Tag: scu

AEW Dynamite live results: Full Gear fallout, Tag Team title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The main event will see SCU defend their AEW Tag Team titles against AEW World Champion Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara. Both SCU and Jericho retained their respective championships at Full Gear this past weekend. Jericho & Guevara hold a 2-0 record in tag team matches, with wins over Hangman Page & Kenny Omega, as well as Page & Dustin Rhodes. 

Also on the show, PAC and Page will continue their series of bouts with what is being advertised as “the rubber match.” Page handed PAC his first AEW singles loss at Full Gear, while PAC defeated Page on the first edition of Dynamite last month.

Jon Moxley will speak out after defeating Kenny Omega in their unsanctioned lights out match at Full Gear. AEW has also teased via their social media channels that MJF will address his turn against Cody, although that has not been officially announced. 

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. 

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A Full Gear recap video opened the show. The broadcast team ran down the card for the evening, then threw it to a Kenny Omega video. Omega was seen meeting with a doctor backstage. Omega was not cleared to compete this week. Omega asked how Moxley did. The doctor said Moxley was beat up, but cleared. 

JON MOXLEY DEFEATED MICHAEL NAKAZAWA

Total squash. Moxley won in seconds with the Paradigm Shift. 

After, Moxley cut a promo. He said he’s many things, but not a liar. He said everything he promised would happen at Full Gear came true. He said differences aside, he respects Omega. He said Omega will never be the same. 

He said Omega had the balls to stand up to him, unlike anyone else in AEW. He said he’s on a mission to be the last man standing in AEW. He said if anyone in the locker room wants to step up and face him, make sure to kiss their loved ones goodbye and have an ambulance on speed dial. 

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DARK ORDER DEFEATED JUNGLE BOY & MARKO STUNT

Stunt started off with strikes on Uno. Jungle Boy and Grayson tagged in. Jungle Boy used a crucifix for a near fall. Stunt tagged in and used a headscissors. Stunt hit a Frankensteiner, then used Jungle Boy as a lunch pad to hit a senton. 

Uno tagged in and cut off Stunt. Uno hit a swanton bomb for a two count. Grayson and Uno used a series of quick tags in continuing to work Stunt over. Grayson hit a slingshot senton. Dark Order continued to beat down Stunt during a commercial break. 

Uno hit a fall-away slam for a two count. Stunt came back with a pop-up DDT. Grayson tried to pull Jungle Boy off the apron, but Jungle Boy hit him with a rolling elbow on the floor. 

Jungle Boy got a hot tag. He hit a suicide dive to Grayson, then a jumping knee drop on Uno. 

The match broke down and all four jumped in. Stunt hit a 450 into a hurricanrana for a two count. Jungle Boy tried a tope to both members of Dark Order, but they caught him. 

Back inside, Grayson hit a Knightfall backbreakeron Stunt. Uno got a tag. Dark Order hit their Fatality for the pin. 

Uno cut a promo after the match. He tried to recruit Stunt to join Dark Order. Jungle Boy jumped in. Stunt refused. Uno said he respects that decision, then had the Creepers attack Stunt and Jungle Boy. 

Uno tried to place a Dark Order mask on Jungle Boy. Luchasaurus’s music played. The Luchasaurus marched down and destroyed all of the Creepers. Uno bailed out of the ring. 

Luchasaurus then hit Grayson with a chokeslam and a standing moonsault. Jurassic Express posed together to end the segment. 

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Shawn Spears entered with Tully Blanchard. Peter Avalon and Leva Bates came to the ring. Avalon put over Nashville as the home of great musicians, like Jason Aldean and Johnny Cash. Darby Allin’s music hit, cutting off Avalon’s promo. 

DARBY ALLIN DEFEATED SHAWN SPEARS & PETER AVALON

Allin and Spears faced off. Avalon climbed to the top rope and tried a splash onto both, but Spears and Allin stepped out of the way. 

Allin sent Spears outside with an armdrag, then hit a dropkick, knocking Avalon off the apron. Allin climbed the ropes, but Spears pushed him off. 

As Spears posed on the outside, Joey Janela ran down to fight Spears. They brawled into the crowd, leaving Allin and Avalon in the ring. Allin avoided an attempt at interference from Bates, then hit a cutter and a Coffin Drop for the pin.

After his win, Allin grabbed a mic. “Jon Moxley, I accept,” he said. 

The broadcast team announced Moxley vs. Allin for next week.

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NYLA ROSE DEFEATED DANNI JORDAN

Rose hit a big boot. Jordan avoided a chokeslam and hit a slap to the face. Rose countered with a whip into the corner, a lariat, a Samoan drop, then hit the Beast Bomb for the pin. 

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The announce team gave a medical update on Dustin Rhodes. They said he’s still three to four weeks away from wrestling, but could resume in-ring training in two weeks. 

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The AEW Dynamite Dozen battle royal was announced for next week’s show. Twelve competitors. The final two face off in singles competition the following week with the winner receiving a “beautiful” diamond ring. 

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Tony Schiavone interviewed Allie. Allie said she’s shown the world what she can do on AEW Dark, but she thinks it’s time to do the same on Dynamite. 

The lights went out. Awesome Kong and Brandi Rhodes appeared on the stage. Allie charged at Kong and hit her with punches. Kong no-sold the strikes, then hit a Mongolian chop and a weak-looking backfist. 

Brandi held a lock of Allie’s hair. Kong pulled out her knife, then cut the lock of hair. 

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CHRIS JERICHO/MJF PROMO

Jericho said he’s still Le Champion. He demanded a thank you from everyone in the locker room and every employee at AEW. A thank you chant erupted, but Jericho said he wants a thank you from people who matter, not a bunch of jackasses from Nashville. 

The lights went out. Cody’s music played. Instead of Cody, MJF appeared. MJF walked to the ring. He said he would address Jericho in a minute, but he had some things to get off his chest first. 

The crowd booed. MJF said they don’t like him, but they don’t realize that if it wasn’t for him, Cody’s career would have ended. He said the people see him as a villain, but they’ve been cheering the true villain all along. That villain is Cody, he said. 

MJF said that there’s one person alive who knows the real Cody, and that’s him. He said the real Cody is a liar, a user, an abuser. He said he wanted to mentor MJF, but really, he just wanted to keep him under his thumb. He said you’re looking at the new face of AEW. 

MJF then addressed Jericho. He said he’s a fan. He said he heard that Jericho wanted him to join the Inner Circle. Jericho said he heard that MJF might want to join the Inner Circle. 

They went back and forth and did some comedy. Jericho said that MJF is a little like him, but really wants to be like him. He said that it’s almost like MJF’s parents got horny watching Jericho beat up Juventud Guerrera on WCW Saturday Night 25 years ago and 9 months later his little twerp ass popped out. 

They both said at the same time that the biggest jackass in AEW was Cody Rhodes. At that, Cody entered. 

Cody pushed aside a couple of stagehands, then ran to the ring. He hit MJF with punches. He tried a powerslam on Jericho, but they botched it somehow. Cody hit the powerslam on his second try. Jericho rolled outside. 

As Cody went to face off with MJF again, Wardlow entered. He laid out Cody with an Attitude Adjustment, then proceeded to choke Cody with his tie. Referees ran down to make the save. Cody was helped to the back during a commercial break. 

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PAC DEFEATED HANGMAN PAGE

PAC hit a dive over the top rope, then a moonsault off the post. He went for Black Arrow, but Page avoided it. PAC rolled outside, where Page hit a tope suicida. 

