MJF continues to be AEW World Champion after a No Count Out match against Rush to open “AEW Dynamite.” The stipulation was added after the pair had a backstage confrontation earlier within the day that got physical. After racking up a win streak, Rush challenged MJF last week.
The champion spit in Rush’s face to begin off, but was then taken out by a dive excessive rope. Rush choked MJF with a cable on the surface, but was sent face-first right into a chair with a drop toehold by MJF. The challenger sent MJF over the ring barricade with a back body drop. MJF removed a turnbuckle pad and went to throw Rush into it, however the referee blocked him. When Rush pushed the ref out of the best way, MJF was in a position to counter and send Rush into the steel, causing him to bleed.
Rush got back to his feet in an try to battle back, and sent MJF into the turnbuckle as well. The pair battled forwards and backwards, and Rush hit a straight jacket piledriver onto the ring apron. Through the match’s only business break, Rush was checked out by a physician at ringside and when it looked as if the match could be called, “El Toro Blanco” was adamant things proceed. Commentary said that Rush had a dislocated shoulder, but popped it back in himself.
Rush hit the Bull’s Horns, but MJF kicked out. Back on the surface, MJF moved out of the best way of a dropkick, and Rush sent himself through the ring barricade. MJF nailed his challenger with a tombstone piledriver on the broken barricade piece. Rush countered the Heat-Seeker within the ring, but MJF locked in a hammerlock cross face. Rush managed to flip off the champion before passing out within the hold for MJF to retain.