AEW’s Dynasty ended on a controversial note with Jon Moxley defeating Swerve Strickland, leaving a lot of fans frustrated.
When word got out that Bryan Danielson was backstage, some assumed he had a hand in the decision—but that’s not the case according to Fightful Select. The report specifies that every major creative call comes from Tony Khan. One source reiterated to the outlet that if Danielson actually had a say in creative decisions he would not have won the title back at All In
As for the Young Bucks, their return wasn’t a long-term plan—at least, not one widely known. They had been backstage recently, including at a show in California and Christopher Daniels’ final match in Cincinnati, but their involvement wasn’t locked in until much later. Some in AEW felt seeds had been planted a while back, while others hadn’t heard anything until recently.
Despite fan speculation, there was never a plan for Swerve to win the title. Sources say Moxley was always set for a long title run, even before he won it. Internally, AEW has praised the run, especially the Death Riders’ success and the ratings for Moxley vs. Cope, saying there’s a disconnect between online chatter and actual viewership—which has been strong.
There was a creative curveball too. Before his injury, Switchblade Jay White was rumored to be turning heel, possibly tying into the night’s main event. But his injury, along with those to Orange Cassidy and Brian Cage, forced last-minute changes to the Dynasty card.
