Tag: Kazuchika Okada

AEW Dynamite results 04/17/24: Joe, Ospreay stand tall ahead of Dynasty

A final showdown between Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe went poorly for the challenger on AEW Dynamite.

You know what they say about pre-pay-per-view momentum being a many-splendored thing? Wait, what? That was love? Are you absolutely sure? Well then OK, but momentum is still a thing that’s worth watching tonight on AEW Dynamite from Indianapolis.

Will Ospreay has all the momentum in the world right now. He’s been tearing through the AEW roster one opponent at a time, mowing through the Don Callis Family in particular. Now he’s moved on the the Blackpool Combat Club, with a showdown against Bryan Danielson waiting Sunday at Dynasty.

Is he taking this Wednesday night off? Heck no, he’s taking on the Swiss Superman, Claudio Castagnoli. Take that, Ospreay grind doubters. We could take about the fun clash of styles here, but you probably already know all about that. The more intriguing part will be seeing if AEW lets Ospreay take his first ‘L,’ even if it’s because of extenuating circumstances, setting up a little more doubt ahead of Sunday.

Pretty much all of the other advertised matches carry with them some kind of Dynasty implications, which is exactly what a good go home show should do. Plus there could even be another match or two added to the Dynasty card tonight, which is something that AEW is not opposed to doing the week of a PPV.

Tony Khan has announced that this show has an overrun already approved, so we’re ready to settle in for more than two hours of action. Let’s get it.

AEW Dynamite results from Indianapolis:

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

  • Jon Moxley and his new championship are here, and he makes a challenge to Powerhouse Hobbs
  • Mercedes Moné puts the entire women’s division on notice with a special warning to Julia Hart or whoever attacker her last week

  • Willow Nightingale has clearly been attacked backstage, but she tells Stokely Hathaway and medical personnel then she’s fine; out in the ring, the lights go out and back on to reveal Brody King in place to attack Adam Copeland
  • Brody King and Julia Hart def. Adam Copeland and Willow Nightingale by submission after Nightingale gets laid out by a shot by Hart wielding King’s chain; Moné arrives with a steel chair after the bell to prevent further damage to Nightingale, perhaps, and ends up shaking Copeland’s hand
  • Samoa Joe tells Renee Paquette he once saw Swerve Strickland as a worthy adversary but now sees him as an annoyance or punching bag; Joe also calls Swerve a choke artist but tells him not to worry, as at Dynasty, he’ll be the one choking Swerve out instead

  • The Young Bucks decide the hype video for the Ladder match doesn’t need the part with FTR, flexing their power as EVPs, and Kazuchika Okada tells Pac he won’t make it to Dynasty
  • The Elite (Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada) def. Daniel Garcia, Penta El Zero Miedo and Pac by pinfall as Okada pins Garcia; after the bell, The Elite continue their assault until Pac produces a bell hammer and chases them off
  • Taz gets Chris Jericho and Hook together to talk, but it doesn’t stay cordial
  • Swerve Strickland admits to Paquette that he has tripped up but he’s always managed to get back up, and when Renee asks him why he’s confident, Swerve says he needs to say that to Joe’s face in the ring tonight

  • Deonna Purrazzo def. Mariah May by pinfall; after the bell, Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm both get involved in the melee, with Rosa eventually smearing Storm’s face with additional lipstick
  • The Bang Bang Gang doesn’t think Paquette is as excited as she should be to be in their presence; Jay White also says his group is going to take the other six-man titles from The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass
  • Speaking of The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, they’re up for putting the gold on the line and will take on the Bang Bang Gang at Dynasty
  • Orange Cassidy def. Shane Taylor by pinfall; Cassidy is immediately jumped by Lee Moriarty and Anthony Ogogo after the bell, eating a nasty body shot from the boxer, and Trent Beretta ensures that Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal eat chair shots when they try to save him
  • Will Ospreay def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall; after the bell, the rest of the Don Callis Family assaults Castagnoli until Moxley hits the ring and clears it
  • Excalibur runs down the AEW Dynasty card
  • Swerve and Joe face off one last time before St. Louis, and it doesn’t end well for Swerve

There’s only one Jon Moxley, as Powerhouse Hobbs will learn next week

Mox says the first championship of any kind he ever won was right here in Indianapolis. Even then, 20 years, he says he was swimming upstream, but his message to doubters now is the same as it was then: Kiss my ass and watch me.

Being great, Moxley says, is about what’s inside and not what other people think. A “you deserve it” chant breaks out as he talks about the IWGP title, which he says he’s been chasing for five years.

After a rallying cry for AEW, Mox turns his attention to the Don Callis Family and the “hit” they put out on Bryan Danielson. If they want to get violent, he’ll be here all night, and he goes beyond that to challenge Powerhouse Hobbs for a match next week at Jacksonville. Moxley says he’ll drag Hobbs to the deepest waters to discover that Callis is feeding him lies.

Oh, and while there are a lot of great wrestlers in the world, but there is only one Jon Moxley.

Taz gets Chris Jericho and Hook together to talk, but not for long

Taz gives Jericho the floor first, asking the fans not to boo him so he can talk. Chris claims he just wanted to get Hook’s attention because he wasn’t listening as much as he could have been.

“I am the learning tree,” Jericho says, mentioning all of the people who have made it to the next level because of him: Orange Cassidy, Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay among them. Uh, sure.

When Jericho asks if Hook will sit under the branches of the learning tree Hook says no, because he doesn’t need Jericho’s help. Taz and Jericho start getting into it a little, which finally turns physical when Jericho shoves Taz.

A “you f–ked up” chant breaks out as Hook is mad now. The FTW Champion says if Jericho wants to see how good he is, they can fight again any time, any place. Hook tells Jericho to get out of his ring, which the fans love.

Will Ospreay passes his last pre-Dynasty test against Claudio Castagnoli

Claudio’s strength is immediately brought to bear on Ospreay, who can’t be the Aerial Assassin if you don’t let him off the ground. Ospreay is able to fire back on the outside, hopping over the barricade and then leaping off of it to land a forearm shot.

His next attempt to fly is less successful, as Castagnoli catches him on a springboard plancha to the floor and smashes him into the apron. As one does.

Castagnoli is able to get Ospreay on the mat to subject him to submission holds while dueling chants break out (though more are for Ospreay). The rally from Ospreay includes a Tiger Driver for a near fall as a “fight forever” chant rings out.

Ospreay even turns an exchange of uppercuts into some cool spots, but Castagnoli is scoring the near falls. Claudio calls for the Giant Swing, but Ospreay counters it with a guillotine and nearly wins it before hitting the Hidden Blade and winning for real.

Swerve gets what he asked for from Joe … and more

As he and Prince Nana hit the ring, Strickland reminds viewers that he was asked earlier tonight why he’s confident he can beat Samoa Joe. Swerve says it was because he’s seen the fear in Joe’s eyes and wants to tell the champ to his face he’s going to lose at Dynasty.

While security tries to hold him back, Joe does indeed head down the ramp. Swerve ends up launching a massive Swerve Stomp that takes out all the security guards, but Joe seizes the advantage and chucks Swerve into the steel steps.

As Joe is occupied with threatening Nana, Strickland flies back in for a House Call. Joe catches Strickland on the top rope a second later, though, and drops him in the middle of the ring with a massive Muscle Buster. Joe stands tall over Swerve to end the show.

AEW Dynamite results 03/20/24: Copeland has grit, friends to make Cage quit

Toronto also saw Kazuchika Okada win gold on AEW Dynamite.

When two former friends from Ontario want to settle their massive, ongoing beef, maybe the only real way to do it is in an I Quit match in Toronto. Wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what awaits tonight on AEW Dynamite.

Adam Copeland and Christian Cage have clashed over the TNT Championship before, with Cage emerging victorious thanks to the aid of The Patriarchy. He dismissively sent Copeland to the back of the line, figuring that would be the end of it.

Copeland brushed himself off and jumped into the idea of working his way back to title contention with gusto thanks to his series of “Cope Open” matches. They didn’t really go on as long as he and AEW would have us believe, but it’s a fine narrative regardless.

If you didn’t think we were always headed back here, you must be relatively new to pro wrestling (so welcome!). An I Quit match in front of what is a hometown crowd for both men should be excellent.

It’s not the only title match on Dynamite tonight either. Eddie Kingston actually has several titles that confusingly are sometimes referred to as one. Only one of those three, the still fairly new Continental Championship, is at stake when Kingston faces Kazuchika Okada.

A villainous Rainmaker took some getting used to but seems like a stroke of genius for AEW. Will Okada break through this early in his time in the U.S.? We’ll find out tonight.

AEW Dynamite results from Toronto:

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

  • Mercedes Moné is here, as is Willow Nightingale, but are they united even against Julia Hart and Skye Blue?
  • Matthew and Nicholas Jackson want Alex Marvez to talk Japanese to Kazuchika Okada, or to learn how by next week, but the Rainmaker knows enough English to tell Eddie Kingston he’s coming for the title
  • Kazuchika Okada def. Eddie Kingston by pinfall to become the new AEW Continental Champion, however …
  • … after his victory, Okada sees Pac come out to the stage, insinuating he’ll be going after the Continental title
  • Renee Paquette speaks with Swerve Strickland, who accuses Samoa Joe of running and ducking him but is in the mood to issue an open challenge for a fight tonight
  • Paquette next speaks with Nightingale and Statlander about their Street Fight on Rampage, with Willow noting that she’s completely different in that environment; Moné stops by and exchanges thanks with Statlander but freezes out Nightingale (and Stokely Hathaway for that matter)
  • Hook def. Chris Jericho by pinfall
  • Adam Cole talks about how disappointed he is in Wardlow, so now the big man’s job is to protect the gold Undisputed Kingdom has, framing it as wanting what’s best for Wardlow
  • Paquette grabs a minute with Jericho backstage, and he says Hook lived up to what he expected from the “future world champion”; next week, Jericho says he has a proposition for Hook
  • Tony Schiavone calls Will Ospreay to the ring, and the Aerial Assassin says he’s changed and is now here for the betterment of AEW but needs some maple syrup from Canada in return; he also addresses Bryan Danielson claiming he couldn’t walk in Bryan’s shoes and tells Katsuyori Shibata he wants to face him next week
  • A hype video is shown for the Adam Copeland-Christian Cage I Quit match later tonight
  • Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa def. “Timeless” Toni Storm and Mariah May by pinfall
  • Swerve Strickland def. The Butcher by submission, then cuts a promo on Samoa Joe which is answered in the flesh by the AEW World Champion, and then by Don Callis, which apparently sets up a match between Swerve and Konosuke Takeshita
  • Adam Copeland def. Christian Cage in an I Quit match to become the new AEW TNT Champion

Mercedes Moné still has business with Willow Nightingale, which only gets more complicated

Please say hello to your new CEO. Mercedes says she’s still on a high from her debut in AEW last week, and goes on to talk about her near-career-ending injury 10 months ago when she was facing Willow Nightingale.

Cognizant that some people might not know exactly who she is, Mercedes shows a video package to fill them in. No, there are no Sasha Banks highlights in it.

She’s not here to lead a women’s evolution, as she’s done that before. Mercedes says she wants to lead a global revolution, facing the best women all over the world.

For now, it seems she wants to focus on Nightingale, but the lights go out when she does her mic drop, then come back up to find Julia Hart standing on the ramp. Skye Blue attempts an attack from behind, but both heels are easily repulsed.

Hart and Blue go under the ring for chairs but are neutralized by the arrival of Nightingale and Kris Statlander, both carrying chairs of their own. The lights go out and back on again, and it appears Willow was considering hitting Mercedes, which of course ticks off the CEO as she leaves.

Kazuchika Okada makes it rain gold against Eddie Kingston

Kingston has been talking about how Okada has never faced anyone like him, but an argument can be made that he’s as rooted in Strong Style as any current non-Japanese wrestler, so perhaps that’s not 100% true.

It’s also fun to see how some of Okada’s trademark mannerisms and bits still work even now that he’s a heel. We also see Matthew and Nicholas Jackson in the back, working as producers for the match as they promised Okada they would.

OK it’s not all business as usual with Okada as he’s a lot cockier than normal, but he’s bumping like the top level pro he is as Kingston hurls him around with suplexes. Eddie is getting plenty of support from the fans but there are some chants for the challenger as well.

Signature Okada dropkick? Check. But Kingston is able to nail the spinning back fist not long after for a near fall.

A running clotheslines has Eddie pulling down his straps, but Okada is able to gouge the champ’s eyes after a quick ref distraction. A spinning powerslam leads to a Rainmaker, and Okada is golden in AEW already.

Deonna Purrazzo, Thunder Rosa get one over on Toni Storm, Mariah May even though they aren’t completely aligned

The framing here is about how Storm and May are a proven team while Purrazzo and Rosa may not be on the exact same page. It’s not a problem in the opening minutes, and Rosa looks good in one of the longest matches we’ve seen from her on TV since she returned from her long injury layoff.

Ah, but things change when the Virtuosa has things rolling against May and Rosa tags herself in. That proves to be a tactical error as she eats a hip attack from the champ, but Thunder reverses a piledriver and gets the victory out of nowhere.

It doesn’t look like Deonna is 100% happy with things after the match, however.

Adam Copeland gets help to overcome The Patriarchy and makes Christian Cage quit

The fans enthusiastically sing along with Copeland’s theme a cappella even after the music stops, but the mood changes quickly when Cage makes his ring walk. There’s also a “holy s–t” chant that rings out in the early going.

It doesn’t take long for the two Canadians to fight into the crowd, where Cage dons a Bruins sweater and Copeland wears a Leafs sweater for an additional hometown pop. During picture-in-picture action, they battle out onto the concourse and then back toward the ring.

The crowd starts a “TLC” chant as a ladder comes into play, and both men are hurt when Copeland pulls Cage backward onto the steel. That gets a “this is awesome” chant going as well.

Now Copeland gets out a table, leaning it against the barricade. Cage leapfrogs a Spear and sends Copeland into the ringpost after a quick poke to the eyes.

Copeland ends up getting driven through the table when Cage jumps off the top rope, and he’s busted open as a result. They head back into the ring, where Cage catapults Copeland into a ladder laid across the ropes. The ref asks Copeland for a response but he’s not ready to quit.

Cage’s frog splash finds no one home, and Copeland grabs him in a crossface. The champ also isn’t quitting and gouges the challenger’s eyes to free himself.

During more picture-in-picture, Cage looks like he’s trying to walk out on the match, but Copeland catches up with him and catapults Cage off the stage. The champ also briefly gets thrown into a hockey net, as one does.

While they fight back toward the ring, Mama Wayne runs up and uses a hockey stick to hit a low blow on Copeland from behind. Cage breaks the stick over Copeland’s back and they head back inside the squared circle.

Cage unloads with the blade half of the stick and flexes to a chorus of boos. He jams the stick into Copeland’s throat, and the ref asks him several times if he’ll quit and still gets a quiet no.

Looking under the ring again, Cage slides several chairs into the ring. He produces one with barbed wire around it too, looking for a devastating Con-chair-to. Copeland rolls away at the last second and now he has the barbed wire chair, but Cage kicks it away.

Copeland runs Cage over with the hockey stick and tries choking him out, then takes the drawstring out of his tights to choke the champ. Nick Wayne and Killswitch pick that moment to jump in again, and they invite Mana Wayne to slap him.

Daddy Magic and Daniel Garcia run down to attack The Patriarchy, and Killswitch takes a DDT on the barbed wire chair. They also send Wayne flying to the floor, and Copeland climbs a ladder and dives to the floor onto both of them.

Garcia produces handcuffs, and the faces end up cuffing both Wayne and Killswitch to opposite corners. Mama Wayne sees more handcuffs and decides to make a run for it.

Cage is now left three on one, which makes things look grim for him. He’s handcuffed to another corner, where Copeland kicks him in the junk repeatedly.

Copeland gets in one shot from Spike, his nail-studded 2×4, and threatens another to finally make Copeland say “I Quit.”

AEW Dynamite results 03/06/24: Rainmaker aligns with EVPs, Will Ospreay soars again

The world title situation also kept spinning on AEW Dynamite from the Atlanta area.

It’s a bit of a joke online that Tony Khan promises a new era for AEW after every pay-per-view. But he means it for tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite from Duluth, right near Atlanta.

New, colorful set? Check. New theme song? Possibly, but hopefully we’re all still lighting the fuse.

There could be a new big name making his arrival tonight as well. Possibly one who’s been known to affect the weather with some precipitation? We shall see, but that’s the rumor.

As for what we know is on tap, Will Ospreay, another recent arrival, will be in action against his buddy Kyle Fletcher. Kris Statlander gets a stiff test in the form of former world Champ Riho. And the Young Bucks … excuse me, AEW EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson have a huge announcement. Or at least they’ve said it’s huge, we’ll be the judges.

We’re ready to dive in with live updates, so let’s do this.

AEW Dynamite results from Atlanta (area):

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

  • Tony Schiavone invites Swerve Strickland to the ring to talk about what’s next for him, which ends up as a debate between him, Samoa Joe and Undisputed Kingdom
  • Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland def. The Kingdom by pinfall with Swerve handling the whole match; Joe chokes Swerve out after the match and stares down Wardlow
  • Renee Paquette wants to talk to Hook, but Chris Jericho stops by and admits he respects him after facing off in the All-Star Scramble at Revolution, which gets him a fist bump of respect from Hook

  • Matthew and Nicholas Jackson have two huge announcements but say they’ll make them live in the ring later tonight

  • Hook def. Brian Cage by submission to retain the FTW Championship; he’s attacked afterward by Gates of Agony but saved by a bat-wielding Jericho
  • A video package reiterates the fact that the tag team titles have been vacated after Sting retired, with a tournament coming up to decide new champs
  • Paquette talks to Orange Cassidy and Best Friends, and since Chuck Taylor is still injured, he thinks Cassidy and Trent Beretta should win the title tourney

  • Killswitch def. Daddy Magic by pinfall; Daniel Garcia hustles down to prevent a post-match beating, but Nick Wayne also enters the fray and ends up hitting Garcia with Wayne’s World …
  • … but as the heels head up the ramp, Adam Copeland appears to chuck Killswitch off the stage, choke out Wayne and chase Christian Cage to the back; Cage throws some poor guy out of an SUV and speeds off, while Copeland says to the camera that this needs to end where it started: Dynamite in Toronto in an I Quit match for the TNT Championship

  • Kyle O’Reilly tells Paquette that he’s grateful to be back doing what he loves, but while he has nothing but love for Undisputed Kingdom, he feels like he needs to work his way back on his own
  • A highlight video is shown of Sting’s last match
  • The Jacksons make their big announcements, and an angry Eddie Kingston finds out who they’ve invited to The Elite: Kazuchika Okada
  • Highlights are shown of the Will Ospreay-Konosuke Takeshita match at Revolution
  • Riho def. Kris Statlander by pinfall
  • Toni Storm says she’ll be presenting the first ever Toni Awards (with an ‘i’ so they don’t get sued) soon, and Mariah May receives her first ever shirt, which is just like one of Toni’s old shirts
  • Paquette talks to Stokely Hathaway and Willow Nightingale, who has a match against Riho next week and says she knows she can beat Riho … but also has her sights set on Julia Hart and the TBS Championship
  • Darby Allin, Jay White exchange some pleasantries ahead of their match next week
  • Julia Hart delivers a warning that is obviously intended for Willow
  • The House of Black threatens to literally set Mark Briscoe ablaze Saturday at Collision; Briscoe himself is defiant as he tells Paquette he’ll take on the House all by himself, but Jay Lethal offers his aid and that of Jeff Jarrett
  • Will Ospreay def. Kyle Fletcher by pinfall, then has a staredown with Bryan Danielson as the show fades out

What’s next for Swerve Strickland? Samoa Joe and others put in their two cents

A slightly downbeat Swerve says he’s not sure he deserves all the love he’s getting from the crowd. He didn’t get the job done, after all, and Samoa Joe did.

Strickland recalls it was almost two years ago to the day that he signed the AEW contract in the ring with Schiavone. He said at the time he wanted to win championships, but he wonders if not having any is karma for all the terrible things he’s done in the company.

Is he destined to just be a role player? Swerve isn’t sure, as he feels that the crowd in Greensboro was truly behind him for the first time. He doesn’t want to let those people down.

So nothing changes, as Swerve says he’s coming for Joe, and will beat him for that title. That brings the AEW World Champion to the ring, looking like he’s dressed to fight. He says he’s there for a reality check, and wanted to let the people gaze upon an actual champion.

Strickland notes that Joe is ready for a fight, so why don’t they battle for the title right now? The fans like that idea, but it’s quickly interrupted by the arrival of Undisputed Kingdom on the stage.

Adam Cole says the only story worth talking about coming out of Revolution is his group, as Roderick Strong is now the International Champion and The Kingdom are still the ROH tag team champs. The only reason Joe is still on top is because Undisputed Kingdom let it happen.

Cole mocks both Joe and Swerve before saying Wardlow is going to win the world title very, very soon. Strickland thinks that’s funny and drops a hilarious Britt Baker joke.

They end up debating a match between The Kingdom and Swerve and Joe, and while Undisputed Kingdom wants it next week, Schiavone says it’s going to be right now.

Swerve takes down The Kingdom solo, then pays for it afterward

This is “can they coexist?” in a major way. The early answer is yes, as Swerve is cooking after a commercial break that takes place within the first few minutes.

Matt Taven tries to put an end to that by meeting Strickland up on the top turnbuckle, but he fails and Mike Bennett eats a Swerve Stomp. Taven takes the House Call too, and Big Pressure puts him away.

Hey, Joe really didn’t have to do any work, but he’s not happy about it, choking out Swerve from behind while staring down Wardlow, who is lurking on the ramp.

Hook puts Brian Cage to sleep, then gets some surprising post-match assistance

Hook tries to match power with Cage right away, which doesn’t go well for him. Cage looks pretty pleased with himself as he looks for plunder under the ring and pops up with a steel chair. Hook is looking for weapons himself, producing a fire extinguisher and blasting Cage in the face.

A trash can lid is also put to good use before Cage rallies by hurling the champ into the steel steps. Cage tastes the steel himself but catches Hook coming off the top step and pivoting into a powerslam.

Cage thinks he’s lined up Hook but misses and goes hurtling through the barricade as we semi-break for side-by-side ads.

The full broadcast returns in time for Hook to counter an F-5 attempt before taking Cage off his feet with a clothesline and following with a t-bone suplex. A trash can shot has Cage reeling, and that suplex into a metal guardrail set up in the corner probably doesn’t feel good either. Cage manages to kick out of the ensuing cover at two.

A pop-up neckbreaker plants Hook, and Cage continues with a powerbomb and F-5 onto a chair. His cocky cover fails, however, as Hook kicks out.

Cage goes under the ring again and produces a bag full of tacks that he spreads in the middle of the ring. Hook floats over into Redrum only for Cage to back him into the turnbuckles to escape. But the champ finds a handy kendo stick to soften up Cage, who gets suplexed into the tacks.

Hook locks on Redrum and gets dropped into the tacks, but the champ won’t let the hold go, and Cage goes out.

The Gates of Agony attack Hook right after the bell, but Chris Jericho runs down, Floyd in hand, and chases them off.

The Jacksons make their big announcements … and Eddie Kingston suffers at the hands of AEW’s newest signing

Nicholas is mad about Revolution, accusing Sting and Darby Allin of cheating. But he also says no one can take it away from them that they ended Sting’s career, and follows by saying they’re entering themselves in the tag team title tournament.

Matthew takes over and says part of being EVPs is making tough decisions. For putting his hands on referees at Revolution, Matthew says Hangman Adam Page is suspended indefinitely from The Elite without pay. Also, since Kenny Omega hasn’t been “making his dates,” he’s fired from The Elite.

He’s not done, but he’s interrupted by the arrival of Eddie Kingston. He’s got some beef for Nicholas, but he’s ready for a fight. Only the EVPs fight dirty with a low blow, and they’re about to hit Kingston with the EVP Trigger when a coin drop signals the arrival of Kazuchika Okada.

Kingston seems shocked, but he’s even more surprised when he gets a Rainmaker. The Jacksons introduce Okada as the newest member of The Elite, and Okada makes a belt motion to Eddie as he leaves the ring.

Darby Allin has a mountain to climb … but a match with Jay White first

Schiavone calls Darby Allin to the ring to ask him what it will be like without Sting. Allin is emotional talking about helping to give Sting the proper sendoff, and says what’s next is his match against Jay White and then he’s off to climb Mt. Everest. He says there was no chance he’d find a partner to replace Sting and congratulates whoever the next team will be to win the tag team championship …

… but that’s not it, as White (and the Gunns) comes down to talk to Allin face to face. The Switchblade is not too impressed with Darby’s ladder spot, calling it stupid, and he questions what Allin is without Sting. A little lost puppy, perhaps, with no one there to hold his leash.

Just like he didn’t need to jump off the ladder, White says they don’t need to have this match, and no one will think any less of Allin. Maybe Darby would like to hang with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang instead?

Allin mocks White for winning championships overseas but doing nothing in AEW, then whispers something to Jay. White looks like he wants to throw hands, but Allin has Sting’s bat so that’s not happening.

Will Ospreay thrills again against Kyle Fletcher, then gets a visit from the American Dragon

Don Callis joins the announcers to help call the action, and they point out that Fletcher is focusing his attack on Ospreay’s back.

Ospreay is doing better after side-by-side ads, but he telegraphs the Oscutter and is thrown backward by a snap suplex. A sheer drop brainbuster follows, and Ospreay has to hustle to kick out at two.

Callis thinks Fletcher is taking too long to follow up, which allows Ospreay to meet him in the middle of the ring to exchange chops. Fletcher wins that showdown, but Ospreay quickly nails him with several stiff blows. A series of counters leads to a nasty DDT by the Aerial Assassin, but Fletcher dodges the Hidden Blade and hits Snake Eyes into the middle turnbuckle.

A cutter onto the apron is a nasty bump for both men, and more picture-in-picture is here.

More chops are flying when we return, as well as vicious forearm shots. Both men look for Tombstones, but Ospreay emerges on top with a poison rana. Ospreay heads up top, but Fletcher foils that by pushing him down. He tries for a double underhook superplex but sees Ospreay land on his feet. A Liger Bomb is next, but Fletcher kicks out at two.

Fletcher hits a double underhook slam for two, then a Liger Bomb of his own for another near fall. A dazed Ospreay eats a running kick in the corner, but he escapes another superplex attempt and nails the thrust kick. An avalanche poison rana and the Hidden Blade lead to a very close two count.

Both men still have enough left to trade strikes and reversals. A standing Spanish Fly gets two for Ospreay, but neither that nor the Oscutter can win it. Somehow.

Fletcher gets to his knees and waves in his friend, who obliges with a huge Hidden Blade that ends it.

Callis comes into the ring as the two friends are talking, but so does Bryan Danielson, who stares down Ospreay as the show ends.

Kazuchika Okada makes full-time AEW debut, turns heel to join The Elite

Kazuchika Okada’s full-time AEW debut on Dynamite featured a drastic change in persona.

Following his exit from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, there has been speculation about Kazuchika Okada joining AEW. Although there were rumors about WWE, Tony Khan’s company had the upper hand.

The March 6 episode of Dynamite, following the successful Revolution pay-per-view, was anticipated for the potential arrival of the Rainmaker. With the updated Dynamite logo, set and theme music, it was fitting for a new face to enter the scene — and that’s exactly what happened.

The Young Bucks entered the ring to make multiple announcements, one of which suspended Hangman Adam Page and the other “fired” Kenny Omega from The Elite. As they teased the final one, Eddie Kingston stormed to the ring to trade barbs with Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, only for both to attack him.

Okada’s music then played, drawing an expectedly loud pop as he posed on the stage. However, something seemed different about AEW’s newest arrival; He entered the arena in a suit and tie, unlike the typical presentation of NJPW’s former face of the company.

Suspicions were confirmed as Okada delivered the Rainmaker on Kingston, concluding the segment by celebrating with Matthew and Nicholas. In the process, he turned heel and joined the Elite — a surprise for someone as beloved as the 36-year-old has been in pro wrestling.

This decision marks a major refresh for Okada, while also elevating the corporate persona of the Young Bucks, despite their recent loss to Sting and Darby Allin at Revolution. Okada is filling the roles of two key Elite members who may not return soon, injecting a new dynamic into a group that has seen its most drastic change since AEW’s inception.

Okada is officially All Elite, and it appears that his impact will be felt immediately. With his addition, Will Ospreay, and possibly Mercedes Mone, the upcoming month in AEW is shaping up to be action-packed.

AEW Dynamite preview 03/06/24: New look, new season, new talent?

There’s no question AEW Dynamite will have a new look tonight, but will there be a new face as well?

It’s kind of silly when wrestling promotions with weekly TV shows declare the start of a new season. That said, if you’re going to do that, it helps to have a visible sign that a page is being turned, and as you can see above, that’s true for AEW Dynamite tonight thanks to its spiffy new logo.

Oh, and AEW is building toward a brand new PPV: AEW Dynasty, which is headed for St. Louis on April 21.

Might there be more that’s new on top of that? And what of the matches for people we know will be on the show?

Is Will Ospreay long for the Don Callis Family?

What a full-time debut the Aerial Assassin made at Revolution. Will Ospreay absolutely delivered the goods against Konosuke Takeshita, ostensibly a teammate in the Don Callis Family.

About that … Ospreay is set to take on another teammate tonight in Kyle Fletcher (also a mate from United Empire). This is a weird set of circumstances since Ospreay is definitely getting a warm reaction from AEW fans, who despite the rest of the Family. It’s hard to imagine things won’t go sideways soon, perhaps as early as tonight.

But at least we get to see Ospreay wrestle on free TV.

Will Riho return to glory, or can Kris Statlander keep climbing?

One match that AEW promoted ahead of today is an interesting matchup in the women’s division. Riho is sort of AEW royalty, seeing as she was the first ever AEW Women’s World Champion. Kris Statlander has been TBS Champion, and is always kind of on periphery of world title contenders when healthy.

So perhaps this is a bout that would position one of them for a world title shot against Toni Storm, especially since both are fan favorites. Yet Statlander doesn’t seem to be free of the program that she and Willow Nightingale have with Julia Hart and Skye Blue, so that might play a part in the outcome here.

Might there be rain in the forecast for the Atlanta area?

It’s no secret by now that Kazuchika Okada is expected to join AEW. The question is now more one of when and not if.

Could the answer be tonight? Fightful Select (subscription required) has sure made it seem possible, so we’ll be on full Rainmaker alert for Dynamite.

We’re expecting more will be revealed when it comes to the card for Dynamite tonight and will update this post as it is. Regardless, we’re ready for the new season and raring to go with live updates here at Wrestling Junkie beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Update: We said there would likely be more revealed ahead of tonight’s “new era” of Dynamite, and so it has. Here’s what else to expect:

  • Hook defends the FTW Championship against Brian Cage
  • EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson say they have a “huge” announcement

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Report: Kazuchika Okada’s AEW debut tentatively planned for March 6

Kazuchika Okada’s AEW debut will reportedly happen days after Revolution.

Kazuchika Okada‘s departure from New Japan Pro-Wrestling has been known for some time as he fulfilled his remaining commitments with the company. The expectation is that he will join AEW, and the only question is when he will make his debut with the company — whether it will be at Revolution on Sunday or in a subsequent show.

Even with a busy March, from Sting’s retirement match and Will Ospreay’s full-time debut at Revolution to the teased debut of Mercedes Mone at Big Business, it seems AEW has room for more next month to showcase its next big splash.

According to Fightful Select, AEW is tentatively planning for Okada to “be in the fold” by the Mar. 6 episode of Dynamite. Tony Khan also said on Thursday’s Revolution media call that he’s very excited about something for next week’s Dynamite.

Fightful noted they have heard “plenty of discussion” about Okada’s potential debut on that episode, but numerous sources said the hope as of mid-February was for him to be in the company by then.

The 36-year-old’s AEW debut seems imminent, and one can expect the company to position him as a big star. With an already crowded roster vying for television time on Dynamite, Revolution, Rampage and subsequent pay-per-views, the approach to integrating the Rainmaker into the fold will be interesting, similar to how AEW is incorporating Ospreay, starting with his match at Revolution against Konosuke Takeshita.

Okada is technically not a newcomer to AEW, having participated in the AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door event and teamed with Orange Cassidy in a Dynamite tag match in October 2023. That familiarity may have been an influence over signing with WWE, along with an abundance of opportunities for fresh feuds.

As AEW wraps up the Sting era on Sunday, it seems they are promptly ushering in a new era with plenty of big business.

Rain in AEW’s forecast: Kazuchika Okada reportedly on his way

It appears Kazuchika Okada has made his decision about where to continue his pro wrestling career.

The Rainmaker should soon be getting his own All Elite graphic.

While the feeling has been that Kazuchika Okada would eventually land in AEW, today brought the most emphatic report yet that he will sign there and not with WWE.

Fightful Select (subscription required) says that “barring some unforeseen catastrophe,” Okada will finalize a deal with AEW soon and debut there in earnest in the not too distant future.

We haven’t heard firm plans on when Kazuchika Okada is slated for his debut as an AEW-contracted star. However, we’ve heard it’s expected to be after he finishes up his commitments with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

The 36-year-old Okada became one of pro wrestling’s hottest free agents earlier this year, when New Japan Pro-Wrestling confirmed that it’s longtime pillar would not be re-signing with the company once his contract expired Jan. 31. Both WWE and AEW were said to have had discussions with Okada, but the latter always felt like it was the frontrunner.

Okada is no stranger to an AEW ring, and that familiarity could have played a factor in his decision. Along with appearing on both editions of the AEW/NJPW dual-branded Forbidden Door event, Okada also teamed with Orange Cassidy for a tag team match on the Oct. 25, 2023 episode of Dynamite (interestingly, Okada lost all of those matches).

All eyes will now be on when Okada might make his debut as a regular member of the AEW roster. The company’s next pay-per-view is Revolution on March 3, which is certainly a possibility.

However, the recently announced Big Business episode of Dynamite scheduled for Boston on March 13 seems like an even better bet. While the event name and location hint heavily that it will be the site of the AEW debut for Mercedes Moné, Okada also has a money theme and would help prove Tony Khan’s assertion correct that it will be an unforgettable night.

Regardless of when he starts, Okada gives AEW another world class talent who would be a potential main event-level talent on any roster. Having accomplished just about everything possible in New Japan, the next chapter in his career will be worth watching.

Kazuchika Okada says goodbye to NJPW, takes Rainmaker name with him

Next stop, AEW? That remains to be seen, but Kazuchika Okada said farewell and thank you to NJPW and its fans.

It’s going to rain somewhere other than New Japan Pro-Wrestling very soon.

Now that it’s Feb. 1 in Japan, the contract of Kazuchika Okada, the top star in NJPW over the past decade, has expired. Shortly after he became a free agent, Okada posted a short thank you and farewell message on social media.

Here’s the translation in English, according to Google Translate:

Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro Wrestling for 17 years!
thank you very much!
I laughed, got angry, cried, it was great!
I look forward to playing the remaining three games as a free agent!

His comment at the end refers to several dates he will still work this month with New Japan even though he’s not re-signing with the company. Where will he turn up next? PWInsider repeated today that “the expectation is that Okada is AEW-bound,” though until he actually shows up somewhere, that’s not set in stone.

Wherever he goes, Okada will be able to call himself the Rainmaker just as he did in Japan. He filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office last month for Rainmaker, and has filed one for the use of his own name in wrestling contexts as well. That will be a big help for any company that lands his services, as he won’t have to change his presentation or gimmick.

No one expects Kazuchika Okada, Mercedes Moné in the Royal Rumble

The Rainmaker and Sasha Banks at WWE Royal Rumble would be fun, but it doesn’t look like they’re on the way.

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One thing pro wrestling teaches us again and again is that you never know. All indicators were that CM Punk was unlikely to return to WWE in time for Survivor Series, but then a last minute deal came together and lo and behold, there he was, right at the end of the show.

So we go into this weekend’s Royal Rumble in St. Petersburg knowing full well that perhaps WWE can pull something similar off with arguably the two hottest free agents around, Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné. It just doesn’t look like it would be wise to get your hopes up for either one.

Pro wrestling insiders are united on this. PWInsider says neither Okada nor Moné are currently scheduled for the Rumble. Fightful Select (subscription required) got perhaps the best quote we’ve ever heard about the possibility of a talent appearing with regard to Moné: “Well, we’re not really interested in contract tampering with her, so I doubt it.”

Why this attitude? It’s because as Dave Meltzer repeated in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), both of them could be starting with AEW soon.

Regarding Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone, the belief from this side is that both will be starting soon. Mone was doing acting work but there is talk her debut will be played up extremely big and that announcement could be soon. She has been back training to return to the ring. Her coming to AEW was expected for months, even before they showed her at Wembley. But she did negotiate with WWE after that and while they were far apart on money, unless the contract is signed nothing is a lock. For Okada, the last word was that he had not made up his mind. I know people here range from hopeful to I’d perceive as confident he will be coming.

Meltzer added that even if Okada ultimately decides to head to WWE, he believes the company would wait until WrestleMania to debut him.

So yes, The Rainmaker could be in the Rumble this weekend, and Sasha Banks could be back. We just wouldn’t get your heart set on that, since it’s very likely to get broken.

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Report: AEW had been ‘very hopeful’ to land Kazuchika Okada

AEW reportedly has hopes of luring the Rainmaker, but WWE is expected to make a play for him too.

A New Japan Pro-Wrestling without Kazuchika Okada is about to become a reality, as the company announced the departure of the 8-time Wrestle Kingdom main eventer, closing the book on speculation about his future with the promotion.

Okada will immediately face questions about what’s next for him, and there appears to be some substance.

According to Fightful Select (subscription required), AEW was “very hopeful” and “definitely interested” in landing Okada. While they tossed around ideas for him, the report added it’s currently too early to determine where he’ll land.

Fightful also reported its WWE sources had not yet heard of any talks involving the two sides, but “expected that to at least be explored.” The WWE end of things had last heard that he was unsure about making the move. He also can’t work the Royal Rumble on Saturday, Jan. 27, unless NJPW approves it.

As for Okada leaving NJPW, his departure was amicable and they kept the door open for his return in the future, despite the announcement surprising some people.

The 36-year-old’s relationship with AEW is well established, having previously worked Forbidden Door and on Dynamite, thanks to NJPW’s partnership with Tony Khan’s company. Additionally, he has numerous top names to potentially feud with while headlining their pay-per-views.

WWE presents even more opportunities for new rivalries, however, with the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Randy Orton and others waiting. There’s also the opportunity to headline a WrestleMania.

In the meantime, all eyes will be on Okada’s next move. With three WWE stadium shows and AEW Revolution looming, there are plenty of opportunities to debut him grandly, pending a decision is near. For now, he’ll finish up in NJPW to close a historic run as the company’s top star and then depart not long after Jan. 31, 2024, when his contract expires.