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LECLAIR’S AEW FULL GEAR 2025 REPORT
NOVEMBER 22, 2025
NEWARK, NJ AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON HBO MAX, PPV
Announcers: Excalibur & Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness
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-The show opened with wrestlers already in the ring for the CMLL World Trios Championship match. The match was in progress. Kazuchika Okada arrived to the match late, getting his full entrance as the Pay-Per-View started. He gave Kinosuke Takeshita the middle finger. Don Callis was sat at ringside with Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Mistico returned to the match from the back. Mistico eventually made Hechicero tap out for his team to retain the titles.
After the match, Okada begged for forgiveness from the entranced ramp. Takeshita looked annoyed. Callis stepped between them to diffuse the situation.
-Excalibur quickly tossed to a video package for Pac vs. Darby Allin.
The ominous opening notes of the Death Riders’ theme rang out, then gave way to Pac’s music. He was washed in a red light somewhere on the arena floor. Excalibur said Pac and Darby Allin have only wrestled once before, about five years ago. Darby Allin entered after a brief vignette. Schiavone said that Allin has plenty of reasons to want to get revenge on Pac, even beyond being thrown through the flaming tables at Blood & Guts.
(1) PAC vs. DARBY ALLIN
Darby Allin took a big breath and pulled himself up from his seat in the corner. His ribs were heavily taped. Pac engaged him in a lock up and worked him into the northeast corner. They traded quick take downs and holds. Allin rolled Pac into a cradle and scored a quick two count. He held onto an arm drag until Pac worked his way to a vertical base and shoved Darby away. Allin vaulted Pac across the ring with a missile dropkick. Pac rolled to safety on the floor. Allin jogged around the ring while Pack regained his breath at ringside. He returned to the ring after a count of 7.
More quick chain grappling. Darby leapt off the middle rope with a cross body, catching Pac for another two count. Darby slid to his knees, keeping Pac grounded in a side headlock. Schiavone said he’s wrestled impeccably thus far. McGuinness said if the match were scored on points, Darby would be up at the moment. Darby transitioned into a Boston Crab, but Pac easily crawled to the ropes to break the hold as the match crossed 4:25. Pac and Darby battled to the apron. Pack rocked his opponent with a hard elbow. He pressed him and threw him onto the floor. Allin’s body bounced violently.
Gasping for breath on the floor, Allin dragged himself back toward the ring. He barely broke the referee’s count. Pac began tearing at Darby’s bandages. He scraped at the remnants of the second degree burns suffered at Blood & Guts. Pac grabbed Allin’s wrists and guillotined him across the middle rope, throat first. Pac tossed Darby into the ring post as the match approached 8:00. Allin went all the way through the ring, catching the ring post and ricocheting to the floor awkwardly. Pac had to retrieve him. He climbed the ropes himself, catching Darby with a pointed missile dropkick from the top. Pac covered for a two count.
“You can’t kill him!” the crowd chanted at Pac. Allin fought to his feet, catching Pac with open handed strikes. Pac tossed him to the floor and went for a baseball slide, but Darby trapped him behind the ring apron. Allin slid back in the ring and hit a dive through the ropes. He set up a chair on the floor and sat Pac down, then he climbed the southeast turnbuckles. Allin delivered a dropkick to Pac off the top. His head hit the wall of the announcers desk. Back in the ring, Darby went for a sunset bomb and cover. Pac rolled through it. He dove at Darby, but Allin pulled him in to a guillotine choke. Pac powered to his feet and pushed Allin away. He gave him a release overhead belly-to-belly into the northwest corner. Allin shrugged it off and flew at Pac with a big clothesline.
Both men were down as the match hit 13:00. Pac used the ropes to steady himself, Darby was lying in wait. Allin went for a springboard Coffin Drop, but Pac turned it into a German Suplex. He ran the ropes and hit his signature lariat for a cover and near fall. Pac spun around and applied the Brutalizer. Darby writhed, trying to get his legs closer to the ropes. He scooted just enough to get a boot on the rope. Pac utilized the referee’s full count to maximize the punishment.
Pac stationed Allin in the southeast corner and gave three pointed pump kicks. He set up for the Black Arrow, but Darby moved. He shot to his feet, picked the ankle and applied the Scorpion Death Lock. Pac began waving toward the crowd. Wheeler Yuta came running. He placed Darby’s bat in the corner of the ring, then distracted the referee. Pac cl0cked Allin with the bat and covered Darby for a three count.
WINNER: Pac in 16:59
(LeClair’s Analysis: Decent opener, but rather underwhelming considering what I think both of these guys are capable of doing. It just didn’t feel like the crowd really bought the rivalry here, as much as they tried to tell the story through the opening video package and Allin’s vignette. It was a bit surprising to see Pac get the win here, given how strongly they’ve been putting Darby over as of late, and unfortunately, a clear indication that this feud between Allin and the Death Riders is going to continue.)
-Excalibur tossed to a video package for the 4-corners women’s tag team match.
The Sisters of Sin were out first, followed by Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. Her replacement partner. Marina Shafir, entered through the crowd, talking trash.
(2) JULIA HART & SKYE BLUE vs. MEGAN BAYNE (w/ Penelope Ford) & MIRANA SHAFIR vs. BABES OF WRATH (Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron) vs. TIMELESS LOVE BOMBS (Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa) – 4-Way Women’s Tag Team match
Referee Aubrey Edwards lost control before the match even officially began. Teams spilled to the outside, leaving Megan Bayne and Toni Storm to begin the match by default. Bayne worked Storm into the corner and double teamed her with Marina Shafir. Bayne followed up with a stalling overhead belly-to-belly. Bayne charged at Toni, but Storm countered her from the corner and hit a tornado DDT. Storm tagged in her partner, Mina Shirakawa. She tossed Mina onto Bayne for a cover, but only scored a one count.
Mina Shirakawa caught Bayne with a kick off the middle rope. She charged, but Bayne picked her out of the air and gave her a flapjack for a cover and two count. Megan dragged Mina to her corner and tagged in Marina Shafir. Shafir dragged Shirakawa’s forehead across the top rope, then choked her against the middle rope. Skye Blue tagged herself in off of Marina’s back. Blue hit Shirakawa with a neckbreaker for a cover and two count at 3:40. Mina popped up, hit the ropes and delivered a Slingblade. Shirakawa tried to tag in Storm, but Julia Hart ripped Toni to the floor. Mina tagged in Willow Nightingale instead.
