It’s another Championship Friday!

The Andrade Hardy Family Office is sending Isiah Kassidy after Sammy Guevara’s AEW TNT Championship! But with the way he’s been talking about Tay Conti, will Kassidy face the Spanish God’s wrath?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Adam Cole VS Evil Uno w/ The Dark Order; Cole wins.
• AEW TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara VS Isiah Kassidy w/ AHFO; Guevara wins and retains the title.
• Thunder Rosa VS Mercedes Martinez; Rosa wins, by disqualification.
• FTW Championship: Ricky Starks w/ Will Hobbs VS Jay Lethal; Starks wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Adam Cole VS Evil Uno w/ The Dark Order!

The Panama City Playboy wants to remind us that his official record is what matters. Orange Cassidy may have won in the unsanctioned match, but Cole is still undefeated and he wants us to respect that. But will he start making his way to the top at the expense of Player One?

The bell rings, Uno dares Cole to bring it, and Cole BOOTS him down! Cole rains down furious rights, then drags Uno up to RAM him into buckles. Cole stomps away on Uno, the ref counts and Cole lets off. Cole drags Uno onto the ropes to CHOKE him! The ref counts, Cole lets off at 4. Cole pulls on the mask to bring Uno into a BACKSTABBER! Uno crawls to a corner, Cole is on him, but Uno shoves him away. Cole tries 52 Fake Out but Uno blocks the real kick and gives it to the ref! Uno hits a NECKBREAKER! Fans rally up, Uno drags himself up at the ropes. Cole storms over into an elbow! Uno rallies with a lariat and CHOP!

Uno fires off haymakers in the corner, fans fire up and Uno stomps Cole. Uno lets off, Cole kicks back. Cole whips, Uno BOOTS Cole in return! Cole is down, Uno goes to the corner! Uno is up top, SWANTON onto knees! Cole saves himself, but Uno comes back with a ROLLING ELBOW! Uno runs, into a SHINING WIZARD! Cole hits a SUPERKICK! But he’s not satisfied with that! Cole drags Uno up to SUPERKICK again! Cole brings his kneepad down, sits Uno back up, it’s all about THE BOOM! Cover, Cole wins!

Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall

Another win for Adam Cole, BAYBAY! Cole still isn’t happy, though, and he gets a mic. “Frankie Kazarian. Jungle Boy. Anthony Greene. John Silver. Wheeler Yuta. Orange Cassidy. Jake Atlas. Kaun. Trent Beretta. And now, Evil Uno.” Cole wants to play a little game. What do all those men have in common? The answer: They’re involved in Adam Cole’s undefeated singles run here in AEW. Adam Cole IS undefeated, his record says so, and he doesn’t give a DAMN about last week! That match doesn’t exist. But what does exist is a NEW Adam Cole. A different Adam Cole, a ruthless Adam Cole. An Adam Cole that takes what he wants. And for the love of GOD, he wants some respect!

Adam Cole says people forget who the hell he is! He is one of the BEST damn pro-wrestlers not just in AEW but on the planet, and he has been for YEARS! Cole’s traveled the globe for years, won world title after world title, and at the end of the day, he always ends up becoming “the guy.” No matter the promotion, the company or the brand, Adam Cole always ends up running the show. “There is something else that I want, and I swear to God, I could care less who has it.” Cole wants to leave everyone with this: at the end of the day, everyone craves certainty. And there is one thing that is certain: Adam Cole WILL become AEW World Champion.

This “new” Adam Cole still wants the same things as always, but will he get any of that? Or will he have to take it all by force?

Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling speak.

The TBS Champion says, “That’s right, I got all you slobs to stop flipping through your channels, just to see my fine ass.” Sterling says we got to see Jade go 25-0 in her first title defense, then 26-0 in her second. And very soon, we will see her go 27-0! Because Jade is green like money. So the next question is, who is next to star on #ThatBitchShow?

AEW TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara VS Isiah Kassidy w/ AHFO!

The Spanish God is the UNDISPUTED TNT Champion, wearing both belts to the ring. Will Sammy still have both of those belts after taking on the Andrade Hardy Family Office’s representative? Or will the AHFO finally have some gold?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Sammy stays undisputed!

Sammy and Kassidy circle, they tie up, and Sammy puts Kassidy on the ropes. The ref counts, Sammy lets off fast and eggs Kassidy on. They tie up again, Kassidy puts Sammy against ropes now, and the ref counts. Kassidy lets off at 4 to CHOP! Sammy shrugs it off, circles with Kassidy again, and they tie up. Kassidy trips Sammy, things speed up and Sammy hurdles but Kassidy leaps over. They keep going, Kassidy wheelbarrows and arm-drags, to then dropkick Sammy down! Fans cheer the athleticism but Sammy is right back up. Sammy SLAPS Kassidy! Kassidy SLAPS back, it becomes a scrum! Kassidy throws body shots and Sammy clutches the bad ribs.

