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Good evening and welcome friends! It’s Theo Sambus filling in for the one and only Tony Acero tonight, and what a show to be covering! Tonight, AEW Dynamite presents Big Business, where we’re all expecting the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone. But what other surprises does Tony Khan have in store for us?

In-ring content looks pretty tasty – Darby Allin vs Jay White has massive banger potential, especially as Darby will be looking to leave a lasting impression before he sets off on his Mount Everest trip. We’ve got the New Elite in action against Eddie Kingston, Penta and the returning Pac which should be pretty wild, and Wardlow cashes in his World title shot against Samoa Joe after winning the All Star Scramble match at Revolution. Having benefitted from recently being heated up again, I’d be surprised to see Wardlow lose clean, so there’s real intrigue surrounding this one.

Not only that, we’re starting the build to next month’s AEW Dynasty, so let’s head down to the TD Garden and see how things start to take shape…

 

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Location: Boston, MA

Venue: TD Garden

Commentators: Excalibur, Tazz & Tony Schiavone

 

Big Business opens with Renee Paquette backstage hyping the show, and a huge Mercedes Benz pulls up behind her…but we cut to ringside before we can see who is in it.

‘CEO’ appears on the screen to unfamiliar music…and it is indeed Mercedes Moné!! MONE IS HERE!

Moné soaks in the cheers as the crowd chant ‘CEO’ along with her music. Moné grabs a mic. “Boston! I’m home.”

That cues up some ‘Welcome Home’ chants from the TD Garden. Moné says her heart is beating out of her chest. First, she wants to say thank you. Thank you for having her back these past 2 years. Thank you for giving her the courage and strength to be here. Thank you for sticking with her through the lows and highs, the milestones, the titles, the moments…thank you. You can trust her, we will be making more moments together. These people are the reason she is here, she loves us! If you only knew how much this all means to her…wrestling has changed and saved her life. Wrestling has given her hope, a place to dream. Eddie Guerrero gave her a place to dream that she could one day do this.

Her dreams got her to lead a women’s revolution. They made her the first woman to main event a pay-per-view in this very building. She dropped out of school at 13 to take care of her brother, and then her dreams at 18 took her to Chaotic Wrestling where her dream properly began, the dream to become the greatest women’s wrestler ever. She wants us to know that if she can do it, anyone can do it too. So let’s get down to business. Why is Moné in AEW? She says she needs to be here, she wants to be here. This is the only place where the revolution can be global. She’s been watching everyone in the locker room and she can’t wait to tear it up with them. Riho vs Willow Nightingale in tonight’s main event….Moné has unfinished business with Willow. But right now, Mercedes Moné is ALL ELITE.

They flash the All Elite graphic up on the screen, and Moné asks the fans to say hello to their new CEO. She poses as the crowd continue to go wild. Big Business off to a hot start!

 

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Renee Paquette is backstage with Samoa Joe. In moments, he will be defending the championship, what does he expect? Joe says tonight feels like ‘money’. He will make Wardlow pay for crimes he didn’t even commit…or did he? Joe never forgets the debts that need to be paid. Samoa Joe says he doesn’t lose championships in The Garden.

We now go to a video package from the Undisputed Kingdom. Adam Cole sits in a sleek old chair with a leather bound book for Story Time. Once upon a time, there was a warrior called Wardlow. He was deceived and lied to, guarded by a true devil, but he was freed, slayed many beasts but something was missing. He discovered brotherhood, and he was ready to fulfil his destiny. With courage and purpose, he marches into war, and all the hatred was unleashed, and he heroically slayed the beast. The End.

 

Match One: [AEW World Championship] Samoa Joe (c) vs Wardlow

Hot start from Wardlow as he goes right for Joe, getting the jump. They fight around the ringside area, with Wardlow tossing Joe into the barricade. Wardlow uses Joe’s body to break the count, and tears up signs at ringside to garner some big heat. In the ring a big spinebuster takes Joe down, but only gets a 1 count. Wardlow corners Joe with shoulders to the midsection but Joe starts to fight back with chops and jabs.

