The John Report: AEW Dynamite 04/20/22 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured a Coffin Match main event between Darby Allin and Andrade El Idolo while CM Punk faced Dustin Rhodes in singles action.
Unfortunately, I’m not feeling well. I didn’t sleep much last night dealing with a stomach virus so this is not going to be a detailed play-by-play with analysis and star ratings. I’m sorry, but I’m just not up to it. Trust me, I did not “celebrate” 4/20 like some people. Just not feeling good today. I’ve done two COVID tests that were negative. I don’t think it is that anyway. Hopefully the medicine works, so I can be fine for Friday for Smackdown and Rampage reviews. I’m just going to take it easy today.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #134 at the Peterson Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA.
CM Punk defeated Dustin Rhodes
Punk won clean with the GTS after about 18 minutes. It was a competitive match the whole way. Dustin came close a few times, but obviously, AEW is building up Punk with wins. The two veteran wrestlers shook hands and hugged as a sign of respect.
Post match, AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page walked on stage to have a staredown with Punk. That’s obviously a tease for a World Title match at Double or Nothing next month.
The Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta) defeated Dante Martin, Brock Anderson & Lee Moriarty
One team has big names while the other team had young guys that are not on TV that often. It’s an obvious win for The BCC. Moxley pinned Martin with a Paradigm Shift for the win after about nine minutes.
AEW Major Announcement
AEW President Tony Khan appeared to make a big announcement with NJPW President Takami Ohbari joining him on the stage. Tony was about to announce something big when Adam Cole interrupted. Cole announced the news – Forbidden Door pay-per-view will take place at the United Center in Chicago featuring AEW & NJPW wrestlers. It will take place on Sunday, June 26th. Jay White appeared to do a promo as well talking about how Bullet Club will be part of it.
We did a news post covering the AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door show right here.
Wardlow defeated The Butcher
Wardlow won the match in about five minutes. The Butcher was competitive for some of it, but this was all about putting over Wardlow, who the fans love.
Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Qualifying Match: Kyle O’Reilly defeated Jungle Boy
It was a battle of tag team wrestlers as Kyle picked up the win over Tag Team Champion Jungle Boy. Kyle won clean with a brainbuster followed by a jumping knee attack off the top rope with Kyle putting his knee into Jungle Boy’s back. Kyle got the pin after that.
MJF paid Jake Roberts some money, which means Lance Archer faces MJF’s “client” Wardlow next week. Lance said he didn’t want money, he just wanted to fight.
Hook defeated Anthony Henry
Easy win for Hook in under two minutes. Hook won with the Redrum submission. They did some Danhausen “comedy” as he challenged Hook: “If you don’t want to be cursed by Danhausen, you will fight Danhausen.” Riveting television, really.
Scorpio Sky told Frankie Kazarian that he (Scorpio) needs to win the TNT Championship back and when he does, Frankie will get the first title shot.
TNT Champion Sammy Guevara did a heel promo with girlfriend Tay Conti. Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page and Dan Lambert. They set up a TNT Title Ladder Match next week – Sammy vs. Sky. It’s yet another title rematch. It was also agreed by both sides that there will also be a mixed tag team match in the future so that Tay can get her hands on Paige Vanzant as well.
Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Qualifying Match:Dr. Britt Baker DMD v. Danielle Kamela
Easy win for Baker in about six minutes. Baker was cheered heavily in her hometown of Pittsburgh.
After the match, Baker did a promo ripping on other women in the AEW women’s division. The fans liked it since she’s from Pittsburgh.
Coffin Match: Darby Allin defeated Andrade El Idolo
They fought all over the place and there was interference from Andrade’s Family Office stable full of guys that lose matches. Anyway, Sting helped Allin including a crazy spot where Sting climbed up to a balcony and jumped onto a bunch of guys. The match settled down after that with Allin managing to finish off Andrade, who loses more than he wins in AEW. This went about 13 minutes.
The Hardys and Sting showed support to Allin to end the show.
Here’s a rundown of what’s coming up on Rampage on Friday:
* Adam Cole vs. Tomohiro Ishii in a Men’s Owen Hart Cup Qualifying Match.
* Lance Archer vs. Serpentico.
* Daniel Garcia vs. Eddie Kingston
* TBS Championship: Jade Cargill vs. Marina Shafir.
Next Wednesday on Dynamite in Philadelphia:
* Philly Street Fight: Serena Deeb vs. Hikaru Shida.
* Lance Archer vs. Wardlow.
* Dax Harwood vs. Cash Wheeler in a Men’s Owen Hart Cup Qualifying Match. The battle of FTR.
* TNT Championship Ladder Match: Sammy Guevara vs. Scorpio Sky.
* 10-Man Tag: Adam Cole, Young Bucks & ReDRagon vs. Dante Martin, Varsity Blonds, Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson.
I’ll wrap it up there. Thanks to the official AEW website for recap details. My apologies for not doing a longer, more detailed review. I think this show would have been in the 7.5 or 8 out of 10 range if I did a detailed review.
I should be back to normal for Smackdown and Rampage later in the week.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Raptors, Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport