Ciocco’s AEW Dynamite Review 4.1.26

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SICKOS! It’s Wednesday, you know what that means! AEW Dynamite is LIVE tonight from across the border in Canada, with tonight’s episode taking place in the Canadian Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba! Dynasty, which takes place a week and a half from now, is on the horizon, and with that, tonight’s show will help us continue to build that bridge towards the seminal April PPV!

Will Ospreay made his return at Revolution last month, and with that, he made his intentions known that he was coming for the man who put him on the shelf, that being Jon Moxley. But before Ospreay can get to Moxley and possibly take his Continental Title at Dynasty, he will come face-to-face with the Bastard PAC tonight. If this match doesn’t get at least four stars out of me tonight, then something has gone terribly wrong.

Multi-Person matches will be the name of the game tonight, as Kenny Omega, Brody King, and Jungle Jack Perry will face The Demand. The trio of King, Perry, and Omega seems like an interesting team in theory, although King does need something new to do, and Perry has been involved with Ricochet for a while now. Can the random team with no chemistry win this one, or will Ricochet and the GOA get the respect that they demand?

Speaking of Trios’ matches, Mina Shirakawa will team up the Brawling Birds to take on the Triangle of Madness. Mina has been on quote the roll lately and teaming her with Jamie and Alex could provide quite the formidable trio should they choose to go that route. But can they defeat Thekla, Skye, and Julia, who are a team by nature, or will the sisters and the Women’s World Champion be too much for them?

Speaking of Omega, in anticipation of his World Title match at Dynasty against the Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman, both men will sign the contract to make it official. Usually, contract signings are code for chaos and bedlam to take place, and I don’t expect that to change tonight. The only question is, how many edge lord heel antics will MJF pull during the signing, and will Kenny keep his cool and refrain from taking the bait? All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!

So, how is everyone doing on this Hump Day? I want to thank the Boss for filling in for me last week due to a situation that arose that prevented me from covering Dynamite. It’s good to know that people on here can have the backs of others when they need help with something, that’s what makes the team work!

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

Tonight, AEW’s string of shows in Canada starts with Dynamite LIVE from Winnipeg, the home of Don Callis, Chris Jericho, and of course, Kenny OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMEGA! Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuiness are on the call tonight!

Tony Schiavone is in the middle of the ring as we open up! Fireworks interrupt what he is trying to say, and he acts genuinely surprised by this.

But it was leading to the return of CHRIS JERICHO! He’s out to Judas again and not the Learning Tree theme, and he looks more and more like Bon Jovi lol. Tony also left the ring, but the table is still there for what was supposed to be the contract signing.

Yep, his theme song is still playing as Jericho walks around the ring looking into the crowd. The music has stopped, but he’s now pandering to the crowd. I’m not sure exactly what we’re doing here.

And he’s STILL pandering to the crowd. Mein Gott, this is not going to make MJF very happy. Don’t you know he needs to cut his 20 minutes promo?

Jericho has a mic now. WINNIPEG! AEW! I’m home!

And that’s it, apparently!

We see Jon Moxley getting attacked in the back! It’s Will Ospreay! He beats on Moxley, but here is Wheeler Yuta to pull him away. Will beats up Wheeler and goes back after Jon! Security is here to restrain Will, and Marina Shafir checks on Jon!

ANYWAY, back to what we were supposed to have to open the show lol! Maxwell Jacob Friedman is here to sign the contract! MJF takes a seat, as another one of Winnipeg’s native sons, Kenny Omega, comes out next! Excalibur reminds us that if Omega instigates physicality, then he loses his title shot, but if MJF does the same, then he forfeits the World Title.

MJF signs the contract right away, and then Omega signs the contract. MJF wants to speak, but Omega says to shut the hell up, then says it in French as well. This isn’t going to be a high school play write, he knows MJF and his game. He looks at himself in the mirror and thinks he is hot with his sunglasses, scarf, and hair plugs. That won’t work this time, it won’t go as you planned. You said it from the beginning, the ratings, the fans, they must be here to cheer for the champ! That’s what you have them believe. That’s what you have the people in the back and the Boss believing. But Kenny doesn’t believe it. The fans aren’t here for you; they are here to watch the best wrestle! He isn’t interested in words; he is interested in the title.

He was two minutes from death when he told his friends, and he told the world about his real-life problems. He told them that because he knows everyone wants better than this. You call yourself the Devil, so maybe Kenny is the God of Professional Wrestling, because someone has to strike MJF down and make sure that he is never, EVER, close to the title again, and he will be the one to do it.

MJF hands off his sunglasses and mock claps for Kenny. You heard it here first, people! Kenny Omega, Winnipeg’s own! So, you’re had 100%? HAHAHAHA! Sorry I didn’t mean to laugh. I can sit here and make fun of your knees being older than the bags of milk you stupid Canadians drink. I could talk about how, much like your talentless injured boyfriend Kota Ibushi, you are one strong gust of wind away from being knocked into retirement.

MJF wants to talk about the thing that keeps Kenny up at night. Ladies and gentlemen, have you noticed that Kenny is so enamored with winning this World Title? The Triple B is the most sought-after title in all of wrestling. Any guesses? Okay, MJF will tell you. Before Kenny got here, he had a doctor’s appointment, and apparently, his diverticulitis has gotten to the point where his intestines can explode at anytime and anywhere. So, you have to rush to try and get the job done, but guess what, God of Professional Wrestling? Your fans will have to accept the reality that their God would be better off dead!

Kenny tosses the table and gets into MJF’s face, with MJF begging him to hit him. Speedball Mike Bailey is here! He calms Kenny down, and MJF says get your Wax-On Wax-Off face out of here. Bailey grabs the mic and says that MJF should be thanking Kenny. Because without Kenny, there is no AEW, and there is no MJF. This man is a living legend, and your problem is that you think you are on the level of Kenny, but you’re only on his level in your own mind. So, maybe some of that ego will go away if I kick it out of your head? Let’s do this in the greatest country in the world!

Before MJF can answer, Kenny cuts him off. Apparently, he spoke to MJF’s doctor because fuck HIPPA lol. He might be missing 24 inches of his intestines, but he isn’t missing his balls.

MJF says this is cute, two Canadian comrades sticking up for one another. You want this, then you got it, MJF will see Mike in the main event. And one more thing, Canada is a dump, and the US is the best country in the world. You aren’t just wrestling MJF tonight, you’re wrestling an American Hero!

With Kenny in the ring, it’s time for the opening match, coming up after this 90 second break!

COMMERCIALS!

Kenny Omega, Brody King, and National Champion Jungle Jack Perry vs. The Demand

The bell rings, as Omega and Ricochet are going to start. No, wait, it’ll be Bishop Kaun instead. Lock-up, Kaun with a side headlock. Omega sneaks out and steps on the leg of Kaun. Omega off the ropes, but Ricky hits him from behind. This distraction leads to a tag and Ricky stomps on Kenny in his corner.

Ricky gets slapped by Kenny, and he wants a tag. Omega with a back body drop and King gets the tag. Brody and Jack take GOA off the apron. Ricky proceeds to get trucked by everyone and then eats a Senton from King! Brody with the pin, but Toa Liona with the save. Everyone fights in the ring, but since this is a Rick Knox match, that’s no surprise lol. Everyone ends up on the floor except for Perry, who hits a moonsault onto the Demand and Kenny.

Back in the ring, and King has Ricky. Ricky looking for a suplex of King, but Liona is back to help out. Everyone is trying a suplex in the middle of the ring, but Omega with axe handles to the Demand and the good guys hit a triple suplex. Perry with chops to Ricky, but Ricky slows him down with a headlock. Kaun with the blind tag, and Perry is sent from the ring, where Liona trucks him into tomorrow. That’ll take us to another break.

And we’re back, as Perry seems to be trouble yet again. Liona smacks Omega one on the apron, and the Demand run train over Perry. Team powerbomb to Perry, and Liona again smacks Omega before he pins Perry, who kicks out at two. Ricky in, and he tries to keep Perry at bay with an elbow to the kidney, but Perry off the ropes and he hits a flying shoulder block.

Omega and Kaun get the tag, and the son of Winnipeg smacks all the Demand members. He has Kaun up, YOU CANNOT ESCAPE, and indeed, Bishop did not escape! The pin, but Ricky makes the save. Omega off the ropes, enziguri to Kaun. Snap Dragon to Ricky! One for Kaun! Kenny tries one on Toa, but he’s too big. Toa smacks Brody, who responds by helping Kenny hit the Snap Dragon to Liona! ARF! ARF! ARF! Three for one CANNONBALL by King! The pin, but Kaun kicks out at two.

Kaun sends Omega from the ring and hits a snap guillotine to Perry. Liona runs around like a madman running over everyone. Ricky takes flight and hits Perry and Omega with topes. Kaun dropkicks King out of the way, and Ricky hits a 450 Splash to Omega! The cover, but Kenny kicks out at two. GOA have Kenny up, but Ricky is dragged off the apron by Perry. Perry sends both members of GOA to the floor. His Senton is caught, but here comes King to kill everyone!

The Terminator has risen! Omega is intercepted by Ricky though! Ricky takes King off the apron, and he hits a tope to Perry! He returns to the ring, but he runs into a V-Trigger! Kenny looking for another, but Ricky sneaks behind Omega and hits a Poison Rana! GOA slam King into the barricade, but Liona sends Kaun into King, who moves and he ends up getting sent into the timekeeper’s area by King! Back in the ring, Ricky misses the Spirit Gun, but hits Vertigo for a two.

Perry hits a knee strike to Kaun and takes the title from him. Ricky with a roll-up of Omega for a two. Omega fires back with the V-Trigger! He has Ricky up for the One-Winged Angel, and the real Hometown Man wins it for his team!
WINNERS: Kenny Omega, Brody King, and Jack Perry
TIME: 17:00
THOUGHTS: All of that and a bag of chips, for real!
RATING: ****

Willow Nightingale is in the back! Hello! Tis I, your TBS champion! Tomorrow night they are on TNT, but she wants to defend her TBS Title. Against who, she doesn’t know, but they have a great women’s roster, so she looks forward to whoever wants to step up!

Elsewhere in the back, intrepid reporter Remarkable Renee Paquette is waiting for Adam Copeland and Christian Cage. They arrive with chairs, and Adam says tonight is not the night. They will take out anyone who gets in their way, and Copeland has to stop Cage from hitting Renee lol. They walk off and Adam says, “Renee? Really?”

The Battle of the BRUVS is up next!

COMMERCIALS!

Cage and Copeland are on the hunt for FTR! They see the sign for their locker room, and they kick the door in, but they find Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero instead! They tell them that FTR will on Collision tomorrow night and that they can take a message for them. Copeland says make sure they get this message, and they assault Trent and Rocky with the chairs they had. Copeland adds on emphatic stomp for good measure.

It’s time for a BRUV down!

PAC vs. Will Ospreay

PAC attacks Ospreay during his entrance and he hits him with a brain buster on the ramp! The refs check on Ospreay as PAC heads back to the ring. Ospreay gets to his feet, and he starts towards the ring. The doctor keeps telling him that he wants to go, but he doesn’t want him to go. Ospreay is like bugger off and he slides into the ring. Paul Turner checks with him before he rings the bell.

And it seems like the bell turned PAC into a real MADMAN as he stomps Ospreay all over the ring before arguing with Turner. Scoop slam and a knee drop to Ospreay, but Will kicks out at one. PAC sizes up Ospreay as we head out for the break.

PAC has Ospreay in a cravat as we return. Will tries to free himself, but PAC keeps the hold on. Will finally escapes and kicks PAC away twice before leaping to the top and connecting with a springboard forearm! Ospreay is feeling it now, with his springboard back elbow for a two. PAC keeps Ospreay at bay, but Will catches PAC’s head in the turnbuckle! PAC kicks him away, but he jumps into Ospreay’s waiting arms and he hits a stalling suplex! Ospreay to the top again, 450 Splash connects, but PAC gets free at two.

THIS IS AWESOME, say the Peggers, as Ospreay is loading up the Hidden Blade! PAC, however, rolls out to the floor. Ospreay heads to the top, but PAC shoves him to the apron. Both men trade forearms around the ring post. Ospreay with a shoulder to the gut, and he tries a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to the floor! PAC holds on to the ropes, kicking Will away. PAC with a moonsault into a spike DDT to Ospreay on the floor!

PAC returns to the ring, and Ospreay barely makes it back at nine. PAC is waiting for Ospreay however, as he applies the Brutalizer. Ospreay gets to the ropes quickly, however, forcing a rope break. That’ll take us to the next break.

PAC has his foot on the neck of Ospreay as we return. Will gets to his feet and he starts a forearm battle with PAC. Maybe not the smartest thing to do. PAC with a spinning kick to the gut and he hits a bridging German for a two. The PAC train gets rolling, but Ospreay intercepts him with a powerbomb and a high stack for a two! He transitions right into the Styles Clash and he rolls PAC over, but he kicks out at two yet again.

Ospreay makes his way to the top, but he takes too long, allowing PAC to sweep out the legs. PAC with some salty language and the edge lord finger lol. He heads to the top and snaps off a Poison Rana, but Ospreay lands on his feet! PAC still manages to score a snap rana for a two!

The PAC train gets rolling and he hits a big lariat! PAC sets up Ospreay for the Tombstone Piledriver and hits it! He sets up Ospreay in the corner and heads to the top. Black Arrow from PAC, who moves right into the Brutalizer! Ospreay gets to his knees with PAC on his back! Now he’s on his feet, but Will collapses right back to the mat. PAC insists that he is out, but Ospreay, in fact, is not. Ospreay gets his foot on the bottom rope, and when PAC tries to turn him over, Ospreay ends up rolling up PAC for the win!
WINNER: Will Ospreay
TIME: 17:15
THOUGHTS: Psychology, striking, high risk moves, submissions, this had it all. Smart of PAC to go after the neck of Ospreay, and Will pulling it out in the bottom of the ninth was the best way to keep Will strong heading into Dynasty, and it keeps PAC from looking like a dope.
RATING: ****1/2

Post-match, PAC continues the abuse, but Ospreay hits the Hidden Blade! The Death Riders B-Team are here and they assault Ospreay! Claudio is here with a chair, followed by Moxley and Marina. Claudio sets the chair around the neck of Ospreay, and he goes to stomp on the chair, but Jon stops him. Moxley says you are okay. There are six of them and one of you, how did you think this was going to go? Did Jon put him here, or did Will put himself here? He is going to give him a good piece of advice; next time, use your head, or you might lose it permanently. HEY! This isn’t personal for me, Will, don’t make it personal.

The ladies are in action next!

COMMERCIALS!

Spiders, birds, sinners, and Mina, oh my!

The Triangle of Madness vs. The Brawling Birds and Mina Shirakawa

Mina wants Thekla at the bell, so she’ll get her. Thekla mocks Toni Storm, which incites Mina, and Thekla tags in Skye. Skye throws Mina to the mat by her hair and sends her into the corner. Mina avoids her charge and hits a head scissor takeover. Tag to Windsor, who rag dolls Blue before Hayter comes in. Jamie with the pin, but Skye kicks out at two.

Skye gets run over in the corner by all of her opponents, and Mina hits the slingshot Tornio! The cover, but Skye got her foot on the ropes. Skye takes a cheap shot at the Birds, and Thekla and Julia distract Mina, and Skye attacks from behind. Thekla hits a double stomp to the back of Mina and she mock dances as we head out for the break.

We return to see a triple team suplex spot, but they all fell down, like Toy Soldiers. We’re left with Windsor and Thekla, as Thekla lays one in on Windsor. Alex responds with a headbutt, and Mina gets the tag. Mina throws Thekla across the ring and hits a running knee strike for a two. Figure-Four, but Thekla kicks her away. This leads to the point in the match where everyone gets their shit in. Back to Mina and Thekla, as Mina screams the name of Thekla and hits a spinning kick to the head.

Thekla takes Mina to her corner and tags in Skye. Mina fights off both Skye and Julia and tags in Jamie, but Alex also comes in. They sandwich Julia, but Two Birds One Stone is intercepted by Thekla. She has the brass knuckles, but she ends up eating 2B1S instead! Hart is back and she eats the Hayterade from Jamie, and she wins it for her team!
WINNERS: The Brawling Birds and Mina Shirakawa
TIME: 9:20
THOUGHTS: Mina won; therefore, I am happy. I know that Mina and Toni were amazing together, but Mina is really fun with Jamie and Alex as well.
RATING: ***1/2

We see Tomasso Ciampa and Juice Robinson will have a match tomorrow night on Collision. Yes, as a dutiful reminder, Collision will be on tomorrow night and not Saturday Night!

Darby Allin is here! He said he is going to hold the throttle until he either sees God or the AEW World Title. And he hasn’t seen God yet, so he wants to see the Devil tonight. Why are we playing games with the Don Callis Family? He doesn’t care who wins between Omega and MJF, he just wants to put an end to his condescending bullshit! So, get out here, Max!

But here comes the Don Callis Family instead! Don says that MJF is paying his family a lot of money, and he has a message for him. He says that if Darby can defeat his handpicked DCF member at Dynasty, then when MJF is done destroying Kenny Omega, then he will give Darby his title shot. And Callis and MJF agree on a lot, and they both agree that the perfect opponent for Allin at Dynasty is Andrade!

Andrade acts surprised, and Callis sends Lance Archer, Hechicero, and El Clon to the ring. But Jack Perry and Brody King are here to even the odds! Perry and King have a stare down with Allin, but Kenny Omega is here! Allin leaves the ring, says something to Omega, and leaves up the ramp, as Omega slaps hands with the fans at ringside.

Our main event is coming up next!

COMMERCIALS!

The Real Captain America is here for the main event!

AEW World Title Eliminator Match: Speedball Mike Bailey vs. Maxwell Jacob Freidman

MJF going over the top with the American representation lol. Omega is on commentary for this match, as Bailey comes out with the Canadian flag and a red and white Gui. Nice.

MJF attacks before the bell, and Bryce Remsburg pulls MJF away and checks on Bailey. Mike is good to go, and the bell rings officially. Bailey peppers MJF with forearms and looks for Time and Adventure, but MJF pulls Bryce in front to avoid contact. He gouges the eyes of Bailey and throws Mike out of the ring. MJF throws Bailey into the ring steps and taunts Omega at the commentary table.

Back in the ring, and MJF grounds Bailey with side headlock. Bailey to his feet, but MJF takes him back down and he mocks the Pledge of Allegiance lol. MJF tries to whip Bailey, but he chops his arm instead and turns his back. Bailey fires back with some offense, but MJF catches him out with a powerbomb over the knee, which gets him a two. MJF mocks Bailey’s poses, but Mike sweeps out his leg lol.

Bailey with strikes, but MJF with a well-timed thumb to the eye. He keeps running into the feet of Bailey though, like he was a magnet and Bailey was the fridge. Kick to the head, kick to the back, and a running SSP from Bailey gets a two. Bailey kicks MJF out of the ring and to the floor, allowing Bailey to hit the corner and he takes out MJF on the floor with the moonsault!

MJF is returned to the ring, and Bailey scores with a springboard missile dropkick. Bailey to the apron and to the top again looking for the Ultimo Weapon, but MJF channels his inner Orange Cassidy and slowly rolls away. He catches Bailey with a guillotine over the top rope. Bailey with a backslide and an inside cradle, both for a two. A trap sunset flip also gets him a two. MJF connects with some offense, but he runs into a Spanish Fly for a two.

THIS IS AWESOME chants, as Bailey crawls out to the apron. MJF follows in, but Bailey with whiplash to Max. Bailey jumps right into a Liger Bomb from MJF for a two. Bailey again ends up on the apron, as MJF chokes him against the middle rope. MJF with a dropkick to the knee of the Bailey, sending him to the floor. MJF mocks Bailey’s poses and flips off Omega at ring side. MJF catches Bailey on his way back in with a Heat Seeker, but Bailey throws him off. MJF thinks he is safe sliding out of the ring, but Mike hits him with a moonsault as MJF opines OH SHIT! That’ll take us to the final break.

Bailey is on the top rope, but MJF hits the ropes, causing Bailey to crash to the apron as we return. MJF heads to the apron looking for a piledriver, but Bailey breaks the grip and hits the moonsault double knees! Back in the ring, and Bailey loads up the Ultimo Weapon, but MJF moves. He can’t escape the Snap Dragon, though. MJF ducks two kicks from Bailey but third time is the charm! Same goes for the Ultimo Weapon, as Bailey FINALLY hits it. The cover, but MJF is too close to the ropes.

Bailey sets MJF on the top rope, but MJF again gouges the eyes of Speedball to get free. MJF runs into Bailey, but Mike trips him up. He misses another moonsault knee drop, and MJF connects with a Tombstone Piledriver on the apron! The Heat Seeker finishes it for the champion.
WINNER: Maxwell Jacob Friedman…MJF
TIME: 15:40
THOUGHTS: A really good main event. I don’t see where having Bailey win an eliminator for the World Title would have hurt, but we do have a good amount of people circling the World Title, so I guess it makes sense. Still a good bout between two opposite styles of wrestlers.
RATING: ***3/4

Post-match, MJF assaults Bailey, forcing Omega to leave the commentary team and MJF hightails it. Refs and the Doctor check on Bailey, as Omega helps him back to his feet.

And with that, we are done!

(Wait, we only got a MINUTE of overrun? What a ripoff)

8.8

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Dynamite delivered yet again. And that, my friends, is NO April Fool's Joke. Rather, it's something that we have come to expect, and expectations were once again met. Not one match was lessor than good tonight, and combined with the contract signing, MJF and his over-the-top American Patriotism in Canada, and the two word return of Chris Jericho, this was another BRISCOE of a show!