Who heads for the Tokyo Dome?

Even with ROH Final Battle on the horizon, Athena, Billie Starkz, Red Velvet & Leyla Hirsch battle to be part of NJPW’s International Women’s Cup! Who will represent ROH at WrestleDynasty?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WrestleDynasty International Women’s Cup ROH Qualifier Fatal 4 Way: Athena VS Billie Starkz VS Red Velvet VS Leyla Hirsch; Athena wins and advances to WrestleDynasty.
• The Outrunners VS The Premier Athletes w/ Mark Sterling; The Outrunners win.
• Madison Rayne VS Allysin Kay; Rayne wins.
• Toa Liona VS Lee Johnson w/ EJ Nduka; Liona wins.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: Grizzled Young Veterans VS MXM Collection; GYV wins and retains the titles.
• ROH Rewind – Final Battle 2021, Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor VS Kenny King; Shane wins.
• Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara VS Eric Dillinger & Josh Crane; Dustin & Sammy win.
• ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty VS Matt Taven; Lee wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Billie Starkz gets ready backstage.

She calls to the cameraman to come closer. She has a Fatal 4 Way match tonight for WrestleDynasty! She can set herself up for any title match she wants, meaning it’s another chance to prove herself. As cheesy as that sounds- Athena interrupts by saying, “Hellooooo~ Minions~! This is your Fallen Goddess, your Minion Overlord, the inspiration to every division, the American Joshi, but most importantly, the Forever ROH Women’s Champion, to call a MEM: A Minion Empowerment Meeting.”

Athena turns her attention to Billie and says that she knows for some reason, Billie’s had her issues with Athena. Athena doesn’t get it, she’s done nothing wrong, no idea why Billie’s being this rebellious teenager, but tonight, Billie owes Athena the biggest of apologies. So when all the dust settles from “Lil’ Red” and “Ley-Ley” out there, Billie needs to lay down, stare up at the lights, and let Athena get the 1-2-3 so she can start the Athena World Tour! But Billie wants to go to the Tokyo Dome, too… Athena says no one cares what Billie wants! Billie owes Athena for everything Athena has done for her.

Does Billie not get it? When Billie signed that MIT application, it is a legally binding contract that Billie is Athena’s Minion For Life until Athena terminates the deal. So get it together, and see you out there. And after, maybe Athena lets Billie ride on the plane for the world tour. WrestleDynasty, here she comes! Athena happily marches her way out, Billie sighs, and Billie also seethes. Will Billie finally stand up to the bully and be her own person?

WrestleDynasty International Women’s Cup ROH Qualifier Fatal 4 Way: Athena VS Billie Starkz VS Red Velvet VS Leyla Hirsch!

The Fallen Goddess may be the Forever ROH Women’s World Champion, but everyone in this match has equal odds of winning! Will Athena still be as dominant against three opponents? Will Minion 400,237 & 3/4ths finally stand on her own? Will the ROH Women’s World Television Champion be serving L’s left and right? Or will WrestleDynasty be LEGIT with Leyla Hirsch?

Leyla and Velvet, though opponents at Final Battle next week, keep the Code of Honor here. But they don’t want anything to do with Athena or Billie, and the feeling is mutual. The bell rings and the fans rally for Billie. Athena says Billie sucks, Leyla sucks, and Red sucks! But then they all storm up on Athena! Athena says get back, she’s the baddest! Athena bails out, does jumping jacks, but Billie mockingly asks what happened to “baddest hits first?” What about the Tokyo Dome? Leyla and Velvet tie up, Leyla headlocks, but Velvet powers out. Billie bypasses Leyla and Leyla runs Velvet over! Leyla runs, Velvet drops, so Leyla RAMS Billie!

Billie stays up, Velvet takes a swing but Leyla ducks. Leyla back suplexes, Velvet lands out, but Billie is there to get her! BACKBREAKER! Billie shoves Velvet away to then dodge Leyla, and wrenches to a KNEE SMASH and HEEL KICK! Leyla tumbles away, Velvet crawls, and Billie builds speed. Billie DIVES and takes out Leyla! Not the cleanest hit but Billie still roars! The fans fire up and Billie stands Leyla up. They brawl, but Velvet is up top! SUPER CROSSBODY and down they go! The fans fire up as Velvet stirs it up, but Athena attacks Velvet from behind! Athena sends Velvet into railing! Athena drags Leyla up and throws her intro railing!

Athena cheers herself while the fans are conflicted. Athena puts Velvet in the ring, runs up, but Velvet dodges to fire body shots! The ref counts, Velvet lets off with a roll of the eyes, but Athena BOOTS her down! Athena whips Velvet to a corner, then runs corner to corner, handspring and LARIAT! The fans fire up as Athena runs, springboards, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Velvet is tougher than that and that upsets Athena. Athena storms over to a corner, climbs up, but Velvet stands to ROUNDHOUSE! Velvet climbs up after Athena, goes to the very top, and SUPER CASADORA! Athena tumbles but Leyla is back!

Velvet dodges Leyla to mule kick and snapmare. Velvet KICKS Leyla in the back, then drags her over to join Athena. Velvet hooks all those arms for a DOUBLE MOUSE TRAP! TWO!! Athena and Leyla escape, and now Billie is back to whip. Velvet reverses and CALF KICKS Billie down! The fans fire up and Velvet drops a leg on the arm! Velvet ties up Billie in a short arm scissor! But Leyla steps over, DISARMER! But Athena clamps onto Leyla with a DRAGON SLEEPER! It’s a submission chain! Leyla endures, Velvet endures, but Billie reaches up! Billie grabs Athena’s hair and YANKS her down! The fans fire up and Billie rolls Velvet, TWO!

Billie and Velvet stand, and Billie blocks a kick! “EAT YOUR TEETH!” KNEE! Leyla waistlocks Billie to GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up and Leyla storms up on Athena. Athena shoves Leyla away but Leyla comes back. Athena catches the lariat to wrench and BIG back suplex! Athena kips up, the fans fire up, and Athena whips Leyla to ropes. Leyla ducks ‘n’ dodges to sunset flip, TWO and Athena sits on the cover, only for Velvet to BASEMENT DDT! Velvet covers Athena, TWO! Leyla gut wrenches to SLAM Velvet back onto Athena! But that’s another cover! Leyla breaks that cover, then covers both Athena and Velvet! TWO!!

Billie SWANTON BOMBS them all!! Billie covers Leyla, TWO! Billie covers Velvet, TWO! Billie is frustrated already, but then she spots Athena. The fans rally up as Billie walks over to Athena, but Leyla turns Billie around to DECK her! Leyla eggs Athena on but Athena SUPERKICKS her! The fans rally up, Velvet wheelbarrows Athena, but Athena THROWS her down! Athena hauls Leyla up to GOURD BUSTER her onto Velvet! But that’s a cover! Billie and Athena both hurry over, but Athena uses Leyla as a step to then RANA Billie! The fans fire up as Athena shouts, “This is MY show!” Athena then storms up on Leyla, but Leyla jumps on for a SLEEPER!

Athena stays up, Velvet runs to CROSSBODY, but Athena catches her! The fans fire up as Athena powers up to SWINGING FACEBUSTER BACKPACK SENTON COMBO!! Athena covers Leyla, TWO! Cover on Velvet, TWO! Athena grows frustrated but then she climbs a corner. The fans rally, but Velvet trips Athena up! Velvet fires hands, climbs up, and then Leyla joins in! They mug Athena, but Billie gets under them all! TOWER OF DOOM!! The fans fire up for Billie as she’s the only one standing! Billie storms up on Leyla, tucks her in, STAR 10!! Cover, ATHENA BREAKS IT! The Overlord and the Minion stare down!

Athena says this is NOT what they talked about! Billie says this was supposed to be her time! Athena says who cares about Billie’s time! Now just lie down! But Velvet SHOVES Athena into Billie, and they both end up on ropes! Velvet runs to DOUBLE BLINDSIDE KNEE! Billie and Athena tumble out, Velvet drops back, but Leyla leaps off the steps! DOUBLE SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Leyla rises up. Leyla storms in and meets Velvet. The fans rally for this preview of Final Battle! The forearms fly back and forth, harder and harder! Leyla gets the edge, but Velvet knees low! Velvet whips, Leyla goes up, but Athena is there, too!

Velvet runs up, Leyla jumps aside, Athena and Velvet CLOBBER each other! Athena falls, Leyla hits a JUMPING NECKBREAKER on Velvet! Leyla sits Velvet up for the LEGIT KNEE!! And then a pump handle and RIGHT ANGLE SLAM!! Cover, BILLIE BREAKS IT! Billie TOSSES Leyla, but Leyla drags her out with her! Athena snipes the cover!! ATHENA WINS!!

Winner: Athena, by pinfall (advances to WrestleDynasty)

Billie is stunned and Athena is all smiles, because the world tour is beginning! Will the Fallen Goddess go to the Tokyo Dome to bring the International Women’s Cup back to ROH? But what about her opponent for Final Battle?

As for Velvet and Leyla, they just have to brush this off and now prepare for each other in the Hammerstein Ballroom. Will The Chef stir it up in the Manhattan Center? Or will Leyla make Final Battle LEGIT?

Dustin Rhodes speaks.

“The Righteous like to jump people from behind, and play their so-called mind games. You can jump me from behind. But one thing you don’t understand that after 37 years, no matter how many times I have fallen on my back, I always get back up. There’s no quit in any Rhodes in my family. We are passionate about what we do. So play your little mind games. Yeah, you may have rattled me a little bit and I am kinda pissed off… And Dutch. You specifically have crossed the line, mentioning my father’s name and that bull rope that he gave you. I understand you trained with him, and I understand that he took you under his ring. He saw something in you.

‘But what you don’t understand is the kind of man that Dusty was outside of the ring. He would give his shirt off his back for you, and anybody else that was passionate about our sport, because he loved it. he loved the kids, he loved teaching. And you crossed the line! You don’t understand just how far you’ve gone. Because you’re a sick son of a b*tch for using my dad’s kindness against me. I have been through Hell and walked all through it! Kicked the Devil in his teeth and survived, and survived, and survived. And now it’s on. Final Battle. Historic first-time-ever DOUBLE Bullrope Match for the ROH World Tag Team Championships.”

Dustin picks up his own cowbell and bull rope, and he wants Dutch to know that Sammy Guevara has always had Dustin’s back. And The Sons of Texas are about to deliver The Righteous straight to Hell and leave them to rot forever! Dutch, Vincent, at Final Battle, in Hammerstein, in the city that never sleeps, don’t you EVER mention Dustin’s dad again! Because it will be the last words that you speak! “See you soon, boys.”

The Dark Order speaks.

“We are the Gri-gri-gri, Grizzled Young Veterans!” Well, no, it’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver cosplaying as Zack Gibson & James Drake to make fun of them. But this is also GalaxyCon so cosplaying fits in here. Evil Uno walks over to see this and asks what they’re doing. They’re better than this! No we’re not, mate! They gotta teach the boys a lesson! Uno lets the gag go on as Reynolds continues to be Gibson, and he tells the prospects to take notes. First: Zack Gibson is NOT as handsome as Alex Reynolds! Make sure to write that down! Second: GYV are just Wish.com Dark Order, mates!

But then GYV storm in and Gibson asks if they’re having a laugh! Uno tries to keep the peace but Drake shoves Reynolds! Reynolds storms up but Uno stands in his way! Silver asks what the hell, but Uno takes the GYV towels off Reynolds & Silver to give back to Gibson & Drake. Gibson says they’ll let this go, for Uno’s sake. Uno is better than this. Silver again asks what Uno is doing, but will Uno get his team to take things seriously?

NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: Grizzled Young Veterans VS MXM Collection!

ROH has always been about that crossover, so how’s this: Zack Gibson & James Drake went to Lowell, Massachusetts and won these belts at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. But Mansoor & Mason Madden have been strutting their stuff back and forth between ROH and AEW, hoping to get their hands on any fashionable title belt. Will the Iron Chic & Mahogany Hunk start wearing a lot more blue to go with these titles? Or will they simply learn to #GritYourTeeth?

Well here’s a surprise! MXM still has Johnny TV accompanying them, but he’s apparently agreed to a makeover! And doesn’t seem that into it… Is it the strange bobbles on his necklace? Or that strange looking pinky ring? Johnny lets MXM go to the ring without him, he’ll just lend moral support this time.

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is NJPW Strong!

The teams sort out and Gibson is already not amused. But Mansoor demands that GYV touch their tips! The fans chant, “Touch Their Tips! Touch Their Tips!” Gibson & Drake are beside themselves, but they reach out, only to leave MXM hanging! The fans boo but Mansoor steps up to Liverpool’s Number One. The bell rings, they tie up, and Gibson waistlocks then arm-drags to wristlock. Mansoor fights up, Gibson wrenches, but Mansoor rolls, kips up, and cartwheels! Mansoor handsprings, wrenches, but Gibson throws him down by his hair! Tag to Drake and GYV double suplex, but Mansoor lands on his feet! And swivels his hips! DOUBLE RUDE AWAKENING!

Mansoor winks at the camera and blows a kiss, then he goes for Drake. Mansoor ROCKS Drake, tags Mason, and MXM mugs Drake. Mason fires body shots over and over, then DOUBLE CHOPS Drake down! The fans fire up and says he’ll make Drake touch tips! Mason steps over Drake’s arm, drags him towards the corner, but Drake resists! The fans fire up as Mason gets closer and closer, but Drake pulls hair! Mason frowns and UPPERCUTS Drake! Mason TOSSES Drake to the corner, tags Mansoor, and he sends Mansoor in for a SPLASH! Mansoor moves aside so Mason can ELBOW Drake! Feed to the atomic drop!

Mansoor dropkicks the legs out, and Mason pulls up to HIP ATTACK! Then MXM touch tips! Cover, ONE!! Drake is tough but Mansoor headlocks. Drake powers up and out, Gibson tags in, and then Drake drops so Gibson can trip Mansoor! Gibson drags Mansoor out but Mansoor DECKS Gibson! Mansoor looms over Gibson, but Drake DIVES onto Mansoor! The fans boo but Gibson says they reeled in a big one. Gibson puts Mansoor on the apron and SLAMS his chest! Gibson stomps Mansoor, stays between him and Mason, then ROCKS him! Gibson storms up but Mansoor BOOTS from the corner! Mansoor fires shots on both Drake & Gibson!

Gibson scoops,  Mansoor slips free, but Gibson keeps Mansoor from Mason! Mansoor fires hands, reaches out, but Gibson KNEES low! Gibson sucker punches Mason, but Mansoor inside cradles! TWO!! Gibson headlocks, Mansoor powers out, but Drake tags in! Gibson reverses the whip, Drake dropkicks legs and Gibson basement dropkicks Mansoor! Gibson then steps up and Drake runs in, MAYHEM IN MOTION! Down goes Mason and GYV stalk Mansoor. Gibson hauls Mansoor up, Drake climbs, Gibson hits a SAIDO! Drake is up top for the DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!! Mansoor survives and the fans fire up!

GYV argue the count but the ref defends it. The fans rally for Mansoor but Drake brings him up. Drake DECKS Mansoor, tags Gibson, and GYV mugs Mansoor. Gibson asks if Mansoor wants to touch now! Gibson pie faces Mansoor and says jokes don’t win titles. Gibson ROCKS Mansoor, but Mansoor asks, “Is that all you got, you bald bastard?!” Gibson fires more shots, but Mansoor hits back! The fans rally as Mansoor CHOPS, but then Gibson throws another forearm! The shots keep going, but then Gibson fireman’s carries! Mansoor slips free, shoves, and atomic drops to a SPINEBUSTER!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Mason rises up! Mansoor and Gibson crawl, hot tag to Drake, hot tip to Mason! Mason runs up, breaks the clothesline, and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES GYV! Then ELBOW in a corner for Gibson! NICO NICO KNEE for Drake! LEG LARIAT for Gibson! Ripcord and SWINGING URENAGE for Drake!! The fans are thunderous and Mason tags in Mansoor! Mason clamps onto Drake, Mansoor sets up, CHOKE SLAM SAIDO!! Cover, Gibson breaks it! Mason TOSSES Gibson, but Gibson drags Mason out with him! Mason shoves Gibson away, runs up, but is sent into steel steps!

Mansoor grabs Gibson, Drake grabs Mansoor! Mansoor steps over the cover to cover, TWO!! BOOT and ENZIGIRI! Mansoor hurries to fireman’s carry, but Drake fights free! Drake shoves, Mansoor grabs ropes and BOOTS back! Drake distracts the ref, Gibson uses the scarf/towel to CHOKE Mansoor and then YANK him down! The fans boo but Gibson gets away with it. Tag to Gibson, GRIT YOUR TEETH!! Cover off the high-low, GYV wins!

Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)

Gibson & Drake snatch this one away from MXM, and then they get outta there before Mason can run up on them. GYV mock the tip touch, but will MXM still find a way to be wrestling’s next top tag team?

Paul Wight speaks.

“ROH fans, Paul Wight here with some exciting news! Former ROH World Champion returning to competition, the one, the only, Jay Lethal!” Lethal has his macho handshake ready and says put ‘er there, Paul! They shake hands and Lethal says it is an honor to be returning to ROH. And at Final Battle of all places! That show is set to be incredible. But if they could get that conversation from earlier today… Oh, he wants to have that conversation on air? Lethal says why not, cameras are here. Wight says okay, and Lethal says it is his number one priority to get back to the top of the ROH marquee. He is telling us right now, it is 100% doable.

Wight agrees, and Lethal is also wondering, who is he facing at Final Battle? Hopefully whoever it is, it gets Lethal back in the title picture. Because Wight knows, Lethal loves gold. But in steps QT Marshall & Aaron Solo, and QT wants everyone to hold on. Title picture? Is that what ROH is doing now? Just handing out title matches? QT apologizes to “Mr. Wight” and sits down at the table. QT wants to talk with Wight. There’s no heat from Full Gear. QT gets that Wight was just standing up for The Rizzler. But QT has heat with Lethal! Lethal wants to talk about the top of the marquee, but QT couldn’t have laid it out any easier! QT VS Lethal at Final Battle!

Uh, no, Lethal doesn’t want to do that. Oh, he doesn’t wanna do that? Does Lethal have bigger fish to fry? What has Lethal been doing? All QT remembers about Lethal is going “0 for the century” in the Continental Classic. How about this? Lethal isn’t even in this year’s C2! And Lethal’s shirt (a Macho Man tribute) shows he is just fixated on rekindling an old flame that was never that hot to begin with. Lethal gets heated and QT says hold on, hold on. QT read the room wrong. But QT will never ask for another match against Lethal.  QT is sure Wight has some great ideas for Lethal to rekindle that flame.

So after all that and it doesn’t work out, Lethal can rest assured knowing he’ll always have a spot carrying QT’s bags like he does for Jeff Jarrett. Lethal grabs QT from across the table! Sonjay Dutt, Solo and Wight break it up! This does not happen in his office. Wight tells Lethal has business to handle with QT, so it will be Lethal VS QT at Final Battle. After that, they can talk about Lethal’s bright future in ROH. QT thanks Wight, high-fives with Solo and says, “It worked!” as he and Solo get out of there. QT goaded Lethal and Wight into this fight, but will it be QT who faces his DOOOOM~?

ROH Rewind – Final Battle 2021, Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor VS Kenny King!

If we’re talking about handling business, this match was about that and about staying afloat during some dire times. Desperation turned friends into enemies, was Big Bad Shaney T able to trump the K I N G KING~?

The bell rings and Shane is already egging on King, daring him to hit first. King shrugs, and SPITS WATER in Shane’s face! The fans fire up, Shane takes a swing, but King dodges to JAB, JAB, and swing. Shane dodges, UPPERCUTS, then runs, but King ROCKS Shane! King takes another swing but Shane dodges! Shane LARIATS King up and out and the fans fire up more! Shane storms out after King, and he whips King hard into barriers! King even clips the chair that sits in the corner! Shane drags King up and he whips King hard into more barriers! The barriers move back and the fans fire up!

Shane storms around while King crawls away. Shane grabs one of those chairs, takes aim, but King ducks! Chair hits post and Shane’s hands jam up! King runs up but Shane BACKDROPS him away! Shane moves things aside so he can bring a table over! Then he brings another table over! Fans rally up as Shane has both tables together, but King eggs Shane on from the ring. King throws his jacket, Shane storms in, and King fires off! Shane shoves King but King kicks and fires forearms! King kicks, Shane blocks, but the DRAGON WHIP comes around! King runs up but Shane puts him on the apron!

Shane ROCKS King, fires more forearms, then looks to those tables. Shane goes to the other side of the corner, and the fans are freaking out already! “PLEASE DON’T DIE! PLEASE DON’T DIE!” King CLUBS away on Shane, but he just adjusts position! SUPER BLOCKBUSTER down through the tables!! The fans lose their minds, and King has a bit of a grin as he sits up from the wreckage. King gets the fans to say his name, “The K I N G KIIING~!” King still has to hobble and crawl his way over to other items, but then he and Shane both get in the ring with kendo sticks! Shane swings, King dodges! Shane dodges, but then King gets him in the gut!

The fans fire up as King SMACKS Shane on the back! King KICKS Shane in the side, SMACKS him on the back, then uses the kendo stick to CHOKE Shane! Shane can only suffer, but King lets Shane off. King says time to put his ass in the trash! King gets a trash can, pushes that into the ring, then storms up on Shane in a corner. King fires hands but Shane returns fire with body shots! King CLAWS Shane’s face! The fans are torn but King has the can! SMACK right to the head! Shane sputters while he sits down in the corner and the ref checks him. King tells the ref to back off, and then he runs up, but Shane catches him! URENAGE onto the trash can!

King writhes after the can dents from his body! The fans cheer on “S T P! S T P!” Shane storms up on King with a kendo stick now! King asks for mercy, but Shane just SMACKS him instead! Shane SMACKS King again, and again, and again! It is all payback for earlier, with interest! The fans fire up as Shane goes out and fetches a new table! Shane brings that over to the ramp side, then fetches King. King fires hands but Shane CLUBS him on the back. Shane brings King over, and DECKS him onto the table! King sputters while Shane goes up to the apron. Fans fire up again as Shane runs up, SPLASH DOWN through the table!!

The fans are thunderous as Shane gets himself free of the wreckage. Shane rises up, goes to the other side of the ring, and he brings out a FOURTH table! It’s covered in streamers but Shane clears those off as best he can before putting the table in the ring. The table is propped up in the corner, and Shane hauls King up for a scoop! Shane runs up, but King slips free! EDDY GORDO KICK! Fireman’s carry! ROLLING DEATH VALLEY into the table!! The fans are thunderous again as King covers, TWO!! Shane survives and King is beside himself! The fans rally for STP again, but King goes out to look at what’s left.

King goes with the ladder! And it’s a tall one! King manages to make a bridge between ring and barrier, and the fans already anticipate something painful. But then King gets a second ladder, puts it in the ring, but Shane grabs the other tall ladder! King hurries to SMACK Shane with a kendo stick first! And then SMACKS him again! King takes ownership of the ladder, and does his best to position that in the corner. The ladder stands tall, but Shane is back with a kendo stick! Shane SMACKS King in the gut! More payback with another SMACK to the back! King pushes wreckage out of the way before he goes out again.

Shane fetches one more ladder and puts it in the ring. Shane stands that fourth ladder up near a corner, opposite of the tall one. Then Shane takes the odd ladder out and makes a bridge between everything. King just lets him do it, then he SMACKS Shane on the back! King CHOKES Shane with the kendo stick, pushes Shane onto that bridge, and then CLUBS him down! King climbs up and the fans are already freaking out! King goes up, and up, and up! SUPER SPLASH on the ladder bridge!! Both men writhe and the fans are thunderous! Cover, TWO!!! Shane survives again and King is facing despair at this point!

King huffs ‘n’ puffs, shoves ladders over, dumps ladders out, and just wants “this bullsh*t outta here!” King folds up the tallest ladder, puts it in a corner, and then runs at Shane. Shane blocks the boot, pushes King back, but King somersaults in return! Shane ROCKS King! Then ROCKS him!! Then KNEES him!! Then he hauls King up, WELCOME TO THE LAND!! Cover, TWO!?!? Shane can’t believe King survived, but the fans are loving this! King goes back to his original ladder bridge, makes sure it’s back in place, and the fans rally up. Shane goes outside but King goes to the apron.

King SPITS at Shane just to egg him on! Shane gets up onto the barrier?! And then Shane joins King on his ladder bridge?! The fans are going nuts already, and Shane asks ring crew and ROH prospects to prop this up for him, he knows he’s a big man. Both men walk out to the center, they’re doing this like Robin Hood and Little John! They brawl while teetering on the edge, and King gets the edge! King says Shane “will always be my b*tch!” But Shane HEADBUTTS King!! Shane tucks King in, MARCUS GARVEY PILEDRIVER through the ladder!!! The fans are losing their minds over the destruction!

Shane stirs, and he drags King up and into the ring! “This is Awesome!” as Shane brings in a chair. Shane shovels King to a cover, TWO!?!?! King defies human limitations, but Shane says this is the end. Shane waits on King to rise up, and King stares him down. Shane is conflicted, but King asks, “What’re you waiting for?! EFFIN’ DO IT!!” Shane HEADSHOTS King with the chair!!! And then he sets the chair up, for a FULL METAL MARCUS GARVEY!!!! Cover, SHANE WINS!!

Winner: Shane Taylor, by pinfall

The fans give a standing ovation while the members of STP 2021 hurry out to celebrate with their fearless leader. But speaking of Big Bad Shaney T…

Shane Taylor speaks.

“‘Someone like you isn’t meant to be champion. Your job is to sing, dance, and entertain. There’s nothing that you can do to change this game. People like you need to know your place.’ I heard it all before. Shane Taylor Promotions, we know our place in the game. It’s just not where you want. We’re coming for everything. And there’s nothing, nothing, you can do about it. Rumble, bad man, rumble.” Will 2025 be the Year of STP?

Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara VS Eric Dillinger & Josh Crane!

We heard from The Natural, but now he and the Spanish God are looking to warm up before their battle with The Righteous. Will everyone learn why you don’t mess with The Sons of Texas?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and Crane takes the first shot! Dillinger follows suit but Dustin hits back and Sammy shoves Dillinger! Dustin TOSSES Crane, Sammy ROCKS Dillinger! Sammy keeps on Dillinger inside while Dustin DECKS Crane! Sammy winds up and he CHOPS Dillinger in the corner! Dillinger goes to another corner, Sammy winds up, and runs up to CHOP! Tag to Dustin and the fans fire up. Dustin CHOPS, CHOPS, and then he tags Sammy. Dustin says one more and the fans cheer. The Sons DOUBLE CHOP! Crane runs up but into a DOUBLE CHOP for himself!

Dustin & Sammy DOUBLE SUPLEX Dillinger, then Dustin runs to SHINING WIZARD! Sammy HIP TOSSES Crane onto Dillinger! Then Sammy sets up, STANDING MOONSAULT on them both! The fans fire up with Sammy and he tags Dustin. Dustin brings Dillinger up, wrenches him, but Dillinger fires hands! Dillinger whips and Crane gets a shot in! Dillinger BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Tag to Crane and fans boo but Crane & Dillinger double whip. They DOUBLE ELBOW, then do some RISKY BUSINESS! Crane covers, ONE!! Dustin is tougher than that, but Crane whips him to the corner. Dustin BLASTS Dillinger!

Dustin BOOTS Crane, the fans rally up, but Crane kicks low. Crane whips but Dustin reverses, and Dustin SNAP POWERSLAMS! The fans rally, Dustin crawls, hot tags to Sammy and Dillinger! Sammy climbs up and leaps, DOUBLE CROSSBODY on Dillinger & Crane! Sammy LARIATS Crane up and out, then he baits Dillinger in. SUPERKICK, to FLYING CUTTER! Dustin hops in to DESTROYER!! Sammy says this is it! Torture rack, but Crane runs up! Sammy SMACKS Crane with Dillinger! GO TO HOSPITAL, into Dustin’s dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!! Cover, Sons of Texas win!

Winners: Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara, by pinfall

Public Enemy take down, and The Luckiest Man Alive isn’t feeling so lucky! But will Dustin & Sammy be naturals in the Bullrope Tornado Tag with- Oh, speaking of, The Righteous are here! And Dutch is storming down to the ring with the Dusty Rhodes cowbell! But Vincent has a mic to tell Dutch to wait. Dutch grins at Dustin, and Vincent says, “Hello, gentlemen. So… You wanna fight tonight?” The fans wanna see it! Vincent chuckles and says, “Since I’m such a nice guy… I’ll let everybody here decide.” The fans like that! Vincent asks Columbus, Ohio if they wanna see it tonight. The fans say yes, they do!

Vincent says, “Well, that’s just too bad. Because you don’t deserve it. And you two don’t decide when it happens. And in time, we will ring your bell with daddy’s bell.” The fans boo and Sammy keeps Dustin calm. Vincent says they’ll see nothing but polka dots after. Dustin’s had it! He goes out to grab a chair but Sammy wants him to stand down. Dutch & Vincent laugh as they leave, but Sammy says this is what they want. They want Dustin tilted with his anger. The Sons of Texas stand down, but soon enough, they will have their Final Battle with The Righteous. Will Dustin & Sammy make sure Dutch & Vincent are never ROH World Tag Team Champions?

ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty VS Matt Taven!

Shane Taylor Promotions is looking to take over, but the ROH Grand Slam Champion is looking to become a FIVE-STAR Champion! Will THE Matt Taven be able to complete ROH bingo? Or is #TAIGASTYLE just too wild?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly Pure!

For this title match, we have a ONE HOUR time limit! And should this somehow go to that time limit, our judges for tonight are Christopher Daniels, Jerry Lynn & Nigel McGuinness. The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans fire up for Taven. That might be in part because Lee is from Pittsburgh and this is Ohio, but Taven is a long standing staple of ROH. The two circle, feel things out, then tie up. Lee waistlocks, spins and wrenches Taven to a wristlock, but Taven wrenches back. Lee spins, slips through, wrenches, and then spins and wrangles Taven to the mat! Taven endures the top wristlock while fans applaud the technical exchange.

Lee talks trash that Taven will never beat him, but Taven fights up. Lee wrangles Taven again, eggs him on, so Taven fights up. The fans rally but Lee again wrangles Taven with the wristlock. Taven headscissors! Lee kips free, Taven arm-drags, and now Taven gives back the trash talk and the wristlock. Lee fights up, arm-drags, but Taven drags Lee back down! Taven keeps on the arm, but Lee fights up to reach back for a headlock. They end up in a corner, the ref calls the neutral break, and both men let go. But Taven avoids the cheap shot! Taven whips, Lee reverses, but Taven goes up and over. Taven slides under, then he DROPKICKS!

The fans cheer and we’re just past 2 minutes as Taven says he’s got something for ya. “IIIII’M Matt Taven!” But Lee cradles him! TWO, and Lee ducks the heel kick! Lee kicks out a leg, and then shouts, “IIIII’M Lee Moriarty!” The fans are torn but Taven ELBOWS Lee away. Taven whips, Lee reverses, but Taven reverses back! Taven suplexes, Lee slips free but Taven spins around to suplex after all! Cover, TWO! Taven is a little frustrated but he drags Lee up. Taven headlocks but Lee throws body shots. Fans rally as Lee powers up and out. Taven ends up in a corner, Lee runs up and SOBATS! Taven sputters, was that a liver shot?

The ref checks Taven and we’re only past 3:30. Taven grits his teeth, stands up, and he catches his breath. Lee uses the opening to LARIAT in the corner! Lee RAMS Taven again and again, then pie faces him. Lee claps at Taven at 4 minutes, then KICKS him in the back. Taven is in the corner, and Lee CLAWS Taven’s back! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Lee brings Taven up in a clinch. Lee fires knees, then whips Taven to ropes, kitchen sink knee! Cover, TWO! Taven stays in this but Lee stays on him with a rear bearhug! The fans rally, Taven fights up, and Taven pries at the hold. Lee shifts for a COBRA TWIST!

Taven endures as Lee adds an arm to the hold! Taven fights and falls, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Lee steps back, and that is Taven’s first of three. Lee nods and likes how this is going. Lee hauls Taven up, snapmares him, then KICKS him in the back! Lee claps, the fans are torn, but Lee soaks up both cheers and jeers. Lee then KICKS Taven in the chest! Taven sputters but he toughs it out. Lee says Taven is not on his level, but then Taven snapmares to a ghost pin! TWO, but Taven floats to go for a crossface! Lee slips out, he goes for the same! BORDER CITY STRETCH! Taven fights around fast but he’s still far from ropes!

Lee stomps away on Taven’s free arm! Taven kicks around and uses his legs for the ROPEBREAK! We’re at 6:30 but Taven’s already used up his second! Lee grins, he has Taven right where he wants him! Taven wrenches and whips for a kitchen sink knee! And then another! But Taven rolls Lee! Lee slips free, HEEL KICK from Taven! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Taven pounds the mat, the fans rally behind him, and both men rise. Lee puts his dukes up, but Taven bobs ‘n’ weaves. Taven ROCKS Lee with a forearm, then hits an atomic drop! Taven runs to LARIAT! The fans rally up, Lee takes as swing, but Taven ducks!

Taven ripcords Lee, and hits the FLATLINER! Taven still wants his crossface but Lee slips free! Lee waistlocks, Taven switches, but Lee switches back! Lee goes for the schoolboy but Taven steps over, rolls away, and then comes back with JUST THE TIP of the knee! Cover, TWO! Lee stays in this as we pass 8 minutes. Taven stays focused and the fans rally up. Taven stands Lee up but Lee wrenches and has the wristlock! Lee wrangles Taven and SNAPS fingers! The fans fire up as Lee acts like a Villain! Then DISCUS LARIAT! But Lee isn’t done, he hauls Taven up to wrench, crisscross, and STRAITJACKET FACEBUSTER!

Lee then clamps on the BORDER CITY STRETCH!! Taven flails, reaches out, ROPEBREAK!! That’s Taven’s last one and we’re only at 9 minutes! Lee lets go and is all the more confident. Lee goes back to Taven but Taven DUMPS him out! Taven aims and TORNILLO PLANCHAS! The fans fire up and Taven brings Lee up. Taven puts Lee in, climbs a corner, and FROG SPLASHES!! But the pain in his ribs and chest keep him from holding the cover! Taven has to crawl back for Lee, covers, TWO! But into Taven’s HEAD ‘N’ ARM CROSSFACE! Lee fights, pulls hair, then has the ROPEBREAK! Taven lets go, Lee uses his first.

The fans fire up but Taven protests about the hair. Taven drags Lee up but Lee ROCKS him! Closed fist!! That’s Lee’s free shot, if he does it again he is disqualified and loses the title! Lee runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Lee staggers around, flops against ropes, but Taven runs up. Lee BOOTS Taven! Taven comes back, but Lee goes up and over, ROPE OCTOPUS!! The ref asks Taven because there are no ropebreaks anymore! Taven TAPS, Lee wins!

Winner: Lee Moriarty, by submission (still ROH Pure Champion)

At 11 minutes, 18 seconds, Lee Moriarty puts away the ROH Grand Slam Champion! Shane Taylor Promotions appear to celebrate with “The BEST Technical Wrestler on the Planet!” Bring anyone you’ve got, he’ll beat them, too! Who will step up and test themselves against #TAIGASTYLE?

Athena speaks.

The Fallen Goddess is backstage again, thanks “Not Lexy” Ian Riccaboni for the cue, and says speaking of Bestie, Athena hopes Lexy’s all-expenses-paid vacation in the Bahamas, courtesy of your Overlord, and also Tony Khan’s black card. Charge whatever you want, girl! Only the best for Lexy. But now, let’s talk Final Battle. Athena, the Forever ROH Women’s World Champion, the Minion Overlord, the inspiration to every division, the American Josh, and countless other nicknames, has every porcelain hussy scared to face her! So Athena will just have to skip Final Battle and go on her WORLD~ TOUR~!

Athena is ready for WrestleDynasty and its Fatal 4 Way International Women’s Cup “against three other porcelain hussies from around the world.” But we all know the Minion Overlord will win and finally get back to AEW! But then Billie Starkz storms in and asks, “Are you kidding me?! The hell was that?!” Athena asks Billie if she’s insistent on interrupting her? Billie says yes, and Athena asks why. WHY!? Billie wants to know what was that out in the ring? She wants Billie to just lie down?! Athena says they talked about this! Billie owes Athena an apology. Athena has done nothing but help Billie time and time again.

Billie says Athena’s done NOTHING for her! Nothing?! Has Athena not taken Billie under her wing, told her how to win the ROH Women’s TV Championship? And Billie’s the one who goes and messes it up doing it her way to LOSE Athena’s title! Athena is still here trying to make things work with Billie, and Athena just doesn’t understand what to do. Oh, well, since this is all Billie’s fault, and Athena wants to get an apology out of her… How about they fight instead? At Final Battle! Athena laughs that off. An apology at Final Battle? Y’know what? Athena gets it. They’ll put on a great show, Billie will throw it for Athena, it’ll be great.

So yes! Billie! Fake anger! Athena “hates” Billie so much for how she “disgraced” MIT! At Final Battle, December 20th, it will be Athena VS Billie Round 2 as Athena makes history headlining the Hammerstein Ballroom! And Billie will be the one that stares the light when they face off for the ROH Women’s World Championship! And then, once Athena wins and gets another historic victory, she’ll go on her WORLD~ TOUR~! Billie doesn’t understand Athena, but at least she gets her title match! Will Billie finally put Athena in her place? Or is that ego just going to grow and grow on its way to WrestleDynasty?

Tony Schiavone is here!

He’s in the ring and notes that one week ago, ROH World Champion Chris Jericho put out a challenge to any New York wrestler to face him for the title. That challenge was answered, and this is now the official contract signing for Final Battle’s main event, the ROH World Championship! First of all, the champion, The Learning Tree, Chris Jericho! The fans are a bit torn as The Nueve makes his way out here. And instead of wearing his goofy Nueve cowboy hat, he wears a New York Yankees hat as the self-proclaimed “King of New York.” Jericho waves to the fans, but Schiavone welcomes out the challenger, #AlwayZReady, Matt Cardona!

The fans fire up as the King of the Deathmatch makes his way out! Cardona joins Schiavone and Jericho in the ring and the fans chant “Always Ready!” Schiavone says in just over a week, ROH returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom for Final Battle, and he doesn’t have to tell them how big of a moment this is for ROH. Jericho says first of all… He waves to the fans and the fans boo, so then Jericho flips them off! That’s what they get for cheering Cardona when Jericho is here. The fans continue to chant “Always Ready!” to spite Jericho. Jericho says typical Kansas City, always a step behind.

And typical Schiavone in demeaning Jericho’s legacy. He isn’t just ROH World Champion, he’s the Nueve! NINE-TIME World Champion! Nine times! That’s more than the Chiefs and the Royals combined! The fans boo but Jericho says it’s true. Not only that, Jericho is the Learning Tree, teaching lessons to people every day of his life. And on top of that, he is the King of New York! Cardona speaks up but Jericho talks over him to say he wasn’t done, don’t be rude. The fans chant “You’re From Canada! You’re From Canada!” Jericho says he can’t understand their KC accent.

But Jericho tells Cardona just how lucky he is to be granted this chance at the ROH World Championship. Cardona’s accomplished so much in his career, but just being in the ring with Jericho puts Cardona on a different level, “amirite?” So Jericho will congratulate Cardona for having the biggest match of his career at Final Battle in the Hammerstein ballroom. But Jericho also wants to warn Cardona. There is no way Cardona takes the world title from Jericho. There is no way that Cardona can beat Jericho. There is no way Cardona conquers the King of New York! Cardona says in New York City-

Jericho again interrupts by saying, “And on top of that…” The fans keep reminding Jericho he is Canadian, but Jericho changes it to, “You’re From New York!” Cardona tells Chris to just shut up! The fans cheer as Cardona says he is sick of Jericho running his mouth! Cardona knows Schiavone’s sick of it, and he knows the fans are sick of it! The fans cheer that, too! Cardona says everything that comes out of Jericho’s mouth is just 100% BS! He doesn’t fool Cardona! Jericho is a fake, a phony, a fraud! Everything about Jericho is fake! That smile is fake! This “King of New York” stuff is fake, and his love of ROH is fake!

Jericho doesn’t give a damn about ROH! Jericho is LEECHING off ROH! Jericho is using ROH like he’s used everyone and everything else. Cardona assures Schiavone he has this. Cardona tells Jericho that Final Battle isn’t just the biggest opportunity of his career, it is the biggest opportunity of his LIFE! And he will not let this slip through his fingers. Final Battle isn’t about shutting Jericho up, it isn’t about seeing who’s the King of New York, and it isn’t about proving the doubters wrong. It is about proving himself right! Cardona does that by beating Jericho to become the NEW ROH World Champion!

The fans cheer and Cardona writes his name down on the contract! Then he lets Jericho have his turn. Jericho borrows Schiavone’s pen and asks Schiavone to exit the ring. Schiavone hops outside, and Jericho picks up the contract. The fans tell him to sign it, and Jericho… hesitates? Cardona asks what’s going on here, but Jericho still stalls. Jericho pushes himself to do this, and he writes his name down! The contract is signed, the match is official, and Jericho asks for a handshake. Cardona is now the hesitant one, but he still takes it! To then whip Jericho into Bryan Keith! Cardona heard the footsteps and hits the Bad Apple first!

Jericho staggers, into a RADIO SILENCE LEG LARIAT! Keith gets up but Cardona DECKS him! Then Cardona picks Jericho up, SPINEBUSTER through the table! The fans fire up for The Complete Cardona, and he snatches that belt up! He’s #AlwayZReady, but will Cardona stand tall at the end of Final Battle? Or will the Learning Tree have something up his sleeve?

My Thoughts:

Fight the cold by fighting for gold!

Best friends no longer, Mina Shirakawa wants to take the AEW Women’s World Championship from Mariah May, and break her heart like Mariah broke hers! Who will truly be the ice queen of AEW?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Jon Moxley & PAC w/ The Death Riders VS Orange Cassidy & Jay White; Moxley & Pac win, by disqualification.
• AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Will Ospreay; Ospreay wins.
• Dynamite Diamond Ring #1 Contender’s Match: Adam Cole VS Kyle O’Reilly; Cole wins and will face MJF at Worlds End.
• AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Brody King VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May VS Mina Shirakawa; Mariah wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!

Kyle Fletcher: 3-0, 9 points
Shelton Benjamin: 1-1, 3 points
Kazuchika Okada: 1-1-1, 4 points
Daniel Garcia: 1-1-1, 4 points
Mark Briscoe: 1-1, 3 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-1, 0 points

Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!

Claudio Castagnoli: 2-0, 6 points
Brody King: 1-1, 3 points
Will Ospreay: 1-0, 3 points
Ricochet: 1-1, 3 points
Darby Allin: 1-1, 3 points
Komander: 0-2, 0 points

Jon Moxley & PAC w/ The Death Riders VS Orange Cassidy & Jay White!

It was last Saturday that the AEW World Champion and his band of rogues almost poisoned Freshly Squeezed, if not for FTR saving him. And it was last Wednesday that Pac & Wheeler Yuta almost got one over on The Switchblade, if not for Jay White’s top tier toughness. But will tonight be the night The Maniac & The Bastard destroy their enemies once and for all? Or will unlikely allies be able to win another battle in this war for AEW’s soul?

The teams sort out and while fans cheer on Cassidy, White works to convince him that White should start. Cassidy isn’t so sure, but then he warns White! White turns around and he DECKS Pac first! Moxley runs up but Cassidy SHOTGUNS him down! The fans fire up as Cassidy kips up and DIVES onto Pac! White slides out to SMACK Moxley off the desk! White fires hands, SMACKS him off the desk again, then CHOPS! Cassidy sends Pac into railing, the fans fire up more, and Cassidy ROCKS Pac! White CHOPS Mox, then RAMS him into the apron! Pac is sent into more railing! Moxley is sent into railing!

The fans fire up but Pac whips, only for Cassidy to reverse! Pac hits more railing! Fans on the other side count along as White rains down fists on Moxley’s head! White stops at nine so he can BITE Moxley’s head! The fans fire up and Cassidy DECKS Pac! White CLAWS Moxley’s back, and Cassidy CLUBS Pac. Pac and Moxley stumble into each other, so White and Cassidy trade! White sends Pac into railing while Cassidy does the same with Moxley! The fans fire up more, and now Cassidy climbs up so he can rain down fists! The fans count along, and Cassidy is almost about to fall as he reaches nine! Cassidy uses that to his advantage, and he runs back up to BOOT Moxley!

White SMACKS Pac off the desk! Fans high-five Cassidy but Moxley turns things around! Moxley fires knees, then he sends Cassidy into steel steps! White gives Pac more SMACKS off the desk, then puts him in the ring. The ref has White hold on, and finally the bell rings! White then JABS, wrenches, and scoops Pac for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, Moxley breaks it! The ref reprimands and fans boo but Moxley steps back. Moxley tags in, he gets in White’s face and he ROCKS White with a forearm! White goes to a corner, Moxley storms up on him, but Moxley blocks a boot! So White kicks a leg! White fires hands and the fans fire up!

White CHOPS, but Moxley CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” as the CHOPS keep going! White CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Moxley snarls but White gives him more CHOPS! White CHOPS in the corner, then whips corner to corner. White runs up but Moxley ELBOWS him! Moxley storms up, but into a clinch! Moxley powers out, runs up again, but into a BOOT! Cassidy tags in and he runs to DROPKICK Pac! Cassidy then puts Moxley in the corner to fire off hands! Moxley shoves Cassidy, Pac sneaks a tag, and Moxley avoids an Orange Punch! Cassidy runs but Pac BOOTS him down! Pac kicks Cassidy out, then distracts the ref so Moxley can DESK BACK SUPLEX!

Cassidy slumps to the floor, Pac goes out to stomp away! White protests but this only lets Pac stomp Cassidy more! The ref reprimands Moxley & Pac but Moxley puts Cassidy back in. Pac stalks Cassidy, then stomps him down! Pac taunts White, goes back to Cassidy, and Pac snapmares Cassidy to the ropes. Pac stomps Cassidy right on the face! The fans boo but Pac stomps Cassidy again, then digs his boots into Cassidy’s face! The ref counts, and we get a glimpse of The Patriarchy up in a skybox! Captain Charisma is clearly in no rush to cash in his Casino Gauntlet contract, or else he’d be much closer to the action.

The fans boo as we see Christian Cage on the tron, but in the ring, Pac tags Moxley. Pac & Moxley drag Cassidy up to mug him, and Moxley CLAWS at Cassidy’s face! The ref counts, Moxley stops at 4, and fans boo more. Moxley kicks and stomps Cassidy, then talks trash, but Cassidy springs up to SUPERKICK! The fans fire up while both men stagger around! Moxley and Cassidy reach for their corners, hot tags to Pac and White! The Switchblade rallies on The Death Riders! Then he dodges Pac to BACKDROP him! The fans fire up with White, there are many Gold Members in Kansas City, Missouri!

White runs at Pac in a corner, and UPPERCUTS! White then CHOPS, whips, but Pac reverses. White comes back to wrench and DDT! Moxley runs in, but into a wrench and DDT! Moxley staggers, White tells Mox that he has his number! White runs up on Pac in the corner, but Pac BOOTS White down! Death Riders have turned the tides while Dynamite goes picture in picture,

Pac drags White up, TOSSES him out, and then he tags Moxley. Moxley goes after White and brings him around to crotch him on the railing! Moxley then runs up to BOOT White over! Moxley flips off Kansas City because clearly they boo him, and then he goes out after White in the crowd. White fights back! They brawl out there, but Moxley ROCKS and TOSSES White back to ringside. Moxley puts White in the ring, storms up on him, and paces around. Moxley stomps White’s hand, then tags Pac. They mug White, then Pac riles up the fans. Pac stomps White around, taunts the fans, but the fans rally up.

Pac BLASTS Cassidy off the corner! Pac goes back to White but White CHOPS him! Pac BOOTS White back down! Pac then CHOKES White by kneeling on his neck! The ref counts, Pac steps off to taunt Cassidy, then Pac drags White up to snapmare him to the corner. Tag to Moxley and he’s already up top! Moxley jumps down to STOMP White! Christian Cage is still watching intently as White fights from below. White CHOPS but he’s the one that falls over! Dynamite returns to single picture as Moxley puts White in another corner, and Moxley climbs up to rain down fists! The fans do count along, and Moxley goes PAST TEN to FIFTEEN!

The fans boo but Moxley hops down to KNEE White again and again! Moxley digs his knee in, but stops as the ref counts 4. Moxley drags White up and DECKS him! Moxley CLAWS White’s face, the ref counts, but Moxley pushes White down. The fans rally but Moxley drags White to the corner. Tag to Pac, Moxley stomps White in the stomach, and Pac drops knees on White’s face! Cover, TWO! White is still in this and Pac argues with the ref. The ref defends the count, and White rises up to CHOP! Pac eggs White on so White CHOPS again! Pac SOBATS and White falls! Pac mockingly asks, “Is this it?!”

Pac paces while White sputters and crawls. Pac drops down to have a headlock on White. The Patriarchy talks, and Christian has Nick Wayne, Mother Wayne & Kip Sabian head out, but for what purpose? White endures, fights around, and reaches out for a ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and Pac lets go, and then the ref makes sure Marina Shafir & Wheeler Yuta stay back. Pac checks with Moxley, then keeps on White in the open corner. Pac drags White over to bump him off buckles, then tags Moxley. Moxley pie faces White but White CHOSP! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Moxley HEADBUTTS White, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO!

Moxley clamps onto White’s legs to tie them up in a reverse deathlock! Moxley throws down crossface forearms, but White BITES Moxley’s hand! The ref reprimands, Moxley gets free and tags Pac. Pac KICKS White down, then KICKS him again! White shakes his head so Pac KICKS him again! The fans rally, Pac mocks them for it, and the fans boo Pac for that. Pac kicks but White blocks! White grins and hits a DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while both men are down! White and Pac crawl, Moxley warns Cassidy, but we get hot tags to Cassidy and Mox! The fans fire up as Cassidy storms up on Moxley and the forearms start flying!

The fans are on Cassidy’s side, he fires a flurry, but Moxley fires a flurry of body shots and knees in return! Moxley JABS, ROCKS, and runs, but Cassidy doges to Alabama Lift! Moxley rolls through but gets a PENALTYO KICK fore it! Pac is back but Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ tilt-o-whirls for a DDT! Cassidy kips up while fans fire up, and Cassidy climbs a corner! But Moxley is up after him! Cassidy BITES Moxley! Moxley falls back, Cassidy hits DEEP IMPACT! Cover, TWO! Moxley stays in this but Cassidy fires back up! The fans rally, Cassidy pulls on the elbow pad, but Moxley sits up! REAR NAKED CHOKE!

Cassidy rolls back to have a cover, TWO as Moxley lets go! Cassidy builds speed, ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Pac is back again, but Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ tilt-o-whirls, but this time Pac blocks! Pac powers through to suplex, but gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! White is back in and gives Pac a CUTTHROAT SUPLEX! Moxley BOOTS White down! Cassidy Alabama Lifts Moxley for BEACH BREAK!! Cover, TWO?!? Moxley survives and Kansas City is shocked! Cassidy rises up, the fans rally up, and Cassidy goes to a corner. But Yuta gets on the apron! The ref stops Yuta but Marina grabs at Cassidy!

Cassidy KICKS Marina away! And he runs up to ORANGE PUNCH Yuta!! Moxley runs up, Cassidy dodges, ORANGE PUNCH!! Off comes the elbow pad! The fans are thunderous and Cassidy aims, but HANGMAN PAGE SPEARS MOXLEY!!

Winners: Jon Moxley & PAC, by disqualification

This isn’t Cowboy S*it, this is BULL, because Hangman just handed Moxley the win! Granted, Hangman’s raining down fists on Moxley, but Cassidy is upset. Cassidy brings Hangman off but Hangman shoves him away! Hangman rains fists back down on Moxley, CHOKES him even, but now Cassidy is pissed! Cassidy drags Hangman away from Moxley, but Hangman punches Cassidy! So now Cassidy and Hangman are brawling! The fans are torn but Hangman ROCKS Cassidy! So White goes after Hangman! These rivals brawl it out, a score still to be settled, but then Hangman gets loose! Cassidy runs up, Hangman ducks, ORANGE PUNCH hits White!

Hangman swings, misses, ORANGE PUNCH for Hangman! BLADERUNNER for Cassidy!! The Death Riders are amused, because their enemies are doing their dirty work for them! And now the Death Riders attack Cassidy, White and Hangman! The fans boo but Moxley kicks Hangman out of the ring while Yuta digs his boots into Cassidy. Pac & Marina beat up White, the fans tell off Yuta, but Moxley has his crew head out. Will nothing and no one stop this literal reign of terror?

The Most Wanted is back!

The little western town sees Bandido arriving, and the sheriff’s men are ready for a fight! They tell Bandido that he’s wanted, so he’s under arrest. They can do this the easy way, or the hard way. What’s it gonna be? Bandido hops off his horse, puts his hat and cape aside, and so the hard way it is. The sheriff has his men apprehend Bandido, but Bandido TIGER WALL KICKS the sheriff, DOUBLE DROPKICKS his men, then kips right up! Bandido says bring it, so the sheriff runs up! Bandido BACKDROPS him away, grapples with his biggest man, and that guy fireman’s carries Bandido! He claims that reward is all his!

But Bandido slips free, SHOVES the man into the railing, and then with a finger gun, he says BANG! Bandido runs up, pommel horses off the big guy to DROPKICK the sheriff, and then he hits the BLACKJACK 21 GERMAN SUPLEX on the big guy! Bandido stands tall after the shootout, but where will we see him next?

The Death Riders regroup backstage.

Moxley says, “I’m a marked man. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being a marked man is the only way to live, it’s the only way to feel alive! The only way to live is with a knife to your throat, with the dynamite stick burning down to the end of the wick. That is the only way to live and I wouldn’t have it any other way!” Moxley says these guys, their problem is their egos! They wall want that next title shot! Moxley mockingly runs around arguing with himself, “I want the next title shot! No I want the next title shot!” That’s the problem! YOUR EGOS RUN YOUR LIVES! EGOS RUN ALL ELITE WRESTLING!!

Moxley says none of this is about him, it’s about his people. They do not fight flesh and blood. He’ll give all three of them an “early Christmas gift.” Worlds End in Orlando, Florida, the AEW World Championship, FATAL 4 WAY!! Moxley heads out, Death Riders following, and the champ just raised the stakes on himself! Will The Maniac be able to win his own gamble? Or will there be a NEW AEW World Champion one way or another?

Christian Cage speaks.

Still up in the skybox, Captain Charisma tells Kansas City, “As I literally and figuratively look down on you, sit down and shut your mouths while I conduct my business!” The fans boo, but Christian continues. “So it’s a four way match at Worlds End, huh? Well, I have a problem, a very- SHUT UP!” Fans boo more but Christian says he has problem with every person in that match. Jay White cost Christian the world title at Full Gear, and so did Hangman Page when he didn’t live up to his end of the bargain. And while Orange Cassidy is just a pissant that gets on Christian’s nerves, Moxley is the real problem because he has what Christian wants.

The fans boo more but Christian says if Moxley happens to make it out of that match still the champion, know that Christian very well might be waiting on the other side. And if he is, then this time, Christian will not miss. Christian will send Moxley back into a tailspin, send him back to rock bottom, and Moxley will hear that little voice in his head saying, “It’s okay, Jon, do it. It’s okay, Jon, you earned it. Have that drink.” Christian vows to send Moxley back to rehab, and he will then rehab the world title! Until then, do not ever forget that Christian is THE face of TBS then, now and forever, and he is the reigning, defending, undisputed NEXT AEW World Champion!

The fans boo more but Christian adds one more thing. “Kansas City, before I leave, I just wanted to say… Go- HOOK!?” Hook SMASHES the door window with his arm that’s in the cast! It’s in that cast because of last week’s Con-Chair-to! Christian freaks out, runs away and goes to the bleachers, but Hook drags him back! Hook fires off on Christian in the skybox, and he dribbles Christian off the side of the cabinets! The fans fire up as Christian has no one to help him! REDRUM!! Christian flails while Hook drags Christian out into the crowd, and then goes to dump him over the balcony!! Christian flails and fights free!

Christian runs away but Hook keeps after him! Hook SLIDES Christian across the kitchen counter! And then does it again, right into a wall! Kip & Nick return to fight Hook, but Hook THROWS Kip into the table! And he KNEES Nick low! Christian has run for it but Hook pursues! Kip & Nick hurry after, will The Patriarchy regret getting on the bad side of the Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil?

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Will Ospreay!

The Swiss Superman is leading this block after demolishing Ricochet and cheating Brody King. But while he’s on his third, The Aerial Assassin is on his second. Can Ospreay bring down Claudio and tie things up with him? Or will all the Death Riders be unstoppable?

The bell rings and both men run right in! SPANISH FLY from Ospreay!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio gets up and out but Ospreay builds speed! Ospreay handsprings to SASUKE SPECIAL! Down goes Claudio and Kansas City is already thunderous! Ospreay high-fives a fan and puts Claudio back in. Springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! The fans sing for “Ospreay~ Ospreay Ospreay Ospreay~!” and he calls his shot! Ospreay springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Claudio drags Ospreay by his legs, but Ospreay flips and twists for a victory roll! TWO, and Claudio kicks low! Gotch lift, but Ospreay backdrops free!

Claudio lands on his feet, UPPERCUTS, but Ospreay HOOK KICKS! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous again! A standing count begins, the fans rally for Ospreay, and both men rise at 5 of 10. Ospreay fires a forearm, Claudio give sit back, and they go back and forth. Ospreay rises with a shout and the fans fire up! Ospreay fires another forearm, but Claudio wrenches to hit an ELBOW BREAKER! Ospreay still ROCKS Claudio, the forearms go back and forth, and Ospreay fires a flurry! Claudio hits another ELBOW BREAKER! And another! But Ospreay fires more shots! Ospreay whips, Claudio reverses and WRINGS Ospreay into buckles!

The fans boo while Ospreay bails out, and Claudio goes out after him. Claudio CLUBS Ospreay, and then pulls the steel steps from the corner. Claudio goes to Ospreay but Ospreay CHOPS, and CHOPS! But Claudio hits another ELBOW BREAKER! Claudio whips Ospreay at the steps, but Ospreay leaps up, onto and then off the steps! Ospreay quickly turns back around and he DROPKICKS the steps into Claudio! Claudio hobbles away and the fans fire up with Ospreay. Ospreay runs up the steps to leap, but into Claudio’s arms! FLAPJACK off the railing! Claudio refreshes the count, then shakes out his leg before going for Ospreay.

Claudio UPPERCUTS Ospreay down, then has the legs! Claudio swings Ospreay into the steps! The fans lose their minds while Ospreay writhes! Claudio then tips the steps over to be on their side. Claudio again refreshes the count because he wants to keep putting the hurt on Ospreay. Claudio puts Ospreay inside the steps, and he pulls Ospreay’s arm through a gap in the frame! Claudio pulls Ospreay into that frame, then climbs up to trap Ospreay’s arm on top of the steps! The fans boo, the ref says don’t, but Claudio STOMPS Ospreay’s hand! Ospreay flops out of the steps, and Claudio pushes them over! Ospreay narrowly avoids being crushed!

Ospreay goes into the ring, Claudio pursues, but Ospreay CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Claudio TOSSES Ospreay out but Ospreay ROCKS Claudio from the apron! Ospreay springboards, but into another UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives but Claudio isn’t even annoyed as Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Claudio grabs Ospreay’s legs, steps through, and he turns Ospreay over for the SHARPSHOOTER! Ospreay endures but Claudio sits deep on that hold! Ospreay reaches out with his good arm, pushes up as best as he can with the bad one, and he crawls forward, only for Claudio to drag him back! Claudio sits deep again, but Ospreay still endures! Ospreay pushes back up, fights forward, but Claudio reaches back to get the arm! CROSSFACE! And he rolls Ospreay away from the ropes, too! Ospreay endures all over again, but he has Claudio’s wrists in his face, blinding him to where ropes are! Ospreay fights, even as Claudio pulls him back!

Ospreay endures, Claudio pulls him back again, but Ospreay uses that o cover! TWO, and Claudio now shifts to the legs! Ospreay CLUBS away on Claudio’s legs, but Claudio still turns over, back into the SHARPSHOOTER! Ospreay endures this painful technical innovation as Claudio again sits deep on the legs and back! Ospreay fights, the fans rally, but Claudio does not let Ospreay gain an inch! Ospreay powers up to turn and tuck, and he slips under as Dynamite returns to single picture! Ospreay fires fists from below, Claudio knuckle locks, but Ospreay lifts Claudio! Claudio leans back but Ospreay uses that to spring up, springboard, and FLYING RANA!

The fans are thunderous and Ospreay gets moving! Handspring, NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down and Kansas City fires up again! Ospreay runs up to BOOT Claudio in a corner! And then he reels Claudio in, but Claudio fights the suplex! ELBOW BREAKER! The fans sing for Ospreay again but Claudio reels Ospreay in. But it’s Ospreay who suplexes up and over! The fans fire up and Ospreay sets up, STANDING SKY TWISTER! Cover, TWO! Claudio stays in this and Ospreay grits his teeth as the fans fire up. Ospreay then takes off the elbow pad, gives a wink, and he aims from a corner. HIDDEN- BOOT from Claudio!

Claudio has the straitjacket, RICOLA- NO, Ospreay slips free, and he wraps Claudio up in the IRON OCTOPUS! Claudio endures, fights around, and goes to the ROPEBREAK! Ospreay lets go, but Claudio ELBOWS him! And he WRINGS the arm! Claudio runs to DOUBLE STOMP Ospreay! Claudio then deadlifts Ospreay into the GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives, “This is Awesome!” Claudio is a bit frustrated now but he watches Ospreay go to a corner. Claudio runs corner to corner, but Ospreay BOOTS him! Ospreay goes up but Claudio UPPERCUTS! Claudio then climbs up, and goes to the very top!

Ospreay fires body shots, and he HEADBUTTS Claudio down! The fans fire up while Ospreay wobbles, and Ospreay resets up top! LEAP OF- NO, Claudio moves, Ospreay lands out, UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio is firmly frustrated now as Ospreay survives. Claudio scuffs Ospreay but the fans boo. Claudio kicks Ospreay but Ospreay gets mad! Ospreay sits up, Claudio kicks the bad arm, and Claudio eggs Ospreay on. Ospreay stands to fire a forearm! Claudio hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Ospreay fires a forearm! ELBOW BREAKER! Forearm! UPPERCUT! ELBOW! UPPERCUT! ELBOW! ELBOW BREAKER!

Claudio fires a flurry of UPPERCUTS, then runs, but Ospreay dodges and springboards! OSCUTTER!! But Ospreay can’t cover from the pain in the bad arm! Claudio rolls out to the apron, but so does Ospreay. Ospreay drags Claudio up, puts him back in, and he aims from a corner! HIDDEN- POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives and Claudio is furious! Claudio drags Ospreay up, runs, and LARIATS him inside-out!! Cover, TWO?!? Ospreay survives so Claudio hurries to Gotch lift! But Ospreay trips him, jackknife bridge! OSPREAY WINS!!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Claudio earns 0)

Even Claudio is shocked! Ospreay serves him his first L this year, but Claudio is a sore loser! He CLOBBERS Ospreay, and hits the NEUTRALIZER!! Claudio storms off, but he comes back with a chair! WAIT! Here comes Darby Allin! And he has the baseball bat! Claudio runs away, he doesn’t want this one! The Relentless One makes sure Ospreay stays safe, because next week, Dynamite’s Holiday Bash, we get Will Ospreay VS Darby Allin! With Ospreay at 6 points and Darby at 3, will the dynamic of this Gold League change rather quickly for the holidays? Or will Ospreay make sure he’s headed for Worlds End?

Backstage interview with Ricochet.

Renee Paquette is with The One & Only, and she says he is 1-1 in the Continental Classic right now. He had an incredible win over Komander last week on Rampage, but tonight is about Brody King, who is also 1-1 right now. How is Ricochet preparing for a man like Brody? Well, see, this is why Ricochet came to AEW. This scenario is why! It’s the level of competition. And nothing brings that out quite like the Continental Classic. So tonight, ya boi Ricochet drew Brody King, and we’re seeing this for the first time anywhere! Brody’s big, bad and scary, perhaps one of the toughest guys in this entire tournament.

But do you know one thing Brody is not? He’s not Ricochet. And while both men are 1-1, after tonight… Ricochet glances at MVP’s business card…!? Ricochet says tonight, he’s holding all the cards! Ricochet heads out, but will he make the C2 #OuttaThisWorld?

A car pulls up backstage.

And reaching out is a hand adorned with the Dynamite Diamond Ring on the pinkie. It’s Maxwell Jacob Friedman! MJF is in KC, surely to watch the match between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. Will the Wolf of Wrestling have an effect on that match’s outcome?

Backstage interview with Matt Cardona.

Renee is now with “The Complete” Cardona, and brings up the incredible reaction he got when he arrived in AEW/ROH last week. Cardona says he’s #AlwayZReady, but given what we saw on Rampage last Friday, does he feel ready for Chris Jericho? Cardona says it is great to be back in AEW, and everyone was shocked about it. But who wasn’t shocked? Cardona himself. He’s been saying it for years, he is always ready, it even says so on his T-shirts. But for the past five YEARS, he has busted his ass to reinvent himself, going from “Indy Guy” to “Deathmatch King,” and at Final Battle, December 20th, the biggest opportunity of his career is against Chris Jericho.

On Rampage, Jericho and Bryan Keith laid him out, sent him a message, and he’s glad they did. Now he knows what he is in store for in New York City, but he isn’t gonna wait! Cardona calls out Keith for a match this Friday on Rampage! Cardona is always ready, but is Keith? As for Jericho, he better watch so he can get a taste of what’s in store for Final Battle! Will Cardona take a bite out of the Bad Apple before returning home to the Big Apple?

Dynamite Diamond Ring #1 Contender’s Match: Adam Cole VS Kyle O’Reilly!

It has been quite the tangled web of a roller coaster ride when it comes to the Ballad of the Brochachos. But after MJF relapsed into being the Scum of the Earth, the Panama City Playboy couldn’t keep himself from pursuing MJF. However, from the perspective of The Violent Artist, that same pursuit is what got Roderick Strong hurt. Will Kyle stop Cole from reaching MJF for his own good? Or will Cole have to be the one that hurts a friend to finally have vindication?

Before Kyle steps through gorilla, Renee is there to ask him about this match. These two are good friends with so much history between them, how has Kyle prepared himself for tonight? But before Kyle can answer, The Kingdom’s Matt Taven & Mike Bennett walk over. Taven tells Kyle that they don’t have to do this. Didn’t Kyle himself say a couple weeks ago that MJF is just playing them all? They’re all looking like idiots fighting each other when “that Melvin” isn’t even here! Bennett tells Taven to relax, and says the match is happening. Bennett knows Kyle is gonna go out there and fight, but he hopes Kyle remembers, they’re all family in the end.

Kyle says yeah, they are. But Kyle adds that they all should’ve thought about that before letting one of their brothers get hurt. Kyle gives a shrug before heading out, will Kyle take out his frustrations on Cole?

Cole steps forward and offers a handshake. Kyle slaps the hand, hard to say if that was respectfully or disrespectfully. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Cole wrenches an arm, then wristlocks. Kyle spins, drop toeholds, and he floats to a facelock. Kyle then floats to a waistlock but Cole fights up. Cole switches, the fans duel, and Kyle wrenches out to wristlock. Cole goes to the ROPEBREAK, and Kyle lets off cleanly. They circle again and tie up. Kyle headlocks and grinds Cole down, but Cole fights up. Cole powers up and out, but Kyle runs him over! Cover, ONE, and Cole sweeps the legs! Cover, ONE!

Kyle narrowly avoids the superkick and bails out of the ring. Cole lets Kyle have his time while the ring count climbs. Kyle goes up the steps and into the ring, and the two reset. The fans rally as the two tie up, and Cole headlocks. Kyle endures the grind to power up and out. Cole sunset flips but Kyle stays, to then drop into the ARMBAR! Cole clasps hands and hurries to stack Kyle! Cole steps through but Kyle turns leglock into cradle! TWO, and Cole narrowly avoids a roundhouse! Cole bails out and Kyle gives him time. But then he goes to the apron! Cole avoids the flying knee, but Kyle blocks the superkick!

Kyle fires a strike fest, then SWEEPS the legs! Cole falls hard and the fans fire up while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Kyle paces around, brings Cole up, and he puts Cole back in the ring. Kyle storms back into the ring, and he storms up to Cole to KICK him down! Cole goes to ropes, and Kyle KICKS a leg out! Cole crawls to a corner, then along ropes, but Kyle goes right after him. Kyle clinches to KNEE and whip, then he kitchen sink knees into a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally as Cole endures, and then Cole powers up to hip toss free! Both men go to ropes, and Cole storms up to fire forearms! Kyle shoots in and trips Cole, then he floats for some ground ‘n’ pound! Cole guards as best he can but Kyle lets off to pace around.

Kyle drags Cole up to wrench an arm, and he hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle still holds onto that arm, and he wrenches for another ELBOW BREAKER! And then another wrench, a snapmare, and Kyle ties Cole up in a Figure Four seated COBRA TWIST! Cole endures being turned into a pretzel, but Kyle let shim up to wrench and kick! Kyle wrenches again as Dynamite returns to single picture, and Cole fires off forearm after forearm! Kyle fires another strike fest and Cole hobbles to a corner. Kyle runs up to forearm SMASH! Kyle runs side to side into a SUPERKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up!

Cole drags himself up as the fans rally, and Cole then goes up the corner. Cole leaps, but Kyle KNEES him first! Kyle then reels Cole in, but Cole suplexes for the GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives and Cole is shocked! Cole rises, waits on Kyle, and Kyle stands into a 52 FAKE OUT! Then a fireman’s carry, but Kyle slips free! Kyle suckers Cole in, steps up and over, and kitchen sink knees hard! Cole bails out, Kyle goes to the apron, FLYING KNEE! The fans fire up as Kyle puts Cole back in, and then Kyle climbs! KING KONG- NO, Cole moves and the knee hits mat! But then Kyle ducks The Boom!

Cole returns, 52 FAKE- NO, Kyle SOBATS through! AX AND SMASH!! But THE BOOM returns!! Both men are down as Cole can’t make the cover! The fans rally up while a standing count begins! Kyle and Cole go to ropes on opposite ends, and they drag themselves up. They both run up and they both BOOT! And BOOT! Cole avoids a sweep to SUPERKICK! But Kyle yoyos in the ropes to LARIAT! The fans fire up and Kyle suplexes, FALCON ARROW into the ARMBAR! Cole fights that so Kyle grabs a leg! ANKLE LOCK, then GRAPEVINE!! Cole fights to the ROPEBREAK! The fans are torn but Kyle lets go of Cole’s foot.

Cole crawls and Kyle hobbles, but the fans rally up again. Kyle hoists Cole up top, ROCKS him, then climbs up after him. Kyle has the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Cole fights but Kyle fires back! They brawl up top and the fans fire up! Cole HEADBUTTS again and again! And then AGAIN! Kyle falls back, Cole adjusts, and Cole leaps for the PANAMA SUNRISE!! Kyle flounders, Cole brings down the kneepad, but Kyle grabs the other leg!! ANKLE LOCK!! Cole flails, reaches out, but Kyle drags him back! Cole still fights, still claws at the mat, then Cole rolls! Kyle is sent outside, but Cole hurries to the ropes. Kyle trips Cole to drag him out!

Kyle reels Cole in to suplex, but Cole knees free! SUPERKICK! Cole drags Kyle back up, puts him in, and Kyle is punch drunk! Kyle staggers then falls, and the ref checks on him. Cole wants Kyle to get up, but wait! MJF SNEAKS OUT HERE! Cole sees MJF, dodges and SUPERKICKS him!! But Kyle rolls Cole up!! TWO!! Cole escapes to SUPER- NO, Kyle blocks to have the ANKLE LOCK!! Cole rolls to a cradle! COLE WINS!!!

Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall (advances to Worlds End)

The Wolf of Wrestling tried to weasel out of a match with Cole, and now he runs away like the coward he really is! But will Cole soon shine with that Dynamite Diamond Ring as the ultimate revenge on MJF? As for Kyle, Taven & Bennett have also joined them out here, and Cole wants that handshake. Kyle sighs, and bails out. Is Kyle letting this grudge against MJF ruin his friendship with Cole? Or is there something more to this frustration?

FTR speaks.

The Top Guys are backstage again, and Cash Wheeler says, “So as we were saying last week before we had to go stop an attempted murder… Asheville, North Carolina, January 1st, Fight for the Fallen, one of the most important shows, one of the most meaningful shows, that we’ll ever be a part of. Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, it hit the western North Carolina area, it washed away cities, it washed away towns, it washed away communities. And now, with the help of you, with the help of AEW, with the help of Fight for the Fallen, we get to help build Asheville up from the ground up. Because nothing is gonna stop North Carolina, come hell or high water.”

Dax Harwood adds that January 1st might be the biggest night in AEW TV history. Because for the first time ever, Dynamite will be simulcast from TBS and streamed on HBO Max. For the first time ever, AEW comes to Asheville, NC, and for the first time in five YEARS, FTR is bringing pro-wrestling back to their city. So a big event needs a big match. And what FTR suggests is that FTR shows up that night and has that big match. But before we get there, there was a miscommunication last week with The Death Riders. Dax & Cash don’t have a problem with them.

But if they’ve got a problem with FTR, then this Saturday night, on Collision, FTR will be in that ring. Moxley, Claudio, Yuta, Pac, show up, have a conversation with them. See you there. #TopGuysOut. But will Dax & Cash even make it home to Asheville if they start picking a fight with the Death Riders?

Chris Jericho speaks.

With Bryan Keith behind him, The Learning Tree says, “Hi, guys~! It’s Chris Jericho, The King of New York here, and this is a New York Minute. Earlier today, I was on the Staten Island ferry, going from Washington Heights to the meat packing district, and I heard about Matt Cardona’s challenge to Bryan Keith. Matt, apparently you’re not happy that we left you laying like a discarded Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure, also from New York, last week on Rampage, and you wanna challenge Bryan Keith!? Huh?! You wanna try and send a message to the King of the Big Apple by taking a bite outta the Bad Apple?”

Keith says he’ll take a bit outta Cardona, “dumbass!” Jericho says that makes it official. Cardona VS Keith on Rampage, with Jericho on commentary. But wait! There’s more. Tomorrow night on ROH, available on WatchROH.com, you can see Jericho and Cardona have their contract signing to make their title match at Final Battle official. See? Cardona’s getting everything he ever wanted. But be careful what you wish for. As Mayor Bloomberg once said, “New York City is where potential is realized, and where dreams are made.” But there’s a big difference between dreams and delusions.

But Cardona’s delusional if he thinks he’ll walk out of the Hammerstein Ballroom and Final Battle the NEW ROH World Champion! AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN! You are NOT ready for Jericho, NOT ready for The Nueve, and NOT ready for Bryan Keith. Keith says Cardona made a mistake. He put his crumby hands on the King of New York, so Keith’s gonna make him pay the damn price. That’s a Learning Tree lesson for you, Cardona. Jericho signs off, this has been a New York Minute. Thanks, guys~!

BREAKING NEWS for Collision!

Winter is Coming, but only after coverage of the NBA on TNT wraps. That means an EARLY start time for the West Coast, so you better be ready! With that said, there will be MORE Continental Classic action as Blue League leader, Kyle Fletcher, goes up against Mark Briscoe. Can the Sussex County Chicken bring down The Protostar? Or will the Aussie Arrow hit the mark and be an unstoppable 4-0? Plus, Kazuchika Okada is back in action as he takes on The Beast Mortos! Will the Rainmaker make up for some lost ground? Or will the menacing minotaur drag him down into the dungeon?

Sit-down interview with Darby Allin.

Tony Schiavone met with the Relentless One before the show began, and brings up how he hasn’t really spoken to anyone since Full Gear’s ending and that wild car crash into the Death Riders’ truck. Does Darby feel his efforts to topple Jon Moxley failed? And if so, is his quest over? Darby says the quest is never over. When Darby thinks about Moxley, The Death Riders, and everything they’re doing to this place, they are slowly chipping away at what makes AEW great. Darby saw them put Bryan Danielson’s neck in a chair and essentially end his career. And thinking back to that, Darby thinks to how Bryan was the backbone of this place.

And Darby gets why the younger guys don’t wanna get involved. For many, this is the first time they’ve made a real living off of pro-wrestling. But the problem is, if they don’t do anything about this, it’ll just keep happening. People think Darby is reckless, impulsive… Darby punches himself and immediately draws blood! Darby says this does not bother him. Blood, pain, violence, that doesn’t bother him. What bothers him is if no one does anything about it. Schiavone understands, and says all of this is going on during the Continental Classic, the most important time of year for AEW.

Darby says that when he thinks on the C2, it is “everything that’s right” with AEW. People going out there, putting it all on the line for the love of the game, and for the love of AEW. Darby needs to win this tournament because it represents AEW. It represents the passion of AEW. And Darby isn’t stupid, he knows there’ll be collateral damage along the way. But Moxley thinks everything is so wrong in AEW and that it needs to be saved. But Moxley failed to remember that this is the company that gave his career a second shot. This is the company that let Sting go out on his own terms. This is the company that took a chance on Darby.

So Moxley keeps telling himself all these lies again and again and again. “But nothing fools you better than the lies you tell yourself, Jon.” Darby has called out The Maniac, but will he be able to focus on Will Ospreay and their Continental Classic Holiday Bash?

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Brody King VS Ricochet!

Speaking of kings, The King of Death and the King of Flight are about to collide in a critical match for both men! They’re both 1-1 with 3 points, and only one can keep pace with Will Ospreay. Will Brody keep Ricochet grounded? Or will the C2 be #OuttaThisWorld?

The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Brody and Ricochet circle while fans bark. The two tie up, Brody SLAMS Ricochet down, and Ricochet backs right up to a corner. Brody waits on Ricochet and the two reset. They circle, tie up, and Brody TOSSES Ricochet to a corner! Ricochet comes right back to CHOP! Brody just grins. Ricochet ducks a chop to KICK and fire body shots, but Brody TOSSES him to another corner! Brody runs up, Ricochet goes up and over, and Ricochet CHOPS! Brody just stares Ricochet down. Ricochet runs, ducks ‘n’ rolls to roll back, and he RANAS Brody to a corner!

Ricochet runs up, Brody puts him on the apron, but Ricochet RAMS him! And GAMANGIRIS! Ricochet climbs, leaps, but he bounces off of Brody! The fans bark and Brody SHOVES Ricochet up and out to the floor! The fans bark more while Brody storms out to fetch Ricochet. Ricochet CHOPS, but Brody CHOPS back! Ricochet definitely felt that! But then Brody CHOPS again! Brody peels off the protective padding on the railing, brings Ricochet over, but Ricochet jumps up and off the railing! SUPERKICK! Brody wobbles, Ricochet goes to the apron, and Ricochet leaps, only for Brody to stop the rana!

Brody brings Ricochet up to APRON POWERBOMB! Ricochet writhes, but Brody hauls him up to whip hard into railing! Ricochet falls but Brody stands him up to CHOP! Ricochet takes a seat, he wants Brody to leave him be, but Brody runs up to CROSSBODY against railing! Ricochet falls in a heap and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Brody looms over Ricochet, but leaves him behind to refresh the ring count. Brody then hauls Ricochet up and into the ring, stalks him to a corner, then CHOPS! Ricochet sputters while he slumps down to the mat. Brody stands on Ricochet’s neck! The ref counts, Broody steps off, and Brody grabs at Ricochet. Ricochet shoves Brody back but Brody ROCKS him! Ricochet flounders along the ropes, Brody CLUBS him down, and then he digs his boots in at the corner! The ref counts, Brody steps off, and Ricochet sputters some more. Brody comes back, stomps a mudhole into Ricochet, then grabs the legs.

Brody YANKS Ricochet up for him to fall hard on the mat! Ricochet sits up but Brody clamps on with a neck wrench! Brody grinds his elbow into Ricochet’s head, then drags him up. Brody whips Ricochet hard into the corner! Ricochet falls back and Brody looms over him again. Brody drags Ricochet up and CHOPS him back to the corner! Brody then brings Ricochet up to suplex high and hard! And then SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet survives the onslaught but Brody stays on him. Brody ROCKS Ricochet and Ricochet staggers on noodle legs. Brody brings Ricochet up to ROCK him again!

Ricochet stumbles about, Dynamite returns to single picture, and the fans bark again. Brody CHOPS Ricochet, eggs him on, so Ricochet musters up what he can. Ricochet fires forearm after forearm but Brody shoves him! Ricochet ducks and handsprings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up and Brody covers, TWO! Ricochet is still in this but Brody looms over him again. Brody drags Ricochet up, CHOPS Ricochet back down, and he eggs on the King of Flight. Brody stands Ricochet up, so Ricochet fires forearm sand CHOPS! Brody CHOPS Ricochet, then ROCKS him! Brody runs, but Ricochet TIGER WALL KICKS!

Ricochet spins to PELE!, and Brody wobbles! The fans fire up, Ricochet baits Brody in and DUMPS him out! Brody lands on the apron, Ricochet triangle jumps to ENZIGIRI Brody down! Ricochet then builds speed to FOSBURY FLOP! Down goes Brody and the fans are torn. Ricochet drags Brody up and into the ring, then aims from the apron. Springboard 450 SPLASH! Cover, ONE?!? Brody shocks Ricochet with that toughness! Ricochet hurries to BOOT, but Brody just growls! Ricochet BOOTS again but Brody eggs him on! Ricochet KICKS, Brody just snarls! Ricochet runs up but Brody SWATS the kick! And he spins to LARIAT Ricochet! Cover, TWO!!

Brody is annoyed with Ricochet but he drags Ricochet up. Brody reels Ricochet in, hauls him up, but Ricochet fights free to sunset flip! TWO!! Brody escapes and runs back up, only for Ricochet to V-TRIGGER! Ricochet drops back to a corner, Brody runs up again, but into another V-TRIGGER! Ricochet tries to fireman’s carry!? Brody’s too much for that, and he CLUBS Ricochet! And then CHOPS him! Ricochet goes back to a corner for Brody to SPLASH! Ricochet sits down and the fans bark it up! CANNONBALL! Brody drags Ricochet out to cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Brody is more exasperated than frustrated.

Brody stalks Ricochet, hoists him up top, and he CHOPS! Brody climbs up, Ricochet fires body shots, and Ricochet CLUBS away! Ricochet adjusts, SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! Ricochet hurries back up top, for the SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! But then Brody reaches to grab Ricochet by his neck!! Brody rises like a zombie, but Ricochet CLUBS away on Brody’s arm! Brody spins Ricochet into the SLEEPER! Ricocher grabs the ropes! Th eref counts, Brody holds on until 4. Brody has the SLEEPER again, but Ricochet clibms the corner! Ricochet goes up and out to HOTSHOT Brody! Then he ROUNDHOUSES!

Brody wobbles, Ricochet slingshots, but into a DOUBLE CHOP!! Brody has Ricochet on the apron, drags him up and clinches, to then YANK him right up to the top! Brody climbs now, but Ricochet still fights back! DDT on the top buckle! Brody wobbles, Ricochet shrugs, and he KICKS the legs out! Brody hits buckles on the way down! Kansas City boos but Ricochet says BANG! SPIRIT GUN!! But Ricochet knows that’s not enough! Brody rises, Ricochet runs, SPIRIT GUN!! Cover, Ricochet wins!

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Brody earns 0)

Ricochet overcomes the biggest and meanest obstacle in his way, and now he is tied with Will Ospreay and Claudio Castagnoli! But given Ricochet lost to Claudio in the opening round, how much harder will he have to fight to become a finalist?

Private Party speaks.

Marq Quen says, “Good evening, everybody. We are your AEW Tag Team Champions, Private Partaaay~! And welcome to The Vault.” Isiah Kassidy says, “What happens in The Vault stays in The Vault.” Winter is Coming, and you know what that means! Santa is coming to town! But in step Lio Rush & Action Andretti, and they say this is rather interesting. What do Quen & Zay say to letting them have a taste of some of that? Oh, okay, Zay’s got ’em! All he had to do was ask. No, Action wasn’t talking about the shots. Lio says they want the gold on the table. That’s what they want this year from Santa Claus.

Well, Zay will tell ’em what HE wants from Santa. This year, a nice, thick, juicy a- And here comes Leila Grey & Top Flight! Leila wants to have a little chat after last week. Zay notes Santa came early this year. Darius & Dante ignore that to have that chat. Darius, remind Dante again, how many tag team matches have Action & Lio won to actually earn a tag title shot? Darius is pretty sure it was ZERO. Dante takes a sip of the good stuff while Private Party says, “Ooh~!” Lio asks Action to remind him who got eliminated from the battle royal. Action says let’s think. Oh, it was Darius & Dante! OOH~! The two sides argue, and Private Party has them both stop.

Zay says he has a perfect solution! Y’all can just face each other at Collision: Winter is Coming, and the winners can face the champs for the titles. That is good for them all. Lio offers a handshake and says, “No hard feelings, right?” Darius takes the handshake, pulls Lio in close, but pats him on the back. Leila leaves with the Martin brothers, and Zay says, “Thank you, Santa.” But then with the table set for Top Flight VS Bad Child & Sight to See, who will get their shot at Private Party?

Backstage interview with both Anna Jay and Mercedes Mone.

Renee welcomes both The Queenslayer and The CEO one week ahead of their AEW TBS Championship at Holiday Bash. Mone says, “Kansas Citaaaay~! Missouri or Kansas, Renee? Y’know what? It doesn’t matter! Just say hello to your C E O.” Renee thanks them both for being here, and for agreeing to no physicality. Mercedes has now defended the TBS title ten times, and today marks Day 200 as champion. But before getting into that match, Renee wants to talk Sunday, December 15th. In Long Beach California, it will be NJPW Strong Style Evolved, where Mone defends the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Hazuki.

Mone says Renee is doing so good today, she is so proud. But she’s also really proud of Anna. Anna has been doing so well. Mone loves how gutsy Anna is, and how she went to Japan to train. Mone went to Japan, too. And Mone loves that Anna believes in herself, it is so cute. But Mone says Anna is only 26 and just getting started. By the time Mone was 26, she was a FIVE-TIME CHAMPION. And now she’s the greatest TBS Champion of all time. So next week on Dynamite, Mercedes shows Jay there is a price to pay when you mess with Mone. Anna tells her hold on, Mone is not going anywhere.

They may have agreed to no physicality, but they also agreed to a face-to-face. Mone is going to stay and listen to Anna. Mone is a living legend, and Anna does admire what Mone does in the ring. And Anna is aware she’s going into this the underdog. But that’s fine. Anna has been underestimated her whole life, her whole career, and she keeps proving people wrong. So go ahead, underestimate her, too. Because when Mone makes the first mistake, Anna will capitalize on it, because all she needs is 1-2-3 to shock the world and become the NEW TBS Champion. Anna leaves, Mone says we’ll see about that.

Confident as she is, the walls are closing in. Will Mone make it through the holidays with both belts still in her possession? Or will Christmas be cold when you don’t have any gold?

AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May VS Mina Shirakawa!

They met in Japan’s World Wonder Ring Stardom and not only became tag team partners, but became best friends. But in the world of wrestling, we all know friendship can only last so long when both friends want to be the best in the world. The Glamour betrayed the Fighting Gravure Idol out of paranoia, but claims to still love her. Will this newest chapter in Mariah’s twisted story have a “happy ending” for her? Or will Mina make May pay?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who ends the night on top!

The bell rings and the two run up on each other! They start throwing hands and the fans fire up! Mina HAMMERS away on Mariah, but Mariah shoves her back! Mariah SLAPS Mina! Mariah talks trash, too, but Mina SLAPS back! The fans fire up as Mina SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires more shots! Mariah cowers in the ropes but Mina keeps after her with hammer fists! The ref counts, Mina lets off, but then she SOBATS! Mina whips, dropkicks Mariah’s legs, then grabs a leg to kick away on it! The fans cheer Mina as she kicks and stomps Mariah around, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! The fans cheer and Mina drags Mariah around.

Mina steps through to have a FIGURE FOUR! Mariah hurries and rolls under the ropes, but Mina holds on! Then they fall to the floor! But Mina still holds on! Mina kicks at Mariah while letting off the hold, and the fans fire up while the ref checks Mariah. Mariah clutches her leg but she is still in this. Mina drags Mariah up while the fans rally, only for Mariah to wrench and whip Mina into the steel steps! Mariah brings Mina up to whip hard into railing! The fans boo, and we see Thunder Rosa in the front row! She holds up a sign that reads, “Mariah May??? You May Not!!!” Rosa herself says, “YOU SUCK! You’re not my champion!”

Mariah is mad, and she runs up to SHOTGUN Mina! Mariah stomps away on Mina, but the ref counts. The ref has to pull Mariah back at 4, and Mariah goes to the ring. Mina crawls and Mariah mocks the shimmy and shake. The fans boo but Mariah slaps her knee, both because she thinks she’s funny and to get it working again. Mariah then goes to the apron, takes aim, and as Mina rises, Mariah runs up! But Mina blocks the kick! Mina trips Mariah, brings her to the corner, and she SLAMS the leg against the post! The fans fire up and Mina ties those legs up! Mina stares Mariah down, and shouts “B*TCH!” before hitting the HANGING FIGURE FOUR!

The fans fire up while the ref counts, and Mina lets go at 4! Mariah screams in pain, but Mina shows no mercy as she SLAMS the leg into the post again! The fans fire up and Mina feeds off that energy while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Mina storms back over and stalks Mariah. Mina drags Mariah up to hook the leg, SHIN BREAKER! Mariah writhes but Mina kicks her around. Mariah goes to the ropes but Mina brings her back up. Mariah CLUBS Mina to stop the lift, and then she hits a SAIDO! Mariah grins while Mina flounders, The Glamour has her confidence back. Mariah then rains down fists on Mina! The ref reprimands about closed fists but Mariah lets off to hobble around. Mariah soaks up the heat from Kansas City, then mocks their crying. Mariah throws her armbands at Mina, stomps her around, but Mina throws them back!

Mariah kicks Mina, snapmares her, and she runs to SHOTGUN! Cover, TWO! Mina stays in this but Mariah storms around. Mariah soaks up more heat, then kicks Mina around. Mina goes to a corner, Mariah stands her up and she CHOPS! Mina staggers away to another corner, but Mariah is right on her at the ropes! Mariah CHOKES then stomps away, then CHOKES Mina again! The ref counts, Dynamite returns to single picture, band Mariah drags Mina up. Mariah snapmares Mina, steps over, and throws down fists! Mariah gives Mina one last kiss, then runs, but Mina dodges! FLYING CHUCK!

The fans fire up and Rosa cheers Mina on as she stands Mariah up. Mariah breaks free but mina still ROCKS her first! Mariah hits back, so Mina hits her again! Mariah ROCKS Mina but Mina ROCKS Mariah! The shots keep going, the fans cheer Mina on, but Mariah gets the edge! Mariah grins, runs, but Mina ROLLING ELBOWS! Mina runs, but into a HEADBUTT! But Mina URAKENS! Both women fall and the fans are thunderous! Mina and Mariah crawl, Rosa gets the fans even more fired up for Mina, and Mina DROPKICKS the legs out! Mina wants the legs but Mariah kicks her away! Mariah rises, but Mina wrenches and SAIDOS!

The fans fire up and Mina hurries to cover, TWO! Mina goes right to a corner and right up, only for Mariah to hit some STRATUSFACTION! Mariah then runs up, but Mina avoids the knee! URAKEN! Mariah stays up this time, takes a swing, but Mina catches her and spins her, dragon sleeper and REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up and Mina covers, TWO! Mariah survives but Mina just hauls her up! Mina suplexes Mariah to the top rope, for a DRAPING DDT!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Mariah survives by her fingertips! Mina grabs the legs, Mariah holds tight to the rope, and then Mariah YANKS Mina into the ropes!

Mariah rises up, runs up to KNEE Mina down! Mariah keeps moving, Mina rises, into another KNEE!! Mariah hauls Mina into a fireman’s carry, for the MAYDAY DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Mina shocks Mariah and KC loves it! Mariah snarls but her former best friend would know how to survive Mariah’s best shot! Mariah drags Mina up, fireman’s carries again, but Mina hits a CRUCIFIX DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Mariah survives that sudden turnaround, but Mina hurries up top! Mariah stands, into a FLYING SLINGBLADE! Mina roars and the fans fire up with her! Mina drags Mariah up in the dragon sleeper!

Mina lifts, GLORIOUS DRIVER MINA!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Now Mariah shocks Mina for surviving her best shot! Mina tries again but Mariah HEADBUTTS! Mariah reels Mina in, STORM ZERO!!! Cover, MARIAH WINS!

Winner: Mariah May, by pinfall (still AEW Women’s World Champion)

It was a gritty battle, but it took the move of a different former friend to finish this! But even so, Mariah is still champion, or as Rosa’s second sign puts it, “You are NOT My Champ!!!” But wait! IS THAT TONI STORM!? And now Rosa has a sign that says “W T F?!” Because yeah, while this isn’t Timeless, this is STILL TONI STORM!! She’s gone back to her original identity, and everyone is going wild! Are we about to get one hell of a sequel to All In?

My Thoughts:

A great start to what is now Winter is Coming Week in AEW. And the only weak point for tonight might be the time constraints on the women’s match. It was great to make it the main event, and for what time they had, they made the most of it, but if you’re going to make it the main event, I feel like it needed more than 10 minutes. But at the same time, it seemed rather clear Mina was losing. Mina is already Rev-Pro Women’s Champion, she wasn’t going to become the other double champion in AEW. Plus, with Rosa wanting next AND Toni Storm returning, that’s big story stuff for Mariah. Also, it is incredibly clever for Toni Storm to return as rock ‘n’ roll Toni after “Timeless Toni” said she’d retire from wrestling. We all knew this was coming so great to see it happen.

Speaking of the double champion in AEW, good promo from Mone with Anna Jay, but as I said last week, Mone’s going to have two title defenses in one week. Either Mone has a great week by retaining both titles, or she could have a really bad week by losing both titles, it really depends on the plans for WrestleDynasty. I’m leaning towards Mone having a great week because I don’t think she’s going to lose at Strong Style Evolved, and I’m not so sure she loses on Holiday Bash. Mone is more likely to lose her TBS title at Worlds End, maybe even to Kamille once Kamille’s arm is all healed up. Also, I assume that was just a kayfabe injury to lead to the breakup we got.

And to my earlier point of time constraints, I feel like we got a few promos we didn’t really need, despite them still being good promos. For one, Bandido having his Hollywood Western fight scene. Again, really fun and very well made, and maybe it was to help some people learn/remember who Bandido is, but I thought last week’s “Most Wanted” was enough to let us know he’s on his way back. The other was Private Party with all of Top Flight. Given we had Top Flight arguing it out last week, we knew they were going to have a match, Dante & Darius VS Action & Lio. But that promo seems a bit redundant now with this one, setting up that same match, but now with actual stakes. AEW’s been a thing for five years and they still can’t iron out disjointed storytelling?

Though at the same time, they’re not good with pacing out stuff like this Jericho VS Cardona build. They obviously do it to get people to watch ROH Thursdays, and maybe the sooner they get that cable TV deal the better. If Rampage really is going away, they should just make ROH replace it, but keep it on Thursdays because I don’t need overlaps with SmackDown and how that is going to be three hours in 2025. But either way, good promos from both Cardona and Jericho, and we’ll get a very good contract signing segment and good tune-up match for Cardona on Rampage. Though again, what weird pacing since Rampage is being recorded right now yet ROH was more than likely last Saturday…

Really good stuff with this Death Riders story tonight. That was a great tag match to open, though rather long, especially with Hangman “ruining” it. If he was gonna do that, cut things down by 5 minutes because why would Hangman wait until the match was getting hot to go after Moxley? But to Moxley’s point right after with his ranting promo, the egos kept the other three guys from becoming a super team that the Death Riders would’ve certainly lost against. But hey, that Fatal 4 Way is gonna be awesome, and Christian Cage might get in on that. Though, great promo from him and great attack by Hook. I’m a little surprised we didn’t get a follow-up on that tonight.

Very good promo from Darby, though maybe another spot that could’ve been another night for sake of time. Darby still got his point across, and I think this was his best paced promo, no rushing through lines to get them out. Depending on how Worlds End goes, I feel like we could get a really good “Can they coexist?” 8 Man or even bigger, where Darby, White, Cassidy and Hangman work together to fight Moxley, Claudio, Yuta & Pac. They could even do a Stadium Stampede/Anarchy in the Arena (I forget if there’s any real difference other than what kind of venue they do it in), and that could even give us the return of Bryan Danielson for him to tip the scales in favor of “Team AEW.”

Good stuff in the Cole VS MJF story, though I’m not sure we needed the tease of MJF showing up before the match. Clearly The Kingdom weren’t watching the show because Taven didn’t even think MJF was there, but I guess that’s the writing trope known as “dramatic irony,” where the audience knows something ahead of the characters. Not a good execution of it but it still counts. And great match of Kyle VS Cole, but there’s something kayfabe suspicious about the timing of Kyle being down for the count and MJF sneaking out there, only for Kyle to then recover and roll Cole up. Could Kyle have been turned to the dark side by MJF? Or, what is now the dark side after the still rather clunky double turn. I still want Cole to get that diamond ring to stick it to MJF but Kyle could screw him over…

And of course, great stuff in the Continental Classic tonight, even though it was just two matches. Claudio VS Ospreay was awesome, and fitting that Ospreay would win to stay near the front. Darby watching Ospreay’s back was good, but also a reason Darby’s promo tonight could’ve waited for Collision. And Ricochet adds some intrigue by showing he still has MVP’s card. I almost thought The Hurt Syndicate would walk out there after he won, but maybe they’re waiting for Ricochet to take control of Gold League so that no matter what, the Syndicate has someone going to Worlds End. Plus, that’d be a big moment should Ricochet go to Worlds End, win the whole thing and become NEW Continental Champion with MVP, Lashley & Shelton backing him.

My Score: 8.8/10