Wednesday Night Wars: AEW vs NXT Week 4

Three weeks have gone by in the Wednesday Night Wars and it has been a clean sweep for All Elite Wrestling for rating supremacy. That sounds about right because there was one week so far where I thought WWE NXT put out the better show, and that was week one of the Wednesday Night Wars. Since then, it's been unanimous that AEW has put out the better quality show while winning the rating war. In large, WWE NXT remains the best programming that WWE has to offer, but AEW is still besting that when you measure the worldwide audience. This week, AEW Dynamite is live from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while WWE NXT remains at its studio location of Full Sail University.

That all being said, here is how AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT unfolded through week four of the Wednesday Night Wars.

AEW Dynamite; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1) Private Party (2-3) vs Lucha Bros (4-2)

AEW Dynamite opens with Private Party and the Lucha Bros already in the ring for a cold introduction into tag team action. This match is one of two semi-final matches on tonight's card for the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament. Previously, Private Party defeated The Young Bucks to advance in the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament. That was their biggest win up to this point. The Lucha Bros defeated The Jurassic Express to arrive this far into the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament, but it shouldn't go unforgotten that they isolated SoCal Uncensored by making sure Christopher Daniels was unable to compete.

Marq Quen of Private Party connected with a 450 Splash from the top rope in an attempt to get the victory, but the three count was out of reach. Rey Fenix Jr does get hit by the Gin and Juice tag team finisher by Private Party, but Private Party couldn't capitalize because Fenix wasn't the legal man. Another Gin and Juice attempt, this time on Pentagon Jr, but he reverses and hits Isiah Kassidy with the Canadian Destroyer instead. Quen attempts a Running Big Boot to Pentagon but misses and is caught in the ropes. Fenix runs across the top rope and hits Quen with a kick of his own.

The finish comes when the Lucha Bros hit their Package Piledriver/Top Rope Foot Stomp double team finisher on Marq Quen. Pentagon Jr gets credit for the pinfall and the Lucha Bros advance to the finals of the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament.

Winners: Lucha Bros (5-2)

2) SoCal Uncensored (4-3) vs The Dark Order (3-0)

This is the other semi-final match of the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament. Up to this point, The Dark Order has not had to wrestle in the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament, getting a bye to the semi-finals. Touched on earlier, the original lineup for SoCal Uncensored was Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian teaming up in this tournament. However, Daniels is out with a pinched nerve after receiving the Package Piledriver from Pentagon Jr last week on AEW Dynamite. Filling in for Daniels is Scorpio Sky alongside Kazarian.

While this match was going on, The Inner Circle was walking through the audience with paid tickets to a luxury suite. They were without Jake Hager, who is training for an MMA fight. Back in the ring, Stu Grayson launches himself over the top turnbuckle to the outside of the ring with a Tope Con Hilo, taking out Frankie Kazarian. Evil Uno connects with a Lifting Reverse STO on Scorpio Sky, but Sky kicks out of the pin attempt at two. As Kazarian gets back into the ring, he connects with a DDT upon entering the ring on Grayson and another DDT upon exiting the ring on Uno.

The finish comes when SoCal Uncensored hits the SCU-Later on Stu Grayson. Scorpio Sky is credited with the pinfall for his team. SoCal Uncensored will take on the Lucha Bros in the finals of the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament, carrying on to set up a grudge match to seek revenge on injuring Christopher Daniels at the beginning of the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament.

Winners: SoCal Uncensored (5-3)

3) "The Bad Boy" Joey Janela (1-2) vs "The Cleaner" Kenny Omega (3-3)

This is the second match that these two are having due to rave reviews after their unsanctioned match on AEW Dark. In an unsanctioned match, the outcome does not reflect on the record, so this will be the first time Joey Janela and Kenny Omega wrestle with an outcome that effects their records. In that unsanctioned match, Omega got the win.

A lot of back and forth countering between the two, featuring Joey Janela moving out of the way of an attempted V-Trigger by Kenny Omega and hitting a Snap German Suplex on Omega. Later, Janela got a full running start and hit a Running Clothesline, flipping Omega. Pin attempt and Omega kicked out at two. One big spot was when Janela went for a Flipping Senton from the top rope to the apron where Omega was laying, but Omega moved out of the way. Omega followed through with a vicious V-Trigger followed by a One-Winged Angel for the pinfall.

Winner: Kenny Omega (4-3)

Cody makes an entrance to the ring to deliver an announcement to the AEW fans in attendance. As he is trying to make his announcement, The Inner Circle is in their luxury suite with airhorns, continuously interrupting Cody. Chris Jericho then picks up a microphone and begins to boo Cody as he speaks. Cody turns around and looks towards Jericho and says, "This isn't like the other wrestling company we came from. This isn't an invisible wall right here. I could easily step through and I could easily come up there and we could fight, right here, and right now." Jericho replies, "I know you're not going to come up here because you're a coward. You're nothing more than an entitled, millennial, little bitch."

Before leaving the ring, Cody hands his blazer over to Tony Schiavone and begins to make his way towards the direction of the Inner Circle's luxury booth. Cody is outnumbered four-on-one. Each time Chris Jericho mentions he is outnumbered, a new person makes an entrance on behalf of Cody to even the odds. First, it's Dustin Rhodes. Second, it's Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Lastly, and to a big pop from the AEW crowd, it's Diamond Dallas Page.

As Cody, Dustin Rhodes, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and Diamond Dallas Page make their way through the crowd towards the Inner Circle, Chris Jericho takes Sammy Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz and locks them in a room behind a door with a glass window. Thinking that they've outsmarted Cody, Cody takes the scarf from MJF and wraps it around his right hand before punching through the window to get into the room. It's a four-on-four brawl onto the main concourse of the Petersen Events Center which is eventually broken up by security. Cody is reported to be taken to a holding cell at the University of Pittsburgh because The Inner Circle was at the show legally, with a purchased ticket in hand.

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4) Best Friends (2-3) vs The Young Bucks (4-3)

Best Friends are accompanied to the ring by Orange Cassidy. As the Young Bucks finish their entrance and pose in the ring, Cassidy is behind them, absolutely unimpressed. In the most nonchalant manner possible, Cassidy gives a "Superkick" each to the shins of the Young Bucks. The AEW crowd loves it as Cassidy is one of the better comic-relief characters in pro-wrestling. The Young Bucks are less than pleased, hitting back with a Superkick Party to Cassidy.

A hot start to the match as the Young Bucks trade punches with Best Friends. Chuck Taylor hits a Falcon Arrow on Matt Jackson for a two count. Best Friends hug it out after connecting with a Sole Food/Half Nelson German Suplex double team on Nick Jackson. Orange Cassidy goes to the top rope, places his hands into his pocket, and dives onto the Young Bucks on the outside. Best Friends take advantage and connect with the Strong Zero on Matt Jackson, but Nick Jackson breaks up the pinfall with a Swanton Bomb.

Going for another double team, Best Friends attempt the Doomsday Knee, but Matt Jackson flips off Chuck Taylor's shoulders to his feet. Matt hits a Superkick on Trent Baretta and the Young Bucks hit a Superkick Party on Taylor. This is followed by More Bang For Your Buck on Taylor for the pin. Matt gets credit for the pinfall.

Winners: The Young Bucks (5-3)

After the match, the Young Bucks take a microphone and announce that they accept Santana and Ortiz's challenge at AEW Full Gear.

5) Jamie Hayter (0-0) vs Dr. Britt Baker DMD (3-2)

This match is set up as a homecoming match for Dr. Britt Baker DMD as she is from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Her ring gear is all decked out in a Pittsburgh Steelers theme and she is accompanied to the ring by Steely McBeam, the Steelers mascot. Her opponent, Jamie Hayter, is Bea Priestley's tag team partner in Japan. Baker was in control for most of the match, eventually submitting Hayter with Lockjaw.

Winner: Dr. Britt Baker DMD (4-2)

After the match, Jamie Hayter was about to be interviewed backstage, but Brandi Rhodes attacked her from behind and stormed off camera.

Main Event) Jon Moxley (1-1) vs "The Bastard" Pac (2-1)

As Jon Moxley is making his entrance to the ring, Pac attacks from behind with a steel chair. Pac is getting all of these cheap shots in early, even using Moxley's vest to choke him at the bottom of the entrance ramp. After throwing Moxley into the guardrail a couple of times, Pac gets into the ring. Moxley refuses help from referees and gets into the ring as the match will still take place. The bell sounds!

The match goes until the television time remaining, which means it could end in a time limit draw due to AEW Dynamite's run time on television. With four minutes left, Jon Moxley had Pac in a Texas Cloverleaf, but Pac didn't tap out and got a rope break. At three minutes left, Pac hit an Avalanche Falcon Arrow on Moxley, but Moxley kicked out of the pin at two. Two minutes left, Pac hits a 450 Splash from the ring apron to the outside on Moxley. Moxley is rolled back into the ring and Pac goes for the Black Arrow but missed.

One minute remaining in the match and Jon Moxley hit the Paradigm Shift on Pac. Pac kicked out at two with two seconds remaining in the match. The result is a time limit draw.

Time Limit Draw

After the match, Jon Moxley is very frustrated that the match finished in a time limit draw. He connects with a Paradigm Shift on an AEW referee. AEW Dynamite goes off the air with Moxley saying, "Time limit my ass."

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WWE NXT; Full Sail University

1) Rhea Ripley vs "The EST of NXT" Bianca Belair

This match highlights two of the top four NXT women's contenders for Shayne Baszler's NXT Women's Championship. The back and forth action in this match displayed the power of Rhea Ripley and the swiftness of Bianca Belair. At one point, both of these wrestlers attempted to Suplex one another, but Ripley's power prevailed on that exchange. In an attempt to use her quickness to her advantage, Belair tried to leapfrog Ripley coming off the ropes but got caught in mid-air with a Big Boot. Ripley followed with the Gorilla Clutch, but Belair was able to get the rope break.

Rhea Ripley found herself on the outside of the ring and Io Shirai ran down to the apron, hitting a Tiger Feint Kick on Ripley. The referee was busy creating separation between Ripley and Bianca Belair. Shirai rolled Ripley back into the ring where she was hit with a Spear from Belair. Ripley kicked out at two while Candice LeRae pulled Shirai away from the ring apron. Ripley hit the Riptide on Belair and got the pinfall.

Winner: Rhea Ripley

Pete Dunne commented on his loss to Damian Priest in the main event of WWE NXT last week. Dunne said Priest, "Did what he had to do," about being kicked below the belt. About Killian Dain, Dunne said, "I don't care about Killian Dain."

2) "The Original Bro" Matt Riddle vs "The Technical Savage" Cameron Grimes

Both wrestlers immediately attempted their finishing move, but it was well scouted. A lot of the match was dominated by Matt Riddle. He connected with a Jackhammer on Cameron Grimes, which is ironic, because Riddle is beefing with Goldberg on Twitter and that was Goldberg's finishing move. The NXT crowd is changing "Riddle" in the cadence of "Goldberg" throughout the match, which is mentioned multiple times by Mauro Ranallo. Riddle hits the Final Flash on Grimes, but Grimes answers back immediately with the Collision Course.

Soon after Matt Riddle kicks out of the pin following Cameron Grimes' Collision Course, Riddle connects with the Bro Derek for the pinfall.

Winner: Matt Riddle

After the match, Matt Riddle goes over to fist bump Cameron Grimes, but Grimes tells Riddle to leave. Riddle fist bumps Tyler Bate, who is in the NXT crowd. Grimes sees Bate and shoves him. Bate answers back with Bip and Bop, which are the names that Bate gave his fists. He floored Grimes back on the ground.

3) Breezango and Isiah "Swerve" Scott vs The Forgotten Sons

Jaxson Ryker begins the match against Tyler Breeze. Breeze ends up being flattened on the ring apron with a Uranage on the outside of the ring. It seemed that The Forgotten Sons would be on the way to victory after hitting a triple-team Hurricanrana/Double Diving Headbutt combination, but Breezango pushed Ryker and Steve Cutler backward as if they were offensive linemen blocking linebackers. Later in the match, Isiah Scott used Ryker's chest as a launching pad to Moonsault on Cutler and Wesley Blake on the outside of the ring. Blake goes for a Sunset Flip Pin on Scott, but Scott rolls through and hits a Jumping Back Kick on Blake, getting credit for the pinfall.

Winners: Breezango and Isiah Scott

4) Angel Garza vs "Gentleman" Jack Gallagher

NXT Cruiserweight champion, Lio Rush, is on commentary for this match as the two wrestlers in the ring are possible future contenders for his championship. Angel Garza launches Jack Gallagher to the outside of the ring with a Monkey Flip. Gallagher believes he has Garza scouted as he attempts to duck out of the way of the Suicide Dive, but Garza pumps the breaks and connects with a chop across the back. Back into the ring, Gallagher reverses out of a Powerbomb and connects with a Standing Headbutt that rocks Garza into a corner. Gallagher goes for a Running Dropkick into the corner, but Garza moves out of the way, slamming Gallagher stomach first onto the canvas.

Immediately after, Angel Garza does a Springboard Moonsault from the middle rope onto Jack Gallagher for the pinfall.

Winner: Angel Garza

5) Team Kick vs The Horsewomen of MMA

This match is to determine the number one contenders for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Marina Shafir gets the advantage of Dakota Kai in an Armbar, but Kai breaks the hold and connects with a Scorpion Kick before tagging in Tegan Nox. Jessamyn Duke tags in, but Nox delivers a Chokeslam to The Horsewomen of MMA. Nox hits a Diving Crossbody on Duke, but Shafir breaks up the pin attempt. Kai takes Shafir out with a Bicycle Kick and Nox hits the Shiniest Wizard on Duke to get credit for the pinfall.

Winners: Team Kick

Team Kick will face the Kabuki Warriors next week on NXT for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Post-match, Asuka and Kairi Sane are on the video screen cutting a promo in mostly Japanese. Sane does say, "Next week, you have no chance."

Main Event) "Limitless" Keith Lee vs Dominik Dijakovic vs "The Messiah of the Backbreaker" Roderick Strong (c)

This match is for the NXT North American Championship. Throughout this match, Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic impress the NXT crowd with their feats of athleticism. Dijakovic goes for a Sunset Flip from the apron to the outside on Lee, but Lee catches him out of mid-air in a Powerbomb position. Roderick Strong follows with a Dropkick between the ropes to Dijakovic, dropping Lee under the weight and momentum. Another great spot was when Lee did a Powerbomb to Dijakovic from the top rope while Dijakovic had Strong up in a Suplex position!

Dominik Dijakovic had a great opportunity to get the win with an Avalanche Chokebomb on Keith Lee, but Lee kicked out at two. Lee goes to the outside of the ring and Dijakovic hits a Diving Corkscrew Senton, intended for Lee, but to Roderick Strong. Lee then follows up with a Tope Con Hilo on Dijakovic that gets the NXT crowd to erupt. The momentum is on Lee's side as he hits an Avalanche Sit Out Powerbomb on Dijakovic, but as soon as that impact is made, Strong hits the Sick Kick on Lee for the pinfall.

Winner AND STILL NXT North American Champion: Roderick Strong

The Undisputed Era comes down to the ring to celebrate with Roderick Strong, but that turns into a four-on-one attack on Keith Lee quickly. Tommaso Ciampa makes an appearance, dragging his crutch behind him. He gets into the ring to face off against the Undisputed Era, then Johnny Gargano makes his entrance to stand alongside Ciampa. The former DIY tag team is facing four-on-two odds before Finn Balor makes an entrance to make a stand with Ciampa and Gargano. Just when it looks like Balor, Gargano, and Ciampa are about to scrap with the Undisputed Era, Balor connects with a Pele Kick on Gargano.

A very effective heel turn for Finn Balor happens and the NXT crowd is as stunned as Tommaso Ciampa is. The Undisputed Era swarms Ciampa and Balor brought Gargano to the outside of the ring. A Shotgun Dropkick connects on Gargano, sending him into the guardrail so hard that the guardrail falls over into the crowd. Balor then delivers 1916 to Gargano at the bottom of the entrance ramp. The NXT crowd is passionately booing Balor.

After all of this, it is uncertain if Finn Balor is now joining the Undisputed Era. All four of the Undisputed Era members stand alongside each other in the ring, doing their stable hand gesture over a fallen Tommaso Ciampa. Balor doesn't do it back, but does a double gun hand gesture to Johnny Gargano, calling back to his time as the original leader of the Bullet Club. WWE NXT goes off the air.

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Verdict

This is the fourth installment of the Wednesday Night Wars and also the fourth week in a row where AEW has shined brighter than WWE NXT in the rating war. The viewership for AEW is at 963,000 this week while WWE NXT had a viewership of 698,000. AEW is still undefeated in the rating war at 4-0. Now the question is, who wins my pick of the week? In week four, I'm siding with WWE NXT.

While both shows were trending in the right direction, therefore I don't have any serious gripes about a drop off in quality, I believe that WWE NXT had more to offer this week. If I went to this WWE NXT show, I think that I would have been more fulfilled than if I attended this week's AEW Dynamite in Pittsburgh. For those keeping score with me, I've been equally on the side of both products. AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT are 2-2 so far when it comes to what tickles my fancy. No brand has run away with the more entertaining show in my eyes, which is best for both companies because it keeps me invested.

On AEW Dynamite, my favorite part of the show was the singles match between Kenny Omega and Joey Janela. Those two always put it all on the line and I wouldn't mind seeing a third match between the two. Sure, it would be technically only the second one that counts on record, but that doesn't matter to an audience watching a product. Janela and Omega have put on some very entertaining matches when they're put against each other in a wrestling ring.

With WWE NXT, my highlight was the triple threat main event for the NXT North American Championship and the aftermath of it. Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic make magic in that ring on NXT. Adding Roderick Strong to the mix with his title on the line is like sprinkling pumpkin seeds and caramel on your ice cream in the fall (seriously, try that.) That crowd was hot for that match and was just as hot when Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Finn Balor stood up to all of the Undisputed Era briefly. Balor turning heel, but not specifically joining the Undisputed Era leaves a lot of room for a possible reunion with The OC in NXT against the Undisputed Era in the future. I know, wishful thinking, but book it!

Thank you for reading. Give a follow on Twitter at EricReesePSN. I will be back next week with another rundown of the AEW versus WWE NXT Wednesday Night Wars!