The very first AEW Dynamite was on October 2, 2019. Five years later exactly, which is today, they celebrate their five year anniversary.
I am going to turn this post over to members of the Fight Game Media team, as well as members of our Discord for their favorite moments in AEW Dynasty history.
Paul Fontaine (co-host of The Dynamite Show and Fight Game Media writer)
December 30, 2020 - The Brodie Lee Tribute Show
Wrestling companies have done shows like for wrestlers who had passed away for decades. But never like this. It was the perfect mixture of somber remembrance and celebration of life. I laughed, I cried, I cheered and I remembered the life of a great wrestler, father and man who was taken too soon.
@Shadowz6677
December 2, 2020 - Sting's debut
This automatically stands out to me as a moment where AEW was bringing in an audience that was fully left behind by WCW. Tony Khan wanted from the start to cultivate his fan base and reach those people. Sting's presence did just that. The way that they presented him and the aura will always be remembered as one of the greatest moments to me.
Jeff Hawkins (co-host of The Dynamite Show)
March 3, 2021 - Revolution Go Home show
Tully Blanchard getting a win with FTR and then Arn and JJ flashing the four fingers.
@HPJoker
July 28, 2021 - Fight For The Fallen
Nick Gage slicing up Jericho with a pizza cutter.
@TenaciousPz
September 22, 2021 - Grand Slam
I had to think about my answer for a little while, as there are many AEW Dynamite moments that have stuck with me. But in the end, my favorite Dynamite moment to date is from the inaugural Grand Slam on September 22nd, 2021. The specific moment was the 1-2 minutes prior to the bell ringing for the opening dream match of Kenny Omega and the newly signed Bryan Danielson. Seeing 20k fans on their feet, applauding, and making so much damn noise that both Bryan and a heel Kenny couldn't help but smile at each other as they were about to lock up and give us maybe the greatest 30 minute draw in history, is something I won't forget. The combination of the atmosphere and knowing that Bryan chose AEW to give us this moment, solidified that AEW was going to be around for a long time. And that confidence was extremely important to me.
Scott Young (co-host of The WRAP)
September 22, 2021 - Grand Slam
Kenny Omega Vs Daniel Bryan and the crowd just going crazy as the bell starts.
Ryan Frederick (former co-host of In The Clinch)
October 23, 2019 - Fourth AEW Dynamite
I’m going to go early on in the history of Dynamite and point to the fourth episode of Dynamite on October 23, 2019. You had the Lucha Brothers showcasing how awesome they were in a fun match against Private Party; Kenny Omega, in his first AEW Dynamite singles match against Joey Janela, showcasing the best wrestler in the world in a way that you’ll be excited to see in the future; a fun Young Bucks tag against Best Friends where Orange Cassidy got some showcase; a young Jamie Hayter in her debut against Britt Baker in a match between two now cornerstones of the women’s division.
And Jon Moxley in his first Dynamite singles match against PAC, where he established himself as perhaps the biggest key factor to the early success of the promotion. But the moment that made the show feel different and new and fresh was the segment where the Inner Circle had a brawl with Cody Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, MJF and DDP. You had Cody breaking through a glass window with a fist to get at the heels in the luxury box, and a brawl all over the arena that included the famous moment where Cody and Jericho were at the Dippin Dots concession stand and JR screaming “Not the damn Dippin Dots!”
It felt like something that was going to explode and just so different than what WWE was presenting at the time, and at a time when the wrestling business needed something new and fresh and new life injected into it.
Sam Schipman (co-host of Powerbombshells and Fight Game Media writer)
March 9, 2022 - AEW Dynamite from Estero, FL
There’s been so many great moments in Dynamite’s history that it’s hard for me to choose. I will have to go with one that’s personal. I have followed J.D. Drake and Anthony Henry’s careers as both singles wrestlers and as The Workhorsemen in my (former) local promotion. In March 2022, they got to prove themselves against two of the very best, Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson. This was right after the formation of the BCC and it was one of their first matches. It was a huge spot for The Workhorsemen to be in and says a lot about what Tony Khan thought of them to give them that match. Of course, I wish the match would’ve gotten more time. The Workhorsemen held their own against BCC and earned new fans while making longtime fans proud.
As for mine, it's one that others already brought up, which was the first ever Grand Slam. Earlier in the month of September in 2021, AEW hosted the best pro wrestling PPV I'd ever attended, All Out. At that time, AEW felt like it was hotter than July. And when Omega and Danielson wrestled, it felt like AEW could do no wrong. Of course, that hot period didn't last as nothing does, but those few weeks truly felt different than just about any other time that I'd been a pro wrestling fan.
