It’s a Dynamite night in Atlanta!

AEW is in Atlanta, and its a hardcore homecoming for the American Nightmare! Will Cody Rhodes get a hero’s welcome in tonight’s Atlanta Street Fight?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Bryan Danielson VS Alan Angels; Bryan wins.
• CM Punk VS Lee Moriarty; Punk wins.
• Wardlow w/ Shawn Spears VS AC Adams; Wardlow wins.
• Gunn Club VS Darby Allin & Sting; Darby & Sting win.
• AEW TBS Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Ruby Soho VS Kris Statlander; Soho wins and advances to the semifinals.
• Atlanta Street Fight: Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Andrade El Idolo w/ Jose; Cody wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hangman Page is here!

The AEW World Champion is joining commentary to watch this opening match while preparing for Winter is Coming in two weeks, where he’ll face the American Dragon with the title on the line!

Bryan Danielson VS Alan Angels!

AEW in Atlanta isn’t just a homecoming for Cody Rhodes, and Bryan knew it, too. He called out the Dark Order’s hometown heroes, and Number 5 stepped up! Will Angels expose some weaknesses that Hangman can pick up on? Or will he just get his head kicked in?

The bell rings, fans fire up, and Atlanta fires up for Angels. They tie up, Bryan waistlocks, full nelsons, but Angels breaks to switch. Bryan switches back, trips Angels up and has the leg for the HALF CRAB! But Angels gets the ropebreak quickly, and Bryan lets off cleanly. Bryan soaks up the heat as he points an ear to the fans. Angels storms over but Bryan uses the ropes for defense. Bryan comes back, he and Angels knuckle lock, but Bryan puts Angels in the corner. Angels dodges the forearm to CHOP! And KICK! And CHOP! Angels climbs up to rain down fists! He stops at five then flips to CHOP again! Bryan is stinging but he EuroUppers Angels off his feet!

Bryan drops knees on Angels’ head again and again, then mocks Angels to rile up the fans. Angels kicks back, but Bryan shrugs that off. Angels is in a corner, kicks again but Bryan clinches to CHOP again! And KICK! And CHOP! And KICK! And CHOP again! Bryan gets Angels back up to EuroUpper, run corner to corner and dropkick! Angels falls and Bryan soaks up the heat in Hotlanta. Bryan bumps Angels off buckles, fires off more EuroUppers, then lets off at the ref’s count before coming back for more. Fans boo as Bryan lets off again, but Bryan brings Angels up to wind up and EuroUpper, into a backslide! TWO, but Angels KICKS and CHOPS in return!

Angels forearms, Bryan shoves, Angels bobs ‘n’ weaves, but Bryan BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES into an ARMBAR! Angels scrambles to the ropebreak! Fans fire up as Bryan lets off. Bryan gets Angels up on the apron, suplexes, but Angels knees free! And then GAMANGIRIS to then springboard and shotgun dropkick Bryan out! Angels kips up and fans fire up as he builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Bryan goes into railing! Angels goes up fast to ASAI MOONSAULT Bryan down! Angels puts Bryan in, climbs up but has to jump over. Angels turns around, Bryan runs in, SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up and Hangman is loving it as Angels goes up again.

MOONSAULT FLOP! BUSAIKU KNEE!! But Bryan isn’t done here! He gets Angels’ arms and gives Angels DANIELSON STOMPS! Angels is already dazed but Bryan still isn’t done! He flees, gets the leg, HEEL HOOK!! Angels taps, Bryan wins!

Winner: Bryan Danielson, by submission

Bryan flexes as he holds on longer, but then lets go so he can gloat. Hangman is obviously upset, but Schiavone goes to the ring to interview Bryan. In two weeks, Winter is Coming 2, the world title is on the line. And Bryan looks more than ready. Bryan says he isn’t sure. Hard to tell because if that was the best Atlanta’s got, Bryan whooped his ass! And not only did Bryan kick Angels’ head in, he is pretty sure he snapped an MCL. Not that the fans understand what that means. Bryan knocked out Colt Cabana’s tooth, he just snapped Angels’ MCL, and he knows there’s a Dark Order member from Long Island, so he’ll stomp that guy’s head in, too! And then Hangman.

In Dallas, Texas, home of the Cowboys, that is where Bryan takes the AEW World Championship, and where he shows the entire world that Hangman is a one hit wonder! It isn’t Cowboy Sh*t, but Coward Sh*t! Hangman’s had enough, he gets off commentary! John Silver rushes out and says Hangman isn’t allowed to touch Bryan. But Silver sure can! And so that’s what he’ll do! Johnny Hungy rushes the ring, Bryan bails right out! “You think I’m gonna share the ring with this joke? This joke?! He’s beneath me! Just like you’re beneath me!” Bryan knows Tony Khan said they can’t make contact or Hangman will be suspended if they do.

