What a difference a week makes! One week ago, we were on the precipice of the Summer of Punk 2022, and tonight we will start journey onto finding out who the Interim Champion will be. Let’s see what we’ve got on tap for tonight:
- Casino Battle Royal
- David Finlay vs. Hangman Page
- Buddy Matthews vs. Pac
- Jon Moxley vs. Winner of the Casino Battle Royal
Make sure to keep refreshing the page as the most recent results are below!
AEW Dynamite 6/8/2022 Results
We are live from the Cable Dahmer (what?) Arena in Independence, Missouri!
Match #1. Casino Battle Royal
Tony Nese, Daniel Garcia, and Lance Archer are in the ring. Darby Allin gets an entrance. As does Eddie Kingston. The bell rings and Kingston pairs up with Garcia as everyone else lets them fight. These men are all “clubs” as Darby bails under the top rope and Lance Archer chokeslams Tony Nese. Darby returns with his skateboard and beats down Archer. Darby and Eddie now square off with Eddie getting the better of the striking. Ricky Starks, Jake Hager, Fenix, Swerve, and Keith Lee are out as part of the “diamonds”. In the ring it’s an absolute cluster as Darby hits a Code Red on Starks and Fenix hits the double jump spinning back kick on Darby. Swerve and Lee double team Tony Nese. Nese and Swerve wind up on the apron as Nese hits a big boot, but Lee drops Nese with a clothesline. Lee then tosses Nese for our first elimination. Archer and Lee are now face to face as Archer hits a big cross body block. Lee has Archer up in a Spirit Bomb but Lee decides to drop him over the top and he’s gone. Jon Silver, Konosuke Takeshita, Max Caster, and the Ass Boys come out as the “hearts”. Typical battle royal stuff here for now, as we’ve got about 10 or so guys in the ring. The Ass Boys team up on The Meat Man who dumps Colten over the top, but holds on. Takeshita hits an elevated bronco buster on Keith Lee, that’s a fun pairing. Powerhouse Hobbs, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, Dante Martin, and Wheeler Yuta are out as the “spades”. Darby catches Bob and Kyle coming in with a Coffin Drop off the top rope to the outside. There are like 15 or so guys left in the ring and barely any space to move here. Max Caster and the Ass Boys scissor three ways in the center of the ring. Fenix dumps Max Caster off the top rope and he’s gone too. Rolling Thunder double cutter on the Ass Boys by Fenix, who then get dumped by Keith Lee. Keith Lee then gets eliminated from behind by his tag team partner, Swerve. Seven guys down. The joker is here… it’s a returning Andrade! Andrade goes right to work on Darby and Swerve. Garcia and Kingston are on the apron as Eddie is looking for an exploder but Garcia bites his way out. Jon Silver, Jake Hager, Eddie Kingston, and Daniel Garcia all get eliminated at the same time. Blue Thunder Bomb by Takeshita to Ricky Starks. Takeshita then gets leveled by Hobbs and eliminated by Team Taz. Martin gets low bridged by Bob Fish and eliminated. Starks gets eliminated by Fenix. The bad guy gang up on Darby but his buddy Swerve stands up to fight alongside him. reDRagon looking for the high/low on Darby but Swerve hits a dropkick on Kyle. Darby dumps Bobby Fish over the top after an over the top stunner. Swerve turns on Darby and then eliminates him too. Andrade dumps Swerve over and he’s gone. Fenix, Hobbs, O’Reilly, Andrade, and Yuta are left. Spinning DDT by Fenix to Andrade followed by a high arm drag and a double stomp. Spinebuster by Hobbs to Fenix but Yuta tosses Hobbs out from behind. O’Reilly and Andrade team up against Fenix and Yuta. Yuta goes up top and hits a diving shotgun dropkick to Andrade but he eats the Axe & Smash from O’Reilly. Rebound German suplex by Yuta… rebound lariat by Kyle! Andrade hits a low blow in mid air to Fenix and tosses him out! Yuta rushes and dumps Andrade! Yuta and O’Reilly are both on the apron, enziguiri by Yuta sends Kyle back into the ring. Dragon screw leg whip by O’Reilly through the ropes… running knee! Yuta is eliminated!
