By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 361)
Allen, Texas, at Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Simulcast live September 2, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
Excalibur joined in on commentary and announced that we would hear from both Will Ospreay and Mercedes Mone. He then ran down the rest of the announced card before throwing to a video package that recapped All In 2026. Justin Roberts stood in the ring after the video package, and introduced Will Ospreay as the new AEW World Champion.
Ospreay grabbed a microphone and greeted the Texas crowd and took in a “You deserve it” chant. He apologized for looking rough and said he’d been on a bender since Sunday. Ospreay said Sunday was amazing and he struggled to find the words to express his gratitude. He thanked the people who stuck with him since the beginning and promised the crowd not to let them down. Ospreay mentioned Kenny Omega, and said he’d been the best wrestler in the world for 10 years. He then said Omega might be a better wrestler 364 days of the year, but it only takes one to become Champion.
The crowd chanted “One more time” as Ospreay said their record in matches was 2-2. Ospreay said he was satisfied with being his equal, but if Kenny isn’t satisfied he can name the time and place to sort it out. He said the AEW Championship was a lifelong dream and rattled off a list of former champions he idolized like Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson. Ospreay said he struggled to find the confidence to call himself “the guy”, but this title said he’s the best in the world and the AEW World Champion.
He then said if anyone wants to take it from him, they’ll have to walk through the same fire he did and he’d see them at the end of the line. Ospreay shouted out the United Empire and said he was proud of what they were doing in Japan, but he was going to start looking and start a new chapter in AEW. Ricochet interrupted Ospreay and said they had unfinished business. He said they were forever intertwined in Pro Wrestling and called his match with Kenny Omega spectacular.
Ricochet went on to say they’ve known each other for years, and he knows that he wouldn’t be where he is without him. He then demanded the first opportunity to take the title from around his waist. The Dogs then walked out and Gabe Kidd told Ospreay he took his chance to be the first English IWGP and AEW World Champion, but that would pale in comparison to what he’d take from him. Kidd proposed a 5 on 1 attack and Ospreay was quickly backed up by the United Empire. Ospreay challenged them to a 4 on 4 match for the main event, and it was accepted.
A video package aired for the New Level debuting at All In. Swerve Strickland made his ring entrance, followed by New Level. They were then followed by The Rascalz.
1. Swerve Stickland, Kofi, and Austin Creed vs. Desmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, and Myron Reed: Strickland and Reed started the match. Myron showed off his speed early on, but serve shut him down with a slam and a big boot. Creed then tagged in and was quickly followed by Xavier. They traded some quick pinfall attempts to no avail. Woods eventually put down Xavier with a leg sweet and a running senton. Kofi tagged in and performed a double team splash on Wentz.
Reed entered the ring and the Rascalz quickly recovered and took control with a lungblower and senton combo on Swerve. The action spilled to the floor where Creed and Swerve landed a pair of tandem DDTs. Kofi then tagged in and then splashed the Rascalz on the floor…[c]
My Take: There were 30 minutes of nearly uninterrupted content to open the show. Ospreay’s promo was fine. He didn’t mention MJF at all in his list of former AEW World Champions, so expect that to come up later. Ricochet and Kidd being the first out of the gate to have beef with him is a little underwhelming, but here’s hoping it’s one night only.
Creed delivered a Liger Bomb to Wentz and crawled for a tag to his corner. Reed and Kofi tagged into the match, and Kofi quickly took control with rapid fire kicks and a boom drop. Creed landed a DDT and Swerve entered to deliver a delayed vertical suplex. He made a cover, but Wentz broke it up. The Rascalz knocked Creed and Kofi off the apron and landed a triple team combo into a German Suplex on Swerve. Kofi broke up the fall and landed a split legged dropkick.
After a series of dives on the floor, Creed stood on the apron and celebrated. Myron Reed took him down to the floor for a DDT, but then managed to take down Swerve at the time with a head scissors in an impressive display. Swerve replied with a house call kick. Woods and Kofi delivered a double stomp into a slam on Xavier and then Swerve delivered a House Call for the win.
The New Level and Swerve defeated The Rascalz at 13:02
After the match, Swerve and New Level celebrated and headed to the back. The Young Bucks music hit and they headed to the ring to walk past New Level. We’ll hear from them up next…[c]
My Take: A fun match with some impressive spots. There wasn’t much suspense obviously but this was about showcasing the new level and it worked on that front.
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