Results
- Andrade El Idolo, Konosuke Takeshita & Mark Davis def. Bandido, Darby Allin & Jack Perry (11:38)
- Willow Nightingale def. Queen Aminata (TBS Championship) (11:06) (Recommended)
- Tommaso Ciampa def. Mascara Dorada (Winner enters 1st in Dynasty Casino Gauntlet) (11:02)
- Will Ospreay, HENARE, Callum Newman & Francesco Akira def. Jon Moxley, PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia (20:50)
United Empire, Death Riders deliver hectic start to show
This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, a go-home show before the Dynasty pay-per-view goes down this weekend, took place from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The show didn’t open with any of our announced segments, but instead a hectic brawl. It started when cameras caught Will Ospreay battling with Jon Moxley in the venue’s parking lot. Moxley’s Death Riders descended upon the scene to pick on Ospreay, but showing up for backup was Ospreay allies Alex Windsor and NJPW’s United Empire faction, including Callum Newman, who captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship just last weekend in Japan.
HENARE slammed Wheeler Yuta onto the hood of a car before the brawl made its way onto the stage inside Rogers Place, where Marina Shafir and Windsor were seen fighting. Those two are notably set to face off as part of the pre-show for Dynasty on Sunday. They went to ringside, where Windsor came off the apron and to the floor with a cannonball onto Shafir. In the ring, HENARE and Francesco Akira caused some Death Riders to retreat. PAC tried to take down the huge HENARE with a lariat but was unsuccessful. Newman got PAC out of the ring, then took him out with a dive.
HENARE and Claudio Castagnoli brawled, previewing a match I’d love to see someday. Newman broke up a submission from Moxley to Ospreay, scoring a Coup de Grace stomp to the chest off the top rope. Just as Ospreay was about to get his hands on Moxley, the Continental Champ rolled out of the ring and fled the scene along with the rest of his faction.
Ospreay got on the mic and called for a huge Death Riders vs. United Empire match for later tonight – looks like we have our main event. A fun surprise to see United Empire on AEW TV, especially since they’re such a hot topic currently. That match later on should be great.
Backstage, Don Callis said that Kyle Fletcher is injured. Tony Khan announced earlier today that Fletcher will be out for months, and that his vacant title will be determined in a Casino Gauntlet match at Dynasty.
Don Callis Family wins multi-man tag, huge scuffle erupts during post-match
The first match of the night saw the Don Callis Family trio of Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Davis and Andrade El Idolo face a babyface team in Bandido, Darby Allin and Jack Perry. This served as a preview for Allin vs. Andrade, which we’ll see this weekend.
Right after the match started, Andrade tried to get a rise out of Allin by leaving the ring and walking up the venue’s ramp. An enraged Allin told Andrade to return, getting on the mic and calling him “Don Callis’ b****.” Andrade returned, but this distraction allowed Takeshita to give Allin a nasty German Suplex on the floor.
Perry took control of the match after tagging in, getting both Takeshita and Davis out of the ring before scoring a moonsault to the outside. He tried for a top-rope move in the ring, but Takeshita countered mid-air with a nasty forearm.
Andrade brought Perry to the ringside area and dropped him head-first onto the barricade before doing his usual ringside selfie with a woman. Don Callis & Co. had the upper hand as the show went to commercials.
Bandido got a hot tag after the show returned, slamming Takeshita onto Davis. Takeshita dodged a 21-Plex attempt from Bandido then countered with a Blue Thunder Bomb moments later, giving him a two-count. Allin got his hands on Andrade during a multi-man scramble part of the match, taking him out with a tope suicida to the outside.
Allin attempting to attack Don Callis at ringside served as a slight distraction, giving Davis the chance to toss him into a guardrail at ringside. Takeshita and Davis picked up Allin and threw him into the timekeeper’s area, a typical nasty landing for Allin. Even in a multi-man preview match, he’s taking the type of bump that scares you.
Back in the ring, Davis rocked Perry with a piledriver. Back into the ring came Andrade, who scored his DM finisher for the pinfall in 11 minutes. Super fun, wild match to get things started. Kinda shows you the level of importance that the AEW National Championship has when Perry is the fall guy in a six-man tag. But that aside, I really enjoyed this one.
A post-match attack from the Don Callis Family continued until the Young Bucks came in for the save. Lance Archer, Hechicero and El Clon tried to join in on this fight but were all sent out of the ring with superkicks.
The Bucks tried for a Meltzer/TK Driver but were stopped by Kazuchika Okada, who surprisingly came in to save Takeshita from taking the move. Okada and Takeshita came to shoves and then traded forearms, making it clear that despite being on the same team, their egos continue to collide. The Rascalz got into this brawl, wiping out the Don Callis Family with a series of dives. Okada dodged the dives initially and mocked Takeshita, but was later taken out by Myron Reed, who will be facing Okada as part of this weekend’s taped Collision. Um, this post-match brawl was a little too all over the place, honestly.
Willow Nightingale retains against the returning Queen Aminata
In her first match back since injury, Queen Aminata challenged TBS Champion Willow Nightingale in the next segment. Aminata had been out of action since October with a neck injury. Early in the match, it was revealed that Hikaru Shida, who returned to the ring on last weekend’s Collision with a match against Nightingale, was watching this match from the crowd.
Aminata was working her typical hard-hitting style against Nightingale and it didn’t seem like she lost a step despite her lengthy time away from the ring. Nightingale was on a roll after the show returned from a break, getting a two-count after a Death Valley Driver.
Aminata rolled out of the ring to avoid a cannonball in the corner. However, Nightingale came flying off the ring apron with a second cannonball, this one causing them both to go crashing to the floor. Back in the ring, Aminata dodged a top-rope moonsault from Nightingale. The challenger came running forward with a nasty forearm to the head, giving her a two-count.
Aminata connected with a Coup de Grace, but it wasn’t enough to put away the champ. They traded thudding strikes – Aminata countered Nightingale’s usual pounce with a hard forearm, but Nightingale came off the ropes with the momentum of that blow and connected with a strike of her own, which floored Aminata.
A series of counters ended with a backslide from Nightingale for a two-count. She tried for a gutwrench powerbomb, but Aminata countered it into an Air Raid Crash. Still, Nightingale survived with another kick-out.
Aminata was about to score a dropkick, but Nightingale escaped it. Nightingale sent Aminata flying out of the ring with a nasty pounce, then a gutwrench powerbomb for the pinfall win in 11 minutes. An awesome, physical battle between these two. Aminata is wrestling just like she did pre-injury, in a hard-hitting way that will only continue to turn heads.
Chris Jericho joins this weekend’s Dynasty card
The next segment saw former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho come to the ring to elaborate on why he returned last week, coming back to the promotion for the first time in nearly a year.
Jericho pulled out an AEW clipboard and explained that he appeared this week to re-sign with the company. He reflected on his time with AEW, being there at the start and what it’s been like wrestling for the promotion over the years.
Jericho said that this industry deserves “the best Chris Jericho that I could possibly be,” and said that he has been trying to get into the best shape possible so he can continue to put on good wrestling. He said that he’s motivated to help AEW, no matter if that means him being on the midcard, opener, or elsewhere.
Just as Jericho was about to put pen to paper, his wholesome segment was interrupted by Ricochet and the Gates of Agony. Ricochet said that he came in peace: “If we came out here to hurt you, believe me, [Bishop] Kaun would’ve already pulled the trigger,” he said.
Ricochet advised that Jericho shouldn’t sign the contract, as nobody wants him there. He said that Jericho should leave, get back on his cruise ship and never come back to AEW “Before you actually get yourself hurt.”
“Wow, you really are bald,” Jericho said after Ricochet took off his hat. Jericho said he “doesn’t give a shit what you think,” then signed his contract.
Jericho revealed that, as a clause in his new AEW contract, he can choose his opponent for Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view.
“I’ve got a decision to make. Ok, I’ve made it,” he said. In a callback to a past gimmick, Jericho said that Ricochet has “made the list.” “See you at Dynasty, Ricochet,” he said to end the segment. Looks like we’re getting Jericho’s in-ring return in just a few days!
Backstage, Don Callis announced that Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita will team up to face the Young Bucks as part of Dynasty. Takeshita and Okada both didn’t seem stoked about this matchup, but Callis said that they need to do this match for their friend Kyle Fletcher, who is injured and out of action. Takeshita said for this to happen, he needs a future shot at Okada’s AEW International Championship.”
“That’s fine,” Callis said. “You work together, and you can have a shot at his belt, and get this both out of your systems at Double or Nothing.” Callis referred to the duo of Okada and Takeshita as the NBA’s Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Okada ended this segment with one of the funnier lines of the night: “You’re Scottie Pippen, I’m Michael Jordan,” which caused a pull-apart between these two.
Tommaso Ciampa secures Casino Gauntlet #1 spot
The next match saw CMLL’s Mascara Dorada face off against former TNT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, with the winner getting the #1 entrant spot in Sunday’s Casino Gauntlet Match for the vacant TNT belt. Commentary explained that, unlike a Royal Rumble, entering first is the best spot, as the first pinfall or submission ends the bout. A later spot in a Casino Gauntlet means that the match could possibly end before you even get to hit the ring.
Ciampa knocked Dorada off the ring apron with a hard knee strike, sending him to the floor. Dorada sent Ciampa out of the ring with a hurricanrana then scored a beautiful torneo to the outside as the show went to a break.
Back from the break, Dorada came flying off the ringpost (yes, the ringpost, not the top turnbuckle) for an awesome moonsault to the outside. Back in the ring, a 450 Splash from Dorada rendered a two-count.
A long stretch of reversals between these two ended with a leg lariat from Dorada. Ciampa caught Dorada mid-move with a dropkick to the head. He followed up with a Project Ciampa backbreaker, but Dorada survived by kicking out at two.
Dorada put Ciampa on his shoulders then tossed him into the air for an incredibly crafty neckbreaker. Dorada came off the top rope with a moonsault, but Ciampa countered by putting up his feet. Ciampa tried for a running knee strike, but Dorada dodged it. Dorada escaped a roll-up pin attempt from Ciampa but was caught in a Draping DDT right after. Ciampa then followed up with his running knee strike for the pinfall in 11 minutes.
Dorada is an inventive wrestler and Ciampa made for a fun dance partner with him. This was a good one.
The Dogs laid out Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong backstage. They cut a promo on Mistico and JetSpeed, making it clear that they’re after the trios titles on this weekend’s Collision card.
In a backstage promo, AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla said she’ll prove at Dynasty that Jamie Hayter will go from being the “Dumbest bitch alive” to the “Dumbest bitch dead.” Kinda embarrassing that the main women’s program gets about 90 seconds on the go-home show, especially when Thekla is this fun on the mic.
FTR get last laugh on Cope & Cage ahead of Dynasty
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, who will be facing rivals FTR this weekend, hit the ring for a promo in the next segment. Copeland cut a promo about why this feud is personal for him. Cage then went a little lower, mentioning that he had sex with both of FTR’s moms and that he plans to visit Stokely Hathaway’s mother after he claims the tag titles this weekend.
FTR came out after Cage’s comments, but they were merely there to be a distraction. Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta from the Don Callis Family attacked Cope & Cage from behind, beginning a beatdown. Cage was tossed head-first into a tag title as Copeland was taken out by a Busaiko Knee at ringside. Adding insult to injury, FTR held up Cage and let Hathaway spear him. FTR wrapped a chair around Cage’s arm then stomped it to end the segment.
Darby Allin cut a good promo on what the title implications mean in his match against Andrade El Idolo this weekend: “What was it all for if I can’t be world champion … I need this more than anyone could imagine.”
The latest – 10:09 p.m. ET: Will Ospreay pins Dynasty opponent Jon Moxley in wild tag bout
The final match of the night saw Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia, PAC and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Will Ospreay, Callum Newman, Francesco Akira and HENARE of the United Empire. This was billed as an “anything goes” match. Worth noting that this was the AEW debut for Newman and HENARE. Akira’s first appearance in the company since Forbidden Door 2025.
United Empire charged into the crowd to attack the Death Riders during the faction’s entrance. A ladder was introduced early, allowing Akira to do a massive dive out of the ring and to the floor onto numerous Death Riders members nearby. That was a really hard landing for him.
