Last week on AEW Dynamite, plenty of threads were planted to suggest what could happen in Forbidden Door’s AEW World Championship main event. Teases have been made hinting at what could be next for both Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay.
To what degree these teases took away some of the unpredictability of the main event is debatable. However, last week’s face-to-face delivered a red-hot verbal confrontation.
Both Swerve and Ospreay have stepped up massively on the microphone this year. Both have put on strong cases for why they should be the world champion. I’ve broken down both men’s ascensions in AEW full-length articles here (Ospreay and Swerve).
Either man could be the world champion. Yet, beyond the match itself, the intrigue is about what happens next.
What happens when inevitably one man must lose? Where do both men go next heading into the summer? Heading to All In, All Out, and beyond.
Elsewhere, The Owen Hart Cup Tournaments have kicked off with strong opening rounds. An emotional and moving promo from Jeff Jarrett has made me and many others want to see the man go through to the next round at least.
Although my own predictions were mixed with some big returns that are absent (you can read these here), the underlying excitement for this year’s tournament is real.
As well as other last-minute hype for Forbidden Door. The fuse has been lit. Let’s go!
Announced Card Thus Far for AEW Dynamite:
Matches announced:
- Owen Hart Cup Tournament- Jay White vs. Rey Fenix
- Saraya, Harley Cameron and Anna Jay vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm, Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa
- Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay vs. The Gates of Agony
- Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta vs. LIJ (Shingo Takagi, Titan and Hiromu Takahashi)
- Kyle O’Reilly vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Other segments announce:
- MJF is live
- We’ll hear from Daniel Garcia in his hometown.
- We’ll hear from TBS Champion Mercedes Moné
Speculation:
- Fallout after The Acclaimed defeated The Young Bucks last week
- More build/matches as Forbidden Door approaches
Banger of The Night: Jay White vs. Rey Fenix
The second match in the men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament has the potential to be an innovative clash of styles. The defensive, counter-focused offense of Jay White against the aerial theatrics of Rey Fenix.
The result is likely firework moments. Big explosive spots and hard-hitting reversals and counters up the sleeve. On paper, if the chemistry is right, this make could be the most fluid and a real showcase for both men’s capacities.
Aside from the repulsive aberration of White vs. Billy Gunn, White is undefeated this year. The leader of the Bang Bang Gang has had a strong year besides unifying the AEW trios and ROH six-man tag championships.
Two standout performances in both Casino Gauntlet matches. Despite what some might say, White is having a strong 2024 and, given he is facing one of the tag team partners of PAC, that feud seems to have not ended just yet.
Fenix showed against Ospreay that, despite what has felt like injury after injury, the Mexaking can rise from the ashes of defeat and come back stronger each time. Whether or not Fenix can get the win over White?
Rey is likely the underdog in this match. Then again, with seconds banned from ringside, Juice Robinson and The Gunns will be unable to interfere.
Given a brewing feud between The House of Black and The Bang Bang Gang, the result could go either way. That sense of unpredictability is something that is slowly creeping back into AEW.
The winner advances to take on either Jeff Jarrett or the wild card.
Can They Co-Exist?
In not one, but two tag team-based matches, the champions and number one contenders for the top prizes of the men’s and women’s divisions have to work together to face a common enemy. Usually, these matches can seem contrived with there bound to be some form of miscommunication.
Double that and well, if it wasn’t AEW, I would be more concerned. Things could go stereotypically.
The build for both championship matches is so strong that it would be a let-down at the final hurdle if things fall into the standard well-worn treads of the story device. However, the dynamics with each set of opponents, despite their animosity, remain distinct.
The Love Triangle On AEW Dynamite
Multiple layers are folded into the women’s trios match. The issues go beyond those between champion and challenger but with Saraya and her gang.
This long-standing feud between Toni Storm and her former partner has been used to set up this contest that puts protégé Mariah May at the heart of things. In the last few weeks, Storm and Mina Shirakawa have been competing as much for Mariah as for the championship.
Now Mariah is going to be placed in the position where she is going to have to make a choice/s in this contest. This is a story-driven contest where the flirtations and passive aggression between Mina and Storm could reach their peak.
Mariah’s loyalty could be tested. Can she have or please both? Although the reverse is possible. Rather than Mariah having to choose, it might be the case that Storm and Mina will try to display their affection for May in-ring and on the apron.
How Saraya and her gang take advantage of this plays into another story that’s there in the background. Saraya wants to regain the championship in her homeland at All In.
Saraya’s submission victory over Mariah a few weeks ago plays into their upcoming rematch in the Owen. Anna Jay returns to proceedings.
Shirakawa defeated the girl with a bad attitude in her AEW debut match. Harley Cameron despite her limited reps has also proven that she could be another future prospect.
Often, additional developments in this love triangle have occurred post-match. What happens post-match could be just as enticing as the match itself.
Can They Co-Exist? Swerve and Ospreay
Strickland and Samoa Joe teamed up previously when the former was chasing the world championship. Now Swerve finds himself in the reverse role.
The hunter is now the hunted with Ospreay stepping up to prove he can outlast Swerve. Although Swerve said he had no friends last week, Strickland did show some restraint (if not respect) to Ospreay after Will used the house call to defeat Fenix several weeks ago.
With Will questioning whether Swerve has what it takes to put down the Billy GOAT, I would expect there to be tension and one-upmanship against The Gates of Agony. Swerve could to steal one of Ospreay’s moves. Or Ospreay may take from Strickland’s arsenal.
These combustible elements could explode prematurely. Given Ospreay’s comments about needing The Don Callis Family, will The Invisible Hand be present? Or manipulating things from the shadows?
Looking for an AEW Deep Dive?
James is concluding a series that takes a deep dive into AEW’s short but impactful history. In part 1, James discussed how AEW changed the wrestling industry (here). In Part 2, James discussed how AEW’s continued existence benefits wrestlers and fans alike (here).
Part 3 has been divided into two articles. One discusses the differences between in-ring action and storytelling (here). The other excellent in-ring action is compensating for wider issues in AEW creative (here). The final part will discuss AEW’s future. Including discussing the problems that AEW faces and questions Tony Khan will have to address. In a bonus article, James evaluates the criticism levelled at the company on social media and podcasters as well as the company’s response (here). In the final upcoming part, James will examine how for AEW’s future Tony Khan can compete with WWE beyond just in the ring.
