AEW Dynamite
July 10, 2024
By: John Siino
Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Commentary: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
RESULTS
- Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Final: Bryan Danielson over Adam Page via pinfall (25:46) (Recommended)
- Stampede Street Fight: Chris Jericho over Samoa Joe via referee’s decision (12:32)
- Global Glory Four-Way: PAC over Claudio Castagnoli, Tomohiro Ishii & Kyle Fletcher via submission (11:07) (Recommended)
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Final: Mariah May over Willow Nightingale via pinfall (12:45)
Will Ospreay Calls Out MJF
They started the show by showing highlights of MJF’s promo from this past Collision. It was very smart, as not many had probably seen it going against WWE Money in the Bank. Nigel McGuinness is replacing Taz on commentary, which is very convenient being the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final for Bryan Danielson…
Will Ospreay makes his way to the ring who says he’s not surprised by MJF’s disgusting actions as he had heard rumors about him being one of the most insecure men in pro wrestling. The moment that Daniel Garcia started creeping up on MJF’s popularity, he did everything he could to stop it. Ospreay continues that Garcia is still at home with no feeling in his arms with no certainty about coming back to pro wrestling, while MJF blamed the people. Ospreay talks about him having ADHD and that not being an excuse to be a prick, since MJF brought up his ADD. He brings up the reason MJF is upset because his Bidding War of 2024 not going the way he expected, as Tony Khan would rather spend his money on Ospreay and others. Ospreay brings up being a ‘talentless hack’, and asks that educated, smart pro wrestling fans in Calgary can agree he has more talent on his left nut than MJF has in his whole body.
He represents the foundation of this place while MJF came back with an AEW ‘Bet On Yourself’ tattoo but it should say ‘All About Myself’ and calls MJF a selfish little prick. Ospreay says the moment he steps into AEW he’s been cleaning up somebody else’s mess and he found the guy he has to clean up after. He welcomes the ‘scumbag’ chants for MJF as that’s the best version of him, even though it’s the same old shit for the past 5 years. Ospreay says he’s out for a fight and tells MJF to get his ass out there. MJF’s music hits but he doesn’t come out, instead, we see MJF somewhere with a glass of wine who says the people don’t deserve the privilege of being close to his greatness. MJF says he beat every one of their favorites who were ‘top guys’ and Ospreay isn’t different, just a joke and the flavor of the month. MJF calls Ospreay a ‘toy monkey’ and they will grow tired of him and throw him to the trash like they tried to do with him, but he’s not replaceable. MJF says great wrestlers are a dime a dozen and Ospreay will be replaced by the ‘next flippy guy’. MJF says no fighting Ospreay tonight, because he doesn’t wrestle for fun but for a purpose and the betterment of All Elite Wrestling. MJF challenges Ospreay next week for the AEW International Championship and he’ll keep punching Ospreay in the face until he sees stars. Ospreay calls that adorable and says ‘I’ll see you next week, you little bitch’.
Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Final Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Adam Page (Special Guest Enforcer: Jeff Jarrett)
Nigel says how it would be terrible if someone interfered on Hangman Adam Page’s behalf, as Page comes out and spits in front of Jeff Jarrett, who is the special guest enforcer at the top of the ramp for this match. Commentary talks about Taz being in Calgary, but had to return back to the hotel as he was banned by The Elite. Bryan Danielson goes to kick at Page, but he dodges it, knocks Danielson down, and mounts him with punches before taunting the crowd. Danielson is able to escape out the corner and rolls Page right into a half Crab, but he quickly is able to grab the bottom rope to break it up. Danielson sends Page to the outside where he takes him out with a tope suicida, hitting himself against the barricade in the process. Back inside, Danielson heads to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick, sending Page right into the corner. They fight on the apron, where Page sends Danielson flying into the turnbuckle, spilling to the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, we see that Danielson was busted up during the break and had his head slammed against the steel steps. Page puts Danielson on a sleeper swing as Tony Schiavone brings up Nigel’s matches with Danielson, to which Nigel responds with ‘Don’t talk about the past’. Excalibur says it is official on the 250th episode of Dynamite next week for Will Ospreay defending the AEW International Championship against MJF. They go back and forth before Page hits a Saito Suplex as Danielson is leaking down his face. They fight in the corner, where Danielson hits a Spider-German suplex followed by a diving headbutt attempt, but Page dodges it and puts on the Crossface as Danielson gets his foot on the bottom rope to break it up, as we go back to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Page is able to catch Danielson off the ropes and hits a Tombstone for two. Page heads to the top rope, but Danielson knocks him off as he lands right in front of Jarrett who has moved his seat closer to the ring. Danielson hits a springboard cannonball to Page, which commentary states they haven’t seen from him in a long time. They fight on the outside where Page hits a piledriver, as Doc Samson and Jarrett go to check Danielson right away. Page pushes Samson off before getting into Jarrett’s face and pie-facing him. Danielson just beats the count back inside, where Page is there to meet him with punches. Page now starts ripping the Kinesio Tape off of Danielson who seems to be bleeding even more now, as Danielson is able to recover and hits the Busaiku knee. After some more back and forth, Danielson accidentally takes out Paul Turner with a Busaiku Knee, knocking him to the outside. Page takes out Danielson with a clothesline and then starts whipping and choking him with his belt. Jarrett gets in the ring and tells Page to stop, but Page just shoves Jarrett down. Jarrett gets up and reveals he has a referee shirt on, as Danielson rolls up Page, but only gets two. Danielson puts on the LeBell Lock (with the belt still around his neck), but Page is able to reverse it and hits the Dead Eye, but gets two. Page comes back with the Buckshot Lariat to the back of Danielson’s head before trying a second one, that Danielson is able to reverse into a bridged pin for two. Page puts on the Crossface again as Danielson looks to be passing out, just to raise his arm when Jarrett lifts it. Danielson is able to reverse it and roll up Page to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Bryan Danielson by pinfall at 25:46, to win the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament
Jeff Jarrett & Dr. Martha Hart grab the championship and cup and go to the ring to present it. Hart gets on the mic and mentions how great it is to be in Owen’s hometown and it’s a great pleasure to award the Owen Cup to Danielson who is given the title and raises up the Cup as it’s made official for All In London; Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Championship. Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana make their way out to the ring as we go to break.
The Real Final Countdown
When we return, it’s just Swerve & Nana in the ring. Swerve says Will Ospreay told him the best in the world is who holds this world championship, and he had to silence all the doubts. Now that he defeated Ospreay, you are looking at the best in the world and the AEW World Champion. Swerve congratulates Danielson on winning the Owen Hart Cup and says it’s an honor to face in at All In. He brings up Danielson holding a win over him and how he holds grudges. Swerve calls himself the most dangerous wrestler in this company and talks about The Elite trying to offer him a spot on their team for Blood & Guts, he will be in that match but on Team AEW, and he will lead the team. He will do two things that Danielson failed to do this year, defeat Will Ospreay and lead Team AEW in victory against The Elite. Swerve brings up himself, Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada as the three top guys and challenges Okada and he will ‘show him how to make it rain, bitch’. He ends it by saying at All In it will be Danielson’s ‘final countdown’.
We see a music video from The Acclaimed where they are dissing The Young Bucks called ‘Two Times’.
Stampede Street Fight: Samoa Joe vs. Chris Jericho (w/ Bryan Keith)
Chris Jericho comes out with a cowboy hat and wears it as the match starts just for Samoa Joe to take it and punch Jericho through it. Joe keeps Jericho in the corner with attacks, before they go back and forth for a bit with Joe ending up taking out Bryan Keith with a suicide dive, before tossing Keith over the barricade. Jericho takes advantage of this and sends Joe into the barricade before attacking him with a chair. Jericho grabs a black bag from under the ring and reveals that it is filled with horseshoes that he spills on the mat. Back and forth until Joe catches Jericho and slams him down onto the horseshoes, before hitting a senton for a two count. Jericho comes back and puts on the Walls of Jericho as we go to picture-in-picture, as the hold is still on.
