Tag: Konosuke Takeshita

AEW Dynamite results 03/27/24: Swerve stomps his way to No. 1 contender status

Also on AEW Dynamite, Willow Nightingale earned a TBS Championship shot at Dynasty.

Though he’s not the only big name recent addition to the roster, it’s hard not to get swept up in the pure enthusiasm that Will Ospreay has brought with him to AEW. In the ring? Of course, that’s a given, and we should see it again tonight in Quebec City when he takes on Konosuke Takeshita.

It’s more than that, though. Ospreay was rarely a straightforward babyface during his time in New Japan, but he’s embraced that role wholeheartedly since he made the jump. He speaks about AEW as an ideal in a way that we have rarely heard (though stalwarts like Jon Moxley and Britt Baker have expressed similar feelings through the years), and in a manner that makes you want to buy whatever he’s selling.

And that’s great. Having two strong national wrestling promotions in the U.S. is a boon for the talent and for fans. Yet it’s even better when someone like Ospreay is where he truly wants to be, not just because one company paid him more or the like.

It’s no doubt easier for Ospreay to feel this pumped since he already has a juicy match set for AEW Dynasty next month. In fact, Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson is the only match finalized for that event so far, which makes one wonder if we might see more movement on that end tonight on Dynamite.

Certainly, the four-way women’s match slated for tonight will do that, as the winner gets a TBS Championship shot. Two tag team matches are part of a tournament for the vacant titles at Dynasty as well, though the winners won’t be able to say “meet me in St. Louis” just yet since these are only the quarterfinals.

Anyway, we’re ready to recap all the action, so let’s light the fuse (RIP original Dynamite theme).

AEW Dynamite results from Quebec City:

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

  • Will Ospreay def. Katsuyori Shibata by pinfall
  • A hype video is shown for Bryan Danielson, narrated by Excalibur

  • Matthew and Nicholas Jackson don’t like Renee Paquette’s “ambush journalism,” but they talk about their biggest goal, which is getting their AEW Tag Team Championship belts back

  • Kazuchika Okada pulls up in an expensive sports car, as one does if one is the Rainmaker
  • Young Bucks def. Private Party by pinfall in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal; the finish was a little strange and both teams attempted to cheat to win
  • Don Callis appears to talk up Konosuke Takeshita, who is facing Swerve Strickland in tonight’s main event
  • Mercedes Moné rolls up, ready to do guest commentary
  • Darby Allin and Tony Hawk talk about the charity he was going to climb Mount Everest to support, The Skatepark Project
  • Paquette gets Chris Jericho and Hook together, and it sounds like Jericho is offering to mentor or manage him, though Hook is understandably a little wary
  • Willow Nightingale def. Anna Jay, Kris Statlander and Skye Blue in a 4-Way match for a TBS Championship shot; Julia Hart attacks Willow from behind after the bell but backs off when Mercedes gets up from the announce table
  • Dustin Rhodes says nothing’s different even at age 55, and he’s as passionate as ever; The Butcher shows up and challenges him to a Bunkhouse Brawl on Rampage

  • Ben Mankiewicz appears with “Timeless” Toni Storm and ends up completely befuddled by her catchphrases

  • Best Friends def. Undisputed Kingdom by pinfall in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal, as Chuck Taylor was able to neutralize Roderick Strong’s attempt to interfere; the Bucks make a brief appearance afterward to stare down Best Friends
  • Kyle O’Reilly talks to Paquette about getting a win under his belt to kick off his comeback, and he says he’s going to go it alone again on Collision to keep proving he doesn’t need Undisputed Kingdom backing him
  • An Adam Copeland video goes back through his TNT Championship victory, which he will defend for the first time Saturday on Collision
  • Swerve Strickland def. Konosuke Takeshita by pinfall in a No. 1 Contenders Match
  • Samoa Joe appears briefly with Paquette to menacingly say Swerve is not the man he thinks he is, and he’ll prove it next week

Will Ospreay gets a fun victory over Katsuyori Shibata

Courtesy of NJPW, we see footage from these two gents wrestling each other seven years ago. Ospreay looks like he’s a teenager, and Shibata was victorious on that night.

The question about this matchup was whether Ospreay would wrestle something more akin to Shibata’s style and pace, and he does … for a bit. He eventually takes to the air, however, and takes the bigger of the bumps when Shibata nails him with a big boot from the apron to the floor.

Oh, and he gets suplexed and kicked on the floor too.

Shibata gets to show off his striking game as well, plus they trade submissions. Yes, Ospreay can do those as well as the fancier stuff.

Ospreay has to fight out of several submission holds, and he eventually hits an Oscutter. Both men escape some close calls before Ospreay hits the Hidden Blade, but it’s still not enough to end it.

You know what is? A Tiger Driver followed by a second Hidden Blade. Good stuff.

Willow Nightingale earns a TBS Championship opportunity

Mercedes Moné is on guest commentary for this, and there’s plenty of intrigue involved. Skye would be going up against her own friend, Julia Hart, if she wins, and Willow and Stat are tag team partners most of the time.

There’s an awesome sequence after the commercial break with a Code Blue by Skye, people getting dropped onto each other, and more. Willow and Stat finally end up facing each other, but Skye barges in and they join forces against her (though also get knocked together).

Willow DVDs Skye on the apron, leading to amazing reactions from both Mercedes and Stokely. Eventually, Nightingale ends up isolated with Anna Jay, hitting a pumphandle sitout powerbomb that wins it.

Right after the bell, Julia Hart attacks Nightingale from behind, which gets Mercedes up from her seat … but only for a staredown.

Swerve Strickland stomps his way past Konosuke Takeshita to become No. 1 contender to Samoa Joe

Strickland offers a handshake, which Takeshita accepts but turns into the beginning of the grappling. Swerve has the upper hand early on, controlling the action and the pace.

Does he hit the Griddy? Yes, yes he does.

Takeshita fires himself up by hitting a sheer drop brainbuster, which actually is a good motivator. Or I’d imagine, I’ve never hit one.

It’s also fair to wonder if there’s an overrun tonight as we head toward six minutes left in the show. Strickland hits his somersault to the apron into a hurricanrana, which is wild.

Swerve is selling the heck out of his neck/shoulder region. Takeshita finds him with a tope con hilo on the floor, also outstanding.

Strickland fires back with a nasty DDT out of the corner and a corkscrew senton, earning both a near fall and a “this is awesome” chant from the Quebec City crowd.

Takeshita pulls off a nasty poison rana and a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. We’re going past 10 p.m. and into “what will it take to win this” territory.

Maybe a Swerve Stomp on the apron? That sets off a series of counters and reversals, plus a nasty knee strike that gets Takeshita a two count.

Another Swerve Stomp after a House Call? No, but a standing Swerve Stomp and a JML Driver finally do it. Hot damn.

AEW Dynamite preview, card 03/27/24: Ospreay battles Shibata in Quebec City

A big four-way women’s match with Mercedes Moné on commentary will also be a highlight of AEW Dynamite from Quebec City.

Is the phrase “dream match” thrown around too loosely in the current pro wrestling scene? Perhaps. But it’s a lot shorter than saying “pretty freaking cool matches we never thought we’d see,” and one of those is again on tap for AEW Dynamite tonight from Quebec City.

Can Will Ospreay soar again to defeat Katsuyori Shibata?

So far, Will Ospreay has looked like he’s worth every penny of what AEW paid to sign him, not only bringing his undeniable in-ring talent to bear but also turning in some passionate promos. He’s the goods.

In Katsuyori Shibata, he’s got an interesting opponent for tonight. A number of people are watching to see if Ospreay can perhaps throttle back just a tad and still be compelling, or if Shibata will take bumps we perhaps haven’t seen from him given his injury history. It’s going to be fascinating but will almost certainly be great.