PAC tried a springboard dropkick, but Page kicked him out of the air for a near fall. PAC hit a series of missile dropkicks. Page countered with his moonsault off the post. 

After a break, they traded strikes. Page teased a Buckshot Lariat. PAC blocked. Page hit a discus elbow, then a discus lariat. PAC tried a low blow, but Page blocked it. PAC hit an enziguri for a near fall. 

PAC tried to bait Page into a brainbuster on a chair at ringside, a call-back to Full Gear. Page avoided, then hit a brainbuster on the floor. 

Back in the ring, Page hit the Buckshot Lariat. PAC kicked out at two. PAC hit a pair of pump kicks. PAC hit a series of stomps to the head. He then hit a Black Arrow, then used a Brutalizer for the submission. 

The crowd was super into this, but it felt rushed and the best stuff might have happened during the commercial break. 

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YOUNG BUCKS & SANTANA & ORTIZ BRAWL

We cut TO THE BACK! The Young Bucks and Santana and Ortiz were brawling. Matt slammed Ortiz through a table. Santana did a dive off a forklift onto Matt. Santana and Nick brawled into a bathroom door. They kicked the door open, revealing Orange Cassidy. Santana slowly closed the door, and the brawl continued through a commercial break. 

The brawl spilled to ringside. The Bucks hit superkicks on security. Santana and Ortiz laid out the Bucks and attacked Nick’s right leg with a blackjack. Matt got powerbombed through a section of the stage. 

Brandon Cutler ran out to make the save for the Bucks, but he got laid out. Private Party ran down to make the save for Cutler, and Santana and Ortiz finally backed off. 

Santana and Ortiz vs. Private Party was announced for next week. 

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AEW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: SCU (FRANKIE KAZARIAN & SCORPIO SKY) DEFEATED CHRIS JERICHO & SAMMY GUEVARA 

Jericho and Kazarian began by locking up. Kazarian hit an armdrag and a dropkick, then tagged out to Guevara. Guevara was immediately cut off by Sky and Kazarian. Guevara got dropped right on his head on a German suplex. 

SCU remained in full control as the match went through a commercial. Kazarian worked over Guevara with punches. Guevara came back with a standing shooting star press, then managed to tag Jericho. 

Jericho took the ref, allowing Jake Hager to hit Kazarian with strikes from the floor. Jericho hit a knee lift. Jericho and Guevara traded quick tags as they worked over Kazarian in their corner. 

Back from break, Kazarian and Guevara traded quick cradles. Guevara hit a dropkick, then used a chinlock. Guevara hit a standing Spanish Fly, then missed a shooting star off the top rope. 

Sky got a hot tag. He sent Jericho outside with a dropkick, then hit a spinebuster and a neckbreaker on Guevara for a two count. 

Sky and Guevara traded strikes. Sky hit a slingshot cutter for a near fall. Sky used a dragon sleeper, but Jericho made the save. Kazarian cut off Jericho. 

Jericho took the referee. Sky and Kazarian set up for the SCU-Later, but Hager pulled Kazarian out of the ring. Christopher Daniels attacked Hager and tried a tope suicida, but Hager caught him. Meanwhile, Guevara used a cradle on Sky for a two count. 

Jericho got a tag. Sky hit him with a Thesz press, then a double stomp. Sky hit a TKO, but Jericho kicked out at two. 

Jericho missed a dropkick. Sky missed a second rope elbow. Sky got his knees up on a Lionsault attempt. Sky tried a second rope cutter, but jumped into a Codebreaker for a two count. 

Sky used an inside cradle for the flash pin on Jericho. 

Jericho sold this like it was a major defeat. The show went off the air with Jericho throwing a tantrum. 

This was easily the weakest episode of Dynamite so far. There were bright spots, like the Jericho/MJF promo segment, but the show as a whole was disjointed and not an easy watch. 

Tag Team title match, Hangman Page vs. PAC set for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After challenges that were issued following Full Gear, AEW has announced two matches for this week’s episode of Dynamite.

AEW World Champion Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara will challenge SCU (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) for the AEW Tag Team titles on Dynamite this Wednesday. Hangman Page and PAC will also face off in their third singles match against each other for AEW.

Jericho retained his AEW World title against Cody Rhodes at Full Gear. In his post-show media scrum, Jericho took exception to him and Guevara not being on AEW’s tag team rankings. Jericho said they’re undefeated as a team and will challenge for the Tag Team titles on Wednesday.

SCU retained the AEW Tag Team titles against The Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) and Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) in a triple threat match at Full Gear. In an angle after the match, Christopher Daniels returned and saved Sky and Kazarian from The Lucha Bros.

Page defeated PAC at Full Gear, giving them each one singles win against each other in AEW. Page said after the show that he wanted to have a third match against PAC as soon as possible.

Tony Khan confirmed both matches for this week’s Dynamite during his media scrum after Full Gear. The episode is taking place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

AEW Dark results: SCU & CIMA vs. TH2 & Kip Sabian

Posted on by Arya Witner

The Big Takeaway —

Kip Sabian & The Hybrid2 may want to find new trios partners, as they fell to 0-2 as a three-man team after a loss to SCU & CIMA in the main event.

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Welcome to a special Friday edition of AEW Dark, a show so sudden and surprising that AEW’s own Twitter page had nothing about it five minutes before the show. Their first tweet about it was literally just as the show began.

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Justin Roberts introduced Arn Anderson as a special member of the announce team tonight, joining Excalibur and Goldenboy. Unfortunately, Arn only announced the first match.

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Hikaru Shida defeated Big Swole

Goldenboy broke out the “Rolodex of words” when talking about Arn Anderson’s “prowess” in the ring. Anyway, Swole tried using her size to bully Shida early, but Shida got the early advantage. It was highlighted by her jumping off of a chair outside the ring and landing a knee strike to Swole’s chin.

Swole missed a series of strikes and leg sweeps and hit a headbutt, followed by a flatliner for a two count.

Shida missed one knee strike, but hit on a second attempt after ducking a Rainmaker. Swole kicked out of that, but she didn’t kick out of the second running knee, as Shida picked up the win.

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Starting this week we are getting quick 30-second post-match backstage promos with the winners.

Shida cut a promo and said she came here to show Japanese style and is really happy to be able to do so. She was asked about the Riho-Emi Sakura Women’s Championship match at Full Gear tomorrow night and she picked Sakura to win after stating that it was a hard choice.

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Nyla Rose & Leva Bates defeated Shazza McKenzie & Shalandra Royal in what was essentially a two-on-one handicap match

Whatever you think of the man, it was a huge step down when Arn Anderson was replaced by Chuck Taylor. Bates was really happy to have Rose as a partner and we didn’t have Peter Avalon in their corner. Excalibur said Rose wanted this to be a two-on-one handicap match. AEW management wouldn’t allow it, so she was assigned a partner.

McKenzie threw a leg kick that Rose no sold and then got run over. Royal tried and fared no better, as she ran into Rose’s foot. Bate reached for a tag, but Rose ignored her.

The babyfaces teamed up for a double suplex, but it didn’t work. Bates went for a blind tag, but Rose glared her down, so Bates channeled The Nutty Professor and chanted “Hercules.” It did lead to 10 seconds of babyface offense, but they got cut off again.