When we come back, Joe is able to escape by grabbing a horseshoe that he smacks Jericho with. On the outside, Joe does a hilarious walk-off as Jericho goes crashing into the steel steps. They take it into the crowd and fight with some popcorn, before taking it to the back. Jericho tosses hot coffee into Joe’s face and tries the Judas Effect, but Joe is able to reverse it into the Coquina Clutch. Big Bill shows up and takes out Joe with a steel chair as Keith reappears and joins in on the attack. Jericho takes a belt that is explained as a gift from Dr. Martha Hart that he attacks Joe with. Bill chokeslams Joe onto a pallet, as Jericho starts driving the forklift and crashes it into a sheetrock wall. Joe is seen unconscious in the rubble as Colt Cabana and others go to check on him. The bell is rung as Joe is announced as unable to compete.
Winner: Chris Jericho by referee’s decision at 12:32
After the break, we see Joe being stretchered into an ambulance as The Learning Tree is seen and Jericho says ‘Thanks Joe, bye bye’
Global Glory Four-Way Match: Claudio Castagnoli (w/Wheeler Yuta) vs. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kyle Fletcher vs. PAC
They announce this match to determine the #1 contender for the AEW International Championship after Ospreay vs. MJF’s match for next week. All four men are already in the ring with no entrances as the match starts, as Don Callis has joined the commentary team. All four go at it, including PAC taking out Tomohiro Ishii with a missile dropkick sending him to the outside, but Kyle Fletcher is there to try and stop him. PAC takes him to the outside as well, but Claudio Castagnoli joins in and tries to hit the Giant Swing, just for Fletcher to stop it. They all go to the outside as Claudio takes them all out with a corkscrew dive, going into picture-in-picture.
When we come back all four men are inside attacking each other. Ishii punches them all off until PAC hits a crazy-looking Poisonrana on Fletcher before PAC gets tossed up for a giant European Uppercut. Fletcher comes back with a Tombstone on Ishii, but he just kicks out before three. Claudio is able to hit the Giant Swing on Fletcher and puts on the Sharpshooter as the Calgary crowd erupts, just for PAC to break it up with a top rope elbow drop on Fletcher and puts on the Brutalizer as Claudio still has the Sharpshooter on. Ishii shows up and starts attacking Claudio with forearms breaks that up, but PAC keeps the move on. Ishii breaks that up, almost slipping up against the ropes as all four men continue with nonstop offense. Claudio & PAC keep breaking up each other’s pin attempt before getting into each other’s face and trading offense. PAC & Fletcher go at it, before PAC heads to the top rope and hits the Black Arrow, and goes right into the Brutalizer. Claudio is right there at the end and seems like a cue might have been missed, as Fletcher taps out ending the match.
Winner: PAC by submission at 11:07, to become #1 contender to the AEW International Championship
PAC gets on the mic and says it’s safe to say things haven’t been going well for him recently. Since returning to AEW in March he has made many bold promises and he has suffered many humiliating failures. He doesn’t know what he will do next but he knows it’s All In season and The Bastard won’t be denied his Wembley moment. Tonight’s victory stands as a line in the sand and The Bastard will be back.
Can I Help You?
Renee Paquette is in the back and tries to get a word with Adam Page. Page walks away as Renee yells at him for some respect. Page bangs on a door as Kazuchika Okada shows up and says ‘Can I help you?’. The Young Bucks come out and ask if there’s anything they can do for him. Page says ‘I’ll do it’, as we all come to the conclusion that he will be joining Team Elite for Blood & Guts.
Mercedes Mone’ Double Championship Victory Toast
Mercedes Mone’ thanks The Young Bucks for the extra security tonight and says she won’t be interrupted. Mercedes talks about being the past, the present & the future and says she’s the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be, which of course gets boos here in Calgary. As far as Britt Baker goes, she won’t face her at All In. If she did face her in the ring, she would leave her more than a few herniated disks and a stroke, and will leave her ‘dead, bitch’. She pours herself a drink for a toast but gets interrupted by Baker’s music. Baker tries to make her way out, but security tries to stop her just to get taken out by Baker. Baker enters the ring, as Mercedes escapes into the crowd.
Darby Wants The Elite
After the break, we see Brandon Cutler in the back before revealing that Darby Allin attacked him. Darby sends a message to The Elite, challenges them for Dynamite 250, and says they are just getting started.
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Final Match: Mariah May (w/ Toni Storm & Luther) vs. Willow Nightingale
Nigel starts running down Motley Crue songs as puns for this match before commentary brings up the fact that Willow Nightingale will be competing for the CMLL Women’s Championship this weekend, with no explanation on what happened to Stephanie Vaquer. Willow comes out with black & yellow ‘Caution’ gear as a tribute to Owen Hart. They start the first couple of minutes going back and forth until Mariah May takes control and wraps Willow into the ropes and hits her with a dropkick. Willow takes control as it’s made official that Adam Page has joined Team Elite for Blood & Guts, as well as Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada next week in a ‘champion vs. champion’ match. Willow sends May outside where she hits her with a cannonball as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, they are going back and forth before May takes control and goes for the pin. Toni Storm is cheering her on from the outside as May waits for Willow to get up and tries a knee strike, just for Willow to block and hit a Fisherman’s Buster for two. Willow tries to hit the Pounce, but May is quicker and hits her with a headbutt and they both fall down. We see someone in a Sting sweatshirt getting into it with Willow, as Kris Statlander shows up and takes out Willow with a kick on the apron, as the person is revealed to be Stokely Hathaway. The referee was somehow distracted by Storm for some reason, as May follows with a knee strike but only gets two. They go back and forth with pins, including Willow hitting a lariat for two. Willow hits a cannonball and puts her on her shoulder, but May reverses it and rolls up Willow for the pin and the win.
Winner: Mariah May by pinfall at 12:45, to win the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament
Toni Storm is extremely happy as she and May go skipping up to the Owen Hart Cup. As May grabs the title though, she attacks Storm with it. She takes out Luther and sends him crashing into a table by the ramp, before attacking a busted-up Storm viciously with the shoe. Aubrey Edwards tries to get involved, just to get shoved down by May. May continues this violent attack to end the show. Wow. What a finish.
Collision Line-Up
- Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tommy Billington
Dynamite 250 Line-Up
- AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. MJF
- Champion vs. Champion: Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada
FINAL THOUGHTS
An excellent first hour here that starts with a great segment between Will Ospreay & MJF who both have compelling cases in their gripes. A bit surprised that the match is happening next week which either is going to end inconclusive or they really want to stack up the 250th episode of Dynamite. Regardless, I can either see them run it back if there isn’t a clean finish or possibly involve Daniel Garcia to make it a three-way. The Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Final was fantastic, with Danielson busting out moves he hasn’t done in years and them really trying to make you think that having Nigel on commentary might factor into the finish of the match. They had me and I’m sure many others fooled and went with the narrative of Danielson
The second hour felt a bit rushed and started with a match that I did not enjoy The execution of the Stampede Street Fight’s finish did not seem vicious enough for Joe to be stretchered out in an ambulance, so I’m not sure if there was more than was supposed to happen there. I got worried after seeing the entrances cut for the Global Glory four-way, but the time constraint might have helped as this match was nonstop and amazing all the way through. The Mercedes & Baker segment might have been affected as well, as nothing really happened and that could have been cut from the show. I was feeling a bit disappointed in the Willow/May match especially after that interference had no real reasoning and into factor into the finish much, but oh boy was that post-match segment more than enough to make up for it. Not that it’s something I wouldn’t expect, but I definitely didn’t expect tonight as usually, the Cup is a bit more prestigious, and something like that I didn’t think would happen, but am I glad it did. Amazing visual of Storm in her black and white while being drenched with red blood coming down her face. Sets up a match for All In fantastically, and only calls for Storm to maybe get some help coming out of it.
Despite a couple of hiccups, the show started and ended extremely hot, and next week’s show seems stacked.
