The latest AEW Dynamite episode, aired live from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, delivered a controversial Colt Cabana match with Sammy Guevara, culminating in an unexpected Dark Order angle that left the crowd buzzing. The show, packed with tense confrontations and emerging storylines, underscored the emotional and physical stakes for many of All Elite Wrestling’s biggest names.
The event began with scenes of energized wrestlers rallying by ringside, as the announce team of Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Excalibur detailed the night’s loaded card. Notably, both Sammy Guevara and Colt Cabana were highlighted as needing a significant win, setting the stage for one of the evening’s most emotionally charged bouts. Chris Jericho inserted himself at ringside, flanked by Floyd the Bat, grabbing attention as he vented his frustrations—particularly in the direction of Mike Tyson, whose involvement continues to cast a shadow over AEW storylines.
Tag Team Showdown Takes Center Stage
In the night’s opening match, FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) faced The Butcher & The Blade. After a showy entrance by FTR in a pick-up truck, the crowd’s anticipation intensified. The presence of industry veterans such as Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Shawn Spears, Jake Roberts, and Lance Archer in the audience underscored the match’s significance. Jericho, ever vocal, remarked on the pure, physical style both teams brought to the ring, even calling this a “meat and potatoes” encounter, reinforcing his longstanding critique of more high-flying spectacles.
The contest featured classic grappling, a “Good Night Express” tandem maneuver, and finished decisively with a piledriver called The Mind Breaker, handing FTR the win. The match was lauded as a
“great opening match with four guys beating the crap out of each other in the best possible way.”
—Chris Jericho, AEW Wrestler/Commentator. Afterward, an in-ring confrontation featured The Young Bucks introducing themselves, leading to a chaotic brawl as the teams and surprise interlopers like Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc tangled until order was restored, at least temporarily.
The Natural Nightmares Confront Internal Tensions
Next, Dasha delivered breaking news: The Natural Nightmares would challenge Kenny Omega and Hangman Page for the tag team titles the following week. Tensions flared around Allie’s presence, leading Dustin Rhodes to squarely address her involvement and priorities before the high-stakes title shot. He emphasized,
“This right here, get it out of your system, because next week she won’t be at ringside with us.”
—Dustin Rhodes, Wrestler. The segment pointed to unresolved issues simmering within the group, with the audience left to wonder about the true allegiance of each member.
Women’s Tag Match Spotlights Contenders
Penelope Ford, teaming with Nyla Rose, took on Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander. The match stood out not just for its athleticism but fresh storyline twists. Statlander provided comic relief with her signature alien greeting, but the clash quickly escalated. Rose dominated with a formidable double legdrop, only for Ford to score the pin following outside interference courtesy of Kip Sabian. Jericho was unequivocal in his belief that Ford is destined for a title shot, noting her champion qualities were only enhanced by Sabian’s involvement.
Orange Cassidy Falls Victim to Inner Circle’s Brutality
The next major segment saw Santana, Ortiz, and Jake Hager—representing the Inner Circle—battling Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent) and Orange Cassidy. The match delivered the unpredictable and irreverent energy fans associate with Orange Cassidy, who disoriented larger opponents with minimalistic and comedic offense. Despite a spirited effort, Cassidy succumbed to a cannonball from Santana and a coordinated attack, leaving the Best Friends falling to Inner Circle’s aggression in the end.
What followed may have been even more memorable. Jericho, enraged, attacked with Floyd the Bat, then delivered a bizarre assault using a bag of oranges on an already bloodied Orange Cassidy. Jericho then declared,
“Blood Orange Cassidy has just been juiced.”
—Chris Jericho, AEW Wrestler/Commentator. The segment left the audience disturbed and set heightened expectations for the coming Fyter Fest event.
MJF Stirs Controversy and Wartime Words
A backstage segment with Billy Gunn and his son Austin was promptly interrupted by MJF, who issued a scathing critique of the AEW roster’s ambitions. MJF staked his claim as the industry’s ceiling, provoking Gunn and drawing tension with the imposing Wardlow standing close by.
Cabana’s Defeat and the Dark Order Dilemma
The much-anticipated Colt Cabana match with Sammy Guevara and the Dark Order angle formed the episode’s core emotional conflict. The bout began with Cabana securing early momentum with technical mat wrestling, but Guevara’s athleticism and resilience quickly shifted control. Age became a talking point, as Ross compared Cabana’s experience to Guevara’s youthful energy, suggesting doubts about Cabana’s staying power at 40 versus Guevara’s 26 years.
In a critical moment, Cabana slipped while attempting a complex version of his Chicago Skyline move, enabling Guevara to capitalize with a GTS for the victory. The loss exacerbated Cabana’s mounting insecurity and seeded further storyline implications around his alleged declining edge.
Moments later, Evil Uno and Stu Greyson from Dark Order appeared, joined by Brodie Lee. Lee extended his hand to Cabana, who accepted. Brodie helped him up, only to turn and walk away, leaving Cabana at a crossroads. Rather than turning to his own entrance, Cabana reluctantly followed Dark Order backstage, hinting at an uneasy new alliance and raising significant questions about his future motivation and identity.
Aftermath: Sammy’s Self-Praise and Matt Hardy’s Advice
Following his win, Sammy Guevara shifted focus to himself in a post-match promo. Before the celebration could fully unfold, Matt Hardy made his entrance, speaking candidly to Guevara about his tenacity and potential as a future top star within AEW.
Hardy stressed,
“Trust me when I say that, Sammy,”
—Matt Hardy, AEW Wrestler, urging Guevara to shed his alliance with Chris Jericho for personal growth. Guevara, however, remained defiant, recalling past attacks and refusing to yield. Hardy switched to his enigmatic Broken Matt persona, leaving the segment in a surreal, tense atmosphere.
Joey Janela’s Crisis and New Partnerships
Elsewhere, Joey Janela opened up about his struggles and feelings of fading relevance since an early star-making match against Jon Moxley. The narrative progressed to an impromptu encounter with Sonny Kiss, who pulled up in a convertible and offered Janela a ride, promising a partnership and further developments, as the screen teased a continuation to this new storyline pairing.
Cabana’s Search for Belonging Intensifies
Backstage, Dasha attempted to get a comment from the defeated Colt Cabana, who silently rebuffed her and knocked on the Dark Order’s locker room door. This marked a pivotal moment of vulnerability, with the audience reacting audibly to Cabana’s choice to enter. The announcers reflected on this behavior, describing it as uncharacteristic and raising alarms about the direction Cabana’s journey may take in AEW’s evolving landscape.
Lineup Teased for Upcoming Showdowns
The closing portion of the night offered a preview of next week’s high-profile matches, including Omega & Page versus The Natural Nightmares for the tag titles, a TNT Championship bout, Le Sex Gods (Jericho & Guevara) facing off with Best Friends, and a debut clash of Superbad Death Squad versus The Young Bucks, amplifying anticipation for future AEW Dynamite episodes.
Moxley Is Targeted in Parking Lot Ambush
Jon Moxley, arriving in the parking garage, was confronted about his battered condition and pending challenge from Brian Cage. Visibly agitated, Moxley called out Taz and Cage before being ambushed. Cage unleashed a vicious attack, culminating with Moxley being slammed onto the back windshield of a car, as Taz signaled the damage was done. The scene reinforced the violent climate encroaching on AEW’s main event scene and the lengths challengers are willing to go to seize gold.
Cody Defends TNT Title Amid Chaos
The night’s final match saw Cody, accompanied by Arn Anderson, defending his TNT Championship against Marq Quen. Cody, recently wounded from his contest with Jungle Boy, addressed critics by pledging to accept open challenges weekly, reinforcing his commitment as a fighting champion. Throughout the match, Quen exhibited impressive athleticism and courage, notably supporting social issues during his entrance attire, as called out by Excalibur.
Cody’s technical prowess and experience ultimately secured him victory via submission, earning respect from Quen post-match through a handshake and words of encouragement. However, celebrations were short-lived, as Jake Hager stormed the ring in a dramatic confrontation that quickly devolved into an all-out brawl. Cody, never one to back down, declared that Hager is welcome to challenge for the title at Fyter Fest, confirming a major bout for the anticipated event.
Implications of Colt Cabana’s Turning Point in AEW
The close of this AEW Dynamite left significant uncertainty and emotional resonance, particularly as Colt Cabana’s match with Sammy Guevara and the subsequent Dark Order angle signaled a new chapter for Cabana and AEW’s storytelling. The episode exhibited subtle negativity and turbulence throughout, from betrayals and crises of confidence to shifting alliances and escalating violence, intensifying intrigue for viewers following AEW’s evolving rivalries. Key figures like Jon Moxley, Cody, Sammy Guevara, and especially Colt Cabana now face fresh challenges and decisions, which are likely to reverberate throughout the promotion’s coming events and shape the fate of numerous careers in the weeks ahead.
