AEW Dynamite returns to Asheville’s Harrah’s Cherokee Center and Darby Allin will defend his AEW World Championship yet again, but not against Kazuchika Okada, but The Rainmaker’s Rival, Konosuke Takeshita! Overcoming PAC at AEW Fairway to Hell for four (out of four defences), Don Callis announced that due to family business, The Alpha, the family’s first-born son, will take his place. There’s history at play here, which we’ll discuss shortly.
Elsewhere, hometown former friends-turned-rivals Adam Copeland and FTR will face off in 10-man tag-team action. Yet, we’ll get into the details shortly. There will be plenty more matches announced between now and May 13. Check out the most passionate and insightful AEW Dynamite preview online regularly for all the latest updates.
With big announcements from the weekend, including hearing from MJF. Big Hebrew has had a lot to say online about fans suggesting he will lose his hair or the slander that it’s artificial, like the grass around the sandpit at Fairway to Hell. Will MJF have a counterproposal?
Plus, Will Ospreay returns to action, facing The Bang Bang Gang’s Ace Austin. And we’ll find out the brackets for this year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, men’s and women’s brackets!
There will be plenty more matches announced between now and 13th May, so check back regularly for the latest updates.
Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita
What a fantastic tease and an incredible bait and switch by AEW! After defending his AEW International Championship against Bryan Keith this past week on a three-hour Dynamite/Collision, Kazuchika Okada became the latest opportunist to challenge Darby Allin. Marching to the ring after Allin’s latest successful defence against Kevin Knight, Okada’s arrogance and sense of entitlement were clear.
However, before The Rainmaker could get the last laugh, Allin grabbed the microphone and stole the words on Okada’s tongue. Declaring, “It’s on, bitch!” Allin will not be intimidated.
Whether this is a means of building another big angle between Takeshita and The Rainmaker, either in-match or post-match, it feels fitting for Okada’s character, coasting and playing mind games to maintain his position. Regardless of the AEW International Championship picture, this match has history and so much promise.
Back in 2024, one of (if not the best) matches on TV that year was Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita. Although we always talk or think about opponents rag dolling Allin, treating him like an empty tracksuit, few men have looked like they might actually kill the Seattle-native like The Alpha.
Takeshita defeated Allin in a convincing and incredibly memorable match. Two years later, a lot has changed. Yet what remains the same is that fans still want Takeshita to be a main eventer. To hold that AEW World Championship. Given the creative surprises already this year, we could be about to see more history.
Or somehow, will Allin be able to settle an old score? As Allin did last week against Kevin Knight? As the champion did on Saturday night against PAC?
The AEW World Championship Match between @DarbyAllin and @BASTARDPAC was literally unlike anything we've ever seen before!
If you missed it, check out this highlight – then watch the #AEWCollision: Fairway to Hell replay RIGHT NOW on HBO MAX! pic.twitter.com/r4ykvUhm7J
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 10, 2026
10-Man Tag Team Action
Last week’s Double Jeopardy match between Orange Cassidy and Dax Harwood became an unofficial lumberjack match with bodies surrounding the ring. Intersecting grudges and problems collided post-match. Then, later in the main event, in another big multiple-man match-up.
Cassidy gets the win, but chaos has broken out immediately!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS + HBO Max pic.twitter.com/VFzGg1kK3u
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 7, 2026
Uniting the babyface team of The Young Bucks, Orange Cassidy, Cage, and Cope is a combined hatred for the AEW World Tag Team champions, FTR. For the former and latter teams, there is dried, bad blood. There are a few groups or individuals in the AEW locker room that FTR have not burnt bridges with.
Yet, on FTR’s side are three men who share the same code and feelings of lawlessness. Tommaso Ciampa took on The Conglomeration’s Mark Briscoe. Likewise, against Cassidy, there will be more hatred, given how Cassidy has the title opportunity the Psycho Killer wanted. The Dogs hate Cassidy as the Conglomeration took their AEW Trios Championships. Plus, recent issues with The Young Bucks have developed through various multi-man matches. The former Bullet Club teams are perhaps building to a two-on-two fight at some point.
Expect the optimum amount of chaos, thrills, and spills in this AEW signature match-up. With Double or Nothing not too far away on the AEW PPV calendar, more story developments and potential matches have been added because of this contest.
AEW Dynamite (5/13/26) – Matches Announced
- 10-Man Tag: The Young Bucks, Orange Cassidy, Cage, and Cope vs. The Dogs, Tommaso Ciampa, and FTR
- Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin
- AEW World Championship: Darby Allin © vs. Konosuke Takeshita
Other Announcements
- We’ll hear from MJF
- The brackets for the men and women for the 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament will be announced.
THIS WEDNESDAY, 5/13
Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite
Asheville, NC
LIVE at 8ET / 7CT on @TBSNetwork + HBO MAX#OwenCup Brackets AnnouncedThe 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Men's & Women's Tournament brackets will be announced LIVE on TBS + streaming on HBO MAX, THIS WEDNESDAY! pic.twitter.com/QVanUba72C
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 10, 2026
