By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite “Title Tuesday” (Episode 262)
Spokane, Washington at Spokane Arena
Aired live October 8, 2024 on TBS
[Hour One] A Jon Moxley video promo opened the show. Moxley spoke about Bryan Danielson being a kamikaze who is trying to take himself out. Moxley said no one had the constitution to do it for Danielson, so he must do it. Moxley said there is the dark side of Danielson that most people don’t see. He said the American Dragon comes to life and it’s beautiful to see.
Moxley said Danielson has never been comfortable with that part of himself. Moxley said Danielson will embrace his dark side and he has no choice but to be read for it. Moxley said there are not enough people in the state of Washington to stop him on Saturday at WrestleDream. Moxley said Danielson will understand one day that it has to be this way. Moxley said he doesn’t have time to worry about that right now. Moxley threw a chair and said the stakes are too high…
Excalibur checked in on commentary and promoted Danielson vs. Moxley for the AEW World Championship at WrestleDream. He also hyped the tag team main event of Dynamite as a “match of champions”…
A Bryan Danielson promo recorded earlier in the day aired. Danielson said Claudio Castagnoli did an interview with Sports Illustrated and claimed that this would Danielson’s final match on Dynamite. Danielson said he and Wheeler Yuta will run through Castagnoli and Pac, and he will keep his title on Saturday. Danielson said he’s supported Castagnoli in every company they’ve been in for twenty years, but he will kick his f’n head in on Saturday…
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Jeff Jarrett were on commentary, and Justin Roberts was the ring announcer…
Darby Allin made his entrance and called out Brody King, who made his entrance and joined Allin inside the ring. Allin recalled how they worked independent shows together and stayed up all night in crackhead hotels. Allin said King was nervous because he was about to become a father and didn’t know how his career would turn out.
Allin said King was out of a job when he had two kids when Ring of Honor shut down prior to Tony Khan buying it. Allin said he called Khan and got King a job in AEW. Allin said King bought his family a house because of AEW. Allin said King wants what he has. Allin declared that he is the face of the company. Allin said he was never supposed to make it, but he did because of AEW.
King interrupted Allin and conceded that he does want what Allin has. King said he doesn’t take it for granted. King said Allin has a death wish and still wants to climb Mount Everest. King said Allin needs someone to put him out of his misery.
Allin fired up and then sat down in a corner of the ring and begged King to put him out of his misery. King told Allin to get up. Allin stood up and slapped King, who then dropped him with an elbow strike. King put Allin in a sleeper, but Allin fought free and hit King with a small rock. King bled from the mouth while security entered the ring and stood between both wrestlers…
Powell’s POV: Allin told a good story on the mic, but I could have done without the babyface hitting the heel with a rock.
Backstage, Renee Paquette spoke with Lance Archer and Jake Roberts. Don Callis interrupted and said it was an exciting day because he and Roberts had concluded the first management to management talent exchange. Callis said that after several bank transfers, he understands that Archer is now with him. Roberts shook hands with Callis and said absolutely.
Callis blew off Paquette’s attempt ask him about Will Ospreay and told Archer that it was time to go meet his family. Archer shook hands with Roberts and thanked him before walking away. Paquette asked Roberts who he got in exchange. Roberts asked if she likes surprises and then said, “So do I,” before the show cut to a break. [C]
Paquette caught up with Daniel Garcia in the parking lot and mentioned there are questions about his future in AEW. Garcia said that as much as he’d like to give her the answer, he thinks he owes it to everyone else to go tell them himself…
The broadcast team spoke at their desk briefly about WrestleDream and the remainder of this show…
1. Hologram vs. Komander. Both entrances were televised. Hologram used fast paced offense and then Komander ducked out to ringside. Hologram hit a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Hologram popped up Komander and let him hit the mat. Hologram kicked Komander and covered him for a two count.
The broadcast team wished Taz well while noting that he had successful total knee replacement surgery earlier in the day. Hologram suplexed Komander and covered him for a two count heading into a PIP break. [C] Komander came back and jumped from the middle rope inside the ring and performed a flip dive onto Hologram at ringside.
Hologram went right back on the offensive once they were back in the ring. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Hologram went for a 450 splash, but Komander put his knees up. Hologram went to ringside. Komander went up top and walked the ropes. Hologram returned to the apron and performed a springboard leap, but Komander powerbombed him in midair.
Komander opted to pick up Hologram rather than pin him, which Jarrett called a missed opportunity. Both wrestlers traded strikes. Hologram avoided a springboard move, but Komander came back with a clunky looking Poison Rana. Hologram got up and hit a good Poison Rana that left both men down.
Komander went to the ropes and dove at Hologram, who caught him on his shoulders. Hologram performed an airplane spin into a slam and got the three count.
Hologram defeated Komander in 12:00.
After the match, Jake Roberts walked onto the stage. Rush, The Beast Mortos, and Dralistico attacked Hologram and Komander and cleared them from the ring. Rush put his fist up. Dralistico put his fist up and Mortos eventually did the same. Roberts stood on the stage and put his fist up and then smiled…
Powell’s POV: A crowd pleasing lucha spot-fest. It was odd that Rush went from being with Callis to seemingly leaving him to start a new version of La Faccion Ingobernables, but they tied up that loose end with this trade. I wonder if Bandido will end up being the third man on the babyface side to counter LFI.
Highlights aired of Mark Briscoe punching out Chris Jericho after Jericho mentioned the late Jay Briscoe…
Backstage, ROH Champion Mark Briscoe was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Briscoe said Jericho messed up and this isn’t a place he wants him to be. Briscoe put his title belt down while saying it’s not about the belt. “I’m gonna hurt you,” Briscoe said…
Powell’s POV: I wasn’t a fan of Jericho bringing up Jay last week, but I am a fan of Mark ditching the crazy man promo in favor of taking a serious tone this week. Don’t get me wrong, the wild Briscoe promos are fun at times, but he serious Briscoe is money.
Daniel Garcia made his entrance for an in-ring promo. Garcia asked the fans how they were doing and said it felt good to feel the energy. Garcia said he’d been sitting at home and missed this. Garcia thanked Tony Khan for giving him the time to come out and do what he needed to do.
Garcia said that when you’re sitting at home thinking about what’s best for yourself, it’s not always easy and it’s not always popular. Garcia said he never wanted to be a guy who just disappeared without explanation. Garcia said it was important to him to come out and look the fans in the building and at home in the eye and let them know what he’s going to do.
Garcia said he came to the conclusion that he would do what he wants because he’s one of the best pro wrestlers in the world. Garcia said he feels that because he’s one of the best professional wrestlers in the world, it’s only right that he stays where the best wrestle in AEW. An “AEW” chant broke out.
Garcia said that he wouldn’t be the same person who has been little bro’d by everyone in the back, nor would it be the Garcia who cries after he loses matches. He said this is the Garcia who represents everyone in the back and starts changing everything in AEW.
Garcia said it starts with gold around his waist. Garcia said he has a message to everyone in the back who has a championship and noted there were a lot of those people. Garcia told the champions they are not safe and he’s coming for what they have. “The feeling is restored,” Garcia said to close. Garcia went to ringside and stood on the barricade while playing to the fans…
Powell’s POV: A good promo from Garcia. Of course, you had to know that he was staying with AEW when they started playing up the mystery regarding his future earlier in the show. I’m guessing there are a lot of casual fans who had no idea that Garcia’s future with the company was in question, but it was still fairly easy to follow and Garcia turned it into a feel good moment for AEW.
A video package aired on MVP and Shelton Benjamin and focused on MVP telling Prince Nana that he’s ready to talk business with Swerve Strickland…
Excalibur hyped that Swerve Strickland will be returning at WrestleDream…
MVP and Shelton Benjamin were shown watching on a backstage monitor. Excalibur questioned whether Swerve would be the next man MVP brings into the fold… [C]
Paquette did an over the top introduction for Mercedes Mone, who was accompanied by Kamille on the backstage interview set. Mone told Paquette to stick to asking questions. Mone spoke about her double title defense against Emi Sakura. She said it won’t be the first time she dethrones a queen…
Daniel Garcia was shown shaking hands with Orange Cassidy, Anna Jay, Colt Cabana, Kyle O’Reilly, and Isiah Kassidy. Katsuyori Shibata greed Garcia and used his translator to say he’s happy that he’s staying. Shibata said the TNT Title will be around his waist at WrestleDream. They shook hands…
Entrances for the four-way women’s match took place. Excalibur explained that Britt Baker, who was scheduled to face Willow Nightingale, fell ill and was not allowed to travel…
2. Willow Nightingale vs. Nyla Rose vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Saraya (w/Harley Cameron) in a four-way for a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship at WrestleDream. AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May sat in on commentary. Saraya went to ringside early. Saraya and Cameron attacked Willow and Hayter before they could lock up a couple minutes into the match and they all ended up at ringside. Rose dove from the ropes onto the pile of wrestlers before a PIP break. [C]
Hayter suplexed Willow and Rose simultaneously. Saraya tried to hit Hayter with a chair, but Hayter took it away and worked her over with it (Saraya wisely put her hands up to block a chair shot to the head). Saraya fled to ringside. Hayter followed to the floor. Cameron took the chair away.
Penelope Ford ran out and hit Hater from behind with a chair. Hayter chased Ford to the back. Rose put Saraya down with a neckbreaker. Rose went up top, but Cameron pushed her down and Rose took a PCO like bump on the apron before tumbling to the floor. Saraya and Hayter had trouble getting a table inside the ring and appeared to give up on it. Saraya put Willow down with a DDT for a near fall.
[Hour Two] Saraya and Hayter finally set up the table in a corner of the ring. Willow battled back and put Cameron down with a Doctor Bomb. Moments later, Willow put Saraya through the table and then pinned her…
Willow Nightingale defeated Nyla Rose, Saraya, and Jamie Hayter in a four-way in 11:25 to earn a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship at WrestleDream.
After the match, May met Willow on the stage. May tried to slap Willow, who blocked it. May headbutted Willow and then beat her with the AEW Women’s Championship belt…
Powell’s POV: It was obvious that Willow was going over once Hayter chased Ford to the back, but no complaints because it sets up a fine women’s title match for the pay-per-view. It’s a shame that Britt Baker was unable to appear. I was looking forward to Baker vs. Willow.
Backstage, Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith had a cameraman follow them through the backstage area. They found Rocky Romero and assured him that they weren’t there to fight. Jericho said Romero doesn’t seem to know his self worth. Jericho said Romero’s friends invited him to join The Conglomeration months after they started the group and gave him a t-shirt.
Jericho asked Romero if he wants to be a lackey. Romero got upset. Jericho assured him they were just trying to teach him a lesson. Keith told Romero that Jericho is a future ROH Champion and he better respect him. “Or what?” Romero asked. Keith replied, “Or else”…
Jay White made his entrance while his opponent was already inside the ring…
3. Jay White (w/Juice Robinson) vs. Cody Chhun. There were some “Cody” chants for the popular local independent wrestler. Chhun dropkicked White and put him down with a DDT that resulted in a one count. Jarrett wondered if White had some ring rust. White came back and put Chhun down with a uranage. White followed up with the Bladerunner and scored the pin…
Jay White defeated Cody Chhun in 2:50.
After the match, White delivered an in-ring promo about Hangman Page. White assumed that Page would be coming for him and he said that’s what he wants. White said it’s funny that the voices who have booed him for years and now willing this into existence. White said it starts with Page at WrestleDream…
Hook stood in a backstage area and called for the person who attacked his father Taz to reveal himself. Kip Sabian bumped into Hook, but said he didn’t know what he was talking about. After Sabian left the picture, Christian Cage showed up with Nick Wayne and Mother Wayne. Christian said he lost Killswitch to a serious medical situation and he sympathizes with Hook on the loss of his father… [C]
Powell’s POV: So I guess the idea is that Sabian was trying to get away from Cage’s crew. It’s unclear whether Cage is the culprit or if Hook’s search will continue. Reports indicate that Killswitch is recovering from double pneumonia, so here’s wishing him the best.
Paquette tried to interview Mariah May on the backstage interview set, but Willow took out May with The Pounce. Willow spoke about making May a former AEW Women’s World Champion at WrestleDream…
Entrances for the double title match took place…
4. Mercedes Mone (w/Kamille) vs. Emi Sakura for the TBS Title and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. The broadcast team spoke about the numerous titles that Sakura has won during her career while mentioning that she has yet to win gold in AEW.
Sakura hit rapid fire chops in the corner. Mone sold the chops, but blocked Sakura from going for a pin. Mone came back and hit a meteora off the apron to the floor before a PIP break. [C]
Mone hit the Backstabber and went for the pin, but Sakrua put her foot over the bottom rope to break it. Both wrestlers ended up at ringside. Sakura picked up Mone and swung her so that her feet took out Kamille and then dumped Mone on top of the barricade. Sakura hit a diving crossbody block on Mone and Kamille against the barricade.
Sakura played to the crowd and was well received. Back in the ring, Sakura performed a double underhook and held up Mone before hitting a backbreaker. Mone rolled under the bottom rope and held the ring apron skirting, which of course led to the referee dealing with the skirting and missing it when Kamille tripped Skura. Mone applied her submission finisher and got the win.
Mercedes Mone defeated Emi Sakura in 10:15 to retain the TBS Title and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship.
After the match, Mone was going to do more damage to Sakura, but Kris Statlander ran out and cleared Kamille from the ring…
Powell’s POV: The match got over with the live crowd even though there was no reason to suspect a title change. By the way, it’s absurd to label this show Title Tuesday and then book this as the only title match.
Backstage, Renee Paquette spoke with “Private Party” Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy and noted that Stokely Hathaway asked for a chance to address them. Hathaway spoke highly of Private Party and offered to align with them at WrestleDream. Quen asked where Hathaway was when they were struggling and said they don’t need him. After Hathaway left, Kassidy spoke about how they need this. Kassidy said the Young Bucks are complacent and they will put the chip back on their shoulder when they take the AEW Tag Team Titles at WrestleDream…
Powell’s POV: I’m baffled by Statlander no longer being aligned with Hathaway and reverting to a babyface role out of nowhere.
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and introduced AEW International Champion Will Ospreay, who made his entrance. Ospreay called out Don Callis, who entered the ring and went for a hug, but Ospreay kept his arms crossed. Callis said last week was difficult for him emotionally. He said he hates to see Ospreay unhappy.
Ospreay asked Callis if he sent Konosuke Takeshita out to attack him last week. Callis said Ospreay was asking the wrong question. Ospreay persisted. Callis finally gave in and admitted that he sent Takeshita. Callis said he did it out of frustration because Ospreay wouldn’t listen to his good advice.
Callis said he sent Takeshita to show Ospreay who makes the decisions in his family. Callis said he was “this close” to winning the AEW Tag Team Titles and it’s because Ospreay was too mentally weak to do what needed to be done. Ospreay told Callis that he doesn’t know shit.
Callis said he had the best wrestler in the world and he threw him in the garbage for Ospreay. Callis said maybe he needs to throw the best wrestler in the world in the garbage one more time. Ospreay said Callis is everything people warned him about. Ospreay told Callis they are finished. Callis slapped Ospreay across the face. Ospreay tossed Callis across the ring.
Konosuke Takeshita ran in to help Callis. Ospreay put Takeshita down in the corner. Kyle Fletcher entered the ring and Ospreay stopped short of hitting him. Takeshita gave Ospreay a German suplex. Callis handed Fletcher a screwdriver and told him to use it on Ospreay. Fletcher declined.
Callis tried to stop Fletcher from leaving the ring. Fletcher wound up like he was going to use the screwdriver on Callis, but Takeshita stopped him. Fletcher left the ring and then Ospreay went after Takeshita. Callis grabbed Ospreay by the hair and held him while Takeshita hit him with an elbow strike. Takeshita held up the title belt.
Ricochet ran out and hit a springboard clothesline on Takeshita. Ricochet went for a big stomp on Takeshita, who avoided it and rolled out of the ring. Ricochet picked up the AEW International Title belt and handed it to Ospreay…
Powell’s POV: Finally, the oddball relationship between Ospreay and Callis is no more.
Dante Martin, Darius Martin, Action Andretti, and Leila Grey delivered a backstage promo. Darius said they are pissed about losing the three-way tag match on Rampage for a shot at the AEW Tag Team Titles. Dante said there’s no reason they shouldn’t be challenging The Young Bucks at WrestleDream.
Andretti took exception to Dante’s comments. Andretti said the Martins are not fired up. Grey cut off Andretti and said he’s the one messing things up. Grey said what Andretti did screwed them. Andretti said they don’t get it and stormed away. Dante said Andretti is “all go, no think” and said it would cost them if they don’t fix it… [C]
TNT Champion Jack Perry sat in a stairwell and spoke about Katsuyori Shibata being the embodiment of fighting spirit. Perry questioned whether Shibata is still among the best. He said he wants to face the Shibata who put it all on the line when the meet for the title at WrestleDream…
Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta made their entrance to “The Final Countdown” and slapped hands with fans at ringside. Pac and Claudio Castagnoli made their entrance…
5. Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta vs. Pac and Claudio Castagnoli. Danielson hit Castagnoli with a suicide dive. Yuta hit a missile dropkick on Pac. Danielson and Yuta hit stereo dives. The heels battled back and isolated Danielson.
Excalibur announced Hangman Page vs. Jay White for WrestleDream. Of course, Schiavone felt the need to let everyone know that Tony Khan was responsible for making it official.
Danielson tagged out. Yuta hit a series of moves on Pac and played to the crowd before hitting a German suplex for a two count. Yuta put Pac in Cattle Mutilation. Castagnoli casually entered the ring and broke it up. Yuta slapped Castagnoli.
Danielson dropkicked Castagnoli out of the ring. Danielson went for a suicide dive, but Castagnoli caught him and dumped him on the barricade. Castagnoli hit the Neutralizer on the floor before the final PIP break. [C]
[Overrun] Yuta had to fight alone while Danielson was down at ringside. Danielson came back and had a flurry of offense. Danielson held the arms of Castagnoli while stomping his head until Pac broke it up. Danielson drove Pac’s shoulder into the mat and then held his arms and stomped him until Castagnoli intervened.
Danielson ducked an uppercut and caught Castagnoli in a backslide for a two count. Danielson led “yes” chants while kneeling in a corner of the ring. Danielson stopped when he noticed Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir at ringside. Castagnoli hit Danielson with a popup uppercut that led to a two count. Pac tagged in and hit a 450 splash for a near fall.
Shafir distracted the referee while Pac went to ringside and grabbed the ring bell hammer. Yuta took the hammer away from Pac. Danielson waited for Pac to turn around and then put him in the LeBell Lock. Pac tapped out.
Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta beat Pac and Claudio Castagnoli in 15:20.
Danielson dropkicked Moxley through the ropes and then attacked him. Danielson battered Moxley on the stage and into the backstage area. At ringside, Shafir threw knee strikes at Yuta’s gut. Backstage, Danielson ran Moxley into a giant garage door.
Pac and Shafir worked over Yuta in the ring. Castagnoli stopped them and had them hold Yuta. Castagnoli hit Yuta in the gut with the hammer. Castagnoli had Pac and Shafir pick him up and he hit him in the gut with the hammer again. Rinse and repeat for a third hammer to the gut shot.
Danielson and Moxley fought back to ringside. Danielson entered the ring and cleared Pac and then hit Castagnoli with a Busaiku Knee. Danielson led “yes” chants while Shafir helped Moxley stay on his feet on the stage. Danielson continued to lead “yes” chants while Yuta was down and reached out with his hand. Danielson helped Yuta to his feet and raised his arm to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A well worked main event, but it didn’t feature any storyline developments that would leave viewers feeling more compelled about Danielson’s war with his former allies heading into WrestleDream. Overall, they crammed a lot into this episode and very little of it left me more excited about WrestleDream than I was going into the show. I will have a lot more to say in my same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons), who are already listening to John Moore’s same night audio review of NXT. Let me know what you thought of Dynamite by grading it below.
Join me on Saturday for my live review of AEW WrestleDream.
I’m assuming that Hook will be revealed as the one who jumped his dad.
Holy hell the crowd is dead for the 4th Horse’s Ass, the CEO of Where did the Ratings Go?
Man, AEW cannot help themselves with yet another face/heel turn that comes from nowhere. Tony Khan desperately needs a booker.
The only positive is that Statlander vs Kamille could be pretty good.
Moxley’s look is as bad as his gimmick these days. Dude looks like a lost Basham brother.