AEW is taking over the world, but who is taking over AEW?

Darby Allin puts his TNT Championship on the line against Preston Vance, and Kenny Omega makes a triumphant return as AEW AND Impact Champion!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Hangman Page VS Brian Cage w/ Team Taz; Cage wins.
• AEW World Tag Team Eliminator Match: The Young Bucks VS The Sydal Brothers; The Young Bucks win and deny The Sydal Brothers a title match.
• Penta El Zero M w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Orange Cassidy w/ Trent; Cassidy wins.
• Kris Statlander w/ Orange Cassidy VS Penelope Ford w/ Kip Sabian; Statlander wins.
• Six Man Tag: The Nightmare Family VS The Factory; The Factory wins.
• AEW TNT Championship: Darby Allin w/ Sting VS Preston Vance w/ The Dark Order; Allin wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hangman Page VS Brian Cage w/ Team Taz!

The Anxious Millennial Cowboy is holding tight to the top spot in the AEW Men’s rankings, but Team Taz blindsides him on the ramp! Hook, Will Hobbs and Ricky Starks stomp away on Hangman, but here comes the Dark Order to back him up! Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Colt Cabana & Alan Angels fight off the others, but Cage gets Hangman up and in position! POWERBOMB to the ramp! Fans boo as Cage gets Hangman in the ring, and while referees usher the others away, the assigned ref asks Hangman if he still wants to do this. Hangman says yes, and the bell rings on this already intense opening contest!

Cage storms after Hangman and stomps away! The ref counts, fans boo and Cage lets off at 4. Cage gets Hangman to throw hands, then he stalks Hangman to another corner for a CHOP! Hangman CHOPS back, Cage DECKS him! Cage drags Hangman up as fans rally, and Cage clinches for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! The Machine looms over Hangman, drags him back up and RAMS him into a corner! Cage RAMS Hangman more, lets off as the ref counts, and comes back to uppercut and GAMANGIRI, then GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Hangman is still hanging in there but Cage throws him out of the ring.

Cage and Hangman brawl outside the ring, Cage knees low and THROWS Hangman into barriers! Cage drags Hangman up and THROWS him into railings again! Fans boo, Cage soaks up the heat and gets Hangman back up to wrench for an ARPON BACK SUPLEX! Cage drags Hangman around to CHOP him! Cage refreshes the count, scoops Hangman and SLAMS him to the floor! Cage puts Hangman back in the ring, pushes to a cover, TWO! Hangman survives the onslaught and fans rally up. Cage drags Hangman up, scoops him and uses him for bicep curls! Cage TOSSES Hangman, and hits a STANDING MOONSAULT but onto knees!

Fans fire up as Hangman gets himself to the apron! Cage gets up and Hangman BOOTS him, only for Cage to SUPERKICK! Cage drags Hangman back up, is at the ropes, and DEAD LIFT SUPERPLEXES! Cover, TWO!! Hangman survives and Cage grows frustrated. Fans rally, Cage drags Hangman back up and reels him in. Cage suplexes, but Hangman knees free! Cage spins but Hangman ducks the discus, only for Cage to elbow the waistlock away. Cage whips, Hangman holds ropes, and then dumps Cage out! PLANCHA, but Cage catches Hangman! Hangman slips off to POST Cage!

Hangman gets to the apron, to the corner, and climbs up! Cage turns around for the SUPER MOONSAULT! Hangman gets Cage up and puts him in, then aims from the apron. Slingshot, but no Buckshot as Cage fireman’s carries to the F5! Cover, TWO!?! Cage doesn’t slow down, he POWERBOMBS Hangman, then dead lifts him for a BUCKLE BOMB! Cage brings Hangman back in, suplex to DRILL CLAW!! Cover, Cage wins!!

Winner: Brian Cage, by pinfall

The #1 contender goes down to the FTW World Champion! Will this help Brian Cage leap frog all the way to the top? Can anything stop the Path of Cage?

AEW hears from The Elite.

Matt Jackson asks what Brandon Cutler is doing, he needs to get into the limo. Everyone is crowded inside and Don Callis says they need to celebrate. Kenny Omega is the NEW Impact World Champion! He’s got so many belts, they need a stretch job to have them all! And of course, the Young Bucks still have their tag titles, and Callis is going to be on commentary for their match with the Sydals. Omega is feeling great, feeling freaky, but also feeling upset. Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston drove a TRUCK into their trailer, in an attempt to end the Elite’s lives! But they’re used to “non-sport numb nut people,” from fans to wrestlers to management, trying to stop them.

Wherever they go, the money and the gold follows. They aren’t going to be intimidated or scared! What they did has not fazed Omega. Omega is NOT afraid of Moxley! The Elite is not afraid! But then the honking spooks everyone! Michael Nakazawa apologizes, he accidentally pressed the horn button. Dammit, Nak, don’t do that! But Omega wants us to listen and listen carefully: You mess with one of them you mess with all of them. If you want a fight, they’ll give you a fight! If Kingston wants to fight Omega, he’ll get Nakazawa first! Will the Mad King be able to get past the pawn to get at Omega?

AEW World Tag Team Eliminator Match: The Young Bucks VS The Sydal Brothers!

Just as promised, “The Invisible Hand” that’s been pulling the strings joins commentary to watch as Matt & Nick Jackson take on Matt & Mike, who have been getting on the nerves and in the way of Kenny Omega. Will the AEW World Tag Team Champions cross a team off the list of contenders? Or will the Bucks owe a golden opportunity down the line?

The teams sort out and Matt Jackson starts against Mike Sydal and they circle as fans are fired up. They tie up, Matt wrenches Mike’s arm, Mike rolls and handsprings and wrenches back to a wristlock. Matt flips, kips and throat chops! Matt acts like he doesn’t understand what was wrong, then whips. Mike reverses, does the splits to duck then sweeps the legs! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, ONE and Matt tags Nick. Nick throws his headband at Mike but Mike still arm-drags Nick to an armlock! Mike gets Nick up and Matt Sydal tags in. The Sydals hand off the wrench, Matt slips around to arm-drag but Nick headscissors. Matt kips free, snapmare but Nick kicks low.

