AEW Dynamite Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From June 3

All Elite Wrestling rolled into the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia for the June 3 episode of Dynamite, headlined by the latest AEW World Championship defense from MJF, the continuation of the Owen Hart Foundation men's and women's tournaments, and a TNT Championship battle between former friends and teammates.

What went down, how did each of the night's matches and segments grade out, and how did they impact AEW's road to Forbidden Door on June 28?

Find out in this recap of Wednesday's show.

Lineup

All Elite Wrestling

Announced in advance of Wednesday's show were:

AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Rush

The Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament semifinal: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

TNT Championship: "Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Kevin Knight (c)

The Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament quarterfinal: Alex Windsor vs. Wild Card Entrant

Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush

AEW World Championship: Rush vs. MJF

Last Time in Action: MJF defeated Darby Allin (Double or Nothing, May 24); Rush defeated Orange Cassidy, Brian Cage, and Lio Rush (Dynamite, May 27)

On the heels of a victory in last week's Superstation Showcase Four Way, and a tense confrontation earlier in the day, Rush challenged MJF to kick off this episode of Dynamite. From there, Renee Paquette announced a No Countout stipulation, and Andrade El Idolo hyped the challenger up.

The champion spat in his opponent's face early, igniting a fire in Rush that allowed him to physically overwhelm MJF early on, tossing him over the timekeeper's position and into a table.

The always-aware heel utilized an exposed turnbuckle to his advantage, busting Rush open and targeting the wound to seize control of the bout. The former Ring of Honor world champ fought back, but MJF shut him down by targeting his left arm. Rush suckered the champion into a headbutt entering the commercial break.

Back from the timeout, the ringside medical staff tried to tell referee Bryce Remsburg that both men were unfit to continue based on action, with the commentary team selling the Mexican-born star suffering from a dislocated shoulder. Rush laid the doctor out to ensure the match continued.

Rush attempted a running dropkick through the barricade, but MJF moved, then added a tombstone piledriver onto the broken guardrail, seemingly hurting his own left knee in the process.

MJF applied an STF/hammerlock combo, torquing the injured left shoulder of his opponent. Despite one last defiant look from Rush, the champion ultimately retained his title when El Toro Blanco became unresponsive.

After the match, Mark Briscoe attempted to cut off a post-match attack by MJF, but The Salt of the Earth got the best of him and escaped up the ramp before The Conglomeration could get their hands on him.

Result

MJF defeated Rush via referee stoppage

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

MJF taunted his challenger, appearing in matador garb to antagonize El Toro Blanco. Somewhere, Tito Santana is smiling.

The No Countout stipulation came from out of nowhere, with no prompt outside of the earlier brawl, and felt like another instance of creative convenience more than anything.

This was a great way to kick off the show. Rush ate up MJF early and often, looking like an unstoppable badass. The champion did just enough throughout the match to hold him at bay before eventually capitalizing on an opening, exploiting an injury, and winning. It was an easy to follow story, the challenger looked like a threat, the titleholder ultimately outwrestled him, and Briscoe made the save to setup that inevitable rematch.

Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Last Time in Action: Lio Rush lost a four-way to Rush (Dynamite, May 27); Mark Briscoe won a 10-Man Tag Team Match (Double or Nothing Buy In, May 24)

Born of a backstage segment earlier in the day in which Briscoe promised to fight the next person he saw, the night's second match saw the former TNT champion battle the bizarre "Blackheart" Lio Rush.

Rush threw Briscoe off throughout the match, halting his momentum with his mannerisms. The smaller competitor made him pay, capitalizing on the openings those hesitations presented.

The future Hall of Famer fought back, though, overwhelming Rush with his size, strength, and ferocity. He cut off one last gasp effort by his opponent and delivered the Cutthroat Driver for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Briscoe cut an impassioned promo reliving the anger he had upon his arrival in AEW following the death of his brother, Jay, and how wrestling served as his therapy.

Until, that is, the anger resurfaced in his rivalry with MJF. He called the world champion out for a shot at the gold to wrap things up.

Result

Briscoe pinned Rush

Grade

C+

Top Takeaways

It was fairly apparent right away that there would be considerable focus on Rush's new monster gimmick, and there sure was. It is unique, for sure, and something that could get over as long as it is not overexposed and does not impede on the quality of the ring work.

The commercial break hurt this one a bit as much of the momentum the competitors built entering it was stopped in its tracks. Still, what we got was fun and gave Briscoe a quality win as he continues to pursue a world title match with MJF, presumably as soon as Forbidden Door.

Thekla, flanked by Skye Blue and Julia Hart, cut a promo that began in the crowd and ended on the ramp, during which she ran down her former home promotion, Stardom, ahead of the upcoming June 28 pay-per-view.

Andrade El Idolo in Action

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Andrade defeated Ace Austin (Collision, May 27)

Andrade El Idolo destroyed independent wrestler DK Vandu in a quick squash match.

After the match, he reiterated his desire to compete for the AEW World Championship against MJF, though the commentary team reminded the audience that it could not happen because of a business arrangement with The Don Callis Family.

Callis made his presence felt, accompanied to the ring with Jake Doyle. Once inside the squared circle, he overshadowed El Idolo's promo by revealing that TNT champion Kevin Knight is the newest member of his faction.

Result

El Idolo defeated Vandu

Grade

A

Top Takeaways

Andrade looked like a potential world champion here, steamrolling his opponent, then cutting a confident promo in which he reiterated his desire to be champion. Better yet was the manner in which Callis glossed over it, acting as if it did not happen and refusing to address his charge. It is only a matter of time before a split happens and El Idolo goes on a monster run.

Knight needs a mouthpiece at this point in his career but adding him to a faction that is already overly full, featuring other stars with no real connection to speak of, feels like a step backwards for a guy who was the talk of the AEW world coming out of Double or Nothing.

"Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Kevin Knight

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Last Time in Action: Mike Bailey lost to Darby Allin (Dynamite, May 20); Kevin Knight defeated Brian Cage (Dynamite, May 13)

Former friends turned enemies squared off with the TNT Championship on the line as Kevin Knight defended against "Speedball" Mike Bailey.

The newest member of The Don Callis Family built momentum entering the commercial break, seizing control and putting Bailey on the defensive. Back from the timeout, as chants of "you sold out" rained from the stands, Speedball rocked Knight with a big kick to create separation.

The champion rocked Bailey, knocking him off the ropes and to the arena floor. He added a big clothesline from the squared circle to his opponent, but was unable to sustain the upper hand as the challenger fought him off.

Back and forth action ensued, with each man momentarily gaining the advantage. Doyle provided a distraction, allowing Callis to sweep the babyface's leg out from under him. Knight brought his opponent crashing down to the mat, then added the Crash Landing for the pinfall victory and successful title defense.

After the match, Knight cut a promo, becoming the latest star to throw his name in the ring for a championship opportunity.

Result

Knight defeated Bailey

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

The match may not have been the five-star classic some expected when it was announced, but it was still an excellent bout that built sympathy for Bailey as he combated the presence of Callis and Doyle before succumbing to their distractions. Knight earned heat and a big win and both men showed out. A hotter crowd may have put this over the top.

AEW continues to do an excellent job of building potential challengers for MJF and emphasizing the importance of the top prize in the company. More importantly, it has introduced fresh faces to the title picture, something that must happen to prevent the staleness that is readily apparent elsewhere in the wrestling world.

Backstage, The Young Bucks interrupted Renee Paquette's interview with The Dogs and voiced their desire for the AEW World Tag Team Championship.

Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament Quarterfinal: Alex Windsor vs. Mercedes Mone

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Last Time in Action: Alex Windsor, Jamie Hayter, Mina Shirakawa and Thunder Rosa lost to Athena, Skye Blue, Julia Hart, and Thekla (Dynamite, May 20); Mercedes Mone lost to Willow Nightingale (Dynamite, December 31)

Mercedes Mone made her long-awaited return to AEW on Wednesday night as the Wildcard in the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament, battling Alex Windsor.

An early back-and-forth gave way to Mone seizing control of the bout entering the commercial. Back from the break, she dropped Windsor with the Three Amigos suplexes.

Windsor answered, bowling over Mone and mounting a comeback, but had her momentum cut off by a Meteora.

Mone delivered a sunset flip bomb into the corner, but a running double-knee missed. A series of near-falls ensued, with neither woman able to put the other down for the count.

A big knee, Backstabber, and Statement Maker earned the former TBS champion the win and a trip to the tournament semifinals.

Result

Mone defeated Windsor to advance

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

Mone is one of the best wrestlers in the world and having her back only strengthens the women's division. She picked up right where she left off, delivering a fantastic performance against Windsor, with whom she had great in-ring chemistry. Their battle further enhanced the significance and prestige of the tournament.

Windsor might be one of the unsung heroes of the women's division over the last six months. She rarely disappoints and easily could have won here and the quality of the tournament would have still been incredibly strong, albeit minus the star power of the CEO.

Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Semifinal: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Last Time in Action: Will Ospreay and The Death Riders defeated The Rascalz (Collision, May 27); Mark Davis defeated Jack Perry (Dynamite, May 27)

Former members of United Empire clashed in Wednesday's main event, with a chance to advance to the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament as Will Ospreay battled Mark Davis.

The Aerial Assassin started hot, taking the fight to Davis and showcasing the new tenacity and aggression learned from his training with the Death Riders.

Davis, though, shook off a targeted attack on his left arm and sent Ospreay crashing spine-first on the top of the commentary table. A superplex back inside the squared circle further punished his opponent's back and neck.

Back from the night's final break, Dunkzilla caught Ospreay in a springboard attempt and gorilla press slammed him back into the ring.

The babyface fought back and once again targeted the left arm of Davis, stomping on it and applying the armbar. The heel powered out, drove Ospreay to the mat with a powerbomb, then added a piledriver for a close two count.

An Ospreay hurricanrana brought Davis to the arena floor, then a coast-to-coast dropkick stunned him once he returned to the ring. A Styles Clash earned Ospreay the near-fall. A Hidden Blade put the heel down, but a referee bump prevented him from making the count.

Trent Beretta, Brian Cage, El Clon, and Lance Archer all interfered on behalf of the villain while The Death Riders' Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, and Pac arrived to fend them off.

Jake Doyle arrived, fended off Marina Shafir's attempt at taking him down, but succumbed to Jon Moxley. Back in the ring, Kyle Fletcher arrived on the scene and downed Ospreay with a half-and-half suplex. He pulled out a screwdriver, but Konosuke Takeshita pulled him to the ring and fought him out of the ring as all hell continued to break loose.

Ospreay delivered one Hidden Blade to disarm Davis of the screwdriver, then hit a second, but referee Bryce Remsburg arrived late, and the heel kicked out at two. The babyface survived one last push from Davis, applied the armbar, and earned the submission win.

Result

Ospreay defeated Davis to advance

Grade

A

Top Takeaways

This felt like an Attitude Era main event, complete with the overarching story of warring factions influencing the match before Ospreay picked up the win to send him to the tournament finals. Great action, a consistent in-ring story centered around his attack on Davis' arm, and the satisfying submission win helped make this the best match of the night.

The crowd was red hot for this one, as one would be for a star of Ospreay's magnitude.

Davis continues to be the hidden gem of AEW, a guy who has seen his stock rise recently, but has earned it through strong in-ring performances. He is a perfect bruiser heel. A team consisting of him and Doyle could be a hell of a fun throwback.

The inevitable Ospreay vs. MJF match is going to be one of the biggest, most important matches in AEW history.

MVP: Mercedes Mone

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

One of the best wrestlers in the world returned Wednesday night and instantly changed the mood in the AEW women's division.

Mone is an elite performer, and she proved it with a great match against Windsor that helped elevate a tournament brimming with talented wrestlers but lacking that one marquee name.

Whether she wins the tournament, becoming the first wrestler to win two after triumphing a year ago, remains to be seen but no one can argue that the women's roster in AEW is not better for having a legitimate future Hall of Famer in it.

Overall Grade: B+

The main event almost earned this one an "A," but for all the great stuff that was involved in it, as well as Mone's return, it still felt like a piece of the puzzle entering Forbidden Door rather than a standout broadcast.

Add to that the questionable decision to neuter Kevin Knight's heel turn by having him join The Don Callis Family, something absolutely no one asked for, and you have a show that was one step below extraordinary.