AEW rolled into Cincinnati’s Brady Music Center for Dynamite on Wednesday and stuck around for a second night of fun on Thursday (Aug. 14) for Collision (and ROH on HonorClub).
Advertised in advance: Death Riders Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta against JetSpeed, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong vs. Blake Christian & Lee Johnson, Kris Statlander, Julia Hart, Anna Jay & Penelope Ford in a $100K 4-way, and another 4-way — this one a “Technical Spectacle” 4-way between Lee Moriarty, Hechichero, Daniel Garcia,
and Nigel McGuinness for the right to challenge IWGP World champ Zack Sabre Jr on PPV next weekend. Pretty much everything AEW is doing right now is in service of the annual opening of the (no longer that) Forbidden Door on Aug. 24.
What happened at the taping ? Here’s what, according to old pal Rick Ucchino, now doing great work for The Takedown on SI.com, who attended the taping in his hometown…
- Toni Storm opened the show with one of her usually bawdy promos, then was attacked by Athena & Billie Starkz. Mina Shirakawa made the save, furthering her own pursuit of ROH’s Forever champ in the process. The Timeless One and her Japanese friend closed the segment with a kiss.
- FTR jumped Bandido backstage, leading to a brawl with Brody King. The big man kicked Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler’s butts all the way to the ring… where Stokely Hathaway threw talcum powder in King’s eyes so his guys could hit Shatter Machine on Big Brody.
- Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta def. JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & Speedball Mike Bailey) via pinfall. JetSpeed had Yuta down for several nearfalls, but a Marina Shafir distraction allowed him Yuta to roll Speedball up for the win.
- Ricochet faced Dayton, Ohio’s own Ace Austin in match set-up on social media Thursday. The former TNA X-Division champ almost pulled off the upset, but GOA interference led to Ricochet winning after hitting Spirit Gun. Tony Khan was out afterwards to announce he’d signed Austin.
- Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong def. Lee Johnson & Blake Christian by pinning Johnson after he took their leg sweep/clothesline combo attack.
- Kris Statlander won the $100K women’s 4-way over Anna Jay, Penelope Ford & Julia Hart by getting Hart to submit. A big brawl broke out involving a bunch of wrestlers who had tag partners & stablemates in the match. That fight between Megan Bayne, Thekla, Skye Blue, Tay Melo and Queen Aminata ended when TayJay’s pal HARLEY
CATMANCAMERON returned to chase off the heels, much to the delight of the Cincy sickos. - Juice Robinson def. Bryan Keith
- Renee Paquette interviewed Anthony Bowens, who got upset when he was asked about former tag partner (and Best Wrestler Alive) Max Caster.
- Nigel McGuinness def. Daniel Gracia, Hechichero, and Lee Moriarty in the “Technical Spectacle”, and will now challenge his fellow Englishman ZSJ for New Japan’s top prize. Garcia will be in his corner.
Sound like an exploded hot pocket-like show to you?
