The Relentless One isn’t going to rest easy before going All Out!

Darby Allin knows he’s facing THE CM Punk on Sunday, but that’s all the more reason he wants to fight tonight! Will he overcome Red Death, Daniel Garcia, before taking on The Best in the World?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Malakai Black VS Lee Johnson; Malakai wins.
• 2v1 Handicap: Jamie Hayter & Rebel w/ Britt Baker VS Kris Statlander; Statlander wins.
• Darby Allin w/ Sting VS Daniel Garcia w/ 2point0; Allin wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Malakai Black VS Lee Johnson!

First, the head of the Nightmare Family, Cody Rhodes. Then Arn Anderson and his son, Brock. Now, Big Shotty is next on the list for the House of Black to eliminate. Will Malakai keep his promise and give Johnson what he needs to pay the boat man’s toll to Hades?

The bell rings and Johnson stares Malakai down. Fans rally up as Johnson is amped up while Malakai is ice cold. Malakai slowly approaches but Johnson stays put. Johnson ends up cornered that way, but he gets around Malakai to waistlock then headlock. Johnson holds on as Malakai tries to power out, but Malakai gets free on the second try. Malakai swings a roundhouse but Johnson narrowly avoids it! Malakai grins as he stares Johnson down again but Johnson stays put. Malakai approaches, Johnson gets another waistlock, but Malakai throws him right off. Johnson dodges the boot but Malakai is still ice cold.

Fans fire up and rally harder, and Malakai nods as he and Johnson approach again. Johnson goes for a waistlock but Malakai gets one first, only for Johnson to elbow free. Malakai seems to be containing frustration in favor of staying focused. Malakai makes a move, Johnson reacts, and Malakai ends up sweeping the legs! Malakai waistlocks, Johnson slips out and under then throws body shots! Malakai EuroUppers Johnson and stagger shim! Malakai puts Johnson in the corner to fire off more EuroUppers! Malakai whips corner to corner, Johnson goes up and over and kicks a leg out! Johnson runs, into a back elbow!

Malakai stomps Johnson, puts him in a corner, then stomps him more! AEW goes picture in picture as the ref counts but Malakai throws hands. Malakai lets off, backs up and lets fans cheer and rally up. Johnson drags himself up but Malakai is on him with a clinch. Malakai brings Johnson around to DECK him with a forearm! Malakai brings Johnson up but Johnson throws body shots, so Malakai KNEES him down. Malakai whips Johnson to ropes and kitchen sink knees him! Johnson sputters, Malakai covers, ONE! Malakai wraps on a sleeper and thrashes Johnson around! Johnson flails, reaches, but is fading fast! Malakai brings him to the mat and squeezes even tighter!

The ref checks on Johnson, he’s still in this and he fights up to arm-drag free! Malakai counter punches, KNEES and then leg picks Johnson to get right at an arm! Malakai gets a KIMURA! Johnson endures as his arm is twisted back! Johnson fights up through Malakai’s leg guard to throw body shots, only for Malakai to spin him back into the SLEEPER! Johnson shifts to hit a BIG back suplex! But Malakai still has the sleeper?! Johnson is still suffering the squeeze as both men are down on the mat. Johnson reaches out to keep fighting but Malakai is smothering him. Johnson gets a second wind to fight up to his feet, but Malakai switches to back suplex!

Johnson lands on his feet to shove Malakai to a corner! Johnson finally catches his breath and AEW returns to single picture. Malakai storms over but into forearms! Johnson fires off body shots but Malakai knees low again. Malakai runs but into a dropkick! Malakai bails out, Johnson builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit into railing! Johnson rains down furious fists then puts Malakai into the ring. Johnson climbs up a corner while Malakai is down, FROG SPLASH!! But the ribs keep Johnson from covering! Johnson gets up, drags Malakai into a fisherman, but Malakai fights that to waistlock. Johnson switches, Malakai uses a leg to hook and throw Johnson down!

