Will tonight be #PERFECT10N?

Battle of the Belts returns, and Shawn Spears looks to bring back The Chair Man! Will he be able to take the TNT Championship from Luchasaurus?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW International Championships: Orange Cassidy VS Lance Archer w/ Jake The Snake Roberts; Cassidy wins and retains the title.
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm w/ The Outcasts VS Taya Valkyrie; Storm wins and retains the title.
• AEW TNT Championship: Luchasaurus w/ Christian Cage VS Shawn Spears; Luchasaurus wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

BOTB continues where Collision left off.

That means Absolute Ricky Starks heads up the ramp and to the stage, Punk in disbelief. Jushin Thunder Liger is here, he presents the cup to Starks, but Starks just kinda snatches it away! No handshake or even a hi for the legend, is this the real Ricky Starks shining through?

AEW International Championships: Orange Cassidy VS Lance Archer w/ Jake The Snake Roberts!

Freshly Squeezed has been a fighting champion, but he might be fighting for his life here tonight! Will Cassidy keep hold of the gold he’s become synonymous with? Or will the Murderhawk Monster remind him that #EverybodyDies?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who leaves Calgary with the gold!

Archer shoves Cassidy down and rushes in at the corner! Cassidy dodges, and he fires off kicks! Cassidy throws a body shot, but his bad hand gets hurt more than Archer’s gut! And then Archer DECKS Cassidy! Cassidy flounders to a corner, fans fire up and Archer runs in. Archer blocks boots, puts Cassidy on the apron, but Cassidy bumps Archer off buckles! It does nothing! Archer grabs Cassidy by his head and drags him up top, to ROCK him with a right! Archer then hoists Cassidy up, but Cassidy fights the crucifix! Cassidy throws down elbows, shoves Archer away, but Archer STEP-UP KNEES!

Archer keeps Cassidy on the top rope, hauls him up this time, inverted crucifix! But Cassidy fights free to get a SLEEPER! Big men still need to breathe, and Archer is fading! But then Archer gets a second wind and he THROWS Cassidy down! Cassidy staggers up, into a DERAILER! Cassidy bails out, Archer goes out after him, but Cassidy hurries back in. Cassidy rolls all the way to the far side, and Jake tells him to get in the ring. Cassidy gives Jake “devastating” shin kicks! And then puts his hands in his pockets! Jake wants to deck Cassidy but he can’t, so Archer goes out! Archer choke grips but Cassidy slips free of the slam!

Cassidy kicks at Archer from the apron! And SUPERKICKS! Cassidy jumps, but Archer blocks the rana! Archer SWINGS Cassidy into railing, and then hard into more railing! Jake is amused and Archer grabs a ring crew member! He THROWS the guy but Cassidy gets outta the way! Archer stalks Cassidy, and TOSSES more security at Cassidy! Cassidy dodges again, and DROPKICKS Archer into railing! And then into the security! And then again, into more railing! Cassidy snapmares Archer, picks up a security guard, and SLAMS him on Archer! He’s returning the favor as he stacks guards on Archer!

Cassidy leaves Archer behind as the ring count climbs. But Archer explodes out from the pile to CLOBBER Cassidy! Cassidy flounders, the ring count is 9! Both men slide in at 9.9!! And Archer grins as he stares Cassidy down. Cassidy tries to slow roll away but Archer grabs him first! Archer CHOPS Cassidy, shouts at the fans, and hauls Cassidy back up. Archer whips corner to corner hard and Cassidy falls! Archer soaks up the heat, and BOTB goes picture in picture.

