Time to Do... or Die! | AEWeekly #214

Welcome to the #AEWeekly review discussion where PWM contributors reflect on the highlights of the last week in AEW. The eligibility week always includes the most recent episode of Dynamite and Collision, plus any social-media exclusives up until publication.

This week’s contributors are Abel [@loza3.bsky.social] covering Match of the Week and the week's MVP, Lauren [@sithwitch.bsky.social] exploring a key Story Beat, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] talking about the Moment of the Week, as well as editing and organizing it all.

 A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly

We'd love for this and any and all of our content to be the beginning of a conversation with our readers. To interact with any and all of our contributors please accept our invitation to join the Pro Wrestling Musings Community Discord. Then follow this link to the #AEWeekly Discord Thread.

(click on the pic if you need the joke explained-- I did!)

MJF vs Kenny Omega 

"The Devil and God are raging inside me..."

by Abel.

The AEW World Championship match between challenger Kenny Omega and Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman was, in my humble opinion, one of the best title matches AEW has ever had. While it included the signature AEW high-flying spots, intense physicality, and extremely close near falls, where this match truly excelled was in the small details that made it as compelling as any match All Elite Wrestling has ever put on. Omega vs MJF at Dynasty 2026 was, for my money, one of the best stories AEW has ever told in the ring.

​Omega demonstrated superior wrestling throughout most of the match, but his pride ultimately proved his downfall. The slow, deliberate build—both physically and psychologically—made this 38-minute contest feel riveting and fast-paced. The audience was captivated throughout, watching two top-tier performers at their peak. This match exemplifies why thoughtful storytelling and technical execution make The Devil vs The God of Pro Wrestling my match of the week.

​Both competitors’ entrances captured the personas they built over the feud. Omega entered as an angel from above, while MJF rose darkly from below. This match had everything needed for a big-time main event, and both men delivered. To perform as they did, pacing was crucial; the balance between action, brutality, and big spots was perfect.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR AN AWESOME SLOW MOTION AVALANCHE ONE-WINGED ANGEL

​There was never a lull, and the wrestling remained sharp throughout. Every second built toward the climax, especially when Omega landed a stunning Avalanche One Winged Angel on MJF — twice, the second with the referee down. Neither was the finish many hoped for; instead, the title stayed with the Devil.

​After 37 minutes of perfect pacing, the end came suddenly. Omega wanted to avoid blaming his diverticulitis, but an MJF punch to his already injured lower abdomen turned the tide. MJF drove Omega through a table, then finished with a Heat Seeker to retain the title. This win adds to MJF’s impressive list of victories, especially during his two AEW title runs.

​Nobody makes you believe that they have endured a challenging contest quite like MJF. It's become tradition that MJF, appearing exhausted and worn, has to be helped out of the ring and up the ramp just to make it out. In victories, he conveys that his opponent pushed him to his absolute limits. It's a subtle detail and an essential touch that wrapped up this phenomenal match nicely.

​One major reason I love professional wrestling so much is the dichotomy between what we see in the ring and what is really going on between the competitors. When MJF pinned Omega, you could see Maxwell leaning over to Omega to tell him something in the ear. What he whispered in Omega’s ear, we might never know; however, my guess is, “thank you.” Omega putting over MJF, especially after kicking out of a long-counted One Winged Angel, is not a small task to do, and one that should not be taken lightly. That moment showed MJF’s appreciation, even if he tried to hide it, and offered a rare glimpse of vulnerability, in someone who is in-character 24/7.

​Although about 15 seconds passed between Omega’s OWA and the ref’s count, it will be remembered as the first time anyone kicked out of the move (which is usually protected) in AEW. Omega must really respect MJF for that to have happened. Kayfabe is a beautiful thing. Omega vs MJF is proof enough that two professionals can suspend all disbelief and make us all think they absolutely hate each other. AEW keeps making me fall in love with pro wrestling, week in and week out, mostly because of matches like this.

The fallout from this match might be short-lived. It is rumored that Darby Allin might dethrone MJF on Dynamite. However, for me, this match will always live rent-free in my mind. On this night, MJF proved he belonged in the same conversation as one of the best in the world. Regardless of what happens in the future, he is one of the most important champions in AEW history.

​As for Omega, the next chapter of his career has started. He is the gatekeeper now. Like Moxley and Jericho, he will be in charge of building and putting over the young talent. While I believe he still has one last title run in him, this might have been his finest hour, despite the loss, in an AEW ring. 

Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada

"There's always someone younger and hungrier coming down the stairs after you..."

by Lauren.

Konosuke Takeshita is finally done with Kazuchika Okada's shit.

Since Okada joined the Don Callis Family in June of 2025, the tension has been present. Takeshita was the rock upon which Don Callis built his family, the very first member, back in May of 2023. Takeshita was not quite new to AEW anymore at that point, having spent most of 2022 building his name. Okada joined in June of 2025, abandoning his friends in The Elite in favor of the larger, meaner faction. Since then, the tension has been slow-simmering, but present.

Kyle Fletcher, another of Don Callis’ golden boys, formed a close friendship with Takeshita during their time working together. They have referred to each other as husbands, started using their ship name (“Protoshita”) as their tag name, and even their real-life romantic partners have teasingly played along, declaring rivalries in the name of their partners’ affections.

Okada, having made it his personal mission to bully Takeshita whenever possible, became a rival for Kyle's affections, even declaring “Protokada” the superior tag team and friendship. Takeshita tried his best to brush this all off and remain professional. But with Kyle unfortunately injured, Callis declared that Okada and Takeshita would fight the Young Bucks at AEW Dynasty in the name of Kyle Fletcher.

That name alone, no matter how many times Callis screamed it in an effort to placate them, was not enough. Without Kyle physically there, Takeshita had no more reason to continue to play nice with the man who constantly disrespected him at every turn.

Okada was in fine form at Dynasty, trolling the Young Bucks and Takeshita in equal measure. But of course, the usual mistakes that come with a disconnection between tag teams happened. Takeshita's flying knee hit Okada instead of a Buck, and Okada upped his trolling game in response, flipping off Takeshita and laughing in his face on several occasions. And when the time came that Takeshita could have stopped the Bucks, he just… let go. Literally, letting go of Matt Jackson's leg, raising his arms in a gesture of abdication and stepping away, heading back up the ramp as Okada was pinned. The look on Takeshita's face as he turned back and watched was more than slightly unhinged, the look of a man who has just realized that he can do what he wants instead of what he's been ordered to do.

The entire affair between Okada and Takeshita has shades of Gina Gershon and Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls, with Okada as the experienced bitch needling the younger protégé, who snaps and seizes the opportunity to destroy their rival and take the spotlight. The comparison isn't totally apt, of course, but it's one I have not been able to stop thinking about. Unlike Gershon's Cristal Connors, Okada doesn't seem apt to step aside and acknowledge defeat. And unlike Berkley’s Nomi Malone, Takeshita will most likely not skip town and start over. The next chapter of their story is going to end in another confrontation, and only one man can be the Alpha Bitch of the men's division.

Kazuchika Troll-Kada

"Fuck yo gear..."

by Sergei.

If you follow AEW at all, the above moment probably doesn't need much explanation. But just for the sake of anybody out there who may not know the lore, I'll summarize. Kazuchika Okada came to AEW two years ago as a massive free-agent signing. But before that he had been the biggest star and legend of his era of the New Japan promotion. And as you may know, the tradition in Japanese wrestling, especially NJPW, is to send young wrestlers on something called "excursion" – a short-term developmental run with an overseas promotion. In 2010, Okada was sent on excursion to the US, specifically to… TNA. If you know TNA, you will not be surprised to learn that this trip was something of a letdown. (Actually it was MUCH worse than you might guess: they literally had him dressing like the Green Hornet's sidekick Kato. Yeah, for real.) HOWEVER, Okada did make an important connection while in the US, being befriended by an equally disaffected young tag team known to TNA fans as Generation Me (and to everyone else ever as the Young Bucks.) In addition to feeling underutilized by the promotion, another thing the three young men had in common was a quirky sense of humor. One joke that Okada would play on his new friends was to put on their gear and do their poses anytime he got the chance, milking the incongruousness of a foot-taller Japanese man as the third Buck.

Fast-forward to this past Sunday and Okada putting on his former friends and current opponents' gear and going to their corner and reaching out to Matt for the tag. Troll of the year!

Darby Allin

“I need this. I need this more than anyone can ever imagine…”

by Abel.

This was a lot harder to determine than the match of the week was. There were several AEW talents this week who could have been named our MVP. The obvious choice was MJF. He beat a “healthy” Kenny Omega and retained the AEW World Championship. Jon Moxley was able to fend off Will Ospreay, who was looking to maim the leader of the Death Riders. Even Thekla, who has been as consistent as anyone else on the roster, had a great shot this week. However, the narrative and direction from Dynasty centered around one individual who, if the reporting and prognostications are correct, might be the new World Champion by the end of Dynamite. After defeating Andrade in a match of the night contender and officially locking in his AEW World Championship match only three days after the PPV, Darby Allin is your MVP of the week.

“I need this. I need this more than anyone can ever imagine.”

Darby laid down all his cards on the Dynamite before Dynasty, revealing his true feelings about the world title in an emotional promo. He admitted that his earlier claims about not caring were false —he actually cared deeply, stating that without an AEW World Championship win, all his past sacrifices in brutal matches would be for nothing. That night marked his finest out-of-ring moment, delivering the best promo of his young career.

​Allin’s match against Andrade at Dynasty was a showcase of the type of match he can have as champion. Not that he hasn't had these types of matches before, but there was something different about his composure in the match. The effort and grind he put into winning the match are qualities that can be highlighted during a potential AEW World Championship run. However, that same grind can cut his reign short. I can see the story being about Darby wanting to defend the title on every show, burning himself out, and ultimately losing it. That can already frame his second title run.

​The handshake from Andrade was the crowning-before-the-crowning for Allin. Andrade already had his reservations about fighting Allin, and after the match, those premonitions came true. Even after being pinned with a Last Supper, Andrade saw that Allin is the real deal. His post-match interview with Renee Paquette made all of this real. He let Omega and MJF know that he would be watching and was ready to face whoever won. Instead of peering from the rafters with Sting, Allin was an omnipresent presence over the ring, watching the world title match.

​The stage is set for Allin's first one-on-one AEW World Championship challenge on Dynamite. His closest previous attempt was the 2023 four-way match featuring the 'four pillars.' Now, this represents his clearest title shot yet. While I’m not predicting a win, based on Dynasty’s presentation, this may be his best opportunity.

​Regardless of the outcome at Spring BreakThru tonight, Allin being made the focus of the company after the champion retained signals Tony Khan's belief that Darby is ready for the spotlight. Darby will be a very capable (yet divisive) champion, but what I really like about All Elite Wrestling is that they don't hold talents' hands. If they think you're ready for a shot on the main card, they will let you either sink or swim. Tonight, we find out if Darby can swim.