Number One Contendership Match Set For This Week's AEW Dynamite

Jimmy Havoc and Darby Allin collide with Chris Jericho in sight.

Darby Allin Jimmy Havoc
AEW

Last week saw AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that Dynamite's 9 October episode would host a number one contendership match to confirm who'd challenge AEW Champion Chris Jericho the following week, and the promotion came through with it on yesterday's episode of Being The Elite.

Per the above graphic, Darby Allin and Jimmy Havoc will compete for the right to fight Jericho on 16 October.

This is an odd piece of booking to say the very least. Havoc's win/loss record currently sits at 1-3 in singles and tag bouts, with Allin on 1-2-1. Darby's only singles victory came over CIMA in a match shot for this week's debut episode of AEW Dark, while Jimmy's win came over Allin himself, whom he bested in a hardcore Triple Threat that also featured Joey Janela at All Out.

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PAC is conspicuous by his absence here, as 'The Bastard' currently sits at 2-0 in AEW. The company have, however, noted that the quality of wins and losses will matter, so PAC cheating to beat Hangman Page at All Out gives them a convenient excuse here.

Nonetheless, the bout, while potentially exciting, exposes a hole in the "wins and losses matter" booking philosophy.

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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.