Tony Khan has named the non-wrestler “dream signing” he would most like to bring to AEW.
Speaking with Sportico at its Invest in Sports: New York event at NASDAQ’s headquarters in New York last week, Khan was asked which sports star or actor from outside the traditional wrestling world he would most like to sign to AEW.
For Khan, the answer was a familiar name: Shaquille O’Neal.
“For me, the best person we had and I would love for him to come back any time, would be Shaq. Shaq’s 1-0, but then he’s been away from AEW. He disappeared out of the ambulance in 2021 and we haven’t seen him since. So I would love to get Shaq back in the ring. He’s gotta be on of the all-time greatest stars ever in basketball, and he’s undefeated in AEW.”
O’Neal teamed with the debuting Jade Cargill in a mixed tag match against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet on the March 3, 2021 AEW Dynamite episode. He was taken away from ringside on a stretcher after going through a table, but disappeared from an ambulance in a later backstage segment.
Khan also discussed his process for scouting talent and more in the Sportico interview embedded below.
Late Tuesday night, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena made an appearance during TNT’s NBA post-game coverage.
Cena stopped by Inside the NBA after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs last night. The appearance was to promote season two of Peacemaker, which is set to premiere on Max on August 21. A sneak peek of the new season was shown on Inside the NBA ahead of a full teaser trailer being released this Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9JCrahrIUc
Inside the NBA panelist Charles Barkley mentioned that he’s a big wrestling fan and wasn’t happy about Cena turning heel in WWE. Barkley asked Cena if he’s pleasantly surprised by how well he’s been able to transition into Hollywood stardom.
“Life has awarded me so many unbelievable opportunities. Am I surprised about that? Can I swear on the program? Oh — f*ck yes, I am surprised,” Cena responded. “What is happening? What is going on? I’m sitting here with you guys with a [Peacemaker] helmet on my head talking about season two of Peacemaker.”
An impromptu wrestling match between basketball legends broke out during the Inside the NBA broadcast with Shaquille O’Neal pinning Barkley.
The Peacemaker television series was created by James Gunn — the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise — with its first season airing in 2022. It stars Cena as the titular DC Comics character.
Cena won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 and will make his first title defense this Saturday when he faces off against Randy Orton at Backlash.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s return to AEW looks to be on the horizon.
During Thursday night’s edition of Inside the NBA on TNT, O’Neal was asked when he’ll be wrestling again. “Soon. This summer,” O’Neal replied.
O’Neal was asked about returning to pro wrestling by fellow Inside the NBA panelist Kenny Smith after a wrestling GIF was shown in a tweet that was read on the show.
O’Neal made his AEW debut on the March 3 episode of Dynamite earlier this year. He teamed with Jade Cargill to defeat Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet in a mixed tag match. Cargill pinned Red Velvet to win the match.
Leading into the finish of the mixed tag match, Cody took out Shaq with a crossbody through two tables. There was then a post-match angle where O’Neal was loaded into an ambulance. But when Tony Schiavone opened the ambulance door to speak with O’Neal and get an update on his condition, O’Neal wasn’t in the ambulance anymore.
O’Neal’s AEW debut was the second match that he’s ever wrestled in. His in-ring debut was as an entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WWE WrestleMania 32 in 2016. O’Neal had previously appeared on WWE, WCW, and TNA Wrestling programming.
Shaquille O’Neal makes his AEW in-ring debut on tonight’s episode of Dynamite: The Crossroads.
Shaq will team with Jade Cargill against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet in a tag match in tonight’s opener.
The finals of the AEW Women’s World title eliminator tournament will also take place. The winner of the United States bracket, Nyla Rose, takes on Japan bracket winner Ryo Mizunami. The winner will face AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida at Sunday’s Revolution PPV.
Paul Wight will make his first AEW appearance. His signing was announced ahead of last week’s taped Dynamite and referenced in passing on commentary.
Tully Blanchard will return to in-ring action on tonight’s show. He will team up with FTR against Jurassic Express.
Prior to their AEW World Tag Team title match against The Young Bucks, challengers Chris Jericho and MJF will hold a press conference this evening.
10 (Preston Vance) of The Dark Order will take on Max Caster in a qualifying match for Sunday’s Face of the Revolution ladder match.
Hangman Page and John Silver will tag against Matt Hardy and Marq Quen. Page faces Hardy at Revolution with the winner getting the loser’s first quarter 2021 earnings.
Plus, PAC and Rey Fenix will team up in tag team action. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Show Report —
Before the opener, a video package aired recapping the feud from start to finish.
This was so much better than it had any right to be. All four competitors should be commended for making it work.
Cody and Shaq started. They locked up right away, but Shaq was able to easily push his way out of an arm wringer. Shaq pumped up the crowd and performed a little jig. Cody forced him into a corner and laid in right hands, but Shaq turned it around with a frying pan chop. He then countered Cody running the ropes with a back body drop.
Shaq continued the offense with more overhand chops, then Cargill tagged herself in, as did Velvet. They wrestled around until Cargill downed Velvet with a bicycle knee. Velvet fought back with kicks but was overpowered once again by Cargill. Velvet landed a diving crossbody, but Cargill rolled through and downed Velvet with a fallaway slam.