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly
Rating: ***1/2. AEW has tremendous battle royals, and this was no exception. We got to see a lot of fun pairings as well as continued storylines, and it didn’t overstay it’s welcome. Kyle O’Reilly is an absolute workhorse so he’ll be a fine opponent for Jon Moxley later on tonight.
Jon Moxley says it’s been a taxing year, but he’s been busting his ass in AEW and New Japan for the last three years. No disrespect to Kyle, but this is his night.
A video package is shown highlighting the AEW All Atlantic Championship. In essence, this seems to be an international title, with a eight-man tournament to determine the winner at Forbidden Door, in a fatal four way. Got all that?
Match #2. All Atlantic Championship Qualifier: Buddy Matthews vs. Pac
Matthews has a pretty cool presentation, between his entrance and then sitting in the corner a la Raven. Catch-as-catch-can start here with Matthews hitting a shoulder tackle but Pac meeting him with a kip up. Running tieres by Pac that sends Matthews to the outside. Pac up top but Buddy meets him. Matthews puts Pac on his shoulder on the top rope and drops him face first, sort of like the Chicago Skyline. Back suplex on the apron by Matthews. Make that two. Both men are on the apron now as Matthews looks for a suplex, but Pac escapes into the ring. Pac catches Matthews coming in with a knee followed by a tilt a whirl DDT in-between the ropes that spikes Matthews! Both men are up slowly and trading elbows in the center of the ring. Spinning back kick by Matthews, followed by a foot stomp. Pac hits a PERFECT superkick that drops Matthews where he stands. Referee checks on him… it might seem small, but that’s a nice spot. Pac hits the ropes but Matthews hits a rising knee! German suplex by Pac followed by a lariat and both men are down. Matthews goes up top but Pac catches him with an enziguiri. Matthews pushes Pac off the top rope and jumps off with a sunset flip, into a deadlift Liger Bomb! One, two, no! Pac goes up to the middle rope and hits a diving reverse poison-rana for two! Mafia kick in the corner! Pac goes up top… Black Arrow! That’s it!
Winner: Pac
Rating: ***3/4. This match was so much fun and I’d love to see them get another twenty minutes. Matthews lost nothing with this loss and Pac gets a much deserved singles win. The Death Triangle comes out to celebrate with Pac as the House of Black look on from the ramp.
Eddie Kingston has a mic and he’s pissed. He wants Hager on Rampage.
Trent Beretta is here and today’s supposed to be National Best Friend’s Day… but his friends aren’t here. Trent believes that since RPG Vice did not lose a few weeks ago, they deserve another shot. Here comes FTR. Cash agrees, and FTR want to be fighting champions. FTR says Trent’s problems shouldn’t be with FTR, they should be with Will Ospreay’s bitch boys. Cue the music. It’s Will Ospreay! AUSSIE OPEN and Henare attack everyone in the ring! AUSSIE OPEN ON AEW LET’S GOOOOO. Fidget Spinner to Trent! Hidden Blade to Trent!
In the back, Regal is with Schiavone, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, and Adam Cole. Regal apologizes for what’s going to happen to Kyle. Kyle cuts a spirited promo saying this is what he came to AEW to do.
Match #3. David Finlay vs. Hangman Page
Heavy lock up to start followed by a big dropkick by Finlay. Hammerlock by Finlay takes Page to the ground. Page catches Finlay and delivers a heavy body slam followed by some thick chops. Elbow suicida by Hangman sends Finlay crashing headfirst into the barricade. Page grabs a beer from a fan in the front row and I for one, am glad he’s allowed to do that again. Finlay catches a boot from Page and drops the leg over his shoulder. Finlay chop blocks Page from behind. Running European uppercut in the corner followed by a diving one from the second rope. Dropkick to the knee by Finlay followed by a leg DDT. STF by Finlay but Page makes it to the ropes. Page catches Finlay coming in and hits a fallaway slam, but he can’t get up without hurting. Running clothesline in the corner by Page and some more chops. Finlay is on the apron and Hangman hits a double jump clothesline that drops Finlay to the outside. Tope by Page to Finlay on the outside. Powerbom by Page to Finlay on the inside gets a two count! Page looks for Deadeye, but Finlay reverses and hits a uranage back breaker for the two. Finlay goes up top but Page catches him in a cross body and rolls through, but Finlay reverses into a cradle for two count. Page back flips out of a German suplex but lands on his bad knee and stumbles, which allows Finlay to hit a rolling elbow. Finlay follows up but Page hits a big lariat. BUCKSHOT. That’s it for this one.
Winner: Hangman Page
Rating: ***1/2. More great stuff here, and a nice introduction to David Finlay. Strong win for Page who gave Finlay a lot, and needed to rebound after losing to Punk emphatically .
Page has the mic. Page clearly wasn’t in the battle royal, and he probably won’t be getting a title shot anytime soon. Page knows there’s more than one title in professional wrestling… and Page wants OKADA. Woah. Adam Cole is here and he’s not happy with that callout. Cole says Okada might not even be the champion, it could be Jay White. Page is no longer a champion, and Cole won the Owen. Cole says he deserves the shot at Okada. Cole is the new franchise player and Page is old news.
Tony is here and out comes Wardlow. Wardlow says he asked not to take part in the battle royal for the title. CM Punk is the champion, and if he’s not making Punk tap or pinning his shoulders to the mat, then he doesn’t want it. Wardlow wants Punk when he gets back. There is a title that Wardlow does want, and that’s the TNT Title. It’s time for a change around here, and… out comes Scorpio Sky. Sky’s shirt looks like Virgil’s old tights. Dan Lambert and EGO come out and pull Sky back, because he’s got a bum leg.
Mark Sterling is here and says Wardlow doesn’t understand the words that are coming out of his mouth. Sterling is giving Wardlow two options: a) face him in a court of law or b) he can wrestle 20 security guards next week live on TV.
The Hardy’s and the Young Bucks are arguing in the back as Christian Cage & Jurassic Express enter the picture. Christian says neither of them deserve a shot at the title but says next week Jurassic Express will defend their titles against both the Hardys and the Bucks… in a ladder match!
Match #4. AEW Women’s Championship: Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Marina Shafir
Collar and elbow tie up and neither woman wants to break the hold. Rosa with a top wrist lock on Shafir who quite easily reverses into a rear naked choke. Rosa rolls through for a two count but Shafir counters into a leg lace. Rosa escapes and throws Shafir into the buckle headfirst. Heavy chops by Rosa. Hard clothesline by Rosa followed by some Thai knees in the clinch. Spinning back kick by Rosa followed by a drop down uppercut a la Dustin. Shafir looks for a suplex but Rosa won’t budge. Shafir muscles her over anyway. Shafir with a soccer kick to the middle of the back for a two count. Both women are landing low leg kicks but Shafir’s had enough of that and hits a double leg followed by a Strong Hold! Shafir transitions to a bulldog choke and some strong strikes in the corner. Rosa checks a kick by Shafir and delivers a push kick that drops her. Running elbow in the corner and a running double dropkick to the back of a seated Sharif. Running dropkick to the chest by Rosa and a Northern Light’s suplex that gets her a two count. Fireman’s carry position by Rosa but Shafir fights out and hits a pump handle reverse exploder that looked terrifying. Two count. Rosa fights from underneath and hits a Death Valley Driver for two. Roundhouse kicks by Rosa. Shafir looks to set up a back drop driver but Rosa reverses into a victory roll… for the three!
Winner and STILL AEW Women’s Champion: Thunder Rosa.
Rating: **1/4. This was… alright. Rosa, to me, seems to be in a position where she can put on great matches with great talent, but struggles when the talent isn’t at that elite level. Shafir looked better here than I’ve ever seen her before, but to be fair, we haven’t seen enough of her for it to matter… yet. Shafir looks like a million bucks, however, and has a super bright future.
Post-match, Shafir attacks Rosa with the title and locks in an awkward looking submission… until Toni Storm makes the saves. Rosa then hits the Fire Thunder Driver.
Tony Schiavone is in the back with Big Stoke, Red Velvet, Jae Cargil, and Kiera Hogan. Stokely makes a Keith Sweat reference and then challenges Kris Statlander to take on Red Velvet on Rampage.
Match #5. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley
Winner goes on to Forbidden Door to take on the winner of this weekend’s Goto vs. Tanahashi elimination match. Let’s go! Arm ringer by Kyle, reversal by Moxley. Hammerlock by Moxley who proceeds to rip the fingers apart. Bicep slicer by Moxley but Kyle rolls into a pinning combination and transitions to a straight arm bar. Moxley gets to the ropes. Moxley taunts Kyle by putting his hands behind his head and giving him a free shot… to which Kyle responds with some leg kicks and a heavy forearm. Reversal by Moxley who follows up with some clotheslines in the corner. Moxley attacks again in the corner but Kyle hits a dropkick to the knee. Kyle gets to the apron and dragon screw leg whip between the ropes. Moxley foot is caught under the bottom rope as O’Reilly hits a King Kong knee drop from the top to a draped Jon Moxley! Moxley rolls out of the ring but Kyle follows and delivers some strong kicks to a seated Moxley. Running dropkick to Moxley in the corner of the barricade! Kyle gets back in the ring and that’s smart… a count out still gets you the win here! Moxley makes it back in time but Kyle delivers some ground and pound from knee on belly. Kyle drags Moxley to the apron and slams Moxley’s knee a few times. O’Reilly goes up top but Moxley meets him half way. Moxley with a butterfly suplex from the top! Both men barely make it up before the ten count. Trading strikes in the center of the ring. Kyle with heavy leg kicks. Moxley with headbutts. Boot by Moxley. Boot by Kyle. Double big boot. Moxley looking for a rear naked choke, settles for a chicken wing. Kyle fights to the ropes and bites the middle rope! Moxley peels back and punts the rope that’s in O’Reilly’s mouth! BRUTAL. HUGE lariat by Moxley! One, two, no! Hammer and anvil elbows by Moxley but Kyle escapes to north/south. Big knees by Moxley. Switch by O’Reilly! Crossfaces! Moxley fights out, back to the hammer and anvil elbows. Moxley picks Kyle up, looking for the Paradigm Shift. Kyle lowers his base but Moxley delivers some huge knees. O’Reilly hits a big running knee followed by a soccer kick and everyone is down! Kyle is hurt and he’s wobbly on his feet, Moxley sees the opportunity… Ace Crusher! Two count. Moxley looking for the Gotch piledriver but Moxley counters into a triangle! Elbow from the bottom by Kyle. Moxley picks up Kyle but Kyle transitions to a spinning knee bar! Moxley with kicks to the head and a fish hook to escape. Piledriver by Moxley! One, two, no! Elbow exchange in the middle of the ring. Palm strikes now back and forth. Moxley gets dropped! Axe and Smash by Kyle! Backdrop driver by Kyle! Backdrop driver by Moxley! Stereo clotheslines. Another. Another! Both men are exhausted and collapse into each other. Overhand slap by Kyle but Moxley follows Kyle around and locks in a rear naked choke, before transitioning into the bulldog choke. Moxley feels it and hits knees from north/south. Regal knee! Paradigm Shift! That’s it.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Rating: ****1/4. Kyle O’Reilly has been one of my favorite professional wrestlers for quite some time, so if you think this sounds biased, it might be. Jon Moxley is truly an underrated professional wrestler that I feel like the fans may not appreciate until later on. That being said, these men put on a Match of the Year candidate that was everything I personally look for in professional wrestling. The story was simple, two great wrestlers that were fighting for a title shot and willing to risk it all. It was hard hitting, brutal, dramatic, and had stakes that made it mean something. Give me more.
Final Thoughts: Outstanding episode of Dynamite tonight. Battle royals are hard to do well, but AEW seemingly has mastered them. Pac and Matthews could have gone another ten minutes whereas Hangman and Finlay overdelivered. The main event was an absolute classic. Not to mention, we’ve built to a stacked Rampage OH AND BTW WILL OSPREAY IS HERE. A very, very fast 126(ish) minutes tonight. 8.75/10.