On Wednesday, AEW will return to Arthur Ashe Stadium for their annual “Grand Slam” edition of Wednesday Night “Dynamite.”
Since the first “Grand Slam” in 2021, the show has been the crown jewel of special “Dynamite” installments. This year, the first seven matches will air on “Dynamite,” while the remaining three matches that have been announced will air via tape delay on Saturday Night “Collision.”
Here are my thoughts on the matches that have been announced thus far:
Wednesday Night “Dynamite”
Jeff Jarrett vs. “Hangman” Adam Page (Lumberjack Strap Match)
This feud began during the first round of the Owen Hart Cup Tournament, when “Hangman” Adam Page defeated the “Last Outlaw.” In the ensuing months, Jeff Jarrett and Page have consistently found themselves at odds — both before and after Page’s massacre of Swerve Strickland at “All Out.”
The “lumberjack strap match” stipulation is quite an interesting wrinkle. Normally, I’m not fond of using two gimmicks at once; like a “lights out steel cage match,” for example.
I would just like to remind everyone that Jeff Jarrett is 57 years old. “Hangman” Adam Page is going to commit senicide on national television.
Winner: “Hangman” Adam Page
PAC & the Blackpool Combat Club vs. TBA (AEW World Trios Championships)
The dreaded mystery opponent. Will Wheeler Yuta actually cooperate with Claudio Castagnoli and PAC or will this spell doom for the former Blackpool Combat Club’s reign as AEW World Trios Champions? That all depends on who their opponents are.
As of now, their opponents are undetermined, so this is really a toss up. Hopefully their surprise opponents are the House of Black.
Winner: The Field
Kazuchika Okada vs. Sammy Guevara (AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match)
If Sammy Guevara loses this match, he can never challenge Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Continental Championship again. If he wins, he earns a shot at “Dynamite’s” Fifth Anniversary Show, next week in Pittsburgh.
Sammy Guevara is in a strange place, right now. He’s a former three-time AEW TNT Champion and one-half of the current Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions with Dustin Rhodes, but he lost to Ricochet two weeks ago. Should he beat the “Rainmaker” in an eliminator match? Probably not. Still, the nature of the stipulation means that Okada has little to lose.
Winner: Sammy Guevara
Mariah May vs. Yuka Sakazaki (AEW Women’s World Championship)
Yuka Sakazaki received a surprisingly warm welcome from the Wilkes-Barre crowd last Wednesday night, despite having not wrestled on “Dynamite” in over three years. Still, I don’t think she has a snowball’s chance in hell of beating Mariah May for the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Both of these women were baptized by the hard-hitting style that Joshi is synonymous with. Even though the outcome may seem a little obvious, I’m sure this will be an exciting match to watch. Not to mention, the return of Mina Shirakawa will be a welcome variable in this equation.
Winner: Mariah May
The Young Bucks vs. Kyle Fletcher & Will Ospreay (AEW World Tam Team Championships)
Kyle Fletcher & Will Ospreay will be the next lambs to the slaughter, for the Young Bucks; who will, in all likelihood, hold the AEW World Tag Team Championships until Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi return as the Golden☆Lovers.
Like the match for the AEW Women’s World Championship, while the outcome may be easy to predict — it will still be a brilliant showcase. Will Ospreay is arguably the best wrestler alive and Kyle Fletcher is a phenomenon in his own right. Not only are Matt and Nick Jackson tag team wrestling savants, but they’re the perfect foils for Ospreay and Fletcher to showcase all of their god-given wrestling talent.
Winner: The Young Bucks
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuiness (AEW World Championship)
Nigel McGuiness’ rivalry with Bryan Danielson began two decades ago, in Ring of Honor. Over the course of 10 singles matches in ROH, both men habitually battled for the Ring of Honor World Championship — forging one of the greatest rivalries in the promotion’s history.
Bryan Danielson won five of their bouts, while Nigel McGuinness won three. The other two matches ended in time limit draws.
After a 13 year absence from wrestling, can McGuinness return and somehow recapture the magic that he and Danielson attained in the mid-to-late 2000’s? While I’m inclined to think not, I know that we can never underestimate the “American Dragon.”
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin (Winner Will Face Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream)
In the past month, Jon Moxley has used a plastic bag to suffocate Bryan Danielson and a hammer to break Isaiah Kassidy’s hand. His opponent, Darby Allin, is the most vivacious crash dummy since Mick Foley. Normally, I’m not a fan of gratuitously violent wrestling. However, I have to admit that I am morbidly curious to see how far these two will stretch the limits of broadcast television.
When Jon Moxley initially requested Darby Allin’s presence after “All In,” I thought he was going to be the litmus test for Allin — to determine whether or not he was ready for the AEW World Championship. Now, it seems like he’s serving a greater purpose.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Saturday Night “Collision”
The Conglomeration vs. the Learning Tree (Tornado Trios Match)
If you read my weekly “Dynamite” reviews, then you know how thrilled I am for this match. I have an uneasy feeling that Chris Jericho will recuperate his loss against Orange Cassidy last week. This feud began at the beginning of September and I already want it to end. On the brightside, at least Mark Briscoe and Big Bill are competing in this match.
Winner: The Learning Tree
Jamie Hayter vs. Saraya (Saraya Rules Match)
The stipulations in a Saraya Rule’s match are:
- There are no rules, except for the following rules.
- You cannot use weapons, unless you are Saraya.
- You must obey the 10 count, unless you are Saraya.
- No biting, choking, closed fists, hair pulling, or groin kicks; unless you are Saraya.
- No hammerlocks.
- No outside interference, unless you are a friend of Saraya.
- No rope breaks, unless you are Saraya.
- The match can only begin when Saraya initiates the offense.
- Jamie Hayter is a “slag.”
- The winner receives an autographed copy of Saraya’s autobiography.
In other words, Jamie Hayter is going to win with a stiff lariat. 1 – 2 – 3.
Winner: Jamie Hayter
Hook vs. Roderick Strong (FTW Championship)
Roderick Strong is the perfect opponent for Hook, who has made little to no progress since his debut in 2021. Unfortunately, I expect this feud to be brief. Hook just regained the FTW Championship at “All In” against Chris Jericho. I don’t expect him to lose it so quickly.
Winner: Hook
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