4/12 AEW DYNAMITE TV RESULTS: Keller’s report on Orange vs. Matthews, Strickland vs. Darby, Keith Lee vs. Jericho

AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
APRIL 12, 2023
MILWAUKEE, WISC. AT UW-MILWAUKEE PANTHER ARENA
AIRED ON TBS

Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts

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[HOUR ONE]

-The Dynamite opening aired.

-Pyro blasted on the entrance stage as Excalibur introduced the show.

(1) DARBY ALLIN vs. “SWERVE” STRICKLAND

Darby made his entrance first. Swerve followed. The bell rang three minutes into the hour. Taz said Darby seems motivated by physical discomfort. Excalibur said he got hit by a car on the lower east side of Manhattan last week and wrestled two days later. Darby landed two dives at ringside in the opening minute. Fans chanted “Darby! Darby!” Swerve swept Darby’s legs on the ring apron. When he climbed onto the ringside barricade, Darby knocked him off balance and then whipped him into the ringside barricade. By 3:00, Swerve was whipping Darby with Darby’s belt. Swerve fended off a comeback attempt. Swerve kicked Darby in the head and left him dangling over the ring apron. Swerve then slingshot himself over the top rope and stomped his chest. They cut to a split-screen break at 5:00. Cool spot. [c/ss]

Swerve came up limping at ringside during the break. Back from the break, Darby had Swerve hanging upside down in the corner. Darby yanked off his boot and bit his foot. Swerve lifted Darby onto his shoulders, but Darby took Swerve from the ring to the floor with a reverse rana. Fans chanted “Holy shit!” Darby landed a top rope Coffin Drop. Prince Nana came to ringside and put Swerve’s foot on the bottom rope to stop the count. Darby pursued Nana as he scurried up the ramp. Brian Cage walked out to protect Nana. As Darby re-entered the ring, Swerve caught him with a kick to the head and then a leaping double-stomp. He sold an ankle injury as he made the cover. He scored a two count. Darby kicked Swerve’s ankle and then ran the ropes, but Cage tripped him as he hit the ropes. The ref ordered Cage and Nana to the back. Meanwhile, Swerve picked up a chair, but Darby kicked it out of his hands. Darby landed a Code Red for a believable near fall. Darby scored a pin seconds later with the Last Supper, torquing Swerve’s leg during the pin attempt.

WINNER: Darby in 15:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match.)

-MJF’s music kicked in just as Darby was about to celebrate his win. MJF walked out and they cut to a break. [c]

-MJF was in the ring after the break. He said the fans from Mid-waukee aren’t very bright, but since he’s holding the microphone, “shut up.” MJF told the crowd to give it up for Darby, who just had a hell of a match. Fans chanted “Darby! Darby!” He said it’s especially impressive “given that your daddy Sting wasn’t out here.” MJF told Darby they had one of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history at Full Gear ’21. He said Darby “is a shitty little emo schmuck,” but pound for pound he’s one of the best he’s ever faced. He began doing his catch phrase, and when fans joined in, he told the fans he’s sick of them doing hit catchphrase. He said he beat Darby with a headlock takeover, and yet he thinks he can take the AEW Title from him. He said Darby has likely suffered 30 concussions. He said he’s not on the level of the Devil. He raised his arms.

Darby asked MJF if he’s happy. He asked if anything he has ever done in his life has made him happy. He said he met him six years ago wrestling in front of 30 people. He said MJF told him that when he made it to national TV, all of his problems would wash away. He said he’s still the same, though. Darby said MJF chases material things, and he learned those things don’t mean a thing. He said he checked himself into therapy during his first year in AEW because he refused to be one of those people acting happy on the outside while being miserable on the inside. He recommended people do therapy. He said he stopped focusing on himself and started giving back. He said he helped his dad retire and bought his mom a house. He said Sting isn’t his dad, he’s his best friend in the entire company. He said pro wrestling is just a 15 minute ride, and he won’t be left wondering who all these people are he shares nothing in common with that he let into his personal life. The crowd went kinda quiet there. He said he won’t lower his morals to be “a somebody” in this world. Fans cheered and started chanting his name.

MJF said Darby is an arrogant little boy. He asked if he thinks he’s special and doesn’t have to go through what others have done for decades to make it to the top. He said he’s sick and tired of him, Jack Perry, and Sammy Guevara lecturing him about morals. He said morals kill careers in pro wrestling. He said Darby isn’t a daredevil, he’s a gutless coward “because you don’t have the balls to sacrifice what must be sacrificed.” He asked if he’s not keenly aware he’ll end up on his deathbed alone or, if an afterlife exists, he won’t go to heaven. He said he doesn’t care as long as the title comes with him. He said that’s all that matters. He said he’s willing to do whatever it takes, while Darby won’t. He paused and said he’ll do whatever it takes to leave a legacy in the sport and it will read: “MJF, the greatest of all-time.” He said Darby’s can keep his morals, but his legacy will read: “Darby Allin, Sting’s bitch.” Sting’s music then played.

Sting walked out. He approached MJF and said he’s not a day care kind of a guy, but more of a cheerleader. He swung a pom pom in MJF’s face. He said he’s got somewhat of a fever and the only cure is more pom poms. He threw more out of his jacket. Fans taunted MJF with a “Pom pom!” chant. Sting said he will stop offending him as long as MJF stops talking about this “Cody day care stuff.” Sting said, “Oh, I said Cody, didn’t I? I said Cody and the truth hurts, doesn’t it, Max?” He said Cody was MJF’s support system and now he’s Darby’s support system. Sting said early in his career his support system was Ric Flair. He thanked Flair for putting him on the map. He said, “Love you, Nature Boy!”

He said did some Crow Sting stuff and a little Wolf Pac Sting. He gave a shout out to Kevin and Scott. He said he’s got a little Joker left in him, but he doesn’t have a hunger for the World Title. He said he’d be real with everyone. “Showtime is almost over,” he said. “But Showtime is just starting [for Darby].” He said Darby will become AEW World Champion. He put his arm around MJF and yelled, “It is Showtime!” Darby said he will leave the business the same person he was when he entered, and he will be AEW World Champion. MJF spit in Darby’s face and then rolled out of the ring. Excalibur said that is typical disgusting classless MJF.

(Keller’s Analysis: There was so much to like about this segment. MJF was despicable and nasty and morally bankrupt. Darby opened up to the fans and spoke his truth and made it clear he stands for something more than the shallow acclaim MJF is obsessed with. And then they treated Sting like a big deal, too, which hasn’t always been the case. There was a little meta stuff with Cody and Flair that I could have done without because Flair was Sting’s rival whereas Sting is Darby’s mentor. Overall, though, it made the AEW Title feel important and drew the line really clearly who you should root for and root against.) [c]

(2) POWERHOUSE HOBBS (w/Q.T. Marshall) vs. SILAS YOUNG

During Hobbs’s entrance, they showed Hobbs being rude to a guy parking his car. Taz said Hobbs loves that car. Hobbs dominated and won with after a backbreaker powerslam.

WINNER: Hobbs in under 1:00.

-As Hobbs and Marshall began dragging Silas up the ramp, Wardlow showed up on the big screen and bashed in windows and headlights and then scratched the sides. Hobbs then saw a forklift a few feet away and he used it to lift and tip over the car. Hobbs was throwing a fit on the stage. Wardlow didn’t put the forklift in park, apparently, as it rolled a few feet after he got out and hit the car. Wardlow then came out onto the stage and brawled with Hobbs. When Aaron Solo came out, Wardlow beat him up and then powerbombed him off the stage onto two tables. Unfortunately for Solo, his body crashed through one table but the back of his head crashed hard into the edge of the other, so his head snapped. He reacted like that hurt before selling the fall and not moving until help arrived to check on him.

(Keller’s Analysis: It’d have been better if Hobbs had been showing off that car for a few weeks before that angle, but the visual was fun and it’s become part of pro wrestling TV to do stuff like that periodically.)

-They went to the announcers on camera who threw to a video package on Jay White.

-Jay White and Juice Robinson talked about how they’re just getting started. Juice said Ricky Starks is just the first of their victims. White said this is going to be the greatest era of Bullet Club ever. He said they’re overtaking AEW “because this is Bullet Club Gold.” [c]

(3) ORANGE CASSIDY vs. BUDDY MATTHEWS – International Title match

After ring entrances, Excalibur hyped ticket sales for the Wembley Stadium show. A minute into the match, Cassidy punched Matthews in the face. He went down and grabbed his hand in pain. A trainer at ringside began untaping his hand and Cassidy grabbed his wrist in pain. He tried to make a fist. Matthews walked over and stomped on his hand. Cassidy rolled to ringside. They cut to a split-screen break. [c/ss]

During the break, Matthews concentrated on Cassidy’s hand, including ramming it into the ringside steps. After the break, Cassidy made a comeback and used his uninjured hand to attack Matthews. Matthews caught Cassidy mid-air and set up a DDT, but Cassidy countered and rammed Matthews into turnbuckles in a cool sequence. Matthews caught a leaping Cassidy with a kick to the jaw on the ring apron. Cassidy returned fire with a kick of his own and then landed Beach Break on the ring apron. Both tumbled to the floor. Fans chanted “Holy shit!” They battled back into the ring. Cassidy put his hands in his pockets. Taz said maybe he can find new fingers in there. Cassidy and Matthews battled on the top rope a minute later. Cassidy won the battle for leverage and landed a leaping DDT in the ring and then a leaping DDT over the top rope onto the floor. Back in the ring, he hit a third DDT off the top rope leading to a believable near fall.

[HOUR TWO]

Matthews blocked an Orange Punch and landed a knee. Cassidy rolled up Matthews for a near fall. He followed with an Orange Punch and scored a two count. The crowd was into this. Fans chanted “This is awesome!” Matthews challenged Cassidy to punch him in the face. He blocked it with his hand and grabbed Cassidy’s injured hand. He kneed Cassidy, who then invited Matthews to take a free shot at his chin. But then he collapsed face-down before popping up with an Orange Punch attempt. Matthews avoided it and then landed a Stomp for a near fall that popped the crowd. Matthews went for a suplex, but Cassidy rolled him up into a Mouse Trap for the win.

WINNER: Orange Cassidy in 14:00 to retain the International Title.

(Keller’s Analysis: Cassidy matches lately have become destination TV. Matthews has been underutilized and lost in the mix. This match showed how he could have been reframed as a higher-card wrestler if AEW had decided to do that early on after signing him. I wish the International Title had been named the AEW TV Title. This series of televised defenses by Cassidy has been stellar.)

-A vignette aired with Luchasaurus and Christian. Christian looked at the camera and said, “Some things have changed.” [c]

-Renee Paquette interviewed Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, and Chuck Taylor. Trent said Cassidy is okay and is on the run of his life. He said it makes him and Chuck a little jealous. Chucky said he heard Aussie Open won the IWGP Tag Team Titles. He said they should fly to Milwaukee and face them Friday on Rampage.

(Keller’s Analysis: That’s going to be a little weird for the fans in the arena who are about to watch Friday’s taping. That’s a fast flight Aussie Open found to cross the ocean.)

-“All Ego” Ethan Page stood mid-ring and said he has had a bit of a rough patch. He said Matt Hardy hit him with the FTW Title and cost him the match. He said Hook beat up Stokely Hathaway and he’s still injured as a result. He brought up the contract that The Firm have with Matt Hardy. He insulted the fans and called them hillbillies. He said he wanted answers from Hardy. Isiah Kassidy and Hardy came out. Hardy said he tricked Ethan by putting fine print in the contract he signed because he treated them like trash. He said the contract said if Hook beat him, they were no longer under the dominion of The Firm. He said he also gets to pick their next match and the stipulation. He said when he wins, they’ll no longer be under control of The Firm. (Didn’t Hook beating Ethan cover that?). Ethan said there are more members of The Firm.

Lee Moriarty and Big Bill ran out and attacked Kassidy and Hardy. Hook ran out for the save. He punched away at Bill, but Bill brushed it off and went for a chokeslam. Hook countered with a T-Bone attempt, but Ethan intervened. Jeff Hardy’s music played and he made his return. Fans popped, some jumping up and down with excitement. Taz said he had goosebumps. Jeff hit Bill and Moriarty with a chair. He gave Moriarty a Twist of Fate and then yanked off his shirt. He climbed to the top rope and launched himself onto Moriarty with a Swanton Bomb. He hugged his brother.

(Keller’s Analysis: I hope everyone who truly cares about Jeff Hardy believes this truly is a safe move for him to return after all he’s been through. I am concerned the primary pitch to get Jeff back was to have the Hardys vs. Young Bucks at Wembley as a special attraction featured match on the show.)

-They aired a clip of the nasty gash in Don Callis’s forehead and a series of clips of Blackpool Combat Club attacking The Elite.

-A pre-taped promo aired with Kenny Omega who thanked the fans for their comments and prayers and support. He thanked the doctors for being quick to help because it could have been so much worse without their prompt help. He said he’s spoken to The Bucks a lot and they want to take care of this situation in the ring. He said they know how that works as wrestlers. “We get it, you made an impact,” he said. He said hurting Callis, though, made it personal to him. He said he knows Callis isn’t the most likable guy, but he’s still family. He said when you mess with someone’s family, that’s when you cross a line. He said it won’t be blood for blood, because that’s music to BCC’s ears. He said when they see them next, it’ll be much worse.

-Excalibur said that’s an unfamiliar level of intensity and menace from Omega.

(Keller’s Analysis: Was that Omega’s best interview in AEW to date? I think it might be. He seemed like an actual serious person taking things seriously and not hamming it up or living on past accomplishments. More of that, please.)

-BCC began their ring entrance to Moxley’s “Wild Theme” entrance song. [c/ss]

(4) CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI & JON MOXLEY (w/Wheeler Yuta) vs. MICHAEL NAKZAWA & BRANDON CUTLER

BCC attacked Cutler and Nakzawa as they made their way to the ring. Claudio rammed Nakazawa’s head into the ring apron over and over. Nakazawa came up bleeding from his forehead. Nakazawa crawled into the ring and the ref called for the bell. Nakazawa attempted to a comeback, but Claudio no-sold his attack and then gave him the Claudio Swing and then a sharpshooter. Cutler crawled into the ring. He was also bloodied under his face mask. He broke up the sharpshooter, but Claudio knocked him out of the ring. Nakazawa backdropped Claudo, who tagged in Moxley. Cutler tagged in next. Mox bit Cutler’s face through the face mask. Mox then hit Cutler with a King Kong Lariat and a bulldog choke. Nakazawa broke it up. As they kept beating on Nakazawa and Cutler, the ref called for the bell.

WINNERS: Moxley & Claudio via ref stoppage in 3:00.

-Afterward, Moxley asked where The Elite are. He said they’re still at the hospital. He said they put the Elite in All Elite Wrestling. Omega came out to his music and called for Mox to come get him. Meanwhile, The Young Bucks entered the ring from the opposite side and superkicked Yuta and Claudio. Omega then attacked Moxley. Omega slid a storage box into the ring. Matt Jackson stopped him and offered him a screwdriver instead. Mox told him to bring it. Omega charged. Claudio yanked Mox to safety at ringside. BCC retreated. Excalibur said it’s far from over between The Elite and BCC.

-Schiavone interviewed Nana, Cage, and Swerve. Nana said Darby did everything that Swerve taught him. Swerve said his success is a testament to his legacy because he created him. He said his list of beefs in AEW is growing day by day and he has unsettled scores. He said they’re going to leave there with something and he got Nana and Cage psyched up.

(5) RIHO & SKYE BLUE vs. TONI STORM & RUBY SOHO (w/Saraya)

Soho and Storm jumped Blue and Riho as the bell rang. Riho and Blue made a comeback. Riho dove onto Soho and Storm at ringside as they cut to a split-screen break. [c/ss]

Back from the break, Storm was beating on Blue. Taz said Blue signed a contract with AEW this past week. Storm landed a hip attack and Storm Zero for the win.

WINNERS: Soho & Storm in 7:00.

-Afterward, Storm stomped away on Blue as Saraya paraded around the ring with a smile. Saraya then beat on Riho. Saraya then spray painted an “L” on Riho’s stomach. Then the three heels triple-powered her. Jamie Hayter ran out for the save. She was swarmed, though. Britt Baker ran out for the save and fought past Soho and Storm, then entered the ring and exchanged wild swings with Saraya. Fans chanted “DMD!” Storm and Soho pulled Saraya to safety before she could stomp her.

(Keller’s Analysis: Saraya’s partners pulling her to safety is too similar to Claudio pulling Moxley to safety in the previous match under very similar circumstances.) [c]

(6) CHRIS JERICHO vs. KEITH LEE

Jericho came out first. Lee came out next. When his music stopped, fans sang his theme. The bell rang 45 minutes into the hour. Excalibur said the Aussie Open vs. Best Friends was official for Rampage, plus FTR would speak about their tag team title win, Emi Sakura vs. Taya Vakyrie, and Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal & Jay Briscoe in action in what Excalibur called “an unlikely alliance,” Matt Menard & Angelo Parker would speak, and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Shawn Spears. Excalibur said Spears would have some things to say on social media after Dynamite. (He didn’t specify. Why not just say what platform?)

Lee absorbed some early Jericho chops and then went on the attack. Lee kneed Jericho in the corner, then landed two hard chops to the chest. Excalibur plugged Soho & Storm vs. Baker & Hayter and Hobbs vs. Wardlow for next week’s Dynamite. Lee bodyslammed Jericho and then climbed to the second rope. Garcia distracted Lee. Jericho knocked Lee off the ropes onto the ring apron. He followed with a springboard dropkick, sending Lee tumbling to the floor. They cut to a split-screen break as Jericho gloated. [c]

Jericho methodically beat on Lee during the break. Back from the break, Jericho stomped on Lee, but eventually Lee caught a charging Jericho with a clothesline. Lee splashed Jericho in the corner. Garcia grabbed Lee’s boot. Garcia claimed to Lee he didn’t do anything, which was hilarious since Lee watched him do it. Lee bear-hugged Jericho briefly.

Next Lee set up a high powerbomb, but Jericho slipped free and rolled up Lee for a two count. Lee ran right through a Jericho clothesline attempt and then rebounded off the ropes and hit a Pounce. With Jericho down, Lee went for a moonsault off the second rope. Jericho lifted his knees. Jericho sold a knee injury as a result of Lee landing on him. Lee smiled and brushed off the impact. He then chokeslammed Jericho and scored a two count. Lee set up another powerbomb, but Jericho broke free and gouged Lee’s eyes. He then applied a Walls of Jericho.

Lee crawled to the bottom rope to force a break. Lee fended off an interfering Garcia. He tossed him into the ring and then grabbed the top rope to retain his balance as he looked quite winded. Jericho went for a Code Breaker, but Lee caught him and held on for a few seconds, then shifted and gave Jericho a sitout powerbomb. Garcia entered the ring. The ref turned to yell at him. A mystery person bashed Lee in the head. The announcers said it could be Strickland since he had vowed earlier to settle some old scores. Jericho draped his arm over Lee and the ref turned and counted to three.

WINNER: Jericho in 14:00.

-Adam Cole came out after the match to check on Lee. Jericho and Garcia yelled down at him, but he kept his back turned to them and accompanied Lee to the stage as the show ended.

(Keller’s Analysis: I’d recommend watching this 14 minute match at double speed and see if it seems better as a seven minute match. Lee was lumbering around in there, greatly limiting what he used to physically to stand out. That said, the match wasn’t awful, but Jericho was just a rag doll for Lee’s methodical attack.)