The show started with former International Champion Orange Cassidy coming to the ring. His opening sentence is that despite doctors orders he will be here week in and week out. He also is starting to use the "I do not have a catchphrase" ironically week after week.
The first match is for the International Championship. Orange Cassidy looked back at the ring as Jon Moxley entered the ring. His opponent is the man that was recently removed from the Mogul Embassy AR Fox. Moxley lays in some heavy blows to start the match. AR Fox does get some of his lucha libre inspired offence in. Jon Moxley delivers a massive boot to AR Fox as he attempted to springboard into the ring. That was a nice high impact move. [A back stage view of Darby and Nick Wayne opponents for tonight are shown watching the match.] After the commercial break Mox is shown giving Fox the Yes Kicks. AR Fox is able to get some offense in after that. He did a nice cutter. The only real way that Fox is going to win this match is if they want to further the Fox and Nick Wayne feud which is obvisouldy not over. Mox wins with a Death Rider.
This was an open challenge. Emi Sakura is a good talent. It is a shame that she is used just as enhancement on Dynamite. Starting out Emi is dominating Statlander. Sakura botched a neck breaker before pulling off a nice back breaker. Statlander wins.
Le Sex Gods against Aussie Open with Don Callis on commentary. Jericho started the match. He tagged Sammy in and did a double shoulder take down before hitting their pose. It isn't completely clear if Don is out there to support Aussie Open or further a feud with Chris Jericho. Mark Davis tags in Kyle Fletcher who is able to match Sammy Guevara in speed. Kyle Fletcher is also able to out power Sammy. Jericho is tagged in before the commercial break and beats up on Fletcher. Jericho does a nice bulldog out of the corner on Fletcher. Sammy is tagged in still during the commercial break. Sammy hits a cutter on Mark Davis as Kyle Fletcher smashed his forearm into Chris Jericho's head. Sammy's next notable offense is a corkscrew dive over the top onto Aussie Open. Jericho attempts a dive but fails. This set up Aussie Open to smash their opponents like they do on the outside. Jericho takes the Aussie Arrow but kicks out at 2. Sammy intercepts Mark Davis with a Spanish Fly. Fletcher is able to prevent a Walls of Jericho and hit Chris with a super kick then brain buster for another 2 count. Chris Jericho accidently hit Sammy Guevara. Le Sex Gods do end up winning with a Judas Effect. Sammy is visibly upset due to the misfire. A shoving match ensues between Le Sex Gods that is broken up by security.
A Ricky Starks promo aired. He is showing some fire. I can see him getting a title sooner rather than later.
AEW lied again. The announcers said that we would hear from MJF after the commercial break but instead we got Don Callis and a covered painting.
However, that brief diversion did lead to the double champion MJF coming out next. MJF mentions that while trying to make his name on the indies he lived in Indiana. He was upset that he had to wrestle again so soon when the Grand Slam Tournament was announced but happy that it is in New York. The ground work is being set for Samoa Joe to be the next rivalry for MJF because Samoa Joe's music hit. I think if anyone can keep MJF as a face it would be Joe. Joe takes a stab at the other company while talking down to Max by calling him kid. MJF is hiding his tapped up neck well by his scarf. Based off a schmeckle comment a tiny dick chant breaks out. Joe does a good joke about MJF still waiting on a brisk because the Rabbi couldn't find something to work with. MJF keeps from fighting Joe by mentioning the tournament. Then Story Time with MJF who recounts his William Regal email story. He punctuated the story with telling Joe if he is lucky he will send him back to NXT like William Regal. MJF referenced his WWE debut as a security guard. MJF slapped Samoa Joe after being called a little bitch. Joe then attacked MJF as he was exiting the ring. MJF got the upper hand by a low blow. Joe took it back with a urinagi in the corner. Adam Cole saves MFJ before he received a Muscle Buster. The end was an injury angle. This promo felt really long. It was not bad. Both men did well. It just didn't have the same entertainment value as MJF promos usually do.
Roderick Strong and the Kingdom enter for Roderick Strong against Trent Beretta in the opening match of the Grand Slam Tournament. Roderick did take off his neck brace for the match. Trent Berretta was accompanied by Chuck Taylor. Collar and elbow tie up to start he match. Chain wrestling 1-0-1 starting the match. The most untechnical move was in the opening of the match was a double knees by Trent. Other than that it has kept with a very classic style of match. Trent did target the neck of Strong. Roderick Strong also did play up the injury. Roderick dropped Trent on the apron with a back breaker. The commentary team did not have time to play up just how stiff that part of the ring before a commercial break. During the commercial break Roderick Strong took to more of a bruiser style battle. Trent does a series of German Suplexes to Strong before attempting a half and half which was blocked but Trent did get a death valley driver in. A huricanerana by Trent was turned into a pin by Roderick Strong. Roderick Strong is able to win after a high knee followed up by a back breaker.
A nice Toni Storm promo happened. Not sure what to make of anything she said. I really dig this gimmick.
Swerve Strickland only allows Adam Page to say where the money was donated before he interrupted. Swerve degrades Hangman for doing charity and disses the Chicago Educational System, Swerve points out that nothing has really happened with Adam Page in over a year. Swerve may have also made a reference to Full Gear by saying Adam's physic has lost some of its tone. Swerve wants the spot that Adam Page has given up to take the back seat to the Elite. It is nice to see Adam Page getting back into storyline. Hangman's response was weak before the family insult. Brian Cage attacked from behind. Cage does not have pain on tonight. The Mogul Embassy stands tall over a fallen Cowboy in Adam Page. Probably the promo of the night for me.
This is a first ever match between these two men. As you can see in the pictures tweeted above these men go deep. A handshake/hug started the match. Both men are showing the familiarity with each other. Darby crashed and burned onto the outside. Nick moved out of the way just in time and looking back at the carnage left of Darby's body showed shock, surprise, and slight concern. Nick Wayne is trying to get the crowd to cheer Darby on. Darby really is showing pain from his lower back. Nick Wayne seems to show hesitation on attacking his mentor. That doesn't keep him from attacking though. Nick gave Darby Allin a superplex fisherman combo. Excalibur mentions Wrestledream is being held in the home city of both of these men. [The WrestleDream logo looks a lot like a Wrestlemania logo.] Both men go for a cross body. The two men fist bumb before starting to trade punches. Darby then askes for the microphone and says he "hits like an 18 year old" and wants hit like Nick wants to win the match. Christain Cage's music hits to distract Nick Wayne and carry the TV audience into hopefully the final commecial break. Nick Wayne has control of the match during commercial break and works on the lower back of Darby Allin. Commercial ends with a high knee from Nick Wayne to Darby Allin. Nick Wayne delivered a frog splash from the top rope to the cement floor. He is a bit long for a that move especially when going that far down. Darby had the chance to deliver a coffin drop but refused. That allowed Nick to kick out at two. A series of near falls follows. that. This match has now gone into the rare over the tv time slot. Darby wins via submission.
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