AEW Dynamite
June 19, 2024
By: John Siino
EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
RESULTS
*MJF over Rush via pinfall (14:19) (Recommended)
*Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Dante Martin over Zack Sabre Jr., Roderick Strong, Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita via pinfall (16:41) (Recommended)
*AEW World Tag Team Title Eliminator: The Acclaimed over The Young Bucks via pinfall (10:18)
*Owen Hart Foundation: Kris Statlander over Nyla Rose via pinfall (7:50)
*Daniel Garcia over Rhett Titus (1:00)
*Owen Hart Foundation: PAC over Claudio Castagnoli via pinfall (11:06) (Recommended)
MJF vs. Rush
Excalibur introduces the show with ‘It’s Juneteenth, you know what that means’ as we start with this match being commercial-free, being MJF’s first match since Worlds Ender on December 30th, 2023. They start the match fast, trading strikes before going into a chop exchange, as MJF gets the crowd behind him before hitting an eye poke. Rush takes control over the next couple of minutes and sets up MJF in the corner for Bull’s Horns but pulls back and taunts the crowd. You could have won the match, Rush!
MJF tries to mount a comeback, but Rush takes over and goes for the Bull’s Horns again, but this time MJF is able to dodge it. MJF goes for a couple of pin attempts, including hitting a DDT for two. They continue going back and forth before MJF slips off the middle rope, right into a punch by Rush followed by a Piledriver for two. Rush hits a ‘Rush-erman Punch’ knocking MJF to the outside, where Rush starts tossing MJF against the barricades. MJF is shown busted open from the nose, as Paul Turner stops Rush from using a chair. As Turner is putting the chair away, Rush starts whipping MJF with a cable before Turner finally breaks it up. Rush stays in control, taking out MJF with a suplex off the apron, before trying the Bull’s Horns back inside but gets stopped with a lariat from MJF. MJF follows with ten punches in the corner with the bite, a Heatseeker, and a brainbuster to get the pin and the win.
Winner: MJF by pinfall at 14:19
We see Cage of Agony & Hechicero on the screen, as Brian Cage says he has Hechicero ready to fight MJF at Forbidden Door.
Word Of The Day Is Vengeance… and Redemption
Renee Paquette is in the back with Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Dante Martin and asks Orange about Dante joining their alliance. Orange tells Renee to get a word with Briscoe instead, as Briscoe talks about the word of the day being both vengeance & redemption, as Jack Perry walks through the shot. Briscoe tells him to get the hell out of the way and gets all amped and starts yelling into the camera as the rest of his team gets hyped. Orange asks Renee if she wants one of his bracelets before asking ‘Who is that guy?’
Swerve & Ospreay Get Personal
Will Ospreay heads to the ring for the face-to-face with Swerve Strickland, who comes out accompanied by Prince Nana. Ospreay says last time they were in the ring together Swerve said that he can’t carry the weight of both worlds, but funny enough is very well capable of doing that. He talks about holding three different championships in three different continents at the same time and Swerve is about to find out that he is the best wrestler in the world today. Swerve says that he is the best wrestler in the world and talks about carrying two worlds also in wrestling and the entertainment world, and has been doing it all by himself. Swerve reminds Ospreay that he didn’t beat Kenny Omega by himself at Forbidden Door, and asks if he will get on the phone with Don Callis to try and take the title from him. Ospreay says he doesn’t need Callis, or The Don Callis Family and he can do this by himself, as we see The Family in the back looking angry.