Taylor asked if you could be disqualified for not leaving the ring on a 10 count if you’re getting your butt kicked. Actually on WWF Raw for the Sega Genesis, back in 1994, you could be counted out if you were being beaten up outside the ring, even if there was nothing you could do. It did lead to many arguments at the Witner house over “not allowing the other one to get back in the ring.”

Back to the match, this was an extended squash. Rose even threw Royal into Bates when Bates tried again for a tag. Rose laid Royal and McKenzie out with a double Death Valley Driver, stacked them up on top of each other, and pinned them both after a Swanton Bomb. Bates had given up by this point and was reading her book.

So, Bates gets her first win in a match she did nothing in.

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Alex Marvez asked Rose why she didn’t tag out. Rose told him she didn’t have to. She eliminated 10 people in the Casino Battle Royale and gets no respect from the company because none of that was included in her record. Why didn’t she tag out? “Because I’m Nyla Rose, the Native Beast,” Rose said.

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We were magically whisked away to the AEW Control Center, where Tony Schiavone and Dasha Gonzalez previewed Full Gear. Gonzalez was magically wearing the clothes she wore for last week’s Dark, which seems to indicate this is last week’s Control Center, just with a quick voiceover including the Tag Team title match.

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We got a video package for the Chris Jericho-Cody AEW World Championship match at Full Gear.

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We didn’t get a new edition of From Undesirable to Undeniable, which made me sad.

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AEW Tag Team Champions SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) & CIMA defeated TH2 (Angelico & Jack Evans) & Kip Sabian

AEW has a reputation of having a bunch of new young wrestlers, but the person with the least experience in this main event was Sabian, who just passed nine years in the ring.

Speaking of Sabian, him thumbing Sky in the eye (followed by an Evans pump kick) is how the heels got the heat. CIMA got the hot tag and ran wild on all three, hitting dropkicks on everyone. He countered a springboard move with a dropkick as well. CIMA slammed all three of his opponents on top of each other and hit a springboard knee to Evans, who was on top.

This match did a better job than most in enforcing the rules of tag team wrestling. There were a couple blips on the radar, but nothing as blatantly awful as usual. SCU hit the S-C-U-later on Sabian and CIMA finished him off with the meteora. They briefly turned up the lights in the building, which was definitely a weird look.

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The show abruptly went off the air after a commercial for Full Gear tomorrow night.

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Final Thoughts —

This definitely had the vibe of a last-minute show. With that said, it was still better than both the Pittsburgh and Charleston episodes. Enjoy Full Gear tomorrow night!

Triple threat AEW Tag Team title match set for Full Gear

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A triple threat tag team match for the AEW World Tag Team titles is set for Full Gear.

New champions SCU (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) will face the Lucha Bros. and Private Party in a triple threat match. This was announced during tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

A bronze medal match was announced at the start of the show where Private Party would face The Dark Order, with the winners being added to the title match at Full Gear. Private Party won the match following the Gin ‘n’ Juice, where Isiah Kassidy gave Stu Grayson a hurricanrana off the top rope, with Marq Quen hitting a cutter and scoring the pinfall for his team.

SCU won the World Tag Team titles last week, defeating the Lucha Bros. in the finals of the tournament to crown the first champions.

Full Gear takes place this Saturday, November 9, at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

First AEW Tag Team Champions crowned on Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The SCU duo of Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky are the first AEW Tag Team champions.

The new champions were crowned tonight in the main event of Dynamite, defeating the Lucha Bros.. Pentagon Jr. had Sky in the package piledriver position as Fenix went to the top for a double foot stomp, but Kazarian managed to shove Fenix to the floor. Sky responded by countering Pentagon with a small package, picking up the win and the titles.

The title win caps off a tournament that started on the second week of AEW television. The Lucha Bros. defeated Jurassic Express and Private Party to reach the finals, while SCU defeated Best Friends and The Dark Order.

Christopher Daniels was originally set to team with Kazarian for the tournament. However, he was jumped by the Lucha Bros. prior to their match against Best Friends back on October 16. On commentary the following week, announcers said he would be out 6-8 weeks.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express were originally set to present the winners with the titles. They were jumped by Santana and Ortiz, however, with Ricky Morton taking a powerbomb through a platform on the stage.

AEW Dynamite live results: Tag Team title tournament finals

Posted on by Ethan Renner

AEW Dynamite rolls into the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia tonight. 

The fifth episode of Dynamite will feature the conclusion of the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament, as SCU will take on the Lucha Bros to determine the company’s first tag champs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express will present the titles to the winning team. 

Dynamite will also showcase a Full Gear contract signing, with Chris Jericho and Cody making their match at the November 9 pay-per-view official. 

Elsewhere on the show, Sammy Guevara will face “Hangman” Adam Page, and The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega will take on Jack Evans, Angelico & Kip Sabian in six-man tag action. 

The Best Friends & Orange Cassidy are also expected to compete in six-man action, against unnamed opponents. 

Rounding out the card, Jon Moxley will be appearing. The AEW website says Moxley will be in action, while their social media channels seem to indicate Moxley will be delivering a promo. 

The show will also feature Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. 

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The show opened with Tony Schiavone greeting Cody and Dustin Rhodes as they arrived via private plane in Charleston. Dustin told Cody that he loved him and would see him at the building. Tony and Cody got in a limo to drive to the building. This seems to be a modern take on the 1993 Starrcade angle. 

They recapped the post-show angle from last week. Jon Moxley went into Tony Khan’s office and was told that his match with Kenny Omega at Full Gear will have to be an unsanctioned match. Moxley was livid. He said that what happens to Omega will be on Khan’s hands. Khan was never shown on camera. 

“HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE DEFEATED SAMMY GUEVARA

Page hit some chops, then a boot to the chest. Page used a vertical suplex for a one count. Guevara came back with a leapfrog dropkick, then he hit his own vertical suplex for a one count. 

Page hit a palm strike and a fall-away slam. Guevara pulled Page’s legs out form under him, and Page crashed against the apron. Guevara then sent Page into the barricade. Back inside, Guevara teased a top rope move but jumped off and slapped Page instead. 

Guevara hit a superkick. Page countered with a lariat. Page teased a Deadeye on the apron, but Guevara blocked. Page hit a sidewalk slam on the apron. Page then used a powerbomb for a near fall. 

Guevara rolled outside. Page hit a moonsault off the post, then threw Guevara back inside. Page teased a Buckshot Lariat, but Guevara stepped away. They traded strikes. Guevara sent Page up and over the top, but Page landed on his feet on the apron. Page then hit the Buckshot Lariat for the pin. 

Page cut a promo after the match. He said that things haven’t been going well for him lately, but tonight felt good. He promised to do “some real cowboy shit” at Full Gear, and to take PAC’s head off. 

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During a commercial break, we saw the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express meeting with Private Party backstage. 

HIKARU SHIDA DEFEATED SHANNA

They traded waistlocks. Shanna worked over the left arm, then hit a neckbreaker. Shanna sent Shida outside and teased a dive, but Shida jumped on the apron and cut her off. Shida set up a chair on the floor. She used it as a launch pad for a jumping knee strike. 

Back inside, Shida hit a backbreaker for a one count. Shida hit a running knee in the corner. Shida hit some more knee strikes. Shida teased a brainbuster, but Shanna blocked, then pulled Shida into an inside cradle for a two count. 

During a commercial break, they exchanged hurricanranas. Shanna used an Angel’s Wings for a two count. Shanna climbed to the top rope, but Shida cut her off. Shida went for a superplex, but Shanna fought her off, then hit a double stomp for a two count. 

Shanna tried another Angel’s Wings, but Shida blocked, then hit a spike piledriver. Shanna rolled to the apron. Shida suplexed her back inside and got a near fall. 

Shanna countered a knee strike and used a cradle for a two count. Shida hit a jumping knee strike, then used a falcon arrow for another near fall. Shida then hit another running knee strike. This time it was enough for the 1-2-3. 

Very solid work from both women. Shida is going to be a star. 

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We got a very cinematic Brandi Rhodes video package. She was shown staring at photos of Britt Baker and Riho, then summoning Awesome Kong using tea candles. Kong used a meat cleaver to chop up some hair extensions. This was bizarre. 

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The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express came to the stage with the AEW tag titles. Ricky Morton said it was great to be back in West Virginia. Robert Gibson started to cut a promo, but Santana and Ortiz jumped the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express from behind. 

Santana and Ortiz beat up on Morton and Gibson, then powerbombed Morton through a section of the stage. The Young Bucks came out to make the save, and Santana and Ortiz took off. 

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Cody and Tony were shown riding in the limo. Tony told a great Dusty story. He took Dusty to meet Willie Nelson once. Dusty made Willie wait to see him, because the star always comes out last. 

Cody said his mom will be at Full Gear and he wants to impress her. Tony encouraged Cody to use that emotion and the positive vibes form his family to beat Jericho. 

This was awesome. 

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BEST FRIENDS & ORANGE CASSIDY DEFEATED JOHN SILVER, ALEX REYNOLDS & Q.T. MARSHALL

This was total comedy. Rick and Morty were the ring announcers for Best Friends and Cassidy. 

Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor were dressed as Rick, and Trent was dressed as Morty. Trent lost his wig which allowed the jobbers to get the heat. Orange Cassidy entered and hit his trademark kicks, then hit a tope suicida with his hands in his pockets. 

Trent pinned Silver after Taylor and Trent hit the Strong Zero. 

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JERICHO VS. CODY CONTRACT SIGNING

Cody signed. Jericho teased flipping the table over, but said the match was too important to resort to such tactics. He said that this was the most important match of Cody’s life; he would either win and become the world champion just like he’s always wanted, or he’d lose, proving he’s not as good as he thinks he is. 

Jericho heeled on the crowd. He offered Cody a handshake. Cody accepted, and teased an attack. Jericho said before Cody did something stupid, he might want to see if he’s needed elsewhere. 

A video played on the big screen of The Inner Circle attacking Dustin Rhodes in the parking lot. Jake Hager hit him with a low blow, then slammed a limo door on his hand. 

Cody ran to the back to make the save, but the damage was done. Jericho, wearing a purple jacket with pumpkins on it, and no shirt, lit a cigar. He said Cody might want to take Dustin to the hospital. Jericho then cheerfully wished us a Happy Halloween, and got into a limo with his cronies. 

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There was a special video game-themed video package for Omega before the match. It used images of both Kota Ibushi and the NJPW Lion Mark. Interesting. 

KENNY OMEGA & THE YOUNG BUCKS DEFEATED KIP SABIAN, JACK EVANS & ANGELICO

The Elite came out dressed as video game characters. Sabian and The Hybrid 2 attacked at the opening bell, sending the Bucks to the floor. Omega made a comeback with a basement dropkick and a double Kotaro Krusher on Evans and Angelico. 

Evans was just on fire tonight. He hit a Sasuke Special and a springboard foot stomp. Sabian cut Omega off. The Bucks recovered and Matt tagged in, but he was also cut off. He tried for a hot tag, but the heels cut the ring in half and isolated him in their corner, using quick tags as they worked him over. 

After a commercial, the Bucks were running wild. They hit a tandem moonsault/springboard splash on Sabian for a two count. Omega and Jack Evans got hot tags. Omega hit snap dragon suplexes on Sabian, Evans and Angelico. 

Omega missed a V-Trigger attempt on Evans. The match broke down and everyone hit a crazy move. Evans hit a springboard moonsault off Matt’s back to Nick on the floor. Omega hit a V-Trigger on Angelico. Sabian tried a tope con giro, but all three Elite caught him, then hit a powerbomb on the apron. 

The Elite hit tandem superkicks on Evans. Omega hit a V-Trigger, then hit Evans with a One-Winged Angel for the pin. This was a great match. 

The Bucks were celebrating with two fans in Rick and Morty masks at ringside. The fans unmasked to reveal Santana and Ortiz. They pulled the Bucks over the barricade, then attacked. Omega made the save, and Santana and Ortiz ran for cover. 

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Peter Avalon and Leva Bates came to the ring doing their librarian shtick. Avalon heeled on West Virginia. Jon Moxley entered through the crowd. He hit Avalon with a Paradigm Shift. 

Moxley cut a promo. He said he’s the baddest and sickest son of a bitch in this game. He promised violence the likes of which wrestling hasn’t seen in decades at Full Gear. 

He said that because AEW says he’s unsanctionable, Kenny Omega’s blood will be on their hands. Moxley said he’s been dealing with suits, teachers, cops, and all kinds of people insulting him his whole life. 

He said that AEW can shove their win-loss records up their ass, and that anyone who doesn’t like that he marches to the beat of his own drum can kiss his ass and stay out of his way. 

As far as the content of this promo, I thought it was average. The intensity with which it was delivered, though, was something you just don’t see anywhere else in wrestling. 

**********

AEW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE TOURNAMENT FINAL:  SCU DEFEATED THE LUCHA BROS.

Kazarian and Pentagon started out as the legal men. They traded strikes. Sky and Fenix jumped in and all four brawled. The Lucha Bros. took over with tandem offense. They sent Sky rolling outside after a 619 into a backstabber. 

Pentagon hit a Michinoku Driver on Kazarian for a near fall. Fenix walked along the top rope and kicked Kazarian. Sky hit a rana on the floor, then used a monkey flip to send Kazarian into both Lucha Bros., and Kazarian hit a double lariat. Fenix hit Kazarian with a springboard arm drag. 

Pentagon hit a superkick on Sky on the floor. Pentagon held Kazarian on the floor, then Fenix hit a slingshot legdrop from the ring to the floor. During a commercial break, the Lucha Bros. worked over Kazarian in their corner. 

Back from break, Fenix hit Kazarian with a dropkick for a near fall. Kazarian made his own comeback and hit Fenix with an Angel’s Wings, then made a hot tag to Sky. 

Sky sent Pentagon outside with a headscissors, then hit a tope con giro. Kazarian tried a hurricanrana off the top rope to the apron on Fenix, but didn’t get all of it, and he landed hard on the back of his neck on the apron. 

Sky and Kazarian hit a tandem DDT on Fenix. Pentagon hit a destroyer on Kazarian. Fenix hit a pop-up cutter on Sky for a near fall. Pentagon powerbombed Kazarian through a table on the floor. 

Fenix hit a splash off Pentagon’s shoulders onto Sky for a two count. Pentagon grabbed Sky and set him up for the package piledriver/double stomp combo. Kazarian jumped in and cut off Fenix as he jumped for the stomp, and Sky pulled Pentagon into an inside cradle to win the titles. 

The finish was almost flat after seeing fifteen minutes of big move after big move, but this was a fantastic match. Pentagon and Fenix are on another level right now, and it feels like they should be the champs. 

Sky and Kazarian celebrated with the titles as the show closed. 

