Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (2/22/22)
A new challenger will be named!
Who moves on to challenge Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship?
For the first time ever, Dolph Ziggler wrestles on NXT! But will he be #1 contender after facing the blackhearted Tommaso Ciampa?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- LA Knight VS Grayson Waller w/ Sanga; Waller wins.
- 2022 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray VS Amari Miller & Lash Legend; Shirai & KLR win and advance.
- Dante Chen VS Duke Hudson; Hudson wins.
- Cameron Grimes VS Trick Williams w/ Carmelo Hayes; Grimes wins.
- Nikkita Lyons VS Kayla Inlay; Lyons wins.
- 2022 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter VS Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley; Kacy & Kayden win and advance.
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Tommaso Ciampa VS Dolph Ziggler; Ziggler wins and will challenge Bron Breakker for the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bron Breakker heads to the ring!
The Big Booty Nephew is still NXT Champion, even as Dolph Ziggler tried to help Santos Escobar last week in the main event of Vengeance Day. Bron gets a mic as fans bark, and he says, “Vengeance Day was a tough fight, and Santos Escobar is a tough opponent. But I proved to everybody that over my dead body will someone take this championship away from me!” And he can’t think of a better weekend than WrestleMania weekend. NXT goes on the road, Stand & Deliver will be in Dallas, Texas! Bron is giving everyone a heads up so that the fan scan be as loud there as they are here in Orlando!
Bron promises to walk into that weekend NXT Champion, and walk out still NXT Champion! As far as tonight’s main event goes- Well, here comes Ziggler! “Congrats, kid. Congratulations on your first NXT title defense. You never forget your first.” But here’s some advice. Ziggler knows he’s not champ yet, but Bron can’t be making promises you can’t keep. Stand & Deliver is a long way’s away. Bron is going to make it there, but will he make it as champ? Ziggler doesn’t think so. Laugh it up but Ziggler vows to stomp out the last few breaths inside Ciampa. Then maybe tonight, next week, or maybe Ziggler carries Bron’s ass to Stand & Deliver. He can, he does cardio.
But just know that when Ziggler decides that title will be his, that title will be his. Bron says he owes Ziggler a receipt for that kick last week. So bring your skinny ass to the ring! Oh right, that superkick was on the button, huh? But seven to ten business days, Bron gets the taste back in his mouth. That’ll be nice, right? Ziggler says Bron is a hot head, but he likes that. It isn’t Bron’s fault, it’s in his genes. Not just that Canadian tuxedo he’s wearing. Bron says he’s not paid to dress-up, he’s paid to kick ass! Ziggler knows Bron is the champ, Bron is the guy, in Orlando. But make no mistake, Ziggler showing up made him the biggest star in NXT.
So tonight, Bron gets the night off. Ziggler says Bron will sit in the back, no cheap shots, he’s barred from ringside in the main event! No monkey see, monkey do, no receipts. Bron sits on his as sand watches Ziggler do what he does better than anyone else in this business! But will the Show-Off see this show off as the new #1 contender? Or will the Psycho Killer be one step closer to getting Goldie back?
LA Knight VS Grayson Waller w/ Sanga!
Turns out the restraining order was a bust and now nothing is in the way of the Million Dollar Megastar getting at the 21st Century Success Story! That is, if Sanga the human insurance policy behaves in the corner. Will Knight show Waller what this is his game, yeah?!
The bell rings and Waller bails out! Fans boo but Knight stays in the ring as Waller swaggers right next to Sanga. The ring count climbs, Knight goes out after Waller but Waller gets back in. Knight goes around the way and gets back in ,but Waller gets back out. Knight pursues, they go back in the ring, and Knight dodges to CLOBBER Waller! Knight kicks Waller around, puts him on ropes, and then goes out to KNEE Waller back in! Slingshot SHOULDER TACKLE! Waller goes to a corner, Knight storms over but Waller YANKS him into buckles! Waller cravats Knight and KNEES him down! Waller then goes up the corner, but Knight gets under the jump!
Knight tosses Waller onto the top rope! Waller is stuck straddling, and Knight bounces the rope to add on! Knight then runs to BLAST Waller to the floor! Fans fire up with Knight as NXT goes picture in picture.
Sanga goes over to check on Waller as the ring count climbs. Waller sputters and crawls to the ring. Knight goes right out to ROCK Waller! Knight brings Waller around and bumps him off the apron, then follows him around the way. They end up by the ramp, Knight puts Waller in. Knight CLUBS Waller on the apron, Knight stalks behind him and reels him in for a short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Knight throws hands on Waller as they go to the corner. Knight throws body shots, snapmares Waller and then drops a knee. Knight clamps on a chinlock and he squeezes tight. Waller endures but Knight leans his weight on the hold.
Waller fight sup, fights out and then DECKS Knight! Waller has Knight in a corner for forearms, then he whips Knight to ropes. Knight reveres but Waller sunset flips! Knight stays up to sit on the cover, TWO! Waller CLOBBERS Knight! Cover, TWO! Waller is annoyed but he JAMS his knee into Knight’s back. Waller then JAMS his elbow into Knight’s forehead, and then traps the arms as part of the neck wrench. Knight endures, fans rally up, but Waller pushes on the neck wrench even more. Knight starts to fight up but Waller throws him down! Waller keeps on the neck wrench but Knight fights up and throws body shots!
NXT is single picture as Knight scoops but Waller slips free. Knight arm-drags Waller out of the ring! Knight goes out, tells Sanga to stay back, but Waller RAMS Knight into steel steps! Knight clutches his shoulder but Waller rains down forearms on him! Waller soaks up the heat, puts Knight back in, and then covers. TWO, and fans chant, “You Still Suck!” at Waller. Waller CLUBS Knight, stomps away on him, then pushes him down. Waller jams elbows into the shoulders while fans tell him what they think of him. Waller snap suplexes Knight, then he goes up the corner. Waller walks on the rope, BALLER ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally for Knight but Waller stomps him down. Waller puts Knight on the ropes and chokes him! The ref counts, Waller lets off at 4 and Knight sputters. Waller CLUBS Knight, brings him up, then whips to CLOBBER Knight with an elbow! Cover, TWO! Waller keeps his cool as he puts Knight in a corner. Waller puts Knight’s head against buckles, then goes out to KICK the buckle! Knight gets jammed and Waller gets in. Waller brings Knight up but Knight throws body shots. Waller CLUBS Knight, then gets him up for a WIDOWMAKER! Cover, TWO! Knight is still in this and Waller gets frustrated.
Waller goes out, has Sanga give him some room, and Waller runs in to somersault and jump, into a BIG back suplex! Fans are fired up as Knight gets up and counter punches Waller! Knight fires off haymakers, whips, but Waller reverses, only for Knight to FLYING SHOULDER! Knight whips to BACK DROP Waller! Knight stomps a mudhole into Waller, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight lets off at 4 to whip Waller corner to corner, and then JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up as Knight waits on Waller, but Sanga holds Waller’s arm! Waller slips out of the BFT! Cover, Waller has tights! Waller wins!!
Winner: Grayson Waller, by pinfall
But Knight goes after Waller! Sanga runs in but Knight sends him into the corner! Kick and B F T! Sanga is down, Waller panics. Waller swings but into a B F T! Knight may not have gotten the win, but he gets the last word! Will LA Knight make sure he’s the last man standing when this is all said and done?
Dakota Kai is searching around backstage.
And she finds Wendy Choo napping. Uh, they’re in the Women’s Dusty Cup! Why didn’t she tell her? Wendy says she can’t find anywhere good to sleep in this place. If she doesn’t get her midday beauty sleep, she doesn’t look this good. But yes, sorry she forgot to tell her. She told Dakota’s invisible friend. Who? What? Wendy, you’re a nice girl, but Dakota’s track record is not good. She tried it once, didn’t work out (Tegan Nox). Tried it again, didn’t work out (Raquel). Well she’s never had Wendy as a partner. So see ya! Dakota can’t believe Wendy chose Dakota. Maybe third time is the charm? Or maybe not. Only time will tell!
Raquel Gonzalez meets up with Cora Jade.
What’re they doing out here? For the past week, they’ve trained Raquel’s way. Yeah, how does Cora feel? Extremely SORE. But now, they’ll do things Cora’s way. That is why they’re at Tree Trek Adventure Park! They’ll work on being fearless risk takers! But heights…? Raquel can do heights, cuz she is the height. No, that’s different. She catches people from heights, she doesn’t fall from them. Well now she does. Remember: fearless. Cora helps Raquel make it over the log bridge, but that’s just part one. There are swings, blank walls, tunnels, and repelling. Raquel somehow makes it through those, but there’s one more thing: ZIPLINE!
Cora wants Raquel to trust her, and Raquel says she does trust Cora. Just not the zipline! Don’t worry! They’ll zip the lines, zip through the tournament and take those tag titles! Alright, let’s do this. And away they go! Raquel seems to actually like this one! What a rush! Not so bad, huh? Cora helped Raquel get over her fear, and now they’ll conquer the Dusty Cup.
Toxic Attraction are in their Toxic Lounge.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews them, and admits this is quite the set up. Jacy Jayne says, “Well, duh.” And they’ll be right here to watch the entire Dusty Cup tournament. But how cute were Cora and Raquel? Aww. Where are they gonna go next? A skate park? A motorcycle rally? But while those two are the favorites, Jacy feels those two are gonna come up short. McKenzie puts out the other favorite is the team of Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray. Mandy Rose gives KLR and Io a lot of credit for realizing they’ll never be THE Women’s Champion with Mandy around.
“But if those two losers think they can win the entire tournament, and then beat Gigi & Jacy, aww…. They’re a lot dumber than they look.” Well, speak her name and she will appear! The Scary Queen of Scots heads out, because she and the Evil Genius are kicking things off! Will they make sure to shut up Mandy right here and now?
2022 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray VS Amari Miller & Lash Legend!
The teams sort out, Shirai starts against the hostess with the mostess, and they tie right up. Lash shakes her head, scoops, but Shirai slips out. Lash runs Shirai over, and then the trash talk starts. Shirai runs but Lash gets her hair! Lash reels Shirai in, back suplexes but Shirai slips out. Shirai tilt-o-whirls and headscissors Lash onto ropes, for a 619! Shirai then springboards but Lash catches her and throws forearms! Shirai kicks back, goes out and up the corner, to then missile dropkick Lash down! Shirai kips up, fans fire up and Lash backs up. Amari tags in, but Shirai goes Matrix! Amari sweeps the arms out, but misses the elbow drop!
Shirai FLAPJACKS Amari, then tags in KLR! Shirai snapmares Amari for KLR’s PENALTY KICK! Shirai adds a basement dropkick, KLR covers, TWO! KLR keeps on Amari with a wrench and CHOP! And another CHOP! And then another wrench for a suplex, but Amari counters with a cradle! TWO, HEEL KICK from Amari! Amari hurries, Lash tags back in. Fans rally for KLR but Lash BOOTS her down! Lash looms over KLR, drags her up, then reels her in, KLR ducks to SUPERKICK! KLR hooks Lash up, K L R BOMB! Tag to Shirai, KLR goes up to MOONSAULT! KLR DECKS Amari, Shirai is up top, OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Shirai & KLR win!
Winners: Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray, by pinfall (advance to the second round)
Toxic Attraction is not impressed, but the fan favorite is moving forward! Will Shirai & KLR make Toxic Attraction take them seriously when they win the whole thing?
Backstage interview with Dante Chen.
The Singaporean Warrior gets what he wants: a match with Duke Hudson. Duke thinks he’s a big shot, trying to end Chen’s career. That attack while he was being held by refs, then a lot of big talk while Chen was away. But Chen is back. Last week might’ve been Vengeance Day, but tonight, Chen will get his vengeance. It’ll be hard for Duke to sweep Persia off her feet when he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Will the Singaporean Warrior make Duke regret dealing this hand?
Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen talk backstage.
Well, Brooks is in “The Zone,” but they can get him back on the horse. And how do they do that? With a video for a dating app! Just trust Briggs, this will work. Just don’t say anything stupid. Rolling, be yourself! Brooks introduces himself as Briggs, which is, well, stupid. Brooks tries again, but with too much energy. They’re yelling at each other about yelling. Brooks tries again, and keeps it simple: “Hi, I’m Brooks Jensen,” and a big smile. Will that get him any swipes or matches or whatever?
Dante Chen VS Duke Hudson!
Chen attacks Duke on the ramp! He’s not waiting for his payback, but will he bust playing it this aggressively?
