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AEW WRESTLEDREAM PPV RESULTS
OCTOBER 18, 2025
ST. LOUIS, MI AT CHAIFETZ ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON PPV (including PPV.com)
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 6,114 tickets had been distributed for WrestleDream; the arena was set up for 6,361.
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(Pre-Show Match In Progress) FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. JET SPEED (Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey)
They joined the match in progress, noting that it didn’t end within the pre-show window. No one has been more excited about anything ever than Tony Schiavone was about this match carrying over into the PPV portion. For the finish, Cash covered Speedball and got the three count when Stokely Hathaway held his feet from ringside out of the referee’s view.
WINNERS: FTR in 13:00.
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Excalibur explained that everyone would be banned from ringside for the Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla grudge match to start the official PPV portion of the show.
-Renee Young interviewed Charlie Thesz, the widow of legendary wrestler Lou Thesz, at ringside. They tied it into history of pro wrestling in St. Louis with Thesz and the inspiration for this annual event, Antonio Inoki.
(1) JAMIE HAYTER vs. THEKLA – Everyone Banned from Ringside
The bell rang 16 minutes into the your. They fought to ringside a couple minutes in where Hayter threw Thekla around ringside. Thekla took and threw Hayter into the ring where she scored a sequence of three two counts. Schiavone noted. He liked the rapid fire multiple pin attempts. Hayter landed a Hayterade ripcord lariat for a two count at 9:00.
Thekla took over and leaped off the top rope. Hayter avoided the leap and charged into the corner. Thekla moved. They battled on the second rope. Hayter headbutted Thekla to the mat. Thekla brushed it off seconds later and took over until Hayter kicked her in the head twice. (The first one showed light.) Hayter landed a fireman’s carry backbreaker next. Both were down and slow to get up. Thekla applied her submission mid-ring. Hayter broke it up with a backbreaker.
As Thekla started to take her belt off, the ref insisted she not go through with it. Hayter recovered and landed a backbreaker for a near fall. Thekla landed a spear, but Hayter’s foot was under the bottom rope so the ref stopped his count at two. Thekla did a crab walk and then charged at Hayter. Hayter hit her with two lariats in a row for the clean win.
Queen Aminata hugged Hayter afterward. Julia Hart joined a disappointed Thekla on the stage.
WINNER: Hayter in 16:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A good opener. Not everything was crisp, but there was a lot of good in this in terms of pacing and hard-hitting moves and sequences.)
For another perspective, check out my Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast Flagship longtime and frequent cohost Jason Powell’s report over at ProWrestling.net.
(2) THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. JURASSIC EXPRESS (Jack Perry & Luchasaurus)
The Bucks came out with a graphic showing they had spent nearly $500,000 already on frivilous stuff like a Velcro wall and sneakers and at the casino. No music played for them. A women offered $20 for a selfie photo. Nick took her up on it. Fans offered $1 bills as they headed to the ring. The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Fans chanted “Welcome back!” Excalibur recapped the history with Jack Perry and the Bucks. Matt and Perry shoved each other at the start. Matt battered Perry to the mat and then tagged in Nick. Excalibur noted that Jurassic Express have never defeated The Bucks.
Luchasaurus tagged in. The announcers talked about how little in-ring action Perry has had this year and how rusty he might be. The crowd popped big for a moonsault press off the top rope off the top rope onto the Bucks at ringside. A minute later, Perry landed a running flip dive onto the Bucks. He landed, sat up, and smiled. Perry chopped Matt at ringside and then bashed Matt in the head with fan sign.
The Bucks took over in the ring on Perry. Matt gave Sliced Bread to Luchasaurus at ringside. Matt smelled the bag of $500,000 cash at ringside going to the winner. Excalibur said this is only the second tag match by these two in over three years. The announcers were setting it up to seem like if the Jurassic Express win, it’s a miracle against all odds, or setting it up to be an excusable loss. Nigel said the Bucks had tough time giving up their lifestyle as EVPs in terms of their spending habits.
The Bucks took over against Perry at 8:00. They stood over Perry and struck their bicep pose. The crowd popped for a ringside chicken fight where Luchasaurus had Matt on his shoulders and Nick had Perry on his shoulders and they exchanged strikes. Matt landed a blockbuster on Luchasaurus and then Nick landed a piledriver on Perry on the ring apron. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” A minute later, Matt powerbombed Perry on the ring apron. Then they landed a package piledriver/top rope stomp combo on Perry for a near fall.
Matt yelled at Perry, “After everything we’ve done for you!” They set up a BTE Trigger, but Perry ducked and went for a double-DDT. The Bucks blocked it and hit double knees. Luchasaurus “broke up the pin” to stop the count. Perry caught both Bucks with huracanranas and then Luchasaurus landed a standing shooting star press on Matt. Perry then gave Matt a top rope Doomsday Device off of Luchasaurus’s shoulders for a believable near fall. A minute later, Perry delivered a stuff Tombstone Piledriver with Luchasaurus scoring a near fall, with Nick breaking up the cover. Nigel noted the timing by Perry wasn’t perfect on that.
Next, Matt superkicked Perry. The Bucks stereo superkicked Luchasaurus. He no-sold it. Perry leaped off the top rope at the Bucks. They stereo superkicked him and then landed a BTE Trigger for a believable, dramatic near fall at 21:00. Luchasaurus broke up the Bucks next move and then he and Perry delivered Countdown to Extinction for the clean win.
WINNERS: Jurrasic Express in 23:00.
-The ref presented Perry and Luchasaurus with the bag of cash. Afterward, Perry and Luchasaurus stood in front of the Bucks and seemed to be offering a hand of reconciliation. Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, and Mark Davis attacked Jurrasic Express from behind. The Bucks then walked away. Kenny Omega’s music then played. He walked out and stared at the Bucks who looked dejected. Omega had a few words for them, then ran past them and went after Davis, Alexander, and Lance Archer. Perry and Luchasaurus recovered and helped out. They cleared the ring of the heel trio. Excalibur said Omega returned a favor to Perry. Schiavone said he liked what he was seeing. Omega raised the arms of Luchasaurus and Perry mid-ring. “What a sight it is to see,” said Excalibur.
(3) HURT SYNDICATE (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin & MVP) vs. THE DEMAND (Ricochet & Gates of Agony – Tornado Tag Match
As Hurt Syndicate made their entrance, The Demand attacked them. The brawl started 11 minutes into the second hour. GOA powerbombed Shelton onto Lashley on a table at ringside at 4:00. GOA then beat down MVP in the ring. Ricochet joined in a sustained beatdown of MVP. After Ricochet landed a Shooting Star Press, Shelton made his return to the ring and broke up the cover. Fans chanted, “We Hurt People!” Lashley clotheslined GOA at ringside and then nailed Ricochet with a clothesline in the ring. Ricochet flip-bumped. Lashley scored a near fall at 7:00. GOA caught Lashley trying to superplex Ricochet and powerbombed him to the mat. MVP tried to sneak a pin after the impact on Ricochet.
Bishop Kaun flung himself onto MVP and Lashley at ringside. Ricochet charged at Shelton, but Shelton caught him and overhead suplexed him into a crowd at ringside. Shelton then landed a running flip dive after milking the moment. MVP took some of the impact, which the announcers noted. Nigel called it “friendly fire.” Ricochet went after MVP in the ring, but MVP chopped him in the throat. He then stood over Ricochet and signaled for his Ballin’ elbowdrop. MVP landed a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall, broken up by Kaun.
Lashley speared Kaun who rolled to ringside. Hurt Syndicate isolated Ricochet three-on-one in the ring. The crowd loudly chanted, “We hurt people!” Lashley landed a spear on Toa and Shelton scored a three count. Excalibur said now Hurt Syndicate will get a shot at the AEW Trios Titles.
WINNERS: Hurt Syndicate in 13:00.
