It was a wild night for AEW Dynamite (Aug. 19, 2026). There was so much chaos. The show featured Kenny Omega executing a One Winged Angel to Will Ospreay through a table, Jon Moxley executing with a killer instinct, Nigel McGuinness pulling a comeback, a rowdy TBS title four-way, and more from Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, MD.
Kenny Omega’s climax
Kenny Omega is climaxing into peak performance. Based on his actions from Dynamite, you may interpret the the word climax in more ways than one. Seriously though, Omega saved this feud for me.
It was a busy night for Omega and Will Ospreay heading into the world title clash at All In. Both men competed in trios action, and there was a sitdown interview. The trios bouts delivered action and the results you would expect. Where the heat came was the aftermath to the main event.
Set the mood with the interview. Omega took an antagonistic approach spitting facts with a mix of false logic and twisting Ospreay’s words. This session had value by rehashing the history of their rivalry. However, the verbal jousting fell flat for me. I think it goes to the point of AEW trying to portray Omega as the best he has ever been. Yes, Omega is world champion. However, it’s hard to buy into the claim of being his best version when Omega only has one title defense. If the All In timeline wasn’t rushed, then Omega could have racked up more defenses to feel like he truly is peaking. The interview closed with heat on Omega. He delivered a stone cold line about Ospreay’s son needing to find a new hero. Ospreay was uppity, because Omega had the audacity to mention his family. It wasn’t even an insult to the child, so I rolled my eyes at the dramatic outrage. Omega did a good job picking at the fragile ego of Ospreay.
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!
Ospreay wrestled in the opener, and Omega wrestled in the main event. After Omega’s win with the Young Bucks over Callis Family henchmen, it was pandemonium. The Elite were attacked by more Callis goons. Adam Copeland ran in to help the Bucks, while Christian Cage walked slowly as his own leisure. The Bucks accidentally superkicked Christian, and an argument ensued with Cope. All the hooligans cleared out to brawl to the back.
That’s when Ospreay stormed to the ring to confront Omega. The champ called security on Bruv. Classic old-school trash talk was exchanged. Omega framed it as Ospreay tucking his tail between his legs like an English b-tch. The champ cackled with laughter. That one got under Ospreay’s skin. The fight was on. Security tried to corral Ospreay by the arms, and Omega took advantage for a clean V-Trigger. Omega has one more lesson for Ospreay. That lesson was a One Winged Angel off the apron through a table. Omega’s reaction signified that he snapped. An orgasmic look came over his eyes, and he rocked his butt on the floor to scratch that itch. This is a clip you have to watch yourself to see what I’m talking about.
I don’t know what that celebration was, but I laughed hard. Omega snapping has snapped my attention back into this feud. The question was never about interest in the match itself. We all know Omega versus Ospreay is going to blow the roof off Wembley. The issue is getting emotionally invested to enhance the experience. This post-match activity did the job for me. Part of me wants to see Omega go full climax to reach the peak of his power. Another side wants the feel-good ending for Ospreay winning the world title in the Wembley dream.
Continental Cup
These quarterfinal matches of the AEW Continental Challenge Cup may very well have shown the future to the final. Jon Moxley demonstrated why he is the ace of AEW, and Nigel McGuinness overcame the odds for his journey home.
Moxley versus Jay White delivered on excitement. Most assume that Moxley will advance to the final, because he’s the current champion and the biggest star in the tournament. I’ll be darned though. The match almost had me a few times believing that Switchblade might pull the upset. White went on a roll down the stretch hitting five suplexes and a superplex. The Blade Runner was right there for the taking, but Moxley headbutt his way out of White’s grasp. A short while later after some back and forth, White actually hit his finisher. Moxley still had the wits to roll outside to prevent the pin. That sequence was a roller coaster. Eyes wide for the Blade Runner then heart sinks when the pinfall opportunity is gone.
Moxley showed why he is the ace on the finish. White loaded Moxley into the ring, and Mox snatched him like bait for a gator roll. Mox went for a choke, but White showed smart defense in hand fighting. Moxley quickly transitioned for a Death Rider. Kick out by White, then Moxley immediately went for the rear naked choke. Mox got his clutches in for a body triangle, and White tapped out from the submission.
Moxley was great in this match. I appreciate how he went for the kill. Moxley didn’t waste precious time on an exaggerated reaction when White kicked out. Mox went right back to work to squeeze his opponent’s neck. For the talk about peaking into form, Mox’s recent performance is what that looks like in theory. He beat Jack Perry to a bloody pulp, and now he relied on technical skill to submit White. Despite the loss, I think Switchblade can use this match as a springboard toward a different title.
Nigel’s effort was a storyline match to work around his ankle injury. Hechicero went to his strength for submissions. Nigel was crafty with escapes by messing with Hechicero’s mask and raking the eyes. The referee was Rick Knox. I like to imagine that Nigel knew he could push the limits without risking disqualification from a ref who is notoriously soft on rules. Hechicero controlled much of the match. Nigel was shifty to dodge a charge and blast Hechicero with a knee strike. Nigel dodged Hechi again to sweep the legs out. Nigel pounced on the opening for a front chancery with a body triangle Hechicero could not escape, and the luchador passed out.
This match did what it needed to do. Nigel played the comeback kid to create a moment for the fans to pop. It’s good that his style can work around his injury. Nigel’s story rolls on with the hook to see if he can do it again in the semifinals.
Let’s jam through the rest of Dynamite. Catch up on all the details with excellent play-by-play from Claire Elizabeth.
Will Ospreay, Henare, & Francesco Akira defeated Brian Cage, Lance Archer, & Rocky Romero. Ospreay called in bruvs from the United Empire, and they gelled well with teamwork offense. Henare was a savage against bigger hosses. Henare is quickly growing to be a favorite in my eyes with his style in the ring.
Romero was great hamming it up on the outside mimicking Cage’s muscle poses, and the finish was hilarious. When Rocky turned his back for a taunt on his knees. Ospreay blindsided him with the Hidden Blade. This was a funny way to close a rowdy opener.
Takeshita returns with violence. This segment started with a backstage promo from Kazuchika Okada claiming that the most important thing is keeping the AEW International Championship in the Callis Family. Of course, Okada had a bigger smile when discussing himself winning the belt than Kyle Fletcher retaining.
Fletcher said his piece in the ring. He advised Okada to know his role and watch his back in the All In match. They can agree on their hatred for Konosuke Takeshita.
Say his name, and he appears. Takeshita returned from NJPW to throw hands with Fletcher. Takeshita got the edge to stand tall with Raging Fire. Okada was nowhere to be seen in any effort to help Fletcher.
These promos continue to push dissent over the international title. It’s going to be a great moment when Fletcher and Okada finally explode on each other at All In. Sprinkle in the surprise of Takeshita here for even more of a good time.
TBS Championship: Maya World (c) defeated Kris Statlander, Hikaru Shida, and Persephone to retain the title. The flow felt like a true four-way. The finish was a perfect example. Persephone lifted Shida for her finisher, then Statlander snatched the samurai from Perse to execute a powerbomb instead.
The sequence continued with Statlander crushing Perse on a discus lariat. World landed a flying senton on the pile to break the pin. Statlander grabbed the upper hand for her piledriver finisher. World countered into a roll-up to take the win.
This result proves World’s TBS title reign is not a fluke. I like how AEW leans into her underdog status with underdog methods of victory. I’m curious where the TBS picture goes from here. This match could just as easily been on All In. As far as I’m concerned, it’s time for World to get new challengers. Statlander, Shida, and Persephone had their shots, and they couldn’t get the job done. This match had no shenanigans, so there are no excuses for a rematch.
Next up for World is a world title shot against Willow Nightingale at Collision. Willow honored her word to give World the first shot. While I appreciate the babyface honor, this matchmaking feels unnecessary. Willow is clearly looking past World to All In, and that kind of borderlines on arrogance than confidence. It also diminishes the perception of World as a threat. Plus, World is likely going to eat a loss while on a hot streak.
Trios title picture. After the Moxley match, he declined to give respect to White. That may have been by design. The Dogs ran in to maul White. Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly ran in for the save, because they were nearby scouting the tournament match. Gabe Kidd made a surprise return. Roderick Strong joined the fracas. Hangman Page, Brody King, and Bandido arrived to give the babyfaces overwhelming numbers. Ricochet and his crew entered on stage. Shout-out to Blake Christian and Lee Johnson for dressing better to fit in with the Demand. They didn’t have vests, but they did wear tank tops and nice pants. Hangman cut a promo telling teams to step up at All In. The champs will be waiting by the Wembley arch at dusk.
On top of that, Swerve Strickland teased getting in on that trios challenge.
This chaos confuses me for what is planned at All In. There’s a bunch of teams in the mix. How will AEW fit all the bodies into a trios match? Will it be teams knocking each other off during the show to be at the arch at dusk?
How you know? Jon Cruz was in the ring on behalf of MJF to insult Andrade. Cruz didn’t think El Idolo was in the building. He instantly regret his words when Andrade’s music ushered El Idolo to the ring. Andrade won an impromptu match with a two-hitter quitter. The back elbow led to the DM for a quick win. Andrade fired up with threats to kill MJF in the wrestling context. Big Hebrew answered on the big screen from his pool at home. After more trash talk, Andrade hit a second DM on Cruz. This was an entertaining way to get this feud on screen without going face to face. Cruz is a pro at getting beat up. Andrade continues to be hot with the crowd.
Mercedes Moné and Willow Nightingale in pull apart brawl. After all the fighting between these two, it was funny to see the interview with Renee Paquette be conducted in triple screen. They bickered about the same trash talk points, then they were in the mood to fight more. Willow and Mercedes exited their sequesterment, and fists were thrown on sight. They brawled to the ring with security being incompetent at breaking up the skirmish.
There are good pull apart brawls, and there are pull apart brawls that feel like going through the motions. This one had intensity. I laughed in a good way at Mercedes windmilling her arms for punches. This feud has bad blood. It’s easy to understand each person’s point of view, even if you don’t necessarily agree with it. The bout at All In should be fire.
Explosion on Darby Allin’s face. Kevin Knight was in the ring to call out Allin face to face. The Jet didn’t trust the sneaky squirrel, so Knight requested that Allin lift his jacket to show no hidden flamethrowers. Boom! Pyro went off in Allin’s face.
Knight went on the attack and connected on a coast to coast dropkick into a chair. Allin did a stretcher job with Sting Jr. by his side.
Backstage, Knight taunted Hijo de Sting. Allin calmed the youngster not to take the bait right now.
That explosion was hilariously unexpected. I sat here thinking for then to hurry up in the overrun, so I was shocked when pyro blasted. It was smoky indoors for the rest of the show. I wonder if Tony Khan wanted to make sure the explosion looked good after the exploding barbed wire debacle. This assault adds an extra layer of bad blood for All In. It also serves as an interesting way to bring Sting’s son into the mix.
Kenny Omega & Young Bucks defeated Mark Davis, Jake Doyle, & El Clon. The Elite handled business in the main event. The dust cleared for a snap dragon suplex a triple superkick, the V-trigger, and the One Winged Angel for Omega to finish Doyle. The match was fine in terms of cool moves, especially Clon’s movement. Unfortunately, I gave zero nuts about this match. That’s not a shot at the wrestlers. It’s a reflection on the bookerman. My desire to watch waned due to the result being so obvious on paper and it running so far past the two-hour time slot. I figured Ospreay would make an appearance at the end, so I sat here hoping for this match to hurry up. If I had a normal life, I probably would have turned off the TV for the night and skipped the match, which would have been a shame to miss the closing chaos.
Notes: For those placing bets, Dynamite ran long past its 2-hour time slot. The main event didn’t start until 19 minutes after the hour. The show ended with a 34-minute overrun.
The Brawling Birds saw fear in the eyes of Divine Dominion.
Stud of the Show: Kenny Omega
That One Winged Angel through the table was a devious message.
Match of the Night: Jon Moxley vs. Jay White
White did enough to make me believe in an upset, the action featured smooth technique on offense and defense, and the finish was money.
Grade: B
Fun show with lots of chaos. Had this been the go-home episode to All In, I would have been satisfied in the excitement created.
Share your thoughts about AEW Dynamite. How do you rate it? What were your favorite moments from the show? Who impressed you the most?
