Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup 2020 Results & Report Part 2!
Day 3 is STACKED!
The New Japan Cup is almost TOO amazing!
After a great opening week, the New Japan Cup 2020 raises the bar on itself with a star-studded third day! Who moves on to the second round?
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ryusuke Taguchi VS SANADA; SANADA wins and advances to the second round.
- SHO VS Shingo Takagi; SHO wins and advances to the second round.
- Kota Ibushi VS Zack Sabre Jr; Ibushi wins and advances to the second round.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Taichi; Taichi wins and advances to the second round.
PLAY BY PLAY
Ryusuke Taguchi VS SANADA!
The Funky Weapon is primed but he’s up against the Cold Skull, who was red hot for a good stretch this year. But now that everyone’s starting from scratch, will Taguchi scratch the itch of finally getting those big titles? Or will Sanada take a step closer to challenging his faction leader?
The bell rings and Taguchi wants double fist bump. Sanada leaves him hanging, so they circle. They approach, tie up, and are in a deadlock right away. Sanada powers Taguchi to the ropes but lets up with a pat on the shoulder. Taguchi plays like that stung, and circles with Sanada again. They tie up again, Taguchi gets around but Sanada wrenches out to the standing switch. Taguchi wrenches back to a wristlock, then again, and he brings Sanada to a knee. Sanada gets up, wrenches one arm, then the other arm, then hammerlocks. But Taguchi slips through to hammerlock Sanada back! Sanada goes to elbow but Taguchi spins him for a snapmare and chinlock. Sanada kicks and reaches but Taguchi grinds him down.
Sanada slips out the back and hammerlocks, but Taguchi gets up to turn it back on Sanada again. Taguchi shifts to a headlock, grinds Sanada to the mat, and cranks back on the head. Sanada powers up, pries out, but Taguchi spins through to get the hammerlock again. Sanada reaches back to headlock, shift sides, and throws Taguchi for the takedown! Taguchi headscissors, Sanada pops out and the two stand off. Taguchi applauds but asks for the fist bumps again. Sanada still leaves him hanging, but Taguchi keeps asking. Taguchi even kneels to prove this isn’t a trick. Sanada gives him the fist bump, but blocks the cheap shot kick! Taguchi apologizes and asks Sanada put the foot down. Sanada does, the two back away, but then Taguchi swings! Sanada dodges, double dropkicks cancel out!
Sanada asks for the fist bumps? Taguchi is surprised and hopes the cameras are seeing this. Taguchi applauds, then goes to give the fist bumps back. But then both men try to cheap shot! They catch each other, and both let the other down, but Taguchi fakes Sanada out again! Taguchi has the leg for a takedown! Taguchi steals PARADISE! He stands on Sanada and poses for the cameras. But Sanada has gotten his arms free without Taguchi knowing! Taguchi does a dance, but turns around into a takedown! Sanada shows Taguchi how Paradise is done! And Taguchi is definitely stuck as Sanada stands on him for the cameras. Sanada shows mercy, as he dropkicks Taguchi out of Paradise! Taguchi falls out of the ring, too, and Sanada takes his time fetching him into the ring.
Sanada brings Taguchi up, back suplex lift for the atomic drop! Taguchi clutches his ass in pain! Sanada brings Taguchi up again, for another atomic drop! Taguchi grits his teeth in pain from his ass! Wait, is he powering up, too? Sanada brings Taguchi up, Taguchi slips out of the lift, but Sanada elbows him away. Sanada runs, but dodges the Funky Weapon! Taguchi crashes down and Sanada covers, TWO! Taguchi survives the damage to his ass but Sanada clamps on a chinlock. Sanada cranks it to a sleeper hold and Taguchi starts to turn red. Taguchi kicks and flails, and starts to scoot to get the ropebreak! Sanada lets go quickly, and drags Taguchi up to club him to a corner. Sanada wrenches and whips Taguchi corner to corner, but runs into a BOOT! Taguchi runs, but Sanada dodges the Funky Weapon again!
Sanada runs and sunset flips, but Taguchi rolls through to basement dropkick! Both men are down but stirring. Taguchi fires himself up as he and Sanada rise. Sanada gets to ropes, Taguchi fires up, hip attack at the ropes! And another! And then a baseball slide to an apron hip attack! Cover, TWO! Taguchi keeps going as he brings Sanada up. Snap suplex for uno amigo! ANother, dos amigos! Taguchi wants tres but Sanada suplexes him first! Taguchi flails and fends it off, to suplex Sanada again! But Sanada slips out to the dragon sleeper! But before Sanada can complete Skull End, Taguchi spins around to hit TRES AMIGOS! Both men are down again, but Taguchi kips up!? Taguchi calls upon the powers of the King of Strong Style as he goes to a corner. “ORYA!” Taguchi runs but into a basement dropkick! No Bum-a-ye just yet!
Taguchi bails out but Sanada aims at the ropes. Slingshot but Taguchi avoids the pescado! TRIANGLE CROSSBODY! Taguchi takes Sanada down on the outside! Taguchi gets up as the ring count begins, and he brings Sanada up at 7 of 20. He puts Sanada in at 13, then goes to a corner. Taguchi aims and springboards, but Sanada gets under! Sanada comes back, but Taguchi dropkicks the leg out! ANKLE LOCK! Sanada fights to his free foot, uses a corner to go up and over, and gets SKULL END!! Taguchi flails, Sanada drops back for the body scissors but Taguchi rolls back! Cover, ONE, but Taguchi gets the ANKLE LOCK! Taguchi cranks on the foot but Sanada endures! Sanada rolls, kicks Taguchi back but Taguchi still has a hold on the foot!
Taguchi cranks and leans on the ankle but Sanada gets up again. Sanada enziguris, but it misses! Taguchi drops elbows on the ankle and leans on the hold! Sanada endures, crawls, reaches, but Taguchi drags him away! Sanada moves around, brings Taguchi down by his legs, and uses Taguchi’s legs to throw him over. SKULL END! But Taguchi hammers away with his free arm! Sanada holds on but fades, and Taguchi uses knees to bring Sanada down more. But Sanada stands right back up! SKULL SWING! But Taguchi cradle counters, TWO!! Sanada dropkicks but Taguchi deflects! LA MAGISTROL! TWO!?! Sanada escapes, Taguchi enziguris! Taguchi runs, but Sanada follows to waistlock at the ropes! Taguchi standing switches to roll Sanada up, TWO!! Things speed up, FUNKY- ATOMIC DROP! O’Conner Roll, JAPAN CLUTCH! SANADA WINS!
Winner: SANADA, by pinfall
An incredible technical exchange ends it all! The Funky Weapon misfired, and now the Cold Skull is hot again! Will Sanada keep that going, even as his fellow LIJ members are also in this tournament?
SHO VS Shingo Takagi!
Speaking of a Los Ingobernables de Japon member wanting to challenge the leader, the same goes for the Last Dragon! Will Shingo show Sho that he’s just not ready for the big time?
The bell rings and Sho rushes Shingo with a BIG clothesline! Shingo stays up but wobbles, so Sho hurries to try again! The clothesline hits but Shingo still stays up. Shingo throws forearm after forearm, but Sho gives a SUPER FOREARM back! Sho whips, Shingo reverses, Sho boots but Shingo blocks it! Shingo rocks Sho with a right, runs corner to corner, but Sho follows to clothesline back! Sho keeps moving, shoulders Shingo, Shingo rebounds to shoulder Sho back, but Sho comes back to LARIAT Shingo down! Cover, TWO! Sho goes right for an ARMBAR! Shingo scrambles and gets the ropebreak! Sho lets go but goes after Shingo with stomps at the ropes! The ref backs Sho down and Shingo sits up.
Sho hurries over to stomp Shingo again, and even stand on his chest! The ref reprimands and counts, but Sho lets up at 4. Shingo gets up, Sho cravats to snapmare and KICK! Sho watches Shingo sputter, but Shingo eggs Sho on. Sho kicks again! Shingo stays sitting up and dares Sho to keep going. Sho KICKS and Shingo falls over! Shingo grits his teeth as he gets back up, and both men egg the other on. Shingo catches Sho’s kick, throws a forearm, but Sho gives it back. The two brawl back and forth, picking up speed! Sho gets the edge as he throws elbows from all sides, but Shingo stands up to give it all back! Shingo runs, into Sho’s dropkick! But Shingo keeps going to run Sho over! Shingo whips Sho but Sho holds ropes, only for Shingo to clothesline him out of the ring!
Sho has a rough landing but Shingo goes out to fetch him. Shingo drags Sho up to whip into railing! Then he stands on Sho’s head and kicks away! The ref reprimands but Shingo brings Sho up. Shingo fireman’s carries Sho for a snake eyes off the apron, then a DDT to the floor! Shingo takes his time catching his breath as the ring count climbs. He drags Sho up at 10 of 20, puts him in at 12, and then follows to clamp onto Sho with a chinbar. Sho endures as Shingo shifts, and drives elbow after elbow into his chest and shoulder! Shingo sets Sho down, for a BIG knee drop! Sho writhes in pain but Shingo stands on his head to add on. Shingo stomps then walks it off before toying with Sho. Sho gets up but Shingo slaps and kicks him around. Sho gets mad and gets up to throw forearms! Shingo throws them back, and he ROCKS Sho!
Sho flounders, hits back, but Shingo jabs away to then CHOP Sho to a corner! Shingo brings Sho back out to whip and knee! Then he runs, Sho SPEARS, but Shingo blocks!! Shingo knees away then goes to suplex, but it’s SHO who suplexes Shingo! Both men are down but Sho gets to his feet first. Shingo runs out of a corner but Sho runs him over. Sho throws forearms and kicks, then goes corner to corner for a corner clothesline! Sho keeps moving, dodges Shingo’s clothesline, and comes back with a SPEAR! Sho takes Shingo down, covers, TWO!! Shingo survives but Sho doesn’t lose focus. Sho brings Shingo into a waistlock but Shingo elbows back. Sho grabs the arm but Shingo stays on his feet.
Shingo rolls but Sho uses that to get the wristlock and shoulder breaker! And another! And then a torturing wristlock to a third shoulder breaker! Sho runs, into the back elbow! JAB! LARIAT! Shingo catches his breath while Sho is dazed on the mat. Shingo goes to Sho but Sho catches him to an armbar! Shingo clasps hands to resist but Sho breaks it free! Sho drags Shingo into a triangle hold, but Shingo powers up for a dead lift POWERBOMB! Shingo drags Sho back up, Gory Especial, but Sho resists! Sho shows his strength, spins through to kick and kick and KICK, then SUPERKICK! Sho watches Shingo rise, then runs, but double clotheslines hit! Neither falls, so they both clothesline again! Still neither falls, Shingo swats Sho’s third clothesline away, to get a SNAP SAIDO! Sho gets up!?
Sho swats Shingo’s clothesline away to waistlock, GERMAN SUPLEX! Sho holds on, for a SECOND! Sho wants a third but Shingo gets the ropebreak. Sho lets go, KICKS, then waistlocks again. Shingo elbows but Sho kicks low. Sho runs but Shingo follows to clothesline at the ropes. Shingo runs but Sho KNEES! Sho runs, Shingo goes perpendicular, to PUMPING BOMBER! SLIDING LARIAT! Shingo isn’t done with Sho, he drags him up, Gory Especial, NOSHIGAMI! Cover, TWO!?! Sho survives Shingo’s Gory Bomb but Shingo isn’t done with him yet. Shingo kicks Sho while he’s down, then drags him up. Sho resists the torture rack and elbows away. Shingo whips Sho, corner clotheslines, then brings Sho back up to hoist him up top.
Shingo climbs to join Sho, but Sho goes after the bad arm! The ref counts as Sho has the top rope wristlock, so Sho throws hands and headbutts! Sho keeps going until Shingo wobbles. Sho adjusts, SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB BACKBREAKER! But it’s double edged given that height, and Sho clutches his knees. But Sho gets to his feet, runs, and PUMPING BOMBERS SHINGO!! Cover, ONE?!?! Sho won’t worry about being shocked, he just drags Shingo into a dead lift waistlock! Shingo resists, but Sho powers through to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shingo escapes at the last possible second! Sho just fires up more, takes aim with his bow, and brings Shingo into the doubl eump handle. But Shingo back drops Shock Arrow away!
Sho runs to clothesline Shingo on the back, but Shingo comes back to clothesline! Sho stays up and Shingo eggs him on. The two start brawling with big forearms again! Sho wobbles, throws another, but Shingo DOUBLE CHOPS! Sho fires up to throw elbows from all sides, then all from the right! A total of 10 but he walks into a JAB! And HEADBUTT! Shingo grits his teeth as he dodges Sho’s clothesline, for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?!? Shingo can’t believe Sho survives! Shingo gets up, runs, PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO?!?!? How?!? Shingo doesn’t worry about that, he just brings Sho back up. Shingo pump handles and fireman’s carries, but Sho slips out to arm-drag to the KIMURA!
Shingo endures the double wristlock as Sho cranks back on it hard! Shingo reaches, but Sho gator rolls him away to the double ump hnalde! CROSS-ARM DRIVER! Sho fires up, gest the double pump handle proper, SHOCK ARROW!!! Cover, SHO WINS!?!
Winner: Sho, by pinfall
IMPOSSIBLE! One half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions pins Mr. Openweight?! Sho heads on, but will he and Shingo meet again with the NEVER Openweight Championship on the line?
Kota Ibushi VS Zack Sabre Jr!
The Golden Star and The Ace are still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions and still have a bone to pick with the #DangerousTekkers. But for now, they all try to climb the mountain to challenge the Double Champion, Tetsuya Naito! Will Ibushi score the first blow? Or will he #JustTapOut?
The bell rings and Ibushi circles with ZSJ. Ibushi avoids ZSJ as he slides around, but ZSJ stays back as Ibushi tests with kicks. ZSJ tries to get a leg but Ibushi kicks at him. They feel things out and go all around the ring, and ZSJ gets the facelock. He brings Ibushi down to a waistlock then shifts to the arm. ZSJ goes back to the facelock but Ibushi powers him down to the mat. Ibushi finds a way to the lateral press, but ZSJ gets out fast to go after the arms with his legs. Ibushi gets the mount again, another press, but ZSJ gets out and away. The two reset and circle again. ZSJ keeps his distance as Ibushi looks ready to swing on him. They approach and Ibushi kicks ZSJ in the leg! ZSJ backs off, they circle, approach, and Ibushi tries hands. ZSJ avoids, but his kick is deflected.
ZSJ lunges at the leg, Ibushi stays on top with the waistlock but ZSJ slips out and around to float around and get the mount, to an armbar! Ibushi clasps hands and moves around, but ZSJ stays wrapped on with body scissors. ZSJ grabs at IBushi for a chinlock but settles for fish hooking his face. They move around, ZSJ goes after the armbar again, but Ibushi rolls back to get around ZSJ. Ibushi waistlocks then goes after ZSJ’s arms a la Rings of Saturn. ZSJ rolls, Ibushi wants a ghost pin, ZSJ slips out to body scissor roll Ibushi back into the chinlock, but Ibushi gets the ropebreak. ZSJ lets go and Ibushi bails out, both men taking their time to reset. They go again, testing the waters with grabs and kicks, and Ibushi makes contact with the leg! Ibushi kicks and KICKS and ZSJ falls to the mat. Ibushi KICKS ZSJ in the back, covers, ONE!
Ibushi clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock and grinds him down. ZSJ gets the ropebreak with a leg and Ibushi lets go with a slap on the back. Ibushi backs off and both he and ZSJ talk trash. ZSJ gives Ibushi free shots and Ibushi fires off. But ZSJ catches a kick to a heel hook! Ibushi scrambles as ZSJ grapevines the legs! ZSJ cranks but Ibushi gets the ropebreak! ZSJ lets go but the damage is done. Ibushi goes to a corner but ZSJ is on him with a standing toehold. ZSJ turns Ibushi over for a modified calf killer. ZSJ traps one leg, pulls on the other, and twists Ibushi around. Ibushi gets another ropebreak and ZSJ lets go. Ibushi drags himself up in the corner so ZSJ backs off. ZSJ runs in but Ibushi goes up, over and rolls to ROUNDHOUSE ZSJ down! Standing moonsault! Cover, TWO!
Ibushi keeps his cool, and stomps ZSJ on the back! Ibushi brings ZSJ up for forearms and ROCKS ZSJ. ZSJ comes back with a strong European Uppercut, but Ibushi just ROCKS him again. ZSJ wrenches but Ibushi ROCKS him, then whips him to a corner. ZSJ goes up and comes back, into a SNAP-RANA! ZSJ ends up outside, Ibushi fires himself up, and goes to the corner, only for ZSJ to get far away from there. ZSJ won’t let Ibushi fly out at him, and takes a breather. ZSJ retruns but Ibushi BOOTS him out! ZSJ hurries and trips Ibushi up, for a HANGING KNEEBAR! Ibushi falls to the floor which does help for a moment, but ZSJ just clamps on tighter. The ref reprimands, submissions don’t matter on the outside! ZSJ lets go and leaves Ibushi behind as he goes to the ring.
The ring count begins and Ibushi hobbles up at 7 of 20. Ibushi gets in at 11, but ZSJ stands on the bad leg. ZSJ walks all over the bad leg then cranks the other, for a modified figure four to a kneebar! They’re in the ropes but ZSJ keeps twisting and pulling! The ref reprimands, ZSJ lets go, but again the damage is done. ZSJ toys with Ibushi, kicking him harder and harder. Ibushi fires off forearms but ZSJ sweeps the legs! ZSJ watches Ibushi get to a corner, then runs in for a EuroUpper! Ibushi comes back, into a boot! ZSJ boots the clohteline, PELES the arm, but Ibushi LARIATS back! Both men are down and the ref checks on them. They’re okay to continue, and Ibushi slowly rises. Ibushi drags ZSJ up, reels him in, and lifts, but ZSJ counters to a GUILLOTINE! Ibushi stays up, pops free, but ZSJ gets the leg for another KNEEBAR!
