AEW Dynamite Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Aug. 6

The August 6 edition of Dynamite promised to fully illuminate the plan for Forbidden Door while delivering great action from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

Mark Briscoe promised no mercy for MJF in their main event grudge match. The Salt of the Earth hoped to win to prove to "Hangman" Adam Page that he deserved an AEW World Championship opportunity.

Finishing up the semifinals of the World Tag Team Title Eliminator Tournament, The Young Bucks faced the unique alliance of Brody King and Bandido.

Mercedes Moné returned to AEW television to watch the Forbidden Door TBS Championship 4-Way qualifier to decide her next challenger.

Would Alex Windsor, Billie Starkz, Queen Aminata or Skye Blue earn a spot at Forbidden Door on August 24?

Jon Moxley hoped to work out his aggression at the expense of "Speedball" Mike Bailey.

This was only the foundation for a wild night from All Elite Wrestling that was certain to deliver some major surprises.

Jon Moxley vs. 'Speedball' Mike Bailey

"Speedball" Mike Bailey had Jon Moxley's number at multiple points in this match, pushing The Death Riders leader to the point of desperation.

However, interference from Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir saved Mox and allowed him to connect on the Death Rider for the win.

It would have been a genuine shock for Moxley to lose to Speedball at this point in both their careers, but they delivered some wild near-falls that built real drama for the finish.

While Mox kicking out of a pair of back-to-back Time Adventures devalued Speedball's finisher, the overall presentation of Bailey in this match made him look like an equal to a former world champion.

By the end, they had sold why Bailey could have won, and it was a disappointment that he didn't. Hopefully, this is a good indication that JetSpeed remain a priority duo in singles and tag action going forward.

Moxley vs. Darby Allin at Forbidden Door looks to be the plan. It would be a surprise if it ends up as a normal match given how intense the rivalry already feels.

While Speedball could not defeat Mox and the former champ recently put over "Hangman" Adam Page, Allin also needs to pick up a decisive win over The Death Rider before this story is over.

Result

Mox def. Bailey by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

- MJF opened the show taunting Page and Mark Briscoe while highlighting his newly won CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship.

- Commentary explained that Moxley demanded a match for the night and Speedball was the first to volunteer.

- Kevin Knight stepped up to Shafir and Mox when they tried to take cheap shots at Bailey.

- Speedball nearly took the win with a Shooting Star Press. When Mox kicked out, Bailey transitioned right into a Juji Gatame.

- Allin dragged away Yuta, distracting Mox for multiple near-falls including after a pair of Time Adventures.

- Mox and Shafir found Yuta in the parking lot in a bag. They pulled him to safety before Allin could run him over, but The Daredevil left a note marked "Forbidden Door" stapled to Yuta's forehead.

Forbidden Door TBS Championship 4-Way Qualifier

After a wild 4-Way, "Timeless" Toni Storm made sure Athena could not save Billie Starkz, and Alex Windsor caught her with a small package for the win.

Afterward, Mercedes Moné arrived to taunt Windsor with the TBS Championship. Athena caught The Timeless One with an O-Face, while The CEO laid out Windsor with a backstabber.

This was a fun match if a bit sloppy in moments. Queen Aminata was the star and further proved why she should be a future champion in AEW and ROH.

The CEO is back, and the quick development of Windsor has set her up as an interesting rival to Moné.

Anyone in this match could have won, but no one made more sense than Windsor for a title match in the O2 Arena in London.

It may be time to take a championship off The CEO, and Windsor solidifying herself in AEW with a TBS Championship victory in her home country would be a massive moment.

Teases with both Athena and Storm indicate Moné still has her sights on the AEW Women's World Championship. Let the TBS Championship go while she prepares for the top prize.

It is hard to call whether Storm or Athena will walk out of Forbidden Door with the title, but The Forever Champion needs the win more.

Result

Windsor def. Starkz, Aminata and Blue to qualify for the Forbidden Door TBS Championship 4-Way.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

- Moné arrived at the arena and mocked interviewer Renee Paquette before heading inside.

- Backstage, Windsor found herself talking more and more like Storm in their joint interview before the 4-Way.

- Athena came out with Starkz, leading to Storm arriving to back up Windsor.

- Aminata took out Blue outside late by planting her on her neck on a steel chair.

The Don Callis Family Celebrates TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher

Don Callis, Lance Archer, Hechicero and Josh Alexander came out to celebrate new TNT champion Kyle Fletcher. The Protostar taunted Dustin Rhodes and Adam Cole as victims of his greatness.

Callis presented Fletcher a grotesque painting before The Protostar announced he would defend his TNT title for the first time on Collision this week.

Fletcher certainly earned a celebration after his incredible battle with Dustin Rhodes on Collision, even if this was intentionally set up as annoying over entertaining.

The Callis paintings are always a wild ride, and Fletcher continues to settle perfectly into the role of his manager's favorite son.

Hopefully, given all the enemies The Callis Family has accumulated, there will be plenty of interesting names who can step up to challenge The Protostar.

Given how much Fletcher has often been used on TV, he may just be able to live up to his promise to be the greatest TNT champion ever.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

- Hechicero in casual attire was a bizarre sight in the background.

- Callis presented all three of Kazuchika Okada's championships at ringside during the celebration.

- Cope announced in a backstage interview he would fight Stokely Hathaway next week, and FTR would void their restraining order if they got involved.

- Backstage, FTR tried to hype up Stokely, but Big Stoke got too worked up and talked some trash about Cope and his family that he would regret.

World Tag Eliminator Tournament: The Young Bucks vs. Brodido

Delivering non-stop action from the start, Matt and Nick Jackson looked to be just a bit more cohesive a team than Brody King and Bandido.

However, the momentum shifted over the course of the match, leading to Brody King and Bandido pulling out their new tag team finisher to win.

Beginning with the hilarious entrance of The Young Bucks, the energy in the arena for this match was electric. Everyone was in on the wild action.

This was one of the best tag team matches of the year for AEW. The Bucks have been on an absolute tear since All In, working every match like another PPV war.

They clicked with Brodido immediately, and this contest solidified this duo as one to watch.

It did not matter who won because both teams are massive names, and neither was likely to defeat FTR on the way to a challenge of The Hurt Syndicate.

However, Brodido have found something that could make them an intriguing threat to The Hurt Syndicate, no matter the result next week.

King and Bandido sounded like an odd-couple pairing at first, but it has turned into something special due to the incredible ability of both men to make any tag team work.

Result

Bandido and King def. Matt and Nick by pinfall to advance to the finals of the World Tag Team Championships Eliminator Tournament.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

- Backstage, The Young Bucks demanded respect from production and ring announcer Justin Roberts, handing off a cue card for him to read.

- Roberts read the card verbatim while Matt and Nick struggled to get past the titantron that obscured their entrance.

- They were also listed as Max & Jeremy on their title card, calling back to their early years as Generation Me in TNA.

- Crowd started out calling the Bucks "jobbers" but were popping big for every huge move from both teams in this contest.

- The Bucks nearly won with the Meltzer Driver on Bandido, but King recovered from a series of superkicks just enough to break it up.

- Bandido nearly won off the X-Knee and 21 Plex on Nick Jackson, but his brother, Matt, broke it up.

Swerve Strickland Promises to Defeat Kazuchika Okada

Renee Paquette interviewed Swerve Strickland at ringside, and he made clear he respected Kazuchika Okada but did not fear him.

He highlighted his unfortunate history in London over the years but promised to change it by defeating The Rainmaker at Forbidden Door.

Without Okada around for the night, this was a way to simply remind fans of one of the biggest matches at the PPV.

It was not a memorable promo but did allow Swerve to establish where he sees himself next to the legacy of The Rainmaker.

Nothing more is needed to sell this match, but Swerve could benefit from a promo battle with Don Callis before the London show.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

- AEW aired a video package highlighting the growing tension between Swerve and Okada.

- The Hurt Syndicate promised to hurt either FTR or Brodido at Forbidden Door. MJF tried to clear things up with MVP but instead got a third thumbs down.

- In that same backstage exchange, MVP warned that Bobby Lashley would go after MJF if he won the AEW World Championship.

- Willow Nightingale interrupted Queen Aminata's interview, trying to encourage her. Instead, Kris Statlander got involved and threw shreds of paper at Willow.

MJF vs. Mark Briscoe

Mark Briscoe had MJF on the ropes throughout this physical match, but MJF found his opening by ducking an outside Froggy Bow and sending Chicken through a table.

When Briscoe barely made the 10-count, MJF caught him with a Heat Seeker for a three. Chicken got his foot on the rope during the pin, but referee Bryce Remsburg missed it.

Afterward, The Salt of the Earth bloodied his opponent with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but "Hangman" Adam Page arrived to brawl.

Since this was labelled as a grudge match and Mark made some serious threats last week, this could have been worked more as a Street Fight.

It is a testament to these two men that they worked with such intensity without having to throw out disqualifications.

This was by far the best match of Briscoe's series of recent main events, and AEW should run this back with a stipulation down the line.

For now, the stage has been set for Page vs. MJF to fight at Forbidden Door, which is a guaranteed winner for the PPV, though Hangman vs. Briscoe was more intriguing.

AEW could also go with a Triple Threat at Forbidden Door, given the controversial finish.

Anything works, but all options will deliver another AEW-focused match at the O2 Arena on August 24. This PPV needs more New Japan Pro-Wrestling, CMLL and Stardom representation.

Result

MJF def. Briscoe by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

- Just before the main event, Page told Briscoe that he admired him and hoped to defend his world title against him soon.

- As further proof that the "We want tables!" chant should be retired, fans chanted it as Briscoe was already setting one up.

- Excalibur confirmed MJF's newly won CMLL title has been fully rechristened by The Salt of the Earth as the CMLL World Championship.

- Mark was bleeding from his mouth for much of the latter part of this match.

- MJF teased a second-rope piledriver, but Briscoe bit his way out of it and hit the Froggy Bow. The Salt of the Earth barely kicked out.

Overall Show

AEW continues to build a strong foundation for Forbidden Door with big championship matches.

"Hangman" Adam Page vs. MJF (vs. Mark Briscoe?) is the top story, but "Timeless" Toni Storm vs. Athena, Kazuchika Okada vs. Swerve Strickland and Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin all are strong stories and matches.

The AEW World Tag Team Title Eliminator Tournament has delivered great matches throughout and may have established a new top tag team in Brodido.

This show also reintroduced Mercedes Moné, connected to the first Forbidden Door match featuring non-AEW talent.

It was a successful night for AEW, though the in-ring action remains its strength over promos. This show could have done with another match and less interview time.

As usual, though, the wildest action was left for Collision while Dynamite drove the leading stories of AEW forward toward another PPV shaping up to be can't-miss.

Overall Grade: B-