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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
AUGUST 19, 2026
BALTIMORE, MD. AT CHESAPEAKE ARENA
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 3,281 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,805. The arena has a capacity of 5,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Dan Kuester 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]
-They cut to the crowd as Excalibur introduced the show and preview the scheduled matches and segments.
(1) WILL OSPREAY & FRANCESCO AKIRA & HENARE vs. BRIAN CAGE & ROCKY ROMERO & LANCE ARCHER
Ospreay made his entrance first. Taz said pro wrestlers want to keep competing “and you gotta keep wrestling” even with a big match coming up. They went to the announcers on camera briefly. Tony Schiavone touted Baltimore as “a great wrestling town.” A fan held up a sign saying the Canadian government apologizes for Don Callis. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis! / F— Ice Too!” The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break when the heels cleared the ring at 3:00 and were gloating. [c/db]
Cage was in control of Osprey as they returned from the break. Henare tagged in and soon scored a two count on Cage. Cage came back and tagged in Archer. Henare countered a Black Out. Both were down and slow to get up. Ospreay tagged in and hit aflurrh of moves against all three opponents. Archer interrupted Ospreay’s cover on Cage. They went into a series of rapid-fire spots including dives to the floor. Ospreay then finished Romero with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay shook hands with fans at ringside.
WINNERS: Ospreay & Hinare & Akira in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: This felt like filler, but it was solid action.)
-Renee Paquette interviewed Kazuchika Okada backstage about facing Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita at All In for the International Title. She said Fletcher was less than convinced when Callis sold this as a good thing to almost assure the title stays in the family. Okada said he will be happy for Fletcher if he retains his title and keeps it in the family, but he excited said if he wins the title, “I expect Kyle to be happy for me.” He said he would expect him to raise his hand in the center of the ring.
-Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced Fletcher. Excalibur said he heard Callis was vacationing on a beach in Greece. Fletcher said they in the midst of the greatest International Title reign of all time, and it doesn’t have to end anytime soon, especially not at Wembley Stadium. He said he agrees with Okada that family means everything. He said Callis has done so much for him and owes so much to him. He said he trusts him with all his heart and so he’s willing to go along with the plan. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis! / F— Ice Too!”
Fletcher said he has to keep his word and have his back and make sure he retains his title. He said they share in common a hatred for Takeshita. He said he lost the G1 Tournament and sarcastically congratulated him. He said he thinks he’s the most selfish, narcissistic jerk he’s ever interacted with. Takeshita then came out to his music. When he entered the ring, they wildly swung at each other. They battled each other with moves and counter moves. Takeshita landed a poison rana and a power drive knee followed by a Raging Fire. He picked up the International Title belt as fans cheered and chanted for him. [c]
-They returned to a wide shot of the arena as Excalibur plugged the four-way later for the TBS Title.
-Renee interviewed Kenny Omega and Ospreay in a sit-down interview in a dark room. Ospreay said he admired Omega’s work in New Japan. Omega said in a smug tone he liked to keep upon the “flavor of the week” wrestlers and he wasn’t that impressed by Ospreay, but he saw potential at first. He said he went from a skinny kid to the face of New Japan “and he filled my shoes in my absence.” He said New Japan needed him to return to sell tickets and sell PPVs. He said unfortunately for Will, his name alone didn’t do it, but his name does.
Ospreay said Omega built the company off of the broken backs of Tanahashi and Naito and Okada. He said their versions of COVID were entirely different things for each other. Ospreay said he had to do 15 hours flights in COVID and was stuck in small hotel rooms while Omega had three hour drives. He said he had to wrestle in front of forced silence, which Omega couldn’t have ever handled. He said half the roster was starving at that time, but Omega wasn’t. He said he and the United Empire had to breathe live into New Japan. He told him not to throw attendance at him. He said Omega couldn’t have handled that.
Omega said he did three hour drives, and their fans couldn’t attend, either. Omega asked if New Japan had allowed fans in the building, would they have been that loud for him.
Renee asked about Omega joining the Don Callis Family. Omega talked about all the titles he won. He said felt Callis had his best interests in mind, but eventually he realized he didn’t. He said he could then become a cautionary tale for people like Will, whom he had grown to respect. He said Ospreay didn’t have to make the mistakes he made. Ospreay said Omega he still has scars from when he DDT’d him into the corner turnbuckle. Omega said Ospreay isn’t proud of his win because he didn’t use Callis in their match at the TokyoDome, but he used Callis for their match at Forbidden Door. Ospreay interjected that it keeps him up at night. He said everyone online said he needed Callis to win.
