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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
QUEENS, N.Y. AT ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Jim Ross
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported late this afternoon that 8,191 tickets had been distributed so far; arena is set up for 8,477. The arena has a capacity of 23,771 spectators when configured for tennis. Subscribe to WrestleTix on Patreon for detailed up-to-date information.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch Dailycast host Gregg Kanner to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Excalibur introduced the show and he said, “We are off to the races already tonight!”
(1) NIGEL MCGUINNESS vs. BRYAN DANIELSON
Nigel McGuinness made his entrance to Oasis’s “F—ing in the Bushes” entrance theme he used in ROH. Excalibur said there an air of uncertainty. He said Nigel called out Bryan Danielson, but no one has heard from Danielson “since the events that transpired at All Out.” Schiavone said there is no guarantee that Danielson will be there. Schiavone said Nigel was a great wrestler prior to his retirement. Jim Ross said he has a chance to restart his legacy. “I haven’t seen him all day, just for the record,” Ross said. “I was searched catering three times.” Danielson’s current entrance music then played. Excalibur noted that the time passed when they usually see Danielson come out to his music.
Nigel said, “I knew it!” He said he hadn’t seen Danielson all day. “The American Coward just dropped the ball.” He demanded the referee begin a ten count and then strip Danielson of the title. The ref began to count even though the bell hadn’t even rung. He got to nine and then “Final Countdown” played. Danielson walked out with his AEW World Hvt. Title belt around his waist. Ross said Nigel looked in great shape for his first singles match in 13 years. Danielson fist-bumped fans at ringside. Ross said this is his 50th year in the business and there isn’t anyone he respects more than Danielson. Schiavone said he’s a great wrestler and a remarkable human being. Taz said they knew he’d find a way to be there. Excalibur said the question now is what kind of shape is Danielson in. Ross said he has neck problems and arm injuries “and has been put back together ten times, it seems.”
The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. Excalibur said: “They are two men who took the Ring of Honor promotion from being a regional Tri-State promotion to a national touring company based on their battles alone.” (Why did they not lead with that sentence weeks ago when starting the build for this match?) Ross said he looked forward to this match more than any match he has ever called in AEW. Nigel landed some early uppercuts and showboated afterward. Nigel shouted to the announcers, “Too easy, Tony! Too easy!” Taz said it’s hard to get back in ring shape after time away. Danielson took over and landed a kick. Nigel stood back up. They went forehead-to-forehead. Excalibur said when Nigel thought his time was over as a pro wrestler due to an accumulation of injuries and he stopped wrestling, that’s when Danielson ascended to international superstardom. (Again, the presentation of this feud should not have saved all of this pertinent backstory for after the bell rang for their match, relying on prior knowledge or independent research by viewers.)
At 4:00 they exchanged mid-ring strikes. They hadn’t gotten to highspots or bumps yet. Nigel feigned getting kicked low. Taz defended Nigel saying that if you get kicked in the thigh, you can “feel it (higher) in that area.” (The replay actually didn’t rule out that the boot grazed his crotch before making contact with the inner thigh.) The first actual “highspot” of the match was Danielson countering Nigel in a mat exchange into a LeBell Lock about eight minutes in.
They fought at ringside and then back and forth in the ring for several minutes. Danielson applied another LeBell Lock at 18:00. Excalibur said Nigel was on the verge of tapping out. Nigel muttered “Thank you,” then tapped out. Ross said it was a great match and “a great night for TBS.” Ross said Nigel didn’t look like a guy who had been away from the ring for 13 years.
WINNER: Danielson in 19:00.
-Christian Cage walked out with his contract in hand for a title shot. Kip Sabian snuck in behind Christian and yanked the pen away that Christian was about to use to apparently activate it. Christian pursued him backstage, but he took a detour when he saw Pac and Claudio Castagnoli standing there.
-Excalibur plugged upcoming scheduled matches. [c]
(2) HOOK vs. RODERICK STRONG (w/Matt Taven, Mike Bennett) – FTW Title match
The bell rang 33 minutes into the hour. Excalibur talked about how Strong tapped out in their prior match, but his foot was on the bottom rope which the ref didn’t see, thus the rematch. Excalibur said Strong isn’t well acquainted with losing with grace. Hook avoided a kendo stick swing at ringside and then hit Strong, Taven, and Bennett at ringside with the cane. Strong recovered and threw Hook into the ringpost. They cut to a double-box break at 2:30. [c/db]
Hook took over during the break and scored a near fall after a Northern Lights Suplex. Taven slid a chair into the ring. Strong wedged it in the corner. Strong drove Hook head-first into the chair. Strong set up two chairs in the ring facing each other. Hook countered and Judo threw Strong onto the chairs. He followed with a Red Rum attempt, but Strong countered by lifting and dropping Hook onto a chair for a near fall. Hook surprised Strong with Red Rum seconds later and Strong tapped out.
WINNER: Hook in 9:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Easily one of Hook’s better matches. Strong has been a good opponent for him to bring out the best in him.)
-As Hook was celebrating to his music, Strong spun him around and offered a handshake. Hook hesitated, but then shook his hand. They hugged. Taven and Bennett nodded and showed respect also. Taz said he was pleasantly surprised.
-Schiavone interviewed Hook at ringside. He said back in 1998, three miles away from where they were, the FTW Title was born by his father Taz. He congratulated him. Hook thanked Schiavone. He said, “With all that being said, all good things must come to an end.” He said on behalf of his family, he wanted to thank every wrestler who ever competed for that title. He thanked the fans for supporting the FTW Title. They went to a wide shot of the crowd applauding, which looked good. He said the FTW Title was officially retired as of that moment. He handed it to Taz. Excalibur called it an unexpected move. Hook and Taz hugged. Taz teared up. Hook left without the belt. [c]
-They showed an aerial view of the stadium.
(3) THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. WILL OSPREAY & KYLE FLETCHER – AEW Tag Team Title match
Ospreay and Fletcher came out first. As the Bucks made their entrance, Taz talked about the FTW Title being retired, then said he wanted to shift focus back to The Bucks. The bell rang 43 minutes into the hour. Don Callis joined in on commentary, as expected. The Bucks got in an early flurry of offense and struck their signature bicep flex pose in the ring. Fletcher and Ospreay took over. Ospreay landed a leaping moonsault off of Fletcher’s back onto both Bucks stacked on top of each other. Then they hit simultaneous top rope dives to ringside. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
[HOUR TWO]
They went into a sequence of big moves ending with a Hidden Blade by Ospreay. All four were down. Schiavone said you’ll only see sequences like that in AEW “and we love it.” Nicholas and Fletcher stood and exchanged strikes. Matthew tripped Fletcher running the ropes and pulled him to ringside. Nicholas then took over with a kick from the ring apron. The Bucks delivered a stuff piledriver on the ring apron at 20:00. The ref began counting. Fletcher barely beat the count. They cut to another double-box break. [c/db]
Matthew superkicked Fletcher as Fletcher had Nicholas lifted. Ospreay then surprised Nicholas with a springboard OsCutter. He then delivered a TK Driver with Fletcher on Matthew for a near fall. After another dramatic near fall, Ospreay gave Fletcher an enthusiastic pep talk. Fletcher delivered a brainbuster off the top rope on Matthew, but Nicholas broke up the cover. Schiavone called it “one of the best tag team matches we have had in forever.” Fletcher kicked Nicholas off the ring apron and then dove through the ropes and knocked him into the announce desk. Callis removed his headset and walked over to Fletcher and handed him a screwdriver. Callis walked away. Fletcher wound up to use it, but Ospreay blocked it and then gave the screwdriver to the ref. Matthew then hit Ospreay with a tag belt. Fletcher rolled up Matthew for a near fall, but after the kickout, Nicholas hit him with the belt and Matthew scored a near fall. The Bucks landed stereo suyperkicks and then a BTE Trigger for the win.
Excalibur said the momentum was with Ospreay and Fletcher before Callis interjected with a screwdriver. Ospreay and Fletcher exchanged looks of frustration afterward as the Bucks celebrated their way to the back.
WINNERS: The Young Bucks in 30:00 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
-Renee Paquette interviewed Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe, and Rocky Romero. Cassidy inducted Romero into The Conglomeration. Briscoe said they’ll have new t-shirts now with Romero added. He cut a promo about their match against Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith on Collision this Saturday for the second part of Collision.