Ibushi stays up, shifts back, and dead lifts ZSJ into a full nelson! ZSJ breaks the hold, wrenches, and CRANKS the arm between his legs! Then he wrenches, hooks Ibushi up for the IRON OCTOPUS! Ibushi powers out, has ZSJ as a backpack, and ZSJ sleeper holds. But Ibushi keeps fighting, so ZSJ gets the roll up, to a HALF CRAB! ZSJ sits deep on the hold but Ibushi grits his teeth as he endures. ZSJ adds the other leg, and he has another heel hook! Ibushi reaches and gets the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration but he comes back to STOMP the bad leg! ZSJ KICKS Ibushi down but Ibushi sits back up. ZSJ kicks more but Ibushi sits up again. ZSJ kicks and kicks but Ibushi stands. Ibushi blocks, swings a punch, but gets caught to a crucifix pin! TWO, and ZSJ gets a triangle hold!
Ibushi powers up, dead lifts and POWERBOMBS ZSJ! ZSJ gets up, dodges one kick, blocks another and EuroUppers! Ibushi PELES back! Both men are down but Ibushi sits up first. Ibushi gets up, brings ZSJ in, powerbomb lift but ZSJ avoids the Last Ride! ZSJ mule kicks, runs in, Ibushi double stomps, but ZSJ catches them! ZSJ wants another leg lock but Ibushi KICKS ZSJ away from below! ZSJ comes back to PENALTY KICK! ZSJ has to catch his breath before he brings Ibushi up. ZSJ scoops, Ibushi slips out, V-TRIGGER!! KENNY~!! Ibushi sits ZSJ up, KAMI-GOYE!!! Cover, Ibushi wins!
Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall
One half of the #GoldenAces succeeds and is heading to the next round! Is the start of Ibushi becoming a triple belt champion?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Taichi!
We saw one half of this tag team rivalry compete, now it’s time for the other! Will we see a sweep or a split? Will the Once in a Century Talent be ready for the Sliest Wrestler in the World?
But while Tanahashi is on the corner per his entrance tradition, Taichi grabs him for a SUPER POWERBOMB! Taichi grins as he paces around Tanahashi. Red Shoes reprimands but there’s only so much he can do about it now. Taichi wants the match to start already but Red Shoes tells him to wait. Red Shoes checks on Tanahashi but Taichi looms closely. Red Shoes moves Taichi back and Young Lions come in, but Taichi kicks the Young LIons out! Taichi demands Red Shoes get this match on the record but Red Shoes has to help Tanahashi first. Red Shoes gets the title belt off Tanahashi, and Tanahashi manages to sit up. Tanahashi wants this match, too, so the bell rings. Taichi BUZZSAWS! Taichi kicks Tanahashi out of the ring and Tanahashi flops to the floor.
Taichi keeps Red Shoes’ attention and this allows DOUKI to attack! It’s never a fair fight when it comes to Taichi! Douki uses his walking stick to choke Tanahashi! The ref misses all of this as Douki brings Tanahashi up to wrench and whip into railing! Red Shoes finally spots Douki and tells him to leave. Taichi drags Tanahashi up and chokes him with camera cables! The Young Lions get Red Shoes’ attention about this and Red Shoes reprimands Taichi. Taichi stops, but only for a moment! Douki stays and Taichi drags Tanahashi up, Suzuki-Gun continues to buck Red Shoes’ authority. Taichi puts Tanahashi in to cover but Red Shoes refuses to count. Red Shoes stands up for himself as he wants Tanahashi to have a fair chance. Taichi CHOKES Tanahashi with his bare hands!
Red Shoes counts, Taichi stops at 4, but then chokes again! Taichi stops at 4 again, then stalks Tanahashi to the ropes. Taichi uses the ropes to choke Tanahashi now, and again Red Shoes stops. Another stop at 4 but Tanahashi throws body shots! Tanahashi backs Taichi down but Taichi chokes him again! Taichi stands on Tanahashi’s head then lets off to bring Tanahashi up. Taichi throws Tanahashi out and Douki lurks close again. Taichi goes out to deal with Tanahashi himself, but Tanahashi throws hands and kicks back! Tanahashi whips Taichi into railing! Douki creeps close but Tanahashi backs him off with a glare. But Taichi clobbers Tanahashi from behind! Red Shoes argues with Douki but Taichi whips Tanahashi into railing! Taichi opens the gate and drags Tanahashi through. Taichi throws Tanahshi into folded bleachers!
Taichi has camera crews clear out and he takes a chair to JAM Tanahashi with it! And again, right in the head! Tanahashi goes down and Red Shoes reprimands Taichi, but Taichi presses the chair’s edge into Tanahashi’s throat! Tanahashi kicks and flails but Taichi eventually lets up. Red Shoes tells Taichi to bring this back in the ring, so Taichi drags Tanahashi up by his hair. Taichi POSTS Tanahashi the moment they’re ringside! Taichi puts Tanahashi in the ring, looms over him, then covers with just a hand. But again, Red Shoes refuses until Tanahashi’s had time to get back into this. The Young Lions rally for The Ace but Taichi snapmares and KICKS Tanahashi in the back. But Tanahashi fires up and sits up. Taichi toys with him but Tanahashi eggs him on. Taichi basement BOOTS Tanahashi down!
Taichi drags Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi throws forearms back! Taichi kicks the leg then whips, but Tanahashi comes back with the flying forearms! Tanahashi keeps the fire building and the Young Lions rally again. Tanahashi brings Taichi up for more forearms and body shots, and Taichi falls to the mat. Tanahashi scoops and slams Taichi, then goes to the corner. Second rope senton! Cover, TWO! The rallying continues and Tanahashi feeds off that energy. Taichi stands, Tanahashi runs, but Tanahsahi blocks the boot to a DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi doesn’t lose his cool, he gets up and watches Taichi in the corner. Tanahashi goes corner to corner but the splash misses! Taichi gamanguris! Tanahashi drops and Taichi shakes out his legs as he walks about. Taichi dares Tanahashi to sit up, and then BUZZS-
NO! Tanahashi blocks the kick! But Taichi rakes the eyes! Taichi kicks the leg but Tanahashi throws forearms. They go back and forth, forearm for kick, but then Taichi fires off several shots! Tanahashi hobbles to ropes but Taichi dares him to come back. Tanahashi does with a furious strike fest! Taichi wobbles to ropes but he still smirks. Taichi comes back to KICK Tanahashi hard in the chest! And again! But Tanahashi blocks, elbows the leg and throws forearms. Taichi boots, back kicks, and looms over Tanahashi as he drops to a knee. Taichi slaps Tanahashi, ducks the palm strike, for a SAIDO! Tanahashi is down but Taichi catches his breath instead of trying to cover. Taichi drags Tanahashi back up but he’s dead weight. The Young Lions rally and Taichi drags Tanahashi back up again.
Taichi reels Tanahashi in, but Tanahashi blocks the bomb lift! Taichi unleashes the Kowata kicks, then brings Tanahashi back in. Powerbomb lift, but Tanahashi slips out! The bad leg buckles, Taichi boots, but runs into a scoop! SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Both men are down again but the rallying builds. Tanahashi rises slowly but he returns to his feet. Tanahashi watches Taichi rise, then builds speed, but the Slingblade is denied! Tanahashi elbows the suplex away, tries again, but still no Slingblade! Tanahashi reaches for ropes but Taichi CLUBS and lifts! SLINGBLADE COUNTER! Tanahashi fires up as the Young Lions rally. Tanahashi runs, but Taichi ducks the Slingblade to Alabama lift! Tanahashi flails, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi runs again, to hit a proper SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives, but Tanahashi has more to give!
Tanahashi goes right to a corner and to the top rope. Taichi stands, HIGH FLY FLOW-BODY! Tanahashi wants another but Douki stands in his way! Red Shoes tells Douki to get away but Douki keeps egging Tanahsahi on. Tanahashi swings on Douki, Douki ducks once, but gets ROCKED with the uppercut! Taichi grabs at Tanahashi, Tanahashi kicks, but Taichi blocks it! Taichi shoves Red Shoes away, to LOW BLOW Tanahashi!! GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!?!? Tanahashi survives but Taichi is too exhausted to be frustrated. The Young Lions rally again but Taichi is up first. Taichi powers up, takes aim, but Tanahashi deflects the superkick to run! Into a LARIAT! Taichi drags Tanahshi up, powerbomb lift, LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Tanahashi survives, this is not the end for him!
The rallying continues but Taichi gets up and slashes the throat. Taichi drags Tanahashi back up, Alabama lifts, but Tanahashi powers it down to club away on Taichi’s back! Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm, but Taichi DECKS him! Taichi brings Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi ROCKS him with the palm strike! Tanahashi fires up and brings Taichi back up. Taichi is dead weight now but Tanahashi just keeps going. Tanahashi whips, Taichi reverse but Tanahashi grabs hold. So Taichi brings Tanahashi in to SNAP SAIDO!! Taichi drags Tanahashi up again, runs, BLIND AX BOMBER! GAMANGIRI! Off come the pants!! Taichi powers up as Tanahashi slowly rises. Tanahashi turns around, into the SUPERKICK!! Taichi drags Tanahashi back up, Alabama to BLACK MEPHISTO!! Cover, TAICHI WINS!
Winner: Taichi, by pinfall
The tag teams split the series on the night! The Maestro trumps the Ace, but wants to keep going! Dragon sleeper! The Young Lions rush in but Douki clobbers them all! Taichi makes Tanahashi suffer until he is satisfied. But Ibushi comes hobbling out! Ibushi runs Taichi and Douki off as he comes to the aid of his role model. Taichi has Ibushi calm down and then joins him in the ring. These two will meet in the next round, but they’ll also meet for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. And then Douki blindsides Ibushi!
Taichi grabs Ibushi’s title belt and CLOBBERS him with it! And then he CLOBBERS Tanahashi with it! Taichi stacks the #GoldenAces and stands on them, as if he’s already won it all. Taichi grabs a mic to speak. “What happened to you guys?” These two are tag champions for now, but not if he can take care of them both by himself. As it stands now, Taichi won’t just take the tag titles, but the entire New Japan Cup, to become THE greatest in NJPW. Will all of Taichi’s dark dreams come true in the spotlight?
My Thoughts:
A great start to the second week of New Japan Cup, as the only match I could justifiably skip was the tag team match with Suzuki-Gun. I honestly thought the matches involving Suzuki-Gun would go on first, but it does work to make Douki’s return a bit more surprising. If he’d shown up just after being in the 8 Man Tag, it’d seem really stupid. One interesting thing to note, though still done to great effect, was that LIJ and Suzuki-Gun each split the night. Sanada gets a win over Taguchi, perfect for Sanada getting back on that great run he had before the pandemic shutdown, and then Sho gets a shocking and amazing upset over Shingo! I would really love to see a rematch of Shingo and Sho for the Openweight Championship.
Then it seemed very likely and natural for Tanahashi and Ibushi to split with Taichi and ZSJ. In order for Dangerous Tekkers to be a serious contender, they can’t both lose, and it adds to some drama for Taichi to be the one that wins. I think Ibushi beats Taichi to split the team series while also pushing forward to be a part of the Final Four. The tag titles can be on the line at Dominion, assuming someone else makes it to the finals over Ibushi. Dominion would definitely be the place for a great tag team match, and who knows, that could be a great moment for a title change.
My Score: 9.2/10
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The stars of AEW align over Orlando!
The Continental Classic semifinals AND finals, the AEW World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4 Way, and so much more all converge at Worlds End!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Zero Hour – Toni Storm VS Leila Grey; Toni wins.
- Zero Hour – Jeff Jarrett VS QT Marshall; Jarrett wins.
- Zero Hour – 8 Man Tag: Top Flight & The Outrunners VS Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Brian Cage & Lance Archer; Lio, Action, Cage & Action win.
- AEW Continental Classic Semifinals: Kyle Fletcher VS Will Ospreay; Ospreay wins and advances to the finals.
- AEW Continental Classic Semifinals: Ricochet VS Kazuchika Okada; Okada wins and advances to the finals.
- AEW Women’s World Championship Tijuana Street Fight: Mariah May VS Thunder Rosa; Mariah wins and retains the title.
- AEW Dynamite Diamond Ring: MJF VS Adam Cole; MJF wins and retains the diamond ring.
- AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs; Takeshita wins and retains the title.
- AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone VS Kris Statlander; Mone wins and retains the title.
- AEW Continental Classic Finals: Will Ospreay VS Kazuchika Okada; Okada wins and retains the AEW Continental Championship.
- AEW World Championship Fatal 4 Way: Jon Moxley VS Orange Cassidy VS Jay White VS Hangman Page; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the Words End Zero Hour!
Join Renee Paquette, RJ City, Matt Menard, Madison Rayne, and… Mark Sterling… in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action for the last PPV of 2024!
Mercedes Mone arrives.
And she’s in the most blinged out monster truck ever! “Orlandooo~! Say hello to your C E O!” The Two Belt Boss struts her way into the stadium, but will she be leaving with slightly lighter luggage? Or will she bring down the Galaxy’s Greatest once again at Worlds End?
Backstage interview with Leila Grey.
Lexy Nair is with the Top Flight Attendant as she makes her Zero Hour debut against “newcomer” Toni Storm. How has Leila prepared? Leila says this is a huge night indeed, but she has been waiting and preparing for this moment. She spent the last three months training at the NJPW LA Dojo to hone her skills and becoming the best version of herself. She gave it her all there, and she’ll give it her all here. No more sitting on the sidelines. So to Toni, respectfully, Leila beats her into oblivion. It’s Leila’s time now! Get it? Got it? Good! Will Leila weather the storm to come out a contender?
Zero Hour – Toni Storm VS Leila Grey!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two shake hands to show there is respect, and they circle. They tie up, Toni headlocks, but Leila pries the hold open to wrench, wristlock and YANK the arm! Toni rolls, kips up, and wrenches to a hammerlock. Toni hits the headlock and the takeover, but Leila fights up. Leila wrenches out again to then double wristlock takeover! Leila shifts, Toni stacks her, ONE! Toni facelocks, rolls Leila and covers, ONE! Toni keeps Leila down with a chinlock and leans on her. Leila fights up, powers up but can’t power out as Toni holds tight. Leila fights up to her feet, throws body shots, and then powers out.
Toni RUNS Leila over and the fans cheer! Things speed up, Toni redirects and SHOTGUNS Leila! The fans cheer more and Toni scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Leila is tough but Toni scoops her again. Toni SLAMS Leila, runs, and SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Leila goes to a corner but Toni storms up. Toni ROCKS Leila in the corner, whips her corner to corner, then runs in. Leila goes up and over to roll Toni up, TWO! Leila LARIATS Toni and keeps going! ROLLING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Toni goes to the ropes. Leila storms up on Toni, stands her up, and CLUBS her down!
Leila brings Toni up again, UPPERCUTS, and then kicks low! And kicks! And kicks a leg out! Leila runs to SHOTGUN Toni down! Leila takes a moment to soak up cheers and jeers, then covers, TWO! Toni stays in this but Leila stays cool. Leila storms up while the fans rally up, and Leila digs her knee in. The fans rally, Leila lets off, and then Leila fires forearms. Leila brings Toni out to ROCK her again! Toni fires back, the fans rally, and the forearms fly! Toni ROCKS Leila, but then Leila dodges to CUTTER! Roll back and DRAGON SLEEPER STRETCH! Toni endures, fights the grip, and the fans rally up again.
Toni reaches out, finds her way over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Leila lets off quickly, and Leila kicks Toni around. Leila brings Toni up to fire forearms, then whips her to a corner. Toni comes back to THESZ PRESS! The fans fire up while Toni rains down fast hands! Toni lets off to then pose in the corner… Not timeless but Toni Time! HIP ATTACK! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Leila survives as Toni’s not quite perfect. But Toni hauls Leila up, reels her in, but Leila wrenches out! Leila ROCKS, BOOTS, and whips. Leila runs up but Toni dodges! Leila ELBOWS Toni first, then goes up!
Leila leaps, BLOCKBUSTER! Both women are down and the fans rally up! Leila crawls to the cover, TWO! Toni survives and Leila grows frustrated. The fans rally, Leila runs back in and SHINING WIZARDS in the corner! Snap suplex, roll through, and another suplex, but Toni cradle counters! TONI WINS!!
Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall
The “rookie” snatches that win from Leila and is on quite the run since her “debut!” With the AEW Women’s World Championship and AEW TBS Championship both on the line tonight, will Toni look to take on the champs on the other side?
Backstage interview with QT Marshall.
Lexy Nair is now with “Big Doom QT” and says he steps in the ring with Double J. What is his mindset tonight? Oh, his mindset? C’mon, Jeff Jarrett is a living legend, Hall of Famer, maybe even the greatest of all time, and can still do it at a high level. But he is NOT an innovator! He is NOT someone revolutionizing this industry like QT. After Full Gear, QT selling out the building with his match against Big Boom AJ, his life has changed. QT might have to change his home address with all the fans just trying to catch a glimpse of his life. He knows Lexy has been politicking for this interview, and that’s fine, because she is no different than Jarrett.
Jarrett wants to stay relevant in pro-wrestling, so he had to stick his nose in QT’s business at ROH Final Battle by hitting Aaron Solo in the head with that guitar. Solo may never look the same! But hey, Jarrett wants to be on the QT Bandwagon. It must be so hard waking up, looking in the mirror, and he can’t imagine how his best years are behind him. But QT is a compassionate man. When he beats Jarrett, the dream still comes true as Jarrett will still be relevant. Lexy is at a loss for words and QT says she shouldn’t be so upset. Think about it! What’s worse than losing in the ring? Being forgotten.
But when you get in the ring with QT, that’ll never happen. It’ll be viral and last forever! Here, let’s take a selfie. This one’s on him. Cheese! You’re welcome. QT leaves, but will that big mouth of his be able to eat all that crow?
Zero Hour – Jeff Jarrett VS QT Marshall!
