PHOENIX PRO WRESTLING REPORT | THE MORNING BELL

Thursday, October 22, 2026 | By David Laguerre

Ilja Dragunov left his first AEW match with a win. Around him, Dynamite’s alliances were falling apart. Wednesday’s show gave fans a strong debut, a betrayal and a clear path toward bigger matches. Tonight, TNA turns to a championship grudge match with room for more than one finish. For all the latest updates, check out the AEW Dynamite results.

Spoiler warning: Results below cover the completed October 21 episode of AEW Dynamite. Reporting checked at 7:34 a.m. Eastern on October 22. Future matches are previews, not results. Phoenix analysis is opinion, and wrestling rivalries and attacks described here are on-screen stories.

Dynamite quick results: October 21

From the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, AEW’s official recap confirms:

• Mark Davis and Jake Doyle defeated the Young Bucks in a World Tag Team Championship eliminator.
• Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight defeated Will Ospreay and Adam Copeland.
• Swerve Strickland defeated Tome Filip.
• Jay White and Orange Cassidy defeated Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia.
• Jon Moxley defeated Roderick Strong in a Continental Championship eliminator.
• Queen Aminata defeated Maya World to become the TBS Championship’s No. 1 contender.
• Ilja Dragunov defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey.

Important distinction: The eliminators were not title matches. Davis and Doyle earned a future championship opportunity; they did not take the Bucks’ belts.

Dragunov’s debut gives AEW a clear first impression

Bailey’s missed kick into the steel steps gave Dragunov a target. He kept attacking the leg, and that damage mattered when Bailey tried to climb and launch another attack. A powerbomb and the closing D-Bomb sequence put Bailey away, according to TJR Wrestling’s October 21 match account.

Phoenix analysis: A debut works best when it shows a wrestler’s identity. This match gave new viewers a simple reason to understand Dragunov: he can absorb punishment, find a weakness and keep pressing it. Bailey’s offense made the win feel earned rather than handed over.

The next step should be a rivalry with a purpose. Another good match would help, but an opponent with a reason to challenge him would give the audience more to follow. One victory establishes a starting point. It should not be treated as a promise of an immediate title run.

Callis gets his wins, and Borden returns to fight

Kazuchika Okada’s belt came into play before Fletcher pinned Copeland. The Don Callis Family kept attacking afterward, until Darby Allin, the returning Steven Borden and Nick Jackson helped drive them away. Borden then called for Blood and Guts. PWInsider’s October 21 report records the interference and rescue.

Blood and Guts is scheduled for November 4 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Phoenix analysis: The segment gave several wrestlers a shared reason to fight Callis’ group. That is useful groundwork for a large team match. The challenge now is keeping the personal disputes clear when so many people share the ring.

Davis and Doyle’s earlier win also matters. Beating the champions should carry weight beyond one night of celebration. A convincing follow-up would make the eventual title match feel dangerous for the Bucks, rather than like a delay before the champions get even.

Jay White changes the night’s meaning

White helped Cassidy win a tag match, then attacked him later. The Bang Bang Gang joined the Dogs in taking down members of the Death Riders and Conglomeration after Moxley’s win over Strong. Gerweck’s October 21 recap documents the turn and the new alignment.

Phoenix analysis: Betrayal lands harder when the audience has just seen the partnership work. Cassidy’s earlier victory now becomes part of the setup for White’s attack. The important follow-up is motivation: why this alliance, and why now?

That question deserves television time. A crowded faction fight can create excitement quickly, but viewers need a clear reason to care about the next confrontation. A direct explanation from White would help more than another long brawl.

Aminata has a destination; Shafir has a confrontation

Aminata’s victory gives her a TBS title match against Persephone at Fright Night Dynamite on October 28. Marina Shafir also confronted Women’s World Champion Mercedes Moné. Those are different developments: one is an announced championship match, while the other is an on-screen challenge. AEW confirms both developments.

Phoenix analysis: A contender’s win gives a title program a clear starting point. The promotion can now spend the next week explaining how Aminata plans to beat the champion. Shafir’s confrontation needs its own follow-through before it becomes a match fans can put on the calendar.

Tonight’s TNA: Hotch and Ali need two falls

Jason Hotch defends the International Championship against former Order 4 leader Mustafa Ali in a two-out-of-three-falls match on tonight’s October 22 episode from Dothan, Alabama. TNA’s preview, published October 21, also advertises:

• Rich Swann, KC Navarro, Cedric Alexander and Fabian Aichner in a four-way for an X-Division title opportunity.
• Daria Rae opening the show after her suspension.
• Avery Styles’ first singles match, against Joe Alonzo, with Frankie Kazarian at ringside.
• Allie and Kiera Hogan addressing the Knockouts division after losing the tag titles.

Phoenix pick: Hotch–Ali is tonight’s match to watch. The format gives them room to change tactics after the first fall. The most satisfying version would make each fall matter, rather than using the stipulation only to stretch the rivalry. This is an editorial viewing recommendation, not a predicted result.

U.S. viewing time: 9 p.m. Eastern on AMC. AMC’s dated October schedule lists that slot for October 22. Check your provider’s listing for regional differences.

Friday’s SmackDown puts two titles on the line

WWE’s official October 23 preview lists Chelsea Green defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Roxanne Perez. Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley defend the Women’s Tag Team Championship against Michin and B-Fab.

Giulia and Blake Monroe are scheduled for a Street Fight. The MFTs, backed by Haku, meet Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki’s Bakusai in a non-title match. SmackDown airs Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern on USA.

Phoenix analysis: The distinction between title and non-title matches is worth keeping straight. Green’s defense has an immediate consequence for the championship picture. The MFTs’ match can build a future challenge, but their belts are not advertised as being at stake. For casual viewers, those clear stakes make a busy card easier to follow.

The Phoenix verdict

Dragunov’s debut is the first match to catch up on. White’s betrayal is the development with the biggest questions still attached. Both give AEW something useful to build on, provided the next chapter adds direction.

For tonight, the two-out-of-three-falls title match gets our viewing pick. For Friday, the two women’s championship defenses lead the schedule. All announced cards remain subject to change.

Reader’s corner: Who should test Dragunov next? Did White’s turn strengthen the faction story, or make it harder to follow? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Reporting note: Official promotion pages establish results and announced cards; the linked independent recaps provide additional match detail. This edition does not treat backstage speculation, unannounced matches or future outcomes as confirmed news.