On WWE NXT last night, Cody Rhodes shared the screen with some former AEW colleagues.
Rhodes stopped by NXT for an appearance on the Battleground fallout edition of the show. He announced that, next week, there will be a 25-man battle royal to determine a new number one contender for NXT Champion Trick Williams. The winner challenges Williams at NXT Heatwave on Sunday, July 7.
Later in the night, Rhodes encountered fellow former AEW wrestlers Shawn Spears, Ethan Page, and Lexis King (Brian Pillman Jr.) in a backstage segment. Spears, Page, and King each stated their intention to win next week’s battle royal.
“Seems like you guys are…in a good place,” Rhodes said to them.
The list of battle royal participants has not been announced. Rhodes said that some of the entrants may be from “different locker rooms,” potentially teasing that TNA wrestlers could be involved. A collaboration between WWE and TNA saw Jordynne Grace, the TNA Knockouts Champion, compete at Battleground. She lost to NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.
“You may know some of them, but some of them might be from different locker rooms,” Rhodes told Williams.
Williams defeated Page to retain the NXT Championship in the main event of Battleground.
Also on NXT last night, Rhodes presented a special gift to Jacy Jayne, giving her his old “Dashing” Cody Rhodes face mask. Jayne is recovering from a broken nose.
Rhodes will be defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against AJ Styles in an “I Quit” match at WWE Clash at the Castle in Scotland this Saturday.
Shawn Spears made a surprise return to WWE NXT TV on Tuesday’s episode.
As Ridge Holland delivered a promo in the ring, the arena lights were turned down and a vignette played on the video walls in the style of the mystery messages that began airing at Vengeance Day earlier this month. A hooded figure then attacked Holland with a chair before briefly revealing himself as Spears.
On commentary, Vic Joseph referred to the attacker as Spears, the ring name that the former Tye Dillinger used in AEW and elsewhere in his career.
Later on Tuesday’s show, Spears cut a backstage promo and promised to show up at next week’s Roadblock episode.
"The truth can bring you to your knees, and that's why Shawn Spears is now in NXT"
Spears has had two previous runs with WWE. He signed a developmental deal with the company in 2006 and was used in OVW, FCW, and briefly on the ECW brand before being released in 2009. He returned to the company in 2013 on another developmental deal and worked primarily in NXT from 2013 to 2017. He was called up to the SmackDown brand in 2017 and was used there until his 2019 release.
Spears announced last December that he was leaving AEW after nearly five years with the company, including appearing on the promotion’s first event in 2019. Spears had his most high-profile match with AEW in the company’s first year, a singles match with Cody Rhodes at the All Out pay-per-view.
In his final AEW appearance, Spears took part in a battle royale at on the All Out pre-show last September. He has since worked a handful of independent dates.
The 42-year-old revealed the news today via social media, writing that the departure was his decision. He thanked the organization and fans for “5 years of growth and personal development.”
Spears wrote:
What a wonderful time it has been. Thank you @AEW
for allowing me to be there from the ground level. Itâs been a fantastic 5 years of growth and personal development. This is a personal choice and one that is best for me and my family at this time. Thank you to all, staff and talent alike for the memories #10
Most importantly, to the incredible fans of ALL professional wrestling: I love you guys. I really do.
Most importantly, to the incredible fans of ALL professional wrestling:
Spears hadn’t wrestled for AEW since the Over Budget Charity Battle Royale on the All Out kickoff show in September. Prior to that, his last match was in July when he lost a TNT title bout to Luchasaurus at Battle of the Belts VII in Calgary, AB, Canada.
Spears and his wife Cassie Lee announced on Sunday that they are expecting their second child.
Cassie Lee (Cassie Arneill) and Shawn Spears (Ronnie Arneill) are celebrating the holidays by sharing a big announcement.
On Christmas Eve, Lee and Spears announced that they’re expecting their second child. The announcement included the reveal that the baby will be a boy. The couple welcomed the arrival of their first son Austin in January 2023.
“2024 our family is complete,” Lee and Spears wrote. “Merry Christmas Eve!”
Lee and Spears have been married since 2019.
Lee is a former Women’s Tag Team Champion for both WWE and Impact Wrestling. In WWE, she wrestled under the name Peyton Royce. Lee stepped away from pro wrestling in April 2022 but made her return to the ring this October, competing on a tour for World Series Wrestling in her home country of Australia. Lee won the World Series Wrestling Women’s Championship on the tour.
Spears is part of the AEW roster but hasn’t wrestled for the promotion since September.
Lee’s friend and former tag team partner Jessica McKay (Billie Kay) recently gave birth to her first child, a son named Cooper.
McKay commented on Lee and Spears’ announcement: “Another beautiful boy!! Cooper will have TWO best friends.”
The seventh edition of AEW Battle of the Belts will kick off right after the conclusion of AEW Collision from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Per usual, three title matches will make up the card — all of which are for AEW championships. Additionally, all three are first time ever matchups.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm will defend against Taya Valkyrie, who has been a champion in Impact, AAA and MLW among other places. Storm came out on Friday’s Rampage to ridicule Valkyrie after a victory and ended up getting talked into a title defense instead.
In another match made Friday, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Lance Archer. Archer picked up a victory over Trent Beretta and then called his shot for a title match against Cassidy. Cassidy came out to help his friend, leading to Archer and Roberts stealing his belt and Jansport backpack.
TNT Champion Luchasaurus will have the first defense of his title as he faces Shawn Spears.
**********The night continues with Battle of the Belts VII coming live from Calgary, Alberta, Canada as part of the Calgary Stampede. Ian Riccaboni and Nigel McGuinness are on the call.
We came back to the scene that ended Collision, with Ricky Starks winning the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament over CM Punk. Starks got out of dodge quickly, snatching the trophy out of the hands of special guest Jushin Thunder Liger and bailing. An easy payday for Liger.
AEW International Title Match – Orange Cassidy defeated Lance Archer (w/Jake Roberts) by countout to retain
This was a good opener, as Cassidy used his smarts to survive another defense against a monster of an opponent. A weak finish, but I don’t think they’ll leave this hanging here.
Archer and Cassidy got off to a jump start, with Cassidy jumping Archer during his entrance. Archer brought Cassidy to the top rope and hammered him with a forearm. Archer set up the Blackout, but Cassidy fought out. Archer hit a rising knee to Cassidy on the top rope, then went for the Blackout again. Cassidy slipped down and locked on a sleeper hold. Archer slammed Cassidy down and hit a shoulder block that forced Cassidy to the floor.
Cassidy rolled to the other side of the ring before hitting Jake Roberts with his soft kicks. It baited Archer to his side, but Archer caught Cassidy on a hurricanrana attempt and threw him into the barricade. Archer began flinging security around, allowing Cassidy to dropkick Archer into the barricade. Cassidy began flinging security guards into Archer, but Archer came back up and flung Cassidy into the barricades again. They both beat the ten count into the ring, where Archer hit a big forearm as we went to break.
Back from the break, Cassidy went for a flying DDT, but Archer caught him and flung him across the ring with a suplex. Cassidy tried to hit a Stundog Millionaire, but Archer stuffed it and hit a barge attack. Cassidy went for a satellite DDT, but Archer caught him again. Cassidy went low, hitting a chop block. He got Archer down to his knees and called for the Orange Punch. Archer caught the punch and laid Cassidy out with a Bossman Slam for a nearfall.
Cassidy ducked a lariat and bailed to the floor where Roberts set up the DDT, but Archer stopped him. Cassidy hit a basement dropkick before hitting a DDT on the floor in front of Roberts. Archer got back up on the apron and taunted Cassidy, but Cassidy punched Archer to the floor. Cassidy fell into the ring, where the referee made the ten count. Cassidy wins by countout.
– Tony Schiavone was in the ring and welcomed The Acclaimed. They accepted QTVâs challenge, saying that they would beat them in and out of the Royal Rampage. Bowens then announced that next Saturday on Collision, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn would get a rematch for the AEW Trios Titles against the House of Black. They then scissored with Tony Schiavone as we went to break.
AEW Womenâs World Title Match â Toni Storm defeated Taya Valkyrie by satellite interruption to retain
Valkyrie is the hometown babyface here. Storm charged her to start, but Valkyrie fought back and sent Storm to the floor. Valkyrie hit a knee lift to Storm before following up with running knees for a nearfall. Storm hooked Valkyrie over the top rope, forcing her to the floor where she tossed her around with hairmares. Valkyrie came back with a hairmare of her own as we went to break.
Back from break, as Valkyrie avoided a hip attack and fired up on Storm. She hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a one count, but followed with a hip attack of her own for a nearfall. The feed seemed to go out as we abruptly went to commercial. We came back to footage from last weekâs Collision, where Julia Hart took on a local competitor. Iâm assuming thereâs technical problems in Calgary. We cut back in to the commentators welcoming us back, noting that there was a satellite interruption due to storms in the Calgary area. They later told us that Storm retained, showing Ruby Soho interfering and allowing Storm to hit the Storm Zero to win. Well, there you go.
– Tony Schiavone welcomed out Willow Nightingale and Ricky Starks before welcoming out Dr. Martha Hart for the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament ceremony. She gave a nice speech about the history of Calgary to the Hart Family before officially presenting Nightingale and Starks with their commemorative title belts.
AEW TNT Title Match â Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) defeated Shawn Spears to retain
Scorpio Sky was shown watching in the back as the bell rang. Luchasaurus cut Spears off with a big punch as we went to commercial break. Spears hit the ten punches in the corner as we came back from break. He hammered Luchasaurus with short-arm clotheslines before eventually dropping him with one. Spears booted Luchasaurus on the apron before booting his head against the post. Spears chased Cage around ringside, leading to Luchasaurus chokeslamming Spears through a table at ringside.
Luchasaurus brought Spears back into the ring, where Spears reversed a chokeslam into a rollup for a nearfall. Luchasaurus kicked out and hit the chokeslam, but Spears kicked out at two. Christian set up Spearsâ chair in the corner, but Luchasaurus ended up going headfirst into the chair. Spears rolled him up, but Luchasaurus kicked out. Spears set up the C4, but Christian distracted him, allowing Luchasaurus to hit the lariat to the back of the head to win and retain the title. Christian celebrated with the title as we faded out.
Shawn Spears says Tony Khan granted him all the time off he needed when his mother passed and his first child was born.
Spears lost his mother last August. His wife, Cassie Lee, was five and a half months pregnant at the time. He spoke with Chris Van Vliet recently about how supportive AEW was to him during this period.
We kind of knew it was coming. But then it happened very suddenly. So that was tough. But at the same time, Cassie was five and a half, six months pregnant. So, Iâm expecting and losing at the same time. And then, you know, Iâm in Florida, and Iâm trying to settle my momâs estate, all my family [is in Canada]. I have no family here.
He continued:
I didnât have a chance to mourn because Iâm way over here and Iâm not with them, and then you go home quick and then you have to get back to your wife and it was just a lot and AEW is very good about kind of allowing me that time.â
Spears returned to AEW last October after having been absent since Double or Nothing that May. He teamed with FTR in Toronto and defeated the Embassy in the main event of Rampage. After the show, he spoke to the live crowd about his mother’s passing. A few months later, Spears and Cassie Lee welcomed the birth of their child, Austin Jay, in January.
Spears continued to talk about Tony Khan, saying:
Like I was saying before, just what a sweetheart of a man, gave me all the time in the world when my mom passed. And now that Austinâs been born, I had all the time in the world to be home with my wife, cause itâs just us here. Just a good man, a busy man, but a good man.
Spears could be headed into a program with Jay White in AEW. During White’s match against Komander on Dynamite this week, Spears was in the crowd holding up signs as if he was judging what he was seeing in the match.
Lee, formerly known as Peyton Royce in WWE, and Spears, formerly Tye Dillinger in WWE, announced their marriage in August 2019. The couple revealed in August 2022 that they were expecting their first child.
Spears returned to AEW television on October 13, 2022 following a five-month absence on a Rampage show in Toronto. A native of Ontario, Spears then worked a pair of indie shows in the province on October 15, but has been out of the ring since.
Lee and longtime tag partner Jessie McKay announced in April 2022 that they were taking an indefinite break from in-ring work after a run in Impact Wrestling, including a stint as Knockouts Tag Team Champions.
As the IIconics in WWE, Lee and McKay won the Women’s Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 35 in April 2019.
Shawn Spears says he still has a few things left in wrestling he’d like to accomplish, including winning a championship for a major company.
The 41-year-old was a guest on an episode of The Sessions with Renee Paquette released on Thursday. During the discussion, Paquette asked Spears what keeps him motivated and what is his “love story” with wrestling.
“The reality is it’s been a love/hate relationship,” Spears said. “It has been up and down. It has been a lot of down. There have been times where I’ve hated this industry and the reason being is its entertainment and without pulling the curtain back too much, there are just things you’re not in control of. So, it can have a tendency to make you feel like you are not good enough despite how hard you’re working, despite how much time or effort you are giving to the industry, and despite what the audience may be doing. It may just not be your number and this business doesn’t owe anybody anything. It moves on with or without us.”
Spears and Cassie Lee (FKA Peyton Royce) are expecting their first child in January.
“What keeps me motivated and what keeps me going is knowing that my legacy, the legacy I leave behind, will have nothing to do with pro-wrestling, in my opinion. No one is going to probably remember me in great detail after I’m gone, but my son will. My son will know what I’ve done, my future children will know what I’ve done, my family knows what I’ve done. My nieces and nephews will know what I’ve done and if that is enough to guide them down a path, a good path that can be beneficial to their life and the lives they create with someone going forward, I’ve done my job on this Earth.”
Spears also mentioned that he feels his time left in wrestling is limited.
“I am winding down, I don’t have a lot of time left. That’s probably the main reason I put pressure on myself now,” Spears continued.
Paquette asked him if he doesn’t have a long time left contractually or physically.
“Both,” he responded. “Bodywise I’m in really good shape. I’m in great shape, the best shape of my life. I mean in the sense where I’ve never been at the main event, top of the card schedule.”
“I never had to do the champion’s schedule so my body after almost 21 years is in really good condition based on what I have done but there’s very few things that I would like to do left in wrestling. I’m pushing to try and check off a few of those boxes before my time is done. It’s been difficult and it’s been a challenge but not more challenging than anything else I’ve been through in 20-plus years.”
Spears continued to say that winning a championship is something left he would like to accomplish. He mentioned being inspired by a photo of Brodie Lee holding the TNT title with both of his sons.
“My goal is to be decorated, is to win a championship in a major company, AEW or elsewhere. That is my goal, just so I can have that time and that prize to show my son in the future.”
He continued to say WWE’s Intercontinental Championship is a belt he would like to win.
“Being completely honest, I have always seen myself as an Intercontinental Champion,” Spears said.
“I grew up on the Mr. Perfects, and the Rick Rudes, and the Ultimate Warrior, and then as I got into wrestling, it was always seen as the workhorse championship. So, I had always seen myself in that zone. So, in a perfect world, it would be the Intercontinental Championship.”
Making his first appearance for the company since May, Spears returned to AEW on Dynamite in Toronto, aligning with FTR and reviving his “Perfect 10” gimmick.
An Ontario native, Spears made his return in Toronto in the aftermath of a WarJoe (Wardlow and Samoa Joe) vs. Nick Comoroto and QT Marshall match. Prince Nana and The Embassy entered after the match to challenge WarJoe, but FTR interrupted and challenged The Embassy. Spears then returned to even the odds.
Spears and FTR vs. ROH’s The Embassy’s Brian Cage and Gates of Agony (Kaun & Toa Liona) was teased for Friday’s Rampage episode, which will be taped Thursday in Toronto.
FTR has been aligned with Spears in the past, as all three were members of The Pinnacle alongside MJF and Wardlow.
An Ontario native, Spears last wrestled on the May 25 Dynamite, losing a cage match to Wardlow where MJF served as the guest referee.
Spears and wife Cassie Lee announced this past August that they were expecting their first child.
Shawn Spears and Cassie Lee have announced they are expecting their first child.
The couple took to social media on Wednesday to announce the news. Lee posted a video of her revealing to Spears that she is pregnant.
“Canât wait to meet you,” Lee captioned the video with.
“OMG OMG OMG,” wrote Bayley in response to the post.
“YOU GUYS!!! I am so immensely happy for you two! Youâre going to be such incredible and loving parents,” Big E commented.
“And Iâm crying,” wrote Jwoww.
“Wow this made me cry!! Iâm so happy for you guys, congratulations!!!!” Velvet Sky wrote.
Spears and Lee have been married since August 2019.
Along with her partner, Jessie McKay, Lee announced in April that she was “indefinitely stepping away from in-ring action.” She was contracted to Impact Wrestling at the time.
Spears is under contract to AEW. He last performed for the promotion on May 25 when he lost a steel cage match to Wardlow.
The Pinnacle (FTR and Shawn Spears) will team up to face The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, and John Silver) in a trios match.
In recent weeks, The Dark Order has experienced turmoil within their ranks largely stemming from the decision to not help Hangman Adam Page, who was taken out by The Elite last month after he failed to win the elimination tag match that would have given him a shot at AEW World Champion Kenny Omega.
FTR most recently faced Santana and Ortiz of the Inner Circle on the final Dynamite before All Out. They lost, tying their feud after winning their first match at Fight for the Fallen in July.
Here is the full lineup for tonightâs AEW Dynamite, which takes place in Cincinnati, Ohio:
The Pinnacle emerged victorious in tonightâs Blood and Guts match that took place on AEW Dynamite.
In what ended up being a bloody match, the finish had Chris Jericho and MJF winding up on top of the Blood and Guts cage, with Jericho taking MJF down with the Walls of Jericho in a submission attempt. MJF low blowed Jericho and put him in an armbar. He then let go and dragged Jericho near the corner of the cage, threatening the other members of the Inner Circle that if they didnât surrender, he would throw Jericho off the cage. Sammy Guevara then surrendered the match, giving The Pinnacle the win.
After the match, MJF paused, then grabbed Jericho and threw him off the cage anyway, with Jericho landing on a gimmicked pad near the entryway. AEW medical staff and the rest of the Inner Circle tended to Jericho as the show went off the air.
The build to the match started when MJF turned on Jericho and the rest of the Inner Circle (Jake Hager, Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz) to form The Pinnacle with Shawn Spears, Dash Harwood, Cash Wheeler, Wardlow, and Tully Blanchard. MJFâs new stable beat down The Inner Circle upon their formation. The Inner Circle later retaliated with a beatdown of their own, with Jericho later challenging The Pinnacle to the Blood and Guts match.
MJF has announced his stable will be going by the name The Pinnacle.
The new name was established during tonightâs episode of Dynamite. Tully Blanchard mentioned that after they attacked and laid out The Inner Circle last week, they reached the pinnacle of the sport after climbing the mountiantop. MJF referenced Blanchardâs phrase later in the segment, establishing the name.
MJFâs new stable arrived at the end of last weekâs Dynamite. Consisting of himself, Blancard, Shawn Spears. FTR, and Wardlow, they proceeded to destroy The Inner Circle, including Sammy Guevara, who realigned himself with the group during the segment. The Pinnacle cemented the beatdown by laying out Jericho with a powerbomb off the stage and onto a platform. None of the Inner Circle appeared on tonightâs episode of Dynamite.
In one of the final segments before tonightâs main event, The Pinnacle walked over to The Inner Circleâs locker room and removed the name plate and putting up their own, making the locker room theirs.
The end of tonightâs Dynamite saw MJF form a new faction after his plot to take over the Inner Circle failed.
MJF revealed a stable consisting of himself, FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood), Shawn Spears, Wardlow, and Tully Blanchard after the Inner Circle turned on him for trying to oust Chris Jericho from the group. MJFâs new stable took out the Inner Circle, with Wardlow powerbombing Jericho off the stage and onto a platform below to end the show, his new stable standing tall.
The angle started with Sammy Guevara, who had been kicked out of the group earlier in the year, coming to ringside to convince Jericho to watch footage he secretly recorded earlier in the day. The footage showed MJF conspiring with Santana, Ortiz, and Jake Hager to turn on Jericho during the war council meeting. The stable turned their attention to Jericho, but soon stood shoulder to shoulder with him, revealing that they had been talking to one another about what MJF was trying to do.
The stable cornered MJF, who said he wasnât trying to take the Inner Circle away from Jericho, but then said that was because he was building a stable of his own, leading to the show-closing angle.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.
After defeating Chris Jericho at Full Gear, MJF will be inducted into The Inner Circle tonight. MJF faked being hit by a baseball bat at Full Gear to create an issue between Jericho and referee Aubrey Edwards, allowing MJF to roll Jericho up and pin him while holding the tights.
Natural Nightmares vs. The Butcher and The Blade (w/The Bunny) has been announced. This feud began on AEW Dark where it was revealed that The Bunny had been seducing QT Marshall only to financially ruin him before she returned to her Bunny persona and her real-life husband, The Blade.
An appearance by new number one contender to Jon Moxley’s AEW World Championship Kenny Omega was announced earlier today.
A Cody Rhodes promo has also been advertised. Rhodes lost the TNT Championship to Darby Allin at Full Gear.
Penta El Zero M vs. Rey Fenix will take place. The tag partners faced off in the first round of the World title eliminator tournament. Fenix came away with the win, but Penta took his place in the second round against Kenny Omega after Fenix was injured.
Shawn Spears (w/Tully Blanchard) will take on Scorpio Sky. This bout was originally slated for last week, but Sky was pulled from the show due to COVID contact tracing.
Brian Cage vs. Matt Sydal and Tay Conti vs. Red Velvet have also been announced for the show.
Tony Khan has also promised that “the balance of power in wrestling will shift tonight.”
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Dynamite has a fresh presentation package, including a new intro and revised graphics.
Taz opened the show with a promo ahead of Brian Cage’s match against Matt Sydal. He addressed Darby Allin, who was sitting high up in the audience. Taz told Allin not to interfere in the match, and to tell Cody Rhodes the same thing. Taz put over Sydal, and notably said that Sydal has a win over Chris Jericho, which was either a mistake where Taz meant to say “Christopher Daniels” or a reference to their WWE days.
Brian Cage (w/ Taz & Ricky Starks) defeated Matt Sydal
Taz joined commentary. Sydal surprised Cage with a couple kicks. Cage popped up and beat him down with power moves and strikes. Sydal would occasionally hit some hopeful offense, but Cage’s power was too much. Cage taunted Sydal by curling him.
Cage got cocky and attempted a hurricanrana, which Sydal turned into a hurricanrana before hitting a brutal meteora on the ramp. Sydal hit kicks and a standing corkscrew moonsault for two. Cage went for the Drill Claw, but Sydal fought out. Sydal hit a roundhouse kick but was leveled with a lariat before countering out of the Drill Claw into a cradle for a close near fall.
Sydal attempted a top-rope blockbuster, but Cage caught him out of midair right into the Drill Claw for the win.
After the match, Starks cut a promo, emphasizing how he and Cage are both now on the men’s singles rankings. “The revolution will be televised.”
**********
Cody Rhodes made his full entrance and congratulated Darby Allin on his championship victory. Cody will not be seeking a rematch, and instead wants a match with MJF. Some tall bodybuilder woman entered the ring, took the microphone, and accused Cody of lying.
Her name is Jade Cargill, and she called herself the “total package”. She’s been sitting on the sidelines studying her competition. Cargill said that Cody wants to topple giants, but there’s nothing giant about Cody.
Cargill told Cody to keep his thoughts to himself, and told him to watch his back, before sarcastically congratulating him on his name. Cargill said that Cody was too scared to go by just one name, and said that the giant she’s representing was Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal).
Brandi Rhodes came out and tore into Cargill, but Cargill was unfazed. Cargill gave Brandi a lovetap on the way out before Jerry Lynn came out to prevent the fight.
With Cody distracted, Cage re-entered the ring and laid him out. He and Starks attacked Cody, but Allin’s music played, and he made the save. Cody’s music played as Will Hobbs made his way out to even the odds.
**********
Alex Marvez interviewed Jon Moxley. When Moxley came to AEW he wasn’t interested in championships, but now, the world title represents every single one of the fans. He has a big challenge ahead with Kenny Omega. He’s beaten Omega once, but beating him twice is another story.
They announced that Moxley will the AEW World Championship against Omega in three weeks, on the December 2 episode of Dynamite. It was billed as the “biggest match in Dynamite history.”
**********
Natural Nightmares (Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall) defeated The Butcher & The Blade (w/ Allie) in a Bunkhouse Match
This was tons of fun.
There are no disqualifications or countouts in a Bunkhouse match. Everyone in the match was wearing jeans and there were props next to the stage.
Marshall attacked before the bell and the Natural Nightmares worked over their opponents on the floor. Dustin hit the Final Reckoning on Blade through a chair. Bunny distracted them, and Blade smashed a guitar over Marshall’s head as Dustin grabbed a bullrope. Dustin set up to use the rope but was leveled with a chair shot from Butcher.
The camera cut to Marshall, who was bloodied. Bunny handcuffed Dustin to the ropes. It was all Butcher and Blade during the commercial break as Dustin was helpless and Marshall was incapacitated.
A ladder and a kendo stick were introduced during the break. Dustin grabbed the kendo stick, so Blade tackled him, but in the process, Dustin was set free from the cuffs. He made a one-man comeback after flipping off his opponents.
Dustin and Butcher fought with weapons abnd brawled over to a staging area. Marshall blinded Butcher with a fire extinguisher, allowing Dustin to bulldog him through a plywood structure.
Back in the ring, Blade had been opened up badly. Marshall and Blade’s relationship with Allie/Bunny was the focus of this feud, so they brawled in the ring before Marshall cracked him with a trashcan. Marshall climbed a ladder and hit an elbow drop from the top, but Blade got his shoulder up at two.
Butcher and Dustin made their way back into the fight as the latter hit signature offense before they whiffed on a Code Red. Butcher and Blade hit the Full Death through chairs, but Marshall broke up the pin. Marshall hit a chain-assisted Diamond Cutter on Butcher and Blade into Bunny, which sent her through a table. Dustin nailed Blade with a cowbell and Marshall hit the cutter for the win.
**********
Matt Hardy cut a promo from his compound. He said that Sammy Guevara earned his respect through all the violence and that Guevara will be a big star.
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MJF’s Inner Circle Induction Ceremony
There was a podium set up in the ring. Chris Jericho came out, addressed the crowd, and invited out the original Inner Circle first. Hager, Santana, and Ortiz came out without Guevara, but Jericho brushed it off.
Next were MJF and Wardlow, both of whom are being inducted into the Inner Circle. MJF took the podium and acted all emotional, saying he overcame the adversity of a one million dollar loan and handled the burden of being the ratings champion. He then read a prepared poem, but he was just plagiarazing the rapper Drake’s song “All Me”.
Santana and Ortiz got heated, but Jericho calmed everyone down and said the Inner Circle would be stronger than ever, imploring everyone to make it work.
MJF said they weren’t just here to celebrate his induction, they were also celebrating Jericho’s birthday as confetti and balloons rained down. He announced that the Inner Circle was headed to Las Vegas next week, and the trip was on him, before singing “Happy Birthday” to close the segment.
**********
Alex Marvez interviewed the Young Bucks. In a funny moment, he flinched when their dressing room opened, expecting to be superkicked. The Bucks called the tag championships the biggest achievement of their career.
Matt mentioned that they received a message from Top Flight, the high-flying team of brothers that’s appeared on Dark, and then Matt granted them a tag team championship opportunity next week.
This was the culmination of a feud. They traded big moves early on. Ahead of the commercial, Sky went for a dive, but Spears sprung up and suplexed him.
Back from break, Sky fought out of C4 and hit a plancha and a slingshot cutter. Spears had set up stairs on the outside. Sky attempted a diving clothesline off of them, but Spears kicked him out of the air before dropping Sky with a sidewalk slam onto the stairs.
Spears went for the TKO, but Spears turned it into a sharpshooter. Tully dropped Spears’ Kevlar slug gimmick in the corner and distracted the referee and Sky. Spears crushed Sky with a steel slug inserted into his left glove, and that was enough to get the three count.
**********
During the previous match, Cody Rhodes & Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage & Ricky Starks of Team Taz was announced for next week’s Dynamite.
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Dasha Gonzalez had been sitting with Kenny Omega for an interview, but Omega left in a hurry. They cut to Alex Marvez, who had caught up to Omega outside. Marvez asked for Omega’s thoughts on being the next world championship challenger.
Omega said that he needs the championship to live up to the standards of the Kenny Omega we saw in New Japan. He’s ready to assume the responsibility of being world champion, and noted that despite their previous encounter, this is the first official match between him and Moxley. He closed the interview with an intriguing cliffanger: Omega has a flight to catch.
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Tay Conti (w/ Anna Jay) defeated Red Velvet (w/ Brandi Rhodes)
Conti took control with judo throws before a commercial break. Velvet came back with clotheslines and a cazadora bulldog before following it up with double knees and a stunner for two.
They downed each other with double roundhouse kicks. Jay slipped a chair to Conti, but Conti didn’t want to cheat, and she kicked it out of the ring. Velvet surprised her with a leg lariat for a near fall, but missed a dropkick. Conti followed with a pump kick and a Gory Special transitioned into a knee strike for the victory.
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Alex Marvez interviewed Jericho, MJF, and the rest of the Inner Circle. They celebrated with their tickets to Las Vegas. Sammy Guevara approached. Guevara missed the induction ceremony because he didn’t get a follow-up email about where it would take place, but MJF was adamant he sent it.
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They replayed the Best Friends/Sabian & Miro angle from Full Gear and announced Kip Sabian vs. Orange Cassidy for next week.
He was interrupted by the returning PAC, who said that the Bastard is back and that Kingston made a bad mistake. Officials came out to prevent the brawl.
It was announced that PAC will make his in-ring return on next week’s Dynamite, facing The Blade.
