AEW Dynasty arrived with a bang. The promotion's newest pay-per-view premiered at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Sunday night, and it produced a wave of new champions, including an instant "match of the year" contender in Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson.
That match clocked in at 32 minutes and culminated with Ospreay nailing Danielson with his Hidden Blade finisher and a ruthless Tiger Driver '91 maneuver. Danielson's inability to stand after the onslaught prompted the referee to start to call for the medical team but Ospreay went right back after Danielson with another Hidden Blade to the back of the head, securing the win. The final scene of Ospreay looking down at a barely conscious Danielson all but guarantees we'll get a rematch down the road. But for now, the match stands right up there with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes in the main event of WWE WrestleMania XL as the best matches of 2024.
The wild night concluded with Swerve Strickland defeating Samoa Joe to become the new AEW champion, the first Black wrestler to hold the company's top prize in its five-year history. Swerve was one of four new champions crowned, and there was also a title unification earlier on AEW Dynasty.
CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event providing updates and highlights as the action went down.
2024 AEW Dynasty results, grades
AEW Championship -- Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland: Swerve was able to keep Joe down for a three count with a powerbomb from the second turnbuckle and his Swerve Stomp finisher, the second time he hit it in the match. With the win, Strickland becomes AEW's first Black world champion. The match came at the end of a long, emotional pay-per-view, but Strickland's victory still felt like a moment of triumph. He was AEW's biggest breakout star of 2023. Now let's see what he can do as its top champion. Swerve def. Joe via pinfall to win the title | Grade: B+
Tag Team Championship (Vacant) -- The Young Bucks vs. FTR (Ladder Match): Just as Cash Wheeler was about to unhook the titles, a masked figure jumped the barricade and pushed over Wheeler's ladder. The man was revealed to be Jack Perry, who was quickly taken away by security. Amid the chaos, the Bucks grabbed the titles for the win. This was arguably the best Bucks vs. FTR match of their series, though it was hurt by having to follow Danielson vs. Ospreay. Perry's interference was a nice touch, and he got the big reaction AEW was likely hoping for. This is the Bucks' record third tag team title reign in AEW. Bucks def. FTR to win the vacant titles | Grade: B+
Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson: The final moments of this epic clash saw Danielson and Opsreay both attempt their trademark finishers (respectively the running knee and Hidden Blade) simultaneously with the latter getting the better of the exchange. Ospreay then dropped Danielson on his head with a Tiger Driver '91, prompting the referee to call over the medical trainer. Unaware of what was happening in storyline, Ospreay hit another Hidden Blade to the back of Danielson's head for the pin. AEW's ringside physicians immediately rushed to Danielson, who was unable to stand as Ospreay and Don Callis checked on him.
This is a "match of the year" contender you must go out of your way to watch. Hopefully, we'll get a rematch soon. Ospreay def. Danielson via pinfall | Grade A+
Women's Championship -- Toni Storm (c) vs. Thunder Rosa: With the referee's back turned, Storm nailed Rosa with a low-blow kick to the crotch and Storm Zero to retain her title. Rosa hasn't quite regained her momentum since returning from hiatus, but Storm's shenanigans are still as entertaining as ever. Storm def. Rosa via pinfall to retain the title | Grade: B-
FTW Championship -- Hook © vs. Chris Jericho (FTW Rules): Hook managed to kick out of Jericho's Judas Effect twice, but the challenger still walked away with the win after nailing Hook in the head with his baseball bat. This match simply didn't show signs of life until its final moments. St. Louis wanted absolutely nothing to do with Jericho, hitting him with "please retire" and "go home Jericho, go home" chants. Unfortunately, the title changing hands means the program will continue. Jericho def. Hook via pinfall to win the title | Grade: D+
International Championship -- Roderick Strong (c) vs. Kyle O'Reilly: Strong put O'Reilly away with an End of Heartache to conclude a fast-paced yet brutal match. Adam Cole and the rest of the Undisputed Kingdom came out to celebrate with Cole exiting his wheelchair to indicate he's closer to being cleared for a return. This felt like a match straight out of mid-2010s Ring of Honor and was exactly what you'd expect from two men with well over a decade of history together … but it probably would've been better served on an episode of Dynamite rather than be stuck in the middle of a long pay-per-view card. Strong def. O'Reilly via pinfall to retain the title | Grade: B
TBS Championship – Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale (House Rules): Nightingale had the clear power advantage and made quick work of Hart, putting her away with her Dr. Bomb finisher in about 6 minutes. Mercedes Mone arrived to remind Willow that they'll wrestle at Double or Nothing in late May for the title.Between Hart's reported injury and the teased Mone match, Nightingale was the clear favorite entering the show. Still, seeing her win her first AEW title was a feel-good moment for one of AEW's most likable personalities. Nightingale def. Hart via pinfall to win the title | Grade C+
Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. House of Black: Throughout the six-man tag match, Malakai Black made an effort to avoid Copeland at all costs. Copeland looked to finally get his hands on Black when he attempted a spear while the rest of the ring was empty, but Black countered by blinding him, spitting his black mist right into Copeland's face. Black followed with The End for the win, pinning the reigning TNT champion in the process. This was chaotic from the opening bell and all six men got the chance to shine. They're telling a story that Black is in Copeland's head, and the finish fed right into that. House of Black def. Copeland, Kingston & Briscoe via pinfall | Grade: B
Continental Championship -- Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Pac: Okada spent the bulk of the match attacking Pac's neck, only for Pac to reverse a tombstone piledriver. Pac went for the Black Arrow, but Okada blocked it twice – once with a referee and again by getting his knees up. The champion quickly transitioned into a Rainmaker for the title retention. This was a ton of fun and felt like one of the many Okada matches fans raved about from his New Japan days. While it's different seeing him as an outright heel, nobody can claim he's phoning it in now that he's working stateside. Okada def. Pac via pinfall to retain the title | Grade: A-
Title Unification -- The Acclaimed [c, AEW Trios] vs. Bang Bang Gang [c, ROH Six-Man] (Zero Hour): Both teams seemingly had their opponents dead to rights late in the match, but it eventually came down to White hitting Billy Gunn with a Blade Runner for the win. While neither set of trios championships have felt particularly important over the past year, unifying them and handing them to one of the company's most entertaining factions is the right call. Bang Bang Gang def. The Acclaimed via pinfall to unify the titles | Grade: C+
Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty (Zero Hour): Anthony Ogogo was ringside at commentary and helped Taylor take out Shibata early, but the numbers game didn't help much as Cassidy won with an Orange Punch, pinning Moriarty. Fun little match, and I enjoy the work of all four men, but it easily could've been a standard TV tag team match. Cassidy & Shibata def. Taylor & Moriarty via pinfall | Grade: C-
Trent Beretta vs. Matt Sydal (Zero Hour): As a St. Louis native, Sydal had the crowd on his side, but Beretta got the early advantage with newfound aggression from his recent heel turn. Sydal rallied with a meteora and had Beretta trapped in the corner, but Beretta drove Sydal's face into the turnbuckle. He then nailed a Gotch-style piledriver and running knee before locking in a submission for the win. After the match, Mike Sydal ran in to check on his brother, prompting Beretta to attack him, too.
Chuck Taylor saved, prompting Beretta to flee and demand to know whether Taylor was with him or against him by Dynamite on Wednesday. Despite being a babyface for years, Beretta's offense fits right perfectly with his heel persona. I doubt Taylor will follow him as a heel, but it's nice to see AEW doing something with Best Friends beyond Orange Cassidy's weekly booking. Beretta def. Sydal via submission | Grade: B-
