AEW 2024: Death to the Dragon

[Chaddes]

AEW WrestleDream 2024
Tacoma, Washington
7.628 Attendance

1P Brian Cage defeated Atlantis Jr (C) for the ROH World Television Championship
2P Anna Jay defeated Harley Cameron
3P The Acclaimed defeated MxM Collection
4P The Conglomeration & The Outrunners defeated The Dark Order & The Premier Athletes
5 Jay White defeated Adam Page
6 Mariah May (C) defeated Willow Nightingale for the AEW World Women's Championship
7 Jack Perry (C) defeated Katsuyori Shibata for the AEW TNT Championship
8 Konosuke Takeshita defeated Will Ospreay (C) & Ricochet for the AEW International Championship
9 Hologram defeated The Beast Mortos in a 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match (2-1)
10 Darby Allin defeated Brody King
11 The Young Bucks (C) defeated Private Party
12 Mark Briscoe (C) defeated Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship
13 Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson (C) for the AEW World Championship
​

"Let me tell ya somethin. Someone has to be responsible when things get out of control. So I will be responsible. People think they know what I'm about? They think they know what motivates me? You don't know anything, I have a dream of a land of opportunity. Where people can come to AEW, and they can achieve anything they want, they can be the best version of themselves that they can be! Wrestling gave me everything I have in the world, I want that for other people. 150 Wrestlers on the roster, big fat paychecks and their junk in their hands what they supposed to do? Where they supposed to go huh?"

"I HATE...what AEW has become. Egos... Out of control... Celebrating, when there's no need to be celebrating. Dancing and partying, when there's no need for dancing & partying, I CANNOT STAND IT ANYMORE. I will burn down the forest, to build a new one. I'm not sentimental. I will do what has to be done, WE will do what has to be done, we can see it. We can see a better future. And we will make it happen. If you wanna come with us, you can come with us. If you don't...Run while you can. Stand down while you can. Get. Out. Of. The. WAY!"

"What's the need to know, for those in AEW? What's the need to know? What is the new paradigm? It's very simple:"

"You work for me now."

Your AEW World Champion, Jon Moxley, 12/10/2024.

Hello! it's been a while huh? I was on the old WrestlingClique BTB forum back when that was a thing and even though I created an account here, I never posted anything because I could never really stick out a thread, other than an old TNA 2014 one I enjoyed doing but then my laptop died :/ this place seems really nice though, there's lots of familiar faces I recognize so hopefully I'll familiarize myself with all the cool BTBs here! I hope you all enjoy!

 

[Sky]

Hello

Hope to see what you do with AEW going well

 

[Dubb]

Welcome! Nice to see you've found your way here.

I always get excited to see an AEW project as there aren't many much less many that last so I hope you are able to be successful with this! Looking forward to see where you go with things.

 

[Chaddes]

AEW Roster
(Injured)
(Excursion)

Faces:

Action Andretti
Adam Copeland
Anna Jay
Anthony Bowens
AR Fox
Austin Gunn
Bandido
Brody King
Bryan Danielson
Buddy Matthews
Cash Wheeler
Colten Gunn
Daniel Garcia
Dante Martin
Darby Allin
Darius Martin
Dax Harwood
Dustin Rhodes
Eddie Kingston
Hikaru Shida
Hologram
Isiah Kassidy
Jamie Hayter
Jay White
Jeff Jarrett
Juice Robinson
Katsuyori Shibata
Kenny Omega
Komander
Kota Ibushi
Kyle O'Reilly
Lee Johnson
Lio Rush
Malakai Black
Mark Briscoe
Mark Davis
Marq Quen
Matt Sydal
Max Caster
Nyla Rose
Orange Cassidy
Ortiz
Penelope Ford
Powerhouse Hobbs
Queen Aminata
Red Velvet
Rey Fenix
Ricochet
Riho
Rocky Romero
Ruby Soho
Sammy Guevara
Samoa Joe
Swerve Strickland
Thunder Rosa
Tommy Billington (AJPW)
Tomohiro Ishii
Toni Storm
Trish Adora
Truth Magnum
Turbo Floyd
Will Ospreay
Willow Nightingale

Heels:

Adam Cole
Adam Page
Angelo Parker
Anthony Henry
Athena
Big Bill
Billie Starkz
Brian Cage
Bryan Keith
Chris Jericho
Christian Cage
Claudio Castagnoli
Deonna Purrazzo
Diamante
Dralistico
Dutch
Emi Sakura
Harley Cameron
Jack Perry
James Drake
JD Drake
John Silver
Jon Moxley
Josh Woods (NJPW)
Julia Hart
Kamille
Kaun (NJPW)
Kazuchika Okada
Killswitch
Kip Sabian
Konosuke Takeshita
Kris Statlander
Kyle Fletcher
Lance Archer
Lee Moriarty
Leyla Hirsch (STARDOM)
Mansoor
Mariah May
Marina Shafir
Mason Madden
Matt Taven
Matthew Jackson
Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Mercedes Mone
Mike Bennett
Nicholas Jackson
Nick Comoroto
Nick Wayne
PAC
Ricky Starks
Roderick Strong
Rush
Saraya
Serena Deeb
Shelton Benjamin
Skye Blue
Tay Melo
The Beast Mortos
The Butcher
Toa Liona (NJPW)
Tony Nese
Trent Beretta
Vincent
Wardlow
Zack Gibson

