The go-home Dynamite to Dynasty is here!
- Trios Match: Pac, Penta el Zero Miedo, & Daniel Garcia vs. The Elite
- Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mariah May
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. Will Ospreay
- Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart & Brody King
AEW Dynamite 4/17/24
Live from the Indiana Farmer’s Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana!
Wild Thing! Moxley is here!
Moxley’s tired of hearing what he can and can’t do. Kiss his ass and watch him. For years Moxley was told that he would never hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and he’s here to prove that when you keep going longer than anyone thinks you can, you can do anything… just like AEW.
That brings Moxley to Don Callis. Don Callis is a creep, but he’s got talented people in his little stable. If you put a target on Danielson’s back, just like the Callis Family did, then you might as well put a target on Moxley’s too. Let’s get violent.
Moxley challenges Will Hobbs next week on Dynamite. There are a lot of great wrestlers in the world, but there is only one Jon Moxley.
Merecedes Mone says she can’t wait to pay back that beeee who attacked her last week. Lights off, eh? That sounds like Julia Hart. Maybe it’s someone that wants Merecedes to think it’s Julia? Either way, there’s a price to pay when you mess with Mercedes Mone.
Willow is shown on the tron, being tended to by officials as she was jumped in the back. Adam Copeland is here for his match, but the lights go out and Brody King attacks him from behind. King beats Copeland all over the ringside area and then gets crushed with a crossbody block into the LED board!
Match #1. Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. Brody King & Julia Hart
Referee Aubrey Edwards begrudgingly starts the match… and here we go. King beats on Copeland as we go to PIP almost immediately. Catapult under the bottom rope by King. King sets up Copeland on the top rope but Copeland throws him off and comes off with a flying clothesline. Running big boot in the corner by Copeland and the Impaler DDT! Copeland gets the two count. Flipping neckbreaker by Copeland and he’s looking for the spear! King catches him with a huge lariat and Julia loves it. King sets up Copeland in the corner and CANNONBALLLLL but Copeland moves! Julia tries to help King up and here’s Willow with her shoulder bandaged up. King tries a powerbomb but Willow tags the boot. Crossbody by Willow to King and a spear by Copeland! Willow with a huge cannonball in the corner to King! Julia slinks in the ring and cracks Willow in the side of the head with the chain. Copeland takes Ming over the top with a clothesline but Hartless is locked in and Willow is out.
Winners: Brody King & Julia Hart
Rating: **1/4. More of an angle than a match but it definitely did it’s job and Copeland is just in there having fun with everyone. Crowd was hot for it and a perfect lead-in to the PPV this weekend.
Merecedes makes the save after the match, chair in hand. Mercedes and Willow stare each other down as Hart and King head to the back.
Renee is in the back with Samoa Joe. Joe used to view Swerve as a worth adversary, but now he’s more of a nuisance. Swerve is someone that keeps standing up when he gets knocked down, and he’s more of a punching bag than a champion. Unfortunately, Swerve is a choke artist but at Dynasty, Joe is going to choke him out instead.
A video package for the Bucks vs. FTR is, well, starting to be shown but the Bucks are with TK and Okada in the back and they decide to cut the package, and get right to the match.
Match #2. Trios Match: The Elite vs. Pac, Penta el Zero Miedo, & Daniel Garcia
Pac starts and it’s a moonsault/leg drop combo by Pac and Penta to Matt Enziguiri to Matthew on the apron but Okada blindsides Penta. Garcia gets the tag and it’s a big clothesline in the corner to Matthew and mounted punches… before humping the face in the corner. Okada trips Garcia up but Garcia fights off Nicholas and Okada on the outside. PK off the apron by Matthew. The Elite are in control throughout the break as Nicholas hits a running knee in the corner. Apparently Matthew has taken the microphone and he’s doing PBP for the match on the outside. Matthew gets in the ring and gets back suplexed by Garcia. Pac makes the hot tag and cleans house with flying back elbows. German suplex to Matthew. To Nicholas. Double dropkick off the top by Pac. Orihara moonsault to the floor by Pac to the Bucks, as he calls Okada in the ring. Nicholas attacks from behind and it’s the triple team superkick/dropkick in the corner by the Elite. Air Raid Crash neckbreaker by Okada gets two. Penta gets the hot tag and a big crossbody to Okada. Slingblade to Matthew. To Nicholas. Made in Japan to Okada! One, two, no! Nicholas breaks it up. Cazedora by Penta into a double Northern Lights by the Bucks. Superkick to Nicholas. Neckbreaker by Garcia. Outside-in cutter by Pac to Matthew. Pac and Okada now trade heavy elbows in the middle of the ring. Pac drills Okada with a superkick before heading up top but Matthews trips the legs out and Pac lands hard. Garcia gets the hot tag and fires some elbows into Okada but eats a dropkick. Garcia escapes a tombstones and jackknifes Okada for two. NOW the tombstone by Okada to Garcia. Tombstone to Penta! Okada looks for the Rainmaker, but it’s a double superkick by the Bucks first, and THEN the Rainmaker! One, two, three.
Winners: The Elite
Rating: ***1/4. Crowd made this one even better than it was. Really just another showcase for The Elite here, but Pac and company did get some good offense in.
BTE Trigger to Garcia after the match. Now the Bucks get a ladder, and body slam Garcia on it. The Bucks put Garcia in the ladder and close it as Nicholas goes up top, but Pac makes the save with the hammer!
Chris Jericho joins Taz and Hook in the ring. Jericho thanks Taz for trying to facilitate this, but Shibata was collateral damage last week. Jericho says he’s helped everyone in AEW and lists Moxley, MJF, Ospreay, etc. Jericho says he wants he and Hook to get to the top of wizard mountain together, so they can both breathe the rarified air together. Are ya ready to sit under the brilliant branches of the learning tree, Hook?
“No.”
The crowd chants for Hook as Jericho pleads with Hook. Hook says he doesn’t need Jericho’s help.
“Dude. Don’t be stupid.”
Taz intervenes and Jericho tells him to back off. Jericho says he’s doing what Taz should have done 30 years ago, and Taz once again intervenes, but Jericho makes him stop. Jericho says Hook isn’t as good as he thinks he is, despite his father telling him all these years that he is. Jericho shoves Taz to the ground and Hook backs him in to the corner, before demanding him he leaves the ring.
Swerve is with Renee. Swerve wants to know if Renee thinks he’s a choke artist? Renee says she doesn’t. Swerve lists all of the things that he’s gone through the last few months and brings up his military upbringing. Renee wants to know what makes Swerve so confident he can beat Joe? Swerve stands up and decides he’ll tell Joe himself, later tonight.
Match #3. Mariah May w/ Toni Storm & Luther vs. Deonna Purrazzo
May escapes an armbar and rolls to the outside. Deonna follows but eats a rolling elbow on the floor. Hangman’s neckbreaker over the middle rope by May, before setting Deonna up on the top rope and knocking her to the floor. May in control throughout the PIP but she runs into a big boot in the corner. Deonna drops a knee on the arm of May and follows up with a single-arm DDT. Both women now trade elbows in the middle of the ring but May charges with a hard forearm of her own. Deonna ducks a clothesline and takes her over by the neck, right into a Fujiwara armbar. May gets to the ropes before Deonna locks in the Venus de Milo. Pump kick by Deonna! Two count. Deonna wants a powerbomb but May escapes and follows up with a upkick and a huge headbutt. Running hip attack in the corner by May! Tornado DDT by May. Two count. May wants MayDay but Deonna counters into a sunset flip for the win!
Winner: Deonna Purrazzo
Rating: ***. This was real good stuff here. The PIP in the middle of the match kind of slowed it down, but both women looked great and I’d love to see a heck of a lot more of this.
Toni Storm jumps Deonna immediately after the match but Thunder Rosa lays out poor Luther at about 50mph and makes the save in the ring. Deonna takes issue with Rosa but May pulls her to the outside.
Renee is with the Bang Bang Scissor Gang in the back. White says they’ve been having a blast the last couple of months. New fans, new friends, new catchphrases, etc. Also, Papa Blade > Daddy Ass, apparently. Surprise surprise, it’s about the gold. Bang Bang Scissor Gang vs. The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass at Dynasty, ROH Six Man titles vs. AEW Trios titles. Winner takes all.
Match #4. Shane Taylor w/ Anthony Ogogo & Lee Moriarty vs. Orange Cassidy
Taylor tells his friends he’s got this, so Cassidy goes hands in pockets. Shotgun dropkick by Cassidy but Taylor blocks the Satellite DDT. Delayed vertical suplex by Cassidy but he drops him on the top rope and it’s a Tower of London variation! Cassidy gets rolled to the outside and then beat on by Ogogo and Moriarty. Taylor ties Cassidy’s hands in his pocket over the ropes and lays in some hard chops. Taylor stays in control through PIP and drops the big leg on Cassidy on the apron! Cassidy tries to fight back and bounces Cassidy’s head off the top turnbuckle. Cassidy heads up top but has to kick Ogogo and Moriarty off, giving Taylor enough time to grab him by the throat. Cassidy fights out finally and hits Stundog Millionaire! Suicide dive to Moriarty. Suicide dive to Ogogo! Cassidy misses an Orange Punch and gets dropped with a lariat. Taylor looking for the Package Piledrive but almost counters with Beach Break. Big elbow by Taylor! Orange Punch by Cassidy! One, two, three!
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Rating: **3/4. Love seeing Shane Taylor get a chance to shine on AEW, and Shane Taylor Promotions is getting serious.
The rest of Shane Taylor Promotions hit the ring and Cassidy gets crumpled with a liver shot. Taylor says it’s not going to end like that but here’s Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal to make the same, but no, they get blasted by Trent and a chair on the ramp! F U Trent chants ring out through the arena. BIG right hand by Taylor back inside the ring as Trent watches on!
A video package of Roderick Strong attacking Kyle O’Reilly is shown.
Match #5. Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Don Callis joins commentary. European uppercut off the bat by Claudio gets two. Ospreay escapes a Ricola Bomb but connects with a big backbreaker. Two count. Hurricana off the middle rope by Ospreay and he feigns a dive, but Claudio walks away. Ospreay rolls to the outside and chops Claudio, but Claudio responds in kind. Ospreay leaps over the LED board and springboards back to Claudio with a forearm. Back in the ring, Ospreay looks for another springboard but Claudio sweeps out the logs and double stomps him in the chest. Backbreaker by Claudio and he holds on for a stretch. Forearms by Ospreay and Claudio goes to the kidneys, following up on the backbreakers. Deja Vu by Ospreay and Claudio rolls to the outside. Plancha by Ospreay but Claudio catches him and delivers a backbreaker on the apron! Running European uppercut to the back of Ospreay. Handspring kick by Ospreay! Springboard forearm by Ospreay! Two count. European uppercut by Claudio. Claudio looks for a second but Ospreay with a back slide for two. Ospreay looks for the Sharpshooter but Claudio reverses into one of his own, before transitioning to a crossface. Ospreay makes it to the ropes. Claudio tries a double jump European uppercut but Ospreay counters with a superkick! Tiger Driver by Ospreay gets two. Kawada kicks by Ospreay but Claudio backs him into the corner. Claudio pokes the eyes behind the referee’s back and delivers about a dozen European uppercuts. Short-arm clothesline by Claudio gets two. Enziguiri by Ospreay. Claudio hits the ropes and walks into a Stormbreaker, but Claudio flips out and DRILLS Ospreay with a European uppercut. Ricola Bomb attempt but Ospreay cradles for two. Oscutter attempt and Claudio catches Ospreay on his back… BURNING HAMMER. ONE. TWO. 2.999. Claudio hits the ropes but Ospreay counters with a Spanish Fly for two. Ospreay takes the elbow pad off and calls for Hidden Blade but Claudio pops him up into a European uppercut! 2.9999999. Giant Swing! Ospreay crawls up Claudio on the Big Swing and DDT’s Claudio. Spiral Tap off the top by Ospreay! Long two count. HIDDEN BLADE FOR THE WIN!
Winner: Will Ospreay
Rating: ****1/4. Yeah, this absolutely ruled. Just as expected. I wish they had more time but I would assume the match started later than they wanted it to. Two guys who can do no wrong in the ring right now and unsurprisingly, had excellent chemistry. Claudio worked over the back the entire time but just couldn’t put Ospreay away.
The Don Callis Family attacks Claudio after the bell, well, everyone except Ospreay, who clearly isn’t happy.. Takeshita wants to brainbuster Claudio on the ramp but “Wild Thing” is here! Moxley goes at Hobbs and dumps Takeshita and Fletcher. Claudio continues the fight on the floor as the Don Callis Family retreat.
Who’s House? Swerve saw the fear in Joe’s eyes as he held up his championship. Swerve knows his going to beat Joe, and he’s hanging with the people of Indianapolis, but he wants to tell Joe to his face. “Bring that big ass out here.”
Joe is being held back by security at ringside but Swerve DIVES OFF THE TOP ROPE AND STOMPS ON THE DUDES. WOW. Swerve and Joe face off and the battle begins! Joe throws Swerve into the steps and Swerve is hurt, causing Prince Nana to check on him. Joe shifts his focus to Nana but Swerve blasts him with a boot to the face. Housecall by Swerve! Swerve heads up top for the Stomp but Joe swipes the feet out and headbutts him on the top rope. MUSCLE BUSTER!
Final Thoughts: Really strong go-home show for Dynasty. Joe and Swerve kicked their feud up a notch, as did Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa. It’s great to have Moxley back, and the Don Callis Family vs. Blackpool Combat Club thread carried throughout the show. Started hot tonight with Copeland and company, and closed the same, with Ospreay and Claudio followed by the title picture. Good stuff tonight and a strong build for Dynasty. 8.25/10.