Do brackets bust already?

AEW continues the World Title Eliminator Tournament and begins the TBS Championship Tournament in Orlando’s Addition Arena! Will your choices make it to the next round?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Dustin Rhodes VS Bryan Danielson; Bryan wins and advances to the next round.
• AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: Penelope Ford VS Ruby Soho; Soho wins and advances to the next round.
• Bobby Fish VS Anthony Greene; Fish wins.
• AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Lance Archer VS Eddie Kingston; Kingston wins and advances to the next round.
• Jungle Boy VS Brandon Cutler; Jungle Boy wins.
• Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Malakai Black; Cody wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Dustin Rhodes VS Bryan Danielson!

The Natural and the American Dragon open the action for tonight and Orlando is thunderous already! Who takes one step closer to the finals at Full Gear?

The bell rings and fans cheer as the two stare down. Dustin and Bryan circle, they shake hands and fans cheer the sportsmanship. Bryan and Dustin tie up, Bryan wrenches to a wristlock then hammerlock but Dustin reverses that onto Bryan. Fans rally and duel, Bryan drops to reverse the hammerlock then headlock. Dustin throws Bryan off and both men reset. They circle, feel out the knuckle lock but tie up with collar ‘n’ elbow. Dustin headlocks, Bryan powers out but Dustin runs him over! Things keep moving, Bryan hip tosses Dustin down! Dustin kicks Bryan away and arm-drag shim back! Bryan is up first and the two stand off.

Dustin and Bryan circle again as fans rally back up. They feel out and tie up with the knuckle locks now, but Bryan drops, rolls and trips Dustin to get a toehold. Bryan turns Dustin over, ties up the legs, and then knees Dustin in the side! And again! Bryan hooks up the deathlock and drops back to tweak it! Bryan gets up to do it again, but Dustin endures. Fans rally up, Bryan stands up and drops a third time! Then he turns to bring Dustin into BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Dustin gets the ropebreak and Bryan lets off. Dustin gets to the corner and Bryan backs off. Dustin gets up, walks off the pain and the two tie up again.

They go on ropes, the ref calls the break and Bryan throws a body shot as he lets off. Then he ROCKS Dustin with a EuroUpper! And another! Bryan whips, Dustin drops and uppercuts back! Bryan dumps Dustin out then builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit and both men hit railing! Fans fire up as Dustin goes to the apron and CANNONBALLS! Direct hit in return and Dustin puts Bryan in the ring. Cover, ONE!! Dustin stomps Bryan, drops a knee on Bryan’s arm, then drags Bryan around. Dustin has the wristlock, Bryan fights up and rolls, bridges, breaks free and dropkicks a leg! Dustin falls back but Bryan takes a moment to catch his breath.

Bryan drags Dustin up, KICKS that leg, then KICKS Dustin against ropes. Bryan throws another EuroUpper, then goes for a back suplex. Dustin blocks, pries free and switches to GERMAN SUPLEX! Dustin KICKS Bryan in the back, drags him back up and bumps him off buckles. Dustin CHOPS, Bryan staggers to another corner but Dustin CHOPS him again! And again! Bryan CHOPS back! And KICKS! And headbutts! Bryan brings Dustin up, butterfly suplex! Cover, TWO, to a CROSS ARMBREAKER! Dustin clasps hands but Bryan pries at them with the arm scissor. Fans rally, Dustin endures but Bryan pries at the fingers! Bryan isolates the arm to STOMP it!

Dustin writhes as he clutches the elbow but fans fire up for the technical savagery. Bryan goes to the corner and we see Tony Nese watching in the front row. Dustin ROCKS Bryan on the top rope, throws uppercuts, then climbs up to join him. Fans fire up as Dustin stands on the very top, for a SUPERPLEX!! Double cover as both men are down, TWO!! “This is Awesome!” as a standing count begins. Dustin sits up at 3 but Bryan follows. They’re both up at 5, and Bryan throws a EuroUpper. Dustin throws a haymaker, Bryan gives it back! Bryan bumps Dustin off buckles, whips him corner to corner but Dustin reverses. Bryan goes up and over and runs, into a POWSERSLAM!

Dustin gets Bryan up, FINAL CUT!! Cover, TWO!! Bryan survives and Dustin is beside himself. Bryan rolls to a corner as fans rally. Dustin gets up and storms over to throw haymakers. Fans rally and duel even harder as Dustin climbs up the corner. Dustin rains down rights, takes in a half deep breath before giving dirty birds, and tops it off with the tenth! Dustin whips, Bryan reverses and Bryan escapes the bulldog to dropkick in the corner! Bryan unleashes KICKS and CHOPS on repeat! Bryan puts Dustin up top, climbs up but Dustin pushes him down! Bryan gets crotched, then Dustin FLYING CLOTHESLINES him down! Cover, TWO!

Bryan drags Dustin into the omoplata! Dustin resists, Bryan pulls at the head and arm. Bryan clubs Dustin into the LEBELLE LOCK! Dustin reaches, scoots around, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Bryan lets go at 4, Dustin crawls and Bryan KICKS him at the ropes! And again! And again! Dustin eggs Bryan on so Bryan KICKS him more! Dustin fires off haymakers, Bryan gives EuroUppers! Dustin kicks low but uppercuts into backslide! TWO!! Bryan kicks, Dustin blocks but Bryan ENZIGURIS! Fans fire up as both men are down! Bryan gets the wrists for DANIELSON STOMPS! Bryan lets off and fans are thunderous as he takes aim from a corner.

Dustin rises, Bryan runs in, but into a LARIAT! Dustin drags Bryan up and gets him for a PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!? Bryan survives and Dustin can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” Dustin drags Bryan up and reels him in, but Bryan knees free of the suplex, and ROUNDHOUSES! Dustin stays up, Bryan KICKS the leg, ROUNDHOUSES again, then jumps on for a GUILLOTINE! Dustin stays on his feet, powers up but then fades! Bryan changes grips and adds a body scissors! Dustin is OUT, Bryan wins!

Winner: Bryan Danielson, by submission (advances to the next round)

Bryan celebrates, but he also shows his respect to Dustin by checking on him. Will

The Elite speaks.

Is it hot in here, or what? It’s definitely the heat. They have the cameraman move up from their awesome shows to their faces. “Hey, Hanger. We heard the big news. Next week, it’s your Dark Order boys against The Elite.” Omega wishes he could say he’s excited, that he’s feeling festive because it’ll be Halloween, but every single week teaming with Hangman felt like Halloween. Why is that? Because while Omega was still the Best Bout Machine, was still the Cleaner, was still championship material, Hangman was cosplaying as a cowboy, trying to fool everyone. Omega knows the man behind the hat, shirt and skin tight jeans.

Omega knows Hangman can’t sleep at night because he’s afraid of failure. Going into Full Gear, Hangman’s burning through Negative One’s diapers than he is that homemade moonshine. And if people only knew Hangman the way Omega did, they wouldn’t be chanting “Cowboy Sh*t.” They’d be calling him “Coward Sh*t.” The Bucks and Cole compliment Omega on the sick burns but Omega humbly says it wasn’t all him. But will it be all on Omega when Hangman finally gets his hands on him 1v1?

AEW hears from FTR and the Lucha Brothers.

Dax Harwood says, “Right now in AEW, the AEW World Tag Team Champions are in a position to make more money than FTR, and that don’t set well with us, okay?” FTR came here to build on their legacies. They are proud to be AAA Tag Team Champions, but there’s one other belt that they need to complete the transformation to Greatest Tag Team of All Time, and that is THE AEW World Tag Team Championships.

Cash Wheeler remembers back to Full Gear 2020, they lost the titles to the Bucks. And for almost a full year, they sat on the sidelines and watched a bunch of children cosplay as tag champions. A bunch of little kids fought over who’s the best while daddy had to go take care of business. But daddy’s home now. They did Halloween a little bit early, so you can take all the shenanigans, dress up however you want, put on all the face paint you want, but you’re now looking at the greatest luchadores of all time in FTR.

Penta speaks in Spanish and Alex Abrahantes translates that on Dynamite, FTR hurt Penta’s brother, Fenix, then stole the titles. On Rampage, they attacked from behind. “FTR, you wanna play dirty?” They’ll show you what that’s really like. And Alex says for himself, revenge is coming! Dax responds that if they’re talking about revenge, if Fenix even shows up, all they’re doing is selling “wolf tickets,” and FTR don’t buy those. If you think a black eye is bad, just wait until Full Gear. #TopGuysOut. But what does FTR have in store when it’s champions VS champions?

Tony Schiavone is in the ring.

He notes it’s been a few weeks since we saw Darby Allin, and we know who did it, regardless of what any little rat will tell us. But to give us a proper update on Darby, it’s STIIIIING~! The snow, the crow, and the Icon! Sting goes to the ring and Schiavone know the fans love him. But what can he say about Darby’s condition? Before Sting can answer, MJF makes his entrance! MJF struts out, even, and has a mic. He mocks the fans booing. He knows it’s real hard for Florida but maybe they can show some class for once. “Darby’s little emo daddy, how you doing, buddy?” MJF isn’t out here to start a fight, the last thing he’d want to do is embarrass The Icon in front of these shmubs.

But MJF doesn’t think Sting wants to answer “that talentless waste of space” Schiavone’s question. Because if Sting did, then he’d have to tell the people the truth: their little hero, Darby, isn’t coming back. So Sting can come out, try and distract by having Schiavone- Fans tell MJF to STFU. But MJF says you can distract with the face paint, swinging a bat, howl and have his “stash” snow down upon them, but here’s what Sting needs to understand. “It’s easy to fool a bunch of people who solve their problems with gun violence and incest, but you ain’t fooling MJF!” Sting is a bad person! Everyone who has ever been his friend, when they need Sting most, where is he?

MJF continues as he gets into the ring. It’s because of Sting’s negligence that Darby ended up in the same spot as Sting’s other old pal, Lex Luger. “In a wheelch-” Sting DECKS MJF! MJF scrambles to a corner but Sting drag shim up, pulls off the jacket, and as Shawn Spears and Wardlow get in, Sting smacks them around with the jacket! Sting throws hands, has Wardlow in a corner, but Spears SMACKS him with a chair! Sting stays up!? But then Wardlow CLOBBERS Sting from behind! Spears adds on chair shot after chair shot! Fans call for Darby but MJF gets his jacket back and has Spears get another chair. Spears sits that chair up for MJF to take a seat.

Fans call MJF an A-hole as he gets the mic back to say, “Darby, Darby, Darby. I know you’re in a whole lot of pain, and I also know you’re watching. Did I break you mentally now, Darby Allin? Hmm?” They sit Sting up and MJF wants Darby to LOOK AT HIM!! MJF wants Darby to understand that no matter how many times people chant his name and want to see him come back to beat MJF’s face in, if Darby comes back, this is HIS future! “You will always fall short! You will always be second best to me and me alone!! Because I am the past, the present, and the future of professional wrestling.”

The Pinnacle leaves Sting behind, but Sting gets up! MJF has his boys stand back, MJF kisses his Dynamite Diamond Ring, and he DIAMOND PUNCHES Sting down!! Now the Pinnacle leaves, but will the Relentless Darby return to exact revenge?

Backstage interview with Britt Baker.

Schiavone is with the AEW Women’s World Champion and announces that at Full Gear, Britt defends that title against Tay Conti. Britt tells Tay, “Pardon me for not giving you the proper welcome you think you deserved when you first came to All Elite Wrestling.” But since Tay did what she did best and stick her nose in other people’s business, here we are. And Britt says it is time to study and learn that all Tay’s done since showing up here is shown everyone her ass. Meanwhile, Britt is showing everyone why she’s the most talked about name in women’s wrestling.

If Tay had just been a good little girl and worked her way up the ranks, Full Gear would’ve been one hell of a match. But since she went and put hands on what’s Britt’s, Britt is gonna lay her hands on Tay and beat that ass that Tay loves showing off. “Yours Truly, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.”

AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: Penelope Ford VS Ruby Soho!

This tournament’s fourth seed, Kris Statlander, awaits the winner of this first match! Will the Superbad Girl keep knocking the Runaway down? Or will Ruby make Destination: Unknown the Galaxy’s Greatest Alien in round two?

The bell rings and Ford throws her jacket at Ruby to then mug her blindfolded! Ford stomps Ruby, drags her up, but Ruby stomps a foot and throws forearms and even headbutts! Ruby whips, Ford blocks the STO with a pull of Ruby’s hair, but Ruby has the cording hold! Fans rally behind Ruby but Ford hits low and CLUBS Ruby down. Ford drags Ruby up to bump her off buckles. Ford stomps a mudhole, the ref counts but Ford lets off. Ford goes corner to corner, handsprings and RAMS into Ruby! Ford goes side to side but Ruby dodges to then drag Ford out of the corner. Ford fights the suplex but Ruby reels her in to ROCK her with a forearm!

Ruby runs, rolls over Ford’s dropdown then mule kicks to run and YAKUZA KICK! Cover, TWO! Ruby rains down fists, drags Ford up and whips her to a corner. Ruby runs in but Ford puts her on the apron. Ford ROCKS Ruby, but Ruby KICKS Ford as she shoulders in! Ruby drags Ford to the apron, Ford ROCKS Ruby with a right. The Bunny comes frolicking out as the two brawl, and Ruby notices. Ruby avoids Bunny’s swipe but Ford BOOTS Ruby into the post! Ford then puts Ruby in position, spins and ROCKS her with a forearm! Ford soaks up the heat and mocks Ruby as AEW goes picture in picture. Ford puts Ruby in, covers, TWO!

Ford wraps on a chinlock and squeezes tight. Ruby endures, fights up, throws body shots but Ford KNEES her down! Cover, TWO! Ford drags Ruby up again and bumps her off buckles. Ford ROCKS Ruby with a forearm, then headlocks to scrape Ruby’s face along the ropes! The ref counts, Ford lets off but then chokes Ruby on the ropes! The ref counts, Ford and Bunny talk trash, and Ford lets off. Ford KICKS Ruby in the side, turns her around and gives her a HOTSHOT! Ruby flounders, Ford runs and dropkicks Ruby out of the ring! Bunny laughs at Ruby’s pain and gets in a cheap shot while the ref is busy with Ford!

A ring count starts, Ruby stirs at 3, Ford soaks up the heat as Ruby staggers up at 6. Ruby is in at 7, and Ford stomps away on her! Ford bumps Ruby off buckles, goes corner to corner, handsprings but into DEADLY NIGHTSHADE! Ruby then drags Ford up for a SAIDO! AEW returns to single picture as both women are down! A standing count starts, Bunny coaches Ford and gets her moving. Ford and Ruby get up at 6, Ford swings but Ruby ducks to CHOP! Ruby dodges again to CHOP and CHOP and CHOPS! Ford pulls hair, whips Ruby to ropes, but Ruby rolls, blocks the boot and KNEES back! Ruby backs up to SUPERKICK, then ENZIGURI!

Ruby runs, BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Ruby drags Ford up, whips her to a corner, then runs in but into an elbow. Ford boots Ruby again, then goes up and over! Ruby hits buckles but comes back, Ford goes Matrix! But Ruby gut wrenches Ford up into clinch, only for Ford to switch, shove and CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Ford is furious and she drags Ruby. Ruby kicks, drags Ford down to a cradle, TWO! Ruby wrenches but Ford whips her away. Ruby ends up in a corner, she catches Ford for an STO! Fans fire up as Ruby climbs, but Ford gets under the jump! SPINNING HEEL KICK! And then the fireman’s carry to a GUT BUSTER DROP!! Cover, TWO!!

Ford is furious and so is The Bunny as Ruby survives! Bunny slides Ford the brass knuckles but the ref step son them! He won’t let them cheat like they have before! Ford and the ref scramble for the knuckles, Ruby rolls Ford up! Ruby wins!!

Winner: Ruby Soho, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Ford argues with the ref, but Bunny gets in the ring. Ruby sees she’s outnumbered, but she won’t back down! But here comes Red Velvet! She and the Bunny are first round opponents, so Bunny retreats with Ford! Will Ruby make sure Velvet has back-up against Bunny and Ford?

MJF speaks.

“Do I look alright, Spears?” The Chair Man says MJF looks fantastic. MJF continues to talk to Darby Allin as he says he sent a little message. Wardlow asks about the BS last week, though. What’s he talking about? MJF shoved Wardlow into Sting! Oh, this is embarrassing. MJF won’t lie, he got nervous, it was fight or flight, it was not intentional. Wardlow knows MJF loves him, he’d never do something like that for real. But good thing he’s here because MJF has a favor to ask. Wardlow is doing a great job, which is why MJF pays him the big bucks. But MJF is starting to realize that that’s a lot of pressure to put on one person.

So MJF has assigned Wardlow an “accountabilibuddy.” A what? And of course, it’s Spears. Now, MJF would love to chat but he’s got a meeting. See you boys later! Pinnacle for life! MJF leaves and Spears is as shocked as anyone. Will this new dynamic only complicate things for the group?

Bobby Fish VS Anthony Greene!

The Infamous One has been back and forth already in his first few AEW matches, but there isn’t any shame losing to the Spanish God or the American Dragon. That said, will there be no shame for #RetroAG in losing to THE Bobby Fish?

The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out and Fish throws heavy hands already! Greene goes to the apron, shoulders back into Fish, then counter punches him away. Greene climbs up, tightrope walks and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Greene goes after Fish but Fish throws knees and hands, then KICKS the leg! Fish snapmares Green to then go out and slingshot senton back in! Cover, TWO! Fish drags Greene up, throws more knees then BOOTS Greene to a corner. Fish throws in elbows and more knees, then whips. Greene reverses but Fish breaks free to RAM Greene into the far corner.

Fish isolates a leg, KICKS away on the other, then DRAGON SCREWS Greene down! Fish runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Fans fire up, Fish drags Green up to EXPLODER into the ropes! Greene flounder sup, Fish reads him his last rites, BUZZSAW! Cover, Fish wins!

Winner: Bobby Fish, by pinfall

And that’s all it takes for Fish to leave Greene black ‘n’ blue! But Fish isn’t done, he sees Greene get up and he KICKS the leg out! Fish mockingly asks, “What happened?” Fish rains down fists and forearms, the ref tells him to let off! Fish fishhooks Greene’s face! Fish even wraps on a SLEEPER! But here comes CM Punk! Punk is furious but Fish likes that The Best in the World came out. Will Fish give Punk a reason to throw down soon enough?

Backstage interview with Lio Rush & Dante Martin.

Schiavone says how last week, Lio said they’d be a tag team, so where do we stand this week? C’mon, Tony, you know Lio. Anything he does, he does big. He’s just here trying to take Dante on the highest flight possible, and that means showing him the way and that anything is possible if you have the right tools. All the things Matt Sydal hasn’t done since meeting Dante. Dante defends Sydal, saying he’s one of the best in the world. At what? Losing when it counts most? Lio gave Sydal a chance to prove himself and he failed. But do you know who is one of the best? Dante Martin. Lio wants to give Dante his chance to show that! He’d put money on Dante beating Sydal! Lio himself could beat Sydal!

Which is why they went to Tony Khan and got themselves their first tag match on AEW Rampage. Against who? The Sydal Brothers, of course. Lio is forcing Dante’s hand, will Dante be able to turn against the veterans who helped him to get in the good graces of the one investing in him?

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Lance Archer VS Eddie Kingston!

The American Dragon awaits in the next round, but either way he’s getting a heavy hitter! Will the Murderhawk Monster break the Mad King? Or will-

Oh wait! Kingston jumps Archer on stage! Fans fire up as Kingston throws hands and sends Archer to the ring! Archer hits back, they brawl around the way, and Archer ROCKS Kingston against the railing! Archer runs but Kingston tries to drop toehold! Archer stays up, he throws down hands, then grabs some random fan to scoop SLAM him onto Kingston! Wait, all that hair, that was Marcus Kross just trying to watch up close! Wrestlers aren’t even safe as just being spectators! Archer drags Kross up to the apron to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM onto Kingston!! This still isn’t even a match but Archer drags Kingston up and POSTS him!

Kingston staggers away, Archer stalks him and brings him around, but Kingston throws body shots and a CHOP! Archer doesn’t flinch, he ROCKS Kingston and then puts him in the ring. Archer finally gets in, and the bell rings! This is a match now as Archer elbows Kingston in the corner. Archer runs corner to corner to throw another elbow! And again! Archer drags Kingston up by his arm, stands him up in the corner and CHOPS him! But then Kingston pokes Archer in the eye! Archer ROCKS Kingston but Kingston leans on Archer. Archer puts Kingston up top, brings him up in the inverted crucifix, but Kingston fights free to get the DRAGON SLEEPER!

Archer stays up, Kingston pulls back on the hold and Archer drops to a knee! Kingston wants the arm but Archer throws hands. Kingston fires off on Archer, then runs, but Archer follows to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Archer snarls as Kingston gets to the apron. Archer runs side to side as AEW goes picture in picture, to baseball slide dropkick! Kingston flops to the floor and Archer looks into the camera. Archer talks some smack but we can’t hear what he’s saying before he fetches Kingston. Archer gets Kingston up, bumps him off the timekeeper’s table, then follows Kingston as he staggers about. Archer puts Kingston against the apron to CHOP! Kingston CHOPS back!

Archer seethes, Kingston gets back in the ring, and Archer follows. Kingston CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS again! He pokes Archer in the eyes again, too! Then unleashes the MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Archer rakes Kingston’s eyes in return! Archer puts Kingston in a corner, the ref counts and Archer lets off. Archer digs his knee into Kingston at the corner, but again lets off as the ref counts. Kingston flounders, Archer ROCKS him with a forearm! Archer eggs Kingston on, pushes him around, but Kingston CHOPS again. Archer ROCKS Kingston again, stands him up in the corner, talks more trash but Kingston tries to claw at his face. Archer pushes Kingston’s hands away to CHOP!

Kingston staggers, Archer stalks him around the way, then stomps a mudhole into him. Archer digs his boots in again and thrashes about but the ref counts. Archer lets off, drags Kingston up and ROCKS him with more shots. Archer smirks as AEW returns to single picture, and he scoop SLAMS Kingston to a drop zone! Archer soaks up the heat as he goes up, VADER SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Archer argues the count but it was fair. Archer looms over Kingston, Kingston tries to fight from below and fans rally up. Kingston flounders up to SLAP Archer. Archer SLAPS Kingston back! Archer gives toying kicks, then digs his knee into Kingston’s head at the ropes!

The ref counts, Archer lets off, and Kingston flounders to another corner. Archer clamps onto Kingston’s face with both hands and pulls at the nose, but the ref counts. Archer lets off but he goes after Kingston’s face again. The ref counts, Archer tells him to shut up. Archer puts Kingston in the corner, goes corner to corner but Kingston dodges the elbow! Kingston runs in, but Archer BOOTS him down! Archer drags Kingston to center, goes back to the corner, and goes to the top rope for a MOONSAULT FLOP!! Archer even landed on his head as Kingston moved! Nese is still watching from the front row and he didn’t like that landing any better than Archer did.

The ref checks on Archer, Kingston gets to his feet, and Archer bails out. Kingston asks what’s up, the ref has him stay back. The medics check on Archer but Archer is somehow okay to continue. So Kingston Oklahoma Rolls! Kingston wins!!

Winner: Eddie Kingston, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The Murderhawk Monster landing on his own head may have just saved Kingston! Will the Mad King be able to slay the American Dragon on next week’s Rampage?

The Men of the Year and Dan Lambert are in the ring!

Ethan Page says, “Oh, I suck?” Lambert and Scorpio Sky suck? NO! The Inner Circle SUCKS! They do! They lost twice to the Men of the Year. But here’s why they suck in detail. Jake Hager has an undefeated MMA record. Not that Ethan’s seen that. But he saw Scorpio pin Hager at Grand Slam! Santana & Ortiz? They’re “hard” and from the streets, but Men of the Year treat the streets like runways. They own every place they go, and they own the ring! Fans tell Ethan to STFU but he ignores them. Ethan moves on to Jericho, who isn’t here tonight, by the way. Which is a good thing, because there was enough time on the show to give Ethan the mic!

But Chris gets to do literally whatever he wants. Last week, after losing, Jericho got the mic to flirt with Paige VanZant? Really? That’s what you do after losing? Well don’t worry, the only celebrity Jericho’s kissing is Masvidal’s knee. So while Jericho is floating at sea, take a good look at what the future holds! How Ethan can own the room and the mic! THEY are the future of AEW, not “that PR nightmare” Sammy Guevara! But speaking of, Sammy walks out and says, “Enough!” Ethan, Ethan, Ethan. To borrow a phrase from Sammy’s friend and mentor, “Would you please shut the hell up!?” How long are we going to listen to a grown man complain about life being unfair?

Sammy gets it, he’s been there. Sometimes life sucks. But instead of bitching and moaning, Sammy worked his ass off and became TNT Champion! Sammy gets real. The reason Ethan isn’t any further in this company is the same reason he calls himself All Ego: because the only person who gives a s*it about what you’ve done is you. As for Lambert, as much as Sammy hates to hear him talk, he wants to hear the stipulation from the “fat faced dips*it.” Lambert tells the fans to not even think about it, but they chant that anyway! Lighten up, Sammy. Lambert’s proud of the little guy. We all know what Sammy can do in the ring, but look at him kill it on the mic! Maybe this will put an end to the rumors of Sammy suckin’ on the stick!

But if Sammy wants Lambert’s terms, he’ll make them simple enough for even Sammy to understand. He isn’t sure if Sammy’s brain has taken more damage from the 630 flips through tables, or the 630 pounds of gel it’s absorbed propping up that ridiculous hairdo! Sammy has his 10 Man Tag, Inner Circle Jerks VS American Top Team & Men of the Year at Full Gear! IF and ONLY IF Sammy comes to Dynamite next week and puts his TNT Championship against Ethan Page, aaand if by some miracle of God that he wins. But when Sammy loses, not only does he give up the TNT title, he quits the Inner Circle, FOREVER!!

Sammy wants to get it straight. If he loses next week, he loses the most important title in professional wrestling today, and also loses his best friends, the Inner Circle. “You’ve got yourself a deal, asshole! Under one condition: when I beat Ethan Page, I get to decide the three members of American Top Team that the Inner Circle gets to kick their ass at Full Gear!” See you bitches in Boston, and see the fans again in picture in picture. Well if he’s in such an accepting mood, here’s an idea! Accept the whooping they about to put on him! The Men of the Year head up the ramp, but Sammy fights them 2v1! Santana, Ortiz & Hager show up to run Men of the Year off!

The lines have been drawn and the stakes have been raised, will Sammy stay not just a champion but an Inner Circle OG? Or will everything fall apart as Ethan strokes his All Ego?

Jon Moxley speaks.

“Right now, I’m supposed to be yelling and screaming about how I’m gonna wreck everybody and win this tournament, and for sure that’s gonna happen. But that’s not really what’s on my mind right now. I’ll keep it real with y’all, always have. Right now, I’m thinking about my daughter. My daughter’s eyes. The other day, I look into her eyes and she stares right back into mine.” He put his broken pinkie out, she grabs onto it, and squeezes it for everything she’s got. It occurs to Mox in that moment that he actually doesn’t give a crap about any of this. He doesn’t care about this tournament, or the AEW World Championship.

He doesn’t care about the ratings, who said what on Twitter, or “The Demo.” Moxley cares about that moment. He wants to get home with his teeth in his head and his head on his shoulders, “and for that to happen, other people gotta get hurt.” It’d be a lot easier if Moxley was a mailman or a gym teacher, but this is what he does. This tournament, high stakes, the world title, this isn’t a ladder climbing contest. This is everyone going into a dark alley and only one comes out. So who do you think it is that comes out? Moxley’s message to everyone else in the tournament is, “I’ll get you before you get me. I’ma win this whole damn thing.”

Sammy Guevara returns for picture in picture.

Just as he promised, he has his cards! “Orlando, Florida! Another week, another huge waste of time! Big surprise! American “Plop” Team come out to run their mouths AGAIN! I say… it’s time to run mine! Ethan Page, next week on Dynamite! “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara VS “Loose Pecs” Ethan Page. It’ll be the Boston TNT Party!” AEW goes to break, but Sammy’s said his piece. Will he make good on his word and on his deal with American Top Team?

The Dark Order speaks.

Alex Reynolds brings up how it was a tough loss to The Super Kliq. Evil Uno agrees, but if you think a single loss is going to stop them, you’re mistaken! Sadly mistaken! Oh hey, Hangman walks in! He wants to apologize for not catching up with then, and for what happened after he left. These guys were right. Yes, they were. Wait, which part of the Dark Order was right? The important thing is, they all were. Not everyone in the group is going to agree with each other, they each did what they thought was right in the moment, and that’s why he wants to thank them and apologize to them.

But if they’re going back after The Elite, well things are getting real close to Halloween. And if Hangman knows those guys, they’re going to have costumes. Not to be outdone, the Dark Order will have theirs! John Silver votes for Bambi! Evil Uno says he has plenty of weird costumes in his closet. Oh, they know that, Uno. Stu Grayson doesn’t want to go overboard but everyone is arguing over what to go with. What will we see from the Dark Order when they take on the Elite?

Jungle Boy VS Brandon Cutler!

Jurassic Express wants to payback on The Elite for what they did to Captain Charisma and Luchasaurus, but they’re having to start at the literal bottom of the ladder. Will Jungle Jack Perry get some semblance of revenge when he takes down the cold spray wielding stooge? Or will Cutler introduce JB to the Ice Age?

The bell rings, JB dodges Cutler and clotheslines him out of the ring! JB then DIVES and takes Cutler to the railing! JB puts Cutler in, Cutler scrambles to a corner but JB runs in. Cutler BOOTS JB, goes up top and fires up, copying “ADAM COLE~ BAYBAY!” only to Panama BACK DROP! Cutler clutches his back, he might need cold spray. He SLAPS JB, though, and then hypes himself up. JB SLAPS and SLAPS and SLAPS, then knees low! JB reels Cutler in to POWERBOMB him! Then he turns Cutler over for the SNARE TRAP!! Cutler taps, JB wins!!

Winner: Jungle Boy, by submission

That was a cold SNAP right there! But JB gets a mic to say, “Well that was a nice little warm-up. Good try, dude. To be honest, I’m feeling pretty good still. And I’m ready to go again. So, why don’t one of you Elite pieces of SH*T come down here right now?!” JB waits, but when no one shows, he just drags Cutler back into the SNARE TRAP!! Cutler suffers, shouts for help, but then Adam Cole storms out! “What? You think you’re so big and bad because you’re picking on Brandon? Jungle Boy, you’re an embarrassment.” If JB wants to fight the Elite, well he’s right here! They can go right here, right now!

Cole throws off the jacket and goes down the ramp, gets on the apron, but JB DECKS him! Wait, the Young Bucks sneak up from the crowd side! They get in, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for JB!! It was all to sucker JB in! The Super Kliq drags JB out and throws him to the ramp, then they mug him for running his mouth! They get JB up to the stage, get an arm each, B T E TRIGGER!! Then they set him up for THE BOOM! But JB crawls after them? Cole drags JB back up, brings him over to commentary, “When you gonna learn, Jungle Boy? You are nobody! WE run AEW!” The Bucks give JB a kiss good night, then they get him up. They TOSS JB off the stage and into spare tables!!

Nick waves bye to JB and Matt wants a replay from the guys in the truck. Cole says “This is OUR world! Always has been, always will be!” They love the replay, and Cutler’s even back with the cold spray. Will The Elite continue to destroy all who stand in their way? Or will The Dark Order’s Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Colt Cabana and John Silver manage to take them down a peg?

Miro speaks.

“My God, we’re out of time, and my wife needs her champion back. All the violence that is going to come through me is now a reflection on you. On your silence and your arrogance. How dare you ignore me? How dare you test me? My God, my God, how dare you forsake me? Let them make me fight 100 times and I will snap 100 necks!! God’s Forsaken Champion will become God’s favorite again! But not because you want it. But because I will leave you no choice. My road home starts now. And the powder of bones will follow me to her. And I will hold her with blood on my hands and horror in my eyes. And that’s on YOU.”

Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Malakai Black!

The American Nightmare’s first encounter with the Dark Father left him questioning his future. His second encounter left him in a dark place, covered with mist and shame. But this final confrontation could put the final nail in the coffin, or could bring him back to his former glory! Will Cody finally avenge his previous failures? Or is there no stopping the House of Black?

The bell rings and the two tie right up! They go around, Cody waistlocks but Malakai switches. Cody trips Malakai but he rolls Cody. Cody comes back for a takeover, but Malakai boots the figure four away. Malakai trips Cody, facelocks, but they end up on the ropes. They let off for just a moment, Cody hits a headlock takeover but Malakai headscissors. Cody kips free but roles reverse as Malakai headlocks for the takeover and Cody headscissors. Malakai kips free, fans rally and duel as Malakai ROCKS Cody! Cody fires back, they go back and forth but Cody throws toe kick after toe kick. Cody throws hands but Malakai fires off a strike fest and a leg sweep!

Malakai rolls Cody, Cody kicks him away. Malakai feints to KICK Cody in the chest! Malakai kicks again but Cody blocks, only for Malakai to roll him to a KNEEBAR! Cody fights up, has a toehold then steps and stomps on Malakai’s face! Fans are torn as Cody lets off. Cody brings Malakai up, throws haymakers then runs, but Malakai CLOBBERS him! Cover, ONE!! Malakai wraps on a chinlock and squeezes tight. Cody fights up, Arn coaches him but Malakai waistlocks. Cody blocks the lift, elbows free, goes to a corner but has to go up and over as Malakai runs in! POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!

Fans fire up, Cody throws his weight belt to the fans! Fans cheer as a young boy lays claim to the souvenir! Cody gets the legs, Malakai digs his fingers into Cody’s eyes! Malakai scrambles away, and he goes out to bring out a chair from under the ring! The ref reprimands, but who is that coming down the way? Malakai throws the chair into the ring buy the Nightmare Family’s Brock Anderson and Lee Johnson are here! They surely want payback as much as Cody, and Malakai doesn’t see Cody get the chair! Malakai bails back out to avoid the attack! Malakai sees Brock and Big Shotty coming close, so he gets in to sucker punch Cody!

AEW goes picture in picture as the ref tells Malakai to put the chair down. But Brock snatches it away! Malakai glares at Brock and Brock puts the chair under the ring. Cody trips Malakai up for the FIGURE FOUR! Malakai endures, Cody puts as much pressure as he can on the hold, but Malakai crawls and drags his way over to the ropebreak! The ref counts, Cody lets Malakai go, and Cody gets the fans fired up more as he brings Malakai up. Cody whips, Malakai reverses but Cody tumbles up and out, only for Malakai to BOOT him! Malakai HIP TOSSES Cody in, then sweeps the legs! Roll-up, but Cody boots Malakai away, only for Malakai to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO!

Malakai seethes and hobbles his way back out of the ring. Malakai brings out a TABLE now! Cody hurries over but Malakai DECKS him! Malakai sets up the table by ringside, hits Cody again, and joins him on the apron. Malakai KICKS, Cody blocks and SUPERKICKS! Cody lines things up, CROSS RHODES through the table!! Both men crawl out of the wreckage as AEW returns to single picture. Cody slowly rises and fetches Malakai, and Malakai is busted open! But he still POSTS Cody! Malakai goes looking under the ring, Arn gets in the ring to see what’s going on. Fans chant, “GET THE GLOCK!” to Arn as Cody slowly flounders around outside. Cody is busted open now!

Malakai crawls, Cody crawls around the way to follow him. The ref checks both men but they’re both somehow okay to continue. Cody manages to walk and he hobbles over towards Malakai. Malakai stands up, and here comes Andrade El Idolo! He aims at Arn, BANG! That’s in return for yesterday, and Jose gets in, to get a SPINEBUSTER from the Enforcer! But Malakai gives Arn THE MIST!! But here comes Pac! He goes after Andrade! He KICKS Andrade up the ramp, Andrade hits back, and they fight to the tunnel! Cody gets in the ring, runs at Malakai and fires off hands! Malakai BOOTS back, reels him in and ROCKS him with a forearm! QUEBRADA!!

But Cody is right back up! CROSS RHODES OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Malakai survives and shocks Cody! Cody fires up, stomps Malakai over and over, then drags Malakai up to suplex. Malakai knees back, is on the apron and he puts Cody through ropes to KICK him! Cody drops, Malakai goes up, DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! And then a boot to the JUMP KNEE, HIGH ANGLE GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!!! Cody narrowly escapes and fans are going nuts! But Malakai just waits for Cody to rise, BLACK MASS!!! But Cody flops to the ropes! Cody clings for dear life as Malakai tries to bring him in, then kicks him away.

Cody runs corner to corner, Malakai tosses him up and out! Cody bounces off apron, but he still avoids Malakai’s moonsault! Cody DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp! Cody puts Malakai back in and springboards, SUPER CODY CUTTER!! Then the CROSS RHODES AGAIN! But Cody holds on, turns Malakai around, double underhooks for a TIGER DRIVER ’98!! Cover, Cody wins!!

Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall

Bloodied as he is, Cody stands tall over his nemesis! Is this issue settled between him and Malakai Black? Or has it only escalated further?

My Thoughts:

Another great Saturday Dynamite from top to bottom. The tournament matches were all great, but it was pretty clear after Archer’s header off his moonsault, that Oklahoma Roll was just a quick way to wrap it up. Dustin VS Bryan was a great opener for the night, and it is great that Bryan keeps winning with different submissions. He has his signatures like the LeBelle Lock and Cattle Mutilation but he can adapt to beat whoever he is facing. Bryan VS Kingston is going to be a great match in the next round, but I’m leaning towards Bryan winning. Moxley has a great promo where he isn’t winning this tournament as a wild man but as a father who needs to do this for his family. He’s definitely going to beat Preston Vance and he’s definitely beating Orange Cassidy but who knows how the finals go.

Ruby VS Ford was really good but I wish they’d just kept Bunny away. That was a clumsy brass knuckle situation, and I feel like Ruby’s good enough to beat Ford with more than just a quick pin finish. But whatever, they plugged Red Velvet VS The Bunny for later on, so I guess that much makes sense. Ruby VS Kris is going to be great, but I think Ruby wins as the hot hand. Britt had another good promo and her taking on Tay Conti at Full Gear is going to be a very good match. Britt is certainly winning, because I feel like it is only Thunder Rosa who can take that title off Britt. As I’ve said, that probably means Jade Cargill takes the TBS title but Rosa goes after Britt at Revolution.

We also got great stuff from The Pinnacle, with FTR and Lucha Bros establishing the rematch for Full Gear and then MJF upping things both with Sting and Darby but also the dysfunction that’s building between him and Wardlow. Wardlow and Spears were already teaming together on Dark and Elevation but now it sounds like Spears is supposed to go where Wardlow goes, so Spears might be in Wardlow’s corner on Dark and Elevation now. Miro had another passionate promo, but there’d be a bit more weight to it if he was on Dark and Elevation just wrecking people. Not even scheduled in a match, just people that had matches or were going to have matches and he destroys them.

The “terms” put between American Top Team and Inner Circle are fairly lame for how big they’re trying to make this story feel. Sammy has to put up his title and win to force American Top Team to get in a match? And if he loses, then that’s basically American Top Team taking something away from Inner Circle and just getting to lord it over them? How are these MMA guys supposed to be badass if they’re finding ways to not fight AEW wrestlers? Sammy’s definitely winning, keeping the title and staying in the Inner Circle and then who knows what happens with the 5v5 at Full Gear. There’s much more intrigue in Lio trying to turn Dante against the Sydals and whether it’ll work.

Cool to see Tony Nese in the crowd as one of those “this person’s signing with us” moments. No idea what the Premier Athlete does but I’m not really sure what more he can do when he could never quite get his personality going in the WWE. Bobby Fish’s match was clearly a vehicle to get him to a feud, but what a surprise that it’s CM Punk. They’re going to have a great, strike heavy match for sure. There was good stuff from all the overlap with The Elite, the Dark Order and Jurassic Express. Of course JB squashes Cutler but of course the Elite punk him out and basically sideline him.

Hangman had a great moment with The Dark Order, and I really can’t wait to see what next week’s Halloween Dynamite will have just in terms of costumes. Omega calling out Hangman was great stuff, too, and I feel like that last line was a purposefully clunky one. They should’ve clearly gone with “Chicken shit” to play off #CowboyShit. Definitely expect Hangman to make a move during the 8 Man Tag, maybe even in his own costume so no one realizes it’s him until he takes some kind of mask off. And lastly, Cody VS Malakai was great stuff, the fans were red hot but still against Cody for the most part. It’s probably because they knew he was winning here to make up for his losses before.

I did like that Brock Anderson, Lee Johnson and even Andrade and Pac were part of things. Cody sure likes blood, because it was so obvious we were being distracted while he bladed. Not quite sure how things go from here, but I’m sure Cody will want a Full Gear match with Malakai, maybe even No Disqualification so they can do more than just the table spot and the chair tease.

My Score: 9/10