For the first time since the inception of the company, All Elite Wrestling is bringing their Wednesday night show, AEW Dynamite, to Knoxville, Tennessee for a live broadcast. We don’t often talk about AEW’s regularly scheduled programs here at Around the Loop, but this one is special. It may not have a cool name like Maximum Carnage or Winter is Coming, but this show promises to be one I will remember for a long time. You see, I get to attend. After being a fan for over five years, this coming AEW Dynamite will be my first live AEW show. I am excited to the point of wetting myself. I won’t. But I could.
Here’s a preview of the matches announced this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite as of this writing.
Cope v. PAC
The Rated R Superstar, Cope, has set his sights on the AEW World Heavyweight Championship title. Too bad that title is currently held by Jon Moxley, the meanest son of a bitch on the roster. Moxley’s Death Riders (the bad guys) have attacked Cope and his trios partners Dax “The Axe” Harwood and Cash Wheeler, the good guy team collectively known as Rated FTR. On last week’s AEW Dynamite, one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions and current Death Rider PAC (I don’t know what that’s short for) attacked Cope from behind during the main event. You can’t do that to Cope and get away with it! That man is a legend! PAC and Cope’s battle continues on Wednesday.
Hart v. Hayter 2
Former AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter, the British sensation known for her vicious ripcord lariat known as the Hayterade, gets her second match against the Cheerleader from Hell, Julia Hart. Recently returned from injury, Hart is a wicked one. Aligned with the House of Black/Hounds of Hell, Hart likes to spit a blinding black mist into her opponent’s face. Nasty way to go. Hayter, one of the strongest women on the roster, was misted by Hart at the beginning of the month, a surprise move that led to Hart gaining the victory. You can’t do that to Jamie Hayter! Unless you can, like Hart did, and now we get a rematch. Lucky us!
AEW Tag Team Championship Title Match: Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) v. The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin)
Homegrown AEW talents Private Party pulled off a huge upset by defeating The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship titles in October 2024. Quen and Kassidy teamed up with veteran wrestler Mark Briscoe at the aforementioned Maximum Carnage for a trios match against The Hurt Syndicate, including their manager, MVP. It was a bit of a surprise when The Hurt Syndicate won that match. On Wednesday, the All Mighty Bobby Lashley and Big Shelty will challenge Private Party for the Tag Team Championship titles. Young acrobats in the ring against a couple of old school brawlers? Opposites attack!
Samoa Joe v. Nick Wayne
It is noticable when Samoa Joe is not on the card. He is a massive man, stronger than morning breath, even if his best move is simply scouting an opponent’s attack and walking away. Returning to AEW last week after some time away to film a television series, Joe came to the rescue of that cold-hearted handsome devil, HOOK, who has been at war with Christian Cage’s ersatz family cult faction known as The Patriarchy. Nick Wayne, a young man who tragically lost his real-life father at an early age, has been taken in by Cage, who calls Wayne his “son.” Wayne has a punchable face and if anyone can mess that smarmy puka-shell wearing kid up, it is Samoan Joseph.
Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega Face-to-Face
Kenny Omega. The Cleaner. The Best Bout Machine. Master of the One-Winged Angel. Simply put, Omega is one of the best ever to do it.
Will Ospreay. The Willy GOAT. Wielder of the Hidden Blade. Lord of the StormBreaker. Simply put, Ospreay is one of the best ever to do it.
While they were both in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Omega and Ospreay were bitter rivals. In AEW, the two have suffered betrayals at the hands of their backstabbing former manager Don Callis. Can Omega and Ospreay put aside their old feuds and come together to fight Callis and the devious Callis Family? Can they co-exist? Gods, I hope so.
Ospreay and Omega is advertised as a conversation, not a match. That’s fine. Get Ospreay and Omega together and let them read Shel Silverstein poems to each other. I would watch that segment on loop for days. But let’s be honest. There’s gonna be a fight, possibly a brawl. Somebody’s gonna get got, and it will be glorious.
On Wednesday, I’ll see clearly. Check back later this week for a special Around the Loop detailing my first live AEW experience!
If you’re in the Knoxville area, come see AEW Dynamite on Wednesday! Everything goes down at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. Doors open at 7:00 PM EST. Visit All Elite Wrestling’s website and secure your seats! If you see a dude with long grey hair wearing an old-school Abadon shirt standing next to a beautiful woman, that’s me. Come say hey! Buy me a drink! Sing me a song!
It’s almost time. Let’s fucking go.