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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. AT FISHERS EVENT CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 2,715 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,158. The arena has a capacity of 7,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
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NOTE: We’ll be going live during the third hour portion, shortly after the official two-hour-plus Dynamite portion ends.
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Jerud Buhagiar to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Joi n us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
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 opened with a wide shot of the ring, stage, and fans. They went to ringside where Excalibur introduced the show alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz. They ran through the planned matches.
-A soundbite aired with The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, Toa Leona) about the opening match. Ricochet said they would enter All Out as the AEW Trios Champions. Kaun said Swerve and New Level aren’t even a real trios team. Liona yelled really loud.
-Then a soundbite aired with Prince Nana, The New Level, and Swerve Strickland who all discussed the match. Austin Creed asked Swerve if it’s true that he was with Leona and Kaun until Christian Cage paid them to beat him up, and then he had an arena of people throwing toilet paper at Ricochet until he got mad enough to stab him with scissors. Swerve said that did happen. Kofi said it’s part of the past, but they’re beating The Demand tonight. Kofi then asked if this is the same Bandido whose friends he hunted down and beat up in a saloon and if it’s the same Brody King he bloodied up and choked with a chain. Austin asked Swerve if before they showed up if he had any friends in AEW. Swerve thought about it and couldn’t name anyone and looked uncomfortable. Then he heard his music and smiled and headed to the ring.
(1) SWERVE STRICKLAND & THE NEW LEVEL (Austin Creed & Kofi w/Prince Nana) vs. THE DEMAND (Ricochet & Toa Leona & Bishop Kaun) – AEW Trios Title match
Taz said he likes how Swerve rolls as far as not having friends and he respects that. Schiavone said that’s the right philosophy in this business because it’s all about winning. The bell rang 8 minutes into the hour. Schiavone noted New Level had been together as a team since 2014. Kofi charged into the ropes. In one of the strangest scenes you’ll ever see in pro wrestling, Ricochet pulled down on the MIDDLE rope for some reason, and Kofi had to pretend that affected the top rope and he tumbled over the top rope, although it was obvious he did it to himself. The Demand took control. Toa choked Austin as they cut to a break at 4:00. [c/db]
Toa knocked Austin over the announce desk. Swerve caught a charging Toa with a kick at ringside. Swerve yelled, “Whose house?” Ricochet flip-dove over the ringpost onto Swerve at ringside. Fans chanted, “Holy shit!” Ricochet leaped off the ringside barricade and clotheslined Swerve as Toa and Bishop had him lifted.
Back in the ring, Austin kicked Ricochet. Both were down and slow to get up. Austin crawled toward Kofi and made the tag at 11:00. Toa and Bishop double-teamed Kofi for an extended stretch as the ref half-heartedly indicated she wasn’t pleased but as always there was no teeth to her protests.
Ricochet dove onto Austin at ringside. Meanwhile, Toa and Bishop double-teamed Kofi in the ring leading to a two count. Ricochet then gave Kofi a 630 splash off the top rope for a two count. Swerve knocked Ricochet off of Kofi, who lifted his shoulder. Kofi crawled over and tagged in Austin.
A minute later, Toa no-sold a flatliner from Swerve. Swerve looked up like he was seeing a ghost. Austin gave Toa a flatliner, but again Toa no-sold it. Swerve kicked Toa. Austin gave Toa a DDT. Toa rolled right into position for Swerve to land a 450 splash on him. Ricochet broke up the cover with his own 450 onto Swerve. Everyone was down and slow to get up.
Austin lifted Toa onto his shoulders and delivered a fireman’s carry takeover (AA). Bishop gave Austin a faceplant. Swerve kicked Bishop. Ricohet got involved, but Kofi kicked him. Tofi and Toa battled. Swerve leaped and kicked Toa into a House Call and then Kofi and Austin leaped onto Swerve’s back as he had Toa covered for a three count. “It took a village, my man,” said Taz.
WINNERS: New Level & Swerve in 18:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A largely thoroughly entertaining match, but it should officially be designated a Torado Tag Rules situation as there was zero adherence to any semblance of tag rules, which made the times that they did do hot-tags seem silly since tags weren’t actually necessary. Then you have three people covering one person, which typically isn’t allowed since only one person is legal, but whatever.)
-“Hangman” Adam Page, Brody King, and Bandido came out to address The New Level & Swerve about facing them at All Out. Hangman said they don’t seem to realize who they have gotten involved with. Some fans yelled, “Who?! Who?!” New Day-style. Hangman asked Swerve what he was doing with tag partners. Austin said what he is doing is teaming with the greatest tag team of all time and making sure the Trios Titles are the most prestigeous in all of pro wrestling. He said Swerve is a changed man. Swerve sorta undercut that by smirking at Hangman. Kofi said Swerve has been nothing but cool since they got there. Brody King said it’s only been three weeks. Fans laughed. Hangman said, “Give it time and Swerve is going to show you who he is.”
Swerve told Hangman it’s only a matter of time before he abandons Brody and Bandido like he did to him. He said two years ago, in Chicago, the whole world saw who he truly is. He said he is no better or different than him. Brody said despite what’s going on with those two, six of the best in AEW will fight to “represent the Trios Division the way it was always intended.” He said they’d also see if three weeks was along enough for them to keep those belts. Bandido yelled in Spanish and then said those titles are the Most Wanted. They had a staredown and exchanged words to close the segment.
-Renee Paquette interviewed Will Ospreay and “Speedball” Mike Bailey along with Francesco Akira,. Ospreay said he asked Speedball to team with him tonight to face Gabe Kidd and Claudio Castagnoli. Speedball complimented his win at Wembley Stadium. He said his last partnership didn’t end well. Ospreay said this will go better. Akira was about to talk in Italian. Ospreay told Speedball he’s trying to get him to talk in English. Ospreay covered Akira’s mouth so he didn’t swear in English again this week. [c]
-A promo with Thekla aired. She said inside of everyone there are two bitches. There’s the dumb bitch whose into loveliness and kindness, and there’s the real bitch who will sink her teeth into your neck and never let go. She asked if she needs to tell Willow which kind she is. She mockingly said Willow is into the children. She said she’s going to be nice tonight, but on Saturday, it’s going to get all toxic.
(2) JON MOXLEY vs. DESMOND XAVIER – AEW Continental Title Eliminator match
Moxley made his way past fellow members of The Death Riders and then headed to the ring. Renee did a report at ringside talking about the momentum of Xavier. Xavier then made his entrance, joined briefly on the stage by his Rascalz partner, Zachary Wentz. The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Mox kicked Xavier at 3:00 and they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
After some back and forth action, Xavier hit Mox with a Meteora for a two count. Mox powered out and immediately sat up and put Xavier into a sleeper for the win.
WINNER: Moxley in 10:00.
-Renee interviewed Darby Allin and Steven Borden backstage about facing Kyle Fletcher & Kevin Knight at All Out. Adam Copeland walked up to them and said he asked Christian to stay out of this so it doesn’t get volatile. He said he watched Collision and saw them say they want a shot at the tag titles if they win at All Out. Copeland said he appreciates Borden reaching for the stars, but now he’s reaching for legends. He said Darby climbed Mt. Everest, but coming after both him and Christian, that’s like climbing two Mt. Everests. Darby said, “Challenge accepted.” Copeland said, “Careful what you wish for.” [c]
-The Young Bucks made their entrance. Four chairs were set up in the ring, one in each corner. FTR and Stokely Hathaway then made their entrance. Then Christian and Copeland made their entrance. Schiavone said they were the team that brought ladders into the vernacular for wrestling fans.
NOTE: We’ll be going live with our YouTube post-show during the third hour portion, shortly after the official two-hour-plus Dynamite portion ends.
[HOUR TWO]
Stokely began by saying they had nothing left to say and the only reason they’re there is so they don’t get fined by “the greatest boss in the world” Tony Khan. “So wrap this shit up; we’ve got things to do.”
Matt Jackson said that all adds up because when it comes to this match on Saturday, FTR are the Dudley Boyz. Nick Jackson said they have something to say. He said they beat them at revolution and Copeland & Christian beat them at All In. He said their name is The Young Bucks, but they’re not getting any younger. He said if this is their last opportunity, they’re going to fight hard to become the first four-time AEW Tag Team Champions.
Christian said this will be their last opportunity. He said they are one-time tag team champions in AEW “and that’s the way it’s going to stay.” He said they are generational greats. He told the Bucks he’s looking forward to meeting their mother in Chicago. Copeland yanked the mic away and said, “Enough, alright? You’ve got issues.” Copeland then said he’s sick of them talking about becoming four-time tag champs, disregarding the legends who stand before them. He said they have been in over 40 goddamn ladder matches (he was bleeped). He said they are still standing. He said they’ve made a career of jumping off of ladders.
Matt said everything he just said was true “if it were the year 1999.” He said the last time he saw him jump off of something high, he crippled himself for almost a year. They stepped toward each other. Dax stepped up too. All three teams began to fight. The Bucks got the better of the battle. Security ran out and stopped the Bucks from doing a double-team move off a ladder on FTR. Nick leaped off the ladder onto a gathering security guys as Matt superkicked one of them. Cash slammed another security guy through a table. Security took chairs away from Christian and Copeland. Copeland then gave a security guy a Conchairto. They cut to a wide-eyed Stokely at ringside.
(Keller’s Analysis: Well, that got stupid at the end really quickly. It felt like a summit of big-time tag teams and then it resorted to a ridiculous over-the-top beatdown of security guards as the announcers acted like it was just fun violence and not an aggregiously uncalled for assault on hourly workers hired by Tony Khan to keep things from getting out of hand. The “beating up security” trope went away in recent months, but it was back as low-level hack nonsense here.)
-Renee interviewed Willow backstage. Willow said her hand is getting better. She said last time she wrestled Thekla, she hadn’t even been World Champion yet and she still beat her. She said now she’s had a taste of that title and it’s made her more dangerous.
(Keller’s Analysis: Willow’s talking there wasn’t as syrupy as was typical of her in the past, but the inflection and cadence still resembles a dramatic poetry reading. It just feels performative with every sentence segment or word over-emphasized in an odd, unnatural way. It’s just not how people talk in real life and I doubt it’s how she talks in regular conversations, either.)
(3) JAKE DOYLE (w/Don Callis) vs. TOMMASO CIAMPA
As Doyle made his entrance, Renee filed a report from the crowd. She relayed Tommaso Ciampa’s thoughts on his match at All Out. The bell rang 10 minutes into the hour. Ciampa knocked Doyle off the ring apron seconds in with a running knee. Back in the ring, Doyle blocked a charging Ciampa. Fans had been chanting “Psycho Killer!” Doyle slammed Ciampa onto a chair at ringside at 3:00 and then they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
At 6:00, Ciampa landed a Psycho Driller for a two count. A few minutes later, Doyle knocked Ciampa hard into the ringside barricade and then repeatedly bashed his head into it. Doyle set up a piledriver at ringside, but Ciampa resisted. Back in the ring, Ciampa caught Doyle with a knee and then charged with another knee to the face for the win.
WINNER: Ciampa in 9:00.
-Afterward, Excalibur noted Ciampa was holding his shoulder and said it could factor into his match against Kazuchika Okada on Saturday night. Ciampa addressed Callis briefly, then he said in 2018 he and Okada lived on different islands and the entire wrestling world asked “What if?” He said it’s 2026 and they no longer have to ask, “What if?” He said they live on the same island now.
He told Okada to bring his ass out there now rather than wait until Saturday in Chicago. Okada stepped out in a suit. He said Ciampa asked for him, but he has bad news for him. He said he won’t get The Rainmaker tonight. He mock cried and said, “I’m so sorry!” He said he will kick his ass on Saturday and show the world he isn’t at his level, “bitch.” Fans laughed. Okada laughed. Callis smiled. Fans chanted, “Okada!” Ciampa said he thinks he was losing his hearing. He said if he thinks he’s scared of him, he has another thing coming. He said he’ll get a version of the Psycho Killer they’ve never seen before and he’s taking his International Title. He closed by calling him “bitch.”
(4) PERSEPHONE (w/Brit Baker) vs. HYAN – TBS Title match
Baker joined in on commentary. She said she wasn’t sure how to pronounce Hyan’s name and said it sounded like a pharmaceutical drug. Taz said Schiavone, at his age, knows about that. The bell rang 29 minutes into the hour. Schiavone said they hope Maya World gets well soon. Regarding Hyan, Baker said “it’s cute that the crowd likes her.” [c/db]
They exchanged late near falls. Persephone eventually scored a three count by holding onto the bottom rope.
WINNER: Persephone in 8:00.
(5) WILL OSPREAY & “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI & GABE KIDD
Ospreay and Speedball made their entrance first. Moxley joined in on commentary. Marina Shafir stood next to him. The bell rang 46 minutes into the hour. Ospreay and Claudio battled at ringside as Speedball got the better of Kidd. They cut to a break at 5:00 with the heel duo in control. [c/db]
Ospreay and Speedball took over after the break. Claudio clotheslined Speedball over the top rope. Ospreay scored a two count on Claudio with a victory roll. Claudio gave Ospreay a giant swing, but Ospreay turned it into a DDT and then landed a Styles Clash for a clean three count.
WINNERS: Ospreay & Speedball in 13:00.
[HOUR THREE]
-Ospreay addressed the crowd afterward and he thanked the fans and said it was an honor to be their World Champion. Fans applauded. He said as long as AEW has been alive, so has Moxley. They cut to Mox listening intently at the announce desk.
Oay said he wanted to say something to Moxley. “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for the guidance. Thank you for being the ace. And thank you for breaking me. Because of that, I am the man I am today.” He said the thing he learned from him that will most stick with him is that the belt is what it is all about. He said he risked his life for that because of what it represents. He said he is there to represent for the next generation. He said Mox has just been dropped in the water with a great white shark because this time he is the champion and Mox is the challenger.
Mox stood and headed into the ring as fans sang “Ospreay, Ospreay…” Mox asked Ospreay if looking across the ring at him, he feels like the champion. Kidd came up behind Ospreay, but was pretty clunky in his stealthness. Ospreay took him down easily and then turned back to Mox. “Do I feel like the champion?” he told Ospreay. “You’re damn f—ing right I feel like the champion.” He was bleeped. He dropped the mic and kept his death stare aimed at Mox. Mox rolled out of the ring and gathered himself next to Shafir. He nodded with manufactured confidence.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good alpha serious promo from Ospreay there.)
NOTE: Joshua White takes over coverage of the third hour, AEW Collision, so check out that link on the main page.
NOTE: We’ll be going live with our YouTube post-show during the third hour portion, shortly after the official two-hour-plus Dynamite portion ends.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
NOTE: We’ll be going live during the third hour portion, shortly after the official two-hour-plus Dynamite portion ends.
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Jerud Buhagiar to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Joi n us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
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/cvrpmq6hh2
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).
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
