Ciocco’s AEW Dynamite Review 3.11.26

SICKOS! It’s Wednesday, you know what that means! AEW Dynamite is LIVE tonight from the San Jose Civic Center in, you guessed it, San Jose, California! Tonight is the last episode of Dynamite before this Sunday’s Revolution PPV, and with that in mind, we have one final push towards the big annual March offering from the company!

The two titles bearing the namesake of the channels that AEW airs Dynamite and Collision on will be defended, as Willow Nightingale will defend her TBS Title against Persephone, who will look to be a double champion, as she recently defeated Mercedes Mone for the CMLL Women’s Title. Can Willow remain a double champion, or will Persephone dethrone her and become the newest double champion in AEW?

Speaking of double champions, Kyle “SAY HIS FULL NAME” Fletcher will defend his TNT Title against Speedball Mike Bailey. It’s interesting to note that this match follows Fletcher, along with Kazuchika Okada and Mark Davis, taking the Trio’s Titles from Jet Speed Rodeo. Can Bailey take a title back from the Protostar, or will Fletcher retain his title and keep the Don Callis Family rolling full speed ahead?

With the surprising arrival of David Finlay last week on Dynamite, the continuation of the Dogs (no longer can we call them War) and Orange Cassidy-Darby Allin will rage on. This time, though, Finlay will team up with Gabe Kidd to oppose the AEW originals. One supposes that this match, should The Dogs win, will be a lot tougher to pull out than it was for all three of the Dogs on Collision this past Saturday.

Speaking of surprises (or perhaps it isn’t really surprising), Tommaso Ciampa turned on Mark Briscoe and seemed to form an alliance with FTR, who he originally spurned and turned down before. Now, Briscoe is enlisting The Young Bucks (and we’re going to call the team ‘DEM BUCKS!) and they will take on FTR and Ciampa. Will the Bucks and Briscoe win, giving the Bucks momentum heading into their tag team title match at Revolution, or will Ciampa, Harwood, and Wheeler get on better than it appeared they would?

Because one of the best things that the AEW World Heavyweight Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman does is talk (a lot), we’ll get a press conference for the World Title match at Revolution with both MJF and his challenger, Hangman Adam Page. No way no how THIS will turn out to be disastrous! All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!

So, how is everyone doing on this Hump Day? Even though I’m not a Ravens fan, I’m still surprised that the Ravens backed out of the deal for Maxx Crosby last night. Then, in a move that looks kind of sus, they sign Trey Hendrickson away from their rivals the Cincinnati Bengals. Obviously, everyone knew that Crosby had his meniscus repaired, so not passing a physical seems like a lame excuse to get out of the trade. But, hey, as an Eagles fan, we signed Tariq Woolen and Johnny Mundt! Superbowl 61, here we come!

So, enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to make this Dynamite go BOOM!

Tonight, we are LIVE from San Jose, California! Tony Schiavone, Ian Riccaboni, and Bryan Danielson are on the call tonight! it doesn’t feel the same without Excalibur lol.

YOU WANTED WAR!

Oh, I see Arkady is going to do the ring announcing tonight! Nice!

The guys run down the card on offer tonight.

THE NEVER-ENDING WAR BETWEEN THE DEATH RIDERS AND DON CALLIS FAMILY IS NEVER-ENDING!

AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley & CMLL Champion Claudio Castagnoli vs. NJPW World TV Champion Konosuke Takeshita & Hechicero

A-E-DUB chants to start the match off, as Claudio and Hechicero come face to face. Wait, Hechicero does his sacred hand motions! He wrestles Claudio to the mat, Castagnoli reverses it. Both men struggle for control on the mat. Claudio grabs arm control, and Hechicero does his sacred hand motions! That angers The Swiss Superman, who shoves Hechicero.

Back to chain wrestling and counters we go. There’s a standoff for a minute, Hechicero tries to roll Claudio through, but Claudio escapes. he misses a back splash, though, and now we have a hip toss counter. Claudio lands on his feet after a piledriver attempt, but Hechicero with the grapevine cross heel hook! Claudio gets to the ropes and heads out for a breather. Hechicero flips off Moxley lol.

Moxley and Takeshita are in now. HOLY SHIT chants, as the fans can’t keep it in their pants! Shoulder tackle battle ensues, Moxley flips off Takeshita, which enrages Takeshita and he knocks him on his arse. Moxley with a double wrist lock as Claudio tags back in. Strong rope running by Claudio, but he runs into a leg lariat from Takeshita!

Hechicero gets the tag, but Claudio grabs him and takes him to his corner, where Moxley tags in. Hechicero isn’t scared, though, and he sends Moxley from the ring and hits a crucifix head scissor variation. Whatever it was, it was damn cool. So cool, in fact, that the only thing we can do after that is go to break!

Hechicero and Claudio are face-to-face as we return. Hechicero with a chop, but Claudio with the double leg. We won’t know if there will a Swing though because Hechicero escapes to the floor. Hechicero rolls back into the ring, but Claudio stops him from moving anywhere else. Claudio sends Moxley into Hechicero, who flips out to the apron. He delivers a Dragon Screw to Moxley before hitting a missile dropkick to Claudio.

Takeshita gets the tag and cleans house. Nice Snap Rana from the second rope to Claudio by Takeshita! Moxley sneaks up with the sleeper hold, but Takeshita counters into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two! Overdrive Knee is blocked, Moxley counters the rolling elbow. A big boot battle ensues, forearm from Takeshita, but Claudio comes in to intercept him with an uppercut! Moxley with the pin for a two.

Moxley grounds Takeshita with an arm bar and pulls back on the head of his challenger for Revolution, as Marina sounds like she approves. Takeshita makes the ropes, though. Moxley looks for the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Takeshita rolls through and hits the Overdrive Knee! Claudio and Hechicero get the tags now. Uppercuts from Claudio, but Hechicero with a flattened spinebuster and he rolls the arm of Claudio.

To the floor we go, as Claudio hits a running senton to Hechicero! Claudio revs up and hits Hechicero with an uppercut. Hechicero is returned to the ring, Claudio with a crossbody block, but Hechicero rolls through and hits a flapjack. Hechicero hooks up Claudio and ragdolls him, in Bryan’s words. Giant Swing from Claudio, but Hechicero kicks out at two.

ONE MORE TIME, plead the fans, but Claudio will not oblige them. Hechicero, whether as a result of that or not, smashes the jaw of Claudio with his knee. Guillotine drop from Hechicero and he gets a two. Hechicero charges Claudio in the corner, but he moves, and he almost smashes Mike Posey. Claudio pokes him in the eye! The roll-up from Claudio, and the Death Riders win!
WINNERS: The Death Riders
TIME: 14:00
THOUGHTS: A fairly good match. You do wonder how many more combinations we can make from these two groups, though, but as long as Hechicero and Konosuke are involved, it’s all good.
RATING: ***1/2

Post-match, Mark Davis and Lance Archer arrive and the ambush is on. Don Callis is here, and they give Takeshita a chair to hit Moxley! Konosuke contemplates this, but he throws the chair down. They hold Moxley for him, but Takeshita refuses to attack Jon. Hechicero is angry, but Takeshita brings the temperature down. He motions he will take his title.

The Remarkable Renee Paquette has Willow Nightingale and Persephone in the back. They wax poetic about taking titles from Mercedes Mone. This turns into a bragging session about who hit Mercedes harder. Persephone says she will hit Willow hard, Willow says she can take it. Giggity? They’ll find out later tonight!

The TNT Title is on the line next!

COMMERCIALS!

Don Callis is gassing up Kyle Fletcher as we return. MJF is here. He calls Kyle a lovely man, and he wants Kyle to beat the shit out of Mike Bailey for him. Kyle says he doesn’t take orders from MJF, and he will kick the shit out of Bailey for himself. MJF looks at Callis and says you need to teach your boys how to talk to the champ and walks off. Kyle wants to know if they are working with MJF, and Don asks if he looks crazy.

(You shouldn’t ask questions that you don’t want the answers to, Don).

AEW TNT Title Match: Kyle Fletcher (C) vs. Speedball Mike Bailey

Barring shenanigans, this could be a four-star floor. Put that on Draft Kings!

The bell rings, as Bailey goes for the kicks early. Fletcher avoids them, he counters a Rana attempt and sits down on Bailey. Bailey counters with an arm bar from outta nowhere! Fletcher gets the rope break and heads to the floor. Bailey follows out, but he gets kicked in the face. Fletcher tries to throw Bailey into the ring steps, but he ends up running into the steps instead. Flying Arm Bar on the floor by Speedball!

Back in the ring, and Bailey kicks at the arm of Fletcher. Kyle says enough of this Dingo Shit and hits a scoop slam. he goes to the corner to work out the pain in his arm before going back over and planting his boot into the chest of Bailey on repeat. Fletcher pulls Bailey up from off the mat and hits a side suplex for a two.

Callis advocates for Fletcher to break Mike’s toes as Fletcher chops Speedball in the corner. Fletcher decides it would be wise to run into the bare foot of Bailey not once but twice and it sure wasn’t nice. Snap Rana by Speedball and he’s feeling it. Kick to the gut, back kick, axe kick, and a standing moonsault just for a two. Fletcher to his feet and he hits a snap German on Bailey.

Both men on their feet, they kick each other once, they land more kicks, but the Question Mark kick meets a big boot from Fletcher, and both men hit the mat. Fletcher to the apron, Kyle catches a kick from Bailey. he scoops Speedball up and he looks to javelin him into the ring post, but Bailey sneaks out the back and hits a Poison Rana on the apron! Kyle crumbles to the floor as we head out for the break.

Fletcher admires his handy work as we return from break. He gets caught with a backslide from Bailey though for a two. Fletcher lands on the floor, and Speedball follows with a big crossbody block. Bailey heads back to the corner and hits a triangle moonsault! Back in the ring, Bailey misses his splash, Fletcher goes for a baseball slide, but he misses and Bailey hits a Corkscrew Plancha! Bailey returns Fletcher to the ring, but he kicks out at two.

Fletcher counters Bailey’s next move and he throws him headfirst into the corner. Fletcher mounts and pounds Bailey before posing for his adoring fans. Fletcher with a running big boot in the corner, but Bailey with a standing sleeper! Fletcher crumbles to the mat, and Bailey hits a standing moonsault to the arm of Fletcher! Kyle kicks out at two, so Bailey goes back to the arm bar. Fletcher picks up Bailey with one arm and hits a powerbomb to shake off Bailey!

FIGHT FOREVER say the fans, but I realized that Arkady gave us a 10-minute warning, which isn’t something we usually get in TNT Title matches? Both men are on the floor, Fletcher tries to powerbomb Bailey, but he rolls through and hits a moonsault double knee drop! Bailey rolls Fletcher onto the apron, Bailey looks for another moonsault, but Fletcher kicks him away. He charges Bailey, but Speedball sends him into the ring and heads up top. Arm bar from the top rope! Fletcher is prone on the top rope, BAILEY FLIPS BACK INTO THE RING AND HITS AN AVALANCHE POISON RANA! Flamingo Kick, but Fletcher kicks out at two! Ultimate Weapon connects, but Bailey misses the Time and Adventure! Fletcher spikes Bailey on his head, but Speedball kicks out at two!

A-E-DUB chants, as Bailey rolls up Fletcher for a two. Time and Adventure connect this time, but not the Ultimo Weapon! Bailey rolls up Fletcher for a two. Straitjacket roll up by Bailey for a two! Bailey sits Fletcher on the top rope, but Kazuchika Okada is here! He distracts the ref so he can get a screwdriver to Fletcher, who gouges the eyes of Bailey! Mark Davis throws Fletcher his title, and he clocks Bailey with it! The cover, and Fletcher retains!
WINNER: Kyle Fletcher (Still Champion)
TIME: 18:30
THOUGHTS: Screwy (no pun intended) ending aside, this was a fantastic match. The four-star floor was achieved!
RATING: ****1/2

COMMERCIALS!

Stand-by match mode initiated! Brody King is here to kill a jobber!

Brody King vs. Who The Hell Cares

Inset promo from King. He says he was looking for Swerve all over San Jose, but he couldn’t find him. Now he has another standby match that he isn’t ready for. I’m sure it won’t matter.

Holy crap, this jobber looks like Terry Funk. The end.
WINNER: Brody King
TIME: 15 seconds
THOUGHTS: Dead jobbers continue to pile up. This will appease Lance Archer.
RATING: Gigadeath

Post-match, King looks into the camera, and he wants to know where Strickland is. He didn’t need to look far, because someone chokes him out from behind in the front row! It’s Swerve himself! Strickland stalks King back into the ring, and he chokes King from behind. But unlike Fleetwood Mac, King breaks the chain! Strickland is in shock and he tries to run away, but he grabs him by the hair and beats on Strickland. CANNONBALL, and he goes to choke Swerve with his chain. Prince Nana chose death when he attacks King from behind, but it’s a ploy to save his boss.

Renee has Speedball in the back. Mike is upset that he lost the way that he did, but he is looking forward and not backwards. When he teams with Kevin Knight and Mistico, they will give the Don Callis Family what is coming to them this Sunday.

We Fell, for whatever.

Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs. David Finlay & Gabe Kidd

Cassidy and Finlay will start this match. Finlay wants Cassidy to bring it, and they both do the line in the sand motion. Finlay gets annoyed and tags in Gabe. Kidd goes and knocks Allin off the apron, as Finlay jumps Cassidy. Allin jumps on the back of Kidd, and everyone ends up on the floor. Now THIS is that gang warfare that we have come to expect and, possibly, enjoy.

Cassidy with his hands in his pockets jumps over Finlay and dropkicks him into the steps. He follows up with a running dropkick, while Allin does a running back splash to Kidd on the other side of the ring. Allin returns Kidd to the ring and he plants Kidd. He goes for a Tope Suicida on Finlay, but no one seems to know what happened. I speculate that Darby is, for the ten millionth time, ded. The Dogs work over Cassidy and celebrate as we head out for the break.

Cassidy is pulverizing Finlay and Kidd with the most brutal elbows ever as we return. It results in a roll-up for a two. Kidd grabs Cassidy by the shoe and keeps him from reaching Allin. Finlay drags Cassidy to their corner while Kidd threatens Allin with a shut up or I’ll smack you one! Cassidy with a Beach Break set up, Finlay with a sunset flip attempt, but Cassidy escapes and Allin is in!

Allin goes from corner to corner running into Kidd and Finlay. Gabe follows in, but he ends up running over Finlay instead. Springboard back splash to Kidd, and the Scorpion Death Lock is applied! Finlay can’t kick Allin out of the submission, but he can gouge his eyes, though! Rapid fire strikes from Allin and the headbutt to Kidd, but Finlay is back and they salt Cassidy and Allin. Finlay celebrates, while Kidd eats the Stun Dog Millionaire/Code Red Combination. Finlay breaks up the pin, but he ends up on the floor, where both members of the Dogs eat Tope Suicida!

Allin sits Kidd in a chair and heads to the top. He hits a missile dropkick from the top, toppling Kidd and the chair! Cassidy is looking Orange Punch, but Clark Connors from behind and he hits Cassidy with a tire iron! Allin doesn’t know any better. He eats a dominator from Finlay and a piledriver from Kidd and the Dogs bark!
WINNERS: Gabe Kidd and David Finlay
TIME: 12:00
THOUGHTS: I mean, these matches usually don’t do it for me, and this one was no different. I am kind of happy that they have found something for Allin and Cassidy to do though, I guess.
RATING: ***

Post-match, Connors enters the ring and hits Cassidy with a SPEAR. Meh, it isn’t as convincing as his girlfriend’s spear, though. Roderick Strong is back! He calmly walks down to the ring and gets into the ring. He wants the Dogs to give him Cassidy, and they do. Roddy feigns attacking Cassidy, but he throws Cassidy into the midsection of Finlay! The sides are now even, as Strong, Cassidy, and Allin (with skateboard) get their pound of flesh! Strong with a high five to Cassidy! BAH GAWD, RODDY IS CONGLOMORATING!

COMMERCIALS!

It’s TBS Title Time!

AEW TBS Title Match: Willow Nightingale (C) vs. CMLL Women’s Champion Persephone

Persephone mocks Willow adjusting her straps as the bell rings. Go-around and reversals from both women. Willow with a side headlock, Persephone tries to send Willow off, but she takes her to the mat. Back to their feet, and they both look for a backslide. Willow off the ropes, flying head scissor! Persephone says that’s cute and snaps off a Rana!

Willow wants to shake hands, and Persephone obliges. She tries a roll-up for a two, so Willow rolls her up for a two. Both ladies miss strikes, Willow misses Persephone on the charge and she ends up in the corner. Persephone with the whip, but Willow cartwheels out and dropkicks Persephone! Clotheslines in the corner to the count of ten, but Persephone with a crucifix for a two. Willow fires back with a side suplex and a back splash. Persephone lifts Willow up off of the mat and hits a Fallaway Slam! She kips up and poses as we head out for break.

Willow looks like she has turned the tide as we return. However, Persephone kicks Willow out to the floor, where Willow favors her shoulder. Persephone heads to the outside and they trade hands. Spine on the pine from Willow, though! Willow heads to the apron, Persephone grabs her foot, but Willow kicks her away and hits the CANNONBALL!

Back in the ring, and Persephone is in position for another CANNONBALL proper. The cover, but Persephone is in the ropes. Willow heads to the top, but the pool is empty, and Persephone hits a German! Persephone misses a kick, though, and Willow responds with her own German! Willow closes in, but Persephone holds on the ropes and hits a thrust kick! Persephone with a springboard moonsault! The cover, but Willow is out at two.

Both ladies fire up, a collision in the ring follows, and Willow wins out. The pin, but Persephone is out at two. Whip to the corner, Persephone rolls through and scores with a shotgun dropkick. She heads to the top, but Willow is up and she smacks her one. Willow heads to the top, Persephone grabs ahold of Willow. Sunset Flip attempt, but Willow holds on. Slaps to the back by Persephone, Razor’s Edge attempt! But she takes too long and Willow escapes, and she rolls up Persephone and she retains!
WINNER: Willow Nightingale (Still Champion)
TIME: 12:10
THOUGHTS: That was SO much fun. We NEED more Persephone in AEW. What do you mean she is signed to CMLL? She’s also signed to AEW as well. Make it happen!
RATING: ****

Tommaso Ciampa video package. He’s been here before, he’s tried to suppress the sicko in him, but he isn’t doing that anymore. The Mark Briscoe portion is the same promo he cut on Collision. That 6-man match is up next!

COMMERCIALS!

Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale are here post-break. Harley gasses her girl up, and Willow says she defended her TBS Title against the best Mexico has to offer. She says they have tag team titles, and they should defend them, but instead Willow offers up a challenge to Lena Kross for her TBS Title at Revolution Zero Hour. Um, okay then.

It’s time for the wrestling main event portion of the show!

‘Dem Bucks (Mark Briscoe & The Young Bucks) vs. FTR & Tommaso Ciampa

And the fight is on before the bell! Surprising, I know! The Bucks go after FTR, while Briscoe goes after Ciampa! Of course, Rick Knox is the referee, meaning that everything will be allowed within legal confines.

Briscoe sets up a table and looks to put Ciampa through it, but Dax cuts him off and the bell rings. Power and Glory attempt, but Briscoe gets his knees up on Wheeler. “Sick Nick” with the springboard 450 splash! The cover, but Harwood kicks out at two. Wow, Ciampa is actually working well with FTR, amazing.

The Young Bucks hit a tandem German on Ciampa. Matt uses his brother for a wall block double cutter. Briscoe and the Bucks line up Wheeler with a triple basement dropkick! Triple Superkick to Harwood and Wheeler! Ciampa tries to avoid the same fate, but he eats a SUPERKICK and a Pele kick! Meltzer Driver, but that’s cut off by FTR. They try a catapult of Matt, but he reverses it and sends Dax into Cash’s yam bags lol.

Ciampa and Briscoe are back and they square up. They collide with punches, with kicks, and finally, with lariats that knock both men to the mat. We are taking our final break, according to Tony. Does that mean that there will be no break between the end of this match and the main event press conference?

Harwood and Briscoe are trying to kill one another at the barricade as we return. Wheeler rushes in, but Briscoe smacks him one too. Everyone hits everyone with their shit. Ciampa has a chair which Knox is okay with, but he doesn’t hit anyone with it. Briscoe takes the chair and he sets it up for his Senton Atomico to the floor onto FTR and Ciampa. The Bucks and Briscoe surround Harwood in the ring as the fans want tables. SUPERKICK Party, but Wheeler and Ciampa put a stop to that.

Ciampa and Wheeler eye each other up, but Wheeler ends up kicking Ciampa lol. The Bucks are back with SUPERKICKS to Ciampa. Backpack Stunner from Briscoe, double SUPERKICKS from the Bucks. Briscoe to the top, Froggy Bow! The cover, but Dax headbutts his way into the save. FTR launch Nick out of the ring and through the table! Briscoe’s Jay Driller is blocked, and he eats the Shatter Machine! Ciampa into the pin, but Matt with the save.

Out on the floor, FTR look to hit a spike piledriver on Matt, but Matt fights it off. He instead gets thrown onto the announce table, where he takes the Spike Piledriver! I AM THE TABLE! In the ring, Ciampa hits Briscoe with a knee to the head! The cover, but Mark kicks out at two. Ciampa lowers the knee pad, and with help from FTR, it connects this time, and the bad guys take it!
WINNERS: FTR and Tomasso Ciampa
TIME: 12:55
THOUGHTS: It was a crazy mess, that should surprise nobody. I was interested to see how Ciampa and FTR worked, and they worked together quite well, except for when Cash kicked Tomasso in the face. A good main event, at least for the wrestling portion of the show.
RATING: ***1/2

Post-match, Ciampa continues the assault on Briscoe. Dax is dead on the announce table, so Cash goes to wake him up lol. Ciampa throws two chairs into the ring, and he uses one to smack Briscoe in the back. He sets one up, chokes Mark with the other one, and sets both up. Ciampa puts Briscoe on the top, he bites him, CIAMPA WITH THE AIR RAID CRASH THROUGH THE CHAIRS! Yeah, this Ciampa is WAY better than the bland babyface version.

Bryan Danielson will moderate the Press Conference between MJF and Hangman Adam Page. But before that, we get a video package, highlighting the history of both men in AEW.

Oh, we actually have a set-up for the press conference. Nice. We see the backs of heads of “reporters”. Danielson introduces Hangman Adam Page, and he introduces the current champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Danielson fields questions. One reporter wants to know if Hangman is going just for the World Title, or for revenge. Hangman says that he will be going for revenge, and that includes taking what means most to MJF, and that is his world title.

Another reporter wants to know how the match stipulations effect how they prepare for this match. MJF says that the stipulations are stupid, but he will be leaving with his World Title. Hangman says you will be leaving in an ambulance.

A reporter says that MJF lost twice to Hangman last year, and he wants to know how he can beat Hangman this time. MJF calls the guy a tub of goo, and he says he will not lose to Hangman again, and he will be leaving as champion.

Another reporter wants to know how Hangman is going to go about this Texas Deathmatch. Hangman says he won the title in this match; he defended the title in this match; he is Texas Death.

Another reporter runs down the history of Hangman when it comes to his matches in California. Hangman says he is laying it all on the line when it comes to this match. People have been comparing their stories and their careers, and they get to finish it. It will be bloody and it will be the end of the title reign for MJF.

The last question is for Hangman, and they want to know what Hangman will do if he doesn’t win Sunday. MJF says yeah, Hangman, what are you going to do? Hangman seems to doubt himself, but MJF has two beers here to toast to the challenger. He toasts to Hangman never being the champion again, and he throws the beer in his face. Predictably, this turns into a brawl and, of course, main event shenanigans.

Hangman and MJF fight their way out from the back and through the crowd. Security gets knocked down like bowling pins, as Hangman throws MJF into the ring. Hangman lines up MJF for a Buckshot Lariat, but more security is here. Hangman drops every single one of them while MJF puts on his Dynamite Diamond Ring. Hangman ducks Max’s swing and hits the Deadeye! Hangman goes under the ring, and he grabs a barbwire board! Hangman sets up MJF for another Deadeye, but MJF scurries away and takes off into the crowd. They trade words from afar to end the show.

And with that, we are done!

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Tonight was a strong go-home episode of Dynamite as we head towards Revolution this Sunday. If you are pressed for time and can't watch the whole show, I insist that you check out the Bailey-Fletcher match, and the Persephone-Willow match, as both were outstanding. Nothing else was bad per se, and we also got the return of Roderick Strong, who wants to conglomerate now, and a fun brawl to send the show home on.