Kyle Fletcher's chase to regain the TNT Championship proved unsuccessful as Darby Allin defeated him to retain the title on "AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam France."The champion and challenger burst out of the gate with an exchange of strikes, which resulted in the former backing the latter into the corner. Allin answered with a dropkick that launched Fletcher in another corner. When he sought to follow up with a dive through the ropes, however, he found himself caught and tossed into the ringside barricade.Allin bit Fletcher's ear in return. With Fletcher staggering, he then delivered a crossbody across the timekeeper's table. Fletcher eventually managed to get back up, only for Allin to instantly take him back down with a dive through the ropes. Shortly after, the action moved to the announce tables, where Allin nastily landed on the French desk.In the title match's closing moments, Allin looked for a Coffin Drop on Fletcher. Instead, his back met the ring apron with a loud thud. His head then met the mat off of Fletcher's drop brainbuster. "The Protostar" followed with another brainbuster shortly after, this time on top of the exposed steel turnbuckle. Somehow, a bleeding Allin managed to reach a vertical base once more and give Fletcher a taste of the steel for himself. After Fletcher escaped the Scorpion Deathlock, he finally secured the win with a pair of Coffin Drops to retain.Allin kicked off his third reign as TNT Champion by besting Kevin Knight (with help from Sting and Steven Borden) at AEW All In. Earlier this year, Fletcher was forced to vacate the title due to a meniscus injury.Knight claimed it in the Casino Gauntlet that followed at AEW Dynasty.Later on Grand Slam France, AEW World Champion Will Ospreay will defend his respective title against Kazuchika Okada.
