***CONTAINS SPOILERS***
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Jim Ross were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
And we are on the road to AEW’s DOUBLE OR NOTHING (Saturday, May 23rd, live on pay-per-view!
“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer came out to the ring with Jake “the Snake” Roberts.
Jake said he was asked to make an apology for last week’s antics against Brandi Rhodes.
“As soon as she kisses my ass I’ll give an apology,” Jake said.
“Anytime you come inside this ring, this is no man’s land. This is our book and we are writing every chapter. So know this: as far as I’m concerned, a woman is great at home, cooking, wiping baby’s butts, and occasionally, when it’s very cold outside, she can keep me warm,” added Jake.
“Cody, the time is about up. No longer can you hide behind your brother or any other excuses. It’s time to pay. What you have to think is what Lance Archer is going to do to you,” said Jake.
Cody burst onto the scene in his “American Nightmare” Ford F150, crashing Jake’s interview!
“Cody’s got his fists taped up and he’s ready to fight!” said Excalibur.
Archer ran from the ring and met Cody at the entrance of the arena. Cody peppered Archer with multiple closed fist shots! Cody made his way to Roberts, but Archer grabbed Cody from behind, throwing him over the barricade, smacking down onto a table!
“Yeah, welcome to our world,” said Roberts on the microphone. “You’re inside here, you’re free meat.”
Cody fought back, then dodged Archer’s choke slam, but Archer swept up Cody’s leg.
Cody grabbed Archer’s braids and tried choking him out. Cody got into the ring, but before he could get his hands on Roberts, Archer booted Cody.
Enraged, Cody went after Archer again! Roberts grabbed Archer by the shoulders, imploring him to leave the ring. “Not now,” said Roberts.
“This is about so much more than crowning the first TNT Champion at DOUBLE OR NOTHING. It’s personal,” said Excalibur.
Jake Roberts retrieved Archer, who wanted to stay and fight.
“Lance doesn’t make any money fighting now, so he’s saving it for the pay-per-view,” noted Excalibur.
A video package played recapping AEW’s evolving tag team division, highlighting the Best Friends, who have stepped up since Nick Jackson’s injury, The Dark Order, and Jurassic Express, among others.
Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus, accompanied by Marko Stunt) vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent, with Orange Cassidy), was our first match of the night!
“Due to inactivity and what is going on in the world, The Dark Order could be dropping down in the rankings,” observed Excalibur.
Jungle Boy got Chuck in a beautiful side headlock takeover. Jungle Boy went for a single leg crab, Chuck escaped, but Jungle Boy countered with a rollup for a two-count.
Trent and Luchasaurus both tagged in. Luchasaurus used his size to throw Trent into the turnbuckles after a collar and elbow lock up. Trent chopped back but it didn’t faze Luchasaurus. Trent almost got his head knocked clean off with a spinning kick “tail whip” from Luchasaurus! Jungle Boy was tagged in but Trent grabbed him and brutally back dropped Jungle Boy! Chuck Taylor assisted Trent, who tried to superplex Jungle Boy, but Jungle Boy dropkicked Trent off Chuckie’s shoulders!
“Jurassic Express is firing on all cylinders here,” said Excalibur.
Trent cut off Jungle Boy and then tried for a tope suicida onto Luchasaurus, but the massive masked dino-man caught him! Luchasaurus attempted the choke slam but Chuckie came to Trent’s aid and they gave him a thunderous suplex onto the ringside floor! As Trent and Chuckie were trying for their trademark hug, Jungle Boy jumped out of nowhere and crashed onto the Best Friends!
Back in the ring, Trent speared Luchasaurus! Jungle Boy and Chuck Taylor were tagged in for their respective teams and traded strikes with one another. Taylor connected with a stiff knee but Jungle Boy countered with a lariat! Trent ran into the ring and blasted Jungle Boy with a flying knee strike! Luchasaurus entered the ring to even up the odds and knocked down Trent with the “question mark kick.” Orange Cassidy was firing up at the top of the ramp when Rey Fenix blindsided him, leveling him with a flying kick! While Trent chased after Rey Fenix (and with ref Aubrey Edwards trying to restore order), MJF jumped the ringside barrier and rammed Jungle Boy face-first into the steel post! Chuck Taylor spiked Jungle Boy with the awful waffle for the three-count victory!
