AEW Dynamite
March 1, 2023
By: John Siino
Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Big Bill (w/ Stokely Hathaway)
Two weeks in a row of Orange Cassidy starting Dynamite defending the All-Atlantic Championship, and he starts this match by stepping down from Big Bill and taunting Bill to come meet him on the outside. Bill chases him outside and back inside, just for Cassidy to go back in. This continues for a while, as Bill is showing frustration. Cassidy goes face-to-face with Stokely Hathaway and takes away his shades, but is able to duck Bill who comes short of almost hitting Stokely instead. They finally go at it inside, with Cassidy running the ropes until Bill is able to catch him into a side slam. Bill follows with a splash in the corner before whipping Cassidy real hard into the other corner. Bill tries it again, but this time knocks Cassidy to the outside with a big boot. Bill starts clubbing Cassidy around the outside as Stokely helps Bill move the time keeper’s table to the bottom of the ramp. Bill teases choke slamming Cassidy into it, who escapes at first, but Bill is able to catch him and choke slam him through the table. The referee allows this match to continue as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Bill is in control attacking Cassidy in the ring. Bill goes for a high boot a couple times, but both times Cassidy falls to the floor until he rolls to the outside, where Danhausen is now there to assist him. Danhausen goes to put a curse on Stokely, but Bill gets in the way and goes to chokeslam him on the apron. Stokely stops him and instead back hands Danhausen with the cast. Cassidy uses this distraction to hit a dope on Stokely, but when he tries another one Bill catches him. Bill goes to chokeslam him, but Cassidy gets out and hits an Orange Punch to Bill’s knee, takes him down and goes back inside. As Bill enters, he catches Cassidy who was trying to do an Orange Punch, but he hits a Stundog Millionaire, a DDT and two Orange Punches. Cassidy goes to the top rope and hits a super Orange Punch to finally get the pin and the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy by pinfall at 12:22, to retain
Only Room For One Animal
We see footage from last week of a bloody Jon Moxley after his victory over Evil Uno and says this taste like victory and life, and he’s all about living his life to the fullest and he’s a sick man. He does this because he likes it and it’s not something to be proud of or aspire to. He lives for this shit and he’s not the kind of guy you want to go down a dark alley with when there’s only one of us coming out and asks Adam Page who he really thinks is going to come out. He tells him to remember that Page wanted this, as he was trying to leave this alone. He talks about putting Page in the hospital and them calling it an accident, but when Moxley comes back from an injury he goes and beats Page as Page got praised for it and Moxley got nothing as they told him it was a fluke, it wasn’t real and it didn’t count. He mentions Page beating him with a wrestling move he learned in seventh grade. He calls Page a great man but he isn’t the same animal as Moxley. And there is only room for one of these animals in AEW, and he will die to protect what’s his. This whole time Moxley was bleeding all over the steps.
The Elite come out to their entrance, but right away the lights go out and when they come back on, the House of Black are there holding the Trios titles as The Elite are laid out.
Samoa Joe comes out to do guest commentary for the ladder match.
Face of the Revolution Ladder Match: AR Fox vs. Ortiz vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Action Andretti vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Komander vs. Eddie Kingston vs. Sammy Guevara
Right away, Eddie Kingston and Ortiz start fighting on the outside before everybody starts heading to the outside and starts grabbing ladders. Kingston and Ortiz fight all the way up the ramp, as Sammy Guevara attacks AR Fox with a ladder, before setting it up in the corner. Action Andretti picks up a ladder, but Komander takes him out before Powerhouse Hobbs takes out Komander as he gets a big reaction here in his hometown of San Francisco. Hobbs starts tossing Komander and Fox against the ladders, before going after Andretti. Guevara teases going in, but looks at Hobbs and just leaves instead. Konosuke Takeshita enters and goes at it with Hobbs, both trying to take the other man down. Takeshita dodges Hobbs as he goes crashing into the ladder, before hitting him with a German Suplex. Don Callis is seen backstage watching Takeshita. Takeshita and Guevara end up on the outside before they get hit with dives from Andretti and Fox. Komander walks the ropes from one corner to the other side before diving onto everybody else before we go to commercial.
.@KomandercrMX just WIPED OUT the playing field!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/JuIPklzZ1F— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 2, 2023
When we come back, Fox hits Hobbs with a chair, but it has no effect as he drops Fox on top of a ladder. As everybody is laid out on the outside, Guevara goes to grab the ring before Andretti runs up to stop him and hits a nasty looking Falcon Arrow on top of a ladder. Komander follows this with a Shooting Star Press on Fox on another ladder on the outside, before he uses a bunch of ladders to go and reach for the ring. Takeshita joins him there and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb from off the ladders. Insanity. Takeshita starts climbing, but Andretti springs in to join him on top of the ladder. Daniel Garcia runs out and takes them both down, tipping the ladder over and keeps attacking Andretti. Garcia and Guevara start setting up some ladders on chairs, before placing Andretti on top of the ladder. Guevara climbs the top of the ladder and hits a senton to Andretti, crashing through the ladder. Garcia sets up another ladder and helps Guevara to climb up it. Takeshita knocks the ladder off and takes Guevara down with a knee strike. Takeshita goes to climb the ladder, but Hobbs pounces the ladder, knocking Takeshita off before climbing the ladder to grab the ring.
Winner: Powerhouse Hobbs at 13:46, to become #1 Contender to the AEW TNT Championship
They announce that next week on Dynamite, Hobbs will face the winner of Samoa Joe and Wardlow for the TNT Championship. Hobbs and Joe start to have a face off, before Wardlow joins in. Security goes to stop him, as Joe escapes. Wardlow takes out the security as Hobbs watches, power bombing one of the guards onto the others off the ramp.
I Don’t Care
Renee Paquette is backstage with the Best Friends and say that Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta are both not medically cleared to compete in tonight’s Casino Battle Royale. Danhausen says himself and Orange Cassidy can represent for the Best Friends instead. Renee asks if Cassidy is okay after his match, and he says ‘I don’t care’.
Chris Jericho vs. Peter Avalon
As soon as the bell rings, Peter Avalon goes after Chris Jericho. Jericho goes to retreat to the outside, but Avalon follows him, hitting him with a tope. Back inside, Avalon stays in control hitting Jericho with a pump kick for a two count. Jericho comes right back and hits a Code Breaker for the win.
Winner: Chris Jericho by pinfall at 2:30
Jericho grabs the bat and takes out Avalon with it. Jericho continues attacking Avalon with it, before Ricky Starks runs out to chase Jericho away. Jericho gets on the mic and says on Sunday he’s going to beat the hell out of Starks one-on-one and just because the Jericho Appreciation Society can’t be there on Sunday, doesn’t mean they can’t be here tonight. Jake Hager and Daniel Garcia run in and along with Jericho start attacking Starks. Hager and Garcia hold up Starks, as Jericho hits him with the Judas Effect.
I Ain’t Done Living
We go to Adam Page who seems to be in a barn and talks about how Alex Reynolds asked him earlier if he’s afraid to lose to Jon Moxley. Page says he lost the world title, but Moxley can’t take away his friends, memory, feeling and heart and this Sunday he takes everything away from Moxley. He takes his spot at the top of the food chain, his pride and he will be the man left standing. Moxley was right about him not enjoying violence and hating it, but this Sunday he’ll be the most violent son of a bitch we’ve ever seen as beating Moxley is the last glimmer of hope he has. There’s only two ways out of Texas Death, either you live or you die, and he isn’t done living. After Sunday, Moxley will never be the same.
No Talent Hack
Renee Paquette is in the ring and brings out Christian Cage. Renee says it felt like things would finally be done between himself and Cage, and asks what’s going on. Cage starts saying he hopes he never comes back to San Francisco for another ten years and talks about how he’s been embarrassing Perry. Cage saw Perry talk about winning a singles championship this year, and said it’ll happen over his dead body. Cage says he will win a singles championship in 2023 and that’s a fact. Cage says he’s been watching Perry’s match easily with quick roll-ups and asks if he wants to win a championship or beat someone for a championship. Cage says he already knows the answer, as last week he had Cage dead to rights with the conchairto, but he hesitated. So instead, Cage smashed Perry with the chairs and left him in a pool of his own blood and piss. Another thing that’s been bothering him is why Perry wants to win this championship so bad, and it’s to show it to his family and make some memes and likes. Cage says that’s the problem with Perry’s generation, is they treat his business like a video game. Nothing can do the things that Cage can do, as he is one of one. Cage treats his business like an ATM machine and he’s not done milking it dry. This needs to end, so he has a challenge for Revolution and it’s not for a wrestling match, but a fight with no rules or regulation. The sad reality is that if Perry chooses to show up, he is just his ‘father’s son’ and just like his father he is a no talent hack. Perry continues talking trash about what Perry doesn’t have compared to him, before the lights go out.
When they come back on, we go to a video of Jack Perry burying a hole outside mixed with highlights of the history between Perry and Cage. We then pan to a tombstone that says Christian Cage before we see Perry drive off.
Tony Schiavone is backstage with Jamie Hayter and Dr. Britt Baker DMD as they say tonight Saraya can watch two former world champions fight as she will never have that title. They will be watching and looking out for her.
FTW Championship: Hook (c) vs. Matt Hardy (w/ Ethan Page, Isiah Kassidy & Stokely Hathaway)
Right away, Hook goes to take Matt Hardy down. Matt Hardy starts doing the delete chants, as Hook takes Hardy down with a knee bar but The Firm is there to help Hardy reach for the ropes. Hook and Hardy start fighting on the outside, as Ethan Page rams Hook into the ring post. Back inside, Hardy takes control and hits Hook with a neckbreaker. Hardy starts attacking Hook in the corner, but Hook escapes and hits a T-Bone Suplex. Hook continues with body shots and a headbutt, but Hardy stops Hook with a snake eyes. Hook escapes and takes Hardy down with a lariat, but Hardy comes right back with a Side Effect for a two count. Hardy goes for another Side Effect, but Hook escapes. They tussle in the corner, but both bang heads and fall to the mat. Stokely takes his cast off and gives it to Page who knocks Hook out with it. Despite this, Hook kicks out at two. Hardy teases going for the Twist of Fate, but Hook puts on the Red Rum right away as Hardy taps out.
Winner: Hook by submission at 4:15, to retain
As a result, Hook gets Stokely Hathaway in a no disqualification match in the future with The Firm banned from ringside.
We see The House of Black with the Trios titles, but they drop them and say they will earn them on Sunday.
The greatest enemy is not the enemy that is made of flesh and blood. No, the greatest enemy is composed out of fear. @malakaiblxck @Brodyxking @SNM_Buddy @TheJuliaHart
Tune in to #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/1DZTKSMB2D
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 2, 2023
Toni Storm (w/ Saraya) vs. Riho
As soon as the bell rings, Toni Storm goes after Riho as Saraya is barking orders. Riho tries to fight back, hitting a drop kick that sends Storm into the corner as the crowd is behind Riho. Riho hits a Snap Suplex for a one count, as Saraya gets Riho’s attention. They both start running the ropes, before Riho takes Storm down and puts on a crossface. Saraya yells at the referee to break it as Storm gets to the ropes. This distracts Riho again, as Storm takes her to the outside with a hip attack. As Storm is distracting the referee, Saraya hits Riho with a knee strike. Storm keeps attacking Riho on the outside, sending her into the ring post. Jamie Hayter and Dr. Britt Baker DMD start making their way down to the ring as we head to commercial.
When we come back, Riho sends Storm to the outside and hits her with a diving crossbody. Riho sends Storm back inside, and hits her with a diving foot stomp. Riho follows with a Northern Lights Suplex, but Storm kicks out at two. Riho heads to the top again, but Storm stops her and teases a Storm Zero. Back down, Storm hits a hip attack for a two count and puts on the Cloverleaf. Baker gets on the apron which distracts Storm, as Riho rolls her up for the pin and the win.
Winner: Riho by pinfall at 10:07
Baker and Storm start fighting on the outside as Hayter and Saraya start brawling inside. Ruby Soho runs out and takes out Saraya, before turning and fighting with Hayter as well. All three start fighting as security and officials run out to break them up.
Naturally Limitless
We go backstage where Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes have a message to the Mogul Affiliates. Dustin says darkness has fallen over the city of San Francisco and this Friday on Rampage they will find out they don’t like playing games and call themselves Naturally Limitless.
Casino Tag Team Battle Royale
The first entrants are the Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver but Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta don’t wait for their entrance and attack them before the bell rings as they go to commercial.
When we come back, all four are in the ring as the match has started as Rush & Preston Vance (w/ Jose the Assistant) come out as the third entrants. They are followed by The Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo) (w/ Alex Abrahantes) at number four. Penta is decked out in San Francisco 49ers colors, as they come in and start kicking away at Rush and Vance. Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher of Aussie Open come out as the fifth entrants. Silver goes to take out Claudio, but Yuta stops him. Claudio pays the favor back, by saving Yuta from falling off the apron. As Aussie Open is fighting with the Dark Order, Claudio and Yuta grab Reynolds and Silver and send them over the top rope as we go to another break. During the break, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker make their way out as number 6.
Once we come back, Dante Martin & Darius Martin of Top Flight come out as number 7 and almost take out Claudio right away. Dante Martin instead flips off his brother, and takes out Matt Menard. The Kingdom’s Matt Taven & Mike Bennett come out at number 8 along with Maria Kanellis-Bennett. Tony Nese, Ari Daivari, Mark Sterling & Josh Woods (who are not part of this match) come out and start attacking the Lucha Brothers on the outside. Rush and Vance use this attack, and eliminate Penta and Fenix from the match. They fight with Top Flight, as Vance goes spilling to the outside, to be eliminated, followed by Darius dropkicking Rush off the apron to eliminate them. Aussie Open and Top Flight start fighting on the apron, before Dante tries a springboard and gets eliminated, followed by Darius getting eliminated as well. Danhausen & Orange Cassidy come out as number 9. Parker goes after Danhausen, but Cassidy eliminates Parker. The Butcher & The Blade come out as the tenth, and last, entrants. Maria gets on the apron to distract Aussie Open, but The Kingdom accidently superkick her and get eliminated, followed by Aussie Open getting eliminated. The Dark Order run back out and distract Yuta, as Cassidy eliminates him. They follow by eliminated Claudio as it’s now down to the Danhausen, Cassidy, The Butcher & The Blade. The Gunns show up on the ramp to watch the final two teams. As The Butcher & The Blade try to eliminate Cassidy, Danhausen comes from behind and eliminates them.
Winners: Danhausen & Orange Cassidy at 20:47
The Gunns start attacking Cassidy & Danhausen after the match, as Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett join in. The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn run out for the save.
We get a video package for the MJF vs. Bryan Danielson match.
Fight For Your Dreams
Renee Paquette is in the ring with Bryan Danielson and brings up a post from 2014 from MJF talking about pursuing his dream and mentioning Danielson and asks if this changes Danielson’s perception. Danielson talks about how he was forced to retire but came back 2 years later and said if you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you. MJF’s music promptly hits as he makes his way down to the ring. Danielson cuts MJF off and tells him for once in your life to shut up. Danielson talks about how MJF hates him for having a wonderful wife and kids, and MJF thinks he deserves that. Danielson says MJF has done nothing to earn them and has done nothing to fight for them by using every shortcut and cheat to become AEW World Champion. And if there’s one thing MJF deserves it’s his fiancé leaving him. MJF takes his jacket off and Danielson says he is ready to fight as he’s been fighting his whole life. Danielson says his new dream is to become AEW World Champion and this Sunday, MJF better be ready to fight for 60 full minutes and if he isn’t he will get his fucking head kicked in (this part was censored).
