It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means: time for the fallout from All Elite Wrestling’s first PPV of the year, AEW Revolution. What went out with a fizzle, is coming back with a bang this week (I promise that’s the only explosion/bomb pun I’m going to make during this recap).
Rey Fenix vs Matt Jackson
Matt and Nick Jackson retained their championships on Sunday, and two-thirds of the Death Triangle (Pac and Rey Fenix, to be specific) won the Battle Royale to be their next challengers. So, naturally, Matt and Fenix are gonna come to blows in the ring just for the hell of it.
This match was an excellent display of singles wrestling from two people, particularly Matt Jackson, who are more renowned for their work in tag teams. This gave Rey an automatic advantage against the older Jackson brother, who hasn’t wrestled a singles match in nearly 1600 days. The match was filled with clever high-flying spots, cool submission moves, and a real showcase of talent. There’s something special about any time the Young Bucks and the Lucha Bros meet in the ring, and even with just Matt and Rey, the feeling was no less.
Nick Jackson was there to be Matt’s long-haired superkicking Arn Anderson, and Pac was there to yell incomprehensibly at Fenix. The match fell more heavily in Fenix’s favour, but with many counters between the two. Fenix gets Matt with a spin kick, a springboard dropkick, then plants him with a facebuster for a nearfall. Then, Jackson drops Fenix with a destroyer to the outside, and then with a second. Fenix almost gets counted out, then suffers an elbow drop for his trouble. When he tries to dropkick a stunned Matt against the ropes, he accidentally knocks out Nick. When Pac looks to take advantage of an out-for-the-count Nick, Matt superkicks him in defence of his brother.
Eventually, the two trade blows back and forth in the ring, with Matt instinctively going for a Meltzer Driver that doesn’t work with the absence of Nick, and Fenix pins the Young Buck after a enziguri and a driver. This match had excellent spots throughout, and an great in-ring story, with Fenix using his more recent experiences in single matches to put away his opponent. Matt Jackson proves that he can go just as a hard as a singles competitor, and it leaves the door open for a potential Pac vs Nick Jackson match before their tag match for the titles. Definitely the match of the night.
Results: Rey Fenix def. Matt Jackson
It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for: Mox and Eddie Kingston are here to tell us exactly what went down during that fateful moment of Revolution. Yeah, you know the one I’m talking about.
Eddie talks about how, as he covered Mox with his body and was prepared to take the hit for him, he had flashbacks to his past where he’d experienced the same kind of panic and anxiety- and then he passed out from it after not being able to breathe.
“Go ahead and make fun of it,” he says. “Call me a coward, less of a man- I’m not speaking for you and I’m not speaking to you. I’m speaking to those who understand where I’m coming from.”
Eddie then calls out Kenny for playing games, and Mox interjects saying that he doesn’t think Kenny was joking- and that Impact Wrestling (currently in an interpromotion feud with AEW) must’ve built the bomb with Don Callis’ money.
“I’ve made more explosive volcanoes in fourth grade science class- what the hell was that?”
It’s great to see Mox and Eddie bouncing off each other with banter. There is so much history steeped into their relationship, and it’s really gorgeous to see them on friendly terms. They are money together.
Next up is Cody, post-loss in the Face of the Revolution ladder match, with enough pyro to burn down Daily’s Place. He has a very quick squash match against an unsigned talent called Seth Gargis, who taps to the classic Dusty figure-four leglock.
As Cody starts an interview to talk about his shoulder, and his plans after losing the ladder match, he is interrupted by Penta El Zero M (who tells him to shut up, which is great). Penta is here to cause drama and look fly as hell, decked out in a purple suit and accompanied by Alex Abrahantes for translation purposes.
“If you’re the prince of pro-wrestling,” Penta says, “Then I’m the Lord of Lucha Libre.”
He and Cody end the segment brawling in the stands, much to Penta’s glee. It’s great to see AEW let Penta go for it on the mic- even with the translation, Penta is dripping in charisma. Cody and Penta will face each other next week at a special St Patrick’s Day episode, and it’s sure to be a good match.
Results: Cody def. Seth Gargis, Penta commands chaos.
Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor Arcade Segment
Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor are hanging out in an arcade- and they challenge Miro and Kip to an “Arcade Match.” Very surprised that they are continuing with this feud- maybe this is an opportunity for a win for the reformed Gentlemen’s Club (it just doesn’t feel like Best Friends without Trent there).
Tony Schiavone has his mic ready to introduce Sting. Lance Archer and Jake Roberts interrupt to stunt on Sting a little bit. Lance Archer has been red hot recently, and Jake really adds to the overall chaotic nature of the duo. Sting gives up and leaves.
Who has a bigger budget- Cody’s pyro or Sting’s snow? These are the important questions.
“All Ego” Ethan Page vs “Big Shotty” Lee Johnson
All Ego Ethan Page, AEW’s fresh new debut from Revolution, is making his AEW in-ring debut against the Nightmare Family’s Lee Johnson. Lee is accompanied by QT Marshall, who has been rather heelish recently.
Ethan Page is an exceptional wrestler, and both him and Johnson were pretty evenly matched throughout. Unfortunately for TNT viewers, there was an issue with the audio. AEW has put the entire match up on Youtube for free viewing without the NBA background noise.
Ethan Page is a charismatic and well rounded wrestler, and a very valuable signing for AEW. He pins Lee Johnson, who is thusly abandoned by QT Marshall in a post match beatdown from the All Ego. Dustin Rhodes comes out to help.
Results: “All Ego” Ethan Page def. “Big Shotty” Lee Johnson, NBA audio def. Television Audiences.
