Kazuchika Okada will be putting the AEW Continental Championship on the line for the first time since successfully retaining against PAC at AEW Dynasty as he squares off with one half of FTR, Dax Harwood. Okada and Harwood will be meeting in an Anarchy In The Arena match at AEW Double or Nothing on May 25, with the former joining forces his Elite teammates The Young Bucks and Jack Perry and the latter teaming with the other half of FTR Cash Wheeler, Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson.
Speaking of The Young Bucks and Danielson, they will all be in action tonight with Matthew and Nicholas Jackson facing Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match. Should Daniels and Sydal win, they will earn themselves the right to challenge The Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. Danielson will be competing in a tag team match of his own as he and his Blackpool Combat Club teammate Jon Moxley take on Ring of Honor World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb in Cobb's first AEW match since last year's AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Zero Hour Pre-Show.
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will be in singles action tonight as he collides with his former Mogul Embassy teammate Brian Cage in a non title match. Strickland will undoubtedly have some extra motivation heading into tonight's bout after he was blindsided by an attack at the hands of Brian, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona last week during a verbal exchange with his Double or Nothing challenger Christian Cage.
Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone have no shortage of history with one another, and tensions have been on the rise between them since Mone made it clear that she was coming for the TBS Championship several weeks ago. Tonight, they make their Double or Nothing title match official as they meet in the ring to put pen-to-paper.
Elsewhere in the women's division, AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm will be going head-to-head with Harley Cameron. Cameron will surely be looking to redeem herself tonight after she came up short against Storm's ally Mariah May last week on "Dynamite".
Additionally, HOOK will be returning to "Dynamite" for the first time since losing the FTW Championship to Chris Jericho at Dynasty with something on his mind to share as the latter's mentorship with Big Bill continues to blossom. Malakai Black will also be responding to Adam Copeland after the TNT Champion challenged the House of Black leader to a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match with his title on the line at Double or Nothing this past Saturday during "AEW Rampage".
We are live! Taz, Excalibur, and Tony Schiavone greet audiences at home as Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson make their way down to the ring. Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher, and Don Callis are already at ringside, with the latter haven taken a seat at the commentary desk.
Jeff Cobb and Kyle Fletcher (w/ Don Callis) vs. Blackpool Combat Club
Fletcher and Cobb blindside Moxley as he hops the barricade to enter the ringside area. Cobb lands a right hand and a headbutt on him, then dumps him inside the ring.
Bryan Danielson' music hits, and he runs down to the ring. He wastes no time going after Fletcher and sends Cobb crashing into the barricade midsection first when he comes to the aid of Fletcher. Danielson lands a dropkick on Cobb as Moxley chokes Fletcher with his shirt. The four men continue brawling with one another on the outside, and Moxley sits Fletcher on a chair. He lands a running knee on him.
Danielson and Cobb end up back inside the ring. The bell sounds and Danielson fires off chops on Cobb in the corner. He lands several more strikes and a dropkick, then tags in Moxley. Moxley rains down right hands on Cobb, then tags Danielson back in. Danielson and Moxley double team on Cobb before Danielson cinches in a Knee Bar.
Moxley tags in and lands an elbow drop on Cobb. Fletcher tags in and fires off right hands on Moxley. Fletcher lands a chop on Moxley, but Moxley rakes Fletcher's back as the two teeter on the top rope. He connects with a superplex. Moxley lands a knee on Fletcher's midsection, then tags in Danielson. Fletcher is draped on the top rope, and Danielson lands a knee on Fletcher.
Back from the break, Fletcher clocks Danielson on the apron and tags in Cobb. Cobb cinches in a waist lock on Moxley, but Moxley escapes and connects with a German suplex. Danielson tags in and ascends to the top, then delivers a missile dropkick. He lands a dropkick on Fletcher on the apron, then fires off kicks and chops on his chest. He follows it up with a clothesline, then lands a series of kicks on him. He connects with a tope suicida on Fletcher on the outside, but Cobb gets back in the ring.
