shoving him into the referee.

Rush followed with a hurricane kick for a nearfall as well. A frustrated Rush grabbed a chair from ringside, but Ricochet booted it into his face before landing a Fosbury Flop. Ricochet sent Rush into the ring and landed his new finisher, a running elbow strike, for the win.

Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, & The Beast Mortos were backstage with Lexy Nair. The Kingdom was still trying to get Mortos to team up with them instead of LFI and offered him a candy bag. They didn’t seem to be getting through to him, so they had Mike Bennett in a Mortos mask to translate. Mortos growled in response to all of this.

Anna Jay defeated Viva Van

The announcers put over Van’s accomplishments on New Japan’s US shows, teasing this as a trap match for Jay ahead of next week’s Women’s Title match. Van caught Jay with a leg lariat after a misdirection. After a commercial break, Jay fired up with a chop exchange before landing a shotgun dropkick. Jay hit a Dangerous Jay kick in the corner before scoring a nearfall with an Iconoclasm.

Van caught Jay with an upkick, then followed up with a backfist for a nearfall. Jay came back with a backstabber for a nearfall. Van hammered her in the corner before hitting a springboard crossbody for a nearfall. Van pulled Jay up into electric chair position, but Jay slid down and pulled Van into a Gory Bomb for the win.

We got comments from Mariah May in a pre-tape. May said that if Anna Jay quit the business tomorrow, no one would care as another blonde would take her place and waste five years of her life. She mocked the idea of Jay as a role model, saying that people who never give up were never good enough to begin with. May learned in Japan what she’s learned in AEW, that there’s not a woman alive who could touch her. May called herself the woman from hell who would step on anyone’s dream and told Jay that if next week was sink-or-swim, May would drown her.

(May continues to improve as she goes on as champion, with her slight character pivot working well. A very good promo to set up next week’s title match.)

We got a hype video for Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews on Dynamite. The announcers ran down the card for Fright Night Dynamite and next week’s Collision, with the addition of Kyle Fletcher vs. Komander.

Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii were backstage with Lexy Nair. O’Reilly said it was laughable that The Learning Tree thought they ran Ishii out of AEW, and that the word of the day per Mark Briscoe was honor, which the Learning Tree had none of. O’Reilly turned his attention to Orange Cassidy, saying that he had never seen Cassidy so angry before. He would let Cassidy say his peace on Dynamite. When Nair asked O’Reilly about his focus on the Undisputed Kingdom on Dynamite, O’Reilly said that he kept his eye on everything in AEW and that he was good in the Conglomeration.

FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated La Faccion Ingobernable (Dralistico & Rush) (w/ The Beast Mortos & Jake Roberts)

A hard-hitting main event here that earned the crowd after a while. Dralistico is always at risk for an off night, but he was on point here to contribute to a good Collision main event. This FTRunners deal has the crowd’s attention, and I wonder where they go with it.

As the match began, Jay White vs. Hangman Page was made official for Full Gear, with a note that we will hear from Page on Wednesday’s Dynamite.

Dralistico used his speed to outpace Harwood to start, but FTR got him in their corner for a quick double team to send him scurrying to tag Rush. Rush and Wheeler peppered each other with shots before FTR landed dual German suplexes to send them to the floor. Back in the ring, Dralistico caught Harwood’s attention and allowed Rush to send Harwood into the post.

After the break, Rush took Harwood on a tour of the barricades before LFI clubbered on him. Wheeler got the hot tag after a while and ran wild on both Rush and Dralistico. Dralistico came back with a springboard crucifix bomb, and both men slowly tagged out to their partners. Harwood and Rush charged each other with lariats before Rush landed a senton. Harwood ducked through both of their legs to set up a Wheeler double clothesline off the top rope.

Dralistico caught Harwood with a La Mistica, targeting the shoulder as Roberts said they would. Harwood got to the ropes as Wheeler ducked a Rush charge on the floor. Harwood hit a superplex, but a Shatter Machine attempt was cut off by Rush from the floor. Harwood got sent into Wheeler on the apron, with Dralistico scoring a roll-up nearfall. Wheeler cut off a Bull’s Horns attempt, and Harwood got a nearfall with a rebound powerbomb. Rush caught Harwood with a crucifix for a nearfall.

Rush and Harwood slapped each other as the crowd fired up. Rush fought off a Sharpshooter attempt to send Harwood into Mortos and get a roll-up nearfall. FTR sent Dralistico into Mortos before landing the Shatter Machine for the win. Mortos jumped Harwood after the bell, and LFI went to do more damage before The Outrunners ran them off. The babyfaces did the Predator handshake as we went off the air.