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The double episode of All Elite Wrestling began with a tribute to Ted Turner, the billionaire media mogul who launched TBS and TNT, following his death.
AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone and Sting said some kind words about Turner’s impact on professional wrestling. Turner purchased World Championship Wrestling and created a powerhouse that challenged WWE in television ratings for months in the 1990s.
Later in the evening, the matches began.
AEW TNT Champion Kevin Knight took over and challenged Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship. Allin had previously successfully defended his championship twice in brutal matches against Tommaso Ciampa and Brody King.
ALL ELITE WRESTLING PAYS TRIBUTE TO TED TURNER AFTER HIS DEATH AT 87
Darby Allin enters the ring during the “Bye-Bye” event of the NOAH Great Muta Pro-Wrestling Finals at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan on January 22, 2023. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
But Knight had been on a hot streak, winning the TNT Championship in a casino match at Dynasty.
Each man struggled to gain momentum in the match. They started the fight by performing wrestling moves with chokes and submission holds. Both men then knocked each other down with a double clothesline.
Allin dug deep as the game progressed. He hit Knight with a Code Red and nearly won the pinfall following a match-changing dropkick. As Knight exited the ring, Allin performed a suicide dive on Knight, who fell backwards and hit the commentary table. Allin wanted to do more damage with a Coffin Drop on a sitting knight.
Knight appeared on the apron and hit a hurricanrana on Allin, who flipped to the floor outside the ring. Knight tried to do as much damage as possible outside the ring. He propped Allin up on the commentary table and hit an incredible springboard clothesline.
Back in the ring, Darby countered Knight and put him in the Scorpion Death Lock. Knight broke the hold by hanging on to the rope. He tried another Coffin Drop, but Knight got his knees up. Both men were on the ground, writhing in pain again.
Knight dug deep into his bag. With Allin hanging upside down from the rope, he walked to the opposite corner and nailed a coast-to-coast dropkick. He then nailed a UFO on Allin from the top rope, but Allin kicked out from a pinfall.
Allin just didn’t want to give up. He put Knight in a guillotine and began to regain control. Two more Coffin Drops sealed the deal for Allin’s victory over Knight.
CAREER OF CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER KEVIN KNIGHT ‘THE JET’ IN ALL ELITE FIGHTS
Before Allin could truly celebrate the third title defense, Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) came out to kick off the “Collision” portion of the show. He said it was “time” for Allin to give him a rematch. Allin said the only way to get his revenge is to put something on the line.
MJF proposed his scarf, his Dynamite diamond ring and offered $1 million to have a rematch. Allin said no every time.
“I want something that you care so much about in this life,” Allin said. “Something you want to keep so badly that you’re willing to take a 15-hour flight to Turkey to have it sewn onto your scalp. I’m talking about your hair.”
Allin said there would be a contract signing for a championship vs. hair match before Double or Nothing. And if MJF doesn’t show up, he’ll never have another chance at the title.
Kazuchika Okada, who made it clear earlier in the night that he is aiming for the AEW World Championship, also put himself in the title race. Okada said he wants more than the AEW International Championship.
Okada will challenge Allin for the title next week.
Jon Moxley and Death Riders continue to shape Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay enters the ring during New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Edion Arena Osaka on November 4, 2023. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Will Ospreay returned to the Death Riders training dojo after spending a weekend at New Japan Pro-Wrestling to help his compatriots from the United Empire capture the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship at Wrestling Dontaku.
He was mocked and goaded by Callum Newman into attacking Shingo Takagi after Newman retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
On “Dynamite”, Ospreay was seen squatting while Yuta Wheeler did sit-ups using Ospreay’s neck as leverage. Ospreay appeared to be doing his own neck exercises as he sought to strengthen his injured muscles.
“You just got off a 15-hour flight. You’re winning titles with your drama boyfriends in Japan. Who cares,” Death Rider Daniel Garcia said during one segment. “It’s us against the world, and if you want to be the best version of yourself, you’re going to have to work at it.”
Jon Moxley, who was getting kicked in the abs by Marina Shafir, continued to be the voice in Ospreay’s ear.
“Have you ever heard of the concept of “killing ground?” » Standing on ground from which you cannot escape. There is no escape. There are no other options, do or die. This is where you are right now,” Moxley told Ospreay. “If we don’t make it, if we don’t make it (pointing to his head), it’s over. You’re done. Of course, you can still have a career in AEW. Get paid, hang around like the rest of these show-offs. But that’s not what you want.
“You’re not like all those people, man. You’re different. It’s a privilege to be where you are – to come all this way, up here, to the top of the mountain, and all you have is that last 1%. It’s the hardest 1%. You’re on death ground. It’s going to be hard, but it’s the only good option. Nothing else exists but what’s right in front of you, right now, every second, every minute.”
Meanwhile, later that night, Samoa Joe put out a call to Ospreay. He said he knew Ospreay was “destined for greatness,” but he wondered if he would still be standing to remain champion if he reached the top of AEW.
Joe said that with The Opps, Ospreay could remain a champion “for a very long time.”
An AEW doctor said on “Collision” that Ospreay was close to being cleared to play with the company. Ospreay said he wasn’t one of the Death Riders.
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Chris Jericho to Ricochet: “It’s time to fight”
Chris Jericho enters the ring during the DDT Pro-Wrestling event at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on November 12, 2023. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
After being ambushed by The Demand last week, Chris Jericho said he was done talking and wanted to “fight” Richochet. The heeled high-flyer led the assault on Jericho on last week’s “Dynamite.” Jericho told Renée Paquette that he was beyond “screwed up” about the attack.
“I’m done with three-on-one fights and I’m done with attacks from behind. I’m done with bulls—,” Jericho said in the ring as he asked Ricochet to come out and talk to him.
Ricochet agreed and told Jericho he was doing him a “favor” by telling him to leave AEW. Ricochet wondered what he and the group would get out of facing Jericho again. But Bishop Kaun gave him a good idea: a shoving match at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, at Double or Nothing.
Ricochet challenged Jericho to find four more partners to join him in the match.
Jericho was sure he could find four partners for the match, but if he couldn’t, he said, “I’ll face you alone.”
He hit Ricochet and dispatched The Demand alone. Toa Liona stopped Jericho’s momentum but The Hurt Syndicate – Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley – came out to support Jericho.
Swerve Strickland wants ‘more power’
Last week, Swerve Strickland seemed to be lagging behind “The Most Wanted Man” Bandido. On Wednesday, he made it clear he wanted more “power.”
In a monologue with Prince Nana, Bandido’s most wanted poster was crushed.
“From the most dangerous to the most violent to the most wanted, more power means more fear and more control,” Strickland said. “And there’s nothing more dangerous than a man who desires power. And I want it all.”
Bandido, the Ring of Honor world champion, said Strickland was right in that he was “the most wanted.” He said if Strickland wanted him, he was “easy to find.” Brody King also warned Strickland that there would be “hell to pay” if he upset Bandido.
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Dynamite match results
- Jon Moxley def. Juice Robinson in an AEW Continental Championship elimination match.
- Orange Cassidy def. Dax Harwood, earning The Conglomeration a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championship.
- Kazuchika Okada def. Bryan Keith will retain the AEW International Championship.
- Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander def. Harley Cameron and Mina Shirakawa.
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. AR Fox.
- Jamie Hayter def. Sky blue.
- Rush definitely. Matty Lo.
- Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn and Ace Austin def. Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, Clark Connors and David Finlay in a 10-man tag team match.
