This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite: Summer Blockbuster emanates from Portland, Oregon! Will Ospreay takes on Swerve Strickland. Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada meet for their title match contract signing. Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne battle Anna Jay and Tay Melo, and more.
Let’s break it all down in this week’s AEW Dynamite recap!
Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana)
Strickland and Ospreay shake hands. Strickland and Ospreay trade arm drags. They counter each other’s moves, then lock up. Strickland connects with an elbow strike. Ospreay’s nose appears to be busted open. Ospreay sends him flying with a hurricanrana, then slams him to the mat. He follows up with a chop to Strickland. Strickland leaps off the top and nails Ospreay in the back of his head. Strickland charges toward Ospreay, but he pulls the top rope down. Strickland then boots Ospreay in the face from the apron. Strickland follows up with a flatliner in the ring. Strickland delivers a backbreaker for a two count cover.
Ospreay chops Strickland. Strickland strikes Ospreay’s arm in return. Ospreay leaps off the top and connects with a flying elbow. Ospreay takes down Strickland with a Sasuke Special.
Back from break, Strickland counters an Os-cutter with a neckbreaker. Strickland kicks Ospreay through the ropes, then follows up with a neckbreaker to the floor. Strickland and Ospreay move to the apron, with the former draping the latter over it. Strickland connects with the Swerve Stomp. Ospreay bounces back with a Hidden Blade. Strickland drives Ospreay into the mat. Ospreay responds with the Stundog Millionaire. Strickland transitions to an arm lock. Ospreay launches Strickland into the turnbuckle. Strickland rocks Ospreay with a kick. Ospreay lands one of his own, then a hurricanrana. Ospreay turns Strickland inside out with a Spanish Fly and a cutter for a near fall. Ospreay hits a Hidden Blade on Strickland through the ropes.
Back from another commercial, Strickland dodges a Hidden Blade. Strickland then launches Ospreay off the top rope. Ospreay looks for a Styles Clash, but Strickland counters into a Dead Eye. Ospreay dodges a Swerve Stomp, then hits him with the Hidden Blade for a near fall. Strickland and Ospreay trade strikes. Ospreay fires off kicks. Strickland connects with the House Call, then the Swerve Stomp. Strickland covers Ospreay, but he kicks out. Strickland snaps Ospreay’s arm. Ospreay delivers another Hidden Blade, then a Storm Breaker. Strickland drives Ospreay into the match, connects with the House Call. Ospreay rolls to the apron. Strickland climbs the turbuckle as the match reaches the 30 minute time limit.
Winner: Time Limit Draw
After the match, Strickland says he and Ospreay prove that this is where the best wrestle, but the only to prove one is the best is to finish the match. Strickland says he knows Ospreay wants to try to beat him right now. Strickland calls for sudden death.
The Death Riders’ music plays. Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir walk through the crowd. The Young Bucks sneak behind Strickland and strike him. They then follow up with the EVP Trigger. Prince Nana eats a superkick from Nick Jackson. Nick and Matt then reveals a set of handcuffs, which they use to cuff Strickland to the ropes. Nick and Matt take turns kicking Strickland. Matt and Nick then take out a pair of spiked shoes from a bag and put them on. Ospreay intercepts and takes the superkicks from them. The Young Bucks stand in surprise before retreating.
Backstage, Don Callis approaches Kazuchika Okada. Callis asks why Okada is facing International Champion Kenny Omega. Callis also questions why Konosuke Takeshita isn’t facing Omega. Okada twists Callis’ arm, then calls him a b*tch.
Elsewhere, The Hurt Syndicate attacks someone backstage.
Mistico vs. Blake Christian
Christian flips the bird at Mistico, then takes him down with a hurricanrana. Mistico kicks Christian. Christian responds with a series of right hands. Mistico delivers a back elbow and a hurricanrana. Mistico sends Christian flying to the outside with an arm drag. Mistico dives through the ropes. Mistico leaps off the top with a springboard crossbody. Mistico goes to climb the turnbuckle when Lee Johnson grabs his leg.
Off the distraction, Christian boots Mistico to the outside, then dives on him. Christian hits a springboard 450 for a near fall. Christian goes back up top. Mistico rocks him with an enziguri. Mistico meets him up top and descends with a Spanish Fly for the win.
Winner: Mistico
After the match, The Hurt Syndicate’s music hits. MVP says he has an announcement, which will come from MJF. MJF says Mistico’s win was impressive and agrees to give him a match next week. MJF adds that he looks forward to ripping off Mistico’s mask. MJF promises to bring back his red, white, and blue gear. An American Flag drops from the ceiling. Mistico says he’ll see MJF next week in Arena Mexico. MJF calls Mistico “sloppy Sin Cara.” Mistico strikes MJF. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin quickly take Mistico down with punches. MJF goes to remove Mistico’s mask, but Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Mascara Dorada even the odds with dives to the outside.
