As it turns out, the road to AEW Forbidden Door 2026 begins winding down this evening.
AEW Dynamite returns this evening at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from Rio Rancho, Latest Mexico.
The program begins with a live cold open, which sees Jon Moxley off-camera with The Death Riders. Mox walks off and they follow. Mox hypes them up and they do a significant huddle to further hype each other up. As an added layer to this, daniel Garcia and Will Ospreay hang back and smile at each other.
The Death Riders vs. Brodido & Mistico Inside the event center, the familiar sounds of The Death Riders’ theme hits. Notably, jon Moxley and company make their usual custom entrance through the crowd, as Excalibur and Tony Schiavone welcome us to the episode on commentary. They settle inside the ring and their music dies down.
“The Dapper Yapper” Justin Roberts finishes their introduction and then begins introducing their partners. Out initial comes the Brodido duo of Bandido and Brody King together. Mexican pro wrestling legend Mistico makes his way out next and the three-man team heads to the ring for opening trios action.
Bandido and Yuta start the match. Building on that, moxley tags in, but Bandido applies a side-headlock. In a separate but related matter, but Bandido gets free and comes back with a back-breaker, yuta applies a single-leg crab hold. And then kicks Bandido in the midsection, moxley turns it into a hammer-lock.
Moxley delivers shots in the corner and tags in Castagnoli, who stomps Bandido down. Bandido comes back with a hurricanrana and tags in Mistico, who delivers a springboard back elbow. On the flip side Castagnoli comes back and slams him down, mistico kicks Castagnoli in the head.
Mistico comes back with an arm-drag, and then drops Castagnoli with a hurricanrana. King tags in and he and Castagnoli exchange elbow strikes. On a related note, moxley and Yuta knock Bandido and Mistico to the floor — on the flip side King takes all of the Riders down before he, Bandido, and Mistico dive through the ropes.
On that note, the show shifts gears and settles into a mid-clash commercial break as the action in this trios opener continues. When the show returns, we see some back-and-forth action for a few minutes and then things begin to pick up.
King drops Moxley with a lariat. Shafir gets on the apron and Castagnoli hits King with the AEW Continental Championship belt behind the referee’s back — allowing Moxley to get the victory for himself and The Death Riders in an excellent opening contest.
Winners: The Death Riders
Behind the scenes With The Conglomeration Behind the scenes, we see Renee Paquette standing by with members of The Conglomeration, Darby Allin, and Konosuke Takeshita. Allin says this is Mark Briscoe’s chance to become the AEW World Titleholder, and they are going to help him do it, so they have to be ready.
Roderick Strong says he hates the Don Callis Family, and specifically MJF for what he did to Adam Cole. Kyle O’Reilly says he will make sure everyone has backpacks for the fight and says Briscoe will be in the middle of the ring later during tonight's broadcast. Cassidy says everything is fine and walks away.
Survival of the Fittest QualifierHarley Cameron vs. Marina Shafir
Back inside the arena we go, as we head down to ringside for our next showdown of the evening. It will be Harley Cameron going one-on-one against Marina Shafir in a Survival of the Fittest qualifying match. Shafir attacks Cameron during her entrance and drops her with a kick.
Shafir takes Cameron down with a take over, yet Cameron counters into a single leg crab hold. Shafir kicks her away, but Cameron comes back with a kick to the face. Notably, cameron follows with a dropkick through the ropes and drops Shafir with a diving cross-body.
Cameron gets Shafir back into the ring and goes up top, still Shafir kicks her leg out and slams her down. On that note, the event shifts gears and settles into a mid-contest commercial break as the action in this high stakes women’s showdown continues.
When the show returns, we see Cameron kick Shafir into the corner and follows with right hands. Cameron drops Shafir with a clothesline, on the flip side Shafir comes back with a kick to the beloved star. Adding to the story, shafir delivers knee strikes, but Cameron comes back.
Cameron goes on to take Shafir down again. Additionally, cameron applies the single leg crab, yet Shafir counters into a rear-naked sleeper hold. Cameron rolls over and gets the unexpected victory. Beyond that, with the win, Cameron qualifies for Survival of the Fittest.
Winner: Harley Cameron Will Ospreay vs, and additionally, eLP
After an Owen Hart Cup video package, we return to the ring where Will Ospreay is slated to take on ELP in our next showdown of the evening. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this one. Adding to the story, eLP applies a wrist-lock, however Ospreay counters into one of his own.
Ospreay gets a quick one count, and then they dodge each other’s kicks and stand at a stalemate. Ospreay delivers a shot into the ropes, yet ELP comes back with some of his own and goes for a hurricanrana. Ospreay lands on his feet and delivers a dropkick that sends ELP to the outside.
Ospreay connects with a diving cross-body, although ELP comes back and takes Ospreay down with a dive of his own. On that note, the episode shifts gears and settles into a mid-showdown commercial break as the action continues. The show returns and we see Ospreay deliver a corkscrew kick and gets a two count.
ELP comes back with a diving DDT and follows with a stunner after blocking one from Ospreay. They exchange elbow strikes on the mat and Ospreay drops ELP with a forearm shot. Ospreay delivers a Spanish Fly. Ospreay delivers elbow strikes, although ELP comes back with a few kicks.
He goes for the cover, but ELP kicks out at two. Ospreay goes for the Hidden Blade, but ELP counters and gets a tw count. As an added layer to this, eLP delivers a thrust kick and goes for another cover, but Ospreay kicks out at two again. Ospreay comes back with the Styles Clash, and then delivers the Hidden Blade for the win.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Daniel Garcia vs, and swerve Strickland
It’s time for more one-on-one action, so we head back down to ringside where Daniel Garcia of The Death Riders goes one-on-one against Swerve Strickland — who as always, has Prince Nana with him. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running.
We see Garcia and Strickland slap each other before Strickland takes him down. Strickland slams Garcia into the corner, on the flip side Garcia comes back and takes Strickland to the apron. Garcia traps Strickland in the apron and delivers a few shots.
Garcia puts Strickland in a chair on the outside and delivers right hands before following with a dropkick against the barricade. Garcia goes for another one, but Strickland counters with a clothesline. From there, we slide into a mid-showdown advertising time out as the match continues.
The broadcast returns and we see Swerve with a death valley driver onto the ring apron. Swerve gets Garcia in the ring and Swerve with a suplex. In a separate but related matter, he goes for the cover but Garcia kicks out. Swerve runs towards Garcia but Garcia with a drop kick.
Garcia with an ankle lock still Swerve gets out of it. Building on that, garcia goes for a pile driver but Swerve gets out of it and he lands a back breaker. Swerve with a power slam.. Meanwhile, He goes for the cover but Garcia kicks out. Swerve runs but his leg gives out. Garcia with the Styles clash.
He goes for the cover but Swerve kicks out — swerve with a running kick to the face. Garcia grabs Swerve but Swerve kicks him away. He goes for the cover but Garcia kicks out. Swerve with the Hidden Blade and a follow-up cover for the win.
Once the contest wraps up, we see Swerve grab Garcia. Prince Nana trips Ospreay and Swerve hits him with the House Call. Building on that, will Ospreay comes out and he hits Swerve with a kick to the crowd favorite. Swerve lifts Ospreay still Garcia moves him out of the way — swerve with the Vertebraker. In comes Ospreay with a chair but Swerve bails.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Backstage With Team MJF We shoot live behind the scenes, following a video package for the 12-man Steel Cage encounter between Team MJF and Team Mark Briscoe at AEW Forbidden Door. Don Callis hypes up his guys. Kevin Knight still asks about a crown match against MJF, and MJF kind of blows him off although says, “Whatever you want, Champ.”
The guys talk about their rivals in the cage, and the MJF talks directly to Briscoe. MJF says he has never had to kick out of the Jay Driller because Briscoe has never hit it on him when the belt is on the line.
MJF says he and Callis have assembled the greatest team ever and they are all on the same page now, even if they weren’t concluding week. Callis pulls out a “Team DCMJF” shirt with him and MJF shirtless on it and says they have one for them all.
Jack Perry vs.. Meanwhile, Zack Sabre Jr. Inside the facility, we re-emergence to the ring for our next contest of the evening. Notably, zack Sabre Jr.. Meanwhile, comes out with TMDK to take on “Jungle” Jack Perry. Building on that, the bell sounds and off we go. Perry and Sabre go to the mat and exchange waist-locks. And then gets a two count, sabre turns it into a wrist-lock.
Sabre stands on Perry’s hand and then works over his arms and back. Furthermore, perry turns it around, but Sabre counters right back. Perry gets Sabre’s arms captured and gets another two count before Sabre rolls to the floor. Perry makes it to the ropes and gets a pair of two counts before applying a side-headlock.
Sabre comes back in and Perry delivers a chop. Perry goes for an arm-drag, however Sabre sits down into a cross arm-breaker. In a separate but related matter, perry connects with a knee strike and gets Sabre back to the apron. Along those lines, sabre stomps on Perry’s arm and tries to slam him into the ring post, but Perry does it to him instead.
Perry goes for a suplex, but Sabre wrenches his arm over the top rope. Sabre stomps on Perry’s arm. On that note, the broadcast shifts gears and settles into a mid-battle commercial break. When the show returns, we see the match still in progress.
Sabre on the outside of the ring. Perry to the outside despite this Sabre gets him in an arm bar. The referee breaks it up, while what's more, sabre and Perry on the ring apron. Perry climbs the top rope and lands a splash. Sabre runs towards Perry but Perry with a right hand and an inverted DDT. He throws Sabre back into the ring.
Perry goes for a clothesline but Sabre with a modified arm bar submission hold. Perry gets out of it and he powerbombs Sabre, while he goes for the cover but Sabre kicks out. He goes for the cover but Sabre kicks out, and perry with a clothesline and a powerbomb. Perry goes for a knee to the beloved star but Sabre with a submission for the win.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
The Young Bucks vs, and tMDK The episode goes to a commercial break after the Zack Sabre Jr. and Jack Perry battle. To add further context, when the show returns, we head back to the ring for tag-team action, with TMDK’s Underwhelming Dude Tito. Mikey Nicholls squaring off against Rio Rancho’s own Matt and Nick Jackson – The Young Bucks.
We get the bell and the battle starts, and matt and Nick Jackson with double bulldogs. They throw TMDK back into the ring. TMDK to the outside of the ring and The Young Bucks with cross bodies onto them. Tito with a power slam onto Nick and Nicholls with a spine buster onto Matt.
He goes for the cover however Matt kicks out. Nick is tagged in and he lands a cross body onto TMDK. Nicholls grabs Matt but Matt with a DDT. In comes Matt and they super kick TMDK.. Meanwhile, They double team Nicholls. Nick goes for the cover for the victory.
Once the contest wraps up, we see Zack Sabre Jr.. Meanwhile, come out. In a connected development, omega hits a Snap-Dragon suplex on Sabre Jr. Additionally, he hits The Young Bucks, that shared they rapidly get a numbers game leveling out — as fellow members of The Elite, Kenny Omega and Jack Perry run out to make the save.
Omega goes for the V Trigger, on the flip side Tito pulls Sabre out of the ring. What's more, tMDK back up the ramp as the Elite stand tall in the ring, and then Omega grabs a mic. Omega says he takes that as a warmup and says may the best man win on Sunday.
Omega says after he wins, he is going for redemption while everyone will forget about Sabre like they did concluding year. Sabre tells Omega to try to stay out of the hospital this time. Shortly after this wraps up, the show moves on.
Winners: The Young Bucks Survival of the Fittest QualifierQueen Aminata vs. Red Velvet
A Thekla and Starlight Kid video package airs, and then we comeback inside the arena and head down to ringside for our next match of the evening. The bell sounds and off we go, after the ring entrances for our second Survivor of the Fittest qualifier of the evening.
Early on we see Queen Aminata with an arm bar but Red Velvet gets out of it. Queen Aminata with a German suplex followed by a knee to the babyface. Queen Aminata with a suplex, while she goes for the cover but Red Velvet kicks out. She goes for the cover but Red Velvet kicks out.
From there, Aminata gets Red Velvet in the corner and Queen Aminata climbs the second rope. Adding to the story, red Velvet trips Queen Aminata up.. Meanwhile, Red Velvet with a scissor kick. She goes for the cover but Queen Aminata kicks out, while on that note, we head to a mid-contest break.
The broadcast returns and we see Red Velvet with a bulldog.. Meanwhile, She goes for the cover but Queen Aminata kicks out. Queen Aminata with a clothesline. Red Velvet grabs Queen Aminata but Queen Aminata with a reverse suplex. On another front, queen Aminata with a running kick to the face.
She climbs the second rope and lands a splash. Notably, she goes for the cover although Red Velvet kicks out. Queen Aminata climbs the second rope but Red Velvet with a right hand. Furthermore, she climbs the top rope and lands a modified powerbomb.
Red Velvet climbs the top rope and lands a frog splash. She goes for the cover although Queen Aminata kicks out. Additionally, red Velvet goes for a kick but Queen Aminata with a headbutt. Queen Aminata with a running kick to the babyface for the victory.
Chaos Ensues Between Cope & Cage And The Dogs After the Survival of the Fittest qualifier wraps up, the episode heads off-camera where we see Renee Paquette standing by with The Young Bucks. As she begins to interview them, we see Cope and Cage throwing The Dogs down stairs. They brawl and The Dogs start to choke Cope and Cage with cords. We head to another break.
Winner: Queen Aminata
AEW International BeltKonosuke Takeshita (c) vs, and ricochet It’s main pay-per-view (match) time!
The presentation returns from the break and we head down to the ring for prize action in our next encounter of the evening, as Konosuke Takeshita puts his AEW International Championship on-the-line against The Demand’s own resident baldie, Ricochet.
Ricochet delivers a knee strike and drops Takeshita with a dive on the floor. Notably, ricochet gets Takeshita back into the ring and sends him right back out with a dropkick. Ricochet dives onto him again and gets him back into the ring. Ricochet connects with a 450 splash and goes for the cover for a two-count.
Ricochet chokes Takeshita over the middle rope and connects with shots in the corner, but Takeshita comes back with the Takeshita-line. Takeshita charges, but Ricochet trips him into the corner and connects with a kick. Ricochet takes Takeshita down and goes for the cover, but Takeshita kicks out.
On that note, the broadcast shifts gears and settles into a mid-showdown commercial break as this crown tilt continues. On a related note, the show returns and we see Takeshita go for a knee to the crowd favorite still Ricochet moves out of the way and Takeshita falls to the outside of the ring.
Takeshita gets on the ring apron and Ricochet with a springboard drop kick. On a related note, ricochet gets on the ring apron and goes for a shooting star still Takeshita catches him and suplexes him. Takeshita throws Ricochet back into the ring. He throws Ricochet to the ropes and Takeshita with a blue thunder bomb.
He goes for the cover nevertheless Ricochet kicks out. Beyond that, he grabs Ricochet but Ricochet with a spinning kick. Ricochet grabs Takeshita but Takeshita with a wheel barrel suplex. He goes for the cover but Takeshita kicks out — he grabs Ricochet but Ricochet with a modified piledriver.
Ricochet with a knee to the beloved star. He climbs the top rope and he lands the shooting star — ricochet climbs the top rope but Takeshita trips him up. He goes for the cover however Takeshita kicks out. Takeshita climbs the top rope and he goes for a German suplex but Ricochet lands on his feet.
Ricochet goes for a clothelines although Takeshita with a clothesline. He goes for the cover but Ricochet kicks out — building on that, takeshita with a powerbomb. Takeshita runs towards Ricochet but the referee stops him, while ricochet with a kick to the side of the head.
Ricochet with the lionsault. He goes for the cover on the other hand Takeshita kicks out. Ricochet runs towards Takeshita but Takeshita with a clothesline. Takeshita with a running knee. Equally important, takeshita with the Raging Fire for the victory. With the win, “The Alpha” successfully retains his AEW International Strap.
Winner and STILL AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita Mark Briscoe Talks 12-Man Steel Cage Encounter At Forbidden Door
It’s closing match (segment) time! Now it’s time for the final stretch of the evening. Mark Briscoe makes his way out to the ring to talk about the 12-Man Steel Cage bout against Team MJF at this weekend’s AEW Forbidden Door 2026 pay-per-view. Briscoe says Forbidden Door will be steel cage warfare and he and his buddies are ready to throw down.
Briscoe says the Conglomeration stood victorious in the most recent Blood and Guts, but the implications at Forbidden Door are a bit more inconsequential. Briscoe says if his team wins, he gets a shot at the AEW World Strap.
He says MJF can have the opinion that he isn’t World Titleholder material, but he prevailed over MJF’s ass the most recent time they had a showdown and he can do it again. Briscoe says he is walking into Forbidden Door with his brothers, and all MJF has is the Don Callis Family.
Briscoe says the Family doesn’t care about MJF, and then Callis comes to ringside. MJF attacks Briscoe from behind, and they begin to brawl. Briscoe goes for the Jay Driller, yet Kyle Fletcher hits the ring and drops Briscoe with a snap dragon and a brain-buster.
We see the rest of Team Briscoe and Team MJF eventually hit the ring, one at a time —. Eventually Andrade El Idolo and MJF begin shoving each other before Callis separates them. MJF puts the Dynamite diamond ring on and tries to hit Briscoe.
Instead, Briscoe ducks and MJF lays out Andrade with it. Team Briscoe stands tall in the ring on the final Dynamite heading into their 12-man steel cage showdown at Forbidden Door. It's worth noting that briscoe grabs MJF and delivers the Jay Driller. That’s how the show ends — interestingly enough, thanks for joining us!