AEW “Fighter Fest Night 1” Dynamite Results
July 21, 2021
Garland, TX (Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex)
Results by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
The First Labor of Jericho
“Le Champeon” Chris Jericho vs. “The Chairman (Not La Parka)” Shawn Spears w/Tully Blanchard
Chairs are legal for Spears but not Jericho. This is the first of the “labors of Jericho,” the challenges that Jericho must get through to get to MJF. MJF comes out to join commentary. Spears tried to use the chair immediately but Jericho cut him off and took the fight to him early on. Jericho hits a clothesline and knocks Spears through the ropes to the floor. Jericho throws Spears into the barricade and then grabs the camera and uses it to film the fans and taunt Spears before throwing him back in the ring.
Spears again tried to grab the chair but Jericho stomped his hand causing Spears to roll to the floor to regroup with Blanchard. Jericho sets up for the Springboard Dropkick but Spears throws the chair into his face in midair. Spears tries to grab the chair again but Jericho catches him with an Enziguri. Jericho climbs to the top but Spears leaps up with him and hits a Belly-to-Belly Superplex for two.
Spears begins to target Jericho’s previously injured arm as he wraps it around the ring post and slams the chair into it. Spears goes up top but Jericho crotches him and climbs up with Spears. He hits a series of rights and then connects with a beautiful Frankensteiner! Jericho charges at Spears but runs right into a Superkick for two. Spears wedges a chair in the corner and then hits a Sky High for two.
Spears grabs another chair and wears Jericho out with it. Spears taunts Jericho with it and as he goes to hit him in the face, Jericho sweeps his legs and locks in the Walls of Jericho! Spears tries to get to the ropes but Jericho pulls him back to the center. Blanchard jumps on the apron and distracts the referee as Spears taps out. Sammy Guevara runs out and pulls Blanchard off the apron and chases him to the back. Spears grabs the chair and hits Jericho with it to break the hold and then hits the C4! 1…2…NO Jericho kicks out!
Spears picks Jericho up and tries to C4 him onto a chair but Jericho escapes and throws Spears into the chair that was wedged in the corner followed by the Judas Effect for the pin!
Winner: Jericho via pinfall (Judas Effect)
(That was easily Spears’ best match in AEW, so far. Jericho had his working boots on and had a hell of a performance. The surprise afterwards was in more sweet and I can only imagine how insane Nick Gage is going to be on national TV. ***)
MJF says that if anyone else comes out to help Jericho in any other match then the deal is off. Next week, Labor Two will be a No DQ Match against NICK FREAKING GAGE! Gage walks out with a pizza cutter and taunts Jericho as MJF celebrates. “Just ask David Arquette about Nick Gage,” Tony Schiavone says.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Miro says that there will never be another TNT Champion after him. He says that at Homecoming in Jacksonville he will defend his title against any challenger.
DOC Gallows w/Karl Anderson vs. “The Elite Hunter” Frankie Kazarian
Kazarian has been attacking The Elite and stopping them from interfering in each other’s matches. He even appeared at Impact’s “Slammiversary” PPV this past weekend to be a thorn in The Elite’s sides. Kazarian goes right after Gallows with dropkicks and rights. Gallows shoves him away but Kazarian comes back with a series of chops. Kazarian goes to the top and hits a Missile Dropkick that sends Gallows falling into the corner. Gallows comes exploding out with a Big Boot, though.
Gallows beats Kazarian down in the corner and then throws him to the floor. Gallows distracts the referee so Anderson can clothesline Kazarian on the outside.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Kazarian hits a Flying Forearm to Gallows and then a Back Suplex followed by a Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop for two. Kazarian goes for a Crossface Chickenwing but Anderson grabs him from the outside as Gallows was grabbing the referee. Kazarian hits a Guillotine Leg Drop to Anderson but then walks into a Big Boot and a Gallows Pole (Choke Bomb) for the pin.
Winner: Gallows via pinfall (Gallows Pole)
(The match was fine but if this ends up being the end to Kazarian’s “Elite Hunter” arc that would be like going on with a wet fart. **)
After the match, the Good Brothers hit the Magic Killer on Kazarian and then Kenny Omega and Don Callis walk out to join their Elite brethren. Omega says that Kazarian has been a thorn in their side for months and now the Elite Hunter has become the Elite Hunted. Before Omega can hit Kazarian with his title, Page’s music hits and the crowd explodes.
Hangman walks out but Callis tells him to back off and asks if Page is really this stupid or is his just drunk. Page hands him his drink and starts brawling with The Elite! The numbers gets the better of Hangman until Dark Order hits the ring and The Elite bail. Hangman hits the Buckshot Lariat on Anderson as Omega retreats.
Taz says that history was made last week when Ricky Starks won the FTW Championship and Starks invites everyone to his championship celebration next week. Brian Cage was about to cut a promo when my satellite feed went out (bad weather here).
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Darby Allin w/Sting vs. Wheeler Yuta w/Orange Cassidy
King Haku’s son is shown watching in the crowd. Allin has his ribs taped and Yuta goes after them with a Suplex onto the top rope. He puts Allin in an Octopus but Allin gets to the ropes to break it. Yuta hits a Bridging German Suplex for two and goes to the top only for Allin to crotch him. Allin hits a Superplex but can’t capitalize on it as he sells his ribs. Sting and Cassidy stare each other down on the outside. OC does his hands in the pocket thing so Sting does the lazy kick to him and OC returns in kind. They both lazy superkick each other and Sting even does a lazy version of his King Kong taunt. That distracted Allin allowing Yuta to roll him up for two.
Allin comes back with the Diamond Dust and then goes to the top and hits the Coffin Drop for the pin!
Winner: Allin via pinfall (Coffin Drop)
(I only saw part of the match due to technical difficulties but what I saw was good. Yuta is VERY athletic but I’m not sure how pairing him with Best Friends is going to work out. The Sting/OC goofiness was entertaining enough. N/R)
The Blade runs out and knocks OC out with a pair of brass knucks.
Footage of Moxley vs. Archer in New Japan from last year is shown.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
AEW World Women’s Championship
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose w/Vickie Guerrero vs. Dr. Britt Baker (c) w/Rebel
Rebel – who dislocated her knee cap in that tag match a few weeks back – comes out on crutches. We get boxing style intros for this one. Rose runs Baker over with a series of shoulder blocks to start off and puts Baker in a Waistlock but Baker counters with an Armdrag. Baker puts Rose in a hammerlock and goes to work on Rose’s arm. Rose uses her strength to get back up and then back Baker into the corner.
Rose blocks an Armdrag attempt but Baker comes back with a rollup for two. Rose hits a massive Press Slam and a Senton. She slams Baker’s head into the mat repeatedly and then drapes Baker across the top rope. Rose goes to the top for a Guillotine Knee Drop but Rebel pulls Baker off the ropes. Baker hits an STO on Rose into the turnbuckles.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Rose hits a Fall Away Slam and goes for the Cannonball in the corner but Baker rolled out of the way. Baker hits a Slingblade followed by a Backslide for two. Baker hits a DDT for two. Baker calls for the Lockjaw but Rose grabs her for a Chokeslam only for Baker to counter into a rollup for two. Baker goes for the Lockjaw but Rose lifts her up and hits a DVD! Rose hangs Baker up in the ropes and hits the Guillotine Knee Drop! 1…2…NO Baker kicks out!
Rose goes for the Beast Bomb but Baker blocks it and hits a Swinging Neckbreaker followed by a pair of Superkicks for two. Baker hits the ropes but runs right into a Chokeslam from Rose for two. Baker hits a sloppy Crucifix Bomb for two and then a La Magistral Cradle for another nearfall. Baker hits a pair of Curb Stomps for two.
Baker and Rose exchange forearms that Rose gets the best of but Rose collapses and both women are down. Rebel distracts the referee as Baker grabs the belt and throws it to Rose and falls down to pretend like she was hit. Vickie stops the referee from turning around and Rose tosses the belt back to Baker. Rose then hits the Beast Bomb on Baker as Baker argued with the referee! 1…2…NO Baker kicks out! Rose goes for another Beast Bomb but Baker counters and sweeps Rose’s legs into the Lockjaw! Rose taps and Baker retains!
Winner & STILL AEW Women’s Champ: Baker via submission (Lockjaw)
(The timing was off and it was sloppy at some points but the last five minute or so was really good, especially the homage to Eddie Guerrero. I loved that sequence. **1/2)
Tony Schiavone hosts a sitdown with FTR and PNP and FTR says they have no respect for PNP as people. Ortiz says while FTR were playing “patty cake” elsewhere they were in AEW from day one and they attacked their family, and they will see what happens when you attack family.
Santana shows off pictures of his childhood and shows a newspaper article of his mom taking slum lords to court but Dax says he doesn’t give a damn about anything other than beating PNP’s asses.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Tony Schiavone welcomes Andrade el Idolo to the ring. Andrade tells Tony “tranquillo” (chill out) and says that he has a surprise for everyone. Chavo Guerrero Jr. is introduced as Andrade’s new executive consultant. Chavo gets a pretty big ovation from the Texas crowd.
Chavito says he keeps hearing that AEW is the place to be and when he walked backstage he couldn’t believe all of the talent that was back there and says this is a great time to be a wrestling fan. Chavo says with respect to everyone in the back, there is still no one that has as much talent as Andrade. Death Triangle’s music interrupts him and they make their way to the ring!
PAC says he doesn’t know who Andrade thinks he is and they heard him put their names in his mouth last week. PAC says Death Triangle hides from no one and Andrade thanks them for coming out. Andrade says Fenix and Penta are good but with him they would be great. He speaks to them in Spanish and tells them that he is the “the elite superstar.”
Chavo makes fun of PAC only speaking one language and says that there is nothing around Lucha Brothers’ waists and that would change if they followed Andrade. Andrade asks Penta and Fenix why they work for PAC and tells them to work for him instead. PAC says that Lucha Brothers don’t work for them, they are a team. Fenix says they are a family and he and his brother are the real face of the Latinos, not Andrade.
