The AEW Grand Slam Tournament to determine MJF’s World Championship challenger at the annual Arthur Ashe Stadium event is well underway. On last night’s AEW Dynamite, Roderick Strong and Darby Allin both advanced to the next round with respective victories over Trent Beretta and Nick Wayne. The two will face each other in a semi-final match on AEW Collision this Saturday for a spot in the finals next Wednesday.
On the other side of the bracket, two more quarter-final matches were set for this Friday’s edition of Rampage in the form of Penta El Zero Miedo versus Jay Lethal and Samoa Joe versus Jeff Hardy. However, the tapings for Rampage have already taken place following last night’s Dynamite and so the full semi-final line-up has been determined. Spoilers ahead, you have been warned!
In the show’s opener, Penta El Zero Miedo defeated Jay Lethal to advance to the semi-finals. Later in the main event, Samoa Joe clashed with Jeff Hardy for the first time since their WWE days in 2018/19. The Ring of Honor World Television Champion eventually emerged victorious and secured his spot against Penta in the second semi-final match on Collision this Saturday.
Tensions between MJF and Joe have spiked ever since the two’s confrontation at AEW All Out. In a callback to Joe’s NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II entrance which saw him shove a security guard who was actually a young MJF, Joe pushed MJF aside as the AEW World Champion was making his way backstage. This prompted a pull-apart brawl between the two prior to Joe’s match with Shane Taylor at the event.
Elsewhere on Rampage: Hikaru Shida, Skye Blue and Britt Baker defeated The Bunny, Anna Jay and Taya Valkyrie; The Young Bucks defeated Matt Menard and Angelo Parker; and Chris Jericho’s Grand Slam match was decided. For the first time ever, Jericho will face his long-time ally Sammy Guevara in an attempt for the two to settle their differences before going after the AEW World Tag Team Championship currently held by FTR.