Salutations! Did you also miss Wednesday night All Elite Wrestling action? You’re not the only one(s)!
AEW Fyter Fest comes to us from Denver, CO.
The show starts with a few entrances to the arena: Mark Briscoe, Jon Moxley (with Marina Shafir), and “Timeless” Toni Storm.
Tony Schiavone starts by introducing Will Ospreay to the ring.
Ospreay reacts to the clip aired on Collision last week with Swerve Strickland and Ospreay backstage coming to blows. Ospreay calls the idea to unite Strickland and “Hangman” Adam Page “not my brightest”. His idea is simple: unite for one night, get the belt, then go back to hating one another.
He says Jon Moxley is the reason AEW “sucks” right now. Everyone else is pulling their weight. He asked Swerve if The Death Riders or Page were the bigger threat. Ospreay now feels that Strickland might be a threat. The crowd starts chanting “Whose House?” Ospreay calls out Swerve. He says he’d take a bullet for Strickland, but he’d take a bullet for AEW. He calls out Strickland for a fight next week on Dynamite.
He gets interrupted by CRU. They address him as Mr. BRUV and call Schiavone “Tommy”. The crowd is not on board. Lio Rush says Ospreay is the worst thing about AEW. Tough to sell that to anyone, pal.
He calls out Ospreay for a match on Collision during the second half of Fyter Fest.
Mark Briscoe cuts a pre-recorded promo for his match with Moxley. He says his son asked him if he quit in the match where Moxley put him to sleep. That doesn’t sit right with him.
Moxley is seen entering the arena with Shafir and Wheeler Yuta, his signature water bottle in hand.
1. Jon Moxley vs. Mark Briscoe (non-title match)
The one thing about Briscoe that I find so cool (among other things) is that he’s never changed his intro from when he and his late brother Jay were a tag-team. The broadcast team notes that he’s only been a singles wrestler for about the last 18 months, since his brother passed away.
After a lockup, Briscoe backs off and urges Moxley. He exits the ring to the outside to regroup. Briscoe goes after him, as any opponent of Moxley should. Briscoe lands a stiff elbow and tries for a rear choke. The two exchange chops. Briscoe gets hit with a boot to the face to stop any momentum he’d been gaining.
The crew also mention the altitude, always a major factor when athletes compete in the Mile High City.
Wheeler Yuta gets stomped on the hand by Briscoe. Shafir distracts the ref and Yuta sends Briscoe into the ring post, head-first. Moxley takes control, stalking his prey on the outside as Briscoe’s been cut open.
If you’re unfamiliar with Moxley in the ring, imagine a shark. He senses blood, he pounces. But don’t count Briscoe out just yet. He lands on his feet after Moxley attempts a Back Body Drop. He flashes some Redneck Kung-Fu and then nails a beautiful tope, leading with his legs.
Briscoe tries for a Jay Driller but Moxley fights out. They exchange short-arm Lariats. Briscoe goes to the top rope and Moxley turns. Froggy Beau turns into Moxley securing a chokehold. Briscoe gets his toe to the rope to break an arm hold. Yuta slams Briscoe’s head into the steel steps.
Briscoe hits a Death Valley Driver and follows up with a Jay Driller. He catches his breath, covering for a pinfall. Moxley kicks out at two.
Moxley hits a Stomp. Something about that seems like it’s a big part of his past (wink wink). Briscoe fights out of another submission hold. Paul Turner calls for the stoppage.
Winner: Jon Moxley via submission.
A hype package airs for CMLL’s Mistico. Watch some of his matches if you’re unaware of how talented he is. He will return in an AEW ring next week for Summer Blockbuster in Portland, OR.
“Timeless” Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart and Skye Blue
The CEO Mercedes Mone joins commentary. She brought in her own table and apparently a steak. She’s ready for a unique dining experience.
Julia Hart’s entrance is joined by Skye Blue this time. Mone seems uninterested, on her phone during the entrance. Her headset is off. She’s enjoying her steak and red wine.
Shirakawa starts against Blue. She lands some fast-paced offense. Mone seems to give some attention as Storm gets tagged into the match. She goes for a quick cover but Blue kicks out.
Blue fights back and Hart tags herself in. Hart counters with an illegal hold in the ropes. Blue attacks Storm on the outside and then she and Hart single out Shirakawa.
Luther cooling off Storm while she’s recovering on the side of the ring is just a really funny visual. She gets tagged in and helps Mina turn the tide. Mone looks consumed with angst, not liking that her All In opponent looks as formidable and “Timeless” as ever.
Storm pounces on Blue and Shirakawa helps her out. They nail both opponents. Storm locks in the TCM on Blue and she taps fairly quickly.
Winners: “Timeless” Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa.
Storm goes over the Mone and grabs her steak, eating it by hand as Mone backs off.
Lexy Nair is backstage with Ospreay. He gets interrupted by MJF. The newest member of The Hurt Syndicate says Ospreay shouldn’t get involved in Strickland and Page’s business. Ospreay snaps as MJF mentions his son. MVP and the AEW Men’s Tag Team Champions show up and Ospreay backs off. Lashley dusts him off before walking away last.
The Hurt Syndicate come to the ring. Is Bobby Lashley wearing a greenish suit that’s… LEATHER?
