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AEW Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley
Cory: This is the match I have been talking about in the AEW audios I have done. This is in Bryan’s hometown, Moxley has a big “new owner” style angle going, and Bryan says he needs surgery by the end of the year. This is where he hangs up the boots. He will pass the title to Mox to make him the top heel, we’ll have a new Big Bad guy who is revealed, and Bryan got to have the AEW World title. I expect them to pull out all the stops and Bryan to give us a hell of a final show.
Mike: It makes the most sense for Moxley to lose and send Danielson out yet again on a stretcher. If Bryan is going to be done as a full-time wrestler, then let him have a meaningful match in his hometown and then he can come back in "checks watch" six months for a meaningful rematch after getting surgery like he says he needs. If Bryan is actually not under contract, and he's going to exit, then let this be his exit. Moxley as the guy taking the belt to have all the power makes sense given his new trajectory since returning, so I say let the villain win here and then see who rises to challenge him.
Richard: Is this the end of the full time road for Danielson or will he find a way to win 'against all odds' to beat Moxley to fight another day. If Moxley does beat Danielson, will people say that AEW's booking is 'when in doubt put the belt on Moxley'? When Danielson loses the title, it should be to someone who he can 'pass the torch to' and Moxley isn't that person. Let Danielson lose the title to Takeshita or Allin. I would not be surprised if we see who the 'higher power' is and please let it be Brie Bella because she wants Bryan to be a father and husband.
ROH Champion Mark Briscoe vs, Chris Jericho
Cory: If there is anyone in AEW who does not need a title, it’s Chris Jericho. If Ring of Honor were going to get a new TV deal (even if it is with Triller) I’d expect the title to go onto him, but nothing has come out about a new home for the company, so I see Mark Retaining. His promos are off the charts good, and done correctly, they could build the company on his back to draw people in, but so far, that hasn’t happened.
Mike: Jericho invoked the memory of Jay, so Mark has to win here. That simple. I would love to see 1,000 Briscoes attack Jericho from all sides of the ring and tear him apart too! You don't disrespect DEM BOYS.
Richard: Mark Briscoe should wipe up the mat with Jericho, but that won't happen. We will see Bill and Bryan get involved to try to help Jericho while the Conglomeration will help Mark. To add insult to injury, Mark should win with a Liontamer.
AEW TNT Champion Jack Perry vs. Katsuyori Shibata.
Cory: I am not a fan of Jack Perry. His in ring work has become “I bleed a lot” or dominating people, his promos are still dull as dishwater, and he’s not even a heel you want to see beat. Shibata’s phone is one of the most underused ideas in AEW and he’s a consistently great worker in the ring, able to make his opponents look great. While I think putting the title on him and having him take on the heels of the company, AEW is invested in Perry and will continue his push. I think Perry will win.
Mike: I like Shibata and respect him, but I don't see him getting the championship here. I suspect we'll see Perry pinball around for him and then win after something dastardly.
Richard: At least one veteran Japanese star will be on this PPV, but it is not Okada. You would have to have your brain removed to think that Shibata is beating Perry. Shibata will have some chances to win, but maybe Jack gets some help to retain.
AEW International Champion Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ricochet.
Cory: I don’t see Will Ospreay losing the title to either of these two, although it will be the highlight reel of the night. Ospreay’s work is still at the high level it was in New Japan, and having him mix with a high-flier and a brawler will show his versatility.
Mike: I suspect this will all be headlocks and armbars. Just kidding. There will be a lot of insanity and the crowd live will love it and then the Internet will say what was wrong with the match. Ospreay's work ethic is insane. I really wonder if we'll see Takeshita get the title by pinning Ricochet here.
Richard: I would put the belt on Takeshita while Ospreay and Ricochet neutralize each other, but Takeshita should be winning the World Title. Now that Will and Ricochet have gotten THE SPOT (THEY DID THE SPOT) out of the way in their match on Dynamite, they can focus on showing how they have grown since that match in New Japan. Will pins Ricochet after Takeshita appears to have Will beaten.
AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs. Private Party
Cory: Private Party has not shown that they are anything more than this month’s opponent for the Bucks, and while I believe they will be gaining Stokely Hathaway as a manager, it will most likely come after their loss so that he can say they need his services. These two teams work well together, and with the Bucks in their “bumbling heel mode” I can see it being a fan favorite high spot rate match that Anthony will hate covering.
Mike: I like Private Party and their mic work has been very improved of late. But, I don't see AEW making the champions. They haven't ascended and to me, if they can have a great showing here, even in losing, it's a victory for them, but I don't see any world where Bucks are booked to drop those titles.
Richard: It seems like only five years ago Private Party beat the Young Bucks to get this hot, young team some momentum. After welcoming Action Andretti to the 'remember that push' club, Marq and Isiah figure it is time to become relevant again. There will be many dives and many super kicks but there will not be a title change in this match.
Darby Allin vs. Brody King
Cory: Brody is someone that can be AEW’s big monster, and being with House of Black has protected him from being shoved to the side. This is a prototypical Darby match where he’ll get the tar beat out of him for 80% of the match and do daredevil stunts to try to come back. Here’s the thing, Darby news to lose this match. King is twice his size, is shown to be able to take Darby’s style of attack, and King could be the guy to scare any babyface as the wild card in the company, showing up to obliterate people. Darby is one of AEW’s Made Men, and a loss to King won’t hurt him, while a loss to Darby will definitely hurt King. For the long term, King needs this win.
Mike: Allin is the babyface but hit him with a rock? That seems odd to me. We know how this is going to go, ESPECIALLY because it's Allin hometown in the Northwest. He's going to take a crazy beating and do some nutty stuff - and then win after taking a crazy beating.
Richard: Brody will toss Darby around like a rag doll for 12 minutes and after many times when any reasonable human would say 'that is the end of the match', Darby will kick out and then find a way to win.
ROH TV Champion Atlantis Jr. vs. Brian Cage. (Zero Hour)
Cory: Great big guy vs a cruiser weight. The only way Cage loses this is they have given up all hope on him. Get the title on Cage and let him strut his stuff on Ring of Honor.
Mike: They will do a lot and then Atlantis wins.
Hologram vs Mortos 2 out of 3 falls
Cory: Mortos has been a surprise, since he was brought in during the CMLL crossovers and stayed, and he’s been a great addition to AEW. It took me a bit to get over his Mantaur-like helmet, but he’s a solid Big Man who works well with Lucha opponents. Hologram is the first real character AEW has created, and as such, they have had him on a winning streak. I can’t see Hologram losing this early in his run, especially since he has not gone for a title yet. I look for a lot of interference, but Hologram comes out the winner.
Mike: I enjoy the hell out of Mortos' work and did in TNA before he came here, bit Hologram is the AEW project and creation here. They go three falls and Hologram finally gets the win.
Richard: I am happy to see Mortos get on the PPV. I am not sold on Hologram and I don't get the hype that some people give him. This will go three falls because it is tradition. Mortos will win the first fall and show dominance over his opponent. Hologram will be on the brink of defeat only to pull out the second fall. After some back and forth, Mortos will make a mistake, or maybe get attacked by Roderick Strong to allow Hologram to get the victory.
AEW Women’s champion Mariah May vs Willow Nightingale
Cory: They had to switch up plans with Britt Baker getting sick. Willow is beloved by the fans, and has kept that momentum, even after losing her feud with Kris Statlander. She will hold a title someday soon, but May needs to be taken down by the returning Toni Storm, whenever her run in Japan is over. May retains.
Mike: I WANT to see Willow win here, but don't know if we'll see that. But, if I was booking, we would. Let her win and let May go all deranged trying to get the belt back.
Richard: Willow earns another title match, but I don't think it is time to take the title off Mariah. What is next for both women after this match?
Adam Page vs Jay White
Cory: Jay White has not gotten over as much as most thought he would in AEW, and now that he has returned from injury, he’s nominally a babyface. Usually when a wrestler returns from injury he gets the win, but Page is being pushed to the moon right now, and it’s clear they have big things in mind for him. Is that enough to give him the win? I don’t think so, in that Page lost a number of times to Swerve Strickland and it made it bigger when he finally won. I see White getting the win here to cement him as a Big Deal upon his return.
Mike: I don't see Page losing under Swerve decides to get involved.
Richard: Now that Adam Page has run through the rest of the Gang of Bang, it is time for Jay White to step up after returning to AEW. This should be a good match, but will there be any distractions to take away from this match? Page should win but White will put up a valiant effort in defeat.
MxM Collection (Mansoor and Mason Madden) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster)
Cory: This is a hard one to pick. The Acclaimed are mired in the midcard the last few months, and have not been getting the promo time they need in front of the crowd to stay over. And when they do, it’s just catchphrases with all of the story promos in the back. This has been a decent enough feud, and MxM Collective, which a goofier act that I normally like, are over with the crowd and have solid ring work. In the overall scheme of things, a win won’t change anything for either team. MxM has said they are bringing in a Big Surprise to counter Billy Gunn, and I think that will tip the balance to them for the win.
Mike:Mansoor gave the best promo of his career on Rampage, but to me, it's about The Acclaimed getting the revenge win. But, the big lure is, who's the mystery guy? Perhaps their interference leads to The Acclaimed losing.
Richard: This is a match that could have meant more if The Acclaimed were used properly. MxM are sports entertaining the fans but is this a match that we need to see on PPV? What impact will Billy have in the match? In the end there will be scissoring in the crowd when The Acclaimed get the win.
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