AEW Dynasty will be the company’s second PPV of the year. The company will have to confirm its strong momentum with its many ongoing storylines, including several babyfaces wanting to take the title from MJF, Ospreay’s vengeance against Jon Moxley, and the never-ending teasing of Takeshita versus Okada. Despite injuries and absences disrupting plans (Penelope Ford, Harley Cameron, Toni Storm), AEW is still on a good run, and their PPVs seldom disappoint.
Zero Hour: Marina Shafir vs Alex Windsor
Windsor became an ally in her fiancé’s, Will Ospreay’s, war against Jon Moxley in this week’s Dynamite. She brought The United Empire, Ospreay’s faction in NJPW, to even the odds against the Death Riders. Shafir has been booked strongly as a singles competitor, beating established stars like Toni Storm and fan-favourite Mina Shirakawa.
However, it seems like her push has taken a step back when she lost clean against Shirakawa after AEW Revolution.
Windsor has the goodwill of the fans since signing, but has yet to get established on her own, having previously been associated with more established acts like Storm and Hayter. A win against Shafir could put her in the good direction.
Winner: Alex Windsor
Casino gauntlet match (TNT championship)
The TNT belt is vacant since Kyle Fletcher has been sidelined with an injury. This leaves AEW with the opportunity to book their reliably entertaining stipulations, the Casino Gauntlet. Not many challengers have been confirmed as of this writing, or as far as yours truly knows, save for Tommaso Ciampa. The former WWE star won the belt in his AEW debut. He is making a strong impression with regular, well-worked matches on TV, but feels like he is roaming aimlessly. The belt could give him more purpose while still doing what he does best, great TV matches.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Chris Jericho vs Ricochet
Sure, it’s great to have Jericho back on TV. But for how long? How long till he, once again, becomes a parody of himself, takes a break, comes back with an old gear and catchphrase and gets praised for always reinventing himself?
Having him feud with Ricochet is not an exciting choice either. Ricochet’s one trick is getting made fun of for being bald, which flirts with third-grade humour, but hey, the crowd is in on it. As great as he is in the ring, Ricochet and the Demand are certified channel turners in AEW programming.
The match should still be good, though. Jericho can still go in the ring. Botches (yeah, I said it) aside, he is smart enough to adapt his work to his age, and Ricochet is as good as anybody in the ring.
Winner: Chris Jericho
The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) vs Konosuke Takeshita & Kazuchika Okada
The Young Bucks, the greatest team of the 21st century, are taking on the reluctant duo of handsome Japanese great wrestlers. Loaded with star power, the match has even more going for it. Takeshita and Okada are finally facing each other in the next PPV, AEW Double or Nothing.
The teasing of Okada and Takeshita has been entertaining and allowed Okada to display his great comedic chops, always finding a way to put down Takeshita, lately by forming a friendship with Fletcher. However, it has taken them far too long to get their blowoff match. Their encounter at WrestleDream was anticlimactic. Takeshita seems to have lost some purpose since then, going from IWGP champion and favourite to win the continental classic to nothing.
The Young Bucks never disappoint and are on a good streak with their excellent match at ALL In against Ospreay and Swerve Strickland, and their latest match with FTR at Revolution. The match should be filled with rising action, high spots, and drama. It remains to be seen to what extent the drama will overshadow the action in a way that makes sense for all characters involved.
As for the winner, there’s no way for a chemistry-less pairing to beat the Young Bucks.
Winner: The Young Bucks
Andrade El Ídolo vs Darby Allin
Darby Allin seems to have started a quest to challenge for the AEW championship. After previously saying he didn’t need the belt, he admitted he had changed his mind. Upon returning, Andrade was in the bunch of challengers for the title belt alongside “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega. He had strong momentum before losing to Adam Page and doesn’t seem to be going for the title anytime soon.
Winner: Darby Allin
AEW Continental Championship match: Jon Moxley (c) vs Will Ospreay
Moxley got the belt when he beat Okada in the Continental Classic final at AEW WrestleDream. This was the culmination of his babyface turn, when, after a difficult start, he showed resilience and managed to go all the way to the end.
While he was working well as a babyface—it can be argued that he is better as one—the return of Ospreay from an injury inflicted by the Death Riders meant they could resume business with Ospreay seeking vengeance.
Ospreay is one of the hottest babyfaces in AEW. While one can wonder if he will go for the world title belt at All in, in his home nation, in Wembley, Ospreay is winning this one to keep his momentum hot in what could be the match of the night.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Thekla (c) vs Jamie Hayter
Just as in her feud with Kris Statlander, Hayter is not presented as a strong contender. Thekla needs stronger storylines to cement herself as a top player in AEW. Being “cool” won’t be enough.
Winner: Thekla
AEW tag team championship: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
This feud became personal when Beth Phoenix got involved. Now that Copeland has finished shooting whatever movie he was in, he can resume this personal feud.
The match taking place in Canada, Cope and Cage could get their feel-good moment and kickstart their swan song as tag team champions.
Winner: Cage & Cope
AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs Kenny Omega
The build to this one has been decent. Omega has improved on the stick, cutting disjointed but ultimately decent promos. The story is that Kenny Omega is older and recovering. MJF is the younger star who beat Omega’s record of longest AEW world champion.
The ageing hero is a classic and compelling trope, but claiming Kenny can implode at any time is preposterous and does not do anyone involved any favour. Omega would be playing hentai fighting games in Ibushi’s basement if it were the case, and AEW would be a careless employer.
The MJF reign is approaching the hardest part. There was excitement early on with multiple challengers lining up (Adam Page, Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland and Andrade el Idolo). As they all get beaten, MJF will be in a new arc, presumably fighting Swerve, Darby and Ospreay at All in.
MJF’s first reign was a mixed bag, with over-the-top defences and a fumbled end. MJF beat the much better and at the time more in shape Jay White only to get squashed at home by Samoa Joe.
MJF is beating Omega in his home nation, which should be a highlight of his current reign and the catalyst for challenges to come.
Winner: MJF