AEW Dark results: SCU vs. Jurassic Express, Darby Allin vs. CIMA

Posted on by Arya Witner

The Big News —

– SCU remain undefeated in six-man tag team matches, winning their second match over Jurassic Express.

– The episode started with Tony Schiavone in a studio introducing the show. He noted that AEW Dynamite was TNT’s biggest premiere in five years.

– They used the Dynamite announce team of Jim Ross, Excalibur, and Schiavone, although Schiavone stepped out halfway through the show.

**********

Darby Allin defeated CIMA

Allin was sitting in the corner — soaking in the adulation — when CIMA gave him the running knees to the face to start the bout. Allin came back with a trio of suicide dives, which just got the crowd to ask for one more.

Allin went for the Coffin Drop, which he seemingly always misses, and he missed again, with CIMA turning it into a powerbomb. Allin worked over the knee of CIMA, including headbutting it. I’m not saying that sarcastically, he was throwing headbutts to CIMA’s knee.

After a chop to Allin, CIMA held his own arms behind his back for a chop, but Allin punched him in the face instead.

Allin went for another Coffin Drop, but this time CIMA got his knees up. CIMA hit a meteora for a near fall. He missed a diving knee drop, then Allin hit a Code Red and finally hit the Coffin Drop for the win.

**********

Schiavone announced that Allin will wrestle Jimmy Havoc tomorrow night on Dynamite. The winner will get a shot at Chris Jericho’s AEW World Championship on October 16.

*************

The Lucha Brothers (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix), Jack Evans & Angelico defeated Best Friends (Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor w/ Orange Cassidy) & Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy)

Evans and Angelico are now going by The Hybrid2. They were arguing with their partners from the opening bell.

I type pretty fast, relatively speaking, but I could not type everything that happened in this match if I tried. The first two minutes were an eight-way series of dives and moves to everyone else. After a few minutes, they settled down and a wrestling match broke out.

The heels (The Lucha Brothers and Hybrid2) had quite a few misdirection spots where they crashed into each other. Evans used a backflip back elbow to break up a hug attempt.

They fought outside and Cassidy got in between Hybrid2 and Best Friends and just put his hands in his pockets, so Evans punched him in the face. Taylor was about to dive when Barreta stopped him for a hug and then we had a double dive. Cassidy got back in the match and did a dive onto the heels outside the ring.

In the ring, Fenix broke up a Best Friends double team and Pentagon pinned Taylor after a package piledriver/foot stomp combo.

**********

Dr. Britt Baker & Allie defeated Penelope Ford & Bea Priestley

The crowd was noticeably dead for most of this match, although Allie did her best to cheerlead. The story of this match was the continued feud between Baker and Priestley. Priestley did your classic heel tactics of taunting Baker when she was on the apron and then tagging out as soon as Baker tagged in.

The heels got the heat on Allie, working over her arm. Priestley did the Shayna Baszler move of stomping on Allie’s elbow. Allie came back and went for a hurricanrana on Ford, but they collapsed. Excalibur sold it as Ford blocking it and using a powerbomb.

Finally, Priestley and Baker tagged in and were the best part of the match. It broke down into a four-way and everyone hit a big move on everyone.

The DMD hit a DDT and then tapped Ford out with a laying down abdominal stretch while yanking on her jaw.

**********

Schiavone did a recap of the events of last Wednesday night. We then went into the AEW Control Center, where Schiavone previewed the Tag Team title tournament and tomorrow night’s Dynamite.

**********

SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) defeated Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt)

It was an All Out rematch here as the AEW Dark main event.

Stunt started with Daniels and danced on Daniels’ back instead of jumping over it. Seconds later, Daniels returned the favor. JR continues to call Jungle Boy “Jungle Boy Jack Perry,” so I’m assuming that’s his name from now on.

JR and Excalibur put over Sky’s potential as Luchasaurus tagged in to spin kick Daniels in the face. Stunt tried a running crossbody to Sky, but it didn’t work and he just bounced off. Sky assisted Kazarian in a tornado DDT on Luchasaurus, who kicked out of the cover and went kick crazy on SCU.

Stunt rolled through on Kazarian’s Tombstone attempt, but got pinned after a combo powerbomb/lung blower. So that is SCU: 2, Jurassic Express: 0.

Final Thoughts —

It would probably be better to film all of these matches before Dynamite, since the last two matches had a bit of a dead crowd, while the opener (taped before the show) and the eight-man (taped immediately after the show ended) had a more lively crowd.

The viewership mostly increased throughout the show, starting with 14,895 at the start and ending with 25,820 when the show ended. The only time when I noticed it go down was at the start of the women’s tag. It went down around a thousand viewers, but it got those thousand back and more.

VIDEO: First episode of AEW Dark

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The first episode of AEW Dark is now available.

The premiere episode focused on four dark matches that were taped after last week’s premiere episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT.

On the card, Best Friends & Private Party teamed up to take on the Lucha Bros., Angelico & Jack Evans. There was also a women’s tag team match, with Britt Baker & Allie taking on Penelope Ford & Bea Priestley. Darby Allin took on CIMA, and SCU took on Jurassic Express in the main event. 

Tomorrow’s episode of Dynamite will have Darby Allin taking on Jimmy Havoc for the number one contendership for the AEW World title, Shawn Spears vs. Jon Moxley, Dustin Rhodes & Hangman Page vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara and The Young Bucks vs. Private Party in a first round AEW Tag Team title tournament match.

AEW Dark will stream every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on their YouTube channel. You can watch the first episode below:

Being the Elite: Omega responds, SCU-Jurassic Express rematch

Posted on by Joseph Currier

This week’s Being the Elite included the tease of another match for the AEW Dynamite premiere.

On today’s Being the Elite episode, it was teased that SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) will face Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt) on AEW’s first television episode on TNT. Those six also faced off at All Out, with SCU getting the win.

The Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. is hosting the Dynamite premiere on Wednesday, October 2. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:

  • Chris Jericho and two mystery partners vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks
  • Nyla Rose vs. Riho to determine the inaugural AEW Women’s Champion
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara
  • MJF vs. Brandon Cutler
  • Appearances by Jon Moxley and Hangman Page

This week’s Being the Elite also featured Omega giving an in-character response to the reaction to comments he made about NXT wrestlers. Omega had told Sportskeeda’s Dropkick Diskussions that AEW would feature real stars and not developmental talent. He also said that NXT wrestlers would be in the opening match to his main event if they were on the same show.

On Being the Elite, Omega’s character has been in a downward spiral since losing to PAC at All Out.

This week’s episode is available to watch below:

Six-man tag match added to AEW All Out

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW has added a six-man tag match to the card for All Out.

Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) is set for the pay-per-view. The match announcement was made on today’s episode of Being the Elite.

Stunt accompanied Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy for their three-way tag match against The Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) and Angelico & Jack Evans at Fight for the Fallen last month. It was later announced that Stunt has officially joined the AEW roster.

All Out is taking place at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois this Saturday (August 31). Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

  • Chris Jericho vs. Hangman Page for the AEW World Championship
  • Kenny Omega vs. PAC
  • AAA Tag Team Champions The Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) defending against The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) in a ladder match
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears
  • Hikaru Shida vs. Riho
  • Darby Allin vs. Joey Janela vs. Jimmy Havoc
  • Best Friends (Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor) vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) (winning team gets a first-round bye in AEW’s Tag Team title tournament)
  • Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky)
  • Women’s Casino Battle Royale (pre-show)
  • Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs. Angelico & Jack Evans (pre-show)

This week’s Being the Elite is available to watch below:

Lucha Bros vs. SCU set for AEW Fight for the Fallen

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Lucha Bros and SoCal Uncensored will be facing off at AEW Fight for the Fallen this Saturday.

On this week’s Being the Elite, Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian was announced for Fight for the Fallen. The show is being held at Daily’s Place Amphitheater in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday (July 13) and is benefiting Jacksonville’s Victim Assistance Advisory Council.

Christopher Daniels will be in Sky & Kazarian’s corner for the match.

The Lucha Bros lost to The Young Bucks at Double or Nothing in May. Pentagon & Fenix then teamed with Laredo Kid against The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega at Fyter Fest, with Omega pinning Laredo Kid to get the win.

Sky, Kazarian & Daniels defeated CIMA, T-Hawk & El Lindaman at Double or Nothing. Daniels lost a singles match against CIMA at Fyter Fest, and Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor defeated Private Party and Sky & Kazarian in a triple threat match on the Fyter Fest pre-show. As a stipulation of winning that match, Barreta & Taylor will advance to All Out and get the chance to earn a first-round bye in AEW’s Tag Team title tournament.

Fight for the Fallen will air for free on B/R Live in the United States and Canada and will be available to purchase as an iPPV via Fite TV elsewhere. Here’s the updated card for the show:

  • The Young Bucks vs. Cody & Dustin Rhodes
  • Kenny Omega vs. CIMA
  • Brandi Rhodes vs. Allie
  • Hangman Page vs. Kip Sabian
  • Jimmy Havoc, Darby Allin & Joey Janela vs. MJF, Sammy Guevara & Shawn Spears
  • Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian

Best Friends vs. SCU vs. Private Party set for AEW Fyter Fest

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A three-way tag match with Tag Team title tournament implications has been announced for Fyter Fest.

Best Friends (Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor) vs. SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) is set for the Fyter Fest pre-show. The winning team will advance to All Out on August 31, where they’ll get an opportunity at a first-round bye in AEW’s World Tag Team Championship tournament.

During his appearance on the Steve Austin Show, AEW’s Tony Khan revealed that AEW will be holding the Tag Team title tournament and it will be “one of the main focuses” of their television when it debuts this fall.

Fyter Fest is taking place at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday, June 29. It will air for free on Bleacher Report Live and will be available to purchase on Fite TV outside of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Here’s the updated card:

  • The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & Kenny Omega vs. The Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) & Laredo Kid
  • Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin
  • Hangman Page vs. MJF vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Jungle Boy
  • Nyla Rose vs. Riho vs. Yuka Sakazaki
  • Christopher Daniels vs. CIMA
  • Best Friends (Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor) vs. SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) (pre-show)
  • CEO Fighting Game Championships organizer Alex Jebailey vs. AEW’s Michael Nakazawa in a hardcore match (pre-show)

ROH TV results: SCU defend their titles

Posted on by Dan Velten

Marty Scurll joined Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana at the announce table.

Kenny King defeated Christopher Daniels

Before the match, King took the microphone and made fun of Daniels for being old.

Daniels started off the match with a springboard moonsault for a two count. Daniels worked King over for a while — until King managed to land a leg sweep to knock Daniels off the ring apron. 

After the break, King was firmly in control. However, Daniels landed a Blue Thunder Bomb and went back on the offensive. King countered with a spinebuster and unsuccessfully used the ropes for leverage on the pin. King then used a low blow when the referee’s back was turned, which allowed him to hit the Royal Flush on Daniels for the win.

Dalton Castle reminded us that he was out for a long time and is hungry to get revenge on Matt Taven at Final Battle.

ROH Television Champion Jeff Cobb defeated Josh Woods in a non-title match

The match started off with a grappling exchange. Meanwhile, Hangman Page came out with a chair to watch from the stage. Woods went for a takedown and followed it up with an armbar attempt. Woods maintained top control with a wristlock. Page looked bored.

Cobb powered to his feet and used an arm throw to set up a capture suplex, but he missed with a running hip attack and that set up a hip throw by Woods. Woods again went for an armbar. Cobb elevated him and tossed him into the turnbuckle.

Woods went for a springboard DDT, but Cobb caught him in mid-air and landed the Tour of the Islands for the three count.

Not to be outdone, Page came to the ring and announced that he himself would be competing immediately against Facade.

Hangman Page defeated Facade

After the break, Cobb was seated in the chair on the stage — and Page was putting a hurting on Facade. Page connected with his running Shooting Star Press off the apron. He landed a bridging fallaway slam for a two count.

Unlike Woods, Facade got in a bit of aerial offense until Page connected with a huge boot to the face. Facade used a springboard 450 double ax handle, but that didn’t matter as Page hit the shotgun clothesline and the Rite of Passage to earn the victory. This brought Cobb back to the ring and the two Final Battle opponents faced off.

A replay of the finish of Scurll’s win over Christopher Daniels to win Survival of the Fittest was shown. Apparently, after that match, Daniels and Scurll had a discussion backstage. Daniels said it was the Bullet Club that won, not Scurll. Daniels bated Scurll into putting his title shot on the line against him at Final Battle.

Taven and TK O’Ryan were backstage talking trash on Jay Lethal.

ROH Tag Team Champions SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) defeated Guerrero Maya Jr. & Stuka Jr. to retain their titles

Sky was dressed like Apollo Creed before he faced Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Frankie Kazarian appeared to be wearing a Cobra Kai outfit from the Karate Kid.

Some unique offense started it off as Maya and Stuka used a double surfboard on Kazarian and followed it up with a full body twist. Sky finally made the tag and lured Maya in for a headscissors. He then hit a double stomp on Stuka. However, Stuka used a spinebuster on Sky and a moonsault to Kazarian on the outside. The pace really picked up and Maya hit a flipping tope through the ropes to wipe out Sky.

Back in the ring, Sky and Kazarian used a combination uranage and backstabber, which they call the “Burning Heart,” on Stuka for the win and the successful title defense.

After the match, Daniels came to the ring with a microphone. He reminded us that Sky and Kazarian had earned new contracts by winning the ROH Tag Team titles, but he did not. He then announced that he would be facing Scurll for Scurll’s future title shot.

Scurll came to the ring and took the microphone. He talked about all that Daniels had accomplished in ROH, but then said that this would be Daniels’ final battle.

ROH TV results: SCU win Tag Team titles, Scurll vs. Hurricane IV

Posted on by Dan Velten

Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana called the action from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dalton Castle and The Boys entered. Castle talked about his comeback from injury, which included going to Australia and kissing a kangaroo. He called out ROH World Champion Jay Lethal, but it was Matt Taven who responded. Taven — who is calling himself the real ROH World Champion — said he’s the one Castle should be worried about.

Three red balloons floated up in front of Castle, which led to The Kingdom jumping Castle and The Boys. Taven, Vinny Marseglia, and TK O’Ryan all landed a synchronized chair shot to the head of the prone Castle.

Marty Scurll defeated Hurricane Helms in a street fight

The Villain Marty Scurll came to the ring holding Hurricane’s mask, which he stole in their last encounter. Hurricane’s music hit, but Delirious tried to come out instead. It was all a distraction as the real Hurricane Helms, sans mask, slid in behind Scurll and landed a Hurri-chokeslam, but it only got a two count as Scurll kicked out.

Scurll tossed multiple canes into the ring and used them against Hurricane, but Hurricane finally fought back and was able to procure the mask. He put it on and back came his Hurri-strength. Hurricane then tossed four chairs into the ring. Hurricane set them all up and went for a superplex. That didn’t work — so he grabbed Scurll by the cajones and tossed him off the top through the chairs.

After the break, Scurll had set up a table on the outside and tossed Hurricane through it. He rolled in Hurricane but only got a two count. Scurll then went for a satchel. He emptied it to reveal a thousand thumbtacks. However, it was Hurricane who was able to land another Hurri-chokeslam — this time slamming Scurll into the tacks, but Scurll got his foot on the ropes.

Scurll got back up and took a handful of tacks, shoved them into the mouth of Hurricane, and landed a superkick, which he followed up with Graduation for the win.

A recap of Brandi Rhodes’ injury and subsequent recovery aired.

SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) defeated The Briscoes and The Young Bucks in a triple threat match to win the ROH Tag Team titles 

The Bucks and SCU started it off hot with dives. However, it was The Briscoes who gained the control early as Mark Briscoe bounced Frankie Kazarian’s head off the metal guardrail.

The Young Bucks added a few new crazy moves to their arsenal and landed them on The Briscoes, after taking out SCU with dives. Kazarian and Sky worked together and connected with a dropkick/powerbomb on Nick Jackson. Each man hit an outside-in cutter into dragon sleepers until a pair of superkicks broke it up.

Referee Paul Turner was squished in the melee of the match. Jay Briscoe hit the Jay Driller on Kazarian, but Matt Jackson broke up the slow pin count. The Briscoes got a couple of chairs involved, but before they could be used, Matt hit a spear on Mark.

A chair shot from Jay accidentally hit Mark. Sky capitalized with Kazarian as they hit a combination lung blower on Mark to win the titles.

Christopher Daniels came to the ring, wearing a neck brace, to celebrate with his SCU compadres.

ROH Global Wars results: Two title matches

Posted on by Justin Knipper

The Takeaways —

  • Jay Lethal retained the ROH World title over Kenny King.
  • SoCal Uncensored successfully defended the ROH Tag Team titles against the Super Smash Bros from Canada.
  • The ringside area was crowded, but the rest of the venue looked close to empty on camera. 
  • The final Global Wars show was a decent card with mostly good to very good matches. The crowd was high for the highs and dead for anything they viewed as taking up space. 

Show Recap —

Karen Q defeated Kaitlin Diemond in a Final Battle qualifying match

Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana were joined on commentary by Kelly Klein to announce this match. The ringside area was packed, but the bleachers were virtually empty.

Diemond looked confident as she came to the ring. Karen Q slapped Diemond’s hand away before the match. Women of Honor World Champion Sumie Sakai came out to observe the two. 

These two looked great together. Q was quick and flashy with great charisma. Diemond seemed pretty advanced, and though she was taller than Q, she moved in a way that had them feeling like equals.

Q won with a modified Boston Crab and qualified for the four corner survival match for the Women of Honor title at Final Battle.

Afterwards, Sakai and Q jaw-jacked and got into a scuffle. Kelly Klein ran to the ring from the announce booth and Madison Rayne followed her out. Chaos ensued, wrapping up with Sakai diving off the turnbuckle onto all of the wrestlers. Sakai and Rayne faced off in the ring after the pull-apart.

This match was a great opener and could have gone an extra few minutes. The pull-apart got a lot of heat, but the verbiage between Kelly Klein and Q was embarrassing (e.g. “That’s gonna be my belt!”). It’d work if people actually spoke that way. 

Hangman Page defeated Chuck Taylor

Rhett Titus came out wearing a bikini and a hockey helmet. He joined the announce team for this match.

I wholly do not understand what went through the minds of the people who composed Page’s theme music. It sounds like the credits scene of an ‘80s action movie. Is that supposed to be his character?

They had a great exchange at the beginning of this match. Taylor apologized for pulling Page’s hair. He then challenged Page to a chop battle and lost to a shoulder block, if that makes any sense.

Taylor whipped Page twice around the ring into the guardrails. Page did a Shooting Star shoulder block to the floor but landed on his feet; Taylor then gave him a hard flatliner. The crowd was pretty awake at this point.

Taylor used a standing Sliced Bread for two. He cheesed into the camera and gave a thumbs-up as he tried to pin Page. They had a hot sequence before the match ended where Taylor went for the Awful Waffle but Page used the Rite of Passage to win. People around ringside jumped from their seats in shock, so I imagine Taylor landed hard. We couldn’t see it on the hard cam. 

This was a very good match that could have gone longer. They could have a great title program together somewhere in the future.

Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI defeated The Kingdom (Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan)

Caprice Coleman took over for Titus on commentary for this match.

BUSHI and Naito got loud reactions. There were lots of “Naito” and “L-I-J” chants before the match. BUSHI teased a handshake with Marseglia before the match but pulled back.

People liked when BUSHI strangled Marseglia with his shirt, and when Naito did the Tranquilo pose, but booed a ton for the Kingdom when they started breaking all the LIJ taunts up. This crowd needs their taunts.

When O’Ryan threw Naito out of the ring, the cameras pulled back and exposed even more empty bleachers inside the venue.

The Kingdom worked Naito over for a long while. Coleman explained that the Kingdom were so dominant in this match because it was a “single tag team match,” which is what I thought they all were. Don’t start doing the math on that one or you’ll end up in Scott Steiner territory.

The Kingdom did House of a Thousand Horses but only got a two-count on BUSHI, who moments later blew mist into O’Ryan’s face. This later allowed Naito to use a Destino on Marseglia for the win. 

Matt Taven came out after and attacked LIJ. He especially put the boots to Naito until Christopher Daniels came out and made the save. This all overlapped into the match between Taven and Daniels.

Matt Taven defeated Christopher Daniels

Daniels busted out an Arabian Press early on. 48-years-old; spectacular. Taven used Just the Tip and later a huge Falcon Arrow for two.

Dalton Castle came out with The Boys and joined Cabana and Coleman on commentary; he kicked Riccaboni out. He did mostly comedy color commentary and told a story about how Taven once ate all of his butternut squash soup while he was in the bathroom, which is the impetus for their feud, I guess.

The Kingdom came back out and tried to smash Daniels in the face with a belt. Referee Todd Sinclair did his best to break things up, but while he dealt with the Kingdom members, Taven kicked Daniels in the groin, then used a Climax on Daniels for the win.

This was a decent match. Taven and Daniels were solid for the most part, but the crowd lost interest in the middle and sounded sour on the screw-job finish. 

The Briscoes defeated SANADA & EVIL

The crowd chanted for EVIL before the bell. He and Mark Briscoe started the match. They did a great spot where EVIL put Mark in a full nelson, he couldn’t break it, and he walked over to the ropes for the break. It was simple but effective, and it made EVIL look more physically powerful than he usually does.

There were more chants for EVIL as the match went on. The Briscoes felt like old school heels in this match; Mark bore a stark resemblance to toothless Canadian legend, Mad Dog Vachon, as he strangled SANADA in the corner.

The Briscoes dominated much of this. SANADA dove to his corner for a tag to EVIL, but the Briscoes had already attacked him. He did finally tag in EVIL, who played the part of charismatic leader in this match.

SANADA put both Briscoes in Paradise Locks and the crowd popped big for both dropkicks to their respective Sandy Fork asses. Mark later used a blockbuster to the outside, and Jay later used a Jay Driller on SANADA for the pin after Mark distracted the ref with a chair.