After the show returned from a break, Castagnoli saved Moxley from a double-team suplex through a table at ringside, tossing Newman head-first onto a barricade, then also dropping Ospreay. HENARE got some shine later in the match, flooring both Garcia and PAC with a double clothesline. Castagnoli caught a move from HENARE then put him through a table as the show went to commercials.
Picture-in-picture showed that Moxley used a snapped kendo stick as a weapon, poking with the sharp ends of the weapon. This match picked up its pace as the show returned. Garcia and Moxley scored a double-team Sharpshooter into a Curbstomp, but had the pin broken up.
We had a fun spot where the much smaller Akira attempted to trade blows with Moxley. Newman got into the ring and scored stereo Os-Cutters with Ospreay for a two-count. At ringside, HENARE tackled Castagnoli through a table. Akira tried to slam Garcia through a table but didn’t break it. He followed up with a splash off the ring apron to try and break the table, which once again couldn’t get it to break… Brutal. PAC was also put through a table with a double stomp from Newman.
It came down to Ospreay and Moxley, opponents on this weekend’s PPV. Moxley caught Ospreay with a trio of Paradigm Shifts. A reeling Ospreay was helped by Newman, who got into the ring to make it a two-on-one. Ospreay gave Moxley a Hidden Blade through a table set up in the ring for a pinfall victory in 20 minutes. A rare instance of someone gaining a clean pinfall win over their opponent just before a PPV.
This was a wild, wild brawl. It was nice to see some United Empire get some shine here, although that spot where Akira tried and failed twice to break a table was hard to watch.
Kenny Omega lays out MJF ahead of PPV showdown
This week’s AEW Dynamite wrapped up with an appearance from Kenny Omega, who will face AEW World Champion MJF in the main event of Dynasty on Sunday.
Omega said that last week’s promo from MJF made him enraged, but not for the reason he might’ve imagined. It wasn’t because he mentioned the injured Kota Ibushi, or his diverticulitis being insulted. Instead, it was the fact that he thinks MJF is hurting AEW’s legacy.
“All of this that you see before you, I think it was my responsibility. I thought it was all on me to write this legacy … This isn’t my legacy. Edmonton, this is our legacy … What you people deserve is a champion who wears the belt with pride.”
Omega said that he’s going to take the title off MJF this weekend and begin to “right the wrongs” he caused in the company.
This promo was cut off eventually by MJF, who said everyone is “scared shitless” at the idea that this could be Omega’s last-ever shot at the world title. “The clock’s tickin’ on your career, Kenneth,” he said.
MJF recalled how Omega once said, during their previous singles meeting, he was only at 70 percent. “What’s your excuse [this time] gonna be?” MJF said.
“You will find out you are not on the level of the devil,” the champ said.
Omega asked if MJF will shake his hand: “This will be the last chance we can meet respectfully as men,” he said.
Omega reached out his arm for a handshake. MJF tried to take him out with a punch, but Omega dodged it then dropped him with a knee strike. Omega stood over a hurt MJF and took his Dynamite Diamond Ring.
“Like I said before, I know you,” Omega said. “I’ve studied you. I’ve seen this coming miles away. Max, at the pay-per-view, it isn’t gonna be the way it has been up until now. And at the end of the pay-per-view, we aren’t going to be hearing about how much better you are, and how we should know it. It should be me bidding the crowd adieu with a goodbye, mwah! And a goodnight. Bang!”
This was an okay go-home segment between these two, although it went long in front of a dead-silent crowd as the show neared 30 minutes over its scheduled run time, all of which hurt the encounter for sure. Omega’s style on the mic is divisive and not for everyone, so there are definitely going to be people who didn’t love this. Nonetheless, Omega vs. MJF could be a classic.
Final thoughts
AEW delivered an awesome go-home show full of some stellar wrestling. Willow Nightingale & the returning Queen Aminata were the highlight of the night, although every match was great. The integration with NJPW talent, especially right after the promotion’s big title change, was fun. I think there’s something to be said about how neglected the AEW women’s division is, considering the show went almost 2.5 hours and only had 77 seconds for the program with Thekla and Jamie Hayter. In my opinion, there’s no excuse for that. That would be my main criticism of what was overall a fun show.
