Who will be the Face of TBS?

Battle of the Belts is back, and Kris Statlander is being a fighting AEW TBS Champion! But will the Galaxy’s Greatest still fall to Willow Nightingale?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy VS John Silver w/ Alex Reynolds; Cassidy wins and retains the title.
• ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe VS Tony Nese w/ Mark Sterling; Joe wins and retains the title.
• AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander VS Willow Nightingale; Kris wins and retains the title.
• AEW World Trios Championships: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn VS Daniel Garcia, Matthew Menard & Angelo Parker w/ Anna Jay; The Acclaimed & Billy win and retain the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy VS John Silver w/ Alex Reynolds!

Freshly Squeezed is the first-ever TWO-TIME AEW International Champion, and he has an encounter with Moxley as he makes his way out. Cassidy shoulder checks Moxley so Moxley shoves Cassidy! The Blackpool Combat Club gets Moxley to leave peacefully, but we all know The Maniac will come back for this title the second he’s cleared. Will Cassidy still be holding onto the belt at that time? Or will The Meat Man prove The Dark Order are the heroes of this story?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if this title will #JoinDarkOrder!

Reynolds takes Cassidy’s sunglasses to put them on and mock Cassidy. The bell rings and Cassidy frowns at Reynolds. Cassidy steps to Silver, though, and Silver is the one who puts his hands up? To put in Cassidy’s pockets! Cassidy puts his hands up, to put on Silver’s head. And then he HEADBUTTS! Then Cassidy DIVES into Reynolds! Cassidy takes his sunglasses back and fans fire up. Cassidy gets in, Silver trips him! And kicks again, but Cassidy dodges! Cassidy goes to a corner, Silver TOSSES him across the way! Fans are torn as Silver flexes. But Silver’s freakin’ jacked, baby!

Silver storms up on Cassidy, drags him up, and TOSSES him back the other way! Silver flexes, storms up on Cassidy again, and stands him up to CLUB him in the chest! Silver whips corner to corner, Cassidy goes up and out and he dribbles Silver off buckles! The fans count all the way to TEN, then Cassidy climbs up. Silver CHOPS first, climbs up, and he stalling… SUPERPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Silver keeps cool and he drags Cassidy up. Silver fireman’s carries, Cassidy slips to the apron, but Silver ROCKS him! And again! And again! Silver drags Cassidy up but Cassidy suplexes first! Silver lands on the apron and he throws body shots!

Silver KICKS Cassidy, KICKS him again, then KICKS him again! Cassidy sputters, Silver waistlocks, but Cassidy fights with elbows! Cassidy gets free, reels Silver in, and then goes up the corner, but Silver SLAPS Cassidy! Silver trophy lifts, with ONE arm! Then he TOSSES Cassidy down! Crash ‘n’ burn off the apron and to the floor and the fans boo as Silver flexes. Silver goes after Cassidy to then TOSS him across the way! Reynolds says that one had to hurt. Silver is standing tall as BOTB goes picture in picture.

Silver leaves Cassidy behind but he has to remember Champion’s Advantage. Silver argues with the ref, and that allows Reynolds to attack Cassidy! Reynolds hurries away, Cassidy drags himself up, and Silver is on him. Silver KICKS Cassidy down, soaks up the heat, then rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Silver lets off, and Silver does the Dark Order claw. Silver flexes, KICKS Cassidy, then soaks up more heat. BOTB returns to single picture as Silver KICKS again! Fans rally for Cassidy but Silver KICKS him again! Cassidy sits back up, and puts his hands in his pockets! Fans fire up but Silver runs, only for Cassidy to dodge!

Cassidy SHOTGUNS, kips up, gets moving, but Silver BOOTS him! Silver runs, tilt-o-whirls, but into a MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Silver survives but Cassidy has the fans behind him. Cassidy unleashes “kicks” on Silver, but then actually KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Cassidy is serious now as he runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirls, but Silver cradles it! TWO!! Silver swings, misses, Cassidy backslides! Silver rolls through to kick, KICK and SUPERKICK! Then suplex, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Fans fire up as Cassidy Alabama Lifts, BEACH BREAK! Cover, TWO!! Silver survives again and Cassidy is stunned!

Cassidy stands, but Reynolds has the belt! Cassidy doesn’t see it, he throws off the elbow pad. Reynolds distracts the ref, Cassidy swipes at him, and Silver CLOBBERS Cassidy from behind! The ref argues with Silver, Reynolds BELT SHOTS Cassidy!! Silver hurries to roll Cassidy up, TWO!!! Cassidy survives but Silver runs, LARIAT!! And then a torture rack, for the SPIN DOCTOR SLAM!! Cover, TWO!!! Cassidy survives again and Dark Order is furious! Cassidy flounders but Silver aims. Silver runs in, but Cassidy trips him up! Silver hits buckles, and then ORANGE PUNCH!! Cover, CASSIDY WINS!

Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall (still AEW International Champion)

The Dark Order could not use the Numbers against Cassidy, and Cassidy makes it through his first defense of this second reign. Will he be able to survive as long as he did the first time around?

Backstage interview with Andrade El Idolo

Lexi Nair is with Andrade and says he went toe to toe with someone who many consider the best wrestler today, Bryan Danielson, in Collision. Andrade was so close to winning, how is he feeling? Andrade feels… CJ Perry is here. CJ says hi, and says with a little guidance, maybe Andrade could become the biggest, the best, and perhaps some would say the most handsome wrestler in the world. See you soon. CJ just made her sales pitch, which catches Andrade by surprise. Will he accept? Or will The Idol have to worry about The Redeemer?

ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe VS Tony Nese w/ Mark Sterling!

The One True King of Wrestling Television is hungry for more, which is why he wants the AEW World Championship. But he must still fulfill his duties to ROH, hence this title match tonight. The Premier Athlete & Smart Mark are already in the ring, and Mark says he will speak nice, and, slowly… so that the people of “Maymfus, Tenasee” can understand him. This here is your future ROH World Television Champion! Nese takes the mic to tell Memphis that as their Television Champion, he will make it his mission to change each and every one of their lives! They will no longer look like the fat version of Evil!

So before he wipes the floor with Joe, Nese wants everyone here to stand up, because it’s time for GROUP TRAINING! Fans boo but here comes Joe! Nese is furious, but will he break more than a sweat after Joe’s through with him?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who wears the crown!

The bell rings, Nese rushes in but gets a FLAPJACK for his troubles! Then Joe JABS, JABS and JABS! Joe has Nese in the corner, he fires off more JABS, and fans sing “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” Joe lets off with a CHOP, but then Sterling gets on the apron! Joe scares Sterling down off the apron, but Nese throat chops! Nese runs to BULLDOG HOTSHOT! Joe staggers, Nese runs in to SOBAT, ROCK and whip! Joe reverses, Nese stops himself and ELBOWS Joe! Nese QUEBRADAS but Joe just moves. Joe then runs to LARIAT Nese inside out! Fans are thunderous, Sterling panics, and Joe hoists Nese up!

Joe tucks Nese in, and gives him the MUSCLE BUSTER!! Cover, Joe wins!

Winner: Samoa Joe, by pinfall (still ROH World Television Champion)

Nese got that workout, he’s gonna be sore in the morning. Joe then gets the mic to say, “Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Tonight, I bring you a gift, my friend. The gift of foresight. And what you foresee is that I am coming for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship!” Fans cheer that! Joe says what MJF does with this gift is very important. Because MJF can either give Joe what he wants, or Joe can put him in a situation where he is forced to give him what he wants. For he is Samoa Joe, the One True King of Television, and the NEXT AEW World Heavyweight Champion! Joe and MJF are both on the doorsteps of historic title reigns, but when and where will these two meet again?

AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander VS Willow Nightingale!

The Galaxy’s Greatest and The Babe with the Power were on friendly terms until just recently. Maybe it’s the gold getting between them, or that nasty mist Julia Hart spat in Willow’s eye. Either way, this one might not be so friendly by the end of it. Will Kris still be the champ? Or will the 2023 Queen of Harts add another title to her resume?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is the Face of TBS!

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Willow wrenches and wristlocks. Kris wrenches back, top wristlocks then chinbars, then kisses Willow on the cheek. Willow gets annoyed, gets around and waistlocks to SLAM! Willow holds on, she drags Kris up, but Kris moves around. Kris pries free, wrenches and headlocks, but Willow powers out. Kris and Willow RAM shoulders, but neither falls. Fans fire up as the two stare down. Kris runs, they RAM shoulders again and Kris staggers back. Kris rebounds to RAM Willow, Willow rebounds to run Kris over! Fans fire up and Willow flexes with a smile. But then Kris kips up!

Willow swings, Kris gets around to waistlock but Willow bucks the O’Conner. Things speed up, Kris hurdles then follows to run Willow over! Cover, ONE! Kris hurries to scoop, but Willow slips free to shove! Kris goes to an apron, she rams into Willow and HOTSHOTS her down! Kris slingshots to ELBOW DROP! Willow bails out and fans rally up as Kris goes to the apron. Kris lines it up, PARALLEL MOONSAULT! Direct hit and Kris stands back up. Fans fire up, Kris brings Willow up, but Willow POSTS Kris! And then TOSSES Kris around! Kris goes to steps, Willow runs in, and she CANNONBALLS!

Fans fire up with Willow as she puts Kris in. Cover, TWO! Willow frowns, something rare for her period, and she rains down HEADBUTTS! Willow is showing that same edge Skye Blue’s been showing, and Willow bumps Kris off buckles. Willow digs her boot in, the ref counts and Willow lets off as BOTB goes picture in picture.

Willow stalks Kris, HIP DROPS her, then sits her up, to HIP DROP again! Kris flounders while Willow fires herself up. Willow storms up on Kris, pushes her down to cover, TWO! Willow is annoyed, covers again, TWO! Willow clamps onto Kris with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Kris fights up, throws body shots, but Willow counter punches! Willow then scoops to SLAM Kris down! Willow says she’s gonna get that belt, but Kris scoops Willow! Kris SLAMS Willow down! Fans rally, Kris shakes out her bad leg, and then she brings Willow up. Willow throws a body shot, to then scoop SLAM Kris! Willow grins and scoops again, to SLAM again!

But Kris is right up! She scoop SLAMS Willow right back! Fans rally for these powerhouses but Kris turns around into another scoop! And SLAM! Willow storms around, brings Kris up, but Kris blocks the punch to scoop and SLAM! This back and forth is taking a lot out of them both, and Willow fires more hands. Willow scoops, Kris slips out, DOUBLE FOREARMS rock both women! Then DOUBLE BOOTS take them both down! Fans rally up as a standing count begins. Both women crawl to ropes and drag themselves up as BOTB goes to break.

BOTB returns, and the forearms are flying! Kris gets the edge, but then Willow spins her to TOSS her! Willow runs to BACK BODY BLOCK, then clothesline! Willow fires off shots again and again, snapmares and runs, but Kris avoids the boot to sweep the legs and SENTON! Fans fire up with Kris, she whips Willow to a corner and UPPERCUTS! Kris goes side to side to KNEE WASH! Willow wobbles, Kris scoops, BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Willow survives but Kris stays focused. Kris drags Willow up but Willow fights the gut wrench! Willow scoops but Kris fights and kicks low! Kris runs but so does Willow! POUUUNCE! PERIOD!!

Fans are thunderous and the straps come down! Willow powers up and she drags Kris up! Fireman’s carry, but Kris slips free to DDT! Cover, TWO! Willow survives, Kris is shocked, but the fans rally up. Kris drags Willow to a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Willow gets up! Willow ROCKS Kris, climbs up after her, and CLUBS her. Willow then adjusts position, brings Kris up in a fireman’s carry, and SUPER DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS!!! Fans fire up while both women are down! Willow crawls to the cover, TWO!!! Kris survives and Willow is fuming! Willow drags Kris up, fans rally behind her, and she uses both hands to TOSS Kris into the corner!

Willow hoots and that sounds a bit like Brody King’s… Willow runs to CANNONBALL! It was almost a spear! Willow puts Kris in the drop zone, goes up, but Kris gets her for a POWERBOMB!! And then Kris goes back up! Fans fire up, 450 SPLASH!! Cover, Kris wins!!

Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall (still AEW TBS Champion)

Willow started getting a bit dark there, but Kris was able to shine through! Kris still wants to show her friend respect, but Willow is hesitant. Wait, Skye shows up and says NO! Willow did this the last time Kris wanted to show Skye respect, so what’s going on here? Skye and Willow look at each other, and Willow still shakes Kris’ hand. Fans cheer that, but Skye doesn’t seem that happy. Willow leaves, Skye lingers, what is going on with them after their run-ins with Julia Hart? And does it have anything to do with the House of Black returning earlier tonight on Collision?

Backstage interview with Orange Cassidy.

Lexi is with Freshly Squeezed as he is fresh off his title defense. Yeah, John Silver kicks very, very, very hard. But Cassidy brings up his run-in with Moxley. Moxley got in Cassidy’s face, and Moxley’s friends got in Cassidy’s face. He doesn’t care about Yuta, but if Claudio or Bryan wanna fight, then they can fight. Bryan & Claudio can meet Cassidy… AND OKADA in Philly! Then they can fight. The Rainmaker is going to join Cassidy against the Blackpool Combat Club? Is it going to be chaos on Dynamite?

AEW World Trios Championships: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn VS Daniel Garcia, Matthew Menard & Angelo Parker w/ Anna Jay!

The Scissor World Tour continues through Memphis, and the champs are taking on the former Jericho Appreciation Society. But will the “family” hold it together so they can finally have a taste of gold? Or will nothing stop Max Caster, Anthony Bowens & Daddy Ass from moving past 55 days as champions? But of course, Caster has a diss track!

“Acclaimed have your whole life flashing at once. Y’know, kinda like Ja Morant flashes a gun! You really shook. Damn, Daddy Magic lookin’ really cooked. I’ma run yo’ ass outta Memphis like Dillon Brooks. And Cool Hand, heard about you, man. Can’t go within 100 yards of a school, damn! Garcia lookin’ mad unhealthy, like that skinny b*tch that dates Travis Kelce. And whoop dat trick, b*tch!” Bowens takes the mic to say, “OH, MEMPHIIIIIS~! The Acclaimed have arrived! SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS~!” And he does~! They even have Grizz of the Memphis Grizzlies with them!

But wait, Billy wants to say something. There’s a bear here. Fans cheer for Grizz, and Billy’s never scissored a bear. But we can do that right here in Memphis! Okay, Grizz, put that paw up. Max, Bowens, put the paws up. They all put ’em up, and together with Grizz, they QUADRUPLE SCISSOR~! The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who can “WHOOP DAT TRICK!”

The trios sort out, Billy shows off his hip swivel as Caster and Garcia circle. Fans sing “OH~ Scissor Me, Daddy~!” Garcia and Caster tie up, go around, and Garcia waistlocks. Caster switches, Garcia switches, Caster switches back but Garcia reaches back to headlock and takeover. Caster headscissors, Garcia moves around, and Garcia hops and pops free, to… No, Menard stops him again! Fans boo but Menard apologizes, the beef was supposed to be squashed. Caster tags Bowens while fans want Garcia to “DO THE DANCE! DO THE DANCE!” But then Anna gets in the ring, and she tells Garcia to stop. Fans boo and Billy protests.

The ref EJECTS Anna! Anna says no, she was just trying to help Garcia focus! But she got in the ring when she wasn’t supposed to, so she’s still got to go. Anna leaves, but Menard tags in to CLOBBER Bowens! Menard fires off in the corner, but Bowens fires back! Bowens ROCKS Menard again and again and again and again! Fans fire up as Bowens self-scissors then DECKS Menard! Parker runs in but he gets the Five Tool Strike Fest! Tag to Billy and Billy says he didn’t wanna do any of that. But Billy & Bowens double whip, double ELBOW, then they scissor~! ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Billy brings Menard over and tags Caster.

Caster goes up, to AX HANDLE Menard’s arm! Caster wrenches, Menard ROCKS Caster, and he ROCKS Caster again. Tag to Garcia, he stomps away on Caster in the corner, and the ref counts. Garcia stands on Caster, flexes, but steps off at 4. Garcia bumps Caster off buckles and stomps him more as BOTB goes picture in picture.

Tag to Parker, he mugs Caster, then he says he’s having a hell of a hair day! Snap suplexes, cover, TWO! Parker drags Caster up, scrapes his laces off Caster’s face, then bumps him off buckles. Garcia tags in, stomps Caster, then puts Caster back in the X-JAS corner. Garcia climbs up, rains down fists, and goes all the way to nine, then hits his stance. But Menard tags in before the dance! Menard soaks up the heat, stomps Caster, then snapmares to tag in Parker. Menard drops a knee, Parker clamps on a chinlock. Caster endures, fights up, and fans rally. Caster pries the hold open, slips around, and hits a BIG back suplex!

Caster and Menard crawl, hot tags to Garcia and Bowens! Bowens rallies on Parker, Menard and Garcia! Bowens fires off kicks on Menard then hits the KOTARO KRUSHER! Mule kick for Garcia, and Bowens CLUBS away with forearms and elbows! Bowens fires up and shouts “EVERYONE LOVES THE ACCLAIMED!” Menard runs in to GERMAN SUPLEX! Menard soaks up the heat, drags Bowens over and bumps him off buckles. Tag to Parker, he and Menard stomp Bowens, then Parker digs his boots in. The ref counts, Parker drags Bowens up, and he whips Bowens hard into buckles! And BOOTS him down! Cover, TWO!

Parker drags Bowens around, anchors him, and tags in Menard. Menard stomps Bowens, stays between him and the Acclaimed, then stomps Bowens more. Menard stands Bowens up to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Cover again, TWO! Menard is frustrated as BOTB returns to single picture. Bowens fires shots, Menard hits back. Tag to Garcia and they stomp Bowens. Garcia pushes Bowens, steps on him, steps on him again, and again! Garcia hears the fans wanting the dance, but Garcia shrugs that off to drag Bowens up. Tag to Menard, they mug Bowens, and tag to Parker. Bowens kicks, Parker blocks, but the ENZIGURI hits!

Bowens hurries, but Parker falls onto Bowens! Parker drags Bowens back, but Bowens BOOTS him away! Menard tags in, Parker falls on Bowens again, so Bowens BOOTS them both away! Garcia tags in, he runs past Bowens to BLAST Caster! But then Bowens sends Garcia into Menard! Bowens dodges Parker and hot tags Billy! Fans fire up as Daddy Ass rallies on all of the X-JAS! He DECKS Parker, DECKS Menard, and says “SUCK IT!” Billy scoop SLAMS Menard, and fans fire up as he tags in Caster. Billy & Caster hold Menard open as Bowens goes up, SCISSOR ME TIMBERS! Direct hit! Then The Acclaimed coordinate, to TRIPLE SCISSOR!

But Garcia and Parker attack! They TOSS Caster out, go after Billy, and mug everybody! Garcia snarls but Billy sends Menard into railing! GARCIA DOES HIS DANCE! But Caster rolls Garcia up! TWO!! Garcia CHOPS, ROCKS repeat! Garcia fires off, whips, but Caster reverses. Garcia rolls, CLOBBERS and ELBOWS Caster! choke grip, Caster breaks fere so Garcia SLAPS and SAIDOS! Garcia fires up, runs and LARIATS!! Fans are thunderous and Garcia… DOES HIS DANCE!! Then he storms up on Caster, reels him in, does more of the dance, but Caster fights the lift! Caster powers out, CHOPS, and Billy hits a FAMOUSER!

Bowens tags in, Caster and Bowens coordinate to give Garcia the CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED!! Cover, Acclaimed win!!

Winners: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn, by pinfall (still AEW World Trios Championships)

The beef was squashed but the passion to dance was not! Did it cost the X-JAS? Who’s to say, but we know how Menard feels about it. Is the family going to fall apart? As for the Scissor World Tour, they’re now champions for FIFTY-SIX DAYS! Will they make it all the way to triple digits and beyond?

My Thoughts:

A really good Battle of the Belts, but what already hurts it is that the status quo was kept. Granted, I’ve said before that keeping the status quo is okay when done in good ways, and… I mean, these all ended up being obvious results. They even threw the ROH World Television Championship on here for the hell of it, and it was really just an excuse for Joe to be here in person to give his promo. And I should’ve expected the International Championship match to be first, because it almost always is on a show, and it was great continuity with how Collision ended with Blackpool Combat Club and Moxley. Great match from Cassidy and Silver, and of course Cassidy retains so he can call out Moxley & The BCC. And wow, Okada showing up on Dynamite just because? That’s cool.

Good promo from Andrade and CJ to tease who Miro faces next. I kinda wish Andrade got a chance to say something, perhaps relating things back to LFI, but oh well. Andrade VS Miro is going to be awesome either way, though. Great TBS Championship match, though I guess it makes sense that Kris retains. There is more to this story of Willow and Skye going towards the dark side, but I do like that there’s this subtle detail. Skye is further along because she actually got hit in both eyes, but Willow only got hit in one eye so she’s holding on to the Face/light side. We might even get another title match between these three that pushes Skye over the edge.

And really good main event for the Trios titles, and fans really like Garcia’s dance. Acclaimed retain, of course, but Garcia is so close to breaking away from the rest of the X-JAS, by doing that dance. Can’t wait to see that and what Garcia does to follow it up.

My Score: 8.6/10