The John Report: AEW Dynamite 03/18/26 Review
This is AEW Dynamite, featuring a Darby Allin-Gabe Kidd Coffin Match, The Young Bucks teaming with Jack Perry, and more.
The AEW Revolution PPV on Sunday night was an outstanding show that I rated 9 out of 10. The match quality was excellent, with FTR/Young Bucks standing out the most, while there were plenty of awesome matches. I also thought some of the match results were a bit surprising, so that’s nice to see too.
For this review, I’ll go summary style for most of the show and then play-by-play for one or two matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #337 from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Tony Schiavone and Bryan Danielson.
A video package aired about the great AEW Revolution PPV, showing highlights of the big matches, including MJF retaining the AEW World Title against “Hangman” Adam Page, who can’t challenge for the AEW World Title again because of the loss.
Will Ospreay vs. Blake Christian
This is Will’s first match since last August. Will is back after neck surgery. I’m glad it wasn’t the neck surgery that kept him out for a full year, but he missed about seven months. Welcome back, Will.
As soon as the bell rang, Blake left the ring to get some heat. Will had some kinesio tape on his back/neck. After taking a shoulder tackle, Will jumped back up with a kip up. Will hit a hurricanrana to send Blake out of the ring. Blake tripped up Will on the floor and hit a splash on the floor. Will got some offense going with a knee smash and a slingshot dive over the top onto Blake on the floor. Will hit an elbow smash on the floor and phenomenal forearm springboard attack in the ring for a two count. Blake hit a neckbreaker on the knee and a DDT, so Will sold a neck injury since he had surgery on it. Will came back with a backflip kick. Blake avoided a move and stomped on the upper back. Blake gave Will a DDT on the floor, and back in the ring with a 450 Splash for two. Blake hit a knee to the jaw, followed by a standing Sliced Bread neckbreaker for two. Will hit an elbow smash and then the Hidden Blade elbow to the back of the head for the pinfall win after 8 minutes. Excalibur said it was 182 days after spinal surgery, so that means it was 6 months ago.
Winner by pinfall: Will Ospreay
Analysis: *** Easy win for Will Ospreay over Blake Christian, who is a talented guy that isn’t being pushed at all. Blake is a talented in-ring performer, so I hope he gets featured more in the future. I thought the match length was the right amount of time for a match like this. Sometimes AEW matches go too long, but this felt right. If it were up to me, Will Ospreay will win the Owen Hart tournament and win the AEW World Title at All In London in August.
Will Ospreay did a promo saying he missed the fans. The fans chanted, “Welcome back” at him. Will called out Jon Moxley, asking if he wanted to know the difference between them. Will said he doesn’t need a weapon to snap somebody’s neck because he can do it with his bare hands.
The Death Riders’ Jon Moxley, who is the AEW Continental Champion, and Wheeler Yuta made their entrance in the back part of the arena. Will jumped over the barricade and attacked Moxley with punches. Yuta grabbed Will, so Will beat him up. Will threw a garbage can at Moxley. Will teased a big move, but Pac went into the ring and hit a pump kick. Pac applied the Brutalizer submission on Will. After that was broken up, Will was able to break free and went after Pac in the crowd. They went fighting to the back.
Analysis: That will likely lead to Ospreay facing Pac in a big match soon, and maybe that will be at the Dynasty PPV. They can build to the Will/Moxley match at Double or Nothing in May since that’s a bigger show.
Death Riders – Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta vs. Bang Bang Gang – Juice Robinson & Ace Austin (w/Austin Gunn)
Things were chaotic for about a minute with both teams fighting until things settled down with Juice and Austin in control of Yuta with a double hip toss. When Moxley tagged in, he did the dreaded thumb to the eye attack on Juice. There was a suplex from Juice. Austin was beating up both opponents and hit a backflip dive over the top onto Moxley on the floor. Yuta followed up by sending Austin into the steel steps.
