AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From June 19
AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From June 190 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
Welcome to Bleacher Report’s live coverage of AEW Dynamite on June 19.
We are less than two weeks away from Forbidden Door, so AEW has been working hard to fill the card and set up interesting matches while still trying to deliver good weekly shows.
Here is a look at what AEW advertised ahead of Wednesday’s episode.
Claudio Castagnoli vs. PacKris Statlander vs. Nyla RoseMJF vs. RushThe Young Bucks vs. The AcclaimedDante Martin, Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, Zack Sabre Jr. and Roderick StrongLet’s take a look at what went down during this week’s Dynamite.
Rush vs. MJF1 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
Dynamite opened with Justin Roberts introducing MJF for the opening match. Rush came out sporting an interesting mask that looked like a combination of masks from other luchadors.
They started with some taunting and trash-talking before MJF poked Rush in the eye. El Toro Blanco responded with a stiff headbutt that busted Max open the hard way.
This was not a technical showcase or a high-flying contest. Instead, this was a fight that saw them use an equal amount of traditional wrestling moves and strikes. They made this feel like a personal grudge match without relying solely on brawling.
The reason these two worked so well together is that they are versatile competitors who can do a little bit of everything. This was their first singles match ever, but they looked like two guys who already had established chemistry.
This bout was presented commercial-free, so we got to see it from start to finish without the usual picture-in-picture interruption. It helped keep the intensity high even though they were taking their time between some spots.
MJF ended up scoring the win with a Heatseeker followed by a brainbuster.
Result: MJF defeated Rush
Grade: B+
Notable Moments and Observations
It’s still weird seeing MJF without his scarf. Rush’s fur coat looked big enough to need its own bag when he travels. The way MJF sold Rush’s straight right punch was fantastic. It was similar to how Ric Flair used to sell by falling on his face before the rest of his body hit the mat. Rush’s overhead throw into the corner was awesome. MJF bounced off the corner in an almost cartoonish way. 8-Man Tag Match2 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland met face-to-face to hype their upcoming AEW title match at Forbidden Door on June 30. Both men claimed to be the best in the world and traded verbal shots.
Swerve brought up Ospreay’s son a couple of times and they almost got into a fight, but they held back. The Don Callis Family was shown having mixed reactions backstage. This was a decent segment, but it may have made more sense during the final show before the PPV unless AEW tops it next week.
Up next was the eight-man tag match and thankfully, Callis was too busy backstage to join the commentary team. The bout started with all eight men brawling but they quickly cleared out until it was just OC and ZSJ left.
This match was controlled chaos for several minutes. Nobody was worrying about tags or who was legal and everyone was just fighting anybody they could find from the opposing team. Everyone finally made it to their respective corners during the first of two breaks so the match could progress.
Even though most of what we saw looked good, this bout had a bit too much going on during the first half. They made up for it in the second half with some entertaining multi-man spots including a wild powerbomb from Takeshita.
Cassidy was able to seal the deal for his team when he hit and Orange Punch on Strong for the win. Jack Perry showed up and took out Dante on the stage while OC and ZSJ had a standoff in the ring.
Result: OC, Briscoe, Martin and O’Reilly won
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations:
Strickland had a special Juneteenth graphic for his entrance. Dante almost missed the group of guys when he hit a big dive because he flew so far, but they managed to make it work. Some of ZSJ’s counters look too smooth to be possible. He’s that good. The powerbomb Takeshita hit from the middle rope was brutal. Dante took it like a champ. The Acclaimed vs. Young Bucks3 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
The tag champs were in non-title action this week when The Young Bucks faced The Acclaimed in an eliminator match. Kazuchika Okada cut off Max Caster’s mic during his rap.
Nicholas and Matthews attacked them on the ramp but Caster and Anthony Bowens quickly turned the tables and took control. Interestingly, Billy Gunn wasn’t there this week.
We never really got to a point where partners were waiting for tags on the apron. The whole match saw all four men fighting in and out of the ring.
Bowens’ injured leg became a target for the Bucks, but Caster kept finding ways to save his partner until he was tossed over the barricade. The Bucks tried to cheat with a title belt but it backfired and Bowens was able to pin Matthew for the win to earn a title shot.
Daddy Ass ran to the ring to celebrate with The Acclaimed. This was entertaining, but if they wanted this to be a Tornado tag match, it should have been booked as such.
Result: The Acclaimed beat The Young Bucks
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
Taz seemed personally offended that Tony Schiavone doesn’t like the Bucks. Caster took a rough bump out of the ring but seemed fine. Bowens countering the EVP Trigger was a good spot. Kris Statlander vs. Nyla Rose4 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
Mariah May oversaw the contract signing between Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa. Storm took exception to Shirakawa telling May to shut up and made a very adult-themed threat.
Saraya, Harley Cameron and Anna Jay came out and attacked all three women. Storm ended up going through a table to save May. The segment ended with Shirakawa and May on the stage as Luther helped out the champion.
Next up was a first-round match in the Owen Hart tournament with Rose and Statlander. Two of AEW’s strongest competitors locked up and had a clean break to get started.
Rose withstood a shoulder tackle and took Stat down with the same move, but the former TBS champion was not intimidated and got right in her face.
They battled through a break and had a good, physical exchange that put both of their power on display. Statlander got the victory with a nice Tombstone piledriver from the corner. She will take on the winner of Serena Deeb vs. Willow Nightingale.
Willow appeared on the big screen and said after she beats Deeb, she will finally get her hands on Stat.
Result: Statlander defeated Rose
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
We will likely get a trios match with Saraya, Jay and Cameron vs. Storm, Shirakawa and May soon. The quick video package for Pac vs. Castagnoli was awesome. Stat may have oversold a clothesline just a bit. Daniel Garcia vs. Rhett Titus, Pac vs. Claudio Castagnoli5 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
Daniel Garcia took on Rhett Titus from ROH in a quick match that saw Red Death score a squash victory. Cage of Agony and Hechicero attacked Daddy Magic and Garcia. MJF made the save and went right after Hechicero.
After MJF was taken down, Ospreay came out to even the odds. He and MJF had a staredown but didn’t end up fighting.
Result: Garcia defeated Titus
Grade: Incomplete
The main event was another first-round Owen match between Pac and Castagnoli. Bryan Danielson was on commentary.
Pac came out of the gate hot with two dropkicks that sent Castagnoli out of the ring. They fought at ringside for a moment but quickly got back in so Pac could hit a third dropkick. Castagnoli saw him climbing the ropes for a fourth and rolled out of the ring to avoid it.
These are two of the best performers in all of AEW, so anything less than a good match feels like an impossibility. They paced themselves well and sped up when needed while still selling big spots.
In a somewhat surprising outcome, Pac scored a clean win with a pinning combination to end a tremendous performance from both men.
Result: Pac defeated Castagnoli
Grade: A-
Notable Moments and Observations
MJF is so good at having a surprised face when someone attacks him from behind. The elevation Pac got when Castagnoli propelled him into the air for an uppercut was nuts. Pac’s agility is well-noted, but his strikes are an underrated part of his offense. He is so precise and makes every single hit look good. The Final Word6 of 6
Dynamite.AEW
Wednesday’s Dynamite did a lot to push certain storylines heading into Forbidden Door. Swerve and Ospreay had a good exchange to hype their match while leaving room for more next week before the PPV.
As far as the in-ring action goes, the opening and closing matches were the biggest highlights. MJF and Rush started the show hot, and Pac and Castagnoli closed it out with a banger.
Statlander and Pac both advanced in the Owen Hart Tournament and will face the winners of matches that will take place on Rampage.
This was a decent show, but a few matches could have been improved with a little more planning.
Grade: B
