Good grief!! Normally I would go in show order, but let’s get right to the big reveals and events. Long term storytelling at its finest tonight.
Highlight #1 – Not only did Chris Jericho survive a bloody brawl with Nick Gage, but a reference to an older promo where MJF mocked Jericho over a match with Juventud Guerrera, showing Jericho mock “The Juice” as well – resulting in Jericho’s third challenge next week, where AEW is bringing Juvi to AEW Dynamite to face Chris Jericho!
Highlight #2 – It is announced the August 20th AEW Rampage will take place in Chicago. Of course came a familiar chant. Well, those chants got a whole lot louder when Darby Allin cuts a promo stating in Chicago, he hopes he gets to step in the ring with someone who considers himself to be “the best in the world.”
Highlight #3 – Forbidden Door is Wide, Wide Open – Hiroshi Tanahashi cuts a pre-taped promo revealing he wants to be next in line to come to AEW to challenge for the IWGP United States Championship. Later on in the show, Jon Moxley cuts a promo, since he can’t travel to Japan, he sent a “stack of contracts” to his guy in Japan, and let’s see who signs on the dotted line.
Highlight #4 – as Nick Gage uses a pizza slicer, the program moves to picture-in-picture with Domino’s Pizza as the first commercial. Perfectly timed product placement!
I just want Murder Grandpa himself, Minoru Suzuki to cross over. Please. Just once.
As for the rest of the show:
The Elite defeated “Hangman” Adam Page and The Dark Order
This was a fantastic opener. Hangman decked in black and purple, doing the D.O. hand sign, man, this was a beauty of a sight. Alex Reynolds was on fire to kick it off, crazy top rope suplex spot, taking Nick Jackson down on everyone on the floor. A rally later on saw Hangman, Reynolds, and Silver with their fast paced sequence taking Karl Anderson out of his boots. Unfortunately a sneak rollup with a handful of tights by Anderson sees Reynolds taken out of the picture.
Revenge was taken quickly by the Dark Order as they ganged up, eliminating him fast with the Fatality.
The action continues fast paced with frequent tags and action on the outside. Doc Gallows and Stu Grayson are eliminated by count out. Kenny Omega and Evil Uno trade off until Omega gains the upper hand, eliminating him via One Winged Angel.
It’s John Silver’s turn to take over, mauling the Bucks by tossing them clear across the ring. Unfortunately the numbers are too much, with the Bucks adding major disrespect by attempting a dunk while hitting the Indytaker on the outside. Except they missed the dunk, and the crowd let the Jacksons know it. After eliminating Silver, it came down to Hangman vs. Omega and the Bucks. Page managed to eliminate Matt Jackson, but the underhanded tactics were too much, and Page falls prey to Omega and Nick Jackson.
Does this mean Hangman and the Dark Order will never get title shots again?
Backstage: PAC lets us know The Lucha Brothers are not there because someone messed up their travel arrangements. We learn by an interfering Andrade El Idolo it was he, who arranged for the Lucha Brothers to ride in higher quality, limousine style.
Seems Andrade is persistent in recruiting them to his stable.
FTW Celebration: Taz welcomes the new FTW Champion, Ricky Starks. He cuts a solid promo about being the blueprint for Team Taz and the fastest rising star in AEW. He takes some shots at the former champion, which brings out Brian Cage who chases off the new champion.
Looks like the Cage/Starks feud is not over, and I wonder how it will close. Will Cage steal the FTW title back?
Next up, FTR defeated Santana and Ortiz in one hell of a great, but short match which seemed to end abruptly after Cash Wheeler appeared to suffer a major laceration. Regardless of the result, this match was spectacular and I would love to see it again. It was not only the wrestling which was great, but all their facial expressions and emotional display in the ring which completes this story.
Speaking of injury, Dr. Britt Baker and Reba are backstage with Tony Schiavone, and they point out, even injured, can still come out winners. However, it seems the dentist and the assistant will soon bring someone else to watch their backs since the target grows on their backs.
Lance Archer retains the IWGP United States Championship against Hikuleo w/ Haku
I popped for Haku, I admit it.
A big hoss fight with some pretty shocking aerial moves from both big dudes. Hikuleo gave it his all, but Archer overpowered the taller man and retained following Blackout.
Backstage: Cody Rhodes is about to be interviewed but Malakai Black strike hard and fast. This feud is heating up fast, for next week’s big fight.
Poor Fuego del Sol eats a big Black Mass.
Up next, Christian and Jurassic Express defeated Angelico and Private Party.
A good match, the teamwork seemed very fluid from the babyfaces, however I can’t help but wonder if someone will take a heel turn in the future. This theory may take a while as The Butcher knocks out Christian with his brass knuckles after the match. So, Blade couldn’t take out Orange Cassidy, so he goes after Christian. OK, let’s see where this goes.
The Main Event of Fight for the Fallen 2021: Chris Jericho defeated Nick Gage in a No Rules Match
Prior to the match, the fans and viewers at home were treated to a very graphic video promo featuring the King of the Deathmatch.
The match starts with Gage slicing Jericho’s arm with a pizza cutter. Let’s just say it gets bloodier from there. The light tubes come out, Jericho hits a Hurricanrana sending Gage through a glass pane, but Jericho gets a piledriver through glass. We get a few wrestling moves here and there, but this one was a gorefest. Gage turns it up until Jericho manages to dodge, cracks a Quattro of light tubes and hits the Judas Effect for the win.
After the match is over, MJF makes the announcement Jericho will face Juventude next week in a match where a pin can only take place after a top rope move.
I don’t know AEW does it, but they manage to make every week so much damn fun to watch.