The bell rings and the fans fire up for Double J! But then QT poses and just gets boos. The fans even chant, “QT SUCKS! QT SUCKS!” QT says okay, be that way! He and Jarrett tie up, and QT arm-drags. QT mocks the strut, then does his own little flexing dance. The fans still boo while QT and Jarrett reset. Jarrett and QT feel things out, tie up, and QT headlocks. QT spins, hammerlocks, headlocks, then drop toeholds. QT slaps Jarrett around but Jarrett gets up in a huff. QT lounges on the ropes, the fans boo more, and Jarrett is annoyed. Jarrett and QT circle, tie up, but then QT kicks low! And ROCKS Jarrett with a right!
QT brings Jarrett around to ROCK him, then tells the ref to back off. QT whips, Jarrett reverses and hip tosses! Then hip tosses again! The fans cheer as Jarrett shows QT how it’s done! QT runs up but Jarrett ROCKS him, TOSSES him, but QT holds on! QT skins the cat while Jarrett struts! Jarrett dodges and LARIATS QT up and out! The fans fire up as we get a proper Fargo Strut! QT huffs ‘n’ puffs and storms up to the apron. The fans chant “You Still Got It!” for Jarrett. Jarrett has QT hold on and watch him do the flex dance! Jarrett then catches QT to a SLEEPER! But QT runs in and HOTSHOTS Jarrett off buckles!
QT goes up and he FLYING UPPERCUTS Jarrett down! The fans boo, QT stomps Jarrett around, then rains down fists. QT stomps Jarrett, fans chant “You Still Suck!” Cover, TWO! QT is annoyed but he winds up to ROCK Jarrett with a right hand! The ref reprimands about closed fists but QT just DECKS Jarrett! The fans boo but QT soaks it up. QT drags Jarrett up, but Jarrett counter punches to fire hands! Jarrett ROCKS QT, whips him, but QT handsprings! NEURALIZER KICK! QT grins and applauds for himself while the fans boo. QT pushes Jarrett to a cover, TWO! QT argues with the ref but the ref defends the count.
QT drags Jarrett around, has a neck wrench, but the fans rally up. QT pushes on the hold while admiring himself on the tron. Jarrett fights as the fans rally, and Jarrett stands to fire body shots! Jarrett whips, QT reverses and catches Jarrett to a SLEEPER! Jarrett runs around and around but QT holds on! Jarrett slips around to hit a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! A standing count applauds, and QT goes to ropes. QT stands and he storms back up, but Jarrett counter punches! And again! And again! The fans fire up, Jarrett whips, but QT reverses! Jarrett still LARIATS! And LARIATS! And BACKDROPS!
QT goes to a corner but Jarrett climbs up on him! This is for Schiavone! Jarrett rains down fists on QT! The fans count and Double J goes to TEN! QT sputters, Jarrett waits on him, but QT blocks a kick! Jarrett ENZIGIRIS! Cover, TWO! QT stays in this and Jarrett grows frustrated. Jarrett drags QT up but QT throat chops! QT trips Jarrett, and he calls his shot! The fans boo as QT steps through, but Jarrett kicks him to the apron! Jarrett runs up but QT ELBOWS him! QT climbs a corner, but Jarrett grabs him! ROCKET LAUNCHER! Not long distance but it was a hard landing! And now Jarrett has the legs! SHARPSHOOTER!
The fans fire up as Jarrett shouts out his old friend, Owen! But wait, here comes Solo! That face is just fine, QT is such a liar! Jarrett tells Solo to back off, but QT rolls Jarrett! TWO! But then QT steals THE STROKE! Cover, TWO!! QT can’t believe it but Jarrett survives his own move! QT signals to Solo to grab Jarrett’s guitar! The fans chant “QT SUCKS! QT SUCKS!” but Solo holds up Jarrett’s guitar. Solo says this is for what happened to his face! But then Jay Lethal runs out here! Lethal and Solo brawl, Jarrett snatches QT to a cradle! TWO, but Jarrett slips around to backslide! TWO!! Kick and STROKE!! Cover, Jarrett wins!
Winner: Jeff Jarrett, by pinfall
The Last Outlaw gets the last laugh as now Team Triple J is 2-0 against “Big Doom QT!” Will QT have to admit he isn’t as good as he thinks?
Backstage interview with Toni Storm.
Lexy is now with the Rockstar and says what a successful victory! She’s been on quiet the roll! Yes, first time for everything! First PPV match, first win, she did it! She went all out, she’s over the moon! Safe to say, AEW is officially on Toni Time! And then hey, Deonna walks in! Deonna mockingly copies Toni, acting like this is the first time they’ve met. Toni explains that they met last week. Deonna pretends her memory is so bad, and surely Toni must think she’s an idiot for forgetting. But hey, here’s an idea. They should make a memory no one will forget! Next week’s first-ever Collision on Max, Toni VS Deonna!
Dude! Toni would love that! She’s wanted that forever! Oh, Deonna is so glad Toni’s excited. Deonna leaves, Toni thanks her for this chance, but is Toni just falling into the Virtuosa’s trap?
Zero Hour – 8 Man Tag: Top Flight & The Outrunners VS Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Brian Cage & Lance Archer!
Darius & Dante Martin don’t like that The Bad Child & Sight to See snatched a title opportunity from them, but all they can do is try and slow them down. Will Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd help them get even with their former friends? Or will Don Callis’ Murder Machines make sure #EverybodyDies?
The teams sort out but things get real tense between the former Top Flight Airlines… The bigger men calm things down, and we have Darius step up against Archer. Darius then DROPKCIKS Archer at the bell! Darius fires hands in the corner but Archer shoves him away. Darius comes back, is put on the apron, but he CHOPS! Darius step sin but Archer shove shim again. Darius comes back but Archer STOMPS him down! Archer bumps Darius off buckles, tags in Cage, and the Machines ROCK, ROCK, KNEE and BOOT! Cage hauls Darius up to scoop and use for bicep curls! Cage then TOSSES Darius away to flex.
The fans are torn but Action snipes a tag. Action disrupts the plan but he doesn’t care, and he tags in Lio. They double whip Darius but he grabs ropes. Darius then TOSSES Lio, dodges Action, and tags Dante! The former friends all stand off, and they start shoving! The fans cheer, the ref has them all back off, and it boils down to just Lio and Dante. The fans rally up as Dante fires hands! Dante whips. Lio reverses, but Dante sunset flips! Lio rolls through, keeps moving, but Dante JUMP KNEES him down! Lio flops out, Dante builds speed, but Archer stands in the way! That’s too tall a mountain, but Action jumps onto Dante!
Action has the SLEEPER, but Dante swings free and ELBOWS Action down! Lio comes back, Dante ELBOWS him then LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Dante drags Lio up, brings him over, tag to Turbo Floyd! Private Party is watching closely as Turbo brings Lio around for a wrench. Tag to Truth, The Outrunners double whip, but Lio ducks the elbows! Lio handsprings, but into a DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! Action runs up, but he gets a DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! The fans cheer and then Truth whips Turbo up to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up as the Outrunners flex and spin!
Truth brings Lio up to fireman’s carry, and he starts up the AIRPLANE SPIN! Lio CLAWS the eyes! The ref reprimands but Lio flounders away. Archer gets a cheap shot on Truth! Action and Cage add on, the ref reprimands, but Lio soaks up the heat. Lio stomps Truth, tags Action, and they mug Truth. The fans rally but Lio & Action double whip Truth to an open corner. Action whips, Lio reverses, Action LARIAST! Lio LARIATS! Action has a fireman’s carry, ROLLING SENTON then SUPERKICK! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Truth goes to ropes but Action is after him with a CHOP!
Action brings Truth over but now Cage snipes the tag. They argue but Cage whips Truth to then ELBOW him down! Cage hauls Truth back up, CHOKES him on the ropes, and the ref counts. Cage lets off, even Callis gets a cheap shot in! The fans boo, Archer CHOKES Truth, but he stops so Cage can bring Truth up. Tag to Archer and the Machines mug Truth. The fans tell Callis off, but Archer whips Truth to a corner. Archer runs up to ELBOW, then he keeps moving, for another ELBOW! Archer keeps going, another ELBOW! Truth flops over and Archer laughs. Archer drags Truth over, he tags Cage, and Cage stomps Truth.
Cage paces while Turbo & Top Flight coach Truth. Truth fires body shots on Cage, then fires hands! Cage KNEES Truth down, but Truth JAWBREAKERS back! Cage staggers, Truth crawls, but Cage BLASTS Turbo! The fans boo but Cage scoops and SLAMS Truth! Cage flexes, the fans boo, but then Truth rolls him up! TWO!! Cage escapes, grabs Truth, but Truth fires hands! Cage holds on but Truth throws more hands! Cage CLOBBERS Truth! Cage shouts, “Who Betta Than Cage?” Cage takes a swing but Turbo counter punches! Truth hits a BIG back suplex! Both Cage and Truth are down and the fans rally up!
Cage and Truth crawl, they reach out, hot tags to Archer and Turbo! Turbo dodges Archer, Top Flight DOUBLE GAMANGIRI! Turbo rallies on Lio with haymakers! Action runs up, but into a scoop SLAM! Lio staggers into a scoop SLAM! Scoop SLAM for Action! Turbo scoop SLAMS Lio onto Action! But Archer choke grips! The fans are torn but Turbo breaks free! Turbo wants to scoop but Archer’s too big! Cage CLUBS Turbo, he intercepts Truth, but The Outrunners DOUBLE SUPLEX Cage! Archer has Turbo again, scoops, but Turbo slips free! Truth helps out, DOUBLE SCOOP SLAM! The fans fire up for The Outrunners!
Top Flight get in, they DOUBLE SUPERKICK Action! And now, we get a QUADRUPLE HANDSHAKE! And QUADRUPLE ELBOW DROPS! The fans are all fired up as Dante tags in! Dante leaps over Cage, comes back, but Cage LARIATS him inside out! Cage reels Dante in but The Outrunners make the save! They double whip and DOUBLE BOOT Cage! Lio & Action are back, they TOSS the Outrunners and DOUBLE HANDSPRING KICK! Then they DOUBLE DIVE! Down go the Outrunners, right into the desk! Action goes back for Top Fight, but he ends up in the SHOTGUN GERMAN!
Lio returns, whips, but Darius helps Dante go e up and over! Dante helps Darius TORNADO DDT! Cage is back, he clinches Dante for the FULL NELSON SLAM! Archer has Darius, SUPER CHOKE SLAM! And then Cage has Dante! The Machines give Dante the CHOKE SLAM BOMB!! Cover, OUTRUNNERS BREAK IT! The fans are thunderous, but then Cage runs up! Outrunners dodge to DOUBLE LARIAT Cage, taking themselves up and out with him! Archer has Dante in the danger zone, but Lio tags in! Archer is pissed, but Lio says it’s the FINAL HOUR!! Cover, Bad Child and team win!
Winners: Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Brian Cage & Lance Archer, by pinfall
Don Callis doesn’t appreciate the bad boys of AEW stealing this win from their own teammates, but “Oh my God, is that Private Party?” Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy have had enough watching backstage, they’re out front for “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” Brother Zay dares Lio & Action to pull up and try something. Lio says that’s fine, they can have their match right now! But no, Zero Hour is almost over and Worlds End is already jam packed. When and where will Lio & Action get their shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championships?
Backstage interview with Triple J.
Lexy is with Jarrett, Lethal, Sonjay & Satnam, and she congratulates them. Lethal says he could not be more proud of his friend, Jarrett! Get Karen on the phone! But then Jarrett tells Sonjay something, and Sonjay is rather confused and upset by it. Jarrett says it doesn’t matter, it isn’t Sonjay’s decision. Lethal asks what’s going on and Jarrett says that for the last 30+ years, the week between Christmas and New Years, he would reflect on his career and look ahead to the future. That’s no different here and now. Jarrett says Wednesday, Asheville, Fight for the Fallen, the mother of all simulcasts, Jarrett has an announcement about his career!
Jarrett heads out, leaving Satnam and Lethal just as confused. What could the Last Outlaw be thinking for 2025? Will at least be good news?
Where will you be then the world ends?
Welcome to the Jungle by Guns ‘n’ Roses plays, and the lyrics are most fitting: You can have anything you want, but be careful who you take it from. There are dangerous men and women on both sides of these championships, and even one diamond ring. But in this wrestling ring, everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story, born to slay the villain. But hero, villain, somewhere in between, it really only matters if you’re the one standing tall at the end. “You know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby! You’re gonna diiiie~!” So again, where will you be when the world ends? Time to find out.
AEW Continental Classic Semifinals: Kyle Fletcher VS Will Ospreay!
The top seed in Blue League takes on the second seed in Gold League, and by a bit of serendipity, the C2 brings us a rematch from Full Gear! The Protostar bested his former mentor, but can he do it again? Or will the Aerial Assassin finally have his revenge?
The bell rings and there’s no clock on this one, there has to be a winner! Kyle runs up but Ospreay dodges to CHOP and CHOP! Ospreay whips, Khyel reverses but Ospreay BOOST him! Ospreay runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and RAN- NO! Kyle brings Ospreay up but Ospraey fights free! Ospreay fires a forearm, Kyle CHOSP! Kyle runs, Ospreay hurdles then drops, but Kyle keeps moving! Ospreay ducks the kick to roll Kyle, but Kyle rolls through! Ospreay dodges to springboard, OSC- NO, Kyle stops that to suplex! Ospreay slips out, each man dodges and counters, then Ospreay sweeps! Cover, ONE, and Kyle avoids the buzzsaw!
The fans fire up while Kyle bails out, he needs to slow things down. The ring count starts, fans sing for “Ospreay~ Ospreay Ospreay Ospreay~!” Kyle takes his time but he returns at 6 of 10. The fans rally up again and Ospreay circles with Kyle. They feel things out but Kyle backs off as fans cheer Ospreay. They go again, Kyle kicks low then ROCKS Ospreay. Kyle CHOPS, the fans “WOO~!” and Kyle mocks the Ospreay fans. But Ospreay CHOPS Kyle! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Ospreay has Kyle in a corner, fires hands, then follows him to another corner. Ospreay swings but Kyle dodges to throat chop! The ref reprimands but Kyle ignores it.
Kyle whips, Ospreay grabs ropes then dodges to LARIAT Kyle up and out! The fans fire up and Ospreay aims to PLANCHA! Kyle moves so Ospreay lands on the apron. CANNONBALL! And Ospreay even lands on his feet! The fans are thunderous and Ospreay gives a little salute. Ospreay then takes his time to go bring the steel steps around. The fans rally, the ring count is 5, but Kyle BOOTS Ospreay! Kyle storms up on Ospreay and whips, but Ospreay LEAPS over the steps! Then comes back to FLYING RAN- NO! Kyle makes that an APRON POWERBOMB! Ospreay falls in a heap, Kyle refreshes the ring count, and he looms over Ospreay.
Kyle scoops, and he aims to run and LAWN DART Ospreay into the LED barriers! Kyle grins and soaks up heat while standing on the barriers. Kyle even flexes on ’em before he goes back to Ospreay. Kyle snatches a fan’s sign, rips it, and wipes his butt with it! But that guy has a second copy of his sign! Kyle says “SUCK IT!” then refreshes the ring count. Kyle stalks Ospreay, drags him up, and says he loves seeing Ospreay busted open! Fans tell off Kyle but he SMACKS Ospreay off the steps! Kyle soaks up more heat, then he stalks Ospreay. Kyle puts Ospreay in the ring, paces, and Ospreay reaches out in a daze.
Ospreay stands but Kyle BOOTS him down! The crimson mask is already pretty much colored in, and Ospreay sputters back up. Kyle stands Ospreay up to give him Kawada Kicks! Ospreay’s blood paints those nice new white boots! Ospreay staggers back but Kyle TASTES the blood! The fans tell Kyle he’s sick, but Kyle goes over to Ospreay. Kyle climbs up and he rains down fists! The fans boo but Kyle goes all the way to TEN! Kyle again tastes the blood, but Ospreay YANKS Kyle down! Kyle hits buckles, and Ospreay ROCKS Kyle with haymakers! Ospreay whips, Kyle blocks and swings, but Ospreay dodges! Handspring, but Kyle catches him!
LAWN DART into buckles! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives but even he has to check it was two. The ref checks on Ospreay, that blood is flowing. Kyle wants the ref to call this but Ospreay refuses to give up. Kyle kicks at Ospreay, eggs him on, but Ospreay CHOPS! There wasn’t that much behind it, but Ospreay CHOPS again. Kyle eggs Ospreay on but Ospreay fires a forearm! Kyle BOOTS Ospreay! Ospreay wobbles, Kyle soaks up heat, but then Kyle runs in at Ospreay! Ospreay LARIATS!! The fans are thunderous as both men are down! Ospreay storms back up to fire off fast hands! Ospreay whips, BACKDROPS, and he brings Kyle righ tup!
Ospreay bumps Kyle off buckles, then scoops him, for a LAWN DART! Payback there, then a BOOT! The fans fire up as Ospreay steadies himself, STANDING SKY TWISTER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay has to blink the blood out of his eyes while he goes to the apron. Ospreay aims, springboards, but Kyle gets under! Mule kick to a leg, SUPERKICK to the face! Kyle reels Ospreay in for a suplex, but STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE hits! The fans fire up and Ospreay rises! But Kyle snatches his arms! SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Ospreay staggers up, Kyle runs in, but into a STANDING SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Ospreay has a wild grin!
The fans rally and sing for Ospreay as he drags Kyle up and reels him in. Kyle resists but Ospreay gives him Kawada Kicks! Ospreay stands Kyle up to CHOP! Kyle staggers and drops to his knees, but Ospreay eggs him on. Kyle stands, and he nods to then CHOP! Ospreay nods, and he CHOPS! The fans fire up as the CHOPS go back and forth! Ospreay roars, and he CHOPS again! Kyle goes to ropes and grits his teeth. Ospreay puts his hands back, daring Kyle to take another shot. Kyle says bet, but then Ospreay blocks the superkick! HOOK KICK! Ospreay runs but then Kyle dodges! Ospreay slips through the lariat to lift!
Kyle slips free, he lifts, but Ospreay pops out the back! Ospreay dodges to springboard, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and the fans fire up as Ospreay aims from a corner. HIDDEN- LARIAT! Kyle takes Ospreay down, but hauls him right up! Scoop and “This is Awesome!” as Ospreay POISON-RANAS! Kyle steals HIDDEN BLADE!! Both men are down on the blood painted canvas, the fans cheer “A E DUB! A E DUB!” for giving us this artwork of violence! The ref has a standing count, but both men are rising at 4 of 10. Kyle and Ospreay go forehead to forehead, then give junkyard dog headbutts!
Kyle has Ospreay’s blood painting his forehead, but they keep going! They stand, and they keep giving these headbutts! Ospreay runs to HEADBUTT, but Kyle returns the favor! They shift to shoulders, Kyle FLYING- SUPERKICK!! Ospreay takes Kyle outta the air! The fans fire up again and Ospreay aims from a corner. Ospreay runs in, but Kyle rolls him! Kyle uses the ropes! The ref sees that and says nope! Kyle says the ref should just do his job and count! The ref says hell no, not like that. Kyle shoves the ref, the ref shoves Kyle, HIDDEN BLADE from Ospreay!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Ospreay takes off the elbow pad!
Ospreay aims again but Kyle uses the ref as a shield! Then SUPERKICK! Ospreay goes to a corner, Kyle GAMANGIRIS! And then suplex, BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Ospreay survives and Kyle is furious! So he POWER DRIVE KNEES!! And then LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Ospreay survives and Kyle is livid! The fans are loving this, though, as Ospreay crawls to a corner. Fans rally for Ospreay and again say, “This is Awesome!” Kyle seethes, but he runs in for an ENZIGIRI!! Kyle keeps Ospreay on his feet, and he tells him this is what he gets! GAMANGIRI!! Then suplex and STUN DOG RANA!!!
Ospreay rolls through and high stacks into a STYLES CLASH!!! Cover, OSPREAY WINS!!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
Kyle put Ospreay through so much, and not just here tonight, but Ospreay perseveres! And now, he’s one of tonight’s finalists! Will Ospreay battle THE Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada? Or will it be The One & Only Ricochet that meets his old rival in the end?
AEW Continental Classic Semifinals: Ricochet VS Kazuchika Okada!
This here is now the flipside, as the top seed in the Gold League takes on the second seed in the Blue League. HOWEVER, Ricochet must make it through THE Continental Champion, THE greatest tournament wrestler, THE Rainmaker! Will THE defending champion make it to the finals of this tournament? Or will THE One & Only make sure the C2 is #OuttaThisWorld?
The bell rings and the fans fire up already. Ricochet and Okada circle, the fans cheering on “O-KA-DA! O-KA-DA!” Okada and Ricochet tie up, and Okada puts Ricochet in a corner. Ricochet turns things around, then lets off fast to back up. Fans taunt Ricochet with “BALD! BALD! BALD!” Ricochet and Okada tie up again, and Okada again puts Ricochet in a corner. Ricochet again turns things around, but Okada pulls an ear! The ref counts, Okada lets go, and Ricochet protests. Okada says this is for Ricochet pulling hair earlier. Ricochet swings, Okada dodges to kick and headlock. Ricochet powers up and out but Okada runs him over!
Ricochet kips up and stares Okada down. Okada kicks low, whips, but Ricochet rolls over Okada’s back. Okada runs up, Ricochet dodges to roll back and RANA! Ricochet kips up then DROPKICKS! Okada bails out and fans boo Ricochet, but Ricochet just blows a kiss. Ricochet runs but Okada gets in, to BOOT Ricochet right down! The fans fire up while Ricochet flounders around. Okada stalks Ricochet to a corner, then ELBOWS him! Ricochet staggers but Okada stalks Ricochet to another corner. Okada throws another ELBOW, then brings “BALDIE! BALDIE!” around to snapmare. Okada hushes the fans, and he runs and runs and runs, to then redirect!
Okada runs more, then SLAPS Ricochet on the back of the head! The fans fire up and Ricochet goes to a corner. Okada whips Ricochet corner to corner, then runs in, but Ricochet goes up and out! Ricochet slingshots but Okada DECKS him! Okada goes to the apron but Ricochet rolls back in. Okada stands Ricochet, DECKS him, then steps in, but Ricochet grabs the leg! HOTSHOT down low! The fans boo but Ricochet talks trash. Ricochet then builds speed and DIVES! Right into the desk! “What’s good now, huh?!” Ricochet flicks his head sweat at the fans! Ricochet soaks up more heat, then he puts Okada back in.
Ricochet springboards, and he FLYING LARIATS! The fans boo more but Ricochet covers, TWO! Okada stays in this but Ricochet KNEES him in the back again and again! Ricochet hears the fans laughing at him and singing “Hey Hey Hey~, You’re Bald~!” Ricochet drops an elbow, BOOTS Okada, then steps on him. Ricochet clamps onto Okada with a GROUND COBRA TWIST, and he even digs his knuckles into the ribs. Ricochet shifts to a ghost pin, TWO! Ricochet keeps Okada down with a basement SHOULDER TACKLE! And then another! Ricochet swaggers but fans boo. Ricochet taunts Okada and pulls his hair!
Ricochet flicks the hair on his hands at the ref, and he mocks the Okada fans. “This is the great Okada, huh?” Okada scowls as he sits up, and the fans rally as Okada stares Ricochet down. Ricochet CHOPS, but Okada rises up. Ricochet CHOPS, fires a forearm, but Okada winds up to fire back! The fans rally, Okada whips, but Ricochet goes up and over! Ricochet keeps moving, but Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges! Ricochet TIGER WALL KICK! Forearm, SOBAT, and- FLAPJACK! Okada turns things around but both men are down while the fans fire up! Okada glares at Ricochet, then fires forearms. Okada whips, Ricochet reverses, but Okada ELBOWS him down!
Ricochet goes to a corner, Okada runs up and ELBOWS him again! Okada kicks low then hits a DDT! Ricochet gets stuffed! Cover, TWO! Ricochet toughs it out but Okada looms over him. Okada eggs Ricochet on, then runs up, but he blocks a boot! Okada ROCKS Ricochet again, but Ricochet fights the gut wrench! Ricochet RAMS Okada into buckles, then runs in. Okada puts Ricochet on the apron but Ricochet RAMS into him! Ricochet springboards, Okada dodges and gets under the handspring! But Ricochet gets around to back suplex! LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!
Okada toughs it out but Ricochet drags him to a drop zone. Ricochet soaks up heat while he climbs up top, then 450- NO, he has to roll through as Okada moves! Ricochet comes back, but Okada pops him up into the Alabama Lift! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Ricochet stays in this but Okada stays cool. Okada brings Ricochet up, scoops him, and SLAMS him! Standard formula means Okada goes to the corner and climbs up. Okada aims for the MACHO ELBOW! The fans fire up with Okada, and Okada brings out the Rainmaker MIDDLE FINGER! Okada brings Ricochet up to ripcord, but Ricochet fireman’s carries!
Ricochet says “Sorry!” DETONATION- NO, Okada blocks the kick! But Ricochet slips through the lariat to fireman’s carry! Okada slips free, Ricochet ELBOWS him and runs, but into Okada’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Okada scoops! Ricochet slips free, dragon sleeper and suplex, VERTIGO! Cover, TWO!?! Ricochet hurries up to a corner! SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives and Ricochet is a bit stunned. Ricochet goes to a corner, he loads up and takes aim. SPIRIT- NO, Okada ducks! Okada BOOTS, Ricochet HEEL KICKS! And V-TRIGGER! ROUNDHOUSE! Okada DROPKICKS back!
The fans fire up while both men are down again! The ref starts a standing count, and both men stir at 3 of 10. Ricochet goes to ropes while Okada grits his teeth. Both men stand at 6, and Okada runs up, but into a KNEE from Ricochet! Ricochet reloads, SPIRIT- Scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM! Okada then ripcords, RAINMAKER!! Cover, OKADA WINS!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
And now the Continental Championship is set! Okada will have his chance to defend his title, and we’ll see him face off with a former disciple! Will Okada teach Ospreay that no matter what, The Rainmaker is still the greatest tournament champion?
Wait, someone throws a toilet paper streamer into the ring! And then “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” The fans fire up as The Realest makes his way out here! Swerve has a mic but he hears the fans chant, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve says Ricochet got about as far as he did in last year’s C2. But didn’t Ricochet vow he was gonna win it all? And Swerve being a man of his word… He said if Ricochet blew it, as he just did… Swerve was going to embarrass Ricochet in a big way. Ricochet did everything Swerve knew he would, and that was run his mouth. Interviews, internet, and he even said if not for Ricochet, AEW wouldn’t exist!
Ricochet’s talked a lot of mess, and Swerve is gonna be the one to clean up a mess. What’s the best way to clean up a mess? Prince Nana brings out a wheelbarrow of toilet paper! He hands out rolls to the fans! Swerve says the front row here, let’s help Ricochet. They want a “clean slate” for Ricochet, right? They’ll forget 2024 and move on to 2025, right? So with the “instruments” Nana is handing out, let’s wish Ricochet a Happy New Year. On the count of three! One, two, THREE! HAPPY NEW YEAR~! The TP goes flying into the ring, and everyone cheers! Ricochet seethes while covered in TP, but Swerve says, “Happy New Year, Trevor.”
Swerve & Nana leave Ricochet behind, will Ricochet ever live down being number two in AEW?
Backstage interview with Will Ospreay.
The trainer finishes patching up Ospreay’s bloody forehead as Renee walks over to congratulate him. Now standing across him in the finals is his former mentor, Okada. Has Ospreay ever been in a situation like this before? Well, he doesn’t look to bad right now, does he? Is there something on his face? But in all seriousness, Ospreay thought to himself, “It don’t matter!” There’s a lot of wrestling tonight, everyone will be exhausted, but by the time Ospreay goes back out there, well, he has faced Okada about 10 times, but lost 8. So there is one thing Ospreay needs from Orlando: carry him through this!
That’s right, promise Ospreay you’ll get up off your asses and tell him that he can do this! Ospreay will fight every single inch, because he lives for this s*it! Okay, he’s a little lightheaded. He feels like he got run over by a truck. But hey, this is his former mentor, his “big brother,” so after Ospreay beats Okada, Ospreay is going to freakin’ DISNEYWORLD! In the immortal words of Tony Khan, LET’S EFFIN’ GO!! Ospreay is still banged up and bloody, but will he be golden after tonight?
AEW Women’s World Championship Tijuana Street Fight: Mariah May VS Thunder Rosa!
The Glamour claims she has “killed” the AEW Women’s Division because no one can stop her, but La Mera Mera promises this division still lives. And Rosa also has her father in the crowd for this, bringing dirt from the graveyards of Tijuana to give her strength. Rosa vows to take Mariah’s title and maybe even her soul, but will she have it all going into 2025? Or will the Woman From Hell make Rosa regret ever even trying?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and with nothing holding them back, we see how far these women are willing to go!
Mariah gets too close to Papa Thunder, and Rosa CLOBBERS Mariah for it! Then she fires hands and CHOPS her! Rosa puts Mariah in the ring, then runs up to wrench and snapmare, then SLIDING LARIAT! Rosa keeps moving, goes side to side and SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Mariah stays in it after that fast ‘n’ furious start, but Rosa brings her up. Mariah throws Rosa down, rains down fists, and then CHOKES Rosa with her own bandanna! The fans boo but Mariah stands Rosa up and runs, only to miss the shotgun! Rosa puts Mariah on ropes to CHOKE her! The fans cheer as Rosa runs side to side, and UPPERCUTS Mariah in the back!
Rosa stomps around, the fans rally up, and Rosa runs again, to DROPKICK Mariah against ropes! Rosa drags Mariah to a cover, TWO! Mariah stays in this but Rosa kicks her around. Rosa goes out and starts looking under the ring. Rosa brings out chair after chair while Mariah crawls! Rosa even checks another side, and finds herself a trash can, another trash can, and she chucks one into the ring! Mariah avoids getting hit, then she bails out ot go up the ramp! But there’s no count outs and Rosa runs up to CLOBBER Mariah! Rosa drags Mariah up, but Mariah ROCKS Rosa! Mariah DDTS Rosa on the stage! Cover, TWO!
Mariah seethes but she goes for some of the decorations. Rosa grabs herself a big bottle of tequila! She takes a sip, and she SPITS it in Rosa’s face! Not even a spray, just straight up spit! Rosa gets pissed, and she TACKLES Mariah through the wall! Cover, TWO! Rosa CLUBS away on Mariah, then finds herself a trash can. Rosa has a wild grin and the fans cheer. Rosa turns around but Mariah SHOTGUNS the can and her! Then she chucks the trash can at her! Rosa tumbles down the ramp, returns to ringside, and the fans rally up. Mariah storms down to ringside, but Rosa SMASHES a beer bottle on Mariah’s head!!
Mariah goes down in a heap, the ref checks her, but Rosa covers, TWO!! Mariah survives getting smashed but the fans rally for Rosa. Rosa puts Mariah in the ring, hurries after her, and Rosa stomps Mariah around. Rosa has Mariah on ropes, bumps her off buckles, and then she digs her boot in! Rosa lets off to bring Mariah around and SMACKS her off a chair! Mariah writhes but Rosa digs the chair into Mariah’s neck! Rosa tells Mariah that she’s gonna regret hitting on her dad! Rosa stands Mariah up, but Mariah HEADBUTTS!! Mariah then runs to SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Rosa stays in this but Mariah stomps her around.
Mariah grabs a chair, and SMACKS Rosa on the back! Mariah then fires a forearm, but Rosa comes back with one of her own! The forearms go back and forth, the fans cheering Rosa and booing Mariah! Rosa fires a flurry, then kicks low and fireman’s carries! Rosa AIRPLANE SPINS Mariah to then hit a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Mariah is still in this but Rosa looks at her options. Fans want tables but Rosa goes for the pinata! The fans don’t mind that, because Rosa busts the thing open, to pour out THUMBTACKS!! Mariah freaks out but Rosa just steps over to stomp her! Rosa hauls Mariah up and brings her in!
Rosa tucks the arms, lifts, but Mariah fights! Mariah ROCKS Rosa, fireman’s carries Rosa, and hits MAYDAY on the tacks!! Cover, TWO!! Both women are hurting from the tacks sticking into them, but Rosa gets herself out of the ring. Mariah storms out after her, whips her, and Rosa is sent into the steel steps! Mariah then grins at Papa Thunder as she walks back over. Mariah takes his CANE of all things! Mariah mocks the old man, talks trash on him, then goes looking under the ring. Mariah brings out BARBED WIRE! Mariah wraps that around her leg, and she runs up on Rosa! Rosa dodges, Mariah crashes into steps!
Mariah writhes, Rosa covers, TWO! Mariah survives her double-edged tactic, but Rosa stands her up. Rosa whips Mariah into the railing right in front of the Thunder Family! And y’know what? Dad’s cane is now Rosa’s weapon! She SMACKS Mariah with it again and again, then drags her back up. Rosa puts Mariah against the apron to CHOP! Mariah falls in a heap, and Rosa brings out a TABLE! The fans fire up as Rosa brings that around and sets it up. Rosa stands Mariah up, fires forearms, and then lets her wobble. Rosa uses the table as a ramp! FLYING SHOTGUN DROPKICK! The fans are thunderous from that impact!
Rosa drags Mariah up, puts her in the ring, then storms up to cover, TWO! Mariah is still in this but Rosa goes for the steel chain! Rosa uses it to CHOKE Mariah! Rosa is digging her boot into Mariah’s back for leverage! Mariah endures, reaches out, but she has to crawl through tacks to get anywhere! Rosa lets go of the chain so she can grab that chair first! The fans fire up as Rosa sits the chair up. Rosa SMACKS Mariah off the seat! Then it’s back to the chain! Rosa CHOKES Mariah, drags her around like a dog on a leash, and the ref checks. Mariah finds a black bag, TIJUANA GRAVEYARD DIRT!!
Mariah drags Rosa up and to the apron, there’s a table waiting for them! PILEDRIVER down through the table!! Cover, Mariah wins!!
Winner: Mariah May, by pinfall (still AEW Women’s World Champion)
Mariah grins, having used Rosa’s good luck charm against her! Will no one stop the reign of glamour that Mariah is on?
AEW Dynamite Diamond Ring: MJF VS Adam Cole!
These two were the unlikeliest of friends, but that’s apparently because they were never truly friends at all. The Wolf of Wrestling angrily confessed that he was a snake all along, but he still thinks the Panama City Playboy is in the wrong for pulling the trigger first. Will Maxwell Jacob Friedman have the final say on The Ballad of Better Than You Baybay? Or is Cole about to shine like a diamond when he takes away the one thing MJF has left?
The introductions are made, The Kingdom guard the diamond ring, and we see who is really the hero here!
The bell rings and Cole stares down with MJF. Cole then rushes up but MJF bails out. MJF smirks and says we do this on his time. But Cole BOOTS him down! Cole rains down fists, then drags MJF up to throw into railing! Cole tells SOB MJF to get up! Cole puts MJF in the ring, goes up a corner, but MJF hurries out the side again. The fans boo but Cole hops down to then follow MJF. MJF wants mercy, but then he YANKS Cole into the steel steps! MJF rolls in and rests. The fans chant, “He’s a Scumbag!” while MJF slowly stands up. MJF says if he needed their help, he’d ask for it! STFU!! The fans boo MJF instead.
Cole sits up and he’s busted open! MJF mockingly asks if Cole is okay. MJF slaps Cole around, then runs him into a POST! MJF stares down the fans flipping him off, and he does the step. MJF sits Cole up to CLAW Cole’s face, all while staring the fans down. MJF puts Cole in the ring, mocks the “BOOM!” then flips fans off. MJF does push-ups and then clamps on a headlock. MJF fires hands, the ref reprimands, but MJF lets go to soak up more heat. MJF goes back to Cole, and Cole’s not bleeding as bad as Ospreay was. Cole JAWBREAKERS, then he fires haymakers! Cole runs but MJF throws him down by his hair!
