This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite emanates from The Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio! The AEW women’s division competes in a Casino Gauntlet to determine the number one contender to the AEW Women’s Championship. Kenny Omega returns to AEW action against Brian Cage. Jon Moxley defends the AEW World Championship against Powerhouse Hobbs. MVP returns to in-ring action, and more.
We break it all down in this week’s AEW Dynamite recap!
Kenny Omega vs. Brian Cage (w/ Don Callis)
Omega and Cage lock up. Omega lands punches and chops on his opponent in the corner, then kicks him in the midsection. Omega targets Cage’s legs with more kicks. Cage drops Omega on his back twice. He then crushes him in the corner. Cage catches him by the legs, but Omega sends him flying with a hurricanrana. Lance Archer emerges on the apron, but Omega wipes him out. When Omega turns around, Cage flips him upside own. Cage rams him into the barricade. As Omega begins bleeding, Cage tosses him onto the announce table. Cage begins talking with the referee, prompting Don Callis to beat down Omega, who lays motionless on the announce table.
Back from break, Cage launches Omega into the ring. Omega delivers a clothesline. Cage hits an F5. Omega looks for a moonsault, but Cage gets his knees up to block it. Cage looks for a German Suplex, but Omega counters it. He lands a pair of V-Triggers, then follows up with a One Winged Angel for the win.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Post-match, Lance Archer and Kyle Fletcher attack Omega. Will Ospreay runs down to make the save. He sends Fletcher to the floor, then rocks Archer with an enziguri. He follows up with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay dives onto Fletcher. Konosuke Takeshita meets Omega in the ring next, where the two trade punches. Fletcher suplexes Omega. Takeshita levels him as well. Ospreay tries to even the odds, but the numbers game catches up to him and Omega.
We Hear From Ricochet
Much to Ricochet’s dismay, the crowd heavily boos him and cheers for “Swerve’s House.” Ricochet says if that’s how it’s gonne be, then a picture is worth a thousand words. He points to a photo of him standing over a bleeding Swerve Strickland. Strickland’s music hits. As Ricochet looks on, Prince Nana hits him with a chair from behind. Strickland swings a chain at Ricochet, but he rolls out of the ring. Strickland then follows him into the crowd and outside.
A video package of Mercedes Mone plays, showing her doing recent media rounds, shopping, and in-ring training. It finishes with Mone saying money changes everything.
Six Man Tag: Mark Briscoe & Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, MVP & Shelton Benjamin)
The Hurt Syndicate charge at their opponents, with MVP and Briscoe fighting inside the ring. Meanwhile, Lashley and Benjamin level Private Party at ringside. Briscoe chops MVP, who then whips him into the corner. Briscoe dropkicks him, then covers him. MVP kicks out. MVP rocks him with a big boot. MVP tosses Briscoe through the ropes. Benjamin launches him into the barricade, then slams him to the floor.
Back from break, Briscoe connects with a shoulder tackle on MVP. MVP tags in Benjamin, while Briscoe tags in Kassidy. Kassidy lands a dropkick, then tags in Quen. They knock Lashley to the outside with a double dropkick. Briscoe follows up with a dive onto Lashley. Quen and Kassidy level MVP and Benjamin in the ring. Benjamin looks for a powerbomb on Quen, but he counters into a Flatliner. Kassidy charges toward Benjamin and levels him. Lashley spikes Quen, while Benjamin German suplexes Kassidy across the ring. Lashley follows up with a spear to Kassidy. Benjamin superkicks Quen for the win.
Winners: Hurt Syndicate
A video package highlights the history of Rated FTR.
We Hear From Jeff Jarrett & MJF
Jarrett says the last few weeks have been humbling for him. MJF’s music hits. He says Jarrett has yet to learn the definition of the word “humble.” MJF recalls Jarrett turning down his offer last week. Jarrett claps back by pointing out that MJF didn’t even bother to end the Casino Gauntlet last week. MJF yells at him for interrupting him. He then says if he retired tomorrow, he’d be a Hall of Famer. MJF calls Jarrett a “pro wrestling Grim reaper” and says looking at his career is enough to make him drink. MJF suggests, for the health of AEW and Jarrett, that he send him back to rehab where he belongs. MJF says he’s a big fan of Karen Jarrett and teases an encounter with her.
Jarrett says everything MJF has said is crude and has been said before. Jarrett further states that the best years of his career are behind him, but last year, the AEW fanbase awakened a passion in him. Jarrett promises to do everything he can to keep that passion going. Jarrett calls out MJF for trying to hurt his feelings. Jarrett, however, used to do the same things before and better than him. Jarrett says he doesn’t know if MJF is a dumbass or a scumbag. Nevertheless, he feels sorry for him sometimes, as MJF was raised by a call-girl mother. Jarrett insinuates that his old lady was messing around with wrestlers backstage last year.
Jarrett says MJF is scared his best years are behind him, and more so of being a one hit wonder. MJF says he didn’t need his daddy to make him a top guy. MJF made MJF. MJF asserts that he is to thank for record PPV buys, ratings, and ticket sales, but then he got screwed out of his championship. MJF says he needs to win the AEW World Championship back to shove it back down everyone’s throats. MJF states that no fan has ever cared about Jarrett. He then claims that Jarrett thinks he’s owed a finale for being friends with the late Owen Hart. Jarrett clocks MJF, then rains down with right hands. AEW officials try to pull him apart, but he escapes. Karen Jarrett then rips him back off of MJF. In doing so, MJF briefly takes hold of Karen before running off.
Christian Cage vs. Hook
Hook attacks Cage on the ramp. The bell rings, with Hook laying in more strikes at ringside. Cage heads toward the back, but Hook follows him. Cage chops Hook, but Hook sends him flying back into the ring. Cage begs Hook for mercy, then hugs him. Hook denies it with a Belly-To-Belly suplex. He follows up with strikes in the corner. Cage rolls to the outside, where Mama Wayne comforts him with a hug.
Back from break, Cage lands a series of right hands, Hook sends him crashing to the floor, then rams him into the steel steps. He looks to crush Cage’s hand on it next, but Cage moves out of the way. Back in the ring, Cage delivers a trio of splashes off the top. Cage hits a spear for a one count. Hook fires back with some lariats and a suplex for a near fall. Cage looks for a Killswitch, but Hook counters into a Fisherman suplex.
Hook looks for Redrum, but Cage gets his legs on the ropes to force the break. Cage launches Hook into the ring post. On the outside, Cage hits a Killswitch on Shibata. He looks for one on Hook in the ring, but he reverses it into Redrum. Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian run in and begin kicking Hook, causing the referee to call for the bell.
Winner (Via Disqualification): Hook
Post-match, Sabian and Wayne grab a pair of chairs. Before they can use them, Samoa Joe’s music hits. He takes out Sabian and Wayne. Shibata follows up with a running knee to Sabian, while Cage and Mama Wayne watch on from the ramp.
Backstage, Dustin Rhode calls out MJF’s disrespectful behavior. He also assures Jeff Jarrett he’ll firmly be behind him. He reminds Jarrett that he’s a multi-time world champion and the last outlaw. Rhodes also says he and Jarrett are the last of their kind.
AEW Women’s World Title #1 Contendership Casino Gauntlet
Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter kick off the action, while Mariah May is on commentary. Hayter kicks Statlander, then looks for a suplex. Statlander counters it and lays out Hayter with a face buster. Megan Bayne enters third. She chops Statlander in the corner, then delivers a splash to her in another. Bayne drops Statlander with a flying clothesline. Bayne drives her into the mat. Hayter breaks up the pinfall attempt. Julia Harter is in next. She and Hayter brawl up the ramp, with the latter delivering a suplex.
Back from break, Willow Nightingale enters. She and Bayne trade strikes. Bayne rocks her with a kick. Statlander lands a jawbreaker on Bayne. On the outside, Hayter slams Hart into the barricade. Nightingale and Statlander work together to neutralize Bayne, then trade chops with one another. Nightingale plants Statlander. Toni Storm enters next and rolls up Nightingale. She kicks out. Storm levels Hayter, Hart, and Statlander. Bayne sends Storm into Statlander. Hart plants Hayter with a DDT. Nightingale then wipes out Hart and Bayne. While Bayne and Nightingale exchanges strikes on the outside, Statlander leaps onto them. Storm neutralizes Statlander. Hart and Hayter brawl inside the ring this time.
Harley Cameron joins the fray. She delivers a high kick to Hart. Hayter sends her across the ring with a German suplex. Hayter lands a Hatebreaker on Hart. Cameron surprises her with a two-count roll-up. Hayter bounces back with another Hatebreaker. Hart blinds Cameron with black mist. Before she can capitalize, Storm rolls her up for the win.
Winner: Toni Storm
AEW World Title: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
The Death Riders surround the ring. Moxley lands a cheap shot on Moxley as the bell rings. Hobbs launches Moxley across the ring with a suplex before raining down with punches in the corner. Moxley and Hobbs trade chops. Hobbs follows Moxley to the outside, where he chops him over the barricade. The two return to the ring. Moxley kicks Hobbs through ropes, then drives him into the barricade with a dive. They briefly trail into the crowd.
Back in the ring, Moxley fires off right hands in the corner. Hobbs drives him back-first into the corner, then bites his ear. Hobbs knocks Moxley to the floor.
Back from break, Moxley hits a cutter. Marina Shafir boots Hobbs in the head as the referee is distracted. Moxley drags Hobbs back into the ring. Hobbs runs him over then lays him out with a pair of clotheslines. Hobbs connects with a splash in the corner. Moxley looks for a Paradigm Shift, but Hobbs counters with a slam. The two meet up top, with Hobbs landing another slam. Moxley reverses into an armbar. Hobbs breaks it, then rolls to the outside. Wheeler Yuta rocks him with a running knee, while Moxley distracts the referee. Hobbs bounces back with a spinebuster. Moxley cinches in a chokehold, but Hobbs shoves him off. As the referee’s back is turned, Shafir hits Hobbs with the briefcase. Moxley hits a Paradigm Shift for a near fall. He finishes off Hobbs with a Bulldog Choke.
Winner (And Still): Jon Moxley
After the match, the Death Riders attack Hobbs with a chair, targeting his knee. Rated FTR run down to even the odds, prompting the Death Riders to retreat.