***CONTAINS SPOILERS*** Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Jim Ross were the broadcast team for tonight’s event. And we are on the road to AEW’s DOUBLE OR NOTHIN…
Jim Ross, Taz, & Excalibur host the AEW Dynamite Post Show
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AEW Dynamite airs Every Wednesday 8/7c on TNT
Another all-new episode of “Dynamite” hits the airwaves this Wednesday night at 8pm EST/7pm CST right there on TNT or an AEWPlus.com for our international vi…
AEW Dynamite airs Every Wednesday 8/7c on TNT
Hangman moves to the woods. Matt thinks of a quick way out of a competitive jam. Who put the hit out on Private Party?
Here are this week’s Top 5 Moments from AEW DYNAMITE AEW DYNAMITE airs Every Wednesday 8/7c on TNT
***CONTAINS SPOILERS*** Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Jim Ross were the broadcast team for tonight’s event. “The American Nightmare” Cody (on a 5 match sing…
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We are live and in living color this week for AEW “Dynamite”,coming to you at 8pm EST/7pm CST on TNT! Last week the Finals of the TNT Championship Tournamen…
Matt & Nick play a game of BTE. Brandon hosts another edition of the #KickOutChallenge. Hangman stays at home.
***CONTAINS SPOILERS*** “Le Champion” Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone welcomed viewers to DYNAMITE and ran down tonight’s card, which featured a double main event! Up first: in a TNT Championship Tournament Semi Final—“The American Nightmare” Cody (accompanied by Brandi Rhodes) vs. Darby Allin! Jericho said he was impressed with the previous performances in the match between Darby and Sammy Guevara, as both wrestlers left everything they had in the ring. It showed how important the TNT Championship is to both of them, and everyone in the tournament. Shawn Spears was watching behind the ringside barrier, still stewing over his loss to Cody. Cody and Darby locked up in the center of the ring. Cody tried to pin Darby after a shoulder tackle, “just to show him he has the upper hand,” added Jericho. After some excellent amateur wrestling was put on display, Cody bridged out of a pinning attempt by Darby, and in the process, tweaked his knee. Darby seized the moment and clipped Cody’s knee! They brawled outside, and Cody shot a mean look at Shawn Spears. Darby charged Cody, and Darby inadvertently knocked Brandy into the barricade as Cody sidestepped him! Billy Gunn helped Brandi to the back to get her medical attention. Back in the ring, an infuriated Cody kicked it into high gear, stomping and kneeing Darby. Cody put Darby into a bow and arrow type submission hold, but Darby escaped for a quick pin attempt. Cody kicked out and went right back on the attack, injured knee and all. Cody dropped Darby’s abdomen right across the top rope with a forward suplex. “Look at him, he’s trying to hurt Darby,” said Schiavone. “He’s still blaming Darby for his own mistake that took out his wife Brandi,” added Jericho. Cody lifted Darby for a vertical suplex but Darby countered with a knee to Cody’s head, and then chop blocked Cody’s leg. They traded strikes and Darby hit a Code Red on Cody for a two count! Darby went right back to working on Cody’s wheels with a leg lock. He then secured Cody’s leg in the turnbuckle and gave him a running splash. Darby slammed Cody’s knee onto the mat. Cody limped outside to buy himself some time. While the referee was distracted, Dr. Britt Baker, who was watching from behind the barricade, hit Cody with her shoe! Darby was head-butting Cody’s knee in the ring. Cody knocked some of the face paint off Darby with an uppercut, then the Disaster Kick! Cody’s leg was in bad shape. Cody removed his weight belt and possibly contemplated whipping Darby with it, but he handed it to ref Aubrey Edwards in a sign of good sportsmanship. Cody wrapped up Darby with an inside cradle for a two count! Darby got up and gave Cody the Cross Rhodes, Cody’s own finishing move, for a near fall! “That took a lot of balls to do that. That’s like slapping him in the face,” noted Jericho. Darby applied the figure four to Cody, another of Cody’s favorite moves. “You can tell that