Posted on 3/02/123 by Colin Vassallo
Orange Cassidy vs Big Bill, All-Atlantic Title
Backstory: Bill & co. attacked the Best Friends Friday,
Cassidy was serious for once in wanting to know who did it.
Strangely, the champ was out first. Large William was with
Stokely as Excalibur told us he was ‘a force of nature’.
Cassidy played mind games from the jump, getting the big guy
to follow him in and out of the ring, even rolling in on one
side, all the way across and out at the other.
And continued to avoid the big man until attempting a
swinging ddt and being dropped then crushed in the corner.
A Big Bill boot knocked him off the apron to the outside as
the crowd entertained themselves with a ‘s-a-w-f-t’ chant.
Bill and Hathaway then moved the ringside table to the
bottom of the ramp, chokeslam at the ready, Cassidy fought
it off at first but was then planted through the wood.
Which for some reason isn’t a dq.
Rolled back in as we returned, Substantial Bill dropped
Cassidy via delayed suplex then snatched him into a full
nelson as Cassidy went for the Punch.
Boy, this is boring. Fortunately, Cassidy’s so over the
crowd were still into it.
He twice ‘collapsed’ to avoid a Big Bill boot as Danhausen
attempted to Curse Hathaway, who knocked Danhausen out with
his cast. Cassidy was then caught in a chokeslam, slipped
out and hit an Orange Punch to the knee, Bill down on the
outside.
Orange then caught him with a tornado ddt, Orange Punch,
another, then one off the top to bag a win too long in
coming.
They need to make their minds up with Big Bill. He’s been
presented in tags as beatable and nothing special but here
it took an army unit to defeat him.
WINNER: Orange Cassidy
Footage of Mox after last week’s match with Uno. Covered in
blood, he yelled that it tasted like victory, like life. He
does this because he likes it. It’s not something anyone
should aspire to.
‘I’m not the kinda guy you wana go down a dark alley with
when there’s only one of us comin’ out.’
He then warned Hangman that ‘you wanted this… I tried to
leave it alone…’, ranting that when he took out Page it was
seen as an accident; when Page did the same to him it drew
praise. Pouring blood, he promised that this time he would
leave no doubt.
Page is a great wrestler, even a great man ‘but you are not
the same animal as me!’ And there is only room for one of
those animals in AEW and ‘I will die to protect what’s
mine’.
Delivery and intensity off the charts.
…..
The Elite made their entrance, or were about to when the
lights went out just as the song was kicking in. The House
appeared behind them, audibly beating them up, which was
revealed as the lights came back up: the Elite were lying on
the floor and the HOB clutched the trios belts.
Meh.
Actually thought a promo was very much needed here.
Especially since the Elite only get to talk in goofy
backstage segments.
Face of the Revolution Ladder Match, winner gets title shot
Participants: Konosuke Takeshita, Ortiz, Action Andretti,
Sammy Guevara, Will Hobbs, Eddie Kingston, AR Fox, Komander
Nice mix of guys in this: flyers, brawlers, wrestlers,
behemoths.
Though you should probably change the name when your
roster’s become so bloated you can no longer fit it on the
eponymous ppv.
A dapper Joe came out to the usual chants from the crowd.
By the time the break ended, we caught the end of Sammy’s
entrance with the others already in the ring.
Entrances are important, a chance for the announcers to tell
you about who’s competing. AEW needs to plan accordingly.
If you’re a casual fan who likes the chaos of ladder
matches, you might not have a clue who half these guys are.
And even if you aren’t, who the hell is Komander?
Immediately, they all split all over the place. Ortiz and
Kingston brawled outside, no-one seemed to care,
understandably given the story.
Komander walked the ropes to hit a dropkick through the
ladder on Andretti but was taken out by Will Hobbs who was
massively over with his home-town faithful. He set to
tossing guys into the pair of ladders stacked in the corner.
Making Guevara think better of getting in there with him.
Takeshita had no such reservations as the two blasted into
one another with lariats, both wobbling, neither dropping,
until Takeshita avoided a splash and dropped Powerhouse with
a deadlift German. Don Callis was shown watching backstage
(this is an angle they’ve been doing on Dark and etc. for
months).
Guevara took advantage with a cheap-shot knee strike but was
immediately taken out by Andretti, then Fox took to the air
to wipe out both guys. Leaving Komander to run the ropes
from buckle to buckle before launching into a senton, wiping
out everyone as the ads arrived.
Very much a ‘spot-fest’ and guys being wiped out one after
the other thus far. Fun though.
Takeshita took out Komander, Hobbs took him out, Fox hit
Hobbs with a chair. Powerhouse wasn’t amused, dropping Fox
via DVD onto a ladder bridge. Then clashed once more with
Takeshita, the clotheslines continuing as they
simultaneously left each other laying.
With Guevara about to grab the brass ring, Andretti flew up
to cut him off, they set up a falcon arrow from the top
rung. Sammy was meant to land on another ladder bridge but
only grazed it with his head and neck, plummeting all the
way to the mat.
Komander again wobbled about on the top rope, launching a
shooting star onto Hobbs, still on the ladder bridge
outside.
Now all alone, Komander made it atop the ladder but was
caught by Takeshita into a wild blue thunder bomb from the
top! A little too crazy for me, all I can think about with
spots like that is whether someone got injured.
Not this crowd though, they went wild. As Takeshita made
the climb, he was met up top by Andretti when Daniel Garcia
came out to shove the ladder over and Rock Bottom the
youngster. The crowd died. Not surprised. These everyone
can interfere in everything rules AEW have for every
stipulation match SUCK.
Thankfully, Guevara was back on his feet after that nasty
landing. He and Garcia placed Andretti on a ladder propped
across two chairs as Excalibur informed us that Ortiz and
Kingston had brawled to the back. Sammy then launched a
senton from the top of a ladder at ringside.
Garcia then almost literally carried him up the ladder
toward the brass ring. Until Takeshita shoved them off,
nailed Guevara with a knee strike but took another nasty
landing as Hobbs charged the ladder like a bull, nearly
breaking the damn thing.
He bagged the brass ring and the TNT title picture is back
exactly where it was four months ago. He’ll face the champ
next Wednesday.
Wardlow came out and a bunch of security separated he and
Joe. Hobbs sat and watched with a big smile on his face.
Hope those security extras are well paid.
Fun but very dangerous match, stupid booking.
WINNER: Will Hobbs
Renee with the Best Friends et al. Chuck and Trent haven’t
been cleared for tonight’s battle royale. Danhausen and
Cassidy will take their place, despite Cassidy getting his
arm worked on.
Does that mean no FTR?
Chris Jericho vs Peter Avalon
Backstory: Avalon was laid-out by Jericho while trying to
accept Ricky Starks’ open challenge
Hopefully Jericho doesn’t give Avalon as much as Cody did a
couple years ago. Avalon did not get a televised entrance.
That, I’m okay with.
He flew at Jericho, hurling chops and punches then launching
a tope as the Ocho bailed to ringside. Continuing in the
ascendancy, he bagged two with a pump kick, continuing to
beat on the vet in the corner before bagging another two
with a springboard cross body.
Then another via tornado ddt.
Popping up right into a Code Breaker. Oh well.
Floyd came out, Avalon taking a beating until Ricky Starks
chased Jericho off.
Garcia and Hager helped Jericho beat down Starks.
Apparently, Starks has a pre-existing rib injury.
WINNER: Chris Jericho
Hangman’s turn to talk. Alone. In some sort of warehouse.
‘This Sunday… is the finish line.’ Alex Reynolds had asked
him earlier if he was afraid of losing. But this is all
Page has left to lose. He lost his title, lost his shot to
get it back when Mox concussed him, Mox already beat Uno to
within an inch of his life, nor can he take Page’s memory –
‘It’s gone’, or the feeling in his fingertips, that’s gone
too. And Mox can’t take away his heart ‘because you
couldn’t carry it’.
But on Sunday he takes everything from Mox. ‘Your spot at
the top of the food chain… your pride’. And he doesn’t
claim to be the same as Mox, he doesn’t enjoy violence, he
hates it (spitting to show his disdain).
But at Revolution he’ll be the most bloodthirsty SOB Mox has
ever seen because he knows that’s who he needs to be to
defeat Moxley. And beating Mox is his last glimmer of hope.
There are only two ways out of ‘Texas Death, either you
live… or you die… and I ain’t done yet’. (He should’ve left
it there, it was such a perfect line with perfect
intensity.)
Before promising that Moxley would never be the same after
Sunday.
This was fantastic.
…..
Renee in the ring to talk to Christian. Who said he’d heard
Jungle Boy promise to win a singles championship and it’d
happen ‘over my dead body’. Vowing to win one himself this
year. ‘That’s a fact’.
He then goaded Perry for only winning his matches on flukes:
roll-ups, quick pins.
Before heeling on ‘this generation’ who turn everything into
a video game. And challenging him ‘for a fight’ at
Revolution. ‘No rules, no regulations’. Before turning
into Cheap Heat Cage as usual, talking crap about Perry’s
dead dad.
Cut to footage of Perry on the big-screen, digging a grave
interspersed with footage of their feud. Finally revealing
a tombstone with Christian’s name on it (That was clever
given Cage’s ‘dead body’ promise). A shook Cage left.
Perry couldn’t even hit him with a chair last week after
everything he’s done but now he’s going to bury him.
…..
Schiavone with Britt and Jamie. Britt vowed that Saraya
would never win the belt, Hayter warned that the two would
be watching Riho and Storm tonight in case she tried to
interfere. Smart girls.
Hook vs Matt Hardy, FTW Title, If Hardy loses Hook gets a
match vs Stokely
Backstory: Hardy is contracted to Hathaway against his will,
they keep putting him in bad spots including having to face
Hook, so he pretended to be so confident of victory here as
to promise Hook a match vs Stokely if he can’t beat him
After starting stupidly, this is a fun mini-story with the
good guys fighting back against the evil empire who own
their contracts.
Hardy came out with Ethan Page, Isiah Kassidy and Stokely.
Hook quickly took him down; Hardy quickly got the ropes.
Then fired shots to the face but was knee-bar’d while
pausing to ‘delete’. The youngster pursued him outside,
flinging him around ringside until Page nailed him with a
cheap shot with the ref distracted.
Back in the ring, Hardy hit a neckbreaker but Hook drop-
stepped behind into a T-Bone, then threw shots in the corner
but was caught running in and hit with snake eyes. Though
landed on his feet as Hardy tried to slingshot him up out of
the corner, a lariat followed but a northern lights was
shaken off by Hardy, into a side effect for two.
Crowd very quiet, almost silent.
Page then struck Hook with Hathaway’s cast. The youngster
kicked out. Then locked in the Redrum as Hardy set-up the
Twist of Fate. Hardy tapped immediately, forcing Stokely to
face the youngster.
Hathaway rocked in the fetal position at the prospect.
WINNER: Hook
House of Black video promo, clutching the Elite’s titles.
Man’s greatest enemy is fear, on Sunday ‘you have already
lost’. They left the belts on the floor.
Whatever.
Toni Storm vs Riho
Backstory: None
Storm continued her recent trend of attacking before the
bell, well on top as she bagged an early count with an
arrogant cover.
Riho fought back, flinging shots but trapped in a headlock
then dropped via shoulder tackle. She quickly bridged up to
hit a running dropkick. A running knee in the corner and
snap suplex bagged two as Saraya began the de jour
distraction.
Riho cartwheeled to avoid a lariat then hit a stomp after
rolling through via wheelbarrow. Two slaps of the mat.
Transitioning right into a cross face. Storm got the ropes.
Then took advantage of more Saraya interference to knock
Riho off the apron via hip attack as Saraya scored with a
knee strike during the 99th ref distraction of the hour.
This, as promised, brought the champ and Britt to ringside
as the ads arrived.
A headscissors left Storm in the ropes for a 619 but Storm
caught the attempted kick. Riho returned the favor,
avoiding a charging Storm then taking flight from the top to
the outside via cross body.
Back to the top, a diving stomp and northern lights bagged
two. Before Storm cut her off atop the buckle, seeking a
Storm Zero from the top, blocking a sunset bomb, hitting a
hair-mare then a shotgun dropkick, leaving Riho slumped in
the corner.
The hip attack landed, Riho kicked out at nearly three.
Storm began mocking Baker, synching in a clover leaf until
Britt hopped on the apron, distracting Storm long enough to
be rolled up for three.
The crowd very pleased at Riho’s win. Good match for the
time they had.
Storm went right after Baker but was easily beaten down
while the English girls threw fists in the ring until Soho
came down to slug both women equally.
The announcers then promised a video package of this feud
before stalling and hesitatingly going to a package on Keith
Lee’s return instead.
WINNER: Riho
Or even a Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes promo. Lee talked in
riddles, Rhodes said they were ‘Naturally Limitless, and
you’re (ie Swerve and his goons) gonna remember our name’.
Nothing special, particularly by Dustin’s high standards.
Tag Team Casino Battle Royale
There were rumors Tony Khan was having Jarrett and Lethal
cloned so they could win tonight too and occupy two spots in
Sunday’s tag. Until a desperate WWE’s complaints to the FCC
about ‘unfair competition’ put a stop to it.
Also, seems Max and Danielson are our main event for the
evening.
The Dark Order boys were attacked mid-entrance by the
increasingly heel-ish BCC as the break came before the match
started.
Rush and Vance were next. The crowd remained pretty quiet,
which is a problem with these matches: they know nothing’s
happening till all teams are out.
Lucha Bros time as the fans finally woke, the bro’s colors
reversed as a blue-clad Fenix took out two off the top while
his brother – in red – began slingblade-ing everyone in
sight. Uno, dos, tres thrust kicks followed before Fenix
nearly eliminated the ROH champ.
They pushed the company’s re-start tomorrow.
‘Cero Miedo’ chants as the next count began, Aussie Open out
to almost ‘cero’ reaction. They dropped Fenix as Silver and
Claudio continued to fight. He and Reynolds ran through
their rapid combo-offense on Yuta. Castagnoli saved his
teammate from elimination.
Moxley’s friends then eliminated Hangman’s as another break
came.
Top Flight out next, levelling the BCC with rapid double-
teaming, nearly removing Claudio then dispatching Daddy
Magic (who’d presumably come out during the break). Mike
Bennett and Matt Taven followed, immediately going after
Dante but being fought off by his brother until an enziguri
levelled him too.
Aussie Open then took out the Kingdom with dragon suplexes
as Tony Nese, Josh Woods and Ari Daivari simply entered the
ring through the crowd, dragged out the Lucha Bros and beat
them around ringside (What was I saying about the rules in
stip. matches?) as easily the most popular team in both
battle royals were taken out by a team who shouldn’t make it
onto Rampage. But please, give us more of Jarrett, Lethal
and the Gunns.
Rush then easily eliminated Penta as a furious crowd booed
heavily. Fenix wasn’t even given the grace of his
elimination being caught on camera.
Dante got rid of Vance, Darius the same to Rush; Top Flight,
Aussie Open, the BCC and the Kingdom left. The crowd very
quiet once again.
Dante was eliminated by Aussie Open while attempting a dive,
they then removed his brother as Danhausen and Orange
Cassidy made their entrance. Teams just seem to be coming
and going as they please.
Case in point, Angelo Parker emerged from under the apron to
attack Danhausen. Cassidy quickly took care of him though.
Butcher and Blade were next, the most dangerous team in AEW
history during battle royales per Excalibur.
The Kingdom and Aussie Open were eliminated. The camera
missed most of how. Apparently these (BCC, B&B, Cassidy &
Danhausen) are the last three teams so no Joker. Though the
comedy did continue as Silver and Reynolds returned to
distract Yuta long enough for him to be eliminated. Claudio
quickly followed.
They kept pretending Butcher and Blade had a chance of
eliminating the faces, but we all know who won, Danhausen
sneaking up to shove the heels over the top.
I doubted even FTR could save this tag match Sunday. These
two have no chance.
Of course, despite the myriad talent who can’t get tv time,
AEW can’t have a show without Jarrett and Lethal, who
attacked the winners after the bell. Might as well give
them the belts now.
The Acclaimed’s video played long before their music in yet
another production snafu. They ran off the heels.
WINNER: Danhausen & Orange Cassidy
Video package hyping Danielson/MJF for Sunday. Don’t know
how the same company that just vomited up the previous
segment can also produce something this good.
…..
Renee was in the ring to welcome Danielson, whose entrance
was only just caught on camera after the ads, not even
bothering to show the crowd reaction to your #1 contender
just days before a ppv.
Renee referenced a tweet of Max’s from when he dropped out
of college, about pursuing his dream. Did this change the
vet’s perspective on Max? Before Danielson could get going
about ‘fighting for your dreams’, MJF’s music interrupted.
Danielson though, immediately cut him off.
Max might want everything Danielson has but has done nothing
to earn them. ‘If there’s one thing you deserve, it’s your
fiancé leaving you!’ Max removed his jacket.
Danielson yelled that he was ready to fight ‘anytime!’ As
MJF thought better of it.
He’s been fighting his entire life, for everything. He left
a very good job to come to AEW because ‘I wanted to fight’.
His new dream: he wants to become AEW champion. Max better
be ready to fight ‘with everything you have for sixty full
minutes, and if you don’t… you are going to (presumably
there was swearing here because it got muted)’.
This was an excellent promo by Danielson and a needed
response to last week. It was also nice that for once MJF
just got shouted down and overawed by the babyface.
…..
Next Rampage:
Naturally Limitless vs Swerve Strickland & Parker Boudreaux
Added to Revolution:
Jack Perry vs Christian Cage
…..
Overall impressions
There were rumors this week of Vince McMahon’s possible
return to the WWE creative team. Given all the
interference, distractions and general stupidity tonight,
can we be sure he isn’t in AEW?
Because for a company built on ‘wrestling’, it was strangely
lacking on a night when promo’s saved the show.
Check Out
Mox, Hangman and Danielson all cut excellent promos
The ladder match was crazy and full of big moves and dives
if that’s your jam