By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Revolution
Greensboro, North Carolina at Greensboro Coliseum
Aired live March 3, 2024 on pay-per-view
AEW Revolution Zero Hour pre-show results: Jay White, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Billy Gunn beat Marq Quen, Isiah Kassidy, Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, and Willie Mack in 12:25 in a 12-man tag match, and Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander defeated Julia Hart and Skye Blue in 13:30…
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness were on commentary from ringside and some pyro shot off on the stage. Excalibur touted that the building was sold out. Dasha conducted the introductions for the TNT Championship match…
1. Christian Cage (w/Nick Wayne, Shayna Wayne, Killswitch) vs. Daniel Garcia for the TNT Championship. McGuinness said Cage is “Daddy” to Mother Wayne. Cage ran the ropes and jumped over Garcia early in the match. Cage stumbled and sold an ankle injury. Schiavone said he wasn’t buying it. Sure enough, Cage took a cheap shot at Garcia and thumbed him in the eye.
Garcia sold an eye injury. Cage hit him with a dive from the top rope to the floor. Cage threw Garcia back inside the ring and followed him. McGuinness was in heel mode and gushed over Cage for not taking the count-out victory. Garcia clipped the back of Christian’s leg and then hit him with a dragon screw leg whip.
Garcia set up for an ankle lock, but Cage avoided and sent him back to ringside. Garcia returned to the ring, but Cage tossed him over the top rope on the other side of the ring. Garcia got back on the apron and was knocked back to the floor by Cage, who told referee Aubrey Edwards to count. Garcia tried to return to the ring, but Cage sent him back to the floor again.
Nick Wayne charged Garcia, who sent him flying into the timekeeper’s area. Garcia got back to the apron and traded punches with Cage. Garcia got the better of the exchange and returned to the ring. Garcia pulled Cage’s turtleneck over his head and then stood on the middle rope and threw punches at him while the fans counted along. Garcia did his dance before hitting Cage with a tenth punch.
Garcia picked up a couple of two counts before Cage cut him off with a punch to the gut. Cage stood on Garcia, whose neck was draped over the middle rope. Cage sold a leg injury from Garcia’s earlier attack. Both wrestlers went to ringside where Garcia ran Cage over the ring steps.
Back in the ring, Cage begged off. Garcia blocked a kick, but then Cage put him down. Cage went for a top rope splash, but Garcia caught him in an ankle lock. Cage rolled out of the hold. Garcia pulled Cage off the ropes and back suplexed him for a two count.
Killswitch chokeslammed Garcia while Cage distracted the referee. Cage followed up with a top rope frog splash for a near fall. Killswitch got angry at ringside and walked toward the ring.
Matt Menard ran out and hit Killswitch from behind to knock him over. Shayna got in Menard’s face, but he blocked her slap. Menard fought Killswitch to the back.
In the ring, Cage sent for a spear, but he acted like his ankle gave out. Garcia put Cage down with a piledriver for a good near fall that the live crowd bought into. A “that was three” chant broke out. Excalibur said 16,878 fans thought that was three.
Garcia went for a jackknife pin, but Cage grabbed the bottom rope. Shayna distracted the referee while Nick hit Garcia from the floor with a lousy cutter over the ropes. Cage hit Garcia with his Killswitch finisher and then got the three count.
Christian Cage defeated Daniel Garcia in 16:50 to retain the TNT Championship.
Powell’s POV: It’s too bad that whatever Nick was going for looked so weak. It was an enjoyable opening match aside from that hiccup and the crowd really seemed to believe that Garcia was on the verge of winning a couple of times.
Lexi Nair spoke while Bryan Danielson was shown warming up behind her. Nair said Danielson told her that he would make Eddie Kingston tap out. Danielson made his entrance. Schiavone said the match would be fought under Continental Crown Rules, meaning no interference was allowed and the match had a 60-minute time limit.
Backstage, Renee Paquette spoke about the match from Kingston’s perspective while Kingston was shown preparing. Paquette said that Kingston dedicated the match to Jun Akiyama. Kingston made his entrance…
Powell’s POV: I really like the sports-like presentation of having the backstage personalities talk while Danielson and Kingston were shown warming up behind them.
2. Eddie Kingston vs. Bryan Danielson for the Continental Crown Championship. Per the match stipulation, Danielson must shake Kingston’s hand if he loses. There were dueling chants for both wrestlers that seemed close to even. Danielson blocked a chop and then took Kingston down. Danielson kicked Kingston’s left leg twice and then threw a kick to his back.
A short time later, Danielson suplexed Kingston off the apron to the floor. Back in the ring, Danielson bent Kingston’s arm and then stomped it. Danielson bent his arm and stomped it again. Excalibur explained the strategy that Danielson was trying to take away Kingston’s chops.
Danielson went up top and jumped at Kingston, who caught him and gave him an exploder suplex. Danielson came back with a pair of dropkicks in the corner. Danielson went for a third, but Kingston avoided it. Danielson put Kingston down and threw a kick to his back and then executed a dragon suplex that led to a near fall.
Kingston ended up in a seated position on the top rope and knocked Danielson off the ropes twice. Danielson hit Kingston with another dropkick and then performed a butterfly superplex. Danielson locked Kingston’s left arm with his legs and then used his arms to wrench Kingston’s right arm. Kingston was able to escape and reach the ropes to break the hold.
Danielson threw elbows to Kingston’s head and then set up for a suplex, but Kingston came to life with elbows of his own. Kingston hit Danielson with an enzuigiri and a back fist, then sold his bad hand. Kingston executed a Northern Lights Bomb for a near fall.
Danielson got to his feet and kicked Kingston’s bad hand. Danileson hit him with a Busaiku Knee and covered Kingston for a good near fall. Danielson showed frustration over not getting the pin, then grabbed Kingston’s arms and stomped his head with several kicks.
Danielson put Kingston in a triangle sleeper, which Excalibur recalled Danielson putting Kingston out with previously. Referee Stephon Smith checked Kingston’s arm, but Kingston held it up and gave a thumbs up. Kingston reached the ropes with his foot to break the hold.
Danielson threw kicks at Kingston, who ducked the last one and performed a suplex. Danielson shot right up and performed one of his own. Kingston returned the favor with another suplex. Both men stayed down and the crowd came to life with applause for the sequence. An “Eddie” chant was followed by a “this is awesome” chant.
A short time later, Danielson went for another Busaiku Knee, but Kingston clotheslined him, powerbombed him, and pinned him.
Eddie Kingston defeated Bryan Danielson in 19:45 to retain the Continental Crown Championship.
After the match, the referee presented Kingston with his three title belts. Kingston put them down and played to the crowd while Danielson remained face down on the mat. Danielson got to his knees while Kingston stood across from him and waited for his handshake. Kingston was about to give up, but Danielson stopped him and extended his hand. Kingston approached Danielson, who pulled his hand away. Kingston was about to leave, but Danielson stopped him and then shook his hand and raised his arm. Danielson bowed to Kingston before exiting the ring…
Powell’s POV: A good, physical match. My only critique is that Danielson targeting Kingston’s chop arm seemed to be forgotten a few times, but I really enjoyed the match otherwise. By the way, the sold out crowd is really lively and the set looks great.
A video package set up the scramble match and then entrances for the match took place. Jericho came out to “Judas” and a lot of fans sang along. There may have been some boos once it ended, but they were quickly drowned out by cheers…
3. Wardlow (w/Adam Cole, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer (w/Jake Roberts) vs. Chris Jericho vs. Hook vs. Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) vs. Magnus vs. Dante Martin in an eight-man scramble for a shot at the AEW World Championship. Taz replaced McGuinness on commentary. Wardlow, Hobbs, Archer, and Cage ended up in the ring together to give the fans a Meat Madness moment.
Archer did his rope walk while holding Wardlow’s arm. Archer performed a moonsault and Wardlow had to hold his arm out so that Archer could hit it. Archer went for the same spot on Hobbs, who pulled him down and gave him a spinebuster. Cage took out Hobbs. Wardlow put Cage down. Jericho hit Wardlow with a Codebreaker and got a two count while some fans booed.
Jericho, Hook, Magnus, and Martin all ended up in the ring together and had a series of shoulder block spots. Jericho went up top and dive onto Hobbs on the floor. Martin went for a suicide dive on Cage. Martin’s feet hit the middle rope, but he still made contact. Hook dove off the top rope and hit Cage with a double ax on the way down while Taz noted that it was Macho Man style.
There was a series of superplex spots involving the big men. Martin frog splashed Cage and got a near fall. Dante went for a dive over the top rope and ended up hitting the top rope and once again was able to make some contact on the floor. Martin went for a pin on Jericho, but Magnus broke it up.
Magnus performed a roll from the apron into a cutter and got a two count on Martin. Magnus capped off a run of offense by going up top, but Archer cut him off with a knee strike. Archer hip-tossed Magnus off the ropes and then stomped before chokeslamming him and covering him for a near fall. Archer complained to referee Rick Knox about a slow count.
Archer went for the Blackout on Magnus, but Jericho kicked him. Jericho and Magnus teamed up for a double suplex on Archer, then hit him with a stereo Lionsaults. Hobbs cleared Jericho and Magnus from the ring. Hobbs clotheslined Archer and then powerslammed him. Martin returned to the ring and took a powerslam from Hobbs for a near fall.
