AEW’s speeding up towards Full Gear!

AEW’s tournaments roll on as Anna Jay looks to be the Star of the Show against Jamie Hayter, with the winner facing Thunder Rosa!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kenny Omega w/ Michael Nakazawa VS Alan Angels; Omega wins.
• AAA Tag Team Championships Open Challenge: FTR w/ Tully Blanchard VS Samuray Del Sol & Aerostar; FTR wins and retains the titles.
• AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: Anna Jay VS Jamie Hayter; Hayter wins and advances to the next round.
• Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Andrade El Idolo w/ Jose; Andrade wins.
• AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Semifinals: Orange Cassidy VS Miro; Miro wins and advances to Full Gear.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW hopes the best for Jon Moxley.

As first shared on Twitter by Tony Khan, Jon Moxley is coming to terms with his personal demons, and we here, too, at the Chairshot wish him well.

Kenny Omega w/ Michael Nakazawa VS Alan Angels!

The Cleaner opens Dynamite against a man who’s proven he can keep with him. Independence is fired up for this one, but will Omega have smooth sailing into Full Gear?

The bell rings and Angels SHOTGUNS Omega! Angels fires off in the corner, stomps away on Omega, but lets off as the ref counts. Omega comes back with a hard kick down low! Omega CHOPS Angels, CHOPS him again, then chokes him against the ropes! The ref counts, fans boo and Omega lets off at 4. Omega CLUBS Angels, CHOPS him again, and fans taunt Omega with “KENNY NO BALLS!” Omega CLUBS Angels more, digs his boots in at the corner, but lets off at 4 again. Omega comes back for more and applauds himself but the ref counts again. Omega lets off at 4, whips Angels but Angels rolls and dodges and things speed up, calf kick from Angels! Cover, ONE!

Angels brings Omega up but Omega pokes him in the eye! Fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Omega reels Angels in for a back suplex. Angels lands on his feet, bobs ‘n’ weaves but swings into a full nelson! Angels arm-drags out and Omega goes to a corner. Angels runs in but into a boot! Omega runs in to KOTARO KRUSHER! And then he KICKS Angels right in the side! Omega runs to pie face STO Angels down! Cover, TWO! Omega slashes the throat, drags Angels up and reels him in to hook the leg. AOI SHODOU! Angels flounders, Omega takes aim and BANG! Omega runs but Angels dodges the V-Trigger to roll him up! TWO!!

Omega runs in, blocks the boot and puts Angels on the apron. Angels GAMANGIRIS, then he dodges Omega! Angels builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit into the railing! Angels drags Omega up, but Omega RAMS him into the apron! Omega snarls as he RAMS Angels into the railing! Omega has a wild grin as he brings Angels around RAM him into the apron edge. Angels stands and Omega CHOPS him! Omega whips, Angels tiger feints to kick from the apron! Angels goes up the corner to ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Direct hit again! Angels puts Omega in the ring, climbs up top and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up and Angels hurries back to the corner. Angels climbs, Dark Order pose, FROG SPLASH onto knees! Omega saves himself and reels Angels in for a BUCKLE BOMB! And then a whip to a pop-up SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Angels survives and Omega is frustrated. Omega drags Angels up, reels him in again and underhooks the arms. Angels resists the lift, Omega keeps trying. Omega throws down palm strike after strike to Angels’ neck! Fans rally and duel as Omega gets Angels back up. Omega underhooks again but Angels fights free! Omega ROCKS him with a forearm but Angels gives it back! Omega hits again, Angels KICKS the leg!

Omega hobbles, JABS, JABS, and Angels responds with forearms! Angels runs but into a CHOP! Omega reels Angels in to full nelson but Angeles breaks free! Angels goes to run but Omega reels him in to CLUB him! Electric Chair, but Angels sunset flips, TWO!! Omega V-TRIGGERS! Cover, TWO!! Omega was too cocky with that cover and fans are fired up! Omega kicks Angels back to ropes, takes aim again, BANG! V-TRIGGER! Omega keeps going, another V-TRIGGER! Cover, Omega wins!

Winner: Kenny Omega, by pinfall

Nakazawa gets the AEW World Champion a mic to tell Angels, “I never had a chance to thank you. You embarrassed me, you ruined my career, and from that, you gave yourself a great opportunity. But as the God of Pro-Wrestling, Angels, I have the power to giveth, and I have the power to taketh away. Nakazawa, give me the chair.” Nakazawa fetches the chair, just as Omega said. Omega kicks the chair to center and drags Angels over. Electric Chair lift, but here comes HANGMAN! Fans fire up and Omega is panicking! Nakazawa runs up but gets clobbered! Angels snatches the chair away, too! Slingshot, but Omega ducks the Buckshot just in time!

Hangman stares Omega down, and look what Omega left in the ring! Hangman sees the title, and picks it up! Hangman grins as he tells Omega, “I think you forgot something. So I’ll play nice, I’ll lay it right here. You better hold tight to it, you’ve got ten days.” Will the Cowboy take the title from the Best Bout Machine when they finally face off at Full Gear?

Malakai Black speaks.

“Why do men of power always think that their decisions serve more than their own interests?” Tony Khan’s decision to bar Malakai from ringside tonight will not affect anything. It will not change the outcome of this match. And do you know why this decision won’t have an affect? When they assassinated Caesar, it wasn’t just Markus that betrayed him. Ominous words from the Dark Father. Does that mean someone closer to Cody Rhodes is ready to betray him and join the House of Black?