A back elbow takes Wardlow down, followed by more jabs. Enziguri in the corner and Wardlow is staggered. Joe hoists Wardlow onto the top rope and heads up with him. Wardlow punches him away, WARDLOW WITH A TWISTING PLANCHA! We head to PIP while both men recover.

Back to their feet, they engage in a war of chops. Here come the MEAT chants. They exchange headbutts now until Wardlow fires off a high dropkick to take Joe down. Body slam by Wardlow dumps Joe to the canvas, and Wardlow soaks in the boos. Joe gets caught in a front guillotine, but Joe manages to grab the ropes.

We come back from commercial and Joe attempts to mount a comeback. Wardlow goes for a top rope dive but fakes him out, so Joe does the walk off spot but then turns into a shoulder block off the ropes. Nicely done! Wardlow looks for a powerbomb but Joe gets free, atomic drop and a big boot, followed by the senton gets Joe back in control. Slugfest as they get to their feet. Wardlow off the ropes, and Joe catches him with the snap powerslam. Joe looks for the muscke buster but Wardlow slips out of it. He appears to tweak his knee or ankle, but it’s a ruse as he gouges the eyes of Joe. Wardlow gets Joe on the ropes and he hits the big corner knee, 1, 2, NO! Joe kicks out!

Wardlow heads to the top rope, misses a senton atomico, and Joe pushes him into the corner for mounted punches, but no, Wardlow with the powerbomb out of the corner! Straps are down…..Joe sweeps the legs, and gets the Coquina Clutch!! Wardlow is on the mat…and he’s out!! The referee calls for the bell.

Winner by submission and STILL AEW World Champion: Samoa Joe

Time: 11:01

Rating: ***1/4 – Fun stuff with a surprisingly clean finish! Not sure where Wardlow goes from here, but this was a fun match, and he got to look dominant in the early portion.

Post-match, here comes Swerve Strickland! Security try to restrain him but he has a chain in his hand. He gets in the ring but Joe quickly exits, not wanting anything to do with him. Joe smirks as he heads back up the ramp.

 

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Alex Marvez was backstage earlier, looking for comments from The Elite. Alex asks why Okada sided with the Elite. Nicholas asks Marvez for more respect. Okada’s passport is printed The Rainmaker Kazuchika Okada, so he should address him as such. Matthew says the definition of Elite is three of the best wrestlers in the world. Matthew says he could give 14 million reasons why Okada joined, right Okada? Okada then demands Alex Marvez sings Happy Birthday to Matthew Jackson. Dickhead Okada is the best!

 

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Match Two: The Elite (The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada) vs Eddie Kingston, Penta El Zero Miedo & Pac

Eddie wants Okada immediately, and it looks like we’re getting it! But no, Okada tags out to Matthew. Matthew asks for a fist bump, but Eddie slaps it away, and then tags in Pac. Matthew still wants the fist bump but Pac spin kicks him and shoulder blocks him to the mat. Headscissors and a tilt a whirl backbreaker take Matthew out, so he tags in Nicholas. Penta in too, and Nicholas with a slingblade! Kick to the head by Penta, followed by a big powerslam-twist to a DVD, that looked mad. Pac back in too for some double teaming, and we get double team superkicks to Matthew. Pac splits the legs of Matthew, and Penta nails a kick off the top TO THE TAINT!

Eddie in now and Okada tags himself in as Eddie begins the chops. They trade chops and forearms but Okada catches him with a beautiful dropkick. Tag to Matthew, triple team enziguris to Eddie! Nicholas chokes Eddie in the ropes, and then Matthew and Okada double team him on the floor while the referee is distracted.

Back in the ring, Matthew stomps Eddie down in the corner and then tags in Okada for a springboard senton. Okada works over Eddie in the corner before Nicholas comes back in with a running knee. Nicholas spits at Penta, which draws his ire, and Nicholas looks very pleased with himself. Eddie manages to send Nicholas to the floor, and then takes on Matthew. Matthew jumps into an Exploder suplex by accident, and this is Eddie’s opportunity to make the tag. But no, the rest of the Elite take out Pac and Penta, while Okada gets up on the apron in their place, doing the old Super Dragon spot, tremendous.

Eddie fires off a quick belly to belly suplex on Matthew, and he makes the tag to Penta! Double crossbody to Nicholas, slingblade to follow up. Double DDT on the Bucks! But Okada is right there. Lungblower attempt but Okada puts the brakes on. Pac in for a dropkick on Okada. Pac and Penta with stereo dives over the top rope to take out the Bucks on the outside!

Penta up to the top, diving foot stomp to the chest of Nicholas, and Pac with a springboard 450 for 2 until Okada breaks it up. Pac whips off a German suplex on Okada and Eddie tags back in. Okada tries to back away but Eddie gets the chops in. Okada avoids a backfist and gets a quick DDT, but Pac in with an enziguri. Matthew drives Pac face first into the mat, Canadian Destroyer to Matthew by Penta! Hotshot to Nicholas by Eddie, Eddie is trying to take on all 3 men. Low blow by Nicholas to Eddie… and Okada is right there for the RAINMAKERRRR! 1, 2, 3. Okada gets the pinfall over Eddie at 12:40.

Winners by pinfall: The Elite

Time: 12:40

Rating: ***1/2 – This was a GOOD TIME for all here! Reminded me of a PWG six-man, with craziness throughout, at the slight expense of selling. The ‘new’ Elite is going to be such a joy to watch though – Okada is clearly so natural and comfortable as a heel.

 

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Back from commercial, we get some hype for Christian Cage vs Adam Copeland and their I Quit match next week.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring, speaking about AEW Dynasty on April 21st and the recently signed match between Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay. And here comes Will Ospreay now! Huge Ospreay chants, he’s over in Boston for sure.

Schiavone says the things Ospreay has done already is unbelievable. Ospreay says he rocked up and was asked what he wanted to do, and he wanted to speak to the beautiful people of Boston. Ospreay has wanted to emulate the career of Danielson. Whether it was 50 people, 500 or 50,000, Danielson left it all in the ring, and he’s proud that that man is a fan of Ospreay’s work.

Danielson once upon a time said “was it worth it” in regard to Ospreay dropping Omega on his head with a Tiger Driver. And standing here today, Ospreay says yeah bruv, it was worth it! The moment he stepped foot in AEW, there has been a phrase following him everywhere. Restore the feeling! Bruv, Ospreay IS the feeling. This match is about reminding people what AEW is all about. The best wrestler of the 21st century, only one man walks out the winner. The one thing Ospreay has learned from Danielson is that despite any respect he might have for his opponent, it’s all on the line in the ring once that bell rings, and Ospreay doesn’t plan on dying. His name is Will Ospreay and he is on another level.

 

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Deonna Purrazzo is backstage, and she says Toni Storm knows nothing about the Virtuosa if she thinks it’s over between them. Deonna says they love the numbers game, so she will find a partner and meet both Toni and Mariah May next week. Maybe Toni should watch for the shoe, as it’s headed straight up her ass.

 

Match Three: ‘Switchblade’ Jay White vs Darby Allin

Darby removes his overcoat and he has huge sutures bandaged up from the glass spot at Revolution. Side headlock takeover by White, off the ropes and a shoulder block takes Darby down, and Darby already looks in pain. Jay goes straight for the taped up areas, and fires of a HUUUUGE chop, good Lord. Darby gets tossed into the corner but comes back with a shotgun dropkick. Darby to the top rope, FLIPPING SENTON off the top to the floor, taking out Jay White!

Darby rolls Jay back in, but Jay rolls through to the other side, so Darby charges and nails a suicide dive on the other side of the ring. Darby attacks Jay against the barricade, but White suplexes Darby into the upright chair nearby! He follows up by whipping Darby into some steel steps, and Allin goes head over heels, legs smacking into the barricade on the way down.

Jay with more chops on the outside before bringing Darby back in the ring. Cover, 1, 2, no. White with a back suplex and a cover for 2. Jay warns him he’s going to open his chest up, and then continues to chop away at him. Darby manages to get a rollup for 2 and a springboard splash, then goes to the ropes but White sweeps the legs.

