AEW delivered a star-studded show with the April 12 episode of AEW Dynamite.
Among other bouts, Keith Lee faced Chris Jericho, Orange Cassidy defended the AEW International Championship against Buddy Matthews, and Silas Young challenged TNT Champion Powerhouse Hobbs for the gold.
The results are as follows:
Darby Allin vs. Swerve Strickland (with Brian Cage)
Allin catches Strickland with a stunner and rockets out of the ring with a dive to the outside. Allin quickly heads back up top and dives onto Strickland again. Swerve gains the upper hand. Allin rallies and trucks into Strickland at ringside. Strickland slams Darby onto the steel steps and kicks him in the face. Swerve whips Allin with his own belt. He rocks the former TNT Champion with a kick. Strickland continues to control the action and ground Allin. Allin perseveres and rips Swerve’s boot off. He then bites Strickland’s foot and targets it with a heel hook. Strickland counters a springboard Coffin Drop into a German suplex. Allin fires up and refocuses on Strickland’s leg. Allin hits a reverse hurricanrana off the apron. Allin hit the Coffin Drop, but Prince Nana came down and put Strickland’s foot on the rope. Allin left the ring and confronted Nana, but Brian Cage came out. Strickland capitalizes and hits the Swerve Stomp for a near fall. Allin gets the win with the Last Supper.
Winner: Darby Allin
AEW World Champion MJF comes out. He insults Allin and the crowd by calling the host city “Mid-waukee”. MJF briefly praises Allin and notes that the win was impressive because Allin’s “daddy” Sting wasn’t out there with him. MJF says he and Allin had one of the best matches in wrestling history at AEW Full Gear 2021. He admits that Allin might be an “emo schmuck”, but he’s one of the best wrestlers he’s been in the ring. MJF reminds Allin that he beat him with a headlock takeover. He looks Allin in the eye and tells him he’s not on his level. Allin asks MJF if he’s happy. He recalls how he met MJF six years ago, when the latter said his problems would wash away when he was on national TV. Allin says nothing has changed. He looks back on checking himself into therapy and recommends that MJF should try it. Allin describes how he started giving back to others. Allin says he won’t lower his morals in order to be someone. MJF calls Allin an arrogant little boy. He says he’s sick of Allin, Sammy Guevara, and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry whining about his morals, as morals kill careers in this sport. MJF calls Allin a gutless coward because he doesn’t have the balls to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed. MJF says he’s willing to do whatever it takes to be the champion and to leave a legacy. He vows to go down as the greatest of all time. MJF tells Allin that his legacy will be Sting’s bitch.
Sting came out and said he sees himself as a cheerleader. He pulls out a pom-pom and whips it in MJF’s face. He brings out more pom-poms and throws them at MJF. Sting says he’ll stop if MJF agrees to stop talking about this “Cody daycare stuff.” He recalls how Cody Rhodes was MJF’s support system, just as Ric Flair was his, and he supports Allin. Sting says showtime is almost over for him, but it’s just getting started for Allin. He says that Allin will win the world title. Allin looks in MJF’s eyes and vows to win the gold. MJF spits in his face and leaves.
TNT Championship: Powerhouse Hobbs (c) (with QT Marshall) vs. Silas Young
Hobbs levels Young with a clothesline and floors him with a spinebuster. Hobbs briefly puts Young in the torture rack and slams him for the win.
Winner and still TNT Champion: Powerhouse Hobbs
In the parking lot, Wardlow approaches Powerhouse Hobbs’ car and destroys it with a crowbar. Wardlow gets in a forklift and tips the car over. “Mr. Mayhem” comes to the arena and brawls with Powerhouse Hobbs. Wardlow powerbombs Solo off the stage and through a table.
In a promo, Jay White discussed his arrival in AEW and referenced Bullet Club’s history in AEW. Juice Robinson says Ricky Starks bit off more than he can chew. White says he’s in AEW to claim what’s rightfully his. White says they’re taking over.
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Buddy Matthews
Cassidy quickly takes control and hits a DDT. He nails Matthews with the Orange Punch with his injured hand. The doctor checks on him, but Matthews stomps on Cassidy’s hand. Matthews keeps up the attack, and the doctor checks on Cassidy again. Matthews controls the action, but Cassidy rallies and slams Matthews’ head into the turnbuckle. The challenger rocks him with a superkick. Cassidy hits the Beach Break on the apron, and both men are down.
They make it back into the ring. Matthews stomps Cassidy’s injured hand. He fights through the pain and puts his hand in his pockets. Matthews rocks Cassidy with a knee to the head. Cassidy nails him with an elbow strike. Cassidy hits a DDT off the second rope and plants Matthews with another DDT at ringside. He hits yet another DDT for a two count. Cassidy eats a knee strike and hits the Orange Punch for a near fall. Matthews blasts Cassidy with another knee. He hits a stomp for a two count. Cassidy stacks Matthews up and clinches the win.
Winner and still AEW International Champion: Orange Cassidy
The doctor helps Cassidy to the back.
In a vignette, Christian Cage and Luchasaurus stand together, and Cage says some things have changed.
Backstage, Orange Cassidy and Best Friends were standing by for an interview. Trent Beretta says Cassidy’s title run makes them want to get some gold. Best Friends challenge Aussie Open to a match on AEW Rampage.
Ethan Page is standing in the ring. He discusses Matt Hardy’s betrayal and demands to know what Hardy put in the contract. Hardy and Isiah Kassidy come out, as Matt says Page should have read the fine print. Hardy calls Page a “hole of the ass”. He says that as per the stpioulation of their contract, Hardy gets to choose the time and place for their next match, and if they win, they will be freed from The Firm. Big Bill attacks Hardy and Kassidy. HOOK makes the save, but The Firm gains the upper hand. Jeff Hardy, making his return to the ring, makes the save and hits the Swanton Bomb. He reunites with Matt Hardy.
In a promo, Kenny Omega thanks the doctors for being on hand the other day. He discusses The Elite’s feud with the Blackpool Combat Club. Omega says the BCC crossed the line when they attacked Don Callis. Omega vows to get revenge, and it won’t be blood for blood; what he’s going to do will be much worse.
Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa
Moxley and Castagnoli attack Cutler and Nakazawa during their entrance. The bout is an extended squash match, as Moxley and Castagnoli utterly dominate. Cutler and Nakazawa both get busted open. Moxley and Castagnoli stomp them into submission, as the referee calls for the bell.
Winners: Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli
After the match, Yuta, Castagnoli and Moxley attack Nakazawa and Cutler. Moxley takes shots at The Elite and says the BCC puts the “elite” in AEW. Kenny Omega comes to the stage, and the Young Bucks sneak in and attack the BCC. The Elite takes the fight to the BCC, but the latter trio escapes before Omega and the Young Bucks can use a screwdriver on them.
In a interview , Swerve Strickland, alongside Prince Nana and Brian Cage, looks to bounce back from his loss to Darby Allin. He teases that fans haven’t seen all of Mogul Affiliates, and he has some unsettled scores.
Riho and Skye Blue vs. The Outcasts (Toni Storm and Ruby Soho) (with Saraya)
The two teams go back and forth. Soho and Storm isolate Riho. The former champion rallies and tags Blue. Skye takes the fight to Soho with a flurry of offense. Storm makes a blind tag, but Blue keeps fighting. She hits a diving hurricanrana. Storm dumps Blue with a German suplex and hits a hip attack. Storm hits the Storm Zero for the win.
Winners: The Outcasts (Toni Storm and Ruby Soho)
The Outcasts attack Riho and Skye Blue. They spraypaint an “L” on Riho and triple-powerbomb her. Jamie Hayter makes the save. The Outcasts gang up on her, but Britt Baker comes in and gains the upper hand. She brawls with Saraya.
Keith Lee vs. Chris Jericho (with Daniel Garcia)
Lee overpowers Jericho early on. A distraction from Garcia helps Jericho take control. Jericho grounds Lee and maintains the advantage. The former world champion chops Lee and takes him down with a dropkick. He hits a Lionsault for a two count. Lee rallies with a shoulder tackle. Garcia grabs Lee’s boot and distracts him. Lee levels Jericho with a lariat. Jericho counters a powerbomb and gets a two count with a rollup. Lee trucks over Jericho with a pounce. Jericho blocks a moonsault. Jericho gouges the eyes and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Lee reaches the ropes. Lee chops Jericho and goes to slam Jericho, but Garcia interferes. Lee clotheslines both Jericho and Garcia. Lee powerbombs Jericho, but Garcia distracts the referee. Strickland runs in and attacks Lee. Jericho then pins Lee.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Adam Cole comes out after the match and checks on Lee. Cole starts to walk away, but he looks back at Jericho. Lee and Cole walk away together.
