Will there be anarchy in New Mexico?

Before Double or Nothing and Anarchy in the Arena, Jon Moxley teams with The Young Bucks against Swerve, Samoa Joe & “Powerhouse” Hobbs!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Jon Moxley & The Young Bucks VS Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs;  Swerve, Joe & Hobbs win.
• Ricochet VS Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn; Ricochet wins.
• Mina Shirakawa VS Julia Hart; Mina wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tony Schiavone is in the ring!

He brings up the Owen Hart Cup Finals, and the two men fighting for their chance at the AEW World Championship at All In. He introduces first, Hangman Adam Page! The fans fire up for the Blackhat Cowboy as he goes to the ring, and we notice the extra security already on hand. Schiavone then welcomes out the Aerial Assassin, Will Ospreay! Albuquerque fires up again as Ospreay sports his new baseball jersey style merchandise. Schiavone says both men know what is at stake. One goes on to All In: Texas to fight for the world title, upon winning the Owen Cup. Schiavone then turns things over to Ospreay and Hangman.

Ospreay thanks Schiavone and wants everyone to hear him out. He understands why there is security, but he won’t get physical. Will Hangman get physical? No? Good. Then he excuses the security and assures them, he’ll make sure they get paid for their time. Ospreay thanks them as they exit, and Ospreay says he just wants it to be him and Hangman. The fans cheer Ospreay for the gesture, and Ospreay tells Hangman that he has one very important question: “Do you still drink?” The fans boo but Ospreay says c’mon, not in a bad way! He just means, Hangman loves a good beer. And to be honest, Ospreay owes him an apology.

Ospreay says that when they got jumped the other day, Ospreay did take a swing on Hangman. But to be fair, Hangman gave him a headbutt. But like Ospreay’s dad says, when he gets hit in the face, it is a drastic improvement. But Ospreay does have some beers for them. The ring crew brings those over, and Ospreay hands Hangman one. Ospreay wants cheers, but Hangman stares him down. The fans are torn, Ospreay takes a swig, and says it’s fine. Ospreay puts his aside, and says while they need to get things off their chest, there is something else Ospreay wants to do.

Ospreay wishes to petition to Tony Khan and the AEW Board of Directors that Ospreay VS Hangman on Sunday are the main event. The fans like that idea! Ospreay says surely some still think he’s crazy. Why would Ospreay wanna follow one of the most destructive and brutal matches AEW has in Anarchy in the Arena? Why would Ospreay wanna follow three hours of amazing professional wrestling? Ospreay says to those people, “You do not know what is at stake!” The fans cheer, and Ospreay says not only is this about winning the beautiful Owen Hart Memorial trophy, not only is this about going to All In: Texas on Saturday, July 12th…

But the winner of this match is the person with the responsibility of bringing back that beautiful gold belt! The fans cheer that! Ospreay says he really wants this. He wants this so badly! He feels the moment he stepped here, he has done everything the right way. He leaves his home country on a Tuesday, arrives here, makes seven to 15 HOUR flights every single week! He barely sleeps on Tuesday, he is constantly jetlagged, doesn’t really know where he is, but he puts on his “crime fighting pants,” and he says ring the bell, bruv! The fans cheer that! Ospreay says he wants to wear the title with pride! To show it around the world!

And most importantly, he wants to bring it home. Ospreay brings up August 24th, Forbidden Door in London, the O2, an arena just 30 minutes from his home. There are people that have supported Ospreay from the ballrooms and the halls. He has been a young, immature man who has grown up right in front of them, and he wants to wear that title in front of them while he thanks them for their support! The fans also cheer that. But the other thing is, every Tuesday when he flies to the US is that he leaves his six-year-old son at home, and he wants nothing more than to walk into that building so his son can see him as WORLD CHAMPION!

The fans cheer more, and Ospreay understands how much Hanger wants it. But Ospreay wants it just that little bit more. The fans cheer Ospreay on, but then the “COWBOY SH*T!” rises. Hangman tells Ospreay, “That is the difference between you and I. And that will be the difference between you and I on Sunday. Will, you want this, you want it bad. And I know that feeling, because I have lived it. And I know that you understand that in ALL of professional wrestling, there is no prize grander, there is no greater honor, than to be the All Elite Wrestling World Champion, I know you know that!

“But Will… For you, this could be a professional accomplishment. Granted, it is the biggest professional accomplishment either you or I could ever dream of having! But it is that: A professional accomplishment. For me, this is personal. I don’t want this opportunity, I need it.” The fans cheer that, too! Hangman says he has WASTED two years of his life, filled with nothing but grief, sorrow, and hate! In those two years, Hangman has not won a single tournament or a single championship. The one thing that Hangman did win brought him nothing but the same. The worst of it wasn’t even here. It was when he was at home.

It was last Christmas morning, when Hangman’s son sat on the floor… playing with his new toys, he looked up to see his dad staring out the window, looking for someone he knew would never come back! How many times in two years did his son look at Hangman and feel disappointment?! Hangman NEEDS this!! When Hangman goes home, he needs his wife to look at him and not feel pity! She needs to see the man she fell in love with all those years ago! For Hangman’s kids to look up to him, to know they have the father they deserve! And for all these people who supported him when he deserved it the least to know that he can be the kind of man that THEY can believe in!

And Hangman needs this for himself. Because Hangman needs to know that there can be some kind of light at the end of this two year tunnel through Hell… Hangman needs it, because he needs to know Ospreay was wrong when Ospreay said that for Hangman, this was too little, too late. Ospreay scowls a bit as the fans get fired up. Ospreay tells Hangman, “So what’re you planning on doing about it? You’re gonna wrap a chair over my skull? You gonna beat me so bad that I have to retire, like you did Christopher Daniels? I’m not going down that path. Cuz I’ve been there, and it took a lot for me to come back.”

As silly as this might sound, Ospreay says he is showing up, and he is doing his best. And sometimes, his best hasn’t been good enough. He’ll admit that he’s lost. Lost bad. But he’s never lost because he dragged the ref around to get an advantage. He’s never whined to his boss about not getting his way. If Ospreay has lost, he has lost leaving it all in this ring! And if he’s lost, he at least won the fans’ respect! The fans cheer that, and Ospreay says more importantly… He won their trust! Hangman asks if that’s enough! Is that enough for Moxley and the Death Riders? Ospreay doesn’t know!! He doesn’t know what it takes!

Ospreay wrestled Moxley twice, and he lost both times! He doesn’t know how to do it, but Hangman does! So then show Ospreay! Show THAT man on Sunday! That fire, that animal! Because of Ospreay can beat that Hangman, then Ospreay knows he can beat Moxley! The fans fire up more, and Ospreay says Hangman used to be a pure-hearted man, and he can also be a bad man! He is a Cowboy! The one we’re meant to look towards when times are hard! But he hasn’t been doing that! He’s been staring out of the window! Hangman’s been looking for Swerve! His attention hasn’t been on being The Guy, but on someone else.

And Ospreay gets it, when someone crosses the threshold from business to personal, you gotta handle it. We could give Hangman a month, two months, three, but an entire YEAR?! An entire year has changed Hangman! The kids don’t look up to him! The men, the boys backstage, they lost respect for him. And the women have screamed in terror when Hangman wanted to kill Swerve! Ospreay is not that guy. Ospreay is just the guy that’ll show up and do his best. But before writing Ospreay off, Ospreay’s best has beaten MJF, Bryan Danielson, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, anyone else you can name!

Wanna know what? Because Ospreay is the best in the EFFIN’ WORLD!! The fans are really fired up now! Ospreay tells Hangman, he knows that when the bell rings, anything can happen. If it is Hangman, Ospreay will be happy for him. And if Hangman thinks he has no friends, then it’ll take more than one person off of Moxley. Ospreay says if Hangman needs a friend, someone watching his back, Ospreay will have his back. Ospreay hopes the same goes back from Hangman. If Ospreay wins, hopefully Hangman will have his back. Ospreay then offers the toast again. So what Ospreay is saying, Cowboy, “Meet me in the desert! I’m calling you out for a shootout, bruv!”

Ospreay chugs his bear, HHH spits some of it, and then tosses his bottle. Hangman chugs his beer down to the very last drop, and the duel is set! Which one of these gunslingers hits the mark to then take aim at The Maniac in Texas?

Jon Moxley walks into the building.

Marina Shafir follows the Maniac AEW World Champion, and he seethes all the way. “Tensions are rising in AEW. The spoils will go to those that embrace the anarchy.” Moxley goes from pavilion to bleachers as he makes his entrance. Anarchy in the Arena is no longer the main event, but will this appetizer make up for that?

Six Man Tag: Jon Moxley & The Young Bucks VS Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs!

The trios sort out, Joe starts against Moxley and they go right to throwing hands! The fans fire up as Joe gets the edge, “JOE! JOE! JOE!” Moxley throat chops, the fans boo, and Moxley runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! Moxley and Joe fall back, and both teams have their guys calm down. Hobbs tags in, as does Matthew Jackson. The fans rally for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs and Matt tie up, and Hobbs SHOVES Matt down! Matt comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up as Hobbs then scoops Matt, brings him over, but Matt slips free! Nick GAMANGIRIS, then tags in!

The fans boo as The Bucks kick, run, and ALLEY-OOP DROPKICK! Swerve tags in, runs up, Nick sidesteps but Swerve flips with the ropes to come back! Swerve trips, laces the legs, then waistlocks. Nick fights with elbows, he runs but Swerve drops down, hurdles, and turns Nick’s leap over into a suplex! Swerve catches the superkick to hit a BACKBREAKER! Swerve runs at the corner, UPPERCUTS Nick and snapmares! Swerve goes up, Matt runs over, but Swerve DECKS him! Nick runs up, Swerve jumps over to HIP TOSS and gator roll! Swerve deadlifts for the suplex! The fans fire up, but Moxley and Matt attack!

The fans boo but Joe & Hobbs storm in! They all brawl, Moxley TOSSES Hobbs to the outside, and Nick RANAS Swerve! The Bucks regroup to DOUBLE PLANCHA, but Joe & Swerve pull the double “Nope!” Moxley builds speed, but Hobbs is in his way! Hobbs swings, Moxley CLAWS Hobbs’ eyes! Moxley shoves Hobbs down then runs to DIVE! Down goes Hobbs! The Bucks see Joe in the ring. Joe winds up and builds speed, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! The fans boo but Matt brings Joe out. Nick builds speed, but Swerve slingshots and somersaults! COMPLETE SHOT! Swerve builds speed now to FOSBURY FLOP onto Nick!

Joe throws Matt away, builds speed after all, and he DIVES onto Moxley & The Bucks! The fans are thunderous and Joe flexes while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Joe drags Nick up, SMACKS him off the apron, then follows him around the way. Marina can only glare while Joe puts Nick in for Swerve. Swerve drags Nick up, wrenches and whips him to a corner, then CHOPS! Swerve snapmares and goes up, FALLING UPPERCUT! And he hits the Griddy! The fans cheer and Swerve drags Nick up again. Tag to Hobbs, Hobbs ROCKS Nick, then he DECKS him! Nick flounders, Hobbs brings him around to suplex. Hobbs holds Nick up for a count of TEN before the SLAM! Hobbs flips off Moxley and Matt, then goes back to N ick. Hobbs has Nick in a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs up, but Nick dodges!

Nick KIKCKS Hobbs in the leg, hot tags Moxley, and Moxley wraps Hobbs’ leg in ropes. Hobbs fights back but Moxley CLAWS Hobbs’ face! Moxley climbs up and rains down fists! The ref counts, Moxley stops, but that lets Matt get cheap shots in! Hobbs slumps down and Moxley DROPKICKS the leg! Tag to Matt, and Moxley stands on Hobbs’ leg! Matt stomps Hobbs, then HIP DROPS the leg! Matt bends the leg on the ropes but the stops as the ref counts. Matt drags Hobbs over, tags Moxley, and Moxley helps Matt split the wishbone! Moxley talks trash while Dynamite returns to single picture.

