The Bastard is bitter, Azucar is sweet, but who will taste the agony of defeat?

Before facing The Bang Bang Gang at AEW Double or Nothing, Pac takes on Rocky Romero 1v1 for the first time in over a DECADE! But will Pac’s edge be razor sharp to take on the Switchblade & The Gunns?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• PAC VS Rocky Romero; Pac wins.
• Samoa Joe VS Dom Kubrick; Joe wins.
• Rush VS Isiah Kassidy; Rush wins.
• Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander VS Anna Jay & Alex Windsor; Willow & Kris win.

PLAY BY PLAY

PAC VS Rocky Romero!

The Bastard told the Bang Bang Gang to try harder, and they sure did! But now they’ve got Death Triangle aiming for them and their gold! Will Pac use Azucar as an appetizer for the fight coming at Double or Nothing?

The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out, the fans rally up, and the two tie up with knuckle locks. Rocky shoots around, half nelsons then spins Pac to snapmare and headlock. Pac gets up and puts Rocky on ropes. The ref counts, Rocky lets go and Pac brings him in! Pac hits a takeover, Rocky keeps his shoulders up, and Rocky fights to his feet. Rocky throws body shots, powers up and out, but Pac runs him over! Things speed up, Rocky hurdles but Pac leaps over! Things keep moving, Rocky tilt-o-whirl RANAS, but Pac handsprings through! Rocky ducks a kick, rolls Pac up, but Pac rolls through.

Rocky whips, Pac reverses, Rocky ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Rocky gives some Latino Heat then storms up on Pac. Rocky CHPOS, fans “WOO~!” and Pac goes to a corner. Rocky CHOPS again, Pac CHOPS back! Pac CHOPS again, and CHPOS again. Pac whips, runs in, but Rocky puts Pac on the apron. Rock keeps moving, Pac DUMPS him out! The fans fire up and Pac aims. Pac mule kicks, then ASAI MOONSAULTS! Direct hit, even Chris Jericho & Big Bill applaud from commentary, and Pac snarls as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Pac storms up on Rocky, SMACKS him off the apron, then puts Rocky in the ring. Pac storms in after Rocky, hushes the crowd, then BOOTS Rocky down! Pac sits Rocky up to BOOT him again! Rocky shakes out the stars, Pac watches him rise up, and then just BOOTS him again! Cover, TWO! Rocky stays in this but Pac stays on him with buckle bumps. Pac bumps Rocky off buckles again then clamps on a headlock. Pac grinds Rocky down to the mat, but Rocky endures. The fans rally, Rocky fights up, and he throws body shots. Rampage returns to single picture as Rocky KICKS a leg. Pac fires a forearm!

Rocky KICKS! Pac forearms! Rocky UPPERCUTS! Pac SOBATS! KICKS! And SOBATS! Pac runs, but Rocky follows! Rocky slides under, Pac blocks one kick and ducks the enzigiri, but the REWIND HEEL hits! Rocky runs to SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! Pac stays in this but goes to the apron. Rocky has the fans fired up as he goes after Pac. Rocky drags Pac up, CHOPS, SOBATS, then reels Pac in. But Pac suplexes! Rocky lands out to backslide! TWO!! Pac escapes, Rocky staggers to a corner. Pac runs up but Rocky into an UPPERCUT! Rocky goes up and leaps, TORNADO DDT!! Pac gets spiked hard!

Pac tumbles out of the ring, clutches the top of his head, but he still rises up. Rocky builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and down goes Pac! Rocky puts Pac in to cover, TWO!! Pac survives again and Rocky is stunned! But the fans fire up with Rocky as he drags Pac up. Rocky cravats, but no more Sliced Bread! Pac BOOTS Rocky, then runs corner to corner to BOOT! Pac whips, Rocky reverses, but Pac stops himself! Dodge and SNAP GERMAN! Pac then clamps on for the BRUTALIZER!! Rocky quits, Pac wins!

Winner: Pac, by submission

The Bastard is making Rocky pay for pushing him this far! Pac lets Rocky go, but will he do much, much worse to Jay White & The Bang Bang Gang?

Pac gets a mic as he rejoins Death Triangle on stage. “Oh, hey! Gunn Club, whatever silly games and hoops you want us to jump through, no problem. This is the Lucha Brothers, the best tag team in the world! And on Collision, we’ll see you, Bullet Club. And once more, at Double or Nothing, we’ll see you for those trios championships.” Will Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix put Austin & Colten through the wringer to then make their Six Man Tag for all the gold?

Chris Jericho speaks.

“Hey, guys! Hey everybody, hi! So I just wanted to say that at Double or Nothing, I will have a Three Way for the FTW Title, which is for the world, it’s for all of you. It’s gonna be under For The World Rules, which means it’s gonna be mayhem. And even though it’s harder to face two men than one, I am ready for it, because the Learning Tree fights adversity at all times, and so should you, guys. And Shibata and Hook have learned so much from Chris Jericho, from being int he Jericho Vortex, and I can’t wait to face both of them at Double or Nothing!

“And as tough and hard hitting as Shibata is, I beat him. I threw a hockey puck in his face. And as tough as Hook is, I beat him to win the For The World Championship, when he essentially-” WAIT! Shibata is here! He rushes up, Big Bill gets in his way and they brawl on the ramp! The fans fire up as The Wrestler cuts down the Redwood, and then HOOK SNATCHES JERICHO! Hook is in the crowd, and he uses the REDRUM to drag Jericho over railing! Hook hammers away on Jericho, security gets in there, and Hook pursues Jericho through the crowd! The fans fire up as the brawling goes on at the back of the ground level!

It is chaos already as Jericho is sent into trash can after trash can! Hook CLUBS and ROCKS Jericho again and again until they’re around the backside of the stage! Jericho runs backstage, will Hook be chasing him all Double or Nothing weekend?

Backstage interview with Hook & Shibata.

Renee Paquette is with the Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil & The Wrestler, ands says after that “insane brawl” out there, these two are clearly on the same page. But in just three days, in that Triple Threat, it is every man for himself. What happens when these two are opponents? Hook says he’s on nobody’s page but his own. And come Sunday, it doesn’t matter who’s in front of him, he’s getting HIS FTW Championship back. But then Samoa Joe steps in and says he isn’t sure if this is sad or just disappointing. Hook tells Joe to worry about getting his own title back. Joe says yeah, he is worried about that. That’s why he’s out here stacking bodies!

But here’s what Hook doesn’t understand: Heavy is the head that wears the crown. And when that crown gets too heavy, Joe will lop that head off and take the title back. But when it comes to Hook, Joe thought he saw something special. And he knows that Shibata’s capable of. But week after week, he watches them run into the same fire wondering why they get burned. This is about timing, and now is Hook’s time. He has an ally to help him get that FTW title back, but instead they’re here bumping chests. Y’know what’s really crazy? Both have been under the Learning Tree for some time now, and yet Hook and “Speak ‘n’ Spell” haven’t learned a damn thing!

Joe says to get it together. Joe heads to gorilla, Hook tells Shibata he’ll see him Sunday. Shibata says after HE wins the FTW Championship, he’s gonna go see Carrot Top. He’s a funny guy. It’s hard to say if anything Joe said sunk in, but will the Learning Tree still be standing after Double or Nothing?

Samoa Joe VS Dom Kubrick!

The Samoan Submission Specialist has always been someone to fear, but now he’s looking to be even scarier than ever before. Will Joe put every champion in AEW, and perhaps every company, on notice?

The bell rings, the fans sing “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” as he circles with Dom. Dom runs up to forearm, then dropkick, but Joe doesn’t budge! Dom runs, but Joe ELBOWS him down! The fans fire up, and Joe waits on Dom. JAB! JAB! JAB! Joe fires off more jabs in the corner, then fires off fast hands an a CHOP! Joe then whips Dom corner to corner, runs up to BACK ELBOW, then PELE! Joe puts Dom up top, tucks him in, and give shim a MUSCLE BUSTER! Cover, Joe wins!

Winner: Samoa Joe, by pinfall

And with that, Joe simply takes his leave. Will Joe prove that he is the only worthy contender for the AEW World Championship after Double or Nothing?

Backstage interview with Deonna Purrazzo.

Renee notes The Virtuosa has been on this collision course with Thunder Rosa for weeks. And Rosa thinks Deonna is avoiding her, so Rosa has challenged Deonna to name the time and place. Will she? Deonna says that isn’t all Rosa said. Rosa said she expected more from a Jersey Girl. As if a girl from Tijuana, San Antonio or wherever she claims to be from hasn’t tried to attack Deonna twice already. As if Rosa hasn’t tried to jump the line and get her shot. That’s how this started! So if Deonna is to name the time and place, then it will be where Rosa isn’t charging her, isn’t wielding a weapon like a lunatic! That’s not how things are done in Jersey.

They do this when the odds are even and the lights are brightest. They’ll do it in Las Vegas, this Sunday, Double or Nothing’s Buy In. They’ll start the show by ending Rosa! The Virtuosa promises to finish La Mera Mera once and for all, but will she have to face the music?

Rush VS Isiah Kassidy!

El Toro Blanco has been on a rampage since making his return, and he’s ready to crash the Private Party. Will Brother Zay learn for himself that when you mess with the bull, you get the horns?

The bell rings and Rush SHOTGUNS Zay! Zay is down, Rush runs up, BULL’S HORNS!! Rush drags Zay to a cocky cover, but lets off at one?! Rush doesn’t wanna win, he wants to send his own message! Rush scowls at the camera, the fans rally behind him, and he kicks Zay to the apron. Rush goes out to follow Zay as he flounders. Rush CHOPS Zay, then whips him hard into railing! And then into more railing! And then into more railing! Rush finishes the lap as he sends Zay into even more railing! Rush drags Zay up, throws body shots, then SMACKS Zay off the barriers! Rush KNEES Zay’s head, then rains down fists!

The ref reprimands and gets Rush to back off. Rush says tranquilo, and yet he goes for a chair! Rush puts that in the ring, the ref fetches it, but Rush uses the bright green cable to LASH Zay! And LASH him again! And then he CHOKES Zay with it! The ref sees that, reprimands and counts, and Rush lets go. Rush drags Zay up and into the ring, then sets him back in a corner. Rush stomps away on Zay’s head ‘n’ shoulders, then runs corner to corner! Rush jumps to feint, and then he BOOTS Zay in the face. Rush poses, the fans cheer, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Rush wants to get all the fans in Bakersfield fired up as he stands on the corner. Rush runs back up but blocks Zay’s boot! Rush KICKS Zay’s leg, then lets off. Rush storms back up, digs his boots in, and almost scrapes Zay out of the ring, but lets off as the ref counts. Zay flops to the floor, sputters around, but Rush goes out after him. Rush kicks Zay around, toys with him, then drags him up to SMACK him off the steel steps! And emphasis on the steps! Zay staggers, Rush pushes him over railing, and now Rush goes after him out there! Rush throws a trash can at Zay! The ref reprimands, Rush leaves Zay behind and goes back to ringside.

Zay crawls his way back to railing, but Rush drags him up and over. Rush scrapes Zay along the barriers, then CHOPS him! Rush soaks up the cheers and jeers, then drags Zay up, but Rampage goes to break.

Rampage returns and Zay hits a triangle jump STUNNER! Zay then builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit on Rush and Zay gets him in the ring! Zay hurries, but Rush swings. Zay ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO!! Zay almost had Rush but he doesn’t sweat it! Zay goes up top, to SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Rush is still in this, perhaps regretting his arrogance in this match. Zay gets Rush up, but Rush HEADBUTTS! Zay flops over, Rush has him on the apron again. Rush drags Zay up, CHOPS, and eggs him on! CHOP! Zay pulls off the shirt and gets in Rush’s face! Zay CHOPS, Rush CHOPS, repeat!

The fans fire up as Rush eggs Zay on! Zay fires forearm after forearm after forearm and he has Rush on his knees! Zay roars, runs up, but into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX to the floor! The fans are fired up for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” while Rush stalks Zay. Rush drags Zay up, puts him in the ring, and then in a corner. Rush ROCKS Zay with a forearm, then he goes corner to corner! “When you mess with The Bull…!” You get the HORNS!! Cover, Rush wins!

Winner: Rush, by pinfall

Zay put up an incredible fight, but it still wasn’t enough to stop Rush’s rampage. Will El Toro Blanco look to become El Toro Oro?

Backstage interview with Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony.

Arkady Aura is with the former Mogul Embassy and says congrats for The Machine’s win over Anthony Bowens. However, it seemed like Bowens really pushed Brian to his limit. What?! Kaun says no, address the elephant in the room. The Mogul Embassy is dead and gone. They closed that chapter, finished the book, threw it in the trash and set it ablaze. Now, they are back to their winning ways. It started with Brian. Brian thanks Kaun and isn’t sure what Aura is implying. What Brian saw was him main-eventing a Rampage and coming out the winner against Bowens! Brian could’ve beat Bowens any day of the week, twice on Sundays.

Brian can beat Bowens, Caster, and their stupid Daddy Ass. In fact, 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, it’ll always be the same. Check it! They still have the Wildest Samoan in All of Pro-Wrestling, Toa Liona! They still have the ONLY legit prince in pro-wrestling! And the largest arms in pro-wrestling today! Add that all up, and who betta than the Cage of Agony? Liona snarls, will this trio of titans dominate all of AEW?

BREAKING NEWS for Collision!

While at its regular time of 8 PM Eastern on Saturday night, it will be on TBS instead. On top of that, not only do we get Lucha Brothers VS Gunn Brothers, but we get a big Six Man Tag as Bryan Danielson & FTR ride again, against Team Triple J! Will the American Dragon & Top Guys get revenge for what Satnam Singh, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal did on behalf of the Young Bucks?

Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander VS Anna Jay & Alex Windsor!

The Babe with the Power is going Double or Nothing with The CEO this Sunday, so she’s getting ready for that grudge match. Will the Galaxy’s Greatest help her best bud warm up with a win? Or will the Star of the Show & Iron Will Windsor make themselves into top contenders?

The teams sort out and Kris starts against Anna. The fans rally up as the two circle, they tie up, and then Anna stomps a foot! Anna bumps Kris off buckles, CLUBS away on her, then lets off as the ref counts. Anna winds up, but Kris dodges the chop! Kris TOSSES Anna across the way! The fans fire up while Anna scrambles away, tag to Alex. Kris arm-drags Alex, scoops her, and then brings her over. Tag to Willow before the SLAM, then a SLIDING LARIAT! Willow runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Willow drags Alex up to snap suplex! Roll through and then another snap suplex! Dos Amigos, and then- NO, Alex slips free!

Alex waistlocks, but Willow bucks the O’Conner. Willow runs up to CHOP Alex down! But Alex kips up and ROCKS Willow! Alex runs, but Willow goes the other way! POUNCE~! PERIOD! Anna tags in, but Willow scoops her to SLAM! Tag to Kris, Kris SOMERSAULT SENTONS! Then a STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Kris whips Anna to a corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Kris reels Anna in for the BIG back suplex! Kris kips up, Anna staggers to her feet, and Kris tells Alex to kiss this. Kris runs up but Anna puts her on the apron. Kris ROCKS Anna back, ROCKS Alex, too, but Anna gets Kris int he ropes! NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT!

Anna soaks up the heat, Alex gets a cheap shot, and the fans boo. Anna goes out to taunt Kris, and then SMACKS her off steel steps. Anna CLUBS Kris against the steps, and then puts Kris in the ring as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Anna covers, TWO! Anna stays on Kris, and CHOKES her! The ref counts, Anna lets off, and then she stands on Kris. Anna talks some trash, drags Kris up, then bumps her off buckles. Anna turns Kris around to CHOP! Tag to Alex, she fires off body shots again and again! The ref counts, Alex lets off, and she CLUBS Kris down. Alex whips, then BODY SHOTS! Another whip, another BODY SHOT! Cover, TWO! Kris is tough but Alex sucker punches Willow! The ref keeps Willow back but Kris CHOPS Alex! Alex CLUBS away on Kris, then drags her up. Alex scoops to SLAM Kris, then covers, TWO! Kris is still in this but Alex stays on her.

Kris taunts Willow, kicks at her, then drags Kris over. Tag to Anna, they mug Kris, then Anna digs her boots in. The ref counts, Anna lets off, then she cravats for a snapmare. Anna clamps on a chinlock and she grinds Kris down. Kris fights up, arm-drags free, but Alex runs in! Kris TOSSES Alex right out! Anna grabs Kris’ foot, drags her back, then runs up to BLAST Willow! Anna then ELBOWS Kris down! Cover, TWO! Anna is frustrated but Kris isn’t a former TBS Champion for nothing. Anna bumps Kris off buckles, fires off forearms, then tags Alex. They mug Kris, Alex brings Kris out and CLUBS her down.

Alex kicks Kris around, taunts her, but Kris hits back. Alex throws a knee, Kris throws a forearm. Alex CLUBS Kris, cravats for a neck wrench, and Rampage returns to single picture. The fans rally, Kris fights up, but Alex throws knees! Kris fires body shots in return, but Alex kicks, SUPERKICKS. then runs, but Kris blocks the Penalty Kick! Kris throws Alex down, then deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES! Hot tags to Willow and Anna! The fans fire up as Willow rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT! Anna goes to a corner, Willow runs in to back body block! Clothesline! snapmare and BOOT! Willow fires up, whips Anna to ropes, then SPINEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO!

Anna survives but Willow keeps her focus. Willow fireman’s carries, Anna sunset flips! TWO, and Willow sits on Anna! TWO, both women get up, and Anna wrenches to JAWBREAKER! Anna runs up but into a BOOT! Willow goes up and MISSILE DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Willow goes corner to corner, but Anna dodges the cannonball! Anna runs in to LEG LARIAT! Anna hurries to tag Alex, and Anna clinches. Anna hits the FLATLINER, then Alex runs! SHINING WINDSOR! Cover, Kris breaks it! The fans are thunderous and Kris TOSSES Alex! Anna runs up, Kris dodges and ROCKS her! Anna fires back!

The fans fire up as these two go back and forth! Kris gets the edge with forearms and CHOPS, then shoves to ROUNDHOUSE! Anna falls, Kris roars, but Alex BOOTS Kris! Willow aims on Alex, LARIAT!! The fans are thunderous as Willow gut wrenches Alex, BABE WITH THE POWER BOMB!! Cover, Willow & Kris win!

Winners: Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander, by pinfall

A big win for the best buds and we’re rolling into Double or Nothing! WAIT! Here comes Mercedes Mone! The fans fire up for the CEO as she wears a golden outfit of her own! Mone fires off on Willow, but Kris gets Mone off her! Mone fights out of Fight Night Fever, to give Kris the Gory Especial! But Willow saves Kris now! Willow kicks Mone, reels her in, but Mone fights the bomb! Mone trips Willow to throw down fists! Willow gives those back! Mone gets back on top, but then Willow turns it back around! The refs have to rush in, as does security! Stokely keeps Kris out of it, this is chaotic enough already!

Fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but the two are separated. Mone gets loose to LEAP in! The fans fire up, Kris & Stokely get Willow outta there! Mone holds up the belt, will she win it all at Double or Nothing? Or will Willow find a way to be 2-0 against The CEO?

My Thoughts:

A great Rampage here, especially for a go-home show. We almost got two squash matches but I appreciate Rush’s arrogance in character allowed his match with Zay to be more than that. Zay is on his own again with Quen hurt again, so he needs to be given a chance to show what he can do on his own, and I think he’s gotten some of that the last couple of weeks. Joe of course crushed Kubrick, but the main thing about his appearance tonight as that he again told Hook and Shibata to figure it out. They can put their rivalry aside, beat the life outta the Learning Tree, and get the title off him so they can settle things 1v1 down the line, but that’s definitely not gonna happen. Hook will be stubborn, he and Shibata will get in each other’s way, and Jericho retains.

Great opening match from Pac VS Rocky, great win for Pac, and then really good promo from him calling out Bang Bang Gang. Lucha Bros VS Gunns is official and presumably a Title Eliminator, I would think Penta & Fenix win to make Double or Nothing for the Trios titles. Though at the same time, it’d be a shame if Death Triangle got fed to Bang Bang Gang, as I don’t see those titles changing hands just yet. Really good promo from Deonna to call out Rosa and make a match for the Buy-In, and really good promo from the now “Cage of Agony” to call out The Acclaimed. There’s half a chance Acclaimed VS Cage of Agony is made for the Buy-In, just to put Brian’s confidence to the test.

And very good tag main event for the ladies. Great showing for Windsor on her AEW debut after seeing her do solid work on NJPW shows. But naturally, Willow & Kris won so that Willow will have momentum going into Double or Nothing. I did not expect Mone to show up and go after Willow, but I suppose that is so the go-home math still favors Willow. After all, Mone stood tall in the brawl and even held up the belt. Those signs point to Willow finding a way to retain, even if it’s a really wonky finish. Maybe Kris gets involved so that Mone wins but it’s by disqualification and Willow retains with Champion’s Advantage, and Willow gets mad at Kris, starting us on a break-up angle.

My Score: 8.7/10