Hey guys, Jeremy here. Before Theo takes over for tonight’s show, I wanted to give a heads up. We’re currently on the look out for new people to provide live coverage of AEW Dynamite, AEW Collision, and TNA Impact. Our live coverage folks recap the events of the show as they happen and provide their own thoughts on the matches. After the show is done, they post a review immediately after consisting of your live coverage recap and overall thoughts on the show.
This is a paid gig. If you’re interested, please email Ashish and I your resume and any relevant writing samples. Thanks and enjoy the show!
Helloooo 411ers and sickos! It’s Theo Sambus taking the reins this evening, delighted to be back with you for some All Elite pay-per-view action. I attended Wembley Stadium in person for All In last month and had a MAGICAL time, and now I get the privilege of covering AEW’s latest PPV offering, which has an impressively loaded undercard with a number of contenders that look dangerously capable of stealing the show. Andrade/PAC? Lord, give me strength. I recall them having incredible chemistry back in 2021 on a random episode of Rampage, so letting them loose on pay-per-view could be a true delight. What else do we have? Okada/Ciampa? New Level & Swerve/Hangman & Brodido? Those are some juicy encounters right there. I’m also keen to see what the Brawling Birds and Divine Dominion cook up – I didn’t care all that much for their All In title match, but here in a Chicago Street Fight they have a chance to really step up.
Then of course we have the “don’t-call-it-TLC” Ladder Match between Cope & Cage, FTR and the Young Bucks, which in all likelihood will be sheer madness. And in our main event, Will Ospreay has his first true test as World champion, taking on the Death Riders’ Jon Moxley, who beat Ospreay earlier in the year at Dynasty.
So with all that said, get yourselves comfortable, sit back, and let’s get this show on the road!
Location: Chicago, IL
Venue: NOW Arena
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
[Saturday Tailgate Brawl]
*Our pre-show Tailgate Brawl kicks off the action straight away as Shibata makes his way to the ring.
Shibata gets a headscissor locked in early on, Perry headstands out of it. Chops exchanged, with Shibata levelling Perry with one strike. Another chop sends Perry from the turnbuckles to the outside, and he follows up with more chops around ringside. Back in the ring, the chops continue, and Perry comes back with an uppercut. Perry stomps the head and neck of Shibata into the middle buckle and connects with a running boot. To the apron, Perry may be looking for a piledriver, Shibata works out of it and delivers a vertical suplex on the apron, holding on and hitting another to the floor.
Back in the ring, the head up top, Perry looking for a sunset flip powerbomb but Shibata reverses into a hurracanrana, Perry counters that right into the Snare Trap, but Shibata reaches the ropes. Dropkick from Perry, double underhook Tiger Bomb, 1, 2, no. Running chop by Shibata, rear choke attempt, more chops in the corner, snapmare, Shibata gets the choke locked in, but Perry counters and rolls into a tight cover, 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Jack Perry
Time: 9:16
Rating: **1/2 – Standard fare for the most part, mainly focusing on the chopfest. They picked up the pace towards the end, but this was far from either man’s best work. Fine way to get the crowd into the show though.
*Post-match, Perry calls out Samoa Joe, but here comes Hook, Anthony Bowens and Action Andretti. And the music of Samoa Joe hits, here he is! Joe comes face to face with Perry in the ring, Perry extends the hand in a show of respect but Joe turns his back on him. Perry grabs his shoulder and spins him round, demanding Joe shakes his hand….so Joe LEVELS Perry with a headbutt, knocking him out! Samoa Joe ain’t messing around.
*Hype video for the 3-way Ladder match for the tag titles, and we see in the bottom corner that also signed for the Tailgate Brawl shortly are the Sisters of Sin vs Queen Aminata & Mina Shirakawa. Oh, that match appears to be up NEXT!
Skye Blue must be going for the hometown pop as she’s wearing her Chicago flag-inspired gear. Mina and Hart start us off, Mina rolls Hart up on an attempted moonsault, Hart tags in Blue and Mina tags in Aminata. Code Blue attempt is shrugged off, shoulder tackle from Aminata and we get some Chocolate Kisses. Tornillo from Mina gets a 2 count. Spin kick by Mina, Hart grabs the boot as she runs the ropes, and Skye capitalizes with a knee strike and a DDT. 1, 2, no. Hart connects with a clothesline in the corner on Aminata, Blue comes in with a cartwheel forearm. Snap suplex on Aminata, Blue covers for 2. Tags on both sides, Mina with a headscissors, followed by a shotgun dropkick off the top to Hart, 1, 2, no. Skye Blue gets rocked by both Mina and Aminata, with the Queen going up top for a diving double stomp. Thrust kicks from the Sisters, and we get stereo modified octopus submissions. But Mina and Aminata both counter with elevated reverse DDTs!
Swinging neckbreaker from Aminata is reversed. Hart cuts off the Off With Her Head. Snap swinging neckbreaker to Blue! Quick roll up from Blue gets 2, backfist by Mina. Aminata tries to tag in but Hart pulls Mina down. Code Blue! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Sisters of Sin
Time: 9:52
Rating: **3/4 – Nice pacing and action throughout, with slick work from all four women. They could have stepped up the urgency towards the end but this was decent.
*Mick Foley is standing by with the Bang Bang Gang. ‘Coach Juice’ checks in with his strategy for the team. They’re the baddest golden gunslingers in town. Foley wonders what happens if he’s not down with that…and Jay White reminds him that they have two words for him…Gunns Up!
Incredible in-set mini promos introducing the competitors like Monday Night Football (see: Marina Shafir’s “Will Ospreay is a little bitch”). They all take three-point stances, and here we go! Colten catches a ball and tosses it at Finlay. Everyone spills out to the ringside area as Finlay puts on some shoulder pads. Connors has the ball and takes everyone out with shoulder tackles. Back body drop on a corn hole, and a body slam to follow. Connors has a barbecue, crushes it across the head of Ace Austin. Finlay works over White in the corner,as Austin and Yuta fight up the ramp. Suplex on the cornhole once more. The Death Riders and the Dogs run a train on White in the corner. Ace Austin at the top of the ramp has the ball, he leapfrogs Connors, back heel kick to Yuta! And he spikes the ball. Fosbury Flop back to the outside!
Austin Gunn with a facebuster, DDT to Finlay. White up top…Swanton with the ball! Colten grabs a keg and plants it in the middle of the canvas. Finlay is left alone in the ring with the BBG, and eats a ton of strikes. Fameasser onto the keg! 1, 2, Marina Shafir breaks it up. Juice gets up to the apron, and he’s livid. Takedown by Marina, and they roll to the floor! Finlay has a helmet, cracks Austin Gunn with it, 1, 2, kickout. Connors gets tossed into the barbecue, Austin hits the Fold. Garcia eats the 3:10 to Yuma! Yuta rolls up Colten for 2. BLADERUNNER! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Bang Bang Gang
Time: 11:54
Rating: *** – They really leant into the tailgate brawl stuff this time and it was a ton of fun. Some of the spots felt relatively unique and it was just a blast in terms of atmosphere. Nicely done.
[All Out 2026]
Sensational choice to kick off the PPV! Tentative start as they play into the ‘He’s our Bastard/How You Know’ chants. German from Pac, Andrade right back with a backfist! Damn. Headscissor from Andrade, Pac lands on his feet though. Both guys with pump kicks to knock each other down. Andrade extends a hand, Pac takes it but boots Andrade in the stomach. Andrade up top for a crossbody and a 2 count. Vertical suplex, and Andrade continues with more for the Three Amigos sequence…nope, Pac reverses the third. Dropkick from Andrade sends Pac to the floor, Andrade tries a slingshot crossbody but Pac just punt kicks him in the chest on the way down. Marina Shafir gets involved with boots to Andrade while the ref is distracted. Pac whips him into the barricade, Andrade does the same, and even tosses Marina over the guard rail out into the crowd. Back in the ring, Pac has Andrade poised on the top rope but gets elbowed down. Moonsault feint connects for a 2 count.
Andrade gestures to take his pants off, goes for the running knees first but Pac pops up and delivers an overhead belly to belly suplex into the turnbuckle! Slingshot cutter, 1, 2, Andrade kicks out. Grounded cravat locked in. Andrade knocks him down with a flying forearm, kip up….and Pac interrupts him from ripping the pants off. Three Amigos from Andrade connects this time. He clotheslines Pac to the floor, and finally takes the pants off. Springboard tornillo to follow! Andrade spies the hotties at ringside and poses for a photo…but Marina Shafir is there and chokes the girl out!! Pac takes advantage and attacks Andrade, then climbs up for an Orihara moonsault to the floor!
450 from Pac connects, 1, 2, Andrade kicks out. Pac goes back up top, Andrade sweeps the leg to knock him off balance. They climb to the top, Pac positioned on his shoulders, nope, Pac elbows out of it. Top rope hurracanrana connects, momentum carries Andrade through, Dia De Los Muertos backfist!! But Pac spills to the floor so Andrade can’t cover. Andrade to the floor, runs at Pac…Pac with another overhead belly to belly suplex, this time right into the guard rail!!! Haaard landing for Andrade there. Both men make it back into the ring at 9. Pac heads up top once more, Black Arrow misses!! DM attempt, Shafir is up on the apron to distract him…but Andrade wants a kiss? POISONRANA from Pac. Big lariat right into the Brutalizer….but Andrade switches momentum into a cover, 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL AEW National Champion: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 18:38
Rating: ***3/4 – All action from the opening bell, showcasing athleticism as you’d expect. Andrade looked pretty stupid towards the end there, ignoring his opponent to try and get a kiss from a woman who’s already attacked him multiple times through the match? Still, it evidently didn’t bite him in the ass too much as he still got the win with a flash pin. Very good stuff, although I still think they’re capable of more.
Don Callis joins the commentary desk for this one. Darby and Fletcher start us off, but Fletcher wants STEVE. Darby tags out to let Borden do his thing. Knight and Fletcher get sent to the outside and regroup. Arm drag from Borden, Fletcher tries a body slam but Borden keeps hold of an armlock. Knight in, walks into an armdrag, and a dropkick right to the face. Darby in, side headlock applied and a springboard armdrag connects. He tries another but Knight hits the ropes to knock Darby off balance. Fletcher sets up the ring steps, Knight whips him in and Fletcher catches him with a powerbomb on the steps…and the feed goes down briefly. Yay. We’re back, Darby being worked over in the corner, body slam by Fletcher. Darby with a sunset flip but Fletcher has been tagged back in, and he hoists Darby up, tossing him into the corner lawn-dart style. Darby flips over and connects with a Scorpion Death Drop.
Allin tries for a tag, makes it! But the ref didn’t see the tag so Borden gets ejected back to the apron once more. Darby finally makes the tag legally, and Borden comes in like a house of fire…but overcommits on a Stinger Splash and Fletcher moves, sending Steven to the outside. Knight and Fletcher drive him into the barricade, but here’s Darby with a tope suicida. Knight leaps off the announce table with a flying lariat. Back in the ring, Darby is hung up in the tree of woe, and Knight sets up for the Coast to Coast, but Borden unties him. Borden is poised…and both he and Knight go for coast-to-coast shots, colliding in midair. Didn’t look great, and that did not seem like a wise spot. Doctors head into the ring to check on Borden, and they call off the match as a medical stoppage. Borden seems to have been legit hurt there.
Winners and NEW #1 Contenders: Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher
Time: 12:13
Rating: ** – I liked Darby taking the brunt of the offense, protecting Borden somewhat while also allowing him to get the hot tag and big pop. Shame it had to end in that way before it really got a chance to get going, but it sounds like they had to go into concussion protocol as Borden’s head ricocheted off the canvas. Here’s to a speedy recovery for Borden.
And Persephone’s opponent? It’s Dani Luna. Not much of a pop from Chicago but let’s see how she gets on here.
Persephone looks for an arm drag, Luna blocks it. Shoulder tackles, neither woman goes down. Belly to belly connects, Persephone with a cradle, and she talks trash to Luna, so Luna levels her with a big forearm shot. Body slam, suplex out of the corner and a sliding lariat gives Luna a 2 count. Big boot, Luna to the top but Baker is up on the apron to shove her to the floor. Suicide dive from Persephone, almost gets caught on the ropes but sees it through. Low kick back in the ring, cover, 1, 2, no. Britt chokes her out over the bottom rope. Persephone with a Northern Lights suplex, which gets another 2 count. Shotgun dropkick, big elbow strike from Persephone. Luna to the middle rope, dropkick of her own this time. Leaping boot knocks Persephone down, and they take a quick breather.
Luna with a rebound Blue Thunder, 1, 2, no. Persephone positions Luna on the shoulders while on the apron, Luna counters, but Persephone comes right back with a German suplex on the apron! She slides Dani back in the ring for a cover, gets 2. Wristlock from Persephone, rolls into a seated position for a near submission. Luna breaks the grip and comes back with a running lariat. Persephone gets shoved to the apron once more, Luna hoists her up for an elevated German suplex! 1, 2, NO. Persephone with a rollup for 2, Luna with another lariat, Fireman’s Carry Bomb, 1, 2, Britt Baker pulls the hair to break the cover. Dani Luna with a suicide dive to take Baker out! Persephone with a suicide dive of her own. Knee strike from Luna, she looks for another German on the apron, but Baker helps out by holding the leg of Persephone. Razor’s Edge from Persephone! 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW TBS Champion: Persephone
Time: 14:36
Rating: *** – Crowd was largely dead, which hurt this. Valiant effort by Luna with some hard-hitting offense, and that elevated German looked deadly. She may well sink into the middle of the women’s division as ‘just another gal’ but she proved here she can hold her own. Baker is not really helping Persephone but I do like how Persephone is getting to show more of her personality as of late.
