AEW Dynamite: Results, Highlights, and Grades for Oct 2

Tonight is a big night in wrestling, as AEW Dynamite airs its first ever episode live on TNT. In what will be the first time that significant competition went against WWE head to head since the death of WCW (TNA’s brief Monday night run does not count in my mind, as AEW has already surpassed them in size, even at their peak).

Tonight’s show will feature The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega facing Chris Jericho & Santana & Ortiz (formerly LAX) in the main event and will see Riho vs. Nyla Rose for the AEW World Women’s Championship, Hangman Page vs. PAC, and Cody vs. Sammy Guevara. The show looks like it will be one to watch, and who knows what surprises might be ready for us when it begins to air.

Santana and Ortiz made a surprise debut at AEW All Out, and they will be looking to stamp their names quickly by having a win over The Elite. The Young Bucks are one of the best tag teams in the world, but they lost a ladder match to the Lucha Brothers at All Out, and they will need a win heading into the tag team tournament.

If Kenny Omega manages to pin Chris Jericho in this match, what does that mean for the title picture? We know Cody Rhodes is getting the next title shot, based on his win/loss record, but someone beating the champion would certainly make an argument for them being put into the match.

Speaking of Cody, he has announced that if Sammy Guevara beats him, Sammy will be getting the title shot. In an effort to make wins and losses matter, they are keeping records and using them to drive stories forward. We have seen this with Kenny Omega being on a losing streak and with Cody being on a winning streak. Every win and loss means something, so I expect that we’re going to get some very interesting matchups in the future based on this.

So, tonight, are you ready for the return of wrestling to TNT for the first time since WCW Nitro last aired in March 2001? I am! Read on for the results.

Cody w/ Brandi Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara

Cody and Sammy immediately locked up to a great reaction. Sammy and Cody exchanged holds and neither could get the advantage early on, as Sammy posed with cockiness. After hitting the ropes, Sammy hit a dropkick and then a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cody hit a headlock takeover then a shoulder block before locking on a Figure Four. Sammy made the ropes, and Cody broke the hold.

Cody and Sammy hit a series of hard chops, and then Cody hit a stalling vertical suplex. Sammy hit a kick, but Cody hit the ropes and hit a springboard cutter for a two count! Sammy hit a kick from Cody and then hit a springboard cutter of his own! Cody kicks out. Sammy hit another kick, but Cody responded with a big boot of his own that sent Sammy to the floor.

Cody went for a dive and Sammy pulled Brandi in the way and she went down! Holy crap. Sammy ran Cody into the corner post and climbed the ropes and went for a moonsault press, missed, landed on his feet, missed a standing moonsault, and then hit a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Cody slipped off his shoulders and hit a drop toe hold into the middle rope. As the ref was looking away and Brandi got her revenge and nailed Sammy with her shoe.

Cody hit the Disaster Kick and then put Sammy on the top rope before hitting a reverse suplex off the top rope! Sammy hit a Spanish Fly for a near fall, and as he went for another move, Cody rolled him up for the pinfall! That was fantastic.

Result: Cody

Rating: ***1/2 (3.5 stars)

After the match, Cody and Sammy shook hands, but Chris Jericho ran out and attacked Cody! Jericho beat him down and left him laying in the ring. Jericho nailed Cody and hit him with his title belt. Jericho grabbed a camera from ringside and started taking pictures. He then beat on Cody with a chair and continued the beat down. Jericho powerbombed Cody into two chairs, grabbed a mic and yelled: “I am Chris Jericho, and I am your champion!”

Brandon Cutler (0-0-0) vs. MFJ (0-1-0)

MJF cut a promo talking about how he was going to beat Brandon Cutler and prove he is just a fan. Cutler dodged an attack from MJF with a moonsault off the top rope and then hit a slap before hitting a sunset flip.

MJF raked the eyes of Cutler and sent him into the corner of the ring. Cutler sent MJF to the floor and hit a suicide dive before hitting a series of big punches on the floor. Cutler went to the top rope and fell off and tweaked his knee. MJF ran to the corner and pulled the ref in the way. He hit a massive forearm to the face of Cutler and then locked on an armbar for the win.

