With Revolution almost upon us, AEW made sure that some big matches were made this week. On top of some great matches, the hype for the PPV grew with MJF, Adam Page, Chris Jericho, and Eddie Kingston all speaking their mind. Jade Cargill defended her TBS Championship against The Bunny, The Knights of the Black Throne took on PAC and Penta, Ricky Starks and Preston Vance battled for a place in the Face of the Revolution ladder match, and Bryan Danielson intended to teach Danny Garcia all about violence in the main event. First up, plenty of tag teams fought to win a place in the triple threat tag team match against AEW Tag Team Champions Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus at Revolution.
Quick Results
reDRagon win the Tag Team Battle Royale to qualify for the triple threat Tag Team Championship match at Revolution. ***½
PAC and Penta Obscuro defeated Malakai Black & Brody King via pinfall. ***
Ricky Starks defeated Preston Vance via pinfall. ***
Jade Cargill defeated The Bunny via pinfall. ***
Bryan Danielson defeated Danny Garcia via submission. ****
The Matches
Tag Team Battle Royale: The Butcher & The Blade vs Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Mark Quen) vs The Dark Order (Jon Silver & Alex Reynolds) vs Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) vs reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) vs Gunn Club (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) vs Santana & Ortiz vs FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs 2point0 (Jeff Parker & Matt Lee)
What an insane way to kick off Dynamite. This was nothing short of wonderful. It’s always hard to make matches with so many wrestlers who tell any kind of story, but it was packed with some awesome spots. Santana standing toe-to-toe with Trent after their showdown in the parking lot back in 2020. The Bucks and their complicated ‘friendship’ with reDRagon who saw Nick fly over the top ropes after helping O’Reilly. The Butcher wiped out two top tag teams in a row, only to get eliminated. Matt Hardy intervened on behalf of the Private Party, only to be let down again. Throughout the match, bodies went flying. The match started to calm down after Gunn Club, 2point0, Private Party, and The Butcher and The Blade were eliminated. Despite the big teams losing one of their men, it got spicy when only Silver, Trent, Harwood, Matt Jackson, Santana, and O’Reilly remained. Silver was amazing in the match. He delivered one hell of a straightjacket backstabber on Matt Jackson. Santana and Trent traded blows on the apron when O’Reilly and Matt knocked them to the outside. Harwood got knocked off the apron by Bobby Fish who was lurking at ringside, leaving Silver, O’Reilly, and Matt Jackson. The match ended when Matt tossed Silver over the ropes as O’Reilly swooped in and got rid of Matt straight afterwards. Following the match, reDRagon squared up to The Young Bucks in the centre of the ring.
The AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page walked out to attack reDRagon, and the Bucks just let it happen. Adam Cole intervened, but Page blocked a superkick. Page went for a Buckshot Lariat, but reDRagon pulled him out, only for O’Reilly to end up getting caught by one. “Who’s ready for storytime with Adam Page, bay-bay?” Page grabbed a chair and delivered the first of many awesome promos of the night. He talked about how Cole decided to go for the biggest championship in professional wrestling, but at Revolution, he’d end up in a grave following a Buckshot from the “better Adam.” He flipped the bird at Cole and reDRagon, who were watching on from ringside. I am hyped for this title fight. Part of me wants Cole to win, only as a precursor to a potential feud with Kenny Omega upon his return. The other part of me wants Page to retain for as long as possible. Whatever happens, this match is going to be awesome.
Knights of the Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) vs PAC & Penta Oscuro W/ Alex Abrahantes
Not only has Penta reverted back to the dark personality we’ve seen in Lucha Underground, but Abrahantes came out looking like a low budget vampire. Regardless of the new gimmick, this match was a showcase for Brody King’s athleticism. He’s a big guy, but he put on one hell of a performance. One of the standout moments was when he chopped Penta so hard while on PAC’s shoulders that Penta launched PAC with a Poisonrana. King then nailed them both with a Tope Suicida. The match ended as Black tried to spit black mist in Penta’s eyes, but he put his hand over Black’s mouth and rolled him up for the win. King attacked Penta and PAC after the bell. Black got the shovel that Penta had brought to the ring and held it over Penta’s neck as the lights went out. When they came back on, none other than Buddy Matthews was stood in the ring. Following a bit of pacing, Matthews attacked PAC and Penta. Black seemed to have some control over Matthews as he stopped him from attacking, then ordered him to stomp on Penta’s head into a steel chair. Oh, boy. Matthews looked in incredible physical shape, and now he’s a part of the House of Black, the trio is going to be near unstoppable.
Face of the Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier: Ricky Starks W/ Powerhouse Hobbs vs “10” Preston Vance
After Ricky Starks’ impressive victory over Jay Lethal recently, it feels like AEW is putting some respect on his name. As much as I enjoy watching 10, I’m happy Starks advanced into the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match. 10 used his strength to put Starks in his place, nailing him with a shoulder charge and a huge discus clothesline. Starks grabbed 10’s mask while he applied a full nelson, then was able to hit the spear to pick up the win. It’ll be interesting to see both Starks and Hobbs in the same match. Starks is going to do anything to win, even if that means turning on his friend and fellow member of Team Taz.
TBS Championship Match: The Bunny vs Jade Cargill (C) W/ Mark Sterling
With every week, Jade Cargill continues to look better in the ring. The Bunny managed to pose somewhat of a challenge for Cargill, stomping her down in the corner, landing a sliding elbow strike, and locking in a body-scissors and sleeper combo. Matt Hardy and Mark Sterling got on the apron at one point. Hardy slid brass knuckles into the ring as Sterling passed the title to Jade. Bunny went to smash Cargill with them, but she blocked the strike with the belt. Bunny ended up being hit with Jaded as Cargill retained the championship. After the match, Cargill grabbed the mic and asked who was next, or better still, who’s left? Tay Conti ran out and said she wasn’t just next, but she would kick her ass. Conti entered the ring and stood next to Cargill. As Conti shouted in her face, Cargill kissed her forehead. Bunny attacked Conti, but she hit Tay KO. Cargill then landed a massive pump kick to knock Conti flying.
Danny Garcia vs Bryan Danielson
This main event had so much promise. Bryan Danielson is considered one of the best professional wrestlers in the world, and Garcia is one of the biggest rising stars, especially after his victory at PWG BOLA 2022. Although Danielson was able to control much of the early match with a variety of submissions and huge strikes, Garcia managed to give The American Dragon a run for his money. Danielson suplexed Garcia off the apron to the outside, hit a running knee, and then delivered a shotgun dropkick off the turnbuckle. He then nailed a tiger suplex and transitioned into Cattle Mutilation. Garcia transitioned into an ankle lock while stomping on Danielson’s back. Danielson was able to pick up the win with a triangle sleeper. Afterwards, Danielson grabbed the mic and asked the fans if Garcia was violent enough? 2point0 ran out and attacked him, but Jon Moxley’s music hit. He took out 2point0, then hit Garcia with a Paradigm Shift. Danielson told Mox he accepted the match for Revolution. Am I dreaming? Is this match happening? Revolution has the potential to be PPV of the year, and I can’t wait to see it unfold.
The Promos
Tony Schiavone was backstage with Bryan Danielson who talked about his match with Daniel Garcia in the main event. He mentioned how he was trained by William Regal, yet Garcia hangs around with 2point0. Later in the night, 2point0 and Garcia responded. Garcia said he didn’t need a lesson in violence, and he would show Danielson later on.
.@GarciaWrestling says he doesn't need a lesson in violence from the #AmericanDragon @BryanDanielson. They will collide later tonight on #AEWDynamite on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/S7Og5lOYMK
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 24, 2022
MJF walked to the ring with tears in his eyes. I honestly thought they were crocodile tears and it was simply a rouse to draw CM Punk out so MJF could bring his cronies out for a cheap attack. What unfolded was one of the greatest promos in recent history. Week after week, MJF cuts fierce promos filled with vitriol and wit. This one was so much different. It felt like a supervillain’s back story tinged with raw emotion. MJF talked about being bullied through high school because of being an “ADD-riddled Jew boy.” It was intensely personal, but I felt like he meant every word. He brought up the photo from last week and mentioned how he got attacked by his football teammates with rolls of quarters, but it didn’t matter because it was Friday, and he was going to meet his icon, CM Punk. MJF said the day he met Punk meant everything to him, and because of that, he would become the best in the world. He studied wrestling tapes until his eyes bled, and practised promos in the mirror until he lost his voice. The tone switched drastically when he brought up Punk leaving professional wrestling in 2014. He yelled that Punk had left him when he needed him the most. He brought up Wrestling Classic on Instagram and a post he’d written about Punk shaking hands with Bryan Danielson (which genuinely exists). With tears rolling down his face, MJF shouted that at Revolution, Punk could choke him, whip him, or make him bleed buckets, but he is Maxwell Jacob Freidman, and he’s better than you. CM Punk walked out looking concerned. He got in the ring and asked if what he’d just said was true, to which MJF responded by saying it was. MJF walked off as CM Punk looked shocked. No cheap shots, no abuse, no name-calling. MJF cut one of the most honest and heart-breaking promos I’ve ever heard.
Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa appeared in a video package talking about their contract signing for the AEW Women’s Championship at Revolution this Friday on Rampage.
Ahead of the #AEWRevolution LIVE PPV on Sunday March 6, #AEW Women's Champion Dr. @realbrittbaker and @thunderrosa22 will sign a contract to make their championship official! Tune in to #AEWRampage TOMORROW at 10/9c on @TNTDrama. You won't want to miss this one! pic.twitter.com/Vebkclhz4y
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 24, 2022
Eddie Kingston and Chris Jericho headed to the ring to deliver yet another awesome segment. Kingston is a natural on the mic, and it was fun seeing him manipulate Jericho’s ‘sports entertainment’ style throughout. Kingston said Jericho should go down the block if he wanted sports entertainment. Jericho talked about Eddie coming to AEW, and how he couldn’t give a damn, originally believing that the Eddie they got was Eddie Edwards. He said Kingston looked like a jobber, but he saw something special in him. He continued to get into Eddie’s head, or so he thought. He talked about Kingston’s mental issues, and how he’s only broken into the big time at the age of 38. Jericho said he did the same at 22, and has since been a multiple world champion and had travelled the world. He said Kingston was jealous of him. Kingston said Jericho only did what he did because he wasn’t there. He said he didn’t want to talk to Jericho and asked for a match at Revolution. Jericho brought up Kingston’s uncle and father, calling them both failures, then told Kingston he was a failure as well. Jericho called himself the “big one” in AEW. It wasn’t Jon Moxley or Bryan Danielson, it was him. Kingston told Jericho to bring the version of him that bled buckets in Tennessee, turned WCW on its head, and was the person his close friend Levesque hated. Jericho ended by saying he would, and that Kingston was always going to be a failure. Revolution continues to get bigger. These two have had an interesting journey in AEW, and we’re finally going to see them come to blows in only a few weeks.
Matt Hardy was on the stairwell with Private Party and Andrade. He said Andrade would beat Sammy Guevara on Rampage for the TNT Championship, but at Revolution, they should have the first Tornado Trios Match. He suggested himself, Andrade, and Isiah Kassidy against Sting, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara.
#AHFO's @AndradeElIdolo & @MATTHARDYBRAND discuss #AndradeElIdolo, @IsiahKassidy & #MattHardy v @Sting, @SammyGuevara & @darbyallin in the first-ever Tornado Trios match at #AEWRevolution on March 6th!
Tune in NOW to #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/EnMqHVOpBi
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 24, 2022
reDRagon and Adam Cole were backstage. The Young Bucks interrupted and said they’d been double-crossed. Matt brought up next week and how they still had a shot to qualify for the Triple Thread ladder match at Revolution. As they walked off, reDRagon continued to talk crap about the Bucks. Cole got frustrated and said they all needed to get along.
#ReDRagon's celebration is short-lived as @youngbucks plan another shot at getting their #AEW Tag Team Titles back at #AEWRevolution… And @adamcolepro blows a fuse at this team!
Tune in NOW to #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/nbfydsJQKi
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 24, 2022
Keith Lee was being interviewed backstage. Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs walked in. Starks amusingly mocked Lee’s voice and then said he was an old face in new territory. He didn’t care where Lee came from. As they walked off, Hobbs squared up to Lee.
Not someone we would want to pick a fight with but you do you @starkmanjones ? #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/CIyWAM3bqN
— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) February 24, 2022
Double or Nothing was announced for May 29th, taking place in Las Vegas.
?VEGAS, BABY!?#AEW is coming back to Las Vegas for 3 EPIC EVENTS!
Vegas debut of #AEWDynamite (5/25) & #AEWRampage (5/27) LIVE! #AEWDoN (Double Or Nothing) LIVE on PPV on Sun, May 29
Don’t miss out! Tickets go on sale Friday, March 4 at 10am PT/1pm ET https://t.co/rFcIFV7dXS pic.twitter.com/yjzBHdaFYb— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 24, 2022
Match of the Night: Danny Garcia vs Bryan Danielson
Best in Show: MJF
Overall Rating: ****
All images and videos courtesy of AEW – Very special thanks to Fite TV for the captures