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Join 411’s Live AEW Dynamite Coverage
Image Credit: AEW
Hey 411ers! It’s ya boy Theo Sambus checking in for Dynamite this evening, as our resident sicko Ryan Ciocco is IN DA HOUSE in Pittsburgh watching the show live (Hi Ryan! *waves*). And it’s likely to be a notable edition coming hot off the back of All Out this past Saturday!
In a surprising but very welcome nod, Kris Statlander won the AEW Women’s World Championship in the four-way at All Out, but she has no real chance for celebration tonight, facing stiff competition in her first title defense…against the one and only Mina Shirakawa!
The Don Callis Family will be in action tonight against the Conglomeration’s Mark Briscoe, Hologram and a Myster Partner who is strongly hinted (read: almost confirmed) at being the returning Orange Cassidy. Expect a wild trios encounter for his return, if so.
We’re also promised a Tony Khan Big Announcement™, with rumors suggesting he may be about to announce tag titles for the women’s division. Well, that’s according to Reddit, and of course Reddit never lies?! We’ll see!
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Venue: Petersen Events Center
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, & Bryan Danielson
*Dynamite is live on the air, and after the opening pyro display and a welcome from Excalibur, Tax and Danielson, we get a rundown of tonight’s card, with an AEW tag title match added, as Brodido defend against the Gates of Agony. Hobbs vs Castagnoli too, nice!
*Hangman Adam Page is backstage and addresses Kyle Fletcher, saying he took him to his limit on Saturday but he’s still AEW champion. Page wants to see what Fletcher does next. Page has asked to fight the best pro wrestler this city has to offer, and that is Lee Moriarty. Moriarty fights for the greatest prize in pro wrestling tonight.
*The Demand make their way to the ring for our opening contest.
[AEW World Tag Team Championships] Brodido (c) vs Gates of Agony
Ricochet joins commentary as Liona starts this one off against Brody King. Bandido is desperate to get in the ring though so Brody tags out to him. Slaps to the chest of Liona, and Liona laughs it off. Bandido tries for a body slam, can’t get it, but does hit a series of dropkicks. Bishop Kaun tags in, another chop exchange, Bandido avoids a hip toss but gets punched in the mouth. Vertical suplex, Kaun applauds himself. Body slam, tag to Liona, and another body slam follows. Quick tags from GoA, Bandido manages to evade and tags in Brody. Brody fires up on both guys, Liona and King fight on the apron until King shoves him into the ringpost. Back inside the ring, lariat from King gets 2,
King and Kaun fight on the ropes, King gets shoved into a tree of woe, and Liona comes in with a canonball. Backstabber combo gives Kaun a 2 count. More quick tags from GoA and King gets booted to the floor. Back in the ring, more combo offense from GoA, with a series of sentons, giving them another 2 count. King tries to mount a comeback, fails as Kaun stomps him down in the corner. Kaun attacks Bandido on the apron too, knocking him off. Brody splashes Liona and goes for the tag but Bandido is still on the floor. Canonball by King, both teams down now. Bandido is back on the apron, and Brody makes the tag. Step up kick, Bandido evades a bunch of strikes and nails a dropkick to the face. Military press slam on Kaun INTO Liona in the corner! Cover, 1, 2, Liona kicks out. 21 Plex attempt, Kaun with a blind tag and Bandido can’t get it. Liona squashes Bandido on the mat, repeated corner clotheslines now and they sit Bandido on the top rope. Brody cuts them off, double electric chair drop!! King takes out Liona on the outside, meanwhile Bandido climbs the ropes…misses a splash. Liona slams King on a table at ringside. Ricochet in the ring with a steel chair, he is poised but Aubrey is there and she ejects him!
Rollup by Bandido, 1, 2, NO. Big lariat from Kaun. GoA with Open the Gates! 1, 2, Brody breaks it up. Big boot from King to Liona. King with a suicide dive to the outside, meanwhile Bandido hits the 21 Plex for the 1, 2, 3.
Winners and STILL AEW Tag Team Champions: Brodido
Time: 14:54
Rating: *** – GoA aren’t all that enthralling to watch, but they’ve worked on their presentation and general presence, fitting in well as a decent heel team. Couple of good nearfalls towards the end for them, but it’s the tag champs who got the better spotlight here.
*Alicia Atout is with the Conglomeration. Mark Briscoe tells the Don Callis Family to bring their big hitters. Briscoe wants to whip some ass. Alicia asks about the final man. Briscoe says the word of the day is Mystery. No matter how hard you try to SQUEEZE this JUICY information out of him, he won’t tell. The future looks bright…so bright, maybe he should put on his shades. We get a flash of the Hologram clone deal too after the Conglomeration walk off.
*We’re back, and Renee Paquette is with the new AEW Women’s champion Kris Statlander, along with Harley Cameron. Statlander says she’s beat up, but she’s a fighting champion. Kris says she loves Mina, not in the way Toni does, but still. Renee asks about Stat’s association with the Death Riders. Kris says things can move really fast when you make decisions. Harley cuts in to hype her up before Kris can say any more.
*Hangman Adam Page makes his way out for his Open Challenge. Now we get a proper hype video for Lee Moriarty, showing his notable victories in ROH. Smart.
[AEW Men’s World Championship – Open Challenge] Hangman Adam Page vs Lee Moriarty
This is purely one on one as this begins, with no Shane Taylor Promotions around. Lockup to start and a feeling out process. Headscissors applied by Moriarty, but Page works his way out. Snapmare from the challenger, Page rolls through but he gets caught with a back elbow. Sliding lariat misses, Page catches Moriarty with a body slam instead. Moriarty catches Page in the corner and hits a flatliner into the middle buckle. Shotgun dropkick from Moriarty, cravate hold applied, transitioning into an abdominal stretch. Hangman breaks it in the ropes.
Moriarty with a springboard forearm gets a 2 count. Wrist control and kicks from Moriarty now but Page fires up with right hands. Back body drop connects, fallaway slam and Page kips up. DVD! 1, 2, no. Jawbreaker by Moriarty, uppercut in the corner, Page catches him in the corner. Deadeye attempt countered into an octopus hold, nice! Border City Stretch locked in! Page rolls back, Deadeye again attempted but reversed, lariat connects for Page. He finally hits the Deadeye for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW Men’s World Champion: Hangman Adam Page
Time: 9:55
Rating: *** – I’m sure some will complain about the World champion taking almost 10 minutes to defeat someone the calibur of Moriarty, but I like the idea of Page’s World title reign being used to elevate other talent sporadically. Moriarty had some good hope spots and was impressive in those Deadeye counters so this worked pretty well.
*Renee Paquette at All Out tries to get a word with Adam Copeland, but he’s distraight about Beth Copeland so shrugs her off. Cameras follow Cope who goes into a lockeroom to speak with Christian Cage. Copeland says he can’t do this to his family, so he’s going to go, and he might not come back. Cage says he doesn’t have a family anymore, so Adam should go take care of his. Copeland says Cage does have a family, and they shake hands.
*Tony Schiavone is in the ring, going in hard on FTR for their actions this past Saturday as he ‘welcomes’ them to the ring.
Tony says it was the worst thing he’s seen in an AEW ring. Cash takes the mic. He says he deserves the boos. The actions that took place in Toronto have kept him up at night, He’s tossed and turned, and it was never meant to happen like that. He wanted CnC to enjoy retirement, but Copeland couldn’t stand that, so he brings his so called childhood friends into this, he brings his wife into their business. There’s one person to blame, and that’s Adam Copeland.
Stokely takes the mic and says he forgives Beth for what she did to him on Saturday. After church on Sunday, FTR and Stoke had a discussion. He was running up the ramp to introduce himself, and instead of a handshake, he received a spear. He was about to nip up but she grabbed him and carried him to the back. He allowed her to spear him, and everyone knows it. FTR are the greatest tag team of all time. The worst part about it, is that Beth doesn’t even work here.
Dax says he was advised to come out here and sincerely apologize for his actions. He will not apologize for dropping Copeland on his neck or Cage on his CTE-riddled brain. Dax says he would never purposefully hurt Beth, but as he tried to intervene on her, she punched his nose and watered his eyes, so he thought she was Cope. He dropped her on her head by accident. Dax would never put his hands on a woman, and when it comes to Beth, he uses that term loosely.
HERE COMES WILLOW! Willow Nightingale walks to the ring as Stokely does not look amused. Willow thinks it was a ‘great’ apology. She’s mainly here to talk about a Hall of Famer like Beth Copeland. Women like Beth, ones who have inspired generations, are the reasons people like Willow got in the industry. Women like Beth are the reason Willow came back from a broken neck to become All Elite and go on to become a champion. Women like Beth are the reason women like her don’t take shit from guys like them. So if they want to try that apology again, they can look into the camera and give it a go, or they can get out of the ring.
Stokely says it’s past Willow’s bed time, so she slaps the taste out of his mouth. FTR get up in her face, but here come JetSpeed to intervene! Superkick by Bailey! FTR pull Stokely to safety as Willow and JetSpeed stand tall in the ring.
*We go to comments from MJF after this past Saturday. MJF says he’s so angry but he doesn’t have the energy to yell anymore. He used to be the most talked about star in the industry. He was the guy, then Adam Cole came into his life and broke his heart. MJF lost his mojo, lost everything. Something is missing. He’s not MJF, he’s a caricature, he’s playing MJF, ever since losing the title. These thumbtacks in his body, they’re not just tacks…they represent doubts. Ospreay, Hangman, they were once in MJF’s dust, but now he’s in theirs. He won’t come back until he’s the most dangerous he’s ever been. Doubt? There were times he bit off more than he could chew, but when there was doubt, he ate it up. When MJF comes back, he’s taking his place at the top of pro wrestling once again, whether we like it or not. Great promo there; I hope he’s not gone from our screens for too long!
*The Don Callis family make their way out for the Trios match. Callis takes the mic and says he’s a bit of a painter, and he wants to unveil his masterpiece today, Stagehands roll out his latest painting, and as it’s unveiled…we see there is no painting, and instead it’s ORANGE CASSIDY under the curtain!
The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Hologram & Orange Cassidy) vs the Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Hechicero & Kazuchika Okada)
Cassidy with the pockets dropkick to Okada and Takeshita before the bell rings. They turn the tables and boot him back outside. Briscoe in, enziguri to Takeshita. Tope con hilo to Okada. Hologram with one of his own. Cassidy to the top rope…thumbs up dive into the pile of bodies! The bell finally rings as Cassidy gets in the ring with Hechicero, and Briscoe tags in for mounted punches. Hologram goes up top, more mounted punches. OC back in, one count punch. Hologram with a fancy armdrag to Hechicero, and again, making it look easy. Hechicero with a knee to the chin in the corner, tilt-a-whirl slam and the reverse monkey flip into the rear choke submission, transitioning into a half straitjacket. Takeshita in, focusing on Hologram, but Okada tags himself in. Body slam to Hologram, followed by Takeshita sending Hologram into the announcer’s desk while the referee is distracted. Back in the ring, hook of the leg, Hologram kicks out at 1.
Pumphandle from Hechicero gets 2. Hechicero focuses his assault on Hologram’s leg, but Hologram creates space and looks for the tag….but Hechicero cuts him off with a slingshot elbow drop. Hologram reverses Hechicero with a tijeras, one to Takeshita too. Okada knocks OC and Briscoe on the apron, tries a German but Hologram evades and tags in Briscoe. Briscoe and Okada tee off, flying forearm from Mark. Saito suplex attempt is blocked, Fisherman’s suplex connects though. 1, 2, Okada kicks out. Boot up in the corner, lariat from Briscoe levels Okada. Tag to Orange Cassidy, and he hugs Okada. Okada with clubbing blows, Stundog Millionaire catches him though. Takeshita muscles OC up, Okada slams him down. Exploder from Takeshita on Briscoe. Okada and Takeshita briefly work together, then go face to face but OC is there for sloth style kicks. Double hurracanrana! Hechicero in, Mad Scientist Bomb connects! Guillotine on Hologram. DDT by OC! Dropkick from Okada. Rainmaker countered into an Exploder by Briscoe. Enziguri by Hologram, Takeshita rolls through into a Bastard Driver!! DESTROYER by Hologram on a reversal of the wheelbarrow! Hechicero back up, Mad Scientist Bomb countered. ORANGE PUNCH! PORTAL BOMB! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Mark Briscoe, Hologram & Orange Cassidy
Time: 10:36
Rating: ***1/2 – Fun as hell with it all breaking down as you’d expect in the closing minutes. This kind of thing always works, and the smaller dynamics were a nice touch, such as the Okada/Taleshita interactions.
*PROTOSTARRRR! Kyle Fletcher makes his way out as OC, Briscoe and Hologram stand tall in the ring. Fletcher has a mic and tells us that the ProtoStar has arrived. He wants the Conglomeration to hang around as this concerns them. Kyle proved he belongs at the top of the industry, and he will be ready one day very soon. He is a future Men’s World champion. The next morning was the worst he’d felt in his entire life. But then he looked in the mirror and remembered who the hell he is. He is on track to becoming the greatest TNT champion of all time. He looks in the ring now and sees a bunch of dorks, but also an opportunity. Hologram, you currently have the longest undefeated streak of any man in AEW history. Impressive. 34-0? Or 34 and scared of Kyle Fletcher. The only reason that streak is there is because he hasn’t been in the ring with Fletcher. Kyle wants to be the first to pin him. 6 Year Anniversary next week…Title vs Streak. Kyle Fletcher vs Hologram. When he ends the streak, you will say his full name.
*Renee Paquette is with Mina Shirakawa backstage. Mina hasn’t heard from Toni Storm since Saturday. They love hard, and they fight hard. Mina fights for Toni tonight.
*Video package narrated by Jack Perry, saying the things we love most can be lost. Dreams can turn into nightmares. We see the footage of Perry reviving Luchasaurus again, along with their reunion this past weekend. Jurassic Express returns next weej for the 6 Year Anniversary.
Powerhouse Hobbs vs Claudio Castagnoli
Hobbs is a house of fire as this one begins, with a bit of a jump start. Meat chants go up as they trade strikes. Uppercuts from Claudio, right hands from Hobbs. Both men stagger but Hobbs picks up Castagnoli and plants him with a body slam. Another. Another! Castagnoli slips behind and delivers a back suplex. Hobbs straight back to his feet though, another body slam to Claudio. More body slams! Claudio locks in a sleeper, they head near the ropes, and they both spill to the floor! Castagnoli is down near the steps, Hobbs commits to a big spear but Claudio dodges and Hobbs collides with the steps. Castagnoli follows up by dropping him on the barricade…and again! Hobbs is dumped to the floor each time for some hard bumps there. Back suplex into the apron. Back in the ring, they trade blows once more, Castagnoli with body shots from behind. He chokes him out in the ropes a little and locks in a seated chinlock. Double stomp to the back as Castagnoli takes firm control.
Hobbs gets to his feet, Castagnoli counters with a gutwrench suplex, 1, 2, no. Claudio toys with him, scraping his boot along the face. To their feet, strikes exchanged once more. Hobbs with a corner clothesline, misses one and Castagnoli sits him up top. Leaping uppercut, followed by a superplex! 1, 2, no. Castagnoli may be thinking Neutralizer, but Hobbs counters with a powerslam! Meat clotheslines in the corner and Claudio goes down. Another couple of body slams. Castagnoli sits out to avoid another, nails a few uppercuts and a lariat but Hobbs absorbs it. Biiiig lariat from Hobbs and another body slam as Hobbs lowers the straps. Pac is here! Pac is on the apron, Castagnoli comes in with a big uppercut to catch him off guard however. 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 11:30
Rating: ***1/2 – MEATY GOODNESS! These two did not go easy on each other, not in the slightest. I thought all those body slams may have led up to something, but alas we had the distraction finish instead. Hobbs really delivers in these big singles matches whenever he’s given the chance.
*Samoa Joe runs down to run off Pac after the match, and Hobbs clotheslines Castagnoli to the floor. Joe is rigt there, but Garcia and Yuta attack Hobbs from behind. Joe gets in the ring but it’s 4 on 2. HANGMAN ADAM PAGE is here to make the save! Page low bridges Claudio, and he lariats Garcia to the floor.
*It’s time for Tony Khan’s big announcement. Tony Khan is backstage and he believes AEW is truly where the best wrestle, and he’s particularly proud of the Women’s division. This year, coming soon, we will crown inaugural Women’s World Tag Team Champions!
Renee Paquette is at ringside with the new championships under cloth. We get the reveal, and they do look pretty damn cool, very similar to the Men’s World Tag Team championships. Nice, the ladies are going to kill it! Should be good. Who should be the first champs, that’s the big question?! Triangle of Madness could be a good shout, give the Sisters of Sin something of note.
[AEW Women’s World Championship] Kris Statlander vs Mina Shirakawa
Statlander knocks Mina down in the early goings and poses. Standing moonsault press, 1, 2, no. Mina with a Russian legsweep, and she slides under a lariat attempt. But gets back suplexed! Kris looks for mounted punches in the corner, but Mina moves out from under her and sweeps the leg. Mina gets her own mounted punches and gives the fans a litle shimmy. Single leg dropkick from Statlander connects, misses a kick in the corner and Mina hits a dropkick to the knee, caught up in the ropes. Mina drives the knee right into the floor off the apron! They fight around ringside….Mina with a tornillo over the steel steps!
Back suplex on the apron as Kris shoves Shirakawa back in the ring. Cover gets 2. Stalling vertical suplex connects, 1, 2, kickout. Big chop from Statlander, body slam and a leg drop. Kris goes for another suplex but Mina rolls her up for 2. Statlander gets her mounted punches this time and follows with a lariat for 2. Body scissors applied, Mina gets to her feet though, Kris lifts her up but a tijeras catches her. Slingblade! Hook and Eddie Kingston vs Bryan Keith and Big Bill is signed for Collision, as is Fletcher vs Kommander! Sweet.
Mina hits surfboard knee stomps, but Statlander comes back with a series of strikes in the corner. Statlander is thinking Wednesday Night Fever but Mina escapes. Fisherman’s Driver! 1, 2, NO. Dragon screw from Mina, and again. Mina with a top rope slingblade!! 1, 2, NO. Mina with a roaring elbow and a roundhouse kick, misses the backfist, and Statlander catches her on her shoulders, victory roll by Mina though. Figure four locked in! Statlander reaches for the ropes and makes it to break the hold. Superkick from Stat, backfist by Mina, another roundhouse, another backfist! Statlander kicks her away on a figure four attempt. Seatbelt from Statlander! 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW Women’s World Champion: Kris Statlander
Time: 11:06
Rating: ***1/4 – Smartly worked with some good drama, even if there’s no way Stat would be dropping the belt here.
*Wheeler Yuta enters the ring to applaud her, and here comes Harley Cameron to celebrate too. The Death Riders show up again, this time with Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir showing up too. Moxley stands in the ring, as Yuta embraces Statlander. She hugs him back and holds her arm up, but Statlander is showing no emotion and is just going along with it. SHE LEVELS YUTA WITH A LARIAT!
Marina goes for Statlander, Stat ducks under a clothesline attempt and comes face to face with Moxley…and FLIPS HIM OFF before diving out of the ring! Amazing.
The music of Darby Allin hits and he comes out with a flamethrower. Moxley meets him on the entranceway, not backing down, but the Death Riders don’t get too close. Darby backs them up by firing the flamethrower at them. Darby keeps the flamethrower burning as the Death Riders retreat into the crowd.
Darby gets a mic and says he’s never going to quit. Jon Moxley. WrestleDream. I QUIT MATCH. Oh snap.
Confirmed for the 6YA next week, it’s Death Riders vs Hobbs, Joe & Hangman Page, plus a tag match featuring Darby & Kris Statlander taking on Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir. And with that, we’re done for the night! Goodnight everyone, see you Saturday for Collision!
