Grand Slam (2022)

The 2022 Grand Slam was the second annual Grand Slam professional wrestling television special produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It took place on September 21, 2022, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. The two-part event was broadcast as special episodes of AEW's weekly television programs, Wednesday Night Dynamite and Friday Night Rampage. Dynamite aired live on TBS while Rampage aired on tape delay on September 23 on TNT and was expanded to two hours for the Grand Slam special.

AEW Grand Slam
Promotional poster for the Dynamite broadcast featuring various AEW wrestlers
Promotion	All Elite Wrestling
Date	September 21, 2022 (aired September 21 and 23, 2022)
City	Flushing, Queens, New York
Venue	Arthur Ashe Stadium
Attendance	13,800[1]
Event chronology
← Previous 2021 Next → 2023
AEW Dynamite special episodes chronology
← Previous Quake by the Lake Next → Title Tuesday
AEW Rampage special episodes chronology
← Previous Quake by the Lake Next → Holiday Bash

The card comprised a total of thirteen matches, five of which aired live on Dynamite while the other eight were shown on Rampage on tape delay. In the main event of the Dynamite broadcast, Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in a tournament final to win the vacant AEW World Championship. Other prominent matches saw The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) defeat Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland) to win the AEW World Tag Team Championship, and in the opening bout, Chris Jericho defeated Claudio Castagnoli to win the ROH World Championship and his eighth overall world championship. In the main event of the Rampage broadcast, Ricky Starks defeated Powerhouse Hobbs in a Lights Out match. In other prominent matches, "Hangman" Adam Page won the Golden Ticket Battle Royale to earn a future AEW World Championship match, Action Bronson and Hook defeated Jericho Appreciation Society (Matt Menard and Angelo Parker), and in the opening bout, Sting and Darby Allin defeated House of Black (Buddy Matthews and Brody King) in a No Disqualification tag team match.

The Dynamite broadcast was also notable for the debut of Saraya, previously known as Paige in WWE, who last wrestled in 2017. The Rampage broadcast was also notable for an appearance by Japanese wrestling veteran The Great Muta, who came to the aid of old rival Sting.

Production

Background

The event was held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City.

In September 2021, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) held a two-part television special called Grand Slam, which aired as special episodes of AEW's weekly television programs, Wednesday Night Dynamite and Friday Night Rampage. The event was held in the New York City borough of Queens at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main stadium of tennis' US Open, and marked AEW's first event held in New York City, which is primarily known as home territory for WWE, as well as the company's first full event to be held in a stadium.^[2][3][4]

On May 11, 2022, AEW president Tony Khan confirmed that Grand Slam would return to the Arthur Ashe Stadium later that year and the event would continue forward as an annual event at the same venue.^[5] During the Forbidden Door pay-per-view on June 26, the 2022 Grand Slam's date was confirmed for September 21, with Dynamite airing live that night on TBS and Rampage airing on tape delay on September 23 on TNT. Like the previous year, Rampage was expanded to two hours for the Grand Slam special.^[6]

Storylines

Grand Slam featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.^[7] Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite and Rampage, and the supplementary online streaming shows, Dark and Elevation.

After CM Punk won the AEW World Championship at All Out,^[8] Punk got suspended due to a legitimate backstage physical altercation following the event's media scrum.^[9] On the following episode of Dynamite, AEW president Tony Khan announced that the AEW World Championship was vacated. A tournament then began that episode to crown a new champion, with the final taking place at Dynamite: Grand Slam.^[10]

At All Out, Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland) defeated The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championship.^[8] A championship rematch was then subsequently scheduled for Dynamite: Grand Slam.^[10]

On the September 14 episode of Dynamite, after Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and Serena Deeb defeated interim AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm and Athena, it was later announced that Storm was scheduled to defend the title in a four-way match against Deeb, Athena, and Baker at Dynamite: Grand Slam.^[11]

During the All Out Zero Hour pre-show, AEW All-Atlantic Champion Pac, who had just retained the title, was interrupted by long-time rival Orange Cassidy, who seemingly challenged him to a title match, which Pac immediately declined.^[12] After weeks of confrontations between the two, the championship match was scheduled for Dynamite: Grand Slam.^[11]

Citing the seven world championships he had won, Chris Jericho confronted ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli on the September 16 episode of Rampage and challenged him to a match for the championship, as he had never won the ROH World Championship. Castagnoli accepted and the match was scheduled for Dynamite: Grand Slam.^[13]

After Hook defeated Angelo Parker to retain the FTW Championship during the All Out Zero Hour pre-show, Parker's tag team partner, Matt Menard, ambushed Hook until rapper Action Bronson, who wrote Hook's theme song, made the save and took out Menard and Parker.^[12] On the September 14 episode of Dynamite, a match pitting Bronson and Hook against Menard and Parker was announced for Rampage: Grand Slam.^[11]

Eddie Kingston and Sammy Guevara were originally scheduled to face each other at All Out, however, Kingston was quietly suspended by AEW after getting into a legitimate backstage verbal dispute with Guevara.^[14] After Kingston's suspension was lifted, a match between Kingston and Guevara was announced for Rampage: Grand Slam.^[13]

At the Fight for the Fallen special episode of Dynamite on July 27, after Ricky Starks lost the FTW Championship, his tag team partner Powerhouse Hobbs attacked him, thus disbanding Team Taz.^[15] A match between Starks and Hobbs was scheduled for All Out, which Hobbs won.^[8] A rematch between Starks and Hobbs was announced for Rampage: Grand Slam, and was later stipulated to be a Lights Out match.^[13]

Results

Dynamite (aired live September 21)

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times[16]
1	Chris Jericho defeated Claudio Castagnoli (c) by pinfall	Singles match for the ROH World Championship[17]	14:25
2	The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) (with DJ Whoo Kid and Billy Gunn) defeated Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland) (c) (with Fabolous) by pinfall	Tag team match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship[17]	13:00
3	Pac (c) defeated Orange Cassidy by pinfall	Singles match for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship[17]	13:00
4	Toni Storm (c) defeated Serena Deeb, Athena, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (with Rebel) by pinfall	Four-way match for the interim AEW Women's World Championship[17]	9:50
5	Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson by technical submission	Tournament final for the vacant AEW World Championship[17]	19:15
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match

Rampage (aired on tape delay September 23)

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times[18]
1	Sting and Darby Allin defeated House of Black (Buddy Matthews and Brody King) (with Julia Hart) by pinfall	No Disqualification tag team match[19]	13:00
2	Action Bronson and Hook defeated Jericho Appreciation Society (Matt Menard and Angelo Parker) by submission	Tag team match[19]	5:07
3	WarJoe (Wardlow and Samoa Joe) defeated Tony Nese and Josh Woods (with "Smart" Mark Sterling) by pinfall	Tag team match[19]	2:20
4	"Jungle Boy" Jack Perry defeated Rey Fenix (with Alex Abrahantes) by pinfall	Singles match[19]	17:48
5	Sammy Guevara (with Tay Melo) defeated Eddie Kingston by reverse decision	Singles match[19]	7:58
6	Jade Cargill (c) (with The Baddies (Kiera Hogan and Leila Grey)) defeated Diamanté (with Trina) by pinfall	Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship[19]	2:34
7	"Hangman" Adam Page won by last eliminating Rush	25-man Golden Ticket Battle Royale for a future AEW World Championship match[19][a]	13:20
8	Ricky Starks defeated Powerhouse Hobbs by pinfall	Lights Out match[19]	11:54
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match

AEW Grand Slam Tournament of Champions

	Wild Card Round Dynamite (September 7) Rampage (September 9)				Semifinals Dynamite (September 14)				Finals Dynamite: Grand Slam (September 21)
					Chris Jericho[note 1]	19:49
	"Hangman" Adam Page	23:04			Bryan Danielson	Sub[11]
	Bryan Danielson	Pin[10]							Bryan Danielson	19:15
									Jon Moxley	KO[16]
					Sammy Guevara	13:46
	Sammy Guevara	Pin[20]			Jon Moxley[note 1]	Pin[11]
	Darby Allin	11:06

1. Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley both received a first round bye into the semifinals.

Notes

1. Also in the match were Ari Daivari, Brian Cage, Chuck Taylor, Cole Karter, Dalton Castle, Danhausen, Daniel Garcia, Dante Martin, Evil Uno, Isiah Kassidy, Jake Hager, Jay Lethal, John Silver, Lance Archer, Lee Moriarty, Marq Quen, Matt Hardy, Penta El Zero M, Q. T. Marshall, Preston Vance, The Blade, The Butcher, and Trent Beretta.

See also

• 2022 in professional wrestling
• List of All Elite Wrestling special events
• List of AEW Dynamite special episodes
• List of AEW Rampage special episodes

References

1. Lee, Joseph (September 23, 2022). "Details On Final Gate and Attendance For AEW Grand Slam". 411Mania. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
2. AEW Staff (June 16, 2021). "AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam Coming To NYC September 22nd". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
3. Casey, Connor (June 16, 2021). "AEW Announces AEW Dynamite Grand Slam for New York City". ComicBook.com. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
4. Reneeo, Juan C. (September 27, 2021). "AEW Dark Elevation Results: Paul Wight, Dark Order, Thunder Rosa". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
5. Wolstanholme, Danny (May 11, 2022). "Tony Khan Confirms Major AEW Event Will Become Yearly Tradition". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
6. Defelice, Robert (June 26, 2022). "Date Announced For AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam 2022". Fightful. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
7. Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
8. Powell, Jason (September 4, 2022). "AEW All Out results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. CM Punk for the AEW World Championship, Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Hikaru Shida for the Interim AEW Women's Title, Chris Jericho vs. Bryan Danielson, Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry vs. Christian Cage, Casino Ladder Match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
9. Barrasso, Justin (September 7, 2022). "Report: AEW Members Suspended After 'All Out' Altercation". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
10. Barnett, Jake (September 7, 2022). "9/7 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Tony Khan addressing the status of the AEW World Championship and AEW Trios Titles, MJF's return promo, Wheeler Yuta vs. Daniel Garcia for the ROH Pure Rules Title, Death Triangle vs. Best Friends, Interim AEW Women's Champ Toni Storm vs. Penelope Ford in an eliminator match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
11. Barnett, Jake (September 14, 2022). "9/14 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley vs. Sammy Guevara in semifinal tournament matches for the vacant AEW World Championship, Toni Storm and Athena vs. Britt Baker and Serena Deeb". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
12. Powell, Jason (September 4, 2022). "AEW All Out Zero Hour pre-show results: Powell's live review of Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Pac vs Kip Sabian for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship, Hook vs. Angelo Parker for the FTW Title, Sammy Guevara and Tay Melo vs. Ruby Soho and Ortiz for the AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
13. McGuire, Colin (September 16, 2022). "9/16 AEW Rampage results: McGuire's review of Samoa Joe vs. Josh Woods for the ROH TV Title, Darby Allin vs. Matt Hardy, Ethan Page vs. Danhausen, Penelope Ford vs. Willow Nightingale". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
14. Rose, Bryan (August 25, 2022). "Eddie Kingston recently suspended by AEW after Sammy Guevara dispute". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
15. Barnett, Jake (July 27, 2022). "7/27 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Rush for the Interim AEW World Championship, Thunder Rosa vs. Miyu Yamashita for the AEW Women's Championship, Ricky Starks vs. Danhausen for the FTW Title, Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia, Sammy Guevara vs. Dante Martin". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
16. Powell, Jason (September 21, 2022). "9/21 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson for the vacant AEW World Championship, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee vs. The Acclaimed for the AEW Tag Titles, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chris Jericho for the ROH Title, Toni Storm vs. Athena vs. Britt Baker vs. Serena Deeb for the Interim AEW Women's Title, Pac vs. Orange Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
17. AEW Staff (September 21, 2022). "AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam Results for September 21, 2022". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
18. McGuire, Colin (September 23, 2022). "9/23 AEW Rampage results: McGuire's review of the Grand Slam Golden Ticket Battle Royal, Jade Cargill vs. Diamante for the TBS Title, Sting and Darby Allin vs. Brody King and Buddy Matthews in a No DQ match, Action Bronson and Hook vs. Matt Menard and Angelo Parker, Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks, Eddie Kingston vs. Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy vs. Rey Fenix". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
19. AEW Staff (September 23, 2022). "AEW Rampage: Grand Slam Results for September 23, 2022". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
20. McGuire, Colin (September 9, 2022). "9/9 AEW Rampage results: McGuire's review of Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara in a tournament match for the vacant AEW World Championship, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Dax Harwood for the ROH Championship, Serena Deeb vs. Madison Rayne, ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe appears". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 9, 2022.

External links

• All Elite Wrestling Official website

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