AEW Dark: Elevation Results (01/09) - ROH World Championship Match, Best Friends Vs. Spanish Announce Project, Christopher Daniels Vs. Bandido
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "AEW Dark: Elevation" on January 9, 2023, coming to you from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington!
Claudio Castagnoli will be putting his Ring of Honor World Championship on the line against Varsity Athletes' Josh Woods. Castagnoli defeated Chris Jericho at "Final Battle" in December to become the new titleholder. Will a new champion be crowned tonight, or will Castagnoli be able to hold on to his title?
House of Black looks to continue to dominate the AEW tag team division when they take on Ari Daivari of The Trustbusters and The Wingmen's Ryan Nemeth and "Pretty" Peter Avalon. In other tag team news, Best Friends will be squaring off with Spanish Announce Project's Serpentico and Luther. The Kingdom's Matt Taven and Mike Bennett will also be taking on former WWE stars The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv and Harv) while longtime allies Eddie Kingston and Ortiz will be facing Eddie Pearl and Ricky Gibson.
Christopher Daniels returned to an AEW ring on last week's edition of "Dark" after defeating Brian Pillman Jr. and looks to pick up another win tonight as he goes one-on-one with Bandido. Speaking of returns, Powerhouse Hobbs will be competing in his first match since facing Wardlow and Samoa Joe for the TNT Championship at "Full Gear" in November, as he goes head-to-head with Vinny Pacifico. The Embassy's Brian Cage will also be in action in his return since "Winter Is Coming" when he faces Schaff.
ROH Women's World Champion Athena looks to continue her winning streak tonight against Viva Van in a non-title match. Elsewhere in the women's division, Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir will be taking on Danika Della Rouge and Amira. Additionally, Hardy Party (Matt Hardy and Isiah Kassidy) will be in action as they continue to look for a way out of their current contracts with The Firm and Ethan Page.
We are live! Paul Wight and "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard greet audiences at home as Brian Cage and Prince Nana head to the ring. Schaff is already waiting inside.
Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana) vs. Schaff
The bell rings and the two lock up. The pair try to shoulder tackle one another, but are unsuccessful. Cage delivers a back elbow, then follows it up with a hurricanrana and a dropkick. Schaff fires back with a clothesline and several boots to Cage's midsection, then delivers a cannonball and a suplex. Cage delivers a knee to Schaff's face, then hits a DDT and poses. He then delivers a kick to Schaff's face, then hits a shoulder to his midsection and follows it up with a chop. He delivers a side suplex, but Schaff manages to deliver a series of chops and a lariat. He delivers a splash in the corner and a senton, then goes for a pin but Cage kicks out.
Cage delivers a jumping knee strike and a suplex, then plants him face first. He looks for Drillclaw, but Schaff counters it into a back body drop. He follows it up with a pop-up cutter and a sitout powerbomb, then goes for a pin. Cage kicks out and delivers a German suplex, followed by a discus lariat and a suplex. He then delivers Drillclaw for the win.
Winner: Brian Cage
We then head backstage to Lexy Nair and Ethan Page. Nair asks Page if he thinks Hardy Party can win their match tonight and Page says they obviously can because they are under his tutelage. Hardy Party walks in and Hardy informs him that their match is now a trios match. Page becomes angry, but Hardy says he wants to team with him because he thinks they would work great together and even possibly the AEW World Trios Champions. He then hands him a pair of green trunks as a "belated Boxing Day present". This gets Page excited and
The Kingdom heads to the ring, with The Bollywood Boyz already waiting inside. Page walks away as Isiah Kassidy expresses his frustrations.
The Bollywood Boyz head to the ring, followed by The Kingdom.
The Kingdom (w/ Maria Kanellis) vs. The Bollywood Boyz
Bennett and Harv begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. They exchange submissions before Gurv tags in and delivers a back elbow. Harv tags back in and delivers a superkick, but Bennett delivers a discus elbow and tags in Taven. Taven delivers an elbow drop off the top rope, then delivers a splash in the corner. He gloats, then tags in Bennett. Bennett delivers a suplex, then delivers several knees to Harv's spine. He runs the ropes and delivers a thumb to Harv's eye before the pair exchange chops.
