The John Report: AEW Dynamite 06/03/26 Review
This is AEW Dynamite, featuring MJF facing Rush, Kevin Knight battling Mike Bailey, and more.
I’ll do summary-style reviews for most of the show and play-by-play for one or two matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #348 from the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Tony Schiavone and Taz.
Rush was interviewed by Renee Paquette earlier in the day. Rush claimed he’s been waiting for three years for a shot at the AEW World Title, and finally, he’s got his shot. Rush said this is for his family and he’s going to become the AEW Champion. Rush did his catchphrase, so MJF walked up saying if you’re the bull, then that makes MJF the matador. MJF slapped Rush, and they got into a fight that officials and security quickly broke up.
Andrade El Idolo approached Rush backstage, saying he needs to do it for his family and show everybody who says they can’t be a World Champion.
AEW World Championship – No Countout Match: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Rush
A No Countout Match in AEW? The refs rarely count the wrestlers out of the ring when they are out of the ring. They should just call it a Street Fight or No Holds Barred.
MJF did an eye poke, and Rush came back with an overhead slam across the ring. Rush hit a somersault dive over the top onto MJF on the floor. Rush sent MJF into the barricade three times in a row. Rush choked MJF with a camera cable. The referee, Bryce Remsburg, said there are disqualifications and that the fighters go back into the ring. Rush charged and MJF hit a drop toe hold into the chair. MJF hit a running boot to the head. Rush gave MJF a back body drop on the floor and MJF hit a table that didn’t break. Rush took a turnbuckle pad off and threw it out of the ring. Rush smashed MJF with an elbow and kicks. Rush hit MJF with an elbow. The referee blocked Rush from sending MJF into the steel, so MJF took advantage and sent Rush face-first into the steel. The referee never saw it because Rush moved the referee out of the way. Rush did a blade job after hitting the steel, so MJF gouged the cut. MJF hit a spinebuster and then he punched Rush’s open wound on the forehead. Remsburg blocked MJF from using the steel, then Remsburg moved, and Rush shoved MJF face-first into the steel. Rush splashed MJF against the turnbuckle two times. Rush hit a German Suplex and a knee smash for two. Rush went up top and hit a missile dropkick for two. MJF countered a Rush move into a jackknife pin attempt. MJF stomped on Rush’s left arm and MJF hit a Powerbomb onto the knee for a two count. Rush went to the apron, MJF pulled on the left arm and Rush followed up with a headbutt to the jaw. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them. Rush gave MJF a piledriver on the ring apron. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
The show returned with Justin Roberts announcing that the medical staff claimed the wrestlers were unfit to continue, so Rush headbutted the doctor (or indy wrestler) at ringside. Rush was selling a left arm injury and hit a running dropkick known as The Horns for a two count because MJF got his right hand on the bottom rope. Rush wasn’t bleeding much at this point. Rush tried a lift, but his left arm was hurting too much. Rush took way too long to charge and went for a dropkick, but MJF moved, so Rush dropkicked the barricade. MJF gave Rush a Tombstone Piledriver on the broken piece of barricade, so MJF sold a left knee injury after delivering the move. Rush countered a Heatseeker and MJF was holding the left knee again. Rush went for a missile dropkick, but MJF moved. MJF trapped the left arm and pulled back on the face, but Rush stuck out his tongue and middle finger at MJF. The referee Remsburg checked on Rush, who sold it like he was passing out, so the referee called for the bell. It went about 19 minutes.
Winner by submission: MJF
Analysis: **** A great match as usual for MJF in a World Title match and Rush certainly is capable when he’s in a longer match like this. Rush did a nice job of selling the left arm injury throughout the match and it came into play for the finish, which is why the finish worked so well. MJF winning was the obvious result there. There was no way he was losing the AEW World Title here, but I like that it was a competitive match.
After the match, MJF had the World Title and he was going to attack, but Mark Briscoe made the save. Mark tried a move, so MJF kicked Mark in the groin. Other members of The Conglomeration – Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong and Tomohiro Ishii – ran out there to help Mark, so MJF left. Briscoe was in a match up next.
(Commercial)
Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush
The second Rush in a match on this show, and he’s a weird guy who rarely wins matches. Lio was whispering something to Mark, who was confused about it. Mark punched Lio out of the ring. Lio did his unique hopping around the ring. Mark hit a Blockbuster off the apron onto the floor. That led to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Lio kicked Mark out of the ring and hit an impressive suicide dive on the floor. Mark came back with a flipping slam off the top for a two count. Mark hit a lariat. Rush hit an impressive enziguri kick. Mark blocked a springboard move and Mark hit a Cutthroat Driver for the pinfall win after about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Mark Briscoe
Analysis: **3/4 It was a match with some comedy, with Lio Rush portraying a rare character in AEW. Obviously, Mark was going to get the win. That finisher looked good.
