Welcome to our recap of tonight’s AEW Fyter Fest results.

AEW Dynamite Card Tonight:

• Contract Signing: AEW International Champion Kenny Omega and AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada
• The Hurt Syndicate versus “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Kommander
• Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford vs. Tayjay
• Kyle Fletcher vs. Antony Bowens
• Mistico returns
• “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Julia Hart with Mercedes Mone on commentary
• “The Toxic Spider” Thekla vs. Queen Aminata
• Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland
• and more!

AEW Dynamite Results

Hangman Page backstage opening

Backstage, Christopher Daniels intercepted Hangman Page, warning him of the Death Riders and The Young Bucks. As he turned around the corner, the Death Riders themselves trailed after him.

Will Ospreay versus Swerve Strickland ended in a Time Limit Draw.

“Holy sh*t!” chants from the crowd erupted. Ospreay and Strickland shook hands, with the latter gaining the upper hand. While the match started respectfully, Strickland busted Ospreay’s nose, which then dripped blood. Grappled on the ropes, Ospreay reeled after an egregious forearm. The ever-confident Strickland slammed Ospreay with a Flatliner, further dazing him. Throughout Ospreay’s faintest glimmers of hope, Strickland superceded him with grounding techniques to maintain control. Ospreay’s past neck issues came into play courtesy of multiple Neckbreakers.

Steadily, Ospreay’s comeback grew: an unsuccessful Stormbreaker led to a Stundog Millionaire. He then flung his brother-figure over his shoulder into the corner. Wearing Strickland down further, the Brit launched a ring apron-bound Strickland to the outside with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay reached for another Hidden Blade to Strickland, who collapsed from exhaustion. Hangman Page’s Deadeye found usage through Strickland, but it couldn’t put Ospreay away.  Ospreay cancelled a House Call, transitioning it into a Double-Underhook Stormbreaker. Ospreay nearly ended Strickland with a Tiger Driver, but he thought better of it. Strickland hit yet another House Call, stunning Ospreay onto the apron. With Ospreay on the throes of destruction, Strickland needed only to unleash one more Swerve Stomp, but the match ended via a time limit draw.

Post-match, Strickland urged Ospreay to go into Sudden Death time. The Death Riders swarmed the ring, as Strickland readied himself. Ambushed by the Young Bucks, he was handcuffed to the ropes. The Bucks dispatched Nana before taking turns Superkicking Strickland. They aimed for one more with a thumbtack-laden shoe, but Ospreay dived in at the last second to save him.

Thrilling match, no doubt. However, the nearfalls grew somewhat egregious. Luckily it sustained the crowd’s hype, and it ultimately did help the post-match and the time limit draw finish.

Kazuchika Okada backstage segment

Renee Paquette asked the Rainmaker about his upcoming contract signing with Kenny Omega. Before he could retort, Don Callis pressed him, asking why Kyle Fletcher or Konosuke Takeshita weren’t facing Omega instead. Fletcher, Takeshita, and Lance Archer flanked him, but Okada grabbed and twisted Callis’s wrist before calling him the usual expletive.

Hurt Syndicate attack Komander

Mistico defeated Blake Christian (with Lee Johnson)

Mistico and Christian started evenly, but some underhanded tactics teetered the trajectory of the match in Christian’s favor. Despite this, Mistico threw out an Escalara to subdue his opponent. Johnson cut Mistico off from a top rope move, capitalized by Christian with a 450 Splash. Mistico interjected a top-rope perched Christian, sending him down with a Spanish Fly.

Post-match, the Hurt Syndicate interrupted Mistico’s celebration. MJF recalled the challenge he issued at Fyter Fest. He elaborated, announcing he’d bring back his red, white, and blue gear and would unmask the luchadore. Mistico responded that he would be ready for him in Mexico City. MJF called him Sin Cara, to which he retaliated and was rewarded with a beatdown by the Hurt Syndicate. “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Mascara Dorada came to Mistico’s aid as the Syndicate sought to unmask him.

A fun little glimpse into Mistico as easy hype for Grand Slam. Not only that, but this match added to the upcoming trios match.

The Hurt Syndicate (MJF, Bobby Lashley, & Shelton Benjamin) defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, & Mascara Dorada

Dorada filled in for the injured Komander. MJF wrestled in gear reminiscent of MVP, which he flashed proudly while matching Dorada’s agility. Dorada had MJF in dire straits, leading to a Syndicate intervention; MJF distracted the referee with crocodile tears. Knight wore down MJF with a Dropkick and a sweet Frog Splash. Benjamin and Lashley tossed Bailey and Knight around like ragdolls. MJF dropped Bailey with a Pump-Handle Slam, to which he survived. Arrogantly mocking Bailey with a Crane Kick stance, MJF fell to a Thrust Kick. The duo trounced Lashley and Benjamin with Triangle Moonsaults as Mistico felled MJF with a Shooting Star Press. MJF secured a DDT for a sneaky win courtesy of MVP’s cane.

Post-match, the full Hurt Syndicate rained down an assault on the fallen triumvirate. MJF grappled Dorada’s mask off, seeking to do more damage. However, Mistico returned to jape MJF, leading to more fuel for the Arena Mexico show.

