Ciocco’s AEW Dynamite Review 10.29.25

SICKOS! It’s Wednesday, you know what that means! AEW is LIVE tonight with a Fright Night edition of Dynamite, as the company remains in Texas for the upcoming week. And when I say that it is a Fright Night edition of Dynamite, that doesn’t mean that we’re getting a 3-hour edition of the show, per se, but there should be a lot of chaotic surprises in store for us tonight!

The war continues between The Conglomeration and the Death Riders, as Jon Moxley and Kyle O’Reilly will run back their previous weeks match that ended in a DQ win for O’Reilly when Moxley knocked out the referee. Elsewhere within said conflict, Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin will team up to face the Death Rider’s Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia AKA the Death Rider’s B-Team. We will also have the Don Callis Family Summit, which will either lead to another DCF member being added, or the long speculated and anticipated Konosuke Takeshita face turn. Or not, who knows!

There are matches with title implications, including a pair of #1 contenders matches. The first one will feature The Young Bucks, FTR, Jurassic Express, and Jet Speed in a 4-way tag team match, with the winners moving on to face Brodido for the World Tag Team Titles at Full Gear on November 22nd. Also, the challenger for Hangman Page at Full Gear will be determined in a 4-way match, as Samoa Joe, Bobby Lashley, Ricochet, and HOOK will bash it up for a chance at the World Title.

And, finally and perhaps most importantly, the long anticipated Women’s Tag Team Title Tourney begins TONIGHT, as Queen Aminata and Jamie Hayter chose their opponents, Julia Hart and Skye Blue AKA the Sisters of Sin, with the winners moving on to the semi-finals. All of this and, of course, so much more in store tonight!

So, how is everyone doing tonight? The Flyers defeated the Penguins last night, giving me some kind of bragging rights when it comes to living in Western PA. Sucks that the Eagles are on bye week this weekend, and the Pacers will continue to bring me great pain as the season progresses.

But, enough about me and let’s get ready to make the Dynamite go BOOM!

Image Credit: Follow the Revolution – FTR on Facebook. Batman is a Kenny Omega fan, confirmed!

Tonight, we are LIVE from the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas! The man who wears his mask all the time and not just at Halloween, Excalibur, the man who still dresses as an 80’s caricature of himself, Tony Schiavone, and the man who, had he kept his eye patch on, could have been a Pirate for Halloween, Bryan Danielson, are on the call tonight!

We are wasting no time tonight, as we are trying to find our collective minds!

Tornado Tag Team Match: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia

Darbyb and Cassidy get a jump at the bell. Running Coffin splashes by Allin, so Cassidy wants to try it lol. Yuta and Garcia cut that off, as both guys choke out their opponents with their shirts. Double back drop by Cassidy and Allin ends their momentum.

To the floor we go, as Yuta throws Allin into the barricade. Yuta goes under the ring, but he found his middle finger, as he flips off the fans lol. That was funny. Not so funny is Allin clobbering Yuta from behind with a chair! He sets it up, sits Yuta in it, returns to the ring, and hits a tope suicida to Yuta through the chair! Meanwhile, Garcia continues to throw Cassidy from barricade to barricade, but his last attempt sees Orange land on his feet. He goes to put his hands in his pockets, but Yuta appears from off the screen and lays him out. So much for selling, huh?

Speaking of, Allin appears from out of nowhere, as he is standing on top of the balcony, and he wipes out both Yuta and Garcia on the floor. The no-selling continues, as Garcia throws Allin back to the other side of the wall towards the ring. Yuta continues to assault Cassidy in the crowd as we hit PIP Break.

(Yes, I’m watching this on TBS, for some stupid reason, HBO Max isn’t showing me tonight’s show, instead it’s showing me next week’s show.)

Yuta and Garcia do a double Romero Special to Allin, propelling him into the corner as we return from break. Daniel and Wheeler go outside and grab a table. They set it up, as Cassidy is back in the ring, hands in his pockets complete. Running dropkick for both men. Cassidy to the apron and back in with a springboard DDT to Garcia. Around the world with a DDT to Yuta. Garcia cuts off the Stun Dog Millionaire with a sleeper. He turns that into a front guillotine. Garcia and Cassidy roll to the outside, as Garcia puts Cassidy on the table. Yuta climbs to the top and he splashes Cassidy through the table.

