AEW puts pedal to the metal with Road Rager 2022!

Before AEW brings back Blood & Guts, they bring back Road Rager! And before facing off at Forbidden Door, The Maniac and the Ace are face to face!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Hair VS Hair: Chris Jericho w/ The Jericho Appreciation Society VS Ortiz w/ Eddie Kingston; Jericho wins, Ortiz has his head shaved.
• 20v1 Handicap Elimination Match: Wardlow VS “The Plaintiffs”; Wardlow win.
• Dax Harwood VS Will Ospreay; Ospreay wins.
• AEW All-Atlantic Championship Qualifier: Ethan Page w/ Dan Lambert VS Miro; Miro wins and advances to The Forbidden Door.
• Britt Baker w/ Jamie Hayter & Rebel VS Toni Storm; Storm wins.
• AEW World Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: Jurassic Express VS The Young Bucks; The Young Bucks win and become the new AEW World Tag Team Champions.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hair VS Hair: Chris Jericho w/ The Jericho Appreciation Society VS Ortiz w/ Eddie Kingston!

The Wizard is flanked by “Red Death” Daniel Garcia, “Daddy Magic” Matthew Menard, “Cool Hand Ange” Angelo Parker, and “Rock Hard” Jake Hager while William Regal is on commentary. Will Regal revel in the “toss pot” getting his golden locks cut away? Or will Jericho take #TheIllest and make him #TheBaldest?

The moment Ortiz gets in the ring, he and Jericho throw hands! Ortiz throws headbutts, then the bell rings and Ortiz runs. Jericho CLOBBERS Ortiz, and LIONSAULTS onto knees! Ortiz gest moving and he LARAITS Jericho! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up while Jericho bails out. Ortiz goes out and fires off on Jericho. Ortiz BITES Jericho’s forehead, then CHOPS him! The JAS move aside as Ortiz whips Jericho into railing! Jericho ends up taking a seat, and fans fire up with Eddie as he coaches Ortiz on. Ortiz BITES Jericho, but stops as the ref reprimands. Ortiz sits Jericho in the barber’s chair and rains down fists! Fans count along, Ortiz gets all 10!

Jericho flops out of the chair and Ortiz drags Jericho up and into the ring. Jericho gets to a corner but Ortiz CHOPS him. Ortiz whips corner to corner, Jericho goes up and over, but Ortiz goes up and over in return. Ortiz SHOTGUNS Jericho down, covers, TWO! Ortiz BITES Jericho again! Fans cheer as Ortiz drags Jericho up. Jericho rakes the eyes and fans boo. Eddie coaches “Monkey” on, but Jericho throws hands. Ortiz headbutts! Jericho rakes Ortiz’s eyes, hoists him up top, and CHOPS! Ortiz wobbles, Jericho climbs up, and Jericho hits a- NOPE! The rana was blocked and turned into a POWERBOMB!

Ortiz puts Jericho in a drop zone, goes up, PLANKING SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Jericho bails out, Ortiz runs, but Jericho DECKS Ortiz before he can dive! Jericho brings Ortiz up on the apron, throws knees, then SUPLEXES ORTIZ TO THE FLOOR! The ref checks on both men while AEW goes picture in picture.

Ortiz and Jericho writhe, but Jericho is up first and in the ring. Eddie coaches Ortiz to get up and he rises, but Jericho shows off his hair as if to say he’s won already. Ortiz gets in, Jericho brings him up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex. Jericho has the cocky cover, TWO! Jericho flips off the haters and then makes like he can’t hear them. But Ortiz throws body shots! Jericho brings Ortiz up but Ortiz keeps throwing hands! Ortiz runs, but into a dropkick! Cover, TWO! Jericho is annoyed and he slaps Ortiz around. Jericho drags Ortiz up, throws him out, and the JAS attack while Jericho distracts the ref!

The ref sees something is up but the others let off. Eddie gets a chair to run them off! Ortiz gets back in the ring, but Jericho is after him to stalling suplex! He holds Ortiz up for five before the SLAM! Jericho flexes that wizard strength and then slaps Ortiz around. Ortiz gets mad, he gets up and he gets in Jericho’s face. Jericho slaps Ortiz, Ortiz SLAPS back! So Jericho pokes Ortiz in the eyes! The ref reprimands and fans boo as Road Rager returns to single picture. Jericho soaks up the cheers and jeers, then he drags Ortiz up. Jericho slaps him around more, but Ortiz CHOPS! And forearms! And CHOPS! And forearms again!

Jericho ducks a chop but not the LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down. Eddie and the fans rally up, Ortiz and Jericho stand. Jericho throws forearms, then a CHOP! Ortiz tears off his shirt to CHOP and forearm on repeat! Regal likes this and so do the fans! Ortiz fires off forearms in the corner, he whips Jericho corner to corner! Jericho BOOTS back, then hurries up top. But Ortiz SLAPS Jericho first, then hits a LONDON BRIDGE! Cover, TWO!! Ortiz is frustrated, but he gets up and whips Jericho into buckles! Then he CLUBS Jericho in the back and a suplex. Jericho slips free, rolls Ortiz, and wants the Walls!

Ortiz fights the turnover and gets Jericho for a cradle! TWO!! Jericho escapes, kicks low and suplexes, but Ortiz fights it. Ortiz wrenches, body shots and DDTs! Cover, TWO! Jericho is still in this and Regal gives Ortiz tips on how to pin. Ortiz BOOTS Jericho, then works to get his back loose. Ortiz goes up and SKY TWISTERS, but Jericho dodges! CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Jericho is shocked that Ortiz survives but St. Louis is fired up! Jericho drags Ortiz up, but Ortiz backslides him! TWO! Jericho stands up, into Ortiz’s RAN- NO! WALLS OF JERICHO! Fans are thunderous as Ortiz endures the submission!

Ortiz reaches, Eddie warns the JAS to leave the ropes alone! Ortiz crawls, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! But Parker swats at Ortiz so Eddie goes after the JAS!! They all brawl, 4 against 1! But wait, here come Wheeler Yuta and Santana! Now things are evened on the outside! Fans are fired up as the JAS are sent into railing! And then, while the ref is distracted with the chaos, Eddie gets in the ring! URAKEN FOR JERICHO!! Eddie slips away, Ortiz hurries to the cover! TWO?!? Jericho survives?! No one can believe it! Ortiz slaps sense into himself and he drags Jericho back up. Hager distracts but Eddie trips him up!

Jericho and Ortiz clinch, but FUEGO DEL SOL is here! And he CLOBBERS ORTIZ?!?! Fuego used Floyd the Baseball Bat to screw Ortiz! Jericho covers, Jericho wins!!

Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall (Ortiz loses his hair)

WHY, FUEGO, WHY!? Why is he siding with The Wizard?! Because it’s SAMMY! Sammy Guevara is back in the fold! Has the Jericho Appreciation Society only grown this much stronger with the Spanish God?

As for Ortiz, he must now face the consequences of this match. The barber walks over while fans chant “SAMMY SUCKS!” But Ortiz takes the clippers and scissors from the barber and lets his hair down. Eddie gets a mic while Ortiz is already cutting away his dreadlocks. Eddie tells Jericho that Ortiz is a man of his word. But guess what? This ain’t done! “Monkey, let them know!” Eddie holds the mic for Ortiz while he’s clipping, so that Ortiz can shout, “BLOOD AND GUTS! BLOOD AND GUTS! BLOOD AND GUTS!!” With two weeks left, we know who is behind the Mad King! Will the Jericho Appreciation Society survive?

20v1 Handicap Elimination Match: Wardlow VS “The Plaintiffs”!

For the first time perhaps anyway, the normal, everyday security guards of wrestling take a stand! They want retribution and damages paid, and they’ll settle for getting it in the ring! But will the 20 plaintiffs of this civil class action lawsuit end up on the defense against the Maestro of Mayhem?

The bell rings and Wardlow waits for someone to step up. But with 20 men, they take up the entire apron, five to a side! But when they all hesitate to get in, Wardlow goes after them! He BLASTS the ramp side, and they’re ELIMINATED! Wardlow then waits on the other 15. They all get in and swarm Wardlow! He fights, but gets crowded! He TOSSES them all away! Then he DECKS one, another tries to take him down with a leg pick, but Wardlow is just too big and strong! A third rushes in, Wardlow CLOBBERS him, then CLOBBERS a fourth! And a fifth! That guy from earlier? POWERBOMB outside the ring!!

How many are even left?! Mark Sterling is trying to figure that out as four get in the ring. The first one to rush Wardlow gets caught in a facelock, another runs in but Wardlow LARIATS him down! The guy stuck in the guillotine TAPS, so he’s ELIMINATED! And then Wardlow stands on the other for a cover, and ELIMINATES him! The rest rush in, Wardlow CLOBBERS one after another, then SPINEBUSTERS a third! And another SPINEBUSTER! He stacks four guys and covers them all, Wardlow ELIMINATES all four!! Well, just about everyone’s lost count, but one remaining guy gets in and he gets a kick, for a POWERBOMB!

Wardlow kicks and POWERBOMBS another! And then a third guy gets a POWERBOMB, too! And a FOURTH guy! Another triple stack, Wardlow ELIMINATES three! Sterling is furious, Wardlow runs over yet another man, and SPINEBUSTERS yet another! And then a POWERBOMB again! And here’s POWEBOMB NUMBER SIX!! Wardlow again stacks bodies, and ELIMINATES four! Wait, okay, the math comes in, and there’s roughly two men left? One gets in, Wardlow kicks low and gives him a POWERBOMB! The last guy gets in, he gets a POWERBOMB! Wait, there was one more, so the math was off. But the POWERBOMB is still working!

Oh, one more? Was it really only 20 guys or 25? POWERBOMB! And POWERBOMB onto the pile! Wait, there’s still one more! He leaps, Wardlow catches him, and pops him around to a POWERBOMB onto the pile!! Six stacked, six ELIMINATED! Wardlow wins!!

Winner: Wardlow (case dismissed)

Wardlow wins the case, but he wants after the lawyer! Wardlow puts Sterling in the ring but Sterling begs for mercy! Wait, Dan Lambert shouts from the cheap seats and says that Wardlow probably spends more time in the gym than he did in the classroom, so let’s make this simple. You mess with one member of American Top Team, and the rest of the team messes with him! Wardlow better watch over his shoulder, because they could be coming from the locker room, from the skybox, or even some legends in the front row right now. Matt Hughes, Tiger Woodley, take out the garbage! They do what Lambert tells them, but Wardlow gets a mic now.

“Hey, you boys are from St. Louis, right? I think as a fellow hardworking Midwesterner, I know you boys are smarter than to take orders from some rich a**hole up in the skybox.” Fans agree with that! Wardlow says they can fight if they want, but something tells Wardlow that they’re cut from the same cloth. Wardlow brings the straps down and Tiger feeds Sterling to Wardlow! Fans fire up as Wardlow gives “Smart Mark” a POWERBOMB!! Lambert and Scorpio are in disbelief, but will The Closer have to clutch that TNT Championship very closely? Or will he find #ThisIsWar?!

Dax Harwood VS Will Ospreay!

FTR are perhaps the greatest tag team in wrestling today as they are still dual ROH & AAA World Tag Team Champions. But the Commonwealth Kingpin is the dual Rev-Pro British Heavyweight and NEW IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion! Will Ospreay find a challenger worthy of facing him at Forbidden Door? Or will Dax the Ax show he’s already found one?

The bell rings and fans fire up already as these two stare down. Ospreay and Dax circle, fans fire up even more, and the two tie up. Ospreay arm-drags, does some push-ups to show off, but Dax keeps cool. They go again, Ospreay wrenches and wristlocks, but Dax rolls and spins to wrench and wristlock. Ospreay handsprings free right away and fans are dueling. Dax and Ospreay circle again, tie up, and Dax headlocks. Ospreay powers up and out, but Dax runs him over! Things keep moving, Ospreay hurdles but Dax is ready. Ospreay ducks and dodges to RANA! Dax is dizzy from that and fans fire up.

Ospreay drags Dax up, cranks the arm and grinds the shoulder. Dax endures, fights up and pulls hair. Dax puts Ospreay in a corner, Ospreay turns it around, but they both let off, only for Ospreay to CHOP! Ospreay tastes the sweetness, then CHOPS Dax again. Dax turns things around to CHOP right back! And CHOP again! Dax even hurt his own hand on that one. Fans fire up, Dax goes back for Ospreay and clamps onto his face. The ref counts, Dax turns Ospreay around to snap suplex! Leg drop, cover, ONE! Dax snarls, whips Ospreay to ropes and back drops him! Ospreay flops around and fans fire up. Dax covers, TWO!

