By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite “Grand Slam” (Episode 156)
Queens, New York at Arthur Ashe Stadium
Aired live September 21, 2022 on TBS
[Hour One] The Dynamite opening aired (still without any sign of CM Punk, Kenny Omega, or the Young Bucks)… Excalibur welcomed viewers to the show and was joined on commentary by Tony Schiavone, Taz, and Ian Riccaboni…
Bobby Cruise handled the ring introductions for the ROH Championship match. Chris Jericho made his entrance to “Judas” and then Claudio Castagnoli made his entrance by himself…
1. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chris Jericho for the ROH Championship. Former ROH owner Cary Silkin was shown in the crowd. Riccaboni noted that Aubrey Edwards was the first female referee to work an ROH Championship match. Castagnoli and Jericho adhered to the Code of Honor. Jericho slapped Castagnoli, who fired right back with an uppercut.
Early in the match, both men went to ringside. Jericho hid behind Silkin and then shoved him toward Castagnoli. Jericho threw a cheap shot at Castagnoli and then shoved Silkin. A short time later, Castagnoli and Jericho fought on the apron. Jericho got the better of it and suplexed Castagnoli to the floor heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Castagnoli set up for an avalanche Ricola Bomb, but Jericho countered into a huracanrana from the ropes instead. Castanoli came right back with a popup uppercut for a two count. Castagnoli threw several elbows to the side of Jericho’s head. Jericho avoided The Swing, but Castagnoli hit him with a standing double stomp and covered him for another two count.
Castagnoli put Jericho in the Sharpshooter. Jericho reached the ropes. Castagnoli put him down with a Ricola Bomb for a near fall. Castagnoli went for a springboard move, but Jericho caught him with a Codebreaker and covered him for a near fall.
Castagnoli rallied and performed The Swing while the crowd counted the revolutions. Castanoli followed up with catapulting Jericho into the corner and then hitting him with an awkward lariat clothesline that resulted in a two count.
Jericho crawled to his corner and grabbed his baseball bat. Jericho swung the bat at Castagnoli, who blocked it. The referee cleared the bat from the ring. Castagnoli went for the Neutralizer, but Jericho backdropped him. Castagnoli landed on his feet and stumbled toward the referee. Jericho hit Castagnoli with a low blow while the referee was distracted and then followed up with the Judas Effect before pinning Castagnoli.
Chris Jericho defeated Claudio Castagnoli in 14:25 to win the ROH Championship.
After the match, the other Jericho Appreciation Society Members ran out. Most celebrated with Jericho while Daniel Garcia stood behind them. Jericho turned to Garcia, who held his hand up and took a high five from Jericho…
Powell’s POV: This is why no woman was allowed to ref an ROH Championship match before tonight!!! Yes, I’m kidding, so spare me the hate mail. The match got clunky late and I wonder if some of it was actually due to both men being dizzy from The Swing. But that’s not an excuse for the spot where Castagnoli landed on his feet and then had to run toward the referee in the corner. Despite the flaws, the live crowd ate it up and Riccaboni delivered a nice post match speech expressing his frustration over the way Jericho won the ROH Title. Meanwhile, the venue looks really good on television, and AEW’s production crew has done a solid job of showing off the size of the crowd thus far. They are also using a different stage with a ramp that ends at the ring (though I can’t remember if it’s the same set they used last year).
The broadcast team hyped the upcoming matches and said the AEW World Championship match would be the main event. A brief video package aired on the match with brief comments from Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and William Regal. Danielson said he’s lost to four people in AEW and his loss to Moxley is the only one he has not avenged…
Powell’s POV: I remain disappointed that we haven’t heard Danielson talk about the title on Dynamite. Moxley cut that great promo about what the title means to him. I’m invested in Moxley’s story, but they just haven’t told one with Danielson
Justin Roberts took over as the ring announcer. Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee made their entrance along with guest Fabulous. The Acclaimed made their entrance with Billy Gunn. Max Caster rapped on his way to the ring…
2. Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee vs. “The Acclaimed” Max Caster and Anthony Bowens (w/Billy Gunn) for the AEW Tag Team Titles. Lee used his strength advantage to get the better of Bowens to start. They cut to an early PIP break. [C] Fabulous was shown seated with DJ Whoo Kid at ringside coming out of the break.
Bowens had a flurry of offense on Lee, but Strickland cut him off with some kicks. Excalibur recalled Strickland and Lee targeting the knee of Bowens in the previous match. Strickland tagged in. Lee held up Bowens for a double team move, but Bowens escaped and dodged Strickland’s double stomp. Bowens rolled up Strickland and once he kicked out, Bowens powered him up and Buckle Bombed him.
Lee cut off Bowens with a headbutt and then tossed him over the top rope and onto the ramp. Caster ran in and was slammed to the mat by Lee, who attempted a second rope moonsault that Caster avoided. Strickland tried to hit Caster with the Acclaimed’s boombox, but he hit Lee accidentally.
Bowens performed a Blockbuster from the ropes on Lee. Caster tried to follow up with a Mic Drop, but he sold a knee injury. Bowens covered Lee for a two count. Strickland tagged in and blasted Caster with a kick. Caster came right back with a suplex. Caster sold his knee while slowly climbing the ropes, allowing Strickland to cut him off.
Strickland stood on the middle rope and with Caster on his shoulders. Whatever move he went for with Lee in the ring was botched, but Lee picked up Caster and tossed him to Strickland, who powerbombed him and covered him for a good near fall. Bowens pulled Caster to the floor.
Strickland performed a springboard flip dive onto both opponents. Billy Gunn got in Strickland’s face and they jawed with one another until Lee pulled Strickland back. The referee turned his attention to getting Lee back in his corner. Meanwhile, Bowens hit Strickland with a discus forearm and then Gunn followed up with a Fameasser.
Gunn tossed Strickland back inside the ring. Caster dropkicked Lee and then Bowens slammed Strickland to the mat. Caster hit Strickland with the Mic Drop and scored the pin. Confetti shot off for the title change…
“The Acclaimed” Max Caster and Anthony Bowens defeated Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee in roughly 13:00 to win the AEW Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: I really could have done without Billy Gunn getting involved in the match. I know the Daddy Ass bit is super over, but the new babyface champions really should have gone over without his help. It’s also the second match of the night where the referees were booked to look incompetent. Having said that, the live crowd loved the title change. The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn continue to be one of the hottest acts in the company.
“FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler were interviewed backstage by Lexi Nair. Wheeler praised all four men in the tag title match. He also pointed out that they have been number one contenders since April 7.
Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn showed up and mocked them for complaining about being number one contenders and questioned whether they are losing their momentum. The Gunns claimed they are younger, more talented, and more handsome. The Gunns said “top guys out” to end the segment… [C]
MJF’s entrance music interrupted Tony Schiavone attempting to interview Wheeler Yuta on the stage. MJF came out to cheers and said the devil has arrived. MJF said Yuta would never get a reaction like he did. MJF said the fans worship him and there wasn’t a man in the building who wouldn’t let him sleep with his wife. MJF said the only reason he wouldn’t do it is because he has standards. MJF boasted that he is a generational talent.
Yuta said it’s true that MJF is a generational talent, but he said he’s also the master of going after the low hanging fruit. Yuta brought up MJF’s engagement, then said he wouldn’t go there. Yuta said MJF’s fiancee is smart and will walk out on MJF just like he walked out on “all of us.”
MJF told the fans to give it up for Yuta going from drying paint to Pet Rock personality. MJF said Yuta was in the Blackpool Cuckold Club. MJF said Moxley and Danielson were fighting to see who would lose to him. MJF said Yuta could ask Regal to teach him how to pop pills.
Yuta slapped MJF, who sold it and then headbutted Yuta. MJF turned and shoved Schiavone down and then told him not to touch him. Yuta tackled MJF and threw punches at him. W Morrissey pulled Yuta off and then held him while MJF hit him with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Security ran out. MJF and Morrissey headed to the back…
Powell’s POV: This was savvy use of Schiavone. The fans love Schiavone and they actually booed MJF after he shoved him down.
An interview from earlier in the day aired with Schiavone interviewing Jade Cargill, who was accompanied by Kiera Hogan and Leila Grey. Diamante showed up and introduced rapper Trina as the OG Baddie. Trina said they would both see Cargill on Friday…
Entrances for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship match took place. The broadcast team members asked Schiavone how he was doing. He said he was checked out by the doctor and was going to be fine…
3. Pac vs. Orange Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship. Pac controlled the early offense.
[Hour Two] The live crowd was very quiet as Pac remained in offensive control heading into a PIP break. [C] Pac put Cassidy down and went to the ropes, but Cassidy comically put his feet straight up in the air. Pac dropped down and was rolled into a pin for a near fall.
Cassidy put Pac down with a Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy followed up with a wicked DDT that Pac sold by contorting his body in a way that made it look vicious. Cassidy removed his elbow pad and went for the Orange Punch, but Pac caught him and suplexed him. Pac went for the Brutalizer, but Cassidy countered into a pin for a two count.
Cassidy hit the Orange Punch and had the pin, but Pac reached up and grabbed the bottom rope at the last moment. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Pac went to ringside and leaned on the timekeepers table. Cassidy approached Pac, who hit him with the timekeepers’ hammer. The broadcast team said Pac shielded the referee from seeing it. Pac rolled Cassidy back inside the ring and pinned him…
Pac defeated Orange Cassidy in roughly 13:00 to retain the AEW All-Atlantic Championship.
Excalibur hyped the Interim AEW Women’s Championship as coming up after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Another match, another referee made to look incompetent. To be fair, the broadcast team all defended ref Bryce Remsburg due to Pac shielding the hammer from him. And I wouldn’t have minded that finish had it not been for the first two match finishes. WWE has been going overboard to protect everyone with interference and distraction finishes lately, and it feels like AEW is trying to match them tonight.
Entrances for the Interim AEW Women’s Championship match took place…
4. Toni Storm vs. Athena vs. Britt Baker (w/Rebel) vs. Serena Deeb in a four-way for the Interim AEW Women’s Championship. There was a tower of doom spot with Athena powerbombing Baker and Deeb while Storm took the big bump from the top heading into a PIP break. [C]
Storm and Deeb both had single leg crabs applied on the other two opponent coming out of the break. They maintained the holds while slapping one another. They both released the holds and then traded strikes.
A short time later, Deeb took out Baker with a neckbreaker in the ropes and followed up with a dragon screw leg whip on Athena. Deeb performed a neckbreaker on Storm for a near fall. Deeb put Storm in the Serenity Lock, but Baker kicked her to break it.
Athena ended up with Baker on her back and while holding up Deeb with her arms. She performed a fallaway slam on Deeb and a Samoan Drop on Baker simultaneously. Athena performed a clunky move on Storm and covered her for a two count, then acted shocked that she didn’t get the pin.
A short time later, Athena tossed Deeb to ringside. Storm performed a tornado DDT on Athena, who rolled to the floor. Baker rolled Storm into a crucifix pin for a two count, and then Storm countered into a pin of her own and got the three count on Baker.
Toni Storm defeated Athena, Britt Baker, and Serena Deeb in 9:50 in a four-way to retain the Interim AEW Women’s Championship.
After the match, Baker hit Storm from behind. Jamie Hayter ran out and ended up spinning Baker around. They smiled at one another and then attacked Storm while Deeb worked over Athena. The three heels stood tall.
Baker rubbed some of the blood from her nose onto her abdomen and then performed a Stomp on Athena, who was tossed to ringside. Baker put on her glove for her finisher, but she was interrupted by entrance music.
Saraya (f/k/a Paige) made her entrance to a huge pop. Hayter and Deeb rolled out of the ring. Saraya entered the ring and then Baker also rolled out. The heels stood at ringside and watched while Saraya played to the crowd and said off-mic that it’s her house. Storm and Athena joined Saraya in the ring for a hug…
Powell’s POV: Athena crushed the face of Baker when she performed the double team move. Baker came up with a bloody nose, but fortunately she was able to continue. The match was fine, but it still feels like Storm and Athena are fairly cold acts. Conversely, Saraya was over big with the live crowd. It remains to be seen whether she will actually wrestle in AEW after being medically disqualified from WWE due to a neck injury. I guess the broadcast team assumed that Saraya is universally known, as they just marveled over her being there and how the landscape in the women’s division had changed without mentioning her old name or her history.
A video aired with Darby Allin carrying and dragging someone in a body bag with “House of Black” painted on it. He took it on a subway and then placed it inside a taxicab. Allin told the driver that he was heading to a funeral at Arthur Ashe Stadium…
Excalibur ran through the AEW Rampage lineup, starting with Darby Allin and Sting vs. Brody King and Buddy Mathews. He closed by saying the main event would be up next… [C]
Entrances for the main event took place. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson were cheered…
5. Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson in the tournament final for the vacant AEW World Championship. William Regal sat in on commentary. MJF was shown sitting in a luxury box with his AEW Casino Ladder Match chip. The broadcast team said they would stick with the match as long as needed.
Danielson threw an early dropkick in the corner and then worked over Moxley with chops and kicks. A split screen shot showed MJF in his luxury box. Danielson remained on the offensive and dropkicked Moxley off the ropes. MJF was shown smiling. Danielson leapt from the apron and hit Moxley with a knee to the head.
Danielson threw Moxley back inside the ring and then hit him with a missile dropkick. Moxley ended up on the apron. Danielson put his back to Moxley and wrenched his arm over his shoulder. Moxley countered into a chokehold and pulled Danielson onto the apron. Danielson escaped the hold and suplexed Moxley on the apron heading into the final PIP break. [C]
Moxley started to make a comeback, but Danielson cut him off with running double knees. Danielson suplexed Moxley and went up top. Danielson dove at Moxley, who stuffed whatever he was doing and applied a single leg crab. Moxley suplexed Danielson and MJF was once again shown watching from his luxury box.
Moxley climbed onto the middle rope while Danielson was seated on the turnbuckle. Moxley clawed the back of Danielson and then headbutted him. Moxley went for a top rope superplex, but Danielson slid under him and crotched him on the turnbuckle. Danielson went up behind Moxley and performed a side suplex from the middle rope. MJF smiled and applauded.
Moxley countered a Danielson move into a submission hold, which Danielson escaped before he could fully apply it. Danielson mounted Moxley and threw punches at him. Danielson rolled Moxley over and they locked legs and both men ended up on their heads and traded some strikes.
Danielson caught Moxley in Cattle Mutilation. Moxley rolled out of the hold, but Danielson held his arms behind him and then delivered some elbows to the side of his head. Danielson threw strikes at Moxley and then hit him with a big kick. Danielson clutched his foot. Moxley took advantage briefly, but Danielson hit him with a running knee for a near fall.
Moxley came back and hit Danielson with a Stomp and a Death Rider for a close near fall. MJF was shown smirking while applauding again. Both men stood up with their hands locked and hit each other with elbow strikes. Danielson ended up putting Moxley on his back and held his arms while stomping him.
Moxley tripped Danielson and then threw kicks at his head. Danielson returned the favor, then stood up and stomped Moxley with repeated kicks. Danielson went for a triangle sleeper. Moxley avoided it and Danielson rolled him into the LeBell Lock, which Moxley broke by reaching the ropes.
Both wrestlers ended on the ramp where Moxley performed another Death Rider. Danielson rolled back inside the ring. Moxley followed and covered him for a near fall. Moxley put Danielson in a choke.
[Overrun] Danielson stood up and used his feet to push off the ropes, but Moxley rolled through and maintained the choke. The referee called for the bell.
Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in 19:15 to win the vacant AEW World Championship.
MJF was shown sitting expressionless in his luxury box. William Regal headed to the ring and tried to put the belt around the waist of Moxley, but Danielson took it away. The show went off the air (presumably before Danielson could put the belt on Moxley)…
Powell’s POV: The overrun only lasted about a minute. It was a very good main event. I never really bought into the near falls, but I still enjoyed the match. I was surprised to see Danielson listed as the favorite with one of the oddsmakers today. Moxley delivered the big speech on the Dynamite after the All Out brawl, and MJF’s promos have focussed heavily on Moxley. As I mentioned earlier, they never told a story about Danielson’s quest to win the title, so it just felt like Moxley was going to win the belt again. MJF sitting in the luxury box also took away the drama regarding him potentially cashing in his chip tonight. But that was a smart call to have him there, as I think a lot of fans may have spent the match waiting for MJF to cash in had they not been able to see him.
Overall, an entertaining show in front of the big crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The finishes to the first three matches were frustrating, but the AEW Tag Title change, the debut of Saraya, and Moxley winning the AEW World Championship made for a memorable night. I’m looking forward to Friday’s two-hour edition of Rampage, which is being taped tonight in the same venue. I’d love a report or basic results from the taping via dotnetjason@gmail.com. I will be back later tonight with my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
Two sloppy matches to start but at least the right winners on the second match.
Jehrico won the Roh title? That just flat out sucks.
Is ROH now going to be the senior division??? I hate this
“The Gunns said “top guys out” to end the segment…”
Maybe they should say “top gunns out” instead, it has a more suitable ring to it.
Meh, another over hyped event by Tony Khan. Some good (Acclaimed, the actual main event match), some bad (first three finishes, A lot of botches, and Mox again).
Look I hope Saraya is healed up and can have her career back and all but Tony just needs to stop. His roster is so inflated and he doesn’t run house shows so there is no justification. If he didn’t have unlimited sums of family money there is no way he would keep padding his over inflated employee base
Every “new big signing” just seems to fade to Dark (see what I did there) in matter of weeks. I really wish he would either focus on what he already has or set some of his folks free so they can a totally perform for other promotions
Look I hope Saraya is healed up and can have her career back and all but Tony just needs to stop. His roster is so inflated and he doesn’t run house shows so there is no justification. If he didn’t have unlimited sums of family money there is no way he would keep padding his over inflated employee base
Every “new big signing” just seems to fade to Dark (see what I did there) in matter of weeks. I really wish he would either focus on what he already has or set some of his folks free so they can a totally perform for other promotions
Literally the best and worst of AEW in one show, making it somewhere in the middle overall. The live crowd ate everything up, but that’s because they’re the shrinking minority that will do that just because it isn’t WWE.
Jericho winning is insane.
Acclaimed winning was the right move a few weeks later than it should have happened.
Pac and Orange Cassidy having even a semi-competitive match is just a waste of airtime.
The women’s division in AEW has somehow gotten worse and Athena is showing once again why she’s the poster child for overhyped indie darling that’s dangerous in the ring.
Mox and Danielson are what they are and that’s fine, but that belt needs to be on MJF very soon.
Sincerely be cool if it’s a kawada-misawa type bit with mox and dragon.
Scissor me timbers!
The chip isn’t like the MITB briefcase. MJF can name his title match, but it has to be sanctioned meaning that it’ll be announced beforehand as a match up.
@PG13 Icon I think your comment is fair if we are talking about the men’s side, but on the female side they could do with some star power. If Saraya is fit to wrestle and they don’t immediately feed her to Cargill like everyone else, she could make a massive difference.