AEW Dynamite: Takeshita Retains Title as Rivalries Intensify Ahead of Forbidden Door
Konosuke Takeshita holds off Ricochet while the Don Callis Family and the Conglomeration clash in a post-match brawl that ends with Mark Briscoe delivering a Jay Driller to MJF.
The final episode of AEW Dynamite before the Forbidden Door pay-per-view served as a critical juncture for the promotion’s major storylines, headlined by Konosuke Takeshita’s successful defence of the AEW International Championship against Ricochet. The broadcast, aired on June 24, 2026, provided the last major build to the upcoming event, focusing heavily on the trajectory of the Men’s and Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals and the escalating tensions between established stables.
In the main event, Takeshita retained his title by pinfall, maintaining his status as champion following his previous high-profile victory at Double or Nothing. The match concluded the card’s primary championship contest, setting the stage for Takeshita to potentially face further challenges in the coming weeks, including a targeted threat from Kyle Fletcher who vowed to pursue the International Championship.
Significant developments occurred in the qualification bracket for the TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest match. Harley Cameron secured her spot by defeating Marina Shafir by pinfall, while Queen Aminata advanced by defeating Red Velvet. These victories expanded the field for the upcoming qualifier, adding to the competitive landscape for the TBS title.
The broadcast featured several high-stakes inter-stable conflicts that spilled beyond the ring. Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Brody King, Bandido, and Mistico by pinfall in a six-man tag match. Later, Swerve Strickland defeated Daniel Garcia, only for the match to devolve into a brawl between Strickland and Will Ospreay after Ospreay intervened to save Garcia.
Tensions also rose in the tag division and among individual competitors. The Young Bucks defeated TMDK by pinfall, but the celebration was cut short when Zack Sabre Jr. attacked both Matt and Nick Jackson. Kenny Omega made the save, issuing a challenge for redemption after Forbidden Door, while Sabre Jr. warned Omega to stay out of the hospital.
Backstage segments provided further context for the pay-per-view card. Darby Allin discussed his upcoming Steel Cage match against Mark Briscoe, acknowledging Briscoe’s opportunity for an AEW World Championship match if his team succeeds. Meanwhile, Roderick Strong expressed lingering anger toward MJF regarding his treatment of Adam Cole, and Don Callis hyped his group’s dominance ahead of the event.
The episode concluded with a large-scale confrontation between the Don Callis Family and the Conglomeration. The brawl involved multiple members from both groups entering the ring. The chaos ended with Mark Briscoe hitting a Jay Driller on MJF, reinforcing Briscoe’s vow to defeat his rival again and solidifying the hostile atmosphere heading into Forbidden Door.
Vignettes aired throughout the broadcast to promote the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals featuring Mercedes Mone against Maya World, as well as the AEW Women’s World Championship match between Thekla and Starlight Kid. The final moments also saw a separate brawl between Christian Cage, Adam Copeland, Clark Connors, and David Finlay, underscoring the fractured state of the roster.
As the promotion turns its attention to the pay-per-view, the results from Dynamite have clarified several matchups while intensifying the personal grudges that define the current era. The successful retention by Takeshita and the violent conclusion involving MJF and Briscoe suggest that the stakes for Forbidden Door are at their highest point.
