All Elite Wrestling will deliver a loaded episode of AEW Dynamite on August 31.
The show featured the Dynamite Final of the AEW World Trios Championship Tournament; Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks faced Will Ospreay and Aussie Open. Undisputed AEW World Champion Jon Moxley appeared on the show, and Bryan Danielson battled Jake Hager. Plus, Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter faced Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida.
In-Ring Segment: Jon Moxley
The Undisputed AEW World Champion walks through the crowd and plays to the fans once he gets in the ring. He gets some boos as some fans cheer for CM Punk and notes that Punk is still getting mopped up after last week. He says that Punk has called himself the 60-minute man and points out that he has 57 minutes left after last week. He says that as the heart and soul of AEW, he pushes people and testes them. Moxley argues that Punk looked for a way out during their match. He says that Punk folded, and champions never fold. Moxley says he’s sorry that Punk didn’t turn out what any of them wanted him to be. Moxley says he has zero sympathy for Punk because he has a fragile ego, a fragile body, a weak mind, and a weak business.
He notes that he has an open contract for a title match at AEW All Out, and he’ll fight anybody, any time. He drops the contract and notes that he could face someone from NJPW, telling Rocky Romero to let him know. Moxley tells his opponent to remember that he can out-fight them and out-wrestle hem. He calls himself the living embodiment of wrestling and says facing him could be hazardous to their health.
Ace Steel comes to the ring and takes the contract before he walks away.
Backstage, Chris Jericho previews his match with Bryan Danielson at AEW All Out. He notes that Owen and Stu Hart would appreciate what he has done in wrestling “way more” than they might be impressed by Danielson’s skills as a wrestler. He vows to beat Danielson. Daniel Garcia shows up and pledges his loyalty to the Jericho Appreciation Society and says he knows Jericho will beat Danielson. Jericho says that all’s fair in wrestling and romance.
Bryan Danielson vs. Jake Hager
Danielson and Hager square off. “The American Dragon” kicks Hager’s leg. Hager drills him with body shots in the corner. The match spills to the outside, and Danielson dives onto Hager, who slams him through a table. Hager suplexes Danielson on the floor. He grounds “The American Dragon” and overpowers him. Hager continues to control the action and dumps Danielson out of the ring. He slams him into the barricade and brings him back into the ring. Hager punches him on the top rope, but Danielson rallies with a missile dropkick. He kicks Hager several times and gets a two count. Hager takes Danielson down and hits him with hammer fists. Danielson locks in a triangle choke, but Hager powerbombs his way out. Hager traps Danielson in an ankle lock. Danielson rolls through and traps him in the LeBell Lock, but Hager escapes. He hits a dropkick but gets slammed to the mat. Danielson nails his running knee for the win.
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Angelo Parker and Matt Menard attack Danielson after the bell. Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta make the save and brawl with the duo. Jericho comes to the ring with a chair, but Daniel Garcia stops him form using it. The distraction helps Danielson blast Jericho with the running knee.
The Wingmen come to the ring with signs, protesting because they don’t get enough TV time. Peter Avalon says that, from now, Wednesdays will be known as Wingmen Wednesdays. W. Morrissey comes to the ring and lays out all four men. Stokely Hathaway comes to the ring and watches on as Morrissey destroys Avalon with a chokeslam.
Hathaway gives him his business card, and they leave together.
When Tony Schiavone asks him about his business cards, Stokely says it’s none of his business, and the duo storm away.
Don Callis approaches Will Ospreay and hypes him up ahead of the trios match tonight.
Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter (with Rebel) vs. Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida
Hayter and Shida start the bout, and the former champion gains the upper hand. Storm tags in and double-teams Hayter with Shida. They continue to maintain the advantage, even as Baker tags in. Storm drills Baker with a shot to the face. Hayter trips Storm him and hits her, helping Baker take control. Storm rallies with a DDT and tags Shida, who clears house with a flurry of offense. Baker tags in and dumps Shida with a neckbreaker for a two count. Shida dodges a stomp but eats a stiff shot to the face. Storm takes Hayter out at ringside, and Shida blasts her with a kick to the face for the win.
Winners: Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida
Kip Sabian discusses his return and noted that PAC fell for a simple ruse last week. As for PAC, he says he knows that Sabian is “over it”. He knows Sabian wants a shot at his title, and Sabian says PAC will “embrace the change.”
Backstage, Miro discusses his feud with the House of Black, noting that Darby Allin and Sting have gotten involved. He talks to his god and notes he’s scared. Allin pops up and says Malakai Black needs Brody King and Buddy Matthews, but they don’t need him. Sting arrives and says that an enemy of an enemy is a friend, so it’ll be Showtime on Sunday.
In-Ring Segment: CM Punk
Punk comes to the ring, and he clearly looks troubled. He seemingly has tears in his eyes and looks back on breaking his foot. He noted that he wrestled an entire match on his broken foot, pulverizing the bone in the process. He describes his extensive surgery and notes the 16 screws in his foot are 16 more times than a “fat guy” in the crowd has gotten screwed in his life. He admits that he came back too early from his injury and says he had to drive home with his thoughts after his loss. Punk says he was cleared to compete, but it’s a “new 100%”, and he doesn’t know if that 100% is good enough. He says he came back because he loves the business, and while it doesn’t love him back, the fans do, and it hurts to feel like he let them down. Punk says he let his dog down because he couldn’t walk him for two months, yet he rushed back. He says he let his little sister down. Punk says that love might not be enough anymore. Punk’s friend Ace Steel comes to the ring and questions what Punk is saying.
Steel introduces himself, noting that he has been Punk’s coach since day one. He says Punk has always fought from underneath, and he’s proud of the former champion. Steel says they’re family, and you don’t let family down. He reminds Punk that he filled an arena on a rumor about his return, and he’s not letting him leave. Steel says life isn’t about getting knocked down, it’s about getting up. Steel slaps him and tells him to fight. He tells him to sign the contract so he can fight Moxley. With fans chanting Punk’s name, Steel yells, “Sign it.”
Punk says he used to be a punk rock kid from Chicago and nobody has been able to kill him yet. He tells Moxley, “You ain’t him.” Punk leaves through the crowd and says the weak are killed and eaten in Chicago. Punk climbs deeper into the crowd and says Chicago kids have the same heartbeat. He vows to pump the blood of Chicago’s heart until it stops pumping. He says Moxley won’t be able to beat him because “We are Chicago.” Punk then signs the contract to confirm his match with Moxley.
Jim Ross does a sit-down interview with Jungle Boy and Christian Cage. Christian says he’ll show Jungle Boy he’s not in his league, and he’ll turn him into a has-been. Jungle Boy says he loved Christian, and he made him feel like he loved him too. Cage says he’s not there to be his friend or his father, he’s there to make money. Jungle Boy vows to teach Christian what it means to be a man. He says that he’ll be fighting Jack Perry on Sunday.
Wardlow and FTR vs. Silas Young, Ren Jones and Vic Capri
Sonjay Dutt is shown scouting the match backstage with his trusty pencil. Wardlow and FTR dominate the match early on and squash a brief rally. Wardlow powerbombs Capri and pins him.
Winners: Wardlow and FTR
Jon Moxley comes to the ring and says, “If that’s what your boy wants, that’s what he’ll get.” He says if Punk wants to go out on his shield in Chicago, that’s what will happen. Moxley says that if Punk thinks he has one more miracle left in him, he better find it fast. Moxley vows to put on a display of brutality and pro wrestling violence that Punk has never experienced. He promises to show the world a true champion and a legend being made.
Backstage, 10 is on crutches, and Evil Uno announces he can’t compete in the trios final on Rampage, so Dark Order has a plan; Uno will take his spot. Andrade shows up and gives him money; he wants to buy 10’s services. Uno says they’re Dark Order forever. Andrade attacks him and hits him with a crutch.
Dante Martin vs. Rey Fenix vs. RUSH vs. Wheeler Yuta
Martin and Fenix quickly spill out of the ring. RUSH slams Yuta. Martin hits a diving crossbody. He gets a two count with a modified sunset flip. Fenix dives onto RUSH, bodies are flying as everyone starts diving. RUSH catches Martin with a headbutt and dropkicks his other two opponents before he dives onto everyone on the outside. He overpowers Yuta and no-sells some of his chops. RUSH kicks Yuta in the corner and strikes a pose. RUSH suplexes Fenix off the top rope and dumps Yuta on his head with a piledriver. Martin catches Fenix and slams him for a two count. Fenix powerbombs Martin for a two count. Fenix kicks RUSH and knocks him out of the ring. Martin hits Fenix with a poison-rana. Fenix dives onto RUSH at ringside. Yuta traps Martin with the Seatbelt and scores the win.
Winner: Wheeler Yuta
Backstage, John Silver and Alex Reynolds are asked about 10’s opportunity. Reynolds is willing to do it as just the two of them, but Hangman Page comes up and says he’ll team with them.
AEW World Trios Championship Dynamite Final: Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks vs. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher)
Ospreay and Omega face off, and they’re evenly matched. Aussie Open fight the Bucks, and Ospreay clotheslines Omega outside of the ring. Aussie Open slam the Bucks into Omega. Omega dives onto The Elite at ringside. Omega and the Bucks take control. Ospreay rallies and takes down both Matt and Nick. He tags Davis, who slams Nick into Matt and takes the fight to the brothers. He slams both Bucks at the same time. Aussie Open double-team Matt Jackson and get a two count. Omega tags in and clears house. Ospreay takes control, but Omega perseveres. Aussie Open hit a delayed superplex on Omega. Ospreay tags in and takes the fight to Omega. He tears Omega’s compression shirt off and hits his wounded mid-section. He drops Omega with a backbreaker. Davis grounds Omega and plants him with a spinebuster. Ospreay wrenches Omega in an abdominal stretch. He stops the former champion from tagging out, but he keeps fighting and tags Nick, who clears house with a flurry of offense.
He drops both members of Aussie Open and DDTs Ospreay. “The Commonwealth Kingmen” mocks Omega with a snap dragon suplex. He trades blows with Omega. Ospreay catches him with a powerbomb. Nick Jackson drops Ospreay with a cutter. The Bucks double-team Fletcher, and Omega plans him with a powerbomb. Nick dives onto Davis on the outside. Ospreay floors Nick with the Os-cutter. United Empire gets a near fall with a modified double-team piledriver. The Elite dish out superkicks. They hit the Indie Taker on Ospreay. Omega drills Fletcher with the V-Trigger and pins him with the One-Winged Angel.
Winners: Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks