Eddie Kingston Triumphs Over Claudio Castagnoli In the highly anticipated Grand Slam event which bore the hallmarks of a pay-per-view extravaganza, the audience witnessed exhilarating matches.
Prior to the duel, Claudio Castagnoli, caught in a moment of fervent preparation, inadvertently struck Wheeler Yuta excessively hard. The commentator Excalibur stressed the significance of this Title vs. Title clash, cheekily suggesting that it typified what AEW epitomized.
Despite the formidable opposition, Eddie Kingston emerged as the beloved champion in New York, cheered immensely by the home crowd. Winning the ROH Championship in the inaugural match offered a delightful start, albeit somewhat diluted given the prevalent championship holdings in the AEW roster.
Match Grade: B+
Chris Jericho Overpowers Sammy Guevara Drawing inspiration from Chris Jericho’s iconic light-up jacket from WWE, Sammy Guevara made a striking entrance, with Monteasy performing his theme music live, resonating with the New York audience with his attire reflecting a nod to a historic Jericho bout. Despite a small misstep in executing a dropkick, the climax was reached with a spectacular combination of a shooting star into a Codebreaker. The aftermath echoed a memorable WrestleMania 20 moment, with a cunning betrayal as Guevara attacked Jericho post-hug.
Match Grade: B–
Rey Fenix Emerges Victorious Against Jon Moxley An enthralling contest saw Rey Fenix challenging Jon Moxley for the prestigious AEW International Championship — a title holding substantial weight in AEW. The combatants showcased intense rivalry with Moxley disregarding a high-flying move to deliver a potent punch. Despite a minor hiccup from the referee, Fenix managed to secure a surprise victory with a piledriver finish, leaving the audience and Dave Meltzer appreciative of the risky performance put on by Moxley.
Match Grade: B+
Saraya Secures the Win Against Toni Storm The iconic arena resonated with new theme music, marking Toni Storm’s entrancing Old Hollywood metamorphosis. In spite of portraying a heel character recently, Storm received massive support from the New York audience, forcing a change in narrative dynamics with Saraya and Ruby Soho capitalizing on a numerical advantage. The match featured unconventional tactics including the use of shoes and a daring kiss, but Saraya emerged victorious, setting the stage for a potentially significant future title pursuit for Storm.
Match Grade: A
MJF Prevails Over Samoa Joe With drama unfolding even before the match, as Adam Cole, planned corner man for Samoa Joe received an urgent call, the stage was set for a conflict teeming with emotion and intensity. MJF made a mocking entrance, taunting a young fan and leading to a boisterous reaction from the crowd. Throughout the match, MJF and Samoa Joe displayed unparalleled brutality, targeting vulnerable points with unyielding ferocity. In a frantic finish fraught with deceit, MJF managed to choke Samoa Joe to submission, with Adam Cole abetting behind the scenes, yet ending in a show of respect with a handshake, culminating a breathtaking match.
Match Grade: B+
