by Brian Jaso
We start the show with a fantastic match up!!
Title vs Title
ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli vs NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston
The New York crowd is hot. Claudio is out first. The roof comes off the building when they introduce Eddie. This will not be a high flying match. Claudio starts out on top with a lot of brawling. He follows it up with a gut wrench suplex. Eddie gets back to his feet and trades slaps with each other. Eddie hits a German Suplex to the joy of the crowd. Claudio comes right back with a belly to back suplex out on to the ramp. The crowd is chanting Eddie! Eddie! Eddie! Claudio goes to the top rope and attempts a flying headbutt, but misses!! He still keeps control of the match though as he has Eddie on the ropes and is working him over. He goes for a suplex, but Eddie blocks it and hits one of his own. Again Claudio regains control. Eddie can’t seem to find his footing in this one. Claudio is just too good. Claudio is wearing him down. Cover for a two count. Eddie is hanging in there. Claudio goes for a European upper cut, but Eddie reverses it into a backslide!! The crowd comes to their for cheering for Eddie as he works the big man down to his knees. The men stand to toe to toe and go chop for chop. Claudio goes for straight Jacket and hits it. Should be over! Eddie kicks out!! Eddie hits the Northern Lights Suplex, but Claudio kicks out of that!! Eddie follows it up with a powerbomb and gets the win!!
Winner and NEW ROH World Champion!!! Eddie Kingston!
EDDIE KINGSTON IS A WORLD CHAMPION!!!#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/qj3rA9lxrF
— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) September 21, 2023
After the match Cluadio extends his hand and to Eddie to complete the code of honor. What a moment!!
After the match we see the Kingdom and Roderick Strong. Roderick is in a hospital bed and complaining about all his pain. Adam Page shows up to his bedside. He says he has to leave to be beside MJF in his world title match later tonight against Samoa Joe. Roderick is not happy. Page leaves Roderick by himself. We are heading to a break!
Back from the break and we have a first time ever match up!!
Chris Jericho vs “Spanish God” Samuel Guevara
Sammy comes out with a lighted vest and trunks that are like the ones Jericho wore 20 years ago to HBK. What respect. The crowd is split on this one. Sammy gains the early upperhand and works the crowd. Jericho makes the first mistake and goes for a spring board splash out on the Sammy on the floor, but misses!! Sammy hits a corkscrew tornado in return. He throws Jericho back in the ring and hits a high crossbody from the top rope and goes for a cover! 2 count! Both men make it to the outside apron and lock up. Jericho hits suplex onto the floor! Sammy is hurt. We are heading to a break!
SAMMY!!! #AEWDynamite #AEWGrandSlam pic.twitter.com/qh8nLmkl1T
— (@WrestlingCovers) September 21, 2023
Neither man can gain an advantage. Jericho and Sammy trade chops. They work the ropes and Sammy hits the Spanish Fly. Goes for a cover but only gets 2. Sammy then hits the Code Breaker!! Crawls over for another cover and only gets 2. No way Sammy was going to win with Jericho’s own move. Sammy throws Jericho to the outside. Sammy climbs to top rope and hits the moonsault onto Jericho on the outside! But doing this Sammy has hurt his knee. Sammy crawls to the top and hits a diamond cutter, but not good enough! Jericho sneaks in a reverse and locks in the walls of Jericho!! Sammy looks like he’s going to tap!! Sammy reaches through his legs and gets out of it. Both men work their way to the top rope and Sammy hits the cutter again! Huge damage to both men. Sammy brings Jericho to his feet and goes for a spring board moonsault from the ropes, but Jericho pulls his knees up. Jericho hits a lionsault, but for only a 2 count. Sammy finds his way back in an advantageous spot and lays Jericho out. He goes for a shooting star press off the top rope, but Jericho catches him in a code breaker! Jericho gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Via pinfall Chris Jericho
After the match Jericho extends his hand and Sammy gives him a hug. The crowd loves it. After the embrace Sammy kicks Jericho in the balls. Sammy then throws him down. And from the back we see Don Callis. He comes and gets Sammy and leaves with him!
Back from the break and we see Sammy walking with Don Callis. Rene stops Sammy and asks him if he is joining the Don Callis family. Callis says everything will be answered on Rampage. As they walk off Daniel Garcia stops Sammy. They start to go at it, but Callis stops them.
Back to the ring!!
AEW International Championship Match
Rey Fenix vs AEW International Champion Jon Moxley
Fenix is out first. Moxley follows, but comes through the crowd as always. Moxley taunts Fenix to come out the ring a brawl. Fenix obliges. Fenix hits a suicide sault off the ramp onto Moxley. Moxley is hurt!! The match has not even started yet. Fenix throws Mox into the ring and we are officially underway. These are two complexly different styles. Fenix takes the early advantage and keeps Mox on the move. So much movement from Fenix, but Mox gets tired of it and lands a right cross stopping Fenix in his tracks. Now it’s a brawl. They work their way onto the floor and Mox hits a double armed DDT on Fenix. He then drags him back in the ring and just bludgeons him over and over. Fenix sneaks in some offense and flips the script. He hits a frog splash from the top for a two count. Mox then catches Fenix with a huge clothesline.
Back from the break and Fenix is in control. He hits a double stomp from the top rope and goes for the cover. Still just a 2 count. Fenix want to hit a pile driver but Mox blocks. Mox then throws Fenix onto the ramp and hits a curbstomp. Back in the ring Mox hits a reverse pile driver. Cover!! Fenix kicks out!! Fenix then hits a sinton bomb from the top rope and follows it with a piledriver. Fenix covers and Mox does not kick out, but the referee only counts 2. Very weird moment. Fenix hits another piledriver and gets the pin.
Winner and NEW AEW International Champion Rey Fenix
Very weird finish. The referee really blew that.
Backstage we see Joe and he says tonight he will beat MJF and become the AEW World Champion!
Time for a break!
Back from the Break
AEW Women’s World Championship Match
AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya w/Ruby Soho vs Toni Storm
Toni starts out asking Saraya for a hug. Saraya greets her with a slap. Saraya is screaming at her, but Toni is just laughing. Ruby jumps up on the apron and distracts Toni. Saraya hits a superkick on Toni. Toni then goes under the ring and gets some shoes. She comes out and hits Ruby and then hits Saraya with a heel, the shoe not a bad guy, and goes for the cover. 2 count!!
We are heading to a break!
Back from the break and the ladies are on their knees trading shots in the middle of the ring. Toni removes the bottom turn buckle. She then pulls out a can of spray but Ruby steals it from her and throws it to Saraya. Saraya sprays Toni when the ref is not looking. She hits the nitecap!! But only gets a two count. Toni then pops up and kisses Saraya!! She then hits the storm zero and a cover!! 2 count again!! Crowd popped hard for the kiss. Saraya hits a nite cap from the second rope for the win.
Winner and still AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya
After the match Saraya screams that Toni made her do it!l.
We are headed to a break.
World Title Match is NEXT!
Back from the Break and here we go!!
AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
AEW World Champion MJF vs Samoa Joe
MJF is the clear crowd favorite, but Joe got quite the pop when he hit the ring.
The crowd is hot. Both men walk the ring circling each other sizing one another up. Adam Cole is nowhere to be seen. MJF goes for a rear naked choke, but Joe flips him over. Joe is using his size and power to control MJF. The crowd is booing heavily. Joe hits the crotch chop to the crowd. He hits a big boot on MJF followed by a sinton bomb for a quick cover. Only a 2 count. MJF is in trouble!
We are headed to a break
During the break Joe continues to work MJF over. He is just to powerful for MJF. The crowd is chanting for MJF trying to get him back in this one. Joe gets MJF in a muscle buster! This could be it, but MJF slides out of it. MJF is favoring his neck that he hurt weeks ago. Joe is taking advantage of it. Joe is completely disrespecting MJF. But out over nowhere MJF is hulking up. He turns the tide. He calls for the Kangaroo kick and hits it knocking Joe to the outside. MJF is fired up, but grabs his neck as it is still clearly bothering him. MJF attempts to dive on Joe, but Joe counters with a kick and then hits a death valley driver on the apron. He tosses him in the ring for a cover, but only gets 2!! Joe heads to the outside and is now setting up a table. He goes back in the ring and brings out MJF. The then rock bottoms him through the table!! He then throws MJF in the ring for the cover. This should be it! 2 count!!! MJF is still in this!! Joe goes to the outside and pulls back the mat exposing the hard arena floor. He hits a pile driver on the floor!! This should be the end for MJF! MJF is surrounded by doctors and trainers. Joe grabs MJF and throws him in the ring. Cover!! MJF kicks out! Joe tells MJF to give up. MJF spits in his face. Joe goes off the ropes, but MJF counters into a powerbomb!! 2 count!! MJF locks into a rear naked choke, but Joe counters. MJF slips out and pulls his ring out from some tape. He goes to knock Joe out, but the ref sees it. He takes it from Joe and while the ref is not looking Joe low blows MJF. Muscle buster!!! But only a two count!! Joe then locks on a rear naked choke and this should be it. The ref raises MJF’s arm and it falls. He does it again and it falls again. Here we go, we should get a new champ!! Wait! Here comes Adam Cole. He is beating on the ring and yelling for MJF to not quit. The ref lifts his arm for the last time, but this time MJF Hulks up again!! The ref gets knocked out, kind of. While he’s out MJF grabs some tape and chokes out Joe. The ref gets back in the ring and calls for the bells. Joe is out.
Winner and Still AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF
Joe gets up to shake MJF’s hand. MJF shakes it. Joe leaves the ring and Cole and MJF celebrate in the middle of the ring. The trainers hit the ring to check on MJF’s neck. He appears to be ok. MJF climbs the turnbuckle and holds up the belt as Dynamite goes off the air.