The John Report: AEW Dynamite 07/22/26 Review
This is AEW Dynamite, featuring Kenny Omega teaming up with Jon Moxley & Will Ospreay, plus Kevin Knight facing Darby Allin, and more.
The first-ever AEW Redemption PPV is taking place this Sunday, July 26th. I think AEW is doing a great job lately as they head toward All In London on August 30th.
I’m going with a summary-style review this week, meaning I’ll just write about the matches while listing the results. I watched the show late on Wednesday night and wasn’t sitting up at the computer writing about it, so I’m not going to watch it again and do that. I’ll go play by play for the TNT Title match that opened the show. I plan on writing about Redemption live on Sunday night in detail.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #355 from The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee. 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. It was another week with a ramp connected to the ring.
The AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay were backstage for a promo about the main event tag team match with Jon Moxley. Will mentioned they are undefeated as a team. Jon Moxley walked in, saying he loved that there was no tension in this room. Kenny said, “There wasn’t” as Moxley left.
TNT Championship: Kevin Knight defeated Darby Allin by pinfall
I’ll go play-by-play here. Allin is a former World Champion and 2-time TNT Champion. Allin hit a suicide dive on Knight before the bell rang. They went fighting into the crowd. Allin clotheslined Knight over the barricade at ringside. Allin set up Knight on the barricade, Allin went to the top of the ring post and clotheslined Knight so that they collapsed at ringside. When they got back into the ring, the bell rang to start the match.
Knight tried to get away by going up the ramp, Allin went after him and then Knight gouged Allin’s eyes. Knight shoved Allin off the ramp so that Allin’s groin crashed on the barricade. Knight connected with an elbow. Knight set up the steel steps on the floor and hit an uppercut. Knight gave Allin a catapult into the top of the steel steps. The camera was on Knight, so Allin did a blade job and came up bloody when we saw him again. Knight worked over Allin with punches and kicks. By the turnbuckle, Allin hit a Code Red where Knight did a backflip into a moonsault bump. That’s an impressive bump. Allin hit a Code Red for a two count. Allin trapped Knight’s left arm in the top of the ring post and elbowed Knight’s arm. After Knight bumped to the floor, Allin hit a Coffin Drop on the floor. They went on a picture-in-picture break.
The match continued with Knight hitting a backbreaker for a two count. Allin went for a Scorpion Death Drop, so Knight was able to counter it and Allin bumped into referee Paul Turner, who bumped to the floor. Knight clotheslined Allin. Knight grabbed the TNT while referee Turner was on the floor. Allin was ready for Knight and hit a Scorpion Death Drop. Allin went up top, but Knight was there to trip him up on the top. Knight hit Allin with the TNT Title to the head. Knight went up top and hit a Coast to Coast dropkick across the ring. It was nice of Allin to hold himself on the ropes for 10 seconds to take that move. That spot is better when a guy is sitting against the turnbuckle. Anyway, Knight tried to revive referee Turner. Knight went up top and hit the UFO Splash for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.
Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was a great match that showcased Kevin Knight’s attitude as a heel that was willing to do anything to keep his title. That’s how a heel should be. If I counted the action before the bell, I’d rate it at four stars or a bit higher, but it was before the match, so it doesn’t count. A win over Allin is a good thing for Knight, who was obviously going to win since he’s getting a shot at the AEW World Title at Redemption. It’s not like they want Knight to lose going into that match. Fun match with a good finish.
There was an in-ring interview with The Don Callis Family conducted by Renee Paquette. Mark Davis talked about defending the National Title against Andrade El Idolo and bragged about beating him up. Knight claimed he’s going to be Jet Two Belts by beating Kenny Omega at Redemption and he set the record for TNT Title defenses, and he did it without the Don Callis Family. Kyle Fletcher said he hopes Knight becomes Jet Two Belts. Fletcher said he doesn’t need the help of the Family to keep his International Title, so he’ll make sure everybody is banned from ringside for his match against Bandido. Fletcher said everybody will be banned from ringside for his tag team match tonight.
Brodido – Brody King & Bandido defeated Protokada – Kyle Fletcher & Kazuchika Okada by pinfall
This was an awesome match as expected with four talented guys out there. I liked this one a lot because it could have gone either way, and it had a lot of twists and turns. They tried to focus on building to the Fletcher-Bandido spots since they are facing off at Redemption. Late in the match, Bandido hit a Frog Splash off the top on Fletcher and it only got a two count. Okada was back in to save Fletcher from a double team move. The key spot came right after that with Okada accidentally hitting a Rainmaker lariat on Fletcher when King moved. King hit a suicide dive on Okada after that. Bandido hit a 21 Plex on Fletcher for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Analysis: ***1/2 They did the classic champion gets pinned by his PPV opponent finish here with Fletcher losing to Bandido. I don’t expect Bandido to win at Redemption, but it shows that Bandido can beat Fletcher in a match.
After the match, Kazuchika Okada was saying he was sorry for what he did to Fletcher, but then Okada had a look on his face like he wasn’t really sorry. Fletcher yelled at Okada for costing them the match.
Analysis: This could be a way to set up Okada for a babyface turn. Okada has been mostly a heel in AEW, so turning him face going into an All In London match with Fletcher would be a good move.
Andrade El Idolo went down to the ring to go after Mark Davis, who left the ring. They have a match at Redemption.
A video aired about the “Painmaker” Chris Jericho facing Tommaso Ciampa at Redemption in a No Holds Barred Match. Jericho said hell is coming for him. I think Jericho will probably win that.
Face to Face: Thekla and Willow Nightingale
The legendary Mick Foley hosted a Face to Face segment between AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla and Willow Nightingale. Thekla had two belts since she won a Stardom Trios title. They did this on the ramp instead of the ring. Willow said she was going to win at Redemption to live her dream as the AEW Women’s Champion. Thekla claimed that it was like Willow was wearing a mask and her smile was fake. Willow said that Thekla talks so big because she feels so small. Foley said he saw himself in Willow because they could take beatings and smile through that pain. Thekla told Mick to shut up, so Willow called her a dumb bitch. Willow talked about how she’ll do anything to win the Women’s Title and go into All In as the champion. Thekla said when Willow’s dreams are shattered, Willow should smile anyway. Thekla slapped Willow, so Foley tried to separate the women, and that led to Thekla hitting Willow with a microphone shot to the head. They went into the ring, so Willow hit a Pounce and Thekla retreated.
Analysis: It was an effective promo segment to show that Willow is ready for Thekla. I think there could be a title change at Redemption if AEW wants to go with Willow/Mone at All In since Mone is a heel like Thekla is. Anyway, it should be a good match.
A video aired about Maya World challenging Hikaru Shida for the TBS Championship at Redemption.
Jay White defeated Clark Connors by submission
It was good to see Jay White back in action on Dynamite after missing a year with injury. There was a spot in this match where they were out on the floor for way too long, and of course the referee wasn’t counting them out because it’s AEW. It was an even matchup most of the way with some nearfalls by both guys. The finish happened when Connors went for a Spear, but White blocked it with a move almost like a Pedigree. White applied a standing arm triangle submission and went to his back for the submission win. It went 13 minutes.
Analysis: ***1/4 A solid TV match to give Jay White the win to build up to their PPV match. Connors doesn’t really win singles matches that much. The finish fell a bit flat because it was a submission move, but it shows that White can beat somebody in different ways.
After the match, Connors was back up and White dropped him with a Bladerunner. David Finlay went into the ring, grabbed the shillelagh and hit White in the head with it. Juice Robinson and the rest of the Bang Bang Gang went out there, so The Dogs left.
Analysis: It continues the rivalry. I don’t think the Bang Bang Gang is as interesting as babyfaces. It worked better as a heel group.
The AEW World Tag Team Champions Adam Copeland & Christian Cage were doing a promo backstage when they got attacked by the Death Riders duo of Claudio Castagnoli & Pac, who are their PPV opponents. Claudio and Pac beat them up. Pac said that they can’t believe C&C challenged them to a match. Pac said that they have bitten off more than they can chew. Pac said they will show them what the Death Riders are capable of.
Analysis: There’s a heel attack from the Death Riders that makes them look like jerks, yet with Jon Moxley, they appear to be faces. It’s confusing sometimes. Anyway, it should be a good PPV tag team match with Cope & Cage retaining. I doubt C&C lose at Redemption.
AEW Women’s Tag Team Championships No Disqualification Match: Divine Dominion – Megan Bayne & Lena Kross defeated Sisters of Sin – Julia Hart & Skye Blue by pinfall
It’s a No DQ match, so they used weapons throughout the match. They are both heel teams. There was plenty of offense by the challengers early on, but then the champions were able to make the comeback. They did a spot where all four women were holding title belts since Sisters of Sin had Stardom titles and hit DDTs on title belts by the challengers for a two count. The key spot in the match was when Blue was working over Kross by the turnbuckle, so then Bayne went over to them and slammed Blue off the turnbuckle through the table at ringside. Ouch. After Hart went for an armbar, Bayne countered with a Tombstone. Bayne and Kross hit a double Chokeslam for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Analysis: ***1/2 A competitive match to put over the champions Bayne & Kross against a scrappy Hart/Blue team. The table spot that they did with Bayne putting Blue through the table was the big moment that took out Blue and allowed the champions to finish off Hart. Sometimes when I watch Hart and Blue, I think they are trying too hard to be heels, and I think they would be more natural as babyfaces. I think AEW has to find a babyface tag team to build up to beat Bayne and Kross.
The Bang Bang Gang was backstage for a promo. Juice Robinson suggested a Double Chain Tag Team Match against The Dogs at Redemption. Jay White warned The Dogs about it. The match would be Juice & White against The Dogs duo of Finlay & Connors in a Double Chain Tag Team Match.
Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay & Jon Moxley defeated Don Callis Family – Jake Doyle, Brian Cage & Hechicero by pinfall
It was the superstar babyface trio against the Don Callis Family C team. It’s not even the B team. The Don Callis Family trio worked over Moxley for some of the match. After Moxley tagged out, Will was in there for the babyface team, and things broke down from there with the referee losing control as usual in an AEW tag team match. Cage suplexed Omega and Will at the same time. Will was the face in peril for a few minutes as they went into the break and back from break. Will chose to tag in Omega instead of Moxley, so that led to Omega getting a flurry of offense, including a moonsault for a two count. After Hechicero applied submissions on Omega, Moxley went into the ring illegally and stomped on Hechicero. Will hit a springboard forearm on Hechicero, then the babyface trio all took turns splashing Hechicero. Moxley hit a Cutter on Hechicero. Moxley kicked Cage into a German Suplex by Omega on Cage, although I don’t think the foot touched Cage. Omega accidentally hit a knee on Moxley because Hechicero moved. Hechicero got a two count on Omega. After Doyle hit a forearm on Omega, Will saved Omega from being pinned. There were five guys in the ring (because it’s AEW) and Moxley stopped a triple team move. Will and Omega broke free, which led to a Hidden Blade and V-Trigger. Will and Omega hit a Hidden Blade & V-Trigger combo on Hechicero for the pinfall win. It went 14 minutes.
Analysis: ***1/2 An entertaining TV tag team match to put over the babyface trio of Omega, Ospreay and Moxley, even though I’m not sure Moxley is always a babyface. I would have rated it higher, but the last four minutes featured more than two guys in the ring the entire time, which is ridiculous. I don’t think anybody watching this thought the trio of Omega, Ospreay and Moxley would lose. I get why AEW wants to have them team up since there’s a lot of star power there, but the match wasn’t that interesting.
After the match, Kenny Omega tried to smooth things over with Jon Moxley because of the accidental strike during the match. Will got in the middle of it, so Omega shoved Will down. Will shoved back at Omega. The Young Bucks tried to play peacemaker, so Moxley shoved Matt Jackson down. That led to The Young Bucks fighting with Moxley and Ospreay since they are in a tag team match at Redemption. The RPG Vice team of Baretta and Romero went after Omega, so Omega hit them with suplexes. Omega tried to do more, but Kevin Knight showed up with the TNT Title and he hit Omega in the head with it. Knight posed with the AEW World Title and TNT Title over a fallen Omega.
Analysis: It was a way to promote the big matches at Redemption. I don’t think Knight has a shot to beat Omega at Redemption, but they need to try to sell us on that idea.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Kevin Knight
- Brodido
- Darby Allin
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7.25
2026 Average: 7.61
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
There was good wrestling throughout the show, which is common for an AEW Dynamite episode. I liked the Knight/Allin match the most. The Brodido tag against Fletcher/Okada was fun too. By the main event, I was sick of tag team matches because it was the third one of the night and there wasn’t much drama about it.
They have done a nice job of building to the Redemption card. I miss MJF being in a match, but that’s okay. I don’t think the Omega-Knight match is as strong as most AEW PPV main events either. I don’t see it as being the best PPV of the year or anything like that, but there will be plenty of great matches as usual for an AEW PPV.
The next AEW PPV is Redemption on Sunday, July 26th. Here’s the lineup so far.
* AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Kevin Knight
* AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Willow Nightingale
* AEW International Championship: Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Bandino
* Death Riders – Jon Moxley & Will Ospreay vs. The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson
* No Holds Barred Match: “The Painmaker” Chris Jericho vs. Tommaso Ciampa
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage) (c) vs. Death Riders – Claudio Castagnoli and Pac
* AEW National Championship: Mark Davis (c) vs. Andrade El Idolo
* TBS Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Maya World
* Ladder Match to determine the #1 contender for the AEW International Championship: Jack Perry vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Komander vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Nick Wayne vs. El Clon
* Double Chain Tag Team Match: Bang Bang Gang – Jay White & Juice Robinson vs. The Dogs – David Finlay & Clark Connors
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