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It's Friday Night! And you know what that means. Actually it means another Friday night where my social calendar is so barren I'm covering AEW at 10 PM EST. Jim Ross, Excalibur and Tony Schiavone welcome us and we are going straight to AEW's first ever cage fight.
Taz has joined the booth for our opening contest. Nice touch considering his long time portrayal.
Cage Fight (Can Only be won by Knockout, Submission, or referee stoppage) Wardlow w/Shawn Spears vs. Jake Hager w/Chris Jericho
For the record, I have no interest whatsoever in fighting either of these guys in real life. Wardlow, in a show of massive disrespect, turns his back on Hager during intros. Aubrey Edwards is your referee. I would have tried to get John McCarthy or Herb Dean for legitimacy. I'm giving AEW a lot of props for this presentation, as I'm an MMA fan and this looks as legit as it gets in terms of presentation. Code of Honor not adhered to.
Round 1
They circle and trade jabs. Both guys swinging tentatively so far. Wardlow blocks a takedown and bullies Hager into the corner, Aubrey orders a stand up, which in MMA means you start over at the center of the ring. Big jab connects by Hager. Wardlow smiles at him. Leg kick by Hager, Wardlow backs up, followed by another, Wardlow shoves him down. Double leg takedown by Hager, he backs off and lets Wardlow up. He takes Wardlow down again and connects with hammerfists. Wardlow shoves him off and they square off again. Wardlow catches Hager's roundhouse and connects with a straight right hand and goes to work against the cage. Takedown by Wardlow, Hager scrambles to his feet. They are throwing wild haymakers, very few of which connect. Superman punch off the cage by Wardlow and Hager is in trouble as the bell rings to end round 1.
If this were an actual MMA fight, Wardlow would be up 10-9 in my book.
Round 2
Wardlow misses a running knee, Hager is favoring his side. Waistlock by Hager, Wardlow takes him down with a double wristlock and fires away at some ground and pound. Wardlow goes for the cross armbreaker, Hager immediately escapes and drives elbows into Wardlow. Hager himself goes for an armbar and then tries a triangle. Wardlow lifts him slightly and drops him. He tries some ground and pound but Hager slips out into an ankle lock. Upkick by Wardlow, he gets to his feet and buckle bombs Hager into the cage. Running hurancanrana by Wardlow. He goes for ground and pound but Hager rolls it into a head and arm triangle. Wardlow elbows out and picks Hager up but Hager slips out and nails an uranage and goes back to the head and arm choke. Wardlow gives Hager the middle finger as he loses consciousness. Referee Edwards calls for the bell.
WINNER: Jake Hager
The two are about to bump fists until Spears attacks Hager. Jericho helps him and MJF joins the fray. MJF with a deep armbar and Jericho is tapping out. Dean Malenko pulls MJF off. MJF nails a hard elbow on The man of 1000 holds. Sammy Guevara joins in and chases off the remaining Pinnacle members.
Taz thanks the guys and leaves the booth.
Frankie Kazarian, Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero with a bible verse and words of warning for The Good Brothers and Matt Jackson, their opponents tonight. Kazarian was AWESOME in this promo, and that's saying something in a promo with Kingston.
Taz is with Hook, Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs. Taz and Hobbs tell Starks he needs to get on the same page with Cage. They challenge Adam Page to a match with Hobbs for next Saturday Night
Handicap Match Darby Allin vs. Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky
Page and Sky are now known as Men of the Year. A reminder that Allin told Sting to stay home. Page starts things off for his team and misses a clothesline. Allin with an armdrag and Page bails to the corner. Sky tags in. Drop toe hold and a cradle for 2 by Allin. Allin gets caught by Page and Sky punches him right in the face. The advantage doesn't last as Allin hits a springboard Coffin Drop. Page with a big shoulderblock, he goes for a press slam but Allin with a sleeper. Page drives him back into the buckle and throws him into the opposite corner. Stomps in the corner by Page as we go to commercial.
