We open with ADAM COLE BAYBAY! And reDRagon entering. These men are all stars together. It's Story Time with Adam Cole, Baybay. Cole talks about being undefeated and how with Fish and O'Reilly, it's a new Era. The Young Bucks come out and aren't happy about not being invited out. Bucks and reDRagon both want the tag belts and tease a match between the two teams. Cole tries to play peacemaker as The Best Friends come out. Orange Cassidy attacks Cole as everyone fights. Cole low blows Cassidy and looks to lay him out but Kris Statlander stands in front of him. Britt Baker comes out and lays her out! Cole hits The Boom on Cassidy. The Elite poses as Cole and Baker kiss. Cole with Baker is an amazing visual for a heel. Nice segment to start off the show.
We get a great video package all about Wardlow. CM Punk vs. Wardlow is next!
MJF comes out and walks Wardlow to the ring. CM Punk enters with his game face on. It's Clobbering Time!
CM Punk vs. Wardlow
Wardlow controls all match with his power. Punk gets a few strikes and hope spots but Wardlow keeps shutting him down. Wardlow hits a powerbomb! And another. Another! Another! One foot on the chest! But MJF tells Wardlow not to pin him. Wardlow had the match one. MJF wants more! Wardlow hits more powerbombs including one through the timekeeper's table! Punk is almost counted out but makes it in the ring in time. MJF wants more so Wardlow picks him up but Punk gets a small package! FOR 3!!! Punk steals it. Wardlow dominated Punk but because of MJF, Punk was able to get the flunk win. Brilliant booking here. ***
MJF gets in Wardlow's face after and Wardlow looks like he is about to attack but Shawn Spears runs in to keep the peace as Wardlow storms off pissed. What a segment!
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
Really great match between these two young guys. Dante comes out swinging with quick offense before Hobbs cuts him off. Hobbs tosses Dante around before Dante is able to fire and start rolling with some great high flying spots. Ricky Starks tries to interfere but Jay Lethal stops him. Hobbs gets distracted by Lethal on the outside and Dante hits the Nose Dive for the win. Good match that shows off how much potential these two have. Lethal going after Team Taz could be a fun feud. Just glad the man is finally on TV. ***
Alex Marvez with Inner Circle (minus Sammy Guevara). Jericho puts over the group winning the PWI Faction of the Year and says they will take over and he will have Sammy's back tonight for this title match. Eddie Kingston wanders in and gets in Jericho's face and says that Jericho is holding Santana and Ortiz back. The Inner Circle walks off to let these two handle their business. Kingston will ringside for the main event as well to get his hands on 2.0 and Garcia. Kingston helped elevate the normal blah Jericho promo here.
MJF comes out to the stage pissed off about Punk getting the win earlier. MJF cuts a fired up promo and asks the crowd if they want the match? They got it! Next week, CM Punk vs. Shawn Spears. MJF is fantastic.
The Elite is backstage. Cole cuts a promo on Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander as Britt Baker joins him. Next week, a mixed tag match. Cole and Britt look amazing together. Give Cole a belt fast!
"Hangman" Adam Page comes out for a promo. He puts over his matches with Danielson but he wants more. He wants a new challenger. Dan Lambert comes out, which Page hilarious says "Shoot me" when he sees him. Lambert puts over Page for his hard work but doesn't like him calling himself a cowboy. Very random and odd. Lance Archer comes out! Welcome back, Lance. He chases Lambert to the ring as Lambert tells him to think about the fact he is in the ring with the World Champion. Archer clotheslines Page! He attacks Page before hitting the Blackout on an open chair. I am all for Page vs. Archer before the next PPV. Babyface champion beating the monster is always a fun watch.
Tony Schiavone with Arn Anderson, Lee Johnson and Brock Anderson backstage. Arn talks about Cody returning and puts over the team of his son and Lee as Tully Blanchard and FTR walk in. The heels run down Lee and Brock and says that FTR is the sons that Arn wishes he had. FTR vs. Brock Anderson and Lee Johnson is booked for next week.
Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb
Shida gets jumped on the ramp by Deed. She attacks Shida's knee including running it into the steps. Shida can barely stand as she crawls into the ring and demands the match be started. Deeb goes right to work attacking Shida again. She attacks her knee more before locking in a submission. Referee calls for the bell as Shida can't defend herself. Nice short segment/match to build up heat for this match. N/A
Deeb refuses to let go until more referees and officials run in and stop her. A few babyfaces come out to check on Shida. Hopefully the rubber match will be on PPV for these women.
Tony Schiavone is backstage with Christian Cage, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurs. Christian puts over Fenix and hopes he heals up soon. Jungle Boy says they will defend their belts against any Top 5 team. And lo and behold, John Silver and Alex Reynolds walk up and makes the challenge for Rampage, which the champs accept.
Matt Hardy in the ring with Private Party before his match. He cuts a basic promo and promises to delete Penta El Zero Miedo. Matt is looking old.
Matt Hardy vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
Very basic match. Hardy can still go pretty well and Penta is always a good worker. They waste some time in the opening seconds doing the "Delete" and "Zero Meido" to each other. Penta ends up getting the win in a nothing match. **
Penta celebrates the win as he and Alex Abrahantes cut a promo on Malakai Black. Lights out! Black is in the ring! He kicks Alex and goes after Penta. Variety Blondes run out and join in the beat down of Black. Julia Hart seemingly calls the trio off of the attack as Black starts laughing. Light out again! Brody King is here! Brody King is All Elite! He cleans house and looks like a beast! Black and King hit a sweet suplex into a slam double team move. The Kings of the Black Throne are here. So awesome!
Tony Schiavone with Leyla Hirsch, Red Velvet and Kris Statlander backstage. They have a trios match on Rampage and Statlander has a mixed tag match next Wednesday. Leyla questions if Statlander is forcing on their match Friday. Red Velvet keeps everything calm. This wasn't good. None of these women are great promos.
The Acclaimed vs. Bear Country
Max Caster raps The Acclaimed to the ring and insults Sting and Darby Allin in it. Another basic match. Bear Country uses their size and power to throw both heels around. Heels are able to take over by using the numbers game. Babyfaces make a small comeback before the heels cheat to get the win. Match was a means to an end. Acclaimed get a nice win on TV. **
Sting comes out after the match and stops The Acclaimed on the ramp. Darby takes out Caster with a dive from behind. Sting lays out Bowens with the bat. Darby and Sting double team Caster and pose in the ring. Nothing wrong with this.
PAC gets a video package talking about how he may never see again after Black's mist attacks. But now he can truly see. Weird vibes from this promo. Maybe PAC is trying to out mind games Black? We will see.
Matt Hardy backstage with Private Party and is annoyed at losing and wants to stop forcing on the future. Teasing a Hardy Boyz reunion? Andrade El Idolo walks up and wants to make a deal with Hardy. Andrade might have some new henchmen.
Interim AEW TNT Championship Match: Sammy Guevara (c) vs. Daniel Garcia
David Crockett, Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston are all ringside. These two start off hot with some great physical looking fighting. Looks like a legit fight too. Sammy starts rolling with his fast pace offense before Garcia is able to target his back and go to work on him. Some nice submission spots by Garcia while Sammy stays alive with some nice hope spots. 2.0 came out from the crowd and laid out Kingston and Jericho. 2.0 tries to distract Sammy but Sammy runs Garcia into one of them and hits the GTH to get the win. Solid match and title defense for Sammy. Him and Garcia have some great chemistry and would like to see them revisit this match down the road. ***1/2
2.0 jumps Sammy after the match but Jericho and Kingston make the save. Jericho attacks both 2.0 with the bat and denies Kingston a chance to get his shots in. Show ends with Kingston and Jericho arguing
This was an odd show. While I enjoyed most of it: Cole and Britt being together, Punk vs. Wardlow, Hobbs vs. Dante, Deeb/Shida, Brody King's debut and the main event. There was a lot of similar booking throughout the show. Lots of run-ins, interference and attacks after the match. Roll-up and fluke wins. And at least two matches that served no point but to have stuff take place AFTER the match. On top of that Rampage's card looks very weak. I don't know if there is an issue with talent not being available due to COVID or what but I hope AEW steps it up.
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