The ref reprimands and the fans boo, but MJF clamps onto Cole. MJF BITES the forehead! The ref counts, MJF lets off to spit, and says that tastes like crap! The fans tell MJF he’s sick, but MJF clamps onto Cole with a SLEEPER! Cole endures, the fans rally up, but MJF grinds Cole to the mat. The fans rally up more, Cole gets his second wind and he fights to his feet! Cole fires body shots, then forearms! Cole whips, MJF reverses, but Cole leaps! MJF catches Cole for a POWER BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Cole survives and MJF argues with the ref. The ref says the count was fair, so MJF drags Cole to a corner.
MJF goes up and he looks to parody Cole again. “M J F, BAYBAY!” LONG ISLAND SUN- SUPERKICK! Cole takes MJF down, and the fans rally as hard as they can! Cole rises, MJF runs up, but Cole dodges! LARIAT! ELBOW! BOOT! Cole then waistlocks but MJF switches. Cole breaks free to PELE! And then BACKSTABBER! Cole suplexes for the GHOST BUSTER! Cover, TWO! MJF survives but Taven & Bennett tell Cole to keep going. Cole goes to the corner and he climbs up. MJF rises, into the PANAMA- NO, MJF ducks under, and Cole’s leg jams! MJF CHOP BLOCKS that leg! The fans boo but MJF takes advantage of the bad leg!
MJF stands on the bad foot, and then he STOMPS it! The fans boo while Cole writhes, but MJF tells them all to shut up. MJF then stalks Cole, drags him up, and he puts Cole in a corner. MJF puts the leg around ropes and pulls! The ref counts, MJF lets go, and MJF seethes as he goes around. MJF goes to Cole again, whips corner to corner, but Cole falls in a heap! Cole is upset with himself, and MJF says Cole is a joke, just like all the fans here! The ref check with Cole, Cole says he’s not giving up, so MJF slides out and brings Cole to the corner! MJF SWINGS the bad leg into the post! MJF talks trash to the fans, then goes back for Cole.
MJF SWINGS the leg back into the post! The ref reprimands but MJF refreshes the count. MJF struts around, then soaks up more heat from Orlando. MJF goes back to Cole, grabs the leg, but Cole YANKS MJF into the post! Cole rolls away, shakes out the bad leg, and The Kingdom cheers Cole on! The fans rally for Cole, too, and now MJF is busted open! MJF and Cole have matching crimson masks now, and MJF flounders into the ring. MJF staggers against the ropes, but he storms up on Cole all the same. MJF throws hands but Cole throws counter punches! Cole fires shot after shot, then fires off in the corner!
Cole climbs up, and he rains down fists! The ref counts but so do the fans, and Cole goes to nine, then winds up, “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” And then Cole BITES MJF’s bloody forehead! Cole snapmares MJF down, then goes up the corner! PANAMA CITY SUNRISE!! And then THE BOOM!! Cover, TWO!!! MJF survives and shocks Cole! The Kingdom is surprised, too, but they and the fans rally for Cole. Cole stands, and he brings down the kneepad! Cole runs again, but MJF drops on his face! Cole is annoyed, but he drags MJF up. Cole tells MJF that this ends when Cole says so. Cole runs again, but MJF stands to CHOP BLOCK!
Cole flounders around and MJF crawls to the far side. The fans rally up while both men glare at each other. They talk trash, and MJF claims he never cared about Cole! MJF runs up, and the brawl is on! The fans fire up, and Cole gets the edge! Cole has MJF on his knees, but MJF SPITS at Cole! So Cole SUPERKICKS! Cole roars, runs, but MJF CHOP BLOCKS again! Step through, and FIGURE FOUR!! The fans rally as hard as they can while Cole endures! MJF roars as he puts as much pressure on as he can! MJF thrashes around, Cole falls back, and it’s a cover! TWO as Cole sits up! MJF thrashes more, but Cole flips him off!
The fans rally as Cole works to turn things over! MJF resists, but Cole still flips the hold! MJF endures now, but he crawls forward to the ROPEBREAK! The hold is undone and MJF goes to the apron. Cole sits up slowly while The Kingdom coaches him from afar. MJF sits up on the apron while the ref checks on Cole. MJF sees The Kingdom, they dare him to try something. MJF SMACKS the steps and pulls an Eddie Guerrero! The ref thinks The Kingdom did it!? The fans defend the Kingdom’s innocence! The ref still EJECTS The Kingdom!! The fans boo but MJF smirks. MJF slithers his way to the diamond ring!
MJF has the diamond ring on his finger! MJF runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Cole sees the ring on MJF’s finger, slips it off, and puts it on his own! So now The Kingdom argue to distract! Security ushers The Kingdom away, but MJF LOW BLOWS Cole!! MJF puts Cole in ropes, and hits a HEATSEEKER!! Cover, MJF wins!!
Winner: MJF, by pinfall (still Dynamite Diamond Ring Bearer)
MJF grins as he steals another win! But this win won’t be enough, MJF grabs a chair! MJF runs off the ref, has them cut his music, and he wants everyone hear it when he breaks Cole’s leg!! MJF puts the chair around Cole’s already repaired ankle, and he grins as he aims. But wait, The Kingdom returns? No, wait, it’s RODERICK STRONG! Roddy runs down the ring, MJF runs away, but wait! KYLE O’REILLY is here! MJF feels stuck between rock and a hard place, and yep! Kyle sends MJF into the ring! MJF panics, but he ends up in the TOTAL ANNIHILATION! Kyle & Roddy take out MJF, and they help Cole to his feet!
The fans cheer as the Undisputed OG all have MJF! Cole has the ring still on his finger, DYNAMITE DIAMOND PUNCH!! Cole SPITS on the ring and says MJF can have the damn thing. Cole leaves MJF behind, without a single friend in this world, as he celebrates with all HIS friends! Will Cole, Kyle, Roddy, Taven & Bennett make 2025 undisputed?
AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs!
We know The Don Callis Family isn’t really a family, or else they never would’ve forgotten about such a big part of their success like they did The Powerhouse. But will Hobbs make sure no one ever forgets his name ever again? Or will Takeshita prove why HE is The Alpha of AEW?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind!
The bell rings and Callis joins commentary to say this is all to prove a point, and that point is Takeshita is the best bell-to-bell wrestler. Takeshita fires a forearm, but Hobbs fires back! Fans cheer for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” as the shots keep going back and forth! Hobbs gets the edge, he ROCKS Takeshita, then he whips. They RAM shoulders, then run again. Hobbs RAMS Takeshita, then dodges a lariat to POUNCE him! The fans fire up as Takeshita bails out and Callis panics! Hobbs paces while the ring count climbs, but then Hobbs goes out after Takeshita. Hobbs tells Callis to watch this. He ROCKS Takeshita again!
Hobbs ROCKS Takeshita again, and he signals he’ll be champ soon. Hobbs hauls Takeshita up, scoops him, and APRON POWERSLAMS him! Then APRON POWERSLAMS again! And then APRON SLAMS again! The fans tell off Callis and Hobbs agrees. Callis cowers behind Schiavone but Hobbs pushes Takeshita into the ring. But Takeshita CLAWS Hobbs’ eyes! Takeshita goes out to the apron and he brings Hobbs around. Takeshita says thumbs down, and he fireman’s carries! Hobbs fights, but Takeshita hits an APRON KNEE BREAKER!! Callis says ichiban (number one) and Takeshita nods.
Takeshita storms up on Hobbs, brings him around, and SMACKS him off the apron! Takeshita puts Hobbs in the ring, then drags him to a corner. Takeshita SWINGS Hobbs’ leg into the post! The ref reprimands but Takeshita SWINGS the leg into the post again! Takeshita then ELBOWS the knee! Hobbs dangles off the apron but Takeshita brings him around. The fans rally but Takeshita puts Hobbs back in. Takeshita tells them all to calm it down, then rolls in after Hobbs. Takeshita drags Hobbs by his leg, and hits a FOOT DDT! Hobbs writhes but Takeshita grins. Takeshita drags Hobbs by the leg, but Hobbs fires hands!
Takeshita FOOT DDTS again! Hobbs clutches his knee while the fans rally up. Hobbs goes to ropes, Takeshita storms over, and Takeshita wraps the bad leg around ropes! The ref counts, but Takeshita stands on the leg! The ref counts more, Takeshita steps off at 4, and Takeshita drags Hobbs up on the apron. Hobbs fights the suplex! Hobbs fires body shots, and he suplexes! Takeshita fights that to suplex Hobbs up and over! The fans fire up, that was definitely impressive. Takeshita looms over Hobbs to taunt him, then brings him up. Hobbs CHOPS! Takeshita shakes his head, but Hobbs stands. Hobbs ROCKS Takeshita!
Takeshita CLAWS Hobbs’ face! The ref reprimands, but Takeshita whips. Hobbs blows through the lariat to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up and Hobbs huffs ‘n’ puffs as he drags himself up with ropes. Hobbs hobbles, but he gets the fans chanting, “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs runs to LARIAT Takeshita in the corner! Hobbs throws LARIAT after LARIAT, “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs lets off as the ref counts, then throws more “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs roars, Takeshita hobbles, and Hobbs reels him in! Scoop and POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Takeshita survives and Hobbs grows frustrated.
Hobbs slaps his leg into working and the fans rally up again. Hobbs stands, Takeshita also stands, and Hobbs runs up to fire more forearms! Hobbs whips, then SPINE- NO, Takeshita CLUBS free! Takeshita whips but Hobbs blocks! Hobbs grins, then he ROCKS Takeshita! Scoop and- NO, Takeshita slips free to scoop back! And then he tucks Hobbs in! BASTARD DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Hobbs survives being crunched and the fans rally up. Takeshita huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs up! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Hobbs LARIATS, Takeshita LARIATS, repeat! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Then Hobbs gets the edge, only for Takeshita to duck!
Takeshita waistlocks, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! The fans fire up and Takeshita takes aim! POWER DRIVE- NO! Hobbs blocks, not enough power! Takeshita ALPHA ELBOWS! Takeshita runs, but Hobbs SNAP POWERSLAMS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Both men rise fast, and they both roar! They both run up, HOBBS LARIATS!! Cover, TWO!!! Takeshita survives and Hobbs is beside himself! Callis is relieved, but the fans rally up for Hobbs. Hobbs hobbles but he stalks Takeshita. Takeshita rises, Hobbs gets him up, but Takeshita slips free! CHOP BLOCK! And then BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, ONE?!?!
The fans are shocked, Callis is freaking out, but Hobbs short arm LARIATS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Takeshita survives and Callis can breathe again. Takeshita is in a drop zone, and Hobbs climbs!? The fans are fired up for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” but Takeshita hurries to anchor Hobbs! Takeshita climbs, Hobbs CLUBS him, but Takeshita still goes to the very top! Hobbs’ bad leg won’t let him stay up so he drops to the apron! Takeshita hops down, too, both men are running on fumes. Takeshita crawls into the ring, and he storms up to the corner! Takeshita drags Hobbs up but Hobbs fires hands from below!
Fans chant “Please Be Careful!” as Takeshita hauls Hobbs back up! SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Takeshita pulls it off, and then he goes up a corner, SUPER SENTON!! But Takeshita isn’t done, he aims from another corner! Hobbs slowly rises, into the POWER DRIVE- SPINEBUSTER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Takeshita survives and Hobbs is shocked! The fans rally for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Hobbs stands. Hobbs brings down the straps and the fans fire up even more! Callis fears what’s next, but Takeshita goes to the apron. But Hobbs storms over, and now Hobbs is bringing Takeshita up the corner! Callis is afraid again.
But Takeshita CLAWS Hobbs’ eyes! The fans boo but Takeshita goes up, only for Hobbs to clinch! SUPER POWERSLAM!! Both men are down as the bad leg doesn’t let Hobbs cover! Hobbs loosens the knee brace while fans declare “This is Awesome!” The ref helps Hobbs with the brace, and Hobbs hobbles over to Takeshita. Hobbs hauls Takeshita up, but Takeshita kicks the leg out! And then ALPHA ELBOW!! Hobbs wobbles, Takeshita runs up, POWER DRIVE KNEE! And now a FRONT GUILLOTINE!! Hobbs endures, the fans rally, and Takeshita squeezes tight! Then he suplexes, RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Takeshita wins!!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still AEW International Champion)
Callis sighs in relief as his Alpha survives! Takeshita embraces the title, but now he is headed for the TokyoDome! Will Takeshita make it through the WrestleKingdom-WrestleDynasty double header still the AEW International Champion? Or will Takeshita’s 2025 start with him losing it all?
Backstage interview with Kazuchika Okada.
Renee is with The Rainmaker and congratulates him on the win. He is now in the C2 Finals, facing Will Ospreay. Renee brings up how Ospreay mentioned their long relationship. How does it feel for Okada to be facing Ospreay again? Okada tells Ospreay that he is Okada’s younger brother, his “little” brother. Ospreay is on another level, but not Okada’s level, “b*tch!” Will nothing stop the greatest tournament winner from being Continental Champion?
AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone VS Kris Statlander!
It is a rematch from Full Gear, and while The Two Belt Boss hasn’t lost any of her confidence, the #BornAgainKristen has a renewed sense of who she is. Will Kris remind us all she IS The Galaxy’s Greatest? Or will the Defeater of the Undefeated once again fail to defeat The CEO?
The introductions are made, the teal belt is raised, and we see if Mone stays perfect on the year!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as these two stare down. They circle, tie up, and go around. Kris SHOVES Mone down and the fans cheer! Mone composes herself, she should remember that Kris is the physically stronger. They tie up again, and Mone gets around to then headlock. Kris powers up and out and she CLOBBERS Mone! Kris flexes, the fans cheer, and Mone gets annoyed. Mone runs up, Kris dodges and scoops, but Mone tilt-o-whirls! Kris cartwheels through the rana, but Mone dodges the shotgun to DORPKICK! But Kris kips up! The fans cheer the standoff, and Mone also applauds. Mone offers a handshake, Kris takes it, but Mone throws a cheap shot!
Mone whips but Kris reverses, and then Kris fireman’s carries! Kris hits a swing but Mone arm-drags free! Kris tumbles out of the ring and fans rally up. Mone builds speed to WRECK Kris with the baseball slide dropkick! The fans rally while Mone soaks up the heat. Mone drags Kris up and SMACKS her off steel steps! Mone refreshes the count, stalks Kris, and then knuckle locks to go up and up to FLYING ARM-DRAG Kris into the barriers! Mone isn’t done, she METEORAS Kris against the LEDs! Mone then hops up and stands on the barriers. She soaks up heat for a moment before she LEAPS, but into Kris’ arms!
Kris carries Mone around the way, and even up the steps! The fans fire up for this feat of strength, and Kris SLAMS Mone on the apron! Mone rolls into the ring, Kris covers, TWO! Mone flounders away and Kris is annoyed, but she aims again. Kris runs up at the corner but Mone sends her into buckles! Roll up, TWO! Mone runs up, but Kris pops her up! Mone RANAS, covers, TWO! Kris hurries up but Mone wrenches and reels her in! But it’s Kris who suplexes! But Mone cradle counters! TWO!! Kris escapes, swings, but Mone dodges! Only for Kris to SNAP POWERSLAM! And then she deadlifts Mone for a BACKBREAKER!
The fans fire up as Kris is turning things up a notch! Another deadlift, and a FALL AWAY SLAM! Mone flounders out to the apron while fans fire up. Kris storms over, brings Mone up the corner, and fans duel as Kris has Mone on the very top! Mone fires body shots, so Kris adjusts to a fireman’s carry! Mone still fights, CLUBS away on Kris again, then she slips under! Mone has Kris for an APRON POWERBOMB! Kris flops to the floor and the fans fire up! A ring count starts but Mone rolls into the ring. Kris is still down at 3 of 10, and Mone grins as she lets it continue. Kris rolls into the ring at 6, but Mone dropkicks her! Cover, TWO!
Mone is frustrated already, and she KNEES Kris in the back again and again! Mone clamps on a chinlock, but the fans rally for Kris. Kris fights up, fires body shots, but Mone knees low! Mone whips Kris to a corner, soaks up some more cheers and jeers, then runs in, METEORA! Cover, TWO! Kris stays in this but Mone keeps calm. The fans rally and duel, but Mone stands Kris up. Mone whips Kris back to the corner, then whips her in again! Kris comes back to LARIAT! And ELBOWS! Kris drags Mone up, back suplexes, but Mone lands out! BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Kris survives again and Mone shrieks.
Mone shakes her head but the fans rally up again. Mone stalks Kris, talks trash, and then drags Kris up by her hair. Mone grabs the arms for a straitjacket stretch! The fans rally again as Kris endures, and Kris fights to her feet. But Mone hits another BACKSTABBER! Mone keeps the straitjacket on to hit another BACKSTABBER! And now Mone bends Kris against the knees! Kris endures, fights to loosen the hold, and the fans rally up! Kris stands, and she RAMS Mone into buckles! And then in again! But Mone throws Kris down by the hair! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Mone hops up the corner.
Mone leaps, but Kris turns Meteora into POWERBOMB! The fans fire up while both women are down again! Mone and Kris stir, and Mone crawls to ropes. Kris rises, dodges Mone, and she short arm LARIATS! Then short arm LARIATS again! And again! Kris whips Mone to a corner, roars and runs in, UPPERCUT! Kris goes side to side to KNEE! O’Conner Roll, CHAOS THEORY! Cover, TWO!! Mone survives but Kris keeps calm. The fans rally as Kris stands, and she vows to end it here! Kris hauls Mone up, gut wrenches her, but Mone fights around! But Kris stops the suplex to scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!
Mone survives and Kris grows frustrated, but the fans continue to rally. Kris brings Mone around by her arms, hauls her up to the top rope, and then CHOPS! Mone wobbles, Kris backs up to run up, but Mone BOOTS! Mone then adds DEADLY NIGHTSHADE, and shouts, “I hate you, Kris!” TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and Mone is beside herself! The fans duel as Mone rises again. Mone brings Kris up and in, snap suplex! Una Amiga and Mone goes up again. Dos Amigas! And then THREE AMIGAS! But wait, Mone isn’t done, she hits QUATRO! CINCO! Fans fire up as we get SEIS! SIETE!
The fans cheer as Mone gives us Seven Amigas before going to the corner. The fans chant “EDDIE! EDDIE!” while Mone climbs. FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and Mone has no idea what’s going on! The fans rally up while Kris flounders to the corner. Mone pounds the mat in frustration but goes to the far side. Mone scowls, revs up, and runs in, METEORA only gets buckles! Backslide! Roll through, but then Kris turns Mone again! Flip and tuck! PACKAGE PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Mone survives and now Kris is shocked! The fans rally but Kris drags Mone back up. Kris suplexes, Mone slips out!
Mone hits a JAWBREAKER! JAWBREAKER! JAWBREAKER! Mone ROCKS Kris, but Kris ROCKS Mone! Mone fires another forearm, but so does Kris! The fans are leaning towards Kris as the forearms keep going! Mone SLAPS and fires off palm strieks! But Kris gets around, waistlocks, but Mone runs to the apron! They both tumble out and even bring the apron skirt with them! The fans fire up as they both stand, and Mone ducks a shot to Gory Especial! MONEY MAKER to the floor! Both women are down and the fans fire up! The ref checks, they’re both okay to continue, so now a ring count starts.
Mone and Kris stir, and Mone sits up at 4 of 10. Mone rises at 5, staggers around, and she rolls in at 6. Kris sits up at 7, Mone grins as we hit 8! But then Mone decides to go out at 9! She doesn’t wanna win like that, but then she puts Kris’ leg in the ring mat threads! Mone KICKS Kris’ leg, and now Mone wants the count! Kris is stuck! She fights to get free, but Mone goes out to METEORA to the floor! Mone rains down fists, the ref reprimands and counts, but Mone just HAMMERS away on Kris! Mone stops as the ref continues to reprimand, and Mone leaves Kris behind. Mone again wants the count, but Kris is untying her boot?!
Kris frees herself from the ring, but the count is 5 of 10! Kris hobbles up at 6, so Mone goes back out! METEOR- NO! Kris catches Mone for an APRON F5!! Mone flounders, Kris storms in! Fireman’s carry for another F5!! Cover, TWO!!! Mone survives and the fans cannot believe it! Kris is completely frazzled over this, but she drags Mone to a drop zone. Kris goes up the corner and the fans fire up! But Mone hurries up to KICK the legs out! Kris is stuck on the top rope, so Mone goes out and drags her into an APRON TOMBSTONE!!! The fans lose their minds because that was a rough landing for Mone, too!
The ring count climbs, and technically Mone isn’t in the ring just yet. Mone rolls in from the apron at 6, but Kris is still down! It’s 7! 8! 9! KRIS SPRINGS IN AT 9.99!! And Mone is right there to be absolutely shocked! Kris glares up at Mone in defiance and the fans are thunderous! Mone asks, “Why won’t you die?!” Mone SLAPS Kris, then rolls her into the STATEMENT MAKER CROSSFACE!! Kris endures, reaches out, fights around, and the fans rally as hard as they can! Kris claws her way forward, but Mone shifts to the bare foot! STF!! Kris endures all over again, but she still fights her way forward! ROPEBREAK!!
Mone shrieks while she holds on, but she still lets go at 4! Mone demands Kris just give up already, but fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” Mone says Kris will never be champion again, and she SLAPS Kris down! Mone runs, but Kris LARIATS!! Kris hauls Mone up, tucks her in, STATURDAY NIGHT- NO, Mone victory rolls through! ANKLE LOCK!!! Kris flails, reaches out, rolls, and Mone ends up on ropes! Kris O’Conner Rolls her in, TWO! But then another roll! TWO!! Kris has the waistlock! Mone fights, wrenches, rolls, lateral press but then a float, into the SEATBELT!! MONE WINS!!!
Winner: Mercedes Mone, by pinfall (still AEW TBS Champion)
Kris still could not overcome Mone, and now The CEO is going to go to Tokyo with two belts. Will Mone return with both those belts when she has to take on Mina Shirakawa at WrestleDynasty?
As for Kris, the fans cheer her incredible effort. Kris gets her other boot back, but will she ever get a belt back around her waist?
It’s time for the Revolution!
March 9th, Los Angeles, the world will set its eyes on AEW! Who will make it there to prove they ARE the Revolution?
AEW Continental Classic Finals: Will Ospreay VS Kazuchika Okada!
Round after round, point after point, it all comes down to this! The Aerial Assassin said it himself that he’s very rarely ever overcome his “big brother.” Will Ospreay make this another of those times and take the title? Or will The Rainmaker solidify his legacy as the greatest tournament wrestler today?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s finally time for the 2024 C2 finale!
The bell rings and the fans are already losing their minds just seeing this showdown happening in an AEW ring. The fans fire up more and more and Ospreay encourages it. Ospreay and Okada circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Okada powers Ospreay to the ropes, but the ref counts. Okada lets off slowly, and he fakes the chop to pat Ospreay on the shoulder. But then he really DECKS Ospreay! The fans are torn but Ospreay staggers back up. Okada ROCKS him, but Ospreay fires back! They go back and forth, then Ospreay CHOPS! Okada is stinging, but Ospreay CHOPS him again! Ospreay whips Okada to a corner, runs in, but Okada BOOTS him!
Okada whips, Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! The fans fire up while Okada bails out, and Ospreay runs up to PLANCHA! Direct hit on Okada and the fans fire up! Ospreay has to steady himself, that head is still beat up, but at least it’s bandaged up. Ospreay stalks Okada, the fans sing and cheer Ospreay on, but there is dueling between the Ospreay and Okada fans. Ospreay fires a forearm, then UPPERCUTS him! Ospreay refreshes the ring count, then he whips. Okada reverses, Ospreay goes up the railing, then hops into the front row! Ospreay ROCKS Okada, goes back up, but Okada gets under the jump!
Okada kicks and DDTS to the floor! The ring count climbs but Okada refreshes it. Okada drags Ospreay up while the fans rally. Okada puts Ospreay in the ring, but has him out on the apron! DRAPING DDT to the floor! Okada strikes like a Viper but the fans are torn. Okada soaks up cheers and jeers, but he sneaks a middle finger while scratching his head. Okada leaves Ospreay behind to the count, he can retain with this. Ospreay flounders but we’re at 5 of 10. Ospreay slips in but Okada hauls him up, another DDT! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay stays in this but Okada stays calm. Okada paces while Ospreay slowly rises, and the fans rally up.
Okada scuffs Okada, kicks him, and mockingly asks if he’s alright. Ospreay CHOPS, so Okada kicks him again. Ospreay stands, he fires a forearm, but Okada eggs him on. Ospreay fires more forearms, but Okada knees low! And then NECKBREAKER! Ospreay sputters, Okada picks up some of the bloody tape and gauze, and he wipes his sweat away with it! The fans tell Okada he’s sick, but Okada kicks Ospreay around. Okada snatches what’s left of the tape, and he wears it like an armband! Okada flips Ospreay off, throws the bandages away, but Ospreay CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Okada knees low again!
Okada CLAWS the bloody forehead, then whips Ospreay to a corner. Okada runs up and he ELBOWS! Okada kicks and D- NO, Ospreay suplexes first! Okada sits up, face showing both shock and pain! The fans rally up while both men rise to their feet. Ospreay fires a flurry of forearms, then whips, but Okada reverses. Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! The fans are thunderous and Ospreay goes to a corner! Springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Ospreay rolls to the cover, TWO! Okada is still in this but Ospreay prepares that elbow pad. Ospreay slaps himself to fire back up! The fans rally with Ospreay as he goes to a corner.
Ospreay aims as Okada rises, HIDDEN- NO, Okada FLAPJACKS Ospreay! Ospreay got some air from that, and both men are down again. The fans rally back up while Ospreay rolls to a corner. Okada runs up but into a BOOT! Okada returns but Ospreay BOOTS him again! Ospreay goes up, but Okada DROPKICKS Ospreay! Ospreay ends up in a Tree of Woe on the outside! The ref hurries to help Ospreay free, and Ospreay tumbles to the floor. Okada grins as he has Ospreay where he wants him. Okada slides out and stalks Ospreay. The fans duel but Okada drags Ospreay up. Okada has the bad leg for a SHIN BREAKER!
Ospreay hobbles, the ring count climbs, but Okada rolls in just to refresh the count. Okada brings Ospreay around, gut wrenches, but Ospreay fights free! Ospreay RAMS Okada into railing! HOOK KICK! Then Ospreay uses the railing, OSCUTTER to the floor! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! The ring count starts against, and the fans rally as Ospreay crawls to the corner. Ospreay rolls in at 4, Okada is still down at 5. Okada sits up at 6, but he doesn’t stand until 9! Okada slides in at 9.5, but Ospreay hits a COAST2COAST! The fans fire up and Ospreay springboards, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO!!
Okada survives and the fans rally up again! Ospreay slaps himself again and then reaches out for Okada. Ospreay brings Okada up, underhooks, but Okada fights the lift! Ospreay fires Kawada Kicks, then CHOPS! Okada drops to his knees, but Ospreay reels him in! But Okada Alabama Lifts, REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Okada scowls now, and he goes to the corner. “This is Awesome!” as Okada climbs, for the MACHO ELBOW! Okada stands and he winds it up again, Rainmaker MIDDLE FINGER! Okada drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay RAMS him into a corner! But Okada BOOTS, and SHOTGUNS!
Ospreay flounders to the corner, Okada hauls him up! Okada whips but Ospreay avoids this dropkick! SHOOTING STAR onto knees! Okada whips and DROPKICKS through! The fans fire up for the ripcord and- NO, Ospreay POP-UP POWERBOMBS, and then pops Okada into the STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO!!! Okada survives what finished Fletcher, but the fans are thunderous! Ospreay roars as he throws off the elbow pad! Ospreay goes to a corner, takes aim, HIDDEN- Scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Then a ripcord, RAINMAKER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Ospreay survives and shocks everyone, Okada most of all!
Okada shakes his head but the fans hope these two “FIGHT FOREVER!” But it has to end somehow, there’s still the main event! Okada hauls Ospreay up but Ospreay fires elbows! Ospreay hobbles, but Okada ROCKS him! Ospreay drops to his knees, but he reaches out in a daze. Okada stands Ospreay up to UPPERCUT! The fans duel while Ospreay manages to stay on his feet. Ospreay leans against Okada, but Okada UPPERCUTS! Ospreay droops down, flops forward, but Okada gives him scuffing kicks! The fans boo but Okada hauls Ospreay up, just to DECK him! Ospreay falls towards ropes, but he refuses to give up.
Ospreay slowly rises and the fans rally. Okada dares Ospreay to take a shot. Ospreay stands and the fans fire up again! Ospreay storms up, but Okada ducks the free shot to GERMAN SUPLEX! And then ripcord and middle finger, RAIN- SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay, crimson mask renewed, rises up as the fans fire up! Ospreay aims from a corner, Okada sits up, HIDDEN- DROPKICK! SUPERKICK from Ospreay! OSCUT- DROPKICK!! Ripcord, RAIN- NO, Ospreay ducks to STEAL RAINMAKER!! And now STORM BREAKER!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Okada survives and Orlando is erupting!
Ospreay rises, he brings Okada around, and he calls is shot! Underhooks and TIGER- NO, Okada flips free to LARIAT!! Okada holds onto the wrist while the fans are rallying up again. Okada drags Ospreay back up, to LARIATA! Ospreay stays up and he roars at Okada! Then he BOOTS, HOOK KICKS, and loads up! HIDDEN- NO, Okada ducks that! And he ducks the buzzsaw! But Ospreay slips through the Rainmaker to STORM- NO, Okada arm-drags free! They both run, they both dodge, HIDDEN- NO! Okada clinches and ripcords, RAINMAKER!!! Cover, OKADA WINS!!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (2024 Continental Classic Winner, still AEW Continental Champion)
Continental Classic? Nah, INSTANT classic! Okada wins the C2, he holds onto the title, and he ties Masahiro Chono in major tournament wins! Will anyone ever be better than Kazuchika Okada? But bigger than the win, Okada shows Ospreay respect by shaking his hand. But now, what is next for Ospreay now that he isn’t a champion?
Wait, Christopher Daniels makes his way out here, mic in hand. The Fallen Angel congratulates Okada on winning the C2, as well as continuing his reign as champion. The fans applaud that, too. Daniels says that normally, this would be where he comes down to present Okada with the title belt, but he can’t do that. What? That’s because as of tonight, Daniels is no longer an EVP for AEW. But THIS man is! IT’S KENNY OMEGA! The fans are thunderous as The Best Bout Machine finally returns, having survived diverticulitis and making a full recovery! The fans cheer on “KENNY! KENNY!” as he holds up the belt and brings it to Okada.
Fans lose their minds again seeing Omega and Okada in the same ring again. Okada holds up the Continental Championship, and Omega applauds the champ. Omega takes his leave, having to prepare for his own match at WrestleDynasty. Will the Best Bout Machine take care of Gabe Kidd to prove he’s back and better than ever?
AEW World Championship Fatal 4 Way: Jon Moxley VS Orange Cassidy VS Jay White VS Hangman Page!
The moment the Blackpool Combat Club turned on Bryan Danielson, we all should’ve known AEW would change for the worst. The Maniac has said a lot of things during his reign of terror, from how he is the only one willing to do what is necessary, to how no one else is worthy of even looking at the title. Freshly Squeezed almost had Moxley at Full Gear, but now things have gone above and beyond what anyone was expecting! Moxley ended Rampage by saying he would bring peace to AEW, but is he confusing “peace” with “quiet?” Or will there be an end to the madness with a new champion?
The introductions are made, the belt-, Well, no, the briefcase supposedly containing the title is raised, and time to see who is truly fighting for the greater good!
The bell rings and Marina makes sure briefcase is secured. But then White and Hangman argue over who gets Moxley first. Moxley drops out of the ring to let them argue, and Cassidy tries to calm them down. White & Hangman shove Cassidy away, so Cassidy just DIVES onto Moxley! The fans fire up as Cassidy fires hands! Hangman and White storm out there to join in, they mug Moxley 3v1! The fans cheer as Moxley is pinballed around ringside! They SMACK Moxley off the apron, and then stomp him against railing! The mugging continues, the ref has Marina stay back, but here come Claudio, Yuta & Pac!
Claudio drags Moxley up and over the railing, but that just means Moxley’s challengers pursue! The fans fire up as there’s a brawl in the crowd! Hangman fires hands with Claudio, Cassidy has Moxley in the bleachers, but Marina goes after Cassidy! The fans fire up, Moxley throat chops Cassidy! Moxley TOSSES Cassidy back to the floor, then sends him into more railing! Moxley fires forearms, the rest of the Death Riders brawl with Hangman and White, but then Moxley BOOTS Cassidy! Moxley “apologizes” to fans as he brings Cassidy up and TOSSES him over railing! Moxley and Cassidy go to the ring while Yuta, Hangman, Claudio and White brawl!
Security drags Claudio and Yuta away, no more brawling out there. Moxley mocks Cassidy by giving him those “devastating” kicks! Then Moxley kicks away on Cassidy for real! Moxley runs, but Cassidy bails out! Moxley pursues and he drags Cassidy up to put in the ring. But then Cassidy rolls out the far side! The fans cheer but Moxley gets annoyed. Moxley goes out the side, storms up on Cassidy, but Cassidy says wait, wait, wait. Hands in pockets! Moxley grins, but then surprise! Hangman & White are back to grab his arms! Cassidy runs up to ORANGE PUNCH Moxley! The fans fire up as now they bring him to the Spanish announce desk!
Fans fire up as White & Orange haul Moxley up for Hangman, TRIPLE POWERBOMB through the desk!! The fans fire up for that Shield shoutout, does that make Cassidy and the others the Elite Hounds of Justice? But now with Moxley down, Hangman DECKS White and whips Cassidy into railing! Hangman puts White in the ring, Aalbama Lifts, but White silps fere! White clinches, Hangman fights free! Both men dodge the big haymakers but Hangman LARIATS White! Cassidy is back, but Hangman scoops him, FALL AWAY SLAM into buckles! Cover, White breaks it! White ROCKS and CHOPS Hangman, but Hangman CLAWS White’s eyes!
Hangman whips White hard into buckles, then he BOOTS Cassidy! Cover, TWO! Wait, we get a glimpse at The Patriarchy watching from the skybox. Christian Cage has his Casino Royale contract, is he just waiting for this to finish? Hangman CHOPS White down while fans point at the other skybox. That’s Hook! Hook dares Christian to try so he can screw him up! Hangman sees all this, but then shrugs it off to go after White. Hangman whips White to railing, then he runs up, to BOOT White down! The fans are torn but Hangman BOOTS Cassidy! Hangman taunts fans, then whips Cassidy back into railing!
Hangman stands Cassidy up, and whips him hard into steel steps! But White CHOPS Hangman! Hangman DECKS White, and we see Marina checking on Moxley. Hangman whips White hard into railing, then he goes back for Cassidy. Hangman puts Cassidy in the ring, watches him go to a corner, but fans taunt Hangman with “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Hangman LARIATS Cassidy in a corner, then tells Orlando to shut up! Cassidy BOOTS Hangman! Cassidy goes up but Hangman ROCKS him! And CHOPS him! Hangman goes up but Cassidy fires body shots! Cassidy shoves Hangman down, leaps, FLYING LARIAT!
Cassidy keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges then tilt-o-whirls, but Hangman stops the DDT! Suplex, but STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE hits! White is back but Cassidy elbows him away. But White spins Cassidy around, suplexes, STUN- NO! White stops that to CUTTHROAT SUPLEX! White ducks the sliding lariat, blocks a kick, but Hangman ROKCS White! White CHOPS Hangman, runs, but into a POP-UP- RANA! White then LARIATS Hangman up and out! But Moxley is back! He KNEES White down! Cassidy has Moxley! BEACH- NO, Moxley sunset flips! Cassidy rolls through to PENALTY KICK! ORANGE- CUTTER from Moxley!
