With two weeks until Full Gear, “progression” is the word of the day. This week’s AEW Dynamite emanates from Bridgeport, Connecticut and a fully loaded card of matches, segments, and potential new developments has been unveiled. There is a lot crammed into two hours making the entire show an ambitious gamble.
Historically stacking the card has created issues with pacing for AEW Dynamite. With six potential matches, and another overarching show-long narrative involving The Death Riders, returns, there’s the risk of saturation.
Some things get lost in the shuffle and some do not get time to breathe. The current Death Rider takeover storyline feels like a segmented threat rather than a promotion-wide issue.
At the same time, AEW can never be accused of having a lack of ambition; of playing it safe. Progression is hinted at for various big feuds heading into Full Gear.
A few surprises have been teased and announced. Others in either match results, verbiage and storyline will help build excitement for Full Gear and beyond.
Who’s ready for Storytime?
AEW Dynamite Announced Card Thus Far:
Matches announced:
- Konosuke Takeshita vs. Adam Cole. Cole must win to face MJF at Full Gear.
- Jay White and Juice Robinson vs. “Hangman” Adam Page and Christian Cage
- Lio Rush vs. Swerve Strickland
- Dr Britt Baker vs. Penelope Ford
- Falls Count Anywhere: Roderick Strong vs. Lance Archer
- Full Gear 4-way Contenders Series: FTR Vs. The House of Black
Other segments announced:
- We’ll hear from Bobby Lashley
- We’ll hear from Will Ospreay
- We’ll hear from Jamie Hayter
- Mox seizes the Super Station TBS
Speculation:
- Mina Shirakawa returns?
- Julia Hart returns?
- How will Orange Cassidy respond to Jon Moxley and The Death Riders?
Adam Cole vs. Konosuke Takeshita
Of all Wednesday’s Dynamite contests, the expectations surrounding this match sit on a knife-edge. This is Adam Cole’s biggest challenge yet since his return from injury. On social media, gifs and videos project the desire of many to see The Alpha obliterate Adam Cole’s hopes of facing MJF.
That’s where the issue with this match lies. With match speculation delving and considering the meta just as much (if not more) than the storyline itself. The groundswell and love fans have for Konosuke Takeshita, despite being a heel and aligned with The Don Callis Family, creates a situation where Adam Cole could again find himself being booed.
Finally, with a championship around his waist, fans want Takeshita to dominate. Somewhat to see Takeshita suplex Cole out of his fake tan. Take another former world champion’s scalp on his way towards cementing himself as a star and crush the hopes of Adam Cole.
The issue is that this would prolong the blow-off with MJF. If prolonged, the build, storyline, and character alignments are already messy.
Each time those involve trying to square that circle, it reminds fans of the mess that was left at the end of 2023. Unfortunately, it’s plagued Cole’s return, along with other online discord.
And yet, a compelling match against one of AEW’s brightest and most gifted up-and-coming stars, with a strong result could help both men. An upset for Takeshita could feel earned and aid rather than hinder Cole’s inconsistent return. It would add extra drama to Roderick Strong vs. Lance Archer. A bit of heartbreak isn’t always a bad thing, from a storytelling point of view.
We’ll Hear From… On AEW Dynamite
Three “We’ll Hear From…” segments will help add further shape to the Full Gear card.
Firstly, Will Ospreay returned last week to get his hands on former stablemate and best friend, Kyle Fletcher. With revenge on his mind, a rematch between the two seems likely for New Jersey. Given the ceiling-smashing nature of the pair’s first encounter in Ospreay’s debut match on Dynamite, can they find a higher gear?
Likewise, can this just be a standard one-on-one match? At present, Full Gear is lacking in stipulation bouts. Also, where does Mark Davis fit into the proceedings?
Bobby Lashley will speak ahead of his match against Swerve Strickland at Full Gear. MVP made The Hurt Syndicate made their message of dominance clear last week – it was short and simple. Lashley now gets the chance to make the Syndicate’s issues with Strickland personal.
Make it clear how and why Strickland has offended The Syndicate and Lashley personally. Explain why and how Strickland, in their eyes, is a disappointment. Make a statement so we know what to expect from his AEW run.
Jamie Hayter has whiplashed the necks of Saraya and Penelope Ford. The former AEW Women’s World champion has been dominant but also kept away from the women’s championship scenes.
It’s unlikely Hayter will be rushed into Mariah May’s orbit. The return of Mina Shirakawa is imminent.
Who could get in Hayter’s way? Possibly The Vendetta – the team of Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo. Or, with the return of Dr Britt Baker to Dynamite, could these two former friends clash?
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.
