Who will be the interim TNT Champion in Raleigh?

Sammy Guevara became interim TNT Champion on Battle of the Belts, but Daniel Garcia is coming for it as AEW continues in NORTH~ CAROLINA! Will the Spanish God survive Red Death?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• CM Punk VS Wardlow w/ MJF; Punk wins.
• Dante Martin VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs w/ Ricky Starks; Dante wins.
• Hikaru Shida VS Serena Deeb; Deeb wins.
• Matt Hardy w/ Private Party VS Penta El Zero M w/ Alex Abrahantes; Penta wins.
• The Acclaimed VS Bear Country; The Acclaimed wins.
• Interim AEW TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara VS Daniel Garcia; Guevara wins and retains the interim title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Adam Cole heads to the ring!

Raleigh fires up as he, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly are here together. Cole gets a mic and asks, “Who’s ready for story time with Adam Cole, baybay? 2021 was a great year for the three of us. And 2022 is going to be even better. Because let me remind each and every one of you, I have not been pinned since I’ve been here in AEW. I have not been made to submit, and I am undefeated in singles competition. And on top of that, the boys are back together!” Cole, Kyle and Fish, the baddest team on God’s green! “Boy sand girls, it’s a new era here in AEW.” But wait, whoa. The Young Bucks would like to know what’s going on here.

Seeing how Matt Jackson kicked COVID’s ass in just two days, he and Nick could join them. Thanks for the invite. Kyle says with love and respect, there was no invite for the Bucks in Jacksonville, but that didn’t stop them and “Landon” from going to the ring during their match with the Super Friends. They didn’t need help winning that. Fair, fair. Kyle is right. Matt and Nick say reDRagon are one of the best team sin pro-wrestling. They didn’t need that help. The Bucks will play nice. But they want to make one thing clear: “This is our company. We are the longest reigning AEW Tag Team Champions in company history.” And their new year’s resolution is to get those belts back.

Wow so funny, reDRagon has that same resolution! Fish, tell ’em! Yes, the exact same resolution. And there is not a single team on this planet that will stand between Kyle, Fish and those titles. And that includes the Bucks. Cole is excited, and this is what they need: some friendly competition. This is what makes them the very best! It’s what makes them the greatest faction in AEW. Just look at the other factions. Best Friends? “What an absolute joke!” But speaking of, here come Best Friends! Orange Cassidy, Trent, Chuck Taylor, Wheeler Yuta and even Kris Statlander get in the ring with Cole and his friends.

“For the love of God, would someone cut that stupid music off?” Cole tells Cassidy, “What could you possibly have to say that is of any importance whatsoever?” Cassidy then TACKLES Cole! And the fight is on! Cassidy rains down forearms on Cole while Trent SPEARS Matt! Kyle and Fish go after Yuta, Nick SUPERKICKS Trent! Chuck gives Nick a SEXY CHUCKIE KNEE! Kyle hits Chuck with a ROLLING ELBOW! Fish throws Yuta out, but Cassidy is still raining down on Cole! The Bucks and reDRagon take the fight to the others, but Cutler gets in, to be DUMPED out onto them all! But Cole LOW BLOWS Cassidy!

But Statlander stands in Cole’s way! Cole talks trash, but here comes Britt Baker! Britt CLOBBERS Statlander to hit a CURB STOMP! DMD then sets Cassidy up for Cole’s SUPERKICK! And then THE BOOM! Cole and all his friends stand tall, and then he sets up for the Bucks. But before they can give Cole kisses on the cheek, Britt steps in to give him a kiss on the lips! Will AEW be all about The Boom from now until the end of time?

AEW takes a closer look at Wardlow.

“They call him, ‘The Conductor of Violence,’ who strikes fear in all men. He is the maestro who orchestrates destruction with his encore of violence, over and over and over and over again. But is this timeless tale with an unforgettable ending doomed to end in tragedy? Or will his Symphony of Powerbombs live forever?” We find out if this is the night the music dies, after the break.

CM Punk VS Wardlow w/ MJF!

The Best of the World just wants a fight with the Salt of the Earth, but Maxwell Jacob Friedman decided to hide behind another member of Pinnacle. Will the War Dog once again do MJF’s dirty work? Or will Punk remove one more piece on the board to leave MJF exposed?

The bell rings and fans are all fired up for Punk. Wardlow shrugs that off as he circles with Punk. Punk slips out but Wardlow goes out to blocks his path to MJF. Punk goes back to the ring, MJF tells fans to shut up, and Wardlow box jumps to the apron. Wardlow shows off his dancing pecs then ties up with Punk. Wardlow shoves Punk to the corner and MJF laughs it up. Punk shrugs it off, ties up with Wardlow and headlocks. Wardlow endures the grind, fans rally up and powers up to power out. Punk rebounds but Wardlow runs him over! Wardlow waits on Punk as he gets up and stretches. Punk and Wardlow tie up, and Wardlow powers Punk back to a corner.

Fans are rallying for Punk and he dodges a haymaker to fire off on Wardlow! But Wardlow ROCKS Punk, CLUBS him down, then stomps Punk on the back. Wardlow drags Punk up to RAM him in the corner. Wardlow pushes Punk down as the ref counts, and Wardlow circles him like a shark. Punk goes to a corner, Wardlow stomps him, and then ROCKS him with a haymaker. Wardlow whips corner to corner, runs in but Punk dodges. Wardlow stops himself but Punk KICKS the leg! Punk fireman’s carries, Wardlow slips off! Wardlow kicks low, reels Punk in, but Punk drops and bails out. Punk catches himself while AEW goes picture in picture.

Punk nods, respecting Wardlow’s size and strength. Punk goes back into the ring, Wardlow says it was that close. The two of them tie up, Punk wrenches an arm to a hammerlock, but Wardlow elbows free. Wardlow CLUBS Punk, stalks him to the corner, then RAMS into his back! Wardlow digs his shoulder in, lets off as the ref counts, then turns Punk around to RAM him in the stomach. Wardlow EuroUppers, then paces. Punk kicks back, goes after a leg, but Wardlow blocks a kick to throw Punk into the corner! Wardlow whips corner to corner, Punk tumbles up and out and to the floor! Wardlow shouts about his dominance and MJF is there to smugly smirk at Punk.

Punk drags himself back onto the apron, Wardlow heads over but Punk shoulders into him. Punk shoulders him again, then slingshots, but Wardlow catches him! And RAMS him into a corner! Wardlow stomps away on Punk, backs off as the ref counts, and then he storms back up to drag Punk up. Wardlow whips Punk corner to corner hard and Punk bounces off buckles! Wardlow soaks up the heat while fans rally up for Punk. Wardlow stands Punk up, whips him corner to corner again, then runs in, into a BOOT! Punk goes up, reels Wardlow in, but Wardlow TOSSES Punk off the tornado DDT!

Wardlow drags Punk up, reels Punk in, and MJF is sure happy to see this. But Punk slips out of the bomb to ROUNDHOUSE! Wardlow just gets mad! Punk kicks low, front kicks hard, then LARIATS! But Wardlow stays up! Punk runs, LARIAT, but Wardlow is still up! Punk hits another LARIAT, Wardlow just wobbles. Punk dodges Wardlow’s clothesline to fire off clubbing shots, then he hurries to a corner! Springboard FLYING LARIAT! Down goes Wardlow and fans fire up! MJF is getting annoyed as Punk goes to a corner. Punk runs corner to corner at Wardlow, SHINING WIZARD! And he flips off MJF!

But Wardlow gets Punk up, POWERBOMB! Wardlow fires up and MJF mockingly asks, “What’s the matter, Punk?!” Wardlow gets Punk up again, POWERBOMB! That’s one encore, are we going to see the symphony? MJF riles up the crowd and Wardlow drags Punk back up. Wardlow reels him in for a third POWERBOMB! And rolls him through for a FOURTH! And then again, for a FIFTH!! One foot cover, but MJF wants Wardlow to wait?! MJF wants even more. MJF wants at least two more bombs, but fans boo for MJF trying to tell Wardlow what to do. Wardlow sighs, drags Punk up, reels him back in, SIXTH POWERBOMB!

MJF still wants lucky number seven! So Wardlow drags Punk back up, gets him back up, and there’s POWERBOMB NUMBER SEVEN! MJF taunts the fans, “I can’t hear you! What happened to your CM Punk chants?” Punk manages to crawl tot he apron, and Wardlow goes outside. MJF tells Wardlow to put him through the table! MJF says Wardlow has a job to do, so do it! Wardlow drags Punk over, reels him in, and gets Punk up for an EIGHTH POWERBOMB, through the table!! Fans boo and MJF soaks it all up. The ref starts a ring count, the medic asks if Punk even wants to continue, and somehow, Punk is crawling!

Punk reaches out at 6 of 10, MJF wants Punk to quit, and the fans are thunderous for “CM PUNK! CM PUNK!” Punk is up at 9 and in at 9.5!! MJF is furious, Wardlow gives him a look, and MJF says this isn’t ending in a pin. Just powerbomb Punk again! “What do I pay you for?!” Wardlow sighs, drags Punk up but Punk’s even more of a rag doll than he was before! But then Punk springs to life for a cradle! PUNK WINS?!?!

Winner: CM Punk, by pinfall

And MJF is fuming! Punk stays alive and stays undefeated! MJF gets in the ring, he demands the music stop playing, and then he stares Wardlow in the eyes. “You will never the big match!” MJF is blaming Wardlow?! And he shoves Wardlow! And he jabs his finger into Wardlow’s chest! Wardlow grabs that finger, MJF tries to remind him who the boss is, but here comes Shawn Spears! The Chair Man keeps the peace in the Pinnacle, but Wardlow storms off. Can not even an accountabilibuddy help patch up the damage MJF’s ego has done?

Dante Martin VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs w/ Ricky Starks!

Angel Dorado was almost Angel Diamante if not for Absolute making sure he didn’t win the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Will Team Taz’s personal titan make sure Dante doesn’t even get a chance at another match after tonight? Or can Dante use what he’s learned since his previous match with Hobbs on top of his incredible speed to finally turn the tide?

Dante and Hobbs don’t even wait for the bell, Dante rushes Hobbs at the ramp and a brawl is on! Hobbs knees Dante, throws him in, the bell rings, and Dante ENZIGURIS! And ENZIGURIS! And then runs, to CROSSBODY Hobbs and himself out of the ring! Dante fires off forearms, Hobbs shoves him back into the ring. Hobbs gets up, Dante dropkicks him back down! Dante goes to the apron to LEAP, but into Hobbs’ arms! SPINEBUSTER to the floor! Hobbs looms over Dante as the ring count starts. Hobbs drags Dante up, TOSSES him into the ring this time, and Starks is loving what he is seeing as Hobbs stomps Dante down.

Hobbs hauls Dante up, suplexes and then SLAMS Dante down. Hobbs dares Dante to get up, then drags him up for another suplex and SLAM! Hobbs sneers then grins as he looms over Dante. Hobbs digs his hands into Dante’s head and digs Dante’s head into the mat. Hobbs lets off, Dante goes to a corner and he throws body shots back. Dante fights up, runs, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! Hobbs says this is too easy, and he rains down fists on Dante’s head. Hobbs clinches but Dante kicks from below! Hobbs wobbles as Dante keeps kicking! Dante throws more body shots, but Hobbs CLUBS Dante down.

Dante crawls, Hobbs brings him back up, and he has the torture rack! Dante fights, KNEES free, and Hobbs staggers! Fans fire up, Dante runs, but Hobbs BODY CHECKS Dante! Cover, TWO! Dante is still in this and Team Taz argues with the ref. Hobbs drags Dante up, whips him to the corner hard, then hauls Dante up. “What’re you gonna do to me? Huh? HUH?!” Hobbs throws EuroUppers, whips Dante corner to corner, and Dante tumbles up and out to hit the floor! Starks gets his shots in while the ref is busy with Hobbs! Starks keeps going until AEW goes picture in picture.

Starks plays innocent while Dante writhes. Starks seems to tell Dante this is his fault, but Dante drags himself up to the ring. Hobbs grins as Dante gets on the apron, and he KNEES him down! Starks gets more cheap shots in! Starks gets away it it again, Hobbs waits on the ring count, but Dante drags himself up. The ref keeps Hobbs back, and that allows Starks to get one more shot in! Starks throws Dante in for Hobbs, and Hobbs stands on Dante’s neck and shoulder! The ref counts, Hobbs lets off, and Dante drags himself up. Hobbs eggs Dante on, Dante throws body shots, but Hobbs pushes him around.

Dante keeps throwing body shots, but Hobbs picks him up with one arm! Hobbs carries Dante around before the SIDEWALK SLAM! Hobbs drags Dante up, almost toying with him now, and he shouts out Taz at commentary before throwing down fists. Hobbs punches Dante for Starks, too.  This third one is for Hook! And AEW returns to single picture as Hobbs tells Dante he signed the contract! This fourth punch is for the swerve! Dante comes back with a HUGE forearm! Hobbs is staggered! Dante gets up, Hobbs shoves him away, but runs into a BOOT! Dante springboards up, but into the torture rack!

Dante fights with all he has, dodges Hobbs, and springboard SHOTGUNS! Hobbs wobbles, Dante runs, but Hobbs put shim on the apron. Dante ENZIGURIS! Fans fire up with Dante and he climbs up to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!! And with authority! Hobbs bails out, Starks talks to him, but Dante goes up to TORNILLO! Direct hit and down goes Hobbs! Fans fire up with Dante, Starks pleads with Hobbs to get back up and finish this! Hobbs is up, goes through the ropes, Dante BOOTS him down! Dante hurries as Hobbs gets up, but Hobbs CLOBBERS Dante again! Both men are down and fans fire up!

Dante crawls his way to the apron as the standing count climbs. Starks lurks that way but the ref spots him. Here comes JAY LETHAL! Lethal trips Starks, Dante springboards for the NOSEDIVE! Cover, Dante wins!!

Winner: Dante Martin, by pinfall

Lethal gets Dante outta there! Taz protests but Lethal evened the numbers! Will Dante have allies to help him fight Team Taz?

Backstage interview with Chris Jericho.

James Marvez says Pro-Wrestling Illustrated named The Inner Circle as their Faction of the Year for 2021. Jericho says that is a great honor, but it is no surprise. Since day one in AEW, their mission statement never wavered. They promised to take over the company, the country, and the world! They are the biggest, baddest band of blood brothers this world has ever seen. That is why during Sammy Guevara’s match with Daniel Garcia, if “Terrence & Philip” get involved, the Inner Circle will cut them down. Eddie Kingston pops in and says hey to Jericho. Still talking about all those guys? Jericho should mind his business.

Kingston says no one cares about Sammy, especially not Kingston. Kingston just wants after Garcia, because of what he did to Kingston’s knee. It’s all messed up. As for Santana & Ortiz, the reason they’re not world tag team champions is Jericho. Jericho tells Kingston to shut his mouth. Kingston tells Jericho to make him. Jericho says the Inner Circle is family. It doesn’t matter what happens on the streets of New York or in the indies, but in the big leagues, The Inner Circle dominates! They and Sammy Guevara! So Kingston can just get outta here! Santana speaks up, saying they should get this s*it together.

Kingston asks Ortiz his opinion, but Ortiz just leaves. Jake Hager follows them out, and Kingston says so much for Jericho’s brothers. Jericho says he is going to be in Sammy’s corner. If Kingston wants to be ringside, fine. But keep in mind, if 2point0 gets involved, Jericho will kick their asses. If Kingston gets involved, Jericho might kick his ass, too. Kingston’s begging Jericho to try. Jericho says Kingston can GFY for now, but will the Mad King do no such thing?

MJF storms back out in a tantrum.

“I hate to interrupt this program, even though I’m the only real star on it… You keep your hillbilly mouths shut while I’m talking!” MJF knows Punk is still backstage and in a world of pain. But he won, congrats. Fans call MJF an A-Hole, but MJF knows that Punk got powerbomb’d to oblivion! That was a fluke victory over an oaf! But Punk won’t win next week! MJF makes sure Punk takes his first L in AEW! Next week, MJF will give us the watch we’ve all been waiting for! NO more running, no more hiding! You want that match?! Then next week, CM PUNK VS SHAWN SPEARS! Even when he’s pissed, MJF is a coward. Will the Chair Man find a way to stop the Best in the World?

Cole and friends speak.

Kyle asks Landon to let them know when they’re live. Matt & Nick correct him, it’s Brandon. You sure? Cutler is touched the Bucks stood up for him, but then they tell him to shut up. Cole tells Best Friends that these five have whooped them over and over and over again. It’s gotten to a point where it’s just getting silly. Even Kris Statlander. She thought she was safe, but guess again. Britt walks in to say hey. Adam and Britt would officially like to challenge Statlander & Cassidy to a Mixed Tag Match next Dynamite. See you there! Cut, Brandon Butler. No, it’s Cutler. SHUT UP, BLANDON! Shut up! No eye contact!

Hangman Page is here!

The AEW World Champion is here, having gotten past Bryan Danielson with last week’s TBS premiere. But then, who is next? Hangman gets the mic, and he says, “These past two months, I’ve spent 90 minutes in this ring against one of the best in the world. I have poured sweat, I have spilt enough blood, to float a battleship, all for this. The ultimate prize, the most important thing in all of wrestling, the AEW World Championship. And it’s still mine, dammit!” Fans cheer for that. But Hangman says 90 minutes is just not enough. It is a new year, and the records have all reset. The Hangman needs a new challenger.

