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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
APRIL 8, 2026
EDMONTON, ALBERTA AT ROGERS PLACE
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 3,650 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 4,128. The arena has a capacity of 20,734 spectators when configured for concerts.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Darrin Lilly review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a shot of the arena with Justin Roberts standing mid-ring. They panned cheering fans. Then they cut backstage to Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay fighting in the parking garage. The other Death Riders attacked Ospreay. Alex Windsor got out of a black SUV; Excalibur said she is Ospreay’s fiance. Then Callum Newman, Henare, and Francesco Akira joined Ospreay. They faced off and then charged at each other. Excalibur plugged the Ospreay-Moxley scheduled match at Dynasty. Wheeler Yuta got slammed onto the hood of a Nissan sedan. Windsor and Marina Shafir brawled into the arena. The men followed behind, still fighting. Eventually Mox put Ospreay in a sleeper. Newman landed a diving foot stop on Mox. Ospreay and his New Japan crew stood tall in the ring with the Death Riders collecting themselves at ringside. Ospreay said they’re creating some chaos in Canada later if the Death Riders agree to face them in the main event in 90 minutes.
-Excalibur said Tony Khan announced before Dynamite that Kyle Fletcher was injured and had to vacate the TNT Title.
-Backstage, Don Callis addressed the Fletcher situation. He said he is injured and out of action. He said it’s thrown a wrench into the works as they were on their way to being the longest-reigning TNT Title reign. He said he had been negotiating a match with Protokada vs. The Young Bucks for Dynasty, but that won’t happen now. He said there is a reason they call him the Invisible Hand. He said he has a pivot that will blow everyone’s mind. He said people want to see Okada fight Konosuke Takeshita. He said he runs his family like a sports franchise and he likes that people don’t get along, so it’ll be a long time before he lets that match happen. He said he calls the shots, so “too bad.” He said Takeshita will be in action in the six-man tag team match next. He said he might then take the “MJF money” and pick up Connor McGreggor and do the town like it’s 1984.
(1) DARBY ALLIN & BANDIDO & JACK PERRY vs. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & ANDRADE & MARK DAVIS
Excalibur said Brody King couldn’t wrestle as scheduled due to a personal matter, so he called on Bandido to take his place. (A close band mate died at age 38 and he took personal time to deal with that.) The bell rang 13 minutes into the hour. Andrade and Darby were about to start the match, but Andrade bailed out and walked to the back. When Darby landed a Code Red on Takeshita at the start, Davis broke it up. Bandido and Darby leaped to ringside onto Davis and Takeshita. Darby then called Andrade back to the ring. “Why are you Don Callis’s little bitch?” he yelled. Andrade marched back out. Takeshita delivered a rolling German suplex on Darby on the ramp. Andrade rejoined the match. Callis joined in on commentary at 3:00. Perry landed a leaping flip dive onto Davis and Takeshita at ringside.
When Perry leaped back into the ring, Takeshita elbowed him out of mid-air. Andrade tagged in and took it to Perry at ringside. Callis said the injury to Kyle Fletcher unites the family and team. “We’re gonna do it for Kyle,” he said. Andrade then chatted with a woman at ringside who took a selfie with him. Callis said that’s not free and she shouldn’t touch the merchandise. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
Bandido rallied after the break. Takeshita landed a Blue Thunder Bomb on Bandido a minute later for a near fall at 8:00. Callis talked about Okada facing Myron Reed on Collision. Schiavone said he’s undefeated in singles matches so far. Darby dove through the ropes into Andrade. Davis then threw Darby into the ringside barricade. Fans chanted, “AEW! AEW!” Takeshita and Davis then swung Darby and flung him into the time keeper’s area the way a kid can get tossed into a pool or lake.
Back in the ring, Davis hit Perry with a lariat and followed with a leaping piledriver. Andrade then gave Perry his finisher for the win.
WINNERS: Andrade & Davis & Takeshita in 12:00.
-Andrade tauned Darby afterward and then pointed at the Dynasty sign. When Darby looked, Andrade kicked him in the crotch. Perry checked on him. Callis entered the ring and gouged Perry’s eyes in a direction that no camera could show. The Young Bucks ran out and beat up Davis and Takeshita. Okada ran out to stop the Bucks attack. Takeshita then knocked Matt down. Excalibur said Okada was once a close friend of the Bucks. Takeshita and Okada took turns stomping on the Bucks. Takeshita and Okada then faced each other chest-to-chest. They shoved each other and then exchanged wild strikes. Lance Archer, Hechicero, and El Clon separated them. The Rascalz then ran out and helped clear the ring of the Don Callis Family. Excalibur plugged that Chris Jericho would speak later and address his return, plus Kenny Omega would speak and the main event tag challenge became official.
-Backstage, Lexi Nair interviewed Dr. Sampson about what MJF said about Omega’s medical condition. He said there were post-surgical complications, but he’s in the best shape of his life and has been cleared by his surgeon. He said he spoke to Omega to be sure he was comfortable with him speaking about his medical situation. He told Lexi he had to get back to work. [c]
(2) WILLOW NIGHTINGALE vs. QUEEN AMINATA – TBS Title match
Aminata made her entrance first. Then Willow. The bell rang 36 minutes into the hour. When Willow offered a handshake, Aminata accepted, but then kicked her and scored a quick two count after a corkscrew suplex. Willow rolled to ringside and regrouped. She said, “Okay, alright, that was a little close.” They showed Hikaru Shida watching the match from an entryway. Aminata dominated as they cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c]
Back from the break, Excalibur noted that this was Aminata’s return after five months out with an injury. Willow made a comeback. She landed a running slip senton off the ring apron onto Aminata at ringside. She high-fived some fans and then returned to the ring where she leaped off the top rope and went for a moonsault. Aminata moved, making her high-fiving seconds earlier look like a bad decision. Aminata then hit Willow with a flying elbow strike to the head for a two count at 8:00. Aminata followed up with a leaping double stomp for a two count.
Willow made a comeback and set up a Pounce, but Aminata headbutted her instead. Willow then caught Aminata with a running elbow or lariat. Both went down and were slow to get up. Willow caught Aminata in a backslide for a near fall. She went for a gut-wrench powerbomb, but Aminata countered with an Air Raid Crash for a near fall. Willow then gave Aminata with a Pounce. She followed with a sitout powerbomb for the three count.
Afterward, Willow went up to Aminata and shook her hand. They showed Shida shaking her head.
WINNER: Willow in 11:00 to retain the TBS Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good return match for Aminata. I’m not sure why Aminata deserved congratulations afterward since she took that cheap shot at the start.)
-A video package aired on MJF starting with his early years in AEW and then various high points of his AEW career. [c]
-Chris Jericho made his ring entrance. Excalibur noted he returned last week and said two words, “I’m home.” They plugged his new merchandise that simply says “Jericho” in purple glittery lettering. Fans sang his entrance theme, although not with the sustained passion of the past. Jericho stood in the ring after his music stopped and listened to silence and then a polite “Jericho!” chant. He held a clipboard and said, “Well, thank you, Edmonton.” He said it was great to be back on Dynamite. Polite applause. He said last week he said he was home, and he meant it. He said he’ll be signing his new AEW contract just 100 km from where he wrestled his first match.
He said he has taken chances and one of those was joining AEW. He said it was a risk that paid off. He said he is proud of how big AEW has become. He said he’s excited to help build the company that he helped start. He said he has been part of great stories and matches, but he’s had some stinkers, too. “That’s all part of being a risk-taker,” he said. He said he did it all for the right reasons. “Because I love pro wrestling,” he said. He said got into the best shape he could for his return because AEW deserves the best version of him. He said it doesn’t matter if he’s in the main events or not. He said he wants to contribute any way he can because he loves AEW. Another “Jericho!” chant began. He excitedly said it’s the perfect time to sign the contract. As he was about to put pen to paper, he was interrupted by Ricochet and GOA who walked onto the stage to their music. Schiavone said he liked what Jericho had to say. “Way to spoil a great moment,” Schiavone said.
[HOUR TWO]
Ricochet and GOA entered the ring. Ricochet said he wanted the first words out of his mouth to be that Canada freakin’ sucks.
I hate it here,” he said. He said he didn’t come out there to talk about Canada, though. He said he came out to talk to Jericho. He said they came in peace. He said if they came out there to hurt him, Bishop Kaun would have already pulled the trigger. He told Jericho not to sign the contract. Fans booed.
“Just don’t,” he said. “Don’t come back.” He asked why he’d even want to. He said he’d likely be rusty after traveling the globe with is band. He said singing is probably “how you got your abs back.” He said he is one of the greatest AEW champions of all time and without him, AEW might not have had the monumental rise it did. He said he’s not sure how much Jericho has watched AEW in the last year, “but your boy is kind of the man right now.” Fans booed. He said attendance and ratings are up. He said he was the inaugural National Champion. He said it’s all happening because of him. A “Jericho!” chant broke out.
Ricochet said he respects Jericho, but he speaks for everyone when he says, “Nobody wants you were, dog.” He told him to do everyone a favor and pack it up and get out of the ring and get back on his “little cruise ship” and never come back to AEW “before you actually get yourself hurt.”
Jericho said, “Wow, you really are bald.” He said he doesn’t give a shit what he thinks. He held up his clipboard with the contract. He said what Jericho doesn’t know is that he can pick anyone to wrestle at Dynasty. He said he could choose his goons or the popcorn vendor or his nephew or Conor McGregor himself. He said he has some thinking to do and a decision to make. He then suddenly said he made a decision. He said he hasn’t done this in about ten years. He asked Ricochet what happens when he’s bald and wears a sweat suit and Jericho needs an opponent? “You just made the list!” he said. Ricochet protested. Jericho said, “See you at Dynasty, Ricochet.” Jericho’s music played.
(Keller’s Analysis: That went alright. Jericho seemed to find an acceptable mix of humility and arrogance that fits him. Ricochet was good in his role. The fans weren’t rejecting Jericho, but definitely aren’t embracing his return with enthusiasm.)
-Lexi interviewed The Don Callis Family backstage. Callis said The Bucks will face Okada & Takeshita at a team at Dynasty. Takeshita said he didn’t want that. Callis said he’s the only coach. He said they need to come together for Kyle Fletcher, whom he said is in the hospital on death’s door. Takeshita chalelnged Okada to defend his International Title against him. Callis said if they work together, then he can get a match against Okada at Double or Nothing. That seemed to work for Takeshita. Callis said they will work together just like Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen. They shook hands. Okada said, “Scotty Pippen, I’m Michael Jordan.” Takeshita took offense.
(3) TOMMASO CIAMPA vs. DORADA – Winner Enters the Dynasty Casino Gauntlet match first
The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. Ciampa eyed the TNT Title belt at ringside. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
Dorada lifted Ciampa onto his shoulders and then dropped back with a neckbreaker for a near fall at 9:00. When he went for a top rope moonsault, Ciampa lifted his boots. Dorada kicked a charging Ciampa, but Ciampa rolled him up and then landed a Widow’s Bell draping DDT followed by a running knee for a three count.
WINNER: Ciampa in 11:00 to earn the first entry slot at Dynasty’s Casino Gauntlet match.
-The Dogs – Clark Connors, Gabe Kidd, and David Finley – spoke backstage. Finlay talked, and then the camera showed they had Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong. They hyped their match on Collision this Saturday against Mistico & Jet Speed. [c]
-Lexi interviewed Thekla about facing Jamie Hayter at Dynasty. She threatened to take Lexi to a strip club and drag her onto the stage and break every single one of her fingers. Lexi winced in fear, but stayed around and held the mic. Thekla said the first woman she took out was Jamie Hayter. She said the kingdom has changed since she ruled it. She said she’ll never touch the AEW Women’s Title belt again. She said at Dynasty, “You’re going to be the dumbest bitch.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Thekla channeled Jay White’s cadence and demeanor there. That’s a good thing.)
-Adam Copeland and Christian came out. Copeland said jealousy and pettiness was what blew up Rated-FTR. He said FTR said they were glorified henchmen for him. He said that was reality slapping FTR in their dumb little faces. He said they are taking their place back on top of the mountain at Dynasty “as your tag team champions.” Polite response. Christian told FTR to sit down and shut their mouths wherever they are as he discusses his business. He said FTR has pissed off the entire country of Canada. He said as everyone’s favorite father figure, he had to say they were very naughty. “So naughty, I was forced to pay a visit to both of your mothers,” he said. “Just so there’s no confusion when I say ‘paid them a visit,’ I banged them both.” Copeland shook his head. He said he won’t leave Stokely Hathaway’s mother out of it. He said when he visits her, it’ll be as one half of the tag team champions.
FTR and Stokely walked out to their music. Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta attacked Copeland and Cage. Schiavone said now they know why they were in FTR’s locker room last week. Dax tried to hit Christan with a tag belt, but Christian blocked it. Christian set up a Kill Switch on Cash, but Cash shoved him into Stokely who was holding up a belt. FTR and Stokley coninued to attack Christian. Stokely speared Christian as FTR held him in place. Trent and Romero kept Copeland out of the ring. Dax then put Christian’s arm in a chair. Cash was ready to leap off the second rope onto the chair, but Stokely stepped in and stole Christian’s watch first. Cash then stomped on Christian’s arm. Excalibur said it was bad news for Copeland and Christian heading into Dynasty. [c]
-A promo aired with Darby backstage. He said people wonder why he wants to be champion since he has said he doens’t care about anything. He said actually he cares about everything but is insecure that maybe he’s not enough. He said he wants to face whoever wins between MJF and Omega. “I need this!” he said. “More than anybody could ever imagine.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Good intensity and delivery, but more importantly, good content as he expressed value for winning the world title and expressed his motivations and opened up about his insecurity. Strong promo that can rally fans.)
(4) UNITED EMPIRE (Will Ospreay & Callum Newman & Henare & Franceso Akira w/Alex Windsor) vs. THE DEATH RIDERS (Jon Moxley & Daniel Garcia & Pac & Claudio Castagnoli w/Marina Shafir)
As Ospreay & Co. made their entrance, Excalibur said Newman is the youngest IWGP Champion ever. After ring entrances, they began to brawl at ringside. The ref called for the bell 45 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early double-box break. [c/db]
They brawled at ringside. The Death Riders took turns attacking Henare in the ring. Henare made a comeback. They cut to a partial double-box break. [c/pdb]
Moxley gave Ospreay a leaping piledriver. He then leaned a table in the corner. Ospreay fought back. Mox put him in a sleeper. Henare returned to the ring and went after Mox and Claudio. Everyone took turns on offense. Garcia applied a Dragon Tamer on Ospreay mid-ring. Mox stomped Ospreay’s head. Akira broke up the cover.
[OVERRUN]
Mox squared off with Akira mid-ring. Mox took him down. Newman then entered and battled Moxley. Ospreay and Garcia entered the fight. Ospreay and Newman landed stereo Oscutters leading to dual two counts. Claudio gave a giant swing to Ospreay mid-ring. Henrae clotheslined Claudio next. He gave Pac a powerbomb when he entered the ring. Claudio caught a diving Akira at ringside. He set up a suplex off the stairs through a table, but Henare broke it up and then tackled Claudio through a table. Akira powerbombed Garcia onto a table; the table didn’t break. He leaped with a splash on Garcia on the table; once again, the table didn’t break.
Ospreay and Mox met mid-ring and exchanged strikes with everyone else down at ringside at 20:00. Ospreay leaped off the top rope, but Mox kicked him and delivered a Paradigm Shift. He delivered two more. Newman blocked a fourth. Ospreay then leaped at Mox, driving him through a table in the corner. Newman helped Ospreay’s cover and the ref counted to three.
WINNERS: United Empire in 21:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Wild brawl with a ton of great action. I don’t know about Callum joining Ospreay in pinning Moxley at the end. It seemed to take something away from Ospreay’s win, but maybe that was the point?)
-Afterward, Ospreay went after Mox, but Claudio pulled Mox to safety.
-A video package aired on Omega’s history in pro wrestling including his time in The Bullet Club in New Japan, earning the moniker “The Best Bout Machine.” Then it showed him co-founding AEW.
-Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced Omega. Excalibur asked if he has what it takes to dethrone MJF as AEW Champion. He said it’s been about 25 years since he was in Edmonton, but he was once part of the wonderful independent scene. He thanked them from the bottom of his heart. He said he feels that makes them “kind of friends.” He said last week with MJF, he kind of lost his cool and he’s not proud of that. He said if not for Speedball, he might’ve done something that ruined everything and would have played straight into MJF”s hands.
Omega said every week commentary brings up his diverticulitis, and then MJF brought it up. He said it’s gotten a little bit old. He listed his nicknames. He said he’s never said those words about himself, but others have called him that. He said those words were an incredible responsibility to try to live up to. He said AEW used to be just a concept and it was just supposed to be a place where fans could see some of the best wrestling. He said then MJF showed up with is mouth. He said he always wanted MJF to talk about what he would do, because he could match him and do it better. He said he can rewrite wrestling and recreate wrestling in his image. “That is what a God of Pro Wrestling does.” He said maybe it was MJF who should have been pissed off.
He said he lost his cool, though. He said he realizes why now. He said he felt it was all on him to write the legacy and “save the place where the best should wrestle and put the belt on someone where they can actually wrestle the best.” He said he was wrong, because it’s not just his responsibility. “Edmonton, this is our legacy!” he said. He said wherever they are, what AEW fans deserve is a champion who wears the belt with pride and go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. He said won’t be MJF if he’s feeling as good as he does today and after he has turned weaknesses into strengths. He said he’s not the same as he was before diverticulitis. He said it’s not just about healing and getting better, it’s about working harder than ever to protect what he once had. He told MJF that at Dynasty, he will take the title from him and start to right the wrongs he has committed in the company. He said at the PPV, it will be his last defense. “That is something this version of Kenny Omega can absolutely promise.”
MJF’s music played and he came out. He said he was listening to Omega out there and it sounded like he was saying he is better than him in 2026. He said he’s proud of him “for getting better at this talking thing.” He said deep down, he and all his fans are scared shitless. He said they are worried that this might be his shot at the AEW Championship. He said it will be as the clock is ticking on it. He said a couple of weeks ago, Omega brought up the last time they wrestle. He said he had an excuse for losing. He said he was at 75 percent. MJF said the doctors now say he’s at 100 percent. He asked what his excuse will be when he loses now.
He said what he loves about this situation more than anything is that he’s about to find out the hard way like everyone else in the back that their skepticism that he can’t measure up to his boasting are wrong. He said Omega will find out he is not on the level of the devil. He said on Apr. 12, in front of all his comrades in Canada, “their god will fall and the devil will rise and sit atop the throne where only he belongs.” He said it’s because he’s better than him and he knows it. They went nose-to-nose. Omega nodded and turned his back, then said he learns a little more about him every week they speak. He said it’s made him learn that actually, the belt and what it takes to protect it means a lot to him. “Doesn’t it?” he said. He said he thinks it means enough to him that he’d shake his hand before the day of the big PPV. He said it’s their last chance to meet as men. “For the sake of all the cameras and all my friends here in Canada, what do you say, pal? Shall we let bygones be bygones for the salek of a great picture before what should be a legendary main event. Shake my hand, Max.”
Omega held out his hand. MJF threw the mic down, looked down at Omega’s hand, and then turned away while smiling. He took a swing at Omega. Omega ducked and kneed him. MJF dropped onto his back and didn’t move. Omegra said he’s so predictable. He then stepped on his forearm and took off his Dynamite Diamond Ring. He said he knows him and he has studied him and he saw that coming miles away. He said at the PPV, they won’t be hearing about how much better he is and how we should know it. He said it will be him bidding the crowd adieu with a good night and good night bang.”
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a fantastic segment, and I think pretty easily and definitively Omega’s best promo of his career. It was everything WWE hasn’t been doing this WrestleMania season but had the opportunity to do with the main events they have.)
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Darrin Lilly review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
VIP VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/rhnsbeg5f4
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine). This is a private link, so don’t share. It’s just for VIP members at this time.
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