Join 411’s Live AEW WrestleDream Coverage

 

Hello and welcome to 411’s LIVE coverage for AEW WrestleDream! It’s Saturday, so you know what that means – it’s Theo Sambus on hand as your host for tonight’s proceedings. We’ve had a run of afternoon shows in recent months thanks to counter programming, but tonight we’re back to the traditional evening slot, and WrestleDream has some BANGERS on paper.

Toni Storm and Kris Statlander have had a great build to their Women’s title match, with Storm making it clear that she absolutely NEEDS that title. Meanwhile, Statlander turned down the offer from the Death Riders and is enjoying newfound popularity, so that match is one to watch for sure. The women have great representation in general here tonight too, with Mercedes Mone putting out a Title for Title open challenge, along with a rare non-title PPV singles match pitting Thekla against Jamie Hayter.

I’ve loved every single Fletcher vs Briscoe match, so Match 5 has high stakes and a high bar set for it. Can’t wait. Equally Brodido vs Okada & Takeshita could be a recipe for greatness, and the result in particular will be interesting, as Takeshita is fresh off an IWGP Title win and therefore likely to come back strong, but Brodido’s title reign is on a roll and I can’t see it ending yet. Okada/Takeshita tension is the likely path they’ll take, and it’s bound to be a heck of a lot of fun seeing it go down.

Based on the build to Darby Allin vs Jon Moxley, I am PETRIFIED of what they’re going to do tonight! Both men have made it clear they categorically will not say I Quit, which means we are likely to see some absolutely batshit stuff go down. And not to jump on the ‘absolute cinema’ meme but that video in the prison this past week on Dynamite was one for the ages. Whoever put that together needs a raise.

Capping it all off is Hangman Page vs Samoa Joe, and again I think they’ve done a fantastic job in selling this one and getting it to mean something.

Alrighty gang, are you ready? Have you got your snacks and supplies? Good, then let’s get this show on the road.

 

Location: St Louis, MO

Venue: Chaifetz Arena

Commentators: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard, & Tony Schiavone

 

*We kick off the Tailgate Brawl portion of our night with a huge 8-man tag team contest.

 

The Conglomeration (Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy & Tomohiro Ishii vs Death Riders (Pac, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta)

PAC IS BACK IN HIS SHORT TRUNKS! Garcia and Strong get us started, with Strong chopping Garcia down, tagging in O’Reilly for some double team striking. Yuta tags in, runs into an armdrag. OC in, dropkick to the face. Cassidy looks for a suplex, Yuta reverses, Stundog reversed and Yuta hits a body slam. Pac in with a leg drop from the second rope. Cassidy gets a tight cover on Pac for 2, hands go in the pockets, dropkick and a kip up. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker connects from Pac and here comes Claudio. The fans chant for Ishii, and OC obliges. Ishii squares up to Claudio, I love this. Chops traded, suplex attempts blocked, and a shoulder block knocks Ishii down. Ishii gets a suplex on Claudio in return, only to be cut off with a clothesline. Now Ishii gets worked over by the Death Riders, he comes back to lariat Yuta and Garcia, and OC comes in to take on both men. Stundog connects, Cassidy up top for a diving elbow, and the satellite DDT on Pac! Backslide to Claudio, 1, 2, no. PK connects. Orange Punch attempt, Claudio catches him and swings him, but OC puts the brakes on and escapes into a rear naked choke. Everyone is in now! Octopus stretches galore, Ishii with a dragon screw to Pac. Castagnoli reaches round OC, catches a stundog attempt and gets him in an airplane spin! 1, 2, broken up by Paragon. Cassidy is worked over in the DR corner, cravate from Pac but OC struggles. Claudio prevents the tag, gutwrench suplex to OC. Snap suplex from Yuta, elbow drop, 1, 2, no. Hurracanrana from OC, tag to Roddy! He’s a house of fire with backbreakers to everyone. O’Reilly in, pulling Garcia into a kick. Claudio with a lariat to take down both members of Paragon. Ishii with a series of Germans, one to Claudio! Pac gets a German on Ishii, he responds with a leaping uppercut. Diving tornado DDT from OC, Ishii with the basement lariat for 2. Busaiku knee on the floor to O’Reilly. Ishii takes Pac’s head off with a lariat. Chop block from Yuta, running knee from Pac to Ishii, and that’s enough for the 1, 2, 3.

Winners: The Death Riders

Time: 15:53

Rating: *** – Cassidy was the main focus of this one, as well as the Death Riders showing good cohesion. Dragged a little in the middle but mostly some decent action. Crowd seems good tonight!

 

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Eddie Kingston & HOOK vs Frat House (Griff Garrison & Cole Karter)

They play a promo from LFI but just as the promo starts, we get a hot start with Kingston and Hook taking it to the Frathouse, so that’s a little weird. Dropkick from Karter, splash from Garrison in the corner, but Eddie meets him with a back elbow. Shoulder tackle, tag to HOOK who comes in with a flying forearm. Exploder to Karter, goes for another but Griff breaks it up. Eddie and HOOK with stereo Exploders! Jacked Jameson gets up on the apron, gets brouoght inside and Eddie fires off the machine gun chops. Roaring elbow from Griff catches Cole. Uraken to Karter, Redrum locked in, and Cole taps.

Winners: Eddie Kingston & HOOK

Time:3:21

Rating: N/R – This was always going to be a squash and we got what we expected. Poor timing with the promo but Eddie and HOOK are starting to gel pretty well.

*Backstage, Big Boom AJ and Big Justice hype up the evening as well as Full Gear next month where they’ll be wrestling. Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta show up, with Rocky talking trash, only for Big Boom to start laying into him. Trent and Rocky get the upper hand and knock AJ down, upsetting Big Justice.

 

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Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale vs Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford

It’s your idrinq match of the night! Cameron knocks Ford down and starts wailing away on her. Willow in for corner clotheslines, laying out Ford for a 2 count. Snapmare into a dropkick from Harley, just a 1. Bayne in, so Harley tags Willow in. Penelope knees Willow in the back for a distraction but it’s not enough. Double clothesline from Willow! Double enziguris from Willow and Harley, and Willow with a wheelbarrow splash, using Harley to toss her onto their opponents. Penelope with a moonsault to take out both Cameron and Willow on the outside. Bayne throws Willow into the barricade while Ford works over Cameron, sliding her back in the ring to cover for 2. Bayne with a stalling body slam, and Ford follows up with the handspring back elbow to Cameron. Suplex from Bayne, Ford moonsaults off Bayne’s back for 2! Snapmare and a sliding lariat, 1, 2, Cameron kicks out. Bayne comes back with another lariat, tornado DDT from Harley in response! Tag to Willow! A series of clotheslines connect, hip attack in the corner, POUNCE to Bayne! Spinebuster on Ford, 1, 2, NO.

Babe with the Powerbomb is reversed into a hurracanrana, Bayne tags in and tosses Ford into an assisted cutter! 1, 2, no, Cameron breaks it up. Backstabber to the back of the neck, Bayne with the leaping lariat. DVD from Willow! Cutter from Ford! All four women are down. Willow and Bayne to their feet, trading blows. Pump kick, Willow comes back with a lariat. Cameron is whipped into a back elbow from Bayne. Flying lariat to both Willow and Cameron! Bayne has Cameron on her shoulders…doomsday device avoided, Harley rolls forward! Bayne overshoots and goes outside, Willow with a canonball. Ford with a sort of Sole Food, 1, 2, no. Ford traps the arm and kicks the face of Cameron, but Harley with a pumphandle suplex! Willow in, Babe with the Powerbomb connects! 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale

Time: 12:13

Rating: ***1/4 – Good to see more from Bayne and Ford as a unit, as Ford usually has to play second fiddle. Really enjoyed this; bodes well for the women’s tag team division.

 

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JetSpeed vs FTR

Surely this is going to run into the PPV itself because we have 4 minutes left of the Tailgate Brawl as the bell rings. FTR attack both men from behind, JetSpeed with double dropkicks, dual crossbodies to the floor! Cash Wheeler catapults Bailey into the steel steps, while Dax and Knight battle around the barricade, Knight leaping off with a clothesline. Knight leaps up to the apron and launches off with a double dropkick, damn! DDT attempt is blocked, and Dax decks Knight with a lariat. Both teams look for suplexes, and all four men get suplexed to the floor as the logo flashes up with the countdown to the PPV ticking down the seconds.

We now join the PPV itself, the pyro is going off while the match is still underway, that’s awesome! Dax and Bailey are going wild, piledriver to Bailey!! 1, 2, no. Dax and Speedball abttle on the apron, moonsault knees connects! And Bailey catches Cash with the springboard moonsault, picture perfect timing there!! Bailey looks for the hurracanrana, Knight tags in, UFO! 1, 2, no. Leaping DDT on Dax, 1, 2, Cash breaks it up. Stokely gets involved, grabbing the boot of Knight, but Dax runs into him accidentally. Rollup, 1, 2, Dax kicks out. Sky High! 1, 2, CLOSE nearfall there. Cash pulls Speedball off the apron, Gory Bomb into the apron. Dax with a sharpshooter on Knight, center of the ring. But he makes the ropes. Power and the Glory attempt, Bailey puts a stop to that. SHATTER MACHINE to Knight, 1, 2, SHOOTING STAR KNEES breaks it up! Machine gun kicks from Bailey on Wheeler, and he calls for the tag, gets it. Bailey and Dax face to face now, trading strikes, kicks from Bailey, slaps from Dax. Slapfest from both guys! Thrust kick from Bailey, nails the tornado kick in the corner and goes back up top but Dax catches him up there. Superplex, Cash is poised. Power and the Glory but the knees are up! UFO connects! Bailey with a backslide, 1, 2, 3! Noooo it was a 2, that was so close! Superkick, 1, 2, no! Bailey tries to suplex Dax back in but Stokely holds the leg, Dax falls and that’s the 1, 2, 3!

Winners: FTR

Time: 12:19

Rating: ***3/4 – Firstly, I really liked that this bled into the PPV, that’s smart, especially for the HBO viewers, and the visual of everyone going nuts while the pyro went off was so cool. We knew these guys were capable of magic, and they definitely have more in the tank but this was a HOT start to the show, setting a fast and furious pace from the get-go. 

 

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*Tony Schiavone is standing at ringside speaking to the wife of Lou Thesz, Charlie Thesz. Classy stuff and the fans show their appreciation.

[Everyone Barred From Ringside] Thekla vs Jamie Hayter

Both women charge, avoidig shots until Jamie hits a big boot and grounded punches. Chops from Hayter, Thekla spills to the floor and Jamie calls her back in. Tijeras sends Hayter into the ropes but she comes back and shoulder tackles Thekla before taking her outside to run her into the barricade a few times. Thekla up top, diving crossbody to the floor! Jamie gets sent into the barricade now, and Thekla punks out Charlie Thesz on a handshake. Back in the ring, snapmare and a kick to the head gets a 2. In the ropes, Thekla locks in the Tarantula but Hayter powers up with Thekla on her shoulders! But the choke forces her to her knees and Thekla maintains control.

Thekla slows the pace and Hayter fires up momentarily, back elbow and a shoulder tackle, into an Exploder! Lariat in the corner, diving missile dropkick, cover, 1, 2, no. Vertical suplex attempt from Hayter, Thekla flexes out of it with knees to the head. Thekla up top, misses a dive, avoids a shot in the corner. Jamie heads to the top turnbuckle, Thekla slaps her hard and gets up top with her. Headbutt from Hayter! Dropkick avoided by Thekla, roundhouse misses, boot to the midsection connects though. Enziguri from Hayter! Hayter with a DVD into the neckbreaker, and both women are down. They take turns taking shots at each other, STIFFNESS! Tijeras into a modified octopus and Hayter tries to walk to the ropes but Thekla has total control! Jamie frees an arm, hits a backbreaker to break it up. Thekla rolls ito a neck vice submission but Hayter has feet in the ropes. Thekla argues with the ref, so Jamie hits her with the backbreaker into the knee. 1, 2, NO. Thekla avoids a lariat and hits a spear. 1, 2, foot is under the ropes! Spider pose! But she runs into a lariat from Hayter. Hayterade! 1, 2, 3!

Winner: Jamie Hayter

Time: 15:36

Rating: ***1/2 – Good to have this one untarnished by outside interference, as it let these two go nuts with a hard-hitting affair. This was a great showing from both women, they really left it all out there.

*Queen Aminata comes out to celebrate with Hayter post-match. And we see the Sisters of Sin at the top of the ramp watching the proceedings.

 

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*We see on the video screen the Young Bucks transaction history, showing they have insufficient funds. “The $32.17 Bucks” head out with no music, just the automated ‘Insufficient Funds’ vox.

 

[$500K Tag Match] The Young Bucks vs Jurassic Express

Jack Perry and Matt Jackson start the match, and Perry flips Matt off pretty early. Shot to the windpipe and Jackson beats Perry down, tagging in Nick. Perry turns the tables, tijeras to Nick and a dropkick. Jack wrings the arm of Nick, tags in Luchasaurus for a clothesline. Elevated dropkick is caught and Luchasaurus throws Nick into Matt. Perry removes the tag rope and tries to move it to the other corner, but the ref sees him. Luchasaurus boots Nick off the apron. Luchasaurus with a moonsault off the apron to the floor to take out both Bucks!

Jawbreaker from Matt, Nick pulls Luchasaurus off the apron but gets elbowed. Perry sends both Bucks to the floor and hits a tope con hilo, and he’s all smiles. Perry receives the assisted senton in the ring, and Matt hits a Sliced Bread Number 2 on Luchasaurus on the outside! Perry is sent into the boot of Matt, neckbreaker from Nick, and the slingshot senton from Matt. 1, 2, no. Guillotine legdrop connects. Jack Perry fires off a clothesline ut can’t make the tag. Enziguri on Matt though creates an opening. Step up knee from Nick on Luchasaurus. Tandem offense from the Bucks and they pose over Perry, covering for 2. DDT from Matt, cover, 1, 2, no. 15% connects, double stomp into the powerbomb but Perry counters with a tijeras! Tag to Luchasaurus! Lucha clears house, biel to Matt, strikes to Nick. Double clothesline takes both Bucks down. Luchasaurus calls for a chokeslam, goozles both guys but they sweep the legs. They pose over him and he goozles them again. Twisting chokeslam to Nick on Matt! Perry with the assisted hurracanrana to the floor. Cutter! 1, 2, NO. Doomsday Device attempt avoided, Perry gets German suplexed, and spun out into a choke over the ropes. Double stomp into the powerbomb connects this time, 1, 2, Perry kicks out! Superkick party is avoided, enziguri to Perry on the apron. Luchasaurus gets Nick on his shoulders while Perry is on Matt’s…and the guys on the shoulders break out into a fight. Blockbuster from Matt! Destroyer on the apron by Nick!

Matt and Perry back in the ring now, Matt with a flurry of strikes. Tombstone position, Perry counters. Vault by Perry over the ropes but he gets powerbombed on the apron! SPIKE PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! Nick takes out Luchasaurus on the floor! 1, 2, NOOOO. Perry is set up for the BTE Trigger, he avoids it though but gets driven down in a flapjack. BTE Trigger connects! 1, 2, NO, Luchasaurus breaks it up. Perry with a run up suplex and a German to the Bucks, moonsault from Luchasaurus, destroyer by Perry! Doomsday device! 1, 2, NOOOO!! Perry with a gutshot, nice callback, and Luchasaurus has Matt in the tombstone position. TK Driver!! 1, 2, Nick breaks it up. Tag to Perry, he gets superkicked, superkick to Luchasaurus too. Again. Perry dives off the ropes, superkick! BTE Trigger, 1, 2, NO. Luchasaurus interrupts a TK Driver. Chokeslam! Countdown to Extinction! 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Jurassic Extinction

Time: 23:08

Rating: ***1/2 – Appropriate spectacle from these guys, building methodically but going a tad too long for what it was. Wild for Perry to kick out of the spike packgage piledriver and the BTE Trigger, they’re really protecting him here and I’d assume have big plans for him. The doomsday device nearfall was perfectly done though, really thought JE had the W then.

*Jack Perry hands Luchasaurus the bag of money, and then extends hands out to the Bucks. The Bucks get to their feet, and Perry offers them a dollar. But here come the Don Callis Family to attack the Jurassic Express. Archer, Davis and Alexander beat down Perry and Luchasaurus as the Bucks walk off. BUT HERE COMES KENNY OMEGA! Kenny walks right past the Young Bucks, charging in to take on all 3 guys from the Don Callis Family. Jurassic Express help out too. Omega stands tall with Luchasaurus and Perry.

 

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[Tornado Trios Match] The Hurt Syndicate vs The Demand

Announced earlier, this is also a number one contender’s match for the Trios titles. The Demand attack the Hurt Syndicate from behind on the ramp as they make their entrance, Liona is sent into the steps, and Ricochet hits a Spirit Gun out of nowhere. Ricochet and Kaun work over MVP in the ring until Lashley helps him out, Belly to Belly suplex on Kaun on the floor, Tope suicida from Ricochet knocks Lashley back. Ricochet pulls out a table and sets it up near the steps. The Gates launch Benjamin into Lashley, putting both men through the table with the Open the Gates. Ricochet and Liona stalk MVP in the ring, and MVP takes on all comers now. Ricochet toys with MVP, and the Gates take it to him, whipping each other into the corner to splash MVP. Step up SSP off the back off Liona from Ricochet! 1, 2, no. Ricochet gets launched to the floor, as do the Gates, and Lashley is there to take a run up…clotheslines to the Gates around ringside. And one to Ricochet in the ring. Lashley captures Kaun and Liona in a DDT/flatliner combo. Dominator to Ricochet! 1, 2, no.

GoA with a tower of doom spot on Lashley, sacrificing Ricochet. Benjamin and Kaun tee off, TKO from Kaun. Slingshot crossbody from Kaun to take out the Hurt Syndicate on the floor. Benjaming GERMAN SUPLEXES RICOCHET over the top rope to take out everyone below! And Benjamin follows up with the tope con hilo! Back in the ring, thrust kick to Kaun rocks him. Benjamin low bridged to the outside. MVP with a chinbreaker and the ballin’ elbow drop. Fisherman’s suplex, 1, 2, Liona breaks it up. Liona locks in a Cobra clutch on Lashley, Benjamin breaks it up with a rising knee. Spear from Lashley! The Hurt Syndicate corner Ricochet…but he slides outside the ring. Kaun takes the spear! 1, 2, 3.

Winners: The Hurt Syndicate

Time: 13:26

Rating: **3/4 – After the Street Fight the other week, it still felt like a step backward, even if it was with tornado rules. That German to the outside was crazy though. And if they give it some decent TV time, The Opps vs The Hurt Syndicate could be a lot of fun.

 

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[AEW TNT Championship] Kyle Fletcher (c) vs Mark Briscoe

Lockup, Kyle gets Briscoe backed up in the corner and breaks away. Fletcher wrenches on the arm before locking in a side headlock. Briscoe sends Fletcher to the outside but Kyle walks off to avoid whatever may have been coming. Kyle gets clotheslined back outside and Briscoe hits a slingshot crossbody. Snap suplex on the floor, Briscoe heads to the apron…Cactus Elbow! Mark sets up a chair in the ring…but Fletcher grabs it as Briscoe makes the run. Briscoe still hits the scissor kick through the ropes anyway. He sits Fletcher on a chair, slides back in the ring…TOPE CON HILO through the ropes to knock the TNT champion down! Back to the apron goes Briscoe, misses a canonball off the apron!