Nightingale gave Skye ten big punches, then tagged in Harley Cameron. They hit a double body slam, then a wheelbarrow onto Blue for a cover and two count. Cameron and Blue traded punches in the center. Harley hit a boot to the face, then a Backstabber. Blue recovered quickly and delivered a handspring elbow strike to the corner. She tagged in Julia Hart. Hart knocked Shafir off the apron. Skye knocked Bayne to the floor. Hart walked the ropes for Old School on Harley. Blue tagged back in and dropped Cameron with a knee. Megan Bayne tagged herself in and shoved Blue to the floor. Bayne woman-handled Harley, tossing her around and then into the corner for Shafir to take over. Shafir kicked at Cameron’s back. She and Bayne continued to beat down Cameron as the match approached 8:00.
Harley finally created some separation with a spinning DDT on Bayne. Shafir rushed in, picking the ankle. Harley kicked her away and made a leaping tag to Willow. Nightingale cornered Shafir and then gave her a Powerslam for a cover and two count. Shafir rolled onto Willow’s back into a choke. Nightingale stumbled toward a corner, allowing Julia Hart to tag herself in and break the hold. Bayne and Shafir returned, getting in the face of Hart and Blue. Mina Shirakawa attacked Blue and Hart, connecting with a combo DDT and knee wrench. Bayne tagged herself in off of Julia’s back. Megan placed Shirakawa onto her shoulders and tagged in Shafir. She tossed Mina into Shafir’s clutches, then tried to hold Toni Storm back. Toni broke free and broke the submission attempt.
Shirakawa made a diving tag to Toni Storm. The crowd erupted. Toni pulled Marina in for Storm Zero, but Shafir held on and clapped Toni’s ears. Harley tagged herself in off of Shafir. She hit a cross body onto Storm for a cover and two count. Toni gave Harley a Sky High for a cover and two count. The Sisters of Sin attacked Toni. Megan Bayne gave them a double German Suplex. Willow pounced on Megan. She kicked Shafir away, then hit a rolling cannonball onto both Bayne and Shafir. Mina dove onto the whole group of wrestlers on the outside.
Back in the ring, Cameron countered a Storm Zero into a roll up for two. Storm and Harley traded several roll ups until Toni finally caught her with a small package for a three count.
WINNERS: Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa in 13:07
(LeClair’s Analysis: Another decent match, albeit sloppy at times. The crowd just wasn’t particularly invested in anyone other than Toni Storm and Willow Nightingale. A good portion of this one was spent trying to sell the discontent brewing between the Sisters of Sin and Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir, who had partnered in Blood & Guts. This didn’t work particularly well, and the overall match suffered because of it. This was perfectly fine, it just didn’t really reach Pay-Per-View level.)
-Excalibur tossed to a video package for the AEW World Tag Team Championship match.
-FTR’s entrance was prefaced by a brief “Big Stoke Production” vignette for FTR. They entered to a chorus of boos, jawing with the fans. Brodido followed to a significant reaction from the Jersey crowd.
(3) BRODIDO (c, Bandido & Brody King) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler, w/ Big Stoke) – AEW World Tag Team Championship match
Bandido began the match with Cash Wheeler. A brief lock up, then some jockeying. Wheeler wrestled Bandido to the mat, but the champion powered to his feet quickly. Another lock up. Wheeler took Bandido down by the arm. Bandido kipped up, leapfrogged Wheeler and hit a pair of arm drags. Dax Harwood entered the ring and suffered the same fate. Bandido went for a pump knee, but Wheeler begged off. Bandido backed away and tagged in Brody King. Dax Harwood tagged in as well.
A quick shove from King, then a handful of right hands. Harwood gave King a chop and then ate several in return. Dax spilled the outside and Brody followed. He chopped him hard against the barricade. Harwood’s chest began to redden. He walked Dax around ringside and tossed him back in the ring for a body slam and Senton for a cover and two count. King tagged in Bandido. Bandido body slammed King onto Harwood. Bandido got a running start to dive onto FTR on the floor, but Bike Stoke got in the way. Bandido dove anyway. Stoke ducked just in time. FTR caught Bandido and slammed him on the announce desk.
Back in the ring, Harwood covered Bandido for a two count just past 5:00. Wheeler tagged in and choked Bandido against the middle rope. Cash caught Bandido with quick jabs, working him to the heel corner for a tag to Dax. Harwood dropped Bandido with an uppercut. FTR tried to wrangle Bandido, but the champion lifted and dropped both of them. Cash gave Brody a cheap shot, but King absorbed it and shoved him aside. Bandido made a tag, but the referee missed it. The ensuing argument with King allowed FTR to swarm Bandido. They continued to tag back and forth. Bandido slid free of a Suplex and finally made a leaping tag to King.
Brody dropped Dax and Cash. He gave Wheeler a huge spin-out slam, then dumped Dax onto him. He cornered both opponents and hit running clotheslines back and forth. Wheeler leapt onto King’s back, but Brody transitioned him into a fireman’s carry position and gave him a Death Valley Driver onto Harwood in the opposing corner. King covered Wheeler for a two count just before 10:00. Bandido entered the ring and charged Dax, but he pulled the rope to send Bandido careening to the floor. FTR worked King into their corner and hoisted him up to the top. Dax hit a Superplex. Cash came flying in for a splash, but Brody caught him by the throat. Bandido flew off the adjacent turnbuckle and splashed Dax. King followed up with a lunging lariat.
The champions had cleared the ring. Bandido tagged in. King dove through the ropes, but Stoke pushed Dax out of the way. Brody took Stoke down. Harwood caught Bandido in Powerbomb position, but Bandido turned it into a ‘rana for a near fall. Cash returned and missed wildly with a clothesline. FTR went for Shatter Machine, but Bandido held onto the ropes. FTR hit Power and Glory instead. They covered for another near fall. Bandido managed to knock Harwood to the floor. He pressed Cash with one arm, tossing him onto his partner below. Bandido sprung to the top rope and dove onto Dax and Cash on the floor.
After returning to the ring, FTR went for Shatter Machine again. Bandido turned it into a DDT. He hit the 21-Plex on Cash. Dax was waiting in the wings. He hoisted Bandido up and Cash flew in for Shatter Machine. They covered, but King broke up the pin just in time. Brody ran Cash into the barricade on the outside. He charged him for a cross body, but Wheeler moved. Cash grabbed one of the tag title belts and tossed it in the ring. Brody grabbed it, initiating a tug of war with Cash. Wheeler ripped it away, the momentum causing the title to crack Bandido in the head. Dax covered, but Bandido just managed to kick out at 16:45.
King slid in the ring and lifted Harwood into the air. Bandido flew in for Shatter Machine. They covered for a close near fall. Wheeler tripped Bandido and pulled his legs between the ring post. Cash side-stepped Brody, sending him to the floor. FTR went for a Doomsday Device, but Bandido flipped all the way over into his own cover for a two count. King pulled Dax to the apron and put him in a Sleeper. Harwood climbed the turnbuckle and applied the Sleeper to King, forcing him to let go. FTR hit King with a spike Piledriver on the apron. In the ring, they gave Bandido the Spike Piledriver for a cover and very close near fall.
“Bandido will not be denied!” Excalibur hollered. The crowd rose to their feet. FTR dragged Bandido to his feet by the hair. He gave them both a middle finger. They hit one more Shatter Machine for a cover and three count.
WINNERS: FTR in 20:12 to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships
(LeClair’s Analysis: Really good tag team match. FTR are always excellent in these situations, and tonight was no exception. Brodido have built some incredible chemistry and a really cool connection to the crowd, so this definitely had the most investment of the night thus far. The final five minutes or so were especially fun, and felt like a real signature FTR Pay-Per-View match. Dax and Cash have done really good work, and I’m not at all opposed to seeing them with the titles again, as much as I may have been enjoying Brodido’s run.)
-Excalibur announced the Casino Gauntlet was next. Bryan Danielson replaced Nigel McGuinness at the desk.
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin headed to the ring together, despite being opponents kicking off the match. MVP joined them.
(4) BOBBY LASHLEY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. RICOCHET vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI vs. DANIEL GARCIA vs. ORANGE CASSIDY vs. WHEELER YUTA vs. KEVIN KNIGHT vs. RODERICK STRONG vs. MARK DAVIS vs. “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY vs. MATT MENARD – AEW National Championship Casino Gauntlet match
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin gave a quick hand slap, then locked up, looking for positioning. They barely had time to break their lock up before the third entrant, Ricochet, headed to the ring. He came with a microphone. “We don’t want to see this wrestling crap, we want to see you throwing hands and haymakers.” Gates of Agony attacked the Hurt Syndicate from behind. Ricochet knocked MVP to the floor and clocked him in the head repeatedly with the microphone.
“Ricochet could end it here!” Excalibur noted. Gates of Agony continued to pulverize Lashley and Benjamin at ringside. They crushed Bobby against the steel steps and dropped Shelton on a steel chair. Referees spilled from the back, trying to remove Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona. Claudio Castagnoli was next to enter. Ricochet looked around in fear, searching for him in the crowd. Ricochet tried to dive onto him through the middle rope, but Claudio picked him out of the air with an uppercut. Ricochet collapsed in a heap. Castagnoli tossed his lifeless body right into the ring with a military press.
Claudio gave Ricochet the giant swing. He sized him up for an uppercut and connected for a cover and near fall at 5:15. Ricochet managed to catch Castagnoli with a headscissor, buying himself a brief reprieve. The clock ticked down again, and Daniel Garcia entered. He threw some type of liquid at Ricochet, then choked him against the ropes. Garcia tripped up Ricochet and punched him repeatedly. Garcia worked Ricochet into the southwest corner and mounted him for punches, then cleared the way for Claudio to drop him with an uppercut. Ricochet caught Garcia with a boot, then sent Claudio careening into the ring post. As Garcia and Ricochet struggled against the ropes, Orange Cassidy entered the match. Cassidy slowly climbed onto the apron, licked his fingers and slapped Ricochet’s bald head.
Garcia delivered a German Suplex off the top to Ricochet. Cassidy tossed him to the floor and covered him, but Claudio dead-lifted Orange by the belt loop on his jeans. Cassidy dove through the ropes, taking out Garcia. He went for a sunset bomb on Claudio in the ring, but Castagnoli held on. Cassidy turned it into Stundog Millionaire. Claudio rolled to the floor. Wheeler Yuta entered. Schiavone admonished Yuta for coming to the ring slowly, noting the match could end before he even gets there. Yuta met Orange Cassidy in the ring as the match approached 11:00.
The Death Riders swarmed the ring, triple-teaming Cassidy. They mocked his weak chops and kicks. Danielson it’s going to be nearly impossible for anyone to get an upper hand on three Death Riders. The trio hit Cassidy with running elbows in the corner. Ricochet tried to join the party, but they quickly beat him down. Kevin Knight entered next. He ran right into Wheeler Yuta out of the gate. Garcia tried to choke him, but Knight leapt off the apron with a clothesline to drop him. Kevin shoved Castagnoli away and leapt onto his shoulders. Claudio tried to Powerbomb him over the top, but Knight held on and dumped Claudio to the floor. Ricochet rolled Knight up for a two count. Knight hit Ricochet with a big dropkick. He covered, but Yuta broke it up right away.
Roderick Strong entered the match next, at 13:35. Daniel Garcia guarded the ring, inviting him to fight him. Strong gave him a Backbreaker. He hit the ring and dropped Yuta, then Claudio. Knight came flying off the ropes, but Strong caught him and gave him a Backbreaker. Ricochet ate one, too. He gave Ricochet a Sick Kick for a leg hook and near fall just as the clock ran down again. Mark Davis entered. Strong met Mark Davis in the center. Garcia and Yuta returned, attacking him. Davis dropped them both with clotheslines. He turned Strong inside out with a lariat, then gave Knight a Piledriver. Davis hit Ricochet with a Piledriver. Cassidy went for a P.K., but Davis ducked it. He gave him a Piledriver, too. Davis covered Cassidy, but Yuta broke it up. Speedball Bailey entered. He gave Davis a couple of quick, hard kicks. Knight joined him. Jet Speed took Davis down together, and wound up covering him at the same time. They stared each other down, allowing Davis to recover and take them both down.
Bailey back flipped off the ropes onto a cavalcade of wrestlers on the outside. Knight tossed Davis to the floor. Jet Speed came to blows in the center, trading quick roll ups and kick attempts. Garcia shoved Speedball into Knight, sending him to the floor. Garcia gave Bailey a low blow and applied a Sharpshooter. Matt Menard was next to enter. Garcia looked like he’d seen a ghost. He broke the hold to face his former mentor face-to-face. They traded rapid punches as the match crossed 19:00. Menard and Garcia spilled to the floor and toward the barricade. They battled into the crowd and away from the ring. Danielson said Menard isn’t worried about the title, he just wants vengeance.