CM Punk heads to the ring!

Independence rocks out for the Best in the World as he gets the mic. The fans chant his name as he squats in the ring. He’s sorry for not doing a stage dive. He’s not in the best mood. He just wants a few minutes to talk to us seriously. “There’s two people who aren’t here today, and one has a very legitimate reason as to not be here, and that’s the name I want to hear chanted, and that’s Jon Moxley.” Fans do chant for Moxley, and then Punk says he could spend all his time listening to that because it is important to him.

Punk has history with Jon Moxley. They’re not super tight or best of friends, but last night, Punk’s traveling here and he gets a phone call. He gets the situation explained to him, and he knows what it’s like to go and go and have to think you’re so tough and be sick yet show up to work and all these things that get compounded. Eventually, it gets to a point where you have to take yourself off the hamster wheel. He’s been criticized for it. But he doesn’t want anyone criticizing Moxley because Punk is so damn proud of him.

And he’ll say one last thing about it: If anyone here or watching at home is in a place where you think you need help, get help! Reach out, text or call someone! There’s nothing harder than you could do but also nothing more courageous. There’ve been plenty of times Punk thought about getting help but didn’t because he thought he was being a tough guy.

Now to the second guy that’s not here tonight… Eddie Kingston. Kingston’s not here so Punk can’t ask him to his face so he has to do this. It might be embarrassing but Punk felt Kingston was embarrassing himself last week. Punk doesn’t like being interrupted, so here we are. Punk doesn’t know what fabricated story Kingston has in his head, maybe there was something Punk did years ago, but there’s no such thing. Fans want him to fight Kingston, and Punk would, but Kingston isn’t here. Fans chant for Full Gear, and Full Gear is an option, but St. Louis is right up the road, so if Kingston has the balls, because Punk has the time, that’s where Punk will accept an apology.

And Punk will leave us with this. Because Moxley isn’t here, there’s a spot open in the title eliminator tournament, and Punk was going to fill that after settling up with Kingston. But now you don’t get that, you don’t get Punk VS Orange Cassidy, you don’t get possibly Punk VS Danielson at Full Gear. Don’t boo Punk, boo Kingston who thinks he’s somebody. Friday, Punk finds out exactly who Kingston is! The Best in the World just called out the Mad King for Rampage, will they go on a rampage in St. Louis?

Miro speaks.

“My God, I cursed you, I warned you, I threatened you. And then I waited patiently. And now the word comes in that The Redeemer, God’s Forsaken Champion, has been put in the title race all of a sudden. Is that you trying to help me? Or are you trying to toy with me? When I look up in anger, do you look down in fear? Because in this tournament, it is you who needs to prove yourself to me, like I need to prove myself to her. For my road home is clear now, and it is going to be paved with skulls with those who dare to stand in front of me! I will be champion! I will be forgiven! I will be loved! And then, you will be forgiven.” Will Orange Cassidy be living on a prayer against the wrath of Miro?

Backstage interview with The Super Kliq.

Alex Marvez is with Adam Cole, The Young Bucks and even Brandon Cutler, pointing out that Full Gear is coming. What is the plan for them? First of all, last week was 100% a fluke! Something like that will never happen again! And do you know why? Because he and the Bucks will remind everyone how bad they are! Nick Jackson says they’re tough guys! They’re not afraid of anyone! But then Christian Cage walks in. Matt Jackson tells him not to do anything stupid. It’s 3v1 (Cutler doesn’t count) and they’ll just beat him down like last time. Bad move, alright? But then LUCHASAURUS walks in! The Bucks try and talk this out, then try to walk away.

But then they throw hands, only to get thrown around! Christian fires hands on Cole while Luchasaurus takes care of both Bucks! And this spills out towards the arena area, just off to the side of the stage! The brawling continues but then  Matt LOW BLOWS Luchasaurus! Cole whips Christian into the stage! The Super Kliq regroup to whip Luchasaurus into barriers! But wait! JUNGLE BOY FLIES IN from the stage!! Him being tossed last week did nothing to keep him out of this fight! But then Matt gets up to throat chop him! Matt goes up towards the stage, Christian SPEARS him down!

Christian brings Matt to the metal light structure, gets the arms, but Nick is there! SUPERKICK! The Bucks regroup, Cole crawls out from the tunnel as Luchasaurus stalks behind him! Luchasaurus choke grips the Bucks, throws Matt down and JB RANAS Matt down the ramp! Luchasaurus uppercuts Nick, headbutts Cole, and JB positions Cole for Luchasaurus to CHOKE SLAM Nick onto Cole! JB puts Cole in the SNARE TRAP! Luchasaurus TOSSES Nick down the ramp to join Matt! Christian returns and has CHAIRS! Christian wants to go Rated R as he puts Cole on one chair and gets the other! CON-CHAIR-TO!!

Cole twitches, fans want “One More Time!” but Christian leaves it at this. Will Captain Charisma and the Jurassic Express run through Super Kliq now that they’re back to 100%?

AEW hears from TBS Championship Tournament competitors.

Ruby Soho says that when Tony Khan first announced this tournament, it was monumental for the company. Kris Statlander knows she hasn’t faced Ruby before, but she’s known about her longer than Ruby’s known about Kris. Ruby says she is a big fan of Kris’, and admits this will be one hell of a match. The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien doesn’t need a title to prove herself, but it couldn’t hurt. Ruby’s nervous, but confident. Who comes out of the quarterfinals one step closer to that historic new title?

