AEW - From The Beginning | Volume One: Ch 1-12

[Comrade Khan]

 

[Comrade Khan]

Angel Squad
Nak
Shida
Bucks
Willy GOAT
dem boys
banks
Lethal

winner of gauntlet: dem boys

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Nine Finale

BUY IN

[Lethal and Pentagon had been two of the big players in the 5-on-5 tag team match at Revolution, and the fans would not be left disappointed by the extra match that had been added to the card as the two men would go at it tooth and nail despite the fact that there was no real bad blood between both men, but it would be Jay who would shine through as he would hit his foe with the Lethal Injection to claim the victory and kickoff the Buy In in style. In what was without a doubt a five star classic in which both men had shown themselves as two of the very best that AEW had to offer in what proving to be a truly stacked roster - 5.0 Star]

[It was announced that a total of six teams would enter into the Gauntlet, with one team being eliminated the next duo making their way out from the back. The first two would be The Good Brothers and The Gunn Club, with the BC representatives first eliminating Billy and Austin before then eliminated TH4 (Spears & Evans) and then besting a third team as they would see off Young Dumb & Broke (Oliver & Tiger) - with the being a certain level of bad blood between the two teams especially considering Jordan had been hit with the Magic Killer as part of his removal from the Bullet Club. Anderson and Gallows though, would find themselves exhausted and out of breath as Contra Unit would enter with the combination of TJP and Jacob Fatu removing them from the contest. This would leave a final matchup between them and Mexcellence (Vikingo & Rey Horus) with Horus claiming the victory for his team after nailing TJP with a 450 Splash to win the contest. - 4.75 Star]

[For the second time in the Buy In, the fans would be blown away by another epic match as Riho and Venom would blow the fan’s socks off with another instant classic. Riho and Venom would bring two very different styles to the ring, but they would have a natural chemistry which would allow for some great blending of both their styles. With Venom ending the contest by nailing Riho with a brutal Bankrupt to bring an end to the contest. After the match, Venom would make it clear that her road to the top was only just getting started and sooner or later she would become the Women’s Champion. - 5.0 Star]

MAIN SHOW

[WALTER having approved his student to compete for gold following his impressive victory over himself and Batista, with the big Austrian and Gabriel Kidd offering a gutsy performance against one of the most talented tag teams of the last decade in the Briscoes. WALTER and Kidd would certainly have their individual moments, but as a unit they were no competition for The Briscoes who made their second defence of the belt and would do so by nailing WALTER with the Springboard Doomsday Device to retain their straps. - 4.25 Star]

[There was a level of hatred and a level of respect present between both men that just made for a truly violent and excellent contest as the two top tier members of The Elite would push the other to their utmost limit. Ospreay would be nailed by the One-Winged Angel - but much to everyone's surprise including Omega he would be back up onto his feet within a number of seconds that would really show just how much of a hot talent the young Brit was. As both men would begin to falter as they were to start to fade in regards to their stamina, it would be Ospreay who would pull off the big moves on the ring apron as he would hit the StormBreaker before forcing Omega into the coffin. Instead of closing the lid, Will grabbed a steel chair and placed it over Omega’s face before clambering onto the turnbuckle and landing down on the chair with a Double Footed Stomp that would brutally bust Omega wide open, before Will would smile and slam the coffin lid closed in what was another sensational match in what was proving to be an epic Blood & Guts match card. - 5.0 Star]

[The match for the World Tag Team Titles would prove to be a thrilling contest with the two time champions, the first world champion and one of the key pillars of AEW all involved in a truly hellacious contest with the unlikely pairing of Pac and Darby Allin continuing to show themselves as being the most exciting new team on the block. Both men didn’t have the fusion as a team and very much wrestled as two individuals, but were two very dangerous individuals nonetheless.

The Young Bucks would seem to be almost surprised by how dangerous Iron Blood really were, with the match ending with both members of Iron Blood leaping off the turnbuckles with Matt being hit with the Coffin Drop and Nick with the Black Arrow with the pair pinning the champs at the same time, with the referee making double counts as Iron Blood would become the 9th holder of the tag belts. - 5.5 Star]

[The contest between Angelina Love and Hikaru Shida would be the lowest quality match of the entire evening, but it certainly wasn’t a match that would disappoint as both women would battle with an air of tenacity. Love was keen to retain a briefcase, whilst Shida had no love for Angelina and the Allure and would wrestle with a certain determination as a clear representative of JPN-gun. The match would end up being a back and forth technical contest, until Mandy Leon would distract the referee that would allow Love to nail Shida with her briefcase before kicking the evidence away and rolling up Hikaru to retain the ‘Staircase to Heaven’ contract. - 3.75 Star]

[Gresham would offer Nakamura a whole new challenge, as his supreme technical and submission wrestling would really push Shinsuke to his limit and force him to change tact in order to remain in the contest and not be caught out by one of Gresham’s more precise submission manoeuvres. Eventually though, Nak would find his feet and work out how to counter and deal with Gresham’s style. Once this balance was found, the gulf in ability between the World and TNT Champion would suddenly become more apparent although it wouldn’t stop the match from being incredibly interesting with both men pulling off some fast paced spots that would certainly leave the fans wanting a second match between both men one day in the future. The match would end with Nakamura sending Gresham off the second rope with the Landslide (Samoan Driver) to successfully defend the world title for the very first time. After the match both men would shake hands in the middle of the ring, before Gresham would congratulate Nak by leading an applause as Shinsuke would celebrate with his title in hand. - 4.75 Star]

Oedo Tai (Baker, SLK & Priestley), Aviso Muerte (Martinez, Kellyanne & Giulia) & Ivelisse
vs.
Angel Squad (Hayter, Deonna, Deeb & KAIRI) & Golden Girls (Thunder Rosa, Gibbs & Statlander)

[The Blood & Guts match would would be brutal, bloody and downright violent affair and once all fourteen women were in ring and bodies were laid out left right and center it was clear that this was the most extreme match that had ever taken place in the Women’s Division since the creation of AEW. Aviso de Muerte and Oedo Tai though clearly couldn’t see eye to eye, which led to both groups really not being to get along with had result in Gulia, Ivelisse, SLK and Britt Baker being taken out and unable to compete, with only Gibbs and Deeb worse for wear on the other side. The match would end with Rosa and KAIRI working together to hit a Doomsday Device on Priestley to win the match and bring an end to the evening. - 5.5 Star]​

 

[CakeWalker]

@Canadian Dragon - you get to save two - the rest return to the free agency.

Black Taurus | Emi Sakura | Shawn Spears | Kip Sabian | Angelico | Flip Gordon | Nyla Rose | Austin Aries | Awesome Kong | Chris Hero | QT Marshall | Simon Gotch | Aja Kong |​

 

[Comrade Khan]

Gotta go my boy taurus n my girl nyla rose

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part One

The fallout from Blood & Guts would also affect the losing side, with it be quite clear that Priestley was less than pleased to have been on the losing side - although in her ever cunning manner she would end up creating tension amongst the Angel Squad and The Golden Girls that would lead to a rivalry being created between both group more particularly between Thunder Rosa and KAIRI. It seemed however, that Mercedes Martinez was less than pleased with Priestley and would actually blame the leader of Oedo Tai for the loss and would demand that Priestley apologize to her and Aviso de Muerte or pay the price of standing on the wrong side of the reaper.

That night Tormenta Oscuara (Martinez & Kellyanne) would successfully defend their belt against Order 66. After the bell, the pair would be attacked by all three members of Oedo Tai - with Bea making it clear that she intended to teach Mercedes and Kellyanne a lesson in respect and that she and Britt Baker would be coming for the belts at Bash at the Beach. The match itself would end up being a great match, although Priestley and Baker would pull through and claim the belt in what would see Priestley become a double champion and confirm herself as the most accomplished member of the Women’s Division - with Mercedes and Kellyanne fleeing from the ring like two scolded dogs.

At Blood & Guts, the Angel Squad and The Golden Girls would have a moment backstage in which both factions would savor the victory they had accomplished by claiming a victory over Oedo Tai/Aviso de Muerte only for for Hayter to make a suggestion that perhaps The Golden Girls would consider officially becoming members of the Angel Squad. Thunder Rosa would however make the point that before any sort of merging took place, there was a score that needed to be settled between her and the ‘Pirate Princess’ KAIRI. Rosa would make it clear that the match wouldn’t be motivated by hatred, greed or desire but to simply find out who out of the two of them was the better woman.

Just as it looked as both women were about to shake hands and agree to a match, both factions would find themselves being interrupted by none other than the Women’s Champion Bea Priestley. Priestley would make it clear that no one wanted to see soppy nonsense and matches thought out of pure respect and would add drama to the situation by announcing that the next person who would challenge for her title would be the winner of a match between KAIRI & Rosa - and that the two women would do battle on next week’s episode of Dynamite. The next week the two men would battle in show’s main-event, but there would end up being no winner of the contest as it would result in a Time Limit Draw as the show would run out of time causing their to be no winner and therefore no confirmed #1 contender.

The following week on Rampage, Thunder and KAIRI would meet once again this time in Trios action that would see The Golden Girls claim a victory over The Angel Squad (KAIRI, Deeb & Deonna). After the contest KAIRI would make it clear that she and Thunder Rosa needed to fight each other once again, and this time it needed to happen somewhere where they would need to worry about time limits as she would propose they compete once again one-on-one at Bash at the Beach for the right to become the rightful No 1. Contender. At Bash at the Beach both women would feature in an outstanding contest, showcasing just why they were seen as two of best that had yet to become the Women’s World Champion - but it would be KAIRI who would would claim the victory by nailing Rosa with the Seven Seas (Diving Elbow Drop) to become the new number one contender for Priestley’s strap.

In the month that followed, Thunder Rosa would make it clear that after losing to KAIRI that perhaps it was time to bury the past and bring an end to The Golden Girls. Rosa would make it clear though, that if her, Statalander and Gibbs were going to consider jumping ship they would require one last match - a Hardcore Tag Team Match. The Angel Squad would agree to the contest, but with Hayter and KAIRI involved in other contests - the Angel Squad would scout out for a member of the roster to be an honorary member of the Squad. After a number of ‘interview promos’ the Angel Squad would present wings to the former Women’s Champion Kylie Rae. Rosa would make it clear that if The Golden Girls lost the match - then the group would disband, and she would join the Angel Squad, but that Statlander and Gibbs were at liberty to make their own career choices.

Hardcore Tag Team Match
Angel Squad (Deonna & Deeb) & Kylie Rae vs. The Golden Girls (Thunder Rosa, Gibbs & Statlander)

Bea Priestley would be celebrate being a double champion by having an over elaborate coronation celebration in the ring that would be extremely obnoxious and over the top only for Mercedes Martinez to make her way out from the back and proceed to stand face to face with Priestley as the two would virtually collide in the middle of the ring. Mercedes would make it clear that she wasn’t interested in being given a rematch for the tag titles but rather would make it clear that if Bash at the Beach at shown her anything, it was that she was more than deserving of a shot at the Women’s Championship and would make it clear that she didn’t care if KAIRI had won a number one contender’s match, because the Pirate Reject was going to have to wait her turn because she was pushing to the front of the queue. This confrontation would lead to a Trios match the following week on Rampage with Aviso de Muerte claiming a solid victory over Oedo Tai - after the contest Mercedes would stand defiantly in the middle of the ring look very proud of herself as she would be surrounded by Kellyanne and Guilia who both looked pleased with their leader.

The following week on Dynamite, KAIRI and Martinez would run into each other backstage. KAIRI would make it clear that she had earned the right to challenge for the championship and that Mercedes would have to get in line and wait for her shot at the title like everyone else. Martinez though would make it clear that she felt that KAIRI was just intimidated by what she brought to the table, and that is why she didn’t want any part of her. The Pirate Princess would just laugh Martinez off before strolling away. Later that night, Priestley & Baker would defend their tag team belts for the first time against the The Iconic Duo in which would prove to be a thrilling contest that would really excite the fans - only for Mercedes Martinez and Kellyanne to serve as distraction in the contest which would lead to the championships changing hands and Jessie and Cassie becoming the new champions, much to Priestley’s clear annoyance.

On the following episode of Rampage, Priestley would vent her fury at Martinez having stuck her nose where it didn’t belong and that if she wanted a piece of her and her title then so be it. Bea would confirm that at Double or Nothing she would defend her title in a triple threat match against both KAIRI & Mercedes Martinez in what would be her 24th defense of the AEW Women’s World Championship. During go-home week, Martinez and KAIRI would partner up in an unlikely combination to take on Priestley and Baker with the two challengers shocking everyone as the pair would claim a victory over Oedo Tai.

After the match a scuffle would take place between all three women who would be battling at Double or Nothing. Baker would attempt to get involved, only for Jamie Hayter proceeding to fight tooth and nail with Baker. All three women in the ring would end up being separated by match officials and backstage security with it clear that the match was going to be intense. It would later be announced that the three women would compete for the title in a Ladder Match.

AEW Women’s World Championship | Ladder Match
Bea Priestley (c) vs. KAIRI vs. Mercedes Martinez​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Two

After Blood & Guts, despite being sore from the brutal contest Jamie Hayter and Starlight Kid would finally agree to settle their differences and compete in a deciding contest on the fallout episode of Dynamite. The match would be the final chapter in the Love & Hayte saga, but it would be Hayter who would claim the victory with it being noted that SLK would seemingly be unwilling to cheat which would allow Hayter to win the match cleanly. After the match, Hayter and SLK would end up shaking hands and embracing each other in the middle of the ring in what would come off as a very touching moment that would suggest that their hatred might be a thing in the past. Only for SLK to smile, as Baker would blindside Hayter and smash a bottle of Champagne over the back of Hayter’s head as the pair would proceed to kick the shit out of Hayter in the middle of the ring

A week later, Baker would cut a promo a week later and make it clear that Hayter would always be nothing more than a Judas and she would never be able to escape from her sins of turning against her sisters in arms. Britt would make it clear that she intended on making an example out of Hayter, next week on Rampage. The pair would have a great match, only for the referee being distracted by SLK - as Baker would smash a cement brick into Hayter’s head in order to steal a win. For the next few weeks, Baker would focus on the tag titles with Priestley and end up winning the belts only to lose them via a distraction from Martinez.

Following the loss, Hayter would cut a promo about Baker making it clear that she was nothing more than a lapdog and that unlike SLK she had no real potential of anything other than being second best. Hayter would challenge Baker to face her at Double or Nothing, in an off-location match - in a Warehouse Deathmatch and make it clear that the only way to win the contest would make your opponent bleed and knock them out. Baker would agree to the contest and the match would be added to the PPV card.

Warehouse Deathmatch
Jamie Hayter vs. Britt Baker​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Three

The bad blood between Shida and Love would only continue in the following weeks, with Shida making it clear that she wanted a second shot at Angelina’s Staircase to Heaven briefcase. Angelina however, would make it clear that she wasn’t one to hand out second chances for nothing and that it would come with a price - if Shida failed to win the match she would be forced to become a member of the Allure. The pair would end up having a great match at Bash at the Beach, although it would be Hikaru who would end up winning the match much to Angelina's absolute horror to become the new owner of the briefcase. For the next months clear tensions would continue between The Allure and JPN-gun, with Hikaru Shida agreeing to a rubber match between the pair but would inform Angelina that the briefcase would be contested for in a Falls Count Anywhere match.

Falls Count Anywhere | ‘Staircase to Heaven Contract’
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Angelina Love

Following Revolution, Riho would introduce Ryo Mizunami as the newest member of JPN-gun and would make it clear that Ryo & Yuka that would be from this point onwards the faction representatives in the tag team division with Riho making it clear that she had high hopes for the pairing which would wrestle under the moniker ‘Tenchu’. The pairing would prove to be incredibly competent as a team claiming tag victories over The Allure (Leon & Sky), The Bird & The Bee (Solo Darling & Willow Nightingale), The Horn Blowers (Penelope Ford & The Bunny), Order 66 (Natalya & Anna Jay) & 24 Karat Gold (Statlander & Gibbs). The undefeated streak of Tenchu would prove to be the reason why the team would be chosen to challenge The Iconic Duo for the Women’s Tag Titles at Double or Nothing.

AEW Women’s Tag Team Championships
The Iconic Duo (c) vs. Tenchu (Ryo Mizunami & Yuka Sakazaki)


A Six Pack Challenge featuring talent not booked in any matches was also added to the DoN match card, with two members of the roster who had yet to lose in singles contest in Utami Hayashishita and Venom Banks featuring in the contest meaning that potentially one if not both of their wins streak would come to an end. Oedo Tai's Starlight Kid, The Allure's Kamille and her former partner Awesome Kong as well as Nyla Rosa would complete the six in what was expected to feature as part of the Buy In.

Six Pack Challenge
Starlight Kid vs. Utami Hayshishita vs. Nyla Rosa vs. Kamille vs. Awesome Kong vs. Venom Banks​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Four

On the episode of Dynamite following Blood & Guts, Jonathan Gresham would be booked in a mandatory defense of the TNT Championship due to him not having defended the belt at the special and would take on ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. The match would be an interesting affair, only to be spoiled by Gabriel Kidd who would leap up onto the ring apron much to everyone’s confusion as to why he was getting involved. As the referee was distracted, Page would kick Gresham in the nuts before exiting the ring only to volley back in with the Buckshot Lariat that would allow him to roll Gresham over to win his first title in AEW.

After the match Ospreay would join Page in the ring and present him with the TNT Championship before introducing Gabriel Kidd as the newest member of The Elite. Ospreay would make it clear that The Young Bucks had been foolish in turning their back on The Elite - as the group was stronger than ever. Will would make it clear that Omega was at home recovering from their best, but that he and Kenny now had an understanding and that together they were the single great duo in professional wrestling - Alpha & Omega. And that going forward the fans would really begin to appreciate what it meant to be Elite. That week on Rampage Ospreay and Omega would pair up for the first time as Alpha & Omega for the first time and get a win over the pairing of Dave Batista & AEW World Champion Shinsuke Nakamura that would leave everyone wanting more.

The following week WALTER would cut a promo in which he would make it clear that Gabriel Kidd had thrown away all the months of lessons down the drain by joining The Elite - and that on Rampage later on in the week he would teach him one final lesson in respect, because it was clear there was no real hope for him in the future. The match itself would be a grueling contest, although it would become clear that the match had been nothing more than a trap as ‘Hangman’ would enter the ring with a steel pipe and drive it into the back of WALTER head causing the match to end immediately via DQ. After the contest, Ospreay would emerge from the back and cut a very short promo making it clear that WALTER was nothing more than an overrated former WWE stooge that was nothing more than a bonus character and had no hopes of actually making any real impact when it counted in AEW. Ospreay would announce that next week on Dynamite he would show everyone just how worthless WALTER was, when he would take on the big Austrian in singles competition.

WALTER and Ospreay would end up having a truly excellent contest, but it was clear that Will had massively underestimated WALTER ability as the big Austrian would become the first man in AEW to claim a victory over The Brit ending a singles winning streak of 25-0. After the match, WALTER would make it clear that Ospreay had made an enemy of him for life by turning Kidd against him and until he had taught Ospreay a lesson in respect, then there would be absolutely no stopping him from continuing to beat the crap of Will - and it was an added bonus because he had certainly enjoying beating the crap out of Ospreay and proving to the world that Will was just another man and that there was nothing special about him.

Over the next few weeks Alpha & Omega would compete in two more tag teams with the pairing claiming wins of The Dynasty and the Dark Order. After claiming the win over Evil Uno and Stu Grayson, Ospreay would make it clear that he had been hoping to challenge WALTER to a tag team match at Bash at the Beach - but because WALTER no longer had anyone to stand at his side and look up to him then he was just going to have to deal with facing him a second time in singles action. On this second meeting between the pair it would be Ospreay who would claim the win in what would be a five star classic - that would end with Ospreay nailing him with the OsCutter. After the match WALTER would make it clear that wrestlers didn’t compete under ‘God Mode’ and that even someone as talented as he lost now and again, but by beating WALTER he had righted the wrongs and reminded everyone what it meant to be Elite.

A fortnight or so later, WALTER would demand he and Ospreay face each other once again - although this time round Ospreay would win much easily with it clear that the young Brit had figured out exactly how to beat WALTER and would go about it in an incredibly confident and cocky manner which would earn himself extra heat. After the match, Dave Batista would slide into the ring and wrench up WALTER only to deliver him down onto the canvas with a brutalizing Batista Bomb standing menacingly over WALTER. On Rampage that week Ospreay and Omega would introduce Batista as the newest member of The Elite and make it clear that this ‘Living Legend’ was going to bring an end to WALTER - with Batista challenging WALTER to face him at Double or Nothing in a First Blood Match.

Josef Samael would cut a promo backstage in which he would introduce WALTER as the newest member of the Contra Unit and that during the Dynamite go-home show WALTER would team up with Jeff Cobb to take on Batista and a partner of his choice. It is no surprise that Batista would employ mind games ahead of Double or Nothing by picking Gabriel Kidd as his partner, and Kidd would prove to be the difference maker as the two newest members of The Elite would claim a victory over Contra Unit. Kidd would use the win as a platform for himself, as he would issue a challenge to PCO to face him in singles competition - with the intent that a win over PCO would cement his place on the high end of the card and make people realize he was more than a hot prospect, but rather an established talent.

First Blood Match
WALTER vs. Dave Batista

Singles Match
Gabriel Kidd vs. PCO

On the episode of Dynamite following Blood & Guts, Jonathan Gresham would be booked in a mandatory defense of the TNT Championship due to him not having defended the belt at the special and would take on ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. The match would be an interesting affair, only to be spoiled by Gabriel Kidd who would leap up onto the ring apron much to everyone’s confusion as to why he was getting involved. As the referee was distracted, Page would kick Gresham in the nuts before exiting the ring only to volley back in with the Buckshot Lariat that would allow him to roll Gresham over to win his first title in AEW.

Page would go on to defend the TNT Championship on three occasions leading up to Double or Nothing with wins over Dalton Castle, former champion Jonathan Gresham (at Bash at the Beach) and Rey Horus. After every successful title defense, ‘Hangman’ Page would begin to look stronger and stronger, with Adam really seeming to have finally found a place for himself in AEW. The champ’s confidence would grow, and ahead of Double or Nothing he would make his intentions clear, that he not only wanted to defend the TNT Championship in style - but he wanted to do so in a match that would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the first champion that the AEW fans could actually give a shit about and that all that had come before him were nothing more than worthless mongrels.

Page would make it clear that he would allow AEW management to decide his opponent’s - but that he intended to defend the belt in a four way contest. Former champion Jonathan Gresham would be chosen, as would Contra Unit’s Jacob Fatu and Simon Gotch. After his opponent’s had been announced ‘Hangman’ would make it clear that Double or Nothing would be the battleground that would put The Elite in the foreground of everyone’s mind - and no one would ever doubt them again.

TNT Championship - Fatal Four Way
‘Hangman’ Adam Page (c) vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Simon Gotch​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Five

The Young Bucks would have to deal with the hangover of losing their titles at Blood & Guts by being forced to fight The Butcher & The Blade on the fallout show of Dynamite with Matt and Nick would pull through and claim the victory. After the contest, Tyler Black and Cody Rhodes would slide into the ring and it looked as if the pair were going to attack the Bucks only for the four men to embrace in the middle of the ring as they would be presented with Bullet Club tees and pull them on before the four men would throw up ‘too sweets’ very much confirming the pair had rejoined the BC. A few weeks later the leader of the Bullet Club, Tyler Black would cut a promo in which he would target the Iron Horns and make it clear that Rush and his group of degenerates were nothing more than a stain on the roster and he intended on tearing the group limb from limbs in the weeks to come.

At Bash at the Beach both sides would be booked to take part in a Burning Cage Match, but the match would never get underway as both factions would have a brutal brawl backstage that would prove to be great television with bodies scattered left, right and center although the camera would focus on Tyler Black who would have a manic smile across his face. In the build up to Double or Nothing both teams would agree to face each other again, although Rush would make it clear that Sammy G had disappointed him and would demote Sammy back to the developmental territory - which would seem to cause fracture within Iron Horns with just a few days to go until Double or Nothing.

Iron Horns (nZo, CaZXL, Rush, Butcher & Blade) vs. Bullet Club (Young Bucks, Tyler Black, Cody Rhodes & ELP

On the episode of Rampage a fortnight after Blood & Guts, Jay Lethal would cut a promo on how he had proven on multiple occasions why he was superior to Pentagon, Jr. in every way, but he was more than aware that Penta had backup - and that the only way he was going to be safe was by keeping company he could trust. Lethal would resurrect The Foundation and introduce Jonathan Gresham and Anthony Ogogo as his brother in the ring with the intention of bringing honor to All Elite Wrestling. The two groups would have a number of run ins over the next two months - with Lethal and Pentagon, Jr. agreeing to having another match in their series of matches, but would agree to have a Submission Match at Double or Nothing. Jonathan Gresham would make it clear that Contra Unit hadn’t wrestled with enough honor to face either him or Ogogo at the pay per view - but that he had hired the services of Mexcellence to face Contra Unit and would make it clear to Josef Samael that if they were able to beat the trio of Vikingo, Fenix & Horus cleanly then he would give the match that Contra wanted at some point in the near future.

Submission Match
Pentagon, Jr. def. Jay Lethal - 4.75

Mexcellence (Vikingo, Fenix & Horus) w/ Jonathan Gresham & Anthony Ogogo vs. CONTRA Unit (Samael, Cobb & TJP)​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Six

At Bash at the Beach, the Briscoes would successfully defend the Openweight Tag Team Championships in a four way contest seeing off Reynolds & Silver, TH2 and R-Union to further cement themselves as the champion and send a clear message that they were the team on the up and serious threat the entire division. After the victory, Jay Briscoe would cut a very emotional promo that was directed at the company’s owner Tony Khan. Jay would reveal that CyberFight Promotions had attempted to sign him and his brothers - but TK had prevented them from leaving and made it clear that he wanted the Briscoes to see out their contract. Jay said that this decision had annoyed him, but would make it clear that if he and his brother were going to be locked into their contract then he would expect - no demand that he and his brother be taken more seriously and be put in the title picture for the World titles instead of this second rate titles that he and his brother were currently defending.

Following Bash at the Beach, Dark Order would be present in the ring and proceed to introduce three new members of the group - Alan Angels (who would be given the #5), Sixpentico (Serpentico - who would be given the #6) and Chris Jericho as their manager (who would be given 00). Chris Jericho would introduce Angels and Sixpentico as 5&6 and make it clear these two young men actually wanted to be future Openweight Champions and that Jay and Mark Brisoce had sounded like spoiled children at Bash at the Beach and they had embarrassed themselves. The new pairing would claim a sole victory over TH2, but Jericho would be the duo mouthpiece and work his way under Jay Briscoe’s skin enough to earn his boys a match against the champions at Double or Nothing.

AEW Openweight Tag Team Championships
The Briscoe Brothers (c) vs. 5&6 w/ Chris Jericho​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Seven

PAC and Darby Allin (Iron Blood) would begin their reign as the new AEW World Tag Team Champions by making it clear in a promo backstage that they intended to be a competitive members of the tag division and this wouldn’t be another vanity project featuring two singles competitors and would announce that The Expendables and Caza Salvaje would face off tonight in a number one contender’s match - that would see the combination of London & PCO earn the right to challenge for the belts at next week’s show. The following week Iron Blood and The Expendables would go to war in which would prove to be a great contest, until Nakamura would emerge from the back and leap onto the ring apron that would distract PAC long enough to prevent Darby from tagging in PAC - that would leave Darby vulnerable to a double team attacked as PCO would pick up Darby and nail him with a Chokeslam before London would connect with the Shooting Star Press that would see The Expendables claim the titles in marred circumstances. After the bell Darby Allin would be noticeably angry with PAC and wouldn’t hide his frustration at the fact that his partner hadn’t been there for him when he had needed it.

On Rampage, PAC would cut a promo where he would make it clear that he Shinsuke had no right to get involved in the match for the tag team titles - and that if he really wanted a piece of the action then he could come and have a piece anytime. PAC would get exactly what he asked for, as Nak would interrupt the promo by slamming feet first into the Brit’s head, knocking him to the ground before taking hold of the microphone and making it clear that the predator had now become the prey. The following weeks the pair would meet up again backstage in a heated moment in which Shinsuke would make it clear that he intended to defend the World Championship against PAC - but before he gave that opportunity he first intended to strip PAC of his sanity.

It would be announced that Iron Blood would get a rematch for the belts on the following week’s episode of Rampage - but it would be confirmed that if Nakamura got involved in the match he would be stripped of this world title belt. The match would end up being an epic, but it would be Iron Blood who would reclaim the belt to become two time champions. Post-match PCO and Paul London would get in a fight, that would lead to the pair facing each other at Bash at the Beach - that Paul London would win before announcing that enough was enough and that The Expendables were no more. Nakamura would team up with Batista to challenge Iron Blood for the belts, and despite it being a great match Iron Blood would retain the belts. After the contest PAC and Nakamura would stare each other down in the ring, before Shinsuke would announce that on Dynamite - PAC would finally get a shot at his title. The match would prove to be an epic contest, but Shinsuke would retain the belt that would seem to catch PAC off guard - at the fact that he hadn’t become the world champion for the second time in his career.

PAC wouldn’t be given any time to get over his failure to capture the AEW World Championship though, as the lethal duo Alpha & Omega (of Will Ospreay & Kenny Omega) would make it clear that they intended on challenging Iron Blood for the belts at Double or Nothing. In the build up PAC would claim a singles win over Kenny Omega, whilst Ospreay would claim a victory over Darby Allin. Both teams would come to an agreement that the titles needed to be contested in a setting that everyone would remember and that had the potential of being one of the greatest matches in AEW history and so would agree to battle for the belts within the confines of a sealed steel cage.

AEW World Tag Team Championships | Sealed Steel Cage Match
Iron Blood (c) vs. Alpha & Omega​

 

[CakeWalker]

Chapter Ten - Part Eight

Following Nakamura having finally silenced PAC - the next weekend on Dynamite with just a fortnight to go until Double or Nothing, Shinsuke would cut a promo making it clear that as things stood he was without an opponent at Double or Nothing, but would make it clear there were a few people on his radar that he was considering as being worthy challengers. Nakamura wouldn’t get to say another word though as a beer bottle would be smashed over his head and as he dropped to the floor James Storm would emerge into the shot. ‘The Cowboy’ would make his AEW debut and make it clear that if it was a fight that Nakamura wanted - then it was a fight he was going to get.

Storm would make it clear that from this point onwards he was ‘All Elite’ and had no intentions of going anywhere, he would make it clear that he had left the National Wrestling Alliance as a three time Worlds Heavyweight Champion and a two time NWA World Tag Team Champion - but he had achieved everything he could and now the focus was his future and his future was becoming the next AEW World Champion.

AEW World Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. James Storm

One additional match would be added to the Double or Nothing match card, with Paul London now working as a Lone Wolf and would be booked to face the leader of Young Dumb & Broke Jordan Oliver as part of the Buy In.

Singles Match
Paul London vs. Jordan Oliver​

 

[CakeWalker]

I will run a Prediction Contest alongside this for any readers interested - The winner/s will get to decide a number of entrants in a future tournament/competition on the horizon.

BUY IN

MAIN SHOW

[Champions - The Iconic Duo]

[Holder - Hikaru Shida]

[Champions - The Briscoe Brothers]

[Champion - 'Hangman' Adam Page]

[Champions - Iron Blood]

[Champion - Priestley]

[Champion - Shinsuke Nakamura]
​

 

[Marty McFourth]

Think my favourite match on the card is Alpha & Omega vs Iron Blood. Bout to slap.

I like James Storm vs Nak too, very unique.