Tag: AEW Dynamite

AEW Dynamite results 11/1/23: TK disappoints, Full Gear bulks up, MJF relents

Lots more got settled for Full Gear on AEW Dynamite, which ended with scissoring.

“Another one.”

That’s one of DJ Khaled’s trademark catchphrases, but it could just as easily apply to Tony Khan and his love of “important” announcements. It’s happened frequently enough that he takes some ribbing for it among pro wrestling fans, even though his track record of delivering on them is actually pretty good.

The intrigue about tonight’s announcement, though, is that unlike some of them in the past, no one seems to know what this one is about. That alone should mean that it’s worth tuning in to AEW Dynamite from Louisville.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of in-ring action to look forward to as well. Hikaru Shida will defend her AEW World Championship against Willow Nightingale in what should be a spirited yet respectful encounter. Hangman Adam Page and the Young Bucks will put their Ring of Honor six-man titles (which we honestly forget sometimes that they have) up against Brian Cage and Gates of Agony too.

Oh, and Orange Cassidy will see if his second run as AEW International Champion will end much sooner than his first, as he defends against Claudio Castagnoli. And the odd couple pairing of Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega will team again to face Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang, who are potentially auditioning to be part of the Don Callis Family.

Topping it all off, we’ll hear from birthday boy Adam Copeland. But in the end, for some people it’s still going to come down to that announcement. Such is life.

But hey, we’re excited for every part of this episode of Dynamite, and we hope you are too. Let’s see what this night holds.

AEW Dynamite results from Louisville:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • MJF doesn’t have an answer for Renee Paquette on who his three partners will be for tonight, but at least he gets advice from Adam Cole via video chat, and he thinks the champ should consider Samoa Joe’s offer; Roderick Strong and The Kingdom roll in when MJF leaves, accusing MJF of being The Devil, who then shows up on the screen
  • Orange Cassidy def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship, but …
  • … after the match, Jon Moxley makes his way through the crowd to the ring, and he greets a rushing Cassidy with a beatdown until Castagnoli finally tells his teammate it’s enough
  • MJF knocks on Kenny Omega’s dressing room door, but Chris Jericho just laughs when asked if Kenny is there; even worse, MJF runs into Wardlow, who shoves him against a wall and says he’ll take everything from Max when he least expects it, and in anger, the champ ignores another offer from The Acclaimed to team with him
  • An angry Moxley says he showed Cassidy respect when he didn’t have to, and though he says maybe it isn’t even about him, he plans on beating Orange within an inch of his life at Full Gear just because he can
  • Brian Cage and Gates of Agony def. Hangman Adam Page and Young Bucks by pinfall to become the new ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions after Swerve Strickland taunts Page about invading his home, leading to a backstage brawl that leaves his teammates a man down
  • MJF passes up on Samoa Joe’s dressing room and writes “emo bitch” on Darby Allin’s sign before ignoring The Acclaimed once again
  • Adam Copeland is convinced to team with Sting and Darby Allin after an attack by Christian Cage, Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne
  • Tony Khan makes his “huge announcement”: You can sign up now to get a ticket pre-sale opportunity for All In London 2024; seriously, that was it
  • Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega def. Angelo Parker and Matt Menard by pinfall, then accept Don Callis’ challenge to a Street Fight in two weeks on Dynamite, where they will be joined by Kota Ibushi … and Paul Wight
  • Paquette catches up with Omega and Jericho, but the Young Bucks have an issue with The Ocho being there and warn Kenny that Chris will stab him in the back
  • Hikaru Shida def. Willow Nightingale by pinfall to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship match, but …
  • … Shida has to take car of Toni Storm, and Nightingale turns to find Julia Hart stalking her; Skye Blue runs down and teases helping Hart, then turns and sprays Julia in the eyes with her own blue mist
  • The Acclaimed makes one last pitch to MJF, who says he has one more group on his list … but it’s Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh, ugh
  • Strong calls Cole on speakerphone, who finally tells him to shut the hell up
  • Bullet Club Gold def. MJF, The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass by pinfall, and Max Caster takes a belt shot intended for MJF …
  • … so MJF relents and scissors with his partners to end the show

AEW Dynamite preview 11/1/23: A little too Freshly Squeezed?

