Will Ospreay was a punching bag at Redemption. Even though he couldn’t pull the trigger, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks had no such qualms. Ospreay didn’t look ready for the moment with All in fast approaching and a date for the AEW World Championship. That all changed on Dynamite. Ospreay is finally ready to pull the trigger. AEW Dynamite (July 29, 2026) also featured four championship bouts with one title change in the bunch from Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit, Michigan.
Hype is blazing for
All In main event
Following Redemption, I was down on Will Ospreay challenging Kenny Omega for the AEW Wold Championship at All In, because the water was too muddy. Ospreay was left looking like a fool too many times. What’s done is done. On to the future and Dynamite. The story here did a better job of clearing up the picture, and the final segment was the jolt of emotion Ospreay desperately needed to show. I’m fully excited once again for the All In main event.
The night began with a recap of the PPV events meshed with Moxley explaining his tactics. He stressed that nobody is your friend at the championship level at the top of the game. Mox wanted to prepare Ospreay to get it before it got him. His training may still yield results. Now, Ospreay is truly on ground zero. Mox conceded that Ospreay may be the best wrestler in the world with nothing to lose.
Ospreay was confronted by the Death Riders backstage. (Side note: The atmosphere and design of this venue was very cool.) Daniel Garcia broke the silence was positivity toward young boy Billy. Ospreay responded by knocking Garcia on his butt. Ospreay told Moxley that he doesn’t get to pull the trigger for him. He handed the Death Riders patch back to confirm his exit from the group. Moxley allowed Ospreay passage through, but that part of the story clearly isn’t over. A surprise element entered the scene in the form of Hangman Page offering backup for Ospreay. Bruv appreciated the gesture, but he can’t trust the cowboy due to his friendship with Omega. Hangman still verbalized his belief that Ospreay can be the best.
That scene has high replay value. There are so many reactions from everyone on screen. The tension was great when Ospreay stood up to Moxley. Hangman is an interesting addition to the puzzle. I think the All In match will be fairly clean. The question is if Hangman chooses a side in the meantime on TV if things get out of control. It also paints the cowboy as a good man worth rooting for on his quest in other business.
The final segment for the 35-minute overrun was Omega being interrupted by Ospreay in a promo exchange. Omega voiced his grievances toward Ospreay with an explanation for the One Winged Angel at Redemption. He was hurt by Ospreay doubting his fire a few months back. He warned Ospreay about not trusting the Death Riders, and that blew up in Ospreay’s face. Ospreay explained how Moxley helped him when his confidence was shattered. He actually liked being a Death Rider with the camaraderie built through training. However, Ospreay does not share the same philosophy as Moxley. He will become world champion by being the best.
Tension and drama went to level 11 when Omega started slapping Ospreay on each point he made. He accused Ospreay of thinking about choking him with the plastic bag. Ospreay denied any murderous intentions. Omega wasn’t hearing it, and he kept slapping. Omega went personal to call Ospreay a liar who crumbles under pressure. Boom! Ospreay pulled the trigger to punch Omega in the kisser.
This was the motivational moment Ospreay needed to deliver in a promo. He wants the ball to become the ace of AEW. He will climb the mountain at All In, and he will pull the trigger on his own terms. Ospreay will do it face to face to leave no excuses for Omega.
Excellent turn of character for Ospreay. This is the man I’ve been waiting to see for this story. Show that killer instinct. Ospreay did a great job sounding like an assassin with a babyface code. He needs to go on a rampage in the ring to wreck fools on the road to All In. Omega’s bravado elevates his own aura as world champion. That confidence makes him look like his peak form. AEW is setting this up as two epic forces colliding at All In, and that’s the way it should be.
One question. How does this compare to the Dragon Ball Z story between Goku and Vegeta?
Let’s jam through the rest of Dynamite. Catch up on all the details with excellent play-by-play from Claire Elizabeth.
AEW National Championship: Andrade (c) defeated Jack Perry and Nick Wayne to retain the title. It was silly for two men losing in the ladder match at Redemption to be rewarded with a title shot at a different belt. Once the bell rang, that criticism was out of sight and out of mind. Hot pace for the three-way to start the evening. Wayne continues to thrive as an irritating cocky prodigy. Perry has that fan favorite style, although, Andrade was the bigger fan favorite here.
The action saw plenty of close calls. In the end, Andrade hit a back elbow to Perry to clear Jungle Man out of the mix. After kicking out of Wayne’s roll-up, El Idolo sent him the DM to win.
Afterward, AEW announced that Andrade has a chance to cinch his spot in the Casino Gauntlet at All In to earn a future world title shot. Andrade competes in a qualifier next week at Grand Slam Mexico for the #1 spot. The reaction to this promo made me a believer that Andrade is over enough to be world champion. It’s funny how much the fans love Andrade’s catchphrase. They loudly chanted, “How you know?” Once Andrade said it in style, they erupted in unison with, “Yeah!”
Brodido & “Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage, & Jake Doyle. More sweet action. Bailey challenges Fletcher for the AEW International Championship next week at Grand Slam Mexico, so this result was about giving Bailey momentum. When dancing with Fletcher, it was an even affair. Speedball scored the win by saving Bandido from a piledriver. As Doyle bent over, Bailey landed the Ultima Weapon on his back. Bailey closed with a fancy roll-up to trap Doyle for the win. Since Fletcher and Bailey already have a date, I want a spin-off on the other side. Give me Brodido versus strong man and stronger man. Also let Brody King slap hoss meat in singles against Doyle and Cage. All those beefy boys showed that they have good chemistry as opponents.
Speaking of the international title, Fletcher is confident that the gold will remain in the Callis Family. Kazuchika Okada doubled down on that, except it sounded like he would be the champion.
That promo also mentioned Mark Davis. Dunkzilla spoke later. He was in a foul mood from losing the AEW National Championship at Redemption. He wants to take his anger out on Will Ospreay at Grand Slam Mexico. Davis will do it without everyone banned from ringside.
Dream match. Renee Paquette moderated the chat between tag team champions Adam Copeland and Christian Cage with challengers Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson. The Young Bucks are focused on their legacy to win at All In. Matt warned that nothing will stop them. Cope was chill and respectful. Christian was surly as usual. C&C believe they are the best of their era and aim to prove that they are the best of the Bucks’ era too. My take is that the Bucks seem desperate. They looked stressed. C&C were relaxed and smooth. They’ve been in these big moments before and aren’t sweating it. If we try to translate that to a match, perhaps the Bucks will be more prone to making mistakes under pressure than C&C.
TBS Championship: Maya World (c) defeated Persephone to retain the title. World started with slick offense, then Persephone’s power took over. The finish was marred by outside presence. Hikaru Shida arrived as a distraction. Perse tried to use Shida’s kendo stick, but Kris Statlander snatched it away. World scored the win on a bridging fallaway slam.
It sounds like World is getting over. The crowd was firmly in her corner with support. When this match was announced, I doubted that World would lose the TBS title so quickly, and I was curious how Persephone would take the loss. Perse is the CMLL women’s world champion. The answer was funny business. Statlander’s good deed protects Persephone in the loss. The bigger picture is setting up feuds for all involved.
Willow Nightingale celebration. Willow is the first women’s triple crown winner in AEW. She gave a motivational speech to never give up.
Enter Mercedes Moné to demand that Willow sign the All In world title bout contract. Done and done. Willow sassed the CEO about having the one championship she could never win. Mercedes shot back about ending Willow’s fairy tale. The thing that annoys Mercedes most is how Willow’s milestones ran over her story. Mercedes will take the title and Willow’s smile at All In. That’s when Divine Dominion surrounded the ring for a double chokeslam to Willow. The Brawling Birds arrived to even the numbers. This promo exchanged brought us up to speed on the emotional aspect for why this is a heated rivalry, and it added direction for future matchups on TV by combining title feuds.
AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) defeated Komander to retain the title. Moxley ground down the high-flyer. Komander still flew through the air. The luchador’s mistake was misreading Moxley’s health meter. Moxley dodged the Cielito Lindo finisher to rally for a curb stump. Mox swiftly snatched Komander for a rear naked choke. The challenger tapped out. I enjoy how Moxley’s title defenses have opponents wrestling a variety of styles. It often shows his strategic mind when securing victory.
AEW World Trios Championship: The Demand defeated the Conglomeration (c) to win the titles. This match offered everything I could want to be satisfied until the finish. There was Orange Cassidy with his antics in a natural way, Roderick Strong using Cassidy as a battering ram, the Gates of Agony as power hosses, and so on. The funniest moment was Cassidy punching Toa Liona in the head to no effect. Another funny moment was Liona lifting Cassidy, who had his hands in his pockets.
The finish was cheap cheating. Jay Lethal and Lee Johnson caused a distraction, and Blake Christian popped Cassidy. Ricochet followed for the Spirit Gun on OC to win. I don’t mind the title change. The numbers game is a bit much when it is three intruders. Oh, well. Heels are going to heel. At least the finish went down in a manner to root for payback.
Afterward, the six-man army stomped the Conglomeration. Brody King was outmanned on the save. Hangman Page brought an equalizer in a barbed wire chair. He thumped Lethal with a Buckshot Lariat. Hangman previously mentioned he wants championships. Could his eye now be on the trios titles?
Notes: The Brawling Birds called out Divine Dominion for avoiding them. A message to those slags. Ball up the knuckles. It’s time to brawl. So much personality in such a short promo.
The Bang Bang Gang are without Jay White for that evening. They challenged any combination of the Dogs and Death Riders to a match on Collision. Mick Foley bang banged his way through the Gunns up catchphrase. I like Foley’s new gimmick of old man trying to figure out catchphrases.
The Death Riders sounded off on business. Challenge accepted to the Bang Bang Gang. Daniel Garcia criticized Ospreay from running from the grind. Jon Moxley mentioned a mystery tournament known as the Continental Cup, and he will run into the fire. Great promo from Mox.
Stud of the Show: Will Ospreay
Bruv finally had enough.
Match of the Night: Andrade vs. Jack Perry vs. Nick Wayne
Highlight reel action with everyone shining.
Grade: B
Solid show. Cool action as always, and the storylines are focusing tighter for All In.
Share your thoughts about AEW Dynamite. How do you rate it? What were your favorite moments from the show? Who impressed you the most?
