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KELLER’S AEW ALL OUT PPV REPORT
SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
STREAMED LIVE ON PPV (including HBO Max & PPV.com)
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of right before showtime, 12,169 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 19,800 spectators when configured for concerts. (Prior PPV in Toronto, Forbidden Door 2023, drew 13,946
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[PRE-SHOW]
(A) SAMOA JOE & POWERHOUSE HOBBS vs. THE WORKHORSEMEN (J.D. Darke & Anthony Henry)
WINNERS: Joe & Hobbs in 5:00.
(B) DANIEL GARCIA (w/Marina Shafir) vs. KATSUYORI SHIBATA
WINNER: Garcia in 15:00.
(C) HOLOGRAM & KYLE O’REILLY & RODERICK STRONG vs. THE FRAT HOUSE (Cole Karter & Griff Garrison & Preston Vance)
WINNERS: Hologram & Strong & O’Reilly in 3:00.
(D) WILLOW NIGHTINGALE & HARLEY CAMERON & QUEEN ANIMATA & MINA SHIRAKAWA vs. MEGAN BAYNE & JULIA HART & SKYE BLUE & PENELOPE FORD – Eight-Woman Tornado Tailgate Brawl
WINNERS: Nightingale & Shirakawa & Cameron & Aminata in 12:00.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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Warm up with our preview article or catch up on the backstory of each match with this article:
[MAIN PPV]
-A video package introduced the show.
-Excalibur introduced the show alongside Tony Schiavone. Bryan Danielson made his ring entrance.
(1) CHRISTIAN CAGE & ADAM COPELAND vs. FTR (Cash & Dax w/Stokely Hathaway)
After a video package, Copeland and Christian walked past some local celebrities backstage. First, Eednel Clark, who said they can call him Spanky.. Copeland was zany happy and Christian was cold and distant. Then they ran into Bubbles from “Trailer Park Boys” who was in his Green Bastard pro wrestling outfit. Christian said something disparaging about his mother. Copeland gave him a hard time. The crowd ate it up. Copeland said regarding Christian, “He’s an asshole, but he’s my asshole.”
Copeland came out to his entrance theme first. When Christian made his entrance, fans chanted, “He’s out asshole!” FTR came out. Dax’s nose was taped as the announcers talked about him suffering a broken nose on Dynamite earlier in the week.
After some early offense by Copeland and Christian, FTR took over for several minutes of methodical offense against Christian. Copeland got a hot tag and scored a near fall on Dax at 8:00. Copeland did John Cena’s sequence with You Can’t See Me and a Five Knuckle Shuffle and an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. Fans chanted “Cena! Cena!” Danielson said Copeland was “paying homage to one of his top rivals.” He didn’t say Cena’s name. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
Danielson said the longer the match goes, the more it favors FTR. Christian and Copeland applied stereo sharpshooters mid-ring. Stokely shoved Dax the ring apron and Dax grabbed it. The ref called for a break. Copeland and Christian cornered Stokely at ringside. Dax and Cash then saved him.
When Copeland had Dax covered, Stokely yanked the ref out of the ring at the two count. Danielson said that should be a DQ. Music played on the stage and Stokely looked to see who it was going to be. Out came Beth Copeland (a/k/a Beth Phoenix). She speared Stokely. Copeland then scored a near fall against Dax in the ring. Beth carried Stokely on her shoulders to the back as fans chanted, “Holy shit!” Cash swung the ring bell at Copeland, but Copeland ducked.
Dax begged off. Copeland spit on him. (Geesh, that’s trashy.) Cash yanked Christian off the ring apron and powerbombed him onto the Spanish announce desk. Dax hit Copeland with the ring bell. FTR gave Copeland a spike piledriver for a near fall. Schiavone asked how Copeland kicked out after that. “Holy cowl” he exclaimed. Danielson said he was worried about Copeland’s neck. Another, “This is awesome!” chant rang out. Copeland gave Dax an Impaler, and then gave Cash an Impaler. Copeland struggled to stand afterward, favoring his neck.
Copeland went for a spear, but FTR countered with a Shatter Machine for a near fall at 16:00. Excalibur said FTR won titles around the world with that. They gave Copeland a second Shatter Machine. Christian intervened, and then Copeland caught Dax with a sudden spear for the win.
WINNERS: Copeland & Christian in 17:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: The finish was a little weird in terms of the cadence of the last 15 seconds. FTR hit Shatter Machine, and then Cash just gave Copeland an uppercut and then wandered over to Christian at ringside leading to Copeland surprising him with a spear. Was that the intention or was someone a bit off timing-wise? Anyway, a crowd-pleasing, solid overall tag match.)
-Afterward, Kip Sabian wheeled Nick Wayne to the stage. FTR attacked Christian and Copeland from behind. Sabian handcuffed Copeland to the middle rope as the heels attacked Christian. Beth tried to detach Copeland. FTR approached Beth. She kissed Copeland and said, “I love you” as if she expected to never see him again. She slapped FTR. They gave her a stuff piledriver seconds later. Fans chanted, “You sick f—s!” Danielson called that “disgusting.” After Copeland was released from the cuffs, he checked on Beth.
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Excalibur said it was tough to stomach was they just watched.
(2) EDDIE KINGSTON (w/Bryan Keith) vs. BIG BILL
The bell rang 40 minutes into the hour. Kingston looked the same as always. Kingston got in some early chops. Bill methodically battered him for a few minutes. When Kingston made a comeback, Bill met his charge with a boot to the face. Danielson said his cardio might be running out, “not that he didn’t train hard for this.” Kingston swung wildly with a spinning backfirst that largely missed. Bill went down and Kingston scored the three count. The announcers tried to change their story from the elbow missing to actually landing on Bill’s jaw.
WINNER: Kingston in 8:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Not good.)
-As Bryan and Bill attacked an exhausted Kingston after the match, the lights went out and the lights went dark. Hook then came out to his chill music. Bill charged at him, but Hook ducked and then he put the Red Rum on Keith. Kingston then landed a spinning backfist to Keith. That one smacked hard. Hook and Kingston hugged. Excalibur wondered if hook will be running with Kingston now. Danielson said Hook could learn a lot from Kingston. They left arm-in-arm.
(Keller’s Analysis: I wouldn’t mind a Hook & Kingston tag team, although I’m not sure of the division of labor given the condition Kingston is in and how green Hook still is.)
(3) MARK BRISCOE vs. MJF – Tables & Thumbtacks match
The bell rang 56 minutes into the hour. The ring was covered in thumb tacks. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!” at MJF. They battled mid-ring to try to avoid being the first to land on the tacks. MJF was wearing jeans, kneepads, elbowpads, and long gloves. MJF poked Briscoe in the eyes and then bodyslammed him onto the tacks. Danielson said Briscoe chose this stip himself. Excalibur said he knew what he would be in for. MJF then rubbed Briscoe’s forehead into the mat. The camera totally botched the view of Briscoe’s face as he sat up. Fans chanted “You suck f—!” at MJF.
Briscoe was bleeding from a dozen or so puncture wounds. MJF flattened a table at ringside and shoved it under the ring. Fans booed. MJF gave an Alabama Slam to Briscoe on the tacks, then dragged him around on them.
MJF shoved tacks in Briscoe’s mouth, then punched him. Briscoe made a comeback a minute later and backdropped MJF onto the tacks. Fans delighted in MJF’s cries of agony. he slammed him onto the attacks a minute latera nd scored a two count. Schiavone said, “I don’t know what it says about bem, ut I’m loving every minute of this.” Briscoe, with tacks stuck to his scalp and body, climbed to the top rope. MJF rolled to the floor. Briscoe dove through the ropes and onto MJF. Briscoe then set up a table and crashed MJF through it.
