CLEVELAND, OH – Tonight AEW Dynamite was sure to be a major night with AEW World Champion CM Punk against AEW Interim World Champion Jon Moxley in a championship unification match. And the World Trios Championship continues with Death Triangle against Will Ospreay and Aussie Open, among other great matches like 7-Star FTR’s Dax Harwood against Jay Lethal, for example.
Dax Harwood vs. Jay Lethal
Starting off fast, the two seem to go back and forth until Harwood hip tosses Lethal, but Lethal rolls out of it, landing a basement dropkick. It’s not a Harwood match until he delivers the loudest and hardest chops, making even the audience feel their effects, but he trades chops with Lethal. With Lethal up top for a flying elbow, Harwood knocks him down before landing three German suplexes.
Lethal comes back with a Lethal Combination for a two count. He doesn’t show signs of slowing as he dragon screws Harwood through the ropes and performs a tope suicida. Lethal gets Harwood in the figure four leglock back in the ring, but Harwood quickly breaks the hold by making it to the ropes. Harwood then counters the Lethal Injection with a slingshot liger bomb for a near fall.
When Harwood goes for the Sharpshooter, Lethal escapes with a shove to the corner to try another dragon screw. Harwood locks in the Sharpshooter as Sonjay interferes from the apron, causing Harwood to release the hold. Lethal took advantage of this by rolling up Harwood for two, but Harwood reversed with a pin for two. Lethal has had enough of this as the two exchange cradles again, and Lethal rolls Harwood up by the tights for a three count.
Colten Gunn vs. Billy Gunn
Accompanied by Austin Gunn and Stokely Hathaway, Colten goes into this match against his dad with The Acclaimed in his corner. Colten quickly lands an arm drag before Billy takes control of the match. Colten tries to keep control with punches to Billy’s neck before stomping him into the turnbuckles, but Billy lands right after right with huge stomps.
Stokely Hathaway can see this isn’t going the way he wanted, so he hits Max Caster with The Acclaimed’s boombox while Austin takes out Bowens. Colten lands a low blow and a Colt .45 on Billy to end the match.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. KiLynn King
Baker lands repeated elbows before she hits King with a sling blade. When King tries to come back with a full nelson, Baker counters with a roaring elbow. King hits a back kick, but Baker sends her into the turnbuckles.
Baker gets King in a chin lock, rolling her up for two. Baker goes for a Stomp, but King avoids it with Roundhouse Kings before landing a German suplex. King starts to gain control as she hits Baker with a full nelson slam for a two count before going for a fireman’s carry. Baker stops this momentum with two Superkicks and a Stomp, before getting King in the Lockjaw for the submission win.
CM Punk (C) vs. Jon Moxley (C) – AEW World Championship Unification
Refusing to break their lockup, Moxley unloads on Punk in the corner. In response to Moxley demanding Punk get up, Punk slaps Moxley with knee strikes until the referee pulls him off. Moxley goes for a headbutt, but Punk roundhouse kicks him, which causes severe pain to his previously injured foot.
The doctor is called for Punk, but Moxley hits Punk with a King Kong Lariat and the classic Blackpool Combat Club elbows before locking in an ankle lock. Moxley doesn’t show signs of letting up as he lands two Death Riders, successfully pinning Punk to become the undisputed AEW World Champion.
Death Triangle vs. United Empire – AEW World Trios Championship Tournament Quarterfinal
Fenix and Ospreay kick off the match with high-speed acrobatics. With all men in the ring, Fenix lands a double cutter on Aussie Open as PAC and Penta backdrop Ospreay before Death Triangle lands stereo dives onto United Empire. Landing an assisted splash, Fenix gets a two count on Ospreay.
United Empire gains control as they work Fenix in their corner until Fenix stops Aussie Open with chops. Keeping his control, Fenix hits a slingshot double armdrag before Penta hits a crossbody and sling blades Aussie Open.
With PAC in, he goes for a deadlift German, and Ospreay grasps the ropes to stop him. That doesn’t stop Death Triangle as Fenix runs the ropes to punt Ospreay, setting up PAC’s German suplex for a two count.
PAC and Ospreay continue to go at it with everything they’ve got. Ospreay counters PAC’s Black Arrow into a cradle for two, but Ospreay isn’t deterred as he goes for the Stormbreaker. PAC reverses it into a hurricanrana for another two count. When PAC goes for a moonsault, Ospreay catches him, and PAC changes the plan as he goes into a DDT before the Black Arrow.
As good as Death Triangle’s position was, the match fell apart for them when Kip Sabian attacked PAC. The match is officially over for Death Triangle after Ospreay lands an assisted Oscutter for the win, meaning The Elite take on United Empire in the next round of the Trios Championship Tournament.
Ahead of All-Out, this Dynamite solidified big matches such as Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho, Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks and the AEW Interim Women’s World Championship Four-way match between Toni Storm, Dr. Britt Baker DMD, Jamie Hayter and Hikaru Shida. The anticipation for All-Out continues to build Friday on AEW Rampage with the next match in the AEW World Trios Championship Tournament and TNT and ROH title defenses.