AAA Tag Team Championships Open Challenge: FTR w/ Tully Blanchard VS Samuray Del Sol & Aerostar!

Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler were very specific, and very sneaky, about this open challenge. It was open to any two luchadors not named Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo. But will they #FeelTheRegret giving this chance to a duo they don’t know? Or will they actually prove they’re the best luchadors in the world today?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Dax & Cash can put their money where their mouths are!

The teams sort out and Cash sneaks up on Samuray. They circle, tie up, Cash powers Samuray to a corner. The ref calls for the break, Samuray avoids the cheap shot and headlocks. Cash powers out but Samuray headstands to handspring and headscissor! Dax gets in but a get a dropkick, too! Tag to Aero but FTR bails out. FTR regroups with Tully for a “timeout,” and take their time returning. Cash gets back in, tags to Dax, and now Dax circles with Aerostar. Aero shows off with his endless handsprings! Fans fire up, Dax flips him off! Dax and Aero tie up, Dax puts Aero in a corner and fires off hands! The ref counts, Dax stomps and CHOPS Aero, then throws uppercuts!

Dax tags in Cash, FTR double whip Aero but he goes up and up and TORNILLO Body attacks! Samuray gets in and gets a boost to double dropkick FTR out of the ring! Samuray springboards to SENTON! Aero runs and ESCALARA! Direct hit on Dax, Samuray starts up the “LUCHA! LUCHA!” chants. Aero puts FTR in then climbs up top to leap, but the double rana is blocked for a HOTSHOT! Cash covers, TWO! Cash is annoyed as AEW goes picture in picture.

Cash mocks the lucha chants, drags Aero to the FTR corner, and Dax gets his cheap shots in while the ref is busy with Cash and Samuray. Even Tully gets in on it as he chokes Aerostar on ropes! Cash hushes the fans then goes back to Aerostar. Cash drags Aero up, chokes him on ropes, but lets off as the ref counts. Cash tags Dax, FTR double suplex Aero to hang him out to dry! Aero flops to the floor, Dax goes out to fetch him and CHOP him against the railing! And then whips him into more railing! Dax gets in the face of some Aerostar fans then puts Aerostar in the ring. Aerostar gets away but just misses the tag! Dax tags in Cash, FTR mugs Aero in their corner!

Cash brings Aerostar up, scoops and RAMS him into the buckles! Aero ends up in a Tree of Woe, Dax tags in, and FTR go corner to corner to double basement dropkick! Cash tags back in, Dax DECKS Samuray, and FTR mocks the lucha chants before Cash whips Dax in! Aero sits up as AEW returns to single picture, and Dax gets posted up the middle! Cash runs over and CLUBS Aero, but Aero fights back with elbows! Cash falls, Aero adjusts, and Aero DIVES onto Dax!! They wipe out into railing, Aero hobbles back to the ring as fans lose their minds, and Cash stands to get a TRUST FALL! Hot tag to Samuray! Samuray CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!

Samuray fires off on Cash, mule kicks and front kicks! Dax gets in and gets kicks, too, but FTR double whip! They double back drop but Samuray lands on his feet! And does the splits! Aero jumps in to try the double rana again, but he’s caught! So Samuray double missile dropkicks them down! Samuray covers, TWO! Cash survives, Aerostar tags back in. They double whip Cash, then Aero runs in but is put on the apron. Samuray runs in, dodges Cash’s clothesline and comes back, Cash pops him up but he RANAS Dax! Aero RANAS Cash! Double rana covers, TWO!! Tully coaches FTR up but Darby Allin is watching from the shadows!

FTR regroup, Aero ducks and dodges but is put on the ropes. Aero body scissors Dax out, Samuray fires off on Cash! Cash blocks a clothesline to Gory Especial but Samuray slips out! Cash fights off the Shiranui but Samuray slips out of the suplex! Waistlock, switch, SOLINA DEL SOL!! Aerostar springboards and SPLASHES! Cover, Dax breaks it up! Dax drags and throws Aerostar down, but Samuray DIVES, only to be sent into barriers! Dax gets Samuray up, BRAINBUSTER to the floor! Aero BOOTS Dax down, ROCKS Cash, slips under and jumps up to victory roll! TWO!! Cash has it, and the ropes!! FTR win!!

Winners: FTR, by pinfall (still AAA Tag Team Champions)

Another sneaky win for The Pinnacle, but a close one at that! Will their luck run out when the Lucha Brothers come #ForTheirRevenge with the AEW World Tag Team titles on the line?

Backstage interview with Hikaru Shida.

Tony Schiavone presents Shida with a properly repaired 50th win trophy. But Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero walk in to sarcastically applaud. Congratulations! What a ride, what a journey, to get to 50. There were some speed bumps, but now she’s hitting a full on roadblock! Because very soon, it is Shida VS Nyla in the TBS Championship Tournament. Enjoy 50 wins. How long did it take her to get there? Nyla says she and Vickie are going to celebrate, because it’ll be an easy win for them. How’s that leg, by the way? The Full Metal Warrior knows she’s going into a battle with the Native Beast at less than 100%, but can she find the heart to overcome those odds?

The Inner Circle heads to the ring!