Ospreay says All In was only the start of the Summer of Ospreay, as after that it was Kazuchika Okada, Shingo Tagaki & Chris Jericho, and says while Swerve had a ‘Hit Row’, he had a hitlist and didn’t miss. Ospreay says the ‘Killshot’ Swerve promised might be a few centimeters off and that he doesn’t need a certain move to win, but the pain that Swerve would feel from the Tiger Driver will make sure Swerve doesn’t walk. They continue comparing their main event spots before Swerve says that Ospreay has new friends dancing with Mercedes Mone’ and Shota Umino, while he doesn’t have friends anymore as he got rid of them. Swerve asks if he breaks Ospreay’s arm or leg, who will he be then? Swerve talks about how he would be the same, no matter how they change him, and talks about Ospreay having to sacrifice his family and not being ready for that, but Ospreay cuts him off and tells Swerve to not dare mention his son again and to not make this personal. Nana interrupts and says this is not the place or the time, and they need to save that fire for Forbidden Door. Ospreay takes the mic before Nana can ask who’s house and says it’s his and starts to leave. Swerve then stops him and asks if he does want to make it personal because it’s always personal and tells Ospreay to send his regards to Al & Harry, as Ospreay re-enters and gets right in Swerve’s face.
We go back to The Don Callis Family as Trent Beretta says that Ospreay betrayed the Family, as Callis tells them that he knows Ospreay better than his mother, and this is all going to be fine. They walk off, with Kyle Fletcher standing there looking conflicted.
Zack Sabre Jr., Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Roderick Strong (w/ Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly & Dante Martin
Commentary brings up that Don Callis is not out for this match, and how it could be due to him trying to calm down Trent Beretta as Orange Cassidy & Zack Sabre Jr. start the match. This doesn’t last long as Mark Briscoe & Kyle Fletcher start brawling instead with Fletcher taking him out with a tope suicida before Kyle O’Reilly takes out Fletcher with a knee off the apron. Briscoe introduces a chair in the ring, that Orange ends up using to sit on before getting trapped in the ropes by Sabre, as Briscoe finally launches himself off the chair. Dante Martin follows with an amazing double springboard off the ropes before diving onto everybody on the outside as we head to picture-in-picture.
We come back, as Forbidden Door opponents in Orange & Sabre are going at it. O’Reilly tags in and starts kicking away at Roderick Strong & Konosuke Takeshita, before Strong is able to take control and mount O’Reilly with punches as Tony Schiavone questions their friendship. Martin starts going on a flurry, with Fletcher even taking the bullet for Takeshita before helping him with a super double team power bomb off the top rope, but everybody runs in to break up the count as we go back to picture-in-picture.
We come back, as Briscoe is fighting off Fletcher & Strong, before hitting a rolling Death Valley Driver on Takeshita and hits a Froggy Bow, followed by a diving knee from O’Reilly, a frog splash from Martin, and an elbow drop from Orange but the rest of Takeshita’s team runs in to break it up. Non stop action here from all running in and out of the ring, including Orange reversing Takeshita into a Stundog Millionaire, before getting dove onto by Martin who then dives to everybody else on the outside. Sabre & Orange reverse back and forth until O’Reilly breaks up the pin attempt from Sabre. O’Reilly then takes a bullet for Orange, as Orange then hits the Orange Punch on Strong to get the pin and the win.
Winners: Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Dante Martin by pinfall at 16:41
As Dante Martin is leaving, he gets attacked from behind by Jack Perry. As Mark Briscoe runs up the stage, he gets attacked and sent to the back with Konosuke Takeshita as Orange Cassidy & Zack Sabre Jr. have a face-off in the ring.
La Jefa
We see a video of Mercedes Mone’ training getting ready for Stephanie Vaquer while thanking Vaquer for sending her partner Zeuxis last week to try to ‘soften her up’. Mone’ says Vaquer might be La Primera, but she’s La Jefa says there is a price to pay when you mess with Mercedes Mone’.
We see Rush in the back after his loss to MJF, as Don Callis walks in and says he has an opportunity for him.
AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match: The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) (c) vs. The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)
Justin Roberts gives a very exaggerated introduction for The Young Bucks describing what they are wearing. No Billy Gunn with The Acclaimed, as Max Caster’s mic gets cut off right when he goes to do his rap. We see Kazuchika Okada in the back playing with the equipment and saying he is so sorry for pressing the wrong button, before pretending to cry and say ‘I’m so sorry, bitch’. They brawl before the bell rings before all four enter and the match officially starts. Taz & Tony Schiavone have a call-back and try to recreate their hilarious exchange a couple of weeks ago about ‘calling the match’. Caster gets sent to the outside as Nicholas Jackson stays on top of him, going into picture-in-picture.
We come back as Anthony Bowens tries to stay in control but his injured leg gives out as Mattew Jackson hits him with a super kick for a two. The Bucks stay in control, hitting Bowens with a Senton off the ropes, but Caster is there to break up the count. They try the EVP Trigger, but Bowens is able to catch both of them and punch them off. The Bucks take over again and pump up their Reeboks before delivering a double superkick, but Caster breaks it up again just in time. They knock Caster to the outside as Bowens prevents a TK Driver on him but during all this Matthew hits a low blow on Bowens. They follow this with the EVP Trigger, but Caster breaks up the pin yet again. Nicholas takes out Caster with a dive to the outside and sends him over the barricade. The Bucks follow with a double team Sliced Bread, but Bowens is able to kick out. Excalibur says that could be because Bowens bounced from that move. Okay. Matthew goes to use a title, but Rick Knox takes it away as Nicholas takes out Matthew by accident with the other title. The Acclaimed quickly take advantage as Caster runs in and hits the Mic Drop to get the pin and the win.
Winners: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) by pinfall at 10:18, to receive a future AEW World Tag Team Title shot.
Billy Gunn runs out after to celebrate with them.
Best Chopped Cheese
We go to Hook & Samoa Joe in the back, as they start talking about the best chopped cheese being from New York. No lies told. They bust into a room, just to see a note from Mark Sterling for them to face The Premier Athletes on Collision, as we hear camera-man Katsuyori Shibata saying ‘he’s going to smash those bitches’.
Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa Contract Signing
Mariah May is in the ring and introduces Mina Shirakawa & Toni Storm for their contract signing. May says this match will be difficult for her and understands this is to prove who’s the better woman, but tells them that she loves them both and no matter what happens at Forbidden Door, but before she can continue Mina gets on the mic and tells her to shut up. Mina says Toni Storm was a legend in Stardom and became a star in AEW, but as champion, she got soft and weak and everybody said ‘We Want Mina’ and nobody wants Storm. At Forbidden Door, she will take her title and her girl as she goes to sign the contract.
Storm says if Mina raises her voice like that again to May, she will slap Mina’s tits off. Storm says the buffet is wide open and tells Mina to grab a bowl and line up, and she gives Mina some advice which is to chin up, tits out, and watch for the shoe before signing the contract. Mina grabs the mic and tells May that she must choose between her and Storm, but Saraya & Harley Cameron come out and interrupt them. Saraya says she is so sick of this and them and says she didn’t come alone, as we see Anna Jay show up to help Saraya & Cameron attack Storm, May & Mina. They set up a table in the corner to try and put May in, but Storm runs in and takes them all out with her shoe, before missing a hip attack on Saraya in the corner, and goes crashing into the table.
Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Brackets
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. PAC
- Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi
- Rey Fenix vs. Jay White
- Jeff Jarrett vs. wild card
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Brackets
- Willow Nightingale vs. Serena Deeb
- Nyla Rose vs. Kris Statlander
- Deonna Purrazzo vs. Hikaru Shida
- Mariah May vs. Saraya
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Quarter Final Match: Kris Statlander (w/ Stokely Hathaway) vs. Nyla Rose
Nyla Rose gets a great reaction here, in her home area, and takes Kris Statlander to the outside, but Statlander comes right back and sends Rose to the outside as we head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Rose backs into the corner to get Statlander off of her before taking her out on the other side with a splash and a cannonball for two. Statlander comes right back with an axe kick and gets a two herself. Statlander heads to the rope, but Rose dodges the 450 Splash and hits a back elbow for two. Rose heads to the top rope, but Statlander stops her, hits a high kick, and grabs her right into the Tombstone to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Kris Statlander by pinfall at 7:50, to advance
Stokely Hathaway gets on the mic and says she knows Willow Nightingale wants to beat their asses after what they did to her last week, but if Willow puts a hand on them, she will be put in jail along with Justin Timberlake. Willow gets on the screen and congratulates Statlander to advance, and says she has Serena Deeb this Friday on Rampage, and when she wins to advance to the next round she will whoop Statlander’s ass and one step closer to going to Wembley for All In.
That Doesn’t Work For Me, Hermano
Renee Paquette is in the back with Private Party and says they made quite an impression last week on TV Time and asks if they will be taking that momentum into their match with Komander & Metalik on Rampage. Before they can say much, they get interrupted by The Learning Tree as Chris Jericho gives his branches the lesson that when you face luchadores you always avoid the move of the piledriver, and whenever someone tried to do it on him, he would tell them ‘That doesn’t work for me, brother’. Big Bill says they will be watching their match as Bryan Keith tells them to respect Chris Jericho.
Daniel Garcia vs. Rhett Titus
Rhett Titus goes right after Daniel Garcia, stomping him out in the corner, and starts to mock his dance but Garcia comes right back with a shotgun dropkick in the other corner, followed by a trio of neckbreakers. Garcia applies the front guillotine followed by a DDT to get the quick win.
Winner: Daniel Garcia by pinfall at 1:00
The Gates of Agony go and attack Matt Menard, who was on commentary before Brian Cage & Hechicero join in and start attacking Garcia & Menard in the ring. MJF runs out and takes out Hechicero before biting Cage and hitting double-low blows to Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. As MJF continues to go after Hechicero, Cage takes him out from behind with a German Suplex before Hechicero starts stretching out MJF in a submission. Will Ospreay runs out and takes out all the heels before he and MJF go face-to-face, before helping Garcia up.
After the break, Renee tries to get a word with Ospreay who says he wasn’t there to save MJF, but to help Daniel Garcia. Brian Cage starts getting into Ospreay’s face but gets held back before challenging Ospreay to put the International Championship on the line this Saturday for Collision, which Ospreay agrees to.
Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Quarter Final Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. PAC
Bryan Danielson joins commentary for this match that’s starting at 9:55 pm, as Tony Schiavone reminds us we have an over-run. PAC starts the match by going after Claudio Castagnoli with dropkicks, sending him to the outside where he follows him as they start fighting against the barricades. They announced that MJF will make his return to Collision on the July 6th episode in Memphis before announcing that Bryan Danielson & Shingo Takagi will face off at Forbidden Door in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Claudio & PAC continue to fight, as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, PAC is able to out Claudio with an Asai Moonsault before catching another attempted one, just for PAC to take him out with a DDT on the outside. PAC re-enters with a springboard elbow drop, for a two-count. They go back and forth with Claudio hitting the Giant Swing and a big clothesline for two. PAC escapes out of a Ricola Bomb attempt, as Claudio follows with a Sharpshooter. They go back and forth with pin attempts until the very end where PAC holds on for the pin, which shocks Danielson.
Winner: PAC by pinfall at 11:06, to advance
Rampage Line-Up
- Owen Hart Foundation: Willow Nightingale vs. Serena Deeb
- TNT Championship Qualifying Match: Lio Rush vs. Action Andretti
- Private Party vs. Metalik & Komander
Collision Line-Up
- Chris Jericho & Big Bill vs. Private Party
- AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Brian Cage
- AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Ultimo Guerrero
Dynamite Line-Up
- Saraya, Harley Cameron & Anna Jay vs. Mina Shirakawa, Toni Storm & Mariah May
- Owen Hart Foundation: Jay White vs. Rey Fenix
- Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay vs. Gates of Agony
FINAL THOUGHTS
Going to keep it short and sweet this week, but this was another well-executed show that was able to move everything forward and set up big matches not only for Forbidden Door but also for Rampage, Collision & next week’s Dynamite without anything feeling too messy or jumbled. All this while trying to do three tournaments with the TNT Championship and the two Owen Hart Cups, might be a tough task but great job being able to juggle it all, to be honest.
