As someone who grew up with pro wrestling in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the AEW Dynamite 5/13/26 episode evoked nostalgia, excitement, and straight-up enjoyment to be a pro wrestling fan in 2026.
Opening the show with the comical bit with MJF walking backstage passing co-workers who are all bald. I’m sure some podcasters out there will call this stupid and lame attempt at humor, but if you grew up watching pro wrestling anytime between 1988 and 2006, skits like these were commonplace and widely praised. In a time when there’s a little too much seriousness, some light-hearted skits are more than welcome.
Opening the show with a 10-man tag match with fun spots, choreographed dives and simultaneous strikes are sometimes a thing of beauty. I really wish more people would remember five minutes into their own past and realize this is meant to be fun. The Young Bucks, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, and Orange Cassidy getting the win over FTR, The Dogs, and Tommaso Ciampa was a wonderful opener into a night AEW fans will enjoy, and stuck-in-the-muds who cling to sports-entertainment will shake their fists at the night sky.
As the night progressed, the action became more intense, the wrestling more serious in tone.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated “Westbrook”
This became a squash, except maybe it wasn’t supposed to be? Westbrook seemed to keep pace with the fast flier, even sporting some of his own razzle-dazzle until he razzled but lost the dazzle and got tied up in the ropes. After this botch, unless it was planned, left Bailey to easily win the match. Kevin Knight who was at ringside enters the ring and immediately goes into his match.
Kevin Knight winds up successfully defending the TNT Championship against the returning Brian Cage. Aligned with the Don Callis Family, as Lance Archer and RPG Vice accompany him to the ring. This match was 10 times better than anticipated. Cage looked in great condition. He completely dominated the majority of the match until he underestimated the champ and wound up taking the loss.
Bringing Cage back now feels like a good move. AEW can benefit from another powerhouse wrestler. However, he is brought back only to lose in his first match. This is a bit of a bummer, but since the TNT title was on the line, a win didn’t seem likely. However, had he won, that would have given people something to talk about. Best to hope he doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. It does feel like there are too many wrestlers being forgotten or relegated to ringside appearances.
After the match, Knight and Bailey had a weird scripted promo, putting each other over as future World Champions. Let’s be real. Speedball will never be AEW World Champion. Kevin Knight has a promising future, but World Champ just doesn’t seem likely in the next few years. As the kids say: “Let him cook.”
Did I get that right? I really thought Bailey was going to challenge for the TNT Championship.
Please AEW… Do not force Kevin Knight to be the equivalent to WWE’s Trick Williams. Please. Let the guy organically develop on his own. Don’t force the catchphrases, don’t do the fake cocky laugh. Let the guy go on his own and work it out for himself.
Backstage, Ricochet reveals Mark Davis, Andrade, and The Dogs are partnering up with The Demand for the Stadium Stampede match.
Will Ospreay defeated Ace Austin by submission
Well. A face vs. face match was unexpected, but just before the match we got a taped promo with Ospreay continuing his Death Rider Training while Mox chokes out Wheeler Yuta. This is some bizarre Star Wars Jedi Training stuff. Mox being a weird Yoda with Ospreay more confused than Luke Skywalker.
Ospreay did resort to his typical vault of aerial tricks, but later on seemed to slow down, unable to match both agility and strength of Austin. Instead, Ospreay reverts to a ground-and-pound submission style. Ospreay wins with curious tactics, instead of the Hidden Blade, kicks Austin’s injured arm before locking in the Fujiwara Armbar for the submission victory. This was different, and perhaps the gradual vengeful side of Ospreay begins to show. He’s been a heel in NJPW, don’t be surprised if it happens here.
Although, I do think this will culminate with Ospreay vs. Mox at All In.
After the match, his first-round Owen Hart tournament opponent, Samoa Joe, shows up with Shibata and Bowens. They threaten to assault Ospreay, but the Death Riders arrive.
Death Riders are babyfaces again? I can’t tell anymore.
Hikaru Shida and the Brawling Birds win by DQ against The Triangle of Madness
All six women looked sensational. Shida compliments Hayter and Windsor well, all with a brawling style of wrestling against the varied nature of Skye Blue, Julia Hart, and Thekla. I have to say Thekla is an amazing AEW Women’s World Champion. Her antics on the mic, backstage promos, and even in the ring all evoke this arrogance which only heel champions could elicit perfectly. As it seemed the Toxic Trio were at their end, Thekla used the belt as a weapon for the DQ. Not surprising, Shida opted to run away while Willow, Thunder Rosa, and Mina Shirakawa made the save.
Excellent women’s segment tonight. Very excited about the Women’ s bracket for the Owen Hart Memorial.
Backstage: The Conglomeration discusses future title aspirations, but Roddy says something is missing… and SHOUTS FOR MAAAAAAARK! Enter, the returning Mark Briscoe! He goes verbally bonkers, with Kyle O’Reilly hanging onto every word as gospel.
Darby Allin retains the AEW Men’s World Championship against Konosuke Takeshita
I believe we have yet another candidate for Match of the Year. Maybe my bar has been trending sideways. If you recall the first Dynamite of 2024 from Newark, New Jersey, this match evoked those fond memories and cemented some scarring new ones. The top rope German suplex was horrifying as was the Blue Thunder Bomb off the apron to the ringside floor. Darby, even when on the offensive, seemed to be the poster definition of “battered and bruised.” I’m pretty certain the blood coming out of his mouth might have been internal. Like Brian Cage vs Kevin Knight, we have the stronger and imposing Takeshita slamming and suplexing Darby all over the place. I’m shocked that limbs remained attached. It’s astounding how wrestlers get injured, out for months from minor spots, yet Darby manages to stay in one piece. It must be a testament to his resilience, or possibly a medical condition where he feels no pain. Takeshita is an incredible wrestler, but I worry what his future holds without a big win. Takeshita needs to win against Okada at Double or Nothing. Takeshita has been in a lot of high profile matches and stories, yet then for some reason fades to the back of the line.
AEW has a great rotation of wrestlers, but it is still important to remind fans why they are great to be in AEW and why they should continue to be relevant in fans’ minds.
Darby Allin is a fighting champion, but it should come to a point where the title does not need to be defended as if it is a PPV match on every show. He could be in a tag or trios match. This isn’t just about burnout, but about novelty. The World Champion needs to feel big. The novelty of the World Champion should not wear off.
A lot of big things are brewing, AEW needs to keep this hot streak going as long as humanly possible.
