Did we ever think we would see another wrestling promotion to, at some point, go up against the mighty WWE?  For quite some time in the mid to late 90’s everyone was all in to WCW and the Monday night ratings war with the WWE.  Eventually, WCW lost steam, Vince McMahon bought it, and the rest is history.

That is until now! Four years after its launch in 2019, AEW is on its way to developing its brand of pro wrestling, and on a global scale, with its upcoming massive premium live event on August 27th from Wembley Stadium in London England.

However, last night, AEW celebrated its 200th episode of its flagship show, AEW: Dynamite.  Born in 2019, from super fan and super rich, CEO, President and Owner, Tony Khan, he partnered with the likes of The Elite as his EVP’s (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and former WWE superstar, Chris Jericho to develop the talent and the style of the promotion.  While there is still work to do, things are looking up.  And if you have ever rooted for the upstarts, the little engines that could, or for something fresh and different to captivate wrestling fans as an alternative to the WWE, AEW has as good a shot as any for enduring, especially with its new TV deals with Warner Brothers/Discovery; which has given AEW three different weekly television shows.

On Wednesday night’s August 2nd broadcast, the 200th episode gave longtime fans an opportunity to come away with the type of highlights they love to see. That included: Jericho and Takeshita with Don Callis in their corner against AEW’s young mainstays, Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara. In the end, Callis cheated, Jericho was conflicted, but pinned Garcia for the win. Leaving the question, is this Chris’ final move to leave the Jericho Appreciation Society for good as its founder, and head to the the Don Callis Family? Stay tuned.

Viewers also got an emotional victory and a title change on this significant night of action.  That is when Hikaru Shida defeated AEW Women’s champion, Toni Storm for the belt. This was the closer of the episode.  Shida was the women’s champ during the pandemic, playing to empty houses at Daily’s Place in Jacksonsville.  Now, with the pandemic mostly behind us, Hikaru Shida has the opportunity to play in front of packed houses.  The question is, with Jamie Hayter still out of action, what happens for All In at Wembley without the English Hayter on board? With the defeat of Storm, what becomes of the trio of the Outcasts – the rebellious group of women that were supposed to wreak havoc on the division comprised of Storm, Saraya, and Ruby Soho?

Men’s champ MJF made an appearance, and told the back-story of why he stabbed people in the back. This time, MJF showed his vulnerable side, reliving a childhood trauma as a vehicle of how he was scared of rejection which out of fear turned him into a scumbag. However, he told the crowd, “I’m your scumbag” and they chatted it back! Later, MJF brings out new bff Adam Cole. He then shocked Cole, and the crowd, by having Adam sign a contract so that the two of them can headline Wembley Stadium at All In.  Although, Cole signed it, we have a feeling he doesn’t really know what he put his John Hancock to! Did MJF just swerve him? Are we really going to get MJF vs. Cole as the main event? Hmmm.

In other moments: An Anything Goes match featuring Jon Moxley vs. Trent Beretta vs. Penta El Zero Miedo was the order of the day, and this one brought the blood, the thumbtacks and the barbed wire, that has been a feature of the show. Moxley loves the violent and vicious matches.  But do the fans??? In the end, Beretta pinned El Zero Miedo. In the follow-up, Orange Cassidy and Best Friends are going up against the Blackpool Combat Club in a redo of their original “Parking Lot Brawl’ on Friday night’s AEW Rampage.

Heel Jack Perry got the surprise of his life, when expecting to wrestler former ECW star Jerry Lynn, instead he got a ready-to-go WWE Hall-of-Famer, Rob Van Dam ready to wrestle him and ready for a fight, but Perry ran. However, a challenge was made by RVD to Perry for a match on next week’s Dynamite.

The Elite and Hangman Adam Page told everyone the news from earlier in the day, that they have re-signed with AEW following their win in match against Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh and Jay Lethal. Afterwards, a frightening video package played of Mogul Embassy’s newest member, AR Fox and Swerve Strickland invading the Buddy Wayne Academy and attacking Darby Allin’s protege Nick Wayne and making a menacing and threatening call to Allin.  New storyline alert!

After the show went off the air, Chris Jericho came to the ring with Tony Khan with a surprise for their leader. First, Jericho gave him kudos for being the visionary for the organization. He then brought out MJF, who also gave back-handed, but positive kudos to Khan. Finally, the entire roster came out to salute Khan and congratulate him, and each other on 200 episodes of Dynamite.  You can watch that moment below.

So, what did you think about the 200th episode of AEW Dynamite? Share your thoughts in the comment section.