AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday

AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Taz & Bryan Danielson before throwing it to Tony Schiavone in the ring to introduce Champion & Challenger for the AEW Men’s World Title match at WrestleDream.

Hangman Adam Page & Samoa Joe Face-To-Face

Powerhouse Hobbs & the returning Katsuyori Shibata accompanied Joe to the stage before he went to the ring along. Page took the mic first, saying there’s been 6 years of AEW Dynamite and he’s won, lost, committed arson, dressed as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and once even proposed to. Last week, he agreed to team with The Opps, but after he won the match for his team, Joe lost it and sucker punched him in the face. Page is confused, but when Joe yelled that Page has never beaten him, that’s what it became about, the AEW World Title. Joe saw Page with the title and wanted it. Joe has been angry with himself, distracted on what’s important, but Page didn’t ask for Joe to have this opportunity due to kicking and screaming, but because Page owes Joe. At All In, The Opps were some that made sure the fight between Page & Moxley was a fair one, which is something Page respects. Page understood without help like that, he’d never been able to win the title, no one could, but the respect stops there, as he will not let Joe take the title from him.

Joe said everything Page said was absolutely true, but allow him to share some uncomfortable truths of his own. When Joe looks at Page, he doesn’t see the pinnacle of pro wrestling, but instead, a pretender. Page wouldn’t be champion without The Opps, as no one else had his back more consistently than they have. Page was right, Joe was so distracted going after the Death Riders, he took his eye off the World Champion, which Page certainly isn’t. Page has fake gratitude, while Joe provided the opportunity, just coming to collect what is owed. The most uncomfortable truth of all is what’s standing in front of him is a fraud and he’s here to check Page. Joe will beat, break and torture Page, despite giving his best efforts and at the moment Page will try to stand tall will be the moment Joe chokes him out, thus giving everyone a rightful World Champion.

Earlier today, Alicia Atout is with The Conglomeration, as Mark Briscoe said tonight they have a big night and also week, as Willow Nightingale will team with Conglomeration-adjacent JetSpeed to beat FTR on Collision. Kyle O’Reilly is ready for Kyle vs. Kyle 2, as Roderick Strong told him to bring his TNT Title back. Briscoe said Orange Cassidy will give PAC the beating he deserves and Big Tom will beat Jon Moxley in a slobberknocker. Cassidy got everyone (Atout included) except Strong to do an all-hands-on deck before walking off.

Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) vs. New Japan Strong Openweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii

***

Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up

Excalibur pre-match talked about Moxley being 2-0 against Ishii in their singles meetings, once in the 2019 G1 Climax and the other on Dynamite a few years ago. Forearm exchange out the gate, until Moxley ramped it up, but Ishii no sold and mowed down Moxley with a shoulder tackle outside. Ishii was out after, where forearms and chops continued being traded. Ishii was posted, but no sold due to not having a neck, as Moxley was sent crashing into the post in retaliation. Moxley took the ref back inside, allowing Shafir to trip Ishii on the apron and rake the eyes, leaving Moxley to explode in with a dropkick to control into commercial.

Moxley controlled the break, until things returned, where Ishii started absorbing shots, walking through all of Moxley’s forearms. Vertical suplex from Ishii, whose bleeding from the nose, as he missed a sliding lariat, but connected on the backdrop suplex. Ishii charged, but Moxley exploded out of the corner with a lariat and dished out 9 punches until opting to flip off the crowd, allowing Ishii to hit a powerbomb high stack for two. Both dodge sliding lariats and curb stomps until Ishii threw an uppercut headbutt and lariat for a near fall of his own. Moxley floated over the brainbuster, hit a few big boots, until both started popping up and no selling until Moxley bolted at Ishii with a Busaiku Knee into the double down. Danielson even mentioned that might’ve been something Moxley learned from him.

Moxley was up first, but Ishii swung threw a lariat, only Moxley met him with a Cutter for two. Moxley signaled for the end, connected on a piledriver, but Ishii’s lack of neck had him not drop, so Moxley hit a Curb Stomp, only Ishii kicked out again. Ishii hit a home run forearm and sliding lariat, applying a submission, but Moxley escaped. Both up, Moxley hit the Paradigm Shift, Ishii kicked out, so Moxley applied a Rear Naked Choke and Ishii passed out.

