Tag: Billy Gunn

AEW Dynamite results 04/03/24: Swerve signs in blood, Trent betrays Best Friends

AEW Dynamite from Worcester also saw Thunder Rosa become No. 1 contender for Toni Storm.

The funny thing about joining a team is you never know right away if you’re going to be a good fit for it or vice versa. That’s a relevant thought as we head to Worcester, Mass. for AEW Dynamite tonight, because Will Ospreay is fighting another one of his Don Callis Family teammates.

To be fair, Ospreay has rarely done much alongside his other Family members in the first place, what with still being a member of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling roster when he first joined and all. Since he’s arrived in AEW full time, the Aerial Assassin has had just three matches, and two of them were against teammates.

Which would be weird except that this is a group assembled by Don Callis that we’re talking about, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if it turned out he was jealous of Ospreay’s popularity. No one bigger than the team and all that.

As a result, Callis might be hoping Powerhouse Hobbs beats Ospreay tonight. And if he doesn’t, it will be interesting to see what role the Family might play when Ospreay faces Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty later this month.

The other big thing on the docket tonight is a contract signing between Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe. These two certainly have turned their program into a nice little powderkeg waiting to ignite, and this might be the spark that lights it.

It’s also fair to wonder if, despite Joe being a worthy champ, whether AEW is ready to push Swerve to the level it feels like he’s earned and let him have a run with the top title.

We’re excited for what this night might have in store from Worcester, so let’s get into it.

AEW Dynamite results from Worcester:

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

  • Adam Copeland tells us why AEW should be celebrated
  • Will Ospreay def. Powerhouse Hobbs by pinfall
  • Ospreay pauses on the ramp and exchanges a look and some words with Bryan Danielson on the way in for his match
  • Bryan Danielson def. Lance Archer by pinfall
  • Renee Paquette welcomes Chris Jericho, who asks Hook to join him so he can clarify that he understands why Hook would be wary about trusting him but wants Hook to believe in him; Hook says he got them a match on Collision but will be keeping his eye on him, and Jericho says he’d expect nothing less … bet

  • Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty reveal they’re the opponents for LionHook on Collision
  • Billy Gunn def. Jay White by DQ as White hits him with a low blow following a distraction from The Gunns; The Acclaimed come to the rescue despite being shown on the big screen having been laid out in the back
  • The Young Bucks and Best Friends (plus Trent’s mom Sue) are shown walking into the building earlier today
  • Paquette talks to Willow Nightingale about her TBS Championship shot at Dynasty, and she thanks the fans for giving her confidence during her career in general and at this time in particular …

  • … Stokely Hathaway is singing her praises as well when he’s interrupted by Mercedes Moné, who makes it clear that she’s up next for whoever walks out of Dynasty as TBS champ

  • Young Bucks def. Best Friends by pinfall in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal, using a catapult into an exposed turnbuckle to help them pull it off …
  • … and after the match, instead of going in for the customary group hug, Trent Beretta hits Orange Cassidy with a flying knee and storms off without his teammates or his mom
  • Thunder Rosa def. Mariah May by pinfall in an AEW Women’s World Championship No. 1 Contenders Match
  • Penta El Zero Miedo says Copeland should defend the TNT Championship against an AEW original next week … namely him
  • Samoa Joe signs in ink, Swerve Strickland signs in blood, but it’s the champ who ends the night standing tall

Adam Copeland circles the wagons nicely for AEW

Even though his mic is sort of messed up and there was some negative talk during the week, Copeland wants to talk about the positives. He’s looking at it from a “what a time to be alive” standpoint.

Growing up, Copeland watched WWF, NWA and much more, devouring it all because he loved professional wrestling. When he started thinking about the end of his career, he says he realized AEW is where he needs to be, touting the phenomenal roster with talents like Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland and much more.

When his friends ask him if he’s having a blast, Copeland says he is — the most he’s ever had in his 32-year career. He adds that AEW should be celebrated for pushing the whole business to a better place and that it’s where the best wrestle.

Turns out it’s a really long introduction for the man himself, Will Ospreay, as Copeland puts him over as the man who will be what AEW is going forward.

Will Ospreay wins the “Battle of Wills” against Powerhouse Hobbs

Don Callis joins the announcers for this one and takes credit for pitting his own stable members against each other in an “iron sharpens iron” way. He likes Ospreay’s early aggression, which finally gets him in trouble when Hobbs hoists him off the barricade and slams his spine on the steel steps. Ouch.

Much as we like seeing Ospreay do his thing, it feels like after some side-by-side commercials that we’re going to need a Hobbs showcase sequence at some point. We get just a tad before Ospreay goes back on the attack, then catches Hobbs with an inside cradle.

Hobbs hits an impressive move off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall, but his next powerslam is countered by a DDT. A sky twister press is next, and the Hidden Blade wipes out Hobbs to secure a pinfall for Ospreay.

Callis has to step between the two men after the match, and is able to broker some peace before things get out of hand.

Thunder Rosa leaves Toni Storm speechless by defeating Mariah May

Toni Storm joins the announcers, the better to see Rosa’s X-Men inspired ring gear. The champ seems to think her protege might have a quick night here, but she’s taking more punishment than she’s giving early on.

It still looks like Rosa is in charge after picture-in-picture action, leading Storm to say she’s getting nervous. May evades a double stomp off the top and nails a knee for a close near fall.

The finish comes sort of out of nowhere, with Rosa hitting the Tijuana Bomb and earning No. 1 contender status for Storm’s title. Rosa tells Storm to get in the ring right now, but Toni simply looks stunned.

Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe make it official … in blood

Tony Schiavone moderates and Joe wastes no time signing on the proverbial bottom line. The champ says he wants to give his challenger a little bit of advice before he signs. Namely, Joe says signing is a career-defining mistake, as he’ll beat Swerve down so badly that it’ll leave him mentally scarred like he left Diddy’s party too late. Joe’s words, not ours.

Strickland responds that he’s wanted this moment his entire life, dreaming about it and wondering if it was possible. He mentions the new signings that are helping AEW build a dynasty and says he’ll prove that he is every bit that man.

“Now run the fade on that bitch,” Strickland says in closing. Joe shoves him but Swerve fires back a mean right hand. Strickland goes to choke out the champ with his chain, but Joe wrestles it away and wraps it around his right hand. Strickland ends up eating multiple shots from the chain in the corner, bleeding from the onslaught.

But as Joe heads back up the ramp, a bloody Swerve simply laughs and says “I love this s–t,” adding that if this is all Joe’s got, he’s taking the championship. Strickland signs the contract with his own blood, but an enraged Joe runs back to the ring, kicks him in the groin and slams him through the table with a uranage.

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 Rampage results 03/29/24: Matt Menard seeks his first title match

A look at the results from the March 29 episode of AEW Rampage.

The latest stop on AEW’s Canada tour takes Tony Khan’s crew to Quebec City for Rampage. With shows on the schedule already featuring a heavy north-of-the-border flavor, the March 29 episode will prove no different, with local favorite “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard in action. The part-time AEW commentator faces Roderick Strong in an AEW International Championship match to earn his first-ever AEW title bout.

While this isn’t AEW’s strongest Rampage card, it still has veterans such as Dustin Rhodes and The Butcher competing. Rising star Mariah May receives another opportunity to showcase her in-ring prowess, as well.

Let’s see what this hour of action has in store.

AEW Rampage results from Quebec City:

  • Dustin Rhodes def. The Butcher by pinfall
  • Jay White and Austin and Colten Gunn show up at Daddy Ass’ house for dinner, and while they search for him and The Acclaimed, they destroy the house; White says if The Acclaimed want the version of Jay White who dominated the pro wrestling world, it’s who they will receive; Daddy Ass arrives while his sons and White are there, however, chasing them away
  • Deonna Purrazzo def. Rose by submission; it was easily Purrazzo’s most aggressive performance since joining AEW
  • A video package teases Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay at AEW Dynasty
  • Toni Storm joins Mariah May in the ring and says she can’t compete due to a hamstring injury, so May will take her place against Nikita
  • Mariah May def. Nikita by pinfall
  • Zak Knight says in an interview backstage that he’s in Angelo Parker’s head; Parker attacks Knight by surprise and makes Saraya’s brother flee; Ruby Soho kisses Parker but walks away after accusing him of going back on his word looking for a fight
  • A promo package from The Righteous teases their match with Lance Archer against Katsuyori Shibata and the BCC for the Saturday, Mar. 30 episode of Collision
  • Roderick Strong def. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard by pinfall in an AEW International Championship Elimination match; Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta save Menard from a post-match attack at the hands of Matt Taven and Mike Bennett; The Young Bucks intervene at the end of the brawl, hitting low blows and EVP Triggers on Cassidy and Beretta to close the show

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 Collision results 12/23/23: Eddie Kingston, back from the brink

Also on AEW Collision, Thunder Rosa made a triumphant return from a long injury absence.