(Commercial)
Moxley was in control of Austin with a Crossface submission until Austin got to the ropes to break the hold. After Juice got the tag, he took control over Yuta and hit some clotheslines and a punch combo. Juice hit a Powerbomb on Yuta for two. Austin tagged back in, jumped off the top and Yuta got his knees up. Yuta hit a Busaiko Knee on Austin and Moxley hit a Cutter on Juice. Yuta dove onto Juice on the floor. Moxley was legal, and he hit the Death Rider on Austin for two. It went about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Death Riders – Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta
Analysis: *** A rare win for Wheeler Yuta since he was on Jon Moxley’s team. The Juice/Austin team isn’t on Dynamite much, even though they are good performers. I think Juice, especially, is a good performer who should be featured more. Moxley is going to feud with Will Ospreay, so they are going to keep Moxley strong.
A video aired about Darby Allin and Gabe Kidd about their Coffin Match.
Gabe Kidd said he’s not waiting to get in the ring and he told Darby Allin to meet him in the parking lot.
(Commercial)
Kenny Omega was shown doing a promo after AEW Revolution. Omega told Swerve Strickland to put the #1 contendership on the line against Omega, and the winner becomes the number one contender for the AEW World Title. Omega told Swerve to think about it and get back to him.
Gabe Kidd was in the parking lot and Darby Allin tried to drive over him in a car, but Kidd avoided it. They started fighting in the parking lot. Kidd tried to choke Allin, but Allin broke free. Allin had some rag with chloroform in it and rubbed it in Kidd’s face. Allin put Kidd into the trunk of the car and said, “Let’s ride.” Allin drove the car into a pile of garbage and flipped the car over on purpose. Allin crawled out of the car. The car was upside down and Kidd managed to break open the trunk while selling the car crash. Allin put Kidd in an equipment case with wheels, and we assume he was going to wheel Kidd into the arena.
Coffin Match: Darby Allin vs. Gabe Kidd
Darby Allin was shown pushing the equipment case with Kidd on it and they went into the ring, so the bell rang. There was a wooden Coffin at ringside. Whoever puts the loser into the coffin and shuts the lid will win the match. Allin put Kidd on a chair and Allin tried to put a straitjacket on Kidd. Allin tried a skateboard attack, but Kidd kicked Allin in the groin and sent Allin into the steel steps. Allin was bleeding after the bump into the steel steps, so he likely did a blade job. Kidd slammed the coffin lid on Allin’s hands. They went on a PIP break.
(Commercial)
They were battling by the turnbuckle as Allin bit Kidd’s head and Allin jumped off the top with an Avalanche Code Red in the middle of the ring. The fans chanted, “Holy S**t” for that. Allin hit a Scorpion Death Drop, aka reverse DDT, on Kidd while Kidd was still in the straitjacket. Allin went up top, so Kid kicked the referee into the ropes to knock Allin down. Kidd hit a powerslam without even using his hands. Kidd hit a jumping kick to the head. Kidd hit a running headbutt to knock Allin out of the ring. Allin bit Kidd’s nose. Allin hit Kidd in the ribs and back with the skateboard. Allin hit Kidd in the head with the skateboard. Allin went up top and hit a Coffin Drop. Allin jumped off the top again with a Coffin Drop. Allin tripped up Kidd by the apron. Allin hit a suicide dive to knock Kidd into the coffin and the lid closed, so Kidd was put into the coffin. Allin gets the win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Darby Allin
Analysis: **3/4 It’s a hard match to rate, but I think they did a good job of being creative with some of the spots they did, and they built up the drama well toward the end of the match. With that said, it almost made Kidd look like a babyface since he was fighting so hard even though he was in a straitjacket for the entire match. Allin winning makes sense to end the feud.
Darby Allin did a promo saying he’s going to hold that throttle until he sees God or the AEW World Championship. Allin mentioned AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman and he said he was coming for him.
They showed the Jurassic Express duo of “Jungle” Jack Perry as the new AEW National Champion and his buddy Luchasaurus. They were in a bus and they drove from Los Angeles to Fresno, or at least that’s what we are supposed to think.
