The end of the pre-show was worth watching, Mick Foley was presenting the pre-show with Renee Paquette and she asked him about who he thought was going to win the World Title match, and Foley said he thought MJF was wrestling not to lose, rather than to win the match and that he thought Darby would win. This brought out MJF who cut a promo on Foley saying he was a loser, Foley responded that he may have lost a lot of matches in his career but he never lost a match in 2:15 like MJF did, he says he only just noticed that MJF has wavy hair, and it’s going to be waving goodbye tonight. MJF kicked Foley low and signalled to hit him with the Dynamite Diamond Ring only for Darby Allin to run in and chase MJF off. Foley got back on the mic and said that he only recently discovered that he inspired Darby and put Darby over, he said he represented the weirdos in his career and he sees himself in Darby, he says Darby should win it tonight for the weirdos. 

AEW World Tag Team Championship - Street Fight - I Quit Match
FTR © (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
This is an interesting way to start the show. The crowd sang Cope’s song as he made his entrance and continued to sing it after the music stopped. Christian made his entrance and Excalibur announced the attendance as sold-out 15,000 people. The commentators are Tony Schiavone, Excalibur & Nigel McGuinness. FTR came out to a chorus of boos from the fans. “Holy Shit” chants at the start before anything happens. There are two referees, one in the ring and one around ringside. Early “We want tables” chants from the fans. Christian got barbed wire and wrapped it around the ring rope and drop toe holded Dax into it, then choked him in it, Christian took the referee’s belt from him and started to whip Dax with it, Cope took it and whipped Cash with it too. Cash saved Dax from getting choked out with the belt, Christian got sent into the ring post and Cash smashed his bad arm across a chair. Cope hit Cash with a ladder and then suplexed Dax onto the ladder. Fans chanted “One more time”. Cope pulled a table out from under the ring and set it up. Cash wrapped a chair around Cope’s head and sent him into the ring post. Dax took a toolbox from the timekeeper area, Christian kicked Dax low and took pliers out from the toolbox and looked like he was trying to rip Dax’s moustache off his face, Cash came in and Christian used the pliers on his yam bag. Dax smashed Christian in the head with the toolbox and then used a steel chair on his bad arm. FTR hit a double team Piledriver to Cope on the Spanish Announce Table, but it didn’t break. They went to drop a cinderblock over Christian’s bad arm but he moved and it broke in two, they still put his bad arm inside the block and hit a chair over it a few times, the ref put the mic to Christian and he said “I banged your Mother” to Dax. In the ring, FTR were setting Christian up for a Spike Piledriver and Dax got the ref to ask Christian if he quit, and Christian said “go fuck yourself”, he slingshotted Dax into Cash and hit the Killswitch and everyone is down. Stokely has dismantled the turnbuckle and removed the top rope from the ring. Christian chokes Dax with the top rope, but Cash then choked Christian with barbed wire. FTR hits the Shatter Machine on Christian but Cope comes in and hits spears to both Cash and Dax. Cope goes mad with chair shots to both Dax and Cash.  Dax gets a mic and begs off Cope and Cash gets a mic and tells Cope he’ll say it, this was a distraction to allow Stokely to hit Cope with the watch he had previously stolen from Christian and FTR hit a Shatter Machine on Cope. Beth Copeland comes out and lays into Stokely but Dax throws her into the steel steps. Dax sets fire to a table on the outside and Stoke was holding onto Beth on the apron, Cash went to spear Beth who moved and he speared Stoke through the burning table. “You deserve it” chants from the fans. Dax sets up for a Con-chair-to to Cope and takes the mic he says “If you want to see your two daughters tomorrow, say the words” Cope doesn’t say anything and Beth low-blows Dax. Christian punts Dax with a low blow and Cope hits a piledriver on him. Christian puts him in a Sharpshooter and he won’t quit, Cope puts a crossface on him at the same time and he still won’t quit. Cope signals to Beth who flips the steel steps to reveal “Spike” the bat with the spikes on it, with Christian still holding Dax in the Sharpshooter, Cope puts the bat to Dax’s head and he says “I Quit”. Winners and New AEW World Tag Team Champions: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage. Post-match Beth is in tears ringside. They show replays leading to the finish and the new champions have their hands raised as pyro goes off on the stage. Nigel says Cage got his watch back from Stokely, the fans sing Cope’s music as he hugs Beth in the ring. 

AEW International Championship: Kazuchika Okada © vs. Konosuke Takeshita
There was an excellent video package of Takeshita before he came out for this match. Renee is ringside talking up this match. Both men get excellent reactions. Don Callis is not in either man’s corner but he has joined commentary. “Holy Shit” chants before anything happens again. Nigel refers to Okada as King and Takeshita as Prince. Both men go for their finishes early and have a stand-off, loud “AEW” chants from the fans. “Fuck Don Callis” chants and Don takes his headset off in disbelief on commentary. Takeshita started the better but Okada dropkicked him to the outside. Okada sends Takeshita into the ring steps and the guard rail, he sends him into another guard rail and sends him back in the ring. Okada went for a cocky cover with his foot on Takeshita’s chest for a 1 count and the fans booed him. Okada does it again after a neckbreaker, and again the fans boo him, Excalibur says he’s being disrespectful. Takeshita tries to fight back but Okada drops him, then Takeshita hits a pair of Exploder Suplexes, Takeshita went for a back Senton off the second ropes but Okada got his knees up, Takeshita with a running knee to Okada’s face. Okada rolls to the outside and Takeshita with a running flip dive to the outside wiping Okada out. Back in the ring Okada hit an Air Raid Crash across the knee, then a scoop slam and an elbow off the top. Okada with a release German Suplex but Takeshita lands on his feet, he goes for a Blue Thunder Bomb but Okada gets out, and goes for a Tombstone but Takeshita reverses it into a Tombstone position of his own, grabs Okada’s legs and hits a driver of sorts, then immediately pulls Okada back up for a Wheelbarrow Suplex, Okada immediately gets up and hits a Shotgun Dropkick and a Discus Lariat and the fans go wild as both men are down. “This is Awesome” chant from the fans. Both men exchange forearm strikes standing on the ring apron, Takeshita hits a knee strike and signals for something on the floor, he lifts Okada up for a suplex but Okada lands on his feet inside the ring, and hits a rainmaker on the apron and Takeshita falls to the outside. Okada hits a DDT on the floor and is smiling. Don Callis says he is concerned for both men on commentary, Okada starts to lift Takeshita up for a Tombstone and Don leaves commentary to stop Okada and tells him to get him back in the ring. Okada goes back in the ring and the ref begins to count Takeshita out. Don rejoins commentary and says Okada would have broken his neck, Okada goes back out to bring Takeshita in, but Takeshita hits a brainbuster on the floor and Don leaves commentary and yells at Takeshita who flips him off. He sends Okada back in and hits a running big boot in the corner, he hits a Superplex off the top and holds on, looking for Raging Fire but Okada just lands on his feet behind him, Okada goes for a rainmaker but Takeshita avoids it, and hits a unique German Suplex for a two count. Takeshita signals for a Powerdrive Knee but Okada hits a Tombstone Piledriver and both men are down. Both men exchange strikes and Takeshita fires up and starts to no sell Okada, then fires back with his own strikes, Okada went for a rainmaker but Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb, Okada hit a slam in return, went for a Rainmaker but Takeshita turned it into a near fall. Okada blocked a Powerdrive Knee and got a backslide into a short arm Clothesline, Okada maintains wrist control but misses another rainmaker, he hits a Dropkick and goes for a Rainmaker but Takeshita hits him instead with one and the crowd go wild! Okada with another dropkick though and Takeshita comes back with a Powerdrive Knee, Okada no sells it kicking out at one! The crowd are on their feet and chant “Holy Shit” as Takeshita hits a forearm to drop Okada, he then hits the Raging Fire and gets the three count! Winner and New AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita. 

Post-match Don Callis gets in the ring to congratulate Takeshita and bows to him, he then goes to check on Okada. Takeshita poses with the belt in the corner and turns around to see Rocky Romero and Mark Davis with Okada & Don Callis. There seems to be a disagreement and Takeshita looks ready to fight. Then Kyle Fletcher’s music plays and he walks out on the stage wearing a suit. Takeshita looks happy to see Kyle, who walks to the ring with purpose. Kyle stares at Takeshita then goes face to face with Okada. Okada, Rocky, Don & Mark leave and Kyle smiles at Takeshita then hugs him. The fans cheer and Fletcher’s music plays. Fletcher hands Takeshita the title and raises his hand, he then clotheslines Takeshita. I knew that was going to happen, Fletcher will be the next challenger for the International Title. “Asshole” chants from the fans and Kyle hits a Brainbuster and Don Callis applauds Kyle. Both Okada and Fletcher both go to pick the International Title up at the same time. Okada lets go and apologises, Rocky & Davis hold Takeshita up and Fletcher hits Takeshita with the title belt. 

Excalibur plugs the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. 

Owen Hart Foundation Tournament: Mina Shirakawa vs. Athena Nigel compares Athena to Bruno Sammartino, there’s only one Nigel McGuinness. Mina decided to try and dance mid match which was stupid as Athena took control, Athena hit a running kick to Mina when she was going up to the top rope, she then hit a back suplex on the ring apron, she missed a running knee into the steps but quickly sent Mina into the commentary table, she then hit a shotgun dropkick that sent Mina back first into the light board guard rail, and they “short circuited” the display from the “impact”. In the ring Athena got a two count. Fans tried to get a “Let’s go Mina” chant but were drowned out by a duelling “ATHENA” chant which was louder. Mina comes back and starts to work over Athena’s leg in a heelish way, which I think is a bit odd since Athena is clearly a heel. Mina dove off the top with a Crossbody but Athena caught her, powered her up on her shoulders and slammed her down and got a two count, Nigel said she dropped her “like a sack of spuds”. Mina came back with an Enziguri off the ropes and a slingblade, Mina hit a rope assisted Tornado DDT at the second attempt. Mina with a Tornillo over the top rope wiping out Athena on the outside. Mina with a Shotgun Dropkick off the top rope, and slaps Athena’s ass. Mina got Athena up on her shoulders in an Electric Chair position and then spun her around with a slam of some sort. It looked awkward and commentary pointed out a bad landing and in real time I had no idea if Athena had countered it. Mina went for a Figure Four but Athena kicked her away, hit a Tiaras head scissors, hit a leg sweep and then stomped Mina face first into the mat. Mina’s stuff has looked a bit sloppy but Athena’s stuff has been crisp. Commentary put over Athena’s win/loss record she goes for the O Face off the second rope but Mina blocks it, gets a pinning situation for a two count and then Mina lands a tilt a whirl facebuster and a seatbelt type cover for a two count. Mina hits a back fist and puts the Figure Four leg lock on Athena. Nigel keeps referring to Athena as the “champion” and she is indeed ROH Women’s World Champion but the title is not on the line, so he shouldn’t be referring to her that way. Athena gets to the ropes. Mina hits another back fist and goes for a reverse DDT but Athena counters it into a Pumphandle Tombstone Piledriver. Athena goes up top and hits the O Face for the three count. Winner: Athena

Athena will face the winner of Skye Blue vs. Saree in the Semi-Finals. Post-match Athena poses next to the Owen Hart Trophy. 

They show a video package for Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley. Back live and backstage The Conglomeration are with Kyle, Mark Briscoe says tonight is his night. 

AEW Continental Championship - No Time Limits Jon Moxley © vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Jim Ross has joined the commentary team replacing Tony Schiavone. Kyle comes out first. Moxley enters through the crowd to a nice reaction from the fans. Renee is ringside and puts over Kyle O’Reilly saying he took Moxley to the 20 minute time limit on Dynamite and puts over no time limits in this match. JR says the pressure is on Moxley tonight. Duelling chants from the fans for Moxley & O’Reilly as they have a feeling out process at the beginning. Kyle gets the advantage to begin with and gets a front guillotine with body scissors but Moxley gets out, Kyle got a cross-arm breaker but Moxley got out and put Kyle in an ankle lock, Kyle escaped and launched Moxley to the floor. Kyle came off the ring apron with a flying knee. On commentary JR doesn’t know Kyle O’Reilly’s name and keeps referring to him as a “kid” Nigel has to tell him his name. Kyle hits Moxley’s head off the steps and delivers kicks. Moxley flips him off though and Kyle delivers kicks to Moxley’s chest, he misses a kick and his leg hits the ring post. Kyle sells his leg and Moxley looks very happy with Kyle being injured. Moxley begins to work over Kyle’s left leg. Dragon Screw by Moxley and strikes from Moxley in the corner. Duelling chants from the fans again for Moxley & O’Reilly. Moxley with a pair of dropkicks to Kyle’s bad leg in the corner. Another Dragon Screw from Moxley and a spinning toe hold into what looks like an Indian Deathlock but the commentators don’t call it that. Kyle makes it to the ropes. Moxley with body shots to Kyle who comes back with a big kick and knees to the midsection, and gets a front guillotine and a knee strike. Moxley kicks Kyle’s bad leg and puts a guillotine on Kyle in the ropes, Kyle comes back though and wrenches Moxley’s arm and hits a flying knee strike off the middle rope. O’Reilly goes for a cross arm breaker but Moxley desperately tries to prevent it, Kyle gets it in, but Moxley rolls over into a single leg crab on Kyle’s bad leg but he makes it to the ropes. Moxley goes for a dragon screw but Kyle blocks it and gets a cross arm breaker in again, he transitions into an Ankle Lock, Moxley tries to fight out but Kyle manages to keep it in, he crouches down with the hold applied and Moxley is biting his fist and refusing to tap out. Kyle lets go of the hold and stomps Moxley’s ankle, Kyle hits a PK and Moxley rolls to the outside. The ref counts Moxley out and Moxley gives himself a pep talk on the outside, Moxley rolls in and Kyle hits a stomp, Moxley comes back with a Cutter and both men are down. Moxley with clotheslines in the corner and both men deliver clotheslines for a double down. More duelling chants from the fans. Both men are on their knees and exchange right hands and open hand slaps, Moxley hits a lariat and a Death Rider, he immediately goes for a choke but Kyle rolls backwards and applies an Ankle Lock, Moxley then picks Kyle’s bad leg and applies an ankle lock and both men have ankle locks on each other. Kyle manages to get a pin for a near fall but Moxley kicks out, and keeps the ankle lock on Kyle, Kyle desperately tries to reach the ropes but taps out. Winner: Jon Moxley © On commentary JR says we’ve got a new champion and Excalibur says Moxley retained the title. Post-match The Death Riders come out to congratulate Moxley and The Conglomeration come out to check on Kyle O’Reilly. Moxley offers his hand to Kyle and they shake hands.

