Recapping American wrestling since 2013. Not only following the current stuff in WWE, Impact and ROH but also going back in time and doing stuff from back then as well.
We see a video package for Alec Price and Jordan Oliver.
Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin) beat Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake). After the match, Big Bill and "The Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith - now known as "Paid in Full" - interrupt Top Flight's exit to the back to head to the ring for the next match.
Paid in Full (Big Bill and "The Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith) beat Kiran Grey and Darian Bengston.
We see a video package chronicling the events between Athena and Maya World, who will square off in an ROH Women's World Championship Proving Grounds Match next week.
"The Technical Beast" Josh Woods beats Nathan Cruz by submission with a modified short arm scissors in a Pure Rules Match.
In backstage footage from earlier today, Lexy Nair interviews Adam Priest and "The Dynamite Kid" Tommy Billington. Adam Priest says he and Billington have been dominating in both in singles and tag action, and that Billington had Jay Lethal beaten until The Swirl ("Vanilla Baby" Blake Christian and "Big Shotty" Lee Johnson) interfered. Priest says that they have The Workhorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry) in tag actio this week, and while The Workhorsemen taught him everything he knows, they always come up a bit short against him. Billington tells Lethal that he looked up to him as both a mentor and as a brother who watched his back when no one else did, and that they are done when he says they are done.
Adam Priest and "The Dynamite Kid" Tommy Billington beat The Workhorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry).
Mina Shirakawa beats "The Real Deal" Zayda Steel by submission with the Figure Four Leg Lock.
Backstage, Athena reveals that she and Billie Starkz have attacked "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo for siding with Hyan and Mya World, and warns that she will strike back twice as hard against anyone who goes against her. She then wants Starkz to hold the ROH Women's World Television and Pure Women's Championships simultaneously.
The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson and Austin Gunn) beat MxM Collection (Mansoor and Mason Madden).
Backstage, we hear from Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos. Guevara says they have been on fire lately and undefeated in tag team action, then says that they are the greatest tag team walking the earth. He then mentions that they are contractually obligated to defend the ROH World Tag Team Championships, and issues an open challenge to anyone who wants to challenge them before stating that the results will be the same. He also mentions that The Beast Mortos is "a shoot lawyer."
Lacey Lane beats Robyn Renegade.
AR Fox beats "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard, Shane Taylor and "Big Shotty" Lee Johnson in a 4 Leaf Clover 4 Corner Survival match to earn an immediate title shot against a mystery champion from anywhere in the world of wrestling tonight. The champion in question ends up being All Elite Wrestling International Champion "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada.
"The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada retains the All Elite Wrestling International Championship against AR Fox.
Tony Schiavone introduces "Hangman" Adam Page and Samoa Joe for a face-to-face meeting before their AEW World Championship match at WrestleDream to start tonight's show. Hangman is introduced first, followed by Joe. Hangman says there has been six years of Dynamite in AEW history and that in those six years, he has won, he has lost, he has committed arson, he has dressed as the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, and he may have been proposed to, but he has never been more confused as he was when Joe lost his composure with him after he volunteered to fight with him and Powerhouse Hobbs to beat The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, PAC, Daniel Garcia, Marina Shafir), and after they won, Joe lost it, even sucker punching him in the face when security got involved. Hangman admits that he was confused, but that he was not confused for long, because Joe looked him in the and yelled to him "You never beat me" and that he looked at the AEW World Championship and decided that he wanted it. He says that Joe has been angry with himself and distracted from what is important in professional wrestling, then tells Joe that while he will get his chance at WrestleDream, he is only getting it because he owes him after ensuring that the fight for the AEW World Championship at All In was a fair one, which he thanks Joe for. Hangman admits that with help like that, no one - much less himself - could have won, but the repayment for his gratitude stops there. He