AEW Dynamite this week was a special Beach Break edition. Let’s break it down.
IN ONE HOUR! #AEWDynamite Beach Break Presented by #SharkWeek LIVE TONIGHT featuring the fallout from #ForbiddenDoor, @Owen_Foundation Cup Qualifiers and more from the @WintrustArena in Chicago, IL at 8pm ET/7pm CT on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/CC2c9iWrfd
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 3, 2024
Dynamite this week opened with the Owen Hart Tournament semi-finals when Bryan Danielson took on Pac. The two would start slowly with a feeling-out process, before picking up the pace and having a great back-and-forth with great reversals and flow. Danielson would hit his running knee and go for the pinfall, only for Pac to transition from the pin into the Brutalizer submission. This was a great segment as Danielson would reverse that move, ending up with a pinfall victory.
PAC goes flying!
Watch #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by #SharkWeek, LIVE on TBS!@BryanDanielson | @BASTARDPAC pic.twitter.com/3yEzPIh695
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
Mark Briscoe would come to the ring for a promo segment next. He would declare himself as part of Team AEW for the upcoming Blood & Guts pay-per-view (PPV). He was blindsided by Jack Perry before it turned to chaos. Kyle O’Reilly would come to Briscoe’s aid, but then Okada would come to help Perry. The Young Bucks would come to the ring and beat down on the already-attacked Briscoe. The Acclaimed would even the odds, forcing The Elite to scatter and end the segment. The Elite will take on Team AEW at Blood & Guts.
The Elite are sending a message to anyone who would challenge them at #BloodAndGuts!
Watch #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by #SharkWeek, LIVE on TBS!@SussexCoChicken | @boy_myth_legend | @KORCombat | @RainmakerXOkada | @YoungBucks pic.twitter.com/IqQARN5IAG
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander had the next match. Statlander had recently turned heel on Nightingale, adding to the emotional factor of this match/storyline. The two didn’t even make it to the ring, starting the fight on the entrance ramp. This was a pretty good match, with both women looking strong. Statlander ended up grabbing a chain and swinging it at Nightingale. Nightingale avoided the blow and reversed it into a roll-up pinfall. This resulted in Nightingale winning and advancing in the Owen Hart Tournament.
The POWER of Kris Statlander!
Watch #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by #SharkWeek, LIVE on TBS!@CallMeKrisStat | @WillowWrestles pic.twitter.com/Jc5qM4dl9H
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
Britt Baker would come to the ring after a promo in the next segment. She would tell the story of her mini-stroke and needing time off. She would also deliver a rather long and boring promo about overcoming the fear of returning and rejection. She would take a jab at Mercedes Mone before Mone would appear on the Jumbotron. The Young Bucks would tell her to head to the ring for a championship celebration. The crew would set up the balloons for the party while Britt Baker was still in the ring. Mone would enter the ring, but Baker did not move an inch. Baker would challenge Mone to a match at All In. Mone would tell her to get to the back of the line. Baker would retort that there is no line. It is unclear as of this moment whether this match is official or not, as Mone would utter her catchphrase before raising her titles and walking off.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. lays out a challenge to Mercedes Moné for #AllIn!
Watch #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by #SharkWeek, LIVE on TBS!@MercedesVarnado | @RealBrittBaker pic.twitter.com/DQp0KXU3Qh
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
Chris Jericho would be in the ring to call out Hook for using his finishing move and Taz for cheering him on. Jericho would claim to have spoken to The Young Bucks, who said that Taz is off commentary for the night and Jericho would replace him. We would move on to a trios match. It would be Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Hook, versus Cage of Agony. Samoa Joe would secure the victory via submission. Big Bill would blindside the winning team with a chair before Jericho would jump off the announce table to help Bryan Keith and Big Bill beat down all members of the winning team. Bill would hit Joe with a chair on the stairs, Hook was hit with brass knuckles by Jericho, and Keith would grab a table. Big Bill would then chokeslam Hook through the table.
Samoa Joe, HOOK and Katsuyori Shibata with the Triple Team!
Watch #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by #SharkWeek, LIVE on TBS!@SamoaJoe | @730HOOK | @K_Shibata2022 | @BrianCageGMSI pic.twitter.com/WckG2U5dy3
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
Jeff Jarrett would take on “Hangman” Adam Page next in the Owen Hart Tournament. Hangman was in control of the slow-paced match early on. Jarrett would get a couple of moves in, but it was not the most entertaining match. Hangman was much slower than usual, and it appeared as though he did not want to hurt Jarrett. Hangman would hit the Buckshot Lariat followed by a second Dead Eye to secure the pinfall victory.
Sharpshooter!
Watch #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by #SharkWeek, LIVE on TBS!@RealJeffJarrett | #HangmanAdamPage pic.twitter.com/W47ThnUcpf
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
The main event would see Daniel Garcia (with MJF in his corner) challenging Will Ospreay for the AEW International Championship. Both men would look great, but it was really Ospreay’s moveset and athleticism that stole the show. Both men had some really slick reversals leading to believable false finishes. MJF would roll his Dynamite Diamond Ring in for Garcia to use. Garcia would hesitate before handing the ring back to MJF. This hesitation was enough time for Ospreay to recover and hit Running Blade and pick up the pinfall victory. MJF would low-blow Garcia after the match, seemingly ending the heel-babyface friendship. He would then hit him with the ring he refused to use to bust Garcia open. MJF would finish by hitting a Tombstone from the second rope. It would take Will Ospreay coming back to the ring to stop this vicious beating. Garcia would be taken out on a stretcher to end the show.
EXCLUSIVE MEDICAL UPDATE ON DANIEL GARCIA!
After receiving a brutal attack at the hands @The_MJF TONIGHT on #AEWDynamite, @garciawrestling was taken to a Chicago hospital for evaluation. He has regained consciousness, and is still under observation for cervical injuries. pic.twitter.com/e2g2oAiIvU
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 4, 2024
That wraps up AEW Dynamite this week, stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles
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