AEW Dynamite June 24th, 2026 Results & Recap: Takeshita Retains, Swerve Sends A Violent Message Before Forbidden Door

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite came into Rio Rancho, New Mexico with the difficult job of being both a loaded television wrestling show and the final Dynamite before AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. On paper, AEW threw almost everything at the wall: Konosuke Takeshita defending the AEW International Championship against Ricochet, Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland taking separate tune-up matches before the Owen Hart Cup final, two qualifiers for next week’s vacant TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest match, Zack Sabre Jr. tightening the screws before Kenny Omega, and the final pieces of chaos before Sunday’s massive steel cage war. The wrestling mostly delivered, the pace never dragged, and several stories got legitimate heat. The downside was obvious too: tonight was so packed that a few major angles felt like they were fighting for oxygen. Still, when the show hit, it hit hard, especially with Swerve turning Ospreay’s own Hidden Blade into a warning shot and Takeshita closing the night still standing as International Champion.

Here are the full results

• Death Riders defeated Místico & Brodido
• Harley Cameron defeated Marina Shafir (TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Qualifier)
• Will Ospreay defeated El Phantasmo
• Swerve Strickland defeated Daniel Garcia
• Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Jack Perry
• The Young Bucks defeated TMDK
• Queen Aminata defeated ROH World Television Champion Red Velvet (TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Qualifier)
• Konosuke Takeshita (c) defeated Ricochet (AEW International Championship)

Breakdowns & Reactions

Tonight opened with Jon Moxley rallying the Death Riders backstage, and that immediately set the tone for the first match. Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta against Místico, Bandido and Brody King was the right opener because it gave the show instant motion. Bandido and Yuta started with smooth counters, Místico injected speed, Brody King brought the violence, and Claudio’s power game kept everything grounded. The finish protected the right people but still felt too familiar: Marina Shafir distracted the referee, Claudio used the championship as a weapon, and Moxley stole the pin on Brody King. It kept Moxley hot before Forbidden Door, but it did not make Moxley vs. Bandido feel as dangerous as it should have.

Grade: B

What worked:

• The opening pace was strong and immediately made tonight feel important.
• Bandido, Místico and Brody King looked like a real threat as a trio.
• The dirty finish protected Brody and Bandido from a clean loss.

What didn’t work:

• The cheating finish felt like standard Death Riders business instead of a major go-home statement.
• Moxley vs. Bandido still needed a sharper emotional hook coming out of tonight.

Team Briscoe’s backstage promo was useful but not as strong as it needed to be. Darby Allin admitting he did not feel ready gave the babyface side some vulnerability, which worked. Roderick Strong still having real hatred for MJF because of Adam Cole gave the story personal weight. Orange Cassidy’s backpack line was very Orange Cassidy, but this is where AEW’s tone can get messy. The cage match is supposed to feel like war. Comedy can work, but Mark Briscoe should have been the emotional center of everything tonight, and this segment felt more like everyone around him talking than the show truly tightening around his mission.

Grade: C+

What worked:

• Darby’s honesty made the cage match feel dangerous.
• Strong’s anger toward MJF added real history.
• The team still felt likable and connected.

What didn’t work:

• Mark Briscoe needed to feel bigger in this final build.
• The comedy slightly softened the urgency.

Harley Cameron upsetting Marina Shafir was one of the best booking calls of tonight. Marina dominated early, attacked before the bell, threw Harley around, and looked like the obvious physical favorite. That is exactly why Harley winning worked. She did not beat Marina by overpowering her; she survived, countered the sleeper, rolled through, and stole the pin. That is how you book an underdog without making the stronger wrestler look completely stupid. Harley’s Supergirl-inspired presentation also connected with the crowd and gave the qualifier a little extra personality.

Grade: B

What worked:

• Harley got a meaningful win at the right time.
• Marina still looked dangerous for most of the match.
• The upset gave next week’s TBS title match more unpredictability.

What didn’t work:

• Marina losing only works if AEW follows up on her frustration.
• The match was more about the result than the in-ring work.

The women’s Owen Hart Cup video package for Mercedes Moné and Maya World did its job. Maya’s story is still the emotional underdog route, while Mercedes continues leaning into the colder, more ruthless version of herself. It was short, but it reminded people that Forbidden Door has more than one tournament final with real stakes. The problem is that AEW still has to make Maya feel like more than a great story. She needs to feel like someone who can actually beat Mercedes, not just someone the audience wants to see survive.

Grade: B-

What worked:

• The package gave the women’s Owen final needed attention.
• Mercedes came across like the dangerous favorite.
• Maya’s underdog story remains easy to root for.

What didn’t work:

• It still needed a little more bite for a pay-per-view final.
• Maya’s credibility is still catching up to the emotion of the story.

Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo was the smoothest bell-to-bell match of tonight. These two wrestled like people with years of chemistry, moving from counters to strikes to big near falls without wasting motion. ELP hit the moonsault, the stunner, the reverse hurricanrana and gave Ospreay enough resistance to make this feel competitive. Ospreay answered with the Spanish Fly, Styles Clash and Hidden Blade to win. This was the right kind of go-home match for Ospreay because he looked sharp without needing a cheap angle to carry him.

Grade: A-

What worked:

• The pace was excellent.
• Ospreay looked like a star without taking unnecessary damage.
• ELP reminded everyone he should be used more often.

What didn’t work:

• ELP does not have enough consistent AEW TV momentum for the win to feel as big as it could have.
• The match was great, but it still felt like a tune-up rather than a major story chapter.

Swerve Strickland vs. Daniel Garcia was where tonight’s best story work happened. Garcia attacked Swerve’s leg, trapped it in the apron, used dragon screws, went after the knee and actually gave the match a smart structure. Swerve’s leg giving out on the House Call was a great detail because it showed Garcia’s strategy mattered. But Swerve still survived, hit the House Call, then used Ospreay’s Hidden Blade to beat Garcia. That was the message. He did not just win. He stole Ospreay’s weapon.

The post-match made it even better. Ospreay came out to fight, Prince Nana tripped him, Swerve dropped him with House Call, and Garcia ended up eating the Vertebreaker when he tried to help. That is exactly how Swerve should go into Forbidden Door: dangerous, spiteful and one step ahead.

Grade: A-

What worked:

• Garcia’s leg work gave the match real psychology.
• Swerve using the Hidden Blade was perfect heel-level disrespect.
• The post-match angle made Ospreay vs. Swerve feel hotter than anything else on the show.

What didn’t work:

• Garcia once again felt like a valuable tool in someone else’s story more than the focus of his own.
• The Death Riders connection around Garcia still feels a little muddy.

The Team DCMJF promo had the right ingredients but uneven execution. MJF going after Mark Briscoe with the white-collar vs. blue-collar angle was exactly the kind of personal insult this feud needed. He also gave the Jay Driller just enough respect to make it feel dangerous without admitting fear. Kevin Knight wanting a title shot, Kyle Fletcher openly targeting Takeshita, and Andrade getting talked over all helped show that this team is stacked but unstable. The Don Callis shirt gag was funny, but it also undercut the seriousness of the cage match a little.

Grade: B-

What worked:

• MJF’s class-based attack on Mark Briscoe gave the feud a clearer identity.
• The internal tension on Team DCMJF is still one of the best parts of the story.
• Fletcher vs. Takeshita got another layer without needing a separate match.

What didn’t work:

• The comedy went a little too far for a final steel cage build.
• Andrade getting steamrolled is a funny bit, but it also made him feel secondary.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jack Perry was the best technical match on the card. ZSJ worked the arm, trapped Perry in holds, and made every escape feel like Perry was surviving instead of controlling. Perry biting the rope to force a break was a nice character moment because he knew he could not out-wrestle Zack clean. Perry’s Sliced Bread, moonsault, Snare Trap and powerbomb all gave him a fighting chance, but Sabre eventually tied him up and forced the submission. It was clean, it was smart, and it made Sabre look different from everyone else on the show.

Grade: A-

What worked:

• ZSJ looked world-class.
• Perry lost without looking weak.
• The submission finish fit the match perfectly.

