The Jon Moxley defends AEW World Championship against…?

Eddie Kingston and his “family” brutalized Jon Moxley and his allies, but it doesn’t end there! The Mad King chooses Moxley’s challenger for TONIGHT! Who will it be? And will they change the plans for the Dynamite Anniversary?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Darby Allin VS Ricky Starks; Allin wins.
• AEW World Tag Team Championship Brush with Greatness: FTR w/ Tully Blanchard VS SoCal Uncensored; FTR wins and retains the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
• Chris Jericho w/ The Inner Circle VS Isiah Kassidy w/ Marq Quen & Matt Hardy; Jericho wins.
• Orange Cassidy VS “Number 10” Preston Vance w/ The Dark Order; Cassidy wins.
• Britt Baker VS Red Velvet; Baker wins.
• AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS The Butcher w/ Eddie Kingston; Moxley wins and retains the AEW World Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

Darby Allin VS Ricky Starks!

The undead underdog says he is relentless, but Absolute says he is just absolutely reckless! Will Starks leave Darby a wreck and be done with him?

Before the match, AEW has a special video message from Darby, or rather a friend of his in JPEGMAFIA. “Team Taz. Bunch of cowards. Ricky? You want to dress like Darby Allin, claim he’s not a man, while pretending to be him? Well they say imitation is the highest form of flattery.” So Darby is going to remind Starks “how much a b*tch” he really is. It takes more than a body bag full of thumbtacks to bury Darby. They’ll find that out right now. Darby makes his entrance and the fans fire up as this grudge match finally happens.

Darby and Starks circle, fans rally but Starks SLAPS Darby! Darby shotgun dropkicks Starks out! Darby goes out to throw Starks back in the ring, but Starks is building up speed! Starks SPEARS, but Darby catches it! Darby has a guillotine and body scissors! Starks powers up and puts Darby in a corner, but Darby wrenches, snapmares and rolls to monkey flip Starks to a FUJIWARA! Starks scrambles to get the ropebreak, Darby lets go at 4. Starks gets to the apron, Darby goes after him but Starks body shots back. Starks suplexes Darby but Darby resists. Darby suplexes Starks but Starks resists. Darby goes out to join Starks to suplex him to the apron! Starks flops to the floor and Taz is very upset on commentary.

Darby is in the ring as fans rally up. Starks rises, Darby builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Starks hits barriers! Darby drags Starks back up, back to the apron, and fans are loving “A E DUB!” but here comes Cage! Darby stares Brian Cage down, but here comes WILL HOBBS! The Embodiment of Willpower brawls with the Machine! They never got to have that fight in the Six Man Tag that was cancelled, so here it is now! Darby goes after Starks again but Starks arm-drags Darby off the apron! Darby crashes and burns, Taz is happy but fans are stunned. Starks puts Darby in the ring, drops elbows and kicks away on Darby! Starks drags Darby up to CHOP and CHOP and whip! Darby hits buckles then flops to the mat!

Fans fire up as Starks hobbles over. Starks stomps Darby, whips him corner to corner again, but Darby stays up a bit longer. Starks runs corner to corner, Darby BOOTS him away! Darby fires up, jumps but into Starks’ arms! Stark gets the Half Crab and sits down! Darby clubs the bad back, crawls over and reaches, but Starks lets him go anyway because the back couldn’t hold up! Starks comes back, wincing and gritting his teeth. He back suplexes Darby high and hard! Cover, TWO! Fans are thunderous as Darby still lives! Starks drags Darby back up, drops knees, then gives him a motorcycle stretch STOMP! Cover, TWO!! Starks CHOPS Darby on the back!

Fans are still fired up as Starks lifts Darby. The back gives up, Darby clubs him and runs in for YOSHI TONIC! Cover, TWO!! Taz is relieved that Starks survives the modified sunset bomb but both men are down. Fans rally up, Darby rises and grabs Starks first. Darby wrenches the wrist, Starks throws forearms and whips. Darby reverses to reel Starks in for the FUJIWARA! Starks crawls, reaches, but Darby gets that arm for a RINGS OF SATURN! Starks still tries, and manages to get his head and hand on the ropes! The ref counts, Darby lets go, but the damage is done. Fans rally up again as Darby stands. Darby dares Starks to do something and then SLAPS him!

Starks SLAPS back, Darby throws forearms! Starks forearms, Darby SLAPS! Starks SLAPS, and they trade these open hand palm strikes! Darby throws forearms, palm strikes and runs, but has to leap over the spear! Darby gets around, THROWBACK STUNNER! Starks staggers, Darby springboards, Starks SPEARS!! Cover, TWO!?! Darby survives and Taz is losing his own cool! Starks drags himself up as the crowd argues the count. Starks drags Darby around, gets him to a corner, and hoists him up top and backwards. Starks clubs Darby, climbs up to join him, and has the Canadian rack! But Darby fights out, shifts position with Starks, clubs his back and kicks him down! Starks is in the drop zone, Darby positions himself, for the COFFIN DROP!! Cover, DARBY WINS!!

Winner: Darby Allin, by pinfall

Now THAT was relentless! Darby uses his body to crush Starks’, but is Starks’ spirit still in one piece?

Cody Rhodes is here!

The American Nightmare is here, dramatic entrance and all, to respond to Mr. Brodie Lee’s challenge! Will he accept the dog collar match? We find out after the break!