Malakai goes for legs but Johnson boots him away, only for Malakai to rebound with a PENALTY KICK! Malakai watches Johnson stagger to a corner, runs in and BOOTS him! Malakai stomps and fires off fast hands! The ref counts, Malakai treats Johnson to a KICK before letting off. Malakai goes out of the ring and looks for something under the ring! Malakai didn’t say he would win, he said he’d send Johnson to hell! And he brings in a chair for that very reason! The ref tells Malakai to leave that chair alone but Malakai brings it over to Johnson. Malakai sets the chair down and dares Johnson to use it?! He WANTS Johnson to use it, for revenge after what Malakai’s done!

Johnson gets up, he has the chair, but he can barely stand with it. Johnson wants to, but BLACK MASS cuts him off!! Malakai covers, Malakai wins!

Winner: Malakai Black, by pinfall

Big Shotty wanted to hurt Malakai the way Malakai hurt the Nightmare Family, but the body could not follow through on what his heart wanted! Malakai literally stands on Johnson’s downed body, but here comes Dustin Rhodes! Dustin grabs the chair but Malakai is already out of the ring. Malakai says he’s already taken care of everyone else, so it is inevitable that he and The Natural tangle next. Will Dustin get revenge for the entire family? Or will he just be the last one to fall?

Mark Henry interviews Dustin Rhodes.

The Natural has calmed down only slightly after what we saw moments ago, so can he express how he feels right now? “Malakai Black. Since you have entered the AEW scene, you’ve been about one thing, and that is the element of surprise. Well make no mistake. This Wednesday on Dynamite, I am coming straight for you! You will see me coming! And I know that you’re from a place of darkness, son. But guess what? I THRIVE in darkness! For five decades, I’ve thrived in darkness! There is nothing you can do to me that I haven’t already been through!” So this Wednesday, Malakai finds out when he steps in the ring, just what The Natural is all about!

Miro is here!

The AEW TNT Champion is here ahead of his match with Eddie Kingston this Sunday to share some final words. “Eddie Kingston. You call yourself a Mad King. But the only king I recognize is mad at you, Eddie. You have been blessed throughout your life with struggle. But yet, you took the easy way out. After all, he gave you all the talent, the toughness, the heart, that loud mouth of yours, but yet you took a charity contract from AEW.” Miro tells Kingston that he is not into charity and neither is his god! Kingston needs to understand, a life without struggle is soft. Kingston has become comfortable, and nothing more than a bag boy for Jon Moxley!

But here comes Kingston! Miro chuckles as Kingston storms out and has the music cut. He thanks the fans for cheering him but he needs to handle business. “First off, ‘God’s Favorite Champion~!’ Bullshit!” Miro’s god ain’t real so it doesn’t matter what Miro says. But Kingston says let’s just say God is real. That means God sent Kingston here to punish Miro! Miro is the real sinner, the one who is wrong. Otherwise, “your ugly ass god would not have brought me here.” Miro is fuming as Kingston insults his beliefs more, and says Miro’s “stupid god” wouldn’t let Kingston know the chink in Miro’s armor.

Every more Kingston does, from Exploder to Saido to Stretch Plum, and the wonderful DDT, are all Miro’s weakness! Miro says Kingston talks of weakness yet is so far away. If Kingston gets into the ring, he won’t make it to All Out, because he’ll be “redeemed” here tonight! Kingston takes off his hate and necklace and dares The Redeemer to “redeem deez nuts!” Kingston runs in but Miro runs away! Miro is smug as he carries his title around the way, but then Kingston cuts him off at the pass! So Miro gives Kingston a BELT SHOT! Kingston is dazed, Miro drags Kingston up and into the ring and sets the belt down on his face. Miro winds up but Kingston avoids the stomp!

URAKEN!! Miro staggers into a DDT!! Kingston just downed the deluded champion with the very Kryptonite he spoke of! Will the Best Man have his worst night ever at All Out?

2v1 Handicap: Jamie Hayter & Rebel w/ Britt Baker VS Kris Statlander!

So because the AEW Women’s World Champion is so highly valued by management, she got to make a match for her All Out challenger! But will the Doctor sending her minions after the Galaxy’s Greatest Alien only sharpen Statlander’s edge before their title match?

The bell rings and Hayter starts with Statlander. They tie up, go around, and Hayter puts Statlander in the corner. Statlander powers right out to keep Rebel from tagging in, but they end up in another corner. They keep going around the ropes, Statlander puts Hayter in the Team Baker corner, but Hayter shoves her away. They shove each other a bit more, then tie up again. Hayter headlocks, grinds Statlander, but Statlander powers out. Hayter rams shoulders with Statlander but she stays right up! Hayter is annoyed so the forearms start flying! Statlander gets the edge and has Hayter on the ropes, but now Rebel helps out by pulling Statlander into the ropes!

The ref reprimands but Baker’s henchwomen mug Statlander against ropes. Hayter stomps Statlander down, then gets her up to bump her off buckles. Tag to Rebel and she stomps a mudhole in. Hayter tags in, she fires off forearms on Statlander then tags Rebel again. Rebel stomps more, suplexes and SLAMS Statlander down! Rebel is excited by her own strength as she covers, TWO! Rebel gives Statlander a switchblade kick then gloats. Statlander sits up, Rebel KICKS her in the chest. Statlander seethes and glares at Rebel! Rebel fires off KICK after KICK but Statlander tanks them then blocks! Reel SLAPS Statlander, but Statlander ROCKS and whips Rebel for a POWERSLAM!

Hayter runs in but Statlander gets her for a BLUE THUNDER BOMB onto Rebel! Fans fire up as Baker’s buddies end up in corners. Statlander runs corner to corner to fire forearm after forearm and knee after knee! Statlander shoves Hayter at Rebel then sweeps the legs to make Hayter give Rebel a COMPLETE SHOT! BACK SENTON on them both! Cover on Rebel, TWO! Baker creeps up to the apron but backs off as Rebel crawls to a corner. Hayter runs in but is dumped out hard! Statlander turns around and Rebel SPLASHES in the corner! Rebel runs in but misses the splash this time! Statlander Electric Chair lifts Rebel but Hayter returns!

Statlander catches Hayter’s crossbody, and combines WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM with ELECTRIC CHAIR FACEBUSTER! Fans are thunderous for Statlander as she fires up! Statlander drags Rebel around but Rebel kicks her away. Rebel reaches out but that’s the wrong corner for a tag! Statlander rolls Rebel up, TWO, but BUZZSAW knocks Rebel down! Baker lets Hayter stand down, they’re already letting Rebel take it from here! Statlander ties up Rebel’s arms and legs for a BOSTON CRAB SURFBOARD?! Rebel verbally quits, Statlander wins!

Winner: Kris Statlander, by submission

Baker’s plan failed complete, or did it? She and her cronies flank the ring and Statlander sighs. But here comes Red Velvet! The Chef won’t let The Doctor do what she wants! Will Statlander dethrone Britt when it’s time to go All Out?

AEW shares footage from the All Out Press Conference.

Tony Schiavone presided as Jon Moxley and Satoshi Kojima sat down. Things got heated quickly, though, as Moxley got upset at the idea Kojima thinking he could hit the big Cozy Lariat. Moxley flipped the table, Kojima stood right up to get in his face, and things got really heated as Moxley pie-faced the NJPW veteran! Kojima fired off forearms, Moxley hit back, and security hurried to keep this from getting worse! Will the Maniac make sure Kojima is anything but cozy this Sunday?

Mark Henry video interviews Darby Allin and Daniel Garcia.

Henry notes that Garcia and his pals, 2point0, have been the aggressive opportunists always on the attack these last two weeks. And now, they’re claiming Darby won’t even make it to All Out? Jeff Parker says that since they walked into Chicago, everyone’s talking Darby VS Punk. It’s on billboards, T-shirts and it all makes them sick that this is the most anticipated match in AEW. But Matt Lee says, “Here’s the real question: what happens Sunday night when Darby Allin can’t make it to the ring because our son, Danny Garcia, breaks his neck tonight?” Garcia says that if we really want to know why these three want to stop this match, it’s because they can!