Match Result: Jon Moxley defeated Tomohiro Ishii

Renee Paquette is backstage with The Young Bucks, knocking on Tony Khan’s dressing room, begging for another money match after going broke last week. Paquette asked about Jurassic Express and Matt said they’ll have seats tonight to watch and said they had to give up some of their sneakers to get them. Nick kept banging on the door, but was unsuccessful.

By the Numbers video package for Kris Statlander vs. Timeless Toni Storm at WrestleDream was shown with Renee Paquette narrating. Storm has held the Women’s Title for 640 days, defeating all other former Women’s Champions, except Statlander and if she does, will become the first member of the 5 Timers Club. While Statlander has spent over 600 days on the injured list, Paquette told Storm to tape up her tits, while Stat Daddy is ready. We then see footage from Collision last week with the two coming to blows until the Triangle of Madness appeared and laid them both out. Statlander, Storm & Harley Cameron take on Triangle of Madness this week on Collision Homecoming.

The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & MVP) vs. The Demand (Ricochet, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) in a Street Fight

***

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The Demand chucked a bunch of weapons into the ring before the Hurt Syndicate walked out in suits, as the fight was on at the bell, with Ricochet & MVP swinging canes at one another. Liona planted Lashley with a Samoan Drop on a chair in the ring, but missed a follow-up splash in the corner, flying outside. Benjamin sent Kaun crashing into the apron and barricade repeatedly, while Ricochet caught MVP with a low blow in the ring. The Demand swarmed MVP until Lashley made the save and brawled with Liona ringside. Ricochet was hiding underneath a set-up table and was ratted out by the fans, as MVP dragged him out and up the ramp with a snap suplex. Lashley cracked Liona with a crutch, while in the ring, Benjamin slammed Kaun on a chair. Everyone fought into a pile, allowing Ricochet to sprint down the stage and hit a somersault dive onto everyone into commercial.

Plunder aplenty during break, as things return with Kaun ducking a chair shot from Lashley against the post. Back in the ring, Kaun hit shotgun dropkicks on everyone in his path until laying out Lashley with a slingshot cross body and Benjamin with a Samoan Drop. Liona tried to put Lashley through a table, but he slipped free, charged for a Spear, only Kaun chucked a chair at Lashley’s face. Liona bealed Lashley through the table until Ricochet & Liona placed him on another one, with Kaun doing a Cactus Elbow through it. Liona & MVP smashed through the barricade, until G.O.A. Opened the Gates on Benjamin for two.

A third table was set up in the ring, as Benjamin was placed on it, Ricochet hit a Shooting Star, but the table didn’t break. Awkward spot, as I think Liona was about to made sure it broke and went for a splash, but MVP jumped in at the same time and everyone just smashed through it, with Benjamin trapped under them. Benjamin low bridged Liona and hit a pump knee and took out Kaun, leaving Ricochet to go tat it alone, throwing a series of superkicks. Fourth table placed in the corner, as Benjamin went to take out Kaun, but Ricochet took the bullet. As Benjamin tried a powerbomb, Kaun handed Ricochet a chair and popped Benjamin with it. Kaun went to charge at Benjamin, but Lashley flew in with a Spear and gave one to Ricochet & Liona as well. Outside, Lashley spiked Liona through a table with a spinebuster, as Ricochet was left in a 3-on-1. Wild release German suplex through the table by Benjamin, as he pinned Ricochet to win it.

Match Result: The Hurt Syndicate defeated The Demand when Benjamin pinned Ricochet

Renee Paquette is backstage with the 8 members of the Don Callis Family, as Callis said they’re smarter than everyone else and said Josh Alexander will dismantle Kota Ibushi on Collision. Tonight, Kyle O’Reilly is such a mark he named himself after Kyle Fletcher. Rocky Romero said Hechicero ripped Bandido’s shoulder out of socket last week in Arena Mexico and is the rightful ROH Champion, while Callis said tonight, Takeshita & Okada will win and get a title match at WrestleDream, winning the Tag Titles from Brodido, thus The Family will have all the gold.

Jurassic Express (Jungle Jack Perry & Luchasaurus) vs. ?

