It’s Wednesday and you know what that means! This week, AEW brings us a PPV-lite show with championship matches and some huge hype building towards Double or Nothing. A loaded show with big names on the docket. AEW has been giving Dynamite big fight feels for the past few weeks, let’s see if it continues on tonight.
Kicking off is a fantastic opener with Kevin Knight retaining the TNT Championship against Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Amazing how both worked so well together. An angrier, more vengeful persona was put on display by the former World Champion, as he turned up the dial on the heel tactics. It felt like he was channeling the mannerisms of classic heels during the 80s and 90s. The body language, the mouthing off, the facial expressions felt perfect. Knight, even while selling a knee injury pulled off a lot of impressive offense, not just the high flying shtick, but proving he can wrestle on the mat as well. The guy sold everything MJF hit him with. The end came in a shocker, as MJF tried to cheat his way to victory but backfired when Knight nailed with a low blow, rolling MJF in a small package for the win.
Brilliant finish. Absolutely brilliant. MJF once again defeated with his own scheme. After the match he put more hurt on the TNT Champion, but was fought off by Darby Allin who says Knight is next in line for the World Championship. This brought out Brody King who appeared to be unhappy at possibly being dismissed by the champ. King promises more pain and a title change.
Granted, we all figure there’s no way the title will change hands. But could it?
I don’t mind Knight vs. Darby. If you recall, Knight defeated Allin during the 2026 Continental Classic Tournament. There is a story there. But, it seemed odd to already name a next contender before the championship main event.
The Brawling Birds (Hayter & Windsor) defeated Emily Jaye and Jordan Blade
This was a bona-fide squash. It accomplishes the same thing it would in 1992, makes them look a bit more intimidating. An inevitable clash for the Tag Team Championships is nearing, but yet Thekla still has it out for them.
Kazuchka Okada defeated Ace Austin to retain the International Championship
What a fantastic match. The commentary team made a few observations about Austin’s physique and ability to pull off some seriously strong maneuvers. One might compare him to PAC, similar stature. Can pull off both strong holds and high risk flight. Okada sold more than we usually see from him, and credit is due Okada made the Ace look really strong tonight, despite losing.
This leads into a longtime gripe. Not every match a champion competes in has to be a title match. Non-title bouts or Eliminator Matches can take place instead. Did anyone really believe Ace Austin would become AEW International Champion just weeks before Okada defends against Takeshita? Unless there was an injury or massive interference, not a chance. If not for the title, it would have been believable for Ace to win.
Video package airs for Bandido. We see wanted posters and people being thrown from a saloon. But wait… it’s not Bandido… It’s SWERVE STRICKLAND. He sets a “Wanted” poster aflame as the promo ends.
Swerve invading someone else’s promo? This is going to be a crazy version for the Most Dangerous Man in AEW.
Cage and Cope defeated Roppongi Vice (Trent Barretta & Rocky Romero)
A match better than anticipated. It’s astounding to see Cage and Copeland working as hard as they do, when they probably don’t need to. One might imagine they want to. A great, and fun match. FTR and Stokely were at ringside or alternating on commentary, until Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly strolled up in the crowd, OC munching on popcorn until Stokely provoked the Conglomeration members into a brawl. Cage and Cope won with an assisted spear.
FTR defending again against Cage and Cope with a stipulation gives the rematch some meaning, but one has to wonder regardless of the outcome of their PPV match, where does each team go from here?
Divine Dominion (Bayne & Kross) defeated Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander to retain the AEW Women’s Tag Team Championships
Was there a small chance of a title change? Always a 1% chance, but this didn’t feel like it could have happened at all. Shida has been teasing the heel turn since her return, and one spot in the match had the crowd convinced. Shida suplexes Stat into Kross, but it was the kick to the gut first which had everyone thinking “Holy Shida this is it!” but then the match continued with Stat selling both pain and confusion while still working together. Did Shida get caught up and this was a mistake, or perhaps some crazy improvisation to make the live crowd bonkers? Perhaps they should run with Shida being a little crazy lately.
Statlander is an imposing wrestler, so it is bizarre when Bayne and Kross are more imposing if imaginably possible. Shida eats the pin for the team, but no heel turn.
Shida vs. Stat is inevitable, but not sure where either goes after the feud if and when. Stat challenges for the TBS Championship?
Backstage: Chris Jericho is beaten up by The Demand again. I guess because his shirt says so?
Also Backstage: Will Ospreay appears to accept Mox’s offer of training. Is Ospreay going to become the hero or villain AEW needs, or the one it deserves? Has Ospreay played the hero so long, he sees himself becoming the villain?
One more Backstage: Samoa Joe is with Hook, Bowens, and Shibata, stating the Opps are back in business. Something was very strange with the camera and lighting, because Joe’s head looked freakish.
Anyway, it’s a bit difficult to take this iteration of The Opps seriously. Bowens has been stagnant for some time. While pairing him with Joe who can help elevate the young man, he would benefit more from high profile wins. Hook, just not feeling it. Shibata is always a welcome sight. The stable needs a big man to fill the void left by Powerhouse Hobbs. Has anyone seen Wardlow perhaps?
Darby Allin retains the AEW Men’s World Championship against Brody King
Dare I say it? Another potential Match of the Year Candidate? Unlike last week, no blood, but this was brutal. The force behind every single one of Brody’s strikes, immeasurable. Chops echoing like cars backfiring. Darby being thrown like a rag doll, of course. The live crowd was loud throughout the match, dueling chants for Brody and Darby. Some sick spots with Darby being folded on the mat and then King crushing him with a senton while his legs were folded. Later, Darby tried chopping Brody but he simply picked him up, lobbing him over the ropes. On the outside, Darby was catapulted into space and then crushed. Brody and Darby took bumps on an unprotected concrete floor. Darby went for a dive to the floor, but King just stood there while Darby bounced off the big guy.
There is a whole lot more, but it would be worth it to go back and watch it, and then watch it again.
If anyone still doubts Darby’s run as champion, this might change those opinions. However, I question the wisdom of having Darby go up against other babyfaces. At some points during the match, I wondered if the crowd would favor Brody King and turn on Darby. Wrestling fans can easily become fickle and once a trend starts, it can be difficult to stop. Darby faces another babyface massively over Kevin Knight. Would the crowd there dare boo Allin? I hope this doesn’t become a situation where AEW scrambles.
In any event, AEW seems to be on a hot streak heading towards Double or Nothing.