-Schiavone stood on the stage and introduced Prince Nana to give an update on Swerve Strickland. Nana said nothing can stop Swerve, but he’s physically not yet cleared to return. He was interrupted by MVP who walked out with a cane. He asked Schiavone to “please pardon the intrusion.” He re-introduced himself as MVP to the audience. He said Swerve is the most dangerous man in AEW, “no question about it.” He said it’s his opinion that Swerve is the most phenomenal talent to ever step foot inside an AEW ring. He said he went eight months without being pinned or submitted with wins over Samoa Joe, Roderick Strong, Christian Cage, and Will Ospreay. He said he saw all of it, but he also saw Swerve lose the AEW Title at the main event of All In and his childhood home burned to the ground. He asked Nana why is Hangman walking around after what he did. He said it’s not a failure of Swerve, but rather it’s a failure of management. He said it’s the fault of Nana, who is shucking and jiving and drinking coffee. He told Nana to let Swerve know that when he’s ready to be taken seriously again and ascend to the mountaintop where he belongs, give him his business card because he’ll be ready to talk business.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s good to have someone the stature of MVP to help Swerve believably pivot from the intensity of the Hangman feud. It’s the most character development they’ve given Nana to date, too, and he was good reacting to MVP.)
-They went to Excalibur and Taz at ringside to react. Taz said MVP put Nana on notice. [c]
-They showed scenes of Queens, N.Y. and then the interior the stadium. Excalibur noted that Jack Perry’s bus was on its way to the stadium for an open challenge for his TNT Title.
(4) YUKA SAKAZAKI vs. MARIAH MAY
Sakazaki leaped onto May as she made her way to ringside. The bell rang 28 minutes into the hour. Sakazaki got sustained offense for a couple minutes and set up her hammerlock spinning slam, but May escaped and headbutted her and then delivered a high angle German suplex for a near fall at 5:00. May ended up finishing Sakazaki with a Storm Zero for a clean win a minute later
WINNER: Mariah May in 6:00.
-Afterward, Willow Nightingale ran out and confronted May. Mina Shirakawa’s entrance took place so May was able to hit a distracted Willow from behind. Shirakawa leaped into May’s arms. Sakazaki confronted Shirakawa on the stage.
-Excalibur plugged the main event. [c]
(5) DARBY ALLIN vs. JON MOXLEY – Darby’s earned AEW World Title shot at stake
Excalibur plugged Full Gear ticket sales during Moxley’s ring entrance. The bell 43 minutes into the hour. Darby charged. Mox kicked him as he charged. Ross was back on commentary. Excalibur said AEW PPVs won’t be on Bleacher Report anymore, but will be available through Triller, YouTube PPV, and PPV.com and he said the library of past PPV purchases will be retained. Mox dominated Darby early. Schiavone said Danielson would love to get his hands on Moxley if he were to earn the title shot. The announcer spoke in a circumventing manner about what Mox did to Danielson at All Out.
Darby made a comeback and leaped backwards off the top rope onto Mox at ringside at 4:00. He then leaped through the ropes and flipped into Moxley at ringside. Darby set up a chair at ringside. Marina Shafir stepped in front of the chair. Mox recovered and slammed Darby on the ring apron. Sharif stomped on Darby at ringside as the ref was talking to Mox on the other side of the ring. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Mox beat up Darby for a while. Shafir lifted the ringside mat. Mox went for Death Rider, but Darby escaped and then side-stepped Mox and shoved him into the ringside steps. Darby leaped through the ropes, but Mox moved, so Darby crashed onto the exposed floor. Mox then tossed Darby back-first onto the steps. Mox went back on the attack. Fans chanted, “You can’t kill him!” Mox applied the Bulldog headlock on Darby. Darby foamed at the mouth, but managed to crawl to the bottom rope.
[OVERRUN]
Darby made a comeback and bit at Mox’s head. Shafir stood on the ring apron. Mox slammed Darby off the top rope with a Death Rider for the win. Excalibur said Mox will challenge for the AEW World Title at WrestleDream on Oct. 12 in Tacoma, Wash.
WINNER: Moxley in 19:00 to take Darby’s AEW World Title shot.
-Danielson ran out and choked Mox from behind. Shafir jumped Mox. Claudio and Pac joined in. Private Party ran out to offset Claudio and Pac. The heels gathered at ringside. Danielson told Mox that if he wants war, “I declare war!” He paced angrily in the ring, staring at Mox. He said if he wants a shot at him and his title, he’s got it at WrestleDream. He said he’ll kick his ass. Danielson led the crowd in a “Yes!” chant. As “Final Countdown” played, Excalibur plugged Saturday’s Grand Slam line-up for Collision including Private Party & Kommander vs. Claudio & Pac & Wheeler Yuta. Ross got in the final word as they signed off. “Business is about to pick up, folks!” he said.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch Dailycast host Gregg Kanner to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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