**

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Huge inflatable balls with the Jurassic Express logo were hit around in the crowd and even got in the ring briefly during the match itself. We were never actually told the opponents names outside of one being O’Ryan (I believe KM was the other, but he never officially entered the match). Perry had a fast start as cameras cut to The Young Bucks sitting in the nosebleeds with kids, as Luchasaurus slammed O’Ryan down. Assisted flipping powerbomb ultimately connected, as The Extinction got the win for Perry.

Post-match, The Bucks ran to the ring and slammed Perry into the barricade until Luchasaurus tried a double choke slam, but was kicked low. The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Luchasaurus, then laid out Perry with a Superkick. They took the mic and told Perry this is a callback, smashing the mic into his ribs. The Bucks officially challenge Jurassic Express at WrestleDream before spiking

Match Result: Jurassic Express defeated ?

Death Riders are in the back, as PAC calls out tangerine balls Orange Cassidy, calling him a pipsqueak to wet his appetite and will do what he always does to him, out-wrestle, out-class and make him suffer. They have more ambition than dealing with the likes of Cassidy. Yuta said tonight will hurt Yuta almost as much as it hurts Cassidy as tonight, it’s time to trim the fat, no losers. Garcia interrupted and said he’s seen a lot of losers in the back, but that’s not what they’re about, they’re going to keep winning, as that’s what winners do.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Kyle O’Reilly for the TNT Title

***

Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up

Don Callis joined commentary with Lance Archer playing bodyguard, as Callis said the more power he acquires, the more protection he needs. O’Reilly quickly countered a double stomp into an ankle lock, leaving Fletcher scrambling to the ropes for a break. Fletcher responded with a snap bodyslam before firing off chops. O’Reilly got a cross arm breaker, as Fletcher quickly got to the floor, but took his eye off the ball long enough, missing O’Reilly flying off the apron with a knee. Back inside, Fletcher caught O’Reilly with a flash Michinoku Driver and gained control heading to commercial.

Back from break, O’Reilly started regaining momentum with his combo of strikes ending with the big boot to the neck before locking in a guillotine. Fletcher went to grab the hair, so O’Reilly transitioned to a triangle. Fletcher powered out into a powerbomb, but O’Reilly quickly pounced for a heel hook. O’Reilly went for another diving knee off the apron outside, but Fletcher caught him with a thrust kick. Fletcher tried a big boot, but O’Reilly caught and turned it into a dragon screw into the chairs ringside. O’Reilly leapt from the apron for an insane diving dropkick to the floor, but missed a diving knee back inside. Desperation discus forearm by O’Reilly, but Fletcher answered by lawn darting O’Reilly into the corner that led to the double down.

This is Kyle chants from the crowd, as we get a forearm exchange until Fletcher threw a thrust kick, while O’Reilly answered with a Tornado DDT. O’Reilly kicked out the leg into a shoulder capture suplex, but Fletcher was up and turned O’Reilly inside out with a wild lariat. O’Reilly scrambled for an Ankle Lock followed by a Shining Wizard to the neck, but Fletcher barely kicked out. Back to the Ankle Lock, Fletcher rolled through and managed the Sheer Drop Brainbuster, but couldn’t follow up. Shaking out the bad leg, Fletcher hit his charging corner boot and spiked O’Reilly with another brainbuster for the win.

Post-match, Archer was going to chokeslam O’Reilly until Roderick Strong & Tomohiro Ishii made the save, but Rocky Romero came out to help his crew. Mark Briscoe came out to help, as he low bridged Archer and sent Romero packing. Briscoe & Fletcher both pulled punches on one another, which led to a stand-off until Fletcher retreated.

Match Result: Kyle Fletcher defeated Kyle O’Reilly to retain the TNT Title

Renee Paquette is backstage asking Kyle Fletcher why he backed down from Mark Briscoe after such a dominating victory? Fletcher said he’s not scared of Briscoe, he’s beaten him twice before, which Paquette reminded him Briscoe has beaten him twice as well and informed him Tony Khan has made it official, Fletcher vs. Briscoe for the TNT Title at WrestleDream. Don Callis was none too pleased and rushed Fletcher off to talk strategy.

Mercedes Mone vs. Lacey Lane in a TBS Title Open Challenge

**

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Quick vignette for Lane, who said her & Mone had a chance to cross paths in the past, but never did. Tonight, that will change in her hometown, as Bryan Danielson said imagine the shock of the wrestling world if Lane won the title tonight, ending Mone’s reign at 499 days. Taz wished Lane luck, but it’ll be an uphill battle, as Mone wins titles even on her off days.

Early pin attempts from Lane, as Mone floated over in the corner, but missed a cross body. Rolling cradle by Lane for another two, until a springing dropkick sent Mone outside, where Lane met her with a baseball slide. Fast sequence back inside until Lane side-stepped and cracked Mone in the face with a low thrust kick. Mone went to the apron and tried a suplex to the floor, but was hung up by Lane, who followed with almost a Heatseeker variation for two, as Mone got her foot on the ropes, taking things to commercial.

Mone gained advantage during break, as she planted Lane with the Three Amigos before going up top, trying a Frog Splash, but Lane got the knees up. Mone missed a follow-up corner double knee, allowing Lane to hit a running thrust kick for two. Mone answered with a lungblower and sunset bomb into the buckle before missing the double knees yet again. Lane answered with a springboard leg-drop and hammerlock Flatliner for a close two. Unique Death Valley Driver into a leg drop, but Mone kicked out again. Lane wanted the hammerlock again, but Mone scrambled, trading pin attempts, until she managed a Mone Maker for the win.

Match Result: Mercedes Mone defeated Lacey Lane for the TBS Title

Sammy Guevara is backstage with Beast Mortos to talk about Eddie Kingston going against LFI’s Beast at Collision. Guevara told Kingston to say goodbye to his family and friends and adios, which is Spanish for goodbye. Eddie Kingston is with HOOK and pleads for Mortos to stop letting Guevara to talk for him, it’ll result in getting his ass kicked. The highlight of this entire thing was Mortos wearing matching sunglasses with Guevara.

AEW Tag Team Champions Brodido (Brody King & ROH Champion Bandido) vs. AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita in a Double Jeopardy Eliminator Match

AEW Tag Team Champions Brodido (Brody King & ROH Champion Bandido) vs. AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita in a Double Jeopardy Eliminator Match

***1/4

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Takeshita’s pose on the stage was cut-off by Okada’s theme, as he just blew right by Takeshita on his way to the ring. Bandido had his shoulder taped up thanks to Hechicero and their match at Arena Mexico last weekend. Takeshita went right after the bad arm, as he & Bandido had a quick series picking up where they left off at ROH Supercard of Honor this year. King tagged in and laid out Okada with a running senton before lighting him up with chops alongside Bandido. Head scissors and dropkick by Bandido, who is really selling the bad shoulder, forcing King to tag back in. Huge splash in the corner led to Okada dodging a second and Takeshita decking King with a big boot and DDT on the apron. For good measure, Okada hit a DDT of his own and we go to commercial with Okada & Takeshita staring each other down.

King was worn down the entire break, but things return with King firing off desperation swinging back suplexes on both Okada & Takeshita before mowing both down with a lariat. Bandido has recovered enough to make the hot tag and springboard senton on Okada for two, before spiking Takeshita with a huge pop-up hurricanrana. Springboard cross body to Okada led to a series of pin attempts for near falls. Okada slowed the momentum, but Bandido still planted him with a stalling suplex. King sent Takeshita packing, as Okada was spiked with a running PK into Dante’s Inferno, but Takeshita narrowly made the save. As a result, Takeshita was ping ponged with forearm strikes until King laid him out with a Black Hole Slam. Brodido signal for their monkey flip 450, but Okada put a stop to that, allowing Takeshita to hit the Cazadora German, which King no sold, so Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb sending King outside.

Takeshita popped Bandido with a forearm and knee strike, but Bandido countered Raging Fire into an inside cradle for two. Takeshita was up and went for another charging knee, but caught Okada on the apron instead. Bandido on one arm still hit the X-Knee on Takeshtia, but couldn’t do the 21-Plex properly, giving Takeshita a chance to connect on a Poison Rana. As Takeshita wanted the Power Drive Knee, Okada stole the tag, turned Bandido inside out with a Rainmaker and got the pin.

Match Result: Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Brodido when Okada pinned Bandido to earn an AEW Tag Team Title Match at WrestleDream

I thought this was the main event. No, there's MORE to come. That's AEW's problems... pacing, burnout and just doing too much. They reach the climax and then just keep going. This show felt like it was in the wrong order.

Renee Paquette is backstage with Willow Nightingale & JetSpeed ahead of their match this week on Collision against FTR & Megan Bayne. Speedball Bailey said they will always respect people with courage and stand up to bullies like Nightingale. Kevin Knight said last week, Dax Harwood was looking up at the lights in their match. Nightingale said Bayne & Penelope Ford were surprises last week, but brought up the little garden gnome, Strokely. Top Guys Down, JetSpeed Babes Up.

FTR & Stokely are backstage, with Stokely saying he respects JetSpeed a smidge since they are getting into the ring with FTR, but he’ll never respect Willow Nightingale, the reason why Dax Harwood lost against Kevin Knight last week. You don’t need hoes, when you have two bad bitches. Penelope Ford & Megan Bayne walks in and said this is Willow Nightingale’s reality check, as everywhere Bayne walks, Nightingale doesn’t stand a chance. Stokely said FTR & Bayne will put Nightingale & JetSpeed in their place. Bayne said Top Gods, Out.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Brodido, as Bandido said he’s not making excuses, but they lost because of him. King said he’s always told him to never stop fighting and come WrestleDream, it doesn’t matter if they have two of the best wrestlers in the business, Brodido has THE best wrestler in the game and they’ll stand tall at the PPV.

PAC vs. Orange Cassidy

***

Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Down

If you thought seeing PAC with short hair would take getting used to, he’s now rocking a singlet and tights. PAC slowly took his time rag-dolling Cassidy, who tried little kicks, but PAC wasn’t having that and quickly got a headlock takedown. Working a cravat, Cassidy was able to escape until both traded wrist locks and counters. Flying arm drag from Cassidy, but PAC dodged in the corner, Cassidy floated up and over, sending PAC face first into multiple turnbuckles until a diving clothesline off the top sent PAC to the outside. Cassidy tried his Tope Tornado DDT, but PAC caught him mid-dive into a Falcon Arrow on the floor.

Back from break, PAC connected with a huge dropkick out of the corner, but started toying with Cassidy, who started slowly firing up, absorbing strikes. PAC lowered the straps, as both started throwing bombs of forearms until each caught one another with big boots. Forearms ramped up once more until PAC hit a bounce back German. Cassidy tried Beach Break, PAC escaped, only Cassidy connected with a PK sending PAC outside again. Cassidy tried his Tope DDT, PAC caught him again, only this time, Cassidy countered into a Stundog Millionaire. Third times a charm, as the Tope DDT spiked PAC on the floor.

PAC was placed on the timekeepers table, as Cassidy went up top, hands in pockets and dove onto PAC, crashing through the table. Back inside, spinning DDT planted PAC, as Cassidy kipped up and waffled him with the Orange Punch, but PAC got his foot on the rope. Cassidy went up top, but PAC took a page out of Cassidy’s playbook, slow rolling to the other side and to the stage. Cassidy went after PAC into the crowd, but PAC suckered him in and hit a Tombstone. Referee Bryce rushed out to check on Cassidy, but PAC ordered him back to the ring to put the count on Cassidy (Bryce’s voice hilariously turned squeaky hearing this command). With Bryce’s attention turned, PAC’s ankle was cuffed to the barricade by Darby Allin. Somehow, PAC was able to get himself free by the count of 7, dove back to the ring at 9, but rolled right into a Cassidy Cazadora pin for the victory.

Post-match, PAC sprinted at Allin, who was ready with presumably mace, blinding PAC and causing commentators to start coughing. Wheeler Yuta showed up and was dropped as well with a taser, as Jon Moxley, Claudio Castaginoli, Daniel Garcia & Marina Shafir hit ringside, trying to chase after Allin, but he was ready, bringing out a Molotov Cocktail. Death Riders kept their distance until security literally tacked Allin to the ground before it was used, while a huge pack of guards held the Death Riders off. Allin was laughing as he was being detained to close the show.

Match Result: Orange Cassidy defeated PAC

Overall: Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up