Result: MJF (1-1-0)

Rating: **1/2 (2.5 stars)

Chris Van Vilet interviewed Jay & Silent Bob. Jack Evans comes out and cuts a promo on them with Angelico. They said to them that they’re not even good enough to win a match, and Evans went nuts. Private Party came out and gave a drink to Jay and Silent Bob. A graphic aired for the tag team tournament.

SoCal Uncensored cut a promo in front of the White House, saying DC is the worst town they ever been in. Tony Schiavone was back in the arena with them for an interview. SCU cut a promo about the tournament and announced that it would be Daniels and Kazarian against the Lucha Bros. The Lucha Bros came out brawled with them.

Hangman Page (2-1-0) vs. PAC (1-0-0)

PAC stalled to open the match, but as soon as they got back from break they started exchanging strikes. PAC kicked Page and both men started exchanged a series of attempts as they ran the ropes and Page hit a spinning clothesline that killed PAC. Page then sent PAC face first into the guardrail, then into the guardrail again before hitting a suicide dive.

Page had the advantage and hit a standing shooting star press for a near fall. PAC hit a springboard moonsault to the outside. PAC sent Page into the ring and then hit a springboard 450, but Page kicked out. PAC went to the to the top rope, but Page rolled away to the other corner, but PAC hit a flying dropkick.

PAC went to the top rope, but Page cut him off and hit a superkick and then hit an avalanche fallaway slam, and then hit a TKO! PAC kicked out. PAC sent page flying into the ring post and he went to the floor. PAC then sent Page into the ringside guardrail before going back to the top rope and hitting a missile dropkick and kicking up.

PAC chocked Page on the middle rope before hitting a pump kick to Page’s head. PAC was distracted but continued to get the heat for a little bit. Page hit a forearm and then a pop up powerbomb, but PAC barely kicked out and rolled to the outside. Page went to the top rope and hit a huge moonsault to the outside of the ring!

PAC came back and managed to fight back, hitting the Black Arrow, and then locking in the Brutalizer and Page passed out! PAC wins!

Result: PAC (2-0-0)

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Nyla Rose vs. Riho – AEW World Women’s Championship

Britt Baker came out to join the AEW Dynamite commentary team before the match. Riho starts the match with hard forearms and a dropkick that staggered Rose. Riho tried to send Nyla to the ropes, but Nyla reversed and hit a head-scissors take over. Nyla hit a shoulder block and a splash but Riho bridged out and went for a double stomp on Nyla’s back, but Nyla simply stood up and sent Riho to the ground. Nyla hit a kick and locked on an STF.

Riho made it to the ropes, but Nyla picked her up and went for a stalling suplex. Riho went for a German Suplex, but Nyla reversed. Nyla went for one, but Riho hit back elbows and then two V-Triggers to send Nyla to the floor. Riho flew off the top rope with a splash but Nyla caught her and hit a backbreaker.

Nyla continued to beat on Riho on the outside and sent Riho into the guardrail. Nyla brought out a bunch of chairs and set Riho on it. Nyla went for cannonball but Riho moved and Nyla crashed into the chairs. Riho then hit a flying double stomp to the floor and a flying double stomp back in the ring, but Nyla kicked out.

Riho locked on a crossface, but Nyla made the ropes. Riho rolled through and hit a double stomp before going for a Northern Lights Suplex. Nyla blocked it. Riho went for a crucifix, but Nyla countered by squashing Riho. Nyla set Riho on the top rope before going for a diving knee drop that absolutely crushed Riho! Riho kicked out.

Nyla locked on an STF on Riho, and Riho appeared to go unconscious, but Nyla let her go. Nyla went for a powerbomb and Riho tried to backdrop her out, but Nyla fell on her. Riho hit some forearms, but Nyla dropped her with one. Riho countered a powerbomb with a roll through, but Rose kicked out! Nyla hit a Death Valley Driver, but Riho kicked out!

Nyla went to the top rope but Riho cut her off and hit a series of massive forearms before hitting a Northern Lights Suplex off the top rope! Holy cow! Nyla kicked out! Nyla dodged a knee but Riho hit running knees to the back and then hit running knees to Nyla for the pinfall victory!

Result: Riho

Rating: **** (4 stars)

This was absolutely fantastic. What a match! Nyla Rose is still very green in the ring, but Riho looked great from start to finish.

Michael Nakazawa was in the ring to translate for Riho, and he says the people and him are so proud of her. Nyla attacked Nakazawa and Riho, powerbombing Nakazawa. Nyla went for a Death Valley Driver on the apron, but Omega ran out and saved her. I’m guessing we’ll get an intergender tag with Riho and Omega against Nyla and a partner.

The Elite (The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & Kenny Omega) vs. Chris Jericho, Santana, & Ortiz

Omega started the match with AEW World Champion Chris Jericho, but Jericho immediately tagged out to Santana and Omega ran all over the ring sending Santana to the floor. Omega did the same with Ortiz, but Jericho ran in and cut him off. The Bucks superkicked Jericho, who went to the outside. Nick Jackson hit a dive. Omega went for Rise of the Terminator and Jon Moxley ran out and started brawling with Omega!

More from All Elite Wrestling

• It’s time for Adam Cole and MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles
• Eddie Kingston stands to gain the most from the AEW Continental Classic
• WWE and AEW will put on a full court press for Kazuchika Okada in 2024
• 3 potential challengers for AEW Women’s Champ “Timeless” Toni Storm
• Three necessary changes for All Elite Wrestling to shun the “WWE-lite” tag

Omega and Mox brawled into the crowd and the Bucks were left alone as Jericho was left in the ring with the Bucks. Omega grabbed a mop and, swept with it, and beat on Moxley with it. Moxley fought back, sent Omega into a door and then hit the Paradigm Shift on Omega through a glass table! I have no idea why this wasn’t a DQ. It should have been. The referee just stood there. That was weird.

They went to an ad break, but the show continued on Fite. Someone threw a hotdog wiener into the ring and Jericho asked “Hey! Who threw this into the ring!” before throwing it back into the crowd. Jericho got the heat on Matt Jackson here for a bit. Santana was working over Matt Jackson, but Jackson was able to fight back and hit a spear on Ortiz after he tagged in. That didn’t last long though, as they pulled Nick Jackson off the apron and continued to get the heat on Matt.

Jericho went for the lionsault but Matt Jackson got his knees up. Matt tried to tag out, but they took out Nick again, and left him there. Matt Jackson managed to hit 3 Northern Lights suplexes before making the hot tag to Nick Jackson who ran wild all over the ring. Nick hit a superkick on the outside on Jericho before hitting a double stomp on Ortiz and then a dive on Santana. They went for a Meltzer Driver, but Jericho caught Nick Jackson with a Code Breaker! Jericho hit the Judas Effect on Matt Jackson for the pinfall!

Result: Chris Jericho, Santana, & Ortiz

Rating: **** (4 stars)

After the match, Cody ran down and a wild brawl broke out that saw Sammy Guevara attacking Cody, with Dustin Rhodes making the save. Jake Hager ran down and attacked Dustin and Cody, and took out both Jackson brothers.

Satana, Ortiz, Jericho, Guevara, & Hager posed together. Is this the start of a stable? Hager powerbombed Dustin Rhodes on the timekeeper’s table, which looked horrifying. AEW World Champion Chris Jericho hit the Judas Effect on Cody after Santana, Ortiz, and Hager held him up. The show faded to black with Jericho’s new stable standing tall.

Show Rating: ***3/4 (3.75 stars)

This was a very good start for AEW, setting up matches and stories for the next show. We have increased heat for Cody vs. Jericho, the Bucks vs. Ortiz & Santana, Dustin vs. Hager, and Omega vs. Moxley. That was very, very good! Outside of the really weird moment when Mox attacked Omega and there was no DQ, everything else on the show made sense.

The ref didn’t disqualify Nyla for using chairs as it was a title match and they were letting it go. In the case of the main event, it just looked stupid when someone who wasn’t in the match attacked Omega. However, I still really liked the show and I am looking forward to next week’s episode. They also setup Nyla & a partner against Omega & Riho, which would be a very fun match.

AEW is off to a good start here. The show wasn’t perfect, but AEW had a strong first showing, and they have plenty of stories to build from going forward. Hopefully they’ll be able to continue this in the weeks that follow.