Nick scoops but Matt arm-drags Nick again! And again! Matt has Nick in an armlock, then hooks a leg for a modified full nelson! Nick flails, Matt drags him around, and then lets him free to wrench. Tag to Mike, the Sydals whip and drop toehold for the basement dropkick! Matt Jackson runs in but both Sydals go Matrix to then double dropkick Matt down! Fans fire up with the Sydals as they high-ten, and Matt gets Nick. Nick swings but misses, Mike back suplexes but Matt tags in. Mike has Nick in a corner, whips him corner to corner but Nick reverses. Mike CLOBBERS Nick, Matt SUPERKICKS Mike! Matt Sydal runs in but Matt Jackson clotheslines him down!

Matt Jackson paces around Mike, basement dropkicks, and then paces around as AEW goes picture in picture. Matt toys with Mike as he kicks him around, but Mike throws body shots. Matt DECKS Mike, shakes his hand out then takes a breath. Matt gets Mike up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Nick in. Snapmare and slingshot senton fist drop combo! Nick taunts Matt Sydal, then drags Mike up. Nick does a little dance before he DECKS Mike! Nick scoops then SLAMS Mike, drops an elbow but misses! Mike trips up Matt, but Nick PENALTY KICKS Mike from the apron! Nick says the kick is good, and then says the camera man should keep his eye on him or something like that.

Nick puts Mike in, tags Matt, and the Bucks set Mike up for a catapult into the GAMANGIRI! Springboard double stomps across Matt’s knees! The Bucks are in control as AEW goes to break!

AEW returns as Nick and Mike DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE! Both are down, but while the ref is busy with Matt Sydal, Matt Jackson rolls Nick out of the ring and takes his place! Wait, this can’t work, they’re not twins! The ref still doesn’t realize and he starts a standing count! Open your eyes, ref! Matt flips over, kips up, and the ref realizes what’s going on. He says there was no tag, so Matt Jackson has to get out. But instead, he drags Mike away from his brother, only for Mike to ENZIGURI! Hot tag to Matt Sydal! Sydal dropkicks and fires off more kicks on Jackson! Nick gets in, and he gets a wheel kick!

Matt Sydal has Matt Jackson, who the ref is letting be legal, in a Fisherman BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Sydal fires off KICKS on Jackson, but he slides under! Pop to a gut wrench, but Sydal changes it as Nick springboards! SLICE JAWBREAKER COMBO! Standing Mariposa! Tag to Mike, “This is Awesome!” as the Sydals hit DOUBLE METEORA! Cover, Nick breaks it! Nick scoops, Mike ducks but BASEMENT SUPERKICK! Matt Sydal avoids screw high kick and double superkicks to DOUBLE RANA! QUESTION MARK to Matt Jackson, then a ghost pin with leg hook! TWO!!! Fans say that was three but maybe more like 2.9!

Matt Sydal puts Matt Jackson up top but Nick attacks! Nick back suplexes, Sydal lands on his feet but Nick BOOTS him down! Nick hops up to join Matt but Sydal SUPER STEINERS Nick away! Sydal then gets Jackson, SUPER- NO! Jackson moves and Sydal crashes and burns on the top rope! Both Matts are down on the mat but fans fire up! Hot tag to Mike! Mike slingshots in, shoves Matt into Nick, then fires up. Matt does the splits! The ref is busy with Nick, Matt STRAIGHT RIGHT LOW BLOWS!! Matt plays shocked but the ref missed it anyway! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Matt Sydal, then a tag! Mike gets a B T E TRIGGER!! Cover, the Bucks win!

Winners: The Young Bucks, by pinfall

And with that, the Sydals DON’T get a title match! Brandon Cutler helps the Bucks ice down, but someone is speaking on the mic? Frankie Kazarian has the music stop as he and Christopher Daniels stand on stage! Kaz says if Matt has something to say, now’s the perfect time to keep it to yourself. There seems to be a lot of change, with these new Bucks having new attitudes and new questionable wardrobe decisions. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the promise Kaz made last December. The next time SCU loses as a tag team, they’d be done as a tag team. They stand here as the undefeated #1 contenders, and the biggest threat the Bucks have ever faced!

Daniels says right now, all he is is PISSED and FURIOUS! He wanted to wrestle his friends, but he doesn’t see his friends. He sees entitled, overdressed BITCHES! Daniels says this new attitude sucks, and instead of just beating their asses, maybe they’ll take what matters most to the Bucks in those titles. And as #1 contenders, they don’t have to wait. Once the Bucks find their balls, SCU will take those titles and make AEW a better company by taking these a-holes out of it! When it is all or nothing for The Addiction, will they survive as champions? Or will they be put down in their prime?

AEW hears from Jade Cargill.

“Over the past few weeks, every major manager here in AEW is looking to sign me,” but there’s one problem: they want a percentage of her money! They want a cut of Jade’s pie, and it doesn’t work that way. Jade is her own boss, makes her own money, and makes her own moves. They need to impress her before they sign her, because she is #ThatBitch!

Penta El Zero M w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Orange Cassidy w/ Trent!

The war of Death Triangle and Best Friends rages on, and now Cero Miedo looks to make Freshly Squeezed into Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice! But will having no fear mean nothing against a man who has no stress?

The bell rings, Penta fires up but Cassidy puts his hands up. Penta won’t let Cassidy put his hands in his pocket, then rubs Cero Miedo in Cassidy’s face. Cassidy sighs, puts his hands up, but Penta still won’t let him have his way. Penta says it slower this time: CERO… MIEDO! Cassidy still raises his hands, but Penta stops him again! Penta takes off his glove with extra drama this time, and then tosses it to Alex! Penta then makes sure Cassidy listens, Cero Miedo and a real stiff pie face! Cassidy takes off the sunglasses, and tosses them to Trent, but Trent misses. Trent plays it off by staying put. Cassidy gets his hands in his pockets! And he unleashes the sloth kicks! Penta goes to kick but Cassidy dodges!