Moxley stands, and he has a bloody wound on the back of his head! But he doesn’t care, he sees Hangman step up! The fans fire up as these two step up, and fans wanna see #CowboyS*it! The forearms start flying back and forth, but then Moxley fires knees and a forearm! Moxley runs but Hangman ROCKS him! Hangman runs, Moxley LARIATS! Cassidy runs up but is put on the apron! Cassidy ROCKS Mox first, but Moxley CLUBS him back! White rolls Moxley up! TWO!! Clinch and BLADE- NO, Moxley rolls White, TWO! Hangman is back to BOOT Moxley! White blocks a boto to DRAGON SCREW! Moxley LARIATS White!
Cassidy is back, tilt-o-whirl DDT! All four men are down and the fans fire up! Cassidy goes to one corner, the others stand, and all four men stare down. The fans fire up, but then Cassidy falls over! White CHOPS Moxley, ROCKS Hangman, repeat! White CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS< then he fires shot after shot! White catches Moxldey to a CDUTTRHOAT PLEX! DISCU SLAREITR for White! DEADEYE for Moxley! ORANGE PUNCH for Hangman! BLADE- NO, Cassidy slips out to ORANGE PUNCH! And then Cassidy runs at Moxley, tilt=-o-whirl, but Mxoley stops that! Cassidy fights the underhooks to ORANGE PUNCH!!
The fans fire up, Cassidy falls on the cover, but Hangman YANKS the ref out!! The fans boo but Hangman doesn’t care, there’s no rules but to win! And he aisma t Cassidy! BUCKSHOT!! Hangman reloads, he BOOTS White away, then takes aim! BUCKSHOT!! Hangman sees Moxley but Moxley kicks first! Gotch hold, but Hangman lifts first! DEADEYE!!! All four men are down again and the fans fire up! Hangman slides out to the apron, reloads, but Yuta is back to grab Hangman’s foot! Hangman BOOTS Yuta, but Marina sneaks a chair in! Moxley has the chair, but Hangman BOOTS! And now BUCKSHOT!! Cover, but the ref is still out!
Hangman shouts for a new ref, any ref, but Cassidy gets Hangman in a ghost pin!! TWO!!! Hangman escapes, and he CHOKES Cassidy! Cassidy breaks free, but Hangman LOW BLOWS! But White hits a BLADERUNNER!! Hnagman flounders away, but Moxley is back! So White gives him BLADERUNNER!! Cover, YUTA CLOBBERS THE REF!!! That’s two refs as collateral damage, and fans boo the little sneak! White glares at Yuta, the fans tell him off, but Yuta dares White to do something! But Marina is int he ring now! She spins White around, but he hits her with BLADERUNNER!!! The fans fire up but Yuta’s back in!
Yuta runs up, BUSAIKU KNEE on White!! Moxley hauls White up to underhook! DEATH RIDER!! Claudio shoves the first ref back in, and the ref counts, MOXLEY WINS!!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall (still AEW World Champion)
Hypocrisy, thy name is Moxley! No ego? Peace? Worthiness? Moxley isn’t the champion, the entire team of the Death Riders are, because it took them all to screw over three men! Cassidy is beside himself because his plan was working, if not for Hangman pulling the trigger too soon. But now The Death Riders drag White up, and Moxley has a chair. But wait! FTR is here! Dax & Cash warned that the Death Riders would face the consequences of their actions, and then the lights go out! “RATED FTR?!” YES!! Because here comes ADAM COPELAND!!! The fans are thunderous as now Team AEW has an edge over The Death Riders!!
Christian is in as much shock as anyone, and the fight is on! FTR brawls with Yuta & Claudio, but Claudio UPPERCUTS! But then FTR TOSSES Claudio & Yuta! Cash DIVES and he wipes out Claudio! Yuta returns, but into the SHATTER MACHINE!! Copeland steps into the ring, and from one maniac to another, he stares Moxley down. The fans are thunderous as these two start swinging! Edge dodges to SPEAR!! Moxley flounders, Edge throws off the jacket, and Christian says time to go. Edge grabs that chair from earlier, and he busts off the crossbar! THE DEAL!! Moxley endures the bar in his mouth!
Moxley flails but he fades! Fans chant “You Deserve It!” but Claudio drags Moxley out of the ring! Edge gets a mic, and once it turns on, he tells Moxley, “You look at me when I talk to you, kid! Yeah, I called you ‘kid’ because you were growin’ pubes when Is tarted doing this! You’re ALL MINE!! Rated FTR, we’re taking it all!!” Well, Moxley has the world title, and the Death Riders have the World Trios Championships, but are their days numbered now that Edge and the #TopGuys are after them?
My Thoughts:
An awesome Worlds End, though with just a few things to critique. We got another great Zero Hour, and it flows much better with just three matches, as it allows the matches to breathe while also giving time for preshow stuff like the panel discussing things and some interview promos on top of it. Great win for Toni and good stuff from Deonna throwing the “bad memory” act back at her. Toni VS Deonna will be great stuff for New Year’s Collision, and I would think it’s another win for Toni. Great win for Jeff Jarrett, and I like the announcement tease. The implication is Jarrett will retire but no, he’s definitely thinking he can go for a title.
Very good 8 Man Tag, and very good win for the Heels. I do like that Lio & Action sniped the win for themselves, that gives them momentum going into their tag title match with Private Party. I don’t think they’ll win, though, as Private Party’s reign has still only just begun. Very good intro video, and I guess TK really likes Guns ‘n’ Roses. Opening with the Continental Classic semifinals was the logical move, given the winners would need time to rest. It also worked out to fire up the fans, those four guys are just that good. Ospreay may have cut himself a bit too deep, though, that blood drip was a bit much.
Ospreay beating Kyle and Okada beating Ricochet were the right choices, especially the latter. Okada was of course going to be defending the title in the finals, and that really was an instant classic. Okada getting a moment with Omega was also great, that really teases what we could be getting in 2025. Swerve getting fans to throw toilet paper was great stuff, that really let the fans express the Heel heat (bordering on Go Away heat) Ricochet has gotten. Ricochet VS Swerve is going to be great stuff whenever we get it, can’t wait to see who wins out. Though at the same time, did TK really just pull another “dropped story” of Swerve with Lashley…?
Mariah VS Rosa was great, but it felt shorter than it should’ve been. I figured Mariah was going to find a way to win no matter what, but they could’ve pushed it another three minutes or so to really build some drama going into that finish. In the end, it just seems like another instance where the AEW Women’s World Championship gets overshadowed by the TBS Championship, because Mone VS Kris Round 2 was incredible. Now I will say, Mone wanting the ring out count was weirdly handled, like she went out there a couple more times than she probably had to. And really, Mone winning here is a bit of a shame because Kris is 0-2, and for what reason? Well, aside from maybe Kris moving up to the world title now.
MJF VS Cole was great stuff, but MJF retaining the diamond ring is another questionable choice to me. MJF has had that stupid ring for long enough, and it was a perfect pun of Cole and diamond waiting to happen. But fine, Cole gets the moral victory because Roddy returned, and both Roddy & Kyle helped Cole beat up MJF so that Kyle would stand tall with Undisputed Kingdom. I don’t think Kyle would leave Conglomeration for Kingdom, but whatever Kyle chooses could create drama between those factions. But that said, all the more reason Cole should have the diamond ring, and it could corrupt him like the One Ring from Lord of the Rings, and Cole uses it to win matches just like MJF used to.
Great match from Hobbs VS Takeshita, and great selling from Hobbs on his knee. Takeshita winning is only somewhat surprising, because going back to WrestleKingdom & WrestleDynasty, Takeshita is taking on Shingo Takagi. Takagi is still NEVER Openweight Champion, so now it will be Winner Takes All! And then, whoever is dual NEVER Openweight & AEW International Champion takes on Tomohiro Ishii in another Winner Takes All. I suppose it’d be awesome for Takeshita to return from Japan as dual champion, or even for Ishii or Takagi to show up as dual champion and defend both titles on NJPW events, but it just seems like Hobbs could’ve gotten this win to continue things with the Don Callis Family a little longer.
And of course, great stuff in the main event. It started how I figured, i.e. The Death Riders starting a fight with the challengers, them brawling all over, and then things turning into 3v1 on Moxley. At the same time, we of course knew the alliance was not lasting long, but it works that Hangman was the one to turn on the others. Great detail having Christian and Hook present, it was just as I figured last night where Hook was keeping Christian from cashing in. Moxley of course wins because of The Death Riders, but what a great moment with Copeland’s return. Rated FTR VS Death Riders on Fight for the Fallen will be great stuff, and maybe another opportunity for Christian to cash in. I can’t believe I actually want to see Christian cash in just to shake things up…
My Score: 9.4/10
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AEW Coverage
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (12/27/24)
Rampage in the Hammerstein Ballroom!
For auld lang syne, my dear!
As 2024 comes to a close, AEW Rampage gives us a New Year’s Smash! But will Anthony Bowens cut down The Learning Tree with his powerful scissors?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Chris Jericho w/ “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Anthony Bowens w/ Max Caster; Jericho wins.
- Private Party VS Alec Price & Leo Sparrow; Private Party wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Leila Grey; Rosa wins.
- Hook VS Nick Wayne w/ The Patriarchy; Hook wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Chris Jericho w/ “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Anthony Bowens w/ Max Caster; wins.
“All hail the King of New York!” At least, that’s what the new introduction for The Learning Tree says. He comes out once again wearing that weird Statue of Liberty headgear, but also holding up a cheap torch of liberty as he walks to the ring, ROH World Championship still around his waist. Will the Nueve get another 1-2-3 in Hammerstein? Or is the Scissor King about to cut Jericho down?
But as always, Platinum Max has a diss track! “I don’t mess with The Learning Tree. Chris Jericho’s so high, guys, I think he’s burning trees. We wreckin’ you guys! Anthony Bowens and the Best Wrestler Alive!” Caster gets up in the camera before he hands the mic over. Bowens tells, “HAMMERSTEEEEIN, BALLROOOOOM~! The Acclaimed have arrived!” No Daddy Ass but The Acclaimed scissor it up! The bell rings and Jericho waves, “Hi, guys~!” The fans boo, but then Bowens throws up the scissors and the fans cheer. Jericho waves, the fans boo. Bowens puts up the scissors, the fans cheer. And then repeat!
Caster applauds while Bowens and Jericho circle. Jericho wants to scissor? Bowens slaps those away to CHOP! And CHOP! CHOP! And then Bowens fires haymakers! Bowens has Jericho in the corner, fires more shots, then DECKS Jericho! The fans rally for Bowens and he storms back up. Bowens CHOPS Jericho, brings him out and knees low. Bowens fires forearms and elbows again and again and again! Bowens then CLUBS Jericho down! Bowens tells Hammerstein that “Everyone! Loves! The-” Caster gets in the shot! Bowens tells Caster to move and gives him a push. Caster shrugs that off to get a reluctant high-five from Bowens.
But Jericho pokes Bowens in the eyes! Bowens goes to a corner, Jericho fires forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Jericho runs up to LARIAT, then he snapmares Bowens down. Jericho soaks up heat acting like it’s cheers, then he brings Bowens up for a BIG back suplex! Cocky cover, ONE! Jericho waves to the fans, then he goes back to Bowens. Jericho CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS again! And then CHOPS again! Bowens staggers but Jericho bumps him off buckles. Jericho CHOPS again, whips corner to corner, then runs to BULL- NO, Bowens puts Jericho in the corner! Jericho sputters as he gets out of the ropes.
Bowens CHOPS, Jericho CHOPS, repeat! Jericho whips, Bowens reverses to CHOP, KNEE, and then CHOP on the back! Bowens sits Jericho down for a SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Bowens gets frustrated but the fans rally behind him. Bowens clinches, knees low, then whips. Jericho grabs ropes to avoid the dropkick! Jericho waves to the fans, then goes to ropes, but Bowens disrupts the Lionsault! DRAPING SIDEWINDER! Cover, TWO! Jericho survives but Bowens stays focused. The fans rally up and Bowens brings Jericho around. But Jericho wrenches out and trips Bowens up! Jericho has the legs!
Jericho turns Bowens over, WALLS OF JERICHO! Bowens endures, even as Jericho sits deep! Bowens powers up as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Bill rallies for Jericho but Bowens keeps fighting. Jericho wants Bowens to quit but Bowens refuses! Caster rallies the fans for Bowens and Bowens crawls, but Bill pulls the rope back!? Jericho then drags Bowens away from the ropes! Bowens still fights, the ref reprimands Bill, and now Bowens turns things over! Bowens throws hands from below! But Jericho pokes him in the eyes again! Jericho turns Bowens back over and sits even deeper on the Walls of Jericho! Bowens endures, Bill and Caster each cheer as hard as they can, and Rampage returns to single picture. Bowens fights, claws, crawls, and Caster pushes ropes closer! ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer as Jericho lets Bowens go, and Caster coaches Bowens up. Bill claims there was a tap but the ref ignores him. Jericho storms up, and Bowens ROLLING ELBOWS! Jericho wobbles, Bowens runs up, FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and Bowens grows frustrated. Bowens grits his teeth, clutches his back, but Bill grins on Jericho’s behalf. Bowens goes to the corner, climbs up, and fans ironically cheer on Bill. Jericho ROCKS Bowens, then climbs up. Jericho brings Bowens up to CLUB away, but Bowens throws body shots! Bowens DUMPS Jericho to the apron, and then Jericho flops to the floor!
Bowens adjusts his position up top to SUPER CROSSBODY! Down go Jericho & Bill! The fans are fired up and Caster joins in on cheering. Bowens puts Jericho in, goes back to the corner, and he climbs back up! The fans rally, but “Bad Apple” Bryan Keith shows himself! Keith distracts the ref, but Caster hurries in! Caster scoop SLAMS Jericho! Now Keith’s distraction is only helping as Caster opens Jericho up! Bowens says why not. SCISSOR ME TIMBERS! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and Bowens is beside himself, but Jericho wouldn’t be champion if he wasn’t this tough. Speaking of, Keith grabs the championship!
Bowens brings Jericho up, but gets a CODE BREAKER for it! Cover, TWO!! Bowens survives and Jericho gets mad at the ref! Keith sneaks around with the belt, and he tells fans to shut up. Jericho aims, runs up on Bowens, but Bowens ducks! Bowens fires off Rock, Paper, Scissors SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives again but Bowens barely has the energy to be upset! Now Bill gets on the apron! The ref argues with Bill but Keith has the belt! Caster storms in to stop Keith! They tug-o-war, Bowens shouts to Caster to just stop, but Keith lets go first! The belt SMACKS Bowens in the face!! Caster panics, Keith TACKLES him out of the ring!
The fans boo as everyone is down, but Jericho crawls over! Cover, JERICHO WINS!!
Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall
Caster can’t believe how badly he messed up, and now the “King of New York” trumps the Scissor King! Will anyone ever cut down The Learning Tree when his Branches keep getting in the way? Is The Acclaimed going to be on the rocks after this mess?
Private Party walks through their New York.
They help out the homeless man at the subway station by stuffing his cup full o’ fifties, hop on a train headed to Main Street, hang out with their adoring fans and even the media, then arrive at 34th Street in time for the show. How they keep it so clean? Shots, of course. Everyone they meet welcomes them back, and every camera that sees them snags a picture. Brother Zay tells NYC, “Your champs is home.”
Private Party VS Alec Price & Leo Sparrow!
Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy know Lio Rush & Action Andretti want their “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” at these belts, so it’s time to tune up! Will these real New Yorkers show how champions do it in the Big Apple?
The teams sort out and fans chant “Yeeeah~!” for their guys. Zay starts against Price and the two circle. Price kicks low, mocks the “Shots! Shots! Shots!” then ROCKS Zay! Price whips, but Zay flapjack DROPKICKS! Zay kips up, tags Quen, and they get Price up for an atomic drop and ENZIGIRI! Then a CATAPULT for Price into the corner while Zay hits a triangle jump STUNNER on Sparrow! Quen sets up, Zay runs up, PARTY IN MOTION! Zay then puts Price up top before Quen FLIES out onto Sparrow! Zay ROCKS Price, then Quen runs in! Quen goes up for some GIN & JUICE! Cover, Private Party wins!
Winner: Private Party, by pinfall
A tune-up? That was more like a workout for Quen & Zay! The AEW World Tag Team Champions are ready, but wait! Here come Lio & Action! The Bad Child & The Sight to See egg Private Party on with those cocky smiles, so here comes Private Party! The brawl is on at the ramp! Quen has Lio, Action has Zay, and the fans fire up for the scrap! But then here comes the Top Flight OGs! Darius & Dante pick up Lio & Action to RAM them into Quen & Zay! The fans are going wild as we get a three way brawl! Security hurries out here, but stopping six men is easier said than done! Refs rush out here, right as Action CLOBBERS Dante!
The fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but Leila Grey is needing to get in the ring for her match! Will Private Party have to double book with Lio, Action and the Martins?
“Powerhouse” Will Hobbs speaks.
“It’s signed, it’s sealed, it’s delivered. At Worlds End, Takeshita VS Powerhouse Hobbs for the AEW International Championship. Y’see, Don, whenever I hear your name, I think about all the times you didn’t call me, you didn’t check me, you didn’t text me, you didn’t send a pitch in, whatever, when I was injured. But you failed, Don, cuz you constantly tried to replace me. You’ve walked the streets of Oakland with me, you’ve been to my neighborhood. I’ve introduced you to people. So what’s gonna happen at Worlds End? I’m gonna take that championship from Takeshita, and I’m gonna bust his head to the white meat.
“But hey, the New Year’s upon us. But for you, Don, Takeshita, the whole Don Callis Family, it is gonna be a Worlds End.” Hobbs gives the thumbs down, will he tear down The Alpha and bring the whole family with him?
Thunder Rosa VS Leila Grey!
The chaos has been cleared from ringside, just in time for La Mera Mera to make her way to the ring. Rosa is getting ready to fight Mariah May in a Tijuana Street Fight, will the Top Flight Attendant simply be an appetizer?
The bell rings and the two shake hands. The fans cheer the show of respect, and the two circle. They tie up, Rosa waistlocks, then she trips Leila to cover, ONE! Rosa waistlocks but Leila fights up. Leila switches but Rosa wrenches out. Rosa headlocks, spins, waistlocks again, but Leila wrenches out to step over and spin Rosa. Leila wrenches, snapmares, and then clamps on a chinlock. Rosa fights up while fans cheer, and Rosa snapmares free. Rosa clamps on a chinlock, then puts Leila in a corner. Rosa CHOPS and the fans cheer. Rosa whips corner to corner but Leila reverses. Rosa goes up and over, then arm-drags Leila around!
Rosa wrenches Leila, snapmares and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Leila survives that but Rosa brings her right up. Rosa scoops to SLAM, then asks, “One more time?” The fans cheer yes! Rosa scoops but Leila victory rolls! TWO, and Rosa runs up, but Leila ROCKS her first! Leila fires more shots, kicks low, kicks again, then kicks a leg out! Leila runs to SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Leila storms over to Rosa. Leila stands Rosa up and reels her in, but Rosa fires body shots. Rosa CHOPS, then CHOPS again! Rosa whips, Leila reverses, but Rosa DROPKICKS Leila down! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises!
Rosa stomps Leila around, brings her up, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Rosa bumps Leila off buckles, turns her around, and CHOPS her again! Rosa puts Leila on ropes, then puts some stank and even a little Latina Heat on the DOUBLE CHOP! Leila sputters, but Rosa whips her to ropes. Leila reverses, drop toeholds, and she hooks a leg! Rosa endures but then Leila rolls to tie up the legs, INVERTED FIGURE FOUR! But then Rosa fights to turn that over! Now Rosa puts the pressure on, and she pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Rosa lets go of the hair, but Leila rolls and rolls, and they both fall to the floor! Rosa rises first, and she stomps Leila around. Rosa drags Leila up but Leila fires body shots!
Rosa whips Leila hard into steel steps! Rosa storms over, Leila fires more body shots! Leila CLUBS Rosa, SMACKS her off the steel steps, then CHOPS her! Both women go into the ring and Leila goes to a corner while Rampage goes to break.
New Year’s Smash returns and the fans duel as Leila fires forearms on Rosa in the corner. Leila brings Rosa out to snap suplex, then roll through for a GOURD BUSTER! The fans rally up while Rosa sputters. Leila storms back up to drag Rosa up and fireman’s carry. But Rosa fires elbows to get free! Rosa BOOTS Leila, CHOPS her, then UPPERCUTS! And CHOPS! And bumps off buckles! Rosa fires up, runs corner to corner and back again, A-LIST LARIAT! Leila flops down, Rosa SWINGING DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Rosa has Leila on the ropes. Rosa throws off her elbow pads and the fans fire up!
Rosa runs in to DROPKICK Leila against ropes! Cover, TWO! Leila stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa stands Leila up, underhooks, but Leila fights out to fire a forearm! Rosa fires back, but Leila catches Rosa to a SIDE EFFECT! Cover, TWO! Rosa survives and even roars! The fans rally up and Leila reels Rosa in. Leila underhooks but now Rosa fights the lift! Rosa backdrops free! Leila flounders, Rosa runs up to DOUBLE STOMP her down! Rosa shouts, “You can’t kill me!” COBRA CLUTCH STRETCH!! Leila TAPS, Rosa wins!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by submission
Message sent to Mariah May, and Rosa says there are two things in life that matter most: respect and family! And Mariah crossed the line on both! Will Rosa make sure to cross out Mariah once and for all? Or will The Woman From Hell win this street fight with glamour?
BREAKING NEWS for Worlds End: Zero Hour!
The action kicks off at 6:30 PM Eastern time, and we have a grudge match from ROH Final Battle! Jeff Jarrett made sure QT Marshall didn’t cheat Jay Lethal, and now he looks to settle up personally! Will The Last Outlaw get one more win in 2024? Or will QT bring the DOOM to Orlando? Then, as Toni Storm continues her… “debut” in AEW, she takes on Leila Grey 1v1! Will it be Toni Time one more time? And in a massive 8 Man Tag, Top Flight teams with The Outrunners to take on Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Brian Cage & Lance Archer! Will Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd help Dante & Darius hit top speed? Or will The Murder Machines help The Bad Child & Sight to See make sure #EverybodyDies?
Hook VS Nick Wayne w/ The Patriarchy!
This battle of second generation stars is all stemming from Christian Cage’s cowardly attack on Taz, and then escalated when The Patriarchy tried to convince Hook he was better off with him. The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil may have his arm in a cast, but will The Patriarchy’s Prodigy need much more than that? Or will Wayne’s World #SendHook home without anything to show for it?
Christian says hello to commentary and is of course asked his plans for Worlds End given his Casino Royale contract allows him to cash in anywhere and anytime. Christian of course refuses to comment. In the ring, Hook is nonchalant as ever, so Nick runs up to attack from behind! The bell rings and Nick fires off on Hook in the corner! The fans boo but Nick soaks it up. Nick says he’s just that smart. But no he ain’t since he turned his back on Hook! Hook storms up and then TOSSES Nick to a corner! Hook fires off on Nick with body shots and a CHOP! But then he throws a left out of instinct and feels the pain!
Nick BOOTS Hook down, then shakes off the damage. Nick storms up, but Hook clinches! EXPLODER! The fans fire up while Nick writhes, and Hook gets the fans fired up more. But Nick BOOTS Hook again! Nick hurries to snap suplex! Nick soaks up heat from Hammerstein while Mother Shayna says, “He’s perfect! Perfect!” Nick stands Hook up, snapmares him, then drops a leg fast! Cover, TWO! The fans boo Nick but Nick just smirks. Nick talks smack on the fans, but then Hook DUMPS Nick out! Nick smacks off the apron as he goes! Hook then hurries out after Nick, SMACKS him off the apron, then whips him!
Nick reverses and Hook hits steel steps hard! Hook writhes, Nick goes into the ring to go after a buckle pad, and the ref hurries to stop him. But this is all so Kip can put Hook’s cast hand on the steps, and Christian uses the contract’s binder to SMASH it! The fans boo while The Patriarchy acts innocent. The ref can tell something went on, though, so he decides to EJECT The Patriarchy! The fans cheer and Christian is furious, but the ref says don’t even try it! Nick is beside himself but now it’s finally a fair fight! The fans cheer “Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye~!” while Rampage goes picture in picture.
Hook checks his bad hand, and it’s still working. But then Nick storms out, grabs that hand, and SLAMS it off the steps! Hook writhes all over again while Nick looms over him. Nick drags Hook up to whip him hard into railing! Nick soaks up the heat while he flexes, then goes back for Hook. Nick throws Hook into the ring, goes to a corner, and he swaggers over. Nick eggs Hook on, drags him up by the bad hand, then snapmares so he can isolate that arm! Nick soaks up the heat and STOMPS the arm! Hook writhes, Nick pushes him to a cover, TWO! Nick mockingly applauds Hook’s toughness, then grabs the bad hand.
Nick turns Hook over, pulls on the bad arm, and bends the fingers! Hook endures, but Nick BITES a finger! The ref reprimands, Nick lets off, and says that was finger licking good. Nick soaks up more heat, then stands Hook up to SMACK the bad hand off buckles! Hook sits down in the corner, but Nick drags him back up. Nick SMACKS the hand off buckles again! Then Nick snapmares Hook so he can STOMP the hand! Cover, TWO! Nick is annoyed but he cools off. Nick stands Hook up but Hook fires body shots! Hook runs, but Nick ELBOWS him down! Nick pulls on the bad hand as New Year’s Smash returns to single picture.
Wait, Nick doesn’t just pull at the hand! He RIPS the cast open! Nick TOSSES it to the crowd, free souvenir! Nick drags Hook around by the bad hand, then stands on it! Nick STOMPS the hand again! And then again! And then he fakes the stomp, to scuff Hook! The fans boo but Nick stands Hook up. Hook hits another EXPLODER! The fans fire up as Hook can still use the good arm for that! Nick rises up, Hook runs in and he KNEES low! Hook then hooks Nick for the IPPON! Then a LARIAT int he corner! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Nick writhes and flounders away, but Hook runs up! Hook stops the boot, and reels Nick in for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
The bad hand kept that from being perfect, but Hook stays focused. Hook storms up on Nick, waistlocks, and the fans rally up. Nick fights with elbows! Nick is free, but then swings into the waistlock! Nick CLUBS the bad hand! Nick baits Hook into a corner and sends him into buckles! Nick storms back up, and he drags Hook by the bad arm. Nick puts Hook’s arm against the second rope’s crossbar, and then stands on it! The fans boo but Nick soaks up all the heat! The ref reprimands and counts, but Hook YANKS Nick down! Nick hits off the top rope before going to the apron! Nick crawls along the apron, but Hook hurries out after him!
Hook waistlocks while the fans rally up, but Nick grabs the ropes! Nick pries the hold open, then has Hook’s hand to bend those fingers back! ELBOW BREAKER, and then Nick goes up! WAYNE’S- NO! Hook catches Nick for an APRON GERMAN!! Nick flops to the floor and the fans fire up! Hook also flops down and the ref starts a ring count. The fans rally as Hook rises, and Hook drags Nick up to put in at 3 of 10. Hook hurries to cover, TWO! Nick stays in this but Hook snarls. Nick goes back to the apron but Hook grabs him. Nick BITES the bad hand! The ref reprimands, Nick stops at 4 to HOTSHOT Hook!
Nick hurries up top while Hook is down! Nick mocks RVD, then aims to FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Hook survives, Nick is not one of a kind after all! Nick seethes and he scuffs Hook. Nick stomps Hook, kicks him, then stands over him with arms crossed, a pose done by Hook’s other mentor, Katsuyori Shibata. Nick drags Hook up, then lifts him, for an EXPLODER! But Hook’s right up! Hook LARIATS Nick inside out! The fans fire up and Hook slowly rises. Wait, Christian & Kip return? This isn’t allowed! Well wait, speaking of Shibata, here he comes! And he’s armed with a 2-by-4! Hacksaw would be proud!
Shibata chases Christian & Kip all around the ringside area, then back up the ramp! The fans cheer “HOOOOO~!” and Hook has Nick! RED- ELBOW BREAKER! Nick aims for a corner, but Hook grabs him again! Nick slips free to get around and roll up, with tights! TWO!! ROUNDHOUSE!! Nick goes up, up, and WAYNE’S- REDRUM!!!! Nick sputters, flails, but fades! Nick is OUT!! Hook wins!!
Winner: Hook, by submission
The Patriarchy tried every trick in the book, but they could not break Hook! But will Hook make sure to break Christian Cage for what he did to Taz?
Marina Shafir has commandeered a camera!
The Problem makes sure we all see that The Death Riders have just mugged Darby Allin backstage! The Maniac has Wheeler Yuta & Pac stand Darby up, then tells him, “You left me no choice. No choice.” Moxley looks to Claudio and tells him to do it. Moxley then hits Darby with a BODY BLOW, and Claudio has a chair! Claudio puts the chair around Darby’s neck, just as he did to Bryan Danielson and to Chuck Taylor! Darby is pushed down onto the floor, and Claudio hops up onto a road case! Claudio jumps down to STOMP the chair!! Moxley then kicks Darby down stairs!! Darby tumbles all the way down to the bottom!
The fans boo this literal crime caught on tape, but The Death Riders leave Darby behind. Darby is down in the basement, will he ever rise back up?
Rampage returns and…
Moxley and Marina are in the ring, and Moxley has a mic to say, “If you’re showering me with hate right now, I forgive you. And I would ask you to look inward. Maybe this isn’t about me, this is about you. I’ve had to make some tough decisions, I’ve had to make some difficult choices. I’ve made some unpopular decisions. There are a lot of people in AEW who don’t like me, who have a problem with me, who have a problem with the things that I do, the things that I say, the things that we do. We do things that need to get done, and there’s a lot of people who have a problem with that.
“I think right now is a good time, here at the end of the year, to say that if anybody, anybody back there, if there is anybody in this buliding that has a problem with me or my people, or what we do, then you come out here right now and you tell me all about your problem. You tell me all about the problems you ahve with what you think we’re trying to accomplish. You come out here, tell me exactly what your problem is.” Moxley drops the mic and waits in his chair. And first out is KOMANDER! He definitely has a problem, he was one of the first to get hit by the Death Riders! Well, now he gets CLOBBERED by Claudio!
The Swiss Superman sprang outta nowhere, and he owes Komander for the Continental Classic on Christmas! The Death Riders put Komander in the ring and stomp away, but here comes Top Flight, another of the Death Riders’ victims! That’s still not enough, they get mugged 4v2! The fans rally for “A E DUB!” in hopes more heroes will appear. ORANGE CASSIDY IS HERE! Freshly Squeezed saunters out here, and Marina stands in his way. Well, turns out he’s not alone, because here comes Willow Nightingale! And the Babe with the Power runs up, dodges Marina, then fires off on her! Cassidy walks to the ring while the ladies handle things.
Wait, Hangman Page sneaks in from the crowd! And Jay White, too! The challengers to Moxley’s AEW World Championship are united against their common enemies and the tides have turned! Moxley stays back while his Death Riders fight the challengers, but then that leaves him open to Komander! The fans fire up as now Top Flight is back up, this is 7v4 in favor of Team AEW! And now let’s add Lio, Action, and even Konosuke Takeshita and Lance Archer! They may not get along with each other, but they all hate the Death Riders! Now Beast Mortos and The Butcher are here! And wait, Deonna Purrazzo and Harley Cameron are here!
Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa head out here, to go after Deonna and Harley as they’re trying to help Marina! Security hurries out here, but now we add Private Party and Daniel Garcia! They definitely hate The Death Riders! Rocky Romero is here to represent Conglomeration! Shibata joins in! Wait, wait, the spotlight finds Christian Cage watching from the upper deck! And he smiles, because all this chaos simply benefits him and his Casino Royale contract. MORE security and now Christopher Daniels head out here, the Fallen Angel wants to restore order! The Death Riders find an opening to slip away, and they grab a pipe!?
Pac uses that pipe to SMASH at the control board at ringside! They’re trying to end the show by any means necessary!! Pac BREAKS the board, and 75% of the lights go out! The brawling continues in the darkness, but it is clear the Death Riders are in retreat! Marina makes sure a cameraman follows them, too. They head right for the exit, Moxley says he’s done with this s*it. Things slowly calm down in the ring, and we stick with the Death Riders… as they get into the production truck?! Moxley shoves the head producer and mockingly asks how anyone’s supposed to do their jobs with all this chaos going on!
Moxley says, “They’re all fighting for scraps! But I will put an end to the chaos on December 28th, and I will clear the playing field, and I will bring peace to my people! And right now, what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna put an end to Rampage. CUT IT! CUT IT RIGHT NOW!” The team does as told, and we’re off the air. If this is how Moxley plans on running things, is AEW only going to fall apart under his rule? Or can Cassidy, White and Hangman free AEW from his reign of terror?
My Thoughts:
An awesome Rampage here, especially when this is to be the last Rampage for the foreseeable future. I do like how they kayfabe’d it to be Moxley cancelling the show, not a corporate decision to focus more on Dynamite, Collision, and even ROH. It parallels how Jericho was the kayfabe reason for Collision being made, not the combination of Warner Brothers Discovery giving AEW more and CM Punk needing a place to go that was separate from The Elite.
They did a great job with how they “shut down” Rampage, though. Well, first they give us another kayfabe attempt at murder, and this is actually the second time Darby Allin has been kicked down stairs in AEW. The Men of the Year, Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page, did that to him in 2020, and now The Death Riders have done it here. Obviously this is to make it seem like Darby Allin won’t be around for Worlds End, but I bet he does show up in an attempt to keep Claudio, Yuta & Pac from screwing over Cassidy, White & Hangman. I could just feel Moxley’s promo leading to a huge brawl, and it was a really fun one because we also got women involved going after Marina and each other.
Fun fact: Christian Cage opened the first episode, and he helped close the last episode. Speaking of Christian, and therefore The Patriarchy, very good match from Hook VS Nick Wayne, great bit of overbooking, including Shibata bringing out the Hacksaw Jim Duggan wood. Great win for Hook, and I’m pretty sure the story continues so that Hook stops Christian from his cash-in at Worlds End, setting up their own 1v1 match. Private Party’s match was so quick, but then it worked out that we got brawling from them with Lio & Action, and even with Darius & Dante. The tag champs are oddly taking Worlds End off, but we are seeing Top Flight and Lio & Action in the Zero Hour, so maybe the tag title match is going to be on Fight for the Fallen or even “Maximum Carnage” near the end of January.
Good segue from Private Party’s stuff with Top Flight to give us Leila VS Rosa, and that was really good match. Rosa of course won, but I’m still not confident in her chances of beating Mariah May. At best, it is 50-50 because the Tijuana Street Fight will allow them both to go wild, but with Toni Storm’s story going on, it’d be natural if they wanted Rockstar Toni to become a contender. Then we would see if Toni Time really did reset or if it’s all an act. And while Mercedes Mone has a busy next couple of weeks with Kris Statlander and their TBS Championship rematch, then WrestleKingdom/WrestleDynasty next week, I could see Rosa shift gears and finally get that TBS Championship should Mone retain through Worlds End.
Another interesting fact is that Jericho was on the first Rampage as “Le Champion” commentator Jericho, and he opens this last Rampage with a full-on “King of New York” gimmick, even though AEW is gonna leave New York. We still got great stuff out of The Acclaimed and their dysfunction. Caster was both helping and not helping Bowens, and so naturally Bowens loses. Jericho moves on, waiting for Bandido to be okay from that concussion he suffered at Final Battle (landing out of a springboard missile dropkick), and maybe biding his time with some other good midcard Faces at the same time. As for Acclaimed, Caster could try and apologize, or maybe he tries and brushes this off. Either way, Bowens gets mad at Caster, and the team is right on the edge of breaking up.
RIP Rampage, you served us well for the 177 or so episodes you had.
My Score: 8.9/10
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