This was quite good, but the crowd wasn’t awake for it until LIJ started doing the spots they’re known for. As the Briscoes posed after their win, EVIL attacked the Briscoes with a chair, sating the crowd.

Flip Gordon defeated Jonathan Gresham

Silas Young came out to do commentary and push his angle with Bully Ray. 

Gresham and Gordon shook hands before the bell. They started with some smooth chain wrestling that popped the crowd. Gordon did a tope suicida early and sold his knee here as though he seriously injured it. Gordon and Sinclair did a great job putting this over; it even quieted most of the crowd initially.

Gresham began working over Gordon’s left knee. He did the rolling half-crab Lance Storm used to use. The two later did a rolling sunset flip, spinning back-and-forth and back again in a circle. The crowd liked this. 

Gordon spent a lot of time attempting moves he usually does, like the standing moonsault, but couldn’t do them because of his kayfabe injured knee. Gresham did a top rope frankensteiner, but later Gordon was able to finish Gresham off with a Flip 5.

This was short but very good. Gordon’s selling was excellent and Gresham’s reluctant handshake after the match was a nice touch.

Gordon grabbed the mic and challenged Bully Ray to an I Quit match, even though Ray was “fired” a few nights ago. The crowd chanted “What?!” after everything Gordon said.

ROH Tag Team Champions SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) defeated The Super Smash Bros (Stu Grayson & Evil Uno) to retain their titles

Sky did his “Worst Town Ever” bit. Daniels cut a promo talking about the prestige of ROH and said that SCU wants to defend the tag titles against the best in the world. Both teams were over with the crowd, but SCU were obviously the stars.

Kazarian and Grayson started the match. There was solid action between these two until Sky and Uno took over. Sky’s mat wrestling and chain movements were noticeably good. 

Uno later kneed Kazarian in the face in the corner, but he blatantly slapped his thigh beforehand. The impact of the slap and the actual contact of his knee were out of synch. 

Grayson used a High Fly Flow on Sky. Kazarian did a flying frankensteiner to the floor, which advantageously ended up spearing Grayson into Uno on the floor. Check the highlights for that one. 

Smash Bros did some cool tag work together. In terms of function, Grayson was Bret Hart, Uno was Jim Neidhart.

The teams did a double Frye-Takayama spot. Grayson launched himself over the corner onto Kazarian on the outside and the crowd went nuts. Uno used a swanton. SSB got an extremely close two-count and the crowd started booing.

Kazarian and Sky came back and finished Grayson off with a new finisher: Sky did a high angle uranage/Rock Bottom while Kazarian did a lungblower. The teams shook hands after this.

Another solid match but sloppy in spots. The crowd again didn’t come alive until the end. They seemed to be convinced they were going to see a title change but no dice on that one. 

Juice Robinson defeated Beretta

Robinson received a few chants at the start of this one. He did the Terry Funk jabs. They brawled on the floor for a while; Robinson broke the 20-count and missed a cannonball into the barriers and it looked crazy. 

Even though he missed, the crowd chanted “Juice!” afterwards. Beretta did a double stomp off of the barrier. Robinson cut his back on the barrier and there was a roughly five-inch gash on his right lower back. He did a standing senton after this. Not the best idea for someone who just cut their back open, but hey.

Beretta did a somersault senton over to the outside and sold his ribs. He tried a crossbody block from the top, but Robinson countered it with a codebreaker. Great timing on that spot. 

Beretta did a pretty tornado DDT that Robinson sold with crossed eyes. He got a very close two-count after a brutal Bomaye to the back of Robinson’s head. 

Riccaboni did his best to put moments in this match over on commentary, but the crowd didn’t always match his enthusiasm. They were polite but mostly quiet until the end.

Beretta actually used two piledrivers on Robinson in this match, and one was to the outside. It wasn’t enough, though, as Robinson countered with a straight left punch and a Pulp Friction for the win.

Robinson got on the mic and cut a quick promo saying he is coming for Cody’s IWGP United States Heavyweight title. 

Both wrestlers tried really hard here. It was a decent match, but it didn’t have the star power or high stakes it needed to ignite the crowd.

The Young Bucks defeated Time Machine (Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA)

Sabin & KUSHIDA received a tepid reaction. The crowd did a variety of Young Bucks/Elite-centric chants. 

Nick Jackson and KUSHIDA started the match; KUSHIDA got a small chant. The two were great together for a minute or so, then Matt joined the fun. 

The Bucks launched into their usual tag sequences with KUSHIDA. The crowd at one point was chanting “This is awesome” and Matt only had KUSHIDA in an armbar; the crowd made their mind up beforehand, apparently. 

Sabin later joined the match and he and KUSHIDA went through a few of their own tag sequences. They’re finally beginning to feel like an established tag team, though it’s unfortunately come after the NJPW Junior Tag League.

This crowd was weird. They only seemed to respond to big spots or upon being cued in by the wrestlers themselves. It felt like the crowd would periodically check out, particularly when Sabin or KUSHIDA were on the offensive. That’s the other edge of the sword in babyface vs. babyface tag matches, that fans don’t want to boo the other team because they like them, so instead they sat quietly. 

More Bang for Your Buck didn’t pan out for the Young Bucks. KUSHIDA and Sabin hit Made in Osaka for two. This didn’t lead to anything, either, and we then went on a road trip to Superkick City. 

The Bucks used a Five-Star Meltzer Driver for what seemed to be the win, but KUSHIDA broke up the pin. Matt Jackson was able to slap on a sharpshooter and Sabin eventually tapped.

A good match that would have died if the Bucks weren’t in it. While Time Machine looked tighter and more crisp than they have together basically ever, the crowd wanted to see the Young Bucks do cool moves and win.

ROH World Champion Jay Lethal defeated Kenny King to retain his title

They played pre-taped promos from Lethal and King. Lethal’s was terrific and the delivery was top-notch; King’s was fine.

King came out to little reaction. Lethal got tons of streamers thrown in the ring for him. When Bobby Cruise announced that this was for the ROH World title, the crowd made a sound that I can only describe as a human ellipsis. 

King jumped Lethal before the bell. He did a few kicks and then a tornillo to the outside. He worked over Lethal for a long while and the crowd booed a bit but was mostly silent until Lethal took the match’s reins.

King used a brutal suplex with a high-crotch and dumped Lethal head-first into the second turnbuckle. He did a spinebuster after this and both moves looked really good.

King tried hard to get the crowd upset with him. He succeeded, sort of. To those who wait, as I heard somewhere. 

King teased using the title as a weapon on Lethal until Todd Sinclair stopped him. There were more submission/rope break/taunt sequences from King. He spit on Lethal and it got heat, but he ruined it by screaming WWE-inspired verbiage (e.g. “I’ve trained my whole life for this!”).

Lethal used a running Death Valley Driver, but King reversed it into a pin. King did the Royal Flush but couldn’t finish. He missed a Shooting Star Press, then Lethal did a Lethal Injection for another very close two. The crowd came back and finally started chanting “This is awesome” here.

Lethal began an excessive beatdown onto King. He accidentally knocked Sinclair over. King grabbed the belt but Lethal knocked it away. King then pinned Lethal for three — but his foot was on the ropes. Sinclair saw it and waved the finish off. Lethal hit the Lethal Injection a few moments later for the win.

Aside from the hot finish, this match was bad. King as the heel led the match and it was mostly slow and not in a reasonable way, it was just slow and not very good.