Kassidy gets Sammy up, whips but Sammy reverses. Sammy hurdles, flips, and dropkicks! Then he kips up smooth! Sammy builds speed to FLY! Tornillo takes out Kassidy! Sammy blows a kiss, kips up again, and then he drags Kassidy up and into the ring. Kassidy scurries to a corner, Sammy is after him with a CHOP! Sammy whips Kassidy corner to corner but Kassidy reverses. Sammy goes up, Kassidy throws him out. Sammy GAMANGIRIS Kassidy, but has to leap over Quen’s cheap shot! The ref is busy with Kassidy, Hardy gets Sammy for an APRON SIDE EFFECT! Fans chant “DELETE! DELETE!” as Hardy gets away with it, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Kassidy fetches Sammy, whips him hard into railing, and Sammy crashes down. Kassidy takes a seat to mock Sammy, then he drags Sammy up to whip into more railing! And again, he takes a seat to laugh at Sammy’s pain. Kassidy drags Sammy up again, whips him, but Sammy reverses and now Kassidy hits railing! Sammy drags himself into the ring, Kassidy gets up on the apron. Kassidy slingshot sentons onto Sammy! Kassidy double guns but clutches his neck. Cover, TWO! Kassidy stomps Sammy’s taped up ribs, Rampage returns to single picture, and Kassidy bends Sammy back against his knee in the chinlock.

Sammy endures and fans rally up. Sammy fights up, Kassidy CLUBS him down, and back suplexes, only for Sammy to land on his feet! Sammy is in the corner, he dodges Kassidy and CLOBBERS him on the return! Sammy rallies, wrenches and KNEES Kassidy down! Sammy slashes the throat, torture racks, but the ribs hold him back! Kassidy gets up to ROCK Sammy in the ribs. Sammy SUPERKICKS back from the corner! Both men are down, but fans fire up! Sammy drags himself to the corner and up top! Hardy shouts at Kassidy, but Andrade makes his way out here! El Idolo wants to see his investment pay off, Sammy dares him to do something himself.

Kassidy leaps up but Sammy knocks him back down! Sammy aims, but has to bail out of the 450! He runs into a SLINGBLADE BACKBREAKER! Then a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!! Sammy survives and Kassidy can’t believe it! Andrade and Hardy argue but Quen assures Andrade that Kassidy can do this. Kassidy drags Sammy up from the apron, but Sammy ROCKS Kassidy! Sammy flounders against ropes, springboards, but Kassidy triangle jump STUNNERS to intercept! Kassidy DIVES and hits Sammy at the ramp! Kassidy puts Sammy back in, goes up top, SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Sammy survives again!

Hardy tells Kassidy to finish this and Andrade looks frustrated. Kassidy wants Sammy to get up, Sammy does rise, and Kassidy kicks low. No Twist, backslide! TWO!! Kassidy boots then SCREW HIGH KICKS! Sammy PELES in return! Both men are down and floundering! Fans rally up, Andrade is upset. Kassidy gets to a corner and Sammy runs in. Sammy RAMS into Kassidy, ENZIGURIS him down, then MOONSAULTS to take out Quen! Sammy triangle jumps for a SUPER CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!!? Kassidy survives, but Sammy won’t let off! Torture rack, GO TO HOSPITAL! Cover, Sammy wins!!

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

Andrade is disappointed in Hardy’s guy, and now he gets in the ring himself. Hardy is also there, Sammy sees he’s surrounded. Chris Jericho is ready on commentary, but here comes Darby Allin! The Relentless One gets right in, and right in Andrade’s face! Jose offers Darby the contract, but Darby stands with Sammy! The young pillars stand against AHFO, will Sammy and Darby be the ones to topple El Idolo? At the same time, Darby gives a look to the TNT titles on Sammy’s shoulders. Darby pats the belts. Is that a seal of approval? Or a promise that they’ll be fighting for these belts soon enough?

QT Marshall speaks.

“I’m really sick and tired of hearing about the Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil, this new sensation known as Hook in AEW. But Hook’s always been a little unhinged, throwing people on their heads, not relinquishing the hold when the match is over, walking over people, walking over me.” If the people want to #SendHook, then QT will send someone after Hook. QT puts up his prized pupil. As fast as Hook’s star has risen, Hook’s star is going to fall. Will the son of Taz show The Factory that he doesn’t sweat them?

Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.

Tony Schiavone asks the Galaxy’s Greatest Alien about Leyla Hirsch’s attitude. Well Statlander has been watching Leyla. Leyla has the amateur background, but this is professional wrestling, so maybe Leyla needs to start being professional. But then Leyla SMACKS Statlander down with a chair to the back! And then she puts it against Statlander’s head for a LEGIT KNEE! Red Velvet rushes over to check on Statlander, but the damage has been done. Will Statlander look to get revenge on Leyla soon enough?

Thunder Rosa VS Mercedes Martinez!

La Mera Mera was so close to ending Jade Cargill’s undefeated streak and her run in the AEW TBS Championship Tournament. But Mark Sterling had the OG Badass as a badass insurance policy, and the rest is history. Now, Rosa and Mercedes finally face off on their own! Will Rosa get revenge for #ThatBigScrewjob? Or will Mercedes get a big win on her Rampage in-ring debut?

The bell rings, Rosa SHOTGUNS Mercedes to a corner and fires off hands! Rosa has Mercedes on ropes with forearms and uppercuts, then whips her to ropes. Mercedes wrenches, Rosa gets around to trip and stomp Mercedes down! Rosa drops elbow after elbow, then runs to drop a SENTON! Mercedes gets to ropes, Rosa chokes her on the ropes! The ref counts, Rosa lets off and runs, to STRADDLE ATTACK! Mercedes flops down, Rosa fires up, and Rosa drags Mercedes out to whip her into railing! Rosa drags Mercedes up to snap suplex to the floor! Mercedes crawls away but Rosa refreshes the count before pursuing.

Rosa puts Mercedes in the ring, stomps Mercedes down, then CLUBS her down. Mercedes hits back with body shots, but Rosa dribbles her off the mat. Rosa pulls Mercedes back into a camel clutch, and then gives her crossface forearms. Fans rally for Rosa and she runs, but Mercedes bypasses her to SPINEBUSTER! High stack cover, TWO! Mercedes is frustrated but Rampage goes picture in picture.

Mercedes stomps Rosa, drags her up and pulls her back into clubbing forearms to the chest. Mercedes sits Rosa down and traps an arm before clamping on a dragon sleeper! Mercedes clubs Rosa, but Rosa throws knees! Rosa gets her arm free, flips up an dover to INVERTED DDT! Cover, TWO! Rosa facelocks, Mercedes fights up and wrenches free to reel Rosa in. BIG vertical suplex, and Mercedes holds Rosa up for a count of 10 before the SLAM! Mercedes drags Rosa right back up to put Rosa on ropes, MAGIC SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Mercedes argues the count but she drags Rosa back up to a fireman’s carry.

Rosa fights free, kicks low and STUNNERS! Rosa fires up, she runs in at the corner, METEORA! Rosa rolls and comes right back, HESITATION DROPKICK! Rosa drags Mercedes up, reels her in, NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Mercedes survives, Rosa keeps her cool and drags Mercedes back up as AEW goes to break.

Rampage returns and Mercedes is up top with Rosa. Mercedes throws forearms, CLUBS Rosa, then fireman’s carries her. SUPER DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Mercedes is frustrated but Chicago is loving this! Mercedes storms up on Rosa, drags her back up, and bumps her off buckles. Mercedes hoists Rosa up, drags her out with a crucifix, but Rosa makes it a sunset flip! Mercedes rolls through, but Rosa KNEES her down! Rosa drags Mercedes back up, fisherman to the POWERSLAM! But Mercedes rolls all the way out of the ring! Rosa pursues, drags Mercedes up and SMACKS her off steel steps!

Rosa stalks Mercedes around the way, throws down fists, then brings Mercedes up. Mercedes rakes the eyes! She has a PIPE!? She CLOBBERS Rosa right in front of the ref!!

Winner: Thunder Rosa, by disqualification

Mercedes doesn’t care that she lost, she just wanted to hurt Rosa! Mercedes warns Rosa that this is what she gets, but will La Mera Mera make sure the OG Badass pays for this?

Serena Deeb has a message.

The name Deeb comes from the Arabic, dhi’b, meaning “wolf.” “It’s in my blood. The wolf inside will always chase, thrive, rise, feed. Keep running. I’m faster.” Will the wolf of pro-wrestling soon sink her teeth into more prey?

Backstage interview with Mercedes Martinez.

Schiavone brings up what she just did with the lead pipe. What about the lead pipe? Mercedes told everyone from the beginning that she was here to take out Rosa “by any means necessary.” But disqualification? Britt Baker and her crew walk in to say that a DQ is not what they discussed. Jamie Hayter asks what Britt means by that. Britt says someone (Hayter) hasn’t been able to get the job done, so she brought in a specialist. Oh, you thought Jade Cargill was smart enough to bring in Martinez? Mark Sterling may have handed Mercedes a check, but remember who signed it. Dr. Britt Baker, DMD.

And Mercedes wants Britt to remember she did her job: she took Rosa out, and that is what she did. Okay, then. Mercedes softened Rosa up, but she needs to finish it. Rosa does not beat Mercedes again, got it? Or else Britt makes sure Mercedes’ time in AEW is shorter than her time at her last job. Mercedes storms up on Britt but Britt backs off and Hayter stands in the way. Will mercenary Martinez end La Mera Mera? Or does Rosa have even more of a reason to rip into Mercedes?

Mark Henry speaks with tonight’s main eventers!

Jay Lethal is facing Absolute Ricky Starks for the FTW title. Is Lethal worried about interference from Team Taz? Oh, Lethal is definitely worried. If you look at it right now, there’s two of them in Starks and Will Hobbs and only one of Jay Lethal. But Starks should be worried about Lethal knocking that ego down a peg when he bursts the bubble Starks has been living in. Tonight, Lethal is leaving the NEW FTW Champion! Starks says there is no ego here. He acknowledges what Lethal has done in his career, he is very tenured.

But what Lethal needs to acknowledge about Starks is that Lethal has NEVER been in the ring with someone like Ricky. Starks is cut from a different cloth, the last of a dying breed, and there is a reason Starks is Absolute. Lethal says it sounds like Starks has it all figured out. But here’s something Starks hasn’t thought about: What if Starks leaves without the title? What will Taz think of Starks then? What will become of Ricky Starks? Let’s find out! Mark says there’s been enough talk. It’s time for the main event! Will Starks find just how lethal Jay Lethal can be?

FTW Championship: Ricky Starks w/ Will Hobbs VS Jay Lethal!

The introductions are made, the title is raised, and we see who has the stronger FTW mindset!

Lethal and Starks circle as fans rally up and duel. Starks and Lethal tie up, go around, and Lethal headlocks. Starks powers out, Lethal runs him over! Lethal waits on Starks and Starks scowls as he gets up. Starks and Lethal circle again, tie up, and go around. They end up on ropes, then into a corner. The ref counts, but they keep moving around. Starks headlocks, Lethal powers out and gets around to headlock back. Starks powers out, but Lethal runs him over again! Starks sits in frustration a moment, Lethal waits on him. Fans duel, Starks stands, and he SLAPS Lethal! Lethal scowls now and he trips Starks for fast hands!

Starks turns it around, hammers away on Lethal, but Lethal gets up. They brawl with haymakers, Lethal knees low and CHOPS! Lethal CLUBS Starks, CHOPS again, but Starks CHOPS back! Starks CHOPS again, Lethal turns it back around to CHOP Starks! Lethal kicks, haymakers and CHOPS! Starks sits down from that one, but Lethal brings him up. Lethal reels Starks in, suplexes, but Starks fights that off. Starks wrenches out, kicks low and CLUBS Lethal down. Lethal gets to ropes, Starks knees low. Starks whips, Lethal reverses but Starks ducks and dodges, Lethal hurdles then trips Starks!

Starks tumbles out, Lethal DIVES! Direct hit into railing! Lethal gets back in the ring, says that’s one, and he goes again to DIVE! Direct hit again! But Hobbs gets in Lethal’s way to slow him down. The ref has Hobbs stay back, Lethal gets Starks up and whips him at the corner! Starks slips through the gap! Starks swings around the corner and he CLOBBERS Lethal! Team Taz fist bumps as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Starks drags Lethal up, whips him hard into railing, and Lethal goes down in a heap. Starks gets on someone’s phone to take a selfie, but Lethal makes him sit in the chair! Lethal CHOPS Starks, and the fan gets another picture as a bonus. Starks knees Lethal back, headlocks Lethal and brings him around to tease throwing him into railing to put him in the ring. Starks poses for a cocky cover, TWO! Starks drags Lethal up by his beard, but Lethal CHOPS back! They brawl with haymakers, Lethal CHOPS and whips. Starks reverses, Lethal leaps but Starks ducks it! Lethal crashes down, Starks gets him in the corner and stomps an absolute mudhole!

Starks stomps Lethal one more time, then stands up on the corner to rile up the fans. Lethal gets up and to the far side, Starks hurries over to choke Lethal on the ropes. The ref counts, Hobbs applauds but Starks lets off at 4. Starks ROCKS Lethal in the corner with forearms, but Lethal ROCKS him back. They brawl with forearms now, Lethal CHOPS and forearms and keeps going, but Starks knees low. Starks whips, Lethal reverses and back drops, but Starks lands on his feet! Lethal runs into an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Cover, TWO! Starks keeps on Lethal with a facelock and he grinds Lethal down.

Lethal endures as Starks leans his weight on the hold, and fans rally as Lethal fights up. But Starks KNEES Lethal right back down. Starks pushes up to crank on the facelock but Lethal still endures. Rampage returns to single picture as fans continue to rally. Lethal throws body shots, fights up, but Starks holds onto the grovit! Lethal throws more body shots and he gets free to wrench, but Starks reels him back in! Tornado but no DDT! Lethal blocks the boot, slips under and LARIATS Starks down! Both men are down, the ref starts a standing count but the fans rally and duel. Lethal gets to a corner while Starks goes to ropes.

Both men are up at 6 of 10, Starks runs in at the corner, but Lethal dodges the splash! Roll up, ONE!! Lethal backslides Starks, ONE, but Lethal gets the arm. La Magistrol, TWO! Starks swings, but into the LETHAL COMBINATION! Cover, TWO! Lethal is a bit frustrated but the fans rally up. Starks flounders up, Lethal brings him in to whip to the corner. Lethal runs in but blocks a boot. Starks BOOTS with the other foot, reels Lethal in, but Lethal Alabama lifts! Starks grabs ropes to deny the move, and then he turns things around! Lethal tries to rana out of the bomb, but Starks POWERSBOMBS him! Cover, TWO!!

Starks is furious but Hobbs says he’s got this. Starks scowls as he watches Lethal flounder. Starks throws a forearm, Lethal JABS! Starks fires off hands but Lethal body shots and CHOPS! Starks CHOPS, Lethal CHOPS, they brawl with forearms gain but Starks fires off fast hands from all sides! Lethal kicks, forearms, BOOTS and ENZIGURIS! But Hobbs gets on the apron! Lethal dropkicks Hobbs down! Fans fire up, Starks gets Lethal and whips. lethal ducks and DIVES, but Hobbs deflects him! But Dante Martin is in the ring and he SPRINGBOARDS onto Hobbs! Angel Dorado coaches Lethal back in!

Starks runs, Lethal spins him around, CUTTER!! Lethal wants to finish this, he takes aim and handsprings, but Starks dodges and runs. Lethal hurdles the spear, SUPERKICK! Starks kicks low and underhooks, but Lethal trips to jackknife! TWO!! Starks swings, Lethal dodges, handsprings. LETHAL- ROSHAMBEAUX OUTTA NOWHERE!!! Cover, Starks wins!

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

What a way to counter Lethal Injection! Powerhouse Hobbs had a part to play, but will Team Taz’s luck run out soon enough? Or will this title always be absolute?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for Rampage right here, with some surprises in terms of match order. I didn’t think the FTW Championship would main event, but it was a really good match. Naturally it ties into the story of Dante Martin VS Team Taz, and so Starks wins despite Dante helping Lethal out. I’m thinking we’re going to get Starks & Hobbs VS Dante & Lethal before Dante gets his own shot at the FTW title. Adam Cole and Evil Uno was a good but pretty quick opener, and Cole has a great promo to expand upon what he said on Dynamite. He’s of course going for the top title, he could even be set up as Hangman Page’s opponent for AEW Revolution.

As I’ve said before, they put off Rosa VS Mercedes one too many weeks, but what we got tonight was still really good. I like that it’s actually Britt who hired Mercedes to go after Rosa, because as I was figuring, this is all about the long game back to Britt VS Rosa. I also continue to sense that Hayter could turn on Britt and go Face since she’s being underappreciated, much in the same way they’re playing Wardlow and MJF. In the end, Rosa is going to rise up and challenge Britt, probably at Revolution. And when that happens, I’m pretty sure Rosa dethrones Britt. Then we got a good vignette for Serena Deeb, but I had to actually go connect the dots myself with Google about Deeb being d’hib being wolf. I think they missed a line in there about the translation, but otherwise a good vignette.

And the TNT Championship match was great stuff. It was a great match for Kassidy as a singles competitor, and it tied stories together with Andrade, Darby and the TNT Championship. With MJF and Wardlow having a story where the TNT Championship is a pivotal element, maybe Andrade takes on Darby, winner challenges Sammy at Revolution for the title. Then the winner there has to worry about who the 2022 Face of the Revolution is and how they’ll handle that challenge. If Andrade ends up champion through that route, it would actually be rather interesting to see how they revisit Andrade’s dealings with The Pinnacle as part of Wardlow’s turn.

My Score: 8.5/10