The fans rally, Moxley stands Hobbs up, and he climbs up again to talk more trash. Moxley rains down fists, but Hobbs SHOVES him away! Hobbs hobbles but Moxley CHOP BLOCKS him down! Moxley stomps away on Hobbs, then tags in Nick. Nick puts some stank on the CHOP! Hobbs just gets mad! The fans tell Nick he messed up, but Nick kicks low. Nick winds up to CHOP Hobbs on the back again! Hobbs just frowns. Nick runs but into Hobbs’ arms! Hobbs POWERSLAMS Nick! Tag to Swerve but Nick tags Matt. Swerve LARIATS Nick, LARIATS Matt, repeat! Swerve then wrenches Matt and turns him for a NECKBREAKER!

Nick springboards to RANA, but Swerve blocks! Swerve pops Nick up for a POWERSLAM of his own! Nick hobbles up, Swerve runs in, but Nick BOOTS him! Nick cartwheels to the apron, then eggs Swerve on. Swerve runs up, Nick backflips away, but Swerve handsprings through! The two stare down, then Swerve scoops Nick to BACKBREAKER! Moxley runs up, Swerve dodges, but Matt SUPERKICKS him! The fans boo but Matt soaks it up. Matt & Moxley get Swerve into the ring for Nick, and Nick tags Matt. They double whip, Swerve ducks a lariat to waistlock, but Matt backs him down into the corner.

Nick SHINING WIZARDS, then he helps Matt with SLICED BREAD! SHIING WIZARD again, then Matt covers, TWO! Swerve stays in this but Matt tags Nick. Nick climbs up and aims, to SWANTON BOMB onto knees! Swerve saves himself and the fans fire up! Swerve and Nick crawl, but Moxley runs up to BLAST Joe & Hobbs! Swerve BACKDROPS Moxley, but no one is there to tag! Matt runs in, Swerve puts him on the apron. Nick runs in, Swerve puts him on the apron. Moxley runs up, LARIAT DOUBLE GIRI COMBO! Then an X PLEX! Matt grins as he goes up the corner, and he CROSSBODIES onto Hobbs & Joe!

Matt hurries back in, sets Swerve up, and The Bucks coordinate, RISKY BUSINESS! Cover, TWO! Swerve survives and the fans fire up! Nick drags Swerve up, bumps Swerve off buckles, and tags Matt. Matt ROCKS Swerve in the back, then puts him in the ropes. Nick goes up, DRAPING SWANTON BOMB! Matt covers, Hobbs breaks it! The fans cheer and Hobbs coaches Swerve. Matt paces while Dynamite goes back to picture in picture.

Matt stomps Swerve around, ROCKS him, then throws hands. Matt bumps Swerve off buckles, tags Moxley, and Moxley throws hands. Moxley beats Swerve down then stands on him! The ref counts, Marina talks trash, and Moxley steps off at 4. Nick gets a cheap shot in while the ref is busy with Moxley. Moxley goes out to fetch Swerve and bring him around. Moxley makes Swerve take a seat, then he flips off the fans before raining down fists. Moxley BITES Swerve’s forehead but Swerve fires hands! Swerve fires more shots, and he backs Moxley down! But Moxley pokes Swerve in the eyes! Then Moxley RAMS Swerve into the steel steps!

The ref reprimands but Moxley just ignores him. Moxley puts Swerve in, dares him to go tag his team, but then stomps hm. Moxley clamps onto Swerve’s arm, bends the fingers, then drags him over with a facelock. Tag to Nick and they mug Swerve. Nick whips Swerve back into the corner, runs up, and SHINING WIZARDS! And then SHINING WIZARDS! Matt won’t let Swerve fall, and Nick SHINING WIZARDS again! Nick soaks up heat while Swerve sputters. Moxley tags in, the mugging continues, and Moxley puts Swerve in the corner. Moxley fires hands and Dynamite returns to single picture.

Moxley and the ref argue, but that lets Marina CHOKE Swerve! She’s once again a problem and the fans boo! Hobbs protests but Marina gets away with it. Marina warns Nana to watch himself, and then Moxley drags Swerve into a stalling, middle finger flipping PILEDRIVER! Cover, JOE BREAKS IT! Joe fires away on Moxley but the ref backs him off. The fans rally but Moxley clamps onto Swerve with a CROSSFACE! Swerve endures, the fans rally for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Moxley shifts into a RINGS OF SATURN, but Swerve still endures! Moxley shifts to a facelock then a full nelson, but Swerve still endures!

Swerve reaches out, fires elbows, and he is free! But Moxley has the waistband! Swerve uses his foot to get free, he ROCKS Moxley, but Moxley grabs the waistband again! Swerve HEADBUTTS and both men fall! The fans are thunderous as the teams call to their guys! Hot tags to Matt and Joe! Joe rallies on The Bucks and even Moxley! The Bucks kick and whip, then run up! Joe URENAGES Nick down, then he SNAP POWERSLAMS Matt! Cover, TWO!! Matt survives but Joe hauls him right up! Tag to Swerve, Joe sends him in for an UPPERCUT! Joe BACK ELBOWS, and PELES! Hobbs goes up!?

Hobbs aims to DIVING SPLASH!! Swerve covers, but Moxley AND Nick break it! The fans boo but Moxley backs away. Swerve snarls and the fans rally up again. “This is Awesome!” as Swerve gator rolls again. But Nick saves Matt from the suplex! They DOUBLE SUPERKICK Swerve, then dodge Hobbs to feint and DOUBLE DDT! They both kip up, Joe is in, but Nick SUPERKICKS him! Joe wobbles, so Matt SUPERKICKS! Joe still DOUBLE LARIATS!! The fans are thunderous, but Moxley hits Joe with a PARADIGM SHIFT! HOUSE CALL for Moxley! Then a FLYING STOMP onto The Bucks!! The fans are electric and Nana is loving it!

There is a ring count on Swerve and Matt while the fans rally up. Swerve and Matt crawl, Swerve puts Matt in at 8. The fans cheer as Swerve drags Matt over. Tag to Hobbs and then Swerve climbs. Hobbs brings down his straps, but Moxley is in! Moxley kicks Hobbs, underhooks, but Hobbs werernches out to then hit a SPINEBUSTER! Then SPINEBUSTER for Matt! Nick springboards in, but SPINEBUSTER onto Matt!! Hobbs handles town bidness three times over, then he tags Swerve back in! Swerve is up, but Moxley SHOVES Hobbs into him! Then CUTTER for Hobbs! Joe LARIATS Moxley up and out!

The Bucks DOUBLE SUPERKICK Joe!! The Bucks hurry after Swerve, DOUBLE SUPERPLEX!! Then the E V P- NO, Swerve ducks and knees hit together! COQUINA CLUTCH for Nick! O’Conner Roll for Matt!! Swerve & Opps win!!

Winners: Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe & “Powerhouse” Hobbs, by pinfall

But Moxley and Matt attack! The fans boo as now Yuta & Claudio join in, too! The Death Riders and Bucks mug Swerve & Opps, and Marina even mugs Nana! BUT SHIBATA IS BACK! The Wrestler fires off fast hands on everybody! Shibata whips and BOOTS Yuta in the corner! Shibata fires more forearms, but Claudio is back! Shibata ROCKS Claudio first! Shibata fires forearms in the corner, he is getting payback for that chair gut buster! But Marina LOW BLOWS Shibata!! The fans boo but HERE COMES WILLOW! The Babe with the Power has been a Problem solver, and she SPEARS Marina!

The fans fire up, because here comes KENNY OMEGA! The Cleaner is a missing piece to the puzzle, but he gives Yuta a SNAP DRAGON! SNAP DRAGON for Claudio! He blocks Matt’s superkick, Matt begs for mercy, but he gets a SNAP DRAGON instead! Matt is on the ropes, Omega takes aim, and everyone joins in with the BANG!! V-TRIGGER on the ropes!! But Omega isn’t done, he drags Matt up. Swerve says hold on a moment. Swerve brings out a TABLE!! The fans fire up and Omega likes that idea. Joe helps set the table up, Omega brings Matt to the apron, and the fans are thunderous! Omega Electric Chair Lifts, but Claudio saves Matt!

The fans boo but The Bucks & Death Riders retreat! Joe shouts, “OH NO NO NO NO NO! A sane man would realize I’ve got all your asses this weekend and I can wait ’til then. But y’know what? I’m not a sane man, and we don’t give a s*it! We’re coming after you tonight in Albuquerque, whether you like it or not!!” Joe has put The Bucks & Death Riders on notice, will this fight go all the way into Collision and the rest of the week?

Backstage interview with The Hurt Syndicate.

Alicia Atout is with Montel Vontavious Porter, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, and their other lawyer on this very exciting evening. MJF is set to finally put pen to paper and join the team. How excited are they for this new chapter? MVP says yes, this is a momentous occasion. They are adding a fourth man. But regarding the excitement, you’d need to ask Max about that. “Oh, you can ask him, baby!” MJF steps in, wearing a brand new suit that is covered in gold leaf. Mark Sterling is also here, and MVP likes the suit. MVP says they’ll get some food, let his lawyer handle the legalese, and they’ll see MJF later.

MJF says absolutely. He fist bumps the Hurt Syndicate on the way out, and tells Alicia to scoot. MJF then tells Sterling that he did it! And a pleasure doing business with MVP’s lawyer, too. Sterling presents MJF with a pen, but Dynamite goes to break. Will it all be to MJF’s liking? Or will there be some fine print that bites him in the ass?

The Hurt Syndicate heads to the ring.

Mark Sterling already has a table set up as MVP & The AEW World Tag Team Champions enter, and MVP grabs a mic. “Attention AEW viewing audience. This is an official announcement from the Hurt Syndicate. Tonight’s a very special night. As you know, you’ve been following this drama as it has unfolded. We finally got the All Mighty to change his position, and tonight we officially induct our fourth member into the Hurt Syndicate.” The fans boo a bit, and MVP says hold on, they shouldn’t boo that. But he gets why they’re booing. Maxwell Jacob Friedman is better than all of them, and they know it.

So without further ado, the newest member of the Hurt Syndicate… Maxwell Jacob Friedman! M J F! The Scumbag makes his entrance, he has them cut his music, and he says he’d boo, too, if he was born and raised in Albuquerque. “Gentlemen, I gotta tell you, this reminds me of when I was a young little lad. My mother sat me down, and she said, ‘Son, the most important moment of your life is the day you marry the love of your life.’ And now that I’m older and wiser, I gotta say, clearly, that dumb b*tch never joined the Hurt Syndicate!” The fans boo, but MJF says, “Excuse me, I’m talking. Thanks, though, I appreciate the input.”

MVP also tells the fans to show respect to MJF. The only thing that sucks here is Albuquerque! They paid money to be here, so shut up and show respect to the young genius! MJF thanks Montel for that, and says he loves him. It is such a shame that such a great moment has to happen here, in a state nobody remembers exists. They don’t even have good sports teams here! Nobody cares about Albuquerque! Anyway, they’ve had their fun. Smart Mark, explain the legalese. Sterling assures that the contract benefits both parties. MJF will sign first, then MVP, Shelton & Lashley will sign to make MJF an official member of the Hurt Syndicate, LLC.

MJF tells the fans no one asked them, so please quiet down. MVP suggests booing their bosses when they go back to the jobs they hate. MJF finishes his part, then MVP signs his. Shelton signs, MVP tells more fans to shut up, and Lashley is last, much like he was with giving his thumbs up. Lashley hesitates, though. Now that it is really real, he might have second thoughts. Lashley double checks, MJF says he trusts “Bob.” MVP tells one fan in particular to shut up, men are conducting business! Lashley & Shelton check with their lawyer, MJF asks what’s the problem. Lashley goes back to the contract, and he works up the effort to sign his name.

The fans boo, but there’s nothing to it! MJF says this is the greatest moment of his life! He is now the newest member of- Wait, the Sons of Texas head out here? The fans cheer Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara, aka the ROH World Tag Team Champions, aka the #1 contenders to the AEW World Tag Team Champions! Dustin has a mic but MJF says cut the music! And he tells them to look at him! Dustin & Sammy must be as dumb as these fans are ugly! He wants the White trash honkies to realize they have no right to interrupt this! Dustin tells MJF to shut up, “You stupid SOB!” All MJF does week in and week out is talk! MJF barely wrestles! He has no work ethic, grit, or even…

Well, Dustin will say this. Dustin hates MJF’s guts. He needs MJF to know that. MVP, you and Dustin do go way back. And Dustin has the utmost respect for MVP. He does. But it is in MVP’s best interest as businessmen to watch out for that snake in the grass. MJF says no, that’s not a thing. Dustin say she and Sammy are “day one guys!” Six years ago, Double or Nothing, they did something special! They changed the wrestling landscape! It was an unforgettable night. Fast-forward to now, this Sunday in Phoenix. They have an opportunity that they earned. They want more gold! They’re UNDEFEATED as ROH World Tag Team Champions!

The Sons of Texas have earned their AEW World Tag Team Championship match. Bobby, Shelton, Dustin wants you to look at him when he talks to you. Word is, they like to hurt people. Well, jump on Dustin and see if you can hurt him! He dares you! MVP says please, Dustin, be careful what you wish for. Dustin says there is nothing they can do to him and Sammy, bigger men have tried! And they may not know this, but Dustin & Sammy have both gone to Hell, looked the Devil in his eyes, and kicked his teeth in to claw their way out! They are day one, working around the clock, no off days! Do not think this will be a walk in the park, because it is not!

The fans cheer as Dustin says they fight with heart, honor, fire, passion, soul, and their work ethic is untouchable. One more thing: If Dustin were a betting man, he would bet on day one guys. See you at Double or Nothing. Mic drop from The Natural, and both he and the Spanish God are ready! But will they be able to topple The All Mighty & The Standard of Excellence? Or will Lashley & Shelton just have to hurt people?

Backstage interview with Kazuchika Okada.

Renee Paquette is with the Rainmaker and says last week, “Speedball” Mike Bailey called him out because he is eyeing the Continental Championship. Does he have an official response? “Yeah.” Then what is it…? “I’m the Continental Champion, I say what goes. Speedball, you do not call me out. I call you out! Double or Nothing, you find out why I’m then Continental Champion and you’re not.” Then it is official! But Renee notes that Speedball has yet to be pinned since arriving in AEW. Is Okada at all concerned? Okada says there is a first time for everything, trust him. Okada leaves, but comes back to tell Speedball, “Trust me.” Oh, okay…

The Rainmaker doesn’t hit his signature insult, but will he hit his signature move and be the first to beat Bailey? Or will Speedball be the NEW Continental Champion?

Ricochet VS Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn!

The One & Only picked on Zach Gowen, then beat him in a match, only to beat him down after. Mark Briscoe made the save and then the challenge, so now Ricochet has a STRETCHER MATCH waiting for him on Sunday! Will Ricochet be too worried about that to focus on the 5 Tool Player? Or will Ricochet use the Pride of Pro-Wrestling as a tune-up?

The bell rings, the fans rally, and the two circle. They feel things out, but Ricochet says hold on. He taunts Daddy Ass, but Bowens stops Ricochet from doing the crotch chop! Bowens then fires hands on Ricochet, ROCKS him, and CHPOS him in the corner! The fans cheer Bowens and he whips corner to corner. Ricochet reverses, Bowens goes up and rolls. Ricochet runs up, Bowens hurdles then headlocks. Ricochet powers out, Bowens hurdles, then Bowens FLOAT OVER DDTS! Ricochet flounders to ropes, Bowens LARIATS him up and out! The fans fire up with Bowens again, and Ricochet gets in Billy’s face.

Billy steps and Ricochet flinches! Bowens is there to SLAP Ricochet on his bald head! Bowens whips Ricochet into railing, then he SCISSOR FINGERS~ with Billy! Bowens leaves Ricochet behind, Billy pushes Ricochet in, but the ref reprimands. Bowens runs up, Ricochet dodges, and then Ricochet comes back. Bowens puts Ricochet on the apron, GAMANGIRIS, then he brings Ricochet up. Ricochet fights the suplex, then he drags Bowens to the apron. Bowens BODY SHOTS, fireman’s carries, but Ricochet grabs at the ref! The ref shakes free but Ricochet slips down. Ricochet POSTS Bowens, then SWEEPS the legs!

The fans boo but Ricochet is all fired up, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Ricochet taunts the fans, returns to the ring, and Billy helps Bowens. Ricochet CLOBBERS Bowens as he gets in the ring! Ricochet CHOKES Bowens on ropes, lets off, and he soaks up heat. Ricochet storms up and CHOPS! Bowens kicks Ricochet, CHOPS him, and then goes to a corner. Bowens runs up, Ricochet dodges and fires hands! Ricochet CHOPS, then he drags Bowens around. Ricochet taunts the scissor fingers and digs them into Bowens’ eyes! The ref reprimands, Ricochet stops, and he stands Bowens up to throw knees. Ricochet snapmares Bowens, runs, and then KOKESHI HEADBUTTS! Ricochet taunts the fans while Bowens writhes.

Ricochet goes back to Bowens but Bowens throws hands! Bowens rises, ROCKS Ricochet, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! Ricochet taunts Billy, argues with him, then covers Bowens. TWO, but Ricochet stalks Bowens to a corner. Ricochet CHOKES Bowens on the ropes again, stops as the ref counts, and then taunts the fans again. Ricochet goes back to Bowens but Bowens KICKS from below! Bowens kicks again, but Ricochet blocks to YANK Bowens from the corner. Ricochet then headlocks and rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Ricochet stops, and Billy is frustrated on Bowens’ behalf.

Ricochet taunts Bowens, CLUBS him down, then stalks him again. Ricochet looms over Bowens and CLUBS him down again as Dynamite returns to single picture. Ricochet drags Bowens up, puts one out, but Bowens fights the lift! Ricochet CLUBS Bowens, UPPERCUTS him, and CHOPS him! The fans boo but Ricochet runs, only for Bowens to blow past! Ricochet ducks, Bowens dodges, and Bowens mule kicks! Bowens front KICKS, then runs, FAMOUSER! The fans fire up and Bowens has Ricochet for a torture rack! Swing and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Ricochet survives and Bowens is frustrated but the fans rally behind Bowens.

Bowens waits on Ricochet, clinches, but Ricochet fights the Arrival with elbows! Ricochet spins but Bowens ROCKS him first! Ricochet hits back, Bowens ROCKS him again! The hand fly, Ricochet spins but into a BOOT! Bowens runs, but into a TIGER WALL KICK! SOBAT! FRONT KICK! But Bowens fires off the Rock, Paper, Scissors, SUPERKICK!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Bowens grows frustrated. The fans rally, Bowens stalks Ricochet and waistlocks, but Ricochet slips out of the back suplex! V-TRIGGER! HEEL KICK! Ricochet goes to the corner, locks ‘n’ loads, and SPIRIT- NO, Bowens ducks it! Clinch and ARRIVAL!!

The fans fire up and Bowens signals the scissors! The fans join in, Bowens makes it a fist, MOLLY WHOP!! But Ricochet is sent out of the ring! Billy wants to fetch Ricochet for Bowens but the ref won’t let him! Ricochet crawls, Bowens brings him up, but RICOCHET HAS THE SCISSORS!! HE JABS BOWENS IN THE FORHEAD!!! The fans boo and Ricochet reloads! SPIRIT GUN!!! Cover, Ricochet wins!!

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

Just as Ricochet stole Swerve’s coat, and just as he stole Zach Gowen’s prosthetic leg, Ricochet steals this win and he steals the title of “Scissor King” from Bowens! But wait! Mark Briscoe is here with a stretcher! The fans cheer as Mark sneaks up, and he gets Ricochet’s attention! Ricochet freaks out as Mark says this is where he’s going on Sunday! Mark RAMS Ricochet with the stretcher, fires hands, and then scoops him onto the stretcher! Mark positions it at ringside, goes up top, but Ricochet scrambles away! Mark hops down and he tells Ricochet there’s no running away at Double or Nothing! Will Ricochet #ManUp or shut up against the Sussex County Chicken?

BREAKING NEWS for Thursday Night Collision!

While it is official for Double or Nothing, Speedball has business to handle before facing Okada! Bailey teams up with Komander against La Faccion Ingobernable! Will Bailey & Komander wrangle these bulls? Or will they just get the horns? And before she battles Jamie Hayter for the Women’s Owen Hart Cup, Mercedes Mone must defend her AEW TBS Championship against CMLL’s Reyna Isis! Will The CEO lose her belt before going for the trophy? Or can #ThreeBeltsMone build momentum for Double or Nothing?

Stokely Hathaway & FTR speak.

#BigStoke says, “Look what we have here. A contract in my email for your tag match at Double or Nothing, live on PPV this Sunday. And here’s the thing. We could sign this through a dopey Acrobat, but when you look to my left, when you look to my right, you see two men. You see two men who respect and honor the tradition of professional wrestling. You see the greatest tag team alive today, F T R! So we’re gonna do something special. Because Nigel McGuiness, Daniel Garcia, they want to look you in the eyes before they sign this contract. They wanna make sure that this is something that you really want to do.

“And you can even bring along your buddy, Daddy Magic.” Stokely does the fake cough trick as he calls Matt Menard “Dick ass.” Dax gives Stokely a cough drop and Stoke says we will all have the privilege and honor of seeing Nigel sign the last contract he will ever sign in his wrestling career, tomorrow night on Collision, live on TBS. #TopGuysOut. Will Nigel & Garcia be ready for anything FTR might try to pull this close to Double or Nothing?

Renee Paquette is in the ring.

The fans cheer and she says that tonight, we’ve already heard from the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Finalists. Now it is time to hear from the ladies. Renee has chairs set up and reminds us that these two women want to beat the ever loving crap outta each other, so she’ll do her best to keep things in order. That said, please welcome out the Hardest Hitting Hayter there is, the former AEW Women’s World Champion, Jamie Hayter! The fans cheer as Jamie makes her way out to the ring. Hayter takes her seat on Renee’s left, and now we welcome out The CEO, Mercedes Mone. The fans aren’t as excited as Mone struts her way out in her 1990s pop art bodysuit.

Mone takes her seat to Renee’s right, the fans duel, and Renee wants to start with Jamie. Jamie has accomplished something in AEW that Mone has not yet, and that is to hold THE AEW Women’s World Championship. Now, Jamie was sidelined with an awful back injury, but she has fought her heart out just to be back here. But this match makes it seem like Jamie is the underdog. How does it feel to Jamie? Jamie says if she’s the underdog, then so be it. Jamie just hates when people look past her, not realizing how that is a surefire way to get yourself hurt. It doesn’t matter if Jamie is on top of the mountain or deep on rock bottom, she will crawl her way back every single time.

Jamie will fight again and again and again, because that’s just who she is! She’s not some obnoxious C E O~! She doesn’t have people running around doing her dirty work. And she doesn’t walk around here like she’s the best thing since sliced bread! The fans cheer that, and Jamie says yeah, she’s rough around the edges. She doesn’t have it like Mone has it. Jamie will admit to it. But she’s still a fighter. Every single person sat out here tonight, everybody watching at home, helped mold Jamie into just that! This means more to Jamie than it does Mone, and they both know it! It really, really does.

Jamie says this isn’t even about a title anymore. Not to Jamie! It is more than that. This is about not being forgotten. The fans cheer, and Jamie tells Mone that when the bell rings, the confetti falls, and the cup is lifted, if it ain’t Jamie doing it, then what the hell does that even mean for her? Is she just not good enough? Should she even come back? What’s her fight? What’s her why? Will anyone even care? Mone’s guess is as good as hers, but as always, Jamie’s back is against the wall. But what she does is she laces up her boots and she hits bloody hard! That just who Jamie Hayter is! The fans cheer that!

