As AEW heads for The Forbidden Door, stars head for the Owen Hart Cup! Who will begin their journey toward the Calgary Stampede?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- MJF VS Rush; MJF wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Dante Martin VS Zack Sabre Jr, Roderick Strong, Konosuke Takesh*ta & Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis; Cassidy, O’Reilly, Briscoe & Martin win.
- AEW World Tag Team Championships Title Eliminator: The Young Bucks VS The Acclaimed; The Acclaimed win and earn a future title opportunity.
- 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Cup Quarterfinal: Kris Statlander w/ Stokely Hathaway VS Nyla Rose; Kris wins and advances.
- Daniel Garcia VS Rhett Titus; Garcia wins.
- 2024 Men’s Owen Hart Cup Quarterfinal: PAC VS Claudio Castagnoli; Pac wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
MJF VS Rush!
The Wolf of Wall Street’s return really angered El Toro Blanco, and then Rush’s attitude towards him upset MJF! They brawled hard last week, but now they’ll get to fight uninterrupted! And for that matter, this match will be uninterrupted as there will be NO COMMERCIAL BREAKS! Will MJF remind Rush that he is better than him and he knows it? Or will MJF mess with the bull only to get the horns?
The ref has to keep between the two as Rush steps inside the ropes. The bell rings and the hands start flying! Fairfax fires up as these two go forearm for forearm, then Rush gets the edge. MJF shoves Rush, gets around him, then headlocks. Rush powers out, MJF ducks ‘n ‘dodges, then struts over the dropdown! MJF swivels hips but Rush puts some stank on the CHOP! MJF smirks, puts stank on his own CHOP, but Rush just brushes it off! And he gives MJF a check-up on his boys! MJF shoves Rush, Rush eggs MJF on, then puts his arms back. MJF says alright, and he winds up. The fans fire up, but MJF wants more!
The fans fire up more, and more, and more, then MJF pokes Rush in the eyes! The ref reprimands but the fans cheer, and Rush goes to a corner. MJF storms up on Rush, the ref keeps him back, and Rush HEADBUTTS MJF down! The ref checks MJF’s nose, then he reprimands Rush. Rush just soaks up the heat before he stomps away on MJF! MJF crawls to ropes, blood in the mouth, but Rush drags him up for body shots! Rush whips, then he back drops MJF! MJF writhes, Rush soaks up more heat, and he tastes some of MJF’s blood! Rush stomps away on MJF, then SLAPS him across the face! Rush whips again, but MJF sunset flips! TWO!!
Rush escapes, then DECKS MJF! The ref checks MJF and Rush soaks up more heat, but MJF is still in this. MJF goes to a corner, Rush paces, and then Rush storms up to fire forearms! The ref counts, Rush lets off, and Rush hears the fans rally up for the fans. Rush goes corner to corner to feint the dropkick, flip everyone off, and he BOOTS MJF! Rush rolls back to tranquilo, but MJF CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up as MJF rains down fists! Rush pulls at MJF’s nose, rains down fists, then DOUBLE STOMPS! Rush clamps on with a chinlock, then shifts to a motorcycle stretch. The fans rally as MJF endures, so Rush goes back to the chinlock.
MJF fights up, throws body shots, then runs, but Rush dodges to SNAP GERMAN! MJF sits up, into a KNEE! Cover, TWO! MJF stays in this and crawls to a corner, but Rush seethes. Rush hears the fans dueling, and he stomps away on MJF in the corner! Rush scuffs MJF, SPITS on him, but the ref backs Rush off. Rush goes corner to corner, BULL’S- NO, MJF dodges! Rush writhes from crashing down and the fans rally up again. Rush rises and he drags MJF up, but MJF cradles! TWO!! Rush escapes again, MJF gets around to backslide! TWO! Rush sits up, into a SUPERKICK! MJF hammerlocks and lifts Rush, for a CRADLE DDT! Cover, TWO!!
MJF is frustrated, he checks his teeth, and then stands back up. MJF storms back over to Rush, drags him up, but Rush stops the suplex to fire hands! Rush whips, but MJF stops himself to CLAW Rush’s back! MJF reels Rush in, Rush fights free and whips. MJF goes up and over but the leg jams! Rush runs up, but MJF steps over to SNAP PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Rush stops the ref’s count with his own hands! MJF seethes but then he aims from the corner. Rush rises, the fans rally, and MJF runs in, but into an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY into buckles! MJF slumps down but the fans rally and duel again!
MJF stands up, Rush goes to the other corner. Rush runs back in but MJF pops him up to mule kick! MJF goes up, leaps, but into a HAYMAKER! Rush reels MJF in, STRAITJACKET PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! MJF survives and Rush is surprised! Rush tells off Fairfax while MJF staggers up onto wobbly legs. Rush SUPERMAN PUNCHES MJF right outta the ring! Rush paces while MJF flounders around. Rush goes out to stand MJF up and CHOP! MJF staggers around but Rush whips him hard into barriers! Rush gets MJF up to whiphard into railing! And thenhard into more railing! MJF slumps over but Rush just gets him up, to THROW him into barriers!
Rush dribbles MJF’s head off the barriers, KNEES him in, then CLUBS away with heavy hands! Rush says this is going to be HIS company, cabron! Rush stomps MJF, leaves him behind to refresh the count, then talks smack on the “tough guy hero” of AEW. The fans rally for MJF but Rush SMACKS him into railing again! MJF sputters while Rush gets a chair! The ref reprimands but Rush slides the chair into the ring. The ref goes for the chair, but this is so Rush can get the bright green cable! Rush LASHES MJF! And LASHES him again! And LASHES him again! MJF writhes, and now Rush CHOKES MJF with the cable!
Rush dribbles MJF off the floor, but leaves him be as the ref storms over. The fans boo but Rush snatches a sign to rip it up! The fans boo but Rush puts MJF in a corner of the railing. Rush goes to the far side, revs up and runs in, but MJF drop toeholds Rush into the chair! MJF refreshes the count, puts Rush on the apron, and goes up to join him. MJF suplexes, but Rush fights free! Rush ROCKS MJF, MJF comes back, OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLYto the floor!! Rush soaks up all the heat while MJF sputters. Rush drags MJF up, puts him in, and has MJF in a corner. The fans boo but Rush just soaks it all up.
Rush “kicks dirt” at MJF, then goes corner to corner! BULL’S- LARIAT!! MJF turns it around and both men are down while the fans fire up! MJF and Rush stand, Rush swings but into a SPINEBUSTER! MJF rains down furious fists! The ref reprimands, MJF lets off, and he bumps Rush off buckles again and again and again! The fans count all the way to TEN! MJF then climbs up, and he rains down fists! The fans count again, and we go to nine, before MJF BITES Rush’s forehead! MJF lets off, Rush goes to the apron, but MJF brings him in, HEATSEEKER! MJF then gets Rush up, suplexes, and BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, MJF wins!
Winner: MJF, by pinfall
Maxwell Jacob Friedman showed that not only could he take it, but he could dish it out! But wait, who is sarcastically clapping on the tron? It’s The Cage of Agony and Hechicero! The Machine “congratulates” MJF, and welcomes him back. Brian Cage also adds that the EVPs wanted him to pass along their congratulations, as well, especially after all the “lovely things” MJF had to say about them. So much so, that at Forbidden Door, the hometown boy with the bum shoulder has a nice surprise waiting for him, and that is Hechicero. Hechi then tells MJF that he talks a lot about this and that, but this is the Alchemist of Lucha Libre!
Hechicero promises that when he and MJF face off, he’ll break MJF’s arms and it’ll be the end of him! Toa Liona adds a roar, and clearly The Young Bucks have put a hit out on MJF. But will The People’s Scumbag prove that no matter the language, he’s better than the rest, and they know it?
Backstage interview with Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Dante Martin & Kyle O’Reilly.
Renee Paquette is with Freshly Squeezed and his all-star teammates for tonight. The conglomeration seems to have added one more since last time. Cassidy says c’mon, Renee. Oh, of course. Renee turns to the ROH World Champion, and Mark says if he may please… “Now it was only one week ago this very evening that I stood here and I proclaimed today is today, and we’re not gonna get where we’re going by looking in the rearview mirror. And then I proceeded to go get pinned and lose the match for my team, my bad boys. It will not happen again! But I ain’t focusing on that, because the word of the day is vengeance! Today, the word of the day is redemption!
“That’s right! There’s two words of the day today! The conglomeration is here, and today, we have Mr. Hey You Get Off My Cloud, Dante Martin! My fellow participant in the TNT title ladder match at Forbidden Door! But tonight…” Jack Perry steps in! The Scapegoat gives The Chicken a smirk as he moves on, and Mark tells Jack to get his ass outta here! They ain’t worried about yesterday or tomorrow! Tonight, it’s an ALL-STAR 8 MAN! Let’s go, baby! Mark heads out, Kyle says he’ll follow that man anywhere! Dante says hell yeah! Cassidy offers Renee a friendship bracelet. She’d love one! Thanks. Cassidy asks Renee who was that guy, in reference to Jack Perry.
Well, Cassidy is still his usual self but everyone else on the team is all fired up! Will they take the fight to Roderick Strong, The Don Callis Family and their fourth man, Zack Sabre Jr? Or will someone #JustTapOut?
Will Ospreay is here!
Fairfax fires up as the AEW International Champion makes his way out to the ring, but he’s not the only one, because here comes Swerve Strickland! The AEW World Champion has Prince Nana dancing to the song as he goes to the ring, and we’re getting one more face to face between these two ahead of their match at Forbidden Door for Swerve’s title. Both champs get the mic and the fans chant “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Ospreay then says here we are again, same ring at the same time again. Last time, before Ospreay snatched that belt from Swerve’s hands, Swerve said he couldn’t carry the weight of both worlds.
Well oddly enough, Ospreay seems very capable of doing that. Allow him to remind Swerve that he held THREE different championships from THREE different continents, at the same time. The fans cheer that! Ospreay says he is going to test Swerve. Swerve learns what the world already knows, and that is that Ospreay is the best in the world today! The fans cheer but Swerve says this is where Ospreay’s already messed up. Swerve is the best. He of course has been watching Ospreay, he has eyes and ears everywhere in this business.
That said, they’ve been taking two different paths the last five years, and it all culminates at Forbidden Door for the AEW World Championship. How fitting is that? Ospreay, holding multiple international championships, and Swerve holding down two different words: Pro-wrestling, and entertainment. And Swerve’s been doing it all by himself. But don’t make him forget, last year at Forbidden Door, Ospreay VS Omega. Ospreay didn’t win on his own. Is that what Ospreay will do to win this title? The Don Callis Family will help him try, and Swerve does mean try, to take the title?
Oh, is that what Swerve thinks? Swerve thinks Ospreay needs Don Callis? Do the fans think Ospreay needs Don Callis? “NO!” Ospreay says trust him when he says he does NOT need Don Callis or the Family, he can do this by himself. The Don Callis Family is watching backstage, and Don himself doesn’t seem too happy to hear that. But Ospreay says that seeing as how we’re bringing up last year, why stop there? Ospreay beating Omega was only the start of the Summer of Ospreay! After that, it was Kazuchika Okada, then Shingo Takagi, then Chris Jericho at All In Wembley! Bruv, while Swerve had a hit row, Ospreay had a hit list, and he didn’t miss a single one!
The fans like that one, and then Ospreay asks if Swerve feels that pressure. Ospreay feels it, cuz he sees Wembley on the horizon. Swerve should feel the pressure because this is going to be his first title defense in THE main event on a PPV! And everyone wants to see Swerve. What if the “Killshot” is just centimeters off? Is Swerve that confident? Why? Because Ospreay won’t usethat one move? Nah, bruv. Whether it’s the Oscutter, Stormbreaker, or he caves Swerve’s head in with the Hidden Blade, the next morning, Swerve wakes up without that title. And that pain he feels walking down the ramp won’t be as bad when he looks at the crowd and admits Ospreay is on another level!
That pain won’t be as bad, but what he feels if Ospreaydoes use Storm Driver? Swerve won’t walk out of the arena, so he better be thankful. Swerve laughs that off and says Ospreay keeps using “If” over and over. Swerve is the world champ, he doesn’t go off “if” but off certainty! Swerve is the world champion, and while this may be his first PPV main event as such, this is Ospreay’s first PPV main event PERIOD,bruv! And Ospreay has Swerve to thank for that! Ospreay’s list of people to get here, yeah, it’s real nice. Let’s talk about his friends, like Shota Umino and Mercedes Mone, them doing the dances on social media.
What’s Swerve’s point? Swerve’s point is that he does not have friends! He got rid of them! Anyone that came for him for this title, anyone he had to go through for this title, they are bodies now! Numbers on a list, names on a grave, and they mean nothing to him! Question for you, Ospreay: if Swerve breaks one of Ospreay’s legs, who is Ospreay then? If Swerve breaks Ospreay’s arm, will the people still love him? You can break Swerve’s legs, arms and shave him bald, he is STILL Swerve Strickland, the wrestler, the rapper, the businessman, the actor, the podcaster! None of that changes! This business will eat you up. Look what it did to Swerve.
Swerve tried to help Ospreay, telling him that he has to sacrifice and sacrifice and sacrifice that much more to be in this position. But Ospreay doesn’t get that yet. Ospreay has to sacrifice the things he loves. Hell, he has to sacrifice the love he has for this business, for his wife and son! Ospreay ain’t ready for that. Ospreay stops Swerve there and says to never mention his son again. Don’t make this personal. Nana speaks up and says this is not the place nor the time. Save this emotion, save this fire, save all you’ve got, for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door! “Whose house?” Ospreay says “MY HOUSE!!”
Ospreay goes to leave but Swerve has the music stop. Question: what if Swerve does want to make this personal? Because when it comes to this world title, it is always personal. When Ospreay goes home, send Swerve’s regards to Alex & Harry. Ospreay storms right up into Swerve’s face! This is ready to explode, all it needs is a ref and the bell! Will either man survive this battle on Long Island now that Swerve’s lit the fuse?
The Don Calls Family reacts.
Trent is riled up, saying Ospreay is betraying the family and you don’t do that. Konosuke is also upset. Kyle says Ospreay didn’t mean that, but Don has everyone calm down. Don knows Ospreay better than his own mother. It’ll all be fine. Let’s just go. Trent and Konosuke follow down, but what is Kyle feeling when he’s known Ospreay the longest?
8 Man Tag: Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Dante Martin VS Zack Sabre Jr, Roderick Strong, Konosuke Takesh*ta & Kyle Fletcher w/ The Kingdom!
We heard from the conglomeration, and we know tensions are high on the other side, but everyone needs to focus on Forbidden Door. Will Freshly Squeezed be ready for the Front Man? Will the Violent Artist prove that he doesn’t need the Savior of the Backbreaker? Will future opponents in The Chicken and Angel Dorado be able to coexist? Or will ZSJ, Roddy & The Don Callis Family all be feeling good in Fairfax?
The teams don’t even sort out, they just start throwing hands! Well, mostly, as Cassidy takes his time stepping in, and ZSJ waits patiently. Roddy TOSSES O’Reilly, Konosuke has Dante and Mark goes after Fletcher. Cassidy takes off the denim jacket, puts it aside, then takes off the shirt. The sunglasses are handed off to the ref, and then Cassidy puts his elbow pad on. Their teammates have stopped brawling, so Fletcher gets in to CLOBBER Cassidy and Mark gets in to DECK ZSJ! Fletcher and Mark fire off hands now, then Mark CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Mark whips, Fletcher holds ropes, but Mark runs up.
Fletcher puts Mark on the apron, GAMANGIRIS him down, then builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and down goes Mark at the ramp! But O’Reilly KNEES Fletcher down! Roddy DECKS O’Reilly, steps out, but O’Reilly gets a HANGING KNEEBAR! The ref reprimands and counts, Mark gets in and has a chair! But the chair is set up and Mark runs, only for Konosuke to BOOT him down! Konosuke soaks up the heat, but turns around to see Cassidy. Cassidy waves hi, Konosuke runs up, but Cassidy sits down in the chair to avoid the lariat! Also Roddy is still suffering the kneebar but oh well.
Cassidy DROPKICKS Konosuke up and out! Cassidy builds speed, but ZSJ is in to dump him out! Cassidy lands safe on the apron, ROCKS ZSJ, but ZSJ gets him in a ROPE OCTOPUS! Mark uses the chair to FLY onto Fletcher! The fans fire up with Mark and Dante TOSSES ZSJ out. The others group together, Dante builds speed but Konosuke slides in. Dante ducks ‘n’ dodges to then jump and RANA! The fans fire up and Dante then goes up and up and up, to ESCALARA CANNONBALL! Down goes everyone and the fans are thunderous as Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Roddy clutches his leg, Dante and Mark regroup with Cassidy. Mark throws hands down on Konosuke, gets ZSJ up and UPPERCUTS! Mark stomps Roddy, and The Kingdom check on their guy. Mark POSTS Konosuke, Cassidy tags O’Reilly, and in steps ZSJ! This is itself a dream match of technicians and the two feel things out. They tie up, ZSJ rolls O’Reilly and floats around. O’Reilly keeps his leg guard up so ZSJ backs off. They go again, ZSJ facelocks but O’Reilly trips him. O’Reilly floats from leg to arm but ZSJ slips away. The two reset as fans fire up. They go again, and ZSJ waistlocks, but O’Reilly switches.
ZSJ switches, O’Reilly rolls, KNEEBAR! ZSJ sits up to get an ARMBAR! O’Reilly moves around, slips out, and has an ANKLE LOCK! ZSJ reels O’Reilly into a headlock, but O’Reilly powers out. ZSJ drops onto the dropdown for a ghost pin! TWO, but ZSJ wrenches O’Reilly and tags in Fletcher. Fletcher CLUBS O’Reilly’s arm and then CHOPS! O’Reilly hits back, Fletcher fires another forearm, and the Kyles go back and forth! O’Reilly KICKS, then RAMS Fletcher into the corner. Mark tags in, he UPPERCUTS Fletcher, then runs him into buckles! Mark CHOPS, brings Fletcher in, and suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER!
Fletcher flounders away but Mark stomps him in a corner. Mark climbs up, rains down fists, and goes all the way to TEN! Roddy goes after Mark, the ref reprimands, and Fletcher takes a swing. Mark dodges, but men run, DOUBLE LARIATS take them both down! Dynamite returns to single picture as both men crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Cassidy and ZSJ! The fans fire up as these two meet again, and ZSJ keeps Cassidy from putting his hands in his pockets! So Cassidy wrenches, spins ZSJ around, but ZSJ spins Cassidy to wrench and wrench and wrangle! Cassidy kips up, WRINGS ZSJ, but ZSJ kips up to wrench and cording hold.
Cassidy drags ZSJ down, goes for a leg, but ZSJ pops Cassidy into a sunset flip! TWO, and ZSJ cravats! Cassidy endures, rolls, but ZSJ holds on! The fans rally, ZSJ headlocks, and Konosuke tags in as Cassidy powers out. ZSJ bails out, Konosuke DECKS Cassidy! The fans boo, The Kingdom is all fired up, and Roddy snipes a tag! Roddy and Konosuke argue, that lets Cassidy tag O’Reilly! O’Reilly KIKCKS away on Konosuke and Roddy! The fans fire up, Roddy ducks so Konosuke takes the ENZIGIRI! O’Reilly JAWBREAKERS Roddy, runs, but Taven distracts the ref so Bennett can trip O’Reilly up! STRONG KNEE!
Roddy reels O’Reilly in for a BACKBREAKER! Roddy rains down fists on O’Reilly, then soaks up the heat from the fans. Roddy stalks O’Reilly, drags him up, and CHOPS! The fans rally, Roddy CHOPS again, but Kyle hits back! They brawl forearm for forearm and O’Reilly gets the edge. Roddy kicks low, CHOPS, then CHOPS again! O’Reilly blocks a chop, wrenches and WRINGS the arm! Tag to Dante and ZSJ storms in. Dante dodges to fire off forearms! ZSJ gets around, Roddy runs up but Dante BOOTS Roddy to arm-drag ZSJ! Then Dante DOUBLE RANAS! Konosuke runs in, Dante dodges to DECK Fletcher!
Dante dodges Konosuke again, goes up and around then GAMANGIRIS! Springboard, Fletcher takes the CROSSBODY! Dante runs but Konosuke BOOTS him! Konosuke goes up but Dante jumps up! Dante fires hands, but Fletcher YANKS Dante down! Dante staggers, Fletcher reels him in and sends him up to Konosuke! SUPER POWERBOMB!! High stack, Mark & Cassidy break it! They get tossed out by the rest, but Mark brawls with Roddy! Roddy signals to Konosuke but Konosuke still tags in. “This is Awesome!” as Dynamite goes picture in picture again.
Cassidy, O’Reilly and Mark are all down on the outside, but Dante fires body shots on Konosuke. Dante rises up, Konosuke shoves him and DECKS him! Cover, TWO! Konosuke is annoyed but he drags Dante up. ZSJ tags in, even though Roddy tries to snipe it again. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Dante, UPPERCUTS him again, and UPPERCUTS him again! Dante falls into the corner, ZSJ tags Roddy in, and Roddy stands Dante up to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! The ref counts, but Dante fires hands in return! But Roddy DROPKICKS Dante down! Konosuke & Fletcher BLAST Dante’s team while Roddy covers, TWO!
Roddy is annoyed but he steps on Dante to tag in Konosuke. The whole team gets in, and they whip Dante to a corner. ZSJ runs in to UPPERCUT! Roddy runs in to ELBOW! Fletcher runs in to forearm SMASH! Konosuke runs up but Dante dodges! Dante’s team hurries in to get the others out of the ring! O’Reilly sends Roddy into railing! Mark hits a forearm SMASH on Konosuke! O’Reilly adds his own! Dante GAMANGIRIS! Dante and Konosuke are down and the fans rally up! Dante and Konosuke crawl for their corners, Konosuke anchors Dante’s leg, but Dante fights up to ENZIGIRI! Dynamite returns to single picture as Dante continues to crawl!
Hot tag to Mark and teh fans fire up! Mark dodges Fletcher to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Mark whips, Fletcher reverses but Mark BOOTS ZSJ! Mark then dodges Fletcher, ROCKS Roddy, CHOPS Fletcher, repeat! The fans fire up as Mark just keeps throwing shots! Roddy gest around but Mark BOOTS Fletcher! PELE for Roddy! Konosuke is up and he CLAWS Mark’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Konosuke runs, into a fireman’s carry! ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Mark hurries up top, O’Reilly tags in, FORGGY BOY! O’Reilly is up, tag to Dante! KING KONG KNEE DROP! Dante goes up, Cassidy tags in before the MAMBA SPLASH!
Cassidy rises up, the fans fire up, LAZY ELBOW! Cover, Fletcher breaks it! Roddy & ZSJ also stomp Cassidy, but Mark jumps in! Mark brawls with ZSJ, Cassidy TOSSES Fletcher, ‘This is Awesome!” as Cassidy throws off his elbow pad! But ZSJ anchors Cassidy’s foot! HELLUVA KICK!! Tag to ZSJ and Konosuke snapmares Cassidy. ZSJ stands on Cassidy’s hand to torture the other! Mark SLAPS ZSJ, ZSJ eggs him on. So Mark hits the crane stance! ZSJ blocks the kick but gets an EXPLODER! Fletcher gets in, kicks Mark and suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! O’Reilly is in, Fletcher jumps a kick to ROLLING ELBOW! But O’Reilly knees low, GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!
Roddy drags O’Reilly off Fletcher for a BACKBREAKER! Dante JUMP KNEES! Konosuke runs on to JUMP KNEE Dante! Cassidy is up top, CROSSBODY but Konosuke catches him! But he gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Cassidy holds Konosuke so O’Reilly can AX & SMASH! Then Dante springboards, CANNONBALL! Dante keeps going, he DIVES onto The Kingdom! Mark sees Konosuke get out, so he CANNONBALLS from the apron! O’Reilly and ZSJ meet again, and ZSJ blocks a kick to PELE an arm! ZSJ UPPERCUTS O’Reilly down but Cassidy tilt-o-whirls! ZSJ says no to the DDT, GUILLOTINE!
ZSJ suplexes, but Cassidy STUN DOG- NO! ZSJ turns that into a SLEEPER! Then a scoop and ZACK- NO, Cassidy slips free to O’Conner! But ZSJ pops free to get the EURO CLUTCH! O’Reilly KNEES it apart! Fletcher SUPERKICKS O’Reilly! Cassidy gets up, he and O’Reilly HIGH LOW on Fletcher!! ZSJ staggers, tags Roddy, and Roddy BOOTS Cassidy! KNEE! Scoop and FACEBUSTER! But O’Reilly takes the STRONG KNEE for Cassidy! ORANGE PUNCH for Roddy!! Cover, Cassidy’s team wins!!
Winners: Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Dante Martin, by pinfall
This all-star appetizer of Forbidden Door was a feast! But then Jack Perry DECKS Dante outta nowhere! The Scapegoat’s a jackass but he gets outta there! Mark and Konosuke brawl, and this all leaves Cassidy and ZSJ to stare down. Hands up, and into pockets! Cassidy has the big win here tonight, but will ZSJ make sure “Orange Bollocks” isn’t Freshly Squeezed?
Mercedes Mone speaks.
“Hola, Stephanie. Gracias for sending me your partner, Zeuxis, last week to ‘soften me up.’ She fought so hard, but all she really did was give me that taste of the lucha style I love so much. You say I’ve been sitting around? B*tch, I’ve been training and working my ass off to get that title that should’ve been mine. So let’s set things straight. Arrogance? No, sweetheart, that is confidence of someone who has walked the red carpets, somewhere you have never been. I am making history all over the globe. And at Forbidden Door, the titles aren’t just up for grabs, they’re mine to claim. So you wanna be La Primera? Well let’s see if you can handle La Jefa.
“There’s a price to pay when you mess with Mercedes Mone.” The CEO is coming for it all, but will she become the Two Belt Boss? Or will Stephanie Vaquer set a new standard when she becomes a Quatro Crown Queen?
Rush snarls backstage.
A hand pats him on the shoulder, and he turns to see it’s Don Callis. Don says this is an opportunity for him. Is the Don Callis Family looking to add El Toro Blanco to the mix?
AEW World Tag Team Championships Title Eliminator: The Young Bucks VS The Acclaimed!
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson have certainly been two-faced about being The Elite.They want to #ChangeTheWorld, but into something more to their liking, and they’ve started making things personal with Max Caster & Anthony Bowens. But will The EVPs continue to hold down the AEW Tag Division? Or will Platinum Max & The Five Tool Player earn themselves some golden tickets back to the top?
But of course, Caster has a diss track on deck! “Hey, combined, son, your height is-” Wait, what happened? Oh no, someone cut Caster’s mic!! The fans boo as we’re denied the bars Caster was spitting, and we see it was the doing of Kazuchika Okada! The Rainmaker is at gorilla, and he claims he pressed the wrong button. He also claims he’s sorry, and fakes tears, to then go stone faced, “B*tch.” Well, Okada’s raining on The Acclaimed’s parade too, and The Bucks go after them at the ramp! But Caster & Bowens turn things around with big hands! This returns to ringside, but Nick whips Bowens hard into railing!
Caster sends Matt into barriers, scissor fingers the front row, then brings Matt around. Bowens hits Nick back but Nick kicks low. Bowens back drops Nick onto the ramp! Bowens then rains down forearms, but this still isn’t a match! Bowens whips Nick to barriers, Caster puts Matt in the ring, andnow it’s a match! Caster brings Matt around, UPPERCUTS him to a corner, and the fans fire up as he UPPERCUTS again. Caster whips Matt to ropes but Matt reverses, but Bowens sneaks a tag. Caster sunset flips, Matt stays up, but Bowens runs in, NECKBREAKERonto the knees! Matt writhes, tags in Nick, but The Acclaimed send him to the corner.
Bowens runs in to clothesline, Caster runs in to ELBOW! Bowens runs in to forearm SMASH! Bowens sends Nick to Caster, scoop and SLAM! And then Caster holds Nick open, for SCISSOR ME TIMBERS! Bowens shakes out his bad leg, then drags Nick up. Tag to Caster, the Acclaimed mugs Nick, but Nick JAWBREAKERS back! Tag to Matt, but Caster hip tosses him! And hip tosses again! Caster whips, Matt reverses, and Nick gets a cheap shot in! Caster DECKS Nick, kicks Matt, then whips him to the corner. But Matt DROPKICKS Bowens down! Caster CLUBS Matt, whips him, runs in, but Matt dodges! Caster hits buckles then falls out of the ring!
Nick is there to stomp and CLUB Caster, then looms over him by commentary as Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Nick stalks Caster, drags him up and into the ring, all while Matt mugs Bowens on the other side. Bowens clutches the bad leg but Matt stomps Caster to a corner. Matt then stomps Caster in the corner, lets off as the ref counts, and Matt says let’s have a good show. Caster kicks low! Caster fires hands on Matt but Matt RAMS him into the Bucks’ corner! Matt snapmares Caster, tags Nick, and Nick slingshot SENTONS! Nick flexes and soaks up the heat, Matt applauds, and Caster goes to ropes. Bowens manages to stand but Nick ROCKS Caster! Nick CLAWS Caster’s back, keeps him from Bowens and bumps Caster off buckles.
Nick tags Matt in, but Caster hits back with kicks and haymakers! But Matt scoops to BACKBREAKER! Tag to Nick, and he slingshot LEG DROPS! Cover, TWO! Caster stays in this but Nick stays between him and Bowens. Nick RAMS Caster into the corner, tags Matt, and The Bucks hoist Caster up top! The Bucks then climb up, bring Caster to the top, and Dynamite returns to single picture as Caster fires back! Caster CLAWS Nick and he falls! Caster DECKS Matt, then adjusts, to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Caster bounces off, the fans fire up, and Caster hot tags Bowens! Bowens CLOBBERS Matt, CLBOBERS Nick, then fires off hands!
Bowens ROCKS Matt, fires kicks on Nick, then runs to LEAP FROG FAMOUSER! But the bad leg is bothering him again! Bowens still fires off on Matt, but he can’t superkick! Matt smirks, and SUPERKICKS Bowens! Cover, TWO! Bowens survives, goes to ropes, but Matt says it’s fine. Matt runs corner to corner, but into an ELBOW! Bowens goes up but Matt SUPERKICKS the legs out! Matt has Bowens draped out, tags Nick, and they DRAPING SWANTONG BOMB! Cover, Caster breaks it! The fans fire up but Matt TOSSES Caster! Nick tags Matt back in, they flank Bowens, then they go for the arms! Bowens resists but E V P TRIGGER blocked?!
The fans fire up as Bowens fires off hands! Rock, Paper, Scissors SUPER- NO! Nick blocks, and Matt SUPERKICKS the leg! Nick sweeps the legs! Bowens sits up, into a DOUBLE SUPERKICK! The Bucks then pump up their Reeboks! The fans boo the merch plug, but Bowens gets another DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Cover, Caster break sit again! Caster fires off hands now, then whips Nick, Nick reverses, Matt DUMPS Caster, and then Nick goes out to PENALTY KICK! Nick runs in to SHINING WIZARD, GAMANGIRI, ROCK and whip Bowens! Matt scoops, Nick goes up, but Bowens slips free! Bowens sends Matt into Nick!
Bowens reels Matt in to waistlock, but Matt switches with Bowens! Bowens switches with Matt, but Matt grabs the ref, and LOW BLOW MULE KICKS!! The fans boo but The Bucks get away with that one. Tag back to Nick, and The Bucks sit Bowens up, for the E V P TRIGGER!!! Cover, CASTER BREAKS IT AGAIN!! The fans are thunderous but Nick TOSSES Caster! Nick DIVES and takes Caster down! Nick then TOSSES Casterover barriers! Matt bumps Bowens off buckles, steps out, and then Nick hoists Bowens up top. Matt goes up, Nick gets under Bowens, and the Bucks hit a SLICED BREAD BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?!
Bowens survives and shocks The Bucks! The fans rally up but Nick tags Matt. Matt grabs Bowens’ bad leg, KICKS away on it, and then lets off to watch Bowens writhe. Bowens sits up, Matt grabs one of the title belts! The fans boo, Bowens stands, but he ducks the belt shot! Matt avoids hitting the ref! The ref reprimands about the belt, but Nick has theother belt! Bowens ducks again, BELT SHOT hits Matt!! Bowens then TOSSES Nick! Bowens reels Matt in, THE ARRIVAL! Caster goes up, MIC DROP!! Cover, THE ACCLAIMED WIN!
Winners: The Acclaimed, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the AEW World Tag Team Championships)
Billy Gunn hurries out here to celebrate with his guys! Bowens & Caster pulled through and now they get a shot at the titles! The Bucks vow that this is all they’re gonna get, will they make sure to stack the deck against The Acclaimed?
Samoa Joe & Hook walk ‘n’ talk in the hall.
The Samoan Submission Specialist always wanted to know, what is the best slice in New York? Easy, it’s Bari’s by Hook’s place. Joe says the problem with New Yorkers. They talk too much. Their rent’s too high, and act like the best stuff is always by them. If it was Joe, he’d go for the worst place because that’ll have the best deal, since no one wants to live over bad chopped cheese. Hook says yeah, that makes sense. Then they gear up in front of the Premier Athletes’ door, just like last time. But then Joe has Hook hold on. Joe’s getting bored dealing with these guys, so when they go in there, Hook needs to be a little extra.
Extra? Yeah, extra. Aight. They bust in, Hook shouts, “GOOF TIME!” but there’s no one there. There is a note, though. Joe reads it. “Dear belligerent savages, I expected this barbarism. Therefore, I challenge you to a three-on-three wrestling contest on Collision against my associates. Signed, ‘Smart’ Mark Sterling.” Joe groans. Fine, we got a fist fight this weekend. They all in? Hook says bet, and Katsuyori Shibata behind the camera uses text-to-speech to say, “I am going to smash these goofy b*tches.” Joe smiles, and then makes fun of Hook going with “Goof time.” What? He said “be extra.” Okay, we’ll workshop that.
Joe, Hook & Shibata head out, will they tear down Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari & Josh Woods once and for all?
Mariah May is in the ring.
The protege of Toni Storm says it is now time for the Forbidden Door AEW Women’s World Championship contract signing. The fans cheer, and Mariah introduces herself as the host for tonight. Introducing first, the challenger, “Mina Shirakawaaa~!” The Fighting Gravure Idol struts her way out to the ring, already wearing gold on her outfit in anticipation for the title match. Mariah holds the ropes open, then gives Mina a friendly hug before Mina takes her seat. Then Mariah introduces THE AEW Women’s World Champion, “Timeless” Toni Storm! The fans cheer as The Leading Lady of AEW makes her way out, Luther by her side.
Mina is annoyed that Mariah holds the ropes open for Storm, and also that Mariah and Storm give cheek kisses. Storm takes her own seat, and Mariah says, “Ladies, icons, friends. This match is going to be very difficult for me. I know what you’re both capable of, and I understand that you need to prove who the best woman is. But I just want you to know that… I love you both.” The fans go, “Aww…!” Mariah says no matter what happens- Mina interrupts by saying, “Mariah, shut up!” Storm is upset for Mariah but Mina tells Storm that in Stardom, Storm was a legend. In AEW, Storm became a star. But as champion? Storm got soft!Storm gotweak!
“Everybody says ‘We Want Mina~!'” Fans are torn, but Mina says no one wants Storm anymore. And at Forbidden Door, Mina takes the titleand she takes “her girl.” Mina signs her part, and she’s playing for more than just the title. Storm tells Mina if she raises her voice to Mariah like that again, and Storm will slap Mina’s bloody tit* off! The fans fire up and Storm says, “You don’t want Toni Storm? Well… This buffet is wide open, so grab a bowl and line up!” What? “Because darling, I have some advice for you. Chin up. tit* out. And watch for the SHOE~!” Storm signs her part, and the match is official!
The fans cheer, Mariah takes the mic back and says it is official. Mina tells Mariah that SHE must choose! Mina or Storm! But then out comes Saraya! She tells everyone to shut up! Even the fans! She is so sick and tired of this, and of these girls! She didn’t come alone, b*tch! Well, she has Harley Cameron by her side, but wait! ANNA JAY sneaks in from the crowd! Anna drags Mina out to POST her! Saraya gets in to DECK Mariah while Harley drags Storm out to send her into barriers! The Outcasts and Anna clear the table and bring it around! They prop it up in a corner, go after Mariah, and Saraya reels her in.
But Storm gets in to SHOE ATTACK! SHOE for Harley, SHOE for Anna, GERMAN SUPLEX for Saraya! Saraya flounders around, Storm says kiss this! But Saraya moves, SWEET HIP MUSICthrough the table!! The Outcasts have added a new member, and yet Mina has Mariah on the stage to stay safe. Has Mariah already made her choice? Or is it Mina making the choice for her?
Claudio Castagnoli speaks.
“Owen Hart Cup quarterfinals. Eight hopefuls vying to win the tournament, to get a shot at the AEW World Heavyweight Championship at All In in London. Now, as the ‘voice of reason,’ I would like to say that myself and Pac are the prime candidates for that spot at Wembley. Pac, I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m looking forward to stepping into the ring with you. Let’s not do this for selfish reasons. Let’s not do this for me, let’s not do this for you, let’s do it for all the fans in Europe and all the fans watching AEW at home. Let’s do it for something bigger. Pac, when you and me collide, let’s do it for wrestling.”
The Owen Hart Cup brackets are revealed!
We know tonight is Claudio VS Pac in the main event, but there will also be Bryan Danielson VS Shingo Takagi, Rey Fenix VS Jay White, and then Jeff Jarrett VS a wild card yet to be determined! And for the women, we have Willow Nightingale VS Serena Deeb, Deonna Purrazzo VS Hikaru Shida, Mariah May VS Saraya, and the match we have up next! Will the Galaxy’s Greatest or the Native Beast storm their way into the semifinals?
2024 Women’s Owen Hart Cup Quarterfinal: Kris Statlander w/ Stokely Hathaway VS Nyla Rose!
Stokely Hathaway tells us to get on our feet and out of our seats, because every night is #StaturdayNight! But will Kris take her first step to getting in Willow’s way of a repeat? Or will Nyla be the hometown anti-hero Fairfax and the DC Metro area can believe in?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, then break. The fans rally for Nyla and that annoys Kris. The two tie up again, Kris stomps a foot then powers Nyla back. Nyla digs her heels in to push forward, but Kris knees low. Kris CHOPS Nyla, ROCKS her, then runs to RAM her, but Nyla stays up! The fans fire up and Nyla runs, to RAM and run Kris over! Kris kips up, then chest bumps Nyla. Nyla whips Kris to a corner! Nyla then stomps away on Kris but the ref counts. Nyla lets off at 4, but then digs her boot in! The ref counts again, Nyla lets off and “apologizes.” Nyla runs in, but only gets buckles!
Kris runs up but Nyla BOOTS her! Nyla runs to CROSSBODY! Nyla fires up, the fans are with her, but Kris bails out. Stokely checks on her but Kris gets up. Nyla stomps Kris’ foot! Nyla drags Kris onto the ropes, then goes up a corner. But Kris gets free to BLAST Nyla to the floor! The fans boo but Kris soaks it up while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Kris waits on Nyla while the ring count climbs, but Nyla rises up slowly. Stokely talks a lot of smack, but then Kris steps out to KICK Nyla back down! Kris CLUBS Nyla, SMACKS her off the steel steps, then mockingly says, “Oops.” Kris then BOOTS Nyla back down! Kris puts Nyla in the ring, then slingshots up and over to ELBOW DROP! Cover, but Nyla’s in the ropes. Kris hooks the legs as she covers, TWO! Nyla stays in this but Kris bumps her off buckles. Kris stomps away on Nyla in the corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Then she stomps Nyla all over again! The ref reprimands, Kris lets off, and then soaks up the heat.
Kris goes back for Nyla, CLUBS her, then brings her around. Nyla fires body shots in return, but Kris ROCKS Nyla! Kris fires more shots, but Nyla just gets mad! Kris apologizes, but Nyla storms up, so Kris drop toeholds her into buckles! Kris then drags Nyla up to run up and UPPERCUT! Kris brings Nyla around, CLUBS her down, then ROCKS her with forearms and a CHOP! Kris runs, CROSSBODIES, but Nyla catches her! Nyla pops Kris up but Kris slips free to CHOP BLOCK! And BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO! Kris is annoyed, but she rains down fists before clamping on a chinlock. Nyla endures and Dynamite returns to single picture.
The fans rally as Nyla fights up. Kris hops on as a backpack, but Nyla runs and RAMS Kris into buckles! Kris holds on, Nyla staggers, but she RAMS Kris into buckles again! Nyla is free, clotheslines, then whips corner to corner. Nyla runs to back body block, and LARIAT! The fans fire up and Nyla rises! Nyla runs in again, to SPLASH! Kris sits down, Nyla fires up and the fans cheer. Nyla runs corner to corner to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and Stokely is relieved, but Nyla drags Kris up again. Nyla reels Kris in, lifts, but Kris punches free of the bomb! Kris ROUNDHOUSES, then kicks a leg out!
Kris runs to SCISSOR KICK Nyla down! Cover, TWO!! Nyla survives and the fans rally up again! Kris drags Nyla to a drop zone, goes up the corner, and 450 FLOP as Nyla moves! Nyla CLOBBERS Kris, covers, TWO!! Kris survives and Nyla is furious! The fans rally up behind her, though, and Nyla goes up the corner now! But Kris ROCKS her first! Kris climbs up, Nyla shoves her down! Kris rises again, trips Nyla up, then goes side to side so she can BOOT Nyla! Kris drags Nyla off the corner, for a TOMBSTONE!! Cover, Kris wins!!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Stokely then calls out Willow! After what he and Kris did to Willow, they know she wants to beat their asses. But if Willow lays a finger on either of them, she’ll be pop-lockin’ in the same cell as Justin Timberlake. But then Willow gets Stokely’s attention on the tron! Willow says hi to Fairfax, and wishes everyone a Happy Juneteenth. Oh, and Stat… “Congrats” on the win. Kris is on to the second round. And in case they missed the brackets, but Willow has Deeb this Friday on Rampage in Fairfax. Andwhen Willow wins and moves on to the second round, there will be no more running. Willow will get to whoop Kris’ ass!
And then Willow will be one more step closer to her goal of going on to Wembley Stadium. So see you Friday! Willow smiles, but will she pulverize the Professor of Professional Wrestling? Or will Serena’s test be too much even for last year’s Queen of Harts?
Backstage interview with Private Party.
Renee is with Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy, as well as their personal bouncer, Cheesecake, and brings up that last week, they made quite the impression on TV Time with Chris Jericho when they did some serious damage on The Learning Tree and his crew. Are they looking to take some of that momentum into their match with Komander & Metalik on Rampage? Quen says they’d be stupid if they didn’t. But if there’s one thingThe Learning Tree learned, it’s that Private Party ain’t no joke. But speaking of Jericho, he says hi and steps in, waving to the camera. Big Bill & Bryan Keith are with Jericho, and he admits, Private Party did get the upper hand on them last week.
But they had to cheat to do it, didn’t they? But que sera sera, right? Jericho still wants to give his “branches” a lesson, and this week’s lesson is this: When facing luchadors like Jericho did as “Corazon De Leon (Lionheart)” all those years ago, as one of the biggest starts in Mexico’s history, Jericho always avoided the “martinete,” aka the piledriver. Whenever someone tried to use that, he said that doesn’t work for him, brother, and just didn’t do it. So keep that in mind! Thanks, guys! Thanks! Jericho leaves, Bill lets Private Party know they made “quite the first impression.” But not all first impressions are good.
Though, they are looking forward to the match with Private Party on Saturday Night Collision. Oh, and that match on Friday? They’ll be watching. Uh, appreciate that. Bryan says if these two cabrons want to tope conjilo, they better respect Jericho! Redwood and Bad Apple head out, and Kassidy says what they need to respect is the enda. Enda what? THE ENDA THIS- Quen stops Zay there. Back to you, Excalibur.
Daniel Garcia VS Rhett Titus!
While the International Champion has his eyes on Swerve, the chase after the International Championship continues for Red Death. Will Garcia prove himself worthy in time to step through the Forbidden Door? Or will he just have to wait on the other side to see Ospreay in the ring?
The bell rings, Rhett runs in and SPLASHES Garcia in the corner! Rhett fires off fast hands, stomps away, but the ref counts. Rhett lets off at 4, mocks the dance, then dismisses it with a wave. Rhett runs corner to corner, but Garcia gets up to SHOTGUN! Rhett falls back, the fans fire up, and Garcia gets Rhett up to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia drags Rhett up fora second TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Then he gets Rhett up again,a third TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans fire up for the hattrick, and Garcia reels Rhett into the GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Rhett flails, but he fades out! Garcia lifts Rhett up for the RED CROSS!! Cover, Garcia wins!
Winner: Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Another big win for Garcia in the ring, but wait, Daddy Magic is getting jumped on commentary! The Gates of Agony are beating down Matthew Menard, and now Brian Cage & Hechicero are storming down the ramp at Garcia! Menard is thrown into the ring as a distraction, Cage & Hechi CLOBBER Garcia! La Jaula de la Agonía beats down on Garcia & Menard for what happened last Saturday on Collision! They get Garcia up, ROCK-A-BYE BOMB!! The fans boo but Liona CHOKES Garcia! But wait, here comes MJF! The Wolf of Wrestling was called out by Hechicero so he TACKLES Hechicero! And he CLAWS Cage’s eyes!
Kaun & Liona run up, MJF dodges, and then MJF asks them to take it easy. They storm up, into DOUBLE LOW BLOWS! The fans cheer as MJF pulls one over on the hole team! MJF stomps away on Hechicero but Cage GERMAN SUPLEXES him! Hechi clamps on and he beats down on MJF! Roll into the inverted RINGS OF SATURN! Hechi might break an arm tonight! MJF endures, the fans boo, but here comes WILL OSPREAY! The Aerial Assassin won’t let these bullies do what they want, and he fires off shots on Cage! Hechi lets MJF go as Ospreay BOOTS Cage! Ospreay fires hands on Hechi but Cage CLUBS Ospreay!
Cage & Hechi double whip but Ospreay handsprings to DOUBLE PELE! The fans are thunderous, and MJF rises up! MJF clotheslines Hechicero up and out while Ospreay does the same to Cage! The fans fire up, Ospreay and MJF back up but bump into each other! They turn around, see who it is, and they stare down. The fans lose their minds over this first time face to face! Garcia sits up to see what’s going on, and MJF gives a nod of respect. MJF leaves, and then Ospreay offers Garcia a hand. Garcia accepts and these two stand together. Will Garcia get his shot at that title Ospreay has right now? Or will Ospreay soon have two belts in his collection?
Backstage interview with Will Ospreay.
AEW returns as Renee catches up with Ospreay and asks what that stare down with MJF was about. Ospreay says he couldn’t give a crap about MJF, Ospreay went out there because he saw Garcia needed help. But then Brian Cage storms back here, security trying to slow him down! Ospreay dares The Machine to try it! How about Collision, then? Cage says yeah, and put that title on the line while you’re at it! Ospreay says alright then! Saturday Night Collision for the International Championship! Cage says he’ll kick Ospreay’s ass AND take his gold! The Machine backs down for now, and Ospreay says he’s a wanker.
Ospreay holds tight to his belt, and perhaps realizes his hot head got him into some trouble. But will Ospreay be able to survive a Collision with Cage to still bring his title to Long Island?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
On top of Willow VS Deeb in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup, we will see a TNT Championship ladder match qualifier as old friends Lio Rush and Action Andretti go 1v1! Both men are fast and furious personified, but who will be too fast for the other to stop?
BREAKING NEWS for Collision!
It is official! We are getting Ospreay VS Cage for the Intercontinental Championship! Will the Aerial Assassin be able to stop The Machine? Plus, after seeing The Bucks in their title eliminator match, Christopher Daniels has finally found someone for Kazuchika Okada to face! CMLL’s Ultimo Guerrero gets his shot at The Rainmaker, will he also be getting an AEW Continental Championship match out of it? Plus, MJF will be in Memphis, what will he have to say about his plans going forward?
BREAKING NEWS for Forbidden Door!
As the Owen Hart Cup tournament has some international flair, the match of AEW’s Bryan Danielson and NJPW’s Shingo Takagi will take place on Sunday, June 30th! Will the American Dragon be able to slay the Rampaging Dragon of Japan? Or will Takagi prove that #TOKIGAKITA, this is his time?
2024 Men’s Owen Hart Cup Quarterfinal: PAC VS Claudio Castagnoli!
The Bastard is in a foul mood, but the Swiss Superman said earlier tonight that this moment isn’t about either of them. Both men want to represent Europe in the tournament and go All In, but who is the one that takes a step closer to Wembley?
Meanwhile, Bryan Danielson has joined commentary to watch his friend and fellow Blackpool Combat Club member in action. They’re on the same side of the tournament bracket, so there is potential Bryan meets the winner of this match. Plus, Bryan just wants to see these two incredible wrestlers have it out. The bell rings and the two run in! Pac SHOTGUNS Claudio, then goes right up top! Claudio lost track of Pac but turns around, into the MISSILE DROPKICK! Claudio tumbles out of the ring, Pac hurries after him! Pac whips, Claudio stops himself, and Claudio ROCKS Pac! And UPPERCUTS! And CHOPS!
Claudio eggs Pac on, whips him, but Pac reverses! Claudio hits railing, and then Pac whips him into barriers! Claudio hobbles, Pac puts him in the ring, and then Pac climbs the corner again. MISSILE DROPKICK! Claudio tumbles, Pac goes to the near corner and climbs up again. But Claudio bails out this time, not wanting a third missile dropkick. Bryan says that’s smart, but Pac hops down to go out. Pac runs in around the way, but Claudio FLAPJACK UPPERCUTS him!! Fans lose their minds over that one, and even Bryan is fired up! Bryan says that is what you’re dealing with when you face Claudio, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Claudio drags Pac up, whips himhard into railing, then he winds up to run in. Claudio UPPERCUTS Pac against railing! Pac flops down, Claudio still hobbles with the pain in his hip, but Claudio feeds off the energy from Fairfax. Claudio brings Pac around but Pac fires body shots! Pac CHOPS, but Claudio seethes. Pac ROCKS Claudio, but Claudio FLAPJACKS Pac off the apron! Claudio shoves Pac into the ring, hobbles up to the corner and then climbs. Pac rises, turns around, and Claudio FLYING AX HANDLES! Down goes Pac and Claudio grits his teeth. Cover, ONE!! Pac is still in this but Claudio clamps on with a chinlock.
Claudio grinds Pac down, but Pac fights up to his feet. Pac fires body shots, only for Claudio to scoop and SLAM! Claudio runs, and DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Claudio stays on Pac with a cross between cravat and chinlock stretch. Pac endures, even as he’s twisted sideways, but the fans rally up. Pac fights around but Claudio HIP DROPS him. Claudio shakes out the bad leg, kicks at Pac, but Pac seethes. Dynamite returns to single picture. Claudio slaps Pac around, then scuffs him. Pac gets mad as he stands up, but Claudio fires a forearm. Pac gives it back, they go back and forth, but then Claudio shoves Pac away!
Claudio runs up but Pac BOOTS him! Claudio just comes back, only for Pac to dodge! Claudio POSTS himself, then tumbles out to the apron! Pac goes to the apron, runs up, and FLYING RANAS! The fans fire up while Claudio writhes. Pac goes up to mule kick from the apron! Then Pac TOP ROPE ASAI MOONSAULTS! The fans fire up as Bryan says that was pinpoint precision! Incredible stuff and the fans certainly love it! Pac refreshes the ring count, then aims again, ASAI- NO, Claudio catches Pac! But Pac swings to TORNADO DDT to the floor! Pac puts Claudio in and even Bryan is a bit worried for Claudio.
Pac goes up to the apron, and springboard ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives and Pac sighs. The fans rally, Pac storms up on Claudio and gives those scuffing kicks and pie faces back. Pac eggs Claudio on, Claudio snarls and ROCKS him! Pac fires back, they go back and forth! Claudio fires fast hands, then an UPPERCUT! Pac goes to ropes, Claudio runs up, but Pac sidesteps to SNAP GERMAN! Claudio rises and roars! But Pac BOOTS him! And SOBATS! And front KICKS! And SUPERKICKS! Claudio falls, the fans fire up, and Pac makes sure Claudio is in the drop zone. Pac goes up top again, for the BLACK- NO, Pac bails out as Claudio moves!
Claudio UPPERCUTS Pac down!! Cover, TWO!!! Pac survives and shocks even Bryan! Bryan points out Claudio has finished matches with that level of uppercut, and yet Pac survives. But wait, Claudio gets Pac’s legs! Time for the SWING~! The fans fire up and count along, and Claudio goes around TEN times before he tosses Pac! Pac is dizzy, Claudio gets moving, LARIAT! Cover, TWO!!! Bryan says you get so much power and speed from Claudio, and now he ties Pac’s arms up. RICOLA- NO, Pac slips free of the bomb and has a BRUTALIZER! Claudio is standing as he endures the hold, but he’s turning red!
Claudio kneels, but he refuses to give up! Claudio rises, reaches out, and Bryan says this is how much this means to him! Pac sunset flips, but Claudio rolls through! SHARPSHOOTER!! The fans are thunderous as Pac endures! Pac reaches out, but Claudio drags Pac away! Claudio sitsdeep on the hold, but the fans rally! Pac keeps moving, Claudio goes for the arm, CROSSFACE! Claudio rolls Pac away from ropes, even! Pac endures, even as Claudiopulls back! But Pac fights around, pushes this to a cover, TWO!! Claudio lets go in time, but Pac wheelbarrows, victory rolls, TWO!! Claudio escapes, UPPERCUTS but into a backslide!
Claudio fights that, so Pac inside cradles! TWO and Claudio has the cradle! TWO and Pac has it back! TWO!! They let go, Claudio goes for legs but Pac steps over! Pac tries a roll-up but Claudio steps around to sit down! TWO and Pac sunset flips! TWO and Claudio cradles, TWO! Ghost pin, PAC WINS!!
Winner: PAC, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Even Bryan is shocked! The Swiss Superman gets snatched by a technical wrestling move and is disappointed in himself. So much so, that he rejects Pac’s handshake of respect! Bryan tries to tell Claudio that stuff like that happens, but Claudio says not to someone like him. The Bastard must now wait until Forbidden Door to know who he faces, what kind of dragon will he look to slay in the semifinals?
My Thoughts:
A great Dynamite with a lot of build in a lot of stories. For one, awesome match from MJF and Rush to open, and they really did keep it commercial free, there was not even one picture in picture break during that time. MJF of course wins, he’s on the return push. But I did find it intriguing that, since Tony Khan gave up on La Faccion Ingobernable, Don Callis has reached out on behalf of The Family. At the same time, great bit of the Don Callis Family being unsure about Ospreay after that great promo segment between Ospreay and Swerve. Swerve certainly does love making things “personal” in his feuds, I just hope for his sake, this isn’t the one time it backfires and he loses.
Now, Ospreay still has his hands full with the International Championship and is perhaps only making it harder on himself. He gets involved with helping Garcia against The Cage of Agony, instead of Dalton Castle which would’ve made sense from how Collision went. MJF also has his interest in Garcia so there’s some logic to him going out there, and everyone loved seeing Ospreay and MJF in the same ring together. Brian Cage sure isn’t winning the International Championship on Saturday but it’ll be a great match, and I’m still thinking Garcia gets his shot very soon. As I’ve said since Ospreay won the Forbidden Door title shot, they could easily make him do a double header and that’s why Ospreay goes 1-1. It’s just a question of: which title does he win and which does he lose?
Another week, another great promo from Mark Briscoe. And then that “All-Star 8 Man Tag” was a lot of fun, and I meana lot of fun. Just chaotic enough and we got a great win for the Faces. Jack Perry getting involved right after was also good, and he of course picked on Dante Martin because Dante is not quite the scrapper as Mark Briscoe or Konosuke Takesh*ta are. Action and Lio for Rampage is going to be great stuff, but I’m pretty sure Lio wins as Action and Dante are teammates and AEW’s not gonna make teammates face each other like that. And we also got good interactions of Cassidy and ZSJ, that match is going to be a lot of fun, too.
Awesome stuff with The Bucks and Acclaimed. I especially liked Okada messing up the rap and then being a jerk about it. The match itself was awesome, it was like the titles were on the line already. And with Acclaimed winning here, I have a feeling they lose out in the title match, though surely with plenty of shenanigans to protect The Acclaimed while putting heat in The Bucks. It would also help in giving The Acclaimed reason to join Swerve against The Elite in the coming Blood & Guts match they teased a month in advance. Also, I like that a CMLL wrestler is getting their shot at Okada, that’s a nice opportunity for Ultimo Guerrero there.
Good promo segment from Private Party with Team Learning Tree, and I knew as soon as Private Party was on screen, we’d see Jericho show up. Good lines from Bill and Keith as usual, and Private Party is gonna be busy. They’re gonna have a great match with Metalik y Komander on Rampage, and they’ll have a very good match with Jericho & Bill on Collision. Just not sure who Private Party can find as a third man to take on the full Learning Tree team in a Six Man Tag as the blowoff. Really good promo segment from the Joe-Hook-Shibata trio to set up their Six Man Tag with the Premier Athletes, and I would think Joe, Hook & Shibata win rather handedly.
Good promo from Mercedes Mone, but doesn’t change my personal feeling of wanting her to lose just to pop her ego. But as I said before, Mone will win so that Stephanie Vaquer isn’t having to go all over the world. Great promo for the contract signing between Storm and Mina, but I feel like they’re forcing Mina to Heel it up since Storm is of course the fan favorite. Mina doesn’t need to be mean to Mariah to make this a tough choice for Mariah to choose between her mentors. Especially with The Outcasts showing up and recruiting Anna Jay to their side. That’ll be a very good Six Woman Tag, and I feel like Storm’s team will actually lose. Mariah is facing Saraya in the Owen Cup, so go-home math says Mariah loses to then win later. Plus, Mina and Storm can argue and put Mariah in the middle.
Then great Owen Cup matches tonight. Kris VS Nyla was really good, and a solid win for Kris. Good promo from Willow ahead of her own match, and yeah, we’re definitely getting Kris VS Willow in the semifinals, right? Great main event from Pac and Claudio, and I figured Pac would win, but it was a great sequence of pin attempts that really kept us guessing. And waiting on Bryan VS Takagi for Forbidden Door probably is for the best. It will certainly be the quarterfinal finale while we see Rey Fenix VS Jay White, as well as a wild card determined to defeat Jeff Jarrett. Pac VS Bryan is good for story, it creates tension between Bryan and Claudio since Claudio couldn’t beat Pac and will take offense to Bryan thinking he can. But Takagi is a lot of fun to watch…
My Score: 8.9/10
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