Cassidy actually speeds things up, dodges and no-hands arm-drags?! Then hurdles, to roll and monkey flip Penta! Cassidy hits a no-hand kip up! Cassidy then uses his hands to get Penta up but Penta fights off Beach Break! Penta wants the package but Cassidy gets free, only to run into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Penta taunts Trent, gets Cassidy up and KICKS his leg! Penta throws forearms in the corner, whips corner to corner, but Cassidy reverses. Cassidy runs in, goes up but gets caught to an Electric Chair, only to spin and arm-drag Penta! And then poses with him with a thumbs up! Penta BITES the thumb! Cassidy ghost pins, TWO!!

Penta and Cassidy reset and Penta gets out. Cassidy WRECKS him with a dropkick, then DIVES, but into a trophy lift! Penta holds Cassidy up with one arm! And then TOSSES him to the apron! Trent checks on Cassidy as AEW goes picture in picture.

Penta watches Cassidy slowly get up, and he KICKS his leg out! Cassidy writhes and clutches the leg but Penta says the kick is good. Penta drags Cassidy up and puts him in the ring, then stalks him. Penta digs his knee into Cassidy’s back and pulls on the arms for a motorcycle stretch. Cassidy endures, Penta gets him up and whips him to SUPERKICK him down! Penta taunts Trent, goes back to Cassidy, and stomps him in the stomach! Penta dares Trent to do something, then he chokes Cassidy on the ropes! Cassidy endures, the ref counts, Penta lets off at 4 and Alex talks trash. Cassidy sputters and coughs, Trent coaches him up, but Penta gets Cassidy up.

Penta has everyone calm down a moment, and he CHOPS Cassidy! Penta stalks Cassidy, toys with him, then gets his leg on the ropes to KICK it! Cassidy writhes again as he clutches the leg. Penta goes to the apron and stomps away on the leg! Cassidy gets in, Penta stalks him, and Penta swaggers about as Cassidy gets up, just to KICK the leg out again! Penta is having fun now as AEW returns to single picture. Penta stands Cassidy up to whip him corner to corner, then runs in to GAMANGIRI! Penta taunts Trent, gets Cassidy up and whips him the other way. Penta runs in to GAMANGIRI again! Fans rally and duel as Penta gets Cassidy up again.

Penta whips, Cassidy goes up and out, and bumps Penta off buckles! Then off more buckles! Cassidy goes up top and leaps to CROSSBODY! Cassidy bounces off the cover but he keeps moving, tilt-o-whirl but Penta blocks the DDT! Penta suplexes Cassidy to a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and duel, “CERO MIEDO!” “FRESHLY SQUEEZED!” as Penta stalks Cassidy. Penta drags Cassidy up, SLAPS him, but Cassidy fires off haymakers and body shots! Penta shoves, Cassidy jumps but into the pump handle PACKAGE DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Cassidy survives but Penta is going to make him pay for it now!

Penta hammerlocks one arm, grabs the other, but Cassidy reaches for his pocket! Penta brings it back, Cassidy brings it down, and Cassidy gets the hand in his pocket! Penta stomps away in frustration but Cassidy gets away. SUPERKICK from Cassidy, SUPERKICK from Penta! Cassidy runs in, but into a SUPERKICK! Cassidy stays up, grits his teeth, and runs, into another SUPERKICK! Penta reels Cassidy in, for a DESTROYER!! And then the package- BEACH BREAK!!! Cover, TWO!?! Penta’s shoulder barely comes up but it’s enough! “This is Awesome!” as Penta and Cassidy reset. Penta stalks Cassidy, Cassidy senses him approaching, and the two stare down.

Cassidy punches but Penta KICKS and CHOPS and KICKS! Penta fires off in a corner, the ref counts, Penta lets up at 4 to run side to side, SUPERKICK!! Cassidy is a lump in the corner but Penta drags him back up. Penta says this is over, and he suplexes, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Cassidy counters outta nowhere, and gets up top again! Cassidy leaps, DEEP IMPACT!! Penta wobbles, Cassidy runs, tilt-o-whirl and lots of revolutions, DDT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Alex has a mic to “excuse” himself. Alex wants us to know that if you thought what Penta said about Trent’s Mom last week was bad, you should’ve heard what he said about Cassidy!

Cassidy grabs Alex and TOSSES him into the ring! Alex begs for mercy, but Penta is up and he mule kicks! Penta reels Cassidy in, tucks him in, but Cassidy slips out! Trent gets the mic to Cassidy, ORANGE MIC PUNCH!! Cover, Trent drags Alex away, Cassidy wins!!

Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall

Alex might’ve stuck his foot into his mouth as he and Penta pay for what they pulled off last week! But this war is far from over, what will it take to truly settle things between Best Friends and Death Triangle?

Tony Schiavone interviews Britt Baker.

The Doctor is now the #1 contender to the AEW Women’s World Championship, and she’s so happy! What did she tell us? Does she ever lie? No! She said she was going to work her way up, and look what we have here! The Doctor is at the top of the food chain, not just in merchandise sales, demographic scores and bonafide star power, but she is at the top of the “respected and logical” wins-loss rankings! When it comes to the current AEW Women’s World Champion, we’re going to be reminded why Britt is the Face of the Women’s Division! “Yours truly, the number ONE contender, Dr. Britt Baker, DMD.” But will winning the title be as easy as climbing the rankings?

Tony Schiavone presides over the Blood & Guts Parley!

Next week, we will have the ultimate battle in the ultimate battleground of two rings and two cages as the two top factions in AEW wage war! Tonight, we learn which team will have the advantage in that match. Introducing first: The Pinnacle! MJF, Tully Blanchard, FTR, Shawn Spears and Wardlow are accompanied by extra security as they go to the ring. Fans taunt them with, “Pineapple! Pineapple!” And then, the Inner Circle! Their extra security? A motorcycle club! The fans sing Judas for Jericho as he, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana and Ortiz step into the ring and stare down the Pinnacle.

Schiavone begins this face-off by explaining the rules of the Blood & Guts match. There will first be a five minute period where it will be 1v1. Then every two minutes, teams will alternate as they send in another teammate, until all 10 are in the ring. Then and only then can the match end, by only submission or surrender. This parley is to determine which team has the advantage, aka sending their members in first. It will be via coin toss, but Shawn Spears snatches the mic away?! Spears says it won’t be a coin toss! The Pinnacle should get the advantage by default for being “lured” into this match. Advantage: Pinnacle.

And in return, Spears offers a warning: “This doesn’t end well for you boys. You’re looking at five men who are willing to bleed and sacrifice everything for each other! I look across this ring and I do not see the same.” When the hell was the last time Sammy even wrestled a match! Is he even ready for this? Jericho is leading you into very, very deep waters. In one week, Spears will be the guy stepping on Sammy’s head while he’s drowning. Sammy snatches the mic and fans cheer him on as he responds, “Spears, I don’t believe you. And simply, why should I?” Ever since Spears got here, he’s been a failure! The more Sammy thinks about it, the more he realizes Spears was a failure where he used to work, too!

The thing is, the Pinnacle needs to know, on May 5th, Spears will fail again. Because whether it’s 1v1, 2v1, 3v1, all of them at once, it won’t matter! Sammy will let them have the advantage and even be the first man up so he can be the one to whoop all of them! Sammy will start with the guy who serves the popcorn! He’ll fight everyone! Well if that’s the case, then it is agreed! The Pinnacle “wins” the parley, and has the advantage in Blood & Guts!

But the discussion continues, as Cash Wheeler asks Santana & Ortiz to their face, with all honesty, “Please, please do not bring this version of Santana & Ortiz.” Blood & Guts is not the match to bring “these soft, complacent, Jericho lapdogs” that they’ve been the last two years! Cash promises that with every ounce of his being, if they bring that Santana & Ortiz, they won’t make it out. Dax Harwood says next week is almost a guarantee that someone’s career, or even someone’s life, will be shortened. Dax has prepared himself and his family for that. But when the door shuts and he’s staring every single one of them down, “You’re in MY world now, and I ain’t afraid to die!”

Dax tells Ortiz that he has a son at home, and Santana has a baby girl. But that Tuesday, before they leave home to come to Daily’s Place for Blood & Guts, they better hold their kids close and whisper in their ears a message from “Uncle Dax: Daddy ain’t coming back home.” Ortiz tells Santana to calm down, they know what FTR is trying to do. Santana takes a breath, and takes his turn on the mic. “Seven days, boys. Y’all gonna be locked in a cage with us! Y’all haven’t been locked up? Because we have. May 5th, I’mma let my hands do the talking!”

MJF speaks up and says this is a parley, so act like gentlemen. And as a gentleman, MJF wants to say something to Jericho. “Thank you.” Yes, and Jericho has been waiting for that a long time, right? We all know he’s wanted to hear those words from everyone since the inception of AEW, and Jericho has every right to feel that way. Without Jericho, there is no AEW. Jericho was the top guy, the draw, the bridge for every lapsed fan to come over here and check out AEW, and he managed to create the best group in pro-wrestling, The Inner Circle. MJF gives credit where credit is due. He even lets fans chant for Inner Circle.

However, MJF can’t imagine the pressure Jericho must feel. Let’s face it: Every time Jericho comes out here, if he hits anything less than a home run is him taking food out of the mouths of every other person in the company. Jericho puts the company every single time he comes out here! MJF can’t imagine the level of paranoia, stress and restless nights. We see it every night in those bloodshot eyes! Jericho looks exhausted! “Guess it’s true what they say, ‘Heavy lies the crown,'” but MJF says Jericho doesn’t have to worry anymore. After Blood & Guts, MJF will do the humane thing and take that “heavy, heavy burden of a crown” off Jericho to put it atop his head, so that his FAMILY replaces the Inner Circle at the top of AEW!

But don’t get it twisted, now. MJF appreciates everything Jericho’s done for AEW. That is why when it is all said and done, and MJF looks down at the scarred up, mangled body of Jericho, MJF will again say, “Thank you.” Jericho’s spot will be MJF’s! Jericho responds with, “You self-righteous, self-gratifying little prick!” How dare MJF be so entitled to think he can have someone’s spot just because they want it! How dare he think he can just inherit someone’s spot like he inherited the trust fund mommy ‘n’ daddy made for him! Or maybe MJF thinks he can absorb ab spot through osmosis, or a Tetris game where MJF can just slide right in.

It doesn’t work that way! If MJF wants this spot, he has to EARN it! He mentioned last week about how at 25 years old, Jericho was curtain jerking in WCW. Yeah, he was, and he is damn proud of it! That is what led Jericho to where he is today! But what MJF didn’t mention is that at 25 years old, Jericho already headlined arenas around the world, such as Japan, Mexico and Germany, which is another reason why he’s here today! Those were where Jericho learned about respect and other life lessons, and built the reputation he has to be at the top today!

Fans are fired up as Jericho says, “If you want my spot, a good place to start earning it is by beating me and the Inner Circle at Blood & Guts. But you aren’t going to do that because we ARE Blood & Guts!” Jericho won’t let Tully cut into his promo, because if MJF wants to talk family, the Inner Circle IS a family! How long has MJF known his jerkoffs? Three MONTHS?! The Inner Circle has been a family in AEW since day ONE! Hager had Jericho’s back when he was threatened with assassination in Abu Dhabi in 2012! The “lapdogs” are a pack of wild animals that have torn and clawed their way here and Jericho owes them for that!

And Sammy, Jericho brought here personally but because of MJF, Sammy quit! That won’t happen again! MJF won’t get in the way of Inner Circle, he won’t beat them at Blood & Guts! They will never tap out, and you’d have to KILL them to make them surrender! And when that doesn’t happen, the Inner Circle will step on the Pinnacle like the crap they are, wipe them off their shoes, and then look down at the only SPOT they deserve! And to finish, if 1969 was the Summer of Love, 2021 will be the Summer of Violence and Pain! Next week, May 5th, Summer starts early!! The parley is over, but the war is still to come! Will Blood & Guts be the most fitting name a match has ever had?

Eddie Kingston heads to the ring!