The women’s world title will be on the line tonight on AEW Dynamite, plus Tony Khan has promised an important announcement.

Happy November! AEW Dynamite is coming tonight to usher in the penultimate month of 2023 and accelerate things toward Full Gear.

As usual, AEW has promoted a mix of matches and other points of interest for this show from Louisville, so let’s bite into what’s good at the KFC Yum! Center (no, that’s really the arena’s name, KFC is big in Louisville).

Is this Orange Cassidy title run about to be a lot shorter than the last?

Orange Cassidy was the very definition of a fighting champion during his initial reign as AEW International Champion (which started even before the title had that name). He took on all comers, tirelessly, to the point where his nonstop grind became a big part of his story and helped elevate both him and the championship.

Maybe that’s why it was so surprising when he recently won the title again. It would be weird if AEW just set him back on another lengthy run, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he dropped it tonight to Claudio Castagnoli, someone who would also bring prestige to the belt. The outcome of this match should give us a better idea of what story the company wants to tell for each man leading into Full Gear.

Will MJF just give in and accept help from The Acclaimed?

Even though MJF has been more than a little weirded out by Max Caster shipping himself with the world champ, he’s also run out of time to find partners to take on the four-man outfit of Bullet Club Gold. And let’s be real: With Adam Cole on the shelf, it’s not like he has a lot of friends.

Everyone still loves The Acclaimed, but they feel as if they might have lost just a tad of their momentum, and putting them in a subplot with MJF can’t hurt them. It’s also possible we might get another appearance from the person in the Devil mask during this match.

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What will Tony Khan’s latest big announcement be?

Tony Khan pushing an “important announcement” hasn’t quite ventured into the realm of self-parody … but let’s just say it’s toeing that line. AEW’s head honcho has indeed dropped some bombshells over the year, but he’s also risked the “boy who cried wolf” thing by promoting these proclamations on a regular basis.

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Will tonight’s reveal be something worth getting worked up over? We’ll admit that we’re always suckers to see if it is.

Also on tonight’s AEW Dynamite:

  • Hikaru Shida defends the AEW Women’s World Championship against Willow Nightingale
  • Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang, apparently trying to impress Don Callis, will take on Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho

AEW Dynamite heads your way at 8 p.m. ET on TBS, but you can always head back here to Wrestling Junkie if you’ve got other post-Halloween plans and need live updates.

Ric Flair makes surprise AEW debut, celebrates Sting as his retirement tour begins

Ric Flair made his surprise AEW debut on Dynamite to celebrate Sting.

On last week’s episode of Dynamite, Sting confirmed that his time in the wrestling ring will end at AEW Revolution in 2024. It will mark the end of one of the greatest careers in the industry, going out on his own terms after coming out of retirement from an injury he suffered in WWE.

With mere months until the event, it was always going to be interesting how AEW would handle Sting’s retirement tour between the announcement and the match. However, the ensuing show made it clear that it would be a special ride.

Ahead of the Oct. 25 episode of Dynamite, AEW teased a special gift for Sting. It was not clear what, or who, it would be, but when it came time, Tony Schiavone welcomed Ric Flair, making his first AEW appearance, as the surprise to the awe of the fans in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia crowd welcomed Flair with open arms. However, Christian Cage disrupted the moment by roasting everyone in the ring. This led to an angle for Full Gear where Christian, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne will face Sting, Darby, and a partner of their choosing on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Flair and Sting have been linked since their days in WCW, and in 2016, the Nature Boy inducted his longtime friend into the WWE Hall of Fame. Therefore, it was fitting for Flair to come out and praise Sting for his achievements in his incredible pro wrestling career.