AEW returns and Dasha is in the ring with Cody. She says on behalf of everyone else, “Welcome back!” Cody’s injury was a bit of a mystery, so how is he feeling? “The man who trained me, Al Snow, I remember he said, ‘You always wrestle hurt. Never wrestle injured.'” Had Cody known then what he knows now, he would’ve given the retort, “What if the injury transcends the physical? What if the breaking of the body is secondary to the spirit?” Dasha is a wrestler now, too, right? She should know then that pre-pandemic that wrestlers shook hands et naseam, it’s a particular quirk. Often, it is incorrectly thought of as respect. That’s not why they shake hands. They shake hands is because we all need each other.

Take the marquee, for example. “It is you versus somebody else.” Imagine then Cody’s shame when he loses the TNT Championship in three minutes. Then he gets the call that all wrestlers pray for but pretend they don’t, the 323 area code of Hollywood. An opportunity. Cody jumps on it. Cody is on another show, next to a world-renowned actress in Rosario Dawson, a pioneer in rap music and Americana, Snoop Dogg, and even a Grammy Award winning songstress, Jennifer Nettles. Cody thinks to himself, “Who the hell am I? I’m the guy who got beat in three minutes.” But he’s back, isn’t he? Fans cheer him being back.

Cody knows he is back, two feet on the ground, but an ear to the ground, as well. And he heard the traditional pro-wrestling pontification of people saying they’re future. Some were saying they’re “The Ace.” Oh please, that kind of stuff has sailed. AEW is almost a year old. Cody wants to punch in further that the honored distinction is his, but it isn’t. That honor goes to one out of three: “The Full Metal Champion,” Hikaru Shida; The World’s Champion, the Best Wrestler of 2020, Jon Moxley; or even the man wearing “The Ace” belt himself, Brodie Lee. Speaking of Brodie, does Cody accept that dog collar match challenge?

“Well that’s simple. The optics in wrestling are incredibly important. The optics of a match that unsafe, that bloody, that violent…” As the Executive Vice President of AEW, Cody’s answer is no. Fans don’t like the sound of that! Cody goes to the stage as fans want him to go after Brodie, so he comes back. Cody grabs the mic to say, “‘No,’ as in no regrets! ‘No,’ as in no looking back! WE enter much different than we leave! TNT Title, Dog Collar Match, next week, I! ACCEPT!!” And with that, here comes Mr. Brodie, with security chasing after! He and Cody brawl in their nice suits as security and even extra wrestlers flood the ring! The Dark Order is there to hold their own Exalted One back but Cody gets at him!

The others bring Cody away, Brodie bails out the side and finds a way around. Dark Order hurries to keep him back for his own sake, and Brandi Rhodes hurries out to climb and LFY onto them all! But here comes Anna Jay! They brawl, female wrestlers hurry to stop this fight, too! But then Nyla Rose gets in just to wreck KiLynn King! It is chaos all over the arena! The Dark Order finally leaves, Anna Jay included. But then Brodie barrels back out to get at Cody!! The two are separated again, but not for long! Brodie just doesn’t want to stop! And there’s no stopping this now that it’s booked! Will these two be like rabid animals when the gloves are off and the collars are on?

Tony Schiavone has a backstage interview with FTR and Tully Blanchard.

The AEW World Tag Team Champions are preparing for a 20 minute time limit match for the titles, though we thought we were getting that “brush with greatness” against Best Friends last week. That was not to be, but the inaugural champions, SCU, will get that shot. Cash Wheeler says FTR did Best Friends a favor. Best Friends weren’t 100% after that war. They’re not on FTR’s level like that. FTR represents the pinnacle of tag team wrestling, while Best Friends are “glorified backyarders at best.” They don’t deserve championship opportunities anyway. SCU is different! Two of the best, among the best, being the original AEW World Tag Team Champions. FTR cements their legacy against SCU.

But what about The Young Bucks? Dax asks back, “What constitutes an AEW World Tag Team Championship match for the Young Bucks?” Every opportunity given to them has been blown! The inaugural tournament, round one against Private Party, the Bucks blew it. The match with Kenny Omega and Hangman Page, blew it. Even that gauntlet, Bucks blew it and FTR went on to win. If it’s all this Dave Meltzer love, fine, line them up. But other than that, the Bucks don’t deserve a shot.

Then what about Full Gear, November 7th? Who would they like to face- SUPERKICK!! Matt Jackson hits Tony!? Sorry about that, did he interrupt something? Nick, wait up! Oh no no no, come back here and kick them! You think you’re tough guys, huh? Don’t hit old men and referees, hit the #TopGuys. What is going on with the Bucks?! And as for FTR and Full Gear, will they even have the belts by November? Or will a “Brush with Greatness” rub the champs the wrong way?

Dasha has a backstage interview with SoCal Uncensored.

With Christopher Daniels by their side, Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian are about to face FTR for those titles. What’re they feeling? Scorpio says, “Every once in a while, opportunity knocks on your door.” He and Kaz haven’t been up and down the road in a bit, but they’re ready to hop back on the SCU train. FTR make be playing checkers, but SCU is playing chess. You’re about to see two-time tag team champions! Shawn Spears is nearby and “wishes” SCU luck.

AEW World Tag Team Championship Brush with Greatness: FTR w/ Tully Blanchard VS SoCal Uncensored!

