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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
APRIL 15, 2026
EVERETT, WASH. AT ANGEL OF THE WINDS ARENA
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Bryan Danielson
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 2,866 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,184. The arena has a capacity of 9,000 spectators when configured for concerts. Attendance for the previous visit on May 15, 2024 was 3,553.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Jerud Buhagiar 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]
-Renee Paquette stood outside the arena and said AEW upper management had been trying to reach him for days to tell him Darby wanted the AEW World Title match tonight. MJF just happened to drive up then and got out of a vehicle. When Renee brought up Darby, MJF interrupted and asked why they’re talking about the guy he beat twice with a headlock takeover. He said they should be talking about him. He listed the men he beat and the moves he has kicked out of and preventing Hangman Page from challenging for the AEW World Title ever again. Don Callis walked up to MJF and congratulated him on his win. He apologized for “the Andrade thing.” MJF didn’t know why he said that. Callis said Andrade lost to Darby. MJF said he didn’t see it because he was preparing for his match. MJF told Callis told Andrade that he won’t ever be champion because he’s not championship material. Renee yelled at MJF that Darby wants to face him for the title. MJF asked when. She said, “Now!” He exclaimed, “What the f—!”
(Keller’s Analysis: Not a fan of this set-up. It’s preposterous on numerous levels all for the knee-slappin’ punchline that MJF is blindsided and ill-prepared to defend the title without notice. There’s nothing about this believable and it seems unfair and unprofessional for AEW, in storyline, to force a World Champion to defend in this situation. Since when do challengers earn no. 1 contendership and get to pick the date and time of a match?)
-Darby made his entrance. Then MJF’s music played. He marched out and yelled that he’s not wrestling a match he just found out about three seconds ago. He told booing fans to shut up. A fan held up a sign that said, “MJF spins squares in Tetris.” He said he’ll get his lawyer on the case and he’d “sue that skank Aubry.” He said he’d sue “that perfect, Justin Roberts.” He said he’d sue Tony Khan and WBD and all the fans “who decide to live in a dumpster-fire like Washington. Tony Schiavone said, “This is so bogus.” Fans chanted, “Ring the bell!” His mic started to go out, so he asked for a new mic.
MJF told Darby he’s doing him a favor. He said he’s a good underdog and the people love him because he’s like them, “good, but not great.” He said he’s not championship material. “With love and respect, you’re not ready to be…” at which point Darby yanked the mic away. Darby said all it takes is one night to drop the wrestling world on its head. He said if he’s not ready now, he’d never be ready. He started to sob as he talked saying he killed himself for this city. He said he taped posters around the city for tonight’s show. He said he climbed Mt. Everest and planted the AEW flag at top. He talked about starting his career near there. He said he took a deep breath and said he would either succeed as Darby or fail as Darby, but he wouldn’t change a thing about himself. He yelled, “Ring the bell!”
MJF told everyone to relax. “We’re not ringing the bell,” he said. Bryan Danielson stood and said he just got a message from Tony Khan. He said TK agreed with MJF that it is unfair for him to wrestle when he is unprepared. MJF gloated and said, “That is justice!” Danielson said that’s why TK is going to give him “plenty of time to prepare.” He said the match will instead happen in tonight’s main event slot. MJF threw a new fit. Fans chnated, “Yes!” Danielson told MJF that if he refused, he’d be stripped of the AEW Title. Darby said he’ll beat his ass with a headlock takeover. He threw down the mic and made his way to the back as MJF soaked up the situation.
(Keller’s Analysis: I think the overly contrived setup, which felt too cute and a real stretch overall, was deemed a worthy tradeoff to build the main event with MJF throwing a fit and Darby showing that passion about the match in a context in front of fans like that. On balance, it was probably worth it since that segment certainly build anticipation for the main event, but there had to be a way that didn’t feel so fake to set up. It would have been really cheap to have Darby get a match against a the champ who had zero notice, regardless of the circumstances, so at least now, win or lose, Darby will be facing a champion who had at least a couple hours roughly to prepare.)
-Footage aired from Sunday of Schiavone asking Kenny Omega after his loss for a comment. Omega said he had nothing. He sat next to Will Ospreay hwo was in rough shape mentally and physically. They compared notes about how their night didn’t go well. Omega said he felt he let everyone down. Ospreay said he was there when he lost to Okada in 2017 and he douted himself but he bounced back. Omega said that was ten years ago (math?) and he doesn’t feel he has any time left, whereas Ospreay does. He told Ospreay he has the heart of a wrestler. He said AEW and pro wrestler is on his shoulders from here on. He said he’s still got it. He said his dream and ambition is still being the AEW World Champion. He said he isn’t giving up on that, but Omega shouldn’t either. Ospreay stood and kissed Omega’s head and gave him additional encouragement. Omega took a deep breath and said, “Maybe I can’t give up, maybe there is still a chance.” He stood and said, “No more cameras, please.”
(Keller’s Analysis: That was well done. This plays up the “agony of defeat” aspect of sports that is glossed over too often.)
(1) TOMMASO CIAMPA vs. DESMOND XAVIER
The other Rascalz joined Desmond in the aisle during his ring entrance. The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour. Excalibur said if Desmond wins this match, he’d be in contention for TNT Title shot. Ciampa got in initial offense. Desmond made a comeback and teased a dive. Ciampa moved before Desmond launched. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Ciampa took over during the break. Schiavone said during the break, fans were chanting “Bald!” at him Ciampa. He said Ciampa told them to save it for Ricochet. Schiavone plugged Collision airing on Thursday night for a special “Spring Break” episode.
When Desmon leaped off the top rope, Ciampa knocked him out of mid-air with a knee. He followed with a back stabber and then lowered his kneepad and landed a running kneestrike for the clean win.
WINNER: Ciampa in 10:00.
-As his music played, he held a mic and said to cut his music. He said he’s sick of waiting. He said he wants it all and he came to AEW “because this is where the best wrestle.” He said it snidely. He said he wants all the gold. He said he wants the winner of MJF vs. Darby. He stood and gave a running kick to Desmon’s ribcage.
-A video package aired on Darby with footage of his Mt. Everest climb and big bumps and moves over the years along with big celebrations.
(Keller’s Analysis: This is coming across as a signal they’re changing the title tonight. This is really well done in terms of framing him as someone in for a big night. His emotions earlier set the table for that, along with the setting.)
-FTR and Stokely Hathaway made their entrance. Schiavone said they’d hear from Adam Copeland on Collision tomorrow night. Dax Harwood said he’s heard all the complaints. He said everyone seems angry that they won again. He said he understands why they’re angry. He said they love an underdog story and the fans feel they can relate to that. He said they’re not underdogs, though; they’re actually losers. He added, “Fat losers.” He said they gave Copeland and Christian a brush with relevancy and they couldn’t get the job done. He looked into the camera and addressed Copeland and Christian. He said as long as they’re champions, they’d never get another title shot.
Stokely said he heard the fans are educated people, so they should know the story of David vs. Goliath. He said FTR are Goliath. He said there are a lot of Millie Vanillis around. He said every time David steps up to Goliath, “he gets bitched out.” He said TK will go to CMLL and New Japan and sign every team he can to join the division, “but they will fall to the giants known as FTR!”
Cash said, “Well said, Stoke.” He asked fans to please be quiet so they could pay homage to the careers of Copeland and Christian. He asked for a moment of silence. They very briefly hung their heads in silence. Then cash imitated the Edge & Christian bit of a five second pose, but expanded it to ten seconds out of generosity. They posed. Cash thanked “Seattle.”
-Excalibur plugged MJF vs. Darby and Willow Nightingale vs. Kamile as coming up later. [c]
(2) “THE JET” KEVIN KNIGHT vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI – TNT Title match
Claudio walked into the arena bowl with the rest of the Death Riders. Renee, reporting from ringside, said Knight began his career in Everett, Washington. She said Knight has studied Claudio as a student of the game, but he plans to shine against him. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour.
Knight countered Claudio immediately and scored a near fall. Seconds later, Claudio landed a lariat to stop Knight’s momentum. Excalibur noted that AEW would be selling officially licensed NFL lucha masks. They showed them on the screen as Claudio continued to dominate. Knight knocked Claudio over the top rope and then hit a leaping forearm off the ring apron to take Claudio down as they cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Claudio hit a series of moves after the break until Knight countered a catapult into the corner and leaped off the top rope with a UFO Splash for a three count.
WINNER: Knight in 10:00 to retain the TNT Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good ten minutes match and a true statement win for Knight over a respected gatekeeper like Claudio.)
-Afterward, Knight asked the fans in Everett if they missed him. He said Claudio is one of the hardest-hitting dudes he’s been in the ring with. He said he’s looking good and feeling better as TNT Champion. He said before he won the title, he won the Trios Titles the night before. He said he knows Speedall was beating himself up, but when one door closes, another opens up. “Sometimes you need to slow down to speed back up, and The Jet is riding high, baby,” he said. He talked about Darby facing MJF later. He said he’s going to be keeping a close eye on that “because Jet Two Belts sounds too fly, baby.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m glad they get Knight some mic time. He’s not great on the mic, but he’s acceptable to have a “regular guy” on the mic who’s likable and flashy in the ring and carries himself professionally. That can be a good baseline character in the mix. That said, it’d be good to aim for him to be less generic and come up with something distinct and marketable for his persona. His “advice” to Speedball could escalate the tease from Sunday that Speedball isn’t thrilled with how things went for him on Sunday.) [c]
-Highlights aired of Chris Jericho’s win over Ricochet at Dynasty on Sunday. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Renee stood mid-ring and introduced “the legendary Chris Jericho.” He came out to Judas as they cut to a few fans who were, well, not showing much enthusiasm for him or the song. They found one guy with gray hair sorta singing the lyrics. Jericho walked out in his red jacket and smiled at the fans. When the music stopped, fans did sing the last line of his song. Jericho covered Renee’s mic as a “Jericho” chant started. It was probably 20 percent of what a big-time star would receive in terms of volume. He said he feels so happy to be back in AEW and back in the ring at Dynasty. He said it was one of his favorite performances in a long time. He said he lost, not because he was rusty or over-excited, but because he was outnumbered three-to-one. He congratulated Ricochet “for probably one of his biggest wins.” Ricochet’s music interrupted.
Ricochet and GOA walked out. Ricochet told Jericho to listen to him. He said always respected him and after Sunday, he respected him more. He said he has to take him out with his very own move, the Lionsault. He said he renamed it, “The Ricosault.” He said he gave Jericho credit for not completely embarrassing himself. He said he did well, but not well enough to overcome “the rise of Ricochet.” He told Jericho to quit. He said Jericho is “the king of reinventing himself.” He listed his various presentations over the years. He said this version could be known as “the guy who gets beat up every week he shows up by The Demand.” He said this could be best run of his entire career.
Jericho crunched his face and said, “The Ricosault??” He then made fun of Ricochet being bald and called him “Bald.” (Is being bald something really someone should be sensitive about?) He called GOA his goons and challenged him to face him tonight. Ricochet said he’s not scared to do that. “You’re too scared and bald to come down here,” Jericho said. Ricochet told GOA to not go to ringside under any circumstances as he wanted to handle this himself.
Ricochet walked to the ring. Schiavone said he was surprised. Jericho took Ricochet down as soon as he entered the ring. Ricochet immediately called for help from GOA. Jericho was beat down three-on-one. Ricochet landed the Ricosault and then The Demand stood over Jericho’s fallen body.
(Keller’s Analysis: A good, basic, paint-by-numbers continuation of this feud. Jericho’s crowd reaction was back to kinda tepid relative to the fanfare and his stature, though. It’s not embarrassing, but it’s not great.)
-Backstage, Renee was interviewing Don Callis and Kazuchika Okada when Konosuke Takeshita walked up and snidely said, “I’m so sorry!” Okada was upset and Callis led him away.
-Will Ospreay made his ring entrance.
(3) WILL OSPREAY vs. HECHICERO
The bell rang 13 minutes into the hour. Danielson talked about relating to what Ospreay was going through at Dynasty. Callis joined in on commentary. They cut to an early double-box break. [c/db]
Ospreay began selling a sore neck and wincing during the match. He went for a Hidden Blade at 10:00, but Hechicero caught him and twisted him with a Guillotine Leg Scissors, driving him head-first onto the mat. He covered Ospreay. Ospreay draped his boot on the bottom rope. Callis jumped to ringside and complained that the ref stopped his count. Hechicero punched away at Ospreay, which the ref decided was not okay. He called for the doctor to roll into the ring to check on Ospreay. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
During the break, the match resumed and Hechicero threw Ospreay back into the ring and then wrapped his legs around his neck. Hechicero dove into Ospreay at ringside and then leaped off the top rope with an elbow to the back of Ospreay’s neck for a two count at 15:00.
Ospreay absorbed more punishment on the mat until he lifted Hechicero and delivered a Styles Clash followed by a Hidden Blade for the win.
WINNER: Ospreay in 18:00.
-Afterward, the ref checked on Ospreay who took. a while to stand. They showed Marina Shafir watching from the front row. Ospreay stared down at her. Schiavone said there’s much more to Ospreay than amazing moves. Mark Davis then entered and clotheslined Ospreay.
-A promo aired from Sunday at Dynasty with Willow Nightingale. She said she will kill Kamille’s comeback before it even gets out of the cradle. She said she’ll see her at Spring Breakthrough. She breathed loudly through her nostrils to express intensity. She dialed back the over-the-top positivity.
-Renee stood on the stage and began to talk when Thekla interrupted. She walked out through crowd and said Renee looks good tonight. She said not a single person paid to watch her flap her lips, especially “when the Toxic Spider is in the house.” She bragged about beating Jamie Hayter at Dynasty. She told everyone to get used to her winning “because this industry is filled with nothing but dumb bitches.” Alex Windsor walked out and said she wouldn’t let her get away with saying she actually beat Jamie Hayter. She said she should beat the piss out of her right now. Thekla said, “Oh wow, I say the word dumb bitches and you magically appear.” She said don’t blame her because her best friend lost and her husband lost. Windsor said she’s the New Japan Strong Women’s Champion. She said in Japan, they call Thekla “the girl who was stupid enough to get herself fired from Japan, you silly tit.”
Thekla said she didn’t get fired. “Chill your balls, mate,” she said. She said she didn’t get fired from Japan, but then admitted she did, and she said it was just because they couldn’t handle her. Windsor entered the ring and offered to face her now. Thekla said no. Windsor then suggested Collision. Julia Hart and Sky Blue attacked Windsor, but Windsor knocked them out of the ring. Windsor then went after Thekla in the crowd. Thekla gave her two middle finger gestures. [c]
-A vignette aired with Jon Moxley and his Death Riders. He said he doesn’t enjoy the suffering of others, but there can be beauty in it. He asked Shafir how Ospreay looked. He then talked about facing Nick Wayne on Collision tomorrow night and he asked him not to bring his mom because Continental RUles are “adult stuff.”
(4) WILLOW NIGHTINGALE vs. KAMILLE – TBS Title match
Renee did ringside reporting about Kamille’s comeback. Willow made her entrance next. Danielson said it’ll be interesting to see what Kamille has done to improve in the year she was gone. The bell rang 43 minutes into the hour. Schiavone noted that Willow’s left shoulder is taped up. Danielson said medical wouldn’t clear her for Dynasty, so she’s defending tonight. They cut to an early double-box break. [c/db]
Kamille worked over Willow’s arm and shoulder. Willow eventually scored a three count with a backslide out of nowhere.
WINNER: Willow at 9:00.
-Backstage, Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander cut a promo. Shida said they would team on Collision tomorrow night.
-They showed MJF backstage getting ready to come out.
-Renee interviewed Darby who was joined by Sting in the back hall. Sting asked Darby if he was ready. Darby asked if he had advice for him. Sting said, “No, you already know what to do. Now go out there and do it!” Darby said, “It’s Showtime.” Sting said, “No, it’s your time. Go take it.” [c]
(5) MJF vs. DARBY ALLIN – AEW World Title match
Darby’s ring entrance aired after the break. Excalibur recapped the opening segment and said the last nearly two hours since then had to be agony for him as his heart was racing and his emotions were at a fever pitch two hours ago. Danielson said the way Darby lives his life, he does things without thinking about it. He said the last two hours put a lot of extra stress on him. He said you can see it on his face and he didn’t have the same confidence as he did at the start of the night. MJF’s entrance then took place. He wore a jacket that said, “Big Hebrew” on the back. Justin Roberts did formal ring introductions Fans chanted, “Darby! Darby!” Fans booed MJF as a huge banner dropped behind him as he was introduced. Darby put his hands on the title belt as the ref showed it to him before the bell rang 3 minutes into the hour.
Danielson said he had goosebumps. MJF tried calling for a timeout at the start. He told the ref he forgot to hand over his ring. He handed the the ref the ring. When she turned to remove it from the ring, MJF kicked Darby low. Darby then gave MJF a low-blow. He then delivered a Scorpion Death Drop and a Coffin Drop. He followed with a second Coffin Drop and then a third and then a fourth, showing fire between each of them. He then took MJF over with a side headlock takeover for the win.
They cut to fans looking on in shock as Darby soaked up the emotions. MJF was out of the ring in a flash as the camera showed Darby celebrating. Schiavone called it a defining moment for Darby and for AEW wrestling. “Un-be-liev-able!” said Excalibur. They cut to MJF at ringside covering his head in shame.
WINNER: Darby in 2:00 to capture the AEW World Hvt. Title.
-A parade of wrestlers from the locker room came out and surrounded him, including Brody King next to him. He shook hands with The Young Bucks. Confetti then dropped over them. Sting then came out and joined in the celebration. Schiavone said it was the biggest moment since Dynamite started.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Jerud Buhagiar 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
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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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