AEW Week in Review 21/10/24 – 27/10/24

Hello everyone and welcome to another AEW Week in Review. This week we witnessed some further development in the ongoing Moxley story, and we also heard from Australia’s own, Kyle Fletcher. Let’s get right into it starting with AEW Dynamite

Dynamite 23/10/24

We start off this week’s Dynamite episode with a video recap showing the damage that the BCC has done to the AEW roster over the past few weeks. As part of the package, Moxley tells us that tonight, a little piece of someone will be taken for the greater good.

As we come to the live arena, we are greeted with the faces of the locker room waiting in the parking lot with weapons in hand to take on the BCC once they arrive.

We go to live in the ring after a short video recapping last week’s main event between Christian and Jay White. Tony Schiavone welcomes everyone to the show and brings out Hangman Adam Page to explain why he did what he did to Jay White last week. Hangman starts to explain that he destroyed Austin Gunn last week but before he can get much further, he is jumped by Colton Gunn who is trying to exact a measure of revenge for his brother. Hangman gets the upper hand, and the two men fight into the crowd and then back into the ring. Hangman removes his belt from his pants and wraps it around the neck of Colton, as he does this Jay White and Juice Robinson make their way from the back and make the save. Jay gets on the mic and says that him and Hangman have history and that while it is 4-1, if Christian hadn’t got involved it would have been 5-0. Jay ends the segment by telling Hangman he will see him soon.

Next up we have our first official match of the night between brand new AEW roster member, Selton Benjamin and AEW original Sammy Guevara.

An absolute solid match here, Shelton shows that even though he is getting on in years, he still has the means to deliver in the ring and that he can definitely be a valued member of any roster. Sammy, much like Lio last week is unfortunately outmatched in this scenario and any way you look at it, it was a man teaching a boy how things work. Shelotn walks out the victor of this match.

Backstage we see Mariah May with Renee and Mariah has a bag in tow. Renee asks why Mariah is leaving and Mariah says that this is not her bag. She proceeds to throw the bag down the hall, and it breaks open sending the contents all over the place. Anna Jay jumps Mariah from behind but is not allowed to get too much of a beatdown on her as Christopher Daniels once again breaks up the fight between the two.

Back in the ring Tony Schiavone is once again gracing us with his presence as he brings out Kyle Fletcher to give us the reason for his shocking betrayal of Will Ospreay.

Fletcher lets it be known that Ospreay is suffering from a herniated disk which he hasn’t told anyone about, but to Fletcher that doesn’t matter because he demands that Ospreay show up next week on Fright Night Dynamite and face him, one on one. Kyle explains that before Ospreay got to AEW, he was considered the next big thing. But once Ospreay arrived, he was consistently told he will be the next Will Ospreay. Kyle says that it is an insult, and he is better than Ospreay. Kyle keeps screaming he is better than Ospreay and to prove it he shaves his head because he wants to be nothing like Ospreay.

Backstage once again but this time we are with Ricochet who said he told the world that he would show up wherever Takeshita was so he could get his hands on him. He says he is out of this world and leaves an open challenge for Rampage. Meanwhile MVP enters the picture and hands Ricochet his business card.

For our second match of the evening, the new Don Callis Family members, Lance Archer and Brian Cage will take on some local talent who we never actually get the name of. The DCF take out the win after completely dominating the local lads.

We go back outside to the parking lot once again and this time Orange Cassidy gets a pep talk from Chuck Taylor as he heads inside to support his stablemate, Mark Briscoe in his match.

Match number 3 tonight is the Ladder War for the ROH World Championship. Mark Briscoe is putting his belt on the line against Chris Jericho after the challenge from Jericho last week.

This match is pretty much your standard ladder match with some crazy spots including Briscoe flipping over the top ropes and onto a ladder waiting on the outside, Jericho hitting Briscoe in the head with the ladder causing Briscoe to bleed, Briscoe hitting the DVD on Jericho through a ladder in the corner of the ring as well as the use of tables. Like clockwork we get the interference from Brian Keith who is taken care of by Rocky Romero, and Briscoe dives on Jericho through the tables. After hitting the Jay Driller, Briscoe starts to climb the ladder, but it taken out by Big Bill who chokeslams him through the tables on the outside of the ring. Big Bill picks up Jericho and puts him on his shoulders and climbs the ladder allowing Jericho to grab the belt and become the two-time ROH World Champion – 9 World Championships in total. However, this reign doesn’t look like it will be easy for Jericho since Ishii is going to be his first challenger for the title.