Bryan would love to slap Hangman in front of the people, but these people don’t deserve to see that. Bryan leaves, Hangman and Silver regroup with Angels. Will things only get hotter as Winter approaches?

Miro… is in limbo?

“I’ve been here for weeks, trying to figure out, ‘What should I do?’ What does a man do when his weakness literally separates his head from his heart? And then the vision came to me. So my God, thank you for showing me. For teaching me. For revealing to me. What an a-hole you really are. The line has been drawn, and the Redeemer will storm the Gates of Heaven, and the floor will turn red.” Miro will bring fear. He only has two weaknesses. One he will repair, the other he will embrace. Will Miro break through by breaking those in the ring against him?

CM Punk VS Lee Moriarty!

The Best in the World continues to fight and prove he’s still who he is, but against the rising hybrid that is #TygaStyle, will he end up proving MJF right tonight?

Speaking of, MJF makes his way out… Maxwell Jacob Friedman and his Hanukkah themed suit joins commentary to watch this closely. He heard “PG Punk” struggled against QT Marshall last week and has turned to binge drinking. Look how haggard Punk looks right now! Excalibur defends that is not true, and the bell rings. Fans chant for Punk as he shakes hands with Moriarty. They circle, tie up, and Moriarty wrenches the arm. Punk rolls, cartwheels, wrenches and wristlocks. MJF calls Moriarty a glorified rookie, Moriarty wrenches and wristlocks to a hammerlock. Punk slips around, hammerlocks, headlocks and hits a takeover.

Moriarty headscissors, Punk moves around, MJF announces that next week, the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale returns and promises he’ll be a threepeat winner. Punk pops out, gets the headlock, but Moriarty uses kicks to pop free. Moriarty wrenches, hammerlocks, spins and snapmares to then ghost pin! TWO, Punk gets up into an arm-drag! Moriarty has the arm-drag, MJF says this is laughable. Schiavone points out MJF barely wrestles compared to Punk. Punk grits his teeth, gets up and powers out. Moriarty runs Punk over, covers, ONE! Arm-drag! Punk fights up, puts Moriarty in the corner, lets off but RAMS his shoulder in! And again, and again! And again and again!

Fans fire up as Punk wrenches and whips Moriarty corner to corner. Moriarty goes up and over and runs but into a calf kick! Punk goes to the apron, aims as Moriarty stands, springboard FLYING CLOTHESLINE! Fans fire up and Punk flexes as AEW goes picture in picture.

Punk drags Moriarty up at the ropes, scoops and SLAMS him, then takes a moment before he brings Moriarty up for another scoop SLAM! Moriarty grits his teeth, Punk listens to the fans, and he brings Moriarty up again to scoop and SLAM again! Cover, TWO! Moriarty gets to ropes, pushes Punk away but Punk stomps him in the corner. Punk whips Moriarty corner to corner hard, and Moriarty bounces off the buckles! Punk brings Moriarty up, shoves him to ropes and headbutts low! Punk throws body shots and forearms, then even KICKS! Punk snapmares, covers, TWO! Punk wraps Moriarty up in a chinlock and body scissors. Moriarty endures as Punk pulls on an ear!

Moriarty fights up, throws elbows, gets free, but Punk gets him for more forearms. Punk runs, but Moriarty CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! AEW returns to single picture, Moriarty goes to another corner. Punk gets up, runs in but Moriarty dodges! Moriarty wrenches, TWEAKS the arm, but Punk runs in. Moriarty puts him on the apron, Punk gets in but Moriarty rallies! Moriarty runs in to uppercut in the corner! He whips, Punk reverses but Moriarty reverses back to WRING out an arm! PENALTY KICK to that arm, then he reels Punk in for a SAIDO SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Moriarty gets Punk back up, suplexes but Punk slips out.

Punk shoves Moriarty, BOOTS from a corner, then goes up to CROSSBODY from the top! Only for Moriarty to roll through! TWO, into the BONE LOCK! Punk endures, fans rally up, Punk reaches out with his legs, but Moriarty kicks the rope to keep them away. The ref reprimands, Punk reaches out again and gets the ROPEBREAK! Moriarty lets Punk go, Punk shoves him away to go to a corner. Punk kicks low, hoists Moriarty up top, then SLAPS Moriarty! Punk climbs up, MJF claims cheating, but Punk SUPER STEINERS, only for Moriarty to make it a sunset flip! TWO, Punk high stacks! TWO and Moriarty pops Punk back into the sunset! TWO!!

Punk sits, TWO! Moriarty has the sunset, TWO!! ROUNDHOUSE from Punk takes Moriarty down! Fans are thunderous while MJF claims loaded kick pad. And that he would’ve either ducked that kick or taken it like a champ. Fans rally up as Punk gets up, MJF questions why this has lasted so long. Punk drags Moriarty up, hammerlocks, blows a kiss, but Moriarty ducks the Pepsi Twist to STEAL THE PEPSI TWIST!! Basement BOOT! Moriarty gets Punk up, facelock to TWISTING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Moriarty roars, gets Punk up, suplexes, but Punk slips free to inverted suplex tot he fireman’s carry! GO TO SLEEP!! Cover, Punk wins!

Winner: CM Punk, by pinfall

MJF gets a mic to cut off Punk’s music and talk. “PG Punk. Hey buddy, good to see ya.” But last week, Punk said he was disappointed in MJF. But MJF is proud of Punk. It takes balls to come out here and claim to be Best in the World when he’s struggling to beat QT Marshall and Lee Moriarty. The only thing Punk is the best at now is trying to get in Britt Baker’s pants. What’s the matter? Punk looks unamused. Just like how Britt would look if he got her in bed. This ain’t CM Punk! This is One Punk Chump! Oh does Punk have something to say? Punk gets the mic, and responds with, “You gotta lot of nerve coming out here, talking about pants, Britt Baker’s or otherwise, when you’re clearly wearing Larry David’s pajamas.”

MJF can talk all he wants about Punk struggling with QT or Moriarty. But the fact of the matter is, those guys are better than MJF, and he knows it! Cute, Punk! No, MJF, shut up. They’ll both shut up, MJF can bring his needle dick to the ring, and Punk will kick his ass all the way to Long Island! MJF asks the fans if they want to see these two go at it. Yeah? TOO BAD! MJF says Punk needs MJF more than MJF needs Punk. MJF is the spark to a flame Punk hasn’t had since 2011! But don’t worry. MJF will show everyone what a real pro looks like when he wins the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal in the most magical place in the world, Long Island, New York!

And he will finally be among fans that he loves and appreciate and the feeling is mutual. MJF will be better than Piper in Portland, than Bret in Canada, and better than Punk in Chicago! Laugh all you want dips*its, but there will be people rocking the ‘burb, chanting his name at the top of their lungs. Speaking of loud noises, did Punk bring his dog, Larry? MJF heard him yipping in the back. If MJF were Punk, he wouldn’t bring that flea ridden, disgusting maggot of a dog around here anymore. Because if Punk does, MJF is gonna put Larry to sleep! Punk gets out of the ring and storms right up the ramp! MJF has Wardlow appear!

The refs hurry to stop this from happening, but you don’t threaten a man’s dog and get away with it! Will Punk make sure MJF is the one put out of our misery?

Backstage interview with Britt Baker and team.

The Doctor is still very upset. That is an understatement. It is disgusting that she had to wrestle after Thanksgiving, and it is disgusting that Riho cheated to get a shot at the title. Schiavone asks Jamie Hayter where she was during the Friendsgiving celebration last week. Oh, sorry, she was having one of the best matches in the TBS Championship Tournament. Which she lost. Rebel has Britt cool off, but Hayter says Britt’s best match was against Thunder Rosa, and she also lost. Free therapy, but let’s not focus on the past. This is the present, and over the holiday, the team has had their kumbaya.

Great news, Jamie Hayter will be taking on Riho next week on Dynamite in an absolute slaughter! And if there’s anything left of Riho, then she can get her shot at Britt’s title. But Britt doesn’t think it’ll happen. Yours Truly, Britt Baker, DMD.

Adam Cole heads to the ring!

He’ll be joining commentary momentarily, but he and Atlanta know it’s all about the BOOM! Then he leaves the ring to join Excalibur and Tony Schiavone. Cole says the show just got a lot better with him here. But he won’t let Schiavone pretend this is good. Wait, Orange Cassidy shows up? He’s not in the match that’s up next. Freshly Squeezed stares down Cole and Cole gets up. Cole and Cassidy meet halfway and fans fire up as Cassidy takes off the sunglasses. Cassidy holds up a hand to Cole’s face, then holds his hands up to put them in the pockets! But the Young Bucks are creeping up! Cole waves bye, Cassidy turns around to see the Bucks before they can superkick.

Cassidy steps up to the Bucks and fires off the shin kicks! Cole LOW BLOWS Cassidy! The Super Kliq mock Cassidy’s shin kicks with “super” kicks. Then they actually SUPERKICK him down! Cole drags Cassidy to the stage, the Super Kliq sets up, but here come the Best Friends, with chairs! Wheeler Yuta and Chuck Taylor run the Super Kliq off, but will Cole return to commentary?

Tony Nese speaks.

