AEW returned to the Scotiabank Saddledome, in Calgary, Alberta for the finale of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

This episode of Wednesday Night “Dynamite” continued to lay the groundwork for “All In,” returning to the home of the famous Hart family to crown the winners of the men’s and women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. This show also served as a bridge towards next week’s special 250th edition of “Dynamite” and “Blood & Guts,” which is two weeks away.

AEW’s President, Tony Khan, had the unenviable task of trying to continue this incredible streak of programming that AEW is on — given how phenomenal last week’s episodes of “Dynamite” and “Collision” were. Somehow, AEW delivered in spades.

Let’s dive in.

Hits and Misses

HIT: Will Ospreay and MJF 

This week’s episode opened with a video package, recapping MJF’s heinous act in the finale of last week’s episode and his condemnation of Will Ospreay on last Saturday’s episode of “Collision.” Ospreay made his way to the ring shortly thereafter, dressing MJF down and challenging him to an impromptu match. While MJF’s music began to play, the “generational talent” never entered the ring; instead opting to respond via the titantron. MJF accepted Ospreay’s challenge, proposing their match be on next week’s “Dynamite 250” for Ospreay’s AEW International Championship. Ospreay eagerly accepted MJF’s conditions.

Like many of the great wrestlers who preceded him, MJF has a formula for diagramming his programs. Does that make it “formulaic?” Yes. Is that necessarily a bad thing? No. It follows conventional narrative structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. We’re in the “rising action” phase of this process. For MJF, that usually means a few scathing promos and a televised match — where he employs one dastardly method or another to win.

One of the merits of MJF’s approach to building a program is that it benefits his opponent as well. Will Ospreay is one of the best in-ring workers in the world, but he’s pretty good on the microphone too. He’s affable, eloquent, and authentic; qualities that are accentuated by MJF in contrast. Both of these phenoms are artists at the pinnacle of their craft. Let’s enjoy it.

MISS: Stampede Street Fight

Two and a half months ago, Samoa Joe was the AEW World Champion. Now, he’s on the wrong end of a forklift accident. This just seems like a waste of Joe’s immense talents.

The more I watch Chris Jericho, the more I wish he was featured like Sting: infrequent, in moderation, and in the company of a younger wrestler. Sting had a fantastic run in AEW, that lasted nearly 3 and ½ years — wrestling with Darby Allin. Chris Jericho is already 53 years old. Could Tony Khan successfully apply the blueprint for Sting’s AEW run to Chris Jericho? Absolutely. Would Chris Jericho be self-aware enough to accept it? Unfortunately, I don’t think so.

HIT: The Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finale

The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament has provided us with some superb matches over the last month. This was the crown jewel.

I rarely find myself genuinely surprised by a match’s result. This shocked me. I was adamant that “Hangman” Adam Page was going to win this match, given his history with our world champion, Swerve Strickland. What better opportunity for Page to exact his revenge, than on the grandest stage AEW has to offer: “All In,” at Wembley Stadium. 

Bryan Danielson and Adam Page have a fascinating history. Their trilogy of matches has been split right down the middle, at 1-1-1. Their first bout was a time-limit draw. Adam Page retained his AEW World Championship in the rematch and Bryan Danielson evened the score in the third bout. The winner of this match would earn a decisive victory in their series.

Adam Page seemed poised to crush Danielson, but the “American Dragon” weathered the storm — proving why he’s still arguably the greatest babyface working in the industry today. The implications of the result are enormous. Most importantly, though, is that Danielson won the men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and secured a match against Swerve Strickland at “All In.”

I can’t reiterate how phenomenal this match was. Their familiarity with one another felt apparent in every action and reaction. The near falls never felt contrived or incessant. Every time Danielson kicked out, my disbelief was suspended. I loved this.  

HIT: Swerve Strickland 

Swerve Strickland had less than six minutes of television time, but he killed a whole flock of birds with one stone.

Strickland addressed Bryan Danielson’s victory in the Owen Hart Cup; announced himself as “Team AEW’s” captain at “Blood & Guts;” and challenged Kazuchika Okada to a match at “Dynamite 250.” Few wrestlers could accomplish so much, in such a short amount of time.

HIT: The Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finale 

There were two conflicting narratives here: (1) Mariah May earning a shot at her mentor, “Timeless” Toni Storm, at “All In” and (2) Willow Nightingale clinching her second consecutive victory in the Owen Hart Cup. That was the crux of the drama in this match. Mariah May made her name Stardom, defined by its highly frenetic and physical brand of wrestling. Willow Nightingale is a veritable powerhouse in women’s wrestling. So naturally, May is the perfect foil to Nightingale — light of frame, but possessing enough stopping power to convincingly trade blows. This was a highly impressive outing from both wrestlers, befitting of its main-event billing. Ultimately, it was May who stood victorious, earning her shot at “All In,” in her hometown of London against her mentor.

As great as the match was, it was the aftermath that elevated this main event to ethereal levels.

Wrestling is such an interesting medium of storytelling. We all knew that this outcome was inevitable. We knew this relationship was doomed to fail. The anticipation still didn’t diminish the gravity of this moment.

“Timeless” Toni Storm’s delivery was as advertised: cinematic. May was ruthless, but the physical torment was far outweighed by Storm’s anguish. May’s betrayal drove a stake through Storm’s heart. The ending of last week’s “Dynamite” was phenomenal. This might have been even greater. If MJF’s heel turn was phenomenal, I don’t know what superlative to hurl at this.

If I had to organize AEW’s women’s division in tiers; based on a combination of in-ring ability, merit, and popularity; Mariah May would have entered this main event in the second or third tier. By the end of the program, she was in the first tier.

A new star was born.

The rest of this week’s programming includes:

Friday Night “Rampage” 

• The Kings of the Black Throne vs. The Premier Athletes 
• Rey Fenix vs. Angelico vs. Komander vs. AR Fox (High Flying 4-Way) 
• Top Flight & Action Andretti vs. Shane Taylor Promotions 
• Thunder Rosa vs. Rachel Ellering 
• Roderick Strong in action

Saturday Night “Collision” 

• Konosuke Takeshita vs. “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington