Category: AEW Dynamite

Tony Khan Says AEW “Is Now Stronger Than Ever Before,” Vows Fans Won’t Be Disappointed With Big Business

During an interview with TVInsider.com, AEW President Tony Khan hyped up the “Big Business” edition of Dynamite tonight. 

The episode is expected to feature the debut of Mercedes Mone. He said, 

“I promise I will not disappoint the fans tonight. There has been an influx of huge names, and tonight is the biggest show yet. When we launched AEW, it was the first time in many years that so many resources and such a strong roster of wrestlers have come together to form a new challenger promotion. After five years, AEW is now stronger than ever before. Our roster continues to get deeper and better. This has become a popular destination that top stars seek out. This is the perfect time to continue expanding and growing. That is what tonight is all about. AEW Big Business. With such a strong group of wrestlers in AEW today, we’ve come so far from the beginning of 2019. Now we have what I believe is the best roster in pro wrestling today. There are still so many great stars out there we are always looking to add and strengthen the group. I think we will continue to try to strengthen whenever we can add someone’s skills to make AEW better. I think that constant innovation and the perpetual strides toward always wanting to get better are a big part of the spirit of AEW. I think tonight’s Big Business show on TBS will showcase that innovation and fighting spirit.”

Kazuchika Okada Makes Official AEW Debut, Replaces Kenny Omega & Adam Page In The Elite

While huge announcements are customarily reserved for Tony Khan in AEW, The Young Bucks exerted their EVP authority on “AEW Dynamite” and were about to break some huge news themselves before Eddie Kingston interrupted them, leading to a fight. As the Bucks set Kingston up for the EVP Trigger, none other than “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada hit the ring to make the save — or so it seemed, before Okada turned on Kingston and was announced as the newest member of The Elite.

That group, of which the Bucks are founding members, was newly free of “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega. Prior to the exchange with Kingston and Okada’s debut, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson declared that Page was “suspended indefinitely from The Elite without pay,” for contact with officials at Revolution, and that Omega was outright fired from The Elite for not making any of his dates of late, “for no good reason.” Omega, of course, has been out since mid-December battling diverticulitis, while it’s been reported that Page is taking time off following Revolution.

After finishing up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling at “The New Beginning In Sapporo” on February 24th, Okada returns to AEW, this time as a full-time competitor, having competed for the promotion three times prior in 2022 and 2023. He leaves NJPW a seven-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Team Champion (with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii), a four-time winner of the G1 Climax tournament, and a two-time winner of the New Japan Cup. Those accolades may have had AEW fans prepared to welcome him to the company as a hero, but his instantaneous alignment with the EVPs seems to have flipped that script right at the start.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/6/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia.

AEW announced took to X on Tuesday, revealing that this will be a new look and a new season of AEW Dynamite.

  • Fallout from AEW Revolution
  • Kyle Fletcher vs Will Ospreay
  • Kris Statlander vs. Riho

Sting Addresses His Last AEW Dynamite Crowd After The Broadcast Goes Off The Air

AEW star Sting is set to call time on his career this weekend at AEW Revolution, and last night was the final “AEW Dynamite” appearance of “The Icon” as an active wrestler. The veteran star appeared at the end of the show, coming to the aid of his tag team partner, Darby Allin, and his old friend Ric Flair, who were being attacked by The Young Bucks. In classic Sting fashion, he appeared from the rafters to make his way to the ring and used his trademark bat to inflict pain on the Bucks. 

After the show went off the air, the WWE Hall of Famer stuck around to address the fans in Huntsville, Alabama. 

“I’m not only doing my last ‘Dynamite’ — I’m doing my last ‘Dynamite’ in Huntsville,” Sting said. “I’m doing my last ‘Dynamite’ with Darby Allin as my tag team partner. I’m doing my last ‘Dynamite’ with the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair right next to me.”

https://twitter.com/istomatoafruit/status/1763048670016962870

The crowd then erupted in “Woo!” chants for Flair, giving Sting a moment to pause before continuing with his farewell speech. The former WCW star thanked the fans again before noting another significant aspect of his appearance last night.

“This is, I think, the second time I’ve actually come out of the ceiling in this building,” Sting continued. “What was the first time? Did I throw the bat to Dallas Page?” 

Sting’s memory proved correct, and the fans let him know.

Sting was referencing a pivotal WCW moment that took place in the very same arena. On April 7, 1997 — the night after that year’s WCW Spring Stampede — ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page made his way down to the ring during “WCW Nitro” to discuss his match against the NWO’s Randy Savage from the prior night. After discussing threats Savage made against Page’s wife following Spring Stampede, Page said he would have killed Savage if he had been able to find him. Despite being hurt from the match, Page told Savage to come down to the ring to face him, and Savage did — on crutches but joined by ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan and the rest of the NWO.

Just when Hogan seemed poised to move against Page, Sting appeared, zip-lining down from the rafters for an assist. “The Crow” was brandishing a baseball bat and soon revealed that he had brought an extra, tossing it over his back to Page, who was still in the ring. Despite Sting and Page being vastly outnumbered, the two were able to intimidate the NWO into backing off as that episode of “Nitro” came to a close.

Though there was no actual action in the segment, the moment remains iconic in Sting’s history. As pointed out by commentary, part of the significance came from the fact that both Sting and Page had previously been battling the NWO separately for months. With the two coming together, the segment in Huntsville marked a turning point for the faction’s grip on WCW.

“There’s some good history right here, and I’m glad to be back right here,” continued Sting, addressing the Huntsville crowd last night.

With his time as an active wrestler coming to an end in a matter of days, the 64-year-old took some of his last promo time to let the fans know how much he has appreciated their support throughout his career.

“What can I say after all these years? What can I say? Anything I would say is just kind of trivial, but I really mean — thank you, thank you, thank you. From the bottom of my heart,” said Sting. “I could not have done any of this without this tag team partner right here, Darby Allin. And I wouldn’t have been put on the map if it wasn’t for this man right here, ‘The Nature Boy.’ I love you Huntsville.”

The crowd then chanted, “Thank you, Sting,” before the legendary star bid goodbye. Sting will have his final match in pro wrestling on Sunday, March 3, where he and Allin will defend their AEW World Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks, and the champs will have “The Nature Boy” in their corner. Allin and Sting won the tag team titles earlier this month on “Dynamite,” defeating Ricky Starks and Big Bill to begin their first run with the titles. Heading into Sunday’s pay-per-view, Sting has yet to suffer a single loss during his time in AEW. Only time will tell if the legend will retire undefeated in the promotion or if he’ll “go out on his back,” as the saying goes.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Sting Descends From The Rafters To Save Ric Flair & Darby Allin In Final AEW Dynamite Appearance

The Young Bucks got quite the surprise on “AEW Dynamite” after spending the majority of Wednesday’s broadcast looking for Sting on what was “The Icon’s” final appearance on the show ahead of his final match on Sunday at Revolution. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson entered the arena at the start of the show, armed with baseball bats. They attempted to find Sting in his locker room to no avail, so they came out to the ring at the end of the night and heckled some fans in Sting masks at ringside, one of whom turned out to be Darby Allin.

The Young Bucks beat up on Allin in the ring with their bats, then called out Ric Flair. Flair was seen heading into the Bucks’ locker room last week on “Dynamite,” seemingly turning on his longtime friend. When the Bucks wanted Flair to hit Allin with one of the bats, Flair turned on them with a thumb to the eye and a cheap shot. The Bucks then started to beat up on Flair, hitting him with a low blow and beating him down. 

It was then that Sting’s music hit, and the Bucks headed up the ramp to wait for him on the stage. Sting never appeared from the back, however, and descended from the rafters armed with his own baseball bat to come to Flair and Allin’s rescue. Allin hit the Bucks with a Coffin Drop, and Sting hit Nicholas with a Scorpion Death Drop to end the show, and Sting’s final “Dynamite.” Allin and Sting put their AEW World Tag Team Championships on the line against the Young Bucks at Revolution.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/28/2024, Stings Final Dynamite Before Retirement

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL.

  • Tonight will be Sting’s final appearance on AEW Dynamite before retirement
  • Blackpool Combat Club’s Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler)
  • Atlantis Jr vs. Chris Jericho
  • Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue
  • Will Ospreay to appear
  • Hangman Adam Page will announce his status for Sunday’s Revolution

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/21/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

  • AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage vs. FTW Champion Hook, Hangman Adam Page and Rob Van Dam
  • Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli vs. FTR
  • Toni Storm in action
  • Deonna Purrazzo in action

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/14/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas (Just outside of Austin).

  • Valentine’s Day Texas Death Match: Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Taven
  • The Young Bucks (EVP’s Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. Top Flight
  • Adam Copeland vs. Daniel Garcia – (Winner get TNT Championship match against Christian Cage)
  • Jon Moxley vs. Dax Harwood
  • Skye Blue vs. Willow Nightingale
  • The premiere of Toni Storm’s new film “Wet Ink”
  • We will hear from Hangman Page, Samoa Joe, and Swerve Strickland

Mercedes Mone Reportedly Under Contract To AEW, Will Debut At ‘Big Business’ In Boston

Tony Khan’s latest big announcement officially branded the upcoming March 13 episode of “AEW Dynamite” as “Big Business,” following up on a tweet from the official TD Garden account earlier today. According to Fightful Select (and as anyone with a shrewd eye may have gleaned from the graphic), this special episode will feature the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone.

The report, from both Fightful and Andrew Zarian of “Mat Men Radio,” specified that Mone, formerly Sasha Banks in WWE, has been under contract with AEW since “at least early January,” and though other debut dates had been considered, Wednesday’s announcement in conjunction with the debut in Mone’s hometown of Boston has been finalized for weeks.

From a contract perspective, it was previously reported by Fightful that WWE confirmed talks in late December with the former Women’s Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion ,but that they weren’t able to come to terms. Prior to that, Mone appeared on screen in the crowd at AEW All In in August, leading to speculation that she might debut for the company soon after, but nothing materialized there, either.

Khan called the event “one of the most important nights ever in AEW and a night that the entire pro wrestling industry will remember,” before a graphic promoting the event adorned the screen. On the lower left hand side, underneath the TD Garden logo, the word “BO$$TON” (dollar signs and all) was right there for all the world to see, making this very much “announcing a debut without actually announcing a debut” as Khan and AEW have so memorably done before.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Sting And Darby Allin Win AEW World Tag Team Championship On Dynamite

Sting will seemingly retire in All Elite Wrestling a champion, though Matthew and Nicholas Jackson did their best to take out “The Icon” following his win with Darbin Allin on Wednesday’s episode of “AEW Dynamite.”

Sting and Allin, an undefeated team, faced off against Big Bill and Ricky Starks for the titles in the main event. The match was billed as a tornado tag and saw both teams immediately go to the outside, with Sting waiting to hit a drop on their opponents from a set of steps high above the actual ring ropes. Bill and Starks regained control, however, and sent both Sting and Allin out of the ring. 

Sting battled back in the match after Big Bill had the legend wrapped up in the ropes. Starks attempted to hit “The Icon” with his own Scorpion Death Drop, though Sting was able to kick out with the help of Allin. Allin hit a Coffin Drop to Big Bill, and Sting was able to get Starks into a Scorpion Death Lock for the win. Following the match, Matt and Nick (now going by their “government” names of Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) beat down the duo of Sting and Allin, foreshadowing what is widely expected to be their match at AEW Revolution — a match which, presumably, will now be for the tag titles. The Bucks also took out Sting’s sons who was in the ring to celebrate with their father. It will also be the final match of Sting’s career, as he announced back in October.

Source: Wrestling Inc.