Dax clamps on with a headlock and hits a takeover. Ospreay keeps his shoulders up, grabs for hair but Dax is bald. Fans rally and duel, Ospreay fights up to his feet, and he throws body shots to then JAWBREAKER free! Ospreay snarl, he whips Dax corner to corner. Ospreay runs in, but Dax throws him to the apron. Ospreay ROCKS Dax, and goes to suplex! Dax fights that to suplex, but Ospreay fights that. Ospreay throws big body shots, suplexes again but Dax slips off to be on the apron. Dax CHOPS and CHOPS and then has the cameraman move so he can APRON- NO, Ospreay slips off the suplex and trips Dax up!

Dax ends up in the apron skirt and one of his legs gets jammed up a bit. Dax gets free of the skirt but Ospreay SHOTGUNS him into the steel steps! Fans are stunned as AEW goes picture in picture.

Ospreay gets up, takes a moment to catch his breath and stretch his back before bringing Dax back up. Ospreay puts Dax in the ring, CHOPS him off his feet, then drops a knee on Dax’s head. Ospreay clamps onto Dax, and drives an elbow into his head! Dax staggers away to a corner, but he CHOPS back! Ospreay ROCKS Dax with a forearm, but Dax CHOPS! Ospreay DECKS Dax, then digs his boot into Dax at the corner. The ref counts, Ospreay lets off and taunts the fans. Dax slowly gets up, but Ospreay whips him corner to corner hard! Dax bounces off buckles, Ospreay covers, TWO! Ospreay is annoyed but he keeps after Dax.

Ospreay fishhooks Dax’s face, drags him up, but Dax throws body shots and forearms! Dax whips, Ospreay blocks the hip toss into a cobra twist! Dax endures, Ospreay stretches and thrashes him around, but Dax pries free to hip toss Ospreay down! Fans fire up while both men slowly get back up and Road Rager returns to single picture. Dax JABS, JABS, but Ospreay SOBATS! Ospreay whips, Dax reverses, Ospreay handsprings into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Dax holds on, to GERMAN SUPLEX again! And then a third GERMAN SUPLEX! Dax hits a FOURTH GERMAN, then a FIFITH! Fans fire up while both men are down again.

Fans give a standing ovation to “A E DUB!” as Dax gets himself to the corner. Dax climbs, but then Ospreay crawls. Dax hops down, goes after Ospreay, GERMAN SUPLEX! Ospreay lands high on his neck and shoulders but Dax hurries to a corner. Dax is up top, DIVING HEADBUTT FLOPS as Ospreay moves! Ospreay hurries to a corner, springboard 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Dax survives and fans say “This is Awesome!” Ospreay resets up top, but Dax ROCKS him first! Dax CHOPS Ospreay, CHOPS him again, but Ospreay throws hands! They brawl, Dax gets the edge and he CHOPS Ospreay to the apron!

Dax climbs up, he drags Ospreay up and back to the top! SUPER BACK SUPLEX CROSSBODY COUNTER! Cover, TWO and Dax cradles, TWO!! Ospreay kicks low, reels Dax in, and POWERBOMBS! But Dax rolls him through to a cover, TWO!!! Fans want them to “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this has to end somehow! Dax gets to the apron, fans give another ovation and Ospreay takes aim. Ospreay slingshots for a PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Dax! Ospreay puts Dax in, fans rally and duel as Ospreay climbs again. Dax is up, PIP PIP CHEERIO to the back! Cover, TWO?!? Dax survives and Ospreay snarls as he shakes his head.

Ospreay gathers power, calls his shot, but Dax reel shim in! Ospreay elbows free, tries again but Dax CLUBS him! And gets Ospreay up for a SLINGSHOT– NO, Ospreay slips out and ROUNDHOUSES! Dax wobbles, into an OS- NO! No Cutter! Electric Chair Lift, but then a spin and SLINGSHOT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives another hard fall and the fans give yet another standing ovation! A standing count starts, both men sit up and give each other Junkyard Dog headbutts! They stand up, and the forearms start flying! Fans fire up as Dax gets the edge and EuroUppers! Ospreay roars but Dax JABS! HOOK KICK!!

Ospreay whips, Dax reverses to wrench and LARIAT! Dax snarls and he throws off his elbow pads. Dax drags Ospreay up, reels him in, but Ospreay slips around to SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dax survives but Ospreay just runs, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Dax survives again, but Ospreay arms his special weapon! HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, Ospreay wins!!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall

The Ax got cut down by Ospreay’s Hidden Blade, and the rest of the United Empire, from Aussie Open to the NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan, get in the ring to get in Dax’s face. But here comes CASH! He fights off Khan and Cobb, and ROCKY ROMERO is here to get after Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis! Trent, too! But the Empire still has numbers advantage, and are in better shape after everything that just happened. So here comes ORANGE CASSIDY! Freshly Squeezed is back at 100%, and moves as slowly as always. Ospreay stares at Cassidy as Cassidy gets in the ring.

Cassidy walks around Ospreay, and then they stare down. Cassidy has FTR and Roppongi Vice backing him up, so the Empire stands down. Is this a 10 Man Tag we’re about to see at Forbidden Door? Or will Cassidy take Ospreay on for that US Championship while everyone else fights for the tag titles?

AEW looks closer at Jon Moxley VS Hiroshi Tanahashi.

The Maniac says, “I’ve been big game hunting NJPW, I’ve been going after the biggest, the baddest. Naito, Nagata, Suzuki, Ishii. I’ve been going after them all. And the last one, the biggest one that I’ve been looking for for two, three years: Tanahashi.” Kevin Kelly of NJPW commentary says that Moxley called out Tanahashi for “ducking him” these three years. Tony Schiavone adds that Moxley VS Tanahashi isn’t just about the Interim AEW World Championship, this is about two guys who have been on a collision course. Good ol’ JR says that Forbidden Door comes with a lot of intrigue because AEW doesn’t have a health champion.

Moxley says there’s no more running or hiding. He is the best wrestler on the planet, he IS the Forbidden Door! But what will The Ace have to say in response? We’ll see, after the break!

Jon Moxley heads to the ring!

AEW’s Wild Thing enters from the crowd and St. Louis goes wild for him. But then here comes The Once in a Century Talent, Hiroshi Tanahashi! The two get face to face and fans already lose their minds over how great this is. Moxley has a mic to tell Tanahashi, “I’ve been chasing you for a long, long time, my man. And now, finally, here you are in all your glory. Hiroshi Tanahashi! I chased you across Japan on bullet trains, I chased you across the Pacific on NJPW Strong, wrestling Kenta in an empty warehouse. All that time, all that work from day one with NJPW, it’s always been about you, Tanahashi.”

Moxley says there are a lot of championships in this business, a lot of belts, titles, tournaments, but there is only one man who they call The Ace, and that’s Tanahashi! “But not for long.” Fans chant for “TANAHASHI!” but Moxley says, “The man deserves his respect, he’s an inspiration to generations, he’s an inspiration to me. They call you Ace, but not for long! Because it is a fact, it is not a catchphrase when I tell you I am the best professional wrestler on this planet. A lot of people are just pretending, I live it night in and night out!” Fans cheer in agreement with that.

Moxley continues to say, “There’s a hell of a lot more on the line at Forbidden Door on June 26th than that AEW World Championship belt. There’s a hell of a lot more on the line. Everything is on the line for me. Everything I’ve worked for for three years. Everything I have blood, sweat and tears, given them for. Everything that I tried to force myself into for three years to become, it is all on the line.” Mox knows that for Tanahashi, his busted neck, his busted knees, his health and everything he is is on the line, too, because Moxley palsy for keeps. “When the dust settles at Forbidden Door, Tanahashi-san, you are gonna call me, ‘Ace.'”

Tanahashi gets the mic but then Jericho has to interrupt! The JAS walk back out, Tay Conti now with Sammy, perhaps another new member of the group. Jericho has the music cut, and Jericho says, “Let’s be honest, Mox. The only reason that you’re standing in that ring is because I wasn’t here last week. This is my spot and you know it! And if you don’t walk away right now, instead of spiking you in the eye, maybe I’ll burn your face with a fireball! Because I’m a wizard! And Tanahashi, the last time I saw you, I had just beaten you two years ago in the main event of the Tokyo Dome!”

But then Tanahashi speaks up! “Jericho! SHUT UP!” Oh, shut up? Really? GET ‘EM, BOYS! GO! The rest of the JAS rushes out now, they’re going at the ring! But wait, not just them! LANCE ARCHER slides in from behind and he DECKS Moxley! And EL DESPERADO is here, too!? He tackles Tanahashi and Garcia helps him stomp Tanahashi out! The JAS and Suzuki-Gun are oddly working together here! Fans boo but Jericho grins as he and SamTay join all this. Jericho introduces the “newest members” of the JAS in Sammy and Tay, and now they are Los Tres Sex Gods! Hell, SamTay will have sex any time, right? They make out right now!

And then Jericho formally introduces the Murderhawk Monster, Lance Archer, and the Rogue Luchador, El Desperado. Why are they here? Because they’re on loan from Minoru Suzuki himself, who by virtue of Tony Khan, will be teaming for the first time ever with Chris Jericho at Forbidden Door! Jericho, Suzuki & Sammy VS “Mox’s little bitch boy,” Wheeler Yuta, his other NJPW Young Boy, Shota Umino- Oh, fans like him? Well don’t forget the time Jericho beat him up at the Tokyo Dome, as well as his stupid father, referee Red Shoes!

So as Jericho was saying, it is him, Suzuki & Sammy VS Yuta, Shota, and because Jericho can’t wait to get his hands on this guy again, EDDIE KINGSTON! Wait, speaking of, here comes Eddie! He leads Yuta, Santana, and a fully shaven Ortiz in retaliation for earlier! The extended Blackpool Combat Club clears the ring of JAS and Suzuki-Gun! PARADIGM SHIFT for Menard! SLINGBLADE for Desperado! And that leaves Ace and Maniac in the ring alone! Will these two tear the house down at Forbidden Door? Will Moxley bring that interim title to Blood & Guts just days after?

AEW hears from Darby Allin and reDRagon, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly.

The Relentless One tells Kyle O’Reilly, “you took out the one person in this company that’s like family to me.” Kyle says it sounds a little sick, but his mind just keeps going back to that sound of Sting’s ankle bone snapping, and it’s euphoric to me. Darby says he’ll do the same back to Kyle. Darby wants to break Kyle’s leg! Fish tells Darby to get his make-up done just right, get the nails done just right, and jump his stupid ass on that skateboard to bring him their way. Fish promises that Darby will not be happy with how this goes. But Darby says that this Friday on Rampage, they’ll watch Darby break Fish’s leg first. Will Darby find a way to slay the reDRagon all by himself?

Backstage interview with Toni Storm.

Tony Schiavone knows Storm is facing Britt Baker later on, and Storm tells “Brittney” that being a dentist means she knows things because she’s a smart woman. But Storm dropped out of school at 15 and even she isn’t stupid enough to play the games Britt plays. “We’ve all seen you. We’ve all seen what you bring to the table, Britt. But right here, this is the skillset of a champion. This is the criteria of a world champion. This is what it’s gonna be. And I’m gonna take the Women’s Division to where it should be. We’ve all seen the DMD. Oh, we’ve all seen it. But what we want to see, is Toni Storm, world champ.” Will the Lightning From Down Under strike down and shut up The Doctor once and for all?

AEW All-Atlantic Championship Qualifier: Ethan Page w/ Dan Lambert VS Miro!

All Ego doesn’t care about the Redeemer’s beliefs or his new mission in life. All Ego only cares about All Ego, and that brand new All-Atlantic title. Will O Canada echo through the night as Ethan steps towards the Forbidden Door? Or will everyone be shouting “GAME OVER” instead?

The bell rings and fans are fired up already, chanting for “MIRO! MIRO!” But then Ethan bails out to slow things down. Lambert says that’s smart, and he talks strategy with him. Ethan gets back up and in, fans still rally for “Let’s Go, Miro!” Miro and Ethan circle, but then Ethan bails right back out. The trolling strategy continues, but Miro gives chase! Ethan gets in, CLUBS and stomps Miro, and CLUBS and CLUBS and CLUBS him! Ethan lets off, but Miro blocks the kick. Ethan avoids the lariat to fire off KICKS to the leg, then a KICK to the arm! Ethan bumps Miro off buckles, wraps the arm around ropes and pulls!

