Posted on 6/11/126 by Bob Magee
AEW Dynamite: Summer Blockbuster was LIVE from the Andrew J.
Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on TBS and HBO Max,
and what a night it was! The path to AEW x NJPW Forbidden
Door was paved with more blood, sweat and tears, as we
learned about a massive match signed with AEW World Title
implications!
Mark Briscoe beat PAC and then called out AEW World Champion
MJF, telling him about his clear path to the AEW World
Title. Briscoe informed MJF that Tony Khan agreed to sign a
six-on-six steel cage match at Forbidden Door, where if
Briscoe’s side wins, he gets a shot at MJF’s World Title!
MJF later paid Don Callis a large sum for access to the
Family and added TNT Champion “The Jet” Kevin Knight to his
squad.
The Conglomeration also saw Orange Cassidy battle the Callis
Family’s Andrade El Ídolo. Despite an odd appearance from
Lio Rush, Andrade came away victorious as he continued to
ask Callis about his AEW World Title shot. AEW Continental
Champion Jon Moxley beat Shane Taylor to retain his title,
but it was Taylor and STP who stood tall in the end with an
attack on the short-handed Death Riders!
In the main event, Swerve Strickland used everything at his
disposal, including an exposed turnbuckle and Prince Nana
wielding the ring bell, to beat Brody King and advance to
the Owen Cup Finals against Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door.
On the women’s side, Maya World, who was a late substitution
for the injured Sareee, upset Skye Blue to move to the
semifinals!
All that and so much more went down on a huge night in
Cincinnati for Dynamite: Summer Blockbuster! Here are your
complete results!
Jericho Returns for Tommaso Ciampa!
Tony Schiavone welcomed us to Summer Blockbuster by
introducing Ciampa! Schiavone tried to bring us back to the
events of two weeks ago, but Ciampa cut him off and demanded
Schiavone say, “Tommaso Ciampa is better than Chris
Jericho.” Ciampa made the same happen on Collision when he
threatened to break the back of his beaten opponent, causing
Schiavone to relent. Schiavone refused Ciampa tonight, so
Ciampa threatened to break his back. When Schiavone started
to say it, Jericho’s music hit, and he was back on Dynamite!
Jericho got his usual ovation from the crowd, which caused
Ciampa to throw a minor temper tantrum. Jericho said he
wondered who he had to talk to so he could face someone with
hair. Ciampa tried to kill the bald chants, but it didn’t
work. Jericho tried to start fresh and introduced himself.
Ciampa wasn’t having it and reminded Jericho that he is the
“Psycho Killer,” Tommaso Ciampa, and that he laid Jericho
out the last time they were in the ring together. Jericho
referred to Ciampa as “Tommy.” That set Ciampa off, and he
said even his mom doesn’t call him that. Jericho asked if he
was talking about “Tommy’s Mommy?” And to the surprise of no
one, the Cincinnati crowd immediately turned that into a
chant.
Jericho ran down Ciampa’s reasons for hating him with a few
well-placed jabs along the way, but still wondered why
Ciampa really didn’t like Jericho. Ciampa said this entire
thing was a joke to Jericho, but Jericho changed his tone
and said, “No, it’s not. I don’t think it’s a joke that you
left me lying two weeks ago. I don’t think it’s a joke that
you don’t like me. But I know the reason why. It’s because
you’re not Jericho. You came into AEW and got a lot of
fanfare, and suddenly I returned, and you realized you
weren’t the big fish you thought you were, huh? And that’s
made you a very angry man, but I suggest you change that
attitude now and pull that stick out of your ass…before I
shove it up there even further, Tommy!”
Ciampa gathered himself and took a shot at Jericho, but
Jericho was ready for it, and the fight was on! Security
piled into the ring to separate the two, but both broke free
multiple times to continue the fight on the ramp! Security
and referees finally got the two apart after an explosive
start to Dynamite!
Don Callis and The Jet Run Into Andrade El Ídolo
Renee Paquette caught up with Don Callis and TNT Champion
“The Jet” Kevin Knight as they entered the building.
Paquette tried to ask Knight about his actions last week,
but Callis stopped her and showed her the “right” way to do
it. He asked Knight about beating “Speedball” Mike Bailey
and calling out AEW World Champion MJF last week. Knight
started to answer until Andrade El Ídolo walked up to them.