Michael “MT” Nakazawa waits, but Kingston says no, he’s not doing this “sports entertainment” type crap! He isn’t doing this, so Kenny better show up. Kingston tells Nakazawa to get out and for Kenny to get in. The Elite walks out, Kingston wants payback for the broken ankle. Omega says Kingston doesn’t get how this works. The Elite are the ones mad at Kingston and need payback on him. “Do you think that if you ask for the champ, you get the champ? No!” So the “goons” are being sent after him first. And then Nakazawa SMACKS Kingston with his laptop! Get him, Nak! Nakazawa gets Kingston up but Kingston elbows the suplex off! Kingston hits an EXPLODER!

Omega keeps shouting for Nakazawa to get Kingston, but what he gets is a URAKEN back hand! Kingston’s even wearing Nakazawa’s headset in case Omega can’t hear him! Kingston gets Nakazawa’s chair, puts it around Nakazawa’s leg, and then gets a mic. “You either get into the ring, or I’m breaking your boy’s ankle!” Omega tries to calm Kingston down but Kingston’s serious! Omega says he understands the threat, and Nakazawa knew what he signed up for. And as a reminder, there’s more than one goon around here. Omega calls for Brandon Cutler, but Cutler is floundering already? Because MOXLEY attacks Omega! Seems Omega forgot Kingston has a friend, too!

Moxley throws Omega into the ring, Kingston throws hands, then Moxley puts on a SLEEPER! Omega fades and Callis panics! Kingston has a chair and he puts it around Omega’s fancy shoe and on his ankle! Omega is in a daze, Callis gets the mic and shouts at Kingston. Kingston says they either get a match with Omega or they break the golden boy’s ankle! Callis says they don’t want to do that but they really do! Callis says okay, they can get whatever they want! Mox, come here. Omega, stop moving! Mox, tell Callis what they want. They want a tag team match with Omega and “this little dipshit with the laptop,” and they want it ASAP!

Okay, okay, Callis promises! YES, they’ll get their match!! Then see you next week! Kingston and Moxley spare Omega and head out. Will the Mad King and the Maniac kick off Blood & Guts with some violence and pain of their own?

AEW is picture in picture as Sammy returns!

The Spanish God brings back his cue cards! “War does not determine who is right, only who is left. On May 5th, at Blood & Guts, I will start the CARNAGE! I will start the WAR! I will be the first man in that cage! And the first man… with Pinnacle BLOOD on his hands!” Sammy has the last word and promises to fire the first shot, but will he be the most pivotal part of the war between Inner Circle and Pinnacle?

Tony Schiavone interviews Taz backstage.

The leader of Team Taz wants to say that we just witnessed Brian Cage beat the #1 wrestler in the world, so that makes Team Taz number one! They have unfinished business with a certain someone, but he hasn’t seen Christian Cage around yet. Oh, here he is, walking in now! Well here’s the deal, Christian! Last week, “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs beat Christian’s ass from “pillar to post,” and one mistake cost him! Now Christian will have to deal with someone else in Team Taz! Christian says enough of the games. At one point in time, Taz was one of the baddest dudes, talking a big game and backing it up. He’d beat men down, make them tap out, and make it look easy.

Nowadays, Taz still talks tough, but the backing-it-up part… Not so much. So what did Taz do? He surrounded himself with the biggest and best prospects. And when those guys get the success we all know they’ll get, Taz can be there to bask in it with them, as if he did it himself, just to feed his own ego! Then he sees a guy like Christian, returning after a seven-year retirement, representing everything Taz wishes he could do. Taz wanted to come back but he didn’t, Christian has, and now Taz wants to leech off him! Christian won’t allow that to happen! Taz can send his team one by one, but Christian is fine with that. It isn’t win or lose, but win and learn.

Hobbs learned, and if Starks gets in the ring with Christian, he’ll learn something, too! It might be a bitter pill to swallow, but they’ll be better off for it! And maybe, before it’s too late, they’ll realize they’re all better off without Taz! Will Captain Charisma open Absolute’s eyes soon enough?

Kris Statlander w/ Orange Cassidy VS Penelope Ford w/ Kip Sabian!

The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien became an honorary Best Friend and helped them win Arcade Anarchy, but that didn’t sit well with Mrs. Superbad! Will Penelope get even with Statlander and move up the ranks at the same time?

The bell rings, she and Ford tie up and fire off hands! Ford KICKS, pie faces and runs, but into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Fans fire up as Ford flounders up, and Kris trophy lifts to SLAM Ford down! Ford bails out, Kris pursues but Ford trips her and drags her to the apron. Ford spins Kris to ROCK her with a forearm! Ford then pushes Kris to a corner, and slingshots, but misses the knee drop! Kris builds speed but Ford moves, so Kris cartwheels out of the ring to BOOP her nose! Kris then fires off forearms, puts Ford in the ring, and gives a thumbs up to Cassidy! Kip shouts at Kris and that distracts her so Ford can BOOT her down! Ford slingshots again for the KNEE DROP!

Fans boo as Ford talks trash on Kris and dribbles her on the floor! Ford drags Kris up and whips her into railings as AEW goes picture in picture!

Ford CLUBS Kris on her back, kicks her around, but Kris kicks back. Ford returns to CLUB Kris on the back, and pushes her into the ring to push her around more. Ford drags Kris back up, kicks her in the face, then again! Kris clubs Ford, Ford BOOTS Kris! Ford scowls as she stalks Kris to a corner, then scrapes her face along the ropes! The ref counts, Ford chokes Kris and gets a kiss from Kip, then lets off at 4. Cassidy shrugs at what Mr. & Mrs. Superbad are even doing, but Ford turns Kris around to motorcycle HOTSHOT her into ropes! The ref reprimands but the damage is done. Ford CLUBS Kris down as AEW goes to break!

AEW returns and the forearms fly back and forth! Kris and Ford brawl to their feet, Ford gets the edge but Kris counters to an STO BACKBREAKER! Ford goes to a corner, Kris runs in and uppercuts! Kris whips Ford back in to uppercut again! And then side-to-side for the KNEE WASH! Kris carries Ford around for a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Ford survives but Kris keeps her cool. Kris drags Ford up and runs, but Ford avoid the knee to GERMAN SUPLEX! Kris is in a daze as Ford gets her back up. Ford runs Kris to BULLDOG in the buckles! Ford then goes up top for a BLOCKBUSTER! It wasn’t the cleanest, but Ford covers, TWO!!

Fans rally up and Kip is upset about the count as Ford and Kris slowly rise. Cassidy paces, Ford handsprings corner to corner but Kris dodges! ROUNDHOUSE! Kris uses her head to hook a leg, and flips Ford for the SOLAR ECLIPSE! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives and Kris can’t believe it! Kris throws heavy hands down on Ford, then gets her up to whip. Ford dodges and HEEL KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and fans fire up again! Ford drags Kris up, handsprings, but Kris intercepts with a gut wrench! Kip gets on the apron but Cassidy pulls him down. BIG BANG THEORY! Cover, Kris wins!

Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall

Freshly Squeezed makes sure the Galaxy’s Greatest Alien gets a fair shake, and she gets a big win! Kris boops Ford again before she heads out, but will she be headed to the top of the rankings soon enough?

AEW hears from Preston Vance.

“To be the one to bring the TNT title back to the Dark Order after someone like Brodie had it, that would mean the world to me. That would define my entire career.” Brodie influenced Vance from day one, and is the one who got hi his shot. Vance will never forget the day Brodie gave him a mask and said, “You are one of us.” The TNT Championship is THE title to Vance, because it represents Brodie Lee and the reason why Vance is here. Will Number 10 feel like number one against the Relentless Darby Allin?

Six Man Tag: The Nightmare Family VS The Factory!

Dustin Rhodes, Lee Johnson & Billy Gunn look to represent for Cody against the men who betrayed them! But in another act of defiant disrespect, QT Marshall, Aaron Solow, Nick Comoroto & Anthony Ogogo arrive in the Nightmare Express, the Rhodes Family bus! How did they have the keys for that?! Will the Natural lead Big Shotty & The Ass Man in tearing down the Gifted, the Extra Talented, and the Freak Beast?

In fact, the Nightmare Family doesn’t even care about the bell! They charge The Factory and start throwing hands! Ogogo gets clear as Gunn whips Solow into railing! Johnson fires off hands on QT while Dustin and Comoroto brawl! QT ROCKS Johnson, Gunn whips Solow into more railing, and the brawling goes around the sides! Johnson fires off on QT now, just peppering him with fists! QT shoves Johnson and RAMS him into barriers! Gunn gets Solow in the ring, the bell sounds, and this is finally a match!

QT goes in after Gunn and KICKS him in the bad ribs! Solow tags Comoroto, and Comoroto JAMS a knee into Gunn’s ribs! Comoroto gets Gunn up, scoops him and hits a BACKBREAKER! Fans boo the Factory but Comoroto covers, TWO!! Gunn reaches out but Comoroto waistlocks. Comoroto squeezes Gunn with a rear bearhug but Gunn endures. Gunn fights up, throws elbows, but Comoroto just squeezes tighter! Gunn throws haymakers and he ROCKS Comoroto with the bell clap! Comoroto runs at Gunn but is sent into buckles! Hot tag to Dustin! The Natural rallies on Comoroto but Comoroto stays on his feet! Dustin fires off uppercut after uppercut but the whip is blocked!

Comoroto whips, Dustin stops himself and ROCKS Comoroto with a Rhodes Uppercut! Dustin runs, ducks and dodges, but still gets CLOBBERED! Comoroto seethes, kicks Dustin out of the ring, and tags in QT as AEW goes picture in picture.

QT stalks Dustin, brings him around, and snap suplexes him to the floor! QT scowls as he looms over Dustin, then rains down rights. The ref reprimands and starts a ring count, but QT lets off to get Dustin up and in at 5 of 10. Tag to Solow, the Factory mugs Dustin, and Solow throws forearms. Solow ROCKS Dustin in the corner, CHOPS him, and brings him around to CLUB him down. Solow throws stomps, tags Comoroto, and Comoroto digs his knee in. Tag to QT, Comoroto whips him in to SPLASH Dustin! QT then feeds Dustin to Comoroto’s BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Gunn is there and QT backs way off! Tag to Solow, and he stomps Dustin down.

Solow gets Dustin up but Dustin fires off body shots and uppercuts! Solow shoves and spins for a SCREW HIGH KICK! Dustin staggers into a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Dustin is still in this and Solow is losing his cool! Tag to QT, he and Solow get Dustin up and QT DECKS Dustin! QT stomps Dustin on the face, then drags him up, only for Dustin to throw uppercuts! Dustin runs, into a dropkick! QT covers, TWO!! AEW returns to single picture as QT seethes and fans rally for Dustin. QT mule kicks Gunn in the ribs! QT tells Johnson to “SUCK IT!” but he turns around into Dustin’s SPINNING POWERSLAM! Fans fire up as both men are down!

Dustin fires himself up and he gets up. He and QT crawl to their corners, hot tag to Johnson and Solow! Johnson dodges Solow to dropkick Comoroto! Then he comes back to rally on Solow with big lariats! Johnson blocks, elbows and NECKBREAKERS! Johnson kips up, fans fire up and Johnson runs at the corner to CHOP LARIAT Solow! Johnson whips, Solow reverses, but Johnson goes up and over to then bait Solow into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, Comoroto breaks it! Comoroto whips, Johnson holds ropes and dumps Comoroto out! QT kicks low, but Johnson tosses him out onto Comoroto! Johnson builds speed and FLIES! The tornillo tope takes QT down!

Comoroto gets in the ring and distracts the ref, Ogogo sucker punches Johnson with that liver quiver! Gunn comes around but Ogogo gets him with one of his own! Solow tags QT, QT covers Johnson, The Factory wins!

Winners: The Factory, by pinfall

The Factory works together well, especially when they had a fourth man in the fight! Comoroto isn’t done, either, as he CLOBBERS Dustin with the cowbell! Dustin is down, QT tells Cody that next week- Wait, Gunn Club comes out to avenge their father! Austin DECKS QT, Colten DECKS him, then Austin hits a THESZ PRESS! Austin fires off hands, then lets QT up just so Colten can dropkick him out of the ring! Solow and Comoroto attack the Gunn boys, and QT retreats to the stolen Nightmare Express! But look who is inside!! IT’S CODY!! He BOOTS QT and fires off hands!! Cody throws QT into the side of the bus, fires off more hands, and then throws him into the bus again!

Cody and QT brawl, QT rakes eyes, and he gets away! Wait, QT went up on top of the bus?! Cody pursues, and the brawl continues! Cody headlock punches QT until he stumbles, and then Cody gets the legs! A Figure Four leglock on top of the bus! QT taps but this isn’t a match, just a fight! Cody has avenged himself and the Nightmare Family, but this is far from over!

BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!

Despite what was once advertised, “card subject to change.” Blood & Guts won’t be the only bit of violence and pain, as now, after what we just saw, Cody and QT will settle things 1v1 in the ring! But with The Factory allowed ringside, will the numbers game win out again? And on top of all that, the tag match of Kenny Omega & MT Nakazawa VS Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston is made official! Will all these grudges finally be settled on what will surely be the most violent night in AEW history?

Plus, Britt Baker looks to maintain her top spot in the AEW Women’s Division, and there will be a FATAL 4 WAY Tag Team Eliminator, pitting the top four teams against each other! Will SCU survive going against Jurassic Express, The Acclaimed and The Varsity Blondes in one match to get their shot at the Young Bucks?

And there’s more! For May 12th, it will be a special NJPW AEW crossover! Because whether Moxley wins or loses to Omega & Nakazawa next week, he will defend his IWGP United States Championship against Blue Justice, Yuji Nagata! Will Nagata take this title off Moxley and bring it back to Japan?

AEW Media catches up with Kip Sabian backstage.

“I have no idea why you guys think this is such a big deal, everything’s fine.” Kip meets with Miro! The Best Man throws things at Kip then throws Kip at the garage door! “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?!” Miro keeps throwing Kip around and shouts, “Are you trying to sabotage me?!” Miro uses the garage door chain to CHOKE Kip!! Miro then throws Kip into a locker! And another! And another! “Nobody’s gonna stop me!” Kip keeps trying to explain, but Miro says, “It’s time to pay your dues.” Miro puts Kip’s arm through a doorway, and SLAMS the door shut on it!! Kip writhes and clutches what could be a broken wrist, but Miro comforts Kip?! Miro forgives Kip?! Has the Best Man lost his mind?!

AEW TNT Championship: Darby Allin w/ Sting VS Preston Vance w/ The Dark Order!

To prove he is a fighting champion, the Relentless Face of the Network will not stop defending his title until he loses his title! Will tonight be that night when he goes up against the towering and inTENse young behemoth?

The introductions are made, the belt that means so much to so many is raised, and we see the future unfold in another massive main event!

Fans are fired up already as the two circle. They tie up, Vance powers Darby to ropes but lets off fast. Both men stare down and go forehead to forehead before they reset. Fans rally and duel, Darby and Vance tie up again, and Vance puts Darby in a corner, then on the top rope! The ref calls for a break and Vance lets off. Vance doesn’t let his eyes off Darby, and the two circle again. Darby calls for a test of strength, but then gets around to headlock. Vance powers up, Darby thrashes, but Vance powers up again. Darby lands out of the back suplex and headlocks again! Vance powers out, and runs Darby over! Darby flops out to the apron as the Dark Order fires up!

Vance has Darby up, suplexes him back up and holds him for a count of- No, Darby pries free at 7! And he pulls at the eyehole of the mask! Darby headlocks, Vance powers up and swings Darby around for a BACKBREAKER! Darby flounders to a corner as Vance makes sure his face is okay. Darby JABS Vance, but Vance shrugs it off! Vance whips Darby corner to corner hard, then gets him up to whip back the other way even harder! Darby kicks back, Vance yanks Darby up but Darby fights off the powerbomb! CHOP BLOCK to the bad leg! Darby throws down hands, lets off and climbs up, then leaps, but Vance POUNCES him out of the air!

Fans are rallying hard both ways as Vance gets Darby up. Darby claws Vance’s arm to get free as AEW goes picture in picture!

Darby runs but Vance ROCKS him! Darby flops against ropes then hits the mat while Vance shakes out his arms. Cover, TWO! Darby grits his teeth but Vance storms after him in a corner. Vance gets Darby up, reels him in and suplexes, to finally keeps him up for 10 before the SLAM! Cover, TWO! Vance keeps his cool and stalks Darby to ropes. Darby hits low, gets to a corner, but Vance CHOPS him! Vance throws heavy hands, more CHOPS, then stalks Darby along ropes. Vance CLUBS Darby all the way down to the mat, then covers, ONE!! Darby is not done yet, but Vance gets him up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!

Vance stalks Darby to ropes again, but Darby throws body shots and CHOPS! Vance CLUBS Darby, has him on the ropes again, and gets him up for a BIG forearm! Darby goes to a corner, Vance runs in and clotheslines! Vance looms over Darby, drags him up, but Darby hits back! Vance BOOTS Darby down! Vance catches his breath while Darby leans against ropes. Vance drags Darby up again, but Darby clubs Vance’s wrists! Vance kicks Darby to ropes as AEW returns to single picture. The Dark Order coaches Vance, he whips and trophy lifts, but Darby flails to make it a CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!! Darby BOOTS from a corner, runs at Vance but into the SPINEBUSTER!

Vance is fired up, as are the other Dark Order members! Vance tries to dead lift Darby, but the bad arm bothers him. So he just uses one arm for a POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Vance grows a bit frustrated but he drags Darby back up. Vance reels Darby in but Darby wrenches free again! Darby gets around for the THROWBACK STUNNER! Darby drags Vance down for a FUJIWARA! Darby bends Vance’s fingers back while pulling the arm, but Vance fights up to back suplex! Darby lands on his feet, wrenches and wrings Vance out to get the Fujiwara again! Vance endures the joint manipulation, manages to drag himself over and gets the ropebreak with the free arm.

Darby stomps the bad arm and Vance writhes on the apron! Darby pursues Vance outside, but Vance RAMS him into railing! And RAMS him into the apron! Sting keeps his distance as Vance puts Darby in. Vance stares Sting down before going around the way. Vance climbs the corner, but Darby catches him first! Darby stands on the hand, stomps it against the crossbar, then kicks Vance down! Vance regroups with Alan Angels, but Darby DIVES onto them both! The rest of the Dark Order hurries over, but they just want to check on Angels and Vance. Sting backs them off, but they get Angels away to their side of the ring.

Darby gets up slowly, but the ref is too busy with Sting! Ethan Page POSTS Darby!! Ethan puts Darby in the ring and blows a kiss, and the only ones who missed it were the ref and Vance! Vance gets in the ring, wonders what happened, but he doesn’t let it get past him! Wheelbarrow STUNGUN GERMAN!! Cover, TWO!!! Darby survives and shocks everyone! Vance keeps his cool as he waits for Darby to get up. Vance locks on half a nelson but Darby fights free! Darby body scissors and rips at the mask!! Then he SLAPS away on Vance! Darby shoves, runs, springboards, but into the FULL NELSON!

Darby tries to break free with help from his leg, but Vance thrashes him around! Darby hangs in there, uses the corner to push back to a cover, DARBY WINS!!

Winner: Darby Allin, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)

Despite All Ego trying to screw Darby over, he finds a way to win again! Nine successful and consecutive defenses means Darby is setting a new record for this workhorse title! Vance shows respect by helping Darby up, and Darby shows respect by showing the Brodie Lee tribute armband off to the cameras. But Ethan is back! Darby chases him off, and SCORPIO SKY blindsides Sting! Ethan & Scorpio stomp away on Sting and Darby! Scorpio stomps away on Sting’s legs, Ethan helps out, and Scorpio puts on the KNEEBAR OF THE REVOLUTION! Ethan makes Darby watch Sting tap out to Scorpio’s hold!

But here comes Lance Archer and Preston Vance! They chase Scorpio & Ethan off, but the damage has been done! Will anyone teach Ethan & Scorpio a thing about respect? Or will they disrespectfully devastate every division in AEW?

My Thoughts:

This was another awesome episode here. First off, Hangman VS Cage was a great opener, and I did NOT expect Cage to win! That might actually be another part of the brilliant pacing for Hangman in AEW. A loss at this point could bring Hangman down a few spots, so he’d have to take time to build back up to face Omega. This could be how AEW paces it out so Hangman faces Omega at All Out 2021 and uses that anniversary of the inaugural title match for Hangman’s crowning achievement. Christian and Taz had a very good segment together, too, and this is a good way to set up the series of Christian VS Team Taz, rightfully culminating in Christian Cage VS Brian Cage, maybe IN a cage? CAGECEPTION!!

We got a good and certainly very interesting promo from The Elite. I do like that they’re scared of any and all car horns now because of what Moxley & Kingston did. The Bucks VS The Sydals was a great match, but of course the Bucks win. SCU has a good promo, but as I was saying for Dark classic last night, I just didn’t feel the drama of how SCU has been undefeated since their self-challenge. Now, the Fatal 4 Way of the top teams is a great move to turn up the heat in a short amount of time, but we still should’ve gotten a long string of matches that get more and more intense and competitive, so that SCU at #1 VS Jurassic Express at #2 is this barn burner that SCU manages to win so that they are absolutely red hot going into a match with The Bucks.

Kingston not wanting to play along with a “sports entertainer” (aka WWE) move was very appropriate. Him and Moxley threatening Omega’s leg was a good way of getting their way, but you can bet Nakazawa takes the loss in next week’s tag match. Moxley VS Nagata the week after is going to be solid stuff, and on one hand, being on TNT means more people are likely to watch it than if this was on NJPW Strong, which is only available through the New Japan World streaming service. And on the other, Omega can definitely screw Moxley over so that Nagata gets the title and brings it back to NJPW prime programming. I just don’t know where this is going for Moxley & Kingston, as Moxley’s had his matches with Omega for the AEW title and I don’t see them throwing another one in the mix.

We got a very good match out of Penta VS Cassidy, even with Abrahantes and Trent getting involved. Rey Fenix beat Chuck Taylor on Elevation, Penta beat Trent last Dynamite and Cassidy beats Penta tonight, I hope we can get PAC in on this so that we get all the round robin combinations possible before that eventual Six Man Tag blow-off. Statlander and Ford had their own solid match, but it makes sense for Statlander to win since she’s the one returning and needs to build up strength again in the rankings to match where she was before her absence. Even before Kip jinxed himself with saying it’d be fine, I knew Miro was going to mangle him. Miro should definitely use this as his way to move on from Kip and vice-versa.

We got a very good Six Man Tag out of Nightmare Family VS The Factory, and of course The Factory wins that one. However, I’m a bit disappointed Cody made his return tonight. We should’ve gotten more out of Dustin VS QT before getting to Cody VS QT, but I guess Cody couldn’t help but book himself for what will surely be one of the biggest nights Dynamite has ever had with Blood & Guts. And speaking of B&G, that parley was a great segment with some great promos from both sides, but just saying Pinnacle gets advantage is a bit underwhelming, especially coming from AEW. You have Elevation, why not make it matter by putting the advantage match on there?

We got a good vignette for Preston Vance, and an awesome main event for the TNT Championship. Darby going after the mask only made him out to be a jerk, because Vance isn’t a luchador, that mask is about being in the Dark Order and Brodie seeing his potential. To be honest, Darby could’ve ripped that thing half off and Vance could’ve still fought him without being bothered by it. I should’ve figured Ethan Page would interfere, but it didn’t affect the outcome, and I’m not sure how to feel about that. Is Darby’s power level too high now? Ethan and Scorpio attacking after the match made sense, though, as did Archer helping run them off. I wonder if we get Ethan & Scorpio VS Archer & Vance before Ethan & Scorpio VS Darby & Sting.

My Score: 9.4/10