At AEW Dynamite, WWE rivals begin to set the stage for the big event “Grand Slam” in New York. The feud between Champion MJF and Samoa Joe heats up
WWE competitor AEW has had the most turbulent weeks – for better or worse – in its young history. Now the preparations for the next prestigious event are in full swing.
On the current edition of the TV show Dynamite, AEW has started to set the stage for “Grand Slam”, the special edition from the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, where the US Open is currently still taking place.
World Champion MJF will defend his title there on 20 September against the winner of a tournament. Among the participants: heavyweight ring veteran Samoa Joe, who looks like the designated winner.
Especially since the former rival of CM Punk, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar has now started a feud with the young top star, who has been running hotter at Dynamite.
MJF and Samoa Joe provoke each other mightily
Joe – the last opponent of the now-fired CM Punk a week and a half ago at the mega-event All In at London’s Wembley Stadium – had caught MJF’s attention with a casual shove at All Out last weekend, provoking him into a brawl.
Now the two followed it up with an intense talking duel, at the end of which Joe once again managed to trap MJF, who was exhausted and battered from his efforts as double champion.
MJF and Joe faced off in the ring at Dynamite, the long-time scene great Joe provoking the young MJF repeatedly by addressing him as “Kid”.
The charismatic entertainer extraordinaire was visibly seething, teasing Joe with references to his weight and his association with the legend William Regal, who MJF – according to the script – took out at AEW.
Side shot at William Regal
“I sent him back to NXT – and maybe you’ll be next if you keep this up,” MJF attacked Joe, alluding to Regal’s real-life move back to WWE after his confidant “Triple H” Paul Levesque took the reins there last year. MJF and Regal had addressed on AEW that Regal had once not signed MJF in his role as a WWE talent scout because he found him still too young and inexperienced.
Joe, who had worked with Regal on NXT – WWE’s developmental squad – in front of and behind the camera, also got to hear that MJF resented him for treating him badly as a young wrestler. He recalled an appearance as an extra in NXT where Joe had pushed him against a wall. But he was no longer a “kid” to be pushed around, he was a full-grown superstar and Joe would feel it.
Joe responded that MJF misunderstood him: he had no problem then or now with MJF being a “kid”. He only resented him for being a “bitch”.
In the end, the exchange seemed to end in a stalemate, both saying that they would meet again if Joe won the Grand Slam tournament. Joe, however, then attacked MJF from behind, targeting MJF’s legs in addition to his weakened neck.
In the end, partner Adam Cole and several doctors and referees helped MJF to the backstage area. Cole was further berated by WWE journeyman Roderick Strong, who resented his friendship with MJF.
Strong – now joined by Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, two other old Cole confidants – is also part of the tournament.