Cobb sends Danielson crashing into the mat, then mocks him and looks to land a shooting star press. Danielson rolls out of the way and sets up for the Busaiku Knee, but Cobb avoids it and plants Danielson. Moxley and Fletcher tag in, and the two land boots on one another. Moxley then lands a series of strikes on Fletcher, and lands a clothesline on him. He hits a cutter on an interfering Cobb, but Fletcher hits a Michinoku Driver on Moxley. Cobb and Fletcher then double team on Moxley before Fletcher sends Moxley crashing into the mat.
Cobb tags in and gets Moxley up on his shoulders in an Electric Chair position as Fletcher ascends to the top. Moxley escapes and sends Cobb crashing into Fletcher. Danielson lands the Busaiku Knee on Cobb, and Moxley lands the Death Rider on Fletcher for the win.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club
After the match, Konosuke Takeshita appears and blindsides Moxley. Claudio Castagnoli runs down to the ring with a crowbar in hand to make the save.
Adam Copeland then makes his way down to the ring.
House of Black Responds Adam Copeland
Brody King and Buddy Matthews blindside Copeland on the ramp and attack him down the ramp as Malakai Black emerges behind them. King dumps Copeland in the ring and grabs a chair from under the ring, and hands it over to Matthews. King then stomps on Copeland's back, and holds Copeland in place with Matthews. Black then grabs a mic and tells Copeland he doesn't understand why he's trying to keep up the facade of what he thinks he is. He orders Matthews to remove Copeland's wedding band, and he does. Matthews then hands over the wedding band to Black, and Black holds it up.
Black and Matthews then set up a pair of chairs on either side of Copeland, but Kyle O'Reilly appears at ringside to help out Copeland. King levels him inside the ring and dumps him outside, and Black hits The End on him. House of Black then triple teams on Copeland and sandwiches him between the chairs.
Back from the break, The Young Bucks make their way down to the ring as Jack Perry takes a seat at the commentary desk. Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal follow.
The Young Bucks (c) vs. Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match
Nicholas and Sydal begin the action. The bell rings and the two get in one another's faces. Sydal lands a jumping knee on Nicholas and rolls him up, but Nicholas kicks out. Matthew and Daniels tag in, and Daniels lands a clothesline on Matthew. Sydal tags in and Daniels lands a kick on him in the corner. Nicholas tags in and flies off the middle rope.
Back from the break, Sydal lands a double hurricanrana on both The Young Bucks. Daniels tags in and sends Nicholas crashing into the mat, but Matthew blindsides him from behind. Daniels plants Nicholas with a chokeslam as Sydal goes after Matthew. He flies over the top rope, but Matthew moves out of the way and tosses Sydal into the barricade area. Nicholas ascends to the top, but Daniels meets him up there. Matthew trips him and tags in, and The Young Bucks connect with The TK Driver on Daniels for the win.
Winners: The Young Bucks
After the match, The Bucks grab a mic and Matthews calls out Daniels for speaking out last week and putting his hands on him. Matthew says he and Nicholas are working hard to change the atmosphere of the locker room, but he's working against them. He then fires Daniels, and promises to give him a great severance package. He says that they've arranged for Daniels to be escorted out of the building, and thank him for his five years in AEW. Jack Perry then pours a Wooooo Energy Drink on Tony Schiavone.
Back from the break, we head over to a video message from Malakai Black who accepts Adam Copeland's challenge to a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match for the TNT Championship at AEW Double or Nothing.
Back at ringside, HOOK makes his way down to the ring. Sebastian Wolfe is already waiting inside.
HOOK vs. Sebastian Wolfe
The bell rings and Wolfe goes right after HOOK. HOOK catches him and delivers a T-Bone suplex, then fires off a few right hands on Wolfe. He locks in Redrum, and Wolfe taps out.
Winner: HOOK
After the match, HOOK grabs Jusin Roberts' microphone and calls Chris Jericho down to the ring.
Jericho's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring alongside Big Bill. Jericho greets fans, and says it's great to have HOOK back. He says he's learned a few lessons after getting hit in the face with a bat, and says he's happy to share the spotlight with him. HOOK then says he doesn't want to share the spotlight, and Jericho says HOOK needs to be less selfish. He says he's not ready to retire or be inducted into a Hall of Fame, and says that's why the FTW Championship is called the For The World Championship rather than the For The HOOK Championship. He says he wants to teach HOOK that when one loses a title, they have to work their way back up. He then challenges HOOK to a match against Big Bill on "AEW Collision", wherein if HOOK wins, he earns a future shot at Jericho's FTW Championship.
HOOK accepts and hits Jericho with the microphone he's holding. Big Bill then attacks HOOK, and Jericho joins him. Katsuyori Shibata then runs down to the ring and makes the save.
Swerve Strickland then makes his way down to the ring. Brian Cage follows.
Swerve Strickland vs. Brian Cage in an AEW World Championship Eliminator Match
The bell rings and Strickland wastes no time. He lands a pair of double knees on Brian, but Brian fires off clotheslines on him in the corner. Strickland low bridges Brian out of the ring, and looks to land a tope suicida. Brian catches him, but Strickland escapes and lands a boot on Brian. He then delivers a double stomp to his spine off the apron. Strickland uses the ring post as momentum to wear down Brian's arm, but Brian sends Strickland crashing into the ring post.
The pair get back inside the ring, and Strickland delivers a DDT to Brian. Brian then delivers a backbreaker to Strickland, and fires off a couple of shoulders on his midsection. Strickland responds with a series of strikes on Brian, then rains down right hands on him. Brian sends Strickland crashing into the corner spine first, but Strickland catches Brian with a boot. Brian then dumps Strickland into the corner.
Back from the break, Brian suplexes Strickland into the ring from the apron. Brian charges at Strickland, but Strickland sends him crashing into the middle turnbuckle face first. Strickland fires off strikes on Brian, then delivers an uppercut to Brian off the middle rope. Strickland lands a Brainbuster on Brian, but Brian sends him crashing into the corner and sends him crashing into the mat. Strickland sends Brian crashing onto the mat, then delivers a kick across his jaw. He then hangs Brian from the bottom rope by his toes and delivers a double stomp to him over the top rope.
Strickland gets Brian back inside the ring and delivers a 450 Splash. He goes for a pin, but Brian kicks out. Brian delivers a sit-out powerbomb to Strickland, but Strickland responds with a hurricanrana and a boot on Brian's midsection. Brian fires back with a superkick, but Strickland lands a boot on his face and fires off forearm shots on him. Strickland then begins targeting Brian's arm, and follows it up with House Call for the win.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
After the match, Strickland grabs two chairs from under the ring. He cracks one across Brian's spine, but Christian Cage's music hits. He appears alongside Mother Wayne, and Strickland looks to crack the chair across Brian's spine again. Nick Wayne appears and low blows Strickland, and Killswitch is not far behind. Nick then grabs a picture of Strickland and his daughters; then cracks it across Strickland's head.
Christian then grabs a mic and tells Strickland he embarrassed Nick when he attacked him in Everett, Washington last year. He says he's now forced to embarrass Swerve, then rubs the picture of Strickland and his daughters in his blood. Christian tells Strickland he's taken his blood this week and at Double or Nothing, he will take his AEW World Championship.
Back from the break, Toni Storm makes her way down to the ring. Harley Cameron follows.
Toni Storm vs. Harley Cameron
The bell rings and Cameron delivers a boot to Storm's midsection. Storm lands a shoulder tackle on Cameron, but Cameron lands a series of knees on Storm's midsection. Storm executes a Thesz Press, then delivers a Hip Attack that sends her crashing to the outside. Serena Deeb appears on the ramp, and Cameron takes advantage. She sends Storm's head bouncing off the ring apron and dumps her back in the ring.
Back from the break, Storm lands a back elbow on Cameron. She follows it up with a codebreaker and a DDT, then lands a suplex. Cameron responds with Sole Food and a running knee, but Storm levels Cameron with a sit-out powerbomb. She follows it up with Storm Zero for the win.
Winner: Toni Storm
We then head backstage and see Arkady Aura stand by with Will Ospreay and Roderick Strong. The two then find themselves involved in a heated verbal exchange.
Back at ringside, Renee Paquette is standing by inside the ring.
Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone Make Their TBS Championship Match At Double or Nothing Official
Renee Paquette introduces Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale, and the pair make their way down to the ring.
Paquette says the TBS Championship at Double or Nothing between Mone and Nightingale is one of the most highly anticipated, and invites them to sign the contract.
Nightingale says she respects Mone's career, but questions if Mone respects the TBS Championship. She says the title she holds celebrates a legacy in professional wrestling that dates back to 50 years ago. She says the title is built on hard work and dedication, and says Kris Statlander represents that. She says she's now the face of TBS, and says everytime she walks down to the ring, nothing matters and she smiles anyways. She says her smile is her strength, and she won't let Mone walk into AEW and take her title away from her. She then signs the contract and hands it over to Mone.
Mone demands that Everett says hello to their CEO, and says since Nightingale wants to talk about legacy, she was changing the game in 2015 while Nightingale was still training. She says she's broken down doors and kicked down glass ceilings, and voices her respect for Nightingale. She says she thinks Nightingale is a great champion, but there's a difference between being a great champion and being the greatest of all time. She calls herself the new face of TBS, and says she knows the best part of Nightingale's career is defeating her. She says her legacy is all about winning and signs the contract.
Nightingale says the last time they wrestled, she walked away a champion while Mone didn't walk out at all. Mone then slaps Nightingale, and Nightingale responds by sending Mone crashing through the table.
Back from the break, Kazuchika Okada makes his way down to the ring. Dax Harwood follows.
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Dax Harwood for the Continental Championship
The bell rings and the two lock up. Harwood hits a shoulder tackle, but Okada fires off right hands on Harwood's spine. Harwood lands a pair of chops on Okada, but Okada lands a shoulder tackle on him and sends him crashing into the ring post shoulder first.
Back from the break, Harwood fires off a couple right hands on Okada's midsection before he lands a spinebuster. Okada sits Harwood on the top rope and delivers a dropkick that sends him crashing out of the ring, then looks to land a boot. Harwood ducks out of the way, and the pair exchange forearms on one another. Okada delivers a hanging DDT to Harwood off the barricade, and gets back in the ring. The referee beats a ten count, and Harwood beats it.
Harwood delivers a pair of German suplexes to Okada and looks to land a third, but Okada escapes and delivers a boot to Harwood's face.He looks to land a second one, but Harwood prevents him from hitting it and lands a third German suplex. Harwood and Okada then exchange strikes, and Okada looks to land a dropkick. Harwood counters the move, but Okada hits a shoulderbreaker. The two teeter on the top rope, and Harwood hits a superplex.
Harwood plants Okada with a Tombstone, then grabs his Continental Championship. Harwood dumps him back in the ring, and Okada low blows him as the referee disposes of the title. Okada then follows it up with the Rainmaker for the win.
Winner (and still): Kazuchika Okada
After the match, The Elite joins Okada in beating down Harwood. Cash Wheeler and Bryan Danielson run down to even the odds, but The Elite overpowers them. Darby Allin's music hits, and he slides into the ring from behind. He hits Nicholas with a skateboard to reveal himself as the fourth man on Team AEW in the Anarchy In The Arena match at Double or Nothing. The eight men continue to brawl with one another, and FTR, Danielson, and Allin are left standing as the show goes off the air.
Commentaires