Andrade told Callis to listen. He wants the AEW World Title
and said Knight was new to the Family and wants one too? He
told Knight, “Tranquilo. Get in the back of the line.”
Andrade asked Callis if he was with Knight or Andrade.
Knight stepped in and told Andrade the real champion is
here, so watch how he and Callis handle business. Callis
said he had to go to the ring, but assured Andrade he’d get
a title shot before leaving to follow Knight.
AEW Continental Championship Match: Jon Moxley (c) of the
Death Riders def. Shane Taylor of Shane Taylor Promotions
Moxley walked into the building just miles away from where
he grew up and got his customary pre-match slaps from Marina
Shafir. While Shafir couldn’t join Moxley at ringside
because of Continental Rules, he certainly didn’t feel alone
entering through his hometown crowd! Taylor, who is from the
rival city of Cleveland, made his way to the ring with the
rest of STP watching from the ramp until the referee sent
them to the back.
Taylor powered Moxley to the corner in their first tie-up,
but let him go as he talked trash to Mox and the crowd.
Moxley controlled Taylor’s arm, so Taylor pushed him into
the corner and choked Mox until the referee broke it up.
Moxley and Taylor went head-to-head and then backed off to
throw strikes. Moxley got a few shots in without return
until Taylor stopped Moxley with some devastating body
shots. Taylor charged at Moxley near the ropes, but Moxley
moved and sent Taylor to the floor. Moxley hopped back in
the ring and dropkicked Taylor to the floor. Moxley dove
through the ropes and knocked Taylor off his feet! Moxley
was fired up, but Taylor immediately fought back with more
body shots and threw Moxley over the barricade into the
timekeeper’s area. Taylor broke the count and returned to
the floor to strike with Mox until Mox gauged Taylor’s eyes!
Taylor fought through it and put Moxley through the
timekeeper’s table with a uranage!
That gave Taylor the opening he needed to punish Moxley all
over the ringside area. He trapped Moxley on the apron with
the ring skirt and dropped a massive leg across Moxley on
the hardest part of the ring! Moxley grabbed his throat,
gasping for air, but Taylor stayed on him with a splash in
the corner. Moxley tried to crawl away, so Taylor splashed
him in the opposite corner. Mox got back to his feet and
slapped Taylor! He flipped Taylor off, so Taylor forearmed
him into the corner. Mox came back with a boot and
alternated chops and forearms on Taylor. Mox switched to big
boots, but Taylor stopped Mox with a strike to the chest.
Moxley shook it off and threw a huge lariat to put Taylor
down!
Mox mounted Taylor for punches in the corner and stopped to
gouge Taylor’s eyes and bite his head! Moxley put Taylor on
the top turnbuckle and raked his back under his singlet.
Taylor headbutted Moxley to the mat, so Taylor came off the
second rope with a splash! Moxley kicked out at two! 10
minutes elapsed!
Moxley was able to grab a choke on Taylor, so Taylor backed
Moxley into the corner to break it up. Moxley ducked under a
right hand, so Taylor clobbered Mox with a left-handed
clothesline! Moxley kicked out again, but that hurt him!
Taylor locked in a grounded Cobra Clutch until Moxley fought
back to his feet and broke the grip. Taylor immediately
dropped Moxley to a knee with a big body shot. Moxley came
back with a desperation shot, so Taylor leveled him with a
huge forearm. Taylor continued to trash-talk Moxley and the
crowd, which brought Mox back to his feet with a shot that
stunned Taylor. Moxley hit a quick flurry and shook off a
forearm from Taylor to hit a cutter! Taylor kicked out at
two, so Moxley tried to lock in an armbreaker. Taylor once
again used his heavy hands to break free and beat Moxley
down to the mat.
Taylor went to grab Moxley, but Moxley picked his ankle and
tried for an ankle lock. Taylor kicked free, so Moxley
bounced off the ropes and stomped Taylor’s head into the
mat! He immediately grabbed the Bulldog Choke and Taylor
tapped out! Moxley retains the AEW Continental Championship
by submission!
After the match, Taylor dropped Moxley with a thunderous
cheap shot! Carlie Bravo came out and gave Taylor a belt. He
started whipping Moxley with the belt, so Daniel Garcia ran
out to make the save, only to be immediately taken out by
The Infantry! Shafir tried to get in the ring, but when she
got on the apron, Trish Adora blasted Shafir in the back of
the knee with a kendo stick! She continued the assault on
Shafir on the outside, while Taylor choked Moxley with the
belt and then splashed him once again from the second rope!
All of Shane Taylor Promotions stood tall, as the Death
Riders were outnumbered!
The Successful Return of Mercedes Moné to AEW!
After six months, last week saw the return of Mercedes Moné
as the Wild Card in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s
Tournament, where she defeated Alex Windsor. Moné said she’s
been watching everything that’s happened in the division
since she’s been gone, and now, Hazuki is next!
Darby Allin Returns to Attack The Jet!
Callis came out on stage to give a big intro to the newest
member of the Don Callis Family, TNT Champion “The Jet”
Kevin Knight! Knight thanked Callis for the introduction in
this “weird ass city of Cincinnati, Ohio.” Knight said
everyone seems upset with him, but they should be upset with
Darby Allin for not getting the job done and letting us all
down. Maybe they are mad at “Speedball” Mike Bailey for
breaking up JetSpeed. Knight knows they aren’t mad at him
linking up with Don Callis and still being the Face of TNT.
Knight said Callis saw him as the “biggest one in the back”
and made Knight his number one asset. They are linking up to
become Jet2Belts and are working on Knight’s time. He said
the signing bonus didn’t hurt either. Knight called out MJF
because he had something to say!
Instead, the music of Darby Allin played, and Knight put all
his focus on the ramp while Callis ran away. Knight never
saw Allin come up behind him, which allowed Allin to blast
Knight between the shoulder blades with his skateboard.
Allin pounded away on Knight and grabbed the mic.
“I hope New York was worth it! I hope New York was worth it,
bitch!”
Allin went up to the top for a Coffin Drop, but
reinforcements from the Don Callis Family ran out to stop
him. Allin escaped before they could get to him, so the
Family regrouped in the ring and helped Knight back to his
feet.
Mark Briscoe of The Conglomeration def. "The Bastard" PAC of
the Death Riders
As we came back from commercial, Mark Briscoe was engaged in
conversation with Tony Khan, who was heard saying something
about a great idea Briscoe had, but we heard no more as
Briscoe’s music hit for this match!
PAC and Briscoe fought to the corner, where PAC surprisingly
gave Briscoe a clean break. They tied up again and reversed
each other multiple times until Briscoe flipped PAC to the
mat with an arm-wringer. PAC seemed surprised by that, but
came back to take Briscoe down multiple times. PAC tried to
set up a backdrop, so Briscoe just shoulder-blocked him in
the head! That took the match up a notch, as chops were
exchanged until PAC hit a pump kick that knocked Briscoe
from the apron to the floor. PAC went for a dive, but
Briscoe dove back in and came through the ropes with a
scissor kick. He slammed PAC on the floor and returned to
the apron for the Bang Bang elbow drop in a painful tribute
to Mick Foley! Briscoe stayed on PAC with heavy shots on the
floor until PAC stopped Briscoe with a stiff kick to the gut
and a brainbuster through a chair!
PAC knew he had Briscoe in trouble and picked him apart
outside of the ring before bringing him back in to continue
the assault. Briscoe turned things around when he fought out
of the corner with some Redneck Kung Fu. Briscoe took PAC
down with a flying elbow and followed with a clothesline in
the corner and an exploder suplex. Briscoe put PAC on the
top turnbuckle and ripped him to the mat with an Iconoclasm!
PAC kicked out at two! Briscoe hit a brainbuster on PAC and
went up top for a Froggy Bow. PAC rolled out of range, so
Briscoe got down and went to PAC, who was waiting to hang
Briscoe over the top rope. PAC got back in the ring and put
a pump kick right on Briscoe’s jaw! Briscoe asked for
another and got it! Briscoe shook that off and hit a flurry
of shots on PAC. PAC stopped him with a shot to the
midsection, only for Briscoe to come back with a high boot.
PAC sidestepped the charging Briscoe and caught him off the
ropes with a rebound German suplex!
PAC charged into a high boot, and Briscoe grabbed him for a
suplex over the top to the floor! Both men crashed on the
apron, but Briscoe was up first and hit a running
Blockbuster from the apron on a woozy PAC! Briscoe threw PAC
in and covered for a near-fall! Briscoe went to the top rope
again for a Froggy Bow, but PAC got his knees up! PAC went
up top, so Briscoe got back to his feet, and PAC jumped over
him. Briscoe charged at PAC, who threw him overhead into the
opposite turnbuckles with a belly-to-belly suplex! PAC went
up top again and tried for a Shooting Star Press, but he got
a taste of his own medicine when Briscoe got his knees up!
Briscoe nailed PAC with a Jay Driller for the pinfall
victory!
Mark Briscoe’s Six vs. MJF’s Six in a Steel Cage at
Forbidden Door!
Briscoe reminded everyone that he challenged MJF for the AEW
World Title, but MJF said no, “because he’s a bitch.” But
Briscoe said he has a direct path to an AEW World Title
shot, so why doesn’t MJF come out so Briscoe can explain
better? MJF’s music hit, but he took the entire commercial
break to show up. Finally, the AEW World Champion showed up
in the crowd with a microphone. He talked to Briscoe from
the crowd and said that while Briscoe keeps challenging him,
he keeps saying no.
“I am the law here in AEW. There is no one more important
than MJF, and my final word to you regarding getting a title
shot is no. No, no, no, no no. Listen to me, they say in
this business, a rising tide lifts all ships, and whether
schmucks like it or not, I am the rising tide of this
company. If you ever came near the Triple B, you’d be
nothing more than an anchor, Mark Briscoe. You people wanna
boo me, when you should respect me for protecting the world
title from him!”
MJF ran down The Conglomeration, saying friends are stupid
and a liability. He has the most important thing in the
world: money. And money talks! Just as MJF said that, The
Lethal Twist attacked Briscoe from behind! Blake Christian
and Lee Johnson held Briscoe for a Lethal Injection, but
Briscoe kicked Jay Lethal and fought his way free of
Christian and Johnson! Briscoe tried for a Jay Driller on
Lethal, but Christian and Johnson lit him up with kicks as
MJF cheered them on! That brought out Roderick Strong, Kyle
O’Reilly, Tomohiro Ishii and eventually, Orange Cassidy.
They laid waste to The Lethal Twist, and Briscoe got the
microphone again to tell MJF about something the AEW World
Champion doesn’t know.
“You think you're the highest power here? Well, Max, you’re
not the boss. You’re just an asshole. And you’re gonna need
to find some friends, pay some people or whatever it may be,
because I talked to THE BOSS, Tony Khan. We need a main
event for Forbidden Door. He said, ‘Mark, you find five
people. Max, he gotta find five people. We gonna do six-on-
six. Mark, if your team wins, you get a guaranteed title
shot!’ But that’s not it. That’s not all. You don’t have to
agree with it. Tony Khan is the boss, but like the sicko
that he truly is, we’re gonna do all that in a steel cage!”
Andrade El Ídolo’s music hit for his match, but he stopped
for a face-off with AEW World Champion MJF on his way to the
ring.
IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Andrade El Ídolo of the Don
Callis Family def. AEW World Trios Champion Orange Cassidy
of The Conglomeration
The Conglomeration exited, and Callis joined commentary for
this first-time one-on-one matchup!
Andrade didn’t let Cassidy get into his pockets and
immediately grabbed him in a waist lock. The two exchanged
reversals until Andrade posed on the ropes. Cassidy went for
the pockets again, so Andrade grabbed his hands. Cassidy
zipped Andrade’s pockets and messed with his hands, so
Andrade backed away into the corner and removed his pants!
That earned some cheers from Andrade’s local admirers.
Andrade dared Cassidy to put his hands in his pockets, but
Cassidy faked him out and had tearaway jeans to reveal…
another pair of jeans! Cincinnati was stunned by the
unbelievable turn of events! Cassidy put his hands in the
backup jeans! Summer Blockbuster is living up to its name!
Andrade had enough of the antics and put Cassidy on the top
turnbuckle while his hands were still in his jeans. Cassidy
kicked Andrade away and hit a diving hurricanrana! Cassidy
hit another from off the ropes and then sent Andrade to the
floor with a dropkick. Cassidy prepped for a dive, but
Andrade saw it and got back in the ring. He caught Cassidy’s
dropkick and called for a figure four, but Cassidy kicked
him into the corner. Cassidy caught Andrade with a back
elbow and hopped on the second turnbuckle, so Andrade shoved
him hard over the top rope and to the floor!
With Cassidy hurting, Andrade kept him on the outside for
further damage, with Callis even getting a cheap shot by
gouging Cassidy’s eyes. Back in the ring, Cassidy finally
fought back by bouncing Andrade off the turnbuckle and
following with a diving elbow from the top. Cassidy tried
for a spinning DDT, but Andrade turned it into Three Amigos.
On the third attempt, Cassidy countered into a Stundog
Millionaire! Andrade went to the outside, so Cassidy tried
to dive after him only for Andrade to catch him! Andrade
turned that into a suplex on the floor! He took plenty of
time to get a picture with an admirer, so Cassidy was able
to recover and dive onto Andrade!
Cassidy looked towards the barricade where Andrade’s admirer
was, but Lio Rush appeared and took the camera for selfies.
Cassidy slowly moved towards Rush and cautiously took a
selfie with him. Andrade came out of nowhere to nail
Cassidy, but then Rush wanted a selfie with him. After
wondering how Rush knew what was going on, they eventually
took a picture. Cassidy came from behind and spiked Andrade
with a DDT! Cassidy threw Andrade back in and went to the
top, so Andrade ran into the top rope, and Cassidy came down
hard. Andrade crushed Cassidy with a Meteora in the corner
and went for the pin, but Cassidy kicked out!
Andrade went for The DM, but Cassidy reversed it into a
near-fall! Andrade hit a back elbow, but charged into a
desperation right hand from Cassidy, and both men were down!
They fought from their knees, although Cassidy threw his
lazy strikes with no impact while Andrade hit a pair of big
strikes. However, Cassidy was just luring Andrade in, as he
connected with a thrust kick out of nowhere! Cassidy jumped
on the ropes for a springboard, but Andrade jumped right
behind him, and they jockeyed for position on the ropes
until Cassidy pushed Andrade onto the ramp. Cassidy slowly
climbed over the ropes to be on the outer side and hit a
diving DDT to Andrade on the ramp!
Cassidy went to the top rope and connected with another
diving DDT! Andrade kicked out at two! Cassidy called for
the Orange Punch, but Andrade countered it with a
devastating discus back elbow! He picked up Cassidy and hit
The DM for the three-count and hard-fought victory!
After the match, Andrade said he had one question for Ohio.
Before he could say anything, they began to chant…
Andrade simply said, “How you know?”
Will Ospreay and Alex Windsor Face a Wave of Emotions After
Last Week’s Dynamite
Last week after Ospreay beat AEW National Champion Mark
Davis to reach the Owen Cup Finals, cameras caught up with
him to get his reaction. He said nothing is stopping him
from going to Wembley Stadium. Nothing is stopping him from
going to the main event of All In and becoming the AEW World
Champion.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I do owe something to
the Death Riders.”
As he said that, his wife, Alex Windsor, showed up and
almost collapsed into his arms as she cried into his chest.
While Ospreay won his match, Windsor lost her Owen Cup match
to Mercedes Moné. Ospreay pushed the camera away to shield
Windsor.
Thekla and Her Toxic History With STARDOM
AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla has a major problem with
STARDOM, so it was time to take a look at her history with
the fantastic Japanese promotion and how she was fired. Now,
Thekla wants to kill STARDOM.
The Death Riders Want a Street Fight with Shane Taylor
Promotions on Collision!
As he struggled to get the words out because of immense
pain, Moxley said, “Shane, you could have walked away with
your pride.” He wasn’t able to say anything else, so Shafir
continued, “Trish, you’re gonna need that kendo stick, a
hammer, a crowbar and it’s still not gonna be enough because
I’m gonna rip you and your boys in half!” Daniel Garcia
challenged Shane Taylor Promotions to a five-on-five street
fight in Cincinnati at Summer Blockbuster Collision! Garcia
said he hopes Taylor chooses his friends wisely, as they are
leading him straight to hell.
Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament Quarterfinal Match:
Maya World def. Triangle of Madness' Skye Blue
This match was originally scheduled to be Blue vs. Sareee
making her AEW debut, but AEW doctors did not clear Sareee
to compete ahead of tonight’s Dynamite. Before the match, we
heard comments from Triangle of Madness, who addressed the
tournament change due to Sareee’s injury. Blue said World
needs to prepare for this violent little devil. As World
made her entrance, Renee Paquette reported from ringside
about the heartbreaking and tragic week World had following
the unexpected loss of her younger brother. While World was
happy to have the opportunity tonight, obviously, everyone
is thinking of her and her family.
Blue and World didn’t take long before they started laying
into each other with some pointed elbows. World created some
separation with a spinning heel kick to knock Blue to the
mat. World used a fling kick on Blue near the apron, but
when she tried to come off the turnbuckles, Blue was ready
and put World down with a clothesline. Blue pounced on World
with strikes and worked her into the corner with repeated
kicks to the face. Blue hit a suplex out of the corner and
covered World, but only for a count of one. Blue toyed with
World, which allowed World to elbow her way free. Blue
charged at World in the corner, so World rose and stomped
Blue to the mat. Blue rolled to the ramp, and World went
after her, but Blue cut that off with a knee lift in the
ropes. Blue spiked World into the ramp with a hanging
neckbreaker!
A confident Blue knew she had World in a heap of trouble, so
while she continued the offense with intensity, she also
took her time to make everything count. World hit a flurry
of kicks and reversed Blue’s momentum off the ropes into a
leglock takedown and a double stomp! Blue escaped World’s
grasp with a back elbow and then a stiff knee. World turned
things around and put Blue down hard with a Bridging German
suplex for a near-fall! World tried to climb the
turnbuckles, so Blue followed with a shot to the back and a
thrust kick to the face! She brought World out of the corner
with a high-angle Liger Bomb, but somehow World kicked out!
World blocked a knee and grabbed Blue for a bridging
fallaway slam pin, but Blue kicked out to stay alive! World
hit a Shining Wizard and covered, but Blue managed to kick
out again. World looked frustrated, so she tried to pick up
Blue, which turned into a big exchange of strikes. A thrust
kick from Blue seemed to put her in the lead, but World came
back with an enzuigiri and a release German suplex, only for
Blue to land on her feet. Blue laid World out with a running
knee and collapsed to the mat.
Blue got up first and tried for Code Blue, but World
reversed it into a pin attempt for a one-count. She did it
again for another one-count, so Blue came back with a pair
of thrust kicks and a fireman’s carry cutter! World kicked
out at two! Blue tried another Code Blue, so World dropped
down and rolled up Blue with a jackknife pin to get the
three-count! MAYA WORLD ADVANCES TO THE SEMIFINALS! World
will face ROH Women’s World Champion Athena!
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kenny Omega Set for Forbidden Door!
Last year, ZSJ beat the legendary Nigel McGuinness at
Forbidden Door, so now he wants more. He wants to face a man
he hasn’t fought in over eight years. A man he’s never faced
in the United States of America. A man who is one of the
greatest wrestlers of an entire generation.
“So what’s the frequency, Kenneth? Zack Sabre Jr. is the
best technical wrestler in the entire world, but Kenny
Omega, are you still the best, d***head?”
Omega will be in action this Saturday at Collision Summer
Blockbuster against Bad Dude Tito!
Kevin Knight Joins Team MJF for Forbidden Door
With the Don Callis Family together in the back, AEW World
Champion MJF tried to talk to Callis, but Kyle Fletcher
immediately got in MJF’s face. Callis calmed him down, and
MJF told Fletcher he was great. MJF said he had to talk to
Callis. He explained the 6-on-6 steel cage match at
Forbidden Door against Mark Briscoe’s team, so he was going
to need five of Callis’ guys. Callis started to protest
until MJF produced a briefcase full of what Callis
immediately said was “a lot of money.” Callis said it
sounded like a great deal and that the Family would have a
great party with all this money. MJF said he was just going
to pick five of them and thought he’d need a week to mull it
over.
