AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from October 23

A week after Jon Moxley dropped Pac with the Paradigm Shift, left him to absorb the brunt of Kenny Omega and Hangman Page and cost him his first defeat in AEW, the competitors waged war in Wednesday's Dynamite main event.

That bout headlined a show that also featured the semifinals of the AEW Tag Team Championship as Private Party squared off with Lucha Bros and SCU contested the undefeated Dark Order.

Two weeks after an epic unsanctioned battle on AEW Dark, Joey Janela and Kenny Omega rekindled their rivalry in a high-profile singles bout.

Throw in a showdown between The Young Bucks and Best Friends, and a homecoming for Britt Baker, and you had one of the most jam-packed episodes of the TNT broadcast yet.

Find out what went down, who emerged victorious and which competitors jockeyed for positioned ahead of Full Gear on November 9.

This week's show wasted no time wowing audiences from the start with a dynamic tag team bout pitting Private Party against the Lucha Bros for the right to compete in the finals of the AEW Tag Team Championship tournament.

Private Party started quick, but Pentagon Jr. and Fenix calmed down and teed off on Marq Quen. The babyfaces were able to regain control with Quen's tag to Isiah Kassidy, who exploded into the match and kept the more established opposition off guard.

A 450 splash from Quen to Pentagon Jr. earned the popular young team a near-fall. The Lucha Bros recovered, though, and delivered a double-team assault to Quen. Kassidy sparked another comeback, though it was short-lived when Pentagon Jr. countered into a destroyer that nearly put away Quen.

The match progressed, and Kassidy delivered an Asai moonsault that wiped out Pentagon Jr. on the floor. Back inside, Quen delivered a shooting star press on Fenix but was unable to finish him. Pentagon Jr. returned to the squared circle with a sling blade to Quen.

Private Party recovered and delivered Gin and Juice. They could not capitalize on their signature double-team maneuver, though, because Fenix was not the legal competitor.

The babyfaces' last real shot at victory, Fenix ran the ropes and kicked Quen in the head before joining his brother for a double stomp/package piledriver combo for the win.

  

Result

The Lucha Bros defeated Private Party

  

Grade

B

  

Analysis

The action here was nonstop, and the crowd responded to it accordingly. The fans were vocal, excited and energetic, and the performers fed on it.

With that said, Jim Ross made an excellent point: There was a decided lack of urgency early. Neither team actively sought a victory. There was a noticeable absence of pinfall attempts, which the legendary commentator called out.

That would have elevated the quality of a match that was already very good.

The Lucha Bros winning sets up a potential showdown with SCU, a rivalry that makes sense after the last two weeks of build.

The Dark Order received a bye through the first round of competition by way of its victory over Best Friends at All Out. The team made its tournament debut this week, battling Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky of SCU.

The heels went after Sky early, wearing him down with a tenacious double-team effort. They maintained control of the bout heading into the break.

Back from commercial, Stu Grayson and Evil Uno continued their oppressive beatdown of Sky while The Inner Circle was shown making its way through the crowd and into a private skybox.

Kazarian exploded into the ring, wearing down both Grayson and Uno and scaling the ropes. Grayson cut him off and sent Kazarian into a sit-out powerbomb by Uno. Kazarian kicked out, and a miscommunication by the heels allowed a comeback by the babyfaces.

A series of cutters downed the enigmatic baddies, and stereo dragon sleepers had SCU rolling.

Grayson ran the shoulders of Uno and Sky and took down Kazarian with a botched headscissors. He then dove over the turnbuckle and wiped out Kazarian at ringside. Back inside, Uno scored a strong near-fall on Sky.

The heels set up for the Fatality, but Sky escaped and Kazarian dropped Grayson with a springboard DDT. With Uno down at ringside after being sent into the post, the babyfaces flattened Grayson with SCU Later for the upset win.

  

Result

SCU defeated The Dark Order

  

Grade

B+

  

Analysis

The arrival of The Inner Circle mid-match really hurt Kazarian's comeback and did the wrestlers in the ring a great disservice. Yes, the faction is full of arrogant and self-absorbed heels, so they naturally would not care about disrespecting the men in the ring, but beyond that, it hampered the flow of what was a really strong match.

For as underdeveloped and unpopular as The Dark Order has been with even the most ardent of AEW fans, the team turned in its best performance to date. This was not its night, though, as the feud between SCU and the Lucha Bros developed into one so hot that management cannot deny a championship clash between the teams.

No matter how bright Grayson and Uno's future may be.

Kenny Omega and Joey Janela tore the house down on AEW Dark two weeks ago in a brutal, hard-fought, unsanctioned match. Wednesday night, they engaged each other in a straight wrestling match in which wins and losses would affect their overall records.

Omega worked a wristlock amid dueling chants from the Pittsburgh faithful. A pescado to the floor wiped out Janela and allowed The Best Bout Machine to maintain early control of the contest.

Janela survived a gorilla press from the top, rolling through it and dropping Omega with a leg sweep. He followed with a dive from the top rope that wiped out Omega on the floor. Back in, he scored a near-fall.

Omega caught Janela with a nasty chop to the chest as the show headed to the break.

Back from commercial, Omega delivered a snapdragon suplex but was unable to put away Janela. The tenacious Janela fought back and had an opportunity to achieve control of the bout. Showboating proved problematic, as Omega sent him face-first into a turnbuckle, delivered another snapdragon and blasted him with a low V-Trigger for two.

Janela countered another V-Trigger with a rolling German suplex. Omega answered with a big knee to the face, but The Bad Boy obliterated him with a fisherman buster. A running lariat turned Omega inside out, but The Cleaner still shot his shoulder off the mat to avoid defeat.

With Omega prone on the apron, Janela tried a flipping senton. Omega rolled out of the way, and his opponent crashed spine-first on the hardest part of the ring.

Back inside, Omega put away Janela with the One-Winged Angel for the hard-fought win.

   

Result

Omega defeated Janela

  

Grade

A

  

Analysis

This was a physical battle that, for the second time in three weeks, saw Omega put Janela over as a credible threat to anyone in AEW. That it came in a traditional match, in which The Bad Boy was not able to lean on weaponry or high spots, only helped make his case for recognition as a wrestler more than a gimmick.

The crowd loved both competitors, and they both repaid that adoration with tremendous performances. Omega going over was the right call, not only to rehab his win-loss record but also to build him some momentum as he prepares for a heated showdown with Jon Moxley on November 9.

Tony Schiavone interviewed Cody, just over two weeks away from his showdown with AEW world heavyweight champion Chris Jericho at Full Gear.

Before The American Nightmare could really dive into the most important match of his career, Jericho interrupted, referring to him as a "millennial b---h" and warning his top contender to get out before he endures a beating at the hands of The Inner Circle.

Dustin Rhodes appeared, looking to even the numbers. MJF joined the fray next, much to the delight of the Pittsburgh fans, who greeted him with an enormous pop. Diamond Dallas Page appeared, bringing the heels' numbers advantage to a more manageable 5-4.

The babyfaces hopped the guardrail and made a beeline for the skybox where the heels had set up shop earlier in the show. Jericho and Co. barricaded themselves in the box, only for Cody to break through the glass window. The fight spilled into the corridor, where security separated the two sides.

   

Grade

A

  

Analysis

The only way to telegraph a heel run-in that would plague the finish of Cody vs. Jericho at Full Gear was to establish that the babyface is not coming to Baltimore alone. This did just that, evening things up and creating more heat for the upcoming pay-per-view main event.

The punch through the glass was dangerous in that some flying glass appeared to have affected Jericho. Still, it made for a cool visual and demonstrated the lengths to which the second-generation star was willing to go to get to his enemy.

This kept fans wanting more and perhaps even set up a multi-man tag team match in the next week or two.

The Young Bucks and Best Friends may not have had the success in the tag team title tournament they wanted, but in their battle this week they had the opportunity to re-establish themselves as threats to whichever tandem emerges with the gold.

Matt and Nick Jackson erupted from the opening bell, leaving their opponents reeling. Chuck Taylor and Trent established control shortly thereafter. Some well-timed interference from "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy continued their momentum.

Back from the commercial, Nick tried for a 450 splash, but Trent rolled through and dropped him with a suplex. Trent uncorked another and tagged Taylor in. Chuckie T delivered an overhead release suplex to Matt and followed with a sit-out powerbomb for two.

Taylor caught a charging Matt with a belly-to-belly overhead, sending him into his brother Nick, who was seated in the corner. The Falcon Arrow followed, and he scaled the ropes. Matt met Taylor up top, but Trent rushed the ropes and sent Matt off the top with a release German suplex.

Cassidy delivered a crossbody from the top rope, wiping out the Bucks on the floor. Back in, the Best Friends continued their onslaught and looked for a Doomsday Device. Matt landed on his feet, though, wiping out any and everyone around him.

More Bang For Your Buck finished off Taylor as the Bucks picked up a much-needed victory ahead of a match with Santana and Ortiz at Full Gear.

  

Result

The Young Bucks defeated Best Friends

   

Grade

B+

   

Analysis

Trent may be one of the biggest hidden gems on the entire AEW roster.

He was hugely underutilized in WWE, built a strong reputation for himself on the indies and has achieved significant success with Taylor. That team has allowed him the opportunity to showcase his abilities on an international platform.

For the second week in a row, he turned in a fantastic performance that stood out despite the immensely talented individuals surrounding him. He may not have the buzz of a Cassidy or the flashiness of the Bucks, but he was arguably the best wrestler in the match Wednesday.

The Bucks winning was a given considering their relatively high-profile tag match upcoming on PPV, and you cannot argue with that outcome. They continue to be the heart and soul of AEW, the duo who started the long and winding road to a true wrestling revolution.

Pittsburgh became Brittsburgh as Dr. Britt Baker battled the debuting Jamie Hayter in singles competition, looking to rebound after a disappointing loss to Riho a week ago.

Baker started fast and furiously, but Hayter downed her at ringside, sending her into the announce position. The hometown heroine recovered momentarily, turning her opponent inside out with a sling blade. Hayter, though, regained control of the bout heading into the commercial.

Hayter continued to wear down Baker following the break, utilizing a body scissors and sleeper to seep the fight out of her. It failed, as Baker broke it up with a jawbreaker. Baker tried for her swinging neckbreaker, but Hayter powered out and dropped her for a near-fall.

Hayter gouged the eyes of her opponent and climbed the ropes, but Baker brought her crashing to the mat. The doctor tried for a discus clothesline, but Hayter countered into a uranage for a count of two.

Baker recovered and delivered her trademark twisting neckbreaker. The Brit managed to kick-out, though. Baker applied her variation of the Rings of Saturn and added a Mandible Claw, a move the commentary team referred to as Lockjaw, for the submission win.

   

Result

Baker defeated Hayter

    

Grade

B+

  

Analysis

It was hardly pretty, but this was a hard-fought match that spotlighted Baker in an emotional homecoming. The wildly popular hometown heroine battled back from the unexpected fight of a British newcomer to pick up the win, improve her win-loss record and, potentially, re-enter championship contention.

For Hayter, this was a great first impression. Not only was she more than solid between the ropes, but she was also allowed to look like Baker's equal. She nearly upset her opponent on more than one occasion and succumbed to a move that is quickly becoming one of the surest submission holds in the business.

Why Hayter would then be booked on the receiving end of a sneak attack by an infuriated Brandi Rhodes, essentially killing any heat she may have built during the match, is dumbfounding.

A focused, infuriated Pac sought revenge from a week ago, taking the fight to Jon Moxley from the get-go in this week's main event. He attacked the competitor from behind on the ramp and fought him to the ringside area. He soared through the air, wiping out his opponent at ringside. Moxley recovered and, through a burst of energy, swung wildly on his opponent in the corner.

Unable to regain his composure, Moxley quickly found himself back on the receiving end of a relentless beating at the hands of The Bastard. Pac unloaded with a barrage of kicks about the chest and then one to the head. He added a standing shooting star press for good measure, but Moxley kicked out at two.

Moxley finally slowed Pac's onslaught, dropping him on his head on the ring apron.

Back inside, a slugfest ensued. A big clothesline from Moxley dropped Pac, but the Brit answered with a pump kick. Moxley responded with a lariat that turned Pac inside out. Moxley tried for a Regal Knee, but Pac bailed to the floor. The Death Rider responded, diving through the ropes to wipe out his opponent.

Moxley scored a near-fall back inside the squared circle. A running knee to the side of the head downed Pac again, but The Bastard kicked out at two. A Cloverleaf followed as Justin Roberts counted down remaining television time. Urgency setting in, a wobbly Moxley made his way to the ropes. Pac cut him off and scored a near-fall of his own moments later off a top-rope driver.

He climbed the ropes for the Black Arrow but Moxley moved. He spilled to the floor, where Pac delivered a 450 splash from the apron to his opponent. Pac missed the Black Arrow, and Moxley tried for a pinfall. With 30 seconds left, Moxley delivered the Paradigm Shift but was unable to pick up the win as television time expired.

Justin Roberts announced the result as a draw. Moxley responded, in frustration, with a Paradigm Shift to the official.

   

Result

Moxley and Pac fought to a draw

  

Grade

B

  

Analysis

That was a gutsy call to end the night's hotly anticipated main event with a time-limit draw. It plays into results mattering, the possibility of draws and whatnot, but it still runs the risk of upsetting a viewing audience that has not been conditioned to accept that particular finish to this point.

With that said, this was a hell of a physical match that played up the disdain the competitors have for each other. Pac and Moxley looked like two gladiators attempting to obliterate each other. Their performances, the story the commentary team told and the intensity with which the wrestlers approached the match helped make this an engrossing main event.

Hopefully, the finish does not upset the masses. If anything, the difference may attract more interest from a fanbase begging for new.