AEW Dynamite airs tonight (July 15) with a live show emanating from MGM Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. This is the second episode of Dynamite during the four week build to Redemption, which takes place on July 26.
The clock is ticking on Tony Khan’s next huge decision in AEW
Kenny Omega got his redemption last week at Beach Break when he defeated MJF to become the new AEW world champion. Kenny’s official championship celebration is scheduled for tonight’s Dynamite.
Looking ahead on the calendar, the Redemption pay-per-view takes place in less than two weeks
in Montreal. That means the clock is ticking on Tony Khan’s huge decision for the main event of AEW’s newest PPV. The rumor mill says the main event was supposed to be Omega’s title win over MJF, before that match was moved up to Beach Break. It’s not clear at all now what the world title match will be at Redemption, but it pretty much has to be announced tonight.
It could be as simple as MJF going for his own scumbag redemption in a championship rematch, this time with the pressure of a major stipulation weighing down on his shoulders. Some folks might wonder why Omega vs. MJF was moved up to Dynamite if Khan is just going to book it again at Redemption, but the major ratings success of Dynamite Beach Break gives the obvious answer there.
If it’s not MJF, then TNT Champion Kevin Knight stands out as another AEW star who thinks he is owed a world title match. However, he should probably be more concerned about not getting murdered by Darby Allin’s explosions in the short-term. If it’s neither of them, then what about Swerve Strickland, Ricochet, or Tommaso Ciampa?
Tony Khan must have some kind of ace up his sleeve to book an AEW world title change this close to his next PPV without a main event announced for that show. Who will interrupt Omega’s title celebration to set up the main event for Redemption? Will this challenger need some friends to take out the Young Bucks, if Matt and Nick Jackson happen to be in the ring to celebrate with Kenny? And does Will Ospreay plan to show his face during Kenny’s championship celebration? Tune into Dynamite tonight to find out.
The rest of the card
Willow Nightingale returned to AEW last week and won the women’s casino gauntlet match. As a result, she will challenge AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla at Redemption. It was actually Mercedes Mone who laid them both out after the match was over, which looks to me like a setup for a triple threat match at All In London. Anyway, The CEO has new friends in the form of AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion. Tonight’s card features a trios match of Nightingale, Hyan, and Maya World vs. Mone and Divine Dominion. Will Thekla and the Sisters of Sin crash the party to get revenge for last week?
Andrade El Idolo is going to war with the Don Callis Family after betraying them at Forbidden Door. His world title chase is on hiatus since the Callis family’s 431 members don’t have that belt. However, if Andrade can beat Jake Doyle tonight, he will earn a future match against AEW National Champion Mark Davis. Grand Slam Mexico happens to be coming up in three weeks (Aug. 5), so maybe that’s when Andrade will take his first title away from Don.
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– After Tommaso Ciampa defeated Chris Jericho last week with help from some sand to the eyes, I’d bet their rematch will be take place at Redemption in Canada. What kind of gimmick will Jericho try to add to their next match so that he can even the score?
– Konosuke Takeshita is back in Japan working the G1 tournament after dropping the AEW International championship to Kyle Fletcher last week. How does fellow Callis family member Kazuchika Okada feel about Fletcher now holding his former belt? Will Mick Foley find a babyface challenger for Kyle’s belt at Redemption? The hardcore legend surely doesn’t plan to do it himself at All In London, right?
– TBS stands for The Best is Shida now that Hikaru Shida is the new TBS champion. The Ace of TBS had her first successful title defense last week against Harley Cameron, and it looks like Queen Aminata is next in line. Is the plan to book Shida vs. Kris Statlander at Redemption?
– AEW World Tag Team Champions Adam Copeland and Christian Cage also need a match at Redemption in Montreal. Will they be teaming up with Jay White and the Bang Bang Gang for some kind of group war against The Dogs and most of the Death Riders?
– Hangman Page finally returned to AEW over the weekend to reveal he had a vasectomy, and also discuss his future now that he can never challenge for the AEW world title ever again. My advice would be to follow in Taz’s FTW footsteps and create his own belt. I could definitely see Hangman and Swerve Strickland fighting over the Not The World (NTW) championship at All In London.
– What final steps does AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley have in mind for Will Ospreay to properly prepare him for the AEW world championship match at All In? Does Will have to embrace the dark side a little bit more in order to achieve his dream at AEW’s biggest show of the year?
– What is Jungle Man Jack Perry’s next order of business now that he is officially re-signed with AEW?
– Matt Sydal is back in AEW and very aware of how bald Ricochet is. When will Matt return to the ring so that he can do the job?
– Which AEW star will be next to shell out the big bucks to pay for the services of The Hurt Syndicate? I don’t know that answer, but I hope it involves Bobby Lashley getting in the ring with AEW World Trios Champion Orange Cassidy.
– It sounds like Buddy Matthews is cleared to wrestle again, after being out of action for more than a year. Will he get all up in Brody King’s business when the time is right to return to AEW?
– Now that Sheamus is gone from WWE, is there any chance he shows up on Dynamite tonight for a reunion with his former The Bar partner Claudio Castagnoli? Or will he instead join the Brawling Birds in their next bar fight vignette?
– The Opps just aren’t very interesting without Samoa Joe around to lead them. Is there a shakeup coming after Shibata failed to win the ROH world championship from Bandido last week?
– Where the f*** is Keith Lee? Is it really true that he is retired and will never wrestle again?
What will you be looking for on Dynamite?