Back in the ring, Allin has his skateboard. He rolls it towards Garcia and begs him to hit him with it. Garcia goes for it, but Allin runs in and hits a Destroyer for a two count. Yuta is back, as he cuts off Allin’s Coffin Drop. Allin is in the Tree of WOAH, but Cassidy is back, as he rakes the back of Yuta! Yuta gets sent to the mat, Allin is out of the tree of WOAH, Coffin Drop! The cover, but Garcia saves his partner. Garcia chokes out Allin, but Cassidy with an Orange Punch to Garcia! CASSIDY WITH A TOPE TO GARCIA THROUGH THE TABLE! Allin locks in the Scorpion Death Lock on Yuta, who taps out!
WINNER: Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy
TIME: 11:20
THOUGHTS: All the no-selling before the break aside, this was a fairly good tornado tag match. I’m glad it was that kind of match and not just a tag match, since the animosity befit it better.
RATING: ***1/4

Post-match, Cassidy throws candy into the crowd.

HOOK has arrived. He knows he is the underdog in this match tonight. Samoa Joe, Bobby Lashley, Ricochet, they are all proven men in this business, He will have his hands full, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He is here to earn a shot at the AEW World Title, but Joe, I will make sure I take you out. You see, you decided to show the world, what he already knew.

The Four-team match to determine the next challengers for Brodido is up next!

COMMERCIALS!

Don Callis is here with The Remarkable Renee Paquette who wants to know if he will find a resolution to the issues between Takeshita and Okada?

Before he can dig into it, he spots the Young Bucks off screen and waves them over. He knows that the Young Bucks don’t want to join the Family, and he respects that. But a Family can have his back, and he wants to show Nicholas and Matthew Jackson what he can do for them. Callis tells the production jobber to cue their music.

The Bucks come out, walking past the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man and a Cow. Irony lol. Callis gives them a lavish intro from the back as the Bucks make their way down to the ring.

Four-Corners Tag Match to determine the #1 Contenders for Brodido: The Young Bucks vs. FTR W/Stokely vs. Jet Speed vs. Jurassic Express

Excalibur mentions that, due to the gravity of this match, that there will be no outside interference, meaning that Stoke is going to spit his knowledge on commentary. And, frankly, we ALL win there!

Bailey and Perry are going to start. Wait, no, Harwood tags himself in over Perry. Harwood takes Bailey to the ropes and hits chops and punches. He misses one, though, and Bailey proceeds to kick his chest cavity right out of his body. Harwood steps to him, but he meets a big side kick from Bailey. Perry is back in the match proper this time. Leg pick by Perry, off the ropes, Bailey with a leapfrog, arm drag by Perry, arm drag by Bailey. Headlock by Bailey, Luchasaurus enters the match, Knight comes in. Jet Speed with a dropkick to the legs of the dinosaur. Perry takes out Knight; we have a quadruple kip-up lol.

The Bucks and FTR have seen enough, as they attack the babyfaces. Luchasaurus fights them off for a bit, but the Bucks come back with a tandem SUPERKICK. Order is restored with Knight and Harwood. Nevermind, here comes The Bucks. They try to charge Knight in the corner, but Kevin sends both Bucks to the apron. That only leads to a triple team corner kick to Knight. Knight avoids the Shatter Machine, and Perry tags in. Double Rana to both members of FTR, as they hit the floor. He does a dive, but FTR grab him and smack him face first off, the announcer’s table. Luchasaurus decks both members of FTR, but the Bucks take him out. Bailey with a moonsault to both Bucks on the floor. Knight goes up to take them all out, but Harwood meets him up top. SUPERPLEX FROM THE TOP FROM HARWOOD ONTO THE PILE! PIP Break!

The Bucks run into the foot and elbow of Perry as we return from break. Perry with a lariat to Nick, as he reaches for his dinosaur. Matt tries, in vain, to cut him off, but it’s no good, as Luchasaurus is in! Right hand buffet to anyone who moves! Corner splashes for FTR! Running big boot and a Beal to the Bucks. DOUBLE LARIAT TO THE BUCKS AND DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE TO FTR! Dinosaur poses in the corner! Luchasaurus propels his partner out of the ring onto Jet Speed! Choke Slams for both Bucks! Destroyer to Nick Jackson from Perry! The cover, FTR with the save!

