CONTAINS SPOILERS
Three straight hours of All Elite action tonight! AEW DYNAMITE & RAMPAGE were broadcast live from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
The show opened with AEW Founder and GM Tony Khan live via satellite from Jacksonville, Florida.
Tony Khan: “I wish I could be there tonight. Unfortunately, I’m not cleared to traveled due to the actions of AEW EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson and—”
The satellite feed was abruptly cut off, due to the meddling hands of Matthew and Nicholas Jackson at the production truck control board.
Nicholas feigned an apology, saying they were having technical difficulties and lost the connection with Tony Khan in Jacksonville. Matthew said it was okay that Tony wasn’t there because the Bucks were there. Matthew said they weren’t fired after injuring Tony Khan last week due to their ironclad contracts with a founder’s clause in them. Matthew said their contract also stated that in the event that Tony Khan couldn’t run the show live at the arena, the EVPs would have the right to take over.
“In other words, we’re in charge now,” said Matthew Jackson.
“With that being said Matthew, let’s run the new show open,” added Nicholas Jackson.
A new Dynamite opening package showcased a highlight montage of the Elite—the Bucks, Okada, and Jack Perry!
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland came to the ring with Prince Nana!
Swerve: “Three matches, three shows, in one week. That is the type of champion that All Elite deserves and that is the type of champion that Swerve said he is going to be. What All Elite wrestling does not deserve is selfish, power-hungry EVPs who are throwing their weight around.
“That’ll be handled at some point but first we need to discuss my opponent at Double or Nothing. I don’t know who it’s going to be, but whoever it is, please wipe your feet before you walk into my house.”
Matthew and Nicholas Jackson appeared on the big screen from the production truck.
The Bucks said they believed that maybe Swerve’s success has gotten to his head, and he needs a dose of humility. So, they are going to arrange for the perfect opponent for Swerve at Double or Nothing. Nicholas said to hit the opponent’s music.
“The Patriarch” Christian Cage’s music began to play, and Christian Cage walked to the ring with Mother Wayne, Nick Wayne, and Killswitch!
Christian Cage was about to speak into a microphone and instead hit Swerve with a cheap shot! Swerve got back to his feet and slugged back at Christian, Nick Wayne, and Killswitch. Swerve pulled up short at Mother Wayne. As Mother Wayne glared into Swerve’s eyes, Killswitch grabbed Swerve from behind and wiped out Swerve and Prince Nana with headbutts!
Christian Cage crushed Swerve with the killswitch onto the AEW World Title! Nick Wayne nailed Prince Nana with Wayne’s World!
Christian Cage: “Swerve, there’s something you should know about me. I never forget. I haven’t forgotten that some months ago, you broke into my son Nick Wayne’s gym, and you left him in a pool of his own blood. I haven’t forgotten that at one time you and I were a tag team at the biggest show in the history of this business and you lost. You embarrassed me.
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment to make you answer for those mistakes and it seems like there’s no better time than right now to make you pay for those mistakes. I’m going to embarrass you the same you that you embarrassed me. I’m going to make sure you’re a footnote in the history of AEW.
“I heard your little speech last week Swerve, about your path to the World Title. To the point where your daughter feels like she doesn’t even know you. Well Swerve, when I’m finished with you, your daughter’s not going to want to know you. But I can promise you this, your daughter is going to have a father she can be proud of for the rest of her life.
“I’m going to walk into AEW Double or Nothing and I’m going to rip the AEW World Championship out of your hands. But Swerve, know this, the pain has just begun!”
Killswitch tore a chunk of hair out of Swerve’s head!
“Christian Cage just put the World Champion on notice for Double or Nothing in Vegas!” said Taz.
Cope Open TNT Championship Match!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland (c.) vs. House of Black’s Buddy Matthews!
Copeland brought down Buddy with a side headlock takeover. Matthews sprung up to his feet. Buddy used head scissors on Copeland. Buddy charged at Copeland, but Copeland used a low bridge and followed up with a tope suicida!