Renee turns to Mone and says Jamie is bringing a new level of intensity even in Mone. Is Mone worried Jamie will be the first woman to beat her in singles competition since joining AEW? The fans cheer that idea! Mone says, “Worried? Renee. Me, worried? Do you not know who the Hell you’re talking to? Jamie Hayter, you think you have me all figured out, but you don’t. Because I am more than just a champion. I’m a revolution. I am the Beyonce of Women’s Wrestling! And I’m not looking past you, I’m looking straight through you like the glass doll that you are.” The fans boo but Mone says she always gets what she wants.

And her destiny is our reality. And the reality is, she will be headed to All in: Texas to become THE AEW Women’s World Champion! The fans are torn, but Mone says Jamie wants to throw shade at her success. Mone is the greatest TBS Champion ever! 360 days and counting, 25-0 in singles competition! She didn’t get there by luck, but by hard work and dedication. So Jamie, at Double or Nothing, Mone will show you why she’s the CEO. It is more than just about winning, but about leaving her legacy. Jamie, Mone wants you to bring your best, to be the best, to be the fighter that you say you are.

Because Double or Nothing will not be where Jamie’s story begins, but where her chapter in Mone’s story ends! Mone laughs, the fans boo, but Jamie has a rebuttal. She wants to ask everyone here tonight, “Have you noticed something a little bit different about Mercedes? She’s looking a little bit lighter, if you will. Something’s missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.” Jamie looks Mone up and down, and then says she figured it out! Mone lost the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship! Jamie remembers because she watched Resurgence. That was Mone’s destiny, and Mone’s destiny is to now lose everything!

Mone SHOVES Jamie down! Mone rains down fists on Jamie, Renee bails out, and Mone shoves the chairs aside. Mone is pissed as she makes Jamie look at the belts she still has. But then Hayter grabs an arm, and gives Mone HAYTERADE!! But then Timeless Toni Storm is here! The fans cheer as THE AEW Women’s World Champion is here already, wanting to see her potential challengers before the big night. But at the same time, she’s going to watch her next challenger in person while on commentary! The Fighting Gravure Idol and the Princess of the Black Throne are in the main event, will it all be about #MinaNow?

Mina Shirakawa VS Julia Hart!

Dynamite returns as Toni continues to revel in the cheers before sitting down at commentary. With that, Mina makes her entrance, followed by Julia’s. The bell rings and the fans rally as Mina and Julia circle. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, and then Julia headlocks. Mina powers up and out, drops down, then goes to hip toss, but Julia blocks! Julia gets a leg up, FLIPS, but Mina swings! Julia dodges, wrenches, and YANKS on the arm! Julia goes to a corner, knuckle locks, and climbs. The fans duel as Julia tightrope walks, and she goes OLD SCHOOL! Down goes Mina, Julia runs, but Mina ducks the blindside lariat!

Mina shimmies and shakes, the fans cheer, and Mina blocks a kick to CLUB the leg! Mina CHPOS, and then says it is her turn! Mina goes up, up, and shakes before she goes OLD SCHOOL with a knee drop! Mina shakes more and the fans cheer more. Toni promises that she is not here to make innuendo, just dry sexual comments on occasion. Mina runs in, Julia dodges then comes back, but Mina dodges in return. Mina ROCKS Julia, goes up and FLYING CHUCKS! Mina runs, DROPKICKS the legs out, and brings Julia around. Mina steps through, Julia kicks and kicks, then runs! Mina slides to trip Julia up!

Mina waves to Toni, says she’ll be champion, and Toni asks, “Really? Be careful now.” Julia is there to ROCK Mina! Toni says she told her so. Julia RAMS Mina into the apron, CHOPS her, then pushes her into the ring. Toni is nonplussed, this is going as her “script” says it would. Julia storms in after Mina while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Julia steps on Mina, TWO, but Julia drops down to DRIBBLE Mina off the mat! Cover, TWO! Mina is tougher than that but Julia drags her around. Julia whips Mina to a corner, runs in and LARIATS! Then she stomps a mudhole into Mina! Julia digs her boot in, the ref counts, and Julia steps off at 4. Julia drags Mina up, brings her around, but Mina CHOPS! Julia CHOPS, then reels Mina in. Julia snap suplexes, covers, TWO! Julia is annoyed but she drags Mina into a chinlock. Mina endures, reaches out, then fights up. Mina fires body shots, but Julia KNEES low. Julia whips, ELBOWS Mina down, then paces.

Luther fans Toni given the New Mexico heat. Julia clamps onto Mina with the motorcycle stretch but Mina endures again. Mina fights to turn things around, only for Julia to wrap her in a straitjacket stretch! Mina endures, pushes back to a cover, TWO! Julia clamps onto Mina with a SLEEPER! Mina fights around, Julia shifts to become a backpack, but Mina fights up. Mina JAWBREAKERS free! Julia wobbles, but she ROCKS Mina in the back! Dynamite returns to single picture as Julia stands mina up. Mina fires forearms, Julia fires back, and the fans rally. Julia runs, but into a SOBAT! Mina runs to SLIDING KNEE!

The fans fire up and Mina waits on Julia. Julia stands, into a ROLLING ELBOW! Julia is back up, but Mina LARIATS! Mina grins, runs corner to corner, but she has to block a boot! DRAGON SCREW! Julia writhes, Mina storms up and has the leg. Mina steps through, but Julia BOOTS her away! Julia goes to a corner, Mina runs in, but Julia goes up! And she reels Mina into the TARANTULA!! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Julia lets Mina go. Julia steps in, but into an URAKEN! The fans fire up and Mina goes to the apron. Mina climbs, brings Julia in, and FLYING SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as Julia survives and Mina grows frustrated. Mina drags Julia up, dragon sleepers, “This is Awesome!” as Julia fights through! STO! Julia then drags Mina to the drop zone and stomps her! Julia goes up, up, and HART SAULTS! Mina moves, Julia lands on her feet, and her leg jams! Mina DROPKICKS the leg out! Mina SMASHES the knee, then has the legs for the FIGURE- NO, Julia cradles! TWO, and Mina hurries to her feet! ROLLING ELBOW, and then URAKEN!! Julia falls, the fans fire up, and Mina drags Julia into the dragon sleeper! GLAMOROUS DRIVER- NO, Julia slips out, rolls Mina up, TWO!!

Mina has Julia’s arm! Chicken wing, roll, ghost pin! MINA WINS!!

Winner: Mina Shirakawa, by pinfall

Toni is impressed as Mina snatches another one! Mina taunts Toni, Toni tells commentary that she is not worried, but then Julia BLINDSIDES Mina! The fans boo as Julia throws hands! Mina shoves Julia, trips her up, and has the legs! FIGURE FOUR!! The fans “WOO~” while Julia suffers, but SKYE BLUE is here! Skye BOOTS Mina down, then rains down fists! The fans boo but Toni storms into the ring! Storm drags Skye off Mina, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Skye flops out, but Julia storms up! SLAP from Toni, URAKEN from Mina! The dark clouds have rolled away, and now Mina grabs the belt off the apron.

Mina brings the belt to Toni, but promises to take it from her on Sunday. They tug-o-war, Mina SHOVES Toni! Toni comes back, but Mina blocks the kick for a DRAGON SCREW! Mina puts Toni in a corner, ties up those legs around the post, HANGING FIGURE FOUR!! The ref reprimands, Luther calls for reinforcements, and the fans are going nuts! Mina lets go when she’s satisfied, and now Toni might be in trouble. Will it only get worse for Toni when it’s time to go Double or Nothing?

Backstage interview with The Young Bucks.

Renee gets a word from them as they’re on their way out. Nick says they don’t have time, they have a flight to catch. Matt says hold on, they can say this. Remember how earlier tonight, Joe and his crew promised to get their hands on The Bucks? Well, it is the end of the night, nothing happened, so that makes Joe a liar. See you at the PPV. The Bucks head for the exit, but Joe is there! He SMASHES them with a trash can! Hobbs joins in, the luggage is also a weapon, and things go to the backstage area! But the Death Riders are there! They brawl 5v2, but Willow joins in! Marina goes after Willow, Swerve shows up, and so do Shibata and Omega!

Swerve has a chain, Omega has a trash can, and now THIS is an appetizer! They brawl out onto the stage, using the tron and the railing as part of this! Marina is sent into railing! Omega CHUCKS a trash can into Moxley! Swerve CHOKES Nick and puts him in the ring! The fans rally as things go down the ramp, Dynamite’s theme song plays in the spirit of Anarchy in the Arena! Omega has Swerve’s chain and uses it to CHOKE Nick! Joe BOOTS Moxley against barriers! Omega CLUBS Nick, but Nick HOTSHOTS Omega! Hobbs has Claudio, Shibata puts Yuta in a trash can to SMACK away with a kendo stick!

The Bucks turn things around on Omega, beat him up 2v1, and Nick has the chain now! The fans cheer on “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Swerve and Moxley brawl! E V P TRIGGER to Omega!! Claudio SMACKS Hobbs with a chair, but that just pisses Hobbs off! Joe and Moxley brawl now, but the Bucks aren’t done with Omega! They get him up, but Omega slips free! Omega shoves Matt into Nick! Hobbs CHOKES Claudio, Omega SLAM DUNKS Matt! Swerve is in, BOOT for Nick! Omega and Swerve nod, but Moxley CHOKES Joe! Willow beats down Marina, Omega and Swerve have the Bucks! V-TRIGGER and HOUSE CALL in stereo!!

Joe powers out to turn things around on Moxley! COQUINA CLUTCH!!! Joe makes the AEW World Champion pass out! But GABE KIDD is here! He CLOBBERS Joe with the title briefcase!! The Mad Man slips in and CLOBBERS Swerve! And CLOBBERS Omega! He rains down fists on Omega, the fans boo, but Gabe says he wasn’t just gonna go back home! The Bucks bring out the TABLES! Things have turned around from earlier tonight as The Bucks drag Swerve to the table! Gabe CHOKES Omega, puts him on the outside, and now Omega is put on the other table! The Bucks climb the corners, Yuta makes Nana watch!

STEREO MACHO ELBOW AND FROG SPLASH, DOWN THROUGH THE TABLES!! Albuquerque loses their minds, and the evil alliance of Death Riders and Elite stands tall! How much more chaotic will things get when it’s Anarchy in the Arena?

My Thoughts:

A great episode, even for being a go-home that was light on matches. But at the same time, it had more promos and build. Awesome face-to-face promo from Ospreay and Hangman, and even with the passion and bringing up the past, these guys stayed Faces and are keeping it at “may the best man win.” As such, that really keeps things up in the air. Either guy would make a great challenger for Moxley, especially if the story is that Hangman and Ospreay will work together to make sure it is a fair fight. Also a great promo segment from Hayter and Mone with how they brought some fire to that moment. Mone losing her cool over Hayter bringing up her loss was good stuff, but Hayter standing tall makes me think Mone wins now.

Great segue from Mone and Hayter to Toni watching Mina VS Julia. Great match for the main event, but naturally Mina wins to have momentum. Skye Blue showing up and Toni getting involved was also good stuff, but I’m a bit surprised Mina and Toni took it that far. Mina standing tall over Toni on top of her match momentum, clearly Toni retains at Double or Nothing. Then it will be Toni VS Mone, and I would think Mone retains her title against Reyna Isis tomorrow night. And since we’re not going double or nothing on titles, maybe we go all in, with Mone putting up her TBS Championship against Toni’s Women’s World Championship, with the winner becoming the first dual AEW Women’s Champion.

Good promo from Stokely & FTR to set up their contract signing on Collision, and that will be a good segment for the go-home. Pretty fun stuff with MJF and the Hurt Syndicate, but I feel like MVP adlibs his responses a little too much. He didn’t need to keep shouting down the fans unless someone was actually saying something offensive. I appreciated Lashley playing up like he was going to go back on the deal, but also they kept teasing how there might be someone other than MJF joining. Dustin & Sammy showing up was logical, but I feel like Dustin only had most of his promo put together. But as I’ve said before, I don’t see Sons of Texas winning this one. I wonder if MJF has a part to play, too…

Ricochet VS Bowens was a very good match but I’m a little surprised, and maybe disappointed, Bowens’ return push was sacrificed to Ricochet getting momentum going into Double or Nothing. But I suppose the “Scissor King” crown was good enough a reason to have a match. I would’ve waited until after Double or Nothing so that Ricochet and Bowens could have an actual feud going through the summer. Mark going after Ricochet was good stuff, but he kinda gave away the big spot he wants to do: Froggy-Bow to a stretcher. The math on this match is fairly even, but it’d make sense if Ricochet won to stay hot towards a title opportunity of his own.

Speaking of, good promo from Okada to set up Okada VS Bailey. I wonder if he chose to swerve us on saying “b*tch” or he was told to pull back a bit. It feels more like an Okada thing to make that move himself. Bailey & Komander surely find a way to win against LFI tomorrow, but I can’t be sure about Bailey VS Okada. I still think a great idea is to violate the Continental Rules by The Bucks ending up ringside. Given how tonight ended, I can see the Faces and Heels not wanting to wait to get Anarchy in the Arena started, so The Bucks either brawl their way ringside or are chased ringside, Bailey wins, but Okada retains as it is a disqualification and Champion’s Advantage is a thing.

But of course, great stuff with the Anarchy in the Arena field. Awesome Six Man Tag to open, great win for the Faces, but then the Heels stand tall to close the night, so the math is a wash. The stuff tonight was a great teaser, so that Anarchy match is going to be wild. It could go either way, really, but the result should also lend itself towards the next phase in the story. I don’t know if Darby Allin will be back in time for Sunday, because helping the Faces win AITA would be a great way to return, and it means one more ally for Team AEW to fight against the Death Riders.

My Score: 8.8/10

Which way will the wind blow in the Windy City?

Beach Break continues as Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara battle CRU, Lio Rush & Action Andretti, for a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championships!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Megan Bayne w/ Penelope Ford VS Anna Jay w/ Harley Cameron; Megan wins.
• Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis VS AR Fox; Kyle wins.
• Six Man Tag: Bandido, Brody King & Tomohiro Ishii VS Lance Archer & Roppongi Vice w/ Don Callis; Bandido, Brody & Ishii win.
• “Speedball” Mike Bailey VS Blake Christian w/ Lee Johnson; Bailey wins.
• Chicago Street Fight: “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith VS The Gates of Agony; Bill & Keith win.
• AEW World Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders match: The Sons of Texas VS CRU; The Sons of Texas win and will challenge The Hurt Syndicate for the titles.
• “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS Wheeler Yuta; Hobbs wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Megan Bayne w/ Penelope Ford VS Anna Jay w/ Harley Cameron!

The Megasus has been on a warpath, the Superbad Girl as her harbinger and minion. But in trying to break the Star of the Show and her wild Aussie ally, they have incurred the WRATH! Will the Queenslayer add putting down a titan to her list of accolades? Or will all #BowDown to Bayne?

The bell rings, the two circle, and the fans rally up. They tie up, Megan RAMS Anna into the corner and RAMS her again and again! The ref counts, Megan stops, and then Megan CHOPS! Megan stalks Anna along the way, whips her to ropes, and then Megan scoops, only for Anna to slip free. Anna fires forearms, but dodges Megan’s haymaker! Anna kicks, KICKS, and runs to DROPKICK! The fans fire up, Anna whips, but Megan blocks and reverses. Megan runs in, Anna slips outside, and then Anna HEEL KICKS! Ford is there to anchor Anna, Harley protests, but Megan BOOTS Anna in the distraction!

The fans boo but then Ford ASAI MOONSAULTS! Down goes Anna and Ford soaks up the heat. Megan storms over but so does Harley. Harley coaches Anan but Megan drags her up. Megan whips Anna hard into railing! Anna falls in a heap and Megan soaks up the heat. Ford taunts Anna, Megan hauls Anna up and hits an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Megan soaks up more heat from Chicago, then blows a kiss before stepping inside. Megan pushes Anna to a cover, TWO! Megan is amused as Anna toughs it out, and Megan drags Anna up. Megan clamps on the BEARHUG and squeezes tight! The fans rally and Anna fights with elbows!

Harley and the fans rally as Anna still fights, but Megan THROWS Anna overhead! Megan stalks Anna, soaks up heat, and then steps out to the apron. Megan drags Anna out to join her, and APRON SENTONS, but Anna moves! Megan writhes while Anna crawls and the fans rally back up. Anna brings Megan around to JAWBREAKER! Megan fires a forearm, Anna fires back! Megan CHOPS, but Anna fires a flurry! Anna ROCKS Megan, but Megan- NO, Anna dodges the boot to wrench and HOOK KICK! Then BACKSTABBER! The fans fire up and Anna runs at the corner, LEG LARIAT! Anna keeps moving, but Megan fireman’s carries!

Anna fights free, slips to the apron, and RAMS into Megan! Anna then turns Megan for a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! Megan staggers but she comes back! Anna DUMPS Megan out! The fans fire up as Anna aims, CROSSBODY on Megan & Ford! Harley and the fans cheer as Anna puts Megan in. Anna climbs, leaps, and BLOCKBUSTERS! Then she drags Megan up, only for Megan to suplex! FALCON ARROW! Megan’s done the deal but can’t make the cover! She crawls and hooks a leg, TWO! Anna survives thanks to the delay and Megan is mad! Megan drags Anna up, ROCKS her, then fireman’s carries!

Anna kicks and flails, but Megan still throws Anna into FATE’S- NO, Anna lands out to DDT! Cover, TWO! Megan survives, Ford is relieved, and Harley is frazzled. Anna hurries to hook Megan up in the QUEENSLAYER SLEEPER!! Megan drops to her knees and the fans rally up! Anna squeezes tight but Megan rises, to then RAM her into buckles! Speaking of buckles, Ford slips into the ring to rip at one! Harley hurries over to trip Ford up! The pad comes away, but Harley and Ford brawl! The fans fire up as they go up the ramp! As for Megan, she whips Anna at the corner! Anna stops short, Megan runs in, but Anna sends her into the buckle! Roll up, TWO!!

Megan survives and Anna is shocked! The fans rally up and Anna hurries back for the QUEENSLAYER!! Body scissors are locked in, but Megan uses her sheer power to rise up! And she RAMS Anna into that buckle!! Megan lifts Anna in the Electric Chair, then SPINNING POWERBOMBS! High stack, TWO, but into a deadlift, and a fireman’s carry!! FATE’S DESCENT!! Cover, Megan wins!

Winner: Megan Bayne, by pinfall

Penelope planted the seed for this victory, and Megan feasted on the fruits of that labor! But will nothing and no one stop The Megasus from becoming the alpha female of AEW?

PROGRAMMING NOTE for next week!

Once again, Collision is going to move to TBS for a special Thursday night broadcast! Prepare your DVRs now so you don’t miss AEW doing back to back before going Double or Nothing!

Nigel McGuinness speaks from commentary.

He just wants to say this as short as he can. He thought about it, we all saw what happened on Dynamite. FTR wants a tag match with Nigel and Garcia. Nigel says until he gets in the ring with FTR, this issue will never end, so fellas, Double Or Nothing, you have the match! Nigel tells Garcia to get himself ready, because they’re going to drag the #TopGuysOut into the deep waters!

Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis VS AR Fox!

Though he may not be going for the Owen Hart Cup, he is still ready to prove he is The Protostar! Will the Aussie Arrow hit the mark here tonight? Or will Beach Break become the Whole Fox’n Show?

The bell rings and Kyle BOOTS Fox right down! Callis is on commentary to say that is a proto-fast start there. The fans boo but Kyle soaks up the heat. Fox stands but Kyle BOOTS him again! Kyle stomps Fox in the corner again and again, then stands on Fox. The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Kyle steps off to say he has ’til 5. Kyle CHOPS, Fox is stinging, but Kyle CHOPS again! Kyle whips corner to corner, Fox goes up and out, and then Fox BOOTS Kyle! Fox slips in, slips out, and Kyle hits buckles! Fox trips Kyle, the fans rally, and Fox slingshots to facelock, only for Kyle to suplex first! Fox slips free, Kyle elbows him away, then Kyle runs.

Fox drops, then DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while Kyle checks his face. Callis admits, Fox is on another level athletically. The problem is: Fox panders to the fans. Fox knuckle locks Kyle, goes up, up, jumps around a bit, and Callis says that’s a waste of movement! Fox still jumps to wheelbarrow and BULLDOG! The fans fire up but Callis says this is pathetic. Kyle bails out, Fox builds speed, but Kyle is back! POP-UP and SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Callis loves it as Kyle struts around and says “SUCK IT!” Kyle looms over Fox and stomps him while Collision goes picture in picture.

Fox rises, Kyle storms over, but Fox fires body shots. Kyle eggs Fox on, then scoops to SLAM! Kyle says it’s that easy. Kyle still checks his teeth, then he goes back to Fox. Fox rises, kicks low, then kicks again. Fox fires forearms but Kyle scoops and SLAMS! Kyle rains down shots, the ref reprimands about closed fists, so Kyle shifts to driving in ELBOWS! Kyle stops to cool off, then he stalks Fox to a corner. Kyle climbs up, soaks up heat, and he rains down fists! Kyle goes all the way to nine, then winds it up, but Fox YANKS Kyle down! Kyle hits buckles and Fox climbs up! Now Fox rains down fists! Fox goes all the way to TEN, then past that to 15!

Kyle shoves Fox away and he CLOBBERS fox! Kyle shakes out the stars before standing back up. Fox sputters but Kyle drags him up. Kyle bumps Fox off buckles, turns him around, and BODY BLOWS! Fox sputters but Kyle ROCKS him, BODY BLOWS, and repeat! Kyle puts Fox up top, ROCKS him again, and then climbs up. The fans rally as Beach Break returns to single picture. Fox blocks the suplex! Fox fires body shots, shoves Kyle away, and then adjusts. But Kyle is back to trip Fox up! Except Fox split-leg flips through! And he rolls Kyle to then BASEMENT CUTTER! The fans fire up and Fox runs in, but Kyle BOOTS him!

Kyle goes up, but Fox ENZIGIRIS! Kyle wobbles, Fox grabs his arms, ICONOCLASM and a roll-through, for another CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives but Fox stays focused. Fox drags Kyle up as the fans rally, and Fox tucks the arms. Kyle fights the lift, throws Fox back, and SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Kyle snarls and waits on Fox. Fox stands, Kyle runs in, but Fox puts him on the apron and sweeps the legs! Fox runs, slingshots, and SHADOW STOMPS on the apron! Fox then skins the cat to DROPKICK Kyle to the floor! Fox builds speed again and FLIES! Down goes Kyle! The fans fire up and Fox brings Kyle around.

Fox puts Kyle in the ring, goes up the corner, and then 450- NO, Kyle dodges! Kyle scoops and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Fox survives and Kyle is shocked! Then Kyle gets mad. Kyle tells Callis he’s gonna kill Fox now. Fox rises, goes to a corner, and Kyle takes aim. Kyle runs corner to corner to BOOT Fox! Kyle reels Fox in and suplexes, but Fox cradle counters! TWO!!! Kyle BOOTS Fox, but Fox BOOTS Kyle! Kyle LEG- NO, Fox goes Matrix to dodge! PELE! Fox runs, but Kyle follows! CALF KICK at the ropes! Kyle runs and CALF KICKS again! Kyle roars, suplexes, and stalling BRAINBUSTERS!! Cover, Kyle wins!

Winner: Kyle Fletcher, by pinfall

Callis says that was fantastic! But the Callis Family isn’t done, as Lance Archer & Roppongi Vice are up next! Will Beach Break belong to them now?

Six Man Tag: Bandido, Brody King & Tomohiro Ishii VS Lance Archer & Roppongi Vice w/ Don Callis!

The Most Wanted, the King of Death and the Stone Pitbull all have their reasons for fighting the Don Callis Family, so they have become unlikely allies here tonight! Will they be able to bring down the Murderhawk Monster, Rocky Romero & #JustTrent? Or will Archer & RPG Vice make sure #EverybodyDies?

