The AEW World Title Eliminator returns!

The road to Full Gear starts here! The AEW World Title Eliminator returns and it kicks off with Freshly Squeezed VS Team Taz’s Powerhouse!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Orange Cassidy VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs; Cassidy wins and advances to the next round.
• Britt Baker w/ Jamie Hayter & Rebel VS Anna Jay; Baker wins.
• PAC VS Andrade El Idolo; Pac wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Opening Round: Orange Cassidy w/ Chuck Taylor VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs w/ Hook!

Freshly Squeezed has come very close to #PrettyPlatinum but he could get back to it through this tournament. But given how banged up he still is from the Casino Ladder Match, does he even stand a chance against Team Taz’s big bad behemoth? Will this be payback for July 7th, 2020 and the 12 second defeat?

The bell rings, fans chant, “We Want Hook!” but Hobbs and Cassidy stare down. Cassidy and Hobbs each dare the other to make the first move. Cassidy goes to put his hands in his pockets but Hobbs rushes in! Cassidy dodges, but Hobbs ducks the punch to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Cassidy survives and bails out! Chuck Taylor is there to check on Cassidy, and “Big Money” Matt is watching from the front row! Hobbs goes out, Chuck backs off, and Hobbs drags Cassidy up to ROCK him in the back with a forearm. Hobbs has fans move aside before he gives Cassidy a back suplex to the railing!

Hobbs stalks Cassidy, refreshes the ring count then tells Cassidy to get his ass up. Cassidy sits up, Hobbs stands Cassidy up and digs his face into the steel steps! Then he CLUBS Cassidy on the back. Hobbs pie faces Cassidy, puts him in the ring and then bends him against the post! The ref counts, Hobbs lets off but Hardy wants more. Hobbs gets in the ring, drags Cassidy to a cover, TWO! Hobbs drags Cassidy up and scoops for a SIDEWALK SLAM! Cassidy writhes but Hobbs snarls as fans rally up. Hobbs picks Cassidy up for another SIDEWALK SLAM! Cassidy flounders to a corner and Hardy laughs as Hobbs looms over him.

Hobbs drags Cassidy up, whips him and scoops, but Cassidy tilt-o-whirls through! Hobbs blocks the DDT with just size! Hobbs throws body shots, shoves Cassidy to ropes then CLOBBERS Cassidy! Hardy wants Cassidy to suffer while AEW goes picture in picture.

Hobbs sees Cassidy get to a corner, runs in corner to corner but Cassidy dodges! Hobbs hits buckles, brings Cassidy up but Cassidy tries to roll him up! Hobbs blocks that, drags Cassidy right up and DECKS him! The ref checks but Cassidy is okay to continue, so Hobbs stalks him to ropes. Hobbs drags Cassidy up to choke him on the ropes! The ref counts, Hobbs lets off, and the ref reprimands. Hobbs just drags Cassidy around, stands on Cassidy’s back and stomps him down. Hobbs brings his kneepad down and then digs his knee into Cassidy’s neck! AEW returns to single picture as fans boo but Hobbs adds a HALF CRAB to the mix!

Fans rally, Cassidy endures and kicks but Hobbs throws him down. Hobbs’ arm is bothering him but he shakes it out. Cassidy gets to a corner, Hobbs throws EuroUppers! Hardy loves this as Hobbs whips Cassidy corner to corner hard! Fans rally for Cassidy as he flounders up but Hobbs whips Cassidy back the other way! Cassidy tumbles up and out to shoulder in and bumps Hobbs off buckles! Then he hotshots Hobbs away! Cassidy climbs, leaps, but Hobbs catches the crossbody to pop it up to a fireman’s carry, and a TORTURE RACK! Cassidy endures, throws elbows and haymakers but Hobbs keeps him in the rack! Cassidy keeps fighting, gets free and fires away on Hobbs’ head!

Cassidy runs, ducks and dodges, tilt-o-whirl but Hobbs again breaks! But then Cassidy turns it into a cradle, TWO!! Elbow pad is off, ORANGE- NO! Hobbs gets under the punch to RAM Cassidy into buckles! Hobbs SPLASHES, the ref wants the ropebreak. Hobbs lets off, but he SPLASHES in again! The ref counts and Hobbs lets off again. The ref tells Hobbs to respect his authority, but Hobbs picks the ref up and moves him aside! The ref tells Hobbs not to do that, Hook tries to calm everything down. Cassidy gets Hobs for the MOUSE TRAP! Cassidy wins!!

Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Hobbs’ aggression perhaps gets the better of him! Now Cassidy has moved on to the next round, awaiting the winner of Preston Vance VS Jon Moxley!

Tony Schiavone is in the ring.

He introduces Alex Abrahantes and Penta El Zero Miedo! Penta and Rey Fenix lost their AAA Tag Team Championships because Andrade and FTR pulled a fast one on them with that “Las Super Ranas” stuff. Fenix is not here, still resting from that belt shot to the face. Schiavone points out they’re still AEW World Tag Team Champions but then Abrahantes points out those guys wearing Las Super Ranas masks. That isn’t FTR, just some dudes! And FTR attacks from behind! Tully mugs Abrahantes! They put Abrahantes into the ring, FTR grab up all the belts and hold them up high. But wait, here comes PAC! The Bastard won’t let The Pinnacle punk out Death Triangle! But will the Lucha Brothers have to put up their AEW belts if they want the AAA belts back?

Britt Baker w/ Jamie Hayter & Rebel VS Anna Jay!

The AEW Women’s World Champion just loves bullying people, but Number 99 isn’t going to stand for it! Will the Queenslayer become a destroyer of dentists here tonight? Or will Britt’s “assistants” help her out in this one?

The bell rings, fans rally and duel, and the two tie up. Jay powers Britt back but Britt pulls hair to put Jay on ropes. The ref counts, Britt lets off at 4, but then she sucker punches Jay! Fans say it along with her, “D! M! D!” but then Jay puts Britt on ropes to ROCK her with forearms! Jay whips, Britt reverses to wrangle Jay down, but Jay slips out the back! Jay wants the sleeper but Britt scrambles away! The two stand off and fans cheer as they go again. They tie up, Britt wrenches to a hammerlock then a headlock for a takeover. Fans duel, Jay rolls but Britt makes it a ghost pin, TWO! Britt wrenches to a wristlock then rolls Jay down to a cover, ONE!

Britt still has the wrist, she wrenches to a wristlock, but Jay endures. Britt hammerlocks, shifts to a full nelson, then spins Jay for a snapmare. Jay slips through to the wristlock! Jay then kicks the arm down to MULE KICK! Jay ROCKS Britt with forearms and puts her in a corner. Jay whips corner to corner, Britt reverses but Jay slips out and Britt hits buckles. Jay HOOK KICKS, then steps in to arm-drag! Britt gets up but Jay catches her for a COMPLETE SHOT! And the KOJI KLUTCH! Britt fights it, gets away and goes to a corner. Fans rally up, Jay storms in but blocks the kick to bring Britt out. Britt ducks a kick, then the punch, and pulls hair! BUCKLE SHOT!

Britt winks to the camera as she digs her boots into Jay. Britt stands Jay up and fires off forearms as AEW goes to break.

Rampage returns and Jay wrenches but Britt blocks the kick! Britt spins Jay to ROCK her with a right! Britt runs, ducks and dodges to SLINGBLADE! She drags Jay up and FISHERMAN SCREWS! Cover, TWO! Jay is still in this and Britt is beside herself. Britt gets her glove from Rebel, storms after Jay and fires forearms. Britt whips, Jay reverses and kicks low to then DDT! Jay keeps moving and basement dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Jay wants the QUEENSLAYER! But Britt scrambles to get the ROPEBREAK! Jay lets Britt go, Rebel coaches Britt up, and Britt rolls Jay into the clinch, and the ghost pin! ONE, and Jay gets Britt into the ghost pin, TWO! They roll and roll, QUEENSLAYER!!

Britt reaches, flails, Hayter calls to her but Jay keeps Britt from the ropes! Britt sits up and stands, Hayter gets on the apron! Britt drops and has the victory roll, TWO! MULE KICK for Britt! Jay DECKS Hayter, then runs in to get the QUEENSLAYER!! Britt gets to a corner and pushes off buckles to drop back on Jay! But Jay keeps the hold and fights off the cover! Fans rally and duel as Britt keeps moving, ROPEBREAK with a foot! Jay lets go in frustration and storms over, into a HOTSHOT! SUPERKICK! And then RINGS OF SATURN, to the LOCKJAW!! Jay taps, Britt wins!

Winner: Britt Baker, by submission

Jay may be Number 99, she was still outnumbered! But Britt isn’t done with Jay as she steps on her, and puts her back in the LOCKJAW! Jay taps but it doesn’t matter now! But here comes TAY CONTI! Tay KICKS Britt off then hammers away! Britt bails out to have her team back her up! Will the Brazilian Blackbelt Beauty break Britt and take that title?

AEW reveals the TBS Championship Tournament bracket!

It’s a 12 woman tournament, with Thunder Rosa, Jade Cargill, Nyla Rose and Kris Statlander getting first round byes! Anna Jay will have to recover and take on Jamie Hayter in the first round, winner facing Rosa! Jade will face the winner of The Bunny VS Red Velvet, Nyla will face the winner of Hikaru Shida VS Serena Deeb, and Statlander faces the winner of Penelope Ford VS Ruby Soho! This tournament begins tomorrow with Saturday Night Dynamite, but who makes it all the way to the end to be the INAUGURAL TBS Champion?

Schiavone interviews the main eventers!

We get an epic rematch, and he asks El Idolo first. No outside interference is possible tonight as all others are banned from ringside! Andrade tells Pac that he beat Pac before, he will beat him tonight. But remember that Andrade has friends around the world. Tonight, he will win easy. Pac’s response is that it is irrelevant what anyone says. The fact of the matter is that this should’ve been settled weeks ago! Andrade El Idolo was beat in the center of the ring, but he had tasers and iPads and dodgy assistants! Tonight, everyone’s banned so here’s what we’ll see: we’ll see revenge for Death Triangle, and maybe then Andrade will stop obsessing over them.

As Mark Henry would say, the talking is done, it’s time for the main event! We see The Bastard and The Idol of Latinos throw down once again, after the break!

PAC VS Andrade El Idolo!

Rampage returns Andrade makes his entrance first. Assistant Jose exits, and Pac makes his entrance. The bell rings, the two stare down and fans fire up already. Pac and Andrade then rush each other, Pac sobats and front kicks, then sidesteps to SNAP GERMAN! Andrade bails out but Pac builds speed to FLY! The Fosbury Flop takes Andrade down and the fans are fired up! Pac stalks Andrade around the way, kicks him down then throws him into railing! “This is wrestling!” as Pac puts Andrade in and climbs up top already! Andrade hurries and trips Pac up! Andrade throws Pac down, stomps a mudhole then fires up.

Fans fire up with “SI! SI! SI!” But Pac avoids the Cien Knees! Pac KICKS, sobats, front kicks, then runs, to BOOT Andrade down! Pac snarls as he watches Andrade get up. Andrade CHOPS, Pac ROCKS him with a forearm. Pac whips corner to corner, Andrade hits buckles and staggers. Cover, ONE! Pac follows Andrade to the apron and boots him. Pac stands on Andrade’s head, the ref counts but Andrade shoves him. Andrade then eggs Pac on, so Pac BOOTS Andrade down! Pac follows Andrade back into the ring as fans rally for the Bastard. Pac KNEES Andrade down, but Andrade eggs him on more! Pac drops a knee and wraps on a chinlock.

Fans rally as Andrade endures. Andrade fights up, throws body shots, and pushes him to a corner. Andrade runs in but Pac slips to the apron, only for Andrade to BOOT him down after all! Pac flops to the floor, Andrade runs and triangle jumps to TORNILLO! Direct hit and both men crash down as fans lose their minds! AEW goes picture in picture as Andrade grits his teeth and gets to his feet.

Andrade hobbles over to Pac, drags him up and put shim in the ring. Cover, ONE! Andrade seethes but he stomps Pac on the back. Pac gets to ropes, Andrade throws body shots and digs his knees in! The ref counts, Andrade lets off and paces. Andrade soaks up the cheers and jeers and he brings Pac around for a chinlock. Andrade even traps an arm as he pulls on the head, but Pac still endures. Pac scoots around, and he gets a ROPEBREAK with a foot. Andrade drags Pac, sits him up and runs side to side to RWECK Pac with a dropkick! Pac ends up hanging halfway out the ring, and Andrade goes out to bring him down.

Andrade drags Pac up to fireman’s carry, and then SNAKE EYES Pac off the apron! Pac writhes while clutching his face, Andrade gets in the ring to gloat and soak up the heat. The ring count climbs, Pac flounders up, fans rally and Pac gets in at 9! Andrade is furious and he stomps away on Pac! The ref counts, Andrade lets off, and he drags Pac up. Andrade whips Pac to a corner, runs in but Pac dodges! Pac brings Andrade around but Andrade blocks the suplex. They fight for control, and Andrade snap suplexes! AEW returns as Andrade rolls and gets up, that was just Uno Amigo! Andrade snap suplexes again, Dos Amigos! Andrade gets up again, THREE AMIGOS!

Fans cheer for “EDDIE! EDDIE!” and Andrade covers, TWO! Fans fire up while Andrade grows frustrated. Andrade drags Pac up, waistlocks, but Pac resists the lift. Pac elbows but Andrade holds on, so Pac throws more elbows! Pac throws an extra one then runs, but into a BOOT! Pac is on the ropes, Andrade slingshots, but Pac moves and Andrade crashes ‘n’ burns off his wrecking ball dropkick! Pac goes to the apron, to FLYING RANA! Andrade crashes into the chair in the corner! Fans lose their minds yet again while Pac goes back to the corner. Andrade staggers up, Pac climbs, ARIHARA MOONSAULT!! Direct hit and down go both men!!

Fans are thunderous for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” while the ref checks on both men. They’re both okay to continue, somehow, and Pac gets up. Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” but it has to end at some point! Pac puts Andrade in, and he climbs up the corner again. Andrade springs up, Pac hops down and GAMANGIRIS! Then he SLINGSHOT CUTTERS! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Pac is seething! Pac clamps on, BRUTALIZER! But Andrade scrambles around, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Pac lets go slowly, Andrade goes to the apron, but Pac brings him u p. Andrade HOTSHOTS Pac down! Andrade drags Pac up and wants to suplex?!

Pac resists and lands on the apron. Andrade forearms, Pac gives it back! They throw forearms back and forth, but Andrade CHOPS! Pac is stinging, Andrade brings him around to a BACKBREAKER to ELBOW DROP DDT to the apron! Fans fire up again and Andrade shoves Pac inside. Andrade climbs back to the apron, brings Pac through the ropes, and he slingshots to slingshot and APRON DDT!!! That was double-edged with how Andrade hit the edge with his back and fans lose their minds again! Andrade gets up while Pac barely stirs. Andrade hobbles over, brings Pac up and puts him in the ring. Andrade has Pac in a drop zone and he climbs up, but Pac trips him up!

Andrade lands on his huevos, Pac drags himself up! Fans chant, “CERO HUEVOS!” and Pac is on the very top. Pac brings Andrade up, for a SUPER BRAINBUSTER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Andrade survives and no one can believe it! Andrade sits up to SLAP Pac! Pac SLAPS back! Andrade SLAPS, Pac SLAPS, it is a SLAP fight! Then it turns to boxing elbows! Andrade runs but blocks the superkick, only to get the SUPERKICK on the return! POISON-RANA!! Pac runs but into the boot feint and ELBOW!! Andrade brings Pac around, but Pac back drops and sits down, TWO! Sunset flip, TWO!! Andrade kicks hammerlocks, but Pac makes it a cradle! PAC WINS!!

Winner: PAC, by pinfall

But wait! The lights go out?! We saw the finish but what’s going on now?! The lights come up, and MALAKAI BLACK is there?! El Idolo and the Bastard both stare at the Dark Father, but PAC gets the mist!! Malakai stomps down Pac, and it seems he’s on Andrade’s die! Is this one of the friends he talked about? Malakai fetches a chair as Andrade brings Pac up. But wait! Here comes ARN! And he aims his finger gun to say BANG. Here’s CODY! Cody fights Andrade AND Malakai! Cody fires off on Malakai but then he adds Andrade! Cody clotheslines Andrade out, Malakai boots, but runs into the POWERSLAM!

Fans are fired up as the American Nightmare is back again! And Cody sees the chair Malakai brought in, and he picks it up! Cody aims, but Malakai bails out! But there’s only 24 hours between now and the trilogy’s finale! Will Cody get his revenge on Malakai to punctuate Saturday Night Dynamite?

My Thoughts:

An awesome Rampage that again leads into Dynamite. Cassidy VS Hobbs was great stuff to open both the night and the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament, and it was great character stuff to also have Matt Hardy in the front row. Cassidy winning makes sense because he’ll surely be facing Moxley next round, because the seed was planted when Moxley crushed Wheeler Yuta, Cassidy’s protégé. Britt VS Jay was a great match, probably one of Jay’s best yet. But between being champion and having her sidekicks, Britt was of course going to win. But Jay and Hayter are facing each other round one in the TBS Championship Tournament, I bet Jay gets her revenge that way.

I also like that the tournament has seeded entries and a first round bye. It makes the rankings matter in kayfabe outside of a #1 contender facing the champion, and can/should definitely be the standard for AEW since they have so many people in all divisions. However, Rosa and Jade are on the same side of the bracket so they’re meeting before the finals, so that is already pretty telling for who wins the TBS Championship and who gets to have their match with Britt. Then we got an almost PPV level match out of PAC VS Andrade, and Pac winning makes sense for the feud so that they can have a tiebreaker.

And how awesome for Malakai and Cody to show up. Malakai and Andrade could start a stable from here, and fans actually got on Cody’s side for a moment here. Cody VS Malakai III is going to be awesome, but with Malakai having won the first two and Arn putting this new edge into Cody, I feel like Cody has to find a way to win. Then they can both finally move on to other things. Malakai and Andrade might even go after the TNT Championship once The Inner Circle’s done with American Top Team.

My Score: 8.9/10