AEW Dynamite – “Fight for the Fallen”
August 16th, 2023
By: John Siino
Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta
Wheeler Yuta dodges an Orange Punch right away, as he and Orange Cassidy quickly go to take each other down with headlock takeovers and arm drags. Orange teases putting his hands in his pocket but they go right into a chop and forearm exchange. Orange then gets sent to the outside, where Yuta meets him with a dive, but Orange comes right back with a suplex on the outside. They continue fighting up as Yuta hits a piledriver to Orange on the ramp. They eventually make it back inside, where Orange hits the Beach Break for two before they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Yuta is working on Orange’s injured hand but Orange sends Yuta to the outside and hits him with a dive, goes to the top rope but gets stopped by Yuta with a kick and a superplex and a diving splash for two. They run the ropes until Orange’s knee gives out but he’s able to hit a Michinoku Driver for a two-count followed by a big Pele Kick and a spinning DDT. Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley appear from the crowd as Orange tosses his elbow pad in their direction and hits the Paradigm Shift on Yuta while looking at Moxley, followed by the Orange Punch. Orange’s fist bothers him, so Yuta tries the Seat Belt pin, but Orange kicks out. A bit more back and forth until Orange hooks on the pin for the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy by pinfall at 11:49, to retain
Claudio & Moxley run in and join in on a beat down to Orange with Yuta, but the Best Friends run out to fight off the Blackpool Combat Club. As the BCC take control, the Lucha Brothers make their way to the ring as well and take out Claudio and Yuta, as Moxley escapes. Eddie Kingston makes his return and runs down and takes out Claudio as everybody starts fighting until the BCC escapes through the crowd. Kingston gets on the mic and challenges the Blackpool Combat Club and whoever they can find against the babyfaces in a Stadium Stampede match at All In in London.
Sit Down With Kenny Omega
We got to a sit down from yesterday between Jim Ross and Kenny Omega, as Omega talks about having a weird childhood around Don Callis with Callis handing him ‘vials of things’ that he didn’t even know the words of as Callis told him to take vitamins. Omega says he wants to move on and not get Callis to be in his head. Ross brings up Konosuke Takeshita replacing him, as they show footage from DDT with Omega talking about his history with Takeshita. Omega says he has the power to giveth and take it away and the new ‘cash cow’ he will take away. Callis walks in and says they might need a three-hour special because of Omega’s insecurities. As Omega gets up, he gets attacked from behind by Juice Robinson, Jay White & Konosuke Takeshita.
Hangman Page Pretape
We then go to a pre-tape from Adam Page outside of the hospital that Omega was sent to as Page says Omega will have himself and Ibushi against Juice, White & Takeshita in a six-man match at All In. Someone walks in and tells Page he can’t be drinking a beer at a hospital, so Page chugs it down and hands the guy the cage.
Will Chris Jericho Join The Don Callis Family?
Don Callis is in the ring and introduces Chris Jericho to join him. Callis talks about being betrayed by Kenny Omega and feels for Jericho after what the Jericho Appreciation Society did to him. Jericho said it broke his heart when they all walked out on him and it made him realize that maybe he should reevaluate who he is as a person and maybe change his way. Jericho says Chris Jericho doesn’t join factions, Jericho creates them and after what happened last week it’s obvious what the answer is and says yes as the crowd boos. Jericho talks about getting more selfish, back to his roots, and aligning himself with someone just as low as someone like Callis as they hug each other. Callis talks about them going to celebrate now, but Jericho asks what the covered painting is. Callis brushes it off and says they have to go but Jericho insists on seeing it.
As he reveals it, it shows Callis holding the head of Jericho. Callis says it’s a rib, as Jericho asks if he was going to have him beheaded for saying no. Callis says he paid a lot of money to get a picture of him, Jericho, and Bad News Allen but the painter screwed up. Jericho says he knows when Callis is lying and calls him a ‘scumbag low life’ and tells him for the first time in his life to tell him the truth. Callis admits Jericho would say no because of his massive ego and calls him a narcissistic egomaniac and he doesn’t deserve to be part of the Don Callis Family. Jericho asks ‘who the hell is Don Callis’ and says three years ago he wasn’t even in the business and nobody cared. Because of him, Callis is in AEW but still nobody cares. Jericho calls Callis a piece of trash, a low-life, asshole but Callis smacks Jericho in the face. Jericho corners Callis, as Konosuke Takeshita runs out to try and take out Takeshita. Jericho has the upper hand until Will Ospreay runs out and takes out Jericho. Ospreay takes a chair and takes out Jericho with it as Callis calls Jericho a ‘piece of garbage’. Sammy Guevara runs out and stops them from continuing the attack on the bloody Jericho.
Retiring The FTW Title
We get a video from Jack Perry saying that next week he is going to retire the FTW Championship next week on Dynamite as Taz on commentary questions what he just heard.
Darby Allin & Nick Wayne vs. Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
As Darby & Wayne are making their way out, they get attacked from behind by Gates of Agony. As soon as the bell rings, Swerve Strickland & AR Fox make their way out, as commentary mentions Prince Nana not being there. They continue to fight in and out of the ring before going picture-in-picture.
