AEW Dynamite Grand Slam results: Danielson vs. Omega

Tonight, the biggest show in AEW history aired on TNT, with AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, featuring a huge match between Bryan Danielson, making his in ring debut, and Kenny Omega. It isn’t often we get a legitimate dream match, but tonight we get one.

AEW decided to open the show with Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega, starting the show off hot, as the 20,000 fans in the building went insane.

Kenny Omega (The Elite) w/ Don Callis vs. Bryan Danielson

The roar from the crowd when the bell rang was unbelievable. The locked up and the crowd got even louder, which I didn’t think was possible. Omega chopped Danielson, who no sold it. Danielson kicked Omega and dropped him. Omega tried to outwrestle Danielson, but couldn’t, and ate a kick for his attempt.

Omega cartwheeled away from a monkey flip and chopped Danielson. Danielson torqued the wrist and stomped on Omega’s elbow before putting Omega into the corner and chopping him. Both men exchanged chops, with the crowd getting even louder for Danielson while booing Omega. Danielson hit a suicide dive and sent Omega into the guardrail.

Danielson kept working over the arm, and hit a flying knee on it. Omega choked Danielson in the corner with a foot choke. Omega got the heat for a bit, trash talking Danielson, but Danielson got the knees up on You Can’t Escape and hit a diving clothesline and a running dropkick into the corner before hitting kicks in the corner.

Danielson hit a hurricanrana off the top rope for a 2-count. Omega hit a hurricanrana of his own that sent Danielson to the floor. Omega hit the flip dive to the floor, and both men hit the floor hard. Danielson countered a pinfall attempt and rolled into the Cattle Mutilation, one of his finishers, and the crowd went nuts, but Omega made the ropes.

Danielson hit a flying knee off the top rope to the ramp on Omega. Omega blocked a head kick and hit a snap dragon suplex on the ramp, which was insane. Omega ran down the ramp and hit a huge V-Trigger on Danielson that left him on the floor, and Danielson almost didn’t make it back in, but Omega rolled out of the ring to break the count, taunting in a cocky way.

Omega slammed Danielson on the timekeeper’s table, and was left laying on the floor again. Omega powerbombed Danielson into the top rope, who flipped over the ropes to the apron, which was insane. Omega hit a missile dropkick to the back of Danielson, who kicked out. Omega hit a heel kick to Danielson’s back and hit another V-Trigger into the back and neck of Danielson.

Danielson slid out off the corner when Omega went for an Avalanche Snap Dragon, and he hit a top rope back suplex, but Omega landed right on Danielson’s arm. Omega hit a V-Trigger, but Danielson hit a rolling elbow and a Regal-plex for a 2-count. The crowd gave the match a stand ovation and chanted “AEW.” Danielson and Omega ended up on the top rope, and Omega hit an avalanche dragon suplex off the top rope, with Danielson doing a back flip.

Danielson ate a V-Trigger and went for the One Winged Angel, but Danielson rolled into a poison rana, dodged a V-Trigger, and then hit a kick to Omega. Danielson went for the flying knee, but Omega caught him, hit a powerbomb, and rolled Danielson into a V-Trigger. Omega went to the top rope and went for a Phoenix Splash, but Danielson moved and Omega crashed to the mat.

Danielson hit a series of kicks, ending with the buzzsaw kick to Omega. Danielson went for the Labell Lock after stomping the face but Omega countered. Danielson hit a dropkick in the corner, and then both men exchanged strikes as the time limit ran out. Holy cow, what a match. This was outstanding.

Result: Draw

Rating: *****1/2 (5.5 stars)

This was an absolutely outstanding match, and one of the best matches in AEW history. Danielson and Omega delivered huge here, and still left us wanting more, which is masterful storytelling. Absolutely outstanding wrestling from both men here, and easily one of the best matches of either of their careers, which is saying something.

The Elite ran down after the match to attack Danielson and pull him off Omega as they kept fighting after the match. The Young Bucks superkicked Danielson and left him laying, but Christian and the Jurassic Express ran down to make the save as they went to break.

CM Punk came out to a roar from the crowd. The crowd went insane for him, and then he started to address what happened with Team Taz. He said he was angry at them, but when his music hits, all that anger goes away because he loves the fans that much, and thinking about how Team Taz tried to take it away from him, it started to make him angry.

He said he wasn’t going to let anyone take this away from him, and that is why he was angry. He said Powerhouse and Taz should have finished the job, but they made the mistake of leaving him live, and he was going to put Powerhouse to sleep on AEW Rampage.

MJF (The Pinnacle) w/ Wardlow vs. Brian Pillman Jr. w/ Julia Hart

Pillman started the match by tackling MJF, but MJF raked the eyes. MJF finally started to get the heat after sending Pillman to the mat with Hammerlock slam on the shoulder and arm. MJF worked over the arm, over the next few minutes, setting up the armbar. MJF worked him over throughout the break, but when they came back Pillman started hitting chops in the corner.

Pillman hit a high crossbody on MJF and a forearm, clothesline, and superkick. Pillman hit MJF’s head into the corner several times before hitting a powerslam for a 2-count. One the floor, Julia Hart slapped MJF, which made him angry, but Pillman hit a dropkick to the floor on him to save her. Pillman went for a springboard, but MJF countered into the Salt of the Earth and got the submission.

Result: MJF

Rating **3/4 (2.75)

Solid little match here, but the story was clearly that while Pillman Jr. was good, he wasn’t as good as MJF, and it worked well here.

Malakai Black vs. Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson & Brandi Rhodes

Brandi Rhodes returned to accompany Cody down to the ring to a nice reaction from the crowd, but Black was clearly the one that fans wanted to win here, as Cody himself got a mixed reaction. Black and Cody exchanged some holds, but Cody rolled to the floor and Black did a springboard into a backflip to fake Cody out.

Brandi Rhodes rolled into the ring and flipped Black off which led to Cody getting a brief advantage and sending Black to the ramp. Cody went for a dive and Black hit a flying knee to the delight of the crowd. Black locked on a kneebar on Cody but he made it to the ropes. Black went for the back heel kick, but Cody ducked.

Both men exchanged some pinfall attempts that ended with Black hitting the Black Mass and sending Cody crashing to the floor, but by the time he got Cody into the ring, he got a 2-count. Cody hit a chop block on Black and was able to get on some offence here. Cody hit a Cody Cutter and a Cross Rhodes, but only got a 2-count, as the crowd booed Cody even more.

Arn Anderson fell off the apron here, and then Cody bumped into him, leading to Cody being concerned, but Arn told him to get back into the ring. Rhodes tried to corner Black, but accidentally hit the referee in the process, and Malakai Black spit black mist into the face of Rhodes, rolled him up, and pinned him.

Result: Malakai Black

Rating: *** (3 stars)

AEW knew that Cody Rhodes was getting booed here, I think, especially since they went with Black going over. Even if they weren’t expecting it, it still worked out well, as it wasn’t time for Cody to beat Black. Black is on fire right now, and it’s amazing to see how he has been turned into a main eventer in AEW practically overnight with good booking.

https://twitter.com/AEWonTNT/status/1440850452787068928

FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (The Pinnacle) w/ Tully Blanchard vs. Sting & Darby Allin

FTR came out with NWO style gear, playing off Sting’s history of going to war with them. Sting tagged in early, to a massive pop from the crowd. Sting went for a Stinger Splash on Wheeler, but Harwood pulled him out of the way and they started to beat on sting and get the heat on the legend.

Sting got stunned in the ropes and faceplanted, accidentally hitting Harwood in the crotch before making the tag to Allin, which sent both members of FTR to the floor. Allin went for a Coffin Drop onto both men on the floor, but they caught Allin and threw him chest first into the apron and the beatdown began.

Wheeler went for a tag to Harwood, but Allin managed to hit a Saito suplex on him. Allin was cut off by Wheeler, but ate a Code Red. Wheeler kicked out and hit a lariat on Allin that dropped him. Harwood and Wheeler tried to trade back and forth without tags, but the referee didn’t believe them, but as he was dealing with them Allin rolled up Harwood, but the ref got to it too late and only got a 2-count.

Allin managed to roll through the outstretched arms of FTR and Sting came in, running wild on both men, including hitting a flying crossbody on Harwood as he tried to piledrive Allin. Sting hit a Stinger Splash on both men, but as Tully put a chair in the corner, Sting went for another on Harwood, but he dodged.

Thankfully Sting stopped himself and Harwood ended up eating the chair instead. Sting locked the Scorpion Death Lock on Harwood, but Wheeler tried to pull Harwood from the ring as it was locked on. Allin jumped off the top rope on to the apron with a Coffin Drop, and nailed Wheeler, breaking his grip and leaving Harwood alone and giving him no option but to tap out.

Result: Sting & Darby Allin

Rating: ***1/2

Excellent match from both teams here, with some classic heat segments with a twist, with FTR getting caught with their fake tag. Sting looked great, and Allin was positioned as a star again, and it is clear how well this has worked in making Allin a true main eventer in AEW. It’s astonishing how good they are at making stars.

AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker (c) w/ Rebel (not Reba) & Jamie Hayer vs. Ruby Soho

The fans traded dueling chants with “Ruby Soho!” and “DMD!” maintaining how hot they have been all night. Excalibur pointed out on commentary that Baker decided to become a wrestler after attending shows that Ruby Soho was on. Soho hit a knee to stun Baker, who rolled to the floor.

Soho climbed the top rope and hit a crossbody off the top rope to the floor onto Hayter and Rebel, but Baker was able to dodge and then hit a Twist and Shout Neckbreaker off the apron onto the floor. Baker pulled Soho back into the ring, and worked Soho’s shoulder over against the ring post.

Soho hit double knees to the back of Baker to turn it around a bit and hit some running kicks, but Baker hit a superkick to stop the momentum. Baker went for a Russian Leg Sweep and rolled through into a Lockjaw attempt, but Soho countered and slipped out. Baker went for a curb stomp, but Soho countered and catapulted Baker into the corner before hitting a senton off the top rope for a 2-count.

Baker hit a Fisherman’s Neck Breaker and a superkick to Soho for a 2-count. Baker went for a Panama Sunrise, but Soho countered it and tried to suplex Baker to the floor, but Baker fought it off. Baker grabbed her and hit an Avalanche Air Raid Crash off the middle rope, and Soho just rolled her shoulder up. Holy cow.

Baker stomped Soho’s head into the steps and then hit a curb stomp in the middle of the ring, but Soho still managed to kick out, and Baker was shocked. Soho rolled up Baker as she yelled at the referee, but she kicked out. Soho hit the No Future kick, but Rebel got on the apron and distracted the referee. Hayter necked Soho on the ropes and she fell back into a Lockjaw, and Baker got the tapout.

Result: Britt Baker

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Really solid match here from both women, and the crowd was very hot for the match, but I don’t think they were ready for a title change, so this was absolutely the right finish. Soho is protected in losing because of the interference, and Baker still looks strong given the moves she took and recovered from. Soho, even more so, given the damage she took. The story is clearly that Soho would have won without the interference, so that is likely going to play into building a cage match down the road, or something similar.

Show Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Honestly, I had to give the show that high a rating for how good the Danielson/Omega match was, and while the rest of the card couldn’t follow it, it was still a really good pro wrestling show that delivered a PPV quality card, just as advertised. This one was mostly wrestling with only a few promos, and it worked really well. AEW is clearly hitting it out of the park right now.