I always just think of that scene with Jeremy Piven in Rush hour 2 whenever I see a leather suit. “Crock skin, buttercream, buttercream.”
The crowd chants their hometown guy, Bobby. Shelton gets some love as well. MJF gets booed. MVP points out that Lashley used to live in Colorado. He now lives in Texas and his thumb points down when asked about Denver now. The crowd does not like.
AEW is “where the best wrestle” so MVP asks where the best tag teams are. He asks the crowd to show respect for MJF.
MJF reminds everyone he wants back the AEW Men’s World Championship. He says he’s going to have to start wrestling more again. He mentions Mexico, where AEW will be in two weeks. He calls out CMLL’s top guy, Mistico. He goes on a long-winded tirade about how he’s the only international to sell out Arena Mexico. He plugs Happy Gilmore 2. He calls Mistico a big fish in a “small, stinky pond”. MJF might, just might, wrestle Mistico at Grand Slam.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Komander interrupt. Komander is understandably ticked off. He says everything coming out of MJF’s mouth is garbage… en Espanol. Bailey says they’re a group of “international killers”. Knight says they want a match against the Hurt Syndicate tonight. MVP teases and rejects. They have to earn in. Lashley again takes a while longer.
LFI come out and they have a stare-down with MVP and The Hurt Syndicate as well.
3. LFI vs. Kevin Knight, Komander and “Speedball” Mike Bailey
All six competitors immediately get involved as the match starts. Referee Aubrey Edwards is up to the tall task to maintain order. Everyone ends up outside, where LFI is comfortable. The three single out Rush in the ring.
LFI show off their synced-up offense and single out Bailey. LFI carry Bailey above their heads and toss him outside towards Knight and Komander.
After a commercial break, Bailey fights through to make a tag. Dralistico kicks out of a Komander pinfall attempt. The two exchange head spikes. Knight and Rush are tagged in. Knight exchanges chops with Rush, getting the short end of the stick. Rush teases the Bull but he lands a stiff kick to the jaw.
Knight counters with a Backbreaker, almost getting the win there with a pinfall.
Cascading dropkicks allow some fight back from JetSpeed and Komander. Mortos fights out of a 3-on-1 and then LFI single out Komander.
The Beast Mortos covers but Knight breaks the cover. Many covers get broken by a third competitor. “Pandemonium” seems like a good enough word to use here. It’s pandemonium!
Komander drops onto Rush and Dralistico. Mortos eats the pin from Knight after a UFO.
Winners: JetSpeed and Komander.
The Hurt Syndicate come back out. MVP is impressed. JetSpeed and Komander earn a shot against the tag champs. Shelton and Lashley go for the seemingly easy kills. Jetspeed and Komander are up to the task. MJF’s involvement doesn’t help. The Hurt Syndicate are reeling and their opponents next week stand tall in the ring.
Alicia Atout is with Paragon and Daniel Garcia. There’s mutual respect and they want the Don Callis Family.
Lexy Nair is with The Patriarchy. Nick Wayne is coming off a great showing at BOTSJ in Japan. Cage says he didn’t win but he wrestled 14 matches in 22 nights. Cage says he’ll defend his ROH Championship in a four-way match tonight.
“The Best Wrestler Alive” Max Caster is in the ring. He has a petition and asks referee Stephon Smith to sign his name on it. He seems confused. A fair reaction.
It’s another 5-minute open challenge. Guess who!
Powerhouse Hobbs shows up. Caster doesn’t like this one bit… I mean, who would?
Hobbs starts with a shoulder tackle and immediately takes over. That was quick. Hobbs disposes of the “Best Wrestler Alive” in barely a minute.
4. Kenny Omega (c) vs. Brody King, Claudio Castagnoli, and Mascara Dorada for the AEW International Championship
Castagnoli always has arguably the best entrances. The red lights just add SO MUCH.
King and Catagnoli have bad blood stemming from the Continental Classic that doesn’t seem to be resolved.
Castagnoli immediately attacks Omega from behind. The three retaliate and show some cohesion. They take out Castagnoli before Omeag and Dorada get to work on taking out King. Dorada and Omega are the two in the ring and the two show respect before Castagnoli messes it up.
King and Castagnoli definitely need a singles match soon.
Omega nails King with a Snap Dragon on the floor.
After a commercial break, Claudio Castagnoli has Omega in the middle of the ring. Brody King has a gash above his left eye. But you’re wrong if you think that’s going to stop him from laying the beatdown on anyone who’s in his way.
Castagnoli takes advantage but King kicks out of the pinfall.
Omega hits a V Trigger to the back of Castagnoli. He recovers to later nail King with a huge uppercut from the top rope as King was on Omega’s shoulders. Pinfall unsuccessful.
Masacara Dorada hits a Hurricanrana on King but can’t capitalize. He then spikes Omega, fighting out of the One-Winged Angel. King gets two on the count on Castagnoli after a huge arm shot. Dorada gets shut down by Castagnoli and King. King goes for a little spin, courtesy of the Swissman. Omega breaks up the count just in time.
Castagnoli looks to take advantage after coming out of a scrum with everyone else. Dorada hits a Shooting Star to the outside on Castagnoli. He follows up, getting King as well. Omega counters the Hurricanrana with the One-Winged Angel.
Winner: Kenny Omega retains via pinfall.
