CONTAINS SPOILERS
AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live on TBS from the fabulous KIA Forum in Los Angeles, CA!
Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
The show kicked off with “The CEO” Mercedes Moné’s TBS Championship Celebration!
Mercedes: “Please say hello to your CEO and your new TBS Champion! Wasn’t I worth the wait? Didn’t I tell you Moné changes everything? At Double or Nothing we celebrated five years of AEW and the return of me!
“This past Sunday, Willow and I tore the house down. She gave me the fight of my life. But damn, girl, you are just way too nice. I could have told you that Kris and Stokely were going to screw you over. When you return, I hope you return better than ever and kick Kris and Stokely’s asses.
“Now back to my celebration. Being the CEO and the new face of TBS puts a big target on my back. We are only four weeks away from Forbidden Door…”
Skye Blue appeared on the big screen. She showed footage of when Alex Marvez was interviewing Mercedes and Mercedes got ambushed in the dark.
Skye: “That was some of my best work but I’m just getting started.”
Back in the ring, Skye Blue snuck up behind Mercedes and wiped her out! Skye held the TBS Championship belt while holding down Mercedes with her knee.
House of the Dragon Whose House Match!
AEW World Champion Swerve Stickland (c.) (with Prince Nana)
vs.
The Patriarchy’s Killswitch!
Killswitch shoved Swerve over the top rope with a hand to the throat. Swerve kicked Killswitch and then dropkicked Killswitch, knocking Killswitch to the mat. Swerve nailed Killswitch with a draping neck breaker from the edge of the ring to the arena floor!
Killswitch grabbed Swerve’s arm and yanked Swerve off the ring apron and into the steel ring steps. The champion rallied back with a flurry of European Uppercuts. Swerve suplexed Killswitch. Swerve was looking for Big Pressure, but Killswitch escaped. Killswitch headbutted Swerve and then choke slammed Swerve for a near fall.
Killswitch grabbed a steel chair and almost clocked Swerve with it until Prince Nana grabbed it out of Killswitch’s hands. Swerve took down Killswitch with the Swerve Stomp from the apron to the arena floor. Swerve went for the House Call, but Killswitch choke slammed Swerve and followed up with a standing moonsault.
Swerve ducked the Extinction lariat. Swerve rocked Killswitch with the House Call! Swerve jumped to the top turnbuckle and smashed Killswitch with the Swerve Stomp for a two-count! Swerve served up a second House Call and scored the pinfall victory over Killswitch!
Prince Nana handed Swerve a pair of scissors. Swerve chopped off Killswitch’s braid and took it as a trophy.
Tony Schiavone had an announcement to share from Tony Khan.
Per Tony Khan, Mercedes will have her first title defense tonight against Skye Blue!
It was the debut of TV Time with “The Learning Tree” FTW Champion Chris Jericho!
Big Bill introduced Jericho and the FTW Champ walked down to the ring.
Jericho: “Who wants more TV time? You know I do! I wanted to thanks to all of you branches who sat under the learning tree and made me and Redwood number one. I was able to retain my title at Double Or Nothing. Shibata and Hook dumped me on my head and boy does it still smart.
“Many talk about wanting to sit under the learning tree but very few walk the walk. Let’s welcome to TV Time— “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith!”
Bryan Keith walked down to the ring. Keith and Jericho shook hands.
Jericho: “Now Bryan, I want to ask you, what made you want to get sucked into the Jericho Vortex and become a disciple of the Jericho Learning Tree?”
Bryan Keith: “Chris, I notice a lack of respect for you here in AEW. Honestly, I can’t believe more people didn’t jump at the opportunity.”
Jericho: “The lesson here is if you want something, you go and grab it, and that’s what you did. You’re a bad man.”
Big Bill: “I’d even say he’s a bad apple.”
Jericho: “You’re allowed to stay under the Learning Tree and in the Jericho Vortex as long as you want, Bryan.”
HOOK stormed down to the ring. Security separated HOOK from the ring. Samoa Joe came out of nowhere and whispered in HOOK’s ear. HOOK pointed at Jericho and left with Samoa Joe!
“What did Samoa Joe say to HOOK?” wondered Excalibur.
A video package aired highlighting NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, CMLL World Women’s Champion, and CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Champion Stephanie Vaquer ahead of Forbidden Door!
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match!
Jon Moxley (c.) vs. Rocky Romero!
Rocky went right after Moxley’s arm, walloped Mox with kicks. Moxley grabbed Rocky and pummeled him with hammer and anvil strikes and kicks to the spine. Rocky jumped off the turnbuckle and stomped on Moxley’s arm.
Moxley knocked Rocky off the barricade with a lariat. Rocky turned things around, whipping Moxley into the steel ring steps. Moxley chomped on Rocky’s forehead. Moxley superplexed Rocky back into the ring.
Jon Moxley planted Rocky with an explosive cutter in the center of the ring. Rocky rallied back with a DDT. Rocky applied an arm bar on Moxley. Moxley escaped and put Rocky in the bulldog choke. Rocky snuck out and snapped Mox’s left arm backwards!
Rocky took Moxley off the ropes with a flying arm bar. Rocky pulled back on Moxley’s left arm. Moxley got on his feet and stomped his way out of the arm bar. Moxley hit a King Kong Lariat and then spiked Rocky with the Death Rider for the victory via pin!
Don Callis came down to the ring to present a contract to the newest potential member of the Don Callis Family!
Don Callis: “I have something important to tell you. This contract in my hand is more valuable than gold. This is a contract to work with the Don Callis Family. It’s been one of the great pleasures of my life to be able to scout a talent like Orange Cassidy. In fact, when I see Orange, I see myself.”
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy came down to the ring.
Don Callis: “This is the moment the world has been waiting for, Orange. Orange, you are truly an iconic performer in this industry. You truly are a star wherever you go. You’ve been confused with some bad choices but I’m here to work with you. I’m here to welcome you with this contract to be a part of the Don Callis Family. I already filled it all out for you.”
Orange took the contract and ripped the paperwork in half!
Orange: “Hey, Don, no.”
Orange turned to walk away, and Don pulled him back!
Don: “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Stokely Hathway and Kris Statlander walked down to the ring!
Stokely: “Orange, I don’t like the way you walk or talk. You’re just like Willow. The only reason I’m out here is because of Kris.”
Kris: “On behalf of my best friend, I’m here to announce that he accepts your invitation to the Don Callis Family.”
Trent appeared in the ring and ambushed Orange Cassidy with a charging strike! Trent ground and pounded Orange, beating Orange to a pulp.
“Orange Cassidy is busted open!” said Excalibur.
Trent and Don Callis hugged, and at their feet, a bloody, battered Orange writhed in pain.
“Trent Beretta is in the Don Callis Family!” said Taz.
Renee Paquette was backstage with “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard and Daniel Garcia!
Garcia: “This place is full of blood hungry killers, and I love it. But I feel like I’m trudging through mud. I feel like it might be time to take these muddy boots and walk across the red carpet. Will Ospreay, I’m going to climb up the rankings and take that title from you. I’m going to make your bags lighter on those international flights, respectfully.”
TBS Championship Match!
“The CEO” Mercedes Moné’s (c.) vs. Skye Blue!
Skye whipped Mercedes into the corner. Mercedes dodged Skye and countered with an arm drag. Mercedes smashed Skye with a diving meteora from the apron to the arena floor. Skye rallied back with a draping neck breaker for a near fall on Mercedes.
Mercedes cracked Skye with a backstabber. Mercedes climbed the turnbuckles, but Skye kicked her in the face. Skye went for a power bomb, but Mercedes reversed it. Skye Blue hoisted up Mercedes and planted her for a near fall. Skye went for the Code Blue, but Mercedes countered with the Moné Maker and pinned Skye Blue!
After the match, CMLL’s Stephanie Vaquer walked onto the ramp and held up her NJPW Strong Women’s Champion title!
Mercedes grinned and held up her TBS Championship title.
Renee Paquette was backstage standing outside of the AEW Medical Staff’s room.
Renee was looking for an update on Orange Cassidy after he was attacked early by Trent.
Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway walked onto the scene and interrupted her.
Stokely: “Excuse me. Willow Nightingale. You never cease to amaze me, and I don’t mean that in a good way. Willow, this started weeks ago. The four-way for the TBS Title back in March. You were in that match with Kris, and you didn’t listen to Kris about how much she wanted that belt. But I listened. Ladies and gentlemen, the new and improved Kris Statlander.”
Statlander: “Thank you. I do something for myself once and I get booed for it. This is exactly why I had to make the change that I did. I am done being the protector. You’re all going to need protection from me!”
A video package aired showcasing the return of MJF and his signing with AEW for the long term!
Up next: The EVPs—AEW World Tag Team Champions Matthew and Nicholas Jackson—addressed the future of the TNT Championship after the devastating injury to TNT Champion Adam Copeland at AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING this past weekend!
Matthew and Nicholas Jackon were joined by the rest of The Elite—AEW Continental Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada and “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry.
Nicholas: “What a fantastic week it’s been for the Elite. On Monday we released our Reebok Pumps on Champssports.com and it’s become the hottest selling Reebok shoe in multiple years. And that performance by these two, our colleagues, they were unbelievable, so me and Matthew came out here bearing gifts. It’s a small gift Okada, but take a look, we got you something.”
A custom Lamborghini pulled up outside the arena for Okada!
Okada: “Oh my god! Is this a dream?”
Nicholas: “You deserve it!”
Matthew: “Onto business. At Double Or Nothing at the TNT Championship Match, Adam Copeland was badly injured. And that’s on me. Because before he walked out, I told Adam to break a leg. I jinxed him and I’m sorry about that. But Adam, we’re thinking about you, we’re praying for you, and we hope you come back stronger. I’m sorry, man, that just sucks.
“However as EVPs we have to make the tough decisions. So, Adam Copeland, tonight you are hereby stripped of the TNT Title. But the network is all on our case and they said we need a new champion. And we know just the guy.
“After the biggest pinfall victory of his entire career at Anarchy in the Arena, I present to you the newest TNT Champion “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry!”
Christopher Daniels: “Wait just a second. The last time we spoke we were talking about some kind of severance package for me. But I wanted to let you know that I don’t need that package anymore because I’ve got a brand new job. Tony Khan has named me the interim executive vice president which means when I make an announcement it’s coming directly from Tony Khan himself.
“Now as far as this championship goes, we’re not giving it away. We’re AEW, where the best wrestle. Jack Perry if you want to be a champion in this company, you’ve got to earn it. And you’ll do just that. Because in the next few weeks, we’re going to have qualifying matches. Matches with no seconds, no managers at ringside, no outside interference. The winners of those matches will go on to Forbidden Door to wrestle for the vacant TNT Championship in a ladder match! And the first qualifying match is going to happen on Rampage this Friday night!”
Matthew: “We’re happy that you’re back. Let’s go tell him how happy that he’s back here in AEW.”
The Elite left the ring and approached Christopher Daniels until The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass walked out to even up the odds!
“That should slow down the Elite. The Acclaimed with a big save for Christopher Daniels,” said Excalibur.
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland was backstage with Prince Nana!
Swerve: “At Double Or Nothing I got to take down Christian Cage. Tonight, I gave Killswitch a kill shot. Now I’m curious to see who my next challenger is going to be. Who’s going to be the next contender against Swerve for the AEW World Championship? I’ll be watching.”
Rush was backstage and had strong words for MJF ahead of MJF’s return to Dynamite next week!
“MJF, remember, you mess with the bull, you get the horns!”
Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet Match!
The winner will face the AEW World Champion at FORBIDDEN DOOR 2024!
“Switchblade” Jay White was the first entrant. “The Bastard” Pac came to the ring next.
Pac went right after Jay White with a pump kick! Pac whipped Jay White into the barricade. Pac took down Jay White with a step up hurracanrana in the ring. Pac blasted Jay White with a shotgun dropkick off the top rope for a near fall.
The third entrant was CMLL’s Mistico! Mistico took down Pac with a thrust kick. As Jay White and Pac slugged it out on the arena floor, Mistico took flight off the top rope with a cross body press, knocking both men down!
The fourth man was newly crowned AEW International Champion Will Ospreay! “The Aerial Assassin” chopped at Jay White. Pac jumped in and rolled up Ospreay for a near fall. Mistico rocked Pac with a thrust kick. Shota Umino was the next contestant to enter the match!
Umino clubbed Mistico. Umino hit a running uppercut to Ospreay. Umino connected with a dropkick to Will! Umino spiked Ospreay with two DDTs! Umino went for the cover, but Jay White broke up the pin. Jay White blistered Umino’s chest with chops.
Out next—Claudio Castagnoli! Claudio booted Umino. Claudio plastered Pac with a running European Uppercut. Claudio hurled Jay White in the Giant Swing! Lio Rush was the next wrestler to enter the match. Lio had a stare down with Claudio. Lio threw his body into Claudio. Lio clocked Umino with a toe kick.
Orange Cassidy staggered to the ring, bandaged up. Orange hit the Stun Dog Millionaire and then a DDT on Claudio. Jay White jumped in and dropped Will with a dragon suplex. CMLL’s Hechicero came into the match next! Hechicero put Ospreay into an arm bar, but Ospreay escaped thanks to offense from Orange. Mistico wiped out Hechicero with a diving hurracanrana.
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Juice Robinson ran to the ring and assisted Jay White, knocking Pac off the turnbuckles. Ospreay nailed Jay White with the Hidden Blade! Will served up an Os-Cutter to Orange and pinned Orange!
“The AEW International Champion has earned a shot at the AEW World Champion at Forbidden Door on June 30th!” said Excalibur.
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana came to the ring!
Swerve and Ospreay had a stare down as the show went off the air!
***Special Programming Notes: This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 6:30ET/3:30PT on TNT!
Don’t miss AEW Collision on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, CA!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Blue Arena in Loveland, CO!
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com