This week’s AEW Dynamite took place in Ontario, California, and was met with positive reviews from fans. All Elite Wrestling is gearing up for the 2026 Grand Slam event in Australia, scheduled to take place on February 14th at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
The latest episode of Dynamite set the stage for the upcoming event in Australia, with Tony Khan at the helm. However, there were a few booking decisions that may have raised some eyebrows among fans. Let’s take a closer look at three major mistakes Tony Khan made on AEW Dynamite, as well as two things he got right.
Mistake #1: AEW Women’s Title Change
The showdown between Kris Statlander and Thekla for the women’s title ended with Thekla claiming the championship. While fans were happy to see Thekla as the new champion, some felt that Statlander’s reign was cut short. Keeping Statlander as champion for a longer period could have been a better decision.
Mistake #2: TNT Title Change
Tommaso Ciampa’s quick loss of the TNT Championship to Kyle Fletcher may have been a misstep. Ciampa’s debut and title win were highly anticipated, and some fans believe that he should have been booked more strongly before dropping the title.
Mistake #3: Booking Fletcher vs. Briscoe Again
The decision to have Kyle Fletcher defend the TNT Championship against Mark Briscoe in a ladder match at Grand Slam Australia may have been repetitive. While their matches have been entertaining, fans were hoping for a fresh challenger for Fletcher’s title.
Got it Right #1: Cutting Mina Shirakawa’s Hair
The mixed tornado tag team match between Orange Cassidy, Toni Storm, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir added an intriguing stipulation. Yuta and Shafir cutting Mina Shirakawa’s hair was a shocking moment that added depth to the storyline and kept fans engaged.
Got it Right #2: Bringing Back Private Party
Private Party’s return to AEW after a long absence was a welcome sight for fans. While they didn’t win the #1 contenders match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, their performance was impressive. Tony Khan’s decision to bring back Private Party showcases his commitment to showcasing talented teams on the roster.
In conclusion, while Tony Khan may have made some booking mistakes on AEW Dynamite, there were also aspects of the show that he got right. As AEW continues to build towards the 2026 Grand Slam event in Australia, it will be interesting to see how these storylines develop and how Khan navigates future challenges.
