Riho or Soho, only one is moving on in the Owen!

AEW kicked off the Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments on Dynamite, and Rampage carries that momentum! But who carries momentum into round two?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Death Triangle w/ Alex Abrahantes VS The Andrade Family Office; Death Triangle wins.
• Shawn Spears VS Bear Boulder; Spears wins.
• Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Opening Round: Riho VS Ruby Soho; Soho wins and advances to the semifinals.
• AEW TNT Championship: Scorpio Sky w/ Ethan Page & Dan Lambert VS Frankie Kazarian; Scorpio wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Death Triangle w/ Alex Abrahantes VS The Andrade Family Office!

Rey Fenix made his return and now Death Triangle is at full power! But while the Firebird has an Owen Hart Foundation opening round match coming, this match is to send a message to the House of Black! Will the Butcher, the Blade and Marq Quen be examples to Malakai and his henchmen?

The trios sort out and we start with Blade and Penta Oscuro! Fans rally up as the two circle. Penta and Blade feel things out, but then Penta tells him, “Listen! CERO! MIEDO!” Fans fire up but Blade ROCKS Penta with a right! Blade runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Penta tells Blade again, CERO MIEDO, runs, but Blade leap frogs! Only for Penta to PENALTY KICK him out of the back roll! Penta taunts Butcher then tags PAC. They double whip, Pac mule kicks then snapmares, and he sets Blade up for QUE PASO! The dropkick to the gooch hits and Pac smirks as he brings Blade up. Blade knees low, whips Pac, but Pac uses that to DECK Butcher!

Pac swipes at Quen but he gets away, Blade storms in but into a BOOT! Pac KICKS and ROCKS Blade, then swipes at Butcher. Butcher drags Pac out for that while Blade distracts the ref. Butcher knees Pac low and whips Pac into the apron, followed up by a LARIAT! Then, APRON BACK SUPLEX! Butcher shoves Pac in for Blade, Blade tags Butcher in, and Butcher drop steps while he taunts Penta. Chris Jericho makes Butcher & Blade his Sports Entertainer(s) of the Week, but Pac KICKS away on Butcher’s leg! Butcher whips, Pac gets under and KICKS the leg again! Pac whips, Butcher reverses but Pac stops himself to dropkick Butcher’s leg out!

Pac goes up the corner, aims at Butcher, missile dropkick! Butcher tumbles away and fans fire up as Pac kips up. Pac glares as Butcher bails out. Pac waits on Butcher as fans rally up. Butcher gets in, but he tags out to Quen! Quen swings on Pac but into a HIP TOSS! Pac drags Quen up, wrenches, and tag to Fenix! Fenix wrenches but Quen trips Fenix. Things speed up, Quen turns Pac over and STANDING MOONSAULT, but Fenix avoids it! Quen lands on his feet, they speed things up again, NO HANDS RANA from Quen! Quen and his beard soak up heat, but Fenix shoves him to ropes. Quen spins to KICK, and GAMANGIRI!

Quen runs in again, FLAPJACK DROPKICK! Quen swaggers, brings Fenix up, and he mocks Penta. But Fenix lifts Quen to spin and FACEBUSTER! Both men stagger up, Fenix BOOTS, mule kicks, but Quen ducks the mule kick! Quen shoves Fenix, but Fenix BOOTS him! Fenix goes up, springboards, TORNILLO ARM-DRAG and DOUBLE STMOPS! Fenix then CLOBBERS Butcher & Blade! Fenix drags Quen up, whips but Quen reverses. Fenix tiger feints but Butcher catches him! Quen BLASTS Fenix into the railing! Butcher hurries to get Fenix up and in as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Quen drags Fenix up and bumps him off buckles. Tag to Blade, he stays between Fenix and the rest of Death Triangle while talking trash. Blade drags Fenix up to bump off buckles hard, then he tags Butcher. They mug Fenix, Butcher CHOPS Fenix against ropes, then keeps on him with another buckle bump. Bunny talks trash, Butcher tags Blade in, and they double whip Fenix to double shoulder tackle! Blade covers, TWO! Blade stomps Fenix, then drags him up for a facelock. Fenix throws body shots as fans rally but Blade keeps on that facelock. Rampage returns to single picture and Fenix throws body shots again!

Fenix powers Blade back towards the Death Triangle corner, but then the AFO attacks! Pac and Penta go down, Blade carries Fenix all the way back! Tag to Butcher, they LEG DROP SIDEWALK SLAM! Tag to Quen and he goes up top! 450 SPLASH! Cover, Pac breaks it in time! Blade throws Pac out then DECKS Penta! Quen tags Butcher, then Blade gives Quen a boost to SUPER SWANTON onto Pac and Penta! Butcher fireman’s carries Fenix to toss him into Blade’s KICK! Butcher then LARIATS Fenix down! Cover, TWO!! Fenix survives and the AFO can’t believe it! Blade hurries to tag in, and he drags Fenix back up.

Blade CHOPS Fenix, Fenix flops back down, but Blade brings him up again. Blade suplexes, Fenix knees free and somersaults to SPIKE-RANA! Fans fire up as Fenix crawls, but Blade grabs the feet! Blade whips Fenix away, Fenix tiger feints to rewind and HEEL KICK! Kyle O’Reilly is taking notes from the crowd given that Owen Hart Cup match. Fenix and Blade crawl, hot tags to Quen and Penta! Penta CROSSBODIES Quen down! Penta dodges Butcher to SLINGBLADE! SUPERKICK for Quen! SUPERKICK for Butcher! Wheelbarrow and roll, into a SATELLITE DDT for Butcher! Long Island is fired up for “CERO! MIEDO!”

Tag to Pac, and the Bastard looms over Quen. Pac mule kicks, front kicks, sobats, then whips, to pop-up for the FLAPJACK! And DEADLIFT GERMAN! Bridging cover, ROPEBREAK! Quen got a bit lucky that Pac miscalculated ring position. But fans rally as Pac watches Quen. But Blade and Butcher garb at him! The Lucha Bros double dropkick them away! Pac dodges Quen to SNAP GERMAN!! Quen flounders, into a back body block in the corner! Tag to Penta, tag to Fenix! “CERO! MIEDO!” LUCHA BROTHERS DRIVER!!! Tag to Pac, the Lucha Bros DOUBLE TOPE onto Butcher and Blade! Pac shoots the BLACK ARROW!! Cover, Death Triangle wins!!

Winners: Death Triangle, by pinfall

Kyle applauds, but reluctantly. Will the Undisputed Elite have another semifinalist after Kyle tears down the Firebird? Or will it be all on Adam Cole to win the Owen Hart Cup?

But then the lights go out! And when they come back up, the House of Black has appeared! Brody King and Buddy Matthews are on corners while Malakai himself stares Pac down. The lights go out again, and then the House of Black is gone. Will Fenix be able to focus with the shadows closing in?

Shawn Spears VS Bear Boulder!

The Chair Man claims he will be the Giant Killer as he stands between Wardlow and MJF. But will Spears also be a Bear Killer along the way? Or will Boulder roll over and squash him?

The bell rings and Boulder steps up to Spears. They stare down, and Spears winds it up, “TEN!” Spears grins, but Boulder choke grips him! Boulder trophy lifts Spears and he freaks out! Boulder lifts but Spears slips off, ducks and dodges, but the crossbody is caught! Boulder gets the fans to fire up before the POWERSLAM! Boulder roars and fans fire up as he runs in at the corner. Spears dodges and Boulder hits buckles! Spears climbs up, rains down fists, and fans count. Spears stops for that reason, and Boulder choke grips again! Boulder has both hands on Spears to carry him out, and then whip him to the corner for a SPLASH!

Fans fire up as Boulder climbs! Boulder gets Spears’ wrist tape off his hand, but Spears claws the eyes! Spears manages to fireman’s carry Boulder around, for the C4!! Cover, Spears wins!

Winner: Shawn Spears, by pinfall

Spears has the victory, but he gets a chair to add on! He SMACKS away on Boulder again and again! Spears tells Wardlow, “The Giant Killer cometh!” But will Spears be able to stop Wardlow’s warpath to Double or Nothing?

Backstage interview with Tony Nese & Mark Sterling.

Lexi Nair says it was announced that these two face #Hookhausen in Las Vegas for the Double or Nothing Buy-In, but Sterling says that is not happening. Sterling is a lawyer who is just here to dot the I’s and cross the T’s, he doesn’t even own a pair of tights! The tag match is not happening. Well, management says if Sterling puts his hands on another wrestler… Put his hands? He didn’t do that! Wardlow did this to him! Sorry, this isn’t happening. But Nese says it is fine. He destroyed Danhausen in record time! And then Hook wants to ruin the celebration? To ruin Nese’s homecoming? No, no, that’s not happening.

So Nese says it is just fine. He is the Premier Athlete. He can beat them both by himself! When they get to Vegas, Sterling can put 10K on them! Wow, that’s a lot. Is Nese going to win that back in spades? Or will #Hookhausen choke Nese out and then curse him?

Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Opening Round: Riho VS Ruby Soho!

Toni Storm won her spot in the semifinals on Dynamite, and awaits the winner of Britt Baker VS the joker! But on the other side of the bracket, it’s the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion VS The Runaway! Who takes that first step towards the cup?

The bell rings and Ruby offers the handshake. Riho takes it, and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Riho puts Ruby on ropes but lets off as the ref counts. Ruby and Riho circle again, Ruby gets around to waistlock then wrenches to a wristlock. Riho rolls, wrenches and wristlocks back, but Ruby uses ropes to flip through. Ruby has the arm now, but Riho goes around and around. Ruby shifts to a hammerlock then headlock, but Riho powers out. Ruby runs Riho over and then covers. Riho goes Matrix to slip out, but Ruby rolls her! Riho rolls through to Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Ruby kicks low and snapmares Riho for a KICK!

Ruby runs, Riho ducks the Penalty Kick and kicks back. NORTHERN- NO! Ruby blocks, gut wrenches to a Canadian Rack but Riho slips off. Riho dodges to tilt-o-whirl and headscissor! Ruby gets up but into a wheelbarrow victory roll, STOMP 182! Fans fire up and Ruby gets to a corner. Riho runs corner to corner to forearm smash! Riho whips, Ruby stops herself to back elbow! Ruby goes up to DEADLY NIGHTSHADE! Ruby then pushes Riho to a cover, TWO! Ruby drags Riho to a drop zone and goes up top. Fans fire up, but Riho moves! Ruby bails out of her senton and hobbles a bit. Ruby drags Riho up but Riho ROCKs her with a forearm!

Ruby headbutts back! Ruby shakes out the bad leg, wrenches, but the kick is blocked! Riho has the leg for a BRIDGING HALF CRAB! Ruby endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Riho lets go at 3 and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Ruby is on the apron, Riho grabs at her but Ruby ROCKS her! And again! Ruby shoulder sin, but into a KICK! Riho goes up the corner for a DOUBLE STOMP! Ruby flops out of the ropes and fans fire up! Riho drags Ruby to a cover, TWO! Riho drags Ruby away from the ropes for a BULLY CHOKE! Ruby endures, pries at the hold, and fights her way up. Ruby throws body shots and powers out, but Riho tilt-o-whirls again! Ruby stops that to have a cording hold! She cranks Riho’s arm, brings her to a knee, and pulls on the arm more! Riho endures, fights up and throws forearms! Riho ducks Ruby’s clothesline to backslide, TWO! Riho dropkicks Ruby down!

Riho shakes out her arm while Ruby is dazed. Fans rally, Riho stomps Ruby down, then Riho stalks Ruby to a corner. Riho stomps Ruby and digs her boot in, but lets off as the ref counts. Ruby throws body shots from below, but Riho CLUBS Ruby down, and Rampage goes to break.

Rampage returns and Riho runs in at the corner to KNEE Ruby right in the chest! Then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Riho goes up top. Ruby ROCKS Riho first! Ruby climbs up after Riho, throws more forearms, but Riho gives them back. Ruby HEADBUTTS, but Riho HEADBUTTS back! Riho shoves Ruby away but Ruby lands on her feet. The leg buckles., Riho CROSSBODIES, but Ruby rolls through! TWO!! Ruby ROCKS Riho with a right! Ruby reels Riho in, but no Bladerunner! CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Riho is furious and she kicks at Ruby. Riho then runs and- KANGAROO KICK from Ruby!

Ruby runs in, gets around, SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Riho survives but Ruby SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!!  Fans are thunderous as Ruby turns Riho, reels her in, BLADERUNNER! Cover, Ruby wins!

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

And the Runaway puts this one away! But who meets Ruby in the semifinals? There’s a bit more on that in just a moment!

Gunn Club and The Acclaimed have a team meeting.

Billy Gunn says that now that they’re all together, as a faction if you will, something Billy knows a lot about, he feels this could be one of the best of all time. But they’re missing something. They need… hand gestures! Austin raises his hand and wants “father” to call on him. Okay, Austin. He and Colten have the perfect gesture. They’ll raise their hands, and point straight to- NO. It’s been done. Anthony Bowens raises his hand, Billy calls on him, and he asks, “How about this?” He and Max Caster scissor fingers. That’s great! There it is! But now… A catchphrase! “Daddy!” He and Colten have one! “We’ve got two words-” NO!! Just… stop. That will never get over.

The Acclaimed have an idea. What about, “Yo, listen!” Brilliant! Nice work. And now, Billy wants them to know that he’s used some of his pull and he got them a match. Really? Is it on Dynamite? Rampage? Double or Nothing? No. On Elevation! Caster has a spit take. That’s AWESOME! They all finger scissor, but will this 8 Man Tag turn out well for the… Uh, whatever the faction’s called.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring!

He welcomes out the AEW TBS Champion and her crew, it’s The Baddies! The still undefeated 30-0, Jade Cargill, struts out with Kiera Hogan and Red Velvet, and a limping Mark Sterling. Next week, on another special early Rampage, Red Velvet has her Owen Hart Cup quarterfinal match, but who against? Schiavone gives the mic to Jade and she tells him to cut the sh*t. And cameraman, do your job and get the Long Island Baddies. The cameraman finds the Baddies Section in the crowd and they wave hi to Jade. Schiavone says he sadly cannot cut anything, as he must inform us that AEW has not cleared Hikaru Shida after that Philly Street Fight.

Jade takes the mic back to say, “I don’t think that’s bad news at all. I think that’s great news. But uh, what happened to you?” Mark Sterling wants to explain but she says no one cares. He just needs to tell the people the Baddies’ business. Sterling says it is his opinion that Velvet should just win by forfeit and advance in the tournament. Schiavone says that is not happening. Tony Khan has found a replacement for the match. Velvet’s new opponent will be a long time “friend” in… KRIS STATLANDER! A new attitude in Velvet, a new attitude in Statlander! Who is moving on to meet Ruby Soho in the Owen Hart Cup?

Rampage returns and Mark Henry talks with our main eventers.

The World Strongest Man welcomes us back, and notes that Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian were the original AEW World Tag Team Champions. Scorpio, are you ready to defend the TNT Championship against his former partner? Ethan Page says that that is a stupid question! The champ is always ready! The real question should be, why is Kaz getting a shot in the first place? Scorpio says it’s because he gave Kaz his word. Dan Lambert adds, “And…?” And the word of the AEW TNT Champion is going to mean something from now on. They’ve been over this!

Kaz tells Ethan and Lambert that he doesn’t remember Mark Henry asking those two a damn thing. As for Scorpio, he and Kaz were winning titles long before the “Yes Men of the Year,” or even before AEW. And last time they checked, this is just Scorpio VS Kaz 1v1. Right, says the guy who has no friends in this company. Scorpio tells Lambert and Ethan that when he said he’s going to put respect back on the name of the TNT title, he meant it! And it starts tonight! So Lambert and Ethan can take the night off. Fine. They leave, and Scorpio says HE is the Face of TNT, so get used to it. Then there’s been enough talk. It’s time for the main event!

AEW TNT Championship: Scorpio Sky w/ Ethan Page & Dan Lambert VS Frankie Kazarian!

SoCal Uncensored, SCU, were the inaugural AEW World Tag Team Champions. But things have changed since the early days of AEW, and it’s certainly gone more The Closer’s way than the Heavy Metal Rebel’s. But will this battle of friends be where Kaz finally tastes gold again? Or will it be clear who was the stronger half of that tag team?

Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti are spotted in the crowd, sporting their newly won AAA Mixed Tag Team Championships. The introductions for this match are made, and AEW TNT title is raised, and we S C who is the true Face of TNT!

Scorpio and Kaz circle as fans chant for “S C U! S C U!” Scorpio and Kaz nod, shake hands, and then tie up. They go around, end up on ropes then in corners then back on ropes. The ref counts the ropebreak and the two separate. Fans rally up as the two go again. They tie up, Kaz fireman’s carry takeovers for a top wristlock. Scorpio fights up, gets to ropes and flips through to wrench back. Kaz endures the wristlock, uses ropes to flip through and wrench to a headlock. Scorpio powers out but Kaz runs him over! Cover, ONE, and Scorpio scrambles away. Fans rally, the two reset, and they tie up again.

Scorpio waistlocks, Kaz pries free to switch. Scorpio bucks the O’Conner, but Kaz hurdles. Scorpio avoids the monkey flip but not the hip toss! Kaz drops down for a short arm scissor! Scorpio moves around, endures, rolls back to make this a cover, TWO as Kaz throws Scorpio back down! Scorpio endures again, rolls back again, cover, TWO again! Scorpio gets free, but Kaz reverses the whip, only to leap into a fireman’s carry! Kaz slips off, but Scorpio throws Kaz off the chicken wing! Kaz rebounds, things speed up again, and they COLLIDE, head to head! Fans fire up while both men are down and a standing count begins!

Kaz and Scorpio slowly get up, Scorpio kicks low and whips. Body shot and RUS- NO! Kaz turns leg sweep into backslide, TWO! Kaz kicks, but Scorpio blocks the suplex! Fans rally as they fight for control, and Kaz CLUBS away on Scorpio’s back! Then he FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Kaz nods as fans rally and Scorpio gets up. Kaz rushes in but is sent out! Scorpio builds speed to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans fire up while both men are down and Rampage goes picture in picture!

Scorpio gets up, he checks his back, then he drags Kaz up. Scorpio puts Kaz in the ring, hurries after him, and he brings Kaz up to hit a BACKBREAKER! Kaz writhes but Scorpio sits him up for a chinlock. Kaz endures the knee in his back, fights his way up, but Scorpio CLUBS him in the back. Scorpio gets the arms but Kaz gets a victory roll, TWO! Kaz whips, Scorpio reverses and reels Kaz in for a cobra twist! Kaz endures all over again, even as Scorpio grabs for a leg! Scorpio gets the leg for a partial Bow ‘n’ Arrow, but Kaz uses that to hip toss free! Fans rally as both men slowly get up and go to opposite corners.

Kaz storms over but Scorpio elbows him away! And then DOUBLE STOMPS Kaz on the back! Scorpio drops an ax handle, then pushes Kaz to a cover! TWO, and Scorpio is a little annoyed. Scorpio facelocks and grinds Kaz down but Kaz endures. Kaz fights up, pries at the hold, and wrenches it open! Kaz hits an ELBOW BREAKER, but Scorpio ROCKS Kaz! Scorpio has Kaz in the corner for haymakers as Rampage returns to single picture. Scorpio whips corner to corner, runs in, but into an elbow! Kaz slips out, ducks and swings, but he GUILLOTINE LEG DROPS Scorpio down! Then SLINGSHOT to the Oklahoma Roll, TWO!

Kaz sobats, knees and LARIATS! Kaz fires up and Long Island fires up, too! Kaz whips, Scorpio KICKS back! Both men stagger, Scorpio runs but Kaz CLOBBERS him! Kaz runs, springboards, but Scorpio Electric Chair Lifts! To the fireman’s carry! TK- NO! Cradle counter, TWO!!! Kaz scoops to SLAM! Then springboard, LEG DROP! Kaz gets all fired up but he remembers to cover, TWO! Kaz drags Scorpio up, but Scorpio fights the crossface! JAWBREAKER! Kaz staggers, Scorpio runs in but is put on the apron! Scorpio ducks, fakes the guillotine out, then catches his breath, but Kaz SLINGSHOT CUTTERS!! Cover, TWO!?!

Fans are thunderous and hope these two “Fight Forever!” But it has to end somehow, and Kaz hurries to get the chicken wing! Scorpio fights the crossface again, snapmares free, but gets caught again! Scorpio arm-drags but Kaz is clamped on! Scorpio keeps trying, fading as he fights! Scorpio pushes off the corner but Kaz swings him around! Dan Lambert appears? He distracts the ref, Scorpio is FADING! Ethan gets in with the TNT title! Ethan CLOBBERS Kaz!! Scorpio ends up on top as a cover, TWO!?!? Kaz survives the American Top Team screw job! Scorpio and Kaz sputter and rise, Scorpio gets the fireman’s carry! T K O!! Cover, Scorpio wins!

Winner: Scorpio Sky, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)

The Closer closes it out, but he didn’t even know what happened behind his back! Scorpio applauds for Kaz and wants Long Island to join in, but Kaz is pissed and so are the fans! Kaz points it out, Ethan and Lambert had something to do with this! Scorpio asks them if that’s true but they say not to trust Kaz! Fans chant for “S C U!” and Scorpio confronts Ethan! “YEAH, I DID IT, SKY! I DID IT FOR THE TEAM! I DID IT FOR YOU! SO WHICH FRICKIN’ TEAM ARE YOU ON?” Scorpio glares at Ethan, but then CLOBBERS Kaz?!?! Lambert says, “I love it when a plan comes together!” Was Sammy Guevara right all along?!

Lambert even confronts Sammy and his “whore house,” but Sammy gets a chair and rushes in! The Spanish God rushes the American Top Team off, but the damage has been done! RIP SCU once and for all, but will the Heavy Metal Rebel come back for revenge alongside Sammy of all people?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for AEW, and a great opening Six Man Tag. Death Triangle of course gets the win, and House of Black of course puts them on notice. That Six Man Tag is coming, probably at Double or Nothing as Fenix might end up losing to Kyle in the Owen Hart tournament. And that’s still pretty great for the feud, as a PPV blow-off will be more final than something on Dynamite. Spears VS Boulder was good stuff but it was clear Spears was going to win. I really hope the steel cage match with MJF as guest ref is so one-sided it just makes MJF look like the jackass he is. I mean, we know we’re getting MJF VS Wardlow at Double or Nothing, so why not?

Riho VS Soho was great stuff, but it felt a bit clear that Ruby was winning. I’m still betting on Britt making it to the finals and Ruby would be the logical choice to face her. A shame about Hikaru Shida not being able to compete, but what a great opportunity for Kris Statlander. We got a good promo from The Baddies to set it up, and Statlander VS Velvet is going to be great stuff. But with Ruby as a Face, I’m thinking Velvet finds a way to win for the classic Face VS Heel in the semifinals. Plus, it’d be very Heel of Velvet to have her new friends cheat for her.

Gunn Club and The Acclaimed had a hilarious segment together, and of course the Sons of Gunn could only think back to Degeneration X and Billy was shooting down those ideas. Given how Billy was favoring Caster & Bowens, I feel like the entire group is going to end up called “The Acclaimed” as he continues to favor them over his own sons. Then we got a great main event out of Scorpio VS Kaz. While I don’t really agree with the swerve they gave us, they did orchestrate it masterfully. We’re still getting a great tag match, but I would’ve preferred an SCU reunion VS Ethan and Sammy as a literal All Ego team, but seems AEW will insist on their plans, the same as WWE.

My Score: 8.5/10