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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
APRIL 22, 2026
PORTLAND, ORE. AT VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 3,017 tickets had been distributed as of showtime; arena is set up for 3,338. The arena has a capacity of 10,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened by panning the cheering audience as Excalibur introduced the show. He said the landscape changed last week when Darby Allin won the AEW World Title.
-A roughly one minute video package aired on Darby’s win over MJF last week on Dynamite.
-MJF’s music played and he speed-walked his way to the ring. MJF was fuming. Schiavone sarcastically said, “Aww, he’s angry, he’s mad, he’s ticked off.” He was huffing and puffing. He said he’s not like the paper champion Darby. He demanded fans show him the respect he has earned. He said last week will be forever known as “The Seattle Screwjob.” He said three days prior to that match, he defended his title in an “all out war” against Kenny Omega and won.
He said he came out banged up, bruised, and battered. He said he was informed three days later when he showed up for work that he had to defend it that night. He said he was hit in the buts, the “skank” Abrey Edwards did a fast count, and both of his shoulders were up. He said Darby is not their champion. He said he is “a dirty little cheat.” He asked the “moron” fans if they believe Darby could beat him if he was at 100 percent or prepared.
He said he is “the most complete pro wrestler in the history of this sport.” He said he has defeated every top name pro wrestling has to offer. He said he made sure “Hangman” Adam Page could never be World Champion again. He said he kicked out of the One-Winged Angel like it was nothing. He yelled that he is the best pro wrestler in the world. He said he doesn’t care about his scheduled match against Tommaso Ciampa later. He demanded that he come out and hand him back his AEW World Title belt.
Instead, out came Kevin Knight to his music wearing his TNT Title belt. Nigel said he better be careful since MJF is peeved off. He said MJF could ground the Jet very soon. Knight said, “Different city, same old Max coming out here and whining like a little bitch.” (Reset the Bitch-o-Meter.) Fans chanted, “Little Bitch!” He said he knows Portland is tired of hearing MJF talk. He said the plane just landed and it’s about to get real. He said, “The Jet is here and The Jet is too fly.” He said before MJF gets to “hating,” he asked if he doesn’t look fly with the new title around his waist. He said a fighting champion is willing to put his title on the line at any time. He told MJF that he had him pinned in the middle of the ring a few weeks ago, so if anybody should be talking about being cheated, it’s him. He said he should be Jet Two Belts right now.
MJF said, “Okay, first of all, what a elegant speaker you are. You’re almost Aristotle level with how deep you are.” He then mocked him referring to himself as The Jet who is Too Fly and TNT Champion and The Jets thinks it’s socially acceptable to be friends with “Speedball” Mike Bailey and The Jet thinks he should be AEW Champion. He said his memory tells him that he beat him with a Heat Seaker “for an easy W.” He said he shouldn’t be World Champion. He said if anyone should be, it’s him and him alone. He patronizingly said he’d give him credit and told fans to “give it up” for the TNT Champion. He said, “What a cute little title that TNT Championship is.” He said it fits him like a glove. He said he’s a TNT Champion type of guy, “A workhorse, a good hand, an average Joe, someone with a ceiling.” He said he is someone who should know better than to step into his ring and breath his air. He said his name shouldn’t come out of his “average little mouth.”
Knight said if he keeps running his mouth, he’d have to “slap that big-ass nose off your face and send your ass packing.” He said he has been fibbing. He said anyone can look at him and see he’s an absolute gold mine. He said some of the best wrestlers in the world have held the title. He said MJF has never held the belt before, though. He said MJF has had everything handed to him. He said they should keep that train going “and The Jet hands you an ass whoopin’.”
MJF told fans to shut up. He asked him if he wanted to wrestle him. He asked what he’d get out of it since he already proved he’s better than him. He said he made him kind of want that belt after all. He said he’d love nothing more than turn his pride in being TNT Champ into “straight up depression.” He said he can wrestle him if he is willing to put that title on the line. Knight said, “Hell yeah, because The Jet is always ready.” He said since they’re in Rip City, he’d rip him a new one. MJF called for the ref.
Excalibur got excited in a way that hinted it might not actually happen. A ref came out and held up the TNT Title. Before the bell rang, MJF rolled out of the ring and said he could “dance with the Devil next week.”
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s the promo you’d expect MJF to give after last week, which is a good thing. Knight is still iffy on the mic. The third-person Jet stuff and the “big nose” reference are all a little eh. Smart to build the match up but not deliver until they have a week to advertise it.)
-Excalibur plugged Darby vs. Tommaso Ciampa.
-Renee Paquette interviewed Ricochet and GOA backstage. She said Jericho was with her, also. (She didn’t say “Chris” and the on-screen graphic left it off.) She said there was going to be a six-man tag match on Collision. She asked if he knew who his partners would be. Ricochet said no one would want to team with him, especially since his new gimmick is he is The Guy Who Gets His Ass Beat By The Demand Every Week He Shows Up. Jericho said he can’t say that. “Cease and desist,” he said. He got his new moniker trademarks. He did subliminal messages such as “way too long” and “bald.” He showed off his new t-shirt that had that along moniker on it under the word “Jericho.” Ricochet said they are going to steal his dignity on Collision because nobody in that locker room wants to team with him. He said he will pin him via Ricosault. Jericho said he doesn’t have to find someone who likes him, just someone who doesn’t like him. He subliminally said under his breath “ball brick.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m enjoying Jericho’s subliminal message schtick.)
-Excalibur said Tony Khan made it official – The Jet vs. MJF next week for the TNT Title.
-Lio Rush made his ring entrance.
(1) BRODY KING vs. LIO RUSH
The bell rang 19 minutes into the hour. Excalibur called him perplexing and enigmatic. He said he took a hiatus and came back a completely different and broken individual. He talked to himself the whole way to the ring in a spooky tone. The ref had to get his attention as he crouched in the corner. Brody dragged him to mid-ring. He stood and circled Brody oddly. Brody grabbed his hand when Lio offered it. He squeezed hard, so Lio bit his hand. Nigel said Lio is now far sneakier. Brody bodyslammed him and then splashed him in the corner. Lio dropped to ringside. Brody pursued him and chopped his chest. He picked up a chair and put Lio in it. He barked and charged at him. Lio moved and then crouched on the announce desk. He leaped at Brody, but Brody caught him. Lio slipped free and shoved Brody into the ringpost and then the barricade. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Brody blocked a renound stunner and drove Lio to the mat and then clotheslined him. Brody favored his left shoulder afterward. The ref checked on him. Lio yanked his arm over the top rope and then snapped his chest over the middle rope. Lio tried to lift Brody onto his shoulders, but Brody blocked it. Lio cartwheel kicked Brody off the ring apron to ringside. He then dove through the ropes and tackled Brody. Lio then leaped off the top rope onto Brody at ringside. Lio top rope splashed Brody across his back and made a cover. Brody kicked out at one.
Brody landed a side slam seconds later and then played to the crowd. He landed a cannonball and a Gonzo Bomb for the win. Schiavone said it was seven straight wins for Brody.
WINNER: Brody in 19:00.
-Brody said he’d be keeping a close eye on the main event AEW World Title match. He said if Ciampa wins, congratulations. He said he is so proud of Darby, “but not proud enough to not bring the violence.”
-Renee interviewed Ciampa backstage about receiving his first shot at the AEW World Title later. He said he’s been told his entire career he wasn’t big enough and “doesn’t pass the airport test” and “isn’t charismatic enough” and “not main event material.” He said he is a a husband, a father, a son, a brother. He said he has the same worth ethic. He said tonight isn’t about brothers and heroes, but passion. He said glass ceilings are imaginary. He said it’s for the grandest prize in this sport and so if you’re asking him if he’s ready, “you have never seen a man more prepared for his moment than I am tonight.” He said to ask Darby if he wants it more “than I need it.” [c]
-Adam Copeland spoke from a backstage area where folding chairs are stored. He said he thinks and he and Christian Cage deserve another title match. He said he had an idea that he didn’t think even he could refuse. He said FTR say they are the greatest tag team ever He said that is debatable. He said they’re one of the best ever, and that’s not debatable. He said at Double or Nothing, he and Christian want to face them in a New York Street Fight. He said if they want to prove they’re the best ever, if they beat them at Double or Nothing, they retire as a team. He said if they are the best tag team of all time, he knows what their answer should be, but if they have any doubts, there’s only one way to prove it. He said he knows what he’d do, but he’s a man. “The balls in your court, guys,” he said.
(2) HIKARU SHIDA (w/Kris Statlander) vs. MINA SHIRAKAWA
As Hikaru Shida made her entrance with Kris Statlander, a soundbite aired with Shida and Statlander from earlier. Excalibur said he has about 1,200 days on his language app and he thinks she said something about her cat. The bell rang 38 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00 with Shida in control. [cdb]
Announced Matches & Other Notes
- Darby Allin vs. “Psycho Killer” Tommaso Ciampa – AEW World Championship match
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Hikaru Shida
- Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis
- Darby Allin to speak
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