Independence serenades Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz with their rendition of Judas as they make their way down the ramp. Jericho gets the mic to shout out Kansas City! Last week, Sammy Guevara, the TNT Champion, the Spanish God, won against Ethan Page, which means at Full Gear, 10 Man Street Fight, Inner Circle VS Men of the Year & American Top Team, but Inner Circle gets to choose who faces them at Full Gear! But speaking of, here come The Men of the Year and American Top Team. Dan Lambert would really like to leave this “shi*tstain city” ASAP so let’s get this over with!

Jericho sees Lambert, Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page, and the rest on stage and says, “What an ugly collection of dumb idiots right here.” American Top Team, led by their mascot, “Dan ‘Don’t Call Me Dipsh*t’ Lambert.” Lambert won’t stand for the chants, and defends his face is not that fat! But Jericho, you need to put some respect on his name. He founded this team 25 years ago and made it the greatest gym in the history of the business! That makes him American Top Team member #1! But he has a collection of killers for Jericho to choose from, and an open contract signed by them. So let’s just get started. Fans want Lambert to STFU as the contract is brought down to the ring.

Lambert hopes they pull up a table for four and a high chair for lil’ Sammy, and allow Lambert to go over their menu selection. The main course will be the Men of the Year. The three selections from the MMA portion of the menu starts with former UFC Heavyweight Champions, Andrei Arlovski and Junior Dos Santos! Andrei has the most victories in the HISTORY of the UFC Heavyweight Division! And he knows they’re proud of Big Jake Hager’s Bellator record, but let’s not get a big head over it. Oh, too late. So bigger head. But there’s not one but two undefeated Bellator stars in “Hercules” Dalton Rosta and Austin Vanderford!

These Johnny Come Lately fans may not remember, but the Road Warriors used to say they snacked on danger, and dined on death. Hopefully the Inner Circle has a similar appetite. Time to pick your poison! Well… The contract is here, so they can choose any members. Hager starts it off by calling out Junior Dos Santos! Hager doesn’t want to say Dos Santos looks stupid, but he does look like Popeye. At Full Gear, the Inner Circle will drop him faster than his last fight, aka 71 seconds. That is pretty fast. Santana steps up and calls out Arlovski! He calls himself the pitbull? Hopefully not cuz of that pointy teeth BS he be wearing.

But check it, he’s always had rules and regulations to protect him. But what happens when there are no rules, there are no regulations! You want someone to bite? Bite this! Lambert says these guys belong in this town, because they’re just as dirty and rude. But before they make their third selection, speaking of disrespectful pieces of slime, Jericho had some nasty things to say about Paige VanZant back in Miami! Austin wants in this match for that reason! Austin gets the mic but Paige takes it to say she doesn’t need a man to fight her fights. They should put HER name down, because her schedule’s wide open! And Chris, there isn’t a filter out there that will hide the beating she’ll give him.

Y’know what? Given the look of those tight pants, no one in the Inner Circle has the BALLS to take her on! She could take them all five, by herself! Wait, she wants to take on all five of them by herself? Well that joke writes itself, doesn’t it? Maybe they can put it on her OnlyFans page. Ortiz wants to ask a serious question, and asks it in Spanish. Paige asks what Ortiz just said. Sammy translates it to, “You’re a bitch.” But alright, alright. The Inner Circle knows they have to choose one more. They could choose Paige, she’s tough as nails. They could choose her hubby, Austin Vanderford. They could choose that other guy.

But they are thinking about it, and choosing the guy who said he’s the number one member of American Top Team. Lambert freaks out and says he didn’t mean that literally! They choose DAN LAMBERT!! Fans are loving that! Lambert says check the tape! But he said any member of the American Top Team, and then said he was member number one! If Independence heard that right, say, “Fat Faced Dips*it!” Lambert tells them to shut up but it’s too late! See you at Full Gear so they can kick your asses!!

Backstage interview with Lio Rush, Dante Martin, Matt Sydal & Lee Moriarty.

Tony Schiavone says third time was the charm, what a match we saw on Friday’s Rampage between Sydal and Dante. Matt wants to say something: Congratulations, Dante Martin. Everything Sydal saw in him came to fruition in that match, and he still believes in him. And if Dante still wants to train with Lio and not Sydal, that’s fine. He has plenty of people he can train, such as Lee Moriarty! There is a lot of talent here, and they will go to the top. So let’s see if they mix it up with them! Oh, is that a challenge? Listen, Lio knows who Moriarty is. Very talented wrestler.

But make no mistake, he is not more talented than Dante Martin. Especially not with Lio in his corner. So challenge accepted! They will be ready, and Sydal better be ready to be on the highest flight. Then it sounds like a great tag team match in the works!

AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: Anna Jay VS Jamie Hayter w/ Britt Baker & Rebel!

The Queenslayer has a score to settle with The Doctor and her crew, but she’ll have to settle for getting at one of the sidekicks first. Will Number 99 keep it 100 and take on the number one seed, Thunder Rosa? Or will Hayter make Jay hate her even more?

The bell rings, Jay and Hayter circle, tie up, and Hayter powers Jay to ropes. The ref counts, Hayter lets off and Jay ducks the sucker punch to kick low! Jay headlocks, Hayter powers out, but Jay runs her over! Hayter gets up, Jay headlocks to a takeover! Hayter headscissors but Jay kips free to get another headlock. Hayter throws body shots, gets the headlock for herself but Jay throws body shots. Jay powers out, elbows Hayter down then covers, ONE! Hayter gets to ropes, Jay is after her but Hayter throws Jay out! Hayter brings Jay around to whip, but Jay reverses to send Hayter into railing! Hayter crashes hard but Jay dares her to get up, so she can kick her down!

Jay puts Hayter in the ring, Jay gets in the ropes but Hayter BOOTS her down! Hayter stomps away on Jay as AEW goes picture in picture.

Hayter brings Jay up, bumps her off buckles, then dusts off her hands before she whips Jay corner to corner. Jay bounces off buckles, Hayter digs her boots into her at the ropes! The ref counts, Hayter lets off at 4 then drags Jay up. Hayter suplexes hard, covers, TWO! Hayter is annoyed and Britt argues the count on her behalf. Hayter brings Jay up, Jay throws body shots but Hayter clubs and stomps her own. Jay comes back with fast hands, then pulls hair! Hayter pulls hair to throw Jay down! Hayter tosses her hair and talks some trash before she drags Jay up and CLUBS her on the back. Hayter stalks Jay, kicks her around, stomps her, then throws her down again.

Hayter steps on Jay for a cocky cover, TWO! Hayter grins and brings Jay up to throw forearms. Hayter has Jay in the corner, she throws more forearms then stomps a mudhole into Jay! The ref backs Hayter off, Britt is there to talk trash while Hayter wraps an arm around ropes and pulls! The ref pulls Hayter back, but Britt chokes Jay! Hayter drags Jay up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Hayter is annoyed again as AEW returns to single picture. Hayter has an arm, kicks at Jay but Jay throws body shots! Hayter CLUBS Jay, whips her to ropes, but Jay throws Hayter down! And again! Jay bumps Hayter off buckles, then off more buckles!

Jay whips corner to corner, runs in and HEEL KICKS! Jay brings Hayter around, roars, DDT! Cover, TWO!! Hayter survives and Britt is relieved. Jay wraps on a sleeper! Not quite the Queenslayer but Hayter throws her off! Jay gets up and ducks a clothesline, QUEENSLAYER! Rebel gets in, the ref is distracted and Britt grabs at Jay! Jay lets Hayter go to glare at Britt, but Hayter CLOBBERS Jay from behind! Hayter runs to LARIAT! Cover, Hayter wins!

Winner: Jamie Hayter, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Anna Jay couldn’t win against the unofficial 3v1, and now she gets mugged for it! But here comes TAY CONTI! Britt runs off so Tay fires off on Rebel and Hayter! Britt comes back but gets DECKED! Conti DECKS Hayter then BOOTS Britt down!! And then gives some ground ‘n’ pound! But now she gets mugged by the henchwomen! Rebel gives Britt her belt to put under Conti’s face, but here comes THUNDER ROSA! Rosa has her own beef with Team Britt and she SHOTGUNS Hayter down! Britt retreats, will she be able to survive Tay Conti at Full Gear? Will Rosa tear into Hayter as the next best thing to tearing into Britt?

Mark Sterling and Jade Cargill speak.

Smart Mark says, “Everyone knows that Jade Cargill has a bye in the TBS title tournament, and obviously that’s because of her unbelievable, amazing, undefeated record.” But this Friday, they will watch closely as we see Red Velvet VS The Bunny. But Jade sighs and says it doesn’t even matter who wins, and Sterling agrees, it doesn’t matter who wins. Because whoever wins will meet their ultimate demise, Jade Cargill. And Jade plans on making this short and sweet to rename that title #ThatBitchShow. But who gets to be part of the “pilot” of that show in the quarterfinal round?

MJF is here!

Maxwell Jacob Friedman swaggers out on stage alone and has the music cut as he heads down to the ring. “Let’s cut through the bull, huh, Darby? When all these fresh new faces came into this company, all the boys in the back were sweating bullets. But not us, man. Nah. Cuz we’re pillars. We know for a fact without us, this company doesn’t work.” MJF gets in the ring as he continues. “And out of all the pillars, I mean, we’re already top guys. Have been for awhile. And don’t get me wrong, the other two guys are great, Darby, but they’re not us. Because we have ‘it.’ We’ve had it way before Dynamite ever existed. These fans know who we are, and they know damn well what we’re going to become, and that, my friend, is legendary.

“So why is it that they boo me, and cheer you?” MJF says it used to make him really, really mad, and he’d even lose sleep over it. And he’s not deaf, he hears them every single week. They chant Darby’s name at the top of their lungs. They even do it now. And then it hit him. Of course they hate MJF! He reminds them of their perfect, successful boss, brother, step, ex, hell! He is a symbol of everything everyone wishes they could be, but simply can’t. But Darby is one of them! A misfit, an outcast, “an incel who can barely string together four words.” Darby claims to live life with reckless abandonment, but not because he’s too cool for school. It’s because deep down, he’s not good enough to be a normal, functioning member of society.

The people love Darby because they’re just like him. “You’ll never fit in, and you’ll never win. And sure, Darberino, you might be cool and brooding Darby Allin outside of the ring, but once you step foot in it, that all goes away, doesn’t it?” Darby lets his emotions get the best of him. He goes from proficient pro-wrestler to glorified stuntman. At Full Gear, Darby will lose to MJF because mentally, he’s weak. Darby will lose because he will be too concerned with battering MJF than beating him. He will lose because MJF is better than him, and he knows it. “And one more thing!”

Let’s just say that by some grace of God, Darby changes his ways in 10 days and he doesn’t come running at MJF like a brainless hyena. That’s great, bud, but MJF is still a better wrestler. There is a reason no one has beaten him clean in the ring, and it’s because he’s that damn good! It’s easy to overlook that, Darbs, because when someone is even a fraction as good as MJF on the mic, they can’t hang in the ring. And unfortunately for Darby and the mindless fans, Darby will find out that MFJ breaks the mold. MJF is so much better in the squared circle, he could beat Darby with a headlock takeover.

Darby has a mic and says, “Max. I am an outcast. I’m everything you called me. And at Full Gear, I’m not gonna attack you with my skateboard. I will keep my composure, and we will have a wrestling match. Because I’m gonna let my anger out right now tonight.” Darby heads for the ring and MJF eggs the fans on. “You wanna see it? Too bad.” MJF heads out of the ring before Darby gets there, but Sting and some Darby followers block MJF’s way! MJF is scared back to the ring, but then Shawn Spears and Wardlow rush in to fight the followers! MJF watches that brawl, but he sees Darby is creeping up towards the ring! MJF eggs Darby on, and they brawl in the front row!

Fabs get a preview up close and personal, but MJF rakes Darby’s eyes! And whips him into a barrier! MJF throws off his jacket and shouts at the fans, then he drags Darby back up to bowl off chairs! MJF brings Darby back to the ring, whips, but Darby reverses and MJF hits railing! Darby dribbles MJF’s head off the railing! Fans fire up with Darby as he gets space to run back in and CLOBBERS MJF up and over the railing!! Darby gets MJF up and into the ring! Darby’s up top in a hurry but MJF bails out just as fast! Fans boo as MJF runs around the ring and back to the crowd! Darby stares MJF down from the top rope, and now MJF is the one that’s furious! Will this explode into a fight no matter what either man says?

Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Andrade El Idolo w/ Jose!

The American Nightmare thought he’d settled things with Malakai Black, but things took a twisted turn as the Face of Latinos joined Malakai’s side. Andrade has called out Cody’s entitled and perhaps deluded ego, but will this battle of multi-generational stars end the way Andrade wants?

The bell rings and the two circle as they stare down. Fans rally and duel and Andrade SLAPS Cody! Cody ducks the clothesline to SLAP, kick and Rhodes Uppercut! Cody puts Andrade in a corner to fire off! Cody climbs, rains down fists and gets all the way to 9 before topping it off with the tenth! Cody then wrenches, whips corner to corner, but Andrade reverses. Cody tumbles up and out but Andrade goes out to join him! They brawl, Cody gets the edge but Andrade BOOTS! Cody drops down to TRIP Andrade! Andrade rolls into the ring, Cody slides in and reels him in to put up top! Cody climbs up behind Andrade, Andrade elbows him away!

Andrade adjusts, leaps but Cody anti-air dropkicks him down! Cody kicks and throws more hands, then runs to go up and up, only for Andrade to shove him out! Cody hits the floor, the ref keeps Andrade in, and AEW goes picture in picture.

Arn checks on Cody, Andrade wants after Cody but Cody hobbles. Andrade slips out other side to run around the way and CHOP BLOCK Cody down! Jose applauds Andrade while Cody gets up, Andrade throws a CHOP but Cody throws a fan’s water bottle! Andrade kicks Cody down, drags Cody up and into the ring, then stalks up behind him to KICK the leg out! Andrade stomps Cody down then fires up and fans fire up with him. Andrade stomps, gets a leg and turns Cody over to a HALF CRAB! Andrade twists the leg at an angle, Cody endures, turns over and throws hands! Cody is free but Andrade comes back to KNEE him down! Andrade paces while Cody is on the ropes, and AEW goes to break.

AEW returns as Andrade gets himself back in the ring. Cody hobbles up, Andrade reels him in but Cody elbows him back! Andrade CLUBS Cody, runs, but Cody follows to rally with forearms and clotheslines! Cody scoops and RUNNING POWERSLAMS! Cody fires up, fans are divided and Andrade stands. Cody kicks low, reels Andrade in and underhooks, but Andrade slips out. Cody ROCKS him with a forearm, runs but into the boot feint ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives and drags himself to the corner where Arn’s coaching him up. Andrade drags Cody up and stomps a mudhole into him! Andrade grins and fans are also divided as he goes corner to corner.

Cody denies the knees by hitting a LARIAT! Cody calls for it, waits for Andrade to stand and goes for the dragon sleeper. Andrade spins it to snap suplex! Uno amigo! Another snap suplex, Dos Amigos! One more, but Cody fights it as fans chant for Eddie! Cody powers Andrade back but Andrade snap suplexes him into buckles! Three Amigos with something a little extra! Andrade fires up again, fans chant “SI! SI! SI!” and Andrade comes in with CIEN KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives again but Andrade grits his teeth. Andrade puts Cody in a drop zone, goes up top, and SPLIT LEG- NO! Cody avoids the moonsault, comes back to waistlock, but Andrade elbows out hard!

Andrade throws hands, Cody throws them back! Cody JABS and JABS and JABS and JABS! Flip, flop, fly, BIONIC ELBOW! Cody runs, but Andrade BOOTS him straight up! Andrade runs, Cody trips him and has the leg! But no Figure Four as Andrade slips out and trips Cody! “WOO~!” Andrade gets the leg, FIGURE FOUR! Wonder who he learned that from! Cody endures, keeps his shoulders up, turns and gets things reversed onto Andrade! Andrade endures, reaches, and gets a ROPEBREAK! The leglock is undone, Andrade flops out of the ring. Cody builds speed but Jose stands in his way! So Arn trips up Andrade’s personal assistant to DECK him!