A quick confession: Pro wrestling isn’t part of my holiday traditions. But there’s no reason it couldn’t be, especially since tonight’s AEW Collision is coming to us so close to Christmas.

This is no throwaway show, either, thanks in large part to its status as the final night of Blue League competition in the AEW Continental Classic. Andrade El Idolo and Bryan Danielson are in the best positions to advance, since they enter the night with nine points each. But everyone else except Daniel Garcia is still mathematically alive, so these three matches should be dynamite. No pun intended.

We’re also only a week away from Worlds End, so there should be more parts of that card falling into place as well. Let’s see what this night brings, and if we don’t speak again before then, Merry Christmas!

AEW Collision results from San Antonio:

  • Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli go to a time limit draw in their Continental Classic Blue League match; Danielson advances to the Blue League final thanks to getting to 10 points
  • A highlight package of Gold League matches from this week is aired, interspersed with some of the post-match promos cut by Jay White, Jon Moxley and Swerve Strickland
  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. Top Flight and Action Andretti by pinfall to retain the AEW World Trios Championship, though it appeared Max Caster may have pulled the tights to help secure the victory, which is something to file away
  • Hook accepts the challenge from Wheeler Yuta for his FTW Championship on his turf at Worlds End next Saturday

  • Keith Lee def. Brian Cage by pinfall; after the match, Lee says he was taken out for almost two months by someone a year ago and that person hasn’t
  • Renee Paquette finds out Toni Storm doesn’t remember Mariah May, who says she will be making her in-ring debut soon, and Storm also sends a message to Riho

  • Christian Cage and Nick Wayne (but mostly just Christian) invite Shayna Wayne to the ring to explain why she helped Cage defeat Adam Copeland; she says that after seeing Copeland hit Nick with a steel chair, she did what any loving mother would do and protected her son, and that the only person who loves Nick as much as she does is the Patriarch; Cage says he will face Copeland at Worlds End in a No DQ match so he can put Adam down for the last time

  • Lexy Nair catches up with the tag team champions, who immediately suggest Kenny Omega is too scared to face them; Chris Jericho stops by and promises to take their titles, regardless of who his partner will be and when the match might take place

  • Daniel Garcia def. Brody King by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, eliminating King from advancing to the group final, but …
  • … after the match, the lights go out and return to reveal Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews in the ring, which brings Matt Menard and FTR to the rescue; Dax Harwood makes it clear FTR wants House of Black in the ring
  • Abadon and Thunder Rosa def. Skye Blue and Julia Hart by pinfall
  • Eddie Kingston def. Andrade El Idolo by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, advancing to the group final against Danielson next week on Dynamite

AEW Collision results 12/16/23: Eddie Kingston, Claudio Castagnoli stay alive

Also on AEW Collision, Thunder Rosa made her return to form a surprising alliance.

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty in the Continental Classic tonight on AEW Collision. For the Blue League, especially, several competitors are in must-win situations, particularly Eddie Kingston.

Maybe he wouldn’t be under so much pressure if he wouldn’t have put both of his titles up for grabs in this tournament, but he did and there’s no going back now. To get them back and become the first ever AEW Continental Champion too, he’s got to go on and win it all.

Kingston made that more difficult for himself by losing his first two round robin matches, but a victory over his archrival Claudio Castagnoli kept him alive. Kingston will need to win against Brody King tonight to still have a chance, and as luck would have it, Castagnoli is in the very same boat against group leader Andrade El Idolo.

All of which is to say that this is an important night in the Continental Classic, and there’s also a title defense by Orange Cassidy, always a good time. Let’s do this.

AEW Collision Winter is Coming results from Garland, Texas:

  • Claudio Castagnoli def. Andrade El Idolo by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, utilizing a low blow while the ref is distracted to set up the finish, and Claudio stays alive to advance from the Blue League
  • A highlight/promo video combo takes us back through the Continental Classic Gold
  • Abadon def. Jazmin Allure by pinfall in a quick squash match, but …
  • After the match, Julia Hart appears to taunt Abadon with the TBS Championship again, and when Abadon decides to just attack Hart, Skye Blue comes to the ring and helps Hart; in turn, Abadon gets some unexpected assistance from a returning Thunder Rosa, and Abadon shakes Rosa’s hand after they clear the ring
  • Renee Paquette gets a word with The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, who are pretty mad about getting attacked by the Devil and his goons a few weeks ago; Top Flight and Action Andretti stop by to issue a title challenge, and since the champs are in a fighting week, they accept for next week
  • Orange Cassidy def. Bryan Keith by pinfall to retain the AEW International Champion
  • Miro says he’s done avoiding people to please his wife and is ready to kill everyone
  • Roderick Strong says he thinks he’s found his next “victim” in Komander
  • FTR dares the House of Black to come out and face them, accusing the House of jealousy of their extended run of tag team success; Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews appear on the big screen to repeat the claim that no one in the back will save them and only the House loves Cash Wheeler, and they punctuate their point by burning a picture of Dax Harwood, his wife and his daughter
  • A hype video promotes the recent run of Keith Lee, including his assertion that Shane Taylor was not “him”
  • Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale def. Diamante and Mercedes Martinez in a wild Texas Street Fight that is the wildest AEW women’s division match in some time
  • Paquette talks to “Timeless” Toni Storm and Mariah May, with the latter ending up disappointed that the former says she’s too busy to watch her debut match
  • Brian Cage def. Kari Wright by pinfall in a quick squash match
  • Cage and the Mogul Embassy (sans Swerve Strickland) are in a celebratory mood, but Keith Lee tells them they they can tell “him” that his patience is running out; hmm …
  • Eddie Kingston def. Daniel Garcia by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match
  • Bryan Danielson def. Brody King by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match

AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest results 08/23/23: London calling

AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest will set some of the final pieces in place for All In. Join us to see what’s going down.

What do you do when it’s the final AEW Dynamite before the biggest show in company history, and with the Fyter Fest branding to boot? Load it up as best you can, which is exactly the case for tonight’s episode from Duluth, Georgia.

Naturally, setting up some final pieces to All In looks like it will be part of the fun. There’s the obvious stuff, like a contract signing between Chris Jericho and Will Ospreay, as well as a face-to-face interview between AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR (who will be the subject of, let’s call it increased interest due to recent events) and their challengers, the Young Bucks.

Some of the matches on tonight’s card are also previews of sorts for things we’ll see this weekend, including a battle between The Elite and Bullet Club Gold. Even the singles match between Jon Moxley and Rey Fenix has taken on potentially greater meaning since Fenix is rumored to be on his way out of his All In match due to visa issues.

Plus we’ll hear one last time from the two men who will meet in the main event of All In, MJF and Adam Cole. The success of their pairing has gone way beyond what anyone might have expected when it first started (including Cole himself, as he told us earlier this week), but now it’s the most exciting storytelling in all of AEW. Will there be one more twist in their tale before they team, then fight, in London?

Getting answers to questions like that is a big part of why we watch. Let’s dive in.

AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest results from Duluth:

The Elite (Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks) vs. Juice Robinson and The Gunns is a no contest that turns into a huge multi-person brawl

The heel trio doesn’t even wait until our heroes are in the ring to attack, and Juice also abuses the ref for preventing him from using a steel chair. The Gunns hit Nick Jackson with the 3:10 to Yuma, but there’s no ref to count … or to stop Jay White from intervening too.

Omega fights valiantly against White but gets run over by Konosuke Takeshita. Things are looking dire until FTR events the odds, and with Omega and Takeshita isolated in the ring, Konosuke barely escapes the ring before he’s hit with a One-Winged Angel.

MJF proves he’s still having some trouble adjusting to being a face as he promises a pint to all the fans at Wembley but suggests he’ll make Tony Khan pay for them. Renee Paquette asks about the pressure he feels, and he says it’s the most of his entire life while putting over those who paved the way for a show as big as All In to happen.

Paquette also questions the sincerity of his friendship with Adam Cole while showing video of some of their previous interactions. The champ says that he’s become a better person because of Cole, and that while brothers fight sometimes, they hug it out at the end.

MJF suggests that if you put your faith in him, he will reward it. After all, he’s not just a scumbag — he’s your scumbag.

Jon Moxley def. Rey Fenix by submission, plus Santana and Ortiz are back

Fenix gets off to a quick start that includes a tope to the floor, but this all feels like a bit of misdirection given what’s rumored to happen here. Rey takes a nasty bump to the floor and is slow to rise, which may be leading toward what we’re talking about.

Mox rips away at Fenix’s mask during some picture-in-picture action but he’s able to avoid being unmasked and the fight continues. Fenix takes a series of stomps to the face but manages to pull off a superkick that gets him a momentary respite.

Rey tries his rollthrough cutter and gets it on his second try. A frog splash follows and comes very close to winning it for the luchador.

As Moxley tries for the Death Rider, Fenix counters with an inside cradle for another near fall. The two men slug it out until Rey’s thrust kick provides him the time to go up top. But Mox meets him there, biting his face to get leverage for an Avalanche Death Rider.

Fenix kicks out but falls right into a sleeper. Rey tries to fight it but can hold out only so long.

After the bell, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta attack Fenix with crowbars, and when Eddie Kingston and Penta try to come to the rescue, they are stopped by a returning Santana and Ortiz.

Best Friends and Orange Cassidy chase away the heels with chairs, but the damage is done to Fenix, who ends up getting stretchered out.

Penta and Alex Abrahantes hop in the ambulance to ride along with Fenix, and Kingston has an issue with Paquette over “what your husband did.”

Sammy Guevara defends Chris Jericho to Daniel Garcia, Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang, who wonder if Jericho will be there for him when needed.

Will Ospreay is accompanied by Don Callis for the contract signing, and Jericho walks out with Guevara. Callis says everyone wants to know why he did what he did, but he makes it simple by saying it was due to Ospreay … as well as having a chance to end Jericho’s career.

He chose money and power over friendship and Ospreay over Jericho. Will grabs the mic to talk about how the match will change his life, and that he’ll be the only person who can say he beat Omega, Kazuchika Okada and Jericho in two months.

Jericho responds by saying Ospreay may not have done all of those things without him, claiming he called Will and told him to calm it down because his style was too reckless to ensure longevity. He says the match at Wembley means more to him than Ospreay or anyone since everyone is predicting his demise.

He touches a nerve as Ospreay smacks the mic out of his hand, and the two men need to be separated by everyone else in the ring. They did sign the contract in there too, so it’s on.

Now it’s Cole’s turn to talk to Paquette, with Cole praising MJF for having belief in him to return to top form. He also says winning the AEW World Championship would cement his status as the best wrestler in the world.

Alas, when he’s shown video of Roderick Strong and how their relationship has suffered while he’s been friends with MJF, Cole gets mad and cuts the interview short, yelling that there are no problems between him and Max.

Darby Allin and Nick Wayne def. AR Fox and Swerve Strickland by pinfall, but there’s more to the story

Fox is wearing the same tank top he wore when attacking Wayne in his home ring, stained with the youngster’s blood. That’s … pretty nasty.

Wayne is taking some hellacious bumps here early on, but he hits a double Wayne’s World to the floor, followed by a Coffin Drop from Allin.

After a commercial break, Allin is hurling himself through the air again. Fox puts him in a chair on the outside, where Strickland lands a Swerve Stomp to knock him to the floor. Wayne is bleeding from his nose too, but he manages to kick out of Fox’s corkscrew brainbuster.

Swerve’s running head kick also won’t keep Wayne down, and when Fox misses a 450 splash, Wayne is able to bridge back into a pin just as Allin recovers to prevent Strickland from making the save before the ref’s count hits three.

Taking the mic, Swerve only laughs, telling Fox how disappointing he has been. “Why are you such a loser, Fox?”

Strickland says this was all a test, and he can’t trust Fox in front of 80,000 people at Wembley. The Mogul Embassy fires Fox and Brian Cage comes in and thrashes AR. Happily, Sting arrives with a baseball bat and Allin forgives Fox.