Adam Cole comes out next and before he can get to story time, he is interrupted by the familiar screeching of ADDDDDDAAAAMMMMM coming out of the mouth of Roderick Strong. Undisputed Kingdom makes their way to the ring and Roddy says that no disrespect to Adam, but he wants MJF. He also says that since this started together, they need to end it together. Cole agrees and then calls for MJF to come to the ring and get an Undisputed ass whooping.

Once again MJF is nowhere to be found inside the arena, instead appearing on the screen and telling UK that they will never get their hands on him. MJF sweetens the deal by telling both Adam and Roddy that whoever is the first to 3 wins out of them, he will see them at Full Gear.

Next up we are given a video package highlighting Penelope Ford and Jamie Hayter. Hayter calls out Penelope for two weeks time.

Back into the arena and for the first time in quite a while, House of Black are on Dynamite and it is nothing short of decimation for the poor local talent. After the match, Buddy Matthews grabs a mic and challenges Adam Cole to fight him at Fright Night.

We got backstage and we are with Adam Cole who confronts Buddy as he comes through the backstage area. Buddy says he respects Adam but wants to prove that Adam is fragile.

Match 5 of the night brings Kamille in the ring against Queen Aminata. Unfortunately, this match was not a great showcase of Aminata or Kamille. Kamille did not show any signs of the presence she had in the ring in NWA and it caused Aminata to look bad as well especially after last week and Aminata giving us the best Mercedes match we have seen since she joined AEW. At the end of the match Statlander comes down to confront Kamille, Mercedes attempts to attack from behind but if anything, it was like the annoying fly that lands on your back. Statlander lays into both Kamille and Mercedes, however because of the numbers she is out done and ends up succumbing to both ladies.

In case you were wondering who attacked TAZZ. Well, we got our answer this week and it was Christian. During this segment Kip Sabian completed his heel turn and seemingly joined The Patriarchy.

Main event time and it is Private Party with Daniel Garcia taking on The Elite. A good back and forth match here with Private Party getting the win and then calling out for one more chance at the Tag Team Championships. Bucks initially ignore their request until Quinn says that if Bucks give them the match and Private Party lose, then they will split up as a tag team forever. The Bucks end up accepting the offer and as they do Yuta and Claudio attack Private Party.

Moxley is here as well, and he is dragging Chuck Taylor down the ramp. Moxley throws Taylor into the ring and Yuta goes to break his leg with a steel chair stomp, but Claudio stops him and puts it around Taylor’s head. Claudio hits his stomp on the chair as Orange Cassidy and the rest of the faces of AEW come out to scare off the BCC.

My thoughts on this episode of Dynamite were that the anticipation factor was slightly lacking. I feel that they could have done better with the whole BCC attacking the roster throughout the show instead of just at the end of the show. While I like what we are getting here, there are some execution problems which are hurting the overall engagement of this.

Rampage 25/10/24

First up we are going into this show with a Triple Threat Tag Team match pitting Undisputed Kingdom vs Shane Taylor Promotions vs Gates of Agony. Undisputed Kingdom picks up the win here in what could be considered a good quality showcase match or even an early tournament match if we were aiming to set up new number one contenders for the tag titles.

For some reason AEW production thought it might be a good idea to let BEEF talk even if it is backstage. I do not agree with them on this. It was not a good segment, and it shows why Rampage is generally considered a skippable show. After the commercial break we are backstage with Undisputed Kingdom who seem to be trying to recruit Mortos into their faction.

Anna Jay vs Leila Grey – See what I said above? Well, this match makes up for that. Anna has shown that since her excursion to Japan she is willing to put in the work to get her time to shine. This match was 100% better than what we got from Kamille on Dynamite. Anna Jay gets the win out of a gorybomb flatliner in what I would have to say was the best women’s match all week on AEW programming.

The Beast Mortos vs BEEF – JD Drake accompanies BEEF apparently for moral support. We get a push and shove before a stalemate of shoulder tackles back and forth. BEEF does hit a nice dropkick on Mortos but that is before Mortos comes back with the upper hand. When BEEF has Mortos almost beat we get some interference from RUSH causing BEEF to end up taking the pin. After the match, LFI beat down JD and BEEF.

It’s now time for Ricochet’s open challenge and it turns out to be Nick Wayne to answer the call.

Nick Wayne vs Ricochet – In my personal opinion, this could have been an amazing match to have on a PPV. I know that a lot of people would call it a waste because Ricochet should be near the top of the card, but in all honesty, this would slap given that they were provided ample time to put on a showcase and the freedom to do what is needed. Throughout this match we can get a better understanding on why AEW brought Nick Wayne into the company because for his age the kid is going to be a massive star in the future. A solid indy style match for these two men with Ricochet ultimately utilizing his new finisher to pick up the victory.

After the match Takeshita is out at the top of the ramp and signals for Ricochet to come for him and the International Championship as the show comes to an end.

Rampage has been a show that has suffered from some amazing things happening, but no one watching. It is sad because we really do get some absolute banger matches on the show. If rumours are to be believed though, Rampage won’t be around too much longer, if so, I hope that these matches do still get a place to shine.

Collision 26/10/24

On tonight’s episode of Collision, we are guaranteed some great action as Jay White, The Outrunners and FTR are all in action. Plus, we will hear direct from the mouth of Wheeler Yuta as he has a sit-down interview with Nigel McGuiness. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat we recap the end of Dynamite and the attack on Chuck Taylor by the BCC. We also get some exclusive off air footage showing Orange Cassidy getting in the face of Garcia.

Jay White vs Shane Taylor – If you were to ask me who to build Collision around? I would tell you Jay White. That man is so damn good in the ring, and he definitely deserves an opportunity to be “the guy” in a company. Yes, I can hear you screaming “but he was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion”. That doesn’t mean the company was built around him. White shows once again why he is one of the greatest in the ring in this match. White gets the win after hitting the Blade Runner.

After the match Jay gets on the mic and say’s that Hangman is hell bent on coming after him. Despite how good Hangman claims to be, White has always been ahead of him throughout their careers. White says that he will give Hangman one last chance at redemption when it’s Hangman vs Switchblade at Full Gear.

Lexi Nair gets two back-to-back segments here when she interviews Ricochet questioning him about this association with MVP. Ricochet says yeah, he has history with MVP, but he came to AEW to do his own thing. Lio Rush rocks up to the interview spaces and tells Ricochet that he is not the only one with something to prove. Rush says he got a card too and that Ricochet better not overlook him tonight or he won’t be getting that title shot.

Lexi’s next interview is the freshly bald-headed Kyle Fletcher. Fletcher reiterates that Ospreay is a scared coward and that on Fright Night Dynamite he will prove it. Fletcher throws out an open challenge for next week’s Collision where he will show that he is not the future, but the now.

Penelope Ford vs Robyn Renegade – Ford is back in the ring for the first time in AEW after 2 years away due to an injury. Ford has clearly been working hard to get back into ring shape and it shows in this match. While not a perfect match, this is definitely a good showing by both ladies. Ford hits a stomach breaker and transitions to a Muta Lock which causes Renegade to tap out, securing Ford her first win in 2 years.

Jamie Hayter appears on the screen and says she is going to leave the BS out of it and that on November 6th, she will stand across the ring from Penelope for match.

Lexi is earning her paycheck tonight as we go backstage with the FTRunners. Basically, a hype up segment for both teams here.

MxM vs The Outrunners – Both teams take turns trying to get a reaction from the crowd, and it is crystal clear that The Outrunners are the crowd favourites. Magnum and Mansoor start the match off by trading shoulder blocks. Both men shove each other and have a pose off, with Magnum tricking Mansoor into doing a muscle pose.

We get a solid showcasing of both teams here and even have a guest appearance of Johnny TV who is watching backstage.

At one-point Mansoor and Madden end up in a 69 position in the ring where The Outrunners hit the SUNUVABITCH Elbow on both men.

Outrunners hit the Total Recall and get the 1,2,3.

Nigel McGuiness sit-down interview with Wheeler Yuta

Holy Hannah this interview. I am not going to say anything about it. Just watch the video below and you will understand.

Jake Roberts is shown backstage with LFI and he says that everyone knows FTR are great wrestlers, who have proven everything, but can they stand in the ring with LFI? He calls LFI assassins, and they know FTR have bad shoulders and they’re going to twist, bend and break them.

Ricochet vs Lio Rush – Lio comes to the top of the ramp flanked by Top Flight, but they don’t stick around and don’t accompany him to the ring. Rush gets the first hit of the match with an elbow strike while Ricochet was expecting a grapple. We see some more aggressive strikes from Rush in this match compared to what we have seen so far from him.

This match is a great back and forth of their styles and allows for us to see how both men complement each other in the ring. Ricochet is ultimately the winner of the match, and he hopes that Takeshita was watching.

Lexi Nair definitely is not slacking tonight. She is backstage with Harley Cameron who is dressed in pink and painted her face in the style of a cat. She says that Thunder Rosa is not the only one who can paint her face. Rosa shows up and calls Cameron one of the nastiest pussy cats she has ever seen. Rosa challenges Cameron to a Dia de los Muertos match for November 2nd.

After the commercial break we see Lexi again, this time she is with Undisputed Kingdom and Beast Mortos. Strong says that he knows that Beast wants to be with them, but something must be getting lost in translation. Bennett shows up in a Mortos mask and we end the segment with them saying they are all going trick or treating.

