AEW Dynamite – “Fyter Fest”
August 23rd, 2023
By: John Siino
Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
The show starts with In Memoriam to Terry Funk.
The Elite vs. Bullet Club Gold Never Gets Started
They all start fighting before the match can even start on the outside. Inside the ring, Juice Robinson tries to use a chair but Rick Knox takes it away from him, and Knox gets knocked out as a result. The Gunns follow this with 3:10 to Yuma on Nick Jackson. Matt Jackson is able to escape from one of his own, but Jay White runs in and takes him out with a Blade Runner. Kenny Omega and Colten Gunn start fighting, and Omega hits him with a Snap Dragon. Austin Gunn attacks Omega next, but Omega also takes him out with a Snap Dragon. White and Omega go at it until Konosuke Takeshita runs out and takes out Omega. Bullet Club Gold & Takeshita keep attacking The Elite until FTR comes out and takes out Bullet Club Gold and heads to the back. Back in the ring, Takeshita starts talking crap to Omega, but Omega attacks him and tries the One-Winged Angel, just for Takeshita to escape. No sign of ‘Hangman’ Adam Page ahead of this double-taping with Collision tonight.
MJF is Vulnerable
Renee Paquette is backstage sitting down with MJF and asks about All In. MJF says he will be chubbed up and his pants will be tight, as London loves him. MJF asks for this to be the loudest main event in professional sports, and if he does he’ll buy them all pints. Renee asks if he’s serious, and he says no he’ll let the money mark Tony Khan buy them and asks for this to be edited out. Renee then transitions to the Zero Hour match and asks how much pressure is he facing. MJF says it’s the most he’s ever had in his life and talks about becoming part of the biggest main event in history and brings up all the people he’s surpassed with this in Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, Bruno Sammartino, The Rock, John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, Steve Austin and says how he too can become a ‘giant’ after All In. Renee asks about the authenticity of his friendship with Adam Cole as they show footage from their history and all the times it looked like they were going to turn on each other and calls it ‘glaring cracks in the relationship’. MJF says this is all new to him as he’s never had a genuine friend in his life, and says Cole is not just his friend, but his brother and brothers fight and are competing, but at the end of the day they hug it out. MJF says he’s far from perfect however he’s been vulnerable for the first time in his life and asks everyone to be vulnerable with him, and they will be rewarded. He ends by saying he’s not just a scumbag, but your scumbag.
Jon Moxley vs. Rey Fenix (w/ Alex Abrahantes)
They go at it right away until Jon Moxley catches Rey Fenix from a cutter attempt, but Fenix dropkicks Moxley to the outside where he hits him with two back-to-back dives. Moxley starts tearing the mask off of Fenix, as Bryce Remsburg tells him to stop but Moxley just hits Fenix with a stomp on the outside instead. Moxley keeps attacking Fenix on the outside before sending him back in, where Fenix starts chopping his way up and walks the ropes, but Moxley is able to dodge him. They start running the ropes until Moxley takes Fenix down with a clothesline for a two-count as we head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Moxley is holding Fenix down in an arm submission before hitting him with a piledriver for two. Moxley starts stomping Fenix’s face but Fenix comes right back with a superkick as both men are now laid out. Fenix hits a kick and tries a cutter, but Moxley catches him in a sleeper, just for Fenix to escape out and hit a stomp followed by the cutter for a two-count. Back and forth until Fenix bounces off the ropes with a kick, heads to the top rope, and hits a Frog Splash for an extremely close two-count. Moxley tried a Death Rider, but Fenix reverses into a small package for two. Fenix bounces off the ropes, but they hit heads and both are laid out once again. They get on their knees and start trading forearms, before standing and going into chops. Fenix goes to the top rope, but Moxley joins him and eventually bites Fenix in the face and hits an avalanche Death Rider, but Fenix still kicks out at two. Moxley goes right into the rear naked choke as Fenix eventually passes out.
Winner: Jon Moxley by referee stoppage at 13:37
Fenix Out
Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta run out with crowbars and go to attack Fenix. Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo run to try and help Fenix, but they get stopped by Ortiz. Santana then makes his return as he and Ortiz start attacking Kingston & Penta. The Best Friends & Orange Cassidy ran out to check on Fenix who was knocked out cold after being attacked with the crowbar. We see medical staff come out to take Fenix out on a stretcher.
When we come back, we see Fenix being taken out in an ambulance. Renee tries to get a word with Kingston, who is laughing that it’s her trying to get a word with him and asks if she saw what her husband did. Kingston says if she wants him to fix this, he will at the Stadium Stampede.
It’s Always Sammy
We see footage from earlier today where Renee is trying to get a word with Sammy Guevara, but Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker ask what he’s doing as they all saw him want to join Don Callis. Guevara says friendship can blind you, as Parker says they want to make sure he doesn’t make the same mistake and says it’s always ‘Sammy’ doing this and asks if his ‘friend’ will do this for you.
Chris Jericho & Will Ospreay Contract Signing
Tony Schiavone is in the ring for the contract signing between Will Ospreay & Chris Jericho as Ospreay and Don Callis make their way out first. Jericho comes out with Sammy Guevara. Schiavone mentions there being extra security for this as Callis tries to speak but the crowd won’t let him. Callis brings up offering Ospreay Jericho’s head on a platter and he chose Ospreay over Jericho. Ospreay gets on the mic and asks if Jericho is taking this match seriously or if it’s a vanity project to say his band performed at Wembley Stadium. Ospreay says this match is going to change his life and the day before he wrestles Jericho he’s doing an indy to make as much money as he can to put his kid through school. Ospreay brings up how he will have beaten Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, and soon Jericho this year and how his NJPW contract is going to come to an end in 6 months and asks who will pay big money for him and says he’s better than The Elite, Bryan Danielson, CM Punk & Jericho. Ospreay says Jericho’s legacy is just rocket fuel for his future as he signs the contract.
Jericho talks about how all the dirt sheets predicted that Ospreay would end up in a wheelchair like Dynamite Kid and he called him to tell him to tone it done so he could become one of the top stars in this business. Jericho says Ospreay didn’t have to attack him from behind, as this match was supposed to happen in 2020 before the lockdown, but there is no lockdown now as this will be the biggest show in his career and says it’s not a vanity project, as it’s bigger than any WrestleMania, Tokyo Dome and it means more to him than it does for anybody else. Jericho brings up all the social media dipshits trying to predict his demise and says he has to be the best Jericho he’s ever been and in return, Ospreay has to be the best he’s ever been and tells Ospreay to prove it to his family as he signs the contract. Jericho says Ospreay’s family will be in the front row and to not let him regret he called him and prevented him from being in a wheelchair. Ospreay smacks him as they start brawling with security keeping them apart.
No Issues
When we come back, Renee is sitting down with Adam Cole and talks about his relationship with MJF as they cut to fun highlights from the two. Cole says never in a million years would you think they would become best friends but what he appreciates the most from MJF is that Cole found himself again. This relationship has reminded him who the real Adam Cole is and he’ll love him forever for that. Renee brings up the titles he can walk out on Sunday with and says Cole has been through a lot and what it would mean to become AEW World Champion. Cole says he got into pro wrestling with the intention of being the best wrestler and the AEW World Championship solidifies him as the best in the world and he needs to win the match. Renee brings up Roderick Strong & The Kingdom questioning Cole’s friendship with MJF as we go to highlights of every time Cole showed hints of not being on the same page as MJF. This gets Cole extremely upset and he starts yelling that there are no issues between him and MJF and he walks off.
Tornado Tag Match: Darby Allin & Nick Wayne vs. The Mogul Embassy (AR Fox & Swerve Strickland) (w/ Prince Nana)
They all start brawling in and out of the ring as the match starts with Swerve Strickland sending Darby Allin into the barricade, as AR Fox stops Nick Wayne with a sunset bomb, before revealing he’s still wearing the bloody tank top. Fox follows with an implosion senton to the outside as Prince Nana throws the bloody tanktop into Nick Wayne’s mother’s face. They all head to the apron, where Wayne & Allin escape out with Wayne hitting a double Wayne’s World followed by a Coffin Drop from Darby as we go to commercial.
When we come back, they are fighting in the crowd right in front of Nick Wayne’s mother. They head back inside and all go at it until Swerve & Fox hit a double team power bomb/neck breaker combo on Wayne, but Darby breaks it up before hitting a cannonball into Swerve on the outside by the commentary table (different placement possibly due to Collision being taped later). Darby places Swerve on a chair on the outside, but Fox takes out Darby with a moonsault followed by the Swerve Stomp to Darby who was now on the chair. We see Wayne in the ring bleeding from the nose as Fox & Swerve go after him with Fox hitting a corkscrew brainbuster for a two-count. They continue double-teaming on Wayne and going for pins but Wayne keeps kicking out. Fox goes for a 450 Splash, but Wayne gets out of the way and rolls up Fox for the pin as Darby holds Swerve back.
Winners: Darby Allin & Nick Wayne by pinfall at 9:55
Fox Out Of Mogul Embassy
Swerve gets on the mic and says this is so disappointing and says by disappointing he means in Fox and calls him a loser. Swerve says this was a test and Fox can’t beat an 18-year-old child as Fox tells him that they can talk off the mic. Swerve says he can’t trust Fox especially not in Wembley and tells Nana to handle his light work. Nana says on behalf of the Mogul Embassy, AR Fox is fired as Brian Cage enters and takes out Fox. Sting, Darby & Wayne head back to the ring and run off Nana & Swerve. Darby says he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Fox and he’s always going to credit Fox as he extends his hand and helps Fox up, and tells him he loves him and hugs him. Darby says Swerve is stupider than he thinks and asks who Swerve has for All In, as Swerve & Nana just laugh. Christian Cage & Luchasaurus walk out and Christian brings up knowing about Wayne and the fact that his dad is dead and says he’s never heard of his father Buddy Wayne before so he must not be very good. Cage says since his dad was a fatherless hack, Wayne wouldn’t have much to live up to and says he should stay away from Wembley before he sees someone else he loves be shut in a coffin again. Cage says he will be there because he knows there is no better mentor than the TNT Champion.
The Foundation
Renee is backstage with FTR & The Young Bucks and says it’s been two weeks in a row of FTR coming out to the aid of the Bucks, but FTR says it’s not for them but because they need to know once and for all who’s better between those two teams. Renee says this is the rubber match and asks if this feels like the biggest match in their career. Matt Jackson brings up how it felt impossible to have 10,000 for All In and now it’s the biggest match of their career. Nick Jackson says they don’t have to beat FTR, but FTR needs to win to cement their legacy. Cash Wheeler says it’s one of the biggest shows in pro wrestling history and there’s a lot on the line in this one. Dax Harwood says this is personal for them as Renee asks what this match is about. Dax says it’s about the tag team championship but it goes further than that as it’s about FTR’s legacy and the only tag team standing in front of them is the Young Bucks. Dax brings up his family, but Matt cuts him off that he’s always talking about family and asks how he feeds his daughter, as they are the reason FTR is here. Dax says there is no way that Young Bucks can be on their level and says they are the foundation now and they will see them at Wembley.
Ruby Soho vs. Skye Blue
Toni Storm comes out with Ruby Soho, but Soho tells her she got this tonight. We have insert promos from both, but Sky Blue’s gets cut off as Soho attacks Blue before the bell rings. Soho says she has her eyes on Kris Statlander and the TBS Championship. Soho continues to work on Blue in the corner with chops. They fight on the apron where Blue knocks Soho on the outside with a knee and a kick before hitting a diving crossbody as we head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Blue is in control as she hits a diving crossbody inside for a two-count. Soho blocks the Sky Fall but ends up hitting a neckbreaker for two before they go back and forth with pin attempts. Blue eventually hits the Sky Fall but Soho kicks out. A bit more back and forth until Soho hits the No Future Kick followed by Destination Unknown to get the pin.
Winner: Ruby Soho by pinfall at 7:15
Strong Opinions
Renee is backstage with Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett & Matt Taven and asks what Strong has been thinking lately between Adam Cole & MJF. Strong says that after All In we’ll find out who the real Adam Cole is and who the real MJF is.
The Bad Ass Is Back
The Acclaimed make their way down to the ring with no music or rapping, in street clothes, and ask for a mic. Anthony Bowens says no more fun time and games and tells House of Black to get their asses to the ring. The House of Black make their way to the ring and surround The Acclaimed before they all start fighting. Brody King goes to hit Anthony Bowens with his chain, but Billy Gunn makes his way out to the ring to run off House of Black. Gunn gets on the mic and says they got his attention now and explains what House of Black has done. Gunn says after he got beat he took off his boots, walked out on The Acclaimed, and walked out on a really good career. Then last week they jumped The Acclaimed and hurt one of his kids, but that wasn’t good enough. Then they destroyed his boots and tried and take down a 32-year-old legacy as he has done stuff in this business that will go down in wrestling history. He’s a Hall of Famer and House of Black just pissed all over it and at All In it’s all or nothing and he will take everything and says it won’t be Daddy Ass at Wembley but Bad Ass Billy Gunn.
Collision Line-Up
- Jay White, Swerve Strickland, Luchasaurus & Brian Cage vs. CM Punk, Darby Allin, Sting & a mystery partner (Samoa Joe on commentary)
- Orange Cassidy, Penta El Zero Miedo & Eddie Kingston vs. The Butcher, The Blade & Kip Sabian
- Jack Perry retires the FTW Championship (originally scheduled for tonight’s show)
- We’ll hear from stars in London
All In London Updated Line-Up
- ROH World Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs. Adam Cole & MJF (Zero Hour)
- AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Adam Cole
- AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. Young Bucks
- Real World Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Samoa Joe
- Chris Jericho vs. Will Ospreay
- Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page & Kota Ibushi vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Jay White & Juice Robinson
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Saraya vs. Toni Storm vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD
- AEW World Trios Championship: The House of Black (c) vs. The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn
- Stadium Stampede: Blackpool Combat Club, Mike Santana & Ortiz vs. Best Friends, Orange Cassidy, Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo
- Coffin Match: Darby Allin & Sting vs. Swerve Strickland & Christian Cage
All Out Line-Up
- Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Miro
- TNT Championship: Luchasaurus (c) vs. Darby Allin
ROH World Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) vs. The Hardy (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy)
Aussie Open takes out The Hardys before the bell rings as all four start going at it. The Hardys take control attacking Aussie Open in the corners before clotheslining them both to the outside. They start fighting on the outside before we head to the commercial.
When we come back Matt Hardy is in control, taking out Kyle Fletcher with a back body drop before smashing his face into the turnbuckle pads. Matt follows with the Side Effect to Fletcher for a two-count, heads to the corner, and hits a diving elbow. They head to the top, where Matt hits a superplex on Fletcher followed by a splash from Jeff Hardy that Mark Davis breaks up. Aussie Open starts double-teaming on Jeff as Fletcher hits a cutter to Jeff off of Davis’ shoulders for the pin.
Winners: Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) by pinfall at 8:02, to retain
Aussie Open get on the mic and say there will be no double clothesline or kangaroo kick at All In, and they’ll still be tag team champions. MJF & Adam Cole make their way out and have a face-off with Aussie Open that quickly turns into a brawl. Cole & MJF call for the double clothesline, but Davis escapes, so instead MJF tries the kangaroo kick but Davis takes him out. Fletcher is going to attack Cole from behind, but MJF stops him and sets up for a superkick, Cole misses and almost hits MJF who catches Cole’s foot and they have a staredown. MJF is about to leave, but he puts on the diamond ring, before second-guessing himself and hugs Cole.