The trios sort out and Ishii starts against Azucar. Ishii is definitely still pissed with how Rocky turned on him, The Conglomeration, and NJPW’s Chaos. But then Trent CLUBS Ishii from behind! Ishii ROCKS Trent return, then ROCKS Rocky! The ref reprimands but Rocky RAMS Ishii into the corner! Archer tags in, he shoves Ishii, and then he CLOBBERS Ishii! Ishii tumbles, but Brody tags in! The fans rally for “MEAT! MEAT!” and bark it up. Archer and Brody circle, step up, and they throw forearms! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Brody fires a flurry then CHOPS! Brody puts some stank on it, but Archer throat chops!

Archer runs, but Brody BOOTS him! Brody runs and DIVES out onto Archer! They hit the barriers, Bandido & Ishii run in and BLAST RPG Vice! Bandido rallies the fans, Brody brings Archer up and ROCKS him! Brody stalks Archer to the railing, sits him down with a CHOP, then barks as he gets space. The fans bark with Brody, and Brody runs in, but Trent BUSAIKU KNEES! Rocky BLASTS Ishii, Trent YANKS Bandido down, Archer APRON CHOKE SLAMS Brody! It is a different kind of chaos now as Rocky bumps Ishii off the apron and BOOTS him! The ref tries to restore order but Collision goes picture in picture.

Rocky gives some Azucar Heat while Archer puts Brody against barriers. Archer CHOPS Brody, Rocky CHOPS Ishii, but Ishii hits Rocky back! Rocky BOOTS Ishii, Archer ROCKS Brody, and Rocky SMACKS Ishii off steel steps! Trent even sends Bandido into those same steps! Archer finally puts Brody in the ring and CLUBS away on him in the corner. Archer bumps Brody off buckles and tags in Rocky. The Callis Family mugs Brody, then Rocky DROPKICKS! Tag to Trent, RPG Vice mugs Brody with DIVING AX HANDLES! Trent stalks Brody to the ropes and CHOKES him! The ref counts, Trent steps off, but Rocky sneaks a cheap shot!

Trent runs back in and he DROPKICKS Brody off the ropes! Trent covers, TWO, and Collision goes to break.

Beach Break returns again and Ishii dodges Rocky to GERMAN SUPELX! Cover, Trent breaks it! Ishii snarls and he ROCKS Rocky, ROCKS Trent, repeat! The fans rally, Ishii runs, but into DOUBLE JUMP KNEES! Archer BOOTS Ishii! Archer BLASTS Brody! RPG drags Ishii up, they put him on the rope, and Rocky goes up! GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMP! Ishii sits up, into Trent’s SLIDING KNEE! Archer drags Ishii up for a CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives the onslaught and the Callis Family is shocked! RPG Vice coordinate while Archer baseball slide DROPKICKS Brody! Trent Alabama Lifts Ishii, tucks him in, but Bandido BOOTS Trent into a DETROYER!

Rocky leaps, Bandido dodges, but Archer runs up! Bandido DUMPS Archer out! The fans fire up but Rocky kicks  Bandido! Rocky runs, into a POP-UP CUTTER! Ishii tags Brody and the fans bark! Brody BLASTS Archer, then he storms upon Rocky. Brody kicks Rocky, he and Ishii double whip him corner to corner! Ishii runs to LARIAT! Brody adds a LARIAT! Then Bandido gets a boost to SHOTGUN Rocky! The fans fire up and bark for Brody! CANNONBALL! Cover, Brody and team win!

Winners: Bandido, Brody King & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall

But then Archer attacks! The Callis Family are sore losers after all! Trent THRASHES Bandido in a sleeper, Archer CHOKES Brody in a corner, but wait! Here come The Outrunners! They still have beef of their own, and they dodge Archer to DOUBLE ALRAIT! Then they fire hands with RPG Vice! Archer gets Rocky & Trent out of the ring, they retreat, but Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum stand tall with the winners! Will this new conglomeration be just the thing to defeat the Don Callis Family?

Backstage interview with Paragon.

Lexy Nair is with Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong and the AEW TNT Champion, Adam Cole. Lexy brings up Cole’s “target on his back,” and Cole says that’s how it is when you’re a champion. A lot of people want their shot, but that’s how he likes it. He is Adam Cole Baybay, so he is ready to take on anyone and everyone who wants their shot. But then in step the Grizzled Young Veterans. Zack Gibson says it is ironic that the very top stars this business has ever produced are really just three babies. Kyle says cool it right there, pal! Kyle admits, he can be juvenile and immature, maybe young at heart, but he is not some baby.

James Drake says this is Paragon’s real problem: All heart, all jokes, but they’ve gone soft. Roddy shouts, “GRIZZLED~! Young Veterans… I like the scarves, guys. But fellas, you know what I’d like more? To beat their asses.” Gibson says next week, GYV VS Kyle & Roddy, and Gibson warns them right now, the Paragon will be dragged into the deep water. And when they’re down there, gasping for air, then they’ll see if there’s an ounce of fight left in Paragon. Drake says he wants Cole on commentary so we can hear his heart break as everyone sees the best team is GYV. Cole says if GYV wants to be one of the best tag teams in AEW, they’ve gotta earn it.

But trust Cole when he says the pressure isn’t on them, it’s all on GYV. Paragon heads out, who will crack under said pressure when these teams finally have it out?

“Speedball” Mike Bailey VS Blake Christian w/ Lee Johnson!

While Speedball wants after the Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada doesn’t want anything to do with Speedball. But can Bailey force his hand by stacking up wins toward a title opportunity? Or will the Vanilla Babyface sour everything for everyone?

The bell rings and the fans rally for Speedball. Blake offers a handshake, Bailey accepts, only for Blake to leave him hanging and to “have a taste.” Bailey says whatever, but Blake rushes up behind him! Bailey ducks, then hits a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Blake sits up, ducks a kick, then avoids the standing moonsault! Blake avoids the leg sweep, Bailey ducks the roundhouse, and Bailey unleashes LIGHTNING KICKS and an ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Blake goes to a corner. Bailey runs in and BOOTS Blake, then he scoops and SLAMS him! Bailey goes up the corner, and IMPLODER KNEE DROPS! Cover, TWO!

Blake survives, the fans rally, and Bailey storms back over. Blake trips Bailey into buckle! Blake runs in, Bailey dodges, but then Blake dodges to DROPKICK Bailey in the back! Bailey bails out, Blake goes to the apron and runs, to DIVE through the corner! Blake puts Bailey in, goes up, takes another taste, 450 DOUBLE STOMP!! Cover, TWO!! Bailey survives but he still clutches his gut. Blake drags Bailey up, ELBOWS him in the head, then ELBOWS him again. Blake pushes Bailey onto ropes, CHOKES him, but steps off at 4. The fans rally for Bailey and he rises up. Blake waistlocks and ripcords, but Bailey shrugs off the tilt-o-whirl!

Blake ducks a roundhouse, avoids the thrust kick, and JUMP KNEE Bailey! Bailey rebounds, BOOTS, but Blake PELES! Both men are down and Blake hurries to the apron! The fans rally, Blake springboards, but Bailey THRUST KICKS him out of the air! The fans fire up and Bailey rises. Blake goes to ropes, Bailey aims and CHOPS! Blake CHOPS back! Bailey CHOPS again! Blake CHOPS again! The CHOPS continue, faster and faster, then Blake has the edge! Bailey roars and Blake is stunned. Blake puts some stank on it, but stomps Bailey’s toes! Blake runs, but Bailey BOOTS him! The fans fire up while Blake bails out again!

Bailey builds speed and he BOOTS Blake off the apron again! Bailey then goes up, GOLDEN TRIANGLE MOONSAULT! Down goes Blake and the fans fire up! Bailey drags Blake up and puts him in, only for Big Shotty to creep up! Bailey stares Lee down, and Blake FOSBURY TOPES! Blake puts Bailey in, climbs, and 450- NO, Bailey dodges! Bailey runs up, Blake BOOTS him, then Blake goes up. Bailey GAMANGIRIS first! Bailey climbs, has Blake and SUPER STEINERS! Blake tumbles, Bailey SPINNING HEEL KICKS!! Cover, Bailey wins!

Winner: “Speedball” Mike Bailey, by pinfall

That was a knockout shot from Speedball! He grabs a mic to tell Chicago, “We’ve got some beautiful weather here tonight. So Okada, how about you come out here, you bring your Continental Championship, and we make it rain?” The fans cheer, and Okada does appear! Okada walks out with mic in hand to say, “Bailey… I’ll prove it. B*TCH!!” The fans fire up, but wait! DRALISTICO ATTACKS! Rush is also here! LFI is doing Okada’s bidding, and El Toro Blanco tells Okada to watch himself. HEADBUTT for Bailey! Okada shrugs and leaves, but is the line of contenders growing longer the longer Okada keeps ducking them?

Jon Moxley speaks.

“What was it that I don’t understand? What is it that I don’t understand about a steel cage match? What is it that I don’t understand about a world championship? It looks like YOU and everybody else are the ones who don’t understand. You don’t understand that you can’t break somebody who has been broken over and over and over and built himself back up over and over and over. I cannot be broken. I am made of something stronger than iron, stronger than steel, stronger than gold that everybody wraps around their waists, and walks around, they put it over their shoulder, and they hold it up and they take pictures with it because they think that makes them somebody!!

“What don’t I understand, man? Anarchy would be an improvement over this FAKE, FOOLISH SH*T! Everybody pretending they’re somebody they’re not! Complete and total anarchy would be a step up. You don’t get it, you don’t understand. Gabe Kidd, he works for me. Professionals work for me. The difference between professionals and all these AMATEURS is that professionals hold standards. It doesn’t matter if it’s a steel cage, it doesn’t matter if it’s the baddest man in all of professional wrestling, they get the job done. No matter what the odds, no matter what the obstacles, they don’t give a damn what anybody says or what anybody thinks!

“We are professionals, and we have standards! And we are the best at what we do!! The art of violence on the canvas that we paint defines you, and you find out EXACTLY who you are.” Gabe Kidd says, “Abandon all hope!” Will the Maniac and the Mad Man make sure no one else brings about this Paradigm Shift?

Chicago Street Fight: “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith VS The Gates of Agony!

Speaking of violence, the Redwood & Bad Apple are done going easy, but the feeling is mutual for Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona! There are no more rules but plenty of weapons, who will survive this Collision?

As Bill & Keith make their entrance, Keith already brings a pool cue and some kind of panel, and Bill brings a table out from under the ring! Chicago already likes where this is going as the table is propped up in a corner. Kaun & Liona make sure to bring trash cans full of plunder, as well as their own pool cue and… a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire! Bill & Keith rush them at the ramp, the bell rings, and Liona JAMS Bill with the bat!! Keith and Kaun brawl, Liona CLUBS Bill with the bat, and then Kaun use a wet floor sign to SMACK Keith! Kaun brings the trashcan over, SMACKS Keith with a road sign, but Keith CLAWS Kaun’s eyes!

Bill SMACKS Liona with a trash can! But Liona CLUBS him with the bad again! And even in the leg! Keith uses that street sign to SMACK Kaun now! Bill SMACKS Liona with the pool cue! Bill whips Liona into the steel steps hard! The steps go sliding, Kaun fights back on Keith, but Bill BOOTS Kaun! Bill SMACKS Keith with the street sign, and SMACKS him again! Keith CHOKES Liona with the wet floor sign, but Liona rips that up! Bill has a traffic cone and he SMACKS Kaun! Keith CLOBBERS Liona with a pipe! Bill puts Kaun in the ring, then runs to SPLASH him in the corner! The fans fire up for Bill as he and Keith coordinate.

Bill runs in again, but Kaun dodges, and Kaun SPEARS Keith through the table!! Bill is stunned, but here comes Liona! Liona and Bill step up, and Bill KNEES low! Bill CLUBS Liona, Liona KNEES Bill! Liona CLUBS Bill, Bill KNEES and CLUBS Liona! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” echoes out but Liona grabs a pool cue! Liona BREAKS it on his head, and then throws Bill half! Bill is stunned but decides to grab his end. Liona CLUB S Bill, Bill CLUBS Liona, repeat! Bill BEATS Liona, then he blocks the shot! Liona blocks back! Both men throw the sticks aside and get face to face! Then they start throwing haymakers!

The fans rally for the “MEAT!” as the hands keep going! Both men RAM shoulders! And RAM AGAIN! Liona runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and he RAMS Bill! Bill staggers, but Kaun sib ack! Kaun CHOKES Bill with a cable! Liona DUMPS Bill out to the floor! Kaun CHOKES Bill more, the fans boo, but Bill RAMS Kaun into barriers! Lionia runs up but Bill BOOTS him! Liona staggers, Keith leaps, but Liona catches him! APRON SLAM for Keith! Bill ELBOWS Kaun and is free of the choke hold, just as Collision goes picture in picture!

Kaun has a trash can, and he SMASHES it on Bill’s head! And then SMASHES him again! Bill falls in a heap and Kaun sees Liona has Keith. Liona smothers Keith, then whips him hard into the steel steps! Keith falls in a heap and Liona smiles. The Gates regroup, and Kaun drags Keith up to CLUB him in the chest! Kaun hears the fans, and he decides to do that one more time! Kaun CHOPS Keith! But then Keith CLAWS Kaun’s eyes! Liona has a pool stick, but Keith snatches it to SMACK Liona with it! Keith storms in but Liona SMACKS him with a trashcan lid! Liona grins as he CHOKES Keith with the lid!

Kaun steps in, he has Liona let off, and they take turns hitting Keith with trashcan lids! Keith writhes and flounders out of the ring! Liona goes out and he SMACKS Bill! Liona SMACKS away on Bill’s leg while Kaun CHOKES Keith with a pool cue! Kaun then shoves Keith into the ring and Liona joins him. They drag Keith up, put him in the Tree of Woe, and then add a trashcan to the mix! Liona rallies the fans as Beach Break returns to single picture. Liona runs to RAM the can! Kaun adds a DROPKICK! The Gates drag Keith out of the Tree but into the drop zone, BANZAI DROP! Cover, BILL BREAKS IT!

Bill fires hands on Kaun and LARIATS him out of the ring! The fans fire up and Bill storms out after Kaun. Bill brings Kaun to the double tables Liona set up earlier, and he RAMS Kaun into railing. Bill ROCKS Kaun, then picks up that backpack he had earlier… Bill grins and opens the backpack up. Bill dumps out BRICKS! Just like he did to Hobbs months ago! Bill has a brick, and he stands Kaun up! Bill gives Kaun his last rites, then swings! Kaun ducks, and brick shatters against POST! Bill shakes out his hand, Kaun CLOBBERS Bill with a monitor!! Liona POUNCES Bill onto the commentary desk!! The fans fire up while Nigel & Schiavone have to scramble!

Keith SMACKS Liona with a trashcan lid!! Liona doesn’t even blink?! The fans tell Keith he messed up! Keith gets mad, but Liona blocks the next shot. Liona JAMS and SMACKS Keith in return! Then he hoists Keith up onto the barriers. The fans rally as Liona gets space. Liona runs back in, but Keith HEADSHOTS him with the lid! Liona just roars! Liona CROSSBODIES Keith into the timekeeper’s area! Bill slowly stirs while the ref checks Keith and Liona. Kaun stalks Bill, drags him up, and brings him to those tables. Kaun goes to the apron, but Bill trips Kaun up! Keith is back up, and Bill crawls into the ring.

Kaun SMASHES Bill with a trash can! Kaun drags Bill up, the fans rally, and Keith has the trashcan to SMASH Kaun! Keith then goes to his panel from earlier, but Liona is back! Liona drags Keith out, and he goes for the tables! Liona SMACKS Keith off the apron, goes up after him, and then fireman’s carries! The fans are thunderous, but Keith fights free! Keith CLAWS Liona’s eyes, but Liona clamps onto Keith’s head! Keith RISING HEADBUTTS! Bill is up and he BOOTS Liona down through the tables!! Liona is down in the wreckage of his own making, but Kaun SMASHES Bill with the trashcan! Kaun brings Bill around, but Keith has his panel!

Keith SMACKS Kaun with that piece of drywall!! But Kaun just gets mad! So Keith HEADSHOTS him with it!! Kaun falls over in a heap, but then laughs as he sits back up!? Keith is at a loss for words, but he KNEES Kaun! Bill BOOTS Kaun onto the trashcan! Bill hauls Kaun up, clamps on, and SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAMS!! Cover, Bill & Keith win!

Winners: “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith, by pinfall

The Learning Tree’s Branches just broke through the Gates of Agony and are standing tall in the Windy City! But will this be enough to earn Chris Jericho’s respect?

Mina Shirakawa speaks.

“Toni Storm. The first time we met, we were distracted. We wanted attention, we got jealous, and then we both made mistakes. When I saw you in Japan, we tamed, we danced, and we laughed. But this time, it’s different. It’s just me and you. I don’t need your wrath, I need your title. You are everything a champion should be. But so is Mina! I did everything in Japan! Now I will do everything in AEW! Toni is Timeless, but Mina is Now!” Then will the Fighting Gravure Idol not just be the next, but the NOW AEW Women’s World Champion?

Tony Schiavone is on stage.

He says here in Chicago, we’ve heard the chant of “MONGO! MONGO!” and it is time to pay tribute to one of the great football players, one of the great pro-wrestlers, the late, great Steve McMichael! The fans cheer that, and we are joined by his widow, Misty McMichael, and she is happy to be here. Steve was the greatest man she’s ever known, made a special impact on both football and wrestling. They were together 27 years in all, and she is so happy to pay tribute. And then we get Dean Malenko! The fans cheer and Dean waves.

Schiavone brings up Mongo being a four-time All Pro, two-time Pro Bowl selection, and part of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl 20 winning team, and was even inducted into the NFL Pro-Football Hall of Fame last year. The fans cheer, and Schiavone says Mongo exemplified the fighting spirit and determination of all great Chicago athletes. Plus, in this very building, Mongo coached the Chicago Slaughter to an undefeated season in Arena Football! The fans cheer that, and Schiavone says as a wrestler, Mongo was one of the Four Horsemen, and even became a United States Heavyweight Champion.

May is ALS Awareness, so in partnership with the Les Turner Foundation, AEW wants to help find a cure for ALS. Go to LesTurnerALS.org to learn more. Schiavone now welcomes out the Nature Boy, RIC FLAIR! The fans cheer and “WOO~” as THE Horseman of Horseman makes his way out here to honor his friend. Ric hugs Misty, hugs Dean, and joins Schiavone. Schiavone says they’ve held together like this many times over the years, but tonight is the most special and most emotional. Ric agrees. He wants to say Chicago is one of the greatest wrestling towns in the world.

Ric once coined the phrase, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.” And Steve McMichael was more man than anyone he’s ever known! Mongo fought ALS for six YEARS! Fully aware of everything around him, yet unable to move. That massive 280 pound man finally made it to the Hall of Fame, and is now up there in Heaven, God bless him and God bless you all. Ric says he cannot say enough about Misty. She never left Mongo’s side. She learned how to be a wonderful nurse. The fans cheer on Mongo, and Ric thanks them for that. Ric thanks everyone for being here, and Schiavone thanks Ric for being here. #ThankYouMongo, we will miss you.

AEW World Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders match: The Sons of Texas VS CRU!

Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara may be the ROH World Tag Team Champions, but that doesn’t mean they’re just going to stop. But Lio Rush pointed out that he and Bobby Lashley have history that needs to be sorted out. Will the Man of the Hour and Action Andretti be a sight to see? Or will CRU not know what to do after losing to The Natural & The Spanish God?

The teams sort out and Dustin starts against Action. The fans rally, Dustin and Action feel things out, but Dustin avoids Action’s leg pick. Action and Dustin reset, tie up, and then break. They tie up again, Dustin powers Action to the corner, but Action turns things around. Action lets off slowly, then he mocks the deep breath. Action shoves Dustin but Dustin shoves Action! Lio CLOBBERS Dustin, then he dodges Sammy! CRU mugs Sammy, then they mug Dustin! The fans boo and the ref reprimands. Lio backs off but Action whips Dustin. Dustin says “Not Today!” and UPPERCUTS! Then he runs, but Lio KICKS Dustin!

Dustin swings, misses, but Action runs up! Dustin sends Action into Lio, then arm-drags Action! Dustin wrenches Action, tags to Sammy, and the Sons of Texas DOUBLE SUPLEX! Then Dustin SHINING WIZARDS, and Sammy STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, but Lio runs in! Sammy dodges so Lio stomps Action! Sammy JUMP KNEES Lio, Dustin LARIATS Action up and out! The fans fire up and Sammy builds speed! Sammy TORNILLOS out onto CRU and the fans fire up! Sammy shows love to a fan’s sign, then he joins Dustin in the ring. Sammy fires the fans up and tells Dustin to try! Dustin says no, he’s getting too old for that stuff!

Sammy says he can still do it! Dustin runs, but then stops at the ropes and tells CRU to “SUCK IT!” We get a DUSTINROONI, and a pose! Sammy joins in and CRU is furious! Sammy tags Dustin back in but CRU wants chairs? They make Arkady Aura and the timekeeper give up their chairs, but then the Sons of Texas go out to CLAW and CLOBBER CRU for it! Sammy RAMS Lio, Lio fires hands, but Dustin UPPERCUTS Action! Dustin and Sammy send CRU into railing on opposite ends of ringside. The fans cheer as Dustin CLAWS Action’s back! Lio wants a timeout, but then Action sends Dustin into steel steps!

The fans boo and Sammy is worried for Dustin, but Action anchors Sammy at the apron! Lio HANDSPRING KICKS Sammy down, then DIVES! Direct hit, and then Lio sets Sammy up for Action’s ARABIAN PRESS! The fans boo as CRU stands tall, but Collision goes picture in picture.

CRU soaks up the heat, and they stomp Sammy. Actin puts Dustin in the ring, then CHOP BLOCKS his leg! Dustin falls in a heap but Action drags him around by his leg. Action puts Dustin’s leg on the ropes for a HIP DROP! The ref reprimands but Action HIP DROPS the leg again! Action tags Lio, Lio looms over Dustin and talks trash. Lio kicks away on Dustin’s leg, then GROUND DRAGON SCREWS! Lio BITES Dustin’s face and the ref reprimands. Lio stops, then he ROCKS Dustin! And ROCKS him again! Lio talks trash but Dustin stands. Lio KICKS the leg, but Dustin UPPERCUTS! Lio wobbles, but he comes back for another CHOP BLOCK!

Tag to Action, Action has Dustin’s leg on the ropes, and he pulls on the foot! The ref counts, Action stop, but Lio pulls on the leg! Sammy protests while Dustin suffers, and Collision goes to break.

Beach Break returns as CRU have Dustin’s legs! They DOUBLE LEG DDT! Dustin writhes, the ref reprimands, but Action flips off Sammy. Sammy says this should be a disqualification for the tag partner count. The fans tell Action off but he waits on Dustin. Dustin rises, Action runs in, but Dustin BOOTS him! Dustin hurries along the ropes, but Action runs in! Dustin DUMPS Action back out! Lio runs in, Dustin dodges and then SNAP POWERSLAMS! The fans fire up as Dustin crawls! Hot tag to Sammy! And he FLIES over the corner to take out Action! Sammy puts Action in, climbs up top, and he CROSSBODIES CRU!

The fans fire up with Sammy and he wrenches Lio for a CUTTER! Sammy BOOTS Action, goes up, up, and FLYING CUTTERS! Cover, TWO! Action survives but Sammy just says time to go up! Sammy puts Action in the drop zone, climbs up the corner, and aims again. 450- NO, Sammy has to roll through as Action move! Sammy shoves Action at Lio, then shoves Lio at Action. CRU dosido and Lio hooks a leg for Action to NECKBREAKER DROP! The fans boo CRU but Lio says Sammy is dealing with sharks! The fans say more like baby sharks! Lio talks trash, but Sammy swings on him! Lio spins Sammy for Action to KICK, KNEE, and UPPERCUT!