(4) KYLE FLETCHER (w/Don Callis) vs. MARK BRISCOE – TNT Title match
Nigel said the opening to Briscoe’s theme – “Reach for the Sky!” – references his late brother Jay whom he has faith is watching him from above. The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. Callis said he used to think he wanted kids until he had Kenny Omega, but now Fletcher has changed his opinion again. He said Fletcher is a perfect son. When Briscoe beat up Fletcher at ringside near the announcers, Callis fled into the crowd. Briscoe landed a Cactus Jack-style running elbowdrop off the ring apron onto Fletcher at ringside.
Briscoe set up a chair in the ring and was going to launch off of it, but Fletcher pulled it to the floor. Briscoe wrecking ball kicked Fletcher and then put him on the chair at ringside. Callis escaped into the crowd again when Briscoe got near him. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis!” At 7:00 Briscoe went for a running Blockbuster off the ring apron, but Fletcher moved.
Fletcher scored a near fall in the ring a minute later after a Michinoku Driver. He followed with a leaping back suplex for a two count. He settled into a quick chinlock. Fletcher and Briscoe hit each other with high boots to the face and then they both went down and were slow to get up at 12:00 after simultaneous clotheslines mid-ring.
Fletcher got the better of Briscoe next and scored a near fall. He set up a turnbuckle brainbuster, but Briscoe slipped free and dropped Fletcher ribs-first onto the top turnbuckle. Briscoe then set up a Razor’s Edge off the top rope. Fletcher broke free and then stood on the top rope and delivered a superplex. Both were down and slow to get up again.
They battled on the ring apron next. Fletcher kicked Briscoe in the head and went for a brainbuster. Briscoe countered and landed a double-underhook Jay Driller on the ring apron. Excalibur said Fletcher was flexing his hands as if he got a stinger. Callis said he isn’t a doctor and shouldn’t pretend to be. Fletcher avoided a top rope Froggy Bow elbowdrop drop and then placed Briscoe onto the top turnbuckle. Briscoe knocked Fletcher onto the top rope back-first where he precariously balanced. Briscoe then landed a leaping elbowdrop. Fletcher fell to ringside. Briscoe then landed a flying elbow at ringside. He threw Fletcher into the ring and landed a top rope elbow.
Briscoe set up a Jay Driller, but Fletcher countered with a roll-up for a two count. Briscoe scored a two count with a backslide. Fletcher countered with a jackknife cover for at two count. Briscoe landed an exploder suplex. He then went for as Jay Driller. Fletcher blocked it and suplexed Briscoe onto the back of his head and neck. Briscoe no-sold it and popped up and then hit the Jay Driller for a near fall, but Fletcher draped his finger on bottom rope to interrupt the count.
Fletcher shoved Briscoe into the ref, then kicked Briscoe between his legs and seemed to have a certain pin, but Briscoe kicked out. “Briscoe’s alive! Briscoe’s alive!” declared Schiavone. Fletcher landed a running knee to Briscoe’s jaw for a two count. He followed with a running lawn dart into the middle turnbuckle and then a quick top turnbuckle brainbuster for the win.
Callis left with a limping Fletcher. Willow Nightingale, Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle O’Reilly, and Orange Cassidy came out to help Briscoe out of the ring.
WINNER: Fletcher in 25:00 to retain the TNT Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Easily the best match of the PPV so far. A top shelf AEW style match that the crowd ate up. It was paced well and increased in intensity throughout. The big spots and kickouts in the end did enter into the “spamming finishers” territory, but this was an effective example of it as it didn’t feel like more moves for the sake of more moves.)
(5) KRIS STATLANDER vs. TONI STORM – AEW Women’s Title match
Storm made her entrance first. Statlander made what Excalibur called “an intergalactic entrance.” She was accompanied by two shirtless men (borrowed from Dalton Castle?). The bell rang 4 minutes into the third hour. Zero crowd noise early which was erie. At 3:00, Storm knocked Statlander off the ring apron with a hip attack. Statlander sent Storm into the ring apron with a catapult seconds later. Fans chanted, “Toni! Toni!” Statlander landed a standing flip splash onto a standing Storm at ringside. Statlander carried Storm into the ring on her shoulders. She then slingshot flip splashed onto Storm for a two count at 5:00.
Storm methodically hit a series of moves and scored some near falls. Statlander made a comeback and applied some matholds. Storm came back with chicken wing. A dueling chant of, “Let’s Go Toni! Let’s Go Stat!” broke out. Stat broke the hold by reaching the bottom rope.
Storm scored a near fall seconds later with a small package. Statlander landed a Michinoku Driver for a three count, but the ref only counted to two. Storm was slightly late kicking out. They cut to a wide shot of the crowd.
They rose together and exchanged strikes. Statlander set up a Saturday Night Fever, but Storm powered Stat head-first into the turnbuckle and then landed a hip attack. Statlander blocked a Storm Zero and took over. She then climbed to the top rope and leaped off with a 450 splash for a near fall at 13:00.
Statlander landed Saturday Night Fever and then applied a submission head scissors on Storm’s head and neck mid-ring. Storm seemed to be fading, but then waved her hand in the air to show a sign of life. Statlander lifted Storm and landed another Saturday Night Fever for the clean win. “That was a heck of struggle,” said Schiavone.
WINNER: Statlander in 16:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Boy, the dead silent crowd early felt demoralizing for the wrestlers and any fans of this match, but they had a really hard to follow. They put together a respectable match by the end. They seem committed to building Statlander as a legit centerpiece babyface act in the Women’s Division with this outcome. She stills needs to figure out how to spark some kind of emotion out of the fans with her personality and promos, though.)
-Afterward, Mercedes Mone walked out with her belt and three shirtless male dancers (also Dalton Castle posse castoffs?). Oh wait, it was Griff Garrison, Cole Cater, and Jacked Jameson. They were wearing some of her belts. Mercedes entered the ring and congratulated Statlander on her win, but then told her to “get the hell out of my ring.” The Frat House mocked her as she left. Mercedes then told St. Louis to greet the longest reigning TBS Champion of all-time. She called herself Mercedes “Ultimo” Mone. She asked who wanted to go after her title by putting their title on the line. out came Mina Shirakawa. Excalibur said she is the Ring of Honor Women’s TV Champion.
(6) MERCEDES MONE vs. MINA SHIRAKAWA – TBS Title vs. ROH Women’s TV Title match
Justin Roberts did formal ring introductions once both women were in the ring. Lots of back and forth stretches of offense for both. The crowd politely responded to the ebb and flow. They eventually chanted “Mina!” They went to the (dreaded) wide shot of the arena (the timeless symbol of the director realizing the match has stalled). Shirakawa went for a standing clover leaf, but Mercedes countered with a knee torque takedown. Mina avoided a charging Mercedes in the corner. Mina then slingshot herself onto Mone with a spinning splash for a two count. She smiled and played to the crowd to get them clapping. She then climbed to the top rope and landed a Slingblade on Mercedes for a near fall.
They countered each other again over and over until Mina landed her Glamorous Driver for a near fall. Mina applied a figure-four leglock mid-ring. Mercedes landed a Meteora on the ring apron and then rolled Mina into the ring and scored a two count. When she went for a running double knee in the corner, Mina moved. Mina landed two elbow strikes to the head and a roundkick followed by a headbutt. She then applied a figure-four mid-ring.
The ref got caught in the corner just like the Fletcher-Briscoe match leading to Mercedes poking Mina in the eyes for a two count. Mercedes applied a Statement Maker next. Mina leveraged Mercedes’s shoulders down for a two count. As Mina set up a figure-four, Mercedes turned it into a small package for a two count. She followed with a Mone Maker for a near fall, with Mina grabbing the bottom rope to stop the count. Mercedes eventually leveraged Shirakawa’s shoulders down with her feet pushing on the ropes for extra leverage for the win. Excalibur said it was a miracle Mina lasted as long as she did. Schiavone said Mercedes’s belt collection is an amazing story. Nigel called her a global phenomenon.
WINNER: Mercedes in 16:00 to retain the TBS Title.
