AEW Dynamite returns to Wednesdays!

Dynamite is back on Wednesday and the stakes are high in Boston! Will Sammy Guevara still be AEW TNT Champion AND part of the Inner Circle?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Bobby Fish VS CM Punk; Punk wins.
• MJF w/ Wardlow & Shawn Spears VS Bryce Donovan; MJF wins.
• AEW TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara VS Ethan Page; Guevara wins and retains the title.
• AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: Serena Deeb VS Hikaru Shida; Shida wins and advances to the next round.
• AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Preston Vance VS Jon Moxley; Moxley wins and advances to the next round.
• 8 Man Tag: The Dark Order VS The Elite; The Dark Order wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Bobby Fish VS CM Punk!

The Infamous One crossed the line against Anthony Greene and it was the Best in the World who backed him off! But now, it’s quite the birthday bash for both men! Will Fish prove there’s a new Best in the World? Or will it be #ClobberinTime as Punk makes his Dynamite in-ring debut?

The bell rings and fans fire up as the two circle. They feel things out but then Fish bails out as fans chant for Punk. Fish flexes, gets back in, and circles with Punk again. Punk throws a kick but Fish stays on his feet. Fish gives the kick back but Punk gets in for a clinch! Punk hits a headlock takeover, but Fish fights up to power out. Punk runs Fish over, covers, ONE! Punk facelocks, Fish pushes him into a corner, but the ref calls for the break. Fish kicks low and kicks the leg out! Fish snapmares, wraps on a chinlock and leans on Punk as he squeezes tight. Fans rally, Punk fights up but Fish clinches for knees to put Punk back in the corner. But Punk turns it around to give knees in return!

Punk snapmares and drops an elbow! Punk wraps a chinlock on now and grinds Fish. Fish fights up, powers out but Punk runs him over. Things speed up, Fish hurdles but Punk scoops and SLAMS him! Punk smirks and fans fire up as he brings Fish around for another scoop and SLAM! Fans want that “One More Time!” so Punk brings Fish around to scoop and SLAM again! Cover, ONE! Fish flounders to a corner, Punk runs in to SHINING WIZARD! But Fish slips around to fireman’s carry, only for Punk to slip out and fireman’s carry! Fish grabs the rope, throws some elbows, so Punk lets him down. Fish throws knees and strikes then KICKS the leg out!

Fish snapmares Punk near the ropes, then goes out to slingshot senton back in! Cover, TWO! Fish drags Punk up by an ear, the ref reprimands, but Fish throws more knees. Fish snap suplexes, covers, TWO! Fish keeps Punk down with a chinlock and full mount. Punk endures, moves around, fights up to his feet and powers out, but Fish holds ropes. Punk clotheslines Fish out of the ring! Punk builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Fish hits railing! Fans fire up and even Punk admits he wasn’t sure that was going to work out. Punk drags Fish up and into the ring, climbs up the corner, but Fish goes to the apron and out of the ring. Punk hops down, but Fish sweeps the legs!

Fish catches his breath while Punk clutches his leg. Fish gets in the ring from the other side and waits for Punk to get in. Fish then runs in to CLOBBER Punk with an elbow! Cover, TWO! Fish drags Punk up, fans rally, but Fish wrenches to hit a BIG back suplex! Fish gets a leg to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Fish KICKS the bad leg, gets it again for a KNEE JAMMER! Fish has a toehold, Punk CLUBS him but Fish ROCKS Punk with a forearm, GROUND DRAGON SCREW again! Punk hobbles up, Fish throws him out and then brings him up to throw into railing! Fish ROCKS Punk with heavy hands and another KICK!

The ring count climbs, Fish refreshes the count at 4 to bring Punk back up. Punk ROCKS Fish back, and now they throw forearms back and forth! Punk gets the edge but Fish KNEES low and hard! Fish puts Punk in at 6, stalks up behind Punk and runs in at the corner to KNEE Punk again! Fish throws hands and kicks away on the bad leg! Punk sits down but Fish keeps kicking, tot hen wrap the leg around ropes! The ref counts, Fish lets off at 4, and fans rally up as Fish drags Punk up by his ears. Fish throws more hands, hoists Punk to the top rope then throws more forearms. Fish CLUBS Punk on his back then climbs up to join Punk.

Punk throws hands back but Fish throws more forearms. Punk gives a flurry and Fish falls to the mat! Fans fire up as Punk adjusts on the top rope, balances on his one good leg and hits the MACHO ELBOW DROP! Both men are down and a standing count starts. Punk and Fish slowly sit up at 4, get to their knees and start throwing forearms! They go back and forth, Punk gets the edge and stands first to rain down on Fish! Punk hobbles, Fish KICKS that bad leg out! Fish has to catch his breath a moment, Punk ducks the roundhouse! Fish mule kicks, runs but into a CALF KICK! Fish staggers around but into a SWINGING NECKBREAKER!

Punk SHINING WIZARDS in the corner again, then reels Fish in for a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Punk grits his teeth, clutching the bad leg again. Punk says night-night and he gets Fish back up. Fireman’s carry but Fish blocks the knee to DRAGON SCREW! Fish builds speed to SLIDING LARIAT! Fish brings Punk up, but Punk trips him to a jackknife! TWO as Fish bridges and spins around, but Punk powers up to a fireman’s carry! G T S!! But it’s the bad leg so Punk crawls to the cover, Fish kicks out but at 3.1! Punk wins!

