IIIIIT’S WEDNESDAY! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

Okay, fine. It’s better when Excalibur says it. I’ll concede that. We’ve got a lot of questions after AEW: Revolution this past Sunday. Let’s hope for some answers tonight!

As well, A tournament to anoint Kenny Omega’s next challenger begins.

New AEW International Champion Kenny Omega starts us off. And he’s got more than enough pyro behind him to get the crowd going (like he needs it!)

The crowd gives him the reception anyone would expect, chanting “Kenny!” as he starts to talk. He underscores how crazy this all is to him. He also says he’s back thanks to those that helped him, naming Will Ospreay and Konosuke Takeshita. He says Takeshita pushed him and dragging him back to his limits. The limits that he pushed, to win. He put over his Revolution opponent as a truly International Champion. He wants the holder of his title to be the best “on this planet”. He wants to face the best when he puts the title on the line after the Dynasty International Championship Eliminator Tournament.

1. The Opps vs. Vinny Pacifico, Gabriel Aeros, and Eli Theseus

The Opps come out as Omega greets some fans on his way out. Katsuyori Shibata is in the Eliminator Tournament. The two exchange a short staredown and nod.

Typical beatdown that we’ve come to expect from The Opps. I wish they had a cooler name. But I’m not going to tell them that.

Shibata wins it with a PK.

Winnners: The Opps.

Ricochet is backstage, saying he’s not done chasing gold after his loss to Swerve Strickland at Revolution. He will face Shibata in the first round of the Tournament. He wants Shibata to forfeit. Cheeky. Almost as cheeky as Ricochet’s laugh.

Swerve is backstage Sunday at Revolution. He gets asked about when he plans on challenging Moxley. Cope interrupts, saying he never lost at Revolution and that he might be the one Swerve faces at Dynasty for the title. The two bump fists as a show of respect and Cope walks away. Swerve looks like that interaction surprised him.

Moxley cuts a promo on Cope, saying he’ll always get the last laugh. He says he underestimated Cope. He says he knows Cope was hurt, that he’s made of something rare. He says Cope can take away the rules if he wants to complain about them.

Mox mentions something about climbing a mountain despite the potential for avalanches. There’s something there. IYKYK.

He says he won’t miss twice. They’ll face each other in a rematch next week.

2. Hologram (with Harleygram) and Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Brian Cage and Dralistico

If this is anything like Brody King and Swerve vs. Ricochet and Okada, we are in for a treat!

Hobbs wastes no time, going after Cage on the outside. The two were part of Team Taz some years ago so there’s a ton of history between them. Hologram and Dralistico are in the ring. The two exchange quick pinfall attempts before Dralistico stalls him with a big chop. He then goes after the mask.

Hologram gets himself into position for a tope suicida but Cage smoothly turns it into a suplex.

That was smoother than warm butter.

Putting a commercial break during this match is… a choice. But I guess there’s little control over that.

Hologram gets largely dominated as we’re back from commercials. The Beast Mortos is ringside and gets involved on the beatdown before Harleygram stops him. This gives Hologram some time to recover but a Crucifix Bomb stalls that.

Hologram finally makes the tag to Hobbs. Dralistico tags Cage and the crowd chants “meat” as Taz says we’ve got “two big horses” in the ring. Dralistico brings himself into the fray, trying to distract Hobbs. It works but Hologram interrupts.

Cage hits Hobbs with a suplex off the ropes into the ring. A Running Stampede from Hobbs makes Cage angry. He lands a Lariat on Hobbs.

Dralistico cutely tries to exchange strikes with Hobbs. That’s not going to work. He hits a suplex for the dub.

Winners: Hologram (with Harleygram) and Hobbs.

Mark Davis and Lance Archer come out, only exchanging words.

Alicia Atout was backstage after The Hurt Syndicate won Sunday in Los Angeles. They just want to know who got next after disposing of The Outrunners. Lashley wants to hit up Gold’s Gym but MVP tells the champs to enjoy some time off. They’ll still be hitting the gym, though.

A video package plays recapping the Hollywood Ending and a recap of the best feud in wrestling the past year. The only gripe I have with their feud was that it should have been the main event at Revolution.

Still the AEW Women’s World Champion Timeless Toni Storm comes out. She has stitches in her lip, staples in her head, and glass (you know where)… “This tramp is still champ!” She says it’s her honor to be champion. She mentions other champions (“belt collectors” among them) and the lively crowd reacts to her calling herself a lion at the zoo. “Nobody swings like Toni Storm”. She promises it will be messy, sweaty, but always Timeless!

Megan Bayne has other plans, however, interrupting Storm’s pose and posing herself.

3. The Beast Mortos vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey (Wildcard!)

He’s here! Beast Mortos is probably very shocked under that horned mask. He must be fun at poker games.

The crowd chants for the AEW debut. Bailey bows in respect but Mortos looks confused. A big chop stifles Bailey but he goes to work with his athleticism. ortos gets Bailey to the outside and on his back. A massive smack across the face seems to wake up Bailey. He chops his opponent and then lands a big kick.

A Running Shooting Star Press gets Bailey a two-count. He then lands a back flip and lands on Mortos, stifling him. A Liger Bomb gets Bailey another two-count.

Bailey kicks out at two himself after a Pop-Up Samoan Drop. Mortos is (probably) flummoxed after another two-count. A Backbreaker – Lariat doesn’t get Mortos the win. Bailey does a Moonsault Knee Drop. Crescent Peak to follow.

Winner: “Speedball” Mike Bailey.

Renee Paquette is backstage with The Patriarchy. She asks Christian Cage about his failed attempt Sunday. He refuses to talk to Moxley’s wife. She leaves. He demands his contract be returned. He says he was “relegating” his breathing. Nick Wayne’s had enough. He calls out Cage for lying to everyone. He demands an explanation and an apology.

Cage makes disliking him so easy. He asks Nick Wayne how many titles he’s won. How many his father won… Nick Wayne is ticked. This seems like the end of The Patriarchy. Kip Sabian says nothing, awkwardly third (fourth) wheeling.

Lexy Nair tried to catch up with MJF after his loss at Revolution. MJF was in his room. He punched a mirror and called himself a fraud.

MJF comes out with a mic. After getting his music to cut, he absorbs a bunch of jeers from the crowd. He says he’s hurting, but what hurts the most is that everyone knows he had the match won. He congratulates Hangman on a tainted victory. The crowd chants “cowboy shit!”

MJF says he’s smarter than Hangman or his fans, that he thinks ahead. He promises to get his. They’re just getting started.

He gets interrupted by MVP – coming out alone.

MVP gets a mic and MJF looks more confused than I do when I try to do math. They meet in the middle and take off their shades. They say each other’s initials and then embrace. MVP says he’s proud of MJF. He says he’s not the same 18-year-old kid. MVP knew the young wrestler would be a star. MVP says MJF has done everything he said he would.

But MVP isn’t proud of what happened to MJF on Sunday. He asks why he’s out here “whining” to the crowd. He asks MJF why he isn’t angry or HURTING PEOPLE. MVP says he’s lost his edge and that nobody fears him. MVP extends an olive branch in the form of his card.

MJF doesn’t want it. With respect, he says he doesn’t need MVP’s help or advice. He says he was champ for 406 consecutive days. MVP empasizes WAS and makes the same offer twice, something more rare than painite (I had to google that so you can, too).

“The Best Wrestler Alive” Max Caster is in the ring. He says he’s the top star of The Acclaimed because his t-shirt is the most popular on the promotion’s shop.

4. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Max Caster

I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN HIS MUSIC HIT JUST NOW. The crowd chants something I shouldn’t repeat here. Caster says he’d kill Takeshita. If this isn’t cheeky, I have no idea what is.

One elbow strike. Takeshita lets the ref count to two. Raging Fire.

Winner: Everyone but Max Caster.

A video recaps the Jericho / Gravity debacle on Zero Hour. Jericho holds up the mask and brags about how he went after his family on Sunday. Jericho says he did this because he’s not longer comfortable being pushed around.

5. Willow Nightingale vs. Penelope Ford

Ford is apparently 2-0 against Nightingale in AEW. Today I learned.

Nightingale gets Ford down with a shoulder tackle. A big scoop and slam, following with a cross-body. Two on the count.

Ford lands a running kick to the spine and then a double knee drop from the ropes.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1899996611217916364

She takes advantage during the commercial break but Nightingale gains the upper hand with her power advantage. A high boot leads to a Spinebuster. Again, only two on the count for Nightingale. She tries to get Ford to tap on what I’m going to call a full-body Pretzel. Ford bites her way out of it.

Nightingale hits a running shoulder charge and gets the cover.

Winner: Willow Nightingale.

Ford takes her out with a chair.

Kris Statlander makes the save, trying still to mend the fence with Nightingale. Megan Bayne comes back and clotheslines both before laying out Statlander.

Renee Paquette is backstage with Mercedes Mone. She can barely talk after getting kicked in the throat. Mone asked Bille Starkz to join. Renee asks Starkz what she learned. “Not to get kicked in the throat.” Starkz lays out a challenge for next week. Mone hurts herself laughing but accepts the challenge for next week.

Tony Schiavone welcomes Will Ospreay to the ring. The Aerial Assassin smiles and looks to be in good spirits despite limping his way to the ring. He says he made it out alive despite stitches and a potential stab wound. He thanks the fans for supporting him. He puts over his former stablemate as a former champ. Ospreay says he lied to his wife, saying he wouldn’t do anything stupid. He had 15 missed calls from his wife. He says he’s charming and he worked it out with his wife.

What’s next? He’s after a title. A title shot at All In. Saturday, July 12, ladies and gentlemen. Ospreay wants the main event. He will enter the Owen Hart tournament. He makes it clear that, if it’s King Mox, an Assassin is coming for the throne.

Renee is backstage again, this time with Jay White. He interrupts her, calling out Will Ospreay. For now, White congratulates Ospreay on his Revolution victory. He then apologizes to Renee, letting her ask her question. Did he hit Cope on purpose? He said he didn’t do it on purpose. He then calls out Swerve for taking his spot as the #1 contender.

She then catches up with Hangman. MJF bumps into him and Renee does what anyone would do, walking away quickly. Hangman says MJF cares about what the people think of him. MJF calls Hangman’s bluff, saying he’s going to keep winning while Hangman will not reach the pinnacle again. MJF says Hangman will never make the fans proud and that he himself will win again and again, laughing at him.

The two have an intense staredown before MJF breaks and walks away first.

6. “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy vs. Hechicero

Jim Ross joins commentary for the night’s main event.

Hechicero tries submissions early but Orange Cassidy goes rope walking. He hits a Hurricanrana with his classic hands in the pockets. The arm, knee, and back of Freshly Squeezed were targeted to limit his moves.

He tries a roll up with just his legs. Crazy agility we’ve come to expect from Freshly Squeezed.

Hechicero lands body shots but Orange Cassidy counters with Stundog Millionaire. But the CMLL luchador aims for multiple submission attempts. Fans will remember Cassidy’s match against Zach Sabre, Jr. at Forbidden Door.

Cassidy locks up Hechicero’s arms and a leg, pinning him.

Winner: “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy.

“Speedball” Mike Bailey comes out and bows to one of his opponents in the four-way match.