Reviews

The John Report: AEW Dynamite 04/26/23 Review

By John Canton • Published 26th April 2023
aew dynamite april 26

This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Darby Allin facing Sammy Guevara, Dax Harwood against Jeff Jarrett, Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita in tag team action and more.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #186 at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida near Miami. Check out the AEW PPV listing archive only on TJRWrestling as well. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means. Excalibur, Taz and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.

International Championship: Orange Cassidy vs. Bandido

Orange is 11-0 in 2023. Whenever he has a match on Dynamite they usually put him on first. Orange is going for his 20th straight title defense. Orange has his right hand/wrist taped up to sell an injury.

Bandido and Orange did some comedy to start the match following an exchange of pin attempts. Orange put Bandido’s hands in Orange’s pickets, which led to cheers and Orange did a headscissors out of the ring. Orange ran the ropes with his hands in his pockets, then a hurricanrana and a dropkick. Orange tried a dive, but Bandido caught him and sent Orange jaw-first onto the barricade. Bandido with a shoulder tackle against the turnbuckle followed by some kicks. Bandido applied a Stretch Muffler-style submission while grabbing the hand/wrist, but Orange got to the ropes. Bandido hit a dropkick sending Orange out of the ring followed by a somersault dive over the top onto Orange on the floor. They went to a picture-in-picture break. We get the PIP action here on TSN in Canada, but I don’t review it.

(Commercial)

Bandido caught a running Orange with a suplex. Bandido hit a superkick while Orange was doing comedy spots. Orange got a hold of Bandido and sent him face first into the top turnbuckle. Orange hit a diving cross body block off the top and a Michinoku Driver for two. Orange hit a suicide dive with an elbow into the barricade. Orange went to the turnbuckle, but Bandido stopped him with a jumping kick. Bandido hit suplex off the middle ropes followed by a popup Cutter for a two count. They battled by the turnbuckle again with Bandido punching Orange in the face. Orange jumped into his arms, Bandido caught him and held Orange with one arm followed by a slam. Bandido jumped off the top with a Frog Splash for two. Great nearfall there. Orange got the Mouse Trap pin for two, then Bandido hooked the arms for a pin and that got two. They each tried a move, Orange broke free and hit an Orange Punch. Orange hit the Beach Break for the pinfall win after 16 minutes. Orange has 20 title defenses now.

Winners by pinfall: Orange Cassidy

Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was a great match. Bandido certainly looked like he might win, at least more than some wrestlers that compete against Orange in these matches. Bandido came close to winning a few times including with the Frog Splash. Orange sold well and had an impressive finish to the match. I was probably harsh towards Orange Cassidy in the early days of AEW, but the guy can really go in the ring and it’s smart to put him on first. I’d like to see Orange in a meaningful feud for the title instead of random matches every few weeks, but in terms of match quality, they are usually enjoyable matches.

Post match, Orange put sunglasses on Bandido and they posed together.

Adam Cole was interviewed by Renee Paquette with Cole saying he’s going to call out Chris Jericho and if Jericho doesn’t come out there then he’ll find Jericho. Cole left, so Orange Cassidy showed up to ask if Renee wanted to interview him. Renee said she was just talking to Cole, so Orange said “oh” and left with Bandido also saying “oh” and leaving. That was funny.

It’s Dax Harwood facing Jeff Jarrett after the break.

(Commercial)

Darby Allin and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry were interviewed by Renee Paquette. Darby said that they don’t have to like eachother, but they should respect eachother. Darby mentioned Sammy Guevara cheating to win last week to beat Jack last week and Darby felt bad that he was in the rafters. Darby said if you care about any of this pillar stuff then maybe he should have Allin’s back. Jack said he wishes it was the two of them out there tonight because he would have won again. Allin said he would have beaten Jack again. Jack wasn’t so sure about that and Allin said he’ll see him later.

Jeff Jarrett made his entrance and they told him all of his allies had to go to the back. Dax is an AEW Tag Team Champion as part of FTR with Cash Wheeler. Cash hugged Dax and went to the back.

Dax Harwood vs. Jeff Jarrett

Jeff wrestles in AEW way more than I thought he would at the age of 55. They did some classic old school wrestling spots like shoulder tackles, then Jarrett did two hip tosses and a body slam followed by the strut leading to boos. Jarrett worked over Dax with punches and stomps in the corner. Dax came back with a knockdown followed by a leg drop. Dax tried a superplex, but Jeff knocked him down to stop that attempt.

