As Boris would say, greetings and salutations AEW Fans. Also, it’s Wednesday night and you know what that means?
No, not to claim America is a fascist state (yet). It’s AEW Dynamite and we have Roderick Strong ready to challenge the current AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland for the top prize. Will it be The Messiah of the Backbreaker that takes the gold, or will Strickland retain it ahead of the Forbidden Door PPV?
We’ll find out later tonight as we are coming to you from the Blue Arena in Loveland, CO. Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz have the call, and MJF comes out and he has a few things on his mind. Not only is he back, but he has a few words for certain people in the back, a few tee shirts to sell of his new Lone Wolf Burberry-styled image (at shopaew.com), and mostly he wants to remind us he is the best thing going around.
Now Rush comes from the back and interrupts and says to listen up “Perro.” Rush claims he will take his spot because when you mess with the bull yadda yadda yadda. MJF asks the fans if they can hear and understand a word he says, but they don’t give a s*** according to him. MJF states he knows his bona fides but proclaims he is The Best. Then he tries his hand at Spanish as he tells Rush, “Hey Cabrón. C***** tu Madre!”, and they go to blows until security breaks it up.
We get a vignette showing Strong prepping for the title bout. I would love to show it, but X/Twitter is being more finicky than usual. Why that is, I don’t know, but I’m blaming Elon Musk for making a simple thing more difficult than it has to be. *SIGHHH!!*
But it’s time for your First Match of the Night between…
Orange Cassidy vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jay Lethal (with Sonjay Dutt) vs. Rey Fenix (With Alex Abrahantes)
This is a four-way for a number one contendership for the AEW International title, held by Will Ospreay. The match is just a spot fest from the moment the bell rings, and this is the first time we see Fenix back in the ring. Basically they go from big moment to big moment, and near the end, Fenix starts to pull up lame on his ankle. Lethal attempts to take advantage but Fenix manages to get a roll-up for the pin and the win.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Rey Fenix
Fenix is out giving hugs to the crowd. Then Trent Beretta comes in with Don Callis, and Cassidy grabs a chain to counter his steel chair. Statlander jumps in between the former Best Friends. As Cassidy lowers his guard, she cheap shots him. That brings Willow Nightingale comes out and Statlander bails, giving Stokely Hathaway a piggyback ride to the back.
An SUV pulls up and we see Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith exit. He goes even more overboard with the Learning Tree Gimmick by giving (unwanted) advice to the driver of the SUV and the Cameraman on how to do their jobs.
In short, Jericho is channeling his inner Karen (or Ken or Kevin, depending on your bias), and gods is he a complete douche canoe when delivers this sanctimonious advice.
Renee Paquette talks to Nightingale about losing the TBS Title and losing Statlander’s friendship. She acknowledges her loss at the Double of Nothing PPV and promises Mercedes Moné there will be a score to settle. As for Statlander, she betrayed her trust and Nightingale assures us how dangerous she can be. Cassidy comes into the camera shot and taps knuckles with her. I smell an alliance brewing.
Next Christopher Danielson comes out and announces we will crown a new TNT champion at the Forbidden Door PPV, and we have a qualifying match between…
Mark Briscoe vs. Brian Cage
This is a match based on Power versus Red Neck Kung Fu©. Briscoe punishes Cage in and out of the ring, and as he brings a steel chair in the ref sends it out (boo). He goes after Cage and he brutalizes Him by tossing him into the guardrails. Cage brings Briscoe back in the ring the hard way with a suplex, and during Picture in Picture, he lays a complete beatdown to the ROH World champion. Takeshita and Callis scout the competition from above, as does Jack Perry from a monitor in the back. Briscoe rallies and gets a steel chair in the ring and uses it to land a somersault senton on Cage on the outside. He nails a missile dropkick in the ring and covers for a two count. Then Cage returns fire with a ripcord elbow and pump handle flatliner for another near fall, and then goes for a sitout powerbomb for another two count. Frustrated, Cage attempts the Drill Claw and Briscoe escapes. He nails him with a big boot to a DVD and Briscoe goes up top to deliver a froggy ‘bow for the three count.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Mark Briscoe
After the match, Perry addresses Briscoe and says the universe chose him and he will be the next TNT champ. Ok, DJ Mom Jeans. I’m curious where that goes.
Paquette is backstage with Samoa Joe and Hook, and Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari come out to taunt the young man. Joe holds back Hook and advises they will handle them on their own time.
So, yeah…that happened.
Jericho and company wander to see Angelo Parker and Matthew Menard. He cheers their success based on them sitting under his learning tree and tells Menard tips to be more vocal on commentary during Rampage, and gives parenting advice to Parker. The best line of that segment is by Keith who says, “Make sure that baby respects Jericho!”
HA! Brilliant!
The Acclaimed come out and Caster raps a few bars excoriating The Young Bucks. That brings Matthew and Nicholas Jackson to cut their mic and let them know they can leave the building. Fans chant BS, and this is not going to go well.