Overall, the first leg of Sting’s retirement tour provided a nice moment as he and Flair shared a ring once again. It could be an indication of other special moments to come, to help conclude Sting’s legendary career in 2024 and ride him off in the sunset.

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AEW Dynamite preview 10/25/23: Okada, RVD and the Diamond Ring battle in Philly

This edition of AEW Dynamite will also feature AEW women’s world title and ROH six-man title matches.

You know how sometimes you look at the rundown for a weekly wrestling show and think “How are they going to fit this all into two hours?” That’s definitely the case for tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Philadelphia.

We’re not complaining, mind you. We applaud ambition. We also like special guest stars, which is what this show will definitely have when Orange Cassidy teams with NJPW icon Kazuchika Okada to face the Blackpool Combat Club’s Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli.

Three matches will have big prizes attached. Hikaru Shida, one again a fighting champ, will defend the AEW Women’s World Championship against Ruby Soho. The men’s world champ, MJF, doesn’t have his title on the line, but he will be fighting to hold onto something close to his heart when he tries to keep Juice Robinson from winning the Dynamite Diamond Ring. And the Hung Bucks (that’d be the Young Bucks and Hangman Adam Page) will defend the ROH six-man titles we often forget they hold against The Hardys and Brother Zay.

That’s not even all. Since we’re in Philly, an RVD appearance only make sense, and he’ll team with Hook to take on the Dark Order duo of Alex Reynolds and John Silver. Plus we’ll hear from Swerve Strickland as he addresses Hangman once again, Chris Jericho will have a sitdown interview with Renee Paquette, and Tony Khan will present a gift to Sting.

We’d say that’s a pretty packed lineup, all things considered. And the Philly fans should definitely represent like they always do, despite that whole NLCS business last night.

Oh, and we’ll be in the house live for this one too, so we’re looking forward to it. If you are too, you’ll want to tune in at 8 p.m. ET on TBS to catch this stacked AEW Dynamite live.

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Orange Cassidy has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom — and he’s just shocked as you are

Is a “dude in jeans and sunglasses” more relatable to AEW newcomers than the standard wrestling stereotypes? Orange Cassidy thinks so.

Professional wrestling is no stranger to iconic looks.

Fans still talk about Hulk Hogan’s red and yellow, Ric Flair’s bedazzled robes and Hart’s pink and black ring gear. Steve Austin’s look was so iconic he made wearing a pair of knee braces look cool. We couldn’t possibly forget about John Cena’s jorts or Seth Rollins’ outlandish style.

All of these could make for some great costumes this Halloween. But while you’re out trick or treating in your neighborhood, don’t be surprised if you see a few people walking around in denim jackets, denim joggers, white t-shirts and aviator sunglasses — a freshly-squeezed look that belongs to the one and only Orange Cassidy.

When AEW began in 2019, it not only represented an opportunity for established talent to have somewhere to ply their trade outside of WWE, it was also a place for fresh faces that were hungry for the opportunity to shine on a big stage.

Outside of Maxwell Jacob Friedman, no one has benefited more from that opportunity than Cassidy. Not only is Cassidy a two-time (and the longest-reigning) AEW International Champion, but he is also a prime cosplay candidate, which could potentially expand his notoriety far beyond wrestling.

But no one is more surprised by his meteoric rise than Cassidy himself.

“I stood in a ring with people that I never thought I would stand in a ring with,” Cassidy said during an interview ahead of AEW’s Dynamite/Rampage taping in Philadelphia (where Cassidy resides) on Oct. 25. 

“It started with Chris Jericho and then it gets more and more wild, like, when you have a Katsuyori Shibata and I’m literally sitting criss-cross applesauce in the middle of the ring with and we’re slapping each other in the face.”

“I just never thought I would get to these points, and for me, internally, it doesn’t feel like I should be doing these things … it wasn’t even a thought in my brain that I’d be doing this,” he added.

Before landing in AEW, Cassidy spent years fighting to make a name for himself on the independent circuit, which typically doesn’t generate the audience for anyone to make some sort of cultural impact.

