All Elite Wrestling returned to B/R Sunday night for its latest pay-per-view offering, the inaugural Dynasty event.

Headlined by a heated world title match built to over months and a dream match between two of the best wrestlers on the planet, the show had all of the makings of one of the company's best.

At least on paper.

Did it live up to expectations, did Tony Khan and Co. have any surprises in store for fans, and what magic did Will Ospreay and Bryan Danielson have in store for fans in the wrestling-rich city of St. Louis?

Find out with this recap of the extravaganza.

Match Card

PPV Main Card Matches

• Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
• AEW World Championship Match: Swerve Strickland vs. Samoa Joe (c)
• AEW World Women's Championship Match: Thunder Rosa vs. "Timeless" Toni Storm (c)
• TBS Championship Match: Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart (c)
• Ladder Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. The Young Bucks (Tournament final to crown new champions)
• AEW Continental Championship Match: Pac vs. Kazuchika Okada (c)
• AEW International Championship Match: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Roderick Strong (c)
• FTW Championship Match: Hook (c) vs. Chris Jericho
• Trios Match: Adam Copeland, Mark Briscoe, and Eddie Kingston vs. The House of Black

Zero-Hour Preshow Matches

• Titles for Titles: AEW world trios champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass vs. ROH world trios champions Bullet Club Gold (Jay White and The Gunns) (Zero Hour pre-show match)
• Matt Sydal vs. Trent Beretta
• Orange Cassidy and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty

Trent Beretta vs. Matt Sydal

Trent Beretta stunned the AEW fans and his Best Friends teammates Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor when he betrayed "Freshley Squeezed," seemingly excommunication himself from the group.

Sunday, he further established himself as a singles entity in AEW with a victory over St. Louis' own, Matt Sydal.

The match was an example of perfectly acceptable wrestling that was neither great nor bad. it was a solid match to kick off the festivities as part of the Zero Hour pre-show and highlight Beretta in the process.

Afterward, Taylor interrupted a beatdown by the heel, who demanded to know what side his longtime tag team partner is on by Wednesday on Dynamite.

Result

Beretta defeated Sydal

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "We want Sue" chants filled the arena, once again proving that Beretta's mom may very well be more over than he is
• Beretta staring down Cassidy but running from Shibata as they interrupted his exit was a nice touch.

Orange Cassidy and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty

Orange Cassidy and Katsuyori Shibata settled their issues with Shane Taylor Promotions Sunday night, defeating Taylor and Lee Moriarty in tag team action despite outside interference from Anthony Ogogo.

The babyfaces overcame a concentrated effort by the striking Taylor and the wrestling guru Moriarty to knock them off. Freshley Squeezed, as he has so often, rocked Moriarty with the Orange Punch for the win.

A better match than the opener, but one that would have been right at home on Collision or even Rampage rather than extending what is already destined to be a long show.

Result

Cassidy and Shibata defeated Taylor and Moriarty

Grade

B-

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Tony Schiavone compared Orange Cassidy's punching ability to that of Taylor and Ogogo because of his Orange Punch finisher. Hah. Ironically enough, it was the finish.
• Taylor absolutely leveled Shibata with a roundhouse, flattening him on the arena floor.
• Shibata countered an underhook piledriver attempt to Cassidy by Taylor with a sleeper in a cool spot.

Titles for Titles: Acclaimed and Daddy Ass vs. Bang Bang Gang

The Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team and AEW World Trios Championships were at stake in a Titles For Titles Match Sunday night.

The Bang Bang Gang's "Switchblade" Jay White, and Colten and Austin Gunn, defeated The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass to unify the titles and, hopefully, put an end to a feud that has gone on for entirely too long.

There was solid action throughout in a fast-paced match that saw Billy Gunn inexplicably booked like Superman until White delivered Blade Runner and secured the win.

Result

Bang Bang Gang defeated The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass to win the titles

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Colten Gunn, begging for forgiveness for striking his father, embraced him in a hug in a fun spot. 
• The Caster raps are getting progressively worse at this point, and not in that edge and cool way. 
• Daddy Ass getting the Superman kickout sequence after the shot from White with the golden baseball bat was something that did not have to happen in 2024. Save that for the young guys in the match. 

AEW Continental Championship: Pac vs. Kazuchika Okada

AEW continental champion Kazuchika Okada worked over the head and neck of Pac for the majority of the opening match at Dynasty, targeting that area of his opponent and punishing it in hopes of setting up the devastating Rainmaker.

It would prove effective, especially after The Bastard's Black Arrow was met with knees to the face. The missed finisher stunned Pac, allowed Okada to rock him with his finisher and score the hard-fought victory.

More methodically paced than anything else on the card to this point, the match took all of its nearly 30 minutes and maximized every one of them.

This was probably the best presentation of Okada to this point because it did not include the Young Bucks nonsense, while Pac really stood out here, earning chants of "he's our bastard" after the bell.

A great way to kick off a card that figures to have more than a few of these highly graded match-ups.

Result

Okada defeated Pac to retain

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• There was a big-fight feel accompanying this one from the get-go.
• Pac sold the head and neck damage incredibly well throughout, including once or twice when it appeared it may actually be legit. 
• The finish was perfectly timed and executed.

Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston, and Mark Briscoe vs. House of Black

TNT champion Adam Copeland and The House of Black's Malakai Black have been on a collision course for weeks. Sunday night, they clashed as part of a trios match pitting Copeland, Eddie Kingston, and Ring of Honor world champion Mark Briscoe against Black, Brodie King, and Buddy Matthews.

As it turned out, Black and Copeland did not touch until the closing seconds of the match, during which the heel blinded the Rated R Superstar with his trademark mist and rocked him with Black Mass for the win.

This was a fun, action-packed trios match that highlighted everyone but never over-delivered the money match-up between Copeland and Black, ensuring there will be interest in those two eventually clashing for the TNT Championship.

Result

House of Black defeated Copeland, King, and Briscoe

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Briscoe delivered a running, flipping senton off the apron, over the ring post, and onto King.
• They did a great job of keeping Copeland and Black apart long enough to make it mean more when they finally did touch.
• The babyfaces delivered stereo spears to cut down the heels in a very cool spot. Add to that an interesting wide shot by the production team and it looked even better. 

TBS Championship Match: Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart

With Kris Statlander and Skye Blue barred from ringside per the challenger's hand-picked rule, House of Black's Julia Hart defended the TBS Championship against Willow Nightingale.

It would be the Princess of the Black Throne's final defense as Nightingale fired up, powered through everything Hart threw at her, and delivered a gut-wrench powerbomb to score the clean, emphatic victory in a match that was good, but failed to live up to some of Hart's other defenses.

After the match, Mercedes Mone predictably made her presence felt and stared Nightingale down, their much-anticipated rematch official for May 26 in Las Vegas at Double or Nothing.

Result

Nightingale defeated Hart to win the title

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Nightingale's family was shown at ringside, potentially tipping the company's hat toward the outcome. 
• "Chuck E. Cheese...HERE WE COME!" Stokely Hathaway exclaimed on commentary upon Nightingale's victory.

AEW International Championship Match: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Roderick Strong

The disintegrating friendship between AEW international champion Roderick Strong and Kyle O'Reilly wrote its latest chapter Sunday.

Strong targeted the neck and spine of his partner, looking to exploit the established injury that nearly cost the challenger his in-ring career. O'Reilly fought back, punishing his opponent with his quick strikes and arm-based submissions.

Ultimately, it was an awkwardly executed "run-in" by Wardlow that did just enough to distract O'Reilly and allow Strong to deliver End of Heartache for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Adam Cole joined Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Wardlow in the ring, revealing he no longer needs the wheelchair for his injured foot.

The match was quite good, especially if you are into strikes and counters. Does it appeal to the larger fan base? No, as we saw in the reaction from the fans, but it was a really well executed match that saw the right guy go over.

Result

Strong defeated O'Reilly

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Good, physical action out of both guys here.
• O'Reilly forearmed Strong down but the champion countered a kick into a backbreaker, as The Messiah of the Backbreaker has been known to do throughout his career.
• Wardlow lumbered onto the apron in an attempt to interfere on behalf of Strong but just casually got down when referee Paul Turner caught him. 
• The look from Cole to Wardlow suggests The Undisputed Kingdom could be one member lighter sooner rather than later.

FTW Championship Match: Hook vs. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho defeated Hook to win the FTW Championship Sunday, proving once and for all that all involved are utterly tone-deaf.

The fans inside the arena made it abundantly clear that they did not want Jericho to win and, in fact, even implored him to take his bags and go home at one point in the match.

That did not stop the inevitable outcome as Jericho delivered two Judas Effects, then used a baseball bat to flatten the second-generation star and win a title that does nothing for him besides bolstering his resume.

Taz checked on Hook after the match while the disingenuous Jericho acted as though he wanted nothing to do with hurting the now-former champion.

The match was fine enough for what it was but in no way anything more or better than that.

Result

Jericho defeated Hook to win the title

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Chants of "go home, Jericho, go home" rained down from the fans as AEW and the performer in question continued to fail to read the room regarding the inaugural world champion.
• Excalibur compared the action to the original ECW, proving he has never seen one of those shows.
• The boos for a potential Jericho victory after two Judas Effects were not reflective of a crowd that didn't want the heel to win but, rather, a guy they simply have no interest or desire to watch compete. 

AEW World Women's Championship Match: Thunder Rosa vs. Timeless Toni Storm

"Timeless" Toni Storm will stop at nothing to retain her AEW Women's Championship, as evidenced by the closing moments of Sunday's title clash with Thunder Rosa.

With Deonna Purrazzo hitting the ringside area and brawling to the back with Mariah May, but not before leaving Luther down and out on the arena floor, the champion found herself without her support system.

Instead, she capitalized on a referee distraction and delivered a kick below the belt of her opponent, then delivered Storm Zero to retain the title.

This was a strong match, with some great fire from Rosa, particularly as she was trapped in the Texas Cloverleaf. Storm continues to thrive in this role and remains an excellent choice to serve as the face of the women's division in AEW.

Result

Storm defeated Rosa to retain

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Rosa removed a mask, revealing that she did not have her customary face paint on, a nod to the angle that saw Storm wipe it off her face.
• Excalibur pointed out that in her previous two reigns as champion, Storm never retained the championship in her fourth defense successfully. This? Her fourth defense of the gold.
• The exchange of strikes is the most overused spot in wrestling and desperately needs to be exorcised from some of these matches.

Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson

When you take arguably the best wrestler of this generation and book him against one of the best to ever do it, expectations for such a match are understandably sky-high.

Sunday night in St. Louis, a town rich in wrestling history, Will Ospreay and Bryan Danielson stared down lofty expectations and delivered a Match of the Year candidate that exceeded them.

A war of attrition saw Ospreay and Danielson stare each other down late, each launching themselves out of their respective corners. The Aerial Assassin got the best of The American Dragon, laying him out. A Tiger Driver followed, apparently injuring Danielson along the way, before Ospreay delivered Hidden Blade for the pinfall victory.

Ospreay checked on Danielson after the match, continuing the story that he cares too much about his opponents and has too much respect to be part of the hated Don Callis Family.

The match was extraordinary, the crowd was red-hot, both men proved their greatness and the result was exactly what everyone expected: an instant classic.

Result

Ospreay pinned Danielson

Grade

A+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Don Callis planted the seeds for a split with Ospreay at multiple points during this match as he watched from the commentary position. First, he insinuated he was a liar, then called Ospreay stupid, without ever actually saying it.
• Ospreay caught a kick to the ribs that appeared to hobble him during the match. 
• Danielson targeted the elbow of Ospreay, hoping to prevent him from using the Hidden Blade. 
• The American Dragon delivered a picture-perfect Tiger Suplex from the top rope. 

Ladder Match for the AEW Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. The Young Bucks

The Young Bucks became the first three-time tag team champions in AEW history Sunday, capitalizing on Jack Perry's shocking return to defeat FTR in a wild, chaotic ladder match full of jaw-dropping spots, which had fans verbally wishing safety on the competitors.

Perry's return, staged as a fan run-in and treated as one as he was escorted out of the arena by security, directly set up the finish, suggesting there may be some loose partnership between the EVPs and the self-proclaimed Scapegoat.

The fourth match in the series between the Bucks and FTR was unlike any of the three that preceded it but still involved several callbacks and moments that tied them together.

Was there more to accomplish with FTR as champions? Potentially, but it felt relatively obvious from the moment the tournament was announced to crown new champions that the Bucks were going to take the straps.

They did.

Result

The Young Bucks defeated FTR to win the titles

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "CM Punk" chants interrupted the stare-down between the two teams early on.
• There was a greater sense of urgency to the action early on, perhaps thanks to the lack of time remaining for the show.
• The Bucks dominated the match, delivering the EVP Trigger to Wheeler, who was trapped in the rungs of a ladder.
• Wheeler delivered a moonsault off a bridged ladder, wiping out the heels on the floor.
• Harwood took off Matthew's shoe, a throwback to their first encounter way back in 2020. 
• Nicholas delivered a 450 splash through a table that wiped Wheeler out. A piledriver from Harwood to Matthew drew "this is awesome" chants.
• Wheeler absolutely ate it on a tope suicida attempt, missing Nicholas and crashing through a table.
• Chants of "please be careful" spilled from the stands.

AEW World Championship Match: Swerve Strickland vs. Samoa Joe

Swerve Strickland became the first black AEW world champion Sunday night, defeating Samoa Joe in the main event of Dynasty and ushering in a new era for the company.

The historic moment came after a physical match that saw Joe attempt to overwhelm and exhaust Strickland, only for the challenger to weather the storm, drive the heel into the mat, and deliver the second top-rope double stomp of the match to secure the win and title.

The fans in St. Louis erupted for Strickland, adding to the moment and ensuring that everyone involved knew the result was the right one.

Joe, a consummate professional, rolled out of the ring and headed up the ramp, allowing the new champion to have the spotlight.

Well-deserved spotlight given the work he put in to come back from the doldrums of the midcard and evolve himself into a world title-worthy competitor.

Result

Strickland defeated Joe to win the title

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The crowd was overwhelmingly behind Strickland, carrying over the "Swerve's House" chants that started all the way back in the preshow.
• Prince Nana bestowed upon Strickland a robe previously worn by the late Jimmy Rave, one of the manager's clients in the original Ring of Honor.
• Strickland wore Black Panther-inspired gear, a reflection of the culturally significant moment that awaited him if he defeated Joe.
• The challenger survived a Coquina Clutch from the champion, then delivered the House Call, but Joe kicked out at two in a strong near-fall spot. 

Overall Grade

On paper, Dynasty was one of the best cards in AEW history.

In execution, Dynasty had one of the best cards in AEW history.

Great from the opening bell of Okada vs. Pac through the main event, it featured an array of styles, ensuring no one match felt like the next. A superb outing from Danielson and Ospreay, a chaotic ladder match, and the emotion-fueled main event helped it achieve its goal of living up to lofty expectations.

Whether AEW can build on the momentum remains to be seen.

The company has had many great PPV offerings before, only to fall back into the same booking traps.

Grade: A, or one Orange Cassidy thumbs up