Omega said the win was tainted. He said he forgives him now because he’s admitting he couldn’t have beat him without Callis and without a screwdriver. He said it feels like he’s beat him twice now, rather than the being 1-1. He said this match is just Ospreay desperately searching for a way to reach his level.
Omega was irritated when Renee brought up his diverticulitis. Omega said he can’t train or eat the way he used to, but that forced him to adjust for the better. He said he uses his brain more than he used to. He asked Ospreay if he’s better off after his surgery to replace disks in his neck. Omega said he’s at the top of his game and better than ever, so what makes him believe he has a chance now. He said he has a chip on his shoulder.
Ospreay said Omega has never seen him as his equal. Omega asked if Ospreay really wanted him to return to his form or did he want him to suffer and be a weakened state because beating him at Wembley would be easier than beating MJF. Ospreay angrily said that was bullocks. He said he doesn’t deserve the title if he doesn’t beat the best version of Omega. He said it means so much to him and so many others. He said no Englishman has ever won a world title on home soil. He said he can’t crumble now and he has to be better than him, away from Don Callis and away from the Death Riders. He said it’s been a ten year chase to prove he’s better than him, and he’ll do it by himself with pride.
Omega said last time he tried, he failed. He said he’ll fail again in front of his family and friends. He said even if Ospreay loses, his mom will still be proud of him, but he’s not sure if his son will be. Ospreay lunged toward Omega as they cut away.
(Keller’s Analysis: Omega’s smug arrogance feels a bit sudden and extreme and I don’t think they needed to go that far. That said, Ospreay and Omega were good here in terms of discussing their history and setting the emotional stakes for the All In match. I don’t think you needed to understand the context of everything regarding the COVID situations in New Japan compared to AEW to get a senes of there being tension over it. I would cut that section out, though, if only to tighten up the segment since I don’t think fans relate a ton to the lack of crowds for their matches during that time. The hook that fans can understand and invest in is the idea that Omega doesn’t respect Ospreay as his equal.)
-Taz said he respected Ospreay for keeping his composure.
(2) KRIS STATLANDER vs. PERSEPHONE vs. AKIRA SHIDA vs. MAYA WORLD – Four-way for TBS Title
The bell rang 46 minutes into the hour. They cut a double-box break at 3:00 after non-stop action. [c/db]
After Statlander kipped up. Shida speared her. Maya then countered a Statlander set up for a Saturday Night Ferver with a victory for the win.
WINNER: Maya World in 10:00 to retain the TBS Title
-A vignette aired with The Brawling Birds challenging Divine Dominion to come at them as hard as they can because they’ll have tens of thousands of drunken Brits calling for them to take their heads off.
White made his entrance first. Then they showed The Death Riders backstage as Mox made his way through a back corridor where Marina Sharif slapped him to get him psyched up. The camera followed Mox to the ring.
[HOUR TWO]
-They cut backstage to Renee who was commenting on the Continental Cup. She pointed out Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly were standing near her, keeping a close eye on the match.
(3) JAY WHITE vs. JON MOXLEY – Continental Cup Tournament quarterfinal match
Excalibur said Mox has never defeated White before, but White has defeated Moxley twice including in the G1 and Continental Classic. Taz said White is renting space in Moxley’s head. Schiavone said there is plenty of videotape that Mox can study. Taz asked if it was 1982 due to his use of the term “videotape.” (Tony should’ve given Taz a hard time for messing up the line “living in his head rent-free.”) The bell rang 2 minutes into the hour. After some back and forth action, they cut to a partial double-box break at 2:00. [c/pdb]
They battled at ringside during the break. They exchanged strikes mid-ring after the break. The announcers hyped Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston this Saturday on Collision. White was going to fling himself onto Mox at ringside, but Mox stepped away. Excalibur differentiated the rules of the Continental Cup compared to the Continental Classic. Schiavone acknowledged a “This is awesome!” chant.
White tossed Mox into the corner and then scored a two count. They cut to another double-box break at 11:00. [c/db]
Mox side-stepped a charing White and then dove through the ropes onto White. He sold a dislocated shoulder and jabbed it into the side of the ring. Back in thering, Mox leaped off the top rope, but White ducked and landed a cut-throat suplex. He followed with two more. Mox stood and charged at White, but White drove his head into the mat face-first. Mox countered and rolled White into a Bulldog Choke. White escaped and hit a fourth cut-throat suplex. He followed with a uranage for a near fall at 16:00.
White landed a superplex next. White winced and took a few seconds to capitalize. He signaled for his BladeRunner, but Mox blocked it and head-butted White. Mox applied a sleeper, but White leveraged Mox’s shoulders down for a dramatic near fall. White then hit a Blade Runner for a near fall. Mox gator rolled White into a choke and then pivoted into a Bulldog Choke. White stood so Mox shfited to a Death Rider for a dramatic near fall that popped the crowd. He applied a sleeper next and the ref called for the bell.
WINNER: Moxley in 19:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really strong match between those two that had the crowd engaged throughout and peaking at the end. There was some brushing off of big moves, especially by Moxley, that felt a bit much, if I were to point out a weakness.)
-Afterward, Mox waited for White to stand. Excalibur said that had to be a monkey off Mox’s back. David Finlay and Clark Connors attacked White just as Mox and Shafir left the ring. O’Reilly and Orange ran out for the save. Gabe Kidd then jumped into the ring attacked Cassidy and O’Reilly. Excalibur noted he was wrestling in the G1. Strong ran out to even things, but he got speared in a high/low by Connors and Finlay. Brody King, Bandido, and “Hangman” Adam Page came out and entered the ring. The heel trio bailed out. Taz said that was smart of them. Hangman said to Finlay, “Nice boots, dumbass.” Ricochet led his cohorts out accompanied by Jay White and the Lethal Twist.
Hangman said there is no way they’re going to miss Wembley, so he asked if anyone wanted to step up to challenge them. He challenged them meet them under the Wembley arch at dusk because the Trios Champs will be waiting.
-Renee interviewed Maya backstage who was proud of her win. Willow said she told her if she beat Thekla for her title, she’d get the first title shot, so she offered it to her on Saturday. Willow said she wanted to address Mercedes Mone, but World interrupted and said it could be her going to Wembley to face Mercedes. Willow said, somewhat patronizingly, that she’s sure she’d bring her best.
-Jonathan Cruz stood mid-ring and said he is MJF’s personal translator. He said MJF sent him out there to remind all of them and Andrade how little he thinks of them. He said Andrade will never be the “real world champion.” He said Andrade isn’t even a real Latino man. He said he is more Latino and way nore guapo. He said if he were in Baltimore, he’d beat him up, but he’s not there. He said he’s a coward, which is why MJF will always be better than him. As he left the ring, Andrade’s music played and he came out. Justin Roberts introduced the match.
(4) ANDRADE vs. JONATHAN CRUZ
Andrade destroyed Cruz in seconds.
WINNER: Andrade in under 15 seconds.
-Andrade then addressed MJF and called him to the ring, getting bleeped over and over. MJF’s music played. Fans popped. MJF showed up on the big screen in an outdoor hot tub. He laughed and said he wasn’t there with the poors. He said he is big Hebrew and he has big influence. He said he found out Andrade would be in Baltimore, so he decided not to be. He said he’ll make him regret messing with the one true champion. Andrade turned and went back to attacking Cruz.
-Renee conducted an interview with Willow and Mercedes. but they weren’t in the same room so it was a split-screen situation. The acoustics weren’t great as they insulted each other. Willow said Mercedes has worked her whole life to be perfect with her hair and ring outfits, but she’s not anyone’s prototype. She said fans have seen her highs and lows, and also watched her win the AEW Title. She said star power won’t be enough to beat her. Mercedes said Willow was standing over her smiling in Japan when her career almost ended. She said she threw cake in her face. She asked if that’s the true Willow everyone loved so much. She told her to keep smiling and called her “a dumb bitch” and vowed to take away her smile at Wembley. Willow left the screen. Mercedes said she’d meet her in the hall. She attacked Willow and then dragged her to the entrance area. They fought in front of the fans and then into the ring where security and officials separated them. Willow broke free and fans cheered. Security eventually dragged Mercedes to the stage. Willow laughed at her from the ring.
-Backstage, Prince Nana asked if he heard Hangman correctly. Then the camera panned to Swerve who asked if he said “anyone” could challenge for the tag team titles. Swerve said, “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” Nana asked, “Whose house?” Fans yelled, “Swerve’s House!”
(5) NIGEL MCGUINNESS vs. HECHICERO – Continental Cup Tournament quarterfinal match
Nigel McGuinness made his ring entrance. Excalibur noted his limp. Renee said she talked to Nigel who said it’s not 100 percent but he’s determined to make it to Wembley. Excalibur said he was seen walking backstage with a special boot. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Nigel tore at Hechicero’s mask early. Hechicero took over and went after Nigel’s ankle. They cut to a double box break at 3:00. [c/db]
They exchanged chops mid-ring. They took turns on offense, mostly with mat holds and counters. Nigel eventually caught a charging Hechicero with a knee to the head and then applied a front chancery submission for the win. They showed Nigel being helped by two officials as he couldn’t put weight on his ankle as tried to walk away from the ring.
WINNER: Nigel in 10:00 to advance.
[OVERRUN]
-Excalibur hyped Kingston vs. Claudio and O’Reilly vs. Cassidy as the remaining quarter-final matches in the Continental Cup tournament. Then he shifted to hyping Kevin Knight vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Title at All In with a video package.
-Schiavone interviewed Kevin Knight about facing Darby Allin at All In in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Knight yanked the mic away and told Schiavone to leave because he was uncomfortable with is questions. He said he’s not a young boy anymore, but is a grown ass man. He said he is the greatest TNT Champion of all time. He called Darby to the ring. Darby came out. Knight said he isn’t going to fight him for free, so he’s safe to come to the ring. Pyro then blasted and swarmed Darby. Excalibur said it was either the luckiest pyro malfunction in history of Don Callis orchestrated something. Knight ran up to Darby in the aisle as Darby was reeling. He dragged him into the ring, hung him upside down, and then wedged a chair against his head. He then hit a Coast to Coast. Knight left as medics checked on Darby. Sting’s son, Steven Borden, was at ringside checking on Darby as he was put in a neck brace. Darby said, “Oh shit! Oh f—!” and moaned as he was strapped to a back brace. Fans chanted “Darby! Darby!” as he was wheeled to the back. [c]
-Backstage, Knight approached Darby and told him to stay in his lane. Borden was holding Darby’s hand and protecting him. Doc Sampson said they didn’t have time for this and called for Darby to be wheeled away.
(Keller’s Analysis: The inclusion of Sting’s son is intriguing. Does he battle Knight next week or is this setting up something else down the line after All In?)
(6) THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) & KENNY OMEGA vs. EL CLON & MARK DAVIS & JAKE DOYLE
Doyle, Davis, and El Clon came out first. The Young Bucks made their entrance next. Then they showed Ospreay with heated words for Omega backstage as Omega was making his way to the ring. The bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Omega and The Bucks hit a triple running dive onto three heels perfectly positioned and waiting to be dummy tackled ta 8:00. Omega slapped fans’ hands at ringside. Omega landed a Snap Dragon in the ring on Doyle and then Davis. The Bucks and Omega triple superkicked Doyle seonds later. The Bucks dove onto Clon and Davis at ringside. Omega then landed a V-Trigger against Doyle who was in 619 position on the middle rope. He followed up with a One-Winged Angel for the win.
WINNERS: Omega & The Bucks in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Bookending the show with Ospreay and Omega each winning six-man tag matches was a fine formula for the penultimate Dynamite before All In. The match was exactly what you’d expect.)
-Other Don Callis Family members ran out and attacked Omega and The Bucks. Adam Copeland ran to the ring to made the save as his music played. Christian Cage stepped out and surveyed from the entrance stage. He finally ran into the ring and helped clear it of the heels. He gave Trent Beretta a low kick. The Bucks mistakenly superkicked Christian when Trent ducked. Copeland accused Matt and Nick of it not being a mistake. Davis attacked the Bucks. Everyone brawled to the back other than Omega.
Ospreay’s music played and he walked out. He asked Omega what he wanted to say to him since before the match, he told him he wanted to talk after the match. “What have you got to say to me after you brought up my seven year old son, you prick!” he said. Omega said he only had one thing to say. “Security, get his ass out of here right now. Right now!” he said. Schiavone said he’s a vice president of AEW so he can do it. Omega called Ospreay a “little English bitch” and then did a cartoon villain laugh. He said he didn’t want to see him until Wembley. Ospreay said, “I’m going to kick the shit out of him.” Ospreay turned and charged into teh ring. Security pulled Ospreay off of Omega, but as securitiy held him, Omega hit a V-Trigger.
Omega bent down and told Ospreay he had one last lesson to teach him. He told Ospreay to take one last look at the belt. He called him a son of a bitch three times. Taz said Omega has snapped. Schiavone said he had a wild look in his eyes. Omega then gave Ospreay a One-Winged Angel off the ring apron through a table at ringside.
(Keller’s Analysis: That last spot felt like they were gambling with the main event of All In if someone got hurt on the landing. I don’t like Omega going full asshole this week. It just doens’t match who he has been in prior weeks and feels more like a wrestling angle than anything sprouting from their authentic selves in this situation. Maybe it’s to try to spark ticket sales with a traditional heel-face dynamic turned up to 11, but I think there was a way to do it more subtly and with less cartoon villain injected into Omega’s persona.)
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 Dan Kuester 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.
VIP VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/f6ugyjpmia
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
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