Tonight is Dynamite's 300th Episode!
This special features a first time AEW match - Kota Ibushi vs. Kazuchika Okada. Now these two are no strangers to one another. The former IWGP Heavyweight Champions have fought each other numerous times in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but a lot has changed since Okada left the company.
The longest reigning Continental Champion has only risen his stock since joining AEW. Okada has held the Continental title for 469 days, with the 37-year-old beating the likes of Will Ospreay, PAC, Tomohiro Ishii, Mark Briscoe, and Mike Bailey. Though the title isn’t on the line, Okada’s dominance in AEW can’t be ignored. Plus, the last time these two men fought, Okada emerged victorious.
Kota Ibushi proved last week that he hasn’t lost a step between those ropes. But the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion does have an uphill battle tonight. That’s because he doesn’t have to only deal with Okada, but the entire Don Callis family, who has proved that there’s strength in numbers. Can Kota Ibushi pull off an incredible victory over the Continental Champion?
Mercedes Mone has a world title match to worry about in two weeks. However, the TBS Champion is being forced to defend her belt and it’s against a woman who’s no stranger to being a champion. The new AEW star is a former RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Champion, Wonder of Stardom Champion, and Future of Stardom Champion. However, this isn’t Mina’s first time fighting Mercedes.
The TBS Champion is actually the woman who beat Mina for the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s title. Will Mercedes repeat her last success and put Mina Shirakawa in her rearview? Or will Mina Shirakawa pull off a huge win and become the sixth TBS Champion?
Check out the advertised line-up for tonight’s show:
- TBS Championship match: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
- Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay vs. Beast Mortos & Dralistico
- Bandido, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reily vs. The Young Bucks & Konosuke Takeshita
- AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi
- MJF vs. Brody King vs. Anthony Bowens vs. AR Fox in a Casino Gauntlet match qualifier