Real Reason AEW Champion Was Forced To Miss Dynamite

One AEW champion was forced to miss Dynamite, and the reason for their absence has now been revealed.

AEW continued its residency in the 2300 Arena with Dynamite, which saw a huge return take place with one star who has been absent for over a year returning to issue a title challenge to Mercedes Mone.

The AEW Tag Team Championship was also on the line as Brodido defended the gold they won at Forbidden Door against the Death Riders’ Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta. Bandido and Brody King retained their gold in the hard-fought match that saw Darby Allin continue his relentless vendetta against Jon Moxley at ringside.

The main event saw The Young Bucks team with Kyle Fletcher and Josh Alexander to defeat Hangman Adam Page, Kenny Omega, and JetSpeed. After the match, Fletcher drove Omega through a table with a vicious brainbuster, with Omega being stretchered out of the arena as a result.

AEW Champions Misses Dynamite

The show also saw HOOK come face-to-face with Samoa Joe and Powehouse Hobbs of The Opps. HOOK had been part of the group but was injured before Hobbs was drafted in to join Joe and Katsuyori Shibata to win the AEW Trios Title.

HOOK took issue with being replaced by Hobbs, but Joe told him that they had an opportunity, and The Opps had to step up. Joe also noted that, whether he likes it or not, HOOK will need their help at some point, and they’ll always have his back before HOOK stormed off.

Katsuyori Shibata was notable by his absence during the segment, and on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed why Shibata was forced to miss Dynamite:

Shibata was not there because he was in Japan for the Takayamania show. It’s the benefit show for Yoshihiro Takayama and that’s why he was not on the show tonight.

Yoshihiro Takayama is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion who was paralysed in the ring during a DDT show in May 2017. Takayama remains paralysed from the shoulders down to this day.

DDT and Takayama’s close friend and former tag team partner Minoru Suzuki launched the Takayamania foundation to help raise funds for his medical costs and family.