Hook and Cage squared off. Hook set up for a suplex, but Cage fought free and clotheslined him. There was a series of wrestlers hitting German suplexes on one another. Wardlow set up Cage for a powerbomb, but Hook climbed on Wardlow’s back and put him in a submission hold. Jericho turned Wardlow over and applied the Walls of Jericho while Hook maintained his hold. Cage broke up both holds.
Jericho booted Cage into a suplex from Hook, who then stood up and went face to face with Jericho. Hook ate three chops and then kicked and suplxed Jericho. Hook performed a Northern Lights suplex on Jericho and got a near fall. Hobbs tossed Hook to the floor and then missed a corner splash on Jericho, who jumped off the middle rope and kicked Hobbs to the floor. Jericho followed and was slammed by Hobbs.
Hobbs lowered the straps of his gear and charged Jericho, who held up a jug of liquid that Tax indicated was used for the fog machine. In the ring, Wardlow headbutted Cage and then clotheslined him. Wardlow powerbombed Cage, but then Martin rolled up Wardlow for a two count. Martin slammed Magnus to the mat and covered him, but Archer grabbed Martin by the throat and slammed him.
Martin came back with a double jump moonsault onto Archer for a near fall. Martin went for a springboard move, but Wardlow swatted him out of midair and then cleared Cage from the ring. Hook climbed on the back of Wardlow, who quickly shook him off and then took him out. Wardlow hit a Last Ride style powerbomb on Martin and pinned him…
Wardlow defeated Dante Martin, Chris Jericho, Magnus, Hook, Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Lance Archer in an eight-man scramble in 15:45 to earn a future AEW World Championship match.
Powell’s POV: Fun at times, but it was too sloppy, chaotic, and also predictable in terms of the outcome.
A video package set up the AEW International Championship match…
4. Orange Cassidy vs. Roderick Strong for the AEW International Championship. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett accompanied Strong to the ring, but he sent them backstage before the opening bell. Cassidy had athletic tape on his ribs. Cassidy went for a quick pin, but Strong kicked out. Strong went to work on Cassidy’s ribs with backbreakers and covered him for a two count.
Cassidy came back by slamming Strong’s head into the turnbuckle pad while standing on the apron. Cassidy went slowly up the ropes, but Strong cut him off and executed a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle. Cassidy rolled to the floor and flailed like crazy while selling the move. Strong followed him to the floor and then wrenched Cassidy’s back around the ring post.
Back in the ring, Strong continued to target Cassidy’s ribs. Cassidy hit him with a Stundog Millionaire, but then Strong performed another backbreaker. Strong applied the Stronghold (Boston Crab) until Cassidy reached the ropes to break it. Strong countered into a variation of a Liontamer. Cassidy eventually rolled over and kicked his way free.
Cassidy put Strong down with a DDT. Cassidy went up top and then jumped off and hit a DDT on the way down. Cassidy threw two light kicks at Strong, then threw hard kicks and stomped him repeatedly. Cassidy performed a Panama Sunrise for a near fall.
Strong stuffed an Orange Punch and performed another backbreaker. Strong hit Cassidy with a knee strike and then ran the ropes and ate an Orange Punch. Cassidy went for the Beach Break and struggled to get him up. He eventually executed the move and went for the pin, but Strong put his foot over the bottom rope to break it. Cassidy got back to his feet and was drilled with a knee strike to the head. Strong performed his finisher and scored the clean pin.
Roderick Strong defeated Orange Cassidy in 12:45 to win the AEW International Championship.
After the match, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett entered the ring and celebrated with Strong. Kyle O’Reilly entered the ring and squared off with Strong. O’Reilly smiled and hugged him. Bennett took his shirt off and gave it to O’Reilly, who put it over the shoulder of Strong, spoke into his ear, and then left the ring on his own. Strong, Taven, and Bennett looked surprised. O’Reilly got emotional while standing on the floor when the crowd chanted “Welcome Back”…
Powell’s POV: A good match with the expected title change. I like the way that Cassidy came in his ribs taped and then Strong relentlessly targeted his injuries. It’s great to see O’Reilly back after he underwent major neck surgery. This was his first time back in the ring since June 2022, so the emotion he showed was legitimate.
A brief video package set up the next match. Justin Roberts took over as the ring announcer. Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli made their entrance through the crowd and wore Road Warrior style shoulder pads with spikes, and then FTR made their entrance via the stage…
5. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler vs. Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli. The broadcast team played this up as being a homecoming for FTR. There were dueling chants with the FTR chants being significantly louder than the BCC chants.
