Tag: Big Bill

AEW Collision results 03/30/24: Adam Copeland is Alwayz Ready for 1st title defense

Several Dynasty matches also came into focus during AEW Collision in Ontario.

What do you do when your bigger competition is about to have its biggest event of the year? Just keep keeping on and put on the best shows you can, which is what AEW Collision will hopefully be tonight in Ontario.

AEW has found some hot crowds during its current Canadian swing, and this should be no exception since Adam Copeland is making the first defense of his TNT Championship. We won’t know who the challenger is until their music hits, which is always fun.

Other big business (no pun intended) for Collision includes a pair of tag team title tournament matches that will help advance two duos toward a title match at Dynasty. We’ve got FTR and Big Bill/Ricky Starks to move on, but we shall see.

Here’s how it all went down.

AEW Collision results from London, Ontario:

  • Adam Copeland kicks off the show by saying how grateful he is to be in Ontario and how the stakes are raised for the Cope Open since he’ll be defending his TNT Championship in these matches now; Copeland makes the call for someone to come out and accept the challenge, and it’s answered by Matt Cardona

  • Adam Copeland def. Matt Cardona by pinfall to retain the AEW TNT Championship
  • After the match, the lights go out and come back on to reveal Malakai Black standing in the ring, bringing on a “holy s–t” chant from the crowd; Buddy Matthews attacks Copeland from behind, and Mark Briscoe fares poorly while trying to help him, but the appearance of Eddie Kingston to reinforce the faces gets the House of Black to pull a disappearing act
  • Lexy Nair asks FTR about their strategy against The Infantry, to which Cash Wheeler says it’s to not look past their opponents since they’ve been on a losing streak, and Dax Harwood says they need to make sure The Infantry’s Cinderella story ends tonight

  • Daddy Ass cuts a promo on Jay White ahead of their meeting on the next episode of Dynamite, and The Acclaimed have some choice words for all of Bullet Club Gold as well

  • FTR def. The Infantry by pinfall in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal
  • Nair talks to Big Bill and Ricky Starks, who are confident about defeating Top Flight despite not having a match in quite some time

  • Copeland says he knows the TNT title makes him a marked man, but he isn’t crazy about the House of Black jumping in his business, and challenges the House to a six-man match at Dynasty against him, Briscoe and Kingston, both of whom add their own two cents

  • Kyle O’Reilly def. JD Drake by submission, and is immediately hoisted onto the shoulders of the Undisputed Kingdom, who clearly want him to join up
  • Top Flight def. Big Bill and Ricky Starks by pinfall in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal; also appears that Starks may have suffered an injury toward the end of the match
  • Christopher Daniels makes his own House of Black challenge, the cool thing to do tonight, apparently
  • Thunder Rosa def. Lady Frost by pinfall
  • Renee Paquette speaks to Toni Storm, who asks Mariah May if she’s been plotting to get a title shot all these months and ends up kissing her, saying she sees a lot of Mariah in her

  • Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli and Katsuyori Shibata def. Lance Archer and The Righteous by pinfall as Shibata pins Vincent

AEW Dynamite results 02/07/24: Golden Sting, Bucks gone wild and Big Business

Also on AEW Dynamite, Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland had a banger that made them both contenders.

If you like your shows packed and your stakes high, this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite from the Footprint Center in Phoenix looks like the one for you.

Let’s start with title matches and shots at title matches, because this card has both of those. Darby Allin and Sting will battle Big Bill and Ricky Starks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship in a match that has the potential to make The Icon a champ for the final time in his legendary career.

As for championship opportunities, that’s what Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland are fighting for, since the winner gets to go on and battle Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship at Revolution. Swerve has had the upper hand, winning the first two bouts between them, but Hangman is desperate now and would be distraught if he lost a third straight.

On top of that, Tony Khan will make his latest in a long line of big announcements. Could someone be on their way in? Does the fact that there’s going to be a Dynamite/Rampage taping in Boston next month have anything to do with who that might be? Or does TK have something totally unexpected up his sleeve?

That’s not even all, as we’re also looking forward to some role reversal when Toni Storm takes on Red Velvet with Deonna Purrazzo on guest commentary. The Virtuosa has gotten under the skin of the Timeless champ like no other since she first arrived in AEW, and that should only continue in Phoenix.

How will AEW fit this and more into a two-hour show? It won’t, as Khan has already promised he’s secured an overrun. So let’s light the fuse already.

AEW Dynamite results from Phoenix:

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

  • Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland ends in a time limit draw, and as a result, both men will be in the championship match against Samoa Joe at Revolution
  • Samoa Joe is asked about this turn of events by Renee Paquette, angrily ranting about having the deck stacked against him and vowing to walk out champ despite that

  • Toni Storm def. Red Velvet by submission; after Storm won’t let the hold go, Deonna Purrazzo gets in the ring to confront the champ
  • Paquette talks to Orange Cassidy about wrestling Tomohiro Ishii and says competing on Saturday after also having a match on Rampage will still be fine; Best Friends also agree to go check on Chuck Taylor

  • Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley) def. Hechicero, Mascara Dorada and Volador Jr. by pinfall, but only after Castagnoli uses a low blow to set up the finish; after the finish, Mistico leads more CMLL luchadores into the ring from the crowd, prompting more AEW wrestlers to come from the back and even the odds
  • Taylor is shown getting attacked in the back by Undisputed Kingdom
  • Tony Khan makes his big announcement: the March 13 episode of Dynamite in Boston will be titled “Big Business”

  • Konosuke Takeshita def. Chris Jericho by submission, thanks in part to Don Callis sneaking in a screwdriver, and despite Sammy Guevara appearing earlier to neutralize Powerhouse Hobbs on the outside
  • Darby Allin and Sting def. Big Bill and Ricky Starks by pinfall in a Tag Team Tornado match to become the new AEW World Tag Team Champions
  • As Sting calls his sons into the ring to celebrate with him, the Young Bucks arrive with white bats to beat him down; they also beat Allin bloody and hit him with the EVP Trigger before laying the tag team titles over the unconscious new champs

Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland battle without a winner … though in a sense they don’t lose either

The crowd seems very into this as the two bitter rivals stare holes in each other after the bell rings. The announce team remind us that Strickland needed assistance from the Mogul Embassy to win both previous meetings, though Taz is the dissenter who believes that means little.

It takes little time for the fight to spill to the floor, where Swerve sends Hangman over the barricade then leaps over it to join him. Page is unceremoniously sent back to ringside and then to the ring, where he’s able to get in his first offense by stomping Strickland into a corner.