Winner: CM Punk, by pinfall

That was one gritty, knock down, drag out fight! But in the end, the Best in the World is still CM Punk, and CM Punk is still undefeated in AEW. Will things only get tougher for Punk the deeper he goes into the roster?

Malakai Black speaks.

“I made your whole family lose faith in you. I divided the entire Nightmare Family. I forced you to take measures that you’d never taken before. And I made an entire crowd HATE you. If you think this was about pinfalls, Rhodes, think again. The house always wins.” Is round three not the end of this war between the Dark Father and the American Nightmare?

MJF w/ Wardlow & Shawn Spears VS Bryce Donovan!

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has talked enough trash, now he’s getting back in the ring to back some of it up. Will having The Pinnacle’s Mr. Mayhem and The Chair Man be a big help in staying on top?

The bell rings MJF wants to take a moment to offer Bryce a handshake. Fans know better but Bryce doesn’t, he takes the handshake and MJF kicks him low! MJF brings Bryce along to WRING him out into the buckles! And then MJF throws Bryce to the apron, slashes the throat and hits the HEATSEEKER! One finger cover, MJF wins!

Winner: MJF, by pinfall

Well, he didn’t even need his back-up for that one. Spears gets MJF the mic and then throws Bryce out. MJF has them cut his music and then says, “Wow, Boston. This place is exactly as I remember it from last time: An absolute sh*t hole. But guess what? You’re lucky, Mass, you got to see me do what I do best, and that’s pinning shoulders on mats and bangin’ rats.” But MJF will skip that latter part since he’d rather put his junk in a blender than go anywhere near the “disgusting fat women” of Boston! Here’s his impression of their moms. “Hada, MJF, hada!” Their accents are disgusting to him. And speaking of disgusting: Darby Allin!

Oh, Boston likes Darby, huh? They do chant for him. Makes sense. This town loves to cheer losers. But Darby, you made a mistake interrupting MJF when he said he deserves to be AEW World Champion, which is true. And to make things worse, Darby threw the gauntlet down in saying MJF couldn’t break him mentally. Well that’s funny considering Darby is too scared to show up for work now. Uh, he’s hurt cuz of what The Pinnacle did but okay… Boston also tells MJF what they think of him, aka he’s an A-hole, but he says he can’t hear them over all the money he makes.

But MJF would be scared, too, considering he knocked out Darby’s “Creepy papi,” Sting with the beautiful Dynamite Diamond Ring. The same ring that MJF won over two years ago when he beat Hangman Adam Page! “The more you know~.” It’s almost like now that the dumb shmuck, Darby Allin, is out of MJF’s hair, there’s nothing MJF stopping him from his destiny. MJF doesn’t care about Full Gear. Kenny, Adam, it doesn’t matter, because you’re looking at the future world champion! MJF is the past, the present and the future- SHUT YOUR MOUTHS, BOSTON! But wait! Here comes the snow, the crow and… it’s a prank by MJF!

And he laughs so hard. Spears, you’re so smart! Boston is so stupid! Okay, okay, listen up. Wait. Now the lights go down again and MJF thinks this is Spears tricking him. No, this wasn’t Spears’ idea. On the titantron plays a new video message from Darby! There’s a fake MJF wearing a cheap suit, wig and fake beard, and a cut-out of MJF’s face. Fake MJF flips off a rapper during his own concert, only to turn around into Darby’s SHOTGUN dropkick! And then they BODY SLAM fake MJF through a table! Then it reads, “Now time to break YOU physically.” And the lights in the arena return, Sting SMACKS Spears with the bat! Sting JABS Wardlow and MJF runs away!

Sting keeps after Wardlow, and The Invisible Man in the crowd takes off the mask to reveal it’s DARBY! MJF turns around and wants mercy, but then he runs away! Spears takes a shot from Darby in his place, and Darby whips Spears into the steps! Darby puts Spears in the ring and fans are thunderous as he brings out a skateboard. It doesn’t have the wheels or trucks but it has THUMBTACKS in it! Sting JABS Spears down with the bat, then CRACKS Wardlow! Darby SMACKS Wardlow with the spiked board! MJF says this is BS but he’s the one staying away on the stage! Darby gets a mic now and tells Max, “Full Gear.” Plain and simple, the score will be settled on PPV!

Backstage interview with Britt Baker.

Tony Schiavone says we’re in the Halloween spirit with the AEW Women’s World Champion and her sidekicks, Rebel and Jamie Hayter, as Britt prepares for her match at Full Gear. That is, if Britt is still world champion by that time. Britt is offended by Schiavone using “If,” but it would seem that on the Cruise of Jericho, Britt had a match with Abadon that she completely walked out on. Therefore, Tony Khan has decided for this Friday’s edition of Rampage, it will be a Trick or Treat match, Britt VS Abadon, and the treat is: if Abadon wins, she gets a future title match with Britt Baker! And what’s the trick?! Well, it’s that it is No Disqualifications.

Oh, No DQ? Well Britt has a couple of tricks of her own. Wink wink, nudge nudge, Rebel and Jamie will help her. So see you Friday, Abby. Yours Truly, Dr. Britt Baker, DMD. But will even her back-up be too afraid to get close to the Living Dead Girl?

AEW TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara VS Ethan Page!