We're back and a backbreaker by Page. Sky tags in and lays the boots to Allin. Page tags back in and nails another back beaker. Here comes Sky and he nails a back breaker. Roderick Strong would be proud. Page tags in and Allin with a small package for 2. Darby counters a backbreaker with a Scorpion Death Drop. Sky tags in and Allin evades him and nails a dropkick and a Destroyer for 2. Page with an uranage. While the Men of the Year jaw jack with the referee, Allin zip ties Page's feet together and throws him from the ring. He rolls up Sky for 2. Crucifix for 2 by Allin and follows up with a stunner. He hits a coffin drop for 2. Page pulled him to the outsdie. Luckily there is a toolbox under the ring and Page frees himself. He throws Darby into the post. Page tags in and goes for a superplex but Darby headbutts him to the ground. Sky prevents the coffin drop and Page applies the Ego's Edge and scores the pin.
WINNERS: Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky
The Men of the Year mock Allin.
Orange Cassidy w/Best Friends and Kris Statlander vs. Cezar Bononi w/ The Wingmen (JD Drake, Peter Avalon and Ryan Nemeth)
I'd like to send my continued best wishes to Mrs. Bononi.
Bononi throws Cassidy into the corner and pounds away. He forces Cassidy's hands into the corner and tosses him into the other corner. Avalon and Nemeth apply spray tan to Cassidy. Boot to the face by Cezar. Cassidy rolls out and the Wingmen try to brush Cassidy's hair and put a HUNK jacket on him. Why aren't Best Friends at least trying to intervene? Cassidy trips Bononi to the outside and he goes for a tope on the Wingmen. They catch him and apply more spray tan. Best Friends argue with the referee. While Statlander continues the argument, Trent and Chuck Catapult Cassidy from the ring onto the Wingmen. This time, it takes them down. Cassidy with slumdog millionaire into a DDT. Cassidy nails an Orange punch to Bononi, Drake and Bononi again for the pin.
WINNER: Orange Cassidy
Avalon cries over Bononi as Alex Marvez catches up with Jungle Boy Jack Perry, ahead of his title match with Kenny Omega next week. Omega, Callis and Nakazawa arrive on the scene. He tells Perry that next week's match will be a slaughter. Omega wants a fight now. Omega offers Perry a free shot. Nakazawa with a chair to the back and Omega knocks him down. Perry fires back and Omega runs off.
Alex then catches up with Big Money Matt Hardy, who has harsh words for Christian Cage, who shows up and the two have to be separated. Has it really been 22 years since their first match together.
Cody Rhodes and Brock Anderson vs. Aaron Solow and QT Marshall
First and foremost, I think I speak for Cory Strode in congratulating Cody and Brandi Rhodes on the birth of their daughter. My god, Brock Anderson looks like his dad. It is so surreal to me that Tony Schiavone is calling Brock Anderson's TV debut. As I recall (because I was watching) he called Arn's first match on TBS. Brock starts off with Solow and avoids the clothesline. Lockup and an arm twist by Solow. Brock reverses it and takes down Solow by the hair out of the view of the referee. That young man is an Anderson! Solow with a hair pull of his own and Anderson kips up. Arn never did that, I'm fairly certain. He takes Solow down and stomps on the arm. QT tags in.
Weird issue here. QT has been around for round about 2 years. QT's last name has always been pronounced Mar-SHALL. Tony and JR and now making a big deal out of this.
Brock is driving his shoulder into QT's midsection in the corner. Back body drop by Brock. QT with a spinebuster for 2. Arn is not happy as we go to commercial.
We're back and i gotta say, Brock Anderson has some real potential. He avoids a charge and gets the tag to Cody but Paul Turner didn;t see it. Neck breaker by QT for 2. DDT by Brock and he makes the tag, as does Solow. Cody goes to work with a series of clotheslines and beils QT across the ring. Cody clotheslines him over the top and nails Solow with a Figure 4. Solow makes the ropes. Big right hands by Cody. Cody with a Destroyer on an interfering QT. Cody sends QT to the outside. Brock tags in and rolls up Solow for the pin while Cody and QT brawl on the floor.
WINNERS: Brock Anderson and Cody Rhodes
Father and son with a big hug. Cody looks very proud.
Lance Archer and Jake Roberts are angry. They want Miro again.
JR has a backstage interview with Andrade El Idolo. Andrade says he is a superstar. He also wants the TNT Title. After that he's going after the World Title. He says that he and Vickie Guerrero have a big surprise.
Adam Page is with Dark Order. He accepts Powerhouse Hobbs' offer. John Silver will be back soon. He toast Evil Uno on his effort against Miro last week
Penelope Ford vs. Julia Hart w/ The Varsity Blonds
Lockup, Ford with an armtwist into a headlock takedown. Headscissors reversal by Hart. Shoulder tackle by Ford, dropkick by Hart into a cross body. Ford pulls her out and assaults her on the apron. Ford with a double knee as we head out to commercial.
We're back and Hart misses a clothesline. Ford with a back elbow into a clothesline. Seris of side kicks by Hart, Ford catches her and hits a gut buster. Ford misses a moonsault but Hart misses a split legdrop. Ford with an Indian Leglock into a Last Chancery and Hart has no choice but to tap.
WINNER: Penelope Ford
Here comes Miro and he wants to know where Kip is. He thinks it's unfair that it was 3 against 1. Miro beats the out of Garrison and Pillman hits a spring board clothesline They brawl and the referees try to break things up.
Tony Schiavone is with Dr. Britt Baker DMD and Reba. Vickie Guerrero wants a title shot for Nyla Rose. Tony Khan has set up a tag team match between Rose and Guerrero vs. Baker and Reba for June 30th.
We get a video package between FTR, and Santana and Ortiz. These 2 teams are headed for a collision course.
Mark Sterling and Jade Cargill announce a partnership with the Toronto Four Seasons. Only elite brands gets to work with Jade.
Eddie Kingston, Frankie Kazarian, Penta El Zero Miedo vs. The Good Brothers and Matt Jackson
Don Callis has joined the booth. Six man tag means bullet point time.
Kazarian tees off on Anderson and hits a rolling reverse for 1.
Kazarian with a clothesline
Penta tags in and nails leg kicks but an eye rake by Anderson
Jackson tags in and Penta hits a pair of sling blades
Kingston tags in and slaps on a camel clutch while Penta kicks Jackson
Eddie sends Matt into the buckles and nails a big chop
Doc Gallows tags in and he takes Kingston down with a shoulder tackle
Kingston with a reverse atomic drop and we've got a 6 way brawl on the outside
Cross body and a series of punches by Matt to Kingston as we head to commercial
We're back and Anderson is working over Kingston in his corner.
Matt tags in and hits an assisted dropkick for 2.
Matt lays in the punches but Eddie fires back.
Eye rake by Jackson
Kingston with an overhead belly to belly and makes the tag to Kazarian
Kaz works over the tagged in Anderson and takes out Gallows.
Stunner by Kaz for 2 into a crossface chicken wing, Gallows makes the save
Anderson hits a spinebuster on Kazarian
Penta and Jackson tag in
Jackson misses a hammer and Penta hits the Good Brothers with a tope con hilo
Kingston tags in and hits a running knee strike
Jackson takes a series of finishers and Gallows makes the save
Resetting: Gallows and Penta are now legal
Neckbreaker by Anderson, Gallows tags in and hits an avalanche in the corner for 2.
Anderson tags in and Kazarian blocks the magic killer
Another 6 way brawl breaks out
Penta with a backstabber.
Penta to the top but Nick Jackson runs out and sprays the aerosol can in Penta's eyes
Super Cutter by Anderson on Penta for the Pin
WINNERS: Matt Jackson and the Good Brothers
The Elite celebrate on the ramp as we go to credits.
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