In the ring, Claudio and Mark Davis prepared to trade jabs. Suddenly, the Hurt Syndicate returned. Benjamin dropped Davis. Lashley gave Claudio an STO. Bobby hit Strong with a Spear. Benjamin tossed Yuta out of the ring. Lashley gave Cassidy a running Powerslam. Speedball tried to return to the ring, but Lashley just knocked him easily to the floor. Ricochet tried to sneak up behind the Syndicate. They saw him coming and began tossing him around like a rag doll. Davis and Claudio returned. Claudio clotheslined Bobby to the floor. Cassidy hit Claudio with an Orange Punch. Benjamin and Davis spilled to the floor. Castagnoli side-stepped Lashley on the floor, sending him crashing into the barricade. Yuta caught Cassidy with a knee and covered him, but Knight broke it up. Ricochet hit Knight with the Spirit Gun and covered him for a three count.
WINNER: Ricochet in 22:54 to win the AEW National Championship
(LeClair’s Analysis: The concept of the match is ridiculous, but these do usually end up being a fair bit of fun. Ricochet has been very good in his role in AEW, and so I’m fine with them putting him in a big position here, but I’m still vehemently opposed to adding another championship to the mix. There’s just no solid argument in favor of this many titles, even if the idea behind this one is to possibly defend it outside of the company.)
-Excalibur tossed to a quick video package for the No Holds Barred match between Jon Moxley and Kyle O’Reilly. Moxley headed to the ring first, entering through the back of the floor. He was flanked by Marina Shafir. Kyle O’Reilly headed to the ring next, totally locked in on Moxley.
(5) JON MOXLEY vs. KYLE O’REILLY – No Holds Barred match
Kyle O’Reilly didn’t wait a moment. As soon as he stepped between the ropes, he took down Jon Moxley with a double leg and began pounding him. Moxley was able to break free relatively quickly, but O’Reilly stayed on the offensive, catching Jon with a number of quick kicks and strikes. Moxley tried to grab his signature choke, but Kyle turned it over into an arm bar. Moxley was close enough to the ropes to wiggle free. He stood up and gave O’Reilly his chin, asking for more. Kyle struck him into the corner, then began kicking Jon’s chest. Moxley got a finger in Kyle’s mouth and fish hooked him. O’Reilly fought free, picked the ankle and tried to apply the ankle lock. Moxley slid under the bottom rope to a reprieve on the floor.
Marina Shafir slipped Moxley a fork. He returned to the ring, brandishing the utensil. He powered Kyle to the mat, trying to stab him with the fork. O’Reilly held him off. Moxley got the upper hand, peeling the hand away. Jon stabbed Kyle repeatedly in the forehead, then all over his back and side. O’Reilly came up bleeding profusely. He was out on his feet. Moxley beat him down in the corner, then choked him against the middle rope. Moxley stunned him with scraping forearms as the match crossed 5:00. He bit at the open wound on O’Reilly’s forehead. He hooked his nose and pulled upward.
Moxley applied an arm lock. Excalibur said if O’Reilly’s blood loss is anything like it was in Blood & Guts, this may not last much longer. Mox bit Kyle’s fingers. He transitioned into a full nelson. Moxley kicked at Kyle’s back and began talking trash. O’Reilly picked Jon’s ankle and rolled him into an Ankle Lock. Moxley wouldn’t go down, so Kyle transitioned into a front facelock. Jon scooped him up and gave him a high angle back Suplex. Mox retrieved the fork again. He jabbed it into Kyle’s nipple. Moxley grabbed a Sleeper against the ropes. Kyle managed to slip free and apply his own choke against the rope. He let go and gave Jon a Dragon Screw over the middle rope.
O’Reilly applied an arm bar, but Moxley dragged his body to the floor to break it. Kyle followed. He tossed Moxley into the steel steps. Kyle wiped blood from his eyes and tried to find his footing. He kicked Jon repeatedly, then sat him in a chair. Moxley was bleeding now, too. O’Reilly gave Jon a running dropkick from the apron. He returned Mox to the ring. Jon sprang to life, looking for a cutter. Kyle caught it and turned it into an Ankle Lock. Moxley fought free, turning into a Triangle Sleeper. Kyle slipped free into another ankle lock. Moxley kicked free. Mox grabbed the fork again, but Kyle blocked it this time. He trapped Mox’s head between his legs and stabbed him repeatedly with the fork. O’Reilly found a chain and wrapped it around Mox’s neck. Moxley grabbed the other end and wrapped Kyle’s neck, too. They struggled in a lock up for a Suplex.
Both men writhed on the blood stained canvas. They rose slowly and threw punches with chain-wrapped fists. Moxley wrapped the chain around O’Reilly’s neck again and turned him over into a bulldog choke. O’Reilly blocked it, mounted Mox and pounded him. He transitioned into the arm bar. Mox slipped free into an ankle lock, then an STF. O’Reilly picked up the fork and stabbed Mox’s hand to force him to let go. Jon shook out the hand and stomped Kyle’s head. The crowd sang Seth Rollins’ theme in response.
Jon retrieved a steel chair as the match crossed 17:30. He trapped Kyle’s left arm in it and stomped. O’Reilly’s arm went limp. Mox gave him a Death Rider. He tried for a Kimura, but Kyle held onto his own tights to block it. He rolled through into an ankle lock. O’Reilly wrapped the chain around Mox’s ankle and settled in. Mox tapped out.
WINNER: Kyle O’Reilly in 19:16
Moxley initially gave O’Reilly a nod of respect, but grew angry when officials entered the ring to check on Kyle’s arm. He returned to the ring and attacked him.
(LeClair’s Analysis: Really good match. Your tolerance may vary on the level of blood here, because those fork stabs were nothing to scoff at. I do think there was a fair bit of technical prowess here, though. O’Reilly and Moxley really leaned in to the grappling with a violent twist, and it made for a uniquely enjoyable match. I certainly did not expect a win for O’Reilly here, given the disparity between these two on the card, but they’re clearly trying to tell a story about Moxley’s descent into madness following a pretty significant losing streak. I’m interested to see where this goes, after being largely indifferent about all things Death Riders for a long time.)
-Excalibur tossed to a video package for the TNT title match.
Mark Briscoe narrated a short vignette before his entrance. Justin Roberts explained that if Mark Briscoe loses, he must join the Don Callis Family. Callis joined the commentary team for the match.
(6) KYLE FLETCHER (c, w/ Don Callis) vs. MARK BRISCOE – No Disqualification TNT Championship match
Kyle Fletcher gave Mark Briscoe a resounding slap to the begin the match. Briscoe delivered a harder one. They graduated to chops, then quick rights. Fletcher dropped Briscoe with a big boot. He winked at the crowd, then went for a Suplex. Briscoe blocked it. He hooked Kyle for a Jay Driller, but Fletcher easily slipped free. He kicked Briscoe right to the floor. Fletcher went for a P.K. from the apron, but Mark caught his foot and swept his leg out. Briscoe tossed a chair at Fletcher’s head, then walked him around ringside for hard chops against the barricades. Briscoe tossed Fletcher into the steel steps, then looked out into the crowd for approval.
The challenger pulled a whole stack of chairs out from underneath the ring. He cracked one over Fletcher’s back, then hit him over the head with the edge of it. Briscoe spit in Callis’ direction, then sat Fletcher on a chair. He tried to dive into Fletcher’s lap, but the TNT Champion moved. He scooped Briscoe up and gave him a Brainbuster onto the seat of the chair. Fletcher pulled the steel steps away from the ring post and hooked Briscoe for another Brainbuster. Mark fought free and swept the legs out, causing Kyle to fall flat back on the steps. Briscoe bit Fletcher’s forehead. He retrieved a ladder, propped it against an open chair and leaned Fletcher’s body onto it. Briscoe dove through the ropes, but Kyle moved. Briscoe crashed through the ladder and broke the chair. Kyle tossed the ladder remnants right at Briscoe’s head.
“You’ll have to incapacitate him to beat him,” Danielson said of Briscoe. Callis said they’re going to “own him.” Fletcher got a fresh ladder after flexing for the crowd. He jawed with fans at ringside, then dragged Briscoe back to the ring. Mark was bleeding profusely from the forehead. Fletcher delivered a body slam on the ladder as the match approached 7:00. Kyle leaned the ladder into the northeast corner, then whipped Mark into it. The ladder crumpled. Fletcher covered for a two count. Kyle laid the broken ladder across the middle rope and used it to help him hoist Briscoe to the top turnbuckle. Mark fought him off, knocking him to the mat. Mark retrieved the ladder, tossed it at Fletcher and then gave him a missile dropkick. Fletcher came up bleeding himself.
Briscoe pulled a table from underneath the ring and set it up near the announcers desks. He pulled Fletcher to the floor and laid him out across the table. Briscoe beat him with a chair again, then climbed to the top. Kyle rolled off the table and staggered away from Briscoe. Mark gave chase. Kyle suckered him in, grabbing Mark and giving him a violent half-and-half Suplex on the floor. Fletcher talked more trash to the front row while setting up six chairs front-to-front. Briscoe flew into frame, throwing another chair at Kyle’s head. Briscoe laid Kyle out across the six chairs, then ascended the turnbuckles again. Callis stood up, distracting Briscoe. Fletcher popped to his feet and shoved Briscoe off the ring post and through the table on the other side of the ring.
A chorus of boos filled the Prudential Center as Kyle hugged Don Callis, then returned his challenger to the ring at 13:00. The Protostar propped a table in the corner, then caught Mark with a pointed kick. He tried to lawn dart Mark into the table, but Briscoe blocked it. He gave Kyle an Enziguri, then set up for the Jay Driller. Fletcher countered it, hoisted Briscoe into the air and drove his body through the table. Fletcher gave Briscoe the sit-out Last Ride for a cover and near fall. Fletcher retrieved a metal pale and dumped its contents – thumbtacks, in the center of the ring. He stuffed some in Mark’s mouth, then kicked him in the jaw.
Kyle went for another Powerbomb, this time on the tacks. Briscoe countered it. He turned it into a Fisherman Buster onto the tacks for a cover and near fall just after 16:00. Briscoe rolled to the floor. He pulled a table with barb wire taped to the top, and a tall ladder. Briscoe began arranging furnature. First, the ladder in the southeast corner. Then, the table over the pile of tacks. Fletcher fought Briscoe out onto the apron and the two teetered over the bed of chairs. Briscoe hit a flipping neckbreaker off the apron. Both bodies crashed through the bed of chairs.
“Dem Boys!” the crowd echoed as Briscoe returned Fletcher to his setup in the ring. He laid Kyle out on the table and began to climb the ladder, but Fletcher stood and climbed with him. They traded jabs on the ladder. Briscoe stood on the very top rung with Fletcher several steps below. He hit the Froggy Bow off the ladder, through the table. Mark covered for a near fall just before 20:00. Mark dragged the barbed wire table into the ring. Callis left the desk, fearing the developing situation. He handed Fletcher a screwdriver off screen. Fletcher tried to use it, but Mark blocked it. Kyle gave him a low bow. Fletcher gouged Briscoe with the screwdriver once, twice, three times. He licked the bloody end. “Sexy!” Callis said creepily.
Fletcher stuck the screwdriver into the turnbuckle pad after Briscoe dodged. Mark gave Kyle a Brainbuster on the tack and covered him for a near fall. Briscoe climbed the ropes, but Fletcher shoved the referee into the ropes to knock Mark down. Fletcher stabbed the screwdriver into the turnbuckle from underneath, creating an impaling spike. He set up for the Brainbuster, but Briscoe blocked it. Kyle dislodged the screwdriver and stabbed Briscoe twice more. He hit the Brainbuster on the tacks and covered, but Briscoe kicked out at 23:28.
Both men were a bloody mess, hardly able to stand. Fletcher met Briscoe in the corner, looking for the top rope Brainbuster. Mark slid down his back. He turned around and hooked Kyle, then gave him a Razor’s Edge through the barbed wire table. He followed up with a Jay Driller on the tacks for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Mark Briscoe in 24:51 to win the TNT Championship
(LeClair’s Analysis: An extremely violent affair. I thought the bulk of this was very good, just like their match last month. Entirely different, too. Last month’s match showed off Briscoe’s straight up wrestling ability, while tonight’s rematch fell much more or line with his usual flare for over-the-top violence. Fletcher has, and continues to be an MVP for the company this year, and I suspect that bigger and better things are on the horizon for him.)
-A video package for the $1 million tag team match aired.