Lio fires fast hands, ROCKS Sammy, and then DOUBLE ROUNDHOUSES connect! CRU then DOUBLE SUPLEX for a DOUBLE FALCON ARROW! Cover, DUSTIN BARRELS IN! The fans fire up as all four men are down! Lio is up to throw hands, then he whips. Dustin reverses, but RUSH- NO, Dustin stops Rush Hour, but Lio fights out of Cross Rhodes! Lio shoves Dustin, but Dustin hits a DESTROYER! Action SUPERKICKS Dustin, rolls Sammy, and has feet on the ropes! TWO!! Action is furious but the ref defends the count. The fans rally as Sammy & Dustin regroup at the ropes. Action brings Sammy up to ROCK him in the back!

Action torture racks, then GO- NO, Sammy leaps free and JUMP KNEES! Sammy torture racks now, GO TO HOSPITAL!! Cover, The Sons of Texas win!

Winners: Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the AEW World Tag Team Championships)

Lio is too late, the moment has slipped through his fingers! Sammy & Dustin hold up their ROH World Tag Team Championships in victory, but will they soon be adding the AEW titles to their collection?

Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.

Lexy Nair is with the Galaxy’s Greatest, and brings up how last week, Kris won over Willow Nightingale, but not without help from the Death Riders. Speaking of Willow, she storms in and asks if Kris has something to say. Is Kris sorry again? Yes, actually! Is she gonna claim she didn’t see Marina Shafir choke Willow out? No, of course she didn’t! Willow says save the excuses. Kris and Yuta used to be Best Friends! Yeah, well now they’re not! Willow and Kris shout over each other, but Willow says she is too busy with the Death Riders. Willow pulls Kris’ hair to get her to stop, but Kris says when Willow is ready, she knows where to find Kris.

The two storm off in opposite directions, and clearly the tension has only mounted between them. What will it take for the former friends to be friends again?

BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!

On the Wednesday before Double or Nothing, AEW is in Albuquerque for a BIG night! Will Ospreay and Hangman Page will be face-to-face just days before their Owen Hart Cup Finals match, will they be able to keep it verbal and not physical? And speaking of Double or Nothing, Mina Shirakawa tunes up for her time with Toni Storm by taking on Julia Hart! Will everything be #MinaNow? Or can the Hart of Darkness find a way to shine? Then, ahead of their own Owen Hart Cup Finals, Mercedes Mone and Jamie Hayter will have their own face-to-face. Can the CEO have a civil conversation with her opponent?

BREAKING NEWS for Double or Nothing!

After what Ricochet did to Zach Gowen both during and after their match, Mark Briscoe made the save and is looking to make the bully pay! And it’ll be in a STRETCHER MATCH! Who won’t be walking out of the arena in Arizona?

“Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS Wheeler Yuta!

The Steel Cage main event for Dynamite was brutal, and naturally both The Opps and the Death Riders got involved. Anarchy in the Arena awaits, but will Hobbs and Yuta still be part of it? Or will one of them take out the other with extreme prejudice?

While Hobbs is on the corner as part of his entrance, Yuta attacks! The bell rings while the fans boo, and the ref reprimands Yuta for the sneak attack. Yuta doesn’t care as he CLUBS away on Hobbs! But wait, Hobbs isn’t even bothered. The fans tell Yuta he messed up, but then Yuta SLAPS Hobbs! Talk about double or nothing… Hobbs chases Yuta around the outside, then back into the ring. Yuta CLUBS away on Hobbs, but Hobbs grabs him with both hands! Yuta slips free, goes to the apron, and he HOTSHOTS Hobbs! Yuta runs in again, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! The fans cheer while Hobbs snarls.

Hobbs stands Yuta up, but Yuta fires a forearm! Hobbs just frowns. Yuta fires another forearm, but Hobbs storms up on him. Yuta fires another forearm, but still Hobbs storms up. So Yuta pokes Hobbs in the eye! Yuta goes up, leaps, but into Hobbs’ arms! The fans cheer as Hobbs then pops Yuta around, and OKLAHOMA STAMPEDES! Hobbs rains down fists now, then he paces. The fans fire up with Hobbs and he stalks Yuta. Hobbs whips Yuta to TOSS him out of the ring! The fans rally, Hobbs goes out, and Hobbs drags Yuta up. The fans cheer for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” and Hobbs POSTS Yuta! Yuta falls in a heap but Hobbs brings him right back up.

Hobbs SLAMS Yuta on the apron! Hobbs then picks Yuta up to SLAM him again, and again, and again! The ring count is 7 of 10 but Hobbs shoves Yuta in. The fans cheer and Hobbs storms in. Hobbs grins but Yuta CHOPS! Hobbs just SLAPS Yuta down! Yuta is dazed, Hobbs brings him up, and Hobbs hoists Yuta to the top rope. Hobbs climbs, brings Yuta to the very top, and he SUPERPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Hobbs grins, puts Yuta in the corner, and he CHOPS! The fans “WOO~,” and Hobbs CHOPS again! Hobbs then puts Yuta across the top ropes, and fans chant “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” as Hobbs CLUBS Yuta!

Hobbs climbs up, picks Yuta up, but Yuta slips free! Yuta CLUBS Hobbs, then THROWS Hobbs down! Yuta runs to basement DROPKICK Hobbs’ leg! The fans boo while Hobbs writhes, but Yuta cheers himself on. Yuta stomps Hobbs, stomps him more, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Yuta pulls at Hobbs’ kneepad, then the tape underneath. Yuta stomps the leg, then he brings Hobbs up. Yuta CHOP BLOCKS Hobbs’ leg, then puts it on the ropes. Yuta stands on the ropes, the ref counts, but Yuta stops at 4. Yuta tells the ref he has ’til 5, then he STOMPS Hobbs’ leg! Yuta drags Hobbs around, twists Hobbs’ foot, but Hobbs CLUBS at Yuta! Yuta hobbles but then he drops an ELBOW on Hobbs’ leg! Hobbs clamps on with a chinlock but Yuta fights that off. Yuta grinds Hobbs’ leg, but Hobbs grabs at Yuta. Yuta fights that off, and he mockingly applauds. Yuta flips the fans off, but Hobbs CHOPS him!

Yuta CLAWS Hobbs’ eyes, the ref reprimands, but Yuta goes back to Hobbs. Hobbs hobbles but he still kicks Yuta. Yuta stomps Hobbs’ leg, puts him in a corner, and he puts the leg in the ropes. The ref counts and Hobbs grabs at Yuta, but Yuta BITES Hobbs’ hand! Yuta runs side to side and DROPKICKS Hobbs to the outside! Yuta goes out after Hobbs and he looms over Hobbs. Yuta drags Hobbs around and SLAMS the leg against barriers! Yuta SLAMS the leg against the barriers again, then refreshes the ring count. Yuta drags Hobbs around again, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! Yuta drags Hobbs up and puts him in.

Beach Break returns to single picture, Yuta paces around Hobbs, and then Yuta stands Hobbs up. Hobbs shoves Yuta but Yuta CHOP BLOCKS him down! Yuta shows off by doing jumping jacks, then he drags Hobbs to another toehold. The fans rally while Hobbs endures. Hobbs sits up, grabs at Yuta, but then kicks him again and again! Yuta lets go, comes back, but Hobbs ROCKS him! Yuta rewinds, shoots around, but Hobbs fights the German Suplex! Yuta CHOP BLOCKS again, then runs, and he DROPKICKS Hobbs out! The fans boo but Yuta builds speed. Yuta DIVES, and he sends Hobbs into railing! Yuta RAMS Hobbs into the apron, then the railing!

Yuta taunts fans, puts Hobbs in the ring, then he fires himself up! The fans boo more as Yuta climbs, but Hobbs ROCKS him first! The fans fire up, Hobbs climbs, and he reels Yuta in. Yuta fights the lift and fires body shots! Hobbs ROCKS Yuta, but Yuta BITES Hobbs again! Yuta SHOVES Hobbs down, and DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Hobbs stays in this, but Yuta snarls. Yuta aims from a corner, mocks the Yes chant, and runs in, but into a LARIAT! The fans fire up but Hobbs still hobbles. Hobbs winds up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! Yuta dodges the next shot, but runs into a POWERSLAM!

The fans fire up as Hobbs headbutts buckles! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” echoes and Hobbs LARIATS in the corner! Hobbs LARIATS again and again, “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs short arm LARIATS, covers, TWO!! Yuta survives all that meat, but Hobbs brings down the straps! The fans fire up as Hobbs then lifts Yuta, but Yuta sunset flips! Hobbs YANKS Yuta up, but Yuta KICKS the leg! Yuta runs, but Hobbs hits a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, Hobbs wins!

Winner: “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs, by pinfall

Hobbs handles town bidness, even with a bad leg! But then Marina Shafir CHOP BLOCKS Hobbs!! The fans boo as The Problem kicks away on Hobbs’ leg! Yuta joins in, but here comes Willow! The Babe with the Power rushes in and she glares at Marina. Marina runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER from Willow! Willow SLAPS Marina around, Yuta sighs and pulls Willow’s hair! The fans boo and Willow is pissed. Willow SLAPS Yuta, roars at him, and then Hobbs is up! Hobbs ROCKS Yuta, Willow reels Yuta in, but Marina makes the save! The Death Riders retreat, but Kris is on stage! Kris chose not to help her former friend, how is she supposed to make amends?

As for Willow & Hobbs, they stand tall. With just over a week left, will these powerhouses be obvious choices for Anarchy in the Arena?

My Thoughts:

A great Collision that only suffered from TNT and/or MAX having broadcasting problems. Not sure why it happened, but this isn’t the first time a prerecorded Collision has been messed up on some level. Are they just putting interns and amateurs behind the desk on these episodes? Thankfully when some technology fails, other technology is there to make up for it. Ironically, that loving tribute to Steve McMichael was a great place to end any broadcast, and what a great surprise for Ric Flair to show up.

Megan VS Anna was a very good opener, and that buckle spot was a very clever way for Ford to factor into the finish. Megan was of course going to win, though, and she stays strong and undefeated while waiting on a title shot. Good promo from Mina to hype up her shot at Toni, and Mina will have a great match with Julia Hart next Wednesday. Great stuff from The Don Callis Family tonight, from Kyle VS Fox to the Six Man Tag. Great win for Kyle to keep him sharp while waiting on title stories, but also good win for the Faces. The Outrunners coming to help after was also very fitting, I wonder if we’ll get a 10 Man of Bandido, Brody, Ishii & Outrunners VS Kyle, Konosuke, Alexander and RPG Vice. That’s at least a solid Buy-In match.

Very good stuff with Bailey VS Blake but Bailey of course won. Bailey calling out Okada was great, and of course Okada insults Bailey rather than fight him. LFI attacking Bailey was a nice surprise, and while Dralistico might want another match with Bailey, I think it’s time we get Bailey VS Rush, and then the winner of that can challenge Okada for the Continental Championship. Story wise, Okada VS Bailey makes sense, but Okada VS Rush is just awesome to think about. The Chicago Street Fight was very good, and I appreciate even Chicago likes Big Bill. Bill & Keith winning is great for them, and can certainly feed into Jericho’s return and how Jericho still won’t respect his Branches. Then we get Bill VS Jericho, and Learning Tree splits up.

Good promo from The Paragon with GYV, and we’ll get a great match of GYV VS Roddy & Kyle. Cole bringing up his TNT Championship but then not setting up a challenger is odd, but I think it has to do with Sammy Guevara taking his detour into this tag title story. CRU VS Sons of Texas was great, but as I was saying for Dynamite, Sons of Texas winning was just a given. Very good promo from Willow and Kris, great match of Yuta VS Hobbs, and great win for Hobbs. Hobbs & Willow running off Yuta & Marina was good stuff, I wonder if they fit in a Mixed Tag before Anarchy in the Arena as a sampler of what we could get for Double or Nothing, Willow beating up Yuta while Marina tries to choke out Hobbs.

My Score: 8.9/10