Page lights up his foe with chops and right hands along the ropes. But Swerve reverses an Irish whip and delivers a big boot to the face, following with some stomps of his own.

As Swerve looks to fly, Hangman sweeps his legs out and smashes home some right hands. He takes his time playing to the crowd for a second, which turns out to be a mistake as Swerve works on a flying octopus hold before dropping into a crucifix on the mat. Strickland wants to snap Page’s right arm but can’t ever pull it off, and Hangman ends up plastering him out on the apron and running him into the turnbuckle.

They spill out to the floor again, with Page continuing to work on Swerve’s head and neck. A fallaway slam is next, and the battle back in the ring leads to a low dropkick and a cover broken only when Strickland gets his hand to the bottom rope.

Another two count goes in Page’s favor, and he drops Swerve to the floor to land with a thud. Hangman signals for his top rope moonsault only to see Strickland roll away and quickly pounce with a flatliner.

With the fans urging him on, Swerve hits a back flip plancha to the outside, then a jumping top rope elbow to the back of the head. His offense continues into a vertical suplex, followed by the House Call and a close two count.

Page’s rally leads to a Liger Bomb that earns him a near fall. The ref checks on Strickland for a second as the announcers ponder whether he landed on his head during the last exchange of counters.

Boos greet Page as he lines up for the Buckshot, but Swerve dodges it and hits his own version. There’s a Swerve Stomp too, but Page kicks out at two.

Now it’s Hangman who look stunned a bit, and he finds no respite on the outside. Strickland takes him up on top of the guardrail, which turns out badly as Page nails him with a DDT on the barricade.

During picture-in-picture, a table is set up on the outside, though it doesn’t immediately come into play. An exchange of strikes goes Swerve’s way as he ends with a backbreaker and another near fall.

With Page tangles up over the ropes, Strickland stomps him so that he rolls onto the table, which promptly breaks. An undeterred Strickland sets up another table, but his first move is to try a 450 splash in the ring which catches nothing but knees.

It looks like Page has it won again after a nasty Buckshot, but Strickland gets his foot to the ropes to prevent the pinfall. They head back out to the apron, because why not, and Swerve takes a Deadeye there, slumping out to the floor. The ref starts his count, and Prince Nana does his dance to motivate his boss. That inspired Swerve to beat the count, but Nana pays for it when Page waffles him with a chair.

Strickland dropkicks Hangman on the floor then drops the Swerve Stomp, but it looks like his ankle might have paid for that. Page goes right after that ankle, staving off a JML Driver.

They battle to the apron again, and Strickland runs Page into the post to set up a Deadeye through the table. That brings fitting “holy s–t” chants, but when Swerve tries another Swerve Stomp, Page rolls away.

Strickland ducks a Buckshot and finally hits the JML Driver, but as the ref is making the count, the bell rings, signifying the 30-minute time limit had elapsed. Strickland grabs a mic, saying he hasn’t gone through so much to have it end like this. “Five … more … minutes,” he yells.

Hangman laughs and says no, but Tony Schiavone has one more twist to announce: Since this was a tie, both men will challenge Samoa Joe in a Triple Threat match at Revolution.

Tony Khan makes his big announcement, emphasis on big, we guess

TK discusses the March 13 episode of Dynamite revealed earlier today as happening at TD Garden in Boston. As it turns out, it will be called “Big Business.” Ah, not really what we were expecting, completely, but there is a money motif to the logo, so …

Anyway, Khan says people who can’t get to Boston will want to watch live on TBS, calling it “one of the most important nights in the history of AEW” and promising that people will remember it for years to come. The live fans seem a little underwhelmed by this, but hey.

Darby Allin and Sting win gold, defeating Big Bill and Ricky Starks

There are two referees since all four men can get involved at once, but alas we only have one recapper. We’ll do our best.

Sting and Starks immediately fight into the crowd, where Sting uses a trash can as a weapon. Bill and Darby battle into an entranceway to the concourse, unaware that Sting is lurking to dive from above onto both the champs. A “you still got it” chant rings out as side-by-side ads arrive.

Allin takes flight from the ring to the floor as soon as the full broadcast returns, but Bill catches him and smashes him to the floor with a Boss Man Slam. Ouch.

Darby gets tossed back into the ring, where Starks is waiting and soon joined by his partner. Bill tries for a two-handed chokeslam but settles for simply bouncing Allin’s head off the mat, then flinging him back overhead.

Bill summons a table from beneath the ring and Ricky helps him set it up. Sting finally returns to the fray to help Allin avoid being press slammed by the big man, but Bill finally tracks him down. Sting is able to step aside and crotch Bill on the top rope, only to be hit with his own Scorpion Death Drop by Starks, forcing Allin to make the save.

After some back and forth, Sting ends up isolated with Starks and puts him in the Scorpion Deathlock. Bill is on the apron, where Darby gouges his eyes and they end up falling through the table on the floor together. Starks reaches for the ropes but discovers there is no rope break in a Tornado tag. He frees himself anyway, sending Sting hurtling into an exposed turnbuckle. Though Ricky looks regretful, he spears the Icon but finds it’s only good for a two count.

Sting psyches himself up enough to counter a spear with the Scorpion Death Drop, and that’s enough to give us new champions.

AEW Dynamite preview 02/07/24: Tony Khan makes his latest big announcement

AEW Dynamite will also find either Hangman Adam Page or Swerve Strickland earning a world title shot at Revolution.

We haven’t even made it to Valentine’s Day yet, but it’s already been an eventful year in pro wrestling. Can tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Phoenix keep that momentum rolling? It may depend on the answer to the first question we have for tonight’s show …

What, or who, will be the subject of Tony Khan’s big announcement?

It might be time to cut Tony Khan some slack. While there is a certain amount of eye-rolling whenever AEW promotes a “big,” “huge” or “important” announcement, the truth is that he’s batting a decent average on them overall thanks to things like All In London, the Forbidden Door shows with NJPW and his purchase of Ring of Honor.

Will this one belong in that same rarified air? It’s possible if it’s the official word that Mercedes Moné is on her way in. Or it could be verification that Kazuchika Okada has been signed. Heck, what if it’s both?

It could also be something totally out of left field. That’s why we look forward to these even though there are occasions where they’re overhyped.

Can Sting win one more championship before he retires?

The end is now drawing incredibly close for Sting, whose final match is now less than a month away. That makes his tag team title shot alongside Darby Allin mean that much more, because barring something completely unforeseen, this will be his final chance to wear gold as a pro wrestler.

Despite being somewhat thrown together, Big Bill and Ricky Starks have been fine champs. But Sting has yet to taste defeat in AEW, and it would be strange indeed for him to do so now. The guess is that he and Darby get the titles, which means a Revolution showdown with the Young Bucks would turn into a championship farewell.

Can Hangman finally defeat Swerve?

Speaking of Revolution, there’s an AEW World Championship title opportunity on the line on Dynamite when Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland meet for the third time. In a lot of cases this would be a rubber match, but not here as Strickland is 2-0 in their previous meetings.

Hangman would be an easy pick here normally to ensure the proper face-heel dynamic going against Samoa Joe in Greensboro. But it feels like Page might be slipping toward the dark side at the same time more and more fans jump on Swerve’s bandwagon. It’s going to be interesting to see how AEW plays this one.

Also advertised for AEW Dynamite in Phoenix:

  • Toni Storm takes on Red Velvet with Deonna Purrazzo on guest commentary
  • The CMLL vs. BCC feud continues with a six-man tag match
  • Chris Jericho steps in to battle Konosuke Takeshita
  • And it will all go more than two hours as Khan says he’s secured an overrun from TBS

Fired up yet? We are, which is why we’ll be recapping the action live here on Wrestling Junkie. Join us here on the site at 8 p.m. ET for the latest.

AEW Rampage results 02/02/24: CMLL takes over

A look at all the action from Friday’s episode of AEW Rampage.

As Revolution approaches, AEW makes its way to New Orleans for the latest episode of Rampage. While Friday night’s action may not influence the upcoming pay-per-view landscape, some wrestlers still have something to prove ahead of the March event.

On the path to defending their AEW Tag Team Championship against Darby Allin and Sting, Ricky Starks and Big Bill will face The Dark Order in an Eliminator match, aiming to make a statement ahead of the impending title clash. A win also gives Alex Reynolds and John Silver an inside look at a championship match against the incumbents.

Along with a potential highlight reel of a match between Top Flight and Private Party, Rampage promises a packed night of action to begin February.

AEW Rampage results:

  • Top Flight def. Private Party by pinfall; Private Party refuses to shake hands after the match
  • Backstage, Sammy Guevara expresses disappointment in losing, saying his AEW tag title defeat hits harder as he has a child at home; he blames the Don Callis Family for taking away the potential of a better life for him, and he challenges Will Hobbs to a match anytime, anywhere
  • Jeff Jarrett tells Sanjay Dutt to stay out of the ring today, and Jay Lethal asks why Dutt’s wearing a suit; Lethal questions why Singh’s not working out either; Jarrett yells at Lethal, calling him the problem while deeming him too nice
  • Ricky Starks and Big Bill def. Alex Reynolds and John Silver by pinfall with Darby Allin on commentary
  • Don Callis says Sammy Guevara “isn’t mentally cleared” and should know Will Hobbs is hunting him; Hobbs tells Guevara he has his own family and hopes he doesn’t see Guevara first
  • Willow Nightingale (with Kris Statlander and Stokley Hathaway) def. Queen Aminata by pinfall
  • Orange Cassidy waits for the Undisputed Kingdom to interrupt him, and they arrive; Cassidy tells Roderick Strong the Undisputed Kingdom do things that make everyone angry and wants a fight, but Adam Cole recommends a three-on-three of Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett vs. Cassidy, Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta for next week’s Rampage episode
  • Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander challenge Saraya and Ruby Soho to a match next week
  • Mistico, Mascara Doaada, Hechicero and Volador Jr. def. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal by pinfall

AEW Dynamite results 01/31/24: Hangman, Swerve are on collision course again

After Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page won again, they’ll fight for a title shot next week on AEW Dynamite.

What wrestling fan doesn’t love them some mystery opponent? We’d say none, which is why the Dealer’s Choice matches on tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite from New Orleans should be a lot of fun.

In fairness, Swerve Strickland already took some of the surprise away by revealing he’s going to send fellow Mogul Embassy member Toa Liona to fight Hangman Adam Page. A perfectly defensible selection, that, given that Liona is a beast who should benefit from the additional spotlight.

But Hangman hasn’t revealed his choice to be Swerve’s opponent, and that has us hoping that everyone’s favorite cowboy really gets creative. And yes, that actually means Tony Khan getting creative, but let’s not lose ourselves in the space between kayfabe and real life.

Strickland and Page are having the kind of long-term feud that just satisfies that place in a wrestling fan’s heart, because even when they branch off and do other things, they can’t seem to help but cross paths again. Long may it continue.

Beyond that, we’ll see the first ever singles match between Jon Moxley and Jeff Hardy. And Deonna Purrazzo will take on her toughest foe since joining AEW, Taya Valkyrie. “Timeless” Toni Storm will once again be on guest commentary, which is pretty close to guaranteed entertainment value.

So yeah, looks like a decent enough two hours. Let’s run it all down as it happens.

AEW Dynamite results from New Orleans:

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

  • Jon Moxley def. Jeff Hardy by submission
  • After the match, Mistico and the other three CMLL wrestlers who were watching the opening match attack Moxley after the bell, but Matt Sydal, Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang eventually come to the rescue and drive the luchadores off
  • Hangman Adam Page def. Toa Liona by pinfall
  • Nicholas Jackson fines a staffer for not using the Young Bucks’ full names, and Matthew apologizes but still expects the fine to be paid by end of day

  • Wardlow def. Komander; after the match, Orange Cassidy and Best Friends come to prevent Roderick Strong and The Kingdom from administering a post-match beating, and the heels want no part of a scuffle tonight
  • Tony Schiavone mediates a sitdown interview with Big Bill and Ricky Starks on one side and Darby Allin and Sting on the other; Starks seems upset that Sting got his first ever AEW victory over him, and Ricky and Darby start yelling at each other while Sting wonders if Bill is a killer like other big men he’s fought; Starks throws a drink on Darby, who has to be restrained by The Icon

  • Chris Jericho def. Kyle Fletcher by pinfall; Konosuke Takeshita appears on the stage afterward to taunt Jericho
  • Deonna Purrazzo explains the meanings behind her tattoos, including the identical ink she and Toni Storm got, wondering if it means the same thing to Timeless Toni
  • The Bang Bang Scissor Gang does some good natured guns up and scissoring along with Rock Card Juiceboard

  • Deonna Purrazzo def. Taya Valkyrie by submission with Toni Storm watching closely from the commentary desk
  • Allin is being interviewed by Renee Paquette when the Young Bucks stop by to propose becoming a trio with Darby, but jokes aside, they also accuse him of ducking them

  • AEW World Champion Samoa Joe joins the announcers for the main event
  • Swerve Strickland def. Rob Van Dam by pinfall in a Hardcore match that also sees Brian Cage and Hook briefly get involved
  • Hangman comes down to mock congratulate Swerve, noting that both of them are likely to top the rankings when they come out tonight before vowing to never let Strickland become world champion; Swerve yells back that he has two victories over Page and says Hangman is obsessed with the idea that he can’t win … but Page says it took the whole Mogul Embassy to beat him, and Strickland says they can fight one more time before he leaves this feud behind him to focus on the AEW World Championship
Lee South

Jon Moxley vs Jeff Hardy

New Orleans, LA

AEW Dynamite

January 31, 2024

Jon Moxley grinds out a victory over Jeff Hardy

Hardy wastes no time taking to the air, diving onto Moxley from the apron. The announce team suggests the rules for this one are “lax,” so they can do some extreme stuff without fear of DQ and probably won’t be counted out either. Moxley takes flight with a tope suicida, not something he always does.

Back in the ring, Moxley stomps on Hardy’s left arm. Jeff gets flipped over with a suplex of sorts and has to kick out of the ensuing cover.

Mox goes right to a submission attempt, scissoring Hardy’s neck with his legs. Their battle eventually goes back outside the ring, where Moxley end up over the barricade among the CMLL talent that is here for tonight’s show. A right hand from Mox smashes Hardy in mid-flight right as the side-by-side pics arrive.

Th full picture returns to find Hardy running through a bunch of offense, leading to a near fall Tony Schiavone believes Jeff will need to keep Mox on the mat, but he doesn’t and pays for it as he takes a piledriver.

Moxley wants another piledriver on the apron, but Hardy counters with a Twist of Fate. He follows with the Whisper in the Wind, and he’s back up top but met by Moxley, who treats him to a superplex.

They both rise to trade right hands until Hardy’s Twist of Fate attempt is countered with a cutter. Jeff comes right back with a Russian leg sweep, then uses a legdrop right into a pinning predicament that comes oh so close to winning it.

Hardy connects on another Twist of Fate but finds no one home for the Swanton Bomb. Moxley drops to the mat and locks on his bulldog choke, and Hardy eventually goes to sleep.

Lee South

Adam Page vs Toa Liona

New Orleans, LA

AEW Dynamite

January 31, 2024

Hangman Adam Page pulls off an AEW first, pinning Toa Liona

Page notes during a quick pre-match promo shown during his entrance that Liona has never been pinned or submitted in AEW. Did not know that. Early on, Hangman is able to stay one step ahead of the bigger man, at least until Liona can slow the pace.

Two springboard lariats aren’t sufficient to knock Liona off the apron, though he has no such trouble hurling Page over the top rope and out to the floor. Liona hits a diving cross body to the floor, looking very confident.

Liona sits on Page’s chest back in the ring, good for a near fall. A series of right hands from Hangman leads to Liona chucking him back out to the floor as boos rain down.

After more commercials, it’s not looking much better for Page until he’s able to get Liona to miss and land hard on his back. Hangman steps on the gas, leading to a high cross body off the top for a near fall.

Page tries but can’t get Liona hoisted for the Deadeye. A thrust kick comes back and leads to a near fall for Liona.

What will it take to get Liona off his feet? Three lariats finally do the trick. This time Page is able to get the Deadeye on target too, but Liona pops right back up for a headbutt.

A discus lariat smashes Page back down, and though he’s able to kick out again, he takes a senton on the apron right after that. Liona tries and misses on a moonsault, but Hangman doesn’t miss his off the top rope.

The Buckshot looks like it’s next, but even though Liona evades it and hits a Samoan drop, Page is able to roll up his shoulders and hold on for a pin.

Lee South

Deonna Purrazzo vs Taya Valkyrie

New Orleans, LA

AEW Dynamite

January 31, 2024

Deonna Purrazzo keeps rolling by tapping out Taya Valkyrie

AEW Women’s World Champion Taya Valkyrie joins the announcers for this one, claiming she has no knowledge of the matching tattoos that Purrazzo has been talking about. The Virtuosa gets off to a strong start, controlling Valkyrie with a variety of holds until a leg sweep tilts the momentum.

Purrazzo goes hard into the steps on the outside, giving Valkyrie a chance to do some making out with Johnny TV as commercials slide in. They battle back to the ring during the half-break, with Purrazzo using knees and kicks to set up a Russian leg sweep. A pump kick leads to the second of two quick two counts.

Valkyrie’s Blue Thunder Bomb gets her a two count right back. A sliding lariat makes Purrazzo kick out again as Storm mugs for the camera.

A baseball slide drop kick is on target for Purrazzo, who ends up flinging Valkyrie into the champ. Back in the ring, Deonna gets both of Taya’s arms pulled up behind her while sitting on Valkyrie’s back, and that’s enough to get the submission.

Lee South

Swerve Strickland vs Rob Van Dam

New Orleans, LA

AEW Dynamite

January 31, 2024

Swerve Strickland outdoes Rob Van Dam in his own game: a Hardcore match

Hangman Page appears on the screen after RVD heads to the ring to reveal one more twist: Dealer’s Choice means they get to pick the match, not just the opponent, so this is a Hardcore match.

Van Dam wastes no time putting chairs to good use once the bell rings thanks to that stipulation. He sends Strickland into and over the ringside barricade, and the fans are already happily chanting “we want tables.”

After some picture-in-picture, Swerve has taken control, using a chair to assist him. He sets that across one corner but ends up getting an Irish whip right into it.

Rolling Thunder is on target by RVD, and he picks up another chair to use for a Van Terminator in the corner. A cover follows but Swerve kicks out at two.

Van Dam wants a monkey flip but sees it countered into a sitout powerbomb onto the chair, somehow managing to kick out. Brian Cage arrives to lend a hand to Swerve, but he’s neutralized by a chair-wielding Hook. They fight out of the ring and up the ramp.

RVD is distracted but manages to counter into a pinning predicament and a near fall. Strickland comes right back with a near fall of his own, and now it’s reaching “what will it take to win it?” territory as the crowd calls for tables again.

There is one set up on one side of the ring, but the two combatants fight to a chair on the opposite side. RVD takes a Swerve Stomp and falls back into the steps.

With Van Dam rolled into the ring, Strickland climbs up top but takes a thrown chair to the face and crashes down from the top rope through the table. Rob tries to follow with a Five Star Frog Splash but finds no one home and eats a chair to the face before kicking out at two.

Both men head to the top rope again, though Van Dam is knocked to the mat. He flips Strickland the double bird but takes a Swerve Stomp, and that’s it for the legend as Swerve is victorious.

AEW Dynamite results 01/24/24: Adam Copeland survives Minoru Suzuki

AEW Dynamite also set up a tag team title match and new challenges for Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page.

It’s time to light the fuse for a dream match kind of night on AEW Dynamite from Savannah.

Actually, no, scratch that. Adam Copeland vs. Minoru Suzuki is more like a fever dream, the product of some random half-awake ranting at some point. It’s not a pairing we ever thought to even ask for at any point, honestly.

Yet it should be great. The Rated-R Superstar taking on Murder Grandpa is not the kind of thing Copeland’s “Cope Open” matches have typically been to this point, which is him working with talent that doesn’t always get enough exposure.

Suzuki is pretty much the exact opposite of that. But Copeland has also said he wanted the Cope Open to be unpredictable, and tonight’s showdown definitely qualifies in that respect.

Speaking of unpredictable, that term should also apply to Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo having a face-to-face interview. The AEW Women’s World Champion has been typically dismissive of The Virtuosa ever since her arrival in AEW, but Purrazzo has had the type of in-ring success that is pretty much unavoidable now. Add in some real life history between them (whether Timeless Toni chooses to remember it or not) and you have the makings of a fun program.

We’ll also hear from Sting and Darby Allin, see Thunder Rosa in action again, scissor with The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, and much more. Light the fuse.

AEW Dynamite results from Savannah:

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

  • Samoa Joe tells Hook to get to the back of the line for a world title shot
  • Hangman Adam Page def. Penta El Zero Miedo by pinfall with Joe watching from the commentary table; afterwards, Page yells “I am taking that from you” to Joe
  • Renee Paquette speaks with Orange Cassidy, who says it’s fine that Roderick Strong wants to challenge him at Revolution, but he’s also going to keep wrestling in the meantime, including this week on Collision

  • The Young Bucks have arrived, saying they’ve fixed catering, and they give Top Flight of not being at the show on time or wearing their credentials

  • Wardlow def. Trent Beretta by pinfall; Best Friends hit the ring to prevent a post-match beating, and the Undisputed Kingdom convinces Wardlow not to press the issue at the moment
  • Adam Copeland cuts a promo for his main event meeting with Minoru Suzuki and says you can sum it up with three words: grit your teeth
  • Renee Paquette sits down with Deonna Purrazzo and Toni Storm, who exchange some verbal jabs and real shoe-throws
  • Jon Moxley puts over the titles and victories the Blackpool Combat Club has piled up but says they spend zero time celebrating, because that’s the way they stay as hungry as they need to be; Mox says he will beat and pulverize everyone who isn’t willing to step up and give their all this year, and he’s very believable when he says it

  • Taya Valkyrie and Johnny TV reintroduce themselves, and Valkyrie challenges Purrazzo to a match next week, vowing to send her to “the back of the line”
  • Swerve Strickland def. Jeff Hardy by pinfall
  • Paquette is caught in the middle as Swerve and Hangman nearly come to blows, and she tells them that they’ll get to choose the match for the other man next week on Dynamite in a pair of “Dealer’s Choice” bouts

  • Thunder Rosa def. Red Velvet by pinfall
  • Darby Allin and Sting hold court, discuss going after the tag team titles
  • Big Bill and Ricky Starks accept the challenge from Allin and Sting, apparently because they’re happy the face painted duo mentioned them by name
  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage and Gates of Agony) by pinfall to retain the AEW World Trios Championship, getting some help from Bullet Club Gold to prevent chicanery
  • One final Serena Deeb highlight video is shown before she returns on Saturday
  • Adam Copeland def. Minoru Suzuki by pinfall
  • After the match, Copeland offers a show of respect to Suzuki, who refuses it, and says he’s still coming for Christian Cage

Samoa Joe says title shots will need to be earned, Hook needs to get to the back of the line

Looking spiffy in a suit, the AEW World Champion says from now on, title opportunities must be earned. Your favorite superstars are all going to battle it out for the right to challenge for his gold.

Alas, Joe says all it’s going to mean is an opportunity to have the worst night of their life. A man who kind of experienced that last week interrupts, as Hook makes his way to the ring … with a mic in hand, unusually.

Hook says he lost and shakes Joe’s hand, promising that he’ll see Joe again. But the champ isn’t as gracious, asking for security to get “the unworthy” out of the ring. A few arm drags and such later, Hook leaves on his own instead of being escorted out by guards.

Hangman Adam Page goes to 3-0 in 2024 by beating Penta El Zero Miedo

With the announcers reminding us the rankings are returning Saturday, that makes this match a little more important, as does Samoa Joe watching on guest commentary. Page scores the first near fall after a rolling shooting star press, then goes to work in the corner.

Joe taunts Hangman a bit but Page stares daggers at him in return. A bottom rope legdrop (yes, that’s right) earns a two count for Penta, and he escapes a Deadeye attempt to trade strikes. A double clothesline finally sends both men down to the mat, perfect for sending us to picture-in-picture.

The full broadcast returns just in time to catch Penta flying to the outside, though he has to pull up on a second aerial move inside the ring and gets caught with a Death Valley Driver for two. Penta fires right back with another near fall before zeroing in on Page’s right arm.

Hangman hurls his foe away and then connects on a Liger Bomb for another two count. A series of counters leads to a Made in Japan by Penta, and Hangman barely kicks out in time. Joe is shown looking a little upset, perhaps hoping Page would be pinned.

Out to the apron they go, where Penta is hit by the Deadeye and a moonsault to the floor. Back in the ring, Penta evades one Buckshot but not the second, and the cowboy is your winner.

Deonna Purrazzo, Toni Storm share some of their past, but a violent future awaits

The AEW World Champion is in black and white, and while she admits they have a past together, Toni says that doesn’t mean Deonna can waltz right to the front of the line. Storm admits that Purrazzo might be the best technical wrestler in the world, but it’s not going to help her if they meet.

The Virtuosa says she didn’t come to AEW to make friends but to become champion. It just so happens that Storm used to be her friend, but Purrazzo will gladly take her apart limb by limb. Deonna also doesn’t want to face this “delusional sham” but the version of Toni that was once one of the best in the world.

Purrazzo says Storm should look at her ankle because it should look a lot like hers, and the two women reveal identical tattoos. Toni doesn’t take kindly to that and throws a shoe at Deonna, who throws it right back and tries to apply the Venus De Milo. The champ needs to be bailed out by Luther and Mariah May, and Deonna poses with the title belt before tossing it to the butler.

Darby Allin convinces Sting to pursue tag team gold before he hangs it up

Allin tells the story of when Sting first was announced as coming to AEW, rolling around in the ring at his house and telling the Icon “you still got it.” He thinks the fans would agree that’s still the case, and with the rankings coming back, Allin believes they should take advantage of that and challenge for the tag team titles.

Sting says alright, I’m all in. No, not that All In, sorry. But clearly he’s on board with going after Big Bill and Ricky Starks.

Adam Copeland survives, pins Minoru Suzuki

The crowd starts a “holy s–t” chant right away, anticipating the chops and forearms that come soon enough. Suzuki tries for a Gotch style piledriver but get back body dropped instead.

Suzuki goes for an armbar across the top rope but ends up eating a big boot. He catches Copeland with a knee coming toward the apron and drags Adam out to the floor. They go stumbling back through the barricade together in painful fashion.

Both men barely beat the ref’s 10 count, sliding in together at nine. Suzuki laughs, as he does, before they start smashing each other with elbows and forearms on their knees, then up to their feet. Here come the slaps, which end up knocking them both down at the same time.

Suzuki slugs his way into an armbar attempt, but Copeland counters with an Impaler. Dueling chants break out for each man as they rise slowly again. Copeland heads in for a spear but is countered by a Fujiwara armbar, forcing Copeland to a rope break.

Now Suzuki goes for a rear choke in the corner, but Copeland gets loose and hits a spear for a close two count. Suzuki scoots over and applies a sleeper with his legs hooked in as well. Copeland nearly escapes it before sinking to his knees with his face turning purple.

After the ref checks him once, Copeland is up and manages to hit the Killswitch, which is enough to win it.

 

AEW Battle of the Belts 9 results: Sammy takes a huge fall, champs retain

See how the title matches went on AEW Battle of the Belts IX, as well as Sammy Guevara’s ridiculous dive.

When it comes to truth in advertising, few events can hang with an AEW Battle of the Belts show. These quarterly cards offer nothing but championship matches, though to be fair, usually not the top titles.

Be that as it may, we would never complain about an hour of bonus wrestling on free TV where there are real stakes for each bout. As well, some of the title bouts on previous editions of this show have seemed kind of random, but the only one on this one that fits that description is Orange Cassidy’s title defense, and that’s kind of his whole thing.

So yeah, championships on the line is something we dig. Will any of them change hands? Let’s find out.

AEW Battle of the Belts IX results from Norfolk:

  • The show begins with the first match already underway, as the tag team title street fight got rolling during the closing moment of Collision
  • Big Bill and Ricky Starks def. Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara vs. by pinfall in a Street Fight to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championship; the match starts outside the arena, literally in the street, and ranges all over the backstage area to include a number of weapons, including a fire extinguisher, a copier and various food items, but the end comes after some well-timed interference by the Don Callis Family, including Powerhouse Hobbs pulling Starks away from a very high dive by Guevara that sends him through part of the stage

  • Another vignette shows Serena Deeb ready to return and seek her first AEW gold
  • Julia Hart def. Anna Jay by submission to retain the AEW TBS Championship
  • Sonjay Dutt and Karen Jarrett want Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett back on the same page, and Satnam Singh accidentally just kind of makes things worse
  • Orange Cassidy def. Preston Vance by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship, with Roderick Strong and The Kingdom watching from the ramp
  • They don’t stay on the ramp, sliding in afterward and throwing Vance and Jose the Assistant out; the show ends with Strong telling Cassidy the clock is ticking

AEW Dynamite results 01/10/24: Sting thrills Daily’s Place as Young Bucks loom

Will we be seeing Sting and Darby Allin vs. some AEW EVPs at Revolution?

Oh yeah, it feels so good
To be back where we belong
Oh yeah, it feels so good
This is where we started from

Thanks for that, New Edition. Those immortal words are echoing through this writer’s skull as we get ready to take in AEW Dynamite Homecoming from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.

You might remember this as the pandemic-era home of AEW, the place where everyone buckled down and got through some very difficult times thanks to the Power of Pro Wrestling (don’t try to trademark that, I’ve already filed). It was the place where talent simply worked through it, the spot where The Gunns went from “Who are those lads with Billy on the right-hand side of the ring every week?” to actual weekly TV types.

On a sadder and more serious note, it’s also where the world at large got to know the late Mr. Brodie Lee better, which has gone into the thinking behind some of the matches on tonight’s card, according to Tony Khan. Yes, there are some random-ish eight-person tag matches, but they feature people important to Lee, and that is a cool touch.

Some of the more prominent singles matches may not have that kind of story behind them, yet they still could cook. Ricky Starks vs. Sammy Guevara for the first time ever? Sure. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Hangman Adam Page? Of course!

We’re also on Day 10, give or take, of Mercedes Watch, so there’s that too.

Plenty of reason to tune in. Light the fuse, Daily’s Place!

AEW Dynamite results from Jacksonville:

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

  • Hangman Adam Page def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall
  • A short compilation of Brodie Lee highlights from Daily’s Place is shown, along with an explanation of how his two hand-picked proteges are in action tonight
  • Orange Cassidy, Preston Vance, Dustin Rhodes and Adam Copeland def. Brian Cage, Gates of Agony and Lance Archer by pinfall, with Vance pinning Cage after some turmoil between Archer and the Mogul Embassy members during the match
  • Renee Paquette talks to Bullet Club Gold about the Undisputed Kingdom, and The Acclaimed stops by to repeat their suggestion that they form a “Bang Bang Scissor Gang superfaction,” and you can tell Austin Gunn is still on board with the idea
  • Samoa Joe says he has changed the title challenge protocol, but that doesn’t stop Swerve Strickland, Hangman and Hook from all throwing their hats in the ring
  • Paquette is with Toni Storm and Mariah May, and the champ is both dismissive of May and a little disturbed by the arrival of Deonna Purrazzo

  • Sammy Guevara def. Ricky Starks by pinfall
  • Sammy shakes Ricky’s hand after the match, but it’s a ruse for an attack by Big Bill that also draws in Chris Jericho … all while “Judas” blares the whole time
  • Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, Anna Jay and Thunder Rosa def. Saraya, Ruby Soho, Skye Blue and Julia Hart by submission as Anna Jay gets Skye Blue to tap out to the Queenslayer
  • Wheeler Yuta fires back at the “disrespect” he’s been shown by Eddie Kingston and makes it clear he’d like to face Kingston for his Continental Crown Championship on Rampage
  • Roderick Strong def. Bryan Keith by pinfall
  • Adam Cole gets on the mic after Strong’s win and goes over the Undisputed Kingdom mission statement again

  • Paquette talks to Purrazzo about Storm, and Deonna gets a Collision challenge from Red Velvet

  • Darby Allin and Sting def. Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs by pinfall
  • Schiavone gets in the ring to ask Sting who his last opponent will be, but the answer is interrupted by the more clean shaven Young Bucks, who linger on stage with their music playing before leaving

Hangman Adam Page does enough “Cowboy S–t” to beat Claudio Castagnoli

Upset as he has been recently, Hangman takes it right to Claudio as soon as the opening bell sounds. That’s not a bad idea, but you’re not going to just overwhelm the Swiss Superman, and sure enough Castagnoli takes control once the fight gets inside the ring.

Or is he just pissing Hangman off more? Page no sells some shots in the corner and marches forward, and they trade hard shots until Page ends up going for the Giant Swing.

Claudio goes for the Sharpshooter next, but he almost gets rolled up when he transitions to a crossface. Castagnoli fires right back with a Death Valley Driver, and both men are slow to rise.

Page breaks out with a fallaway slam as the fans applaud to egg him on. He kips up and hits a springboard lariat, then follows with a plancha and some right hands on the floor.

Once they’re both back inside the ropes, Page is caught on a corner charge and slammed hard over the top rope and onto the ramp. That couldn’t have felt good.

After some side by side ads, Page ends up right back on the ramp, and not by choice. Claudio punches him up to the stage, but the Cowboy sends him back toward the ring and then into it with a running lariat.

Castagnoli sees the Buckshot coming, however, and gets a near fall with a popup uppercut. The battle goes back to the floor, where Claudio catches Hangman and smacks him into a wall (yes) before getting countered with a DDT.

Page hits a moonsault off the wall, then counters a Tombstone with one of his own back in the ring. Castagnoli kicks out, though, and the match rolls on.

After sending Page face first into the top turnbuckle, Castagnoli hits a running uppercut and more of them in the corner. A big short arm lariat leads to a cover, but Page isn’t ready to be pinned yet.

Hangman pops up to deliver the DeadEye, but is somewhat slow to cover and only gets two again. They both end up ascending or trying to, and Claudio’s Ricola Bomb is countered with a hurricanrana. Two doses of the Buckshot are enough to keep Castagnoli down for the three count.

Samoa Joe has more than one person pursuing his title

Were some people tiring of MJF? It sure sounds like it as the current champion is getting “thank you Joe” chants. The champ says he’s making some changes to the title challenge protocol, saying people won’t have to whine in the ring or on social media.

Instead, you bring your record and reputation to the “championship committee,” and if they deem you worthy, you get an express pass for Joe to “stomp your ass out.” Wait, that doesn’t sound like a prize!

For anyone who wants a piece of him, the champion will be waiting. Of course, all that is unlikely to go unanswered, and sure enough, Swerve Strickland and the Mogul Embassy pop out on stage. Strickland boasts that he took Hangman’s spot, and just like that was, it isn’t personal between Swerve and Joe. He just wants the championship and he’s going to take it.

After winning the title, Swerve says he’ll be happy to make things personal between them. Of course, he already has a personal issue that somehow still isn’t done, and that’s with Hangman, who joins them. He also vows to make the AEW World Championship his in 2024, and Joe simply laughs as Page and Strickland stare holes in each other.

Page turns to Joe and says he hasn’t forgotten what Joe had done to him, and he’s going to take the title from him for it. After everyone leaves, Joe simply holds the belt aloft.

He’s not done, though. Hook’s music hits and the FTW Champion comes to the ring to have his own staredown with Joe. “One week,” Hook says before leaving.

Sammy Guevara rocks Ricky Starks for a big win

These two have never been in the ring for a singles match before, and they start off a little cautiously as a result. Guevara is the first to step on the gas, forcing Starks from the ring with a dropkick and dropping a moonsault on him from the top rope.

The battle goes to the apron, where neither man can impose his will into Sammy starts landing some nasty chops. Starks shrugs those off and slams Guevara hard onto the apron as side-by-side commercials slide in.

(They wasted Ricky’s awesome rope walk spot during the ads, darn them.)

Guevara seems to have a rally going now and gets a near fall right after the full broadcast is back. Sammy wants to climb but Ricky doesn’t want to let him, and Starks sets off on a flurry of offense that leads to his own near fall.

Starks’ great counter wrestling allows him to score another two count, but Guevara manages to nail him with a couple of superkicks and pulls off an inside cradle to get the dub.

Sting has one more crazy spot in him as he and Darby Allin top the Don Callis Family

Ric Flair and Don Callis are ringside with their respective teams, and this is going to be hard to recap since it immediately breaks down with fighting into the crowd in two different directions. No DQs, falls count anywhere for this one.

Takeshita is hitting rolling Germans on the floor on poor Darby as we get picture-in-picture action. Sting is faring even worse … until Allin gets tossed by both his foes and does like three revolutions before hitting the mat.

Sting comes back into the ring on fire but gets smacked down quickly by Takeshita. Flair decides to step in and chop Hobbs, which does nothing, but he thumbs Powerhouse in the eye and buys Sting enough time to recover.

All four men brawl up to the stage, and it feels like something nuts is going to happen. Sure enough it does, with Allin hitting a Coffin Drop on Takeshita from high up in the stands.

Hobbs hoists Sting and carries him down a walkway in front of the stands, but the Icon turns the tables with a Scorpion Death Drop down through some tables. Sting rolls over and throws an arm on top of Hobbs, and he stays undefeated as the ref counts to three.

AEW Collision results 01/06/24: The House always wins, Sting does too

Sting said farewell to Charlotte and the House of Black got the last laugh on FTR on AEW Collision.

The sad thing about a legend saying goodbye over an extended period of time is that every time they compete, it’s the last time somewhere. That’s the glass half empty view. The glass half full version is that it allows fans in many different places to say goodbye when the show comes to them, which is the case for AEW Collision tonight in Charlotte.

It’s a city that has no lack of history with Sting, of course, but with Revolution and his retirement match coming up in just a few months, this will be the Icon’s last stop in the Queen City. He should get a heck of a reaction as a result, and it’s very cool that he’s in action alongside Darby Allin tonight.

There’s other fun stuff planned, including a title defense by Eddie Kingston and some words from Adam Copeland. Not a bad way to spend a snowy/rainy winter Saturday evening, so on to the action.