Paquette has Swerve Strickland with her. She questions how he feels about Ospreay. Before he gets to that, he tells MJF to stay out of his way, and that he is looking forward to defending the belt at Forbidden Door. He also says he was sad about the results of Anarchy in the Arena at Double or Nothing, but advises the powers that be next time to remember to include him.
We get a Mercedes Moné vignette ahead of her Forbidden Door match. Yeah, OK.
Now for…
The Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Volador Jr., Magnus, Rugido, & Esfinge
Yes, Virginia, Yuta is back after dealing with an injury for the last four months. Also, this is Lucha Libre versus Combat Club, and the short version is the match is just a Pier Eight brawl and everyone unloads their offense early and often during the match. The end comes with Yuta hitting a Samoa drop on Rugido to a Seatbelt to secure the win.
Your Winners via Pinfall: The Blackpool Combat Club
Jericho is just the worst in catering offering his unwanted advice. Nobody needs to know how to eat food for the most part. Seriously.
We get a vignette on Daniel Garcia as he faces Will Ospreay for the AEW International title and he is geared up to claim the title.
Meanwhile, the Acclaimed want the Bucks but security blocks them. Also…
(Author’s Note to Utah fans: The one security guard on the right looks a little sour. Like he sucked on a few…lemons, dare I say? IYKYK.)
Christian Cage and The Patriarchy want another title shot. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson placate them and advise they still have some stroke and will work it out.
“Timeless” Toni Storm is out and she is here for the next match of the night between…
Saraya (with Zach Knight and Harley Cameron) vs. Mariah May
Remember when Storm and Saraya were Outcasts? Pepperidge Farm remembers. As for May going into this match, I say “Show me what you got!”
Saraya jumps May, and Storm tells her protege, “Smash her t**s in.” Ooh, spicy!
May is in the driver’s seat, and Saraya steps out for a powder to ponder her next move. She plays mind games with May and she chases after her, and Saraya catches her with a thrust kick and then throws her hard into the barricade. During Picture in Picture, she woman handles May in front of Storm, and at one point Cameron hydrates Saraya (not like that, you pervs! She gave her a water bottle to drink!).
Back in the ring, Saraya connects with knee lifts to her sternum and she and Mayra trade blows, but she gets a second wind as she rocks Saraya with a head butt and then a running elbow strike to a handstand huracanrana. She climbs up top for a missile dropkick and covers for a two count. A hip attack by May finds the mark but still gets a near fall. Saraya counters and connects with a Ram-Paige (Cradle DDT) for another two. Then a thrust kick and her patented PTO has May tied up. She pleads to Storm but finally taps out.
Your Winner via Submission: Saraya Knight
Storm checks on May, and Saraya stomps on the back of her head. She and Cameron attack and Mina Shirikawa enters to break up the fight. She then bumps her chest with the Timeless one and…well, let’s just say we may have a new Breast Friends faction. I would love to show this, but again… X gonna give it to ya!
Double SIGHHH!
Jericho talks to Private Party to become a Public Party to bring in more fans. Kassidy and Quen say that doesn’t jive with them, and Jericho decides to invite them to his Learning Tree segment next week.
Bryan Danielson cuts a promo, on how he was planning an epic year but it hasn’t been what he wanted. He notes that he has lost the big ones including Anarchy in the Arena. However, he notes that Yuta coming back from his injury after four months has inspired him and it ain’t over yet, as he will be in the Owen Hart tournament for a shot at the main title at All In and he promises he will go out on top.
Now for the Main Event, and it’s for the…
AEW Championship: Swerve Strickland(c)(with Prince Nana) vs. Roderick Strong (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett)
Justin Roberts gives the boxing-style intros, as Strickland flashes his new championship grill. The bell rings and they circle and lock up jockeying for position. A shoulder tackle by the champ, but Strong trips up Strickland and gets him in a headlock. He shows up Strong at every turn and finally takes a powder with Taven and Bennett to devise some strategy. Strickland targets the knee of the Messiah and then slams him headfirst into the top turnbuckle. He goes up top and gets distracted by Taven and that gives Roddy time to trip him up. They battle up top and Strong lands a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle and the champ feels it as Taven and Bennett jeer.
Strickland slingshots Strong to the ring post and during Picture in Picture, he is in control until Strong drops him with a backbreaker on the apron edge. Back in the ring he cinches in a camel clutch but Strickland fights through, yet Strong continues to target the back of the champ. He attempts a lumbar check, but Strickland counters with knees to his chest and gives elbows to the back of the head. After he dances a bit. Strickland nails a flatliner and a brainbuster for a two count. He follows with a powerslam for another two and goes for a House Call but Strong ducks out. Strickland goes after him with a dive and Taven and Bennett catch him and Strong lands a twisting backbreaker to the apron edge. Back in the ring, Strong continues the offense with elbow strikes and then lands an Angle slam and finishes with a powerbomb for a two count. A Sick Kick to cover still gives Roddy a near fall. Strickland switches gears and trips up Strong and gives him a springboard double stomp to the floor. Back in the ring, Strickland delivers a House Call to the back of his head and covers for one, two, and three.
Your Winner and Still AEW World Champion: Swerve Strickland
Strickland stands tall and lets us know this is still Swerve’s House.