Before he was rudely interrupted last week, he was saying how Sammy Guevara doesn’t deserve to be AEW TNT Champion. Friday on Rampage, Nese changes all that and puts the title around a Premier Athlete’s waist. Sammy learned a lesson when he got in Nese’s face. And if he thought Nese kneeling on his ribs was bad, wait until Friday. Will Nese run that knee through Sammy’s head to take the title from him?

Wardlow w/ Shawn Spears VS ???

The Pinnacle’s War Dog is a major reason MJF is still walking right now. But will AC Adams not be so lucky here?

The bell rings, Wardlow and Adams stare down. Wardlow waits on Adams to do something, Adams shoves him. Wardlow knees low, CLUBS him down, then drags Adams up to whip to ropes. Adams ducks and dodges and kicks back, but Wardlow CLOBBERS him! Wardlow hauls Adams up, fires up and POWERBOMBS Adams down! Fans want “One More Time!” so Wardlow gets Adams up for another POWERBOMB! Wardlow isn’t satisfied, neither are the fans! Wardlow gives Adams a THIRD POWERBOMB! A FOURTH! Then a cover, Wardlow wins!

Winner: Wardlow, by pinfall

Spears gets in to get his chair shots in! The chair even begins to break! Spears raises Wardlow’s hand in victory, will the Pinnacle do whatever they want in AEW?

Backstage interview with PAC, Penta & Alex Abrahantes.

Schiavone notes that it was meant to be FTR VS The Lucha Brothers. However, an injury to Rey Fenix keeps him unable to travel, so it will be Death Triangle, Penta & PAC. Penta tells FTR in Spanish, and Alex translates, “We would’ve loved to defeat you twice in one night, but since you took it upon yourselves to hurt my brother, we’ve got the best ally that we can find in PAC.” But Pac himself has an eyepatch because Malakai Black got him with the black mist. Can he still wrestle? “Tony, Tony, Tony. Am I an invalid? I am good to fight, you understand. Look into my eye.” There’s CERO MIEDO here! Will make FTR the ones who fear what’s coming?

Gunn Club VS Darby Allin & Sting!

Billy and his boys are #Gunndefeated and Colten himself is 35-0! But The Relentless One and the Icon are undefeated as a duo in their own right! Whose streak ends in this cold Hotlanta showdown?

The teams sort out and Darby starts against Colten. Fans are fired up for Darby, he ties up with Colten then gets a waistlock. Colten elbows free, headlocks, but Darby powers out, only for Colten to run him over. Colten runs, Darby drop toeholds and then stalks him to arm-drag. Colten blocks, Darby slips under to arm-drag through this time! SHOTGUN dropkick sends Colten to the corner! Colten get sup, but Billy tags in. Papa Gunn stares pat Darby to look at Sting, so Darby tags Sting in! Fans fire up as Sting and Billy step up to each other. Billy throws hands but Sting counter punches! And back hands! And again! And then atomic drops! Sting CLOBBERS Billy!

Sting runs but Billy avoids the splash and regroups with his sons! Sting waits on Billy, fans chant, “You Still Got It!” for the Icon. Billy wants them to shut up, but then he sends Colten in. Sting fires off on Colten, tags in Darby, Darby headlocks. Colten powers out, tags back to Billy, Darby jumps into a waistlock! COBRA CLUTCH SLAM! Billy stares Sting down, then drags Darby up by his waistband. Billy bumps Darby off buckles, tags Colten back in, and Colten stomps a mudhole into Darby. The ref counts, Colten lets off, but he drags Darby up to DECK him with a right! Colten soaks up the heat, drags Darby back up and bumps him off buckles.

Tag to Billy, AEW goes picture in picture as he scoops and SLAMS Darby! Billy takes a moment to soak up heat, then he drags Darby back up. Billy elbows Darby right in the head! Darby goes to an open corner but Billy drags him over to tag in Colten. The Gunns mug Darby, Colten CLUBS Darby and whips him to a corner hard! Darby gets stuck in the ropes for a moment before he flops down. Colten drags Darby to a cover, TWO! Colten clamps on a chinlock, Darby endures as Colten leans all his weight on the hold. Darby fights up, and hits a JAWBREAKER! Colten staggers, Darby crawls, but Colten stays between him and Sting.

Colten ROCKS Darby, tags in Billy, and Billy brings Darby around to scoop and carry him around with one arm as AEW goes to break.

AEW returns and Colten mocks Sting as he get the SHARPSHOOTER! Darby endures, crawls, reaches, but Colten drags him away! Darby slips through to get the ropebreak! Colten lets off to stomp away! Colten mocks Sting, tells him to “Kiss this,” but Darby fights out of the Gunn corner! Darby sunset flips, Colten stays up and Billy reaches out! Darby gets up to shove Colten into Billy! Hot tag to Sting! Sting rallies on Colten, then on Billy! Sting SPLASHES Colten, then SPLASHES Billy! Sting CLOBBERS Billy out of the ring, Colten runs into a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up, Sting beats his chest, and he gets Colten’s legs for the SCORPION DEATH LOCK!!

Colten endures the real deal but Billy slides in! The ref tells him no, but Austin gets in to DECK Sting! Darby DIVES into Austin and they crash into railing! The ref’s checking on Darby and Austin, Billy gets in to FAMOUSER Sting down! Colten crawls to a cover, TWO!! Sting survives, Darby returns and he DIVES into Billy!! Darby BOOTS Colten, THROWBACK STUNNER, into the SCORPION DEATH DROP!! Cover, Sting & Darby win!

Winners: Darby Allin & Sting, by pinfall

No more #Gunndefeated streak! Sting and Darby stand tall as the undefeated duo, will they look to change the AEW Tag Team Division landscape?

Backstage interview with Chris Jericho.

Alex Marvez brings up how Jericho came to Eddie Kingston’s aid, but Jericho stops that there. He didn’t save Kingston last week. Kingston was yelling and screaming that he didn’t want Jericho’s help, and so Jericho did not help Kingston. Jericho was there to go after 2point0, that’s the problem. He wanted after Daniel Garcia, Jeff Parker and “square head” Matt Lee. But then those guys run in to go after Jericho! It’s a 3v1 mugging, and they whip him into trunks! Matt gets a chair while Jeff whips Jericho into the garage door! Matt SMACKS Jericho down! They told him to watch his mouth, and this is what happens. But will 2point0 have to worry about the Inner Circle now?

Team Taz is on commentary.

And Taz himself says that 25% of that Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal will be Team Taz. That means they have 125% of winning because it comes down to being the final two. The numbers don’t lie, Excalibur! But wait, here comes Lio Rush! Taz thinks Lio is bitter since Dante Martin joined Team Taz just last week. Lio tells Taz, “You’re a commentator, right? So you should know me. It is literally your job to know me. And if that’s the case, you should know that I’ve had the odds stacked against me my entire career. Just like yourself.” So what’s Lio’s point? It just seems crazy to Lio that Taz has 100% of winning this thing. Because then that’s Taz insinuating Lio has 0%.

Well, they took Dante away from Lio. Dante is Team Taz now, they have the numbers. Lio says he is a fighter. Deep down, Taz knows that Lio is a fighert! Hell, the people all know Lio is a fighter! Fans fire up as Lio says he won’t go down without a fight, even if he just has 1% chance. Taz tells Lio he should just retire. Look at this! Dante walks out, Ricky Starks by his side. Team Taz is fully assembled, but will numbers mean nothing when it’s all put to the test?

Jade Cargill & Mark Sterling speak.

Smart Mark applauds Thunder Rosa on advancing into the semifinals of the TBS Championship Tournament. But does Rosa think she has a shot against the “uncrowned rookie of the year?” But they put out a challenge for Rampage, Cargill’s show, answered by Rosa’s student, Jinai Kai. Who? Doesn’t matter. Light work. Rosa says hold on. She is here to tell them that Jericho is not gonna be here for Rampage after what just happened. But because Rosa is multi talented, AEW asked her to sub in, and she’s of course going to watch Cargill’s match. Rosa can’t wait to see her student whoop Cargill! Rookie of the year? Shut up with that! But will Cargill just tune up before she and La Mera Mera throw down in the next round?

AEW TBS Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Ruby Soho VS Kris Statlander!

The wait is finally over, the quarterfinals are coming to a close! Will the Runaway or the Galaxy’s Greatest Alien take that next step towards history?

The bell rings and fans fire up as the two circle. They tie up, fans duel, Kris wrenches and cording holds. Ruby wrenches, hammerlocks, but Kris reaches back and headlocks to a takeover. Ruby moves around, rolls to a cover, ONE! Kris holds on, Ruby fights up and Ruby pries the hold, only for Kris to hold tighter. Ruby powers out, headlocks back, but Kris powers out to scoop. Ruby tilt-o-whirls through but Kris blocks the leg sweep. Ruby wants the backslide now but Kris fights that, too! Ruby spins Kris, shows haymaker but Kris ducks! Ruby holds back, and fans cheer as the two reset.

Ruby and Kris tie up, Kris waistlocks, headlocks, grinds Ruby down but Ruby powers up. Kris holds on tight, then whips Ruby, but Ruby crucifix to a sunset flip! Kris rolls through but she holds off on the boot to boop! Ruby gets up in a huff, but she cools off to tie up with Kris again. Kris whips, Ruby comes back to a roll-up, TWO! Kris cradles, TWO! Ruby runs in, no monkey flip as Kris blocks! Kris slingshots Ruby off ropes but now Ruby monkey flips, only for Kris to handstand! Fans fire up as the two stand off again. Ruby blocks the boop to arm-drag! Ruby runs, Kris dodges, Ruby wheelbarrows and arm-drags!