Harwood backed Castagnoli into the corner and slapped him. Castagnoli fired back with a slap of his own. Both men traded slaps until Harwood sold one and ducked into his own corner for a moment. They traded some chops and went back to trading slaps.
Moxley and Wheeler tagged in. Schiavone compared Moxley to the late Dean Martin in that they “don’t give a damn.” Moxley was isolated and roughed up in the FTR corner briefly. Castaganoli checked in again and ate chops from Wheeler, who then stood on the middle rope and threw punches at him until Moxley dumped him over the top rope to the floor. Wheeler came up selling his ribs.
Moxley crotched Wheeler on top of the barricade and then clotheslined him into the front row. Moxley hopped the barricade and then fought Wheeler before dumping him back to ringside. Moxley rolled Wheeler back inside the ring and then Castagoli tagged in and executed a gut-wrench suplex that led to a two count.
Later, Castagnoli went for a Neutralizer on Harwood, but Wheeler reached in and stopped him. Wheeler tagged in and FTR set up for a spike piledriver, but Harwood avoided it and ran Harwood into the post. Moxley hit Wheeler with a shot in his corner and then Castagnoli clotheslined Wheeler and covered him for a two count.
Harwood came up bleeding heavily from the forehead and tagged in. Wheeler held up Castagnoli while Harwood dove off the top rope, but Castagnoli countered into a powerslam in midair and got a two count. Moxley tagged in and hit Harwood while Castagnoli executed an Air Raid Crash.
FTR rallied a short time later and set up for their corner moves on Moxley, but Castagnoli broke them up. Moxley held Harwood up in Electric Chair position and then Castagnoli jumped off the top rope and hit him with an uppercut. Harwood took the Doomsday Device style bump on his shoulder and was about to be pinned, but Wheeler jumped from the top rope and hit Castagnoli, causing both men to crash into the pin to break it up.
Moxley bit the bloody forehead of Harwood and then placed him in a seated position on the top turnbuckle. Moxley threw several elbows at Harwood’s head and then bit him again. Harwood fought him off, but Castagnoli caught him with a big boot. Moxley and Castagnoli set up for a double superplex, but Wheeler returned and knocked Castagnoli to the floor.
Wheeler held Moxley up and then Harwood jumped from the ropes and clotheslined him, which led to a two count. FTR hit the Shatter Machine on Moxley and had him beat, but Castagnoli pulled Harwood off of Moxley. Wheeler went for a suicide dive on Castagnoli, who caught him with an uppercut. Castagnoli put Wheeler down with a Neutralizer on the floor. Harwood returned the favor with a piledriver on Castagoli.
Harwood returned to the ring and stuffed a Paradigm Shift. Harwood went for a piledriver that Moxley stuffed. Moxley hit Harwood with a Death Rider and then covered him, but Harwood countered into a pin of his own for a two count. Moxley applied a choke hold. Wheeler broke free of Castagnoli and went after Moxley, but Castagnoli caught up to him and put him in a choke hold. The referee checked Harwood’s arm and it fell limp to end the match…
Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli defeated “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler in 21:50.
Powell’s POV: The crowd was a little on the quiet side for the first half of the match, but they came to life as the packing of the match picked up down the stretch. I’m surprised to see Moxley and Castagnoli go over, though I suppose it’s the right move given Wheeler’s ongoing legal issues.
A brief video package set up the AEW Women’s Championship match…
Excalibur, Taz, and Schiavone spoke at ringside and said the crew was cleaning up the ring given the blood loss that occurred. Entrances for the AEW Women’s Championship match took place. Toni Storm’s old entrance music played. Mariah May came out dressed like the rocker version of Storm, and then “Timeless” Toni Storm made her entrance in black and white…
6. Toni Storm (w/Luther, Mariah May) vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the AEW Women’s Championship. After the wrestlers traded early takedowns, Purrazzo went after Storm’s arm, but Storm scrambled to reach the ropes to avoid it. Purrazzo made a play for a Fujiwara Armbar moments later, but Storm grabbed the ropes again.
Storm took a powder by rolling to the floor where Luther rubbed her shoulders. Purrazzo kicked Storm through the ropes and brought her back to the ring. Storm came back with several punches in the corner. Purrazzo ran Storm into the corner where she came up just shy of the referee.
Storm kicked Purrazzo below the belt and then gave her a facebuster before covering her for a two count. The broadcast team had some fun with the spot by talking about being kicked “in the lady yam bag.” Storm dominated the next minute of offense and taunted Purrazzo, who hit her with a hard shot.
Purrazzo fired away with elbow strikes until Storm caught her with a knee to the gut. Purrazzo came right back and executed a Russian Leg Sweep and then applied the Fujiwara Armbar. Storm rolled out of the hold, but Purrazzo put her down with a kick to the face. Purrazzo followed up with a flatliner for a two count.
Storm tripped a charging Purrazzo and then hit her with a hip attack in the corner. Storm DDT’d Purrazzo before covering her for a two count. Storm caught Purrazzo in an ankle lock. Purrazzo rolled out of it and kicked Storm into the arms of Luther. Purrazzo went to the middle rope and dove at Luther and Storm to send them to the floor.
Back in the ring, Purrazzo put Storm in the Fujiwara Armbar. Storm rolled her into a pin for a two count, but Purrazzo maintained the hold. Purrazzo hooked the other arm and Storm tapped out, but Luther was on the apron distracting the referee. Purrazzo released the hold and booted May off the apron. Storm kicked Purrazzo and hit her with Storm Zero before pinning her…
Toni Storm defeated Deonna Purrazzo in 12:15 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: The match was decent, but the most memorable aspect of it was actually May coming out dressed like classic Storm. The crowd was attentive, yet not all that vocal. It’s tough for a struggling new babyface like Purrazzo to generate much of a crowd reaction when Storm doesn’t really go for heat.
A video package set up Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita and then entrances for the match took place. The crowd came to life for Ospreay…
7. Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita. Don Callis sat in on commentary. Takeshita sent Ospreay to ringside a few minutes in and then hit him with a flip dive. Callis said it was shakes of Kenny Omega but added that Takeshita does it better.
Ospreay came back once they were in the ring and went for a corkscrew move from the top rope, but he landed on his feet when Takeshita moved. Takeshita put Ospreay down with a German suplex and got a two count. Takeshita hit a couple more moves, but Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly that left both men down. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
A short time later, Ospreay dropped Takeshita with a big rolling elbow strike. Takeshita stayed down and the referee held Ospreay back before he checked on him. Takeshita indicated that he was good to go. Ospreay got Takeshita in the corner and taunted him with some light kicks until Takeshita grabbed his foot.
Takeshita stood up and drilled Ospreay with a rolling elbow strike. Ospreay stayed on his feet and took a second. Ospreay dropped him with a third. Ospreay came back with a series of kicks and executed a Tiger Driver for a two count. Ospreay went for an OsCutter, but Takeshita caught him and executed a big powerbomb that led to a two count. The fans stood and applauded before a “fight forever” chant broke out.
Takeshita stuffed another OsCutter from the corner, but then Ospreay put him down with a springboard version of the move, which led to a two count. Ospreay set up for a Hidden Blade, but Takeshita caught him with a big shot and then covered him for a near fall.
Ospreay went for a huracanrana from the ropes, but Takeshita held on. Takeshita performed a suplex on the top turnbuckle. Damn. Ospreay got to his knees and the camera closed in on the ugly scrape on his back from the previous move. Takeshita drilled Ospreay with a knee strike and covered him for a near fall.
Takeshita lowered his kneepad and went for another knee strike, but Ospreay stuffed it. Ospreay has a burst of offense, but Takeshita performed an inverted piledriver and then powered him up for a German suplex. Ospreay shot up and hit Takeshita with an elbow strike. Ospreay covered Takeshita, who kicked out at one. The fans popped huge and gave the wrestlers another standing ovation.
Takeshita turned Ospreay inside out with a clothesline. Takeshita went for a jumping knee strike, but Ospreay caught him and hit him with a Styles Clash for a near fall. Ospreay hit a nasty Tiger Driver 91 and then hit the Hidden Blade elbow strike to the back of Takeshita’s head before pinning him.
Will Ospreay defeated Konosuke Takeshita in 22:00.
After the match, Don Callis entered the ring and checked on both men. ROH TV Champion Kyle Fletcher walked to the ring dressed in a suit with his title belt around his waist. The fans chanted “Ospreay” while his music played. Callis helped Takeshita to his feet and then Takeshita fell to his knees in front of Ospreay, who dropped to his knees before both men bowed.
Fletcher entered the ring while Callis and Takeshita left. Fletcher and Ospreay looked at one another while the broadcast team announced that they will meet in a match on Dynamite. Ospreay and Fletcher hugged. Excalibur noted that they made the sign of the United Empire faction…
Powell’s POV: An outstanding match that somehow lived up to ridiculously high expectations. I’m happy we didn’t get any nonsense involving the Callis Family during the match. Ospreay is amazing and has a chance to be the face of the company. I just hope they don’t let Takeshita slip into the background again because he’s a special talent.
A video package set up the AEW World Championship match. Jim Ross joined the broadcast team. He told his partners not to screw around because he had his walking cane with him and would kick their asses with it. Funny. Prince Nana and a group of dancers did Nana’s dance before Swerve Strickland made his entrance. Hangman Page’s entrance followed and then Samoa Joe was out last…
8. Samoa Joe vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) vs. Hangman Page in a three-way for the AEW World Championship. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Ross, Excalibur, and Schiavone called the match. Swerve and Page went face to face until Joe walked over and headbutted both of them. Joe worked over Page in the corner. Swerve dove from the ropes at Joe, who casually stepped aside while Swerve crashed and burned.
Swerve ended up at ringside. Joe ducked a Page clothesline and hit a suicide dive on Swerve. Page set up for a dive, but Joe cut him off with a shot from the floor. Back in the ring, Joe lit up Page with chops. Page shoved Joe toward the ropes while Swerve held the top rope down, causing Joe to tumble to the floor.
Swerve got the better of Page and then hit Joe with a shot on the floor. Swerve returned to the ring and dropkicked Page before covering him for a two count. Page came back with a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Joe returned and blasted Page with a chop and then worked him over in a corner of the ring. Joe knocked Swerve off the apron with a forearm, then turned and hit Page with a running knee strike. Joe powerbombed Page and got a two count, then transitioned into an STF.
Later, Page performed a tombstone piledriver on Swerve and covered him until Joe rushed in from ringside to break it up. Joe went for a uranage slam, but Page countered into an arm drag. Swerve regrouped and suplexed Page before covering him and then Joe broke up the pin again. Joe threw jabs at both men and then drilled them both with forearm shots.
Joe cleared Swerve from the ring and then executed a Muscle Buster on Page. Swerve went up top and performed a double stomp on Joe. Swerve hit the Last Call kick on Joe. Swerve followed up with a House Call on Page and covered him for a near fall.
Swerve put Joe down with a DDT. Swerve went up top and executed a 450 splash on Joe’s back. Swerve went up top again and hit Joe with a double stomp. Swerve went for the pin, but Page pulled referee Paul Turner to the floor. Page grabbed the AEW World Championship belt and then hit Swerve with it. The fans booed. Swerve got to his feet on the apron, but Page hit him with the belt again.
Page stood on the apron and taunted Swerve while Joe got to his feet. Page hit Joe with a Buckshot Lariat. Page hit Joe with a second Buckshot Lariat and covered him. Page got a visual pinfall, but the referee was still down. Second referee Bryce Remsburg ran out and made the count, but Joe kicked out at two.
Page went for another Buckshot Lariat, but this time Joe countered into a rear naked choke. Swerve jumped off the top rope and performed a corkscrew dive onto Joe and Page to break up the submission hold. Nana tossed his crown to Swerve, but Swerve threw it back to him. Joe put Swerve in a choke, but Swerve countered into a pin. Page attacked the referee and threw him out of the ring.
Swerve went after Page and threw him over the top rope, but Page was able to skin the cut and then clotheslined Swerve. Joe took out Page and set up for a Muscle Buster that Swerve avoided. Page hit Joe with a Buckshot Lariat. Swerve hit Page with a Buckshot Lariat. Swerve put Page down with a JML Driver. Joe suplexed Swerve and then put Page in a rear naked choke. Original referee Paul Turner returned and then Page tapped out…
Samoa Joe defeated Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland in a Triple Threat in 19:40 to retain the AEW World Championship.
After the match, Excalibur questioned whether Page tapped out due to Joe’s hold or to deprive Swerve from winning the belt…
Powell’s POV: A good match with the expected outcome. I get what Excalibur was trying to sell afterward, but it didn’t come off like Page sacrificed himself to prevent Swerve from winning. If they wanted to tell that story, then Swerve really should have been on the verge of winning when Page tapped. Again, though, I enjoyed the match and the right guy lost, meaning Swerve can still go after Joe in a singles match.
A video aired for the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view on Sunday, April 21 in St. Louis, Missouri at Chaifetz Arena. The broadcast team said tickets for the event will go on sale on Friday…
A video package set up the main event. Justin Roberts handled the introductions and said the main event would be a tornado match. Ric Flair made his entrance and then Ricky Steamboat was introduced as the guest timekeeper. Flair and Steamboat hugged on the ramp and then headed to ringside. Nikita Koloff and Magnum TA were shown in the crowd along with Scotty Riggs.
The Young Bucks were raised from underneath the stage and were wearing long robes. Darby Allin made his entrance. A video aired for Sting and featured a lot of classic photos while he was shown watching footage of his career inside a movie theater. Once the movie stopped playing, Sting sat alone in the theater and said it was showtime for the last time. Sting looked into the camera and said “Let’s Do This.”
Sting’s AEW entrance music played. One of Sting’s sons came out dressed as surfer Sting, and then his other sone came out in NWO Wolfpac look followed. The music changed to Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy” and then Sting made his entrance and hugged Allin on the ramp before they headed to the ring.
9. Sting and Darby Allin vs. “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson in a tornado match for the AEW Tag Team Titles in Sting’s retirement match. Ross, Excalibur, and Schiavone called the match. Allin performed an early suicide dive. Sting and Allin hit Stinger Splashes on the Bucks, then Sting’s sons hit Stinger splashes of their own. Sting put the Bucks in a double Scorpion Death Lock, but the Bucks escaped.
Allin pulled out tables and ladders. Nick poked Sting in the eyes from the other side of the barricade. Nick climbed onto the barricade and was then press slammed by Sting. Sting took out Matt and then Allin hit both Bucks with a Coffin Drop from the top rope.
Sting pulled out panes of glass out from underneath the ring. Allin and one of Sting’s sons laid the glass over six chairs that were set up next to the ring. Sting swung his bat at the Bucks. They both avoided the bat shot. Sting meant to hit one of the sheets of glass when he missed one of the Bucks, but he wound up and shattered the glass on his second try.
The Bucks hopped the barricade to run away, but Sting and Allin went after them and they all ended up on the stage. Nick performed a slam that drove Allin through a couple of tables on the floor. Sting fought Matt on the other side of the stage and set up for his finisher, but Matt thumbed him in the eyes. Matt suplexed Sting from the stage through a couple of tables on the floor.
A “f— the Young Bucks” chant broke out. Nick pointed at his ear and said he couldn’t hear, then tossed Allin back inside the ring. Matt sold back pain as he joined his brother back inside the ring where Nick had leaned a giant ladder in one corner. The Bucks powerbombed Allin onto the ladder. Allin pulled himself to his feet and then caught the Bucks with his boots when they charged him.
Allin performed a Stunner on Nick and then hit Code Red on Matt. Allin picked up the giant ladder in the ring and then looked to the crowd. Allin went to ringside and slammed Nick’s head on the ring steps a few times. Allin placed Nick on the chairs covered by the pane of glass. Allin climbed to nearly the top of the ladder. Matt pulled Nick out of the way while Allin performed a Swanton through the glass. Good lord. Allin’s back was a bloody mess and a trainer checked on him.
Sting returned to ringside and was roughed up by the Bucks. Another “f— the Young Bucks” chant broke out. Sting showed signs of life, but the Bucks whipped him into the corner. Matt howled in Sting style and went for a Stinger Splash, but Sting moved and Nick threw a simultaneous kick that caught his his brother.
Sting put Matt on a table that was set up next to the giant ladder in the ring. Sting climbed up the ladder, but Matt followed him up and cut him off. Nick set up a pane of glass in a corner of the ring while Matt powerbombed Sting through the table. Sting popped up while the Bucks were celebrating. Sting worked over the Bucks for a moment, but then they kicked him and tossed him through the sheet of glass in the corner.
Matt kicked Sting in the balls and then hit him with a Scorpion Death Drop and covered him for a near fall. Nick tried to grab one of the tag team titles from Steamboat, who tried to hold on. Nick ended up with the belt and Steamboat was kicked in the gut. Flair entered the ring and covered Sting while Matt stood over them both with a title belt. Flair told the Bucks “enough” and then got up on his knees. The Bucks hit Flair with a double superkick. Steamboat climbed onto the apron and also ate a double superkick. Matt hit Sting with a belt shot and then covered him for a near fall.
Sting got to his knees. The Bucks mocking shook his hands and hit him with another EVP Trigger. Matt covered Sting, who immediately kicked out. Sting pounded his chest and called for more. The Bucks hit him with a double superkick. Matt picked up Sting. Nick went up top for a move, but Darby returned and tossed him to the floor. Sting hit a Scorpion Death Drop on Matt for a near fall. A bloody Allin hit Matt with a Coffin Drop. Sting played to the crowd and applied a Scorpion Death Lock and then Matt tapped out.
Sting and Darby Allin defeated “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson in a tornado match in 21:25 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
Sting and Allin celebrated with the title belts after the match while confetti shot off. Ross said Sting will always be a member of the team. Allin said they had three minutes left on the pay-per-view and asked the crowd to show some love for Sting. The fans cheered loudly and chanted, “Thank you, Sting.”
Sting took the mic and said, “Thank you, Greensboro.” Sting said he’d been thanking the fans since March of 1998. He brought up the 45-minute draw with Ric Flair and thanked him. Sting said the fans were incredible from 1988 on. Sting said he wanted this to be a night that wrestling fans would not forget. They cut to a shot of a male fan who was crying and applauding.
Sting said he wanted it to be a night of wrestling that was etched in their minds for years to come. Sting said it was him who was saying that it was a night he would never forget. Sting thanked the Greensboro fans and said they were awesome. Another “thank you, Sting” chant broke out. Sting thanked Allin while calling him the greatest tag team partner he ever had. Sting wondered how many stitches Allin would need. Allin took the mic and recalled saying he would die in Sting’s final match, then added that he’s still breathing.
Sting said he was a risk taker in his younger years like Allin is. Sting said he’s old now, but he’s still a risk taker. Sting told the crowd he had to wait because he was getting cued. “Hold on,” Sting said with a smile and then the screen went black to end the show…
Powell’s POV: Sting went out with a bang. The live crowd loved this and were totally invested from bell to bell. Allin is insane and I just hope he’s okay after suffering what appear to be some nasty cuts on his back and arms. I love watching that kid wrestle, but I really wish the company would rein him in for his own good. Anyway, this was Sting’s night and I’m happy they made the call to have him and Allin go over. The Bucks worked hard and were fun foils. My only disappointment is that they didn’t save enough time at the end of the show for the full post match speech. I wish they would have trimmed one match to make sure they got it all, but I assume they’ll release it all online.
Overall, this was a good event and the last three matches delivered in their own way. I will have a lot more to say about the show when I team up with Jake Barnett and Will Pruett for the Dot Net Triple Threat audio review of AEW Revolution for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below and by voting for the best match.
That first match was hot garbage. Christian looks 80. He is SLOW. The outside interference was poor. I’m 1/2 way thru Danielson Kingston and my eyes are getting heavy
Also Nigel is just terrible
Wow, you came on here to post a negative comment about AEW. Shocking.
I’m sure there are episodes of Rock ‘N Wrestling that you can find to stream, instead, Ken.
No no. I’m giving it a legit chance. The last 4-5 min of the Kingston match was better
I’m glad Taz took over from Nigel. His heel act feels very 1985
I will admit that this eight-man match has become an excuse to do stuff around the house
This 8 man is interesting. Honestly AEW could released 7 of the 8 and no one would notice of care.
Cage Wardlow and Karrion Kross all have the same problem. They look like they should be big stars and they aren’t even close.
Watching Jehrico like this makes me sad – reminds ma a lot of Piper. An all time fav of mine who just didn’t know when to move on
I think it takes three things to be a big star: the look, charisma, and narrative. The look is obvious. Charisma is a little more difficult — but it tends to come when wrestlers find out which aspect of their personality to magnify to retain people’s attention. Narrative is just a story for fans to buy into, and that can be a storyline or just a performer’s personal journey. I think it’s really difficult to get all of those three things at once. Warlow actually did for a while!
So, all in all, I agree. Half those guys in the ring looked like they should be stars, but they are currently missing those other elements.
Very well said!!!
I enjoy OC so I hope this match is good
I can fill O’Reilly’s bags under his eyes with my groceries.
What a slap in the face to the Road Warriors.I can’t wait for Cornette’s reaction..
You can tell a lot of AEW wrestlers work part time because the timing in a lot of the matches tonight is off and there have been a few awkward moments you know they are gonna feel tomorrow.
AEW should run some house shows to get these guys more reps
Agreed, but counterpoint:
Are they really selling enough tickets to do a lot of house shows?
Counter-counterpoint:
They don’t need to go “on tour” with their own branded stuff. They could send out three or four matches worth of talent to really goose some Indy shows. They get the reps, they are stars, but AEW isn’t on the hook for the expense of ginning up shows that won’t break even. This would help the indies (forbidden door for real) while getting their own talent the needed reps.
The lucky fans tonight were the ones that ordered the PPV on Bleacher Report only to miss a huge chunk of the show as the app wasn’t working.
Did this WWE bootlicker watch the PPV?
Wow, you came on here to post a negative comment about AEW. Shocking. You are a sad little person.
I dont intend to watch, but they gave titles to 2 Undisputed Kingdom members and the group is still lackluster as all hell.
Jay White vs Darby Allin was announced for March 13th. Maybe Jay will be freed from that idiotic group after all?
Real glass used in “the safest promotion,” leaving Darby a bloody mess.
Can Eddie Kingston actually go for a 60-minute time limit? Maybe with the Rock’s nebulizer.
I thought Schiavone was going to compare Moxley to Dean Martin for something else.
Osprey – Takeshita was by far the best match of the night. I know that style isn’t for everyone but in small doses it’s fun. Powell is right Osprey should be the face of the place by the summer
The rest of the card was fine but not something I’d watch again. Nice that Sting had a fun send off but he really should have done the job on the way out the door
Ospreay vs Takeshita was just fantastic. Most of the card was decent, I enjoyed the title match but am sick of seeing refs get bumped and then the next ref waiting for aeons to come out.