AEW Grand Slam: Injury updates on Jon Moxley, Adam Cole

Both Jon Moxley and Adam Cole appeared to suffer injuries during AEW Dynamite Grand Slam. Here’s the latest on their condition.

Heading into the busy stretch of shows that kicked off with AEW All In London in August, Tony Khan discussed how fortunate he felt that the company wasn’t dealing with as many injuries to top talent as it was in 2022. On Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, Khan could have been forgiven if he felt like the bad injury luck from last year was back for one night.

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam featured injury scares for both Jon Moxley and Adam Cole that were visible to those watching in the stadium and at home on TV. Moxley’s was even more apparent because it came while he was defending the International Championship against Fenix.

The finish of the match looked off as Fenix hit a Black Fire Driver that looked like it drove Moxley’s head into the mat. Mox stayed down, except the referee didn’t count the three. Fenix then repeated the move and got the pinfall to win the title, suggesting that perhaps the winner was changed on the fly and the ref didn’t get word right away.

As it turns out, Moxley was slated to win, according to Fightful Select (subscription required).

Jon Moxley sustained an injury during his title match with Rey Fenix that saw the finish of the match altered. Moxley left under his own power and was checked on by several people, including Tony Khan. He communicated to numerous people that he was okay.

Our Rob Wolkenbrod was in attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium and said that Moxley “just jumped up and walked away quickly” after being examined during the commercial break following the match. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported later on Moxley’s exact injury.

As for Cole, his injury came in a much more innocent fashion but could potentially be more serious. In the culmination of a subplot that played out throughout the evening, Cole didn’t walk to the ring with MJF for his AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe, but he sprinted down the ramp to inspire his friend late in the bout.

While jumping off the ramp to the floor, it was obvious he landed hard and was limping immediately afterward.

Fightful says Cole was “in obvious pain backstage and was taken to the hospital.” He was later released and was seen using crutches.

Moxley has been remarkably durable despite a heavy workload during his time in AEW, while Cole only returned to the ring in March after missing nine months due to injury — ironically because of lingering concussion symptoms.

It will be a blow to AEW if either or both of them miss significant time, as Moxley and Cole are prominently involved in some of the company’s top narratives. That said, Khan and his team have that aforementioned experience working around key injuries. Here’s hoping they don’t have to call on it.

[lawrence-related id=36623]

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam results 09/20/23: Kingston, Fenix, Saraya, MJF come up big

Get live AEW Dynamite Grand Slam results, with MJF vs. Samoa Joe headlining four championship matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The funny thing about being on top of the world is how many people want to knock you off that perch. MJF has certainly learned that lesson since becoming AEW World Champion, with both friends and foes trying to take that title away from him. Tonight at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium, he’s definitely up against one of the latter.

Samoa Joe had to earn his title shot via a tournament, but really wasn’t pushed all that hard along the way except a bit in the final by Roderick Strong. He and MJF have history that dates back to even before the current champ was a notable wrestler, so it’ll be personal as well as business in NYC.

The same could be said for the other three championship matches on the Grand Slam Dynamite card, all of which have been set up nicely by AEW despite this show now finding itself smashed between the All In/All Out spectacles and the brand spanking new WrestleDream early next month. Of the others, the one with the biggest chance to steal the show is the title vs. title encounter between Eddie Kingston and Claudio Castagnoli, the payoff to a sense of mutual dislike that is both rare and long overdue to spill into one-on-one violence.

There’s also the sense that some surprises could show up at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It’s probably too early for a certain Canadian who can see clearly to make an appearance, but there are other names with WWE histories that would make this show feel even bigger.

We’ve got two members of our Wrestling Junkie team in the house, but we’ll also be manning the keyboard as usual on Wednesday nights. Let’s see what this night has in store.

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam results from NYC:

(scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Eddie Kingston def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall in a Title vs. Title match to retain the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship and become the new ROH World Champion
  • We flash back to last week, where The Kingdom is reading inspirational messages to Roderick Strong in the hospital, and Adam Cole is there for him too … but only for a few minutes, as he has to go support MJF and a disgusted Roddy tells him to “just go”
  • Christian Cage says he’s done with Darby Allin but knows Darby isn’t letting things go, so he invites Allin for a three-way dance on Collision with him and Luchasaurus, with the International Championship on the line but Sting banned from ringside
  • Chris Jericho def. Sammy Guevara by pinfall, but Guevara kicks Jericho in the groin after the bell and leaves with Don Callis
  • MJF delivers a warning to Samoa Joe and has Cole beside him, but Adam gets a call from a panicked Roddy and has to talk him down, to the champ’s annoyance
  • Rey Fenix def. Jon Moxley by pinfall to become the new AEW International Champion
  • Samoa Joe has his final say before his meeting with MJF
  • Saraya def. Toni Storm by pinfall to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship
  • MJF def. Samoa Joe by submission to retain the AEW World Championship, with Cole arriving to lend his support when Max needs it most

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam 2023 preview: Gold up for grabs at Arthur Ashe

Four championships will be on the line at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam in NYC.

Say what you want about AEW’s booking style — and many people do — but even with AEW Dynamite Grand Slam arriving in the middle of a more crowded event schedule than usual, the company has managed to put together a card that features a number of championship matches that all have a story behind them.

In what’s likely to be the main event, MJF will defend his AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe. Their history goes back years to a meme you’ve probably seen at some point, plus Joe won his way through a tournament for the chance to see what the Devil is made of.

When Saraya puts her AEW Women’s World Championship on the line against Toni Storm, it will be the latest chapter in a saga with The Outcasts that’s been going on for some time. That’s even more true for the title vs. title showdown between Eddie Kingston and Claudio Castagnoli.

Heck, even the AEW International Championship match between Jon Moxley and Rey Fenix has a bit of a back story behind it. And that certainly is the case for the one non-title bout on the card, where Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara will put their friendship aside for one night to find out definitively if the pupil has outgrown the master.

The point is that there are no random matches here, and that’s a good thing. Grand Slam may have be now a bit lost in the shuffle between PPVs, and the wonder may have worn off a little from holding a show at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but it deserves a card with some thought behind it, and that’s absolutely the case tonight.

We can’t wait to see how it plays out beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Be sure to tune in live on TBS or join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live updates throughout the show.

AEW offering BOGO tickets for Grand Slam show at Arthur Ashe Stadium

The buy one, get one free offer for AEW Grand Slam is only good on tickets in the upper reaches of the section opposite the stage.

Thinking about attending the AEW Grand Slam Dynamite and Rampage taping next week at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York? Would being able to bring a friend for free help sway you?

AEW seems to be hoping so. As pointed out by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, with ticket sales for Grand Slam on a much slower pace this year than in 2022, the company is offering a buy one, get one free deal.

There are, as you may expect, some caveats. You need to enter the code (BTSNYC) by clicking the ‘Unlock’ button on Ticketmaster’s page for the show. Once you do, you’ll see that the BOGO offer is good for seats only in some of the 300-level sections on the far side from the stage.

Still, using the deal can get you a pair of tickets for Grand Slam for less than $50, fees included, which is pretty good considering that even one seat in the last row of seats on the hard camera side of the stadium costs almost that much on its own.

Rising ticket prices for Grand Slam has been one of the complaints heard often from fans in the New York area, who point out that AEW priced the debut show in 2021 to draw as many people as possible. Now that it’s an established part of the schedule, AEW has priced it like … well, like any of its shows, really, with tickets increasing in cost year over year.

At the same time, it’s fair to say that some of the uniqueness of shows at Arthur Ashe Stadium have worn off going into their third year, and Grand Slam definitely has been somewhat lost amid other, bigger events — including the debuting WrestleDream, which is coming up quickly in early October.

Still, a BOGO deal certainly can’t hurt, and might help make up some of the gap between last year’s attendance and what’s been sold so far for 2023.

AEW Rampage Grand Slam quick results: A new contender emerges

AEW Rampage Grand Slam results in 60 seconds: Darby Allin and Sting def. House of Black by pinfall with a very unexpected assist from Great Muta

 

 

AEW Rampage Grand Slam results in 60 seconds:

  • Darby Allin and Sting def. House of Black by pinfall with a very unexpected assist from Great Muta

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam: Best photos of Saraya making her AEW debut

See the best photos of Saraya making her AEW debut at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam.

Though Toni Storm retained her AEW Interim Women’s World Championship at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, it appeared she would be on the wrong end of a vicious post-match beating from Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter.

The sudden arrival of Saraya changed that in a hurry. Known to fans as Paige during her time in WWE, her first appearance in AEW was definitely a memorable one. Check out the best photos of Saraya’s arrival at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sept. 21, 2022. (Photos courtesy of All Elite Wrestling)

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam: Best photos of The Acclaimed vs. Swerve In Our Glory for the AEW World Tag Team Championship

See the best photos from The Acclaimed vs. Swerve In Our Glory for the AEW World Tag Team Championship at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam.

When Swerve In Our Glory (Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee) met The Acclaimed at All Out, they barely retained their AEW World Tag Team Championship. But something was in the air, something that pushed The Acclaimed to a whole new level.

At AEW Dynamite Grand Slam on Sept. 21, 2022, The Acclaimed got another shot and didn’t miss. Relive all the action, and yes, scissoring, from a historic night at Arthur Ashe Stadium with the best photos from their rematch. (Photos courtesy of All Elite Wrestling)

AEW Grand Slam Dynamite results: 5 titles on the line

Get AEW Grand Slam 2022 Dynamite results from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, including the Jon Moxley-Bryan Danielson main event.

Last year, AEW made history by holding AEW Grand Slam in Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. This week, we’ll see what the promotion has planned for an encore.

Actually, scratch that, because we already know quite a bit of what’s in store, and it’s very enticing indeed. A total of five title matches will take place on Dynamite, which will air live from this very cool tennis venue. Chief among those is the all-Blackpool Combat Club final of the AEW Grand Slam Tournament of Champions, which means either Jon Moxley or Bryan Danielson will leave as the new AEW World Champion.

Could there be new tag team champions too? There will be if The Acclaimed (who everybody loves, or so we’ve heard) can dethrone Swerve In Our Glory. They couldn’t quite pull it off at All Out, but since both Max Caster and Anthony Bowens are from the greater New York area, maybe the home crowd will be the difference they need.

Toni Storm hasn’t been Interim AEW Women’s World Champion for very long, but she’s also in for a stiff test at Grand Slam. A four-way match means Storm won’t even have to be pinned to lose her title, so she’ll have to be on top of her game at Arthur Ashe.

Could Orange Cassidy win his first AEW singles gold? He’s been close on several occasions, and will get another shot on Dynamite when he tries to take the All-Atlantic Championship from Pac. And last but certainly not least, Claudio Castagnoli puts his ROH World Championship on the line against a man who has won more than a few titles over the years, Chris Jericho.

That’s a loaded card any way you slice it, and Tony Khan has referenced surprises and a “trick up my sleeve” as well. We wish we were in New York for this, but we’ll be watching and filling this post with AEW Grand Slam Dynamite results as they happen, so bookmark this page and check back if you need the latest.

Bryan Danielson, The Acclaimed favored to win titles at AEW Grand Slam

The betting odds for AEW Grand Slam suggest two popular championship results are expected in New York.

Everybody loves The Acclaimed … and that includes the people who set betting odds for AEW Grand Slam.

While placing bets on pro wrestling matches isn’t something we necessarily endorse and isn’t allowed in many places, it’s fun to check the lines in places where it is, because it’s a good indicator of the expectations around a big event. So with the caveat that these are for discussion purposes only, here are some interesting AEW Grand Slam tidbits from BetOnline.

For starters, The Acclaimed are heavy favorites to win the AEW World Tag Team Championship from current titleholders Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. It does feel like the timing is right, considering Max Caster and Anthony Bowens are as over as they’ve ever been and both are from the general NYC area (Caster from Long Island, Bowens from Nutley, NJ). But their -700 odds to win means it would be considered a pretty big upset if they didn’t.

A new AEW World Champion will also be crowned at Grand Slam in a showdown between two Blackpool Combat Club teammates. It’s easy to make an argument for either Jon Moxley or Bryan Danielson to come away with the victory, but the oddsmakers believe it will be the American Dragon winning his first AEW gold, as he sits at -400 to win.

Two other current champions are overwhelming favorites to retain their titles Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both Claudio Castagnoli, who will defend his ROH World Championship against Chris Jericho, and Toni Storm, whose Interim AEW Women’s World Championship is up for grabs in a four-way bout that includes Serena Deeb, Athena and Britt Baker, are at -900 to keep their gold.

With Tony Khan promising a show unlike anything AEW has put on to date, the AEW Grand Slam betting odds hint at a couple of feel-good moments in New York. We’ll find out soon enough if those are indeed part of what’s in store.

John Silver on his multi-faceted growth in AEW: ‘I always knew I had more to show’

John Silver spoke about his growth in AEW, how BTE helped him show off more of his personality, and what the atmosphere at AEW Grand Slam.

If you’ve seen John Silver on AEW TV at any time over the past few years, you’ve already been exposed to the various sides of his character. On one hand, he’s the Meat Man, Johnny Hungee, and has been part of some of the funnier segments on Dynamite or Rampage.

When it’s time for Silver to hit the ring, however, most often with tag team partner Alex Reynolds or other members of the Dark Order, he can flat out go. AEW knows it can rely on Silver to have good matches with a wide variety of opponents, which is why he’s been one of the busier wrestlers on the roster in 2022 ⁠— and had his hand raised more often than everyone but Jon Moxley, Max Caster and Dante Martin.

That kind of versatility isn’t something every pro wrestler has. But as Silver told Wrestling Junkie in a phone interview ahead of AEW Grand Slam in New York, it comes naturally to him.

“It’s really easy because I’m just being myself,” Silver said. “I don’t have to get into a certain mode, mentally, I kind of just do myself. I love comedy, I love making people laugh. So me just doing that at certain times in a match or in a segment backstage … very easy for me to do.

“Then also, I was an athlete growing up, and I train hard in the gym. So me going hard in the ring is also easy for me. It’s just what I am, it’s just what I do.”

Silver has also been able to avoid being labeled as “just” a comedic performer, which can happen on occasion in wrestling when talent becomes associated too strongly with more lighthearted angles. Danhausen is a good example of this tendency on the current AEW roster, with a vocal segment of online fandom dismissing him because of the humor he so often brings with him.

While Silver acknowledged the risk involved (“Any time you kind of be funny in wrestling, for some reason, some people look at it one way and they just refuse to look at it another way.”), he also pointed out that some of pro wrestling’s most iconic names have been able to make people laugh as well as cheer.

“The thing is, some of the biggest stars in wrestling have been funny also,” he said. “If you looked at The Rock, all his promos are pretty funny. Kurt Angle. These are people that can go in the ring that are the biggest stars ever, but they bring a lot of comedy to it as well.

“I really don’t worry about it. The real fans are going to appreciate the comedy, but also the wrestling. So I really don’t think about it that much.”

It may have helped that Silver was first introduced to the AEW audience as part of the original, more sinister version of the Dark Order in late 2019. As the faction morphed into legitimate babyfaces following the sad passing of Brodie Lee, it allowed all of the group’s members to show more facets to their personalities.

What really helped Silver break out and connect with fans were his semi-regular appearances on the “Being the Elite” YouTube series produced by the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. He credited those shows, and their existence on the periphery of “official” AEW programming for allowing him to blossom and show more range.

“When we joined the Dark Order, we were very serious, evil, brainwashed-type characters,” Silver said. “I always knew that I had more to show, but I didn’t know if I should show that at that point, like that was supposed to be my character.

“Once we eventually went on BTE, I kind of thought of that as a different world. Like it’s kind of connected, but it’s a different world. So I kind of gave myself a little bit more on there, and once I was seen doing that, even Tony [Khan] was like, ‘now we need you to do that on TV.’ So I loved it, I was able to just kind of be myself more.”

That interaction with The Elite also opened the door to something else Silver has loved, which is being part of the ongoing saga of Hangman Adam Page. In one of the longest running pro wrestling narratives in recent memory, Page has been on a character arc of friendship, betrayal and self-discovery that dates all the way back to the very beginnings of AEW.

It also grew over time to incorporate the Dark Order, who has been there for Page (and vice versa) when he needed them most. Even when those relationships have been put on the back burner for a time, AEW has shown it knows how to call on them again when needed, including recently when Page teamed with Silver and Reynolds to compete for the World Trios Championship against his old friends in The Elite.

As you might expect, Silver said having a role in that tale has been very rewarding.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “It’s one of the big stories in AEW and it just keeps going, it doesn’t really stop: his relationship with The Elite, his journey and then us being a part of his big journey. He basically got kicked out of his friend group and then found new friends in people you’d never think of in the Dark Order.

“Being a part of that has been awesome because it’s led to a lot of cool moments. I get to work with Hangman, who is a good friend of ours, obviously. … Even just the moment in the trios title match when Hangman and Kenny faced off, the crowd was unglued. They went nuts, just for them to stare at each other, observing, before they did anything. So to be part of that all is just fantastic.”

The next set of big moments for AEW is set to take place this week at AEW Grand Slam. It will take place for the second straight year at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens, not far from where Silver grew up in Wantagh, Long Island.

Though he wasn’t a regular at the facility by any means (“I’m not really like a tennis guy”) and never dreamed that he’d be performing there, his participation in last year’s Grand Slam drove home how special a venue it could be for AEW, and pro wrestling in general.

“The last time we went there, I was like ‘wow this place is massive,'” he said. “Definitely the coolest arena we go to. Last time I was there, I wrestled on Dark, and I think we had a four-minute, five-minute match. And just that alone, being in front of that crowd was amazing. The atmosphere is amazing.”

Silver will be there again this week, and in the days since he spoke to Wrestling Junkie, was revealed to be part of the Golden Ticket Battle Royale that will air on Rampage and will reward the winner with a future AEW World Championship match.

He won’t be a favorite to win, but if he does, it won’t be the kind of result that would be seen as something done for pure shock value. That, more than anything, is proof that his well-rounded growth in AEW has truly taken hold.