AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest 2023 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights
August 23, 2023AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest 2023 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights
Ahead of their main event for the AEW World Championship at All In on Sunday, MJF and Adam Cole imparted their final sentiments in interviews with Renee Paquette.
The latest development between champion and challenger—and best friends—headlined an episode that also included trios action featuring The Elite, a contract signing involving Chris Jericho and Will Ospreay, and a face-to-face between AEW world tag team champions FTR and The Young Bucks.
What else went down, how did it affect the final build to the historic All In at Wembley Stadium in London, and how did each segment grade out?
Find out the answer to those questions and more with this recap of the special Fyter Fest broadcast.
The Elite vs. Bullet Club Gold; Renee Paquette Interviews MJF
- Referee Knox pulled a steel chair away from Robinson, who answered by knocking the official unconscious.
- White repeatedly attacked Omega but The Cleaner got the better him. Before he could deliver a V-Trigger, Takeshita attacked from out of nowhere, laying the former world champion out.
- FTR made the save, which made sense based on the feud they established on Collision with Bullet Club Gold.
- Takeshita narrowly evaded the One-Winged Angel, and Omega stood tall to close out a hot segment.
- MJF included The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Undertaker, John Cena and Hulk Hogan as industry giants to whom he may be compared if he wins in London.
- "Adam's not just my friend, he's my brother."
All Elite Wrestling wasted little time throwing everything at the wall in an attempt to wrap up the final hype for All In this Sunday.
The show opened with a chaotic brawl between The Elite and Bullet Club Gold that saw the match negated by the attack on referee Rick Knox by Juice Robinson, Jay White constantly attacking Kenny Omega, FTR joining The Young Bucks to fend off The Gunns, and Konosuke Takeshita failing to take out The Cleaner.
Two big matches were front and center in the energetic opening segment, and that's how a booker maximizes minutes.
From there, the focus turned backstage to an interview by Renee Paquette with AEW world champion MJF.
He reiterated that he is genuine in his friendship with Adam Cole, but he will etch his name alongside industry giants by retaining his title at "the biggest event in professional wrestling history" at Wembley.
This was good stuff to start the show, with a clear sense of urgency from Tony Khan regarding the placement of the segments.
Result
No-contest
Grade
B+ for the brawl; A+ for MJF
Top Moments and Takeaways
Rey Fenix vs. Jon Moxley
- It was nice to see Moxley having a wrestling match again.
- At the same time, I am begging fans to try a "this is very good" chant. Not everything is awesome.
- Fenix kicked out of an avalanche Death Rider but succumbed to the bulldog choke as Moxley picked up the win.
- The return of Santana felt like a big deal, as it should. The guy was one of the first guys to make a major impact in AEW and, by reuniting with Ortiz to join Blackpool Combat Club in time for All In, his stock is elevated.
- Backstage following the break, Fenix was loaded into an ambulance. Renee Paquette attempted to get a word with Kingston, who vowed to fix the issues between him and Moxley at All In.
Jon Moxley will join Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and three partners of their choosing Sunday night in London for a Stadium Stampede match against Orange Cassidy, Best Friends, Penta El Zero Miedo, Rey Fenix and Eddie Kingston.
The former world champion battled Fenix in a preview of that contest on Wednesday, with the other combatants in the pay-per-view match barred from ringside.
Moxley and Fenix had a good, competitive bout in which the latter was treated like the heel's equal and nearly beat him on more than one occasion. Moxley simply outlasted him and put him to sleep for the win.
The shocking return of Santana and Ortiz after the fight, which saw them attack Best Friends, Cassidy and Penta, while Blackpool Combat Club assaulted Fenix and left him in need of a stretcher, added to the emotional stakes of Sunday's match.
A hot angle, a significant return and a PPV match better off than it was prior to the segment gives this one a solid thumbs-up.
Result
Moxley defeated Fenix
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Contract Signing for Chris Jericho vs. Will Ospreay
- "This match is going to change my life," Ospreay said.
- "After I beat you...I'm going to be the only man to say I've beaten Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada and Chris Jericho...in two months."
- "I told you to tone it down because if you didn't, you would never have the longevity of Chris Jericho," The Ocho took credit for Ospreay's success by convincing him not to take the physical risks that he was five years previously.
- Jericho called this the biggest match of his career. Bigger than WrestleMania even. Sure.
Chris Jericho did his best work of the year in the contract signing for his match with Will Ospreay at All In.
The Ocho put over the enormity of the London event, declaring it even bigger than WrestleMania and firing up as he talked about social media critics eager to witness his demise.
Jericho was passionate and invested. It was the most motivated promo he has cut in months, and it took a match that was already at the center of a sizeable storyline and made it that much bigger of a deal.
Ospreay was great, too, angrily and defiantly telling the veteran what their match means for him beyond the squared circle.
