SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of right before showtime, 12,169 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 19,800 spectators when configured for concerts. (Prior PPV in Toronto, Forbidden Door 2023, drew 13,946
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(A) SAMOA JOE & POWERHOUSE HOBBS vs. THE WORKHORSEMEN (J.D. Darke & Anthony Henry)
WINNERS: Joe & Hobbs in 5:00.
(B) DANIEL GARCIA (w/Marina Shafir) vs. KATSUYORI SHIBATA
WINNER: Garcia in 15:00.
(C) HOLOGRAM & KYLE O’REILLY & RODERICK STRONG vs. THE FRAT HOUSE (Cole Karter & Griff Garrison & Preston Vance)
WINNERS: Hologram & Strong & O’Reilly in 3:00.
(D) WILLOW NIGHTINGALE & HARLEY CAMERON & QUEEN ANIMATA & MINA SHIRAKAWA vs. MEGAN BAYNE & JULIA HART & SKYE BLUE & PENELOPE FORD – Eight-Woman Tornado Tailgate Brawl
WINNERS: Nightingale & Shirakawa & Cameron & Aminata in 12:00.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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AEW ALL OUT PPV PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS: Hangman vs. Fletcher, Storm vs. Hayter vs. Thekla vs. Statlander, Moxley vs. Darby, Copeland & Christian vs. FTR
-A video package introduced the show.
-Excalibur introduced the show alongside Tony Schiavone. Bryan Danielson made his ring entrance.
(1) CHRISTIAN CAGE & ADAM COPELAND vs. FTR (Cash & Dax w/Stokely Hathaway)
After a video package, Copeland and Christian walked past some local celebrities backstage. First, Eednel Clark, who said they can call him Spanky.. Copeland was zany happy and Christian was cold and distant. Then they ran into Bubbles from “Trailer Park Boys” who was in his Green Bastard pro wrestling outfit. Christian said something disparaging about his mother. Copeland gave him a hard time. The crowd ate it up. Copeland said regarding Christian, “He’s an asshole, but he’s my asshole.”
Copeland came out to his entrance theme first. When Christian made his entrance, fans chanted, “He’s out asshole!” FTR came out. Dax’s nose was taped as the announcers talked about him suffering a broken nose on Dynamite earlier in the week.
After some early offense by Copeland and Christian, FTR took over for several minutes of methodical offense against Christian. Copeland got a hot tag and scored a near fall on Dax at 8:00. Copeland did John Cena’s sequence with You Can’t See Me and a Five Knuckle Shuffle and an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. Fans chanted “Cena! Cena!” Danielson said Copeland was “paying homage to one of his top rivals.” He didn’t say Cena’s name. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
Danielson said the longer the match goes, the more it favors FTR. Christian and Copeland applied stereo sharpshooters mid-ring. Stokely shoved Dax the ring apron and Dax grabbed it. The ref called for a break. Copeland and Christian cornered Stokely at ringside. Dax and Cash then saved him.
When Copeland had Dax covered, Stokely yanked the ref out of the ring at the two count. Danielson said that should be a DQ. Music played on the stage and Stokely looked to see who it was going to be. Out came Beth Copeland (a/k/a Beth Phoenix). She speared Stokely. Copeland then scored a near fall against Dax in the ring. Beth carried Stokely on her shoulders to the back as fans chanted, “Holy shit!” Cash swung the ring bell at Copeland, but Copeland ducked.
Dax begged off. Copeland spit on him. (Geesh, that’s trashy.) Cash yanked Christian off the ring apron and powerbombed him onto the Spanish announce desk. Dax hit Copeland with the ring bell. FTR gave Copeland a spike piledriver for a near fall. Schiavone asked how Copeland kicked out after that. “Holy cowl” he exclaimed. Danielson said he was worried about Copeland’s neck. Another, “This is awesome!” chant rang out. Copeland gave Dax an Impaler, and then gave Cash an Impaler. Copeland struggled to stand afterward, favoring his neck.
Copeland went for a spear, but FTR countered with a Shatter Machine for a near fall at 16:00. Excalibur said FTR won titles around the world with that. They gave Copeland a second Shatter Machine. Christian intervened, and then Copeland caught Dax with a sudden spear for the win.
WINNERS: Copeland & Christian in 17:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: The finish was a little weird in terms of the cadence of the last 15 seconds. FTR hit Shatter Machine, and then Cash just gave Copeland an uppercut and then wandered over to Christian at ringside leading to Copeland surprising him with a spear. Was that the intention or was someone a bit off timing-wise? Anyway, a crowd-pleasing, solid overall tag match.)
-Afterward, Kip Sabian wheeled Nick Wayne to the stage. FTR attacked Christian and Copeland from behind. Sabian handcuffed Copeland to the middle rope as the heels attacked Christian. Beth tried to detach Copeland. FTR approached Beth. She kissed Copeland and said, “I love you” as if she expected to never see him again. She slapped FTR. They gave her a stuff piledriver seconds later. Fans chanted, “You sick f—s!” Danielson called that “disgusting.” After Copeland was released from the cuffs, he checked on Beth.
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Excalibur said it was tough to stomach was they just watched.
(2) EDDIE KINGSTON (w/Bryan Keith) vs. BIG BILL
The bell rang 40 minutes into the hour. Kingston looked the same as always. Kingston got in some early chops. Bill methodically battered him for a few minutes. When Kingston made a comeback, Bill met his charge with a boot to the face. Danielson said his cardio might be running out, “not that he didn’t train hard for this.” Kingston swung wildly with a spinning backfirst that largely missed. Bill went down and Kingston scored the three count. The announcers tried to change their story from the elbow missing to actually landing on Bill’s jaw.
WINNER: Kingston in 8:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Not good.)
-As Bryan and Bill attacked an exhausted Kingston after the match, the lights went out and the lights went dark. Hook then came out to his chill music. Bill charged at him, but Hook ducked and then he put the Red Rum on Keith. Kingston then landed a spinning backfist to Keith. That one smacked hard. Hook and Kingston hugged. Excalibur wondered if hook will be running with Kingston now. Danielson said Hook could learn a lot from Kingston. They left arm-in-arm.
(Keller’s Analysis: I wouldn’t mind a Hook & Kingston tag team, although I’m not sure of the division of labor given the condition Kingston is in and how green Hook still is.)
(3) MARK BRISCOE vs. MJF – Tables & Thumbtacks match
The bell rang 56 minutes into the hour. The ring was covered in thumb tacks. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!” at MJF. They battled mid-ring to try to avoid being the first to land on the tacks. MJF was wearing jeans, kneepads, elbowpads, and long gloves. MJF poked Briscoe in the eyes and then bodyslammed him onto the tacks. Danielson said Briscoe chose this stip himself. Excalibur said he knew what he would be in for. MJF then rubbed Briscoe’s forehead into the mat. The camera totally botched the view of Briscoe’s face as he sat up. Fans chanted “You suck f—!” at MJF.
Briscoe was bleeding from a dozen or so puncture wounds. MJF flattened a table at ringside and shoved it under the ring. Fans booed. MJF gave an Alabama Slam to Briscoe on the tacks, then dragged him around on them.
MJF shoved tacks in Briscoe’s mouth, then punched him. Briscoe made a comeback a minute later and backdropped MJF onto the tacks. Fans delighted in MJF’s cries of agony. he slammed him onto the attacks a minute latera nd scored a two count. Schiavone said, “I don’t know what it says about bem, ut I’m loving every minute of this.” Briscoe, with tacks stuck to his scalp and body, climbed to the top rope. MJF rolled to the floor. Briscoe dove through the ropes and onto MJF. Briscoe then set up a table and crashed MJF through it.
Briscoe threw MJF into the ringside barricade. Then he set up another table. He knocked MJF onto it and then leaped off the ring apron Cactus Jack style, letting out a “Bang! Bang!” first. Back in the ring, MJF threw a handful of tacks at Briscoe’s face. Briscoe powerbombed MJF onto the tacks. Briscoe then pulled a chair covered in thumb stacks glued to it.
When Briscoe wound up with the chair, MJF kicked him in the crotch and then bashed him across his back with the chair. He followed with a tombstone piledriver onto the chair for a two count at 14:00. MJF’s cover was cocky and nonchalant.
MJF set up a table in the ring. Fans chanted, “Lets go tacks!” Schiavone was confused, thinking fans were chanting, “Let’s go Max!” MJF poured tacks on a table mid-ring. MJF then set up a powerbomb, but Briscoe countered and punched away at MJF in the corner. When Briscoe stood on the top rope, MJF shoved him off balance. MJF then set up a second rope leaping tombstone. Briscoe kicked himself free and then set up a Jay Driller off the top rope. MJF bit Briscoe’s forehead. Briscoe bit back. Briscoe then knocked MJF onto the table and landed the Froggy Bow elbowdrop. He followed up another Froggy Bow. Briscoe then gave MJF a Jay Driller for the win.
WINNER: Briscoe in 19:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: It lived up to its billing with immersive use of tacks and significant use of tables. The finish was satisfying, storyline-wise, given how MJF had disparaged Jay Briscoe. It’s a good win for Briscoe to establish he’s not just there to ultimately job to MJF. Good for MJF to not use his clout to avoid doing a clean job.) [c]
-Taz came out and replaced Schaivone on commentary.
(4) THE HURT SYNDICATE (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin & MVP) vs. THE DEMAND (Ricochet & Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. They took turns with back and forth battles. When Lashley covered Ricochet at 7:00, Liona gave the weakest pin break up you’ll ever see. He just lightly hit Lashley on his back. Lashley sorta reacted, but was still covering Ricochet and Ricochet’s shoulders were still down. Just so half-hearted and lazy.
The crowd woke up when Shelton tagged in an backdropped Ricohet and then suplexed both Ricochet and Kaun at 8:00. Lashley caught Liona with two spears and scored a two count, but Ricochet broke up the count with a 450 splash.
Next they battled at ringside for an extended stretch. Ricochet landed a running flip dive onto Shelton and Lashley at ringside. Back in the ring, Ricochet leaped at MVP, buty MVP countered into a suplex. He set up his Playmaker, but Kaun chop blocked MVP and held him up as Ricochet finished MVP with a Spirit Gun.
WINNERS: The Demand in 14:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: An okay match. The crowd was into some peak moments here and there, but the match never really gained traction and often felt like an 80 percent effort walk-thru with surges for the mandatory signature moves. The crowd seemed deflated by what should have been the expected finish with MVP taking the pin. The fans wanted a feel-good finish, apparently.)
(5) MERCEDES MONE vs. RIHO – TBS Title match
Riho got in some early offense with a backslide for a two count, a La Magistral cradle for another near fall, and finally a roll-up. Mercedes battled back. They fought at ringside briefly including Riho landing a double stomp on the announce desk.
Back in the ring, they took turns using mat work to try to get submissions and near falls with leverage pin attempts. Mercedes landed a meteora off the ring apron and scored a near fall back in the ring. They battled back and forth with mat work and spots leading to near falls, mostly by Riho during this stretch.
For the finish, Mercedes gouged Riho’s eyes after distracting the rev, then hit a lung blower and Money Maker for the win.
WINNER: Mercedes in 16:00 to retain the TBS Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Serviceable action start to finish. It just didn’t feel like the crowd was invested in Riho as a challenger. Nothing wrong with the match, but it wasn’t sizzling either.)
(6) KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. MASCARA DORADA vs. KONSUKE TAKESHITA – AEW Unified (Continental & International) Title match
Don Callis joined the announcers on commentary. The bell rang 8 minutes into the third hour. Takeshita and Okada worked together against Dorada at first. Dorada countered their attack and scored an early two count against Takeshita.
Takeshita took over against Dorada with Okada recovering (resting?) at ringside. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis!” Okada returned. Dorada dropkicked Takeshita off the top rope. Dorada then dove onto Okada. Dorada took turns hitting moves on Takeshita and Okada at ringside until Takeshita caught him and gave him a brainbuster on the ramp.
Dorada again found himself battling both Okada and Takeshita in the ring. He knocked them to ringside. He ran the ropes, but Okada tripped him. Daielson asked Callis if Okada was happy for Takeshita winning the G1 this year. Callis said, “Of course he was.” He said Okada won two himself. Another ‘F— Don Callis!” chant broke out.
Oakada tried to yank off Dorada’s mask at 7:00. Taz said of Okada does that, the he’s going to rip off Excalibur’s mask. “Please don’t do so,” Excalibur kindly asked.
With Dorada down, Okada and Takeshita had a staredown. Okada gouged Takeshita’s eyes, then landed a sliding kick to Dorada. As Okada methodically worked over Dorada, Callis said, “The zen-like calmness of Okada.” Taz said he was barely breathing hard. (That’s not so much great cardio as it is working at a very slow, casual pace.) Dorada made a comeback and landed a tornado into an armdrag. Takeshita launched Dorada into the air and Dorada dropkicked Okada to ringside. Dorada knocked Takeshita to the floor and then ran the ropes and landed a tornado crossbody on Okada. He followed up with the same on a patiently awaiting Takeshita at ringside. Dorada played to the crowd as he stood on the ringside barricade at 10:00.
Excalibur said Dorada was on the verge of the biggest victory of his career. He lifted Okada onto his shoulders and landed a neckbreaker for a near fall. Okada took over and landed a top rope elbowdrop. He then gave the crowd the middle finger gesture. Danielson observed, “He has a long middle finger.” Takeshita entered and went after Okada. They exchanged moves and counter moves into a Blue Thunderbomb by Takeshita for a near fall.
Dorada caught Takeshita with a destroyer for a near fall. Dorada leaped off the top rope and landed a 450 splash. Okada yanked Dorada by his boot to ringside before the three count and shoved him into the barricade. All three stood on the top rope and Dorada took Takeshita and Okada to the mat with double huracarana. He scored a two count on Okada and then a two count on Takeshita. Fans applauded. Fans chanted “AEW!” Danielson said that deserved five replays.
Takeshita and Okada clear the ring and then faced off and exchanged strikes mid-ring. Okada gave Takeshita a tombstone. Dorada landed a moonsault on both Takeshita and Okada for a two count a minute later. He followed with a top rope shooting star press on Okada. After taking five seconds to play to the crowd before doing the move, Okada recovered enough to lift his knees. Takeshita then kicked Dorada. Okada and Takeshita battled again.
Okada landed a high dropkick. Takeshita ducked a Rainmaker and then suplexed bot Dorada and Okada. Dorada landed on his feet and then scored a near fall on Takeshita. He followed with a kick to Okada’s chest followed by a top rope leaping DDT of Okada on the ring apron. This time, he didn’t pause to play to the crowd. He then paused to play to the crowd before climbing to the top rope. Takeshita recovered and knocked Dorada off balance. He then landed a superplex. Takeshita went for Raging Fire, but Dorada blocked it. He tried again and landed it. Okada broke up the cover.
Okada went for a Rainmaker on Takeshita, but Takeshita blocked it. Okada knocked Takeshita out of the ring and then hit Dorada with the Rainmaker for the win. Callis entered the ring to congratulate Okada. Takeshita left on his own as Okada celebrated.
WINNER: Okada in 21:00 to retain the Unified Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Very much on the high end of the range of expectations with those three. Really good match that felt more like a showcase for Dorada than anything, with just enough tension between Okada and Takeshita to keep them together after this but build toward a breakaway by Takeshita.)
(7) DARBY ALLIN vs. JON MOXLEY (w/Marina Shafir) – Coffin Match
As Mox made his entrance through the crowd, Darby attacked him 36 minutes into the hour to jump-start the the match. He landed an early Coffin Drop off the entrance tunnel onto Mox. Mox took over nad knocked him over a railing. They brawled up the steps amongst fans. Darby dropkicked Mox, but bumped onto the stairs when he landed. “Is he a sick man or does he just want to feel alive?” asked Danielson. Darby got up and pursued Mox. Mox took over as fans chanted, “Darby! Darby!”
They fought at ringside for a few minutes. Darby dove through the ropes and tackled Mox into the coffin. He then raked Moxley’s eyes. Mox stepped out of the coffin and rolled into the ring. Darby entered the ring, too. Excalibur noted that was the first time Mox was in the ring after the match started seven minutes earlier.
Mox rolled to the floor. Darby dove through the ropes. Mox blocked him and then threw him onto the top of another coffin. Yuta, Danny Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli showed up at ringside. When Yuta approached Darby, fans chanted, “F— you, Yuta!” Mox told them, “I’ve got this.” Marina stuck around and the rest walked to the back.
Mox slid a coffin into the ring. He slammed the lid on Darby’s fingers. Darby sold it with moans and groans. Mox mounted Darby on the coffin and punched away at him. Mox yelled that he works harder than everyone. He told Darby he lovcs him and kissed him. Danielson said, “Moxley told me he loved me too.” Some fans chanted “Darby Allin!”
Darby broke out of a sleeper and used a fork to gouge Mox’s ear and stab him around dozen times in the forehead. He then leaped off the top rope with a Coffin Drop on Mox at ringside. Mox’s forehead bled in in several streams.
Darby threw Mox back into the ring. Darby said, “I’ve been trying to be objective, but f— that! Go get him, Darby.” Darby leaped onto Mox in tnhe ring and then slammed the lid on Mox’s fingers and then stomped on them. Darby then gave Mox a Scorpion Death Drop. Mox made a production of popping his knuckles back into place.
Darby grabbed a metal pipe at irngside and brought it into the ring at 13:00. Mox took it away and swung at Darby. Darby blocked him and gouged his eye. He then twisted the fork into Mox’s ear and then bit it. Mox gave Darby a Death Rider onto the lid of the coffin.
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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... WWE WRESTLEPALOOZA…
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