When we come back Gates of Agony are in control of Darby, but Wayne is able to break up the pin attempt. Darby & Wayne dodge them in the corners before Wayne takes Toa Liona to the outside with a hurricanrana. Wayne hits a moonsault to Liona on the outside as Darby hits the Coffin Drop on Bishop Kaun to get the pin and the win.
Winners: Darby Allin & Nick Wayne by pinfall at 6:27
It’s Showtime
We see Sting on the tron and talks about how he is ‘directing movies’ now and says he has a great leading man before saying this is for AR Fox and he better have eyes on the back of his head because they have a Coffin Drop in nine days at Wembley Stadium for All In London. We cut to Prince Nana who’s sitting next to Sting who says it’s actually 11 days away, as Sting says it’s Showtime and screams scaring Nana away, and sings the ‘na-na-na-na, goodbye song’ saying he needs Nana to come back as he needs someone to talk to.
The Bloomin’ Onion
We go to another Adam Cole & MJF segment where MJF says they need to get in their enemy’s minds as they are at an Outback Steakhouse. We see a montage of them ordering food as after MJF says that’s the best food they ever had in their lives but Cole slaps MJF as he’s screaming about the bloomin’ onion. Cole says they have movies to prepare and shows a DVD of Crocodile Dundee part 1 and 2. MJF starts showing Cole a video of kangaroos fighting and says that’s how they can beat Aussie Open and starts doing a kangaroo kick. Cole says that’s a dumb idea they then start ‘hunting’ blown-up crocodiles as someone is screaming about them being there. Cole & MJF double clothesline the guy as Tony Khan starts yelling at them in his office but MJF says Khan will start regretting that in 2024. Khan pops out of his office and asks what MJF says, and MJF says everything is okay.
We see a red Ferrari pull-up as Cole & MJF get out of it. MJF tells Cole he has to use the bathroom, as Roderick Strong comes in a bit too late yelling for Adam, and kicks the tire of the Ferrari hurting himself as Matt Taven & Mike Bennett console him.
Story Time With Adam Cole & MJF
When we come back from break, Adam Cole & MJF make their way to the ring. Cole says if you have a ticket for All In to make sure you are in your seats by 5 PM as he and MJF will become your new ROH World Tag Team Champions on the Zero Hour, as MJF says they will do it with a Kangaroo Kick and get the crowd to chant it. Cole says he was going to say ‘double clothesline’ and brings up that not being the only match as they are wrestling in the main event for the AEW World Championship. Cole talks about him being told he could never wrestle again to being in the main event challenging for the most precious prize in their sport and he’s doing it with one of his best friends. Cole talks about breaking records in his championship runs but winning the match with MJF will solidify himself and says he needs to win this match for himself and he will anything and everything to win the world title.
MJF says that was a great story but too bad his story and asks Nashville ‘who’s ready for story time with MJF’ and says when he first got into this sport on his first day he was handed a sheet of paper to write down his dream opponents and he wrote Cody Rhodes & Adam Cole. MJF talks about putting 90,000 miles on his car trying to make a name for himself on the independent circuit but in 2018 a ‘little birdie’ told him about a show in Chicago run by The Elite and that show was called ‘All In’. MJF says he sent a DM to Cody about giving him an opportunity and promising he wouldn’t disappoint. As the show got closer and closer, he got a response from Cody who said ‘kid, you’re All In’ and that was the biggest night and opportunity in his career, and got to open a Pay-Per-View he had no right to. Even though he lost, he got offered a contract by Tony Khan for All Elite Wrestling and if there’s no All In there is no MJF, and that’s a fact. Fast forward to 2023 where he became a generation talent and one of the best to have ever done it, as the AEW World Champion. And once again, he will be on All In against someone who went from his dream opponent to his best friend and this means so much to him. MJF says only one thing means everything to him and holds up his title as the crowd chants ‘Triple B’ and talks about all the sacrifices he made to obtain it. He says he loves Cole but a win in Wembley will make him legendary and he will win, because no one is on the level of the Devil as he holds the title up. Cole says ‘May the best man win’ as MJF says his catchphrase before Cole does his. As they are giving each other props, Aussie Open shows up from behind them and starts attacking them, but MJF & Cole get the upper hand but fail to hit the Double Clothesline on Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis. As MJF is holding his title up, Cole teases a super kick but doesn’t do it as MJF turns they end up hugging it out.
Jericho Challenges Ospreay
We go backstage as Renee Paquette is with the bloody Chris Jericho who’s getting treated. Jericho tells Will Ospreay if he wanted a match he didn’t have to attack him. Jericho says Ospreay had the match guaranteed in 2021, but now a pandemic won’t stop him and if he wants a piece of Chris Jericho they can have a match at All In and he will make Ospreay bleed and drinks his blood at Wembley and he will get inside his head and embarrass him in front of his family and countrymen and he is coming for Ospreay.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Death Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett
As Jeff Hardy makes his way to the ring, he quickly heads to the back where he gets attacked by Jeff Jarrett, who is there along with his wife Karen Jarrett. Satnam Singh shows up and starts attacking Jeff Hardy, before Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy & Ethan Page show up to take out Satnam and attack Jarrett. Matt pours something all over Jarrett before they get rid of Satnam. Jarrett starts escaping before they head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Jeff Hardy jumps off the equipment onto Jarrett and everybody else (Jay Lethal & Sonjay Dutt have joined in the battle). Everybody starts making their way down the ringside as smoke is starting to come out from under the ring. The Hardys, Kassidy & Page all start ganging up on Jarrett inside the ring as they set up a table and put Jarrett on it. Jeff Hardy heads to the top rope and hits a Swanton to Jarrett through the table, but Jay Lethal breaks up the pin. Kassidy runs in, but Lethal takes him out. Page takes down Lethal, but Sonjay Dutt stops an Ego’s Edge attempt. Matt Hardy goes after Sonjay, but Karen hits him with a low blow. Jeff Jarrett tries to hit Jeff Hardy with a guitar, but he takes it away and hits Jeff Jarrett with it instead. We start hearing chainsaw noises as we see someone dressed like Leatherface come down to the ring and chase Karen to the back. Back inside, Satnam goes after Jeff Hardy, but as Jeff Hardy fights back, Lethal hits him in the back of the head with a hammer. Satnam follows with a chokeslam, as they put Jeff Jarrett on top of him for the pin. Jarrett holds up some ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ title at the end as well.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett by pinfall at 10:04
Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. The Bunny (w/ Penelope Ford)
This is The Bunny’s first match since February, as they battle for the final spot at the four-way match for the AEW Women’s Championship at All In. The Bunny goes right after Dr. Britt Baker DMD taking her down with a knee lift, but Baker comes right back with a neckbreaker. Penelope Ford distracts Baker on the apron, as Bunny takes down Baker with a clothesline. Baker blocks Down The Rabbit Hole before Bunny puts on head scissors on Baker while on the ropes before they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Baker is in control hitting a double under hook suplex for a two-count. Baker tries to set up for the Lockjaw, but Ford takes away her glove as Bunny tries to take control. Baker takes her down with a kick and a stomp to get the pin and the win and the final spot for All In.
Winner: Dr. Britt Baker DMD by pinfall at 7:31
The House of Black Doesn’t Love The Acclaimed
The Acclaimed come down for their match as Max Caster’s freestyle talks about having this locked down like Donald Trump and calls their bald opponents ‘big hairy penises’. The lights go out and when they come back on, we see the House of Black is in the ring instead of The Acclaimed’s opponents and they attack The Acclaimed. Brody King wraps a chain around his fist and takes out Caster followed by Dante’s Inferno on Anthony Bowens. We see Caster is bloody, as Buddy Matthews takes him out with a stomp. Julia Hart takes Billy Gunn’s boots and hands them to Malakai Black to hold up.
The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
The Young Bucks attack The Gunns from behind as they are making their entrance and start to brawl outside a bit until Colten Gunn & Nick Jackson officially start the match. Nick quickly tags out to Matt Jackson as the Young Bucks hit the ten punches to the Gunns in the corners followed by a double dropkick. The Gunns eventually take control, with Colten keeping Matt Jackson in their corner with kicks. Austin Gunn tags in and goes for the pin for a two, before they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, The Gunns are still in control until Matt Jackson is able to roll away and make the hot tag to Nick who comes in with a double crossbody on The Gunns. Nick takes them down again and dodges a Fameasser from Austin, taking him down with a super kick before taking out both Austin and Colten on the outside. The Young Bucks start double-teaming on Austin but Colten breaks up the BTE Trigger. All four men go at it until The Gunns hit 3:10 to Yuma but Nick Jackson breaks it up with a diving stomp. Austin hits the Fameasser on Nick, but Matt dodges him and hits a German Suplex, and tries to pin Matt with Colten’s help, but Nick breaks it up. So instead, Matt rolls up Austin, as Nick assists him and they get the pin.
Winners: The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) by pinfall at 9:36
Juice Robinson & Jay White run out and attack The Young Bucks as the Bullet Club Gold tease breaking Matt Jackson’s arm with a chair until FTR’s music hits. Juice waits for them with a chair, but FTR comes from behind and attacks The Gunns. FTR takes out Juice with the Shatter Machine as the Bucks tease super-kicking Jay White, who gets saved. FTR teases attacking the Young Bucks, but all four have a face-off.
Updated All In London Line-Up
- ROH World Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs. MJF & Adam Cole (Zero Hour)
- Stadium Stampede: Blackpool Combat Club & mystery partners vs. Best Friends, Orange Cassidy, Eddie Kingdon & Lucha Bros
- Chris Jericho vs. Will Ospreay
- Trios Match: Kenny Omega, Adam Page & Kota Ibushi vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Jay White & Juice Robinson
- AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Adam Cole
- AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. The Young Bucks
- Coffin Match: Darby Allin & Sting vs. Swerve Strickland & AR Fox
- AEW Women’s World Championship 4-Way Match: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Saraya vs. Toni Storm vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD
