Beach Break (2021)

{{Infobox professional wrestling event

| name = AEW Beach Break

| image = Beach Break 2021.jpg

| caption = Promotional poster featuring various AEW Wrestlers

| date = February 3, 2021

| attendance = 700{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/notes-on-attendance-temperature-for-aew-beach-break/|title=Notes On Attendance, Temperature For AEW Beach Break|work=411 Mania|first=Joseph|last=Lee|date=February 5, 2021|access-date=February 10, 2021}}{{efn|The capacity at the venue was capped at 25–30% due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Attendees were seated in pods with physical distancing in place.}}

| tagline =

| event = Beach Break

| lastevent2 = First

| nextevent2 = 2022

| event2 = AEW Dynamite special episodes

| lastevent3 = New Year's Smash

| nextevent3 = St. Patrick's Day Slam

}}

The 2021 Beach Break was the inaugural Beach Break professional wrestling television special produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The event took place on February 3, 2021, at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida. It was broadcast on TNT as a special episode of AEW's weekly television program, Dynamite. It replaced Bash at the Beach as the promotion's annual midwinter beach-themed event.

In the main event, Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) defeated Jon Moxley and Death Triangle (Pac and Rey Fénix).

Production

class=wikitable style="font-size:90%; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; float: right; clear: right;"

|+ Other on-screen personnel

!Role

!Name

rowspan=4|Commentators

|Jim Ross

Excalibur

Tony Schiavone

Don Callis (Main event)

rowspan=5|Referees

Mike Posey

Paul Turner

Rick Knox

Interviewer

|Alex Marvez

Wedding officiant

|James Mitchell

=Background=

On March 18, 2019, Cody Rhodes, who became a wrestler and an executive vice president of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), filed to trademark several World Championship Wrestling (WCW) event names that WWE (the owner of WCW's intellectual property) had let expire for AEW, including Bash at the Beach,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/cody-rhodes-files-trademarks-bash-beach-battlebowl-and-bunkhouse-stampede|title=Cody Rhodes Files For Trademarks On "Bash At The Beach," "Battlebowl," And "Bunkhouse Stampede" {{!}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}{{cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/aew-bash-at-the-beach-trademark/|title=AEW VPs Teasing "Bash At The Beach" Revival After Trademark Filing|first=Norm|last=Quarrinton|publisher=Pro Wrestling Sheet|website=prowrestlingsheet.com|date=March 20, 2019|accessdate=November 18, 2019}} on the basis that Dusty Rhodes, his father, created them.{{Cite web|url=https://superluchas.com/bash-at-the-beach-la-gran-extravangancia-de-aew/|title=Bash at the Beach: la gran extravagancia de AEW|last=Five|first=Self High|website=Superluchas {{!}} Noticias y resultados en vivo WWE, RAW, Lucha Libre, UFC, Box|language=es|access-date=2019-11-19}} Accordingly, AEW held two Bash at the Beach events in 2020. In November of that year, a settlement was reached between Cody and WWE in which Cody gained the "Cody Rhodes" trademark, which WWE had held onto after his run in that company, in exchange for WWE gaining the WCW event name trademarks that Cody had claimed, including Bash at the Beach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1209293-wwe-secures-wcw-trademarks-sought-out-cody-rhodes|title=WWE Secures Several WCW Trademarks Previously Sought Out By Cody Rhodes|website=WrestleZone|date=November 7, 2020|accessdate=January 4, 2022|last=Santa Maria|first=Alex}}

Two weeks after the trademark settlement was announced, Beach Break was announced to replace Bash at the Beach as the promotion's beach-themed event. It was scheduled to be held as a special episode of Dynamite in January 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-likes-big-four-aew-s-pay-view-schedule-announces-beach-break-special-january|title=Tony Khan Likes AEW's 'Big Four' Pay-Per-View Schedule, Announces 'Beach Break' Special For January|work=Fightful|first=Robert|last=DeFelice|date=November 8, 2020|access-date=November 19, 2020}} However, the event was later rescheduled to February 3. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-results/aew-dynamite-live-results-holiday-bash-328371|title=AEW Dynamite live results: Holiday Bash|work=Figure Four Online|first=Parker|last=Klyn|date=December 23, 2020|access-date=December 24, 2020}}

=Storylines=

Beach Break featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|date=January 13, 2006|access-date=February 8, 2019|work=HowStuffWorks, Inc.|publisher=Discovery Communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|archive-date=November 29, 2013|url-status=live}} Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television program, Dynamite, the supplementary online streaming show, Dark, and The Young Bucks' YouTube series Being The Elite.

At Winter Is Coming on December 2, 2020, Kenny Omega defeated Jon Moxley to win the AEW World Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/12/02/12-02-aew-dynamite-results-barnetts-live-review-of-jon-moxley-vs-kenny-omega-for-the-aew-world-championship-dynamite-diamond-battle-royal-chris-jericho-vs-frankie-kazarian-darby-allin-and/|title=12/02 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship, Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal, Chris Jericho vs. Frankie Kazarian, Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes vs. Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks, Britt Baker vs. Leyla Hirsch|work=Prowrestling.net|first=Jake|last=Barnett|date=December 2, 2020|access-date=December 2, 2020}} Moxley returned at New Year's Smash Night 1 on January 6, 2021 to confront Omega, but he was attacked by Omega and The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson).{{cite web|url=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-results-for-january-6-2021|title=AEW Dynamite Results for January 6, 2021|publisher=All Elite Wrestling|author=AEW Staff|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2021}} On the January 20 episode of Dynamite, a six-man tag team match between Omega, Gallows, and Anderson against Moxley, Pac, and Rey Fénix was announced for Beach Break.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/six-man-tag-match-headline-aew-beach-break-330786|title=Six-man tag team match to headline AEW Beach Break|work=F4WOnline|first=Bryan|last=Rose|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2021}}

On the December 23 episode of Dynamite, Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford announced that they would be getting married at Beach Break. The best man Miro and his butler Charles Taylor were also announced to appear at the wedding.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/986393/kip-sabian-penelope-ford-aew-beach-break-wedding|title=Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford on Their AEW 'Beach Break' Wedding|work=TV Insider|first=Scott|last=Fishman|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

On January 8, it was announced that a match between Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and Thunder Rosa that was scheduled to be taped the previous day for the January 13 episode of Dynamite was cancelled due to Rosa coming into contact with a COVID-19-positive person.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/report-britt-baker-vs-thunder-rosa-113-aew-dynamite-due-rosa-being-exposed-covid|title=Report: Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa Off 1/13 AEW Dynamite Due To Rosa Being Exposed To COVID|work=Fightful|first=Robert|last=DeFelice|date=January 8, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021}} On January 13, the match was rescheduled for Beach Break.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/thunder-rosa-vs-britt-baker-announced-aew-beach-break-330121|title=Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker announced for AEW Beach Break|work=F4WOnline|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|first=Bryan|last=Rose|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=January 14, 2021}}

On the January 20 episode of Dynamite, a tag team battle royal was announced for Beach Break, with the winners receiving an AEW World Tag Team Championship match at the Revolution pay-per-view on February 27.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/good-brothers-shaqcody-confrontation-set-127-aew-dynamite-new-matches-set-beach-break|title=Good Brothers, Cody Responding To Shaq Set For 1/27 AEW Dynamite, New Matches Set For Beach Break|work=Fightful|first=Robert|last=DeFelice|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2021}} Top Flight (Darius Martin and Daunte Martin), The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster), Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen), Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus), vs. The Inner Circle (Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara), (Santana and Ortiz), and (Chris Jericho and MJF), The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver) and (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson), and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) were announced as participants. AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) announced that they would also be participating in the battle royal and should they win, they would choose their Revolution opponents.{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/01/27/1-27-aew-dynamite-results-powells-live-review-of-the-young-bucks-and-good-brothers-vs-evil-uno-stu-grayson-alex-reynolds-and-john-silver-jungle-boy-vs-dax-harwood-lance-archer-vs/|title=1/27 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of The Young Bucks and Good Brothers vs. Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver, Jungle Boy vs. Dax Harwood, Lance Archer vs. Eddie Kingston, Chris Jericho and MJF vs. Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison|date=January 27, 2021|last=Powell|first=Jason|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=January 28, 2021}} FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) were originally set to take part in the battle royal, but they were removed from the match and suspended for a week by AEW after they attacked Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) following Harwood's defeat to Jungle Boy during the January 27 episode of Dynamite. They were replaced by Alex Reynolds and John Silver of The Dark Order.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ftr-suspended-aew-dark-order-added-tag-team-battle-royal-aew-beach-break|title=FTR 'Suspended' By AEW, Dark Order Added To Tag Team Battle Royale At AEW Beach Break|work=Fightful|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|date=February 2, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

Reception

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave Baker–Rosa 3.75 stars and the six-man tag team match 4.5 stars on his 5 star rating system.{{cite web|url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-8-2021-observer-newsletter-wwe-breaks-financial-records|title=February 8, 2021 Observer Newsletter: WWE breaks revenue records, AEW/NJPW deal|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|author=Observer Staff|date=February 5, 2021|access-date=February 6, 2021|url-access=subscription}}

=Television ratings=

Beach Break averaged 844,000 television viewers on TNT and a and a 0.32 rating in AEW's key demographic.{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-wednesday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-3-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204211136/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-wednesday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-3-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2021|title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.3.2021|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|publisher=Showbuzz Daily|website=showbuzzdaily.com|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 4, 2021}}

Aftermath

After the main event, Kenta of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) made his AEW debut and hit Jon Moxley with his finishing strike, the Go 2 Sleep.{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/02/03/2-3-aew-dynamite-results-powells-live-review-of-jon-moxley-pac-and-rey-fenix-vs-kenny-omega-doc-gallows-and-karl-anderson-battle-royal-for-a-shot-at-the-aew-tag-titles-lance-archer-vs-eddie/|title=2/3 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley, Pac, and Rey Fenix vs. Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson, Battle Royal for a shot at the AEW Tag Titles, Lance Archer vs. Eddie Kingston in a Lumberjack Match, Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford wedding|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|first=Jason|last=Powell|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}} It was previously announced that Moxley will defend the IWGP United States Championship against Kenta on the February 26 episode of NJPW Strong, titled The New Beginning USA.{{cite news |last1=Guzzo |first1=Gisberto |title=Jon Moxley To Defend IWGP United States Championship Vs KENTA At NJPW New Beginning USA |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/iwgp-united-states-title-match-set-njpw-new-beginning-usa-2021 |access-date=January 31, 2021 |work=Fightful |date=January 30, 2021 |language=en}} It was subsequently announced that Kenta would team with Kenny Omega against Moxley and Lance Archer in a Falls Count Anywhere match on the February 10 episode of Dynamite.{{cite tweet|user=AEW|number=1357388455177723904|title=After last night's classic main event + the shocking ending, @kennyomegamanx issued the challenge & @AEW GM @tonykhanhas made the match for next week's #AEWDynamite Wednesday Feb 10, Falls Count Anywhere, World Champion Kenny Omega & KENTA v. @JonMoxley & Lance Archer! @AEWonTNT|author=All Elite Wrestling|authorlink=All Elite Wrestling|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 4, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/90449|title=KENTA to face Jon Moxley in tag action on AEW Dynamite 【NJoA】|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|date=February 5, 2021|access-date=February 5, 2021}}

It was also announced that Darby Allin would defend the AEW TNT Championship against Joey Janela, The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho and MJF) would take on The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster), and the Nightmare Family (Cody Rhodes and Lee Johnson) would be pitted against Peter Avalon and Cezar Bononi for the February 10 episode of Dynamite.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/tnt-champion-darby-allin-vs-joey-janela-set-next-aew-dynamite-332206|title=TNT Champion Darby Allin vs. Joey Janela set for next AEW Dynamite|work=Figure Four Online|first=Josh|last=Nason|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

