AEW has THREE belts on the line tonight!

TNT begins Saturday Fight Nights, and AEW gets in on the action! The Women’s, TNT and even FTW titles are defended on Battle of the Belts!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Interim AEW TNT Championship: Dustin Rhodes VS Sammy Guevara; Guevara wins and is the interim AEW TNT Champion.
• FTW Championship: Ricky Starks VS Matt Sydal; Starks wins and retains the title.
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker w/ Jamie Hayter & Rebel VS Riho; Baker wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Interim AEW TNT Championship: Dustin Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson VS Sammy Guevara!

The American Nightmare was not cleared to compete, but this title must still be defended! Naturally, the Natural was ready to step up for his brother, Cody. Will Dustin defend this title for the honor of the Rhodes Family? Or will the Spanish God get this gold back?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and at least for a time, we’re going to see a new champion!

Dustin and Sammy circle, ready to break a tie from their personal series. They shake hands to show respect, and then feel out the grapple. They tie up, Dustin headlocks, Sammy powers out but Dustin runs him over. Things speed up, Dustin whips Sammy and ducks to then arm-drag! Sammy hip tosses back! Dustin boots Sammy away but Sammy kips up and the two stare down! Fans fire up as the two reset. Sammy and Dustin circle, fans duel, and the tow tie up. Sammy headlocks, Dustin powers up but Sammy holds on. Dustin powers Sammy to ropes, then powers him off. Dustin has Sammy stop, so he can catch his breath.

Sammy lounges on the ropes while he waits on Dustin, and Dustin gets his wind back. Sammy runs in, Dustin ducks to kick and Rhodes Uppercut! Dustin whips, Sammy denies the powerslam to Oklahoma Roll! TWO, things speed up again, Sammy hurdles and backflips, but Dustin holds ropes to stop that. Sammy says it was that close, but the two go again. Sammy dodges, kicks and steals the Rhodes uppercut to then dropkick Dustin out! Sammy kips up smooth and fans fire up! Sammy goes out after Dustin, Arn coaches Dustin up but Sammy whips Dustin into railing! Fans rally up as Sammy draws the Glock on Arn! Arn flips Sammy off and Sammy goes back to Dustin.

Sammy CLUBS Dustin, goes to post him but Dustin blocks to ROCK Sammy with a right. Dustin and Sammy trade CHOPS, Sammy ROCKS Dustin with a forearm, then RAMS Dustin into railing. Sammy fist bumps a fan, but then Dustin blocks the bump off the steps. Sammy blocks a bump off the steps, but Dustin SMASHES Sammy knee into the steel! Sammy hobbles, Dustin kicks and reels him in, PILEDRIVER to the floor! Sammy writhes, Dustin catches his breath, and Dustin goes into the ring before the count starts. Fans rally and count along, but Sammy is still down at 7 of 10. Dustin waits, we’re at 8, the count is 9, and Sammy springs in! Dustin covers, TWO!

Dustin keeps cool while Sammy bails back out, and AEW goes picture in picture. Dustin goes out after Sammy to KICK the bad leg! Sammy hobbles around the way, Dustin follows, and Dustin puts Sammy in. Cover, TWO! Dustin gets the bad leg, stomps it, then gives it a FOOT DDT! Sammy hobbles away to the ropes, Dustin drags him around to put the bad leg on the ropes. Dustin hits a STRADDLE ATTACK on the leg! Sammy crawls and Dustin catches his breath again. Dustin drags Sammy up, Sammy throws hands but Dustin ROCKS him. Sammy forearms, Dustin haymakers back. AEW returns to single picture as the brawling continues.

Sammy runs, into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Dustin hauls Sammy up to CHOP him, then he climbs up to rain down fists! Dustin goes all the way to 9, takes a deep breath, but stops halfway to top it off with 10! Daniel Garcia is spotted watching in the crowd, Dustin whips Sammy corner to corner but Sammy shoves Dustin away! Sammy LARIATS Dustin inside out! Dustin flops out of the ring, Sammy takes a moment to get his bad leg moving, and Arn argues something with the ref. The ref still starts the ring count and Dustin is still down. Arn argues, Sammy wants Dustin to get up, and Dustin drags himself up. Sammy springboards to TRIANGLE SWANTON!!

Fans lose their minds as Sammy takes Dustin down! Sammy puts Dustin back in, he whips Dustin to a corner then runs in to RAM Dustin and ENZIGURI! Sammy springboards again, but Dustin catches him for a CROSS RHODES!! Cover, TWO!! Dustin doesn’t finish Sammy with Cody’s move and Arn is shocked! Fans rally up while both men are down, Dustin builds off that energy and he gets back to his feet. Arn gives him the thumbs up and Dustin gets Sammy to a corner. Dustin whips corner to corner, Sammy reverses but Dustin kicks back and hops on, CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! Sammy survives again but Dustin keeps his focus.

Fans rally up more, and Dustin goes to another corner. Dustin climbs up?! Sammy get sup to CLUB Dustin first! Sammy gets Dustin in a torture rack! G T H!! Cover, TWO?!? Dustin survives and shocks Sammy now! Dustin bails out of the ring, flops against steel steps, and- Wait, is that Fuego Del Sol?! He gets a table out?! Sammy nods as Fuego sets that table up by ringside. Arn walks over and shoos Fuego. Fuego says this isn’t Arn’s business, but Arn gets his Glock! Fuego goes running, but Sammy brings Dustin up onto the apron! Dustin fights with elbows, Sammy BOOTS him back! Cravat, but no cutter!

Dustin kicks Sammy, reels him in, DESTROYER through the table!!! The ref goes out to check both men while fans go nuts! Somehow, Dustin and Sammy are still okay to continue, “This is Awesome!” Dustin gets Sammy into the ring, covers, TWO!!! Sammy still lives but Dustin just drags him back up. Dragon sleeper, CROSS RHODES!! But not just that, another CROSS RHODES! Just like Cody would do! Dustin gets Sammy up, reels him in, underhooks the arms, but Sammy fights free to SUPERKICK! Dustin YAKUZA KICKS! Sammy and Dustin DOUBLE LARIAT! Both men are down and fans are thunderous!

Fans rally up as Dustin works to get up. Sammy shakes his head and slowly rises, but Dustin throws hands. Dustin whips, Sammy sunset flips, Dustin sits on it! TWO, Sammy has the sunset, TWO! Dustin sits, TWO and Sammy has the sunset! SAMMY WINS!

Winner: Sammy Guevara, by pinfall (Interim AEW TNT Champion)

Sammy did it! David Crockett is here to hand the title over to Sammy, and Dustin even hugs it out with him. Will Sammy put on another epic battle when Cody comes back?

Wait, Garcia gets in and gets in Sammy’s face. He obviously wants a piece of Sammy, and Garcia SLAPS him! Sammy SLAPS back, and the scrap is on! The ref tries to stop them, other refs rush out as Garcia has a headlock and punches away! Sammy fights free, he hits back with elbows and kicks, but fans want to “Let Them Fight!” The refs get Garcia to leave, but will he come back to take that interim title from Sammy and be the one “welcoming” Cody back?

The NEW champions of AEW speak.

Jade Cargill says, “I did everything I said I was gonna do when I set foot here in AEW, and nothing less.” She and Mark Sterling admire the AEW TBS Championship on her shoulder. “It’s beautiful.” Christian Cage sits with Jurassic Express as he says, “To be a champion in this business, to be a true champion, you have to hate to lose more than you love to win.” Jungle Boy says it took them a long time, and they came so close so many times, but this time, they finally did it. Will these title wins only be the start of what’s to come?

Backstage interview with Sammy Guevara.

Tony Schiavone notes that we had three big title matches on Wednesday, crowning two new champions, and now Sammy has won the interim TNT title. But what about Garcia? Sammy asks, “Yeah, what about that guy? I don’t give a s*it about him. Trying to ruin my moment? I’ma ruin your face.” The TNT title has always been about challenges, so this Dynamite, Guevara VS Garcia, for the TNT title. Big news and a big challenge, will the Spanish God survive Red Death?

FTW Championship: Ricky Starks w/ Will Hobbs VS Matt Sydal!

To send a message to Dante Martin before Dynamite, Team Taz’s Absolute takes on Dante’s former mentor. Will Starks make it a one and done compared to Dante’s third time’s the charm? Or will Sydal prove he has that FTW mindset?

The introductions are made, Taz’s rogue title is raised, and we see if Absolute can stay resolute in the New Year!

Starks and Sydal circle while Hobbs kicks Justin Roberts out of his chair. Sydal gets in Starks’ face, telling him to open that third eye. Starks slaps the hand away, so Sydal SLAPS Starks! Sydal KICKS, fires off forearms, and then whips Starks the corner.Starks elbows back, but Sydal RANAS Starks away! And then LEG LARIATS! Sydal blocks Starks’ kick, sweeps and STANDING MARIPOSA! Cover, ONE! Sydal drags Starks up to reel him in, cradle, TWO! Starks gets up but Sydal KICKS the leg. Sydal knees low, whips, but Starks reverses and reels Sydal in for a SLAM! Starks strikes his pose and fans are torn.

Sydal goes to a corner, Starks runs corner to corner but into a WHEEL KICK! Starks tumbles out, Hobbs is there but stays seated. Sydal watches Hobbs as Hobbs stands up, and Sydal say she just wants after Starks. AEW goes picture in picture as Hobbs refuses to move.

Sydal waits for Starks to stand, brings him around and CHOPS him! And CHOPS! Starks flops down, Sydal KICKS him down! Sydal drags Starks back up, puts him in the ring but Starks swings out to tiger feint kick Sydal down! Starks strikes the pose again, Hobbs applauds, and Starks hobbles after Sydal. Starks puts Sydal in now, CLUBS Sydal on the back, then stomps him in the corner. Starks climbs up, kisses his fist and starts raining rights down on Sydal! Starks gets  caught at 8 for an atomic drop! Sydal throws haymakers and CHOPS, then has Starks in the corner. Starks turns it around to fire off body shots and a RIGHT!

Starks digs his knees into Sydal, lets off as the ref counts, and then mocks the fans like he can’t hear ’em, brother. Starks stomps Sydal, reels him in and shoves him to ropes to CLUB him on the back! Starks shoves and CULBS Sydal again, then basement forearms Sydal in the back! Cover, TWO, and Sydal scrambles away as AEW goes to break.

AEW returns and Starks knees Sydal to whip him and CLOBBER him! Starks CLOBBERS Sydal again, then runs corner to corner to back elbow! URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Starks is annoyed and fans rally. Starks scuffs Sydal, drags him up but Sydal KICKS the leg. And again! Starks hobbles, Sydal QUESTION MARK KICKS to fake Starks out! SOBAT! Starks flops to a corner, Sydal runs in, SLIDING KNEE! Starks flounders up, Sydal hoists him up top. Sydal climbs, fans rally and duel, but Starks back hands Sydal, to gut wrench! Sydal slips out and ROCKS Starks, then springs up to SUPER STEINER Starks away!

Sydal scoops Starks, MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Sydal gets Starks up, Starks ducks the roundhouse but Sydal rolls Starks with a wristlock cradle! TWO!! Starks gut wrenches Sydal to get him up, but Sydal slips out! The leg bothers Starks but he runs, into a JUMP KNEE! Sydal runs, gets around Starks, but Starks blocks the crucifix! Starks swings Sydal out, but Sydal ROUNDHOUSES! LIGHTNING SPIRAL!! Cover, TWO?!?! Fans are torn with how close that was, but Sydal goes up top! Starks stands, METEORA from Sydal! Starks flounders, Sydal covers, ROPEBREAK!! Starks saves himself by mere inches!

Sydal fires up and he runs, but Starks ducks the kick. They both dodge each other, Starks SPEARS Sydal!! Then double underhooks to the gut wrench, ROSHAMBEAUX!! Cover, Starks wins!!

Winner: Ricky Starks, by pinfall (still FTW Champion)

One hell of a match, and Starks grits it out to still be Absolute FTW! And he takes out his frustrations on Sydal! Sydal fights back but Hobbs helps Starks mug him in the corner! But here comes LEE MORIARTY! Sydal’s newest protégé throws hands on Starks, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! But here comes DANTE! Dante CLOBBERS Starks, then stares Hobbs down! These two are going to throw on Dynamite, but Dante throws hands now! Hobbs just laughs all those off, but Dante slips out of the lift to ENZIGURI and SHOTGUN! Hobbs tumbles out, Starks keeps him from going back for more! Will Angel Dorado tear down the Powerhouse, then go straight for Starks?

AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker w/ Jamie Hayter & Rebel VS Riho!

The Dentist has defeated, and in some cases survived, challenger after challenger, but now she faces a woman she has yet to defeat in any kind of match! Something’s gotta give, but will it be Britt’s title reign or her losing streak against the inaugural champion?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin the first ever Battle of the Belts main event!

Riho and Britt circle as fans rally up. They tie up, Britt hits a quick arm-drag, but Riho is right up. Britt and Riho circle again, Rebel swipes at Riho but Riho keeps her focus. Hayter tries now, and Riho gets a bit upset, so Britt attacks! Riho hits back, Britt headlocks and Riho powers out. Britt runs Riho over, covers, Riho slips out to run and basement dropkick! And then another basement dropkick! Britt bails out, Rebel checks Britt’s face and Hayter gets attitude with Britt. Riho is up top, Riho CROSSBODIES but Britt sacrifices Rebel! Britt rushes back into the ring and Hayter gets in Riho’s face. The ref gets Hayter to back off, Riho turns around into a SLINGBLADE!

Britt grins as she takes advantage of distractions again, and she brings Riho up, and Hayter says they should up the ante. They bring out a TABLE! But Riho CLUBS Britt, to then DRAGON SUPLEX Britt to the floor! Riho runs up the table to DROPKICK Hayter down! Now Riho is smiling as she takes care of Britt’s sidekicks! The ring count is climbing but Riho gets Britt up and into the ring at 6. Riho climbs up while Britt checks her neck. Riho leaps for a missile dropkick! Britt flounders to the corner, Riho runs in but Britt catches her for a BACKBREAKER and BUCKLE SHOT! Britt stomps away, then lets off to say, “D, M, D.”

AEW goes picture in picture as Hayter wants Britt to use the glove already. Britt acts like Hayter’s being stupid and throws the glove back at her. But Riho rolls Britt up! TWO, and Britt stomps Riho again! Britt chokes Riho on the ropes, the ref counts, and Britt lets off to drag Riho up. Britt underhooks the arms for a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Britt wraps on a chinlock and throws down elbows over and over! Cover, TWO! Britt is annoyed but she scuffs Riho with her boot. Britt drags Riho up but Riho fights. Britt puts Riho in the corner and throws forearms.  Riho turns it around to throw forearms back!

Britt turns it around, ROCKS Riho then digs her boot in! The ref counts, Britt lets off at 4, and Britt argues with the ref. Hayter creeps over but the ref sees her so she backs off. Britt snap suplexes Riho, drags her back up and snap suplexes again. Not quite Three Amigos, and Britt covers. TWO, so Britt rains down forearms! Britt covers, hands in Riho’s face, TWO! Britt keeps her focus as she drags Riho back up. Britt has a cravat and she cranks the neck while also throwing knees! Britt KNEES Riho down, takes a moment to gloat, then covers, ONE!! Britt elbows Riho down, sits her up and wraps her up in a grounded cobra twist.

Riho endures, fights around, but Britt thrashes her. Britt CLUBS Riho, then shifts to a grounded dragon sleeper. Riho endures and Britt brings her up, but Riho throws elbows. Riho resists the lift, fights free and runs, wheelbarrow to victory roll, STOMP 182! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and duel, Britt blocks a suplex and CLUBS Riho. Britt suplexes, Riho fights free and throws forearms. Britt ROCKS Riho, whips her to a corner, then runs in, into a BOOT! Riho goes up to BOOT Britt again, then Riho runs to tilt-o-whirl heasdcissors! Britt ends up in a corner, Riho runs in to SHINING WIZARD! Riho brings Britt out but Britt CLUBS her first!