Duke kicks Chen away, Chen gets back in and the bell rings! Chen runs in to SPLASH, and then fires off hands! Duke throws Chen out but Chen drags him out to the apron! Chen has a leg and he SMASHES it on the apron! Duke scrambles but Chen brings him over to SLAM the leg into a post! Fans fire up for Chen as he goes for the leg again. Duke YANKS Chen into the post in return! Fans boo, Duke drags Chen through the ropes but Chen throws body shots. Chen throws haymakers, then boots Duke’s punch to BOOT Duke! Chen ducks and dodges to FLYING FOREARM! Chen hits a NECKBREAKER and Duke flounders.
Chen SPLASHES in the corner, reels Duke in, DDT! Cover, TWO! Chen hurries to get Duke back up, puts him in a corner, and he climbs up. Chen rains down fists, but Duke slips out to trip Chen up! Fans boo but Duke runs in and BOOTS Chen right down! Chen sputters, Duke drags Chen back up and reels him in. Crucifix for THE RIVER! High stack cover, Duke wins!
Winner: Duke Hudson, by pinfall
The Singaporean Warrior had a lot of fire, but Duke managed to put that fire out. Is Duke going to dominate all the way to a title opportunity?
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams walk around backstage.
The North American Champion and his sidekick are ready to “give the people what they want.” What will NXT’s “A Champion” have to say? We’ll find out, after the break.
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams head to the ring!
Cameron Grimes did what he could, but he could not dethrone the Breakout Star of NXT as Unified North American (and Cruiserweight) Champion. Melo says that before they get started, he just wants to say one thing. When he shoots, he don’t freakin’ miss! It’s crazy, yo! But hey, Trick, you know what they’re here to do. What are they here to do? Tonight is a Melo-bration! Before getting to that, time to talk some talk. “Last week, I said I was gonna have match of the night.” “You did that.” “I said I was gonna beat Cameron Grimes.” “You still champion.” “And I said I was gonna steal the show.” “Oooo~! Call the cops! … My bad, brother.”
But not only does Melo not miss, he put on a performance of a lifetime! Wasn’t nobody talking about Bron Breakker, Pete Dunne, the Creeds or any of that. They were talking ’bout THE A CHAMPION! And the A stands for “Absolute best! Ain’t nobody touchin’ me. Anyone can get in the ring or on the mic or on the bird app, it don’t matter!” Trick thought of something. Come April, they’ll be in Dallas. That means America’s Team and America’s Champion are in the same place at the same time. But to be real- Here comes the Bruiserweight! Pete Dunne asks what they’re on about. They say Melo beat everyone, but he hasn’t beat Dunne.
To be fair, Melo is the A Champion. And Dunne doesn’t think the absolute best should just sit on the sidelines during WrestleMania weekend. Melo knows what Dunne is up to. But Melo can’t make everyone famous. Well what is it Melo says? When he shoots, he doesn’t miss? So prove it! Next week, A Champion VS Baddest Man in NXT, the Bruiserweight! Dunne dares him! Trick says for Petey to wait. Does he not hear that good? Is he still woozy from the cage match? No means no, brother! But Melo says he’ll tell “Skeet Dunne” it’s like this. If Dunne wants to smoke with Melo, he’s got a leaf and a light.
Because the A Champ ain’t never backed down from a fight! That’s all it is, that’s all it gone be. Melo will beat Dunne like he did Grimes! That means both of them can take their asses- Grimes attacks from behind! He throws Melo out then clotheslines Trick out! Fans fire up for Grimes as he throws off his vest! What’s Melo & Trick gonna do about it? We find out, after the break!
Cameron Grimes VS Trick Williams w/ Carmelo Hayes!
Well obviously this is how it had to go. The match is already underway as NXT returns, and Grimes grinds Trick in a headlock. Trick powers out, Grimes runs him over! Fans chant, “Whoop that Trick!” as things speed up. Trick hurdles but Grimes stops himself. Trick runs in but is sent out! Melo has Trick calm down, but Grimes tells Trick to #KissMahGrits! Trick runs in, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Grimes bumps Trick off buckles, KICKS him, then KICKS a leg. Trick hobbles, Grimes bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS him against ropes! Grimes whips Trick, and CHOPS him down!
Fans fire up, Grimes brings Trick up to KICK him down! Cover, TWO! Grimes keeps cool as fans rally and duel. Grimes bumps Trick off buckles, then watches him stagger and flop. Grimes taunts Williams, brings him up, but Trick is in the ropes. The ref counts, Trick throws a cheap elbow! Trick whips, Grimes reverses but Trick kicks and straight punches to an uppercut! Trick runs for a LEAPING LARIAT! Trick stomps away on Grimes, then whips him into a corner for a clothesline! Trick elbows Grimes then brings him out to scoop and SLAM! Trick says, “That’s what happens.” Melo applauds but fans are torn as Trick dropkicks Grimes! Cover, TWO!
Trick keeps on Grimes with a top wristlock. Grimes endures, fans rally up, and Grimes fights up. Trick RAMS Grimes into buckles! Trick brings Grimes up to whip to ropes and LEG LARIATS Grimes down! Cover, TWO!! Grimes survives but Trick rains down fists! Trick drags Grimes up to wrap the cobra clutch on. Fans rally for Grimes as he endures, and he fights up, only for Trick to throw him down! Trick clamps the cobra clutch on again, and he drags Grimes up. Grimes snapmares Trick away then dodges to rally with forearms! Grimes runs corner to corner and BOOTS Trick down!
Fans fire up as Grimes goes up! Trick avoids the double stomp to come back with a BOOT! Grimes SUPER FOREARMS back! Trick kicks but Grimes ducks and ducks, BODY BLOW! Trick uppercuts, runs, but into a scoop and SWINGING SLAM! Cover, TWO! Trick survives and Melo is relieved. Grimes refocuses and goes to the corner. Grimes aims at Trick, “TO~ THE~ MOON!” But Trick bails out! So Grimes goes to the apron, ready to repeat last week! But Trick avoids the flying stomps, and Melo has him rush in, into a SUPERKICK! Grimes puts Trick in, goes up the corner, but Melo warns Trick. No good, CROSSBODY!
Fans fire up with Grimes as he goes back to the corner. Trick flounders and Melo snarls, but here comes the CAVE-IN! Cover, Grimes wins!
Winner: Cameron Grimes, by pinfall
Grimes stares Melo down as he’s completely sidetracked the Melo-bration! Will the A Champion still have to worry about Grimes on the other side of his fight with the Bruiserweight?
Brooks Jensen tries some pick-up lines.
“Hi, do you live in a corn field? Because I’m stalking you. If you were a Transformer, you’d be Optimus Fine.” What’s a Transformer? Brooks moves on from those and says he likes girls. He likes guys, too, but not like that. Brooks panics, trying to defend that he just likes girls is all. Like this one girl, Kayden. Brooks gets all motormouth talking about Kayden and tells Briggs to stop. Yeah, got it. Will Brooks ever get it right?
Bron Breakker checks in with Tommaso Ciampa.
Ciampa’s getting in some last pumps and Bron thanks him for getting rid of Ziggler last week. Bron knows he isn’t allowed ringside, but he’ll be watching the match. … Okay, obviously Ciampa’s in the zone, Bron will leave him to it. But then Ciampa says, “Listen, man. The way I see it, it’s Ciampa 1, Breakker 1. But I need to know who the better man is.” They both look at the title belt. Bron’s looking forward to the rubber match. Will Ciampa earn his way to that match in tonight’s main event?
Andre Chase has a recruitment video.
“Welcome to Andre Chase University, a place of higher learning.” He’s Professor Andre Chase, and today’s lesson is about a phrase coined back in 1913, one that is instrumental in Chase’s success. “Intestinal Fortitude.” What does that mean? “It means having balls, Michael, you dumbass!” That brings Chase to Von Wagner. Wagner’s lost his balls. Chase called him out, he hasn’t responded. Robert Stone says they’re doing things on his time, but that just means that man has no intestinal fortitude. But then what is Chase going to do once he gets in the ring with Von Wagner? He’s a pretty big dude.
Well Michael’s a pretty big jackass! What do you think he’s gonna do?! He’s gonna give that big SOB an Andre Chase University sized ass whooping! “Yeah, Mr. Chase! You tell ’em!” “Thank you, Bodhi.” Now Michael, pick up your crap and get outta his classroom! Now that was a teachable moment.
Nikkita Lyons VS Kayla Inlay!
The daughter of a rockstar and a beautiful groupie, the newest star in NXT has come to do more than roar. Will she make herself the queen of the jungle from day one? Or will Kayla keep Nikkita from taking her place as the top of the food chain?
The bell rings and Lyons circles with Inlay. They tie up, Inlay wrenches to a wristlock but Lyons wrenches back. Inlay pulls hair but Lyons gets a hammerlock. Fans rally, Lyons headlocks, then she throws Inlay! Fans rally up for “Nikkita! Nikkita!” as she and Inlay circle. They tie up, Lyons gets the arm again, but Inlay ROCKS her with a right. Inlay wrenches, Lyons KICKS Inlay away. Lyons promises to kick Inlay’s ass. Inlay says bring it! They tie up, Lyons puts Inlay on ropes but Inlay gets around. She won’t let anyone make a name off of her! But Lyons HEEL KICKS her back! Lyons has the arm and grinds the shoulder.
Inlay endures, Lyons cranks the arm, but Inlay whips her away. Lyons runs Inlay over! Things speed up, Inlay hurdles but Lyons rolls to hip toss! Lyons runs in to FLYING FOREARM! Inlay holds ropes to deny the suplex, and then she chokes Lyons on the ropes! The ref reprimands, Inlay YANKS the rope to jam Lyons. Inlay then throws knee after knee, and Lyons sputters to the corner. Inlay RAMS into Lyons at the corner, and again! The ref counts, Inlay lets off at 4, but Lyons sunset flips! TWO, and Inlay staggers into forearms from Lyons! Lyons snarls, brings Inlay up and throws knees of her own.
Inlay blocks but Lyons counter punches! Inlay drops and Lyons roars! Lyons circles her prey, KICKS a leg, then KICKS the other leg! ROUNDHOUSE! Inlay flounders up, Lyons runs in to forearm again! And then a HEEL KICK! Inlay denies the suplex and stomps a foot to get the standing switch. Lyons smirks as Inlay can’t lift her, but Inlay CLUBS her on the back. But then Lyons switches back, GERMAN SUPLEX! And a kip up! Lyons and the fans fire up, and Lyons SPINNING ROUNDHOUSES Inlay down! And then a SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, Lyons wins!
Winner: Nikkita Lyons, by pinfall
That probably could’ve been a win by knockout, too! Will Nikkita be hunting the NXT Women’s Championship soon enough?
Persia Pirotta finds Duke Hudson backstage.
She tells him Duke did so well tonight. He is so good out there. Before she can say more, Duke pulls her in for a big lip lock! Indi walks in and says that’s so gross! Persia feels awkward and says she’s gonna go. Duke says Indi used to enjoy their kisses. That was a long time ago, Duke. Doesn’t have to be. But then Indi looks over and sees Dexter Lumis. Lumis hangs his head and sulks off. Indi says it’s not what he thinks! Indi tells Duke she loathes him, but has Duke single-handedly destroyed two of Indi’s relationships with one kiss?
Robert Stone & Von Wagner speak.
They heard what Andre Chase said. As book smart as Chase is, he’d get an F in street smarts. How dumb is he? How stupid is he to challenge Wagner? Stone tried giving him an out, but he won’t be so lucky next week. Chase will get in the ring with Von, and then leave filing for disability. This is Von Wagner’s world, you’re just living in it.
The Creed Brothers head to the ring!
The 2022 Dusty Cup winners, Julius & Brutus, with Malcolm Bivens, head out and admire the trophy. Bivens gets the mic to say, “Tonight, lets’ have a conversation about perception versus reality. Imperium would love for everyone to believe that they are these world class athletes. But last time I checked, Fabian & Marcel haven’t done NCAA tournaments. They haven’t done Olympic tryouts. But you know who has? Julius & Brutus Creed. Imperium would love for you to believe that they are the best tag team in NXT today. But last time I checked, Fabian & Marcel haven’t won a Dusty Classic.
“Imperium would love for you to believe that they are fighting champions. But they haven’t defended those championships in weeks. So ‘Gunna,’ is it oochiwally? Or is it one mic? Are you real or are you fake?” Because Diamond Mine is the real deal! And Imperium are just coleslaw and wiener schnitzel eatin’ little- But here comes Imperium! Gunther tells Bivens he will not speak about Imperium in this manner. They will learn to respect him! Sorry, Gunna. No, it’s GUNTA! Fabian Aichner says Diamond Mine will give Gunther the respect he deserves! But fans are still chanting “WAL~TER! WAL~TER!”