Mark Briscoe did a promo and spoke into a camera, saying he’s talking to MJF. Mark mentioned his brother, Jay Briscoe, died on January 17, 2023, in a car accident. A few hours later, it was Mark’s birthday and January 25th was his brother’s birthday. Instead of having a birthday cake, he made his AEW debut alone. Mark said AEW was his therapy, so it might have saved his life. Mark said he found The Conglomeration and he found the joy of being a pro wrestler. Mark said he crossed paths with MJF and he never hated a man like he hated MJF. Mark reminded MJF that he pinned him in the middle of this ring. Mark said MJF has the AEW World Title and Briscoe wants it. Mark said he goes to work every day and does his job. Mark said he wants MJF to prove he’s the best. Mark told MJF to give him a title shot and called him a “Moist Ass Bitch.” Mark’s music played to end it.
Analysis: I think Mark Briscoe makes a good case for deserving an AEW World Title match since he beat MJF in the past. It’s easy to like Mark Briscoe, who is a natural babyface.
A video aired about TNT Champion Kevin Knight’s recent heel turn, leading to his match against former partner “Speedball” Mike Bailey later in this week’s show.
The AEW Women’s World Champion, Thekla, made her entrance with her Triangle of Madness allies, Julia Hart and Skye Blue. They were in the crowd and walked down to ringside. Thekla mentioned Stardom and how she didn’t like the girls there. Thekla said she wants Blue to win the Women’s Owen Hart Cup and Julia Hart to win the TBS Title. Thekla said she’s declaring death to Stardom. Hart and Blue brought out a ladder, so Thekla climbed it and spat on the Stardom logo on the screens in the building.
Analysis: It’s a way to promote Forbidden Door by having Thekla go heel on Stardom due to his past when she was “fired” by the promotion. I’m not sure if the majority of AEW fans know Stardom wrestlers, but it should lead to Thekla against one of them or multiple women at Forbidden Door.
(Commercial)
Will Ospreay was backstage somewhere with the Death Riders. Moxley told Ospreay he can beat Mark Davis and he’ll do it. Moxley said this version of Ospreay has never wrestled Davis because he’s indestructible. Moxley told Ospreay to put his shoulders to the mat, break his arm and let Moxley worry about everything else. Moxley pointed at Will’s heart and said he’s starting to see it.
Analysis: Good pep talk by Moxley.
Andrade El Idolo vs. EK Vanity
Andrade took a photo with a pretty women at ringside. Andrade hit a back elbow to knock the dude down. Andrade hit The DM lifting neckbreaker for the pinfall win in under 1 minute.
Winner by pinfall: Andrade El Idolo
Analysis: Squash city.
After the match, Andrade did a promo saying that now that MJF has the AEW World Title, Andrade wants it. Andrae mentioned MJF beating Rush, but do you think you can beat MJF? Andrade: “How you know?” That’s his catchphrase.
Don Callis walked out to the ring with Jake Doyle and shook hands with Andrade, who is in the Don Callis Family. Callis introduced the newest member of the Don Callis Family, it’s the TNT Champion Kevin Knight. As Callis spoke, some of his teeth fell out of his mouth. Those damn dentures, I guess. Andrade didn’t seem impressed by the announcement.
Analysis: The Don Callis Family is way too big and it adds Kevin Knight, who was doing fine as a heel on his own. I know they kicked Konosuke Takeshita out, so putting Knight into the group is a way to fill the gap.
TNT Championship: Kevin Knight (w/Don Callis & Jake Doyle) vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Knight bailed to the floor early, so Bailey went after him and Knight sent Bailey into some objects on the floor. Knight and Bailey did a sequence where they kept on avoiding moves to show how well they know eachother. Knight clotheslined Bailey out of the ring. Bailey came back with a kick and a springboard corkscrew dive onto Knight on the floor. Bailey went up top, did a flip from there and Knight avoided it. Knight hit a dropkick. Knight worked over Bailey with punches. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
It was Knight in control after the break, but Bailey hit a boot to the face and a spinning kick that led to both guys selling. After Bailey knocked Knight off the apron to the floor, Knight shoved Bailey off the turnbuckle to the floor. Knight hit a springboard clothesline on Bailey on the floor. Bailey came with a knee drop and a kick to the head. Knight was back up with a hurricanrana and a backbreaker for two. Bailey flipped over Knight into a pin attempt for two. Doyle distracted the referee, so Callis tripped up Bailey on the top. Knight jumped off the top and hit a spinebuster. Knight hit a spinning uranage slam called the Crash Landing for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kevin Knight
Analysis: ***1/2 A competitive match between two great athletes who obviously know eachother well as former tag team partners. It didn’t really get to that level where I’d call it a special match or anything like that, but Bailey did come close to winning a few times, and the fans were into it. Like MJF’s title match, it was obvious that Knight was going to win here.
Kevin Knight did a promo after the match, saying he’s in the Don Callis to go straight to the top and become The Jet Two Belts, and said he was waiting on MJF. Knight dropped the microphone.
Analysis: Every week in AEW, there are promos about wanting a shot at the AEW World Title. It’s nice to hear people have big goals, but it feels repetitive, too.
The Dogs duo of David Finlay and Clark Connors celebrated their attacks on tag teams like Cope & Cage recently. The Young Bucks recently. Matt Jackson said that they think they are next in line, but Matt said he doesn’t think the Bullet Club’s Worst Leader Ever and Temu Hangman are the top contenders. Matt challenged them to a match tonight, but Finlay said no and they’ll wrestle when they feel like it. The Dogs left.
(Commercial)
The AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman was in an ice tub where Renee Paquette showed up for an interview. Max said it wasn’t a shocker that people want a shot at his title. Max told Mark Briscoe there’s no match for him because that title is for top guys and generational talents like MJF. Max said that what he says goes and nobody in this company can tell him what to do. MJF told Mark to stop asking because it’s not happening.
Analysis: The reality is that MJF can’t deny people title shots, but it’s part of his character to think he can do what he wants.
Alex Windsor made her entrance for the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. She was supposed to face Willow Nightingale, who is injured, so there’s a “Wildcard” opponent – it’s Mercedes Mone. The CEO Mone made her entrance to a big ovation.
Analysis: Welcome back, Mercedes Mone, who was obviously going to be in this tournament somehow. I’m not shocked to see her back for this tournament. She was off AEW TV for five months, so it’s her first match of the year.
Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Quarterfinals: Mercedes Mone vs. Alex Windsor
Mone won the Women’s Owen tournament last year, so she’s going for the repeat. After Alex got a rollup, Mone hit a dropkick. Mone slammed Alex into the mat and applied a Crossface submission, but Alex fought it off. Mone hit a Backstabber for two. Mone hit a neckbreaker on the apron and a Meteora knee smash on Alex on the floor. That led to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
It was Mone in control with the Three Amigos suplexes. Alex was able to get some momentum going with multiple clotheslines. There was another clothesline by Alex on the floor. Alex hit a pumphandle slam on Mone that wasn’t perfectly done, but Mone sold it anyway. They battled by the turnbuckle as Mone knocked Alex down and hit a Meteora knee smash for two. They exchanged pin attempts. Mone hit a knee, Backstabber, and Statement Maker submission, so Windsor tapped out. It went about 13 minutes.
Winner by submission: Mercedes Mone
Analysis: ***1/4 A good match with an obvious result. Mone really likes knee attacks and Alex really likes clotheslines. The crowd was behind Mercedes Mone, who wrestled more like a babyface here, so this run in AEW is likely going to be the babyface version of Mone instead of being a heel like she’s been in the past.
Mercedes Mone grabbed the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament title since she won it last year.
Analysis: I think Mercedes Mone certainly could win the Women’s Owen Cup again. I think it will be her or Athena.
A video aired about Divine Dominion defending the Women’s Tag Team Titles against Tayjay – Tay Melo & Anna Jay on Collision. They plugged more Collision matches and next week’s Dynamite.
Kazuchika Okada and Don Callis were interviewed by Don Callis, who bragged about how successful the Don Callis Family is. Callis said Okada got screwed and they won’t stand for it. Okada said that Takeshita is nothing without this family. Okada made it clear he was coming for Takeshita’s International Tile, which used to belong to Okada.
(Commercial)
A replay was shown of last week on Dynamite when Tommaso Ciampa attacked Chris Jericho.
Tommaso Ciampa did a promo in the backstage area. Ciampa said that while Chris Jericho was gone, Ciampa arrived and planted his flag in the ground. Ciampa warned Jericho to stay away. Ciampa said he’ll be waiting, unless he strikes first, and Ciampa called Jericho a stupid idiot, which is an insult Jericho used many times in his career.
Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinals: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis
A clip aired of Mark Davis beating Will Ospreay on April 22nd in a match that was stopped. Davis is the AEW National Champion. Will and Davis used to be allies in the United Empire.
Will hit a running headscissors on Davis, who started with an eyepatch on, but it was already knocked off early. Davis came back with a body slam. Will hit an enziguri kick to the head, but Davis was back up with a back body drop. Davis hit a running senton splash. Will hit an incredible flipping kick, followed by a springboard forearm that some say what was phenomenal. Will dropkicked Davis out of the ring. Will left the ring and Davis sent Will into the barricade. The fans were chanting for Will as he teased a moonsault, but Davis walked away to avoid it. Will hit a hurricanrana on the floor. Davis blocked a DDT attempt on the floor and suplexed Will back-first onto the commentary table. Davis hit a running knee against the barricade on the floor. Remember the opening match that had no countouts? This referee, Paul Turner, didn’t count these guys out for nearly two minutes when they were on the floor. I’m not saying I want a countout finish. Just saying the refereeing sucks.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Davis hitting a running clothesline and a backdrop suplex for two. Davis chopped Will to knock him down. Will fired up with punches, Davis hit another massive chop and Will hit some elbows. Davis chopped Will, who jumped back up with an enziguri kick. Will hit a superkick, Davis chopped the back, and Will hit a jumping kick to the head. Will and Davis exchanged strikes, Will hit a hook kick and a roundhouse kick. Will hit a spinning kick onto the back of the head for two. Will hit a bridging German Suplex for two. Will jumped off the top with a double foot stomp on the left arm. Will went for a cross armbreaker, but Davis was back up with a Powerbomb. Davis picked up Will into a Piledriver for a two count. They went to the apron and battled over a Piledriver until Davis decked Will with a lariat over the top into the ring. Will countered a Davis move and hit a hurricanrana from the apron to the floor. The referee was counting them out this time to do the countout break spot as Will hit a dropkick to the head. Will hit a Styles Clash for just a two count. Davos accidentally clotheslined the referee Turner out of the ring, so Will hit a Hidden Blade and there was no referee to count the pin. Trent Beretta and El Clon from the Don Callis Family went into the ring to help Davis. The Death Riders members Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta took care of Trent and Clon. Lance Archer ran into the ring with a cross body block on two guys. Claudio Castagnoli went into the ring with a forearm on Archer. Brian Cage hit an F5 on Claudio. Pac hit a running kick on Cage. Davis was back up and Will was able to hit an Oscutter off the ropes. Pac put the referee back in and Jake Doyle pulled the referee out. Doyle clotheslined Will. Marina Shafir jumped on Doyle’s back and Doyle slammed Shafir down. Jon Moxley fought with Doyle and hit a Paradigm Shift. Moxley and Shafir clotheslined Doyle out. Pac hit a moonsault onto a bunch of dudes on the floor. Kyle Fletcher was next to go into the ring with a Half N Half Suplex on Will. Kyle had a screwdriver, took way too long and was pulled out of the ring by Konosuke Takeshita, who fought with Kyle into the crowd. Davis had the screwdriver, so Will hit a Hidden Blade to knock the screwdriver out. Will hit another Hidden Blade for a two count as referee Bryce Remsburg took over. What took so long? Davis flipped Will around and hit another Piledriver for a two count. Will flipped over and applied the cross armbreaker called Death Ground on the left arm and Davis tapped out. It went about 23 minutes.
Winner by submission: Will Ospreay
Analysis: ***3/4 A terrific match that perhaps went a bit too long and then the shenanigans in the last few minutes hurt the match, in my opinion. The second referee taking so long to get out there also has to be questioned, but it’s AEW. I don’t get why Will Ospreay needs over 20+ minutes to beat Mark Davis. I thought it dragged on a bit too much. I understand that Ospreay is great and arguably the best in-ring performer in AEW, but it felt like it went too long. It’s also weird to me that the Death Riders are like babyfaces in AEW, considering the origins of the group. If you are going to put Will Ospreay over in the Semifinals of the Owen Hart Cup, then he should win more decisively, instead of winning after about a dozen people get involved in the match after a silly ref bump. This could have been booked better, and if it was I’d go over four stars for it, but I’m going a notch below that.
The win means that Will Ospreay goes on to the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals at Forbidden Door on June 28th where he will face Swerve Strickland or Brody King in the Tournament Finals.
Analysis: I think Ospreay will win The Owen this year, and Swerve will be his opponent at Forbidden Door. I’d be surprised if he lost.
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Three Stars of the Show
- MJF
- Will Ospreay
- Kevin Knight, Rush, Mark Davis
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.75 out of 10
Last Week: 7.5
2026 Average: 7.60
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
The opening and closing matches were great, along with the TNT Title match between Knight-Bailey, although I thought that one would be more exciting than it was. Anyway, the great in-ring action carried the show, which is typical of AEW.
It’s nice to see Mercedes Mone back for the first time in five months and maybe she’ll be a babyface this time around.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport