Dynamite begins the countdown to WrestleDream!

It’s another big week for AEW! And before Swerve Strickland returns home to Seattle, he and Hangman Page sign on the dotted line!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW International Championship: Rey Fenix w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Jeff Jarrett w/ Triple J; Fenix wins and retains the title.
• AEW International Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat: Nick Jackson VS Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana VS Claudio Castagnoli; Nick wins and will challenge Fenix for the title next week.
• Fatal 4 Way: Penta El Zero Miedo w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Matt Jackson VS Orange Cassidy VS Austin Gunn; Cassidy wins.
• Julia Hart w/ Brody King VS Willow Nightingale; Julia wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW International Championship: Rey Fenix w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Jeff Jarrett w/ Team Triple J

The Immortal Firebird burned brightest last week in his revenge match with Jon Moxley, and now HE is opening the night with an open challenge! But will the entire carnival help the Last Outlaw win this title right off Fenix? Or will Fenix refuse to be a transitional champion?

Well as soon as Team Triple J is ringside, Fenix FLIES out onto them all! Fans fire up and Fenix drags Jarrett up to fire off shots! Fenix stalks Jarrett, CLUBS him, then fires more forearms! And CHOPS! Jarrett pokes Fenix in the eye! Jarrett whips Fenix into railing! And JAMS him with a chair! No rules since this ain’t a match yet, but Fenix CHOPS in return! And CHOPS again! Fenix whips, Jarrett reverses but Fenix RANAS Jay Lethal into Satnam Singh! But Karen CLAWS Fenix’ back! Fenix grabs Karen, but Sonjay CLUBS Fenix! So Fenix SUPERKICKS Sonjay! Fenix puts Jarrett in the ring, the bell finally rings, and Fenix SMACXKS Jarrett to GAMANGIRI!

Fenix goes up and up and QUEBRADAS! Cover, TWO! Jarrett is still in this but Fenix brings him around to fireman’s carry. But the back gives up! Jarrett CLUBS Fenix down, fans rally up for Fenix but Jarrett stomps him. Jarrett brings Fenix around to CLUB him again, and then CLUBS him again! Fenix leans against ropes but Jarrett CHOKES him! Jarrett runs, Karen CHOPS Fenix, and Jarrett hits the STRADDLE ATTACK! Jarrett struts while fans boo, and then Jarrett mocks Cero Miedo, and says ‘SUCK IT!” Jarrett runs, into a SOBAT! KICK! And FOREARM! Fenix runs in to JUMP SOBAT!

Fenix pushes Jarrett down, goes up, but Satnam distracts! Fenix avoids the big haymaker, but Jarrett kicks low to DDT! Fans boo while both men are down and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Fenix crawls to ropes, Jarrett pursues, but the ref has Jarrett back off. So Karen CHOKES Fenix more! Abrahantes shouts at Triple J but Jarrett stomps Fenix. Jarrett puts Fenix in a corner, whips him corner to corner hard, and Fenix hits the mat.  Jarrett struts some more, distracts the ref, and that allows Lethal to drag Fenix out for some stomps! Sonjay gest some shots in, too! Sonjay mocks #ANIMO, and Lethal keeps Abrahantes back! Jarrett soaks up the heat from Broomfield, Colorado before he goes out after Fenix. Jarrett whips Fenix hard into railing, and Fenix tumbles into the front row!

Abrahantes checks Fenix as he drags himself up, but Triple J chases him off! Abrahantes can’t do anything when it’s 4v1! Jarrett then drags Fenix up to suplex to the floor! Fenix writhes, the ring count is climbing, but Jarrett stomps Fenix. Jarrett talks trash, drags Fenix up, and puts Fenix in before ten. Jarrett CLUBS Fenix, taunts the fans, and then paces around Fenix. Jarrett CLUBS Fenix, taunts him, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Jarrett drags Fenix up but Fenix CHOPS first! And CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Fenix whips, Jarrett reverse but Fenix ducks ‘n’ dodges and rolls, but Jarrett trips him up!

Fenix goes to the apron and Jarrett kicks him down. Triple J rallies behind their guy but he then sicks them after Fenix. The ref stops Karen right in her tracks! Aubrey ain’t having it no more, and fans love it! Fenix gets up on the apron, RAMS into Jarrett, then RAMSA him again! Fenix RAMS into Jarrett one more time, then hobbles his way to the corner. Fenix springboards and leaps, FLYING ARM-DRAG and DOUBLE STOMP! Fans fire up as Fenix crawls to the cover, TWO! Jarrett is tougher than that but Fenix SUPERKICKS him down! Fans fire up as Fenix goes to the corner and drags himself up top!

Fenix aims, Lethal distracts, but he gets a PENALTY KICK for it! Sonjay tries now, and Jarrett LOW BLOWS! Fans boo but Jarrett cradles! TWO!! Triple J is furious but Jarrett whips. Fenix reverses, Jarrett lifts, Fenix slips out of the bomb! Jarrett kicks and wrenches, THE STROKE!!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Fenix survives and the fans are loving this! Satnam gets on the apron, Jarrett sends Fenix his way, but Fenix dropkicks the legs out! Satnam falls but Jarrett gets Fenix’s legs! FIGURE- NO, Fenix cradles now! FENIX WINS!!

Winner: Rey Fenix, by pinfall (still AEW International Champion)

Triple J tried all the tricks, but nothing could stop Fenix! But he only has a week to rest as we’re getting another title match next week! Will Fenix be facing Nick Jackson, Brian Cage or Claudio Castagnoli? We find out in a Triple Threat later tonight!

Adam Cole & MJF have another bro session.

Though with a bad foot, the Panama City Playboy joins Maxwell Jacob Friedman at the Long Island pierce to celebrate the win at Grand Slam. MJF sees Cole and tells him to hop onboard! Wait, MJF has a boat? Nah, this is his dad’s, but he doesn’t need to know. Uh, what? But anyway, they set sail, have some drinks and even go fishing. Cole thanks MJF for the invite. So beautiful out here. Yeah, it’s the greatest place on Earth. But uh, quick question. MJF is so glad Cole came out to help a brochacho out, and got hurt in the process, but… He was on the phone with Roddy a long time, huh?

Yeah, sorry, he was just worried about Roddy. Yeah, MJF gets it. Seems he was so worried, he couldn’t even be out there at the start of the match. Cole apologizes but Roddy is a brother to him. Yeah, yeah. MJF has Cole hold his beer so he can get some more. Cole hopes they can catch something today. Good beers, right? Yeah, delicious. MJF goes to the cooler, and brings out the Dynamite Diamond Ring?! MJF puts it on his pinkie, but Cole asks if MJF brought him out here just to hit him with the diamond ring then dump his body in the ocean, did he? What? No that is the last thing he’d ever do! MJF is secretly taking the ring off behind his back.

Cole says they do need to talk. Part of a healthy friendship his having more than one friend. It is okay and normal and healthy. Cole knows friendship is new to MJF, but MJF needs to know, Cole still cares about him. Well, look, having more than one friend is not for MJF, but… If it is normal and is Cole’s deal, then he supports that. Cole appreciates that. Plus, MJF almost got caught the last time he threw someone overboard so that’s a relief. What? Whoa, wait, we got a bite! They work together and pull it in! It’s PAUL WIGHT!? He says he was just trying to go for a swim! Paul spits out the hook and joins the boys on the boat. Paul knows they’re Better Than You, Baybay, and that’s aight.

Don Callis & Konosuke Takeshita returned to Japan.

The patriarch of the Don Callis Family and his “new son,” The Alpha, walked the streets of Tokyo as they responded to the Six Man Tag Challenge. Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Chris Jericho want to make a match for WrestleDream, but they’re not even in Seattle. They’re in Japan to hunt down the Golden Star! And Don knows all the favorite places of the Golden Lovers, so Kenny better have a new third man in mind for WrestleDream after they take care of business! The DCF will be live and in person after the break, will they have succeeded in their mission?

Renee Paquette is in the ring.

She says to expound upon their actions this past week, please welcome Don Callis & Konosuke Takeshita. The fans boo as dastardly Don and treacherous Takeshita make their way out during a recap package. Back in present, Renee gets to business. We all saw what happened between Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho at Grand Slam and the days after, so is it safe to say that Sammy is DCF? And sorry, but it is hard to hear over the chorus of boos. Callis says he has something to say. “I’m so happy that Sammy Guevara is FREE of the toxic influence of Chris Jericho, that I wanted to bring him out here myself! Ladies and gentlemen, the newest member of the Don Callis Family, SAMMY GUEVARA!”

The Spanish God, the REAL Judas of AEW, struts his way out like he did last Friday on Rampage. Fans boo him like they boo Callis and he joins the family. Sammy and Callis hug, and then even Konosuke hugs Sammy. Callis says, “You wanna know about Tokyo now?” Renee says yes, we just saw their video. What was the business there? Callis reminds us that Kota Ibushi is not safe! He and The Alpha went to Tokyo with a personal camera crew that caught it all! They were at Ibushi’s dojo in Gunma, Japan, and they barged right in! Ibushi wasn’t there, so they beat up on one of his students!

Ibushi showed up, took the fight to Konosuke, but checking on his student left him open to a SLEEPER! Ibushi fought free, gave some ground ‘n’ pound, but Callis SMACKED Ibushi with his umbrella! Big mistake, Don! Ibushi stormed up on Callis, Callis ran away, but Konosuke CLOBBERED Ibushi with a kettle bell weight! Callis then came back to stomp Ibushi, and then Konosuke CHOKED Ibushi with his jacket! Callis told Omega that this is his beating heart lying on the ground! No one is safe from the Don Callis Family!! Fans boo as Callis says his family has never been stronger! With Konosuke, Will “BAH GAWD” Ospreay and Sammy Guevara going to WrestleDream!

Fans boo as Sammy now speaks. Sammy is being painted as the bad guy, when in reality, he’s the HERO! Fans boo more but Sammy says Jericho is the real villain. Fans chant “F YOU, SAMMY!” but he just tunes that out to say Jericho, for four YEARS, held Sammy back! Sammy was champion without Jericho! He headlined PPVs without Jericho! And he was great all on his own. Every time Sammy started to fly, Jericho would clip Sammy’s wings and bring him down. Sammy thought that one day, Jericho would pass him the torch. But Jericho never was going to do that, and Callis is the one who showed Sammy that Jericho is selfish!

Sammy TOOK the torch, and now looks to become the star he was born to be! Fans boo more but Callis says at WrestleDream, they take everything from Ibushi, Jericho and Omega, “until there’s nothing left but the tears!” Konosuke adds as much in Japanese, will the Don Callis Family truly destroy three of the greatest of all time?

AEW shares footage from after Collision.

Last Saturday, after losing to Bryan Danielson again, Ricky Starks & “Big Bill” Morrissey were backstage, and Starks says that he survived again! He didn’t lose, he survived, period! Bryan Danielson has not tapped him out, and he never pinned him. The rankings is still Starks above Bryan! But then Wheeler Yuta walks over. Easy, man, he comes in peace. Yeah, Starks survived. And Yuta is man enough to admit he was wrong for what he did. He put his hands on Starks when the fight was over, and Starks was just trying to show Bryan respect. Starks tells Yuta that the next time Yuta puts his hands on Starks, Starks makes sure Yuta doesn’t walk away on his own accord!

Yuta says he’s trying to be the bigger man but it seems Starks doesn’t wanna hear it, so here’s how Yuta really feels. Starks is an entitled prick, all style and no substance, and all he does is whine, complain and moan! Starks couldn’t get up after everything Bryan put him through but guess what? Yuta gets up every damn day! The Blackpool Combat Club beats his ass, puts him down, and he just gets back up because that makes him stronger. And Starks doesn’t have the balls for that! But if he disagrees, let’s find out at WrestleDream. Starks smirks and walks off. Yeah, walk away. But it is now official! Absolute VS Decoder, who proves they’re tough enough?

AEW International Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat: Nick Jackson VS Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana VS Claudio Castagnoli!

WrestleDream on Sunday, and the FOURTH ANNIVERSARY of Dynamite next Wednesday, things are looking up for AEW! As such, one of these three men will challenge Rey Fenix for his title live on Dynamite next week! Who grabs themselves a golden ticket to #ANIMO?

The bell rings and Cage rushes Nick! Nick dodges but then Cage blocks the superkick to CHOP! Cage drags Nick up to trophy lift, and then TOSS him to the floor! Fans fire up as now Machine and Swiss Superman meet! First time anywhere, and the two tie up for a test of strength! They’re shoulder to shoulder, and Cage powers up to bend Claudio back! But Claudio powers up to push Cage! Cage kicks, SOBATS, and suplexes, but Claudio counters to suplex Cage! But Cage is right up! Cage suplexes, and he SLAMS Claudio! But Claudio is up, to UPPERCUT! Cage snarls, LARIATS, but Claudio stays up to UPPERCUT!

Cage LARIATS, Claudio UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and runs at Nick. Nick RAMS into Claudio, slingshots up and over to CHOP Cage! SOBAT for Claudio! LUCHA LIBRE~ as Nick FLYING ARM-DRAG RANA COMBOS! Nick goes up and up and TOPE CONJILO! “How about that?” Nick puts Cage in, goes up and in but Cage SPLASHES first! Cage hoists Nick up but Nick slips under to kick a leg out! Cage is stuck, Claudio puts Nick on the apron but Nick GAMANGIRIS! Nick slingshots to STOMP Claudio and DRAPING BACKSTABBER Cage! Fans are thunderous with Nick but Claudio BOOTS him down! Now fans fire up with Claudio!

Dynamite goes picture in picture as Claudio stalks Nick. Claudio scoops Nick to a trophy lift of his own, to DROP Nick behind him! Claudio flexes, covers, TWO! Claudio keeps cool, looms over Nick and brings him up to ROCK with a forearm! Nick goes to a corner, Claudio fires more shots, but Nick hits back! Nick backs Claudio down with haymakers, whips him to ropes, but Claudio reverses to LARIAT! Claudio then goes out to whip Cage, only for Cage to reverse! Claudio hits railing and gets stuck in the front row! Cage goes after Nick in the ring and fires forearms. Cage RAMS into Nick in the corner, then CHOPS him!

Cage talks some trash, runs back in, but into a BOOT! Then into more BOOTS! Nick goes up but Claudio SHOVES him, into a suplex from Cage! JACKHAMMER! Cover, but Claudio stomps it apart! Claudio drags Cage up, fires a forearm, and then has him in a corner. Claudio brings Cage out but Cage puts Claudio up top! Cage ROCKS Claudio, climbs up after him, and the two fire forearms back and forth! Claudio fires a flurry, and then HEADBUTTS Cage down! Nick springboards to CROSSBODY! Then Claudio CROSSBODIES Nick! Cover, TWO!! Claudio reels Nick in, but Cage CLOBBERS Claudio first!

Cage drags Claudio up, whips but Claudio reveres to knee low, and GUT WRENCH SUPELX! Dynamite returns to single picture as Cage flounders to a corner. Fans fire up with Claudio and he runs in, but Cage moves! Cage UPPERCUTS, GAMANGIRIS, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Nick is back and he runs up to SHINING WIZARD! GAMANGIRI! FOREARM! BULLDOG! Fans fire up as Nick goes up and out to PENALTY KICK Claudio! Then Nick RAMS into Cage, slingshots to FACEBUSTER, then he CARTWHEEL MOONSAULTS, but Claudio catches it! Only for Nick to TORNADO DDT it!!

Fans are thunderous as Nick goes up top, and Nana freaks out as Nick hits a 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Cage survives and Nana is relieved. Nick stands, but Claudio drags him out to RAM him into steel steps! Claudio hurries in after Cage, and fans fire up as they wanna see it! Claudio says okay, here comes the SWING!! Cage endures as he goes around and around, and the fans count to TEN! Claudio then covers, but Nick breaks it! Nick runs at Claudio but is put on ropes! Only to body scissor throw Claudio out! Nick goes up, he leaps and CROSSBODIES, but Cage catches him! F10!! Cover, TWO!!!

Fans are thunderous while Cage is furious! Cage storms up, Claudio RAMS into him, but Cage GAMANGIRIS! Cage goes up, and he deadlifts Claudio for the SUPERPLEX!! Cover, TWO!!! Claudio barely survives and Nana is beside himself! Cage slashes his throat, he wants to end this! Cage hauls Claudio up, Alabama Lifts, but Nick SUPERKICKS! “This is Awesome!” and Claudio sunset flips, but Nick ghost pins! TWO!! Nick SUPERKICKS Cage, but Cage rebounds! DISCUS- SUPERKICK! Nick gets Cage again, but then Claudio UPPERCUTS Cage in the corner! Nick SUPERKICKS again! UPPERCUT! SUPERKICK TO CLAUDIO!

Nick runs, into a POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cage swings but Cage blocks to DISCUS LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cage survives, but now Claudio has the clinch! HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS!! Claudio drags Cage up, reel shim in and tucks the arms, RICOLA~ BOMB!! But then Nick FLYING RANAS Claudio away! Cover on Cage, NICK WINS!!

Winner: Nick Jackson, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship)

Nick snatches this one away from Cage and Claudio, and would you look at that? Fenix VS Nick one more time around! Will Nick prove he is the better younger brother? Or will Fenix make sure The Buck stops here?

The Righteous speak.

Dutch addresses, “Mr. MJF… Mr. Cole… We have one question to ask you two: Do you ache for a feeling that you fake to feel?” Vincent says, “Boys, just like everyday society, all the fake people of the world are bonded by materialistic thinks. Just like the two of you! But soon, that’s gonna change.” “Karma has no deadline, gentlemen.” “And for us, we’ve done nothing wrong. It’s easier to forgive your enemy than it is to forgive fake friends. Dig what I’m saying, man?” Will the brochachos see what they mean soon enough?

MJF & Adam Cole are here!

Broomfield fires up as the ROH World Tag Team Champions head to the ring, Cole with his foot wrapped in a cast and using crutches to get along behind the AEW World Champion. Will Cole even be able to compete this Sunday? The brochachos still get in the ring, and MJF has a chair for Cole to take a seat. And even then, they still do the “ADAM COLE BAYBAY!” together. MJF gets the mics and has the music cut. MJF hears the cheers, and he says, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Devil has arrived in Colorado!” And Cole, talk to ’em! “Who’s ready for Story Time with Adam Cole, Baybay?” Fans cheer that!

Cole says this is going to be a sad chapter. Because last week, Cole got hurt, and hurt real bad. His ankle exploded, broke in three different places, and tore ligaments. He did everything he could but now he has to get surgery. There is nothing more soul crushing than hearing this, but Cole promises us that he will do everything in his power to get back as soon as humanly possible. Fans cheer that, but Cole wants us to know, that he and MJF are the ROH World Tag Team Champions. Because they can’t defend these titles now, they must now relinquish- WHOA WHOA WHOA! MJF wants brocacho Cole to hold on there.

Fans chant “NO! NO! NO!” and MJF tells Cole, “I know you didn’t have my fine kosher ass wrestle twice in one night to win these belts, to relinquish them to those freaky deeky douchebags, the Righteous.” MJF asks Colorado if they wanna see them just relinquish these titles. “NO!” Yeah, he thought so. MJF can’t believe he’s gonna say this, but let’s keep it real. Cole wouldn’t be hurt right now if not for him. Cole doesn’t want MJF blaming himself but MJF says no, he needed help with Samoa Joe, that is true. MJF will take that. However, he also knows how much these tag titles mean to Cole.

And MJF wants to make sure when Cole comes back, which he will 110% because he’s one of the best of all time, these will be waiting for him. MJF tells The Righteous that on October 1st, The Devil of AEW slides into Seattle, and will defend these tag titles in a HANDICAP MATCH, and will WIN, because they’re Better Than You, BAYBAY! Fans love that, but wait. Here comes Roderick Strong shouting for “ADAM~! ADAM~!” Fans echo it in mocking tones, as The Kingdom wheel Roddy out on a wheelchair. Roddy tells Cole that he needs him more than ever now. This is an emergency! Fans boo as they don’t believe the timing.

MJF says hold on, everybody, listen. As much as he thinks Roddy is nothing but a simp, which the fans echo, MJF learned a lesson on that boat. Roddy is Cole’s boy. And MJF may not like it but he respects it. So Cole, you go do what you gotta do. Just know MJF will be here when he comes back. Fans cheer that and Cole stands up. Cole and MJF look each other eye to eye, and then hug! Fans cheer again, Roddy says hurry up already. Cole hops out of the ring and says he’s coming, just calm down. Fans chant, “HE’S OUR SCUMBAG!” As The Kingdom and #HotRoddy head out. MJF gets the fans to cheer Cole again before he reaches the back.

MJF says he isn’t a fan of- Bullet Club Gold?! Jay White, Juice Robinson & The Gunns strut their way out, #Cardblade included, and then White tells his boys he can handle this on his own. Juice & The Gunns return to the back, and White continues to the ring. Fans chant “TOO SWEET! WOOP WOOP!” but then come back with “M J F! M J F!” MJF starts to talk but White tells him to shut up! Fans boo the attitude but White says they can shut up, too. White says we’ve all heard MJF’s voice enough tonight, time to hear White’s sweet and exotic accent for a change. Fans boo, and MJF is perplexed.

White says don’t worry, he knows coming out with the Bang Bang Gang, 5v1, it had MJF shook. Rock Hard Robinson, Fully Cocked Colten, Austin. And Cardblade, too! But it is okay, this is one on one time to revel in the moment. MJF tells White he must be smoking some strong Colorado grass. Fans chant for “WEED! WEED! WEED!” MJF says he is gonna yank it out, watch! White, that mid mic work ain’t gonna work on MJF. When you come for the king, you best not miss, and that first shot was a little bit hairy. Almost as hairy as that pubic hair stuck on White’s chin he passes for a goatee!

Fans chant “PUBIC HAIR! PUBIC HAIR!” Another first here… But MJF says in his career, he’s been compared to a lot of people. The sentiment was always the same: “Sure, MJF is good, but he’s no blank.” And as the star rose, the names got bigger and bigger. It never bothered MJF, until he read, “Sure, MJF is good, but he’s no Jay White.” White says that’s true, though. Fans call BS. But MJF says he didn’t get why it upset him, until now, standing eye to eye with White, in front of all MJF’s beautiful poors. Fans cheer the “compliment.” MJF says it is very apparent now. The people know better than anyone that MJF is like filet mignon.

And the thing about filet is that it is a thing unto itself. You can have other things on a plate with it, but it is all about the filet. Much like when MJF is in this ring, the show is all about MJF. Because NOBODY is on the level of The Devil. He is a generational talent, babe! Fans cheer that! And then there’s White. He is very talented, don’t get MJF wrong. However, even the smartest of fans have been confused into thinking these two are equal. That White is a filet when in reality, he’s just tofu. Fans boo tofu, then chant “TOFU! TOFU!” at White. The funny thing about tofu is that it takes on the flavor of whatever you want, BUT you need to add something to it to trick yourself into believing it has flavor.

And Jay White, you have been given everything. All the finest spices, herbs, and so on! The entrance, the nickname, the music, the shirts, the opportunities. White was handed the keys to one of the greatest wrestling factions of all time, the Bullet Club. White shows off the jacket. However… if you take that all away, we are left with nothing but boring, bland, tasteless TOFU. And now here White is, trying to hop onto MJF’s plate and steal some of his flavor! MJF doesn’t even mind because he sees through him. White is all hype. White is nothing more than a smartly produced, mass marketed vision of what someone in Japan thinks was a top guy!

So allow MJF to give you some advice from a REAL top guy! If MJF were White, he’d just leave the ring and would stop talking smack to MJF’s poors! Cuz if White doesn’t, for the rest of his career, whenever their names are mentioned in the same sentence, it will read as follows: “Sure, Jay White is good, but he’s no Maxwell Jacob Friedman.” Because he’s better than you, and you know it! Fans cheer and MJF soaks it all in. White shakes that off and then gives MJF his applause. Yes, thank you, this is what White wanted! His very own, personalized, MJF experience! But to be honest, White’s a little let down.

Fans bring back “TOFU! TOFU!” but White shrugs that off. He says something is off about MJF. Personally, is it the injuries? Or maybe it’s the distraction that is his bromance with Adam Cole BAYBAY! See, when they scream Cole’s name, people do that, they go “BAYBAY!” White bets MJF wishes they’d do something like that for him. But White doesn’t think the fans love MJF like they do Cole. The fans boo and MJF smirks. White tells the fans remember, when he’s talking, they hush. But this whole situation, if you think about it, is kinda White’s fault. See, if White didn’t put Cole’s career on halt at Forbidden Door 1, maybe this friendship doesn’t develop as Cole makes his way back.

Then they don’t tag together, they don’t become ROH World Tag Team Champs together, they don’t Wembley main event together, Cole doesn’t try to break MJF’s neck at Wembley… But hey! You got him back cuz now Cole’s ankle is busted and that is MJF’s fault! Fans boo but White says MJF’s neck really isn’t feeling good after Samoa Joe last week. So yeah, White’s been ruining MJF’s life from afar. But it’s okay, he’s here, up close and personal, to ruin it in the flesh! Fans boo more but White tells MJF that MJF says he’s the devil? Nobody is on the level of the devil? Well, Mr. Devil, find a new level that does not exist, in order to stop White from taking the AEW World title!

Yeah, he is taking the thing that matters most! Funny how the All Elite Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion isn’t so elite when compared to Switchblade Jay White, the #1 asset in all of pro-wrestling! The Last Rock ‘n’ Rolla! The man who singlehandedly sold out Madison Square Garden AND the United Center! White is King Switch, baby! The ONLY Grand Slam Champion that matters! And he is high rolling in Denver! The Catalyst of Pro-Wrestling!! And HE, NOT MJF, will be a truly elite champion when he peels that off MJF’s carcass! MJF can go sulk and sob with all his poors! He’s just like them, he’s their scumbag!

Fans boo and tell White to STFU, but White says yeah, yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, Max, he will have them and they will have him while White has the Triple B, BAYBAY! And you can ALL breath with the Switchblade, the new and true AEW World Heavyweight Champion! It is STILL his era! This is the Switchblade Era because MJF’s soft, and he knows it! MJF tells White he doesn’t have a damn clue what MJF’s capable of, so how about he shows you!? MJF throws off the scarf and belt and even his shirt! Fans fire up as White throws his jacket off, but then White bails out! Fans boo but MJF tells him that if he wants the title, he ain’t getting it!

When and where will these two young and violent stars have it out for the top prize in AEW?

Jim Ross has a sit-down interview with Darby Allin and Christian Cage.

Good ol’ JR makes one thing perfectly clear: it is a smart move for AEW to guarantee there is no physicality here. The match on Sunday is too important for the company, for both men’s careers, because we expect a classic. Times are changing, look who the recognized champion is now. No controversy on Captain Charisma’s claims to be TNT Champion, what are his thoughts on that? Christian isn’t sure what JR means.  He’s been champion for months now. And he just proved he is far superior every single way on Collision when he “retained” his title in a Triple Threat.

Then JR has a question that’ll piss Christian off. Christian’s lost to Darby twice. What makes Christian think he can win two outta three falls at WrestleDream? First, those were flukes, and all non-title. Christian will walk out of Darby’s hometown as the TNT Champion. Christian knows in his heart that Darby is nowhere near the man or the wrestler Christian is. Darby relies on his stupid skateboard and other little tricks, and throws his whole body around, tables, ladders and chairs. Christian wanted the two outta three so that we can see what happens when Darby actually has to wrestle. Christian vows that Darby will be exposed in his hometown, in front of his family and friends, and he hopes Darby will be ready to live with that for the rest of his life.

Now speaking of being prepared, is Darby’s uncle going to be there? Oh, right, no, his uncle… Sounded like a great guy, taking his little nephew out for a drunken joyride. And what happened? Darby says he’s dead! Is that what Christian wants to say? Everyone Christian talks trash on is dead! What is Christian after? That doesn’t define who Darby is today! You think Darby’s afraid of dying? You think he’s afraid of losing? Newsflash, he won’t lose! Christian cannot beat Darby in Seattle! Darby’s won the TNT title there once and he’ll do it there again! So then, if he’s so confident, Christian says bring everyone. Mom, dad, brother, hell! Bring Nick Wayne and his mom!

Actually, yeah, do that, Christian can call her to make sure. But bring everyone. Bring Buddy- OH, right, he’s dead. Darby says Christian wants Nick to be there so he can take advantage of him again! That’s the only reason Luchasaurus won at All Out! And Darby will make sure Nick doesn’t show up ringside, and if Christian has the BALLS, he’d do this without Luchasaurus at ringside! Only if Christian does, though. Christian explains: You think Darby is helping Nick? Darby’s not the mentor that kid needs. He needs a champion, a real man! Someone who doesn’t paint his face to hide his identity!

Darby gets restless in his seat and Christian dares him to hit him! Darby instead gets a water bottle and says he isn’t hiding. Darby washes the paint away and asks if Christian thinks he’s hiding! Christian says he does! And Christian also says he does not need Luchasaurus. WrestleDream, October 1st, in Seattle, TNT Championship, best two outta three, Christian proves he has and always will be the Face of TNT, so get used to it!! Darby stands up and storms off, will he prove the only one hiding is the guy in the turtleneck?

Fatal 4 Way: Penta El Zero Miedo w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Matt Jackson VS Orange Cassidy VS Austin Gunn!

Ahead of a HUGE Fatal 4 Way Tag to determine new #1 contenders to the AEW World Tag Team Championships, one man from each team faces off, no teammates allowed ringside! Rey Fenix is still International Champion, Nick Jackson is headed for a title match with him next week, with one of their brothers move the team into pole position? Will Freshly Squeezed serve up some Orange Punch? Or will Bullet Club Gold’s… uh, Austin hit a bull’s eye before WrestleDream?

The bell rings and Austin talks trash while holding up the gun finger. He rushes Cassidy but Cassidy tosses him out! Austin drags Cassidy out to join him and sends him into railing! But then Austin sees Penta there and backs off. Matt rolls Penta up, TWO! Matt arm-drags, wheelbarrows and arm-drags again! Matt fakes Penta out to DDT! But Austin rolls Matt up! TWO, and Matt TOSSES Austin! Cassidy returns, Matt hurdles, things speed up and Cassidy ARM-DRAGS Matt! Fans fire up as off comes the elbow- NO, Austin rolls Cassidy up! TWO, and Austin runs in at the corner, only for Cassidy to TOSS him out!

Penta returns but Cassidy ELBOWS him back! Penta wobbles, then he swaggers! Fans fire up and Penta rolls back to RANA, and then LEG DROP! Cassidy stagger sup into a DROPKICK! Cassidy falls out of the ring, fans fire up but Austin cuts Penta off. The two stare down, but then the fans taunt the “ASS~ BOY~!” Austin and Penta circle, Austin mocking Penta’s swagger. Austin says “Listen! GUNS UP!” Penta says hold on, and off comes the glove! Perfect pass and catch to Abrahantes, and then “Listen! CERO! MIEDO!” Penta pie faces Austin but Austin reloads to say “GUNS! UP!” Fans boo but Penta resets, but Austin dodges the chop!

Austin CHOPS, he talks trash, but Penta CHOPS him down! Fans fire up as Austin bails out, “CERO!” NO, Matt is back! Penta dodges to SUPERKICK! Cassidy is back, he stops the Cero Miedo to say hands up, into pockets! But Penta SUPERKICKS him down! “CERO! MIEDO!” But then Austin CLOBBERS Penta! Austin CLOBBERS Matt, too! Then he dodges the Orange Punch to JAB! JAB! JAB! Austin does a little dance, to then DECK Cassidy! Austin soaks up the heat, covers, TWO! Austin fumes while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Austin hears the fans taunting him, then he goes up the corner to taunt them back. Austin brings Cassidy around, stomps him, then talks a bit more trash. Austin paces around, DECKS Penta off the apron, then brings Cassidy up again. Austin bumps Cassidy off buckles, brings him out, and reels him in to suplex. Cassidy blocks, Austin keeps trying, but Cassidy suplexes Austin! Matt runs in to kick and snap suplex Cassidy! Penta runs in to kick and snap suplex Matt! Austin snap suplexes Penta! Cassidy snap suplexes Austin! Matt snap suplexes Cassidy! Penta snap suplexes Matt! Austin goes after Penta, but Penta snap suplexes Austin!

Fans fire up as Cassidy runs up, but Penta snap suplexes him, too! Matt runs up, but Penta snap suplexes him, too! Fans are thunderous as Penta comes out with the Three Amigos and “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta runs in at the corner but Cassidy ELBOWS him again! Cassidy goes up, Penta superkicks the legs out! Cassidy is stuck, Penta goes up, but Austin drags Cassidy out of the corner to ROCK Penta! Austin climbs up to fire hands but Penta hits back! They brawl, and Penta HEADBUTTS Austin down! Matt goes up to BLAST Penta off the corner! Matt then goes up, but Austin CLUBS him on the back!

Austin climbs up behind Matt, brings him up, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Matt throws headlock punches on Austin, ELBOWS him down, then adjusts. Fans fire up and Matt CROSSBODIES Penta on the outside! Cassidy goes up to aim at Austin but Austin is up first! Austin CLUBS away on Cassidy, but Cassidy throws hands back! Austin falls down again, and Cassidy adjusts, to TRUST FALL onto Penta & Matt! Fans are thunderous and Cassidy goes up, but Austin gets under the leap! Things speed up, Austin turns hip toss into QUICK DRAW! Cover, TWO!! Cassidy survives and Austin fumes.

Abrahantes rallies the fans while Austin drags Cassidy up and reels him in. Austin calls out The Game, underhooks the arms, but Cassidy back drops him away! Penta runs in to DESTROYER on Cassidy! Austin staggers up, reels Penta in, but Penta back drops him. Matt hits a DESTROYER on Penta! Austin runs up on Matt, but Matt back drops him away! Cassidy hits a DESTROYER on Matt!! Austin tries again, but Cassidy Alabama Lifts! Austin sunset flips it, TWO! Cassidy reels Austin in, to hit a DESTROYER!! The fans are thunderous as all four men stagger and wobble! Then they all fall over!

A standing count begins as fans chant for “A E DUB!” All four are down at 4 of 10, but they stir and go to ropes. Every man has a corner, but Penta runs in at Matt. Matt dodges to CLUB Penta, cravat, and he SUPERKICKS Austin! Matt runs to kick off Cassidy to hit SLICED BREAD on Penta! Cassidy runs, tilt-o-whirls but Matt makes it a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Then the Polar Express begins! But Cassidy slips around but Matt switches. They go to ropes, Matt manages the O’Conner, but Penta AND Austin run in! Matt gets them both, DOUBLE NORTHERN LIGHTS!! TRIPLE COVER!! TWO!!! All three escape and fans are thunderous!

Matt feeds off the energy and he drags Penta up. Matt doesn’t have Nick but he still calls the shot! B T E- NO, Penta blocks! “CERO! MIEDO!” Kick and underhook, but Matt slips out to underhook. Penta slips out to ENZIGURI! Penta runs, dodges Austin, to SLINGBLADE! Penta kicks Matt low, reels him in, but Cassidy ORANGE PUNCHES Penta down! Cassidy blocks Matt’s superkick to spin him, Alabama Lift him, and BEACH BREAK!! But Austin hits a FAMOUSER!! Cover, TWO!! Austin hurries to cover Matt, TWO!! Austin hurries to pin Penta, TWO!! Austin strikes out and is furious, but the fans rally up.

All four men rise, and Austin ROCKS Matt! ROCKS Cassidy! ROCKS Penta! “GUNS UP-” TRIPLE SUPERKICK!! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Cassidy! Penta SUPERKICKS Matt, but Matt SUPERKICKS Penta! They SUPERKICK each other! They DOUBLE LARIAT, DOUBLE LARIAT, and then run, but Austin trips Penta! Cassidy returns to ORANGE PUNCH Matt!! Cover, Cassidy wins!!

Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall

Freshly Squeezed finds the opening, and now he and the Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil have the momentum! Will #OrangeHook grab themselves tag title tickets that are good for a title match at any time? Or will one of the three brother tag teams pull together and win big together?

Julia Hart w/ Brody King VS Willow Nightingale!

The Lady of the House is on an impressive win streak of 26-0, since losing to Kris Statlander. As such, she is after the TBS Championship this Sunday. Will she make the Babe with the Power just another example? Or will Willow prove why she’s the 2023 Queen of Harts?

It’s also of note that Willow still has bandages wrapped around her head, covering the eye Julia Hart hit with black mist while backstage at Rampage. Will having only one eye hold her back against such a sadistic opponent?

The bell rings fans rally up as Willow stares Julia down. They approach, Julia has a sinister smile, but Willow CLOBBERS her! And bumps her off buckles! Willow fires clotheslines in the corner, the ref backs her off, but then Willow storms back up on Julia. Willow fires more forearms, bumps her off buckles, and then stomps a mudhole into Julia! The ref counts, Willow lets off, and Julia jumps on! She claws at the bandages! Willow SLAMS Julia down, storms around, but Julia dodges to fire off more forearms! The ref counts, Julia whips but Willow handsprings through! Willow comes back to short arm LARIAT!

Willow hauls Julia up, CHOPS her in the corner, and then bumps Julia off buckles! Willow throws more clotheslines and CHOPS! Willow reels Julia in, snap suplexes, covers, TWO! Willow rains down fists while Brody coaches Julia to get up. Willow storms around, but Julia SLAPS Her! That only makes Willow grin! Willow scoops to SLAM! And then scoop to SLAM again! And then another scoop, but Julia fights free! Julia ducks ‘n’ dodges, bails out, and she hides under the ring! Willow storms out after her but Brody stands in the way. Julia sneaks out the other side, then runs up to CHOP BLOCK! Fans hoot and bark as Julia hits a BLINDSIDE LARIAT!

Julia grins as she CLUBS away, and Dynamite goes picture in picture!

Julia drags Willow up and into the ring, storms in after her, and CLUBS away more! Julia makes us all look at the damaged eye before she CLUBS Willow again. The ref reprimands, Julia stalks Willow to ropes and CHOKES her! The ref counts again, Julia lets off, and she CLUBS Willow down. Julia digs her boots in, but Willow pushes her away. Julia CLUBS Willow, Willow hits back. They throw hands back and forth, and Julia stomps Willow around. Julia brings Willow up but Willow throws body shots! Willow fireman’s carries, but Julia CXLAWS at Willow’s face! Julia drags Willow down while the ref reprimands!

Julia puts Willow on ropes and CHOKES her! The ref reprimands and counts, Julia lets off at 4, and then stalks Willow as she rises. Julia SLAPS Willow, has her in a corner, and CHOPS her! And ROCKS her! Julia fires forearms, snapmares, then KICKS her in the back! And KICKS her in the side! Julia rains down forearms, then clamps on a chinlock. Willow endures as Julia leans on the hold. Willow fights up as fans rally, and Willow stands as Dynamite returns to single picture. Julia jumps on for a SLEEPER, but Willow pops her into a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Both women rise and fans rally behind Willow!

Willow runs corner to corner to BACK BODY BLOCK, then she snapmares Julia away, to BOOT her down! Willow then whips Julia to SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!! Julia survives but Willow stays focused. Willow drags Julia up, reels her in, short arm LARIAT! And short arm- NO, Julia turns it into an STO! Julia then steps over, for the HARTLESS STRETCH!! Willow endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK!! Julia is furious as she lets go, but then she watches Willow go to the corner. Julia runs in, handsprings, but into a POOOOUNCE! PERIOD!! The straps come down, Willow is roaring, and she hauls Julia up!

Willow gut wrenches, scoops, and then RAMS Julia into a corner! Julia is put in the Tree of Woe, and Willow mocks the hooting and barking! Fans join in, Willow runs in, but Julia sits up and cannonball hits buckles! Julia adjusts, to MOONSAULT! Cover, Julia wins!

Winner: Julia Hart, by pinfall

Julia angered Willow and took advantage of that rage! But she’s not done, either! HARTLESS STRETCH!! Willow endures, refuses to tap, but it doesn’t matter anyway because this match is over! But here comes Kris! The TBS Champion runs down and rushes Julia but Julia dodges and hides behind Brody! Julia has a sly little smile, but will nothing stop Mama Kris from grounding the brat? Or is the song right that the House Always Wins?

BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!

As if this week wasn’t big enough, The Acclaimed’s Open Challenge for the Trios Championships has been answered! It will be the Hardy Party, Isiah Kassidy & The Hardy Boyz! Will the Scissoring World Tour be DELETED? Or will nothing stop Max Caster, Anthony Bowens & Billy Gunn? Plus, Ruby Soho takes on Hikaru Shida for a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship for October 10th, the special edition Tuesday Night Dynamite! And though he is to defend both the ROH World and NJPW Strong Openweight titles against Katsuyori Shibata, Eddie Kingston defends the latter against Rocky Romero! Will Azucar look to change the Mad King’s plans?

Renee Paquette is back in the ring.

She is already with Swerve Strickland at the table for this contract signing, and says we are days away from WrestleDream, Swerve returning to his hometown to face this former AEW World Champion, Hangman Adam Page! The Anxious Millennial Cowboy makes his entrance and the fans fire up. And Renee makes sure everyone knows, no one else is allowed ringside, neither from The Mogul Embassy nor from The Elite. Security is here to ensure that, so let us make this 1v1 match official. Hangman is given the contract first, and he takes the pen but Swerve says before he signs, Swerve has to admit. He is impressed with the fire Hangman has shown lately.

Even at Grand Slam, Swerve didn’t think Hangman had it in him. But uh, a little too late for it, don’t you think? We’re just four days away from WrestleDream. Swerve says it is better to be prepared on the approach rather than the landing, but that’s just him. Does Hangman understand what he is walking into? This is Seattle, “Whose house?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” That is a lion’s den! It’s the Twelfth Man, dammit! Unlike anything Hangman’s ever dealt with. And he doesn’t really understand. They are two competitors that couldn’t be more opposite. Swerve is nothing like Hangman. Hangman is not the wrestler Swerve is, and Swerve is NEVER going to be the wrestler Hangman is.

Cuz what’s a farm to a mogul? A cowboy to an outlaw? A Buckshot to a Killshot? Swerve puts down his mic and stares Hangman down but Hangman says Swerve is all fire dup. Good, he should be. A few weeks ago, Swerve said some things that in the moment, Hangman won’t lie, they stung. But now that he’s had time to think about them, he wants to thank Swerve for saying all that. Hangman hadn’t gotten new wrestling gear in over a year. He hadn’t had new shirts or merch, and that something was up with Hangman. Hangman knew it, too, deep down.

Because for a year and a half, every day that Hangman would come to work, he felt there was a little black cloud hanging over his head that he just couldn’t get rid of. And yeah, sure, the sun would shine sometimes. Hangman beat Moxley in a Texas Death Match! Hangman reunited with his friends in The Elite! And it felt like Hangman should’ve been the happiest man in the world, but every time he started to smile, that little cloud came back and started to rain. Hangman was annoyed, pissed off, because he knew he couldn’t do anything or say anything. He had this umbrella folded up at his side, and he knew that for as long as God let it rain on him, he didn’t dare open the umbrella.

“But that is over with. And I weathered the storm, I’m still here!” Fans cheer that, and Hangman says the thing that Swerve noticed and made Hangman see, is that in the downpour, it washed something out of Hangman. Call it determination, passion, hope, but it was gone. And now that Hangman has had time to think, to really reckon with it, he realizes that the people have always, and now more than ever, deserve more from Hangman! They deserve the best of Hangman! Fans cheer that, too! And Hangman deserves to do that for himself. So that is what Swerve will get in Seattle. He will get THE BEST of Hangman!

Fans fire up as Hangman signs his part. Swerve laughs as the fans chant for “COWBOY SH*T!” Swerve says that was beautiful stuff. But frankly, that was also the most pathetic thing he’s ever seen! More pathetic than Russell Wilson and the Broncos against the Dolphins. Fans boo but Swerve says him being from Seattle, he is happy to have gotten “that piece of trash” out and left him here in “this dumpster fire of Colorado.” But Swerve will level with Hangman. This isn’t personal. It could’ve been anybody, but it happened to be Hangman in the position Swerve wants. Yeah, it’s true. Swerve really just might have mental issues, like mental health problems, because he makes an enemy out of someone every single day.

And that is what drives him to get into the position Hangman has! Swerve will do that! He will take this spot from Hangman this Sunday at WrestleDream! Oh and by the way, it rains an awful lot in Seattle. Hangman says Swerve keeps on saying he wants Hangman’s spot, Hangman’s position, to be a main event player in AEW. That’s what he keeps saying, right? Swerve himself said that if he had Hangman’s opportunites, he would’ve been long ago the first Black AEW World Champion. And Swerve, maybe he would’ve, that is a hypothetical. But the only thing either man can do is to live in a way that the generations to come won’t have to ask the same questions.

They could go back and forth all day long about what opportunities were handed to him and what opportunities Hangman earned. But in the end, one thing we can all agree on is that for every opportunity Hangman ever had, he has knocked it out the park! Fans cheer that! Hangman tells Swerve that if he wants this spot, damn right he should want it! But if he wants to say he has what it takes to fill Hangman’s boots, he does NOT! Swerve SLAPS Hangman, then signs his part. Renee backs away, as Hangman STABS Swerve’s hand with the other pen!! Security rushes in to pull these two apart before it gets worse!

Fans fire up as both men want to tear each other apart! They only have to wait four more days, will they be willing to wait until WrestleDream?

Wait, what’s going on backstage?!

Four men in completely black suits and masks are beating up on someone! They drag this person up, and TOSS him into the wall!! Wait, is that JAY WHITE?! Who just jumped King Switch and why? The camera pans over, and it’s MJF’s devil mask! Is MJF bringing out that dark side again? Is that even MJF under the mask?

My Thoughts:

A great Dynamite to start another go-home week. They hadn’t advertised much in the way of matches, so we got some great stuff essentially outta nowhere. Fenix VS Jeff Jarrett was a really good opener, with of course that circus of sidekicks doing what they can to help Jarrett, but of course Fenix retains. Fenix’s leg seemed to be actually banged up after that suplex over the barriers, so hopefully he’ll be okay given the recent handful of injuries. And awesome Triple Threat of Nick Jackson VS Cage VS Claudio to set up a title match for next Dynamite, and what a great move to make it a rematch of Fenix VS Nick. That was a huge hit when Dynamite first got going, so it’ll be great to see them go another round for the Dynamite anniversary.

Awesome Fatal 4 to hype up the Fatal 4 Tag we’re getting at WrestleDream. Cassidy winning makes me think #OrangeHook is out of the running, but then it feels like The Bucks are getting the title shot. That’s a lot given they’re now ROH World Six Man champs. At the same time, the Bucks VS FTR is always a good match. And Willow VS Julia was a great match, especially as it ended up the main event match. But I got to thinking, while Julia has been working hard a long time, but like, what happened to Willow getting to do stuff after winning the Owen Hart Cup? Why didn’t they think to raise the stakes, have Willow win here and then we get a Triple Threat at WrestleDream? If you’re going to do so few women’s matches, have more women in the matches.

Great promos all over to hype things for WrestleDream, though. A little redundant to show Don Callis & Konosuke in Tokyo, have them walk out live, and then cue up the rest of that Tokyo trip, but the point got across that neither Omega, Jericho or Ibushi is going into the Six Man Tag grudge match at 100%. As such, this has to be where Omega, Jericho & Ibushi get a win to make up for the losses at All In and All Out, as well as the betrayal of Sammy on Jericho. And nice post-Collision promo from Starks and Yuta to set up a match for WrestleDream. And given Starks has lost twice to Bryan, he has to win against Yuta here.

Great sit-down interview promo from Christian and Darby, and it seems Christian is just going to bring up anyone’s dead relatives to get heat. I like that Darby has dared Christian to leave Luchasaurus behind so they can truly be 1v1 for their two outta three, but I’m sure something still happens where Luchasaurus shows up and costs Christian in the end. At least, I’m sure hoping that happens. And a great promo for the contract signing with Swerve and Hangman. They could really steal the show since the fans will already be fired up for hometown hero Swerve, and at this point, it feels like Swerve could win.

But the newest vignette from The Righteous wasn’t that different from their previous. However, it was a good segue into the promo we got from MJF and Adam Cole. Another hilarious brochacho vignette, but a damn shame Cole’s foot injury is really that bad. I really hope Cole comes back quickly, it still feels like he just got back from the concussion. Hilarious stuff with Roddy, still in a hospital gown, wheeling in to shout at Adam. I like that MJF is learning to let friends have other friends, that is character growth. And MJF wanting to face The Righteous all alone, that is also some growth, where he is getting the guts to be the Face that takes on all comers.

And then, great promo from MJF and Jay White, setting up a title feud outta nowhere, but probably to make up for Cole being out of action. And what a wild closing scene where Devil MJF has henchmen again. Though, I wonder what’s really going on here. We saw The Kingdom & Roddy leave, Cole trailing behind. How do we know this is Roddy, The Kingdom and a couple others being given an opportunity all framing MJF to turn Cole against him? Either way, there’s some great intrigue thrown back into this story, I like it.

My Score: 8.9/10

Ricky Starks finds a way to up the intensity from All Out!

As if a Strap Match wasn’t enough, Ricky Starks wants revenge on Bryan Danielson in a Texas Death Match!! Will this be an ABSOLUTE blood bath?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW TNT Championship Triple Threat: Luchasaurus VS Christian Cage VS Darby Allin; Christian wins and becomes the new AEW TNT Champion.
• Hook & Rob Van Dam VS Matthew Menard & Angelo Parker w/ Jake Hager; Hook & RVD win.
• Julia Hart w/ Brody King VS Kiera Hogan; Julia wins.
• Jay White w/ Bullet Club Gold VS Andrade El Idolo; White wins.
• AEW World Tag Team Championships: FTR VS The Workhorsemen; FTR wins and and retains the titles.
• Texas Death Match: Ricky Starks VS Bryan Danielson; Bryan wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Darby Allin speaks.

“Tonight I win back the championship that changed my life from Christian Cage and Luchasaurus. I’m not a stupid man, I know this is gonna be a Handicap match. But I am gonna walk out the new Face of TNT.

Christian Cage speaks.

“Tonight on Collision, Darby, you’re challenging myself and Luchasaurus in a three way match for the TNT Championship. Let me remind you that Sting is not allowed at ringside and I don’t like your chances. We will remain the Face of TNT now and forever. Do you understand me?”

Ricky Starks speaks.

“Bryan Danielson, you have never tapped me out. I passed out. You’re talking to a guy that’s been to Heaven, so if you’re looking test God, look no further than Absolute Ricky Starks. Tonight, I put you six feet under.”

Bryan Danielson speaks.

“Ricky Starks, you’re in a lot of trouble for challenging me to a Texas Death Match. A match where to win, you have to knock somebody down and keep them down. Here’s the thing, people have been trying to keep me down my entire career, and nobody has succeeded yet. And Ricky, you sure as Hell won’t succeed tonight either.” Will the American Dragon once again slay the Absolute?

AEW TNT Championship Triple Threat: Luchasaurus VS Christian Cage VS Darby Allin!

As the Relentless One just said, this might as well be a Handicap Match, because you can bet Captain Charisma and his Right Hand of Destruction are united in destroying Darby. Will Darby even survive this match? Or will he find a way back to former glory?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who really wears that title after this!

The bell rings and Darby is wary of his enemies. Fans rally for Darby, but Christian bails so this turns into a 1v1 match. Luchasaurus and Darby circle, and Luchasaurus taunts Darby with a test of strength. Darby throws POCKET SAND! And then he DIVES onto Christian! Darby RAMS Christian into steel steps, then puts him in the ring! Darby hurries to CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! Darby keeps moving and he DIVES onto Luchasaurus! Down goes the dinosaur! But Christian pokes Darby in the eyes, and HOTSHOTS him to the floor! Luchasaurus is up and he drags Darby over to RAM into railing!

Fans rally for Darby but Luchasaurus is on him again! Luchasaurus whips Darby into more railing! Fans actually duel as Luchasaurus fetches a chair for Christian then puts Darby in. Christian soaks up the cheers and jeers, then he sits Darby in the chair to CHOKE him on the ropes! Christian stands on Darby, the ref reprimands but there’s nothing to be done in a Triple Threat. Christian drags Darby up, and CHOKES him against the chair’s back! Christian says Darby did this to himself. But then Darby throws hands! Luchasaurus CHOKES Christian, then BACK SUPLEXES him and the chair!

Luchasaurus goes to cover but Christian tells him no, they need to do more damage. Luchasaurus goes out to fetch more items, but Christian covers Darby! TWO! Darby is still in this but Christian TOSSES him out! Christian goes out to stand Darby up, and CHOPS him against the railing! Darby staggers, Christian and Luchasaurus surround him, then they double whip him hard into steel steps! Darby tumbles up and over, fans boo Christian, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Christian flexes, then stalks Darby. Christian SMACKS Darby off steps, then Luchasaurus brings Darby around to CHOP against the apron. Darby flops over and Christian is there to whip him into more railing! Darby staggers all around, Christian & Luchasaurus stalk him to the other corner. Christian gets the chair again to JAM Darby! And again! Darby staggers and stumbles away but Christian follows after. Christian pushes Darby into the ring, then brings him up. Christian has Luchasaurus stand back. Christian talks trash right to Darby’s face, pie faces him and smears the face pain before he CHOPS and CHOPS!

Christian tells Luchasaurus what to do, then he runs at Darby. Darby dodges to send Christian out! Darby fires off on Luchasaurus, but Luchasaurus shoves him back and HEADBUTTS him down! Luchasaurus stands on Darby’s back! Darby endures, even as Luchasaurus steps all over him! Darby crawls to a corner, Luchasaurus brings him up and Christian throws hands on Darby! Collision returns to single picture as the mugging moves to the corner. Fans boo as Christian & Luchasaurus double whip Darby into a corner. Luchasaurus runs in but Darby dodges and Luchasaurus POSTS himself!

Fans fire up as Christian runs in, Darby dodges and he POSTS himself! Roll up, TWO! Oklahoma roll, TWO! Christian kicks low to suplex, but Darby slips out, SCORPION DEATH DROP! Fans fire up as Darby climbs! But Luchasaurus drags Christian to safety! So Darby just SUPER COFFIN SPLASHES!! Fans are thunderous as both men go down! Darby puts Luchasaurus in the ring, climbs up, and Luchasaurus stands. Darby MISSILE- NO, Luchasaurus catches him! JURASSIC- NO, Darby slips out! Darby BOOTS Luchasaurus, then hits a DIAMOND DUST! But Christian has the title belt!

Christian aims but Darby ducks! SHOTGUN! Down goes Christian! Darby runs in but Luchasaurus catches him, JURASSIC CHOKE SLAM! Darby flops out of the ring and Luchasaurus sees the belt. It is rightfully his, so he picks it up! Fans cheer that he finally holds HIS belt! Christian storms in but Luchasaurus won’t give it back! Christian asks for the belt back, fans say “IT’S YOUR BELT! IT’S YOUR BELT!” Luchasaurus still hands the belt over to Christian, but then Darby shoves Christian into Luchasaurus! And then Darby BELT SHOTS Luchasaurus!! Cover, TWO?!? Luchasaurus survives  but Darby PENALTY KICKS!

Darby goes up to COFFIN DROP!! But Christian returns to POST Darby! Cover on Luchasaurus, CHRISTIAN WINS!!

Winner: Christian Cage, by pinfall (NEW AEW TNT Champion)

Well, at least now Christian will be rightfully holding onto this belt. Sleazy as he is, Captain Charisma truly reigns as the Face of TNT, will Darby have to move on to a new goal? As for Luchasaurus, he sees Christian’s hand be raised, and then Christian hugs him? Well, when one wins, they both win, right? Christian has Luchasaurus lift him onto his shoulders, then Christian raises the belt high above his head. Will Luchasaurus ever be his own man? Er, dinosaur.

Backstage interview with The Don Callis Family.

Alex Marvez is with Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara and Don Callis himself, and says that the wrestling world is buzzing with what we saw on Rampage. Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho are united, along with Kota Ibushi, and challenged the DCF for WrestleDream! Don says it makes him sick just thinking about Omega and Jericho on the same side, when Don is the one who put them both on the map! And now, they’re name dropping Kota Ibushi. Ibushi is a wrestling legend, but his weakness is Kenny Omega. Kenny Omega loves Kota Ibushi, they are closer than brothers, and that kind of emotion makes them weak! They always have been!

Don isn’t worried. As great as Omega, Jericho and Ibushi are, Don has Sammy Guevara, who left Jericho laying. Don has Konosuke, “The Alpha,” who earned that name when he beat Omega twice in one week! And Don has another family member. This man beat Jericho and Omega in the course of two months, and that is WILL OSPRAEY! So you want WrestleDream to become a nightmare? Don doesn’t think so. Omega, Ibushi & Jericho will face the strongest Don Callis Family ever! See you in Seattle, where they finish it once and for all!!

Backstage interview with Christian & Luchasaurus.

Collision returns as Tony Schiavone congratulates the NEW TNT Champion. Christian says yes, every legitimate title defense has solidified him as the UNDISPUTED TNT Champion! He dedicates this victory to Nick Wayne’s mom, and Nick Wayne’s late father, who must’ve been cheering Christian on from Heaven. But anyway, Christian is finally finished with Darby once and for all, bring on the next challenger! Actually, Tony Khan just announced that Christian’s first defense will be at WrestleDream in Seattle. And it will be a classic match-up. They’ve gone back and forth, so this will be BEST 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS!

Christian is furious! He storms off to find Tony Khan, but will it matter? Will Darby finally have justice against Captain Charisma?

Hook & Rob Van Dam VS Matthew Menard & Angelo Parker w/ Jake Hager & Anna Jay!

The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil just beat the former Jericho Appreciation Society members last night in a Mixed Six Tag with help from his new friends. But now he joins forces with an old friend of his dad’s! Will Hook and RVD prove they’re a one of a kind team? Or will they underestimate the sports… enner-tay-ners?

The teams sort out and fans are fired up for RVD already. RVD lets Hook start against Daddy Magic, though, and fans still rally behind Hook. They tie up, Menard arm-drags, and Menard gloats. Fans boo but Hook resets with Menard. They tie up, Hook waistlocks, hammerlocks, and he trips Menard to a facelock. Menard fights up but Hook spins and hammerlocks and headlocks and hits the takeover! Hook then goes for an arm, but Menard fights against the top wristlock. Menard knees low, tags Parker, and Parker whips. Hook holds ropes, ELBOWS Parker back, but Anna trips Hook up! Parker CLOBBERS Hook and stomps away!

Fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Parker tags Menard. They double whip Hook to a corner, Parker whips so Menard can whip him into the corner but Hook dodges! Hook then wrenches Menard, and points to the corner! Fans fire up as Hook tags in RVD! RVD takes the handoff, he wrenches to a wristlock and fans rally up. RVD brings Menard around, arm-drags him away, but then Parker CLOBBERS RVD! Fans boo but Menard throws hands. Menard whips, RVD rolls off Menard’s back and body scissor roll-up! TWO, but RVD blocks a kick to WHEEL KICK! Parker kicks RVD, but RVD blocks the buckle bump and KICKS back!

RVD goes up to JUMP KICK! “You Still Got It!” RVD watches the ex-JAS regroup, but they get away before he can dive! So he just gets everyone to join in on a “ROB! VAN! DAM!” Hager throws a fit for his team, but Collision goes picture in picture.

RVD waits as Menard & Parker talk strategy. Menard slowly returns, talks some trash, and he seems to call out Hook. RVD obliges and tags Hook in. Hook and Menard circle, then Menard kicks low! Menard whips Hook into Parker’s boot! The ref reprimands but Menard stomps Hook around. Menard soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then distracts the ref so Parker can CHOKE Hook! RVD protests but Parker tags in to throw hands. Parker JABS, then whips Hook to DROPKICK him down! Cover, TWO! Hook is still in this while Collision goes to break.

Collision returns as Parker tags Menard. They double whip Hook but Hook holds ropes to KICK Menard and TOSS Parker! Menard rushes in but Hook TOSSES him out! Hook hurries but Parker intercepts with a tackle! Fans boo but Parker drags Hook away from RVD. Hook wrenches free, clinches, and hits the EXPLODER! Fans fire up while Hook and Parker are down! Hook crawls, Anna shouts at Parker to move, but Menard crawls in as fast as he can. Hot tag to RVD! RVD rallies on Daddy Magic! Then he SUPERKICKS Cool Hand Ange! WHEEL KICK for Menard! RVD runs, for the ROLLING THUNDER!

RVD covers but Menard kicks it apart! Fans boo Menard but he brings RVD up. Menard scoops, RVD slips free and blocks a kick to step over and WHEEL KICK! Fans fire up as RVD goes to a corner. But then Anna distracts the ref and Hager has a chair! RVD dodges to KICK the chair into Hager! Hook gets in Anna’s face, Parker storms up on him, but Hook turns it around, REDRUM!! RVD goes up, takes aim, FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!! Cover, #HookVanDam wins!

Winners: Hook & Rob Van Dam, by pinfall

Michigan’s own comes back home and wins big! Will RVD have one more title run in him? Will Hook’s newest run not be stopped?

Eddie Kingston speaks.

He has two titles to defend now, with the ROH World Championship in one hand and the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship in the other. And he knows WrestleDream is AEW’s love letter to the late, great Antonio Inoki. The Mad King wants to face the man who best embodies Inoki’s vision today, and that is Katsuyori Shibata. This won’t be just about the NJPW Openweight but also the ROH World title. He wants Shibata to bring his all because that’s what Eddie is gonna do. But then, will Eddie remain the two belt king? Or will we soon see The Wrestler become a TRIPLE CHAMPION?

The Dark Order speaks.

John Silver says, “This world has gotten outta control.” Alex Reynolds says it’s just too much, too fast, and it needs to stop. Evil Uno asks us who we will turn to “when it’s all done?” Happy music plays over destruction and desolation. “You need structure. You need rules. You need order. The Dark Order! Because The Dark Order is good! And we’re here for you!” Uno sneaks in some Italian, “But not forever.” Will you trust these creepy grins? Will you #JoinDarkOrder?

The Kingdom speaks.

Matt Taven says “Neck health is important!” Best Friends are a bunch of liars! When Trent hurt his neck, was Chuck by his bedside? NO! And now these Melvins wanna take away what The Kingdom earned, what they deserve, their shot at the ROH World Tag Team titles!? They will show these dorks what people who don’t celebrate neck health deserve! And Mike Bennett says Chuckie T got some of that last night. A punch to the wiener and a piledriver! So next Saturday is piledrivers in support of neck health! And then they will see how close Best Friends really are, how strong they really are. They aren’t stronger than The Kingdom, and they damn sure ain’t #NeckStrong!

Julia Hart w/ Brody King VS Kiera Hogan!

The Lady of the House was truly Hartless against Skye Blue last night, bringing out The Babe with The Power. However, Willow Nightingale was then attacked backstage to keep her from competing tonight! So Skye’s other friend is stepping up! Will the Hottest Flame burn this witch down? Or will the House always win?

The bell rings and Kiera rushes up to ROCK Julia! And again and again! The fans rally up as Kiera whips Julia into ropes, runs side to side and HIP ATTACKS! Kiera bumps Julia off buckles, waistlocks, but Julia bucks the O’Conner. Julia runs up to throw Kiera down by her hair! Fans rally, Julia stands on Kiera’s hair and pulls the arms! The ref reprimands, Julia steps off at 4 to then stomp Kiera down! Brody says to stay on her so Julia CLUBS away on Kiera! Julia kicks Kiera around, drags her up and SMACKS her off the mat! Julia stomps Kiera again, drags her back up, then snap suplexes! Julia grins as she then rains down fists!

The ref reprimands about closed fists so Julia lets off. To then let off with one more! Julia paces around Kiera, brings her up, but Kiera throws hands! Kiera ROCKS Julia, BOOTS her, then ROUNDHOUSES! Julia wobbles, Kiera runs in, but Julia spins Kiera for an STO! Standing MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Kiera is still in this but Julia is still on her with a chinlock! Kiera endures, fans rally up, and Kiera fights up. Kiera throws body shots, blocks a punch to give a punch, then ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Julia! And again! Kiera runs in to SHOTGUN Kiera into the corner! Fans fire up as Kiera goes corner to corner, but Julia sends her into buckles!

Julia drags Kiera up to throw her by her hair again. Brody says keep on Kiera, so Julia whips her to a corner. BACK ELBOW! Julia grins as she snapmares, and then KICKS Kiera in the back! Julia drags Kiera up, SMACKS her off the mat, and then runs, to BLINDSIDER! Julia says the House always wins. HARTLESS STRETCH!! Kiera taps, Julia wins!

Winner: Julia Hart, by submission

A 25-0 win streak for The Lady of the House, but she isn’t satisfied! She puts Kiera back into HARTLESS!! But here comes Skye Blue! She was on the other end of this so she’s making the save now! But again, Julia hides behind Brody. But then Brody moves and Julia BLACK MISTS Skye!! Julia strikes again! Brody asks, “Do you see this? Do you see this!? This will not end! This violence will not end! 25 matches, over two dozen bodies stacked, and this will not end until we get to the one. The last loss! KRIS STATLANDER! Next Sunday, Seattle, Washington, WrestleDream, put your TBS title on the line. Or the body count continues to rise.”

But Julia wants Kris to understand: The House ALWAYS wins. Will the Galaxy’s Greatest look to end the streak? Or will the TBS Championship fade to black?

The Righteous speak.

Death walks. You dig what they’re saying? Ol’ Vincent & Dutch are pure, are divine, and are the corpse of decency nailed to a post of greed and moral decay, draped under the shadow of purity. But now they expose MJF & Adam Cole, and purify the lie that is “Better Than You, Baybay.” You dig what they’re sayin’, man?

Jay White w/ Bullet Club Gold VS Andrade El Idolo!

The Switchblade and his Bang Bang Gang called out The Face of Latino Wrestling, saying White’s reputation is more widespread than Andrade’s. Will White make Andrade famous for losing to him? Or will Andrade become famous for beating Jay White?

The bell rings and the fans already taunt the “ASS~ BOYS~!” White says this is Andrade’s moment in the spotlight! They tie up, go around, and Andrade powers White to the corner. The ref counts, Andrade lets off slowly, but White SLAPS him! White uses ropes as a defense and the ref backs Andrade off. White and Andrade reset, Juice is liking this, but then Andrade headlocks. Fans rally up, White endures the grind, and White powers up and powers out. Andrade runs White down, and then goes to run, but Juice is in the way! The ref reprimands but White knees Andrade! White headlocks and hits the takeover.

Juice and the Gunns shout “ARMAS ARIBA!” Andrade endures, fights up, and he powers out. White slides out, says to heck with it, but Andrade slides! White dodges, Andrade dodges back, and Andrade CHOPS White down! White sputters but Andrade puts him in the ring. Andrade climbs, leaps, CROSSBODY! Andrade bounces off the cover, but he drags White back up. BCG are worried as Andrade snap suplexes! Uno AMigo! Fans fire up as Andrade hits Dos Amigos! Andrade gets White up again, gives us some Latino Heat, then hits THREE- NO, White silps free and pulls hair! The ref rephrimands, they’re in the corners and Andrade HEADBUTTS!

White BOOTS back, goes up, but Andrade triangle jump DROPKICKS White to the floor! BCG hurry to check on their captain but Andrade goes out after him. Andrade puts White in, covers, ONE! Austin rubs it in, that was UNO! Andrade seethes but he drags White up. Andrade whips White to the corner, but White dodges the splash to clothesline and DDT! Cover, TWO! Andrade stays in this but White stays focused. White goes to the corner to CHOP! White RAMS into Andrade again and again, the ref counts but White lets off at 4. To then CHOP! White whips corner to corner but Andrade blocks to BOOT!

Andrade goes up but White CHOPS again! White fireman’s carries, to TKO HOTSHOT! And then White BLASTS Andrade down! Andrade hits railing, BCG swarm like a pack of hyenas, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Colten does a victory lap for White and White goes out to fetch Andrade. White brings Andrade around to SMACK him off the apron, then he pulls hair to APRON GOURD BUSTER! Andrade falls to the floor, Juice taunts him with a dance, and White flexes as he refreshes the ring count. White and the BCG all flex and pose, then White puts Andrade in the ring. Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!! White is frustrated but the count is fair. White stalks Andrade to the ropes to CHOKE him and fishhook his face! The ref counts, White lets off, and Andrade CHOPS! And BOOTS! White blocks a boot to DRAGON SCREW!

White strums the air guitar to let Tanahashi know he’s thinking of him. Then he GROUND DRAGON SCREWS the same leg! Andrade writhes to the ropes but White wraps the bad leg around them! The ref reprimands, White lets off, and then White drags Andrade up to HALF HATCH into the corner! Then White gets the legs to high stack, TWO! Andrade is still in this and White is frustrated. White drags Andrade into a chinlock and he grinds Andrade down. But Andrade fights up as Collision returns to single picture! The fans rally, White grinds Andrade down again, but Andrade still endures.

Fans rally more as Andrade keeps fighting. White shakes his head but Andrade stands to throw body shots! White throws Andrade down by his hair! The ref reprimands but White storms back up, into a cradle! TWO!! White kicks the bad leg! Andrade falls and clutches that knee, but White sits him up. White CHOPS! Andrade sputters and White talks trash, but Andrade pie faces him! Andrade eggs White on so White CHOPS him! Andrade still eggs White on so White CHOPS! White finger guns, but Andrade dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Fans fire up as both men are down! The standing count starts and both men stir.

BCG coach White, White drags Andrade up, and “This is Awesome!” as they go forearm for forearm! Andrade CHOPS, White CHOPS! Andrade CHOPS, White wobbles and staggers, but White comes back to CHOP! Fans rally as the CHOPS just keep going! White kicks, Andrade blocks to DRAGON SCREW! And then DRAGON SCREW again! Andrade runs, ducks ‘n ‘dodges to CLOBBER White! Fans fire up but the BCG worries for White. Andrade kips up! El Idolo has plenty of gas left in the tank and he has White in a corner. Andrade goes corner to corner, for CIEN- NO, the BCG drags White out to safety. So Andrade goes up to ARIHARA MOONSAULT!!

Fans are thunderous as Andrade takes out the whole Bang Bang Gang! Andrade puts White in, climbs up again, and then MOONSAULTS, lands on his feet, DOUBLE MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! White survives and Andrade is frustrated, but the fans are loving this! Andrade looms over White, brings White up, and reels him in, White drops down but Andrade CLUB S him! Andrade full nelsons, White break sit to switch, but Andrade fights the sleeper! White CHOPS! And CHOPS! White runs, but into a BOOT! Fans fire up as White flops down. Andrade drags White up but White SAIDOS Andrade up and out of the ring!!

The ref hurries to check but Andrade is somehow able to continue. White drags Andrade up and into the ring, storms up on him, and clinches, for the URENAGE! Cover, TWO!?! White pushes that arm back down, TWO!!! Andrade survives but just barely! White clamps onto Andrade with a sleeper, brings him up, but Andrade fights the suplex. White staggers, blocks the boot, KNEE BREAKER! Andrade shouts about his leg, which has given him trouble in the past. But White CHOPS! And CHOPS! Both men hobble, but Andrade boot feints to ELBOW!! Cover, TWO!??! White survives and fans are loving this match all over again!

White and Andrade stir, then White crawls to a corner. Andrade stands, fires up and runs, CIEN SHADOWS!! Then the hammerlock, LA SOMBRA DDT!!! Cover, Juice helps White with the ROPEBREAK! Fans boo as BCG gets away with one! Andrade is beside himself, but he drags White around by a leg. Fans “WOO~!” as Andrade steps through! FIGURE FOUR! White endures, the “WOO~” echoes out, but White CLUBS away at Andrade’s leg! Andrade pushes up to the FIGURE EIGHT! The Ass Boys distract the ref so Juice can CLOBBER Andrade with his Cowboy of the  Month award!! White is free of the leglock!

White drags Andrade’s deadweight up to hit BLADERUNNER!!! Cover, White wins!

Winner: Jay White, by pinfall

Andrade being alone was doomed from the start with Juice and the Gunns backing White up! And then they all taunt Andrade while he’s down! Andrade takes his first AEW loss, but will he back for venganza? (Vengeance in Espanol.)

Ortiz speaks.

“All In, Wembley Stadium. Did to me what you’ve been doing to me the last 14 years of my life. You used me, then you walked away. Sure did have a lot to say on social media. Sure did have a lot to say on TV. And then when I confronted you… Called you over and looked you in your eyes, you walked away. Tough keyboard warrior. You did what you always do: You ran from your problems. Guess what? You’re not gonna be able to run much longer.” Will there be a clash of the proud ‘n’ powerful on the horizon?

Shane Taylor Promotions speaks.

Shane Taylor himself says that on paper, Shane Taylor VS Keith Lee may not seem like much of a rivalry. But Keith knows better, doesn’t he? They came into ROH at the same time, established “The Pretty Boy Killers” and DOMINATED the tag division. Lee Moriarty says to tell ’em! Shane says that from ANS to War Machine to The Briscoes, they took ’em all out! But then Keith went to go work for “the other billionaire,” while Shane stayed and became an ROH legend! The world got to see Keith be limitless, but now it is Shane’s time on the biggest stage! And the only thing standing in the way IS Keith.

Shane says if it is to feed his family, then he will put Keith in the GROUND! Before Shane takes everything Keith has, Keith must step in the ring with The Best Damn Technical Wrestler, Lee Moriarty. Will #TAIGASTYLE bring Keith down to size? Or will Moriarty #BaskInHisGlory?

AEW World Tag Team Championships: FTR VS The Workhorsemen!

The open challenge of opportunities continues as Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler give JD Drake & Anthony Henry their shot. But with WrestleDream and a rematch with Aussie Open on the horizon, will the Top Guys get caught off guard? Or will FTR be bringing the gold to Seattle?

Speaking of, Aussie Open is here! Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis are dressed to the nines and they join commentary to watch this one with their own eyes. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who are the true Top Guys!

The teams sort out and Cash starts against Henry. They circle, feel things out, and Cash denies Henry a leg takedown. Henry comes back, gets around to a waistlock, but Cash fights up to facelock. Henry slips free, gets around again, facelocks again, and then gator rolls to hammerlock! Cash has the ROPEBREAK, and the two separate. They reset, circle, and tie up. Henry gets an arm to wrench it but Cash slips around to fireman’s carry takeover! Henry headscissors but Cash kips up. Henry wrenches, wristlocks, but Cash rolls, kips up and wrenches to WRING Henry out! Fans cheer but Henry keeps moving!

Henry kips up to then back drop, step over, and Oklahoma Roll! TWO, and Henry DROPKICKS Cash down! Henry drags Cash up, wrenches, tag to JD. They mug Cash, JD whips Cash toa corner but Cash avoids the chop! JD avoids a chop, and the two stare down. Tag to Dax, and fans rally up. Dax and JD step up, tie up, and Dax headlocks. JD powers out, Dax RAMS JD, but JD CHOPS! Fans fire up seeing how hard that one hit! JD puts Dax in the corner to CHOP again! JD eggs Dax on so Dax CHPOS! And CHOPS! AND CHOPS! Dax whips, JD reverses to atomic drop, then scoop and SLAM! FALLING HEADBUTT! Cover, ONE!!

JD keeps on Dax, bumps him off buckles, and CHOPS! Tag to Henry, and he runs to then come back and forearm smash! Tag to JD, feed to the LARIAT! NECK TWIST! SLINGSHOT SENTON! Cover, TWO! Dax hangs in there but JD looms over him. JD stomps Dax, throws hands, then tags Henry. The Workhorsemen CHOP and KICK and KICK and KICK! Dax snarls and eggs Henry on so Henry KICKS! Dax CHOPS! Henry KICKS! Dax CHOPS! They go back and forth, KICK and CHOP! Henry SOBATS, but Dax suplexes to a BRAINBUSTER! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Henry wobbles but he tags JD.

JD runs to swing on Cash but Cash dodges, only for the LARIAT to get him! JD keeps moving, SHINING WIZARD! Dax ends up in the Workhorsemen corner, and JD CANNONBALLS! Tag to Henry, Henry goes up, and JD tags back in. Henry DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Then Henry FLIES to take out Cash! JD is up< SCRAP METAL MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Dax survives being squashed and the fans lose their minds just from seeing it! But wait, Cash has Henry, GORY BOMB to the apron!! Dax runs up on JD but JD ROCKS him! JD goes up, to FLYING- POWERBOMB!! Step through into SHARPSHOOTER!!

JD endures, fans rally, but JD taps! FTR wins!

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

Aussie Open says okay, then it’s on! WrestleDream will mark the anniversary of the instant classic back at Royal Quest! Mark Davis gets a mic to say, “AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!” The fans reply “OI OI OI!” Davis says congrats, and keep those belts bright. Because FTR is in the fight of their lives! Fletcher knows Aussie Open says it a lot, but FTR once said themselves that Aussie Open is the best tag team in the world today! And they’ve heard the complaints, “What happened to the Aussie Open that took FTR to the limit in a five star classic?” Well, they admit they haven’t lived up tot he hype, but that is why they challenged FTR to this match!

Aussie Open needs to prove to to the people, they need to prove it to FTR, and they need to prove it to themselves that they ARE everything they say they are! Dax has a mic to say yeah, okay. Aussie Open were sacrificial lambs to Max and his best friend. They were sacrificial lambs to Chris Jericho and his best friend. But what Dax wants from them, what he is begging them on his hands and knees, he wants the biggest, baddest bastards in the world, because on October 1st, WrestleDream, Aussie Open faces THE BEST TAG TEAM IN HISTORY! Fans cheer that! And Dax says if Aussie Open don’t bring that, then don’t even show up. #TopGuysOut.

Backstage interview with CJ Perry.

Lexi Nair is with Miro’s hot and flexible wife, and says this is the first time we’ve seen her since she surprised everyone at All In London, which was also the first time anyone in wrestling has seen her in two years. So the question is, why now? CJ says that The Redeemer, who she loves so much, has lost his way. She wanted to help him be champion again. But unfortunately, he’s rather preoccupied with the past and… temptations. But then in steps Miro! He says his only temptation is her. And her temptation is this: the lights, the cameras, the fame. It changes you. CJ says she loves the hustle, the puzzle, the chase, and helping those she loves! It makes her come alive!

Miro says his righteous path was to save “them.” And if CJ stays, that means he’d have to… To what? Save her? What were their wedding vows again? Well, they each have to do what they each have to do. They will each walk their own paths. But if there is any love in Miro’s heart for CJ, then please, do not lay a hand on any of her future clients she’s going to manage here. Okay? Can he promise that? Miro leaves without giving an answer. Will pro-wrestling come between husband and wife?

BREAKING NEWS for WrestleDream!

As if it wasn’t already big enough, the TBS Championship IS on the line! Kris Statlander is giving Julia Hart her shot, but will Mama Kris be the one running the house after October 1st? Plus, a massive Fatal 4 Way Tag match! The Young Bucks, The Gunns, The Lucha Brothers and #OrangeHook battle for an AEW World Tag Team Championship opportunity, any time they want it! Who will have some highly valuable golden tickets in their pockets?

Texas Death Match: Ricky Starks VS Bryan Danielson!

These two truly went all out in their Strap match, and while The American Dragon won, Ricky Starks holds to the fact he didn’t tap out, he passed out! Will that unstoppable fighting spirit help Starks win this even more brutal rematch? Or will this be an Absolute thrashing that puts this one to bed?

Starks attacks Bryan the moment he’s in the ring! The bell sounds and Starks fires off hands! Bryan gets up to hit Starks back, they scrap in the corner and Starks gets the edge! Starks stomps away on Bryan, stands him up, and CHOPS! And CHOPS! Starks throws body shots, UPPERCUTS, then goes up the corner to rain down fists! Fans count to five but Bryan DUMPS Starks out! Bryan builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Starks and fans fire up! Bryan finally gets his jacket off to drag Starks up and CROTCH Starks on railing! Bryan runs to CLOBBER Starks! Bryan then goes out after Starks and throws hands!

Bryan then hits Starks with someone’s drink! And RAMS him into the trash can! And then dumps the trash on Starks! Bryan goes after Starks with headbutts, going up the bleachers! Bryan KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Fans chant “YES! YES! YES!” Bryan drags Starks up, ROCKS him with a left, then brings him along, only for Starks to send him into barriers! Starks RAMS Bryan into more barriers, then runs up, into a body shot! Bryan KICKS Starks against barriers, again and again and again! Fans fire up as Bryan then HEADBUTTS Starks and pushes him along back to ringside. Starks goes over the railing on his own but Bryan is after him!

Bryan HEADBUTTS, Starks CHOPS, then Starks TOSSES Bryan into the front row! The fans help Bryan up, as does security, but Starks goes to the apron. Starks springboards to CROSSBODY into the pile!! Fans lose their minds while Collision goes picture in picture.

Starks dumps Bryan back to ringside and then drags himself up and over. Starks stands Bryan up to CHOP! Bryan staggers away to commentary but Starks storms after him, Bryan SMACKS Starks off the desk! And CHOPS him against the desk! And again! And again! Bryan HEADBUTTS, and HEADBUTTS, and HEADBUTTS again! Bryan snarls, puts Starks in the ring, then storms up to get a leg. Bryan twists the ankle to turn Starks over, then he grabs the other leg. Bryan hooks the legs up, and he fishhooks Starks’ face! Then Bryan gets the arms, and pulls, pulls and pulls Starks into the ROMERO SPECIAL!

Starks endures, Bryan sets him down, and then Bryan drags Starks into the DRAGON SLEEPER as Collision goes to break!

Collision returns and Starks is clawing at Bryan’s face! Starks has a mic so everyone can hear him egging Bryan on. Then Starks dribbles Bryan’s face off the desk! Bryan’s forehead is busted open! Starks lets Bryan fall over, then throws hands right to the wound! Fans rally for Bryan and boo Starks, but Starks drags Bryan up to put in the ring. Starks drags Bryan to the corner, to YANK him into the post! Starks ROCKS Bryan, SLAMS the leg into the post, then ROCKS Bryan again! Starks uses the microphone to jam at the wound! Fans boo but Starks grabs a chair. Starks has Bryan’s leg, to SMACK  it against the post!

Bryan writhes away into the ring but Starks is after him. Starks CHOKES Bryan with the chair! Then Starks JAMS Bryan! Starks then traps Bryan’s leg inside the chair! Fans boo more as Starks goes up the corner! But Bryan gets free and he SMACKS Starks! And SMACKS him again! And again! And again! Starks is stuck up top and Bryan brings him up to throw hands! Bryan climbs up, brings Starks tot he very top, but Starks trips Bryan! Starks throws more hands, and BITES the bloody forehead! Starks SPITS, then he throws down fists! Fans tell Starks he’s sick, but he just does his pose! Only for Bryan to punch back!

Bryan adjusts, to SPIDER SUPERPLEX Starks down! Fans fire up as Bryan manages to sit up again! Bryan huffs ‘n’ puffs and adjusts position again, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Starks is sent tumbling into the other corner, and Bryan is getting a second wind! Starks sits up as the standing count starts, but Bryan KICKS him! And KICKS him! And KICKS! “YES! YES! YES!” Bryan winds up, to BUZZSAW! Fans fire up while Starks flounders. The standing count starts again but Starks grabs at the chair. Bryan is in the corner, aims and runs in, but Starks CHUCKS the chair into his face!! Fans boo as Bryan goes down!

Starks stomps Bryan, the standing count starts, and fans chant for tables. Starks brings Bryan up by his hair, mocks the “Yes! Yes! Yes!” while treating Starks like a rodeo horse, and Collision goes picture in picture again.

Starks drops a knee on Bryan! And then another! Starks goes out to look under the ring, ignoring the table, to then bring out a STRAP! Starks swings that around, he wants to continue where All Out left off. He LASHES Bryan, and LASHES him again, and again! Then Starks CHOKES Bryan with the strap! Bryan endures but Starks hits a STRAP BULLDOG! Starks lets off for the standing count to start, and Bryan is still floundering at 5 of 10. But Bryan rolls out of the ring to get back to his feet! Starks hurries out after Bryan but into a CHOP! Bryan UPPERCUTS, ROCKS, and then POSTS Starks! Starks falls over and Bryan staggers away.

Bryan’s crimson mask is growing but he can still see Starks. Bryan drags Starks by a leg, but Starks SMACKS Bryan with a steel chain! Bryan ends up back in the ring but still down for the standing count. Starks grins and gets in to wrap the chain around his fist. Starks aims to FULL METAL KNUCKLE! Collision returns to single picture as Bryan staggers, then drops to his knees. Starks swings again but Bryan dodges to ROUNDHOUSE! Starks staggers around, Bryan runs back in and CHOPS! Starks CHOPS! Bryan CHOPS! They throw hands and CHOPS, and then Bryan KICKS and KICKS! Starks blocks to SLAP, SLAP, and so on!

Fans fire up but Bryan dodges, only for Starks to SPEAR!! Starks roars, and he wraps the chain around Bryan’s neck! Just like Bryan did with the strap!! Starks bends Bryan back and squeezes tight! Bryan is fading, but he shakes his head! Bryan isn’t giving up, but he might pass out like Starks did! Bryan is purple!! Starks lets go, and he wants the count! The count begins, Bryans putters and stirs, but is still down at 5 of 10. Starks watches from the corner as we hit 8 of 10! Bryan rises up at 9, but Starks grabs the chain again! Starks squeezes tight, and then drags Bryan up into a HANGMAN’S GORY ESPECIAL!

Bryan kicks and goes to ropes! Bryan uses ropes to get up and over and get free!! Fans are thunderous but Starks is primed to run in! SPEAR into a takedown!! LEBELL LOCK!!! Starks flails, grabs the chain and he throws hands! But Bryan grabs that chain, to wrap it around Starks!! Starks freaks out as he relives All Out!! Starks is purple, and he passes out! The count starts, Bryan keeps on Starks with the chain, but Starks revives!? Starks powers up, powers out and he rains down fists!! Fans are thunderous, but Bryan just turns things around! Fans are even more fired up! Bryan lets off on Starks and both men rise.

Bryan HEADBUTTS! Starks throws a haymaker! HEADBUTT! Haymaker! HEADBUTT!! Both men flop over! Bryan shakes out the stars, “This is Awesome!” The count is 6 of 10, both men stand. Starks swings a chair, but Bryan dodges! Bryan returns to BUSAIKU KNEE through the chair!! Fans fire up again as Starks flounders. Bryan says it is time to kick Starks’ head in!! Bryan gets Starks’ arms, and he fires DRAGON STOMPS!! Again and again and again, and again and again and again! But Starks SPITS at Bryan! So Bryan just STOMPS him more!! Fans fire up, Starks checks his face but also has blood coming from his eyebrow.

Bryan backs off, brings down his kneepad, and he wraps the steel chain around his knee! Fans are loving “A E DUB!” for giving them this main event, and Bryan stares Starks up. Bryan runs in to FULL METAL KNEE!!! Starks is down, and the count begins! Bryan crawls away at 5 of 10, drags himself up at 8, and the count hits TEN! Bryan wins again!!

Winner: Bryan Danielson

Starks wanted revenge, but he only got another vicious fight and crushing defeat. Big Bill and Wheeler Yuta come out to check on their respective allies. Bill helps Starks stand, as does Yuta with Bryan. Yuta and Bill get at each other, but Starks has them all stand down. Is this Starks’ way of showing Bryan respect for the absolute war they just went through? And where does Starks go from here?

My Thoughts:

A great Collision here, and some more added to WrestleDream just as I was hoping. Julia had a good match with Kiera, she mists Skye, but instead of calling out Willow for a PPV match, she wants Kris and the TBS Championship. That will be a good match for WrestleDream but I feel like Kris wins that. Really good tag title match from FTR VS Workhorsemen but of course FTR wins so that their match with Aussie Open is now a title match. No idea who wins that but we all know it will be a match of the year contender. And I think something rather interesting is that Fatal 4 Way contenders tag match, and that detail about a title match “at any time.” Is a team going to win and then Money in the Bank those AEW tag titles away from whoever wins? Because that’d be awesome, actually.

Speaking of which, really fun tag match of Hook & RVD beating Menard & Parker. Of course Hook & RVD win, which helps give Hook & Cassidy momentum going into that WrestleDream Fatal 4. RVD is probably in AEW to be part of the fun, have more of these really good matches, but I can’t really say he is actually after another title reign of some kind. Then big stuff from Eddie Kingston, putting up TWO championships up in his match with Shibata. That’s one huge first defense for the ROH World Championship, but I would think Eddie retains. As awesome as it’d be to see one man with three singles titles, there’s no good story of Eddie losing the belts he worked so hard to have so soon.

Don Callis has a good promo in response to the Six Man Tag challenge, but of course Will Ospreay is the third man, even though I would’ve loved for them to bring in someone really good that really needs something to do. But whatever, Ospreay brings star power, and there is story here already where Ospreay’s faced all three men, Omega, Ibushi & Jericho. It’ll also be an awesome match with Ospreay in it, but I would think Jericho & The Golden Lovers win. It’d also be great if Daniel Garcia helped tip the scales in Jericho’s favor, completing the double turn of Garcia and Guevara and perhaps giving us Garcia VS Guevara.

Really good TNT Championship Triple Threat that was really a handicap match. While I was thinking Christian was going to force Luchasaurus to give him the win, Christian instead opportunistically takes the win from Darby in where he has to pin Luchasaurus. And yet we’re getting a Best 2 Out of 3 Falls match at WrestleDream. That will make WrestleDream even longer, but maybe that is where it all comes to a head with Nick Wayne being in this story. Great match from White VS Andrade, but of course Bullet Club Gold helps White win that one. I know there hasn’t been a lot of interaction between Andrade and La Faccion Ingobernable since Andrade turned Face, but this would be the time for LFI to show their new aggression while also helping Andrade against BCG.

And of course, a great Last Man Standing match in the main event. Oh, yeah, that was a Last Man Standing match they dressed up as Texas Death even though it wasn’t like we weren’t going to notice. Literally earlier this year, AEW Revolution, Hangman VS Moxley, THEIR Texas Death Match was Knockout, Standing Count or Submission/Verbal Forfeit. But I guess since they already played their hand of Starks taking a loss by fainting, meaning Starks would never tap out or say “I Quit,” they could only go with the KO/ten count finish. Still a great match, but I’m just a stickler for labeling things what they are, and this as Last Man Standing, not Texas Death. But I did like Starks having Bill stand down. Makes me think that Starks could be a future ally to the BCC.

My Score: 8.9/10