AEW Dynamite live results: Grand Slam Tournament of Champions semifinals
The Grand Slam Tournament of Champions continues on this week’s AEW Dynamite with a pair of semifinals.
Bryan Danielson faces Chris Jericho in a Tournament of Champions bout. The winner advances to the finals on next week’s Dynamite Grand Slam episode. The two last faced off at All Out, where Jericho came away with the victory.
In the other semifinal, former two-time AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will face Sammy Guevara.
The winners of the semifinals will meet in the finals next week in New York City at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a bout to determine the new AEW World Champion.
Also set for tonight’s Dynamite, interim AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will team with Athena to take on Britt Baker and Serena Deeb.
Jungle Boy signed an Open Challenge earlier in the day and Jay Lethal has officially accepted for tonight’s show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
AEW Dynamite opened with Excalibur welcoming us to the show, joined at commentary by Tony Schiavone, Taz & Lord William Regal. The music for Jon Moxley hit and we’re ready for our first semi final match in the vacant AEW World Title tournament.
Jon Moxley defeated Sammy Guevara to advance in the AEW Tournament of Champions final
Moxley grounded Guevara early but Guevara responded with corner strikes. Guevara jaw jacked with the crowd and was turned inside out with a Moxley lariat. During a chop battle, Moxley faked taking a nap, but Guevara sent him outside with two dives.
Guevara drove Moxley’s head into the ring steps, but Moxley quickly recovered and sent Guevara into the railing. Moxley couldn’t stay in control long, as Guevara posted him and headed back to the ring for a two count. Guevara escaped a rear naked choke quickly to remain in control. An attempted piledriver on the apron was countered into a headlock driver on the apron by Moxley. Guevara broke the count at seven, was violently back raked, bit and planted with a butterfly suplex for two.
Guevara countered a submission into a Boston Crab momentarily and hit a double jump cutter for a close near fall. GTH was countered into a bulldog choke by Moxley, as he transitioned to anvil elbows. Guevara countered a king kong lariat into a Spanish fly for two. Moxley cut off Guevara in the corner with an avalanche German suplex for the double down as Anna Jay & Tay Conti hit ringside.
Anna took the referee, Tay kicked Moxley low, but Guevara got a roll up for two. Guevara missed a Senton Atomico as Lord Regal asked if he’ll get cancelled if he called Tay & Anna harlots. Strike battle led to Moxley floating out of GTH into Death Rider for the victory. This was a fun opener with Moxley overcoming the interference that gave Guevara his win against Darby last week.
Excalibur said that MJF was causing a scene backstage and demanded a microphone as they went to commercial.
**********
MJF stormed to the ring and said he’s not the kid who faced Moxley in 2020. He’s not playing a character, Moxley is and he’s a joke. MJF said Moxley built a good character and the fans buy it, but he doesn’t. He knows Moxley is the same scared little boy and will drown his troubles in alcohol like a drunk. He also warned Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson, saying bad things happen when people get in MJF’s way, so stay away from Grand Slam. MJF said when Moxley came back from rehab he had mentioning beating his demons. He warns Moxley that if he doesn’t tread lightly, he’ll be that demon Moxley can’t slay.
MJF brought out his best friend since age 19, Stokely Hathaway and The Firm. Hathaway said he told MJF he couldn’t quit AEW, he’d be giving the fans what they want. Hathaway said all of his henchmen are on retainer and whenever MJF doesn’t need them, they’ll go their separate ways. Hathaway said everything he’s done since being in AEW has been strategic. From hanging out with Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter, to watching Living Single with the House of Black, which is an image I want to see. Hathaway hugged Morrissey, said Lee Moriarty will bring honor back to the Ring of Honor Pure title, the Gunn Club want tag team gold and Ethan Page wants the All Atlantic title. They are The Firm, either run with them or run from them.
**********
Jungle Boy defeated Jay Lethal w/Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh
After a strike exchange, Jungle Boy controlled the action with Lethal’s offense attempts being countered early and often. Lethal tried a Figure Four, but was sent outside. Jungle Boy wanted a dive, but Satnam Singh stood in his way, as Dutt ran distraction to let Lethal hit a back breaker on the top turnbuckle.
Lethal remained in control as commentary put over how much Jungle Boy could still be feeling the effects of All Out. Jungle Boy exploded out of the corner to turn Lethal inside out with a lariat, which led to a forearm battle. Jungle Boy sold his back while trying a suplex, but Jungle Boy avoided Lethal Injection into another lariat and brainbuster. In the corner, Lethal recovered and hit a Russian leg sweep off the second buckle. Jungle Boy countered Lethal Injection, but Lethal countered Killswitch into Lethal Combination.
A tope suicida from Lethal led to a top rope elbow drop for a near fall. Jungle Boy blocked a pump kick and got the Snare Trap. Dutt was knocked from the apron, as Lethal tried a Figure Four, but Jungle Boy countered into the Snare Trap to get the submission.
– We cut to a training video of HOOK & Action Bronson. Next week, Bronson said Daddy Magic & Angelo will get their ass kicked.
– Alex Marvez is backstage and said he couldn’t wait for Grand Slam. He introduces the Big Apple’s premiere pizza maker and wrestler, Luigi Primo, someone who has gotten some notoriety on Twitter this week. Ethan Page quickly booted him in the face and Danhausen interrupted soon after. Page issued a challenge to the jester of AEW this Friday for Rampage and Danhausen accepted, though I’m not sure he actually realized Page was talking about him.
**********
-A Darby Allin video is shown from his work from Nitro Circus this past weekend backflipping a tricycle. Matt Hardy puts him over and called him one of his greatest rivals. Matt challenged Darby to a match on Rampage to scratch his way back to the top.
Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Matt DiMartino
Hobbs wasted no time with a corner splash and spinebuster for the win.
Post match, Hobbs took the mic and said it only took him 4 minutes to defeat Ricky Starks at All Out and it’s time for a new chapter of the Book of Hobbs. Ricky Starks emerged from the crowd, hit the ring and spiked Hobbs in the head with the microphone. Hobbs retreated with a busted lip as Starks stood tall.
**********
-Death Triangle cut a brief pre-recorded promo saying the time is now to regain their AEW Tag Team Titles.
Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland) defeated Lucha Bros (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero M) w/Alex Abrahantes to retain the AEW Tag Team Championship
A lightning fast start from Strickland & Penta with Penta punting the hands out from Strickland during a handstand attempt. Assisted splash by the Lucha Bros got a two count by Fenix, who soon found himself in the corner with Strickland, who connected with a hurricanrana off the second rope. Fenix foolishly tried a chop exchange with Keith Lee and fell like a mannequin as a result.
Lucha Bros regained control with a dive outside, but Lee eventually steamrolled Fenix to his corner, as Strickland tagged in and immediately mocked Penta. Fenix spun out of a Gory Special into a comeback spin kick to make the hot tag to Penta. Fenix was caught by Lee on a dive and lawn darted onto his partner, as Penta had just hit Made in Penta on Strickland. Penta tried Fear Factor, but Strickland slapped Penta and tagged Lee.
Fenix tried a cross body again on Lee and was caught and rag dolled down. Strickland & Lee tried their corner powerbomb double stomp, but Penta put a stop to it, which allowed Fenix to hit a Spanish Fly off the top. Penta hit an amazing step up Destroyer on Lee for a close two. Strickland shoved Fenix off the top to the floor and Lee hit a Ground Zero for the win. This was a very good title match.
Acclaimed interrupted soon after and Max Caster told Strickland to stop nut hugging every famous person he knows. Caster told him to roll Keith Lee to Grand Slam and Anthony Bowens said they are going to beat their Drake & Josh looking asses next week to win the tag titles.
-Alex Marvez tried to interview Death Triangle backstage, but Penta & Fenix walked away. PAC reminded Marvez who they are as he’s the current All Atlantic champion. Out of nowhere and Orange Punch clocked PAC as Orange Cassidy picked up the mic and said PAC wouldn’t be double-double champion for long.
**********
-Toni Storm & Athena cut a promo on Britt Baker & Serena Deeb, as Athena said she’s been brushing, flossing and eating an apple a day to keep the Doctor away. Tonight, they are going to win it for Hikaru Shida.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. & Serena Deeb (w/Rebel) defeated Interim AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm & Athena
Excalibur informs us Jamie Hayter hasn’t spoken to Britt since All Out. Deeb & Storm exchanged holds, takedowns and corner chops in the early going. Athena made a tag and hit a cool spinning facebuster before Baker tripped her and Deeb attacked the leg on the apron.
Deeb & Baker took turns keeping Athena isolated as Athena collapsed off an Irish whip by Baker. Deeb applied a modified figure four briefly until Athena got free with an enzugiri. Storm made the hot tag, but Britt avoided Sweet Cheek Music in the corner. On the outside, Storm used Deeb as a launching pad to hit a Tornado DDT on Baker.
Baker recovered enough to hit a Sling Blade as Athena & Deeb made the tag with Deeb countering a springboard into a cross arm breaker. Athena powered Deeb up and hit a Meteora until Storm tagged in. Deeb rolled through a cross body into a single leg crab and refused to let go, just eating strikes from Athena.
The match broke down with Baker slamming Athena into the ring steps, while Storm countered Deeb-tox. With Rebel taking the ref, Deeb sent Storm into Baker on the apron, who was holding a chair, as Deeb pinned the Interim Women’s Champion.
Post match, Baker & Deeb beat down Athena & Storm until Jamie Hayter hit the ring and used the chair on Toni Storm. Baker kept apologizing, as Hayter just walked off, happy with her dirty work.
Excalibur runs down the upcoming cards for AEW:
AEW Rampage 09/16/22:
-Samoa Joe vs. Josh Woods (w/Mark Sterling) for the ROH Television Championship
-Ethan Page vs. Danhausen
-Penelope Ford vs. Willow Nightingale
-Matt Hardy vs. Darby Allin
AEW Dynamite Grand Slam 09/21/22
-Jon Moxley vs. the winner of Chris Jericho & Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions for the vacant AEW World Title
-Swerve in Our Glory vs. The Acclaimed for the AEW World Tag Team Titles
-Toni Storm vs. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Athena vs. Serena Deeb for the Interim AEW Women’s Title
-PAC vs. Orange Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Title
AEW Rampage Grand Slam 09/23/22
-HOOK & Action Bronson vs. Angelo Parker & Matt Menard
**********
Bryan Danielson defeated Chris Jericho to advance in the AEW Tournament of Champions final
Excalibur tells us Bryan Danielson has never beaten Chris Jericho in his career, as Lord Regal joined commentary once again. Danielson controlled a majority of the opening minutes of this match, mainly working over the shoulder of Jericho to soften him up for his submission down the stretch.
Jericho ate kicks, but ducked a home run shot with a release German suplex. Springboard dropkick followed by a springboard cross body put Jericho in control outside. Slap battle turned into a chop exchange with both man’s chest beat red. Both men tried for charging cross bodies and collided for the double down.
Jericho slammed Danielson’s head repeatedly into the mat, but Danielson started doing push-ups to show they didn’t have an effect. Jericho dropped Danielson with a Lionsault for two, but Danielson moved out of the corner and Jericho ran shoulder first into the post. Jericho crotched Danielson in the corner and hit an impressive hurricanrana to follow.
Jericho missed a Judas Effect as Danielson hit a snap German into Cattle Mutilation. Danielson poured down anvil elbows, but Jericho landed a temple shot which led to anvil elbows of his own, which Danielson no sold. More chops echoed from both men until Jericho hit a Code Breaker, but Danielson responded with a Busaiku Knee.
More chops on the apron led to Jericho suplexing Danielson to the floor and Danielson clutched his left ankle. Referee Aubrey called the doctor for assistance, Jericho tossed him aside to post Danielson’s ankle and lock on the figure four on the post briefly. Jericho chop blocked the leg, as Danielson fought off a knee breaker, tried another Busaiku Knee and fell right into the Walls of Jericho.
Jericho transitioned into a heel hook, then spinning toe hold, which Danielson kicked out of to get a roll up. Jericho locked on a figure four until both men started slugging it out with Danielson escaping into a LeBell Lock. Jericho fought, but Danielson wrenched at the nose to get a better grip and the tap out. Daniel Garcia gave a nod of approval backstage and I agree, this was a fantastic main event.
Jon Moxley walked out post match, stared at the AEW World Title and shook Danielson’s hand to the chants to end the show.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this episode of Dynamite quite a bit, as both semi final match in the Tournament of Champions delivered and was given plenty of time. They have plenty of matches setup for upcoming shows and an absolutely loaded Dynamite next week with four titles on the line.