Marcel Barthel says the Creed Brothers may have won the Dusty Cup, they will never EVER take these tag titles from Imperium. Gunther says Bivens can talk as much as he wants for the boys, but the NXT Tag Team Championships will remain with Fabian & Marcel. Imperium steps into the ring, and the Creeds go after the champs! But that leaves Bivens alone with Gunther… Gunther gets Bivens by his collar, but Solo Sikoa gets in! And he SUPERKICKS Gunther down! The Street Champion of the Island stands over the Ring General and Bivens gives him a thumbs up. Will Sikoa look to solo Gunther when the time comes?
Brooks Jensen is still at it.
“My cousin did say I make the best moon-” Wait, is this really going to work? Briggs says to think of all the women. Keep on keeping on. Fallon Henley walks in and asks what they’re doing. They explain about the dating app plan, and the video they have to make. Fallon says you can just use a picture instead. Smile. There, that’s good. Fallon can help set up the profile. Alright, thanks. Wait, Briggs, what the hell? What was this video about? Briggs admits, Brooks’ disastrous love life is Briggs’ favorite form of entertainment. This was all for laughs. Really? That’s what a friend does? Brooks feels foolish, but will Fallon save him from loneliness?
Backstage interview with Joe Gacy & Harland.
McKenzie asks them about security footage of them confronting Draco Anthony in the Performance Center at about 2:40 AM. Gacy says they were simply talking to “Mr. Draco” in an environment he was comfortable with, and they know he works out very late at night, all alone. They had a “difference of opinion,” which apparently made Draco shove Gacy, and then Gacy had to make Harland stand down. Gacy says it is all okay. Draco is an athletic piece of clay that can be molded by the right person.
As you can also see, Draco and Harland were on opposite sides of the conversation. They will resolve this in the ring, and after the match, Draco will know it is better to be surrounded by friends than to be alone. Gacy thanks us all for our time, and leaves with Harland. Will they be able to “convince” Draco to see things their way?
2022 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter VS Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley!
KC Squared is ready to bring the party to this tournament, but it seems Diamond Mine has a new recruit. Will Ivy & Tatum crush Kacy & Kayden and kill the mood? Or will KC Squared finally equal tag title contenders?
The teams sort out, Tatum and Kayden tie up. Tatum shows her power as she shoves Kayden down, but Kayden comes back. Kayden waistlocks, trips, and flips but then fakes Tatum out to wiggle wiggle at her. Kayden points to the WrestleMania sign, dodges Tatum and waistlocks to O’Conner Roll. ONE, but Kayden comes back with a basement dropkick! Kacy tags, and SPINNING SPLASHES! Cover, ONE! Kacy keeps on Tatum but Tatum fireman’s carries! Tatum swings but Kacy arm-drags! Tatum blocks the rana, but Kacy pops around. Ivy tags in, she runs up and Tatum tosses Kacy to a HAYMAKER!
Ivy drags Kacy up, whips her to the corner, then runs in to DROPKICK Kacy down! Tag to Tatum, she stalks Kacy and has her backwards against ropes! The ref counts, Tatum lets off and Kacy flops down. Tatum drags her back, tags in Ivy, and Tatum snapmares Kacy for Ivy’s elbow drop! Cover, ONE! Ivy drags Kacy from her corner, reels her in for a scoop, but Kacy slips out to slide under. Ivy still gets the leg! Kacy kicks Ivy away, hot tag to Kayden! Kayden rallies on Diamond Mine, booty bumps Tatum then wheelbarrows and SUPERKICKS Ivy! Cover, TWO! Toxic Attraction is mildly impressed as Kayden fireman’s carries.
Ivy slips off, shoves, Kayden ducks one kick but not the ENZIGURI! Tag to Tatum, Diamond Mine gets Kayden up and DOUBLE SLAMS her! Tatum MARIPOSAS! Cover, Kacy breaks it! Ivy rushes in but is sent back out! Kacy WRECKS Ivy, dodges Tatum, and Kayden SUPERKICKS! Tag to Kacy, Kayden gets Tatum up! HIGHLIGHT REEL! Cover, KC Squared wins!
Winners: Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter, by pinfall (advance to the second round)
Toxic Attraction isn’t sure about the moves or the music, but Kacy & Kayden are riding high. Will they bring those vibes all the way to the finals?
Whoa! Diamond Mine doesn’t tolerate failure, it seems, as Ivy puts Tatum in the DIAMOND DRAGON SLEEPER! Tatum is fading out, Roderick Strong says that’s good enough. Ivy drops Tatum, then drags her out of the ring. Strong pats Ivy on the shoulder, Ivy leaves Tatum behind. Will Ivy focus on her own success in the singles division?
Backstage interview with Solo Sikoa.
Next week, it is happening. Sikoa VS Gunther. After everything here tonight, how is Sikoa responding to this news? He already said he was going to go after the biggest and baddest dude, and tonight, he dropped that guy on his ass. Next week, Gunther learns what Sikoa is all about. Bivens walks in and says he appreciates what Solo did. He had Gunther right where he wanted him, but he does appreciate the help. Sikoa’s gonna take Gunther out, he’s got the juice now, Uce! Bivens wants a high-five, but Sikoa says he didn’t do that for anyone but himself. Sikoa leaves, Bivens is left hanging. Will Sikoa be able to handle the Ring General just fine all on his own?
LA Knight speaks.
“Just when I think I had it finished. Just when I think I had that last little piece of ya, Grayson Waller. By hook or by crook, I gotta give you credit.” Waller pulled it off, but anyone with two eyes can see how. So what happens? Sanga, down he goes! Waller, down he goes! One man was left standing, and we all know who it was! L A Knight, YEAH! Is Knight going to hunt down Waller until there’s no excuses?
NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Tommaso Ciampa VS Dolph Ziggler!
For the first time ever, these two are 1v1 and it’s on NXT! But will Daddy Ciampa defend his home and head back for Goldie? Or will the Show-Off steal the show and have that golden ticket in his back pocket?
NXT returns as Ciampa makes his entrance. The bell rings and fans are fired up for Ciampa as he stares down with Ziggler. They circle, tie up, and go around. Ciampa waistlocks, Ziggler squats to get the switch, but Ciampa powers through to get an arm. Fans rally as Ciampa has the top wristlock and shifts through to get a facelock then pushes Ziggler to the mat. Ciampa digs his knee into Ziggler’s head then SLAPS him on the back. Ziggler gets away and Ciampa waits on him to come back. They circle, tie up, and Ziggler shoots in to get the waistlock, then the facelock. Ziggler rolls it to a cover, ONE!
Ziggler keeps the facelock but Ciampa gets to the ropes. The ref counts, Ciampa and Ziggler let off, but then they start shoving. Ciampa avoids a kick, Ziggler avoids a chop, but Ciampa underhooks! Ziggler gets free but he avoids the knee! Fans say, “This is Awesome!” already, and Ciampa stares down with Ziggler. Ciampa says it was that close, but Ziggler HEADBUTTS him! Then rolls him up, TWO! Ziggler hammers away with rights, then cravats and turns Ciampa for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE! Ziggler clamps right back on with a chinlock. Ziggler grinds Ciampa down, moves around, and rakes the eyes!
The ref reprimands and fans boo but Ziggler just soaks it up. Ziggler scrapes laces on Ciampa’s face then stalks him to a corner. Ziggler throws a heavy body shot, then scrapes Ciampa’s face off the ropes. The ref reprimands, the fans rally up, but Ziggler looms over Ciampa. Ziggler clamps on with a chinlock and has an arm, it’s almost a crossface! Ciampa fights it, even as Ziggler pulls back on the hold. Ciampa is up, he throws elbows and body shots, and he is free to CHOP Ziggler! Ziggler kicks a leg, ducks a haymaker, but swings into a waistlcok and CHOP! Ciampa fires off, whips, but Ziggler reverses.
Ciampa comes back to LARIAT! And again! Fans fire up as Ciampa builds speed and CLOBBERS Ziggler! Ziggler flounders, fans fire up and Ciampa runs in to CHOP again! Borrowing a move from Finn Balor, perhaps? Ciampa hits a ROLLING ELBOW, then brings down his kneepad. Ciampa runs in, but Ziggler avoids the knee! But Ciampa denies the ZigZag by holding ropes! Ziggler runs back in but is sent right out! Ciampa KNEES Ziggler off the apron! Fans fire up and Ciampa pats himself on the back as NXT goes picture in picture.
Ciampa grins while Ziggler flounders on the floor. Ciampa goes to fetch Ziggler, and CLUBS him down. The ring count climbs, Ciampa puts Ziggler in at 7 of 10. Ciampa scrapes his sole on Ziggler’s face then stomps him down. Ciampa rains down fists, Ziggler flounders away, but Ciampa just walks over to the corner. Ciampa stands Ziggler up, climbs up, and he rains down fists! Fans are surely counting, but Ziggler stops Ciampa at 5 to trip him up! Ciampa is stuck in ropes, Ziggler gets him for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Both men are down but stirring. Ziggler drags himself up, he goes after Ciampa, and whips him corner to corner hard!
Ciampa slumps down in the corner and Ziggler brings him back up. Ziggler snapmares Ciampa for a BIG elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Ziggler keeps on Ciampa with a SLEEPER! NXT returns to single picture as fans rally up and Ciampa endures. Ciampa is turning reddish purple already as Ziggler pushes back. Ciampa gets up, throws body shots, and gets free! Ziggler punches Ciampa back, but Ciampa punches him. Ziggler kicks the leg, Ciampa CHOPS again! Ziggler swings, Ciampa dodges, and he catches Ziggler for a CATAPULT! Ziggler hits buckles and flounders out, into a LARIAT from Ciampa! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally as both men are down again. Both men slowly sit up and Ciampa throws a haymaker. Ziggler throws a body shot, so Ciampa gives another haymaker. Ziggler haymakers, Ciampa haymakers. Ziggler kicks, Ciampa CHOPS, then fires off fast hands! Ciampa isn’t letting up and he gets Ziggler in a corner! Ciampa starts stomping away, but the ref counts! Ciampa lets off at 4, and fans are thunderous for the Psycho Killer! Ciampa runs, into a DROPKICK! But he stays up to ripcord and ROCK Ziggler with a right! But Ziggler comes back to FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa survives, reminding us why he was NXT Champion!
Fans rally for “NXT! NXT!” as both men stir. Ciampa and Ziggler go to opposite corners. Ziggler tunes up the band, runs in, but into a BOOT! Ciampa reels Ziggler in, gets him up, PROJECT CIAMPA! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler survives but Ciampa just brings the kneepads down! Ziggler gets up, Ciampa runs in, PSYCHO KNEE! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Ziggler saves himself by a literal foot! Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” but this has to end somehow! Ciampa drops a knee on Ziggler’s knee! Ziggler flops out of the ring, clutches the leg, and Ciampa goes out after him. Ciampa drags Ziggler up, reels him in, but Ziggler POSTS Ciampa, ZIGZAG to the floor!!
Fans lose their minds while the ring count climbs! Ziggler drags himself over to Ciampa, drags Ciampa up at 6 of 10, and into the ring at 8. Ziggler is in at 9 and fans are fired up again. Ciampa wobbles, Ziggler runs in, but the superkick misses! Ciampa kicks, reels Ziggler in, but the bad arm won’t let him underhook! Ziggler rolls Ciampa up, TWO!! Ziggler hurries to get the SLEEPER!! Ciampa flails with one good arm but Ziggler has the body scissors! Ciampa endures, fans rally up, and Ciampa manages to move around. Ciampa gets to his feet, and BACKPACK SENTONS! Cover, TWO!!!
Fans can’t believe it but Ziggler survived! Both men are down again and Ciampa goes to a corner. Ziggler goes to the ropes, but Ciampa goes out to the apron to intercept him. Ciampa CHOPS Ziggler again, but Ziggler ROCKS Ciampa with a haymaker. Ciampa CHOPS, Ziggler body shots! Ciampa CHOPS again, and again, and again! Then BOOTS! Ziggler flounders, Ciampa roars! Ciampa manages to fireman’s carry Ziggler, tucks him in, APRON AIR RAID CRASH!! Both men fall to the floor and fans lose their minds again! Ciampa manages to get Ziggler up and in while fans chant for “NXT!”
But wait, a cameraman attacks Ciampa?! The ref missed that because he was checking Ziggler! SUPERKICK!! Cover, Ziggler wins!!
