After more than 55 days of hype, Dynamite 30: Cruel Summer is finally here, with the biggest card of the season coming set for Monday. AEW.com’s Chris Hyatte is here with a full breakdown of the road to Cruel Summer!
AEW TV Championship: Swerve Strickland (C) vs. ‘The Ring General’ Gunther
Last winter, Swerve Strickland arrived in All Elite Wrestling with much hype and fanfare. He immediately set his sights on the Television Championship after a stunning victory over the former World Heavyweight Champion, AJ Styles.
On April 15, Strickland pushed the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, to his limits. However, Rhodes secured the victory with a roll-up that caught Strickland off guard after nearly 25 minutes of intense back-and-forth action. Before Strickland could process the loss, the Ring General, Gunther, made a shocking arrival in AEW. He trashed WWE’s European Championship and brutalized Rhodes, leaving the then-champion in a bloody pool in the center of the ring.
Gunther then set his sights on the TV Championship, but Swerve Strickland refused to step aside. By May 1, the two clashed in a number one contender’s match, which ended in a no contest. Both men failed to answer the referee’s 10-count after Strickland reversed the Death Valley Driver into a neckbreaker on the steel steps.
At Retribution on Memorial Day weekend, a triple threat match for the title pitted all three men against one another. Just as Gunther was about to choke Rhodes out, Swerve hit a House Call that knocked the Ring General out cold. He capitalized, pinning the weakened Rhodes to become the TV Champion.
On the season premiere of Chaos a few weeks ago, Strickland successfully defended the “Workhorse Championship” against Brock Anderson, only for Gunther to attack him post-match.
This Monday, the two finally settle the score, as Strickland has been cleared for competition. When the dust settles, will it still be “Swerve’s House,” or will the Ring General become the fourth man to win the Television Championship? Find out Monday night at Cruel Summer!
Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley vs. ‘Freshly Squeezed’ Orange Cassidy
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy was one of 10 men slated for the inaugural Gold Rush Ladder Match at Starrcade, where the winner would secure a guaranteed title shot for any championship of their choosing, at any time.
However, during World of Wrestling’s annual super show, Cassidy was found backstage in a pool of his own blood. Unable to compete, he was taken to a nearby medical facility and treated for his injuries. As the match progressed, Dominik Mysterio revealed himself as the tenth participant, making his AEW debut after the company secured a secret trade with WWE prior to the draft.
On the season premiere of Dynamite, Mysterio was scheduled to explain his actions, but he never showed up. By Friday night’s episode of Chaos, Dominik appeared, revealing that Cassidy had pressed charges for the attack, resulting in his arrest.
The self-proclaimed “ex-convict” then announced he had reunited with his ‘Mami,’ Rhea Ripley, who was drafted back to AEW in June. Ripley revealed that she left AEW last spring with a mission: to convince Dominik to leave WWE and join the land of the Elite.
Last Monday, Cassidy made his triumphant return to television with an impressive victory over Dexter Lumis. On Friday night, Dominik scored an equally impressive win against former EWA X-Division Champion, ‘The Bastard’ Pac.
This Monday night, the two will collide for the first time ever in one-on-one action. Will Dominik continue his wave of momentum, or will Orange Cassidy serve up some freshly squeezed revenge? Find out Monday night at Cruel Summer!
‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes vs. ‘The American Dragon’ Byran Danielson
On the season premiere of Dynamite, BWM Inc. Chairman and AEW World Heavyweight Champion Sami Zayn was the special guest on a live in-ring episode of ‘Impaulsive! with Logan Paul’ to announce the “biggest signing of the year.” Rumors had circulated for weeks, with pundits making inaccurate guesses about who it would be.
Zayn finally revealed the signing with a special vignette showcasing IWGP World Champion, the Aerial Assassin, Will Ospreay! Ospreay announced that for the first time in his career, he’s signed with an American wrestling company and is ready to show the world what he’s all about. Ospreay is set to debut with All Elite Wrestling at Aftershock on Sunday, August 25.
Cody Rhodes, who has struggled since losing the Television Championship to Swerve Strickland at Retribution, told AEW Correspondent Renee Young that he planned to challenge the Aerial Assassin at Aftershock. However, Bryan Danielson, the former AEW World Heavyweight Champion, interrupted Rhodes and announced he’d already spoken with Sami Zayn and Megan Mouse-Zayn, securing the coveted spot at the PPV for himself.
The confrontation escalated, leading to a challenge for Cruel Summer. The winner will earn the right to face the debuting Ospreay at Aftershock.
Both men are eager to rebound and regain momentum after losing their respective championships, but only one will come out on top. Will it be an American Nightmare for Danielson, or will the Dragon burn Rhodes’ hopes to ashes?
No Holds Barred: Sami Zayn vs. Sensei Johnny Lawrence
During the break between Retribution and Starrcade, rumors swirled about Sami Zayn and Megan Mouse-Zayn’s interest in signing WWE’s biggest attraction, the ever-unstable William Zabka, or as he calls himself, Sensei Johnny Lawrence. However, in the weeks leading up to the draft, talks between the two camps reportedly fell apart.
On June 8, before the negotiations collapsed, Sami Zayn and Megan Mouse-Zayn announced that the 30th episode of Dynamite would be tag-lined Cruel Summer, a nod to the soundtrack from Lawrence’s breakout role in the hit film The Karate Kid. By June 15, the deal appeared to be off, and the Zayns pivoted, using an early draft pick on Xolo Mariduena, who plays Miguel Diaz in the hit series Cobra Kai. Three days later, it was revealed that the premiere of Dynamite would be held at Drake Track Stadium, just under 10 minutes from Lawrence’s hometown of Encino, California.
At Starrcade, Sami Zayn introduced himself to Xolo, insisting that he would now be known by his Cobra Kai character. Despite Xolo’s protests, Sami wouldn’t listen. Later that night, Zayn announced he’d be a guest on Impaulsive! with Logan Paul, where he had originally planned to announce the signing of Lawrence. Over the break, Zayn and Mariduena had two contentious meetings. On Dynamite, instead of announcing Lawrence’s signing, Zayn pivoted and revealed the signing of international sensation Will Ospreay. However, he was interrupted by MJF, who vowed to get revenge on Zayn for screwing him out of the World Heavyweight Championship.
Lawrence finally appeared alongside MJF! Zayn bailed and later announced a match between Miguel Diaz and Armageddon. During the match, MJF and Logan Paul, along with MJF’s goons, attacked Armageddon after he had decimated Diaz. They embarrassed Zayn again by dragging the nearly lifeless body of Diaz atop Armageddon, making him the first person to pin Armageddon since his return!
This Monday at Cruel Summer, Lawrence seeks revenge against Zayn for how he’s treated the Cobra Kai alum. Will Sensei Johnny Lawrence get his retribution, or will Zayn continue to rule unchallenged?
All of this and so much more, Monday at Dynamite 30: Cruel Summer!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 