AEW Dynamite
April 12th, 2023
By: John Siino
UW – Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Darby Dallin vs. Swerve Strickland
Prince Nana & Brian Cage bring out Swerve Strickland as this new Mogul Affiliates & The Embassy merger is called ‘The Mogul Embassy’. Right away, Darby Allin knocks Swerve to the outside with a stunner followed by a suicide dive. Swerve dodges a Coffin Drop by going outside, so Darby just dives onto him on the outside instead. They brawl on the outside for a bit, by tossing each other into the barricades before Swerve starts slamming Darby onto the steel steps. Back inside, Swerve goes for a pin attempt before taking off Darby’s belt and whipping him with it, as we see Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo watching from backstage. Swerve stays in control with kicks and choking Darby with his own chain. Darby tries to bite his way out but Swerve stops him with a stomp as Darby was on the apron as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Swerve is still dominating as he hits a flatliner before going to the top rope, but Darby is able to knock him down into a Tree of Woe where he takes Swerve’s boot off and starts twisting and biting his foot. Swerve is able to counter a spring boarding Darby off the ropes into a German Suplex, as Jack Perry is watching backstage. Darby hits a wild Poison Rana to Swerve from the apron to the outside, but Prince Nana runs out and puts Swerve’s leg on the rope during the pin fall. Darby tries to chase after Nana, but Brian Cage is on the top of the stage to stop him. Swerve takes advantage and hits a top rope stomp on Darby for a two count, as his ankle slowed him down from making the pin quicker. Cage trips up Darby who was running the ropes, so Aubrey Edwards ejects both Cage & Nana to the back. Swerve tries to use a chair, but Darby kicks it out of his hands and puts on the Last Supper for the pin and the win.
Winner: Darby Allin by pinfall at 14:40
Showtime
MJF comes out with a mic as we head to commercial. When we come back, MJF is already talking trash to the fans here in ‘Mid-Waukee’ and tells them to shut it. MJF says he’s not afraid to admit that him and Darby had one of the best matches in AEW history and Darby might be one of the best wrestlers he’s shared the ring with. MJF tries to do his catch phrase but gets mad at the crowd doing it with him as he brings up the ‘headlock takeover’ and how he beat him with it. MJF brings up how Darby has suffered about 30 concussions that he is not on the level of the devil. Darby asks if anything MJF has done in his life has made him happy and brings up meeting him 6 years ago wrestling in front of 30 people. Darby brings up how material things mean nothing and his first year in AEW he checked himself in therapy and tells MJF to check it out sometime. Darby said he bought his parents a house and helped his dad retire with the money he made in AEW before making a joke that Sting isn’t his dad, but his best friend in the company.
MJF says Darby is an arrogant little boy and questions Darby calling himself special and says everybody has gone through what he has and he is so sick and tired of Darby, Perry & Guevara moaning about his morals as morals kill careers in this sport. MJF says Darby is a gutless coward because he doesn’t have the balls to sacrifice what must be sacrificed. MJF says he’s willing to do whatever it takes and Darby isn’t before saying his legacy will be the greatest of all time while Darby’s legacy will be ‘Sting’s bitch’.
This prompts Sting to make his way to the ring. Sting starts tossing pom poms at MJF and says he feels like a cheerleader as he says he’ll stop now if MJF promises to stop talking about the ‘Cody Day Center’, and says how the truth hurts on how MJF used to have a support system in Cody Rhodes, just like Darby has Sting and Surfer Sting had Ric Flair, before bringing up his ‘crow’ phase and Wolfpac phase giving love to Kevin Nash & Scott Hall and says he still has a little ‘joker’ left in him. Sting brings up the AEW World Title and how showtime is almost over, but showtime is just starting for Darby and how he will become AEW World Champion. Darby says he will become the next AEW World Champion, before MJF spits in his face and leaves.
AEW TNT Championship: Powerhouse Hobbs (c) (w/ QT Marshall, Aaron Solo & Harley Cameron) vs. Silas Young
We see footage of Powerhouse Hobbs coming into the arena with the new car that QT Marshall gifted him before he passes the keys to security to park. Powerhouse Hobbs goes after Silas Young right away and hits Town Business for the very quick and easy win.
