The AEW World Champion will be in action on the final episode before Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
AEW Champion Swerve Strickland will face Nick Wayne on tonight’s Dynamite in a non-title match. Swerve will defend his title on Sunday against Wayne’s Patriarchy compadre Christian Cage.
A three-way bout on tonight’s show will determine the number one contender to Chris Jericho’s FTW Championship, as Katsuyori Shibata, Hook, and Bryan Keith square off.
Orange Cassidy & Will Ospreay will team against Trent Beretta & Roderick Strong. Cassidy vs. Beretta, and Ospreay vs. Strong for the International Championship are set for Sunday’s PPV.
Toni Storm & Mariah May will face Saraya & Harley Cameron in another tag team bout.
Malakai Black vs. Kyle O’Reilly, Bryan Danielson vs. Satnam Singh, and Konosuke Takeshita vs. Matt Sydal are also set for the show.
Bullet Club Gold will speak, Sunday’s Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale TBS title match will be previewed, plus Jon Moxley will be in the building for tonight’s episode.
**********
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with an intro that also has clips from the film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga included. Excalibur then welcomes us alongside Tony Schiavone, Taz & Don Callis, who is taking notes as Orange Cassidy makes his entrance for the opening contest. He referred to Cassidy & Will Ospreay as “both of his guys.”
International Champion Roderick Strong & Trent Beretta (w/Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defeated Orange Cassidy & Will Ospreay
(A fun appetizer of two singles matches on Sunday’s card, as they did a good job of not really having Beretta & Cassidy and Ospreay & Strong doing a ton together, not giving away what could happen on Sunday. With the heels standing tall tonight, I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if this means a new International Champ is on tap in Vegas. Also, Callis trying to pair himself with Cassidy continues to be weird and it’s only a matter of time before Beretta is the one to join the Family it seems.)
Fast offense from Cassidy & Ospreay early, who traded dives outside to gain the advantage. That was short lived, as Mike Bennett tried throwing in the ROH Tag Title, but Ospreay kicked it out of the ring, allowing Strong to hit a backbreaker and take over. Strong & Beretta kept Ospreay grounded until a big back drop created space for Ospreay, as Cassidy made the hot tag and ran wild. Beretta crotched Cassidy in the ropes, allowing Strong to his a gut buster against the buckle. Beretta tried to piledrive Cassidy on the steps like last week, but Ospreay made the save. The match broke down outside, with Beretta laying out Ospreay with a spear, which took things to break.
When things returned, there was a double down between Strong & Cassidy, who nudged his way to his corner, hands in pockets and tagged Ospreay, who was on fire. Beretta’s Tornado DDT was blocked, but not the half and half suplex, which flattened Ospreay. Strong tagged in and nearly got rolled up for two, but Strong recovered with a series of forearms and pancake for two. Strong got trapped in the corner and ate a Cheeky Nandos kick, followed by a Sky Twister Press off the second, while Cassidy fell comically from the top rope onto Strong. Beretta put a stop to the momentum, leading to an attempted release superplex, but Ospreay landed on his feet, allowing Cassidy to fly in with a top rope DDT. Wall walk enzugiri on Strong by Ospreay, as Cassidy followed with a spinning DDT for two.
Beretta ran distraction for the ref, trying to untie the top turnbuckle, as Strong fired off a Sick Kick on Cassidy. Don Callis left commentary and grabbed Cassidy’s leg, allowing him to avoid the End of Heartache. Cassidy hit a Stundog Millionaire, while Ospreay hit the Oscutter, as Bennett & Taven tried to jump in, but were sent outside. Strong kept the ref’s attention, as Ospreay wiped out The Kingdom with a dive, but Wardlow ran down and mowed him over. Beretta hit a knee strike on Cassidy, while Strong connected on an End of Heartache to pin Cassidy.
Post match, The Undisputed Kingdom swarmed Ospreay, while Beretta beat down Cassidy on the ramp. Strong decked Ospreay with the International Title, while Beretta ran off Callis before choking out Cassidy. Strong held the International Title at the face of a busted opened Ospreay, as one more End of Heartache for good measure sent a message from the International Champion.
-The Young Bucks are backstage with Elite Security and held up a sign that said Darby Allin was barred from the building this week to ensure safety of the locker room. Sonjay Dutt walks in and congratulates The Bucks on taking care of their problems lately. Matthew told Dutt if Satnam Singh beats Bryan Danielson tonight, cool, but if he hurts him, even better. Dutt said Singh will break Danielson like a pencil, laughing manically before walking off.
-The Bang Bang Gang made their entrance and literally have a wagon now to push all their titles. Excalibur points out the obvious, which is the AEW & ROH Trios Titles are unified, there’s no reason to have all these titles. Taz interjects and says, then what would they do with the wagon?
Switchblade Jay White has a roll call with himself, Fully Cocked Colten Gunn…and Austin before running down PAC, who was left laying last week at the feet of The Bang Bang Gang. White said PAC made a series of mistakes in recent weeks, sticking his nose in their business where it doesn’t belong. PAC then appears on the big screen and said they’ve wound him up a little bit. 3 on 1 isn’t exactly fair, so PAC introduces his amigos. The lights went out and we get the full Death Triangle entrance on the stage, as Penta el Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix appear with PAC before hitting the ring for an all-out brawl. The Bang Bang Gang get beaten down and retreat as PAC issued the challenge for Double or Nothing.
**********
Chris Jericho & Big Bill give thumbs up and finger guns to the crowd before Jericho joins commentary for the upcoming contest.
HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata defeated Bryan Keith in a FTW Title Eliminator
(Well, we now know why Keith randomly got a qualifying match last week on Collision. This whole thing was pretty ridiculous if I’m being honest. Not only did a majority of this happen during commercial, Keith tapping to both men left the crowd simply confused. They wanted HOOK & Shibata to continue wrestling, but instead got Jericho just accepting he’ll have a triple threat at Double or Nothing. They’re going to have to do something else before Sunday, maybe on Collision or Rampage, because this didn’t make me that interested in the FTW Title match.)
Keith wasted no time leveling HOOK with a big boot at the bell, as HOOK quickly fought back, trying REDRUM, but Shibata broke it up. Everyone traded T-Bone suplexes until Shibata fired off a STO on HOOK, as things went to commercial literally 30 seconds into the match.
Keith delivered a double underhook powerbomb on HOOK for two as things returned, but Shibata made the save. HOOK connected with a T-Bone on Shibata, as Keith was briefly trapped in REDRUM in the ropes, but Keith escaped with an uppercut headbutt. Keith connected on Diamond Dust, but Shibata ran in with a PK and fireman’s carry neckbreaker until a figure four was sank in. HOOK applied REDRUM at the same time on Keith, who tapped out and referee Rick Knox declared both HOOK & Shibata co-winners.
The crowd chanted “Let Them Fight” as Jericho took the microphone and agreed, cackling and saying this makes his job more difficult at Double or Nothing before laughing more. Jericho warns them as the longest running For The World Champion, he’s just getting started, as he stumbled over his words saying it’s a first ever For The World Rules Triple Threat. Tony Schiavone said Tony Khan texted him that the match was official for the PPV. HOOK & Shibata just walked to the back together while Jericho & Bill waved to the crowd.
-An excellent video package documenting the history of Willow Nightingale & Mercedes Mone is shown ahead of their TBS Title match at Double or Nothing in Mone’s debut match in AEW.
**********
-A commercial for The Young Bucks Reebok shoes is shown.
-A video package for Jon Moxley & Konosuke Takeshita at Double or Nothing is shown. Moxley said Takeshita started this game, but at the PPV, they’re going to finish it.
Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis) defeated Matt Sydal
Excalibur talks about Sydal teaming with the Blackpool Combat Club at Arena Mexico a few months ago, as Takeshita wastes no time connecting with a sheer drop brainbuster. Sydal countered a Blue Thunder Bomb into a snap hurricanrana and DDT before going up top. Takeshita avoided a dive and hit a spinning Blue Thunder Bomb before Callis signaled to end things. Takeshita wound up and decked Sydal with a hard forearm to get the win. Post match, Takeshita acted like he was helping Sydal up, but pulled him into a release German suplex, putting the boots to him soon after.
Jon Moxley’s music hit, as the IWGP Champion walks to the ring with a microphone in hand. Moxley got in the ring and leveled Takeshita with the microphone, simply saying he’ll see Takeshita this Sunday before leaving through the crowd.
-The Young Bucks were again backstage handing out flyers saying that Darby Allin was banned before seeing Swerve Strickland sitting in their seat at the Gorilla position. Strickland took a flyer and crumpled it up before telling them to hit his music, as he’s up next. Strickland said he hadn’t seen Allin tonight, smirking and headed to the ring. During Strickland’s entrance, we see Allin flyers now posted around ringside as well.
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defeated Nick Wayne
(I’m not sure why this match didn’t happen last week in Washington, but maybe they didn’t want to take the chance on Wayne getting cheered in his hometown area? Regardless, as much as I wanted this to be a long competitive match, that’s not what was necessary here before a PPV, Strickland needed to put Wayne away rather quickly and that’s exactly what happened. The bigger story was the return of Prince Nana, who made his allegiances very clear for anyone who might have questioned them when he returned.)
Wayne played cat and mouse early, but Strickland quickly caught him, slammed Wayne into the barricade, took his belt off and literally whipped his ass. It was all Strickland until Wayne was able to drive him head first into the metal part of the turnbuckle. Strickland went to the floor, ate a PK from the apron before Wayne tried a moonsault, was caught by Strickland, but Wayne countered the counter into a spinning DDT on the floor, which took things to commercial.
Back from break, Wayne sent Strickland to the floor and tried for another moonsault, but this time, Strickland was there to meet him and hit a back suplex on the edge of the ring. Strickland connected on a Swerve Stomp off the apron, as back inside, Wayne dares Strickland to put him away, but dodged a top rope Swerve Stomp with boots up into a rolling Code Red for two. Strickland avoided a House Call into a picture perfect powerbomb into a powerslam. Strickland apologized to Wayne before taking his head off with a House Call to get the win.
Post match, Killswitch appeared and attacked Strickland before Christian Cage & Mother Wayne came to the ring. Both checked on Nick, as Strickland was able to fight off and dispose of Killswitch with a low blow, leaving Cage alone with Strickland. The chase was on, as Strickland hit a House Call on Killswitch during the race, as Cage ran out of the arena to a car, which Cage carjacked. As Cage was about to drive away, a car pulls in front of him and Prince Nana is behind the wheel, sipping a coffee. Strickland catches up, putting Cage from the car and beating him down relentlessly. Cage scurried to the top of the car, but Strickland went up as well, hitting a DDT on the roof. Nana handed Strickland a chair and a Con-Chair-To was about to hit, when Cage bailed and ran away. Strickland & Nana reunited, as Taz said a message was clearly sent.
**********
Malakai Black defeated Kyle O’Reilly
(If you love kickboxing and counter striking, have I got the match for you. This was fantastic and one I wish went longer. Of course Black had to win this, but the crowd was behind O’Reilly. Post match, the message was sent by Copeland for Double or Nothing in the form of a Bloodbath, which thankfully had better aim than when the New Blood failed to do it a bunch in WCW.)
Adam Copeland’s wedding ring, which Black stole last week, was shown on the mask of Black during his entrance. Both men traded a series of kicks in the early going, as commentary put over how each are trained in kickboxing, as it was O’Reilly who hit a knee strike to drop Black first. Both traded leg sweeps, as Black countered a kick and delivered one of his own before popping O’Reilly with a pump knee that sent him to the outside. From there, Black went to work on the knee throughout the entire commercial break.
When things returned, O’Reilly tried to throw his Nigel lariat, but Black dodged it. O’Reilly kneed his way out of a suplex and slammed Black down by the arm. The crowd got behind O’Reilly, who hit a snap German suplex, stomp and rolling elbow for two. O’Reilly kicked away at the arm before both traded strikes, as the battle only intensified as it went on. O’Reilly shot a takedown and an ankle lock applied, but Black stood up into a knee strike. That led to a brainbuster for a super close two. Both men rose to their feet and connected on dueling high kicks until Black pump faked a kick, O’Reilly bit, allowing Black to hit The End kick to win it.
Post match, the lights turned red and started to flicker before blood poured down from the top of the arena onto Black. On the big screen, Adam Copeland walked down steps in a suit jacket telling Malakai to be careful what he wishes for, see you soon, before laughing maniacally.
**********
-A video package for the Anarchy in the Arena match is shown for Double or Nothing. Bryan Danielson is shown screaming that he has to fight for AEW because he loves this place. There was also footage of Collision last week of The Righteous & Lance Archer laying out FTR, who Danielson said won’t be at Dynamite this week. If The Elite want to take their shot, they better not miss because they won’t like the consequences.
AEW Women’s Champion Timeless Toni Storm & Mariah May (w/Luther) defeated Saraya & Harley Cameron (w/Zak Knight)
(The chemistry of Storm & May continues to grow and I really like the slow build to that storyline. On the other hand, how they’ve handled Deeb in this feud with Storm has been a complete miss. They tried making her a babyface this whole time, despite Storm being crazy over with the crowd and the last week before the PPV, they just finally give in and have Deeb be the heel and leave Storm laying after a violent assault. I think Storm is fantastic, but Deeb feels like another in a line of challengers that’s not gotten much out of a feud with the champ due to Storm’s character being so polarizing. They should have treated Deeb as the heel from the start.)
Storm is still wearing the Deeb’s Dojo flag she used for her striptease on Collision last week. Taz, meanwhile, is furious on commentary about how he was covered in the blood from that bloodbath in the previous segment, I don’t blame him. This is Saraya’s first match on TV in a little over 3 months, as May hit a quick shotgun dropkick on Cameron before a spinning side slam to start. Saraya made the tag and called for Storm, who obliged and the former Outcasts slugged it out. Storm hit a Thesz Press before quickly tagging May, bodyslamming her onto Saraya. May wanted to do the same thing, but couldn’t get Storm up, so Storm just slammed May onto Saraya once more. Saraya faked an injury long enough for Cameron to jump in and get a cheap shot on May, who was isolated throughout commercial.
Storm made the hot tag when things returned, flattening Cameron with a headbutt and drop toehold on Saraya onto her partner in the corner. May came in and wanted dueling superplexes, but instead, Cameron & Saraya hit simultaneous sunset bombs for two. Both took way too long to follow up, allowing Storm & May to block boots, slowly place them down and laying smooches on Cameron & Saraya. May hit May Day, while Storm hit Storm Zero on not only Saraya, but Cameron to get the pin. Post match, Storm was about to do another striptease, when Serena Deeb appeared and laid out Luther with a chair. May was sent outside, leaving Deeb to level Storm with the heel of a shoe. With a chair placed over her, Deeb applied a half crab as refs ran in and pleaded with her to let go. Deeb let the hold go and left, smiling, regaining her Deebs Dojo flag.
-Backstage, The Bang Bang Gang are backstage talking about how Death Triangle needs to earn their Trios Titles shot. At Collision, The Gunns challenge the Lucha Bros to a match and if the Lucha Bros win, the Trios match at Double or Nothing will be for the titles.
Bryan Danielson defeated Satnam Singh (w/Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett) via disqualification
(The match itself was easily the best Singh has looked, as they played the David vs. Goliath story very well. The post match was the main story here, as we get not only the brief return of Tony Khan on the big screen, but Darby Allin with a flamethrower. If Anarchy in the Arena is an anything can happen and probably will stipulation, this was quite the sight to see to end Dynamite on the go home for Double or Nothing.)
This was Singh’s first singles match on AEW TV, as we got the face off to start and Danielson barely is as tall as Singh’s chest. The bell sounds and Danielson fires off kicks, but quickly ate a big boot and massive chop. Singh delivered a delayed vertical suplex, as Danielson went to the outside and was sent into the steps. Dutt tried to clear the announce table, but ended up collapsing the whole thing in the process. Meanwhile, Danielson hit multiple running knees off the apron, sending Singh against the barricade, as he tried for a charging knee, but was caught and chokeslammed on the apron.
Singh ripped off the top turnbuckle and wanted to slam Danielson into it, but referee Bryce put a stop to it. With his attention turned, Danielson hit a low blow and Busiaku Knee, but tried another and ran into the clutches on Singh. Danielson kicked his way out, but Singh hit a violent overhead chop. Singh wanted another suplex, but Danielson ended up on the shoulders, delivering anvil elbows into the LeBell Lock. Before Singh could tap, Jarrett & Lethal attacked, as commentary talked about how the intention was never to win, it was about hurting Danielson.
Post match, Jarrett tried a guitar shot, but Danielson ducked and hit a series of knees on Jarrett & Lethal. Dutt was about to eat a guitar shot by Danielson, but he ducked and Singh just punched through the guitar. Everyone put the boots to Danielson while The Young Bucks made their entrance, raising from the stage, walking to the ring with an envelope of cash they had promised Sonjay Dutt, who took the payoff. Dutt & company left, allowing The Bucks to put the boots to Danielson. The Bucks wanted an EVP Trigger, but Danielson dodged and The Bucks collided knees.
Danielson fought back until the coin drop sounded and Kazuchika Okada walked out from the back. Jack Perry attacked Danielson from behind, as Okada hit the Rainmaker. The Elite dragged Danielson up the stage, as Okada revealed a table just off to the side. We see a car pulling up to the arena on the big screen and it’s Darby Allin arriving, with Tony Khan driving him, as Khan lifted the ban on Allin from the arena. Allin appeared on stage with an actual flamethrower, as Danielson sent Nicholas flying off the stage through the table. Danielson, Allin and a flamethrower were left standing tall, as Okada, Perry & Matthew were hiding behind commentary, while Nicholas’ back was bleeding from the table bump.
AEW Collision 5/25/24
- The Gunns vs. The Lucha Bros
AEW Double or Nothing 5/26/24
- Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage for the AEW World Title
- The Elite (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) in Anarchy in the Arena
- Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone for the TBS Title
- Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita in an IWGP World Title Eliminator
- Timeless Toni Storm vs. Serena Deeb for the AEW Women’s Title
- Roderick Strong vs. Will Ospreay for the AEW International Title
- Adam Copeland vs. Malakai Black in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match for the TNT Title
- Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy
- Chris Jericho vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the FTW Title
- Switchblade Jay White & The Gunns vs. Death Triangle
AEW Dynamite 5/29/24
- Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet – Winner Challenges for The AEW World Title at Forbidden Door