Britt whips, Riho holds ropes to stop herself, then she drop toeholds Britt onto ropes! 619!! Fans fire up and Riho covers, TWO!! Britt is still in this but Riho has a leg! Riho pulls it back for a HALF CRAB! BRIDGING CRAB! Britt endures, reaches and gets the ROPEBREAK! Riho lets Britt go but she steps on her as she goes to the corner. Riho climbs, fans duel, Rebel drags Britt out of the ring to save her! Rebel shields Britt, the ref reprimands, Riho DOUBLE STOMPS Rebel’s back! Rebel falls, Hayter tries to checks on her, but Riho is there. Riho goes up again, looks back to Britt, DOUBLE STOPMS miss as Britt dodges!

Britt ripcords and ROLLING ELBOWS, then Alabama to AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Riho survives now but now Britt gets the glove! Fans fire up, Britt runs, but Riho avoids the stomp! Riho fires off forearms, Britt gives them back! Britt eggs Riho on, Riho SLAPS her! Full nelson, but Britt spins out to a takedown! Britt wants the Rings of Saturn but Riho fights it! Riho moves around, ROPEBREAK! Britt hammers away with elbows but the ref reprimands. Britt grab at legs, Riho holds on, but Hayter and Rebel make Riho let go! Britt drags Riho into the Rings of Saturn! But Riho moves around more! Cover, TWO!!

Riho almost had Britt, but Britt runs to CURB STOMP!! Cover, TWO!?! Riho survives and Britt is beside herself! Fans are fired up as they duel, but Hayter sneaks Britt the belt! That was a little short, though, so Rebel has to pass it over. The ref sees that, and he EJECTS Rebel! Britt is flustered, it wasn’t even the sidekick who did it! Hayter and Rebel argue about this, Riho RAMS Britt into Hayter! Crucifix DRIVER! And then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!??! Britt escapes and Riho can’t believe it! Britt flounders, Riho runs in, but Britt KANGAROO KICKS her first! Britt hauls Riho up, FISHERMAN-

NO! Riho rolls Britt, but Britt rolls through, SUPERKICK!CURB STOMP!! Cover, TWO!?!?! How is Riho surviving these shots?! But Britt has RINGS OF SATURN! And LOCKJAW!! Riho taps, Britt finally wins!!

Winner: Britt Baker, by submission (still AEW Women’s World Champion)

The Dentist needed both her assistants and all the tricks in her bag, but she finally clears out Riho from her contender’s list! Hayter wants to be the one to give the belt to Britt, and the group hugs it out. Will anyone ever dethrone Britt Baker, D.M.D?

My Thoughts:

A great event for AEW, though this was only an hour and I really thought Battle of the Belts was gonna be bigger when they announced it. This was really more like if Rampage was all title matches, but they were all really good title matches. Opening with the interim TNT Championship match was a lot of fun, especially that Destroyer through the table. Dustin shouting out Cody with the Cross Rhodes was almost like he was just trying to do what Cody was going to do in this match. Sammy winning is great, as is him immediately defending the interim title against Garcia. Now, whether or not Sammy wins against Cody when the inevitable “undisputed TNT title” match, that could be a game time decision, as it were. Maybe Sammy proves he’s worthy of the title, or AEW just favors Cody again.

The FTW Championship match was good but Starks was definitely still getting back into the swing of things. He definitely proves his grit by winning, but I should’ve figured Team Taz would beat up on Sydal to cue Faces to come out to stop them. Hobbs VS Dante is going to be great, and as I said for the other AEW shows, Dante will find a way to win and go after Starks, possibly for the FTW title. Then Britt VS Riho was great, but of course there’s the overbooking of Hayter and Rebel getting involved all over the place. I was hoping for something more out of how Hayter wasn’t on the same page with Britt, but it didn’t cost Britt in the end so it just seemed a waste. Maybe they’ll revisit that dysfunction against Britt’s next challenger, whoever that is.

My Score: 8.4/10