All sixteen participants were announced for the AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament which emanated from the United States and Japan.{{cite tweet|user=AEW|number=1357145770118569984|title=This February the #AEW Women's World Championship eliminator tournament begins! Here are your participants in this competition.|author=All Elite Wrestling|authorlink=All Elite Wrestling|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

On the March 3 episode of Dynamite titled The Crossroads, Shaquille O'Neal and Jade Cargill defeated Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/02/03/shaq-will-wrestle-in-mixed-tag-match-on-aew-dynamite/|title=Shaq will wrestle in mixed tag match on 'AEW Dynamite'|work=New York Post|first=Joseph|last=Staszewski|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

A second Beach Break was held the following year in late January, thus establishing Beach Break as AEW's annual midwinter beach-themed event. Additionally, the second event was expanded to a two-part event, with the second part airing as a special episode of Rampage.{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Pritchard|title=Tony Khan Confirms AEW Beach Break 2022 Will Take Place In Cleveland|url=https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1273754-tony-khan-confirms-aew-beach-break-2022-will-take-place-in-cleveland|work=Mandatory|date=January 5, 2022|accessdate=January 10, 2022}}

Results

{{Professional wrestling results table

|times = {{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/02/03/2-3-aew-dynamite-results-powells-live-review-of-jon-moxley-pac-and-rey-fenix-vs-kenny-omega-doc-gallows-and-karl-anderson-battle-royal-for-a-shot-at-the-aew-tag-titles-lance-archer-vs-eddie/|title=2/3 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley, Pac, and Rey Fenix vs. Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson, Battle Royal for a shot at the AEW Tag Titles, Lance Archer vs. Eddie Kingston in a Lumberjack Match, Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford wedding|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|first=Jason|last=Powell|date=February 3, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

|match1 = Chris JerichoJericho's partner in the battle royal was MJF, thus they will challenge for the titles. won by last eliminating Darius MartinOther competitors by order of elimination: Dante Martin, Alex Reynolds, Jake Hager, Matt Jackson, Anthony Bowens, Stu Grayson, Luchasaurus, Evil Uno, Marq Quen, John Silver, Ortiz, Santana, Isiah Kassidy, Nick Jackson, Jungle Boy, MJF, Max Caster, and Sammy Guevara

|stip1 = Tag team battle royal for an AEW World Tag Team Championship match at Revolution
{{small|Had The Young Bucks (c) won, they would have chosen their opponents for Revolution.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/young-bucks-set-aew-beach-break-tag-team-battle-royal-331456|title=Young Bucks set for AEW Beach Break tag team battle royal|work=Figure Four Online|first=Bryan|last=Rose|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2021}}

|time1 = 12:00

|match2 = Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (with Rebel) defeated Thunder Rosa by knockout

|stip2 = Singles match

|time2 = 13:15

|match3 = Adam Page and Matt Hardy defeated Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico)

|stip3 = Tag team match{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/hangman-page-matt-hardy-teaming-aew-beach-break-332106|title=Hangman Page & Matt Hardy teaming up at AEW Beach Break|work=Figure Four Online|first=Josh|last=Nason|date=February 2, 2021|access-date=February 2, 2021}}

|time3 = 3:55

|match4 = Lance Archer (with Jake Roberts) defeated Eddie Kingston (with The Butcher, The Blade, and The Bunny)

|stip4 = Lumberjack match{{cite tweet|user=AEW|number=1354913079524470784|title=After Kingston beat Archer last night utilizing outside interference, @AEW GM @TonyKhanwill even the odds for a rematch as Eddie Kingston will face Lance Archer in a Lumberjack match at #BeachBreak, next Wed, Feb 3rd on #AEWDynamite, tix are on sale now http://AEWTIX.com!|author=All Elite Wrestling|authorlink=All Elite Wrestling|date=January 28, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2021}}

|time4 = 7:00

|match5 = Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) (with Don Callis) defeated Jon Moxley and Death Triangle (Pac and Rey Fénix)

|stip5 = Six-man tag team match

|time5 = 15:25

}}