Cargill provoked Cody into knocking Shaq off the apron, where he was met with a chair shot from Austin Gunn. Shaq ran wild on the Nightmare Family, including both Gunn children and QT Marshall. The camera panned over, where Velvet landed an Orihara moonsault onto Cody and Cargill on the floor.
Back in the ring, Cargill locked in the figure four on Velvet. After a long fight, she released the hold and taunted before heading to the floor. Cargill pulled out a table and set it up on the floor, but took too long, allowing Velvet to attack. Velvet then pulled out a table of her own and set it up right next to the first one.
Velvet scored a cyclone kick on Velvet and tagged in Cody, which meant Shaq had to come in too. Shaq called for a test of strength, but Cody booted him in the gut. Shaq hit a knee lift and then a nice powerbomb on Cody, but Cody hit the Rhodes right hand and was able to slam Shaq for two.
The women tagged in and traded strikes in the middle of the ring. After a long exchange, Velvet ran into a Cargill spinebuster and covered, but Cody broke up the count.
In one of the most ridiculous spots I’ve ever seen on television, Cody then dove over the top rope, taking out Shaq, and both crashed through the tables on the floor.
Velvet then hit a spear on Cargill for a close near fall. She tried to follow it up, but Cargill overpowered Velvet with a wheelbarrow facebuster for the win.
– During the commercial break, Shaq was loaded into an ambulance. However, it cut to Tony Shiavone, who tried to interview, and when the ambulance doors opened, Shaq was gone.
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PAC & Rey Fénix defeated John Skyler & D3
This only went a minute or two. Skyler and D3 are Dark talent and they didn’t get a single bit of offense as PAC and Fénix threw bomb after bomb. The 450 from PAC and the Fire Thunder Driver from Fénix finished it.
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Inner Circle Press Conference
The press conference was moderated by Dasha, and Jericho and MJF were joined by Santana, Ortiz, and Wardlow. Someone asked a question, but it wasn’t mic’d up correctly and we couldn’t hear it. Jericho talked about his career accomplishments, including being a seven-time world tag team champion. None of his partners are better than MJF, however.
Conrad Thompson was next, and the mic worked this time. He asked about the chance of Sammy Guevara coming back to the Inner Circle, so Jericho and MJF exploded on him and sent him packing. The next question was why they attacked the Young Bucks’ father last week. MJF said it was an act of self-defense, and he was upset because his suit got all bloody. He then said it wasn’t his idea. Santana took the mic and said there wasn’t a line that the Inner Circle wouldn’t cross.
Eric Bischoff asked the next question, specifically to Jericho. He asked if he knew the condition of Papa Buck, then asked how stupid it was to give more motivation to the Bucks. Jericho said they don’t know Papa Buck’s condition, and they don’t care.
The Young Bucks then interrupted. They talked about how their dad is the greatest person in the world, and everything he taught them — everything Jericho and MJF’s parents’ apparently didn’t teach them. It was those teachings that allowed the Bucks to help create AEW, which are the only reasons MJF and Jericho are currently in high profile wrestling positions.
The Bucks then landed superkicks on Jericho and MJF, then an all-out brawl ensued with the Inner Circle, The Good Brothers, Brandon Cutler, referees, and backstage officials getting involved. Santana and Ortiz were placed on tables, and both of the Bucks landed sentons on them, putting them through the tables.
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A video package for Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley played. It focused on the background and brutality of the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch. Atsushi Onita, innovator of this match, was a part of the video.
There was so much NWA nostalgia in this great tag match, but modernized for a current audience.
This was Tully Blanchard’s first match since 2007. He came out with the old silver NWA United States title.
All six men squared off at the bell before Jungle Boy and Harwood were the two left in the ring. Jungle Boy dispatched both of FTR with dropkicks before immediately going for the Snare Trap submission. Harwood was too close the ropes, and Wheeler pulled Jungle Boy to the floor, where he fell victim to another Snare Trap.
While Jungle Boy and Wheeler wrestled on the floor, Dillon slipped Harwood his shoe, where a shot to Jungle Boy got two. Tully tagged in and teased making a dive, but he thought the better of it and strutted away heading into the commercial break, where the heels continued their beatdown of Jungle Boy.
Wheeler went for a corner splash but fell into a boot from Jungle Boy, allowing Luchasaurus to tag in. The dinosaur ran wild on FTR, and then he tossed Stunt into Tully for a crossbody. Luchasaurus then hit a double German suplex before going for a chokeslam, which Harwood escaped out of. Harwood then avoided a corner spear, sending Luchasaurus into the post.
Jungle Boy topped Harwood from going to the top rope, sending him into Luchasaurus for two. Wheeler pulled Luchasaurus to the floor and hit a swinging DDT, then FTR hit a superplex frog splash combination on Jungle Boy for two. Wheeler then hit repeated suplex bridges, but one was interrupted with a Stunt splash. Tully hit his signature slingshot suplex on Stunt.
