AEW’s weekly TV has been a constant positive during the three years that the company has been around, with each show feeling significant and pivotal to the development of characters and stories, with the in-ring action being great each week too.
Most episodes of Dynamite are solid at worst, which can make it difficult to decide which shows are the best of the best. Sometimes, a show can be good throughout but have nothing spectacular, and sometimes one match can deliver, stealing the show when the rest of the night isn’t up to scratch. Of course, everything is subjective, so not everyone will agree on which is the best, but many factors will be considered when trying to determine the ten best episodes so far.
Note: The Brodie Lee Tribute Show won’t be included here. It was a perfectly put together show full of love and emotion, so ranking it among other episodes would feel disrespectful and in bad taste, although this was arguably one of the most moving wrestling events of all time.
10 AEW Dynamite, 12th February 2019
This was a very solid show all the way through, starting with Adam Page & Kenny Omega defending their titles against SCU. Nyla Rose dethroned Riho for the AEW Women’s World Title, which was a brilliant match, with them having undeniable chemistry.
MJF & Jungle Boy battled in an enjoyable match between two young stars, and Jon Moxley defeated Santana in the main event, which provided the next chapter to the title feud between Moxley & Jericho. Elsewhere, Britt Baker cut a brilliant heel promo, cementing her new character, and Dustin Rhodes battled Sammy Guevara.
9 AEW Dynamite, 27th October 2021
CM Punk defeated Bobby Fish to open the show, in a great display of wrestling psychology, quickly followed with an MJF squash and an enjoyable segment furthering his feud with Darby Allin. Sammy Guevara defended his TNT Title in a strong match against Ethan Page, and Hikaru Shida defeated Serena Deeb in another great addition to their series.
Jon Moxley and 10 had an intense brawl which saw 10 covered in his own blood, providing a strong visual, and the show was main evented with an incredibly fun Halloween themed eight-man tag team match between The Elite and the Dark Order.
8 AEW Dynamite, 21st October 2020
This show was full of variety, starting with a unique clash of styles between Wardlow and Jungle Boy. The seeds were being planted for Omega’s big heel turn, with his over-the-top entrance being used for a squash match, which was effective storytelling. Rey Fenix and Penta battled in a physical match, and Adam Page defeated Colt Cabana in a solid affair.
The main event saw the Young Bucks become number one contenders for the tag team titles in a very fun, quick-paced fatal four way, ending the show in strong fashion. The biggest talking point came with the musical number and skit featuring MJF and Chris Jericho, which was divisive, but if you are on the side of it, then it elevates this show hugely.
7 AEW Dynamite – Winter Is Coming, 2nd December 2020
Not everything on this show was fantastic, but it was a historic episode with some huge moments. The main event saw Kenny Omega dethrone Jon Moxley to win the AEW World Title, turning heel in the process and revealing AEW’s partnership with Impact Wrestling. Sting also made his stunning and unexpected debut, which shocked the wrestling world.
Chris Jericho and Frankie Kazarian had a solid match, the battle royal to kick off the show was fun, and Britt Baker & Leyla Hirsch had a fine contest. The event had a big show feel, giving Dynamite a completely different flavour, with AEW providing some brilliant moments.
6 AEW Dynamite, 9th February 2022
This was a newsworthy show, featuring the AEW debuts of both Keith Lee and Jay White. The feud between MJF & CM Punk continued, with the latter teaming up with Jon Moxley in a classic tag team match against MJF’s Pinnacle allies, FTR, which was a terrific TV match.
The likes of Wardlow, Jade Cargill, and Serena Deeb were all given the chance to shine, and the show was main evented with a crazy AEW World Title Texas Deathmatch between Adam Page and Lance Archer, which capped the show off in style.
5 AEW Dynamite, 11th May 2022
One of the most recent Dynamite episodes was one of the best. The Long Island crowd created a special atmosphere, kicking off with a fun match between Adam Cole & Dax Harwood. Next, CM Punk defeated John Silver, followed by the escalation of his feud with Adam Page. The HookHausen alliance was taken to the next level, and Ricky Starks defeated Jungle Boy in a strong showing.
Toni Storm and Jamie Hayter delivered a hard-hitting brawl, MJF and Wardlow had a hot contract signing, and the main event was a stunning showcase between Darby Allin and Jeff Hardy, who each put their bodies on the line in a dream match.
4 AEW Dynamite – Fyter Fest Night One, 14th July 2021
In one of AEW’s first shows back on the road, they delivered perhaps the most solid top-to-bottom episode in Dynamite history. Jon Moxley defended the IWGP United States Title in a good match against Karl Anderson, followed up by Ricky Starks becoming FTW Champion in front of an electric crowd.
Christian Cage and Matt Hardy showed their experience by putting on an effortlessly good match, with the night main evented with a violent and brutal Coffin Match between Darby Allin and Ethan Page. The promos and backstage segments up and down the show were all great too.
3 AEW Dynamite – Anniversary Show, 6th October 2021
An all-star eight-man tag match opened the show, which saw The Elite battle Bryan Danielson, Christian Cage, and the Jurassic Express, with the match being full of organised chaos, and it was a blast. Sammy Guevara defeated a debuting Bobby Fish in a TNT Title Open Challenge, and Serena Deeb turned heel after a great technical display against Hikaru Shida.
The show was main evented with yet another all-star affair, with seven of the biggest names in the company doing battle in a Casino Ladder Match, with a returning Adam Page emerging victorious to a thunderous ovation.
2 AEW Dynamite, 19th February 2019
The show opened with a tag team battle royal which showcased the depth of the division. These matches are often difficult to pull off, but several stories were told here, with the Young Bucks shining. Jon Moxley fought Jeff Cobb in a hard-hitting battle, with the appearance of Cobb a fun thing to see, furthering Mox’s feud with Chris Jericho.
Adam Page & Kenny Omega defended their Tag Team Titles in a phenomenal match against the Lucha Brothers, and the storytelling, flashy offense, and everything in between was great. The show was capped off with the very first AEW Steel Cage match between Cody Rhodes and a debuting Wardlow, with a huge spot to end the show.
1 AEW Dynamite – Grand Slam, 22nd September 2021
This had a PPV-worthy card, and it was held in at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, making this one of the most anticipated AEW shows in history. Bryan Danielson made his debut in a dream match against Kenny Omega, which stole the show immediately. Malakai Black defeated Cody Rhodes for a second time, Sting & Darby Allin battled FTR, and Britt Baker defended her Women’s Title against Ruby Soho.
This was a case of not everything being entirely perfect, but it had a match of the year candidate, and the atmosphere added so much, making it feel like a hugely important episode, and perhaps the biggest yet.