tells Joe that he will have the chance to win the title at WrestleDream, but he will not just let Joe take it from him. Joe tells the fans that everything Hangman has said is true, but since they are talking about uncomfortable truth, he will tell a few of his own. Joe says that when he stares across the ring, his problem is not with Hangman being the champion, but that Hangman is not what he considers "the pinnacle of professional wrestling" and is instead "a pretender." Joe says Hangman would not be AEW World Championship unless the timely intervention of The Opps (Joe, Hobbs, "The Wrestler" Katsuyori Shibata) assured that, and that week after week, nobody has had Hangman's back but The Opps, and if they did not, Hangman would not be "the man" right now. Joe admits he is surprised that this did not happen sooner, as he has forgotten who he was and was so bloodlusted with going after The Death Riders that he forgot about the man who called himself the champion, and that Hangman "is no champion." Joe says Hangman may have the "fighting champion" hustle, but he provided the opportunity and he is collecting on what is owed. Joe then says that what is standing in front of him is "a fraud" and that he is here to check him, and that he will beat, break and torture Hangman, who will get his licks in, get his fight back, give his best effort and try to be the man that he says he is before he chokes him unconscious, takes his belt, and shows him who he really is as Hangman knows his places and provides the world with a true champion. Hangman asks why he has to explain to tough guys like Joe that the proof of who he is does not stand in their opinion of him, but when the bell rings, and while Joe may beat his ass for a while at WrestleDream, but for every shot Joe gives him, he will give Joe two back. If Joe locks him in the Coaquina Clutch, he will not tap again, and that the match will be in his favor for every second that ticks in their match, as Joe can not outlast him. He says that when the match is over and Joe is on his back having been beaten as fairly as possible, he hopes Joe brings the same energy as he did at All In to stand up, shake his hand, look him in the eye and know that he is the champion of the world.
In backstage footage from earlier today, Alicia Atout interviews The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong). Briscoe says the word of the day is "multifacetification," for tonight, they have a big night as well as a big week, as Willow Nightingale will be teaming with JetSpeed ("Speedball" Mike Bailey and "The Jet" Kevin Knight) on Collision and there is no doubt that they will get the job done. As for tonight, Kyle O'Reilly will face "The Protostar" Kyle Fletcher and beat his ass for attacking Hologram, which he says will not go unpunished. O'Reilly says that he despises any other man named Kyle and tells the fans to cheer for Kyle, because if he does not hear even one "Let's go, Kyle" chant, he is going to lose it. Roderick Strong tells O'Reilly to bring the TNT Championship home. Brisco also proclaims that Orange Cassidy is "freshly back" and will be reviving his rivalry with PAC and giving him the beating that he "truly, rightfully deserves," and that Tomohiro Ishii will take on Jon Moxley in what will be "a slobberknocker" and that Ishii will "drop bombs" on Moxley. Orange then has everyone put their hands out, which everyone but Roderick Strong - including Alicia Atout - takes part in.
Jon Moxley beats Tomohiro Ishii by submission with the Bulldog Choke.
Renee Paquette interviews The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) as they knock on Tony Khan's door. Nicholas says he is desperate for a money match, and Matthew says that they have two tickets to watch Jurassic Express' return match later tonight.
We see a video package for "Timeless" Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW Women's World Championship at WrestleDream.
The Hurt Syndicate (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin) beat The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona) in a Street Fight.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews The Don Callis Family. Don Callis says his family is smarter than everyone else and that no strategy is necessary, then demands that "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander destroy Kota Ibushi on Collision. He also calls Kyle O'Reilly is an irritant and such a mark for "The Protostar" Kyle Fletcher that he neamed himself after Kyle. Callis also stats that Brodido will not get a shot at the Unified Championship, and Rocky "Azucar" Romero brags about Hechicero ripping Bandido's shoulder out of its socket. Callis says that "The Alpha" Konouske Takeshita and "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada will work together like a well-oiled machine, and after they win tonight, the family will roll into WrestleDream and win the AEW World Championship to claim all of the gold.
