Tag: toni storm

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 Rampage results 02/16/24: Jeff Hardy breaks nose in scary spot

A look at the results from the Feb. 16 episode of AEW Rampage.

For years, Texas has been a cornerstone of the professional wrestling scene. This week, AEW has taken it over with Dynamite on Wednesday and now Friday night with Rampage.

AEW added a Texan touch, featuring Marshall and Ross Von Erich in action alongside Dustin Rhodes. Otherwise, the rest of the card featured a No Disqualification match between Sammy Guevara and Jeff Hardy that goes off the rails. Queen Aminata in action, and the Bang Bang Scissor Gang making their in-ring debut, promising an eventful night.

AEW Rampage results

  • Sammy Guevara def. Jeff Hardy by pinfall in a No Disqualification match; Guevara busts Hardy’s nose during a blocked Shooting Star Press, and the match awkwardly ends shortly after from what F4WOnline’s Bryan Alvarez reports is a broken nose; Powerhouse Hobbs attacks Guevara after the match
  • Brian Cage says in a backstage interview that Hook “doesn’t belong here” and calls him the flavor of the month; Cage says everyone who cheers for Hook should cheer for him
  • Private Party, with their security guard named Cheesecake, reintroduce themselves backstage; they tout their spot on the AEW power rankings and say it’s “litty in the city”
  • Jon Moxley, referring to FTR, says it’s never a good idea to provoke the Blackpool Combat Club; Moxley puts over FTR’s tag team wrestling, but questions anyone doubting he and Claudio Castagnoli’s ability as a team; Castagnoli says if you’re great, people tell you and that they take pride in what they do
  • Ruby Soho learns Angelo Parker has requested time with her tonight; Saraya, with Harley Cameron, tells Soho they forgive her; Soho says she knows Saraya has been behind every bad thing happening to her, and now, she just wants space
  • Dustin Rhodes, Ross and Marshall Von Erich def. Romero Crews, Hitt and Simbashi by pinfall; Commentary says it’s the first time the Rhodes and Von Erich families have teamed in over 40 years
  • Toni Storm laughs at Deonna Purazzo’s threat to break her arm; Storm enacts what she would do to Purazzo by putting Mariah May in an armbar and an ankle lock
  • A video package hypes Sting’s last match at Revolution
  • Bits from Queen Aminata’s “Close Up” interview plays
  • Queen Aminata def. Anna Jay by pinfall for her first AEW win; Aminata and Jay embrace after the match
  • Willow Nightingale questions Stokely Hathaway for not trusting her during her match on Dynamite against Skye Blue; Kris Statlander says Hathaway hasn’t cheated like that, and they’ll try this partnership again one more time
  • Angelo Parker gives Ruby Soho a Valentine’s Day gift; Parker says he thought he lost Soho; Soho asks Parker out for a drink next week, and he says yes
  • The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Max Caster and Billy Gunn) and Bullet Club (Jay White, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn) Gold def. Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, and Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, & John Silver) by pinfall

AEW Dynamite results 02/14/24: Orange Cassidy finds friendship amidst Texas Death

The Patriarchy didn’t exactly spread love, however, during AEW Dynamite from Austin.

Because what is Valentine’s Day, really, without some pain to go with the feelings of love? There should be plenty of that tonight on AEW Dynamite from Austin.

Orange Cassidy could be forgiven if he’d like to take tonight off. Just like he did the first time he was AEW International Champion, he’s making a habit out of competing week in and week out, often with his title on the line.

He and his Best Friends are currently tangled up in a program with the Undisputed Kingdom, which is what has led him to where he is tonight: about to have a Texas Death match against Matt Taven.

And sure, Cassidy will probably win, as it’s not often you see him take an ‘L’ in a singles match. It’s no sure thing, however, since his title isn’t on the line, and because of the stipulation, any number of people could get involved. Roderick Strong, who will try to dethrone Cassidy in a few weeks at Revolution, certainly wouldn’t mind if Taven took something out of the Freshly Squeezed one tonight.

There’s a bunch of other fun stuff on tonight’s card as well. Adam Copeland and Daniel Garcia will square off in a battle of the generations. Toni Storm will debut her new film, “Wet Ink.” Matthew and Nicholas Jackson will take on Top Flight, and we’ll hear from Samoa Joe and both of the men who will try to take his AEW World Championship at Revolution, Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland.

So end your Valentine’s Day plans early or revel in the fact that you haven’t got any, and let’s see what’s in store.

AEW Dynamite results from Austin:

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

  • Jon Moxley def. Dax Harwood by submission; the post-match beating draws Cash Wheeler and Claudio Castagnoli into the fray, with the BCC duo emerging totally triumphant
  • Don Callis tells Renee Paquette that no one wants to fight his Family, and since they believe they need to be on Revolution, he’s going to have Konosuke Takeshita take on Will Ospreay … wait, wow!

  • Wardlow def. Barrett Brown by pinfall in a quick squash match, with Adam Cole offering some of the shortest guest commentary ever
  • Matthew and Nicholas Jackson are shown flying in to the local airport, for some reason still wearing the blood-stained white suits they wore all last week

  • Adam Copeland vs. Daniel Garcia ends in a no contest after an attack by The Patriarchy, which ends with Christian Cage giving Copeland a Conchairto
  • Samoa Joe faces both of his challengers, and Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page each have something to say
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm debuts her new film, “Wet Ink,” after which Paquette finds Deonna Purrazzo making a much shorter threat to break Storm’s arm

  • The Jacksons arrive in the arena
  • The Young Bucks def. Top Flight by pinfall; after the match, the EVPs declare themselves No. 1 contenders and fine Tony Schiavone $1000 for disparaging them; they also tease an EVP Trigger on Schiavone before Darby Allin makes the save with a baseball bat and lays into the Bucks before making their Revolution match official — as in Sting’s last match
  • Paquette asks the Bang Bang Scissor Gang what’s next, and it appears it will be a 12-man tag team match on Rampage to test their cohesiveness

  • Willow Nightingale def. Skye Blue by pinfall, getting a timely assist from Stokely Hathaway at a critical moment
  • Orange Cassidy def. Matt Taven by KO in a Texas Death match

Dax Harwood steps up to Jon Moxley but gets choked out

Both men clearly have their supporters in the crowd, as evidenced by the mixed chants after the bell rings. Harwood smirks at Moxley’s attempt at early mind games, and we see middle fingers exchanged along with a mock kiss by Mox.

Moxley pays for it when he puts his hands behind his back, as Harwood is happy to chop and punch him into the corner. Mox works the body to open up the head when he sees an opening, biting Dax on the head as well.

Harwood keeps the strikes flowing, but he eventually is caught in a bulldog choke and taken nearly all the way to the mat. Dax escapes and looks for his own submission but eats a boot or two to the face before he’s sent to the floor.

It doesn’t stop there, as Harwood is sent over the barricade out into the crowd. Moxley looks like he’s in full control, even once things return to the ring, dropping numerous right hands in the corner. Harwood finally summons a response in the form of a Liger Bomb, forcing Mox to kick out at two.

Both men tumble over the top rope to the floor, bringing us to picture-in-picture. It’s Moxley leading the way when the full picture resumes, but Harwood hangs in there and keeps swinging. Mox finally gets in the last shot but they both hit the canvas.

The commentary team notes that Dax has bloodied his own hand during all these strikes, though his bigger problem might be Moxley raking his back as they battle to the top rope. Harwood manages to hold onto the ropes but not forever, yet Moxley has been slowed and can’t capitalize immediately. Dax finally gets a burst of energy and hops up to deliver a superplex, leaving them both down on the mat again.

Unwilling to budge, they get to their knees and butt heads like rams. Up on the feet, they exchange lariats until Harwood gets a chance to apply a Sharpshooter. They’re in the middle of the ring, now just five minutes from the 20-minute limit.

Mox looks for an armbar, which Harwood grasps his hands to fight off. Dax does his own back raking but gets back body dropped, and a series of counters leads to a Harwood piledriver. Moxley barely kicks out before the three falls.

They head back to the floor, but Mox catches Dax coming back into the ring and hits a cutter, then a stomp. A piledriver looks like it might be it, but Dax gets an arm up at the last moment.

More counters lead to a brainbuster for Harwood, and when that’s not enough to win it, only two minutes remain. Moxley takes Dax back down and applies a rear choke. Harwood tries to fight it but eventually taps out.

After the bell, Moxley won’t release the hold, so Cash Wheeler arrives to pound him with right hands. That brings Claudio Castagnoli to the ring as well, and he levels Wheeler so the BCC stands tall.

The Patriarchy overruns Adam Copeland vs. Daniel Garcia

The announce team reminds us that when Copeland and Garcia agreed to this match, it was with the understanding that the winner would get a shot at Christian Cage and the TNT Championship. So the stakes is high, as De La Soul once said.

Copeland knows it, going right after his younger foe when the bell rings. Garcia likes the mat game more, forcing Copeland to the ropes for a break.

After avoiding some incoming fire, Copeland hits a standing splash for a near fall. Garcia elbows his way out of a headlock, going for a roll-up to score a two count. A drop toehold gives Garcia a chance to work some more holds, some of which allow him to dance at the same time.

Elbows in the corner get Garcia out of trouble, but Copeland comes right back with a shoulderbreaker. A hard Irish whip sends Garcia barreling into the buckles as side-by-side ads arrive.

Can Daddy Magic will Garcia back into it? Not yet as Copeland continues to work his left arm and shoulder.

He does crotch Copeland on the top rope, using a dragon screw to send his foe crashing to the mat. A running boot connects in the corner, and he whips another dragon screw to keep Copeland grounded.

Copeland tries to work his way out of trouble on the mat but gets reversed into an STF. His Avalanche Impaler is a damn good answer, but both men are too worn out now to immediately do anything at all.

Copeland looks for another submission, but the match comes to an abrupt halt as The Patriarchy attacks both men while Christian Cage and Shayna Wane watch. Daddy Magic tries to help with a steel chair but gets flattened by Killswitch.

Garcia is in trouble, but Copeland is able to fight off everyone with a chair of his own until Shayna Wayne hits him with a low blow. Nick Wayne hits Wayne’s World, and now Copeland is helpless as Cage hits him with a Conchairto.

Samoa Joe faces both Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page ahead of Revolution

With plenty of cheers escorting him to the ring, Samoa Joe says he is here in the spirit of apology. The rankings were supposed to help find the best victims for him to destroy, which worked until last week when Hangman and Swerve battled to a draw.

Joe says the championship committee took a page out of the Texas playbook and made his Revolution match bigger and dumber. He is defiant, however, saying he’ll make sure both of his challengers limp out at the pay-per-view.

Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana head to the ring in response, with Swerve saying that things have become personal even though Joe said it would be business. Strickland reminds the champ that he said contenders should show up with their reputation and resume, and Swerve has all that plus unlimited hunger.

On top of that, Swerve says that people have long said he might be one of the best someday, but today is that day. He’s gone toe to toe with the top talent and legends in AEW and is almost always the one standing. Strickland says nothing will be different at Revolution, except he’ll be holding Joe’s title above his head.

Hangman Adam Page also comes out so he can set the record straight. He signed for a 30-minute match to find a No. 1 contender, mocking Swerve for being “added” to the title match. Page says Strickland doesn’t deserve one second of his time after all he’s done to Hangman. Joe is tired of this ongoing dispute and says he’ll whip both their asses, leaving with his belt as they continue bickering in the ring.

Orange Cassidy finds true friendship during Texas Death match victory over Matt Taven

Even though there are no DQs in a match like this, Taven comes to the ring alone. Let’s see if his Undisputed Kingdom teammates are lurking somewhere. He doesn’t need any help early on, staying one step ahead of Cassidy up to the point where he hits a Blue Thunder Bomb.

Cassidy’s head is sent into the steel steps, and Taven keeps working him over in front of some fans. Orange pulls off a cool spot when he is whipped toward the barricade and just leaps right over it, finally getting in some offense out in the crowd as the final picture-in-picture segment arrives.

