Tony Khan said Wednesday’s Dynamite is the ‘right time and place’ to air the altercation that took place at All In last August.
Speaking to Uproxx, Khan said that the footage they are airing on Wednesday’s show between Jack Perry and CM Punk is relevant to upcoming plans for The Young Bucks, who are set to face FTR in the finals of the AEW Tag Team title tournament at AEW Dynasty on April 21.
“For us, this is a decision based on the timing of our upcoming pay-per-view, AEW Dynasty, and given where the Young Bucks stand going into the World Tag Team Championship Tournament finals at AEW Dynasty,” he says. “This was the right time and place for them to play this footage and talk about why it’s relevant to them and AEW going forward and what this means going into AEW Dynasty.”
The company announced on Saturday that The Young Bucks will be airing backstage footage from All In on AEW Dynamite, with Nicholas & Matthew Jackson talking about the footage for the first time. The altercation between Perry and Punk ultimately led to Punk’s firing from AEW and Perry’s suspension from the company.
The Young Bucks will present backstage footage from All In purportedly showing an altercation between CM Punk & Jack Perry on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
FTR & The Young Bucks are set to square off in the finals of a tournament to crown new AEW Tag Team Champions at Dynasty on April 21, and the footage will play into the storyline, according to Tony Khan.
A World title eliminator match is also set for tonight’s show, with World Champion Samoa Joe facing Dustin Rhodes.
Adam Copeland will defend the TNT Championship tonight against Penta El Zero Miedo.
Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will toast her Dynasty challenger Thunder Rosa on tonight’s episode in Charlestown, West Virginia.
Mariah May will go one-on-one with Anna Jay in a women’s division contest.
After returning to the company on Collision and aligning with Shane Taylor Promotions, Anthony Ogogo will team with Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty against Chris Jericho, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata in a trios match tonight.
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz as we go to the entrances for the opening contest. AEW Champion Samoa Joe made his way out of the tunnel, but immediately attacked by Swerve Strickland. Joe quickly gained control and set up a table off to the side of the stage, but Strickland side stepped and tackled Joe through the table. Security and officials pulled Strickland away, as Joe is left to stumble backstage.
Excalibur said they had to pivot, so we see footage of Trent Beretta turning on Orange Cassidy last week. Kris Statlander confronted Beretta backstage and he whispered something to her before walking off. Renee Paquette was standing outside Orange Cassidy’s locker room and she was told Cassidy will be wrestling on Rampage Friday and will address the issues then.
Adam Copeland defeated Penta el Zero Miedo (w/Alex Abrahantes) to retain the TNT Title
(I thought this was excellent, as I’m really glad it went through multiple breaks and went right about 20 minutes. Penta put up one heck of a fight and controlled a lot of this, but Copeland hung tough and showed the Spear can put anyone away at any time. Post match, we almost saw Julia Hart mist Copeland, but Nightingale making the save was a good way to incorporate both PPV matches into this.)
Trash talk from Penta to start, as an early Spear connected for two. Penta followed with a top rope double stomp for another near fall. Copeland spun out of Fear Factor, but ran into a superkick and clothesline to the floor. Copeland dodged a dive, as the match reset back inside with Penta tattooing Copeland with chops that took things to commercial.
Copeland gained control briefly during break, but Penta was in the driver’s seat when things returned. Copeland delivered an old school flying head scissors, but Penta escaped with a pump fake kick to the head. A series of leapfrogs from Copeland, as each man traded tilt a whirl head scissors before colliding with three clotheslines in succession, causing the double down. Both slugged it out on their knees as a Countdown clock to The Young Bucks is shown in the corner with 19 minutes remaining. Penta connected on a Sling Blade to send Copeland to the floor, as a follow up somersault dive hit. Copeland beat the 10 count, as Penta set Copeland up on the edge of the apron and punted him in the neck, taking things to a second commercial break.
When things returned, Penta, who controlled the whole break, delivered a corner backstabber for two. Penta went for it again, only this time Copeland countered into an Electric Chair face buster. Copeland locked on the Edgecator, reverse Sharpshooter, transitioned into an Ankle Lock, but Penta escaped. Penta wanted the arm breaker, but Copeland reversed into a Crossface. Penta got the ropes, tried a springboard to the apron, but Copeland cut him off. Both tried home run moves on the apron, but it was ultimately Copeland delivering a pretty cool powerslam on the edge of the ring. Copeland wanted a Spear on the floor, but Abrahantes leapt in front of Penta and took the bullet, much to the delight of Taz.
Back inside, both fought to the ropes, as Penta hit an Avalanche Code Red for a very close two. Penta quickly snapped the arm back, but again, Copeland kicked out. Fear Factor attempt was spun out of, as Penta tried a springboard, but leapt back right into a Spear to give Copeland the win.
The lights went out as Julia Hart and Brody King were in the ring, as King attacked from behind and ran down Copeland in the corner. King choked out Copeland, as Hart was going to mist him when Willow Nightingale hit the ring and tackled Hart. King pulled Hart away, as Copeland sent King packing and retreating with Hart, while Nightingale checked on Copeland.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Chris Jericho, HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata, as she talks about their six man tag tonight against Shane Taylor Promotions. Jericho said HOOK brought in Shibata on his own, which means he’s learning. Tonight, they both can sit under the learning tree of Jericho, who pretty much went over the entire match with them. Jericho said if they breathe the verified air of Jericho, they’ll be successful. Jericho walked off and Shibata said through his phone What’s His Deal? HOOK said don’t worry about it, before Shibata looked at Paquette and told her he liked her necklace.
Footage from the previous three meetings of The Young Bucks and FTR are shown, with The Bucks winning the first battle, while FTR have won the following two. Excalibur said up next, The Bucks will discuss and show their footage from All In London.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Mark Briscoe & Eddie Kingston, congratulating Briscoe on winning the ROH Title from Kingston this past weekend. Both are amped up for their match at Dynasty, as Adam Copeland walked into the shot with Willow Nightingale & Stokely Hathaway. Copeland said they’re all good for Dynasty, before Hathaway told Copeland to put the TNT Title on the line against Nightingale next week. Nightingale said that was ridiculous, but asked for a mixed tag next week with Copeland against Julia Hart & Brody King. Hathaway tried to apologize to Eddie Kingston for saying he smelled like Burger King & Newports last time they saw each other, Kingston rolled his eyes and walked away.
The Young Bucks Show Unaired Footage from All In London
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson were backstage and said the TV audience is ready to see the footage, but not before context. Nicholas said Dynasty is coming up and it’s FTR vs. The Young Bucks, which got them to think about the wounds from All In London, so this is a perfect time to talk about it. The biggest show in company history, as a lot of critics said whoever won that match would be the greatest team of the generation. Matthew said before their match, an incident occurred between Scapegoat, the loveable kid, Jack Perry, who reminded them a lot of them at his age. The other individual, tried to make it all about himself, someone who is good friends with FTR. Nicholas wondered if FTR were the masterminds of the entire situation, which Matthew said they couldn’t say, as that’s unprofessional. There was a cut and Matthew said that incident put the locker room in disarray, as they didn’t have time to prepare for the match, not even time to pray. If you asked anyone in the room, there should be an asterisk next to that FTR win. Matthew said the footage is short and it’s similar to a high school scrap. However, the ramifications were anything but, as it threatened to bring down the biggest show of all time.
They roll the tape with no audio and we see Jack Perry backstage, as CM Punk walks up and talks to him. Samoa Joe is getting ready for his match in the top corner of the shot, as after talking briefly, Punk shoves Perry first and puts him in a guillotine, as Joe stepped in, pulling Perry away. You could see Tony Khan trying to reach over the table to calm Punk, but Punk did seem to go after Khan, only to be pulled away by Chris Hero, Malakai Black and I believe Jerry Lynn, who ultimately ushered Punk away.
Matthew said that wasn’t the worst of it, the worst was filling a building for such a great wrestling show and losing on that night. Matthew said FTR had the balls to shake their hands, which they won’t do at Dynasty. Nicholas storms off, while Matthew shows he’s wearing a Scapegoat shirt.
FTR stormed the ring and asked what The Bucks hoped to accomplish showing that footage aside from having an excuse on why they lost at Wembley? Wheeler said he’s sick and tired of this, as everyone wants to move on. Instead of showing the talent doing their best work ever, we get footage from 8 months ago, thanks to Rod & Todd Flanders (which is fitting, since Wheeler is wearing a Simpsons shirt). Wheeler said he’s sick of The Bucks being petty bitches. Harwood said that’s the EVPs, who say without them, AEW wouldn’t exist and folks would be without jobs. Harwood said he kind of agrees, as without The Bucks, he might still be shaving Wheeler’s back. What makes The Bucks sick, is FTR has eclipsed them as the best team on this planet. At one time, The Bucks cared about AEW, but whether it’s greed, they lost that and they only care about themselves. Harwood said on the backs of every single man and woman who want to be there, they will build things on their backs, not just for them, but for the future of pro wrestling, so it gives people a decision on where fans decided to spend their money. If The Bucks don’t want to be part of that AEW, grab your ball, FTR has got this.
Harwood said this isn’t about Wembley or All In, this is about the AEW World Tag Team Championships at Dynasty. Two teams walk in, one walk out the first three time Tag Team Champions. The Bucks might’ve built the foundation, but FTR will build the roof and have no issue blowing it off, top guys, out.
This footage will be talked about by a lot of people as it did show Punk initiating contact with Perry, who didn’t get any shots off, then ultimately going after Tony Khan, but was held back. FTR’s frustrations this was even brought up all this time later probably echoes a lot of people’s thoughts, but it did show Punk getting physical first, so there’s that.
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-A video package for Bryan Danielson & Will Ospreay was shown as Renee Paquette introduces Ospreay to the stage. Ospreay said Tony Khan told him he had 5 mintues to talk, as TV time is expensive. Ospreay said there’s a rumor going around he’s afraid of the grind. Ospreay said he travels from the UK every single week and delivers the best pro wrestling matches the world has seen. Normally he wouldn’t be baited by this, but since the one who said this is only in the position he’s in because he was grinding the bosses daughter. You don’t throw stones at an Assassin with a machine gun. The only way Bryan Danielson has any chance to beat him is by grounding the Arieal Assassin. Many have tried, but all have failed, except Danielson is a living legend, so Ospreay can’t call himself the greatest in the world until he pins him. This is AEW, where the best wrestle and it’s Ospreay’s time to show everyone what he’s about and what he brings to this table and why he’s the Ace of AEW. Danielson finds out at Dynasty why his name is Will Ospreay and why he’s on another level.
Thankfully this is what was needed following the previous segment, as Ospreay is the future of AEW and it’s time to focus on the future, not dwell on the past.
-A video package of Julia Hart telling Willow Nightingale the House Always Wins is shown ahead of their match at Dynasty.
Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty & Anthony Ogogo defeated FTW Champion HOOK, Chris Jericho & Katsuyori Shibata
(The wheels have already started to fall off for LionHOOK. This was however, Moriarty’s biggest win to date, as hopefully this actually leads to something for Shane Taylor Promotions and not just a one and done win that happened out of sheer luck. I’ve really enjoyed Taylor & Moriarty as a duo. Ogogo barely got into this match, so the jury is still out on how he really is in the ring.)
This is the Wooo Energy Match of the Night, as Schiavone tells us this is Ogogo’s first match on Dynamite since 2021, as Moriarty was taken down by Jericho quickly, as Lionsault connected for two. Jericho hit a bad looking dropkick before dishing out a series of corner clotheslines and chops until a corner hurricanrana connected. Shibata made the tag and absolutely starched Moriarty with a chop until Taylor made the tag, as HOOK did as well. Ogogo got a cheap shot to allow Taylor to connect with a lariat to stay in control during commercial.
When things returned, HOOK delivered a massive overhead suplex on Taylor, as Shibata made the hot tag and ran wild with kicks, chops and forearms. Corner running dropkick from Shibata got a two count, but Jericho unintentionally took a stray shot from Shibata, dropping him to the floor. HOOK wanted to make a tag, but Jericho pulls him to the floor, talking about his learning tree. HOOK & Jericho argued, as Shibata sank in a choke on Moriarty, but Taylor came in and fired off a right hand, leading to Moriarty connecting on a suplex Flatliner to get the win.
HOOK checked on Shibata post-match, as Jericho was upset they lost, which is ridiculous if you think about it. HOOK told Jericho it didn’t have to be like this and told Jericho to get lost. Jericho walked up the ramp, as HOOK showed respect to Shibata.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Dustin Rhodes and said Samoa Joe is medically cleared to compete tonight. Rhodes said this doesn’t change his strategy, as he still has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. The time for talking is over, grit, work ethic, passion and glory, it’s what Rhodes is all about and tonight is no different.
Okada no sold a few shots before clubbing Argento with shots before an Air Raid Crash connected. Okada almost looks bored, as he dared Argento to hit him, which resulted in more no sells and the picture-perfect dropkick. Rainmaker connected for the easy victory for Okada. Post match, Okada took the mic and said he accepts PAC’s challenge for Dynasty. PAC came out to the stage and applauded Okada before pacing back and forth. PAC was headed to the ring, but was attacked by The Young Bucks from behind. The crowd chanted for CM Punk, as The Bucks hit a superkick, as Okada lifted PAC for a Rainmaker, but FTR made the save and slugged it out with The Bucks. FTR wanted Shatter Machine, but Okada came back with chair shots to drop Harwood & Wheeler. The Bucks hit a double EVP Trigger to FTR, while Okada hit a chair shot to the side of the head of PAC to complete the beatdown.
-Footage of The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass attacking Bullet Club Gold at Supercard of Honor is shown before we go to Switchblade Jay White & The Gunns backstage tonight. They do a recap of crushing Darby Allin’s dream, successfully defending their ROH Six Man Titles last weekend and finally White putting the biggest beatdown on Billy Gunn last week. White said he’s ready to do it again on Rampage, but not against Billy (thankfully), against someone Austin & Colten line up.
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Timeless Toni Storm’s Charleston Championship Champagne Toast to Thunder Rosa
Renee Paquette introduces Thunder Rosa to the stage, who was followed by Timeless Toni Storm & Luther. Storm’s side of the shot is in black and white, while Paquette & Rosa are in color. Everyone has champagne, as Paquette gives Storm the floor, but she immediately tosses the drink in Rosa’s face and clocks her with Luther’s tray. Storm wipes the face paint off Rosa, as Deonna Purrazzo runs out, with Luther standing between the two. Purrazzo helps out Rosa, who shoves off the assistance, which Purrazzo said screw it and left. Commentary said Rosa must’ve not have known it was Purrazzo who helped, even though she was looking right at her. Referees checked on Rosa, as Mariah May came out for her match, with Storm giving her a kiss and it seemed to Hulk up May.
Mariah May defeated Anna Jay
(The big story here is the debut of Mina Shirakawa on AEW TV, as it looks like May’s mentor from Stardom is here to help her as well. I like this, as it could start planting seeds of not just May breaking away from Storm, forcing May to choose between the two, but perhaps May winning the Women’s Title down the line.)
Both ladies took turns firing off chops, with May’s echoing a lot louder, so Jay turned to forearms to take control briefly until May hit a sliding trip. Jay side stepped a shotgun dropkick and delivered a flipping neckbreaker and almost a ripcord forearm. May backed Jay to the corner, licked her hand and hit a double chop before a hand stand head scissors sent Jay flying to the mat. Jay regained control with a neckbreaker through the ropes, but May responded quickly with a hard forearm that sent Jay to the outside during commercial.
Back from break, Jay hit her running corner spin kick and Iconoclasm for a near fall. May side stepped a corner charge and hit a high kick before a top rope dropkick connected. Sweet Cheek Music hit, but Jay kicked out. Jay floated over and hit a thrust kick, followed it up with a Flatliner for another near fall. Jay wanted her Gory Bomb, but May rolled through into a flash pin. Post match, a frustrated Jay choked out May with the Queenslayer until Mina Shirakawa made the save, with Jay bailing. Excalibur talked about May & Shirakawa reuniting at Ring of Honor last weekend, as they are former tag team partners and stablemates in Club Venus in Stardom. Shirakawa asked for two glasses of champagne and helped May drink before planting a kiss on her.
-Alex Marvez is backstage somewhere with Mercedes Mone and talked about deciding to make history at Double or Nothing, where she’ll have her debut. Mone was asked about the TBS Title match at Dynasty and Mone said they are the very best, as Julia Hart is unpredictable and has Willow Nightingale’s number for sure. Nightingale is a force to be reckoned with for sure, she’s dangerous. Marvez asks her to elaborate and Mone brought up her match with Nightingale getting injured and losing the chance to be the first ever NJPW Women’s Champion. Mone said she’s now on a mission, to be TBS Champion at Double or Nothing and was about to answer who she wants to face on that show when the lights went out and we hear Mone getting beat up. A very non panicked Marvez asked for the lights to turn on and when they did, Mone was down and Marvez just asked folks for help. This segment was fine, but Marvez’s non acting made this hilarious when it wasn’t meant to be.
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Samoa Joe defeated Dustin Rhodes in an AEW World Title Eliminator
(I was entertained quite a bit by this main event, as despite having an uphill battle to pull out a win, the crowd bit at Rhodes near falls. The one thing Dustin should’ve learned from Cody this past weekend, it takes more than one Cross Rhodes to defeat a World Champion. Joe stealing the win here was fine, as it made the heel sneak out a win, only for Strickland to ultimately get his comeuppance from last week’s beating he suffered. I thought this was a good chapter in this feud before the go home Dynasty Dynamite next week.)
Joe, with Swerve Strickland’s chain, limped to the ring, as Rhodes attacked right at the bell with corner strikes. Joe tossed Rhodes to the outside and drove him into the barricade, but Rhodes battled back. Joe was right back in control, posting Rhodes, who bled as things went to commercial.
It was all Joe during break, as Rhodes tried to battle back, but being busted open really messed with his equilibrium. Joe kept pouring down shots until Rhodes fired off a snap powerslam. Rhodes fired up with the Flip, Flop and Fly punches before a perfect Code Red connected for two. Joe dodged a Bulldog and clobbered Rhodes with a lariat that sent him outside. Joe tried to post Rhodes again, this time Rhodes turned the tables and sent Joe into the post before tossing the AEW World Title into the ring. The ref pleaded not to do it, as Rhodes put the title down and booted Joe before hitting Cross Rhodes for a close two. Joe went to the corner and suckered Rhodes in to charge and hit a STO. Joe grabbed the chain and the ref took it away, allowing Joe to deck Rhodes with the AEW Title. Joe made the cover and stole the win.
Post match, Joe sank in the Coquina Clutch before Swerve Strickland appeared out of nowhere with a House Call kick. Strickland grabbed the chain and leveled Joe with a punch. Strickland tried to whip Joe, but he bailed, as security and wrestlers had to keep them separated. Prince Nana presented the AEW World Title to Strickland, who held the title in the air and stared down a pissed off Joe to end the show.
AEW Rampage 4/12/24
· Orange Cassidy vs. Alex Reynolds
· Switchblade Jay White vs. Matt Sydal
· Julia Hart defends the TBS Title against Leyla Hirsch
· Cool Hand Ang vs. Zak Knight
AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts X 4/13/24
· Roderick Strong vs. Rocky Romero in an International Title Eliminator
AEW Dynamite 4/17/24
Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. Brody King & Julia Hart
Kazuchika Okada’s first match as a full-time member of the AEW roster will air on this week’s Collision.
After Okada debuted on Dynamite and aligned with The Young Bucks as part of The Elite, their first match as a trio has been announced for the Saturday, March 9 Collision. Their opponents have yet to be revealed.
An Atlanta Street Fight has also been booked for Collision, with Mark Briscoe, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal teaming against House of Black’s Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King.
CMLL’s Titan will be in action on the Collision card as well, taking on Chris Jericho.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Bryan Danielson will go one-on-one with Shane Taylor on Collision. Danielson closed this week’s Dynamite by confronting Will Ospreay.
Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will present the first-ever Toni Award in another new segment announced for Collision.
Storm’s protege Mariah May will also be in action on Saturday’s Collision card.
This week’s Collision will air in its normal Saturday, 8 p.m. Eastern time slot on TNT, but is being taped Thursday March 7 in Duluth, Georgia at the Gas South Arena, the same building that hosted Wednesday’s Dynamite.
The announced Collision lineup:
Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks in trios action
Atlanta Street Fight: Mark Briscoe, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. House of Black’s Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews
Sting ended his career at Sunday’s AEW Revolution on his own terms, capping off what will probably be one of the top shows of the year.
Over 16,000 fans packed North Carolina’s Greensboro Coliseum to watch AEW Tag Team Champions Sting & Darby Allin team together one last time to defeat The Young Bucks in a fantastic, heated, bloody and brutal match that gave us the happy ending that everyone wanted: Sting winning his last match with the Scorpion Death Lock.
It wasn’t the best match on the show, but it was the perfect one to end Sting’s career.
Allin nearly killed himself (and I mean that literally) by taking a huge bump off a ladder through a real glass pane on the outside of the ring. I cannot stress enough how crazy of a bump that was on a show full of crazy bumps. But this was Sting’s time to shine, kicking out of all the Bucks’ finishers as the crowd ate it up. After spending most of the match recovering from his insane stunt, Allin helped Sting pick up the win.
Sting could have spent the last three years of his career doing nothing and he still would have got a big response because he was a star in one of the most successful eras of pro wrestling ever in North America. But he did the complete opposite: working his butt off in every match, giving us amazing moments that I don’t think anyone will forget anytime soon, including on Sunday.
For that, thank you, Sting.
Here are thoughts on the rest of the card, which is very easily a show of the year contender:
The AEW World Championship match was an excellent three-way bout. It was pretty hard to have to follow a match like Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita, but they held their own with Samoa Joe retaining by choking out Hangman Page. I think one of the stories for 2024 has to be Swerve Strickland getting the win and the title. It doesn’t have to be now, but I think with his recent face turn, he should be at the top. His time seems to be coming.
Ospreay made his AEW debut with an incredible match against Takeshita, as expected. Getting match of the night honors on a show like this is extremely hard, but these two got the job done. They put on a clinic and did all of their crazy moves as one would expect in a big time match like this. The sheer drop brain buster into the turnbuckle was sick and one that made Ospreay’s back looked so trashed afterward (although Allin outdid him later). Ospreay was also super over with this crowd — so much so that it’s plainly obvious he should be one of the top babyfaces on this roster.
There’s not much to say about the Women’s title match which was two people wrestling and doing okay stuff in front of a crowd that absolutely did not care. Despite her work elsewhere, Deonna Purrazzo just hasn’t connected with the AEW audience and while Toni Storm’s act does connect, for whatever reason, it almost never results in a good match. People want to cheer her, but she’s a heel doing heel things. All of this, of course, is a backdrop to Mercedes Mone’s eventual debut at Big Business on March 13th, so we’ll see if the division picks up from there.
Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong told a very good story. There are some who absolutely loathe the character, but these people never want to accept how good of a worker Cassidy is. His selling here was so great and Strong was excellent as being the heel in control and working on the back, naturally as he’s the messiah of the backbreaker. Kyle O’Reilly made his return after Strong won the International title, but didn’t immediately join with his friends, so there’s some drama here for the near future.
Boy, was FTR vs. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli fun to watch. I don’t know how long they went but every minute felt like a tribute to tag team wrestling with tons of cool callbacks to teams of the past and some hot near falls. None of these four wrestlers ever have a bad pay-per-view match and this more than delivered. Both teams should absolutely be in the upcoming Tag Team title tournament and probably in the finals.
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson had an excellent match. This would probably rank as the second or third best match on this show, but easily could have been the top match on any of the big shows last year. A battle of attrition that just kept going, this was a tribute to Japanese pro wrestling in North Carolina. I think at this point, Danielson needed the win more as he’s been doing plenty of jobs lately, but I can’t complain at all. It was excellent.
The opener for the pay-per-view saw Christian Cage retain the TNT Championship against Daniel Garcia. This was a great opener and the last few minutes were fantastic with some great near falls. Of course, this was a buffer match for the eventual Adam Copeland return, which I am guessing will be at AEW’s next pay-per-view, Dynasty, in April.
Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingaledefeated Julia Hart and Skye Blue. These four have been feuding with each other for what feels like forever and all of them just seem to be treading water. What is the Stokely Hathaway stuff leading to? Is Willow going heel? Is Statlander turning on someone? The story is moving so slow, I just want it to go somewhere. They tried here and this wasn’t a bad match, but a lot of stuff looked sloppy.
The opener, pitting the Bang Bang Scissor Gang against Jeff Jarrett’s crew and Willie Mack, was good. This was nothing special, but fine work. I feel like everyone in the Bang Bang Scissor Gang feels less over being in this group for some reason. There really hasn’t been much advancement in the story and Max Caster is now doing a gimmick where he can’t rap anymore. I don’t like that.
And that will do it for Revolution as AEW’s next big show will be April’s Dynasty PPV in St. Louis. After ending 2023 on a sour note, I hope we see more shows like Revolution from the company. WWE is hot right now, but they aren’t putting on these kinds of shows which needs to be AEW’s strong suit going forward.
Sting finished his AEW career undefeated as he and Darby Allin upended the Young Bucks in the main event of Sunday’s Revolution to retain the AEW Tag Team titles in Sting’s retirement match.
Sting got Matt Jackson to tap out to the Scorpion Death Lock, ending what was a hellacious bout that featured ladders, table bumps and panes of real glass.
The 64-year-old will now retire as a champion with the future of the titles up in the air as of now.
Much like in previous matches, it was held under tornado rules which meant anything goes. At one point, Sting and Allin brought out the aforementioned glass from under the ring with Sting’s two sons helping to set one up on chairs next to the ring.
And has been the case in those anything goes bouts, Sting took his share of punishment including a suplex from Matt Jackson off the stage through two side-by-side tables that took him out of the action for a bit.
Later, Allin took a bump through the aforementioned glass that has to be seen to be believed:
With Allin out of action, Sting made his way back into action, only to be thrown through a table off a ladder in the ring and then later hip-tossed into another pane of glass set up in the corner:
Ricky Steamboat, a guest timekeeper, was taken out by the Bucks after trying to prevent them from using a title belt. Ric Flair then got in the ring and shielded Sting, only to get superkicked. Steamboat also then got superkicked as he made his way up to the apron.
With Allin injured, Sting fought back up several times, kicking out at one after a second EVP trigger. He then took a double superkick and was about to take a TK Driver before Allin returned to toss Nick Jackson through a ringside table. Sting hit a Scorpion Death Drop to Matt Jackson, followed by an Allin coffin drop and a Scorpion Death Lock to end it.
Going into the match, Sting was 27-0 since making his debut at March 2021’s Revolution — all in traditional tag team, trios and eight-man matches. He and Allin defeated Ricky Starks and Big Bill for the titles in early-February with this being their first defense.
The post-match
Afterward, Allin got on the mic and said there was three minutes left in the PPV and wanted the fans to show their appreciation. Sting then thanked the fans as he said he has done since 1988 and also Flair. He wanted to give fans a night they would never forget as it was a night he would never forget.
Sting then put over Allin, wondering how many stitches Allin would require tonight, then saying he saw a risk-taker in Allin and that he himself was still a risk-taker which the fans responded to.
However, the rest of Sting’s promo didn’t air on PPV as the feed cut out after he said he was getting cued for time. AEW eventually posted some of the missing promo on X afterward as seen below:
THANK YOU STING! – From the entire wrestling world.
Eventually, after Sting was done, the entire locker room came out onto the stage to applaud him which also wasn’t seen on air.
The intro
Flair and Steamboat came out before the introductions, joining several other wrestlers from the past that were already at ringside including Nikita Koloff, Scotty Riggs, Magnum TA and Arn Anderson.
After Allin’s introduction, a montage of Sting’s career aired with still photos from his WCW days and footage from his matches in NJPW along with AEW. No TNA or WWE-owned footage was shown. Sting was shown watching it while in an empty movie theatre, eventually doing his “It’s showtime” catchphrase and his traditional yell.
His two sons then came out with one dressed in Sting’s Great American Bash-inspired gear with the other in his WCW Wolfpack gear before Sting entered to Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy.” The sons eventually got into the action, delivering Stinger splashes to both Bucks as retribution for being attacked several weeks ago.
Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone were on commentary with Excalibur, notable as Ross and Schiavone called Sting’s famed March 1988 Clash of the Champions bout against Ric Flair in the same building.
AEW EVPs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will be in action on the Wednesday, February 14 edition of Dynamite.
AEW announced during Friday’s Rampage episode that The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) will face Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) on Dynamite.
The bout for Dynamite was announced after The Young Bucks won a quick squash match on Rampage and then cut a promo declaring their intention to climb AEW’s tag team rankings in order to earn a title shot.
The Bucks look to be in line to face Sting & Darby Allin at the Revolution pay-per-view set for Sunday, March 3. Sting & Allin defeated Ricky Starks & Big Bill to win the AEW Tag Team titles on this week’s Dynamite, but were then laid out by The Bucks.
The Bucks wore the same gear stained with Allin’s blood from Wednesday’s angle on Friday’s Rampage.
Revolution will mark the final match in Sting’s Hall of Fame career.
The Young Bucks vs. Top Flight is the only match announced for Dynamite to this point.
AEW Dynamite, Wednesday, February 14 —
The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
The Young Bucks will speak on the next episode of AEW Dynamite, plus two title matches have also been added to the show’s lineup.
One week after returning to Dynamite to confront Sting & Darby Allin, we will hear from The Young Bucks on the Wednesday, January 17 episode. It is expected that The Bucks will face Sting & Allin at AEW Revolution in March in Sting’s retirement match.
Two new title matches are also set for the January 17 Dynamite.
Following a backstage promo battle on Collision, Christian Cage will defend the TNT Championship against Dustin Rhodes on Dynamite. Rhodes scored a singles win over Willie Mack on Collision, then told Cage to “get [his] balls ready” as he planned to tap dance all over his ass” in their title match.
The ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles will also be defended on Dynamite, with Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony putting the belts up against Bullet Club Gold’s Bang Bang Gang of The Gunns & Jay White.
Already announced for the show, Samoa Joe will defend the AEW World Championship against Hook.
The updated lineup for the Wednesday, January 17 Dynamite:
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Hook
The Young Bucks speak
TNT Champion Christian Cage defends against Dustin Rhodes
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Gates of Agony & Brian Cage defend against The Bang Bang Gang’s Jay White & The Gunns
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Sting’s last match, the AEW Dynamite TV report, all the news and more, then THE QUEEN OF EXTREME FRANCINE joins us to talk all manner of subjects! A fun show as always so check it out~!
I’m at a weird place with AEW right now and Saturday’s Full Gear exemplified that.
On one hand, the wrestling on this show was great. There were a lot of great matches, so I can’t call this a bad show. It was good! But throughout the show, there were a number of things that kept reminding me of WWE. Not bad WWE or good WWE — just WWE. And frankly, when I watch other wrestling, I don’t want to be reminded of WWE.
Take the show-long storyline of The Gunns attacking MJF after retaining the ROH Tag Team titles with Samoa Joe on the pre-show, injuring his leg. Adam Cole made a surprise appearance during that match and could only watch as The Gunns Pillmanized MJF’s leg. MJF begged Cole not to let them take his title as he was put in an ambulance. This ended up being a weird storyline in which Tony Khan, who must not care about the health of his performers, agreed to put Cole (who is recovering from ankle surgery) in the main event against Jay White for the title.
Of course, this did not happen. This entire angle was set up so MJF, channeling “Stone Cold” Steve Austin from the 1998 Raw is War era, couuld drive back to the arena in an ambulance and wrestle as the vulnerable babyface with the bad leg. And like Austin/Hogan/Cena/Reigns, he overcame the odds and defeated White in what ended up being a very good match.
I feel like I’m all over the place on this show and this match, but I also feel like that a lot with AEW lately. The match quality is above WWE most weeks, but I’m struggling to get into the stories in between the matches. It seems the only reason they did this storyline, which really did nothing but confuse people, was because they thought nobody thought White had a shot at winning the title. That kind of brings the question as to why White was put in the position in the first place to headline a pay-per-view.
Again, I feel weird about being so dour on the main event. It was good and people were into it, so is there really anything to complain about? The answer is yes because they spent a show-long storyline about MJF possibly not wrestling a match that was built for weeks, just to do it anyway. It’s weird and doesn’t feel like something AEW would do even a year ago.
Anyway, here are my thoughts on the rest of the card:
The Young Bucks lost their AEW Tag Team title match to Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, aka the Golden Jets. This had a hard time following the Texas Death Match, but this also ended up being really good. Based on the finish, I wonder if the Bucks are going to end up joining the Don Callis family or if it’s just a tease to eventually get them all back together. It seems weird to do another Elite split so soon as it wasn’t that long ago they did the big reunion.
Boy, that Texas Death Match was kind of violent! Just about very violent thing you can do in a match took place here. Glass, barbed wire, staples, blood — it was a brutal, brutal match and was an absolute spectacle in a way that was completely different from the ladder match. I thought the finish, which involved Brian Cage interfering, was so unneeded and took the match down a notch. Both companies are way too over reliant on interference to the point that Tony Khan is promising no interference in the Continental Classic tournament. You know you are in 2023 pro wrestling when you have to promise no interference. Still, whoever watches this match will probably remember it for a long time and I think it was the match of the night, despite the finish. I was kind of surprised Page lost two in a row to Swerve. so where does he go from here?
Julia Hart won the TBS Championship in a match I thought overdelivered. This ended up being good, especially toward the end with some great near falls. I thought this was better than the Women’s title match, in fact. I think the spooky thing is too gimmicky but I can’t complain too much about this.
The ladder match for the AEW Tag Team titles was great. I got annoyed when this stipulation was announced at the last minute on Friday because a) it was last minute and b) I’ve had my fill of ladder matches, a stipulation that feels like its been done to death. But I give lot of credit for this match being great due to Brody King, who took some amazing bumps including a piledriver on one of the ladders. Everyone worked hard here and this ended up being really good.
Toni Storm regained the AEW Women’s title in a match that just too cute in some spots, if that makes any sense. There was good wrestling, but it was pretty campy between all the butler spots and the shoe spots and the plate spots. I kind of don’t want this on AEW TV, yet I am seeing more of it and will see more as the weeks go by.
Orange Cassidy surprisingly retained the International title against Jon Moxley. I assumed a title change was happening here as Moxley was never actually supposed to lose the International title, but maybe this was the story all along. This ended up being a very good and hard-hitting match just as you’d expect between these two.
The six-man that opened the main show had Adam Copeland, Darby Allin and Sting defeat Christian Cage, Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus in what ended up being a fine match. I think the biggest bump of the match, naturally, came from Allin taking a scary-looking bump to the floor after being thrown by Luchasaurus. This is all setting up an eventual Copeland vs. Cage singles match, maybe next month at Worlds End?
The pre-show matches:
MJF and Samoa Joe retaining the ROH Tag Team titles was fine. The surprise appearance of Cole in the end got a pop, but the distraction finish felt right out of WWE. A lot of AEW things have been feeling right out of WWE as of late. Much more of a storyline to establish Cole was there and The Gunns injuring MJF, setting up the story of the night.
I liked Claudio Castagnoli vs. Buddy Matthews while it lasted in a real good hard hitting match. Matthews is underrated as a singles wrestler.
Eddie Kingston defeated Jay Lethal to retain the ROH World title in the open of the pre-show. This was fine. The Jarrett crew’s act is fine in limited doses. Ortiz is friends with Kingston now. Isn’t it funny Mike Santana won that match on Rampage a few weeks ago and has vanished from TV while Ortiz has been on every week?
And that is Full Gear. AEW will move forward with another pay-per-view next month with Worlds End so we’ll see where AEW pivots between the Continental Classic tournament that begins on Wednesday and where we’ll go with MJF, who I think may face Samoa Joe on that PPV…or perhaps that match will be next week. Who knows with AEW?
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Dynamite tonight and the addition of the Young Bucks to the show, the world famous NXT report, RAW ratings, the Globe Theatre shutting down and all the latest news. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the world famous RAW REPORT, NXT line-up for tonight, a totally baffling decision by AEW regarding Dynamite tomorrow, all the news and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho will team against The Young Bucks with a Tag Team title shot and more in the balance at AEW Full Gear.
Omega & Jericho as The Golden Jets will face Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks at Full Gear with The Bucks’ guaranteed AEW Tag Team title shot at stake. Additionally, Omega & Jericho must disband as a team should they lose. The Young Bucks earned the Tag Team title shot with a victory in a four-way match at WrestleDream on October 1.
The Full Gear bout was agreed to in a backstage promo segment on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Seven matches are now set for the Full Gear event, with six currently set for the main card and another announced for the Zero Hour pre-show.
The current lineup:
AEW Full Gear, Saturday, November 18, 8 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland
Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
The Golden Jets (Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) — Winner gets an AEW Tag Team title shot, Golden Jets disband if they lose
AEW Full Gear Zero Hour, Saturday, November 18, 7 p.m. Eastern time on AEW’s YouTube & social media channels —
ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF & a mystery partner defend against The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn)
Welcome to the second installment of my annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion — one of my most popular shows of the year.
Check out part one and then delve into this episodes where I continue to discuss nominees like Roman Reigns, the Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs, the British Bulldogs, the Hart Foundation, and many more.
Welcome to my annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion for 2023 — traditionally one of my most popular shows of the year.
This year, it’s a two-part show, discussing the likes of Roman Reigns, the Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs, British Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, and many more.
