This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite emanates from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois! Jamie Hayter and Queen Aminata battle in an International Women’s Cup pre-qualifier. The 2024 Continental Classic begins. Chris Jericho defends the ROH World championship against Tomohiro Ishii, and more!
We break it all down in this week’s AEW Dynamite recap!
Continental Classic Blue League: Mark Briscoe vs. Shelton Benjamin (w/ MVP & Bobby Lashley)
Benjamin comes down to the ring alongside MVP and Lashley. MVP says he has an announcement. MVP says he is standing in between two of the finest athletes to ever grace a pro wrestling ring. MVP says when he offers someone his business card, it’s like giving someone a gold ticket to change their life for the better. Swerve Strickland, however, chose to not accept it, and took a loss from Lashley at Full Gear. MVP points out that Strickland is a former champion, but Lashley is the most dangerous man in AEW. MVP reiterates that the Hurt Syndicate are here to take championships, then leverage them for power. MVP adds that they hurt people as well.
Mark Briscoe comes to the ring as MVP and Lashley head to the back. Briscoe and Benjamin shake hands. Briscoe kicks Benjamin. Benjamin responds with a back body drop and knee to the back of Briscoe. Briscoe connects with a series of forearms, then kicks Benjamin to the outside. Benjamin whips him into the barricade, then into the steel steps. Briscoe pushes Benjamin into ring post, then dives onto him to the outside. Briscoe ascends the top rope, only to have Benjamin toss him across the ring.
Back from break, Benjamin and Briscoe trade forearm strikes. Briscoe then chops Benjamin before following up with a rolling slam. Benjamin rolls to the outside. Briscoe jumps off the apron, landing down with an elbow. Benjamin tosses Briscoe across the ring with a German Suplex. Briscoe goes for a Jay Driller, but Benjamin counters. Benjamin hits Briscoe in the face with a running knee and a thrust kick for a near fall. Benjamin hits another thrust kick and a powerslam for the win.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Mercedes Mone joins Tony Schiavone on the stage with Kamille standing by her side. Schiavone points out that Mone and Kris Statlander made history at AEW Full Gear. Mone acknowledges Statlander as a good competitor, but she is the TBS Champion. Mone turns to Kamille and looks to fire her, but Kamille interrupts, saying she quits instead. Mone then screams in anger.
ROH World Title: Chris Jericho (c) (w/ Big Bill & Bryan Keith) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Jericho and Ishii trap chops until Ishii connects with a German Suplex. Jericho responds with one of his own. Ishii chops Jericho on the apron, but Jericho spikes him with a DDT. Jericho slams Ishii into the announce table, then rolls him back into the ring. Ishii chops Jericho again. Jericho responds with a series of his own. The two then trade slaps. Jericho’s mouth begins to bleed.
Back from break, Ishii goes up top, where Jericho joins him. Jericho takes Ishii to the mat with a superplex. Ishii reaches his feet and elbow strikes Jericho. Jericho looks for a kick, but Ishii catches his leg. Ishii elbows Jericho some more. Jericho retaliates with a German Suplex. Ishii connects with a kick to the back of Jericho’s head. Jericho slams Ishii to the mat and follows up with a Lionsault for a near fall. Jericho rocks Ishii with a Codebreaker, then looks for the Wall of Jericho. Ishii, however, escapes and spears the champion.
Ishii takes a page out of Jericho’s playbook by hitting a Codebreaker. He follows up with a lariat for a near fall. Ishii knocks Jericho to his knees with an enziguri. Jericho fights back with a pair of Judas Effects for the win.
Winner (And Still): Chris Jericho
Backstage, Renee Paquette is with Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana. Strickland ponders how he’ll rebuild after losing to Bobby Lashley at Full Gear. Strickland is interrupted by Max Caster. Caster mocks Strickland, prompting Strickland to ram him into a nearby chest and punching his face.
We Hear From “Hangman” Adam Page
Tony Schiavone asks Page about what seems to be a temporary alliance with Christian Cage. Page threatens to kick Christopoher Daniels down on his ass if he wants to get in his way. Page says he kept up the end of his deal with Cage at Full Gear, and if Cage had kept up his end, he would have been the AEW World Champion heading into Thanksgiving. Page says the AEW World Championship should be his. This prompts the arrival of Jay White.
White asks Page what happens in his match with him at Full Gear and WrestleDream. White points out that Page lost both of those matches, so if anyone will knock off Moxley, it’ll be him. White says he will happily give Page another taste of him tonight. From behind, Pac attacks White. Wheeler Yuta attacks Page form behind, with Pac joining in. White momentarily saves Page, only for Page to drop White with a lariat.
Marina Shafir runs in and strikes Page with a briefcase. She then looks to hit White with it, but White ducks. White looks to nail Shafir with a Bladerunner, but Jon Moxley pulls him off of her. Moxley cinches in a headlock. Shafir then kicks White and traps him in a chokehold. The Death Riders collectively stomp on White. Pac slams the briefcase onto his head. Death Riders then leave through the crowd.
Continental Classic Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Ricochet
Claudio slams Ricochet to the mat. Ricochet looks for a hurricanrana but Claudio blocks it. Ricochet kicks Claudio and looks for another, but Claudio catches him and drops him on the barricade. Claudio whips him into another barricade. Ricochet takes Claudio down with a dropkick and a dive to the outside. He then rolls Claudio back into the ring. Ricochet goes up top, but Claudio pushes the ropes, causing Ricochet to lose his balance and fall.
Back from break, Ricochet sends Claudio to the outside and follows him with a dive. Ricochet goes up top, landing a hurricanrana and dive to the outside. Back in the ring, Ricochet hits a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Ricochet kicks Claudio and goes for another springboard, but Claudio catches him with an uppercut. Claudio follows up with a double stomp and a Sharpshooter. Ricochet tries to claw his way to the ropes, but Claudio pulls him back to the center of the ring. Claudio then transitions to a crossface. Ricochet reverses into a roll-up.
Ricochet plants Claudio for another near fall, but Claudio kicks out. Claudio whips Ricochet into the barricade on the outside. Claudio plants Ricochet crotch-first on top of the barricade. Ricochet returns to the ring. Claudio turns him inside out with a lariat for the win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Backstage, Kyle Fletcher is with Don Callis. Callis says he leave no stone unturned and at Full Gear, they left him skinned. Callis warns that The Don Callis Family is just getting started. Fletcher says the Continental Classic belongs to him.
We Hear From Adam Cole (w/ Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
Cole says he’s tired of playing games with MJF. Cole threatens to beat MJF within an inch of his life once he’s able to get his hands on him. Kyle O’Reilly emerged with a mic in hand. O’Reilly says Cole fought MJF and it didn’t work out, so O’Reilly offers to fight him instead. Cole says he doesn’t want his friends to fight his battles, so he wants to be the one to fight MJF. O’Reilly clarifies that he’s offering to fight MJF for Roderick Strong
MJF appears on the Titanton. He says he’s not interested in fighting either of them. MJF says he’s instead focused on the Dynamite Dozen battle royal next week. Cole announces his entry into the battle royal, as does O’Reilly.
Wrestle Dynasty International Women’s Cup Pre-Qualifier: Jamie Hayter vs. Queen Aminata
Hayter and Aminata lock up, with the former pushing the latter into the corner. Hayter whips Aminata to the mat with an arm drag. Aminata plants Hayter with a head toss in response. Hayter delivers an elbow strike, then bashes Aminata’s head into the turnbuckle. Hayter follows up with a pair of chops. Aminata fires off with her own. Hayter suplexes Aminata back into the corner.
Back from break, Hayte looks for a lariat, but Aminata counters with a snap suplex. Aminata charges in with a massive kick to Hayter. Hayter looks for a high boot, but Aminata catches her, sending her face first to the mat. Aminata goes up top. Hayter rolls out of the way, and lands backbreaker. Aminata rolls up Hayter, but she kicks out. Hayter reveres into a pinfall attempt of her own, before locking Aminata in a chokehold. Aminata breaks it with a pinfall attempt. Hayter finally wipes out Aminata with a lariat for the win.
Winner: Jamie Hayter
After the match, the lights flicker off and on, teasing the return of Julia Hart. But Hart never appears.
Meanwhile, Mina Shirakawa joins Renee Paquette for an interview. Shirakawa says she knew Mariah May would eventually betray her, but she never wanted it to happen. Shirakawa says we’ve now seen the real, selfish Mariah May. May sneaks up behind Shirakawa and repeatedly hits her with the AEW Women’s Championship. May says she wants Mina.
Continental Classic Gold League: Brody King vs. Darby Allin
Allin and King shake hands. King pushes Allin to the mat. Allin tries to kick King, but he catches his leg. King flips Allin back onto the mat. King chops him in the corner, then crushes him. King tosses him across the ring again. Allin sits atop the top rope, but King chops him down to the outside.
Back from break, Allin and King roll back into the ring. King places Allin atop the turnbuckle and strikes him from the back. Allim then positions Allin upside down and charges at him with a cannonball. Allin and King meet at the top again, though Allin bites King’s hand this time. Allin sends King crashing to the mat for a near fall, then dives onto him through the ropes. Allin ascends the ropes and descends with a pair of Coffin Drops.
Allin goes up top again for another Coffin Drop, but King catches him. King locks Allin a chokehold before transitioning into a Piledriver for a win.
Winner: Brody King
After the match, Claudio Castagnoli approaches the ring with a chair. King returns to the ring and stares him down.