By Geno McGahee
This week’s episode is fresh on the heels of AEW’s PPV “ALL OUT” and we are going to feel the fall out with many stories continuing and some just beginning.
After Jon Moxley’s successful title defense against MJF, expect him to move on to the challenger in the wings, Lance Archer. MJF will not be at a loss for words for Moxley, considering he used a banned move to win, but also for his friend Warlow. Wardlow basically cost him the match and that will be dealt with this week. Their friendship might be over.
The TNT title will be defended as Dark Order leader, Mr. Brodie Lee takes on Dustin Rhodes. This is a feud that has been going on since Lee defeated Cody Rhodes for the gold and then beat him well after. At ALL OUT, the Dark Order lost and Lee went off on Colt Cabana. Cabana might be defecting soon to go after TNT gold, eventually. We may also see Jim Ross apologize to the audience and Anna Jay for a “wardrobe malfunction” hope, but who can blame him? Anna Jay may be the hottest woman ever to step into the ring. I’m on team Ross here.
Matt Hardy will be addressing the crowd after his scary injury at ALL OUT. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding his allowance to resume action after that fall. Hardy’s wife and many of the fans were very upset that the match was allowed to continue and I can see why. I would have liked to see it stopped and a rematch made, but it was more Hardy’s professionalism that kept it going. He wanted the fans to be happy, which has made him the star he is.
FTR having the belts now might not be much of the story this week. There are bigger fish to fry with the Kenny Omega – Hangman Page feud heating up. At ALL OUT, the long-reigning champions lost their tag team gold and Kenny Omega was overwhelmed and blamed Page for the loss and also for the tension within the Elite group. I got a suspicion that Omega is going to become one of AEW’s best heels and war with Page, which will be awesome.
Orange Cassidy has gone 2-1 in his trilogy with Chris Jericho and the former champion might have something to say about it. You can probably bank on it. The feud between the two is probably over and Jericho can move on and so can Cassidy. I could see Cassidy taking the TNT title down the road somewhere.
Let’s hope that Dr. Britt Baker gets treated better than she did at ALL OUT, losing her first match back against Big Swole. Baker is the best heel that they have and hopefully she will go after Hikaru Shida this week and start that feud.
Other hopeful things that will show up this week will be Evil Uno and Santana and Ortiz. They are always amusing.