The Icon Sting made his first appearance in AEW since his retirement match in March, coming to the aid of Darby Allin who was about to be set on fire in a coffin.
After Jack Perry defeated Allin, The Young Bucks came out to help Perry dump gasoline inside and on the coffin with the aim to light him up on fire. But as Perry got fire, the lights went out and the popular Seek and Destroy song hit the speakers.
Sting came out, holding a baseball bat and The Bucks and Perry backed off in the ring. Sting got in the ring and swung his bat as the heels tried to fend him off. Perry hit him with a steel chair and Sting no sold the shot and Perry ran out. The Bucks then were on the receiving end of a double Scorpion Death Drop.
Sting exited the ring and helped Allin out of the coffin to end the segment on a happier note.
Allin and Sting defeated The Young Bucks in the main event of AEW Revolution in March, retaining their tag team titles and sending Sting into retirement with a perfect record.
Ricochet made his AEW debut at All In and was a surprise entrant in the Casino Gauntlet match.
He came out when “Hangman” Adam Page was standing in the ring alone and when the “R” came up on the video screen, the fans erupted. Wearing black and gold ring gear, the former WWE Intercontinental champion lit the match on fire with several high spots.
After he made his way out, AEW President Tony Khan posted the usual “is All Elite” message on X, welcoming Ricochet to the company. News broke earlier this week that Ricochet signed a multi-year deal and was expected in London.
The man behind the name, Trevor Mann, actually owns the trademark Ricochet which is why he was allowed to use the name in AEW as well.
The former WWE Intercontinental champion left WWE in late June of this year after a six-year stint, opting not to sign a new deal. He was written off television after he was brutally attacked by Bron Breakker.
Nigel McGuinness returned to the ring for the first time since 2011 and participated in the Casino Gauntlet match.
McGuinness came in as the third entrant and immediately faced off with AEW Continental champion Kazuchika Okada. As you can imagine, the crowd went absolutely bonkers with several soccer-related and “F*ck him up Nigel, f*ck him up” chants.
He even had a face-to-face with another surprise entrant, Zack Sabre Jr which got the Wembley crowd on its feet.
The 48-year-old did commentary on the show but was replaced by Taz after the AEW Women’s title match, where he even received a kiss by Mariah May.
McGuinness, an ROH mainstay, last wrestled in December 2011. He has been part of AEW since April 2023.
WHAT?! NIGEL MCGUINNES IS IN THE CASINO GAUNTLET MATCH!
Former AEW Women’s champion Jamie Hayter returned during the Zero Hour portion of the All In pay-per-view.
Hayter interrupted an in-ring segment featuring Saraya, the whole Knight family, and Haley Cameron. Saraya was complaining about not having a match on the show when last year she won the AEW Women’s title and how she was the best female wrestler from England.
At that point, Hayter’s music hit to a big pop from the crowd and took out everyone, although Saraya managed to escape undamaged.
Hayter has been out of action since May 2023 and last wrestled at Double or Nothing, losing her title to Toni Storm. She had a long shoulder injury which kept her out of action for the past 15 months.
Former #AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter has returned to #AEW!
AEW announced that it will be visiting Down Under for the very first time on February 15, 2025 for AEW Grand Slam: Australia.
The show will be held at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, a facility which has a capacity of just over 52,000 seats.
The Saturday show seems to be a pay-per-view event and takes the name of the usual September Dynamite which is held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
This year’s Dynamite: Grand Slam has struggled big time when it comes to ticket sales and has not even reached 5,000 tickets sold so far.
It’s All In day and we are just an hour away from AEW’s biggest pay-per-view of the year.
These following odds are correct as of press time but remember, they might still change so please be careful when betting with real money.
Is there going to be a new AEW World champion tonight? Bookmakers think so as they have tipped Bryan Danielson with 1/5 odds and favorite while champion Swerve Strickland is 3/1 to retain.
The challenger in the AEW Women’s title is also the favorite, with Mariah May have 1/20 odds and clearly the favorite to end Toni Storm “timeless” run with the title. She is at 7/1 to retain.
The CEO will battle the DMD with the TBS title up for grabs. Mercedes Mone is the overwhelming favorite with 1/50 odds while Britt Baker is 10/1 for her first gold in a long time.
Who will earn a future AEW World title shot. Several competitors are lined up for the Casino Gauntlet match and the most logical winner, Hangman Page, is the favorite with 4/25 odds. Orange Cassidy, who is entering #1, has 18/1 odds.
The AEW Tag Team titles will be on the line in a three-way match as The Young Bucks defend against FTR and The Acclaimed. The Bucks are 1/7 favorites while both FTR and The Acclaimed are 5/1.
Will Ospreay is looking to get the AEW American title to bring back the International design and he is 1/50 favorite to do just that and become new champion, with MJF at 10/1 and underdog to retain.
A coffin match returns to All In for the second year in a row and this time the TNT title is also on the line. Jack Perry is 1/10 favorite to keep his gold while Darby Allin is 11/2 to regain it.
A four-way ladder match will determine who will walk out with the AEW Trios titles. The champions, The Patriarchy, are currently favorites with 1/4 odds, BCC and Pac are 2/1, and House of Black and The Bang Bang Gang are at both 8/1.
Hook gets his last crack at the FTW title as long as Jericho is the champion and by the looks of it, Hook is ready to go back home with extra luggage and bookmakers also gave him 1/50 odds for the win and the champion Chris Jericho at just 10/1.
Brie Garcia, the wife of Bryan Danielson, was the special guest of Close Up with Renee Paquette ahead of today’s All In.
Brie said that the whole family will be at Wembley Stadium today to witness what could be his last match and no matter the outcome, there will be tears, either of joy as he becomes the AEW World champion, or tears of sadness as he wraps up his in-ring career.
She said that Bryan, at 43, should not be in this much pain and she sees his body breaking down every day which is effecting his playing time with his kids because he’s in constant pain.
Brie hopes that Danielson will fight hard tonight and thinks it would be badass for the kids to see their daddy become a champion. She said that she told him that they are not hoping that this is his last match and although they know his journey is coming to an end, it doesn’t have to come to an end tonight.
Garcia and Paquette also talked about other subjects including each being married to a wrestler, their husbands transitioning from a wrestler to parent when they come home and more.
Tickets for the first two episodes of NXT on CW Network were off to a good start, with ticket tracking service @WrestleTix reporting the first-count numbers since they went on sale.
The first episode will be taking place from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on October 1. The WWE hotspot is nearing 5,000 tickets sold so far but not the whole arena is being used, with nearly 7,500 seats in total for use.
Meanwhile, the second episode on October 8, the episode which will go head-to-head with AEW’s Dynamite: Title Tuesday, has just over 3,000 tickets sold for an arena setup of nearly 7,000. The show is being held at the Enterprise Center in St Louis, Missouri, and just like the Allstate Arena, only a small portion of it is being used.
CM Punk and Randy Orton are both advertised to appear in their respective cities and it’s highly likely that more main rosters stars will be showing up on the October 8 episode since it faces Dynamite.
There are many free slot games online, and they allow the player to have fun with a target capital out of pocket from any kind. The games afford players the opportunity to interact with a whole host of slots features, including spinning reels and triggering bonus rounds as well as jackpot prizes without having to deposit any funds. What to know about slot agen free games
What Are Free Slot Games?
A slot machine (American English), known variously as a fruit machine (British English and Commonwealth English), puggy (Scottish Englis A free spins casino is an gambling business with real difference in that you can enjoy them on your desktop or laptop. Gameplay and graphics are the same with the real money versions, as well as features but bettors can wager through virtual credits instead of actual cash. And, you can find them on the pages of online casinos and game developers as well as in special reviews where users share their opinions for free.
Where to Play Free Slot Games
Online Casinos – Most online casinos offer free Slot Gacor Maxwin games for their members to practice on. These are usually available in a play-for-fun mode or sometimes also referred to as demo-mode, so you can have the chance of trying them free before spending your own money.
Game Developers’ Websites — Certain developers, including NetEnt, Microgaming and Playtech offer free-play versions of all their slots across their websites. A cool way to see some of their fresher games and get a sense for the two mentioned above.
Free Slot Websites: These are some of the websites where you can play free slot games. You will find many slots from a host of different developers on these sites so there is plenty to choose from.
Free mobile slots apps are available in the app store as well. Most of these apps offer a number of different slot options, including Link Slot Gacor Hari Ini that are very recognizable as well as newer games to be deputed.
Pros of Playing Free Slot Games
No Risking Funds: The best part of slot free slots is the option to play without losing money. Which makes them a great choice for players looking to improve their gaming skills, or those who want to test out slot games without placing any wagers.
Practice and Learn – Free slots are perfect for learning different games, practicing to make sure you understand how they work. You can try out different tactics, learn the paytables and get an excellent handle on how to play slots without any financial risk.
Try Out New Games: With free slot games, you will have the ability to test new slots and discover if you like them prior to spending your own money. This is especially great when experimenting with new releases or different games.
Keep you entertained: Free slot games are nothing short of a boon as they offer not only some fun but also excitement. They often use various themes, graphics and bonus features so there is always something new to discover.
Types of Free Slot Games
Classic Slots: This is the traditional slots which appear with 3 reels and restrained paylines. They usually include more ‘classical’ symbols, such as fruit, bars and sevens.
Slot Games — Video Slots: These are the most popular types of slot game and have five or more reels with multiple paylines. These features are usually characterised by sophisticated graphics, animations and bonus elements which also introduces free spins, wild symbols and mini-games.
3D Slots — 3D slots are known as the most interactive games, which uses real-time three-dimensional graphics and animations to deliver an awesome gameplay. These games have long storylines, unique characters most of them are pretty well-done and sometimes they even got the cinematic approach for which Godfather would be proud.
Progressive Slots: You know that you are not going to get able o win any real money by playing free progressive slots but it will let you feel the exhilaration of chasing after a big jackpot. These progressive slots are at the center of a jackpot pool that will be escalated by every spin.
Branded Slots: These slots are themed from movies, TV shows or celebrities and will include familiar characters, imagery and music.
How to Play Free Slot Games
Pick a Game: Opt for the free slot games you would like to play Game platforms come with filters that can group games based on its theme, developer or other features.
Choose Your Bet: While this is a free slot, you can set your bets on denomination of the coins You are not betting with real money here but still it will help you in knowing the basics of their game play.
Spin the Reels — Use this button to spin the reels and start playing. The reels will start spinning and they will eventually halt, the outcome being a combination of symbols on the reel. And if you match the symbols on a payline, then you win some virtual credits.
Features: Free slot machines can feature bonus rounds, free spins or other features. It is worth going through these features because it can improve the gameplay experience drastically.
How to Ensure that You Enjoy FREE Slot Games
Real money gamesTry a few different types of slots, do not stop at one game. Every game comes with distinct characteristics and thematic schemes.
Practice Strategy: Play free slots to practice different betting strategies or risk levels. If you ever want to play for real money later on, this can come in very handy.
Enjoy the Game: The best free slot games are those that provide you with an immersive gaming experience in a relaxed environment. No stress, play free stories and learn from them!
Responsible Play: (Although you are not losing money, responsible play should still be observed. Limit your gaming time to one hour a day, or else other activities are essential.
Conclusion
Play with free slot gamesFree slot games are a great way to experience the fun of using a real-life casino without losing everything. No matter, as there is something for every slot player interested in free slots to do – be it practice the newest titles available; try what may be a new favourite game or simply enjoy playing these type of games! There are countless games online and for your mobile phone so you can be absolutely sure to find something that will keep both!
For fans in Europe and any other part of the world except North America have a couple of options on how to watch today’s All In, with a much cheaper price than the U.S.
Triller TV is offering the show for $24.99 or else $19.99 if you already have an AEW Plus subscription. You can also opt for the All In and All Out double pack which is $34.99 if you have an AEW Plus subscription. AEW Plus costs $4.99 a month.
PPV.COM is offering the broadcast for £15.99 for those in the United Kingdom or €18.99 for those in Europe, which is the cheapest offering at this point.
For those countries who have DAZN, the provider is offering All In for €19.99.
Select international markets as well as North American users can buy the show via YouTube and those who are residing in North America only also have the ability to watch it on B/R.
Following his unadvertised appearance at the AAA Triplemania XXXII show last weekend, WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield resurfaced at the GCW Homecoming event last night.
JBL made his presence felt in the main event when Effy interfered to try and screw GCW champion Mance Warner from retaining the title. The former WWE champion took down Effy with a couple of clotheslines from hell, helping Warner in the process.
Layfield, wearing a trench coat and a cowboy hat, got a huge pop from the crowd when he showed up unexpectedly.
Last week, he accompanied Nic Nemeth to his AAA Mega Heavyweight title match against Alberto El Patron. El Patron won the match and the title and after the match, JBL shook hands with his former WWE colleague.
HOLY F*CK! JBL just showed up at GCW tonight & hit 2 Clotheslines from Hell 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0ddNt96k2m
Live today from Wembley Stadium in London, England, AEW presents All In 2024 on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
ZERO HOUR: Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway vs Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii in a mixed tag team match; Dustin Rhodes, Sammy Guevara, Katsuyori Shibata, and The Von Erichs vs The Undisputed Kingdom and Cage of Agony in a 10-man tag team match.
PPV: Swerve Strickland vs Bryan Danielson in a title vs career match for the AEW World title; Toni Storm vs Mariah May for the AEW Women’s title; MJF vs Will Ospreay for the AEW American title; Mercedes Mone vs Britt Baker for TBS title; Jack Perry vs Darby Allin in a coffin match for the TNT title; The Patriarchy vs Bang Bang Gang vs House of Black vs Pac and Blackpool Combat Club in a four-way London Ladder match for the AEW Trios titles; The Young Bucks vs FTR vs The Acclaimed in a three-way tag team match for the AEW Tag Team titles; Chris Jericho vs Hook in a last chance match for the FTW title; and a Casino Gauntlet match for a future AEW World title.
Confirmed entrants for the Casino Gauntlet match include Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, “Hangman” Adam Page, Evil Uno, Roderick Strong, Dustin Rhodes, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett.
All In will start at 1PM ET, 10AM PT, 6PM GMT local time, and 7PM CET, with the Zero Hour show kicking off two hours earlier.
AEW returns to pay-per-view tomorrow night with the highly-anticipated All In live from Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Today we will present the early odds for the top matches for the show and tomorrow we will update with the latest odds for the full card. Please bet responsibly if using real money.
In the AEW World title match, Bryan Danielson is the favorite to finally clinch some gold with his odds at 1/5 while those of Swerve Strickland are 3/1 to retain. If Danielson loses, he will have to retire.
Odds are also in favor of the challenger in the AEW Women’s title match as Mariah May is the overwhelming favorite with 1/20 to win the title against champion Toni Storm, who is 7/1 in her odds.
Mercedes Mone will defend her TBS title against Britt Baker and unfortunately for the doctor, things are not looking good for her as Mone is 1/50 favorite to retain her gold while Baker is 10/1 and a long shot.
The odds for Will Ospreay vs MJF are completely reversed from the above, with Ospreay 1/50 favorite to win the AEW American title while champion MJF is 10/1 to retain.
And in the AEW Tag Team title match, The Young Bucks are favorite to retain their titles with 1/7 odds as FTR and The Acclaimed are 4/1 and 7/1 in their numbers.
In order of personal interest, starting with the least.
Chris Jericho vs Hook (FTW Title)
Biggest Plus:
Jericho saying ‘Cardiff, England’ was sensational heel work.
Biggest Minus:
Everything else.
How many shows in a row is it now with this feud as the least interesting thing on it? It feels endless.
Devil’s Advocate:
Jericho should be at home taking a break; Hook gaining seasoning in Japan.
Worth noting:
Taz is yet to get physical despite his mistreatment.
Is Joe finished filming and/or can he take a weekend break in London?
Biggest possible twist (these will be a mix of somewhat likely and just plain crazy, will leave your intellects to do the distinguishing):
Taz turns heel.
Role on the card:
Up-and-comer cements status by finally beating vet.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish (i.e. without dumb refs, cheating or interference, regardless of the rules)? Yes.
Winner: Hook
Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale vs Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway (Winner chooses stip. for the ladies’ All Out title-match)
Biggest Plus:
Stokely’s fun and will sell his ass off (facially as much as anything) for the babyface combo.
Biggest Minus:
Despite the heel turn, Statlander still feels cold. Nightingale’s popularity continues to be squandered.
Devil’s Advocate:
Couldn’t there be some New Japan title Ishii could bring into the mix? Perhaps the Intercontinental? Can never have too many.
Worth noting:
N/A
Biggest possible twist:
Hathaway pins Ishii.
Role on the card:
A feud AEW don’t want left off but don’t way to pay off either.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish? No.
When a manager ends up in a match, they’re usually taking the loss. But the winner chooses the stip. for next time, and those usually exist to give a babyface extra odds to overcome.
Winner: Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway
Jack Perry vs Darby Allin (TNT Title, Coffin match)
Biggest Plus:
‘Last year, with all your dumb shit that you pulled, I really wish you got fired.’
Darby Allin sounded like he meant this. Like he genuinely doesn’t like Jack Perry.
Biggest Minus:
The feud began with Perry trying to run Darby over in a paedo van then being set on fire.
Where does one go from there?
Devil’s Advocate:
Probably a few guys backstage who’d take being suspended if it meant coming back to regular pay-per-view time. Some scapegoat.
Worth noting:
Do we get a Sting appearance? Would only make sense if Darby’s winning. Unless it’s a post-match ‘save.’
Allin’s rationale for not setting Perry on fire at Blood & Guts was that he wanted the match at Wembley. But Darby definitely seems like he’d be down to have a match with a corpse.
No references to ‘real glass’ please, let it go.
Biggest possible twist:
Given this feud so far – Allin astride an earth-ending asteroid as it crushes Perry, the ring, our world and any memory of humankind?
Role on the card:
Two guys skirt manslaughter charges.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish? (Hellllll) No.
Since it seems unlikely Perry’s losing his championship this quickly. But Darby’s got a shot at the world strap in his bag. Which is why a heel demanded a stipulation which ostensibly favors the babyface.
So no-one has to get pinned. (Ideally ever. Unless it’s via the most devastating finish of the 2010s and beyond, the dreaded rollup.)
Winner: Jack Perry
Young Bucks vs FTR vs The Acclaimed (Tag Titles)
Biggest Plus:
Open to suggestions. Genuinely cannot think of a single thing.
Biggest Minus:
Looking back a year, wow this company’s changed. No Punk, no Cole, no Sting, Swerve was a mid-card heel, Jericho still a top guy, and FTR were in a cold feud with the Bucks over the tag belts.
Oh.
Devil’s Advocate:
If there’s only been one pay-per-view title defense in a year (FTR vs Aussie Open last October) – that didn’t involve Sting, glass or ladders – is the division even worth having?
Worth noting:
N/A.
Biggest possible twist:
Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi return after a Bucks win. If he is healthy enough to do so, would make sense for Omega to do some teaming while he gets his legs under him.
Role on the card:
Tough one. The Acclaimed’s crowning moment? Except they’re not really babyfaces and fans don’t care about them.
Caster’s not great and this incarnation of the Bucks doesn’t even guarantee a good match. Though easily their best all year came vs Dax and Cash. So probably tops out at spot-fest.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish? Yes.
*Shrugs* We’ll go with FTR. Probably via pinning a Buck. Puts the belts on wrestlers who don’t have limited dates on their contracts while continuing the FTR/Acclaimed feud.
Winner: FTR
Mariah May vs Timeless Toni Storm (Women’s Title)
Biggest Plus:
Fans are really into Toni Storm getting her revenge. After an excellent angle which saw her blindsided by her protégé. Mariah’s promo work’s been good to very good.
Biggest Minus:
And while May’s easily worthy of this feud, she doesn’t feel worthy of the title. Through no fault of her own. But because of AEW’s continuing reluctance to have stars pin other stars. The only credible female she’s beaten all year is Willow Nightingale.
And unlike Danielson, she doesn’t have inbuilt credibility to fall back on. Heel or not, it’s nice when challengers feel like they’re gaining momentum and have been moving up the card. Especially for shows this big.
All of which could very much could be a ‘me’ problem.
Speaking of…
Personal POV:
I just can’t take Toni, and thus this match, seriously. It’s very hard to care who holds the belt when it’s been on a comedy wrestler for a year.
Devil’s Advocate:
AEW spent a year forcing poor defenseless good girls into the babyface buzzsaw that was Storm’s title run. Then finally turned her, just in time to face a Londoner in London?
Worth noting:
Did the broken bottle ever mean anything?
Biggest possible twist:
Mina Shirakawa helps Toni win.
Role on the card:
The most heated thing on the show.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? Yes (man, so badly want to contextualize a year’s worth of content).
Does it feel ‘hot’? Yes.
Clean finish? No.
AEW have set this up nicely:
Long-term heel champion fans want to cheer finally turns babyface and is beaten bloody by her protégé. She can’t possibly lose here can she?
Rookie has first ever title match in front of her hometown fans. She can’t possibly lose here can she?
The fact Mariah’s (nominally at least) the heel complicates this massively. Though it didn’t stop Tony Khan putting the belt on baddie Saraya last year. Simply for the pop. Which is not a good approach to booking. But that’s another story.
Then there’s the really important question:
Why did Mina have promo time last week? Moreover, why did Excalibur suspiciously claim she was ‘caught in the middle,’ between a woman she’s been very close to and one she’s only just met and feuded with?
Good luck getting that act booed btw. If it is indeed the path chosen.
Winner: Mariah May
Mercedes Mone vs Britt Baker (TBS Title)
Biggest Plus:
The final angle.
Mercedes played her part well, a little performative at times but a total heel. With some good lines questioning her opponent’s commitment. And her smug grin when Britt said she admired her was wonderful.
While Baker was excellent, so strikingly confident on the mic, so believable, convincing in her vow to win, this left the feeling that either might do so.
Biggest Minus:
Mercedes Mone.
Fans just haven’t cared. Perhaps they will at Wembley. And while some of her promos have improved since going bad, some… have not.
So this is where the former Sasha can earn her moné, by carrying the unpredictable Baker to a quality match.
Devil’s Advocate:
50,000 fans = 50,000 chances someone’s wearing a disguise.
Worth noting:
Mone has big, badass backup. The sides are uneven. Currently.
Biggest possible twist:
N/A.
Role on the card:
‘Big time’ clash between the OG face of AEW’s women and her usurper.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish? No.
It’s too early to dethrone Mercedes. When it happens, it should be Willow. And certainly shouldn’t reward someone who was just suspended, regardless of rights/wrongs/sides.
There’s also every chance the ‘Brickhouse’ decides things here. Leading to a post-match 2:1 beatdown and possibly the return of Jamie Hayter? Then an All Out tag.
If she does return, that’ll be one of the best moments on the show.
Winner: Mercedes Mone
The Patriarchy vs House of Black vs Bang Bang Gang vs PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta (London Ladders, Trios Titles)
Biggest Plus:
A renewed focus has at least seen the belts feel more important than they have in a long time. And given Collision something of a purpose. (Also, between Wild Card in Cardiff and London Ladders, big win for fans of alliterative branding.)
Biggest Minus:
The previous champs were stripped in a nonsensical segment which saw babyface authority figure Christopher Daniels booed.
Both sets of initial challengers turned face without turning.
A random trio who’d never teamed before were given a shot after one win.
Christian Cage is seemingly (storyline) booking the division.
Reader’s choice.
Devil’s Advocate:
Even worse than the tag division, there has been a single title defense of any kind on pay-per-view in the past year. Why bother with the belts?
Worth noting:
They surely did not set all of this up so that Kip Sabian could decide the match purely because it’s in England? That’d be house show AF. Jay White doing so would be better – he seemed to be heading for a feud with Cage before his injury.
Biggest possible twist:
Juice steals Nick Wayne’s mum from Christian, finally snapping Toni out of it.
Role on the card:
Sleeper – has flyers, big guys, technicians, strikers, vets and rookies – everything needed to steal the show.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish? No.
Tough to predict a winner since there isn’t a team AEW have clearly been building toward crowning. Before his injury, it seemed like they were trying to keep the gold on Bullet Club while dislodging Jay White from the mix, so they’re as good a pick as any.
WINNER: Bang Bang Gang
Casino Gauntlet Battle Royal (Winner gets an AEW title shot)
Entrants: Orange Cassidy, Hangman Adam Page, Evil Uno, Jay Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, TBA
Biggest Plus:
The second edition in late May was probably the most entertaining match this year. The basic anticipation of ‘who’s out next?’ rarely fails. Especially when there’s a list of potential debutants and returnees.
Biggest Minus:
Last time, they crapped all over the premise: Roderick Strong might lose then just ask for and receive a title shot anyway on the next tv show.
Devil’s Advocate:
On the subject of Roddy, nothing makes your world title more prestigious than a chance to compete for it on the biggest show of the year still being up for grabs two days beforehand.
Worth noting:
If this is packed with non-stars – and the lineup so far is 3:3 – Hangman will be cheered.
Ricochet’s apparently signed.
Lashley’s done with WWE.
As is Takeshita with the G-1.
Adam Cole has just/is just about to start training again.
Jay White’s apparently good to go.
Biggest possible twist:
Okada enters, he clears the ring and… ‘I HEAR THE BATTLE CRY!’
Personal POV:
If Jeff Jarrett wins or gets involved in another top feud, that might be it for me.
Role on the card:
Crowd-pleasing get guys on the card opener. Or party match between clashes with angles. All while setting up the All Out main event?
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? N/A.
Does it feel ‘hot’? N/A.
Clean finish? Yes.
So there’s a world champion, a #1 contender, a contender-in-waiting for Grand Slam, and this?
After a years-long run of nobody wanting the world title, AEW sure are loading up on potential challengers. So presumably whoever wins here faces the champ at All Out? Since a tv match between then and Grand Slam would get in Darby’s way. And WrestleDream seems too long a wait.
What AEW haven’t made clear is when exactly this shot kicks in. Can the winner take advantage of a battered Danielson/Strickland later on the show?
What they have made clear is that Hangman’s the guy we’re supposed to expect to win. It might be too obvious, but he’s the best bet of anyone announced thus far.
WINNER: Hangman Adam Page
Swerve Strickland vs Bryan Danielson (AEW Title, Danielson retires if he loses)
Biggest Plus:
Danielson filled the swear jar to end the feud on a high Wednesday. And aid Strickland’s good work in carrying it prior. For what should be excellent action before fans invested in this not being the last time they see Danielson wrestle.
So when Final Countdown kicks in for what could be the final time, man…
Should make for a hell of an occasion.
Biggest Minus:
It’s pitched as ‘title vs career,’ but AEW haven’t made clear what happens if Danielson wins. Not helped by a convo with JR who stated that it sounds like Danielson’s done, ‘win, lose or draw.’
And the Dragon didn’t disagree.
Devil’s Advocate:
Bryan Danielson has paid the purest homage to his three-year run by seemingly caring not in the least about the title. And Swerve Strickland has paid the purest homage to Bryan Danielson’s three-year run by meandering randomly from babyface to heel.
On the bright side, Jeff Jarrett believes in him. Which is like Riff Raff telling Kendrick Lamar, ‘You got this.’
Personal POV:
I initially said there was no way Danielson was winning here. Which was probably projecting my own feelings that a world championship should not be a lifetime achievement award, no matter how nice the moment or how good the wrestler.
This isn’t Sting winning a set of afterthought tag belts over comedy heels who’ve been champions multiple times. So I hope they have a good plan in mind so this doesn’t end with Swerve losing then drifting away.
Worth noting:
The champ hasn’t been pinned since December. When Danielson did so.
Who’s working without a contract. And has admitted he’ll likely need neck surgery before year’s end. Though that could be an exaggeration for effect.
There’ve been reports that a Darby world title run is a legit consideration.
Biggest possible twist:
The serious: Hangman helps Danielson win, leaving the vet conflicted. Or ‘cashes in’ to take advantage of either winner.
The ridiculous: The Dragon goes heel by cheating to win, flipping off his daughter and signing a new contract soaked in her tears as she watches
Role on the card:
Emotional rollercoaster.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? Swerve’s part – Yes; Danielson’s – No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No.
Clean finish? No.
Since AEW so very rarely have stars beat stars decisively. And there are at least two storyline ‘outs’ here. Adam Page and Nigel McGuinness. Not that the latter would be advisable. Might use it for a near fall though.
That aside, there are a bunch of intriguing outcomes based around prior storylines:
Beginning with the aforementioned ‘twist’ ideas re: Hangman.
Danielson’s neck has never actually cost him anything. Until now?
Danielson fights and fights but eventually stays down when he sees his daughter crying.
Swerve’s shtick is that Danielson’s beaten-up and on the downslope. Which is either what a very dumb winner says or what a cocky guy taking his opponent lightly says before losing.
Within the last year, the former Daniel Bryan vaguely described heaven as being bleeding before a few hundred fans. Making it hard to believe this will be the last time we see him betwixt the ropes.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
MJF vs Will Ospreay (‘American’ Title, if Ospreay wins it reverts to the International title)
Biggest Plus:
The match itself.
They had a belter last they met. And it’s not cool to say, but it probably would have been even better at thirty-five minutes. Which is closer to what they’ll get here.
Plus, William Ospreay got a hell of a response from a few thousand people the other day. So multiply that by like fifteen fingers and toes – should be goosebump city.
Biggest Minus:
A few weeks back Jason Powell asked – re: the ‘American’ title thing – Do you think we’ll look back and think… ‘That was worth it?’
The answer has to be, ‘No.’
For the sake of a few weeks tv, it muddied MJF’s fresh heel turn as he came out draped in all kinds of stars and stripes. To predictable ‘USA!’ chants. And if the first Dynamite back in the US sees Ospreay scrapping the ‘American’ title, are fans supposed to cheer?
There was a good concept here somewhere. But it felt poorly thought out. Like many of Captain Kangaroo Kick’s ideas. ‘Sunday is about cleaning up the mess that you’ve made here,’ to quote Messer Ospreay.
Devil’s Advocate:
Fairly sure a nationalism angle wasn’t needed to get Ospreay cheered in the UK.
Personal POV:
Despite the heel turn, I’ve been struggling to care about MJF. It feels 2020 with a new catchphrase, packed with every bottom-feeding heel trick in the book. Though Wednesday was an improvement and got me into the match. Could’ve done without the TNA and WCW-like allusions to the company sucking (in fairness, both guys were guilty of this), but his letting slip that he was jealous of the Brit was masterful.
Worth noting:
PAC has a shot coming up. Facing MJF would allow the latter to continue his new gimmick.
Biggest possible twist:
Adam Cole helps MJF win and they reunite as heels.
Role on the card:
Showstealer.
Yes/No only:
Was the feud good? No.
Does it feel ‘hot’? No (but it will Sunday).
Clean finish? Yes.
Such a fuss being made of the ‘new’ title does make the finish less predictable. For the reasons suggested by Jason Powell’s question; otherwise, that’s a lot of work for little payoff.
Contrarily, is the tiger driver story worth paying off over a short feud for one of three mid-card titles? MJF basically dared Will to use it this past Wednesday. There’s also Don Callis to consider. Who made it clear he wasn’t happy when splitting from the Essex boy. That payback’s coming at some point.
Anybody order a screwdriver? (Maybe Andre?)
And the implied story is that MJF can only get the better of Will when he cheats.
Match placement will say a lot. If this goes last it means Ospreay’s definitely winning. So I’ll go with him, but don’t think this is as cut and dry as others might.
Winner: Will Ospreay
To Sum Up
On the way to All In, AEW have overthought most of their top feuds. If victorious, Will Ospreay might be faced with getting rid of the ‘American’ title before American fans. Bryan Danielson with upsetting his eight-year-old daughter.
Strip away the flag outfits and fatherhood issues and we’re left with what fans really want to see:
Two wrestlers trying to prove they’re the best
Or two wrestlers who don’t like each other settling things (there’s a reason Toni/Mariah’s the hottest thing on the show)
Which the company seemed to realize on a final Dynamite containing three strong angles for previously tepid feuds.
Problem is, both of the above remain hard to accomplish without decisive finishes when name wrestlers meet. The majority of the time in this company, wins come over undercard wrestlers. Those that don’t come via interference, via gauntlet, or via rollup.
Which makes it hard for wrestlers to ascend and become stars, doesn’t make for compelling tv and makes it tough for matches to seem like they matter. A rather large problem for a company so focused on the action itself.
Something AEW can address here. On a show featuring numerous clashes between stars with some doubt over the finish. Not only making for intriguing viewing, but providing a chance to make clear the wrestlers fans should care about going forward.
This is our biggest show of the year, here’s who we’re getting behind; here’s who you should get behind.
If not, I fear the company will continue to lose their audience as fans figure out that most of the tv is a bunch of random matches they just don’t need to watch. And that when they finally do get something compelling, they won’t get a satisfying finish.
RKO out of nowhere: gutted about the Lucha Bros ☹.
Anyway, hope you’re having a great weekend, enjoy the show and thanks for reading. Always appreciated. Don’t know when/if the next one will be, All Out very unlikely.
After three months away from WWE programming, Natalya returned to provide voice-over for a WWE video showcasing the company’s relationship with Berlin ahead of Bash In Berlin next week.
Footage of the Hart family, including those of Bret Hart, Owen Hart, and the British Bulldog, were used in the promo video, with clips from the Owen Hart vs Bulldog match for the inaugural European title match from Raw in Berlin back in 1997 showcased.
Natalya has not been seen on WWE television since early June and her last match was on the June 4 episode of NXT, defeating Izzi Dame. Her WWE contract was about to expire but the company managed to lock her in a new deal just in time before she hit free agency.
And while she did sign a new deal, she has not been used in any way, marking this her first work ever since.
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia has been tapped to co-host a huge Netflix event titled Chestnut vs Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef.
Garcia will be joined by actor and comedian Rob Riggle as hosts of this year’s most anticipated competitive eating event on Monday, September 2 starting at Noon PT.
The show, with commentary from Cari Champion and Chris Rose, will be held at the HyperX Arena at Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The press release announcing the event also mentions WWE moving to Netflix starting in 2025 along with Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson in November and NFL games on Christmas Day.
AEW will have an All In: London celebration tomorrow at Box Park Wembley, a party which kicks off at 11AM.
General admission ticket holders will get to have a Q&A session with several AEW stars hosted by Renee Paquette and RJ City, a Nigel McGuinness Magic show set, photo ops with AEW stars, and a chance to take pics with the AEW World and TNT titles. A trivia with prize giveaways will also be hosted by Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen.
Scheduled to appear at the party include Swerve Strickland, Prince Nana, Will Ospreay, Britt Baker, FTR, Toni Storm, The Acclaimed, Billy Gunn, Stokely Hathaway, Kris Statlander, Mariah May, Hook, Willow Nightingale, Bryce Remsburg, and Alex Abrahantes.
Merchandise stands will also be open in the area from 10AM.
WWE trio Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi paid tribute to multi-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles yesterday on Friday Night Smackdown, wearing three different outfits similar to what Biles wore at the Olympics.
Belair wore a white outfit with red stripes and stars, Cargill had all-red gear, while Naomi sported a blue/silver outfit with stars on it.
The three took on WWE Women’s Tag Team champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn who were joined by Blair Davenport in a six-woman tag the match, a match which the faces won. Belair and Cargill will wrestle for the tag team titles at Bash In Berlin next week.
Biles won four Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with three gold and one silver. Her 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals make her the most decorated gymnast in history.
Ahead of tomorrow’s All In pay-per-view in London, TBS and NJWP Strong Women’s champion Mercedes Mone wrote an article for The Independent newspaper.
Titled “How I helped women’s wrestling get the respect it deserves,” Mone discusses her wrestling heroes, how she started, quitting WWE, and coming over to AEW.
Mone described the difference between WWE and AEW as “night and day” and says she loves it so much to be part of this company.
“In WWE you have no idea what you’ll be doing week to week, but here I have space to be heard. Along with Tony Khan and with my friend and personal writer Jennifer Pepperman, there’s time to sit down and really plan out the kinds of stories we want to tell,” Mone wrote. “I’m treated with genuine respect, and I really feel seen in a way I sometimes haven’t before. I love it so much here.”
Mone promised that she’s going to make sure that women’s wrestling keeps growing and she was here to tell everyone that they cannot be ignored, nor be denied.
“I’ve helped make room not only for myself, but for every great woman who steps into that ring – and this Sunday at All In, we’re going to show them that we’re here to stay,” she continued.