Wardlow appeared and wiped out Marko Stunt by slinging him into the metal barricade! MJF and Wardlow walked away laughing as Luchasaurus helped Marko to his feet.
AEW broadcaster Alex Marvez tried to get a word with AEW World Champion Jon Moxley as Mox entered the arena. The champ brushed past Marvez and pushed the cameraman out of his way without making any comments.
Next up was a Fatal 4-Way! “SuperBad” Penelope Ford (with “SuperBad” Kip Sabian) vs. (#2 ranked) “The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien” Kris Statlander vs. Dr. Britt Baker vs. (11 straight weeks as #1 contender) Hikaru Shida!
Britt went right after Shida, driving Shida’s face into the canvass! Statlander and Shida delivered a double backbreaker to Dr. Britt Baker! Penelope Ford took down Statlander and Shida with a double cross body press! Shida and Statlander were back to their feet in no time. Britt, who clearly has a personal vendetta against Shida after Shida broke Britt’s nose a few weeks ago during a match, tried for the lockjaw submission. Shida stopped the application with a boot to Britt’s midsection. Britt avoided a suplex and lariat attempt by Shida and went around for the sling blade on Shida! Britt tried for lockjaw again but Statlander pried her off Shida before it was locked on. Statlander hoisted Britt onto her shoulders but Ford kicked Statlander and then Britt DDT’ed Statlander. Ford took advantage of the opportunity and covered Statlander for a two-count!
“Baker’s got a mean streak, let me tell you,” said Jim Ross.
“Yes she does, and now she’s turned her attention to Statlander,” added Schiavone.
Dr. Britt Baker started grinding the sole of her boot into Statlander’s face! Shida jumped back into the ring and grabbed Britt. Shida whipped Baker into the steel guardrail on the outside. And inside the ring, Statlander planted Ford for a pinning attempt, which was broken up by Shida.
Shida tried to bring Baker into the ring forcefully with a superplex, but Statlander stormed the corner and powerbombed Shida (who, in turn, brought Baker down with her force)! Penelope Ford ran to the other corner and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Statlander caught Ford and slammed her onto Baker! Then Shida hit a rising knee strike on Statlander!
Statlander and Shida were slugging it out when Statlander got the better of Shida. Statlander was looking for the Big Bang Theory finisher when Britt Baker superkicked her from behind! Baker connected with a diving knee on Shida. Baker decimated Statlander with a Canadian Destroyer! Penelope Ford did a backhand spring into a cutter on Baker! Shida interrupted the pin count.
Shida was looking for the Falcon Arrow but Ford bridged out of it and dropped Shida with a stunner! Baker ducked a lariat from Ford and used a corkscrew neck breaker on her! Shida suplexed Ford onto Statlander in the corner!
While Penelope Ford and her fiancé Kip Sabian were making out on the ring apron, Shida rolled up Ford from behind for a two-count! Shida used the Falcon Arrow on Ford but Statlander broke up the pinning predicament that Ford was in. Statlander had Ford on her shoulders but Ford planted Statlander with a poison-rana! Ford tried for another handspring cutter but Shida caught her, smashing Ford over her knee! On the outside of the ring, Baker had Statlander tied up with the lockjaw! Shida pinned Ford after a running knee strike! “The Native Beast” Nyla Rose was standing ringside and held up her championship as the ref raised Shida’s arm.
It was announced that at DOUBLE OR NOTHING, Nyla Rose will defend the AEW Women’s Championship against #1 contender Hikaru Shida!
This was followed by The Inner Circle’s Santana & Ortiz against Kenny Omega (1/2 of the AEW Tag Team Champions) & Matt Hardy!
Santana and Ortiz jumped Omega as he was making his entrance! Matt Hardy (as the 3000-year-old vessel “Damascus”) walked onto the ramp, biting Santana! Hardy took the beating to Ortiz in the ring!
Omega got to his feet and brought the fists and chops and elbows to Ortiz! Santana was tagged in but Kenny took Santana and Ortiz out with the Kotaro Crusher! Hardy was tagged in and he and Kenny cleaned house on Santana and Ortiz. Matt Hardy dropped his leg across Santana’s throat!
Soon Santana and Ortiz began running roughshod on Omega.
“They are just punishing Omega!” said Excalibur.
A double northern lights suplex by Santana and Ortiz was good for a two-count on Omega! Kenny fought back against Ortiz with forearms, and then nailed him with the snapdragon suplex!
Tags were made on both sides and Hardy took out his anger on Santana’s head, yelling “Delete!” each time he smashed Santana’s head into the turnbuckle pad! Hardy turned Santana inside out with a clothesline!
“Look at Matt Hardy! Whichever version you want to say, he’s on fire,” added Jim Ross.
Hardy planted Santana with the side effect for a near fall!
“Santana is taking everything that Matt Hardy can dish out and still kicked out at two,” said JR.
Hardy was flipped out of the ring and Santana went flying with a tope suicida onto Hardy! Santana and Ortiz were looking for the street sweeper finisher but Hardy fought out! Hardy tried the twist of fate finisher on Santana but Ortiz saved his partner at the two-count! Santana connected with a cutter on Kenny, and Ortiz followed thru with a John Woo-style shotgun dropkick!
Santana and Ortiz were looking for the street sweeper again but Omega countered! Hardy was tagged in and placed a butterfly submission on Ortiz. Sammy Guevara, limping out from the back and wearing a neck brace, came to confront Hardy in the ring with a steel chair! Hardy smashed Guevara skull-first onto the chair with the twist of fate! Omega used the V-trigger on Ortiz and Hardy followed up, dropping him on his head for the pin!
Taz interviewed Darby Allin backstage.
Taz apologized to Darby for his interview last week when he kept bringing up Darby’s loss to Cody. Taz said Darby didn’t get it and he could help him.
“No, Taz, you don’t get it. Back in the day, I placed third in the state of Idaho in amateur wrestling,” said Allin, who then walked off on Taz.
Lexi interviewed Shida about her upcoming match for the title with Nyla.
Nyla Rose interrupted the interview. “I got you a present,” said Nyla, who then hit Shida in the head with a kendo stick!
MJF (with Wardlow) vs. Lee Johnson was next!
MJF charged Johnson and tossed him across the ring with a suplex! MJF strutted and then put the boots to Johnson. He clubbed Lee with a clothesline.
“He’s a big mouth, he’s a jerk, but he believes in himself, and there’s something to be said about wrestling with confidence,” noted Schiavone about MJF.
Lee Johnson slapped MJF and this enraged MJF, who began kicking Lee in the ribs, and then powerbombed him on the ring apron!
MJF used a shoulder breaker on Lee, and then forced him to tap out!
MJF said next week he signed up to face Marko Stunt.
“Pineapple Pete” vs. Le Champion Chris Jericho (accompanied by The Inner Circle—Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz) was next!
Jericho slapped Pete, and Pete went to town on Jericho!
“Can we see a gigantic upset here?” wondered Jim Ross.
Pineapple Pete had an impressive offensive flurry on Jericho, charging across the ring and splashing him with a flying elbow in the corner! Pete tried again but Jericho measured him up with the Judas Effect and pinned Pete!
Le Champion grabbed a microphone and The Inner Circle joined him in the ring.
“Now that the threat of Pineapple Pete has been vanquished, let’s move on to the matter at hand: The Inner Circle versus The Elite. And that’s even if The Elite are a thing anymore. I mean, we haven’t seen half their guys for like two months. The Inner Circle is writing history. That’s why we created the Stadium Stampede Match. Wait until you see what dastardly deeds The Inner Circle can commit to The Elite in the middle of a football stadium. Lick your wounds, because The Inner Circle is challenging The Elite at DOUBLE OR NOTHING to the first ever Stadium Stampede Match! In the meantime, we’ll wait here for your response,” said Jericho.
A buzzing noise could be heard, and Vanguard 1 descended from the sky with The Inner Circle t-shirt it had stolen weeks ago from Chris Jericho’s mansion.
“Does The Elite accept the challenge for the Stadium Stampede Match?” asked Jericho.
Vanguard 1 flashed the message: “We accept.”
“Speaking of answers, Vanguard 1, have you thought anymore to our invitation to join The Inner Circle?” asked Jericho.
“That’s alright because we’ve got a message here for you from Floyd (the baseball bat). The message is this!” and with that, Jericho swung at Vanguard 1 with the bat, smashing the drone to pieces!
The Inner Circle continued to assault Vanguard 1, smashing it to smithereens.
Matt Hardy emerged from the back, after having witnessed Vanguard 1’s destruction. The Inner Circle retreated and Matt Hardy was inconsolable, clutching at the pieces of the drone.
It was time for the main event! “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels (accompanied by SCU’s Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian) vs. “The Exalted One” Mr. Brodie Lee (with “10” and other members of The Dark Order).
Lee walked out wearing Jon Moxley’s AEW World Title and he demanded to be introduced by Dasha Gonzalez as the “AEW World Champion!”
“Daniels has got to hit and run if he can,” said Jim Ross.
Daniels was being cautious, moving around, but Brodie caught him under the jaw. CD went for a cross body but Brodie crushed him under his big frame!
Brodie was jaw jacking with Kazarian on the outside of the ring when Daniels connected with a tope suicida! Daniels then took flight with an Arabian moonsault onto Brodie!
Brodie pushed Daniels away and devastated Daniels with a big kick! Brodie used a giant backdrop on CD, then placed his boot on Daniels’ face! Brodie smashed Daniels with a sidewalk slam, but Daniels kicked out at two!
Brodie superkicked Daniels. CD countered a back body drop with a DDT! Daniels took Brodie off his feet with a Frankensteiner! Daniels charged in with a running elbow strike. Daniels climbed to the top turnbuckle but 10 jumped up on the ring apron to get his attention. Kazarian and Sky pulled 10 down by the legs and took the boots to him!
Brodie ran across the ring with a chair but Daniels got his foot up in time, knocking the chair out of Brodie’s grasp! As the referee was dealing with SCU and 10 on the outside, Daniels nailed Brodie in the head with the steel chair! Daniels put Brodie in the Koji Clutch submission! More followers of The Dark Order invaded the ring, but Kazarian, Scorpio Sky and Colt Cabana ran in to fend them off! They all brawled on the outside of the ring! Christopher Daniels flattened Brodie Lee with Angel’s Wings but Brodie kicked out at the 1-count!
Daniels went for a second Angel’s Wings but Brodie blocked it! Daniels avoided Brodie and hit the Best Moonsault Ever! Brodie kicked out at the two-count!
“I think Daniels is wrestling his best match since he got here in AEW,” noted Jim Ross.
Daniels jumped off the top rope but Brodie countered with a powerbomb! He followed up with the discus lariat on Daniels for the victory!
Brodie Lee and his minions celebrated in the ring with the AEW world championship. Jon Moxley had seen enough and stormed down to the ring! Brodie Lee and 10 ran away with the belt while Moxley beat the hell out of the minions!
“I do not suffer disrespect. I will not suffer fools, Mr. Brodie Lee. You have made a very foolish decision, one you will pay for dearly, with interest. You are gonna find that out on May 23rd at DOUBLE OR NOTHING,” proclaimed Jon Moxley.
Catch all the explosive action as AEW DYNAMITE is broadcast on TNT next week!