Anna Jay vs Viva Van – This was not Anna’s strongest match since her return; however this was a quality showing of her improvements after her time away. Anna dominates most of the match and gets the win via her version of the Widows Peak finisher.

Mariah May is shown and says that it took her 9 months to do what Anna couldn’t do in her career. She says sink or swim, next week on Collision Anna will get her shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship.

Duelling promo package for Adam Cole vs Buddy Matthews. Adam Cole says the old Adam Cole is dead. Buddy Matthews says he respected the old Adam, not this new iteration. Cole admits that Buddy is going to be a test, but he will be his first victory. Buddy says the old Adam Cole would put up a fight. Cole says he’s coming back as the best on the planet. Buddy doesn’t think he has it in him.

Lexi Nair is with Tomohiro Ishii and Kyle O’Reilly. Jericho thought they could run Big Tom out of AEW? Well, he’s back. O’Reilly says the Learning Tree have no honor, as evident from this week’s Ladder War. Lexi asks about the Undisputed Kingdom, and O’Reilly says he’s not focused on the past – he keeps his eye on everything that goes on in AEW, but he’s good in the Conglomeration.

Main Event – FTR vs La Faccion Ingobernables – What an interesting way to end the night. An absolute fantastic match between both teams and not just a small blow off style match either. This match is a strong almost 20 minutes of your time, but it is definitely worth it. Both teams get in their offences, and it is not something to be sneezed at. By the end of the match all four men do look well spent.

Dralistico and Dax start the match, with Dralistico grounding Dax and walking on his back. Dax doesn’t take too kindly to that, so chops away at him. Tag to Cash, assisted gourdbuster gets a 2. Dralistico makes the tag to RUSH, who squares off with Cash Wheeler. They trade strikes with RUSH getting the upper hand with a roaring elbow. All four men in the ring, with FTR hitting a trio of stereo German suplexes! They all spill to the outside, Dax sending Dralistico into the barricade. Cash and RUSH back in the ring, Dax tags in with a headbutt, quick punch to Dralistico on the apron, but then gets sent into the ringpost.

RUSH starts to work over the shoulder of Dax, as alluded to earlier. Arm bar attempt from RUSH, Dax breaks it though. Dralistico in, double team clothesline from LFI, and a headscissor applied. Jake Roberts smacks Dax in the face while the referee is distracted. Dax manages to hit Dralistico with a release German suplex, giving Dax an opportunity to tag out, but RUSH takes Cash out instead. RUSH sends Dax into opposite barricades before bringing him back in the ring. RUSH flips off the crowd as he fakes out hitting the Bull’s Horns. Dralistico tags in, springboard dive but Dax hits him in the midsection. Tag to Cash!

Cash with a Manhattan drop on RUSH, jumping neckbreaker too. Dralistico is still the legal man, Cash gets a nice rollup from the turnbuckles for 2. Powerslam! 1, 2, no. Cash and Dralistico battle on the ropes, headbutted down, and Cash receives a kick to the face. Springboard crucifix bomb from Dralistico, DAMN that was sick! So smooth. Dax and RUSH in the ring now, both men thinking lariats. Dax goes for a piledriver, can’t get it though. Senton from RUSH, tag to Dralistico once more. Dax fights off the double teaming, Cash comes in with a double lariat to take out LFI. La Mistica from Dralistico! RUSH sends Cash to the outside but gets sent into the steel steps as Cash dodges. Dralistico up top, Dax leaps to catch him off guard. Superplex from Dax connects, but the shoulder is too damaged to make the cover.

FTR think Shatter Machine, but RUSH drags Cash out of the ring. Dax is sent into Cash on the apron, Dralistico rolls him up for a close 2. LFI both take on Dax. Bull’s Horns attempt, Cash puts a stop to it though. Dralistico takes him out on the outside. Dralistico springboards in again, Dax catches him, rebound powerbomb connects! But Rush rolls up Dax for 2. Dax and RUSH slap away at each other, huge strike exchange. Dax looks for the sharpshooter, gets sent into the ropes, where Mortos hits him, knocking him into another rollup for 2. Cash saves Dax, then sends Dralistico into Mortos! Shatter Machine on Dralistico connects! 1, 2, 3!

Mortos is not going to allow FTR to celebrate the win and hits a cannon ball on Dax, followed closely by a Bull’s Horns. The Outrunners come out to make the save for FTR and we get the muscle poses and the muscle shake to end the show.

Collision can sometimes be amazing, sometimes terrible, but one thing remains true and that is that there is great wrestling on the show. One thing I find disappointing is the fact that we didn’t get any continuation of the BCC destruction story. If Collision is an AEW, why wouldn’t the BCC be set out to destroy people on this show also?