August 25th 2024.
It was a historic night for AEW as they welcomed a new member to their roster – the highly anticipated arrival of WWE fan favorite, Ricochet. The former Intercontinental and United States Champion had left his previous company at the end of June when his contract expired, and it was finally made official at Wembley Stadium.
Rumors had been swirling for weeks about Ricochet's potential move to Tony Khan's promotion and on Sunday night, it was confirmed. He made a surprise entrance in the Casino Gauntlet match, joining the likes of Zack Sabre Jr and British wrestling legend Nigel McGuinness. The field was filled with top talent including Kyle O'Reilly, Jeff Jarrett, and Mark Briscoe, but it was former world champion Christian Cage who emerged victorious and made headlines by winning the high stakes bout.
However, his win was not without controversy as his ally Luchasaurus helped him to a tainted victory. Fans were on the edge of their seats as it seemed Luchasaurus was going to betray his teammate, but instead, he aided him to become the next contender for the AEW World Title at any point of his choosing. The arrival of Ricochet was a momentous occasion and fans were ecstatic to see him make his debut.
This marked Ricochet's first wrestling appearance since being attacked by Bron Breakker and written off television in a brutal and emotional scene. His fiancée Samantha Irvin was seen breaking down in tears as he was taken away in an ambulance. According to PWInsider, Ricochet had made it clear to WWE bosses that he would not be staying with the company, ending his six-year tenure. Despite not being a main eventer, he had a successful run with both the Intercontinental and United States Titles during his time on the main roster.
But Ricochet wasn't the only surprise for the Wembley crowd that night. Nigel McGuinness and Zack Sabre Jr also made unexpected appearances in the Casino Gauntlet match, adding to the excitement of the evening. And they weren't the only ones, as Zack Gibson and James Drake – known as Grizzled Young Veterans – also made an impact by confronting the tag team champions, The Young Bucks.
In the Zero Hour preshow, there was another surprise as UK wrestler Jamie Hayter made her long-awaited return from injury. She took out Saraya – also known as Paige in WWE – along with her family and friends. It was a special night for the Brits, with Mariah May defeating Toni Storm to become the new AEW Women's World Champion after a Hollywood-inspired saga influenced by Sunset Blvd and All About Eve.
The main show kicked off with an explosive match where PAC and Blackpool Combat Club's Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta captured the AEW World Trios Titles. And in a highly anticipated grudge match, Hook defeated former WWE star Chris Jericho. It was a night filled with surprises, drama, and unforgettable moments that left fans buzzing with excitement.
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