Cody runs and builds speed, to DIVE into a double belt shot from FTR!! Andrade helped them get the AAA tag titles, this is them paying him back! FTR sneak under the ring, Andrade throws Cody in! Andrade drags Cody up, hammerlock for the DDT!! Cover, Andrade wins!

Winner: Andrade El Idolo, by pinfall

FTR reappear to celebrate with Andrade, as does Tully. They then stand Cody back up so Andrade can BOOT him down! FTR mugs Cody, but Arn gets in! Arn shoves Tully and the Horsemen stare down! Fans want to see this one! Tully takes off his jacket, but here come the Lucha Brothers! They brawl with FTR while Tully and Andrade retreat! Arn falls back to help Cody, Fenix whips Cash, Penta whips Dax but things get turned around. Fenix SUPERKICKS Fenix off the apron, the brothers DOUBLE SUPERKICK Dax! Fenix uses the tiger feint to back Cash off, and then Penta gets Dax up! Cash saves Dax from the LB Driver, but they’re 10 days away from Full Gear! Will FTR #FearTheRevenge of Fenix & Penta?

AEW returns as Tony Schiavone is in the ring.

And he’s joined by “Johnny Hungy,” John Silver of the Dark Order! Friday in St. Louis for AEW Rampage, Silver will take on Adam Cole 1v1! Schiavone wants to stay neutral, but he really hopes Silver kicks Cole’s you-know-what. Silver thanks Schiavone for that, but it won’t really be John Silver VS Adam Cole this Friday. No? No, it’ll be John Silver VS #BUDGE. And since #BUDGE has been here, Silver’s been trying to give him some advice. Maybe he should change his hear, get rid of the hair, change his name to Budge, become the Dark Order’s manager, but he hasn’t taken any of that advice. If he did, he wouldn’t have gotten that Con-Chair-To from Christian…

But Cole not taking Silver’s advice makes Silver mad! Silver will be ready! It’ll be the Meat Man, Johnny Hungy, and this Friday, Silver kicks some BUDGE ASS! Silver is hungry for a fight, will Adam Cole be able to give it to him after what we saw earlier tonight?

AEW looks closer at Velvet VS Bunny.

Bunny knows Red Velvet likes to play by the rules as a “nice person.” But being nice doesn’t win you championships. Unlike Velvet, Bunny does whatever it takes. She’ll be the villain of the story if it means winning the TBS Championship. Velvet says The Bunny couldn’t have chosen a better opponent. She better bring everything she has. Velvet beat her once, and under these circumstances, she won’t hesitate to beat that ass again. But with Jade Cargill waiting on the other side, is the winner really just the next big loser?

Bryan Danielson is here!

The American Dragon is already a finalist, having defeated Eddie Kingston in an all-time classic on Rampage. But he wants to be here to personally watch what goes down in the other semifinal match. Bryan joins commentary and thanks JR and Excalibur for having him. He says Kingston didn’t want to give up, so he had to elbow him into oblivion. Kingston was furious and that brought about the incident with CM Punk, but that will be settled with a face-to-face this Friday. For now, we see who heads to Full Gear with Bryan!

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Semifinals: Orange Cassidy VS Miro!

This was meant to be Freshly Squeeze’s chance at avenging Wheeler Yuta, but that’s all water under the bridge now. His ribs are still taped up, will he be able to tough it out through another brutal match? Or will God’s Forsaken take matters into his own hands and crush all in his path?

The bell rings and we see Big Money Matt Hardy watching from the crowd again. Hardy’s grudge with Cassidy is far from done, but he’ll simply watch someone else go after Cassidy. Cassidy goes to put his hands in his pockets but Miro rushes in! Cassidy scrambles to another corner, raises his hands again, but then baits Miro into buckles! And he unleashes the “devastating” shin kicks! Miro is not amused, but Cassidy dodges him again and goes to the apron and then around the way to the ramp. Fans cheer as Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets! Miro scowls, rushes out but Cassidy rushes back in and returns, to DIVE! But into Miro’s hands, and an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly!

Miro talks trash as Cassidy writhes, and Miro drags Cassidy up to DECK him! AEW goes picture in picture as Miro POSTS Cassidy! Cassidy crawls, Miro pulls at the rib tape and uses that to drag Cassidy around. Miro throws Cassidy around, pulls the tape away, and gets Cassidy into the ring. Cover, TWO! Cassidy gets to ropes and drags himself up but Miro brings him around  to a facelock. Miro has the fans fire up before he suplexes Cassidy high and hard! And then does it again! And then gut wrench TOSSES Cassidy! Miro wants to hear more from the fans, and even climbs the corner to look up at the sky. He seems to ask if God is watching this closely.

Miro stalks Cassidy, drags him up and brings him around to a bearhug! Cassidy endures, throws elbows, but Miro just squeezes tighter! Miro then scoops and SLAMS Cassidy down! Miro lets fans get louder as he rips the rest of the rib tape away. Miro looms over Cassidy, mocks him with the tape, then scoops again. Cassidy slips out to a STUNNER! Miro staggers, Cassidy hobbles up and is in the corner. Miro RAMS into Cassidy then stomps him down! The ref counts, Miro lets off at 4, and AEW returns to single picture. Miro snarls while the ref checks on Cassidy. Cassidy is okay so Miro whips him hard into the corner!

Miro encourages fans to get loud again as he stands Cassidy up. Miro whips Cassidy into the corner, but Cassidy hits back with a forearm! Cassidy fires up and fires off forearms!! Miro shoves Cassidy back, Cassidy dodges in the corner and then shoves Miro into buckles! Cassidy runs to SHOTGUN dropkick! He kips up through the pain and runs, into a tilt-o-whirl DDT! Cover, TWO!! Miro survives but Cassidy throws off his elbow pad! Fans fire up as Cassidy aims from the corner. Miro bails out to avoid the Orange Punch! Miro rests against the timekeeper’s area but Cassidy goes up top! FLYING ELBOW through the table!! Fans lose their minds as both men are down and Hardy talks trash!

Cassidy drags himself back towards the ring and the ring count is 6 of 10! Cassidy’s in, Miro stirs at 7. We’re at 8, then 9! Miro hobble sup and in at 9.99!! Miro survives, Orange takes aim, Miro hobbles up and ORANGE- NO! Miro catches Cassidy to pop him up! Cassidy slips out, gets Miro up, BEACH BREAK!! Cover, TWO!?!? Cassidy shrugs it off, aims from a corner, Miro flounders up! ORANGE- CHOP BLOCK! BEST KICK!!! Miro storms around and shouts, “GAME! OVER!” Stomp and GAME OVER CLUTCH!!! Cassidy taps, Miro wins!

Winner: Miro, by submission (advances to the finals)

And now we know the Full Gear match-up! Bryan goes right to the ring and stares Miro down. Fans are fired up to see these two in the ring together, and Bryan offers a handshake. Miro steps away without taking it. Miro may not respect Bryan now, but will the American Dragon make him show respect after their title contender’s match?

My Thoughts:

Another great episode for Dynamite here. And as they say, the show must go on. It is honestly a great thing for Moxley to go into rehab. The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one, and a lot of that promo he had last week felt very real. Again, we here at the Chairshot wish Moxley all the best, Moxley can and will definitely get through this. And while I was waiting for Miro to take opportunities for himself on Elevation or Dark, him getting the spot against Cassidy in the tournament and in the main event is great for him. Miro and Cassidy had a great match, but just as Mox was the surefire winner, Miro won here and now we get a great match-up for Full Gear.

Omega VS Angels as an apparent last minute addition was actually great stuff. Great match from Angels again but Omega wins to get momentum, but then the math kinda cancels out as Hangman gets after him and stands tall. There’s still the go-home next week, who knows how that goes. I also like that there’s a lot going on for the Super Kliq, with Christian and Jurassic Express returning but also still beef with Dark Order. Trios Championship tease here since that’s some big trios contenders right there. Also I loved the teasing Silver did to Cole in regards to the RawDown rumors. Cole VS Silver is going to be really good stuff for Rampage this week.

Punk had a great promo because in one go, he gives his shoot support of Moxley and his kayfabe condemnation of Kingston. Punk and Kingston will have a face to face that will definitely turn into a match, and perhaps it gets a spot on Full Gear, not that it has to. Good promos from the TBS tournament entries, but I still see Ruby and Velvet winning. Jade and Sterling had a good promo, and I’m pretty sure Jade wins against Velvet there, too. Hayter winning was a big surprise to me, but I suppose it makes more sense for Team Britt to be on their heels. Rosa will definitely beat Hayter, Britt will surely retain against Conti, I’m sure we’ll still get Britt VS Rosa after all this.

Great to see Samuray Del Sol (aka Kalisto) and Aerostar in AEW and they had a good match with FTR. Could’ve been a bit better but I think Aero went a little too hot into one of those dives and that slowed things down after that. FTR retains, of course, to attempt becoming the next dual champions between AAA and AEW. Still hoping they were going to make this Winner Takes All, but oh well. We got a fun segment from Inner Circle and American Top Team, and I just knew that Lambert would be chosen. Lambert even saying the words that Jericho used against him was a foreshadowing of it. But that was half the reason this was a Street Fight Tag, so that the non-wrestlers could be involved and not worry about the subtle rules. And Lambert is in it to take the loss, count on that.

We also got a good promo from Sydal and Lio, though I didn’t expect Sydal to get weirdly passive aggressive about his protégé leaving him for someone else. But this is great for Moriarty, he really is a great in-ring talent, he and Dante are going to tear it up all on their own. MJF and Darby had a great promo segment, and I like that Sting brought Darby Allin followers like they had for the warehouse fight with Team Taz. Darby clotheslining MJF over the railing was the most physical one of those I’ve ever seen, and their match will probably be very physical for being what Darby promises to be a normal, technical match. Those guys might even steal the show just to prove they are two of the four young AEW pillars.

And I’m surprised Cody didn’t make himself the main event, but I suppose the tournament story should take center stage. Cody VS Andrade was great stuff, and I suppose one way around Malakai’s ringside ban is to have FTR help out. I almost feel like there could be a way to make Andrade a member of The Pinnacle. Or he could even take it over? Who knows, there could be an upheaval the way MJF’s been treating Wardlow. But it was all good stuff to pump up FTR VS Lucha Bros, and puts a bit more heat into Cody’s feud with Andrade and Malakai. Pac should’ve been part of this, too, to keep things going on his end, but maybe that happens in the go-home.

My Score: 9/10