Book A Title Change

[Mozenrath]

Simple concept, feel free to do spinoffs in other sections if you want, but this is for AEW-specific title changes. Give as much or as little detail/justification if you want, have fun with it.

MJF's World Title Loss

MJF, hot off of some defense or other, is cocky. Pulling his usual bullshit, he asks Khan (offscreen) to set up a battle royal for what he deems a "championship opportunity" in the clumsy WWE way of avoiding saying "title shot". Someone popular, like Wardlow, wins, but MJF says that the winner of the match can choose MJF's opponent, but they cannot choose themselves, probably to deliberate cause chaos for whoever now has to choose.

The face says, okay, smartass, you get Miro.

MJF's not pleased with this, but we've seen heel champs like him sweat before. This is for a non-PPV but one of the big shows, like Fyter Fest or Fight for the Fallen, and MJF talks tons of shit about Miro, like in a roundabout way referencing Miro's final WWE storyline to mock him and allude to his wife being unfaithful. For his part, Miro gives his Redeemer promos, but doesn't rise to the bait, at least yet.

Night of the show, we're all expecting a Dusty finish. MJF unties the turnbuckle pad, like what happened when Miro lost the TNT title, and when the ref goes to fix it, MJF hits Miro with the ring, not once, but twice, sending him out of the ring and Miro blades. MJF batters the bloodied Miro on the outside of the ring, hitting him into the barricades, against the turnbuckle, whatever he can get away with. He gets Miro onto the apron facing the hard cam, gets into the ring, and tries to pull Miro in for the Heatseaker Piledriver.

Miro's hands clutch the ropes and MJF falls flat on his ass looking at a bloodied, but very angry Miro. MJF scurries, and Miro comes in, battering him. At one point, MJF tries to slip out and get a chair into the ring, but Miro steps on the chair as it's being slid in and kicks it right back out. MJF uses this to get in and try to roll up Miro, who rolls right through and Matchka kicks him. Picks up, slams him, then it's a camel clutch, with MJF finally having to tap, dead to rights in the middle of the ring.

Miro has the title belt, and CJ Perry (Lana) comes to the ring in a white outfit. Miro kneels and presents the title to her, and she gets him to stand so they can embrace and he can intentionally get blood all over the outfit for the visual it'd bring. She turns her attention to MJF and steps on his hand with her heel or otherwise gets a bit of payback for the shit he'd been spewing.

MJF loses, and rather than a big PPV, it's what should have been a "filler" title match for him in his estimation. Miro can now "come home".

[clifford]

Cool concept; here's one that's been rattling around my head a few weeks;

Hook's FTW Odyssey

Hook has held the FTW title for over 200 days now, and yet, outside of a few open challenge quick matches, hasn't really defended it. Now, Brian Cage and Ricky Starks didn't defend the title too much either, but still, Hook's reign has been hampered with him being an undefeated prodigy so you are kind of limited with the defenses he can make (see also Cargill, Jade).

So, let's have Hook finish off his little programme with the Firm (are they even called that anymore?) and Stokely. Hook announces, in a way that only he can, that he feels he is ready to make his PPV main card debut after a year plus of being on the Buy In/Zero hour. He issues an FTW title Open Challenge for Revolution. There's a bit of buzz to who the challenger might be and AEW do a nice job of leaking a few fake rumors of potential free agent debuts (Ibushi, Jay White etc.)

Revolution rolls around and Hook makes his entrance and his opponent turns out to be...Powerhouse Will Hobbs, complete with his Book of Hobbs and all. The match...is a massacre. Hobbs, through his past affiliation with Team Taz, knows everything Hook is about to do- in fact, it comes out after the match that it was Hobbs who had taken Hook under his wing in the lead up to Hook's professional debut. We're talking Brock/Cena at Summerslam 2014 levels of a one sided beating. Hobbs has an answer for everything Hook tries to throw at him, and in a huge shock he takes the title and Hook's undefeated record in about 5 minutes.

The FTW title has now been held by each member of Team Taz, and Hobb's win echoes Hook's own win when he surprised Ricky Starks in summer 2022 to take the title. Hobbs goes on a path of destruction for the next few months, massacring and beating any and all comers, while Hook, his previous unflappable nature now rocked a bit after his first loss, has to build himself up a bit and regain not just his confidence, but a new gameplan.

This all culminates in a rematch for the title at Double or Nothing. The big question leading up to the match is what has Hook done to give himself a chance against the man who brutalized him only months earlier, who not only took his title but appeared to take his very soul as well. As Hook walks out for his match, he pauses on the entrance ramp. Taz at the commentary desk stands up, and to a huge pop, accompanies Hook down to the ring for the title match. This match is completely different to the previous one, Hook incorporating new offense and a smarter moveset to offset Hobbs' raw power and aggression. With his father cheering him on at ringside, Hook is able to defeat Hobbs, win back the FTW title and in the process becoming only the second man to hold the title multiple times; the other being Taz.

Taz and Hook celebrate in the ring and Hobbs leaves up the entrance ramp; a snarl on his face but the faintest nod of respect to the man he knew he just made into a better wrestler.

Hook's second reign at FTW champ proves to be a lot more notable and eventful, the climax of which is a championship unification bout with the TNT champion Ricky Starks, bringing the FTW and Team Taz storylines full circle.

[Mozenrath]

Lance Archer should win the All-Atlantic title sometime. That's not really an elaborate thing, just, he's kind of a perfect dude for it, and as much as I'd like him to win a world title (AEW or ROH), I'd still just like him to win a title, period. Probably lost it to Takeshita, too, which is totally fine.

Now for a bit more of an elaborate one.

The Downfall of Jade

A few more successful defenses for Jade, and then, much like the Miro win, it'd probably be seen as a foregone conclusion when she faces Emi Sakura. However, Emi's been wrestling for almost 30 years now. Jade, for her strength and youth, is as green as her namesake by comparison. Jade makes mistakes against Emi, and ends up in a pinning combination she has no answer for, ending the streak.

[chrom]

Serpentico vs Samoa Joe. Joe spends 10 minutes murdering and brutalizing him, including pulling him up during pinfalls until finally at the end he lies down and drags Serpentico's limp carcass on top of him for the cover.

[mystermystery]

RECRUITMENT DRIVE

The Dark Order used to be a group that would take those who had fallen into concern for their careers and help them move past their slump and find the connection of a team to build their own self confidence on the way to becoming the better, more successful them, not only in the ring but in the world. However, the team has crumbled from within. Ten not only betrayed the more active members but mocked the young leader Negative One, leaving the young man in sorrow. Worse yet, he never faced retribution for his actions.

As for the others, Colt Cabana seemingly disappeared, returning briefly without much use or interaction with the team. Anna Jay abandoned the collective to chase the clout of being in a Jericho stable, leaving them to essentially be recruited by the woman she was attempting to bring into the Dark Order. Stu Grayson left into the wilderness to face what he may find alone like an old Judge from the Sylvester Stallone adaptation of JUDGE DREDD. The less said about Five, the better.

The Dark Order stands at this time to be Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver. Evil Uno left alone with no minions that he can seemingly call upon. Reynolds and Silver, the initial recruits from the early days of AEW. Their attempts to rebuild have floundered. Why would anyone join a group that cannot turn itself around? Outside of mild success on Dark or Elevation, the remaining trio have failed to find any success. No success...no recruitment.

Rejection.
Rejection.
Rejection.

No one wants to join the Dark Order. They'd rather be apart of The Firm. They'd rather find out if Swerve needs any more help. There are even a few who'd love to hit the bars with The Wingmen.

So a plan must be struck. To achieve it, you must believe it. Uno declares on Dynamite that he will personally see that within the year every member of the Dark Order will wear gold, including those who haven't even joined yet. It is announced that Uno contacted Wheeler Yuta and the young man has agreed to defend his ROH Pure title on Rampage against Alex Reynolds.

During Rampage, Uno has a segment talking with Skye Blue. She asks him how he can be so sure that his stable will win so many titles. As he gears up the sales pitch about the belief in team, the recognition that set-backs only last as long as you let them, and the realization that only those who step forward can climb, Madison Rayne steps in and pulls away Blue like a protective friend. Uno wishes them well.

Reynolds loses to Yuta and Uno enters the ring for a tense moment. Finally Uno hugs Reynolds and then shakes hands with Yuta, insisting that Silver also do so. When backstage, Uno is asked if he is disappointed and he gives the general gist of Rome is not built in a day let alone rebuilt in one after being burned. He apologizes to Reynolds for springing the match on him with such short notice...and then hands him a mask. Reynolds is resistant, but he's regressed. He's lost his right to be seen. He must rebuild himself. Silver seems upset with it as Reynolds masks up and is surprised when Uno informs him that he'll be in a match on Dynamite against Preston Vance.

On Dynamite, Uno meets up with Skye Blue and continues to court her to the group, explaining how Madison Rayne may have experience but she doesn't have real success in AEW. "She's not in another company. She's here and she's not even on your level. Let alone above it." This time, Blue doesn't leave when Madison shows up to escort her, choosing to go listen to Uno.

Silver loses to Preston Vance who then proceeds to attack Reynolds and rip his mask off. Preston takes the torn mask and shoves it in Silver's mouth.

In the back, Sky Blue stands in the background watching while Uno presents Silver and Reynolds with new, matching masks. He informs them they will have to learn to work together before separating to singles matches again. They don't question him. When they leave, Skye asks if Uno's plan was to make them tag champions. He compliments her intelligence. She asks if she would have to wear a mask and he assures her that he would never cover her smile.

Silver and Reynolds win a tag match on Rampage. In a backstage segment, Skye Blue is now wearing a darker color of Blue. Madison makes a plea to her not to fall for Uno's hype and that he is trying to use her instead of help her. Uno asks a simple question, "Is she better than you?" and when Madison waffles on it, Skye attacks her.

Dynamite, Skye Blue beats Madison Rayne. Uno trips Rayne at one point to set up Blue's finisher. She's excited to beat her mentor and stands with the Dark Order, giving the hand symbol and officially joining.

Skye picks up another win on Rampage, this time over Leyla Grey. Uno uses this moment to challenge Jade Cargill. Blue seems unsure but he reminds her she must step forward. Cargill appears and mocks the group, criticizes Leyla, and accepts the challenge. She tells Blue to prepare for [Upcoming Special Named Show] so there are no excuses when Jade adds another win to her total.

At [Special Named Show], some other wrestlers are seen listening to Uno talk but he excuses himself so he can be there to guide Skye Blue during her title match.

Blue enters with all three Dark Order members while Jade only has Leyla Grey.

Blue is being dominated by Jade who does her typical squash routine, but when Cargill goes to do some "This is too easy" push-ups, Skye rolls out of the ring. Jade goes to get her and even takes the time to deliver a boot to Reynolds. Uno trips her like he did Rayne, but Jade kicks out of Blue's finish and protests to have the Dark Order thrown out. A desperate Skye Blue does a roll-up and hooks the tights, but Jade gets out. Blue realizes what she's done but goes back to the attack.

Later, Silver distracts the ref while Uno gives Blue a pep talk...and a pair of brass knuckles. "Step forward." Blue pops Jade with the knucks and throws them back to Uno as Silver is ejected from the match. Jade kicks out at 2.

Uno tries to interfere again, but the ref has had enough and ejects the last two members of the group. As this is happening, Leyla Grey hops to the apron and grabs Blue, holding her so Jade can get a free shot. Cargill goes for a pump kick only for Leyla to pull Blue out of the way. Jade's leg is over the top rope and Leyla grabs it, holding her in place as Blue delivers a chopblock to the other leg.

With both knees hurt, Skye Blue puts Jade Cargill in a new submission hold, focused on the legs and after an attempt to power herself to the ropes, a miserable Jade Cargill taps. An absolute humiliation to end her reign and streak.

Leyla and Blue then double team Cargill and kick her out of the ring. Uno and the others return and Skye holds her hand out. Uno removes a mask from his pocket and she takes and puts it on Leyla Grey, her first convert and minion.

The Dark Order is back to its darker roots with a shade of blue to match the color of the TBS title that Skye holds high, the first of Uno's many promised reigns...

And that's all I got.