Hurt Syndicate is heating up nicely in a much-improved storyline. To have JetSpeed (Bailey and Knight) alongside Dorada adds the needed juice with their combined athleticism.

Hangman Page segment

Page was set to address Jon Moxley, but the Death Riders interjected, taping his mouth and beating him up. Moxley gave a promo during this, stating that Page needs to step up in the next few weeks. The group proceeded to beat and choke the cowboy. The Opps charged into Page’s save. Page defiantly ranted that he has come too far and expressed his determination to win at All In.

TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay) defeated Penelope Ford & Megan Bayne

After interruptions by Jay and Ford, Bayne and Melo nearly came to blows. Ford subverted this, slamming Melo to the steps outside. Jay unloaded a torrent of offense on Ford, teaming with Melo to keep her isolated. Bayne and Ford continued incapacitating Melo while crushing Jay. Melo fired back, sending kicks to Bayne and rolling her Fate’s Descent into a Calf-Slicer. Charging with a lariat, Bayne’s leg caused waver, but Ford’s Orihara Moonsault grounded TayJay. With Melo and Jay in her arms, Bayne downed both with a single Fate’s Descent. Melo cracked Ford with a Rolling Elbow for the victory while Jay held Bayne at the ropes.

It’s as though Melo didn’t have her two-year hiatus. Her familiarity with Ford and Jay flowed wondrously, whereas Bayne’s involvement added an exciting mix.

Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada contract signing

Tony Schiavone stressed the importance of the Omega/Okada match at All In, with the International Championship and Continental Championship on each side of a soon-to-be-revealed belt. Schiavone revealed the title to be the AEW Unified Championship. Okada signed without a word spoken, while Omega implored Okada to leave it all in the ring when they face off. They shook hands.

Don Callis soured the moment after the signing, complaining of the lack of Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita. Omega told Callis that he won’t screw up his match with Okada, that he knew all of his tricks. Callis insinuated otherwise, to which Okada used a belt to strike the International Champion from behind. Callis followed up with a police baton. Christopher Daniels came to Omega’s aid, dropping unedited F-bombs at Callis. Okada and Callis resumed their beatdown regardless, leaving Omega spitting up blood.

Kyle Fletcher (with Lance Archer) defeated Anthony Bowens (with Billy Gunn)

Gunn attempted to equalize Fletcher’s dirty tactics, but Bowens insisted otherwise. Fletcher employed a flurry of maddeningly high-octane offense, countered by a spectacular Bulldog from Bowens, punctuated with a Fallaway Slam. Fletcher’s stature and agility gave him breadth for a while, but Bowens returned him to the mat with a clothesline. Bowens achieved a Twisting DDT, but Fletcher recovered with kicks of his own, finalized with a powerbomb. Bowens nearly secured a win with a Brainbuster. Gunn encouraged both men (mostly Bowens) to re-enter the ring, answered with a rude attack by Lance Archer. Fletcher deployed a Brainbuster of his own to put away Bowens.

Finally, a match that does something with Bowens. Since his return, not much had been done for him aside from putting away Max Caster. Though he didn’t get the win, Fletcher gave a wide berth for the 5-Tool Player to shine in a long match filled with deep spots.

Carlos Cabrera in-ring announcement

Cabrera touted the importance of the Arena Mexico show at Grand Slam. He then introduced legendary luchador Atlantis and his son, Atlantis Jr. FTR and Stokely Hathaway broke up the good feelings. Hathaway slandered Atlantis, Cabrera, Nigel McGuinness, and Adam Copeland. Harwood proceeded to dogwalk the Atlantis unit a brawl broke out between FTR and the Atlantis Family. Adam Cole jumped to Atlantis and Atlantis Jr’s aid. The Don Callis Family jumped in as well. Bandido, Templario, and Brody King also joined the festivities.

It’s nice to see Atlantis jump into action. I certainly did not expect the constant unloading of wrestler after wrestler.

Learning Tree backstage interview

Lexy Nair spoke to Big Bill and Bryan Keith, who expressed their respect and concern for each other. JD Drake and Anthony Greene of the Workhorsemen interrupted, setting a match between the teams soon.

“Timeless” Toni Storm defeated Julia Hart (with Mercedes Mone on commentary)

Skye Blue accompanied Hart to the ring. Mone continued eating a fancy five-star meal as per her dinner at Fyter Fest. Blue and Hart attacked Storm, but she managed to start the match. Hart overwhelmed her with powerful and acrobatic offense, but Storm retrieved momentum with a hip attack (where she led to an ad break). Storm halted a top rope maneuver, leading to a couple of Fisherman Suplexes that almost defeated Hart. On the ropes and in the ring, Hart stretched Storm’s limbs. Storm barely evaded a moonsault by Hart, clutching a win via a Small Package.

During the match, Mone tweeted on-air that she would be challenging for the CMLL World Women’s Championship to become “5 Beltz Mone”. She then helped Storm to her feet, sniffed her face, and assaulted her. Mina Shirakawa came to Storm’s rescue, and she earned a beatdown as well.

Hart’s finding the space that made her entertaining to watch before her injury. Adding more gold to satiate the power of Mone has given her proof as a threat to Storm’s throne.

Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, & Willow Nightingale defeated MxM Collection (Mason Madden & Mansoor) & Taya Valkyrie (with Johnny Television)

Ishii collided with the manic Mansoor, punishing with chest chops that saw him fleeing to Valkyrie. She attempted the same to an unflinching Ishii. Nightingale equalized her. Briscoe withstood the combined front from the Collection. Nightingale tossed Mansoor aside, toppling Nightingale with an excited conveyor belt of moves. MxM Collection tried a Doomsday Device on Briscoe. Ishii broke it up with a vertical suplex to Mansoor. Briscoe added more offense with a Froggy Bow to Madden. Nightingale finished the match with a Powerbomb to an isolated Valkyrie.

Short fun, but the best part was the segment following it.

Kris Statlander segment

During the previous match, Statlander was shown to be watching Nightingale on a backstage television before storming away. Outside the arena, she expressed her disdain for trying to fix things with Nightingale. Wheeler Yuta came outside to appeal to her, to find her own way apart from the past.

Bandido defeated The Beast Mortos

Mortos’s strength kept Bandido within distance of defeat, impressed by a Tornado Crossbody through the ropes. Bandido endured the brutish offense, turning the tide with a prolonged Tornado Hurricanrana. He hoped for a Frog Splash, to no avail. Mortos crushed him with a Twisting Tornado Bomb + Crucifix Bomb. Mortos thwarted Bandido’s Moonsault, but lost the match due to the ROH World Champion’s Fireman’s Press from the top rope.

Excellent lucha action. Mortos, small as he is, feels like a monster. A goliath for a Bandido to serve as a David for.

Mercedes Mone backstage segment

Mone boasted about her attack on Toni Storm earlier. CMLL World Women’s Champion Zeuxis approached Mone, accepting her challenge before striking her.

Hangman Page backstage segment

Checking on Will Ospreay, Page was greeted by the Young Bucks, who revealed they’ve been trying to clear the way for him to win the Owen Hart Tournament. He stated he didn’t need their help and that if he ever burns a house down again, they’ll be the ones trapped in it. Prince Nana listened on, and as both parties left, he asked Swerve Strickland if he heard it; he did.

Thekla defeated Queen Aminata

Thekla’s prowess overwhelmed Aminata, but couldn’t daze her. The Queen responded with ruthless attacks to echo in the arena. Thekla sneakily used the referee as a shield to recover from Aminata, plotting her next move. Upon re-entry to the ring, she reeled at Aminata’s kicks. Using her momentum, she redirected Aminata’s body to the mat. A headscissor hold on the ropes stretched Aminata, but she simply kept throwing Thekla around. This came around to bite Aminata as Thekla used this to kick her while sticking to the ropes.

A stomp to Thekla’s midsection inched Aminata closer to victory. A Rolling Elbow sent Aminata hunched over. Thekla did her spider walk before dropping her with a Spear. Thekla wrapped her up, snaring a win via a Death Trap.

I’m a big fan of how they switched up the expectation after the past couple of weeks of Thekla’s AEW tenure. Essentially enforcing the power of Aminata, causing the Toxic Spider to reflect and strategize against a larger opponent.

Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian backstage segment

Sabian informed Wayne that Christian Cage and Shayna Wayne were giving him space. Before Wayne could react, Sabian showed a highlight reel of Wayne’s performance in NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He concluded that Cage was proud of him. Not only did Sabian think he had benefited from Cage’s tutelage, but Wayne had as well.

Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Lance Archer, Josh Alexander, & Hechicero) defeated Daniel Garcia & Paragon (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, & Kyle O’Reilly)

Hechicero and Garcia grappled on the mat to a stalemate, leading to their individual taunts. Cole managed to supersede Takeshita’s power, leading Paragon members to whittle at him. Strong and O’Reilly picked at Archer further, to which he lashed out in a rampage that saw them, Cole, and Garcia flattened. Garcia rained down a shower of fists on Takeshita in the corner, leading to an eventual Twist and Shout. Alexander’s technical strengths outweigh Garcia’s, leading to Strong’s dynamic strength to turn the tide. Paragon and Garcia held their opponents in holds, but Archer saved his Don Callis Family mates from certain doom. Archer choked O’Reilly in the corner while Alexander pinned Strong with a Bridging German Suplex.

After the match, Tony Schiavone announced that Adam Cole, Daniel Garcia, Brody King, Templario, Bandido, and Atlantis would face the Don Callis Family and FTR. Zeuxis and Mercedes Mone were made official for the CMLL World Women’s Championship. MJF takes on Mistico. Lastly, The Death Riders are to face The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata) alongside Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland.

Everyone made the most of their time here. That said, there wasn’t much to care about leading into this match. Despite this, the momentum heading into next week’s 12-man tag team match is bigger than ever.

Closing thoughts

Summer Blockbuster was a bigger success than this year’s Fyter Fest. The women got more time, and the build to Grand Slam in Arena Mexico is red hot while still stoking the flames for All In Texas.