If you thought last week was nuts, this week AEW presents another four-hour festival of wrestling programming. Holy crap. Mr. Tony Khan, I am a big fan of All Elite Wrestling and the great stuff the promotion has given us since its inception. But please, no more. I can’t stay awake this late on a worknight. I get it, pay-per-views run long which is also an issue, but at least those are weekends where it’s tolerable.
In the parking garage, Christopher Daniels gives advice to “Hangman” Adam Page. More long-term story, as CD, despite being “retired” by Hangman, is still there by his side against a common foe. However, said foes are lurking around.
On commentary for the first half are Tony Schiavone, Taz, and Ian Riccaboni.
Main event time! I couldn’t believe they kicked off with another potential Match of the Year Candidate. It’s Will Ospreay, so they have to open with it. They just can’t help but open with Elevated every show. It works. It really does. Also, a smart move not to have this at the end of a long show. Matches like this could be tough to figure out where to place. A main event for sure, but also don’t want it buried in the middle of the show, can’t have it at the end where fans struggle to stay awake, and the beginning gives the rest of the show a high bar.
High bar indeed. Getting right to the point, as Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland went to a 30-minute time limit draw. a fantastic back and forth, any expectations one would have had, were instantly exceeded. it’s not just about grappling and counters. Both are superb with facial expressions and body language; these are key factors in telling the story inside the wrestling ring. pretty scary towards the opener, swerve through an elbow and connected squarely with osprey’s face, appearing to have broken his nose.
The end of the match was well played. Swerve on the top rope while Ospreay lying prone on the apron, the bell rang before he could leap. I question for a moment whether Swerve would jump on him anyway. however, in a show of respect, sort of took the mic and put over Ospreay, also put over being able to put on one of the greatest matches in Dynamite history. That being said, he wanted a clear winner and demanded for sudden death. While it appeared Osprey agreed, the Death Riders had other plans by charging the ring and attacking both men. Things got worse as the Young Bucks rushed to the ring, superkicking Strickland repeatedly. Before the Jackson brothers can deliver a thumbtack assisted super kick, Ospreay Dives in front and takes the hit in his place. The Bucks are shocked and seem to be unhappy with the errant attack.
This is interesting, when they were so adamant about demolishing swerve, yet seem to show remorse when Ospreay bit the bullet for him. Interesting indeed. I would have expected them to gloat. During the Collision portion of the show, an interview with Hangman is interrupted by the Bucks who plead their case but Page wants to murder them. Bucks try to sell them doing Page another favor, but Hangman wants none of it and demands they stay away or there will be consequences. During the segment, the head of Prince Nana can be seen poking out from a doorway. He goes inside where Ospreay is lying on a medical bed, and Swerve is there out of respect, but he lets them know he “heard every… single… word.” Uh oh? Maybe he heard Hangman reject the Jackson’s offer?
Mistico defeated Blake Christian
The segment was about getting Mistico on TV, getting him a win, and getting him face-to-face with his Grand Slam: Arena Mexico opponent, MJF. It appears the Hurt Syndicate not only hurt people, they also steal masks, beating up and taking Komander’s spot earlier in the show. MJF threw a huge jab at Mistico, referencing his less-than-stellar time in WWE as Sin Cara.
MJF reveals for one night, he will come out as A Real American Hero one more time. The brawl brings out “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Mascara Dorada.
I really don’t like the name “JetSpeed.” Sounds like a bad gimmick from the ’80s with dudes wearing oversized sunglasses or something.
The Hurt Syndicate defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Mascara Dorada
MJF got to display some agility here, also displaying his MVP-inspired ring gear which earned a “You look stupid” chant. MVP could be heard laughing on commentary, I think because he got the same chant when he made his debut in WWE. That and “Power Ranger” if I recall right.
The flying trio did their best, but the Syndicate is unbeatable. MJF got the win for the team.
MVP does his best to make sure his group is seen as heels.
After one chaotic scene clears, a new one begins. The Death Riders drag out a captive Hangman, duct tape over his mouth and hands tied behind his back. They drag him to the ring where Moxley wants to have a “serious conversation.” Unfortunately, this conversation is one we have heard before, demanding the “serious” and “violent” side of Page needs to come out in order to be champion. Not the good guy side. Mox says he wasn’t going to give much attention and just allow Page to try and fail for the title like everyone else. Before more harm would befall the challenger, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata run out for the save. Hangman vows revenge, and says he plans on removing the heads of any member of the Death Riders who get in his way.
Uh oh. You made him mad.
TayJay defeated Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne
Again, Ford takes the L in order to keep Bayne protected. Right move. Great to see Tay back in action and it looks like she has little ring rust. Fun match, and certainly has the right steam to keep this feud going for a while. Also nice to see more women’s matches on an extended program.
Backstage: Okada’s interview is interrupted by Don Callis who demands to know what Okada did to jump the line ahead of Takeshita and Fletcher. Tensions rise.
A well packaged video highlighting the history between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. Really detailed in all their major matches in NJPW. Very well done. As they come face-to-face, Tony Schiavone unveils the new AEW Unified Championship which will replace both the International and Continental Championships. The festivities are interrupted by a manic Callis demanding answers for … something … Just then, Okada attacks Omega from behind, revealing his plot with Callis. A brutal attack takes place, and a locker room full of wrestlers sit idly by in catering as Omega is hit repeatedly in the stomach, which the commentary team remarks is where the Diverticulitis is incorrectly located. Yep. I’m gonna call them out every time. After being forced onto a stretcher, Okada drops a big elbow off the top where Kenny spits out “blood.”
I get they want to make this intense and personal, but this feels very unnecessary. Should have stuck with the “who is the best bout machine” angle. The fake blood was stupid. Commentary has got to stop the whole “They hit him in the diverticulitis!” Brock Lesnar suffered from it too and you never heard anyone use that as a weakness or excuse. Yes, it’s serious but come on guys. Give it a rest already. Is Omega the best wrestler ever or do we pity him now? Can’t do both.
Omega is now vulnerable and will come to All In as the underdog. I’d rather have an equal playing field.
The first match of the second half of the show featured Kyle Fletcher defeating Anthony Bowens. Joining commentary with Schiavone and Nigel McGuiness is Adam Cole. One must guess this is to scout potential title challengers. Very good match, an opponent like Fletcher gives Bowens the opportunity to showcase even more skills in the ring. Unfortunately, Bowens took the loss. I thought he had a shot of winning. Fletcher has taken his share of pinfalls, so he’s not this unstoppable force. I think Bowens should have won, which could have led to a short feud with Fletcher.
One critique, Bowens should stop announcing his finishing move like an Anime character. Mollywop is a bizarre old-timey name for a discus punch.
FTR face-off with Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.
Well, this escalated quickly. Famed Spanish commentator Carlos Cabrera brought out the legendary Atlantis with his son for an interview but was immediately interrupted by FTR and Stokley. A jaw dropping verbal onslaught from Stokely and Dax. FTR then chose violence, but were stopped by Adam Cole, then the Callis Family, then Brody King, then Paragon and it got bonkers.
We’re getting a lot of tag matches out of this, aren’t we?
AEW Women’s Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm defeated Julia Hart w/ Skye Blue
With the TBS Champion Mercedes Mone eating another dinner at ringside, Hart and Blue beat up Storm before the bell. Doing the ol’ “can you compete” shtick led to Storm shouting “ring the damn bell already” which got a good reaction from the crowd. Storm won with her, uh, large package, but Hart looked fantastic in the match. It’s a bummer when great wrestlers have to take so many losses to put others over for a story.
After the match another tense face-off between champions, this time with Mone gaining the upper hand.
Next week, Mone challenges Zeuxis for the CMLL Women’s Championship. Oh please don’t. No no no. No more belt collecting. Don’t do it.
Willow Nightingale, Tomohiro Ishii, and Mark Briscoe defeated MxM Collection (Monsoor, Mason, Taya Valkyrie)
A fun mixed tag match. Willow got the win using the Doctor Bomb. MxM Collection needs to be featured a bit more than silly backstage segments. I know they are on ROH, but get them on Collision a bit more, please? They’re good. Mason is a monster in the ring and more often cannot be taken down by one person. They could be a threatening team if allowed.
Will never complain about Ishii on TV.
Kris Statlander was watching intently from the back, but stormed off. She’s pissed off at everyone giving attention to Willow and seemingly forgetting about her. Wheeler Yuta rolls up and offers some advice, I wonder if his advice is a guise for recruitment. However, Marina Shafir seems nonplussed by the interaction.
ROH World Champion Bandido defeated The Beast Mortos
I finally figured it out! The new mask by Mortos is a nod to Image/Skybound Comics’ own Battle Beast!
It’s great.
This was a fantastic match, and honestly I thought Mortos was the MVP. More than one moment where it appeared believable Mortos could have won. Being it was non-title, they could have Mortos believably win, then challenge for the Ring of Honor World Championship at a later event.
Thekla defeated Queen Aminata
Not surprising Thekla won, no one is going to book a newcomer into a loss. However, it took everything she had to defeat the Queen. Thekla is good, but Aminata came out looking like the better woman. A lot of over-the-top spider references by Nigel. The AEW women’s division is solid. Adding more top talent and current talent being featured more often will hopefully have long-term payoff.
Where is Dr. Britt Baker?!
Backstage: Kip Sabian gave Nick Wayne a present in the form of a highlight reel from his time in NJPW. We also learn Christian Cage and Shayna Wayne are not here tonight. They are… uh… attending to… uh… things.
Oh dear. I honestly thought the surprise was going to be “You’re gonna be a big brother!”
Final Match: The Callis Family (Archer, Alexander, Takeshita, and Hechicero) defeated Paragon and Daniel Garcia
This felt like a Collision main event. Solid, very well-paced mix of wrestling, striking, and fast counters. Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong are at their best. Hechicero is a damn machine. Call me crazy but put him and Lance Archer as a team together. It would work.
I wonder about the prominence of the TNT Championship. Adam Cole being a titleholder is okay, but so was Garcia. There hasn’t been anything to make me look forward to their runs. Garcia was all about the chase, and when he finally got it, it felt like it was overdrawn and too late. As though the momentum was lost. It feels like this has been AEW’s struggle, is not pulling the trigger at the right moment, or drawing out feuds longer than needed. If Takeshita or Fletcher had a run with the championship then it would get exciting. I wouldn’t mind Takeshita strolling to the ring with the Never Openweight Championship on one shoulder and the TNT Championship on the other.
Announced for next week is a 12-man tag team match, FTR and The Callis Family vs. Brody King, Bandido, Templario, Adam Cole, Danny Garcia, and Atlantis Jr.
Holy moly.
