AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness will renew their storied rivalry one more time at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam from Queens, New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Just shy of 15 years since their last meeting at ROH Glory by Honor on September 26, 2009, Danielson and McGuinness will once again lock horns during the final countdown of Danielson’s full-time career.
Darby Allin will put his guaranteed AEW World title shot on the line in a match against Jon Moxley.
AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks will defend their titles against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher while AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May puts her title on the line against Yuka Sakazaki.
FTW Champion Hook defends his title against Roderick Strong.
Prince Nana is also scheduled to provide an update on Swerve Strickland who has been out of action since losing an unsanctioned steel cage match to Hangman Page at this month’s All Out.
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AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam comes on the air with Oasis “F’n In The Bushes” hitting and out walks Nigel McGuinness for potentially the opening contest, as commentary still questions Bryan Danielson appearing. Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone & Jim Ross are on the call, as Ross said he searched catering three times for Danielson.
The standard theme music for Danielson played and he didn’t show up the first go around, so McGuinness took the mic and said The American Coward dropped the ball, demanded a ten count and Danielson stripped of the AEW World Title. The count was put on but at six The Final Countdown kicked in and out walked Danielson to a huge reaction.
AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness
(I thought this was an excellent back and forth opener with McGuinness looking great for being out of the ring for such a long time. The Casino Gauntlet is one thing, but to go about 20 minutes in a singles match with the World Champ is a different story. It was almost like he got the closure he wanted, even in defeat. It’ll be interesting if he continues to wrestle or if this was it. I certainly hope we see more of McGuinness in the ring, he’s been sorely missed, as has his entrance music.)
Almost 15 years ago to the day these two last battled in the ring at Glory By Honor VIII, as both men trade uppercuts early with McGuinness standing tall, yelling to Schiavone that it’s too easy. Danielson responded with a snap mare and punt to the back before a series of wrist lock counters, with Excalibur saying it’s a time machine to the 70s and catch as catch can. Overhand chops from McGuinness only woke Danielson up, putting a smile on McGuinness’ face. Uppercut exchange led to a kick to the thigh by Danielson, but McGuinness sold it low, but it was a ploy to gain the advantage. Both traded mounts and LeBell Lock attempts, with Danielson sinking it in, but the height of McGuinness got the ropes. McGuinness pulled Danielson to the outside and targeted the right arm, trying to drop the steps onto it, but Danielson escaped. They channel back to their ROH days and tease the spot pulling each other into the ring post, but thankfully we didn’t get either going head first into it.
Back inside, McGuinness applied the London Dungeon top wrist lock, as Danielson got the rope break and met McGuinness in the corner with a charging dropkick. Underhook suplex led to McGuinness cutting off Danielson in the ropes, tried a Tower of London, but Danielson escaped into the Busiaku Knee, landing on the bad arm. Yes Kicks fired off, as McGuinees answered with his handstand in the corner, but was chopped down, allowing Danielson to wrench the neck. McGuinness flipped back to his feet and fired off a combo for a near fall. McGuinness fought off a LeBell Lock by slamming the injured arm down, leading to the reset. Danielson tried an uppercut with the injured arm and collapsed, but did his moonsault out of the corner, only for McGuinness to hit his bounce back lariat, but Danielson kicked out at one to a huge pop.
Thumb to the eye led to the ripcord lariat for a McGuinness near fall before continuously going for London Dungeon once more. Anvil elbows by McGuinness, who hits the Tower of London for a close two. McGuinness almost applied a London Dungeon surfboard combo, but Danielson rolled through into anvil elbows. McGuinness hit a Busaiku Knee of his own, sending Danielson into a Nigel lariat attempt, but McGuinness was the one who hit the lariat for two. The way McGuinness fell allowed Danielson to work a LeBell Lock and despite fighting, McGuinness appeared to say thank you (it was bleeped, but it didn’t look like F you) before tapping out.
Christian Cage’s music hit after the bell and he slowly walked out with the Casino Gauntlet contract. Cage teased signing it, but Kip Sabian snuck up from behind and stole the pen from Cage’s hands. The chase was on until Cage ran into Claudio Castagnoli & PAC standing right behind the entrance tunnel. Cage scurried away after Sabian before things went to break.
