The Dynamite broadcast was also notable for the debut of Saraya, previously known as Paige in WWE, who last wrestled in 2017. The Rampage broadcast was also notable for an appearance by Japanese wrestling veteran The Great Muta, who came to the aid of old rival Sting.
On May 11, 2022, AEW president Tony Khan confirmed that Grand Slam would return to the Arthur Ashe Stadium later that year and the event would continue forward as an annual event at the same venue.[5] During the Forbidden Doorpay-per-view on June 26, the 2022 Grand Slam's date was confirmed for September 21, with Dynamite airing live that night on TBS and Rampage airing on tape delay on September 23 on TNT. Like the previous year, Rampage was expanded to two hours for the Grand Slam special.[6]
Storylines
Grand Slam featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[7] Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite and Rampage, and the supplementary online streaming shows, Dark and Elevation.
After CM Punk won the AEW World Championship at All Out,[8] Punk got suspended due to a legitimate backstage physical altercation following the event's media scrum.[9] On the following episode of Dynamite, AEW president Tony Khan announced that the AEW World Championship was vacated. A tournament then began that episode to crown a new champion, with the final taking place at Dynamite: Grand Slam.[10]
During the All Out Zero Hour pre-show, AEW All-Atlantic ChampionPac, who had just retained the title, was interrupted by long-time rival Orange Cassidy, who seemingly challenged him to a title match, which Pac immediately declined.[12] After weeks of confrontations between the two, the championship match was scheduled for Dynamite: Grand Slam.[11]
Citing the seven world championships he had won, Chris Jericho confronted ROH World ChampionClaudio Castagnoli on the September 16 episode of Rampage and challenged him to a match for the championship, as he had never won the ROH World Championship. Castagnoli accepted and the match was scheduled for Dynamite: Grand Slam.[13]
After Hook defeated Angelo Parker to retain the FTW Championship during the All Out Zero Hour pre-show, Parker's tag team partner, Matt Menard, ambushed Hook until rapperAction Bronson, who wrote Hook's theme song, made the save and took out Menard and Parker.[12] On the September 14 episode of Dynamite, a match pitting Bronson and Hook against Menard and Parker was announced for Rampage: Grand Slam.[11]
Eddie Kingston and Sammy Guevara were originally scheduled to face each other at All Out, however, Kingston was quietly suspended by AEW after getting into a legitimate backstage verbal dispute with Guevara.[14] After Kingston's suspension was lifted, a match between Kingston and Guevara was announced for Rampage: Grand Slam.[13]
At the Fight for the Fallen special episode of Dynamite on July 27, after Ricky Starks lost the FTW Championship, his tag team partner Powerhouse Hobbs attacked him, thus disbanding Team Taz.[15] A match between Starks and Hobbs was scheduled for All Out, which Hobbs won.[8] A rematch between Starks and Hobbs was announced for Rampage: Grand Slam, and was later stipulated to be a Lights Out match.[13]
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