Posted on 4/04/124 by Bob Magee
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz
were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
TNT Champion “The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland came to
the ring to kick off the show!
Copeland: “I came out here to talk to all of you. I didn’t
bring out my TNT Title. There’s been a lot of negative B.S.
that has been spewed this week. Screw that! I want to talk
about positives, and if you’re a fan of pro wrestling, it is
a great time to be a fan of pro wrestling.
“If you’re sitting here, if you’re watching at home, you’re
a fan of pro wrestling. I am a fan of pro wrestling. I grew
up on WWF. I watched NWA. I watched Stampede. I devoured it
all because I love professional wrestling. I know you’ve
heard this before but for nine years I had this torn away
from me, but I worked to get it back because I love it so
damn much.
“When I thought about my career, because I’m closer to the
end than to the start, I knew I needed to end my career in
AEW. I will put our locker room against anybody. I can face
Will Ospreay. I can face Kenny Omega. Hangman, Swerve, Joe,
Moxley, Darby, I can face FTR, the Young Bucks, The House of
Black, and by the way, those are all first time ever
matches. How crazy is that? That happens in AEW.
“I’ve got a lot of friends in the industry. They call me and
say, ‘Hey, it looks like you’re having a blast there.’ It’s
because I am. This is the most fun I’ve had in my 32 year
professional career. So, I celebrate AEW. I celebrate the
men who started AEW. That means the Bucks, that means Kenny,
that means Cody, that means Tony Khan. These guys are all
fans, just like all of you. We love this! AEW has pushed
this industry into a better place! It has gotten more people
to do what they love for a living, and that should be
celebrated. AEW makes pro wrestling better. AEW makes
wrestling more fun. And AEW is where the best wrestle!
“Thank you for hearing me out. I had to get that off my
chest. I asked for this time out here, so thank you. So now
it’s time to move forward. AEW is walking into the future.
There’s a reason Okada, Mercedes, Ospreay, and I came here!
So let me introduce to you a man that symbolizes everything
AEW is going forward. I give to you “The Aerial Assassin”
Will Ospreay!”
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Ospreay charged at Hobbs when the bell rang but Hobbs
blocked Ospreay with a shoulder tackle. Will Ospreay fired
back with a standing moonsault press onto Hobbs. Powerhouse
Hobbs clubbed Will with a lariat.
Ospreay hit Hobbs with a clothesline, knocking Hobbs over
the top rope. Will followed up by jumping over the top rope
with a cross body press onto Hobbs on the arena floor.
Ospreay tried for a springboard off the barricade, but Hobbs
countered by grabbing him and nailing Will with a vertical
suplex onto the steel ring steps!
Hobbs bashed Ospreay repeatedly into the apron with the
World’s Strongest Slam. Hobbs flung Ospreay backwards,
crashing onto the announcers’ desk! Back in the ring,
Ospreay came back with a corkscrew kick, taking down Hobbs
for the first time in the match.
Ospreay connected with a springboard flying forearm to Hobbs
for a near fall. Will chopped at Hobbs’ chest, but Hobbs
shrugged them off. Hobbs launched Will with a belly to belly
suplex. Ospreay rallied back with a Stun dog Millionaire,
but Hobbs cut the renewed momentum short with a powerslam.
Hobbs went for a frog splash, but Will dodged it. Will
nailed Hobbs with an Os Cutter for a two-count! Ospreay
connected with a heel kick, but Hobbs blasted Ospreay with a
lariat!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Hobbs smashed Will with an avalanche powerslam for a near
fall! Ospreay was clutching his midsection. Will hit a DDT
on Hobbs and then crashed onto Hobbs with a Sky Twister!
Ospreay wiped out Hobbs with the Hidden Blade and pinned
Hobbs!
After the match, Callis had to hold Hobbs back from
attacking Ospreay. Callis whispered something into Hobbs’
ear and Hobbs backed off.
“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. “American Dragon”
Bryan Danielson!
Archer ambushed Danielson as Archer entered the ring, before
the bell. Danielson was just trying to survive early on, as
Archer battered Bryan with stiff shots and then whipped
Bryan into the turnbuckles. Archer charged at Danielson in
the corner, but Danielson dodged him and countered with a
dragon screw leg whip.
