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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
ATHENS, GA. AT AKINS FORD ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 2,235 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 2,702. The arena has a capacity of 8,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Chris Lansdell 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]
-A graphic noted The Butcher (Andy Williams) died.
-Excalibur introduced the show and said they’d be focused on Rebel and raising awareness of ALS. He sat next to Taz and Tony Schiavone and hyped the scheduled matches, noting the tables match would be the main event. A heart graphic that said, “Rebel Heart” accompanied the graphics advertising the matches.
-They went to “The Waiting Room” with Rebel sitting in a waiting room set and introducing Britt Baker as she used to. Baker danced in. She called her “Reba!” Baker said his fight and strength and spirit inspires all of them. Rebel said, “It’s Rebel.” Baker caller her “Reba” again and then introduced Persephone, calling her “Percy” for short. Persephone thanked Baker for helping her “save this division, because it was a catastrophe.” Rebel nodded.
When Persephone mentioned Thunder Rosa, Rebel and Baker snarled. Baker introduced Hikaru Shida. She told Baker that she should thank her for breaking her nose because it looks a lot better. They cut to Rebel who laughed at Baker’s expense. Baker led her wrestlers out of the room. Rebel held up Baker’s glove, indicating Baker might need it.
(1) THE NEW LEVEL (Austin Creed & Kofi) & SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana) vs. THE CONGRLOMERATION (Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) – AEW Trios Title match
The Conglomeration made their entrance first. Then Swerve and Nana. And finally The New Level. The bell rang 9 minutes into the hour as fans chanted “New Lev-el! New Lev-El!” Excalibur noted Kofi and Cassidy had never squared up before in any match. Cassidy outwitted Kofi by leaping over his attempts to sweep his legs. Austin and O’Reilly tagged in against each other next. Strong overhead tossed Cassidy into Austin. They cut to a double-box break at 6:00. [c/db]
Austin made a comeback against O’Reilly after the break. Kofi got the hot-tag and leaped off the top rope and forearmed Strong in the head. Kofi played to the crowd after a flurry of moves. He landed the Boom Drop. Strong ducked Kofi’s kick and landed a backbreaker. Strong catapulted Swerve over the top rope. He landed head-first on the ring apron, but recovered nicely, landing on his feet. He held Strong out and then Kofi landed a stomp. Kofi then leaped onto Strong off the tp rope back in the ring. Austin landed a top rope elbowdrop. Cassidy broke up the cover slo-mo style, but it was effective.
Cassidy tagged just as Kofi tagged in. Kofi, Austin, and Swerve landed rapid-fire moves against Cassidy. Cassidy caught Swerve with a Slum Dog Millionaire. More chaos followed with O’Reilly taking the worst of a sequence of double-team moves. Cassidy held Kofi and Austin in headlocks and then slo-mo kicked Swerve. That made Swerve angry. Cassidy knocked him to the floor and then landed a flying DDT onto the floor. Everyone battled at ringside. Kofi and Austin eventually landed Daybreak on Cassidy for the win.
WINNERS: New Level & Swerve in 16:00 to retain the AEW Trios Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: The AEW crowd was really into New Level, which is a good sign for them that they’re seen as a stale, kiddie act from the enemy. Their social media presence has helped establish them as genuine AEW-friendly wrestlers. The action was wild and entertaining throughout.)
-The Demand stepped out afterward with Jay Lethal and his Lethal Twist crew. Ricochet issued some gripes and then said they were heading to the ring. New Level and Swerve held their ground. “Hangman” Page, Brody King, and Bandido ran out to even the odds. The heels retreated to the back.
-Backstage, Darby Allin and Steven Borden were standing backstage in a tarped off area. Borden said he’s stepping up now because he got pulled into something that he was running from his entire life. He said he didn’t want to look back in 30 years and ask “what if?” or run right into what scares him. He said he then made a call to Darby, the most fearless person he knows. Darby said the Don Callis Family doesn’t believe he’s ready for this. He said he’s not the second coming of Sting, he’s the first Steven Borden.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s disarming in terms of having fans reject him to have second-generation Borden be humble and unsure and have Darby be the person giving him a vote of confidence.)
-Schiavone, Excalibur, and Taz reacted solemnly to the death of The Butcher, Andy Williams. Excalibur’s voice cracked as he read a statement about how much he meant to him. “We are worse off without Andy and we are significantly better off for having had him at all.” He said it breaks their hearts, but death cannot tear them apart. [c]
-Renee Paquette interviewed Mark Davis and Josh Alexander backstage about their match tonight. ALexander said he’s been on the shelf for five months and he has something to prove. Davis spoke briefly and vowed to decimate. Then camera panned over to Don Callis, Kyle Fletcher, and Kevin Knight who talked about their tables match later against The Young Bucks. Knight asked Callis what it means if they beat the Bucks tonight. Kazuchika Okada stepped in and smiled in a smarmy exaggerated way and told Fletcher he’s happy he finally sees the value in family. Fletcher smiled.
(2) PERSEPHONE & BRIT BAKER & HIKARU SHIDA vs. THUNDER ROSA & MAYA WORLD & HYAN
The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Taz said he would like to see Baker and Rosa go at it. Persephone landed a powerslam at 3:00 for a two count. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Rosa rallied against Shida and Persephone, running at each of them in opposite corners with kicks. Baer hit her from behind. Rosa no-sold it. Persephone grabbed Rosa. Shida went for a kick, but Rosa moved. Persephone caught Shida’s leg and said “Not again.” Baker broke up a cover by Maya on Shida. Shida officially tagged in Baker to zero pop. Shida landed a top rope meteora on Hyan. Baker landed a neckbreaker on Hyan.
Baker squared off with Rosa. Baker retreated to ringside. Rosa chased her. Persephone speared a running Rosa at ringside. Maya hit a celebrating Persephone with a top rope crossbody. Shida then landed a leaping knee at ringside. Rebel drove her wheelchair to ringside and delivered Baker her black glove. Baker got emotional as she took the glove. Fans chanted “Rebel!” Baker put on the glove, but Hyan rolled her up. Baker slipped free and then applied the Lock Jaw with the black glove for the win. Schiavone called it “a wonderful moment.” Baker sat on Rebel’s lap and dorve her to the stage. Rebel and Baker cried as fans chanted “Rebel!”
WINNERS: Baker & Shida & Persephone in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s too bad the heel-face alignment was so misaligned with the spirit of the night. It really messed with the crowd engagment. I twas relaly cool to see Rebel in such good spirits getting to participate like that. Baker was very limited in what she did.)
-A video tribute aired on the history of Baker and Rebel’s backstroy. Rebel in a current soundbite said AEW changed her life and she’ll be grateful forever. Tony Khan said ALS affects one in every 100 people. Different AEW wrestlers spoke about raising awareness. She said she noticed symptoms in 2024 but wasn’t diagnosed until 2026. She said research can help find out why that’s happening and why raising awareness is so vital. They showed the ice water challenge. Rebel said, “We’re almost there. We can do it!”
(Keller’s Analysis: Very well done. Justin Roberts appeared to be the only one who poured just ice on him instead of icey water. Does he melt if drenched in actual water?)
-Excalibur hyped upcoming matches. [c]
-A vignette aired on Andrade.
[HOUR TWO]
(3) ANDRADE vs. THE BEAST MORTOS – National Title
Renee did a ringside report. She said Andrade has vowed to defend his National Title every week to become the greatest National Champion and set the standard, while also holding onto his AEW World Title shot to use at the right moment. The bell rang 2 minutes into the hour. Andrade fended off an early attack and took Mortos down with a springboard headscissors over the top rope to ringside. He leaned back against the barricade as two women rubbed his chest and took a selfie with him. Mortos took over and knocked Andrade to ringside and then landed a tornado bodypress thorugh the ropes. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Andrade landed a spinning back elbow and and his double underhook neckbreaker for the win.
WINNER: Andrade in 8:00 to retain the National Title.
-Andrade cut a promo in the ring afterward and said he is the real Latino man. David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gabe Kidd attacked Andrade. Will Ospreay ran out and cleared the ring of The Dogs. Jon Moxley then m ade his way to the ring with Marina Shafir. He walked past Gabe Kidd and shot him a stern look.
(4) WILL OSPREAY vs. DAVID FINLEY
The bell rang 14 minutes into the hour. Moxley joined in on commentary as Andrade fought Connors to the back. Taz gave Mox credit for helping Ospreay. Mox said he didn’t want to take credit for anything. Osprey clotheslined Finaly over the top rope and then flung himself over the top rope onto him. As he eyed Mox at ringside, they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Mox said Ospreay fit in well with the Death Riders. “He wants to live it, embody it like The Death Riders do.” He said he’s intrinsically motivated and is the real thing. Mox touted Finlay’s training at the New Japan Dojo. He said there they leave no room for error. He said it’s crisp and effective, even if it’s dirty. Ospreay scored a near fall at 8:00. He signaled for the Hidden Blade next. Finlay rolled to the ring apron. Ospreay went after him, but Finlay snapped his neck over the top rope and scored a two count. They took turns hitting moves. Ospreay gave Finlay a Styles Clash to get the clean win. Afterward, Mox stood and eyed Ospreay, then left through the crowd.
WINNER: Ospreay in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m not sure who has more positive things to say about Ospreay, his mother or his next World Title challenger Moxley.)
-Renee interviewed Hangman, Bandido, and Brody King. She asked if they’re still in the hunt for the Trios Titles.Brody asked Hangman where he’s at. Hangman said to be honest, he helped then out in a fight and next thing he knew they were Trios Champions. He said didn’t anticipate that, but he needed it. He said if it’s cool with them, he’d like to stay a trio. Bandido feigned thinking about them, then exclaimed, “Of course!”
Announced Matches & Other Notes
- Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay – AEW World Championship Eliminator match
- Kyle Fletcher & Kevin Knight vs. Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) – Tables match
- Darby Allin & Steven Borden vs. Mark Davis & Josh Alexander
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