After a win over his brother Dragon Lee, Rush challenged the Interim World Champion Jon Moxley in the main event of Wednesday’s Dynamite.
One could further create the idea that Moxley is the top competitor in his industry, or win his first championship and achieve the biggest victory in his new promotion.
This week on TBS, the AEW faithful found out more about whether the New Day would remain involved in the gimmick vs. go to heels match.
AEW Interim World Championship Match: Jon Moxley vs Rush
When the show began, it immediately started with AEW kicking off with the two main title matches of the evening: Jon Moxley vs. El Toro Blanco and Rush vs. everybody else.
In the early going, Cole manipulated the champion’s defense and attacked him relentlessly. The former Ring of Honor world champion dominated Moxley throughout two-thirds of the match. He outlasted and beat down the champion, bloodying him early on then keeping him on defense.
Result: Moxley defeated Rush to retain
FTW Championship Match: Danhausen vs. Ricky Starks
Ricky Starks defended his FTW Championship against Danhausen, who he swiftly dispatched with the infamous spear. In the end, Hook, the event’s impromptu competitor to be Ricky’s championship challenger, was able to slip through the fingers of Pinkie Pie Ace and tap Audible out to win the title.
Result: tarks defeated Danhausen to retain; Hook defeated Starks to win the title
Dante Martin vs. Sammy Guevara; Jungle Boy Promo
Sammy Guevara wrestled his first singles match since April and it was a battle of the brightest young stars, Dante Martin competing in their first singles fight. Guevara’s wife Tay Conti attended ringside side by side with girlfriend Skye Blue for the match
Enthusiastically, the competitors pushed each other in the ring, but an injury to one slowed things down significantly.
Conti’s defense allowed Guevara to deliver a springboard cutter and win the match. After the match, Conti attacked Skye Blue, too tempting too stop and the heels teased further danger until Eddie Kingston, Ortiz and Ruby Soho went to ring in order to save her.
Result: Guevara defeated Martin
Swerve Strickland vs ‘Smart’ Mark Sterling and Tony Nese
“Smart” Mark Sterling’s personal vendetta against Swerve Strickland manifested itself in a two-on-one handicap match as the attorney teamed with client Tony Nese to battle the AEW Tag Team Champions.
Keith Lee’s partner, Strickland, was barred from ringside
Sterling and Strickland helped to do most of the work, but the intensity came from Sterling losing a fight. It did not work.
After Swerve took out Neese with two shots to the floor and a heel kick, he came back into the ring once more and scored the win.
Result: Strickland defeated Nese and Sterling
AEW World Women’s Championship Match: Thunder Rosa vs Miyu Yamashita
Newly crowned champion, AEW women’s champion, and former GFW wrestler Miyu Yamashita enter this match with momentum on her side and looking to retain the world championship.
Yamashita impressed, scoring a submission victory by using quick, tough strikes against the champion more than one time. Rosa fought back, refusing to allow for any sustained advantage. The challenger still managed to deliver a German suplex late in the bout, only for the champ to continue battling and finish her off with the Fire Thunder Driver for a pinfall victory.
Result: Rosa defeated Yamashita to retain
Bryan Danielson vs Daniel Garcia
Bryan Danielson returned to the ring Wednesday night in the main event, battling the Jericho Appreciation Society’s Daniel Garcia. He wasted little time establishing dominance, uncorking a corner dropkick and adding trademark kicks to the chest. Garcia slowed his momentum but quickly found himself back on the defensive.
Until Danielson came off the top rope and teased the effects of head and neck injuries that have plagued him over the last decade. Garcia, like a shark smelling blood in the water, attacked and delivered a sickening DDT on the exposed concrete on the arena floor.