First two spots in Women’s Casino Gauntlet official for AEW Dynamite
This Wednesday’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet match to determine the next challenger to AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla has its first two participants.
In a pair of matches that aired on Thursday’s AEW Collision, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena and Maya World both advanced and will share the ring once more this Wednesday on the Beach Break edition of Dynamite as the first two entrants.
Athena defeated Stardom’s Rina in the first match, getting the pin after hitting the O-Face in a competitive match, to earn the first spot. Later on, World defeated Julia Hart in the second match to nab the second spot, getting the win after Hart missed a moonsault, leading to a Shining Wizard and the pin.
The rivalry between the two intensified when World upset Athena in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament, advancing to the finals against Mercedes Mone at Forbidden Door. In an backstage interview after World’s loss to Mone, Athena mocked World and foreshadowed more to come between them.
The winner of the Gauntlet advances to challenge Thekla at this month’s Redemption pay-per-view in Montreal.
Current AEW Dynamite lineup | This Wednesday
- AEW World Champion MJF defends against Kenny Omega
- AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Kyle Fletcher
- Casino Gauntlet match for Women’s World title shot at Redemption
- Tommaso Ciampa vs. Chris Jericho
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.