But that all changed when Cassidy finally received the big break he was looking for in 2019, signing with upstart AEW. Now arenas with thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of more watching at home got to see what was only seen in bars, recreational centers and VFW halls up until that point: the “King of Sloth Style.”

Cassidy admits he tries not to think about his potential impact on pop culture because, in his words, his “brain would explode,” but he’s not oblivious to it. He understands that for some, he was not just a fun and easy costume. He was also their gateway to AEW.

“I’m just being me,” Cassidy says modestly, but whether it’s his all-denim look or his unique style in the ring, Cassidy has a knack for connecting with people.

“When you show somebody two men in a ring wearing small black trunks slap each other in the chest, I don’t think somebody outside of professional wrestling will really fully understand that,” Cassidy said. “But if you see a dude in jeans and sunglasses come out, I think you kind of understand that. I take a lot of pride in introducing people to AEW.”

On Wednesday night in Philadelphia, Cassidy will be taking part in a tag team match where he is teaming with Kazuchika Okada (one of the greatest of all time) to go up against Bryan Danielson (also one of the greatest of all time) and Claudio Castagnoli (one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation). 

Four years ago, Cassidy might have stuck out among these greats like a sore thumb. Today, it’s just whatever, because he has proven time and time again that he belongs there.

“I watched a lot of my friends and other wrestlers that I would travel with and wrestle against getting a lot of opportunities and I wasn’t, but I just kept showing up and I just kept doing it,” Cassidy recalled.

“I never thought, ‘Oh, I should be here or I should do something,’ No, I’m just going to keep at it. I’m going to do what I want to do. I just happened to get lucky and it worked out.”

Adam Copeland relishing in his role in AEW and in life

The recent AEW arrival talked helping more than just himself and his changing priorities with Wrestling Junkie.

What keeps Adam Copeland motivated?

He’s already done it all. He’s won numerous world championships, he’s headlined WrestleMania on multiple occasions, and he is already in the WWE Hall of Fame, as is his wife, Beth Phoenix.

But although he is nearing the age 50, Copeland is embarking on a full-time run with AEW.

However, Copeland doesn’t possess any delusions about where he is in his career. He is fully aware that he is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He understands that his role in AEW is to help the promotion take steps forward, which goes beyond selling tickets and merchandise.

He also knows that his job as a wrestler comes secondary to the job of being a dad. Because of that, Copeland is looking to get the most out of this run with AEW, which is likely to be his last.

“I really wanted to really try to maximize what little time I did have left and try and squeeze the stone for as much as I could,” Copeland said during an interview with Wrestling Junkie ahead of AEW’s show in Philadelphia on Oct. 25. 

“I feel like I have more of an opportunity to do that here, and in turn, hopefully, just help more.”

Since joining AEW, Copeland has taken an active hand in helping other members of the roster develop as performers. Whether that is in the ring, pre-taped interviews or just general advice, Copeland relishes being in the role of mentor.

“It’s a really fun process,” he said. “I really love watching a young talent kind of have a light bulb go off.”

The role isn’t foreign to Copeland, as he was a veteran voice in WWE’s locker room before he was forced to retire in 2011. Fortunately for Copeland, he was able to make his triumphant return to wrestling in January of 2020 as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble. He looked like he never missed a beat.

But things changed in Copeland’s life during the nine years he was away from the ring. In 2013, he and Phoenix welcomed their first child, Lyric. In 2016, the pair welcomed their second child, Ruby, and were married by the end of the year.

While these are cherished milestones in Copeland’s life, they also changed his mindset when it came to his first love, professional wrestling.

“Now your first thought isn’t about you, it isn’t about your career, and this can be a very you-centric industry,” Copeland admitted. “It kind of has to be at times. You have kids and suddenly that all changes and in a good way.”

“But now every decision I make, everything that I choose to do, it’s a family decision now,” he added. “It’s not just me deciding because there’s nothing else at stake. Now there is.

“Before matches now, I do have a little bit of nervousness, but it’s not a nervousness of performing, it’s not a nervousness of living up to some expectation. The only expectations I care about are my own. But there is that stress of, I gotta be safe because I gotta come home and I gotta be able to still help with drama club and help coach my girls’ basketball team. There’s bigger things.”

What keeps Adam Copeland motivated? Simply being the best Adam Copeland he can be.

“The way I look at it is that I came back from something no one has ever come back from, so right away, the minute I walked out at the Royal Rumble, it was a success in my mind,” Copeland said.

“Anything else after that? Great. Sure. Cool. But just getting back and kind of conquering that challenge … already a success for me.”

AEW Dynamite results 10/18/23: Juice Robinson earns a shot at the ring, Sting sets farewell date

See how Juice Robinson used his ring to get a shot at a better one, and when Sting said he’ll call it a career.

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Twelve men enter, one man leave. Or something like that. It’s time for a Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale tonight on AEW Dynamite from Rosenberg, TX.

MJF has made the Dynamite Diamond Ring even more securely than Gollum did the One Ring, considering that no one to date has been able to win it from him. Will that change in 2023? First we need to figure out who will face him for it, which tonight’s battle royale will accomplish.

Which 12 men are competing? We don’t know that yet, but Juice Robinson and Dustin Rhodes are among them. Should be a fun time regardless of who else is in the mix.

Like big names in action? Tonight’s Dynamite has some of those too. Kenny Omega will take on Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher, while “Switchblade” Jay White battles Penta El Zero Miedo. Also it looks like Hikaru Shida vs. Emi Sakura has been added in a clash between student and teacher.

Plus there’s other potentially good stuff in the pipeline. Sting will address AEW fans, though we hope it’s not for the reason many are speculating. Adam Copeland will finally offer his rebuttal to possibly former friend Christian Cage. And Jim Ross will have a sitdown interview with Nick Wayne and his mom.

All the while, we’re grinding toward Full Gear. So we could see more developments on that front as well. Never hurts to have a few matches booked in advance, right?

We’re looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the peeps in the Houston area, provided they aren’t too concerned with what’s going on with their Astros. Let’s get into it.

AEW Dynamite results from Texas:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Jay White def. Penta El Zero Miedo by pinfall after a timely cheap shot from Juice Robinson
  • After his win, White mocks MJF by suggesting he can’t find anyone to team with him against Bullet Club Gold; meanwhile, Robinson says he’s going to win the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale in the main event, win MJF’s ring and pawn it for another gold tooth
  • Meanwhile, MJF is backstage with Renee Paquette, explaining why he didn’t rush out there, and he once again turns down Max Caster and The Acclaimed’s offer to team with him — though Caster says he’d entering the Battle Royale so he can win that and defeat MJF to make him “put a ring on it”
  • Hikaru Shida def. Emi Sakura by pinfall
  • Adam Copeland sits down with Paquette to tell some stories about his past with Christian Cage and why things have gone off the rails between them; Copeland says he won’t fight Cage but will be the one to pick him up when Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne leave him high and dry
  • Wardlow def. Ryan Nemeth by referee stoppage, then makes it clear he’s got his sights set on MJF
  • Kenny Omega tells Paquette his record hasn’t been great lately, but he says he’s still the measuring stick in AEW, so he figures he can take out Kyle Fletcher, The Don Callis Family, and then maybe come after the AEW World Championship; MJF comes to shake his hand but also whispers “13 days, bitch” before walking away
  • Adam Cole is still being bossed around by Roderick Strong but agrees to make him and The Kingdom some PB&J sandwiches, which turns into a music video; when Cole finally gets fed up and leaves, Strong tells The Kingdom he may have to be nice to “that scumbag” in order to get his best friend back
  • Don Callis brags about his Family making history, then has an interesting discussion with Kyle Fletcher
  • Kenny Omega def. Kyle Fletcher by pinfall
  • The latest Danhausen promo video suggests everyone will be cursed soon enough
  • Lance Archer def. Barrett Brown by pinfall
  • Prince Nana says Swerve Strickland should be excited about his music video, but Swerve says he’s not because he doesn’t have the TNT Championship thanks to Hangman Adam Page; Strickland delivers an ominous threat: “It’s not always you who pays for your actions.”
  • Sting addresses the rumors and says his retirement match will be next year at Revolution
  • RJ City is cut off by Toni Storm, who does her own introduction for her latest silent picture, “Gone With the Storm”
  • Jim Ross sits down with Nick Wayne and his mom, and while neither J.R. nor his mom understand what Nick has done, he says it’s because Christian Cage is a better father than his dad ever was, and he also tells his mom she’s dead to him; right outside, however, Darby Allin is waiting to attack Cage and Wayne …
  • … and they battle to the ring, where Wayne is bloodied while battling Allin and Sting despite the aid of Luchasaurus
  • Kris Statlander tells Paquette that she wants to give a TBS Championship shot to Willow Nightingale, and Orange Cassidy says he only learned how much he cared about his International Championship once he lost it
  • Juice Robinson wins the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, last eliminating Max Caster