Jurassic Express ("Jungle" Jack Perry and Luchasaurus) beat KM and Orion. During the match, The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) are seen on the upper-left corner of the crowd on the hard cam. After the match, The Young Bucks attack Jurassic Express, and kick Luchasaurus in the groin as he goes for a double choke slam before hitting him with an EVP-Trigger. Nicholas then challenges Jurassic Express to a match against The Young Bucks at WrestleDream before hitting Jack Perry with a TK Driver.
Backstage, we hear from The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, PAC, Daniel Garcia, Marina Shafir). PAC says that he is looking for a snack to whet his appetite and that he will outwrestle and outclass Orange Cassidy before making his suffer, then move upwards and outwards as The Death Riders have ambition that far outweighs the likes of Orange. Wheeler says he and Orange used to be good friends and that tonight will hurt him almost as much as it will Orange, but if The Death Riders are to elevate AEW to as high as it can be, then they must "trim the fat and cut the shit" and separate the winners from the losers. Garcia says it is not about wins and losses, and that they see a lot of losers and that winning is a choice. He says that The Death Riders will keep winning, because that is what they do.
Don Callis guests on commentary for the next match.
"The Protostar" Kyle Fletcher retains the TNT Championship against Kyle O'Reilly. After the match, Lance Archer goes for a choke slam on O'Reilly, but Roderick Strong and Tomohiro Ishii get in the ring. Rocky "Azucar" Romero evens the numbers game before Mark Briscoe shows up and cleans house. Fletcher and Briscoe almost come to blows, but they stop themselves, and Fletcher leaes the ring.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Don Callis, "The Protostar" Kyle Fletcher and Lance Archer. Fletcher says that he has Mark Briscoe's number on any given day and that he has beaten Briscoe twice. When it is announces that Briscoe will face Fletcher for the TNT Championship at WrestleDream, Fletcher is aghast, and he, Callis and Archer leave.
Mercedes Moné's TBS Championship open challenge opponent is revealed to be Lacey Lane.
Mercedes Moné retains the TBS Championship against Lacey Lane.
We hear from Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos. Guevara says that Eddie Kingston did not win against Dralistico; he just survived. He then says that Eddie will face Mortos on Collision and tells Eddie to say his prayers and tell his family that he loves them, because The Beast Mortos will be the end of him. We then hear from Eddie Kingston and Hook. Eddie says he beat Dralistico because of Guevara, and now Guevara is going to get Mortos' ass kicked.
Don Callis guests on commentary for the next match.
The Don Callis Family ("The Alpha" Konosuke Takeshita and "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada) beats Brodido (Bandido and Brody King) in a Double Jeopardy Elimination Match for a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championships after Bandido's shoulder injury leaves him unable to perform the 21-Plex and Okada tags himself in to hit Bandido with the Rainmaker, leaving Takeshita in a better position to knock Brody King off the ring apron with a knee.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Willow Nightingale and JetSpeed ("Speedball" Mike Bailey and "The Jet" Kevin Knight). Speedball says it blows his mind that people who call themselves the greatest tag team of all time can grab a microphone and make excuses for their horrible actions, which is why JetSpeed will always respect people who stand up to bullies like Willow Nightingale. Jet says he had Dax looking up at the lights and questions if FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) are top guys when they have to take shortcuts to win. Willow says that regardless of whoever is at ringside, it will be three-on-three, and Knight tells Stokely Hathaway to get another track suit.
Backstage, we hear from Stokely Hathaway and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler). Stokely admits that he has a smidge of respect for JetSpeed ("Speedball" Mike Bailey and "The Jet" Kevin Knight) for stepping into the ring with the greatest tag team today, but he does not respect Willow, saying that Dax would have beaten Knight if it were not for Willow. He says he does not need hoes when he has "two bad bitches" who hate Willow Nightingale just as much as he does: Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne. Penelope says that she and Megan bring beauty and power personified, and Megan says that she brings balance before telling Willow that smiles and positivity do not make her a hero, as she does not stand a chance in any universe where she walks. Stokely tells JetSpeed that they do not stand a chance either, and on Collision, they will put JetSpeed and Willow in their place.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Brodido (Bandido and Brody King). Bandido says he is not making excuses for tonight's loss, and says he costs them the match. Brody King says Bandido is the one to say "never stop fighting" and that they will never stop fighting, and at WrestleDream, they will continue to be tag team champions.
Orange Cassidy beats PAC. During the match, PAC leads Orange Cassidy out of the ring and into the stands, where he hits Orange with a piledriver only to be handcuffed to a barricade by his ankle by Darby Allin. PAC frees himself and dives back into the ring in time, but Orange Cassidy wins with a roll-up. After the match, Darby satres down PAC from the stands. PAC goes after Darby only to be blinded with pepper spray. Wheeler Yuta charges at Darby only to be thrown over the announce table, then Darby pulls out a stun gun and keeps Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia at bay. Claudio and Garcia have to keep Moxley away from Darby, as does Marina Shafir. Darby tries to light a Molotov concktail, but he is taken down by security before he can light it up. Darby is restrained as The Death Riders (Moxley, Claudio, Yuta, Garcia, Shafir) are kept back.
Adam Cole shows up to start tonight's show. The NXT Championship is seen on a table in the center of the ring. Cole states that he outlasted four of NXT's very best last week and earned the right to face Johnny Gargano for the vacant NXT Championship, and while he could give a million reasons for why he will be champion, he wants Gargano to come to the ring. Gargano shows up and meets Cole in the ring, and sits on the top turnbuckle as dueling fan chants fill the arena. The chants end after Cole yells that he needs no support and can win the title on his own and Gargano states that he loves the chants. Gargano then demands Cole list off all the reasons that Cole knows he will beat him, then demands the fans get their cameras out as NXT history is being made because Cole is at a loss for words. He then asks Cole if he knows that he is in the fight of his life, as Gargano states that his path ends at the NXT Championship and that his path goes through Cole, who will find out why he is called "Johnny Takeover." Cole is interrupted by "Johnny Takeover," then implies that the nickname does not intimidate him as Gargano has not been in the winner's circle at TakeOver and that "Johnny Participation" is more fitting. He states that Gargano cannot beat him in one fall, much less two, because he become the first-ever North American Champion, first-ever War Games Match winner and winner of his debut match all at TakeOver events, and plans to repeat history with a NXT title win. Cole claims that he earned all of his accolades, and asks what Gargano has done to earn a championship match. Gargano admits he didn't get the red carpet rolled out for him like Cole did, and that he was initially told he wasn't good enough to be in NXT. He talks about how he fought for his one chance - which he got in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic while thrown into a tag team with Tommaso Ciampa - and fought for his life alongside Ciampa to make it. After the tournament, a month passed with no response, but he was suddenly invited back again and again, because every time he showed up, he poured his heart out in the ring and fought so hard that the fans chanted for him. The louder they chanted, the harder he fought for a chance in NXT, as the fans fought for him and he fought for them back to defy the odds and earn his NXT contract and all of his accolades here. Gargano states he earned everything he could here because NXT is his life, and that he was not "handed a top spot in a group of cronies who fought for [him] since day one," and he would not change a thing. He then states he will fight to make his dream come true, fulfill his destiny and finally become NXT Champion. Cole leaves, then turns back and tells Gargano that he can fight all he wants, but he will become the NXT Champion in the end because the win will not be definitive according to WWE CEO and NXT founder Triple H, but undisputed as Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong stand at the top of the ramp.
Vanessa Borne and Aliyah vs. Lacey Lane and Kacy Catanzaro ends in a no-contest. During the match, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke show up and attack Lacey Lane and Kacy Catanzaro while Vanessa Borne and Aliyah leave. Kacy Catanzaro fights back, but she falls victim to a Kirafuda Clutch from Baszler. Baszler, Duke and Shafir head to the announce table, and Baszler announces that this will keep happening as long as she is mistreated before standing on the announce table and raising up the NXT Women's Championship.
Matt Riddle beats "The Finest" Kona Reeves with the Bromission. During the match, two women carry Velveteen Dream out on a couch, and this distracts Riddle to the point that he almost loses. After the match, Velveteen Dream interrupts the ring announcer to congratulate Riddle on his win and acknowledge him as his challenger at NXT TakeOver: New York. After the match, Velveteen Dream interrupts the ring announcer to congratulate Riddle on his win and acknowledge him as his challenger at NXT TakeOver: New York. Riddle takes the goblet out of Velveteen Dream's hand and drinks out of it before tossing it aside, then takes Dream's microphone and tells him "I'll see you in New York...bro."
Aleister Black and Ricochet beat The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler) to win the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and face War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) for the NXT Tag Team Championships at NXT TakeOver: War Games. During the match, Jaxson Ryker gets ejected from the match after getting caught pulling Aleister Black's foot off the rope as Wesley Blake goes for a pinfall attempt. After the match, War Raiders show up and stare down with Aleister and Ricochet in the ring to end the show.
Meiko Satomura beats Lacey Lane to advance to the semi-finals of the Mae Young Classic.
Io Shirai beats Deonna Purrazzo to advance to the semi-finals of the Mae Young Classic.
Rhea Ripley beats Tegan Nox by referee stoppage to advance to the semi-finals of the Mae Young Classic after Tegan Nox injures her left knee (the one that is not in a brace) after landing awkwardly on the ramp on a tope suicida to the outside at the beginning of the match. The crowd chants "Thank you, Tegan!" and claps in respect as Tegan Nox is helped to the back.
Toni Storm beats Mia Yim after taking advantage of Mia Yim's injured hand to advance to the semi-finals of the Mae Young Classic. After the match, the fans are heard chanting "Please sign Mia!" during the replay.
We get a closer look at Chilean luchadora Zatara, who claims to fight an intelligent form of lucha libre and says that nobody will forget her name after this tournament. We also get a closer look at Tegan Nox, who likes to hit people hard and fly through the air while doing the unconventional. (Tegan Nox was almost at last year's tournament, but she suffered a torn ACL before she could take part.)
Tegan Nox advances to the second round of the Mae Young Classic against Zatara despite damage to her surgically repaired right knee during the match.
Alexa Bliss and Ember Moon are seen in the front row.
We get a closer look at Rhea Ripley, who feels she made a complete and utter fool out of herself and plans to prove what she is all about with a darker and better version of herself, and says she is going to rip every competitor apart. We also get a closer look at MJ Jenkins, who calls herself strength, beauty and sass that is about to blow everyone's mind.
Rhea Ripley advances to the second round of the Mae Young Classic against MJ Jenkins.
We get a closer look at Vanessa Kraven, who says she is a monster but also has a playful side, and that she loves to hit hard. We also get a look at Lacey Lane, a multi-styled wrestler and former college basketball stand-out who wants to prove that she is just as good as the guys, and considers The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) an inspiration.
Lio Rush is seen in the front row.
Lacey Lane advances to the second round of the Mae Young Classic with an upset win against Vanessa Kraven with a crucifix bomb.
Backstage, Natalya says she is glad to be here, and says it is incredible to be surrounded by women who have her passion for wrestling and inspire everyone to be better. Natalya says she is rooting for Mia Yim and Io Shirai, and hopes they both do amazing in the tournament.
We get a closer look at Meiko Satomura, who wrestled in World Championship Wrestling 23 years ago in the short-lived women's division of the mid-1990s despite being a rookie, and started dreaming of coming back to America on the road to becoming a top wrestler. She promises that she will bring a bigger revolution than ever in the tournament. We also get a closer look at Killer Kelly, the first Portuguese female wrestler to compete in the WWE. She says that the fans will soon remember her name as she takes down her opponents by any means necessary.
Funaki and "The Perfect Ten" Tye Dillinger are seen in the front row.
Meiko Satomura advances to the second round of the Mae Young Classic against Killer Kelly. Both women show respect after the match.