Andrade started to move towards MJF, but Kevin Knight
stepped in between them. He said he knows MJF has been
ducking him, so he’ll play his little game at Forbidden Door
if he gets a shot at the AEW World Title after the cage
match. MJF admitted Knight was one of his top picks, and if
Knight wanted to lose again, he’s got his shot at the AEW
World Title. But if Knight loses, there won’t be another
rematch. Knight and MJF shook on it. Callis said Knight just
needed to take care of Darby Allin and then instructed
everyone to spend the money. Andrade grabbed Callis by the
shoulder and asked about his AEW World Title shot. Callis
said there are many talented members, but Andrade will have
his shot. He has Callis’ word. Callis walked away, as
Andrade shook his head in annoyance.
Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Semifinal Match:
Swerve Strickland def. Brody King
Our main event was a rematch from AEW Revolution, where
Swerve beat King, though King came in with even more
motivation after Swerve attacked and beat Bandido, knocking
him out of the Owen Cup.
King splashed Swerve in the corner almost out of the gate
and tried the same in the opposite corner, but Swerve evaded
him on the ramp. King grabbed Swerve in a choke over the
ropes and brought him onto the ramp. Swerve ran King into
the ropes to break the hold. When Swerve charged at King, he
threw Swerve into the ring post and to the floor. King
followed with a cannonball off the ramp onto Swerve! He
threw Swerve into the barricade and continued to chop away
while Swerve was struggling to stand. King sat Swerve in a
chair and backed up for a running crossbody, so Prince Nana
got in his way to stop him. King tried to continue, but
Swerve hit a drop toehold onto the chair! Swerve put King in
the chair and got on the apron to hit a running Swerve Stomp
to King on the floor!
Swerve had King in major trouble, and he knew it. He started
to kick King’s head at the steel steps with vicious
precision. As Swerve continued to work over King in the
corner, he started getting a little cocky, which allowed
King to fight his way back with chops. He hit a running
senton on Swerve and put him on the top turnbuckles. Nana
tried to hold Swerve’s leg to save him, but King scared him
away. That gave Swerve enough time to break free of King and
drop to the apron for a powerbomb attempt. King held onto
the turnbuckle and ripped off the pad. Swerve adjusted and
pulled King’s arms through his legs to trap King’s head
under the exposed buckle. Swerve hit a short-range pump kick
to the prone King. Swerve went back up top to bring King
down with a side suplex, and both men crashed hard.
Swerve tried for a House Call, but King ducked it and
elbowed Swerve into the corner. King ran into a pair of
boots from Swerve, which allowed Swerve to jump up for an
impressive stomp to the chest of King! What height by
Swerve! King somehow kicked out! King rolled out in front of
the commentary desk, so Swerve followed with a handspring
over the ropes to the floor. King immediately grabbed Swerve
and slammed him on the commentary desk with a choke bomb! As
both men struggled to their feet, we saw AEW World Champion
MJF watching on a monitor in the back.
By the time King rolled Swerve in, he was only able to get a
two-count. Swerve tried to trade strikes with King, but got
chopped hard three times and kept trying to fight back.
Swerve got into a quick kick flurry, but King pulled him
back into a huge back suplex. Swerve came back with a House
Call! King hit a desperation lariat! Swerve kicked out at
two! King grabbed Swerve in a choke, so Swerve ran him into
the corner to get out of it. King charged at Swerve, so
Swerve moved and sent him head-first into the exposed
turnbuckle! King was busted wide open across his forehead!
Swerve called for a House Call and connected! King didn’t go
down! Swerve went to the top and hit another House Call! 1-
2-KING KICKED OUT! Swerve tried for a Vertebreaker, but King
countered out of it. King grabbed Swerve on his shoulders
and hit a diving Death Valley Driver into the exposed
turnbuckle!
King fired up the crowd, but Nana got on the apron to
distract him, so King grabbed him in a choke! He let go and
charged back towards Swerve in the corner, and a cannonball
connected! King nailed a piledriver, but Swerve kicked out!
King tried a Gonzo Bomb, but Swerve slipped out of it and
pushed King towards the ropes. Referee Aubrey Edwards had to
move out of the way, so she didn’t see Nana hit King with
the ring bell! Swerve dropped King with a Vertebreaker to
get the three-count and victory! Swerve is going to the Owen
Cup Finals!
Catch AEW Collision: Summer Blockbuster this Saturday at 8
p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TNT and HBO Max from right back here at
the Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio!
And remember… We are AEW—Where The Best Wrestle!