(Commercial)

They exchanged punches, then Jeff hit a knee breaker and they each blocked submission attempts. Jeff ran into the turnbuckle after Dax moved and Jeff bumped to the mat, so Dax jumped off the top with a headbutt for two. Dax got a backslide for two. Dax hit a piledriver for a two count. Jeff looked exhausted or maybe it was just selling. Dax chopped Jeff a few times on the floor. Back in the ring, Dax jumped off the top, Jeff avoided it and did a catapult into the turnbuckle leading to Jeff getting a rollup for two. Dax got an inside cradle for two. Dax hit a short arm lariat to knock Jeff down. Dax went for a body slam, Sonjay Dutt showed up to trip Dax and Jeff fell on top for two. The referee didn’t see it. Dax chased Jeff around the ring, then into the ring and Jeff hit The Stroke for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jeff Jarrett

Analysis: **3/4 The match was okay with a cheap ending. When a tag team champion like Dax Harwood is in a singles match, it often times leads to that champion losing the match in order to build up the other guy that’s on another team. I don’t know why we need Jay Lethal & Jeff to be title contenders again, but obviously people that run AEW love to see them in that spot. Anyway, FTR isn’t going to lose the titles to them. I guess Cash Wheeler was in catering and couldn’t help his buddy Dax while Dutt was out there causing chaos.

Post match, Dutt handed Jarrett the AEW Tag Team Title that belongs to Dax and Jeff posed with the title that is not really his.

Tony Khan Announcement

There was a Tony Khan announcement. Tony announced this year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. It will have an opening ceremony at Double or Nothing and be featured at AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door as well. The tournament finals will take place in Owen’s hometown of Calgary when AEW is there on July 15th.

Analysis: That’s cool. I know people are sick of Tony Khan announcements, but I think AEW is doing a great thing honoring Owen Hart for the second year. Ending it in Calgary makes sense. That July 15th date is a Saturday so it will be the AEW Collision show. I’ll be at Forbidden Door in Toronto in June too.

TNT Championship: Wardlow (w/Arn Anderson) vs. Some Guy With No Chance

There was no graphic for Wardlow’s opponent. Wardlow with a headbutt and a windup lariat. Wardlow hit two consecutive Powerbombs. The first one was sloppy. Wardlow hit a third Powerbomb while Arn had a cringe face reaction. Wardlow hit a fourth Powerbomb for the pinfall win after one minute.

Winner by pinfall: Wardlow

Analysis: 1/4* A squash match to put over Wardlow in his third reign as the TNT Champion.

Arn Anderson told Wardlow’s opponent to have an ice pack and a 12-pack. Anderson had his back to the hard camera to start it, then he turned around to face it, so somebody told him. Arn said he’s figured out who’s who in that AEW locker room. Arn spoke about how the NFL Draft is full of teams picking guys to create a dynasty and Arn said that Wardlow is a dynasty. Arn said mentioned 150 wrestlers back there and Wardlow is right there at the top. Arn told Wardlow sometimes he’ll have to pull an eye out, bite a thumb off and maybe hit a man with a chair.

It’s Christian Cage with Luchasaurus wearing some new red & black attire. Christian and Luchasaurus walked down to the ring. Christian walked up the steps, but then he walked back down and told Luchasaurus to move back.

Analysis: A tease of a future match. That’s fine with me because it’s fresh.

Sammy Guevara was interviewed by Renee Paquette with Maxwell Jacob Friedman, the AEW World Champion, showing up to kiss Sammy in the forehead and Sammy kissed him in the head back. MJF said that he gets to avoid a 4-way match while Sammy will get a big fat check as part of their deal. Sammy gave MJF a matching vest and Max gave him a Burberry scarf. Sammy and Max hugged. There were even kisses on the cheek. Sammy’s match was next.

Analysis: This is not going to end well for them, but it’s been fun to see them be over the top like this.

(Commercial)

RJ City was talking about Kenny Omega teaming up with Konosuke Takeshita, but Jon Moxley decked City with a punch. Moxley was there with Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta of the Blackpool Combat Club. Moxley said they had scars to leave tonight. Yuta stomped on City for good measure.

Analysis: It teases more for the BCC later in the show.

Darby Allin entered first with his skateboard. Sammy Guevara was next up with his wife Tay Melo for a pre-match kiss. Tay went to the back. Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance as the AEW World Champion. MJF had some pickles.

Analysis: The story is that MJF wants Sammy to win this match so that Sammy will lay down for MJF at Double or Nothing because MJF is paying him. It’s all because MJF doesn’t want to a 4-way match with Allin, Sammy and Jack Perry.

Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara

This is the final bout in the Four Pillars Tournament with the winner earning an AEW World Title match against MJF at Double or Nothing on May 28th.

Allin with a headlock takeover on Sammy. They exchanged some holds and Sammy hit a dropkick. MJF talked about how Sammy will lay down for him at Double or Nothing and the check won’t cash until he does it. Tony Schiavone was screaming about how they were talking about pickles during this important match. Allin applied a Cloverleaf submission leading to Sammy getting to the bottom rope. Sammy came back with a knee strike to knock Allin out of the ring. Sammy whipped Allin into the ring post. Tony kept on whining about MJF wanting Sammy to lay down for him. Sammy teased a suplex on the floor, but Allin stopped that. Sammy did a back kick low blow followed by an impressive springboard moonsault off the top onto a standing Allin on the floor. Great move leading to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Allin going for a suicide dive, but Sammy avoided it and hit a Cutter on the floor. Sammy brought out a table from under the ring. Allin fought back with chops and put Sammy on the table. Tay Melo ran down to the ring, so Sammy got back up and hit a Spanish Fly slam off the top for two. Sammy put Allin on the table, there were some punches by Sammy and Sammy jumped off the top with a 630 Splash onto Allin on the table. Wow. Sammy nailed that perfectly. Allin beat the ten count by going back into the ring. MJF went down to ringside. Allin hit a shotgun dropkick into the turnbuckle. Tay was on the apron to distract, MJF threw the skateboard to Allin and Sammy bumped to the mat as if Allin hit him. The referee called for the bell thinking that Allin was disqualified. It went 14 minutes.

Winner by disqualification: Sammy Guevara

Analysis: ***1/4 There were some great spots there so I’ll give them credit for that, especially Sammy. Some of the moves that Sammy did were incredible and he makes them look so easy. I don’t really like table spots in regular matches, but as AEW fans we are getting used to them. The DQ ending is rare by AEW and I guess it worked as a classic Eddie Guerrero spot. I just didn’t think they’d book a match to end like that. Darby and Sammy had a fun match here.

There was a graphic on the screen for MJF vs. Sammy Guevara at Double or Nothing. Meanwhile, Tony Schiavone said he was told something by Tony Khan on his headset. Sammy and MJF were attacking Allin, but there was Jack Perry for the save. MJF and Sammy left and went up the ramp.

MJF did a promo saying that him and Sammy is the main event at Double or Nothing. MJF mocked Allin for crying, playing with himself and listening to My Chemical Romance. MJF told Allin and Jack that they suck just like the fans suck.

Tony Schiavone stood up and told MJF to shut up because he’s a prick. Schiavone said that Sammy earned the title shot against MJF at Double or Nothing because he won the Four Pillars Tournament. Schiavone said that next week there’s a tag team match with Allin & Perry facing MJF & Sammy with the stipulation that if Allin & Perry win then it’s a 4-Way Match for the AEW World Title at Double or Nothing. If MJF & Sammy win then the match remains MJF vs. Sammy. MJF & Sammy were angry about that and left to the back. Jack and Allin shook hands while Jack’s music played.

Analysis: That is a way to tell us that it will be a 4-way match for the AEW World Title at Double or Nothing. I think that was the obvious route when they started doing promos together over the last month. It’s just a matter of how they got there. I know AEW doesn’t do 4-way main event matches often, but I think MJF, Jack, Sammy & Darby will have an outstanding match. This is my way of saying I think Jack & Darby winning next week over MJF & Sammy is very likely.

(Commercial)

MJF and Sammy were shown walking in the hallway with Renee Paquette trying to get an interview, but MJF didn’t want that. MJF shouted out about how this is not the right way for Tony Khan to treat him and wherever he goes, the AEW World Title will be with him. MJF left alone because he told Sammy that the car was full. There was nobody else in the car other than the driver, so that was rude by MJF.

Let’s Hear from Adam Cole

Adam Cole was in the ring ranting about how last week Chris Jericho and his friends beat up Britt Baker right in front of Cole, who was handcuffed. Cole wanted Jericho to come out there right now.

Chris Jericho did a taped promo saying he didn’t want to be anywhere near Cole since he’s a disgrace. Jericho said that his guys were there, so he told them to get him.

The Jericho Appreciation Society’s Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker attacked Cole in the ring. Orange Cassidy and Bandido made the save. They were beaten up too. Roderick Strong made his AEW by running out to the ring and cleaned house with suplexes backbreakers and a jumping kick. The fans were chanting “Undisputed” as Cole and Strong had a staredown briefly leading to a big hug in the middle of the ring. Orange and Bandido left without shaking hands with Cole and Strong. Cole was happy about seeing his buddy Strong there.

Analysis: Good to see Roddy Strong in AEW. Strong wasn’t being used in NXT for many months, so I guess his contract expired and now he’s in AEW with many of his friends like Cole. Strong’s wife Marina Shafir is also in AEW, so it makes a lot of sense for him to be there too. Strong is yet another talented veteran that AEW can use in a lot of different ways. I know people are excited about any newcomer in AEW, but they just signed Jay White and the poor guy is on Rampage this week instead of Dynamite. That’s just an example of how AEW doesn’t always use newcomers that well.

Tony Khan has confirmed Roderick Strong is All Elite now.

There was a QTV segment with QT Marshall, Harley Cameron (always looking great), Aaron Solo and Powerhouse Hobbs walked into the ring pushing Marshall against the wall. Marshall told Hobbs he’ll be a champion again. Hobbs told Marshall to fix it. That was it. Marshall said let’s go to Plan B. That was it.

Taya Valkyrie made her entrance as the challenger for the lone women’s match on the show. Jade Cargill was next as the TBS Champion with a 55-0 record in AEW.

TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (Leila Grey & Smart Mark Sterling) vs. Taya Valkyrie

If Taya uses her Road To Valhalla move then she is disqualified.

They exchanged some strikes. Cargill with a corner clothesline, then a whip into the turnbuckle and Taya came back with a clothesline. Taya teased her Valhalla moved, but she stopped herself and hit a forearm. Cargill raked the eyes. Taya tried to send Jade out of the ring, Jade pulled herself back in and Taya kicked her out. Jade pulled Taya’s leg on the apron, Taya did the splits and Jade slammed her reverse DDT-style on the floor. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

Jade remained in control until she missed an elbow when Taya moved. Taya with a knee to the face, then clothesline and a sitout Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Taya charged, Jade got a boot up and Jade sent Taya into the top turnbuckle. Taya was on the top turnbuckle, so Jade jumped up impressively and hit a superplex. Jade hit a Canadian Destroyer for a two count. That was a surprising move, but I think she hit the way she wanted. Taya avoided a Jaded slam and a double foot stomp for two. Taya with a lift, then she let go before hitting Jaded and Taya got a rollup while grabbing some of Taya’s gear (a bit) and got a rollup for the pinfall win. It went about nine minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jade Cargill

Analysis: **1/2 It was okay. Jade pulled off some good moves including that Canadian Destroyer that came off as a bit of a surprise. Taya had the match won, but then she wasn’t able to do her finisher due to the stipulation. Taya worked well with Jade here, better than most women Jade has wrestled. That’s because Taya is a talented Canadian – I have to get that in there. I like Taya lot and think she brings something different to AEW as a veteran power woman wrestler.

Post match, Taya punched Sterling and Grey while Cargill left. Taya was about to hit the Road to Valhalla on referee Aubrey Edwards, but other referees went out there to stop it.

Analysis: I think that means we’ll see this match again soon.

Dr. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter did a promo backstage. Britt had a black eye on her left eye while Hayter had her arm right in an arm brace. They did a promo trashing The Outcasts for using weapons to send them to the hospital. Hayter said The Outcasts have declared war and the only way this will be over is you send them to the bloody morgue.

Analysis: I don’t know if mentioning a bloody morgue means they might do a Blood & Guts match at some point, but it’s possible I guess.

This Friday on AEW Rampage; Jay White & Juice Robinson vs. Ricky Starks & Shawn Spears. They all did promos about the match. Plus, other things on Rampage.

Excalibur did a lot of fast talking running down Rampage stuff that was way too fast. Bryan Danielson made his entrance and joined commentary for the main event.

Analysis: The fast-talking is ridiculous. Why do they always rush this guy? Talk at a normal speed. It’s so silly.

(Commercial)

Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita entered with Don Callis. Kenny is the IWGP US Champion, so he was wearing that title that he rarely defends. The Butcher & The Blade entered with Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford to no reaction.

Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Butcher & The Blade

There were about 11 minutes left in the show. Blade attacked first, but then Takeshita hit a jumping kick. Bryan said that The Elite are like a cancer. Omega tagged in with a rolling senton and a moonsault on Blade. Takeshita hit a senton off the turnbuckle. Omega hit a hurricanrana on Blade and knocked Butcher off the apron. Sabian tripped up Omega, so then Butcher hit a cross body block on Omega on the floor. Sabian hit a top rope moonsault onto a standing Omega on the floor. They went to break.

(Commercial)

Omega hit a sliding kick to Blade’s leg followed by a leg drop to the back of the head. Takeshita tagged in against Butcher with a cross body block that didn’t look smooth. Takeshita ran the ropes leading to a leaping clothesline. Takeshita with a running boot to the face two times in a row. Takeshita hit a brainbuster for two. Blade went into the ring illegally, Butcher hit a backbreaker, Blade with a stunner and Butcher with a clothesline for two as Omega made the save. Omega pulled Blade out of the ring, Takeshita got a hurricanrana on Butcher and Omega was in the ring illegally with a V-Trigger knee. Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two as Blade the save. Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex on Blade. Omega hit a somersault dive over the top on Blade & Sabian on the floor. Takeshita hit a running knee on Butcher for the pinfall win after about eight minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita

Analysis: **1/2 A glorified squash match with an obvious result. I guess there was one decent nearfall for Butcher & Blade, but nobody really thought they had a chance. There was a lot of illegal action toward the end due to Omega and Blade being in the ring for way too long when they weren’t the legal men in the match. Giving Takeshita the win puts him over a bit while Omega doesn’t really need wins because he’s already a top guy in AEW.

Bryan Danielsson of the Blackpool Combat Club did a promo saying that Takeshita was a pro wrestler while Omega is an amateur that looks exhausted while living off what he did in Japan. Bryan messed up at first saying if Takeshita trained with The Elite and then Bryan corrected it saying if Takeshita trained with the Blackpool Combat Club he’d be great like them. Anyway, the BCC guys attacked Omega and Takeshita from behind. Danielson teased using a screwdriver on Omega.

The Young Bucks ran out for the save with superkicks on Claudio and Yuta on the ramp. In the ring, Omega battled with Moxley and The Young Bucks held Moxley with a sledgehammer, but Bryan Danielson told Takeshita to stop it. Takeshita did stop it, so Claudio and Yuta pulled the Bucks out of the ring and beat them up. Moxley hit a Paradigm Shift on Omega.

The BCC guys raised Takeshita’s hand in the ring, but Takeshita said no. Bryan told Takeshita to think about what he was doing because he wants to be the BCC. Yuta hit Takeshita with a low blow. Moxley hit Takeshita with the screwdriver to the head and Moxley hit Takeshita in the head with the screwdriver a few more times. The BCC left to boos while The Elite went back to check on Takeshita, who was bleeding from the forehead. End show.

Analysis: That ending felt rushed due to time. The story was that the BCC guys wanted Takeshita to be on their side, but he didn’t want to be with them. That attack by the BCC makes the feud even more personal now since Takeshita was bleeding from the screwdriver attack. It’s probably leading to a 4 on 4 match at Double or Nothing likely in an Anarchy in the Arena match. Maybe they’ll do a Blood & Guts match too. I thought that all of it was well done for the most part, but because they only had three minutes, it was all rushed and people weren’t selling much. Time it out a bit better in the future and a segment like that will be more effective.

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Three Stars of the Show

  1. Orange Cassidy-Bandido
  2. Sammy Guevara
  3. Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita

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The Scoreboard

This Week: 7.5 out of 10

Last Week: 7.5

2023 Average: 7.49

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Final Thoughts

It was a good show like we get most weeks. I wouldn’t call it amazing, but still easy to watch with some fun moments. The best match was Orange Cassidy-Bandido in the opener with Orange winning again as usual. Sammy Guevara did some incredible moves in his match with Darby Allin before the cheap finish to further that story. Get ready for that 4-Way at Double or Nothing with MJF defending the AEW World Title against Sammy, Allin and Jack Perry. It should be official by next week. The main event of Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita easily winning a tag team match was one of the weaker main events in AEW, but that’s also because it was all about the story after.

I think that storyline-wise they are doing a better job overall than they were earlier in the year going into Revolution. I think by the time we get to Double or Nothing next month, most of the card will have strong stories in place. I used to be critical of the lack of stories, so this is me now saying I think the storytelling has improved. It’s good to see that. I like the Blackpool Combat Club story with The Elite although the last four minutes felt so rushed. BCC attacked Konosuke Takeshita, who has sided with The Elite again. I think that story was strong, plus the drama surrounding the AEW World Title too.

The announcement from Tony Khan was that the Owen Hart Cup Tournament is coming back next month and ends on the Dynamite in Calgary in July. Roderick Strong made his AEW debut. Strong hasn’t been in NXT for a long time, so I’m not that shocked. While Strong is a talented veteran wrestler, he’s not a huge name necessarily. Strong is a guy that can fit in a lot of different spots. Since Strong’s wife Marina Shafir also works for AEW it makes sense that he would want to be there.

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Thanks for reading. Go 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