If AEW know anything it’s how to put on a PPV. On paper there is some absolute bangers to come so let’s see if it lives up to the hype with our opening match.
Match one Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Pac
Slow start with multiple wrist exchanges until Pac grabs a headlock takeover followed by a hurricanrana on Okada to the outside and then Pac flies and hits a dive. Pac whips Okada into the barricade followed by a super brainbuster but Okada kicks out at 2. Pac to the top rope but Okada with a huge dropkick sending Pac crashing to the apron.
Okada with a running kick to the head, followed by the dropkick and then a hanging DDT and Pac just about makes it into the ring before the 10 count and gets a DDT for his troubles but kicks out at 2. Okada with the chinlock but Pac fights back and sends Okada to the floor, setting up the top rope Asai moonsault.
Pac lands some strong kicks and a german suplex and a helluva kick to Okada and Pac is looking for the black arrow but Okada avoids. Okada grabs the Tombstone but the Rainmaker is reversed into the Brutalizer. That’s broken up as well and Pac hits a Tombstone of his own. Pac again goes for the black arrow but this time all that is there is Okadas knees. Okada is up and connects with the rainmaker and this one is all over and Okada retains.
Here is your winner: Kuzuchika Okada
I feel like we have seen this story so many times. Pac gets a huge build up and then loses the title match. I saw no point in this other than to make Okada look strong but killing Pac in the process. But hey that’s just my opinion. Aside from the result a great match with two of the best AEW have. If this is how we are starting then lets get comfy for the rest of the show.
Match two Adam Copeland/Eddie Kingston/Mark Briscoe vs. House Of Black
Matthews takes Briscoe up against the ropes to start but it’s quickly off to Copeland to hammer away in the corner. Black comes in, stares at Copeland, and then hands it off to King instead. King misses a clothesline so Kingston comes in for the strike off, which goes rather badly for him.
Kingston fights up and knocks him to his knees, setting up a big chop, followed by the rapid fire chops in the corner. King is back up and knocks Kingston into the other corner, where Matthews takes over. It’s back to Black for the chinlock but Kingston fights up and strikes away and gets the hot tag to Briscoe to clean house, including an enziguri to send Matthews to the floor.
Copeland is back up with a top rope superplex to bring King down. King gets up and hits a discus lariat on Briscoe, only to get spinning backfisted by Kingston. Copeland adds a spear and Briscoe’s Froggy Bow gets two. Black comes back in for the staredown with Copeland but Briscoe cuts it off. The House cleans house (no pun intended) but team Copeland are back with triple syncronised spears. Last two men left standing is Copeland and Black. Copeland goes for the spear but is met with the mist from Black whilst the ref is distracted and that is followed by Black mass and the three count.
Here is your winner: House of Black
This was genius. Teased Copeland v Black through the whole match and it never got the chance and then Black pinned Copeland. Thus setting up a title match for Malakai Black. Love it. Please give Black the title. A great trios match. Solid from all six guys.
Match three TBS Title: Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale
Willow is not here to play and hits a thrust kick straight from the bell. Willow goes to the middle rope but Julia kicks her to the outside and throws her over the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. Willow has her head bounced repeatedly into the canvas. Hart with a back elbow in the corner, whips Willow face first into the mat. Camel clutch applied but countered into a Sleeper but Hart kicks her way out of it. Spinebuster from Willow gets 2. Hip attack in the corner, Willow to the middle rope but Julia avoids it. Hartless locked in but Willow gets to her knees. Thrust kick by Hart, chops by Willow, double stomp to the chest by Hart and shes up top looking for the moonsault but Willow gets the boots up. Lariat followed by a Doctor Bomb. 1, 2, 3. And we have a new champion.
Here is your winner: Willow Nightingale
This wasn’t given much time but they made it work. Willow was always winning this one and then will drop the title in a grudge match with Mone. Its already written, you took some of my career and now I will take your title. Man I should be a writer for AEW!
Match four International Title: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Roderick Strong
Both guys go technical to begin, with O'Reilly's ankle lock getting broken. Back up, Strong lands the jumping leg lariat for two, but O'Reilly knocks him back down. Strong grabs him and drops him hard onto the buckle. Another backbreaker cuts O'Reilly off, but he responds with a series of strikes. Strong responds with an Angle Slam into the running forearms against the ropes.
The running boot against the ropes is blocked, so O'Reilly grabs the kneebar. That's broken up, so O'Reilly strikes, only to be pulled into another backbreaker for two more. Strong gets two with a top rope superplex, but O'Reilly ties the legs up into a small package but Strong kicks out at 2 again.
Another exchange of strikes allows O'Reilly to land a German suplex, but Strong knees him in the face and both men are down. Back up, and O'Reilly lands a brainbuster, setting up the cross armbreaker that sends Strong over the ropes. Strong returns with End Of Heartache and this one is all over.
Here is your winner: Roderick Strong
This was the weakest match of the night so far. The crowd weren’t into it and neither was i. The talking point will be the look Cole gave Wardlow. This is heading to Wardlow turning on the group. Maybe MJF has his back in the end? Interesting thought.
Match five Hook vs. Chris Jericho
Feeling out process to start until Hook grabs the first suplex. Jericho loads up a table but Hook is back with the trashcan lid shots. With that broken up, Jericho trashcans him down as well and they go back inside.
Jericho knocks him to the apron, where Hook suplexes him down through a table for a nasty crash and a near fall on the floor. Back in and Jericho hammers away but stops to grab a trashcan, allowing Hook to snap off a German suplex. The trashcan is put over Jericho and Hook grabs the kendo stick for the beating.
Another suplex with Jericho in the can allows Hook to load up another table in the corner. Jericho grabs a Codebreaker, and they're both down. They slug it out from their knees, with Jericho winning but missing a Rockers' fist drop. Redrum continues until Jericho drives him through the table for the break.
The Judas Effect is countered into a kneebar but Jericho reverses into the Walls. Hook reverses into a small package for two and grabs Redrum, only to have Jericho kick him low. Now the Judas Effect – with a Michaels v flair im sorry moment- can connect for two so Jericho hits it again but Hook kicks out one more time. Jericho grabs the baseball bat, says he’s sorry again, and completely wipes out Hook.
Here is your winner: Chris Jericho
This was silly. Very very silly. Jericho is the furthest from over right now and certainly did not need to go over Hook in this one. The crowd response to Jericho was ice cold. I guess this just gives Jericho more ammunition as to his claims to be the ultimate GOAT as he has now added the FTW title to his list of accomplishments.
Match six Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Thunder Rosa
They fight into the corner with Storm overpowering Rosa only to receive a hard slap round the face. Storm with a kick to the midsection but Rosa knocks Storm out to the floor. There’s the big corkscrew dive but Rosa has to stop and glare at May. The forearms to the chest give Rosa two, only to have Storm come back with a backbreaker for the same.
Some shots to the back let Storm take her to the top, where Rosa powerbombs her down for two more. A Death valley Driver onto the apron plants Storm for two more. Storm is back with a Backstabber out of the corner, followed by a DDT. A fisherman’s suplex gives Storm two but Rosa’s stomp connects for the same. Its twos all round at this point.
Storm grabs a chokebomb for two so Rosa slugs away, only to be greeted with a headbutt. May tries to interfere but out comes Deonna Purrazzo and these two women fight to the back. Storm grabs a German suplex to set up the hip attack. Storm Zero gets two. Rosa gets out the Texas clover leaf and grabs a Backstabber into a cobra clutch but Storm escapes as well. A low kick sets up another Storm Zero and the ref counts to three.
Here is your winner: Toni Storm
AEW need to be smart now as the only person left to challenge Storm is Mariah May. Unless we have a returning Baker or Hayter because Storm has now run through the whole womens division. Excellent match from both women though.
Match seven Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
So I watched this. I watched this some more. There are no words I can write that will do this match any justice at all. Im not even sure words exist that can summarise this or explain this. If you do only one thing for the rest of the year it is to watch this match. Watch it twice. Watch it three times. Match of the year. Say no more. Sorry I cant report on this match. I have no words.
Match eight Tag Team Titles: Young Bucks vs. FTR
FTR takes over to start and goes for the ladders but the Bucks cut them off. The dives drop FTR and it’s time for the ladder to be brought in. FTR cuts that off for a change so it’s time to put some tables up at ringside. That takes too long as well so Wheeler is laid across the ladder for a dive from Matt. Back in and Harwood is busted open as the Bucks beat him down with chairs.
FTR hits a bulldog to plant Matt and a slingshot powerbomb puts him down again. That’s not enough as Matt gets knocked off the apron, sending him hard into the barricade. Nick hurricanranas Harwood off the apron and through a table for a nasty looking crash. All four are back up and go for the climb, with everyone but Matt crashing down. Harwood pulls Matt’s shoes off before FTR busts out the PowerPlex off the ladder for the big crash.
Nick is back up with a 450 to Wheeler through a table, leaving Harwood to piledrive Matt onto a bridged ladder. Wheeler pulls Nick down from the ladder but his suicide dive only hits table. Matt and Harwood go up. Please be careful chants from the crowd. Harwood knocks Matt to the floor and all that’s left for him to do it unhook the titles. But a masked man is in the ring and pushes Harwood off. Mask off. Welcome back Jack Perry. Massive pop from the crowd and the bucks are up the ladder and have the belts.
Here is your winner: The Young Bucks
This was actually really good. Hard to follow the previous match but these four men are just incredible. Loved the pop for Jack Perry and the Elite sign thrown up from Jack and Nicholas. Use this heat on Perry and make this work please. I don’t ask for much but do not waste this.
Match nine AEW World Title: Swerve Strickland vs. Samoa Joe
A feeling out process to start until Joe hits a knee to the ribs to take over. Joe takes him outside for a toss over the announcers’ table but Swerve gets in a knee to the face. That earns him a hard planting on the floor and they head back inside, with Joe keeping the pace slow.
Joe plants him again and grabs the chin lock. Swerve tries to fight up and gets elbowed in the face to send him back outside. Back in and Swerve has to strike his way out of the Koquina Clutch, setting up the rolling Downward Spiral for two. Swerve grabs a headscissors choke but Joe powers him into the corner for the Muscle Buster and another near fall.
Back up and Swerve hits the House Call into a 450 into the Swerve Stomp for two. Joe is right back up with the Koquina Clutch but doesn’t have it all which gives Swerve the opportunity to get out and hit the House Call for two more. Both men again go to the top but Swerve knocks off Joe one more time and gets full connection with the swerve stomp and this one is all over.
Here is your winner: AND NEWWWWWW AEW world champion SWERVE STRICKLAND
If anyone deserves this it is Swerve Strickland. This was the last chance for him or the crowd would of lost interest and they executed it brilliantly. Was it a classic? Absolutely not. Was it the best work of either guys? No way. But was it a magical moment when Swerve finally won? Absolutely. Swerve will now see Ospreay somewhere down the road and that is what I am here for.
Say what you want about AEW but when it comes to PPV events they always deliver. This show was absolutely incredible. All matches overall were good. The Ospreay Danielson match was match of the year. It was just incredible. Well played AEW. Well played. I will now go and rewatch the Ospreay match because it was that damn good.
Thanks for joining me guys. See you at Rampage.
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