Darby has scouted Cody very well here,” said Schiavone. Brandi Rhodes limped back out to the ring. She handed Cody a bottle of water. Cody took a swig from the bottle, but Darby grabbed it and smashed it across Cody’s face! Darby went for a Coffin Drop but Cody caught him and gave him a ripcord clothesline! Cody went for another but Darby countered with a stunner. Darby went for an Asai moonsault but Cody caught Darby again. Cody connected with the Cross Rhodes but Darby kicked out at the two count! Now Cody went for one of Darby’s own moves—the Coffin Drop—but Darby had it scouted and raised his knees in time to meet Cody’s lumbar region! Darby went for the Coffin Drop but Cody was able to maneuver his shoulders, rollup Darby, and get the pin on Darby! Cody is going to the finals of the tournament! A video package aired on Scorpio Sky (part one was shown last week). “Frankie and Chris were looking for a third guy for a while then and I was completely on board because I always looked up to those guys.” He said he didn’t want to be just the third guy in a team that had been established as stars years ago, but things clicked when the “This is the worst town I’ve ever been in” catchphrase took off, thanks in part to the Being The Elite YouTube series. He said that Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels have been a huge part of his career and his growth. “I’m never satisfied. I don’t want to be good. I don’t even want to be great. I want to be a legend,” he concluded. Next we had an update on MJF’s condition, from Max’s Rat’s Estate, in Massapequa, NY. “Because of my unapologetic courageousness, I was able to rehab my horrible injury” (his hangnail). MJF said he was so excited to get back to DYNAMITE, and while he was getting “TV ready,” he was shaving and the unthinkable happened: he nicked his neck. MJF revealed a neck brace. Despite this, MJF said he is a warrior, and he’ll be back, because “…he’s the storm thundering across the horizon, the candle lit in the darkness. I am the only hope this company has left. I am better than you and you know it.” Musa vs. “Mr. Mayhem” Wardlow was next! “If you were going to create the perfect wrestler in a lab, Wardlow is what you would want. Look at him!” said Chris Jericho. Musa charged at Wardlow and Wardlow choke slammed him hard to the mat. It was like running into a freight train. Wardlow tried a running powerslam on Musa but Musa put the brakes on and tried to get Wardlow down. Wardlow chuckled. Wardlow pulled Musa by the throat off the top turnbuckle and smashed him face-first to his knee! “Wardlow is not done with the man. This is an assassination,” said Jericho. Wardlow used the airplane spin on Musa and rag dolled him down for the victory! Another episode of The Bubby Bunch aired. Jericho said that word on the street is people actually think Sammy beat him in the Flim Flam challenge last week. The members of The Inner Circle debated on who they thought was the winner—Sammy or Le Champion. Jericho said they should agree to disagree and instead, had an old fashioned Manitoba Melee. A virtual melee ensued, one that needs to be seen to be believed! “Stop! Because that was awesome! That was one of the best Manitoba Melees that I’ve ever been a part of. Long live The Inner Circle! Was that Lou Ferrigno with a Taser?” asked Jericho. Up next in a No DQ, No Count out match—Jimmy Havoc & “SuperBad” Kip Sabian (with Penelope Ford) vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent, with Orange Cassidy)! Kip and Havoc attacked Best Friends as Trent and Chuck entered the ring! They battled to the outside, but Trent used a tope con giro on Kip and Havoc! Jimmy pulled out a steel chair and threw it at Orange Cassidy’s head, knocking him down. Jimmy suplexed Chuckie onto steel chairs on the outside of the ring. Jimmy tried to whack Chuckie with a chair but Trent saved him with a spear to Jimmy! Kip launched himself with a tope con giro onto Trent! Kip worked over Trent inside the ring while Jimmy assaulted Chuck with chairs on the outside. Jimmy threw a ladder at Trent inside the ring! Jimmy bit on Trent’s ear. Kip and Jimmy double-teamed Trent while Chuck tried to recover on the outside. Kip opened a steel chair and set it up in the corner. Havoc launched Kip at the chair and a prone Trent, but Trent moved, sending Kip crashing! Jimmy tried to ram Chuck with a chair but Chuck raised a knee, and Jimmy’s skull crashed into the steel chair! Trent and Chuck each picked up chairs and swung them at Jimmy’s head, and then Best Friends hugged! “Got to give people what they want!” said Schiavone. Kip tried to attack from behind as Best Friends were hugging, but they were smart to him and sent him flying with Chuck’s sole food maneuver! It was good for a two count on Kip. Chuck wedged a chair into the corner turnbuckle, but Kip countered and rammed Chuck into it! Trent ran up the turnbuckles, though, and blasted Kip with a tornado DDT! “Trent’s got star quality written all over him,” said Jericho. Trent used his knee with the chair as a battering ram on Kip! Trent went for the pin but Jimmy jumped in for the save. Trent propped Kip onto the ladder that had been set up in the corner, but Jimmy came to the aid once again, pushing Kip out of the way. Jimmy got on the ladder and used it as a standing platform. While Trent was sitting on the top turnbuckle, he and Jimmy duked it out! Jimmy pulled Trent by the ankles and sent Trent crashing down on the ladder! Jimmy set up two chairs in the ring and crunched Trent’s back again! Kip did a flying foot stomp onto Trent, who was still on the chairs. Kip and Jimmy went for a double pin but Chuckie made the save and broke the pin attempt! Chuckie body slammed Jimmy onto the chair, and then gave a pile driver to Kip onto the chair! Chuck went for the pin on Kip but Penelope grabbed Chuck’s leg, interfering to stop the count! Chuck propped up the ladder in the corner again, but Jimmy backdropped Chuck onto the ladder. Orange Cassidy ran to the ring with a chair. Kip went after Orange but “Freshly Squeezed” evaded him and Kip crashed into Penelope instead. Orange climbed to the top rope and jumped backwards, landing onto Kip and Penelope, neutralizing them! Chuckie saw Jimmy on the top rope and caught him with the Awful Waffle onto a pile of chairs for the three count from ref Paul Turner! From on location at her dental practice, Dr. Britt Baker gave a behind the scenes glimpse into what goes into producing her “Role Model” segments. Britt introduced Rule #2: Not everyone can be a role model! “The Chairman” Shawn Spears vs. Baron Black followed this! Spears used a full arm drag and twist on Black, and then rubbed his elbow into Black’s face. Spears flexed his glutes and then pancaked Black to the mat! Spears used a wicked snapsuplex on Black. Spears blasted Black with the C4, and then submitted his opponent with a picture perfect sharpshooter! “Shawn Spears is on a roll!” said Schiavone. “Mr. Fun Size” Marko Stunt vs. “The Exalted One” Mr. Brodie Lee was next! Stunt charged Lee but ran right into a big boot from The Exalted One! Lee chopped Stunt, nearly caving in his chest. Lee manhandled Marko, hurling him right across the ring! Marko tried a running dive but got caught on the outside by Lee, who then hit a nasty thrust kick on Marko! Lee tried for a suplex on Marko, but Marko landed on his feet! Marko jumped from the second turnbuckle but was caught by Lee who planted him to the mat. Mr. Brodie Lee finished off Marko with the sit out powerbomb! AEW Champ Jon Moxley gave an update to fans. “Tough times never last forever and I promise one day, we will all be back together, and I will be bleeding and swearing in a sea of fans once again. But right now it’s a good time to reflect on the things you’re thankful for. I, myself, have a lot to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my wife. I’m thankful for steel chairs. I am thankful most of all that AEW is live next week, and circumstances aside, I’ve still got a job to do. I will be live at AEW DYNAMITE next week. And I understand with AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING coming up, I’ve got a big target on my back. Please remember before you step up to the World Champion, you do so at your own risk.” And announced for next week: The return of MJF! AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Frankie Kazarian of SCU! In a Street Fight—Kenny Omega & Matt Hardy vs. Le Sex Gods, Chris Jericho & Spanish God Sammy Guevara! But first, it was time for our second of two main events tonight! In a TNT Championship Tournament Semi Final Match—“Murderhawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes (accompanied by Brandi Rhodes)! Archer pushed Dustin into the corner after they locked up. They were sizing up one another in the early moments of this match. Dustin hit Archer with a shoulder block and Archer barely budged. Archer returned the favor and knocked Dustin off his feet. Archer charged Dustin but Dustin pulled down the top rope, sending Archer to the outside. Dustin flipped from the ring apron and came crashing onto Archer. “It worked, taking Archer off his feet. Dustin is doing these things with 31 years of experience and he’s wrestling better now than ever,” noted Jericho. Dustin tried for the big powerslam but Archer blocked it. Archer pounced Dustin, knocking him to the outside! Archer grabbed for a steel chair and swung it at Dustin, but Dustin beat him to the punch, literally. He met Archer with strikes and a kick, knocking the chair out of his grip. Dustin grabbed the steel chair for himself but Archer kicked it, knocking Dustin in the face! Dustin’s forehead was busted open! Back in the ring, Archer continued to dismantle Dustin. “The Natural” fought back with a string of offense, but Archer clotheslined Dustin and then began the ground and pound attack! On the outside, Archer rammed Dustin into the steel post! They exchanged chops until Archer hit a stiff forearm on Dustin, ringing his bell. Archer rolled into the ring and commanded ref Aubrey Edwards to count out Dustin. Archer waited long enough and picked up Dustin and tossed him back into the ring. Archer suplexed Dustin, and then was driving Dustin’s face into the mat. The canvas of the mat pooled with Dustin’s blood! Dustin tried to rally back and set up Archer’s legs on the turnbuckles, forcing Archer into a leg split. Dustin punted the turnbuckle beneath Archer’s groin! Dustin took down Archer with a snapmare but then Archer got up and began pummeling Dustin with fists again! “Look at Archer! He still won’t stay down!” said Jericho. Dustin rocked Archer with a couple of overhand rights! Dustin landed the Code Red Canadian Destroyer on Archer, but was too exhausted to go for the cover! Both wrestlers got back up to their feet and slugged it out. Dustin connected with a lariat. Archer ducked a running bulldog but Dustin hit him with a powerslam! Dustin had Archer in the corner and climbed the turnbuckle to drop some fists on the MurderHawk Monster. Archer powered out but Dustin countered with the Cross Rhodes! Archer kicked out at one! Dustin methodically climbed to the top rope but Archer caught him, gripping Dustin’s throat. Archer choke slammed Dustin but Dustin kicked out at two! Archer walked the entirety of the top rope and then hit a moonsault on Dustin! Somehow Dustin found the energy to kick out at two, but just barely! Archer went for his Blackout finisher, but Dustin fought out of it, pushing Archer into the ropes! Dustin attempted a DDT but Archer countered and choke slammed Dustin! Archer went for the pin attempt but Dustin rolled him up. Archer escaped at the two-count! “Now Archer’s mad!” said Jericho. Archer booted Dustin. Archer removed the top turnbuckle pad, exposing the steel cable. He rammed Dustin’s forehead into the exposed corner. QT Marshall came to the ringside area and was about to throw in the towel. Cody ran down and grabbed the towel from QT. Cody checked on his brother; Dustin was telling Cody not to throw in the towel when Archer grabbed Dustin by the legs and pulled him to the center of the ring. Archer palmed Dustin’s head like it was a basketball and began bouncing it off the mat! Archer squeezed Dustin’s forehead and put all of his bodyweight on Dustin, pinning him in the process! With this victory Lance Archer has advanced to the finals of the TNT Championship Tournament! It’ll be Cody vs. Archer on May 23rd at DOUBLE OR NOTHING! Catch all the explosive action as AEW DYNAMITE is broadcast on TNT next week!
