By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 359)
Baltimore, Maryland, at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena
Simulcast live August 19, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
Excalibur and Taz began the show on commentary and ran down the advertised matches for tonight’s card. Will Ospreay made his ring entrance to start the in ring festivities. He was joined by United Empire members Henare and Francesco Akira. They were followed by Don Callis Family members Brian Cage, Rocky Romero, and Lance Archer.
1. Will Ospreay, Henare, and Francesco Akira vs. Brian Cage, Rocky Romero, and Lance Archer: Cage backed Ospreay into a corner and delivered shoulder thrusts. Ospreay attempted a hurracarrana, but Cage used his power to hold on and avoid it. Ospreay landed some kicks, and Cage stumbled into his corner to tag Romero. Akira tagged in and delivered some strikes. Henare and Archer joined the mach soon after and got into a big strike battle. Archer delivered a shoulder block, but Henare ducked the follow up and went back to trading strikes.
Archer delivered a wheel kick and made a tag to Ospreay. United Empire knocked the Callis Family off the apron and swarmed Archer. The Callis Family returned to the apron and Archer landed an overhead throw on Akira. He then knocked Ospreay and Henare to the floor…[c]
Akira fired back with strikes on Brian Cage, but he was unable to crawl to his corner to make a tag. He then threw a running kick and tagged in Henare. Henare landed a sit out powerbomb and covered Cage for a two count. Cage and Henare traded strikes, and then Cage landed a fireman’s carry slam for a two count. Archer tagged in and attempted Blackout, but Henare slipped out the back door and landed a German Suplex. Henare hit the ropes, but got caught with a bossman slam and both men were down.
Ospreay tagged in along with Romero, and Romero was quickly overwhelmed. Archer was forced to break up a pinfall. Akira landed a futile set of strikes on Archer, who was not impressed. Romero attempted a sliced bread on Ospreay, but was turned away with a double team cutter from Akira and Ospreay. Henare and Akira then dove onto Archer and Cage on the floor. Ospreay drilled Romero with a hidden blade a moment later and got the win.
United Empire defeated the Don Callis Family at 10:57
After the match, United Empire celebrated their victory and headed to the back. Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed Kazuchika Okada. She asked about the triple threat match scheduled for All In, to which he replied that nothing is more important than family. Okada said Fletcher would not make the same mistake Takeshita did, and he would be happy for him to retain the International Champion. He said if he wins, he expects Kyle to be happy for him and raise his hand in the center of the ring.
In the arena, Tony Schiavone brought Kyle Fletcher down to the ring for an interview. Schiavone asked Fletcher about the possibility of raising Okada’s hand at All In. Fletcher said he was in the middle of the greatest International Championship run of all time, and he sees no reason it needs to end at All In. He then said he owes Don Callis a lot and trusts him, and this is his plan, and Fletcher was willing to follow the plan. Fletcher told Okada that he needs to know his role in this, which is to be his family and help him retain the title.
He then turned to Takeshita, and said he hated his guts. He mocked him for losing the G1 Tournament, which brought Takeshita out to the ring. They brawled, and Fletcher landed a half and half suplex. Takeshita returned fire with a Blue Thunder Bomb. He then delivered a poisonrana and a power drive knee, before ending the skirmish with a Raging Fire suplex. Takeshita held up the International Championship before leaving the ring. Okada never appeared to bail him out. A sit down interview with Omega and Ospreay is up next…[c]
My Take: A fairly throwaway opening match without much suspense. Okada leaving Fletcher out to dry immediately after he told him his role was to protect him was not exactly subtle. It sets up a conflict when Callis comes back next week.
In a pre-taped interview, Renee Paquette sat down with Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay. Omega had a very disgusted look on his face immediately. She asked about their first meeting at PWG, and Ospreay said it was a chance to face one of his idols. Omega said he fancied himself having a finger on the pulse of wrestling and Ospreay was an internet darling who he looked forward to facing. Omega said he was ultimately unimpressed but saw potential.
She then asked about their times in New Japan. The conversation switched into a meta conversation about the struggles both faced during COVID. Ospreay said Omega would not have been able to handle the restrictions and difficulties of working in NJPW during COVID, and enjoyed a relatively comfortable time in AEW. Omega said that nobody would have shown up to fill the building for Ospreay even if crowds were able to attend.
The conversation shifted to their two matches in New Japan and AEW, where Omega won in Japan and Ospreay defeated Omega in AEW. Omega said that he brutalized Ospreay in Japan, and he didn’t need to use Don Callis to do it. Ospreay said he was haunted by Don Callis using a screwdriver in their match, and Omega used that as a reason to say that Ospreay was just desperate to come up with a reason to believe he’s on his level.
Renee then asked about their career threatening injuries. Omega dismissed his diverticulitis and said he’s now better than he’s ever been, but Ospreay couldn’t say the same thing about his neck. Ospreay then recalled telling Omega many times that he shouldn’t give up on the World Title, but it wasn’t until he told him that he’s given up on himself that he found any motivation at all. Omega then asked if Ospreay actually wanted him at a weakened state because he would be easier to defeat than MJF.
Ospreay said he wanted Kenny at his best, because he wanted to prove he can beat Kenny Omega in front of his family and his wife in his home country. He said the pressure is on and he can’t crumble because he’s been on a ten year chase to be better than Omega and he’s going to do it on his own. Omega said the last time he tried that was in 2023 and he failed, and next time he would do it in front of his own mother.
Ospreay got to his feet at the mention of his mother. Omega told him to calm down, and said his mother would still be proud of him win, lose, or draw. But his son might have somebody new to look up to after he beats him in Wembley. Ospreay started to go after Omega, but was held back by AEW officials.
In the arena, Hikaru Shida made her ring entrance. She was followed by Persephone. A video played during her entrance that showed an argument between Shida and Persephone on Collision. They were followed by Kris Statlander and TBS Champion Maya World. A picture in picture of Maya was shown during her entrance. She said she would be ready for anything and everything, and hoped it came down to her and Statlander.
2. Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander vs. Persephone vs. Maya World for the AEW TBS Champion: Shida landed an Enziguri on Statlander that sent her to the floor. Maya landed a hurracarrana that sent Shida outside immediately afterwards. Persephone sent Maya to the outside with a dropkick and hit the ropes, but got cut off by Statlander. All four women brawled on the floor, and Maya was the last one standing. Persephone quickly got to her feet and slammed World onto the apron…[c]
My Take: Kenny came across like a smarmy asshole in the backstage segment, which was effective. I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the digressions in the promo about COVID wrestling and drawing money, but most of it was quite good at setting the table regarding Omega’s overconfidence and Ospreay’s desperation to prove himself.
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