AEW Dynamite
April 19th, 2023
By: John Siino
Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Four Pillars Tournament
The show starts with Jack Perry making his way to the ring, but before he can say a word he gets interrupted by Sammy Guevara. As soon as Guevara grabs the mic and goes to talk he gets interrupted by Darby Allin. Darby says out of all the pillars he’s known Guevara the longest and likes him the most, but he’s the least qualified to fight for the AEW World Championship. Darby says he and Sting consider themselves equals as it’s not called the ‘Sting Appreciation Society’ and tells him that he thinks Chris Jericho is holding him back and if they have a problem with him they can ‘talk it out’. Darby moves on to Perry and asks what he even calls himself nowadays and says Perry was hand-picked as he was part of this ‘California click’. Darby says he was jealous of Perry at first, but once he saw what he was all about nothing intimidated him. Perry mentions all the kids here in Darby’s facepaint and makes him wonder if they knew what Darby was like in being anti-social, unfriendly, and rude to everybody in the back. Perry says this isn’t even Darby’s first choice, and he only came here because he didn’t make it as a skateboarder. Perry moves on to Guevara and says what you see is what you get with him and he respects that, but says he’s still a scumbag piece of shit.
Guevara says Perry hates MJF so much, but he’s just like him and calls him and Darby the ‘golden children of AEW’. Guevara brings up at Double or Nothing, Bret Hart shared the ring with MJF and Jungle Boy, and at the last pay-per-view, it was still MJF and Jungle Boy. Guevara then thanks Darby for giving him hope in this place by losing all his matches and then becoming the first pillar to win a championship here. Guevara saw Darby become TNT Champion and said he would do it, and he did, but better and three times. Perry cuts in and says he will become the new AEW World Champion and will do it for every single person who’s supported him since day one, this prompts MJF to come out. MJF says he doesn’t care what Pittsburgh thinks of him especially since they think Britt Baker is talented and says he’s blushing by the ‘ladies’ fighting over him in the ring. MJF brings up talking with Tony Khan and they decided that there would be a Pillars Tournament, and the winner of that will get to face him for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing. In the first round, someone is going to get a bye as he asks for a hat with all their names in it. He goes to pull a name out and it’s Darby Allin and says round one will be Jack Perry vs. Sammy Guevara and it’s happening tonight.
The Outcasts (Ruby Soho & Toni Storm) (w/ Saraya) vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD & Jamie Hayter
On their way out, Saraya gets in it with Britt Baker’s family that’s sitting ringside. As Baker & Jamie Hayter are making their entrance, they get attacked by Ruby Soho & Toni Storm. Eventually, Hayter and Storm get in the ring to start the match, and Hayter stays in control taking them both out and then chasing Saraya outside of the ring. As Storm distracts the referee, Soho attacks Hayter on the apron who then gets knocked off by a hip attack from Storm. Baker joins in but gets stopped short of doing a Panama Sunrise on the floor. Soho gets in Baker’s family’s faces as they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Baker gets the hot tag and goes right after Storm & Soho. Baker pulls out her black glove, but Soho distracts her as Storm hits her with a German Suplex. Baker reverses a Storm Zero attempt and hits an Air Raid Crash for a two count. Baker & Hayter double-team Storm with elbow strikes and keep double-teaming her until Soho runs in to break up a pin attempt. Storm & Soho take over attacking Baker in the corner, and as the referee isn’t looking Saraya hits Baker with the title belt, followed by a Storm Zero by Baker stills kicks out at two. Soho & Baker head to the top rope, where Baker tosses Soho off and hits the Panama Sunrise, for a two-count. Baker follows that with a stomp and takes out Storm off the apron, but Soho kicks out at two. Baker puts on the Lockjaw, as Soho taps out right away.
Winners: Dr. Britt Baker DMD & Jamie Hayter by submission at 9:37
Start Playing Chess
Renee Paquette is backstage with Wardlow and asks if he hasn’t a different approach for tonight’s match. Wardlow talks about having a Horseman once telling him to keep the playing fields even and introduces another Horseman to help him tonight as Arn Anderson walks into the picture. Anderson brings up all the things QTV have done to him being ‘kid stuff’ but now they took his championship and ask Wardlow if he wants to start a group like the Four Horsemen because that wakes people up. Anderson says starting tonight they are going to start playing chess.
Squashing The Beef
The Elite make their way to the ring as Kenny Omega talks about Blackpool Combat Club making these last couple of weeks the worse of his life, and he’s been having trouble sleeping at night with the image of seeing the screwdriver in the top turnbuckle and he wishes he would have taken that screwdriver and plunged it into Jon Moxley’s face. Omega extends an invitation to the BCC and calls them out to squash the beef once and for all. Bryan Danielson pops up on the screen from backstage and starts talking about how they got mic time and are wasting time. As this is happening, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & Jon Moxley show up from behind. They start brawling in and out of the ring, including diving into the crowd. Matt Jackson starts doing his Northern Lights Suplexes on the outside to Yuta, as Moxley starts choking out Omega. Back inside, Yuta attacks Matt Jackson’s injured bicep with a title belt, as Claudio takes out Nick Jackson with a powerbomb. They all continue to brawl, including a Death Rider from Moxley to Omega. Danielson makes his way out to the ring and calls The Elite a bunch of amateurs. Don Callis makes his way out with a chair, but Danielson stops him and asks what he’s doing. Callis drops the chair and runs to the back. Danielson pulls out a screwdriver as the rest of the BCC hold Omega down. Callis runs out with Konosuke Takeshita and sends him to the ring to help out The Elite. They clear out the ring of BCC as Takeshita stands tall with Callis and The Elite.
AEW TNT Championship: Powerhouse Hobbs (c) (w/ QT Marshall & Harley Cameron) vs. Wardlow (w/ Arn Anderson)
Right away, Wardlow goes after Powerhouse Hobbs driving him into the corner, but Hobbs comes right back with three back-to-back belly-to-belly suplexes. They start brawling on the outside as Hobbs gets whipped into the barricade and clotheslined over into the crowd. Wardlow & Hobbs start brawling in the crowd for a bit, as Hobbs reverses a powerbomb attempt before they head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Wardlow knocks Hobbs over the top rope and hits a Senton Bomb. They start trading blows back and forth before Wardlow hits a pair of German Suplexes. They go back and forth a bit until Wardlow headbutts Hobbs down. Harley Cameron gets on the apron, along with Arn Anderson as QT Marshall runs in and hits a cutter on Wardlow, but Hobbs only gets a two-count. QT comes into the ring and starts getting into it with the referee, but Arn Anderson comes out and does the ‘Glock’ motion which scares QT towards the back, but he gets stopped by Penta El Zero M. Back inside, Wardlow takes control and hits two power bombs on Hobbs as the crowd sings for more. Wardlow hits one more for the pin and the win.
Winner: Wardlow by pinfall at 9:12, to become NEW AEW TNT Champion
As Wardlow is being awarded the title, he gets interrupted by Christian Cage & Luchasaurus as they have a bit of a staredown
Name Your Price
Renee Paquette is backstage with Sammy Guevara, but before he can say anything MJF interrupts. MJF says they have gotten on the wrong foot since the Inner Circle days but Guevara tells him to get to the point. MJF says they have an agreement for both of them and offers a guaranteed spot in the main event of Double or Nothing against him and all Guevara has to do is lay down. Guevara cuts him off and says he is going to beat Jack Perry tonight, then Darby next week, and then MJF at Double or Nothing. MJF says he thinks Sammy is better than Perry & Darby but the chances of beating three pillars are slim to none, so offers him a blank check with Guevara’s name on it and tells Guevara to put any number on it. MJF is taken aback by the price that Guevara puts down, but agrees to it as Guevara and MJF hug.
Komander vs. Jay White (w/ Juice Robinson)
Jay White goes right on the attack as we see Shawn Spears watching in the crowd. Komander takes over and starts bouncing on the ropes before taking out White with a hurricanrana sending him to the outside. Komander heads to the top rope, but White gets him off. Komander misses a moonsault to the outside, as White picks him up and drops him face first onto the apron as they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back they are trading slaps and chops until Komander bounces off the ropes into a pin attempt for a two, but White comes right back with a hard clothesline. They head to the top rope, where Komander starts stretching White’s arm until White pokes Komander’s eye. White gets sent to the outside, as Komander runs the ropes and flips onto White on the outside. Spears put up a ‘ten’ sign for that move. Komander follows with a Shooting Star Press off the ropes but only gets a two. Komander follows with a springboard Phoenix Splash for another two. White comes back with a cutthroat suplex followed by Blade Runner for the pin and the win.
Winner: Jay White by pinfall at 10:45
Juice Robinson goes and drags Shawn Spears into the ring, as White & Robinson start attacking him. Ricky Starks runs out and takes out Juice with a spear, as White escapes out.
Do It For Mark
Renee is trying to get a word with FTR in the back but informs them that Mark Briscoe was attacked, as we see footage of Briscoe talking to Mark Sterling before being attacked by Tony Nese & Josh Woods of the Varsity Athletes, Slim J of the Trustbusters and Ari Daivari of both groups. FTR runs to the medical room to see how he’s doing, but Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh are there already. They start fighting over who will get revenge for Briscoe, so Briscoe suggests FTR teams up with Jarrett & Lethal. They are reluctant at first, but decide to do it for Briscoe.
JeriCole, Bay-Bay
Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring, and as we come back from break he is joined by Adam Cole. Cole talks about how he was inspired by Jericho, including his catchphrase. Cole talks about reading Jericho’s book and says someday he wants to be like him and find this moment in the ring with him pretty damn cool. Cole says he respects Jericho as they shake hands. Jericho says he’s been watching Cole’s stuff lately and says he has absolutely zero respect for Cole and calls him an arrogant son of a bitch. Jericho says what Cole did with Keith Lee last week was unacceptable and he’s lucky he won’t slap his dumb face right here and right now. Cole comes back and says he and the crowd here think Jericho is a jag-off, which gets the crowd to chant it. Cole asks when was the last time Jericho looked in the mirror and asked who the real Jericho is. Cole thinks the real Jericho is an insecure, fickle, stupid idiot. Cole says Jericho wanted his attention, now has it, and asks ‘Now what’. Jericho says Cole doesn’t want anything to do with him and if he’s smart, he’ll turn around and leave the ring. Jericho pushes Cole, who then starts attacking Jericho in the corner before Daniel Garcia runs out to attack Cole. Britt Baker runs out and pushes Jericho off, before smacking him. The Outcasts show up from under the ring and attack Baker. They handcuff Cole to the rope and keep attacking Baker including Garcia handing Jericho a kendo stick. Cole dares Jericho to hit him with it, but instead, he hands the stick to Saraya who attacks Baker with it, repeatedly. Baker yells for ‘Austin!’ as the crowd chants ‘piece of shit’ at Jericho.
Be There Or Be Triangular
We see a video from The Hardys, Isiah Kassidy & Hook who talk about them now being in charge and tell everybody to keep their phones on and charged for the date of the Firm Deletion. Jeff Hardy says he will speak on Rampage on Friday for the first time and says ‘Be there or be triangular’
The Jericho Appreciation Society (Jake Hager, Angelo Parker & Matt Menard) vs. The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn
Max Caster’s freestyle brings up Bud Light stock, Draymond Green, and something else about a taste in their mouth that gets censored out. They all start brawling before the bell rings before Caster & Angelo Parker are in the ring as Anthony Bowens hits Scissor Me Timbers. The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn follow this by scissoring before we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back Gunn is in control, until Bowens & Menard go at it. Parker takes out Bowens with his knife comb, as the referee is distracted, but Bowens kicks out at two. Parker takes out Hager by accident with the comb, before Gunn takes it from his hand and breaks it. Bowens takes out Parker with a rolling elbow, The Arrival is followed by the Mic Drop from Castesr for the pin and the win.
Winners: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn by pinfall at 6:17
Rampage Line-Up
- AAA Mega Championship: El Hijo del Vikingo (c) vs. Dralistico
- Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett & FTR vs. Varsity Athletes & Slim J
- We hear from The Hardys, Hook & Isiah Kassidy
- Kiera Hogan vs. Julia Hart
- We hear from Jade Cargill
- Jon Moxley vs. Christopher Daniels
Dynamite Line-Up
- TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie
- Four Pillars Tournament: Darby Allin vs. winner of Jack Perry vs. Sammy Guevara
Four Pillars Tournament Match: Sammy Guevara vs. Jack Perry
Tay Melo came out to kiss Sammy Guevara, before going to the back. Right away, Jack Perry sends Guevara to the back, but Guevara comes right back. They fight on the apron, where Perry takes Guevara to the outside with a hurricanrana. Back inside, Guevara hits a top rope Spanish Fly as both guys get laid out with Darby Allin watching from the rafters and MJF watching from the back. They fight on the apron until Perry hits a Spanish Fly to the outside before heading to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Perry is in control taking Guevara down with a clothesline. Perry comes off the top rope and hits a Destroyer to Guevara for a two-count. Guevara heads to the top rope, but misses a Shooting Star Press, before coming right back with a cutter and a deadly-looking implant DDT for a two count. Guevara goes for the GTH, but Perry reverses it into a poison rana. Guevara comes back with a poison rana of his own before Perry hits a rolling elbow as they are both laid out. They go back and forth before Perry is able to put on the Snare Trap, but Guevara crawls over and reaches the bottom rope. They head to the top rope and Guevara dropkicks Perry off as he goes crashing into a table ringside. Perry is about to get counted out but goes to go in at nine. Guevara distracts the referee, as MJF shows up from out of the crowd and knocks Perry out with his Dynamite Diamond ring. Guevara tells the ref to keep counting, and he does as Perry is laid out and gets counted out.
Winner: Sammy Guevara by count out at 11:38, to advance
Guevara & MJF embrace and do an over-the-top celebration to end the show, as Darby is watching on, having to face Guevara next week.
