It was a big night for title changes on Sunday, as many of the top AEW belts went from one wrestler to another at Dynasty. The pay-per-view event from St. Louis, Missouri, saw the promotion’s top belt change hands, saw The Young Bucks achieve a record-breaking third AEW tag title run, and included numerous matchups that received high praise. Here’s a rundown of everything that happened.
Bullet Club Gold unify six-man tag titles, Trent Berreta wins in singles bout on Zero Hour
The first of three kickoff matches saw Matt Sydal face Trent Beretta in a singles bout. This match was Beretta’s first appearance since turning against Orance Cassidy. Sydal received a larger reaction than usual, as he is one of St. Louis’ own.
Sydal started vocal and confident. He seemingly overheard the commentary’s call of a move early on and repeated it: “I squashed him with that one.”
Sydal hit an Air Raid Crash and then went to the top for a Meteora. He connected with both moves cleanly but didn’t earn the win. Beretta tipped Sydal off the top rope and then scored a Gotch Style Piledriver for a near fall of his own. Beretta followed up with a running knee strike, then put Sydal in a triangle choke for the submission victory. He kept onto the hold for moments after the match, only letting go after Sydal’s brother got into the ring.
But Berreta wasn’t done. He attacked Sydal’s brother and went after his opponent again. Coming in from the crowd for the save was Chuck Taylor. Berreta got on the mic and was frustrated with Taylor, telling him that he needed to say “where you stand” between them by Wednesday’s episode of Dynate.
Orange Cassidy, the friend-turned-enemy of Berreta, came out onto the stage. This conveniently-timed entrance was because he had an upcoming tag match alongside Katsuyori Shibata against Shane Taylor Promotions’ Lee Moriarty and Shane Taylor. Berreta escaped backstage before having a real confrontation with Cassidy.
Anthony Ogogo, the third member of Shane Taylor Promotions, got into it at ringside with Shibata. While Shibata chased Ogogo away with strikes, he caught a nasty right hand from Taylor while distracted. Moriarty set up Cassidy on the ring apron, allowing Taylor to land a leg drop. This was the start of a period of the match where Cassidy was fighting to give Shibata the hot tag. Cassidy eventually broke out of a move by Moriarty and put Shibata into the match. He chased Moriarty around the ring with kicks, sitting him down in the corner for one of his trademark strikes.
Shibata put Moriarty in a hold but had it broken up by Taylor. Shibata wobbled Taylor with a slap, then tagged in Cassidy. Shibata took turns landing chops alongside Cassidy. The chops from Cassidy started with a comically low effort before ramping up in intensity.
Moriarty kicked Shibata out of the ring and then snapped a finger of Cassidy. OC hit a Stundog Millionaire, but Moriarty reversed a following move into a slam. They traded pin attempts and reversals until Cassidy landed a hard DDT. Taylor got back into the ring, hitting Cassidy with a headbutt. He tried for a small package piledriver but was stopped by Shibata, who put him in a sleeper hold. Ogogo got onto the apron but was taken out by Shibata, who then scored a soccer kick onto Taylor. Shibata was taken out by a flying knee from Moriarty. Cassidy and Moriarty had another duel of reversals, and then Cassidy hit the Orange Punch for the pinfall win.
The kickoff show concluded with a trios tag titles match between The Acclaimed and Bullet Club Gold. While The Acclaimed held the AEW titles and Bullet Club possessed the ROH belts, the winner of this match would walk away with both titles.
Max Caster had an extended diss track this time around, cutting out the beat and but carrying on with an instrumental few bars. The match worked at a somewhat pedestrian pace for the first few minutes, leading up to Billy Gunn getting a hot tag. He cleaned house against Bullet Club, getting Austin and White out of the ring before singling out Colten.
Colten escaped a Famouser. Austin got into the ring for a moment, allowing Colten to catch Billy with a Famouser for a two-count. White hit Billy with his golden bat while a referee wasn’t looking. The Gunns hit their double-team finisher, but Gunn kicked out once again. White got tagged in and tried to land a move on Billy, but the veteran talent escaped and scored with a Famouser. Caster came off the top with an elbow drop, although White kicked out from a pin attempt to keep the match going.
White kicked out of a roll-up after a series of reversals. They both got back to their feet, where White scored a Blade Runner to win. Bullet Club Gold’s White, Colten and Austin Gunn are now both AEW and ROH six-man tag team champs.
Kazuchika Okada defends Continental title for first time
In the first match of the main card, Kazuchika Okada put his AEW Continental Championship on the line against PAC. As noted on the broadcast, this was Okada’s first time defending the belt since he earned it last month against Eddie Kingston.
The match was slow-paced for the first couple of minutes, although it didn’t take long before PAC was flying over the ropes and landing outside the ring onto Okada. After throwing Okada into the barricades, he put the champ back in the ring. Okada kicked out of a pin attempt after a superplex from PAC.
PAC went to the top for a move but was dropkicked to the outside by Okada. PAC was tossed back into the ring moments later. After they traded strikes, PAC ate a dropkick coming off the ropes. Back outside of the ring, Okada draped PAC on a guardrail and hit a nasty DDT onto the floor.
Okada looked smug while in control of the match. He grinned to the crowd before hitting another DDT in the ring. Despite having control of the fight, he hadn’t closed out the performance yet: PAC kicked out again.
PAC hit a big move outside of the ring of his own. With Okada on the mats outside, he scored a massive springboard moonsault. Back in the ring, PAC came off the ropes with a flying forearm. He flew off the top with a dropkick for a near fall.
They had a long series of reversals that culminated with a German suplex from PAC. Okada got up immediately and sent PAC into the corner with a shotgun dropkick. Okada caught PAC in a corner of the ring and hit a neckbreaker.
Okada went to the top and scored with an elbow drop. He teased doing his Rainmaker pose but instead gave a middle finger to the crowd. PAC caught Okada off guard with a roll-up pin attempt. Okada escaped and then ran into PAC in a corner. PAC stopped Okada coming off the ropes, then scored with a superkick and a clothesline. He then picked up Okada from his knees and scored a deadlift German suplex for a near fall.
PAC scored with a head kick and then went to the top once again. He tried for his finisher, but Okada rolled out of the way. Okada connected with a tombstone piledriver and then tried for a Rainmaker. PAC escaped the Rainmaker and searched for a roll-up pin instead. Okada escaped the pin, and then another.
Okada picked up PAC but found himself caught in a submission. He gauged the eyes of PAC to escape the submission hold. Okada tried for another piledriver, but PAC reversed it to land the move himself. As PAC was climbing to the top, Okada grabbed onto a leg of the referee. PAC moved the referee out of the way and then landed a few kicks to the head. Back to the top, PAC tried for his finisher but landed on the knees of Okada. He was then picked up by Okada for a Rainmaker, earning him the win.
House of Black picks up win against Adam Copeland’s team
Up next, the trio of Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston and Mark Briscoe faced House of Black’s Brody King, Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black. Team Copeland was 24 hours removed from their first win as a trio on an episode of Collision.
Briscoe had a crafty spot during this match, setting up a chair on the ring apron and using it as a boost in a jump over a ring post, landing on the outside onto King. However, King returned the favor: He put Briscoe in a fireman’s carry and dumped him hard into the ringside barricade a minute or so later.
Copeland got into the match later, landing a superplex onto King after House of Black’s wrestlers scored their own slams moments before. There was a wild scramble following this moment, with lots of wrestlers around the ring getting moves in. Briscoe hit a Froggy-Bow, but a pin attempt from Copeland that followed was stopped.
A moment between Copeland and Black was teased but interrupted immediately by the other four wrestlers brawling in the ring. Copeland hit a spear onto King. Black got into the ring and Copeland tried to spear him, but instead ate a black mist to the face. Black then hit scored with his spinning wheel kick finisher for the win.
Willow Nightingale captures TBS title, sets up match against Mercedes Moné
In the first of two women’s title matches of the night, AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart met Willow Nightingale.
Nightingale wasted no time getting the match started, catching Hart with a front kick just seconds into the fight. Nightingale went to the top but was kicked to the outside by Hart.
Nightingale was thrown over a barricade, putting her into the timekeeper’s area before the fight found its way back into the ring. Hart proclaimed that part of the “House Rules” of the match was no rope breaks.
Nightingale earned some momentum later in the match after countering a moonsault by putting her feet up. She connected with a powerbomb right after to get Hart down and earn a pinfall win. Nightingale is the third-ever TBS Champion, ending Hart’s reign of 156 days.
Right after Nightingale won, Mercedes Moné came to the ring. The two faced off, and it was announced that they would compete for the belt at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view event on May 26.
Roderick Strong retains against Kyle O’Reilly
Roderick Strong met Kyle O’Reilly in a match for the AEW International Championship next. Strong had the advantage for a large chunk of the opening minutes, beating up O’Reilly and spamming backbreakers. O’Reilly started to build up momentum later in the bout. The first big move that he landed was a knee to the head of Strong, who got caught in the ropes. He kept targeting a knee of Strong, stomping on the limb when coming off the top and then putting in a submission on the same leg.
Strong kicked his way out of the hold. They both got up to their feet and exchanged forearms. O’Reilly tried to end the duel with a kick, but Strong dodged it and landed a backbreaker for a two count. Strong hit a superplex, and then both tried for roll-up pins in the ground. They were both brought down to the mat after landing clotheslines.
They were knocked down once again after a reversal-heavy striking exchange. The crowd was into it, beginning to chant “This is awesome.” Back on the feet, O’Reilly tried for a guillotine choke but Strong escaped.
Shortly after this spot, Undisputed Kingdon’s Wardlow tried to get into the ring. The referee prevented him from getting into the ring. O’Reilly tried for a pair of roll-up pins that didn’t work. Strong hit a double knees, but O’Reilly came off the ropes with a clothesline as a counter. He tried for a pin after a brainbuster, then looked for an armbar.
O’Reilly came off the ropes but ate a kick to the head. Strong then landed the End of Heartache to win the match, somewhat suddenly. The rest of The Undisputed Kingdom appeared on the ramp afterward. Adam Cole stood up out of his wheelchair and walked to the ring. The broadcast not-so-subtly showed Cole eyeing Wardlow at one point, hinting a possible turn eventually.
Chris Jericho teaches Hook lesson, takes FTW title
The “learning tree” of Jericho was in the spotlight next, as Chris Jericho tried to teach Hook a lesson in an FTW Championship match.
It didn’t take long for Jericho to take advantage of the falls count anywhere stipulation that comes with the FTW title, setting up a table outside of the ring. Hook escaped a powerbomb through the table and instead connected with a German suplex on the floor.
Hook connected clean with a pair of shots to Jericho’s head with the top of a trash can. He tried a third time to use it but was stopped. Jericho then landed a DDT onto the top.
Jericho brought Hook onto the ring apron, where he again tried to put him through the setup table. Hook reversed a move from Jericho and instead landed a belly-to-belly suplex through the table. The move received a two-count outside the ring.
Hook landed a German suplex in the ring. He came running forward but ate a big boot from Jericho. Jericho then put Hook on the top rope and hit a huricanrana for a two-count. The crowd really got into booing whenever Jericho had control of the match.
Jericho brought a trash can into the ring (not to be confused with the top of a trash can that was already used). He tried to swing it at Hook but instead found himself receiving another German suplex. Hook put the trash can on Jericho’s head, hit him with a kendo stick, then slammed him. Jericho was still in it, as he kicked out at two.
Hook needed another weapon. He went under the ring and retrieved a fresh table. This one was put in the ring, leaned in a corner. Hook tried for a move but was stopped. Jericho was hit with a Northern Lights Suplex but immediately responded with a Codebreaker after he returned to the feet.
Jericho raked the eyes (remember, no disqualification) as they traded blows and then scored a clothesline. The pace of this match completely dropped off by this point and the crowd seemed somewhat disinterested. Hook avoided a move that Jericho tried for off a corner and then tried for his Redrum submission. Jericho escaped the hold by putting Hook through a table in the ring.
Jericho put his leg on the ropes for a pin – the referee restarted the pin once due to this, although later kept counting as there were no rope breaks in this match. Hook tried for a kneebar, but Jericho escaped and put Hook in the Walls of Jericho. Hook escaped the move and tried for a roll-up.
Hook got on the back of Jericho once again for a submission. Jericho got out of the hold by swinging one of his legs backwards for a low blow. He then landed a Judas Effect, although it wasn’t enough to put away Hook. He scored yet another Judas Effect, but Hook kicked out once again. Frustrated, Jericho told him to “Stay down.”
Jericho fetched a baseball bat from under the ring. Jericho said “Don’t make me do this” to Hook, and Hook responded by putting up middle fingers. Jericho dropped Hook with a bat swing to the head, ending the match.
Hook’s father, Taz, took off his headset and came to the aid of Hook.
Toni Storm keeps women’s title run alive
Toni Storm attempted to keep her AEW Women’s World Championship run alive in the next bout, meeting former champ Thunder Rosa. This match was Storm’s third pay-per-view title match since earning the belt last November.
Rosa came off the top early in the match, landing on Storm and manager Luther outside of the ring. The match went high up once again a few minutes later, allowing Rosa to score a powerbomb. She followed up with a dropkick off the ropes and a Samoan drop. A crucifix bomb earned her a two-count after.
Rosa brought the match over to the apron for a nasty Death Valley Driver. Safe to say, Rosa was off to a strong start. Storm had an extra moment to recover after Rosa’s back gave out during a small package piledriver attempt. Rosa came charging into a corner but Storm avoided a move and connected with a backstabber off the ropes.
Storm landed a fisherman suplex for a two-count. Rosa got some momentum back, reversing a move from Storm into a double stomp. Despite the strong moment, it wasn’t enough for her to win. After Storm kicked out at two, a frustrated Rosa went to the top ropes. Storm avoided a move from Rosa and landed a pop-up powerbomb for a near fall.
Rosa and Storm started to trade punches on the feet. Rosa came off the ropes but was struck with a headbutt. Storm hit a German suplex and posed to the crowd, allowing Rosa to get up and score her own suplex.
Mariah May got on the ring apron to distract the referee. She was taken off the apron by Deonna Purrazzo, who suddenly appeared. The two brawled as they inched toward the backstage area.
Storm landed her corner hip attack and then a Storm Zero piledriver, although Rosa kicked out at two. Storm put Rosa in a Sharpshooter, but the challenger was able to crawl to the ropes and break the count.
Rosa escaped a move from Storm to hit a backstabber. Rosa then tried for a submission of her own, although Storm also worked to the ropes. Storm held onto the ring apron and dragged it into the canvas slightly, causing the referee to adjust it. While this adjustment was being made, Storm landed a blatant kick to the crotch of Rosa. She then connected with a Storm Zero once again to win the match and retain.
Will Ospreay defeats Bryan Danielson in instant classic
A dream match was up next, as Will Ospreay went one-on-one against Bryan Danielson. The crowd was, expectedly, over the moon once the bout kicked off. The first few minutes of the match worked at a technical pace, really allowing the wrestlers to soak in moments in front of a rabid audience.
Ospreay sent Danielson out of the ring with a kick and then came off the ropes with a crossbody. Ospreay came off the top rope back into the ring but ate a boot to the stomach. Danielson tried to submit Ospreay, but the former IWGP champ reached the ropes.
Ospreay sprung up to his feet and traded slaps with Danielson. Ospreay regained momentum with a corkscrew kick. He followed up by landing a kick in the corner and then coming off the ropes with a forearm. That sequence of moves generated a two-count.
Danielson came off the ropes after a series of strikes and ate a kick that sent him outside of the ring. Ospreay climbed up the corner and landed a Leap of Faith. He continued to control the fight back in the ring, coming off the ropes with an elbow to the back of Danielson’s head. Danielson stopped a Hidden Blade by scoring a kick, then landed a bridged German suplex for a two count.
Danielson landed a series of elbows to the head of Ospreay before putting in a submission that Ospreay escaped by reaching the ropes. Danielson landed a running kick to Ospreay in the corner and then tried for a huricanrana, but Ospreay landed on his feet. This moment received a pop.
Ospreay landed a kick to the head and a powerbomb for a kickout. He then climbed to the top rope but was knocked off balance by Danielson. With both wrestlers up in the corner, Danielson connected with a tiger suplex. The hard landing from this move deservedly received a big reaction.
Danielson landed a series of kicks to a downed Ospreay, although Ospreay was seemingly powering up from receiving these blows. Ospreay eventually stood back up and dropped Danielson with a forearm.
The fight went to the ring apron. Both wrestlers landed kicks, and then Ospreay connected clean with a hard Os-Cutter. Ospreay then came off the apron with a Hidden Blade to the back of Danielson’s head.
Danielson got into the ring at the eight-count but immediately ate a dropkick and a powerbomb. This wasn’t enough to put him away. Ospreay tried for another Os-Cutter but had it reversed into a submission. Ospreay picked up Danielson but was caught in a guillotine choke. Danielson got Ospreay back down and tried for a LeBell Lock. Ospreay reached the ropes.
Danielson landed a series of kicks to the chest and head of Ospreay. He tried for another running knee but had it caught by Ospreay. After a pair of roll-ups, Ospreay missed on a Hidden Blade and ate a running knee for a near fall. Fans were on their feet at this point.
Danielson landed a series of stomps to the head of Ospreay before trying again for the LeBell Lock. Ospreay quickly escaped and landed forearms from full guard. Danielson stopped the strikes by trying for a triangle choke. Ospreay attempted to escape with a slam but had no luck. Ospreay turned the submission into a Styles Clash, but he didn’t follow up with a pin attempt due to fatigue.
Danielson and Ospreay traded headbutts and punches while on their knees. Back up to their feet, Danielson landed slaps that wobbled Ospreay. Danielson scored a suplex, but Ospreay powered up and hit a Hidden Blade immediately afterward. He tried to follow up with an Os-Cutter but ate a knee to the head when flying off the ropes.
Both wrestlers got back to their feet and stared each other down. Both coming charging out of their respective corners, Danielson tried for a knee and Ospreay tried for an elbow: Ospreay’s strike won. Ospreay hit a Tiger Driver, which Danielson sold as an injury-inducing move. As the referee was checking on Danielson, Ospreay scored with a Hidden Blade to win the match. The crowd was on their feet, heaping praise onto a 32-minute barnburner.
Jack Perry helps Young Bucks regain tag titles
After an incredibly hard act to follow, The Young Bucks and FTR competed in a ladder match to crown the new AEW World Tag Team Champions.
Lots of ladder-centric spots took place early in this match. Nick landed a cannonball on Wheeler, who was lying on a ladder that was being held up by Matt and the ring apron. An already bloodied Harwood was sandwiched inside a ladder and hit with a steel chair numerous times.
The Bucks mounted a ladder horizontally on the ring apron and a ringside barricade. Wheeler avoided an attack with it and instead flew off the ladder for a moonsault onto the Bucks. After trying to put Matt through it, he instead was tripped and landed groin-first onto a step. Wheeler was knocked off the ladder with an EVP-Trigger.
FTR regained some control as the fight went back to the ring. They did a double-team bulldog onto Matt. Harwood put Matt into a Sharpshooter, then trapped him under a ladder that Wheeler climbed. Nick broke the submission up and tried to climb the ladder himself.
Harwood took Nick off the ladder and scored a hard powerbomb. Matt superkicked Harwood right after. Matt was put on the apron, where Wheeler speared him through the ropes and onto a table set up outside the ring. On another side of the ring, Nick did a huricanrana onto Harwood, who also went through a table.
All four wrestlers climbed ladders in the middle of the ring. One by one, all wrestlers were taken off the ladders until it was just Matt. He was quickly removed from a ladder by FTR, who hit a Shatter Machine.
Nick used a chair to attack both members of FTR. Nick met Harwood on a ladder. Harwood superplexed him off the ladder, and then Wheeler came off another ladder with a frogsplash.
Wheeler was knocked off a ladder and then hit with a superkick by Matt. The fight went back outside the ring for two more big spots: Nick landed a 450 Splash off the top rope through a table outside of the ring. On the ladder that was suspended between the ring and barricade, Wheeler piledrived Matt.
Nick landed a powerbomb off a ladder in the ring to take out Harwood. Wheeler brought Nick outside of the ring and tried for a dive but came up empty. Instead, he went full force through a table that was leaned against a barricade.
Back in the ring, Harwood and Nick were on top of a ladder and battling for the belts. Nick was knocked off the ladder, but Harwood was pushed off the ladder by a masked man who came from the crowd. He was unmasked by security just moments later and his identity was revealed: “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry. Nick climbed to the top and retrieved the belts to win the match, but the bigger headline was Perry’s long-awaited return to AEW.
Swerve Strickland defeats Samoa Joe to kick off first AEW world title reign
It was half-past 11 p.m. on the east coast when the main event of the night between AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland kicked off.
The match became intense early, as Joe took the fight outside and tossed Strickland over the commentary table. He peeled some of the ringside padding off, exposing the concrete floor below it. But he was distracted in this moment, allowing Strickland to do a dive from the ring.
Joe picked up Strickland from the apron and threatened doing a Muscle Buster onto the concrete. Strickland escaped the move but was hit with a hard side slam onto the concrete.
Joe hit a perfect sweep of Strickland’s legs in the ring, causing him to land face-first. Strickland worked his way back into the fight, targeting an arm of Joe.
Joe had the first near fall of the match, trying for a Muscle Buster in the ring. Joe tried to grab the belt and get back into the ring. As he was climbing back through the ropes, Strickland scored with a House Call. As Joe was draped on the ropes, Strickland hit a 450 Splash and then a Swerve Stomp for a near fall.
Prince Nana distracted the referee while Joe held the title. Swerve took the belt and tried to strike Joe with it but he came up empty. Joe put in the Coquina Clutch, although Swerve escaped and tried to break the left arm of Joe.
Strickland hit a House Call, but Joe kicked out. Strickland went to the top rope where Joe eventually joined him. Strickland leaped over Joe and then grabbed him for a powerbomb off the ropes. Strickland climbed back up to the ropes for another Swerve Stomp. While the first stomp didn’t do it, the second one did. Strickland won in just under 18 minutes to become the new AEW World Champion and kick off the first singles title run during his time with the promotion.
Strickland is the new AEW World Champion, capping off a PPV lineup that featured many memorable matchups.
Quick results
Zero Hour
- Trent Beretta def. Matt Sydal
- Katsuyori Shibata & Orange Cassidy def. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
- Bullet Club Gold (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn & Jay White) def. Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) (AEW and ROH World Trios Championships)
Main PPV Card
- Kazuchika Okada def. PAC (AEW Continental Championship)
- House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) def. Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe
- Willow Nightingale def. Julia Hart (TBS Championship)
- Roderick Strong def. Kyle O’Reilly (AEW International Championship)
- Chris Jericho def. Hook (FTW Championship)
- Toni Storm def. Thunder Rosa (AEW Women’s World Championship)
- Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
- The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) def. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (AEW World Tag Team Championships) (Ladder Match)
- Swerve Strickland def. Samoa Joe (AEW World Championship)
