Tag: Kota Ibushi

AEW Dynamite results 11/15/23: Omega finds some redemption, MJF has nowhere to turn

The Street Fight was wildly entertaining, but Bullet Club Gold left no doubt MJF is in its crosshairs on AEW Dynamite.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/28fdyIsB-iGXscXYUBUF/1699882083309_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0iZ2k0Z216ZHpqZnp1ZWxsamk1bWhneTJ5bGZrdWV2a2ciIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMzMCI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

If you can’t settle things in the ring, just take it to the streets like the Doobie Brothers once sang. If that very old reference is over your head, we promise that everything will become clear tonight on AEW Dynamite from Ontario, Calif.

The big match being promoted for this show is the Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Street Fight, and yes, that is its full name thanks to some sponsorship love from Sega. On one side is The Don Callis Family, with Brian Cage filling in for the still injured Sammy Guevara.

On the other side are The Golden Jets, Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega. But to round out their four-man team, they each called a friend: Omega sent the Omega-Signal up for Kota Ibushi, while Jericho summoned former tag team partner Paul Wight.

Wight amusingly said he’s not even sure what the match will entail, so that can only mean fun. Sure, there’s other interesting stuff on tonight’s card as well, including The Young Bucks taking on Penta and Komander, as well as Red Velvet going up against Skye Blue in a TBS Championship eliminator.

But at the end of the day, we’re suckers for a good Street Fight. And this one should indeed be good.

Plus we’ll see if the Devil shows up to make MJF’s life miserable again, and perhaps the announce team will discuss this tidbit from Tony Khan:

AEW Dynamite results from Ontario (not that one):

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

  • The show begins with a look at the Devil and “masked assailants” taking out The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn, followed by Samoa Joe mocking MJF for running out of friends
  • Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta def. Hook and Orange Cassidy by pinfall
  • After the match, Mox gets on the mic and says Cassidy is and has always been nothing, and that he’ll grind Orange into dust and win his International Championship at Full Gear
  • Swerve Strickland gets a severe verbal roasting from Hangman Adam Page, and can do nothing as Page attacks Prince Nana
  • Roderick Strong claims he knows who the Devil is and calls Adam Cole to tell him … it’s MJF; Cole suggests maybe it’s Strong and hangs up
  • Skye Blue def. Red Velvet by pinfall, earning a spot in the three-way TBS Championship match at Full Gear
  • Miro says what he predicted is coming true, and that his wife CJ Perry wants gold and fame and those trappings … but it will be Daniel Garcia who pays the price on Collision
  • Mariah May is overjoyed at the opportunity to meet Toni Storm, who seems put off by the meeting and asks Luther to contact “head of the studio” Khan to secure a tune-up match
  • Samoa Joe def. Jon Cruz by submission in a quick squash match
  • Joe then asks for a mic to extend his offer of friendship to MJF, but he also warns that the offer is time limited
  • The reveal of the AEW Continental Classic from the most recent episode of Collision is replayed, along with Bryan Danielson confirming he’s going to be in it
  • Young Bucks def. Komander and Penta El Zero Miedo by pinfall, taking some shortcuts to do so
  • The victorious Bucks run into Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega during a backstage interview, and it turns contentious in a hurry
  • The Gunns def. … uh, someone in a matter of seconds with a 3:10 to Yuma; afterward, they taunt MJF about what they’ll do to him since he has no friends left and will have to fight them alone
  • A hype video for Wardlow is shown, with him delivering a vow to “make the Devil my bitch” before the person in the Devil mask appears briefly at the end
  • The Golden Jets (Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega), Kota Ibushi and Paul Wight def. The Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher and Brian Cage) by pinfall in a Like a Dragon Gaiden Street Fight
  • MJF is a marked man and Bullet Club Gold proves it

AEW Dynamite preview 11/15/23: Street Fight a highlight ahead of Full Gear

AEW Dynamite will also bring clarity to the contenders for the TBS Championship and AEW World Tag Team Championship.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/YszdyIsBNO8Ip7-h3TBg/1699882116458_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0ibGZ6eHV6ZHpqZnp1ZXRzcGhiZXhhbnpubmF6dmlxdGgiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMzMCI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

Big pay-per-view cards are generally where the most deep-seated feuds get settled in pro wrestling, and Full Gear is definitely one of AEW’s most high profile events of any calendar year. But what happens when you simply can’t wait until then? That’s what we’ll find out tonight on AEW Dynamite in Ontario, Calif.

Who will win the Street Fight with the longest name in wrestling history?

Think we’re joking? Thanks to some sponsorship love, the technical name of this match is the Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Street Fight. And if you think it doesn’t need that many words, please consider that there’s a formal request to change the video game’s Wikipedia page so that it includes everything after the colon.

Jokes aside, this should not be for the weak of heart as Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho try to strike back against The Don Callis Family with the help of two of their friends, Kota Ibushi and Paul Wight. Callis’ side needed some reinforcements too since Sammy Guevara is still out of action, but it found a great replacement in Brian Cage.

It’s hard to imagine this won’t be memorable.

Will the Young Bucks focus if they turn heel?

It wasn’t that long ago that fans were (rightfully) questioning whether the Young Bucks winning a tag team title shot meant anything since AEW immediately seemed to forget about it. But it’s been brought back to the forefront as the Bucks will defend that opportunity tonight against the kinda-Lucha Bros., with Komander subbing for the injured Rey Fenix.

Because of the change, it feels unlikely that the Bucks will lose their chance to compete for the championship. They’ve also been acting a lot more heel-like lately, which begs the question of whether they will get back to what they’ve done best if they complete the turn. This Dynamite match may hint toward an answer.

Will MJF learn the Devil’s true identity tonight?

One of AEW’s most prominent running subplots involves the person in the Deivl mask who’s been making life difficult for anyone in the orbit of AEW World Champion MJF. Since Maxwell is scheduled to speak on Dynamite, it stands to reason that the Devil may make its latest appearance.

But will they reveal themselves? That’s the real drama any time the champ shows up now before Full Gear.

[lawrence-related id=39055]

Also slated for tonight’s Dynamite:

  • Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta battle Orange Cassidy and Hook
  • Red Velvet takes on Skye Blue in a TBS Championship title eliminator

We’re ready for this one and will be tuned in to TBS at 8 p.m. ET tonight. Join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live results and updates at that time.

AEW WrestleDream results: Seattle sees thrills plus a Rated R debut

Full AEW WrestleDream results from Seattle including title matches, a betrayal and a familiar face from Christian Cage’s past.

What’s in a dream? We’re about to find out, pro wrestling style, thanks to AEW WrestleDream in Seattle.

Tony Khan conceived this new addition to the AEW pay-per-view lineup as a way to honor the great Antonio Inoki, the founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling who passed away a year ago. While this isn’t a straight up dual-branded PPV with NJPW a la Forbidden Door, there will definitely be some New Japan talent who are prominently featured in the show.

There are also several levels of intrigue around the event. Khan hasn’t been shy about calling WrestleDream the end of one era of AEW and the beginning of a new one, but he has declined to elaborate on what that might mean.

Could there be some debuts? Perhaps. Many fans are anxious to see if WWE Hall of Famer Edge, likely using his real name of Adam Copeland, might show up since his WWE contract has expired. The fact that the main event will feature Darby Allin and Copeland’s longtime friend Christian Cage has only ratcheted up the hype.

Even if no one new shows up, the card should deliver on pure in-ring action as AEW usually does. Let’s see what the night has in store.

AEW WrestleDream Zero Hour pre show results:
  • Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena and Billie Starkz def. Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty), Diamante and Mercedes Martinez by pinfall
  • Claudio Castagnoli def. Josh Barnett by pinfall; afterward, Barnett gives Claudio a big show of respect afterward and says Inoki-san would be a fan of his, then says he will come after Castagnoli again down the road, to which he says “any time, any place” and pays respect in return
  • Luchasaurus def. Nick Wayne by pinfall
  • The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) and Billy Gunn def. TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, and Bad Dude Tito) by pinfall to retain the AEW World Trios Championship

AEW WrestleDream results:

(click on ay match with a link for

  • MJF addresses the crowd, talking about how pissed he is that someone stole his mask and that Adam Cole isn’t here tonight; he also tells The Righteous exactly what he’s about to do to them
  • MJF def. The Righteous by pinfall to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship
  • Eddie Kingston def. Katsuyori Shibata by pinfall to retain the ROH World Heavyweight Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship
  • Kris Statlander def. Julia Hart by pinfall to retain the AEW TBS Championship
  • Young Bucks def. The Gunns, Lucha Bros. and Orange Cassidy and Hook to win a future AEW World Tag Team Championship shot
  • Swerve Strickland def. Hangman Adam Page by pinfall
  • Ricky Starks def. Wheeler Yuta by pinfall
  • Bryan Danielson def. Zack Sabre Jr. by pinfall
  • The Don Callis Family (Konouke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara and Will Ospreay) def. Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi by pinfall
  • FTR def. Aussie Open by pinfall to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championship
  • Christian Cage def. Darby Allin 2-1 in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match to retain the AEW TNT Championship after Nick Wayne turns on Allin during the match
  • Cage and Wayne stomp away on Allin after the bell, but Sting comes down the ramp to make the save, except Luchasaurus arrives to aid the heels, and it looks bad for our heroes …
  • … until a short film plays that says “Rated R” on a road, bringing Adam Copeland, formerly known as Edge, to the ring; he takes a chair from Wayne and teases a Con-chair-to before using the chair to save the day; Sting and Copeland shake hands as the show goes off the air

AEW WrestleDream predictions: Who walks out of Seattle on top?

Who will emerge victorious in the first ever AEW WrestleDream in Seattle? Vaughn Johnson gives his picks for all the matches.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/-Uvr4IoBLH5_irLup9Ye/1695990725898_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0iZnZreG00cnVqZnh1ZXRjaWd2cHdzNHNtb3Z5ZHN3bGYiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMzMCI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

During a media call earlier this week, Tony Khan revealed that the plans behind Sunday’s pay-per-view began back on Oct. 1 of last year, when he heard that legendary wrestler and founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling Antonio Inoki had passed away at the age of 79.

Khan told the media that he took a mental note of the date and immediately began the ideation process of putting on a tribute show with New Japan to honor Inoki. The result is WrestleDream.

The last time AEW did something with a distinct NJPW flavor was the dual-branded Forbidden Door event back in June, which produced some of the best wrestling matches of the year. With a title like WrestleDream, I’d imagine we’ll see more of the same Sunday night.

Here are my predictions for the event:

Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

What is a better way to headline a supposed dream card than with a dream match between two of the best technical wrestlers in the world?

When matches like this come around, fans usually cheer for both participants because they are so happy to see the match become a reality. However, I believe that can take away from a match.

Danielson and Sabre should have no such issue as it emanates merely two hours away from the former’s hometown of Aberdeen, Wash. With Seattle being Danielson’s surrogate hometown for the evening, I’d imagine most of the fans in the building will be rooting for the hometown hero, which should elevate the match.

When it comes to picking a winner, that’s where things become difficult. Danielson has openly discussed the end of his full-time in-ring career being in the near future, which could lead to him looking for someone to pass the torch to as this generation’s best technical wrestler.

Sabre would certainly fit that bill.

However, because this match takes place in Danielson’s neck of the woods, I believe he will walk away with the victory, sending the fans in Seattle home happy.

Winner: Bryan Danielson

Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page

The segment between these two on this week’s edition of Dynamite was fantastic, and it added to my own personal excitement to see this encounter.

While that was fun, this is another match that is proving tough to predict. Why? Because both guys need the win.

Sure, Page has been to the top of the mountain before and has been heavily featured in the past, but he hasn’t been involved in a lot of eventful angles lately. A win here could re-energize his momentum and get him back to the top of the card.

However, Strickland has never been given a main event-caliber push, and it was only until recently that he was a consistent presence on the weekly television shows. And some of that credit should go to the hysterically funny Prince Nana.

Not to mention, it has been a while since Strickland picked up a big win. In my opinion, he’s due.

The match itself should be a classic.

Winner: Swerve Strickland

AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. Aussie Open

Another match, another potential classic for the world tag team titles.

While Aussie Open is a great team, I don’t see a reason to take the titles away from FTR at this point. 

Winners: FTR

AEW TNT Championship (2-out-of-3 Falls): Christian Cage (c) vs. Darby Allin

I may not hit on all of my predictions, but if there is one that you can take directly to the bank, it is that Allin will take chances with his body during the match — and some of them will be unnecessary.

I can easily see Cage doing something that would damn near incapacitate Allin, only for it to be used as a means to have the latter come back from behind and win the match.

Winner: Darby Allin

AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (c) vs. Julia Hart

As excited as I am to see the TBS title get some shine on a pay-per-view, I am just as disappointed in the fact that Statlander versus Hart is the only women’s match on this card.

When AEW and New Japan link up, in my eyes, it is a showcase of the best professional wrestling the world has to offer outside of WWE. There are enough great women’s wrestlers out there to warrant putting more than one match on a card of this magnitude. But guess how many women’s matches were on Forbidden Door?

One.

There are enough wrestlers in AEW’s women’s division that would warrant more than one match. But guess how many were on All In, the supposed biggest wrestling show of all time?

One.

Guess how many women’s matches were on All Out?

One.

And no, I’m not counting the pre-show matches. I’m talking about the proper pay-per-view that people pay their hard-earned money to watch.

Somehow, there’s never enough time for more.

Both Statlander and Hart are great wrestlers, and I love seeing the latter’s maturation into someone who has main event potential, but there are more talented wrestlers in AEW’s women’s division. They deserve to be put on this stage as well.

As far as a winner, I’m going with Statlander. I do believe that Hart will have a star-making performance in defeat.

Winner: Kris Statlander

Ring of Honor World & NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata

On paper, this sounds like it should be a banger, but with Kingston recently revealing that he is dealing with a lower back injury that forced him to step away from independent wrestling, I’m not sure what to expect.

Kingston also revealed that he recently signed a four-year extension with AEW. AEW making such a commitment tells me that the promotion is firmly behind Kingston as the ROH champ.

Winner: Eddie Kingston

Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: MJF (c) vs. The Righteous

As I wrote in a previous column, it would make total sense to have MJF lose to The Righteous and move on from tag team competition since his partner is sidelined with a broken ankle.

Winners: The Righteous

Chris Jericho & The Golden Elite (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. The Don Callis Family (Will Ospreay, Sammy Guevara, & Konosuke Takeshita)

After all of the trouble the Callis family has caused over the last few weeks, my instinct is usually to take the good guys in this situation.

However, I feel like Guevara needs a chance to redeem himself after losing to Jericho at Grand Slam. Sure, he gained some measure of revenge by getting some of his heat back on Jericho after the match.

But I feel like in order for him to get the maximum amount of revenge, he needs to beat Jericho. Maybe that will happen in a one-on-one match one day in the future, but I would make it happen here, and further elevate The Don Callis Family in the process.

Winners: The Don Callis Family 

No. 1 contender’s match for AEW World Tag Team Championship: Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros. vs. The Gunns vs. Orange Cassidy and Hook

Since three of the four teams have already been heavily featured in the past, I’m going to call for the upset and go with the odd couple pairing of Cassidy and Hook to come out on top.

Winners: Orange Cassidy and Hook

Ricky Starks vs. Wheeler Yuta

Yuta is cool and all, but if Starks doesn’t pick up the win here then we have some serious problems.

Winner: Ricky Starks

AEW WrestleDream date, start time: When to tune in for WrestleDream

When will AEW WrestleDream kick off from Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena? We tell you when to tune in.

Is pro wrestling for dreamers? The great Antonio Inoki thought so when he founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and AEW is going to do its best to carry on his spirit with the inaugural AEW WrestleDream.

The new event is set to take place at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Kraken. It occupies what used to be a fairly long layoff between AEW PPVs, which historically have gone from All Out in early September to Full Gear in mid-November with nothing in-between.

There’s been no confirmation as of yet if WrestleDream will carry on as an annual event or if this will be a one-off, but considering the location, it’s only fitting that one of the big attractions will be hometown hero Bryan Danielson. With the American Dragon recently admitting that his time as a full-time wrestler is winding down, his dream match against Zack Sabre Jr. for bragging rights over who is the world’s best technical wrestler should be a can’t-miss bout.

[lawrence-related id=36063]

Another match that should excite fans around the globe will see the unlikely team of Chris Jericho and the Golden Lovers, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi, as they take on The Don Callis Family: Konosuke Takeshita, recent recruit Sammy Guevara and Will Ospreay.

A number of championships will also be on the line, including two in one match when Eddie Kingston puts up both his current titles against Katsuyori Shibata. AEW hasn’t announced any matches for a pre-show, which could be themed as Zero Hour, but it’s worth keeping in mind that could still happen this week.

Here’s everything you need to know to be ready for WrestleDream when it invades Seattle.

AEW WrestleDream 2023

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
  • Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
  • Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT

[lawrence-related id=35875]

AEW All In London results: Bullet Club Gold, Konosuke Takeshita steal one from The Golden Elite

See how Konsuke Takeshita managed to sneak in the pinfall against The Golden Elite at AEW All In London.

It looks like it’s going to take a minute or so to just decide who will start out, but the teams settle on Hangman Adam Page and Juice Robinson. Kenny Omega gets in too for some double team offense on Juice, who wants no part of Kota Ibushi and tags in Jay White. Jim Ross seems perplexed by them inviting each other to trade strikes.

But the pace picks up when Omega tags back in, and he gets a chance to take flight to wipe out White and Konosuke Takeshita. Bullet Club Gold manages to pull together to stomp on Kenny, much to the delight of Don Callis on guest commentary.

Omega is isolated and taking damage from all three of his opponents, with Ibushi and Page both getting dealt with when they try to assist. Robinson lands a senton that goes for a two count.

Just when Omega pulls off an athletic move to get to his corner, The Gunns try to pull Page off the apron. Ibushi takes care of them, and now Hangman is running wild. He covers White at the end of his flurry and earns a near fall.

Ibushi decks White with strikes and lands a standing moonsault for two. The Golden Lovers hit twin moonsaults to the floor, even with shaky footing for Ibushi. White fights back with a uranage, and now Omega and Takeshita get their chance to square off.

After Omega gets off snapdragons on his teammates, Takeshita responds with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Omega and Page join forces for a beautiful combo that ends with an avalanche Blockbuster on Takeshita.

The Gunns want to stop Page from launching a Buckshot, delaying him enough for White to intercept, and all of a sudden signature moves are flying in every direction. That leaves White to get a V-Trigger from Omega, but Takeshita, apparently still the legal man, rolls up Omega and gets the three count.

Click here for full All In London 2023 results.

AEW All In London results: MJF, Adam Cole prove friendship the real winner at Wembley

Follow along with one of the biggest shows in pro wrestling history with live AEW All In results from London’s Wembley Stadium.

The wait is over, Wembley Stadium. London is playing host to one of the biggest wrestling shows of all time as AEW stages its first ever U.K. event in the most grandiose possible fashion. More than 80,000 fans are expected to experience AEW All In London in person, which is quite the accomplishment for a company that is only a few years old.

It certainly helps that AEW has one of the hottest storylines in all of wrestling going right now to fuel the show’s main event. Adam Cole nearly defeated MJF several months ago for a shot at the AEW World Championship. Then the two men got thrown together unwillingly as a tag team.

Instead of being a disaster, it turned into an unlikely bonding experience where MJF embraced his face side, and Better Than You, Bay Bay was born. The two friends have experienced moments of tension at times but always ended up hugging it out.

That ends tonight, when they’ll meet for the world title at Wembley (though not before teaming to try for tag team gold first). Will one of them finally turn on the other with the stakes this high? It should be very entertaining to find out.

The All In card is also loaded to the hilt with other championship matches (four more besides the main event), a Tag Team Coffin match, and the spectacle that is Stadium Stampede. Plus the man who might be the best wrestler on the planet right now, Will Ospreay, will take on an icon in Chris Jericho.

We’re certainly envious of everyone in attendance in London. Here we go.

AEW All In London results:

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

Kota Ibushi admits, explains why he wasn’t quite himself at Blood and Guts

The Golden Star wasn’t in peak form at AEW Blood and Guts, and even he knows it.

When it was first announced that Kota Ibushi would be making his AEW Dynamite to help The Elite fight Blackpool Combat Club at Blood and Guts, there was an understandable wave of excitement that swept wrestling fans. After all, this was a performer with a history of championships and excellent matches in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as well as a man with a long personal history with Kenny Omega.

It was a can’t-miss addition, right?

But when Ibushi showed up, it was kind of like the second picture in one of those “We have Kota Ibushi at home … ” memes. Typically ridiculously shredded, Ibushi appeared to be in merely good shape. He looked like he was moving at about three-quarters speed much of the time. And then he also hurled himself back first into some tacks for no discernible reason after the show.

If you thought Ibushi wasn’t operating at his usual high standards, you were right — according to the man himself. Ibushi took to Twitter/X to explain (h/t Fightful for the translation).

I’m home
It’s my fault that I didn’t know thumbtacks and glass after all this time.
I have thin wrestling shoes, so it penetrated and it was just painful from the middle, and I ended up moving like an old man.
I’m sorry! Far from being unable to kick, both ankles were stiff

Life with a cane for the first time in my life No, I’ll be cured tomorrow! That is Kota Ibushi!

As we’ve discussed internally here at Wrestling Junkie, it was kind of an impossible spot to be in for someone who hadn’t been wrestling regularly. Thanks to his very public falling out with NJPW management, until Blood and Guts, Ibushi had wrestled only twice since October 2021, and both of those matches were on consecutive nights this March.

The guess here is that the Golden Star will get himself back to the kind of form we’ve seen from him in the past. Here’s hoping he gets to show that to AEW audiences at some point.

AEW Dynamite Blood and Guts preview 07/19/23: Will BCC or Golden Elite triumph?

Blood and Guts is the draw, but this week’s AEW Dynamite will also have a title bout and a tag team tournament final.

If given the choice, The Elite and the Blackpool Combat Club might just do what the name of AEW’s video game suggests and fight forever. Alas, the conventions of pro wrestling demand that even the most baked-in grudge eventually gets settled, preferably in the most spectacular way possible. In AEW, that generally means Blood and Guts, which is taking place between these two teams tonight on Dynamite in Boston.

Taking its inspiration from the classic WarGames match of years gone by (and thus not making it a ripoff of WWE’s current version of the same), Blood and Guts features two groups facing off inside two rings covered by a roofed steel cage. Weapons and pretty much everything else are legal, and the match can only win with a submission or surrender.

Both sides in this particular bout have some fun additions. The Elite has morphed into The Golden Elite with the arrival of Kenny Omega’s friend and former partner, Kota Ibushi. The BCC was dealt a blow when Bryan Danielson hurt his arm, but has recovered nicely by teaming with a man whose perpetually foul temperament seems perfect for Blood and Guts, Pac.

And while Blood and Guts is the obvious centerpiece and should get plenty of time, it’s not like it’s the only match on the card in Boston. The final of AEW’s silly but strangely compelling Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament will see Adam Cole and MJF square off against Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara, with the winning duo assured a title shot. And the not official but still defendable FTW Championship will be on the line when Hook faces Jack Perry.

Add it all up and this is a Wednesday night you’ll want to be tuned in to TBS, just as we will be starting at 8 p.m. ET. If you can’t watch Blood and Guts, our apologies, but we’ll have live updates for you here at Wrestling Junkie so you can keep up with the carnage.

Is Kenny Omega’s former Golden Lovers partner about to come help The Elite?

If Kota Ibushi is on his way in for some AEW appearances, Blood and Guts would be the perfect spot for him to debut.

The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club are going to try to finally settle their ongoing beef once and for all at Blood and Guts on the July 19 episode of AEW Dynamite at Boston’s TD Garden. The issue on The Elite’s side is that the format calls for five-person teams, and there are only four members of the group. A new report suggests that it could be someone from Kenny Omega‘s past who answers the call.

Fightful Select (subscription required but well worth the $5 a month) says it has confirmed that “conversations have taken place between international star Kota Ibushi and All Elite Wrestling.” On top of that, talent expects him to appear soon, and “specifically for the upcoming Blood & Guts show.”

Ibushi is known for his time in NJPW, where he won numerous titles including the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (formed by unifying the prior IWGP World Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship). He last wrestled for New Japan during the G1 Climax tournament in the fall of 2021 before having a very public falling out with the company — though one that reportedly has since been resolved.

Th 41-year-old Ibushi returned to action during WrestleMania weekend in Los Angeles, taking part in two of the GCW Collective shows. He’s been open about the idea that he would probably talk to AEW at some point.

Ibushi has a long history with Omega, including runs in several promotions as the Golden Lovers. The expectation is that he’d be the fifth member for The Elite, as he has aligned himself with the group in the past without ever becoming an “official” member.

(As an aside, the arm injury to Bryan Danielson means the BCC team also needs a fifth combatant, but the angle from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite suggests that Chris Jericho may be convinced by Don Callis to fill that spot.)

With two weeks left before Blood and Guts, AEW could reveal that Ibushi is coming in, or choose to keep people guessing until the last minute. But if he is indeed on the way, that would make an already anticipated match that much more compelling.