The Young Bucks lost their AEW World Tag Team Championships in a way that set up their upcoming title defense. On this week’s Dynamite, they faced Mark Davis and Jake Doyle in an eliminator match, and victory was never in doubt. Davis and Doyle dominated from start to finish, delivering three straight piledrivers to Matt and Nick Jackson before the final pin.
The win earns them a shot at the tag team titles, though the Bucks’ defeat served a larger purpose. The match avoided their usual back-and-forth style, instead framing their next title defense as a grudge match where they must answer for this loss. AEW’s official review rated it a 10/10 booking, noting how the outcome raised the narrative ahead.
Elsewhere, Will Ospreay and Adam Copeland faced Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher of the Don Callis Family, but the match descended into chaos. Kazuchika Okada’s unexpected ring interference gave Fletcher the win, then the Don Callis Family turned on Copeland and Ospreay post-match. The crowd erupted when Steven Borden and Darby Allin ran down to save them, with Borden declaring his return for the upcoming Blood and Guts match. The segment scored an 8/10 for its energy, though the timing felt rushed. Blood and Guts is just two weeks away, and this interference sets up a six-man tag team clash where the Don Callis Family will face Ospreay, Copeland, the Bucks, Allin, and Borden.
AEW’s main event featured a TBS Championship number-one contender’s match, but the real buzz came from Marina Shafir. After Mercedes Mone finished an interview by taunting the crowd, Shafir—accompanied by Jon Moxley—stepped in and demanded a title shot. Mone’s response was a mix of defiance and provocation, leaving the audience booing for a match. The booking earned a 10/10, positioning Shafir as the next star in AEW’s women’s division. Her momentum has grown since Pac’s death, and this moment capitalizes on her fan-favorite status. Meanwhile, Mone’s aggressive title defenses have shifted the dynamic, with the crowd clearly wanting a brutal showdown.
In the men’s division, Swerve Strickland made an early impact, destroying Tome Filip in under 25 seconds. Later, he interrupted Adam Page and Brodido, demanding a rematch for the AEW World Trios Championships; but with a condition. Strickland insisted it be a Texas Death Match, and Page immediately rejected the idea. The exchange earned a 10/10 for its potential, leaving fans curious about how Strickland will push for the stipulation.
The night’s most unexpected moment came when Jay White abruptly realigned with The Dogs, turning on The Conglomeration and The Death Riders in a backstage brawl. The move felt sudden but set up a larger heel alliance for Blood and Guts.
The final match belonged to Ilja Dragunov, who won his AEW debut with a clean D-Bomb on Mike Bailey. The crowd’s reaction was electric, and Dragunov’s victory closed the show on a high note.