AEW Dynamite Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From June 3

AEW rolled into the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia for the June 3 episode of Dynamite, headlined by the latest AEW World Championship defense from MJF, the continuation of the Owen Hart Foundation men's and women's tournaments, and a TNT Championship battle between former friends and teammates.

What went down, how did each of the night's matches and segments grade out, and how did they impact AEW's road to Forbidden Door on June 28?

Find out in this recap of Wednesday's show.

Lineup

All Elite Wrestling

Announced in advance of Wednesday's show were:

AEW World Championship Match: MJF (c) vs. Rush

The Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Semifinal: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

TNT Championship Match: "Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Kevin Knight (c)

The Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament Quarterfinal: Alex Windsor vs. Wild Card Entrant

Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush

AEW World Championship Match: Rush vs. MJF

Last Time in Action: MJF defeated Darby Allin (Double or Nothing, May 24); Rush defeated Orange Cassidy, Brian Cage, and Lio Rush (Dynamite, May 27)

On the heels of a victory in last week's Superstation Showcase Four Way, and a tense confrontation earlier in the day, Rush challenged MJF to kick off this episode of Dynamite. From there, Renee Paquette announced a No Countout stipulation, and Andrade El Idolo hyped the challenger up.

The champion spat in his opponent's face early, igniting a fire in Rush that allowed him to physically overwhelm MJF early on, tossing him over the timekeeper's position and into a table.

The always-aware heel utilized an exposed turnbuckle to his advantage, busting Rush open and targeting the wound to seize control of the bout. The former Ring of Honor world champ fought back, but MJF shut him down by targeting his left arm. Rush suckered the champion into a headbutt entering the commercial break.

Back from the timeout, the ringside medical staff tried to tell referee Bryce Remsburg that both men were unfit to continue based on action, with the commentary team selling the Mexican-born star suffering from a dislocated shoulder. Rush laid the doctor out to ensure the match continued.

Rush attempted a running dropkick through the barricade, but MJF moved, then added a tombstone piledriver onto the broken guardrail, seemingly hurting his own left knee in the process.

MJF applied an STF/hammerlock combo, torquing the injured left shoulder of his opponent. Despite one last defiant look from Rush, the champion ultimately retained his title when El Toro Blanco became unresponsive.

After the match, Mark Briscoe attempted to cut off a post-match attack by MJF, but The Salt of the Earth got the best of him and escaped up the ramp before The Conglomeration could get their hands on him.

Result

MJF defeated Rush via referee stoppage

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

MJF taunted his challenger, appearing in matador garb to antagonize El Toro Blanco. Somewhere, Tito Santana is smiling.

The No Countout stipulation came from out of nowhere, with no prompt outside of the earlier brawl, and felt like another instance of creative convenience more than anything.

This was a great way to kick off the show. Rush ate up MJF early and often, looking like an unstoppable badass. The champion did just enough throughout the match to hold him at bay before eventually capitalizing on an opening, exploiting an injury, and winning. It was an easy to follow story, the challenger looked like a threat, the titleholder ultimately outwrestled him, and Briscoe made the save to setup that inevitable rematch.

Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Last Time in Action: Lio Rush lost a four-way to Rush (Dynamite, May 27); Mark Briscoe won a 10-Man Tag Team Match (Double or Nothing Buy In, May 24)

Born of a backstage segment earlier in the day in which Briscoe promised to fight the next person he saw, the night's second match saw the former TNT champion battle the bizarre "Blackheart" Lio Rush.

Rush threw Briscoe off throughout the match, halting his momentum with his mannerisms. The smaller competitor made him pay, capitalizing on the openings those hesitations presented.

The future Hall of Famer fought back, though, overwhelming Rush with his size, strength, and ferocity. He cut off one last gasp effort by his opponent and delivered the Cutthroat Driver for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Briscoe cut an impassioned promo reliving the anger he had upon his arrival in AEW following the death of his brother, Jay, and how wrestling served as his therapy.

Until, that is, the anger resurfaced in his rivalry with MJF. He called the world champion out for a shot at the gold to wrap things up.

Result

Briscoe pinned Rush

Grade

C+

Top Takeaways

It was fairly apparent right away that there would be considerable focus on Rush's new monster gimmick, and there sure was. It is unique, for sure, and something that could get over as long as it is not overexposed and does not impede on the quality of the ring work.

The commercial break hurt this one a bit as much of the momentum the competitors built entering it was stopped in its tracks. Still, what we got was fun and gave Briscoe a quality win as he continues to pursue a world title match with MJF, presumably as soon as Forbidden Door.

Thekla, flanked by Skye Blue and Julia Hart, cut a promo that began in the crowd and ended on the ramp, during which she ran down her former home promotion, Stardom, ahead of a the upcoming June 28 pay-per-view.