The go-home Dynamite show before Double or Nothing is already upon us!
I miss the OG Dynamite theme song but this one is growing on me for sure. Let’s get it on!
Tony Schiavone is in the ring to introduce the finalists for the Men’s Owen Tournament, “Hangman” Adam Page and Will Ospreay. The winner will go to All In and get a shot at the Men’s World Championship.
Ospreay assures he won’t get physical and Adam Page agrees. Ospreay dismisses the security outfit and the crowd cheers his name. He asks Page if he still drinks, not in a malicious way. He makes a joke about his own facial appearance and brings two beers into the ring, giving one the Page. Page doesn’t cheers him but Ospreay isn’t phased.
Ospreay wants their match to be the main event Sunday. He says there’s too much at stake in their match. The winner of their match has the responsibility to win the belt. He explains his weekly flights from England. He wants to carry the gold at Forbidden Door in London, the arena being 30 minutes from his home. He wants his son to look at him as the “World Champion, BRUV!”
He knows how much Hangers wants it. He just wants it that “little bit more”.
Page replies that that is the difference between them. He’s lived that feeling. He knows Ospreay understands that the belt is THE prize in professional wrestling. He calls it a “professional accomplishment”. He calls it personal for him and that he “needs” this opportunity.
Hanger says he’s wasted two years of is life and hasn’t won anything that gave him any joy. The worst of it was when he was at home. His son would sit on the floor and play, looking at him staring out the window. He says his wife feels pity when she looks at him. He needs to prove to everyone that he can be the man they want him to be.
For himself, he needs to know that there’s a light at the end of the two-year tunnel he’s been in.
Ospreay asks him what he’s planning on doing about it. Christopher Daniels’ name comes up and this makes Page reach for a drink. That’s some symbolism.
Ospreay admits he’s lost, but that he’s lost the right way and always won the fans’ respect and trust. Hanger asks if that will be enough. Ospreay isn’t certain. Ospreay asks Adam Page to bring that animal on Sunday. He says Page has lost respect among their peers. He says he’s bringing his best and lists some of the men he’s beaten. He calls himself the best in the world and the crowd loudly chants his name.
Ospreay’s aware of the uncertainty in the ring when their match starts but that he’s also got Hanger’s back if Hangman beats him and hopes it’s mutual.
The two chug their beers and stare each other down.
TK makes it official. This will be the Double or Nothing main event. They both walk towards the Owen Cup and then stare each other down again before Ospreay walks away first.
Jon Moxley is outside the arena with Marina Shafir. They come in and he spits out some water. Not the smartest move. It’s the desert – gotta stay hydrated. He says “Embrace the Anarchy”.
1. Jon Moxley and the Young Bucks vs. The Opps and Swerve Strickland in an All Star Trios Match
Joe and Mox start off for their teams, going right at each other.
The two get held back by their teams. Hobbs and Matthew Jackson tangle before Nicholas Jackson and Swerve get their turn. Swerve hits a backbreaker. Swerve hits a Flatliner and that vaults off the top rope to the outside.
Samoa Joe follows with a Tope Suicida to all three opponents.
The heels work over Hobbs’ knee during the commercial break. Hobbs recovers and tags in Swerve. He’s out for blood against the Bucks who have tormented him the last few weeks.
The Bucks and Moxley single out Swerve. The Young Bucks hit Risky Business but he kicks out of the pinfall. The Bucks go for another pinfall and Hobbs rushes to make the save.
Marina finds a way to get involved while the ref is distracted… during a commercial break. Moxley gets Swerve’s arms pinned behind his back in the middle of the ring. Swerve can’t get the tag but he headbutts Moxley and Samoa Joe finally gets in. Joe gets Matt pinned but the older Buck kicks out at two.
Chained moves lead to Swerve hitting the House Call on Moxley and flying out to hit the Bucks. Hobbs hits all three opponents with a Backbreaker. The Bucks miss on the Stereo Kicks. Samoa Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch on Nicholas Jackson.
Winners: The Opps and Swerve Strickland.
Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli enter to attack but Shibata rushes out to make the save. Marina rushes and low blows Shibata. Willow Nightingale rushes out. Out comes Kenny Omega. EVP on EVP violence ensues. The heels retreat and Joe says the chase is on.
MJF and The Hurt Syndicate are with Alicia Atout with their lawyers. MJF’s lawyer is “Smart” Mark Sterling.
The Hurt Syndicate are in the ring with a table ready for the contract signing. MVP says the crowd is booing because they know MJF is better than them.
MJF comes out and brings boos out of the crowd by mentioning his mother… In a way I won’t repeat here. MVP shows his heel side, yelling at the crowd to respect MJF.
Shelton Benjamin signs after consulting their lawyer one final time. Bobby Lashley hesitates and plays it up. He signs after much teasing. MJF gets interrupted by the Sons of Texas. MJF is not thrilled. Rhodes warns MVP about the “snake in the grass” that is MJF.
He dares The Hurt Syndicate to hurt him. He says he and Guevara are no pushover of a tag team.
Renee Paquette is backstage with Kazuchika Okada. He responds to Speedball “Mike Bailey” for Double or Nothing. He doesn’t say his tagline word, despite teasing it twice. Not his best promo.
2. Anthony Bowens vs. Ricochet
Ricochet starts the match by almost telling Billy Gunn to suck it but Bowens stops him and gains control. Billy Gunn threatens Ricochet when approached. Ricochet eventually turns the tables with some good counters.
The Five-Tool Player withstands a lot of offense through a commercial break, coming back and gaining the advantage. Ricochet kicks out of a pinfall at two.
Bowens avoids the Spirit Gun and counters with The Arrival. Ricochet gets dumped outside the ring but he grabs his golden scissors out of the referee’s view.
Winner: Ricochet.
Mark Briscoe comes out behind him with a stretcher. Ricochet gets trapped and laid out on the stretcher. Briscoe goes up to the top rope for a Froggy Beaux but Ricochet rushes away.
Stokely Hathaway is backstage with FTR. Their contract for Sunday’s match against Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness will be signed tomorrow on Collision.
Mercedes Mone and Jamie Hayter are face-to-face in the ring with Renee Paquette ahead of their match Sunday at Double or Nothing.
Hayter has been AEW Women’s Champion, something Mone has yet to be. She doesn’t mind being the underdog in a match. She says she’s a fighter and that Mone knows this means more to Hayter than it does to her. She’s here for her legacy. “Should she have even come back?” if she doesn’t win this match? She laces up her boots and hits hard because that’s who she is.
Mone is not worried that Hayter could potentially be her first loss in AEW. Mone says Hayter hasn’t gotten her all figured out. She calls herself the “Beyonce of women’s wrestling” and calls Hayter a glass doll. She always gets what she wants. She’s been the TBS Champion for 360 days and she’s gotten too be a champion by working for it. She’s also here for her legacy. She urges Hayter to bring her best.
Hayter points out that one of Mone’s belts is no longer, the New Japan Strong Championship. She says she thinks Mone’s destiny is to lose everything. Mone snaps and attacks Hayter but she comes back with Hayterade.
“Timeless” Toni Storm’s music hits.
3. Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart
Storm says she and Shirakawa have mutual respect, but also that her challenger stands no chance because she has the biggest package.
Julia Hart balances on the top rope and elbows Shirakawa’s back. Mina comes back with a knee strike off the top. She lands a dropkick to Hart’s knee. She goes for her trademark Inside Figure Four but lands outside the ring to taunt Storm. Hart capitalizes, elbowing her from behind.
The two exchange heavy hits through a commercial break and Shirakawa lands a Rolling Elbow. Hart lands an illegal hold but it staggers Shirakawa for a second. She comes back with a Spinning Back Fist. She lands a Crucifix Bomb but Hart kicks out at two.
Shirakawa avoids a big hit and hits Hart in the back of the knee. Shirakawa hits a tight, unique cover.
Winner: Mina Shirakawa.
She goes to taunt Storm but Hart goes for more. Shirakawa comes back with a Figure Four.
Skye Blue joins the attack on Shirakawa. This forces Storm from the commentary desk and she disposes of Blue. The two stare each other down with the title. Shirakawa hits a Dragon Screw and then goes for a Figure Four around the ring post.
Renee is backstage with the Bucks. They call out Joe for lying. They get jumped by Samoa Joe and Hobbs on their way out. All the Anarchy participants brawl backstage and the action spills to the entrance ramp.
The Young Bucks get in the ring and hit the EVP Trigger on Kenny Omega. Swerve and him combine for a V-Trigger / House Call combo. Gabe Kidd rushes to stop Samoa Joe from behind and he goes after Kenny Omega. The EVPs and Wheeler Yuta bring tables out.
Yuta chokes out Prince Nana. The Young Bucks drop down onto Omega and Swerve on top of tables. The heels take control as the show cuts.
