AEW Dynamite (6/22) Preview: Bryan Danielson Returns As AEW And NJPW Get Ready For Forbidden Door

It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means!

With 96 hours to go until AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, the stars of All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling look to make a statement ahead of this first crossover event. Beyond that, Blood & Guts will take place next week and AEW stars have their own vendettas to deal with beyond interpromotional warfare. 

Here’s everything you need to know before tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TBS! 

Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi Team Up Before They Go To Battle Against One Another

This Sunday, Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi will go one-on-one to determine the interim AEW World Champion. Tonight, however, they will be on the same side of a tag team match against Chris Jericho and Lance Archer. Jericho and Archer will be a team this Sunday and with all of the bad blood between all four of these men from days gone by, this star-studded tag team match is sure to be explosive. 

Who will manage to get the upper hand going into Forbidden Door? Will Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi get along long enough to make sure that they win tonight and keep each other healthy before the title match on Sunday? Will any members of the Jericho Appreciation Society be on hand to try to make sure that Jon Moxley is injured 7 days before they are all set to go to war in Blood & Guts?

These are all questions that will be answered by the end of tonight.

The Dragon Is Back!

Bryan Danielson returns for the first time since AEW Double or Nothing and he will address his status for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door as well as Blood & Guts next week. Should he be healthy enough to compete, Danielson has a natural reason to compete inside the cage next week, Chris Jericho and Jake Hager injured Danielson nearly a month ago in Anarchy in the Arena and he has not been seen since.

As for Forbidden Door, Danielson has already been challenged by Zack Sabre Jr. to a match at the event. Bryan Danielson has wanted to test his skills against many in NJPW and tonight, we will find out if he’s healthy enough to get back into the ring and do so.

Buddy Matthews And Penta Oscuro Go One-On-One

In the latest qualifier for AEW’s All-Atlantic Championship Match at Forbidden Door, Penta Oscuro faces Malakai Black. Black is the reason that Penta embraced his dark side to begin with, taking on the new name after being sprayed in the face with Black’s mist.

The latest chapter in the feud between Death Triangle and the House of Black has added stakes with the winner going on to potentially become the inaugural All-Atlantic Champion. Penta has not been a major singles champion in the United States since he was IMPACT World Champion and Black not been a champion since his days in NXT. Both men look to turn their fortunes around tonight.

Christian Cage To Explain His Actions

Last week, after Jurassic Express lost the AEW World Tag Team Championship to The Young Bucks, Christian Cage turned on his protege, Jungle Boy. Tonight, after his first heel turn in nearly a decade, Christian Cage will explain his actions.

The United Empire vs. CHAOS On US Soil

Tonight, Will Ospreay continues his tour of AEW as he teams with Aussie Open against Orange Cassidy and Roppongi Vice. This Sunday, Cassidy and Ospreay go one-on-one in a unique encounter for the IWGP United States Championship but tonight, Milwaukee will be treated to a rare bout of two New Japan factions meeting in the United States. 

Toni’s Got A Problem

Just days before she faces Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women’s World Championship, Toni Storm will face Marina Shafir. Storm looks to make a statement while Marina looks to keep her name in title contention. 

That’s everything that is announced for tonight. In addition, The Young Bucks have yet to address their victory on television, FTR is not formally announced for tonight’s card but will have a big double title match on Sunday.

Jay White is also scheduled to defend his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on Sunday, but he has not revealed against who just yet. Switchblade did confirm that it would not be against Adam Cole or Hangman Page, so those two individuals are likely to respond tonight.

Tonight’s episode of Dynamite is sure to be explosive.

Here is the current lineup for tonight’s AEW Dynamite:

AEW Dynamite (6/22)

• All-Atlantic Championship Qualifying Match: Penta Oscuro vs. Malakai Black
• The United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & Will Ospreay) vs. Orange Cassidy & Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero)
• Jon Moxley & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho & Lance Archer
• Bryan Danielson set to appear live and address AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door as well as Blood & Guts
• Christian Cage to speak
• Toni Storm vs. Marina Shafir

Fightful has live coverage of AEW Dynamite every Wednesday night as it airs on TBS. We will also have a podcast breaking down all the action after the show goes off the air on our YouTube channel.