Andrade El Idolo abandoned his apparent allegiance to MJF during AEW’s 12-man circular cage brawl at Forbidden Door, striking the champion and helping Mark Briscoe score the pin that earned a world title opportunity.
The circular steel cage debut set the stage for chaotic, high-risk spots and a dramatic storyline turn that altered the match’s finish and the promotion’s short-term title picture. Andrade’s action was the decisive beat that swung momentum and produced a memorable closing sequence.
Quick recap of the cage match
Twelve wrestlers competed inside AEW’s new circular cage in a match that was as much about survival as it was about seizing an opportunity. The stipulation made escape and ring positioning markedly different from a typical square cage, compressing the action and forcing rapid exchanges.
Teams were essentially divided between Mark Briscoe’s side and the MJF-led group. The structure — and the heavy use of weapons and high spots — kept the match moving toward a finish that would award the winner an AEW World Championship shot on the following Dynamite.
Andrade El Idolo turn and impact
Andrade El Idolo, who had been portrayed on-screen as aligned with MJF and the Don Callis Family, made his intentions unmistakable in the match’s final stretch. At a critical moment he peeled off a “Team DCMJF” shirt, revealing different gear beneath, then struck MJF with his signature backfist.
That backfist left the champion down and unable to cover a weakened opponent moments later. The strike immediately changed the outcome trajectory — rather than helping MJF’s team close out the match, Andrade’s action opened the door for Briscoe to capitalize.
From the commentary table and the crowd, the reaction was immediate. One announcer exclaimed, “He just turned on MJF!” — a succinct on-screen reaction that matched the shock in the arena and underscored the moment’s narrative weight.
Key spots and moments
- The circular steel cage changed how competitors moved and interacted, contributing to a nonstop flow of collisions and near-finishes.
- Thumbtacks were used in select sequences, increasing the match’s brutality and emphasizing the high-stakes environment.
- At one point, a Nintendo Entertainment System was introduced as an improvised weapon during a run of rapid finish attempts, a signature example of AEW’s mix of props and psychology.
- Kevin Knight was reportedly shocked while standing atop the circular cage and later went through tables after a fall, illustrating the match’s high-risk nature and the physical consequences of the structure.
- Andrade struck MJF, then briefly targeted Jake Doyle with additional offense, leaving Doyle vulnerable for the decisive pin.
- The sequence ending with Mark Briscoe hitting a Jay Driller to secure the pin was a compact, well-timed finish that relied on the earlier betrayal to create the opening.
Result and title shot for Briscoe
The match concluded when Mark Briscoe connected with a Jay Driller on Jake Doyle and scored the three-count, sealing a win for Briscoe’s side and handing the MJF-led team a stunning loss. The pinfall officially awarded Briscoe the victory in the 12-man circular cage match.
Briscoe’s team that night included Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Darby Allin and Konosuke Takeshita. They outlasted the opposing group featuring MJF, Andrade El Idolo, Jake Doyle, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher and Kazuchika Okada.
AEW announced on the show that Mark Briscoe will receive an AEW World Championship match on the next Dynamite, setting up a title encounter now framed by Andrade’s controversial intervention.
Why this matters for AEW storylines
The turn introduces immediate complications for the Don Callis Family-MJF dynamic. Andrade’s betrayal weakens MJF’s presented power structure and gives AEW multiple directions to explore in promos, backstage segments and future matches.
For MJF, being struck by an apparent ally undermines either his booking aura or his ability to control his stablemates, depending on how AEW chooses to frame the fallout. The promotion can use the moment to deepen an internal conflict or to pivot Andrade toward a new singles arc.
For Briscoe, the win is significant beyond the title shot itself: it attaches his championship opportunity to a high-profile moment and a major turn, which helps the company sell the upcoming match and elevate Briscoe in storyline terms heading into a championship broadcast.
What comes next
AEW is likely to follow up quickly. Expect television to feature angles clarifying Andrade’s motives, MJF’s response and how the Don Callis Family addresses the betrayal. Promos between the principal players, backstage confrontations and match announcements are all probable in the coming days.
Wednesday’s Dynamite now carries more narrative weight. Briscoe’s title shot will be promoted not just as a championship opportunity but as the culmination of a cage match finish that included a major on-screen betrayal, giving AEW a clear storyline throughline into the pay-per-view build or any subsequent title defenses.
Source: Fox News