“I really hate to interrupt,” says Dan Lambert. Hangman wants someone to shoot him now. But Lambert says seeing Hangman in the ring reminds him of the cowboys he used to watch. Guys like Cowboy Bill Watts from Oklahoma, Stan “The Lariat” Hansen of Borger, Texas, and Terry & Dory Funk Jr. from Amarillo. Now we get Hangman, “The East Coast Urban Cowboy” all the fans can relate to. Hangman says he’s here for a challenger. If Scorpio or Ethan want a shot, they can just come and tell him to his face. He definitely didn’t want to hear from the walking Facebook profile like Lambert. So he can just go ahead and spit out what he wants to say.

Lambert wants Hangman to understand, he came out here to compliment Hangman. Lambert gets how good Hangman is. Those matches with Bryan are among the best Lambert’s seen in 40+ years of being a fan. But the thing Lambert respects most is the fact that Hangman didn’t take the Cody Rhodes path of backstage politics. When Hangman won the title and the idiot fans chanted, “You Deserve It,” Hangman looked them all in the eye and told them, “No, I earned it.” And Hangman is right, he has earned everything he has in this company. Except this persona he’s using as a gimmick.

That guy in the Village People can put on jeans and a hat and sing YMCA, but that doesn’t make him a cowboy. So Hangman should do himself a favor: Keep the title, the money, the adulation of the fans, and all that comes with it. But for the love of God, stop disrespecting the legacies of the Dick Murdochs and Blackjack Mulligans that preceded Hangman, because anybody coming from the Carolinas or the Virginias pretending they’re something they aren’t “just comes across as being completely full of cowboy sh*t.”

Fans boo but Hangman wants to get this right. Growing up on a farm 90 miles from here, with 100 head of cattle, isn’t cowboy sh*t? Turning down six figure contracts to come here, help start this company, then win the world title isn’t cowboy sh*t? Well, Hangman came looking for a challenger but got Lambert instead, so how about Lambert get in the ring and let Hangman shove his size 12s up his ass and show him who the real cowboy is? Well that ain’t happening, so Lambert will take his leave. But here comes LANCE ARCHER! The Murderhawk Monster still has unfinished business with Lambert!

Lambert gets in the ring, he says this is the company’s fault! Lambert even had milk cartons out for Archer! The world champion is right there, don’t miss this opportunity! Archer reels back, but he CLOBBERS Hangman! Maybe he heard Lambert at the end there! Lambert runs away, Archer stomps away on Hangman! Archer JAMS Hangman with a chair! And then SMACKS him on the back with it! Lambert counts his lucky stars as Archer sets the chair up, puts Hangman in a corner and fires a BIG haymaker! Archer hoists Hangman up top, inverted crucifix, BLACKOUT onto the chair!! Fans boo but will Archer crush Hangman and take the title from the wreckage?

Backstage interview with the Arn, Brock Anderson & Lee Johnson.

Tony Schiavone is sure they’ll all be scouting tonight’s TNT Championship main event, but this is quite the tag team, too. Arn is so proud of Brock & Lee, and they know it. Arn just told them that they’ll experience something they haven’t. You can smell it, you can feel it. This is Four Horsemen country. But then FTR walk in and applaud, because Arn is right. Tully Blanchard says you can smell it and feel it. But if you wanna relive it, get rid of the deadweight and join The Pinnacle. Cash Wheeler says they may be blood, but The Pinnacle can do more for the Anderson name than Brock ever could.

Dax Harwood is pretty sure he’s the son Arn wishes he had. But how about the greatest tag team on God’s green earth take on Brock & Lee? Brock’s fine with it. Lee says let’s do it. Tully and Arn shake on it and Dax says, “See you next week, Dad.” Will the Son of the Enforcer and Big Shotty be able to shoot down FTR?

AEW hears from Jade Cargill & Mark Sterling.

Sterling says Jade did it just as they said she would, and now she has the TBS Championship. And having a title means more money in the winner’s purse! Jade says for herself that she did everything she said she would when she first stepped foot in AEW. This is her title, and we are all watching #ThatBitchShow. Who will be the first to step up and challenge Jade for that title? Will they even stand a chance of taking it from her?

Hikaru Shida VS Serena Deeb!

The Full Metal Warrior and the Professor of Professional Wrestling have gone back and forth, and things have only gotten meaner and nastier. Will this fourth time be the final time? Or just another in a long series of showdowns?

Speaking of nasty, Deeb attacks Shida from behind on the ramp with a CHOP BLOCK! Deeb takes Shida’s kendo stick, kicks Shida down, then stalks Shida. “You want this?!” But Shida kicks the stick away! Deeb drags Shida up, EuroUppers, then gets the leg to SMASH it against the steel steps! Deeb goes in the ring to soak up the heat and the ref checks on Shida. Deeb wants Shida to get in the ring and Shida refuses to let this stop her. Shida hops up on one good foot, drags herself up the steps and into the ring, and the bell sounds! Deeb goes fight after Shida in the corner, stomps a mudhole, but lets off as the ref counts 4.

Fans boo but Deeb just drags Shida up to put the good leg on the rope and DRAGON SCREW the bad one! Deeb puts the foot on the ropes for a STRADDLE ATTACK! And another! And then another! Fans boo more but Deeb just soaks it up. Shida gets up to throw a body shot but she falls over on the one good leg. Deeb stomps away on the bad leg, then hits a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Deeb digs at the kneepad to bring it down but Shida throws hands. Deeb SLAPS Shida, fans rally up but Deeb tears the KT tape away! The ref reprimands, but Deeb gets an arm. Deeb turns Shida over into the omoplata, and she SMASHES away on the knee! SERENITY LOCK!!

Shida endures, reaches out, but the ref is calling it!