Things have escalated between the Inner Circle and the American Top Team/Men of the Year conglomerate that there will be a 10 Man Tag between them at Full Gear! That is, if the Spanish God retains this title against All Ego. Otherwise, Sammy must LEAVE the Inner Circle forever, completely nullifying the 5v5! However, to make sure this all goes down fair and square, there is a ringside ban on Scorpio Sky, American Top Team and the rest of the Inner Circle. Will it all fall apart right here? Or will Sammy make sure he and the Inner Circle have all the momentum in their corner going into faction warfare?

The introductions are made, Sammy leaves the belt behind to bold to the ring and tackle Ethan! Sammy rains down furious fists and the ref wants this to hold on a minute! Ethan shoves Sammy away but Sammy comes back with a JUMP KNEE! Ethan tumbles out of the ring and fans fire up for Sammy as he KNEES Ethan back down! Sammy builds speed to FLY! Direct hit with the tornillo and Boston is all fired up! Sammy brings Ethan up to TOSS him into the timekeeper’s area! Sammy jumps in to rain down more fists, then he drags the table out of the way so he can bring Ethan around and throw him into railing! Sammy brings Ethan up again and fans are loving this!

Sammy whips Ethan into more railing, then he tells Ethan this is what he wanted! Sammy drags Ethan up and into the ring and Ethan wants a timeout! Sammy gets in, the ref checks on Ethan, the bell rings! Sammy runs but into a BOOT! Ethan and Sammy throw forearms back and forth, Ethan gets the edge! “I’m the man!” Ethan whips Sammy but Sammy reverses, hurdles, flips over and dropkicks Ethan down! And then hits that smooth kip up! Cover, ONE! Sammy drags Ethan back up to CHOP him to a corner. Sammy brings Ethan in to snap suplex, cover, ONE! Ethan is tough but Sammy sits him up and KICKS him in the back.

Tony Nese watches from the front row like he did Saturday as Sammy covers again. ONE, Nese isn’t impressed, but Sammy CHOPS Ethan again. Ethan throws a haymaker but Sammy ROCKS Ethan with forearms. They brawl, Ethan knees low and puts Sammy in the corner to CHOP! Sammy is stinging but he throws a forearm and a CHOP in return! Sammy puts Ethan in the corner, digs his palms into Ethan’s face, but lets off as the ref reprimands. Ethan kicks low then ROCKS Sammy with another forearm. Ethan whips, Sammy reverses and reels Ethan in to back suplex and KICK out of the air! And then SUPERKICK!

Fans fire up with Sammy as he goes to the corner and climbs up. Ethan hurries and hits the ropes to trip Sammy up! Ethan throws hands, keeps Sammy up top, but Sammy hits back. Ethan headbutts Sammy, brings him up, TOP ROPE BACKBREAKER! Sammy hits the crossbar then tumbles to the floor! Ethan gloats as AEW goes picture in picture.

Sammy writhes, Ethan goes out and fetches him to throw him into railing! Payback for before the match officially started! Ethan then drags Sammy up and scoops to SNAKE EYES off the apron! Ethan puts Sammy in the ring, stalks him, then brings him up. Sammy throws body shots, forearms, and CHOPS! Sammy whips, Ethan reverses and BACK DROPS Sammy across the ring! Sammy is in a daze and Ethan shows off the dancing pecs before Ethan stands on Sammy’s head. Ethan even pulls on an arm, but the ref counts. Ethan lets off at 4 and mocks the counting, to then drag Sammy up and scoop for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Ethan scowls as he looms over Sammy and stomps him down. Ethan pie faces Sammy as AEW returns to single picture, and he also eggs Sammy on. Sammy drags himself up but Ethan DECKS him with a forearm! Fans rally up, Ethan pretends he can’t hear them, but Sammy hits back with forearms! Ethan knees low, gets Sammy up to a Canadian Rack then crucifix but Sammy slips out! Sammy ducks and dodges to LARIAT! And back elbow! Sammy whips, Ethan reverses but Sammy slides to dodge and RAMS into him at the corner! Sammy goes to the apron to ENZIGURI! Ethan staggers, Sammy takes aim and triangle jumps for the SUPER CUTTER!

Ethan flounders to a corner and fans fire up with Sammy! Sammy runs but into a BOOT! Ethan runs but into a STANDING SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Ethan flops out of the ring and a ring count begins. Sammy goes out the side, fans fire up as he climbs again, SUPER SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! Direct hit and fans lose their minds while both men are down! Sammy drags Ethan up and into the ring and “This is Awesome!” Sammy slashes his throat, goes for the torture rack but Ethan fights with elbows and then ROCKS Sammy with a forearm! Ethan runs but into an elbow, Sammy goes up to get a BACK HAND! ICONOCLASM, and then a scoop to POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!

Ethan drags Sammy to a drop zone and goes up the corner. Sammy stands up and springs up to the top! Ethan fights him then scoops Sammy for a SUPER SLAM! Sammy flounders to a corner, Ethan runs in to CLOBBER him with the shoulder tackle! Cover, TWO! Sammy survives but Ethan snarls. Ethan drags Sammy up but Sammy flops down as dead weight. Ethan grins as he puts Sammy on the top rope. Ethan climbs up to hook Sammy’s arms for an elevated crucifix, SUPER STEINER! Sammy runs Ego’s Edge into his own move! STANDING SHOOTING FLOP as Ethan moves! Ethan reels Sammy in but Sammy trips him up to a jackknife, Sammy wins!!

Winner: Sammy Guevera, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)

But Ethan attacks from behind like a sore loser! They brawl more, and here comes Scorpio now that the ringside ban is off! Scorpio throws Sammy down, rains down fists, but here comes CHRIS JERICHO! Le Champion is back, and he’s here with the rest of the Inner Circle! They run The Men of the Year off and fans sing along with Judas. Jericho gets a mic to say, “Well of course, the Jackasses of the Year try to pull an ambush on Sammy Guevara after his big win tonight. But at least Scorpio Sky, at least you’ve beaten Le Champion twice. I respect that. But Ethan Page, let’s be honest. The last thing you’ve beaten of any prominence is yourself in your hotel room last night.”

Fans chant “Beat Your Meat!” but Scorpio defends Ethan did no such thing. But the most important thing is Sammy won, so there will be a 5v5 match at Full Gear on November 13th! Page, Sky, American Top Team VS the reunited Inner Circle, baby! And by virtue of Tony Khan, this match is now gonna be a MINNEAPOLIS STREET FIGHT! So next week, they decide which members of American Top Team will be in the match, so please tell Dan Lambert, that “pumpkin headed dips*it,” to be there so they can decide who get kendo sticks up their backsides to make MMA meatsicles with!

And to finish off, Jericho will paraphrase the lyrics of one of the greatest rock songs of all time, Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith. “You talk about things nobody cares, you wearin’ all the things nobody wears. You called us out but let me make it clear as glass: at Full Gear, honey, we’re gonna kick your effin’ ass!” The Inner Circle stands triumphant tonight, but who do they call out to take down?

Backstage interview with Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston.

Schiavone brings up that these two will battle on Friday’s Rampage in the semifinals of the World Title Eliminator Tournament. Kingston tells Bryan that he talked about hard work and that Kingston doesn’t work hard. Well he’ll tell you that every morning, he takes a pill of Zoloft so he doesn’t flip out and hurt someone. He battles depression, and anger, and who knows what’ll happen after that. But he ain’t trying to get locked up because he wants to live the dream. Don’t tell him about hard work until you’ve walked a mile in Kingston’s shoes, partner. And guess what? He’s done talking, and done listening. Excuse his back.

Kingston walks away, Bryan says that is the Kingston he wants to see and fight in the ring. That is the Kingston that has someone to believe in and fight for. Bryan hates to tell Kingston this, but HE’S been through it, too! He doesn’t complain about it! There are so many people in this country and this locker room who have been through that same crap and still go through it every single day and still go out there to put in the work. Bryan isn’t saying Kingston isn’t a hard worker, because every time Kingston’s in the ring, he works his ass off. Bryan gives Kingston this, too: Kingston and Moxley are the two toughest pro-wrestlers he’s ever met in his entire life!

And despite all of that, this Friday, Bryan will go out there and prove he’s the best. It doesn’t matter if Kingston listens or not, Bryan will beat him. Who moves on from the semifinals to fight at Full Gear?

Backstage interview with The Lucha Brothers.

Schiavone says it is great to see them both back, the AEW World Tag Team Champions have a challenge for FTR at Full Gear. Penta El Zero M asks to say something, and he takes the mic to call FTR out in Spanish. Alex Abrahantes wants to translate but Fenix speaks up first. “FTR, we know what you want. We will put these titles on the line at Full Gear.” Alex gets his turn and says the Lucha Brothers say, “FTR, you say you’re the best. You say you’re the greatest. But you have NO idea the sacrifices we’ve made to become the tag team champions. So at Full Gear, on November 13th, we’ll put the AEW World Tag Team Championships up on the line.” Because they are the Lucha Brothers and they have CERO MIEDO! Will the champions make sure FTR learn a lesson about what it truly means to be the best?

AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: Serena Deeb VS Hikaru Shida!

This may be the opener to the tournament to crown a new women’s champion, but this is also a rematch from when the Woman of 1000 Holds not only denied the Full Metal Warrior her 50th win, but cracked her over the head with the trophy! Will Deeb deny Shida again while also going for the gold? Or will Shida’s revenge be two birds with one Katana knee?

The bell rings and fans fire up as the two tie up. Deeb goes for a leg, Shida blocks but Deeb gets a facelock. Shida slips around to get her own facelock but Deeb fights up to trip Shida. Shida kicks Deeb away and they go again. Shida waistlocks, slams, then rains down rights! Deeb shoves her away but gets up into a BOOT! Fans rally and duel, Shida stomps Deeb in a corner. The ref counts, Deeb slips out to drag Shida to the corner. Deeb SLAMS the leg into the post, then SLAMS it again! Shida clutches the leg, Deeb grabs the legs again, but Shida pulls Deeb into the post! A ring count begins and reaches 5 of 10 while Deeb is still down. Shida has the count stop and goes out to fetch Deeb.

Shida puts Deeb on the apron, climbs up the corner and drags her up, to DEAD LIFT SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! Shida fires up and fans fire up with her, but Deeb keeps Shida from climbing again. Shida bounces Deeb off the buckles, runs corner to corner and AEW goes picture in picture as Deeb dodges! Shida knees buckles, Deeb runs in to CHOP BLOCK the bad leg! Deeb steadies herself, drags Shida around and drops an elbow on the bad leg. Shida tries to fight back but Deeb thrashes the leg, then drops another elbow! Deeb pushes back on the toehold, Shida throws hands but Deeb cranks the hold harder. Deeb stands on the leg to stomp it!

Shida crawls to ropes, Deeb drags her into a corner and puts the leg on the ropes. Deeb kicks away but lets off as the ref counts. Deeb pulls on the leg, lets off again, then soaks up the heat while Shida sits down in the corner. Deeb drags Shida up, clinches, but Shida throws body shots to get free. Shida kicks but Deeb blocks to DDT the foot! Shida falls over, crawls but Deeb drags her around. Deeb has a standing toehold, Shida endures but kicks back with her free leg! Deeb lets go and shakes out the arm, but goes after the leg again, Shida SLAPS Deeb, Deeb SLAPS back! Deeb runs, into an ENZIGURI! Both women are down and a standing count begins.

Shida crawls to ropes, Deeb storms over and throws EuroUppers. Shida forearms in return, Deeb EuroUppers again, Shida fires off more forearms, backs Deeb down, and fans fire up! Shida whips Deeb corner to corner, runs in and KNEES Deeb! Shida keeps going, SLIDING FOREARM! Fans fire up with Shida and she climbs up again. Deeb stands, Shida leaps, MISSILE DROPKICK! Shida gets Deeb up, suplexes, stalls and SLAMS Deeb down! Cover, TWO! Shida says one more and she brings Deeb back in. Shida gets the Canadian Rack but Deeb slips off to EuroUpper! And again, but into a backslide! Deeb rolls through but Shida gets a straitjacket!

Deeb fights free, but Shida BOOTS the clothesline to AX KICK! Shida gets the arms, STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Then she drags Deeb up, Canadian Rack to DOMINATOR! Cover, TWO!! Deeb survives but Shida gets moving, BLINDSIDE TAMASHI!! Cover, TWO!!! Fans are thunderous as Shida takes aim. KATAN- NO! Deeb blocks the leg but Shida CLUBS her! Shida suplexes, but the bad leg holds her back! Deeb trips Shida for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Deeb drags Shida around but Shida boots her right out of the ring! Deeb has a tumble to the floor, Shida brings out a chair! Shida sets the chair up, runs but Deeb throws the chair away!

Shida pursues Deeb around the way, and uses the steel steps for a MISSILE DROPKICK! Shida clutches her bad leg but she still gets Deeb up and into the ring. Deeb slides back out but Shida goes after her. Deeb trips Shida and SLAMS the leg on the apron again and again! Deeb drags Shida to the corner and ties up the legs for a HANGING FIGURE FOUR! Shida endures, the ref counts, and Deeb lets go at 4! Deeb stalks Shida, gets the legs again, but figure four becomes inside cradle, TWO!! Deeb gets Shida up, but Shida slips out to QUESTION MARK KICK! Deeb staggers, POINT-BLANK KNEE! Shida runs, TAMASHI into a HALF CRAB!!

Deeb sits DEEP, Shida crawls, but Deeb drags her away, TRAILER HITCH!! Shida endures, reaches, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Fans are loving this as the ref counts. Deeb lets go at 4, snarls, and grabs the piece of the broken trophy! “This is Awesome!” but Shida KICKS Deeb first! Shida has the piece of the trophy but she hands it to the ref. Deeb rakes eyes! Cradle, TWO!! Deeb kicks low, reels Shida in and hooks the arms, but Shida fights to back drop! Sunset flip but prawn hold counter! SHIDA WINS!!

Winner: Hikaru Shida, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

And that’s 50!! But bigger than that, Shida is into the next round! But Deeb CHOP BLOCKS Shida! She’s a sore loser, and she gets the chair Shida brought out! Deeb aims and SMACKS the bad leg! And again! And then she JAMS away on the leg, then SMACKS the knee again! Deeb is incensed as she omoplatas and SMASHES the knee into the mat! SERENITY LOCK! More refs rush out but the damage has been done! Deeb lets go when Jerry Lynn storms out and tells her to stop. Shida may have won the match, but did Deeb just break the bracket by sidelining her? Or will Shida literally limp into her battle with the Native Beast next round?

Backstage interview with Lio Rush & Dante Martin.

Schiavone brings up the match on Rampage, these two debuting as a duo. However, an injury to Mike Sydal means there will be an audible in that match. It will instead be Dante Martin VS Matt Sydal 1v1 to complete the trilogy. Lio says it’s all about timing. It just wasn’t the right time for Mike Sydal, which Lio should’ve anticipated. This is just what to expect from a Sydal. But Lio’s debut will come at the right time, and when that time comes, you will know why he’s the Man of the Hour.

But enough about him. Friday, Dante VS Matt Sydal for the third time. And you better believe the third time is the charm, because Dante will have Lio in his corner, “not some washed up mentor who only cares about beating Dante instead of teaching Dante.” Friday, there will be a lesson learned, and the failed student will be Matt Sydal. Lio promises a lot from Dante, but will Dante be able to cash the check #LBOLio’s mouth writes?

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Preston Vance VS Jon Moxley!

Number 10 is running at 100% power, and he’s brought back the Joker mask! Fitting since he’s taking on the Maniac of AEW! But will Moxley keep his promise to beat down everyone in his path so he can get home to his baby girl in one piece? Or will Vance break a whole lot of brackets instead?

The bell rings, Moxley gets right around Vance and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Vance ends up in a corner, Moxley stomps away, but lets off at 4 to get in the ref’s face. Moxley goes back for Vance but Vance fights the suplex and elbows free. Vance runs in but is put on the apron, and Moxley DECKS him with a forearm! Moxley goes out, brings Vance around and RAMS him into steel steps! Moxley tears at the mask and then BITES Vance’s face!! Moxley drags Vance up to POST him! Moxley gets back in the ring and paces around as the ring count climbs. Fans are fired up and Moxley gets impatient. Vance manages to get in at 7 but he is busted open!

Moxley runs in but Vance elbows him away! Vance fires off forearms, CHOPS and a ROLLING ELBOW! Vance goes side to side to BOOT Moxley in the corner! And then the other way, into Moxley’s LARIAT! Moxley rains down fists on the wound he made on Vance’s head, then get shim up, PARADIGM SHIFT!! Cover, Moxley wins!

Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

And as quickly as he handled business, Moxley takes his leave! Will Moxley do the same to Orange Cassidy in the next round?

Backstage interview with FTR.

Schiavone brings up the challenge made for Full Gear, and Cash Wheeler says that they’ve waited almost an entire year to get back their AEW World Tag Team Championships. And of course they accept the challenge, they’ve waited too long as others “babysat” the titles. Papi’s home and they’re taking the titles back. Tully Blanchard says everyone knows what a reset is. These two and Tully hit the reset button. “Those guys don’t have any idea what’s coming down the pike.” Dax Harwood agrees and says Penta and Fenix do a lot of cute things in the air and all, but there’s one thing they’ll do what they’ve never done before: Fight.

They’re going to make the Lucha Brothers fight for their lives and the AEW World Tag Team Championships. And in the end of the night, FTR will go down as the absolute best tag team of all time! Y’know what they say: Living legends are a dying breed, but FTR aren’t feeling too good themselves. #TopGuysOut.

Cody Rhodes is here!

Fans are booing the American Nightmare already as he rises from his special entrance in the middle of the stage. Arn Anderson is with him, and Cody will speak on his victory over Malakai Black after AEW’s picture in picture break.

Cody throws his jacket to the crowd as a free souvenir, then he and Arn get in the ring. Cody gets the mic, but AEW goes to a full break first.

AEW returns and fans are still booing. Cody says, “Whether you believe it or not, I hear you. I hear you online, I hear old wrestling managers shouting at clouds on social media, and I heard you this Saturday.” He had one of the best, Malakai Black, hooked the arms, and then he’d hit the Tiger Driver just as Excalibur called. “But for a brief moment, for a glimmer, I thought about hitting a very different move. And what would happen if I hit that move? Would I have popped up? Would I have sneered? Would I have abused my Executive Vice President role? Would I have broken the covenant between you and I, challenged for the world title and won the world championship?”

Cody wants us to know why he didn’t. Because it’d be too easy. No, no, not the matches. The matches would be hard, but that’d be the easy way out. Fans have the right to do whatever they want. They can cheer, they can boo, but if they’re going to boo the narrative, boo the real narrative. No one has a problem with the man who signs the checks, but please don’t forget the man who built the bank. And please do Cody a favor. It’s not in his nature, put yourselves in his shoes. And he throws away his custom Nike! Cody wants us to think about it! He grew up in front of us! He debuted at age 20, no kneepads, no muscles.

Cody admits he has a wife that’s too hot for him and a brother that bell to bell is a Hall of Famer, surely better than Cody. He has a daughter that he barely deserves and a father that even if Cody lived to be 300 years old, he’d not leave behind the legacy that he did. So the “easy way out” for Cody is not the way he’s going to do this. Cody will not turn. And the reason is simple, and he isn’t pandering, but he loves the fans too much, just as he’s loved them his entire life. So if anyone thought that maybe he got a little Hollywood, then allow him to apologize to each and every fan out there. He apologizes to the Nightmare Family, up and down the line, and even to Arn Anderson.

Cody puts a hand on Arn’s shoulder as he says, “If I’ve never told you, let me tell you right now. It is a damn honor to stand in the ring with you.” He apologizes, shakes Arn’s hand and says Arn was right. But Andrade El Idolo walks out now, and says, “Cody, Cody, Cody. Who do you think you are? Cody, these people don’t like you! The people don’t like me, but the difference is, I don’t care about the people!” Andrade says Cody made stupid choices. First, that stupid neck tattoo. Second, getting in Andrade’s business. Look at him! He IS Andrade El Idolo! Cody dares Andrade to get in the ring but Andrade wants him to hold on.

If Cody wants, Andrade can make Cody “my little bitch.” But then lights go out! And when they come back up, MALAKAI BLACK is by Andrade’s side! BLACK MIST!! Arn goes after Andrade’s assistant, Jose, while Andrade and Malakai stomp Cody down! Andrade then goes after Arn! Jose clubs away on Arn with his clipboard, but here comes PAC! Pac dumps Andrade out then BOOTS Malakai! Andrade gets back in but Pac dodges to sobat, kick and KICK! Pac runs to BOOT Andrade down! Andrade and Malakai bail out and regroup but Pac builds speed, only for Andrade, Malakai and Jose to retreat! Pac calls Malakai out by sitting cross legged and flipping him off! Has the American Nightmare found an unlikely ally in The British Bastard?

8 Man Tag: The Dark Order VS The Elite!

Halloween comes a little early as these factions dress up for this 4v4 showdown! Lone Ranger Evil Uno, “Kratos” Grayson, Colt Cutler and Johnny Bambi head to the ring while Anna Jay, Alan Angels and Alex Reynolds keep an eye on the “horse” Uno rode in on. Meanwhile, the Elite become the GHOSTBUSTERS! And they cross the streams! Also, Michael Nakazawa is a big “BAYBAY” and Cutler is the Stay Puft marshmallow man. But will having a team costume be enough for Adam Cole, Kenny Omega & the Young Bucks to exorcise the Dark Order here tonight? Or will there be human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria?!

The teams sort out and Cole starts with John Silver. They circle, they tie up, and Silver shoves Cole down! Bambi’s friggin’ jacked, baby! Cole ties up with him again but Silver shoves him down again! Cole kicks low, throws hands, stomps him in a corner, then flexes back. But Silver fires off KICKS in return! Silver puts the hood back up to ANTLER HEADBUTT! Silver whips, Cole bounces off buckles and into a BACK DROP! Silver mocks the BOOM! Then he brings Cole over and Uno tags in. Uno CLUBS Cole, wrenches but Cole rakes eyes! Tag to Omega, who is still wearing his proton pack. Omega throws haymakers but Uno hits back!

Uno ROCKS Omega, whips him corner to corner and Omega’s proton pack only adds to the pain of hitting buckles! Uno says YEEHAW and he runs corner to corner to SPLASH into the pack! Omega was one step ahead! Omega throws Uno out, the ref is busy with the Dark Order as they protest, and Nakazawa gives Uno a BIG BABY SPLASH! It’s mostly a padded costume, though… Nick Jackson puts Uno in for Omega to mock the Dark Order pose as he covers. TWO, and Omega laughs as he tags in Matt Jackson. Matt throws hands, Uno ends up in a corner and Matt whips him. Uno reverses, Matt goes up and over and things speed up, but Uno sweeps the legs!

Uno hops on and rides Matt like a rodeo bull! He doesn’t hold on for 8 seconds but he does BOOT Matt down! Fans chant “COWBOY SH*T” for him as he tags in Stu. Stu tags in Silver then runs in to SPLASH! Silver runs in to clothesline, then Uno adds his! Colt Cabana runs up, to give Matt some cold spray to the face! The Elite protests but this is all karma coming back to haunt them! Colt keeps spraying even though Matt staggers away, and Uno scoops to SLAM Matt down! The Dark Order poses, what a family portrait moment. But the rest of the Elite get in, only for the Dark Order to kick them all low. TRIPLE SCOOP SLAMS! And then another pose!

Things sort out as AEW goes picture in picture and Colt throws hands on Matt. Colt bumps Matt off buckles, tags in Stu and he brings Matt around. Matt throws hands, Stu CLUBS him then suplexes, but Matt slips out. Matt ducks and dodges, Cole tags in but Stu dodges Matt to springboard TORNADO DDT! Cole gets in to BOOT Stu down! Cole kicks Stu out, distracts the ref and Nick goes out to PENALTY KICK Stu down! Nick and Omega hug it out and then Matt stomps Stu for good measure. Cole goes out to put Stu in the ring, then he brings Stu over to tag Omega. They mug Stu, Omega throws hands and JABS in the corner. Omega JABS away then stomps Stu down!

The ref counts as Omega digs his boots in but Omega lets off to walk it off. He bumps Stu off buckles, tags Nick, then Nick stomps away on Stu. Tag to Matt, the Elite blow up the Dark Order corner, and then Matt whips Nick in, only for Stu to throw him out! Stu throws Matt out, but the Bucks and Omega coordinate for a DOUBLE GIRI KNEE COMBO! Omega tags Cole in, they bring Stu up and Cole points to the corner. Omega goes over but there’s no Dark Order to hit. Oh, this was just so Cole could put Stu in the camel clutch and set things up with the Bucks. The Bucks run the ropes while Omega plays defense, and the Bucks give Cole the SUPER KISS!

They let Stu go, Nick does his Macho Man, and then Cole drags Stu to the corner. Cole stomps Stu, Matt tags in and then he tags Nick. The Bucks stomp Stu as AEW returns to single picture. They double whip Stu to a corner, Nick runs in but Stu elbows him away! Stu BOOTS Matt, dodges Omega’s back elbow and KNEES Cole off the apron! Stu goes up to step on each of the Bucks to get to Omega with the FLYING RANA! The Bucks aim but Stu goes Matrix to avoid the Superkicks to DOUBLE PELE! Fans fire up and Stu crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Colt Cabana! Cabana dodges the clotheslines to DOUBLE QUEBRADA! And a FLYING APPLE for Omega!

Colt fires off JAB after JAB for the Bucks! Flip, flop, fly, BIONIC ELBOW for Omega! Colt tilt-o-whirls and headscissors Matt into Nick, then he sweeps the legs to make Nick DDT Matt! SUPERMAN CLUTCH! But Cole breaks the cover! Cole whips, Colt reverses and runs in, FLYING APPLE! SUPERKICK from Nick! Silver tags in, he whips but Nick holds ropes. Silver runs in but Nick sends him out. Nick elbows Silver away then goes to the corner, but Silver GAMANGIRIS him down! CANNONBALL for Cole! UPPERCUT for Omega! BOOT for Matt! LARIAT for big baby Nakamura! Silver gets in the ring and Nick is on the ropes to get a BOOT and GERMAN SUPLEX!

