This week’s edition of All Elite Wrestling’s: Dynamite served as the last stop to Grand Slam, which will be at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. With AEW’s debut in New York City on the horizon, this show had to knock it out of the park. This week’s card featured Adam Cole making his in-ring debut against the “Elite Hunter” Frankie Kazarian. Jade Cargill took on “Legit” Leyla Hirsch, and Bryan Danielson would talk about the Elite. In the main event, Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston took on 2.0 in a tag team match. With a card that needed to deliver a week before a pivotal show, let’s see what happened.    

To start the night, CM Punk made his entrance to join the commentary team for the night. From the fan frenzy that ensued, it just shows how hot Punk is right now; Punk’s entrance was for commentating on the show, and the crowd was roaring as if he won the AEW World Championship. Adam Cole then followed for his match against Frankie Kazarian, and similar to Punk, the fans were hot for Cole. Once the match started, a back and forth ensued, as Cole and Kazarian traded headlocks. Cole did gain the advantage, however, by dumping Kazarian over the top rope. Back in the ring, Cole reversed a sunset flip and nailed Kazarian with a boot to the face. Karaizian began to battle back though, as he fought out of a headlock and landed some blows. Cole and Kazarian then exchanged numerous maneuvers. The turning point came when Cole hit a Panama Sunrise and nailed Kazarian in the back of the head with a Shining Wizard to end the match. Overall, a great start to the show with a technical wrestling match between two great workers. Cole looked great; he looked like a superstar, and a leader, within the Elite. 

Grade: 8/10

Next was a promo by MJF, and he garnered a lot of heat. He disrespected the late Brian Pillman, called the city they were in the armpit of America, and said he doesn’t care if anyone was offended by what he said last week. The fans were booing and MJF was playing the heel perfectly up to Brian Pillman Jr.’s run-in. The segment ended with Pillman Jr. running off MJF and Wardlow with a chair. This segment was all about drawing heat for MJF and furthering the feud with Pillman Jr, and it did its job.

Grade: 7.5/10

In the next match on the card, FTR took on Matt Sydal and Dante Martin. Out of the gate, the match was fast as Sydal and Dax Harwood traded a series of rollups. Martin tagged in and nailed a springboard dropkick, but FTR gained control. FTR focused on slowing the pace to prevent Martin from flying around with his unique offense. Wheeler cut off half the ring and worked Martin in the corner. Harwood tagged in and tried a double-team combo on Martin but stopped when he was caught with a kick. Martin then caught Wheeler with an elbow, went up and over, and made the hot tag to Sydal. As Sydal gained momentum, FTR regrouped and slowed down Sydal. FTR prevented Sydal from increasing the pace and thwarted any attempt he had at mounting any offense. Sydal turned it around with an arm drag, allowing Martin to make a tag. Martin upped the pace by hitting a springboard dropkick, a hurricanrana, and a senton. The turning point came when Martin tried to fend off FTR, but the numbers were too much for the 20-year-old sensation. FTR hit the Big Rig, ending the match. This match was a nice clash of styles and balanced out the pace. Martin, in particular, looked great as he continued to show flash in the ring, developing into a young star.

Grade: 7/10   

Next were two promos. First, Malakai Black called out Rosario Dawson for wearing Nightmare Family merchandise. Black called the actress an enemy of the House of Black and sized her up on the outside. Then Cody Rhodes returned, running through the crowd to meet Black at ringside. The two collided, and the brawl was on. Rhodes and Black exchanged blows and fought among the fans. The segment ended with Rhodes and Black fighting out of the arena. This was an odd way to get Rhodes to return, because not a lot of people know who Dawson is. They could have skipped that part and just had Rhodes run-in; it’s simple but would have been more effective.

Grade: 6/10

Dan Lambert began the second promo in this series. Lambert did a good job of drawing heat, saying the crowd is just a bunch of marks that love the stereotypical indy wrestlers. Lambert was about to go on another tirade, but Chris Jericho interrupted him. Jericho and Lambert exchanged remarks on the microphone, and this was gold. Lambert’s heelwork was great, and Jericho’s skill on the mic is matched by none, even at this point in his career. Jericho then challenged Lambert’s goons, the American Top, against him and Jake Hager. Lambert responded by saying not here, but they will face off next week in a real city like New York. This promo was great, it drew good heat, and there was a nice back and forth on the microphone.

Grade: 7.5/10

The next match was Jade Cargill taking on “Legit” Leyla Hirsch, and it was a hard-hitting contest. Hirsch gained control early as she hit Cargill with a double knee in the corner and gained the first pinfall. Cargill was kept on her toes as she struggled to overpower Hirsch due to Hirsch’s low center of gravity. Cargill, though, finally got some offense in by hitting a powerbomb before the commercial break. Coming back from the commercial, Hirsch had Cargill in a rear-naked chokehold. Hirsch then hit a German suplex and a vicious knee trigger, but Cargill kicked out on the ensuing pinfall. The turning point came when Hirsch went for a moonsault, but Cargill moved out of the way, hit Jade, and ended the match. Overall this was a unique match; it was paced good, physical, and a nice show of back and forth. The only thing I would change is giving it more time. The match just ended as it was hitting its stride. 

Grade: 7/10

Before the next match, Punk was attacked by team Tazz, ending his night on commentary. Not a segment to grade, just a way to move the show along and further the feud between Punk and Tazz. The next match was Darby Allin taking on Shawn Spears. Spears got the upper hand early on Allin by throwing him into the steel steps. But as Spears went for a running knee, Allin moved as Spears’ knee crashed into the steps. Allin looked to gain the upper hand, but Spears caught him, leading to Allin crashing hard on the apron. Spears then locked in the Scorpion death lock, but Allin forced a rope break. After a top rope spot that leads to both men taking a vicious crash to the mat, the turning point came. Allin reversed a Death Valley driver and hit a dive through the middle rope. Allin tossed Spears back into the ring and hit the coffin drop, ending the match. After the match, FTR ran in and beat down Allin and Sting, before Tully Blanchard washed Sting’s facepaint off. A great match between two good wrestlers, Allin picked up a much-needed win, and the feud with Blanchard gets furthered along. 

Grade: 7.5/10

Next, Bryan Danielson came out to cut a promo. Before Danielson could speak, Don Callis and Kenny Omega cut him off. Callis proceeded to call Danielson a mark for thinking that Danielson coming to AEW was the best move for professional wrestling. Danielson told Callis to shut up, and that it’s about him and Omega, not Callis. Danielson then stated that he didn’t want a title match but to wrestle Omega. Danielson continued by saying he came to AEW to fight Omega, but all he’s seen is a guy hanging around a bunch of stooges. Omega took the bait Danielson set, and Omega accepted the challenge. The fans went crazy with excitement and yes chants. This promo wasn’t by any means amazing, but it does a few things: Danielson doesn’t take anyone’s spot for a title match, and Danielson-Omega is set up.   

Grade: 7/10

It was time for the main event, as Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston took on 2.0. It didn’t take long for the action to start as 2.0 attacked Kingston and Moxley. 2.0 had the early numbers advantage, as Kingston was taken out but still struggled to contain Moxley. But Moxley was distracted by Daniel Gracia, allowing Lee Parker to nail a dropkick. From there, 2.0 had control of the match into the commercial break. Back from the commercial, Moxley turned the tide of the match, hitting a lariat. Kingston then tagged in overtook 2.0 with his brawling style, landing a backhand and a DDT. Moxley and Kingston then hit a lariat-German suplex combo and ended the match. After the match, Minuro Suzuki came down to stare down Moxley, before Lance Archer attacked Kingston. Chaos ensued, as Moxley and Suzuki brawled around ringside, while Kingston and Archer fought among the fans to end the show. The match wasn’t the best and served as a foothold to get to the after-match brawl. If anything, this only helps the Suzuki-Moxley feud, especially while incorporating Archer and Kingston. Still, this shouldn’t have been the main event of the show. It should have been placed in the middle of the card. 

Grade: 6.5/10

Overall, this was a solid show for AEW going into Grand Slam. Most of the matches were great, the promos worked for the most part, and the show built well for Grand Slam next week. 

Final Grade: 7/10