Winner: Serena Deeb, by referee stoppage

Deeb wins by stacking the deck before the match even started. Shida is pissed, she didn’t give up, but the medic gets in the ring. Deeb gets Shida’s kendo stick back, and she storms up to swing at the ref! And at the medic! They get out of the ring, and Deeb fires off on Shida’s leg! Deeb wants to destroy Shida, but more referees rush out to stop her! Shida’s friends, Anna Jay, Tay Conti and Skye Blue also go out to make sure Deeb doesn’t go back for more. Deeb says mission accomplished, but will she have to watch her back for when Shida returns for revenge?

Backstage interview with Christian Cage & Jurassic Express.

Schiavone talks with Captain Charisma and the NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions, and that is music to Christian’s ears. First off, well wishes to Rey Fenix, they hope he heals up and comes back soon. Schiavone asks Jungle Boy what’s next, and he says it’s whoever wants a piece. JB & Luchasaurus worked hard to get the titles, they’ll work even harder to keep the titles. So any of the top five teams, they can come get some. In walk the Dark Order’s John Silver & Alex Reynolds. They want some top five? Christian says yes, so if these to happen to see one, send them their way. Whoa, okay. They are top five! Top five hunks, top five meat, top five tag team!

And if you’re throwing out challengers, what about Friday? They can go on a double date: Jurassic Express with Silver’s & Reynold’s fists! JB says that’s good to him, and Luchasaurus roars his agreement. The tag champions are going on a Rampage, will they make it through Number Three and Number Four to take on the rest of the Top Five?

Matt Hardy w/ Private Party VS Penta El Zero M w/ Alex Abrahantes!

Carolina’s own Big Money Matt is here, and he says, “Penta, I’m so sorry your brother got injured in the downfall of the Lucha Bros. But your downfall truly began when my team of five beat your team of five a few weeks ago on Dynamite.” So tonight, in Hardy’s backyard of Raleigh, and in front of his beautiful family, Hardy will DELETE Penta and send him to the hospital to join Fenix. Will Penta show that Cero Miedo can’t be deleted, even in Hardy Country?

The bell rings, Penta and Hardy circle as fans rally up. Penta tells Hardy, “LISTEN! CERO! MIEDO!” But Hardy counters with “DELETE!” “CERO! MIEDO!” “DELETE!” Repeat. Penta decides to dramatically take off his glove, tosses it to Alex, touchdown! “CERO! MIE-” DELETE! Penta sobats, headlocks, Hardy powers out and runs Penta over! Hardy spams DELETE, but runs into a SUPERKICK! Penta struts to the corner, stands Hardy up to run and… CHOP! Uno! Penta CHOPS again, and says dos! Penta swings but Hardy dodges to CHOP, and AEW goes picture in picture!

Hardy CHOPS again, and he says that’s two! Hardy CHOPS and he gets three! Hardy whips, Penta goes up and over in the corner to clothesline, GAMANGIRI, and then sweep the legs for a running SUPERKICK! Hardy bails out, Quen & Kassidy are there, but Penta runs in, to DIVE into a haymaker! Hardy drags Penta out to RAM him into steel steps! Hardy then bumps Penta off the apron, and again, and then whips him into railing! Penta slumps down, Hardy refreshes the count, mocks Cero Miedo and throws down fists! Hardy puts Penta back in, soaks up the cheers and jeers, then scoops to SLAM Penta down! Hardy goes up the corner, powers up, and hits the AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO!

Hardy keeps Penta down with a chinlock and grinds him into the mat. Penta endures, even as Hardy pushes up to drop down. Penta fights up, throws body shots, then forearms. Penta runs, but into a back elbow! Hardy drops a leg, covers, TWO! Hardy drags Penta up, and bumps him off buckles! Again and again, all three levels! Hardy throws up the V1 as AEW returns to single picture. Hardy whips, Penta stops himself to KICK back, then he ducks and dodges to SLINGBLADE! And then SLINGBLADE again! Hardy gets up, into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Penta keeps his cool while Hardy survives.

Fans rally up, both men rise, and Penta reels Hardy in. “CERO! MIEDO!” But Hardy fights the package to kick and facelock! Penta fights the Twist so Hardy hits a DDT! Cover, TWO! Hardy ROCKS Penta in the corner with a haymaker, puts him up top and fires off more haymakers, then climbs up to join him. Penta fights back with body shots, slips under and SUPERKICKS the leg out! Hardy falls and gets caught in the Tree of Woe, and Penta goes up top! WOE STOMPS! Penta drags Hardy to the cover, TWO!! Hardy survives again and Private Party is greatly relieved. Fans rally up as Hardy goes to the apron.

Penta goes out to join Hardy, CHOPS him, but Hardy CHOPS back! Penta CHOPS, Hardy CHOPS, they go back and forth with CHOP after CHOP! Penta kicks low, reels Hardy in, and he tucks the arms! Hardy fights free, throws another haymaker, but Penta gives it back! Now they brawl with big shots, Hardy catches Penta for an APRON SIDE EFFECT! Hardy puts Penta in, covers, TWO!! Penta survives now but Hardy just says, “DELETE! DELETE!” Kick and TWIST- NO! Penta shoves free and ENZIGURIS Hardy in the corner! Penta puts Hardy up top, climbs up after him, but Hardy throws back elbows! Penta falls, Hardy adjusts and fans fire up! MOONSAULT FLOPS!

Penta aims, Hardy stands, SUPERKICK, and Penta tucks Hardy in! “CERO! MIEDO!” FEAR FACTOR!! Cover, Penta wins!

Winner: Penta El Zero M, by pinfall

Hardy had hometown advantage but it wasn’t enough! Alex gets in the ring with Penta to call out Malakai Black! “Malakai! I’m going to show you something about respect.” Because Penta has CERO- Oh no! The lights go out! And when they come back up, Malakai is in the ring! And he BOOTS Alex! He and Penta brawl, Malakai throws knees, but Penta SUPERKICKS! ROUNDHOUSE from Malakai! Malakai tears at the mask!! But here comes Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr.! The Varsity Blonds and Penta beat up Malakai, but Julia Hart is telling them to stop? Why?! Malakai laughs as he sits up, and his usually blue eye is now red…!

Malakai points at the Blonds and Penta, and then the lights go out again! When the lights come back up, it’s BRODY KING!! And he BOOTS BPJ, CLOBBERS Griff and CHOPS Penta down! King then THROWS Griff into BPJ, and CLOBBERS Penta! King runs corner to corner to CANNONBALL BPJ! Malakai rises and fans are going nuts! They get Griff up, suplex TOSS to a POWERSLAM! The House of Black has finally started showing itself! Will they soon consume AEW from the inside?

Backstage interview with Kris Statlander, Leyla Hirsch & Red Velvet.

Schiavone is with this trio as this Friday, they will be on Rampage in a 3v3. But Schiavone wants to talk about Statlander teaming with Cassidy for Dynamite’s Mixed Tag Match next week. Statlander says that’s right, Schiavone’s good friend, Britt, is- Leyla speaks up, wanting them to not be selfish. They have the Rampage match first. Shouldn’t Statlander focus on that first? Selfish? Statlander isn’t the one that is always trying to get the pin. Statlander wants to help all her friends. If she couldn’t handle it, she wouldn’t have accepted it, so just let Statlander make her own decisions.

Velvet speaks up to keeps the peace. If they even stand a chance this Friday against Nyla Rose, Penelope Ford & The Bunny, Velvet needs them both to get it together. Be cool. Hirsch and Statlander promise to keep this civil, but will it only become a civil war on Rampage?

The Acclaimed VS Bear Country!

Max Caster & Anthony Bowens are currently the #1 ranked team in AEW, with the most tag wins in AEW history already at 32. And as always, Platinum Max has a diss rap on deck. “The Acclaimed leaving opponents all motionless. They ain’t got a shot, like Novak Djokovic. We got Carolina jumpin’, and Bear Country’s got erectile dysfunction. It’s just what I imagined. Y’all look way worse after the 10 Year Challenge. And this goes out to Darby & Sting. Y’all’re too bitch to even walk in our ring.” Bowens shouts to Raleigh that The Acclaimed have arrived, but will Bear Boulder & Bear Bronson take that top spot from them?

The bell rings and Bear Country runs The Acclaimed over with stereo shoulder tackles! Boulder & Bronson DECK each of them, then they get each of them up! Bronson scoop SLAMS Caster, then Boulder trophy lifts Bowens to SLAM him onto Caster! Bronson SENTONS them both, and fans fire up as Bronson drags Bowens over. Bronson bumps Bowens off the buckle, tags Boulder in, and then whips Boulder in for a back elbow! Boulder feeds Bowens to Bronson’s own back elbow, then Boulder drags Bowens back up. Tag to Bronson, Boulder feeds Bowens to Bronson’s scoop. Bowens slips out to shove the Bears into each other!

Tag to Caster, then Bowens fires off with haymakers and CHOPS on repeat! Caster climbs, Bowens SUPERKICKS Bronson, then Caster CROSSBODIES! Caster air guitars and fires up as AEW goes picture in picture.

Caster chokes Bronson on the ropes while also throwing down punches. The ref counts, Caster lets off, and Bowens chokes Bronson on the ropes! Bowens gets away with it, Caster throws hands but Bronson fights out of the Acclaimed corner! Caster drop toeholds and basement dropkicks Bronson down! Cover, TWO! Caster CLUBS Bronson, bumps him off buckles, and he tags Bowens in. The Acclaimed mugs Bronson, then double suplexes him! Cover, TWO! Bowens throws forearms and elbows on Bronson over and over, CLUBS Bronson down, then says, “Everyone loves The Acclaimed!”

Bowens drags Bronson up, but Bronson resists the whip to reach for Boulder. Bowens holds on, Bronson throws forearms, but Bowens holds on. Bowens ducks a forearm for a straitjacket NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Bowens grows frustrated while Bronson grits his teeth and shakes his head. Bowens gets Bronson up, he tags Caster, and The Acclaimed mug Bronson more. Caster lets off as the ref counts, then he tags Bowens back in. They mug Bronson more, Bowens turns Bronson and hits another NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Bowens wraps on a chinlock and he grinds Bronson down.

Bronson endures, fights up, and AEW returns to single picture as he throws back elbows. Bowens knees low, reels Bronson in, but Bronson is too big for even the Five Tool Player to bomb! Bronson back drops then SITS on Bowens! Fans fire up, Bronson crawls, hot tags to Caster and Boulder! Boulder rallies on the Acclaimed, DOUBLE LARIATS! Boulder scoops and SLAMS Caster, then FLAPJACKS Bowens! Caster staggers over, Boulder gets him and Bowens in choke grips. The Acclaimed both kick free, then run, into DOUBLE SWINGING SHOTS! Tag to Bronson, and the Bears combine! Bear Electric Chair, but Bowens drags Caster away from the BEAR BOMB!

Bowens dumps Boulder out but he comes right back, only for Bowens’ ROLLING ELBOW to take him down! But Bronson clotheslines Bowens out of the ring! Caster rolls Bronson up, TWO! Bronson DECKS Caster! Caster goes to a corner, Bronson runs in, but Caster dodges and Bronson hits buckles! Caster distracts the ref, Bowens HOTSHOTS Bronson down! Caster hurries up top, MIC DROP ELBOW! Cover, The Acclaimed win!

Winners: The Acclaimed, by pinfall

The number one team stays the number one team! They’re rolling on, but will Bowens & Caster look to go from platinum to gold? Wait, as they exit, it’s the snow, the crow, and… STIIIIING! Sting has his baseball bat and he backs The Acclaimed back down the ramp. Darby FLIES in from the ring!! Down goes Caster, and then Sting CLOBBERS Bowens! Bowens crawls for his boombox but Sting SMACKS it with the bat! Darby puts Caster back in the ring, runs in corner to corner, COFFIN SPLASH! Sting joins Darby in the ring, Sting drags Caster up into the SCORPION DEATH DROP! Will the Icon and the Relentless One prove The Acclaimed are all talk?

AEW hears from PAC.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Bastard. Your sight may never return. You may never see again.” Again… Here we go again. Pac is alone and desolate. Is this just another setback? Is it ever going to come back? Malakai may have blinded Pac, but he sees everything. “And it’s funny. I’m not angry. I appreciate the blessing.” Now Pac’s perspective is different. And his vision has never been so clear. Will the blinded Bastard look to tear down the House of Black soon enough?

Backstage interview with Matt Hardy & Private Party.

Schiavone knows this loss wasn’t what Hardy wanted in his home state, and Hardy says no, it isn’t. This is very frustrating. Maybe Hardy is too focused on the future of AEW, the HFO and his team. Maybe Hardy should focus more on Hardy, because something has to change. But then in walks Andrade El Idolo. Tranquilo, Hardy, take it easy. Penta is not worth it. Andrade offers Hardy water and whiskey. Hardy hands the boys the alcohol. Andrade does agree, Hardy needs to focus. He is a businessman, and Andrade is a businessman, and they both love money. Andrade wants to work with Hardy on a deal. This will benefit Hardy, and of course it will benefit Andrade.

Hardy is intrigued. He’d love to talk business with Andrade. Not in front of the world, though. They’ll go to Hardy’s office. Is Big Money Matt moving on from Private Party to El Idolo?

Interim AEW TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara VS Daniel Garcia!

Cody Rhodes took the title on Christmas, but wasn’t medically cleared to defend it for Battle of the Belts. The Spanish God defeated the Natural substitute, but now has Red Death in his face. Will Sammy still be the one waiting for Cody’s return? Or will Garcia take that away from Sammy and move on to the American Nightmare?

Jericho and Kingston are uneasily both in Sammy’s corner, though 2point0 apparently stayed in the back. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who leaves Carolina with the gold!

Garcia and Sammy tie up right away, break, then tie up again. Garcia waistlocks, Sammy headlocks for the takeover, but Garcia headscissors. Garcia moves around, pops free, but Garcia SLAPS! Sammy SLAPS, Garcia goes for a leg but Sammy drags him down and the two scrap. Sammy has the top mount but Garcia still hits back. Fans are fired up as Sammy has Garcia in a corner and the hands keep flying. The ref calls for the break but Garcia gets a cheap shot! The ref reprimands, Garcia drags Sammy up to EuroUpper! Garcia CLUBS Sammy on the neck, then brings Sammy around to snapmare and KICK in the back!

Sammy gets up in a huff to kick, snapmare and KICK in return! Garcia is up, he SLAPS, but Sammy SLAPS back. Garcia is rocked, Sammy clotheslines him right out! Sammy then runs and TORNILLOS to take Garcia out! Sammy poses on the floor and fans are all fired up! Sammy drags Garcia up, Kingston is there and talking trash to both Sammy and Garcia, and Sammy puts Garcia in. Sammy drags Garcia up, CHOPS him, and then follows Garcia to a corner. Sammy CHOPS Garcia again, then follows Garcia across the way. Garcia kicks, but Sammy dodges the chop to CHOP Garcia down!

Garcia pushes Sammy but Sammy gets a facelock to snap suplex Garcia real tight! Cover, ONE, but Sammy keeps Garcia down. Sammy sits Garcia up, slashes the throat and then torture racks! Garcia fights free, waistlocks but Sammy switches. Sammy shoves Garcia, hurdles over then flips over, but jumps into a BACKBREAKER! Sammy bails out and Garcia checks his teeth as AEW goes picture in picture.

Garcia goes out to fetch Sammy, drags him up and RAMS him into the apron! Garcia puts Sammy in, covers, TWO! Garcia mockingly applauds Sammy’s toughness, then drops knees into Sammy’s back. Sammy goes to a corner, Garcia stalks him and then digs his boot into him again and again on the ropes! Sammy tries to kick back but Garcia drags him up to CHOP him! Garcia whips, Sammy ducks and dodges to sunset flip! Garcia rolls through, gets the legs, and turns Sammy for a BOSTON CRAB! Sammy endures, Garcia sits deep on the hold and stares Jericho down, but Sammy gets to the ROPEBREAK!

Garcia lets off, kicks Sammy’s hand off the rope, then paces. Kingston talks some trash but Garcia drags Sammy to dig a knee into his back. Garcia ties up the legs, hooks an arm, and has the Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch! Garcia bends Sammy way back, but Sammy pops to a cover, TWO! Garcia gets up to CLOBBER Sammy with an elbow! Cover, TWO! Garcia is annoyed, but he talks trash back to Kingston. The ref keeps Kingston out of the ring, Garcia stands on Sammy’s head. Garcia drags Sammy up as AEW returns to single picture. Sammy fights the back suplex with elbows to Garcia’s head and neck, but Garcia CLUBS him on the back.

Garcia snarls, reels Sammy in, back suplex but Sammy lands on his feet to rally on Garcia! Sammy whips, Garcia reverses but Sammy dodges to then RAM into Garcia! ENZIGURI! But Garcia bails out before Sammy can springboard. But Sammy decides to TRIANGLE JUMP SENTON!! Fans fire up and Jericho coaches Sammy up! Sammy points to his knee, but he’s still able to get up. Sammy drags Garcia up, puts him in the ring, and fans rally up. Sammy goes up top, but Garcia trips him! Sammy hits buckles on the way down, Garcia BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Then BACK SUPLEX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!!

Garcia is frustrated, Jericho cheers Sammy while Kingston taunts Garcia. Garcia says he’s not done, and he gets the legs again. Garcia drags Sammy but the fans rally up, and Sammy cradles! TWO, Sammy BOOTS Garcia! Torture rack, GO TO- NO! Garcia blocks the knee and trips Sammy up to get the SHARPSHOOTER! Sammy endures, Garcia pulls on the knees, then shifts his grip to pull way back on the legs! Sammy endures, shakes, and drags himself forward, to the ROPEBREAK! Fans fire up, Garcia lets go at the ref’s count, and he drags Sammy up. Garcia reels Sammy in but Sammy back drops him away!

