AEW PAC Tribute Preview: Omega Returns, Ospreay vs Ricochet. AEW Dynamite will become a special night of remembrance as the company presents a tribute show dedicated to PAC, following the sudden passing of the longtime AEW star. The Pittsburgh event features four announced matches, but several of them carry significance beyond the competition itself, with Kenny Omega returning to reunite The Elite, Mercedes Moné and Britt Baker teaming together, Jon Moxley defending the AEW Continental Championship, and Will Ospreay facing Ricochet in the final announced match of the night. PAC had competed at AEW All Out just one day before his passing, making the tribute especially emotional for the AEW roster and fans. (SI)
The show also brings together several wrestlers who shared important chapters of PAC’s career. From his history with The Elite and Death Riders to his influence on both Ospreay and Ricochet, the announced matches give AEW multiple ways to celebrate his legacy while still presenting a major Dynamite card.
Kenny Omega Returns As The Elite Reunites
One of the biggest moments of the AEW Dynamite PAC Tribute will be Kenny Omega’s return, as he reunites with The Elite for an eight-man tag team match. Omega will team with The Young Bucks and Hangman Page to face members of the Don Callis Family.
The matchup brings together four wrestlers who have shared plenty of history with PAC throughout AEW’s history. Omega’s rivalry with PAC produced one of the most memorable matches of PAC’s AEW career when the two competed in a 30-minute Iron Man Match on Dynamite in 2020. PAC was also on the opposite side from The Elite during Death Triangle’s legendary best-of-seven series against The Elite for the AEW World Trios Championships. (SI)
The Don Callis Family team will feature Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta and Kevin Knight, giving the returning Omega and reunited Elite a strong challenge. More importantly, seeing Omega, The Young Bucks and Hangman Page together again on a night dedicated to PAC gives this match a major emotional connection to AEW’s history.
Mercedes Moné And Britt Baker Team Up
The women’s trios match provides another unusual combination, with AEW Women’s World Champion Mercedes Moné, TBS Champion Persephone and Dr. Britt Baker teaming together against Marina Shafir, Hyan and Thunder Rosa.
The biggest talking point is the presence of Moné and Baker on the same team. The two women have been positioned as rivals, making their partnership particularly interesting on a night when the focus is on honoring PAC rather than their own differences.
The match also features Shafir, who was part of the Death Riders alongside PAC and Jon Moxley. That gives the contest another direct connection to PAC, while Moné, Baker and Persephone bring three prominent names from AEW’s current women’s division into the tribute.
With championships represented on the team and several established rivalries crossing over for the occasion, this trios match should be one of the more intriguing parts of the special Dynamite.
Jon Moxley Defends The Continental Championship
Jon Moxley will put the AEW Continental Championship on the line against Orange Cassidy, adding championship stakes to an otherwise tribute-focused episode.
Moxley has one of the strongest personal connections to PAC on the entire card. The two wrestlers were members of the Death Riders, while PAC’s AEW career also included a number of important encounters with Moxley. In fact, PAC main-evented the first AEW Dynamite held in Pittsburgh against Moxley, making the location itself another connection to his history. (Wrestling Inc.)
Orange Cassidy brings his own lengthy history with Moxley into the match. Their rivalry has produced several major encounters in AEW, and this time the Continental Championship will be at stake. The match therefore combines a familiar AEW rivalry with a championship storyline while remaining part of the larger tribute to PAC.
Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet Headlines The PAC Tribute
The final announced match is Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet, and it may be the most directly connected contest to PAC’s legacy. Tony Khan announced that the two iconic PAC rivals would meet one-on-one in his honor, with the AEW World Championship held by Ospreay adding another major element to the matchup. (Wrestling Inc.)
Ospreay and PAC shared multiple important matches during their careers, including bouts in RevPro and AEW. Ricochet’s history with PAC goes even further back, with the two developing a notable rivalry during their time competing in Dragon Gate in Japan. Both men have also spoken about PAC’s influence on their careers. (SI)
That history makes this more than another chapter in the long-running Ospreay-Ricochet rivalry. They will be wrestling on a night specifically dedicated to someone who played a significant role in both of their careers. Tony Khan’s announcement ended with the message, “This one’s for Ben,” making the purpose of the match unmistakable. (Wrestling Inc.)
The AEW Dynamite PAC Tribute brings together returning stars, unlikely partnerships, championship stakes and some of PAC’s most important career connections. Kenny Omega’s return and The Elite reunion will be one of the night’s biggest attractions, while Moné and Baker teaming together adds another unexpected element. Moxley and Cassidy provide a championship match, before Ospreay and Ricochet close out the announced card by competing in honor of their late friend and rival.
Ultimately, the focus will remain on PAC and the legacy he leaves behind in AEW and professional wrestling. Every match on the card has a different connection to him, giving the tribute show a chance to celebrate different parts of his remarkable career.
For more AEW news, results, previews and analysis, visit AEWTalkDown.com and subscribe to AEW TalkDown on YouTube.