“Great strategy taking the big man off his feet,” said
Schiavone.
Danielson stomped on the back of Archer’s knees and then
kicked Archer in the hamstrings. Danielson dropkicked Archer
on the inside of the knee, going after the base of Archer.
Danielson attempted a tope to the outside on Archer, but
Archer caught Danielson and choke slammed Danielson onto the
ring apron! Archer grabbed an AEW crew member at ringside
and body slammed him onto Danielson!
Danielson showed the fire, bringing the fight back to Archer
in the ring. Danielson charged at Archer, perhaps looking
for the running knee strike, but Archer countered with a
massive cross body press!
“This is brutality by the MurderHawk Monster,” said Taz.
Archer grabbed Bryan’s wrist and was walking the top rope,
but Danielson shoved Archer, forcing the Lance to lose his
balance. Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock, but Archer
reached the bottom rope with his legs, forcing the ref to
break the hold. Danielson jumped off the apron with a knee
strike to Archer’s head! He got Lance back into the ring,
knowing Lance was rocked. Danielson knocked Archer to the
mat with a missile dropkick from the top turnbuckle.
Danielson lit up Archer’s chest with round kicks. Archer
chokeslammed Danielson out of nowhere for a near fall!
Archer was looking for the Black Out, but Danielson knocked
Archer away with hammer and anvil strikes. Danielson dropped
Archer to his knees with a running knee strike. Danielson
drilled Archer with three roundhouse kicks to the head.
Danielson smashed Archer with the running knee strike and
pinned Archer!
“What a battle right there!” said Taz.
Renee Paquette was on the ramp to interview “Lionheart”
Chris Jericho!
Jericho: “Renee, last week I told Hook I had a proposition
for him where I offered to be his mentor. And even though he
agreed, he said something to me that’s been sticking in my
head all week. That’s why I want to talk to him right now.
Hit the Hook signal!”
FTW Champion Hook came out and was clearly skeptical of
Jericho.
Jericho: “Last week you said you’d love by advise by ‘I know
who you are.’ And I understand that but when you play the
game at the highest of levels like Chris Jericho does, the
rules are different. It’s true. And once you understand that
you’re going to understand what I’m trying to teach you. I’m
not asking you to trust me 100% right now, but I’m asking
you to believe in me as much as I believe in you.”
Hook: “Yeah, Chris, I believe in you. I believe in you so
much that I got us a match on Collision. But Chris, I’ll be
keeping my eye on you.”
Jericho: “I wouldn’t expect anything else. You’re learning
already. Bet!”
Shane Taylor Promotions’ Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty were
backstage!
Lee said one surefire way to jump straight to the top in one
night is to beat the golden child and the first World
Champion in AEW. Taylor said on Collision, all they have to
do is knock out “the Ocho” and Hook!
“On Collision, LionHook gets their ass beat by STP!” said
Taylor.
AEW World Trios Champion Billy Gunn vs. ROH World Six-Man
Champion Jay White!
Billy Gunn decked Jay White as Jay White was making his
entrance! Billy Gunn whipped “Switchblade” Jay White into
the barricade, not wasting anytime. The Acclaimed were
backstage watching the match on a monitor. The Gunns were
also watching backstage on a different monitor.
Billy went after Jay White through the crowd, ramming White
into a trash can. Jay White hid behind one AEW security
guard. Billy found him and bashed him into one of the hockey
boards in the arena. Billy trounced Jay White all around the
ringside area. Jay just could not escape the grasp of Billy.
Jay White escaped a vertical suplex attempt and shoved Billy
into the guardrail. Billy hit Jay White back, dominating Jay
White, nailing White with a lariat. Footage was shown of The
Acclaimed backstage, who had been attacked!
Billy blasted White with the Fame Asser! Billy didn’t go for
the cover, instead opting to inflict more damage on White.
“Jay White came in looking for a match. Billy didn’t want a
match. He wanted retribution,” said Tony Schiavone.
Billy dropped another Fame Asser on Jay White. Billy grabbed
a steel chair from outside the ring. Billy returned to the
ring with the chair, but the Gunns jumped into the ring,
shielding Jay White, pleading with Billy to show some mercy.
Jay White used the opportunity to hit a low blow on Billy!
