Tonight’s AEW Dynamite opened up with a lengthy title challenge as Orange Cassidy retained the AEW International Championship against Claudio Castagnoli. Following their bout, Castagnoli’s Blackpool Combat Club stablemate Jon Moxley made his way to the ring, staring Cassidy down. Despite being outnumbered two-to-one and just finishing a long match, Cassidy charged into the ring after Moxley. As expected, Moxley laid a beatdown on the champion, taking out several security officials in the process with Castagnoli’s assistance. Shortly after the assault, Moxley appeared backstage and laid out a challenge against Cassidy for the International Championship at AEW Full Gear later this month.
While Cassidy has yet to accept the challenge, it’s clear both men are eager to get their hands on one another. The rivalry between the two dates back to August, with Cassidy, the Best Friends, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Eddie Kingston facing the Blackpool Combat Club in a Stadium Stampede match at AEW All In. Just a week later, Moxley defeated Cassidy at AEW All Out for the International Championship, bringing Cassidy’s 326-day title reign to an end.
After the match against Cassidy, Moxley successfully defended the title several times before facing Rey Fenix at AEW Grand Slam. Early into the bout, Moxley suffered a concussion but continued to the end. Though the plan was for Moxley to retain, an audible was called and Fenix captured the title. In the weeks since, Fenix dropped the title back to Cassidy and Moxley has been able to pass concussion protocols to make his return well in time for the upcoming PPV.