Taven tags in and looks for a moonsault, but Harv rolls out of the way and tags in Gurv. Gurv delivers a series of lariats and a Manhattan Drop, then follows it up with a spin kick and a suplex. He ascends to the top and delivers an elbow drop. He goes for a pin, but Taven breaks the fall. Gurv delivers a series of chops to Bennett and Taven, but Bennett plants him with a Fireman's Carry. Taven and Bennett then deliver a running kick-stunner combination for the win.
Winners: The Kingdom
The Wingmen and Ari Daivari head to the ring, followed by House of Black.
House of Black (w/ Julia Hart) vs. The Wingmen and Ari Daivari
Black and Avalon begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Black delivers an arm drag, but Avalon fires back with a dropkick. Nemeth tags in and Black delivers a lariat. Matthews tags in and delivers a double stomp off the top rope. Matthews sends Nemeth face first into the top turnbuckle, then delivers a kick to his head. While the referee is distracted, Daivari hits Matthews with a cutter on the apron, then whips him into the barricade. He formally tags in, then beats him down. Avalon tags in and rains down right hands, then tags Nemeth back in. Nemeth delivers a series of kicks to his back, then rains down right hands. Matthews fires back with a chokeslam turned into a knee lift, then tags in King. Daivari tags in and King knocks him down with a lariat. He follows it up with a running splash and sets up for the cannonball. Nemeth and Avalon trip him, but King gets the better of them. He then delivers a series of kicks to Daivari and follows it up with a cannonball as Matthews and Black aid him with a pair of running knees from the apron for the win.
Winners: House of Black
Powerhouse Hobbs heads to the ring, with Vinny Pacifico already waiting inside.
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Vinny Pacifico
The bell rings and Hobbs tosses Pacifico across the ring. Pacifico delivers a dropkick, but Hobbs stays on his feet and delivers a lariat. He hits a running splash in the corner, then lays Pacifico on the top turnbuckle and fires off right hands. He gets Pacifico up and drops him, but Pacifico manages to deliver a forearm. He ascends to the top and goes flying, but Hobbs catches him and plants him with a spinebuster mid-air for the win.
Winner: Powerhouse Hobbs
Nyla Rose, Marina Shafir, and Vickie Guerrero heads to the ring, with Danika Della Rouge and Amira already waiting inside.
Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir (w Vickie Guerrero) vs. Danika Della Rouge and Amira
The bell rings and Rose delivers a thrust kick to Amira's face. She delivers a splash in the corner, then tags in Shafir. Shafir delivers a hip toss before Della Rouge tags in. Shafir toys with Della Rouge's leg, then tags in Rose. Rose delivers a chokeslam, then tags Shafir back in. Shafir then delivers a DDT for the win as Guerrero leaves ringside.
Winners: Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir
We then head to a video of The Butcher and The Blade, who put the entire tag team division on notice.
Josh Woods and "Smart" Mark Sterling head to the ring, followed by Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta.
Claudio Castagnoli (c) (w/ Wheeler Yuta) vs. Josh Woods (w/ Mark Sterling) for the ROH World Championship
The bell rings and the two shake hands to observe the Code of Honor. They then lock up and exchange submissions before Castagnoli looks for the Swing. Woods escapes it and begins targeting Castagnoli's ankle. Castagnoli delivers a big boot, followed by a series of right hands and uppercuts. He delivers a clothesline, then goes for a pin but Woods kicks out.
Woods locks in an Ankle Lock, but Castagnoli escapes. Woods then delivers a German suplex, then delivers the Swing but his leg gives out. Woods takes advantage and delivers a knee to Castagnoli's face. He goes for a pin, but Castagnoli kicks out. Woods ascends to the top, but Castagnoli meets him there. Woods manages to deliver a twisting neckbreaker, then goes for another pin but Castagnoli kicks out. Castagnoli delivers a forearm and a knee, then delivers a European uppercut for the win.
Winner (and still): Claudio Castagnoli
Ethan Page and Hardy Party head to the ring, with Cody Chhun, Guillermo Rosas and Sonico already waiting inside.
Hardy Party and Ethan Page vs. Cody Chhun, Guillermo Rosas and Sonico
Kassidy and Sonico begin the action. The bell rings and Kassidy tosses Sonico to the outside. He delivers a cannonball over the top, then tosses Sonico back in the ring. Hardy tags in and delivers a back elbow. He follows it up with a leg drop before Rosas tags in and delivers a back elbow to Hardy. Hardy delivers a flatliner, then tags Kassidy back in. Kassidy delivers a double stomp off the top rope, then looks to tag in Page. Page refuses to do so and Hardy tags in instead. He delivers an elbow drop, then delivers Side Effect and looks for the pin. Page says he's ready for the tag now, and Hardy does so. He delivers a series of stomps, then tags Kassidy back in. Kassidy stares him down, allowing Rosas to deliver a suplex. Sonico tags back in and delivers a low dropkick. Chhun tags in and delivers a chop. Kassidy manages to deliver a superkick, then tags in Hardy.
Hardy delivers a clothesline and a swinging neckbreaker, then gets Chhun on the middle rope and delivers Ego's Edge. He goes for a pin, but Sonico breaks the fall. Kassidy levels Sonico as Hardy delivers The Three Faces of Deletion. Page tags in and delivers Twist of Fate for the win.
Winners: Ethan Page and Hardy Party
Athena heads to the ring, with Viva Van already waiting inside.
Athena vs. Viva Van
The bell rings and Athena offers Van a free shot at her. Van goes to take it, but Athena catches her with a kick. Van delivers a forearm, but Athena fires back with one of her own. She then rains down right hands and knocks Van to the outside with a sliding kick. Athena sends Van into the ring steps, then delivers a running knee. She tosses her back in the ring, then locks in the crossface for the win.
Winner: Athena
Eddie Kingston and Ortiz head to the ring, with Eddie Pearl and Ricky Gibson already waiting inside.
Eddie Kingston and Ortiz vs. Eddie Pearl and Ricky Gibson
Kingston and Gibson begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Kingston delivers a shoulder tackle, then follows it up with a chop and a suplex. Ortiz tags in and delivers a suplex of his own, then tags Kingston back in. Kingston beats Gibson down before Ortiz tags in and delivers a Manhattan Drop. He follows it up with a Flapjack, but Pearl tags in and the pair deliver a Russian Leg Sweep into a Backstabber. Gibson tags back in and delivers a side suplex. Ortiz delivers a lariat, then tags in Kingston. Kingston delivers a back elbow and an Exploder, then follows it up with a DDT for the win.
Winners: Eddie Kingston and Ortiz
Christopher Daniels heads to the ring, followed by Bandido
Bandido vs. Christopher Daniels
The bell rings and Bandido offers his hand to Daniels. Daniels doesn't take it and the two lock up. Bandido delivers a dropkick and an elbow drop, then delivers a thunderous chop. He follows it up with a Spear and an enziguri, then goes for a pin. Daniels kicks out and delivers a right hand. He sends Bandido into the corner, then rains down right hands and hits a neckbreaker. Bandido delivers a chokeslam to Daniels, then delivers a corkscrew and a pair of back elbows. He follows it up with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a running knee, then goes for a pin but Daniels kicks out. Bandido ascends to the top rope and delivers a Frog Splash, then goes for another pin but Daniels kicks out. Daniels rolls up Bandido, but the referee catches his feet on the ropes. While Daniels argues with the referee, Bandido takes advantage and rolls him up. Daniels kicks out and delivers Angel's Wings. He goes for a pin, but Bandido kicks out. Daniels delivers a chokeslam and looks to set up for the Best Moonsault Ever, but Bandido manages to deliver a superkick, a Military Press-Fireman's Carry combination, and the GTS for the win.
Winner: Bandido
Spanish Announce Project heads to the ring, followed by Best Friends and Danhausen.
Best Friends (w/ Danhausen) vs. Spanish Announce Project (w/ Angelico)
Serpentico and Luther waste no time and go straight to work attacking Best Friends. The bell rings and Taylor and Beretta deliver a Sole Food Half-and-Half Combination. They look to hug, but SAP pulls them out of the ring. Serpentico tosses Beretta back in the ring, then tags in Luther. Luther delivers a double underhook suplex, then tags Serpentico back in. Luther sends Serpentico's head into Beretta, then tosses him to the outside. SAP hug in the center of the ring in an effort to mock Best Friends, but Danhausen doesn't take too kindly to this. He gets in the ring and tries to eject them from ringside, but the referee stops him from doing so. He then curses Serpentico as Serpentico sets up for a low blow. He charges at him, but Danhausen moves out of the way and Serpentico accidentally hits Luther. As the referee is distracted by Angelico, Danhausen delivers a low blow to Serpentico, allowing Best Friends to take advantage and hit the Dudebuster for the win.
Winners: Best Friends