Archer stalks Cassidy, CHOKES him on ropes, but lets off as the ref counts. Archer then stands on Cassidy in the corner! The ref counts again, Archer lets off. The ref reprimands but Archer pushes past him to drag Cassidy up. Archer smothers Cassidy in the corner, taunts the fans, and he CHOPS Cassidy down! Archer drags Cassidy up again, corners him, and runs corner to corner, to ELBOW Cassidy down! And he keeps going, to ELBOW Cassidy again! Archer keeps going, but Cassidy dodges! Archer hits buckles and BOTB returns to single picture! Cassidy drags himself up the corner, Archer stands up, DEEP-

NO, Archer denies Cassidy the DDT to SUPLEX TOSS him away! Archer is having fun now as he drags Cassidy out of the corner. Archer stands Cassidy up, suplexes, STUN DOG- NO! Archer blocks, shoves, and CLOBBERS Cassidy! Choke grip, and CHOKE- NO, Cassidy slips free to tilt-o-whirl, but Archer blocks another DDT! Crucifix, but Cassidy slips free to CHOP BLOCK! Cassidy fires up, but Archer choke grips again! Archer clubs at the arm, kicks at legs, and he gets free! Cassidy BOOTS Archer, runs, and ROCKS Archer with a right! SUPERKICK! Cassidy throws off the elbow pad and fans fire up!

Cassidy runs in, ORANGE- NO! Archer blocks the punch, to ROCK Cassidy, and then DECK him! Archer drags Cassidy back up, ripcords, and HELL-A-COASTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cassidy survives and Archer is furious! Fans rally up, Archer drags Cassidy up, but Cassidy ducks the point blank lariat! Cassidy bails out again, only for Archer to storm over. The ref keeps Archer back, but Jake is there! Jade reels Cassidy in, but Archer stops Jake from hitting the DDT! Fans boo, they wanted to see it! Jake is upset but Archer scoops. Cassidy slips out and shoves free! Archer runs in, misses, and Cassidy dropkicks the legs!

Cassidy sits Archer up, and taunts Jake! DDT to the floor! The ring count climbs, Cassidy and Archer go to the apron, and Cassidy UPPERCUTS! Archer laughs!? Cassidy KNEES low! The ring count is 8 of 10! Cassidy kicks the arm, but Archer holds on! Cassidy ROCKS Archer with a right, and steps inside! Cassidy wins by count-out!!

Winner: Orange Cassidy, by count-out (still AEW International Champion)

Freshly Squeezed truly does survive Archer, and Archer pissed! Archer storms in but Cassidy gets away! Will Cassidy continue to stay champion by the skin of his teeth? Or is his body going to give out before then?

Tony Schiavone is in the ring.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, Billy Gunn!” Max Caster has a diss track on desk! “Acclaimed dissin’ all these teams, yeah you know the deal! Making them go to therapy like Jonah Hill! With the whole division on notice, bro. They wouldn’t last 8 seconds in this rodeo. I love the Stampede, I’m about this. All those hot chicks in their cowgirl outfits! It’s so hot, like a moth to the flames. In Calgary, everybody loves The Acclaimed!” Bowens says “CALGARYYYY~! The Acclaimed have arrived! SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS~!” And he does~! Caster even gives a young fan his chain!

Schiavone says Calgary does love Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed. Billy says that from the sound of it, that’s true. And The Acclaimed loves Calgary! And Billy really loves cowgirls. That’s his thing. Or used to be. But before we get to the scissoring, and he will scissor all of them so don’t worry. But they actually have business, so Max, tell ’em. Max says, “Yo!” and Calgary echoes it. Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! Listen…! Caster heard QTV has been talking a lot of sh*t about the People’s Choice. They were doing videos and raps. Real original when you face The Acclaimed. But they’re here to tell QTV that the Acclaimed accept the challenge, and they’re all going to be in the Royal Rampage!

That’s right, next Friday, with two rings, that means The Acclaimed will beat QTV’s asses twice as hard! Caster will burn them on the mic, whoop them in the ring, and then send QTV home like they have all the other teams! Fans like the sound of that! Bowens then says Calgary, they’re not done! They have another announcement! After two months of climbing back up the Trios Division, they are pleased to announce that next Saturday, live on Collision, in Bowens’ home town of Newark, New Jersey, The Acclaimed get their rematch for the AEW Trios Championships! Fans like the sound of that, too!

Bowens says one last thing before they go. Yes, there’s a great event going on called The Stampede right now. But Bowens asks Calgary to throw up the scissors. And get a shot of all this, Mr. Director! Because what you’re looking at in this arena is the greatest show on Earth! Because EVERYONE! LOVES! THE ACCLAIMED! And then they GROUP SCISSOR~! Even Schiavone joins in! But with the rematch coming, does The Acclaimed have a stipulation for Dealer’s Choice? Or are they still going to try and beat the House of Black at their own game?

AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm w/ The Outcasts VS Taya Valkyrie!

The Lightning From Down Under got in La Wera Loca’s face, all because she hasn’t had the opportunity to beat her yet. Will Taya make Storm regret trying to strike her down? Or will it still be #ToniTime in AEW?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Taya can stampede in Calgary!

The bell rings and Storm runs up to ROCK Taya! Storm stomps away in the corner, the ref counts, and Storm lets off. Taya kicks back, CLUBS Storm, and fires off forearms of her own! Taya CHOPS Storm in the corner, Storm bails out, and Ruby is there to check her. Ruby says Storm needs a minute but fans boo. Taya waits as Storm gets back in. Then Taya knees her low and CLUBS her down! Storm goes to ropes, Taya stomps away, but lets off as the ref counts. Fans cheer, Taya runs and DOUBLE KNEES against ropes! Taya drags Storm to a cover, TWO! Storm bails out again but Taya waits. Ruby again calms Storm down while fans rally.

The ring count climbs, Storm returns to the ring at 7 of 10, but Taya is after her! Storm HOTSHOTS Taya, then scrapes her at the ropes! The ref counts but Storm kicks Taya out of the ring. Storm stands Taya up and TOSSES her! Taya writhes but Storm drags her back up. And she TOSSES Taya the other way! Ruby laughs at Taya, Storm taunts Taya’s friends, and Storm says Taya SUCKS! Taya’s friends shout that Storm sucks! And then Taya ROCKS Storm! Fans fire up, and Taya thrashes Storm around by her hair buns! Taya TOSSES Storm now! Fans fire up for Taya as BOTB goes picture in picture.

Taya kicks Storm around, CHOPS her against the apron, and high-fives fans. Taya stands Storm up against railing, the fans chant “ONE MORE TIME!” and Taya CHOPS Storm again! Storm staggers away, Taya puts her in the ring, but Storm runs to HIP ATTACK! Taya hits the floor and Ruby soaks up the heat as Storm stomps Taya. Storm drags Taya up, brings her around, and Storm CHOPS Taya now! Fans boo but Storm puts Taya in the ring. Storm has Taya on ropes and CHOKES her! The ref counts, Storm steps away, but Taya sits up to throw body shots. Storm CLUBS Taya down, bumps her off buckles, and then digs her boots in.

The ref counts, Storm lets off at 4, and Storm flexes. Ruby applauds but the fans boo. Storm hauls Taya up to TOSS her across the way! Storm drags Taya up again, reels her in, and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Taya is hanging tough, but Storm scowls. Storm sits Taya up for a seated full nelson, and she leans on the hold. Taya endures but Collision goes to break.

BOTB returns and Storm says kiss this! Storm runs corner to corner, but Taya avoids the hip attack! Taya runs back in, dodges and mule kicks, knee lifts, and LARIATS! Fans fire up with Taya as she gets Storm up, BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, ONE?!? Storm goes to a corner but Taya says she can kiss this! Fans fire up and Taya runs corner to corner, to SWEET HIP MUSIC! And even a bit of Stinkface… Taya drags Storm to a cover, TWO! Taya grins and slaps some sense into herself. Storm goes to the corner, Taya threatens Ruby to stay back, Calgary has some technical difficulties, and Collision goes back to break.

BOTB returns but it’s footage from last week, and then we just don’t get the rest of the match. Live television, gotta “love” it.

Replay shows later that while Storm distracted the ref, Ruby distracted Taya and then cracked her with the spray paint can! Storm hit Storm Zero and won by pinfall, to still be AEW Women’s World Champion. Will Taya ever get out of this slump in AEW?

Tony Schiavone is on stage.

Schiavone notes that just earlier tonight on Collision, we crowned a new King and Queen of Harts, so he welcomes them back out! Willow Nightingale and Ricky Starks walk out wearing the tournament shirts, and they stand by their trophies and belts. Schiavone says this is just the second year of this wonderful tournament. So please now welcome out Tony Khan and Dr. Martha Hart! Calgary cheers as they mosey on out with their cowboy hats. Martha shows off the newly minted belts, then goes to the podium.

