Kazuchika Okada remains the AEW International Champion after turning back Myron Reed on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, but the win carried significance beyond another successful title defense. By defeating Reed, Okada also qualified for the Clockwork Carnage match at AEW WrestleDream on Saturday.
The bout presented a sharp contrast in styles. Okada brought the poise, precision, and ability to capitalize in the biggest moments that have defined his championship reign, while Reed pushed the pace with explosive aerial offense and quick counters. Reed repeatedly came within reach of a breakthrough, forcing the champion to avoid several dangerous 450 splash attempts before Okada ultimately found the opening for the Rainmaker.
For Okada, the victory means he enters WrestleDream with both the AEW International Championship still around his waist and a place secured in a major match on the event. For Reed, the result was a frustrating near-miss after he showcased the athleticism and urgency necessary to take an established champion deep into a competitive contest.
Reed Makes a Fast Start Against the Champion
The match opened as a back-and-forth affair, with Reed refusing to be intimidated by the stature of the man across the ring. The challenger looked for an early backslide, attempting to surprise Okada before the champion could establish control. Okada slipped free, however, preventing Reed from stealing a quick decision.
For more background on this topic, read Motor City Machine Guns Challenge FTR To Best-of-Five Series At AEW WrestleDream.
Reed continued to press the action. An enziguri connected on Okada, and the challenger knocked the champion out of the ring. That sequence briefly created the separation Reed needed, but Okada recovered quickly and returned to the ring before Reed could fully capitalize.
When Reed went for a boot, Okada avoided it and immediately swung the momentum. The champion drove Reed face-first into the mat, establishing control through a more deliberate and punishing approach. It was a reminder of the difficulty facing any challenger against Okada: even when an opponent is able to create a burst of offense, the champion is capable of regaining command in an instant.
Okada then climbed to the top rope, signaling an attempt to build on his advantage. Reed had the counter ready, getting his knees up to protect himself. Okada recognized the danger and avoided crashing down onto the raised knees, preserving his position in the match and preventing Reed from gaining a major opening.
High-Risk Offense Changes the Match
Reed soon brought the match into the type of fast-paced exchange that suited him best. He went to the top rope looking for a 450 splash, but Okada rolled out of the ring. Reed did not hesitate. He followed the champion to the outside and took him down with a major dive.
That moment demonstrated Reed’s willingness to take risks against a competitor of Okada’s caliber. The challenger was not content to merely keep the champion down inside the ropes. Instead, Reed pursued him outside and used his aerial ability to ensure Okada had no time to reset.
Back in the ring, Reed again looked for the 450 splash. Once more, Okada escaped at the last possible moment. The champion rolled clear and answered with a dropkick, creating another momentum shift in a contest filled with them.
The pattern of the match increasingly revolved around Reed’s pursuit of the decisive high-flying move and Okada’s ability to survive it. Reed’s 450 was clearly among his most dangerous weapons, but the champion’s awareness repeatedly denied him the clean connection he needed. Every miss allowed Okada another opportunity to turn the match in his favor.
Okada and Reed Trade Counters Down the Stretch
The closing stretch featured counters from both men, underscoring how closely contested the title match had become. Reed avoided the Rainmaker, denying Okada the finishing lariat that has ended so many matches. Okada then avoided a cutter attempt from Reed, showing that the challenger’s speed and creativity were being met by the champion’s own timing.
Okada connected with a piledriver, seemingly positioning himself to close the match. Reed, however, rolled out of the ring before Okada could immediately follow with a cover. The challenger then found another response outside the ring, hitting a back body drop that sent Okada to the floor.
Reed escalated the risk even further by delivering a 450 splash from the steps onto Okada on the outside. It was one of the most dramatic moments of the contest and gave Reed a powerful surge of momentum heading into the final sequence.
With the champion hurt, Reed attempted another 450 splash in the ring. But just as he had earlier in the match, Okada rolled out of the way. The missed attempt gave the champion the opening he had been waiting for. Okada struck with the Rainmaker and secured the victory.
Okada’s ability to avoid Reed’s biggest aerial attacks proved to be the difference in the championship match.
The Rainmaker Advances to WrestleDream
Okada’s win has two immediate consequences. First, he continues as AEW International Champion after overcoming a challenger who brought a distinctly different kind of threat to the title picture. Reed’s speed, dives, and repeated 450 splash attempts made this a difficult defense, even though Okada ultimately found the decisive counter.
Second, Okada is now qualified for the Clockwork Carnage match at WrestleDream on Saturday. The qualification adds another major responsibility to the champion’s weekend. Rather than simply celebrating a successful defense, Okada must now prepare for an additional high-profile challenge while carrying championship momentum into the event.
The victory also reinforced the importance of the Rainmaker as Okada’s finishing answer when the stakes rise. Reed was able to evade it once during the closing stages, proving that he had done his homework and could anticipate the move. But avoiding the Rainmaker one time did not ensure Reed could avoid it forever. When Reed missed his final 450 splash, Okada reacted immediately and did not allow the challenger another chance to escape.
Reed Falls Short but Leaves an Impression
Although Reed did not leave Dynamite with the AEW International Championship or a Clockwork Carnage berth, his performance made clear that he could compete at the level demanded by a match against Okada. He forced the champion to adjust throughout the contest, landed a series of impactful strikes and aerial attacks, and came close to putting the match away on multiple occasions.
The most significant issue for Reed was not a lack of offense. It was the narrow margin for error against a champion as experienced as Okada. Reed’s 450 splash was a constant threat, but it also required exact timing and positioning. Okada’s ability to roll away turned that strength into an opening, particularly on the final attempt.
That is the challenge of facing a wrestler with Okada’s instincts. A challenger can create momentum, land spectacular offense, and even evade a match-ending strike, but one mistake can still decide everything. Reed’s aggression and commitment to his offense gave him real opportunities; Okada’s patience and precision ensured that he was ready when those opportunities slipped away.
What the Result Means
Wednesday’s result keeps Okada firmly positioned as AEW International Champion heading into WrestleDream. His defense against Reed was not a routine walkover. It was a demanding match in which he was repeatedly forced to escape danger, particularly from the challenger’s airborne offense. Yet the champion endured and delivered the Rainmaker when it mattered most.
Now, Okada’s attention turns toward the Clockwork Carnage match. The AEW International title remains secure for the moment, while Okada has added another notable accomplishment by earning qualification for Saturday’s WrestleDream contest.
Reed, meanwhile, will be left to consider how close he came. He pushed Okada, landed a 450 splash from the steps on the outside, and had multiple chances to connect cleanly in the ring. In the end, though, the difference was simple: Reed missed one final high-risk move, and the Rainmaker made him pay for it.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.