Nobody can say it as well as Excalibur, but “it’s Wednesday” again!
For tonight’s show in Norfolk, VA, only three matches are currently on the docket, as well as appearances from The Hurt Syndicate and MJF. One of the matches will see AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm take on Miyu Yamashita in an Eliminator Match, not unlike the same stipulation Storm defeated Queen Aminata with recently. Yamashita makes her return to AEW programming after three matches in 2022.
One semi-final of the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament will take place with hometown (is a three-hour drive close enough?) cowboy “Hangman” Adam Page squaring up against “The ProtoStar” Kyle Fletcher. Let’s see if the Aussie can spoil Hanger’s homecoming.
That’s a decent-enough intro, don’t you think? Let’s get on with it!
1. Mark Briscoe, Kenny Omega, Kevin, Knight, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada, and the Young Bucks
The crowd chants for Kenny after his teammates enter. His music hits and everyone’s ready. Although, I’m not sure some of the kids close to the entrance were ready for quite that much pyro!
Cool detail about the entrances. Briscoe and Ricochet entered first for their teams. “Speedball” and Kevin Knight entered together, as did the Jacksons. The Best Bout Machine and The Rainmaker finished out the entrances for their respective teams. Little details matter too, bookers!
Kenny and Okada stare each other down and they start for their teams. If you’re unfamiliar with their history in Japan, do yourself a favor and look it up! Thank me later.
The heels single out Omega’s left arm. Omega turns it around on them as Nick Jackson is on the outside wringing his arms repeatedly. He ends up doing it to Ricochet and then slaps his (bald) head. Bailey and Knight show off their chemistry before tagging in Briscoe.
Bailey and Briscoe single out the Bucks for stiff kicks, sending them out of the ring as the show cuts to a commercial break.
Ricochet and Matthew Jackson put the moves on Knight and Bailey and then pose with Jackson’s hair on Ricochet’s head. Que the “BALD” chants. Ricochet goes for a Brainbuster on Bailey. He gets out of it by kneeing his head. Knight hits massive lariats on the Bucks after a missile drop kick to Okada.
Redneck Kung-Fu takes over on the Bucks after Omega sustains a lot of offense from the heels. Okada kicks out at two with a Fisherman’s Buster from Briscoe. He counters with a Neckbreaker. Okada goes for his salute and turns it to Omega. Bailey kicks him out of the ring. Omega asks the ref to be quiet as he’s not tagged in but Okada urges him into the ring. These two always “cook with gas”, as the kids say.
Briscoe hits Okada with a Jay Drilla but Ricochet breaks up the pin. Seriously, kids. Watch this match in its entirety if you’re able to. But don’t try any of these moves yourself (unless you are getting coaching, of course!). Okada hits Briscoe with a Rainmaker.
Winners: Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada, and the Young Bucks
The Hurt Syndicate are backstage and they “hurt” some unfortunate fellas. MVP and Shelton Benjamin try to convince Bobby Lashley to be open to MJF joining the group. He seems to come around.
2. The Opps vs. Nick Comoroto, Rhett Titus, and Miles Hawkins
Powerhouse Hobbs joining The Opps was an unfortunate development… for anyone who wants to challenge them.
The opponents get some offense in but this one was never in doubt.
Winners: The Opps.
The Death Riders attack The Opps from behind but Samoa Joe fights back against Mox. He chokes him out on the ramp. Claudio Castagnoli drops Katsuyori Shibata onto a chair. Joe grabs a mic and calls out Mox. The crowd chants “Joe! Joe! Joe!” as he calls out Mox for being scared when it’s actually time to fight. He calls Moxley scared, among other things, and challenges him INSIDE A STEEL CAGE at their Beach Break match two weeks from now. Pending official booking from Tony Khan, as per the desk.
Renee Paquette is with Mercedes Mone in a pre-taped interview. Her four (FOUR) titles on display between them. She says her match with Jamie Hayter in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament is not one she’s underestimating. Mone is 25-0 in AEW singles matches. She says her opponent at Double or Nothing will be in for a fight.
After commercial, Renee is with The Patriarchy. Cage interrupts Nick Wayne. Jay Lethal issues a challenge in what should be a great match tonight. The longest-reigning ROH World TV Champion vs. the current (and youngest MEN’s… Billie Starkz is younger. They should have specified that) champion. Nick Wayne hesitates and is not impressed as Cage accepts the challenge for him. Renee seems over it all and I can’t say I disagree.
3. “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Miyu Yamashita in an Eliminator match
Strom and Yamashita shake hands as we’re underway. Storm gets out of the lock-up by lowering her foot firmly on the back of Yamashita’s knee, a move you don’t see enough in a lock-up.
Storm launches off the rope and gets her opponent on the mat. She must know that she’d be in over her Timeless head in a kickboxing match.
Storm goes up to the top rope but Yamashita kicks her as she’s on the top rope. Storm misses the hip attack and Luther has to get involved as the challenger gets her butt kicked (literally). She kicks him too because why not.
During the commercial break (thanks, picture-in-picture!), Yamashita gets control and lands a number of her punishing kicks and forearms to the champion.
Yamashita walks forward into contact as she absorbs forearms from Storm. Storm uses a high bridge after a Fisherman’s Suplex but only gets two on the count.
Yamashita connects with a roundkick but Storm counters with a German suplex and catches her breath before a massive hip attack. She connects with Storm Zero.
Winner: “Timeless” Toni Storm. She is 10-0 in Eliminator matches during her four reigns as champ.
The “CEO” Mercedes Mone comes out with a microphone. She tells the crowd to shut up and say hi to her. She says she’s coming for Storm’s title after she beats Hayter. This obviously brings out Hayter. Mone runs off after taking a shot. Hayter and Storm stare each other down. These two are no strangers.
Don Callis is backstage with Josh Alexander, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher. He says he wants to make history again. He says Fletcher is going to beat “Hangman” Adam Page before taking out Will Ospreay at Double or Nothing. He’s coming for the AEW Men’s World Championship.
The Hurt Syndicate come to the ring. MVP says The Hurt Syndicate need to follow the “corporate by-laws” of the group. They’re going to try the vote one more time. They invite MJF to the ring.
(Shoutout the kid with the sign that says “I’m only 9 but still knows that MJF sucks”. That gave me a bigger chuckle than I’m willing to admit.)
MJF puts over Benjamin and MVP. He goes to “Bob” and that elicits a chant. MVP interrupts the pleasantries to get to the vote. MVP calls Bobby “Roberto”. How many names does he have? He teases everyone, taking his time and almost seeing how the crowd reacts. He still says no.
MJF is tired, but he says it differently. He asks Bobby if Rogaine would sway him. Baaad idea, child. MJF looks like a deer in headlights after getting smushed into the corner by Lashley. Lashley wants MJF to prove that he can Hurt people.
A recap is shown from last week of FTR and Stokely Hathaway. Narrated by Hathaway, he says that FTR want to solidify their legacy and win back the Tag Titles.
4. ROH World TV Champion Nick Wayne (intro interrupted by Cage) vs. Jay Lethal
The Patriarchy is ringside. Who knows what can happen!
Lethal goes for a handshake but Wayne kicks his hand away. Taz on commentary for a Patriarchy match. There’s some history between those two, and that’s putting it lightly.
Jay Lethal uses his experience and gets an early advantage. The two spill onto the ramp and Wayne gets back in the ring for a second the reset the count.
Back from commercial, Wayne reverses and takes control over Lethal. Jay tries three pinfalls in quick succession, only getting two on each.
Lethal gets sent into the turnbuckle and the champ takes advantage.
Winner: Nick Wayne retains.
Christian Cage takes Wayne’s title and puts it around his waist. There’s definitely something shady still going on between them.
Excalibur relays that Tony Khan confirms the STEEL CAGE for Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley at Beach Break in Chicago two weeks from today.
5. Kyle Fletcher vs. “Hangman” Adam Page in the Semi-Final of the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament
Don Callis and Lance Archer come out with Fletcher. Taz compliments the lyrics of his entrance music. Jokes can be subtle too, kids.
The crowd goes wild for Hangman as he gets in and touches foreheads with Fletcher. Not sure they were complimenting each other’s breath there.
Don Callis joins the desk. He says Page can’t spell “chess”. Taz goes at him, saying his jokes are stale and that he’s been in the business for 75 years. I mean, give or take a few decades, sure.
Back in the ring, Fletcher gets a textbook headlock on Page. He rides him like a cowboy and that sets off Hanger, understandably so.
Page kicks Fletcher’s face and lines up for the Buckshot Lariat. Fletcher gets out of the ring and by the desk. Page hits a Buckshot over the guardrail near the timekeeper’s desk.
Fletcher starts bleeding on his lower back but he seems to be like Moxley… the sight of blood gives him an adrenaline rush and he unleashes some offense onto his horseless cowboy opponent.
Fletcher has Page in the center of the ring and lands kicks. This only gets the hometown wrestler going. He lands a massive lariat, flipping Fletcher inside out almost. He then connects with a huge Back Body Drop and continues attacking his opponent. Page catches Fletcher in air, hits a Death Valley Driver, but only gets two on the count.
Fletcher gets hit with a Fallaway Slam and Page kips up, landing a lariat off the top rope. On the outside of the ropes, Fletcher hits a Brain Buster on the apron. The two land outside the ring and stay down for a while, preventing Fletcher from capitalizing in the ring.
Fletcher gets dropped with a Tombstone on the outside of the ring. These two are going shot-for-shot.
Hangman hits a Dead Eye but Fletcher counters quickly after. He goes for a cover but is only able to get 2.99999 on the count. Page gets a Dead Eye and follows up with a Moonsault.
Fletcher hits a low blow as he pushes the ref aside. Page kicks out at 2.99999999999, somehow even closer than the one before.
Hangman hits a Lariat off the top corner and then finally hits his Buckshot Lariat.
Winner: “Hangman” Adam Page. He will face Will Ospreay in the Men’s Final of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
