AEW Double or Nothing: Top takeaways after a night of Anarchy, Pillars and title changes

See what stood out the most during a busy night in Las Vegas for AEW Double or Nothing 2023.

An exciting weekend of wrestling was capped off with the fifth annual AEW Double or Nothing in Las Vegas.

Did we crown a new world champion? And how much anarchy did The Elite and the Blackpool Combat Club get into?

Here are my takeaways from Sunday’s event.

Takeshita helps the Blackpool Combat Club defeat The Elite

Anarchy in the Arena for sure lived up to its name at Double or Nothing.

This match had a little bit of everything. You had a band named Violent Idols playing “Wild Thing” during Blackpool Combat Club’s entrance, then continued to play for a good 10 consecutive minutes in the closest thing I have ever seen to a cold open to a wrestling match.

The lead singer of the band had a peculiar look that raised quite a few eyebrows on social media, but the music ended when said lead singer was double superkicked by the Young Bucks.

Speaking of superkicks, there was an exploding superkick at one point. Someone’s foot was slammed into thumbtacks. Those same thumbtacks were also poured down someone’s mouth. Renee Paquette, AEW interviewer and wife of Blackpool Combat Club leader Jon Moxley, summed up the match in one tweet:

At the end of the day, Konosuke Takeshita returned to hit Kenny Omega with a flying knee, which led to Wheeler Yuta pinning Omega to pick up the win.

This was exactly what I was expecting and then some, because I definitely did not expect to see an exploding superkick coming.

This may not be everyone’s taste and I understand that. Some people are turned off by the excessive violence of matches like this or Blood and Guts, which usually features thumbtacks, glass, forks and other various sharp objects. However, I am OK with it when it is used within reason.

I’m not really a big fan of ultraviolence or violence just for the sake of it, but when you have a hot feud between two sides that, in storyline, hate each other’s guts, a little bit of blood can enhance the experience.

But again, within reason. I thought Anarchy in the Arena accomplished that by doing a good job of just dipping its toe into absurdity and nothing more.

The Four Pillars tear down the house

While Anarchy in the Arena may have been the craziest match of the night, the world title match featuring the proclaimed four pillars of AEW was the best pure in-ring contest of the evening.

It was so good that it almost made me forget about the fact that it didn’t close the show and that Anarchy in the Arena did.

It really should not be all that surprising considering Darby Allin, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Sammy Guevara are all capable of wowing fans with their athleticism and MJF is great at telling a story and using sound logic to dictate his decisions.

On this night, MJF used Allin’s Coffin Drop against him by placing the world title on top of a prone Perry. Allin crashed into the belt, which allowed MJF to use another headlock takeover to defeat Allin and retain his title.

The question moving forward is where does AEW go with MJF? Moxley, Omega and Adam Page are all tied up in the Elite-Blackpool Combat Club feud, and I’m not sure who else is just ready to step up and assume the top challenger role.

That is unless AEW slots potentially returning CM Punk into that spot.

Regardless of who it is, it has to be worth potentially putting the match in the main event of All Out in Wembley Stadium.

Two new women’s champions

The AEW women’s division saw a major shakeup Sunday night as two new champions were crowned. Toni Storm defeated Jamie Hayter to become the first woman to win the world title twice thanks to A LOT of help from Saraya and Ruby Soho.

However, that wasn’t that big of a surprise to me, as I predicted as much to happen given Hayter’s uncertain injury status.

What did shock me and many others was Jade Cargill’s undefeated streak coming to an end. No, she’s not 59-1. She’s actually 60-1.

Cargill and Taya Valkyrie had a pretty good match for the TBS Championship, which ended in another victory for Cargill. Mark Sterling then got on the microphone and said that there was no one left for Cargill to beat for the title and that she’d take on anyone at any time.

Obviously, that meant someone was going to answer the call right away. That person was a returning Kris Statlander. In what felt like a Money in the Bank cash-in, Statlander quickly upended Cargill to end the undefeated streak and become the TBS Champion.

There were some fans on social media that pondered why AEW didn’t wait to build up the next match between Cargill and Statlander, but I’m not mad at AEW’s approach. It created an unexpected moment that the fans in Las Vegas actually got excited for, which was not the case throughout the rest of the show.

It also provides Cargill an out even in defeat, as she can say she had just competed in a grueling match and her manager put her in a position to fail by issuing an open challenge right away.

In one night, AEW has two pretty good rivalries on its hands in its women’s division, which I think is pretty good by AEW standards.

If it had my way, though, I would find a way to get Cargill in the world title picture sooner rather than later. I know AEW could create a great atmosphere for Storm versus Hayter in Wembley Stadium if it chose to run that back, but Cargill needs to be in the title’s orbit soon after.

Sidenote: Cargill’s entrance was a tribute to her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which is a member of the historic Divine Nine sororities and fraternities and is an integral part of Black culture.

FTR produces yet another banger; Chris Jericho & Adam Cole do not

Going back to their days in NXT, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood have been producing banger after banger in tag team matches.

On Sunday night, FTR produced another. This time, it was with Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal.

As good as their match was Sunday night, I think I have had my fill of watching Jarrett wrestle in title matches in AEW.

On the flip side, I think the “unsanctioned match” between Chris Jericho and Adam Cole was a big bowl of meh, which did not give me high expectations for the tag match scheduled for Dynamite with Jericho teaming with Saraya to go against Cole and Britt Baker.

Wardlow puts on his workin’ boots

I don’t think I am speaking out of term when I say AEW has yet to truly capitalize on Wardlow despite giving him plenty of victories. As a result, Wardlow isn’t quite as over as many thought he would be by this point.
At Double or Nothing, Wardlow tried his damndest to flip the script by putting on a show during his ladder match for the TNT Championship against Christian Cage.

Wardlow pulled out all of the stops, including a Jeff Hardy-esque swanton bomb from the top of a ladder onto Luchasaurus and through a table.
Time will tell whether that performance at Double or Nothing will provide the spark he truly needs, but it will not be for a lack of effort on Wardlow’s behalf.

The vibes in Vegas were lackluster

I’m not sure if it was an audio issue or what, but the crowd in Las Vegas didn’t sound very active for large portions of the night, and I think it hurt the show in some ways.

If wrestling fans learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic it’s that a lively crowd can enhance a match. The wrestling in the ring was good enough to elicit strong reactions, but based on the audio I heard coming out of my TV and the posts I saw on social media, the reactions were frequently tepid.

AEW Double or Nothing 2023: Predictions for every match in Las Vegas

See who we expect to win every match at AEW Double or Nothing this weekend in Las Vegas.

AEW has been in the headlines for many reasons outside of wrestling lately between its new television show and the daily behind-the-scenes soap opera that involves its most marketable star.

But there is business to attend to this weekend with Double or Nothing, which has a main event that features the promotion’s famed “Four Pillars.” Can those pillars hold up the annual extravaganza or will an anarchic match steal the show?

I break it all down with my predictions:

AEW World Heavyweight Championship: MJF (c) vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara

AEW tried really hard — I mean really hard — to convince people that the three challengers in this match have a real chance of walking out of Vegas with the world title.

Unfortunately, that effort was all for naught, in my eyes.

For starters, I don’t see a reason to take the title away from MJF. On top of that, I don’t see any of the other three pillars being in a position to carry the mantle of being the world champ. Maybe they will be one day, but it doesn’t feel like they are at the moment.

Because of that, MJF is a good bet to retain.

Winner: MJF

Anarchy in the Arena: Blackpool Combat Club vs. The Elite

This is the match that I am most looking forward to watching on this show, and it is by a wide margin.

I can’t wait to see the wild antics these wrestlers will have up their sleeves. Oh, and you better believe there will be blood. This will not be for the squeamish.

I wrestled (no pun intended) with who I was going to pick to win this match, but at the end of the day, I think The Elite will walk away with a win at Double or Nothing. Since Kenny Omega already lost to Jon Moxley in a cage match on Dynamite, I feel like picking up the win here would be a good way to even the score without beating Moxley.

Winners: The Elite

Unsanctioned Match: Chris Jericho vs. Adam Cole

Unsanctioned matches always make me laugh because they always still look pretty sanctioned, and I always find that odd.

What I find even more odd is the inclusion of enigmatic ECW legend Sabu. I have no idea what to make of Sabu being involved in this story. Judging by my timeline’s reaction, I don’t think I’m alone in that feeling.

However, I am eager to hear how AEW explains the connection between Sabu and Adam Cole. Not because I need the gaping hole in the plot to be filled, but because I simply want to hear how absurd the promotion’s explanation is going to be.

As far as a winner. I’m going with Cole.

Winner: Adam Cole

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AEW Women’s World Championship: Jamie Hayter (c) vs. Toni Storm

If you asked me last week, I would have quickly chosen Jamie Hayter to retain the title.

However, Hayter is apparently injured and her status is still seemingly up in the air as of this writing. AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan was non-committal when asked whether Hayter will defend her title at Double or Nothing during a recent conference call, only adding to the mystery behind Hayter’s status.

Because of this, I’m going to go with Toni Storm to become a two-time champion.

Winner: Toni Storm

AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal

Here we are in the year of our lord 2023, and Double J has a chance to become a world tag team champion. Ain’t he great?

The most intriguing part of this match is the fact that Mark Briscoe is the special guest referee, and judging by him slapping everyone in sight on the most recent edition of Dynamite, he’s got heat with both sides.

By the way, I’ve probably watched Briscoe slap Jeff Jarrett’s hat off at least — at least — 78 times.

At least.

It was giving Bernie Mac in “Head of State” vibes.

As far as a winner, I just couldn’t imagine AEW putting the tag titles on Jarrett and Jay Lethal. I guess the promotion could always go in that direction for the heat alone, but it would feel more like a decision WWE would make. Copying WWE isn’t always a bad thing, but in this case, it would be horrible.

Winners: FTR

AEW TNT Championship (Ladder match): Wardlow (c) vs. Christian Cage

I know Christian Cage is supposed to be the master of the ladder match, and rightfully so, but Wardlow winning should be the only outcome here.

Maybe, just maybe, this could prove to be the catalyst that sparks Wardlow again.

Winner: Wardlow

AEW TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie

In my opinion, Taya Valkyrie represents the biggest threat to Jade Cargill’s title to date.

Under ordinary circumstances, I would still go with Cargill to retain. But with the uncertainty surrounding Hayter and the world title, maybe this could be a good time to move Cargill away from the TBS title and on the path to finally winning the division’s top prize.

So yes, I’m making the bold prediction of Valkyrie finding a way to dethrone the dominant champion, but only because said champion is moving on to bigger and better things.

Winner: Taya Valkyrie

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AEW International Championship: Blackjack Battle Royal

The list of participants as of this writing are as follows:

• Orange Cassidy (c)
• Blade
• Butcher
• Bandido
• Komander
• Lee Moriarty
• Big Bill Morrissey
• Ari Daivari
• Tony Nese
• Chuck Taylor
• Trent Beretta
• Kip Sabian
• Fenix
• Pentagon
• Swerve Strickland
• Brian Cage
• Ricky Starks
• “Switchblade” Jay White
• Juice Robinson
• Keith Lee
• Dustin Rhodes

Since the story is that Orange Cassidy is practically being held together by duct tape, it feels like a good time to have him drop the title. It’s also a battle royal, meaning that he doesn’t even have to get pinned to lose.

That means a new champion will be crowned and I think that person will be …. *drumroll please*… Jay White.

I know Starks is the sentimental favorite heading into the match, but putting the title on White with Starks pursuing it could make for great television throughout the summer. I could even see Starks being the last one eliminated at Double or Nothing after some dastardly tactic by White.

Also, it could elevate the International Championship to another level. Cassidy has done all he probably can with the title. But White and Starks are capable of doing something special.

Winner: “Switchblade” Jay White

Six-man tag: Ethan Page and The Gunns vs. Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy and Hook

I must admit, Hook teaming with the Hardy Boyz is pretty wild. It doesn’t feel that long ago when Hook’s father, Taz, was wrestling the Hardys during his as an in-ring performer for WWE. Now, they’re teaming up with his adult son.

It’ll be so wild that they will come away with the victory.

Winner: Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy and Hook

AEW Dynamite results 05/24/23: Young Bucks put one over on the BCC before Double or Nothing

AEW Dynamite is rocking Las Vegas for the final show before Double or Nothing, with three championship matches and much more.

There’s a feeling of excitement in the air on the Las Vegas Strip. Well, to be fair, that feeling is always there at the beginning of a trip to Sn City, not always at the end. Speaking for … a friend. Yeah, that’s it. But poor jokes aside, it’s Double or Nothing week in Vegas, and it begins in earnest tonight with AEW Dynamite.

Typically, go home shows can be light on the in-ring action, but that’s not the case tonight. There will be three, count ’em, three championship matches on TBS before the night is over. Orange Cassidy, apparently unfazed by trying to retain his Intercontinental Championship on the line against 20 men at once this weekend, will take on Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher.

The Lucha Bros. will put their ROH World Tag Team Champions up against Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta after Claudio won the Double Jeopardy match against Rey Fenix last week. And House of Black will defend their AEW World Trios Championship against the ragtag yet exciting band consisting of AR Fox, Blake Christian and Metalik.

We’re going to hear from people too. Oh man, are we going to hear from people. The list includes all Four Pillars (MJF, Darby Allin, Jack Perry and Sammy Guevara), FTR and Ricky Starks. Plus Adam Cole and Chris Jericho will have their contract signing, and Tony Khan will announce the first location for AEW: Collision.

Phew! This feels like it could be the goods, particularly for the final Dynamite before a pay-per-view. Let’s find out.

AEW Dynamite results from Las Vegas:

  • Orange Cassidy def. Kyle Fletcher by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship
  • Ricky Starks tells Renee Paquette he’s in full control of his emotions, and that if he’s going to keep getting beaten up by Jay White and Juice Robinson, he’s going to take matters into his own hands … but White and Robinson attack him and lay into him with a steel chair before White tells him they’re going to “keep having fun” with him
  • Jack Perry says he’s made the drive to Las Vegas many times, but the one thing that’s been the same every time is how being in the ring makes him feel, and he vows to make the drive back this time as AEW World Champion

  • Cash Wheeler admits that Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett have outsmarted them a number of times, but they’ve also been lucky and their luck is about to run out; Dax Harwood gets in some shots as well, but Mark Briscoe is angry at just about everyone involved, slapping some of them on his way out and telling Lethal he’s tired of them all

  • Paquette tells Sammy Guevara that MJF’s offer of a “handsome check” to lay down for him still stands, but he says the champ can shove the offer up his a–, also saying he’ll take the title on Sunday

  • House of Black def. AR Fox, Blake Christian and Metalik by submission in a House Rules match to retain the AEW World Trios Championship
  • After a video package promoting Anarchy in the Arena, Blackpool Combat Club says their goal at Double or Nothing is to end The Elite … and that they’ll show the difference between professionals and amateurs
  • MJF gets his pre-PPV mic time, insulting the crowd but putting over the homegrown Pillars before he talks about how bored he is in the company; Darby Allin comes to the ring and explains how AEW saved his life, but MJF boots him in the crotch, Guevara chases the champ off, and Perry rocks MJF on the ramp with a clothesline and holds up the championship belt
  • Wardlow and Arn Anderson deliver a warning to Christian Cage and Luchasaurus ahead of the Ladder match at Double or Nothing

  • Taya Valkyrie def. Lady Frost by pinfall with Jade Cargill and her minions watching from the ramp
  • Tony Khan announces that the AEW: Collision debut episode on TNT will take place at the United Center in Chicago; CM Punk is not mentioned in the announcement

  • Hangman Adam Page says while he hasn’t always been friends with the other members of The Elite, they have always been family, and the price the BCC has rung up will be paid in blood this Sunday

  • Adam Cole and Chris Jericho come to the ring for their contract signing, with Roderick Strong backing Cole and the whole Jericho Appreciation Society supporting their leader; when Jericho points out that his crew outnumbers them, Cole says he made a call for some backup … in the form of ECW legend Sabu

  • AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter and Toni Storm do some video package verbal sparring ahead of their meeting at Double or Nothing
  • Roderick Strong def. Daniel Garcia by pinfall
  • A video package shows Willow Nightingale winning the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, defeating Mercedes Moné  in the final
  • Lucha Bros. def. Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta by pinfall to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship after the Young Bucks come from beneath the ring to assure the BCC loses
  • Jon Moxley cuts a promo in the ring and promises the most violent spectacle ever in Anarchy in the Arena at Double or Nothing

AEW Double or Nothing 2023 match card: Pillars 4-way title match and more

Can MJF hold off the other Pillars at AEW Double or Nothing? See what else is joining their four-way title match on the card.

It’s just about time for AEW’s annual trip to Las Vegas. Not that there’s ever a bad reason to visit Vegas, mind you, but a week full of pro wrestling action topped off by AEW Double or Nothing is extra special.

The company is doing its best to put the spotlight on its future this time around, with the so-called Pillars all competing for the AEW World Championship currently held by MJF. He tried his best to engineer a one-on-one title defense for this PPV but failed, meaning that Darby Allin, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Sammy Guevara will all be gunning for his gold in one match that has the chance to be spectacular.

There will be at least one more championship match in store for the fans at T-Mobile Arena as well. FTR has reclaimed their spot at the top of the tag team division, but Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett haven’t given up on their desire to claim the titles for themselves. Mark Briscoe has been caught in the middle since he has ties to both sides, and may just signal which way he’s leaning in this feud since he’ll be in the referee shirt for their bout.

AEW will undoubtedly be adding a bunch more matches right up through Vegas week, so we’ll update this post as needed. Double or Nothing takes place Sunday, May 28 beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Last update: May 19, 2023, 7:10 p.m. ET.

AEW Double or Nothing 2023 match card:

  • MJF (c) vs. Darby Allin vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Sammy Guevara – Pillars Four-way match for the AEW World Championship
  • FTR (c) vs. Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett – AEW World Tag Team Championship match with special guest referee Mark Briscoe
  • Wardlow (c) vs. Christian Cage – Ladder match for the AEW TNT Championship
  • Orange Cassidy (c) vs. 20 competitors TBD – 21-man Blackjack Battle Royale for the AEW International Championship
  • Jamie Hayter (c) vs. Toni Storm – AEW Women’s World Championship match
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta) vs. The Elite (Hangman Adam Page, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks) – Anarchy in the Arena match
  • Jade Cargill (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie – AEW TBS Championship match
  • Ethan Page and The Gunns vs. Isiah Kassidy and The Hardys
  • Chris Jericho vs. Adam Cole – Unsanctioned match

AEW Dynamite preview: Anti-Outcasts team finally bands together, Don Callis speaks

This week’s AEW Dynamite also features Ricky Starks vs. Jay White and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Rush.

Faces need more friends. It’s one of our mantras here at Wrestling Junkie when it comes to the usual pro wrestling fare, where the bad guys inevitably outnumber the good guys. It’s been true for The Outcasts most of the time since they formed, but it won’t be tonight on AEW Dynamite in Austin.

That’s because the “homegrown” side of the feud that has been top of mind in the women’s division for some time got a much needed boost with the recent return of Hikaru Shida. Now she, Britt Baker and AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter will fight together against The Outcasts in what figures to be one of the night’s biggest bouts.

We’ll also hear from the man who was front and center for AEW’s most shocking recent plot twist, Don Callis. Though it appeared he was reinforcing The Elite by recruiting Konosuke Takeshita, he revealed that wasn’t the case when he betrayed longtime friend Kenny Omega at a pivotal time during his Steel Cage match with Jon Moxley.

Why did Callis turn? Fans in Austin will supposedly have a closeup view to find out.

Another potential showstopper on the card will put one of AEW’s foundational talents against a man who’s only recently arrived. Chris Jericho has been doing all he can to torment Adam Cole to the best of his considerable abilities, but Cole got some backup when Roderick Strong arrived a few weeks ago. Tonight, the two men will do battle in a Falls Count Anywhere match where both Cole and the JAS are banned from participating.

Also being promoted for tonight:

You know what to do if you want to see everything in store for Austin: Tune in at 8 p.m. ET on TBS. We’ll also have live AEW Dynamite results right here on Wrestling Junkie if you can’t, so you’re covered either way. See you then!

AEW Dynamite results: Stacked Detroit card ends in big betrayal

Two titles were also on the line in the Motor City, but did either one change hands?

Unlike many pro wrestling stables, The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club don’t really have designated leaders. They’re more collections of equals in many ways. But Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley are certainly the frontmen when necessary, and that’s extremely relevant to this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite in Detroit.

See, the beef between the two groups has gotten to the point where something dramatic needs to be done to settle it. And well, Omega and Moxley stepping in against each other in a steel cage fits the bill.

That’s a spectacular main event for free TV by any reckoning, but Little Caesars Arena will also be treated to a pair of title bouts: Orange Cassidy will defend his International Championship against Daniel Garcia, and House of Black will put their World Trios Championship on the line against Bandido and Best Friends under their unique “House Rules.”

There’s more, too, but let’s not waste any more time. Here we go.

AEW Dynamite results from Detroit:

(click on any match with a link for full details)

  • Claudio Castagnoli def. Rey Fenix by pinfall, meaning he and a partner of his choice will get a ROH World Tag Team Championship shot against the Lucha Bros.
  • Renee Paquette welcomes Miro back to Dynamite, but he ignores her question and walks right into Tony Khan’s office
  • MJF compares the AEW Pillars to The Beatles, calling himself Paul
  • A hype video is shown for the Steel Cage match, not that we need it to get any more amped up
  • FTR come out to apologize to Mark Briscoe, but Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal want an answer to their challenge, and Briscoe reveals that the title match is on for Double or Nothing — with Mark himself as special guest referee; Sonjay Dutt spits moonshine in Dax Harwood’s eyes, and in his blind fury, he accidentally piledrives Briscoe
  • Paquette wants to know how Chris Jericho feels about Adam Cole getting the best of him, but The Ocho has lawyered up and gotten a restraining order, but that doesn’t apply to Roderick Strong, who challenges Jericho to a Falls Count Anywhere match … and Jericho accepts only to find that Strong has ensured that the JAS will be banned from the building next week when it goes down
  • Thunder Rosa makes her return to Dynamite, also passing Paquette on her way to talk to Khan
  • A video promotes Sammy Guevara, which includes testimonials from Jericho and Tay Melo
  • Khan puts over tonight’s show but also wants everyone to tune in for one of the most important AEW announcements ever
  • Orange Cassidy def. Daniel Garcia by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship
  • Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter accept the challenge from The Outcasts for a trios match next week on Dynamite
  • Tony Schiavone gets some time with Christian Cage, who brags about his ability to get a title shot and mocks the relationship between Wardlow and Arn Anderson
  • Another hype video shows Darby Allin preparing for his world title shot, and offers insight from Sting and Darby himself
  • Julia Hart def. Anna Jay by submission in a No Holds Barred match
  • Best Friends and Bandido are ready for their title shot and decide the final rule for the Open House Challenge is going to be “all witches are barred from ringside”
  • House of Black def. Best Friends and Bandido by pinfall in an Open House Challenge to retain the AEW World Trios Championship
  • Backstage, Cassidy has been laid out by Kyle Fletcher of Aussie Open
  • The final Pillars hype video is about Jack Perry, which strangely has validation from Christian Cage
  • Ricky Starks is sick of Bullet Club, but Jay White remains unimpressed ahead of their match next week on Dynamite
  • Jon Moxley def. Kenny Omega by pinfall in a Steel Cage match after Don Callis turns on Omega and hits him in the head with a screwdriver

AEW Dynamite live results: The battle for Takeshita’s soul turns bloody

Plus there’s two title matches and an appearance by Tony Khan.

It’s time to find MJF a top contender once and for all tonight on AEW Dynamite from Sunrise, Fla.

You may recall that the AEW World Champion has been called one of the Four Pillars of the company, and that the other three all made it clear they’d like a shot at his title. MJF skillfully played them off against each other, even aiding Sammy Guevara in defeating “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry.

But now Guevara is just a victory over Darby Allin away from getting that title shot himself. Is having Sammy win part of MJF’s plan too, or does he have another trick up his sleeve?

There are also two title matches on the AEW Dynamite card tonight. Jade Cargill will put both her TBS Championship and her undefeated record on the line against Taya Valkyrie, possibly her most powerful opponent to date. And since it’s another week, it must mean another Orange Cassidy title defense, this time against Bandido.

Also, as you may have heard Tony Khan will be appearing on this week’s episode as well. Is he about to confirm to the world that we’ll all be watching two more hours of AEW action every week on Saturday night? Or is this particular announcement about something else?

There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to tune in tonight at 8 p.m. on TBS. Well, actually two ways, because you can also return to this post as we update it with AEW Dynamite live results as they happen from Sunrise.

AEW Dynamite results from Sunrise, Fla.:

(click on any match with a link for more details)

  • Orange Cassidy def. Bandido by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship; after the match, the two men share signs of respect, including Cassidy putting his sunglasses on Bandido
  • Adam Cole tells Renee Paquette he’s going to call out Chris Jericho … and if Jericho doesn’t come out, Cole will go find him; Cassidy and Bandido are told what’s going on and say “oh”
  • Darby Allin tries to squash things with Jack Perry, but they seem too competitive with each other to be sure that Perry will prevent any hijinks in Allin’s match tonight
  • Jeff Jarrett def. Dax Harwood by pinfall … by cheating, of course, then poses with Harwood’s tag team title bout
  • Tony Khan announces the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments are back again this year, and will include matches at Forbidden Door with the finals in Calgary this summer
  • Wardlow def. a jobber by pinfall in a quick squash match, and has another staredown with Luchasaurus
  • MJF and Sammy Guevara sure seem to still be on the same page as they vow that Sammy will defeat Darby, and they exchange gifts (vests and scarfs)
  • Poor RJ City gets laid out backstage by the Blackpool Combat Club
  • Sammy Guevara def. Darby Allin by DQ when MJF makes it seem like Darby used a skateboard to hit Sammy … but an announcement is made that Allin and Perry will team to face MJF and Guevara next week, and if the faces win, both of them are added to the title match at Double or Nothing
  • MJF and Guevara are furious, but Sammy gets left behind as MJF leaves the building
  • “Jericho, I know you can hear me you son of a bitch!” Cole swears he will beat Jericho within an inch of his life, but all he gets is The Ocho on the big screen sending the JAS to the ring … but Cassidy, Bandido and the debuting Roderick Strong help even the odds and clear the ring
  • QT Marshall tells the QTV crew they need to “go to Plan B” after a visit from an angry Powerhouse Hobbs
  • Jade Cargill def. Taya Valkyrie by pinfall to retain the AEW TBS Championship
  • Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter look somewhat the worse for wear but vow that even though The Outcasts declared war, the only way they’ll stop coming is if they are sent to the morgue
  • Ricky Starks and Shawn Spears exchange trash talk with Jay White and Juice Robinson ahead of their match on Rampage this Friday
  • Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita def. The Butcher and The Blade by pinfall, but Bryan Danielson is with the announcers and distracts them for a full scale BCC assault … until the Young Bucks arrive, though Takeshita stops Omega from using a screwdriver on Jon Moxley and ends up having Mox use it on him

AEW Dynamite results: Brittsburgh is in effect as Baker, Hayter def. Soho, Storm

The battle between The Outcasts and two stalwarts of the women’s division raged again in Pittsburgh.

Saraya is with The Outcasts, naturally, spray paint bottle in hand. Ruby Soho and Toni Storm are rocking matching jackets with her too, and they get in the faces of Britt Baker‘s family.

Appropriately, the four women don’t even wait until the bell rings to start scrapping, though Storm and Jamie Hayter eventually end up in the ring together to start things off. The AEW Women’s World Champion is able to suplex both her foes at once, showing off her ridiculous strength.

Saraya wants no part of the champ and ends up running her teammates into trouble on the outside as Hayter grabs a Terrible Towel from the Pittsburgh fans.

After Hayter battles through side-by-side commercials, the fans explode when Baker takes the hot tag. She runs through both Outcasts and hits an Air Raid Crash on Storm, but Soho makes the save.

Storm is in trouble again after a nasty lariat by the champ, but Soho is able to knock Hayter into Baker, who was still legal and trying for the pin. Saraya manages to get in some quality cheating, whacking Baker with Hayter’s title belt, but even after Storm Zero, Britt kicks out.

Baker is still in trouble, fighting for her life on the top turnbuckle. She manages to fight them off and hit the Panama Sunrise on Soho, forcing Ruby into a very last second kickout.

After another unsuccessful cover, Baker switches tactics and puts Soho in the Lockjaw, and Ruby has to tap out. No hijinks after the bell, surprising for the Outcasts.

Click here for full AEW Dynamite results for April 19 in Pittsburgh.

AEW Dynamite preview, April 19: Hobbs vs. Wardlow, Jay White in action

A TNT Championship match and the Dynamite debut of King Switch are top reasons to watch this week.

AEW Dynamite rolls into Pittsburgh tonight for both the usual two-hour live show and a taping of Rampage — which is on Saturday night this week instead of Friday, thank to the NHL Playoffs.

Here are the top three things to watch for from the Steel City.

Powerhouse Hobbs defends the TNT Championship against Wardlow

Since winning the title in March, Powerhouse Hobbs has been a fighting champion, fending off challenges from both members of the Lucha Bros., among others. But now the man who he beat for the belt, Wardlow, has returned, and he’s made it clear he’d like it back.

Alas, Hobbs is unlikely to politely return it, so that means a “big, meaty men slapping meat” special. Someone please alert Big E.

Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker take on Ruby Soho and Toni Storm

Good guys need more friends. It’s one of our favorite adages here at Wrestling Junkie, as heel groups so often have the numbers game working in their favor. The Outcasts certainly have, even though they’re only a team of three.

Maybe AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker don’t need more than that. They’re clearly fed up with the villainous trio, and considering tonight’s show is in Brittsburgh, they’re going to want to show out.

Jay White makes his AEW Dynamite in-ring debut

AEW turned heads by signing Jay White when so many reports suggested WWE wanted him too. NJPW fans know very well how he can go between the ropes, but the US TV audience will get its first real chance this week.

Komander wasn’t exactly the first choice many would have expected for this spot, but he’s super talented and a highlight waiting to happen. This should be fun.

Everything else promoted for AEW Dynamite tonight

  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass go up against Daddy Magic, Cool Hand Ang and Jake Hager (and his hat) of the Jericho Appreciation Society
  • Chris Jericho and Adam Cole (bay bay) have a face-to-face confrontation
  • We’ll hear from FTR and The Elite, though probably not in the same segment

Opening Bell: Jay White makes Dynamite debut, Trish Stratus explains her turn

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, April 17, Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock, AR

Why, Trish Stratus, why?

That’s what many WWE fans want to know after the Hall of Famer ruined what appeared to be a perfectly good partnership she had going with Becky Lynch and fellow legend Lita. Was it just jealousy over not being part of the tag team champions, or was Trish simply following a precedent from way back? We’ll apparently hear directly from her mouth Monday on Raw.

United States Champion Austin Theory doesn’t need to explain himself at all, given that he’s on a roll that includes a big WrestleMania victory over John Cena. Talking might not be the best idea anyway against his opponent this week, Bobby Lashley. He’s more of an actions over words guy, and besides, they know each other well from previous clashes.

A match that was originally promoted for last week until travel gremlins struck will be back in North Little Rock too. Well, half of it, anyway. The Miz was going to face Matt Riddle last Monday, but now he’s going up against Seth Rollins instead. You decide whether that’s better or worse for the A-Lister.

Last and certainly not least, Brock Lesnar will be back on Raw this week as well. You may recall that Cody Rhodes challenged him to a match at Backlash after the Beast Incarnate decided to beat him down instead of tagging with him against the Bloodline. We’ll miss happy-go-lucky Cowboy Brock, but we’re definitely interested to see what this return to his more vengeful side holds. And Backlash needs a main event, so … yeah.

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, April 19, Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh

Buckle up everyone. Jay White, a.k.a. King Switch, a.k.a. the Catalyst, a.k.a. one half of Bullet Club Gold, apparently, a.k.a. numerous other things, is ready to start making his presence known in AEW. That begins this week when he faces Komander in what looks like a fantastic Dynamite debut.

A championship will also be on the line in Pittsburgh between two large men who still have unfinished business with each other. Powerhouse Hobbs is looking to make the chapter in his book where he’s the TNT Champion a long one, but Wardlow wants that title back around his own waist. Something has to give — hopefully not the ring.

A big tag women’s tag team match is also on the slate. The Outcasts have been running roughshod for weeks, but now they’ve angered their two highest profile foes into a match. Can Ruby Soho and Toni Storm keep their winning ways going against AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker?

And that’s not all. When you tune in for Dynamite Wednesday, you can also expect:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, April 21, Value City Arena at The Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH

O-hi-o, you’ve got championship matches incoming this week on SmackDown. Recently crowned Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez will try to make their first title defense a successful one when they face the challenge of Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville.

Gunther has held his Intercontinental Championship a lot longer and fended off a number of different wrestlers with their eyes on his gold. He thinks Xavier Woods is a “goof,” but the last man standing in The New Day will try to show the Ring General he’s a serious threat in Columbus.

On top of those title bouts, there’s a tag team match that figures to be somewhat significant. Braun Strowman and Ricochet got laid out by the Viking Raiders, and they’re not likely to be in a forgiving mood when the two teams meet on Friday night.

AEW Rampage preview – Saturday, April 22, Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh (recorded on April 19)

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about AEW Rampage this week is that it’s not on Friday thanks to the NHL Playoffs. It will air on Saturday at 10 p.m. instead.

That’s pretty late on a different night, but AEW has a heck of a hook to try to get you to watch: El Hijo del Vikingo will defend his AAA Mega Championship against Dralistico. Yes, that’s an insane match to randomly throw on a show that’s on an unusual night, but don’t question it, just roll with it because it’s almost sure to be amazing.