AEW Dynamite Tribute To PAC: Every Match Recapped

AEW headed to the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 30, 2026 for the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, which served as the emotional, stirring, and difficult “Tribute To PAC” show. The tragic loss of Benjamin Satterley has plunged the professional wrestling world into deep mourning, with tributes pouring out from friends, colleagues, and more. On Dynamite, AEW put forth a fitting tribute show full of beautiful moments, heartbreaking memories, incredible wrestling, and more.

Taking a break from the usual match reviews for this week, we will instead take a look over every match on the AEW Dynamite card, recapping some of the key moments and significance of them.

5

Jon Moxley Vs. Orange Cassidy (AEW Continental Championship)

• Moxley vs. PAC was one of AEW’s first rivalries.
• Cassidy is arguably PAC’s greatest singles rival in AEW.
• Moxley & Cassidy have a rich history with one another.

The opening match of AEW Dynamite this week featured two long-time rivals in Jon Moxley & Orange Cassidy, whose past has seen them wrestle for both the International & AEW World Championships, and has now seen them wrestle for the Continental Title too. In the early days of AEW, one of PAC’s first feuds came against Jon Moxley, before the pair eventually joined forces as part of The Death Riders. In the case of Cassidy, his first singles match in AEW was against PAC, which came in an infamously enjoyable matchup at Revolution 2020, before the pair would meet several more times over the years.

Both men were visibly emotional as the bell rang, before engaging in a clash that showcased their natural chemistry, fired up the audience, and featured some fitting tributes. For instance, callbacks were made to Cassidy’s match with PAC, with Cassidy rolling away from Moxley throughout the contest in order to frustrate his opponent, before Moxley eventually joined in on some Cassidy-esque shenanigans, before shutting them down like PAC did. Moxley dominated much of the match, but Cassidy worked hard from below to nearly pull off a surprise win. After both men failed to properly lock in PAC’s Brutalizer, Moxley hit a Stomp and Death Rider to retain his old in the perfect show-opener.

4

The Elite Vs. The Don Callis Family

• The Elite have a rich history with PAC.
• Adam Page was PAC’s first rival in AEW.
• Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks had several classics with PAC.

For the first time since Blood & Guts 2023 (which so happened to be against a team including PAC), The Elite officially reunited to take on the Don Callis Family. Four men with so much history with PAC were clearly emotionally rocked, fighting through to put on a show. This bout featured all of The Elite’s usual flurries, multi-man moves, and crowd-popping moments, making this a very fun affair.

After The Don Callis Family slowed the action down for a period of time, each member of The Elite got their chance for a hot tag, running wild in the latter stages to take down the heels. Although this night was not so much about storytelling, AEW called back to the recent feud between Kenny Omega & Kevin Knight, which was a nice touch. In the end, Trent Beretta fell victim to a Buckshot Lariat/V-Trigger combination, a BTE Trigger, and a One Winged Angel to lose the match.

3

Will Ospreay Vs. Ricochet

• Ricochet & PAC are long-time friends and opponents.
• Ospreay & PAC had a classic AEW match.
• Both Ospreay & Ricochet are examples of the style that PAC helped to make prominent.

PAC’s in-ring influence stretches far and wide, and these two men whose styles encapsulate all the high-flying excellence that PAC brought to the table, and they tore the house down.

During this contest, Ospreay & Ricochet paid tribute to PAC in so many ways, seamlessly and flawlessly incorporated many of his moves in this matchup, including a Shooting Star Pele Kick, belly-to-belly into the barricade, a spike DDT sell from Ricochet in the style of PAC, rebound suplexes, landing after a poisonrana from the top rope (a callback to Ospreay vs. PAC at All Out 2024), a Phoenix Splash from the second rope, a Blue Thunder Bomb reversal in a callback to PAC’s classic with Sami Zayn, a backslide driver, and a Black Arrow from Ospreay, to name but a few. These two men were the perfect pairing to pull off this type of match, and they did so expertly.

2

Marina Shafir, Hyan & Thunder Rosa Vs. Mercedes Mone, Persephone & Britt Baker

• Marina Shafir & Mercedes Mone were added to this scheduled tag match.
• Shafir had close bonds with PAC in The Death Riders.
• She wrestled on the babyface team on AEW Dynamite.

Much like every other member of The Death Riders, Marina Shafir got her chance to wrestle on PAC’s tribute show, teaming with Hyan & Thunder Rosa against the trio of Mercedes Mone (wrestling for the first time since All In: London 2026), Britt Baker, and Persephone. All women got a chance to shine, but this was all about Shafir’s performance.

She was incensed, focused, brutal in his attacks, stiff with her strikes, and put her all into this match. In the latter moments, she battled through the Lockjaw and locked in The Brutalizer, becoming the first wrestler on the night to successfully implement PAC’s submission, winning the match for her team.

1

The Death Riders & Bryan Danielson Vs. The Don Callis Family

• PAC’s Death Riders faction closed out AEW Dynamite.
• Bryan Danielson returned to the ring for the first time in two years.
• Earlier in the show, Danielson & Jon Moxley put their rivalry to bed.

Bryan Danielson emerged on AEW Dynamite after Jon Moxley’s match, embracing his sworn enemy and blood rival as the image of PAC loomed overhead, finally ending their rivalry and bad blood in the best and most fitting way possible. This wouldn’t be the end of his night, as Danielson emerged as the final member of The Death Riders to take on The Don Callis Family, returning to the ring for the first time since WrestleDream 2024. On a side note, this was also Wardlow’s return match for the first time since 2024 too!

This was a chaotic, incredibly fun main event that allowed every member of The Death Riders to run wild and shine, with the finish seeing Daniel Garcia get his moment in the spotlight following the passing of two of his close friends in recent weeks. After a stomp from Claudio Castagnoli onto Jake Doyle, it was Garcia who scored the winning pinfall to cap off a stirring and emotional show.