Top babyface written off TV, Female ex-WWE star to join The Elite? - 4 Things AEW subtly told us on Dynamite this week

AEW presented the Beach Break edition of its flagship show, Dynamite, on July 3, 2024, from Chicago, Illinois. The episode, which chiefly dealt with the fallout from the third iteration of Forbidden Door, witnessed multiple blockbuster returns, a shocking heel turn and several top-tier matches.

As the Tony Khan-led promotion continues to produce its programming en route to Blood and Guts later this month and this year's edition of All In on August 25, 2024, several interesting developments took place on the latest episode of the Wednesday-night show. Let us take a look at four things AEW subtly told us on Dynamite: Beach Break.

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#1: Mercedes Mone could join forces with The Elite

Mercedes Mone claimed a massive victory over NJPW Strong Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer at Forbidden Door 2024 - a win which made her a double champion as she already holds the AEW TBS Championship. The CEO would be confronted by a returning Britt Baker at the pay-per-view, and shortly afterwards, Tony Khan announced that The DMD would return to Dynamite on July 3, 2024.

Baker delivered a heartfelt and passionate promo to the crowd in the Wintrust Arena before firing several shots at Mone. The Boss, however, soon made her arrival to the arena, and was greeted outside by The Young Bucks. The EVPs congratulated Mone for her championship victory this past Sunday, and directed her to head to the ring for her scheduled double championship celebration.

The unexpected rapport between Mercedes and The Jackson Brothers points to the possibility of an alliance between Mone and The Elite. Given that the former IWGP Women's Champion is already receiving heel reactions from live crowds, it remains to be seen if Mone will solidify her turn to the dark side by siding with The Elite.

#2: Don Callis is not finished with Will Ospreay

During a backstage discussion with Don Callis, International Champion Will Ospreay took accountability for his loss to AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door 2024, recalling his inability to hit The New Flavor with the Tiger Driver 91 and use Callis' signature screw-driver to his advantage while the referee was incapacitated.

The Aerial Assassin thanked Callis for his contributions to his career, but revealed his desire to leave The Don Callis Family, citing his transformation as a performer (and implicitly, as a character) over the past year. Despite seeming reluctant, The Invisible Hand accepted Ospreay's request to leave his faction.

However, Callis also suggested that he was doing The Commonwealth Kingpin a favor by letting him leave The Family, and stated that someday, he might ask Ospreay to return said favor. The interaction suggests the possibility that Callis may not yet be done with Will Ospreay, especially considering the villainous manager's history of betraying and hounding his past associates.

#3: Hangman Page could still be working with The Elite

Hangman Adam Page made a triumphant return to action on Dynamite: Beach Break as The Elite's hand-picked wild card participant for the 2024 Owen Hart Tournament, defeating Jeff Jarrett in a quarterfinal bout after a vicious battle. The Anxious Millennial Cowboy would later be approached by The Young Bucks backstage. Matthew Jackson invited Page to join The Elite's team for their upcoming Blood and Guts match.

Unfortunately for The Jacksons, their former trios partner rejected their request of representing The Elite, revealing that his sole focus lay in winning the Owen Hart Cup. While Hangman's decision makes sense in light of his obsession with current AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, the possibility of Page continuing his alliance with The Elite in secret cannot entirely be dismissed.

Sometime ago, Strickland turned down the heel faction's offer to be their fifth member for Blood and Guts 2024. If Swerve opposes The Elite by joining Team AEW for the inevitably-violent matchup, Hangman could very well reunite with his old stable-mates to take the fight to his nemesis.

Winning the Owen Hart Cup does not have to stand in the way of Page participating in Blood and Guts - as a matter of fact, should he win the tournament, the former AEW World Champion could soften up Swerve in the brutal steel structure ahead of their bout at Wembley Stadium, which could then see Page reclaiming the world title and fulfilling The Elite's quest to hold all the gold.

#4: Daniel Garcia is being written off of AEW TV for some time

Despite putting on an undeniably valiant performance, Daniel Garcia fell short of his goal of winning the AEW International Championship as he was defeated by Will Ospreay on Dynamite: Beach Break. The Red Death was down for the count courtesy of a Hidden Blade to the face, which he suffered due to the distraction caused while returning MJF's Dynamite Diamond Ring, which The Wolf of Wrestling had handed to Garcia to use illegally.

After the bout, Friedman feigned support for Garcia before unexpectedly delivering a low-blow on the former ROH Pure Champion. He proceeded to batter Garcia with his ring and even delivered an avalanche tombstone piledriver on the latter from the second rope. He continued to assault Garcia until Will Ospreay returned to make the save.

MJF and Will Ospreay stare down on Dynamite (Credit: AEW website)

Garcia would be carried out of the arena by officials on a stretcher, and it may be reasonably assumed that the former JAS member will be absent from AEW programming for some time. Although fans may be surprised by the reigning PWG World Champion being written off of television - considering his recent spurt in popularity and regular in-ring appearances - Garcia will hopefully return to AEW to continue his feud with Friedman as a much bigger star.

It remains to be seen how AEW advances its top storylines on the road to All In 2024.