MJF vs. Samoa Joe for the AEW Championship.
AEW Dynamite Grand Slam from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York advertised AEW world champion MJF vs. ROH Television champion Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship. Grand Slam also advertised ROH world champion Claudio Castagnoli vs. Strong Openweight champion Eddie Kingston in a Title vs. Title match. If that wasn’t enough titles in a promotion where these belts don’t matter, the AEW Women’s World Championship and the AEW International Championship were also on the line.
Sadly, on a show in a building named after one of the most prominent Black athletes in history, there were zero black wrestlers booked on the card.
Last week’s broadcast of AEW Dynamite garnered 888,000 viewers
AEW Dynamite Grand Slam Results | September 20, 2023
- Eddie Kingston def. Claudio Castagnoli | Title vs. Title
- Chris Jericho def. Sammy Guevara
- Rey Fenix def. Jon Moxley | AEW International Title
- Saraya def. Toni Storm | AEW Women’s World Championship
- MJF def. Samoa Joe | AEW World Championship
AEW Dynamite Ratings
- September 13, 2023 | 888,000
- September 6, 2023 | 887,000
- August 30, 2023 | 871,000
- August 23, 2023 | 870,000
- August 16, 2023 | 874,000
- AEW Dynamite Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium (Flushing Meadows, N.Y.)
- AEW Dynamite Tickets Distributed: 9,786
- AEW Dynamite Tickets Available: 1,525
AEW Dynamite Winners And Grades
Eddie Kingston Def. Claudio Castagnoli
The stage of Grand Slam looked like a pay-per-view
Before the match, Claudio Castagnoli was warming up backstage and kneed Wheeler Yuta a bit too hard.
Before going to break, Excalibur reminded the audience that match was Title vs. Title, which at this point, I’m convinced that’s what AEW stands for.
Eddie would have been the overwhelming crowd favorite in any match against Castagnoli, but in New York he was cheered like a God.
Eddie Kingston won the ROH Championship in the opening match, and it was a good moment that would have been made great if half the AEW roster didn’t already have a title.
Eddie Kingston vs. Claudio Castagnoli Grade: A
Chris Jericho Def. Sammy Guevara
Sammy Guevara’s entrance was inspired by Chris Jericho’s light-up jacket from WWE. Guevara was accompanied by Monteasy, who sang his theme music live.
Guevara wore trunks in homage to Chris Jericho’s first match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 20, which was also in New York.
Sammy Guevara landed a “glancing blow” on Chris Jericho as they botched a drop kick spot.
The finish came when Guevara hit a shooting star into a Codebreaker.
After Jericho and Guevara hugged, Guevara predictably kicked Jericho in the balls just like Jericho did Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 20.
Sammy Guevara vs. Chris Jericho Grade: B+
Rey Fenix Def. Jon Moxley
Of all the meaningless titles in AEW, shockingly, the AEW International Championship is one of the few that means anything.
There was a great spot where Moxley no-sold a springboard arm drag by Fenix and punched him right in the head.
The referee botched a three-count only for Fenix to follow up with his pile driver finish for a shocking three count.
This was the third consecutive match with a scary/surprising finish where Mox was dropped right on his head, just like Dave Meltzer likes it. Moxley was able to leave on his own power.
Jon Moxley vs. Rey Fenix Grade: B+
Saraya Def. Toni Storm
Toni Storm has new theme music to complete her Old Hollywood transformation.
Fans in New York cheered Toni Storm, who had been acting like a heel, and AEW was ready for it. Storm was booked as a babyface from the opening bell, with Saraya and Ruby Soho using a two-on-one advantage throughout.
Fans exploded for Toni Storm going under the ring to reveal not one, but two shoes. They even chanted “shoe!”
Toni Storm got a nearfall after kissing Saraya on the lips and hitting the Storm Zero.
Storm is clearly chasing Saraya for the world title, and when she wins it, it’ll be the most meaningful title win of her AEW career. Third time’s a charm.
Toni Storm vs. Saraya Grade: A-
MJF Def. Samoa Joe
Adam Cole was planning to be in Samoa Joe’s corner, but received a last-minute call from Roderick Strong who over-dramatically claimed his life was in danger.
MJF’s entrance was a parody of a famous Bret Hart vignette, with MJF telling the kid that he’s adopted.
MJF hit a Kangaroo Kick to the biggest pop of the night.
To go along with the theme of taking MJF’s livelihood from him, Samoa Joe worked over MJF’s neck, including a piledriver outside of the ring on the exposed plastic panels.
Adam Cole made it back in time for the finish of this match. It reminded me of an episode of Keenan and Kel where Keenan had to be on two dates at the same time.
Sticking true to his promise, MJF choked out Samoa Joe with a foreign object before choking out Samoa Joe with a rear-naked choke for the win. Cole helped MJF hide the evidence behind the referee’s back. Joe shook MJF’s hand after.
