Tag: hook

Hook kicked out of a Muscle Buster by Samoa Joe. So what?

Except for a very few cases, the idea of “protecting” a finisher in pro wrestling is ridiculous.

There was a moment, late in the AEW World Championship match this week on Dynamite between Samoa Joe and Hook that got the crowd to roar.

It came at the end of a vicious sequence of offense by the world champ. Joe dragged Hook to the corner, chopped him across the chest and planted him with a Muscle Buster. Joe uses that maneuver often to close out matches, and Hook’s dad, Taz, sold it even more on commentary, noting that Hook put up a hell of a fight and he was proud of his son.

Not only did it not put Hook away, he kicked out at one. Joe looked astonished, as did referee Bryce Remsburg, playing their roles perfectly. The fans in attendance in North Charleston were on their feet cheering.

It was a fantastic moment in a great match overall. Joe unleashed hell on Hook for most of it, which was logical since he’s an experienced champion and a much physically bigger man. Hook has a bright future ahead of him and was valiant in defeat, which is exactly the outcome you try to achieve when booking a match of this type.

Yet there was plenty of clutching of pearls online all day today about whether AEW had somehow made a critical error in judgment, allowing Hook to kick out at one. How dare he make Joe’s finisher look weak?

Here’s an example:

It’s the kind of argument that makes non-wrestling fans’ eyes immediately roll back into their heads. Surely, none of this matters, as it’s all scripted entertainment anyway. The moves don’t really matter!

And while that’s a non-nuanced view of pro wrestling, it’s also correct in this case.

Admittedly, there are a couple circumstances under which it make sense to “protect” a wrestler’s finishing move. Let’s take a quick spin through why neither of them applied in this case.

When “no one ever kicks out of that” is part of a move’s mystique

Sometimes a finisher achieves legendary status simply because no one ever kicks out of it. This has been true for decades, from Hulk Hogan’s Atomic Leg Drop to Kenny Omega’s One-Winged Angel. Even Baron Corbin’s End of Days is in this group.

When someone finally kicks out of, it’s An Event. Joe’s Muscle Buster is an awesome visual that has put away plenty of talented opponents, but it’s not in this class.

When it would make the wrestler delivering the move look weak

You watched the match, right? Samoa Joe dominated Hook for the majority of their time in and out of the ring. Except for trying to overwhelm the champ with pure enthusiasm right after the bell and sporadic rallies, Hook was taking a beating throughout.

Joe is a legitimately scary human being who can believably end a match in a number of ways — which is exactly what he did by choking Hook out shortly after the kickout. There’s zero chance people won’t take him seriously going forward.

It was all really much ado about nothing, and people who were upset about it probably aren’t inclined to say anything good about AEW under any conditions. Jeremy Lambert of Fightful summarized the proper attitude to what went down:

It’s important to remember that pro wrestling exists to tell stories within the framework of athletic competition. You can (and should!) admire wrestlers for their technique and awesome arsenals of moves and holds, but in the end, all of that is meaningless unless they’re in the service of some kind of tale.

Joe and Hook told one on Dynamite. It was about a man looking to prove himself worthy and another trying to reassert his dominance. That got across to the live audience and translated on TV as well, and there’s nothing about one Muscle Buster failing to end the match that changes that one bit.

AEW Dynamite results 01/17/24: Hook gives his all but Samoa Joe retains

Samoa Joe is still the champ after AEW Dynamite, but more than one challenger is lurking in the wings.

We have arrived at The Moment. Wrestling has lots of those, and in fact it’s generally a bummer when we go a week without one. But the one we’re talking about has been the subject of much chatter over the past week, and it’s here and in front of us tonight at AEW Dynamite in North Charleston.

Samoa Joe will make his first defense of the AEW World Championship he won from MJF at Worlds End, and he’ll do it against Hook. Joe, of course, has been in many spots like this over a well decorated career. Hook has not.

There’s no denying that Hook is a bright prospect for the future, maybe one of AEW’s best. He’s a stud athlete, able to pull off impressive offense, and he’s improving at selling. He isn’t the greatest on the mic yet, but he’s getting more comfortable there and AEW has played into his silent tough guy persona in a helpful way.

As Hook himself pointed out this week, there’s no pressure on him. There’s basically nothing to lose (his FTW title isn’t even on the line) and everything to gain. No one expects him to win, so this is a classic opportunity to look good in a heroic losing effort, assuming Joe doesn’t just steamroll him.

For AEW, though, the stakes are a little higher. If this match isn’t good, it gives ammo to those who don’t feel Hook “deserved” a world championship match, even if they came at it from a different direction.

We think it’s going to be really good, and AEW is presenting it without commercial interruption, which is nice. Let’s see how this plays out.

AEW Dynamite results from North Charleston:

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

  • Samoa Joe is shown entering the building earlier tonight, as is Hook
  • Christian Cage def. Dustin Rhodes by pinfall to retain the TNT Championship
  • Swerve Strickland says he came out of the Continental Classic as the man everyone was talking about, so he’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on the world title match tonight, and he doesn’t fear Hangman Adam Page chasing that title at the same time as he’s already beaten Page twice

  • Renee Paquette talks to Chris Jericho about the tag team title loss he and Sammy Guevara suffered on Collision, but he points the blame squarely at the interfering Don Callis Family; Matt Sydal stops by and challenges Jericho to a match to get him back on his game, which Jericho accepts though with a warning that he has a lot of pent up aggression to get out

  • Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta def. Komander and Penta El Zero Miedo by pinfall
  • After the match, Roderick Strong and The Kingdom confront them, with Strong warning that he’s coming for Cassidy’s International Championship and Orange Cassidy proposing a title match right now; Strong says Cassidy will have to wait until Revolution so that Orange has to live with the idea that he’s keeping the title warm for him

  • Paquette gets a word with Hangman Adam Page, who says he’s not only going to win the AEW World Championship in 2024, he’ll make it his own; Hangman also suggests he isn’t thinking about Swerve at all since he isn’t the champ

  • An emotional Mark Briscoe discusses the passing of his brother Jay a year ago and the amazing recovery of his niece, who he says doctors felt may never walk again; a tribute video to Jay Briscoe is shown afterward

  • Paquette talks to the Young Bucks, who now want to be called Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, and Matthew reacts angrily to all the false rumors swirling around them; they also say they’ll have to say goodbye to Sting and everybody like him since the idea behind AEW was to change the world, and they walk away from the interview as they have a meeting to attend

  • Bullet Club Gold (Jay White and The Gunns) def. Brian Cage and Gates of Agony by pinfall to become the new ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions
  • Adam Cole says Wardlow will go down as the most dominant AEW wrestler of all time and will continue to run through the competition until he acquires the world title

  • Deonna Purrazzo def. Anna Jay by submission; after the match, Paquette talks to the Virtuosa, who says that while Toni Storm has changed, so has she, but that earns an angry rebuke from the champ and they throw a show back and forth at each other

  • Private Party def. Top Flight by pinfall, albeit with a little shortcut taken by the victors
  • A video package shows highlights of Darby Allin and Sting
  • Samoa Joe def. Hook by submission to retain the AEW World Championship
  • After the bell, Hook remains defiant, asking Joe if that’s all he’s got; Joe hits another Muscle Buster but ends up heading for the hills as Hangman Page hustles to the ring to check on Hook even as Swerve and Prince Nana are shown watching from the crowd

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Christian Cage fends off a very game Dustin Rhodes

The fans have no problem booing and chanting “Christian sucks” as a greeting for the champ. Cage stays away from a direct confrontation with Rhodes in the early going, forcing referee Aubrey Edwards to call for several breaks in the corner or ropes.

After kicking out of an early cover, Cage lures Rhodes into the corner, but The Natural drags the champ out to the floor and batters him over to the announce table. Christian’s knees taste the steel steps, which also make a good launching pad for a leaping clothesline.

They battle over in the corner, where Cage gets the best of it before delivering a cross body from the top rope to the floor. After some side-by-side ads, the champ tries a dive from the top rope into the ring, but he crashes and burns when Rhodes rolls away.

On their knees, the two combatants trade slaps and right hands. Rhodes is up for a Manhattan Drop before hurling Cage from one corner to another and dropping Christian down for a near fall.

Cage is catapulted into the top turnbuckle and ends up legs spread, but he frees himself before his globes can suffer. You know what we mean.

Rhodes earns another near fall and pounds the mat to get the fans clapping. But Cage gets him in-between the ropes and stands on his back, then prevents a tope with a well-timed right hand.

Cage’s Frog Splash is on target, and he hooks the leg only to see his foe kick out at two. Christian’s title belt is thrown in and occupies Edwards, giving Wayne a chance to assist with a roll-up that nearly gets the three count.

Rhodes fights Cage back into a corner, and Christian is set up for the Golden Globes again … or the Unnatural Kick we suppose it’s called in AEW. A big superplex is followed by Cross Rhodes, and Cage barely kicks out in time.

Both Wayne and Killswitch get involved, though Wayne pays for it by taking a Destroyer on the floor. But Rhodes turns and is laid out by a spear, and the Killswitch ends … no it doesn’t! The fans come to life again after the kickout by Dustin.

A second Killswitch also finds the mark, however, and The Natural is down for the count this time as Cage retains.

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Deonna Purrazzo makes Anna Jay submit

Toni Storm is on guest commentary and immediately mistakes Ian Riccaboni for a clean-shaven Tony Schiavone: “You look great!”

The AEW Women’s World Champion is asked about Purrazzo and is still somewhat dismissive even as she bosses the early action. Anna rallies for a two count right before picture-in-picture.

Deonna is back in command after we return to full picture, using a Russian leg sweep to set up a submission attempt but then trading two counts with Anna. Jay hits a backstabber and grabs another near fall.

Purrazzo avoids the Queenslayer and tries for a cross armbreaker, forcing her foe to work for a rope break. They trade shots until Purrazzo catches Anna coming in and applies the Venus de Milo, and Anna doesn’t last long before she submits.

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Hook survives but Samoa Joe retains

The challenger stays poised over the top turnbuckle and doesn’t even look at the champ during ring intros, and he explodes out of the gate when the bell rings. Joe weathers the storm and sends Hook to the floor, where the two men trade furious shots.

Back in the ring, Joe runs over the challenger with a running back elbow as the fans chant his name. Hook gets punched back into a corner and takes more of a beating out in the middle of the ring. He finally gets some momentum back with a leaping shot off the apron, but Joe responds with a uranage off the announce table. Ouch.

Hook gets powerbombed on the apron as well, and the ringside doctor checks on him while Taz takes his headset off too. The challenger slowly rises as the ref makes his count, but Hook beats the count and returns to the ring.

Joe quickly treats Hook to a powerslam, which is good only for two. The announcers are putting over Hook’s never say die attitude, which he displays again by kicking out after a Death Valley Driver.

Out of the corner, Joe delivers a Muscle Buster, and this time Hook kicks out at one. A flying clothesline turns into three by Hook, who peppers Joe with body shots and gets the big man up for a t-bone suplex but can’t make the cover.

Joe blocks Redrum and applies the Coquina Clutch. Hook tries to sink in his fingertips to break the hold, but he’s unsuccessful and eventually put to sleep. Joe retains, but Hook gave it his all.

AEW Dynamite preview 01/17/24: Send Hook … for a world title shot

AEW Dynamite from South Charleston will also see Toni Storm join the announcers for Deonna Purrazzo vs. Anna Jay.

If ever there was a night for different members of the roster stepping up, it’s tonight on AEW Dynamite from North Charleston, S.C. Some wrestlers other than the usual suspects are going for gold, and that includes a young challenger for the company’s biggest title.

Can Hook prove a point against Samoa Joe?

It’s tough being the first real challenger for a world champion, because unless the company has some really wacky story to tell, you almost certainly aren’t coming away with the victory. That certainly applies to Hook, who unwittingly became part of the discourse over the past week but seems to be rolling with it just fine.

He truly does have nothing to lose, and a great showing against Samoa Joe will only raise his stock. We’re looking forward to their fight.

How many eyes will Dustin Rhodes need in the back of his head against Christian Cage?

Dustin Rhodes is almost the exact opposite of Hook in terms of experience, but he still makes for a fun challenger for Christian Cage and the TNT Championship, someone the fans will easily get behind.

The problem for The Natural is that Cage has Killswitch and Nick Wayne as henchmen, and they aren’t going to simply watch the match play out if things look bad for the Patriarch. There’s always the chance that Adam Copeland comes looking for another piece of Cage’s crew, but it would be even more interesting if someone new entered the picture.

Will the Virtuosa make a lasting impression on Timeless Toni via Anna Jay?

The AEW Women’s World Champion, Toni Storm, has a hard time staying focused. Such are the demands of old time Hollywood, one supposes. But she’s going to be on guest commentary tonight as Deonna Purrazzo takes on Anna Jay, and she may want to try her hardest to stay locked in.

Purrazzo is still new to AEW but already looks like a threat to Storm’s championship reign. Jay is on a nice roll herself, so a victory by the Virtuosa can’t help but make Toni remember her name.

Also scheduled for AEW Dynamite this week:

  • Bullet Club Gold tries to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship from the Mogul Embassy
  • We’ll hear from the mustachioed ones, the Young Bucks

We’ll be taking in all the action from South Charleston beginning at 8 p.m. ET tonight, so join us back here then for live AEW Dynamite results.

Do wins and losses really matter in pro wrestling? The Coach says no

Ex-WWE commentator Jonathan Coachman weighed in on the debate that’s entangled execs, talent and fans this week.

Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal. Samoa Joe vs. Hook. In case you missed it, these two world title matchups have kicked up a lot of discussion this week when it pertains to whether certain wrestlers “deserve” championship opportunities. While some of it was exacerbated by high profile social media exchanges, there’s an age old debate at the heart of it all.

Namely, do wins or losses matter in pro wrestling?

In other words, is wrestling better off booking performers in a way that makes it clear they have earned a title shot by winning, like in unscripted sports? Or should a good story be the most important factor, win-loss record be damned?

There’s probably no universally correct answer to this dilemma, because presentation and context vary so widely from situation to situation. But a former WWE on-camera employee weighed in and made it known that for that company, at least, the narrative is the most important thing.

The ex-employee in question is Jonathan Coachman, a former WWE commentator who has returned to the world of traditional sports. Coachman quoted one of the posts made by Tony Khan suggesting that Mahal was a poor choice to challenge for a title due to his lengthy losing streak and threw his two cents in as a rebuttal.

We also used to get amused at fans who counted wins like wrestlers “earned” them. Hell if Vince wanted I could have been world champion. But the storyline didn’t support it.

No one opinion is going to sway everyone in the industry to agree on wins and losses, but The Coach certainly has an informed take based on his own experiences. One thing we can all agree on, though: It’s probably a good idea that Vince never gave him a run with a world title, because there probably isn’t a good enough story written to support that.

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.

Tony Khan, USA Network are having the social media beef you never knew you needed

Poor Jinder Mahal got dragged into the weirdest AEW-WWE social media crossfire.

Some days are relatively quiet on the pro wrestling internet. And other days you have the owner, GM and head of creative of one company trading shots with the broadcast partner of another. Today was one of the latter.

It all started innocently enough. Raj Giri, formerly of Wrestling Inc., which he founded, posted on X (yeah, it’s silly to call it that, it’s Twitter, but hey) after the showdown between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal on Raw Monday night.

USA Network, which of course broadcasts Raw and has some funny social media people, responded thusly:

That could honestly have been the end of it, even though, yes, it’s a bit of a jab at Khan, who has brought up Cagematch ratings at times while defending AEW booking. He could have let it go, especially since it was in the replies of Raj Giri.

He chose not to.

You can at least feel where Khan is going here. Hook calling out world champion Samoa Joe did feel like it came out of nowhere, and some people online did complain about it, as they do. But Mahal being thrown into the mix also just kind of appeared out of thin air, plus it happened a week after Jinder was in fact hindered by The Rock. So if you’re going to question one, maybe question both.

But he did not stop there.

Now this just reads as Mahal catching strays. The man is a former world champion and has had some horrendous bad luck with injuries, so it’s unclear why he needs to be lumped into this so directly.

Should Khan be doing stuff like this? It’s his company, so he can do whatever he pleases. It certainly has people talking, as evidenced by the fact that “Tony Khan” is trending hard on X as this is being typed.

That said, there’s a genuine discussion to be had about whether the “any publicity is good publicity” school of thought applies to AEW at the current time. At the very least, if Khan and USA decide to keep going back and forth on this, it should be entertaining in its own right.

Update: A new front in this social media battle has now opened up as Khan jousts with Eric Bischoff.

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 Zero Hour results: Hook defends, plus a Battle Royale

See who emerges with wins during the AEW Worlds End Zero Hour pre-show.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/5a1VpowBqIp756j0vfCL/1703597756145_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0iZ3ZxdGN2dHFuNTN1ZTRram9hM3RrbnRrZ2IzZ21xMm0iIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMzMCI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

Before the world can end, there must be a Zero Hour.

Well, it’s true for the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view, at least. The inaugural event comes to us tonight from the venerable Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, set to send the year in AEW wrestling out with a bang.

The main card starts on PPV at 8 p.m. ET, but there’s wrestling to be had on the Zero Hour pre-show which begins at 6:30 p.m. More like a Zero Hour and a Half, if you will.

One title will be on the line when Hook defends his FTW Championship against the Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta. We’ll also see friends compete when Kris Statlander squares off with Willow Nightingale.

And in case your favorite AEW men’s wrestler isn’t on the Worlds End card, no worries: There’s a decent chance he’ll be in the Battle Royale on Zero Hour. The winner receives a TNT Championship shot somewhere down the road, so perhaps said winner will be a clue as to whether Christian Cage will retain that belt when he battles Adam Copeland on the PPV.

We have multiple team members in the building tonight and will be ready on the laptop as well, so let’s get into this pre-show.

AEW Worlds End Zero Hour results from Long Island:

  • Willow Nightingale def. Kris Statlander by pinfall with Stokely Hathaway on guest commentary
  • A vignette promotes Serena Deeb training for a comeback soon
  • A hype video is shown for the Miro-Andrade El Idolo match
  • Killswitch wins a 20-man Battle Royale for a future TNT Championship title match, last eliminating Trent Beretta
  • Another hype video gets us ready for “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Riho for the AEW Women’s World Championship
  • Wheeler Yuta gets some mic time ahead of his title defense against Hook and runs down Long Island, the Islanders and the locals
  • Hook def. Wheeler Yuta by submission to retain the FTW Championship

AEW Rampage results 12/29/23: On the precipice of Worlds End

Top Flight and Action Andretti soared to a big win on the final AEW Rampage before Worlds End.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/F61bpowBqIp756j0KvtY/1703598127582_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0iaXkzZGN5dHFuNTN1ZTRram9hM3RrbnRrZ2JmeG01Y3oiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMzMCI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

You know what’s cool about this year in pro wrestling? We’re going right up to the last moment of 2023, just about, thanks to AEW holding Worlds End this Saturday on Long Island (almost said “in,” sorry Rob Wolkenbrod).

Before we get to that show, however, there’s one last hour of Rampage to sail through. Heck, maybe it will even add another match or two to the card, who knows?

Let’s enjoy these 60 minutes, starting right now.

AEW Rampage results:

  • Chris Jericho kicks off the show to “talk some stuff out” with Sammy Guevara ahead of Worlds End, mostly to ask him why he turned on Jericho and joined the Don Callis Family; Sammy gives his apology, Jericho asks him if they will reunite Le Sex Gods and they hug it out

  • Renee Paquette wants to talk to Daniel Garcia but mostly gets Matt Menard ranting, while Garcia promises they’ll get some payback against House of Black eventually

  • Ruby Soho def. Marina Shafir by pinfall thanks to a timely distraction by Harley Cameron; Saraya and Nyla Rose also get into it and Rose ends up chasing Saraya out through the crowd
  • The Don Callis Family, Big Bill and Ricky Starks deliver a message to their opponents in the eight-man tag match at Worlds End, and Bill confirms his Uncle Joe will be in the house
  • Paquette gives Willow Nightingale the time to clear the air with Kris Statlander, and they agree to face each other on Zero Hour, though Stokely Hathaway is worming his way into things as well

  • Wheeler Yuta def. Matt Sydal by pinfall to retain the ROH Pure Championship; after the bell, Danhausen confronts Yuta after the match and jokingly (we think) disqualifies Wheeler, who lays Danhausen out with a right hand and lays on more of a beating until Hook comes to the ring and chases him away
  • Top Flight and Action Andretti def. Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta by pinfall

AEW Worlds End 2023 card: 6 title matches highlight inaugural event

Take a look at the confirmed match card for the inaugural AEW Worlds End.

This year, the AEW pay-per-view schedule has been in full swing. Since its inception, AEW has only held a few major shows per year, but they have now increased to almost one per month. This trend will continue with the final show for 2023, Worlds End, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Dec. 30 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

MJF, AEW’s resident Long Islander, will headline the show by defending his AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe. This will be their second title match in New York within the past 90 days, with MJF aiming to extend his record title reign as the incumbent.

On the Dec. 23 episode of AEW Collision, Christian Cage accepted Adam Copeland’s challenge for a No DQ match for his TNT Championship. The two longtime friends turned bitter rivals may finally settle their explosive beef on Long Island.

Worlds End will also have the climax of the inaugural AEW Continental Classic, with the final match going down at the event. The winner will be crowned the first ever AEW Triple Crown Champion by virtue of winning the new AEW Continental Championship, the ROH World Championship and the Strong Openweight Championship (as the latter two titles were put up for grabs by Eddie Kingston). Fittingly, Kingston will be one of the finalists, going up against Jon Moxley.

Several other matches were finalized on the Dec. 27 episode of Dynamite.

Worlds End goes down on Saturday, Dec. 30. Check out the full card below.

Latest update: Dec. 29, 2023, 10:25 p.m. ET.

AEW Worlds End 2023 card:

  • 20-man Battle Royal for a future AEW TNT Championship match (Zero Hour pre-show match)
  • Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale (Zero Hour pre-show match)
  • Hook (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta – FTW Championship match (Zero Hour pre-show match)
  • Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston – Championship Final of the AEW Continental Classic for the inaugural AEW Triple Crown Championship
  • Julia Hart (c) vs. Abadon – AEW TBS Championship match
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Riho – AEW Women’s World Championship match
  • Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara and Sting vs. The Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher and Powerhouse Hobbs), Big Bill and Ricky Starks
  • Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland – No Disqualification match for the AEW TNT Championship
  • Keith Lee vs. Swerve Strickland
  • Miro vs. Andrade El Idolo
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson), Mark Briscoe and Daniel Garcia vs. Brody King, Jay White, Jay Lethal and Rush
  • MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe – AEW World Championship match