We get a quick check-in with Hangman Adam Page, on his brand new lawn-mower. He lists all the things he’s bought with his Big Money Match winnings like it’s 12 days of Christmas, including six bottles of whiskey. He mentions that he donated most of it to the Jacksonville Public Education fund.
Christian, Eddie Kingston and Kenny Omega segment
Speaking of great new debuts, we get to hear from Christian Cage! Unfortunately for everyone, it’s AEW World Champion Kenny Omega instead, smug off his win at Revolution, accompanied by his usual gang of suspects. They talk for a bit about “the explosion not heard around the world,” and make fun of Eddie Kingston for protecting Mox. Kenny is utterly unhinged about ending Mox, and the possibility of him almost doing it.
Eddie comes out (of the face tunnel!) to look beautifully menacing. Don Callis insults Eddie, telling him that he had to fire him from Impact because he wasn’t good enough. Kenny and Don reenact the dramatic countdown and Eddie’s sacrificial turn at Revolution, in a very unsettling and downright hilarious segment (the quote “69 me Don!” will haunt my memory forever). Kenny then dares Eddie to punch him, and Eddie absolutely clocks him. Mox comes running out to save Eddie from the Good Brothers’ beatdown.
Christian then enters, fashionably late and accompanied by Evanescence music, to square up with Kenny Omega and possibly, maybe, challenge for that lovely big title.
Hikaru Shida, Ryo Mizunami & Thunder Rosa vs Nyla Rose, Britt Baker & Maki Itoh
It’s time for the women’s division to go crazy in a six man tag team- with Hikaru Shida, Ryo Mizunami, and Thunder Rosa on one side and Nyla Rose, Britt Baker, and the ever-popular Maki Itoh on the other.
As Maki starts to sing, as per her entrance, a fight breaks out as the babyfaces take the heels by surprise. Undeterred and unwilling to be interrupted, Maki simply continues as violence overtakes the ring area. There’s nothing quite as wonderfully funny as Maki Itoh singing to no music up on the stage as Vickie Guerrero is trying to beat up Shida with a kendo stick. Then the match actually begins.
This match mainly focuses on Maki Itoh and Thunder Rosa, with a few spills to the outside from the other girls. Nyla is a powerful force, Britt is very cunning and clever, and Ryo is here to have a good time.
Maki is pinned by Thunder Rosa, who is then promptly attacked by Britt Baker. These two have an incredibly intense rivalry that is yet to be resolved- so AEW books them for the main event next week in an Unsanctioned Lights Out.
Results: Hikaru Shida, Thunder Rosa, and Ryo Mizunami def. Britt Baker, Nyla Rose, and Maki Itoh.
We see a brief conversation between Matt Hardy and Private Party. Hardy promises that the loss at Revolution is only a minor financial setback, and he will continue to grow his enterprise. Enter Butcher, Blade, and Bunny, who are now split from Kingston. They’re always here to get the bag.
After Scorpio Sky’s win at the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match on Sunday, where he literally and metaphorically got the brass ring, he’s ready to face current TNT champion Darby Allin. Sky has been deserving of a push for a long time, and has already lost his opportunity for the TNT belt once before.
Allin plays it cool for most of the match, as his normal unbothered demeanor. Sky is a little more hurried in his moves, desperate to put way Allin. The match is a fairly standard back and forth, with Sky becoming more and more frantic and frustrated. After numerous nearfalls in favour of Scorpio, Allin surprises the challenger with a rollup and pins him, retaining. It’s a surprise, because Sky looked very strong for most of the match, putting his everything into it.
Frustrated by the opportunity slipping through his fingers yet again, Sky- one of AEW’s biggest babyfaces- snaps, and attacks Darby in an attempt to injure him.
Results: Darby Allin (champion) def. Scorpio Sky (challenger)
The main event of the night isn’t a wrestling match, rather, it is a “War Council” run by the Inner Circle. Chris Jericho suggests that a new member be added after the loss of Sammy Guevara, and MJF (suspiciously without Wardlow) suggests that they let someone go.
Sammy Guevara then enters, and begs Jericho to listen to what he has to say. He then shows footage of MJF trying to convince Santana, Ortiz, and Hager to betray Jericho- presumably so he can install himself as the leader of the Inner Circle.
Jericho is outraged, and MJF commands Proud n Powerful and Hager to attack him. In a classic switcheroo, they appear to go for Jericho, and then quickly turn back around on MJF. Jericho points out that they all talk to each other- so of course they knew that MJF was playing games with them and trying to break them apart.
MJF begs them not to attack him as they advance on him. He says he swears he wasn’t trying to take over Jericho’s group. His demeanor changes immediately, as he adds, “Because I’ve been busy creating my own.”
The lights go black, and when they come back on, FTR, Tully Blanchard, and Shawn Spears- along with Wardlow- have gathered behind the Inner Circle and immediately decimate them. As the other men destroy the Inner Circle, MJF just watches stone-faced. The episode ends with a shot of Jericho’s bloody face after taking a powerbomb off the stage, MJF’s singles theme blaring through the arena, as Max’s new Horsemen-inspired group standing tall.
Conclusion
This fallout-episode of Dynamite allowed it’s talent to run wild on the mic, setting up brand new feuds and storylines in the aftermath of Revolution. They smoothed over the controversial ending as best they could, tying it up into a neat storyline carried by Eddie Kingston and Kenny Omega. MJF seems to finally be on a trajectory that could see him as the most dangerous heel in the company, a perfect leader for the potential reincarnation of the Four Horsemen.
Are you ready for the post-Revolution era?
Best Moment(s): Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley reuniting as drinking buddies, MJF establishing his new Horsemen faction.
Worst Moment: Ethan Page’s debut being overshadowed by production issues.