Can Swerve Strickland pass a stiff test in Konosuke Takeshita?

The other big singles match advertised for tonight’s card is a meeting between two wrestlers seemingly headed in opposite directions at the moment. Swerve Strickland is still very much a world title threat, laser focused on getting back to a place where he can take on Samoa Joe one on one.

Konosuke Takeshita remains as awesome as ever between the ropes, but he recently took an ‘L’ to Ospreay and seems likely to do so again in Quebec City. Could his devotion to the Don Callis Family start faltering soon? It might be nice to see him as a face again.

Mercedes Moné might be in the middle of something

Even though the self-appointed CEO of AEW doesn’t have a feud to call her own just yet, Mercedes Moné is definitely sniffing around the edges of one thanks to her history with Willow Nightingale. That figures to come into play tonight as Mercedes will be on commentary when Nightingale and Kris Statlander are part of a four-way match that also includes Skye Blue and Anna Jay.

The stakes are real, too, as the winner gets a TBS Championship shot at Dynasty. Keep an eye on Moné to see what part she might play.

AEW Dynamite card for Quebec City:

  • Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Swerve Strickland
  • Young Bucks vs. Private Party – AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal
  • Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue vs. Anna Jay vs. Willow Nightingale – 4-Way match for a TBS Championship shot at AEW Dynasty, with Mercedes Moné on commentary
  • Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom – AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal

The action kicks off as usual at 8 p.m. ET, and we’ll have full AEW Dynamite results and updates live here at Wrestling Junkie all evening long.

AEW Rampage results 03/20/24: Julia Hart, Skye Blue prevail in Street Fight

We also saw Best Friends advance in the AEW tag team title tournament in Toronto.

How’s everyone feeling after AEW Dynamite? Ready for another hour of wrestling? Because that’s exactly what we’re getting on a live episode of AEW Rampage on a special night.

In fact the change from one show to another in the T-Dot was basically seamless, since the main event I Quit match ran long. Confetti for Adam Copeland, tears for Christian Cage.

But hey, there’s plenty to look forward to on Rampage as well. We’ll see another team advance in the tag team title tournament, and Katsuyori Shibata is in action. The main event should be a women’s tag team Street Fight, and that works for us.

So yes, bring on the third hour, we say, if only for this week. Let’s get into it.

AEW Rampage results from Toronto:

  • Bullet Club Gold is in Florida, not Toronto, threatening to win the trios titles from The Acclaimed, and Jay White claims he saved Darby Allin’s life by breaking his foot and keeping him from climbing Mount Everest
  • Renee Paquette brings out The Acclaimed, who are definitely upset at Bullet Club Gold and lob plenty of insults at White and The Gunns
  • Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta) def. Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher and Powerhouse Hobbs) by pinfall in an AEW Tag Team Tournament Wild Card Match
  • Katsuyori Shibata def. Kevin Matthews by pinfall
  • New TNT Champion Adam Copeland is shown popping champagne bottles backstage with plenty of the roster’s faces
  • Konosuke Takeshita def. Rocky Romero by pinfall
  • Skye Blue and Julia Hart def. Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale by submission in a Street Fight as Hart taps out Statlander; the match included tables, moves on top of the announce table, chairs and a whole mess of thumbtacks

AEW Rampage results 03/15/24: Konosuke Takeshita dazzles with Komander

A look at the results from the March 15 episode of AEW Rampage.

With Dynasty not slated until April 21, AEW has time to kill in-between major events. Thus far, they’ve used their time well, featuring a raucous match between Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher on Dynamite, Bryan Danielson’s challenging Ospreay to a bout at Dynasty, and the clash between Samoa Joe and Wardlow for the AEW World Championship. Don’t forget about Mercedes Moné’s AEW debut either.

The Mar. 15 episode of Rampage offers AEW another opportunity to shine. Despite lacking high stakes, the card still features intriguing matches highlighting the roster’s top young talent, including Konosuke Takeshita’s first match since his barnburner with Ospreay at Revolution.

With that said, let’s dive in and see what Rampage has in store from the TD Garden in Boston.

AEW Rampage results from Boston

  • Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta def. The Dark Order (Evil Uno and John Silver) by pinfall
  • A video package showcases The Righteous, who have mostly been absent since losing an ROH World Tag Team Championship to MJF in 2023
  • Saraya says her brother, Zack Knight, wants a fight; Knight fights a few guys backstage in a cartoonish rage until Angelo Parker steps up to brawl
  • Toni Storm presents her and Mariah May to the crowd; Storm says they’re performing a “very special” tag team match and calls out Deonna Purrazzo
  • Toni Storm and Mariah May def. Little Mean Kathleen and Kayla Sparks by pinfall; Purrazzo interrupts after the match and brings out Thunder Rosa as her tag partner, and they chase Storm and May from the ring; Purrazzo says she’ll see them next week
  • A video package showcases Queen Aminata, one of AEW’s rising stars
  • Konosuke Takeshita def. Komander by pinfall in a great match worthy of closing the show
  • A vignette showcases Serena Deeb, who says she will become champion
  • The Undisputed Kingdom (Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett and Matt Taven) def. Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin) and Action Andretti by pinfall

AEW Revolution 2024 results: Sting ends storied career on high note

See how Sting delivered one final indelible moment, and who else won at AEW Revolution 2024 in Greensboro.

It’s time to say goodbye to Sting. The Icon ends his nearly 40-year career in pro wrestling tonight at AEW Revolution in front of what’s sure to be a very emotional crowd in Greensboro, N.C.

Sting and Darby Allin will take on the Young Bucks … excuse me, AEW EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. The AEW World Tag Team Championship is on the line as well, but the real stakes involved are because it will be Sting’s last match.

Will he go out on top and retire a champion? Or will he think it’s the right thing to do to pass the torch (though it must be said, the Bucks are far from young up-and-comers themselves at this point) and take the pin in his farewell bout? And what part will Ric Flair play in the whole affair?

The rest of the card looks very promising to boot. There are five other championship matches in store, including a three-way dance for the AEW World Championship between Samoa Joe, Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. The AEW Women’s World Championship also figures to be a hard-hitting, top notch showdown as “Timeless” Toni Storm collides with former friend turned dangerous rival Deonna Purrazzo.

Even the 8-man All-Star Scramble figures to provide some intrigue, as the winner earns a world title opportunity. Could it, for instance, be used to point Wardlow toward the top of the card? It will be interesting to see.

AEW Revolution Zero Hour results:

  • Bang Bang Scissor Gang def. Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Willie Mack and Private Party by pinfall when Jay White pins Mack
  • White cuts a promo after the match that promotes the Big Bang Scissor Gang while also teasing some “big business” for the Big Business episode of Dynamite in less than two weeks
  • Lexy Nair catches up with Orange Cassidy, who tells Best Friends he wants them to stay in the back tonight for his match with Roderick Strong
  • A vignette airs with Pac vowing to be back very soon whether we like it or not
  • Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander def. Skye Blue and Julia Hart by pinfall when Nightingale pins Blue

AEW Revolution 2024 results from Greensboro:

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

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AEW Revolution 2024 results: Will Ospreay tears it down in victory over Konosuke Takeshita

See how Will Ospreay won his AEW debut against Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution 2024.

The fans already seem very glad to see Will Ospreay in AEW in an official capacity as Daon Callis joins the announce team for this one. Konosuke Takeshita looks ready for him too, and they lock up to a bit of a stalemate.

Ospreay gets in some stiff slaps, then a headscissors before blowing a kiss to the crowd. Here comes strikes in both directions again, and a jumping clothesline from Takeshita to finish the exchange.

Takeshita crotches Ospreay in the corner and smashes a forearm shot, then executes a delayed vertical suplex that’s good only for a one count. He stays in control and hears some jeers from the fans.

A forearm to the chest puts Ospreay back down, but he rises with some chops and an uppercut. Takeshita’s hip toss is countered by an abdominal stretch, and Ospreay takes to the skies for the first time for an elbow strike.

Ospreay’s rebound handspring corkscrew kick lands, and Takeshita finds no respite on the floor as a springboard cross body finds him. A belly-to-back suplex is on target, but Takeshita quickly kicks out at one.

Kicks to the face lead to another big Ospreay chop, but Takeshita fires right back with a facebuster, a big kick and a tope con hilo. Referee Bryce Remsburg is up to about six when both men return to the ring.

Takeshita launches into a senton but catches knees, yet he’s able to avoid an Ospreay top rope move and hit a German suplex for a near fall. Back and forth come the big moves, leaving both men on the mat while the fans rise to their feet.

Loud “this is awesome” chants break out as the combatants deliver forearm shots on their knees. That battle continues on the feet, and Takeshita wilts first.

A rolling elbow strike has the referee checking on Takeshita, but he’s good to go. He even grabs Ospreay’s boot in the corner for his own big forearm shot, wobbling his foe. An even bigger shot is next, dropping Ospreay to his back though Takeshita is too worn out to cover.

A series of counters leads to a series of kicks from Ospreay, as well as a Tiger Driver for two. An Oscutter comes next, but it’s countered by a Blue Thunder Bomb for two right back.

Now it’s a “Fight Forever” chant, and well deserved. More kicks force Takeshita back, and an Oscutter finally connects for a near fall. Can Ospreay seal the deal here? Nope, as Takeshita sees the Hidden Blade coming and very nearly wins it with another stiff strike.

A battle in the corner ends with Ospreay’s thrust kick to his foe’s exposed face. However, Takeshita fends off a hurricanrana and drops Ospreay with a sheer drop brainbuster onto the turnbuckle that is a wicked bump for sure. Neither that nor a running knee, however, are enough to pin Ospreay.

Another exchange of counters leads to a Stundog Millionaire and a poison rana, but Takeshita fights right back with two impressive moves. Ospreay flies across for a clothesline only to have Takeshita kick out at one.

Takeshita runs over Ospreay but sees the running knee countered by a powerbomb. A Styles Clash is next, and yet it’s still not enough to wrap it up.

A Tiger Driver ’91 puts Takeshita down, and the Hidden Blade keeps him there. Kyle Fletcher joins Ospreay in the ring afterward, throwing up the United Empire sign with him.

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AEW Revolution 2024 card: Everything confirmed including Sting’s last match

A look at the confirmed matches for AEW Revolution 2024.

After running a monthly pay-per-view for most of 2023, AEW won’t host a marquee event until Sunday, Mar. 3, when Revolution takes over the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Sting’s retirement match will headline AEW’s first PPV of 2024. It has been advertised months in advance, allowing anticipation to build up for his final in-ring showing. Only recently, after their victory against Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita on the Jan. 10 episode of Dynamite, Sting and Darby Allin were confronted by the Young Bucks from the stage.

The following week on Dynamite, the Jacksons teased what’s to come in an interview where they name-dropped Sting and referred to him as the “last of a dying breed.” When asked if they will face the Icon in his final match, they replied that they will “pull some strings” as Executive Vice Presidents. It finally was made official on the Feb. 14 episode of Dynamite as Allin accepted the EVPs’ challenge.

Another confirmed match arose when Roderick Strong challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship. The Undisputed Kingdom, formed at Worlds End, said they were after all the gold in AEW, so this is step one, with Strong vying for his first title since joining the company in 2023.

To top it all off, Samoa Joe will defend the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page in a Triple Threat match. While Strickland and Page competed in a No. 1 contenders match to determine the Samoan Submission Machine’s opponent at Revolution, their battle went to a time-limit draw. Tony Khan chimed in moments later to give both men a chance at the title instead of one.

Check out the full card below.

Latest update: March 2, 2024, 9:45 p.m. ET.

AEW Revolution 2024 card:

  • Samoa Joe (c) vs. Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland – AEW World Championship match
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo – AEW Women’s World Championship match
  • Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong – AEW International Championship match
  • Sting and Darby Allin (c) vs. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson – AEW World Tag Team Championship match
  • Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson – AEW Continental Crown Championship match, plus if Danielson loses, he has to shake Kingston’s hand
  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay
  • Christian Cage (c) vs. Daniel Garcia – AEW TNT Championship match
  • Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer vs. Chris Jericho vs. Hook vs. Brian Cage vs. Magnus vs. Dante Martin – All-Star 8-Man Scramble for future AEW World Championship match
  • FTR vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley)

AEW Revolution 2024 predictions: Will Sting win his last match?

Will Sting win his swan song? And which champions will retain at AEW Revolution in Greensboro?

While WWE has been gearing up for its biggest show of the year, AEW has been plugging away on its road to Revolution, which will be a historic event in its own right.

That is because Revolution will be the site of Sting’s final match. The promise of seeing Sting’s final match has helped AEW sell more than 16,000 tickets at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., which is where Sting burst onto the national wrestling scene as a member of Jim Crockett Promotions.

Five decades later, Sting will bid farewell to wrestling fans not only in Greensboro, but to fans from around the world who enjoyed watching him perform throughout his stellar career.

What can we expect from Sting’s final time in a ring? How many tears will wrestling fans shed during the event? Let’s get to that and more in my predictions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AEW Dynamite results from Phoenix:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AEW Rampage results 01/26/24: Komander commands the ring

See how Komander earned a title shot against Orange Cassidy this week on AEW Rampage.

AEW returned on Friday night after a heavily storyline-driven episode of Dynamite. The quest for the next contender to Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship progressed, including Adam Copeland’s latest “Cope Open” against Minoru Suzuki and a subsequent callout to Christian Cage.

Meanwhile, Rampage featured its own developments, such as the “Freshly Squeezed 4-Way” match for the No. 1 contender to Orange Cassidy’s AEW International Championship and the ongoing story involving Ruby Soho, Saraya and Harley Cameron. Multiple angles unfolded in Savannah, Georgia, creating another chaotic hour of AEW programming:

AEW Rampage results:

  • Jon Moxley def. Lee Moriarty by submission, drawing “this is awesome” chants in a lengthy match showcasing Moriarty’s in-ring prowess; Shane Taylor thwarts Moxley’s show of respect after the match as he and Moriarty beat down the Blackpool Combat Club member
  • As Anna Jay gets interviewed backstage, Angelo Parker tells her that he believes he knows who is responsible for everything and questions if Anna was behind Harley Cameron’s kiss; Anna slaps Parker and says she is tired of having everyone’s back when no one supports her in return
  • Konosuke Takeshita def. Christopher Daniels by pinfall within minutes; Don Callis says after the match his family is taking everything from Chris Jericho and challenges the Fozzy singer to face Takeshita in two weeks on Dynamite; however, Kyle Fletcher intervenes, claiming his right to a shot; Callis agrees and says Fletcher will face Jericho next week, while Jericho battles Takeshita the following week
  • Backstage, Renee Paquette announces Top Flight vs. Private Party for next week; Action Andretti says he’ll be in Top Flight’s corner next week to make sure nothing crazy happens
  • Anna Jay def. Ruby Soho by submission
  • In a backstage interview, Eddie Kingston tells Renee Paquette he has no respect for Bryan Danielson; Kingston then challenges Willie Mack to a non-title match on Collision, but if Mack wins, he earns a chance at the AEW Continental Championship
  • Komander def. The Butcher, El Hijo del Vikingo and Kip Sabian to become the No. 1 contender to Orange Cassidy’s AEW Intercontinental Championship