It was AEW Dynamite featuring a Kazuchika Okada-Claudio Castagnoli AEW Continental Championship match, a Mercedes Mone-Britt Baker contract signing and more.
This episode took place at the Utilita Arena Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales. The announcers were Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone.
There was a contract signing between TBS Champion Mercedes Mone (with Kamille) and Britt Baker where they agreed to no physical contact. Tony Schiavone moderated it. Mone signed the contract followed by Baker. Mone said that the fans only like Baker because they think they are like her. Fans chanted “shut the f**k up” at Mone. That led to Mone said that Baker inspired her to be a wrestler. Mone said that she has been putting wrestling on the map so she’s all in. Mone was adamant that Baker won’t beat her. Baker said that Mone was one of four (horsewomen) while Baker was one of one. Baker called herself the baddest bi**h on the block. Baker told Mone she admired him and wanted to be like her. Baker reminded Mone that she was the first female in the company you’re sitting in right now. Baker said she’ll follow the rules that they agreed to saying that she won’t hit Mercedes, but this bitch is getting on her nerves, so Baker hit Kamille with the microphone to the head. Baker jumped on Kamille and Mone on the chair. Mone and Kamille bailed while Baker posed with the TBS Title.
The FTW Champion Chris Jericho was interviewed by Renee Paquette while Big Bill and Bryan Keith were standing by. Jericho wanted to make sure Hook was watching to see what Jericho would do to him at Wembley Stadium. Keith: “Big ass Wembley Stadium.” Thanks for that.
Match #1:Chris Jericho (w/Big Bill & Bryan Keith) defeated “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington by pinfall. After Tommy hit Jericho with a Tombstone piledriver, Tommy dove onto Keith on the floor and sent Bill into the barricade. Tommy jumped off the top, but Jericho stopped that with a Codebreaker, which led to the pinfall win.
Chris Jericho did a post match promo saying he hoped Hook was watching. Jericho said if Hook was there in Cardiff, England (said it wrong on purpose to get booed) then Jericho would rip him up branch by branch. Hook made his way down to the ring with a bandage over his left eye. Hook had a staredown with Jericho, so Bill hit Hook in the back to knock him down. Bill gave Hook a Chokeslam. Jericho’s group stood over a fallen Hook.
Match #2: “Timeless” Toni Storm defeated Saraya (w/Harley Cameron) to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship by pinfall. Cameron went on the apron, Storm kissed her and then Saraya accidentally knocked Cameron off the ropes to the floor because Storm avoided an attack from Saraya. Storm kissed Saraya and then Storm hit the Storm Zero piledriver for the pinfall win.
After the match, Toni Storm celebrated the win. While Storm was celebrating, Mariah May attacked Storm from behind with the dreaded high heel shoe to the head. May kissed Storm on the head. Nobody checked on Storm or tried to save her. May left with a smile on her face.
There was a lengthy “Face to Face” segment between AEW American Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) and Will Ospreay. Will told Cardiff to give MJF a warm welcome, which led to loud boos and angry chanting. MJF said that jam-packed arenas have chanted his name twice as loud as they have chanted Will’s name. MJF said that he didn’t have to a “flip merchant” to get the job done. MJF said all he had to do was this and it was his “kangaroo kick” pose. The fans chanted “shut the f**k up” at MJF, who said “no” to that. MJF said that he was called back early from injury because of the mess that Will created. Will spoke about AEW while saying that everybody was laughing at MJF as the World Champion. Will said that we were laughing at the double clothesline and all that, but it lasted too long. Will said that at All In last year they didn’t talk about this great match, they talked about two friends jerking off. Will said that he wasn’t even employed by AEW. Will said that Tony had 3,000 people employed back there and he called Will to be on the show. Will claimed that Tony told Will to not put on a good wrestling match since he can’t count on MJF to do it. Will spoke about how this is not only about restoring the International Championship, it’s about restoring the feeling and Will said he’s the feeling.
MJF said that the facts are that he is the youngest AEW World Champion of all time. MJF bragged about how he headlined and won the biggest show of all time. MJF said that when they talk about this generation of pro wrestling, he’s the Ace and Will be second place. MJF said that he hails from the only place that matters, the United States of America. MJF told Will he only has one move to defeat him – the Tiger Driver, but Will ain’t man enough to pull the trigger. MJF said that he’s the facts because facts don’t care about humans. Will spoke about how the wrestling books can be re-written, but what can’t be re-written is how people feel. Will said that MJF hasn’t inspired anybody to be a wrestler. Will told MJF to ask fans in Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, United States of America and they will say Will is the best wrestler in the world. Will said that he can’t lose in front of his family, his wife and his kid. Will said that they loved MJF until he ruined and then MJF said that they loved him until Will showed up and ruined it. That’s the reason why MJF hates him.
MJF spoke about how Will is a great husband, father and a great professional wrestler. MJF congratulated Will on being a successful pro wrestler. MJF talked about how before the show he got to spend some time with his wife and his so-called kid of yours. MJF spoke about how Will’s wife had the kid with another man, but Will stepped into the picture and raised that kid as his own. MJF said that he had a feeling after the conversation MJF had with his wife tonight, the next kid she has won’t be Will’s either. That led to MJF and Will going face-to-face with a staredown. Will asked Tony Schiavone to ask Tony Khan how much is that fine if Will hits MJF right now. Tony S. replied that it was 100,000 Pounds Sterling or $127,000 US. Will said it was worth it, so Will punched MJF a few times. Security went into the ring to try to break it up. Will beat up some of the security guys and then kicked MJF a few times. MJF put the Dynamite Diamond Ring on his hand and he punched Ospreay while using the diamond ring. MJF punched some security guys too. MJF beat up Ospreay with punches while Will was bleeding from the forehead. MJF hit a brainbuster and covered Will for one…two…and three. MJF shouted Tiger Driver, but security and Christopher Daniels showed up to stop the attack. MJF left with his American Title.
Renee Paquette was shown backstage saying “Hangman” Adam Page was ejected from the building because of something he did in the office. Page said that he did what he had to do because he’s in the Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW All In. Page spoke to Evil Uno, who was walking by and Uno said he was in the Casino Gauntlet Match. Page hit Uno with a chair to the back. Page said there is nothing more than he wants in this life to make his life hell. Page left angrily.
Match #3:Kazuchika Okada vs. Claudio Castagnoli ended in a 20-minute time limit draw so Okada keeps the AEW Continental Championship. The ring announcer Bobby Cruise announced there was one minute left when they were 19 minutes into the match. Claudio tried several moves to get the win, but he couldn’t do it, so it was a draw. The fans chanted “five more minutes” after the match.
The AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks and TNT Champion Jack Perry of The Elite made their entrance since they were in a tag team match. Nicholas Jackson said that was a phenomenal match. Matthew Jackson asked the fans if these two gentlemen should go five more minutes. Matt said that’s not going to happen tonight, which drew boos. Matt said that the contract said that his man Okada had to wrestle for 20 minutes, not 25. Matt claimed they were sticklers for the rules since they are EVPs. Matt told Claudio to remove himself from the ring because they have a match.
Match #4: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & Darby Allin defeated The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nick Jackson) & Jack Perry by pinfall. FTR hit a Power & Glory superplex/top rope splash combo on Matt Jackson followed by Allin hitting a Coffin Drop on Matt for the win.
After the match, The Acclaimed’s Max Caster & Anthony Bowens did a promo saying they were bringing the AEW Tag Team Titles home. They said that FTR and The Young Bucks can’t beat The Acclaimed because they will fight until The Acclaimed are the next Tag Team Champions.
Will Ospreay, who was bloody, was about to be interviewed by Renee Paquette. Bryan Danielson walked in and told Ospreay: “Do it! I mean it. Do it!” It is believed that Bryan was telling Ospreay to use the Tiger Driver 91 move on MJF. Ospreay didn’t say anything, but he had a serious look on his face.
The main event segment featured AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland in the ring getting interviewed by Nigel McGuinness, who said people have called Danielson “Brittle Bryan” and the “Neckbreak Kid” among other things. Nigel asked how Swerve felt about being an overwhelming favorite. Swerve said that he’s the most dangerous man in AEW. Swerve said it’s because of the pain he endures and inflicts. Swerve spoke about the people he has defeated: Hangman Page twice, Jay White, Konosuke Takeshita, Samoa Joe, Claudio Castagnoli, Christian Cage, and the man who put Bryan Danielson’s neck in jeopardy, Will Ospreay. Swerve said he’ll dissect Bryan from head to toe in that ring. Swerve said he’ll do it purposefully, menacingly, and scientifically. Swerve spoke about how he heard Bryan saying that he is ready for retirement and ready to become a family man. Swerve thinks that’s a slap in the face to him. Swerve said he’s going to be the one to take it from Bryan.
Bryan Danielson ran into the ring, ducked a Swerve attack and Bryan hit a Busaiko Knee to the face to knock Swerve out of the ring. Bryan said that maybe you were confused while Swerve was on the floor. Bryan said that he doesn’t come out here every week to talk about himself for 20 minutes. Bryan claimed he knew who he was. Bryan said that this is the truth, you know it and he knows it – “I’m the best f**king wrestler in the world!” The fans popped huge for that. Bryan: “And I have been for the last 20 years!” Bryan said that Swerve thinks he is going to retire him and cripple Bryan in front of his daughter. Bryan said this Sunday in Wembley Stadium in front of the fans for the past 25 years, his peers who he has traveled with for 25 years and in front of his family – his wife, son and daughter – Bryan said you will have to damn near kill him. Bryan said that he would leave his soul in this ring.
Bryan Danielson said there is only one question left: “Can Bryan Danielson, the American F**king Dragon, beat Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship?” That led to “YES” chants from the crowd. Bryan: “They know the answer and you know the answer.” Bryan led the crowd in “YES” chants. The announcers put over how Bryan seems like he has awoken now. Bryan posed on the ropes to cheers from the fans. That was the end of the show.
AEW All In Lineup
The next AEW pay-per-view is All In taking place at Wembley Stadium in London, England this Sunday on August 25th. Here’s the lineup so far.
* AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Bryan Danielson – If Danielson loses then he will retire.
* AEW American Championship: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (c) vs. Will Ospreay
* AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
* TNT Championship Coffin Match: Jack Perry (c) vs. Darby Allin
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) (c) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster)
* TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Britt Baker
* FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Hook
* Casino Gauntlet Match – Winner receives AEW World Title match.
* London Ladder Match for the AEW World Trios Championships: The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch, and Nick Wayne) (c) (with Mother Wayne) vs. Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) vs. ??? – Team to be determined on Collision.
* Willow Nightingale & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway (ZERO HOUR PRE-SHOW)
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.