wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s AEW Dynamite Review 2.4.26
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...SICKOS! It’s Wednesday, you know what that means! AEW Dynamite is LIVE tonight from The Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the road towards Revolution rolls on!
Matches with title implications are littered across the show, and I’ll start with the Men’s World Title Eliminator between the champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman and potential challenger Brody King. Everyone should know the rules of the Eliminator by now, so if King defeats MJF, then he will earn a future World Title match. And, of course, if MJF wins, then King has to head to the back of the line. Someone who will NOT have to go to the back of the line will be the winner of Kenny Omega and Andrade El Idolo which should be an incredible match between two amazing wrestlers.
Elsewhere, the AEW National Title will be on the line, as Ricochet will look to turn back the challenge of Jungle Jack Perry. Hangman Adam Page will also be in action as he will face Mark Davis, who will look to do it as a singles wrestler within the Don Callis Family after Jake Doyle suffered a torn bicep in their match with FTR last week. All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!
So, how is everyone doing on this Hump Day? Flyers won, so that makes me happy that the season is not quite over yet lol. Also, my job search might finally have come to an end, and I might be working for Amazon soon. How that effects things moving forward will remain to be seen.
But, enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to make the Dynamite go BOOM!
Tonight, Dynamite is LIVE from Sin City, the Gambling Capital of the World, Las Vegas, Nevada! Excalibur and Tony Schiavone will be on the call tonight!
YOU WANTED WAR!
MJF says you think he should be afraid? He sees men like King in Long Island all the time, and they are homeless!
Brody King says he is going to hurt MJF, bad. And for the first time in his life, he can’t duck out of this one. ARF!
Kenny Omega says one more week, and he’s closer to regaining his World Title. He hasn’t forgotten about when Andrade attacked him, and he blames Don Callis for this. And his efforts will be all for nothing. He will see Andrade in the ring!
Don Callis says his men are going to leave the Death Riders in the ring, and Mark Davis is going to destroy Hangman. And you, Kenny, Andrade is going to defeat you and leave you a broken man.
The Babes of Wrath are always here to fight, so tonight, in the middle of the ring in Las Vegas, let’s fight!
Penelope and Megan say they deserve this chance. Megan says she was forgotten about while Penelope was out, but that won’t be the case tonight.
Goodness, that’s a fun lighting round thing. They used to do that on Collision too, innit?
It’s time to ride that death!
The Death Riders vs. The Don Callis Family
Tonight, the Death Riders will be represented by Moxley, Garcia, and PAC, while the DCF is represented by Takeshita, Alexander, and El Clon
Garcia and Alexander will start this off. Alexander with a wrist lock toss, but Garcia wags his finger lol. Garcia takes Alexander to the mat, but Josh to his feet. Garcia is sent off, both men collide, no one wins out. Forearms from Garcia, Alexander responds in kind. Garcia finally wins the Great Shoulder Tackle War over Josh.
PAC and El Clon get the tag. PAC looks at Clon with disgust lol. Headlock takedown by PAC, Clon to his feet and he takes wrist control. PAC kicks off the ropes to regain the advantage. Reversals ensue, Rana from PAC, Clon stumbles around like a drunken bar patron, and he tries one of his own, only for PAC to land on his feet. Clon does manage to punk out PAC, leading to Moxley and Takeshita getting the tags.
Both men come face-to-face and words are traded, followed by forearms. Like two bulls, they collide in the middle of the ring, but everyone sneaks into the ring, and everyone fights everyone. The Death Riders manage to neutralize Takeshita in their corner, as Moxley tags in PAC, and they both club away on The Alpha. PAC throws Takeshita face first into the corner and tags in Moxley. Moxley chokes Takeshita with his boot, while Garcia wipes his boot against Takeshita’s hair. What a bastard lol.
Quick tags by the Death Riders, they take out Take’s partners, but Takeshita lays waste to all of the Death Riders. PAC is back trying to cut off the tag, but he can’t and Clon is in. Clon with kicks galore, PAC sends him to the corner, but Clon with a handstand into a Pele Kick! PAC responds with a snap German to stop Clon cold in his tracks. The PAC Train gets rolling, until Alexander trips him up. Clon drops the elbow and celebrates, while Alexander pulls PAC out of the ring. A brawl outside the ring ensues as we head out for break.
Alexander is in control of PAC as we return. PAC tries to fight back, but Alexander hits a Northern Lights Suplex with the bridge for a two. Josh stares at Moxley before sending PAC to his corner. He taunts Moxley, but PAC fights off the Family. Alexander cuts him off again and hits Rolling Senton. Josh’s top rope knee misses, however, allowing PAC to tag in Moxley. Takeshita is tagged in, and we have a forearm struggle.
Takeshita winds up, but Moxley misses and he hits a T-Bone. Takeshita rolls through and hits an Exploder, but Moxley rolls through. Jon dispatches of Alexander and catches an incoming Clon with a CUTTER! Garcia in now, and he puts the Dragon Tamer on Takeshita! Moxley off the ropes and he stomps Konosuke’s head into the mat! The pin, but Alexander saves the match.
Clon is back and he wipes out PAC with a springboard moonsault. Tope Suicida from Moxley that takes out the Death Riders and PAC lol. In the ring, Takeshita hits Garcia with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two. Takeshita has him lined up for the knee, but Garcia grabs him by the throat. Takeshita smacks him away and hits a sit-down driver into a wheelbarrow German! The DCF are back, and they hold Garcia in place for the Overdrive Knee! The cover, but Garcia kicks out at two. It doesn’t matter, as Takeshita salts it away with the Raging Fire for his team.
WINNERS: The Don Callis Family
TIME: 13:15
THOUGHTS: A great opener that had a little bit of everything, from high flying moves to technical prowess, to counters and false finishes.
RATING: ***3/4
We see how Andrade defeated Swerve Strickland last week. In the here and now, Renee Paquette has Swerve and Prince Nana. Renee wants to know where they are shifting their focus to now. Strickland won’t speak, as he taps Nana to talk. Nana says their focus is still at the top, and just because they lose one match, it doesn’t mean that they are out of the race just yet. They walk off, as Renee says we have another match tonight with title implications.
Excalibur runs down the for the rest of the show. The Timeless One and her Citrus Boy will be in action next!
COMMERCIALS!
BRUV PROMO! He’s been out of action since July and, NGL, while I hope that Ospreay would return, I don’t want him to come back until he is absolutely positively 100% ready to go. Rest up, BRUV KING!
Whatever, Citrus Boy!
Orange Cassidy and Timeless Toni Storm vs. Jordan Oasis and Brittnie Brooks
The men are going to start us off. Oasis says the first shot is free, so Cassidy grazes his face with a slap lol. Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets and tells Jordan to hit him. Oasis acts like he is partaking in Power Slap and he misses, allowing Cassidy to dropkick him. Dropdown by Cassidy, as he feels Jordan’s head (he’s bald, you know). Cassidy has a moment of Zen and he backs away, felling his own head.
The ladies are in now. Brooks poses, but Storm feeds her Mongolian Chops before tossing her across the ring. Brooks screams NOT AGAIN but Toni does it anyway. Storm with an Exploder, as Oasis comes in. Hip Attacks from Toni and her Citrus Boy! Dosy-Doe in the middle of the ring, and they tease dancing! Storm punches Oasis, and she slams Brooks to the mat. Cassidy with his DDT to Brooks, he gets a hip attack from Storm. Storm throws him into OC for the Orange Punch and that’s an adamant conclusion!
WINNERS: Orange Cassidy and Timeless Toni Storm
TIME: 2:50
THOUGHTS: A nice way to see Toni and her Citrus Boy continue their shenanigans heading into their match against Yuta and Marina.
RATING: N/R
Cassidy on the mic post-match. He doesn’t know if this is a good idea, he likes his hair. Storm says why did she make this match? She loves her hair. She is going to look like a bald penis. It’s worth noting that Luther came down to the ring and he looks betrayed by this lol. She crumbles to the mat, and Luther puts a sheet over her. But she pops up, she is Timeless Toni Storm, and you are Freshly Squeezed Orange Cassidy! You will give Wheeler a nice combover, or I will make Marina look like Mox.
We see Darby Allin arrive on his skateboard, but he is ambushed by Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd. They beat him up, a tire is involved, Kidd spits on the trailer with Darby’s face on it, and they kidnap Allin and put him in the trunk of their car. Boy, does Darby really need Sting now or what?
It’s time for some Cowboy Shit!
Hangman Adam Page vs. Mark Davis
Davis with a running dropkick at the bell, but Page fires back with forearms. Scoop Slam from Davis, but he misses the back Senton. Hangman with a lariat and a moonsault to Davis. Hangman strikes Davis, but Davis hits back. Davis grabs Hangman by the hand and chops him down to the mat. Waist lock from Davis, Hangman elbows his way out and he sends Davis out to the floor. Hangman with a crossbody to Davis on the floor.
Davis tries to fire back sending Page into the ring, but Hangman bounces off the bottom rope and hits a clothesline. He returns Davis to the ring, where Mark takes back over. Hangman ends up back on the floor and he sits in the chair at ring side. Davis runs from across the way and he smashes Hangman with his ass. We see Hangman dead on the floor as we head out for break.
We’re in the midst of a Slobber knocker (Excalibur’s words, channeling his inner JR) as we return. Both men are fighting for control on the top rope, as Hangman takes a bite out of Mark’s face. He tries a Sunset Flip Bomb, but Davis holds on. He swats Hangman away, but Hangman sweeps out his legs into a Sit-Down Driver for a two. Davis finds himself on the apron, Hangman with his corner clothesline, but Davis won’t go down. Hangman tries a second one, but Davis still won’t go down. Hangman flips to the outside looking for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb, but Davis sits down on Hangman’s head like he was a Gomba lol.
Davis lines up Hangman, but he moves, and Davis crashes into the corner. Hangman heads up to the balcony above the Timekeeper’s area and hits an Orihara Moonsault! Back in the ring, and Hangman hits another one for a two. Hangman looking Deadeye, but Davis with a backdrop driver. Davis has Hangman up, but Page rolls him up for a two. Davis hits an enziguri, he runs the ropes, and he smashes Page with a lariat. Davis follows this up with a big slam for a two.
Davis goes back to the lariat well, but Hangman stops that with his own lariat. But Davis absorbs this and recoils with his own lariat. Davis goes to pick up Hangman, but Page sweeps him up instead and hits the Deadeye! The cover, Davis is out at two. Hangman to the apron, he’s looking Buckshot Lariat, but Davis throws him out to the apron. Page tries to skin the cat, but Davis picks him up and they end up struggling across the ring and to the ramp. Hangman with a Tombstone on the ramp! Davis rolls back into the ring, Hangman loads up the Buckshot, he hits it, and he wins this one!
WINNER: Hangman Adam Page
TIME: 10:40
THOUGHTS: Power match done right. Davis got a lot of offense in, but at the end of the day, you knew that Hangman was going over since he has the World Title aspirations.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Hangman has the mic. HEY CUT IT! Next week, I pack my bags, I pack this championship, and I head to Australia for a #1 contenders match for the World Title. Kenny, my friend, I hope that I see you there. And MJF, Max, if I win that match, at Revolution, I will stomp every last future child out of your balls and I will take my title back that I never lost.
Well then, that’s certainly a threat lol.
Video package for Kevin Knight. The Jet has heard that he is the future, but he is the here and the now. Good stuff, this guy has quite the future here in AEW.
Kenny Omega and Andrade El Idolo will collide next!
COMMERCIALS!
I wonder which hottie Andrade will hit on this time out.
Andrade El Idolo W/Don Callis and Lance Archer vs. Kenny Omega
Andrade is wrestling in his shirt and pants to start this match. Speaking of Andrade, he heads out to the floor to consult with Callis before heading back into the ring. Lock-up, but no one wins this one. Andrade implores Omega to bring it, and the shirt comes off! It’s time for a strike battle, although Andrade spits in the eye of Omega. As just revenge, Kenny smashes Andrade with a big knee strike.
Andrade ends up on the floor, as Omega slaps hands with some fans. He tries a One-Winged Angel on the floor, but Andrade fights out and hits a snap suplex. Andrade situates Omega against the barricade and chops him. He returns Omega to the ring as he walks around the ring, and it sounds like the audio just farted lol.
Both men fight it out on the top rope. Omega with headbutts to Andrade followed by a chop and a forearm. To the tippy-top and Omega hits a Superplex for a two. Omega grabs Andrade by the hair and he hits a clothesline and Uncle Don says he has the secret sauce. Omega with the running senton splash into the springboard moonsault for a two.
Omega with some shots to the ribs of Andrade, but he reverses the whip and hits a flying back elbow. Andrade is feeling himself and tries a Figure-Four only to get rolled up. Andrade launches into the Three Amigos, which gets EDDIE chants. The guys roll out to the floor, where Andrade hits the third suplex. Andrade goes over to the baddies at ringside, but he thinks better of it and heads back into the ring. Andrade launches himself from the top and wipes out Omega with a crossbody before he heads back over to the baddies at ringside as he poses for a selfie with them. That’ll take us to the break.
Andrade is in complete control as we return. He heads to the top rope and he misses his moonsault, but his second moonsault meets the knees of Omega! Kenny charges, but Andrade moves and he hits the mat. Figure-Four initiated! Andrade looks to bridge up, but Omega reverses the pressure, causing Andrade to grab the bottom rope. Both men trade forearms from their knees and as they get back to their feet.
Omega takes over and he hits a Snap Dragon. Not content with one, he hits a second one. A third one is cut off by Andrade, but Omega with a wheel kick from behind, causing Andrade to hit the corner face first. V-Trigger connects! Omega sits Andrade on the top rope. Oh, he’s looking One-Winged Angel from the top, but he counters with an Avalanche Poison Rana! Andrade with a float-over DDT, but Omega kicks out at 2.5!
A-E-DUB and THIS IS AWESOME chants, and both are correct. Andrade psyches himself up before he smashes Omega with the double knees in the corner! The cover, but Omega kicks out at two. Andrade starts to lose his composure, and both men trade strikes. Andrade chops Kenny in the face, but Kenny is a nice guy and chops him on the man nipples lol. Andrade with a running boot to Omega, but Kenny fires back with the running knee! Another V-Trigger attempt, but Andrade catches him with a leg lariat!
Aubrey checks on Kenny, allowing Don Callis to get up to the apron and he throws Andrade a screwdriver. Aubrey deals with Callis but Swerve Strickland is here! He takes the screwdriver away from Andrade, and Kenny is looking for the One-Winged Angel. But Andrade sneaks out the back and hits Kenny in the dick! Andrade with the DM, and he is moving on Grand Slam Australia!
WINNER: Andrade El Idolo
TIME: 16:30
THOUGHTS: Farking fantastic match this was, to the surprise of absolutely nobody. Andrade has been on fire since he returned to the company, and Kenny is Kenny.
RATING: ****1/4
Post-match, Andrade celebrates on the ramp with Callis and Archer. Strickland is approached by Omega in the ring, and they start to shove each other. Security is here before they can beat the crap out of each other.
Brody King video package incoming. NGL, I highly doubt that Brody would win the World Title, but I don’t think that it would kill them to have King win here, so MJF has to defend the title in Australia.
Excalibur runs down what is left on Dynamite, and we will have the Women’s Tag Team Eliminator up next!
COMMERCIALS!
Renee and Kris Statlander are here after the break. Renee says that, in exchange for not being in the tag team match tonight, she is going to give Thekla another shot at her Women’s World Title, but Kris is picking the stipulation. Kris says that Thekla will get her the answer to that question on Collision this Saturday, but Thekla needs to sit down, shut up, and she will learn why she is the Cosmic Killer.
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Title Eliminator: The Babes of Wrath vs. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford
The bell rings, and Ford and Cameron will start this off. Swerve, though, as Bayne tags in. Double swerve, as Willow tags in. Ford attacks Willow from behind while Willow sends Harley from the apron. They work over Willow in their corner, but Willow reverses their double team whip, and she causes them to knock heads. Willow clotheslines Bayne out and to the floor.
Harley is back and she gets the tag. Willow slams Ford to the mat and slams Cameron on top of her for a two. Willow is back and she hits a suplex to Ford for a two. Penelope backs into the corner, as Bayne gets the blind tag. She bullrushes Willow to the corner and chops away. Willow is not going to let this slide, as she shows her power off as well. She goes to the top, Ford grabs her foot, allowing Bayne to throw her from the ring. Bayne takes off and hits a Tope Suicida to Willow on the floor. Ford and Bayne pose as we head out for break.
The powerhouses are battling it out as we return. Willow ducks a Bayne lariat and she hits the POUNCE, PERIOD! Tags bring in Harley and Penelope. Thesz Press from Harley and she scream FEEL THE WRATH! Cameron with a side suplex for a two. Ford cuts this off with a clothesline and she tags in Bayne. They look to double team suplex Cameron, but she reverses it and hits a double DDT!
Bayne looks to head to the top, but Cameron slows her down long enough for Willow to hit the ring. They hit a double team suplex to Bayne, but here is Ford, and she hits a double Blockbuster! THIS IS AWESOME chants, and yes, that’s stating the obvious. Cameron spikes Bayne with a DDT as Willow gets the blind tag. Willow hits Megan with a spinebuster and the high stack for a two. Willow yells for Harley, but Ford is back.
Megan throws Penelope into Willow and she hits a Flatliner! Bayne lifts up Cameron, Ford to the top, Doomsday Device, and Mega Bad has a title shot in Sydney!
WINNERS: Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford (Mega Bad)
TIME: 9:45
THOUGHTS: A really fun match. These two teams have a fair amount of chemistry, and by winning the Eliminator, Bayne and Ford situate themselves one match closer to becoming the second ever Women’s Tag Team Champions.
RATING: ***1/2
We see the highlights from Saturday’s TNT Title match, where Tomasso Ciampa defeated Mark Briscoe. We cut to Ciampa holding the TNT Title. He says out of respect for Briscoe, he will continue the open challenge tradition. So come one, come all, but understand that Sylvie will not be going anywhere for a long, long time.
Oh damn, Ciampa, Strong, AND Claudio? I know I pay HBO Max for access to Collison, but that’s not enough money. Give me Frye’s money, too!
Jungle Jack Irwin is here!
AEW National Title Match: Ricochet (C) vs. Jungle Jack Perry
Ricky tells GOA that he has this and they head to the back. Perry lines up Ricky on the ramp and he hammers away on him. Ricky rolls down to the floor, as Perry hits a running Senton Atomico! Back in the ring, Ricky misses a clothesline and eats a SPEAR from Perry. Jack mounts Ricky and punches away on him.
Back on his feet, and Ricky gets beaten from corner to corner. Perry mounts Ricky in the corner and hits the punches. Ricky hits the mat and Perry moves in for the pin for a two. Perry approaches Ricky, but he grabs Jack by the waist and drops him across the bottom rope. Ricky argues with fellow brother in bald Rick Knox, stomps on Perry, and screams at the fans. He implores Perry to hit him, and when he does, Ricky grounds Perry and punches him in the head.
Ricky with chops as Excalibur reminds us that he has six defenses of the National Title. Perry fights back and sends Ricky to the floor. Perry with the baseball slide, but Ricky pulls Perry out of the ring and he back suplexs Perry on the announce table. That will take us to the break.
Ricky has Perry prone on the apron as we return. Ricky looking for something, but Perry knees his way out of the move and ends up back in the ring. Ricky gouges the eyes of Perry, but Jack knocks Ricky off the apron and to the floor. Tope Cornio from Perry, wiping out Ricky!
Back in the ring, Perry’s attempt at a DDT is countered by Ricky, who hits a suplex. He hits a second one, as both guys end up on the apron, where Ricky hits a third one. They roll to the floor, and Ricky hits a Death Valley Driver! He returns the challenger to the ring and hits a springboard clothesline. After all of that, Perry still kicks out at two.
Ricky rolls out of the ring, and he grabs his title from the Timekeeper’s area. He throws it into the ring, Knox removes the belt, Ricky tries the low blow, but Perry blocks it. He hits his corner kick, but Ricky counters it. Ricky tries another suplex, but Perry with a Poison Rana counter. Knee strike and a cutter from the challenger, but Ricky kicks out at two.
Perry lines up Ricky, but the champion moves and rolls up Perry for a two. Perry with a roll-up of his own for a two. Perry doesn’t let go and he applies the Snare Trap! Ricky makes it to the bottom rope; Perry lets go and drags him back to the middle of the ring. GOA are here: Bishop Kaun threatens getting into the ring, which distracts Knox, allowing Toa Liona to get Ricky’s hand on the bottom rope.
The Young Bucks are here, and they attack GOA. In the confusion, Ricky’s title ends up on the second turnbuckle, and Perry’s face ends up hitting it. Vertigo from Ricky, and that’s a seventh retention!
WINNER: Ricochet (Still Champion)
TIME: 13:20
THOUGHTS: A good match with the right (and only acceptable) result. It does leave some trios’ tag team matches on the table with Jack and the Bucks against The Demand, though.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Excalibur brings up the matches for Collision, but he is interrupted by that Madman Gabe Kidd. Connors and Kidd threaten the video team to play footage of their trip from earlier. We see them dragging a body bag behind their car. They come to a stop; they open up the bag to reveal it is Darby inside. Connors cuts the rope from the car and the pair drive off, leaving Allin behind in the rearview.
Excalibur says they will provide updates on Allin when they get them. This is also our final commercial break, and the main event is coming up next!
COMMERCIALS!
AEW Men’s World Title Eliminator Match: MJF vs. Brody King
Justin Roberts with the in-ring introductions for this one.
The bell rings, as we have a cross-ring standoff. Hangman Adam Page’s theme hits, and he comes out to talk smack with MJF! This allows Brody to sneak up behind MJF and choke him out! King returns MJF to the ring, ARF, ARF, ARF, CANNONABLL! GONZO BOMB, and HOLY SHIT BRODY KING WINS!!!!
WINNER: Brody King
TIME: 1:15
THOUGHTS: Well, that was a match!
RATING: N/R
Post-match, Andrade El Idolo is here! He lays out King and then hits the DM on MJF! Hangman is back, and he takes out Andrade with the Buckshot Lariat! Hangman lines up MJF, but Max kicks him in the dick. King is back with a second Gonzo Bomb for MJF! King picks up the World Title and poses with it before leaving the ring. We see the carnage around the ring, and with that, we are done!