AEW Collision results from Charlotte:

  • Ric Flair comes out ahead of this match, to the delight of the North Carolina crowd (and the dismay of many other, probably)
  • Darby Allin and Sting def. The Workhorsemen by pinfall
  • A hype video is shown for the Darby Allin and Sting match against The Don Callis Family on Dynamite
  • Eddie Kingston def. Trent Beretta by pinfall to retain the AEW Continental Crown Championship
  • Tony Schiavone asks Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale (and Boots) about Stokely Hathaway, but Willow quickly pivots to both of them getting off to a good start to 2024

  • Hook says it’s time to start looking for another championship, and he’s got his eyes on the biggest one of all: Samoa Joe, he’s coming for you

  • The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) def. Bryan Keith and Komander by pinfall in a Proving Ground match
  • Renee Paquette talks to Jay White and The Gunns, who quickly get a visit from The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass; Anthony Bowens plays mediator and suggests that big factions are the way to go, and Austin Gunn admits to Paquette that “it makes sense”

  • Adam Copeland responds to Christian Cage’s assertion that he should get to the back of the line and been handed all of his opportunities, but Copeland says when it comes down to it, he just works harder; Adam does say he will earn his title shot starting tonight and makes an open challenge, answered by Griff Garrison and a slap to the face, and we’ve got a referee in there so let’s go …
  • Adam Copeland def. Griff Garrison by submission; Cole Karter tries to ambush Copeland after the match but gets a spear for his efforts
  • Flair puts over Sting and Allin taking on Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs next week on Dynamite, and Sting treats us to a “retro promo” for the match as well

  • Skye Blue def. Kiera Hogan by pinfall
  • Serena Deeb warns everyone once again that the professor of pro wrestling is ready to return
  • Prior to his match, Claudio Castagnoli says he’ll fight Hangman Adam Page on the upcoming episode of Dynamite
  • Claudio Castagnoli def. Andrew Everett by pinfall
  • Lexy Nair checks in with Ricky Starks and Big Bill ahead of Ricky’s match with Sammy Guevara on Dynamite, and Bill says they’ll defend their titles at Battle of the Belts against Guevara and Chris Jericho
  • FTR def. House of Black (Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black) by pinfall; Daniel Garcia comes down with a chair to prevent Brody King from interfering, but House of Black gets some payback on Garcia and FTR during a post-match assault

AEW Worlds End 2023 live report: The Devil in the details

Get the vibe of AEW Worlds End from amidst the live crowd from Wrestling Junkie’s Rob Wolkenbrod.

LONG ISLAND, NY — Entering Worlds End, it felt like a pay-per-view AEW needed to hit out of the park. The second half of the company’s 2023 left something to be desired, with lagging ticket sales, unfortunate injuries to Adam Cole, Kenny Omega and MJF, and backstage controversies remaining constant.

Filling the Nassau Coliseum wasn’t an issue Saturday night; AEW fans loaded the arena waiting on their favorite “scumbag,” the culmination of the Continental Classic and the next step of Christian Cage and Adam Copeland’s feud. The rest of the card had little fanfare since AEW glued it together within the last week, and it showed from the start of the main show until the main event matches.

At the same time, Worlds End was always billed as a three-match show featuring the three longest-running storylines in AEW. Along with the impending reveal of the Devil, the final 90 minutes of the five-hour show held all the eggs in the basket.

But even though fans were awaiting the identity of the person under the mask, questions loomed about MJF’s injury status. Was it his final night wrestling for a while? Did AEW extend his contract into 2024 and beyond? Tony Khan said he can’t comment on the AEW future of the Long Island native after the show, so take that as you will.

AEW answered questions beyond that during Worlds End, though, creating an interesting night of pro wrestling to close 2023.

AEW Worlds End results from Long Island:

  • Willow Nightingale def. Kris Statlander by pinfall in a solid match with a bumpy finish at the end.
  • A vignette teases Serena Deeb’s return to the ring.
  • Killswitch wins the battle royal to become the No. 1 contender to the TNT Championship. Not sure anyone expected Trent Beretta to be the runner-up over Danhausen, and it made the ending anticlimactic.
  • Hook def. Wheeler Yuta by submission to retain the FTW Championship.
  • Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia and Mark Briscoe def. Jay White, Jay Lethal, Brody King and Rush by pinfall. Danielson and White stepping into the ring together created one of the best pops of the night, and King was very over with the crowd.
  • Miro def. Andrade El Idolo by submission in a relatively slow-paced match. During the post-show press conference, Tony Khan confirmed that El Idolo’s contract with AEW will expire at the end of the year, making that the former WWE United States Champion’s final match with the company.
  • Toni Storm def. Riho by pinfall to retain the AEW Women’s Championship. Storm’s impeccable character presentation highlighted a fine match.
  • Swerve Strickland def. Dustin Rhodes by pinfall. The atmosphere changed on a dime when “Big Pressure” played, waking a mild crowd from the last two matches. Rhodes also replaced Keith Lee, who was replaced an hour before the show due to injury.
  • Sting, Darby Allin, Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara def. Konosuke Takeshita, Will Hobbs, Ricky Starks and Big Bill by pinfall. Boos toward Chris Jericho dominated this match, with various chants his way that made it to air and some explicit ones the live broadcast might not have registered.
  • Julia Hart def. Abadon by pinfall to retain the TBS Championship. A “This is spooky chant” rang out early, but the match work kept the crowd quiet.
  • Adam Copeland def. Christian Cage to win the TNT Championship. This show needed a hard-hitting, storytelling-focused match, and the crowd was lively for it. Copeland’s cross body in the crowd received a wild reaction, but the “We want fire” chants were arguably the popular aspect of the night.
  • Christian Cage def. Adam Copeland to win the TNT Championship. The live crowd had mixed feelings about Cage winning back the title within minutes after Killswitch gave up the contract. It surprised many, but it also served as a way to keep the feud going and shift the momentum back in the Patriarch’s favor.
  • Eddie Kingston def. Jon Moxley by pinfall to win the Continental Classic. This was the grueling, hard-hitting match everyone expected with stiff strikes and some tough spots, including the suicide dive that seemed to hurt Kingston more than Moxley.
  • Samoa Joe def. MJF by submission to win the AEW World Championship, ending the 27-year-old’s record title reign, in a match where the now former champion was clearly hurting and even had an audible scream of pain. After the match, Adam Cole revealed himself as the Devil, with Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett as his goons.

AEW Worlds End live notes from Long Island:

  • Allowing Sting to receive an ovation in one of his last matches was a nice touch and a needed atmosphere changer after a forgettable eight-man tag match.
  • The reveal of Cole as the Devil was deemed anticlimactic by some of the crowd. It failed to elicit a huge reaction, perhaps because people had suspected Cole to be the man behind the mask all along. However, at times, the proper call doesn’t need to send shockwaves.
  • Throughout the night, the crowd felt like a sleeping giant. They wanted something to cheer for, and they wanted to react loudly. It arguably took until Copeland vs. Cage for that to happen, though, which was too long.

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