By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 352)
San Diego, California, at Viejas Arena
Simulcast live July 1, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
Will Ospreay was interviewed backstage by Renee Paquette. This took place on Sunday following the Forbidden Door PPV. He started to speak about how much pride he feels about getting a win and going home to Wembley when Jox Moxley walked up. Moxley and Ospreay then had a conversation, and Moxley told Ospreay that he was proud of him, and how it was up to them to make All Elite Wrestling a better place and put an end to the bucket of crabs mentality in Pro Wrestling. He offered him a membership into the Death Riders and handed him a jacket patch.
Moxley walked away and Kenny Omega entered the picture. He congratulated him and Ospreay noticed he was looking at the patch, and told him that just because he had given up on himself didn’t mean Ospreay had to. Omega took exception, but MJF walked up and said he was amused by their lovers quarrel, and told Ospreay he would see him at Wembley. Omega told Ospreay the patch didn’t change what they had, wished him luck, and said he loved him.
In the arena, Mark Briscoe made his entrance for the opening match. He was followed by MJF. Justin Roberts made ring announcements. MJF forced Roberts to say he wasn’t from the left coast, he was from the best coast.
1. Mark Briscoe vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship: MJF sold his knee injury from the PPV and sold some pain. He managed to plant Briscoe with a piledriver and landed some mounted punches. Briscoe bled from the forehead and MJF continued the pressure with strikes. Briscoe recovered and fired back with a suplex and climbed to the top rope. MJF dropped Briscoe onto his groin and they battled on the ropes. Briscoe knocked down MJF and delivered an elbow drop for a close near fall.
He set up for a Jay Driller, but MJF wrenched the arm and escaped. Briscoe avoided an MJF attack and sent him to the floor, and followed up with a suicide dive. He followed up with a second one, and then pulled a table from underneath the ring. Briscoe tossed MJF into the ring steps before setting up the table at ringside. He set up MJF on the table and climbed up top, but MJF spring to his feet and tossed him off the turnbuckle and onto the ring apron. He then put the table underneath the ring and played to the crowd…[c]
My Take: I’m very curious what Jon Moxley’s reaction will be if Ospreay ultimately decides to be his own man and doesn’t become a full member of the Death Riders. The diss that Ospreay delivered about Omega giving up on himself also seemed to strike a chord. It seems like both men will be primed as early opponents for Ospreay if he captures the AEW World Championship at Wembley.
MJF spit in Briscoe’s face when the show returned. They battled on the outside and Briscoe attempted a Jay Driller on the exposed floor, but MJF reversed out with a back body drop. MJF then went for a Tombstone on the concrete, but Briscoe escaped and landed a scoop slam on the floor. Briscoe then followed up with a Cactus Jack elbow from the apron. Back in the ring, Briscoe landed a high angle Death Valley Driver for a close near fall.
Briscoe attempted another Jay Driller on the apron, but MJF escaped and the action spilled out to the floor again. There was an awkward spot on the floor where Briscoe hit a chop while MJF went for a big boot, but it seemed like the boot landed anyways. Briscoe didn’t sell it and placed MJF back on a table at ringside on top of the exposed floor. Briscoe then landed a Froggy Bow through the table and sent MJF into the ring. He covered and MJF was able to get his foot on the ropes.
Both men traded heavy strikes. Briscoe won the strike battle and landed another Froggy Bow. He then delivered a Jay Driller and covered for a close near fall. He then dragged MJF into the corner and set up for an Avalanche Jay Driller, but MJF escaped. They traded pinning attempts and reversals. MJF got the better of it and delivered a heat seeker and got the win.
MJF defeated Mark Briscoe to retain the AEW World Championship at 18:34
After the match, MJF took a punched Briscoe with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, and talked trash from the turnbuckle. He then shoved AEW officials from the ring to attack Briscoe again, but Kenny Omega ran down to prevent further damage. Omega got on the microphone and challenged MJF to another match later in the show, since he had enough energy to use tables, ladders, rings, and belts. MJF said it was bad enough he had to come to California to wrestle a white trash hick, but he couldn’t believe Omega thought he deserved another title shot after he beat him last time.
MJF refused the match and called Omega a fraud. He then said he’d give him another match on one condition. If MJF wins, the same thing happens to Omega that happened to his pal Hangman Page, Omega will never be able to be World Champion ever again. He said he wanted an answer by the end of the night. Omega looked on dejected…[c]
My Take: A very strong match, but I never bought into the idea of Briscoe getting the win. Omega considering the Hangman stipulation would be a good time for Hangman to make a return, no?
Renee Paquette asked MJF about whether he’s prepared for Kenny Omega if he accepts a match for next week? MJF addressed Andrade first and said revenge is coming for him, and he won’t see it coming. He then addressed Omega and said he doesn’t have to worry about him because he was gutless and wouldn’t accept the challenge. Will Ospreay walked up and asked him why that stipulation, and MJF said it was because he was the Champion and he isn’t. He told Ospreay that whether he believed it or the schmucks at home did, he was the best in the world.
In the arena, Andrade was interviewed by Tony Schiavone. He said he was done with the Don Callis family and it was time to be a pendejo to MJF and become the AEW World Champion. He was then ambushed from behind by the Don Callis family and dragged to the ring. Brian Cage landed a Drillclaw piledriver on him. Callis then ordered his guys to throw Andrade out of the ring so Kevin Knight could defend his AEW TNT Championship…[c]
My Take: A fun interaction between Ospreay and MJF. I like the tension they are establishing between them that they have a chance to ratchet up as we get closer to All In.
A pre-taped interview from Mercedes Mone aired. She claimed ownership of the division and All In was the final step in taking over what was already hers. In the arena, Lio Rush made his entrance with the ROH TV Championship in a backpack.
2. Lio Rush vs. Kevin Knight for the AEW TNT Championship: Knight took the bait and opened the backpack, and got rolled up from behind for his trouble for a two count. Rush landed some strikes, and Jake Doyle pulled Knight to ringside to bail him out. Rush galloped around the ring and took out Knight with a kick…[c]
Knight knocked Rush off the top rope and then landed a kick as he charged back into the corner. He followed up with a backbreaker and favored his knee. The announce team explained Knight had fallen victim to a booby trap on Sunday and had crashed through tables as a result. Rush capitalized and delivered a kick and applied a submission. Jake Doyle pulled him out of the submission, and Rush sent Doyle into the ring post. Knight took advantage and performed a springboard lariat. He then delivered a sit out powerbomb and a Uranage and got the win.
Kevin Knight defeated Lio Rush at 8:52
After the match, Darby Allin made his way out onto the stage. Allin told Knight he wanted a title match, and said that he would continue to have “accidents” until he gave him one. Knight started to offer him a match when Don Callis stole the microphone and told him no. Callis said he crossed the line with his stunt from wrestler to criminal, and he would not reward a criminal with a title match as long has he had any say over it. Darby told Knight he was digging his own grave, and Callis said he wouldn’t rest until he puts Darby in a jail cell.
Footage was then shown of Chris Jericho using JD Drake and Tony Schiavone to send a message to Tommaso Ciampa. Backstage, Ciampa was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who asked him about the situation, but Jericho ambushed him before he could give an answer. They brawled around backstage and outside the building. Officials continued to approach and pull them apart, but they broke free several times and engaged each other again. Eventually they were separated by an army of officials. They have a match scheduled for next week on Dynamite.
Up next, Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay take on The Swirl…[c]
My Take: I’m not sure why it had to take almost 9 minutes for Kevin Knight to defeat Lio Rush, but it did. The stuff with Knight and Darby is alright, but the idea that Darby is some kind of deranged adult Kevin McCallister doesn’t do much for me.
Renee Paquette interviewed Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks as they were discussing MJF’s stipulation. Omega said he hadn’t made a decision yet, but he saw it as an opportunity to right the wrongs of his first run with the AEW World Championship where he had to go to a dark place. Nick Jackson was urging him to take the risk, and Matt was urging caution.
In the arena, Will Ospreay made his ring entrance, followed by Jon Moxley. Footage was shown of their respective victories at Forbidden Door during their entrances. Lee Johnson and Blake Christian were already in the ring.
3. Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay vs. Blake Christian and Lee Johnson “The Swirl”: Johnson and Christian ambushed Ospreay and Moxley in the early going before the bell rang. They focused on Moxley, but he was able to make a tag to Ospreay, who quickly turned the tide of the match. He took down both men and then isolated Christian in the ring. Moxley tagged back into the match…[c]
On the floor, Marina Shafir gave a suplex to Jay Lethal. Moxley then made a tag to Ospreay, who clerad Christian from the ring. Moxley and Ospreay delivered repeated lariats to Johnson. They then landed a Paradigm Shift and Hidden Blade combo for the win.
Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay defeated The Swirl at 9:02
After the match, Moxley headed to the back through the crowd as Ospreay celebrated and fired up the crowd. Backstage, Christian Cage and Adam Copeland discussed Jay White. Copeland said Jay White owed him a favor and that they were now even. Cage said that before he left for a year and collected a paycheck from home, he had a problem with him, and he still did.
In the arena, Jay White made his ring entrance with the rest of the Bang Bang Gang. White fired up the crowd and did his guns up salute. He said he had been gone for 459 days, and a lot had changed. He said when he left everyone was trying to get out from under the Death Riders, but now it doesn’t seem like they want to. He then called out Will Ospreay as the biggest fraud in the industry. He then moved onto the Dogs, and said he and David Finlay have a lot of history, and recalled joining the NJPW dojo with him many years ago.
He called Finlay a nepo baby bitch despite all his talent, and that the stench of his arrogance has already lingered for far too long. He said the Dogs had to contend with the Guns at full strength, and if you arent down with that, it’s Guns up.
Shane Taylor promotions was shown in a pre-taped promo, and said there were no more Collision Cowboys, and said the club would have to deal with the new gang in Charge on Saturdays. In the arena, it was time to crown a new TBS Champion in a Survival of the Fittest Match. Kris Statlander, Maika, Harley Cameron, Persephone, Queen Aminata, and Hikaru Shida made ring entrances.
4. Hikaru Shida vs Persephone vs. Maika vs. Harley Cameron vs. Kris Statlander vs. Queen Aminata in a Survival of the Fittest Match for the TBS Championship: Persephone and Harley Cameron paired up early on to form a temporary alliance to take control of the match in the opening minutes. It didn’t last as Persephone betrayed Harley with a Razor’s Edge and covered for the first elimination.
Persephone eliminated Harley Cameron at 2:23
Kris Statlander was incensed that Harley was eliminated and delivered an Angle Slam to Persephone…[c]
My Take: I was most interested in Jay White calling Will Ospreay a fraud, but then he never really elaborated on it.
Maika and Kris Statlander battled until Shida hit Statlander from behind with a Kendo Stick. Maika and Shida then battled back and forth. Shida attempted to use the Kendo Stick again, but Statlander grabbed it from her. Persephone then grabbed the Kendo Stick and pulled Statlander to the floor from the apron. Shida then used a referee distraction to roll up Maika and pin her.
Hikaru Shida eliminated Maika at 7:34
Queen Aminata and Shida then resumed their battle in the ring. Aminata missed a double stomp from the top, and Shida landed a running knee. Aminata replied with a big headbutt. Persephone then rolled up Aminata as she tried to follow up on Shida and stole a pin.
Persephone eliminated Queen Aminata at 9:48
Aminata looked on in shock as Persephone celebrated. The match was now down to three competitors…[c]
Kris Statlander landed a sit out powerbomb on Persephone for a near fall. She fired back with a German Suplex into a pin for a near fall on Statlander. Shida then attempted pinfalls on both women for near falls. Shida and Persephone then joined forces to try to take down Statlander, but she took both of them down with a flying back elbow. After a series of reverals and pinfall attempts, Statlander eliminated Persephone with a roll up pin.
Kris Statlander eliminated Persephone at 15:29
Shida planted Statlander with a Falcon Arrow for a close near fall. Shida then went out to the floor to get the TBS Championship. She attempted to use it, but Statlander knocked it away. After more reversals, Shida applied an Ankle Lock on Statlander. She reached the ropes, but Persephone knocked out Statlander with a belt strike from the floor. Shida reapplied the submission and Statlander could no defend herself so the match was called.
Hikaru Shida eliminated Kris Statlander to become TBS Champion at 17:29
After the match, Kenny Omega was shown backstage, he will answer MJF’s challenge next…[c]
My Take: A solid match, but the crowd was surprisingly less interested in Statlander or Shida, and seemed to take a liking to Persephone. I think that’s a good sign that the Shida and Statlander program never really caught on and people are looking to fresh options.
Excalibur ran through the card for the special edition of Collision airing tomorrow night. ELP will face Kyle Fletcher, and Andrade vs. Brian Cage will take place in the main event. Ospreay confronted Kenny Omega backstage, and told him he was concerned he didn’t believe in himself. Omega told him he was running out of chances and he needed to go out guns blazing. Ospreay told him he had his support.
In the ring, Omega said he’s been doing this for almost 30 years, and it’s been his passion to come to the ring and give 100% of himself in the ring. Omega said he’s broken records and won titles, and he has a career that he could walk away from and look back on fondly. He then said that there’s a selfish part of him that believes there’s enough left in the tank for one more time, and if Ospreay, the Young Bucks and the fans believe that maybe it’s possible.
He then got fired up about the idea that he could face Will Ospreay at the biggest stage AEW has to offer, but questioned whether becoming like Cody or Hangman made the cost simply too high. Omega answered no, and that there is one possibility that MJF hadn’t considered, and that’s the fact that he might still be the buy that people call The Cleaner or the God of Professional Wrestling. He officially accepted the challenge and told MJF that he might not be prepared for what he has in store for him. He did his goodnight shtick, and MJF immediately ambushed him from behind.
MJF set up to land a punch with the Dynamite Diamond ring, but he got cut off by a spear. AEW officials worked and struggled to keep both men apart. MJF left for the back as Omega stood in the ring to close the show. MJF held up his title belt from the stage.
My Take: Omega getting his title shot next week with Redemption fast approaching is interesting timing. I’m curious if we get a clean finish, or some kind of screwy ending that requires a rematch for Montreal. Either way, this was an entertaining edition of Dynamite that had more good than bad going for it. AEW has a pattern of following up PPVs with below average editions of Dynamite, but they bucked the trend here.
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