Henry asks if Darby can stay focused knowing Punk is going to be on commentary. Darby tells Garcia that he is not overlooking him at all. He is going to look Garcia “dead in the eyes” and knock him right on his ass! Then Darby will go up the ramp and right to commentary to look Punk face to face one last time before All Out. Then enough talk, it’s time for the main event!

Punk makes his way to commentary!

Chicago is rocking all over again as THEIR CM Punk, the Best in the World, CROWD DIVES first! The people love Punk and he loves the people, but he has to join Jericho, Excalibur, Taz and Henry for the main event, after the break!

Darby Allin w/ Sting VS Daniel Garcia w/ 2point0!

AEW Rampage returns once more and Red Death is already in the ring with Parker & Lee. Darby makes his entrance and he looks over at commentary, getting a bit ahead of what he said just moments ago. Garcia is fired up and the bell rings, the two circle and tie up. They go around, Darby puts Garcia in a corner but Garcia hooks a leg to make things tricky. The ref has them break, Darby lets off clean but Garcia SLAPS him! Darby SLAPS back, we have a SLAP fight going! Darby trips Garcia up to ground ‘n’ pound and fans are fired up! Garcia gets away and 2.0 checks him. Darby goes out after Garcia and CLUBS him against railing!

Darby brings Garcia around, ROCKS him, and Sting keeps his eyes on 2.0. Darby lines up the shot and runs in, but Garcia gets out of the way! Darby goes crashing back first into the timekeeper’s area! The table topples over and commentary is starting to see what Garcia means about making sure Darby doesn’t make it to Sunday! But Sting takes it out on 2.0 by whipping Matt Lee into railing! Fans are fired up but the ref is still checking on Darby. Garcia drags Darby up while Sting throws Lee around more. Garcia whips Darby into steel steps while Sting fires off shots on Parker! Sting keeps throwing 2.0 into railing but Garcia drags Darby up and into the ring.

Garcia stomps Darby around, drags him up again, and throws body shots. Garcia suplexes but Darby fights free to WRING Garcia into a FUJIWARA! Garcia fights up fast, back suplexes, but Darby still has the arm! FUJIWARA, and Darby ends fingers, too! Garcia moves around, rolls, and gets to the apron. Darby lets go to bring Garcia around, and he SLAMS Garcia’s arm on steel steps! Darby puts Garcia’s arm between steps and post, and then stands on Garcia’s shoulder! Garcia shouts in pain and the ref reprimands, so Darby lets off so Garcia can get away. Darby stalks Garcia but Garcia BOOTS him down! Garcia snarls as he gets Darby’s legs and hooks them up.

Garcia goes for arms, Darby resists, but Garcia still gets a partial surfboard. Garcia uses Darby’s own neckless to gag him and mess with his jaw! The ref reprimands and counts, Garcia kicks Darby down! Garcia stalks Darby but Darby drop toeholds him into ropes! Darby chokes Garcia on the ropes, the ref counts and Darby lets off. Darby goes up a corner but Garcia trips him up! Garcia climbs up to join Darby, stands him up, and SUPERPLEXES! Darby sits up in a daze and Garcia grits his teeth as fans cheer. Garcia covers, TWO! Garcia seethes as AEW goes picture in picture.

Darby crawls, Sting rallies Chicago behind him, but Garcia kicks Darby around. Garcia drags Darby up to snapmare and basement dropkick him in the head! Cover, TWO! Garcia is frustrated but he keeps focus. Garcia drags Darby around, brings him to the apron and then out of the ring to TOSS into barriers! Darby slumps down while Garcia talks trash to Punk from the ramp! Garcia is saying he’ll gladly take Darby’s place at All Out, then he goes back to Darby as he flounders up. Garcia puts Darby in the ring, glares back at Punk, then drags Darby back up. Garcia whips Darby hard into a corner. Garcia fires off forearms then whips Darby corner to corner hard!

Garcia runs in to CHOP Darby, then reels him into a fireman’s carry toss! Garcia maintains a wristlock as he stomps Darby down. Darby fights up but Garcia stomps and kicks him more. That only angers Darby and Darby throws forearms! Garcia CHOPS, Darby fires off more forearms, but Garcia CHOPS Darby through his soul! Garcia seethes and again looks at commentary. Darby crawls to a corner, Garcia drags him up and throws EuroUppers! Garcia whips corner to corner as AEW returns to single picture, then runs in, only for Darby to BOOT him away! Darby leaps up and over Garcia, comes back and back body blocks, but into a SLEEPER!

Garcia climbs up the corner to make it a HANGMAN’S SLEEPER! Darby fights and the ref counts, Garcia lets Darby down at 4. Darby’s face is purple but he’s able to breathe again. Garcia wants the sleeper again but Darby holds that off, then RAMS Garcia into buckles. Darby throws back elbows, brings Garcia around and runs, but Garcia follows to get behind Darby for another SLEEPER! Darby fades already and is starting to turn purple again! Fans rally and Darby gets his second wind! Garcia becomes a backpack but Darby climbs a corner! BACKPACK SENTON!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down! A standing count begins but the two stir at 5 of 10!

Darby gets up at 7 and he drags Garcia up for haymakers! Garcia kicks low, turns things around and CHOPS! Garcia whips, Darby reverses, hammerlocks and LARIATS!! #PepsiTwist, a shout-out to young CM Punk! Punk likes that, it looked better than how he did it. Fans chant, “This is Awesome!” as Darby drags Garcia up. Garcia fires off EuroUppers but into a backslide! TWO, and Darby hops on, CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! Punk takes note of that, and fans are thunderous again. Darby gets Garcia’s legs, ties them up, LAST SUPPER! DARBY WINS!

Winner: Darby Allin, by pinfall

But 2.0 jumps in! Sting fights them again but now it’s 3v2! 2.0 throws Darby out, Sting is after Garcia, and fans want Punk to help them! Sting throws Garcia over railing but 2.0 is still mugging Darby! Punk throws off the headset and storms down to ringside! 2.0 dare him to take a swing, but they’re still backing away from him! Darby gets in the ring, builds speed and DIVES!! Direct hit into 2.0, but Darby is right to glaring at Punk! The in-ring return is just days away, will Punk still have what it takes to fight someone as young and relentless as Darby?

My Thoughts:

Another great Rampage and a lot of last minute go-home math changing from Dynamite before All Out. Statlander winning the handicap match and standing tall with Red Velvet by her side, obviously that means Britt wins. Though, I figured as much anyway as Britt VS Thunder Rosa needs to happen for the title. Miro and Kingston had a good back and forth in their promos, but Kingston standing tall gives the advantage to Miro at All Out. Getting to actually see some interaction between Moxley and Kojima is great, and I have no idea how to call that one, other than Moxley wins because he’s signed with AEW and this is happening at an AEW event.

Malakai VS Johnson was a great opener, and Johnson is definitely getting to look strong even in defeat. But the next move of being Malakai VS Dustin is great, as this is just how I expected things to go. That match for the #AllOutFallout Dynamite is great stuff, and I totally expect Cody to make a return to start us towards something big for either Dynamite: Grand Slam on the 22nd or the Dynamite anniversary in October. The main event was great stuff, and there was a bit of good chaos as Sting fights 2.0 while the match is happening. Naturally Darby wins for his own momentum, but also of course CM Punk is technically involved in the end so that he isn’t “just there” for the close.

I feel like this being Punk’s return, he can’t actually lose, but I also don’t see Punk as the kind of guy who insists he go over the young, popular talent. Maybe AEW uses their time limit rule so that it’s a draw, with someone coming really close to a win so that there’s the question of a rematch for a later event. Plus, giving the whole match 20 to 30 minutes can actually help if Punk has any ring rust, in that they don’t have to rush through things. Darby’s style is about speed and full body attacks, but Punk has seen that and therefore knows how to counter it. It’d then make sense if Punk uses a more cerebral, technical pace so that he doesn’t end up gassed too soon.

My Score: 8.5/10