AEW Dynamite results, grades (Sept. 30): Bryan Danielson returns on emotional night of tributes to PAC

"AEW Dynamite" was in Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center on this Wednesday, Sept. 30. The show was dedicated to the late, great Benjamin "PAC" Satterley after his tragic and untimely passing at the age of 40 this past Sunday.Gravity forgot, we won'tIt's hard to know where to begin after a night like this. Once again, AEW was put in the bittersweet position of delivering a beautiful tribute to a wrestler no longer with us. But truly, no one does it quite like them. And with the loss still being so fresh, having last seen PAC perform just this past Saturday at AEW All Out 2026, it's miraculous that everyone involved tonight kept it together as well as they did.The night began with the AEW roster in the entryway for the 10-bell salute after Excalibur and Tony Schiavone shared emotional words with the viewers and crowd. Throughout the night, we were treated to pre-recorded video messages from several wrestlers remembering the "Bastard," including the likes of "Hangman" Adam Page, Cash Wheeler, Jay White, Ricochet, Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland and Darby Allin. All were tear-jerking in their own unique ways, showing exactly how pivotal a role Satterley played in everyone's lives.Forever our Bastard. Your favorite wrestler's favorite wrestler. There will never be another like him. One day, we will meet again. We love you, Ben. We miss you. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/Z3hBrg6a5N— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 We love you, Ben. We miss you. We always will. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/EIANsSNnTb— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 "He cared about everyone so much. And I am going to miss him. Thank you, Ben. Good bye."We love you, Ben. We always will. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/YFLaHm20iX— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 "Whether we were fighting on a golf course, or him throwing me through a flaming table... here he is, playing in the sand..."We love you, Ben. We always will. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/XbN2hixUR0— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 We even had a message from Satterley's family read by Renee Paquette. That was a proper heartbreaker, but major props to her for holding it together and to AEW for putting something like that on the show..@ReneePaquette reads a statement from the Satterley family on the late, great @BastardPAC. pic.twitter.com/1s2GuZTrKC— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 The first match of the night saw two key figures in PAC's AEW career go at it, as Jon Moxley defeated Orange Cassidy to retain his Continental title.Afterward, Bryan Danielson made a surprise appearance, which turned into an in-ring return for one night only in the main event. It was magic.Bryan Danielson is here, and he and Jon Moxley embrace!Watch #AEWDynamite A Tribute to PAC on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/aixStps1nq— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 BRYAN DANIELSON IS TEAMING UP WITH THE DEATH RIDERS TO HONOR PAC!Watch #AEWDynamite A Tribute to PAC on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/sHfsD6k2bn— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 Danielson teamed up with his old Death Rider/Blackpool Combat Club squad to beat The Don Callis Family, which included another return in the form of Wardlow.The big man was teased to be on his way back in a vignette on Saturday, but no one expected it to be tonight. He got his fair share of licks in, but the match overall was about highlighting the Death Riders, with several in-ring tributes to PAC.That was the theme throughout the night, as Marina Shafir scored the win via PAC's patented Brutalizer submission in her prior match alongside Thunder Rosa and Hyan against Dr. Britt Baker DMD, Persephone and Mercedes Moné.The Brutalizer! @MarinaShafir escapes @RealBrittBaker and gets the win!Watch #AEWDynamite A Tribute to PAC on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/0cSVoN0ShB— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 Right in the feelsAs the first announced match for Wednesday's show, Ospreay and Ricochet were destined to work their magic, as they typically do together. Their match was excellent, but nothing was better than the finish.Ospreay had Ricochet dead in the water after a Hidden Blade to the back of the dome. Instead, he looked up to the top rope and performed PAC's signature Black Arrow finish before erupting with emotion. Man. What a scene.BLACK ARROW FROM @WILLOSPREAY! 🖤🖤🖤Watch #AEWDynamite A Tribute to PAC on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/F84UDsYyBu— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 What a match. What a moment.We love you, Ben. 🖤Watch #AEWDynamite A Tribute to PAC on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/vyHlpgTbDX— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 👑 Uncrowned gem of the night 👑AEW aired its very last footage of PAC before the aforementioned 10-bell salute. It was a promo cut by Moxley following his loss to Ospreay at All Out. Given its substance, it was eerie but sensational, as he spoke about eulogies and death. Almost poetically, PAC was the last to be seen on camera, too. Wild.“Anybody else who has the guts to do what it takes to be great... to really be great.”After #AEWAllOut, @JonMoxley reflects with raw honesty, hard-earned perspective, and a reminder that greatness comes with a cost.Watch #AEWDynamite A Tribute to PAC on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/PW9VafMFFa— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 In the end, the ultimate highlight package closed out the night, reminding us all exactly how incredible Benjamin Satterley was inside and outside of the ring.The very, very best of us. Truly one of a kind.We love you so, so much, Ben. We miss you so, so much. We always will. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/pi0XkfZKAn— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 1, 2026 This "AEW Dynamite" served its purpose to the fullest extent: Honoring one of its best. I give this "AEW Dynamite" a crown score of: 10/10 👑AEW Dynamite full card results and match grades:Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Gabe Kidd, Daniel Garcia and Bryan Danielson) def. The Don Callis Family (Josh Alexander, Wardlow, Mark Davis, Jake Doyle and Lance Archer) — 👑 3.75/5 👑Marina Shafir, Hyan and Thunder Rosa def. Mercedes Mone, Dr. Britt Baker DMD and Persephone — 👑 3.5/5 👑Will Ospreay def. Ricochet — 👑 4.5/5 👑The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page, Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson) def. The Don Callis Family (Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta) — 👑 4/5 👑AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c.) def. Orange Cassidy — 👑 3/5 👑Recap "AEW Dynamite" with Uncrowned's live blog: