wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s AEW Dynamite: Spring Breakthru Review 4.15.26
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...SICKOS! It’s Wednesday, you know what that means! AEW Dynamite is live tonight from Everett, Washington, but tonight is no ordinary episode, for tonight is Spring Breakthru, and we also have the fallout from this past Sunday’s Dynasty event!
Three titles will be on the line tonight, starting with Willow Nightingale defending her TBS Title against the recently returned Kamille. Willow has fashioned herself as the Comeback Killer (see the polar opposite of the Career Killer), and to that end, she has defeated both Hikaru Shida and Queen Aminata in their respective returns to AEW. However, Kamille not only attacked the Champion on the Dynasty Zero Hour on Sunday, but she would make her in-ring return in a squash victory. Can Willow keep her Comeback Killer role intact, or will Kamille put an end to her TBS Title reign?
After Kyle Fletcher was forced to vacate his TNT Title due to a meniscus injury (a true travesty to Fletchlights everywhere), we crowned a new champion in the Jet Kevin Knight. After claiming his first singles title in AEW, there will be no rest for the weary, as Knight will defend the title against the Death Rider’s Claudio Castagnoli. Will Knight prove his title win was no fluke, or will Claudio make his title reign short lived?
In what one supposes to be the main event tonight; Maxwell Jacob Friedman will defend his Triple B World Heavyweight Title against Darby Allin. Both men come off of wins at Dynasty, as Allin was able to sneak out the victory over Andrade El Idolo, and MJF went the distance to defeat his challenger, Kenny Omega. Can MJF continue his title reign, or will the (relative) hometown kid in Allin finally climb that World Title mountain and end MJF’s title reign?
It’s been a pretty interesting two weeks for the recently returned Chris Jericho. After being away from the company for over a year, he made his return in his hometown of Winnipeg two weeks ago with two words, “I’m Back!’ The following week, he was confronted by The Demand when he signed his contract, and at Dynasty, he lost his return match to Ricochet. Tonight, Jericho will sit down with The Remarkable Renee Paquette for an interview. What does Jericho, the man of a thousand nicknames (HA!) have on his mind? All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!
So, how is everyone on this Hump Day? I lamented last night during my NXT coverage that the Flyers have finally put an end to their playoff drought on Monday, so last night, they only go out and win game 82 when nothing is on the line for them. Still, we enter the playoffs with a crap ton of momentum, so I’m very excited for the first time in a long time for what they do. I will also be excited for when the Pacers come back to life next year with a healthy Haliburton and the second pick in this summer’s draft.
Also, two other things. I got an email letting me know that Collision was going to be LIVE on June 6th from the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio! And I just got my tax return, so I’m scouring for a ticket for me to go to the show! I went to the first and only one there so far, and it’s been two years since they were there, so this should be pretty cool. And it’s also live!
Speaking of Collison, this is your friendly reminder that this week, Collison will be held tomorrow night at 8:00PM with WrestleMania 42 taking place this weekend. Due to the time of the show during the week, you will unfortunately be stuck with me for that as well and not Theo.
But, enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to Breakthru this Spring!
Tonight, we are LIVE from the Angels of the Wind Dome in Everett, Washington! Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Bryan Danielson will have the call for us tonight!
Renee Paquette is in the parking lot as the show starts. She says management have been calling MJF every hour on the hour to let him know that Darby Allin is having his title shot tonight. As she says this, an SUV shows up and parks behind her. She tries to tell him what Darby said, but he goes into a tirade about all the people he has beaten, including Bandido and Kenny Omega. She tries again, but here comes Don Callis. Don says sorry about the Andrade thing, and MJF acts surprised. He says he didn’t watch the match because he was getting ready for his world title match with Kenny. Don says that Darby slipped in a pin and Andrade lost to Allin. MJF says he loves Don but tell Andrade that he is not championship material. Don leaves, and Renee screams at MJF that Darby has asked for his title match tonight.
MJF: What?
Renee: Darby Allin requested his title shot for tonight.
MJF: What the fuck?
MJF stalks off and we head to the arena, where Darby Allin is making his entrance! Oh shit, we’re getting the title match to start this off.
