AEW Dynamite: Page stands tall

Sully Khan

AEW Men's Title rematch Page (c) vs. Moxley. July 30th in Chicago, IL.

Are you hitting that mid-week slump? Don’t worry!

It’s mid-week, which means it’s Wednesday. You know what that means!

Special shout-out to Tommy Martinez for filling in for me last week.

Kicking things off tonight is a recap of the Texas Death Match between “Hangman” Adam Page and Jon Moxley and the build to tonight’s rematch.

1. The Outrunners vs. The Young Bucks in a Tag Team Title Eliminator Match

The Jacksons don’t get an entrance, already in the ring as The Outrunners make their entrance. They are not thrilled, of course.

Magnum starts against one of the brothers, as Excalibur can’t seem to tell them apart at the start of the fight. Matt gets involved but so does Turbo Floyd to even things up. They land Atomic Drops and a Meeting of the Minds.

The Jacksons come back with Tope Suicidas of their own. Not the cleanest but the move lands and does the trick. Matt Jackson goes for a Suplex on Floyd but his back seems to give out and he tags in Nick.

The Young Bucks may have lost their EVP titles, but they’ll never lose the chemistry they have.

Back from commercial break, The Jacksons are all over Truth Magnum but he fights back as best he can, almost getting the tag. Matt Jackson sweeps Turbo Floyd’s leg to prevent the tag. Nick Jackson hits a massive Crossbody from the top rope. The two continue to work over Magnum, preventing the tag a number of times before he nicely rolls through and connects!

Floyd comes in guns blazing and the two go for their finisher. Nick lands a Superkick to their joined fists. Turbo Floyd retaliates with a Double Clothesline after taking both kicks. The pinfall only gets two on the count.

Assisted Sliced Bread. There’s a move name that needs more love.

Rick Knox gets involved but only when provoked by the Bucks. Total Recall lands but Nick Jackson breaks up the pinfall just in time.

TK Driver on Turbo Floyd keeps him down.

Winners: The Young Bucks advance, facing the winners of Gates of Agony vs. Brodido.

Kazuchika Okada’s music hits and the Young Bucks have dastardly smiles on their faces. He comes in and shakes hands with them. He joins the Bucks for an unnecessary beatdown. Swerve Strickland’s music hits and Prince Nana accompanies him. The Jacksons get sent out of the ring and Strickland joins The Outrunners in neutralizing Okada. Strickland sets up for a House Call but the Bucks pull Okada out. Strickland flies off the top rope and takes them all out, smirking at the camera.

Renee Paquette is backstage with Mark Briscoe. They get interrupted by Briscoe’s opponent tonight, Ricochet, accompanied by Gates of Agony. Briscoe’s not playing around. MJF still has Briscoe’s attention but Ricochet wants him to be focused.

MJF is set to clear the air with his Hurt Syndicate buddies. Shelton Benjamin points out the watch he got from MJF, pointing out it’s a Temu knock-off. MJF is out of The Hurt Syndicate.

Tony Schiavone introduces Christian Cage and the former head of The Patriarchy makes his way to the ring.

Cage reminds everyone of his name and calls himself an obscenity, making the crowd cheer and clap. He says he’s numb to the world and “everything in it”. He says he caught a glimpse of his past after hitting a Spear at Revolution. He calls out Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian for questioning him.

He says he diverted from the plan because the three of them weren’t competent enough to fulfill it.

The crowd cheers “you deserve it!”

He turns his attention to Adam Copeland. He asks him if what he said was really “that bad”. He brings attention to some things Copeland had to do to reach the top. Cage says he and Copeland are so different, but somehow the same. The next part of his monologue is much too vivid as he calls out Shayna Wayne.

He says Nick Wayne is more talented than him and he protected him from the world. He didn’t take kindly to Wayne saying he’s the new face of AEW. Cage says he’s the obstacle standing in the young wrestler’s way. He verbally disowns Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian before walking off.

He’s met by Shayne Wayne at the top of the ramp. Kip Sabian sneaks up behind but he’s the decoy. Nick Wayne jumps him and says “I disown you!” Two chairs enter the fray and Cage’s head is clapped between them. The crowd did not like that one bit.

FTR and Big Stoke are backstage and they have a long list of enemies. They get interrupted by the Jacksons. FTR leave but Stoke tries to rattle them now that they’re not the EVPs anymore. It doesn’t really work.

2. “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW Men’s World Championship

Who said this would be the night’s main event? Everyone will be banned from ringside for this battle.

Moxley’s first title reign began in Chicago in 2020 when he defeated Chris Jericho so this could be an historic night for him again.

The bell rings and the two take a few moments, circling each other before locking up.

Moxley gets him cornered and nails a cheap shot before Page comes back. The two end up outside the ring and by the timekeeper’s table. A massive Lariat sends Moxley over the barricade.

Back in the ring, Moxley recovers and takes control as he slows the match down. He lands a number of German Suplexes. Page lands on his feet and comes back with a Fallaway Slam. Moxley gets nailed with a Comebacker Lariat on the ropes and then gets dropped. Back in the ring, Page lands a Death Valley Driver. Moxley catches the champion off-guard with a Double Wristlock. Moxley is forced to kick out of a Pop-up Powerbomb cover.

