AEW honored the late Pac on “AEW Dynamite” with a heartfelt 10-man tag team main event, highlighted by Bryan Danielson’s return as he reunited with the Death Riders. Wardlow also came back to join the Don Callis Family, a reunion teased at AEW All Out, but despite his presence, his team was unable to secure the win.
The match featured Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, Gabe Kidd, and Danielson facing off against Wardlow, Lance Archer, Mark Davis, Jake Doyle, and Josh Alexander, kicking off as a chaotic brawl once Danielson’s entrance music played. Danielson quickly made his impact, dropping a knee onto Alexander’s head, followed by Castagnoli’s swing and Yuta finishing the sequence with a dropkick. Davis and Archer worked to isolate Yuta and targeted the Death Riders one by one.
Yuta tagged in Danielson, who swiftly took down the Don Callis Family members before facing off against Alexander one-on-one. Danielson landed an elbow from the ropes, followed by his trademark “Yes!” kicks. Although Alexander countered a roundhouse kick into an ankle lock, Danielson transitioned into the Lebell Lock submission. Wardlow powerbombed Garcia and confronted Castagnoli but was met with an uppercut from the middle rope.
Both teams exchanged furious offensive moves, including a double Busaiku knee from Danielson and Yuta, yet the heels maintained control at times. Archer attempted to choke Marina Shafir, who responded by locking in an armbar over the ropes, while Garcia sent Archer flying out of the ring. Garcia taunted Doyle with a signature dance before the Death Riders unleashed a series of uppercuts. The match concluded with Kidd landing a lariat, Garcia applying a sharpshooter on Doyle, and Castagnoli delivering a stomp, securing the pinfall and victory for their team.
Fan Take: This match was a powerful nod to the legacy of Pac and showcased the depth of storytelling AEW can deliver through high-stakes team battles and surprising returns. For fighting fans, it signals that AEW continues to blend emotional narratives with intense in-ring action, elevating the sport’s entertainment value and maintaining wrestling’s evolving legacy.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