Ruby runs in at the corner, Kris dodges but Ruby goes up the corner for a FLYING ARM-DRAG! Ruby keeps it moving, as she spins Kris for a COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Ruby keeps cool but fans fire up as AEW goes picture in picture.

Ruby brings Kris up, facelock for a suplex, but Kris blocks. Kris suplexes but Ruby blocks. They fight for control, they each get closer and closer, but Kris powers Ruby up and holds her there for a count of 10, then SLAM! Cover, TWO! Kris gets the arms and has a motorcycle stretch on Ruby. Ruby endures the knee in her back, fights her way up, but Kris keeps the hold on. Ruby turns things around and has the motorcycle stretch on Kris, knee in the back included! Kris endures, fights up, turns things back to arm-drag Ruby away! Ruby keeps moving, Kris hurdles but Ruby waistlocks. Kris bucks the O’Conner Roll and dodges Ruby to POWERSLAM!

But Ruby avoids the senton to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Both women are down and fans fire up! A standing count starts as AEW returns to single picture. Ruby gets to a corner and stands at 6. Kris runs in but into an STO! Ruby goes up, leaps, SUPER SENTON! Cover, TWO! Kris survives, Ruby seethes and mule kicks Kris down! Cover, TWO! Ruby grows frustrated, she drags Kris up, reels Kris in, but Kris fights the suplex with punches! Kris runs but Ruby yanks her back and runs to wheelbarrow, but Kris makes it a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Kris fires up and fans rally behind her. Kris drags Ruby by a leg, hooks her up and has the SPIDER CRAB STRETCH!

Ruby endures, but she fights to headscissor. But Kris deadlifts to BUCKLE BOMB her instead! Fisherman for the SPINNING BUSTER!! Cover, TWO!?! Ruby survives and Kris can’t believe it! Kris drags Ruby up, shoves her to a corner, then runs corner to corner to forearm smash! Then side to side, into Ruby’s elbow! Ruby forearms, headbutts, then SUPERKICKS Kris to a corner! Ruby fires off forearm after forearm, but Kris shoves her away. Ruby ducks and goes up, but no Nightshade as Kris blocks! Kris has Ruby in the Electric Chair, but Ruby is fighting! POISON-RANA, and the SPIKE-RANA!! Cover, TWO?!? And Ruby’s completely shocked!

Fans are loving “A E DUB!” for this one as Ruby drags Kris up. Ruby wrenches, but Kris blocks the kick! Roll and gut wrench, victory roll from Ruby! RUBY WINS!!

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

The Runaway has fought her way into the next round! But they still respect each other and hug it out. Kris is the only one with a first round bye to lose, is this a sign that Ruby has what it takes to become champion? Or will Nyla Rose just be the wall in the way of Destination Unknown? Wait, Vickie Guerrero is on stage? She talks trash to Kris, and Nyla rushes into the ring to YANK Ruby off the corner! Kris rushes back in to run Nyla off, but will Ruby be the one to get revenge on the Native Beast?

Atlanta Street Fight: Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Andrade El Idolo w/ Jose!

Things have only escalated between the American Nightmare and the Face of Latinos, and a hammerlock DDT to bare concrete is why they’re throwing away the rules here in Hotlanta! But will Andrade really look to spill the hometown hero’s blood just to settle the score?

Cody makes his entrance, with Coach Arn by his side, but Andrade and even Jose rush them! Arn falls into the gap between stage and ramp! Andrade and Cody brawl down the ramp, then they fight through the gap between ramp and railing. Cody kicks low and bumps Andrade off railing, while Arn is up and throwing hands on Jose! Arn starts sending Jose back through the tunnel, while Cody SPLASHES Andrade with someone’s drink! Andrade returns the favor and SPLASHES Cody with someone else’s drink! They make their way to the backside of the railing and to the upper bleachers, and Cody chucks the trashcan at Andrade!

Cody BOOTS Andrade, bumps Andrade off more railing, Atlanta is on Cody’s side as he throws haymakers and elbows. Cody hops up onto the railing, fans fire up as he MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and down goes Andrade! Cody sits Andrade up to punch him in the head, then he brings Andrade up, only for Andrade to shove him into railing. Andrade CHOPS Cody, moves the steel steps aside, then fireman’s carries Cody to SNAKE EYES him off the edge of the steps! Cody flounders, Andrade drags him up and headlocks. But Cody POSTS Andrade! Cody sees T-Pain, says hey, then Cody borrows his chair! And he SMACKS Andrade on the back, then CLOBBERS him with the chair!

Atlanta is thunderous as Cody drags Andrade up to RAM him into railing. Andrade CHOPS back! Cody CHOPS Andrade, then puts him in the ring. Fans are fired up, so is Cody, but Andrade shoves him into a corner! Andrade runs in, Cody goes up and over to POWRESLAM! Off comes the weight belt, but Andrade LOW BLOWS Cody! All legal in a Street Fight! Andrade grabs the weight belt now and has a sinister grin! Andrade LASHES Cody with the belt! Then he tosses it to the fans for a free souvenir! Andrade then hurries to his bag of tricks, and he brings out handcuffs! But then, he brings out Jose’s laptop! HEADSHOT with the screen!

Andrade picks up pieces of the laptop to SMACK Cody with it! Cody bails out, Andrade does, too. Andrade finds the chair Cody was using, and he bring sit over, to SMACK Cody down! Andrade then brings out chain from under the ring! And a trash can lid, too. Cody crawls to get the chain while Andrade keeps bringing things out. He brings out a TABLE! But he decides not to, the fans liked it too much. Andrade gets up, Cody rushes over but Andrade hotshots him away! Andrade gets the chain to LASH, but Cody dodges! Cody gets the chair but Andrade stomps him down! Fans chant, “We Want Tables!” but Andrade shakes his head and wags his fingers. He does things his way!

Andrade brings Cody up, knees him low, then fireman’s carries to WASTELAND SLAM him into a drop zone. Andrade puts the chair on Cody’s chest, goes up top, SPLIT-LEG MOONSAULT onto Cody and chair! Cover, TWO! Cody is still in this but Andrade also has to catch his breath. Andrade brings Cody up to back suplex but Cody lands on his feet to LOW BLOW in return! Cody fires up and fans are torn. Cody runs, springboards, but Andrade shoves him down! Cody tumbles down and fans are fired up as AEW goes picture in picture.

Andrade sputters, flops out of the ring, and brings out more chairs. Cody gets water to refresh, but Arn and Jose return? Jose is taking the fight to Arn?! Cody throws forearms on Andrade, Arn hits Jose back and shoves him down on the ramp! Arn throws body shots and then rips Jose’s shirt open so he can throw hands right on bare skin! Jose scrambles up, eggs Arn on, but he just gets more heavy hands! Andrade sets up the timekeeper’s table, puts Cody on the apron, but Cody kicks him back! Cody lines up the shot, but Andrade knees free! Andrade haymakers, Cody haymakers back! Cody gets the edge, but Andrade BOOTS him right down!

Both men flop back into the ring, Andrade bails back out. Andrade goes to his bag of tricks, but nothing in there is good enough. Andrade gets another chair, Cody clutches his arm. Andrade gets in, and he gets that steel chain! Andrade wraps it around his fist, FULL METAL HAYMAKER! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives, Andrade can’t believe it! Andrade drags Cody around, gets a chair and puts it back on Cody’s chest. Andrade goes to a corner, climbs up, and AEW returns to single picture while fans duel. MOONSAULT but Cody THROWS the chair! Andrade falls and Cody fires himself back up! Cody and Andrade stand, and Cody throws counter punches!

Cody whips, Andrade boots back from the corner! Cody gets the chain! FULL METAL HAYMAKER in return! Cody drags Andrade up, scoops, and POWERSLAMS! Andrade rolls to the ropes but Cody fires up. Cody builds speed and DIVES, into a CHAIR! Andrade returns the favor from the interrupted moonsault! Andrade tears off his shirt, and he starts pulling floor mats away, just like he did last week! Cody is busted open, but Andrade reels him in! Hammerlock, but Cody back drops out! Andrade falls on bare concrete! Cody drags Andrade up, puts him in the ring, and he moves floormats aside so he can get a kendo stick!

Wait, that’s not good enough. Cody gets the SLEDGE HAMMER!! But then no, he changes his mind. A GOLDEN SHOVEL!? Cody’s ready to bury Andrade! Wait, Jose is back, and he has a literal stun gun! But Cody CLOBBERS him with the golden shovel! Cody puts that down, but Andrade goes up! ESCALARA CROSSBODY!! Direct hit and fans are thunderous! Cody gets in the ring, Andrade pursues. Andrade has a chair, he stalks Cody to a corner, and he wedges it into Cody’s face! Fans still want tables, but Andrade wants to use this chair no matter what. Andrade fires up, goes corner to corner, CIEN KNEES!! Fans lose their minds as Cody sputters.

Andrade drags Cody to a cover, TWO!! Cody is still in this and Andrade can’t believe it! Andrade goes out, fans still duel, and finally Andrade brings out a table! Andrade puts the table in the ring, brings it to a corner for a ramp, and then he throws knees on Cody. Cody kicks back, drops for the Rhodes Uppercut! Cody runs but Andrade hip tosses Cody through the table! Andrade then goes back out, to fetch a second table! Fans fire up as Andrade puts that in the ring now. But Cody grabs one end and it’s a tug-o-war! The table still gets set up, Andrade SMACKS Cody off the table! Andrade goes up the corner, fans fire up, but Cody trips him up!

Cody climbs and has Andrade, only for Andrade to fight back! Andrade headbutts and Cody hops down. Andrade adjusts, but Cody trips him again! Andrade is backwards, and who is this getting in the ring? It’s BRANDI RHODES! Mrs. American Nightmare is putting LIGHTER FLUID on the table!! And she even gets a lighter, and the TABLE IS ON FIRE!! INVERTED SUPERPLEX THROUGH THE BURNING TABLE!! Cover while both men are on fire, Cody wins!!

Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall

The ref puts out the flames, medics check on both men, but the Nightmare Family stands tall! These two quite literally burned it down, but will this put things to rest for Cody and Andrade? Or are things only heating up from here?

My Thoughts:

What a great episode! First off, we at the Chairshot all wish Jim Ross well as he starts his treatment for skin cancer. We got great guest commentators, and it all tied in with story each time. Hangman watching the great Bryan VS Angels match was logical, and again Bryan continues to win with whatever move he wants. They could’ve done better to give us the “hold harmless agreement” part of this, though maybe that was on social media. But it was a good layer in story, and John Silver coming out to go after Bryan was great, too. Bryan VS Silver is going to be a great go-home match to Winter is Coming 2 on the 15th. But while the title match is on a themed episode, I don’t see Hangman losing so soon.

Miro is taking things to a new level with his promos, and I guess we’re finally going to get that path of destruction he was talking about that AEW didn’t give him before. I again say Miro should be showing up on episodes of Elevation wrecking people. MJF watching Punk VS Moriarty was logical, and what a great match for Moriarty. MJF and Punk having another promo showdown was alright, but it’s hard to follow up last week’s. MJF threatening Punk’s dog was maybe a bit much, and I’m not even sure the point of him saying Punk wants to get with Britt Baker. I really hope  MJF loses this year’s Dynamite Diamond Ring matches so it takes away his ace in the hole.

Good dysfunction tease for Team Britt. I feel like it isn’t quite as squashed as Britt says, but I’m thinking Riho gets the better of them again and wins over Hayter. The Team Taz and Lio Rush bit was good stuff. Taz dropping his own take on Steiner Math was random, but maybe to poke fun at NXT for constantly doing Steiner references with Bron Breakker. I have a feeling Lio will get the better of Team Taz until it comes down to facing Dante. Maybe someone in Team Taz wins the Dynamite Diamond Ring, like Ricky Starks so he can add it to having the FTW Championship. Meanwhile, a damn shame Fenix got hurt again. But Pac and Penta will have a great match with FTR in his place.

The Super Kliq and Best Friends moment was great stuff, and I hope this becomes a Six Man Tag for Winter is Coming. It’s a pretty decent move for Cole & The Bucks since Jurassic Express is moving onto the tag title chase, as soon as the tag champs aren’t busy with FTR. Jericho getting jumped by 2point0 is of course the next step in the story with Jericho and Kingston perhaps teaming up. Tony Nese has a decent promo, but he’s still losing that TNT Championship match on Rampage. The Gunn Club VS Darby & Sting tag match was great stuff, but naturally Darby & Sting win. No idea where it goes from here, Darby & Sting don’t have a third for a Six Man Tag where Austin joins in.

Cargill, Sterling and Rosa had a good promo segment, but pretty sure Cargill wins on Rampage. And even then, I’m thinking Cargill wins against Rosa. Soho VS Statlander here tonight was awesome stuff, certainly both their best match in AEW. Soho winning makes sense, she was basically the underdog here and is again the underdog against Nyla Rose. Soho VS Nyla is going to be great stuff, too, I wonder if AEW is going to find a way to push this to the TBS change episode on January 5th. The first episode on TBS crowning the inaugural TBS Champion, makes sense from a marketing standpoint.

And of course, Cody Rhodes in the main event! It was pretty wild stuff, like Arn shoot falling backwards off the ramp. I did not think Jose would even give him a good fight but Jose comes back so he could take the golden shove shot. Cody is tongue in cheek teasing all of us with these references to Triple H and everything HHH has been guilty of in terms of backstage politicking and onscreen burying. Brandi being the catalyst for maybe not so much Cody’s win but certainly escalating things in an attempt to get the fans marking out. No idea where this goes, either, other than perhaps one more match with Malakai.

How do they escalate from a burning table, though? Cody always bleeds, too, so would it have to be something close to the Omega VS Moxley Unsanctioned match from Full Gear a couple years ago.

My Score: 9/10