All Elite Wrestling returned to the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, on Wednesday night for the first episode of Dynamite following WrestleDream, and if anybody expected a quiet evening of championship celebrations and friendly handshakes, they were in for a surprise.
Ilja Dragunov made his AEW in-ring debut against Mike Bailey, the Don Callis Family scored two enormous victories, Queen Aminata earned another opportunity at the TBS Championship, and Jay White revealed that his loyalties weren’t quite where everybody thought they were.
We also saw the return of Steven Borden, a brewing war involving multiple factions, and Chris Jericho doing something I never thought I’d see: apologizing to somebody.
With Blood and Guts approaching on November 4 and Full Gear following on November 14, AEW has plenty of stories developing. Let’s get into the results.
Davis and Doyle Destroy the Young Bucks
Winners: Mark Davis and Jake Doyle, by pinfall
AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match
Dynamite opened with AEW World Tag Team Champions Matt and Nick Jackson facing Mark Davis and Jake Doyle of the Don Callis Family in a championship eliminator match.
And calling this a competitive contest would be generous.
Davis and Doyle attacked the Young Bucks with a level of aggression that made it clear they weren’t interested in a lengthy exhibition of tag team wrestling. Doyle powerbombed Nick Jackson through the timekeeper’s table, while Davis repeatedly punished Matt Jackson inside the ring.
The champions never managed to establish their usual rhythm, and the challengers finished Matt with their Close Your Eyes and Count combination.
Just like that, the Young Bucks had been demolished.
Davis and Doyle earned a future AEW World Tag Team Championship opportunity, and the Don Callis Family started the evening with an emphatic statement.
Stinger’s View: Well, I certainly didn’t expect THAT. The Young Bucks have spent years presenting themselves as one of the best tag teams in professional wrestling, and tonight they got absolutely steamrolled. I actually liked the surprise. Davis and Doyle looked like monsters, and the result gives their eventual championship match some genuine intrigue.
Now, about these eliminator matches. I still don’t understand why beating the champions in a non-title match is supposed to be the preferred method of earning a title shot. But at least this one accomplished something memorable.
Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight Defeat Will Ospreay and Adam Copeland
Winners: Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight, by pinfall
AEW World Champion Will Ospreay and Adam Copeland joined forces just four days after battling one another in WrestleDream’s Clockwork Carnage main event.
Their opponents were Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight, who had their own frustrations following an unsuccessful attempt to capture the tag team championship at WrestleDream.
The match featured plenty of fast-paced action, with Ospreay and Fletcher exchanging strikes while Copeland relied on his veteran instincts to counter Knight’s athleticism.
For much of the contest, the unusual partnership between Ospreay and Copeland worked surprisingly well.
Unfortunately, the Don Callis Family had another member waiting to get involved.
Kazuchika Okada appeared at ringside with his International Championship and eventually used the title belt to strike Copeland as the veteran attempted a spear.
Fletcher capitalized with a brainbuster and scored the pinfall.
Following the match, the Don Callis Family continued attacking Ospreay and Copeland. Okada targeted Copeland’s already bloodied forehead, while Fletcher posed with the AEW World Championship.
The beatdown brought out Darby Allin and a returning Steven Borden, who helped drive the attackers from the ring. Borden then announced his intention to participate in Blood and Guts.
Stinger’s View: Two matches, two victories for the Don Callis Family. That’s how you establish a faction as a serious threat. But why the hell has it taken so long to get here?
I enjoyed the match, although I could have done without another championship belt being used as a weapon to decide the outcome. Ospreay and Copeland looked good together, and Fletcher pinning Copeland gives the Callis Family another significant victory.
Steven Borden’s return was a welcome surprise, and his involvement in Blood and Guts adds another interesting element to an already crowded rivalry.
Swerve Strickland Defeats Tome Filip
Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall
Shane “Swerve” Strickland wasn’t interested in spending much time in the ring with Tome Filip.
Swerve attacked before the bell, overwhelming his opponent with strikes before quickly finishing him with the Cop Killer.
It was a decisive victory designed to remind everybody that Strickland remains one of AEW’s most dangerous competitors.
Later in the evening, Swerve confronted Hangman Adam Page and his fellow AEW World Trios Champions, demanding another opportunity at the titles alongside New Level.
Page was initially willing to discuss a rematch, but Swerve insisted that the contest take place under Texas Death Match rules at Full Gear.
Hangman rejected the stipulation, refusing to drag his teammates into another brutal confrontation with his longtime rival.
Stinger’s View: The match itself was little more than a demonstration of Swerve’s aggression, but the backstage confrontation was much more interesting.
Swerve and Hangman have enough history to fill a wrestling encyclopedia, and the possibility of another Texas Death Match immediately raises the stakes. I appreciate Hangman refusing to agree simply because his rival demanded it. Sometimes a wrestler having a little common sense is a refreshing change.
Jay White and Orange Cassidy Defeat Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta
Winners: Jay White and Orange Cassidy, by pinfall
Jay White and Orange Cassidy formed an unusual partnership to face Death Riders members Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta.
The match featured plenty of technical wrestling, with Garcia and Yuta working to isolate Cassidy while White repeatedly attempted to turn the momentum in his team’s favor.
The closing moments saw White connect with the Blade Runner on Yuta to secure the victory.
On the surface, it appeared to be a successful night for White and Cassidy.
As we’d discover later, appearances can be deceiving.
Stinger’s View: A solid tag team match, although the result ultimately became secondary to what happened later in the evening. White is one of those wrestlers who can make just about any situation interesting, and tonight proved that you should never get too comfortable assuming he’s on your side.
Jon Moxley Defeats Roderick Strong
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission
AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match
AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley faced Roderick Strong in another championship eliminator match, with Strong attempting to earn a future title opportunity.
The two exchanged strikes and submission attempts throughout a physical contest. Strong targeted Moxley’s back with a series of punishing maneuvers, while Moxley relied on his usual combination of aggression and technical wrestling.
Strong nearly secured the victory with a Boston crab, but Moxley escaped and eventually trapped him in a sleeper hold.
Strong submitted, giving Moxley the victory.
Unfortunately for the champion, his evening was far from over.
Jay White and the Bang Bang Gang Turn on Their Allies
Following the match, David Finlay and Clark Connors attacked Roderick Strong.
Moxley returned to defend him, but the Dogs turned their attention to the Continental Champion. Gabe Kidd attempted to intervene, only to find himself attacked by his own associates.
The situation escalated when members of the Conglomeration and Bang Bang Gang arrived.
For a moment, it appeared Jay White and his allies were there to restore order.
Instead, White attacked Orange Cassidy with the Blade Runner, revealing that the Bang Bang Gang had aligned themselves with the Dogs.
The combined groups overwhelmed the Death Riders and Conglomeration, leaving several wrestlers laid out before White delivered another Blade Runner to Moxley.
It was one of the evening’s biggest developments and dramatically altered the balance of power between AEW’s factions.
Stinger’s View: Now THAT is how you make a faction angle interesting. Jay White helped Orange Cassidy win a match earlier in the evening, then turned around and betrayed him when it suited his purposes.
I liked the timing, and I liked that the betrayal affected several different groups at once. The question now is whether AEW can keep the alliances and rivalries understandable as Blood and Guts approaches.
Because we’ve got enough factions running around that somebody may need to start handing out organizational charts.
Queen Aminata Defeats Maya World to Become TBS Championship Number-One Contender
Winner: Queen Aminata, by pinfall
Former TBS Champion Maya World returned to singles competition against Queen Aminata, with the winner earning an opportunity to challenge Persephone for the TBS Championship.
The match featured a strong combination of athleticism and physicality. Maya showed little hesitation despite her recent absence, while Aminata used her striking ability to wear down her opponent.
Both women came close to winning, but Aminata eventually connected with a headbutt followed by Off With Her Head to score the pinfall.
Aminata now has another opportunity to capture championship gold, while Persephone faces a challenger who has already pushed her to the limit.
Stinger’s View: I was happy with this result. Queen Aminata has been consistently impressive, and she’s earned another opportunity to challenge for the TBS Championship.
Maya World looked good in her return, too, which gives AEW another credible competitor in the division.
Now let’s see whether Aminata can finally finish the job against Persephone.
Chris Jericho Apologizes to Nick Wayne
One of the evening’s more unusual segments featured Nick Wayne demanding an apology from Chris Jericho after defeating the veteran at WrestleDream.
Wayne arrived wearing a shirt celebrating his victory and repeatedly interrupted Jericho as the former world champion attempted to speak.
Jericho eventually lost his patience, telling Wayne to stop talking long enough to hear the apology he’d demanded.
To his credit, Jericho admitted that he’d underestimated Wayne and acknowledged the young wrestler’s ability. He also offered some advice about learning from experienced performers and building a lasting career.
Naturally, the exchange wasn’t entirely friendly.
Stinger’s View: I enjoyed this more than I expected. Wayne was wonderfully obnoxious, and Jericho’s mixture of genuine acknowledgment and barely concealed irritation made the segment entertaining.
Jericho has spent enough years in wrestling to know how to make a younger performer look important, and Wayne is doing a good job playing an arrogant young man who knows he’s talented and wants everybody else to acknowledge it.
Mercedes Moné Confronted by Marina Shafir
AEW Women’s World Champion Mercedes Moné addressed the crowd following her successful title defense against Thekla at WrestleDream.
Moné boasted about her accomplishments and demanded to know who would challenge her next.
Marina Shafir answered the invitation and promptly called Mercedes a pussy.
“Dammit, Thalia! Sit down! That wasn’t an invitation for YOU!”
Sorry, the confrontation was brief but effective, with Shafir showing little interest in Moné’s self-promotion. The champion eventually left the ring rather than continue the exchange.
Stinger’s View: Marina Shafir isn’t the sort of opponent I’d expect Mercedes Moné to intimidate with a long speech about her accomplishments.
This could be an interesting contrast in styles if AEW decides to build toward a championship match. Moné has the star power and technical ability, while Shafir brings a more physically imposing presence.
Ilja Dragunov Defeats Mike Bailey in His AEW In-Ring Debut
Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by pinfall
The main event saw Ilja Dragunov make his AEW in-ring debut against “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
And if anybody was wondering whether Dragunov intended to ease himself into his new surroundings, the answer was a resounding no.
The two immediately began exchanging hard strikes and technical holds, with Bailey using his kicks and agility to counter Dragunov’s relentless aggression.
Dragunov delivered punishing chops, suplexes, and headbutts, while Bailey repeatedly fought back with aerial offense and submissions.
The action became particularly brutal when Bailey injured his leg during an exchange near the steel steps. Dragunov recognized the opening and began targeting the injury, repeatedly attacking the knee to limit Bailey’s movement.
Bailey continued fighting, even connecting with a crane kick, but the damaged leg prevented him from fully capitalizing.
Dragunov eventually delivered a powerbomb and two D-Bombs to secure the pinfall.
It was a hard-fought victory and an impressive introduction to AEW for the former WWF Superstar.
Stinger’s View: This was exactly what I wanted from Dragunov’s debut.
Mike Bailey was an excellent opponent because he could match Dragunov’s intensity while providing a contrasting offensive style. The injured-leg story gave the match some structure, and Dragunov looked like a dangerous competitor rather than somebody simply going through the motions of an obligatory debut victory.
I hope AEW has meaningful plans for him because there’s no shortage of excellent potential opponents on this roster.
My Match of the Night: Ilja Dragunov vs. Mike Bailey.
AEW Dynamite Results — October 21, 2026: Quick Results
- Mark Davis and Jake Doyle defeated the Young Bucks in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match.
- Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight defeated Will Ospreay and Adam Copeland following interference from Kazuchika Okada.
- Swerve Strickland defeated Tome Filip by pinfall.
- Jay White and Orange Cassidy defeated Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta by pinfall.
- Jon Moxley defeated Roderick Strong by submission in an AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match.
- Queen Aminata defeated Maya World to become the number-one contender for the TBS Championship.
- Ilja Dragunov defeated Mike Bailey by pinfall in his AEW in-ring debut.
Stinger’s View: The Don Callis Family Makes Its Statement
Coming out of WrestleDream, AEW needed to establish some clear directions for Blood and Guts and Full Gear. Wednesday night’s Dynamite accomplished that, although I still think the company occasionally makes its storylines more complicated than necessary.
The Don Callis Family was unquestionably the biggest winner of the evening. Davis and Doyle absolutely demolished the Young Bucks, while Fletcher and Knight defeated the AEW World Champion and Adam Copeland. The interference in the second match wasn’t particularly satisfying, but the faction
