The Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli will face Bandido & The Lucha Bros on the show. The match comes after The Lucha Bros successfully retained their ROH tag titles against Castagnoli & Yuta in the main event of Dynamite last week.
“BCC have revenge in mind as they fight the Lucha Bros + their amigo Bandido on Dynamite, TONIGHT!,” Tony Khan wrote on Twitter.
Tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite will take place from the Viejas Arena on the campus of San Diego State University. Adam Cole & Britt Baker vs. Chris Jericho & Saraya is the only other match announced thus far.
AEW Dynamite 5/31 lineup:
Adam Cole & Britt Baker vs. Chris Jericho & Saraya
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Bandido & The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix)
Katsuyori Shibata is officially heading to ROH Supercard of Honor.
Tony Khan has confirmed that Shibata will challenge Wheeler Yuta for the ROH Pure Championship at Supercard of Honor this Friday night (March 31). The pay-per-view is taking place at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
This will be the fifth time Shibata has wrestled since 2017. He returned to the ring in 2021 after suffering a life-threatening subdural hematoma during a match against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Sakura Genesis 2017.
In November of last year, Shibata unsuccessfully challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship on Rampage.
Yuta is a two-time ROH Pure Champion. His current reign with the title began when he defeated Daniel Garcia at Final Battle 2022.
Here’s the updated lineup for Supercard of Honor:
ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli defends against Eddie Kingston
AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo defends against Komander
Reach for the Sky ladder match for the ROH Tag Team titles: Lucha Bros vs. Top Flight vs. The Kingdom vs. Aussie Open vs. Rush & Dralistico
ROH Television Champion Samoa Joe defends against Mark Briscoe
ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta defends against Katsuyori Shibata
Ring of Honor Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta has issued a challenge to Katsuyori Shibata.
At the conclusion of this week’s ROH TV episode, Yuta issued a challenge to the head trainer of NJPW’s LA Dojo. After defeating LA Dojo product Clark Connors in a Pure title match, Yuta stated that he was ready to face the LA Dojo trainer.
While not officially announced, a Yuta-Shibata Pure title match for Supercard of Honor on Friday, March 31 appears to be the direction.
Shibata made his return to the ring in 2021 after a four-year retirement forced after suffering a subdural hematoma brain bleed in a match against Kazuchika Okada. In his first match back, he went to a five-minute time limit draw with Zack Sabre in a UWF Rules grappling match.
Shibata faced his LA Dojo protege Ren Narita at Wrestle Kingdom in January 2022, then made his AEW debut against Orange Cassidy on Rampage in November 2022.
Shibata’s most recent bout was a UWF Rules match against “Filthy” Tom Lawlor at an IGF show in December.
Wheeler Yuta is set to defend the ROH Pure Championship on next week’s Ring of Honor TV episode.
In a match announced during Thursday’s ROH TV show, Yuta will defend the Pure title against NJPW’s Clark Connors.
After defeating Timothy Thatcher in a Pure title defense on this week’s show, Yuta cut a promo calling out members of NJPW’s LA Dojo. Connors answered and invoked the name of head LA Dojo trainer Katsuyori Shibata in challenging Yuta, teasing a potential future showdown between Yuta and Shibata.
Yuta teased not accepting the challenge from Connors, but relented, and the match will air on next week’s episode.
A pair of tag team bouts will also take place next week.
Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal will team up against unnamed opponents. Daniels declared his intention to capture the ROH Tag Team titles on this week’s show, but noted that he had to honor the 2020 stipulation of never teaming with Frankie Kazarian of SCU again. He then mentioned his past pairing with Sydal, and the two were announced as being in action next week.
Rush and Dralistico of La Faccion Ingobernable will also be in tag team action next week.
Three title matches headline Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV show.
In a match that has been building for the last month on AEW programming, ROH Women’s Champion Athena will defend against Willow Nightingale.
ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta will defend against Timothy Thatcher who made his AEW debut recently against Bryan Danielson.
After losing his TNT title on Sunday, ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe returns to defend against former TV Champion Tony Deppen.
In his pursuit of ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston will face Ben Dejo while former Women’s title challenger Trish Adora faces the debuting Billie Starkz.
Aussie Open will make their ROH debut as they take on Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus as Rush & Dralistico face Angelico & Serpentico of the Spanish Announce Team.
Former ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Dalton Castle & The Boys will wrestle C4 & Marcus Kross while Ari Daivari & Slim J take on Jake Crist & Man Scout.
**********
Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are on the call as we open with our first of three title matches.
ROH World TV Title: Samoa Joe defeated Tony Deppen to retain
A fine opener. Deppen didn’t get much offense in, but he hung with Joe well enough.
Joe took control early on, peppering Deppen with heavy strikes that sent him to the mat. Deppen came back with chops of his own before getting flattened by a Joe back elbow for a nearfall. Joe clubbered on Deppen in the corner before Deppen fought his way out with more strikes. Joe sent Deppen into the corner and dropped him with a body block and enzuigiri.
