The build towards “WrestleDream” continued last night, when AEW returned to the Petersen Event Center in Pittsburgh to commemorate the fifth anniversary of its flagship program, “Dynamite.”
Wednesday was a momentous day for All Elite Wrestling. Earlier in the afternoon, Fightful Select announced that Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW have successfully negotiated a new television deal: with yearly figures exceeding $150 million per year.
Other aspects that Fightful highlighted were: “Dynamite” will be simulcast on MAX, pay-per-view events will be featured on MAX at a discounted price, and new streaming exclusive content will be created explicitly for MAX. Shortly thereafter, AEW confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter).
Did the fifth anniversary edition meet our expectations?
HIT: Cold Open
I thoroughly enjoy these pre-taped cold opens from the Blackpool Combat Club. More importantly though, I enjoyed the subject matter.
I’ve never been a proponent of the Blackpool Combat Club. I never understood the benefit of having Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley serve as co-captains of a faction. However, one element of the BCC that I have always enjoyed was Wheeler Yuta. While I always found it odd that Yuta was their only disciple, it’s oddly heartwarming to see three accomplished wrestlers like Claudio Castagnoli, Moxley, and Danielson take Yuta under their wing.
To see Yuta become a focal point of this storyline is enjoyable. It almost makes the BCC experiment seem worthwhile.
HIT: Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet
Let’s address the elephant in the room: I didn’t enjoy the ending of this match. Konosuke Takeshita’s involvement on behalf of Don Callis was so blatantly obvious that I could never fully engross myself in the action.
Under normal circumstances, that would warrant a miss.
However, Will Ospreay and Ricochet are absurdly good at wrestling.
Both men exchanged a barrage of high-risk maneuvers, sprinting towards a rare double-pinfall finish. Justin Roberts announced that Tony Khan granted them another opportunity, restarting the match. Unfortunately, the match ended prematurely when the aforementioned Takeshita attacked both men.
If Takeshita’s involvement is building towards a triple-threat match between all three men, then I’ll recant my dissatisfaction with the ending.
Even though I spent the entire match anticipating a lackluster finisher, this was an exciting opening match. Somewhere between good and great.
Rating: ***½
HIT: Mercedes Moné and MVP
Mercedes Moné returned to “Dynamite,” accompanied by Kamille in a backstage interview with Renee Paquette. Moné played a video package, recounting her most memorable moments on “Dynamite,” in celebration of the show’s fifth anniversary.
Her interview was ultimately interrupted by MVP — who claims to appreciate “big business.”
MVP said he appreciates “big business” and recognized Moné’s extraordinary talent: leaving her with a business card.
A few months ago, Moné mentioned in passing that Kamille was the first member of “Moné Corporation.” So, have Moné and Tony Khan abandoned that initial plan? Will Moné and Kamille join MVP’s Hurt Syndicate? I’m excited to learn the answers.
HIT: The Learning Tree and Mark Briscoe
Chris Jericho finally said the quiet part out loud: being a mentor to Big Bill and Bryan Keith hasn’t fulfilled him. He isn’t content with being the “Ocho” anymore. He needs to become the “Nueve.”
Last week on the “Grand Slam” edition of Saturday Night “Collision,” Jericho managed to pin Mark Briscoe during a Tornado Tag match. Now, Jericho wants to seize the opportunity and challenge Briscoe for his Ring of Honor World Championship at “WrestleDream.”
Mark Briscoe and The Conglomeration waste no time crashing “TV Time with the Learning Tree.” Before the ROH champion could accept his challenge, Jericho warned Briscoe that it wouldn’t be easy. Afterall, Mark Briscoe is not as good as his late brother, Jay.
While this was definitely a classic example of “cheap heat,” it was the kind of depraved, cowardly comment that we expect Jericho to make. I’m excited to see Briscoe thoroughly embarrass Jericho at “WrestleDream.”
HIT: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Juice Robinson
I expected this to be a very physical contest and it did not disappoint.
It’s a genuine shame that The Bang Bang Gang are normally relegated to Saturday Night “Collision.” I love Juice Robinson, so it was refreshing to see him on “Dynamite.” While it’s unfortunate that he became “Hangman” Adam Page’s most recent casualty, this was far more competitive than I anticipated it would be. Page stunned Robinson with a low blow and ended the contest with a Buckshot Lariat.
Afterwards, Page wrapped his own belt around Robinson’s neck and hung him over the top rope. Queue the “SwitchBlade’s” theme music. Jay White makes his return to AEW, avenging his friend. Page and White battle out into the crowd, where Page had left a table earlier in his skirmish with Robinson. White speared Page through the table, before recovering Robinson and leaving with their heads held high.
It seems like “Hangman” Adam Page’s next opponent is the “SwitchBlade” Jay White. It’s unfortunate that one of these men has to lose, because I love them both so much.
Rating: ***
HIT: Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Serena Deeb
Few wrestlers share such a special relationship with their hometown crowd, as Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D does with Pittsburgh.
This was Baker’s fourth match since returning at “Forbidden Door,” so it’s only natural that there’s still considerable ring rust. So, who better to help Baker reacclimate than “The Professor,” Serena Deeb? This was easily Baker’s most impressive match since her return. That isn’t surprising though, given Deeb’s pedigree. She’s easily the most gifted chain wrestler in women’s wrestling today, effortlessly moving between sequences with the same grace as Dean Malenko.
Baker is undefeated in her hometown, so the outcome in this match was a foregone conclusion. Still, this was an enjoyable match, thanks in large part to Deeb’s contributions.
Rating: ***
HIT: Shelton Benjamin’s Debut
MVP is backstage with Renee Paquette to make an announcement, but is interrupted by Prince Nana.
Nana wants to remind everyone that he was a wrestler before he was a manager, and he won’t stand for MVP’s slander. He’s ready to lace up his boots and challenge MVP to a match. MVP isn’t interested in handling any complaints, deferring Nana to the “president of the complaint department.” Shelton Benjamin entered the frame, revealing that he’s signed with All Elite Wrestling.
What a fun debut for Shelton Benjamin, who I’m so glad to see in AEW. I can’t wait to see Benjamin test his mettle against AEW’s finest.
HIT: Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada III
Victories are hard fought in the dragon’s den.
This was Bryan Danielson and Kazuchika Okada’s third encounter in single’s competition. Their first was at “Forbidden Door” (2023) and their second was at “Wrestle Kingdom 18” (2024). Danielson won their first bout, with Okada evening the series in the Tokyo Dome. I couldn’t think of any better way to commemorate Dynamite’s fifth anniversary, than Danielson and Okada’s long awaited rubber match.
This match had an interesting stipulation. Both men put their respective championship’s on the line, but Danielson needed to defeat Okada within a 20 minute time-limit to win his AEW Continental Championship. After 20 minutes, the Continental Championship wouldn’t be available.
Okada was reserved for the first 20 minutes, parking the bus and wrestling defensively. Once the initial 20 minute time limit had passed, Okada began to aggressively pursue Danielson. Ultimately, the BCC began to circle the barricades — distracting Okada and giving Danielson an opportunity to pin him with a quick backslide.
After the match, Moxley and the BCC entered the ring to confront Danielson. Wheeler Yuta rushed down the aisle with a hammer to help Danielson. Afterwards, it was announced that Danielson and Yuta will join forces next week to face PAC and Castagnoli.
This was a fantastic match. Danielson stood victorious in their rubber match, checking off another box before his full-time wrestling career officially comes to an end.
Rating: ****
The rest of the week’s programming:
Friday Night “Rampage”
- The Elite vs. Katsuyori Shibata & Private Party
- Orange Cassidy & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith
- Queen Aminata vs. Harley Cameron
- Kamille in action
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