Lest we think this is all too tame for a Texas Death match, Taven puts Cassidy off the stage through a table just as the full broadcast resumes, then puts the International Champion through the partially broken table again with a vertical suplex.

A running knee strike on the ramp smashes Orange in the face. Blood is finally starting to flow from Cassidy as he’s sent back into the ring for a DDT. Referee Bryce Remsburg starts a count as Taven sets another table to lean on the announce table.

Cassidy flies out with a tope only to get blasted by kicks that send him perilously close to the table. Taven goes for broke with a tope con hilo, though Cassidy moves and it’s only Matt that painfully smashes through the table.

Cassidy looks for weapons and finds a box of chocolates sent to him by Chuck Taylor. Ah, wait, it’s not chocolates, it’s thumbtacks, which Orange sprinkles over the ring. They head up top, and even though Taven sends Cassidy back first into the tacks, he misses a frog splash and takes a DDT, and now he’s bleeding after hitting the tacks twice.

Cassidy gets a steel chain out but is attacked by Mike Bennett, who slides chairs into the ring to his teammate. Here comes Trent Beretta with a metal pipe, though he only takes out Bennett before Taven DDTs him into a chair.

The scuffle has given Cassidy time to recover, though, and he hits an Orange Punch and a Beach Break onto a chair. Taven rips out Cassidy’s pockets, but he takes an Orange Punch with a steel chain.

Roderick Strong tries to save his teammate with a flying knee, but Beretta takes the move for his friend, and Cassidy throws Strong out of the ring as Remsburg counts to 10 to give Orange the win.

AEW Collision results 02/10/24: The Stone Pitbull gets Freshly Squeezed

Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo each picked up victories on AEW Collision near Las Vegas as well.

Las Vegas sure has been the center of attention for all kinds of sports, unscripted and otherwise, this week. We’d like to think AEW Collision is part of it, even though it’s technically not in Las Vegas, but in nearby Henderson.

That’s really not that big a distinction, honestly. The point is that it’s somewhat out of the way of being swallowed up by all things surrounding the big football game on Sunday. And it appears some of AEW’s most compelling subplots will be furthered on this show, including the great program between Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo.

We’ll also see the latest visitors from CMLL as they continue their battle against the Blackpool Combat Club. And the Forbidden Door will stay open for what we assume will be the main event, as Orange Cassidy takes on Tomohiro Ishii.

That sounds like a very fine appetizer before tomorrow’s big game. Let’s check it all out from the top.

AEW Collision results from Las Vegas:

  • Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley def. Esfinge and Star Jr. by submission
  • Mox gets on the mic afterward and says whether it’s CMLL or any other team in the world, anyone who steps up gets stepped on; that boast brings FTR to the ring, and it doesn’t take long for fisticuffs to break out, and it takes referees, officials and other wrestlers to break it up

  • Daniel Garcia def. Shane Taylor by submission
  • Highlights from Dynamite show Darby Allin and Sting winning the tag team titles, then getting attacked by the Young Bucks
  • Lexy Nair talks to Eddie Kingston, who chastises the Bucks and Bryan Danielson for taking the spotlight away from others; as a result, he’s challenging Danielson to a match at Revolution, and if Eddie wins, Bryan has to shake his hand

  • Brian Cage def. The Outrunners by submission; afterward, the Vegas Golden Knights mascot Chance does the Nana dance with Prince Nana and gets laid out by Cage, which in turn brings Hook to the rescue to battle Cage to the back

  • Roderick Strong and The Kingdom talk some smack to Tomohiro Ishii, who is in no mood to shake hands with them

  • Adam Copeland joins Tony Schiavone in the ring to discuss the pros and cons of challenging for each title when he’s joined by Garcia, who notes that he’s also been picking up plenty of wins; Copeland proposes they battle it out on Dynamite, with the winner going on to challenge Christian Cage for the TNT Championship, but he also warns Garcia that he’s going to get a beating next week

  • Renee Paquette talks to Stokely Hathaway, who says there are only two badasses in the women’s division, Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale, and they want him to get them a match against Julia Hart and Skye Blue
  • Brody King def. Mark Briscoe by pinfall, helped in part by a timely distraction from Julia Hart, who also attacks Briscoe after the match with a metal spike
  • Bryan Keith warns everyone in AEW that they’ll have to pay up
  • Deonna Purrazzo def. Kiera Hogan by pinfall
  • Toni Storm def. Queen Aminata by pinfall in a match that’s probably a little tougher than the champ would have figured; afterward, Timeless Toni says she’ll be releasing a new film on Dynamite and warns Purrazzo as well
  • Orange Cassidy def. Tomohiro Ishii by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship
  • After the bell, The Kingdom attacks Cassidy, but Ishii hustles back to prevent more than one move, as does a chair-wielding Trent Beretta

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 Dynamite preview 01/31/24: Mox vs. Jeff Hardy, Dealer’s Choice matches in NOLA

Deonna Purrazzo will also look to continue her winning ways against Taya Valkyrie on AEW Dynamite from New Orleans.

It’s been two years since AEW Dynamite last paid a visit to New Orleans, but that changes tonight. UNO Lakefront Arena, which we assume is actually right by a lake, is set to light the fuse.

Jeff Hardy vs. Jon Moxley, first time ever

When The Hardys mentioned a few weeks ago that they’d prefer to be used differently, Tony Khan apparently took notice … for Jeff Hardy, anyway. He’s been more active on TV as of late, and he’s in for it tonight as he has his first ever singles match against Jon Moxley.

AEW has noted that with the wrestler rankings returning soon, this would be a big win for Mox. We’d argue it would have a bigger impact on him if he lost, but either way, you’d assume he comes out of this with a dub and is high up on said rankings early on.

What opponent will Hangman choose for Swerve?

Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland can’t seem to let go of the beef they have with each other, and AEW is helpfully facilitating its continuation by allowing them to pick the other’s opponent in a pair of Dealer’s Choice matches on Dynamite.

Since Swerve rolls with a crew, it’s only natural he selected a member of the Mogul Embassy, Gates of Agony’s Toa Liona, to face Hangman. But Page is a more solitary type these days, so who will he tap to step in against Swerve? We’ll have to wait to find out.

Can the Virtuosa keep conducting victories?

It’s obvious by now that Toni Storm perceives Deonna Purrazzo as a threat, even in her eccentric state. The question is whether anything can stop Purrazzo before she gets a title shot, whether Storm likes it or not.

So far no one has been able to defeat Purrazzo, and while Taya Valkyrie figures to be her biggest test since joining AEW, the chances are high that Storm will be on guest commentary again watching Purrazzo’s hand get raised, maybe she’ll think of something to change the script.

Also advertised for tonight’s Dynamite from New Orleans:

  • Chris Jericho battles Kyle Fletcher in his latest showdown with a member of The Don Callis Family

AEW Dynamite hits the airwaves at 8 p.m. ET on TBS, and we’ll be set with live results and updates all throughout the show.

AEW Dynamite results 01/24/24: Adam Copeland survives Minoru Suzuki

AEW Dynamite also set up a tag team title match and new challenges for Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page.

It’s time to light the fuse for a dream match kind of night on AEW Dynamite from Savannah.

Actually, no, scratch that. Adam Copeland vs. Minoru Suzuki is more like a fever dream, the product of some random half-awake ranting at some point. It’s not a pairing we ever thought to even ask for at any point, honestly.

Yet it should be great. The Rated-R Superstar taking on Murder Grandpa is not the kind of thing Copeland’s “Cope Open” matches have typically been to this point, which is him working with talent that doesn’t always get enough exposure.

Suzuki is pretty much the exact opposite of that. But Copeland has also said he wanted the Cope Open to be unpredictable, and tonight’s showdown definitely qualifies in that respect.

Speaking of unpredictable, that term should also apply to Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo having a face-to-face interview. The AEW Women’s World Champion has been typically dismissive of The Virtuosa ever since her arrival in AEW, but Purrazzo has had the type of in-ring success that is pretty much unavoidable now. Add in some real life history between them (whether Timeless Toni chooses to remember it or not) and you have the makings of a fun program.

We’ll also hear from Sting and Darby Allin, see Thunder Rosa in action again, scissor with The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, and much more. Light the fuse.

AEW Dynamite results from Savannah:

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

  • Samoa Joe tells Hook to get to the back of the line for a world title shot
  • Hangman Adam Page def. Penta El Zero Miedo by pinfall with Joe watching from the commentary table; afterwards, Page yells “I am taking that from you” to Joe
  • Renee Paquette speaks with Orange Cassidy, who says it’s fine that Roderick Strong wants to challenge him at Revolution, but he’s also going to keep wrestling in the meantime, including this week on Collision

  • The Young Bucks have arrived, saying they’ve fixed catering, and they give Top Flight of not being at the show on time or wearing their credentials

  • Wardlow def. Trent Beretta by pinfall; Best Friends hit the ring to prevent a post-match beating, and the Undisputed Kingdom convinces Wardlow not to press the issue at the moment
  • Adam Copeland cuts a promo for his main event meeting with Minoru Suzuki and says you can sum it up with three words: grit your teeth
  • Renee Paquette sits down with Deonna Purrazzo and Toni Storm, who exchange some verbal jabs and real shoe-throws
  • Jon Moxley puts over the titles and victories the Blackpool Combat Club has piled up but says they spend zero time celebrating, because that’s the way they stay as hungry as they need to be; Mox says he will beat and pulverize everyone who isn’t willing to step up and give their all this year, and he’s very believable when he says it

  • Taya Valkyrie and Johnny TV reintroduce themselves, and Valkyrie challenges Purrazzo to a match next week, vowing to send her to “the back of the line”
  • Swerve Strickland def. Jeff Hardy by pinfall
  • Paquette is caught in the middle as Swerve and Hangman nearly come to blows, and she tells them that they’ll get to choose the match for the other man next week on Dynamite in a pair of “Dealer’s Choice” bouts

  • Thunder Rosa def. Red Velvet by pinfall
  • Darby Allin and Sting hold court, discuss going after the tag team titles
  • Big Bill and Ricky Starks accept the challenge from Allin and Sting, apparently because they’re happy the face painted duo mentioned them by name
  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage and Gates of Agony) by pinfall to retain the AEW World Trios Championship, getting some help from Bullet Club Gold to prevent chicanery
  • One final Serena Deeb highlight video is shown before she returns on Saturday
  • Adam Copeland def. Minoru Suzuki by pinfall
  • After the match, Copeland offers a show of respect to Suzuki, who refuses it, and says he’s still coming for Christian Cage

Samoa Joe says title shots will need to be earned, Hook needs to get to the back of the line

Looking spiffy in a suit, the AEW World Champion says from now on, title opportunities must be earned. Your favorite superstars are all going to battle it out for the right to challenge for his gold.

Alas, Joe says all it’s going to mean is an opportunity to have the worst night of their life. A man who kind of experienced that last week interrupts, as Hook makes his way to the ring … with a mic in hand, unusually.

Hook says he lost and shakes Joe’s hand, promising that he’ll see Joe again. But the champ isn’t as gracious, asking for security to get “the unworthy” out of the ring. A few arm drags and such later, Hook leaves on his own instead of being escorted out by guards.

Hangman Adam Page goes to 3-0 in 2024 by beating Penta El Zero Miedo

With the announcers reminding us the rankings are returning Saturday, that makes this match a little more important, as does Samoa Joe watching on guest commentary. Page scores the first near fall after a rolling shooting star press, then goes to work in the corner.

Joe taunts Hangman a bit but Page stares daggers at him in return. A bottom rope legdrop (yes, that’s right) earns a two count for Penta, and he escapes a Deadeye attempt to trade strikes. A double clothesline finally sends both men down to the mat, perfect for sending us to picture-in-picture.

The full broadcast returns just in time to catch Penta flying to the outside, though he has to pull up on a second aerial move inside the ring and gets caught with a Death Valley Driver for two. Penta fires right back with another near fall before zeroing in on Page’s right arm.

Hangman hurls his foe away and then connects on a Liger Bomb for another two count. A series of counters leads to a Made in Japan by Penta, and Hangman barely kicks out in time. Joe is shown looking a little upset, perhaps hoping Page would be pinned.

Out to the apron they go, where Penta is hit by the Deadeye and a moonsault to the floor. Back in the ring, Penta evades one Buckshot but not the second, and the cowboy is your winner.

Deonna Purrazzo, Toni Storm share some of their past, but a violent future awaits

The AEW World Champion is in black and white, and while she admits they have a past together, Toni says that doesn’t mean Deonna can waltz right to the front of the line. Storm admits that Purrazzo might be the best technical wrestler in the world, but it’s not going to help her if they meet.

The Virtuosa says she didn’t come to AEW to make friends but to become champion. It just so happens that Storm used to be her friend, but Purrazzo will gladly take her apart limb by limb. Deonna also doesn’t want to face this “delusional sham” but the version of Toni that was once one of the best in the world.

Purrazzo says Storm should look at her ankle because it should look a lot like hers, and the two women reveal identical tattoos. Toni doesn’t take kindly to that and throws a shoe at Deonna, who throws it right back and tries to apply the Venus De Milo. The champ needs to be bailed out by Luther and Mariah May, and Deonna poses with the title belt before tossing it to the butler.

Darby Allin convinces Sting to pursue tag team gold before he hangs it up

Allin tells the story of when Sting first was announced as coming to AEW, rolling around in the ring at his house and telling the Icon “you still got it.” He thinks the fans would agree that’s still the case, and with the rankings coming back, Allin believes they should take advantage of that and challenge for the tag team titles.

Sting says alright, I’m all in. No, not that All In, sorry. But clearly he’s on board with going after Big Bill and Ricky Starks.

Adam Copeland survives, pins Minoru Suzuki

The crowd starts a “holy s–t” chant right away, anticipating the chops and forearms that come soon enough. Suzuki tries for a Gotch style piledriver but get back body dropped instead.

Suzuki goes for an armbar across the top rope but ends up eating a big boot. He catches Copeland with a knee coming toward the apron and drags Adam out to the floor. They go stumbling back through the barricade together in painful fashion.

Both men barely beat the ref’s 10 count, sliding in together at nine. Suzuki laughs, as he does, before they start smashing each other with elbows and forearms on their knees, then up to their feet. Here come the slaps, which end up knocking them both down at the same time.

Suzuki slugs his way into an armbar attempt, but Copeland counters with an Impaler. Dueling chants break out for each man as they rise slowly again. Copeland heads in for a spear but is countered by a Fujiwara armbar, forcing Copeland to a rope break.

Now Suzuki goes for a rear choke in the corner, but Copeland gets loose and hits a spear for a close two count. Suzuki scoots over and applies a sleeper with his legs hooked in as well. Copeland nearly escapes it before sinking to his knees with his face turning purple.

After the ref checks him once, Copeland is up and manages to hit the Killswitch, which is enough to win it.

 

AEW Dynamite preview 01/24/24: Murder Grandpa comes for Adam Copeland

Also on AEW Dynamite from Savannah, Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page will be in action tonight.

Thank goodness it’s been a quiet week in pro wrestling and we can all just concentrate on the shows, right? Sarcasm aside, it’s time to get back to actual matches and stories and such tonight on AEW Dynamite in Savannah, including a match we never thought we’d see.

Adam Copeland vs. Minoru Suzuki sounds like something from a wrestling sim

Though Adam Copeland has been using his “Cope Open” challenge matches each week to help highlight younger talent, he certainly is going in a different direction this week against Minoru Suzuki. Yes, we can barely comprehend that we’re typing that either.

This is a matchup between two legends from very different backgrounds and parts of the world, and it’s likely a once in a lifetime deal. That works for us.

Hangman and Swerve seem like they’re still tied together

Even though Swerve Strickland has already defeated Hangman Adam Page twice, the ill will between them is palpable and ongoing. Both men are in action tonight against different foes (Swerve vs. Jeff Hardy, Hangman vs. Penta El Zero Miedo) that you’d expect them to beat.

But then what? The reason they can’t break free from each other right now is that they both have their eyes and hearts set on the AEW World Championship held by Samoa Joe. Can one of them definitively move in line in front of the other, or might there be a Triple Threat match in their future?

What will Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo say when they’re face to face?

Deonna Purrazzo has only been All Elite for a few weeks and she’s already catapulted herself right into the mix for the AEW Women’s World Championship. Her bemused exasperation with the wrestler who holds that title, Toni Storm, is understandable: The Virtuosa knew Toni before she was Timeless, after all.

The guess here is that these two would have a heck of a title match against each other, but AEW is wisely taking things fairly slow and giving them more chances to interact. We’ll have a big one tonight on Dynamite, with the two women in a face-to-face interview that should be entertaining.

Also slated for Dynamite from Savannah:

  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass defend their Trios titles against the Mogul Embassy
  • Wardlow takes on Trent Beretta
  • We’ll hear from Sting and Darby Allin live

Set aside two hours to light the fuse starting at 8 p.m. ET, or simply join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live Dynamite results as they happen.

AEW Dynamite results 01/10/24: Sting thrills Daily’s Place as Young Bucks loom

Will we be seeing Sting and Darby Allin vs. some AEW EVPs at Revolution?

Oh yeah, it feels so good
To be back where we belong
Oh yeah, it feels so good
This is where we started from

Thanks for that, New Edition. Those immortal words are echoing through this writer’s skull as we get ready to take in AEW Dynamite Homecoming from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.

You might remember this as the pandemic-era home of AEW, the place where everyone buckled down and got through some very difficult times thanks to the Power of Pro Wrestling (don’t try to trademark that, I’ve already filed). It was the place where talent simply worked through it, the spot where The Gunns went from “Who are those lads with Billy on the right-hand side of the ring every week?” to actual weekly TV types.

On a sadder and more serious note, it’s also where the world at large got to know the late Mr. Brodie Lee better, which has gone into the thinking behind some of the matches on tonight’s card, according to Tony Khan. Yes, there are some random-ish eight-person tag matches, but they feature people important to Lee, and that is a cool touch.

Some of the more prominent singles matches may not have that kind of story behind them, yet they still could cook. Ricky Starks vs. Sammy Guevara for the first time ever? Sure. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Hangman Adam Page? Of course!

We’re also on Day 10, give or take, of Mercedes Watch, so there’s that too.

Plenty of reason to tune in. Light the fuse, Daily’s Place!

AEW Dynamite results from Jacksonville:

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

  • Hangman Adam Page def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall
  • A short compilation of Brodie Lee highlights from Daily’s Place is shown, along with an explanation of how his two hand-picked proteges are in action tonight
  • Orange Cassidy, Preston Vance, Dustin Rhodes and Adam Copeland def. Brian Cage, Gates of Agony and Lance Archer by pinfall, with Vance pinning Cage after some turmoil between Archer and the Mogul Embassy members during the match
  • Renee Paquette talks to Bullet Club Gold about the Undisputed Kingdom, and The Acclaimed stops by to repeat their suggestion that they form a “Bang Bang Scissor Gang superfaction,” and you can tell Austin Gunn is still on board with the idea
  • Samoa Joe says he has changed the title challenge protocol, but that doesn’t stop Swerve Strickland, Hangman and Hook from all throwing their hats in the ring
  • Paquette is with Toni Storm and Mariah May, and the champ is both dismissive of May and a little disturbed by the arrival of Deonna Purrazzo

  • Sammy Guevara def. Ricky Starks by pinfall
  • Sammy shakes Ricky’s hand after the match, but it’s a ruse for an attack by Big Bill that also draws in Chris Jericho … all while “Judas” blares the whole time
  • Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, Anna Jay and Thunder Rosa def. Saraya, Ruby Soho, Skye Blue and Julia Hart by submission as Anna Jay gets Skye Blue to tap out to the Queenslayer
  • Wheeler Yuta fires back at the “disrespect” he’s been shown by Eddie Kingston and makes it clear he’d like to face Kingston for his Continental Crown Championship on Rampage
  • Roderick Strong def. Bryan Keith by pinfall
  • Adam Cole gets on the mic after Strong’s win and goes over the Undisputed Kingdom mission statement again

  • Paquette talks to Purrazzo about Storm, and Deonna gets a Collision challenge from Red Velvet

  • Darby Allin and Sting def. Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs by pinfall
  • Schiavone gets in the ring to ask Sting who his last opponent will be, but the answer is interrupted by the more clean shaven Young Bucks, who linger on stage with their music playing before leaving

Hangman Adam Page does enough “Cowboy S–t” to beat Claudio Castagnoli

Upset as he has been recently, Hangman takes it right to Claudio as soon as the opening bell sounds. That’s not a bad idea, but you’re not going to just overwhelm the Swiss Superman, and sure enough Castagnoli takes control once the fight gets inside the ring.

Or is he just pissing Hangman off more? Page no sells some shots in the corner and marches forward, and they trade hard shots until Page ends up going for the Giant Swing.

Claudio goes for the Sharpshooter next, but he almost gets rolled up when he transitions to a crossface. Castagnoli fires right back with a Death Valley Driver, and both men are slow to rise.

Page breaks out with a fallaway slam as the fans applaud to egg him on. He kips up and hits a springboard lariat, then follows with a plancha and some right hands on the floor.

Once they’re both back inside the ropes, Page is caught on a corner charge and slammed hard over the top rope and onto the ramp. That couldn’t have felt good.

After some side by side ads, Page ends up right back on the ramp, and not by choice. Claudio punches him up to the stage, but the Cowboy sends him back toward the ring and then into it with a running lariat.

Castagnoli sees the Buckshot coming, however, and gets a near fall with a popup uppercut. The battle goes back to the floor, where Claudio catches Hangman and smacks him into a wall (yes) before getting countered with a DDT.

Page hits a moonsault off the wall, then counters a Tombstone with one of his own back in the ring. Castagnoli kicks out, though, and the match rolls on.

After sending Page face first into the top turnbuckle, Castagnoli hits a running uppercut and more of them in the corner. A big short arm lariat leads to a cover, but Page isn’t ready to be pinned yet.

Hangman pops up to deliver the DeadEye, but is somewhat slow to cover and only gets two again. They both end up ascending or trying to, and Claudio’s Ricola Bomb is countered with a hurricanrana. Two doses of the Buckshot are enough to keep Castagnoli down for the three count.

Samoa Joe has more than one person pursuing his title

Were some people tiring of MJF? It sure sounds like it as the current champion is getting “thank you Joe” chants. The champ says he’s making some changes to the title challenge protocol, saying people won’t have to whine in the ring or on social media.

Instead, you bring your record and reputation to the “championship committee,” and if they deem you worthy, you get an express pass for Joe to “stomp your ass out.” Wait, that doesn’t sound like a prize!

For anyone who wants a piece of him, the champion will be waiting. Of course, all that is unlikely to go unanswered, and sure enough, Swerve Strickland and the Mogul Embassy pop out on stage. Strickland boasts that he took Hangman’s spot, and just like that was, it isn’t personal between Swerve and Joe. He just wants the championship and he’s going to take it.

After winning the title, Swerve says he’ll be happy to make things personal between them. Of course, he already has a personal issue that somehow still isn’t done, and that’s with Hangman, who joins them. He also vows to make the AEW World Championship his in 2024, and Joe simply laughs as Page and Strickland stare holes in each other.

Page turns to Joe and says he hasn’t forgotten what Joe had done to him, and he’s going to take the title from him for it. After everyone leaves, Joe simply holds the belt aloft.

He’s not done, though. Hook’s music hits and the FTW Champion comes to the ring to have his own staredown with Joe. “One week,” Hook says before leaving.

Sammy Guevara rocks Ricky Starks for a big win

These two have never been in the ring for a singles match before, and they start off a little cautiously as a result. Guevara is the first to step on the gas, forcing Starks from the ring with a dropkick and dropping a moonsault on him from the top rope.

The battle goes to the apron, where neither man can impose his will into Sammy starts landing some nasty chops. Starks shrugs those off and slams Guevara hard onto the apron as side-by-side commercials slide in.

(They wasted Ricky’s awesome rope walk spot during the ads, darn them.)

Guevara seems to have a rally going now and gets a near fall right after the full broadcast is back. Sammy wants to climb but Ricky doesn’t want to let him, and Starks sets off on a flurry of offense that leads to his own near fall.

Starks’ great counter wrestling allows him to score another two count, but Guevara manages to nail him with a couple of superkicks and pulls off an inside cradle to get the dub.

Sting has one more crazy spot in him as he and Darby Allin top the Don Callis Family

Ric Flair and Don Callis are ringside with their respective teams, and this is going to be hard to recap since it immediately breaks down with fighting into the crowd in two different directions. No DQs, falls count anywhere for this one.

Takeshita is hitting rolling Germans on the floor on poor Darby as we get picture-in-picture action. Sting is faring even worse … until Allin gets tossed by both his foes and does like three revolutions before hitting the mat.

Sting comes back into the ring on fire but gets smacked down quickly by Takeshita. Flair decides to step in and chop Hobbs, which does nothing, but he thumbs Powerhouse in the eye and buys Sting enough time to recover.

All four men brawl up to the stage, and it feels like something nuts is going to happen. Sure enough it does, with Allin hitting a Coffin Drop on Takeshita from high up in the stands.

Hobbs hoists Sting and carries him down a walkway in front of the stands, but the Icon turns the tables with a Scorpion Death Drop down through some tables. Sting rolls over and throws an arm on top of Hobbs, and he stays undefeated as the ref counts to three.

AEW Dynamite results 01/03/24: Deonna is here, Hangman hunts Swerve

Mariah May was upstaged a bit, and Swerve Strickland found an old foe still looking for him on Dynamite.

When you stop and think about it, Adam Cole turning on MJF really isn’t that hard to comprehend. We’ll still get a chance to hear about it straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, tonight on AEW Dynamite from Newark.

As many fans suspected, Cole was revealed as the Devil at Worlds End last weekend, reveling in MJF’s suffering in front of his hometown fans — including his loss of the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. Cole is undoubtedly going to say that his inability to win the title from MJF at All In London just ate at him so much that he had no other choice. That’s classic pro wrestling motivation, for sure.

But what happens now? MJF is expected to take time off to heal up from injuries/make everyone wonder if he’s staying with AEW. The world title Cole covets so much is in Joe’s hands, and prying it loose won’t be any easier. That might be the part we’re waiting to hear most about from Cole tonight.

Because it’s a day ending in “day,” Orange Cassidy has a title defense on Dynamite too. Plus we’ll see the in-ring debut of Mariah May. We definitely won’t be seeing Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley, as they’re currently overseas preparing for big matches much later tonight (or early tomorrow morning, depending on how you look at it).

Plus there could be some surprise debuts if the best case scenario works out. That would also be super cool. Maybe even a wrestler with the same alliteration in her name as Mariah May. We’ll see.

For the first time in ’24, let’s light the fuse …

AEW Dynamite results from Newark:

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

  • The show begins with Samoa Joe cutting a defiant promo last Saturday against MJF after beating him at Worlds End
  • Adam Cole and the Undisputed Kingdom have arrived, but the Devil’s here to stay, bay bay, but they already have enemies gathering
  • A highlight package/promo celebrate Eddie Kingston’s Continental Classic victory, where he discusses the confidence he’s gained as a result

  • Daniel Garcia talks about his matchup with Swerve Strickland tonight
  • Orange Cassidy def. Dante Martin by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship
  • After the match, Private Party makes a return to put every tag team on notice, including FTR, the Young Bucks and The Hardys

  • Renee Paquette asks Toni Storm what 2024 holds for her, but she’s not crazy about being in New Jersey and doesn’t care to stick around to see Mariah May make her debut

  • The clip of House of Black accepting FTR’s challenge is played again, this time with some highlights of them beating up the Top Guys over the past few weeks
  • Paquette talks to Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana, naturally), who talks about facing Daniel Garcia tonight and gunning for Samoa Joe’s title
  • Mariah May def. Queen Aminata by pinfall in her AEW in-ring debut; Paquette speaks to her afterward and finds her excited and hopeful that Storm was watching, but …
  • … after she rips on New Jersey, she’s surprised when Deonna Purrazzo shows up and tells her to give a message to Storm: I will find you no matter where you run, and I am All Elite; May declines to pass along the message and slaps Purrazzo but ends up losing a brief scuffle
  • Christian Cage thanks everyone but Luchasaurus
  • Paquette talks to The Outcasts, who seem to still have some internal issues to work out regarding Harley Cameron
  • Konosuke Takeshita def. Darby Allin by pinfall
  • Paquette catches up with Takeshita and the rest of the Don Callis Family, who challenge Allin and Sting to a tag team match against Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs
  • Kingston joins the announcers to see who will be the No. 1 contender for his title
  • Trent Beretta def. Brian Cage, Bryan Keith and El Hijo Del Vikingo (with a little help from Danhausen) to get a shot at Kingston’s Continental Crown Championship
  • An angry Hangman Adam Page interrupts Paquette’s latest interview to declare that he’s looking for Cole and Undisputed Kingdom … like right now
  • Swerve Strickland def. Daniel Garcia by pinfall, but Hangman Adam Page arrives after the match to brawl with Swerve until staffers and referees can finally pull them apart

Adam Cole and the Undisputed Kingdom deliver their mission statement, but not everyone loves it

A new entrance video and theme announce Cole and his men as Undisputed. Roderick Strong tells everyone to shup up and listen to his best friend, and Cole starts off by wondering if no one had sympathy for him.

He scoffs at the idea that they are the bad guys just because they betrayed MJF, as Max was the one who talked badly about everyone in the locker room. Cole says most of the wrestlers, fans and even Tony Khan will thank him, because MJF is gone and he’s never coming back.

Cole suggests that the second MJF didn’t need him any more, he would have stabbed Adam in the back. MJF needed Adam Cole, and no one would be cheering for Maxwell if not for Adam. “I saved MJF’s championship reign, and I also ended it.”

The new group is called the Undisputed Kingdom, and their goal is to win as much gold as possible. The Kingdom has the tag titles, Roddy will chase the International Championship and Wardlow will go after the World Championship … and then give it to Cole when he’s healthy. Uh, OK.

One person who may not be down with that comes out to retort, and that’s Switchblade Jay White. He’s upset about getting jumped when he was flying solo, but he’s no longer alone as The Gunns join him in storming the ring.

Bullet Club Gold is outnumbered, however, but that changes soon when The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass arrive as reinforcements. The Undisputed Kingdom quickly retreats in the face of their numerical disadvantage. The fans want BCG and The Acclaimed to scissor, but White tells the Gunns to leave the ring.

Orange Cassidy squeezes out another title defense against Dante Martin

The announce team wonders if Cassidy will have to change the way he approaches this matchup given the way Martin moves around the ring. Orange has fought some high-fliers, though, so one expects he’ll be fine.

There’s some nice mat wrestling to kick things off with each man getting the edge at different times. The pace accelerates gradually, and Martin shows no signs of being psyched out by Cassidy’s usual slacker antics.

Martin takes the worst of it when the battle moves to the floor, getting thrown into the barricade more than once. Cassidy runs around the ring, slowly, to deliver a dropkick, but Martin fights back right before side-by-side ads.

The challenger is taking the lead when we return, though the announcers note how he’s selling damage to his lower back. Dante and Orange exchange slow mo kicks, but Cassidy is ready when Martin tries to sneak in a real shot.

A DDT gets Cassidy a near fall, so he heads up top. Martin is knocked down twice and ends up taking a diving DDT even after landing on his feet. Ouch.

After Martin kicks out at two, Cassidy looks for Beach Break, but it’s countered into a GTS that nearly wins it. Dante delivers a senton on his way to the corner, but Orange slowly rolls away from whatever is next … or he thinks he does, as Martin walks the ropes to drop a splash for a near fall.

Back and forth they go with pinning predicaments until Cassidy connects on an Orange Punch, and that proves to be the winning move.

The Patriarch says all is right now that he’s still TNT Champion

Christian Cage is ready to talk, and Shayna Wayne tries to keep people quiet so he can do so. Cage says he’s been TNT Champion for 200 days and doesn’t let Tony Schiavone confuse him with the facts. He admits he went through a war at Worlds End and thanks Shayna Wayne and Nick Wayne for their help.

Will he thank Killswitch? Nope. The fans start a loud “Luchasaurus” chant while Cage dismisses Adam Copeland and suggests their feud is behind him. Cage warns anyone else who might have designs on the TNT Championship and says The Patriarchy are the faces of AEW now and forever.

Konosuke Takeshita impresses with victory over Darby Allin

Don Callis unfortunately joins the announcers for this one, as Allin appears to possibly tweak his knee in the early going. They wrestle to a standoff that even Callis says impresses him.

Takeshita hits a big back body drop that backs up Callis’ assertion that size matters. He grabs a side headlock to keep Darby grounded, and even after Allin gets free, he dives through the ropes and right into a jumping knee.

Want another impressive sequence? Takeshita rolls backwards down the ramp for three rolling German suplexes in a row. Sweet stuff.

During picture-in-picture, Allin does his usual cannonball to the floor, but is nearly pinned right after the full broadcast comes back. The fans start a “this is awesome” chant as Takeshita stalks his prey.

Darby bails out of a running corner knee strike, then lures his opponent into smashing through the barricade by the timekeeper’s area. Allin hits him with a Coffin Drop that leaves both men strewn about the floor.

As they re-renter the ring, Allin greets Takeshita with a Code Red and almost gets the three. Darby wants another Coffin Drop but hits only knees.

Knees and other strikes are battering Allin, but he pulls off an inside cradle for a quick two count, then another with a crucifix pin. Takeshita crashes home a big lariat, and Callis signals him to finish his foe.

A Helluva Kick leaves Allin woozy as his opponent takes him up top for a huge German superplex. A running knee is next, and even Darby isn’t getting up from that.

Swerve Strickland gets by Daniel Garcia, but he’s still got a Hangman problem

Daddy Magic joins the announcers for this one, who inform us that we have at least a five-minute overrun if necessary. That suggests it almost certainly will be.

Garcia takes some of the early offense and sees if he can lure Swerve into some mat exchanges, which he does. Strickland takes the kitchen sink, but the crowd is chanting for him even as he gets sent to the floor and then into the barricade.

Prince Nana is talking to Garcia from behind his back, and Daniel turns to engage him in a brief dance-off. Wrestling returns pretty quickly, which is bad for DG as he takes a Death Valley Driver on the apron.

Strickland thinks he’s in control after commercials, but Garcia quickly disabuses him of that notion by beating him into the corner. A running knee is next, then a shotgun dropkick.

Garcia’s stalling suplex allows him to cover for a near fall. Strickland hits a backbreaker and a flurry of additional offense, and now it’s Garcia kicking out at two.

The battle goes to the announce table and forces everyone to bail out, and when Garcia goes for a Sharpshooter, both men end up sliding off the back of the table. They fight back to the top rope, where Garcia hits a superplex but is quickly suplexed in turn.

Garcia’s rally is answered by a Flatliner, and he follows with the Drive-By kick that comes oh so close to ending it. Swerve Stomp is on target but somehow still not enough.

Swerve summons what is left in his tank to deliver a House Call, and the JML Driver is enough to end it. After the match, Strickland extends his hand, but it’s a trap so Nana can hit Garcia with a low blow. Daddy Magic gets one too, but just as Nana is about to say Strickland will be the next AEW World Champion, Hangman Adam Page’s music hits and brings the cow boy to the ring.

Swerve laughs, but only for a second until they start throwing hands. Security swarms the ring to pull them apart, but Hangman breaks free and gets in more shots. Swerve does the same, so it seems like 10 men won’t be enough to get this done.