The ref counts, Ethan lets off at 4, or maybe 4.5, and then he wrenches Miro’s bad arm to RAM shoulders. Ethan wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER, and another! Ethan RAMS shoulders with Miro, goes for a double wristlock but fans rally and Miro holds it off. Ethan knees Miro low, but Miro reverses the whip and CLOBBERS Ethan on the return! Fans fire up but Miro’s bad arm is hurting. Miro just gets angry, and he stomps Ethan’s arm! And SLAMS it down, then stomps it again! Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, arm for an arm! Miro drags Ethan up, steps over to hip drop on the shoulder, then he wrenches to CLUB away on Ethan’s arm!

Fans fire up as Miro gives hammer after hammer, then he POSTS Ethan! Ethan flops out to the floor but Lambert coaches him up while AEW goes picture in picture.

Miro shakes out the bad arm while Ethan slowly gets up. Miro goes out and he ROCKS Ethan! Miro then RAMS Ethan into railing! Fans fire up while Miro stalks Ethan. Miro drags Ethan up, ROCKS him with a haymaker, then brings him around to put back in the ring. Ethan hurries away to a corner, and Lambert barks at Miro. Miro just glares at Lambert, runs in at Ethan, but into a BOOT! Ethan runs, ducks and dodges and BOOTS Miro down! Miro ends up on the ropes, Ethan pretends his arm is hurting, but Lambert doesn’t try a cheap shot. Hard to say if that’s from being wise or being afraid.

Either way, Ethan CHOKES Miro on the ropes now! The ref counts, Ethan lets off, and he argues with the ref. Now Lambert gets his cheap shot in! Lambert flexes like he did something impressive, and he fist bumps Ethan. But Ethan turns around into a DROPKICK! Both men are down but Miro hurries to cover, TWO! Miro snarls, and he goes out after Lambert! Lambert scurries away, but Ethan is on the apron! Ethan leaps to FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE Miro down! Ethan gets up to shout, “I’M THE MAN!” and then give a big grin to the camera. But Miro RAMS Ethan into railing! And again!

Miro seethes as he puts Ethan in the ring. Miro storms right up to Ethan, whips him to ropes, but Ethan kicks back! Ethan runs, into a SAMOAN DROP! Road Rager returns to single picture and fans fire up for Miro. Ethan gets to the apron and Lambert tries to keep confident, but Miro drags Ethan up against the ropes. Fans fire up as Miro gives a shout out to an old friend! BEATS OF THE BULGARIAN BODHRAIN! Miro gets nine, but Ethan HOTSHOTS the arm! Miro DECKS Ethan for the tenth shot, and then hurries out after him. But Ethan RAMS Miro into steel steps! And SMACKS him off them, too! And then POUNCES him back into the steps!

Miro is down, clutching the bad shoulder. Ethan drags Miro up and into the ring, then he climbs a corner! Miro stands, Ethan leaps, FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE again! Cover, ONE!! Miro shocks Ethan, but Ethan hurries to the apron. Ethan mocks the prayers, STEP-IN CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Miro survives and Ethan argues with the ref, but the count is the count. Fans rally up as Ethan looms over Miro. Ethan gets Miro’s arms and shouts, “I’m gonna make you pray to me!” Ethan makes Miro put his hands together and demands Miro pray to him! Miro just laughs, and he turns the wristlocks around on Ethan! Miro is furious and he HEADBUTTS, into the BELLY2BELLY!

Miro then gets Ethan up, another Belly2Belly! Fans fire up, Miro SPLASHES in the corner, then WHEEL KICKS! Fans fire up with Miro as he storms around. Lambert is freaking out as Miro aims from a corner. Lambert gets on the apron, Miro DECKS him! And then BEST KICK to Ethan! Miro is snarling as he shouts, “GAAAME~! OVEEER~!” And the GAME OVER CAMEL CLUTCH!! Ethan taps, Miro wins!

Winner: Miro, by submission (advances to Forbidden Door)

All Ego feels Miro’s wrath, and it is Miro who is redeemed! Miro joins The Bastard, Pac, in the All-Atlantic Championship Fatal 4 Way! Will it be Penta Oscuro or Malakai Black that joins them? And who from NJPW’s own mini-tournament will win that golden ticket to Chicago? We see who embarks on the New Japan Road this weekend with the first round!

Matt Sydal & Dante Martin speak.

Angel Dorado starts by saying, “This week on Rampage, I go one-on-one with Jon Moxley. A lot of people are looking at this as a ‘potential’ victory. Well, I am sick and tired of hearing the word, ‘potential,’ because that is all I’ve been labeled as.” The mentor, Sydal, says, “It’s not about Dante’s potential, it’s about time everybody caught up.” Dante says, “When stars like Moxley go down, it is going to be people like me who take his spot. So this Friday on Rampage, a new star is going to be born, and that star is Inhuman.” Sydal tells Moxley, meet the #Inhuman, Dante Martin.

Britt Baker w/ Jamie Hayter & Rebel VS Toni Storm!

It’s a rematch from the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semifinals, and now it’s about going after THE AEW Women’s World Championship! Will “The Queen of Harts” win this rematch to get another rematch with Thunder Rosa? Or will it finally be #ToniTime?

The bell rings and the two rush each other! Storm dodges, the forearms start flying, and it’s a scrap! Fans fire up, Storm DECKS Britt and Britt bails out! Storm chases after Britt and ROCKS her! Britt hits back and then POSTS Storm! The ring count is climbing as Hayter and Rebel creep over. The ref warns them to leave Storm alone. Hayter backs off, but Britt CLOBBERS Storm! Britt refreshes the count, fans rally and duel, and Britt puts Storm in. But then Storm trips Britt up! Storm CHOPS Britt, puts her back in, and then climbs up a corner. Britt stands, turns around, and Storm CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!

Storm is annoyed, especially with Rebel on the apron. Storm focuses on Britt and runs the ropes, only for Hayter to trip her up! Hayter YANKS Storm out of the ring, but here comes Thunder Rosa! La Mera Mera pushes past Rebel and gets in Hayter’s face! Hayter runs, Rosa chases her, and Britt is down a sidekick as AEW goes picture in picture!

Britt puts Storm in the ring, Storm goes to a corner, and Britt stomps away on her! The ref counts, Britt lets off and drags Storm up. Britt ROCKS Storm, runs, and SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Britt wants a faster count, but then she clamps onto Storm with a seated cobra twist. Storm endures, fights up, and pulls Britt down into headbutts! Britt throws Storm down by her hair! Britt cravats for a neck wrench and she throws in knees. Storm falls over and Britt spells, “D M D” to the camera. Britt then brings Storm up and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Britt drags Storm up, underhooks, and BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO!

Storm gets to a corner, Britt taunts the Storm fans and then drags Storm up to throw forearms! Storm turns things around to fire off haymakers! The ref counts, Britt kicks Storm low! Britt drags Storm up and CHOKES her in the corner! The ref counts, Britt lets off, and Britt whips Storm out to send her back in! Britt stomps away on Storm, the ref counts and Britt trips Storm to dig her boots in! The ref counts again, Britt lets off, but she’s wary of Storm kicking at her from below. Road Rager returns to single picture as Britt stomps and digs her boots in again. The ref counts but Britt lets off, and Storm ends up on the apron.

Britt drags Storm back in and covers her, ROPEBREAK! Britt stands Storm up to ROCK her in the corner, then she runs in, into a wrench and TORNADO DDT! Britt bails out of the ring while Rebel freaks out, and Storm goes to the apron! ANOTHER TORNADO DDT, and to the floor! Fans fire up, Storm puts Britt back in, but she’s slow to returning. Britt gets away to Rebel but Storm GERMAN SUPLEXES her! Britt’s glove goes flying! Storm and the fans fire up, and Storm runs in at the corner to HIP ATTACK! Storm wants after Britt but Britt clings to the ropes and pushes her away. That high speed hip might’ve legit rocked Britt.

The ref checks on Britt but Storm doesn’t let off. Storm drags Britt up, throws a forearm and Britt falls to a knee. Storm wants to reel Britt in, but Britt flops back down. The ref and Storm aren’t sure what to make of this, but then Britt claws Storm’s face!! Cradle, TWO!! Britt hurries to get Storm up, FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Britt’s sneaky tactics didn’t work so she gets the glove! Fans spell along, “D M D!” But Storm slips around Britt to GERMAN SUPLEX! And then the tuck, SPIKE PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Storm wins!!

Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall

The Storm finally strikes Britt down! And Rosa returns, her AEW Women’s World Championship in hand. Rosa raises the belt, and she points at Storm with a smile. When and where will we see Thunder and Lightning clash?

Backstage interview with Stokely Hathaway.

Tony Schiavone is with the publicist for Jade Cargill & The Baddies, and he has “breaking news” for Rampage. “The TBS Champion has issued an open challenge, I will be making my commentary debut. Yes, I will be getting two paychecks in one night, which is why I’m the best at what I do.” But OMG, Willow Nightingale walks in and YES! Yes to what? Stokely knows why she’s here. He loves the look, loves the outfit, he remembers having an afro back in the day. Willow oughta be a Baddie! Willow is honored, but she doesn’t want to be a Baddie. Does he not remember? They worked together so many times in the past.

But it makes sense Stokely doesn’t remember. He’s so far so focused on everyone else, chasing their success, clapping for them and what they’re doing while Willow is trying to prove herself. So on Rampage, WILLOW accepts the open challenge! Well, with all due disrespect, that’s crazy as hell! But sure, see you on Friday. Will Willow prove she is championship material as the one in 33-1? Or will she just be another guest on #ThatBitchShow?

Hangman Page is here!

St. Louis fires up for The Cowboy and his pyro as he heads to the ring. Fans already chant for “COWBOY SH*T!” while Hangman gets a mic. Hangman says, “With Forbidden Door just around the corner, just last week, I called my shot. And I said I wanted a match with Kazuchika Okada. And I didn’t just want the match with Okada, I wanted to challenge him for his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. And well, as a self-professed occasional dumbass, I didn’t take into account that by Forbidden Door, he may not still be champion. And lo and behold, this weekend, Okada lost that championship. Funny life. But the sentiment has not changed. And the challenge still stands! Because at Forbidden Door, there-”

But Adam Page is interrupted by Adam Cole, telling him, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You really are a stupid cowboy, aren’t ya?” Hangman sighs and facepalms while Cole says, “First of all, a huge congratulations to the NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, my good friend, Jay White. Secondly, I don’t know why I have to keep repeating myself, but Page, you will NOT challenge for that championship at Forbidden Door. And if anyone’s gonna challenge for it, it’s gonna be me! Because Forbidden Door is not about AEW. Hell, it’s not even about NJPW. Forbidden Door is about The Undisputed Elite. Forbidden Door is about the Bullet Club.

“And the best way to showcase that event and that championship is Adam Cole BAYBAY VS Jay White. And speaking of Forbidden Door, Okada, he’s not even gonna be there! But there is someone here tonight who would love to come out and say hello.” It’s JAY WHITE HIMSELF! But not from the ramp! White sneaks in from the crowd side and he gets in the ring! BLADERUNNER for Hangman!! Cole applauds the Switchblade, and White says, “Uh-uh, uh-uh. I am Switchblade, Jay White. I am the Catalyst of Professional Wrestling. I am the IWGP, WORLD! HEAVYWEIGHT! CHAMPION!

“So Hangman, what makes you think that you call the shots? Because you couldn’t beat CM Punk? Because you lost your AEW World Championship? Oh, and hey buddy, our singles record? 2-0 to the Switchblade.” So if White’s going to put HIS title on the at Forbidden Door, it won’t be against Hangman. Cole says there it is! Undisputed Elite and Bullet Club, baby! Right? Uh, no. It won’t be Cole, either. Oh… White says he holds the prize, so he holds the power! This here means that the WORLD now breathes with the Switchblade, because this is the Switchblade Era! Cole tries to get White to reconsider, but with time running out, who will White choose from AEW over him?

Just made for Forbidden Door!

After the confrontation earlier tonight, Orange Cassidy WILL challenge Will Ospreay for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship! Will Freshly Squeezed get serious and get some gold? Or will the Commonwealth Kingpin slice him up with that Hidden Blade?

And after clearing Britt Baker out of the way, Toni Storm gets her AEW Women’s World Championship match with Thunder Rosa in Chicago! Will the winds of change blow and help the Lightning From Down Under strike gold? Or will La Mera Mera ride out the storm and retain her title?

AEW World Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: Jurassic Express VS The Young Bucks!

Well, things being what they are, the Triple Threat is now down to 2v2. But that doesn’t change that Captain Charisma dragged Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus into this situation. Will the champions fail to bring the belts back down? Or will they be able to survive the Superkick Party in St. Louis?

The introductions are made, the belts are already raised high above, and we see who literally rises above the competition to be the best in AEW!

The bell rings and fans fire up as all four men look to the titles above them. Then Matt TACKLES JB and Luchasaurus TOSSES Nick! Luchasaurus fires off fast hands, Matt helps Nick and they mug the dino-man. They double whip but he busts the clothesline to DOUBLE LARIAT The Bucks! Luchasaurus hurries outside to fetch a ladder, but Matt WRECKS him with a dropkick! Luchasaurus hits railing and falls down, and Matt takes the ladder for his own. But JB DIVES into Matt and sends him into railing! JB hurries inside while Nick gets the ladder. Nick intercepts JB, CHOPS him, then knuckle locks and goes up the ropes to “LUCHA LIBRE~” to the ladder!

But JB stops Nick from doing anything more with a CHOP! JB goes up the ropes now, and he jumps to SUPER RANA Nick off the ladder! Fans are thunderous while Nick tumbles out, and JB hurries to position the ladder under the belts! JB climbs, but Matt gets in and yanks him down. Matt ROCKS JB, whips him to ropes, but JB ducks and goes up the ladder! Matt hurries after him, they brawl at the top, but Nick returns. JB SMACKS Matt off the ladder, but Matt gives Nick a boost to DECK JB! Nick climbs but Luchasaurus choke grips him! Luchasaurus choke grips Matt, too, while dragging Nick down!

The Bucks break free to mule kick, ROUNDHOUSE, and then take the ladder down. The Bucks coordinate, they run at Luchasaurus but he handsprings under! And BOOTS the ladder out of their hands! Luchasaurus gives JB a boost via wheelbarrow to COMPLETE SHOT Matt! Nick BOOTS Luchasaurus, puts JB on the apron, but JB ENZIGURIS and Luchasaurus scoops! JB goes up, ELBOW DROP SIDEWALK SLAM COMBO! Fans fire up, Jurassic Express set a ladder up, and they both climb. Nick and Matt drag them each down, Matt smacks JB off buckles, then helps Nick with Luchasaurus. The Bucks CLUB, shove and mule kick the legs, and Luchasaurus smacks off rungs!

The Bucks reset the ladder, putting it in a corner. Matt brings JB up, he and Nick double whip, but JB runs up the ladder, to the ropes, DOUBLE CROSSBODY! JB puts Nick outside and Nick smacks off apron! JB elbows Matt away, goes up and leaps, into a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Matt starts up the Polar Express, and he goes on to NORTHERN LIGHTS JB onto the ladder!! JB writhes and Nick goes up the ladder to TORNILLO onto Luchasaurus! Fans are thunderous again as Matt drags JB over and Nick positions a table. The Bucks bring JB up, but Luchasaurus saves JB from the double suplex! Luchasaurus DECKS Matt and JB suplexes Nick into the ring!

JB runs and gets a boost to RANA Matt off the apron and through the table!! Fans lose their minds as Matt is down in the wreckage! JB gets back in, Luchasaurus gives him another boost, but Nick turns rana into POWERBOMB off the apron and through a table!!! JB is down in wreckage and fans lose their minds all over again! Nick shoulders into Luchasaurus, slingshots up, but into a choke grip! But Nick fights free to CANADIAN DESTROYER!! Luchasaurus flops out, Nick goes out to PENALTY KICK from the apron! Nick hurries up the corner, Luchasaurus is on a table… SUPER 450 THROUGH A TABLE!!!

AEW goes picture in picture while all four men are down in table debris! The referees check them all, and somehow they’re all okay to continue! Matt hobbles up, as does Nick, and while Matt gets in the ring, Nick fetches JB. Matt sets the ladder up against ropes now, and he fetches JB. Matt sets JB on the ladder and then holds the whole thing up. Nick is climbing the corner, DRAPING SWANTON on the ladder! JB writhes but the Bucks move on to fetch even more tables! They have a huge table drop zone by the ramp, and double stack it! Matt and Nick get back in the ring, and Matt hobbles over to JB. JB kicks from below but Matt stomps him down.

Matt drags JB up, Nick runs in, SHINING WIZARD! Then BULLDOG DROPKICK COMBO! The Bucks soak up the cheers and Nick does his Macho Man. Matt then points a la the Outsiders over to the table tower they made. The Bucks drag JB up, and they double trophy lift as Road Rager returns to single picture. But JB avoids the lawn dart, dodges Nick and he fires off forearms and elbows! JB blocks Nick’s superkick to throw it into Matt! Then SUPERKICKS Nick! JB springboards to QUEBRADA INTO DOUBLE SUPERKICKS!! The Bucks hurry as Luchasaurus gets in, but he handsprings under the kicks!

Matt ducks as Luchasaurus TAIL WHIPS, and Nick takes the hit! ROUNDHOUSE for Matt, then choke grip and CHOKE SLAM! Choke grip for Nick, CHOKE SLAM onto the ladder!! The Bucks bail out, Luchasaurus goes to the apron to MOONSAULT! Direct hit on both Bucks and fans fire up! Luchasaurus gets back to his feet, brings another ladder into this, and he pushes that to center. Luchasaurus stands the ladder up, puts it under the belts, but Matt stops him from climbing. Matt jumps on for a SLEEPER, but Luchasaurus still climbs!? The refs brace the ladder, that’s nice of them. JB returns, he has a smaller ladder, and he CLUBS Matt on the back with it!

Matt drops off Luchasaurus, clipping the other ladder on the way down. JB sets up the short ladder next to the tall ladder, but Matt hurries after him. Matt and JB brawl while reaching, but Luchasaurus CHOPS Matt on the back! Nick springboards to get onto the taller ladder with Luchasaurus! There’s brawling all over, reaching up for the belt, too, and now it’s just a fight! Fans are thunderous as Luchasaurus JABS Matt, and Matt punches JB! JB CHOPS Nick! Matt SMACKS JB’s head off the top of the ladder and down he goes! Luchasaurus HEADBUTTS Nick, down he goes! Luchasaurus HEADBUTTS Matt, and now Luchasaurus is all alone!

Luchasaurus reaches out, but the Bucks grab his legs! They drag Luchasaurus down and then DOUBLE POWERBOMB Luchasaurus onto the leaning ladder!! JB returns, but Nick SUPERKICKS him! Then POISON-RANAS him down! Matt puts Luchasaurus back on a table, throws down hands, then he returns to the ring. Nick moves the one ladder aside and Matt climbs up the corner. Matt tells Luchasaurus this is it! MACHO ELBOW through the table!! Another table is wrecked, and Nick climbs up the ladder. Nick reaches out, but JB drags him back down! JB gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX!

Matt hurries back in, he and JB are both crawling for the ladders. It’s a race, but JB chose the short one. So JB drags Matt back down, only to get a shoe! Matt hurries up the rungs but JB chases him down! JB CLUBS Matt, brings him back, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! JB tries again but Nick climbs up, too. They fight near the top, Matt returns and he CLUBS JB. JB CLUBS the Bucks back, Nick then Matt and repeat. JB CHOPS and CHOPS, but Matt blocks! Matt has one arm, Nick gets the other! The Bucks climb up higher, SKYSCRAPER B T E- NO!! JB tips the ladder with a kick, and the Bucks go falling down!

The Bucks HOTSHOT off the ropes, and they stagger into the other ladder! That ladder tips and JB falls into a HOTSHOT! They’re all down, but Luchasaurus returns! Fans fire up as Luchasaurus hurries to get the taller ladder back up! Luchasaurus climbs, reaches, but the Bucks return again! They push the ladder over, and Luchasaurus fall through the table tower!!! Even the Bucks are shocked seeing that! But JB is back, and he has hold of the shorter ladder. JB CHUCKS the ladder at Nick then fires off haymakers on Matt! JB CHOPS Nick while he’s trapped between ladders, then hurries to climb! But the Bucks stop him again!

The Bucks bring JB down into a FLAPJACK, then B T E TRIGGER!! The Bucks reset the tallest ladder, and they both climb together. The Bucks bring the belts down together, they win!

Winners: The Young Bucks (NEW AEW World Tag Team Championships)

Nick and Matt, bloody and bruised, are the first-ever TWO-TIME AEW World Tag Team Champions!! Christian Cage checks on his guys, perhaps feeling responsible for this loss. Will Jurassic Express be able to get back on track after being derailed like this? Will the Bucks look to make this reign bigger and better than the first?

Christian gets in the ring and checks on JB now. JB is up, but he needs Christian and Doc Samson to help him to the ropes. But then Christian pulls JB into a KILLSWITCH!!!! Christian shouts something at JB while the fans lose their minds! Christian then goes out of the ring and under the to bring out chairs! Christian swings at the refs and they back off, and Christian gets in the ring. He puts JB’s head on one chair, is armed with the other, CON-CHAIR-TO!!! Christian then sits by his former protégé, apparently disappointed in him. Christian takes off his jacket and lays it over JB like he’s dead and buried. Fans call Christian an A-Hole, but he doesn’t care.

Even after AEW officially goes off the air, Christian stays in the ring. He takes his jacket back to say he told JB this would happen, and that they should’ve listened to him. Christian then goes to JB’s mother and sister, but they flip him off and tell him to GTFO. Christian tells them they raised a POS, but happy birthday anyway. Has Captain Charisma just crushed the career of Jungle Boy? Or can JB make a comeback and avenge this betrayal?

My Thoughts:

What an awesome night for AEW! Road Rager made for a great event that propelled a lot of things towards Forbidden Door and Blood & Guts 2022. The Hair VS Hair was a great opener, and of course the JAS got involved. Great to see what will surely be the Blood & Guts team fight them, but also a very clever twist for Sammy to be disguised as Fuego. Sammy rejoining Jericho’s team and bringing Tay along feels like a fallback plan since they wrote Sammy out of the TNT Championship picture for now. At the same time, Sammy and Garcia being in the same faction oddly feels redundant, and there’s just so much about Daniel Garcia that says he should join Blackpool Combat Club, so that he can be a “pro-wrestler,” not a “sports entertainer.”

Jericho and the JAS interrupting Moxley and Tanahashi was a bit of a surprise but it also makes sense with everything they’re building to. And I like that we’re getting a team-up of JAS & Suzuki-Gun to take on the extended BCC family. With that match essentially being the go-home to Blood & Guts though on the Forbidden Door PPV, it could go either way and hint at who is winning Blood & Guts. As for Moxley and Tanahashi, they both stand tall so they both have momentum, but I’m still leaning towards Moxley winning. Interim or not, someone in AEW is having the AEW World Championship to await CM Punk’s return.

I said it last week and I was proven right: Wardlow VS 20 jobbers was the biggest and best squash match in wrestling history. Granted, I lost count because I think the announcement of eliminations was early. Those five guys at the start came back around and got eliminated later. But either way, of course Wardlow wins, and with Lambert calling him out, it is obvious we’re getting Wardlow VS Scorpio for the TNT Championship. Hard to call that one, but fans would love for Wardlow to win. Ethan VS Miro was great stuff, too, but as I figured, Miro wins to go on to Forbidden Door. And as I said before, it is basically Miro’s to win because he’s returning, and because other things cancel out.

Dax VS Ospreay was an amazing match, and it was basically happening just because! There will be more between the United Empire and the extended Best Friends faction, and it is great that we’re getting Ospreay VS Cassidy for the US title. And we’re getting much, much closer to seeing the various tag titles on the line, between the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles and the ROH World Tag titles. Really good promos from Darby and reDRagon, I would think Darby beats Fish to then get a rematch with Kyle. Good promo from Dante and Sydal to hype up Dante VS Moxley, but I would think Moxley wins to get more momentum towards Forbidden Door. And very good segment between Stokely and Willow to set up Willow VS Jade, though I don’t see Willow winning.

Great segment from Hangman, Cole and Jay White. It makes a lot of sense that Hangman wants the title more than a specific opponent, and of course Cole and White are going to tell him, “No.” But that only foreshadows that Hangman will force them to give him the match, and maybe Cole can default to facing Okada. Cole is apparently resting up from some injuries, so that’s why he’s only been running Hangman down verbally and we’re not getting Adam VS Adam III to face the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. And Okada having his name mentioned could motivate him to show up and have a match on the Forbidden Door card.

And of course, we got an awesome main event. They didn’t mention anything on air but those in the know already know Jeff Hardy is in trouble with alcoholism again. A damn shame, and I hope he finally breaks through that addiction. But what we got out of Jurassic Express VS Young Bucks was still incredible, PPV level stuff. Holy crap, Luchasaurus crashing through that double decker of tables. And the Young Bucks winning makes a lot of sense, this seemed like the right time to shift gears in the tag division. And apparently it was also the perfect moment for Christian to betray JB, holy crap that was wild stuff. This could give JB some time off, and then he’ll have an amazing return as he goes for revenge on Christian.

My Score: 9.5/10