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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
JULY 29, 2026
DETROIT, MICH. AT MASONIC TEMPLE THEATER
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 3,448 tickets had been distributed as of showtime; arena is set up for 3,667. The arena has a capacity of 3,984 spectators. on the previous visit to this venue on May 7, 2025, AEW drew 2,964.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Rich Fann to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show. PWTorch’s Darrin Lilly will join as an on-site correspondent also.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-After the Dynamite opening, they cut to the crowd chanting “AEW!” in the arena as Excalibur introduced the show. The crowd popped when the Jon Moxley vs. Komander graphic was shown.
-A video package aired on Redemption happenings with Will Ospreay, The Death Riders, and Kenny Omega. It showed Ospreay attacking Mox after Mox asked him to use the plastic bag against him. Omega looked at the plastic bag, shook Ospreay’s hand, but then attacked him from behind. They showed footage of the Death Riders watching backstage as this was happening, with Mox expressing his hoped that Ospreay would attack Omega. “Will, get him before he gets you!” said Mox. Then they showed Mox’s frustration when Omega attacked Ospreay. Omega shoved the plastic bag in Ospreay’s face, indicating that was the reason he was attacking him. Mox said it’s not over yet. He said Ospreay might be the best wrestler in the world with nothing to lose and he’s now on death ground.
-They went to Renee Paquette outside the arena. She said she wanted to talk to Ospreay. He walked past her and confronted The Death Riders, who were waiting for him. (I see Danny Garcia wasn’t suspended for knocking cell phones out of the hands of fans on his way to the back at the end of Redemption.) When Garcia approached Ospreay, Ospreay back-elbowed him to the ground. Mox asked, “Are you sure you want to do that?” Ospreay said, “You don’t get to pull the trigger for me. I’m out.” He shoved the Death Riders patch back at him. Mox said: “Is that so? It looks like you’ve got it all figured out, then.” Ospreay walked between the Death Riders.
Renee trotted up to get a comment when “Hangman” Adam Page showed up. He told Ospreay he knows what it feels like to be in his shoes. He said he is going to stick his nose in his business. He said if he needed anything, let him know. Ospreay said he can’t trust anyone including him. He said while he appreciates it, he’s going to do this on his own. As he tried to talk away, Hangman stopped him. He said he’s one of the best he’s ever been in the ring with. He told him he knows the bell is going to ring and he’s going to be the best he’s ever been at Wembley. “You got this,” Hangman said. “I mean it, you’ve got it.” Ospreay thanked him and walked away.
(Keller’s Analysis: One potential explanation for Omega attacking Ospreay unprovoked would be that when he saw the plastic bag, it triggered him because of what Moxley did to Bryan Danielson and he just snapped and attacked Ospreay in frustration for even associating with Mox in the first place.)
(1) ANDRADE EL IDOLO vs. NICK WAYNE vs. JACK PERRY – AEW National Title match
The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. When Perry bulldogged Wayne at ringside, Andrade leaped over the top rope onto Perry. Andrade then did a selfie with a woman at ringside. Taz said he had to stay focused on defending his title. Of course, Wayne recovered during that time and gave him a flip-over cutter. Perry sold a knee injury upon landing. Perry then rolled him into the ring and scored a one count. Wayne raked Perry’s eyes. The ref scolded him. Perry chopped him. Andrade returned and clotheslined both Perry and Wayne, then hit a flying forearm. He kipped up. Excalibur announced as Casino Gauntlet Battle Royal for a guaranteed AEW World Title match will take place at All In.
Andrade suplexed Perry three times. Wayne entered and gave Andrade a Spanish Fly after Andrade played to the crowd for several seconds. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
Wayne dominated during the break. Andrade powerbombed Wayne out of the corner. He then slapped Perry in the chest on the top turnbuckle. Perry leaped off the top rope and head-scissored Andrade to ringside. Wayne then landed a sunset bomb over the top rope to the floor. Fans chanted, “Holy shit!”
Nick splashed Andrade on his back and then took him down with a Prodigy Plex for a near fall, with Perry breaking up the cover at two. A fan in the front row held up a sign that said, “Am I supposed to want to cheer Jack Perry?” He turned the sign over and it said, “I’m just a small town bird lawyer.” Perry and Wayne exchanged strikes mid-ring. Andrade entered and slapped both of them in the chest and then clotheslined them both. They both flip-bumped out of the clotheslines. All three were down and slow to get up.
