AEW Dynasty 2026 Review: Too Long and Too Predictable

AEW's second pay-per-view event of 2026 had some outstanding action, but AEW failed to deliver in terms of storylines and big moments. Most of the matches had clean finishes, with a couple of cheap wins by heel world champions.

The positive

The highlights were the veteran wrestlers: Also notable were the Young Bucks, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kazuchika Okada. Speaking of: I don't care who turns face, but hopefully AEW will finally hold their feud match. While slow storytelling is great, after months and months, it's getting tiresome. These two will undoubtedly have some great matches. Hopefully, they will limit those to under a dozen.

FTR and Cope & Christian proved that they can still put on a great show, despite their age and condition showing. I still think AEW will hold a three-team clash between FTR, the Young Bucks, and Cope & Cage. Given the dynamics—FTR as old-school bruisers like the Dudley Boyz, the Bucks as daredevils like the Hardy Boyz, and Copeland and Cage (Edge and Christian)—it will probably be a ladder or TLC match.

The only question is when. Double or Nothing in May or All In London in summer? Either way, Copeland and Cage will have one last title run before retiring.

As expected, Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay put on a great show. Their match should bring their feud to a close and hopefully set up new ones. For Moxley, it seems about time for some internal conflict among the Death Riders.

Ospreay will most likely be trying to ‘atone’ for losing the match and working towards a world title match, probably at All In London in the summer.

Special shout-out to MJF and Kenny Omega. While a bit long, their bout was an outstanding match between two of the best in the world. I think MJF will hold the AEW World Title for a few more months before losing it to Ospreay in London. This would align with Tony Khan's recent booking decisions.

The negative

AEW's pay-per-view events continue to struggle with time management. As a professional wrestling fan, I understand AEW’s desire to put on a show for their fans, especially those in attendance. However, the excessive length is tiresome.

Some matches felt like busywork, fan service, and sometimes groundwork for something else in the future. For example: Since AEW has had Omega vs. Strickland on Dynamite twice, they could also have had Allin/Andrade fight on the weekly show.

The same goes for Thekla/Hayter. I understand and agree that they should defend the women's world title on a pay-per-view event, but the match did not spark my interest (nor that of the fans in the arena).

The Casino Gauntlet Match was necessary because Kyle Fletcher had to relinquish his TNT Title due to injury. AEW crammed it with guys who would have otherwise probably gotten a full match. It was also the best way to give their rising star, Kevin Knight, a singles belt without pitting him against much more prominent champions like Moxley or Okada. However, perhaps Jack Perry's National Championship would have suited the youngster better than the prestigious TNT title.

Anyway, if the show is going to be that long, it should start an hour or two earlier. People need to get home and get up for work or school on Monday. Moreover, it's awful for fans in Europe and other time zones. They should go back to PPVs on Saturdays.

Oh, if my complaints sound familiar, it's because they are. Will that change? I hope so, though it’s highly unlikely since Tony Khan seems unwilling to shorten the PPV cards.

The results

The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) def. Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Kazuchika Okada)

As expected, there were several misunderstandings between Okada and Takeshita. When the Young Bucks attempted the Meltzer Driver, Takeshita first held Nick’s foot but then let go, allowing Matt Jackson to pin Okada.

Ricochet def. Jericho

Ricochet pins Jericho after hitting him with the latter’s own signature move, the Lionsault. I’m somewhat surprised that Jericho lost his return match. Though, I think having him walk around smiling and playing with the fans will end in him turning heel.

Darby Allin def. Andrade El Idolo

Darby Allin defeated Andrade El Idolo by pinfall, countering the Last Supper with his own pinfall, and earning an AEW title match.

After the match, Andrade initially appears stunned but eventually accepts the loss. He extends his hand to Allin and raises his arm—the prelude to a face turn?

AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler w/ Stokely Hathaway) (c) def. Cope & Cage (Adam Copeland & Christian Cage)

The champions won by pinfall when Dax Harwood pinned Adam Copeland following the Shatter Machine. Copeland bled heavily throughout the match.

AEW TNT Championship: Casino Gauntlet Match

Kevin Knight defeated Tommaso Ciampa, Rush, Bandido, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, El Clon, PAC, Daniel Garcia, Anthony Bowens, and Wheeler Yuta by pinning Garcia.

Knight pretended to be shocked that he was the champion. He celebrated while his tag team partner, Mike Bailey, looked on. Trouble in JetSpeed’s Paradise?

AEW Women’s World Championship Thekla (c) def. Jamie Hayter

Thekla won by pinfall after an O’Connor Roll with a rope-assist.

AEW Continental Championship Jon Moxley (c) Will Ospreay

Jon Moxley won by pinfall following the Death Rider. Afterward, he posed in the ring with the Continental Title. Ospreay was escorted backstage by officials.

AEW World Trios Championship The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly) def. The Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, and Clark Connors)

O’Reilly makes Clark Connors submit with an ankle lock. Afterward, he celebrates emotionally in his hometown and dedicates the moment to his late father by looking toward the sky.

The challengers made a special, sitcom-style entrance featuring the “Conglomeration” jingle. Orange Cassidy lay on a couch, and Roderick Strong woke him up energetically. Kyle O’Reilly joins in with a tongue-in-cheek, “Did somebody say 'Conglomeration'?”

AEW World Championship MJF (c) def. Kenny Omega

MJF defeats Kenny Omega by pinfall after the Heat Seeker. AEW Dynasty 2026 concludes with a shot of an exhausted but victorious MJF. Kenny Omega remains in the ring after the main event, while MJF triumphantly displays his title.

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