-As Mercedes celebrated, Statlander returned to the ring. (Good, because she looked really weak slinking away on command before the match.) She slammed Mercedes to the mat. Mercedes rolled to ringside and retreated up the ramp.
(7) BRODIDO (Brody King & Bandido) vs. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & KAZUCHIKA OKADA – AEW Tag Team Title match
Okada and Takeshita methodically dominated a long stretch early against Brody. Brody hot-tagged in Bandido at 6:00 and he went on a flurry. He leaped off of Brody’s shoulders onto Takeshita and Okada at ringside who looked more like they were catching him to save him from crashing onto the mat, but oh well, the crowd popped. Brody and Bandido took control at ringside. Brody whipped Bandido into Okada on a chair against the ringside barricade. Brody then ran and crashed into Takeshita on the other side of the ring. Fans chanted “Bro-di-do!”
In the ring, Brody hit Takeshita with a lariat and then he slammed Bandido onto him with a splash. Bandido played to the crowd. Nigel said, “This isn’t the time for this.” They did their Macarena routine. Okada shoved Bandido into Brody and took over. (Babyfaces are such unfocused unserious fools too often.) Okada then did some Macarena movements. Fans chanted, “F—, Okada!”
Takeshita and Okada got in sustained offense against Bandido. At 15:00 Brody got the hot-tag and rallied against both Takeshita and Okada. He drove Okada into Takeshita into the corner with a Death Valley Driver. He followed with a cannonball on both and scored a two count on Okada. Some fans chanted “Brody! Brody!” Okada countered Brody and drove Brody’s head onto his knee. Both were down and slow to get up.
Okada and Brody each tagged in their partners. Bandido gave Takeshita a Dragon Screw. Takeshita up-kicked Bandido, but Bandido hit a Code Red. Takeshita no-sold a hurancanrana driver by Bandido. Four-way action broke out. Takeshita landed a Blue Thunder Bomb. Callis checked on Okada at ringside as the Takeshita and Bandido were down in the ring.
As Takeshita set up a move in his corner, Okada tagged himself in to “steal the glory.” Takeshita shot him a look. Callis defended Okada. Brody took over against Okada. Bandido joined in and they chopped Okada together. Brody put Takeshita on his shoulders for a top rope move by Bandido, but Takeshita escaped and delivered a spike driver on Brody. He then flung Brody backwards. Brody no-sold it and popped up. Okada leaped at Bandido off the top rope. Brody back suplexed all three others as they were holding onto each other. He dropped down in exhaustion. Fans applauded, many stood. Excalibur exclaimed that AEW is home to the best tag team wrestling.
Takeshita and Okada doubled Bandido, but Okada mistakenly hit Takeshita with the Rainmaker. Okada laughed, though. Excalibur said Okada might’ve been waiting for that moment. Bandido then recovered and went after Okada. Okada went for a Rainmaker after blocking Bandido’s finisher. Brody then went after Okada. Brody dove through the ropes at Takeshita and then Bandido landed the 21 Plex on Okada for the three count despite selling one injured arm during much of the match. The announcers touted Bandido’s resilience and Brody’s encouragement of and belief in Bandido throughout the match. “Can you believe Okada got pinned?” said Schiavone. Bandido brought his young son in a Bandido mask into the ring to celebrate with them. Then Brody and Bandido did the Macarena together.
WINNERS: Brodido in 27:00 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: Definitely longer than it needed to be, with two slow extended beat downs during the match by the heels against each babyface. Still, the peak moments were really good. Nobody thought it’d end without some tension surfacing with Okada and Takeshita, although it ultimately wasn’t what cost them. Brody and Bandido looked like idiots stopping the fight to retain the AEW Tag Titles to do the Mararena.)
-Renee Paquette attempted to interview Toni Storm backstage, who was sitting on the floor looking dejected. She said she has lost everything. Mina Shirakawa showed up and cheerfully said they have each other and then they hugged.
(8) “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE vs. SAMOA JOE – AEW World Title match
The bell rang 29 minutes into the fourth hour. Both got cheered during ring introductions. Excalibur said Hangman suffered from “imposter syndrome” during his first title reign. Schiavone said fans wanted Joe to get another title match. Joe largely overpowered Hangman in the ring and at ringside during the first eight minutes before settling into a mat hold mid-ring.Hangman fought back, but Joe kneed him in the gut as he charged at him.
They stood and exchanged chops mid-ring at 11:00. Hangman went for a shooting star press that didn’t land solid, but it led to a two count. The announcers talked about Joe trying to move out of the way. Hangman stood and elbowed Joe and then tried to lift him. JOe kneed Hangman several times and then powerbombed him for a two count. He then pivoted into an STF.
Joe set up a Muscle Buster next in the corner at 15:00. Hangman resisted. Joe shifted into a front chancery. Hangman slipped free and chopped Joe in the chest. Hangman had enough and yelled, “Come on, mother f—er!” as he swung wildly at him. He charged at Joe, but Joe ducked. He went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Joe ducked and applied the Coquina Clutch. Hangman leaned toward the bottom rope and eventually draped his leg over the bottom rope. Hangman then hit a Dead Eye for very near fall (actually, it was a three count as Joe was slightly late kicking out, but only by a sliver). “I thought for sure it was a three!” exclaimed Schiavone. Hangman hit the Buckshot, but Joe didn’t go down. He hit a second and then a third for the win.
WINNER: Hangman in 19:00 to win the AEW World Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Solid match. A welcome match under 20 minutes, to be honest. They didn’t do multiple sequences of spamming finishers and near falls.)
-As Hangman celebrated to his music and held the belt in the air, Joe sat up and looked at him. Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata came out to console Joe. Fans chanted, “Joe! Joe!” He raised his arms and patted his heart in a sign of appreciation. He shook hands with Hangman and then hugged him and then raised his arm. Hobbs raised Joe’s arm. Joe then clotheslined Hangman and then Hobbs and Shibata joined in. Joe then hit Hangman with the AEW World Title belt. “You are not worthy,” Joe said, which rang rather empty given he lost clean. Excalibur wondered, “Was this the Opps’ ‘break in case of emergency’.” Joe then gave Hangman a Musclebuster. Schiavone said they were chanting “Joe!” not long ago and now something different. Two ringside medics helped Hangman gingerly roll out of the ring and then helped him walk to the back. Fans chanted, “Cowboy Shit!”
(Keller’s Analysis: So tonight was the “warm up” match to a full-fledged feud as certainly Hangman is going demand a match to get revenge. He’ll probably have to offer to make it for the title to get it, because certainly AEW shouldn’t sanction a title match for Joe after (a) he lost clean and (b) attacked Hangman unprovoked afterward. Fans went from thinking Joe was going to announce his retirement to shifting to preparing for him to be a centerpiece heel for a while.)
-They went backstage to Mercedes who complained about Statlander disrespecting her earlier. She said she has already defeated Statlander twice in the past, and now she’s coming after her AEW Championship. “Your title is mine!” she said.
-Excalibur announced that the The Opps will defend the Trios Titles against The Hurt Business, Okada vs. Bandido for the AEW Unified Title, and the brackets revealed for the Women’s Tag Team Tournament.
(9) JON MOXLEY (w/Marina Shafir) vs. DARBY ALLIN – I-Quit match
The bell rang at the top of the fifth hour. Darby dove onto Mox at ringside. After Shafir grabbed Darby’s boot as he re-entered the ring, Moxley took over with a shotgun dropkick. He kicked the middle rope into Darby’s teeth. Darby went down and checked his outh for blood. Mox wrapped his fist with a chain and pinched his face. Darby’s mouth was bleeding. Mox looked at blood on his fist. He then pulled back on the chain in in Darby’s mouth. Fans chanted, “F— you, Moxley!” Mox lunged at the ropes and yelled at the fans. Nigel said Mox thinks everything he does is justified. Schiavone agreed. Mox said, “I tried to help him.” He knocked Darby to ringside and then followed him. He thew Darby back-first into the ringside steps.