AEW Dynamite preview 10/18/23: Kiss the (Dynamite Diamond) ring, plus Kenny Omega in action

We’ll also hear from Sting and see “Timeless” Toni Storm again tonight on AEW Dynamite from Texas.

Though it’s a little silly, the Dynamite Diamond Ring is also a fun part of AEW lore. Where else can you win a prize that’s also guaranteed to be useful as a weapon when the referee’s back is turned? Well, we suppose a title belt fits that description too, but the ring is a lot more portable and thus easier to hide. In any case, said ring will be an important part of tonight’s AEW Dynamite from Rosenberg, Texas.

So far MJF has won the ring every year it’s been around. He’d undoubtedly like to keep it in his possession, but doing so will mean defeating the winner of tonight’s Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale. As the name implies, it will pit 12 men against each other for the right to face the AEW World Champion and maybe, just maybe, claim the ring for their own.

A couple of AEW’s top stars will be in singles action on Dynamite as well. Kenny Omega will take on Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher in a match that has some real “co-sign for the next generation” vibes to it. Jay White, who already has a date with MJF to fight over another treasure, will battle Penta El Zero Miedo.

Jim Ross will sit down for an interview with Nick Wayne and his mom, and no that’s not a joke of any kind we’re attempting. If it was Stacy’s mom, then we definitely would. We’ll also hear from Sting, which is a treat any time it happens.

On top of all that, we’re slated to see “Timeless” Toni Storm in action again tonight. Storm has been tremendous since she slowly pivoted to her current gimmick, showing real growth as a personality beyond her in-ring skills. She’s basically can’t-miss TV at this point.

And of course, we wouldn’t miss the show this evening, so if you can’t watch live at 8 p.m. ET on TBS, please consider joining us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live AEW Dynamite results and updates on anything else of interest from Texas.

Did AEW cross the line with its MJF-Juice Robinson segment? Absolutely.

Even if AEW can handle a topic like antisemitism with the proper nuance, this is the wrong time to attempt it.

Eliciting an emotional reaction from the audience is a pillar of professional wrestling and has been for the better part of a century.

Getting that emotional reaction, or heat as the wrestling zeitgeist has termed it, can be quite lucrative. The more fans invest with their emotions, the more likely they are to invest with their wallets. And we all know wrestling promoters have never shied away from the quickest route to a buck.

But to paraphrase the Wu-Tang Clan, cash rules everything around us, and for better or worse, that allure of attaining more of it can cause wrestling promoters to resort to unscrupulous tactics in an effort to garner more heat.

But is there a line? Is there a point where the attempt to gain heat does more harm than good? Is there a time where the emotional reaction isn’t a yearning to see the villain get their comeuppance, but instead deeply painful and hurtful?

In my opinion, there is — and AEW crossed it Tuesday night.

I was like thousands of other wrestling fans bouncing back and forth between AEW Dynamite and NXT. In the midst of my flipping, I did not get a chance to watch the post-match promo involving Bullet Club Gold and MJF.

Once I caught wind of it the next day, I couldn’t believe what I watched.

This may be casting a pretty wide net, but I don’t think any wrestling promotion should touch on any form of hate as a means to further a story. Obviously, professional wrestling is at its best when people don’t like each other, but there’s a difference between disdain for a singular person and saying hateful or hurtful things about entire groups of people.

For me, that list includes any form of racism, homophobia and body shaming. In this specific case, we have antisemitism.

Let me make this clear, I don’t believe Juice Robinson is antisemitic, but his character using a roll of quarters to make fun of a Jewish person is an antisemitic act. And if you don’t think what Robinson did was antisemitic, listen to the announcers reference MJF talking about having quarters thrown at him by bullies as a child.

Why a roll of a quarters? Let’s have MJF tell you himself:

Since this is clearly rooted in antisemitism, it crossed the line, in my eyes.

But what’s the big deal? It’s not even real, right? It’s all part of kayfabe. Maybe I shouldn’t work myself into a shoot. I call BS.

In this particular case, this is based on something that really happened to MJF, and the trauma he suffered from it is very real. And while I applaud MJF for talking about it and using that trauma to potentially help others, using it as a means to generate heat is simply uncalled for.

Any wrestler could easily be an advocate for whatever cause they choose. We’ve seen wrestlers support pro-trans and pro-choice messaging in the past. 

However, that did not involve someone that is pro-choice or pro-gender equality being made fun of on television. 

And yes, I know that movies and television shows sometimes delve into these areas, but do you think the writers at AEW or any other wrestling promotion are qualified to tell one of these types of stories with the proper context and nuance? Handling stories with care and subtlety is not exactly pro wrestling’s style.

Even with so-called qualified writers, we still suffer through white savior films, magical negro troupes, and sometimes, a blatant re-telling of facts.

Also, did you know that hate crimes have steadily increased in the largest cities in our country the last two years? That list of victims include African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and yes, the Jewish community. 

So why stay away from stuff like this? Because people are losing their lives over it. Literally.

There are thousands Jewish and Muslim people dying in a deep-rooted religious conflict that dates back thousands of years. This is happening as I type this.

Read the room, AEW. There is never a good time for an antisemitic segment, but that is especially the case now. 

MJF himself has defended the segment, and while I understand where he is coming from, I also believe he is still a little misguided.

Here is the problem with MJF’s point: This is bigger than you, Max. This is bigger than AEW. This is bigger than pro wrestling. This is about an entire group of people that are being harmed. Whether it’s happening on the Gaza Strip or even in our very own country, people have lost their lives over this.

That is bigger than the catharsis people may get from this. That is bigger than the so-called “hard conversations” this may start. Also, the conversation of not hating others for being different shouldn’t be all that difficult.

And guess what Max? You’re right. I don’t believe this can be accomplished through the avenue of professional wrestling, and you’re also right about it being an indictment of the industry’s past. That past includes racist depictions of Black people, Latino people, Asian people, Muslims, people from the Middle East, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

So forgive me if I don’t have faith in AEW to actually go forward with this story and make it the teachable moment that MJF is hoping for. And quite frankly, there is too much at stake for AEW to be playing around with content of this nature.

AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday results 10/10/23: New champs, overlapping feuds on super-sized show

See who won titles on AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday, and if Adam Copeland won his AEW in-ring debut.

It’s not that often that Tuesday night is the night for a big pro wrestling showdown. Monday night, sure, as they were the stuff of legend once upon a time. More recently it was Wednesday nights where a young AEW Dynamite and WWE’s NXT were on against each other, but that ended when NXT departed for Tuesdays. Alas, Dynamite was bumped up to Tuesday this week by the MLB Playoffs, putting them in direct competition for again one week only.

Happily, both companies took this very calmly and are proceeding like it’s business as usual.

Wait, what’s that? You say this is pro wrestling so they actually did the exact opposite of that?

That tracks. We’re here to talk about the AEW Dynamite part of this equation, which Tony Khan and company have dubbed Title Tuesday or Title Fight Tuesday depending on which X post we’re talking about. There are championship matches, sure. Saraya vs. Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s World Championship for one. Rey Fenix vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW International Championship for another.

But there’s more, including the AEW in-ring debut of Adam Copeland, the artist formerly known as Edge. Plus the first 30 minutes will be sans commercials, and Khan says he’s secured an overrun as well.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, there’s even a Buy-In pre-show like this was a pay-per-view, and no big deal, it just has Eddie Kingston vs. Minoru Suzuki. Damn.

With that in mind, let’s get into some live updates, shall we?

AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday Buy-In results:

  • Renee Paquette and RJ City run down the full Title Tuesday card
  • Eddie Kingston def. Minoru Suzuki by pinfall to retain the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship and ROH World Championship Championship; after the bell, they exchange a few extra chops as a show of respect
  • Tony Khan provides an update: Jon Moxley is not cleared by AEW doctors, but Rey Fenix will still defend his International Championship tonight; Hook stops by and says it has to be Orange Cassidy since he never got a rematch, and he accepts in typically unenthusiastic fashion

AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday results from Independence:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Christian Cage has a message for Bryan Danielson and Swerve Strickland, and also says Luchasaurus will end things for Adam Copeland; he also says he got the first 20 minutes commercial-free, heh
  • Bryan Danielson def. Swerve Strickland by pinfall to earn a TNT Championship shot at Collision after Hangman Adam Page prevents the use of Prince Nana’s crown as a weapon
  • Samoa Joe says he is about to show why he’s on the way to becoming AEW World Champion as well, starting this Saturday on Collision
  • Powerhouse Hobbs def. Chris Jericho by pinfall
  • Roderick Strong still has Adam Cole around, delaying his surgery and such
  • Orange Cassidy def. Rey Fenix by pinfall to become the new AEW International Champion, his second reign with the title
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm tells RJ City she has a new film called “Lover’s Lament,” which is a silent picture that plays during a side-by-side commercial break
  • Wardlow def. Matt Sydal by pinfall
  • Paquette tries to get a medical update on Jericho, and Matt Menard gets upset at Daniel Garcia for trying to check on The Ocho too
  • Jay White def. Hangman Adam Page by pinfall, thanks in part to Prince Nana’s attempted interference
  • MJF comes out to the stage to demand his world title belt back, and the crowd chants something obscene at White; MJF says he’s trying to be a better man even though it’s hard and explains why the title means so much to him, challenging White to do the right thing too — which doesn’t go well, with White saying they can do an eight-man tag team match and Juice Robinson saying he’s about to win the Dynamite Diamond Ring next week
  • Hikaru Shida def. Saraya by pinfall to become the new AEW Women’s World Champion, beginning her third title reign
  • Paquette catches up with MJF, who says politely that he isn’t in the mood to be interviewed and just wants to call Adam Cole for advice; he actually gets through to Cole, but the connection sucks and the call is cut off, but at least The Acclaimed offers to be his tag team partners …
  • … also, Daddy Ass and Anthony Bowens want to know why Max Caster is so infatuated with MJF, and Max says they’re friends — and that he likes when Max plays hard to get
  • Cage comes to the ring with Luchasaurus and mocks Adam Copeland, specifically his time with The Judgment Day and their time together in the past, saying Copeland needs him but he doesn’t need Adam; he also tells Copeland’s daughters their new father is coming home, and when Copeland sprints to the ring, Nick Wayne follows him and lays him out from behind; the ref checks on Adam but a match is underway
  • Adam Copeland def. Luchasaurus by pinfall …
  • … and gets attacked after the bell, setting off a wild brawl that involves Cage and his henchmen, Swerve Strickland and the Mogul Embassy, the Blackpool Combat Club and Hangman; the final shot sees Cage tapping out symbolically to Danielson’s LeBell Lock