Ref Aubrey Edwards called for the disqualification, awarding
the match to Billy Gunn!
The Gunns held Billy down while Jay White was going to bash
a chair against Billy’s head, but the Acclaimed’s music hit!
The Acclaimed sprinted to the ring! The Acclaimed cleaned
house on the Gunns! Jay White begged off the Acclaimed and
retreated. Jay White tripped outside. The Acclaimed threw
Jay White back into the ring. The Gunns were waiting, but
the Acclaimed grounded and pounded the Gunns. Billy decked
Jay White with a stiff right hand!
The Acclaimed set up the steel ring steps by the announcers’
table. The Acclaimed were about to suplex Jay White off the
steps and onto the table when the Gunns grabbed White,
pulled him down, and ran off through the crowd!
“This is far from over between these two teams,” said
Excalibur.
We heard from Willow Nightingale, who will challenge TBS
Champion Julia Hart at AEW Dynasty on Sunday, April 21st on
pay-per-view.
Willow came out with Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander.
Renee Paquette asked Willow how it felt to have earned a
championship match in a few weeks.
Willow: “I am feeling motherfluffin’ great! I really love
this city because for years and years I was busting my butt
in this town. Kris and I would wrestle in this town at a
little place called the White Eagle. So many of us have had
great nights there. This is like a home away from home. This
is where I learned who Willow Nightingale is, where I
figured myself out.
“Your cheers reassured me. This applause is what helped
blossom me into the woman standing in front of you today,
this woman who will be challenging Julia Hart for the TBS
Championship at Dynasty. And I know I will be the smiling
face of TNT!”
Stokely: “Last week Willow had a banger and knocked it out
of the park. Week after week she impresses me and impresses
the entire world!”
“The CEO” Mercedes Moné walked onto the ramp!
Moné: “Now Willow, I can’t wait to watch you tear it up with
Julia at Dynasty. Because whoever is going to be the TBS
Champion at Double or Nothing, I get next. Because in Vegas,
Moné means everything!”
AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament Semi Final Match!
The Young Bucks—Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
vs.
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta (with Sue
& Chuck Taylor)!
At AEW Dynasty 2024 the winning team faces the winner of FTR
vs. Top Flight.
Matthew suplexed Trent across the ring with Northern Lights
Suplexes. Trent retaliated with a double knee strike.
Nicholas swept out Trent’s legs, wiping out Trent on the
apron. Orange attempted a tope suicida, but the Bucks
blocked it! The Bucks power bombed Orange on the apron! Then
they power bombed Trent on the apron!
Nicholas ripped the top turnbuckle pad off the corner.
Orange tried for a double hurricanrana, but the Bucks
blocked it. Matthew spiked Orange with a DDT. The Bucks were
looking for the EVP Trigger on Orange, but Orange dodged it
and the Bucks collided. Orange rocked the Bucks with
separate DDTs, fighting through the pain. Orange blasted
Nicholas with a diving DDT for a near fall!
Trent and Orange pulped Matthew with a modified TK Driver
for a near fall. Nicholas was there to break up the pin
attempt. Trent was looking for the crunchy on Nicholas but
Matthew superkicked Trent, the momentum allowing for
Nicholas to plant Trent with the Code Red! Matthew
superkicked Chuck Taylor outside the ring, and then
threatened Sue with a superkick but she spotted him,
stopping him in his tracks!
“He was going to kick Sue! What’s wrong with that man?”
yelled Schiavone.
Sue slapped Matthew and then Orange followed up with the
Orange Punch! Trent rammed Matthew with a knee strike inside
the ring! Orange wiped out Nicholas with a tope suicida!
Trent had Matthew set up for the crunchy and Orange stomped
down, adding impact to the move! Trent had Matthew tied up
for the pin, but Nicholas jumped in to break it up in the
nick of time!
“Wow, what a massive save by Nicholas,” said Taz.
Orange rocked Nicholas with an Orange Punch! Once again
Orange hit a tope to Nicholas outside the ring! Matthew
catapulted Trent into the exposed turnbuckle, grabbed
Trent’s tights, and stole the pin!
“The Young Bucks have made it to the finals at Dynasty!”
said Excalibur.
“What a victory for the Bucks. Like it or not, it was
impressive,” replied Taz.
After the match, the Best Friends were about to give the
people what they wanted with a hug, but Trent betrayed his
partners and smashed into Orange with a running knee strike!
“What the—? What did we just see?” asked Taz.
“Chuck has no idea either,” said Schiavone.
Trent walked out on Orange, Chuck, and Sue!
Thunder Rosa (#1 ranked) vs. Mariah May (#2 ranked) (with
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm and
Luther)!
Toni Storm joined the broadcast booth for this match.
Thunder Rosa chopped Mariah May in the corner. Rosa charged
at May but May dodged her. Mariah May smashed Thunder Rosa
with a hip attack in the corner! Thunder Rosa took down
Mariah with a hurricanrana onto the arena floor. Thunder
Rosa used a diving crossbody on Mariah May against the
barricade.
“I am getting worried here,” said Toni Storm.
Thunder Rosa jumped off the top looking for the foot stomp
but Mariah May rolled out of the way. Thunder Rosa reversed
the May Day for a near fall. Mariah May hit Thunder Rosa
with a knockout shot. Rosa escaped the May Day with a
backstabber. Thunder Rosa flattened Mariah May with the
Tijuana Bomb and scored the pin!
“Thunder Rosa is the number one contender for ‘Timeless’
Toni Storm’s title,” said Excalibur.
Penta El Zero Miedo was backstage with Alex Abrahantes!
Penta El Zero Miedo challenged Adam Copeland to a match for
the TNT Championship next week on Dynamite!
Up next: The AEW World Championship Contract Signing between
Champ Samoa Joe & challenger Swerve Strickland!
It was time to make their AEW World Championship Match for
AEW Dynasty official!
Samoa Joe sat down at a table that was set up in the ring.
Swerve paced on his side of the ring. The World Champion
signed the contract first.
Samoa Joe: “Now Swerve, we’re out here in front of a lot of
people who seem to care about you. I think you’re working on
bad information. I’ve watched your rise in AEW. How else
could this fairy tale end but with a big victory and
everybody celebrating a new champion? See Swerve, that’s the
bad information you’ve been working on.
“I’m about to tell this man the truth. Signing this contract
is a big mistake. Let me put into terms that maybe a rapper
can barely understand. I’m going to beat you so bad, it’s
going to make it seem like maybe you left the party too
late. So now that you have the right information, why don’t
you do the right thing?”
Swerve: “Before I sign this contract Joe, just know I’ve
wanted this moment my entire life. My destination was full
of a lot of obstacles, but when I arrived, that journey was
sweet. It took me all the way to Dynasty. And we’ve built a
Dynasty in AEW with signings like Okada, Mercedes, and Will
Ospreay. Joe, I understand this championship is bigger than
the both of us. I understand the dangers of facing you for
it. You are the definition of a killer. But so am I. April
21st at Dynasty, I show you that I am every bit of that man!
I grab the keys to the Dynasty, and I turn AEW into who’s
house?”
The crowd answered: “Swerve’s house!”
Swerve: “Now run the fade on that, bitch!”
Samoa Joe shoved Swerve from across the table! Swerve
answered with a devastating right hand strike! Swerve
wrapped his steel chain around Joe’s neck! Samoa Joe turned
around and headbutted Swerve! Samoa Joe wrapped the chain
around his fist and walloped Swerve in the head. Samoa Joe
rocked Swerve with more strikes, and Swerve was busted open!
The refs ran out and tried to pull Samoa Joe off Swerve.
Samoa Joe began to walk to the back. Swerve grabbed the
microphone, laughed and said, “I love this. That’s all you
got? Then I’m taking this championship from you.”
Swerve took the pen, dipped in the blood and signed the
contract. Samoa Joe jumped back into the ring, grabbed
Swerve, and smashed Swerve through the table! Samoa Joe held
his championship above Swerve and taunted him!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET featuring:
-Serena Deeb vs. Trish Adora!
- “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. House of Black’s
Malakai Black!
-AEW International Championship Eliminator Match: Roderick
Strong (c.) vs. London Lightning!
-Final Four Elimination Match: Daniel Garcia vs. Action
Andretti vs. Komander vs. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!
Special Start Time This Saturday don’t miss AEW Collision on
TNT at 11:30/10:30c!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from
Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV!