Jon Moxley's announcement, Top star screws over Will Ospreay - 5 surprises for AEW Dynamite 250
This coming Wednesday night will mark the 250th weekly episode of AEW Dynamite. It is a monumental achievement for the Jacksonville-based promotion, and Tony Khan has put together a stacked card to celebrate the grand occasion.
The show will feature two pay-per-view quality matches. After weeks of verbal back-and-forth, Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) will finally lock horns with Will Ospreay for the AEW International Championship.
Moreover, The Elite vs. Team AEW rivalry will further intensify when Swerve Strickland takes on Kazuchika Okada in a Champion vs. Champion match. In the women's division, Mercedes Mone will host an open challenge for the TBS Championship, which can be answered by anyone not named Britt Baker.
Considering the hype surrounding the upcoming edition of Dynamite, it feels no less than a major pay-per-view. Following two blockbuster episodes of the Wednesday Night show, Tony Khan would be adamant about extending the hot streak to three weeks in a row.
In this article, let's look at five possible surprises Khan can pull off to make the 250th edition of Dynamite a memorable affair.
#5. Konosuke Takeshita costs Will Ospreay the AEW International Championship
Will Ospreay will have a point to prove when he defends his AEW International Championship against MJF on the upcoming edition of Dynamite. It will be one of the toughest challenges yet for The Aerial Assassin, as Friedman is known for strategically tearing apart his opponents in the ring.
As Ospreay looks to finish off his rivalry with the Salt of the Earth, a certain star could cost The Commonwealth Kingpin his International Championship. The talent in question is Konosuke Takeshita, who could face Will Ospreay at All In 2024.
On a recent episode of Dynamite, Ospreay officially cut his ties with the Don Callis Family. However, a wicked personality like Callis is unlikely to let go of his former client that easily. The heel manager could send Konosuke Takeshita to target the British star, setting up a solid rivalry between the two stars.
The Alpha could blindside Will Ospreay in the final moments of the match, allowing The Wolf of Pro Wrestling to take advantage. The victory will add another championship to MJF's title collection, raising the stakes for his ongoing feud with Daniel Garcia.
As for the Aerial Assassin, a singles match against Takeshita at All In could be his best shot at getting rid of The Don Callis Family.
#4. Kazuchika Okada defeats Swerve Strickland
Tensions continue to rise between Swerve Strickland and the New Elite. After rejecting a spot on The Young Bucks' team, The Killshot has now joined forces with Team AEW for Blood & Guts.
On the upcoming episode of Dynamite, Strickland will look to get an edge over The Elite when he battles Kazuchika Okada in a Champion vs. Champion match.
Interestingly, neither of the two champions can afford a loss at the moment. However, if Tony Khan is compelled to make a choice, he should put over The Rainmaker in this contest.
Despite being a dominant World Champion, Swerve Strickland could come up short against Okada, courtesy of an unhinged Hangman Page. After failing to win the Owen Hart Cup, The Cowboy has seemingly aligned himself with Team Elite, with the sole purpose of destroying The Killshot inside the Blood & Guts structure.
The Hanger could deal a huge blow to Swerve by costing him his match against The Rainmaker. The AEW World Champion could be annihilated by Hangman Page behind the referee's back, allowing Okada to finish him off without much trouble.
A victory over the AEW World Champion would greatly benefit Kazuchika Okada, who has struggled to find his footing as the AEW Continental Champion.
#3. Jon Moxley joins forces with Team All Elite Wrestling
Jon Moxley has been a loyal asset to All Elite Wrestling since the very beginning. The Purveyor of Violence has stepped up every time the Jacksonville-based promotion has found itself in a slump. The Deathrider could once again come to the aid of Team AEW when they battle The Elite on the July 24 edition of Dynamite.
The Ace of AEW also has a solid reason for standing up against The Elite inside the deadly double-caged structure. On the recent episode of Dynamite, Hangman Page had a staredown with Moxley's wife, Renee Paquette, who was trying to conduct a backstage interview with The Cowboy.
With Hangman now seemingly a part of The New Elite, Jon Moxley could align himself with Team AEW to teach The Hanger a lesson in respect. Having lost his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Moxley could now shift his focus back to AEW by joining the babyfaces for Blood & Guts.
#2. Sammy Guevara appears on Chris Jericho's TV Time! talk show
The upcoming edition of Dynamite will feature the return of Chris Jericho's TV Time! talk show. The Learning Tree will most likely address his heinous attack on Samoa Joe, which has sidelined The Destroyer for an indefinite period.
The duo of Katsuyori Shibata and HOOK could mark their presence during this segment, only to be taken out by a returning Sammy Guevara. Having been absent for about six months, The Spanish God could shock the wrestling world by appearing on Chris Jericho's talk show.
The former TNT Champion could become Jericho's new disciple on Dynamite, joining Big Bill and Bryan Keith. The arrival of The Spanish God will further strengthen The Learning Tree's faction, leaving the babyfaces in a vulnerable position.
#1. Mina Shirakawa returns to align with Mariah May
Popular STARDOM star Mina Shirakawa was recently seen in action on AEW television. The Venus of Pro Wrestling made an appearance on the Forbidden Door pay-per-view, where she unsuccessfully challenged Toni Storm for the AEW Women's Championship.
During her rivalry with Storm, Mina Shirakawa was adamant about taking her friend Mariah May away from the Timeless star. Although The Glamour refused to pick any sides at Forbidden Door, she eventually showed her true colors by attacking Toni Storm on Dynamite after winning the Owen Hart Cup.
Now that Mariah May has turned her back on her mentor, Shirakawa could re-emerge on the AEW television. The 36-year-old star could come to the aid of The Fighting Princess against Toni Storm, who will certainly look to avenge her brutal beatdown.
Mina's arrival will add another dynamic to the May vs. Storm storyline, which has already become one of the most intriguing feuds in the women's division.