Winner: Dolph Ziggler, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Championship)
That’s not a real cameraman at all! That’s ROBERT ROODE! The GLORIOUS tag partner of Dolph Ziggler helped him get this win! The Dirty Dawgs soak up all the heat as they celebrate, but they’re not done! They stomp away on Ciampa, but here comes BRON! Bron DECKS Ziggler, DECKS Roode, and the Dawgs run off! Bron says if they wanna do 2v1, then how about 2v2? Bron & Ciampa VS Ziggler & Roode! And how about this? The Dirty Dawgs can find their balls and Bron will fight them right now! Ziggler & Roode look to be leaving, but they come back! And it’s a brawl! Ciampa has Roode, Bron has Ziggler!
Security and referees rush out but they can’t stop this from spilling out of the ring and all around ringside! Fans are loving this and want to “Let Them Fight!” but NXT is going off the air! Will things only heat up even more when Ciampa and the champ get their tag match with the Dirty Dawgs?
My Thoughts:
A very good NXT to start us on the Road to WrestleMania, and Stand & Deliver 2022. The only disappointing surprise about that event coming back is that it’ll be on Saturday, April 2nd, the same night as night one of WrestleMania 38! How the hell does that work? Is it going to be reduced to just two hours and act as a kickoff to night one? I don’t like that. Why not just make it a themed event NXT holds on Tuesday? Or even on Thursday. But it looks like it’ll have a pretty good card, as I’m thinking that’s where we’ll get both tag title matches. Diamond Mine and Imperium had a good promo segment, and what a great surprise save from Solo Sikoa.
Imperium VS Creed Brothers is going to be a very good match, and with the way NXT has been pushing the Creeds, I wouldn’t be surprised if they win. The Women’s Dusty Cup got started tonight, with two matches and two promo segments. Dakota’s weird, spazzy character is still a weird choice but she’s delivering it well, and she and Wendy might end up an odd couple fan favorite through their interactions. And I like that Cora turned the tables on Raquel and showed her she can fly high. I wonder if that means Cora is going to try power moves and Raquel is going to try springboard moves in their first match together…
Toxic Attraction hanging out “all night” in their “lounge” was an interesting detail for the show. KLR & Shirai of course won but it was a pretty fun match to open the tournament with. And then KC Squared gets a good win over Ivy & Tatum. Ivy & Tatum sure didn’t last long as a team, though. Fans still really like Ivy, so maybe she can go after Mandy Rose soon. As for Indi & Persia, I sensed things were going to fall apart, and things really took a step towards that with Duke just planting one on Persia and then still flirting with Indi. Sad Dexter Lumis was an oddly funny little moment, and I’m thinking we’ll get Dexter VS Duke, since Duke squashed Chen.
Andre Chase continues to be hilarious in his Chase U promos. Meanwhile, Von continues to be bland in his, so thankfully he does have Robert Stone. I would think Von crushes Chase, and he might even brutalize Bodhi. The story of Gacy, Harland and Draco takes another step, but I guess Draco’s first win can come off Harland. Nikkita Lyons has a good debut, with Kayla Inlay looking good, too. As I said, I sensed the potential Lyons had as Faith the Lioness in Women of Wrestling, so I think she’ll definitely find her way to taking on the NXT Women’s Champion in the days after WrestleMania season.
This story of Brooks Jensen’s love life continues to turn things around, his multiple awkward dating app video takes were really clever stuff. And Fallon Henley continues to hang around him and Briggs, so as I said last time, this has to turn around to where Fallon is the love interest somehow. We got a good promo out of Melo & Trick with Dunne, and then a really good match of Grimes VS Trick. Grimes wins and he is very much still in the running for the North American Championship while others are still building up. Melo VS Dunne for the title next week is also going to be great stuff, but again I feel like it’s to put Melo over and build his star power.
Waller VS Knight went about as expected with Sanga playing a role in the finish. Waller wins but Knight stands tall, and between what Knight said after the match and in his backstage promo, Last Man Standing match as their blow-off? Then we got some good promos out of Bron, Ziggler and Ciampa on the way to tonight’s main event, and the main event was awesome. Ciampa VS Ziggler was bordering on PPV/TakeOver level, and of course Ziggler cheats to win. Roode makes his return to NXT, helps Ziggler, and we’re of course getting Bron VS Ziggler. And then getting Dirty Dawgs on NXT, that’s going to be some fun stuff. Roode might take the loss here so Bron will have momentum but Ziggler won’t be hurt.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Who heads for the Tokyo Dome?
Even with ROH Final Battle on the horizon, Athena, Billie Starkz, Red Velvet & Leyla Hirsch battle to be part of NJPW’s International Women’s Cup! Who will represent ROH at WrestleDynasty?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WrestleDynasty International Women’s Cup ROH Qualifier Fatal 4 Way: Athena VS Billie Starkz VS Red Velvet VS Leyla Hirsch; wins and advances to WrestleDynasty.
- The Outrunners VS The Premier Athletes w/ Mark Sterling; win.
- Toa Liona w/ Bishop Kaun VS Lee Johnson w/ EJ Nduka; wins.
- Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara VS ???
- Madison Rayne VS ???
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: Grizzled Young Veterans VS MXM Collection; win(s) and
- ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty VS Matt Taven; wins and
PLAY BY PLAY
[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Fight the cold by fighting for gold!
Best friends no longer, Mina Shirakawa wants to take the AEW Women’s World Championship from Mariah May, and break her heart like Mariah broke hers! Who will truly be the ice queen of AEW?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jon Moxley & PAC w/ The Death Riders VS Orange Cassidy & Jay White; Moxley & Pac win, by disqualification.
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Will Ospreay; Ospreay wins.
- Dynamite Diamond Ring #1 Contender’s Match: Adam Cole VS Kyle O’Reilly; Cole wins and will face MJF at Worlds End.
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Brody King VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May VS Mina Shirakawa; Mariah wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!
Kyle Fletcher: 3-0, 9 points
Shelton Benjamin: 1-1, 3 points
Kazuchika Okada: 1-1-1, 4 points
Daniel Garcia: 1-1-1, 4 points
Mark Briscoe: 1-1, 3 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-1, 0 points
Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!
Claudio Castagnoli: 2-0, 6 points
Brody King: 1-1, 3 points
Will Ospreay: 1-0, 3 points
Ricochet: 1-1, 3 points
Darby Allin: 1-1, 3 points
Komander: 0-2, 0 points
Jon Moxley & PAC w/ The Death Riders VS Orange Cassidy & Jay White!
It was last Saturday that the AEW World Champion and his band of rogues almost poisoned Freshly Squeezed, if not for FTR saving him. And it was last Wednesday that Pac & Wheeler Yuta almost got one over on The Switchblade, if not for Jay White’s top tier toughness. But will tonight be the night The Maniac & The Bastard destroy their enemies once and for all? Or will unlikely allies be able to win another battle in this war for AEW’s soul?
The teams sort out and while fans cheer on Cassidy, White works to convince him that White should start. Cassidy isn’t so sure, but then he warns White! White turns around and he DECKS Pac first! Moxley runs up but Cassidy SHOTGUNS him down! The fans fire up as Cassidy kips up and DIVES onto Pac! White slides out to SMACK Moxley off the desk! White fires hands, SMACKS him off the desk again, then CHOPS! Cassidy sends Pac into railing, the fans fire up more, and Cassidy ROCKS Pac! White CHOPS Mox, then RAMS him into the apron! Pac is sent into more railing! Moxley is sent into railing!
The fans fire up but Pac whips, only for Cassidy to reverse! Pac hits more railing! Fans on the other side count along as White rains down fists on Moxley’s head! White stops at nine so he can BITE Moxley’s head! The fans fire up and Cassidy DECKS Pac! White CLAWS Moxley’s back, and Cassidy CLUBS Pac. Pac and Moxley stumble into each other, so White and Cassidy trade! White sends Pac into railing while Cassidy does the same with Moxley! The fans fire up more, and now Cassidy climbs up so he can rain down fists! The fans count along, and Cassidy is almost about to fall as he reaches nine! Cassidy uses that to his advantage, and he runs back up to BOOT Moxley!
White SMACKS Pac off the desk! Fans high-five Cassidy but Moxley turns things around! Moxley fires knees, then he sends Cassidy into steel steps! White gives Pac more SMACKS off the desk, then puts him in the ring. The ref has White hold on, and finally the bell rings! White then JABS, wrenches, and scoops Pac for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, Moxley breaks it! The ref reprimands and fans boo but Moxley steps back. Moxley tags in, he gets in White’s face and he ROCKS White with a forearm! White goes to a corner, Moxley storms up on him, but Moxley blocks a boot! So White kicks a leg! White fires hands and the fans fire up!
White CHOPS, but Moxley CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” as the CHOPS keep going! White CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Moxley snarls but White gives him more CHOPS! White CHOPS in the corner, then whips corner to corner. White runs up but Moxley ELBOWS him! Moxley storms up, but into a clinch! Moxley powers out, runs up again, but into a BOOT! Cassidy tags in and he runs to DROPKICK Pac! Cassidy then puts Moxley in the corner to fire off hands! Moxley shoves Cassidy, Pac sneaks a tag, and Moxley avoids an Orange Punch! Cassidy runs but Pac BOOTS him down! Pac kicks Cassidy out, then distracts the ref so Moxley can DESK BACK SUPLEX!
Cassidy slumps to the floor, Pac goes out to stomp away! White protests but this only lets Pac stomp Cassidy more! The ref reprimands Moxley & Pac but Moxley puts Cassidy back in. Pac stalks Cassidy, then stomps him down! Pac taunts White, goes back to Cassidy, and Pac snapmares Cassidy to the ropes. Pac stomps Cassidy right on the face! The fans boo but Pac stomps Cassidy again, then digs his boots into Cassidy’s face! The ref counts, and we get a glimpse of The Patriarchy up in a skybox! Captain Charisma is clearly in no rush to cash in his Casino Gauntlet contract, or else he’d be much closer to the action.
The fans boo as we see Christian Cage on the tron, but in the ring, Pac tags Moxley. Pac & Moxley drag Cassidy up to mug him, and Moxley CLAWS at Cassidy’s face! The ref counts, Moxley stops at 4, and fans boo more. Moxley kicks and stomps Cassidy, then talks trash, but Cassidy springs up to SUPERKICK! The fans fire up while both men stagger around! Moxley and Cassidy reach for their corners, hot tags to Pac and White! The Switchblade rallies on The Death Riders! Then he dodges Pac to BACKDROP him! The fans fire up with White, there are many Gold Members in Kansas City, Missouri!
White runs at Pac in a corner, and UPPERCUTS! White then CHOPS, whips, but Pac reverses. White comes back to wrench and DDT! Moxley runs in, but into a wrench and DDT! Moxley staggers, White tells Mox that he has his number! White runs up on Pac in the corner, but Pac BOOTS White down! Death Riders have turned the tides while Dynamite goes picture in picture,
Pac drags White up, TOSSES him out, and then he tags Moxley. Moxley goes after White and brings him around to crotch him on the railing! Moxley then runs up to BOOT White over! Moxley flips off Kansas City because clearly they boo him, and then he goes out after White in the crowd. White fights back! They brawl out there, but Moxley ROCKS and TOSSES White back to ringside. Moxley puts White in the ring, storms up on him, and paces around. Moxley stomps White’s hand, then tags Pac. They mug White, then Pac riles up the fans. Pac stomps White around, taunts the fans, but the fans rally up.
Pac BLASTS Cassidy off the corner! Pac goes back to White but White CHOPS him! Pac BOOTS White back down! Pac then CHOKES White by kneeling on his neck! The ref counts, Pac steps off to taunt Cassidy, then Pac drags White up to snapmare him to the corner. Tag to Moxley and he’s already up top! Moxley jumps down to STOMP White! Christian Cage is still watching intently as White fights from below. White CHOPS but he’s the one that falls over! Dynamite returns to single picture as Moxley puts White in another corner, and Moxley climbs up to rain down fists! The fans do count along, and Moxley goes PAST TEN to FIFTEEN!
The fans boo but Moxley hops down to KNEE White again and again! Moxley digs his knee in, but stops as the ref counts 4. Moxley drags White up and DECKS him! Moxley CLAWS White’s face, the ref counts, but Moxley pushes White down. The fans rally but Moxley drags White to the corner. Tag to Pac, Moxley stomps White in the stomach, and Pac drops knees on White’s face! Cover, TWO! White is still in this and Pac argues with the ref. The ref defends the count, and White rises up to CHOP! Pac eggs White on so White CHOPS again! Pac SOBATS and White falls! Pac mockingly asks, “Is this it?!”
Pac paces while White sputters and crawls. Pac drops down to have a headlock on White. The Patriarchy talks, and Christian has Nick Wayne, Mother Wayne & Kip Sabian head out, but for what purpose? White endures, fights around, and reaches out for a ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and Pac lets go, and then the ref makes sure Marina Shafir & Wheeler Yuta stay back. Pac checks with Moxley, then keeps on White in the open corner. Pac drags White over to bump him off buckles, then tags Moxley. Moxley pie faces White but White CHOSP! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Moxley HEADBUTTS White, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO!
Moxley clamps onto White’s legs to tie them up in a reverse deathlock! Moxley throws down crossface forearms, but White BITES Moxley’s hand! The ref reprimands, Moxley gets free and tags Pac. Pac KICKS White down, then KICKS him again! White shakes his head so Pac KICKS him again! The fans rally, Pac mocks them for it, and the fans boo Pac for that. Pac kicks but White blocks! White grins and hits a DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while both men are down! White and Pac crawl, Moxley warns Cassidy, but we get hot tags to Cassidy and Mox! The fans fire up as Cassidy storms up on Moxley and the forearms start flying!
The fans are on Cassidy’s side, he fires a flurry, but Moxley fires a flurry of body shots and knees in return! Moxley JABS, ROCKS, and runs, but Cassidy doges to Alabama Lift! Moxley rolls through but gets a PENALTYO KICK fore it! Pac is back but Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ tilt-o-whirls for a DDT! Cassidy kips up while fans fire up, and Cassidy climbs a corner! But Moxley is up after him! Cassidy BITES Moxley! Moxley falls back, Cassidy hits DEEP IMPACT! Cover, TWO! Moxley stays in this but Cassidy fires back up! The fans rally, Cassidy pulls on the elbow pad, but Moxley sits up! REAR NAKED CHOKE!
Cassidy rolls back to have a cover, TWO as Moxley lets go! Cassidy builds speed, ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Pac is back again, but Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ tilt-o-whirls, but this time Pac blocks! Pac powers through to suplex, but gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! White is back in and gives Pac a CUTTHROAT SUPLEX! Moxley BOOTS White down! Cassidy Alabama Lifts Moxley for BEACH BREAK!! Cover, TWO?!? Moxley survives and Kansas City is shocked! Cassidy rises up, the fans rally up, and Cassidy goes to a corner. But Yuta gets on the apron! The ref stops Yuta but Marina grabs at Cassidy!
Cassidy KICKS Marina away! And he runs up to ORANGE PUNCH Yuta!! Moxley runs up, Cassidy dodges, ORANGE PUNCH!! Off comes the elbow pad! The fans are thunderous and Cassidy aims, but HANGMAN PAGE SPEARS MOXLEY!!
Winners: Jon Moxley & PAC, by disqualification
This isn’t Cowboy S*it, this is BULL, because Hangman just handed Moxley the win! Granted, Hangman’s raining down fists on Moxley, but Cassidy is upset. Cassidy brings Hangman off but Hangman shoves him away! Hangman rains fists back down on Moxley, CHOKES him even, but now Cassidy is pissed! Cassidy drags Hangman away from Moxley, but Hangman punches Cassidy! So now Cassidy and Hangman are brawling! The fans are torn but Hangman ROCKS Cassidy! So White goes after Hangman! These rivals brawl it out, a score still to be settled, but then Hangman gets loose! Cassidy runs up, Hangman ducks, ORANGE PUNCH hits White!
Hangman swings, misses, ORANGE PUNCH for Hangman! BLADERUNNER for Cassidy!! The Death Riders are amused, because their enemies are doing their dirty work for them! And now the Death Riders attack Cassidy, White and Hangman! The fans boo but Moxley kicks Hangman out of the ring while Yuta digs his boots into Cassidy. Pac & Marina beat up White, the fans tell off Yuta, but Moxley has his crew head out. Will nothing and no one stop this literal reign of terror?
The Most Wanted is back!
The little western town sees Bandido arriving, and the sheriff’s men are ready for a fight! They tell Bandido that he’s wanted, so he’s under arrest. They can do this the easy way, or the hard way. What’s it gonna be? Bandido hops off his horse, puts his hat and cape aside, and so the hard way it is. The sheriff has his men apprehend Bandido, but Bandido TIGER WALL KICKS the sheriff, DOUBLE DROPKICKS his men, then kips right up! Bandido says bring it, so the sheriff runs up! Bandido BACKDROPS him away, grapples with his biggest man, and that guy fireman’s carries Bandido! He claims that reward is all his!
But Bandido slips free, SHOVES the man into the railing, and then with a finger gun, he says BANG! Bandido runs up, pommel horses off the big guy to DROPKICK the sheriff, and then he hits the BLACKJACK 21 GERMAN SUPLEX on the big guy! Bandido stands tall after the shootout, but where will we see him next?
The Death Riders regroup backstage.
Moxley says, “I’m a marked man. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being a marked man is the only way to live, it’s the only way to feel alive! The only way to live is with a knife to your throat, with the dynamite stick burning down to the end of the wick. That is the only way to live and I wouldn’t have it any other way!” Moxley says these guys, their problem is their egos! They wall want that next title shot! Moxley mockingly runs around arguing with himself, “I want the next title shot! No I want the next title shot!” That’s the problem! YOUR EGOS RUN YOUR LIVES! EGOS RUN ALL ELITE WRESTLING!!
Moxley says none of this is about him, it’s about his people. They do not fight flesh and blood. He’ll give all three of them an “early Christmas gift.” Worlds End in Orlando, Florida, the AEW World Championship, FATAL 4 WAY!! Moxley heads out, Death Riders following, and the champ just raised the stakes on himself! Will The Maniac be able to win his own gamble? Or will there be a NEW AEW World Champion one way or another?
Christian Cage speaks.
Still up in the skybox, Captain Charisma tells Kansas City, “As I literally and figuratively look down on you, sit down and shut your mouths while I conduct my business!” The fans boo, but Christian continues. “So it’s a four way match at Worlds End, huh? Well, I have a problem, a very- SHUT UP!” Fans boo more but Christian says he has problem with every person in that match. Jay White cost Christian the world title at Full Gear, and so did Hangman Page when he didn’t live up to his end of the bargain. And while Orange Cassidy is just a pissant that gets on Christian’s nerves, Moxley is the real problem because he has what Christian wants.
The fans boo more but Christian says if Moxley happens to make it out of that match still the champion, know that Christian very well might be waiting on the other side. And if he is, then this time, Christian will not miss. Christian will send Moxley back into a tailspin, send him back to rock bottom, and Moxley will hear that little voice in his head saying, “It’s okay, Jon, do it. It’s okay, Jon, you earned it. Have that drink.” Christian vows to send Moxley back to rehab, and he will then rehab the world title! Until then, do not ever forget that Christian is THE face of TBS then, now and forever, and he is the reigning, defending, undisputed NEXT AEW World Champion!
The fans boo more but Christian adds one more thing. “Kansas City, before I leave, I just wanted to say… Go- HOOK!?” Hook SMASHES the door window with his arm that’s in the cast! It’s in that cast because of last week’s Con-Chair-to! Christian freaks out, runs away and goes to the bleachers, but Hook drags him back! Hook fires off on Christian in the skybox, and he dribbles Christian off the side of the cabinets! The fans fire up as Christian has no one to help him! REDRUM!! Christian flails while Hook drags Christian out into the crowd, and then goes to dump him over the balcony!! Christian flails and fights free!
Christian runs away but Hook keeps after him! Hook SLIDES Christian across the kitchen counter! And then does it again, right into a wall! Kip & Nick return to fight Hook, but Hook THROWS Kip into the table! And he KNEES Nick low! Christian has run for it but Hook pursues! Kip & Nick hurry after, will The Patriarchy regret getting on the bad side of the Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Will Ospreay!
The Swiss Superman is leading this block after demolishing Ricochet and cheating Brody King. But while he’s on his third, The Aerial Assassin is on his second. Can Ospreay bring down Claudio and tie things up with him? Or will all the Death Riders be unstoppable?
The bell rings and both men run right in! SPANISH FLY from Ospreay!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio gets up and out but Ospreay builds speed! Ospreay handsprings to SASUKE SPECIAL! Down goes Claudio and Kansas City is already thunderous! Ospreay high-fives a fan and puts Claudio back in. Springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! The fans sing for “Ospreay~ Ospreay Ospreay Ospreay~!” and he calls his shot! Ospreay springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Claudio drags Ospreay by his legs, but Ospreay flips and twists for a victory roll! TWO, and Claudio kicks low! Gotch lift, but Ospreay backdrops free!
Claudio lands on his feet, UPPERCUTS, but Ospreay HOOK KICKS! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous again! A standing count begins, the fans rally for Ospreay, and both men rise at 5 of 10. Ospreay fires a forearm, Claudio give sit back, and they go back and forth. Ospreay rises with a shout and the fans fire up! Ospreay fires another forearm, but Claudio wrenches to hit an ELBOW BREAKER! Ospreay still ROCKS Claudio, the forearms go back and forth, and Ospreay fires a flurry! Claudio hits another ELBOW BREAKER! And another! But Ospreay fires more shots! Ospreay whips, Claudio reverses and WRINGS Ospreay into buckles!
The fans boo while Ospreay bails out, and Claudio goes out after him. Claudio CLUBS Ospreay, and then pulls the steel steps from the corner. Claudio goes to Ospreay but Ospreay CHOPS, and CHOPS! But Claudio hits another ELBOW BREAKER! Claudio whips Ospreay at the steps, but Ospreay leaps up, onto and then off the steps! Ospreay quickly turns back around and he DROPKICKS the steps into Claudio! Claudio hobbles away and the fans fire up with Ospreay. Ospreay runs up the steps to leap, but into Claudio’s arms! FLAPJACK off the railing! Claudio refreshes the count, then shakes out his leg before going for Ospreay.
Claudio UPPERCUTS Ospreay down, then has the legs! Claudio swings Ospreay into the steps! The fans lose their minds while Ospreay writhes! Claudio then tips the steps over to be on their side. Claudio again refreshes the count because he wants to keep putting the hurt on Ospreay. Claudio puts Ospreay inside the steps, and he pulls Ospreay’s arm through a gap in the frame! Claudio pulls Ospreay into that frame, then climbs up to trap Ospreay’s arm on top of the steps! The fans boo, the ref says don’t, but Claudio STOMPS Ospreay’s hand! Ospreay flops out of the steps, and Claudio pushes them over! Ospreay narrowly avoids being crushed!
Ospreay goes into the ring, Claudio pursues, but Ospreay CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Claudio TOSSES Ospreay out but Ospreay ROCKS Claudio from the apron! Ospreay springboards, but into another UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives but Claudio isn’t even annoyed as Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Claudio grabs Ospreay’s legs, steps through, and he turns Ospreay over for the SHARPSHOOTER! Ospreay endures but Claudio sits deep on that hold! Ospreay reaches out with his good arm, pushes up as best as he can with the bad one, and he crawls forward, only for Claudio to drag him back! Claudio sits deep again, but Ospreay still endures! Ospreay pushes back up, fights forward, but Claudio reaches back to get the arm! CROSSFACE! And he rolls Ospreay away from the ropes, too! Ospreay endures all over again, but he has Claudio’s wrists in his face, blinding him to where ropes are! Ospreay fights, even as Claudio pulls him back!
Ospreay endures, Claudio pulls him back again, but Ospreay uses that o cover! TWO, and Claudio now shifts to the legs! Ospreay CLUBS away on Claudio’s legs, but Claudio still turns over, back into the SHARPSHOOTER! Ospreay endures this painful technical innovation as Claudio again sits deep on the legs and back! Ospreay fights, the fans rally, but Claudio does not let Ospreay gain an inch! Ospreay powers up to turn and tuck, and he slips under as Dynamite returns to single picture! Ospreay fires fists from below, Claudio knuckle locks, but Ospreay lifts Claudio! Claudio leans back but Ospreay uses that to spring up, springboard, and FLYING RANA!
The fans are thunderous and Ospreay gets moving! Handspring, NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down and Kansas City fires up again! Ospreay runs up to BOOT Claudio in a corner! And then he reels Claudio in, but Claudio fights the suplex! ELBOW BREAKER! The fans sing for Ospreay again but Claudio reels Ospreay in. But it’s Ospreay who suplexes up and over! The fans fire up and Ospreay sets up, STANDING SKY TWISTER! Cover, TWO! Claudio stays in this and Ospreay grits his teeth as the fans fire up. Ospreay then takes off the elbow pad, gives a wink, and he aims from a corner. HIDDEN- BOOT from Claudio!
Claudio has the straitjacket, RICOLA- NO, Ospreay slips free, and he wraps Claudio up in the IRON OCTOPUS! Claudio endures, fights around, and goes to the ROPEBREAK! Ospreay lets go, but Claudio ELBOWS him! And he WRINGS the arm! Claudio runs to DOUBLE STOMP Ospreay! Claudio then deadlifts Ospreay into the GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives, “This is Awesome!” Claudio is a bit frustrated now but he watches Ospreay go to a corner. Claudio runs corner to corner, but Ospreay BOOTS him! Ospreay goes up but Claudio UPPERCUTS! Claudio then climbs up, and goes to the very top!
Ospreay fires body shots, and he HEADBUTTS Claudio down! The fans fire up while Ospreay wobbles, and Ospreay resets up top! LEAP OF- NO, Claudio moves, Ospreay lands out, UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio is firmly frustrated now as Ospreay survives. Claudio scuffs Ospreay but the fans boo. Claudio kicks Ospreay but Ospreay gets mad! Ospreay sits up, Claudio kicks the bad arm, and Claudio eggs Ospreay on. Ospreay stands to fire a forearm! Claudio hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Ospreay fires a forearm! ELBOW BREAKER! Forearm! UPPERCUT! ELBOW! UPPERCUT! ELBOW! ELBOW BREAKER!
Claudio fires a flurry of UPPERCUTS, then runs, but Ospreay dodges and springboards! OSCUTTER!! But Ospreay can’t cover from the pain in the bad arm! Claudio rolls out to the apron, but so does Ospreay. Ospreay drags Claudio up, puts him back in, and he aims from a corner! HIDDEN- POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives and Claudio is furious! Claudio drags Ospreay up, runs, and LARIATS him inside-out!! Cover, TWO?!? Ospreay survives so Claudio hurries to Gotch lift! But Ospreay trips him, jackknife bridge! OSPREAY WINS!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Claudio earns 0)
Even Claudio is shocked! Ospreay serves him his first L this year, but Claudio is a sore loser! He CLOBBERS Ospreay, and hits the NEUTRALIZER!! Claudio storms off, but he comes back with a chair! WAIT! Here comes Darby Allin! And he has the baseball bat! Claudio runs away, he doesn’t want this one! The Relentless One makes sure Ospreay stays safe, because next week, Dynamite’s Holiday Bash, we get Will Ospreay VS Darby Allin! With Ospreay at 6 points and Darby at 3, will the dynamic of this Gold League change rather quickly for the holidays? Or will Ospreay make sure he’s headed for Worlds End?
Backstage interview with Ricochet.
Renee Paquette is with The One & Only, and she says he is 1-1 in the Continental Classic right now. He had an incredible win over Komander last week on Rampage, but tonight is about Brody King, who is also 1-1 right now. How is Ricochet preparing for a man like Brody? Well, see, this is why Ricochet came to AEW. This scenario is why! It’s the level of competition. And nothing brings that out quite like the Continental Classic. So tonight, ya boi Ricochet drew Brody King, and we’re seeing this for the first time anywhere! Brody’s big, bad and scary, perhaps one of the toughest guys in this entire tournament.
But do you know one thing Brody is not? He’s not Ricochet. And while both men are 1-1, after tonight… Ricochet glances at MVP’s business card…!? Ricochet says tonight, he’s holding all the cards! Ricochet heads out, but will he make the C2 #OuttaThisWorld?
A car pulls up backstage.
And reaching out is a hand adorned with the Dynamite Diamond Ring on the pinkie. It’s Maxwell Jacob Friedman! MJF is in KC, surely to watch the match between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. Will the Wolf of Wrestling have an effect on that match’s outcome?
Backstage interview with Matt Cardona.
Renee is now with “The Complete” Cardona, and brings up the incredible reaction he got when he arrived in AEW/ROH last week. Cardona says he’s #AlwayZReady, but given what we saw on Rampage last Friday, does he feel ready for Chris Jericho? Cardona says it is great to be back in AEW, and everyone was shocked about it. But who wasn’t shocked? Cardona himself. He’s been saying it for years, he is always ready, it even says so on his T-shirts. But for the past five YEARS, he has busted his ass to reinvent himself, going from “Indy Guy” to “Deathmatch King,” and at Final Battle, December 20th, the biggest opportunity of his career is against Chris Jericho.
On Rampage, Jericho and Bryan Keith laid him out, sent him a message, and he’s glad they did. Now he knows what he is in store for in New York City, but he isn’t gonna wait! Cardona calls out Keith for a match this Friday on Rampage! Cardona is always ready, but is Keith? As for Jericho, he better watch so he can get a taste of what’s in store for Final Battle! Will Cardona take a bite out of the Bad Apple before returning home to the Big Apple?
Dynamite Diamond Ring #1 Contender’s Match: Adam Cole VS Kyle O’Reilly!
It has been quite the tangled web of a roller coaster ride when it comes to the Ballad of the Brochachos. But after MJF relapsed into being the Scum of the Earth, the Panama City Playboy couldn’t keep himself from pursuing MJF. However, from the perspective of The Violent Artist, that same pursuit is what got Roderick Strong hurt. Will Kyle stop Cole from reaching MJF for his own good? Or will Cole have to be the one that hurts a friend to finally have vindication?
Before Kyle steps through gorilla, Renee is there to ask him about this match. These two are good friends with so much history between them, how has Kyle prepared himself for tonight? But before Kyle can answer, The Kingdom’s Matt Taven & Mike Bennett walk over. Taven tells Kyle that they don’t have to do this. Didn’t Kyle himself say a couple weeks ago that MJF is just playing them all? They’re all looking like idiots fighting each other when “that Melvin” isn’t even here! Bennett tells Taven to relax, and says the match is happening. Bennett knows Kyle is gonna go out there and fight, but he hopes Kyle remembers, they’re all family in the end.
Kyle says yeah, they are. But Kyle adds that they all should’ve thought about that before letting one of their brothers get hurt. Kyle gives a shrug before heading out, will Kyle take out his frustrations on Cole?
Cole steps forward and offers a handshake. Kyle slaps the hand, hard to say if that was respectfully or disrespectfully. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Cole wrenches an arm, then wristlocks. Kyle spins, drop toeholds, and he floats to a facelock. Kyle then floats to a waistlock but Cole fights up. Cole switches, the fans duel, and Kyle wrenches out to wristlock. Cole goes to the ROPEBREAK, and Kyle lets off cleanly. They circle again and tie up. Kyle headlocks and grinds Cole down, but Cole fights up. Cole powers up and out, but Kyle runs him over! Cover, ONE, and Cole sweeps the legs! Cover, ONE!
Kyle narrowly avoids the superkick and bails out of the ring. Cole lets Kyle have his time while the ring count climbs. Kyle goes up the steps and into the ring, and the two reset. The fans rally as the two tie up, and Cole headlocks. Kyle endures the grind to power up and out. Cole sunset flips but Kyle stays, to then drop into the ARMBAR! Cole clasps hands and hurries to stack Kyle! Cole steps through but Kyle turns leglock into cradle! TWO, and Cole narrowly avoids a roundhouse! Cole bails out and Kyle gives him time. But then he goes to the apron! Cole avoids the flying knee, but Kyle blocks the superkick!
Kyle fires a strike fest, then SWEEPS the legs! Cole falls hard and the fans fire up while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Kyle paces around, brings Cole up, and he puts Cole back in the ring. Kyle storms back into the ring, and he storms up to Cole to KICK him down! Cole goes to ropes, and Kyle KICKS a leg out! Cole crawls to a corner, then along ropes, but Kyle goes right after him. Kyle clinches to KNEE and whip, then he kitchen sink knees into a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally as Cole endures, and then Cole powers up to hip toss free! Both men go to ropes, and Cole storms up to fire forearms! Kyle shoots in and trips Cole, then he floats for some ground ‘n’ pound! Cole guards as best he can but Kyle lets off to pace around.
Kyle drags Cole up to wrench an arm, and he hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle still holds onto that arm, and he wrenches for another ELBOW BREAKER! And then another wrench, a snapmare, and Kyle ties Cole up in a Figure Four seated COBRA TWIST! Cole endures being turned into a pretzel, but Kyle let shim up to wrench and kick! Kyle wrenches again as Dynamite returns to single picture, and Cole fires off forearm after forearm! Kyle fires another strike fest and Cole hobbles to a corner. Kyle runs up to forearm SMASH! Kyle runs side to side into a SUPERKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
Cole drags himself up as the fans rally, and Cole then goes up the corner. Cole leaps, but Kyle KNEES him first! Kyle then reels Cole in, but Cole suplexes for the GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives and Cole is shocked! Cole rises, waits on Kyle, and Kyle stands into a 52 FAKE OUT! Then a fireman’s carry, but Kyle slips free! Kyle suckers Cole in, steps up and over, and kitchen sink knees hard! Cole bails out, Kyle goes to the apron, FLYING KNEE! The fans fire up as Kyle puts Cole back in, and then Kyle climbs! KING KONG- NO, Cole moves and the knee hits mat! But then Kyle ducks The Boom!
Cole returns, 52 FAKE- NO, Kyle SOBATS through! AX AND SMASH!! But THE BOOM returns!! Both men are down as Cole can’t make the cover! The fans rally up while a standing count begins! Kyle and Cole go to ropes on opposite ends, and they drag themselves up. They both run up and they both BOOT! And BOOT! Cole avoids a sweep to SUPERKICK! But Kyle yoyos in the ropes to LARIAT! The fans fire up and Kyle suplexes, FALCON ARROW into the ARMBAR! Cole fights that so Kyle grabs a leg! ANKLE LOCK, then GRAPEVINE!! Cole fights to the ROPEBREAK! The fans are torn but Kyle lets go of Cole’s foot.
Cole crawls and Kyle hobbles, but the fans rally up again. Kyle hoists Cole up top, ROCKS him, then climbs up after him. Kyle has the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Cole fights but Kyle fires back! They brawl up top and the fans fire up! Cole HEADBUTTS again and again! And then AGAIN! Kyle falls back, Cole adjusts, and Cole leaps for the PANAMA SUNRISE!! Kyle flounders, Cole brings down the kneepad, but Kyle grabs the other leg!! ANKLE LOCK!! Cole flails, reaches out, but Kyle drags him back! Cole still fights, still claws at the mat, then Cole rolls! Kyle is sent outside, but Cole hurries to the ropes. Kyle trips Cole to drag him out!
Kyle reels Cole in to suplex, but Cole knees free! SUPERKICK! Cole drags Kyle back up, puts him in, and Kyle is punch drunk! Kyle staggers then falls, and the ref checks on him. Cole wants Kyle to get up, but wait! MJF SNEAKS OUT HERE! Cole sees MJF, dodges and SUPERKICKS him!! But Kyle rolls Cole up!! TWO!! Cole escapes to SUPER- NO, Kyle blocks to have the ANKLE LOCK!! Cole rolls to a cradle! COLE WINS!!!
Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall (advances to Worlds End)
The Wolf of Wrestling tried to weasel out of a match with Cole, and now he runs away like the coward he really is! But will Cole soon shine with that Dynamite Diamond Ring as the ultimate revenge on MJF? As for Kyle, Taven & Bennett have also joined them out here, and Cole wants that handshake. Kyle sighs, and bails out. Is Kyle letting this grudge against MJF ruin his friendship with Cole? Or is there something more to this frustration?
FTR speaks.
The Top Guys are backstage again, and Cash Wheeler says, “So as we were saying last week before we had to go stop an attempted murder… Asheville, North Carolina, January 1st, Fight for the Fallen, one of the most important shows, one of the most meaningful shows, that we’ll ever be a part of. Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, it hit the western North Carolina area, it washed away cities, it washed away towns, it washed away communities. And now, with the help of you, with the help of AEW, with the help of Fight for the Fallen, we get to help build Asheville up from the ground up. Because nothing is gonna stop North Carolina, come hell or high water.”
Dax Harwood adds that January 1st might be the biggest night in AEW TV history. Because for the first time ever, Dynamite will be simulcast from TBS and streamed on HBO Max. For the first time ever, AEW comes to Asheville, NC, and for the first time in five YEARS, FTR is bringing pro-wrestling back to their city. So a big event needs a big match. And what FTR suggests is that FTR shows up that night and has that big match. But before we get there, there was a miscommunication last week with The Death Riders. Dax & Cash don’t have a problem with them.
But if they’ve got a problem with FTR, then this Saturday night, on Collision, FTR will be in that ring. Moxley, Claudio, Yuta, Pac, show up, have a conversation with them. See you there. #TopGuysOut. But will Dax & Cash even make it home to Asheville if they start picking a fight with the Death Riders?
Chris Jericho speaks.
With Bryan Keith behind him, The Learning Tree says, “Hi, guys~! It’s Chris Jericho, The King of New York here, and this is a New York Minute. Earlier today, I was on the Staten Island ferry, going from Washington Heights to the meat packing district, and I heard about Matt Cardona’s challenge to Bryan Keith. Matt, apparently you’re not happy that we left you laying like a discarded Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure, also from New York, last week on Rampage, and you wanna challenge Bryan Keith!? Huh?! You wanna try and send a message to the King of the Big Apple by taking a bite outta the Bad Apple?”
Keith says he’ll take a bit outta Cardona, “dumbass!” Jericho says that makes it official. Cardona VS Keith on Rampage, with Jericho on commentary. But wait! There’s more. Tomorrow night on ROH, available on WatchROH.com, you can see Jericho and Cardona have their contract signing to make their title match at Final Battle official. See? Cardona’s getting everything he ever wanted. But be careful what you wish for. As Mayor Bloomberg once said, “New York City is where potential is realized, and where dreams are made.” But there’s a big difference between dreams and delusions.
But Cardona’s delusional if he thinks he’ll walk out of the Hammerstein Ballroom and Final Battle the NEW ROH World Champion! AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN! You are NOT ready for Jericho, NOT ready for The Nueve, and NOT ready for Bryan Keith. Keith says Cardona made a mistake. He put his crumby hands on the King of New York, so Keith’s gonna make him pay the damn price. That’s a Learning Tree lesson for you, Cardona. Jericho signs off, this has been a New York Minute. Thanks, guys~!
BREAKING NEWS for Collision!
Winter is Coming, but only after coverage of the NBA on TNT wraps. That means an EARLY start time for the West Coast, so you better be ready! With that said, there will be MORE Continental Classic action as Blue League leader, Kyle Fletcher, goes up against Mark Briscoe. Can the Sussex County Chicken bring down The Protostar? Or will the Aussie Arrow hit the mark and be an unstoppable 4-0? Plus, Kazuchika Okada is back in action as he takes on The Beast Mortos! Will the Rainmaker make up for some lost ground? Or will the menacing minotaur drag him down into the dungeon?
Sit-down interview with Darby Allin.
Tony Schiavone met with the Relentless One before the show began, and brings up how he hasn’t really spoken to anyone since Full Gear’s ending and that wild car crash into the Death Riders’ truck. Does Darby feel his efforts to topple Jon Moxley failed? And if so, is his quest over? Darby says the quest is never over. When Darby thinks about Moxley, The Death Riders, and everything they’re doing to this place, they are slowly chipping away at what makes AEW great. Darby saw them put Bryan Danielson’s neck in a chair and essentially end his career. And thinking back to that, Darby thinks to how Bryan was the backbone of this place.
And Darby gets why the younger guys don’t wanna get involved. For many, this is the first time they’ve made a real living off of pro-wrestling. But the problem is, if they don’t do anything about this, it’ll just keep happening. People think Darby is reckless, impulsive… Darby punches himself and immediately draws blood! Darby says this does not bother him. Blood, pain, violence, that doesn’t bother him. What bothers him is if no one does anything about it. Schiavone understands, and says all of this is going on during the Continental Classic, the most important time of year for AEW.
Darby says that when he thinks on the C2, it is “everything that’s right” with AEW. People going out there, putting it all on the line for the love of the game, and for the love of AEW. Darby needs to win this tournament because it represents AEW. It represents the passion of AEW. And Darby isn’t stupid, he knows there’ll be collateral damage along the way. But Moxley thinks everything is so wrong in AEW and that it needs to be saved. But Moxley failed to remember that this is the company that gave his career a second shot. This is the company that let Sting go out on his own terms. This is the company that took a chance on Darby.
So Moxley keeps telling himself all these lies again and again and again. “But nothing fools you better than the lies you tell yourself, Jon.” Darby has called out The Maniac, but will he be able to focus on Will Ospreay and their Continental Classic Holiday Bash?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Brody King VS Ricochet!
Speaking of kings, The King of Death and the King of Flight are about to collide in a critical match for both men! They’re both 1-1 with 3 points, and only one can keep pace with Will Ospreay. Will Brody keep Ricochet grounded? Or will the C2 be #OuttaThisWorld?
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Brody and Ricochet circle while fans bark. The two tie up, Brody SLAMS Ricochet down, and Ricochet backs right up to a corner. Brody waits on Ricochet and the two reset. They circle, tie up, and Brody TOSSES Ricochet to a corner! Ricochet comes right back to CHOP! Brody just grins. Ricochet ducks a chop to KICK and fire body shots, but Brody TOSSES him to another corner! Brody runs up, Ricochet goes up and over, and Ricochet CHOPS! Brody just stares Ricochet down. Ricochet runs, ducks ‘n’ rolls to roll back, and he RANAS Brody to a corner!
Ricochet runs up, Brody puts him on the apron, but Ricochet RAMS him! And GAMANGIRIS! Ricochet climbs, leaps, but he bounces off of Brody! The fans bark and Brody SHOVES Ricochet up and out to the floor! The fans bark more while Brody storms out to fetch Ricochet. Ricochet CHOPS, but Brody CHOPS back! Ricochet definitely felt that! But then Brody CHOPS again! Brody peels off the protective padding on the railing, brings Ricochet over, but Ricochet jumps up and off the railing! SUPERKICK! Brody wobbles, Ricochet goes to the apron, and Ricochet leaps, only for Brody to stop the rana!
Brody brings Ricochet up to APRON POWERBOMB! Ricochet writhes, but Brody hauls him up to whip hard into railing! Ricochet falls but Brody stands him up to CHOP! Ricochet takes a seat, he wants Brody to leave him be, but Brody runs up to CROSSBODY against railing! Ricochet falls in a heap and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Brody looms over Ricochet, but leaves him behind to refresh the ring count. Brody then hauls Ricochet up and into the ring, stalks him to a corner, then CHOPS! Ricochet sputters while he slumps down to the mat. Brody stands on Ricochet’s neck! The ref counts, Broody steps off, and Brody grabs at Ricochet. Ricochet shoves Brody back but Brody ROCKS him! Ricochet flounders along the ropes, Brody CLUBS him down, and then he digs his boots in at the corner! The ref counts, Brody steps off, and Ricochet sputters some more. Brody comes back, stomps a mudhole into Ricochet, then grabs the legs.
Brody YANKS Ricochet up for him to fall hard on the mat! Ricochet sits up but Brody clamps on with a neck wrench! Brody grinds his elbow into Ricochet’s head, then drags him up. Brody whips Ricochet hard into the corner! Ricochet falls back and Brody looms over him again. Brody drags Ricochet up and CHOPS him back to the corner! Brody then brings Ricochet up to suplex high and hard! And then SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet survives the onslaught but Brody stays on him. Brody ROCKS Ricochet and Ricochet staggers on noodle legs. Brody brings Ricochet up to ROCK him again!
Ricochet stumbles about, Dynamite returns to single picture, and the fans bark again. Brody CHOPS Ricochet, eggs him on, so Ricochet musters up what he can. Ricochet fires forearm after forearm but Brody shoves him! Ricochet ducks and handsprings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up and Brody covers, TWO! Ricochet is still in this but Brody looms over him again. Brody drags Ricochet up, CHOPS Ricochet back down, and he eggs on the King of Flight. Brody stands Ricochet up, so Ricochet fires forearm sand CHOPS! Brody CHOPS Ricochet, then ROCKS him! Brody runs, but Ricochet TIGER WALL KICKS!
Ricochet spins to PELE!, and Brody wobbles! The fans fire up, Ricochet baits Brody in and DUMPS him out! Brody lands on the apron, Ricochet triangle jumps to ENZIGIRI Brody down! Ricochet then builds speed to FOSBURY FLOP! Down goes Brody and the fans are torn. Ricochet drags Brody up and into the ring, then aims from the apron. Springboard 450 SPLASH! Cover, ONE?!? Brody shocks Ricochet with that toughness! Ricochet hurries to BOOT, but Brody just growls! Ricochet BOOTS again but Brody eggs him on! Ricochet KICKS, Brody just snarls! Ricochet runs up but Brody SWATS the kick! And he spins to LARIAT Ricochet! Cover, TWO!!
Brody is annoyed with Ricochet but he drags Ricochet up. Brody reels Ricochet in, hauls him up, but Ricochet fights free to sunset flip! TWO!! Brody escapes and runs back up, only for Ricochet to V-TRIGGER! Ricochet drops back to a corner, Brody runs up again, but into another V-TRIGGER! Ricochet tries to fireman’s carry!? Brody’s too much for that, and he CLUBS Ricochet! And then CHOPS him! Ricochet goes back to a corner for Brody to SPLASH! Ricochet sits down and the fans bark it up! CANNONBALL! Brody drags Ricochet out to cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Brody is more exasperated than frustrated.
Brody stalks Ricochet, hoists him up top, and he CHOPS! Brody climbs up, Ricochet fires body shots, and Ricochet CLUBS away! Ricochet adjusts, SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! Ricochet hurries back up top, for the SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! But then Brody reaches to grab Ricochet by his neck!! Brody rises like a zombie, but Ricochet CLUBS away on Brody’s arm! Brody spins Ricochet into the SLEEPER! Ricocher grabs the ropes! Th eref counts, Brody holds on until 4. Brody has the SLEEPER again, but Ricochet clibms the corner! Ricochet goes up and out to HOTSHOT Brody! Then he ROUNDHOUSES!
Brody wobbles, Ricochet slingshots, but into a DOUBLE CHOP!! Brody has Ricochet on the apron, drags him up and clinches, to then YANK him right up to the top! Brody climbs now, but Ricochet still fights back! DDT on the top buckle! Brody wobbles, Ricochet shrugs, and he KICKS the legs out! Brody hits buckles on the way down! Kansas City boos but Ricochet says BANG! SPIRIT GUN!! But Ricochet knows that’s not enough! Brody rises, Ricochet runs, SPIRIT GUN!! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Brody earns 0)
Ricochet overcomes the biggest and meanest obstacle in his way, and now he is tied with Will Ospreay and Claudio Castagnoli! But given Ricochet lost to Claudio in the opening round, how much harder will he have to fight to become a finalist?
Private Party speaks.
Marq Quen says, “Good evening, everybody. We are your AEW Tag Team Champions, Private Partaaay~! And welcome to The Vault.” Isiah Kassidy says, “What happens in The Vault stays in The Vault.” Winter is Coming, and you know what that means! Santa is coming to town! But in step Lio Rush & Action Andretti, and they say this is rather interesting. What do Quen & Zay say to letting them have a taste of some of that? Oh, okay, Zay’s got ’em! All he had to do was ask. No, Action wasn’t talking about the shots. Lio says they want the gold on the table. That’s what they want this year from Santa Claus.
Well, Zay will tell ’em what HE wants from Santa. This year, a nice, thick, juicy a- And here comes Leila Grey & Top Flight! Leila wants to have a little chat after last week. Zay notes Santa came early this year. Darius & Dante ignore that to have that chat. Darius, remind Dante again, how many tag team matches have Action & Lio won to actually earn a tag title shot? Darius is pretty sure it was ZERO. Dante takes a sip of the good stuff while Private Party says, “Ooh~!” Lio asks Action to remind him who got eliminated from the battle royal. Action says let’s think. Oh, it was Darius & Dante! OOH~! The two sides argue, and Private Party has them both stop.
Zay says he has a perfect solution! Y’all can just face each other at Collision: Winter is Coming, and the winners can face the champs for the titles. That is good for them all. Lio offers a handshake and says, “No hard feelings, right?” Darius takes the handshake, pulls Lio in close, but pats him on the back. Leila leaves with the Martin brothers, and Zay says, “Thank you, Santa.” But then with the table set for Top Flight VS Bad Child & Sight to See, who will get their shot at Private Party?
Backstage interview with both Anna Jay and Mercedes Mone.
Renee welcomes both The Queenslayer and The CEO one week ahead of their AEW TBS Championship at Holiday Bash. Mone says, “Kansas Citaaaay~! Missouri or Kansas, Renee? Y’know what? It doesn’t matter! Just say hello to your C E O.” Renee thanks them both for being here, and for agreeing to no physicality. Mercedes has now defended the TBS title ten times, and today marks Day 200 as champion. But before getting into that match, Renee wants to talk Sunday, December 15th. In Long Beach California, it will be NJPW Strong Style Evolved, where Mone defends the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Hazuki.
Mone says Renee is doing so good today, she is so proud. But she’s also really proud of Anna. Anna has been doing so well. Mone loves how gutsy Anna is, and how she went to Japan to train. Mone went to Japan, too. And Mone loves that Anna believes in herself, it is so cute. But Mone says Anna is only 26 and just getting started. By the time Mone was 26, she was a FIVE-TIME CHAMPION. And now she’s the greatest TBS Champion of all time. So next week on Dynamite, Mercedes shows Jay there is a price to pay when you mess with Mone. Anna tells her hold on, Mone is not going anywhere.
They may have agreed to no physicality, but they also agreed to a face-to-face. Mone is going to stay and listen to Anna. Mone is a living legend, and Anna does admire what Mone does in the ring. And Anna is aware she’s going into this the underdog. But that’s fine. Anna has been underestimated her whole life, her whole career, and she keeps proving people wrong. So go ahead, underestimate her, too. Because when Mone makes the first mistake, Anna will capitalize on it, because all she needs is 1-2-3 to shock the world and become the NEW TBS Champion. Anna leaves, Mone says we’ll see about that.
Confident as she is, the walls are closing in. Will Mone make it through the holidays with both belts still in her possession? Or will Christmas be cold when you don’t have any gold?
AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May VS Mina Shirakawa!
They met in Japan’s World Wonder Ring Stardom and not only became tag team partners, but became best friends. But in the world of wrestling, we all know friendship can only last so long when both friends want to be the best in the world. The Glamour betrayed the Fighting Gravure Idol out of paranoia, but claims to still love her. Will this newest chapter in Mariah’s twisted story have a “happy ending” for her? Or will Mina make May pay?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who ends the night on top!
The bell rings and the two run up on each other! They start throwing hands and the fans fire up! Mina HAMMERS away on Mariah, but Mariah shoves her back! Mariah SLAPS Mina! Mariah talks trash, too, but Mina SLAPS back! The fans fire up as Mina SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires more shots! Mariah cowers in the ropes but Mina keeps after her with hammer fists! The ref counts, Mina lets off, but then she SOBATS! Mina whips, dropkicks Mariah’s legs, then grabs a leg to kick away on it! The fans cheer Mina as she kicks and stomps Mariah around, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! The fans cheer and Mina drags Mariah around.
Mina steps through to have a FIGURE FOUR! Mariah hurries and rolls under the ropes, but Mina holds on! Then they fall to the floor! But Mina still holds on! Mina kicks at Mariah while letting off the hold, and the fans fire up while the ref checks Mariah. Mariah clutches her leg but she is still in this. Mina drags Mariah up while the fans rally, only for Mariah to wrench and whip Mina into the steel steps! Mariah brings Mina up to whip hard into railing! The fans boo, and we see Thunder Rosa in the front row! She holds up a sign that reads, “Mariah May??? You May Not!!!” Rosa herself says, “YOU SUCK! You’re not my champion!”
Mariah is mad, and she runs up to SHOTGUN Mina! Mariah stomps away on Mina, but the ref counts. The ref has to pull Mariah back at 4, and Mariah goes to the ring. Mina crawls and Mariah mocks the shimmy and shake. The fans boo but Mariah slaps her knee, both because she thinks she’s funny and to get it working again. Mariah then goes to the apron, takes aim, and as Mina rises, Mariah runs up! But Mina blocks the kick! Mina trips Mariah, brings her to the corner, and she SLAMS the leg against the post! The fans fire up and Mina ties those legs up! Mina stares Mariah down, and shouts “B*TCH!” before hitting the HANGING FIGURE FOUR!
The fans fire up while the ref counts, and Mina lets go at 4! Mariah screams in pain, but Mina shows no mercy as she SLAMS the leg into the post again! The fans fire up and Mina feeds off that energy while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Mina storms back over and stalks Mariah. Mina drags Mariah up to hook the leg, SHIN BREAKER! Mariah writhes but Mina kicks her around. Mariah goes to the ropes but Mina brings her back up. Mariah CLUBS Mina to stop the lift, and then she hits a SAIDO! Mariah grins while Mina flounders, The Glamour has her confidence back. Mariah then rains down fists on Mina! The ref reprimands about closed fists but Mariah lets off to hobble around. Mariah soaks up the heat from Kansas City, then mocks their crying. Mariah throws her armbands at Mina, stomps her around, but Mina throws them back!
Mariah kicks Mina, snapmares her, and she runs to SHOTGUN! Cover, TWO! Mina stays in this but Mariah storms around. Mariah soaks up more heat, then kicks Mina around. Mina goes to a corner, Mariah stands her up and she CHOPS! Mina staggers away to another corner, but Mariah is right on her at the ropes! Mariah CHOKES then stomps away, then CHOKES Mina again! The ref counts, Dynamite returns to single picture, band Mariah drags Mina up. Mariah snapmares Mina, steps over, and throws down fists! Mariah gives Mina one last kiss, then runs, but Mina dodges! FLYING CHUCK!
The fans fire up and Rosa cheers Mina on as she stands Mariah up. Mariah breaks free but mina still ROCKS her first! Mariah hits back, so Mina hits her again! Mariah ROCKS Mina but Mina ROCKS Mariah! The shots keep going, the fans cheer Mina on, but Mariah gets the edge! Mariah grins, runs, but Mina ROLLING ELBOWS! Mina runs, but into a HEADBUTT! But Mina URAKENS! Both women fall and the fans are thunderous! Mina and Mariah crawl, Rosa gets the fans even more fired up for Mina, and Mina DROPKICKS the legs out! Mina wants the legs but Mariah kicks her away! Mariah rises, but Mina wrenches and SAIDOS!
The fans fire up and Mina hurries to cover, TWO! Mina goes right to a corner and right up, only for Mariah to hit some STRATUSFACTION! Mariah then runs up, but Mina avoids the knee! URAKEN! Mariah stays up this time, takes a swing, but Mina catches her and spins her, dragon sleeper and REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up and Mina covers, TWO! Mariah survives but Mina just hauls her up! Mina suplexes Mariah to the top rope, for a DRAPING DDT!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Mariah survives by her fingertips! Mina grabs the legs, Mariah holds tight to the rope, and then Mariah YANKS Mina into the ropes!
Mariah rises up, runs up to KNEE Mina down! Mariah keeps moving, Mina rises, into another KNEE!! Mariah hauls Mina into a fireman’s carry, for the MAYDAY DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Mina shocks Mariah and KC loves it! Mariah snarls but her former best friend would know how to survive Mariah’s best shot! Mariah drags Mina up, fireman’s carries again, but Mina hits a CRUCIFIX DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Mariah survives that sudden turnaround, but Mina hurries up top! Mariah stands, into a FLYING SLINGBLADE! Mina roars and the fans fire up with her! Mina drags Mariah up in the dragon sleeper!
Mina lifts, GLORIOUS DRIVER MINA!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Now Mariah shocks Mina for surviving her best shot! Mina tries again but Mariah HEADBUTTS! Mariah reels Mina in, STORM ZERO!!! Cover, MARIAH WINS!
Winner: Mariah May, by pinfall (still AEW Women’s World Champion)
It was a gritty battle, but it took the move of a different former friend to finish this! But even so, Mariah is still champion, or as Rosa’s second sign puts it, “You are NOT My Champ!!!” But wait! IS THAT TONI STORM!? And now Rosa has a sign that says “W T F?!” Because yeah, while this isn’t Timeless, this is STILL TONI STORM!! She’s gone back to her original identity, and everyone is going wild! Are we about to get one hell of a sequel to All In?
My Thoughts:
A great start to what is now Winter is Coming Week in AEW. And the only weak point for tonight might be the time constraints on the women’s match. It was great to make it the main event, and for what time they had, they made the most of it, but if you’re going to make it the main event, I feel like it needed more than 10 minutes. But at the same time, it seemed rather clear Mina was losing. Mina is already Rev-Pro Women’s Champion, she wasn’t going to become the other double champion in AEW. Plus, with Rosa wanting next AND Toni Storm returning, that’s big story stuff for Mariah. Also, it is incredibly clever for Toni Storm to return as rock ‘n’ roll Toni after “Timeless Toni” said she’d retire from wrestling. We all knew this was coming so great to see it happen.
Speaking of the double champion in AEW, good promo from Mone with Anna Jay, but as I said last week, Mone’s going to have two title defenses in one week. Either Mone has a great week by retaining both titles, or she could have a really bad week by losing both titles, it really depends on the plans for WrestleDynasty. I’m leaning towards Mone having a great week because I don’t think she’s going to lose at Strong Style Evolved, and I’m not so sure she loses on Holiday Bash. Mone is more likely to lose her TBS title at Worlds End, maybe even to Kamille once Kamille’s arm is all healed up. Also, I assume that was just a kayfabe injury to lead to the breakup we got.
And to my earlier point of time constraints, I feel like we got a few promos we didn’t really need, despite them still being good promos. For one, Bandido having his Hollywood Western fight scene. Again, really fun and very well made, and maybe it was to help some people learn/remember who Bandido is, but I thought last week’s “Most Wanted” was enough to let us know he’s on his way back. The other was Private Party with all of Top Flight. Given we had Top Flight arguing it out last week, we knew they were going to have a match, Dante & Darius VS Action & Lio. But that promo seems a bit redundant now with this one, setting up that same match, but now with actual stakes. AEW’s been a thing for five years and they still can’t iron out disjointed storytelling?
Though at the same time, they’re not good with pacing out stuff like this Jericho VS Cardona build. They obviously do it to get people to watch ROH Thursdays, and maybe the sooner they get that cable TV deal the better. If Rampage really is going away, they should just make ROH replace it, but keep it on Thursdays because I don’t need overlaps with SmackDown and how that is going to be three hours in 2025. But either way, good promos from both Cardona and Jericho, and we’ll get a very good contract signing segment and good tune-up match for Cardona on Rampage. Though again, what weird pacing since Rampage is being recorded right now yet ROH was more than likely last Saturday…
Really good stuff with this Death Riders story tonight. That was a great tag match to open, though rather long, especially with Hangman “ruining” it. If he was gonna do that, cut things down by 5 minutes because why would Hangman wait until the match was getting hot to go after Moxley? But to Moxley’s point right after with his ranting promo, the egos kept the other three guys from becoming a super team that the Death Riders would’ve certainly lost against. But hey, that Fatal 4 Way is gonna be awesome, and Christian Cage might get in on that. Though, great promo from him and great attack by Hook. I’m a little surprised we didn’t get a follow-up on that tonight.
Very good promo from Darby, though maybe another spot that could’ve been another night for sake of time. Darby still got his point across, and I think this was his best paced promo, no rushing through lines to get them out. Depending on how Worlds End goes, I feel like we could get a really good “Can they coexist?” 8 Man or even bigger, where Darby, White, Cassidy and Hangman work together to fight Moxley, Claudio, Yuta & Pac. They could even do a Stadium Stampede/Anarchy in the Arena (I forget if there’s any real difference other than what kind of venue they do it in), and that could even give us the return of Bryan Danielson for him to tip the scales in favor of “Team AEW.”
Good stuff in the Cole VS MJF story, though I’m not sure we needed the tease of MJF showing up before the match. Clearly The Kingdom weren’t watching the show because Taven didn’t even think MJF was there, but I guess that’s the writing trope known as “dramatic irony,” where the audience knows something ahead of the characters. Not a good execution of it but it still counts. And great match of Kyle VS Cole, but there’s something kayfabe suspicious about the timing of Kyle being down for the count and MJF sneaking out there, only for Kyle to then recover and roll Cole up. Could Kyle have been turned to the dark side by MJF? Or, what is now the dark side after the still rather clunky double turn. I still want Cole to get that diamond ring to stick it to MJF but Kyle could screw him over…
And of course, great stuff in the Continental Classic tonight, even though it was just two matches. Claudio VS Ospreay was awesome, and fitting that Ospreay would win to stay near the front. Darby watching Ospreay’s back was good, but also a reason Darby’s promo tonight could’ve waited for Collision. And Ricochet adds some intrigue by showing he still has MVP’s card. I almost thought The Hurt Syndicate would walk out there after he won, but maybe they’re waiting for Ricochet to take control of Gold League so that no matter what, the Syndicate has someone going to Worlds End. Plus, that’d be a big moment should Ricochet go to Worlds End, win the whole thing and become NEW Continental Champion with MVP, Lashley & Shelton backing him.
My Score: 8.8/10
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