Tully and Luchasaurus faced off in the ring, where Luchasaurus landed the Tail Whip kick. Jurassic Express hit their tag team finisher, the Thoracic Express, but Wheeler kicked out. Jungle Boy tried to land a dive on Harwood and Tully, but a cameraman got in the way and then attacked Luchasaurus with the camera.
FTR and Tully then hit the assisted spike piledriver, with Tully pinning Luchasaurus for the win.
– After the match, the cameraman unmasked, and it was a returning Shawn Spears. Arn Anderson briefly appeared on the ramp, flashing four fingers.
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Tony Schiavone announced that his co-host for the new AEW Dark: Elimination show is the newly signed Paul Wight. Wight came out and jokingly asked if anyone saw this “turn” coming before emphasizing how happy he is to be here. He then said that he has a big scoop: this Sunday at Revolution, AEW is going to sign a Hall of Fame-worthy talent.
This was the third very good match of the show, a fitting tournament final. Some of Mizunami’s schtick didn’t really stick, but when she gets going, it’s pretty spectacular.
After being absent for most of Rose’s tournament matches, Guerrero returned to manage Rose in this match.
They had a strong style shoulder block battle to start before trading forearms. Rose got the first knockdown of the match with her own shoulder tackle. She went for a quick Beast Bomb, but Mizunami powered out of it and laid in machine gun chops in the corner. Mizunami then did her rope gimmick, concluding with a corner clothesline as always.
Rose easily flattened Mizunami with a flipping senton for two, then a powerslam for another two into the break. Mizunami got a couple brief hope spots, but Rose would always cut her off with her power as women’s champion Hikaru Shida was shown looking on.
Mizunami rolled out of the way of Rose’s senton bomb and fired up. She sent Rose to the apron and then tackled her out of the ring. Rose regained the advantage, but had her legs swept out and took a hard fall on the apron. Mizunami then landed the apron leg drop that allowed her to beat Kong by countout. The official reached the count of nine, but Rose rolled into the ring, where she was immediately met with another leg drop for two.
Rose weathered strikes from Mizunami and landed short lariats of her own. After a hard lariat, Rose hit a Death Valley driver for two. She draped Mizunami over the top rope and hit the diving knee drop, but Mizunami kicked out as Guerrero screamed on the floor. Rose tried to keep up the offense with the Beast Bomb, but Mizunami fought back with an exploder.
Mizunami then climbed the ropes but was met by Rose, who hit a superplex for two. Mizunami fired up with a German suplex and a spear before hitting another guillotine leg drop to win the tournament and advance to face Hikaru Shida at Revolution.
– After the match, Shida presented Mizunami with her trophy, but Mizunami wanted to keep fighting and exchanging forearms. They smiled at each other as Shida posed with her belt.
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Tony Schiavone brought out Sting for an interview. Sting said his preparation evolves every single week, as he found out he wasn’t ready when Brian Cage powerbombed him through the ring. But now that he’s shaken off the rust, Sting feels like he’s ready for a street fight.
Ricky Starks interrupted alone and admitted that he’s seen some fire from Sting, and that Sting’s still got it. However, he still stands behind what he said, which is that Sting isn’t an icon. He then slapped Sting, who beat up Starks in return with a Stinger Splash and the Scorpion Deathlock.
Powerhouse Hobbs and HOOK ran in to break it up, then Cage and Taz made their way out, where Cage put Sting in powerbomb position. Allin then ran out and put Cage in a sleeper, allowing Sting to land another Stinger Splash. Allin followed it up with a shotgun dropkick as Team Taz regrouped on the ramp.
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Scorpio Sky, who is in the Revolution ladder match, joined commentary for this match. He wasn’t that engaging, affecting a strange heelish tone.
Preston “10” Vance (w/ -1) vs. Max Caster in a Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier
Caster did his rapping gimmick and 10 had to hold -1 back ahead of the match.
10 rolled Caster up right away for two. They had a back and forth exchange where 10 landed a running crossbody for a near fall. He followed it up with ten right hands in the corner before clotheslining Caster out of the ring. Caster took control on the floor before rolling 10 back into the ring as the show went to commercial.
They recovered from a double down coming back from break and 10 immediately went into his comeback. He hit a spinebuster on Caster before landing a slingshot spear for two. Caster took 10 down with an arm drag and hit a nice brainbuster before going for Acclaim 2 Fame, where 10 rolled out of the way.
10 brought Caster back in the hard way with a powerbomb, but Caster put his foot on the ropes during the cover. With the official distracted, Jack Evans, of all people, whacked 10 with the boom box, and Caster covered for the win.
Caster acted like he didn’t know what happened, but Hardy showed up as it appeared to be part of his mission to take out the Dark Order.
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AEW Revolution card:
Buy-In: Riho & Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. & Reba
Miro & Kip Sabian vs. Orange Cassidy & Chuck Taylor
TNT Championship #1 Contender Ladder Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Lance Archer vs. Penta El Cero Miedo vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Max Caster vs. ???
Paul Wight’s major announcement regarding AEW’s next signing
AEW Women’s Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Ryo Mizunami
Big Money Match: Hangman Page vs. Matt Hardy
Street Fight: Sting & Darby Allin vs. Team Taz (Brian Cage & Ricky Starks)
Casino Tag Team Battle Royal
AEW Tag Team Championships: Young Bucks (c) vs. Chris Jericho & MJF
AEW World Championship Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jon Moxley
During the card rundown, a quick Miro promo aired where he said he’d bring destruction to Revolution.
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Hangman Page & John Silver defeated Matt Hardy & Marq Quen
Hardy landed a cheap shot on Silver early on, allowing his team to take control. Page tagged in and tried to lariat Hardy, but Hardy tossed Silver in the way, and Page stopped himself just in time. Quen tagged in ahead of the commercial break but was pounded in the corner by Page. The match layout here was odd, as the babyfaces controlled the action most of the way.
Back from break, Silver got tied in the ropes and Hardy sent him crashing down with a Side Effect on the apron. Hardy and Quen beat down Silver with frequent tags. Silver finally escaped for the hot tag to Page, who easily took control on Quen while continuing to try to go after Hardy. Quen took out Page’s knees, but inadvertently kicked Hardy on the follow up.
Page took advantage with a fallaway slam on Quen and a plancha onto Hardy on the floor. Quen stomped Page upon re-entry to the ring but was caught with a Death Valley Driver. Page tossed Quen into the corner, demanding that Hardy tag in, but Hardy wouldn’t do it. Quen was able to kick out Page’s knee and tag in Hardy, who called for the Twist of Fate. Page countered it with a back suplex before Silver tagged in.
Silver immediately crushed Hardy with a spear before laying in kicks and a brainbuster, but Hardy kicked out at two. Quen took out Page, Hardy downed Silver with a back suplex, and Quen landed a missile dropkick. Silver was able to tag in Page, and the two effortlessly worked together with a big sequence of moves on Quen, concluded with the Buckshot Lariat for the win. Hardy had a chance to break up the pin, but wouldn’t.
– After the match, Hardy attacked Page with the microphone and laid in shots with it in between cutting a promo on him. The rest of the Dark Order came out to make the save as -1 directed traffic on the stage. The rest of the teams in the Casino Battle Royal came out for a brawl with dozens of people involved as the show went off the air.
The first AEW Awards ceremony aired tonight on the Bleacher Report app.
Report —
Tony Schiavone was introduced as host and as an international sex symbol.
Schiavone then introduced Britt Baker and did a brief comedy monologue.
Biggest Beatdown — The Inner Circle attack on Orange Cassidy
Retired MLB outfielder Curtis Granderson presented the award.
Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara accepted the award and ripped on Cassidy. Britt Baker interviewed the two. Jericho said it was the pinnacle of his career.
Hardest Moment to Clean Up After — Santana & Ortiz vs. Best Friends parking lot brawl
Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan from Tacoma F.D. introduced the nominees and talked about how orange is the stickiest of all the juices.
Santana and Ortiz cut a comedy promo in accepting.
Best Twitter Follow — Nyla Rose
Taylor Williamson presented and talked about how toxic Twitter is as a platform. Britt Baker accepted the award on Nyla’s behalf and claimed victory.
Biggest Surprise — Sting’s AEW debut
Chael Sonnen introduced the nominees. Darby Allin accepted on Sting’s behalf and simply said that he’ll make sure Sting gets the trophy.
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Britt introduced a brief Brodie Lee tribute video.
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LOL Award — The Young Bucks superkick MJF into the pool on the Jericho Cruise
Ron Funches introduced the category and talked about how he loves wrestling and had been to wrestling school. Matt Jackson said this ward was better than all the five stars Dave Meltzer has given them.
MJF thought he was accepting the award for best wrestler. Britt explained what he had actually won. MJF said the trophy looked like baby diarrhea.
Biggest WTF Moment — Kenny Omega wins the AEW title, walks out of AEW
Schiavone introduced the nominees. Omega and Don Callis accepted the award and cut a heel promo.
High Flyer — Rey Fenix
Wipeout host Camille Kostek presented. Fenix cut a short promo in accepting the award.
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Britt introduced a video package of fan reaction videos.
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Best Moment on the Mic — Cody Rhodes accepts Mr. Brodie Lee’s dog collar match challenge
Bert Kreischer from Go-Big Show was the presenter. Cody cut a babyface promo putting over Brodie. Baker then interviewed Cody.
Breakout Star Male — Darby Allin
Breakout Star Female — Hikaru Shida
Danielle Fishell Karp and Jensen Karp presented the awards. Allin’s acceptance promo was one word — “Cool.” Britt interviewed Allin who said he’s so quiet backstage because of people like her.
Shida thanked the fans and said she can feel their support. Baker said she should have won the award, then stole the trophy and ran off.
Bleacher Report PPV Moment of the Year — Stadium Stampede
Shaq introduced the category. He said Cody was a punk and they can go any time Cody wants. He said Cody looks like a girl with his blonde hair and said they can do it in March.
Omega and Callis accepted. Callis said as they keep collecting awards, sometimes they need to leave friends behind.
The Bucks and Matt Hardy cut promos. Baker interviewed Hardy. Hardy said he was the brains behind the match and he stole the show. Hardy said he created the cinematic match concept.
There will be fallout from Kenny Omega’s World title win and subsequent appearance on Impact Wrestling on tonight’s packed edition of AEW Dynamite.
Omega won the AEW World Championship with the help of Impact Executive Vice President Don Callis last week. Omega then appeared on Impact Wrestling last night, as did AEW President Tony Khan and announcer Tony Schiavone by way of a paid ad.
Khan invited Callis and Omega to Dynamite today and it appears the next phase of the interpromotional angle will take place.
The Dynamite Diamond Ring winner will be decided tonight. After advancing to the final by being the surviving participants in last week’s battle royale, MJF will take on Orange Cassidy for the ring. MJF won the ring in 2019 and will look to keep possession of it.
After making his AEW debut last week, Sting will speak with Tony Schiavone in an interview segment. Schiavone will also conduct an interview with Shaquille O’Neal on the show.
An Inner Circle ultimatum will also take place. After weeks of infighting within the group since MJF joined, leader Chris Jericho declared that they will band together or break up forever after tonight.
AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks will face TH2 (Jack Evans & Angelico). If TH2 win, they will receive a future title match. Lance Archer will team with Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix against Eddie Kingston, The Butcher and The Blade. FTR will return to in-ring action for the first time since Full Gear on November 7th when they take on Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr. Plus, Dustin Rhodes will take on Preston “10” Vance of The Dark Order and Abadon will also be in action against an unnamed opponent.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) defeated The Hybrid2 (Jack Evans & Angélico)
This was an excellent tag opener, and even though they lost, TH2 was elevated through their strong performance.
If TH2 win, they get a tag title match. TH2 attacked before the bell but were easily dispatched by the Bucks. Both of the Bucks went for dives, but were pulled off the apron. In stereo, the Bucks hit spears on the floor. They then hit their combination dropkick to the outside followed by a top-rope dive from Nick.
The Bucks isolated Evans in the ring and controlled with stereo dropkicks. Angélico tagged in and was met with arm drags from Nick. Matt tagged in and the Bucks hit their headscissor dropkick combination.
TH2 sent Nick to the outside and Evans landed a step-up dive. They followed it up with an assisted back suplex and an assisted standing 450 for a two count on Matt. There was a parade of kicks and everyone was down until Nick got the hat tag.
Nick ran wild on TH2 with kicks and his bulldog clothesline combination. He kept control with his signature spots, concluding with a slingshot X-factor for two. The Bucks powerbombed Evans onto The Acclaimed at ringside and Matt landed a frog splash on Angélico for two.
TH2 regained control with some combination offense, concluded with a springboard 450 from Evans for a near fall. Matt escaped a buckle bomb attempt and ran Angélico into an enziguiri from Nick. The Bucks then hit a Doomsday Device on Evans on the ramp, followed by stereo superkicks on Angélico for a close near fall.
They tried to follow it up with More Bang For Your Buck, but Angélico got his knees up and Evans hit a poisonrana followed by a 450 on Nick on the floor. In the ring, Angélico locked on the Navarro Death Roll on Matt. Evans tried to run interference, but Nick broke up the submission with a senton atomico.
The Bucks set up for a Meltzer Driver, but Evans broke it up. Evans went for a Fosbury Flop, but the Bucks caught him, and they killed him with a Meltzer Driver on the floor. Angélico surprised Matt with a cradle, but the Bucks caught him with thrust kicks. The BTE Trigger followed for the win.
After the match, The Acclaimed tried to attack the Bucks, but SCU ran out to break it up.
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MJF cut a promo on Orange Cassidy, calling him an embarrassment and saying that he’d bash his brains in tonight.
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A video played where Darby Allin was taking a Rorschach test. In one inkblot, he saw Brian Cage, the no. 1 contender for his TNT championship. Another inkblot was shown, and it was clearly Sting, but Allin just laughed.
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Sting Speaks
Cody Rhodes and Arn Anderson were already out with Tony Schiavone when Sting’s music played. He has snow effects for his entrance. Arn left right away, and Schiavone tried to leave too, but Sting wouldn’t let him. Sting talked up memories of Schiavone calling his matches, so Schiavone gave him one more “It’s Sting!”
Cody welcomed Sting and said he had been waiting to share a ring with him for a long time. Sting said he wasn’t here for Cody, and said that something about this place felt familiar. He pointed to Darby Allin overlooking things from high up in the crowd. Sting said that things have come full circle, and he’s on TNT once again.
Sting said he plans on staying with AEW for a long time. He told Cody that he’d see him around, and walked off.
What a superstar. The face paint makes it so you’d really have no idea that Sting is 61 years old, and he sounded enthusiastic and thrilled to be there. No real indication what’s next for him, although it looks to be something to do with Allin.
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Team Taz was backstage. Taz mocked the Sting segment. Ricky Starks pointed out that Taz’s son Hook has left Cody’s tutelage and joined Team Taz.
This was FTR’s first match since Full Gear. The Varsity Blondes is the new name for Garrison and Pillman, who picked up their first real AEW win the previous night on Dark.
FTR isolated Pillman right away until Pillman fought back with dropkicks, allowing him to reach Garrison for the tag. After a cover, Pillman tagged back in, but missed a springboard shoulder tackle. FTR regained control as we went to a break, where they beat down Pillman with frequent tags and double teams.
Tully landed a cheap shot on Pillman with the official distracted. A springboard shoulder block bought Pillman enough time to reach Garrison for the hot tag. Garrison downed both of FTR with strikes before hitting a series of corner splashes and a double spear, which got two.
Harwood fought out of a suplex and Pillman tagged in, where he was met with a brainbuster. They then hit the Goodnight Express to pick up the win.
After the match, FTR exchanged words with the Jurassic Express at ringside.
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Hangman Page was interviewed by Alex Marvez at the bar. Page is scheduled for a six-man tag match against Matt Hardy and Private Party next week, but he doesn’t have any tag partners listed. John Silver and Alex Reynolds appeared from behind the bar, but Page said that they weren’t his partners. Reynolds asked “if not us, who?” which was enough for Page, who said it was a one-time thing.
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Dustin Rhodes (w/ Lee Johnson) defeated “10” of the Dark Order
Dustin laid in strikes right away. They brawled to the floor and exchanged big moves, but Dustin was driven into the barricade. Back in the ring, 10 flattened Dustin with a spinebuster and did the Dark Order pose.
10 sent Dustin to the outside and landed a pump kick on Aaron Solow, who was watching at ringside. Back inside, Dustin hit a series of clotheslines and bit at 10’s face. A running bulldog followed for the out-of-nowhere win.
The Dark Order came out right away after the match and Evil Uno spoke. He said that they didn’t come to fight and talked up Dustin’s legacy. However, he said that Dustin is the third-most important Rhodes. He offered Dustin a place as “7” in the Dark Order. Dustin acted as if he was about to do the Dark Order pose, but slapped Uno down. The rest of the Dark Order wanted a fight, but Uno talked them down, and said that eventually, Dustin would come begging for a spot.
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Shaquille O’Neal interview
Shaq and Brandi Rhodes sat down with Tony Schiavone. Shaq said he respects Jade Cargill but he didn’t appreciate what she did to Brandi’s arm. Brandi said he wants the problem resolved. Shaq said that him coming at Cody on Twitter was just joking around, but he’s excited to see Brandi and Cargill fight.
As Brandi was about to walk away, Shaq said that Brandi should watch Cargill while she’s injured and learn a few things. Brandy was fed up and threw water in Shaq’s face.
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Inner Circle Ultimatum
The Inner Circle, sans Santana, spoke in the middle of the ring. Jericho said that this could be the last night for the Inner Circle. He’s tired of everyone acting like petulant punks. He talked about how Hager doesn’t like Wardlow, Guevara doesn’t like MJF, and then mentioned that Santana wasn’t there.
MJF said that he thinks he might be the issue, because people think that MJF either wants to break up or take over the Inner Circle. He started to patronize Guevara, but Guevara wasn’t having it. Jericho joked that everyone watches Dynamite, so everyone saw what happened with MJF and the towel last week.
Ortiz spoke. He called MJF and Wardlow assets as talents, but not as human beings. Ortiz said that MJF is growing on him and asked Guevara to shake MJF’s hand, because together, they’re better. He said that Guevara’s the better man, so he should just shake it.
Guevara said he trusts Jericho with everything, so he’ll shake MJF’s hand, but if one more thing happens, he will quit the Inner Circle. They shook hands.
With the problems resolved, Hager spoke for the first time and asked why Wardlow kept staring at him. Wardlow got heated and asked the same thing until Jericho agreed that there would be no more staring. Jericho was about to close the segment, but MJF interrupted to promote his main event against Orange Cassidy. Jericho told him off, and they all posed with middle fingers.
That segment was loads of fun. As it stands right now, it looks like the eventual Inner Circle split will lead to face turns for Guevara, Santana & Ortiz, and Wardlow.
**********
FTR and Tully Blanchard were interviewed by Alex Marvez. Tully blamed their Full Gear loss on the fact that he wasn’t there. They made fun of Jungle Boy for climbing the ropes in a battle royal. Harwood called FTR the best tag team in the world and told Marvez to fear the revelation.
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Eddie Kingston, The Butcher, & The Blade (w/ The Bunny) defeated Lance Archer, Penta El Zero Miedo, & Rey Fénix (w/ Jake Roberts)
Archer attacked with a crossbody over the ropes before the bell, leading to a brawl between all six men. Butcher put Penta through a table at ringside, and with Archer and Kingston alone in the ring, the bell rang.
Butcher leveled Fénix with a running crossbody as Penta was tended to by officials, turning this into a de facto handicap match. The family isolated Fénix on their side of the ring. Bunny attacked Fénix while Blade distracted the official. Fénix escaped Kingston’s attack with a handspring cutter and reached Archer for the hot tag.
Archer leveled Butcher and Blade with corner body blocks and a diving crossbody heading into the break. Butcher and Blade took advantage during break when Kingston knocked Archer down from his rope walk spot. Penta was taken to the back.
Roberts grabbed Blade’s leg, giving Archer an opening to tag Fénix, who immediately attacked with a springboard dive. Fénix took out Butcher and Kingston with an armdrag headscissors combination, then took a nasty landing on a dive on Kingston. Back in the ring, Butcher and Blade hit a powerbomb neckbreaker combination on Fénix to win.
Archer attacked Kingston, Butcher and Blade after the match. He tried to hit the Blackout on Blade, but Butcher pulled him down, and the Family escaped.
**********
Nyla Rose and Jade Cargill (with Vickie Guerrero looking on) were beating down Nyla Rose backstage, then Ivelisse and Diamanté got involved. Officials entered the fray to break up the fight.
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Abadon defeated Tesha Price
Abadon leveled Price with a clothesline right away. Price tried a forearm, but it had no effect on Abadon, who bludgeoned Price in the corner. She downed Price with an STO and followed it up with a Gory special neckbreaker for the squash victory.
After the match, Abadon continued the assault until Hikaru Shida came out with a kendo stick. Shida smacked Abadon over the head with the stick, but Abadon popped up and Shida and Price fled up the ramp.
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Dasha interviewed the Inner Circle. Jericho said that everyone is on the same page, and announced that the group would join MJF and Wardlow at ringside during the main event. He guaranteed that MJF would win.
**********
Kenny Omega and Don Callis arrived via helicopter. Alex Marvez tried to interview them, but Omega and Callis brushed him off and said he’d see them in the ring.
Omega came out with his full “Cleaner” entrance. Schiavone was in the ring to start the interview. He said that he’d never been more disgusted than what he saw on last week’s Dynamite. Callis said that everyone seems to be upset, including Tony Khan. He told Khan “welcome to the wrestling business.”
Callis said that their scheme took years of planning. He essentially continued to cut the same promo he cut on Impact the previous night, discussing how Omega’s famous Tokyo Dome match with Jericho was the catalyst for the start of AEW. He then introduced our world champion, Omega.
Omega said he didn’t beg Khan to hire his friends and family, unlike the company’s EVPs, but the plan was still a success. He called his match with Moxley a seven-star classic, and also called it fine art, saying that everyone watching fell for it. He said that Jon Moxley is the real deal, but he doesn’t have Omega’s cunning. The One-Winged Angel was what won Omega the match, not the microphone.
He was about to make his big announcement, but Callis took the mic and said that the people weren’t ready. He said that Omega doesn’t just make money, he makes history. Omega concluded it with his “good-bye and good-night” signature closing words from when he was in NJPW.
While the performances were as great as expected, the bulk of this segment was extremely similar to what was shown on the previous night’s Impact. It was also strange to not get any appearance from Moxley after losing the championship through dubious means.
**********
Announced for next week:
Cody Rhodes vs. Angélico
Hangman Page, John Silver, & Alex Reynolds vs. Matt Hardy & Private Party
SCU vs. The Acclaimed
Serena Deeb & Big Swole vs. Ivelisse & Diamanté
Additionally, they announced special Dynamite shows:
December 23: AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash
December 30: New Year’s Smash Night 1 with commentary from Chris Jericho
January 6: New Year’s Smash Night 2 with special guest Snoop Dogg
This was a fun television main event with loads of shenanigans.
MJF attacked before Cassidy could get his shirt off and snapped Cassidy’s sunglasses. He beat Cassidy down with suplexes before choking him with his shirt. Cassidy turned another suplex attempt into a stunner before they moved to the apron. Cassidy went for the Orange Punch, but MJF evaded it and Cassidy punched the ring post.
On the floor, MJF powerbombed Cassidy on the corner of the ring and tried to bait Trent into attacking him. He continued the focused attack on Cassidy’s right hand. Back in the ring, Cassidy tripped MJF into the turnbuckle but was cut off with a flatliner and a back elbow for two. MJF sent Cassidy to the outside and distracted the official while the Inner Circle beat down Cassidy.
During the break, the Varsity Blondes, Top Flight, and Brandon Cutler walked out to eaven the numbers against the Inner Circle. Cassidy sent MJF to the floor and landed his hands-in-pockets tope suicida. He followed it up with a tilt-a-whirl DDT and a diving DDT for a near fall.
MJF dodged a right hand and landed one of his own, followed by a diving stomp on Cassidy’s arm. A cradle from Cassidy got two, but MJF hit a shoulderbreaker and a powerbomb for two of his own. He went for the Heatseeker, but Cassidy backdropped him outside and landed a springboard flipping senton. Jericho acted like he’d attack with the bat, so Cassidy fled.
Cassidy was surprised in the ring by a Heatseeker from MJF. MJF put his feet on the ropes for the pinfall, but Best Friends pushed them off allowing Cassidy to kick out. MJF got the bat and acted like Cassidy hit him, but before the official could turn around, Cassidy put his hands in his pockets and turned the tables.
While MJF argued with the official, Cassidy hit the Beach Break for a good near fall. MJF went for Salt of the Earth, but fought out, so MJF snapped Cassidy’s fingers. Cassidy hit the Orange Punch for another close near fall. A second Orange Punch would have won, but Wardlow put MJF’s leg on the ropes, leading to a brawl betwen the dozen men at ringside.
Miro took advantage of the carnage by running down with Kip Sabian and leveling Cassidy with a lariat. MJF crawled over to Cassidy, covered, and got the three count, regaining the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
Security came out to subdue Miro, who beat them all down, including through tossing one of them off the stage. Miro and Sabian posed on the ramp as Dynamite went off the air.
AEW has announced that NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will appear on this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite: “BREAKING NEWS @Shaq addresses #AEW with @tonyschiavone24! Watch #AEWDynamite this Wednesday night on @TNTDrama 8e/7c or AEWPlus.com by @FiteTV for our International fans. #AEWonTNT”
Shaq appearing for AEW was teased when the debuting Jade Cargill interrupted Cody Rhodes on Dynamite last month. Cargill mentioned that Cody had called himself a giant killer and asked him what he knows about giants. Cargill said there’s nothing giant about Cody. Cargill said she knows a real giant — and slick statements like Cody’s are an echo loud enough to wake him.
Cargill congratulated Cody on now being able to use his full name, but she said he must not have the balls to go by one name. Cargill said the giant she was talking about is the real star — and his name is Shaq. Brandi Rhodes then confronted Cargill on the stage.
It was mentioned on commentary during the segment with Cody, Cargill, and Brandi that Shaq had been backstage at AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view on November 7.
AEW announced after Cargill’s debut that she’s signed a multi-year deal with the promotion. The following week on Dynamite, there was a backstage segment where Cargill attacked Brandi.
Shaq is a panelist on Inside the NBA on TNT. When he re-signed with WarnerMedia this August, the press release announcing his new deal teased that Shaq could make a cameo at a future AEW event. Shaq also sent a message to Cody: “I’d love to fight Cody. Write it. Print it. Text it to him. Call AEW up and tell them.”
After Sting made his AEW debut last week, this Wednesday’s Dynamite will also feature Schiavone conducting Sting’s first interview in the promotion.
Here’s the updated lineup for this week’s Dynamite:
Tony Schiavone interviews Sting
The Inner Circle ultimatum (The Inner Circle will either decide to unite as one or break up forever)
Shaq addresses AEW with Tony Schiavone
Orange Cassidy vs. MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring
Non-title match: AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs. Jack Evans & Angelico (if Evans & Angelico win, they’ll get a future AEW Tag Team title shot)
Lance Archer, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix vs. Eddie Kingston, The Butcher & The Blade
FTR vs. Griff Garrison & Brian Pillman Jr.
Dustin Rhodes vs. Preston “10” Vance
Abadon in action
Dynamite will also feature the fallout from Kenny Omega’s AEW World Championship win and his appearance on this Tuesday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
Though it ultimately didn’t happen, Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal seemed to be the first match penciled into the WrestleMania 33 card at one point.
Both O’Neal and Big Show offered explanations for the match falling through even before it was officially off, with Shaq saying that it wasn’t his fault and Big Show blaming his opponent. Triple H also discussed the issue at one point and said that he didn’t think either participant was serious about the match.
While recording a live episode of his podcast in Atlanta, O’Neal reiterated that WWE was to blame for the match not happening.
“Because they kept playing,” Shaq explained. “First, they said it was me and Big Show. Then, they said it was going to be three and three. Then, they canceled it, so when they canceled it, I made other arrangements. And then they tried to call back and tried to get it done, and I just said, ‘I’m not going to do it.’ They messed it up.”
Shaq vs. Big Show was originally set up at the ESPY Awards last summer following the two facing off in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32. Shaq’s co-host John Kincade theorized on the podcast that O’Neal didn’t want to lose the match, though Shaq said that he would have been fine with losing.
One of WrestleMania 33’s planned matches seems to be in serious doubt.
While responding to rumors surrounding his scheduled WrestleMania match against Big Show, Shaquille O’Neal said on his podcast this week that the bout “probably” won’t be happening.
“It’s not going to happen?” Shaq asked. “That’s probably right. It’s not my fault, that’s all you need to know. It ain’t my fault. Oh, it ain’t my fault.”
Shaq went on to say that the plans likely falling through have nothing to do with him or his management. He said that it isn’t definitive that the match is off yet, though things aren’t looking good. He claimed that he’s still training like it’s going to take place and challenged Big Show to meet him wherever he wants to meet, leaving the door open for this to be part of a storyline if the match does occur.
Big Show vs. Shaq had long been penciled in for WrestleMania in Orlando. Shaq appeared at WrestleMania 32 last year as a surprise entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, where he had a face off with Big Show. They also did an angle where Shaq accepted Big Show’s challenge at the ESPY Awards last summer.
Much of the build for the match had been done on social media and based around the two attempting to get in shape for WrestleMania. But speculation that the match could possibly be off began to increase over the last couple of weeks.
In a WWE.com article about his recent weight loss, Big Show said that Shaq not taking the match seriously was why it may not be happening.
“I mean, here’s the thing. We shot this off at the ESPY Awards, Shaq said he’s in, I thought this would be a good match for fans to see two giants go at it. And I see Shaq riding around, singing karaoke and stopping in at Krispy Kreme. I’m like, ‘Hey! If you’re not gonna take it serious, find something else to do.'”