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HOOK defeated Roderick Strong (w/The Kingdom) to retain the FTW Title
(Relatively quick defense for HOOK, but what we saw was good, as HOOK got the respect from Strong & The Kingdom post-match. The bigger story here was the retiring of the FTW Title, as it’s a smart move to allow HOOK to finally break off into something else. He’s done a great job with the title, but it’s time to compete for other gold.)
Excalibur tried to tell us back when Strong tapped to REDRUM a few weeks ago, the ref missed the foot on the rope due to being so in the zone, which is a new one for me. HOOK tried an arm triangle early, but Taven & Bennett pulled Strong to the outside. HOOK just broke through and took the fight to Strong, who answered by throwing HOOK into the barricade. Bennett handed Strong a kendo stick, but he missed a swing, HOOK got possession and took everyone out, including a Russian leg sweep with it into the barricade. Numbers finally became too much, as Strong launched HOOK into the ring post, taking things to commercial.
Strong controlled the whole break until HOOK fought back right as things returned with a series of takedowns. Taven threw in a chair, as Strong wedged it in the corner, as that allowed Strong to escape REDRUM and drive HOOK into it. Big charging slam got a near fall, as Strong followed placing two chairs together, but HOOK hit a Judo throw through them for two. Strong exploded up and hit a fireman’s carry gutbuster onto the chair and Sick Kick for a close two of his own. HOOK floated over End of Heartache into REDRUM and Strong ultimately tapped.
Post match, Strong offered a handshake and HOOK accepted, as The Kingdom gave a nod of respect before leaving. Tony Schiavone interviewed HOOK ringside and brought up this being the 11th title defense for HOOK and how the FTW Title was created a short drive from there by his father. HOOK thanked Schiavone, but all good things come to an end. HOOK thanked everyone who has competed for this title and the fans who supported the title. From this moment on, the FTW Title is officially retired, as HOOK presented it to Taz, hugging him to a huge pop.
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The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defeated AEW International Champion Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles
(Action packed match and exactly what you’d expect from everyone involved. The storyline was Callis was the reason Fletcher & Ospreay lost, despite Ospreay being the one who wouldn’t allow Fletcher to pull the trigger with the screwdriver. I liked this chapter of the Ospreay/Callis Family story, as they can go a variety of ways out of this result.)
Don Callis joined commentary and said tonight will be the biggest night of his career. Sneak attack early by The Bucks, who hit a pop-up hurricanrana on Ospreay before Fletcher ate a double flying back elbow into a pose for the crowd. Ospreay & Fletcher respond with double team of their own, as The Bucks landed awkwardly onto one another until Ospreay hit a moonsault off the back of Fletcher. The Bucks went to the floor, as Ospreay & Fletcher hit dueling moonsaults off the top as things went to break.
The Bucks regained control during commercial and when things returned, Fletcher fought free with a Flatliner/DDT combo to roll to the Ospreay hot tag. Pip, Pip, Cheerio on Matthew before taking both Bucks out with a handspring Pele Kick. Standing Sky Twister Press on Nicholas for two, as Ospreay signaled for Hidden Blade, but Nicholas dodged into a corkscrew kick. Sliced Bread into the running knee for a near fall, as Ospreay was draped over the top and The Bucks hit the Swanton bounce back powerbomb for two. Fletcher was dispatched to the floor, as Ospreay kipped out of an EVP Trigger into a double Oscutter. Referee Rick Knox took a delayed time to check who was the legal man before making the count for two. Coriolis reversed, but Fletcher turned The Bucks inside out with a double clothesline. Nicholas countered a Liger Bomb into a facebuster, as Ospreay flew in with a 450 Splash, Nicholas hit a Destroyer, but the impact popped up Ospreay to hit a flying Hidden Blade for the reset. Fletcher tripped to the floor by Matthew, as Nicholas hit the punt kick and Ospreay hit with a hurricanrana off the apron by Nicholas. Fletcher set up and hit with a spike Tombstone on the apron, as they wanted a countout win, but Fletcher broke the count at 9, rolling into a charging knee from Nicholas into another commercial.
The Bucks tried a TK Driver, but Ospreay & Fletcher both countered into a double Styles Clash for two. Ospreay connected with Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker, but Nicholas broke up the count. Ospreay signaled for the Tiger Driver, but Nicholas saved his brother with a superkick. Fletcher in with multiple Snap Dragons and charging corner strikes, but Matthew met him with a running bulldog. Ospreay cut off More Bang For Your Buck initially, as Nicholas looked to spring for at TK Driver, but Ospreay flew in with a Cutter in mid-air. TK Driver for two by Fletcher, as Coriolis connected to follow, but Matthew kicked out. Ospreay yelled as Fletcher to end it, as he hit the corner brainbuster, but Nicholas barely broke it up.
Nicholas sent outside with Ospreay, as Fletcher flew out with a dive. Rick Knox checked on Nicholas, as Callis handed the screwdriver to Fletcher, scurrying away. Callis took the ref, as Fletcher looked to use the weapon, but Ospreay cut him off. He showed Knox the weapon and told Callis to get away, resulting in Ospreay getting clobbered with the Tag Title belt. Fletcher tried a roll-up, but got shoved into a belt shot by Nicholas. BTE Trigger connected for the victory.
Post-match, commentary brought up that if Callis didn’t intervene, Ospreay & Fletcher could’ve won the match. Callis checked on Fletcher, as a dejected Ospreay looked on.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Conglomeration, who officially welcomed Rocky Romero to conglomerate with The Conglomeration. Romero accepts, as Mark Briscoe said he’s wearing a Dem Boys shirt to remember how the Briscoes wrestled their last match together not too far from Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Learning Tree will suffer a Dem Boys ass whoopin on Collision. Kyle O’Reilly asked for the word of the day and Briscoe said it’s vociferous.
-Tony Schiavone is on stage and welcomes Prince Nana, who said it’s good to be in New York, Swerve’s House. Nana said he’s known Schiavone a long time, mentally, there’s nothing that can stop the most dangerous man in AEW. Physically, Swerve Strickland is not cleared to comeback, but fighting every day to return.
MVP then walks out from the heel tunnel and apologizes for the intrusion. He introduced himself and said he agreed, Strickland is the most dangerous man in AEW. It’s MVP’s opinion that Strickland is the most phenomenal talent to set foot in an AEW ring, his title run will be studied by future generations. MVP put over Strickland’s accomplishments, but also said he saw him lose his title and his house burned down. MVP says he views Strickland allowing Bryan Danielson walking around smiling as a failure on Strickland’s management, who would rather shill his coffee. MVP handed Nana his business card to give to Strickland, saying he’ll be ready to talk “business”. The crowd popped big for that line, as Nana looked very conflicted.
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-The Scapegoat Bus drives the streets of New York, heading to Arthur Ashe Stadium this Saturday, as Jack Perry’s Open Challenge for the TNT Title is brought up.
Mariah May defeated Yuka Sakazaki to retain the AEW Women’s Title
(The crowd was quite quiet for this after the entrances and this had a series of sloppy moments that didn’t help things. May ultimately retained, but the crowd really never thought Sakazaki had a chance. Post match, Mina Shirakawa has returned, but it was for only about 30 seconds, so more on that to come.)
Sakazaki flew off the top with a dive during May’s entrance and followed up with a Tiger Feint Kick on the apron. The match officially begins in the ring, as both ladies slapped it out until a rolling elbow popped May, who dodged another Tiger Feint Kick, dragging Sakazaki to the floor. Shotgun dropkick sent Sakazaki flying, as back inside, May hit a spinning side slam for two. Another dropkick with Sakazaki trapped in the ropes, but Sakazaki counters the handstand head scissors into a choke in the ropes.
May brought Sakazaki in for May Day, but Sakazaki rolled through into a backslide for what looked like a three, as May didn’t get her shoulder up, but referee Aubrey didn’t make the count. Instead, we got a rolling pin attempt for a series of twos, as Sakazaki followed with a Merry Go Round, but May wiggled out into a headbutt and high stack German suplex for two. May didn’t get much of a spinning sit-out slam, as Sakazaki fired a thrust kick into a Northern Lights Bomb. Sakazaki wanted the Magical Girl Splash, but May got her knees up and followed with a charging knee into Storm Zero for the win.
Right as May was about to level Sakazaki with the title post-match, Willow Nightingale made the save. After a stare down with May, the music for Mina Shirakawa hit, distracting Nightingale enough for May to waffle her with the title. May ran into a confused Shirakawa’s arms and spun her around. Shirakawa was disappointed in May’s actions, as Sakazaki chased May off before staring down Shirakawa.
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Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) defeated Darby Allin to earn an AEW World Title Shot
(If you bet that Allin was going to take some gnarly bumps in this one, then you’d be correct, as Moxley beat the crap out of him for a long portion of this one. Allin had his moments, but Moxley wasn’t going to lose this one. They didn’t do an injury angle or anything to Allin, so I wonder what he’ll be doing come WrestleDream now that he’s lost his World Title match? The only confusing part of this whole thing was the post-match and Private Party & Komander attempting to make the save for Danielson, only to get beat up super quick, again. I have no idea why they’re getting a Trios Title match as a result, I would’ve given them at least a little bit of revenge following last week’s slaughter.)
Allin exploded out of the corner to start, but Moxley flattened him with a big boot and corner strikes. Moxley placed Allin’s mouth over the ring rope and kicked at it violently, busting open Allin’s mouth in the process. Moxley started zoning in on the left leg, as an Irish whip to the corner was so intense that Allin flew through the ropes to the floor. Moxley found himself trapped in the ring apron, allowing Allin to rake the back and piggy back Moxley, who shrugged Allin off. Allin exposed the top of the corner post and trapped Moxley’s arm in there, wrenching away, as Shafir got Moxley free. Allin hit a Coffin Drop to the floor before following with a low dive from the ring to the outside. Allin went to set up Moxley on a chair, but Shafir stood in his way and the delay allowed Moxley to hit a bodyslam on the apron. Moxley took the ref, as Shafir got in cheap shots before Moxley smushed Allin’s head between his boot and ring post with things going to commercial.
Back from break, Moxley continued the onslaught until Allin avoided Snake Eyes into a float over stunner. Moxley fell to the outside to the set-up chair, as Allin flew from the top with a missile dropkick, as back inside, the Code Red got a near fall. Allin exposed the corner buckle, but Moxley put on the brakes, hitting a John Woo dropkick. O’Connor Roll into a Coffin Splash from Allin, who applied a Fujiwara Armbar, but Moxley rolled out with Allin transitioning to a guillotine. Moxley placed Allin in the corner and paint-brushed the hell out of him to the outside. Shafir helped Moxley remove the mat around the ring, as Moxley screamed that Allin asked for this. Moxley wanted a Death Rider, but Allin floated over and Moxley ran into the steps. Allin tried another dive, but Moxley side-stepped and Allin went splat.
Flipping suplex onto the steps from Moxley, as Allin just barely beat the count. Allin tried throwing shots, but Moxley no sold, charged, only to run into the exposed buckle, letting Allin get a school-boy for two. Allin tried a Coffin Drop, but leapt into the waiting arms of Moxley, who sank in the Rear Naked Choke. Transition to the Bulldog Choke, as Allin visibly starts to fade, but almost a smile on the face had Allin get the ropes. Both fight to the corner, Allin wanted a superplex, but Shafir jumped on the apron for distraction. The delay was enough for Moxley to counter into an Avalanche Death Rider for the victory.
Post match, doctors ran to ringside to check on Allin as Bryan Danielson hit the ring with a tie and choked out Moxley. Shafir tried to stop him, as PAC & Claudio Castagnoli ran down and pulled him off. Private Party & Komander ran out to make the save, but were easily dispatched by the BCC. Danielson was about to hit a Busiaku Knee on Moxley, but Castagnoli & PAC pulled him to safety. The BCC bailed as Danielson took the mic and said if Moxley wanted war, then Danielson declares war. Danielson said come WrestleDream, he’s going to kick Moxley’s F’n head in. The Final Countdown played, as Danielson stared down a laughing Moxley in the crowd before thanking Private Party & Komander for trying to help him.
AEW Rampage: Grand Slam 9/27/24
- Willow Nightingale vs. Taya Valkyrie
AEW Collision: Grand Slam 9/28/24
- Jamie Hayter vs. Saraya in a Saraya’s Rules Match
- Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe & Kyle O’Reilly in a Tornado Tag
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Sammy Guevara in a Continental Title Eliminator
- Hangman Adam Page vs. Jeff Jarrett in a Lumberjack Strap Match
- Jack Perry defends the TNT Title in an Open Challenge
- Beast Mortos vs. Dralistico vs. Hologram
- Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend the Trios Titles against Private Party & Komander
AEW Dynamite: 5 Year Anniversary 10/2/24
- Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet for the AEW International Title
- Dr. Britt Baker vs. Serena Deeb