Countdown to Extinction is avoided by Nick, as FTR bail him out. Knight is back, as he tries to line up Luchasaurus to no avail. Knight is on the shoulders of Luchasaurus, but Bailey has Perry on his shoulders. Pendulum DDT by Knight to Luchasaurus! Bailey with a monnsault onto the pile on the floor! UFO Splash by Knight to Luchasaurus! The cover, but Luchasaurus kicks out at two! Knight to the top again, he misses and eats a boot from the dinosaur. Blind tag by Matt Jackson, they feet SUPERKICKS to Perry and Luchasaurus! The Bucks takes out Jet Speed, SHATTER MACHINE TO CASH WHEELER! WTF!! EVP Trigger to Knight! The cover, Knight out at 2.8!

Action has finally slowed down a bit. The Bucks looking Meltzer Driver, but Dax with the blind tag, and Luchasaurus with a chokeslam to Nick to the floor. Speedball with an inside out dive to everyone on the floor! UFO Splash by Knight, but FTR sneak in and hit him with the Shatter Machine! FTR have stolen it!
WINNER: FTR
TIME: 13:40
THOUGHTS: Absolutely insanity and chaos. For me, it’s hard to keep up with everything, but damn, is it sure fun to watch!
RATING: ****1/4

Video package for Hangman Adam Page. Comments from Page this past week on Collision play over the events from Wrestle Dream, and everything that has led us to this point.

Last week’s match between Kyle O’Reilly and Jon Moxley is back up again, next!

COMMERCIALS!

Well, they told us that KOR-Moxley was up next after the break, but instead, it’s time for the Don Callis Family Summit! Roughly 40% of the roster comes out behind Callis.

Oh, wait, that’s just his Family. Makes sense, I guess, although there is no Brian Cage. Also, no Takeshita, but no surprise.

HECHICERO chants, love it. But Don Callis has something important to say! Welcome to the Don Callis Family Summit! There has been speculation of issues in the family between Okada and Takeshita. His family is here to answer three questions. First, to Rocky!

Thank you, Don, says Rocky Romero. The first question is who? Who is the Don Callis Family. and the answer is simple; they are the largest, most dominant faction in professional wrestling. Not everyone can be here, due to injury, or travel issues, but we can all be here in spirit. My brothers and fearless leaders, I give you, a piece of art. I call it, La Familia!

Rocky removes the cover, and we see a piece of art. And it is ART!

Josh Alexander says the second question is what, as in, what is the Don Callis Family all about? He wants to direct us to the screen.

A video package of past DCF moments play. Callis says it wouldn’t be a DCF Summit if hwe didn’t hear from The Protostar.

The third very important question is why, asks Fletcher, why the Family does what they do. Let me remind you of a little oath that we took before we joined the Family.

AHEM!

I (insert name here), and Fletcher launches into the content of the letter.

But The Alpha has arrived! Okada doesn’t look too happy, and neither does Takeshita, as he has his IWGP title over his shoulder.

Callis tries to calm Takeshita down, as Okada gets up and out of his seat. He approaches Callis and Takeshita. Callis says he knows there is still some animosity brewing. He named Konosuke the Alpha, but this is an entire family of Alphas! There will be some push and pull, and it is to be expected. No, it is to be desired! But it is a Family at the end of the day. And that brings him to the final question, HOW! How do we succeed? By listening to what Don wants. There is no I in team, but there is an I in Family, and he decides what happens here. He knows Takeshita and himself built this family on the ashes of Kenny Omega’s career. But while I decide what happened when you were first in, you will be the last out. So, what he needs right now, is for Takeshita to put his ego aside, and shake Okada’s hand!

NO chants ring out, and Callis tells them not to listen to these morons and idiots. SHAKE HIS HAND, DAMN IT! Takeshita-San, this is not about ego, this about your honor. This is about your honor as a wrestler and a member of this Family. So, he is asking for himself, please, shake Okada’s hand, for Don!

Takeshita offers his hand to Okada. Wow, didn’t see that coming. Okada says F that shit and flips Takeshita off lol. No surprise there. Half of the family gets between Okada and Takeshita. Don says we have work to do, and it looks like he needs to show them how this works. On Collision, Okada and Takeshita will team up, and they will show him how they work as a Family.

Not going to lie, that was actually pretty fun. It’s more interesting when the B-Team members of the DCF get to speak/have some rub.

Video package for Olympia, who is coming from CMLL to challenge Mercedes Mone for the CMLL World Women’s Title, one of the 7,122 titles that the CEO harbors. And, of course, Mone will face Kris Statlander at Full Gear.

Speaking of, Statlander is with Renee in the back. She gets it, Mone is mad that Statlander crashed her party. But, she has a match on Collision, and she will be watching.

Kris comes back, actually, she has the one title that you do not have, as she raises her Women’s Title high in the air.

Okay, NOW we are getting the rematch from last week lol. BTW, I love the Conglomeration theme and video wall!

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley

The bell rings, as Kyle rolls around to try and take Jon to the mat. Moxley shadow boxes with O’Reilly. He puts up his guard, so Kyle can’t strike him. Kyle goes for a double leg, but Moxley grabs shoulder control. Arm bar attempt, but O’Reilly out, and he kicks at Jon’s leg. Moxley eats the strikes from O’Reilly and gives as good as he gets. Well, until he decided to eat at Kyle’s face. Knee strike attempt from O’Reilly, but Moxley dumps him over the top and to the floor. PIP Break.

Moxley stalks O’Reilly on the floor as we return from break. Moxley puts O’Reilly in a full nelson and takes him over to the ring steps. He slams Kyle face first into the ring steps. Moxley returns O’Reilly to the ring. His move misses, and Moxley hits the ring post. Kyle with a dragon screw to Moxley. Jon blocks the single leg and hits the piledriver! Cover, Kyle out at two. Moxley turns that into a Fujiwara into the cross face. Moxley rolls O’Reilly over into a further submission, then gouges the eyes of O’Reilly.

Moxley misses the curb stomp, and O’Reilly with strikes. Moxley fires back, and Kyle feeds the leg to take down Moxley. He flails aimlessly with punches. He turns a leg lock into the ankle lock! O’Reilly puts his foot back on the mat, he stomps on his ankle and hits a shinning wizard from behind! Moxley kicks out at two. Moxley and O’Reilly trade knee strikes. O’Reilly with an axe kick and a rolling forearm. Moxley cuts him off, looking Gotch Style Piledriver, but O’Reilly takes him over into a triangle! Kyle let’s go and hits Moxley with a PK. Perhaps it was a ruse, as Moxley lays out O’Reilly with a lariat.

Moxley is bleeding from the nose, as he shoves Referee Aubrey away as she checks on him. Moxley to his feet with a high boot to the face of O’Reilly. Death Rider, but O’Reilly takes down Moxley and puts on the ankle lock again. Moxley in the middle of the ring, he gets to his feet and dives to the ropes for the break. Moxley escapes to the floor, but he isn’t safe, as O’Reilly hits a springboard crossbody to Moxley! Arm bar on the floor! He releases the hold and returns to break the count. Moxley charges him, but O’Reilly catches him and throws him into the chair. Kye looking for his apron dropkick, but Marina gets in the way! Moxley looks to take advantage, but O’Reilly locks on the Guillotine! Aubrey counts to seven. She counts to nine, and no one has gotten back in the ring. Aubrey calls for the bell.
WINNER: Double Count out
TIME: 11:45
THOUGHTS: O’Reilly and Moxley isn’t a feud that I had thought I wanted to say, but it sure isn’t a bad way to go, for sure. It keeps Moxley away from the World Title, and it gives O’Reilly a feud against a former 4-time champion. Two weeks in a row, no winner, though.
RATING: ***

Post-match, O’Reilly begs for the match to continue, but Marina hits the ring, and she knocks out Aubrey! Kyle is shocked, and here comes the Death Riders to ambush O’Reilly. Roderick Strong is here, but he is quickly overwhelmed. Cue the rest of the Conglomeration along with Darby Allin!

Darby wants to know where they are running to. Let’s end this now. You have said he hasn’t suffered enough, but he has, it’s YOU who hasn’t suffered enough.

Mark Briscoe calls Darby Allin a good man. The Death Riders walk around like some fake tough guys. When it’s time to throw down, you guys’ sure love to skedaddle. So, Mark and his crew have come up with the perfect solution, so he is going to let his main man with the game plan tell you.

OC doesn’t want to, but Briscoe implores him to tell the Death Riders.

Huhhhhhhhhhhh…Blood and Guts.

Wow, what conviction there from Orange Cassidy!

COMMERCIALS!

A fight is happening in the back between Mercedes Mone and Kris Statlander as we return! Mone brings Statlander out to the stage, as she continues the assault. Mone drags Statlander down the ramp by her hair, but Kris with an elbow to the gut, and she scoops up Mone. She drops her face-first on the ring apron. Kris goes to get into the ring, but Athena sneaks up from behind and drags her off the apron! Athena throws Kris into the ring. Mone with the backstabber, and Athena with the O-Face! Mone locks on the Bank Statement, but here comes Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron! Mone and Athena hightail it, as Cameron checks on Statlander.