Martha thanks everyone for the warm reception, and says it is so wonderful to be here with Tony Khan and the entire AEW family, as well as her own family and Owen Hart Foundation committee members to conclude this tournament here in their own backyard of Calgary, the hometown of Owen Hart himself. Just a quick thanks to Chris Jericho, Jeff Jarrett, and the rest of the family for their support. This is the first time that AEW has come to Calgary, and what better way to do it than during the city’s most iconic event, the Calgary Stampede. AKA the greatest outdoor show on Earth! Fans cheer that!

Martha does want to say, to add to the wonderment of this night, it is especially meaningful to be steps away from where it all began: the Calgary Pavilion, where Stu Hart created Stampede Wrestling and launched the careers of so many illustrious wrestlers, including Owen himself. Owen, like his father, was not only an amazing wrestler, but a very good man. Fans cheer that, too. Martha says without further ado, she would like to congratulate the heroic winners of this year’s tournaments, who rose to the occasion and fought the good fight with skill and precision. They are now knighted as victors, and will receive their well-deserved trophies.

But carry them with pride, because from now on, and until forever, they will represent the Kingdom of Owen Hart! Fans cheer that, too, and Martha presents Willow with her belt. They hug, and then Martha presents Starks with his. They also hug, and pose together for the photo op!

AEW TNT Championship: Luchasaurus w/ Christian Cage VS Shawn Spears!

Captain Charisma’s Right Hand of Destruction took this title from Wardlow, but it seems Christian still thinks he has control over it. But the Perfect 10 wants to finally have a title all his own, will he go to his old ways to make it happen? Or will tonight be anything but #PERFECT10N?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who closes BOTB 7 as the Face of TNT!

Scorpio Sky is watching backstage, he was once TNT Champion so of course he has interest in what happens here. The bell rings and the two circle. Spears avoids a haymaker to CHOP, then he backs off. Luchasaurus rushes in but Spears dodges to CHOP! Spears climbs, he throws hands, but Luchasaurus shoves Spears away. Spears comes back to throw more hands, but Luchasaurus shoves him down again. And then HEADBUTTS him! Spears flops out of the ring, Christian is there to taunt him, and Luchasaurus goes out to CHOP Spears! Luchasaurus reels Spears in, but Speras RAMS him into railing!

Spears slides in, Luchasaurus pursues, but Spears bails out to the apron. Luchasaurus storms up but into a HOTSHOT! Spears slingshots, into a HAYMAKER! Luchasaurus drags Spears up to TOSS him to a corner, and he fires off as BOTB goes picture in picture.

Luchasaurus lets off as the ref counts, and then digs his boots in. The ref counts, Luchasaurus lets off again, and then digs his boots back in! The ref counts yet again, and yet again Luchasaurus lets off. Luchasaurus drags Spears up, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to YAKUZA KICK Spears down! Spears sits up in a daze as Luchasaurus looms over him. Luchasaurus drags Spears up, and TOSSES him to the floor! The ref argues with Luchasaurus, but that allows Christian to PUNT Spears in the side! Luchasaurus goes out to fetch Spears, bring him up, and put him in the ring. Luchasaurus then stalks Spears to center.

Luchasaurus KICKS Spears in the side, stalks him to a corner, and drags Spears up again. Spears CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! And throws body shots! Luchasaurus CLAWS Spears’ face! The ref counts, Luchasaurus lets off, and Luchasaurus stalks Spears to ropes. Luchasaurus drags Spears up, scoops him, and SLAMS him down! Cover, TWO! Spears is hanging tough but Luchasaurus clamps on a vice grip! Luchasaurus wrenches Spears’ neck, but Spears endures and fights up. Luchasaurus chinlocks but Spears still fights up. Christian coaches Luchasaurus and he CLUBS Spears on the back!

