Dynamite on July 10th in Calgary, Alberta Canada will host the finals of the third annual Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments. Each year it feels like AEW has put more significance on the tournament.
Last year’s cup became a multi-purpose vehicle to aid two aspects of business. First, to help promote and bring importance to AEW’s first tour of Canada. Finally, as a launching point to try and elevate its two winners to the next level in their divisions.
Willow Nightingale has since gone on to become one of the main faces of the AEW’s women’s division. Nightingale has featured prominently on programming and held the TBS Championship before losing it in one of three main event spots at Double or Nothing to Mercedes Moné. You can read about Moné’s potential future here.
Ricky Starks had his Summer of Starks. Starting with a feud with CM Punk that diverted to a brutal series of matches with Bryan Danielson. Then into an AEW World Tag Team Championship reign with Big Bill where they lost the championships to Darby Allin and Sting in February.
This year, the stakes have been raised with the winners being given world championship shots at All In at Wembley Stadium in August. Competitors have already been slowly drip-fed into discussion.
This slow build already -along with the stakes – is making this third tournament feel even more important beyond the short term. It sends a clear message to fans about the company’s future direction.
Upping the Stakes in the Owen Hart Cup
Overall, it’s the implication that AEW is going to step up this summer and offer fans a clearer roadmap for the future. For us, UK fans, it’s putting more importance on our yearly show.
Compared to last year, Tony Khan is not taking us for granted. 2023’s show suffered from a weak build and a card that on paper did not scream the biggest event in wrestling history.
However, AEW’s wrestlers delivered one of the best PPVs of that year. The atmosphere on that night was euphoric.
There are high expectations with over 41,000 tickets already sold. Yet, with two months to go, it’s a far cry from the company from where the company were with 70,000 by the end of July last year. They need to sell this event more to get bums on seats.
For all AEW fans, there’s a sense of unpredictability. With Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay, which many expected to happen at All In. Also, with the announcement of Blood and Guts in Nashville in July, many are wondering who leaves with the AEW World Championship.
Even more so, who will challenge them, given there are so many fresh opponents for either man.
The Owen Hart Cup could be used to pay off and start multiple feuds and stories for both the men’s and women’s divisions. It also benefits from being the only singles tournament AEW has hosted so far this year.
Unlike last year when too many were overused to varying degrees of success (an evaluation of each can be found here). There is the potential for this to be the best version of the tournament and, in the future, for the added championship opportunity it awards being a storytelling staple for All In in the future.
What We Know So Far
That is not even mentioning the rise of AEW’s women’s division with its multiple narratives and levels or the prospect of where The Elite saga goes post-Blood and Guts!
The only firm details so far beyond the date of the finals and the All In implications are just a handful of names announced as competitors. Five female and three male participants have been announced so far.
Even without the complete picture of the other three female and five men, the names could allow AEW to balance awesome in-ring action with engaging storytelling, which is something they have been trying to recapture this year.
The women’s bracket so far includes:
- Kris Statlander
- Willow Nightingale
- Mariah May
- Saraya
- Hikaru Shida
The men’s bracket so far includes:
- Bryan Danielson
- PAC
- Shingo Takagi
The seeds for some eventual matches have been planted in the women’s division. Will Mariah May be able to win and challenge her mentor in her hometown of London to make everything about Mariah?
Which former best friend will prevail between Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander?
In both men’s and women’s brackets are three home country wrestlers in May, Saraya and PAC. Last year Saraya won the AEW Women’s World Championship at Wembley.
PAC missed out on All In last year and is suffering from self-doubt due to repeated high-profile losses. Could one or two more be added?
Danielson cut a heartfelt promo on how, during this last run of his career, he has lost every huge high-profile match. The American Dragon wants to rectify this before his contract ends.
Add in the potential dream match clashes with another dragon, Shingo Takagi and it’s clear already this tournament will be different to last year’s.
Potential Matches to Get Excited For
Some matches seem inevitable given Khan’s booking preferences (“for the sickos”). Optimistically, I hope for the women’s side – in particular, the potential match-ups – help cement the current women’s revolution.
Although this won’t be complete until we can get two women’s matches regularly on Dynamite.
In the women’s bracket Statlander vs. Nightingale could be an exciting quarter-final match to kick off proceedings. Whether a blow-off or more likely the next round of the feud, leading to some big hardcore stipulation in the future, their issues only add further drama to events.
Elsewhere, I would expect Saraya vs. May in a rematch. Some fans online were spitting poison due to Saraya beating May. However, this might be the likely return match with May getting the victory here to progress her story with “Timeless” Toni Storm (an analysis of the “Timeless” character can be found here).
The return of Hikaru Shida could also be a wild card and potential All In opponent, given Shida’s history with Storm. Then, whoever can beat May, on the way to winning perhaps, adds another wrinkle to their showdown with Storm.
In the men’s brackets, I am desperate to see the explosions that are: PAC vs. Danielson, PAC vs. Takagi, dragon vs. dragon with Shingo vs. Danielson. Sadly, it’s likely we will only get two out of the three, for now.
I could see the latter being added to the Forbidden Door card to kick off the tournament. Like last year with CM Punk vs. the current MLW World Champion, Satoshi Kojima.
This is with missing pieces not yet on the board. Who could fill these slots?
Speculating: Who Else Should Compete for The Owen
Women’s Tournament
With three slots to fill, the questions are who does Tony Khan have available? How big does he want the women’s championship match to be?
The AEW’s women’s division is currently killing it. The final selections will impact the predictability of the tournament and also the direction heading into and beyond All In.
AEW has a stacked women’s roster and could easily fill out the tournament with its top female wrestlers. Serena Deeb, Thunder Rosa, Deonna Purrazzo or even copy their current main event storyline with TBS Champion Moné entering.
I would be surprised if these women were added. Particularly the latter three have lost to Storm this year.
Also, I would perhaps expect these three women to orbit the atmosphere around Moné in the coming weeks and months. As well, while AEW could debut Kamille, inevitably, this seems unlikely unless they push her all the way. That would require plenty of build and forethought.
Athena featured in the tournament last year. Yet, from a booking standpoint, I don’t think Athena would win and this would impact her aura in ROH.
I would expect one slot to go to Skye Blue who continues to go from strength to strength in the ring and in her character work. Or possibly Riho, who is reportedly back in the US.
If pushing for surprise returns, and if both were healthy and ready, the best thriller options would be the pillar and the killer. AEW fans are ready again to see the doctor.
Britt Baker, alongside her former partner Jamie Hayter, would make a big statement about where the women’s division could be heading.
Men’s Tournament
With five men needed, there are options. The rankings as a device have once again disappeared (a pessimistic prediction in our cons of the ranking article here) making it harder to judge based on wins.
It’s possible that some usual figures will be added to the brackets. Those destined to lose to set up two big semi-finals.
In the Continental Classic, it was obvious Jay Lethal was there to take pins, alongside Daniel Garcia to further his storyline return to being a pro wrestler. This issue of designated pin-takers should be avoided. It’s an issue I’ve discussed recently with the limitations of the mindset of “where the best wrestle”.
Adding a Claudio Castagnoli or Brodie King, workhorses who can deliver but also take a convincing loss would be better compensation. However, bringing back last year’s Owen Cup winner, Ricky Starks to go for the back-to-back wins or face Danielson in a rematch would be a great way to re-integrate “Absolute” into the mix again.
With so many big names returning, waiting in the wings or looking to prove themselves as the man to carry AEW on their shoulders, Khan can afford to stack the men’s bracket with potential bangers. Possibly therefore setting up other big rivalries or stories heading into the summer.
The only issue will be: is Tony Khan willing to add top names like MJF, Orange Cassidy, and possibly even the loser of Ospreay/Swerve, only for all, except one perhaps, to lose? Or some screwy finishes could be employed to set up/further ongoing feuds could be a likely outcome. Yet, a few clean losses could help make AEW more unpredictable again.
My personal picks would be: MJF, Cassidy, Jack Perry, Starks, and Brodie Lee. If Ospreay or Swerve lose, their priorities might be elsewhere.
Speculation: Who Wins?
Men’s Winner
AEW has a habit of signposting the winners/finalists before the tournament begins. Usually with strong passionate promos before the tournament kicks off.
Bryan Danielson took this position this year and set the groundwork for winning this tournament and going to All In as the crowning moment of his retirement. Or could AEW subvert this trope?
I can see Danielson getting through to the finals. Along the way, putting on clinics with Shingo. Maybe a rematch with Ricky Starks, rekindling their feud from last year. Then, in the finals, facing Jack Perry.
Why Perry? Right now, Perry has returned and is in the form of his career as a character. Perry has seized his second chance with the zeal of a man whose career depended upon it.
In some ways, this is very accurate. Given what happened at All In last year, there is history to be played with. The fact that Perry pinned Danielson in Anarchy in the Arena adds extra narrative sauce.
Plus, it would give some unpredictability to proceedings. Extra meta-level heat on Perry with some fans who actually disdain Perry as a person due to his history with CM Punk.
Going all in with the fantasy booking, having Perry defeat PAC and/or Orange Cassidy. Crushing the dreams of PAC main eventing in his home country would add more fuel to Perry’s human torch-like fire.
A semi-final of Perry vs. MJF would play on their history. It was in the lead-up to the Four Pillars four-way last year in Las Vegas where, in the lore, MJF inspired Perry’s heel turn.
With a role reversal, a cheating or cheap win over MJF could set up a follow-up feud. Or spin MJF into feuding with The Elite. Possibly a dream match with Kazuchika Okada?
Women’s Winner
While Mariah May would be a home country and hometown challenger, I think it may still be too early to pull the trigger on May surpassing her mentor. There’s another story better suited to a stadium-sized contest.
There is another home country woman who fans are eager to see return. Someone returning for her AEW Women’s World Championship. Someone with history and a personal grudge against Toni Storm.
Jamie Hayter is the obvious pick, but that doesn’t make it bad in being predictable. Last year, Hayter missed out on the Wembley show and, if she is fit and healthy to return, there is nowhere better to put the killer than in the spotlight many fans wanted her to be in this time last year.
Fantasy booking the road to the final: Mariah May gets her win back against Saraya, with Jamie Hayter beating Skye Blue to set up one semi-final. Then in the other, Shida takes on a returning Britt Baker, adding a new chapter to their historic feud. This time, with Shida getting the victory.
In the other bracket, Statlander defeats Nightingale with help from Stokely Hathaway. Their feud will continue after Shida defeats Statlander, possibly with interference from Nightingale seeking revenge.
Then in a battle of two contrasting styles and two home country talents, Hayter beats May. Hayter defeats Shida in a stiff final.
If I was going further, I would have Storm as the heel heading into All In. Hayter the triumphant returning babyface with Britt Baker in her corner to neutralise May.
Then, on Sunday night, Baker costs Hayter the match. Britt returns to the heel role she thrived in. It would set up the Britt/Hayter match fans wanted last year while allowing Storm to continue her run.
Conclusions
AEW, at its best, always allowed us as fans to fantasy book. Consider the possibilities.
You got hit either with a sense of pride because you predicted where things were going or with shock and surprise because they went in a direction you did not see coming.
Since Samoa Joe won Pretty Platinum, there has been a sense/concern that Swerve might be reduced to a transitional champion. Something I’ve written about when discussing both Swerve (here) and Ospreay’s (here) main event rise.
Their clash at Forbidden Door pulled the trigger on what many expected to main event All In.
This sense of unpredictability is something AEW has been lacking significantly for an extended period. Re-introducing it prior to the summer at a time when MJF has returned, and the roster is so stacked with options brings hope.
AEW has and remains flawed creatively due to various factors, including predictability. It’s something I’ve written about throughout this month in my series exploring AEW’s present (the most recent on anti-AEW criticism you can read here). It’s still for me – and others – the place where the best wrestling happens.
Nonetheless, AEW wants to return to a feeling that fills up arenas that are nowhere near the size of Wembley again, and to prove that they are not just the place where the best wrestle, but where the best stories are told, they need ways of kickstarting this.
After the outcome of the Forbidden Door main event, The Owen Hart Cup could be a first strong step. However, like the Continental Classic last year, a strong tournament can only be a launching pad.
The follow-up creative needs and directions need to offer promise also. Until then, if – like me – you are fantasy booking the options, it’s a promising starting point.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
