AEW returns to Arena Mexico with Grand Slam: Mexico following the company’s successful debut in the country last year. It’s a massive episode with 8 matches announced, including two title matches: the newly crowned Trios champions, The Demand, face off against “Hangman” Adam Page and Brodido. “Speedball” Mike Bailey, who won the Ladder match at Redemption to become #1 contender for the International Championship, meets the champion, Kyle Fletcher. Plus Ospreay, Moxley, Moné, Willow, etc in action.
Adam Copeland, Christian Cage and Young Bucks vs The Death Riders (Mox, Yuta, Garcia, & PAC)
The action kicked off with the tag team champs teaming with their challengers at ALL IN to take on the Death Riders. PAC and Christian started things off respectively; we also saw some good teamwork from the ALL IN opponents, but then the Death Riders soon found themselves on top with their sneaky tactics. A hot tag to Cope had the whole arena buzzing as this was his first time in Arena Mexico and the first time in the country since 2008.
Moxley got the win for his team with a roll-up on Cope, courtesy of pulling up his tights. Some moments of tension were seen in the aftermath by the losing team. A fun opener which had the crowd hyped up and completed the task of building some spice ahead of the Tag title match at ALL IN.
Winners – Death Riders
A Promo package taking a look at the AEW World Championship match at ALL IN between Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, mainly consisting of clips from last week’s fiery exchange between the duo.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Andrade El Idolo vs Komander – Number One Spot In Casino Gauntlet
Andrade and Komander both showed off their athletic prowess, but the National Champions’ insistence on finding time for his admirers invited Ciampa back into the match to control things. After pissing off the entirety of Canada, he decided it was time for Mexico. An avalanche air raid crash somehow only got a two count, which he couldn’t believe. Andrade sneaked a win in the end with a DM on Komander, who himself had just hit a Cielito Lindo on Ciampa.
Following the match, Andrade spoke to the crowd in both English and Spanish, reiterating his desire to win the World Championship and finishing it off with a trademark “How you know?”. To everyone’s surprise, MJF returned with a sneak attack on Andrade. He took the mic and antagonised the crowd, then blamed Ospreay for costing him the match against Omega at Beach Break before announcing himself for next week’s gauntlet qualifier match for the number 2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet.
Winner – Andrade El Idolo
Promo Package for the AEW Women’s World Championship match between Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Moné, primarily focusing on last week.
Mercedes Moné & Divine Dominion vs Willow Nightingale & Brawling Birds
Bayne and Windsor started things off, with Bayne showing off her strength. Willow and the Birds showed nice teamwork. A three amigos attempt by Moné turned into a six-on-six brawl, with things calming down when Moné and the tag champs regained control with simultaneous suplexes outside the ring. Willow and Moné both tried to execute their finisher but were unsuccessful; Willow then tried a backside for the win. Post-match, it was also confirmed that Brawling Birds will challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championship against Divine Dominion at ALL IN. A nice preview for ALL IN with both sets of champions and challengers showing off their skills.
Winner – Willow Nightingale and Brawling Birds
Kyle Fletcher (c) vs Mike Bailey – AEW International Championship
Both men went toe to toe, exchanging moves until Fletcher caught Bailey diving to the outside and threw him headfirst into the barricades. Somehow Speedball recovered immediately after entering the ring again; a couple of kicks and a running Shooting Star Press had Bailey looking for a victory, but it was not enough. Bailey took Fletcher to the top; however, Fletcher used that to his advantage, hitting an avalanche Michinoku Driver. Fletcher was able to retain his championship with a brain buster on the turnbuckle. Incredible match between the pair; it could’ve honestly gone on for 10 more minutes. Fletcher’s celebration didn’t last long as Okada made his way to the ring for his match.
Winner (and still) – Kyle Fletcher
Don Callis Family (Knight, Okada, & Hechicero) vs. Mistico, Darby Allin, & Chris Jericho
Kevin Knight didn’t wait for the bell, instead jumping over the top rope to take Darby as he was still making his entrance; he then threw him groin-first into the barricade. Okada and Hechicero took care of the other two in the ring. DCF looked like they were losing grip of the match before Okada caught Darby with a dropkick as he was diving to the outside. It was the faces that stood tall at the end, with all three using their finishers in tandem for the victory.
Jericho with the Walls of Jericho, Darby with the coffin drop and Mistico with La Mistica. The latter didn’t feature much until towards the end, likely due to him returning from injury recently. Decent match for what it was.
Winners – Mistico, Darby Allin and Chris Jericho
Kris Statlander vs. Persephone
A small recap was shown prior to the match showing how we got here, with both women costing each other the chance to win the TBS Championship. The action is back and forth at first, before the former Women’s champ gets sent to the outside. Persephone gains control by throwing her opponent to the floor. It was chaos towards the end with Thunder Rosa and Hikaru Shida all getting involved.
It was Shida who proved to be decisive as she hit Statlander with Rosa’s belt, which took her out long enough for Persephone to get the victory. Shida looked to beat Statlander more, but Hyan and Maya World came to her aid. It definitely got a little messy at the end; there’s a better match between the pair in them that’s for sure.
Winner – Persephone
The Demand (c) vs The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Hangman and Brodido) – AEW Trios Championships
Hangman and Brodido get a special entrance with minis and a mariachi band on their way to the ring. We start off with Page and Liona brawling in the ring while the others go at it outside four go at it on the floor. This goes on until Brody comes in to help Page against the Gates of Agony. The Demand took control when Bandido was trying to get his partners to do the Macarena. Hangman and Bandido hit a sick Buckshot Lariat-21 Plex combination to crown new Trios champions. Unlucky for the Demand to not even make a single defence before losing the belts; hope they win it again soon.
Winners (and new): Brody King, Bandido, and “Hangman” Adam Page
Will Ospreay vs Mark Davis – Mexico City Street Fight
Davis clotheslines Ospreay into the ring to start the match. The match didn’t stay inside the ring for too long as both men found themselves outside soon enough. Ospreay charging from the crowd for a dive over the guardrail got the crowd excited. Back in the ring, Davis hit Will with a chair on his back. He goes for it again, but Will dodges it, landing a kick that sends the chair away. Ospreay lands a piledriver that sends Davis onto the apron.
He looks to go back after Ospreay, who counters into a Styles Clash but couldn’t get the three count. Ospreay goes back on the attack with diving elbow strikes before wrapping the barbed wire around Mark’s neck, then hitting the Hidden Blade for the victory. A great main event, Ospreay just continues to be must see TV, props to Davis for being a great dance partner.
Winner – Will Ospreay
Ospreay celebrates the win as commentary hypes up the lineup to come this weekend to go off the air.