Buddy entered the ring and drilled Copeland with a DDT! Buddy stomped on Copeland’s back. Buddy Matthews connected with a round kick to Copeland’s back. Copeland and Buddy duked it out on the top turnbuckle and knocked one another down to the arena floor!
Back in the ring, they traded forearms. Both men charged at one another and collided with cross body presses, clearly both having the same idea. AEW Medical Staff entered the ring to check on Buddy, who began spitting blood from the hit. Buddy was able to get back to his feet, despite the compromised midsection. Buddy power bombed Copeland for a near fall.
Buddy tried for another power bomb, but Copeland countered with a kick to Buddy’s midsection. Copeland blasted Buddy with an avalanche Impaler, but Buddy kicked out at the two-count!
The packed arena chanted “A-E-W! A-E-W! A-E-W!”
Copeland tried for a spear, but Buddy blocked it with three knee strikes and then a jackhammer for a near fall. Buddy transitioned right out of the kick out into a cross face submission. Copeland escaped and speared Buddy Matthews to score the pin!
“It was a great effort by Buddy Matthews but the damage to his midsection turned out to be his undoing,” said Excalibur.
Copeland attacked Buddy after the match, sending a message to the House of Black! Copeland grabbed two steel chairs.
“The mist in Copeland’s eyes has made him crazy!” said Schiavone.
Copeland set up Buddy for the con-chair-to. The lights went out in the arena! When the lights returned, Malakai Black was standing in the ring beside Copeland! Black told Copeland to hit Buddy with the chair. Buddy smiled at Copeland and said, “Do it.” Copeland raised the chair, and the arena went black again! The lights came back on and this time the House of Black were gone.
“Just a complete head game going on, typical of the House of Black,” said Taz.
Samoa Joe vs. Private Party’s Isiah Kassidy!
Kassidy taunted Samoa Joe until Joe shoved Kassidy into the corner. Samoa Joe hoisted up Kassidy and planted him onto the mat. Samoa Joe battered Kassidy in the corner with strikes. Isiah caught Joe with a cutter. Kassidy jumped over the top rope, but Samoa Joe walked out of the way, and Kassidy crashed onto the arena floor!
Samoa Joe blocked a monkey flip and countered it with a muscle buster to Kassidy. Samoa Joe hooked Kassidy’s leg and pinned Kassidy!
Skye Blue had a message for TBS Champion Willow Nightingale!
Skye Blue called Willow a fraud. “If it weren’t for Stokely, I would have beaten you last time. I have your number. If you’re even half the champion you say you are, come put the championship on the line tonight on Rampage.”
Up next: “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy came to the ring!
Orange: “I hate this. I thought after Saturday when my best friends Chuck and Trent beat each other up and would get everything out of their systems, we’d all come back to this ring and stand together as best friends. But that’s never going to happen. I’ve been told that because of what Trent did Chuck after the match, my best friend Chuck Taylor will never wrestle again.
“So now I’m standing in this ring alone to tell you, Trent, that the next time I see you—”
Trent: “Wow, big surprise, Orange Cassidy is trying to make this about himself.”
Orange charged up the ramp at Trent! AEW Security jumped in the way as Trent yelled for them to hold Orange back!
Trent: “You’re too selfish Orange! That’s why it happened. Chuck’s career is over because of you, not me!”
Kris Statlander came out to try to calm down Orange Cassidy.
Don Callis walked out and whispered into Orange’s ear. Callis put his arm around Orange and the two men walked away together.
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks—Nicholas and Matthew Jackson!
Matthew asked if Renee bumped into their old friend, and Renee said no. Nicholas said they wanted to give some TV time to their good friend “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry.
Jack Perry: “I meant what I said last week when I told Tony the only thing, I wanted was what was best for AEW. And that’s exactly what I did. Tony made me the scapegoat. I realized it was a sacrifice somebody was going to have to make, but we all have to sacrifice. And thanks to Tony Khan we are entering a new era under the Elite.”
FTW Championship Match!
“The Learning Tree” Chris Jericho (c.) vs. Katsuyori Shibata!
Jericho and Shibata traded chops. Jericho connected with the lionsault. Jericho pulled a trash can lid from beneath the ring and whacked Shibata in the head with it! Jericho pulled out a bag of hockey pucks and emptied them into the ring. Shibata suplexed Jericho onto the hockey pucks!
Shibata and Jericho blistered each other’s chests with more stiff chops. Jericho threw a hockey puck at Shibata’s face. Jericho put the Lion Tamer on Shibata. Shibata countered with a figure four. Jericho grabbed another hockey puck and threw it at Shibata’s mouth!
Jericho grabbed a trash can and put it over the head of Shibata. Jericho smashed a kendo stick against the trash can. Shibata got to his feet, trash can still on his head, and backed Jericho into the corner. Shibata headbutted Jericho with the trash can still on his head! Shibata dropkicked the trash can against Jericho’s chest.
Shibata grabbed two kendo sticks. He tossed one to Jericho and kept one kendo stick for himself. They sat on the mat and hit one another with kendo stick shots. Shibata suplexed Jericho onto the hockey pucks. Shibata grabbed a table from beneath the ring and slid it into the ring. Shibata propped a table against the turnbuckles. Shibata charged at Jericho, but Jericho countered with the Code Breaker for a near fall! Shibata countered the Judas Effect with a rear naked choke. Shibata leveled Jericho with an overhead chop!
Shibata grabbed the table from the corner and moved it on the mat. Big Bill ran into the ring and blasted Shibata with a massive boot to Shibata’s head! Big Bill choke slammed Shibata through the table! Jericho covered Shibata, taking advantage of the assist from Big Bill, and pinned Shibata!
Renee Paquette was backstage with TBS Champion Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Stokely Hathaway!
Kris: “I just want to say I’m so sorry, because “The CEO” Mercedes Moné had no reason to be out there. I tried to diffuse the situation and get it back on you, Willow, and I’m just so sorry.”
Willow: “Lucky for Skye Blue tonight, last week left me in a fighting mood. And Mercedes, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. I’ve got something for you.”
The Young Bucks sent a message via text that Kris and Stokely were banned from ringside tonight and if there’s any interference, Willow will be stripped of the TBS Championship.
The Mogul Embassy’s Brian Cage
vs.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli!
Both men charged forward and clubbed each other with elbow strikes. They switched it up to running lariats. Brian Cage suplexed Claudio but Claudio answered with a European Uppercut and a suplex.
Claudio clobbered Cage with a backbreaker! Claudio scoop slammed Cage and then shuffled forward and double stomped Cage. Brian Cage clocked Claudio with a vertical suplex from outside the ring back into the ring!
Brian Cage blasted Claudio with the area code shot and then a discus lariat for a near fall! Claudio jumped off the ropes and connected with a European Uppercut. Claudio rocked Cage with the area code shot.
Claudio dropped Cage with a pop up European Uppercut! Claudio hurled Cage around in the Giant Swing! Claudio put Cage in the sharpshooter and Cage was forced to tap out!
Mariah May (with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm & Luther)
vs.
“The Professor” Serena Deeb!
Deeb trapped Mariah in the Paradise Lock. Deeb dropkicked Mariah. Deeb followed up with a shoulder tackle. Mariah rocked Deeb with an explosive elbow strike to Deeb’s jaw. Mariah walloped Deeb with a dropkick.
Deeb rallied back with a guillotine neck breaker to May. Deeb followed up with a swinging neck breaker. Deeb snapped Mariah with a German Suplex. Mariah May rallied back with a dropkick from the top rope! Mariah connected with a hip attack in the corner for a near fall! May headbutted Deeb and wiped out Deeb with a suplex. Mariah was looking for a handstand hurracanrana, but Deeb countered with a single leg crab! Deeb wrenched back and Toni Storm threw in the towel! The ref awarded the match to Deeb!
“It is official for Double or Nothing. With that victory, Serena Deeb will challenge ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship!” said Excalibur.
Renee Pacquette was interviewing TNT Champion Adam Copeland backstage!
Kyle O’Reilly approached Copeland and said he didn’t dig what the House of Black were doing to Copeland, and if Copeland ever needed backup, Kyle would be watching. Copeland said he was facing Brody King next week and he appreciated the offer.
Up next: The return of Kenny Omega!
Kenny Omega: “I’ve never been good at this sort of stuff. Talking about injuries, sickness, weakness. A few months back, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis. But after spending 10 days in the hospital, the doctors told me, ‘Kenny, you’re one of the lucky ones. You were 24 hours away from dying. So, to that I said, ‘Cool story, doc, can you patch me up and send me back to Dynamite?’
“He said, ‘Kenny, it’s not that simple. We need to get what’s in you, out of you, and if we cut you open now, you’ll have to have a bag for possibly the rest of your life.’ So, I said to the doctor, ‘And if I don’t?’ He said, ‘That’s fine but for the rest of your life you’re going to have a ticking timebomb, but you might just wake up one day in the hospital having the surgery done to you anyway. Any blunt force trauma to the stomach could kill you.’
“And since that day I had to stop watching. I had to stop watching because my hands would shake. I was scared for the first time in my career. I felt pathetic and I felt like a coward and maybe the point today, this whole thing, was to come out and explain to you that I had to retire.
“And then I did something, I turned on AEW for the first time the other day and I watched Dynasty. I saw Swerve make history. I saw Will Ospreay and Bryan Danielson put on one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen in my life. And I wish I could say I was happy, but when I looked back down my hands were shaking again and the tremors got worse. The tremors got worse, and I thought, Wait a minute, am I really scared of being a wrestler? And that’s not what it was. When I heard you all chanting my name, yes, I was scared, but the reason I was shaking was because I was going through withdrawal!
“I needed to be back in this ring! Living is being in this ring! Being called the best is what fueled me! I hate that I’ve already been forgotten. So, I made a promise to myself and to each and every one of you: this isn’t over until I exhaust every last option. If there is a 10 percent chance, a 5 percent chance, a one percent chance, bag or no bag, you guys aren’t done with Kenny Omega yet. I made a mission statement to change the world and that brings me on to the second piece of business.
“Matthew and Nicholas! You’ve been running roughshod over this company and embarrassing yourselves, and you’re free to do that as EVPs. But what you forget is there’s also one other EVP. I may be fired from the Elite, but you can’t fire me as an EVP. So as far as I’m concerned, until someone says otherwise, a part of the power in this company belongs to the Best Bout Machine.”
AEW Continental Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada’s music hit!
Okada walked onto the ramp and down to the ring!
Omega: “The Rainmaker. The Best Bout Machine. It’s funny, we had a bit of a rivalry in New Japan. What do you say you give me a couple of months and we settle it here in an AEW ring? How does that grab you?”
Okada: “I’m sorry, Kenny, I’m the Best Bout Machine now.”
Jack Perry blindsided Kenny from out of nowhere!
Okada gave a steel chair to Jack Perry. Kenny Omega ducked a chair shot from Perry! Kenny fired back with jabs to Jack Perry! Kenna nailed Jack with a snap dragon suplex! Kenny was about to go for the V-Trigger when Okada tripped up Kenny from outside the ring. Jack Perry seized the opportunity and hit Kenny in the midsection with a steel chair!
Matthew and Nicholas Jackson came to the ring. The Bucks blasted Omega with the EVP Trigger!
FTR sprinted to the ring and chased off the New Elite!
This. Is. Rampage! Rampage kicked off with…
FTR and AEW Medical Staff helping Omega onto a stretcher.
“Kenny is in bad shape here, guys,” said Taz.
The medical staff and FTR were bringing Kenny Omega to an ambulance when they were attacked by the New Elite! The Bucks flipped the stretcher over, sending Kenny tumbling onto the concrete!
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined the broadcast booth for Rampage.
AEW Unified World Trios Champ “Switchblade” Jay White (with The Gunns)
vs.
Top Flight’s Dante Martin (with Darius Martin & Action Andretti)!
Jay White chopped Dante in the corner. Dante connected with a tope suicida on Switchblade! Dante clocked White with a jumping knee strike. Dante was looking for a springboard, but Jay White had it scouted and tripped Dante, causing Dante to lose his balance and fall hard on the mat.
Dante rallied back with a big cross body press for a near fall on Jay White. Dante sent Jay White over the top and to the floor with a clothesline. Jay White lured Dante in with a uranage for a two-count back in the ring. Dante hit the nose dive out of nowhere for a near fall. Jay White fired back with a sleeper suplex and then the Blade Runner to score the pin fall victory! Jay White attacked Dante after the match until Darius and Action sprinted down to even up the odds!
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo had a message for Thunder Rosa!
Deonna Purrazzo: “When is it enough? After last week I’m starting to feel like myself. If Thunder Rosa wants to make this person, we can make this personal. Do you know what happens when you make things personal with a Jersey girl? I hope you never find out!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with Big Bill!
Big Bill: “I have all the tools necessary to make it to the top of this industry. The one thing missing is the proper guidance and I think Chris Jericho can give me that guidance. He’s going to help me reach my fullest potential. So, Chris, I proclaim to you one more time. Teach me Learning Tree.”
FTW Champion Chris Jericho walked onto the set.
Jericho: “Listen Big Bill, I heard what you said. Big Bill, the way that you were cheering me on tonight, it made me realize that you were right. So, I would love to take you into the Jericho Vortex and make you a part of the Learning Tree, if you’ll have me.”
Big Bill: “Chris, I will not let you down.”
Rocky Romero vs. Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle and Rocky chain wrestled, with Kyle getting a wrist lock on Rocky. Rocky dropkicked his way out of it. Rocky applied an arm bar, but Kyle escaped and transitioned into an ankle lock. Rocky escaped and hit a tope to Kyle. Rocky went for another tope, but Kyle caught him and applied an arm bar on the floor! Kyle knew he couldn’t win the match on the floor, so he relinquished the hold.
Rocky nailed Kyle with an avalanche sliced break for a near fall! Kyle clobbered Rocky with a flurry of offense. Rocky had an arm bar applied but Kyle countered with a quick rollup and pinned Rocky!
Backstage Saraya and Harley Cameron demanded some time to be heard!
Harley: “We should call Mariah ‘Tiny Storm.’ Mariah May, since you enjoy quitting so much, why don’t you do it again next Wednesday on Dynamite with me?”
Rampage Main Event! TBS Championship Manitoba Massacre Match!
Willow Nightingale (c.) vs. Skye Blue!
Willow whacked Blue with a trash can lid. They brawled over the barricade and into the stands. Skye Blue jumped off the barricade, but Willow countered with a chair shot for a near fall. Willow attempted to flip off the apron onto Skye who was sitting on a steel chair, but Skye moved! Willow crashed onto the steel chair!
Willow pounced Skye Blue on the arena floor! Willow placed a chair against Skye in the turnbuckles. Willow was looking for a cannonball dive, but Skye Blue threw the chair at Willow! Skye Blue grabbed a bag and poured out thumbtacks into the ring! Willow planted Skye with an avalanche fisherman’s bomb into the tacks for a near fall!
The champ set up a table outside the ring. Back in the ring, Willow escaped a Code Blue from Skye and body slammed Skye Blue onto a steel chair! Willow went for a moonsault for Blue dodged it! Skye Blue pulled a barb wire board out from beneath the ring and placed it on the table! Skye was looking for a Death Valley Driver, but Willow countered with a Doctor Bomb off the apron, putting Blue through the barb wire table and pinning Blue!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB!
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com
And remember… We are AEW—Where The Best Wrestle!