By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW WrestleDream
Aired live October 12, 2024 on pay-per-view
Tacoma, Washington at the Tacoma Dome
AEW WrestleDream “Zero Hour” pre-show results: Brian Cage defeated Atlantis Jr. in 11:00 to win the ROH TV Title., Anna Jay defeated Harley Cameron in 8:20, The Acclaimed beat MxM Collection in 11:25, and The Outrunners, Orange Cassidy, and Kyle O’Reilly beat Alex Reynolds, John Silver, Ariya Daivari, and Tony Nese in 11:30…
Pyro shot off on the stage. Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness were on commentary. Ring announcer Justin Roberts delivered the introductions for the opening match…
1. Hangman Page vs. Jay White. Juice Robinson walked onto the stage with White but did not accompany him to ringside. Fans did the “Swerve’s House” chant early to taunt Page. Excalibur said Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn were not cleared to travel to the show.
Page was in offensive control early. White hit him with a reverse atomic drop, but Page caught him in a sleeper hold. Page swung White around while keeping in the sleeper and then dropped him to the mat and covered him for a two count.
Page set up for a Buckshot Lariat, but White backed into a corner and flipped him off. White came back and had Page on the top turnbuckle when Page bit his forehead. White blasted Page with a chop. Page was hung in a tree of woe position while hanging over the apron.
White chopped him and gouged his eyes. Page was freed and then hit a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Page sent White back inside the ring and set up for a Buckshot Lariat. White moved toward him and held the top rope while Page threw punches at him.
White performed a dragon screw leg whip, but Page came right back with a powerbomb on the apron and then hit another on the ring steps. Page removed his belt, but referee Paul Turner stopped him from using it while threatening to throw the match out.
White spat at Page and then picked him up and performed a kneebreaker on the edge of the entrance ramp. White broke the referee’s count and then clotheslined Page and chopped him at ringside. White slammed Page’s head on the apron twice and then rolled him back inside the ring.
White worked over Page with punches and chops. White put Page down with a uranage slam that led to a near fall. White suplexed Page and set up for his finisher, but Page countered into the Deadeye. Page sold knee pain and did not go for the pin. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat. White stuffed it and hit the Bladerunner and then covered Page for the three count.
Jay White defeated Hangman Page in 16:20.
Juice Robinson came out and celebrated with White after the match…
Powell’s POV: A good opening match and hopefully this leads to a sustained push for White. That said, it’s odd that Page went from beating Swerve Strickland in the All Out main event to losing the opener of the next pay-per-view.
A video package set up the AEW Women’s Championship match and then entrances took place…
2. Mariah May vs. Willow Nightingale the AEW Women’s Championship. Bryce Remsburg was the referee. May was the early aggressor. Willow battled back and hit her with a back splash in the corner. Willow used a spinebuster to get a two count.
Willow hit a cannonball and then went up top. Willow went for a moonsault that May avoided. May went up top and executed a missile dropkick. May hit Mayday for a near fall and acted stunned that she didn’t get the three count.
Willow came back and went for The Pounce, but May cut her off with a headbutt. Willow drilled May with a clothesline and then both women stayed down. Willow got up and went for a Doctor Bomb, but May slipped away. May rolled Willow into a pin for a two count and then Willow reversed it for a two count of her own.
Willow superkicked May and then hit a Death Valley Driver in a corner of the ring. Willow dragged May out of the corner and covered her for a near fall. Willow went to the ropes. May caught her with a huracanrana. May drilled Willow with a knee strike and followed up with Storm Zero for the win…
Mariah May defeated Willow Nightingale in 10:50 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: A very good championship match between two of the best in AEW’s women’s division. Willow continues to be over regardless of how many losses she takes. Going back to All Out, it seems odd that Willow lost to Kris Statlander, yet was in a title match on this show. That said, it’s possible that AEW had to call an audible since Britt Baker had to bow out of the number one contenders match due to illness.
A video package set up the TNT Title match and then entrances for the match took place…
3. Jack Perry vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the TNT Title. Rick Knox was the referee. Perry avoided a submission hold by reaching the ropes and rolling to the floor. Perry threw a drink at Shibata, who went to the floor and chased him. Perry returned to the ring and then kicked Shibata when he tried to follow.
A short time later, Shibata sat crosslegged in the middle of the ring. Perry spat at him. McGuinness called it the ultimate showing of disrespect (Jay White spat on Hangman Page in the opener). Shibata no-sold Perry’s kicks and eventually got up and hit him with rapid fire chops in the corner. Perry went for a Draping DDT off the apron, but Shibata stuffed it and then suplexed him on the apron (ouch).
Perry battled back and hit the Draping DDT from the apron to the floor. Perry got Shibata back in the ring and covered him for a two count. Shibata rallied and caught Perry in a sleeper. Perry tried to roll out of it, but Shibata maintained the hold and then grapevined Perry. The referee counted Shibata’s shoulders down. The fans booed.
Jack Perry defeated Katsuyori Shibata in 9:20 to retain the TNT Title.
After the match, Perry attacked Shibata and hit him with the TNT Title belt. Perry set up to hit him again, but he froze when he heard entrance music. Daniel Garcia ran out and went face to face with Perry while Shibata rolled out of the ring. Perry backed down and rolled out the other side of the ring.
MJF’s entrance music played and the crowd popped big. MJF walked to the ring dressed in a suit with a scarf around his neck. MJF entered the ring and approached Garcia. As MJF and Garcia jawed at one another, Perry returned and hit Garcia from behind with the TNT Title belt. Perry exited the ring.
MJF removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt before throwing punches at Garcia’s head. MJF took the mic and brought up the bidding war for Garcia. MJF said that bidding war was about as real as the Seattle Supersonics in 2024.
MJF thanked Garcia for telling him that his Dynamite Diamond Ring was in a pawn shop in Buffalo. MJF said it took him some time, but he found it and now Garcia would kiss it. MJF put the ring on and then froze when he heard entrance music.
Adam Cole walked out dressed in non-wrestling attire. Cole ran to the ring and then MJF ducked out the other side and hopped the barricade. Cole stood on the middle rope and jawed at MJF, who was standing in an aisle on the main floor. Cole helped Garcia to his feet and then shook his hand before doing to the ropes and playing to the crowd…
Powell’s POV: A solid match until the finish that made the babyface look like a dope. The post match sequence was a blast with the surprise returns of MJF and Cole. It’s wild that Cole was the Devil Mask heel who turned on MJF and yet now Cole is the babyface and MJF is the heel. It’s definitely the right play so why not go with it even though it doesn’t make much sense from a long term storytelling standpoint. It’s worth nothing that Matt Taven and Mike Bennett have been shaking hands with babyfaces after their matches lately. I really hope they put The Undisputed Kingdom out of its misery and let Cole be his own man for a change.
A video package set up the AEW International Championship match and then entrances for the match took place (Will Ospreay’s pyro is weaker than it should be)…
4. Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet vs. Konosuke Takeshita in a three-way for the AEW International Championship. Stephon Smith was the referee. Don Callis came out with Takeshita and sat in on commentary. Ospreay and Ricochet did early simultaneous flip poses and were immediately blasted by a kicks from Takeshita.
Takeshita played to the crowd and then pulled a table out from underneath the ring. Takeshita ran Ospreay into the ring post. Takeshita slammed Ricochet’s face on the apron and then joined him there. Takeshita picked up Ricochet, who slipped away and landed back inside the ring. Takeshita followed and went for a knee strike that Ricochet avoided, causing Takeshita to tumble to the floor.
Ricochet went for a flip dive and was caught by Takeshita. Ospreay performed a dive of his own and took out Ricochet and Takeshita. Ospreay threw Takeshita back inside the ring and then went up top and hit him with a flying elbow strike that led to a two count.
Ricochet returned and put both men down and then performed a standing shooting star press on Takeshita for a two count. McGuinness said that Pac is the man that gravity forgot and Ricochet is the man that gravity never met in the first place. Ricochet went for a somersault move, but Takeshita drilled him with a forearm.
Ospreay returned and tried to suplex Takeshita from the apron through the table on the floor, but Takeshita slipped away. All three men fought on the apron. Takeshita hit Ospreay with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Ricochet jumped from the ropes and hit Takeshita with a meteora.
Ricochet placed Takeshita on the table on the floor. Ricochet returned to the ring and ran the ropes for a move, but Ospreay cut him off with a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Ospreay played to the receptive crowd and went for a Storm Breaker, but Ricochet countered into a huracanrana.
