Forbidden Door provided fans with plenty of action and new directions heading towards All In. Swerve Strickland proved that he is on his level in defeating a hesitant Will Ospreay. Although it took three House Calls and a JML Driver, Strickland accomplished what no one else has been able to achieve this year. Swerve bested the Billy GOAT and has proven he is no placeholder champion.
Much of Wednesday’s card was promoted a week in advance for this special Beach Break edition of Dynamite from Chicago. My geography is rusty, until I searched it online, I had had no idea Chicago had a beach!
Four big matches were made in advance. Three of these relate to the Owen Hart Cup Tournaments. The other is the AEW International Championship. All of them however will impact the direction of AEW’s summer. There are stakes and stories in each. Perhaps the potential for an upset or two.
After Jeff Jarrett’s heart-wrenching promo on his relationship with Owen Hart and the importance of what this tournament means to The Last Outlaw at this stage of his life, surely Jarrett’s got to go through? Given The Elite has a wildcard option, there is likely a surprise coming. It could be Christian Cage worming his way back into the title picture.
Potentially with comments aimed at Jeff’s father, the legendary promoter of CWA and USWA, Jerry Jarrett. Could it be Kazuchika Okada (b#tch!)? My money is on the new TNT Champion, Jack Perry. For reasons of history and storyline potential as discussed in my Owen Hart Cup Tournament preview here.
With time to spare, more will likely be announced. Hang on…
The doctor will see you now.
TOMORROW! It’s the fallout from #ForbiddenDoor on #AEWDynamite Beach Break, presented by @SharkWeek, at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBS from the @WintrustArena in Chicago, IL! pic.twitter.com/FLDAJg7u3v
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 3, 2024
Announced Card Thus Far:
TOMORROW!
Feel the #ForbiddenDoor fallout on #AEWDynamite Beach Break Presented by #SharkWeek LIVE from the @WintrustArena in Chicago, IL at 8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/rrzmo8wWV2
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 3, 2024
Matches announced:
- Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament, 1st round: Jeff Jarrett vs. The Elite’s Wild Card
- Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament semi-finals: Bryan Danielson vs. PAC
- Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament semi-finals: Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale
- AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Daniel Garcia
Other segments announce:
- Mercedes Moné Double Championship Celebration
- Dr Britt Baker DMD returns to AEW
Speculation:
- The groundwork for Blood and Guts will begin.
The CEO’s Appointment with the Doctor
At the end of Mercedes Moné‘s title-for-title match with Stephanie Vaquer, the crowd turned on the CEO. Vaquer delivered an excellent performance. This has put Vaquer on the radar of many AEW fans would who like “La Primera” to be a regular feature of AEW’s developing women’s division. In beating the Chilean native, Moné has re-written history.
Not painted in the sky in bold letters, Mercedes has picked up from her devastating ankle injury against Willow Nightingale where she lost the opportunity to be the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. After avenging her loss against Nightingale, claiming the TBS Championship in the process and beating Vaquer, Mercedes has the championship that seemed destined for her waist.
Her Double Championship Celebration may not last too long, just like her victory at Forbidden Door. After last week’s Dynamite where MJF and Daniel Garcia came face to face after both were advertised to speak in separate segments, do not be surprised if Mercedes is interrupted again. Like Sunday, the returning, rejuvenated Dr Britt Baker, DMD, is likely going to make her presence felt.
When I evaluated Mercedes’s potential opponents and feuds (you can read here), Baker was a dream-match opponent. Teased from Big Business with the CEO’s hand gesture, there is a natural story. Baker has defended the division before against outsiders who felt they were bigger than the homegrown talent.
If this feud stretches out until All In more will need to be added to this rivalry. That’s without considering the two titles Mercedes is carrying on her shoulder. Having been away for so long, let’s hope Britt brings back the attitude, confidence and assurance that made her the face of the women’s division. The version that fans missed at the end of her last run.
Banger of the Night: Bryan Danielson vs. PAC
The only risk facing Bryan Danielson vs. PAC is expectations being so high for this clash that it makes it near impossible to achieve the wrestling nirvana AEW has perfected to the point of normalizing.
PAC is coming off two PPV title-shot losses and has shown some vulnerability. The Bastard is aware that he is underachieving. With the possibility of competing in front of his home nation in Wembley Stadium, at an event he missed last year, PAC should be looking to give everything to this match. Mirroring PAC is Danielson.
Bryan’s high-profile losses on PPV since he announced the approaching end of his full-time career are a weight across his injured neck and shoulders. Danielson has never held gold in AEW. The American Dragon needs to defeat two more men to make this a reality.
How far is each man willing to go? Brutality is coming. The potential devastation PAC might look to inflict on Bryan’s neck and shoulders could destroy the Blackpool Combat Club member further. With his technical and bullying prowess, could Danielson be more than a match for The Bastard?
At the end of the match, one man’s dreams will be thrashed.
AEW International Championship: Ospreay vs. Garcia
Daniel Garcia has been racking up wins. The prior week on Dynamite, Garcia unraveled his story since the Continental Classic. Red Death’s desire to be AEW’s “backbone” by challenging MJF has hinted at an All In match. If this is the direction, I wonder if, after Ospreay’s biggest loss, there is a chance Garcia will become the next AEW International Champion.
This is discounting the quality of wrestling between these two. Daniel Garcia is a prodigy. A wrestling savant whose technical skill blends into his storyteller with his body language and emotions.
Whether it’s a win or lose, Garcia pulls you into his corner. If the direction is truly Garcia vs. MJF, adding the prestige of a championship held by the workhorses of Orange Cassidy and Jon Moxley will put Garcia to the next level.
Ospreay has been in phenomenal form. His ascension as a weekly TV character and wrestler is discussed here. Whenever Ospreay’s next destination is heading into the summer. If and how that involves the International Championship is to be seen.
The possibility of involvement, either before or after the match is a factor. MJF and Ospreay have crossed paths in recent weeks. Similarly, Don Callis and The Don Callis Family may come back to prove a point to Ospreay. After Ospreay stated he doesn’t need Callis or the Family, and after failing to use the screwdriver given to him by Callis on Sunday, is Callis going to let that insubordination go?
Some unpredictability in the right places and answers to the unanswered questions elsewhere would help AEW immensely in building excitement heading to Blood and Guts and beyond.
Looking for an AEW Deep Dive?
James has also written a series deep diving into AEW’s short but impactful history, its present, and its future. 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 discusses the differences between in-ring action and storytelling (here). Plus the other excellent in-ring action is compensating for wider issues in AEW creative (here). In a bonus article, James dissected the negative PR AEW receives from critics and the company’s response (here). A bonus article discusses how AEW has been “under attack” as well as evaluating AEW’s response to be targeted.
In this final part, James discusses AEW’s future and how the company needs to compete with WWE (here).
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.
