Backstage Notes On Changes To This Week's AEW Dynamite

Update on how this week's Jay Briscoe tribute episode of AEW Dynamite came together.

Mark Briscoe
AEW

AEW made a number of changes to this week's Dynamite in order to accommodate the Jay Briscoe tributes, reports Fightful Select.

Before Tuesday, it didn't look like Mark Briscoe's bout with Jay Lethal was going to be possible. This meant the promotion had to switch things up in order to ensure that it could go down.

Darby Allin and Buddy Matthews' AEW TNT Championship match was originally scheduled to headline the show. When Briscoe vs. Lethal was booked, it understandably took the main event slot, with Allin vs. Matthews losing some time in the process. One of Fightful's sources stated that they found it impressive that AEW was able to give Briscoe vs. Lethal so much time without comprising any of the pre-advertised content.

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Ian Riccaboni, the ROH play-by-play announcer, was only booked for Dynamite on Wednesday, flying in just hours before it started. Former ROH Champion Dalton Castle was also brought in, sitting in the front row for Briscoe's match.

Internally, people were "very happy" with how the episode went.

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Mark's brother, Jay, passed away following an automobile accident last week. Much of Dynamite was focused on paying tribute to him, which wouldn't have been possible had Warner Bros. Discovery not reconsidered its stance of banning the Briscoes from AEW television.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.