Excalibur tells us that the first-round match between Mone/Athena and Cameron/Nightingale will happen next week on Dynamite! Yes! Love it!

Excalibur also mentions that Bandido will defend his ROH World Title against Mascara Dorada. We get a video package, documenting Bandido’s Family making the trip to San Antonio last week, where Bandido unsuccessfully challenged Okada for his AEW Unified Title. And, not for nothing, but Holy Crap on a Crack, Bandido’s Sister! 😍

It’s Tourney Time!

AEW World Women’s Tag Team Titles Tourney Quarterfinals: The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue) vs. Jamie Hayter & Queen Aminata

The bell rings, as the Queen and Julia will start off. hart takes a cheap shot at Hayter and then rushes Aminata. Hayter in now, sunset flip by Aminata, as she launches Hart into a kick from Hayter. Skye gets the tag, and the Queen gives her the chocolate kisses! Snap suplex by the Queen, who tags in Jamie.

Jamie comes in, hits a snap suplex of her own, and tags in the Queen. Aminta with another snap suplex, and another tag to Blue. Jamie hits yet another snap suplex to Blue, but this time, she opts to cover Skye for a two count. Hart sneaks in, and Aminta and Hayter hit a double suplex to the sisters. Hayter with a back suplex to Blue. The cover gets her a two count. Hayter sends Blue into the ropes, Hart with the blind tag, as Jamie kicks Blue in the face. Both the Sisters of Sin set up Jamie for a double flapjack. Double running PK from Hart and Blue, cover for a two. PIP Break.

Hart heads to the top rope and does the Undertaker walk as we return. Hart off the top rope to the shoulder of Jamie as she tags in Skye. A kick from Julia, but Hayter takes both sisters over on her own. Jamie tags in Aminata, who kicks Hart from the ring. Snapmare and a PK to Blue. Rolling kick by the Queen, leading to a running knee to the back of Skye’s head. Cover for a two count. Hayter with the tag and a missile dropkick from the top. Snap suplex from Aminata, and a lariat from Hayter. The cover, Hart in to break it up.

All four ladies slug it out in the middle of the ring. It ends with a German/Back suplex from Jamie and the Queen. The sisters with stereo thrust kicks, which are answered in kind with stereo lariats from Hayter and the Queen! The match resets with former BFF Aminata and Blue. They come to center, slaps are exchanged. The Queen drops Skye to the mat, and she wrenches on the fingers/wrist of Skye. Hart in to make the save, as Jamie sends her right back out. Thekla from under the ring, and she takes out Hayter! The Sisters of Sin with an assisted downward spiral to Aminata in the ring, and they score what has to be an upset!
WINNER: The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart and Skye Blue)
TIME: 10:00
THOUGHTS: Despite the teamwork that the sisters (along with Thekla) have been putting in aside, this has to be considered some kind of an upset. The win shakes things up a bit, and I like it. I also liked this match, as all four women put it all out there.
RATING: ***3/4

The Phantom of the Opera, Tony Schiavone, has Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford in the back. Unfortunately, Ford tore her UCL, and she cannot compete. Those tag team titles were their destiny, and she is going to make any woman feel the pain that she is feeling. Megan says she has been making women in this company bow down long before she crossed paths with Penelope. She’s ready to make some history.

Marina Shafir is here! She says she is listening. Jon Moxley stops by, still bleeding from the bridge of his nose. These two, WOOF, that’s going to be something, he quips. Marina and Megan fist bump. So, it looks like Shafir is subbing in for Ford, and I do not mind that in the least.

The main event is up next!

COMMERCIALS!

4-Way Dance to determine the #1 contender to the AEW World Title: Samoa Joe vs. HOOK vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet

The bell rings, as Lashley goes after Ricochet, and Ricky leaves the ring. Joe goes after Lashley, and HOOK attacks Joe. Lashley pulls Joe out of the ring in an ode to the long-running feud that they had. Ricky is back. He tries to attack Lashley, he backs away from HOOK, and backs into Lashley lol. HOOK with a high angle suplex to Ricky. Bobby is like, that’s cute, and he throws Ricky across the ring. He follows that up with a corner charge. HOOK with a Northern Lights to Ricky. Lashley breaks up the pin. He threatens HOOK, but HOOK attacks from behind. Lashley tells HOOK to calm down, but he won’t, so Lashley charges and smacks HOOK off the apron and to the floor. Lashley apologizes to Kingston, and he hits the standing choke slam on the apron to HOOK. Ricky comes in with a tope suicida to Lashley, but he doesn’t knock him down. Joe, however, hits one of his own that floors both Ricky and Lashley. PIP Break.

HOOK tries to chop down Joe with no luck as we return from break. Joe knocks him out and then snaps Lashley’s face over the top rope as he tries to intervene. Snap power slam to HOOK from Joe! The cover, but Ricky is in to break it up. Ricky goes up, Joe with the NOPE spot. Joe with some punches, but as he winds up for the last one, Bobby returns and KNOCKS Ricky out of the ring!

Joe and Lashley go at it, Joe runs into a spinebuster from the Almighty! Ricky flies in, but he hits a Dominator to the bald one! The cover, but HOOK saves the match. HOOK tries to go over Lashley, but Joe returns and wipes out Lashley. HOOK sends him from the ring. HOOK WITH A T-BONE SUPLEX TO JOE! HOOK celebrates WAY too much, and Ricky flies in with a springboard lariat! Ricky dives out and takes out Lashley! Sasuke Special to Joe on the floor! SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO HOOK! The cover, but HOOK barely kicks out.

Ricky wants the Spirit Gun, but Ricky is caught in the Red Rum! Ricky fights, he’s on his feet, but he falls back to the canvas! Joe in with the back splash senton to break up the pin! Joe puts HOOK on top, looking Muscle Buster. Lashley is back and he SPEARS Joe! The cover, but Ricky is back with a springboard 450 to save the match.

HOL…E…SHAT!

Ricky thinking Vertigo, but HOOK rolls him up for a two count. HOOK clotheslines Ricky from the ring. He low bridges Lashley to the floor. Ricky hits Lashley from behind with a chair! That angers Lashley, as he follows him up the ramp. Meanwhile, Joe has locked in the Coquina Clutch to HOOK! Lashley tries to make the save, but it’s too late, as HOOK has tapped out!
WINNER: Samoa Joe
TIME: 11:50
THOUGHTS: I mean, Joe IS a “heel” now, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we are running back Joe and Page one more time. All four men got a lot of shine in this match, and while I am only slightly disappointed that Ricky did not win, I understand the reason for having Page-Joe again at Full Gear. Hell of a match and a main event, though!
RATING: ***3/4

Post-match, here come the other Opps to celebrate with Joe. The Phantom of the Opera is back, as he wants the Fight Night Crew to come out with the contract so Joe can sign it.

Here comes the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man, the Cow, the Chicken, the Red Sheet Ghost, the Bull, and the Squid Game reject lol. Joe is handed the contract. He also has a mic. He wants to ensure that this is the safest environment possible to sign this. So, boys, make sure I am safe!

Shibata and Hobbs take care of everyone in the ring. They leave the Marshmallow Man for last, thinking that it MIGHT be Hangman Page, but it wasn’t. Joe knocks him out and then signs his contract. Joe wants the mic again, after he got rid of it.

It looks like Hangman is not as creative as he used to be, so sorry boys for the carnage. He will relieve Hangman of the burden of being champion, and ladies and gentlemen, the man who stands before you is the next AEW World Heavyweight Champion!

The Phantom of the Opera proposes a toast to Joe winning the match. “Tony” proposes a toast to Joe, but also to Hangman Page, the true Cowboy Shit, who will reign forever!

OMG, TONY WAS ACTUALLY HANGMAN THIS WHOLE TIME! HANGMAN CAN STILL BE CREATIVE, JOE!!!

He lays out Hobbs and Shibata, as Joe stands there with his beer. Hangman lays out Joe with the Buckshot Lariat. Security and referees arrive to keep Hangman from attacking the Opps any further.

And with that, we are done!

8.8

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

AEW rarely misses with these special editions of their flagship show, and they did not miss tonight, either. All the checkmarks for a quality show were assigned, from kick arse matches that had major implications, to the beginning of the Women's World Tag Team Tourney, to further advancement in activity towards Full Gear in three-plus weeks, and more than a handful of fun segments. Lowkey, I liked the Don Callis Family Summit, and the dedication to highlighting less featured members in said segment. This was a fantastic show, and nothing really missed tonight.