Penta asks Andrade why they would want to join a group with him when he isn’t on their level. They start to get in the ring but Andrade tells them to stop and says everyone wants to work for him. Chavo tries to calm Andrade down as referee’s run out to try and hold Death Triangle back.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Alex Marvez interviews The Factory backstage and QT Marshall says that they’ll give Tony an apology next week for pouring a protein shake on his head.
The Blade w/Allie vs. Orange Cassidy w/Kris Statlander
OC comes up from behind Blade, out of the crowd, and takes him down. OC goes for the Orange Punch but Blade rolls to the floor. OC chases Blade but Blade puts the boots to him as they both climbed back in the ring. OC trips Blade again and hits a series of right hands. Blade acts like he blew his knee out as they both hit the ropes. Allie checks on his knee and the referee holds OC back.
Blade jumps back up and hits a Mafia Kick on OC. Blade goes for a Suplex but OC counters into the Stun Dog Millionaire. OC goes up top but Blade crotches him and climbs up with OC. Blade hits an insane Gutwrench Powerbomb onto the top turnbuckle!
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
OC hits a Flying Cross Body off the top and a Satellite DDT for two. Allie gets on the apron but Statlander pulls her off and gets in her face. Blade rolls outside as OC goes for a Tope Suicida and Blade pulls Statlander in front of him. OC then shoves Blade into Allie. OC goes for Beach Break but Blade blocks it and throws OC back in the ring.
Blade goes for a Sidewalk Slam but OC counters into a Satellite DDT attempt only for Blade to counter into a Cradle Suplex followed by a Lariat. Blade hits a That’s In-Credible Tombstone for two. Blade goes for a Doctor Bomb but OC blocks it and hits the Beach Break! 1…2…NO Blade kicks out! Allie gets on the apron again and again Statlander pulls her off but Allie threw her knucks to Blade. Blade swings at OC but he ducks and hits the Orange Punch for the pin!
Winner: Orange Cassidy via pinfall (Orange Punch)
(That was a really good match, the Blade is extremely underrated. ***)
After the match, Orange Cassidy hits the Orange Punch again but this time uses the brass knucks.
Backstage, Chris Jericho says he will bring in the most violent and demented version of Jericho to face the violent and demented Nick Gage. Jericho turns around and has the “Painmaker” paint on his face that he wore in New Japan.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Main Event
IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship
Texas Death Match
“The Death Rider” Jon Moxley (c) vs. “The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer w/Jake Roberts
You must knock out your opponent for a 10-count to win. Moxley attacks Archer as he was trying to get in the ring and he starts whipping his ass with a kendo stick. Archer slaps the kendo stick away and exchanges forearms with Moxley. Moxley headbutts Archer but Archer shrugs him off and hits the POUUUUUUUUNCE…PERIOD! Moxley rolls to the floor but he is not safe as Archer hits a Tope con Giro onto Moxley on the floor!
Archer hits Moxley with a kendo stick and charges at him only for Moxley to move and then tackle Archer into the barricade. Their brawl spills into the crowd and Archer literally grabs a fan and throws him at Moxley! Moxley tries for a Tope Suicida as they got back in the ring but Archer hit him with a Forearm Smash in midair. Archer pulls the padding back at ringside and tires to Powerslam Moxley on the concrete but Moxley counters into a Paradigm Shift on the concrete!
Archer manages to get back to his feet before 10 but his head is busted open. Moxley pulls out a fork and starts stabbing Archer’s forehead with it!
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Moxley throws a ton of weapons into the ring and he starts working on Archer’s leg with a chair. He wraps the chair around Archer’s leg and dives off the middle rope with a stomp onto it. Archer still manages to get up before 10 and he punches a trashcan lid into Moxley’s face. Archer goes for a Ripcord Clothesline but Moxley counters into a German Suplex. Archer no sells it and hits a Lariat followed by a Black Hole Slam! Moxley manages to get back to his feet before 10 but eats a trashcan to the head.
Moxley’s head is now busted open. Archer sets up a pair or chairs in the ring and tries to hit a Blackout through the chairs but Moxley blocks it and low blows Archer. Moxley turns the chairs around – where the backs are facing each other – but then walks into a god damn Chokeslam from Archer onto the edges of those damn chairs! Moxley still manages to get back to his feet before 10 and Archer kicks him right back down. Archer charges at Moxley but eats a Lariat followed by the Paradigm Shift!
Archer gets back to his feet and flips Moxley off, so Moxley stabs his ass with the damn fork! Moxley pulls out a board wrapped in barbed wire and lays it on top of a pair of tables at ringside. He pulls out a second board wrapped in barbed wire and puts it on the tables, too. Moxley goes for a Paradigm Shift off the apron but Archer stabs Moxley with the fork! Archer Chokeslams Moxley through the barbed wire boards and the tables and he’s unable to get up!
Winner & NEW IWGP U.S. Champ: Archer via KO
(That match was absolute brutality and insanity and I loved every damned minute of it! Just absolute craziness. For a NJPW match, it felt more like an FMW match. Great stuff and Jon Moxley is an absolute mad man. ****1/2)
New Japan’s Hikuleo climbs in the ring and gets in Archer’s face.