Thrust kick from Fletcher, and now he grabs the steel steps, setting Briscoe up for a powerbomb, and he hits it on the upturned steel steps! Back in the ring, Kyle stomps him down in the corner. Scoop slam and Kyle takes the time to rile up the crowd. Michinoku Driver this time! Back suplex, cover, 1, 2, no. Big boot knocks Briscoe down but he’s back up, and they trade big boots, both going down eventually after double clotheslines. Chops and forearms, kicks in the corner, then body shots from Kyle. Flying forearm by Briscoe! Enziguri to Fletcher, Fisherman’s buster connects! 1, 2, no. Fletcher on the shoulders, nope. Jay Driller attempt blocked and Fletcher hits a half Nelson suplex. Last Ride powerbomb, 1, 2, NO. Running boot, running kick to the midsection. Fletcher may be thinking Brainbustaaah, Briscoe floats over though. Briscoe climbs up with him, hooks the arms, thinking Razor’s Edge? Kyle counters, superplex connects. They spill to the floor, Kyle on the apron, kick caught. Thrust kick from Fletcher, brainbuster attempt is avoided. JAY DRILLER ON THE APRON!! Briscoe may have this! He gets him in the ring, goes up top once more…Froggy Bow misses! Fletcher to his feet, running boot again and he sits Briscoe on the top rope once more. Briscoe bites the forehead! Fletcher is balanced on the top rope…FROGGY BOW to knock him to the floor! Briscoe back up top, and again the Froggy Bow, this time to the floor. Kyle is laid out in the ring, Briscoe is back up top, Froggy Bow!! 1, 2, NOOOO! Terrific nearfall. Rollups traded for 2 counts, backslide gets 2 too. Jackknife, 1, 2, no. Exploder by Mark, Jay Driller? He can’t get it though. Half Nelson once more but Briscoe is back up, lariat! JAY DRILLER! 1, 2, Kyle gets ONE FINGER on the ropes. Briscoe has Kyle ready for the Cut-throat driver, Kyle grabs the ref though. With the ref distracted, low blow! Brainbuster by Kyle, that’s it. 1, 2, NOOOO Mark gets the arm up! Running knee, 1, 2, no. Lawn Dart by Fletcher, running boot, and he lifts Briscoe straight up to the top rope for the BRAINBUSTAHHHHH!  1, 2, 3.

Winner and STILL AEW TNT Champion: Kyle Fletcher

Time: 24:44

Rating: **** – Again it felt a little protracted, but these guys match up so well, and this was another tremendous encounter between the two. I still prefer some of their earlier matches from Collision, but that’s no slight on this match, and more of a reflection on how great this series between them has been.

*Post-mach, the Conglomeration head out to console Mark Briscoe.

 

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[AEW Women’s World Championship] Kris Statlander (c) vs Toni Storm

Statlanderand Storm lock eyes before locking up. Armdrag from Statlander, Storm with a headscissors applied, sideheadlock counter from Kris. Statlander sweeps the legs as they trade wrist control. Hip attack knocks Statlander to the floor, Stat counters a DDT and catapults Storm into the apron. Pendulum moonsault! She gets Storm on her shoulders and brings her back into the ring, following up with a slingshot legdrop. Body slam, lariat into a cover gets 2. Body scissors applied by the champion. Lariat from Statlander, 1, 2, no. Splash from the bottom rope gets a 2, and now she goes back up for a tornillo press! Storm with a snap suplex though.

Forearms from Storm, Sky High avoided. Cravate driver from Statlander, running uppercuts in the corner, tornado DDT by Storm. Tiger Driver! 1, 2, NO. Hammerlock driver, 1, 2, no. Storm misses another hip attack, and Statlander gets her on her shoulders, dropping her in an electric chair drop. New submission from Statlander is locked in, Storm desperately reaching for the ropes with her legs, and she makes it. TCM Chickenwing locked in! Bodyscissors added too. And Stat makes the ropes. Rollup from Toni gets 2. Blue Thunder, Statlander pins, 1, 2, no. Thrust kick from Statlander, Storm sends her into the buckles. Hip attack connects! Storm Zero, NO, Statlander stood out of it! Statlander up top, 451! 1, 2, NO! STORM ZERO! 1. 2. Statlander kicks out! Rollup into the seatbelt! 1, 2, NO. German to Storm, Storm right back up, more Germans. Discus lariat, Staturday Night Fever! Statlander locks in her submission on Toni and Toni is fading. Storm rolls through into a cover, gets 2, but can’t break the hold. Storm fights it but Statlander lets go and hits another Staturday Night Fever instead. 1, 2, 3.

Winner and STILL AEW Women’s World Champion: Kris Statlander

Time: 16:32

Rating: ***1/2 – Great counters from two women at the top of their game. Lovely technical elements, and Statlander’s new submission looked great, even though that being the finish would surely have made more sense.

*Toni Storm with a show of respect after the match, bringing Kris the title and hugging her before leaving her in the ring on her own.

*While Statlander is still celebrating, here comes the CEO, Mercedes Mone!

Mone has a mic and congratulates Statlander on her win, but tells her she needs to get the hell out of her ring. Statlander obliges and heads backstage.

Mercedes refers to herself as Ultimo Mone and the greatest champion of all time. Which champion in the back wants to put their championship on the line against hers? IT’S MINAAAA!

*Mina Shirakawa, the ROH Women’s TV champion, answers the call.

 

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[Title vs Title – ROH Women’s TV championship and AEW TBS championship] Mercedes Mone (c) vs Mina Shirakawa (c)

Dragon screw from Mina as the bell rings and Mina immediately goes for the figure four. Haha Mina mocks the CEO dance, victory roll on Mone gets a 2. Statement Maker blocked, Russian legsweep from Mina and now she looks for the surfboard. Surfboard stretch applied! Lungblower from Mone, 1, 2, no. Mone gets Mina level in the corner and delivers the double knees, covering for 2. Mina with forearms, step up tornado DDT to create some space. CEO dance by Mone now, she gives the Eddie shimmy and goes for the Three Amigos, hitting them. She stands on Shirakawa and then hits a mini Meteora. Mone up top, dives but Mina gets the knees up. Shirakawa with a suplex. To their feet, they trade strikes, dropkick from Mercedes. One from Shirakawa. Cloverleaf locked in, wrenching back into a leg DDT. Another dragon screw from Mina, this time int the ropes. Tornillo from the apron back inside the ring, 1, 2, no. Shirakawa up top, Slingblade! 1, 2, no. Mone Maker countered, kicks by Mina, and Shirakawa hits the Glamorous driver finally. Figure Four applied! They trade slaps while the hold is applied. They roll to the bottom rope and Mina relinquishes the hold. Lungblower on the apron, followed by a Meteora. Cover, 1, 2, no. Meteora off the ropes, just a 2. Roaring elbow from Mina, a second, roundhouse kick too! Backfist connects and she locks in the figure four once more. Rollup, Mone gets feet on the ropes for leverage but the referee sees. Mina is almost shoved into the ref, Mone pokes the eyes. Rollup, 1, 2, no. Statement Maker, rollup from Mina, 1, 2 no. Tight rollup from Mone, just a 2. Mone Maker! 1, 2, NO! Mina grabs the rope! Mercedes looks for a backstabber, gets backed into the corner though. Mina slams Mone into the corner, Mone with a backslide and she gets a leg on the ropes for leverage, referee didn’t see that one! 1, 2, 3.

Winner and NEW ROH Women’s TV champion: Mercedes Mone

Time: 16:09

Rating: *** – Don’t know why they couldn’t have built to this instead of the open challenge deal, especially as it comes off as filler, but credit to the women for kicking things into gear, even if again it felt a tiny bit too dragged out. 

*Kris Statlander rushes back down as Mone tries to celebrate. Mone goes to slap her, but Statlander grabs the wrist and gives her a Samoan drop instead.

 

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[AEW World Tag Team Championship] Brodido (c) vs Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita

Bandido tries to shake the hand of Okada, but Okada just flips him off. Spin kick from Bandido, beautiful armdrag, Okada grounds him with an elbow drop. Takeshita in,, lovely tijeras from Bandido, and here comes Brody. King holds Takeshita back for a running dropkick from Bandido. King knocks Takeshita down after some hard right hands. Flying forearm by Takeshita, knocking King down. Okada in, running back elbow followed by a neckbreaker for some Vintage Okada! King tees off on both opponents, levelling them both with lariats. Takeshita tossed to the outside, lariat to Okada, tornillo from Bandido! Dropkick from Bandido, one to Takeshita….Assisted top rope moonsault from Bandido to the outside! Bandido sits Takeshita on a chair, sets up another, and Brody launches him, stepping off the set up chair for adding insanity. King charges in to squash Takeshita too. Lariat on Takeshita, teamwork splash from Brodido. Bandido wants the macarena….and KING JOINS IN but they get jumped from behind by Okada. OKADA DOES A MIDDLE FINGER MACARENA. Incredible. Takeshita works on the arm and shoulder of Bandido, and Okada takes over, sending him shoulder first into the ringpost. Slingshot senton and Okada seems amused by King. Body slam by Okada, up top he goes, an elbow drop. Middle finger Rainmaker pose, but Takeshita comes in and gets in his shot. Takeshita grabs the middle finger of Okada but Bandido breaks it all up. Pump kicks from Bandido, shotgun dropkick, tag to King! Backdrop driver on Okada, biiig Black Hole Slam to Takeshita. DVD into the corner, slamming Okada into Takeshita. CANONBALL! 1, 2, NO.

King and Okada go up top, Okada rakes the nose. Okada with the Air Raid Crash neckbreaker across the knee on Brody!! Takeshita and Bandido tag in, dragon screw to Takeshita. Code Red by Bandido, impressive as always! 1, 2, no. GERMAN! Backfist knocks Takeshita down! 21 Plex is countered, BASTARD DRIVER avoided too” Backdrop driver to Okada. Powerdrive knee to Brody. Poisonranas galore! Canonball on Okada. Blue Thunder to Brody! SHOOTING STAR on Takeshita! 1, 2, NOOO. Bandido has Takeshita up, can’t get it though. Takeshita works over the injured arm of Bandido, rips off the kinesio tape. Pop-up HURRACANRANA from Bandido, 1, 2, no. Powerdrive Knee connects! He drops the knee pad. Okada tags himself in though! Rainmaker countered into a double stomp! Brody calls for the tag. Sleeper on Takeshita on the apron and he drops! King tosses Bandido over the ropes to the floor to wipe out Takeshita. Both men target Okada now. Splashes in the corner. Knee/Ganzo Bomb combo, 1, 2, Takeshita breaks it up! Bandido legal again. Brody has Takeshita on his shoulders, Takeshita shoves him forward though. BASTARD DRIVER ON KING! Into the wheelbarrow German, daaamn! Bandido dives, Okada catches him with a picture perfect dropkick. Everyone looks for Germans, and it’s Brody who ends up suplexing 3 other guys! King gets Takeshita and Okada to their feet, dropkick/knee combo from the challengers. DVD suplex from Okada, Okada ends up hitting Takeshita with the Rainmaker!! He’s LAUGHING about it!! X-KNEE connects. 21-Plex, no, can’t get him with the bad shoulder. Brody King with a shoutout to Buddy Matthews! Suicide dive from Brody, and Bandido finally hits the 21 Plex for the 1, 2, 3.

Winners and STILL AEW World Tag Team Champions: Brodido

Time: 27:27

Rating: ****1/4 – Well, five stars for Okada doing the middle finger macarena. That was a banger of a tag match, with all sorts of craziness from the get-go. Brodido have awesome chemistry and they’re such a fun team to watch, and you put them in there with guys like Okada and Takeshita (especially Takeshita, 2025 Wrestler of the Year) and of course it’s going to get nuts. Again, maybe it didn’t need 27 minutes but I was having fun the whole time with this one.

*Brody King gives us the full macarena after the match.

*Renee Paquette is backstage with Toni Storm, who is looking almost comatose, propped up against the equipment boxes. Mina Shirakawa shows up. Toni says they lost everything, but Mina says no, they have each other. Mina cries, and they hug. Oh, nice women’s tag pairing there!

 

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[AEW World Heavyweight Championship] Hangman Page (c) vs Samoa Joe

Wow, really thought this was still going on last. I guess they have some wild shit planned for Darby/Mox. Joe shows off his strength in the early goings, with one of the more vicious shouder blocks I can remember seeing. Nice rolling leg lariat from Page, and he focuses attacks on the arm of Joe with a draping armbar over the ropes, holding it for the 5 count. Running back elbow from Joe connects, levelling Hangman. Jabs from Joe and they head outside the ring, where Joe sits Page on a chair and kicks him off it. Rebound lariat from Page, springboard crossbody, and Page is back up for the moonsault…Joe moves out of the way before Page launches off though. Low bridge from Hangman, and now Page gets the moonsault but Joe nopes out of it, dodging easily. Page rolled through though and levels Joe with a dropkick! Back in the ring, ST-Joe connects. Joe washes Page’s face with his boot, kitchen sink connects. Manhattan drop, big boot and the senton as Joe is firmly in control now.

Powerslam from Joe, cover, 1, 2, no. Joe paintbrushes the back of Page’s head and gives him some more jabs but Page absorbs it. Chops exchanged, enziguri from Page, German by Joe! Backdrop driver from the World champ. Big boot from Hangman, back up top he goes, Joe heads back into the ring so Page changes position, misses the moonsault by overshooting. Both men to their feet, roaring elbow, Joe kicks Page in the face and delivers a powerbomb for 2, transitioning into the STF. Crossface applied now! Joe sits Page up on the buckles, perhaps looking for the Muscle Buster. Hangman chops away at him. Sunset flip powerbomb! 1, 2, Joe kicks out. Hangman thinks about Dead Eye but Joe kicks him in the face. Page: “Come on then motherfucker!” Page to the apron, Buckshot avoided, Coquina Clutch locked in! Page is going limp…no, he’s still in this one. He gets the legs on the ropes. Headbutts from Joe, Muscle Buster avoided, DEAD EYE! 1, 2, nooooo. BUCKSHOT LARIAT but Joe doesn’t go down! A second, still on his feet! A third, and that’s it, Joe is down, 1, 2, 3!

Winner and STILL AEW World Heavyweight Champion: Hangman Adam Page

Time: 19:01

Rating: ***3/4 – Page played more of an underdog than usual, as they went for the tried and tested David vs Goliath story, and told it well. Good defense for Hangman, and Joe’s in-ring effort here was top notch.

*Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs come down to help Joe to his feet. Joe shakes hands and shows respect to Hangman…NO, HE CLOTHESLINES PAGE! And The Opps join in! Shibata and Hobbs hold Page back while Joe grabs the World title and cracks Page in the face with it! Hobbs hoists Page to the top rope, allowing Joe to hit the Muscle Buster on top of the World title. Joe literally steps on Page on his way out of the ring.

 

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*Mercedes Mone is backstage and wants to address Kris Statlander. Stat wants to come out and disrespect her? Mone’s already beaten her before. So now she’ll come for her title. At Full Gear, Statlander’s title is hers.

*The Opps vs The Hurt Syndicate is signed for Dynamite this week. Also the brackets will be revealed for the AEW Women’s world tag title tournament. Bandido vs Okada too, awesome.

*It’s main event time…which means things are about to get a tad insane.

 

[I Quit Match] Darby Allin vs Jon Moxley (w/ Marina Shafir)

Darby brings a backpack with him down to the ring. As the bell rings, he pulls out the AEW flag he brought with him to Mount Everest. Moxley stands on the flag so Darby dropkicks him and hits a tope con hilo through the ropes to the outside. Shafir grabs the leg of Allin, allowing Moxley to come in with a shotgun dropkick. Mox makes Darby bite the ropes and then kicks it. He wraps a chain around his fist and starts to punch Darby in the jaw with it. Darby is busted open in the mouth already.

Moxley traps the arms and rakes Darby’s ear along the ropes. Mox says it will take as long as it takes. Moxley places Darby’s outstretched arm on top of the steel steps while directing Marina to get the skewers. Oh God. Moxley shoves a SKEWER DOWN THE FINGERNAILS OF DARBY!! Moxley bites the fingers now and stomps them on a chair. Darby comes back and launches himself off the steel steps with a shotgun dropkick as he tries to turn the tables. Back in the ring now, they trade strikes and Moxley still seems cocky. CODE RED! Darby grabs the flag again and wraps it around the throat of Moxley, tossing him over the top rope to choke him out. He’s going pink, but he jabs a thumb in the eye of Darby. Moxley is down on the apron…COFFIN DROP but Marina pulls Moxley out of the way and Darby smacks back-first on the apron.

They head back to the ring, where Moxley takes off Darby’s belt and starts to whip him. Welts form on Darby’s back as Mox continues. Stalling piledriver connects! He continues to whip Darby, and Allin calls for more. Mox goes apeshit with the belt but then turns his attention away, allowing Darby to dive on his back. Half and half suplex! Darby goes back to his backpack. Lighter fluid! He covers Moxley in the fluid….and Darby has chemical spray, spraying Yuta and Garcia who have suddenly showed up. Moxley hits Darby with a cutter, and Claudio tosses Moxley a towel to wipe off the fluid. Mox delves in Darby’s bag, and pulls out a tazer! Marina in, low blow to Darby, and he tazers him! Curb stomp, Claudio hands him a chair and Moxley delivers the Paradigm Shift into it. Moxley locks in the bulldog choke, but Darby just flips him off. Claudio has set up tables at ringside…he gets Darby in a military press but then turns around and tosses Darby out of the ring right the way over into the announce table, what the hell!! Darby might be dead. Pac drags him round the other side of the ring, and that allows Moxley to hit a Paradigm Shift through the pair of tables set up there. Fans chant ‘This Is Murder’.

Moxley talks a ton of trash to Darby’s almost lifeless body as the Death Riders bring an aquarium into the ring and fill it with water. Oh I am WORRIED. Moxley grabs Darby by the back of the head and plunges his face into the tank, trying to drown him!

The lights go out!

IT’S STIIIIIING!!

Sting has the baseball bat and he’s behind Moxley. Sting chokes out Moxley! Sting with bat shots to Pac and Claudio and he smashes up the aquarium. Sting tosses the bat to Darby and exits the ring. Marina gets in his face…she goes to hit him, so he lifts her up and takes her backstage. Darby meanwhile points the bat at Moxley. Bat shots to the midsection, to the knee. Allin uses the flag to choke out Darby again and hits the Scorpion Death Drop. Coffin Drop! And now he locks in the Scorpion Death Lock, lying in the water and broken glass….Moxley quits! Moxley quits!

Winner: Darby Allin

Time:26:04

Rating: **** – As expected, Darby took an absolute beating of epic proportions. Skewers in fingernails! Launched from the ring through the announce table! DROWNING! They were pushing the envelope once more, and it won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but there’s no denying that Darby comes out of this looking stronger than ever. Moxley too seems like a killer (almost a legit killer, he was trying to DROWN A MAN), and we got the big fun pop for the Sting appearance. It’s a lot of shenanigans with the Death Riders getting involved, but Darby overcoming the odds is always a greats story to tell.

*Darby Allin has a brief moment to celebrate but that’s all we have time for and the broadcast goes off the air. Welp, it’s been a fun one, folks! See you back here on 411 next Saturday for Collision!