AEW Grand Slam

Jim Ross in at the desk tonight along with Taz, Excalibur, and Tony Schiavone. The event starts with a tease for the World Championship match. JR and Nigel both say they have not seen Bryan Danielson all day. Nigel makes the ref start a ten count. Paul Turner complied. The Final Countdown hits at 6. Danielson appears.

Now a proper match starts. This is the first match they have had in almost 15 years. They are one day shy. Nigel hits a European Uppercut as the first offense. Danielson returns the favor. These early goings are very technical. Both men are countering arm bars and maintaining wrist control. Nigel backs Danielson into the corner with a flurry of open hand strikes. Danielson explodes out with a single loud chop. Nigel seemingly fakes getting hit in as Taz would say Yambag City. The two men go back to mirroring they type of move the other does. Nigel starts to use the ring stairs. After Bryan escapes falling steel stairs he starts using the corner of the ring. Nigel hooks on a top wristlock. Kicks in the corner by Danielson followed by a double underhook. Tower of London attempt. Danielson hits a Busaiku knee immediately after but cannot or does not pin. Yes Kicks. Lariat by Nigel for a near fall. Bryan turns a pin on him into the Labell Lock. Nigel McGuinness goads Danielson into a upper cut with the injured arm. The fact that these two are playing to the injury is good in ring story telling. The fact that even after 15 years they show familiarity is also good for the pageantry. Hammer and Anvil elbows transitioned into a Tower of London. Only good for a two count. London Dungeon hooked in. Danielson escaped and delivered his own elbow strikes. This match is going on longer than I would have expected with all that is advertised. LaBell Lock once again hooked on Nigel but Danielson did not get a good grip. Taz keeps going on about the grip. His commentary is gripping as usual. Danielson finally get a good LaBell lock on and Nigel taps out. Good overall match from the two since one hasn't been an active competitor in over a decade and the other is not what he used to be.

Hook against Roderick Strong is next. Starts off with a very, I would say, aggressive technical style. This match is of course being done under FTW rules. Bennett received a T-Bone on the outside. Hook is taking on all three of the Undisputed Kingdom. Just making when he wins that much more of a victory. That or continuing a feud with the Conglomeration. Strong looks good but not strong as Hook seems to almost constantly hinder the offense of Roderick Strong. Hook's gut went into the top of a chair; then he got hit by a running boot. Hook gets a Redrum. Strong taps out. Undisputed Kingdom could have saved him but just stood there. Hook retires the FTW championship. Thank the Gods above.

It Lives, It Breaths' "Elevated" hitting always brings a smile to my face. Kyle and Osprey looked good in matching gear. Matthew Jackson has his pearls before swine wearing them in his hair. The illegal tactics start early by the Bucks. The Protostar Kyle Fletcher misses several attempts to take the Bucks down by various charges off the ropes. Moonsault Press to the Young Bucks using Fletcher as a launching pad. Then the Jacksons go to the outside. This blesses us with a Untied Empire double Moonsault off the same Turnbuckle. Ospreay tries for the Oscutter but gets a corkscrew kick instead. Nick almost gets the win. Senton Powerbomb combo by the Bucks. Very nice. Ospreay posted a similar move about a week ago. EVP Trigger escaped and a double Oscutter is hit. Rick Knox delays the pin trying to find the legal man. Double Clothesline by Fletcher takes both Bucks down. All four men are down. Nicholas and Fletcher get up and start to exchange blows. Matthew pulls Fletcher out. Penalty kick by Nicholas. Out of No where Ospreay hits a big move. That does not keep the Young Bucks from hitting a Meltzer Driver on the apron. Almost a count out victory for the Young Bucks. Jumping DDT by Matthew Jackson to Will Ospreay onto the apron. Meanwhile, Fletcher barely kicks out of a pin. Fletcher has been opened up and is bleeding. TK driver blocked and United Empire both hit a Styles Clash. Hidden Blade Storm Breaker almost defeats the Bucks. Nicholas for the save. Superkick block the Tiger Driver. Half and Half by Kyle Fletcher puts the momentum back in the favor of United Empire. More Bang for Your Buck blocked. Oscutter opens it up for Ospreay and Fletcher to hit a TK Driver. Coriolis still does not finish the match. Loads of high impact moves. Turnbuckle Brain buster to Matthew gets a two count Don Callis hands Kyle Fletcher a yellow handled screwdriver. Fletcher goes to use it by Will stops it Matthew uses the belt to knock out Ospreay. Nick Hits Kyle as he bounces off the rope. Not good enough to finish the match. However, the BTE Trigger after that does the job to retain it for The Young Bucks.

MVP arrived. Not much about Swerve. Sounds like some form of the Hurt Business will be joining AEW.

Mariah May jump starts the match. Once both ladies gets in the ring they start to exchange blows. Yuka goes for an area code but Mariah escapes to the outside. This gave Mariah the chance to take the match over. Mariah May seems to be focusing on the back of Sakazaki. Yuka exploits the five count while she had a thigh lock (not 100% sure what to call it) on May's head in the ropes. Gator Roll type move by Sakazaki. The proceeding pin gets her a two Mariah May with a high angle German Suplex is soon introduced to the match by May, A very 50-50 back and forth match. Thrust kick by Sakazaki to a headbutting Mariah May. Norther Lights bomb by Sakazaki who then attempts a Magical Girls Splash. Knees up leads to a Storm Zero and win for Mariah May. Good outing by the ladies. It is nice to see Yuka Sakazaki getting the chance. Willow charges out when Mariah May goes to hit Yuka with the belt. Mina Shirakawa also comes out and inadvertently allows Willow to be hit with the belt.

As much as I don't like Darby Allin winning all the time if he doesn't win tonight I will be highly upset. It is time for a "homegrown" talent to win the AEW World Championship. Mox against Danielson would still be compelling with the break up of BCC. That story can be told without the title. Darby is quickly knocked down by Mox. Mox is really laying in punches. Good thing there is a dentist on staff. Mox is really working over Darby Allin's mouth which is bleeding profusely. Darby is trying to fight back. Darby traps Mox's arm in the corner and starts working on that. Marian Shafir has to help Mox get it out. Suicide Dive levels Mox on the outside. Shafir attacks Darby while Mox has Bryce Remsburg distracted. Mox is back to looking 100%. Mox goes to the limit of a 5 count while crushing Darby's head against the pole. Piledriver gets Jon Moxley a two count. Mox puts on a STF. Once the move is released Mox throws Darby out of the ring. Shafir interferes once again. Stunner by Darby breathes life back into Darby. Drop Kick to Mox who had rolled to the outside and sat in a chair. Both men back in. Code Red by Darby for a two count. Darby attempts to use an exposed turnbuckle. Mox blocks. Drop kick by Mox sends Allin into the corner. Okada Roll for a two followed by a spalsh and a two. Fujiwara arm bar by Darby; transistioned into a guillotine. Mox sets Darby on the top rope then bitch slaps him to the floor. JR saying to look at her strength seems commentary meant to build Shafir up but at the same time may not be taken well. Darby dives out and hit the bar floor. Mox then puts Darby into the steel steps. Another 9 count and tease for a count out victory. Chants of "You Can't Kill Him" erupts. Mox's head hits the exposed turnbuckle and Darby almost wins. Coffin Drop caught by a body lock with the legs and headlock by the arms of Moxley. Moxley then turns that into a Bulldog Choke. Darby starts to foam at his mouth before getting to the bottom rope. Superplex turned into an Avalanche Death Rider. Winner is Jon Moxley. This is Bullshit. Just straight Bullshit. I know it is scripted but still.

Bryan attacks Mox after the match choking him with a neck tie. A brawl ensures. The official match between Mox and Danielson is set for Wretledream.