The Young Bucks entered first, Succession-esque music and fireworks back on the table. Don Callis was still at the desk. Josh Alexander entered next. Jurassic Express entered next to a solid reaction. Kenny Omega followed, receiving a big star welcome from the Newark crowd.
(7) THE YOUNG BUCKS (Nick & Matt Jackson) & JOSH ALEXANDER vs. JURASSIC EXPRESS (Jack Perry & Luchasaurus) & KENNY OMEGA – $1 Million Trios Tag Team match
Nick Jackson began the match with Jack Perry. Jackson side-stepped Perry near the ropes, sending him to the floor. He flipped to the outside, but Perry moved. The two traded flip counters in and out of the ring, then reached a stalemate after a kip up. Nick got in Perry’s face. Jack tagged in Luchasaurus while Nick tagged in his brother, Matt. Luchasaurus threw Matt across the ring repeatedly. He missed wildly with a clothesline, but dropped Matt with a hard chop to the chest. Nick and Josh Alexander rushed the ring and suffered the same fate. Luchasaurus tagged Perry back in. Jack gave Matt a flying dropkick and covered him for a two count. Jack walked Matt to the babyface corner and tagged in Kenny Omega.
Callis called Omega the “patron saint for weak-minded fans.” Omega worked Matt into the ropes and broke, then ate a cheap shot from Josh Alexander. He tagged himself in off of Matt’s back, then went to work on Kenny in the corner. Omega countered an Irish whip, then sent Josh to the floor. He caught him with a cross body over the top. Omega came up lame on his left ankle, checking his Achilles. Alexander went to work on the leg immediately. Callis said he told Josh all about Kenny’s weaknesses. Matt tagged in and continued to beat Kenny down. Matt tagged Nick. The Bucks tried to double team Omega, but he took them both down with bulldogs. The Bucks rolled to the floor. Omega got the Terminator clap going, calling for a dive. Alexander cut him off with a blindside shot. Omega recovered quickly and tossed Alexander outside to join the Bucks. Kenny hit the flip to the outside.
After returning to the ring, Omega tagged out, still favoring his ankle. Perry tossed the Bucks onto one another, but got caught in the arms of Alexander. Josh gave him a slam onto the apron. Nick tried to dive onto Luchasaurus, but he wasn’t there to make the catch. Nick crash landed hard. Callis distracted Omega. Matt Jackson dove onto Omega from inside the ring. The Bucks his Risky Business on Perry in the ring and covered him for a two count at 7:45. Alexander tagged in. He continued to work over Perry in the heel corner. He gave him a high angle back Suplex and covered for a two count. Josh grabbed a seated chin lock. Jack fought to his feet with elbows, then a lariat. Omega reached out for a tag, but Alexander knocked him to the floor. Perry caught Josh with a diving spike DDT.
Both Perry and Alexander crawled to their respective corners for tags. Luchasaurus and Matt Jackson entered. Luchasaurus dropped Matt, then Nick, then Matt and Nick. He set up for a double Chokeslam, but Alexander stopped him with a straight right. Luchasaurus let the Bucks go and gave Josh the Chokeslam.Then he did the same to the Bucks, covering for two. The Bucks recovered and swept Luchasaurus at the legs. He kipped up, looking for a double Chokeslam. The Bucks hit double Superkicks. Everyone was down. Kenny reached out desperately for a tag, but Alexander cut Luchasaurus off initially. He kicked Josh away and tagged in Kenny. Alexander wanted out, too, but the Bucks left him hanging.
Omega hit Alexander with the rolling driver, then went for the middle rope Moonsault. Alexander rolled. Omega landed on his feet, but got attacked by the Bucks. Perry took down Matt and Nick, then ate a Backbreaker from Josh. Nick caught Luchasaurus with a Destroyer. Omega wiped out Nick with a running knee. Omega and Alexander struggled to their feet and traded rights at 14:00. First slow single shots, then fast jabs. The Bucks returned and ate Snap Dragon Suplexes from Omega. Kenny went for a V-Trigger on Alexander, but missed wildly. Josh chop-blocked him and grabbed an ankle lock. Kenny reached desperately toward the ropes, but Alexander pulled him back to center. The Bucks grabbed his arms and gave him the BTE Trigger while the hold was applied.
Matt and Nick took down Luchasaurus, then held Perry back as Omega screamed in agony. Kenny finally managed to reach the bottom rope and force the break. Matt tagged in and set up for the TK Driver. Luchasaurus broke it up. Perry joined, and, with Omega, they gave Matt the TK Driver themselves. Omega tagged Perry. Jurassic Express called for the Countdown to Extinction, but Alexander and Nick Jackson intervened. Perry gave Matt a ‘rana over the top rope to the floor, then he and Luchasaurus gave Nick the Countdown to Extinction. Perry covered, but Alexander broke it up at the last moment. Kenny took him out with a knee strike.
Perry tried for a double Doomsday on the Bucks, but they landed on their feet and caught Omega and Luchasaurus with Superkicks. Perry leapt off the ropes and ate one, too. Omega gave Alexander a One Winged Angel on the floor. The Bucks caught Perry with a BTE Trigger in the ring and covered him for a three count.
WINNERS: The Young Bucks & Josh Alexander in 19:06
Don Callis led the Bucks up the entrance way as other members of the Don Callis Family swarmed the ring to attack Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express. The Bucks looked conflicted, repeatedly looking back toward their former friend. Callis kept pulling them toward the exit, but they couldn’t let it go. The Bucks tossed the money down and rushed to the ring, clearing it of the Don Callis Family. The Bucks came face-to-face with Jurassic Express, who offered their hands. The Bucks shook them. The seas parted for a recovering Kenny Omega. He used the ropes to steady himself, then limped toward the Bucks.
“Hug it out!” the crowd begged. The Bucks offered their hands. Kenny slapped them away and called them in for a hug instead. The crowd popped big as the Bucks held Kenny’s arms up.
(LeClair’s Analysis: Really fun match. The Bucks were great, as they almost always are in this situation, and Josh Alexander had a really big night, too. His offense, especially working against Omega, was stellar. Kenny looked to be legitimately favoring that left ankle, and was a notable step slower after tweaking it on the outside. Hopefully he’s alright. I’m not a big fan of the “match for money” concept that AEW has utilized a lot as of late, but at least when it involves the Bucks, it makes sense with their current gimmick. The post match angle worked well. The crowd has been itching to see the Bucks aligned with Omega again as babyfaces, and I think they’ve done a good job getting their characters to a point where there’s actual intrigue there. The Bucks’ monetary fall from grace angle helped revive an act that had seemingly grown tiresome to a large portion of the audience. This return to form feels right.)
-After a video package for the AEW Women’s World Championship match, the holder of 13 Championships, Mercedes Mone, headed to the ring to a strong reaction. She marched past her collection of titles, danced on the apron, then looked toward the stage to her opponent. Kris Statlander arrived in a crashed spaceship set up to the left of the stage.
(8) KRIS STATLANDER (c) vs. MERCEDES MONE – AEW Women’s World Championship match
The bell rang quickly, and Mercedes Mone immediately went for a pick of the ankle. Kris Statlander used her size advantage to block and deliver a back Suplex. Mercedes rolled to her feet and grabbed a waist lock. Kris broke free and sent the challenger into the ropes. Mone climbed her body and turned her into a Crossface. Statlander broke the hold and rolled the challenger into a cover for a quick one count. Danielson the pace thus far favors the challenger. Mone tossed Kris to the floor. The champion landed awkwardly on her shoulder. Mercedes gave her a baseball slide, then dove into her arms. Kris rolled through the cross body and hoisted her into a fireman’s carry. Statlander carried Mone up the steps and onto the apron. Both missed wildly with kicks. Statlander climbed the turnbuckles, dragging Mone with her. She gave her a big Superplex.
Statlander ascended the northeast turnbuckles, looking for the 450 Splash early. She launched, but Mercedes rolled out of the way. Kris tweaked her shoulder and forearm again. Referee Aubrey Edwards left the ring to check on her. She pushed Mercedes back. Mone ignored the warning and delivered a Meteora off the apron. She slammed Stat into the ring steps, turned her arm inside out and stomped her on triceps. Mone slid the champion back in the ring and covered her for a two count just past 4:00.
The TBS Champion hit Statlander with a tornado DDT, then grabbed an arm bar on the injured limb. She manipulated Kris’ wrist and fingers. Statlander fought to her feet, but Mone tripped her into the middle turnbuckle and took her down for another cover and two count. Mercedes continued to work the injured arm. Statlander tried to punch at Mercedes with her free arm, but couldn’t land anything significant. Mercedes rammed Kris’ shoulder into the turnbuckles. Kris exploded out of the corner, hitting a lariat with her good arm. Mone shrugged it off and ripped Kris back to the mat for another extended arm bar. Kris rolled inward and brought Mone back to her feet. Mercedes maintained control of the arm and pulled it down across her knees. Kris fought free with body shots. Mone planted her with another DDT for a cover and near fall at 8:10.
“She’s been on offense for about 75% of this,” Bryan said of the challenger. Mercedes talked some trash, kicking arrogantly at Kris’ chest and shoulder. She hit the Three Amigos Suplexes, held on, and then completed 11 more – one for each of her titles, and the AEW Women’s World title. Mone rose to her feet and shimmied in honor of her idol, Eddie Guerrero. She dragged Statlander into place and ascended the northeast turnbuckles. Mone went for the Frog Splash, but Kris caught her with boots to the face. Stat massaged her forearm. Mone adjusted her jaw.
Champion and challenger traded blows. Statlander gave Mone a back body drop, then a hard elbow in the corner. She caught Mone with a running knee, then a spinning Falcon Arrow for a cover and near fall at 12:45. Excalibur mentioned that Kris couldn’t get the full weight of her cover because of her injured arm. Mone and Stat battled to the east apron. Mercedes cranked the injured arm against the middle rope, sending the champion bouncing to the floor. Mone tried to jump on her, but Kris picked her out of the air and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on the floor.
Aubrey Edwards began a double count out. Kris answered first, rolling into the ring at four. Mone began to stir at nine. She darted into the ring just in time. Statlander went for a rolling elbow, but Mercedes hit the Backstabber. She gave Kris a sunset bomb into the middle turnbuckle. Stat hit hard. Mone went for a running Meteora in the corner, but Stat sprang to life and dropped the challenger with a spinning lariat. Both women struggled on the mat. Mercedes tried to apply another arm bar, but Kris lifted her off the mat and gave her a belly-to-belly. Statlander applied the Statement Maker on Mone, trying to beat her with her own move. Mercedes attacked the hand on the injured arm, breaking the grip. She applied the hold herself. Stat squirmed and tried to roll her over, but Mercedes hung on.
Stat lifted Mercedes onto her shoulders. hold still in tact. She deposited Mone on the top turnbuckle and climbed to meet her. Stat hit an Avalanche rib breaker off the top. After a delay, Kris covered for a two count. Danielson said she’s got to stop making the mistake of not putting enough pressure on Mone’s shoulders. Kris tried to hoist Mercedes for Saturday Night Fever, but her arm gave out. Mercedes pulled her back to the mat, then into a cradle for a near fall. Stat turned it into the seat belt pin for her own near fall. She pulled Mone up and hit a double underhook package Piledriver. She covered, but Mercedes got her hand on the bottom rope.
“Both of these women are giving it their all!” Danielson exclaimed as the match crossed 20:00. Stat hoisted Mone to the top of the northwest corner. Mone kicked her away. She went for a Meteora, but Stat caught her. She spun her into Electric Chair position. Mercedes turned it into a Poisonrana. She hit the double knees for a leg hook and near fall. Mone was growing frustrated. She pulled Kris to her feet, looking for the Mone Maker. Statlander countered, looking for the Fever. Mercedes slid free. Kris backed a defenseless Mone into the corner repeatedly. Mone caught her with her ankles, but Kris held on and pulled her away. She hit Staturday Night Fever and hooked the leg for a three count.
WINNER: Kris Statlander in 23:07 to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship
(LeClair’s Analysis: Excellent match. These two worked incredibly well together and told a compelling, drama filled story built around Mone injuring Statlander’s arm early on in the match. Unfortunately, the crowd didn’t seem particularly invested in this one, barely get up for even the biggest of spots. Perhaps it was burn out from the prior three matches, but these two women left it all out there, and had, for my money, the match of the night thus far. Mone continues to be so impressive in these spots. Statlander has needed a match of this caliber to really kick her title reign into high gear. I like the story they’ve told with Mone, in that she’s virtually unbeatable unless competing for the World Title. It should, in theory, make her eventual win feel much bigger when it inevitably comes.)
