BY SACNILK
The highlight of tonight's episode of AEW Dynamite was the long-awaited return of Adam Cole to the ring. After a hiatus of nine months, Cole finally made his comeback on tonight's show. ##
Adam Cole had been out of action for the past nine months following a major concussion he suffered during a match at Forbidden Door on June 26, 2022. His return to the ring finally happened on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, where he faced off against Daniel Garcia, a member of the Jericho Appreciation Society. ##
Plush, Kenny Omega made his first defense of his current IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship reign, where he faced NJPW's, Jeff Cobb. Orange Cassidy defended the International title against The Butcher and many more. ##
Check out the full show review: ##
Jungle Boy Jack Perry Vs Matt Hardy (w/Ethan Page) ##
Last week on the wrestling program, Stokely Hathaway was nowhere to be seen after his defeat by HOOK. During the match between Hardy and Perry, there was a nice back and forth between the two wrestlers. When Perry attempted to dive out of the ring, Page intervened and prevented the move. However, this gave Hardy an opportunity to catch Perry with a Side Effect when he was mid-air. Later on, Perry fought back with a double sledge off the barricade and a slugfest on the apron, but Hardy managed to hit another Side Effect on the edge of the apron. ##
During the commercial break, it was all Hardy during the picture in picture, and Perry fired back with a dropkick. Page once again distracted Perry, allowing Hardy to connect with a superplex for a two-count. However, Page's interference didn't go unnoticed, as HOOK's music suddenly played, and he started a brawl with Page. As Hardy tried to hold HOOK back, Page clocked him. Perry took advantage of the distraction and hit Hardy with a dive. Back inside the ring, Hardy tried a third Side Effect, but Perry countered with a Flatliner and a charging forearm to the back of the head, securing the victory. ##
WINNER: Jungle Boy Jack Perry ##
MATCH RATING: ** ##
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta Vs Dalton Castle & The Boys ##
Castle and The Boys were viciously attacked by The Blackpool Combat Club during their entrance, leaving them beaten and battered on the floor. Despite the chaos, the referee Rick Knox decided to start the match anyway. Moxley locked Castle in an Anaconda choke on the outside, while Castagnoli swiftly executed a Ricola Bomb on one of The Boys, leading to an effortless victory for the Blackpool Combat Club. ##
WINNERS: Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta ##
MATCH RATING: *** ##
Kenny Omega Vs Jeff Cobb to retain the IWGP US Title ##
Cobb demonstrated his raw strength early on in the match, presenting a completely different challenge for Omega compared to last week's opponent, Vikingo. Omega managed to send Cobb to the outside and hit his trademark Terminator Dive, followed by the Kotaro Crusher. However, he made the mistake of attempting a bodyslam, causing Cobb to collapse onto him. A running brainbuster by Cobb gave him control, as he focused on Omega's taped up ribs. During the entire commercial break, Cobb continued his onslaught on Omega, even posting him back first on the ring post. ##
Omega attempted to fight back with his running claw slam, but he buckled while trying to execute You Can't Escape, and Cobb capitalized with a spinning back suplex. Cobb attempted a massive release German Suplex, but Omega managed to land on his feet and charged with a spinning Polish Hammer. He followed up with a backslide into a running knee strike, which got him a near fall. Omega signaled for his V-Trigger, but Cobb caught him with a standing dropkick. Omega escaped from a fireman's carry and hit multiple Snap Dragons, but Cobb popped up and landed a devastating lariat, leaving both men down.##
As they struggled to get back up, they exchanged forearms and chops, with Cobb hitting an uppercut to Omega's injured ribs. Cobb set up Omega in the corner with a raising headbutt and hit a delayed superplex, followed by a standing moonsault that only got him a near fall. Cobb hit a V-Trigger and attempted both the One Winged Angel and the Tour of the Islands, but Omega countered with a ripcord knee and another V-Trigger. Omega finally managed to lift Cobb up for the One Winged Angel and secured the victory. ##
WINNER: Kenny Omega ##
MATCH RATING: *** ##
Orange Cassidy Vs The Butcher (w/The Blade) to retain the AEW International Title ##
The match between Cassidy and Butcher began with a surprise attack by The Blade on Cassidy before the match started. The referee finally intervened and threw The Blade out of the ring, giving Cassidy enough time to recover before the match began. Cassidy started using his speed and little kicks, but Butcher caught him and slammed him down on his ribs. Butcher continued to work on Cassidy's ribs during the picture in picture break and locked him in a Cloverleaf submission hold, but Cassidy refused to give up. ##
Butcher attempted a powerbomb, but Cassidy retaliated by poking him in the eyes and attempted an Orange Punch. Butcher countered the move and executed a violent Choke Breaker. Cassidy fought back with a Stundog Millionaire and a satellite DDT, which almost ended badly but both men managed to fix it. Cassidy then went for a diving DDT off the top rope. The Blade interfered and hit Cassidy with a pipe in the ribs, but Chuck Taylor and Trent came to Cassidy's aid and attacked The Blade. Butcher then threw the referee down, but Taylor hit Butcher with the pipe in the ribs. Cassidy then hit Butcher with an Orange Punch and Beach Break to retain his title. ##
WINNER: Orange Cassidy ##
MATCH RATING: *** ##
Ruby Soho (w/Saraya & Toni Storm) Vs Willow Nightingale ##
Soho has dropped her Rancid theme, which, although it's a great song, might be for the best considering Soho's new attitude. Nightingale appears visibly disappointed that she has to wrestle her former friend, who just a few months ago won a wild Street Fight on Rampage with her. Nightingale has Soho's offense scouted well, countering No Future and a tilt-a-whirl head scissors into a side slam and splash. Nightingale fired off corner forearms until Soho begged off and suckered Nightingale in, allowing Saraya to attack with the referee's attention turned away. ##
Nightingale mounted a comeback out of the commercial after stopping another Saraya attack, sending her to the floor. Nightingale took the fight to Soho with a nice spinebuster and a gnarly Death Valley Driver. Referee Aubrey saw Toni Storm shake the middle ropes while Nightingale was up there and did nothing, as Soho hit multiple No Future kicks for two. Soho was launched by a Pounce, as the straps came down and Nightingale wanted the Doctor Bomb, but for what felt like the tenth time, Saraya took the ref, and it was enough for Nightingale to get distracted, allowing Soho to steal the win with a roll-up and her feet on the ropes. ##
WINNER: Ruby Soho ##
MATCH RATING: *** ##
Adam Cole Vs Daniel Garcia ##
The match started with some intense grappling exchanges, but Cole eventually found himself in a headlock and had to fight his way out. Garcia took control with a snap piledriver, and during a break, the ref checked on Cole, who seemed to be having issues with his head. Garcia continued to dominate until Cole managed to hit a Ushigoroshi and regain some momentum. ##
Both wrestlers exchanged strikes, with Garcia hitting a high angle German suplex and Cole countering with a superkick. Garcia went for a superkick of his own, but Cole dodged it and landed a near fall. Cole missed his signature move, The Boom, and Garcia took advantage, hitting him with anvil elbows. Garcia locked in the Dragon Tamer, but Cole managed to reach the ropes. Instead of following up, Garcia posed for the crowd, allowing Cole to recover. ##
Garcia hit another piledriver, but Cole kicked out. He then charged at Cole, who caught him with a superkick and hit the Panama Sunrise, followed by The Boom to secure the victory. ##
WINNER: Adam Cole ##
MATCH RATING: *** ##
THAT WILL DO! ##
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AEW Dynamite