Perry rallied and lit up the crowd with a dive onto Andrade and Wayne at ringside. Andrade fought back. When he went for a splash on Wayne, Wayne lifted his knees. Wayne hit a Phoenix Splash. Perry broke it up at three. Andrade caught a charging Perry with a spinning back elbow. Wayne scored a near fall on Andrade with his feet on the ropes. Andrade then landed a DM for the win.
WINNER: Andrade in 14:00 to retain the AEW National Title.
-Schiavone interviewed Andrade in the ring. Andre said he was happy and took a dig at MJF. He said he will be the best National Champion ever. Schiavone brought up that there will be a Casino Gauntlet match at All In, and he’ll get in a qualifying match for the coveted no. 1 position. Andrade said he has one question. “How you know?” he said with a smile. Fans chanted it before he said it.
-Renee interviewed The Brawling Birds backstage about wanting a shot at the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. Jamie Hayter said they’ll beat the piss out of them on Collision. [c]
-Renee interviewed The Don Callis Family backstage. She asked for their reaction to some tough losses at Redemption. Kyle Fletcher jumped in and bragged about his win. Kevin Knight he went toe-to-toe with one of the best and it won’t be the last chance he has at the title. Knight addressed Fletcher. Fletcher said he should focus on his title because he plans to keep his International Title in the family. Kazuchika Okada walked up to the gathering and said that the International Title will stay in the family, the potential implication being he’ll take it from Fletcher some day.
(2) KYLE FLETCHER & JAKE DOYLE & BRIAN CAGE (w/Don Callis) vs. BRODY KING & BANDIDO & “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY
Schiavone said his first visit to Arena Mexico was one of the best experiences he’s had. Callis joined in on commentary. The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis! F— Ice, Too!” Callis said he’s always called Taz a gentleman and a scholar. At 3:00, Brody splashed Cage and Doyle, who rolled to ringside. Brody clotheslined Fletcher. Bandido then leaped off the top rope with a splash attempt, but Fletcher moved. Bandido powered over Fletcher with a suplex. Cage caught Bandio at ringside and tossed him back-first into the ringpost. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Fletcher took control of Bandido during the break. Brody hot-tagged in and rallied. He crashed into Doyle and Davis in the corner. He scored a near fall on Cage. Speedball tagged in. Cage tossed him powerbomb-style into his corner. Fletcher tagged in and went on the attack, landing a knee strike for a near fall, with Brody and Bandido breaking up the cover. Speedball made a comeback, but Fletcher tossed him into the corner turnbuckle.
Speedball made a comeback and tagged in Bandido. Doyle also tagged in. Bandido pressed him above his head and slammed him. He then landed a frog splash off the top rope. Doyle made a comeback. When Brody intervened, Cage cut him off and gave him a faceplant. Speedball landed a spinning kick to the side of Cage’s head, then backflipped off the top rope onto Fletcher at ringside.
In the ring, Bandido charged at Doyle, but Doyle rolled through for a two count. Bandido fired back with a kick that knocked Doyle into 619 position. Bandido played to the crowd, which gave Doyle a chance to recover and he knocked Bandido down with a strike. Speedball tagged himself in and landed top rope double-knee. He followed with a roll-up for a three count.
As Speedball and Fletcher had a staredown, a graphic plugged their match next week at Arena Mexico for the International Title.
WINNERS: Speedball & Bandido & Brody in 14:00. [c]
-A sitdown interview aired with Renee’s interview with Christian Cage & Adam Copeland and The Young Bucks. She said they throw around the term “dream match” a lot, but this is at the tippy-top. Nick Jackson said he’s already nervous about it. He said their kids and wives are coming with them. He said they never thought the match would happen and it’s an honor. He said they revolutionalized pro wrestling “and we feel we did the same.” Copeland said, “We’re looking forward to this, too.” He said they respect what the Bucks did to “keep tag team wrestling alive.” He said tag team wrestling had often been pushed to the side, but they made sure that wasn’t the case.
Christian said he can say with all sincerity, they didn’t come back to AEW to do a greatest hits or retirement tour. He said they want to prove they’re the greatest team not just of their generation, but also this generation. “I just want to throw in there that it’s good your wives are going,” he added. Renee said “What?!”
Matt said they are on their second career, in a sense, as their legacy was made while they’re still working on theirs. He said they spent two years trying to get those belts back. He said they’ve been scratching and clawing to get them back, but have come up short. Copeland said they were both told their careers were over and went 25 years without tag team title reigns.
[HOUR TWO]
Matt said they’re legends, but nothing will stop them from winning the tag titles for a record fourth time. He said they’re going to come at them more aggressively than they’re ever come at anyone in their careers. Christian said it sounds like they’re trying to talk themselves into it. Christian asked if they can lift their game to another level like they’ve always done. He said for them beat them, they have to be the greatest.
Renee asked why it would mean so much to them to retain the titles. Copeland said “Because we’re doubted at this stage.” The Bucks said they’ve been criticized for being too small or leaning too much on superkicks or doing too many highspots or their style doesn’t work or they don’t have the machine behind them. He said Copeland & Christian bigger, taller, and more experienced than them, but they’ve been doing this a long time too. Copeland said they’re looking forward to it.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s how you do it. Intense, but mutual respect, with clear communication about the importance of the match, the importance of winning for each team, and why the stakes are so high.)
(3) MAYA WORLD vs. PERSEPHONE – TBS Title match
As Maya came out, Renee did a ringside report and said Maya has taken the wrestling world by storm. She said she told her earlier she has the ball and plans to keep it to see where it takes her. (The delivery is great, but I wish these ringside reports had more than trite empty cliches as the “scoop” or “insight.” Just add something that adds to the fans’ understanding of the emotions or motivations of the wrestler being talked about.) The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. Excalibur noted that Collision airs on Thursday night this week. They cut to a double-box break with Persephone in control at 2:00. [c/db]
Persephone dove through the ropes and tackled Maya at ringside. Maya landed a DDT at ringside to spark a comeback. Maya landed a moonsault. Hikaru Shida ran to ringside and distracted the ref as she slid a kendo stick to Persephone. Kris Statlander yanked it away from Persephone. Maya turned around and suplexed and bridged Persephone for the win.
Statlander entered the ring and raised the arm of Maya. Shida looked shocked and disappointed her plan backfired.
WINNER: Maya in 9:00 to retain the TBS Title.
-Mark Davis addressed Ospreay. He said they are 1-1 this year, but Ospreay’s victory over him has an asterisk because of Death Rider interference. He said he is going to chew out Ospreay leave him broken outside of Arena Mexico next week if he accepts his challenge.
-They went to the announcers at ringside. A shark mascot, “Chompy,” danced out as Excalibur plugged Shark Week on TBS.
-Renee stood mid-ring and introduced Willow Nightingale. Taz said she smiles too much and you can’t trust anyone who smiles that much. Streamers blasted into the ring. Schiavone said Renee smiles a lot too and they trust her. Taz said he doesn’t trust her, either. Fans chanted “You deserve it!” She asked Willow what the crowd reaction means to her. Willow tilted her head back and got emotional and choked up. “You guys are far too kind,” she said. She said there have been doubters along the way. She said some think she’s overly enthusiastic or quirky or chubby and wouldn’t get it and didn’t see it and thought it would never happen. She said this past year, she has made them – the fans – apparently very happy. She said the make-up artists work hard on their make-up “so please,” as tears rolled down her face.
She talked about becoming a AEW Women’s Tag Team Champion, then a TBS Champion, and she got hurt and she went to a pretty dark place. She said her mom helped her. She said her mom calls her “her warrior princess.” Fans chanted, “Warrior Princess!” She said she fought to get into the Casino Gauntlet and then fought a dangerous, toxic champion in Thekla and won the AEW Title.
She looked at the camera and said: “If life has been kicking you around, don’t give up. Keep fighting and keep pushing through because sometimes the comeback is even better than the dream.”
Mercedes Mone’s music then played and she walked out. As usual, she brought it in terms of her outfit. Fans booed. Willow signed the contract. Mercedes shoved the folder in her face. Willow got in her face. Mercedes stood her ground. Renee said it’s now official for All In at Wembley Stadium. Willow asked what her problem is. “What, for five seconds, people didn’t give you all of their attention?” She said she thinks it’s that she has the one championship that she just can’t win.
Mercedes asked Willow if she knows what she hates most about her. She said it’s not her smile or the fans loving her, but that at every turn, she gets in the way of her story. She said when she fought her way back and chose AEW, she had to fight her. She said when she became the greatest TBS Champion of all time, she took it away from her. She told Willow she now holds what she is destined to hold. Fans chanted, “Shut the f— up!” She asked Willow if she knows how it feels. She said she “won’t shut the hell up” and vowed to end her Fairy Tale at the end. She said the only reason the fans are cheering for her is she is standing across the ring from her. “I made you, I elevated you, I gave you the greatest moment of your entire career,” she said. She said she “won’t just take her title, she’ll take her smile too.”
Divine Dominion came out and distracted Willow. Mercedes then went after Willow, but Willow fought back against all three. They eventually gave her a double chokeslam, though. The Brawling Birds ran out for the save. Willow stood and held the back of her head.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a sweet spot for Willow and one of her best promos to date, if not the best. She made that title feel important and managed to be uber positive but not sappy or over-the-top, which is risky when giving out life advice. Mercedes also delivered her best promo to date in AEW, leaning into narcicist heel mode effectively.) [c]
(4) JON MOXLEY vs. KOMANDER – AEW Continental Title match
As Mox came out, Schiavone said Mox was right to say that if Ospreay didn’t make the first move, Omega would – and that’s what happened. Taz said Omega was trying to protect his title and that’s what he did. The bell rang 40 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Mox dominated and bit and gnawed at Komander’s mask in the corner at 10:00. Fans chanted, “You sick f—!” Komander came back and landed a legdrop to the back of Mox’s head. As they fought at ringside, fans chanted “This is awesome!” Komander landed a Space Man dive. Back in the ring, Moxley avoided a top rope backflip splash and then stomped him followed by a Death Rider. He then cinched on a sleeper for the win.
WINNER: Moxley in 12:00 to retain the Continental Title.
-Mick Foley interviewed Juice Robinson, Ace Austin, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn. He noted Jay White wasn’t there. Ace said they have big problems. Colten said they’ve been screwed by the Dogs, been screwed by the Death Riders, Juice is feeling effects of the chain match, and Jay isn’t even there. Juice challenged The Dogs to finish what they started. When Austin said they had two words for everyone, Foley chimed in “Bang Bang.” Austin said any other night that’d be fine, but instead it’s “Guns Up!” [c]
(5) THE CONGLOMERATION vs. RICOCHET & GOA – AEW Trios Title match
After a pre-bell attack by The Demand, Schiavone said he’s glad the ref didn’t call for the bell and reward them. (There we go!) [c]
Late in the match, The Lethal Twist ran out. Blake Christian hit Cassidy with a title belt. Ricochet then scored the pin.
WINNERS: The Demand in 13:00 to capture the AEW Trios Titles
-Hangman came out with a chair wrapped in barbed wire and cleared the ring of the heels. Lethal yanked the chair away, but sold that the barbed wire hurt. [c]
-Wheeler Yuta, Pac, and Garcia accepted the challenge. Mox was wincing in the background from his match, but he stepped to the front and said he’s sick of all the talk about the way they do things. “Oh, the morality police are out!” he said. He said they meet people where they are and play by the rules that are necessary. “This is what the sport is about,” he said. He said everyone backstage is abuzz about the Continental Cup filled with challengers who want to take what he has. He said they’ll run into the fire.
-Excalibur said Garcia will face Ospreay on Collision.
-Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced Omega, noting he retained his AEW World Title at Redemption. Ospreay then came out as Omega was about to speak. Omega said it’s great he came out there. He said the issue with them is personal and he wanted to say it to his face directly. He said he wanted to make it fun, so he’s going to do “show and tell” like they did in kindergarten.
He said he “showed” Omega how he felt by giving him a One-Winged Angel. He said it didn’t matter that the fans in the moment didn’t get it, because he thought Ospreay would. He said looking at Ospreay, it seems he doesn’t get it, so he’ll move on to the “tell” part. He told Ospreay that he cares about him and he means the world to him “and I want the world for you.”
He asked Ospreay if he remembers the promise they made to each other about trying their best to become champions. He said ten times out of ten, 100 percent of the time, he put his friendship before the belt. He asked Ospreay if he gets why. He said it brought him joy to see him do well in the Owen Hart Tournament. He said he paid him back by telling him that it sucks he gave up on himself. He said he has no idea how deeply that cut him. He asked Ospreay if it looks to him like he gave up. Then held up his title belt.
Ospreay just glared at him with his arms crossed this whole time. Fans chanted, “Kenny!” He said Ospreay was never one to talk down to him and he never will be. He said even though he gave him plenty of warnings, he always pretended like he knew better and then had to learn the lesson the hard way. He asked what his excuse is now that it all blew up in his face.
Ospreay walked over to get a mic. Ospreay said he came back too early from his neck surgery because he was focused on revenge, and then he let it slip through his fingers. He said when he lost the match, he lost all his confidence. He said felt he short-changed the fans. He said his body crapped out on him. He said in that moment, he had no friends to turn to. He said he couldn’t even turn to his hero. Omega said he was always there.
Ospreay said Mox was the guy who took away his old life and therefore he had so much hatred for him. “But then he gave me new life, he gave me an opportunity,” he said. He said he didn’t look at the guy who broke his neck, but he saw him as a four-time World Champion who could take him to where he always wanted to be. He asked if he wanted honesty. He said, “Honestly, I liked being a Death Rider.” He gave a little sinister smile. He said he liked the camaraderie and the training. He said it reminded him of traveling in Japan. He said it turned out he didn’t share their philosophy and he didn’t want to win the World Title their way. He said he couldn’t watch someone he loves go through the same stuff he went through when he intervened in the Nick Jackson situation.
Omega said he was sitting in that ring getting beat up and stomped on for minutes. He said the minutes felt like hours. He said he felt the chair slip down his neck. He said he didn’t have the energy to fight back or even take the chair off his head. He said all he could do is close his eyes accept his fate. He said that’s when heard the people and the cheers. He said he could feel the energy and somehow he knew that Ospreay was there and he had come to save him. “And then when the minutes passed by and it felt like an eternity, he stood up and took the chair off.” He said when he turned around, the scene painted the scene he needed. He saw him holding the belt with a plastic bag at his feet. He said it took Ospreay so long because he thought about doing it himself. He said Ospreay set a trap for him. Ospreay insisted he didn’t. Omega slapped him mid-sentence and then yelled that he is a liar and he felt he was his friend.
Ospreay snarled, “I was your friend,” stressing “was.” Omega asked what he is now to him. He slapped him again and told him to look at him when he’s talking to him. Fans gasped. He said every time Ospreay gets in the pressure cooker, he crumbles. He said that’s why he’ll always be better than him. He slapped him again. Ospreay slapped him back and set up a Hidden Blade. Omega ducked down.
Ospreay said as much as he loves and respects him, if he puts his hands on him, he’ll kick the shit out of him. He said since day one that he walked on the AEW logo, he filled in when Omega wasn’t there. He said he came in every week from the UK to the US to remind everyone that this is where the best wrestle. He said he earned his spot to challenge for the title and he gave his neck to challenge for the title. He said standing before him is the biggest mountain to climb. “The ace wants the ball, I want the ball,” he said.
He said the 90 minutes is gone by and they’re into penalties, and England isn’t good at them, but it’s his time to kick the ball. He said he has an entire country dependent on him to bring it home. He said they’re asking if he can pull the trigger. “You’re damn right I can pull the trigger.” He said he won’t do it from behind or like Moxley does it and injure him before the match. He said he wants it to be the best versus the best. He said he’ll pull the trigger when it matters the most and the title is on the line. He said he’ll makes sure Omega sees it coming.
(Keller’s Analysis: Awesome segment. They hit all the questions and answered them as best they could, and some of the answers were tremendous from both men regarding some of their questionable actions and associations. Overall, the lasting feeling was these two have a big history, the stakes are big, and both are going to bring their best game on a huge stage. That’s the template for two babyfaces squaring off in a World Title main event match in a big stadium show.)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Rich Fann to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show. PWTorch’s Darrin Lilly will join as an on-site correspondent also.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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