Oh wait, here comes MJF. He wants damn music cut. He calls Darby an Emo reject and says if Allin thinks he is defending his title against him tonight, then he is as dumb as he looks. He has so much money that no one can comprehend. He will sue that skank Aubrey Edwards, he will sue that Emo Kid, he will sue that pervert Justin Roberts, he will sue Tony Khan, he will sue WBD, and he will sue everyone for living in this dump. The fans chant RING THE BELL and MJF mocks them and says he isn’t wrestling. He has a bad back from his half hour match with Kenny, so he is going to the back to get his back checked out. So, Darby, he is going to do you a favor. His mic cuts out, so he takes Justin’s.
Darby, you are a fairytale, these people love you. But they love you because you are good, not great, like them. Like them, you aren’t championship material. And I say this with love and respect, but you’re not ready…
Allin has heard enough as he rips the mic away from Max. All it takes is one night to drop the wrestling world on its head. If it isn’t tonight, then he will never be ready. He would die for this city. He took posters down and put them up around the city. He put that flag on top of Mount Everest. He is ready. He’s been ready. His career started ten miles down the road, at the Buddy Wayne academy. And he took a deep breath his first day of wrestling school, and he said he will either make it as Darby, or he will fail as Darby, and he’s not changing a thing. And tonight, he’s climbed to the top of the wrestling world, and he is ready. Ring the bell!
MJF goes to object, but hold on, Bryan Danielson got a message from Tony Khan! Tony agrees with MJF that it is unfair for him to wrestle when he isn’t prepared. And Max, that is why Tony is giving you plenty of time to prepare, because this World Title match will happen in tonight’s main event. And Max, if you refuse, you will be stripped of the AEW World Championship!
MJF is bitching at Bryan, but Darby spins him around. Tonight, he is beating his ass with a headlock takeover!
Allin leaves the ring and runs into the barricade, and MJF is beside himself.
Post-Dynasty, Tony Schiavone wanted to get a word with Kenny Omega. Omega says he’s got nothing, sorry, Tony, and the doctor takes him to the trainer’s room. Will Ospreay is already here waiting for him! Will says how are things going? Kenny says it didn’t go his way; it didn’t go the way for either of us. Will takes Kenny down memory lane when he lost to Okada back in 2014. Kenny says that was 12 years ago, and his time is running out. But you are still in your prime, Will. You are the future of professional wrestling. You can take this back; you still got this. Will says we still got this. You got this, Kenny, take care of yourself, and Will’s got your back! Will leaves, and Kenny says he will be here a while. Maybe he shouldn’t give up. Maybe there is still a chance. Maybe he can still do this. He gets up and walks around, and he tells the cameraman to cut it.
Oh, look, we’ll finally get a match. Danke!
Tomasso Ciampa vs. Dezmond Xaiver
The bell rings, and Ciampa looks like he wants to kill someone. You could say he wants to be a Psycho Killer. To the point, Ciampa charges Xaiver and stomps on him and kicks him out of the ring. Ciampa chucks Xaiver into the barricade and throws him back into the ring. Dezmond plays keep away once they are back in the ring and he gets an elbow in, but Ciampa sends Dezmond out the other side of the ring and pretends he took out the trash.
To the floor, and Ciampa goes to throw Dezmond into the ring steps, but Xaiver leaps over them. Ciampa looks baffled, and they both get into the ring. Xaiver with body blows and a dropkick that sends Tomasso from the ring. Xaiver looks to fly, but Ciampa gets out of the way. He mocks the Rascalz hand motion as we head out for the break.
Ciampa has Xaiver in a chin lock as we return. The fans chanted bald at Ciampa during the break, and he said he wasn’t Ricochet Are we getting a build towards something here? While I contemplate fantasy booking, Dezmond gets back to his feet and hits clotheslines and a CUTTER. Dezmond with a corner clothesline and a back kick. DDT to follow, but Ciampa is out at two.
To the top goes the Rascal, but the pool is empty. Ciampa scores with a rolling forearm, but Xaiver counters Ciampa with a Rana for a two. Ciampa ends up on the floor, and Dezmond hits the Tope Suicida! Dezmond returns Tomasso to the ring and this time he hits the Frog Splash! But it’s not enough to keep Ciampa down. Ciampa to his feet, he grabs Dezmond, but he escapes with thrust kicks. Dezmond jumps willingly into the knee of Ciampa, however, and he snaps his neck in place. Ciampa has Xaiver up for the Project Ciampa! He doesn’t go for the pin, however, as he picks up Xaiver, lowers the knee pad, and knees Dezmond into tomorrow for the win!
WINNER: Tomasso Ciampa
TIME: 9:40
THOUGHTS: People saying that Ciampa is being buried or underused might be off base, but it would be nice to see Ciampa build to somewhere with these wins that he has strung together.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Ciampa has the mic. He says he just made an example out of this kid. He came to AEW because he wants all of the gold. And if he isn’t making himself clear, then Darby Allin, MJF, whoever wins tonight, the Psycho Killer is coming for the World Title. He kicks Dezmond and leaves the ring, as he rips up some fan’s signs at ringside.
We get a video package, highlighting Darby and his history with MJF. Excalibur says it will show us how the headlock takeover has won matches, but in reality, we got everything but lol.
Never fear, 7-Star FTR are here with Big Stoke! Dax Harwood has the mic first. He’s read a lot of the chatter online. He’s heard all the complaints. It seems to him that the fact that FTR won again has made you all angry. He gets it, he understands why you are angry. Because you guys love an underdog story, and you feel you can relate to an underdog. The fact is that you’re not underdogs, you’re just losers. He’s for real; you’re just fat losers. And speaking of losers, we gave Christian Cage and Adam Copeland a brush with relevance, and you couldn’t get the job done. So, as long as they are the tag team champions, they will never get another shot.
Stoke says that he was told you are educated people. He gets NO HOES chants and Stoke says he doesn’t need hoes when he’s got the world tag team titles. He says these people should know the story of David vs. Goliath, and these men are Goliaths. There are a lot of Milli Vanilli’s and David’s with the Young Bucks, the Bang Bang Gang, The Rascalz. They need more competition, and he knows Tony Khan will go to New Japan and CMLL to find more competition for them.
Cash Wheeler says Stokely is right. He is asking everyone nicely to show respect and give a moment of silence for the careers of Christian Cage and Adam Copeland. Cash says thank you, and he says for those with the benefit of flash photography, they will give them something better than a five second pose, they will give them a ten second pose!
And they POSE! Cash says thanks, Seattle, you’ve been great!
The TNT title is on the line, next!
COMMERCIALS!
Claudio is here to take the TNT Title. Or will he?
TNT Title Match: Kevin Knight (C) vs. Claudio Castagnoli
I know I’ve said that I wanted Knight to get singles gold in AEW, but I am still surprised that they had him win the TNT Title at Dynasty.
Claudio charges at the bell, but Knight with a sunset flip and then a backslide both for a two. Knight plays avoid the big man and send him out to the floor. Knight goes to take flight, but Claudio is back with a big lariat. He stomps on Knight and sends him to the corner where he continues the beating. Knight tries to chop down Claudio, but Castagnoli scoops him up with the slam. Claudio tries to rip Knight’s head off with a vice.
Knight to his feet, he tries to create separation, but Claudio won’t let go. So, Knight slips out the back door and kicks Claudio in the head. The challenger finds himself on the floor again, and Knight hits a springboard crossbody block. The Champion is feeling himself as we head out for the break.
Despite bring in control before the break, Knight finds himself fighting from underneath when we return. Claudio with a scoop slam, but he misses his follow-up knee drop. Knight with a roll-up for a two. Knight scores with a leg lariat, rocking Claudio. Both men to their feet, strikes are traded, Claudio off the ropes, but Knight scoops up Cladio and slams him to the mat! The running version of the UFO Splash gets the champion a two.
Claudio heads to the top rope, but he regrets this when Knight kicks out his vertical base. Claudio crashes to the floor, and Knight hits a Senton to the challenger on the floor. THIS IS AWESOME chants as Knight returns Claudio to the ring. Claudio catches Knight with a boot on his charge and heads to the top. Knight tries a Rana, but Claudio holds on and he carries Knight to the top rope! Claudio thinking Avalanche Gotch Style Piledriver, but Knight avoids that with some punches. Claudio drops him to the mat, but he hits a European Uppercut from the top! The cover, but Knight’s out at two.
Knight off the ropes, but Claudio picks him up with a backbreaker for another two. Reversals end up with Kevin taking the Giant Swing! Sharpshooter attempt, but Knight fights it off. Claudio thinking catapult, but Kevin lands on his feet and smacks Claudio with a big kick! To the top goes Knight, the UFO Splash connects, and that is title defense number one!
WINNER: Kevin Knight (Still Champion)
TIME: 9:40
THOUGHTS: Really damn good match, and it should have at least eclipsed ten minutes. The sky is the limit (literally, because he’s a Jet, you see) for Kevin Knight.
RATING: ***3/4
Knight has the mic post-match. Everett, Washington, did you miss me? He shows respect to Claudio, but he isn’t letting that stop him. The Jet is feeling good, looking even better, and he is the TNT Champion. Now, the night before, they lost the Trios’ Titles, and he doesn’t want Speedball to beat himself up. When one door closes, another one opens, and the Jet flew through to win the TNT Title. We got MJF and Darby Allin tonight, and he’ll be keeping an eye on that match. Because two-belt Jet sounds good to him!
Renee will be speaking to Chris Jericho, next!
COMMERCIALS!
We return to highlights from the Chris Jericho and Ricochet match at Dynasty. Color me surprised still, 72 hours later, that Jericho put Ricky over.
The Remarkable Renee Paquette is in the ring. She welcomes out the legendary Chris Jericho! Jericho is here in his red jacket, and if recall, this was the one he wore during his duet with MJF back in the day, but I could be wrong, as usual.
When the weak singing is over, Renee says everyone is happy to see him! And I’m just noticing that his name plate simply says Jericho. Okay then. Renee says last week, he said he would be rusty, but that wasn’t the case at Dynasty. How do you feel? Jericho says it’s great to be in Everett, Washington. It was one of his greatest performances in front of a great crowd. So, he didn’t lose because he was rusty, but because it was three-on-one.
He goes to congratulate Ricochet for the win, but The Demand are here in color. Ricky tells us to sit down and shut up. Jericho, he meant every single word when he said he respected you, and he respects you even more after Dynasty. But you got yourself hurt after you signed your little contract. So, he took him out with his own Lionsault, or as he is going to call it, the Ricosault. You did good, but you weren’t good enough to overcome the rise of Ricochet. SHUT THE FUCK UP chants, and Ricochet says you need to give it up. Unless you reinvent himself, like you did with the Lionheart, the guy in the suit who said big words, and the man in the light up jacket. Now, you can be the guy who gets his ass beat by the Demand every week. This could be the best run of your career!
Jericho takes the mic from Renee. First of all, the Ricosault? That’s terrible. Ricochet (Bald), he respects you (bald) coming out here and giving your opinion (bald). You’re tough when you’re with your goons (dumb and ugly), so BALD, why don’t you bring Dumb and Ugly and fight me tonight in Everett, Washington!
Ricky says you don’t get to call him bald, but Jericho continues to call Ricky bald. Ricky tells Toa and Bishop to let him handle this by himself. Ricky hits the ring, Jericho ducks a clothesline, and he hip tosses Ricky to the mat. Ricky told us a lie, because he waves the GOA down, and the beatdown is on. Open the Gates to Jericho, as Ricky does the finger salute. Ricky hits the Ricosault, and they pose.
You know, Jericho has had many partners and group members, and so I find it kind of odd that NO ONE came down to help him out.
At Dynasty, Renee (in her power suit) wants a word with Don Callis. She wants to know what happened between Okada and Takeshita. Konosuke tries to storm past them, but Callis wants to know what happened out there. Takeshita, mockingly, tells Okada that he is SO SORRY and leaves. Okada punches the air, screams in Japanese, and got dang, that was funny!
ELEVATED, ELEVATE ME TO THE SKY! Will is out, and if Kinesio tape ever goes out of business, I have a feeling we’ll know why.
But wait, Don Callis and Lance Archer are here, and Don has something important to say! He insults Everett by calling them El Stupido, throws in a Super Nintendo reference, and we get an extreme close up of the mouth of Callis. For all of the love we give the cameraman during women’s matches, this was the yin to that yang.
Will Ospreay vs. CMLL World Champion Hechicero
Early lock-up at the bell, and Hechicero wrestled Ospreay to the mat. Ospreay flips out of the hold, but Hechicero kicks him in the head out of spite. Another lock-up, Hechicero takes Will to the mat again, Will with a quick roll-up, but Hechicero tries to rip his face off. Another roll-up from Will for another two.
Hechicero back to a side headlock takeover. Ospreay flips around until he can escape, but he’s still in trouble, as Hechicero hits a running one-foot dropkick. Hechicero dances and chops Ospreay. Will off the ropes, though, and he snaps off a Rana, sending the Alchemist to the floor. Springboard Crossbody from Will incoming! That’ll take us to the break!
Ospreay is in control as we return. Marina is at the barricade, and they have some words, allowing Hechicero the chance to take Will around the world and he throws him to the mat. Will stumbles to the corner, and Hechicero with a big boot in the corner. He gets a two count. Hechicero with kicks, and modified spinebuster, and he cranks the neck of Ospreay. Will rolls to the apron, but Hechicero hits a baseball slide to send Ospreay to the floor. Marina continues to look on, as Hechicero returns Will to the ring.
Hechicero traps the legs and arms of Will, does his wave, and then applies the Romero Special. He grabs the face of Will, but Rick Knox admonishes him. Surprised, am I. Will takes advantage with a springboard back elbow to Hechicero. Ospreay to the apron, and the springboard elbow strike gets him a two. So does the follow-up Sky Twister Press. Ospreay with Kawada kicks to the head, which only fires up Hechicero.
Both men to their feet, and the straps are down! Kicks and counters miss, but Will hits a standing CUTTER! Ospreay lowers the elbow pad, and heads in for the Hidden Blade, but Hechicero catches him in the Guillotine head scissor! The cover, but Will gets his foot on the ropes. Hechicero pounds on Ospreay as Callis gets in the face of Knox. Doctor Sampson checks on Will, and we’re heading out for another break.
Hechicero has Will in the abdominal stretch as we return. Not content with that, Hechicero catches Will on the run and applies a sleeper over the top rope. Ospreay ends up on the floor, and Hechicero nails him with a Torpedo headbutt. Back in the ring, and Hechicero hits Will in the neck from the top rope. I think? The pin gets him a two. Ospreay counters with Stunner, he catches him in the corner with the Cheeky Nando’s, but he can’t grab a hold of Hechicero.
Small package roll around by Hechicero for a two. Ospreay to his feet, Oscutter is countered by a sleeper from Hechicero, and he turns that into an arm bar submission, that becomes a Triangle. Ospreay picks up Hechicero off the mat and hits the BRUV Clash! (That’s my name for it). One Hidden Blade later, and Will wins it!
WINNER: Will Ospreay
TIME: 18:00
THOUGHTS: Even with the doctor spot, this match was still an amazing bout between two awesome wrestlers. Enough said!
RATING: ****1/4
Post-match, Callis says they will have to go to Plan B. That Plan B is Mark Davis, who decks Ospreay and hits him with a piledriver.
We get the Willow Nightingale interview from Dynasty, after she was attacked by Kamille.
Renee is on the stage, but Thekla cuts her off. She says Renee looks good tonight, but this is her segment. She went into Dynasty, and she beat the almighty Jamie Hayter! She beat her ass, and she’s still the Women’s Champion, and you better get used to it! This industry is full of dumb bitches!
OI OI OI! Alex Windsor is here! Did you think that she would let her get away with her beating Jamie? Get your ass down here, so she can beat the piss out of her!
Thekla says call out a dumb bitch and here you come. She says she was with her husband last night, but Alex says that Thekla isn’t the only champion here, because she is the Women’s RevPro Champion. Thekla mocks her, and Alex says that in Japan, they call her the woman who got fired because she is a tit.
Thekla: I didn’t get fired from Japan…actually, I did get fired from Japan!
LMAO!
Alex challenges Thekla to come down to the ring, but Thekla says eh, I don’t think so. Alex instead calls her out for Collision, but here come the Sisters of Sin. Alex makes short work of them, and she returns her focus to Thekla, who flips her off because she is an edge lord. Book it, Tony!
Speaking of the ladies, the TBS Title is on the line, next!
COMMERCIALS!
Moxley and the Death Riders are in the back. Marina shows up, and he asks Marina how Will looked. Rough, says Marina. Jon says that he prefers his opponents to be at the top of their game, and sometimes, the cards don’t always fall in your favor. You can’t have the sun light without the sunset. He tells his opponent tomorrow night, Nick Wayne, that this Continental Title is adult stuff. Nick is out of his league, and he should leave his mother in the back. He laughs like a hyena for some reason. Cool.
TBS Title Match: Willow Nightingale (C) vs. Kamille
Kamille goes to launch an attack at the bell, but Willow ducks and hits clotheslines. She rams Kamille’s head into the turnbuckle, but Kamille responds with a front kick. Hard Irish Whip, but Willow moves, and corners Kamille with corner clotheslines. Willow pulls Kamille in, but she kicks Willow in the shoulder. Kamille grounds Willow with arm control, but Willow fights free.
Willow dumps Kamille on the ring apron, but Kamille snaps her arm over the top rope. Back in the ring, but Willow takes over with chops. Kamille again avoids the Irish Whip, and she slams Willow to the mat shoulder first. That’ll take us to another break.
Kamille does a fancy flip out to the apron only to slide back into the ring as we return. Both ladies trade clotheslines in the middle of the ring, and Willow puts Kamille on the mat. Kamille back up, but Willow with the POUNCE, PERIOD! CANNONBALL follow-up, but Kamille is out at two. Kamille with a jawbreaker and a big leg lariat, but Willow kicks out at two.
Willow tries a sunset flip, but Kamille breaks her hold and looks for the cross-arm breaker. She gets full extension, but Willow rolls her up to break the hold. Kamille goes back to working over the arm of the Champion. She picks her up, but Willow escapes and shoves Kamille into the corner. Willow with the backslide, and she escapes as champion!
WINNER: Willow Nightingale (And still)
TIME: 8:25
THOUGHTS: Survival was the name of the game for Willow, and she managed to do just that. This match was fine, not great, but fine.
RATING: ***1/4
Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander are in the back. Hikaru says what a win for their good friend, Willow! But last Saturday, she teamed up with Statlander, and tomorrow night, they will team up again, two AEW Originals!
Kris: …
We see MJF walking in the back. We cut to Renee walking with Darby. She asks him if he is ready for this moment. They stop, because STING is here! Darby asks if he has anything for him, and Sting says no, you got this. Darby says its show time, but Sting says it’s your time! Go get it!
One final break and then the main event is next!
COMMERCIALS!
Darby Fell…for you (And Sting, too)
AEW Men’s World Heavyweight Title Match: MJF (C) vs. Darby Allin
The Yapper who is Dapper gives us the in-ring introductions for this one. Also, as a reminder, this match is going to be commercial free. I mean, it’s already 10:03, so how many more commercials could we squeeze out in overtime?
The bell rings, as Darby remains seated in the corner. He pulls himself up and MJF plays keep away. He takes off his Dynamite Diamond Ring and gives it to Aubrey, and he kicks Allin in the ball behind Aubrey’s back. MJF is going to win this with the Headlock Takeover, but Allin throws MJF off and he almost hits Aubrey! Allin kicks him in the balls! Scorpion Death Drop! Allin hits the Coffin Drop! He hits a second Coffin Drop! He hits a third Coffin Drop! He hits a fourth Coffin Drop! He pulls MJF up to his feet and hits the dreaded Headlock Takeover! DARBY HAS DONE IT! HE DEFEATS MJF WITH THE HEADLOCK TAKEOVER!
WINNER: Darby Allin (AND NEW!)
TIME: 2:10
THOUGHTS: I mean, what can you say? One year ago, Darby started his climb of Mount Everest, at a time when Tony Khan wanted to put the World Title on him. Through all the trials and tribulations that followed, Allin went through the Death Riders and then through the likes of Andrade El Idolo to get to this point. And when the time was right, he took full advantage and was able to beat MJF at his own game. A great moment in AEW history, and one that will set a new course for the World Title Scene/main event picture moving forward.
RATING: All the stars at Darby fell for, for all of us.
Post-match, the babyfaces empty out the locker room to come out and celebrate with Allin. MJF is face down on the floor and ded. IT’S STING! He’s out to howl and pump up the fans! And with that, we are done!
