AEW WrestleDream 2024 Notes: Brain Cage Wins ROH TV Title, Rico & Amazing Red Surprise Appearances, MJF & Adam Cole Surprise Returns, Konosuke Takeshita Wins International Title & Fletcher Turns on Ospreay, Swerve Strickland Rejects MVP’s Offer

Brian Cage Wins ROH TV Title at WrestleDream 2024

Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream 2024 event at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington featured Brian Cage defeating Atlantis Jr. to become the new ROH World Television Champion.

This was Cage’s first ever ROH TV World championship victory of his AEW/ROH career.


Rico Makes Surprise Appearance & Revealed as Mystery Cornerman for MxM Collection

Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream 2024 event also featured former WWE wrestler Rico making his surprise official debut appearance in AEW.

During the Zero Hour Pre-show, MxM Collection were seen backstage with Alicia Atout. Mansoor talked about their tag team match against The Acclaimed tonight and asked a mystery person off-screen about how they looked. This led to Rico making his surprise appearance and stated that they looked so good to him and revealing him as their mystery cornerman.


MJF & Adam Cole Makes Surprise Return at AEW WrestleDream 2024

Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream 2024 event also featured MJF and Adam Cole making their surprise returns to AEW.

Following Jack Perry’s victory over Katsuyori Shibata to retain his TNT Championship, Perry attacked Shibata leading to Daniel Garcia running out to save Shibata. This led to Garcia and Perry engaging in a brief staredown that ended with Perry bailing from the ring.

This then led to MJF’s music playing and him making his surprise return and made his way to the ring. MJF and Garcia engaged in a staredown that ended with Perry getting back in the ring and attacked Garcia with his TNT title before bailing away again.

MJF proceeded to take his jacket off and attacked a downed Garcia. MJF then grabbed a microphone and talked about the last time he saw Garcia, he beat him handily without breaking a sweat and went off to make several movies and several millions of dollars. MJF then talked about Garcia having his own bidding war and managing to find the Dynamite Diamond Ring that Garcia had pawned off in Buffalo. MJF then pulled out the ring from his pants and told Garcia he was going to kiss the ring. MJF went to the corner and put the ring on his pinkie but before anything else could happen, Cole’s music played and made his surprise return running down to the ring. This led to MJF bolting from the ring and made his way out through the crowd. Cole then helped up Garcia and the two gave a fist bump in a sign of respect.

This was MJF’s first appearance in AEW since this past September’s All Out 2024 event and this was Cole’s first appearance since September of 2023 due to an ankle injury.


Konosuke Takeshita Wins AEW International Title & Fletcher Turns on Ospreay at WrestleDream 2024

Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream 2024 show also featured Konosuke Takeshita defeating Ricochet and Will Ospreay in a Three-way match to become the new AEW International Champion.

Near the end of the match, Ospreay hit back-to-back Hidden Blades and went for a near fall on Takeshita that was broken up by Don Callis yanking the referee out of the ring. Callis then went into the ring and pulled out a screw driver from his suit and attempted to strike Ospreay with it only for Ospreay to block it. Ospreay then set up Callis for a Tiger Driver only for a mysterious hooded person to run out to the ring and attacked Ospreay laying him out. This mystery person removed their hood revealing himself to be Kyle Fletcher. Ospreay looked on confused over what just happened causing him to be distracted long enough to get hit by a Power Drive Knee for the pinfall victory to become the new champion.

Following the match, Fletcher grabbed Ospreay and hit a Tiger Driver 93 as Callis looked on pleased over what happened.


Swerve Strickland Announces He’s Cleared for In-Ring Return & Turns Down MVP’s Offer at AEW WrestleDream 2024

Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream 2024 event also featured Swerve Strickland officially announcing that he was medically cleared for an in-ring return and turning down MVP’s offer to join his group.

During the show, Prince Nana was seen in the ring and after some shilling for his Nana Coffee brand, he introduced Strickland to the ring. After some words by Strickland about being back after some time away, Strickland gave a medical update stating that he still feels wonky and has a tingling feeling in his fingers. Strickland stated that everything he said about Bryan Danielson is coming back to him now as karma is real. Strickland then stated that despite those issues, he is medically cleared to return. Strickland stated that he wanted to address his hometown about the past, present, and future.

Before Strickland could continue, MVP interrupted and came out with Shelton Benjamin. As they were walking down to the ring, MVP stated that it is his future that he wants to discuss as maybe his “minion” didn’t give him MVP’s card. MVP stated that he believed in Strickland before he believed in himself. This led to the crowd chanting “Swerve’s House” which MVP responded stating that they are right but Strickland’s career is floundering a bit. After some more words boasting about him being good at taking former champions and reminding them why they are great, Strickland responded talking about their past history and their match in DEFY years ago and also praised Benjamin. Strickland then turned his attention towards Nana and stated that MVP wasn’t wrong in that the past few months have not treated them right. Strickland talked about his loss at All In 2024, his loss at All Out 2024, and his childhood him getting burned down but stated that on the other hand, he wouldn’t have all the things he’s had if it wasn’t for Nana. After some more words, Strickland told MVP that he rejected his offer and he can take his business cards and shove them up his ass because they’re here in Swerve’s House.

This led to an angry Benjamin confronting Strickland and the two engaging in a brief scuffle that was broken up by AEW officials who had rushed out and Nana and MVP.


Amazing Red Makes Surprise Appearance at AEW WrestleDream 2024

Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream 2024 event also featured TNA Wrestling and indies legend Amazing Red making a surprise appearance.

Prior to the start of the AEW World Tag Team Championship match between Private Party and The Young Bucks, a video aired on the big screen revealing Red and Private Party. Red proceeded to give a tough pep talk to Private Party trying to motivate them that he’s trained to get back at it and win the AEW Tag titles.