Nick flounders up but Cole and Matt get in! SUPERKICKS for Silver! Nick tags Matt, Omega and Cole also get in. SNAP DRAGON to the TRIPE SUPERKICK GHOSTBUSTER!!! Cover, Stu breaks it!!! SUPERKICK for Stu! Nick kicks at Uno but he blocks it and sends it into Omega! Uno then gets around to block another kick and hands it to the ref for the NECKBREAKER! Cole SUPERKICKS Uno, Colt DECKS Cole, Omega V-TRIGGERS Colt! Silver returns, he dodges Omega to ENZIGURI! Matt SUPERKICKS Silver! Matt aims at Stu but Stu ducks, SUPERKICK to the ref!! Matt realizes what went wrong and Stu throws knees! Stu torture racks but Matt slips out to LOW BLOW!

Matt says he’s too smart, but he doesn’t realize Colt, Uno and Silver are stalking up behind him. But then the rest of the Elite LOW BLOW them! The proton packs are reintroduced, the Elite put them on and it’s time to “cross the streams.” QUADRUPLE PROTON PACK ATTACK! Colt is the only one left in the ring, the packs are piled up, QUADRUPLE BOMB onto the packs!!! Colt writhes and now Cutler wants in. Wait, wait, wait! The horse from earlier is galloping out here? He gets up on the apron with Angels and Reynolds, but the Elite knock Angels and Reynolds down! The horse gets in the ring and tries to explain something, but Matt LOW BLOWS him!

The Elite set up, QUADRUPLE B T E TRIGGER! The horse mask is removed, and it’s BRANDON CUTLER?!?! But if he’s been the Dark Order’s hostage, than who’s the marshmallow man…? The Dark Order drags out Omega, Cole and Nick to RAM them into railing! Matt is confused, and the marshmallow man is HANGMAN!! Matt realizes it as he turns around, LARIAT!! Fans are going nuts, Stu climbs up and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS onto the rest of the Elite! And lands on his feet! Omega gets in but gets a DEADEYE!! Silver gets in, he and Hangman set up, torture rack and airplane spinout bomb!! Cover, the ref is back and counts, THE DARK ORDER WINS!!

Winners: The Dark Order, by pinfall

Talk about trick or treat! The trick was in the costume, and the treat is that the Elite taste defeat! But will things taste even sweeter when the Cowboy takes the world title from the Cleaner?

My Thoughts:

What an awesome night right here! For one, a lot of great set-up for Rampage and even next week’s Dynamite. I am glad that Abadon is getting her part with Britt Baker and the women’s world title. A No DQ match is definitely one way to have Britt’s sidekicks interact and be scared by Abadon when she no sells whatever they do, but I’m sure Britt finds a way to win so she doesn’t owe someone a title match before Full Gear. Because if she does lose, I doubt she loses the title to Abadon. I’m still thinking it’ll be Thunder Rosa taking that title off Britt. Could’ve happened a lot sooner but hey, as long as that’s the end goal.

Meanwhile, Cody’s promo really blurred the lines of kayfabe and shoot, mostly with how he said he’d never turn. And Andrade became a “Heel who makes good points” with his response. But naturally, this set up more with this team-up of Andrade and Malakai and likewise, Pac and Cody. Andrade VS Cody is going to be really good, with a weird reversal where the Heel is going to be cheered. I’d love to see them give us Pac VS Malakai, too. Haven’t seen that since Tommy End’s debut in WWE for the UK special years ago. Then of course, there will be a tag match, Malakai & Andrade VS Pac & Cody. If the payoff isn’t Cody actually turning, I feel like this will be for naught.

We got really good promos from the Lucha Bros and FTR, though I’m a little disappointed this isn’t going to be Winners Take All. I don’t know if FTR become dual champions but that would be pretty big for them. Bryan and Kingston have really good promos to hype up their match, and Lio Rush has a good promo in light of the tag match having to change. I’m thinking Lio cheats for Dante behind his back to help Dante win against Matt Sydal. MJF of course squashes the rando, but all the promo stuff was really good. Moxley VS Vance was fast but also brutal. I didn’t think Vance would get busted open, and maybe the Joker mask was brought back just to get torn up.

Fish VS Punk was great stuff, especially to open the night. Sammy VS Ethan was also great, but naturally Sammy won to stay in the Inner Circle and keep things going towards Full Gear. Pretty sure they didn’t need a week to decide the American Top Team members. Well, maybe the other two, because number one will surely be Jorge Masvidal given he’s hit Jericho with the knockout knee twice already. Making it a Street Fight was probably a good move, too, so that the MMA guys don’t have to worry about all the little rules pro-wrestling has. And there can be interference from Dan Lambert and immediate karma on Dan Lambert, too.

Deeb VS Shida was awesome stuff that really built off their previous match. Shida gets her 50th but that damage Deeb did to her, they could easily kayfabe it as Shida is out of the tournament. Then maybe Nyla gets yet another bye to face the winner of Kris Statlander VS Ruby Soho. And there was so much to love in the Halloween costume 8 Man Tag. There were subtle hints of dysfunction in The Elite because both Omega and Cole have combos with The Bucks and they were kinda passive aggressively getting in each other’s way. Then there was the great twist at the end with Hangman being the marshmallow man. Omega VS Hangman is only getting better, the next two weeks will definitely be big in the math.

My Score: 9.3/10