AEW filmed about Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea this year for the first time in six years, and this time they did it live! That was Collision last Saturday (Nov. 7), at the start of the cruise while the Norwegian Jewel was docked in Miami.
When the ship returned to Miami yesterday (Nov. 11), there were apparently logistical issues getting talent from Florida to Salt Lake City, where this week’s Dynamite and Collision were happening. It made for a hectic AEW show that went well over
its scheduled three hours. Discussing the impact of the post-cruise travel headaches on Wrestling Observer Radio after the Utah show, Dave Meltzer said:
“… I know that the show was rearranged literally at the last minute because they didn’t know who was going to make it on time and who wasn’t going to make it on time.”
Some details about those changes will probably trickle out in the days to come, if you’re interested. There were several things that happened out on the water that caught our interest…
For example, there was Truth Magnum proposing to his girlfriend Jo. The paranormal researcher was ironically skeptical of her man’s motives at first, but after one of the Youngest Men Alive confirmed he wasn’t joking…
He beat ex-WWE ID-er Marcus Mathers on the ship, and we heard Nick Wayne beat Jericho himself not once but twice [insert pyro and/or air horn here]. The Prodigy has also now been misted by WWE Hall of Famer and all-around pro wrestling The Great Muta:
Romeo Malverde, fka Santos Escobar and El Hijo de Fantasma, captured gold — specifically the Jericho Cruise Oceanic Championship. He beat Ricky Knight Jr. in the semis of a #1 contender tournament, then took down AJ Francis before beating two-time champ Mo Jabari. Malverde, who joins Matt Cardona, Harlon Abbott, Michael Oku, and Jabari in the JCOC club, vows to defend it next year.
The Emperor of the Ocean!! #andnew what a surreal experience to be onboard of the #chrisjerichocruise see you next year when I will defend this title. In the meantime this championship will be defended… no limits no borders no forbidden doors… 😉 gracias @jericho_cruise gracias @chrisjerichofozzy
The Women’s Oceanic belt left with Myla Grace, who beat Shotzi Blackheart & Lady Frost in the semi-final before winning the strap from Lacey Lane.
And last but certainly not least, we knew KAIRI would be on the cruise, but we weren’t sure she’d be in action. She was though, via a run-in at the end of one of the cruise’s last match. The Pirate Princess was visibly moved by the crowd’s reaction…
…but not so moved that she couldn’t deal with Blake Christian and Zack Gibson before dropping her signature elbow on Black Machismo (aka Jay Lethal).
Excited KAIRI isn’t done? Ready to see Romeo Malverde somewhere other than the ocean? Should Nick Wayne start bragging about getting blinded by The Great Muta… once? And how freakin’ happy are you for Truth and Jo… or are you too salty about a chaotic AEW Wednesday to answer any of those questions?
Head down to the comments either way, Cagesiders.