Here we go! A-E-DUB chants along with some HOLY SHIT chants as the bell rings. Ciampa goes for the chops against the ropes but holds off for the clean break, a la the Okada classic. Okada tweaks the beard of Ciampa! Ciampa responds by grabbing the hair, and they work to a stalemate. Sunset flip,Okada looks for the Rainmaker, denied, Ciampa goes for the knee but it’s a narrow escape. Okada rolls to the outside to slow the pace down. Leaping lariat from Ciampa, knee strike to Okada as he attempts to get back in the ring! Ciampa sets Okada up on the Spanish announce desk and connects with a big knee lift. Ciampa takes a moment to turn his attention to Callis at ringside, and that’s enough to allow Okada to come to, nailing a flapjack as Ciampa gets back in the ring.
Neckbreaker connects on Ciampa, back elbow in the corner, and the DDT, cover, 1, 2, no. They battle onto the apron, Ciampa may be looking for an Air Raid Crash but Okada slips behind and boots him down. Okada to the top, Ciampa cuts him off, bites the head. Air Raid Crash attempt again, Okada once again counters, dropkicks him to the floor! Okada hangs up Ciampa on the barricade right in front of Ciampa’s family and connects with the DDT! Haaa what a dick move. Hahaha Okada asks for a high five from Ciampa’s daughter AND HE FLIPS OFF THE KID!!! SHE FLIPS HIM OFF TOO!!! Incredible. Ciampa attacks from behind and unloads with punches, followed by the running knee against the barricade!!
Back in the ring, Ciampa misses another knee, connects with a German though. Multiple Germans! Angel’s Wings, 1, 2, NO! Okada comes back with the Air Raid Crash neckbreaker over the knee. Scoop slam, and now Okada goes up top for the elbow drop, and he hits it. RAINMAKER MIDDLE FINGER POSE! But Ciampa bites the finger! He stomps the hand, goes for Project Ciampa, countered, Okada thinks tombstone but no. German attempt, Ciampa hits a German, Okada comes back with a dropkick. Rainmaker kicked away, PROJECT CIAMPA. 1, 2, NOOO! Okada and Ciampa head back up top, another avalanche Air Raid Crash attempt, Okada knocks him back though. Callis distracts the ref while Okada pulls out the screwdriver from within the turnbuckle padding. LEAPING KNEE STRIKE from Ciampa! Another knee strike but it’s caught. Okada with a German now. Dropkick is caught, knee strike from Ciampa, kneepad down, but Okada is there with a dropkick. Rainmaker ducked, KNEE from Ciampa! 1, 2, NOOOOOO!! Huge response from the crowd. Ciampa connects with a dropkick of his own now, and he hits the RAINMAKER POSE. Ciampa with a Rainmaker, no, denied! Rollup from Okada, 1, 2, no. Short-arm lariat…rainmaker ducked again, dropkick connects. RAINMAKERRRR! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL AEW International Champion: Kazuchika Okada
Time: 21:02
Rating: ****1/4 – Well this didn’t disappoint. We saw some classic Okada here, slowing the pace right down and controlling it for a good portion of the bout, and he also knows exactly when to turn it up a notch, particularly with his selling of Ciampa’s chances, getting more and more desperate. Crazy nearfalls towards the end, with the crowd biting on everything. Real shame for Ciampa not to get the win as he absolutely deserves some kind of prominent title run at this point, but I can’t argue with a cracking contest like this.
*Nigel McGuinness tags in to the announcer’s desk for the remainder of the evening, as Taz heads off for the night.
Hot start as the challengers meet the Brawling Birds on the ramp during their entrance. Windsor and Hayter bring out a table early on and set it up at ringside. Divine Dominion have the champs positioned with their mouths wrapped around open chairs, and look for a legit curb stomp, but the Birds counter and arm drag the challengers into the chairs. Windsor gets clocked with a trash can lid as Kross and Hayter battle on the apron. Bayne has a gold chair, throws it right in the FACE of Windsor! Kross powerbombs Hayter off the apron through the table, with a big boot assist from Bayne! Kross pulls out a barbed wire-wrapped steel chair. Windsor is held against the ropes by Kross, allowing Bayne to wail away on her back with a kendo stick. Windsor is busted open now as she gets to her feet, but dodges a chair shot and dropkicks the chairs into Divine Dominion. Diving crossbody from Hayter! Side Russian legsweep with the kendo stick from Hayter. DDT to Bayne on the barbed wire chair!
Kross gets the trash can placed over her head, and Hayter comes off the top with a diving dropkick. The Birds sandwich Kross with stereo chairshots. Bayne is busted open too now. They all get into a strike exchange, knocking each other to the canvas. All four sit on chairs now and go back to the strikes, before getting back to their feet. Chairs thrown into the faces of the champions. TKO and Fate’s Descent into the chairs! German from Hayter. Bayne reverses the 2 Birds 1 Stone, and German suplexes both opponents! Bayne pulls out one of the ringside barricades and slides it in the ring. She wedges a chair between buckles, as Kross leans the barricade in another corner. Kross with repeated kendo stick shots. She tries a double suplex on the Birds, but they reverse it, and Kross gets suplexed into the steel barricade! Bayne interrupts with a chain-assisted lariat. Big boot into a German, Kross covers, 1, 2, no.
Divine Intervention into the chairs!! Sick bump for Windsor there. 1, 2, NO, Hayter breaks it up. DD head outside and now pull out a barbed wire board. You Sick Fucks chant goes up. They place the board propped up in the corner as they pull their opponents to their feet. Windsor gets sent headfirst into the wedged chair, but Bayne receives a DVD into the barbed wire board! Kross has a bag and empties it in the ring…and it’s thumbtacks! Hayter levels Kross with a chain, and they hit a 2 Birds 1 Stone on Kross into the tacks! 1, 2, 3!
Winners and STILL AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions: Brawling Birds
Time: 17:40
Rating: ***1/2 – Appropriately violent brawl, and while there’s nothing new here, it was refreshing to see the Women’s tag division get a contest of this calibur. Some of the spots could have done with being given a little more breathing room, but this was a fun, bloody affair, even if some of those wild unprotected chairshots may have been unnecessary.
*Tony Schiavone has an update on Steven Borden, who is conscious, responsive and is talking, so that’s certainly positive.
Swerve and the New Level appear to be in Flash/Reverse Flash gear. It’s Bandido and Kofi to start us off, Kofi looks for the back elbow, caught. Fun exchange as Kofi and Bandido trade finger guns. Crossbody from Kofi connects, monkey flip but Kofi lands on his feet. Same deal for Bandido! They go for dropkicks and work to a standoff, shaking hands, impressed by each other. King tags in, as does Creed. King displays his strength, Creed is about to tag out, but then fires himself up. Senton from Brody, who sends Creed to the outside…and Hangman boots Creed away as he attempts to get back up the steps. King with the running crossbody against the barricade. Back in the ring, Page tags in, gets sent into the New Level corner, and Swerve hops off the apron to talk to Nana. Interesting.
Bandido in, slingshot senton on Creed. Page runs the ropes, but Strickland grabs him and pulls him to the outside, and they go nuts on each other! Both teams help separate Page and Swerve to try and restore some decorum. New Level work over Bandido, Kofi with an assisted moonsault off the shoulders of Creed. Triple team from the champs as Creed & Swerve hold Bandido for a springboard disaster kick. Swerve with a backbreaker as Bandido plays the face-in-peril. Moonsault tornillo gives Bandido some space, and he tries to make the tag but Swerve puts a stop to that, knocking Page off the apron, which of course infuriates Hangman and he goes right back to Swerve. Swerve stands on the shoulders of Bandido, but Bandido counters with a CUTTER!! King with a Black Hole Slam, gets sent to the apron…DVD to Kofi on the apron!
Biiig lariat takes the head off Creed. Kofi runs into a back body drop as King clears house. CANONBALL! 1, 2, Swerve kicks King to break the pin attempt. Swerve calls for the tag, as King tags out to Page, and here we go! Punches galore, roaring elbow, Page looks for the Buckshot but it;s denied, as is the House Call. Page and Swerve go head to head. Another flurry of strikes. Creed sweeps the legs and pulls Page to the floor, and Swerve follows up with a Fosbury Flop! Kofi sent into the barricade by King. Page with a SHOOTING STAR PRESS on an outstretched Creed into the knees of Bandido. House Call off the apron on Page! This is nuts. Page and Swerve head back inside the ring, lariat from Page and he sets Swerve up in the corner. Bandido and Kofi are up on another corner. STEREO MOONSAULT AND BATTERY!! 1, 2, NOOO!
King and Creed go at it once more, thrust kick from Creed. Creed tries to get King up into a fireman’s carry. Bandido has one, with both Kofi and Swerve on his shoulders! King lifts Creed on top!!! WHAT THE HELL! Bandido with a Samoan Drop to ALL THREE OPPONENTS!!! Bandido follows up with a moonsault from the ringpost to wipe everyone out! 21-Plex attempt, nope. But King helps out, and together they hit a modified 21-Plex on the New Level. Superkicks, suicide dives to the outside, King with a piledriver on Creed, 1, 2, no.
Creed with a powerbomb out of the corner to Brody King! Kofi with a leg drop off the top, Swerve with the 450! 1, 2, nooooo Brody kicks out, even with all 3 opponents on top of him. King flips Swerve off, so Swerve takes off his gloves. He goes for the House Call, but Page walks in front to block. TIP from Kofi! Bandido with a crossbody. Spinning DDT from Creed. Discus lariat from King, House Call from Swerve, King still on his feet, takes out Swerve with a desperation lariat. Another TIP, Page with a Buckshot lariat off the back of Swerve to Kofi. Pop-up powerbomb on Page. He’s poised for the Buckshot, nails it on Creed. House Call to Hangman. X-Knee to Swerve! 21-Plex but Swerve lands on his feet. BIG PRESSURE!!! 1, 2, 3!!!!
Winners and STILL AEW World Trios Champions: Swerve Strickland & New Level
Time: 23:57
Rating: ****1/2 – That might be the best Trios title match AEW has put on. BIG fight feel here which is so good for positioning the Trios titles as important…finally! Fantastic work from all six individuals who all looked like equals. It’s tremendous seeing Kofi and Creed letting loose, and their team with Swerve is gelling incredibly well. The Page/Swerve dynamic was of course a big talking point here, and they peppered it throughout to great effect. Utterly wild in the best possible way.
I feel for these two having to follow the insanity of that Trios match. They’re going fast from the get-go, Willow looks for a Babe with Powerbomb, can’t get it. POUNCE! Corner lariats, Willow levels Thekla and gets a 2 count. Willow to the top rope, Thekla with a right hand to catch her and send her to the floor. Double stomp to the back, and Thekla mocks Willow’s entrance pose. Thekla hangs Willow’s arm over the ropes and wrenches on the broken hand with the modified Tarantula. Willow uses the broken hand to lift Thekla up and back into the ring, but nope, Thekla wrenches it once more. She stomps on the fingers and heads to the apron. Evades a lariat and kicks the hand once more.
Shotgun dropkick from the middle rope connects for Willow, and she gets a 2 count from it. Cloverleaf locked in! She can’t clasp the hands properly though, and Thekla is able to bridge up, only to get caught with a powerbomb! Willow up top, may be thinking moonsault, so Thekla rolls to the outside. Canonball off the apron! Willow is delayed in following up on it, allowing Thekla to boot her back outside, and she follows with a diving crossbody to the floor. They nearly get counted out but both roll back in the ring at the last possible moment. Thekla misses a stomp, and Willow capitalizes with a Death Valley Driver, covers for 1, 2, no. They battle on the buckles, Thekla knocks Willow down, and follows up with a double stomp to the broken hand! SPEAR. 1, 2, Willow bridges out of it! They both bridge in the spider pose before getting to their feet. Lariat from Willow, and both women go down. Here comes Julia Hart with the Stardom title, and Skye Blue comes from behind to smack Willow with the belt. Hart in, accidentally hits Thekla with the belt! The Sisters are knocked back, Willow covers, 1, 2, no. Thekla comes back with a spin kick, stomp to the hand, and a curb stomp now, 1, 2, 3!
Winner and NEW #1 Contender: Thekla
Time: 13:19
Rating: ***1/4 – Good focus on the hand from Thekla, which Willow sold well. The interference backfired for Thekla, yet she was still able to get the win which felt a tad odd…then again, I’m always a fan of subverting expectations. Thekla vs Mone is certainly the match we all wanted to see anyway.
*Mercedes Mone makes her way out post-match to hold her title aloft as our WrestleDream title match is made official.
A ton of tables adorn the ringside area, so in case there was any doubt, yeah this is very much TLC! They all pair off as the bell rings, and Dax is the first to grab a ladder, only to get tripped and land on the steel steps with the ladder hitting him in the face. Tag team offense from Cage and Cope, and they grab a couple of chairs; their old friends! Cage almost takes out Cope after Matt ducks a shot. Nick tosses a chair in the face of Cash Wheeler. Dax is already busted open. The Bucks with bulldogs on FTR into the chairs! And Cage drops Nick crotch-first into an upright chair. Double hip toss into some chairs goes Matt. Cage is bleeding pretty badly already from the side of his face after catching a stray chair. Cage & Cope up top, crossbodies to the floor! Roundhouse kick from Nick on the apron to Cage. He cuts off Cope on a ladder climb, gets clotheslined to the apron, and comes back with a dropkick to knock Cope and the ladder over. Bucks scramble up the ladder with FTR still in the ring, but that is brought to a quick stop. Chairshot to the ankle from Dax! Wheeler has a boot stuck in the ladder, and Nick hits the assisted senton. Bucks knocked off either side of the ladder after Cage & Cope enter the ring. They sandwich Matt underneath a ladder before propping it up in the corner.
Cage gets whipped into the ladder by FTR. Nick is whipped into the corner too but he scales the ladder and flips to the outside to take out Copeland! Matt monkey flips Cage into a ladder, but Cope cuts off an assisted senton by slamming Nick onto the ladder. Back body drop, Matt goes back-first into the ladder now. Cash makes a ladder bridge in the ring, they don’t quite have the distance right so it falls down. Cope sorts it out, climbs the ladder for no reason as he’s miles from the belts….and Dax is there to suplex Cope off the ladder through the ladder bridge!! SURGICALLY REPAIRED NECK BE DAMNED. Wheeler follows up with a splash! Cash sets up a taller ladder in the middle of the ring now and begins the ascend, Cage going up the other side. The Bucks are there to pull them down. 15% connects on Cash, double stomp, backstabber on Cage who was caught in the ladder.
Cash gets back body dropped from the apron through a table, think he landed on his elbow though, yikes. Nick with a 450 through a table! Cope with an Impaler DDT to Matt off the apron, through a table, except the table didn’t break. Cage eats an enziguri but crotches Nick Jackson on the buckles. AVALANCHE KILLSWITCH ONTO THE LADDER!!
Cope delivers chair shot after chair shot to dax and Cash…and here comes Stokely with a low blow! And he throws powder in the eyes of Cage! Stokely moves the ladder AWAY from the belts but then climbs anyway…..Cope pushes the ladder and Stokely SMASHES through one table on the floor, my God that bump had to suck. SPIKE PILEDRIVER on Cope by FTR but here’s the Bucks for a Superkick Party. TK DRIVER on the floor to Dax. Nick sets Dax up on one table, Matt sets Cope on another. They both ascend a ladder on the floor…STEREO SPLASHES through tables! And Cash Wheeler DIVES THROUGH THE LADDER with a suicide dive to Cage through a propped up table!
Inside the ring, Matt and Nick climb a ladder, but FTR knock them down. Cage & Cope are back up too and we have 3 ladders set up in the ring now. All six men climb, scrappy strikes along the way. Spear by Cope to Matt! SHATTER MACHINE OFF THE LADDER to Nick! Chairshots to FTR prevent them from making progress up the ladder. Conchairto to Dax, with his head sandwiched between ladders! Cash ducks a conchairto, shoves Cope off. He tries to do the same to Cage, Cage kicks the rope to come back though. Body slam from Nick Jackson on Cash off the ladder. The Bucks have Cage poised, BTE Trigger from the top of the ladder, and Cage falls! Matt & Nick grab the titles!
Winners and NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions: The Young Bucks
Time: 23:27
Rating: **** – Judging by the spots Cage and Cope hit, you’d never think both of them had previously had to retire due to injury. Some crazy and spectacular stuff here, with an awful lot for the highlight reel. The main thing that prevented this from going higher was that there was too much repositioning of furniture, which kills the suspension of disbelief. Also can someone go check on Stokely because he SPLATTED on the floor on that bump! Young Bucks are now 4-time tag champs in AEW, and it’s a different scene to when they were last on top, so let’s see what they have to offer this time.
*Video package for the imminent return…of WARDLOW!
Ospreay gets a special entrance with a solo violinist, tied in with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced. I think that is indeed the actual voice over artist too? Pretty cool. In the parking lot, Ospreay sets fire to the Death Riders flag before marching to the ring. He stops, looks to the camera and says…”Let’s fucking end this!”
Ospreay goes for the ankle early, knowing it’s a weak spot. Nice touch already. Death Ground attempt from Moxley but Ospreay rapidly scoots to the ropes to break it. Boot to the face from Ospreay, quick exchange of holds, and they work to a stalemate. Ospreay whips off a tijeras to send Mox to the floor, and follows up with a slingshot crossbody. In the ring, Ospreay has Moxley on the top rope, but Moxley bites the forehead and rakes the back. DDT onto the top turnbuckle! And that’s enough to bust Ospreay open from the forehead.
Ospreay gets booted off the apron, before Moxley drives the forehead into the steel steps, opening up the wound further. Moxley licks the blood of Ospreay off his arm to a chorus of You Sick Fuck chants from Chicago. Neckbreaker in the ring gets a 1 count. Moxley goes for some joint manipulation and bites the fingers briefly. Stalling piledriver, 1, 2, no. Moxley peppers Ospreay with right hands, goes for another piledriver but Ospreay works out of this one. Handspring attempt from Ospreay, Moxley catches him, transitions right into the STF. Strait jacket submission, Ospreay counters, comes back with a handspring corkscrew kick, and he nails it this time. Standing Sky Twister Press gives Ospreay a 2 count. Double Underhook, Ospreay may be looking for Stormbreaker, but no, has to soften Moxley up more. Kawada kicks now. Moxley comes back with a big right hand. Jabs from both men. Ospreay looks for the Styles Clash, Moxley counters and looks for Death Ground again but can’t get that. Moxley sweeps the legs, rear naked choke! Ospreay breaks it, catches Moxley with a thrust kick. Oscutter attempt, no, sleeper suplex! Moxley with a Gotch-style piledriver, 1, 2, NO.
Biiiig lariat from Moxley takes Ospreay’s head off. Mox goes for the curb stomp, but Ospreay uses his neck strength to prevent it. Roaring elbow! One from Moxley. Floatover into a powerbomb, 1, 2, no, but Ospreay holds on, STYLES CLASH, 1, 2, NO! OSCUTTER CONNECTS! 1, 2, NOOO. Marina grabs the boot of Ospreay as he prepares for Hidden Blade. Yuta tries to get involved, so Speedball holds him back. Ospreay accidentally boots referee Paul Turner off the apron after Moxley sidestepped! HIDDEN BLADE TO MOXLEY but there’s no ref! Yuta jumps in the ring now, stomping away at Ospreay. Akira comes in, cutter to Yuta. Flurry of forearms and chops from Akira to both Yuta and Garcia until the numbers game catches up with him. Speedball in though, boots Garcia to the floor. Triangle Moonsault! Marina tries to take Bailey out, so he shoves her, and Pac attacks Bailey from behind with the briefcase. Pac lines up to take out Ospreay but Andrade is here. Andrade takes out Pac with the Dia De Los Muertos and gives Ospreay the United Empire crown salute. Paradigm Shift from Moxley, Ospreay is right back up with a Hidden Blade! Shafir takes out Ospreay, revives the ref, and Moxley covers, slow count…1….2…..no!
Marina re-enters the ring, and fully takes out the ref, stomping him in the head! She takes the briefcase, but here’s Alex Windsor. Hayter is here too for the 2 Birds 1 Stone to take out Shafir. They take out Yuta too. Hayter goes up top, crossbody to take out the Death Riders on the floor. Ospreay is alone in the ring now, he sees the briefcase and crawls over to it…and MOXLEY HITS A CURB STOMP ONTO THE BRIEFCASE. Moxley screams at him, “don’t make me do this”. Mox is torn it seems. He SMACKS Ospreay hard with the briefcase. New referee is down to make the count. 1, 2, NOOOO! Paradigm Shift connects, and again. Death Rider this time, 1, 2, NOOO Ospreay still kicks out. Bulldog choke locked in! Ospreay gets out of it by biting the arm of Moxley. Ospreay steps up on the buckles to get out of it, Hidden Blade! Storm breaker! 1, 2, NO. He signals for one more Hidden Blade, and pulls off the elbow pad this time. Moxley knows what’s coming and turns to face it. Hidden Blade to the face! 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW Men’s World Champion: Will Ospreay
Time: 32:47
Rating: ***3/4 – First half had a great build and I appreciated them taking their time. The obvious story was told, with Moxley knowing that Ospreay’s weakness was the neck, and therefore the large bulk of the work focused on Moxley’s targeting of that body part. That was all terrific and it looked like we were headed for a classic, but they lost me a little with all that endless interference and overbooking. We’ve seen it a lot in these big Death Rider matches, and while it may be sowing seeds for Blood & Guts, it didn’t feel all that well placed here and took away from the match at hand. Finish was neat, with Moxley accepting his fate and turning towards the final blow.
*After the match, Moxley lingers in the ring, and helps hand Ospreay the championship to seal the deal. Ospreay gets a brief celebration, and with that, we are done. Thanks for joining me folks, I appreciate you! Have a great night and I’ll see you again soon.
