(AEW Dynamite)

A few days after Vade Drifter made his presence known on Raw, manhandling Wardlow in his debut match, the New Evolution is ahead against the Pinnacle.

Now the gears shift to Josh and Finn, who are pursuing the Inner Circle's Santana and Ortiz along with the AEW Tag Team titles. Proud n' Powerful had been ducking the Bliss Kingdom members for weeks, but they have come up with a plan; if Josh and Finn defeats them in a non-title match tonight, they can have their title shot, but the numbers will favor the Inner Circle as Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara will be at ringside.

The show has started, and the crowd were watching on the screen, the cameramen running around the back to the arena as they heard a tussle. The crowd don't know what's going on until the camera came to full view to see the Inner Circle beating up Finn. Ortiz wrapped a chair around the Demon King's ankle and then stomped on it, damaging Finn's ankle.

Then coming off-screen were Bliss Kingdom members Josh and Geiz, armed with kendo sticks as they ran off Chris Jericho's minions. Geiz kept guard while Josh knelt down to help his partner while Finn was clutching his ankle in pain.

Finn: Josh, I don't think I can compete tonight, they really damaged my ankle

Josh: handicap?

Finn: I'm afraid so, lad

Josh: Geiz, can you fill in for Finn?

Geiz: as much as I want to, I have my hands full with Hager, sorry man

Josh: it's alright

Finn: sorry lad, I want to win those tag titles with you, but I may be out for a long time

Josh: I understand, 2-on-1 against Santana and Ortiz? No problem

Finn: bring those titles to Bliss Kingdom

Josh: I will, and that is a promise to you, Peyton, Madison and our second child

Finn and Josh nodded at each other and too sweet each other.

Medical personnel has confirmed that Finn's ankle injury will sideline him for a couple of months. With the news confirmed, AEW updated the main event.

Santana & Ortiz vs. Josh Stevens - 2-on-1 handicap match. If Josh wins, he gets a shot at the AEW Tag Team Championship

Not only Josh has to deal with Proud n' Powerful, he has to deal with the man going after his Intercontinental title, the Spanish God Sammy Guevara.

One of the matches advertised for tonight is a six woman tag team match with tensions flaring as Alexa Bliss teams up with Billie Kay to take on the team of Anna Jay, Tay Conti and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.; the Four Horsewomen were out to care for a pregnant Peyton, so the Goddess and Femme Fatale may have to go with one teammate less in the match, and with a proclamation by AEW World Champion Chris Jericho, Alexa and Billie's partner can't be a member of their own group, so that means Tegan and Io are out.

Tay Conti, Anna Jay, and Dr. Britt Baker have already made their entrances as the six woman tag team match was about to start.

Then SmackDown Women's Champion Billie Kay came out to the AEW stage to make her entrance as she takes in the cheering crowd while staring daggers at the Dark Order's Number 99.

Then Alexa came out and did her signature hand entrance as she walks down the ramp to stand with Billie while staring down at Tay.

Before Alexa and Billie went to the apron, the women were interrupted by AEW owner, Tony Khan.

Tony: this match won't be a 3-on-2 handicap match, Alexa, Billie, I have picked your third partner for you, and here she is

After a few seconds of silence, a theme the crowd was familiar with played.

https://youtu.be/nqdq29qwALc

Alexa and Billie's third partner was none other than the current AEW Women's Champion, Hikaru Shida. Tony Khan has found a loophole in Jericho's plan.

Shida walked down donning her Tifa Lockhart inspired ring attire with the AEW Women's title around her waist. She bowed to her partners Alexa and Billie as she removed her kimono and title while setting her kendo stick to the side.

The three got on the apron, and the match was underway.

Alexa Bliss, Billie Kay and Hikaru Shida vs. Tay Conti, Anna Jay and Dr. Britt Baker

The two women to start were Bliss and Jay; the two women locked up and then the Goddess transitioned to a side headlock. 99 escaped the hold as she pushed Alexa to the ropes, only to be met by a dropkick from the Goddess. Alexa grabbed Anna and tagged in a pumped up Billie, but Jay escaped and tagged in Tay.

Billie held Alexa back, and told her, that she got this. Alexa nodded and went to the ring apron. The Femme Fatale locked up with the martial artist in the ring.

(Fast forward)

The legal women were Shida and Tay, the AEW Women's Champion got the martial artist for a near fall after hitting the Falcon's Arrow. Then Shida looks to finish off Tay for her running knee finisher. 

However, Britt interfered and ambushed Shida from behind, prompting Billie to hit the dentist with the Shades of Kay kick, and then the SmackDown Women's Champion turned her attention to Anna, Billie pursued 99 while Jay slowly back up to the ramp.

Back in the ring, Shida took down Tay with the running knee, then saw Alexa saying and wanting to finish it. Hikaru happily obliged and tagged in the Goddess. 

Alexa climbed to the top turnbuckle and nails Tay with the Twisted Bliss for the pinfall win, along with some payback.

Billie joined her teammates in the ring as the three women raised their arms in victory.

(Time skip)

It was time for the main event handicap match as the AEW Tag Team Champions and Inner Circle members  Santana and Ortiz are all full of arrogance and smirks on their faces as they take on Josh Stevens. The Inner Circle members were full of confidence after they sidelined Finn earlier tonight.

Josh found himself in a 4-on-1 situation because not only he has to deal with the tag team champions, but also has to deal with Hager and Guevara at ringside.

But before the match even started, Geiz came out with the kendo stick, and ambushed Hager from behind, the Sniper of the East chased Hager to the back, and thanks to Geiz, the situation eased for Josh a bit, but the numbers don't favor him. The match started and the Fallen Warrior locked up with Ortiz.

Josh is on his own, so his plan for now is to isolate Ortiz from his corner to avoid any repeated tags. The Fallen Warrior was able to fight both tag team champions, but the tables turned in the Inner Circle's favor as Sammy went for a cheap shot behind the referee's back.

(End of the match)

So far it was all Santana and Ortiz as they constantly double teamed on Josh while making frequent tags to ground Josh. Proud n' Powerful looked to end Josh's hopes and a title shot as they prepare for their finisher, the Street Sweeper. However, Josh fought out of Santana's grip and connected combinations of rights and lefts to the former LAX members.

After grounding Santana with a clothesline, Josh neutralized the Spanish God by suicide dive to the floor. He then pulled Ortiz down and threw him to the barricade. He then got back in the ring and fazes Santana with a superkick before putting him in position for the 25th Hour.

Josh nailed Santana with his finisher and gets the pinfall victory along with the tag team title shots, but Josh's celebration was cut short as Sammy ambushed him from behind followed by Ortiz and Santana.

The Inner Circle were beating down Josh 3-on-1, but the onslaught stopped as a certain theme played.

https://youtu.be/QtvUkPUyPHk

The crowd and the Inner Circle were shocked to hear the familiar TNA theme of the Samoan Submission Machine, Samoa Joe. Joe came out from the back with a look on his face, meaning he is ready for a fight.

Joe rushed down to the ring and laid waste to the Inner Circle members with clotheslines and rapid right hands.

Joe took down Santana with his signature snap scoopslam. Then he saw Sammy on the top turnbuckle, but as the Spanish God took to the air, Joe avoided by walking away.

Joe saw Ortiz running to him in the corner, but the Samoan Submission Machine retaliated with a uranage slam.

Joe: sit yo silly ass!

Josh got back into the fight as he sent Sammy over the top rope while shocked to see Joe aiding him, someone who was a big rival of Finn back in NXT, but was once partners in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Josh then took down Ortiz with the 25th Hour and then watched as Joe got Santana up on the top turnbuckle, and then nails him with the Muscle Buster.

Then Josh and Joe stared each other down, and after nearly a minute of silence, Joe held his right hand out, calling for an alliance. Josh knew that Finn will be out for a long time, and with his hands full of the AEW Tag Title shot, the Intercontinental title and Sammy, he needs major backup. Josh nodded and accepted Joe's handshake, and the crowd saw a new alliance formed to combat the Dark Circle.

The show ended with Josh and Joe calling out the retreating Inner Circle members, warning them that the AEW Tag Team Championships will be theirs.