Joe brought Deppen to the top rope, but Deppen fought him off and hit a missile dropkick. Deppen came over the ropes and hit a stunner for a nearfall. There was a mix-up in the corner that ended with a Deppen nearfall for two. Joe hit the uranage out of the corner, but Deppen reversed the rear naked choke with a roll-up for two. Joe sent Deppen into the corner and took him down with the Muscle Buster for the pin and the win.
– After the match, Samoa Joe took the mic and said no matter the era, he runs ROH. He made a challenge for anyone to step up and make a challenge for the TV Title. Mark Briscoe made his way to the stage. He said that the TV Title was his destiny and made the challenge, which Joe quickly accepted.
– Backstage, Dalton Castle lamented the loss of the ROH Six-Man Titles to The Embassy and “that pennyfart” Prince Nana. He says that after moving dense furniture all weekend, him and The Boys are ready to take the titles back.
Dalton Castle & The Boys defeated Marcus Kross, Cody Chhun, & Guillermo Rosas
The women in the crowd shrieked in excitement when Castle’s music hit. I can’t say I blame them. Castle told Kross to fire up before immediately catching him in position for the Bangarang, but Kross hooked the ropes and sent Castle to the floor. After getting the Boys to limber him up, Castle got back in the ring and took Kross down. After a tag to Rosas, The Boys got in and hit stereo offense for a nearfall as Castle worked the crowd into a fever pitch on the floor.
Rosas tagged out to Chhun, and they isolated Boy Brandon. After avoiding a double stomp from Kross, Boy Brandon tagged out to Castle, who flung all three of his opponents around with aplomb. After sending the Boys flying to the outside onto their opponents, Castle dropped Rosas with the Bangarang for the win.
– Maria Kanellis-Bennett introduced Mike Bennett and Matt Taven for a promo. The Kingdom talked themselves up as being champions wherever they’ve gone, with Bennett calling out Top Flight for ruining their ROH return.
La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush & Dralistico) defeated Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) (w/ Dr. Luther)
Angelico, Serpentico, Dralistico. This is gonna be a challenge. Rush and Angelico started off, with Rush hammering Angelico with a chop. Angelico tagged in Serpentico, who tried hitting Rush with chops before getting drilled by a chop of his own. Dralistico came in with a springboard crossbody and a flurry of kicks.
Rush tagged back in, with him and Dralistico sending both of their opponents to the floor with strike combinations. Dralistico hit a dive onto SAP, with Rush following up with a feigned dive before hitting his pose. Rush and Dralistico beat them down on the floor, with Rush hitting Angelico with his trademark cable. Back in the ring, Dralistico hit an assisted springboard legdrop for a nearfall. Serpentico tried firing up, but LFI had none of it and put the boots to him.
Some wires got crossed up before Dralistico got on the apron and hooked Serpentico in the ropes. Serpentico ducked a Rush strike that hit Dralistico. Serpentico dived onto Dralistico on the floor before taking a headbutt from Rush. Angelico cut off the Bull’s Horns, but got taken down with a Meteora from Dralistico. Dralistico hit a destroyer on Serpentico for the win. After the match, they ripped Serpentico’s mask off his head and tore it in half.
Trish Adora defeated Billie Starkz
Adora worked on the arm of Starkz to start. Starkz sent Adora to the floor and tried a dive, but Adora caught her with a forearm in the ropes. Adora dropped Starkz with a bodyslam on the apron before getting a nearfall in the ring. Adora hit a very delayed German Suplex for another nearfall before locking on the Cattle Mutilation, sending Starkz to the ropes to break.
Starkz booted Adora in the corner, but Adora responded with a boot of her own for a nearfall. They traded forearms, with Starkz hitting a spin kick out of it. But Adora immediately followed with the Lariat Tubman for the win.
– Lexy Nair interviewed Christopher Daniels. Daniels talked up wanting the ROH World Tag Team Titles. He wanted to team with Frankie Kazarian again, but he honored his word as SCU lost the right to team up back in 2020. But he’s had several partners in his career, one of them being Matt Sydal. Sydal accepted the offer, and Daniels told the other teams in ROH to say their prayers.
Ari Daivari & Slim J (w/ Smart Mark Sterling) defeated Jake Crist & Jake Manning
I’m going to get very tired of hearing the Trustbusters music on this show.
Slim J gave Daivari a matching t-shirt as they made their way to the ring. We have a lot of bits going on, as Manscout Manning was reading a scout’s guide as the bell rang. Daivari threw the book away and got started with the match. Crist quickly tagged in and ran wild on Daivari before missing a crossbody. Manning tagged in, taking a lariat from Daivari after a knee to the back from Slim J. Slim J tagged in and dropped Manning with a springboard reverse DDT. Slim J locked on an STF on Manning and scored the win.
After the match, Daivari talked trash about Metalik, which brought the luchador out to the ring. The Trustbusters stomped on him before Blake Christian ran them off with a chair.
ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta defeated Timothy Thatcher to retain
While I’m not usually a fan of Thatcher’s work, this was a quality Pure Title match. The Blackpool Combat Club’s new heel-leaning tendencies were reflected here, with Yuta using an edge and cheating outright at the end of this match.
The judges for this match were BJ Whitmer, Colt Cabana, and Christopher Daniels.
Thatcher immediately locked on a Fujiwara armbar, sending Yuta to the ropes to use his first rope break. Thatcher controlled Yuta’s arms, denying Yuta’s attempts to escape. Thatcher jammed Yuta’s arm into the mat before hitting a body slam and an elbow drop for a one count. He did it again, but Yuta fought out of a third attempt and turned it into an Octopus Hold. Thatcher used his first rope break to get out of it.
Thatcher avoided a bicep stomp and took Yuta down with a single-leg, but Yuta went right back to the arm. Thatcher sat Yuta on the top rope, but Yuta brought Thatcher down by the shoulder. Thatcher started throwing European uppercuts to try and escape, but Yuta kept on the left arm. Thatcher fired up and hit a big belly-to-belly suplex but couldn’t follow up with a cover. Yuta stuffed a double underhook suplex attempt and used a hammerlock variant to force Thatcher to use his second armbar.
They traded uppercuts before Yuta sent Thatcher back to the mat with the same hammerlock variant. Thatcher fought back up and drove Yuta into the corner with uppercuts with the good arm. Yuta fought out of the corner with a closed fist, which earned a warning from the referee. Yuta hit the Right Angle Slam for a nearfall, which used Thatcher’s final rope break.
Thatcher sent Yuta into the ropes, but Yuta rebounded through the ropes and caught Thatcher with a German suplex. Thatcher kicked out and locked on an armbar to force Yuta’s second rope break. Thatcher strung offense together, scoring nearfalls with a back suplex and a butterfly suplex. Thatcher drove his knees into Yuta, who had to slide to the ropes and use his final rope break.
Thatcher dropped Yuta with another uppercut, sending Yuta to the floor. Thatcher shoved the referee out of the way, allowing Yuta to hit an illegal closed fist to Thatcher in the ropes. Yuta tied Thatcher in the ropes with a Cobra Twist to score the tap out.
– After the match, Yuta called out the tracksuit wearing LA Dojo boys for thinking that they’ve accomplished something. Clark Connors made his way to the ring to respond. He says that all three of Yuta’s BCC teammates wish that they trained under Katsuyori Shibata before making a challenge for the Pure Title next week. Yuta blew him off and left, but turned around on the ramp and told him that the match was on.
Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) defeated Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams
A great introduction for Aussie Open on ROH television. They showed off their impressive offense here and got a great response from the crowd by the end of the match.
After an opening exchange with all four men, Aussie Open took control with a flurry of offense on Titus. Fletcher started a delayed vertical suplex before tagging Davis in so he could take hold and complete it. Titus fought out of the corner and tagged in Williams, who ran wild on Fletcher with a high-angle suplex and a DDT off of the second rope for a nearfall.
Fletcher fought off a piledriver attempt, sending Williams to the apron. Williams sent Fletcher to the floor, but missed a running knee. Davis and Fletcher picked up Titus and Williams and ran them into each other. Back in the ring, Aussie Open hit the Dental Plan and the assisted cutter on Williams for a nearfall. Aussie Open hit dual forearms, but Williams fought off the Dental Plan and hit La Mistica on Davis before locking on an armbar. Titus caught Fletcher in a submission as well, but both men caught the ropes.
Titus and Williams ran wild on Fletcher, scoring a nearfall with a flurry of offense. They isolated Fletcher, hitting a diving knee and top rope splash back-to-back for a nearfall. Fletcher caught Williams with a spinning tombstone before Davis took out Titus with a pull-up piledriver. A pair of lariats set Aussie Open up to hit Coreolis for the win.
Eddie Kingston defeated Ben Dejo
Kingston hit the machine gun chops, a Saito suplex, and a backfist to win in under a minute. He made sure to adhere to the Code of Honor, shaking Dejo’s limp hand after the match.
– Kingston took the mic after the match and called out ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli. Kingston told Castagnoli to give him his shot, but Castagnoli said that a man without honor would never hold the ROH World Title and left. Kingston followed him to the back, but still got no answer.
– We got promos from champion and challenger for the ROH Women’s Title match main event.
ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena defeated Willow Nightingale to retain
A fantastic main event. Athena has earned a spot as one of the best women’s wrestlers in America today with the level of intensity and viciousness she brings to her big matches. Nightingale had this crowd behind her from the jump and hung with Athena every step of the way. This was the best match of ROH’s Honor Club run to date.
Nightingale scored the first pin attempt after a running crossbody, before following it up with suplexes for a nearfall. Nightingale hit a big chop to Athena in the corner, but Athena yanked Nightingale’s arm over the rope to take control. Athena clubbered on Nightingale in the corner before mockingly cheering herself on to boos. Nightingale kicked Athena’s knee out, but Athena kept control with a top wristlock.
Athena missed a senton, allowing Nightingale to attempt several flash pins. Nightingale went for an O’Connor Roll, but Athena ducked and sent Nightingale throat-first into the ropes. Athena sent Nightingale onto the apron, where she hit a big kick and a baseball slide to send Nightingale to the floor. Athena trapped Nightingale’s arm in the stairs, and after ramming her other shoulder into the post, Athena dropkicked the stairs into Nightingale’s trapped arm.
Athena baseball slid into Nightingale as she tried to get into the ring, but Nightingale caught her on a kick and powerbombed Athena into the apron. Nightingale followed with a Spicolli Driver on the floor that left both women laid out. Both women got back in the ring at the count of 19, where Nightingale ran wild with offense. Nightingale hit a main event spinebuster – in the actual main event – before attempting the Babe With The Powerbomb. But Nightingale’s arm couldn’t hold, allowing Athena to catch her in a crossface. Nightingale got to the ropes, but Athena followed with running knees into the corner.
Athena hit a big facebuster, but Nightingale kicked out, earning This Is Awesome chants from the crowd. Athena went to the top rope, but Nightingale caught her with a Pounce to score a nearfall. Athena went for a springboard, but Nightingale caught her in the gutwrench and hit the Babe With The Powerbomb for another nearfall. Athena took a powder, but Nightingale followed her onto the stage. Athena clawed at Nightingale’s eyes and dropped her on the ramp with a forward slam. After running Nightingale into the stairs, Athena rolled her into the ring and hit the O-Face for the win.
– After the match, Athena menaced the referee before hitting Nightingale with the title belt on the outside. Athena hit the running knees to Nightingale into the stairs to boos as the show faded out.
After initially stating that Willow Nightingale would no longer be appearing, Beyond Wrestling has announced that Nightingale will still be in action at Perfection or Vanity.
CORRECTION: Willow Nightingale will still be competing at #PerfectionOrVanity on Sunday, 2/26 at White Eagle in Worcester streaming LIVE on @indiewrestling at 7pm ET!
Due to an apparent conflict with ROH television tapings, three wrestlers have been pulled from an upcoming Beyond Wrestling event.
Beyond Wrestling announced today that Wheeler Yuta, Tracy Williams, and Trish Adora will no longer be appearing at their Perfection or Vanity show in Worcester, Massachusetts on Sunday, February 26. Voices of Wrestling and Fightful have reported that ROH is scheduled to hold TV tapings that weekend.
“Wheeler YUTA, Tracy Williams, and Trish Adora will no longer be appearing or competing at ‘Perfection Or Vanity’ on Sunday, 2/26 at White Eagle in Worcester,” Beyond Wrestling tweeted. “Email [email protected] if you’d like a refund.”
Yuta is signed to AEW and is part of the Blackpool Combat Club with Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and Claudio Castagnoli. Williams and Adora, who were both part of the ROH roster prior to the promotion being purchased by Tony Khan, have made appearances for AEW as well.
Adora was also in action at ROH Final Battle this past December, losing to Nightingale on the pre-show.
Yuta currently holds the ROH Pure Championship. He regained the title by defeating Daniel Garcia at Final Battle.
It was announced in December that a weekly ROH TV series would be coming to HonorClub, though no start date was given. These tapings at the end of February would be the first for the weekly series.
ROH’s next pay-per-view is Supercard of Honor 2023, which is taking place in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31.
Three titles changed hands at ROH’s Final Battle event on Saturday.
Athena defeated Mercedes Martinez to capture the ROH Women’s title, Wheeler Yuta regained the ROH Pure Championship from Daniel Garcia, and The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Leona, and Kaun) won the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles, defeating Dalton Castle and The Boys.
Athena defeated Martinez with the eclipse to win the ROH Women’s Championship for the first time. The match was made after Martinez confronted Athena on a recent episode of AEW Rampage, where in recent weeks Athena has shown more of a dangerous streak in the way she handles her opponents.
Wheeler Yuta won his trilogy with Daniel Garcia, capturing the ROH Pure Championship for a second time. Yuta gave Garcia a piledriver, then struck Garcia with a series of elbows to Garcia’s jaw, causing Garcia to pass out and allowing Yuta the victory.
The Embassy won their first championship under this iteration of the group on Saturday, with Cage pinning Brent Tate after Kaun swung Tate into Cage, who delivered a powerbomb to score the pinfall victory.
In addition to these title victories, Claudio Castagnoli regained the ROH World Championship from Chris Jericho, and The Briscoes won the ROH Tag Team titles, defeating FTR.
A match for the ROH Pure Championship is set for Final Battle.
Daniel Garcia will defend the championship against Wheeler Yuta in what will be the rubber match between the two on December 10. The match was set up on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite after Yuta challenged Garcia during a sit-down interview between members of the Jericho Appreciation Society and the Blackpool Combat Club.
During the promo, members of the JAS taunted Claudio Castagnoli, who is set to face Chris Jericho at the show for the ROH Championship. Hager threw a purple hat at Castagnoli, saying he could wear it after the loses at Final Battle. Yuta and Garcia then went back and forth, with Yuta issuing the challenge.
Yuta successfully defended the Pure title against Garcia at Death Before Dishonor in July. On the September 7 edition of AEW Dynamite, however, Garcia won the championship in a rematch.
Here is the updated card for ROH Final Battle:
ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli
ROH Pure Championship: Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta
This is a loaded episode of Speak Now Pro Wrestling with Denise Salcedo!
The episode kicks off with an in-depth recap and analysis of the backstage drama between Andrade and Sammy Guevara, then Denise dives into AEW Dynamite coverage. Topics discussed include Wheeler Yuta vs MJF, Wardlow and Brian Cage, the women’s segment, National Scissoring Day celebration, and lots more! This is a fun and engaging show perfect for all fans of AEW!
Homicide and Wheeler Yuta will team in the main event of Saturday’s NJPW Strong episode.
The Autumn Action series of Strong shows will begin with a tag team main event, with Homicide and Yuta teaming against IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White and Karl Anderson.
In another match announced for Saturday, Juice Robinson will face Ren Narita in singles competition.
In Saturday’s opening contest, AEW’s QT Marshall takes on Shota Umino in another singles bout.
The Autumn Action series of Strong shows were taped on Sunday, September 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sam’s Town venue.
Here is Saturday’s Autumn Action match lineup:
NJPW Strong Autumn Action night one, Saturday, October 8, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Homicide & AEW’s Wheeler Yuta vs. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White & Karl Anderson of Bullet Club
Hey there, happy Wednesday! Join Denise Salcedo and special guest co-host Phil Lindsey as they recap the September 28th edition of AEW Dynamite on Speak Now Pro Wrestling!
Topics include: Back and forth promos between MJF and Wheeler Yuta, the debuts of Juice Robinson and Bandido, Saraya’s first AEW promo, and more!
AEW has revealed seven of the eight participants in the Casino Ladder Match at All Out.
Tony Khan announced on Twitter that Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Penta Oscuro, Rey Fenix, Rush, Andrade El Idolo, and Dante Martin are entered into the match. There will also be a “joker” entrant to be revealed on the show.
“This Sunday at ALL OUT, the Casino Ladder Match winner will earn a future shot at the @AEW World Championship!,” Tony Khan wrote on Twitter.
AEW All Out takes place Sunday, September 4 from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The announced lineup for the show is as follows:
Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho
AEW World Trios Championship finals
AEW Interim Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Hikaru Shida
TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Athena
AEW Tag Team Champions Swerve In Our Glory defend against The Acclaimed
Jungle Boy vs. Christian Cage
FTR & Wardlow vs. Jay Lethal & Motor City Machine Guns
Casino Ladder Match
Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Wheeler Yuta vs. Penta Oscuro vs. Rey Fenix vs. Rush vs. Andrade El Idolo vs. Dante Martin vs. TBA in a Casino Ladder Match
Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta for a shot at the interim AEW World title headlines this weeks AEW Dynamite.
Last week, Jericho issued a challenge to interim World Champion Jon Moxley for a title match at next week’s Quake at the Lake edition of Dynamite, then agreed to put his title shot up for grabs in a match against Yuta on this week’s show.
Moxley will speak on tonight’s show, one week prior to his title defense.
The Undisputed Elite trio of Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly return to AEW on Dynamite. Cole has been out of action since suffering what is believed to be a concussion at Forbidden Door in June.
Orange Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal, ThunderStorm vs. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter, Matt Hardy vs. Christian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs in action, plus The Gunn Club vs. The Acclaimed in a dumpster match are also set for tonight’s show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Show Report —
Jay Lethal defeated Orange Cassidy
They started off with a back-and-forth exchange. Orange got the better of it with some unorthodox counters before landing a tope on the outside Lethal escaped up the ramp, where Satnam Singh was waiting to help Lethal recover, but then Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor came out with the former on the other’s shoulders.
Back in the ring, Lethal hit a dragon screw and targeted Orange’s left knee by stomping it into the steel steps. After a commercial break, Lethal slapped on a figure four, but Orange reached the ropes for a break. Lethal hit the Lethal Combination for two.
Lethal taunted, allowing Orange to start a comeback with a diving DDT. A second DDT got two. Orange called for the Orange Punch, but couldn’t follow up due to his injured leg. He countered a powerbomb attempt into a Beach Break for a near fall. Orange went for another Orange Punch, but Lethal countered into the Figure Four, which Orange turned into a cradle for two. Lethal stopped another Orange Punch attempt and hit the Lethal Injection for the win.
– After the match, Sonjay Dutt and Satnam Singh came out to celebrate. Dutt played interviewer and asked Lethal about Wardlow. Lethal insulted him and said he’d make a statement. He went to lock Orange in the Figure Four again, but the Best Friends and then Wardlow came out and Lethal and co. fled. Dutt demanded Wardlow put the TNT Championship on the line at Battle of the Belts. Wardlow accepted by saying he’d “whoop that ass.”
**********
A video package recapped HOOK beating Ricky Starks for the FTW Championship.
**********
Storytime with Adam Cole
Cole came out with the Young Bucks and reDRagon. He said he’s still not medically cleared to wrestle, and in the meantime, he’s been thinking about what he can do to help the Undisputed Elite. He put over the group and said that loyalty is essential; in fact, he came to AEW out of loyalty to the Bucks. “Loyalty is everything.”
That brings Cole to the upcoming trios title tournament. He said that if he and O’Reilly aren’t cleared, they have to choose Fish to enter the tournament. “Actually, you won’t be physically capable of entering the tournament.”
Cole and reDRagon attacked the Bucks and laid out Brandon Cutler. They wrapped Matt in a chair, but Hangman Page ran out with a pipe in hand to make the save. After a moment of hesitation, Page offered his hand to Matt and helped him up.
**********
Jon Moxley was backstage talking about Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler YUTA later tonight. He said he doesn’t care who wins, because when the bell rings, he has no respect for anybody. He’s trying to hurt his opponent and make him bleed. When the BCC is all said and done, they’ll make the Hart Dungeon look like a daycare. Both YUTA and Jericho know Moxley well enough to know they better show up next week. “When they step in the ring with me, this is not a game.”
**********
Earlier today, Christian Cage was talking to Tony Schiavone about Jungle Boy when the latter sped up in a vehicle trying to hit him. Jungle Boy was restrained by security as Christian demanded he be arrested.
Rosa and Baker started off, with the latter going for a quick Lockjaw. Rosa countered out of it with a cradle and hit a back suplex, forcing Hayter to tag in. ThunderStorm worked together to beat down Hater with frequent tags. A strong kick to the back from Rosa got two before a lariat from Hayter finally allowed her and Baker to take control.
After the break, Rosa hit a stunner and reached Storm for the hot tag. Storm landed a diving crossbody for two before taking out both Baker and Rebel on the outside. She climbed the ropes and hit another crossbody before an Alabama slam got two.
ThunderStorm went for a double suplex, but Hayter countered it and tagged out to Baker. They went for a double team, but Rebel hopped on the apron and distracted Storm, allowing Baker to dispatch Rosa and cut her off. Baker hit an avalanche air raid crash and tagged in Hayter.
Hayter landed a sliding lariat, Baker hit a curb stomp, but Rosa broke up the pin with a stomp. Rosa and Baker traded strikes in the center of the ring, with Baker getting the better of the exchange with an air raid crash. Storm hit Baker with a DDT and Hayter hit Storm with a backbreaker.
ThunderStorm hit simultaneous Germans before Storm hit repeated hip attacks on opposite corners. Baker escaped one, Storm accidentally smashed Rosa with a hip attack, and Hayter hit a short-arm clothesline on Storm for the win.
**********
There was a wacky video package talking about Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti’s marriage. Eddie Kingston interrupted it by pointing out the absurdity and said Guevara has a receipt coming. He wants a match with Guevara at All Out.
**********
A video package recapped Powerhouse Hobbs turning on Ricky Starks. On commentary, Taz said Team Taz was done, and he wishes everyone the best.
Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Ren Jones
Hobbs crushed Jones in the corner and hit an Oklahoma Stampede followed by a blindside lariat for the squash win.
– After the match, Ricky Starks ran out and attacked Hobbs, but Hobbs laid him out with a spinebuster.
**********
Miro cut a video promo talking about uncertainties he’s facing. It was interspersed with footage of him taking Malakai Black’s mist.
**********
Darby Allin cut a video promo on Brody King while tattooing his own palm. He said he was the reason King was in AEW, and he’d drop King in the coffin next week.
**********
Christian Cage defeated Matt Hardy
Matt attacked aggressively at the bell and sent Christian crashing down hard onto the apron. He kept up the attack back inside the ring and hit a short powerbomb for two. On the outside, Christian returned fire by sending Matt into the steel steps ahead of a commercial.
Once back, Matt hit a superplex and a back body drop. Christian countered a Twist of Fate, but Matt dumped him to the mat and hit a diving elbow drop for two. Christian dropped Matt over the top rope and hit a diving headbutt for two of his own.
Matt avoided Christian’s drop-down right hand and hit a Side Effect for a near fall. He followed it up with a second one on the apron before bringing over the timekeeper’s table. Matt went for a diving elbow drop through the table, but Christian avoided it, sending Matt crashing through.
Back in the ring, Christian hit the Killswitch for the win.
– After the match, Luchasaurus’s music played and Christian recoiled, but it was a distraction to allow Jungle Boy to attack from the crowd, forcing Christian to flee.
**********
Daniel Garcia was backstage. He said submitting the American Dragon was the biggest win in AEW history. He’s the dragon slayer, and whenever Danielson comes back, he will slay the dragon again.
**********
A video package recapped PAC defending his All Atlantic title against Connor Mills.
**********
Ethan Page was in the ring with a mic. He wants to know why he’s not on TV every single week. He thinks he deserves better. Stokely Hathaway walked down the ramp and joined him in the ring, but Page ignored him. Page complained about his lack of merch sales.
Hathaway asked him what he’s doing, whispered something in his ear, and gave him his business card.
**********
2point0 and Anna Jay were backstage. Menard said Jericho would become Le Champion again next week. Parker said it was time that everyone appreciated the J.A.S. Jay said she’s the newest member of the faction; she’s the sexiest and the toughest, and she’ll choke anyone out. She attacked a staff member and slapped on a Queenslayer.
**********
Dumpster match: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) defeated The Gunn Club (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) (w/ Billy Gunn)
To win, a team must throw their opponents in a dumpster and shut the lid.
During the Gunn Club’s entrance, the Acclaimed ran out and attacked the Gunn Club with a trash can. Caster then did his rapping schtick, referencing Vince McMahon’s retirement.
The Gunn Club recovered and attacked. Bowens was slumped over the side of a dumpster, so Colten slammed the lid on his head repeatedly, and the Gunn Club powerbombed him into it. They sent Caster into it as well, but the Acclaimed prevented them from shutting the lid and whacked them with cookie sheets before the break.
Bowens was sent off the top of a dumpster through a pile of trash cans. The Gunn Club set up a table before Colten suplexed Caster on the stage and hit the Colt .45 on Bowens on the ramp.
Austin climbed the entrance tunnel with Bowens propped on a table, but Bowens fired up and attacked Colten. Caster appeared behind Austin on the top of the entrance tunnel before sending him into the dumpster. Bowens set up Colten, allowing Caster to hit the Mic Drop through the table. Bowens dropped Colten in the dumpster and the Acclaimed shut the lid to win the match.
– After the match, The Acclaimed took a long time but eventually pushed the dumpster off the stage.
**********
A video recapped Mance Warner winning the Bunkhouse Battle Royal at Ric Flair’s Last Match.
**********
AEW Rampage (8/5) lineup —
Interim AEW World Championship Eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Mance Warner
Madison Rayne debut
Friday Night Street Fight: Swerve in our Glory vs. Tony Nese & Josh Woods
Battle of the Belts III (8/6) lineup —
ROH World Championship: Claudio Castagnoli (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita
AEW Women’s World Championship: Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Jamie Hayter
TNT Championship: Wardlow (c) vs. Jay Lethal
AEW Dynamite: Quake By The Lake (8/10) lineup —
Coffin match: Darby Allin vs. Brody King
Tornado Tag: Lucha Brothers vs. Rush & Andrade El Idolo
Jade Cargill’s TBS Championship Open Challenge
Interim AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley vs. Chris Jericho OR Wheeler YUTA
**********
William Regal joined commentary.
Before the match got started, Claudio Castagnoli made his entrance to back up YUTA against 2point0.
Interim AEW World Championship eliminator: Chris Jericho (w/ 2point0) defeated Wheeler YUTA
Close to the start of the match, Angelo Parker grabbed at YUTA’s boot, leading to 2point0 being ejected. Jericho cut YUTA off ahead of the commercial by sending him crashing down from the top rope. He kept control through the commercial break until YUTA hit an atomic drop and an enzuigiri. Simultaneous crossbodies sent both men to the mat.
They traded slaps in the center of the ring. YUTA hit four consecutive German suplexes and bridged for two. Jericho came back and locked on the Walls of Jericho, forcing YUTA to crawl his way to the ropes. YUTA sent Jericho to the floor and landed three suicide dives. Back inside, he landed a diving crossbody for two.
Jericho hit an underhook backbreaker, but YUTA countered a Lionsault and climbed the ropes. Jericho turned the dive into a Codebreaker for a near fall. YUTA tied Jericho up in the Regal Stretch, but Jericho got out of it with Floyd the Bat. YUTA avoided the Judas Effect and locked on the Seatbelt cradle for a great near fall before Jericho applied the Lion Tamer for the submission victory.
– After the match, Jericho wouldn’t let go of the Lion Tamer, leading to Moxley coming out and chasing him out of the ring. Jericho talked on the ramp and said the Lionheart would return next week, and he’d stretch Moxley to win the title.
Tony Khan, FTR, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli spoke during tonight’s ROH Death Before Dishonor media scrum.
Claudio Castagnoli
Castagnoli said he had “a hell of a run” in his first month with the company and said it was great to top it off with his first world championship win. He said he wanted to take it all in and enjoy it.
When asked if he feels more encouraged to do different types of wrestling now that he is in AEW, he asked if that was a rhetorical question. He said to have that kind of freedom to express yourself in the ring, that is a gift, and he loves it.
When asked if he felt unappreciated in the past. Castagnoli said that he didn’t know if he felt underappreciated because the fans were always by his side. He isn’t sure if tonight’s win puts that debate to rest, but he said this was just the beginning. He said there are expectations when becoming a champion and will try to meet them.
Regarding this being a ‘brass ring’ moment, Castagnoli considers the last month his brass ring, mentioning his Forbidden Door debut against Zack Sabre Jr. and the Blood and Guts match that took place later that week.
When asked about Jonathan Gresham, Castagnoli said that after ROH initially shut down in December, Gresham continued to keep the ROH World Championship alive, and he respected that.
Wheeler Yuta
Yuta said that having all of these opportunities is really special, and didn’t know where he would be if there wasn’t an AEW. He said he should be in the independents for another 5 or 10 years based on how things used to work.
During the interview, Daniel Garcia came out and complained that Yuta pinned him with a roll-up, and not a wrestling move. Yuta dismissed him and said he’d see him on Wednesday.
FTR
Dax Harwood said that Khan has let him do something good for himself and pro wrestling, and always tries to leave something behind. To be able to do what they have done this year means a lot to him. Cash Wheeler said that it has kept going and hasn’t stopped, it is overwhelming in the best possible way.
When asked about wrestling anxieties, Harwood said that they were going to try and top the last match, and knew the Boston crowd would appreciate it. He said having anxieties about a wrestling match is nothing compared to the anxieties of life. He said he is on Zoloft and is talking to a therapist. Wheeler said there should be no stigma when it comes to mental health.