Garcia runs in at the corner, but his dropkick only gets buckles! Sammy gets up, fans fire up, and Sammy drags Garcia up in a dragon sleeper! Sammy hits a CROSS RHODES! A message sent to Cody and Sammy covers, TWO!! Sammy is frustrated as the American Nightmare’s move doesn’t help him. Sammy stomps Garcia, goes to the apron and springboards, but leaps into a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Garcia can’t keep Sammy down but he hits a BACK2BACKBREAKER! BULLY CHOKE! Sammy fights up, Garcia spins him around, PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!? Sammy survives and shocks everyone!

Garcia is furious, but he gets up. Fans rally, Garcia drags Sammy up, but Sammy ENZIGURIS back! Both men are down again, but 2point0 attack Kingston from the crowd! Then they get Jericho! Fans boo as Matt Lee & Jeff Parker RAM Jericho into barriers! Garcia drags Sammy up, reels him back in, but Sammy wrenches out to KNEE Garcia down! Then torture rack, but Parker gets on the apron! Sammy SUPERKICKS Parker, Garcia rolls Sammy up with tights! TWO!! Garcia runs, but is sent into Lee! Torture rack, GO TO HOSPITAL!! Cover, Sammy wins!!

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

Garcia’s pals failed to help him, and David Crockett gives this title to Sammy. But then 2point0 come back for more as they attack Sammy! Kingston and Jericho get in! Jericho CLOBBERS 2point0, and he uses Floyd the baseball bat on Parker! Kingston doesn’t get his turn, and he’s pissed with Jericho! Kingston says Jericho is selfish, but they’re both forgetting about their common enemies! Will Garcia & 2point0 continue to take advantage while the Mad King and Le Champion keep fighting each other?

My Thoughts:

A great episode of Dynamite here, and a lot of great story blending as usual. Cole and his many mutual friends had a really good segment, and I like that Kyle kept up the gag of calling Cutler “Landon.” And I like that this is how they have Cole and Britt interact onscreen, them beating up Cassidy and Statlander. Their Mixed Tag next week is going to be really good, and it was also good that Statlander having to balance her many mutual friends is putting stress on the tension already going on between her and Hirsch. The Six Woman Tag of Hirsch, Velvet & Statlander VS Nyla, Ford & Bunny is going to be really good, but could also be the moment that breaks up the friendship.

We got a really good Wardlow vignette, and what great stuff with him, Punk and MJF. MJF actually encouraging Wardlow to do more damage, then demanding Wardlow do more damage, and it costing Punk was a classic trope in action. I was really hoping tonight was Wardlow’s night to turn on MJF, but it seems Wardlow is still in The Pinnacle and he could still wait until he wins the TNT title to clobber MJF with. And then I totally forgot about Spears, I should’ve known MJF would use him, too. As for the rest of The Pinnacle, I like that FTR & Tully confront Arn. Arn’s got a team he’s coaching, Tully has a team he’s coaching, pitting them against each other is great stuff.

Dante VS Hobbs was great stuff, and I really find it surprising that it was Jay Lethal who helped Dante against Hobbs and Starks. Lio Rush is surely still dealing with family things after his grandmother’s death, so he couldn’t be here to obviously support Dante. Lethal joining Lio and Dante would be a great next step for Lio’s faction and Lethal’s time in AEW. Hangman Page had a great segment, even with Lambert involved, because Hangman had great burns on Lambert. Lance Archer returning was a great surprise, and what a swerve with him going after Hangman. Rankings wise, Archer might still have to fight his way up to the world title, but even just one of those contender eliminator matches between Hangman and Archer is going to be awesome.

Cargill and Sterling have a decent promo but Cargill’s lines were literally recycled from a video package we got on Battle of the Belts. I feel like we could’ve gotten her squashing a rando seen on Elevation or Dark in this same space of time to let actions speak for her. We did get Shida VS Deeb as the literal midcard match here, and I appreciate the story beat of Deeb basically cheating to win because of the pre-match attack, but couldn’t AEW have given this match a little more time to really milk Deeb’s viciousness and Shida’s toughness? I do appreciate that Shida has allies stepping up for her, and Deeb will probably tear into Skye Blue just as bad as she did Shida.

Good promo from Christian Cage & Jurassic Express, as well as the interaction with Silver & Reynolds. Their tag title match on Rampage is going to be great stuff, but I’m pretty sure Jurassic Express wins. The Acclaimed are #1 team for now, with the win over Bear Country, but that felt like filler just to give Sting & Darby a reason to come out and attack. What happened to the diss track video? Caster promised it, I hope we get it on Rampage or next week’s Dynamite to hype up the match with Sting & Darby that The Acclaimed are going to end up losing. Then maybe Darby & Sting work their way up towards the titles for a killer match with Jurassic Express.

Hardy VS Penta was great stuff, and Penta won big here. Everything with Malakai and the Blonds and then Brody King showing up was great. The House of Black is building, but I almost thought Julia Hart was going to reveal she’s a member of the team since she was the one telling everyone to stop beating Malakai up. Pac has a really good vignette, I can’t wait to see him take off the blindfold to have crazy looking eyes just like Malakai, and then they have an awesome match. Then I like that Andrade is making a deal with Hardy, and honestly, the HFO has spun its wheels so letting everyone loose might help Private Party and The Blade & The Butcher get going in the tag division again.

Kingston had a good interaction with the Inner Circle, and I like the parts Kingston and Jericho played in the main event. Sammy and Garcia had an awesome match, really gritty stuff, and commentary even reminded us how young these two are, so these two are only going to get better. This could even be a feud that propels these two through the next few years. Sammy winning was natural, as was 2point0 going after him to get Kingston and Jericho involved in the ring. This is still leading me to think of the “can they coexist?” tag match of Kingston & Jericho against 2point0, and that could go any which way. We might even end up with Kingston VS Jericho if 2point0 gets the better of them.

My Score: 8.6/10