CONTAINS SPOILERS
AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB!
Excalibur and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta!
It was off to the races with both men duking it out to begin the match. Trent tried to retreat to the floor, but Orange followed him out with a tope suicida! Orange rammed Trent into the steel ring post! Trent fired back with a lariat. Trent grounded and pounded Orange on the arena floor.
Trent whipped Orange toward the barricade, but Orange hurdled over it! Orange slugged Trent and they began to brawl up the arena steps. Orange clubbed Trent as the fans chanted “Freshly Squeezed! Freshly Squeezed!”
Orange reversed a suplex from Trent. Orange charged at Trent, but Trent backdropped Orange over the barricade, sending Orange crashing onto the arena floor. Back in the ring Trent connected with a flying knee, but Orange retaliated with the Orange Punch!
Don Callis walked onto the stage and down the ramp, approaching ringside. Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Orange and Trent traded forearms in the center of the ring. Orange spiked Trent with a DDT.
“This kid is tremendous. It’s nice to have a best friend but it’s better to have a family,” said Don Callis.
Trent ducked an Orange Punch and countered with a half and half suplex.
“That’s well scouted right there,” said Don Callis.
Trent spiked Orange with a jumping piledriver but was sending a message by not going for the pinfall cover. Trent pulped Orange with a second piledriver! Trent blasted Orange with a running knee strike. Trent ripped off a turnbuckle pad as the ref was checking on Orange. The ref walked over to admonish Trent, and as the ref and Trent argued, Orange removed a turnbuckle pad on his side of the ring! Orange smashed Trent’s head into the exposed corner and rolled Trent up for the pin!
Trent blindsided Orange after the match, seething with anger and frustration. Trent gouged Orange in the eye. Trent hit a piledriver on Orange on top of the steel ring steps! Trent catapulted Orange under the ring into the ring frame. Trent grabbed a tool box and approached Orange, but Orange grabbed a steel chair to protect himself. Don Callis jumped up from the announcers’ desk and tried to calm Orange down, while Kris Statlander ran down and tried to talk some sense into Trent.
Don Callis helped Orange Cassidy walk to the back.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Orange Cassidy is very lucky for the intervention of Don Callis,” said Excalibur.
Footage from earlier in the day was shown of the Elite pulling into the arena.
They pulled into Tony Khan’s reserved parking spot, laughing, saying, “He won’t be here today, he’s still recovering in Jacksonville.”
After the beating he sustained last week in his hometown of Winnipeg at the hands of The Elite, EVP Kenny Omega had an important announcement to make tonight!
Kenny was in a hospital gown and hospital bed.
Omega: “I really must apologize. I know I don’t seem like myself. I wish I could have been there in person tonight. But it turns out your EVPs had other plans in mind. 15 years you guys were like family to me, and yet here we are. Well, here I am at the ER.
“It’s hard not to take what you did to me personally. So, I really have to thank you, Matthew, for reminding me that what you did wasn’t personal, it was business. As an EVP I guess I have business to take care of too, before I get my health taken care of. It got me thinking. May 26th marks the five year anniversary of where it all started, Double or Nothing.
“I figured that since you guys like to stroll to the beat of your own drum, since you like to make your own rules, why don’t you throw the rulebook out the window. Anarchy in the Arena. No Rules. The Young Bucks, Okada, and Jack Perry against Team AEW. Two names off the top of my head. The greatest tag team in AEW history, possibly the greatest tag team in all of professional wrestling history, two guys that had the courage to step up to you. FTR.
“And as for the other two, I’m really new to this match making thing. But something tells me that on a first come, first serve basis, they’ll reveal themselves to you tonight, sooner than you might think. And until we meet again. Goodbye and goodnight.”
Ahead of her match for the AEW Women’s World Championship set at AEW Double Or Nothing, Tony Schiavone interviewed “The Professor” Serena Deeb!
Deeb: “I’m wrestling for the Women’s World Championship in Vegas at Double Or Nothing against Toni Storm. I’m aware of this narrative going around that people are saying Deeb isn’t going to be able to defeat Toni Storm. And you know, as much as that upsets me to hear, I also get it.
“So, I wanted to give my reasons why losing at Double Or Nothing is not an option for the Professor. Several months ago, I finally made my in-ring return to AEW after 15 months on the shelf. And it was the hardest 15 months of my life. Last year I suffered a series of three unprovoked seizures. It was the most traumatic experience, and it was this weight on my shoulders at all times. It was so scary. Nobody could figure out why it was happening to me.
“I had all this time to reflect about what I wanted and what I needed at this point in my career. The thing that stuck out was this dream of finally becoming the AEW Women’s World Champion. I imagined what it would be like to finally become World Champion.”
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm walked onto the ramp, interrupting Deeb.
Storm: “I thought I was going to hear from my challenger but all I heard was a charity case. So here, take this money donation.”
Deeb: “Toni, I highly suggest you start taking this seriously! I have quite literally fought for my life and at Double Or Nothing I’m going to fight for my life to finally become AEW Women’s World Champion!”
Storm: “I don’t give a single solitary s—t!”
Toni tried to cheap shot Deeb, but Deeb knocked out Storm cold with a right hand!
Lexy Nair was backstage to interview Orange Cassidy as Cassidy was being examined by AEW Medical Staff!
Rocky Romero walked in to check on Orange.
Rocky: “I just got off the phone with Tony Khan himself. Tony Khan said if I beat Jay tonight, you, me, and a partner of our choice get a Trios Championship title shot!”
Mariah May vs. Harley Cameron (with Saraya)!
Saraya distracted Mariah while Harley clubbed Mariah from behind. Harley landed a knee strike. Mariah fired back with chops to Cameron. Mariah dropkicked Harley!
Harley kicked Mariah, driving Mariah down to the arena floor. Back in the ring, they exchanged strong shots. Mariah planted Harley with the Sky High for a near fall. Cameron caught Mariah with a jaw breaker. Mariah headbutted Harley. Mariah dropkicked Cameron from the top rope! Mariah tried for the hip attack, but Saraya pulled Harley out of the ring. Mariah staggered Saraya with an elbow strike. Mariah finished off Harley with the May Day and pinned Harley!
Saraya attacked Mariah May after the match! Mina Shirakawa sprinted to the ring to come to the aid of Mariah May! Mina leveled Harley with a spinning back elbow.
“Where is Toni Storm in all of this?” asked Excalibur.
“The Bastard” Pac was backstage!
Pac: “I’ll be honest with you. At this time, I am not concerned with Death Triangle.”
The Unified World Trios Champions the Bang Bang Gang were walking by Pac and interrupted him!
Jay White: “I think I can help with the confusion here. Nobody is concerned with the Death Triangle. Because Death Triangle is D-E-A-D. You need to be concerned with yourself because you’re coming off a loss against Okada.
“Maybe I should go after that Continental Championship and Okada. Maybe. But tonight, I’ve got Rocky Romero. So, you and your friends hang out in these dark hallways and maybe you can learn a few things about winning.”
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland and “The Patriarch” Christian Cage went face-to-face!
Swerve: “I’m in a foul mood. Quite frankly I’m in a fighting mood. And here is why.”
Footage was shown from last week’s Dynamite when Killswitch yanked out the hair of Swerve after a cheap shot from Christian Cage.
Swerve: “Christian, I can’t blame you for what you did. You see someone at the top, you go for that person. I’m not going to wait any longer, so Christian, I want you to bring your ass out here and we’re going to have this conversation right now!”
Christian Cage walked out with Mother Wayne, Nick Wayne, and Killswitch!
Christian Cage: “People are saying it was sick when we ripped out one of your dreads last week. But that was by design. I’ve decided every single week I’m going to take something from you until I ultimately take what it is that I want.
“You’ve been riding this huge wave of momentum, and you rode it all the way to the World Championship, but at Double Or Nothing, that wave is going to crash at my feet. You are not in my league. I deserve to stand at the top of the mountain as the AEW World Champion.
“But after Double Or Nothing after the dust has settled Swerve, you can take comfort in knowing that when your house is being foreclosed on, that you can see gold whenever you want, even though you won’t be champion anymore. You can look in the mirror and see those stupid gold teeth. Unless I take those teeth from you right now!”
Swerve: “I told you I wasn’t coming alone.”
The Mogul Embassy—Toa Liona, Bishop Kaun, and Brian Cage entered the ring!
Swerve: “What’s wrong, Christian? I want you to get into this ring right now. I dare you! Come get it! Come take my gold teeth! Come take my gold championship! Oh, that’s right, you won’t. We all know when Christian is faced with an uncomfortable position, he’s going to say, ‘I quit!’”
Brian Cage attacked Swerve from behind!
Kaun and Toa assaulted Swerve! The Gates of Agony hurled Swerve at Cage and Cage power bombed Swerve! Cage press slammed Swerve over the top rope and onto the arena floor! The Gates of Agony threw Swerve off the steel ring steps and down through the announcers’ desk!
Backstage, EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson applauded Christian Cage!
Christian Cage approached the Bucks and thanked them for the great idea.
Christian: “It’s been a pleasure conducting business with you.”
Matthew: “Looking forward to more.”
Christian: “Yeah, it’s the start of a very fruitful working relationship.”
TBS Champion Willow Nightingale was backstage being interviewed!
Willow: “I’m ready for Double Or Nothing and “The CEO” Mercedes Moné! I’m ready for any challenge, any kind of match, whether it’s a Dynamite match, Rampage, Collision, any international challenge. The question isn’t whether I’m ready. The question is whether Mercedes is ready. May 26th in Las Vegas, you’d better be ready!”
Rocky Romero vs. Unified World Trios Champ “Switchblade” Jay White!
Rocky rocketed outside with a tope suicida to Switchblade! Rocky connected with lariats, but Jay White clocked Rocky with a clothesline of his own!
Rocky spiked Jay with a DDT. Jay tumbled out of the ring. Rocky launched off the steel ring steps with a hurracanrana to Jay White! Rocky connected with a cross body press for a near fall. Rocky nailed Jay with the running sliced bread for a two-count on Jay White!
Jay White grabbed Rocky and planted Rocky with a brain buster. Jay White finished off Rocky with the Bladerunner and scored the pin! The Gunns held down Rocky after the match and double teamed him. “The Bastard” Pac saw enough and came down to the ring, chasing off the Bang Bang Gang!
FTW Champion “The Learning Tree” Chris Jericho
& Big Bill
vs.
Mo Jabari & Harlon Abbott!
Mo brought down Jericho with a drop toe hold. Big Bill tagged in and hurled Jabari across the ring! Big Bill splashed Mo and Harlon in the corners. Big Bill planted Harlon with the bossman slam! Big Bill choke slammed Jabari! Big Bill choke slammed Abbott! Big Bill tagged Jericho. Chris Jericho rocked Abbott with the Judas Effect and pinned Abbott!
Jericho: “Thanks guys! I know people are saying Jericho is back on Dynamite again. Yeah, of course I am. I wish I could be on for the full two hours. But I’m the FTW Champion and the FTW is for all of you.
“Big Bill has been pulled into the Jericho Vortex. You did a great job tonight, Big Bill. I want to thank Hook. We haven’t seen him since he essentially hit himself in the face with a baseball bat at Dynasty. Hook, you take as much time as you need.”
Tony Schiavone entered the ring.
Schiavone: “We’ve just been informed that Hook will be returning next Wednesday right here on Dynamite. So, you don’t have to wait long, Chris.”
Jericho: “Alright, Hook, we’ll all celebrate together!”
Main Event Time! The Cope Open! TNT Championship No DQ Match!
“The Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland (c.)
vs.
House of Black’s Brody King!
Brody King hammered down with elbow strikes. Copeland charged at Brody’s midsection. Copeland charged again but this time Brody countered with a neck breaker through the ropes.
Brody tried for a piledriver on the apron, but Copeland countered with a DDT onto a steel chair on the apron! Copeland slapped a bloody Brody in the face. Copeland connected with a diving cross body from the top turnbuckle.
Copeland broke the crossbar off a steel chair. Brody walloped Copeland with a lariat. Brody whipped Copeland into a steel chair that Copeland had propped between the turnbuckles moments earlier. Both men had the same idea and knocked one another down with big boot shots!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Brody clocked Copeland with a discus elbow strike. Brody smashed Copeland with a running cannonball in the corner for a near fall! Copeland fought his way free of the Gonzo Bomb. Brody blocked a spear from Copeland and spiked Copeland with a piledriver!
Copeland drilled Brody with a Death Valley Driver on the apron! Copeland speared Brody off the apron, the momentum knocking Brody through a table on the arena floor! Copeland speared Brody in the center of the ring and pinned Brody!
“What a hell of a win,” said Schiavone.
After the match, Brody blasted Copeland with a clubbing lariat to the side of the head! Kyle O’Reilly ran to the ring and hit a flurry of offense on Brody! Kyle and Copeland battered Brody with a lariat over the top rope!
“The CEO” Mercedes Moné was backstage with strong words for TBS Champion Willow Nightingale!
Mercedes: “We are 18 days away from my in-ring debut for AEW. Here in AEW is where the best wrestle and I thrive in that spotlight and that pressure. Yes, I am ready for Willow at Double Or Nothing! But as far as Willow goes, Willow took something from me that I will never get back: time. I lost a year of my career. But I’m a whole new level and I’m back with a vengeance. Willow had the run of her career because of me. At Double Or Nothing, I am going to take more than just your title. I am going to wipe that stupid smile off your face. At Double Or Nothing, Moné changes everything!”
Lexy Nair was backstage to interview TNT Champion Adam Copeland and Kyle O’Reilly!
Lexy: “Adam, how does it feel to find an ally in the battle against the House of Black?”
Copeland: “I gotta tell you, it’s relief. Kyle, thank you. I was in trouble out there.”
Kyle: “I’m happy to help, but I’ve got a favor to ask. This Saturday at Collision, we’re in my hometown. Cope Open.”
Copeland: “So is that why you came out to help me? If that was your plan, well played. I’ll tell you what Vancouver, your hometown, Collision, Cope Open, TNT Championship, you’re on. May the best man win.”
The EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, Okada, and Jack Perry came down to the ring!
Matthew: “We have an important message.”
Nicholas: “First thing on the agenda here tonight. Mr. Rainmaker Okada has a note for Kenny Omega.”
Okada: “Hey Kenny, the Best Bout Machine says get well soon.”
Matthew: “And speaking of unwell people, Tony Khan I know you’re watching at home in Jacksonville. I just want to say you’re the best boss I’ve ever worked for, and I hope you’re feeling better too. I just wish that you would have gotten out of your own way and realized that we were never here to hurt AEW. We were here to make AEW a better place. So, what did you do? You got in our way, and we had no choice but to give Tony Khan a Tony Khan Driver. And Kenny Omega, last week you decided to end a 15 year long friendship, so what did we have to do to you? We had to give an EVP Trigger to an EVP.”
Nicholas: “And Kenny the only reason FTR saved your ass, it’s not because they like you, it’s because they hate us. FTR, guess what? Anarchy in the Arena, that’s what you want at Double Or Nothing? Then Anarchy in the Arena you’re going to get! Good luck finding two other people with big enough balls to face the Elite. We run this damn show!”
FTR—Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler walked onto the stage!
Dax: “I knew going into this fight it wasn’t going to be easy to find a couple of guys willing to fight against the EVPs of this company but after a little bit of convincing, those big balls you’re talking about? I think I found a couple of guys who have big enough balls for the job.”
“Mad King” Eddie Kingston walked onto the stage! “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson walked out next!
Tony Schiavone informed us that he was receiving text messages from Tony Khan and Kenny Omega informing him that Bryan Danielson will return to action this Saturday!
Team AEW got into the ring and Matthew Jackson yelled at them, “Don’t put a finger on us!”
Team AEW wasted no time hitting the Elite with rights and lefts!
“A donnybrook breaking out here!” said Excalibur!
AEW Security had to pry both teams apart!
***Special Programming Note: Buckle up for three straight hours of AEW action this Saturday! Don’t miss AEW Collision & Rampage live on Saturday on TBS at 8/7c from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA!
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com
And remember… We are AEW—Where The Best Wrestle!