AEW Revolution is now underway! A big cacophony of fireworks greet us! Justin Roberts introduces Dezirae Schalice to sing the National Anthem. The lights in the crowd become red and blue for this. Pyro goes along with the rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in the air. And now, out comes Dustin Rhodes for our first match of the night! QT Marshall is backing him up but doesn’t go past the stage. He will be facing Jake Hager in our opener! He comes down the ramp but stops short of the ring, goes over to his wife at ringside and just, straight makes out with her to some boos.
Heat intensifies as he goes to the middle rope. Lot of fog from the multitude of pyro. Dustin has a shirt that reads “I’m here to fight Jericho’s bitch”. Hager is going shirtless to show off his physique, which he’s basically never done in his career.
Dustin Rhodes vs. Jake Hager
Hager with the immediate double leg in the corner! Dustin tries to slug out of it, Hager gets him down with a Back Suplex! Boos begin immediately. “We The People” chant starts but gets booed down. Hager clobbers Dustin in the corner. “Jericho’s Bitch” chant starts as Dustin deposits him to the floor. Sends him over the barricade! They fight out into the crowd, slams the left hand into the steel railing! Throws Hager back to ringside, rolls in and out to break the count, slams Hager’s shoulder twice into the post! And then a third time! Hager rolls back into the ring only for Dustin to clothesline right to the floor! Big pop for Dustin!
Dustin pursues… Hager hooks him, back suplex sends him right onto the apron! Gets some space… charging lariat lands flush and Dustin lands hard! He’s immobile for a while after that. “Jericho’s Bitch” chant intensifies, Hager throws Dustin into the ring and cover for 2. Takes Dustin to the corner, knee lifts to the gut, snapmare. Singles out an arm. “Let’s Go Dustin” chant starts quickly. He fights to his feet, but a charging back elbow takes him down. Pose for immense heat. Keeps Dustin down with an arm stretch. Dustin fights to his feet, stomps the foot of Hager. Hits the ropes but a charging knee to the gut stops him!
Dustin is sent sprawling to the floor as Hager continues to soak in the heat. Hager slams his face against the apron, throws him back in, stands on the apron, Dustin with a shot to the face, slams his face into the top buckle, clothesline sends him flying onto the apron! Dustin pursues but Hager slams him into the barricade and the apron! Goes over to his wife again. As they talk, Dustin gets Hager with a charging big boot!
Hager’s wife yells, wants to throw a slap but Dustin catches the hand, kisses her and leaves his makeup all over her!
She’s furious, Dustin gets Hager in the ring, bulldog! Hager with a boot up out of the corner, charges but eats a Snap Powerslam for a nearfall! Rhodes with body shots until a Flapjack sends him onto the top rope! Front Chop Block lands hard! Again the crowd is all over Hager. Wants his charging Vader Bomb but Dustin gets the boot up, roll up for a veeery close nearfall! Hager hoists Dustin up and dumps him! Vader Bomb nails hard for a close nearfall! Hager whips Dustin to the corner, charging clothesline hits hard. And again! And again, he hit him so hard the sweat went flying into the camera lens!
Pulls him out of the corner, Doctor Bomb! Super close nearfall! Hager sends him into the corner, charges – back body drop sends him out of the ring and he lands facefirst on the steps! Selling this one hard! Dustin gets him back into the ring, has him in the corner, spreads the legs! Fans on their feet! Aubrey Edwards does not wanna see the Unnatural Kick, Hager escapes the corner, Dustin sidesteps Aubrey and gets him with a low blow, into the Code Red for a very close nearfall! Dustin grabs Hager by the wrist and goes down with a Cross Armbreaker! He wants to break his arm as revenge!
But Hager reverses into the Ankle Lock! Dustin is contemplating the tap… crowd doesn’t want to see it! Dustin fights out, rolls him through, Hager almost knocks into Aubrey! Hager turns around and whilst the ref is distracted, gets Dustin with a knee to the groin! Grabs him in the Cobra Clutch! Dustin is trying to fight out of it, Jake gets him with knees to the gut as he keeps the hold in and pulls him to the center… Dustin gets choked out, the ref calls for the bell!
Winner: Jake Hager
Effective stuff! Good choice for an opener, the crowd was so into it that they barely had to do much of anything. Hager worked a very believable style and looked good in there. I really wanna see him against smaller dudes though.
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