All Elite Wrestling
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
The Oct. 15 episode of AEW Dynamite set the stage for WrestleDream, the company’s next major pay-per-view on Saturday, Oct. 18. The card will feature two world championship bouts and an ‘I Quit’ match that’s shaping up to be one of AEW’s most violent encounters of the year.
This week’s show delivered a stacked lineup, headlined by an AEW World Trios Championship clash, a heated final face-to-face in the women’s title picture, and a cinematic showdown that looked like something pulled from a movie.
So, what stood out from this week’s episode? Let’s take a look.
Who Are Kris Statlander And Toni Storm?
Kris Statlander and Toni Storm sat down with Renee Paquette one last time before their match at WrestleDream, and the segment revealed just how personal this rivalry has become. Storm, often known for her dramatic presence, stripped things back and spoke honestly about how much losing the AEW Women’s World Championship affected her. Without it, she said, she feels like a blank canvas, unsure of who she is or what comes next. Statlander had a different perspective, reflecting on how much she’s changed since their last meeting and how the woman Storm will face this time is nothing like the one she once beat.
The conversation didn’t stay calm for long. Emotions boiled over once they stepped into the ring, leading to a brief fight. But the moment that really stood out came when Statlander offered Storm a free shot, handing her the title as a challenge.
Instead, Storm placed the belt back on Statlander’s shoulder, kissed her on the head, and walked away. It was a small gesture that said everything: this match isn’t just about a championship.
For Storm, it’s about rediscovering herself, while Statlander can prove she’s ready to lead as a world champion. It sets the stage for a fun match with high stakes.
‘This Is Cinema’
The term “cinema” has often been used in wrestling culture to describe storylines that feel larger than life. Just look at everything involving The Bloodline in WWE over the last four years. It has also been used more literally to describe cinematic matches during the pandemic era of wrestling.
What Darby Allin and Jon Moxley did on Dynamite, though, was the epitome of “cinema,” as they essentially recreated a scene straight out of The Batman, specifically the intense exchange between The Dark Knight and The Riddler.
In a segment staged like a tense prison visitation, the two were separated by a sheet of glass as Moxley tried to sway Allin to his side, accusing him of disrespect and bringing up old wounds, including how he treated Bryan Danielson.
Allin didn’t hold back either, admitting he once thought about joining Moxley but ultimately couldn’t respect him after past betrayals. The back-and-forth quickly turned violent when PAC blindsided Allin from behind, leaving him bloodied and setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be a brutal ‘I Quit’ match at WrestleDream.
It was a harsh, intense confrontation that eventually spilled into the ring, where Allin took even more punishment from the rest of The Death Riders. They made him look overmatched, but in doing so reinforced the idea that he simply won’t quit. That sets the stage for a compelling question heading into WrestleDream: who will be the one to finally surrender, and how will it happen?
This feud probably deserves the main event spot. It’s the longest-running rivalry, the bloodiest (literally) on the card, and the one fans seem most invested in. The world titles always have a strong claim to close the show, but this story has the depth, emotion, and momentum to truly headline WrestleDream.
Remainder Of Go-Home Show Lacks Punch
While those standout segments dominated the show, it was hard to find much else that truly stood out ahead of WrestleDream, especially for a go-home show.
That’s not to say this was a difficult three-hour episode of AEW programming to sit through. Nothing on the card was bad or even close to egregious. But beyond the top storylines, there weren’t many must-watch moments that meaningfully pushed WrestleDream forward.
Hangman Adam Page and Samoa Joe didn’t necessarily need much more to sell their feud, as their segment at Daily’s Place had already done most of the heavy lifting. Still, this show missed an opportunity to add another layer to that rivalry.
Neither of the six-man tag matches stood out either. They might have felt more impactful had Dynamite and Collision aired on separate nights, but having two similar bouts in prominent spots within an hour of each other made the show feel repetitive. Overall, it was a night packed with tag matches that were solid in the ring but rarely jumped off the screen.
Even so, AEW usually delivers when it comes to pay-per-views. From the world title matches to Moxley vs. Allin, The Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express, and Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe for the TNT Championship, there’s plenty to like on paper from an in-ring perspective. The question now is whether the event can deliver the same level of impact from a storytelling standpoint.
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