Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
It's Wednesday, we're in Dallas Texas at the Curtis Cullwell Center, and our commentary team is Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz as JR is still undergoing treatment for skin cancer.
We waste no time as it's time for the show to start with a AEW World Title Match.
Hangman Adam Page (AEW World Champion) vs Bryan Danielson
Adam Page still harbors resentment against Game of Thrones.
This has a bit match feel, and when they lock up, they do everything they can to show they both have almost equally matched strength, but Page is able to back Bryan into the corner slowly. From here, it's a match that would be called a game of human chess. Bryan works hold and strikes, and Page tries to work more of a power match, and Bryan is working to get until Page's skin.
Taz is leading the commentary, talking about the skills and techniques of both men, which makes the match seem even more important.
Bryan moves into trying long term holds, such as a slowly executed bow and arrow with knees to the back as he is putting it on and then rolling him over for a Dragon Sleeper. When Bryan goes for chops, Page takes them with a smile and when he gets his own chop, it drops Bryan. Page keeps up the power play with mounting the turnbuckle for a series of ten blows as Bryan slides in to take out Page's leg and then locks him up and keep working that body part.
Page works into place for a buckshot lariat and Bryan knocks him off the apron, but Page is back into the ring and works Bryan out of the ring before leaping onto him on the floor. They return to the ring and Page goes for a leaping strike and leaps into Bryan's kick. From here, Bryan takes over and starts picking Page apart with kicks and strikes.
This match is different than most of the AEW matches, but in line with Bryan's matches where the pace is slow, deliberate, and the moves are measured to make then seem more impactful. It really makes it look like Page is getting HURT by each blow from Bryan. When they go picture in picture, Bryan has Page down on the mat and is just slowly working him over.
When they return to full screen, Page has worked his way up and drops Bryan with a suplex. This followed by a Page rally where he gets to show his offense and a pair of leaps on Bryan from the ring to the floor. They then trade near falls, each man being spent when the other kicks out. They move to fighting in the corner and then to the top. Bryan is tosses to the mat and Page misses a moon sualt. Bryan capitalizes with a roll up and the crowd was sure that was the end of the match, but only a two count.
There is a thunderstorm here in Minneapolis, which is crazy to think we're getting a Thunderstorm ten days before Christmas.
Bryan is able to force on an ankle lock, and when Bryan breaks, he also kicks Page in the midsection. He stalks Page before dropping knees into his back. Just how Bryan makes the knee drops look, Page is a hero for just holding. Bryan gets two running drop kicks, but Page is able to get a pop- up power bomb on Bryan for a two count. Page gets in position for the Buckshot Lariat, and Bryan rolls out of the ring and the crowd boos loudly.
Page goes to leap onto Bryan, and Bryan is able to drive Page's shoulder into the ring apron, and Bryan works over his shoulder outside the ring. When Bryan rolls into the ring, they boo Bryan louder than before, and Page is busted open as we go picture in picture again. Bryan taunts the crowd on the small screen by flipping them off, doing jumping jacks, and posing like Hulk Hogan as Page is begin looked over by the medical staff.
When we return to full screen, Bryan leaping into Page as he is starting to move toward the ring. Bryan lays Page on the apron and then hits a running knee into Page's head, and then runs him into the ring post inside the ring. Bryan mounts Page in the corner and punches the wound on Page's head. After a kick to the turnbuckle Page's head was rested on, the ref checks to see if Page can go on.
Bryan drags Page to the middle of the ring and works over Page;s arm. Page is able to catch Bryan and tries for a suplex, but Bryan reverses it into a German for a two count. Bryan goes for Cattle Mutilation, and Page gets to the ropes for a break. Bryan sets Page up for kicks, and after connecting on a series of them, Page dodges and Bryan kicks the ring post and is on the floor in pain.
Page starts to work over Bryan on the floor, he exposes the barricade and wraps Bryan's leg in it and kicks the trapped leg. Page rolls Bryan into the ring. Page works Bryan's leg until Page locks on the figure four. The announcers remind us that John Silver was able to work over Bryan's knee last week and we go to commercial. Have we had an AEW match that has gone through 4 segments? This match has gone 45 minutes and shows no sign of slowing. This is a fantastic first championship match for Page.
When we come back, Page is up first and Bryan is able to hit an insigiri. They trade blows in the middle of the ring. Page goes for another pop up, and Bryan reverses it for a two count. They trade attempts at submissions until they roll into the ropes. Bryan is up first and starts a series of kicks on Page, but Page is able to get a tombstone pile driver for a two count.
They move to fight in the corner, and Page nails Bryan with chops and goes for a super-plex, but Bryan tosses him off. Bryan leaps onto Page's arm and then hits a shoulder capture suplex for a two count. They go up to the top again, and Bryan hits a side suplex on Page. Bryan isn't able to get the cover when they land and when he does make it to a cover, it's only a two count.
Bryan goes back to his elbow strikes and goes for another arm bar, but Page drags them to the ropes for another break. Bryan goes for a Gotch Style pile driver on the apron, but Page reverses it and Bryan is on the floor and Page struggles to get to him. Page goes back into the ring and the count begins. Page goes to leap on Bryan, but Bryan gets out of the way and Page hits the table instead and we have another picture in picture. We're about 7 minutes from an hour long match, which I believe is the time limit for a Championship match. And arrogant heel Bryan Danielson is just fantastic. His taunting the crowd, and his work come off as cruel and out to hurt people.
When we come back to full screen, Page is fighting up from a rear chin lock in the middle of the ring. Bryan tries the running kick, but his left leg is injured. The little things Bryan is doing is genius, kicking the injured arm of Page when Page is starting to mount a comeback. They go to the top again, and Page lands on his feet from the super plex. Page hits a lariat and both men are down with the crowd chanting Cowboy Shit!
They trade blows in the middle of the ring, both men unsteady on their feet. They trade rollups and trade blows and kicks in the middle of the ring. Page drops to his knees, takes another kick and kicks out at two.
Five minutes left in the match.
Bryan goes to the hand holding stomps. Bryan goes to the corner and motions for Page to get up. Bryan runs at Page, and Page dodges him and hits the Dead Eye for a two count.
Page is up, Bryan is down and Page shouts at the crowd that it ends right now. Page does Bryan's hand hold stomp on Bryan. Page goes for the Buckshot and Bryan is able to dodge and bring Page down for the cross face.
One minute left.
Page is working his way out of the hold and he slingshots Bryan into the ropes. Page hits the Buckshot Lariat and the bell rings to let us know the time limit has expired.
No winner: This is a time limit draw
Both men are on the mat, spent.
In the back, Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and the Young Bucks are standing by and Cole talks about their wins last week. Fish says no matter what the Best Friends do, they divide and conquer them. They will have an 8 man tag on Rampage, and then they will end Trent's Mom's career with a super kick. They then promise a present for the Best Friends on the Christmas show.
Wardlow w/Shawn Spears vs Matt Sydal
Matt gets a few kicks in.
Then its power bomb time.
Shawn gets on the mic and tells Wardlow to pin Matt. Wardlow hits another power bomb.
Thanks for coming Matt.
Your winner: Wardlow.
Shawn says it was one too many, and then goes after Matt with a chair. Shawn's phone rings and it's MJF, and he tells Wardlow that he needs to pick up some champagne for MJF's win later tonight.
We then get a video recap of the Tay Conti and Penelope Ford feud.
We get a video from Malakai Black about how accepting violence is a part of who we are and we need to embrace it. He also puts forward the idea that the House of Black is a larger idea.
Serena Deeb vs Hikaru Shida
Deeb hits a hip strike to keep Shida fromj getting in the ring, and when the bell rings and it's a brawl. Deeb is able to lock in a leg bar submission but Shida gets to the ropes. They are back to strikes against each other, and no pone is able to keep the upper hand for more than a move or two.
Deeb locks a figure four around a ring post and it breaks as we go picture in picture and Deeb stays in control through the small screen fight. Unlike the first match, they are going at full speed to give a contrast, and it's good that they gave us a Wardlow squash to give everyone a chance to get a deep breath before going into this one.
When they return to full screen, gets in a series of strikes on Deeb, beating her down to the mat. Shida gets an insigiri while Deeb is running at her for a two count. Perfect timing on that spot, and really impressive. Shida gets a delayed vertical suplex for another two county. They move to brawl in the corner, and Deeb is able to take Shida down and them exposes the pad on the turnbuckle anchor and does a neck breaker across it.
Deeb gets a two count and locks in a bridge headlock. Shida makes it to the ropes. Deeb looks fresh and Shida looks barely awake. Deeb gets a pair of neck breakers and Shida dead lifts Deeb for a Falcon Arrow. They are back to brawling in the middle of the ring, and they trade attempts at slams. Deeb gets a single leg crab on Shida in the middle of the ring. Shida rolls over and kicks her way free.
Deeb exposes a turnbuckle and tries to slam Shida into it. Shida fights her way free, they trade roll ups and and Shida finally kicks Deeb into the turnbuckle, and rolls through with a jackknife to pin Deeb for the three.
Your Winner: Hikaru Shida
Excellent match, love how it was put together and had the old school “Heel is undone by their own actions” finish.
Tony Schiavone is in the back with the Varsity Blondes. They ask how Julia Hart is doing, and they say that the black mist made it so she isn't here. But, because he left when the lights went down, he was a coward. Pillman says that he will fight Malakai Black and Griff tries to calm him down, and Pillman is having none of it as he says next week, he will break Black's Jaw.
We get a recap of Hook and his unfortunate hair's debut on Friday.
We then get Eddie Kingston talking about the ten man tag on Friday. An OK hype job to get people to tune in for Rampage. Am I understanding the show Friday will have TWO multi man tag matches? GET READY FOR AN ALL BULLET POINT RAMPAGE.
MJF addresses the crowd before his match. He mocks Texas and then turns his attention to CM Punk. He then lets Dante Martin know he is going to lose against him. He does say the Dante has the verbal ability of Helen Keller on Quaaludes...and does anyone under 45 know what a Quaalude is?
MJF vs Dante Martin for the Dynamite Diamond Ring
MJF starts with a headlock takeover like how he says he will win his matches from now on. They lock up and after trading some blows, MJF stomps on Dante's foot to break the hold. I love little things like that.
Dante takes over, gets a series of strikes and then hits a knee strike that looks like it hits MJF is the face. MJF rolls out of the ring to back off and Taz explains his lawyers are still going after Dante Martin. Dante gets back to the ring and goes for a nose dive, but MJF pushes Dante into the barricade outside the ring. MJF beats down Dante outside the ring as we go to picture in picture.
When we return to full screen, Dante fights out of a power bomb and rolls up MJF for a two count. MJF is able to get a pin with his feet on the ropes and the ref sees it and kicks his feet off the ropes. They fight on the top, and MJF is knocked down. Dante hits a drop kick from the top and both men are down. MJF rolls out and Dante flies over to top onto him.
Dante hits a Tope over the turnbuckle to the floor and as MJF tries to get away, Dante hits another Tope, this one with a flip. Dante is back in, and hits a shooting star press after leaping onto the top rope and he just barely hits MJF.
They return the ring and Dante drop MJF twice wioth blows and sets up for the nose dive, but MJF walks away.
Dante lays in ten blows in the corner. Dante is able to get a series of near falls. MJF hits a side headlock take over for a two count. They then start taring near falls. Dante gets a side headlock take over for a two count and they trade near falls again.
Dante rolls out of the ring to get a break, and MJF rolls him in. Dante brings MJF in the hard way and hits the nose dive for the cover, and Ricky Starks comes out of nowhere to put MJF's foot on the ropes. MJF takes down Dante with an arm bar, and Dante taps out.
Your winner and the winner of the Dynamite Diamond Ring for the third time: MJF
The Pinnacle comes to the ring to celebrate and the lights go out.
Sting and Darby are in the ring and they attack FTR. MJF gets a low blow on Sting, and that turns the tide. The crowd is chanting for CM Punk and his music hits. CM Punk comes out with a baseball bat and clears the ring.
He hands the bat to Sting. MJF and FTR are backing up the ramp, and Punk challenges them to a match next week.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