What didn’t work:

• Perry still feels caught between being a serious singles name and a supporting Elite piece.
• The match was excellent, but the Omega/Sabre build needed more danger from Zack after it.

The Young Bucks beating TMDK was fine. Matt and Nick Jackson hit their dives, superkicks and Meltzer Driver, and the match did not overstay its welcome. It was really there to get TMDK in position to attack afterward and bring out Kenny Omega. Omega making the save and going face-to-face with Zack Sabre Jr. was a necessary Forbidden Door beat. Omega standing tall physically was debatable, though. Kenny is already Kenny. Sabre probably needed the stronger final physical image more than he did.

Grade: C+

What worked:

• The Bucks got a clean, quick win before Forbidden Door.
• TMDK’s attack kept the Omega/Sabre issue moving.
• Omega and ZSJ still feel like a dream match worth watching.

What didn’t work:

• The tag match felt more like a bridge than a real match.
• Omega getting the physical edge made Sabre feel slightly less dangerous than he should have.

The Thekla and Starlight Kid video package was short but effective. Thekla came across like a disrespectful champion carrying heat from the STARDOM side of the Forbidden Door build, while Starlight Kid was positioned as the defender of that world. This is exactly the kind of package AEW needs for crossover matches because not every viewer follows every promotion involved. It gave the match context quickly.

Grade: B

What worked:

• The package explained the issue without dragging.
• Thekla came off like a real antagonist.
• Starlight Kid got framed as more than just an international challenger.

What didn’t work:

• It still could have used one live in-ring moment on Dynamite.
• The AEW Women’s World Championship match did not feel as hot as the Owen final or Swerve/Ospreay.

Queen Aminata defeating Red Velvet was a strong result and maybe the best women’s match of tonight. Red Velvet targeted Aminata’s neck and back, attacked with urgency, and wrestled like a champion trying to deny someone else’s rise. Aminata fought through it, fired back with the headbutt and finished her with Off With Her Head. This was the right call. Aminata has the presence, offense and credibility to be taken seriously in next week’s Survival of the Fittest match.

Grade: B+

What worked:

• Aminata looked strong and credible.
• Red Velvet wrestled aggressively and gave the match structure.
• The finish made Aminata feel like a real threat next week.

What didn’t work:

• Red Velvet losing as a champion is not ideal unless AEW treats ROH titles with more care.
• Aminata still needs consistent character focus beyond good matches.

The backstage brawl with Adam Copeland, Christian Cage and The Dogs was chaotic in the right way. The Young Bucks started with a basic “we’re climbing back to the top” promo, then Copeland and Christian crashed through while fighting David Finlay and Clark Connors. The Dogs turned it around with hairspray to the eyes and cable chokes, leaving the tag champs laid out. That is the exact image The Dogs needed before Forbidden Door. They cannot go into a tag title match against Copeland and Christian looking like guests. Tonight, they looked dangerous.

Grade: B

What worked:

• The Dogs finally got a strong final image over the champions.
• The brawl felt ugly and physical.
• The cable choke visual worked.

What didn’t work:

• The backstage geography felt a little too convenient.
• The Bucks interaction in the middle of the brawl was awkward.

Konosuke Takeshita retaining the AEW International Championship over Ricochet was the right main event and the right result. Ricochet started fast with the springboard offense, Space Flying Tiger Drop and 450 splash, trying to steal the match before Takeshita could settle in. Takeshita surviving that early burst made him look like a real champion. With everyone banned from ringside, the match had to stand on its own, and it did. Ricochet looked dangerous as an explosive challenger, but Takeshita felt like the bigger long-term piece.

Grade: B+

What worked:

• Takeshita main-eventing made the International Championship feel important.
• Ricochet’s early attack created urgency.
• The clean stipulation helped the match feel more serious.

What didn’t work:

• The match was strong, but it did not have the same emotional heat as Swerve/Ospreay.
• Takeshita still needs AEW to fully commit to him as a centerpiece, not just a great match machine.

The road to next week’s vacant TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest match got a real boost tonight. Harley Cameron qualifying gives the match personality. Queen Aminata qualifying gives it force. Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander bring credibility, and Persephone gives the field a wild-card element. The division needed something that did not feel like the same handful of names circling each other forever. This field is not perfect, but it is interesting, and that matters.

Grade: B

What worked:

• Harley and Aminata both gained momentum.
• The field feels less predictable than expected.
• The vacant title match has different styles and personalities involved.

What didn’t work:

• The TBS title reset still needs stronger emotional stakes.
• AEW has to make the new champion feel like a true relaunch, not just the winner of a crowded match.

The road to Forbidden Door was a mixed but mostly successful final push. Swerve vs. Ospreay came out hotter than anything else. The Dogs looked more credible against Copeland and Christian. Takeshita stayed strong. Omega and ZSJ got their final staredown. The cage match still has huge star power, but the final build should have been more Mark Briscoe-centered. MJF had the sharper promo. Briscoe’s side had the heart. The match itself should be chaos, but tonight did not fully maximize the emotional weight of Mark earning a world title shot.

Grade: B+

What worked:

• Swerve/Ospreay feels pay-per-view ready.
• Takeshita remains protected and important.
• The tag title match got stronger after tonight’s brawl.

What didn’t work:

• Moxley vs. Bandido needed more heat.
• The steel cage build was strong on talent but not as focused emotionally as it should have been.

Best Match Of The Night

Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo was the best bell-to-bell match of tonight. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jack Perry was right there with it, but Ospreay and ELP had the cleanest rhythm, the best pace, and the kind of smooth chemistry that made the match feel effortless without feeling empty.

Best Segment Of The Night

Swerve Strickland stealing Ospreay’s Hidden Blade, beating Daniel Garcia, then leaving Garcia and Ospreay laid out was the best segment of tonight. That was the one angle that clearly made a Forbidden Door match feel bigger by the end of the show. Swerve looked like a menace, Ospreay had a reason to be furious, and Garcia became the unfortunate body in the middle.

What was announced for AEW Collision

• Mercedes Moné and ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs. Maya World and Hyan
• Kevin Knight (c) vs Desmond Xavier (TNT Championship)
• Persephone (c) vs Billie Starkz (CMLL Women’s World Championship)
• Místico & “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs Premiere Athletes
• Jack Doyle vs Adam Priest
• Chris Jericho vs JD Drake

Current AEW Forbidden Door card

• AEW World Champion MJF, TNT Champion Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada, Jake Doyle and Andrade El Idolo vs. Mark Briscoe, AEW World Trios Champions Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita and Darby Allin (Steel Cage Match; if Team Briscoe wins, Mark Briscoe earns an AEW World Championship match)
• Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland (Owen Hart Cup Men’s Final)
• Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World (Owen Hart Cup Women’s Final)
• Thekla (c) vs. Starlight Kid (AEW Women’s World Championship)
• Adam Copeland and Christian Cage (c) vs. The Dogs (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
• Jon Moxley (c) vs. ROH World Champion Bandido (AEW Continental Championship)
• Shota Umino (c) vs. PAC (IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship)
• Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
• The Young Bucks vs. Místico and Máscara Dorada vs. Shingo Takagi and Titan
• Divine Dominion (c) vs. Thunder Rosa and Olympia (AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship, Zero Hour)

Final Thoughts

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite was a strong wrestling show and a busy go-home show, but those are not always the same thing. The in-ring work carried the night, especially Ospreay vs. ELP, ZSJ vs. Perry, Swerve vs. Garcia, Aminata vs. Red Velvet and Takeshita vs. Ricochet. AEW also did a good job making Swerve vs. Ospreay feel like one of the biggest matches at Forbidden Door. That was the strongest part of the episode by far.

The problem is that tonight was overloaded. Eight matches, multiple video packages, two qualifier matches, several Forbidden Door angles and a title main event is a lot to cram into one Dynamite. Some stories got exactly what they needed. Others got the quick version. Moxley vs. Bandido needed more bite. The steel cage match needed more Mark Briscoe. Omega vs. Sabre needed a stronger final image for Sabre. But Takeshita retained, Harley and Aminata got big wins, The Dogs looked dangerous, and Swerve left tonight feeling like the most dangerous man heading into Sunday.

Overall Show Grade: B+

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