The Full Metal Rebel and Closer actually reunited last night on Dark, but this is a whole different ball game! They have 20 minutes or less to win the titles, can they do it? Or will Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood run out the clock and #FurtherTheirReign?

AEW returns and Hangman Page has joined commentary, drink in hand. FTR make their entrance, the introductions are made and the belts are raised. The teams sort out, Dax and Kaz start and so does the countdown!

Kaz and Dax circle as fans fire up. Cash swipes at Kaz but he and Dax still tie up. Dax headlocks, Kaz pries out to keylock and wrangle Dax down but Dax spins to reverse back to a hammerlock. Kaz gets up, drop toeholds and gets  headlock of his own. Dax moves around, Kaz shifts position but Dax moves around to get a facelock. Kaz spins out to get the hammerlock back, gets a cover, TWO! Kaz hits the headlock takeover, Dax headscissors, Kaz pops out and the two stand off. Fans cheer as the two reset. They tie up again, Kaz headlocks but Dax powers out, only for Kaz to run him over! And again! Things speed up, Kaz blocks the hip toss but so does Dax. Kaz ducks the lariat to give a LARIAT!

Tag to Scorpio, SCU whips and dropkicks Dax down! Cover, ONE, but Scorpio wrenches. Dax pulls tights to bring Scorpio to the corner, tag to Cash. Scorpio gets away and he resets with Cash. Cash and Scorpio approach, Cash waistlocks but Scorpio resists the lift. Scorpio waistlocks, Cash pries free but Scorpio headlocks for a takeover. Cash fights up, Cash powers out but Scorpio runs him over! Things speed up, Cash hurdles Scorpio but Scorpio drops down to hurdle back. Dax is moving around the apron and the ref tells him to get back to his corner. Cash fakes being tripped up by Daniels! The ref doesn’t know who to believe because he didn’t see it! The ref still EJECTS Daniels!?

The fans protest along with Daniels but the ref’s orders are absolute so Daniels leaves. And Cash CLOBBERS Scorpio! Cash drags Scorpio away, bumps him off buckles, then tags Dax. FTR double whip, Scorpio goes up and over and ducks Dax to then come back with a crossbody! Cover, Cash runs over but Scorpio moves so those ax handles drop on Dax! Scorpio dropkicks Cash! And calf kicks Dax! Tag to Kaz, SCU double whip Dax but Cash tags in. Dax is tossed with the double back drop, but Cash gets double back elbows! Kaz clotheslines Dax out, Scorpio whips Cash for Kaz to toss out onto Dax! FTR is down and out but the clock is ticking!

Tag to Scorpio, Kaz runs to baseball slide. FTR gets clear, Kaz dodges Dax to spank him? That’s just to rile them up so that they don’t see Scorpio FLY! Direct hit and Scorpio puts Cash in. Cover, TWO! Dax drags Scorpio out but then asks he cool off. Scorpio falls for it and Cash CLOBBERS him! Dax mockingly says, “Night night!” Fans boo FTR as Cash stands on Scorpio’s face, and AEW goes picture in picture.

Cash soaks up the heat from the crowd before he drags Scorpio up and into the ring. Cash taunts Kaz while staying between him and Scorpio, before stomping Scorpio down. Cash drags Scorpio up, ROCKS him with that European Uppercut, then tags in Dax. Dax drops the leg, covers, TWO! Dax looms over Scorpio, brings him up and whips him to ropes to run him over with an elbow! Dax drags Scorpio up, feeds him to Cash’s boots, then tags Cash in. The ref reprimands as Cash stands on Scorpio’s chest! Dax gets a cheap shot in while the ref argues with Cash! Cash stomps Scorpio, digs his knee in, then drags Scorpio around in a facelock.

Cash puts weight into the hold but Scorpio endures. Scorpio fights up, Cash CLUBS him back down, but Scorpio throws body shots! Cash CLUBS Scorpio again, then drags him back into the facelock. Cash grinds Scorpio down, Scorpio continues to endure, and powers Cash back towards the corner! AEW Is single picture as Cash ROCKS Scorpio with another EuroUpper. Cash runs in but misses! Cash only gets buckles, Dax tags in! Dax intercepts Scorpio and throws hands, but Scorpio fights out of the FTR corner! Dax kicks and scoops, Scorpio cradle counters but Cash distracts the ref! SCU would’ve won the titles by now!! The ref finally does count, TWO! Tag to Cash, Cash intercepts Scorpio but Scorpio turns things around for a SNAP RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP!

Both men are down, fans fire up and Scorpio hot tags Kaz! The Heavy Metal Rebel starts rallying! BIG leg lariat for Dax! Guillotine leg drop for Cash! Kaz whips, Dax reverses but Kaz forearms back! Cash is in, Kaz blocks the boot and flips him onto Dax! Cash wants mercy, Dax reels Kaz in. Kaz standing switches, Cash tags in before the O’Conner roll, but Kaz still NORTHERN LIGHTS Cash! Double cover, TWO!! Kaz fisherman for the PERFECT PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Kaz fires up with the fans and we are at the halfway point. Kaz waistlocks, Cash holds ropes so Kaz clubs him. Dax saves Cash from the German suplex and Cash elbows free. Cash suplexes but Kaz resists. Dax sunset flips, Cash dropkicks Kaz into the roll-up! TWO!!

Hangman is loving this on commentary, same as everyone in the crowd. Dax ROCKS Kaz with the EuroUpper, Kaz flounders up but Dax throws another! Kaz flounders, Dax throws another but Kaz wants the backslide! Dax changes it, but Kaz boots Cash while resisting! Kaz is free, he elbows Dax and tags Scorpio! Drop toehold into a kick, GERMAN to a high stack, TWO!! Dax escapes but Scorpio keeps his cool. Scorpio drags Dax up, Dax shoves and uppercuts him out! Then he CLUBS Kaz! FTR drag Kaz in, double whip but Kaz dodges the lines, to sunset flip! FTR help each other, but Scorpio CROSSBODIES in! Double covers, DOUBLE TWO!! That’s four. Scorpio ROCKS Dax on one side of the ropes, Kaz ROCKS Cash on the other, DOUBLE SLINGSHOT CUTTERS!! Cover on Dax, TWO!!

SCU can’t believe it but the fans are loving this! Fans rally up, Scorpio catches his breath and tags Kaz back in. Kaz brings Dax up but Dax powers out! Cash tags in at the same time, Kaz bumps Scoprio by accident! FTR mug Kaz with clubbing hands, then POWERBOMB to DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!?! Kaz basically hiccup’d out of that! Cash drags Kaz around, coordinates with Dax, but Kaz shoves Dax into Cash! Cash is on the top rope, Kaz ROCKS him! Kaz climbs, Cash brawls with him, Kaz clubs away! Dax tags in  but Kaz scrapes him off! Cash bumps Kaz, sunset flips and Dax is up top! But Kaz turns FTR’s Doomsday into a POWERSLAM!?! Scorpio intercepts Cash, cover, TWO!?!?

SCU is beside themselves but the fans are thunderous! Kaz hurries over but Cash tags in first to knee Kaz! Scorpio tags in as Kaz hits post! Scorpio CROSSBODIES again! Cash rolls through but so does Scorpio! Cover, TWO!! Scorpoi gests around to GHOST PIN! TWO!! VICTORY ROLL!! TWO!! Cash is on the ropes, Tully tries to help him but the ref kicks the hands away! Roll up, TWO!! We have under FIVE minutes! Scorpio grabs Cash, Cash swats him away but Scorpio suplexes him in! Cash rolls away to the safety of the ropes! Cash is on the apron, Scorpio is there to suplex again, but Tully trips him!! Cover, and they anchor Scorpio’s feet!! FTR WINS!

Winners: FTR, by pinfall (still AEW World Tag Team Champions)

They didn’t need the 20 minute time limit, but they sure needed Tully! #ForThatReason, they’re still champions! But will they stay champions if all these tricks are how they win?

BREAKING NEWS for Full Gear and the AEW World Championship!

While Lance Archer faces Jon Moxley at the Dynamite Anniversary Show on 10/14/20, there will be an eight man, single elimination tournament of contenders, the finals being held at Full Gear! The winner that night will receive a future AEW World Championship opportunity! A massive move, and we know three men right here and now! Jungle Boy, Rey Fenix and Kenny Omega are in! Hangman almost spit takes there. He excuses himself and brings his drink with him. Is the Cowboy going to confront the Cleaner on this? Will Hangman at least be one of the other five entrants?

Chris Jericho w/ The Inner Circle VS Isiah Kassidy w/ Marq Quen & Matt Hardy!

In the mystery of “Who Attacked Matt Hardy,” the going theory is it was Le Champion, backstage, with Floyd the Baseball Bat. But Jericho wants us to get a clue and realize he has no reason to hurt Hardy. Even so, one half of Private Party wants to prove he can upset the Painmaker 1v1 in the ring! Will Kassidy get the biggest win of his young career here tonight?

Hardy has a chair for his own protection, but Quen stays close, too. The bell rings and Jericho stares down with Kassidy as fans rally up. Jericho pie faces Kassidy around, and dares Kassidy to do something. Kassidy CLOBBERS Jericho! Kassidy fires off fast hands, whips Jericho then runs him over! Jericho gets up but Kassidy is rallying! Kassidy sweeps the legs to rain down fists! The ref backs Kassidy off but he goes right after Jericho again! He whips, Jericho reverses, but Kassidy slides under to huricanrana! Kassidy arm-drags and drop toeholds to then La Magistrol! TWO!! Jericho scrambles away and Kassidy says it was that close. Fans are fired up but Jericho DECKS Kassidy!

Jericho drags Kassidy up, bumps Kassidy off buckles then throws haymakers. Jericho brings Kassidy around, DECKS him again, then soaks up the heat. The Inner Circle talks trash as Jericho whips Kassidy> Kassidy ducks, catches the legs to catapult Jericho out at Inner Circle! Sammy helps Jericho up but Kassidy slides! Jericho dodges, shoves Kassidy into railing, but then Kassidy tosses Jericho into the crowd! Jericho shoves Chaos Project, Luther and Serpentico, around, and they don’t take kindly to that! Luther punches and clotheslines Jericho back to ringside! The Inner Circle shouts at them, but Kassidy TORNILLOS!! Direct hit and he puts Jericho back in! Kassidy climbs up slowly but Jericho is down! SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO!!

The Inner Circle is relieved and Kassidy can’t believe Jericho survived! Kassidy drags Jericho up, CHOPS and forearms on repeat! Kassidy runs, Jericho pops him up for a FLAPJACK! Fans are divided between cheers and jeers, AEW goes picture in picture.

Jericho catches his breath as he sits Kassidy up for haymaker after haymaker. The ref reprimands, Jericho lets off to taunt Hardy, then Jericho toys with Kassidy> Kassidy hits back, Jericho stomps and kicks him around and to the apron. The Inner Circle is there to bark at Kassidy, and Ortiz BITES him! Jericho drags Kassidy around for a ROPE GUILLOTINE! Jericho paces while Kassidy is down and the Inner Circle bark at him. Jericho drags Kassidy up, for a BIG back suplex! Kassidy writhes, Jericho covers, TWO! Jericho keeps his cool while he looms over Kassidy. Jericho drags Kassidy up, Hardy and Quen rally and Kassidy fires off forearms! Jericho DECKS Kassidy again, and stomps on him! Jericho walks all over Kassidy, too.

Jericho grins as he has the cocky pin, TWO! Jericho kicks at Quen then brings Kassidy up. Kassidy resists the suplex as AEW returns to single picture. Jericho clubs Kassidy, and manages to suplex him up and over! Fans rally with “SHOTS! SHOTS!” but Jericho drags Kassidy up first. Jericho throws big forearms, drags Kassidy back up, but Kassidy hits back with body shots! Kassidy fires off, runs but Hager gets a cheap shot in! The ref was busy with Jericho claiming injury. Jericho has Kassidy but the bulldog is sent into buckles! Jericho drags himself off the ropes, but Kassidy rallies with clotheslines! Jericho kicks, it’s blocked, Kassidy goes RVD with the counter windmill kick! Jericho gets to a corner, Kassidy runs in corner to corner, but Jericho puts him on the apron!

Kassidy forearms Jericho away, springboards for the THROWBACK STUNNER! Cover, TWO!! Kassidy is too tired to be frustrated but everyone else is fired up! Kassidy forearms and CHOPS, whips Jericho to ropes, but Jericho holds them. Jericho puts Kassidy on the apron and ROCKS him! Jericho triangle leaps but Kassidy avoids it to come back with springboard STUNNER! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and Inner Circle is relieved! Jericho slaps some sense into himself but Kassidy throws “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” Kassidy runs, into double forearms! LIONSAULT onto knees! Kassidy LIONSAULTS right back!! Cover, TWO!!

Kassidy stays fired up, he runs from the corner, CODE BREAKER! Kassidy is using Jericho’s moves on him! Cover, TWO!?! Jericho survives Kassidy’s take on his playlist, fans declare “This is Awesome!” as Kassidy goes back to the apron. Kassidy springboards again, into JUDAS EFFECT!! Cover, Jericho wins!

Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall

And all hell breaks loose! Inner Circle goes after Kassidy but Quen gets Ortiz! Hardy swings the chair, Santana, Ortiz and Sammy get away. Jericho and Hager go after Chaos Project! Hager mauls Serpentico but Jericho gets away from Luther long enough to regroup! They brawl, Jericho gets away again, but it seems Inner Circle has new enemies! Will Luther and Serpentico make Jericho and Hager regret getting into the AEW Tag Division?

AEW checks in with Kip Sabian and Miro.

The Superbad groom to be tells The Best Man that something’s been on his mind. This is only going to happen once, so the bachelor party needs to be epic. Miro promises it will be epic. Like Rumspringa all over again. Don’t forget the balls. Miro never forgets his balls. Virtual dodgeball!

Cut to actual ax throwing. Miro is on the phone, saying “It’s not that easy. I promised him Rumspringa.” You know, when the Amish youth leave home to see the world, “put their livers to the test drinking,” and then go, “Hey I want to drink!” Kip gives Miro his turn. Then they are in the arcade. Kip totally trusts Miro on the bachelor party. But who is this new challenger? Billy Mitchell?! He overheard the bachelor party talk. Yeah, Miro is Kip’s best man, but it’s pandemic! What is he to do? Billy knows some people if Miro wants to do something really crazy. Rumspringa crazy?

Dasha has a backstage interview with Best Friends and Orange Cassidy.

Chuck Taylor and Trent were denied a Brush with Greatness, while Freshly Squeezed got freshly screwed over by Dark Order. Where are these three mentally after all this? FTR barges in to say that where these guys are mentally is that FTR did a favor. There’s a spot on the card for champions, that’s the main event. Then there’s a spot on the middle of the card for comedic backyard wrestlers like Best Friends. But it’s okay, they can ride around in mommy’s van and have milk and cookies and be the comic reliefs we all need. Best Friends are in the middle, FTR are at the top. #TopGuysOut. But then Best Friends make a step and FTR flinch! Cassidy says, “Weenies.” Will FTR think twice before mocking these three again?

Orange Cassidy w/ Best Friends VS “Number 10” Preston Vance w/ The Dark Order!

Speaking of the Dark Order, Cassidy looks to get payback on at least one of them here tonight! Will Freshly Squeezed get the 1-2-3 off of 10? AEW is picture in picture with the entrances!

AEW returns from break with the introductions. Cassidy puts on the elbow pad, Vance takes the sunglasses to put them on John Silver. Silver mocks Cassidy, and Vance CLOBBERS Cassidy! Vance whips Cassidy, Cassidy dodges and leaps, but into Vance’s arms and the SWINGING FACEBUSTER! Cover, ONE! Cassidy gets to a corner, Vance is on him with a whip and corner clothesline! Vance suplexes Cassidy up, holds him there for 10 before slamming him down! Cover, ONE! Cassidy is frustrated but Vance pushes him around. Fans rally up for Cassidy, Vance makes him put his hands in his pockets. Vance gives thumbs up like Cassidy, but Cassidy rolls him up! TWO, Vance SPINE BUSTERS Cassidy down!

Cassidy gets to the apron, Vance runs and BOOTS him down! The Dark Order is there to mock Cassidy, Vance drags Cassidy up to throw him into barriers! And then back into the ring. Best Friends keep the rest of the Numbers back, but the Dark Order mock the hug! Got to give the people what the want? Cassidy goes up top to LEAP onto the Numbers! Cassidy puts Vance in, climbs up again, but again leaps into Vance’s arms! Vance pops Cassidy up but Cassidy uses it for a TORNADO DDT! And a kip up! Cassidy takes the elbow pad off, sets it down, and runs to ORANGE PUNCH! Vance staggers into the Alabama, for BEACH BREAK! Cover, Cassidy wins!

Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall

A much better going for Cassidy with the numbers mostly even! Will Cassidy fight his way up the ranks to go after Mr. Brodie?

MJF and Wardlow visit Jericho’s locker room.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman tells the cameraman that since MJF invited him, “stop breathing down my neck.” Knock, knock. What’s going on, guys? Big party? Nice! Hey, Max, how are you? Great! And bearing gifts! Here’s a congrats on the big win! MJF unwraps it for Jericho to show it is… A set of brand new Inner Circle jackets! Hager, Ortiz, Santana and Jericho each get one. Wait, there isn’t one for Sammy Guevara? MJF asks if Wardlow missed it. No, there was only four. MJF apologizes to Sammy, “I swear on my mother’s life.” It doesn’t matter, what is he even doing in here?

Guys, c’mon! MJF is just here to congratulate Jericho. Yes, and they appreciate that, but he’s been following them around. The jackets are nice, thanks, but Jericho is already sensing what’s going on. Jericho asked it before so he’ll ask MJF again: “Do you want to join the Inner Circle?” MJF doesn’t want to be rude, but he asked a question right back, so he’ll ask it again: “Do you want me to join the Inner Circle?” Does MJF want to be in Inner Circle? Does Jericho want MJF to be in Inner Circle? This repeats like it did in the past, it is a circle in itself. Hager and Wardlow step in but MJF and Jericho tell them to stand down. Jericho appreciates the gifts, they’re very nice, this is a classy move. Very MJF of him. And it’s a very Jericho thing to recognize that.

Before he leaves, MJF just wants to say that he is very excited for the celebration of 30 years of Jericho. An absolutely legendary run. MJF and Wardlow leave, promising to get Sammy’s his. What a los- Wait, wait. Perhaps not? Is Jericho thinking of expanding the Inner Circle?

Britt Baker w/ “Reba” VS Red Velvet!

The Dentist is back in action after losing to Big Swole at All Out! But Britt looks to move past that now that she’s truly 100% healthy again. Will she chew Red Velvet up and spit her out, then follow with brushing, flossing and mouthwash?

The bell rings, Velvet and Britt circle, tie up, and Britt wrenches to a wristlock. Velvet rolls, handsprings and wrenches back to a wristlock of her own. Britt wrenches through, hammerlocks and throws Velvet to a cover, TWO! Britt keeps wrist control but Velvet gets around to headlock for a takeover! Britt headscissors, slaps Velvet on the back, and underhooks. Velvet endures the “Barbed Wire stretch,” as Taz tells us, and Britt thrashes her around into a cover, TWO! Britt grabs the wrist again, wrenches and shoulder breakers, but Velvet reverses to a wristlock. Britt spins through, breaks free and ROCKS Velvet!

Britt whips Velvet, Velvet dodges but Britt whips her again. Velvet blocks the hop toss, gets around and arm-drags Britt, only for Britt to keep the wrist! Britt hammerlocks and chinlocks Velvet, grinds her down, but fans rally up. Britt digs arms into Velvet’s head, Velvet fights up but Britt reels her in for that HARD back elbow! Britt whips, Velvet dodges but Britt redirects, only for Velvet to calf kick her down! Britt staggers up into the wheelbarrow, BULLDOG! Velvet covers, TWO! Velvet drags Britt up, reels her in but Britt gets around to ROCK her again! Britt hammerlocks, and LARIATS! Britt smiles to the camera before going after Velvet again.

Britt ROCKS Velvet over and over with forearms, reels Velvet in, butterfly suplex! Velvet is on the ropes, Britt motorcycle stretches the arms, to STOMP Velvet into ropes! Britt does it again! Then she chokes Velvet with a knee! The ref counts, Britt lets off to kick the rope and jam Velvet! Velvet hits back with forearms but Britt fires away! Britt whips, Velvet stops herself but Britt SLING BLADES! Britt drags Velvet back up, but Velvet spins out and rolls Britt up! TWO! SUPERKICK!! Velvet wobbles into Britt’s SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Britt runs to CURB STOMP Velvet down! Cover, Britt wins!

Winner: Britt Baker, by pinfall

The Dentist jacks Velvet’s jaw, but she’s not through with her yet! Rebel/Reba has the glove for Britt as Britt puts Velvet in the LOCKJAW! Velvet taps but it doesn’t matter because the match is over! Britt makes Velvet’s sweet tooth suffer! Britt lets Velvet go, but will she clamp on to the top spot in the AEW Women’s Division?

AEW makes big matches for next week’s Dynamite!

As part of the celebration of Jericho, 30 years maaan~, Jericho and Hager will settle things with Chaos Project in a huge tag match! Will Y2J celebrate with a victory? And after the fight between them during the Darby VS Starks match, Cage and Will Hobbs will battle over THE FTW World Championship! And the TNT Championship Dog Collar match WILL happen! Will Brodie put Cody down like a dog? Or will Cody be foaming at the mouth to get at him?

Eddie Kingston heads to the ring!

The Lucha Brothers are with him as The Mad King brings a referee out for tonight’s main event. We know Kingston is going to tell the world who he chose for Moxley to face, but is this related to that? Find out after the break!

AEW returns, and Kingston says “Big Bad Bryce” is here. But before getting to his friend of 18 years, Kingston breaks it down “for all you simple minded idiots that decided not to watch Dynamite.” Kingston wrestled Moxley, Moxley put Kingston in the Bulldog Choke, and guess what did not happen? Kingston did NOT tap out. But “Big Bad Jon Moxley” was so angry, he called Tony Khan, and they decided to fight anyone Kingston chooses! Well Moxley, it’s not Kingston, they had theirs and Kingston isn’t feeling up to it. But before he discloses “the man that’s gonna kick your ass,” Kingston needs to talk to a man he thought was a friend. Bryce, Kingston didn’t tap or say he quit, “so what made you think, what gave you the right, what gave you the balls, to ring that bell?”

Bryce explains that Kingston was unresponsive! Eighteen years, you can’t text or call him about this? He has to make it public like this? This is the professional life. When you’re in a world title match on national TV, it’s work. It’s Bryce’s job to protect Kingston from himself. True, true. But uh, now they’re going to have to hurt him. But here comes Moxley first! Him, Big Platinum and “Barbie” the barbed wire baseball bat! Moxley runs Kingston and the Lucha Bros out of the ring and Kingston says thanks to everyone in the back for that musical warning. But look at Moxley, being Mr. Tough Guy with that bat. But Butcher is lurking! Kingston says Moxley isn’t facing Kingston, or Fenix, or even Pentagon. It’s THE BUTCHER, brother! Bryce, ring the bell.

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS The Butcher w/ Eddie Kingston!

Moxley turns around and Andy Williams CLOBBERS him! Butcher clubs away on Moxley, kicks the bat out of the ring and CHOPS Moxley! Moxley boots back, CHOPS back, and rips the apron off to run. Butcher dodges the knee, blocks the chop and URENAGES Moxley down! Butcher drops knees on Moxley, clubs him in the back, and brings him up to club Moxley in the chest! Butcher CHOPS Moxley, pulls Moxley’s vest off to CHOP him more! Moxley throws forearms, Butcher shoves him and CLOBBERS him again! Butcher drops knees, chokes Moxley on the ropes, but lets up at 4. Butcher argues with the ref while Kingston and the Lucha Bros taunt Moxley. Butcher chokes Moxley more as AEW goes picture in picture.

Butcher and Moxley brawl, Moxley throws a forearm but he’s the one that falls! Butcher stalks Moxley, drags him up, whips him HARD to a corner and Moxley hits the mat. Butcher stomps around Moxley before bringing him back up. Butcher whips Moxley to ropes, Moxley kicks back! Moxley baits Butcher to ropes and throws him out! Moxley runs to DIVE, into a forearm! Butcher drags Moxley to the apron to SLAM the leg on the edge! Kingston coaches Butcher and Butcher SLAMS the leg again! Butcher slides in, stalks a hobbling Moxley, and grabs the leg for a DDT! Moxley clutches the leg but Butcher KICKS it! Moxley hobbles as Butcher kicks and stomps the bad leg more. Butcher digs his knee into Moxley’s leg for the modified calf killer, and then SMASHES the knee!

Moxley writhes, Butcher rains down right fists but the ref counts. Butcher lets up at 4 to get in the ref’s face, but Moxley gets to ropes. Butcher puts the leg around the rope to pull and stomp it! Butcher gives Moxley’s bad leg another DDT as AEW returns to single picture. Butcher steps through for a standing toehold but the fans rally up. Moxley kicks with his good leg and gets free! Moxley gets up but Butcher clubs him down. Butcher stomps the bad leg, scoops but Moxley slips out to kick low, throw more kicks and then turn Butcher for a neckbreaker! Moxley hobbles to a corner, runs and Penalty Kicks! Cover, TWO! ARMBAR! Butcher endures, Moxley bends the fingers, but Butcher fights up to go after the leg, HALF CRAB!

Butcher sits deep on the hold, Moxley endures and fans duel. Moxley rolls, but Butcher rains down hands! The ref counts, Butcher lets off at 4, and Butcher stomps the leg. Moxley struggles to stand, Butcher scoops him for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Butcher is after the legs again for another Half Crab! Moxley endures all over again, but Butcher lets off. Moxley kick back, hobbles away, but Butcher kicks the bad leg out! Butcher digs his knee into Moxley’s face in the corner. The ref counts, Butcher stops at 4, then scoops again. Moxley slips off the back to shove Butcher into a corner, kicks low, but no underhooks as Butcher trips Moxley up. Butcher grabs the leg for unique shin breakers across his own leg! Then hooks the leg for a STRETCH MUFFLER!

Moxley keeps fighting, Butcher can’t hold the muffler so he shifts to a modified Half Crab! Moxley turns, kicks with his good leg, but Butcher LARIATS him back down! Moxley rolls to the apron, Butcher stalks him around the way and Kingston taunts Moxley. Butcher CLUBS Moxley, whips him but Moxley just falls over. Butcher runs at Moxley, Moxley sends HIM into railing! Things look to be even now and Moxley manages to get in the ring. Butcher is down and out as he ring count begins. Kingston and company help Butcher get up and Butcher gets in at 7. Moxley throws a forearm, Butcher returns it, and we have a brawl! Fans rally as Moxley CHOPS but Butcher CHOPS back!

Moxley fires off more forearms, tries to run but his leg stops him. Butcher gets around, runs and BODY CHECKS! Cover, TWO!! Butcher is too tired to be frustrated and now a standing count begins. Moxley rises slowly and manages to stand at 5. Butcher follows, throws forearms but Moxley gives them back. They still brawl, Moxley gets around to waistlock but Butcher pries out to a wristlock. Moxley throws forearms, Butcher pump handles for an URENAGE! Cover, TWO!! Kingston is losing his cool but Butcher drops a leg, brother! Cover, TWO!! Moxley still lives and Kingston tells cameras to stay away. Butcher goes up top but Moxley intercepts with forearms! Moxley climbs up to join Butcher, brings him up, and SUPERPLEXES!

Fans are thunderous as Moxley rolls back, but Butcher gets him for an inverted Half Crab! Moxley endures, fights up to his good foot and rolls to send Butcher into buckles! Moxley kicks, reels Butcher in, PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Butcher lives but Kingston won’t be happy until Moxley loses. Moxley gets up to his feet, fires himself up, and he drags Butcher back up. Moxley hoists Butcher back up top, climbs back up but Butcher fights back! Butcher sends Moxley down, then leaps, for a BIG CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives but Butcher stomps him at the ropes. Butcher drags Moxley up, Moxley ducks the clothesline and spins him around for DIRTY DEEDS!! And the BULLDOG CHOKE!! Butcher taps, Moxley wins!!

Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission (still AEW World Champion)

The fighting champion is still the champion, and The Mad King is seething! Moxley still has to get through the Murderhawk Monster on the anniversary show, can he do it?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for AEW on the verge to two big events! The AEW World Championship match was a great surprise, especially with it being Butcher as the challenger. I would’ve thought Fenix or Pentagon would be the one, but this was a great way to show Butcher has what it takes to be a singles guy in the ring. Moxley retains, of course, rolling towards the match with Lance Archer. I also like that there was a lot going on with Moxley’s allies, as Darby VS Starks was an incredible opener, and we even got some brawling of Cage and Hobbs. Cage VS Hobbs for the FTW Championship is going to be great, but I feel like Cage retains. Maybe there’s a way they circle back to the tag match we never got, but at the same time, the huge contender’s tournament leading into Full Gear could mean things are settled through the brackets.

The Brush with Greatness match was incredible, and I’m surprised they didn’t use the time limit for the finish! The frantic pacing was still there, part of why it was such great action. I’m just not sure FTR bending the rules on top of flinching at the Best Friends’ fake-out does them any good. Maybe they do give Best Friends their match next week or for the anniversary episode, and that match uses the time limit as part of the decision. The Bucks also superkicking Schiavone out of action tonight was wild. Again there’s the “Nick isn’t actually on screen” element to this so clearly COVID concerns are still here. Maybe it works out story wise for Bucks to bide their time, give FTR a good run with these Bruch with Greatness matches and then Full Gear is where we all finally get that dream match.

I also like that Hangman was on commentary for the tag match and the announcement of the contender tournament. This REALLY needs to come down to Omega VS Hangman in the finals to settle things between the two of them while also giving us great world title story. Omega and Moxley can revisit things from last year, but Hangman can also seek redemption for not becoming the inaugural champion. Either way, if Moxley loses to anyone, it really should be one of them. Cody had a great promo to accept the TNT Championship Dog Collar Match, and he and Brodie had a great brawl, as did Brandi and Anna Jay in the middle of it. Nyla also gets her own part in this, her attack on KiLynn King might be a way to give KiLynn her first real part to play in AEW. Britt wins her return match, it seems odd that her loss at All Out might lead to her challenging for the title first while Big Swole isn’t around.

And with next week being the 30 years of Y2J celebration, there was great stuff from him, the Inner Circle and MJF. The match with Kassidy was great, and of course Jericho wins. I like that Chaos Project is getting some time on Dynamite and are going to really test Jericho and Hager as a tag team. MJF and Jericho doing the back and forth of “Do you want to join?” “Do you want me to join?” was great, and I think MJF and Wardlow “forgetting” Sammy Guevara in getting jackets is foreshadowing that MJF will try to replace Sammy in the faction. It’d be pretty wild if, after all this time, Sammy does join Hardy after seeing Jericho move on to a new protégé. If it is happening, it should certainly happen within the next two episodes to match to hype of the Jericho celebration and Dynamite Anniversary. Then Full Gear can be a big payoff match.

My Score: 9.2/10