Chop to the back of the head by White now. More in the corner. Jay gives a ‘woo’ and goes for a Stinger Splash but misses. Jay almost gets a Blade Runner but Darby avoids it, avoids it twice! Gets a stunner and a sunset flip powerbomb for 1, 2, no! Last Supper pinfall, 1, 2, no. Oh Darby’s chest is all bloodshot and raw, and the bandages on his back have slipped, exposing the glass wounds.

Darby goes for the coffin splash off the middle rope but White catches him and nails a German suplex, following through on the momentum. Lovely stuff. Uranage for 1, 2, no Darby kicks out. White digs his fingers into the back of Darby, tries a suplex but Darby manages to reverse into a Scorpion Death Drop! 1, 2, Jay gets his foot on the ropes.

Jay is prone on the apron, Darby goes to the top…COFFIN DROP ONTO THE APRON BUT JAY WHITE MOVES! Does Darby Allin even have a spine left at this point?! Referee Bryce Remsburg makes the count, but Darby gets in at 9…only for Jay White to instantly hit the Blade Runner! 1, 2, 3!!!

Winner by pinfall: Jay White

Time: 12:17

Rating: ***3/4 – A Jay White singles match is always a thing to behold, as he just doesn’t miss. Commentary tells us this is White’s first singles match in 2024, and this better be the start of a nice singles run because he’s being wasted otherwise. The focus on Darby’s back was an obvious story to tell and it worked perfectly here, as you couldn’t help but feel empathy for Allin, fighting through the pain. Nice work from both guys, and that ‘abrupt’ finish after the near-countout was sweeeeet.

Jay White extends the hand to Darby Allin post-match, but then flips him off and the Gunns attack! They beat down Darby, and Jay brings in Sting’s bat. The Gunns look to Pillmanize Darby, wrapping a chair around his ankle. Jay has the bat….BUT HERE COME THE ACCLAIMED! Caster, Bowens and Billy Gunn enter the ring, remonstrating with White and the Gunns. Bowens and Caster help Darby up and help him out of the ring while Billy and White talk in the ring, and Billy takes the bat from him. JAY WHITE WITH A CHAIRSHOT TO BILLY GUNN!

Bowens and Caster realise what happened, dive into the ring and the Gunns turn on them! The Gunns are beating down Max and Caster now, and a belt shot to Bowens. The Bang Bang Scissor Gang has imploded! Blade Runner to Billy Gunn by White, and now the Gunns bring Darby back in the ring. White follows through with the Pillmanizing!! White smacks the chair around Darby’s ankle with the bat, presumably shattering it. The Bang Bang Gang hold their titles aloft as we head to commercial. Hot segment.

 

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Match Four: ‘Lionheart’ Chris Jericho & HOOK vs The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun)

Commentary is playing up the ‘LionHook’ name so this team may have some legs beyond tonight. Hook and Kaun start this out, with some knees to the midsection from Hook, and a tag to Jericho. Double team suplex from LionHook, and another! Jericho chops Kaun in the corner, boot to the face and a gourdbuster into the ropes by Kaun as Jericho is sent to the outside. Liona tagged in and heads out to bring Jericho back in, whips him into the opposite buckles, but Liona with a spear to take Jericho off the apron, sending him into the announce table.

Kaun brings Jericho to a seated position on the top rope, looking for a superplex, but Jericho fights him off and hits a diving elbow strike off the top rope. Liona tagged in to cut off Jericho from making the tag, Kaun and Liona work over Jericho in their corner with a double team beatdown, and a pounce by Liona keeps the Gates in control. 1, 2, no Jericho kicks out. Kaun gets kicked down, and Jericho fires off a Lionsault to give him a breather. Tag to Hook!

Hook takes Kaun down with a diving clothesline and a t-bone suplex. German to Liona but Liona blocks it, low bridge sends Liona to the floor. Northern Lights suplex on Kaun for 2 until Liona breaks it up. Jericho takes out Liona but gets pump kicked down. Hook with a rollup for 2. Hook gets the German on Liona! Kaun with a stomach breaker to Hook, and now the Gates of Agony go 2 on 1 with Hook. But Hook escapes and looks for the Redrum! Jericho takes out Liona and Hook locks in the Redrum in the middle of the ring. Kaun tries to fight it, but Jericho in with the Liontamer applied too! Dropkick to Liona, and Kaun finally taps out to the Redrum.

Winners by submission: Chris Jericho & Hook

Time: 8:43

Rating: *** – Decent showing, and the Gates had a few moments of shine, making the most of this opportunity. Jericho & Hook were fine together, although the team doesn’t exactly seem all that inspiring. We’ll see where it leads!

 

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Kyle O Reilly vs Bounty Hunter Bryan Keith is signed for Collision, and Kyle is with Renee Paquette backstage now. Kyle says there was a span of time where he couldn’t even pick up his daughter. So now when he looks at the roster, he doesn’t know if he can still hang. But a guy to bring out ‘that’ Kyle O Reailly? Bryan Keith sounds like the guy. Roderic Strong comes into frame with a ‘KYLE!!’ Strong has respect for him, and if Kyle wants to do this on his own, more power to him. Kyle makes his return to the ring this Saturday and he guesses he has to do it on his own.

Riho stretches backstage before the main event and Mercedes Mone introduces herself and says she’ll be watching her match tonight.

 

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Renee Paquette is with LionHook backstage. Jericho says the Gates of Agony are no joke, but Hook has future world champion written all over it. But Jericho wants to know more about him…he needs to stand across the ring from him. Jericho vs Hook, next week… Hook is up for it.

 

Match Five: Willow Nightingale vs Riho

Main event time, and Riho with a go-behind but Willow reverses and Riho flips overhead to escape. Riho goes for a wheelbarrow armdrag but Willow holds on. Willow with a crossbody but Riho bridges up and out of it. Dropkick to Willow, and a rising knee in the corner. Another! Walks into a boot from Willow and a shotgun dropkick as we head to PIP.

Body slam by Willow, goes for another but Riho gets a rollup for 1. Clothesline in the corner from Willow, and one more takes her down. Willow misses a senton and Riho fires away with repeated forearms. Bearhug by Willow slows the pace down, before Willow transitions into a suplex for 2.

Back from PIP, Riho tries to fire up, cartwheels past Willow and gets a headscissors into the ropes, tiger feint kick connects! Top rope crossbody gets a 2 for Riho. She looks for a Northern Lights but Willow lifts her up to avoid it. Doctor Bomb attempt but Riho reverses into a pinning combo for 2. Riho gets the Northern Lights suplex!! Riho steps on the chest of Willow and then climbs the buckles. Misses the stomp! POUNCE by Willow! But Willow misses the canonball off the apron! Riho nails the double stomp off the apron and referee Aubrey Edwards makes the count on the outside.

Willow gets to the apron again, Riho joins her, DRAGON SUPLEX ON THE APRON! Double stomp off the buckles, 1, 2, NO! Willow kicks out and this is fantastic. Rising knee by Riho but Willow rebounds back with a huge clothesline. Willow pulls the straps down, Riho with a jacknife, escaped. DOCTOR BOMB CONNECTS! 1, 2, 3!!

Winner: Willow Nightingale

Time: 9:20

Rating: ***3/4 – Oh yesss this got REAL good REAL quick. I wonder if something overran earlier as this could have done with a tad more time, but it certainly worked as a good sprint. For a sub-10 minute match, can you ask for much more? Great use of the main event spot, and very wise to have a showcase like this tonight when there are even more eyes on the women’s division than ever before.

The lights go out post-match…Julia Hart is on the ramp, and Skye Blue attacks Willow from behind! Hart and Blue put the beatdown on Willow as fans chant ‘CEO’. Hart has the TBS belt and is about to hit Willow with it, but HERE COMES THE CEO! Mone takes out Blue with a right hand on the ramp, and now she goes face to face with Julia Hart. Mone plants Hart with the Mone Maker! And Willow lifts the arm of Mercedes in the middle of the ring in a show of respect. Willow gives the ring to Mercedes who poses and dances as Boston chants along to her theme tune.

Eddie Kingston vs Kazuchika Okada with the AEW Continental Championship on the line is signed for next week, Jericho vs Hook is made official, and of course we have the I Quit match between Cage and Copeland. We are done for Big Business, but I hope to see you all this Saturday for Collision! Have a good one, folks!