Harwood said to be in the main event, the draw of the show, that is what they have worked for and the kind of legacy they want to leave behind. Wheeler said that he has been proud of their team their entire career.
Regarding the end of the show where they celebrated their win with a young fan, both say they didn’t know who the kid was other than his name was Austin who had a sign saying he was FTR’s number one fan, and that they wanted to have a cool moment for him.
Sting was brought up, with Harwood saying he told Sting prior to their match at Arthur Ashe Stadium that if he wanted to go 30 minutes, they were the team to do it with. He said after the match Sting sent him a voice mail thanking them, saying he had self-doubts before the match and was happy to read social media posts saying he still had it.
Tony Khan
During the Castagnoli interview, Khan mentioned that Castagnoli originally was supposed to make his debut on this show as a mystery opponent, but plans changed after Danielson was unable to compete at Forbidden Door.
Regarding the ROH World Championship match opening the show, Khan said that he wanted a great match to kick off the show and to set the pace for the night.
Khan said tonight’s Death Before Dishonor show was one of the top three biggest Ring of Honor pay-per-views shows ever, one of the top four highest attended shows, and the most attended ROH show that wasn’t held during WrestleMania weekend. During the scrum, he noted up to that point they had about 25,000 buys digitally.
When asked about CM Punk, Khan said he didn’t want to say anything as Punk gave an update on his injury at the AEW Comic-Con panel. However, he said his healing is on track, but couldn’t commit to his return at All Out in September.
Regarding ROH/AEW integration, Khan suggested that we could see that even after ROH gets a television deal. He mentioned that NJPW wrestlers could also compete again in ROH.
Khan repeatedly brought up that this was the first show where ROH and Warner Bros. Discovery worked together via Bleacher Report, and got texts from both Warner Bros. and Discovery people congratulating him on tonight’s show.
When asked why he booked Rush vs. Dragon Lee, Khan said that they have a lot of history and both were eager to have the match.
On Prince Nana buying out Tully Blanchard Enterprises, Khan said Blanchard is doing well personally and wished him the best, saying we could see him in AEW or ROH again in the future. He also praised Nana as an ROH legend.
He couldn’t comment on the contractual status of Dalton Castle or The Boys, but enjoyed their match.
Regarding The Briscoes, they will be a big part of Ring of Honor moving forward as they are signed to long-term deals, but was not sure regarding whether or not they will appear on AEW Dynamite or Rampage.
One interviewer asked about potential names such as Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, and Brian Milonas coming back to ROH. Khan said they were all great talents and brought up people from ROH’s past who were on the card tonight, such as Tony Deppen and Slim J. Regarding Slim J, Khan said he should have been wrestling a lot more in the last two decades.
There is optimism regarding a TV deal, pointing to the online buys and success of tonight’s show.
Khan praised Mercedes Martinez, saying that she’s tremendous. He recalls a siatuaion where Booker T was adamant about Khan signing her, but Khan was unable to do so as she made the one-time appearance prior to AEW getting an extension on their TV deal. Khan praised both Booker T and Jim Cornette, with Khan saying that they have the right to criticize his product. He said a lot of what Cornette has said about his product was fair.
Khan praised his father, saying everything he knew about business he learned from his dad and praised him on taking a chance on AEW even when he didn’t believe in it.
Regarding the sale, Khan said that it happened very quickly and had to make that decision or they would “sell to the other obvious person it would sell to”.
Khan flatly rejected the idea that Ring of Honor was a developmental league for AEW, saying that he sees Dark as the developmental brand.
Following Tuesday’s edition of the show, there will be a Countdown to ROH Death Before Dishonor airing immediately after.
Several ROH wrestlers are set to be featured on Dark this week as well. Jay Lethal, ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham, Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta, and ROH Women’s World Champion Mercedes Martinez will all be in action.
Serena Deeb and Daniel Garcia will both challenge for titles at Death Before Dishonor and both will also be in singles matches this week on Dark.
Seven of the matches for Dark this week were filmed on June 11 from Orlando’s Universal Studios and another seven were taped on July 16 from the same venue.
AEW Dark airs on Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m Eastern time on YouTube. The full lineup for the card is as follows:
Taped on June 11 from Universal Studios in Orlando:
Charlette & Robyn Renegade vs. Avery Breaux & Valentina Rossi
Danhausen vs. Jake Something
Alan “5” Angels vs. Daniel Garcia in an ROH Pure Rules match
Fuego Del Sol vs. QT Marshall
Marina Shafir vs. Amber Nova
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Anthony Henry
Jora Johl vs. Luke Sampson
Taped on July 16 from Universal Studios in Orlando:
Jay Lethal vs. Logan Cruz
ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Bryce Donovan
ROH Women’s World Champion Mercedes Martinez vs. J-Rod
ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham vs. Jordan Oasis
Lee Moriarty vs. Ren Jones
Serena Deeb vs. Viva Van
The Varsity Blondes (Brian PIllman Jr. & Griff Garrison) vs. Terrence & Terrell Hughes