Luchasaurus fireman’s carries, Spears slips off and BOOTS him! Spears CHOPS, and ROCKS, and CHOPS again! Spears climbs up the corner, BOTB returns to single picture, and Spears rains down fists! Spears finally gets to TEN! Spears then kicks low, knee lifts, and LARIATS! Luchasaurus stays up, Christian coaches him, but Spears LARIATS again! And again! Luchasaurus wobbles, but Spears wrenches, ducks Luchasaurus’ lariat and then LARIATS Luchasaurus down! Fans fire up and Luchasaurus bails out. Christian says this is for his, er- Luchasaurus’ title, Luchasaurus has to get back into this!

Spears slingshots over, Luchasaurus moves out of the way, but then Spears avoids the sweep! Spears SUPERKICKS Luchasaurus, and BOOTS him into the post! Luchasaurus falls, and Spears glares at Christian. Spears storms up on Christian and Christian runs away! Fans cheer as Spears pursues, they go around the way, and Spears catches up to Christian! Christian gets loose of his jacket, Spears throws it at him, but Luchasaurus reels Spears in! CHOKE SLAM through a table!! The fans lose their minds and the ref misses it all! Scorpio still watches as Luchasaurus drags Spears out of the wreckage.

Luchasaurus brings Spears into the ring and Christian says to finish this! Luchasaurus nods and he stalks Spears. Luchasaurus drags Spears up, even though he is dead weight. CHOKE- NO, wheelbarrow and victory roll! TWO!! Luchasaurus gets free, choke grips again, PREHISTORIC CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO!?!? Spears survives and Christian is freaking out! Fans fire up but Luchasaurus goes to a corner. Christian wedges Spears’ own chair into the corner! Luchasaurus runs in, but Spears sends him into the chair!! The fans fire up as Spears rolls Luchasaurus up, TWO!! No one can believe Luchasaurus survives!

But Spears keeps going, only for Christian to distract him! Luchasaurus shoves Spears and then BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Fans boo as Luchasaurus covers, Luchasaurus wins!

Winner: Luchasaurus, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)

And again, Christian grabs the belt to hold it up as his own. But of course, Christian did help Luchasaurus keep it this time. Is the Right Hand of Destruction not as strong as Christian wants us to believe it is? Will Scorpio look to bring Captain Charisma down a notch?

My Thoughts:

A really good episode for Battle of the Belts, but these would mean more if belts actually changed hands. Starting off with the International Championship, I really thought we were going to get a new champion because Archer could just demolish what’s left of Orange Cassidy after all the other matches Cassidy has had. But it was a very well executed and clever count-out victory for Cassidy, and we might even see a rematch on the way to All In or All Out. And if not for the technical difficulties, everyone outside of the stadium would’ve seen the entirety of a really good match between Storm and Taya. But in the end, it was clear Storm would win, so it ends up a wash.

With the Collision bleed over, I like that we got to see Starks be rather rude to Liger in receiving the trophy. Starks cheating to beat Punk and then this move, I wonder if we’re getting back to Heel Starks. Though, I would hope AEW figures out how to properly book him now that he’s the King of Harts and all that. That aside, good moment from Martha Hart with her speech and presentation of the belts. Overall, these tournaments have been really good, from the action to the booking, I just hope this year there is better follow-up for the winners. Though in defense of AEW, Adam Cole got injured and couldn’t do what was planned, so as long as Willow and Starks stay healthy, they can do something big going into All In and All Out.

Good promo from The Acclaimed, though not much to it other than calling out QTV and The House of Black for their separate feuds. Very disappointing that The Acclaimed and QTV aren’t having a Six Man Tag like they implied, it’s just gonna be part of Royal Rampage like Hardy Party and Triple J said last night. But hey, at least The Acclaimed is going to have another title match with House of Black, though probably not with some fun new stipulation. No idea who wins that, but if Andrade gets involved, maybe Acclaimed win and that gives Malakai a reason to face Andrade 1v1 for the mask.

And really good TNT title match to close things out, but of course Christian helps Luchasaurus win. Scorpio watching is a good foreshadowing of what’s next, but it almost feels too soon. It’ll still be a great match, but there’s half a chance Christian screws Scorpio over, too.

My Score: 8.6/10