Briscoe threw MJF into the ringside barricade. Then he set up another table. He knocked MJF onto it and then leaped off the ring apron Cactus Jack style, letting out a “Bang! Bang!” first. Back in the ring, MJF threw a handful of tacks at Briscoe’s face. Briscoe powerbombed MJF onto the tacks. Briscoe then pulled a chair covered in thumb stacks glued to it.
When Briscoe wound up with the chair, MJF kicked him in the crotch and then bashed him across his back with the chair. He followed with a tombstone piledriver onto the chair for a two count at 14:00. MJF’s cover was cocky and nonchalant.
MJF set up a table in the ring. Fans chanted, “Lets go tacks!” Schiavone was confused, thinking fans were chanting, “Let’s go Max!” MJF poured tacks on a table mid-ring. MJF then set up a powerbomb, but Briscoe countered and punched away at MJF in the corner. When Briscoe stood on the top rope, MJF shoved him off balance. MJF then set up a second rope leaping tombstone. Briscoe kicked himself free and then set up a Jay Driller off the top rope. MJF bit Briscoe’s forehead. Briscoe bit back. Briscoe then knocked MJF onto the table and landed the Froggy Bow elbowdrop. He followed up another Froggy Bow. Briscoe then gave MJF a Jay Driller for the win.
WINNER: Briscoe in 19:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: It lived up to its billing with immersive use of tacks and significant use of tables. The finish was satisfying, storyline-wise, given how MJF had disparaged Jay Briscoe. It’s a good win for Briscoe to establish he’s not just there to ultimately job to MJF. Good for MJF to not use his clout to avoid doing a clean job.) [c]
-Taz came out and replaced Schaivone on commentary.
(4) THE HURT SYNDICATE (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin & MVP) vs. THE DEMAND (Ricochet & Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. They took turns with back and forth battles. When Lashley covered Ricochet at 7:00, Liona gave the weakest pin break up you’ll ever see. He just lightly hit Lashley on his back. Lashley sorta reacted, but was still covering Ricochet and Ricochet’s shoulders were still down. Just so half-hearted and lazy.
The crowd woke up when Shelton tagged in an backdropped Ricohet and then suplexed both Ricochet and Kaun at 8:00. Lashley caught Liona with two spears and scored a two count, but Ricochet broke up the count with a 450 splash.
Next they battled at ringside for an extended stretch. Ricochet landed a running flip dive onto Shelton and Lashley at ringside. Back in the ring, Ricochet leaped at MVP, buty MVP countered into a suplex. He set up his Playmaker, but Kaun chop blocked MVP and held him up as Ricochet finished MVP with a Spirit Gun.
WINNERS: The Demand in 14:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: An okay match. The crowd was into some peak moments here and there, but the match never really gained traction and often felt like an 80 percent effort walk-thru with surges for the mandatory signature moves. The crowd seemed deflated by what should have been the expected finish with MVP taking the pin. The fans wanted a feel-good finish, apparently.)
(5) MERCEDES MONE vs. RIHO – TBS Title match
Riho got in some early offense with a backslide for a two count, a La Magistral cradle for another near fall, and finally a roll-up. Mercedes battled back. They fought at ringside briefly including Riho landing a double stomp on the announce desk.
Back in the ring, they took turns using mat work to try to get submissions and near falls with leverage pin attempts. Mercedes landed a meteora off the ring apron and scored a near fall back in the ring. They battled back and forth with mat work and spots leading to near falls, mostly by Riho during this stretch.
For the finish, Mercedes gouged Riho’s eyes after distracting the rev, then hit a lung blower and Money Maker for the win.
WINNER: Mercedes in 16:00 to retain the TBS Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Serviceable action start to finish. It just didn’t feel like the crowd was invested in Riho as a challenger. Nothing wrong with the match, but it wasn’t sizzling either.)
(6) KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. MASCARA DORADA vs. KONSUKE TAKESHITA – AEW Unified (Continental & International) Title match
Don Callis joined the announcers on commentary. The bell rang 8 minutes into the third hour. Takeshita and Okada worked together against Dorada at first. Dorada countered their attack and scored an early two count against Takeshita.