Ospreay came back with a Hidden Blade attempt, but Ricochet avoided it and hit a backslide bomb for a near fall. Ricochet went up rope and rolled through a 450 splash. Ospreay powerbombed Ricochet and hit him with a Styles Clash. Ospreay went for the pin, but Takeshita broke it up.
Takeshita performed a German suplex on Ospreay, who popped right up only to take a lariat. Ricochet did a handspring into the ropes and was hit with a Blue Thunder Bomb by Takeshita for a near fall. All three men stayed down momentarily.
Takeshita removed his elbow pad and then drilled both opponents with elbow strikes. Ospreay dazed Takeshita with a step-up enzuigiri and went for an OsCutter, but Takeshita caught him. Ospreay came right back and hit the OsCutter, but Ricochet hit a springboard 360 splash Ospreay out of nowhere for a near fall.
Ospreay and Ricochet traded Poison Ranas. Takeshita grabbed them both and performed a double German suplex. Moments later, Takeshita got Ricochet seated on the top turnbuckle. Ospreay knocked Takeshita off the ropes and then performed a huracanrana that sent Ricochet onto Takeshita. It looked like Takeshita was supposed to catch Ricochet, but they turned it into a pin that Ospreay broke up.
Ricochet hit a shooting star press on Ospreay. Takeshita booted Ricochet and then covered one or both of them for a near fall. Takeshita looked at the table on the floor and smiled. Ricochet stuffed the move that Takeshita went for on the apron and set up for Vertigo, but Takeshita countered into an inverted piledriver through the table.
Takeshita high-fived Callis and then returned to the ring where Ospreay hit him with a standing Hidden Blade. Ospreay covered Takeshita for a one count. Ospreay followed up with the regular Hidden Blade and had the pin, but Callis pulled the referee out of the ring.
Callis entered the ring and pulled out his stupid screwdriver, but Ospreay blocked it. Ospreay hooked Callis for a Tiger Driver, but a man wearing a hood entered the ring and hit Ospreay from behind with the screwdriver. The man pulled his hood back to reveal himself as Kyle Fletcher. Takeshita drilled Ospreay with a knee strike. Fletcher rolled the referee inside the ring and he made the three count.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Will Ospreay and Ricochet in a Triple Threat in 20:45 to win the AEW International Championship.
After the match, Fletcher hit a Tiger Driver on Ospreay and left him lying…
Powell’s POV: A sensational big spot match. As much as I hate the awful screwdriver nonsense, I’m happy with the title change and the call to turn Fletcher heel. The Callis Family needed a boost and heels who don’t get cheered. The latter is still an issue with Takeshita because he’s just so damn good, but at least they established Fletcher as a clearcut heel and the new top rival for Ospreay. Plus, I’m happy to see Ospreay free of the AEW International Championship so that he can eventually go for the AEW World Championship.
Backstage, Renee Paquette noted that Jerry Lynn wanted to speak with Orange Cassidy. Lynn said he’s never seen anyone like Cassidy and told him that he even dressed up like him for Halloween. Lynn told Cassidy that he could be the man if he really wants to be. Hook showed up and told Cassidy that he really is the man…
Prince Nana stood inside the ring and plugged his coffee website. Nana introduced Swerve Strickland as the most dangerous man in AEW. Swerve made his entrance to a big ovation and told the crowd it felt weird to be out there without the AEW World Championship around his waist.
Swerve thanked the crowd for the big reaction. Nana led them in more “Swerve’s House” chants. Swerve said the fans were saying everything he needed to say for him. Swerve said his medical update was a little wonky and he’s feeling tingling. He said it’s everything he said about Bryan Danielson and mentioned karma.
Swerve said that he is medically cleared. Swerve said he wanted to address his hometown and address his past, present, and what he intends to do in the future.
MVP interrupted by clearing his throat through a microphone while he stood on the stage. MVP and Shelton Benjamin walked to the ring dressed in suits. MVP recalled giving Nana the business card to give to Swerve, who hasn’t called him back. MVP assumed that Swerve was in deep contemplation about his future.
MVP and Benjamin entered the ring. MVP said he and Swerve have history. He said he believed in Swerve before Swerve believed in himself. MVP said Swerve’s career appeared to be floundering just a bit. MVP said he’s good at taking former champions and making them remember the things that made them great. MVP said they should talk business.
“Well, first off, hello,” Swerve said. He recalled getting good advice from MVP in 2017 and beating him in a Defy Wrestling match. Swerve said he saw what MVP did for other wrestlers. Swerve said Benjamin was a big inspiration for him and credited him for paving the way for Black wrestlers to do what they do in the ring.
Swerve said MVP wasn’t wrong about the things he said about Nana. Swerve said he lost his title and his childhood home under Nana’s watch. Swerve said on the other hand, he wouldn’t have had all those things if it wasn’t for Nana.
Swerve also spoke about his history with MVP and imagined the things they could do together. Swerve told Nana there are things about him that irk him at times. Swerve said Nana is still selling weed to high school kids in the parking lot of hotels. Swerve said the biggest thing about Nana is that he is family.
Swerve approached MVP and said, “And I don’t turn my back on family for anybody.” Swerve told MVP he could take his business cards and shove them up his ass because he’s not interested. Swerve led the crowd in a “Swerve’s House” chant.
Benjamin told Swerve he misread the situation because there is no Swerve without them. Benjamin said Swerve is with them or against them. Nana tried to pushed Benjamin back, but Benjamin shoved him. Swerve was going to go after Benjamin, but MVP got between them.
Christopher Daniels and referees entered the ring and kept the wrestlers apart. Once on the stage, MVP pointed at his watch while looking at Swerve and then headed backstage. Swerve held his arms open and then shared a hug with Nana…
Powell’s POV: A hot verbal segment. Swerve came off as cool as ever while playing to the crowd and found the right mix of being serious while also adding a couple moments of levity. Swerve did an effective job of teasing that he might move on from Nana only to choose him in the end. MVP was also very good and I like the way he pointed at his watch at the end. Most of all, I like that they didn’t give away everything in one segment.
The broadcast team announced Mercedes Mone vs. Queen Aminata for the TBS Title for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite…
A video package set up the Hologram vs. Beast Mortos match and then the entrances took place with Arkady Aura serving as the ring announcer. The Spanish broadcast team checked in from ringside briefly…
5. Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos in a best of three falls match. Aubrey Edwards was the referee. Mortos hit a crucifix bomb for an early near fall. Both men ended up on the top rope. Hologram took Mortos down with a head-scissors. Hologram jumped from the top rope and hit a diving crucifix bomb. Hologram hooked Mortos into a pin and got the three count.
Hologram beat The Beast Mortos in 3:45 to win the first fall.
Mortos picked up Hologram at ringside and slammed him onto the bottom of the entrance ramp. Back inside the ring, Mortos covered Hologram for a two count. Mortos got Hologram in a tree of woe and charged at him, but Hologram sat up and Mortos tumbled to the floor. Hologram performed a moonsault onto Mortos.
Back inside the ring, Hologram performed a Poison Rana. Mortos came back with a couple of backbreakers and a lariat to get the pin. McGuinness noted that it was the first time that Hologram has been pinned in AEW.
The Beast Mortos beat Hologram in 8:55 to win the second fall.
Mortos set up Hologram for a move from the ropes, but Hologram executed another head-scissors takedown. Hologram caught Mortos with a kick over the ropes and then went up top and jumped over him. Hologram sent Mortos to the apron and hit him with an enzuigiri.
Hologram hit a Poison Rana on the ring apron, which left both men down at ringside. Hologram walked the ropes and performed a flip onto Mortos on the floor. Hologram came up holding his leg, but he recovered.
Hologram got Mortos back inside the ring and hit him with a top rope double stomp. Mortos went back up top and went for a 450 splash, but Mortos put his knees up. They traded moves and stayed down after Mortos hit Hologram with a clothesline.
Mortos went to the ropes and was caught by a kick. Hologram went up top. Morots grabbed Hologram and press slammed him to the mat and then covered him for a near fall.
Moments later, Hologram executed a huracanrana from the ropes and then followed up with a swan dive into a crucifix bomb. Hologram hooked Mortos into a pin for another near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Hologram hoisted up Mortos and performed a spinning sit-out powerbomb for the win…
Hologram defeated The Beast Mortos in 16:40 to win the best of three falls match.
Powell’s POV: A lucha spot fest with minimal selling and awkward transitions from one wrestler performing a big offensive move to the other guy just getting up and hitting one of his own. Nevertheless, the crowd was attentive and into the action. By the way, I went with running time as opposed to stopping the clock after each fall.
A video package set up the Darby Allin vs. Brody King match. A video aired with Allin at a skateboard park. He left the park and was shown walking in downtown Tacoma, and then he hooky bobbed on the back of a bus. Allin walked out and laid down on the stage for a moment before making his entrance. Brody King came out alone and Arkady Aura handled the introductions…
6. Darby Allin vs. Brody King. Paul Turner was the referee. Excalibur said King has beaten Allin in six of their seven matches. It was noted that Allin’s only win over King was in a coffin match, meaning he’s never pinned him.
King dominated Allin in and around the ring to start. Allin battled back. He ended up on King’s back on the apron. King fell back and sandwiched Allin on the apron. King went for a springboard coffin drop, but King caught him in a sleeper that King broke because Allin was leaning on the top rope. King suplexed Allin, who rolled to the apron.
King went to the middle rope and pulled Allin over the ropes into a German suplex. King placed Allin on the top turnbuckle and performed another German suplex from the middle rope. Both men stayed down. King rolled onto Allin for a near fall.
Allin caught King on the middle rope and headbutted him from the apron. Allin waved at King and then shoved him off the ropes and onto the ring steps that were set up sideways on the floor. Allin went up top and hit King with a Coffin Drop, which led to “holy shit” chants. King barely beat the referee’s count. Allin immediately hit King with a Coffin Drop and then pinned him.
Darby Allin defeated Brody King in 12:20.
After the match, both men got to their feet. King offered a handshake, which Allin accepted…
Powell’s POV: Another strong match. There wasn’t much mystery regarding the outcome, so I’m happy they didn’t overstay their welcome. That said, it’s time to establish an actual character for King. He had a really nice run in the Continental Classic and that should have been the start of something. King is too good to be the second man in the House of Black faction and occasionally feud over the worthless AEW Trios Titles.
A video package set up the AEW Tag Team Title match. Justin Roberts took over the ring announcing role. The Young Bucks were raised from beneath the stage and received pyro. Dante Martin, Darius Martin, Action Andretti, and Leila Grey were shown standing in the crowd. A Private Party video aired. The narrator said they dropped the ball and it’s not a party anymore. They need to get serious and show the world they are the best tag team in the company. The duo made their entrance…
7. “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson vs. “Private Party” Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy for the AEW Tag Team Titles. Yes, of course Rick Knox was the referee. Stokley Hathaway was shown in the crowd. Excalibur noted that Amazing Red was in the Private Party video.
Matthew got a mic and called for the terrible Private Party music to stop. He said Private Party beat them five years ago and now five years later this is the biggest match of their career. Matthew said Private Party did nothing after they beat them. Matthew said he saw two guys who will always be a mid-card act. Matthew said the closest they would get to sniffing the titles is now, and then the Bucks held the titles in their faces. Private Party slapped the Bucks, who exited the ring.
Kassidy and Quen chased the Bucks to the stage and were hit with superkicks. Excalibur noted that the match was not officially underway. Private Party battled back on the stage. Quen climbed onto one of the entrance tunnels and performed a flip dive onto the Bucks and Kassidy. The bell rang to start the match once Kassidy and Matthew were inside the ring.
Private Party had some early near falls that the live crowd didn’t buy into. The Bucks came back and struck their pose to some light heat. Excalibur said Kassidy told him he was wearing the same shoes he wore when he and Quen beat the Bucks on second edition of AEW Dynamite five years ago.
Private Party hit their Silly String spot. The Bucks came back and sent Quen over the barricade. Kassidy hit Matthew with a Poison Rana. Nicholas hit Kassidy with Code Red. Quen performed a 450 splash from the barricade onto Nicholas and then all four men stayed down.
Nicholas hit Kassidy with a top rope cutter for a two count. The Bucks went for the TK Driver, but Quen grabbed Nicholas’s legs and then Kassidy rolled up Matthew for a two count. Moments later, the Bucks pumped up their shows and double superkicked Quen. The Bucks set up for More Back For Your Buck, but Quen avoided it.
Quen and Kassidy hit Gin & Juice on Nicholas and Quen covered him for a close near fall. A “Private Party” chant broke out. The duo hit moonsaults on Nicholas and then Matthew returned to break up the pin.
There was a contrived spot where Quen had Kassidy on his shoulders and then Nicholas dropkicked Kassidy, who performed a Poison Rana on his own partner. The Bucks followed up with another move and then hit the EVP Trigger on Quen. Matthew covered him for a near fall.
Moments later, the Bucks set up for another EVP Trigger on Kassidy, who avoided it, causing the Bucks to slam their knees together. Kassidy caught Matthew in an inside cradle for a near fall. Kassidy threw punches at Matthew and then sold his head. Matthew flipped him into position and then Nicholas flew off the ropes for the TK Driver. Matthew covered Kassidy and got the three count.
“The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson defeated “Private Party” Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy in 15:50 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Hathaway was shown smirking in the crowd. Kassidy was emotional. The crowd chanted “Private Party” to end the segment…
Powell’s POV: Another big spot match (remember when the Poison Rana felt like a special move and wasn’t performed in every other match?). The effort was there and the crowd was attentive, but the marathon approach to AEW pay-per-views always seems to catch up with a match or two around this point in the show. The crowd wasn’t dead by any means and they got more into the match as it went on, but they seemed drained to start. The fans always seem to bounce back before the main event. Even so, I’d love to see AEW scale back the pre-show to just one or even no matches. Seeing is believing on that one. If nothing else, the crowd got behind Private Party and hopefully they can carry over the momentum beyond this match.
A video package set up the ROH Championship match. Chris Jericho made his entrance with Big Bill and pyro shot off. Jim Ross joined the broadcast team and they were all shown on camera for a moment. Mark Briscoe made his entrance…
8. Mark Briscoe vs. Chris Jericho (w/Big Bill) for the ROH Championship. Aubrey Edwards was the referee. Briscoe set up a chair and set up to jump off it, but Jericho tossed it aside for boos. Briscoe performed a suicide dive onto Jericho and Bill. Briscoe sat Jericho on a chair on the floor and then went to the apron and performed a diving neckbreaker.
Briscoe rolled Jericho back inside the ring. As the referee checked on Jericho, Bill blasted Briscoe with a big boot. Bill pulled a table out from underneath the ring and leaned it against the broadcast table.
Orange Cassidy showed up and hit Bill with three Orange Punches and they apparently headed to the back. Briscoe slammed Jericho on the apron. Back inside the ring, Briscoe performed a Death Valley Driver. Briscoe went up top. Jericho went to the apron to avoid him. Briscoe joined him and ended up being suplexed to the floor.
The broadcast team spoke about the death of Jay Briscoe and how Mark was actually consoling others. McGuinness put over Mark’s faith. Jericho worked over Briscoe at ringside and then tossed him back inside the ring. Jericho blistered Briscoe with several chops.
Briscoe came back with some redneck kung fu. Briscoe went up top, but Jericho crotched him. Jericho went to the ropes and threw nine punches, waved to the crowd, and then performed a huracanrana.
Briscoe battled back with forearm strikes. Briscoe performed a fisherman’s buster for a two count. Jericho stuffed a Jay Driller and applied the Walls of Jericho. Briscoe reached the ropes to break the hold.
Bryan Keith showed up at ringside and hit Briscoe while Jericho distracted the referee. Jericho covered Briscoe for a near fall. Keith climbed on the apron. Rocky Romero came out and pulled Keith down and roughed him up as they headed to the back.
Briscoe sent Jericho to ringside and then launched off a chair into a flip dive that sent both men crashing through the table that was leaning against the broadcast table. Back in the ring, Briscoe went for a Froggy Bow, but Jericho caught him with a Codebreaker for a near fall.
Jericho caught Briscoe with the Judas Effect. Jericho smiled and looked to the crowd. Jericho could have went for the cover, but he opted to perform the Jay Driller. Jericho covered Briscoe, who kicked out to a nice pop. Jericho acted shocked and Briscoe got angry.
Jericho threw shots at Briscoe, who no-sold them and fired up. Briscoe blocked punches and fired back and then performed redneck kung fu. Briscoe hit a Death Valley Driver and Froggy Bow. Briscoe pointed to the sky and then hit the Jay Driller and got the pin…
Mark Briscoe defeated Chris Jericho in 15:20 to retain the ROH Championship.
Powell’s POV: A nice match with the right outcome given the story told with Jericho bringing Jay Briscoe. It was nice to see a more traditional match after seeing so many spot fests. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy big spot matches, but I become numb to the big spots and near falls if there are too many on the same show.
Excalibur hyped AEW Full Gear tickets for the November 23 show in Newark, New Jersey at Prudential Center…
A video package set up the main event. Justin Roberts was the ring announcer. Jon Moxley made his entrance through the crowd with Marina Shafir. “The Final Countdown” played and Bryan Danielson made his entrance.
Once Danielson climbed on the ropes to play to the crowd, Moxley attacked him. Danielson fought back as his entrance theme continued to play. Danielson and went for a running dropkick, but Moxley cut him off. Moxley put production cables around the neck of Danielson until Danielson grabbed something from the timekeepers area and hit Moxley with hit.
Danielson choked Moxley with the cables. Shafir climbed on his back. Danielson flung Shafir to the ground. Moxley clotheslined Danielson and then rolled him inside the ring. Moxley grabbed a chair and brought in inside the ring. Danielson dropkicked the chair into Moxley’s face. The referee checked on Moxley and called for the bell.
9. Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) for the AEW World Championship. Jim Ross remained on commentary and the referee was Bryce Remsburg. The crowd chanted “yes” while Danielson worked over Moxley with chops. Danielson hit an early Busaiku Knee for a near fall.
Both men ended up at ringside and eventually were on top of the Spanish broadcast table. Danielson threw kicks at Moxley, who thumbed him in the eye. Moxley hit a piledriver on top of the table. Danielson sold his neck while a “F— you, Moxley” chant broke out.
Moxley used another cable on Danielson. The broadcast team said they should have had two referees. McGuinness said Moxley doesn’t give a damn. Moxley swiped the headset off the head of McGuinness. Danielson was went back on the apron. Shafir choked Danielson while the referee was tied up with Moxley.
Shafir attacked Danielson again a short time later while the referee was tied up with Moxley. Shafir pulled the ringside mats back to expose the floor. Moxley had Danielson’s head on the apron with his foot on it and told Moxley that it didn’t have to be this way. A fan wearing a Ricky Martin t-shirt yelled “F— you” at Moxley, who then went for a piledriver, only to have Danielson backdrop him onto the exposed floor.
Back in the ring, Danielson went up top and was cut off by a Moxley forearm. Danielson climbed to the second rope and pulled some of the tape off of Danielson’s neck and then bit him on the neck. Danielson got Moxley in a tree of woe and then bit the top of his head before throwing a barrage of kicks at him. Danielson capped it off with a low dropkick.
Danielson went up behind Moxley, who was on the top turnbuckle, and suplexed him. Danielson hooked the top rope with his leg and then pulled himself up. The crowd erupted with “yes” chants. Danielson turned around and went for a flying headbutt, which Moxley avoided. Moxley hit Danielson with The Stomp and then covered him for a near fall.
Moxley put Danielson in a chokehold. Danielson escaped and then put Moxley down with a piledriver. A short time later, Danielson was setting up for his finisher when Shafir interfered. The referee spotted it and ejected her.
Danielson got Moxley in the LeBell Lock. It looked like Moxley was going to tap, but he clawed at the mat to get to the ropes to break the hold. Moxley went to ringside. Danielson attempted a suicide dive, but Moxley stuffed it and hit the Death Rider on the exposed floor. Back in the ring, Moxley covered Danielson for a two count.
A short time later, Danielson hit the Busaiku Knee for a near fall. Danielson used the ropes to pull himself to his feet and ran into a lariat. Moxley hit Danielson with another lariat and got a near fall of his own. Moxley played to the booing crowd.
Moxley performed a Death Rider and covered Danielson, who kicked out at one. Moxley told Danielson not to make him do this. Danielson spat in his face and slapped him. Moxley performed a Gotch style piledriver and then applied the bulldog choke. Danielson got to his feet and then faded. Moxley took him to the mat and grapevined him. The referee called for the bell. Ross said everyone involved knows what this means.
Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in 27:00 to win the AEW World Championship.
Moxley got to his knees and looked down at Danielson. Moxley got to his feet. Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli, and Pac headed to the ring. The referee raised the arm of Moxley, who took the title and handed it to Castagnoli, who immediately placed it inside a bag. Shafir handed a plastic bag to Moxley.
Wheeler Yuta and Darby Allin ran out. Allin had a chair and stopped short of hitting Shafir while the heels fled to ringside. Yuta waited for Allin to turn around and then hit him with a running knee strike. Pac entered the ring and held Allin in a corner of the ring while Shafir duct taped him to the ropes.
Moxley handed the plastic bag to Yuta, who then put it over the head of Danielson while Allin was forced to watch from the corner. Security ran out and were unable to get inside the ring. Private Party ran out and Moxley grabbed both of them at ringside. Jeff Jarrett ran in and was also roughed up by Moxley.
Castagnoli put a chair around Danielson’s neck. Moxley said something to Danielson and then Castagnoli stomped the chair. Orange Cassidy, Daniel Garcia, and others ran in and then the heels made their exit through the booing crowd. Cassidy and a security guard removed the tape from Allin’s wrists.
EMTs brought a stretcher to the ring. The ring crew removed the bottom rope while Danielson was shown lying face down in the ring. Schiavone said this was about quality of life and not just the end of a career. The crowd chanted “Thank you, Bryan” as he was placed on a stretcher. Schiavone said he’s seen a lot of bad stuff but not like this. Cassidy and Allin sat at ringside looking somber. The show went off the air with Danielson strapped to the stretcher…
Powell’s POV: A hell of a main event and apparently the end of Danielson’s run as a full-time wrestler. The crowd bounced back in a big way and provided great hometown support for Danielson, which made for a terrific atmosphere. The company doubled down on the bag suffocation. I’m not a fan of that, but the post match angle put major heat on the heel faction. I guess we’ll have to find out why Moxley handed the title belt to Castagnoli, who immediately put the title belt in a bag. Wednesday’s Dynamite should be interesting.
Overall, the usual strong AEW pay-per-view event. Although it feels like MJF and Adam Cole showed up two days ago because these shows are so long, their returns should give the company some needed juice even if they won’t have Danielson full-time. I will have a lot more to say about the show when Jake Barnett and I team up with a same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of AEW WrestleDream by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below in our post event polls.
…because the wrestling boards have been clamoring for the return of Rico…
Completely 100% unnecessary. None of AEWs precious Demo even know who that old geezer is. This is def of an example of AEW making mostly no sense (and spending money for the sake of adding to Tony’s wrestling buddies collection).
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that Tony didn’t have to break the bank to get Rico for this match.
Now that made me laugh!!
“That said, it’s odd that Page went from beating Swerve Strickland in the All Out main event to losing the opener of the next pay-per-view.”
It’s almost like the guy booking things is an imbecile who has no foresight and refuses to plan things out.
It’s kind of sad that AEW putting 7600 people in a 21000 seat arena feels like a huge win for them.
It’s kind of sad you’re always here complaining about AEW. Always.
James, it’s not sad, its hilarious! A guy who HAS to complain about every AEW show, news story, ect is just a pathetic, sad human being, so just laugh at his uselessness that is driving him to be a prick just for the sake of being a prick.
Jericho wins.
Hopefully this means he moves to ROH and stays off AEW TV for a while.
I’m going to bed, I swear to god Jericho won that match.
I think I fell asleep and dreamt it.
What a shit show
Ain’t that the truth. AEW is the equivalent of XPW with a billion dollars.
Until someone calls out Tony Clown for idiotic, ridiculous, mark booking, this company is going to go further down the toilet. Excrement might be the WORST commentator not named Michael Cole. Justin Roberts is the WORST ring announcer of all time but I would not expect anything less from a complete mark who books like his childhood fantasies.
AEW jusf had a show where two wrestlers suffered neck and head injuries. They had to losen the ropes to get the female wrestler’s stretcher to the back. (No update on how she’s doing.) And they follow that show with this angle.
Was ghere no other way to get heat on Moxley’s gang? The loss and the chair gimmick could have been enough. It tells the same story that Bryan is done.
No matter how much Excalibur fake cries, I think it’s tough to take the BD angle too seriously. There’s a post-match beatdown 5+ times per night, and guys no-sell stuff all the time that looks worse than what Danielson took.
Aew will bungle all of these storylines, but it was a good ppv, no doubt.
The Young Bucks vs Private Party is to me the ultimate indicator of AEW’s inability to build stars. This is the same match as the one that happened five years ago on the first Dynamite. Private Party is no more popular than they were on that show. I would argue that the Bucks are less popular than they were then.
The booking in this company is bad…really, really, bad.