This weeks episode of AEW Dynamite aired live from Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville. The show featured major developments heading into Double Or Nothing, including escalating tensions between MJF and Darby Allin, the reveal of the Owen Hart Cup brackets, and several championship matches.
Dynamite opened with MJF walking backstage while receiving uneasy glances from crew members and wrestlers alike. Renee Paquette attempted to get comments from MJF regarding Allin challenging him to an AEW World Title vs. Hair Match at Double Or Nothing, but MJF refused to speak.
In the opening contest, Orange Cassidy, The Young Bucks, Adam Copeland, and Christian Cage defeated FTR, The Dogs, and Tommaso Ciampa in a 10-Man Tag Team Match when Copeland pinned Clark Connors following a Spear at 15:53.
A video package then aired featuring Will Ospreay training with the Death Riders, as Jon Moxley put Ospreay through a brutal neck bend exercise.
Mike Bailey quickly defeated Westbrook with the Ultima Weapon in 1:07.
In TNT Championship action, Kevin Knight retained the AEW TNT Championship against Brian Cage via UFO Splash at 10:49.
Following the match, Bailey congratulated Knight on retaining the title. Knight admitted disappointment over failing to defeat Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship the previous week, but Bailey told Knight he still saw a future world champion in him. Bailey then declared his intention to challenge for the AEW World Championship next.
Later in the night, Ospreay defeated Ace Austin by submission with a Fujiwara Armbar at 15:40.
After the bout, The Opps confronted Ospreay. Samoa Joe warned Ospreay about “choices and consequences” ahead of their Owen Hart Cup showdown at Double Or Nothing. Joe also noted that Katsuyori Shibata and Anthony Bowens felt disrespected. Before tensions could escalate further, Death Riders arrived to back up Ospreay, forcing The Opps to retreat.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed Konosuke Takeshita and Don Callis ahead of Takeshita’s AEW World Title opportunity. MJF interrupted and handed his Dynamite Diamond Ring to Callis, explaining he could not risk going bald before backing away once Andrade El Idolo appeared beside Callis.
In six-woman tag team action, The Brawling Birds and Hikaru Shida defeated Triangle Of Madness via disqualification at 11:00.
After the bell, Triangle Of Madness continued their assault until referees intervened, only for Julia Hart to spray black mist into the face of one official. With Shida absent from ringside, Willow Nightingale, Mina Shirakawa, and Thunder Rosa ran down to even the odds.
In the main event, Darby Allin retained the AEW World Championship against Konosuke Takeshita after connecting with the Coffin Drop at 15:31.
After the match, Allin called MJF to the ring for their Double Or Nothing contract signing. MJF told Allin that while he was happy for him, deep down Allin knew his reign would be short-lived. MJF claimed Allin’s legacy would amount to nothing more than “15 minutes of fame,” while proclaiming himself the future greatest of all time.
Allin responded by saying only someone as vain as MJF would care more about legacy than living in the moment. He then demanded MJF sign the contract so he could make him “a bald headed bitch” at Double Or Nothing.
MJF eventually signed the contract before immediately attacking Allin with repeated punches while wearing the Dynamite Diamond Ring. He struck Allin with the ring, held the AEW World Championship above his head, and attempted to set up a Tombstone Piledriver from the ropes before Kevin Knight rushed out to make the save. MJF retreated up the ramp as Knight helped Allin to his feet to close the show.
Owen Hart Cup Brackets Revealed
Men’s Tournament
- Samoa Joe vs. Will Ospreay – Double Or Nothing (May 24)
- Mark Davis vs. Jack Perry
- Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido – Double Or Nothing (May 24)
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King
Women’s Tournament
- Persephone vs. Hazuki
- Willow Nightingale vs. Alex Windsor – Double Or Nothing (May 24)
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Athena
- Skye Blue vs. Sareee