The Jurassic Express bus drove up to the arena. Jack said that tonight he’s teaming with The Young Bucks, who are like brothers to him. The Young Bucks were there. Matt Jackson said that Revolution was a rough night, but they are going to fight their way to the top. Nick Jackson said that it starts tonight against Baretta, Romero and a guy who was like family to them, Okada. Luchasaurus said “Bitch” to end it since Okada likes to say that.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Swerve Strickland
Prince Nana was in the ring to introduce his buddy Swerve Strickland as the most dangerous man in AEW. Swerve walked down the ring as the announcers mentioned Swerve beat Brody King at Revolution and Kenny Omega saved Brody King from a cinderblock attack.
Swerve Strickland sat in the ring on a chair while the lights were off and a spotlight was on him. Swerve said he enjoyed his win over Brody King, but sometimes power is more important than championships. Swerve claimed he’d be a 2-time AEW Champion right now if The Young Bucks didn’t interfere in his match at Dynasty last year. Swerve mentioned he’s the #1 contender to the AEW World Title. Swerve wondered what that means if he doesn’t have the power to protect it. Swerve said that Kenny didn’t have the leverage in this. However, Swerve is interested in Omega’s power. Swerve said he wants Omega’s power. Swerve said if you want a rematch with him, then Omega will offer up his Executive Vice President status. Swerve said that when he beats Omega he’ll become AEW’s new Executive Vice President. Swerve stared into the camera to end it.
Analysis: I liked that promo from Swerve. It’s an interesting stipulation with Kenny Omega putting his EVP job title on the line against Swerve’s spot as the #1 Contender to the AEW World Title. It makes me think Omega will win because MJF is a heel champion, so it’s more likely they do MJF-Omega at Dynasty instead of Swerve. There could also be a triple threat situation.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey, who is one-third of the AEW Trios Champions, was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Bailey talked about how hard he has worked to become All Elite and he looks up to people like Kenny Omega. Bailey said he will be an AEW World Champion some day and that kind of mental toughness makes you not only a star, but also a winner.
Mark Davis vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
There was no Don Callis with Mark Davis. The quicker Bailey connected with a dropkick, along with some kicks to the chest. Davis used his power to hit a shoulder tackle and a body slam. Bailey fought back with a dropkick. Baily sent Davis out of the ring and hit a moonsault off the turnbuckle over the top onto Davis on the floor. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Davis was dominating the action by the turnbuckle. Bailey kicked Davis in the chest three times in a row and Bailey hit a Liger Bomb for a two count. Bailey hit a picture-perfect Shooting Star Press for a two count. Davis stopped Bailey’s momentum with a running uppercut. After Davis ran the ropes, Bailey hit a spin kick. Davis hit a lariat and a release Powerbomb for two. Davis hit a running lariat, leading to Bailey doing a flip bump. Davis hit a sitout piledriver for a two count. Bailey countered a power move into a hurricanrana, a kick to the chest and a backflip knee drop. Bailey hit a spinning kick to the head. Bailey jumped off the middle turnbuckle with the flipping double knee attack called the Ultimate Weapon for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Analysis: ***1/2 A very good TV match to give Speedball a win over a guy who doesn’t win over the top guys, but Davis has credibility as a tough guy. Bailey is so much fun to watch and always delivers in the ring, whether in singles or in tags. It feels like Bailey is getting a midcard push, and so is his tag team partner, Kevin Knight, so I think one of them might get a midcard title at some point this year.
A video aired of MJF talking about retaining the AEW World Title at Revolution. MJF talked about how he has had some of the greatest stipulation matches of all time and he’s the greatest World Champion. MJF said being a bloody mess was all worth it because he’s still the AEW World Champion. MJF mentioned that today (on Sunday), he turned 30 years old. MJF said he’s accomplished more than most Hall of Famers and he’s going to be the greatest of all time. MJF said that Page’s ass is off the board, and MJF has 20 more years to go. MJF said that for the next 20 years, Page will be in the micard, and he’s going to be the greatest. MJF called himself “Big Hebrew” as a nickname. MJF was asked by “camera boy” what he’s going to do next, and Max said he’s going to Disney World.
(Commercial)
The trio of Kazuchika Okada, Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero did a promo ahead of their main event patch. Okada trash-talked The Young Bucks and said they will pick up a win. I don’t think anybody believed it.
Marina Shafir of the Death Riders made her entrance for what was supposed to be a match against Toni Storm.
They showed Toni Storm earlier in the day in the locker room and Storm was down on the ground while Renee Paquette tried to interview her. Mina Shirakawa was checking on Storm. That means the match was changed from Shafir against Storm to Shafir against Mina.
Analysis: It was reported that Toni Storm has a legit injury, so she’s out of action. Best wishes to Toni, who is awesome.
No Holds Barred Match: Marina Shafir vs. Mina Shirakawa
Mina brought a barbed wire bat to the ring with her, but it wasn’t used, and it was sent out of the ring. Mina hit a running knee on Marina. Mina went under the ring and brought out a bucket that had champagne in it. Shafir blocked a champagne attack and hit a uranage. Shafir did some judo throws to slam Mina to the mat.
(Commercial)
They finally started using weapons as Mina spun Shafir around and sent her face first into a chair that was in the ring. Mina hit a missile dropkick off the top. Mina jumped off the top with a Slingblade neckbreaker onto a chair in the ring. Mina hit a boot to the jaw and a twisting splash. Shafir went for her Mother’s Milk submission, Mina got out of it and Shafir hit a running kick to the head. They went to the apron and Shafir gave Mina a backdrop suplex off the apron through the table. Shafir is the one who broke the table and Mina landed hard on the floor. That looked rough. While Shafir yelled at the referee, Shafir broke a champagne bottle on Shafir’s head and hit a backfist to the face. Mina hit a Storm Zero for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Mina Shirakawa
Analysis: **3/4 It was okay for a TV match, but certainly didn’t live up to being a great No Holds Barred Match. The Shafir story has been with Toni Storm and while Mina is a solid wrestler, it just wasn’t as interesting. The fans didn’t care much in the first half of the match, but got into it more after weapons were introduced.
Andrade El Idolo was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who asked what was next for Andrade. As Andrade said he wanted the AEW World Title, Jon Cruz walked up with a briefcase of money from MJF. Don Callis appeared on a phone on Facetime and told Andrade to accept this gift. Andrade questioned it, but Callis said that he told MJF they would take care of Darby Allin for Max. Andrade said okay and Andrade took the briefcase full of money.
(Commercial)
The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson and Jack Perry vs. Don Callis Family – Kazuchika Okada, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero
The Bucks did a bunch of tandem moves on their opponents, including a double team German Suplex. Nick hit a twisting dive over the top onto their opponents on the floor. Perry hit a moonsault off the top onto the three opponents on the floor. The heel side was able to take control against Perry as Okada hit a backbreaker onto the top of the thigh. Excalibur wasn’t calling the action because he was screaming about matches on Collision. They went on a PIP break there.
(Commercial)
Perry broke free after a clothesline on Okada, so Nick tagged in and he cleaned house. Matt hit multiple Northern Lights Suplexes. Nick and Matt jumped off the top with senton and elbow drops. Romero hit a jumping knee and Trent superkicked Romero by accident. Tret and Romero hit jumping knees on both Bucks. Why are four guys in the ring fighting for over a minute? Because it’s AEW. The Bucks applied Sharpshooter submissions and Perry applied the Snare Trap on Okada, but the heels got out of it. Perry hit a suicide dive on Trent. Matt blocked a move by Rocky, but Okada was back in with a dropkick. Romero hit a Sliced Bread neckbreaker and Trent hit a knee strike. Rocky jumped off the top with a double foot stomp while Trent was holding Matt. The heels teased piledrivers, and the faces got out of it by biting the crotches of their opponents, or at least that was the comedy idea. The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Rocky, and Perry hit a knee smash on Rocky. Matt pinned Rocky to win. It went about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson and Jack Perry
Analysis: ***1/4 The match was a solid TV tag team match, but not at the level of some great main events that we usually see in AEW. This felt like a weak main event considering Trent and Romero are nowhere close to being main eventers in AEW, so there was very little drama about this match. We all knew The Bucks and Perry would win, while Okada would not be getting pinned.
After the match, The Young Bucks did an in-ring promo. Nick Jackson said it was a bittersweet win, but on Sunday at Revolution, they blew it. Nick said they let their family down because they had their kids in gear just to watch them lose. Nick said that they admit FTR were the better men. Matt Jackson said they went to his birthday party, and he was sad. Matt said his dad gave him a pep talk about being the best and fans still love them. Matt said their dad said that he is proud of them. Matt said they know exactly who the hell they are. Matt said there is no person or team that will prevent them from getting the AEW Tag Team Titles for a fourth time.
Analysis: I like the Young Bucks more as heels, I have said many times in the last seven years, but I think it’s been smart having them talk about their parents, brother, and kids to show their motivation as babyfaces. It was a solid promo.
On this day, I see clearly because here comes Adam Copeland after returning to Revolution last Sunday. Cope’s tag team partner and best friend, Christian Cage, was up next.
Cope said that this is going to sound cliché, but they respect the Young Bucks. Cope said that their match with FTR was one of the best wrestling matches he’s ever laid his eyes on. Cope said he can relate because FTR attacked his wife. Cope said now that they know his wife, Beth Copeland, doesn’t need surgery, he knows he has to be back to rectify the situation. Cope said that they have to take the AEW Tag Team Championships from FTR. Cope said that at Dynasty in Vancouver, it’s gonna be FTR against Cope & Cage for the AEW Tag Team Championships.
Analysis: I love Cage & Cope, but they don’t have a match for six months, and they get a title match just like that? I miss when AEW’s booking was more logical, and teams had to earn title shots. Let’s have C&C win a match before they get a title match just like that. It makes all the other contender matches seem pointless if teams are handed a title shot just because they were great in WWE 26 years ago. And yes, they were great, and I literally saw them wrestle in the indies in our home province of Ontario about 30 years ago, but I still want more logical booking when it comes to title matches. This is not some bias against AEW either. I criticized WWE for it, with The Bella Twins being handed a title match, too. It’s weak booking.
Christian Cage spoke about how he understands it’s a personal situation for the three of them, and it is for him, too. Christian said winning the Tag Team Titles means he makes a ton of extra money. Christian said they get to prove they’re the best tag team of their generation and the Young Bucks generation.
The AEW Tag Team Champions FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler (w/Stokely) joined the promo party with a promo from the stage. Stoke tried to talk, but the babyface teams told him to shut up. FTR went into the ring and ate a double superkick from the Bucks and a Spear from Cope. Cage kicked Cash in the groin, too. Cope and Cage held up the AEW World Tag Team Titles while Excalibur plugged Collision matches. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: The FTR match with Cope & Cage at Dynasty should be very good. I wonder if it leads to a controversial finish with FTR keeping the titles. That would lead to a 3-way at Double or Nothing in May between FTR-Young Bucks-Cope & Cage, where it’s possibly a Ladder Match or some kind of gimmick match to make it stand out more. That’s where I think it’s going.
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Three Stars of the Show
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey
- Will Ospreay – Welcome back.
- The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson and Jack Perry
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7 out of 10
Last Week: 7.75
2026 Average: 7.52
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
They didn’t carry the momentum from Revolution. This was a below-average episode of Dynamite compared to the quality of their shows in recent weeks and months. Some of the matches felt random with pushed wrestlers beating others that had no shot to win, and those matches aren’t that interesting.
There are still things I liked, such as Will Ospreay’s return to the ring, and the Cope-Cage story with FTR is interesting, but I wish they had earned the title shot. I thought the Allin-Kidd Coffin Match would be better than it was, but structurally it just wasn’t as interesting to me.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport