AEW Dynamite Review – April 12, 2023
Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin
Darby Allin knocks Swerve Strickland to the outside with a stunner followed by a suicide dive. Strickland dodges a Coffin Drop by going outside so Allin just dives onto him on the outside instead then they brawl on the outside for a bit by tossing each other into the barricades before Strickland starts slamming Allin onto the steel steps.
Back inside the ring Strickland goes for a pin attempt before taking off Allin’s belt and whipping him with it then Strickland stays in control with kicks and chokes Allin with his own chain. Allin tries to bite his way out but Strickland stops him with a stomp while Allin was on the apron as we go to picture in picture.
After the picture in picture break Strickland is still dominating as he hits a flatliner before going to the top rope but Allin is able to knock him down into a tree of woe then he takes Strickland’s boot off and starts twisting and biting his foot. Strickland is able to counter a springboarding Allin off the ropes into a German suplex then Allin hits a poisonrana to Strickland from the apron to the outside but Prince Nana runs out and puts Strickland’s leg on the rope during the pin.
Allin tries to chase after Nana but Brian Cage is on the top of the stage to stop him. Swerve takes advantage and hits Swerve Stomp on Allin for a two count as his ankle slowed him down from making the pin quicker. Cage trips up Allin as he was running the ropes so Aubrey Edwards ejects both Cage & Nana to the back. Strickland tries to use a chair but Darby kicks it out of his hands and puts on the Last Supper for the win.
Winner: Darby Allin (Recommend)
After the match AEW World Champion MJF comes out with a mic as we head to commercial when we come back from the break 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 Allin had one of the best matches in AEW history and Allin might be one of the best wrestlers he’s shared the ring with. MJF tries to do his catchphrase 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 Allin has suffered about 30 concussions that he is not on the level of the devil. Allin 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. Allin brings up how material things mean nothing and his 1st year in AEW he checked himself in therapy and tells MJF to check it out sometime. Allin 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 Allin is an arrogant little boy and questions Allin calling himself special and says everybody has gone through what he has and he is so sick and tired of Allin,Jack Perry & Sammy Guevara moaning about his morals as morals kill careers in this sport. MJF says Allin 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 Allin isn’t before saying his legacy will be the greatest of all time while Allin’s legacy will be Sting’s b*tch.
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 Allin and how he will become AEW World Champion. Allin says he will become the next AEW World Champion before MJF spits in his face and leaves.
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.
TNT Title Match
Powerhouse Hobbs (c) vs. Silas Young
Powerhouse Hobbs goes after Silas Young right away and hits Town Business for the victory.
Winner & Still TNT Champion: Powerhouse Hobbs (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
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 powerbomb Young off the stage through 2 tables but Wardlow runs out. A bunch of Dark enhancement talent run out and start separating them as Wardlow slams down Aaron Solo then picks up Solo and powerbombs him off the stage through 1 of the tables.
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.
International Title Match
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Trios Champion Buddy Matthews
Match starts off with Orange Cassidy hits a tilt a whirl to Buddy Matthews then sends him to the outside but as Matthews rushes in, Cassidy sends him to the outside and hits him with a suicide dive. Back inside the ring Matthews catches Cassidy but Cassidy sends him into the turnbuckle then hits a DDT follow by Orange Punch. Cassidy goes right to Dr. Sampson as he checks on his right hand saying he injured it with the punch as Doc Sampson is checking on Cassidy Matthews stomps on the hand as they go to picture in picture.
After the break Matthews catches Cassidy off the top rope, stops a DDT attempt, before they start fighting on the apron where Cassidy hits a Beach Break the ref started the 10 count & they both barely make it in at 9 and then start trading punches while on their knees. Matthews transitions into knees before he goes back to stomping and standing on Cassidy’s injured hand.
Matthews starts doing Cassidy’s kicks before hitting a hard knee strike. Cassidy comes back with Stundog Millionaire and meets Matthews 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 Matthews kicks out at two. They go back & forth until Cassidy hits another Orange Punch but Matthews kicks out at two.
Matthews blocks another punch and hits a knee strike. Cassidy tells him to hit another but Matthews hits him with a stomp instead for a two count. Cassidy is able to reverse Matthews into the Mouse Trap scores the win.
Winner & Still International Champion: Orange Cassidy (STILL CHAMPION!!!) (Recommend)
We see a video showing the new and improved Luchasaurus as Christian Cage says some things have changed.
Renee Paquette asks for a medical update on Orange Cassidy’s hand but 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 for the IWGP Tag Team Titles on Rampage this Friday.
Ethan Page is in the ring and says The Firm has had a rough patch and brings up Matt Hardy,FTW Champion 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 FTW Title 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. 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 then lays out The Firm.
Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa are making their entrance, they get attacked by Blackpool Combat Club before the bell even rings, Nakazawa is all busted open but he eventually crawls back inside with Claudio Castagnoli as the bell rings.
Tag Team Match
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa
Castagnoli & Nakazawa start trading blows then Nakazawa gets some shots in before Castagnoli knocks him down and hits the Giant Swing into the Sharpshooter. Cutler breaks it up as Nakazawa hits a back body drop on Castagnoli. Jon 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 & Death Rider. Moxley puts on the Bulldog Choke on Cutler but Nakazawa breaks it up. Blackpool Combat Club continue with strikes and elbows then the ref calls for the bell.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club
After the match Jon Moxley gets on the mic and asks where Hangman Page,Don Callis & Young Bucks are before saying they are still in the hospital as they are bickering babies and Blackpool Combat Club puts The Elite in All Elite Wrestling. Kenny Omega makes his way out. Blackpool Combat Club are in the ring waiting for him but as they turn around they get attacked by Young Bucks as Omega joins them in the ring for the beat down. Young 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 Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta pull Moxley out of the ring and escape to the back.
Tony Schiavone is backstage with 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.
Tag Team Match
The Outcasts (Ruby Soho & Toni Storm) vs. Skye Blue & Riho
The Outcasts attacks Skye Blue & Riho at the bell before Riho takes control over Ruby Soho then she tags in Skye Blue as they hit a double dropkick knocking Soho to the outside. Riho dives onto The Outcasts on the outside as we go to picture in picture.
After the break Toni Storm is attacking Blue on the apron but Blue dodges her and kicks Soho off onto The Outcasts. Both teams start going at it with Riho hitting a crucifix bomb on Soho. Storm goes after Blue with Sweet Cheeks Music followed by Storm Zero for the win.
Winners: The Outcasts
After the match they continue attacking before spray painting L on Riho and hitting her with a triple powerbomb. Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter makes her way out but gets beat down before Britt Baker comes out for the save. Baker goes for a stomp on Saraya but Storm & Soho pull her out.
Keith Lee vs. Chris Jericho
Keith Lee goes right after Chris Jericho with chops in the corner followed by a pair of splashes in the corner. Lee stays in control with a scoop slam then 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.
We come back from the break Jericho is in control by hitting the Lionsault 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 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 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 Codebreaker, and turns it into a powerbomb then as Lee goes for the cover, Garcia distracts Aubrey Edwards again. Swerve Strickland comes out and knocks Lee out with an object then Jericho makes the cover for the win.
Winner: Chris Jericho
After the match Jericho & 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.
Friday’s Rampage
IWGP Tag Team Titles Match
Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) (c) vs. Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor)
8 Man Tag Team Match
Spanish Announce Project (Luther, Serpentico & Angelico) & Jake Manning vs. Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh & Mark Briscoe
Taya Valkyrie vs. Emi Sakura
Jack Perry vs. Shawn Spears
Wednesday’s Dynamite So Far
Tag Team Match
Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Britt Baker vs. The Outcasts (Ruby Soho & Toni Storm)
TNT Title Match
Powerhouse Hobbs (c) vs. Wardlow
