AEW Dynamite
February 28, 2024
By: John Siino
Propst Arena at Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Is Hangman Healthy?
The show starts with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page making his way down to the ring on one crutch, to update us on the rumors surrounding an injury he might have gotten last week. Page says this probably doesn’t look like a promising start to the speech but he will say that when AEW first started it was a goal for him, an opportunity to rise to people’s expectations and make the most out of the world that was laid in front of him. He thinks winning the World Championship in 2021 is the biggest accomplishment in his career, and that’s why it hurts to have that opportunity in front of him again be stopped. He brings up how he thought the match should have been a singles match, but he had the wrong two competitors and he lets us know that on Sunday he will not be able to compete.
Swerve Strickland, along with Prince Nana, heads to the ring to join Page. Swerve says the last six months they’ve gone to war, trying to kill each other and cross the line, but he didn’t expect this to happen to Page. Swerve says Page suffered this fate, but you can’t escape fate or avoid destiny as his destiny is to become the AEW World Champion at Revolution. Samoa Joe comes out and says we have two enemies in the ring trying to hug it out, and out of the lies being told here he’s going to say some truths. Joe said they were ignoring eye contact with him and realizing who the real man was here in AEW. Joe calls Page ‘Hop-A-Long’ and brings up how they are ‘young, hungry’ competitors, but calls them ‘hungry, accomplished wrestlers’. Joe says he’s starving and as long as he’s champion, there will be no more dinner time and whether it’s one or both of them at Revolution, he will whip both their asses.
Swerve talks about being unemployed, to being in the main event, and going from cruiserweight to heavyweight. Swerve brings up how after he’s done with him, Joe might go back to commentary wearing a poncho and says he’s on the verge of making history, but as Swerve is continuing, he gets attacked from behind by Page, who looks to be perfectly healthy.
Sting’s Exit Interview
We go to Matthew & Nicholas Jackson from earlier today arriving at the building saying they are ready to ‘clock in to work’. Renee Paquette stops them to get a word and brings up their business meeting with Ric Flair. Nicholas said it went great and that’s all he’ll say about that, Matthew asked Renee if she had seen Sting today, and since it’s his final appearance on Dynamite, they are dying to see him, thank him and conduct his ‘exit interview’. They pull out bats and start looking for Sting as we go to commercial.
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) & Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston & Bryan Danielson start the match, ahead of their championship match this Sunday, but Danielson quickly tags out to Claudio Castagnoli, as he and Kingston start testing each other out with shoulder tackles. Kingston wins that battle, as Danielson & Dax Harwood tag in. They test each other back and forth a bit until Jon Moxley & Cash Wheeler go next, and go right into punches and chops in the corner. They then start going into headbutts, before the other four men come in to break it up before all six men start brawling, as we go into picture-in-picture.
We come back, with Wheeler in a figure-four from Moxley, but Harwood gets in and breaks it up. Wheeler is able to escape from Moxley with a hurricanrana, before making the hot tag to Harwood who goes after both Moxley & Claudio. A couple of pin attempts from Harwood, including a Tiger Driver that Danielson breaks up the pin attempt. Moxley sends Harwood into the ring post and to the outside, as Danielson continues to attack his shoulder. They all start brawling on the outside, including Danielson whipping Kingston into the barricade before he hits him with a sliding dropkick. Claudio & Harwood go at it in the ring, as we go back to picture-in-picture.
Danielson & Claudio are double-teaming Harwood, with a top rope headbutt from Danielson, but Claudio only gets two. Kingston & Danielson go at it next with chops until Kingston hits Exploder suplexes to Danielson & Claudio, and Taz gets offended when Excalibur says they are ‘Jun Akiyama like’. Kingston & Moxley go at it, until the rest of Blackpool Combat Club jump in, as Claudio hits Kingston with the Giant Swing, right into a knee from Danielson, a knee and piledriver from Moxley for a two, that Harwood breaks up. All six go at it until Kingston hits the Uraken on Danielson, followed by the double-team bulldog from FTR, but Moxley breaks up that count. BCC starts holding down their opponents with chokes and elbows, as Danielson is screaming to Kingston for him to tap. They are able to escape and all three start delivering chops before BCC escapes and all start giving ten punches in the corner. FTR ends up hitting the Shatter Machine on Claudio until Danielson dodges the Uraken from Kingston to hit a suplex and the Busaiku Knee. Instead of covering him, Danielson starts kicking Kingston’s head in and puts on a Triangle Sleeper, as the referee calls off the match.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) by referee stoppage at 21:53
Repay The Favor
They show CMLL footage of the history between Chris Jericho & Atlantis before we go to Renee with Jericho in the back. Jericho talks about 30 years ago when he started wrestling in Mexico, he got thrown into the deep end fast with people like Negro Casas, Silver King, El Dandy & Atlantis. So he requested this match with Atlantis Jr. so he could repay the favor and show him a few things he’s never seen before and give him a lesson in violence and what Corazon de Leon can do before he speaks a bit of Spanish.
Will Ospreay & The Don Callis Family Reunion
Tony Schiavone is in the ring, and to make it official, he welcomes to AEW; Will Ospreay. Ospreay comes out full of energy and high-fiving all the fans before entering the ring. Ospreay says he doesn’t want to take up too much time and says his obligations with NJPW are done, he flew over here, lost his bags, found them, and came here in his green suit looking like Kermit the Frog on leg day, but now he’s ready for full-time work. Ospreay talks about having matches here and beating Orange Cassidy, Kenny Omega, and pinned Chris Jericho at Wembley Stadium. Ospreay says everything’s been going smoothly with the Don Callis Family, which prompts Callis to come out along with Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita.
Ospreay gives hugs to Callis & Hobbs, but not Takeshita ahead of their match on Sunday. Callis says there’s nothing he likes more than a Don Callis Family Reunion and says Ospreay, Hobbs, Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher are an embarrassment of riches. Callis talks about being by Ospreay’s side through all his AEW accomplishments and the only way to top that is with a ‘match of the decade’ between Ospreay & Takeshita. Callis compares this to Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen going hard in practice and then coming together for championships, and the real winner after the match is the Don Callis Family. Callis tells them to shake hands, as they reluctantly do, but not before they both pull each other back in.
Dress Code
Renee is in the back with Eddie Kingston and brings up the disrespect that Bryan Danielson has shown leading up to their match and asks how concerned he is to face him on Sunday. The Young Bucks walk in and interrupt and say they have a bone to pick with him with the way he was talking about them on Rampage and say next time there will be a fine. They mention him being a champion and ask him to show up in a better presentation and maybe they’ll enforce a dress code before they walk away and start asking for Sting. Taz brings up how he used to have to be in a dress code, and it wasn’t fun.
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Nick Wayne (w/ Christian Cage, Killswitch & Shayna Wayne)
They start the match taking each other down, before going back and forth with leap frogs, as Nick Wayne escapes out of a Beach Break attempt and sends Orange Cassidy into the corner with a hurricanrana. Orange dodges a Wayne’s World attempt, but gets knocked to the outside and gets sent into the steel steps before Wayne hits him with a top rope moonsault on the outside. Back inside, they head to the top rope, but Christian knocks Orange down as the referee is distracted. Bryce Remsburg catches on tho and ejects The Patriarchy from ringside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we return, Wayne dodges Orange in the corner, but he comes back with a diving crossbody and a Tornado DDT for two. They go back and forth, with Orange knocking down Wayne with a super kick before going from slow to fast stomps on Wayne. Orange stays in control as Mike Bennett & Matt Taven show up ringside and start distracting Orange. Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta run out and take them out as Wayne pulls off the turnbuckle pad. Daniel Garcia runs out and gets in Wayne’s face, which distracts him enough for Orange to hit the Orange Punch for the pin and the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy by pinfall at 11:00, to retain
Roderick Strong runs in and attacks Orange, but he quickly gets chased away by Romero & Beretta.
Gelling As A Group
After the break, Renee is backstage with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang who say they are gelling as a group. Jay White says he was apprehensive at first but now he’s all in on the Bang Bang Scissor Gang and says they were perfect. Billy Gunn says except for Max Caster’s rap as Caster asked if anyone saw them. They bring up the combination of The Acclaimed & Austin Gunn for this coming episode of Collision.
Kris Statlander (w/ Willow Nightingale & Stokely Hathaway) vs. Skye Blue (w/ Julia Hart)
Skye Blue goes right after Kris Statlander at the start of the match, but Statlander quickly tosses her off. They run the ropes, as Statlander catches a headscissors attempt from Blue, and tosses her down. They fight in the corner, where Blue knees Statlander to the outside, with a knee on the apron. Statlander catches Blue off the apron and press slams her into some planted fans ringside as we go to break.
After the break, Statlander catches Blue with an elbow off the ropes. Blue comes back with a neckbreaker for two, before Statlander hits a German Suplex to Blue, sending her to the outside, where they are both being checked on. Julia Hart gets in Statlander’s face, but Willow Nightingale gets in between them. Statlander & Blue head back inside where Blue hits a Destroyer, and an inside cradle for two. Stokely tries to hand Statlander a steel chain, but Willow tells her not to take it, which she doesn’t. As the referee is distracted with all this, Julia Hart enters and hits Statlander with her title belt, followed by the Code Blue as Blue gets the pin and the win.
Winner: Skye Blue by pinfall at 9:40
Mind Games
The Young Bucks are still looking for Sting, and find the locker room with his name on it. Matthew stops Nicholas and asks if he saw the Sting interview from last week just to be mindful of him. They enter the room, and it has bats hanging from the ceiling as they ask if he’s playing mind games.
Chris Jericho vs. Atlantis Jr. (w/ Atlantis)
Atlantis Jr. comes out with the CMLL World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship that he won last February, as Taz comedically talks about not being a fan of second-generation wrestlers. Right away Atlantis takes control and hits a top rope crossbody and monkey flips Chris Jericho out of the corner a couple of times. Jericho stops the third attempt and puts on the Walls of Jericho, but Atlantis quickly grabs the bottom rope. Jericho goes to take off his mask but as Aubrey Edwards goes to help him put it back on, Atlantis Senior starts lightly choking Jericho with his towel. As Senior & Jericho are in each other’s faces on the outside, Atlantis Jr. dives onto Jericho and slingshots him in the ring post. Jr. tries to powerbomb Jericho onto the steel steps, but he reverses it and sends Jr. into the steel steps as we go to break.
When we come back, Atlantis catches Jericho off the top rope and hits an arm drag for two. Atlantis comes back with a wheelbarrow, slamming Jericho hard on the back of his head. They head to the top rope, where Jericho hits a bulldog, spiking Atlantis down hard, and getting a two-count. They talk about this Friday, on the Countdown to Revolution having never before seen footage of Sting in NJPW. Atlantis sends Jericho to the outside, where he dives onto him. Atlantis sends Jericho back inside, but Jericho knocks him off the top rope before joining him up and hitting the ten punches with a hurricanrana. Atlantis dodges the Judas Effect and tries his backbreaker, but Jericho gets out and puts on the Walls of Jericho. Atlantis is almost at the rope, but as Jericho pulls him back in the middle, Atlantis Senior tosses in the towel to end the match.
Winner: Chris Jericho by stoppage at 12:05
Jericho helps up Atlantis Jr., before hugging his father Atlantis and all three standing tall.
Rampage Line-Up
- Magnus vs. Matt Sydal (Winner gets a spot in the All-Star 8-Man Scramble at Revolution)
- Rugido vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Collision Line-Up
- Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Bryan Keith vs. Dante Martin (Winner gets a spot in the All-Star 8-Man Scramble at Revolution)
- We’ll hear from Toni Storm & Deonna Purrazzo
- Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, Hook & Daniel Garcia vs. Christian Cage, Killswitch, Roderick Strong & Brian Cage
Revolution Line-Up
- All-Star 8-Man Scramble: Chris Jericho vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer vs. Wardlow vs. Hook vs. Brian Cage vs. ??? vs. ??? (replacing the Meat Madness match)
- Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay
- FTR vs. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli
- AEW Continental Crown: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo
- AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong
- AEW TNT Championship: Christian Cage (c) vs. Daniel Garcia
- AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland
- AEW Tag Team Championship Tornado Tag: Darby Allin & Sting (c) vs. Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
Sting’s Final Dynamite
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson come to the ring and get into the faces of some faces with Sting masks ringside, just for one of them to be revealed to be Darby Allin who attacks the Young Bucks. They double-team Darby and bring him inside the ring and start choking him out with the bat, before hitting him with the EVP Trigger. They keep attacking him with the bat before calling for Ric Flair to come out, which he does. Flair enters and goes to hit Darby with the bat, just to turn on the Young Bucks and attack them instead. They take out Flair with a low blow and keep attacking him until Sting’s music finally hits.
Matthew & Nicholas go to meet him up the ramp with the bats, but Sting lowers from the rafters behind them, just for them to turn around in fear. Sting fights off their bats with his bat, as Darby takes out the Bucks with a Coffin Drop. Sting takes out Nicholas with a Scorpion Death Drop in the ring, right in front of a smiling Flair.
