AEW Dynamite: FTR Returns and Advances to Revolution

AEW Dynamite is back this Wednesday and will be broadcast live on TBS as the promotion makes its San Francisco debut when they invade the Cow Palace.

This week’s edition of AEW’s flagship program is also the Revolution go-home show. In a somewhat surprising move, it will feature the Face of the Revolution Ladder match, a contest generally reserved for the pay-per-view itself.

This is probably a smart move by Tony Khan as AEW pay-per-views tend to run long, and we already know that MJF and Bryan Danielson will be going 60 minutes on Sunday in their Iron Man match.  So moving this ladder match to Dynamite will shorten the overall length of the Revolution show and put a pay-per-view quality match on this week’s Dynamite.

Let’s look at the announced matches for this week’s AEW Dynamite and what to expect from each.

Tag Team Casino Battle Royale

We learned beyond all doubt last week that Tony Khan has no problem putting Jeff Jarrett in high-profile spots over some of his young talent as JJ and Jay Lethal won last week’s Tag Team Battle Royale, punching their ticket to the tag team title match at Revolution.

This week’s Tag Team Casino Battle Royale will determine the fourth and final team that will earn their spot in the four-way match at Revolution.

When looking over the field for this match Cesaro and Wheeler Yuta jump out as the odds-on favorite to win, with the Lucha Bros and Top Flight certainly garnering some consideration as well.

But any Casino style match in AEW always included a joker, an unannounced participant, usually a new signee or a returning star.  Right now there are two solid guesses as to who the joker team might be: FTR or Darby Allin and Sting.

From a storyline perspective, FTR makes the most sense, as they have a loss to the Gunns on their record, and the Gunns also held a funeral for FTR on a recent episode of Dynamite.

That said, if FTR sticks to their guns about taking time off, healing, and not coming back until they decide their future, then Sting and Darby Allin would be the next best choice.

Here is to hoping that FTR has signed new AEW contracts and they make their return on Wednesday night.  Winners: FTR

Orange Cassidy vs Big Bill for the All-Atlantic Title

Orange Cassidy has been on quite a run as of late and he will look to continue that hot streak when he defends the All-Atlantic Title against Big Bill on Wednesday.

It is hard to see how OC wins this match while still making Big Bill look like the monster that he is, but that is exactly what should happen here.  So expect a lot of outside interference and shenanigans in this match, and probably even a Danhausen curse at some point allowing Orange Cassidy to retain.

As big of a part as Orange Cassidy has played on Dynamite recently, he is strangely still without a match at Revolution.  It might be wishful thinking at this point, but a feeling pervades that Miro is the one who takes the All-Atlantic Championship from Orange Cassidy and he does so at Revolution.  My guess is we get the return of “The Redeemer” at some point after this match.  Winner: Orange Cassidy

Chris Jericho vs Peter Avalon

After taking a Judas Effect from Chris Jericho wearing a spiked jacket last week, Peter Avalon will get a rare Dynamite appearance for the second week in a row when he looks to exact some revenge on the leader of the JAS.

The result of this match is a foregone conclusion, and the length of this match should be under 2 minutes.

While it would be hilarious if Ricky Starks costs Jericho this match, it would be counterproductive to what will hopefully be a career-defining win for Starks on one of the biggest stages AEW has on Sunday at Revolution.  Winner: Chris Jericho

Hook vs Matt Hardy for the FTW Title

Stokely Hathaway will send Matt Hardy to do his bidding against Hook on Wednesday as Hardy challenges the young phenom for the FTW Title.

With Hook being undefeated in his young career, it is hard imagining a scenario where Hardy wins this match.  But this will arguably be the biggest name that Hook has been in the ring with, and even though Hardy has lost a step or two, he and Hook should be able to put an entertaining match together.

This rivalry between Hook and The Firm may be building to a Revolution buy-in match between Hook and Ethan Page this weekend.  Winner: Hook

Toni Storm vs Riho

Toni Storm and Riho will square off on this week’s Dynamite in a match that has no bearing on the upcoming AEW Women’s Title match at Revolution.

Storm and Saraya have been bringing the fight to the women they consider “AEW originals” as of late, and this week Storm has her sites set on Riho.

The X-factor in this story has been Ruby Soho and where her allegiances lie, as she is not an AEW original, but also was somewhat of an outcast in other promotions before joining AEW.

Eventually, Soho will make it clear whose side she is on, but that most likely will not happen until Revolution.  Look for Saraya to lend Toni Storm a hand in this match to secure a win over a very game Riho.  Winner: Toni Storm

The Face of the Revolution Ladder Match

In a match usually reserved for the Revolution pay-per-view, eight men will vie to become the next challenger for the TNT Title after Wardlow and Samoa Joe settle their differences on Sunday.

The field for this match will include Konosuke Takeshita, Ortiz, Action Andretti, Sammy Guevara, Powerhouse Hobbs, Eddie Kingston, AR Fox, and Komander, who will be making his AEW debut.

AR Fox, Action Andretti, Komander, and Sammy Guevara should only be in this match to give the fans the high-flying spots that ladder matches always have, but none of them should be walking away the winner of this match.  Likewise, Ortiz should not win this match either.  Nothing against Ortiz, but he has not been used in a way that a victory here would garner much buzz around him challenging for the TNT Title.

So that leaves Takeshita, Hobbs, and Eddie Kingston as our three main threats to winning this match.

Any one of these three competitors would be a credible threat to either Samoa Joe or Wardlow.  Hobbs is due for a push and Takeshita finally getting a signature victory after so many brilliant performances in a losing effort would be a fine pay-off here.

But the man that needs to win this match is Eddie Kingston.  It gets harder and harder to remember as the months go by, but it was not that long ago that Kingston was getting the biggest pops on a weekly basis from the live crowds at AEW events.

Kingston has not been featured much on AEW television as of late, but having him pick up a win here would do a lot to help get the AEW faithful excited about him again.  Winner: Eddie Kingston