Throw in Don Callis and a little nod to the great Lance Storm, and you have an in-ring promo segment that may rank among the best AEW has produced.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
Renee Paquette Interviews Adam Cole; Tornado Tag Team Match; FTR-Bucks
- "The AEW Championship solidifies you as the best wrestler on the planet," Cole claimed, elevating the importance of the title.
- An angry Cole walked out on the interview, fed up with people questioning his friendship with MJF.
- Wayne showed tremendous resilience when he was overwhelmed by his opponents but refused to give in.
- Fox missed the 450 splash, Wayne stacked him up and scored the win while Allin held Strickland at bay.
- "How come every time you get an opportunity of a lifetime, you blow it?" Strickland asked. "Little did you know, this was a test for you. This was all a test."
- Strickland and Prince Nana fired Fox, leading to a beatdown of the excommunicated wrestler until Allin, Wayne and Sting made the save.
- "We all know every fatherless child needs a mentor and there's no better mentor than the TNT champion, Christian Cage," Captain Charisma said to wrap up another scathing promo.
Renee Paquette's interview with Adam Cole did not go quite as smoothly as MJF's did earlier in the show, with the No. 1 contender cutting it short out of frustration over suggestions that he and his All In opponent are not really friends.
Back in the arena, the intense rivalry between Darby Allin, Nick Wayne and Mogul Embassy's Swerve Strickland and AR Fox continued in a Tornado tag team match.
Despite a concentrated effort by Strickland and Fox, a resilient Wayne fought through tremendous pain to pin the latter and score the upset win. Dismayed by the loss, Strickland and manager Prince Nana kicked Fox out of Mogul Embassy.
Allin and Wayne reemerged from the locker room with Sting and cleared the heels from the squared circle, only to find out Christian Cage will join Strickland at Wembley.
Backstage, tensions built between The Young Bucks and FTR in a trash-talking face-to-face interview.
This was a lot. Almost too much.
Letting things breathe is not a bad thing, but it's a concept Tony Khan has yet to grasp four years into AEW.
Result
Wayne and Allin defeated Fox and Strickland
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Skye Blue vs. Ruby Soho
- Soho called her shot, making clear her intention to challenge Kris Statlander for the TBS Championship in the near future.
- "You hurt one of my kids," Gunn said, referencing the bloody beatdown of Bowens by House of Black, as he laid out his motivation for returning.
Ruby Soho wants the TBS Championship from Kris Statlander and sent a message Wednesday night by defeating Skye Blue.
The match, more competitive than Soho likely expected as Blue continues to establish herself as a challenger of the future, was a solid and competitive one in which the right person went over based on the creative plans laid out prior to the bout.
Blue gets better with every passing match. She is going to be a star for AEW and based on the constant improvement, it would behoove Khan and the rest of the booking team to carve out a role for her that is more than the plucky underdog who loses to the stars.
Backstage, Roderick Strong predicted we would see the real MJF and Adam Cole at All In, hinting at a turn from one of them.
In the arena, The Acclaimed called out The House of Black. A beatdown of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens by the AEW world trios champs gave way to the return of Billy Gunn, who issued a challenge for Wembley.
That is probably a match that does not have to happen at that show considering everything else on Sunday's card, but all will be forgiven if Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews retain their titles.
Result
Soho defeated Blue
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
ROH World Tag Team Championship: The Hardys vs. Aussie Open
- The Hardys in a main event in 2023 is not something that should happen, regardless of the circumstances. Physically, they are not equipped to be in that position, no matter how bright their stars may be.
- Excalibur did his best to sell the idea that Matt and Jeff Hardy might spoil plans for All In by scoring the upset and facing MJF and Adam Cole. Well, he tried.
- Fletcher and Davis vowed to retain their tag titles but were quickly interrupted by Cole and MJF, who entered to a thunderous ovation.
- Cole nearly caught MJF with a superkick, but The Devil caught his leg. A tense staredown ensued before the AEW world champion posed with his title. The friends bumped shoulders, and MJF teased using the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but the two hugged it out to close the show.
Ahead of their Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship defense against MJF and Adam Cole as part of All In: Zero Hour, Aussie Open's Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher proved they are anything but afterthoughts as they defeated Matt and Jeff Hardy in Wednesday's main event.
There was plenty of effort from the Hardys, but this was all about showcasing the champions and in that regard, it was a success. They looked impressive; like one of the best tag teams on the planet and two guys deserving of the spotlight Sunday's match will bring them.
The post-match featuring Cole and MJF was great, too, with the latter again teasing a betrayal in the form of a cheap shot with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, only to hug his buddy. The look on both men's faces told the story of competitors torn between preserving friendship and competing for the top prize in AEW.
If this and other recent hints of fracture were any indicator, it's safe to say this friendship is about to implode Sunday in London.
Result
Aussie Open defeated The Hardys
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways