AEW Dynamite featured two tournament matches, Jon Moxley’s first title defense and an MJF-Samoa Joe confrontation.
This week’s AEW Dynamite episode took place at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana. The commentary team was Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz as usual.
Orange Cassidy did a show opening promo saying “they” told him to stay home, but he assured us he’ll be there every week. Orange ended it saying “I don’t have a catchphrase.”
Match #1:Jon Moxley defeated AR Fox to retain the AEW International Title. Moxley won clean with the Death Rider.
Christian Cage went up to Nick Wayne backstage and insulted his late father Buddy Wayne saying he was worse than Christian thought. Christian suggested that if Darby needs a mentor, he should look at somebody like Christian even though Luchasaurus is actually the TNT Champion.
Match #2: Kris Statlander defeated Emi Sakura to retain the TBS Championship. Kris won with the Wednesday Night Fever.
A video package aired featuring Roderick Strong talking about his parents having drug and alcohol problems. Strong turned to pro wrestling. When people say pro wrestling is just business, it’s not to him because it’s everything. Strong said he grew up alone and would win the Grand Slam tournament alone.
Match #3:Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara defeated Aussie Open. Jericho hit Fletcher with a Judas Effect elbow for the pinfall win.
After the match, Jericho held Sammy’s hand up as the winners. Sammy wasn’t happy because Jericho hit Sammy off the apron by accident in the match. Sammy left on his own.
A promo aired from Ricky Starks after his All Out loss to Bryan Danielson in that terrific Strap Match. Danielson will speak on AEW Collision.
Don Callis and Konosuke Takeshita were interviewed with Don saying next week they’ll reveal who their next target will be.
There was a lengthy promo battle between AEW World Champion & ROH Tag Team Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) and ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe. They exchanged words with plenty of insults like Joe calling MJF a “kid” while MJF made fat jokes calling him Samoa Dough. Joe said he would win the Grand Slam World Title tournament and beat MJF for the AEW World Title.
MJF and Samoa Joe got into a brawl. Joe posed with the AEW World Title. They each hit low blows on eachother. When MJF charged, Joe hit him with an STO and MJF was selling a potential neck injury. Adam Cole ran out for the save, Joe ran away. Medical staff helped MJF out of the ring.
Match #4:Roderick Strong defeated Trent Beretta in the Grand Slam AEW World Title Tournament Quarterfinals. Strong won by pinfall.
There was an in-ring interview with “Hangman” Adam Page, who wanted to talk about his future when Swerve Strickland. There were insults from Swerve towards Hangman about how he’s not featured a lot in AEW anymore. Hangman didn’t like it and said if you wanted a match we can do it. Swerve made it personal by mocking Hangman’s wife and kids. When Hangman went after Swerve, Brian Cage of the Mogul Embassy (Swerve’s group) attacked Hangman. Swerve, Cage and Prince Nana stood tall while Page was down in the ring.
Match #5: Darby Allin defeated Nick Wayne by submission in the Grand Slam AEW World Title Tournament Quarterfinals. Darby refused to do the Coffin Drop on his friend Wayne and instead did a submission move pulling on the arms while sitting on the neck at the same time. Christian Cage and Luchasaurus watched the match.
The win by Allin means he’ll face Roderick Strong in the tournament semifinals on AEW Collision this Saturday.
In recent news, Chris Jericho spoke about his friendship with Will Ospreay.
AEW Dynamite Will Feature Tournament Finals Next Week
Grand Slam AEW World Title Tournament Semifinals will take place this Saturday on Collision. One of the semifinals will be Darby Allin vs. Roderick Strong. This Friday on Rampage (taped after Dynamite), two more tournament matches will take place: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy and Penta vs. Jay Lethal.
The winners of those Joe/Jef and Penta/Lethal matches will face the winner of the Allin/Strong match in the Grand Slam AEW World Title Tournament Finals next Wednesday on the September 13th edition of Dynamite.
On the September 20th edition of AEW Dynamite, MJF will defend the AEW World Title against whoever wins the Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament.