AEW Dynamite
March 6th, 2024
By: John Siino
Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
New Dynamite Look + The Undisputed Challenge
A whole new look for the new season of Dynamite, with a new set, color scheme, and new theme song for the show, as Tony Schiavone is in the ring to bring out Swerve Strickland who comes out with Prince Nana to a big reaction from this crowd. Schiavone asks Swerve what’s next for him, but Swerve talks about what’s a house with the keys, and this past Sunday he couldn’t come out the victor. Swerve talks about when he first signed here and promised to get gold, and still hasn’t, possible due to the karma with all the bad things he’s done in AEW. Swerve continues that Revolution felt different and it felt like the people wanted him to win and even people flew in from his home state of Washington to see him make history. Swerve says that nothing changes and to Samoa Joe, he is coming for him, whether he is champion or not. He doesn’t know when or when, but he will defeat him for that AEW World Championship like he promised.
Samoa Joe comes out, looking ready to wrestle, and said for someone who got beat down the other day, Swerve is talking funny making promises he can’t keep, and Joe is here to give a reality check. Joe says that Swerve’s house exists in Joe’s world and he came out to let people gaze upon an actual world champion. Swerve talks about how Joe still hasn’t beaten him and says since they are dressed to go, to put the title on the line tonight. Swerve says he doesn’t even want to wait and suggests it happens then and there. The Undisputed Kingdom’s music hits as all five members come out to the stage. Adam Cole says the only story coming out of Revolution is The Undisputed Kingdom’s story with them holding gold and the only reason Joe is still the champion, is because they let it happen. Cole continues that in 6 months nobody will be talking about Swerve anymore and Wardlow will be the one to win the world title. Swerve brings up the number of times Cole has failed and starts calling Cole the manager of The Undisputed Kingdom and compares him to Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget and even says he has a number for Britt Baker. Cole suggests for next week, for Matt Taven & Mike Bennett to take on Swerve & Joe, but Swerve says why not do it tonight. Cole says they make the rules and it’ll happen next week. Schiavone interrupts and says Tony Khan has told him that the match is happening right now.
Samoa Joe & Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) vs. The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
Matt Taven & Samoa Joe start the match, with Joe keeping Taven in the corner with punches before Mike Bennett tries to break it up. Joe fights them both off and hits a senton on Taven for two. Bennett tags in and takes advantage as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Taven is keeping Joe in the corner until he fights him off with a uranage before backing up right into Swerve Strickland, who tagged himself in. Swerve fights off Taven with a kick off the apron before hitting a flatliner on Bennett followed by a roll into a brainbuster. Swerve fights Taven off the top rope and hits the Swerve Stomp on Bennett. Swerve locks eyes with Joe, before hitting Big Pressure (the former JML Driver) on Taven to get the pin and the win.
Winners: Swerve Strickland & Samoa Joe by pinfall at 6:52
Wardlow comes out and stares down Swerve, as Joe attacks Swerve from behind and puts on the Coquina Clutch, choking out Swerve (after Swerve told Joe earlier to never turn his back to him). We find out that Samoa Joe will defend the AEW World Championship against Wardlow next week on Big Business.
The Real Deal
Renee Paquette is backstage with Hook and brings up the history he has with Brian Cage before he can say anything, Chris Jericho interrupts and talks about the first-ever match he ever had in this country was at the ECW Arena against Taz, who suplexed him on his head and he never forgot about that. He talks about having a connection with Taz and never had anything with Hook until he dropped him on his head at Revolution, and maybe he is the real deal, as they fist bump.
We go to The Young Bucks in the back who are mocking Tony Khan’s ‘huge announcement’ presentations and talk about having two huge announcements, but stop themselves and say they will do them live in the ring later tonight.
FTW Championship: Hook (c) vs. Brian Cage
They showed a bit of their history that built up to this match, and should be noted that Prince Nana is not out with Brian Cage. Cage starts by attacking Hook and keeps him in the corner before trapping his arms and suplexing Hook while yelling ‘That’s for you, Taz’, as Taz says years ago he gave that move to Cage to use. Cage brings a chair into the ring, but Hook takes him out with a fire extinguisher before slamming a trash can lid over Cage’s head a bunch of times. Cage goes to slam against Hook, but Hook moves as Cage goes crashing into the steel steps. Cage follows by catching Hook off the steps and slamming him on the outside but ends up missing Hook and goes crashing through the barricade as we go to picture-in-picture.
We come back to see Cage smashing Hook with a chair, before tossing him back into the ring which is filled with weapons. Hook goes after Cage with a bunch of suplexes, including one onto a guard rail that was positioned in the corner. Cage hits a clunky-looking neck breaker, before delivering a powerbomb and the F5 on a chair for two. Cage gets a bag of tacks and pours them in the ring, but fails to suplex Hook onto them, as he puts on the Redrum. Cage breaks it up by backing him into the corner but Hook follows with kendo sticks shows and suplexes Cage onto the tacks. Hook puts the Redrum again, even with Cage slamming back onto the tacks. Hook holds on as Cage passes out to end the back.
Winner: Hook by referee stoppage at 10:09, to retain
As soon as the match ends, the Gates of Agony run out and attack Hook. Chris Jericho runs out with a bat and takes them out to save Hook.
Tag Team Title Tournament
We get highlights of the AEW World Tag Team Championship with some of the tag teams through the years, as we get sound bites of Tony Khan from the Revolution Post Show Press Conference talking about an upcoming tournament to crown new champions.
Renee is in the back with Orange Cassidy & the Best Friends and asks what’s next after losing the International Championship. Cassidy says he’ll do whatever it takes to fill up his backpack with a championship. Chuck Taylor says he isn’t cleared just yet, but suggests Trent Beretta & Orange Cassidy enter the tournament and this Friday they will have their first match on Rampage.
Killswitch vs. Matt Menard
Matt Menard starts the match going right after Killswitch, as Christian Cage joins the commentary table. Menard stays on top of Killswitch, trying to knock him down off the ropes, but Killswitch stops him with a chokeslam. Cage goes off on Excalibur & Tony Schiavone as Killswitch hits Menard with Extinction. Killswitch hits another Extinction after running the ropes for the pin and the win.
Winner: Killswitch by pinfall at 2:07
Killswitch continues to attack Menard as Daniel Garcia runs out and attacks Killswitch. Nick Wayne runs in and gets attacked by Garcia also, not before getting knocked down with a boot from Killswitch. They continue with the attack as Wayne hits the Wayne’s World on Garcia.
Copeland Challenges Christian
As The Patriarchy goes to leave, Adam Copeland shows up and tosses Killswitch off the stage onto a table and takes out Nick Wayne. Shayna Wayne goes to low-blow Copeland, but he stops her and chases Christian Cage right through the crowd and to the back. Copeland chases Christian all the way to the parking lot, where Christian steals a car and drives away. Copeland looks into the camera and says this ends where it started in Toronto, in two weeks on Dynamite in an I Quit Match.
Second Chance
Renee is in the back with Kyle O’Reilly who talks about not thinking he would ever wrestle again after being gone for two years. He’s grateful to be given a second chance and says he has nothing but respect and love for The Undisputed Kingdom. He doesn’t know what path to take and now that he has a second chance, he has to do it on his own.
Two Huge Announcements = Kazuchika Okada
We get a well-produced video for Sting’s last match at Revolution as we cut to Tony Schiavone talking about how great of a night it was before bringing out Matthew & Nicholas Jackson. The EVPs come out from up the old Codyvator. Schiavone talks about how great of an entrance that was after they got their ass kicked, as the Bucks kick out Schiavone and said that Darby Allin & Sting cheated by using their old friends and Sting’s sons. Nicholas said they ended Sting’s career forever and they are entering themselves in the tag team tournament. Matthew talks about their two huge announcements and the first one is tough is say as it involves their friends. Matthew continues in order to show no favoritism, and because ‘Hangman’ Adam Page put his hands on two officials on Sunday, he is suspended indefinitely from The Elite, and won’t get paid. They continue about Kenny Omega not being able to make any of his dates and just disappearing, and he is fired from The Elite. They go into the second announcement, but they get interrupted by Eddie Kingston.
Kingston starts right away by tossing money to them and says they can find him for talking trash. They go to calm him down, just for Kingston to attack them before Matthew takes him out with a low blow and Nicholas follows with a super kick. Kazuchika Okada’s music hits and he comes in and looks to be aligned with Kingston, just to take him out with a low blow as The Young Bucks announce him as the newest member of The Elite.
Kris Statlander (w/ Stokely Hathaway) vs. Riho
Kris Statlander starts in control before Riho takes her down with a dropkick, drapes her on the ropes but misses the Tiger Faint Kick. Statlander follows with a vertical suplex and keeps Riho in the corner with chops before press-slamming her down as we go to picture-in-picture.
We come back, as Riho sends Statlander into the corner, but Statlander comes back on the attack, and keeps Riho down on the mat with a stomp, before Riho counters with head scissors and hits the Tiger Faint Kick. Riho goes to the top rope and tries a diving crossbody, but Statlander catches her. Riho escapes out and hits a Dragon Suplex for two. Statlander dodges the running knee strike and hits a powerbomb for two. Stokely puts a chain in the ring and starts to distract Aubrey Edwards. Statlander grabs the chain and considers it, but ends up tossing it away. Statlander catches Riho into a rolling German Suplex, followed by a second one. Riho reverses a third one right into a roll-up for the pin.
Winner: Riho by pinfall at 9:51
The Toni Awards
Renee is backstage in black and white with Toni Storm, Luther & Mariah May who’s dressed as the old Toni Storm. Storm says that it’s Award Season and it’s time for The Toni Awards and presents May with a t-shirt that’s now available where it’s Storm’s old shirt just with May in place dressed as her.
After the break, Renee is with Stokely Hathaway & Willow Nightingale. Stokely said Kris Statlander is his favorite and wishes she would listen to him. Renee talks about Willow going one-on-one against Riho next week, as Willow tells Stokely they have to do things her way next week. Willow talks about knowing she can beat Riho then setting his eyes on Julia Hart and her TBS Championship.
Darby Without Sting
Tony Schiavone is in the ring and talks about Darby Allin falling off against Jay White next week on Big Business, before bringing out Darby. Schiavone asks Darby what he’s going to be like now without Sting. Darby talks about how five years ago he was homeless down here by Atlanta and this past Sunday he was main eventing in Sting’s retirement match and he didn’t stop until Sting got the respect he deserved. Darby talks about being tired but next week he has Jay White then he’ll be flying to climb Mt. Everest. Darby talks about there being no guarantee he’ll come back from climbing Mt. Everest and takes this time to thank every fan and AEW for giving him this dream. And if next week is his last ever match, he’s going to go out fighting for his life and as far as finding a new tag team partner, he can’t replace Sting and congratulates the next tag team that wins this.
As Darby goes to leave, he gets stopped by the Bang Bang Scissor Gang’s music as Jay White & The Gunns come out. White talks about Darby being a weird guy so he had to take the opportunity now to talk to Darby face-to-face and congratulate him on an amazing night at Revolution. White talks about all the moments Sting & Darby did, but as far as their match coming up next week; he doesn’t care. What he does care about though is Sting being gone and asks what Darby is without Sting. Nobody is there to clean up after Darby and hold his leash, and Darby doesn’t even have to get in the ring with him and nobody would think less of him after what he’s been through. White proposes that instead of a match, Darby can come hang with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang and give him the nickname of Darby Scissorhands. Darby stops White and brings up White’s accolades and coming to AEW and ‘playing with cardboard cut-outs’ and if White is as good as he thinks he is, he will come alone next week. Darby stops White with his bat and says he will see him at Big Business.
House of Black Speaks
Julia Hart & Skye Blue are in the back as Julia says Willow Nightingale has forgotten who he is, and she will have a House of Black open challenge on Rampage this Friday.
After the break, the House of Black talks about setting Mark Briscoe on fire as Brody King talks about the scars on his body from his wars with The Briscoes, and history will repeat itself this Saturday on Collision. They end it by asking if they have to bury three holes or one.
We cut to Rene with Briscoe who talks about not being scared of any of this and he fears no man and says he will take them all on by himself in an Atlanta Street Fight. Jay Lethal interrupts and says it’s time he mans up and helps his friend of over 20 years and he has his back. Briscoe asks that Lethal doesn’t bring Jeff Jarrett out with him, but Lethal talks about what better person to bring in a street fight and he doesn’t have to trust Jarrett, but to trust him.
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
Don Callis joins commentary as a bleach-blond Kyle Fletcher comes out to fight his Don Callis Family member. They test each other with shoulder blocks before they run the ropes and Will Ospreay takes down Fletcher with a headscissors. Fletcher comes back by whipping Ospreay hard into the corner, as commentary brings up his history of a bad back, going picture-in-picture.
When we return, Ospreay is struggling to try and lift up Fletcher and ends up chopping him instead, before Fletcher comes back with a Dragon Suplex, kick in the corner, and a brainbuster for two. They trade chops back and forth, with Ospreay knocking down Fletcher with one, and as Ospreay waits for Fletcher to get up and deliver one back, he ends up hitting a kick instead. Ospreay continues on the attack and ends up hitting a DDT on Fletcher, off a lift-up reversal. Fletcher dodges a Hidden Blade and sends Ospreay into the middle turnbuckle with Snake Eyes. They fight on the apron, as Ospreay hits an Os Cutter sending his to picture-in-picture.
When we come back they are going back and forth with Tombstone attempts until Ospreay hits a deadly-looking poisonrana. Ospreay heads to the top rope, but Fletcher stops him and joins him up there where he tries a suplex, just for Ospreay to land on his feet. Ospreay follows with a Liger Bomb for two. Back and forth from both including a Liger Bomb from Fletcher that Ospreay kicks out of. They head to the top rope, where Fletcher escapes and hits the Cheeky Nando’s, joins back up, and hits an avalanche Poisonrana, followed by a front Hidden Blade, but Fletcher kicks out at two. They go face-to-face and trade punches and kicks, trade reversals before Ospreay hits a Spanish Fly for two and an Os Cutter for two. Fletcher calls for the Hidden Blade, which Ospreay delivers to the face for the pin and the win.
Winner: Will Ospreay by pinfall at 19:23
As Ospreay & Fletcher are embracing, Bryan Danielson makes his way out and gets in Ospreay’s face as the show signs off.
Rampage Line-Up
- Action Andretti vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
- Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Kip Sabian & The Butcher
- Private Party vs. Top Flight vs. Komander & Bryan Keith
- AEW TBS Championship House Rules: Julia Hart (c) vs. Robyn Renegade
Collision Line-Up
- Chris Jericho vs. Titan
- Mariah May in action
- The debut of The Elite
- Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Taylor
- Atlanta Street Fight: House of Black vs. Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett & Mark Briscoe