Winner: Powerhouse Hobbs by pinfall at 43 seconds, to retain
We cut to outside again where we see Wardlow destroying Hobbs’ new car by smashing it’s windshield and scratching his paint. Wardlow gets in a forklift, smashes into the car and flips it over. Hobbs goes to power bomb Silas into table that are conveniently set to the side of the stage, but Wardlow runs out. A bunch of AEW Dark enhancement talent run out and start separating them, as Wardlow slams down Aaron Solo. Wardlow picks up Solo and powerbombs him onto one of the tables by the stage.
BULLET CLUB Gold
We see a video from Jay White & Juice Robinson who says they are just getting started with Ricky Starks and this is only the beginning and the greatest era of BULLET CLUB ever and calls themselves BULLET CLUB Gold.
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Buddy Matthews (w/ Julia Hart)
The Best Friends escort Orange Cassidy out before heading to the back. Right away Cassidy hits a tilt-a-whirl to Buddy Matthews, sending him to the outside but as Buddy rushes in, Cassidy sends him to the outside and hits him with a suicide dive. Back inside, Buddy catches Cassidy, but Cassidy sends him into the turnbuckle, hits a DDT and the Orange Punch. Cassidy goes right to Dr. Sampson as he checks on his right hand, saying he injured it with the punch. As Sampson is checking on Cassidy, Buddy stomps on the hand as they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Buddy catches Cassidy off the top rope, stops a DDT attempt, before they start fighting on the apron where Cassidy hits a Beach Break. They both barely make it in on nine for the ten count and then start trading punches while on their knees. Buddy transitions into knees before he goes back to stomping and standing on Cassidy’s injured hand. Buddy starts doing Cassidy’s kicks before hitting a hard knee strike. Cassidy comes back with Stundog Millionaire and meets Buddy on the top rope. They tussle a bit until Cassidy hits an avalanche DDT followed by another one from a tope to the outside. Back inside, Cassidy hits a diving DDT, but Buddy kicks out at two. They go back and forth until Cassidy hits another Orange Punch, but Buddy kicks out at two. Buddy blocks another punch and hits a knee strike. Cassidy tells him to hit another, but Buddy hits him with a stomp instead for a two. Cassidy is able to reverse Buddy into the Mouse Trap for the pin and the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy by pinfall at 14:10, to retain
Some Things Have Changed
We see a video showing the new and improved Luchasaurus, as Christian Cage says ‘some things have changed’.
Aussie Open Challenge
When we come back from commercial, Renee Paquette asks for a medical update on Orange Cassidy’s hand, but the Best Friends say he’s alright but all these title defenses are making them jealous so they challenge new IWGP Tag Team Champions Aussie Open for a match on Rampage this Friday.
Jeff Hardy Returns
Ethan Page is in the ring and says The Firm has had a rough patch and brings up Matt Hardy, Hook and the whole contract situation. Page says he’s been a mess and can’t get a haircut, but he still looks better than all these disgusting Milwaukee hillbillies. Page says he needs answers on why Hardy hit him over the head with the title belt and wants to know what he put in the contract and if he still works for him. Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy come out as Hardy says he did work Page and the fine print said if Hook defeats Page, Hardy & Kassidy aren’t part of The Firm anymore and he can choose their next match location and stipulation. Hardy says the stipulation is if Hardy wins the match he can leave The Firm (huh?). Page says there is more members of The Firm, as Big Bill & Lee Moriarty come out and beat down on Hardy & Kassidy. Hook comes out to try and help, but gets beat down as well. Jeff Hardy makes his return, running out for with a chair for the save to a big reaction.
Much Worse
We get a video from Kenny Omega from his home who says him and the Young Bucks will take care of the Blackpool Combat Club in the ring. Omega says he understands the beat downs, but when they left Don Callis in his own pool of blood they crossed the line. Omega calls Callis family and this won’t be blood for blood and when he sees them next it’ll be much worse.
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) (w/ Wheeler Yuta) vs. Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa
As Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa are making their entrance, they get attacked by Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli. Before the bell even rings, Nakazawa is all busted open, but he eventually crawls back inside with Claudio as the bell rings. Claudio & Nakazawa start trading blows, as the crowd is behind Nakazawa. Nakazawa gets some good shots in, before Claudio knocks him down and hits the Giant Swing, into the Sharpshooter. Cutler breaks it up, as Nakazawa hits a back body drop on Claudio. Moxley & Cutler both tag in, as Moxley destroys Cutler with headbutts, punches and a bite to the nose. Cutler tries a couple clotheslines, but Moxley knocks him down with a King Kong Lariat and the Death Rider. Moxley puts on the Bulldog Choke on a bloody Cutler, but Nakazawa breaks it up. Claudio & Moxley continue with strikes and elbows, before the referee finally ends the match.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) by referee stoppage at 3:05
Where is The Elite?
Jon Moxley gets on the mic and asks where Adam Page, Don Callis & the Young Bucks are, before saying they are still in the hospital as they are bickering babies and the BCC put the Elite in All Elite Wrestling. Kenny Omega makes his way out, before saying he wasn’t there earlier. The Blackpool Combat Club are in the ring waiting for him, but as they turn around they get attacked by The Young Bucks, as Omega joins them in the ring for the beat down. The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Moxley as Omega brings in a gear case. Omega goes to use it on Moxley, but Matt Jackson stops him and hands Omega a screwdriver instead. Omega goes to hit him with it, but Claudio & Yuta pull Moxley out of the ring and escape to the back.
Unsettled Scores
Tony Schiavone is backstage with the Mogul Embassy. Swerve Strickland says he created Darby Allin and says they aren’t even in full force and brings up some unsettled scores in AEW before teasing something for tonight and stating ‘hoodies up’.
Skye Blue & Riho vs. The Outcasts (Ruby Soho & Toni Storm) (w/ Saraya)
The Outcasts attack right at the bell, before Riho takes control over Ruby Soho, tagging in Skye Blue as they hit a double drop kick knocking Soho to the outside. Riho dives onto the Outcasts on the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Toni Storm is attacking Blue on the apron, but Blue dodges her and kicks Soho off onto the Outcasts. All four women start going at it with Riho hitting a crucifix bomb on Soho. Storm goes after Blue with a hip attack followed by Storm Zero for the pin.
Winners: The Outcasts (Toni Storm & Ruby Soho) by pinfall at 6:22
They continue attacking, before spray painting L on Riho and hitting her with a triple power bomb. Jamie Hayter makes her way out, but gets beat down before Dr. Britt Baker DMD comes out for the save. Baker goes for a stomp on Saraya, but Storm & Soho pull her out.
Rampage Line-Up
- IWGP Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs. Best Friends
- We hear from FTR
- Emi Sakura vs. Taya Valkyrie
- Mark Briscoe, Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett & Satnam Singh in action
- We hear from Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ang
- Jack Perry vs. Shawn Spears
Dynamite Line-Up
- Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. Ruby Soho & Toni Storm
- AEW TNT Championship: Powerhouse Hobbs (c) vs. Wardlow
Chris Jericho (w/ Daniel Garcia) vs. Keith Lee
Keith Lee goes right after Chris Jericho at the start with chops in the corner, followed by a pair of splashes in the corner. Lee stays in control with a scoop slam, heads to the ropes but Daniel Garcia distracts him on the ropes. Jericho kicks Lee off the apron as they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Jericho is in control, hitting the Lion Sault but Lee comes right back with a hard lariat and a shoulder block. Lee is able to block a clothesline from Jericho and pounces Jericho on his way back off the ropes. Lee goes for a moonsault press, but Jericho puts his knees up. Lee seems fine by this and slams Jericho down for a two count. Jericho comes back by putting on the Walls of Jericho, but Lee is able to crawl over for the rope. Garcia gets involved again, but Lee takes him out of the ring. Lee blocks a Code Breaker, and turns it into a powerbomb. As Lee goes for the cover, Garcia distracts Aubrey Edwards again. Swerve Strickland comes out and knocks Lee out with an object. Jericho makes the cover for the win.
Winner: Chris Jericho by pinfall at 14:14
As Jericho and Garcia are celebrating, Adam Cole makes his way out to the ring and gives Lee some words of encouragement. Before heading back with Lee, Cole gives Jericho the same side eye that Jericho gave him a couple weeks ago.