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AEW DYNAMITE airs every Wednesday at 8/7c on TNT
Last week, fans witnessed both Dustin Rhodes and Darby Allin advance in the TNT Championship tournament with victories over Kip Sabian and Sammy Guevara respectively. In addition, Kenny Omega, Mr. Brodie Lee, Wardlow, and Orange Cassidy all also came up on the winning end of their respective matches. Unfortunately for the latter of that quartet, it didn’t end up as a celebration thanks to Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford, and Jimmy Havoc, but that’s a story for a later. We also got an update on the status of MJF, heard from The Bubbly Bunch, we got a special look at Scorpio Sky, and Matt Hardy checked in from The Hardy Compound. This week, with two Semi-Final bouts on tap, we will find out just who will collide to crown the first TNT Championship at “Double or Nothing” on May 23rd. In addition, we will have a fight on our hands between The Best Friends and Sabian/Havoc, plus Marko Stunt facing a mammoth challenge in Mr. Brodie Lee, and we will hear from the AEW World Champion Jon Moxley for the first time since his Empty Arena fight with Jake Hager. It all goes down at 8pm EST/7pm CST on TNT! **RANKINGS AS OF 4/24** TNT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL MATCH (#1) Cody vs. (#3) Darby Allin As recapped in the “Road To…” video embedded above, Cody and Darby Allin are quite familiar with one another. Be it the time limit draw at “Fyter Fest” that heralded Allin’s arrival in AEW in dramatic fashion, the tag team fight against The Butcher & The Blade last December, or the “Dynamite” rematch on New Year’s Day that Cody came out of victorious, these two individuals have been allies and opponents, but never enemies. And yet on April 1st when Cody and Darby last occupied the ring together, tag teaming against Sammy Guevara and Shawn Spears in a match that saw Darby eat the losing pin, they way in which they parted was a far cry from the earlier instances. Those previous times were respectful, if not frustrating for Darby, but respectful nonetheless. Yet on April Fool’s Day, as you can see in the video below, that was not the case: Rather, on their last encounter, it can be surmised that Darby let Cody know he was done with the respect game. It was a moment of frustration boiling over, of Darby being done with the “It’s okay KID” treatment, and that forearm across the jaw pretty much screamed if they met in the tournament, Darby was coming for the proverbial kill. See while Cody has glowingly praised Darby in the past on commentary and in interviews, he has also referred to him as (paraphrasing here) “a freshman on the Varsity squad”, which could easily be taken as a backhanded compliment. Sort of a “you’re good, but not good enough yet” statement that slides Darby into line behind Cody. This Wednesday night, with the opportunity to vie for the TNT Championship on the line, Darby Allin has his chance to, in keeping with the metaphor, take the “C” from the jersey of the Varsity Squad Captain. Darby has his opportunity to ascend to the next level, and stamp out the dreams of the man who says his NEED for the TNT Championship is what sets him apart from the field. Will it be Darby’s night for that next evolution in his career? Or will it be Cody who moves on to either a rematch with his brother, or to face the monster that has been pursuing him for weeks? TNT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL MATCH (#4) “The Murderhawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes One week ago, in a moment of self-doubt, Dustin Rhodes declared that if he could not beat Kip Sabian in their Quarter-Final bout, he would walk away from his 30-year career, and hang up the boots. Thankfully, with Brandi Rhodes there to counterbalance Penelope Ford’s attempt to sway the match, Dustin picked up the victory and advanced to the Semi-Finals of the TNT Championship tournament. Dustin proved to himself he still had that fire inside, that the desire to become a champion in AEW burned strong. Unfortunately for him, Dustin now must contend with a near 7-Foot tall monster if he hopes to get to the Finals at “Double or Nothing”. See Lance Archer does not care about Dustin’s self-doubt, does not care about the thirty year career, just does not care about anything other than the wanton destruction of anyone in his path. And yes that is meant quite literally, as evidenced by his violent actions toward anyone who enters his field of vision while Archer marches towards the ring for a match. It is in the hell he creates that Archer finds his heaven, and it is the decimation of Cody that serves as his Holy Grail. But to get there, “The Murderhawk” must first bring Cody’s big brother to heel, and it is certainly a rational belief that Archer will attempt to do that as painfully as possible. For Archer and The Snake, this Semi-Final pairing is as much about sending a message to “Caesar” through his brother as it is about advancing towards that championship match. Dustin will not allow himself to simply be a message here, and he will not go down without a fight. As he said himself, Dustin has fought many a monster during his three decades inside the squared circle, but even they may pale in comparison to the unrestrained violence of Lance Archer. Still, as the saying goes, to get to heaven you’ve got to go through hell, and this is a hell Dustin Rhodes will willingly wade through to get to that TNT Championship match. NO DQ/NO COUNT-OUT Kip Sabian & Jimmy Havoc (w/ Penelope Ford) vs. (#3) The Best Friends (Trent & Chuck Taylor) w/ Orange Cassidy A week ago, in his very first “Dynamite” match, Orange Cassidy picked up a win over Jimmy Havoc, but certainly did not feel like the winner in the aftermath. As seen in the video above, as soon as that bell rang, Havoc and his running buddy Kip Sabian were on the attack, dropping OC on his head, and it was only the quick intervention of Trent and Chuckie T that prevented it from being much worse. Post-match words from the trio (well, two out of three) served as notice that this wasn’t an issue going away quietly: By the close of “Dynamite” last week, it was set that The Best Friends would go into battle with Sabian and Havoc under these stipulations that are sure to create chaos! Plus, with Orange Cassidy and Penelope Ford no doubt around to support their side, we have all elements for one uncontrollable fiasco. And not to be forgotten in all this, The Best Friends are the third-ranked team in the standings, and a victory for Kip and Jimmy would certainly help garner them some attention as a team to go along with the attention each gets competing on their own. Tune-in Wednesday night to see this one unfold before your very eyes! ONE-ON-ONE… Mr. Brodie Lee vs. Marko Stunt Last week Marko Stunt watched from ringside as Mr. Brodie Lee decimated yet another victim on “Dynamite”, and once more showed the world the same dominance as a wrestler that he exerts as “The Exalted One” of The Dark Order. Yet Marko did not back down from the extremely intimidating presence of Lee as Mister Brodie made a beeline towards him following the victory. Marko, despite being at a tremendous size disadvantage stood his ground, while The Exalted One looked on him, almost amused. Stunt has certainly proven time and again in AEW, and throughout his career, that he will not back down from any fight, no matter the odds or the disadvantage. Marko will take the fight to his opponent to the best of his ability, and it’s that “never say die” attitude that has earned him not only the love of the fans, but also the respect of his peers. This week on “Dynamite”, Stunt will have to tap into every single iota of that attitude if he hopes to survive the onslaught of Mister Brodie. Where the attack of Archer that Marko faced weeks ago was unrestrained, the offense of Lee is calculating and controlled, each move thought about before it’s delivered with maximum effectiveness. All the quickness and agility, every move and strike and hold Marko has every learned will need to be at the ready if he hopes to avoid becoming another victim of The Exalted One. THE WORLD CHAMPION SPEAKS… When we last saw the AEW World Champion, it was after turning back the challenge of The Inner Circle’s Jake Hager in a No Holds Barred, Empty Arena Match. It not only marked the first successful title defense for Jon Moxley, but also completed a clean sweep of victories over the five members of The Inner Circle. So what is on the mind of Mox as we head into this week’s edition of “Dynamite”? What is swirling around inside the brain of the champ after that victory, and what does he have to say about the future of the AEW World Title? As we understand it, he has a lot to say, and Moxley will let us all hear it all Wednesday night when the AEW World Champion speaks! PRE- & POST-GAME SHOW… Make sure you head over to our official YouTube page at 6pm EST to “ Dynamite” for the Pre-Game show with Alex Abrahantes, starting at 6pm EST, and again immediately after the show for the Post-Game with Excalibur, Tazz, and Jim Ross! At the end of the night Wednesday, we will all know the finals of the TNT Championship Tournament and know just what the AEW World Champion has stirring around in his brain. And it all begins at 8pm EST/7pm CST on TNT when “Dynamite” takes to the airwaves for another week of the most exciting professional wrestling available anywhere!
Brandon announces the #KickOutChallenge. Luchasaurus continues his quest to find his tail. Matt & Nick see something ominous in the sky.
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