Shafir supplied Moxley with wooden skewers. He jabbed it underneath Darby’s fingernails. Darby screamed in pain as he tapped it into it. Darby ran away as Mox admired the blood on the tip of the skewer. Excalibur said Darby was checking to see if his fingernail was still on his finger. When the ref asked if Darby quit, he yelled, “F— no!” Mox whipped Darvy toward the steps at ringside, but Darby leaped over them and then dropkicked Mox at 10:00. Fans chanted “Darby! Darby!”
They both returned to the ring and slapped each other a few times. Then they punched each other. Darby landed a sudden Code Red. Darby grabbed the AEW flag in the corner and wrapped it around Moxley’s throat. He hten hanged Mox from the ring apron. Mox gouged Darby in the eyes to break Darby’s grip on the flag. Darby mounted Mox and punched away at him. Darby went for a Coffin Drop off the top rope, but Shafir pulled Mox out of his path so Darby crashed on the apron himself.
Mox whipped Darby with a belt after Darby called on him to do it at 15:00. Darby popped up and leaped onto Mox’s back. Mox yanked him off and then landed a released German suplex. Darby crawled over to a backpack in the corner and grabbed something. He then squired Mox with lighter fluid. Excalibur said, “You can smell it from here.” Darby then reached into the backpack and pulled out a spray can. He sprayed Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia. Mox then caught Darby with a cutter. Mox called for a towel. Claudio tossed him one. Mox wiped off the lighter fluid.
Mox reached into the backpack and found a zapper. It was working. Mox jabbed at Darby, but Darby blocked it. Shafir gave Darby a low-blow and the Mox jabbed Darby with it. He then stomped on Darby’s head. He set up a chair and gave Darby a Paradigm Shift onto it. The ref checked on Darby. Meanwhile, Shafir and Yuta set up a table at ringside. Mox applied a Bulldog Choke next on the mat. Darby had a vacant look in his eyes. Darby gestured with middle fingers. Mox let go. Claudio entered the ring and pressed Darby over his head and then tossed him onto the announce desk. Darby landed on it and then bounced a foot into the air before falling to the floor behind it.
Pac dragged Darby to the other side of the ring. Mox then gave Darby a Death Rider off the ring apron through two tables at ringside. Fans chanted, “This is murder!” The ref checked on Darby at ringside. Mox kneeled down and said Darby is out of his mind. He said nobody cares about Darby but him. He yelled at Darby, “Quit! Quit! Quit!” Mox raged and ranted at Darby. Claudio and Pac set up the next spot in the ring. They brought an aquarium into the ring. Pac and Claudio poured water into it. Schiavone said they’ve gone too far.
Shafir dragged Darby to the aquarium. Mox splashed water in Darby’s face and then shoved his head into the water. He pulled him out after eight seconds and Darby wouldn’t quit. After ten seconds, he yanked him out of it. Mox yelled, “Just say it!” He shoved Darby’s head into the water again for a few seconds. The lights went dark ta 25:00. “This is absolutely not good,” said Schiavone. “What’s happening?”
Sting (66 years old with gray hair and a gray beard) showed up behind Moxley with a baseball bat in hand. He attacked Mox with the bat, then smashed the aquarium. He tossed Darby the baseball bat as Mox looked bug-eyed in shock at Sting’s return. Fans chanted, “Thank you, Sting!” Shafir got in Sting’s face. He lifted her and carried her to the back. Darby walked through the puddle of water and broken glass in the ring and pointed the bat at Moxley. Mox smiled. Mox offered his skull. Darby swung the bat into his abdomen and back and knee. Darby then smashed the aquarium again. He then wrapped the flag around Mox’s neck and gave him a Scorpion Death Drop. He followed with a Coffin Drop. He then put Mox in a Scorpion Death Lock mid-riing in the puddle. Mox tried to power out, but then quickly said, “I quit!” Schiavone declared, “We have seen it all! Darby wins!”
WINNER: Darby in 28:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Sting’s return made sense as a way to settle this score. With everything they did, Mox quitting to a Scorpion Death Lock feels kinda silly but also a relief.)
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