Video package for Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe

Owen Hart Foundation Tournament: Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe Loud Ospreay chants, Moxley and the Death Riders are in the crowd and Moxley is cheering on Ospreay like a proud father. On Commentary Taz has replaced Nigel and Tony has replaced JR. Loud Joe chants as he makes his entrance. Taz says he doesn’t think Ospreay is ready for Joe. Ospreay immediately hits an Os-Cutter on Joe during his entrance, and tries to facewash him in the corner  but Joe drops him with a back elbow and then yells at the ref. Joe with a couple of chops but Ospreay with a dropkick and a dive over the top to Joe, he sends Joe back in and hits a Spring Board 450 Splash for a two count and immediately goes for the Death Ground arm bar but Joe gets his foot on the bottom rope. “Ospreay” chants from the fans and Joe rolls to the outside. Ospreay goes for the Sasuke special but Joe gets him in a Coquina Clutch, then slams him neck first into the guard rail. Joe goes back inside and the ref begins to count Ospreay out, who gets back in at seven. Joe with a face wash in the corner, mongolian chops to the back of Ospreay’s neck and a nerve hold from Joe. Ospreay tries to fight back but Joe with a headbutt and they exchange forearm strikes. Rolling elbow from Joe drops Ospreay. Joe works over Ospreay’s neck. Joe went for a Senton Splash but Ospreay got his knees up. Joe comes back with a kick in the corner and goes for a Muscle Buster but Ospreay blocked it and hit a a double stomp to Joe’s arm, which Excalibur points out on commentary is something Joe has had issues with throughout his career and that’s why it’s taped up. Ospreay begins to work over Joe’s left arm. Corkscrew kick from Ospreay for a two count. Ospreay with kicks to Joe’s head, Ospreay went for an Oscutter but Joe walked away and did his Nope spot, Joe hit a Senton Splash for a two count. Joe with a Powerbomb for a two count and transitioned into a submission immediately, Joe transitions between a couple of different submissions and Ospreay gets to the ropes. Joe delivers kicks to Ospreay’s chest and Ospreay comes up to his feet and hits a flurry of strikes to Joe and backs him into the corner but Joe comes back with open hand slaps. Ospreay comes back though with a Styles Clash for a two count. Ospreay signals for Hidden Blade and it connects but Joe gets a shoulder up at two. Ospreay removes his elbow pad and signals for it a second time but Joe hits a snap powerslam and both men are down. “This is Awesome” chants from the fans. Ospreay goes for Death Ground and Joe stacked him over into a pin for a two count and Joe gets the Coquina Clutch, Ospreay gets out using the turnbuckle to spring backwards into a pin for a two count. Joe with a Uranage in the corner and locks in the Coquina Clutch with body scissors. Ospreay’s arm drops twice but on the third drop he grabs the rope. Ospreay chants from the fans, Joe delivers headbutts and goes for a Muscle Buster but Ospreay lands behind him, he charges at Joe and hits a Hidden Blade, Joe kicks out at one and Ospreay hits a second Hidden Blade from behind Joe and gets the three count. Winner: Will Ospreay Excalibur says Ospreay will face the winner of Jack Perry vs Mark Davis. Post-match Joe bows to Ospreay and Ospreay celebrates as the fans sing along to his song. 

Video package for Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido

Owen Hart Foundation Tournament: Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido Swerve makes his entrance with a ton of pyro. “Who’s House? Swerve’s House” chants from the fans. Bandido comes out wearing a very large sombrero. “Bandido” chants from the fans before the bell. Bandido has tape over his neck and shoulders which commentary put over as a result of Swerve hitting him with a Vertebreaker on a chair. Bandido starts fast but Swerve hits a lariat and a neckbreaker. Swerve is targeting Bandido’s neck. Bandido with a one arm Military Press Slam from inside the ring to the outside and then hits a dropkick off the apron. There seem to be issues with the My AEW stream (although I’m watching this after the show and not live). Bandido tosses Swerve around ringside. “AEW” chants from the fans. Swerve tries to escape from Bandido and he sits him on a steel chair, Bandido gets up on the apron and hits a Cannonball to Swerve, commentary said he was channelling Brody King and Excalibur said it was a Senton. Bandido with shoulders in the corner to Swerve who sidesteps a Bandido charge and then German Suplexes him into the turnbuckle. “Who’s House? Swerve’s House” chants. “AEW” chants again from the fans. Swerve goes back to working on Bandido’s neck. Taz says Prince Nana is a hell of a dancer and a very handsome man. Bandido with a thrust kick and a spring board Tornillo which begins a comeback. Kick in the corner and a release German Suplex from Bandido. He goes up top and delivers a Frog Splash for a two count. Swerve comes back with a forward roll jumping Flatliner for a two count. They show Prince Nana at ringside and there’s a guy sitting behind him that looks like George Costanza from Seinfeld, I mean they are in New York. Swerve leapt up onto Bandido’s shoulders and kicked him, then he came off the top with a Swerve Stomp but Bandido kicked out at two. Swerve trash talks Bandido on the apron who manages to hit a Poison Rana to him off the apron “Holy Shit” chants from the fans. That looked dangerous. Bandido hits a 21-Plex on Swerve, but he can’t hold the bridging pin because of his bad neck. Swerve is laughing as the ref checks on Bandido. Both men attempt sunset flips but roll through, Bandido hits a crazy rana from a Code Red position - as in, it looked like he was going to take a Code Red. Bandido went for another 21-Plex but Swerve countered it into a Vertebreaker and hit the House Call for the three count. Winner: Swerve Strickland Excalibur says Swerve will face the winner of Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King in the next round. That was a fantastic match. We are two and a half hours into the show, which appears to be four hours total.

Video package for the Women’s World Title Match

AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Thekla © vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida Thekla comes out first, which is odd since she’s the champion. Taz says he thinks Thekla is in trouble in this match. Jamie Hayter says she’s going to be motherfucking two time champion as she makes her entrance. UWotM8? Statlander is from Long Island New York which makes this a home town for her according to commentary. Shida comes out as the last participant. Tony says this is a different Shida since she came back to AEW. All three women go straight for Thekla and deliver moves to her. Statlander positions Thekla for Shida to hit her running knee on the outside. Back in the ring Shida helps Statlander double team Hayter but she runs through both women with running clotheslines. Thekla comes back in and tries to pin Hayter but Shida & Statlander break up the pin. Thekla with a headscissors and a boot to Statlander. Shida goes after Thekla. Hayter pushes Shida into Statlander. Statlander shows her power with Hayter and neither woman can take each other down with shoulder tackles, they exchange clotheslines but neither go down. Thekla with a Crossbody off the top but Statlander & Hayter catch her. Shida comes off the top with a Missile Dropkick to take all three women down. Shida tries to pin everyone unsuccessfully including Statlander. Everyone tries to pin each other before it comes down to just Statlander and Shida. Statlander goes for a suicide dive to Hayter but Thekla intercepts her with a boot on the apron. Shida then kicks Thekla, she misses a stomp on Thekla on the floor and Hayter kicks her. Thekla goes up top and hits a Crossbody, wiping out all of her challengers. Thekla sends Shida into the guard rail, and then Hayter into the ring steps. She sends Statlander back in the ring. Thekla put Statlander in a Rings of Saturn and grabbed at her mouth it reminded me a bit of Britt Baker, Statlander bit her fingers and hit a couple of scoop slams to Thekla. Crowd gets behind Statlander but Thekla with the upside down choke in the ropes, but Statlander reverses it and drops Thekla face first on the top turnbuckle. Thekla with a Spider Suplex to Statlander and celebrates to cheers from the fans. Shida hits her from behind and then Hayter comes back into the picture. Shida hits a Superplex to Hayter and holds on to her, but Hayter with a Back Suplex. Statlander with a Discus Lariat to Hayter. Thekla with a spear to Statlander. Thekla & Hayter headbutt each other and Shida and Statlander hit them with Back Suplexes and all four are down. The crowd applauded and we got a light “This is Awesome” chant. The crowd has been quieter for this match. All women pummel each other in the middle of the ring. Hayter and Statlander both went for Cross Bodys. Shida hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to Thekla, Shida went for a Falcon Arrow but Thekla countered it into a pin for a near fall, she went for her Spider Walk but Statlander lifted her up. Hayter took out Statlander, Shida accidentally hit Statlander with a jumping knee. Hayter dumped Shida to the outside, and hit Thekla with a Uranage across the knee, Thekla came back with a flying arm bar but Hayter turned it into a backbreaker and hit HayterAde but Shida broke up the pin with a running knee and hit the Falcon Arrow but immediately put her into a modified ankle lock and tried to grab Hayter’s arm which was weird. Statlander broke it up and put her hand around Shida’s throat and yelled at her, Statlander let go of Shida and Shida slapped her, both women exchanged strikes and Statlander lost it, tossing Shida into the ring steps and kicking Hayter. In the ring, Statlander hit Saturday Night Fever on Thekla and Shida smashed her with her Kendo Stick which is legal in a four-way match. Hayter disarmed Shida’s stick and took her out on the outside. Back inside, Thekla hit a stomp on Statlander to retain the title. Winner: Thekla © 

They plug the Stadium Stampede Match which is up next.

They show a video of the heels for the Stadium Stampede match arriving at the arena. The Don Callis Family are in a stretch limo, The Dogs are in a Monster Truck and The Demand are in a 4x4.Stadium Stampede: The Demand (Ricochet, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) & The Don Callis Family (Andrade El Idolo & Mark Davis) & The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) vs. Jericho, The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) & The Elite (Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega) & Jack Perry All the heels come out to The Demand’s music. Ricochet is dressed like a baseball player, he likes to dress up doesn’t he? Commentary put this over as the biggest Stadium Stampede match of all time. They show a cinematic video package of the faces meeting up backstage all dressed in suits as what sounds like Metallica plays and Kenny Omega smokes a cigar, looking cool, but then starts coughing. Jericho’s music plays and the babyfaces come out to his music as the fans sing along. The babyfaces are still dressed in their suits for this match. The fans are unbelievably loud singing Judas. Loud “We Hurt People” chant before the bell sounds. Ricochet takes moves from all the faces which culminates with Lashley chokeslamming him to the outside onto the heels. Mark Davis hit a Piledriver on Lashley through a chair. Toa Liona hit a Samoan Drop to Matt, Nick and Jack simultaneously. Ricochet hit a Shooting Star Press off the top to the floor. All the heels had  a conga line going with an abdominal stretch to Omega that stretched up the aisle until MVP broke it up with his cane. Omega & The Bucks hit suicide dives to the floor. Benjamin hit a running flip dive to the outside. Jericho hit a crossbody off the top turnbuckle to the floor. Five of the faces hit top rope Ranas to the heels. Jericho poses with Omega & The Bucks and gets jumped by The Dogs and Ricochet. The faces put the heels in submissions, Omega has a Cloverleaf on Connors, Nick has a sharpshooter on Finlay, Matt has a sharpshooter on Ricochet and Jericho has the Walls of Jericho on Andrade. Jack Perry hit Mark Davis with something and then hit a moonsault to the floor. The Bucks set up tables and place The Dogs on them. The Dogs run away out through the crowd though. We see The Hurt Syndicate fighting GOA backstage. Lio Rush is shown saying “it’s fine” and Lashley passes him by but Toa Liona goes to choke Rush and Rush bites his hand, Rush ends up on Liona’s back and Lashley appears to go to his aid. Then we see The Bucks and The Dogs fighting at the merch stand. We get a split view of ringside and backstage. Connors gets superkicked onto an escalator meanwhile Andrade is trying to take a selfie at ringside with two women and in the picture comes Luchasaurus wearing a long blonde wig and joins the selfie and then tries to kiss Andrade, Luchasaurus then spits in Andrade’s face. In the ring Jericho has a bag in his hand and empties out a load of tennis balls. “Balls” chant from the fans and Jericho suplexes Ricochet onto the tennis balls. Ricochet hits a DVD to Jericho on the balls and gets a pin but Jericho kicked out. Mark Davis is shown in catering with Jack Perry, we then lose the feed briefly and Omega pushes Andrade into Statnam Singh who goes face first into a cake and a food fight ensues in catering. Back ringside, David Finlay is fighting with Nick Jackson. Matt Jackson hits Finlay and Connors with a trash can. Matt Jackson puts Connors in a shopping trolley and puts a trash can over his head and he wheels him down the ramp towards Nick who superkicks him. Toa Liona then runs right through the Bucks and also takes out referee Rick Knox in the process which commentary finds hilarious. Nick Jackson is put inside the shopping trolley and Kaun dropkicks it. Liona then lifts the shopping cart up and hits Matt with it. Benjamin fights with Liona and Finlay hits Benjamin with the shelleagh. Toa Liona hits a senton splash to Benjamin on the apron. The crowd cheers for Lashley’s return who lifts Kaun up on his shoulders but Kaun slips out and pushes him into the ring post, Finlay hits him with the shelleagh and Connors spears him on the floor. Toa Liona lifts up Connors in celebration. Backstage Ricochet hits Jericho with a tennis racket repeatedly, but Jericho kicks him away, he opens a door to reveal Luther who hands Jericho an oversized Tennis Racket and Jericho hits him with it. Taz says that the racket belonged to Satnam Singh. Jericho turns on the tennis ball machine and a series of balls hit Ricochet, Jericho then tosses him into a steel door and goes for a pin but Ricochet kicks out at 2. Back ringside the heels are still in control but Benjamin and Matt Jackson start to suplex the Dogs - Matt with Northern Lights Suplexes on repeat and Benjamin with German Suplexes. Benjamin delivers a German Suplex to both of The Dogs. The Bucks with superkicks to The Dogs and GOA but Toa Liona is still on his feet, Benjamin joins the Bucks with a Triple Superkick to Liona and Lashley spears him. “We Hurt People” chants from the fans. We see Mark Davis in the parking lot. For some reason Mark Davis has a bandage over his left eye and was looking at a golf cart, Jack Perry crashes his Jungle Express bus into the cart. Back ringside, in the ring Omega fights off The Dogs and Andrade with Snapdragon Suplexes. Omega hits a V Trigger on Andrade.  Benjamin puts Liona through a table. Lashley spears Davis through a table. Jericho & Perry dive off the top and presumably put Kaun & Ricochet through tables it wasn’t clear. The Bucks dive off the top and put The Dogs through tables. Omega hits a One-Winged Angel off the apron to Andrade and through a table and the crowd go wild. Loud “AEW” chants. Ricochet is left all alone in the ring with all of the babyfaces, Taz says this is sad. Ricochet took finishes but when Jericho went for the Judas Effect Bishop Kaun pushed him outside the ring, all seven faces hit superkicks to Kaun and Jericho hit the Lionsault for the three count. Winners: Chris Jericho, The Hurt Syndicate, The Elite & Jack Perry. Post-match The Hurt Syndicate and Jericho pose with thumbs ups. Jericho pays tribute to Sabu by jumping through a table.

Up next is the AEW World Championship Match and they show a video package for it.

AEW World Championship - Hair vs Title - Darby Allin © vs. MJF
MJF gets a big reaction and the fans sing along to his music. The lights go out before MJF finishes his entrance. They show a random person getting in a cab, meanwhile Darby is in the sewers with the World Championship. Is he part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles now? I’d like to see Splinter in his corner. Darby’s music plays and there’s loud “Darby” chants from the fans. Excalibur puts over Darby having seven World Title defences. Darby walks to the ring incredibly slowly. Darby puts the belt on the mat in the middle of the ring. Justin Roberts does the ring introductions. MJF cuts Justin off from announcing him from New York City and instead he is announced as being from a mansion the fans can’t afford. Justin introduces Darby as “batshit crazy” which is quite the understatement. “Fuck him up Darby, Fuck him up” chants from the fans before the bell sounds. Darby goes for three headlock takeovers at the start, dropkicks MJF to the floor. He goes for his crazy dive but MJF sidesteps him and Darby lands on the back of his head on the floor, commentary put over what a bad landing that was for Darby and Excalibur points out that Darby’s heels caught the top rope as he went through and that’s how he ended up on his head. MJF hits a Powerbomb on the apron and poses to the fans. MJF went for a Heatseeker but Darby pushed him off, MJF with a Cutter for a two count. MJF puts Darby in a sleeper on the mat. Darby went for a Coffin Splash but MJF hit a forearm to his neck, MJF with a Powerbomb across his knee for a two count. Duelling “Let’s go Darby/MJF” chants from the fans. MJF sits Darby on the top rope and goes for a Tombstone off the second rope but Darby fights back and hits a Diamond Dust which was more of a Stunner. Darby with a series of open hand slaps and goes up top for a Coffin Drop but MJF rolls to the floor, Darby does his crazy dive again and connects this time, which sends MJF over the commentary table. Darby gets up on the table, but jumps down and takes MJF back to the ring. Darby sets MJF up on the apron and goes for a Coffin Drop off the top of the ring post and MJF rolled in and Darby misses. Tony says he could have broken MJF’s neck if he connected and that it was a good thing he missed. Excalibur says Darby has the third most title defences in the history of the AEW World Championship and he’s done it in less than a month, Taz says he’s going to lose the World Title. MJF hits a Package Piledriver to Darby on the ring steps. Duelling chants again from the fans. MJF rolls Darby back in the ring, MJF signalled for a Headlock takeover but Darby pushed him towards the ref and low-blowed MJF with the ref’s back turned and got a headlock takeover of his own for a two count. MJF with a diving stomp off the top to Darby’s left arm. Darby puts MJF in the Scorpion Death Lock  but he gets to the ropes, Darby immediately goes up for a Coffin Drop and MJF gets his knees up and gets a two count. MJF went for a Cutter but Darby blocked and hit a Scorpion Death Drop. Duelling chants from the fans again. Both men go back and forth attempting near falls from sunset flips. Darby gets a code red for a two count and both men are down. They get a standing ovation from the fans and “AEW” chants. Both men stare at each other from across the ring. Taz says both of these guys are AEW originals and day one guys. Darby gets a jackknife cover for a two count and MJF rolls to the floor, Darby goes for his crazy dive and MJF pulls the cameraman in front of Darby and Darby collides with the camera. The cameraman is carried backstage. MJF lifts Darby up and walks him up the ramp and sits him in the Barber’s chair and MJF grabs the clippers and goes to hit him with the clippers. Darby gets a front guillotine on the ramp and then gets distracted by the table which is set up, he puts MJF on the table and begins to climb the scaffolding to the top of the stage, he does the Cactus Jack “bang bang” and comes off the stage with a Coffin Drop to MJF through the table. The ref checks on Darby who was holding his head and is bleeding from the back of his head. Darby goes up top and hits a Coffin Drop in the ring but MJF kicks out at two. Darby puts the Scorpion Death Lock on MJF, but Darby collapses and the ref says to the doctors to hold on. MJF begins to come back to life and smiles at the camera, he pulls the ref away from Darby and MJF calls for a Side Headlock but Darby hits a Scorpion Death Drop and a kip up, as he goes up top MJF jumps into the ropes to crotch Darby. MJF hits a Tombstone Piledriver off the middle rope, then a Side Headlock takeover for the three count. Winner and New AEW World Champion: MJF

Taz says congratulations to MJF on commentary as MJF kisses the World Title repeatedly. They have a stretcher for Darby and he gets strapped in. MJF stands over Darby holding the World title up. Kevin Knight runs out presumably to chase MJF off, but Knight goes up top and hits a UFO Splash to the prone Darby Allin on the stretcher off the top to the outside. MJF applauds Knight and we see Knight staring at the fallen Allin as the show goes off air.

Well this was a truly wonderful show as you would expect, it delivered pretty much everywhere.

The only negative I would say was Jim Ross, and you kind of expect JR to not be great in 2026 so I feel that would be harsh, but he didn't know Kyle O'Reilly's name and he thought there was a title change when there wasn't. I'm glad he only commentated on the one match.

I'm happy to see Mick Foley sign with AEW and it looks like he's going to be doing the pay-per-view pre-shows.

I'm excited for the Kevin Knight heel run, he's been teasing it a little lately.

MJF as World Champion is just best for business, it will be interesting to see who challenges him next.

Stadium Stampede was what you'd expect, the commentators kept saying how entertaining it was, and it made me think of "Sports Entertainment".

The Women's World Title match wasn't that great and the crowd were fairly quiet for it, but Thekla as champion should be great and I'm looking forward to what happens with Shida & Statlander as their team appears to be over now.

Swerve/Bandido was a fantastic match so was Ospreay/Joe

Moxley submitting O'Reilly was probably the best way to get over on O'Reilly since he'd tapped twice in the past.

Athena looked great, I'm not so impressed with Mina.

Takeshita/Okada was phenomenal, and the Kyle Fletcher turn was so on the cards, it was very well done.

Cope & Cage in the I Quit Match was very well done, and probably well placed in the opening match on the show.