-Backstage, Lexy Nair stood by with Don Callis, Kazuchika Okada, Kinosuke Takeshita, and Hechicero. Callis continued to downplay the issues between Okada and Takeshita. He said Okada is gearing up to defend his Continental title in the Continental Classic. Takeshita announced that he’s also going to be in the tournament. Kyle Fletcher barged in, still covered in dried blood. He admonished both wrestlers for not having his back during his match. He announced that, he, too, will be in the Continental Classic. “Look what you did to Kyle. This is all your fault,” Okada told Takeshita before walking away.
-A video package for the Steel Cage main event aired.
When the broadcast returned live, the steel cage had lowered into place. Samoa Joe’s music rang out, and he marched into view, towel draped around his neck. Joe walked confidently down the ramp and into the steel cage. The AEW World Heavyweight Champion entered to a song from Red Dead Redemption 2, receiving a modest reaction. Justin Roberts introduced the main event. Page received a much stronger reaction this time.
(9) “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE (c) vs. SAMOA JOE – AEW World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage match
“Hangman” Adam Page and Samoa Joe came out swinging as soon as the bell rang. It was Page who first tossed Joe into the wall of the steel cage, toppling him for some mounted punches. Page looked to the crowd for cheers and received them. Joe came up busted open between the eyes. Page worked Joe into the southeast corner and punched him repeatedly, opening the cut further. Page let Joe stagger away from the corner. He caught him with a top rope Moonsault for a cover and a one count.
The AEW World Champion removed one of his boots, looking to use it as a weapon against Samoa Joe. The challenger telegraphed the attack, knocked the boot away and worked Page into the northwest corner. He drove his heel across Page’s forehead violently. Page shrugged it off, retrieving the boot again and clocking Joe in the head with it. He hit him with the heel again and again, covering for just another one count. Joe staggered around the ring, pouring blood from his face. Hangman tried to work him against the middle rope, but Joe fought him off and chopped him across the ring as the match crossed 4:15. Page looked for a running clothesline, but Joe side-stepped and slammed him into the cage wall.
Referee Paul Turner tried to check Joe’s cut, but was waved off. Joe drove his pointed elbow onto the crown of Page’s head. Page was opened up by the cage, too. He and Joe traded punches against the ropes and back to center. Page hit the ropes, but Joe caught him with a snap Powerslam for a cover and two count just before 7:00. The champion rose to his knees. Joe littered him with jabs. Page absorbed them and rose to his feet. Joe missed wildly with a kick. He went for a German Suplex, but Page landed on his feet. He sent Joe from one cage wall to the next, then dropped him with a back Suplex. Joe’s entire face was stained with blood, his white elbow pad soaked all the way through. Page looked for a double underhook, but Joe slipped into a Coquina Clutch attempt. Hangman fought free and grabbed the Clutch himself.
Samoa Joe fought to his feet and dumped Page in the northwest corner. Adam charged him and got dumped with a Uranagi. Joe removed the top turnbuckle in the northwest corner. Danielson said Joe is looking a bit wobbly. Joe tried to drive Page into the exposed turnbuckle, but Adam got his boot up. Joe hoisted Page to the top, setting up for the Musclebuster. Page bit his forehead to free himself. Joe was relentless, he went right back to the attempt. Hangman gave him a number of headbutts, then a sunset Powerbomb.
Joe wandered to his feet almost immediately. Katsuyori Shibata appeared at ringside. He grabbed the World title, circling the cage and distracting Hangman. Shibata began scaling the cage, title in hand. Eddie Kingston ran down, pulling Shibata to ground level. He and Shibata traded punches up the ramp. In the ring, Joe drove referee Paul Turner into the cage. Page hit Joe with the Deadeye. He covered for a visible three count, but there was no referee. Powerhouse Hobbs emerged. He ripped the chain lock right off the door and entered the cage with the title in hand. He missed wildly with a belt shot. Page kicked Hobbs below the belt, then ran him into the cage. Joe put Page in the Coquina Clutch. Page forced Joe into the exposed turnbuckle. He leapt to the apron and connected with the Buckshot Lariat for another visible three count.
Hook rushed into the ring, imploring Paul Turner to wake up. He picked up the World Title and blocked Hangman in the head with it. Hook removed his jacket to reveal an Opps t-shirt. Joe set Page up in the corner and gave him a Musclebuster on the World Title for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Samoa Joe in 14:03 to win the AEW World Heavyweight Championship
(LeClair’s Analysis: This was incredibly violent and incredibly bloody right from the onset. These two had a good match last month, but this one may have worked a little better for me overall. I think the heightened status of the feud, combined with all-out brawl nature suited Samoa Joe much better, and Hangman is always happy to take things to that level. Consider me genuinely surprised by the finish, though. Considering Joe very much felt like a B-level challenger to Hangman’s title, I did not expect this to result in a title change. Hook’s turn was fine, but not exactly a moment that I think is befitting of being a precursor to a major title change. Joe was a fine champion last time, and I expect this run to be no different.)
As Samoa Joe celebrated with the Opps in the ring, the arena lights shut off. A burning house was shown on the stage screens. A spotlight highlighted Prince Nana. Swerve Strickland’s new theme music played and he sauntered into view slowly, dressed head-to-toe in black leather. Joe told the Opps to step aside and allow Strickland to enter the ring. He did, removing his jacket and walking toward the fallen body of Hangman Page. Swerve spun around and started attacking Opps Dojo members. Joe left the ring in a hurry. Strickland beat down the whole Dojo while Joe, Shibata, Hobbs, and Hook looked on from the entrance way.
Prince Nana led the crowd in a resounding “Swerve’s House” chant. Strickland hit a House Call. Hangman Page returned to his feet and took down the last remaining Dojo member. Strickland and Page stood side by side, staring down the Opps as the show went off the air.
(LeClair’s Analysis: A welcomed return for Swerve Strickland to close out the night. I was a little taken aback by the decision to change his theme music, given how synonymous “Big Pressure” has been to his career in AEW, but we’ll see if the new song grows on me. I’m intrigued by the relationship between Strickland and Page – it’s gone from being incomprehensible that they’d share a screen without tearing each other apart to actually feeling sort of right that they’d come full circle.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: It sort of goes without saying that any good AEW Pay-Per-View could use some self-editing. That was certainly the case here, be it shaving a match or two off the card, shuffling the order of the two hardcore matches, and laying just a little bit off the gratuitous bleeding. Still, there was a lot of good wrestling to go around. This didn’t feel like an “A” level show by any stretch, and I thought it suffered at times from a rather tough crowd, but the great stuff here is enough to make this an overall mild thumbs up.
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