When Allin asks Strickland “who do you got?” for Sunday, out come Luchasaurus and Christian Cage, with the latter immediately insulting Wayne’s dead father.

So … Cage or the dinosaur man at Wembley?

Paquette sits down with FTR and the Bucks, with FTR saying that the only reason they’ve aided the Jacksons recently is to make sure that in London, they can determine who is the better tag team once and for all.

Nick Jackson suggests that FTR needs to win the match for their legacy, which the champs sort of shrug off. Dax Harwood says both the titles and the legacy are important, after which Matt Jackson starts in on them as well.

The four women in the title match talk about their tag team match at All In … except, curiously, for Saraya.

Ruby Soho def. Skye Blue by pinfall

Prior to the match, Soho delivers a warning to Kris Statlander, saying she’s got her eyes on the TBS Championship. At All Out, maybe?

Blue puts up her typical good fight here, including hitting Skye Fall, but Soho is able to catch her with Destination Unknown for the victory.

Flanked by The Kingdom, Roderick Strong ominously suggests that by the end of the night in London, we’re going to find out who the real MJF is and who the real Adam Cole is.

Without their usual music, The Acclaimed hits the ring and calls out the House of Black. They need to be careful what they wish for, as here comes the House.

A three-on-two beatdown is on, but Billy Gunn comes out to help chase the bad guys away. He gives an impassioned speech before saying he’s up for one more match to get some payback on the guys who hurt his “kids.”

And while fun loving Daddy Ass can’t make the trip to London, Gunn says a “Bad Ass” will be.

Aussie Open def. The Hardys by pinfall to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship, then get a visit from MJF and Adam Cole

It feels very unlikely that these titles would change hands four days away from All In … but you also can’t rule it out if for some reason the Aussies can’t travel.

They sure look like they have taken control of this one, and by isolating Jeff Hardy, they manage to retain their belts.

For some reason, Aussie Open gets on the mic to promise no double clothesline or kangaroo kick at Wembley Stadium. All that does is bring out Better Than You Bay-Bay, a.k.a. MJF and Cole. The four men have a staredown that turns into fisticuffs.

Though Mark Davis evades a double clothesline, Kyle Fletcher is still in the ring. He nearly gets Cole to kick MJF, and hey come nose to nose before Max holds the world title belt over his head. Cole offers a handshake that MJF refuses before grabbing his Dynamite Diamond Ring, but they end up hugging it out.

Anthony Bowens confirms he didn’t know Billy Gunn would retire on AEW Collision

Anthony Bowens said his on-camera emotion was real when Billy Gunn took his boots off on AEW Collision a few weeks ago.

After The Acclaimed tried and failed to take the AEW World Trios Championship from the House of Black on the July 22 episode of AEW Collision, fans were stunned when Billy Gunn (known while teaming with The Acclaimed as Daddy Ass) took off his boots and left them in the ring, a time-honored tradition that signals retirement.

Actually, it wasn’t just fans who were surprised: Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed was visibly shocked as well, and he says his reaction was 100% legitimate.

Bowens told the Chris Distefano Presents: Chrissy Chaos podcast (h/t Fightful for the transcription) that he had no idea that moment was coming, making his emotion all the more real.

No, I really didn’t. I don’t think the cameras caught it, but I get very emotional when I’m out there because I get connected to the audience, I don’t think I’ve cried in a wrestling ring. I got teary eyed because he stood up and his face was beat red, and at this point in our careers where Billy has been such a beacon of light for us, he’s been guiding us from the beginning since we joined up with him last year. He guided us to the AEW Tag Team Titles in New York City. He’s been teaching us a ton of stuff every single week. To think about not having him out there with us, it hurts.

Bowens added that he and partner Max Caster had been talking to Gunn about potentially changing his mind, though The Acclaimed appeared on the Aug. 5 episode of Collision and said Daddy Ass was going to stay retired.

One thing that will probably live on even if we’ve seen the last of Gunn in the ring: The Acclaimed’s scissoring gimmick, which could even be seen in parts of the crowd at events like WWE SummerSlam this past weekend. Daddy Ass may have caught even his teammates off-guard when he took off the boots, but he definitely won’t be forgotten.

Billy Gunn, a.k.a. Daddy Ass, looks like he just retired on AEW Collision

You’ve still got it, Daddy Ass, but if this is it, thank you.

It looked like Billy Gunn might be gearing up for one final title run alongside The Acclaimed. Now it appears it might just have been his final run, full stop.

Whether you know him best as Billy Gunn, Mr. Ass or Daddy Ass, you have to admire Monty “Kip” Sopp for both his longevity in pro wrestling and his penchant for reinvention. Was he the greatest ring technician? Definitely not. But he was dedicated to his craft and always in tremendous shape. He was a pro’s pro who also understood the value of not taking himself too seriously.

The use of the past tense to describe him in the ring is due to what happened after Gunn and The Acclaimed — to whom he had been both a mentor and something of a mascot, considering the “scissor me Daddy Ass” phenomenon — made an unsuccessful attempt to take the AEW World Trios Championship from the House of Black.

After the match, Gunn removed his boots and left them in the ring in Newark. The crowd was a bit dismayed but also encouraging, serenading him with the “scissor me” chant as he walked back up the ramp.

Could it be part of a storyline of some sort? Of course. This is pro wrestling, after all.

Still, consider if you will that Gunn began his wrestling career in 1989. Yes, he is/was wrestling in his fifth decade.

If this is the end, what a ride it’s been. Just being part of DX would have been enough (and got him into the WWE Hall of Fame), but Gunn also won 11 tag team titles in WWE, was King of the Ring in 1999 and won the Intercontinental Championship.

He did some fun stuff in TNA in the 2000s, and his final act as Daddy Ass was a delightful surprise. It’s not an exaggeration to say that if you were a wrestling fan for any length of time in the the last 25 years, you appreciated this man’s efforts to entertain you.

We’re all scissoring in your honor right now, Billy, so thank you.

AEW Dynamite results 07/05/23: ‘Can they coexist?’ gets a workout

Edmonton is also set to welcome Kenny Omega in singles action against Wheeler Yuta on AEW Dynamite.

If you think WWE is the promotion that made “Can they coexist?” into its own trope, AEW is about to say “hold my Canadian beer” tonight for Dynamite in Edmonton.

Odd couples are the name of the game for this show, including the first match with the pairing of MJF and Adam Cole. You may recall that not long ago, Cole came within a whisker of defeating MJF and earning a shot at his world title. He probably isn’t thrilled about this partnership, but MJF seems pretty enthused about it — likely because he thinks he can keep Cole from coming after his beloved BBB. We’ll see if they win despite themselves tonight.

Another match in the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament will see an actual former tag team reunited. Alas, the days of Swerve in Our Glory are long past, and since Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland weren’t always on the same page even in the best of times, heaven only knows if they’ll be able to make it five minutes into their matchup with Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy without trying to destroy each other.

Then we’ve also got matches of the more traditional variety, meaning the combatants just flat out can’t stand each other. That goes for Kenny Omega vs. Wheeler Yuta, an offshoot of the feud between The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club that is headed toward Blood and Guts, as well as the Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament bout between Britt Baker and Ruby Soho.

But you know who can coexist? You, dear reader, and your friends here at Wrestling Junkie. We’re ready to serve up the latest AEW Dynamite results fresh out the oven, so let’s get to it.

AEW Dynamite results from Edmonton:

Renee Paquette lets Darby Allin give Keith Lee a pep talk before they meet in the ring. Interesting motivational ploy. Lee’s response? “Ballsy. Stupid. But ballsy.”

Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin def. Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland by pinfall in a Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament match

Lee doesn’t even acknowledge Swerve as he walks down the ramp to get this started. The announcers sell the idea that Cassidy’s Orange Punch is losing some of its steam as he gets worn down from defending his championship every week, and indeed, Lee eats two without even leaving his feet.

In an “only Darby” bit, Allin ends up trapped under the steel steps. Swerve ends up hitting a 450 splash on his own partner while trying to break up a pin, then kicks him in the head by accident as well. Allin and Cassidy end up prevailing, then fist bump Lee afterward.

Allin narrates a video about the arrival of Nick Wayne in AEW. And it’s “to be continued” so there’s more to come.

Jack Perry pulls up and tells Tony Schiavone he’s going to demand an FTW Championship match. But when Hook runs up and tries to get a piece of him right there. Perry jumps back in his SUV and has the driver speed him out of there.

MJF and Adam Cole are shown working out together and bond over mocking Schiavone, and MJF seems stunned by how strong Cole is.

The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. The Blade and Bollywood Boys by pinfall

Max Caster gets in both Canadian wildfire and Justin Trudeau’s blackface incident punchlines during his entrance rap, for those of you who track such things. Despite the best efforts of Skinny Goldberg, a.k.a. The Blade, The Acclaimed win with a Caster Mic Drop.

Afterward, the winners are interrupted on the big screen by Harley Cameron. She claims she made a video and will drop it on The Acclaimed next week. She also appears to still be after Anthony Bowens, but Daddy Ass says he has two words for her, and you know what they are.

Jon Moxley says he wishes Eddie Kingston would embrace what’s next and help train up the next generation, but he knows that’s not reality. He also tells Eddie to answer his phone.

Matt Hardy watches as RJ City draws his tag team partner, and it’s Jeff … Jarrett.

Wheeler Yuta cuts a promo promising to end Kenny Omega tonight.

Chris Jericho comes to the ring and says it’s time for him to reevaluate things and make some changes. And what better place for that than Alberta, where he started his wrestling career?

Hearing this talk, Don Callis arrives to plenty of boos and says he can help Jericho make a change. Callis calls Jericho his best friend and that he’s there to ask if Chris will join the Don Callis Family.

Jericho almost seems offended by that, but then says “maybe” before leaving the ring.

Paquette gets a medical update on Roderick Strong, who gets a quick visit from Cole ahead of his tag team match with MJF.

MJF and Adam Cole def. Matt Menard and The Butcher by pinfall in a Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament match

Pretty sure Taz called the team of Daddy Magic and The Butcher “Magic Meat,” which, if so, well played. MJF peer pressures Cole into lending a hand with an abdominal stretch, some rulebreaking he clearly doesn’t want to do.

Cole is able to get the pin for his team in the end, but that’s not the end of the segment …

… because MJF grabs the mic afterward to put over Cole and asks the fans if they want to see another hangout session this weekend. The champ seems psyched when Cole accepts, then wishes Cole happy birthday, leading a cheer complete with streamers.

Alas, after MJF brings out a cake and leads the birthday song (remember he actually can sing!), Cole smashes his face into it. But Adam does thank him, sounding sincere, for doing all of this.

Paquette catches up with Britt Baker, who says Ruby Soho lied to people when she said she took everything from Britt. Now, Baker says she plans on winning the Owen Hart Cup tourney again, starting by beating Ruby.

Jericho is confronted by Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara, but tells them “you can’t be with me forever, think about that.”

Ruby Soho def. Britt Baker by pinfall in a Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament first round match

The other Outcasts are on hand, naturally, providing just enough of a distraction to allow Ruby to get the upper hand. Once they get down to brass tacks, there’s a pretty damn good match going on.

But of course the Outcasts spoil that, cheating to hit a belt shot and set up the No Future. Baker kicks out of that, but the cheating continues and helps Ruby get the pin and advance.

Skye Blue, who Soho will meet in the next round of the tourney, comes out for a brief staredown.

Kenny Omega def. Wheeler Yuta by pinfall

The announcers point out that Omega is coming off consecutive singles losses for the first time in his AEW career. Kind of reinforces the idea that he’s not losing here, but we shall see.

Omega sells some of the damage he suffered during his Forbidden Door bout against Will Ospreay, leaving Yuta very confident as he goes about his attacks.

Let’s be real, though: It’s still Kenny, even at less than 100%. He’s still able to run through most of his trademark offense, though he can’t get the One-Winged Angel off on the first try and has to scramble to kick out after Yuta pulls the seat belt pin on him again.

Callis comes down the ramp and is chases back up the ramp by security, but that gives Konosuke Takeshita a chance to sneak in from the other side of the ring for a Blue Thunder Bomb. Yuta hits a splash and covers, but Omega kicks out.

As Yuta goes up top, Omega uses that as leverage to hoist him for a One-Winged Angel that ends it.

Right after the bell, Takeshita and Claudio Castagnoli invade the ring, but the Young Bucks and Hangman Adam Page arrive with chairs. As the show fades out, however, after overrunning the time slot by a few minutes, the Dark Order is seen taking the chair away from Hangman.