Last week, AEW celebrated the sixth anniversary of its flagship television show, Dynamite.
To some people, that doesn’t seem like a huge milestone. However, if you’re old enough to remember the Monday Night Wars, six years is a very big deal.
WCW Monday Nitro, with the insane highs that it featured, only lasted five-and-a-half years. The show debuted on September 4th, 1995 and aired its final episode on March 26th, 2001. That says everything about how badly WCW screwed up, going from the top of the wrestling and pop culture world to being out of business in the blink of an eye.
For Dynamite to reach the six-year mark… on the Turner family of channels, no less… is something that should be celebrated, and that’s what I’m doing here.
I want to look back at a few things from Dynamite’s history that remain in my mind. Then, before I wrap things up, I’ll talk about the future of Dynamite, and what I want to see happen over the next six years.
I didn’t plan it this way, but yes, this is going to be in the same format as my recent column about the history of NXT. This was a column I had planned, while the NXT one was spontaneous. It just so happens that the NXT column came first, but this format makes things easier for me, so I’m doing it again.
Again… this is a column about Dynamite specifically. Not AEW pay-per-view, Collision, Rampage, or anything else. Keep that in mind if you don’t see certain things mentioned.
Favorite Debut: Sting on December 2nd, 2020. There have been a ton of cool debuts in AEW history, and many of them have taken place on Dynamite. Almost all of them… no matter how cool… were somewhat expected, though. Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole showing up at the end of All Out 2021 was awesome, but everyone had been speculating that they’d be arriving in AEW. CM Punk’s return to wrestling was a shock, but it was also a story that Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful broke a few days earlier, so there was another expectation that Punk would be there. Sting was different. Not a single person expected to see Sting at any point in AEW, but there he was, coming to the aid of Cody Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, Arn Anderson, and Darby Allin from an attack at the hands of Team Taz. The falling “snow” added for a little bit of cinematic razzle dazzle was the icing on the cake. The only negative about this debut was that it took place during COVID, so there wasn’t a sold out arena’s worth of fans that would’ve been losing their minds. This exact debut, in front of 15,000 rowdy fans, would’ve been incredible to witness.
Honorable Mentions: Malakai Black on July 7th, 2021… Brodie Lee on March 18th, 2020… KENTA on February 3rd, 2021… Toni Storm on March 30th, 2022… Keith Lee on February 2nd, 2022
Favorite Episode: The Brodie Lee Celebration Of Life on December 30th, 2020. It’s hard to refer to this as my “favorite” episode of Dynamite, considering what it was about, but you get my point. From top to bottom, this was a beautiful tribute to the life and times of Brodie Lee, the wrestler, as well as Jon Huber, the man and human being. The Dark Order shined all throughout the night, as they should’ve at that time. Brodie Lee Jr. getting to choose the competitors and the matchup for the night’s main event was a great touch. It’s a damn shame that the episode needed to happen in the first place, but it was handled wonderfully by everyone involved.
Honorable Mentions: Dynamite – Grand Slam on September 22nd, 2021… Dynamite on January 11th, 2023… Dynamite – Winter Is Coming on December 2nd, 2020… Dynamite – Blood & Guts on June 29th, 2022… Dynamite – Spring BreakThru on April 16th, 2025
Favorite Wrestler: Will Ospreay. If I think he’s the best wrestler in the world today, and if I have felt that way for the past few years, it would be pretty difficult for me to choose anyone else in this spot, wouldn’t it? The man has had some incredible matches in Dynamite history. Here’s a bit of a spoiler… he doesn’t appear in my all-time favorite match, but I have five of his matches listed in the Honorable Mentions section. You’ll read that shortly.
Honorable Mentions: Bryan Danielson… Orange Cassidy… Konosuke Takeshita… Kenny Omega… “Hangman” Adam Page… Jon Moxley… Claudio Castagnoli… The Young Bucks… Swerve Strickland… Hikaru Shida
Favorite Moment: “Hangman” Adam Page Returns To Reunite The Elite on May 17th, 2023. The years-long story of “Hangman” Adam Page, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and so on has been a blast to witness. We’ve seen the ups and the downs, but my favorite moment was this one. After the Blackpool Combat Club attacked the Bucks and then Omega, the Elite were battered and bruised, and still down four men to three. That’s when Hangman made his return, aligning with his former friends for the first time since the summer of 2020. It was one of the better “feel good” moments in AEW history, and the live crowd in Austin, Texas erupted for The Elite reuniting.
Honorable Mentions: “Hangman” Adam Page Returns To Win The Casino Ladder Match on October 7th, 2021… MJF’s CM Punk-Related Villain Origin Story Promo on February 23rd, 2022… MJF’s William Regal-Related Villain Origin Story Promo on October 18th, 2022… “Hangman” Adam Page Burns Swerve Strickland’s Childhood Home To The Ground on September 4th, 2024… “Hangman” Adam Page Believes In Himself For The First Time on October 16th, 2021
Favorite Match: Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega on September 22nd, 2021. There’s a lot of talk in pro wrestling about live crowds providing an “electric atmosphere.” AEW fans are known for being rabid and very vocal for the company and its performers. This match might feature the best combination of AEW fans supporting the company’s wrestlers and creating an “electric atmosphere.” Before Danielson and Omega had even gotten physical, the fans inside of Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York were already losing their mind. The two men had shared a ring three times before… twice in Ring Of Honor and once in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla… but that was in 2008 and 2009, and both men had become completely different performers by the time September 2021 rolled around. This was exactly the type of “dream match” that everyone was frothing over when Danielson signed with AEW to begin with. I just typed all this about how much I love this match, and I haven’t even talked about the match itself. That’s how great this was. They were evenly matched for 30 minutes, with some of the most magnificent counters and reversals you’ll ever see inside of a wrestling ring. If it wasn’t already clear, it really showed the type of product and presentation that AEW was striving for. It’s a crying shame that we never got another singles match between these two, especially since this one ended in a time limit draw.
Honorable Mentions: Will Ospreay vs Konosuke Takeshita on April 16th, 2025… “Hangman” Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson on December 15th, 2021… Will Ospreay vs MJF on July 17th, 2024… The Young Bucks vs Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher on September 25th, 2024… Bryan Danielson vs “Hangman” Adam Page on July 10th, 2024… Will Ospreay vs Swerve Strickland on June 11th, 2025… Thunder Rosa vs Dr. Britt Baker, DMD on March 17th, 2021… “Hangman” Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson on January 5th, 2022… Will Ospreay vs Darby Allin on December 18th, 2024… Mr. Brodie Lee vs Cody on October 7th, 2020
Now, let’s look at the future. We’ve seen six years of Dynamite episodes, but what about the future? What would I like to see over the next six years?
Before anyone makes the joke… yes, I think AEW will be around six years from now, and we’ll still be watching episodes of Dynamite. The company is doing well when it comes to television contracts and things of that nature, and as long as the Khan family doesn’t fall on hard times and start running out of money, the desires and needs of the company will be different. Tony Khan has made it pretty clear, both directly and indirectly, that he isn’t doing this pro wrestling thing to become a trillionaire. Instead, this is a labor of love.
Since we’re talking about Tony Khan, that brings me to the first, and most important, thing that I want to see from the future of Dynamite. From the future of AEW, as a whole, actually. I’ve said it a million times in the past, and I will continue to scream it from the mountaintops until it happens… Tony needs to take a spot on a back burner and let someone else handle the creative aspect of the AEW product.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts is on the AEW payroll. He has always had one of the better minds for the business of anyone around. It might be interesting to see him handle some of the creative decision making.
Bryan Danielson is rumored to have Tony’s ear on a lot of subjects. Danielson presents an interesting mindset and a deep understanding of what live crowds want to see. I’d like to see him get more of a say on things.
Chris Hero is a Coach/Producer backstage in AEW. He has always had an incredible wrestling mind, and I think that mind could come in handy on creative matters.
There’s a long list of people already under some sort of AEW contract that could be used, and there are numerous people from outside the AEW umbrella that could be brought in.
Tony seems like a great human being, and he comes across as precisely the type of boss that everyone wishes they could work for. I don’t want the man to jump off of a bridge. I’m just asking for him to step aside when it comes to the creative direction of the company. He can stick around backstage and handle the “Gorilla Position” duties, talking to the media, and whatever else he has on his plate. That’s fine. I just feel, truly and honestly, that he is holding the company back from the levels they could reach because of his creative decision making. If he focused more on trying to appeal to the masses, instead of focusing on catering to the “sickos,” as he calls them, that could be a real game changer. Perhaps putting some new blood in the mix would help to make that happen.
One thing I do love about what we’re seeing on Dynamite is the different venues and different looks that the shows are having. The Hard Rock Live At Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood (say that ten times fast) in Hollywood, Florida… 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… Arena Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico… MGM Music Hall At Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts… Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York… hell, even Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida… those are just some of the places Dynamite has been recently that stand out IMMEDIATELY when you see the venues on television. The lighting, the seating configurations, and so on are all different and helps AEW stand out in the wrestling space. I need more of that. Take advantage of the smaller venues by running places that you’d never expect to see host wrestling shows, or at least ones that WWE doesn’t have a history of running.
Is that it?
I really and truly believe that a different/better cast of characters forming AEW’s creative team would do wonders for the company, as a whole. Right now, you’re basically getting a bunch of random matches with no real backstory and fans are just supposed to accept it. The company certainly doesn’t need to switch to a Vince Russo-like product, where a million different things are happening at the same time. They don’t need to pull a Vince McMahon and look to hire a bunch of soap opera writers who have never worked in the wrestling business before… and in some cases, aren’t even fans of wrestling in the first place. No, as I mentioned, there are a bunch of intelligent, qualified wrestling minds already on the AEW payroll. These people understand what works, what doesn’t work, how to cater to different viewer demographics, and how to deal with the men and women who are actually performing on a weekly basis.
I’m not saying Dynamite will be bringing in five million viewers per week within a few months of a creative switch. What I am saying is that AEW is close to delivering what I feel is a very well-rounded product. They’re already delivering what is, top to bottom, the best overall in-ring action in all of pro wrestling. There are numerous members of the current roster that fans are in love with. I just think that a stronger creative focus all around would/could/should boost the product, taking Dynamite (as well as Collision) to the levels that AEW pay-per-views are already at. As it is, there’s little reason to tune in every week. You know you’re going to get an amazing pay-per-view, but the journey between pay-per-views isn’t enticing enough to have more and more people watch, so they’re not.
Why settle for that?
What are some of your favorite matches and moments in the six-year history of AEW Dynamite? What do you think the next six years of Dynamite will look like, and what would you like the next six years of Dynamite to look like? As always, feel free to hit me up in the comments section below, on Twitter (@HustleTheSavage), or on Bluesky (@aaronhyden.bsky.social), and let me know what’s on your mind.
Now, let’s switch it over to my Weekly Power Rankings, before closing things out with the list of songs I was listening to as I put this column together.
Weekly Power Rankings
Sami Zayn vs Aleister Black: The hot streak that Sami is on continues. His Open Challenge series is delivering week in and week out, and I hope it continues for a long time. I’ve already started working on my column about some names I would like to see Sami defend the United States Title against in the coming weeks/months.
Kenny Omega & Brodido vs The Young Bucks & Josh Alexander: Let’s see… AEW match? Check. Trios? Check. That’s all you need. The company can just about take any six names, mix them up, and throw them out there. It’ll end up being a quality match. The fact that the level of competitors in this one was so high only makes it that much better.
Kyle Fletcher vs Orange Cassidy: This was a tough booking spot to be in. It’s too early for Kyle Fletcher’s TNT Title reign to come to an end, but Orange Cassidy just returned after a lengthy injury hiatus, so having him lose right away wouldn’t necessarily make sense, either. After a really entertaining match, we got the arrival of “Hologram” to further his clone storyline, causing interference, giving Fletcher the win. Yes, OC got pinned, but he has the “out” because of the interference, so there isn’t a lot of harm done to him.
“Hangman” Adam Page, Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs vs Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia: Oh, hey, another fun trios match in AEW. We even got some bonus post-match happenings to set up Hangman’s next World Title defense, with Samoa Joe getting offended by Hangman’s perceived slight to him when he tried to hand Joe his Trios Title belt. It’s a silly way to have a pay-per-view World Title match put together, but it’s Hangman and Samoa Joe, so people will accept it.
The Usos vs Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed: A fun Tornado Tag, although there wasn’t as much weapon usage and overall chaos as I would’ve expected with the match stipulation. Roman Reigns made his return to the company to help his cousins pick up the win, and to further his story with Paul Patrol after he was put on the shelf at Clash In Paris. He’ll probably have a match at Crown Jewel and then disappear again until returning a week before Survivor Series, but at least still gets amazing pops from live crowds.
Je’Von Evans & Rey Fenix vs Angel & Berto: If there’s one thing Smackdown doesn’t need, it’s another tag team. Yes, Je’Von and Fenix are exciting as all hell, but the tag scene on Smackdown is already insane, with multiple great teams not even making it on television regularly. I do like this small “sample” run Je’Von is getting on the main roster, though. Live crowds have been appreciative of his work. He’s got plenty of star potential when he makes the official jump to Smackdown or Raw.
Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed: A good in-ring week for Paul Patrol, making their second appearance here. As much as people are predicting for a Randy Orton heel turn, and as much as it would make sense, I kinda don’t want to see it. Yes, Randy does his best work as a heel, but he has spent so much of his career as a heel. He seems to truly enjoy being a face and receiving the love and adulation from live crowds at this stage of his career and life. A match between Cody and Randy can be made without having a heel turn. Like I said, though, it does make sense.
Kevin Knight vs Dax Harwood: A fun clash of styles, and another showcase singles match for Dax, who has a bunch of them in his AEW run. He’s so good in the ring, and he’s able to work with opponents of all types, all while making sure the matches are good.
Dominik Mysterio vs Rusev: It’s still wild to see the WWE Universe loving Dom the way they do. He’s such a good heel, but fans are still being won over. If he has an official face turn at some point, that could be a very memorable moment with an insane crowd pop.
Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater vs Shawn Spears & Niko Vance: Every week, Je’Von Evans should just travel from show-to-show, teaming up with exciting in-ring performers for a match. Works for me.
Darby Allin & Kris Statlander vs Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir: The way Marina Shafir’s character is handled continues to baffle me. She’s a super tough woman who could beat the shit out of me. I don’t doubt that whatsoever. However, if she’s supposed to be this badass woman who isn’t afraid of the men and often stands up to them, why wouldn’t you also make her look strong against other women? Did you know she hasn’t won a singles match in AEW since March 2023? That’s not weird to anyone else? Okay… she hasn’t had a singles match in AEW since December 2023, but my point remains.
Carmelo Hayes: His pairing with The Miz has come to an end, and that automatically has his career trajectory pointing in the right direction. Will anything come of it? Only time will tell. Fans have been demanding more from how the company uses him, so it might be time for that to happen.
This Week’s Playlist: “I Need Her” by Bryson Tiller… “15 Minutes” by Luke Combs… “Days Like These” by Luke Combs… “Just How You Are” by Leon Thomas… “Key Entity Extraction VII – Yuko The Trivial” by Coheed and Cambria… “Key Entity Extraction IX – Shiloh The Selfish” by Coheed and Cambria… “Don’t Worry Just Dance” by Ekolu… “Every City Got Gangstas” by DJ Paul & Lil Wyte… “Still DRE” by Smokey Silhouettes… “Still Snowin” by Jeezy… “Treason” by Jeezy… “Another Sad Song” by Jeezy… “Don’t Play Bout Me” by Jeezy… “Hustlers Paradise” by Jeezy… “Sacrifice” by Caskets… “Bloodhound” by Orbit Culture… “PETRICHOR” by HEAVENSGATE… “68 Cutlass” by LaRussell, Spice 1, Richie Rich, Mike & Keys… “Just A Lick” by LaRussell, Mike & Keys… “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan… “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper… “Wasting My Time” by Default… “So Icy” by Gucci Mane & Young Jeezy… “Stay Strapped” by Young Jeezy… “Guillotine” by Death Grips
