AEW ‘Grand Slam’: Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega deliver dream match

NEW YORK (UPI) — Bryan Danielson and AEW World Champion Kenny Omega collided in a dream match on night one of AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam. The highly anticipated bout surprisingly kicked off the New York City-based show on Wednesday. Omega and Danielson had a staredown in the ring before the action started with the excited crowd chanting loudly. Danielson moved Omega into the corner and unleashed a series of hard chops and kicks. Omega returned the favor and also chopped Danielson hard. The American Dragon’s chest was beet red. The epic battle eventually moved to the entrance ramp with Danielson connecting with a knee strike from the top rope. Omega retaliated by performing a Snap Dragon Suplex that sent Danielson headfirst into the entrance ramp. Omega walked up the entrance and then ran back down it to deliver a V-Trigger. The champ remained in control until Danielson escaped an Avalanche Dragon Suplex and performed an Avalanche Back Suplex of his own. Omega later got his wish and performed the Avalanche Dragon Suplex. He followed that up with another V-Trigger and got ready to put Danielson down with One-Winged Angel, but Danielson countered it. Danielson was unable to connect with his Running Knee and Omega later missed a Phoenix Splash from the top rope. Danielson stomped on Omega’s face and tried unsuccessfully to apply the LeBell Lock. The grapplers brawled until the 30-minute time limit ran out, ending the match in a draw. Omega’s Elite teammates Adam Cole and Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks came down to the ring to help him up and take Danielson out with Superkicks. Christian Cage and Jurassic Express then came out to send The Elite packing.

Dr. Britt Baker defends AEW Women’s Championship

AEW Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker defended her title against Ruby Soho in the main event. Baker was joined by her bodyguards Rebel and Jamie Hayter. Soho attacked Rebel and Hayter by diving onto them from the top rope. This allowed Baker to land a Superkick followed by a Swinging Neckbreaker. The bout headed back into the ring where Ruby delivered a headbutt. Baker was given her surgical glove by Rebel and attempted a Curb Stomp, but missed. Baker later performed an Avalanche Air Raid Crash and landed a Curb Stomp, but it wasn’t enough to win the match. Soho performed the No Future but Hayter jumped onto the ring apron to distract her. Baker took advantage of the situation and was able to apply the Lock Jaw submission hold, forcing Soho to tap out.

FTR vs. Sting and Darby

Also at Grand Slam, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood of FTR battled Darby Allin and living legend Sting. FTR was joined at ringside by their manager Tully Blanchard. Sting, at 62 years old, wrestled throughout the bout and brought the fight to FTR by performing all of his signature moves. Sting connected with the Stinger Splash and avoided a chair Blanchard had placed in the corner. Sting punched Blanchard, his old rival, and applied the Scorpion Deathlock to Hardwood as Allin performed the Coffin Drop on Wheeler. Hardwood tapped out to give Sting and Allin the victory.

Other moments from AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam

Other moments from Grand Slam included CM Punk warning that the old CM Punk will return; MJF defeating Brian Pillman, Jr. by forcing him to tap out; and Malakai Black defeating Cody Rhodes by spraying black mist into Rhodes’ eyes. Rhodes had notably appeared to get frustrated against Black and accidentally hit the referee.

Grand Slam night two begins Friday at 10 p.m. EDT on TNT. The matches include Cole and The Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express and Cage; CM Punk vs. Will Hobbs; Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford; AEW World Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers with Santana and Ortiz vs. Private Party, The Butcher and The Blade; Men of the Year vs. Chris Jericho and Jake Hager of The Inner Circle; and Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston vs. Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki of New Japan Pro Wrestling in a Lights Out match. Reporting by Wade Sheridan