Moxley gets the advantage and caps it with a brutal Piledriver on the steel steps.

Back from the last commercial of the match, Moxley gets Page into a Straight Jacket and Moxley gets the upper hand. Page grabs the boot and comes back with a Rolling Elbow. The two trade massive forearm shots. Moxley gets dropped with a Back Drop Suplex.

Slowly getting himself outside the ropes, Page is caught and gets sent flying towards the commentary desk. Hangman reverses and drops the challenger with a Dead Eye on the top of the desk.

The Dead Eye lands for Page but the referee gets inadvertently dropped. Security had their back turned with the Death Riders. Marina Shafir hands Moxley the title and yet, Page kicks out as Paul Turner sends Shafir away. Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta are also escorted away.

Darby Allin is on top of one of the opera booths! He wipes everyone out!

Boot. Buckshot Lariat. Moxley fights out of the Dead Eye. Page fights back and lands it. Another Buckshot.

Winner: AND STILL AEW Men’s World Champion, “Hangman” Adam Page.

3. Billie Starkz and “The Fallen Goddess” Athena vs. Alex Windsor and AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm

Windsor starts against Athena, picking up where they left off Saturday night on Collision. Athena takes down Windsor and Storm tags in.

Athena ducks and rolls and tags in Billie Starkz.

The champion and her tag partner make it look easy against both opponents.

As the action spills out with all four wrestlers, Storm gets dropped by Starkz before Windsor takes out Athena.

Back in the ring, Starkz catapults Windsor right into Athena’s less-than-welcoming arms and she drops the most recent AEW addition with a textbook Spinebuster.

During the commercial break, Athena and Starkz isolate Alex Windsor and work her over in their corner. Starkz gets dropped with a Headbutt from Windsor but she falls as well. Athena tags in and holds Windsor back. Starkz drops Storm outside.

Windsor comes back with a number of misdirections and hits a Lariat, followed by a Liger Bomb. Starkz breaks up the pinfall with a Senton Atomico!

Storm gets tagged in and dropps Starkz with two Missile Drop Kicks. She lands a Hip Attack on Athena outside the ropes. She goes back at Starkz with a flurry of Mongolian Chops. She caps it with a Hip Attack in the corner.

Athena comes in out of nowhere with a slick tag, an O-Face, and pins the champion!

Winners: Athena and Billie Starkz.

Starkz sends Windsor into the barricade after the match is won, showing the new-found viciousness she’s developed since aligning herself with “The Fallen Goddess” Athena.

Renee Paquette is backstage with Page after his title retention. They get interrupted by MJF. MJF tries to goad the champ by uttering Swerve Strickland’s name. Page says Mark Briscoe’s in front of MJF in the title picture. MJF walks away when Hangman says THS isn’t around and he could beat MJF up right now.

Back from commercial, Alicia Atout is backstage with Willow Nightingale. She wants a fight. Tony Khan has made it official for tomorrow night. Willow Nightingale vs. Thekla.

4. Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe

The bell rings and the two waste no time. The two bring different styles of high-octane offense. Briscoe takes control and lands a number of heavy chops. Ricochet comes back with one but Briscoe sends him flying off the ropes.

As Briscoe seems to be gaining momentum, Gates of Agony come out slowly and distract him. Ricochet takes advantage with a kick to Briscoe’s back and a Tope Suicida right after.

Back from commercial, Ricochet comes in with a chair that the referee will not allow him to use. Briscoe fights out of the cover and catches the boot, sending him flying. Ricochet’s head get slapped. As Briscoe goes to capitalize, Toa Liona drops the rope and makes him fall. Ricochet comes back with a number of moves. Briscoe kicks out of the pinfall attempt after a Shooting Star Press.

Ricochet loads up the Spirit Gun but misses it. Briscoe sends him to the floor. Bishop Kaun moves Ricochet and takes the kick from Briscoe. Briscoe gets them both with a Missile Drop off the chair, over the top rope.

Massive Lariat. Ricochet kicks out at two.

The referee misses it, but Bishop Kaun sends Briscoe to the mat off the ropes. Briscoe kicks out after Ricochet tries a pinfall.

Brodido come out to even the odds, sending Gates of Agony out.

Briscoe gets an Inside Cradle but Ricochet kicks out. After taking three kicks, Briscoe nails a massive Lariat. Jay Driller.

Winner: Mark Briscoe.

Briscoe calls out MJF for saying Jay’s name twice. Briscoe says he’s worried he won’t be able to forgive himself. He calls out MJF right here, right now.

MJF’s music hits but he doesn’t appear on the ramp. MJF’s on the video screen. He’s not taking Briscoe seriously even though he sounds serious this time.

Next week Dynamite’s main event will be MJF vs. Briscoe.

MJF hits a low blow from behind and then asks the crowd and “Hangman” who the coward is now. MJF pulls out and wears his Dynamite Diamond Ring but Page comes out. He avoids the Buckshot and slips out of the Jay Driller before high-tailing it up the ramp.

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