Live from the Albuquerque Convention Center | Albuquerque, NM | Crowd Size: 3,200
SEGMENT ONE
Arn Anderson and Kevin Kelly welcome us to third installment of Chaos, as the two discuss the wild week we’ve had since Cruel Summer this past Monday. Kelly says on a night when the industry should have been buzzing about the retirement of the “Greatest of All Time,” instead the world tuned in to the 30th installment of Dynamite, where we witnessed one of the best shows in our company’s history.
It was a night that saw Gunther crowned the new TV Champion, the debuts of Ludwig Kaiser, “Ali Mills,” and Danhausen! Plus, we’ve seen more cracks in the foundation between BWM Inc. Chairman and AEW World Heavyweight Champion Sami Zayn and his wife Megan Mouse-Zayn, thanks to Liv Morgan. Now, we’re turning our sights to Aftershock, AEW’s fourth PPV and first of the season on Sunday, August 25! Kelly says the card is already shaping up, with Bryan Danielson earning the right to challenge the debuting international sensation, the Aerial Assassin Will Ospreay! Plus, MJF and Armageddon will go one on one, and Zayn is set to defend the AEW Championship against the number one contender Brock Lesnar!
Match #1 | Exhibition Match
A-Town Down (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) vs. Kenny Omega & Hangman Adam Page
As A-Town Down are introduced, Kelly and Anderson discuss the events from last Friday that set this match up, when Theory and Waller’s plans to challenge for the tag titles were interrupted by Kenny Omega, who claimed he and Page still have the right to challenge for a rematch. Anderson says Waller last week insulted Page, calling him a drunk, and that A-Town Down wouldn’t be waiting forever for the two to figure out their issues. This past Monday, tonight’s bout was made official and Kelly says this will be significant in a division that’s been heating up since the start of the season.
Theory and Waller are out first, as the small yet vocal crowd in the Albuquerque Convention Center shower them with boos. Anderson says that Theory was hesitant last month when Waller proposed the team, fearful of being stuck in another tag team that was going nowhere. But since, the decision has seemingly paid off with the duo finding immediate success in tag action the last few weeks.
Next, the crowd comes alive as Kenny Omega is introduced, and he makes his way to the ring to a massive ovation. Kelly says Omega has been called a “future world champion” by the industry pundits.
Arn Anderson: I’d believe that, Kevin. He’s one of the best wrestlers in the world today. He and Page have had some difficulty getting things back on track since losing the tag titles at Retribution last May, but tonight they’re looking to turn things around.
Hangman Adam Page’s music hits, and the crowd again pops loudly as the opening notes hit, but their cheers turn to murmurs as Page stumbles out from the backstage area, clearly intoxicated.
Kevin Kelly: Oh no, folks, this doesn’t look good. Hangman Adam Page is clearly in no condition to wrestle here tonight!
Hangman tries to make his way to the ring, insisting he can compete, though he can barely even stand. Referee Lance Storm intercepts him. Though off mic, the camera picks up referee Lance Storm telling Hangman that he’s not going to allow him to wrestle in this condition. Storm says he’s going to hurt himself or others, and orders him to the back.
Hangman Adam Page: [off mic, slurring] I can do this, Lance! Just let me… let me at ’em!
Arn Anderson: This is heartbreaking to see, folks. I apologize, I’m not sure we’ve got much precedence for this sort of behavior in the industry, but it’s embarrassing for everyone involved. This young man needs some serious help.
Storm firmly sends Hangman back to the back, a decision that draws a mixed reaction from the crowd. Storm starts to call for the bell to signal a no contest, but Omega tells him he wants to compete!
Kevin Kelly: Wait a minute, Omega’s saying he wants to fight! He’s left to fend for himself in what has now become a handicap match!
Arn Anderson: This is going to be an uphill battle for Omega. A-Town Down are young, hungry, and they know how to take advantage of a situation.
The bell rings, and Omega fights valiantly, showing his resilience and technical abilities. Unfortunately for Omega, the numbers game quickly becomes a problem.
A-Town Down isolates Omega, using quick tags and double-team maneuvers to maintain control. Omega manages a few bursts of offense, but the numbers advantage proves insurmountable.
Arn Anderson: No one can doubt Omega’s heart. but this is too much for most men, and Theory and Waller are showing no mercy!
Kevin Kelly: It’s a shame that Adam Page put him in this position tonight, and you have to wonder if Page’s behavior tonight will lead to disciplinary actions.
Arn Anderson: They need to suspend him and send his ass to rehab – and I’m saying that as a man who’s had issues putting down the bottle in the past.
In the end, Waller hits his signature Rolling Thunder Stunner, followed by a quick tag to Theory, who comes in and puts the exclamation mark on their impending victory when he hoists Omega on his shoulders before launching him into the ATL! Theory covers Omega, and Storm counts the three as A-Town Down pick up a decisive win.
Winners: A-Town Down (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller)
Match Time: 9:02
As Kenny Omega is helped to the back, exhausted from the grueling effort, Austin Theory grabs a microphone and tells them to cut their music.
Austin Theory: [catching his breath, smirking] Ya know, when Grayson first suggested that we team up, I wasn’t sure about the idea. The dude was a stranger to me. I started my professional career primed for the push of a lifetime in the PWI, with all sorts of promises made to me from management. But then, that push got caught short when they abruptly traded me to WWE following Starrcade in 2023.
The crowd boos at the mention of WWE.
Austin Theory: Yeah, yeah, I know. My feelings exactly! And what did I get for that trade? I got stuck in a do-nothing tag team with that cuck Johnny Gargano!
Whatever good will Theory had mustered with his digs at the competition quickly faded with his shot at Gargano, as some in the crowd start chanting for “Johnny Wrestling.”
Austin Theory: [grinning] So naturally, the last thing I wanted when I arrived in AEW was to be stuck in another random team. But you know what? Grayson Waller has proven himself to me, inside and outside of this ring. He’s got the brains, the looks, and a swagger that closely matches my own.
Theory points to Waller, who stands confidently beside him, soaking in the praise.
Austin Theory: So that’s why, starting right now, I’m officially renaming us. From this moment on, A-Town Down will be known as A-Town Down Under, in honor of my Aussie friend right here!
Grayson Waller: [grinning ear to ear] That’s right, mate! And this is just the beginning for us! Forget Hangman and Omega, forget the Acclaimed, forget FTR and the Street Sharks. This is our time!
Theory and Waller drop the mics, sharing a cocky handshake before exiting the ring.
Arn Anderson: A new name, but the same attitude. I think it’s safe to say that A-Town Down Under is here to stay, and they’re putting the division on notice!
Kevin Kelly: Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that Theory and Waller just made a big statement tonight. Folks, don’t go anywhere, we’ll be right back with more Chaos after this commercial break!
SEGMENT TWO
A commercial airs for Dynamite, and it focuses on Sami Zayn, who will speak out for the first time since being “cursed” by Danhausen! Plus, FTR will take on Beer Money, Inc. and the number one contender Brock Lesnar will square off against High Minded’s Matt Riddle!
In the women’s locker room, Toni Storm is pacing around, her demeanor oozing old Hollywood glamour. The women in the locker room—Mockingbird, Zelina Vega, Nyla Rose, Maryse, and Kris Statlander—are going about their business, but they can’t help but notice Toni as she approaches each of them with a critical eye.
Toni Storm: Darlings, I’m in desperate need of an understudy, a protégé who can carry on the legacy of the greats. Think of me as Bette Davis in All About Eve, searching for that one shining star who can follow in my footsteps.
Toni, still pacing, stops in front of Zelina Vega, looking her up and down with an air of condescension.
Toni Storm: Zelina, my dear, you’ve got the fire, the spunk… but do you have the gravitas of a Gone with the Wind leading lady?
Zelina Vega: [sarcastically] I’m not sure, I’m more interested in winning titles than chasing after your fading spotlight.
Toni waves her off, clearly unimpressed, and moves on to Nyla Rose.
Toni Storm: Nyla, sweetie, you remind me of King Kong—strong, imposing… but I’m looking for a star with more subtlety, like Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca.
Nyla Rose: [raising an eyebrow] Keep talking like that, and you’ll be looking for a new head after I knock yours off.
Toni ignores Nyla’s threat and moves on to Maryse, who is applying makeup with a hand mirror.
Toni Storm: Maryse, darling, you’ve got the glam, the je ne sais quoi… but I’m looking for someone with the charm of Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot—timeless, like myself, and irresistible.
Maryse: [without looking up] I’ve got no interest in being anyone’s understudy. I’m a leading lady in my own right.
Toni sighs and finally approaches Kris Statlander, who is stretching nearby.
Toni Storm: Kris, you’re out of this world, quite literally, but are you star material? More like 2001: A Space Odyssey—beautiful to look at, but maybe a bit too… alien for my tastes.
As Toni sizes up Kris, the camera subtly captures a pair of men’s flip flops in the corner of the frame, unnoticed by Toni as she continues her search.
Toni Storm: [sighing dramatically] Alas, none of you seem to have that it factor. My search continues…
Toni turns to leave, but just as she’s about to exit the locker room, the door bursts open, and Lacey Evans and Nia Jax, the AEW Knockouts Hardcore Champion, crash into the room, brawling fiercely. Knockouts Referee Kenzie follows them, as we’re unclear on how and where this impromptu matchup began.
Toni Storm, unfazed, steps aside and leaves the locker room as chaos ensues behind her. The other women in the locker room spring into action, joining the fray, with Nyla Rose and Mockingbird both managing nearfalls on Nia Jax.
Arn Anderson: [on commentary, off screen] Oh my! We’ve got a brawl breaking out in the women’s locker room! The AEW Knockouts Hardcore Championship is on the line under 24/7 rules, and it’s absolute bedlam in there!
Kevin Kelly: [on commentary, off screen] Nyla and Mockingbird are trying to capitalize, but Nia Jax is fighting them off!
Nia Jax powers through, sending Nyla Rose into a locker and fending off Mockingbird with a thunderous clothesline. She snatches up her belt and barrels through the chaos, escaping the room with her title still intact.
Toni Storm, now outside the room, casually dusts off her hands and walks away, unimpressed.
Toni Storm: [muttering to herself] The show must go on, darlings… but clearly, not with this cast.
The scene ends with a shot of the locker room in disarray, as the women recover from the brawl, while Nia Jax can be seen in the distance, clutching her belt and making her escape.
The scene opens with a rapid-fire montage of Will Ospreay in action—fluid movements, precision strikes, and gravity-defying aerials. The IWGP World Championship is draped over his shoulder.
Narrator: He’s conquered Japan, and he’s redefined what’s possible in the ring. Now, he’s bringing that revolution to All Elite Wrestling!
Cut to a shot of Ospreay walking down a Tokyo street at night, the championship reflecting the city lights.
Narrator: In 16 days, the Aerial Assassin Will Ospreay makes his AEW debut on August 25th at Aftershock.
Flash to a quick shot of Bryan Danielson locking in a submission on AJ Styles last winter, followed by Ospreay hitting an Oscutter a nameless Japanese wrestler.
Narrator: His first challenge? The American Dragon, Bryan Danielson!
Cut to a shot of Ospreay staring down the camera, calm but intense.
Narrator: Two of the best in the world, one epic clash!
The screen fades to black, showing the date “August 25th” and the AEW Aftershock poster.
Narrator: The Revolution will be televised.
End with a final shot of Ospreay holding the IWGP World Championship high, his name burning onto the screen as the image fades to black.
We cut back to ringside, and the camera focus on the commentary team.
Arn Anderson: Folks, in just 16 days, Will Ospreay will make his AEW debut at Aftershock. This kid’s got the world talking, but let me tell you, Kevin, coming in with this much hype? It’s a lot of pressure, even for someone as talented as Ospreay. Making your American TV debut at this level, with all eyes on you… that’s not easy, especially for a young man in his 20s.
Kevin Kelly: I can’t say I disagree with that assessment. And to add to that pressure, Bryan Danielson, the former AEW World Heavyweight Champion who just upset the American Nightmare this past Monday on Dynamite, is first in line to face him. That’s a huge challenge right out of the gate.
As Kelly speaks, the camera cuts to the ring where “Timeless” Toni Storm and Sasha Banks are making their entrances, each receiving a strong reaction from the crowd.
Arn Anderson: He’ll have his work cut out for him, that’s for sure. We’ll see if the kid is worth what Megan and Sami spent on him. But now, switching gears, Toni Storm and Sasha Banks are set to go one on one after their verbal scuffle last Friday!
Kevin Kelly: And we’d like to apologize on behalf of our colleague Renee Young, who mistakenly referred to Alexa Bliss as Becky Lynch last week.
Arn Anderson: That’s rookie shit, Renee!
Match # 2 | Exhibition Match
Sasha Banks vs. ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm
The bell sounds and Storm and Banks start with a series of technical exchanges, feeling each other out before turning up the intensity. The match quickly becomes a back-and-forth display of skill, with both women countering each other’s signature moves and pushing the pace.
Midway through the match, Sasha’s bodyguard, Chyna, tries to interfere, but Toni Storm sees it coming and levels Chyna with a well-placed strike, sending her crashing to the floor outside the ring.
Arn Anderson: Chyna’s normally a difference maker for Banks, but Storm’s not going to let her tip the scales tonight!
The match continues, with near-falls and high-impact moves keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. As the clock ticks down, Sasha Banks gains the upper hand, locking in her submission finisher, the Bank Statement!
Kevin Kelly: Sasha’s got it locked in! Is Toni Storm going to tap out?
Toni Storm struggles in the hold, desperately reaching for the ropes, but just as she’s on the verge of either tapping out or escaping, the bell rings, signaling the end of the match!
Jane Mouse: Ladies and gentlemen, the 30-minute time-limit or TV time remaining clock has expired, and therefore, this match has ended in a draw!
Sasha Banks releases the hold, frustrated, as the crowd erupts in mixed reactions. Both women are exhausted, but the competitive fire is still burning in their eyes.
Arn Anderson: What a competitive match! It’s safe to say this isn’t how anyone wanted this thing to end!
Kevin Kelly: For the first time in AEW history, we’ve literally run out of time! On any other night, either of these women could have walked away with the victory. Banks was hoping to keep up the momentum she’s built since Starrcade, but Storm was just on a new level tonight.
Arn Anderson: Absolutely, even though she’s out of her mind as of late, Toni Storm is proving to be an asset here in All Elite Wrestling. I’m looking forward to when these two get a proper chance to settle the score!
Winner: Time Limit Draw
Match Time: 30:00
With that, the show concludes, and Anderson says their colleagues Renee Young and Taz will be back tomorrow night with our online-exclusive show, Dark!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 