Takeshita took over against Dorada with Okada recovering (resting?) at ringside. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis!” Okada returned. Dorada dropkicked Takeshita off the top rope. Dorada then dove onto Okada. Dorada took turns hitting moves on Takeshita and Okada at ringside until Takeshita caught him and gave him a brainbuster on the ramp.
Dorada again found himself battling both Okada and Takeshita in the ring. He knocked them to ringside. He ran the ropes, but Okada tripped him. Daielson asked Callis if Okada was happy for Takeshita winning the G1 this year. Callis said, “Of course he was.” He said Okada won two himself. Another ‘F— Don Callis!” chant broke out.
Oakada tried to yank off Dorada’s mask at 7:00. Taz said of Okada does that, the he’s going to rip off Excalibur’s mask. “Please don’t do so,” Excalibur kindly asked.
With Dorada down, Okada and Takeshita had a staredown. Okada gouged Takeshita’s eyes, then landed a sliding kick to Dorada. As Okada methodically worked over Dorada, Callis said, “The zen-like calmness of Okada.” Taz said he was barely breathing hard. (That’s not so much great cardio as it is working at a very slow, casual pace.) Dorada made a comeback and landed a tornado into an armdrag. Takeshita launched Dorada into the air and Dorada dropkicked Okada to ringside. Dorada knocked Takeshita to the floor and then ran the ropes and landed a tornado crossbody on Okada. He followed up with the same on a patiently awaiting Takeshita at ringside. Dorada played to the crowd as he stood on the ringside barricade at 10:00.
Excalibur said Dorada was on the verge of the biggest victory of his career. He lifted Okada onto his shoulders and landed a neckbreaker for a near fall. Okada took over and landed a top rope elbowdrop. He then gave the crowd the middle finger gesture. Danielson observed, “He has a long middle finger.” Takeshita entered and went after Okada. They exchanged moves and counter moves into a Blue Thunderbomb by Takeshita for a near fall.
Dorada caught Takeshita with a destroyer for a near fall. Dorada leaped off the top rope and landed a 450 splash. Okada yanked Dorada by his boot to ringside before the three count and shoved him into the barricade. All three stood on the top rope and Dorada took Takeshita and Okada to the mat with double huracarana. He scored a two count on Okada and then a two count on Takeshita. Fans applauded. Fans chanted “AEW!” Danielson said that deserved five replays.
Takeshita and Okada clear the ring and then faced off and exchanged strikes mid-ring. Okada gave Takeshita a tombstone. Dorada landed a moonsault on both Takeshita and Okada for a two count a minute later. He followed with a top rope shooting star press on Okada. After taking five seconds to play to the crowd before doing the move, Okada recovered enough to lift his knees. Takeshita then kicked Dorada. Okada and Takeshita battled again.
Okada landed a high dropkick. Takeshita ducked a Rainmaker and then suplexed bot Dorada and Okada. Dorada landed on his feet and then scored a near fall on Takeshita. He followed with a kick to Okada’s chest followed by a top rope leaping DDT of Okada on the ring apron. This time, he didn’t pause to play to the crowd. He then paused to play to the crowd before climbing to the top rope. Takeshita recovered and knocked Dorada off balance. He then landed a superplex. Takeshita went for Raging Fire, but Dorada blocked it. He tried again and landed it. Okada broke up the cover.
Okada went for a Rainmaker on Takeshita, but Takeshita blocked it. Okada knocked Takeshita out of the ring and then hit Dorada with the Rainmaker for the win. Callis entered the ring to congratulate Okada. Takeshita left on his own as Okada celebrated.
WINNER: Okada in 21:00 to retain the Unified Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Very much on the high end of the range of expectations with those three. Really good match that felt more like a showcase for Dorada than anything, with just enough tension between Okada and Takeshita to keep them together after this but build toward a breakaway by Takeshita. Easily the leading candidate for Match of the Day.)
(7) DARBY ALLIN vs. JON MOXLEY (w/Marina Shafir) – Coffin Match
As Mox made his entrance through the crowd, Darby attacked him 36 minutes into the hour to jump-start the the match. He landed an early Coffin Drop off the entrance tunnel onto Mox. Mox took over nad knocked him over a railing. They brawled up the steps amongst fans. Darby dropkicked Mox, but bumped onto the stairs when he landed. “Is he a sick man or does he just want to feel alive?” asked Danielson. Darby got up and pursued Mox. Mox took over as fans chanted, “Darby! Darby!”
They fought at ringside for a few minutes. Darby dove through the ropes and tackled Mox into the coffin. He then raked Moxley’s eyes. Mox stepped out of the coffin and rolled into the ring. Darby entered the ring, too. Excalibur noted that was the first time Mox was in the ring after the match started seven minutes earlier.
Mox rolled to the floor. Darby dove through the ropes. Mox blocked him and then threw him onto the top of another coffin. Yuta, Danny Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli showed up at ringside. When Yuta approached Darby, fans chanted, “F— you, Yuta!” Mox told them, “I’ve got this.” Marina stuck around and the rest walked to the back.
Mox slid a coffin into the ring. He slammed the lid on Darby’s fingers. Darby sold it with moans and groans. Mox mounted Darby on the coffin and punched away at him. Mox yelled that he works harder than everyone. He told Darby he lovcs him and kissed him. Danielson said, “Moxley told me he loved me too.” Some fans chanted “Darby Allin!”
Darby broke out of a sleeper and used a fork to gouge Mox’s ear and stab him around dozen times in the forehead. He then leaped off the top rope with a Coffin Drop on Mox at ringside. Mox’s forehead bled in in several streams.
Darby threw Mox back into the ring. Darby said, “I’ve been trying to be objective, but f— that! Go get him, Darby.” Darby leaped onto Mox in tnhe ring and then slammed the lid on Mox’s fingers and then stomped on them. Darby then gave Mox a Scorpion Death Drop. Mox made a production of popping his knuckles back into place.
Darby grabbed a metal pipe at irngside and brought it into the ring at 13:00. Mox took it away and swung at Darby. Darby blocked him and gouged his eye. He then twisted the fork into Mox’s ear and then bit it. Mox gave Darby a Death Rider onto the lid of the coffin.
Darby came back and put a plastic bag over Mox’s head. He then landed a Code Red. He put the plastic bag back over his head and bodystomped him over and over. Mox ripped the bag off of his head. Fans chanted, “This is murder!” Pac then showed up and kicked Darby. Pac then gave Darby a Razor’s Edge over the top rope onto a coffin at ringside. The lid cracked open upon impact. Pac then threw Darby back into the ring and dragged him over to the coffin.
Pac put Darby in a bodybag and tossed him into the coffin. From his back, Mox kicked the lid of the coffin onto Darby to win the match.
The Death Riders returned to ringside and carried Darby away.
WINNER: Moxley in 19:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fans of this style and level of violence will be pleased for sure. Darby and Mox put on a dramatic, big-spot-flipped nearly 20 minutes battle. The finish is a mix of a “surprise return” and a “copout” finish where neither Mox or Darby got a one-on-one earned victory.)
-Mark Briscoe cut a promo backstage with the rest of The Conglomeration – Harley Cameron, Willow Nightingale, Roderick Strong, and Hologram. Briscoe said he wanted to team with Hologram and another partner against the Callis family. Briscoe asked if the person he called on the phone was ready to return. O’Reilly said, He says ‘whatever’.” O’Reilly made cartoon faces as Briscoe celebrated.
(Keller’s Analysis: So Orange Cassidy is returing to be part of a six-man tag match after months away.)
(8) TONI STORM vs. KRIS STATLANDER vs. THEKLA vs. JAMIE HAYTER – AEW Women’s Title match
Yuta yapped at Statlander, continuing to try to recruit her. The bell rang 7 minutes into the fourth hour. Lots of action with all four in the early minutes. Statlander landed a moonsault off the ring apron onto Hayter at ringside. Storm landed a leaping DDT. Thekla then leaped onto all three opponents.
Back in the ring, Thekla attacked Hayter. She then whipped Storm her with her belt. Hayter went after Thkela. Thekla took over and did the crap walk. Storm entered the ring and stomped on her. Storm then landed a hip attack. Statlander and Hayter went after Storm. Hayter took out Stat and then gave a backbreaker to Storm. All four took turns hitting moves mid-ring at 6:00. All four ended up down and slow to get up, leading to applause from the crowd and then an “AEW!” chant.
Statlander gave a Saturday Night Fever to Thekla at ringside. Back in the ring, Strom gave Stat a German suplex and a hip attack. She followed with a Storm Zero for a near fall, sorta broken up by Hayter. (She didn’t break up the cover, but at least was between the ref and Storm covering Hayter so the ref couldn’t count to three.)
Hayter hit Haterade on Storm for a two count, broken up by Thekla. Thekla then applied a submission on the mat. Statlander then surprised Storm with a seatbelt leverage pin out of nowhere to end the match.
Storm looked on in shock as Harley Cameron ran out to celebrate with Statlander.
WINNER: Statlander in 12:00 to capture the AEW Women’s Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Lots of action start to finish that was largely carried out effectively and dramatically. Not sure if Stat is the right person at this time to end Storm’s reign, as it feels like a step backward for the title to someone who has struggled to gain traction with a consistent character and fan investment in recent years. I hope they have something specific in mind for her to capitalize on the cache of being the one to end Storm’s reign.)
(9) BRODIDO (Brody King & Bandido) vs. JET SPEED (Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey) vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. HECHICERO & JOSH ALEXANDER (w/Don Callis) – Ladder match for the AEW Tag Team Titles
The bell rang 30 minutes into the fourth hour. After everyone battled for two minutes. Jet Speed launched themselves over the top rope onto a crowd below. Bandido battled Matt Jackson in the ring. Nick held onto Matt to block a German suplex. Hechicero and Alexander tried to break him free. Brody then suplexed all three.
Matt landed a wrecking ball kick into a ladder into a Brody. Nick then leaped onto Brody a ringside. Knight then leaped off the top rope onto the Bucks at ringside. Bandido then leaped onto Knight.
Brody bridge a ladder at ringside. Bailey then moonsaulted onto Bandido on the ladder. Speedball played to the crowd. Back in the ring, Speedball began to set up a ladder. Alexander and Hechicero intervened. They leaned he ladder into the corner and then threw Speedball into it.
The Bucks eventually took over after several more wrestlers were tossed into the ladder in the corner. Brody then tossed them out of the ring and then dove through the ropes head-first. The Bucks, Alexander, and Hechicero held the ladder up and then Brody crashed head-first into it. Alexander whipped Brody into the ringside steps.
The heels set up a table at ringside. The Bucks set up a ladder in the ring, abandoning Hechicero and Alexander. and tried to quickly climb the ladder. Taz called it “a doublecross.” Alexander and Hechicero battled the Bucks in the ring. The Bucks rammed a charging Hechicero with the ladder in the ring and then rammed it into Alexander’s head. Jet Speed entered and wnt after the Bucks. Knight splashed a ladder that was on Nick and Matt. He sold the pain he inflicted on himself.
Brody entered and pulled Speedball off the ladder. Knight gave Brody a pendulum DDT. Jet Speed then took control. Nick leaped off the top rope and flipped onto a crowd at ringside. Knight, meanwhile, climbed the ladder. Matt pulled him down at 15:00. Matt reached for the belt on the ladder, but Jet Speed blocked him. Knight leaped, but Matt ran underneath him so Knight landed on Matt’s shoulders. (Blinked twice on that.) Brody knocked the ladder over, sending Matt and Knight onto the top rope.
Bailey climbed a ladder. Alexander stopped him. They exchanged slaps on the top of the ladder. Hechicero yanked on Bailey’s cool. Hechcero lay on the bridged latter and pulled Speedball backwards into a submission. Speedball slipped out of his grip. Excalibur said it could be due to Speedball being barefoot. Speedball flipped onto Hechicero and the landing was weird with Speedballs leg going through the ladder. The announcers reacted like someone could have gotten hurt, but everyone was fine.
Bandido powerbombed Alexander off the ladder onto a bridged ladder. Matt then gave Bandido a leaping spike DDT on the ring apron. Brody walked a ladder bridged at ringside and gave Bailey a leaping tombstone that broke the ladder. Excalibur did his “Un-be-lievable!” thing. They both went down and didn’t get up. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
Knight set up a ladder and climbed it slowly mid-ring. He really dragged it out until Matt met him at the top. (That was the worst moment of the match because it made no sense Knight couldn’t calculate better how to grab the belt during that nearly ten seconds alone.)
Nick springboarded onto theladder mid-ring. Hechicero met him at the top and knocked him down. He reached for the belts, but Brody met him up there. Alexander slammed Brody to the mat and then climbed. Knight dropkicked him to the mat. With Knight on the ladder, his opponents lifted the ladder and carried it to the ropes and then dumped onto two tables below.
Alexander climbed the ladder as Hechicero guarded him. The Bucks got past him and climbed the ladder quickly. Brody tipped it over. Bandido climbed to the top and then Brody handed him a ladder. He moonsaulted with the ladder into the Bucks below.
Back in the ring, Bandido climbed the ladder as Brody stood guard and pulled down both belts to win.
WINNERS: Brodido in 25:00 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: I had advocated for a more focused two-on-two ladder match or regular tag title match here, but man that was a display of dazzling, risky, amazing ladder spots with a lot of great athletes, including a mix of bodytypes and styles to add some variety.)
-After the match, Jack Perry entered the ring. After a brief staredown, Perry tackled Matt. Rocky Romero entered. Perry DDT’d him. The Bucks then stereo superkicks Perry. Danielson said that probably wasn’t smart to attack the Bucks on his own. Fans chanted, “You deserve it!”
Perry oddly smiled as the Bucks held him. The lights went out. A video played signaling the return of Luchasaurus as his partner. Back in the ring, the Bucks had Perry against the ropes. Luchasaurus had shown up and he double-chokeslammed both. Perry looked on and smiled. Fans sang their original theme song. Luchasaurus took off his Killswitch belt and whipped it into the crowd and let out a roar. Then Perry and Luchasaurus hugged and “Tarzan Boy” played. Fans sang along.
(Keller’s Analysis: The crowd ate up the reunion. Did they make the right call to have Perry be a babyface? Will that backfire or are the AEW loyalists over blaming him for C.M. Punk’s departure?) [c]
-After a commercial for Wrestledream on Oct. 18, Excalibur said they had to cut to the back.
-Mox kneeled next to the coffin and said it’s over. The rest of the Death Riders sped away in their pickup truck. Darby surged out of the coffin and shocked Moxley. He put Mox in a bodybag and zipped it. Then he pickd up the lead pipe and wound up to smash Mox’s head. Darby then sprayed the bodybag and lit it on fire. Mox flailed and panic as people ran in with a fire extinguisher. Darby was dragged away as Mox cried out in pain.
(Keller’s Analysis: Come on now.)
-They cut to Danielson, Taz, and Excalibur. Danielson said he is glad Darby is okay but when take things this far, violence can go too far. Taz asked how much further it can go than that. They shifte to plugging the trios match for Dynamite.
(10) “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE vs. KYLE FLETCHER – AEW World Title match
The bell rang 16 minutes into the fifth hour. They faced off mid-ring. Fletcher had some words for Fletcher. They exchanged chops mid-ring. They fought to ringside and into the crowd and finally back to the ring.
Hangman climbed to the top rope, but Fletcher knocked him to the ground. Danielson said Hangman hesitated and you can’t do that against Fletcher. Fletcher powerbombed Hangman against the edge of the ring apron. Hangman cried out in pain and clutched his shoulder.
Fletcher stomped away at Hangman in the corner of the ring. Taz said he broke his neck when he wrestled, “but nobody gives a shit about that.” He said Fletcher’s gameplan is uimpressive. Fletcher went for a brainbuster on the ring apron, but Hangman escaped and clotheslined Fletcher into the ring. Fletcher, though, gave Hangman DDT off the ropes for a two count at 11:00.
As Fletcher continued the beating, Callis said Fletcher was “running up the score.” Fletcher applied a Boston Crab. Fletcher landed a running kick to Hangman’s chest in the corner. On a third charge, Hangman caught him with a lariat. Both were down and slow to get up.
Hangman took over and slingshot himself onto Fletcher at ringside. He landed a moonsault onto Fletcher next. He threw Fletcher into thering and powerbombed him twice for a near fall at 17:00. When Hangman flipped off the top rope a minute later, Fletcher kicked him out of mid-air and then landed a sitout powerbomb for a near fall. Cool sequence.
They battled at ringside. Hangman DDT’d Fletcher off the ring apron onto the mat at ringside. Both were down and slow to get up. Hangman climbed to the top rope and leaped, but Fletcher moved. Fletcher then landed a running kick to Hangman. He stood on the ringside barricade and landed a brainbuster suplex onto the table. Both were down and slow to get up.
Back in the ring, Fletcher landed a running kick to the back of Hangman’s head. Then he landed a brainbuster suplex for a two count at 24:00.
Hangman went for a sunset bomb, but Fletcher countered. They each landed kicks. Fletcher landed a running leaping knee for a two count. Fletcher then went for another suplex on the ring apron. Hangman slipped free, but Fletcher kicked him. Hangman absorbed it and then landed a leaping Deadeye off the ring apron through a table. Danielson said it’s the most dangerous Deadeye he’s ever seen. They replayed it three times from different angles. Both were down and slow to get up.
Back in the ring, Hangman went for a Buckshot, but Fletcher collapsed, so Hangman swung and missed. Both were down and slow to get up again. A “This is awesome!” chant rang out again. They both stood or reached the ropes at nine.
Hangman signaled for a running knee and then landed a V-Trigger. He lifted Fletcher onto his shoulders, but Fletcher slipped free. He superkicked Hangman, but Hangman countered into a Deadeye for a near fall. Again, both were down and slow to get up. They announced the match had gone 30 minutes. Fans reacted like that meant they might have to settle in for another 30. “This is a war guys,” said Callis. “There’s no other way to say it.”
Fletcher took over and landed a two count after a Hidden Blade. He went for a Tiger Driver, but Hangman turned it into a Crunchy for a near fall. Both were down and slow to get up again. Fans chanted, “Fight forever.”
They countered each other and then Hangman went for a Buckshot. Fletcher countered into a brainbuster for a near fall. Danielson stood and was shown yelling, “Hangman kicks out!” He added, “What an incredible match… Holy shit!” Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
They battled back and forth a few more minutes. Fletcher set up a top rope brainbuster, but Hangman headbutted himself free. Hangman turned it into a top rope Deadeye. (That landing was nasty.) Hangman then gave Fletcher a Buckshot lariat to win.
Hangman had a few words for Fletcher afterward as Fletcher was still out on his back, likely thanking him for a great match.
WINNER: Hangman in 38:00 to retain the AEW World Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Amazing match. Match of the night, beating out the Unified Title match earlier. They certainly pushed the limits of brushing off selling for miraculous recoveries after huge moves, but that’s an accepted main event style that works today. Fletcher has really advanced to being a young wrestler in his prime who can credibly be part of a PPV main event without question.)
-Excalibur got in some final plugs. He said Tony Khan would have “an important announcement” on Dynamite on Wednesday.
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