It was AEW Dynamite featuring Bryan Danielson against Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay taking on Ricochet, and more.
This episode took place at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The announcers were Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness filling in for Taz. They said that Taz was attacked at the hotel earlier in the day.
It was the five-year anniversary of AEW Dynamite. Earlier in the day, AEW also announced their new deal with Warner Bros Discovery to continue AEW programming on TBS and TNT in the US.
There was a promo from Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Marina Shafir. They said that this is still Wheeler Yuta’s home and they had plans for him. Moxley said that he’ll beat Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title and officially send daddy home referring to Bryan.
Before Will Ospreay’s match, his good friend Kyle Fletcher left with Don Callis while Konosuke Takeshita was smirking about it.
Match #1:Will Ospreay defeated Ricochet by disqualification to retain the AEW International Title. Ospreay hit a Hidden Blade and then covered Ricochet while both of their shoulders were pinned down to the mat, so referee Rick Knox counted them both down. It was announced as a draw. Will and Ricochet wanted the match to restart, so it was announced by Justin Roberts that the match would continue. They went a couple of more minutes leading to Ospreay hitting a Hidden Blade again. Konosuke Takeshita went into the ring and attacked Ospreay with punches for the DQ.
After the match was over, Takeshita hit a running knee on Ospreay. Takeshita also hit a Raging Fire spinning suplex on Ricochet. Takeshita brought Ospreay’s AEW International Title into the ring and Takeshita held the title over Ospreay’s fallen body. The fans chanted “a**hole” at Takeshita.
Mercedes Mone, the TBS & NJPW Strong Champion, was backstage with Kamille for an interview with Renee Paquette. Mone cued up a video showing highlights of herself. Mone said that money changes everything. MVP walked up to her saying yes it does and handed Mone his card while suggesting that perhaps they should talk.
The Gunns – Austin & Colten Gunn were being interviewed when “Hangman” Adam Page attacked them with a steel chair. That’s because Hangman was against their buddy Juice Robinson later in the show.
Chris Jericho was in the ring doing his talk show segment with Big Bill and Bryan Keith. Jericho bragged about beating ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe in a tag team match on Collision last week. Jericho challenged Mark Briscoe for the ROH World Title at WrestleDream since Jericho pinned Mark in a tag team match last week. Mark Briscoe praised Chris Jericho as one of the most influential and finest pro wrestlers on the planet. Briscoe said that Jericho does deserve the ROH World Championship match and Briscoe said he wants to put that notch in his belt. Jericho told Mark he couldn’t beat him and said maybe his brother Jay could have beat Jericho. The fans booed. Jericho said that everybody knows Mark will never be as good as Jay was. Mark punched Jericho in the jaw to knock him down. Mark said he accepted the challenge from Jericho for a match at WrestleDream for the ROH World Title. Jericho left the ring at that point.
Darby Allin was featured in a video saying he wasn’t going to lie down and do nothing when Jon Moxley called him out. Allin said he would rather get stabbed. Allin said it was supposed to be him and Bryan at WrestleDream. Allin said he’s starting to lose faith in himself, but what else can he do except fight? Allin said he’ll be there at WrestleDream, so he’s putting out an open challenge and wanted somebody to step up because he has nothing left to lose.
Match #2: “Hangman” Adam Page defeated Juice Robinson by pinfall. They fought in the crowd for about five minutes before getting into the ring to start the match. Page hit a low blow that the referee didn’t see and then Page hit a Buckshot Lariat to win.
After the match, Page took his leather belt off and choked Juice with the belt. Page hung Juice upside down by the ropes. Jay White made his return, so he went into the ring and beat up Page with punches. Page tried to leave, White went after him and they fought where Page put a table earlier. White eye gouged Page. Jay picked up Page and tackled Page through the table, which broke. The well-tanned White checked on his pal Juice, who said “he’s back” and they went to the back as allies in the Bang Bang Gang group.
Jack Perry, the TNT Champion, was shown arriving in his Scapegoat truck. Katsuyori Shibata went up to Perry with a phone translator in his hand. Shibata challenged Perry to a TNT Title match at WrestleDream. Perry said he’ll think about it. Perry left and then he nailed Shibata with a forearm. Perry sent Shibata into the truck. Perry told Shibata he accepted.
Bryan Danielson, the AEW World Champion, said “f**k Jon Moxley” to start his promo. Bryan said that this isn’t about Moxley because this is AEW’s World Championship. Bryan said that this is where the best wrestle. Bryan said that he challenged Kazuchika Okada because this is where the best wrestle. Bryan said that he and Okada are 1-1 in their rivalry, so we’ll see who the better man is. Bryan said that Okada’s title is only on the line for 20 minutes, but Bryan’s World Title and career are on the line, which is what he likes. Bryan said AEW, this is for you.
Match #3:Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. defeated Serena Deeb by submission. Baker won with her Lockjaw submission. After the match, Deeb attacked Baker, so Queen Aminata made the save. Deeb left the ring at that point.
Hook was interviewed by Renee Paquette about his dad Taz getting attacked. Hook was angry while saying if you start s**t with his family, he’ll finish it.
Christian Cage did a quick promo about how he’s the future AEW World Champion since he had the contract to earn a title shot.
Mariah May, the AEW World Champion, was interviewed backstage and was interrupted by Willow Nightingale. They argued until it was broken up with Christopher Daniels telling Willow to stop.
Match #4: Private Party – Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen defeated Iron Savages – Bronson & Boulder (w/Jacked Jameson) by pinfall. Private Party won a short match with Gin & Juice.
Post match, Isiah Kassidy said that to start the year they said that they would be the AEW Tag Team Champions. Kassidy said he didn’t care about his injuries or Marq Quen coming back from a torn pec injury because he meant what they said about how they would be the AEW Tag Team Champions. Kassidy told the Yong Bucks to come out there right now. The Bucks teased the match right now, but then Matt said no. Jack Perry ran into the ring to beat up Private Party with help from the Young Bucks. Katsuyori Shibata ran into the ring, so Perry left with the Young Bucks. Christopher Daniels, the interim AEW EVP, appeared on the stage saying he had an idea. Daniels booked a match for Rampage: Private Party & Shibata vs. Perry & Young Bucks.
MVP was interviewed by Renee Paquette, but the interview was interrupted by Prince Nana. It led to Nana saying he used to be a wrestler, so he wanted to fight MVP. That led to MVP introducing the man in charge of his complaint department…Shelton Benjamin. Shelton drank some of Nana’s coffee, said it was good and left. Benjamin left with MVP.
There was a brief video about the late, great Brodie Lee.
Match #5: AEW World Championship and AEW Continental Championship: Bryan Danielson defeated Kazuchika Okada to retain the AEW World Title. The unique rules were that Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Continental Title was on the line for 20 minutes because that’s the time limit for that title. It went longer than 20 minutes. Claudio Castagnoli appeared in the crowd in a white shirt while Pac was also there in his wrestling gear. Okada went for a clothesline again, but Bryan avoided it and Bryan did a backslide pin to hold Okada down for a three count. The match lasted 32 minutes.
After the match, Okada decked Danielson with a Rainmaker clothesline. Okada did a middle finger salute at Claudio and Pac. Okada left. Claudio Castagnoli and Pac went into the ring to hold Danielson on his knees. Jon Moxley arrived with Marina Shafir.
Jon Moxley said that none of this is about him. Moxley said he’s fighting for something much bigger than himself. Moxley said nobody else can do this. Moxley claimed if this was about him then he would have put Danielson out of his misery weeks ago. Wheeler Yuta showed up with a hammer in his right hand, so Yuta cleared the ring. Moxley went back into the ring to stare at Yuta. Bryan was back up with a running knee on Moxley. Yuta fought with Bryan, so they cleared the ring. Excalibur said he didn’t think that Claudio hit Yuta once.
Wheeler Yuta did a promo saying he was sick of Claudio and Pac treating him like a child. Yuta said he’s a man who can make decisions and fight his own fights. Yuta said next week on Title Tuesday, if they want to get to Danielson then they have to go through Yuta too. Danielson said next week it’s Danielson & Yuta against Claudio & Pac. Nigel ripped on Bryan for having a huge ego. The match graphic appeared instantaneously so that’s one of the matches for next week. Danielson hugged Yuta while Claudio & Pac looked on from the aisle. That was the end of Dynamite at 10:31 p.m. ET.
Next Week On AEW Dynamite
Here’s what AEW has advertised so far for Dynamite next Tuesday rather than Wednesday. It’s being called Title Tuesday.
* Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Pac
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.