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AEW presented their special Grand Slam edition of Dynamite, undoubtedly their biggest television show of the year. The company had a high bar to beat after last year's memorable episode (which, of course featured the 30-minute draw between Kenny Omega and Bryan Danielson).
AEW stacked their card with five championship matches, including a dream match for the vacant AEW World Championship. As promised, Tony Khan had a few more surprises up his sleeve.
Here are your winners and losers for AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, live from Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Winner: Chris Jericho Gets Ocho: The New ROH World Champion
Claudio Castognoli would have his fifth ROH Title defense against one of the all-time greats, Chris Jericho. Jericho, who had never held the ROH Championship, pulled out all the stops in this one.
The match featured some great spots. Most notably, a top-rope hurricanrana from Jericho, which was countered into an avalanche powerbomb, which was countered again (mid-air) into a hurricanrana. Later, Jericho went for one of his favorites, the Code-Breaker, but he was caught, and popped up. On his way down, he ate a vicious uppercut from Claudio.
A straight-jacket powerbomb wasn't enough to put Jericho away for Claudio. The Walls of Jericho weren't enough to put Claudio away for Chris.
Finally, Jericho went to his well of tricks. He grabbed Floyd, his trusty bat. When he swung at Claudio, the bat was caught. Jericho tried another maneuver on Castagnoli, but the champ landed on his feet and almost ran over referee Aubrey Edwards. The ref had her head turned when Claudio ate a low blow from Jericho. That was followed by the Judas Effect, enough to crown a new champion for Ring Of Honor... albeit in the most dishonorable of ways.
Winners: Hometown Boys The Acclaimed Win Tag Team Gold
Perhaps the most over act of the night was The Acclaimed. Both Max Caster and Anthony Bowens are from New York - and the Arthur Ashe crowd was hungry for a title change.
Most of the storytelling in the match came from the dynamic differential between Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland. Swerve was more than willing to cheat to get the win, leaning fully into a future heel run. But Swerve's attempt to cheat backfired when he hit his own partner with The Acclaimed's boom box.
Meanwhile, Lee seemed constantly perplexed, and even hurt, by the barrage of jeers coming from the crowd.
Ultimately, it was The Acclaimed who would get the victory over Swerve In Our Glory after a combo of their finishers; Billy Gunn's Famouser on the outside, Bowens' Arrival, and Caster's Mic Drop. 1-2-3! AEW has new Tag Team Champions.
Winner: Toni Storm Retains In A Great 4-Way Battle
Toni Storm, Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Athena executed a very well-worked match. Deeb was especially fantastic (as she always is). Her creativity continues to drop jaws, bend minds, and bend her opponents. She was often delivering power moves on one opponent, while executing a submission hold on another.
At one point, Athena attempted to hit a move on two opponents at the same time as well. Unfortunately for Britt Baker, that resulted in what appears to be another broken nose. With Baker's face a bloody mess, she saw an open opportunity to roll Toni Storm up in a crucifix pinning combination, but the champion countered it into a pinning (and winning) combination of her own.
Winner: Saraya (Formerly Paige) Debuts In AEW
To the surprise of many, Jamie Hayter did not turn on Britt Baker after the match. Instead, she helped Baker assault the champion, Toni Storm.
That's when the bigger surprise came. An unfamiliar theme hit. Saraya (formerly Paige in WWE) made her way out to a massive ovation.
AEW's top female stars cleared the ring and looked on in shock. Saraya shouted to them, "This is my house!"
Winner: Jon Moxley Defeats Bryan Danielson To Become First 3-Time AEW Champion
Two members of The Blackpool Combat Club went face-to-face, and shot-for-shot in a violent battle for the vacant AEW Championship. As expected, the two warriors beat the holy hell out of each other... all while Maxwell Jacob Friedman watched from a private box.
Danielson was firmly in control of the match early on, but Moxley was able to gain some ground when he countered Danielson's high risk maneuver. Moxley placed Bryan in a single-leg crab, and then transitioned it into an ankle lock (targeting Danielson's foot/ankle that was injured last week).
From there, the match as a seesaw affair. Cattle Mutilations, hammer and anvil elbows, lariats, and even a few Death Riders weren't enough to put this one away.
The wrestlers made their way to the outside, and it's here where Moxley took control. He nailed another Death Rider on Bryan Danielson, this time on the plexiglass stage. While that alone was not enough for the victory, Moxley smelled blood.
He immediately locked Danielson in a suffocating sleeper hold. Danielson had nowhere to go and no air to take in. His body went limp under the weight of his Black Pool Combat Club teammate. The referee called for the bell and Jon Moxley became the AEW's first-ever three-time Champion.
Full Match Results & Noteworthy Moments:
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Chris Jericho def. Claudio Castagnoli via pinfall to win the ROH World Championship |
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The Acclaimed def. Swerve In Our Glory via pinfall to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships |
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FTR was interviewed backstage about their ranking, but they were interrupted by the Gunn Club. |
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MJF interrupted Wheeler Yuta's interview. He cut a scathing promo on the Blackpool Combat Club before assaulting Tony Schiavone. W. Morrisey and MJF attacked Yuta. |
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Pac def. Orange Cassidy via pinfall to retain the AEW All-Atlantic Championship. Pac used the ring bell hammer to get the victory. |
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Toni Storm def. Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Athena to retain her AEW Interim Women's World Championship. |
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As the babyfaces were getting beaten after the bell, Saraya debuted! The ring cleared. Saraya stood tall. |
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Jon Moxley def. Bryan Danielson via TKO to win the vacant AEW World Championship. |