The Tag Team titles are on the line as part of tonight’s AEW Fright Night Dynamite with an added stipulation.
The Young Bucks will defend the gold against Private Party and if Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy don’t win, they will be forced to split up forever.
Former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will take on Shelton Benjamin after the former AEW World Champion rejected Benjamin and MVP’s advances regarding joining their faction.
Adam Cole returns to the ring for the first time in over a year following a serious ankle injury as he face House of Black’s Buddy Matthews. Either Cole or Roderick Strong will face MJF at November’ Full Gear if they can win three straight matches.
Kris Statlander continues her march towards a title match by facing TBS Champion Mercedes Mone’s bodyguard Kamille.
As he wrestles with standing up to Jon Moxley’s new-look BCC, Orange Cassidy will make an appearance on the show as will Hangman Page.
AEW Fright Night: Dynamite comes on the air with a video package running down tonight’s card. We then go to backstage footage of the BCC leaving the arena last week where Claudio Castagnoli said 5 years ago Jon Moxley built this place with his own hands and won’t let it be ruined. We hear Orange Cassidy’s voice, who demands they cut the video as he power-walks to the ring.
Orange Cassidy Addresses Jon Moxley
Cassidy said he doesn’t do this, this isn’t who he is, he’s not a leader who comes out and talks for ten minutes. After last week, seeing his best friend, Chuck Taylor, get his neck crushed by a chair, he looked around, surrounded by the people he shouldn’t have been. Those who surrounded him were very young, the future of AEW, who have no idea the danger they are in. They have no idea how dangerous Jon Moxley is, so he knew right then and there what needed to be done. If Moxley has his way, there is no future for AEW, as he’s never needed AEW, but people like Cassidy do. Cassidy, these fans, they don’t exist without AEW. He needs to cut the head off the snake and makes sure no one else gets hurt, he’ll do it alone, to protect everybody. Cassidy will do that, by challenging Moxley for the AEW World Title, taking the symbol of this company, taking it out of Moxley’s bag and putting it in his backpack. Cassidy tells Moxley to let him know, he’s not hard to find, he’s where he is every week, in the ring, because he’s Orange Cassidy, the next AEW World Champion and he still doesn’t need a catchphrase.
Mercedes Mone & Kamille were walking backstage when they were approached by Renee Paquette, asking for Mone’s prediction for Kamille’s match tonight. Mone scolded Paquette before doing her catchphrase and said just look at Kamille, she’s a brick house. Kris Statlander doesn’t hold a candle to her. Mone again scolded Paquette for wishing Kamille luck, saying she doesn’t need luck when you’re with the CEO.
Adam Cole defeated Buddy Matthews
(I enjoyed the story these two told, as with this being 14 months since Cole’s last match, it made sense to play up that he was gun shy to throw early offense. Once Matthews called Cole out for his toughness, it woke him up to get things going. Of interesting note, lots of fans were cheering for Matthews in this one. It does look like Cole’s next hurdle to MJF has been laid out, as the crowd reacted really strong for the Malakai Black appearance in the post-match.)
Both men shook hands to start, as Matthews backed Cole to the corner after multiple lock ups, demanding Cole bring it. Cole kept going to a headlock, but Matthews easily shrugged him off with shoulder tackles. Matthews dodged a superkick, as Cole seemed to shake out his ankle, as it’s the first time throwing one in well over a year. Cole was backdropped to the apron, but dropped off the apron to avoid a strike and seemed to tweak it a bit. Kyle O’Reilly was shown watching backstage, as Cole was trying to walk it off, when Matthews hit a punt kick from the apron as things went to break.
When things returned, Matthews connecting with a superplex, held on, but Cole countered into a neckbreaker on the knee for the reset. Both to the apron, where Cole planted Matthews with a DDT on the edge of the ring. Cole broke the count and managed a Heatseeker piledriver through the ropes for two. Matthews countered the Panama Sunrise into multiple Dragon Screws to the ankle before stomping on it repeatedly on the steps. Doc Sampson tended to Cole, as referee Bryce was out with him. The crowd actually chanted to ten and Matthews to be the winner, as the doctor went to help Cole to the back. Matthews took the mic and said this is why Cole is fragile, as the old Cole wouldn’t have walked away, the new Cole, is a bitch. Cole shook off the ref and hit the ring for a brawl, which Matthews won, as he continued to stomp the left ankle. Cole struggled to his feet, as he lured Matthews in to take the leg, but it led to multiple superkicks. Cole crumbled once, as Matthews fired off one of his own and a curb stomp for two.
The doctor again tended to Cole, as Matthews threw the towel to Cole, telling him to throw it in and quit. Cole chucked the towel at Matthews, hit another superkick, enzugiri and shining wizard for a close two. Cole again went for the Panama Sunrise, but Matthews hit a pump knee, Buckle Bomb and another curb stomp, but Cole kicked out at one. Cole caught a charging Matthews in the corner with a superkick and finally hit the Panama Sunrise, as Matthews rolled outside, allowing Cole to hit another Sunrise off the apron. Back inside, Cole lowered The Boom for the win.
Post match, Cole took the mic and thanked Matthews for reminding him who the real Adam Cole is. Cole offered a handshake and Matthews accepted until the lights went out. When they came on, Malakai Black was the one shaking hands with Cole, staring him down. Cole slowly backed off as commentary questioned if this was the next step Cole had to take before potentially getting his hands on MJF at Full Gear.
Renee Paquette is backstage with Private Party & Christopher Daniels, who brought up SCU breaking up three years ago being put in this similar position. Daniels said he let Frankie Kazarian down and he’s not even here anymore. Daniels reminds Zay & Quen what they’re risking tonight, as Quen said they’re good, Zay said they’re leaving Cleveland the next AEW Tag Team Champions.
Adam Cole was being tended to backstage by doctors with The Kingdom standing by his side. Cole said he’s being thrown right into the fire with Matthews and now Malakai Black, but brought up MJF being fake for thinking he & Cole would ever be friends. The idea of Cole & MJF working together would never work. Cole brought up what MJF did to Wardlow, Sammy Guevara & Danny Garcia, so he won’t be the next in line, as MJF needs to be taught another lesson. It might have been extreme what The Undisputed Kingdom did to MJF, but they did it because they care about AEW and the team, which MJF will never be part of. Cole said he’ll get his hands on MJF at Full Gear, then corrected himself and said when we get our hands on MJF. Roderick Strong was actually nodding along behind Cole, despite also wanting to face MJF.
Kyle Fletcher & Don Callis Call Out Will Ospreay
Fletcher & Callis come to the stage to loud boos, as Callis said Fletcher has something important to say. Fletcher is calling out Will Ospreay, pointing to the tunnel, but he never came out. Fletcher said he’s just as disappointed as all the fans, when he was cut off by the Aussie Open music. Mark Davis walked out from the babyface tunnel and Fletcher wasn’t expecting it, but went in for a hug, which Davis turned down. Davis said he wish he could say the same thing, but Fletcher knows Ospreay is at home because of what Fletcher did. Davis doesn’t know who he’s even looking at. Fletcher said what’s happened since Davis has been away was Callis has opened his eyes to realizing Ospreay never cared about either of them. Davis should forget about Ospreay, since Ospreay forgot about Davis. Fletcher says he made sure Davis will always have a spot in The Family. Davis said they had an Empire, but Fletcher destroyed it. Davis walked off, but Fletcher said a day will come soon where Davis will have to make a hard decision, as he’s shown he has no issue cutting problems loose.
Renee Paquette is backstage with Hangman Adam Page, who said in July, Jay White entered the Owen Hart Tournament in hopes of an AEW World Title match. It wasn’t Christian Cage who cost White the match and three months on the shelf, it was Page. Their record in their series of matches in their career is 4-1 and said there’s no such thing as redemption, not for White, not for Page, there’s only wins and losses and consequences that follow. Page knows White will go for his bad leg, but White won’t know Page’s. Will he hit him with a steel chair, will he choke out his friends as he watches, will he burn down White’s house? Page is certain at the end of Full Gear, when he beats White, he’ll leave him like many others who have stood in his way, hurt, with less than you’ve had before. He will leave Jay White behind. I thought this was a great promo from Page.
We see Wheeler Yuta, PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, Marina Shaffir & Jon Moxley walking backstage and we’re told are on the move.
Jon Moxley & Crew Answer Orange Cassidy
Moxley & Shaffir, who is holding the briefcase presumably containing the AEW World Title, are joined up by Yuta, PAC & Castagnoli, as they make their official entrance through the crowd. Commentary told us Chuck Taylor is recuperating at home following the attack last week, as Tony Schiavone said he was still in the hospital on Saturday.
Moxley doesn’t expect Orange Cassidy or anyone else to appreciate what they’re doing, but one day, they’ll understand. Cassidy thinks he challenged Moxley when it was the other way around. What Moxley did to Chuck Taylor was cutting off some distraction, so Cassidy can focus on his goals. They realized Cassidy was their guy, they don’t want Cassidy to catch the disease that so many in AEW have, they have a fat paycheck and content with where they are. Moxley continues to push Cassidy, who has yet to walk through the valley yet. Moxley said when it happens, Cassidy won’t fight him on the mountain top, they’ll fight in the valley, where Cassidy better be willing to die in, as this ring, Moxley is prepared to. Cassidy thinks he’s pulling the strings, but let’s see about that right now.
Moxley whispered to Castagnoli, as PAC & Shaffir hold down Yuta, as Castagnoli gets a chair and places it around his neck. Cassidy sprinted to the ring and immediately was beaten down. Shaffir took Yuta to the corner, slapped him and told him to go after Cassidy and he did, putting the boots to Cassidy until Dark Order hit the ring and were immediately beaten down by Moxley & crew. Yuta took out Evil Uno with a chair, Alex Reynolds by Castagnoli and Silver by Moxley. They placed a chair around the throat of Cassidy ringside, when Darby Allin repelled down from the ceiling. Allin started brawling with Castagnoli going through the announce table, all while still being harnessed, so Reynolds made the save, helping free him. The brawl started, as Top Flight, Lio Rush, Private Party, Daniel Garcia all hit the ring and the numbers game is finally against the BCC. Castagnoli & PAC brawled through the crowd with everyone, as Shaffir & Moxley bailed. Private Party was left alone in the ring as The Young Bucks’ music hit and they had their entrance, coming out when the coast was clear, taking credit for running Moxley and crew off.
Private Party (Zay & Quen) defeated The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) to win the AEW Tag Team Titles
(Excellent match, as the story of Private Party’s backs against the wall and having to defy all the odds was told very well. The crowd was loudly behind Zay & Quen from the start and only got louder as the match progressed. I was split prior to this match on which direction they should go, as I didn’t think the overall build for Private Party was all that great, but ultimately, I think they made the right call for the time being, as the Tag Team division has needed a shot in the arm for such a long time. The Bucks don’t need the belts and having a young team like Zay & Quen could lead to more title defenses.)
Nicholas & Zay kick things off quick with a series of pin attempts before a stare down, with Zay not backing down. Blind tag from Matthew, as they hit a pop-up assisted dropkick to gain control. Quen managed a tag, as a double hurricanrana sent The Bucks outside, as Zay launched off Quen’s back for a massive dive on both. Back inside, Nicholas sent Quen over the top to the floor, as he ran distraction on referee Rick Knox, allowing Matthew to grab the ring bell. Quen managed to rip the bell away, went for a shot, but Matthew ducked and Quen smacked Zay instead. Zay came up bleeding, as Nicholas hit a Falcon Arrow off the steps, while Quen ate a superplex from Matthew for two as things went to break.
The Bucks controlled the entire commercial, as right when things returned, Quen made the hot tag to a bloody Zay, who ran wild. Pop-up double dropkick connected, as Quen & Zay fired off double superkicks before going up top for stereo 450 splashes for two. Poetry in Motion hit once, but while going for the second, Nicholas countered into a Destroyer in mid-air followed by an assisted Sliced Bread and double stomp Pendulum Powerbomb for two. Quen sent outside, as Matthew bit at the forehead of Zay before The Bucks hit Risky Business for another near fall.
Nicholas low bridged by Quen, who hit a springboard moonsault followed by a suicide dive on Matthew and another somersault dive back to Nicholas. Quen took too long to follow as a Doomsday Device punt kick flattened him. The Bucks dragged Quen up the ramp, as referee Knox brought The Bucks back to the ring. This distraction allowed Kazuchika Okada to appear and hit a Tombstone on Quen before bailing. Powerbomb/enzugiri combo on Zay back inside, as Nicholas hits a springboard hurricanrana into a Matthew cutter, which was a Gin n’ Juice variation that Excalibur called Milk n’ Cookies. The Bucks pumped up the shoes, as Zay ate a Superkick Party, but kicked out.
The Bucks called for the EVP Trigger, but Zay collapsed before it happened. They went for it again, but Zay ducked, The Bucks collided knees and he got a small package for two. Zay fought off a TK Driver, but was ultimately caught with the EVP Trigger, only for two, as the crowd went nuts. Nicholas connected on a V-Trigger, as Matthew hit One Winged Angel, but Quen flew in to break the count. Nicholas was crotched on the top, as Matthew was sent outside, allowing Zay & Quen to hit Gin n’ Juice and win the titles.
Post match, The Bucks have the Tag Team titles and hand them to Zay & Quen, showing sportsmanship before leaving. Private Party leap into the crowd to celebrate as The Bucks left dejected.
We’re told Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy for the AEW World Title is official for Full Gear.
Renee Paquette is backstage with Jamie Hayter & Penelope Ford, who said everyone seems to have forgotten who she is, including Hayter. Ford has gone through glass, barbed wire, skewers in her head, so she’s going to take what Hayter took from her. Hayter said Ford is lucky, next week, she’s going to mop the floor with Ford.
Tale of the Tape is shown ahead of Swerve Strickland & Shelton Benjamin ahead of their main event tonight.
The Learning Tree Talk Ring of Honor
Footage of Ladder War last week was shown and Chris Jericho defeating Mark Briscoe for the ROH Title was shown. We then go to the stage where The Learning Tree are standing by. Big Bill said teamwork makes the dream work, only if the team works together. Jericho brings up the Wrestling Observer Newsletter saying his match last week will be remembered for a long time and Dave Meltzer giving it 4 stars. Jericho thanked Briscoe for helping him fulfil his prophecy of becoming The Nueve, then mistakenly calls Cleveland ‘Cincinatti’ before bringing up Terrifier 3 again. Jericho said with all due respect to Jon Moxley, AEW made it what it is and will do the same with ROH. He’ll do that because he can and not to underestimate Chris Jericho, which Bryan Keith repeats and calls everyone dumbasses. Jericho said he’ll take ROH to places they’ve never been before.
Video package for Anna Jay & Mariah May is shown ahead of their AEW World Title match on Collision this week. This was a good showcase of Jay going to Japan to get more experience, while Mariah May, who has already been a star in Japan, was less than impressed.
Alex Marvez was trying to get a word with The Young Bucks when Jack Perry runs him off. Daniel Garcia shows up and asks where Perry was at during the match, knowing he’ll lose his title next. Perry looked to bully Garcia, who slammed Perry against the wall, but Perry tried to fire back at him saying the crowd used to dance for him, too, smirking at Garcia, who stormed off.
Perry then walked into The Elite locker room where Brandon Cutler was helping The Young Bucks and Okada shred documents as Matthew told them they have to go and Perry slammed the door shut.
Kris Statlander defeated Kamille (w/Mercedes Mone)
(Rather quick match between these two, as a lot happened during commercial. After the struggle last week, it was probably for the best to keep this short, as it already looks like Kamille & Mone are on the rocks. Statlander is obviously next in line for the TBS Title, so she needed to look rather dominant here and she did.)
Power advantage is anyone’s game here and very even, but it’s Kamille with the early shoulder tackle. Statlander popped right up as Kamille was posing and took her down before a stalemate. Kamille low bridged, but hung up Statlander on the top before hitting a lariat, taking control into commercial.
Back from break, Statlander hit a snap powerslam to get the crowd into it, as she side stepped a Kamille pump kick and hit a F5 for two. Statlander missed a 450 Splash, allowing Kamille to hit the Rough Ryder for two of her own. Torture Rack spin into the powerbomb connected, but Statlander kicked out. Kamille wanted a Tombstone, but Statlander reversed it into Wednesday Night Fever for the win.
Post match, Mone attacked Statlander with the TBS Title from behind and took the mic, ordering Kamille to the back. Mone said when you want something done right, you do it yourself, as she held the TBS Title up to the face of Statlander, who was motionless.
Video package of the recent history between The Patriarchy, Kip Sabian & HOOK was shown. Backstage, Christian Cage offers an olive branch to HOOK next week, so Cage can explain himself for his actions.
Renee Paquette is backstage with The Conglomeration, as Mark Briscoe said the ROH World Title means a whole lot to him. The word of the day in instability, as Chris Jericho has none of that, after letting Jay Briscoe’s name come out of his mouth for the last time. Briscoe said they have three of them, three of The Learning Tree and issues a six-man tag Fight Without Honor next week.
-The Young Bucks are leaving the arena as Christopher Daniels runs up asking why they’re turning their backs on them when they need them the most. Matthew said no one wanted to listen to them, so they’ll be working from home. The Bucks drive off, as Brandon Cutler stumbles back with a box of shoes, they left without him. Moxley, PAC, Castagnoli, Yuta & Shaffir all appear, knock the shoes out of his hands and Daniels is held back by Moxley, as Cutler’s hand is placed on a truck and smashed with a hammer by Castagnoli. Moxley asks Daniels where his boys are going, things were just getting good. Moxley walks off with Shaffir & Yuta as Daniels yells for doctors. I thought this was a great segment that planted seeds for The Elite wanting to hopefully come back and fight for their company down the line.
Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeated Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP)
(I had to look up to see if these two ever wrestled prior to this and only once in 2017 in Waterloo, Iowa. You would’ve thought these two had many matches together with how well they worked with one another. Benjamin had been built up well since being in AEW and was a good opponent for Strickland in his return. The post-match was the bigger story, as the anticipated debut of Bobby Lashley set the stage for Strickland’s next story. He & Nana are going to need some help to battle The Hurt Syndicate, I wonder who will step up to be in this storyline?)
Benjamin wrestled Strickland to the mat early, as we see MVP going over to Prince Nana and whispering something to him, as Strickland hit a head scissors into the stalemate. Spinning belly to belly overhead suplex sent Strickland flying to the floor, as Benjamin tried to post him, but Strickland escaped and locked in an arm bar using the post. Benjamin recovered and sent Strickland from apron to the guardrail repeatedly before slamming Strickland down back in the ring. Strickland side stepped a corner charge, hit a Tiger Feint Kick, but as he tried a springboard, Benjamin caught a big step-up knee as things went to break.
It was all Benjamin with the power game during commercial, as Strickland battled back with his corkscrew kick to reset the match. The crowd was loudly behind Strickland, who hit the leaping uppercut from the corner before a pump kick on the apron dropped Benjamin. Back inside, missile dropkick connects for a near fall. Strickland tried his rolling Flatliner, but Benjamin caught him mid-move and spiked him with a DDT for two. Both men slowly rose to a stare down, traded kicks at the same time with Benjamin crumbling and Strickland hitting the House Call and 450 Splash for a close two. The kick-out led Benjamin to a waist lock and he hit a release German suplex and step-up corner knee, but a desperation rolling Flatliner answer from Strickland led to a double down with the crowd cheering loudly. Strickalnd went to the top, but Benjamin leapt to meet him, only for Strickland to slide out and hit a Liger Bomb. This led to a Swerve Stomp and the victory for Strickland.
Post match, MVP was on his phone and made a call, saying to whoever is on the other end that he needs them here now. The lights went out for a brief second before a drumroll was played and Bobby Lashley walks to the stage to a big reaction. Lashley walks down and gives MVP a hug as Excalibur puts over immediately how Lashley could easily make claim to the title. Lashley & Strickland are face-to-face as Holy Sh*t chants echo through the crowd. Benjamin popped up on the apron, distracting Strickland enough for Lashley to hit a clothesline and major spinebuster, all while MVP & Benjamin put the boots to Nana. Benjamin hit a big boot on Nana while Lashley locked in a Full Nelson on Strickland. Hilariously you can hear someone yell 90 seconds and 45 for the countdown til off air. Referees and security run down with the security getting their asses royally handed to them. MVP took the mic and asked “guess whose back in business?” to end the show standing over the fallen Strickland & Nana. The Hurt Syndicate has officially arrived as a collective group in AEW.
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