AEW Dynamite: 2 things that went right on the Grand Slam edition

The Grand Slam edition of AEW: Dynamite generated the sort of buzz usually reserved for pay-per-views. Fortunately, the show more than lived up to that anticipation, as the company delivered one of its best shows of the year in front of a hot crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

As such, there are plenty of good things to talk about coming out of this show. But for the sake of brevity, let’s focus on the top two.

These are two of the things that went right at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam.

Britt Baker and Ruby Soho in the main event

AEW still has a lot of work to do when it comes to its women’s division, but it has made notable strides in 2021, and closing Dynamite: Grand Slam with the Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho AEW Women’s World Championship match was another sign of that progress.

Despite some chemistry issues, Baker and Soho turned in a performance that showed what everyone already knew: that women can thrive in the highest position on the card. It’s also a testament to how much of a star Baker has become over the last year and how much of an attraction Soho is in the division.

The interference by Rebel and Jamie Hayter before the finish chipped away at this one, but it does leave room for a rematch down the road (though not right away, as Soho still tapped out to the Lockjaw). Hopefully, that one will be in the main event, too.

Kenny Omega and Bryan Danielson fight to a time-limit draw

Of course, Grand Slam opened with the long-awaited dream match between AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and — in his AEW in-ring debut — Bryan Danielson. You know you have something special when the crowd pop FOR THE OPENING BELL, let alone the first lock-up. And yes, this one was worth every bit of the hype that preceded it.

With the two knowing that they would go the full 30 minutes, Omega and Danielson paced themselves accordingly spending most of the match building to a track meet of a climax, and the New York crowd and viewers watching at home were invested in every second.

The match eventually devolved into a brawl, with the two exchanging kicks, knee strikes, and headbutts before the time limit brought things to an abrupt end.

Yes, a definitive finish would’ve been more satisfying, but given that this was a non-title match and that neither wrestler could afford to lose, this was a great tool for protecting both guys while setting up a rematch in the near future. It’s certainly better than a disqualification or countout finish.