Jet Speed (Kevin Knight & Mike Bailey) & Mascara Dorada vs. The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, MJF & Shelton Benjamin) (w/ MVP)
The Hurt Syndicate charge after their opponents. Lashley sends Bailey crashing into the barricade. In the ring, MJF and Dorada trade strikes. Dorada delivers a hurricanrana to MJF. Knight and Bailey deliver a hip toss to MJF. Bailey follows up with a Shooting Star Press. MJF’s rakes Dorada’s eyes while backing him into the corner. Lashley shoves Dorada to the floor.
Back from break, Dorada dodges an elbow drop from MJF, then tags in Knight. Knight takes down MJF with clotheslines and a dropkick. Bailey and Knight superkick Benjamin and Lashley. Benjamin German suplexes Bailey across the ring. Lashley slams Bailey to the mat. MJF tags in and rolls up Bailey for a two count. Bailey superkicks MJF. Dorada dropkicks MJF. Lashley then spears Dorada. Bailey fires off kicks on Lashley. Knight spikes Lashley with a DDT. Bailey and Knight dive onto Benjamin and Lashley on the outside. Dorada nails MJF with a Shooting Star Press. MJF rolls back into the ring. MVP strikes Bailey with his cane. MJF plants Bailey with a DDT for the win.
Winners: The Hurt Syndicate
After the match, The Hurt Syndicate attack Dorada, Bailey, and Knight. MJF unlaces Dorada’s mask, then takes it off his head. Mistico runs in and takes down with a hurricanrana. He then locks in an arm bar.
The Death Riders drag a bound and gagged “Hangman” Adam Page to the ring. Yuta and Claudio take turns kicking him. Jon Moxley says he wants to make sure that he and Page can have a real conversation since Page’s head has been all over the place. Moxley says this is do or die for Page at All In. Claudio and Yuta hold back Page. Moxley says he doesn’t understand or like Page. Moxley says Page has exactly four weeks to find what he’s been looking for and also step up to be the man we want him to become. Page headbutts Moxley. Shafir puts Page in chokehold, while the Death Riders stomp away at him. Claudio puts a chair around Page’s neck. The Opps run down to make the save. Death Riders retreat through the crowd.
Page says he will ride through death to take the world championship. Page asserts that he will take their heads as well before heading into the crowd with a chair.
Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay & Tay Melo
Bayne and Ford kick Jay and Melo. Bayne takes down Jay with a clothesline. Melo rocks Ford with an elbow strike. Bayne shoves Melo. Ford then pulls her to the outside and tosses her into the barricade. Bayne slams Jay to the mat. Ford elbows Jay in the corner. Jay fires back with elbow strikes of her own, then a spinning kick. Jay dropkicks Ford. Jay and Melo take turns hitting Ford in the corner. Bayne knocks Melo off the apron. Bayne rocks Jay with a big boot
Back from break, Melo rocks Ford with a running knee strike. Bayne and Melo trade blows. Melo boots Bayne in the corner. Melo locks in a calf submission. Bayne slams Melo’s head into the mat. Melo hits a cannonball on Bayne to the outside. Jay follows up with a crossbody. Ford leaps off the top with a moonsault, taking out Melo and Jay. While Jay holds back Bayne, Melo hits Ford a knee to the face for the win.
Winners: Tay Melo & Ann Jay
After the match, Bayne lays in right hands on Jay. Jay and Melo roll to the outside to celebrate the victory.
Kazuchika Okada & Kenny Omega Contract Signing
Tony Schivaone introduces Okada and Omega. Schivaone reveals the new unified championship. Schivaone opens the contract to their title match for Okada to sign. He does. Omega then takes the microphone. Omega says it’s been almost seven years since their last match. Omega tells Okada to leave it all in the ring one final time. Omega then signs the contract as well. Omega extends his hand for Okada to shake, which he does. The Don Callis Family’s music plays, with Callis emerging onto the stage.
Callis says Omega should be ashamed of himself. Callis says their match should involve Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita. Omega points out that he’s beaten both of them, so they should get in line like everyone else. Omega says no one will ruin his title match against Okada. Omega says he knows all of Callis’ tricks. Callis says he has one trick Omega doesn’t know about. Okada attacks Omega from behind. Callis reveals a baton and gives it to Okada. Okada strikes Omega with it in his abdomen, then his back. Okada leaps off the top and lands an elbow on Omega. Omega begins coughing up blood. AEW officials put Omega onto a stretcher. Okada delivers one more elbow drop. Callis and Okada then head to the back and leave the building in a car.