Tag Teams/Stables:

Bang Bang Gang: Austin & Colten Gunn, Jay White & Juice Robinson
Death Riders: Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Marina Shafir, PAC & Wheeler Yuta
FTR: Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood
Grizzled Young Veterans: James Drake & Zack Gibson
House of Black: Buddy Matthews, Brody King, Julia Hart & Malakai Black
La Faccion Ingobernable: Dralistico, Rush & The Beast Mortos
MxM Collection: Mansoor & Mason Madden
Private Party: Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen
The Acclaimed: Anthony Bowens & Max Caster
The Conglomeration: Kyle O'Reilly, Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale
The Don Callis Family: Brian Cage, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Lance Archer & Trent Beretta
The Elite: Jack Perry, Kazuchika Okada, Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
The Gates of Agony: Kaun & Toa Liona
The Learning Tree: Big Bill, Bryan Keith & Chris Jericho
The Outcasts: Harley Cameron & Saraya
The Outrunners: Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd
The Patriarchy: Christian Cage, Killswitch, Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne
The Premier Athletes: Josh Woods & Tony Nese
The Righteous: Dutch & Vincent
The Sons of Texas: Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara
The Undisputed Kingdom: Adam Cole, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong & Wardlow
Top Flight: Dante & Darius Martin

Champions:

AEW World Champion
Jon Moxley (4x)
12/10/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

12: Bryan Danielson - 48 Days (25/08/2024-12/10/2024)
11: Swerve Strickland - 126 Days (21/04/2024-25/08/2024)
10: Samoa Joe - 113 Days (30/12/2023-21/04/2024)
9: Maxwell Jacob Friedman - 406 Days (19/11/2022-30/12/2023)
8: Jon Moxley (3x) - 59 Days (21/09/2022-19/11/2022)
VACATED
7: CM Punk (2x) - 3 Days (04/09/2022-07/09/2022)
6: Jon Moxley (2x) - 11 Days (24/08/2022-04/09/2022)
INTERIM: Jon Moxley - 59 Days (26/06/2022-24/08/2022)
5: CM Punk - 87 Days (29/05/2022-24/08/2022)
4: Adam Page - 197 Days (13/11/2021-29/05/2022)
3: Kenny Omega - 346 Days (02/12/2020-13/11/2021)
2: Jon Moxley - 277 Days (29/02/2020-02/12/2020)
1: Chris Jericho - 182 Days (31/08/2019-29/02/2020)

AEW Women's World Champion
Mariah May
25/08/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

12: Toni Storm (3x) - 281 Days (18/11/2023-25/08/2024)
11: Hikaru Shida (3x) - 39 Days (10/10/2023-18/11/2023)
10: Saraya - 44 Days (27/08/2023-10/10/2023)
9: Hikaru Shida (2x) - 25 Days (02/08/2023-27/08/2023)
8: Toni Storm (2x) - 66 Days (28/05/2023-02/08/2023)
7: Jamie Hayter - 190 Days (19/11/2022-28/05/2023)
6: Toni Storm - 76 Days (04/09/2022-19/11/2022)
VACATED
5: Thunder Rosa - 172 Days (16/03/2022-04/09/2022)
4: Britt Baker - 290 Days (30/05/2021-16/03/2022)
3: Hikaru Shida - 372 Days (23/05/2020-30/05/2021)
2: Nyla Rose - 101 Days (12/02/2020-23/05/2020)
1: Riho - 133 Days (02/10/2019-12/02/2020)

AEW Continental Champion
Kazuchika Okada
20/03/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

1: Eddie Kingston - 81 Days (30/12/2023-20/03/2024)

AEW TBS Champion
Mercedes Mone
26/05/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

4: Willow Nightingale - 35 Days (21/04/2024-26/05/2024)
3: Julia Hart - 155 Days (18/11/2023-21/04/2024)
2: Kris Statlander - 174 Days (28/05/2023-18/11/2023)
1: Jade Cargill - 508 Days (05/01/2022-28/05/2023)

AEW World Tag Team Champions
The Young Bucks (3x)/Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
21/04/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

VACATED
13: Darby Allin & Sting - 25 Days (07/02/2024-03/03/2024)
12: Big Bill & Ricky Starks - 123 Days (07/10/2023-07/02/2024)
11: FTR (2x) - 185 Days (05/04/2023-07/10/2023)
10: The Gunns - 56 Days (08/02/2023-05/04/2023)
9: The Acclaimed - 140 Days (21/09/2022-08/02/2023)
8: Swerve In Our Glory - 70 Days (13/07/2022-21/09/2022)
7: The Young Bucks (2x) - 28 Days (15/06/2022-13/07/2022)
6: Jurassic Express - 161 Days (05/01/2022-15/06/2022)
5: The Lucha Brothers - 122 Days (05/09/2021-05/01/2022)
4: The Young Bucks - 302 Days (07/11/2020-05/09/2021)
3: FTR - 63 Days (05/09/2020-07/11/2020)
2: Adam Page & Kenny Omega - 228 Days (21/01/2020-05/09/2020)
1: SoCal Uncensored - 83 Days (30/10/2019-21/01/2020)

AEW International Champion
Konosuke Takeshita
12/10/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

9: Will Ospreay (2x) - 48 Days (25/08/2024-12/10/2024)
8: Maxwell Jacob Friedman - 39 Days (17/07/2024-25/08/2024)
7: Will Ospreay - 52 Days (26/05/2024-17/07/2024)
6: Roderick Strong - 84 Days (03/03/2024-26/05/2024)
5: Orange Cassidy (2x) - 145 Days (10/10/2023-03/03/2024)
4: Rey Fenix - 20 Days (20/09/2023-10/10/2023)
3: Jon Moxley - 17 Days (03/09/2023-20/09/2023)
2: Orange Cassidy - 326 Days (12/10/2022-03/09/2023)
1: PAC - 106 Days (26/06/2022-12/10/2022)

AEW TNT Champion
Jack Perry
30/06/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

VACATED
23: Adam Copeland (2x) - 70 Days (20/03/2024-29/05/2024)
22: Christian Cage (2x) - 81 Days (30/12/2023-20/03/2024)
21: Adam Copeland - 8 Minutes (30/12/2023)
20: Christian Cage - 98 Days (23/09/2023-30/12/2023)
19: Luchasaurus - 98 Days (17/06/2023-23/09/2023)
18: Wardlow (3x) - 59 Days (19/04/2023-17/06/2023)
17: Powerhouse Hobbs - 42 Days (08/03/2023-19/04/2023)
16: Wardlow (2x) - 3 Days (05/03/2023-08/03/2023)
15: Samoa Joe (2x) - 32 Days (01/02/2023-05/03/2023)
14: Darby Allin (2x) - 28 Days (04/01/2023-01/02/2023)
13: Samoa Joe - 46 Days (19/11/2022-04/01/2023)
12: Wardlow - 136 Days (06/07/2022-19/11/2022)
11: Scorpio Sky (2x) - 70 Days (27/04/2022-06/07/2022)
10: Sammy Guevara (3x) - 11 Days (16/04/2022-27/04/2022)
9: Scorpio Sky - 38 Days (09/03/2022-16/04/2022)
8: Sammy Guevara (2x) - 42 Days (26/01/2022-09/03/2022)
INTERIM: Sammy Guevara - 18 Days (08/01/2022-26/01/2022)
7: Cody Rhodes (3x) - 32 Days (25/12/2021-26/01/2022)
6: Sammy Guevara - 87 Days (29/09/2021-25/12/2021)
5: Miro - 140 Days (12/05/2021-29/09/2021)
4: Darby Allin - 186 Days (07/11/2020-12/05/2021)
3: Cody Rhodes (2x) - 31 Days (07/10/2020-07/11/2020)
2: Brodie Lee - 46 Days (22/08/2020-07/10/2020)
1: Cody Rhodes - 91 Days (23/05/2020-22/08/2020)

AEW World Trios Champions
Death Riders/Claudio Castagnoli, PAC (2x) & Wheeler Yuta
25/08/2024-Present

Spoiler: Previous Champions

7: The Patriarchy - 36 Days (20/07/2024-25/08/2024)
VACATED
6: Bang Bang Gang - 83 Days (21/04/2024-13/07/2024)
5: The Acclaimed - 238 Days (27/08/2023-21/04/2024)
4: House of Black - 175 Days (05/03/2023-27/08/2023)
3: The Elite (2x) - 53 Days (11/01/2023-05/03/2023)
2: Death Triangle - 126 Days (07/09/2022-11/01/2023)
VACATED
1: The Elite - 3 Days (04/09/2022-07/09/2022)

AEW Continental Classic
2023: Eddie Kingston (Jon Moxley Final) (30/12/2023)

AEW Owen Hart Cup
2024 Men's: Bryan Danielson (Adam Page Final) (10/07/2024)
2024 Women's: Mariah May (Willow Nightingale Final) (10/07/2024)
2023 Men's: Ricky Starks (CM Punk Final) (15/07/2023)
2023 Women's: Willow Nightingale (Ruby Soho Final) (15/07/2023)
2022 Men's: Adam Cole (Samoa Joe Final) (29/05/2022)
2022 Women's: Britt Baker (Ruby Soho Final) (29/05/2022)

AEW Casino Gauntlet
IV: Kyle Fletcher & Will Ospreay (3x) (11/09/2024)
III: Christian Cage (25/08/2024)
II: Will Ospreay (2x) (30/05/2024)
I: Will Ospreay (24/04/2024)

Pay-Per-Views:

Full Gear (23/11/2024 - Newark, New Jersey)
World's End (28/12/2024 - Orlando, Florida)
Grand Slam Australia (15/02/2025 - Brisbane, Australia)
Revolution (16/03/2025 - Los Angeles, California)
Dynasty (20/04/2025 - Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Double or Nothing (01/06/2025 - Hoffman Estates, Illinois)
ALL IN (12/07/2025 - Dallas, Texas)
ALL OUT (02/08/2025 - Seattle, Washington)​

 

[BattleTank]

Hell yeah Chaddes! Hope you are doing well, old friend! Excited to see you back writing and pumped to see what you have in store! Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[TFC]

Overall prestation is great so far
Keen as hell to see what you do with AEW, not like you can be worse then TK hahaha

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Superb Idea. I had one but haven't had the time as my only BTB was poor considering how well all other were. Very excited to see what you do next.

Keep up the fantastic writing.

 

[Stojy]

As others have said, good to see you make your way here, mate. AEW's BTB's are a rarity so you have my attention. Wishing you the best of luck with this, especially managing that GIGANTIC roster.

 

[Chaddes]

AEW News!

Releases!​

• The major news coming out of WrestleDream is a big round of releases by AEW. Some of which will come to no surprise of the fans, however there is some shockers on the list:
  
  Aaron Solo
  Abadon
  Alex Reynolds
  Angelico
  Anthony Ogogo
  Ariya Daivari
  Billy Gunn
  Capt. Shawn Dean
  Carlie Bravo
  Dalton Castle
  Danhausen
  Evil Uno
  Hook
  Jay Lethal
  Johnny TV
  Keith Lee
  Kiera Hogan
  Madison Rayne
  Miro
  Peter Avalon
  Preston Vance
  Rebel
  Scorpio Sky
  Serpentico
  Shane Taylor
  Sonjay Dutt
  Taya Valkyrie
  The Blade
  Zak Knight
  ​
• There's some big names there that will surprise fans, chief among them being Billy Gunn and Hook. Hook recently came out with Darby and Orange Cassidy to run off the Death Riders after their assault of Bryan Danielson, but apparently that was him going into business for himself. He was supposed to just be one of a few bodies, not one of the focal points, and afterwards was asked by AEW management to go down to ROH and get some more experience. Hook took exception to this, and in the fallout asked for his release from the company. AEW were apparently are willing to let him go due to some lackluster performances over the past year, and this unusual shift in character left Tony Khan with little patience for another wrestler on the roster causing problems.
  ​
• The Billy Gunn release is another shocker. One-third of Tony Khan's biggest success-story, The Acclaimed, They were informed of their future booking plans over the next month, which would be to put over The Death Riders in the trios division. Bowens and Caster were cool with this, but Billy took massive umbrage, yelling about how he's a far bigger star and deserves to be treated with more respect. Bowens and Max tried to calm him down but he turned his ire to them, calling them frauds for riding his coattails. Billy was told to go straight home and was alerted of his release by the end of the PPV.
  ​
• Miro was expected at this point, he had already asked for his release in September this year and hasn't been on TV since World's End last year when he defeated Andrade El Idolo. Same goes for Danhausen, who AEW haven't had any plans for in months. Keith Lee also asked for his release due to ongoing health issues, although there's no ill-will towards each other the door is open for a return at some point. The rest of the releases was due to not having any plans for them and wanting to cut down a lot of the fat on the AEW roster, although there's still a long way to go on that front.
  ​
• Two names people are a bit shocked to not see on the list is Rey Fenix and Ricky Starks. AEW are apparently in talks with both men for a return to programming fairly soon, to put the water under the bridge until their contracts run out in July 2025.
  
  

  

  
  Creative Shake-Up!​
  
  
• In another case of AEW's backstage shuffling, the AEW creative team has slimmed down again. This time, RD Evans, Scotty 2 Hotty and Pat Buck have all moved on from the company. Tony has reportedly took online criticism AEW's identity to heart, with people saying it was too all over the place. Having a smaller team will help create a more consistent vision with what the company should be going forward. While wrestlers will still have a say in their creative, there's going to be less free- reign for wrestlers to book entire storylines purely on their own, especially in any of the title pictures.​

 

[Stojy]

LOVE that you released Hook. Have honestly never understood the hype, and no I'm not an AEW hater. I just don't rate him. I think the rest of the releases probably aren't all that surprising. I understand the Billy Gunn one as well.

At this point, obviously a creative shakeup is a good idea, and the premise for this BTB.

Looking forward to hopefully seeing a show soon.

 

[Roy Mustang]

I think some of them are fun names who work as jobbers but other than Hook, Keith Lee (if fit) and MIRO no one who would be a major miss plus might be best to have a more balanced roster

Also Billy Gunn being cut is a plus for sure

 

[Chaddes]

AEW Countdown to Full Gear
Part I

AEW World Championship
Abandon All Hope
Jon Moxley (C) vs Orange Cassidy​

At WrestleDream, the landscape of AEW changed forever as the American Dragon ran out of miracles. On a night where the world hoped and prayed for Bryan Danielson to retain, Jon Moxley would snuff those dreams out with a Rear Naked Choke, and Wheeler Yuta would deal the killing blow, wrapping a plastic bag over Bryan's head to the horror of his hometown fans. Ever since, the likes of Darby Allin, one of the first people to try and save Bryan, haven't been seen on AEW TV, with The Death Riders asserting their dominance over the roster. However, one man has chosen, albeit unwillingly, to stand up to their reign of terror and that is the former 2x AEW International Champion, Orange Cassidy.

Ever since WrestleDream, The Death Riders have completely ran AEW into total mayhem. Matches are getting thrown out, no one backstage is safe, from wrestlers to authority figures. The Young Bucks, the EVPs of the promotion are avoiding the Death Riders like the plague, the likes of The Dark Order, Johnny TV, Dalton Castle & The Infirmary have all been written off television, all while Moxley completely disrespects the world title. Dragging it across the floor, kicking it around, throwing it into the ring carelessly. People have been trying to fight back, Daniel Garcia, Private Party, The Conglomeration, but due to there not being any co-ordination, it just ends with Death Riders either getting away or getting the upper hand.

Orange Cassidy and Danny Garcia are the two leading the charge, but Garcia is pissed off at Orange for not standing up himself. He yells at Orange that Garcia, Quen, Kassidy, everyone in the back all respect him, and Darby is nowhere to be seen. Ospreay has been taken out. Swerve is dealing with MVP and The Hurt Syndicate. ORANGE needs to stand up. Cassidy just sighs, tells Garcia he's not the man he thinks he is, and walks away. Later that night, Chuck Taylor is seen in Orange's room. He tells Orange that no one in the locker room truly understands who they're dealing with in Jon Moxley. But HE does. Orange might not want to, but the fact is Garcia is right, he has to take action, and he knows he can do it because unlike a lot of the guys, he's beaten Jon.

The night ends with The Death Riders attacking Mark Briscoe and Chris Jericho after Mark retains the ROH World Title in Ladder War 9. The Learning Tree and The Conglomeration all get taken out, and Moxley drags out Chuck Taylor. Wheeler is giddy about what's gonna happen, as Claudio uppercuts Chuck and puts a chair around his arm! Claudio goes to stomp...But Yuta walks in front of him? Mox is beside himself, Marina, Claudio and PAC all stare at Yuta like he's stupid, but Yuta smiles...

And puts the chair around Chuck's neck!

Orange & the calvary run out...

IT'S TOO LATE! YUTA STOMPS ON CHUCK'S NECK!!!

Orange doesn't give chase. Garcia & Private Party run off the Death Riders as Orange is stunned. He stares at his friend, a clear and obvious rage swelling up. Danny goes to check on him...Orange shoves him away. Private Party stops things from boiling over and calms Danny down, but Orange just tends to his friend.

The next Collision, Orange interrupts the intro, uncharacteristically with a microphone. He comes out, wearing a classic Best Friends shirt, and stands in the ring. He begins to talk about how he doesn't like this. He doesn't like talking and telling people who and what he's going to do to someone. he isn't someone who's going to talk about being a leader, because that's not who he is. He wants to glide by, and do his own thing. But that's changed. Because he had to watch his best friend in the world, Chuck Taylor, get his neck crushed by a guy who he helped train. Orange is bright red, and takes a second to compose himself.

Cassidy: "I'm going to make this crystal clear: I will not stop. I'm going to personally face each and every Death Rider, and I'm going to make you suffer for what you did, especially you Moxley. So I knew, right then and there, what I needed to do. See, if Jon Moxley has his way, there is no future AEW, and the young guys in the back? They have no place to go. See, Jon Moxley doesn't need AEW, he's a multi-millionaire, he never needed AEW. But see, I need AEW! I don't exist without AEW, there is no me, there is no us, there isn't this!"

Cassidy: "I challenge you Mox, at Full Gear. I challenge you for the AEW World Championship and I take the symbol of this company and what it represents and I take it out of your bag and put it in my backpack. But not before I break your neck first."

Orange throws the mic down as the crowd erupt into Freshly Squeezed chants. Mark Briscoe, Kyle O'Reilly & Rocky Romero meet him at the top of the ramp and the four men all hug. The Death Riders arrive at the show later that night, Moxley laughing as he enters the arena and looks into the camera.

Moxley: "Orange if I'm not mistaken, it seems like you're quite angry. Oh we saw what you had to say don't worry, and you & me WILL fight at Full Gear, but you did not challenge me oh no. I challenged YOU. I challenged you when I had Chuck Taylor's neck in a chair and this guy right here...

*grabs Wheeler who has a big shit-eating grin on his face*

Moxley: stomped it into oblivion and made him get wheeled out on a stretcher. I did you a favour. You won't see it like that I'm sure, you're filled with rage and anger, but I cut out the fat. I cut off the excess meat hangin around because whether you like it or not, THAT'S what you need to do to be Jon Moxley. That's what you NEED to do to be the AEW World Champion. I'm begging you Orange, PLEASE DON'T BE LIKE THEM. Don't catch this disease that this god-forsaken locker room has where they're fat & happy with their paycheques, coasting by. The AEW locker room chose YOU to be their guy, and you didn't want to take responsibility. So I made-"

OUT OF NOWHERE THE CONGLOMERATION COME FLYING INTO VIEW!

Orange goes straight for Jon, Mark is throwing hands with Claudio, O'Reilly & PAC go at it and Yuta and Rocky trade blows near the car. The two sides brawl all over the arena throughout the night, the end of the show coming when Orange throws Yuta into the ring with a chair. Yuta begins to beg off until Moxley blindsides Orange, and Mox puts his head in the chair! He's telling Yuta to do it again! Yuta has a crazed look in his eye...But is hit with a flying Dropkick by Rocky Romero! Yuta bounces to the outside as Mox and Rocky fight in the ring...And Yuta starts ripping up the ringside mats? Moxley notices this and low blows Romero and takes him to the apron...

OH MY GOD!!!

A DEATH RIDER OFF THE APRON ONTO CONCRETE!!!

Rocky isn't moving. Mox and Yuta scurry off straight away, Mox grabbing his back while Orange starts to realize what's happened and checks on Rocky. EMTs rush out and again, one of Orange's friends gets taken out.

This cycle would continue over the next several weeks. Tomohiro Ishii would return to try and help out his friends, and would team up with Orange to face Yuta and his former rival PAC, but Ishii would end up being taken out with a hammer to the hand, breaking it. This wouldn't stop Orange though. If anything, it made him more determined and angry. He demanded a match with Wheeler on Dynamite, which Yuta would accept, but under the condition it was a Texas Death Match. Before the match, Orange would ask Mark and Kyle to stay backstage, because this NEEDS to be between him and Wheeler. Both of them reluctantly accept this proposition, with Yuta asking the same of the Death Riders. Orange would proceed to kill Wheeler. The first move he hits is a Barbed Wire Orange Punch and it just gets more violent from there. Wheeler takes an insane ass-kicking from Orange, whenever he tries to get any offence in Cassidy cuts him off and hits him with a chair, a barbed wire bat and would get the 10 count win by hanging Wheeler over the ropes with a Best Friends shirt. After the win, we cut to the big screen where Claudio Castagnoli and PAC are beating down Kyle and Mark with chairs! Mox walks out from the ramp with Shafir, kicking his title down the ramp, with PAC and Claudio making their way over as well! All four of them surround the ring, not even checking on Wheeler, and Orange takes a deep breath...

BOOM!

ORANGE PUNCH TO MOXLEY OFF THE APRON!

Orange rolls under the ring and runs up the ramp, and he's grabbed the AEW World Championship! Mox is furious, screaming that Cassidy hasn't earned that title while Orange poses on the ramp with the championship! Will Orange prove all the doubters wrong? Or will Moxley's reign of terror on AEW continue?

---

AEW World Tag Team Championship
Ladder War 10
The Young Bucks (C) vs Private Party​

Steenerico vs The Briscoes. Steenerico vs The American Wolves. The Briscoes vs The All-Night Express. Generico vs Steen. Cole vs Jay. MCMG vs The Addiction v The Young Bucks. SoCal Uncensored vs The Briscoes vs Young Bucks. The Briscoes vs Guerrillas Of Destiny. Mark Briscoe vs Chris Jericho. At Full Gear we add a tenth chapter to the Ladder War. The 3 time AEW World Tag Team Champions, Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, The Young Bucks defend their titles against the team which almost beat them at WrestleDream, Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen, Private Party.

Private Party came so close to pulling off the huge upset against The Bucks at WrestleDream. The crowd was behind them, they were in the best shape of their careers, they came so close. However, so close doesn't work against a tag team as good and as experienced as The Bucks, who after working over Isiah's head all match, pinned him with the TK Driver. Private Party made it very clear they were coming for a rematch, but Matthew & Nicholas laughed it off. They'd beaten them clean. They had their chance, on the biggest stage of their careers, and they blew it. However, both teams would have bigger fish to fry than each other.

The Death Riders takeover of AEW has come swiftly and from no resistance from The Elite. The first match post-WrestleDream was The Elite of Okada and the Bucks against The Conglomeration's Mark Briscoe, Kyle O'Reilly & Orange Cassidy, but during the match as it looked like Cassidy was gonna get the win, The Death Riders made their presence known. Kazuchika Okada, Matthew & Nicholas all watched in shock as Mox, PAC, Claudio, Marina & Yuta destroyed staff, jobbers, everyone. Daniel Garcia and Private Party would join the frontlines, while The Bucks and Okada, under the guidance of Jack Perry, left them to fend for themselves. Backstage, Isiah, Quen & Garcia angerly confronted The Elite, calling them bitches for watching the company they built go down in flames. Matthew & Nicholas look at their shoes, embarrassed, while Perry tries to stick up for them, leading to Garcia popping him in the mouth.

The EVPs didn't take too kindly to the accusation of them being cowards, so they booked Private Party in a Handicap match against themselves and Jack, because Daniels had already booked Shibata and Garcia for later that night. They had a Dynamite classic, the crowd completely behind Private Party and they would, yet again, pick up a pinfall victory of the Bucks as Kassidy pinned Matthew with the Gin & Juice. Kassidy demanded The Bucks put their belts on the line at Full Gear, but they refused, walking away without even listening to their calls.

As AEW devolved into chaos, The Elite's inaction created even more enemies backstage. The Bucks, who since becoming EVPs would wield their power with an iron fist, have devolved into cowards who won't commit any action, positive or negative, to The Death Riders. They're just letting them do whatever they want, completely unopposed, and that would come to bite them in the ass. Kazuchika Okada would defend his Continental Title against Kyle O'Reilly, which Okada would retain, however after the match both men would be jumped by The Death Riders. The Bucks finally tried to help their buddy, but they'd be wiped out by Mox's army instantly and didn't mount much fight. Private Party would make the save, wielding baseball bats to chase off the riders, offering to help the Bucks up, but the EVPs spat at them and left, embarrassed.

As a "thank you," On Collision it was announced Nicholas would face off against Isiah, where if Nicholas won, PP would never challenge for the titles again. If Zay won, then the Party would challenge for the tag belts at Full Gear, but the Bucks would pick the stipulation. Having not much choice, Isiah accepted and the two had tremendous match. Flips, flips and even more flips, the crowd came alive as both men gave it their absolute all, and despite attempted interference from Matthew, Nicholas would be put down with the 450 Splash from Kassidy.

The Young Bucks on the next show called out Private Party to the ring and would disingenuously put them both over. Matthew would hype up both men, talking about how they found them at House of Glory. How they were given this opportunity by The Bucks and now they're finally living up to the potential that Nicholas and Matthew saw in them all those years ago. They retract their statement about them they made at WrestleDream about them being jobbers because they've proven over and over at this point how good they are.

Matthew: "However. You are NOT The Young Bucks. You are NOT the greatest tag team in the history of this sport. YOU ARE NOT the only 3x AEW World Tag Team Champions ever! And at Full Gear, not only are we going to beat you, we're going to beat you in a match we know rather well."

Matthew hands the mic to Nicholas.

Nicholas: "At Full Gear, it'll be Private Party vs The Young Bucks. LADDER WAR 10!"

The crowd pop for this huge announcement, as do Private Party who smirk at the EVPs.

*Battle Cry*​

OH MY GOD!!! THE CROWD ARE GOING INSANE!!!

EVERYONE IS ON THEIR FEET!!!

EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT THE RAMP!!!

The Bucks look shocked, Private Party look shocked...

OH! THE BUCKS LOW BLOW PRIVATE PARTY!!!

IT WAS A RUSE!!!

Nicholas taunts the crowd as Matthew lays into Isiah, the two brothers going under the ring and grabbing a Ladder. Nicholas goes to the corner and waits for Quen to get up...

OH! The ladder right to the face!

The two throw Kassidy to the outside and set him up...

OH NO!

A TK DRIVER ON THE OUTSIDE!!!

This is sickening. The EVPs set up the ladder they hit Quen with and pose on it with the tag titles.

---

AEW Women's World Championship
Club Venus Explodes
Mariah May (C) vs Mina Shirakawa​

Two former best friends turned to bitter, bitter rivals. Mariah May ever since winning the Women's Title in her home country at ALL IN has shown herself to be a conniving, wicked woman. Years of love & friendship thrown out the window at this point, now Mina Shirakawa wants the gold, and Mariah wants Mina's head.

Post-WrestleDream, Mariah would brag about how she concussed Willow Nightingale at the PPV and sent her packing, bragging about how her dreams were shattered by her hands because she's just like every single AEW fan: a pathetic loser. Unlike her best friend in the whole world, Mina Shirakawa. Mina would appear conflicted by this, happy that she's with her friend, but it's clear she's uncomfortable with how Mariah has been acting. During this promo, Mariah would be interrupted by Mercedes Martinez & Diamante, Martinez calling May a bitch and stating that they have their issues with Willow, but they respect her, something they absolutely don't with Mariah. Furious at this, May challenges them to a tag match with Mina on Dynamite, where if they win, whoever gets the pin will challenge her at Battle of the Belts. The two have a back and forth match, Mina getting some good offence in on the veterans, but accidentally knocks May off the apron! Shirakawa instantly rushes outside to check on her, but is blindsided by Diamante, throwing her headfirst into the steps, into the ring and getting pinned by Martinez with the Fisherman Buster.

Mariah would insist to Mina it's okay, although her friend definitely has her doubts. Mariah says if Mina wants to make it up to her she can be there for her at ringside for her match with Martinez and to have the champagne ready! May & Martinez have a brutal match, knocking the hell out of each other with stiff strikes and vicious bumps from May to make Mercedes look good, including a Michinoku Driver off the 2nd rope onto the apron! Mariah would reverse the Fisherman Buster into the Storm Zero for the win for her 5th title defence, and Mina rushes into the ring to check on her. Mariah kisses Mina once she realizes she's won, asking for the champagne. The two interlock arms and drink the champagne...

But May headbutts Mina!

Shirakawa falls to the ground and Mariah pounces, hitting brutal forearms to the face, grabbing her hair and thumping her against the canvas. Mike Posey tries to break it up, but May low blows him! May grabs the champagne glass and stomps on it, shattering the glass into tiny pieces. She then picks up the bottle, waiting for Mina, who's cut open above her eye, to stand up...

BAM! A CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE OVER THE HEAD AND SHIRAKAWA FALLS INTO THE GLASS!!!

May cradles Shirakawa's head in her arms and looks into her eyes, she looks like she's about to cry. We hear her talking to her.

May: "I loved you Mina, why did you have to betray me? I loved you...I loved you..."

The show ends with security rushing out and Mariah crying, holding her former lover in her arms.

Mariah has a sit-down interview with Renee Paquette, who is disgusted with her actions and her current state at Battle Of The Belts. May is still wearing the same ring gear as BOTB, stained with champagne and blood. Renee asks Mariah why she did what she did, to which Mariah gives her a confused look. She asks if she just saw the clip, stating it was obvious why. Mina had betrayed her. She knocked her off the apron, leading to that match in the first place, she then looks to the camera, crying again.

May: "Did you think I was blind? I would tune in to STARDOM, to watch my best friend, the woman I love, to support her. And there you are, flirting and teaming with the woman I ran out of this company. I wrote it off initially as just a fling, I can forgive a one off...But you did it again. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me."

Mariah would defend her title again on Collision, this time against Diamante in another vicious brawl. May pinned Diamante with the Mayday and went outside to grab the champagne. She teases hitting Diamante with the bottle, but Mina's theme hits! Shirakawa runs out and despite not being cleared, brings the fight to May! Mariah escapes through the ropes and tries running to the back, but Mina catches up and hits a nasty forearm, staggering Mariah...

OH!

A SPEAR OFF THE STAGE!

Mina is bleeding from the mouth, Mariah is a crumpled heap. Shirakawa gets up and poses with the AEW Women's Title, and we get word from Tony Khan (via Schiavone) that at Full Gear we'll see Mariah and Mina battle for the Women's title!

The two would continue to brawl all over the arena building up to the PPV. In the ring, in the parking lot, the locker room, nowhere was safe. On the final week before Full Gear, Mariah and Mina have a contract signing. Renee plays mediator between the two as they stare holes through each other, reminding them that violence is prohibited or else the match will be cancelled and May will be stripped of the title. Mariah signs the contract, not saying a word and playing it up like she's going to cry again. Mina asks for the mic from Renee and tells Mariah that enough is enough. Mina talks about how the two met in STARDOM, how they were in Club Venus and how they fell in love. She speaks about the Toni Storm feud in June and how that brought the three of them closer than ever, but Mariah was the one she loved. Mina and Toni formed a friendship, and asks Mariah if she knows what that's like?

Shirakawa: "Do you know what it's like to try and be friends with both of you after you did what you did? I thought that maybe we could go back to how things were. But I was wrong. All I got was glass in my back and a bottle over my head. And you're out here pretending to be devastated by the same actions that YOU caused!"

May glares at Mina, yelling off-mic that this was Mina's fault. She tells Mina she should have picked HER since she's her friend! She knew her before Toni so why is she picking her? She's better than Toni, she's better than Mina, and at Full Gear, she proves it.

Spoiler: Author's Note

I'm almost done writing every feud, just right now the motivation to finish the final build isn't there right now, but it'll come after the new year no doubt! I decided to split it into 3 parts just to get it out, but hopefully it'll be all one post in the future. Hope everyone has a lovely new year!

 

[TFC]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssss awesome Full Gear Build

 

[Roy Mustang]

Love the tweaks here made to the Death Riders instantly improving it. Them feeling like a true threat taking people out for good and using the cut names to put over the true threats of the group plus setting up Ospreay as a challenger down the line. The invading in matches and also the Naito-like treatment of the AEW title works better to sell the story of this being a TRUE threat to the company. OC makes perfect sense as a first challenger and the build to it is a brutal as I think this story needs to get. This is a true violent threat and I curious if we see a darker Yuta as this carries on.

Bucks paying for not helping with the Death Riders is cool and I like the Death Riders bleeding into other stories. Also like the slight change from real life adding the Private Party title match to the PPV

May vs Mina is the feud that May has been waiting for in part of her reign. Really love the writing of May as a total psycho here.

Very good start to the Full Gear build

 

[Stojy]

Really enjoyed the first lot of build here. Mox/Cassidy stuff with the Death Riders was really good. Considering how pissed Cassidy is, the only part that didn't quite match for me was Cassidy running off with the title at the end there. Just felt like it didn't quite fit with the rest of the mood of this whole angle. Otherwise though, really good stuff.

I struggle to buy Private Party as a team that I like vying for the tag titles, which probably tells you how much I enjoy AEW's tag division in real life at the moment. Kind of hoping The Bucks retain, although probably doesn't make sense for The Elite to remain such a powerful group, with the Death Riders now being so prominent.

Women's hype is great. Don't really have any complaints. Love me some Shirakawa.

Promising start here, hope that motivation hits soon and we see more.