The Usos come out to the ring, they talk about going to war with their family and then welcome them to the Uso Penitentiary.
Rey Mysterio VS. L.A. Knight
Rey goes for 619 but Knight caught him and maneuvered him around to hit his finisher BFT for the win.
Winner: L.A. Knight
After the match Knight was going to punish Rey some more but Santos Escobar comes out for the save.
In the back, Solo Sikoa runs into Ridge Holland and Ridge said something and Solo grabbed him and gave him the Samoan Spike and looked at Ridge and said I am in a bad mood tonight. Meanwhile Paul Heyman gets his phone and says call Roman Reigns.
Back from break, Ridge is still having trouble breathing as Adam Pearce and other officials are there checking on him.
Sheamus comes out and calls out Solo for what he did to Ridge and challenges him for a match tonight.
Shayna Baszler & Ronda Rousey VS. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn *Unification of the WWE and NXT women’s Tag Team Championships
Shayna had Dawn locked in the Kirifuda Clutch and Ronda cut off Fyre trying to save her and locked her in the arm bar and Frye & Dawn tapped out at the same time.
Winners and Still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and New NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler
Raquel Rodriguez was shown walking at ringside, and Shayna and Ronda asked her what she was even doing out there and Raquel said she was there because “we” want a shot at the titles we never lost. Shayna says who is we and Liv Morgan returns.
Grayson Waller comes out for the Grayson Waller Effect and brings out Pretty Deadly. As Pretty Deadly were naming the teams they beat in the gauntlet match last week, they mentioned The Street Profits and the Street Profits come out for the next match.
The Street Profits VS. Pretty Deadly
As the Profits set up Prince for a finisher Wilson pushes Ford off the top rope and Prince rolls Dawkins up and with his feet on the ropes and Wilson holding his legs with a scarf Pretty Deadly get the win.
Winners: Pretty Deadly
Charlotte Flair VS. Lacey Evans
Flair locks in the Figure 8 and Evans tapped out.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match, Asuka attacked Flair before Flair even released the Figure 8.
Bianca Belair was talking to Adam Pearce about her shot at the Women’s Championship and he said she can challenge the winner of the Flair and Asuka match face to face.
Sheamus VS. Solo Sikoa
After the action spills outside the ring and Solo runs and drives Sheamus through the ringside barricade, the referee calls the match off.
No Contest
After the match, Solo started taking out officials and medics who were checking on Sheamus until The Usos come out and drop their little brother and leave Solo lying and then give Solo a double splash off opposite top ropes.
Episode four of season four of Dark Side of the Ring, focusing on Matt Osborne, better known to wrestling fans as Doink The Clown, did 201,000 viewers, up 4,000 viewers from the previous episode. The show pulled a 0.07 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.01 from last week. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Impact Wrestling on AXS TV drew 110,000 viewers this week. Last week’s rating is not available for comparison. The show drew a low 0.01 rating in the 18-49 demo and did not chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
The WWE Women’s and NXT Women’s Tag Team titles will be rolled into one once and for all on Friday Night Smackdown tonight with both sets of champions aiming to become the unified WWE Women’s Tag Team champions.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler are the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team champs while Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre are the NXT Women’s Tag Team champions. One of those two teams will be leaving the arena with both sets of titles as WWE is retiring the NXT Women Tag Team titles effective tonight.
Introduced in 2021, the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles had nine different set of teams who carried the gold, with only one team – Toxic Attraction – winning the titles twice. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter have the record of the longest reign with 186 days but Toxic Attraction have two reigns amounting to 247 days.
With lack of women tag teams both on the main roster and in NXT, it was the best decision to unify these belts and have them defended across all three brands.
Dawn and Fyre won these titles at the Stand & Deliver premium live event this past April in Los Angeles. The titles were last defended on the May 2 episode of NXT.
Season nine of The Amazing Race Canada will feature Impact Wrestling’s Gail Kim and Gisele Shaw as partners in a race around Canada.
In the press release issued, Kim is listed as 46 years old and producer and talent relations executive for Impact Wrestling while Shaw is listed as 33 years old with pro wrestler as occupation. Both are Canadians.
The description for Kim and Shaw reads, “Highly competitive former and current pro-wrestlers and friends racing for the LGBTQ2S+ community, and to inspire young girls everywhere.”
Hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist Jon Montgomery, season nine airs Tuesdays at 9PM ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, beginning July 4.
Kim and Shaw are part of a cast of 10 teams who, faced with the most intense race of their lives, they travel across Canada to tackle various challenges with the hope of winning the grand prize, consisting of two all-new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 vehicles, an epic, round-the-world trip-of-a-lifetime for two courtesy of GURU Organic Energy, a $250,000 cash prize from Samsung, and the coveted title of The Amazing Race Canada champions.
Dynamite this week drew 902,000 viewers, up 70,000 viewers from the previous week for the Forbidden Door go-home episode. In the 18-49 demo, the show drew a 0.33 rating, up 0.03 from last week and placed #2 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Fuego Del Sol announced in a post on social media that his time with AEW is coming to an end on July 1 and will become a free agent after that.
“I will always look back fondly and cherish the night I got signed and how genuine that moment was,” he wrote. “But even though this chapter is coming to a close, this is just the beginning for Fuego Del Sol.”
Del Sol was signed to a deal after losing a match to Miro on Rampage. AEW President Tony Khan made a quick cameo on the show and handed Del Sol’s friend, Sammy Guevara, a clipboard. Guevara then told Fuego that Khan offered him this opportunity because they’re friends and handed him a brand new AEW contract.
“At 27 years old, I’m just getting started. I’ve barely scratched the surface on showing the world just how damn good Fuego Del Sol is,” he continued.
He has been sidelined since February after suffering five different foot fractures at an indie show but he now said he is cleared to return to the ring.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling is reporting through his Select service that the original idea for Seth Rollins’ open challenge on Monday Night Raw had Tommaso Ciampa as his opponent.
But instead, Rollins was laid out and The Miz made the open challenge which resulted in Ciampa’s return. Rollins did not end up wrestling on the show and then defended his title the next night on NXT Gold Rush against Bron Breakker.
Sapp added that according to his sources, the man who made the creative change was none other than Vince McMahon, who is still somewhat pulling strings behind the curtain in certain storylines.
Speaking of which, WWE Superstar Ricochet told SPORF in an interview that McMahon is still involved and talked to when it comes to creative, noting he’s someone “that everyone looks to” and “got his fingers in everything.”
Ricochet said that Triple H and his team in creative are trying to do the best they can in bringing out the best out of everyone.
“They’re trying to work to everyone’s strengths. I think that’s something that Triple H has always done,” he said.
The Hollywood Reporter has published a story saying that NJPW star Mercedes Mone was being considered for a role in the Bad Bunny Spider-Man spinoff El Muerto from Sony.
But the project has now been temporarily moved off the Sony calendar and is no longer listed to be released on January 12, 2024. The reason for the postponement is due to the current writers strike, with the script needing additional work.
El Muerto was set to be the first live-action Marvel project to star a Latino character. El Muerto is an antihero and the son of a luchador, and was supposed to be played by Bad Bunny.
The story adds that the studio was “circling” the former IWGP Women’s champion for a role in the movie, a role which could still come if El Muerto returns on the calendar.
Looking for a helping hand to get you through various options for gymnastic mats for home? You’ve come to the right place. This is a blog article that lists the top gymnastics mat types for sale in 2023! Explore the top five options available and understand the similarities and differences between the options.
Let’s find your perfect home gymnastics buddy!
Basic Gymnastics Mat
If you get only one gymnastic mat for home, this is it. The most basic option (yet the most essential) is the regular gymnastics mat. Usually made out of three parts, these mats can be folded for storage. These gymnastics mats are often quite hard yet soft enough compared to landing on a hard floor. Getting one for home is a smart decision as this product is to support your development in gymnastics as you become more advanced in your moves. These types of gymnastic mats for home come usually at a relatively low price point, so getting one doesn’t break your bank either.
Pros:
Great for beginners and practicing individual moves
Easy to clean
Compact size
Easy to store
Cons:
Not enough space for sets of moves
May not have enough cushioning for hard landings
Inflatable Mats (Airtracks)
Inflatable mats, more famously known as Airtracks, are the craze in gymnastics! Airtrack is basically an inflatable home gymnastics mat that is equally used in professional settings. They are thicker compared to the basic gymnastics mats meaning that landing on them feels more secure. And what’s best, the firmness is adjustable! Simply manage the amount or air in the mat to create a softer or firmer structure.
While Airtracks sound (and even look) like something that only professionals would use, you couldn’t be more wrong. Airtracks are the most popular gymnastics mats for sale currently available. Many gymnastics stores, such as https://us.acon24.com/collections/gymnastics-mats, sell them in various sizes. Which is another benefit of them compared to basic gymnastics mats; you can get them in any size and shape you find suitable for your needs.
These mats are used not only in gymnastics but also in tumbling, parkour and even as a place for small children to play on.
Pros:
Adjustability of the firmness
Multiple size and shape options
Suitable for gymnasts and other trickers at all levels
Cons:
More expensive compared to basic home gymnastics mats
Not foldable
Crash Mats
In addition to the two home gymnastics mat types introduced, there are crash mats. Sounds brutal, yet somehow so accurate. Sometimes the landing fails even if you have practiced the move for hundreds of times and in those times, having something underneath you would have been great. Crash mats are designed for this exact purpose. They take the impact of a hard landing and allow you to land safely even from great heights.
Crash mats come in various types. Some are foldable while others are not. Some are thin and lightweight – these mats are designed to be thrown under the tricker in case it seems that the landing may fail. Others are thick and provide a solid base to land on safely.
Pros:
Multipurpose equipment: crash mats can be used by trickers and gymnasts
Variety in thickness and sizes
Great add-on for intermediate and advanced trickers and gymnasts
Cons:
Good as a second mat; usually not enough on its own
Firmness is not adjustable
Small Spotting and Balance Mats
You’ve probably heard about the three mat types introduced in this article already. But what about spotting and balance mats? They are exactly what they say to be. Designed for both perfecting that single movement you’ve been focusing on for weeks and also for improving your balance – an integral part of any gymnasts skill set.
These types of gymnastics mats come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. Therefore, it’s difficult to say which type of spotting or balance mat you should get. It’s really all about what you want to practice and where you need extra assistance.
Pros:
Help with intermediate and advanced moves
Designed for a specific purpose
Oftentimes stackable
Cons:
Price can sometimes be steep for beginners
Yoga Mats
Lastly, we’ve thrown in the infamous yoga mat that most of us may already have at home. But why though? While a yoga mat is not designed for home gymnastics, it definitely can help when it comes to warm-ups and cool-downs. After all, practicing gymnastics isn’t just about nailing all the vaults and other tricks. It’s also about conditioning and mental well-being, to which yoga practices can also help. Consider it as an add-on that can support you to polish up a new skill you learn.
Pros:
Usually inexpensive compared to other types of home gymnastic mats
Suitable for various use
Lightweight and easy to store
Cons:
Cannot be used for gymnastics on its own
Which gymnastics mats are for you?
In this article, we’ve introduced five different types of gymnastic mats for home. While some may be suitable for advanced stuff as well, at the end of the day, it’s really about what makes you feel good and confident. We hope that by reading this article, you’ve gained knowledge on various home gymnastic mats in order to make a smart purchase decision. Lastly, before buying, we recommend you to check the following things:
Are there any extras available? While a basic home gymnastic mat may be enough at first, you never know whether you’d like to add a beam or a spotting mat to it later on.
What’s the warranty? Reputable manufacturers offer long and extensive warranty to their gymnastic products.
How to maintain the product? Ask for maintenance tips in case you cannot find them on the manufacturer’s site
That’s it – we wish you happy leaping, jumping, tricking and vaulting with your new home gymnastics buddy!
In the world of professional wrestling, making a grand entrance is as important as the in-ring performance itself. From flashy costumes to captivating personas, wrestlers know the significance of leaving a lasting impression. And when it comes to arriving in style, many wrestlers choose luxury rides to complement their larger-than-life personalities. One destination that has become synonymous with extravagant entrances is Dubai, known for its opulence and glamour. Wrestlers from around the globe flock to this vibrant city, and to further enhance their arrival, they turn to the exclusive Rolls-Royce rental service. In this article, we will delve into the world of luxury rides and explore the wrestlers who have chosen Rolls-Royce vehicles to make a statement in Dubai.
The Power of a Grand Entrance
In professional wrestling, a grand entrance sets the stage for the wrestlers’ characters and storylines. It is a moment that captivates the audience and builds anticipation for the upcoming match. By arriving in luxury vehicles, wrestlers amplify the spectacle and add an element of prestige to their personas. Dubai, known for its extravagant lifestyle, serves as the perfect backdrop for these larger-than-life arrivals.
The Rolls-Royce Rental Service in Dubai
Dubai is renowned for its luxurious offerings, and the Rolls Royce rental service is a prime example of this indulgence. Wrestlers have the opportunity to rent exquisite Rolls-Royce vehicles, known for their elegance, comfort, and unparalleled craftsmanship. The rental service provides a range of iconic models, including the Phantom, Ghost, and Wraith, allowing wrestlers to choose a vehicle that best reflects their style and image.
Image credit: https://i.imgur.com/HTQu4rn.png
Wrestling Icons and Their Rolls-Royce Rides
Several wrestling icons have embraced the allure of Rolls-Royce vehicles in Dubai, making unforgettable entrances that match their larger-than-life personas. For example, “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles arrived at a major wrestling event in Dubai in a sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom, perfectly complementing his reputation as one of the most charismatic and stylish wrestlers in the industry.
Similarly, in “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair made a dramatic entrance in a Rolls-Royce Ghost, showcasing his extravagant lifestyle and legendary status. The Ghost’s sleek design and luxurious interior provided the perfect vehicle for Flair to exude his signature flair and elegance.
The Ultimate Fusion of Luxury and Wrestling
The marriage of luxury rides and professional wrestling in Dubai is a perfect reflection of the city’s extravagant ambiance. By choosing Rolls-Royce vehicles, wrestlers not only elevate their own entrances but also contribute to the overall spectacle of the events. These lavish rides add an extra layer of excitement and glamour, captivating the audience and creating an unforgettable experience.
The Rolls-Royce Experience in Dubai
The Rolls-Royce rental service in Dubai offers more than just a luxurious vehicle; it provides an entire experience. Wrestlers can enjoy impeccable service, personalized attention, and the thrill of driving or being driven in one of the world’s most prestigious automobiles. The rental service ensures that every aspect of the journey, from booking to delivery, is seamless and tailored to the wrestlers’ preferences, allowing them to focus on their performance while indulging in the epitome of luxury.
The Iconic Rolls-Royce Fleet in Dubai
Dubai’s Rolls-Royce rental service boasts an impressive fleet of vehicles that cater to the diverse preferences of wrestlers. From the classic elegance of the Rolls-Royce Phantom to the sporty sophistication of the Rolls-Royce Wraith, there is a model to suit every wrestler’s style and personality. The Phantom, with its commanding presence and unrivaled luxury, is a popular choice for those seeking a regal and prestigious entrance. On the other hand, the Wraith, with its sleek and dynamic design, appeals to wrestlers who want to make a bold statement and exude a sense of power and speed.
Conclusion
The partnership between wrestlers and the Rolls-Royce rental service in Dubai is a testament to the perfect fusion of luxury and the world of professional wrestling. These wrestlers who arrive in style not only enhance their own entrances but also contribute to the overall spectacle and excitement of the events. The Rolls-Royce rental service provides an unrivaled experience, allowing wrestlers to make a grand statement and explore the glamorous city of Dubai in the epitome of style and opulence. The combination of these luxury rides and the electrifying world of wrestling creates moments that will be etched in the memories of fans and wrestlers alike.
This week’s episode of NXT, fueled by a World Heavyweight title match between Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, drew 773,000 viewers, up 192,000 viewers from last week. The show drew a 0.23 rating in the 18-49 demo, the highest of the year so far and up 0.07 from last week, placing #2 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Week 16 of WWE on A&E had an episode of Most Wanted Treasures focusing on memorabilia from Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero and that was followed by episode seven of Stone Cold Takes on America.
WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures had 276,000 viewers last Sunday for the Eddie and Rey episode, down 110,000 viewers from episode six. It was the second least-watched episode of the season. The show did a 0.09 in the 18-49 demo, down 0.03, and placed #31 on the chart.
Episode seven of Stone Cold Takes on America meanwhile did 211,000 viewers, 18,000 viewers down from last week. It did the same 0.06 rating of the previous two weeks in 18-49 and placed #51 on the chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Ariel Helwani revealed on the MMA Hour this week that Tony Khan and his father Shad are one of the interested parties in purchasing Bellator MMA from Paramount.
Acknowledging that it’s not clear yet how deep in conversations the Khan family were with Paramount, the purchase of Bellator would be the fourth different sporting venture for the family, with them already owning the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, Fulham FC of the English Premier League, and All Elite Wrestling.
The Professional Fighters League remain the favorite to take over Bellator MMA. Paramount Global purchased Bellator MMA a few years ago.
Monday Night Raw this week drew 1,821,000 viewers, up 226,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast which faced the final NBA game of the season.
The show had 1,901,000 viewers in the first hour, 1,885,000 viewers in the second hour, and the third hour still had a decent-sized drop to 1,677,000 viewers.
Raw was #1, #2, and #3 on the top 50 cable chart for the night with 0.58, 0.56, and 0.53 ratings respectively for an average of 0.56, up 0.07 from the prior week. It was #1 overall in all of network and cable television. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Two title matches and two multi-man matches were added to this Sunday’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
AEW Women’s champion Toni Storm will be defending her title against NJPW Strong Women’s champion Willow Nightingale. Only Storm’s title is on the line in this match.
Orange Cassidy hopes to extend his impressive run with the AEW International title as he takes on Daniel Garcia, Katsyuouri Shibata, and Zack Sabre Jr in a four-way match.
The other two matches are The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, Tomohiro Ishii, and Eddie Kingston vs Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Shota Umino, and Konosuke Takeshita while Darby Allin and Sting will have a mystery partner in their trios match against Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Minor Suzuki.
The brackets for the men and women Owen Hart Cup tournaments have been revealed by AEW.
The left side bracket in the men’s tournament will see CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima at this Sunday’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view and Roderick Strong vs Samoa Joe on the June 29 Collision. The right side bracket has Dustin Rhodes vs Powerhouse Hobbs on the June 29 Collision and Juice Robinson vs Ricky Starks also on the June 29 Collision.
The women’s tournament will feature Britt Baker vs Ruby Soho on the June 28 episode of Dynamite and Anna Jay AS vs Skye Blue on tomorrow’s episode of Rampage. Those are the left side bracket while the right side bracket has Nyla Rose vs Willow Nightingale on this Saturday’s episode of Collision and Athena vs Billie Starkz on the Zero Hour show this Sunday.
The tournament will end on the July 15 episode of Collision live from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
As expect, CM Punk showed up on Dynamite last night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, coming to the aid of FTR and Ricky Starks as they battled Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Colten and Austin Gunn.
There was no music for him as he entered the ring, with the fans inside the arena exploding as Punk went to town. He then tried to hit the GTS on Robinson but he managed to escape. The fans had already been chanting his name as the heels took over.
Punk then challenged White, Robinson, and The Gunns for an eight-man tag team match this Saturday on Collision which will air live from Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
“I’m a Collision guy, I’m not even supposed to be here,” Punk said. “I see you chumps on Saturday. Now hit my music!”
The arena filled with CM Punk chants after that as the returning superstar continued to get love from his home city.
The similarities between poker’s sophisticated card-playing and wrestling’s staged brutality can initially seem unclear. However, the parallels that weave these two appear as you peel back the layers. You will find remarkable connections that bring these two fascinating fields together in unexpected harmony.
Wrestling and poker have much in common regarding showmanship, opponent reading, strategy, and psychological manipulation. Wrestling relies on its physicality, theatrics, and fascinating tales to draw in an audience, from the dazzling display of athleticism to the well-created plots. With poker, one must master the art of deceit, psychological warfare, and strategic maneuvering.
Also, athletes strategically plan their moves in wrestling, anticipating their opponents’ reactions and choreographing sequences that maximize impact and entertainment value. Similarly, poker players meticulously analyze their hands, assess probabilities, and make calculated decisions, weighing risks and rewards with each bet. The parallels extend into the psychological realm, where mind games and manipulating emotions come into play.
Understanding and exploiting the human psyche is a shared skill that drives success in wrestling and poker. In this article, you’ll find these unexpected parallels, shedding light on the intriguing similarities beneath the surface. Players who would love to engage in real money poker to experience these shared values can sign up with the new poker sites listed here.
Listed below are the unseemly similarities the worlds of wrestling and poker share:
Showmanship
Both wrestling and poker are based on the essential element of showmanship. Wrestlers put on spectacular shows where they display their physical abilities and transform into larger-than-life personalities. Costumes, makeup, and plot twists are all strategically placed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
In poker, players use similar strategies, such as bluffing and emotional manipulation, to keep their opponents off guard. They can mask their real goals with a masterful performance. Both wrestling and poker benefit from an element of surprise since it increases tension, keep things interesting, and challenges players’ skills.
Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking or decision-making is a fundamental aspect of both wrestling and poker. Wrestlers must anticipate their opponent’s moves, plan their attacks, and adapt their strategies on the fly. The ability to think of several activities ahead, analyze the situation, and make calculated decisions is crucial here.
Similarly, poker players navigate through unpredictable conditions, assessing probabilities, evaluating risks, and making informed decisions based on available information. Both wrestling and poker demand strategic thinking, enabling participants to outmaneuver their opponents and seize opportunities for success.
Psychological Manipulation
Both wrestling and poker involve a significant degree of psychological warfare. Wrestlers often use psychological strategies to get an edge over their opponents. It is standard practice to employ taunts, psychological manipulation, and intimidation methods to upset opponents, interrupt their attention, and take control of the match’s narrative.
In poker, too, it’s common practice for players to apply calculated psychological strategies. Players must learn to read their opponents, analyze their tells, and manipulate their cognitive processes. Being able to outwit and fool your opponents mentally is a crucial skill that bears victory if deftly used.
Entertainment
Wrestling and poker share a common goal of keeping their fans entertained. Matches in professional wrestling are highly staged productions designed to move and captivate the audience. Adding acrobatics, stunts, and dramatic moments boosts the entertainment value.
Poker events, particularly high-stakes tournaments, are often aired or streamed live to attract spectators for the same reason. The commentary, camerawork, and player banter make the games more interesting. Entertainment is crucial in both fields since it keeps spectators interested and involved in the action.
Mastery of Reading Opponents
Wrestlers put in much work learning to read their opponents and respond accordingly. They try to pick up on hints about the opponent’s tactics and weaknesses. Wrestlers may interpret these signals and use them to modify their strategy, expose their opponents’ vulnerabilities, and pull off winning maneuvers.
Successful professional poker players are also great observers who look for tells and trends in their opponents’ play. Physical manifestations include breathing patterns, wagering habits, and nervous tics. Players may use these hints to determine the strength of their opponent’s hands, their degree of confidence, and whether or not they are likely to bluff. They may use the information to decide whether to fold, call, raise, or bluff.
Final Thoughts
While wrestling and poker may initially seem worlds apart, a deeper exploration reveals unexpected parallels. Whether you prefer the wrestling ring’s theatrics or the poker table’s strategic decisions, understanding the similarities between these two captivating fields add depth and spice to both experiences.
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. After last week drawing 832,000 & 0.30 in the 18-49 demo.
There are rumors of Punk appearing tonight.
*****
The Gunns vs the Hardys
Backstory: Gunns challenged the Hardys last week
The winner here earns a contract for the right to earn a contract to control somebody’s contract.
Matt shouted ‘delete’ before we got going. So all that’s left to complete the 2023 version of the act is for Jeff to trip and fall.
Matt backed Austin to the corner, arm-wringer, Jeff in to a big pop, couple double-team hip tosses, suplex, poetry in motion, Jeff missed a splash in the corner, killed Austin with whisper in the wind but was hit from behind by Colten after standing still a while in the ropes.
Heavy booing as Colten stomped away then got two via suplex.
Cutting off the tag, he brought his brother back in to grab a headlock, Jeff low-bridged Austin out through the ropes, hit a jawbreaker to Colten, the Gunns desperately trying to stop the tag.
Jeff made the dive, Matt in, series of lariats, side effect, Colten propelled outside, ‘delete’ x many, Twist of Fate, Colten put his brother’s foot on the ropes.
To more boos.
Then snapped Matt across the top rope; Austin got two with his feet on the ropes, missed a Fameasser, blocked Twist of Fate, Colten in, twisting ddt, Jeff broke up the pin.
Threw shots to both Gunns, Manhattan drops too, then a double ddt to take out both. Before hitting a double legdrop to the ‘yambags’. Colten kept blocking Twist of Fate but was hit with what looked completely different yet the announcers called it Twist of Fate anyway.
Jay White shoved Jeff off the top as he was readying a Swanton – into 3:10 to Yuma, thankfully the team who weren’t wrestling thirty years ago won.
Bullet Club Gold then went to work: Bladerunner to Matt, Jeff hit with Left Hand of God with a handful of coins. Ricky Starks hit the ring far too late and got his ass kicked four-on-one, until FTR hit the scene to a HUGE pop and chants of ‘FTR’.
Loud ‘CM Punk’ chants, he finally hit the ring with no music, Juice scrambled out of the GTS and fell through the ropes to escape.
Guessing we might have an eight-man Saturday.
Punk took the mic to challenge the heels to a match on Collision – ‘Im a Collision guy, I’m not even supposed to be here’. His music then played with the crowd amped.
And thankfully Jay White isn’t stuck feuding with the Hardys. And pairing Ricky Starks with Punk and co. does him a lot of good after being out in the cold.
A nothing opener with a heated post-match angle to setup Saturday’s show. Crowd hot for everything, including the Hardys whose popularity baffles yours truly. Though they did look better here than in recent performances.
Winner: the Gunns
Video package pushing the Jarrett/Briscoe match.
Jeff Jarrett vs Mark Briscoe, Concession Stand Brawl
Backstory: The pair have been feuding on Rampage, Jarrett challenged Briscoe to this on Collision
Already backstage, the ref asked both guys if they were ready and we got started. Wouldn’t want to win this if I were either of these two – the last guy to win a wild brawl through the arena hasn’t been seen in a month.
They beat each other through the corridor using random weapons, condiments and so on. Within about two minutes Karen Jarrett sprayed Briscoe with mustard. We’re certainly getting our fill of fifty-year-olds on the show so far.
Briscoe climbed a ladder but is dumb as hell so waited for a hooded man to shove him off through some tables. Revealed as Sonjay Dutt. That’s two people interfering within five minutes. This is basically Jeff Jarrett publicly masturbating and showing he’s learned nothing from his many failed runs.
Break. How many more will interfere? Stay tuned to find out!
They’d worked their way to ringside during the ads. Jarrett, Dutt and Jay Lethal were beating Briscoe three-on-one. But the sides were ‘evened’ as another fifty(plus?)-year-old appeared to even the odds – ‘Papa Briscoe’ unveiling himself at ringside (why was he just watching his son get beaten up till then?), planting Lethal through a table and chasing Karen away.
Briscoe looked for Jay Driller. But the interference wasn’t over! Satnam Singh hit him with a chokeslam, a bunch of lower card guys got beaten up until the Lucha Bros hit uno, dos, tres kicks and Fenix hit a splash to a huge pop to take the big man out.
Briscoe rolled Jarrett up to win.
We could’ve just had a Lucha Bros match instead. The team that had one of the best moments in company history in the same city in 2021.
I know I give Jeff Jarrett a hard time; in his defense, he wasn’t just hired to wrestle. He was also brought in to help with ticket sale… oh.
Between Jericho/Strong, AitA & this – wild brawls through the arena are becoming another thing AEW does too often.
A waste of tv time.
Winner: Mark Briscoe
They replayed Eddie Kingston returning in last week’s main event and all the other goings on there.
Cut to Mox, along with the BCC, Don Callis and Konosuke Takeshita, who Moxley called ‘tall, dark and sexy’, then mentioned ‘the shooter’ Shota Umino. Together they’re a hell of a team: he challenged the Elite to a 5-on-5 at Forbidden Door.
Then Danielson addressed Okada. As far as Danielson can tell, Okada’s not even here yet. It doesn’t surprise him because it’ll be clear when they get in the ring together that Okada’s an ‘amateur’.
Danielson’s going to call-out Okada later and if he doesn’t answer, he’s a ‘coward and an amateur’.
This is vintage AEW so far, just whizzing through segments without a pause.
Ten-man should be fun anyway. Eddie and Ibushi? Hopefully Callis’ involvement with the BCC helps them be proper heels amid Wild Thing and all that.
*****
Recap of Collision.
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki vs Action Andretti, Darius Martin & AR Fox
Backstory: After a verbal spat last week, Jericho wanted to team with Sammy to remind him who his boss is
On the subject of heels and theme music, Judas brought Jericho and Sammy to the ring. Then of course Kaze ni nare played. Reuniting the trio who kicked things off at last year’s Forbidden Door in one of my two favorite matches from the show.
While the ‘babyfaces’ came out as one to Andretti’s theme and no reaction. These dudes are not in a good spot here. There’s no way Suzuki’s getting booed for a start.
Sammy and Andretti set things off – lockup, headlock, Sammy whipped in, rebounding to knock Andretti down, missing a pump kick, rolling under an Andretti one, both looked for a thrust kick – stalemate.
Suzuki in – Guevara not tagging the Ocho – crowd chanting for Suzuki, he and Darius got straight to chopping, the vet rocked the youngster with wicked forearms, Jericho in too, double shoulder tackle, the pair then launched the Sex Gods pose – hilarious and greatly entertaining, but we’re back to the heels? question.
Fox in, Jericho to the corner, running lariat, skin-the-cat dropkick, thrust kick, Sammy hit Fox from the apron with Aubrey (properly for once) distracted.
Ads. This is certainly a hot crowd so far, living up to Chicago’s rep.
Fox and Sammy down, making the crawl, Jericho and Andretti in, flying forearm, chops, Andretti telegraphed a backdrop, stiff chops from the Ocho, Andretti ducked a lariat then flew through the ropes to hit Sammy via tope. Before heading back in to shotgun dropkick Jericho to the corner, the vet avoided a split leg, Suzuki grabbed the choke, Darius broke it and was BOOED.
‘You F’d up!’
Suzuki smashed Darius, piledriver ready on Andretti, Darius stopped it, Sammy hit a double cutter, was taken out by Fox dropkick, Jericho sent Fox to the apron, Fox hit his backward senton to the others at ringside, Andretti got nearly three via rollup, hit a springboard kick to the face, running shooting star, Jericho kicked out.
Darius in, lariat to Jericho, Sammy hit a Spanish fly, Fox a thrust kick and corkscrew brainbuster, Suzuki dropstepped behind (it’s crazy how well he moves considering his age and the wars he’s been in), choke, Gotch-style piledriver, Andretti hit him via thrust kick, was taken out via Codebreaker, Darius took Jericho out via out-to-in flatliner, two only.
Then hit a low kick to the face before coming off the top right into the Walls and another big pop, Suzuki had Fox in an ankle lock outside as Darius tapped.
A very fun and wild match with massively confusing booking. Jericho and Suzuki were heels who weren’t remotely heels, while Sammy took some heelish cheap shots amid desperately trying to become a babyface.
Though they did give all three babyfaces a chance to shine here.
Post-match, Renee hit the ring to interview Jericho. She asked him about Sting. Jericho snatched the mic to say it was a ‘monumental moment in pro wrestling history, everyone was so excited… except for me’. Because Jericho knows how selfish and egotistical Sting is, he only shows up wherever the money is – ‘you’re a whore!’.
‘Le Suzuki Gods’ challenged Sting, Darby and TBA for a six-man at Forbidden Door. The Ocho continued to rant until the snow fell and all that, Sting and Darby marching to the ring. Another big pop.
Sting shrieked a couple times before pausing face-to-face with Jericho to a few ‘Holy S’ chants. He asked why Jericho was so uptight. They had a ‘moment’ last week but ‘I need some time with you’ – so he and Darby accepted ‘your lame challenge’.
Darby took the mic to say Jericho had a lot of enemies – ‘we got the guy for Sunday’ – Jericho demanded to know who. Allin said he’d find out on Collision. To a few boos.
They’re doing a nice job doing what they failed to do Saturday and building up the second Collision show.
Winner: Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki
The Blind Tag Eliminator drawing – Schiavone and RJ City – it is indeed basically Battle Bowl. They drew it Rumble style, reacted to the names, but didn’t tell us who any of the guys were.
We’ll have to find out next week when it starts.
This might have been fun at the division’s zenith – Dax and Matt Jackson, Fenix and Nick and etc and etc. But the tag scene’s on life support and doesn’t need this.
It needs proper teams wrestling regularly on television in tag matches that are entertaining and have stories.
*****
The Elite backstage – Page addressed Mox’s challenge (boos could be heard from the crowd but not overwhelmingly, alongside a smattering of CM Punk chants), Omega said they ‘found a friend in an unexpected place’ as Eddie Kingston entered to say they weren’t friends but he’d team with them as long as he could pick the fifth guy since he doesn’t fully trust them.
The Elite agreed.
*****
Adam Cole out to yet another big pop as they replayed the finish to last week’s match with MJF.
Basking in loud chants, he took the mic to ‘give the devil his due’ – Max gave him one of the toughest matches of his career last week. Cole did everything he could to win, but didn’t.
‘However, MJF didn’t win either’.
It was smart for MJF to turn down five more minutes but also cowardly. Max has never beaten him – so he demanded MJF come out to talk about ‘my rematch’.
MJF got one of the biggest pops of the night the second his music hit. Possibly only behind Punk. Though was fairly loudly booed too as he hit the ring. Where he immediately heeled on the crowd to try to remedy the mixed response.
Getting the desired effect via ‘STFU’ & ‘You suck’ chants.
MJF congratulated Cole on the ‘Panama Playboy’ coming back out ‘to play’. But he’s worried about Cole’s head injuries, last week ‘you lost track of time’ and had the time not run out ‘I had you beat’ (just tremendous heel work).
‘Bullsh**’ chants from the crowd.
Since Max cares about Cole’s ‘health and wellbeing, I’m gonna have to say… no’.
Cole was waiting for that response, threatening to ‘whup’ Max right here. Schiavone intervened – both guys yelled ‘shutup Schiavone’ simultaneously (AEW just don’t know when to leave the comedy alone). Tony revealed that the two names he drew earlier in the tag tournament were these two.
Both guys went nuts.
I’m a little higher on that if it’s involving some of the bigger stars. We’ll see.
Hiroshi Tanahashi appeared on the screen via pre-shot promo to call MJF – in English – a ‘coward’ and vow to show the strength of ‘the Ace’. Max started ranting about what Tony Khan was trying to pull until Cole baited Max into accepting the match with Tanahashi – starting a ‘coward’ chant.
Like that mixing of the two feuds. That was clever.
‘Let me leave you with this – good luck partner’ said Cole as he departed. Excalibur emphasized that Cole had once again manipulated Max into doing something he didn’t want to.
A pretty good follow-up to last week as they put this feud on the slow burner.
*****
The Owen Hart brackets were announced:
Men – 1st side: Satoshi Kojima vs CM Punk; Roderick Strong vs Samoa Joe
2nd side: Dustin Rhodes vs Will Hobbs; Juice Robinson vs Ricky Starks
Women – 1st side: Britt Baker vs Ruby Soho (Going out on a limb and predicting Soho wins after interference); Anna Jay vs Skye Blue
2nd side: Nyla Rose vs Willow Nightingale; Athena vs Billie Starkz
Well, there’s at least one truly big name for each sex. And clearly we’re getting Punk vs Joe – *rubs hands together*.
Outside of that it’s a little underwhelming. If they’re going to go with young talents like Hobbs and Willow winning the thing, I’m hoping they’ll do better than they did last year emphasizing the win and using it as a means to raise the winners up the card.
*****
Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata vs Zack Sabre Jr & Daniel Garcia
Backstory: Sabre challenged Cassidy last week, Garcia asked where Shibata was, Cassidy promised he’d be here for this tag
They recapped Cassidy and Shibata’s history and mutual respect. Shibata still has the NJPW logo on his video – sure I’d heard he’d left the company, maybe it was just running the Dojo?
The heels argued on their way down the ramp.
Shibata and Zack started off to a lockup and ‘Holy S’ chants. Down to the mat they wrestled for the advantage, Sabre looking for a triangle, Shibata wrestled free, missed a kick, the two went chest-to-chest, all four guys in until the ref ordered Cassidy and Garcia back out.
Bringing the break. Must be the ref’s birthday since he was made to look competent.
Sabre with Shibata in a headlock, the two again wrestled fluidly in and out of the hold, Shibata bridged free, Sabre looked for a cobra twist, Shibata immediately wrestled out, Sabre snagged a flying octopus, Shibata reversed into an ankle lock – the sort of wrestling you never see in the US.
Garcia in, Shibata slugged him to the mat, the youngster got a single shot in, Shibata really sold his head and tagged Cassidy. Garcia did his dumb dancing; Cassidy mimicked it then bagged a rollup when Garcia charged in.
Garcia got a waistlock, Cassidy got the pockets, kicked his way free and dropkicked Garcia to the mat. Garcia bailed to tag Sabre. ‘Come on d***head!’ – he seems fond of that phrase.
Cassidy went for the kicks, Sabre stopped it quickly, they kept targeting the other’s arm, Sabre was sent to the mat but popped up to snap Cassidy down via his shoulder and twist his boot on the joint.
Garcia back in. Suplex, pin, two. He then targeted Cassidy’s knees before quickly tagging Sabre back in, the pair working well now, targeting all of Cassidy’s limbs and knocking Shibata off the apron.
Cassidy too was then flung outside, clutching his knee as we entered the match’s second break.
Zack continued to work over Cassidy: front guillotine, suplex attempt, Cassidy stundogged his way free, Shibata in, big boot, rapid forearms, snapmare, kick to the spine, Garcia tried to interfere and was knocked down on the apron.
Sabre hit a kick to the arm, Garcia tagged in and began targeting the limb with repeated kicks, Shibata shook it off to launch forearms and uppercuts. Another snapmare/spine kick combo, Cassidy in, he and Shibata hit the kicks together until Sabre tried to sneak in and both heels were smacked with thrust kicks as the faces went to work with shots in the corner and cross-over running dropkicks.
Orange took out Sabre via tope, Shibata hit another dropkick in the corner to Garcia and a float-over suplex for two. Garcia rolled through into the Dragon Tamer, Shibata bridged up to release the pressure then reversed it, Sabre came in to stomp his teammate free.
Cassidy hit a dropkick to Sabre, Garcia threw a couple blows, Shibata shook them off, big pumpkick, sleeper, Sabre again tried to intervene, Shibata held Garcia in place as Orange went for the Punch, Garcia ducked, Shibata ate the Punch and the pin after Garcia rolled him up.
A long match through two breaks. There was some very good and very different action here, just could’ve been a little shorter. Especially on a show where everything else felt crammed in.
All four guys then politely looked at and held onto the belt without any violence, until Cassidy angrily wrenched it away from Shibata and stormed up the ramp.
My apologies, the chain wrestling here was so slick and so foreign to me that I didn’t do the best job covering it.
Winner: Daniel Garcia & Zack Sabre Jr
Alex Marvez backstage. He caught Will Ospreay arriving. The Englishman’s used to performing in ‘civilized countries’ like Britain and Japan. Yet, he’s been getting threats from Canadian fans, so demanded AEW provide extra security.
As Callis entered to promise ‘special security’. Ospreay wondered what the catch was, Callis said he just wanted to see a ‘fair fight’ on Sunday.
Ospreay came off as a total star here. Poised and comfortable in the sort of segment he’s never normally tasked with. Demanding attention and making himself seem a big deal.
Now, if that’s the only appearance he makes, then why did he turn up? (It was indeed, though he is wrestling on Rampage)
*****
Toni Storm promo package sarcastically putting over Willow Nightingale as representing the people, people Toni doesn’t care about. Nightingale said she doesn’t like much about Storm but does respect her ‘fight’.
While Storm doesn’t care if people respect her attitude. Willow shouldn’t worry about that, she should worry about what’ll happen to her.
Storm was excellent here. Coming off as a totally arrogant heel who looked down her nose at everyone else without overacting. And that match should be great fun if we can do without the Outcast Effect for a night.
Is Mercedes’ ankle well enough for her to prevent a post-match beatdown? Perhaps Jamie Hayter will return instead.
Kris Statlander vs Taya Valkyrie, TBS Title
Backstory: Taya’s been watching Kris’ defenses & looking angry
So it seems this is our in-ring main event. With Danielson and Okada’s face-off to follow.
Taya’s now dressed in black so that and a few scowls are the entire heel turn. Who says AEW can’t tell stories!?
The announcers told us that Valkyrie resented Statlander for winning the title the way she did. Because neither’s had any opportunity to tell the story themselves.
An aggressive Taya went after the champ with lariats, Statlander avoided all then chopped and slapped the challenger in the corner before wailing away with rights. Until being caught with an open hand slap after charging in.
Another, then one to the chest; the champion responded as they goaded one another, Statlander hit a legsweep then a handstand-legdrop, nice sequence.
Valkyrie hit a brutal knee strike, missed a charge and ended up outside, where Statlander hit a thrust kick from the apron then her rear-back moonsault down to the floor.
Hate seeing her do stuff like that after her knee injuries.
She was distracted by the crowd chanting her name and dropkicked off the apron to bring the break.
Both down in the middle, to their knees then their feet, Statlander landed rights, uppercut in the corner, running knee, falcon arrow, kickout at two. Then blocked a Valkyrie suplex until being dragged up into a bearhug/double underhook into a sitdown slam landing onto her ass/spine which looked great (the slam, to be clear). Count of two.
The crowd chanted for the champ as she avoided a kick and got two via rollup then again via lariat. But was blasted by a Valkyrie spear and elbowed in the corner before Taya hit a German suplex while sliding under the ropes with Statlander perched on the second.
The crowd applauded that one despite Taya being the heel. As she headed upstairs, was cut off, superplex ready, hit – such a hard landing, brutal – then Wednesday Night Fever (Tombstone) as the champion retained.
This match had what a lot of women’s matches in AEW lack – intensity. It wasn’t running from spot to spot, it wasn’t someone pumping their arms a million times before hitting the ropes and there wasn’t groan-inducing interference – it was hard-hitting fight with some very nice moves.
And deserved more than the time it got – both tonight and in weeks prior. If this is a one-off, it’s a waste.
Winner: Kris Statlander
The show was now in such a rush that Eddie Kingston was already in the ring, to loud chants of his name. Light boos as he mentioned the Elite. Kingston said ‘they’re cute, they’re good guys I guess’ while smiling, clearly reveling in stirring the pot.
But there’ve been a lot of things he doesn’t like or agree with. Including his ‘homeboy’ who doesn’t like him teaming with the Bucks. But he just hates Claudio so much he has no choice. As Moxley appeared in the crowd – no music – he hit the ring and got right in Eddie’s face:
‘You know how this goes – if they stand behind you protect them, if they stand beside you, respect them, if they stand against you… destroy them’. Then said Kingston had drawn a line. Eddie quickly insisted that Moxley drew it by linking up with ‘that scumbag’. He loves Mox, Mox is his brother, but Mox decided to team with Claudio.
More ‘Eddie’ chants.
Before he then nonchalantly announced Tomohiro Ishii as the fifth member of the Elite’s team. Ishii appeared as the BCC hit Kingston from behind – Danielson, Yuta and Claudio beating down Eddie and Ishii.
As Danielson grabbed a mic to cut-off ‘Okada’ chants. Danielson was just threatening to ‘stomp Ishii’s face in’ when the coin dropped and maybe my favorite theme in wrestling played to an enormous pop.
He and Danielson stood face-to-face in the middle of the ring for a long time, Yuta attacked from behind, holding Okada in place for the busaiku knee, Okada moved, Yuta ate it, Danielson ducked and fled to avoid a Rainmaker.
As the crowd loudly chanted Okada’s name once more. He made Danielson watch as he walloped Yuta with it instead. The crowd’s reaction here did more to put Okada across to any casual fans than any promo or package could’ve.
His music played and he held his arms out in the Rainmaker pose as if beckoning Danielson to come get some as the show ended.
The only question being, where did Mox and Kingston go?
CM Punk, FTR & Ricky Starks vs Bullet Club Gold & the Gunns
Darby and Sting will name their partner for Forbidden Door
Swerve Strickland vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
Christian Cage addresses the TNT Title
Nyla Rose vs Willow Nightingale (Owen Hart tourney)
Brody King vs Andrade El Idolo
Added to Forbidden Door:
Orange Cassidy vs Katsuyori Shibata vs Daniel Garcia vs Zack Sabre Jr (Int’nl Title)
Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale (AEW Women’s Title)
CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki vs Sting, Darby Allin & TBA
Young Bucks, Hangman Page, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii vs Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita & Shota Umino
Thumbs Up/Down
Fun to see the NJPW guys finally hit the scene
Great crowd – lively atmosphere making most guys felt like stars
Good build for Collision
Le Suzuki Gods vs Action & Co.
Toni Storm’s promo work
Taya vs Statlander
The Elite and CM Punk can seemingly be in the same arena since they’re both on Forbidden Door – it’s a start at least
Cole getting the better of MJF again
*****
A continuing problem – too many Attitude Era guys on a show started to be a refreshing alternative
Just waaaay too busy, nothing was given a second to really sink in. With about thirty mins left (including ads) there was still a TBS title match, an Eddie Kingston promo and partner reveal, and a Danielson/Okada face-fo-face to squeeze in. And in fact, the last two got a combined seven minutes.
In contrast to Okada/Danielson, the build for Omega/Ospreay was lacklustre at best
