5 potential surprises for AEW Dynamite this week

The upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite will further build upon the ongoing storylines for the Forbidden Door pay-per-view. Several exciting matchups have been announced for the show, with MJF, Orange Cassidy, and Kazuchika Okada set to be in action this week.

While The Rainmaker will compete in a Continental Title Eliminator match against a mystery opponent, The Young Bucks will battle The Acclaimed in a Tag Team Titles Eliminator contest.

Moreover, Orange Cassidy, Kyle O'Reilly, Mark Briscoe, and Dante Martin will take on the quartet of Roderick Strong, Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, and Zack Sabre Jr. The show will also witness a grudge match between MJF and Rush, who have been involved in an intense rivalry of late.

With so many exciting matches set to take place on the show, fans could expect many interesting developments to take place. In this article, let's look at five surprises that could happen on this week's AEW Dynamite.

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#5. Ricky Starks could battle Kazuchika Okada on Dynamite

As announced by Christopher Daniels, Kazuchika Okada will battle an unannounced opponent this week in a Continental Title Eliminator match. If the surprise challenger manages to defeat The Rainmaker in this contest, he will receive a guaranteed shot at Okada's title.

After sitting on the sidelines for months, Ricky Starks could return to AEW this week to enter the AEW Continental Championship picture. With Big Bill no longer in his corner, The Absolute One could return to his babyface roots by stepping up to Kazuchika Okada.

Irrespective of the result, a match against the leader of AEW's most dominant faction will significantly benefit Starks' credibility. Putting down a fan-favorite Stroke Daddy will also create intrigue around Okada's Continental Championship, which has recently appeared as an afterthought.

#4. Rush defeats MJF in a high-stakes encounter

MJF is currently embroiled in a fierce rivalry with Rush on AEW Dynamite. The Wolf of Wrestling will look to put down his Mexican nemesis when the two stars square off this Wednesday.

While fans expect MJF to prevail over the Toro Blanco, Tony Khan could pull a major swerve by handing Rush the win in this contest. A victory over The Salt of the Earth will greatly benefit the 35-year-old star, who is yet to break out as a singles performer.

The feud between MJF and Rush has been a hit so far. The Mexican luchador has helped bring out the ruthless side of MJF, which fans had not seen for a long time.

Considering the positive reactions to this storyline, it won't be surprising if Rush picks up the victory this Wednesday, to further extend his rivalry with the former AEW World Champion.

#3. Kyle O'Reilly finally joins The Undisputed Kingdom

Since his grand return, Kyle O'Reilly has gone through many ups and downs. Despite his show-stealing performances, The Violent Artist has fallen short in many important matches.

On the upcoming episode of Dynamite, O'Reilly will feature in an intense Eight-Man Tag Team match. The former NXT star will team up with Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, and Dante Martin to square off against Roderick Strong, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Zack Sabre Jr.

If the babyfaces fail to defeat their star-studded opposition, we may witness Kyle O'Reilly finally snap out of his good-guy persona. Roderick Strong has been adamant about recruiting O'Reilly into The Undisputed Kingdom ever since the latter returned to All Elite Wrestling.

Although The Violent Artist has constantly rejected Strong's proposal, a loss on Wednesday could make him finally change his allegiance.

#2. Tetsuya Naito confronts Jon Moxley on AEW Dynamite

Jon Moxley will look to write the final chapter of his rivalry with Tetsuya Naito when the two stars battle each other at the upcoming AEW X NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view.

On the latest episode of Collision, The Purveyor of Violence made a strong statement about his upcoming IWGP World Heavyweight Championship defense. Moxley vowed to end Naito's career at Forbidden Door, finishing off the Japanese legend once and for all.

Tetsuya Naito could show up at the upcoming Dynamite episode to further heat his rivalry with The Death Rider. The Red Comet could confront Moxley for talking trash about him behind his back.

Naito appearing on Dynamite will surely unsettle the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, who has looked invincible in all of his title defenses so far.

#1. The Young Bucks reveal Hangman Adam Page as the fifth member of The Elite for Blood and Guts

On the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, The Young Bucks laid out a challenge to Team AEW for a Blood & Guts match. After a dominant victory at Double or Nothing, the tyrant faction will look to further strengthen their hold over AEW inside the double-caged structure.

In a shocking turn of events, The Young Bucks could deal a blow to their opponents by reinstating Hangman Adam Page into The Elite this week. The Anxious Millenial Cowboy has been away from television since March 2024, with his last appearance coming at AEW Revolution.

With Swerve Strickland seemingly allying with Team AEW, it would be a masterstroke on The Bucks' part to recruit Hangman Page for their match at Blood & Guts.

The heel version of Hangman Page would be a refreshing sight for the fans, who had always looked at him as a sympathetic babyface. Moreover, it will help unlock the ruthless side of The Cowboy, which could significantly increase The Elite's chances of winning inside the deadly structure.