AEW Dynamite returned on September 2, 2026, following the celebrated All In pay-per-view in Allen, Texas, as the promotion began building toward the upcoming All Out event on September 26. The show opened with the new AEW World Champion, Will Ospreay, reflecting on his victory and rivalry with Kenny Omega, setting the stage for their title rematch at All Out. Ospreay also pledged to bring his Japanese faction United Empire into AEW, leading to confrontations with Ricochet, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun, resulting in a tag team main event announcement.

The night featured several notable matches, including the AEW World Trios Championship defense by Swerve Strickland and The New Level—Austin Creed and Kofi—who won in their AEW Dynamite debut. This victory sparked a heated segment involving The Young Bucks, FTR, Adam Copeland, and Christian Cage, culminating in the announcement of a three-way tag team match for the upcoming All Out event, rumored to include chairs, ladders, and tables. Additionally, Darby Allin retained the TNT Championship against Mark Davis, though was later attacked by heels Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero before Steven Borden’s intervention and subsequent assault from a returning Josh Alexander.

Mercedes Moné, freshly crowned AEW Women’s World Champion, celebrated her achievement, highlighting her role in advancing the women’s division globally and her historic success across major companies. She confronted and praised Willow Nightingale and Thekla, teasing future competition. Meanwhile, Jon Moxley held off AR Fox in an AEW Continental Championship eliminator match and then assisted in diffusing a ringside brawl. The episode ended with Moxley and Ospreay solidifying their AEW World Championship match official for All Out, amidst tensions with The Dogs and The Demand factions.

Backstage segments featured ongoing rivalries and alliances with Callum Newman recruiting Andrade El Idolo to support United Empire, and disruptive interactions between Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher, leading to a tag match announcement on collision. MJF’s frustration from prior losses was highlighted in a promo targeting Ospreay and Kenny Omega, setting up anticipated storylines for All Out as AEW weaves complex narratives across its roster, with title defenses and fresh rivalries fueling momentum for the pay-per-view event.