The ever-growing Tailgate Brawl lineup for Saturday’s AEW Full Gear got another new match Thursday.
Eddie Kingston and Hook issued an open challenge on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite that was answered by The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry and JD Drake). The match will be on the pre-show Tailgate Brawl which airs on HBO Max and TNT exclusively prior to the PPV.
The duo is 2-0 in their early run while Henry and Drake are looking for consistency in both AEW and ROH.
AEW Full Gear lineup | This Saturday | 8 PM Eastern
AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page defends against Samoa Joe in a steel cage match
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Mercedes Mone
AEW Tag Team Champions Brody King and Bandido defend against FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Mark Briscoe in a no DQ match with added stipulations
Casino Gauntlet match to crown the first AEW National Champion
$1 million trios match: Kenny Omega, Jack Perry, and Luchasaurus vs. The Young Bucks and Josh Alexander
Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly in a no holds barred match
PAC vs. Darby Allin
Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa vs. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir vs. Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron vs. Julia Hart & Skye Blue with a future stipulation on the line
AEW Full Gear Saturday Tailgate Brawl | This Saturday | 7 PM Eastern
CMLL World Trios Champions El Sky Team (Mistico, Mascara Dorada & Neon) defend against Kazuchika Okada, Hechicero & Konosuke Takeshita
$200,000 four-way: Max Caster & Anthony Bowens vs. Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn) vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
Big Boom AJ & QT Marshall vs. Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta
Eddie Kingston & Hook vs. The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
On Instagram, Henry wrote that he is suffering from heterotopic ossification, a condition where he has trouble moving his arm and palms. After meeting a doctor, he is hoping to fix the situation soon.
“Heterotopic ossification. That is the condition I have stemming from my initial biceps tear from September 2024,” he wrote. “I cannot turn my arm over to palms up (supination) or turn it fully palms down (pronation). Yes, I can live life, but not like a normal person really. Yes, I can wrestle, but there are times where it causes issues.”
“All of that to say I saw a doctor today that finally is going to fix this shit. I couldn’t be happier about that,” he added. “Soon!”
After spending most of the year out of action with his biceps injury, Henry returned to action in July, reuniting with JD Drake and wrestling on Ring of Honor television. His last match was on the October 8 edition of ROH, where he, Drake, and BEEF lost to Shane Taylor Promotions in a match that was for the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles.
Two new matches have been added to the Tailgate Brawl pre-show airing prior to Saturday’s AEW All Out pay-per-view on HBO Max/TNT.
Announced during Wednesday’s September to Remember edition of Dynamite, Daniel Garcia will take on Katsuyori Shibata for the third time.
It came about via separate backstage promos from reigning AEW Trios Champions The Opps and former champions The Death Riders accompanied by Garcia. Samoa Joe, Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs took umbrage with Garcia’s move to the Jon Moxley-led group with Garcia saying if they had an issue, they could come see him Saturday.
The two squared off at 2023’s ROH Death Before Dishonor with Shibata successfully defending his then-Pure title. They rematched in AEW this past January on Collision with Garcia successfully defending his then-TNT title.
Also announced were Joe and Hobbs taking on The Workhorsemen’s JD Drake and Anthony Henry.
The show begins at 2 PM Eastern with the PPV kicking off at 3 PM Eastern from Toronto, Canada. A separate Zero Hour show with no matches will air per usual on YouTube and other outlets.
Current AEW All Out card | Saturday, September 20 | Toronto, Canada
AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against Kyle Fletcher
Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Riho
AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Konosuke Takeshita and Mascara in a three-way
AEW World Tag Team Champions Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) defend against The Young Bucks and two TBD teams in a ladder match
The Hurt Syndicate (Shelton Benjamin, MVP & Bobby Lashley) vs. Ricochet and the Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin in a coffin match
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Thekla, Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander in a four-way
Tables ‘n’ Tacks match: MJF vs. Mark Briscoe
Tailgate Brawl pre-show: Willow Nightingale, Mina Shirakawa, Harley Cameron & Queen Aminata vs. Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford in a tornado tag match
Tailgate Brawl pre-show: Daniel Garcia vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Tailgate Brawl pre-show: Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs vs. The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
Injuries have plagued them over the last year-plus, but The WorkHorsemen are now healthy and hoping to get back on the right track.
Anthony Henry announced on Wednesday night that he and JD Drake are both “100 percent officially cleared” to return to the ring. The two are signed to AEW where they wrestle as a tag team on AEW programming and in ROH. Henry has been out of action since October 2024, while Drake most recently competed in November 2024.
“It’s been a long year, but the workhorsemen are both 100% officially cleared to return to the ring,” Henry tweeted. “Let us rejoice!”
Henry was sidelined with major injuries at two different points in 2024, first suffering a broken jaw and later needing to undergo surgery for a torn biceps. He suffered the latter injury while facing Gabe Kidd at an October taping for ROH.
Drake has been out due to a foot injury, but he’ll be back in the ring this Saturday facing Josh Woods at Dean~! 2 in Glendale, Arizona. AEW is partnering with Action Wrestling for the show, which is a tribute to the late Dean Rasmussen of the Death Valley Driver Video Review website.
The Workhorsemen have dealt with their fair share of injuries this year.
JD Drake was injured in the team’s match against Katsuyori Shibata and Daniel Garcia at the May 30 AEW Collision tapings. Shortly after, he took to social media to say his foot “went into business for itself” during the bout.
“I’m hurting something fucking awful. My foot went into business for itself really early in the match. But, there was still work to be done. Thank you @Antnyhenry for having my back always. F the haters! Thank you to the real fans for the support!” Drake wrote on social media.
Anthony Henry provided an update on his partner’s condition on Monday, writing that Drake is dealing with a torn ligament in his foot.
“For those wondering… the #workhorsemen will be back soon enough. Our first match back on Collision, @RealDrake, unfortunately tore a ligament in his foot. 2024 hasn’t been kind to us.”
For those wondering…
the #workhorsemen will be back soon enough. Our first match back on Collision, @RealDrake, unfortunately tore a ligament in his foot. 2024 hasn't been kind to us.
— Anthony Henry- A Workhorseman (@Antnyhenry) July 22, 2024
Henry was sidelined earlier this year as well after suffering a broken jaw in March at an independent show against Bryan Keith. At one point, Tony Khan announced Henry had been released from AEW while he was out injured. The AEW president would go back on that decision a short time later, however.
Henry also revealed on social media recently that Drake was supposed to come with him to WWE when he signed with the company in early 2021. Drake has said in previous interviews that WWE was concerned about the state of one of his knees and that’s why he didn’t sign.
Something not many know: @RealJDDrake was supposed to be signed, alongside myself, for WWE. Obviously, that didn't happen.
I often wonder what would have happened had that happened.
I think we still would have ended up where we are, but the journey would have been different.
— Anthony Henry- A Workhorseman (@Antnyhenry) May 10, 2024
Henry revealed on Monday that he suffered a broken jaw at a Deadlock Pro Wrestling event over the weekend. He originally wrote that the injury required surgery but posted an update on Wednesday stating that is no longer the case.
Henry wrote:
Update: no surgery is needed, but I still have to have a procedure to reset my jaw with rubber brackets. Recovery time: 8 weeks. See everyone then!
Update: no surgery is needed, but I still have to have a procedure to reset my jaw with rubber brackets.
Recovery time: 8 weeks.
See everyone then!
— Anthony Henry- A Workhorseman (@Antnyhenry) March 13, 2024
Henry noted the day after suffering the injury that his team with JD Drake will no longer be able to participate in the upcoming tournament to determine new AEW Tag Team Champions.
“Absolutely gutted,” Henry wrote on Monday. “In last night’s match against Bryan Keith, I took a knee strike that broke my jaw. The #workhorsemen had some exciting things coming up. One of which was the @AEW tag team tournament, which we can now not be involved in. I will have surgery soon.”
“I honestly don’t know how I will take this,” he continued. “I’ve never had an injury like this. I don’t know what to do without wrestling, and my biggest fear is that it derails any upcoming plans for [JD] Drake and I. I may be absent from here for a while. I appreciate all the fans who support us!”
Henry and Drake have primarily been working on ROH of late but have had some notable appearances on AEW programming, including on the January 6 episode of Collision when they wrestled Sting and Darby Allin. Henry also wrestled Eddie Kingston at ROH Final Battle 2023.
On AEW Collision this Saturday night, Sting will wrestle in the city of Charlotte for the final time.
Saturday’s Collision episode is taking place from Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. AEW has announced that Sting & Darby Allin will face The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) on the show.
Sting is currently on a retirement tour that will conclude with him having the last match of his career at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday, March 3.
— "The Blue Collar Badass" JD Drake (@RealJDDrake) January 5, 2024
Sting & Allin have also been announced for a tag match on Dynamite next Wednesday (January 10). They’re facing Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs on Dynamite.
The updated card for Saturday’s Collision episode is listed below. The show airs live on TNT starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
AEW Collision (Saturday, January 6) —
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston defends against Trent Beretta
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews)
Sting & Darby Allin vs. The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. will defend his title once again as part of tonight’s Ring of Honor on HonorClub.
Sabre Jr. will defend against Metalik in their second-ever meeting. The first was in the 2016 WWE Cruiserweight Classic semifinals where Metalik got the win.
The ROH Six-Man titles will be on the line as The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) will defend against Lee Johnson, Darius Martin & Action Andretti.
Ahead of their involvement in an ROH Tag Team title eliminator battle royal on Rampage Friday, The Outrunners will take on Angelico & Serpentico.
Former ROH Pure Champion Josh Woods will take on John Walters while Marina Shafir will be in action against Angelica Risk.
The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) will team up with Lee Moriarty in a trios bout.
Emi Sakura and Cole Karter will also be in singles matches against opponents to be named.
**********
NJPW World Television Title Match – Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Metalik to retain the title
This was Sabre’s 12th defence of the title.
If this matchup looks familiar, it’s because these two wrestled in the semifinals of WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016. Sabre hunted for submissions early, but Metalik was able to slip away and standoff with Sabre. Sabre offered a handshake before turning it into a wristlock. Metalik picked up the pace by hooking Sabre’s arm and hitting a step-up hurricanrana.
They jostled for position on a hip toss, but Sabre hooked the arm and cranked the bicep. Sabre focused on the arm, hitting a pair of bicep stomps while mouthing off to the crowd. Metalik used the good arm to hit an overhand chop before hitting two ropewalk dropkicks and a dive to Sabre on the floor. Metalik took Sabre back into the ring and hit a ropewalk crossbody for a nearfall.
Sabre came back with a La Mistica into a Cobra Twist that he took to the ground, but Metalik was able to squirm to the ropes. Sabre went back for the arm, but Metalik came back with a satellite DDT for a nearfall. They got into a pinning predicament before Metalik hit a thrust kick. Metalik went for a ropewalk elbow drop, but Sabre caught him in a Fujiwara armbar. Sabre hooked both of Metalik’s arms, forcing Metalik to submit with his foot.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Cole Karter & Maria Kanellis-Bennett. Nair asked Karter what he said to Griff Garrison last week. Karter said that Kanellis wanted to give Garrison an opportunity, with Kanellis noting that it would be good for Karter and Garrison to team up. Karter asked Kanellis to accompany him to ringside tonight, and after some reluctance, Kanellis agreed.
Josh Woods defeated John Walters
After both men worked to gain control of the other’s arm, Woods hooked Walters’ leg on a leapfrog and took him down. Walters went for a pair of pinfalls, but Woods caught him with a big running knee. Woods locked on his standing scorpion lock to score the win.
Lee Moriarty & The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake) defeated Beef, Invictus Khash & Lord Crewe
Moriarty and the WorkHorsemen got a jump start on their opponents. Khash hit a bodyslam on Moriarty, but Moriarty landed a knee to his back and tagged out to Henry. Crewe tagged in and caught Henry with a rollup, but Drake got a blind tag and hit a DDT. Crewe hit a hurricane kick on Henry before tagging in Beef, who ran wild on Moriarty. Beef caught nothing but canvas on a frog splash, allowing the WorkHorsemen to score the win with a foot stomp from Henry and a moonsault from Drake.
Cole Karter (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett) defeated Dustin Jackson
Jackson sent Karter into the corner with a dropkick, but Karter caught him with two dropkicks of his own. Karter soon after hit the Eye of the Beholder DDT variant for the win.
Emi Sakura defeated Alice Crowley
Crowley brought the fight to Sakura, taking her down with a lucha arm drag. Sakura took Crowley down with a chop to the throat. Crowley moved out of the way of a Vader Bomb and fought back, but Sakura forced her into the corner with chops. Crowley fought out with a Perfect Plex for a nearfall. Sakura spun her out with a reverse Cross Rhodes. Sakura hit the Imperial Backbreaker for the win.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Josh Woods & Smart Mark Sterling. Sterling gave Woods the challenges he wanted before hyping up his accomplishments. He says that Woods will run the Pure Division.
Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)
Serpentico got the early advantage, keeping Magnum off balance with his offense. Angelico tagged in and hit a big kick to the back for a nearfall. Serpentico came back in and hit a thrust kick, but Magnum rolled out of the way and laid out Serpentico with a lariat.
The Outrunners clubbered on Serpentico before he got to the corner and tagged in Angelico. Angelico ran wild, catching Floyd in an STF that Magnum broke up. Serpentico sent Magnum to the floor, allowing Angelico to lock on a submission and score the win. I think this is the first win of Serpentico’s AEW career, but I’ll be sure to fact-check that one.
Marina Shafir defeated Angelica Risk
Risk went for…something before Shafir slammed her down. Shafir ripped Risk down with a pair of judo throws. Risk tried to throw some strikes, but Shafir booted her down. Shafir locked on a triangle choke for the win, hanging onto it after the bell.
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Title Match – The Mogul Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona) (w/Prince Nana) defeated Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Lee Johnson to retain the titles
Andretti, Martin, & Johnson did a great job of building up to their big nearfall, as I thought they had a chance to win the titles here.
The champs got a jump start, with Cage hitting an F-5 on Martin for a quick nearfall. Martin hit a rana to escape a powerbomb attempt, but Cage cut off an attempt at a tag with a lariat. Martin hit a tornado DDT before tagging into Johnson. Johnson rocked Cage with an enzuigiri and a superkick before hitting a big scoop and a slam. Kaun cut off Johnson’s momentum, allowing Cage to hit a neckbreaker out of the corner.
The Embassy clubbered on Johnson until he was able to make a tag out to Andretti. Andretti ran wild, taking out both Kaun and Liona. Andretti hit a Spanish Fly on Kaun for a nearfall. The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl, with the challengers isolating Kaun for a nearfall after an Andretti split-leg moonsault.
The challengers had a bigger challenge with Liona, but eventually worked him out of the ring. It was down to Cage, who got hit with a shotgun dropkick into a German suplex. Johnson hit a frog splash for a nearfall. They took out Nana with a triple superkick and Cage with a triple-team cutter, but Kaun cut off the pinfall. Kaun and Liona got back involved and quickly isolated Johnson, who they beat with a pendulum powerbomb.
Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson’s opponents for tonight’s AEW Dynamite have been revealed.
After they were opponents at Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view, Moxley and Danielson will team against The WorkHorsemen’s JD Drake and Anthony Henry on Dynamite. William Regal will be in Moxley and Danielson’s corner.
Moxley defeated Danielson via flash pinfall at Revolution. Following the bout, the debuting Regal appeared and slapped each man, then demanded that the two shake hands in a sign of mutual respect.
In the build to their Revolution bout, Danielson had suggested that he and Moxley form a team. Moxley said that he does not team with anyone unless he has spilled blood with them first. Both men ended up bleeding in the pay-per-view match on Sunday.
At the post-Revolution press conference, AEW president Tony Khan said that Regal will have both on-screen and backstage roles with AEW.
Drake has been part of The Wingmen faction in AEW, but has regularly teamed with Henry on the indies since 2017.
