It might be Wrestlemania week but AEW has three big shows this week, and a ROH PPV:
- Bryan Danielson vs. Lance Archer
- Thunder Rosa vs. Mariah May
- Billy Gunn vs. Jay White
- Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Will Ospreay
- AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament: Young Bucks vs. Best Friends
AEW Dynamite 4/3/24
Live from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts! Taz, Tony Schiavone, and Excalibur welcome the “Rated R Superstar!”
Copeland says you’re a fan of pro wrestling, and it’s a great time to be a fan. Copeland grew up watching WWF, and that’s no reason to boo, it’s to celebrate all of it. Copeland watched NWA, Stampede Wrestling, BC All Star Wrestling, all because he loves pro wrestling. Nine years it was torn away from him and he worked to get it back. Copeland says AEW is where he needs to end his career, and a lot of people don’t understand it, but he sees a murderer’s row of talent. AEW’s locker room can go up against anyone’s. Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hangman, Swerve, Joe, Claudio, Moxley, Darby, FTR, Bucks, Buddy Matthews, Brody King, and Malakai Black… Copeland can face them all. Copeland isn’t knocking anywhere else, but this is the most fun he’s had in his entire 30 year career. Copeland celebrates AEW as the fan’s support him. The Bucks, Kenny, Cody, and Tony Khan should be celebrated because they are fans, and that’s not something to make fun of. AEW has pushed pro wrestling into a better place and that should be celebrated. AEW makes pro wrestling better. AEW makes pro wrestling more fun. AEW is where the best… wrestle. Copeland welcomes the man that will blaze the trail for AEW going forward, and here’s “The Ariel Assassin” Will Ospreay!
Match #1. Will Ospreay vs. Powerhouse Hobs
Don Callis joins the commentary team. Huge shoulder block by Hobbs as he tosses Ospreay all around the ring. Dropkick to the knee by Ospreay and one from a pop-up. Standing moonsault by Ospreay gets a one count. Ospreay clotheslines Hobbs over the top and to the floor before a big plancha connects. Ospreay wants a moonsault off the guardrail but Hobbs catches him in a suplex position and drops him on the steel steps! World’s Strongest Slam on the apron. Two. Three. Four. “You signed him up” screams Hobbs as Ospreay gets tossed onto the commentary table. Hobbs controls Ospreay throughout the commercial break, focusing the attack on the head and neck. Handspring corkscrew kick by Ospreay and both guys are down. Running European uppercut in the corner and a springboard forearm from the apron gets a two count. Kawada kicks by Ospreay but Hobbs eats some chops without an issue. Hard slap by Ospreay but Hobbs grabs a double goozle, drops Ospreay into his hands, and then connects with an overhead belly-to-belly. Stundog Millionaire by Ospreay out of nowhere. Lariat to the back of the neck by Hobbs and a snap powerslam gets two. Hobbs misses a frog splash (what?). Oscutter by Ospreay! Two count. Ospreay wants the Hidden Blade but Hobbs catches him for the World’s Strongest Slam, allowing Ospreay to cradle for two. Hook kick and a superkick by Ospreay but a HARD lariat by Hobbs and both guys are down. Avalanche Powerslam by Hobbs! Long two count. Ospreay counters a powerslam with a big DDT. Sky Twister Press by Ospreay and the Hidden Blade finishes this one. The Sky Twister Press landing was rough and I think Ospreay’s knee caught Hobbs in the face.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Rating: ***3/4. The match capitalized on the energy from Copeland’s promo and never let up. Hobbs looked like the beast he is and Ospreay shined in victory.
After the match, Hobbs gets in Ospreay’s face and Don Callis tries to get between the men. Ospreay heads to the back and Bryan Danielson’s music hits.
Match #2. Bryan Danielson vs. Lance Archer
Archer attacks before the bell and he’s in control early, clubbing Danielson. Hammer throws by Archer and release suplexes send Danielson flying across the ring. Running elbows in the corner by Archer but Danielson scoops a leg and deliver a pair of dragon screw leg whips. Roundhouse kicks to the chest by Danielson before stomping on the back of Archer’s knees. Leg kicks now by Danielson, trying to chop down Archer. Archer dumps Danielson on the floor but Danielson follows up with a suicide dive and gets caught and chokeslammed on the apron! Archer then grabs a security guard and body slams him on top of Danielson. Archer in control as he beats on Danielson throughout the commercial. Danielson tries to chop back and corners Archer with leg kicks, before backflipping over Archer but ultimately getting depleted with a crossbody. Archer goes old school but Danielson shakes the ropes and Archer gets crotched. Running dropkick in the corner by Danielson. Two. A third is caught by Archer but Danielson reverses with a guillotine. Danielson transitions to an omoplata and then eventually the Lebell Lock! Archer finally makes the ropes. Archer rolls outside and Danielson connects with a baseball slide. Running knee off the apron by Danielson and a shotgun dropkick off the top back inside the ring. Archer makes it back to his knees and here come the Yes Kicks! Archer grabs one of the kicks and chokeslams Danielson! Long two count. Archer is thinking Blackout but Danielson counters with 12-6 elbows from the top rope. Archer stumbles but responds with a big knee strike. Blackout attempt again but Danielson slides down the back and locks in the rear naked choke! Archer flips Danielson over the back but a Busaiku Knee stumbles Archer. High kick by Danielson. Two. Three! Archer is down and the Busaiku Knee finishes this one!
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Rating: ***1/2. Danielson overcoming the odds and size disadvantage here, as Archer shows why he should probably be on TV a lot more.
Renee is here and welcomes “Lionheart” Chris Jericho. Jericho said even though he and Hook had an agreement last week, something Hook said was kind of… odd, and he wanted to clear it up. Hit the Hook signal.
Here’s Hook.
Jericho says when you play the game at the highest of levels, the rules are different. Once Hook understands that, he’ll see what Jericho is trying to teach him. Jericho says he doesn’t have to trust him, but asks if he can believe in him the way he does with Hook. Hook says he believes him, so much so that they have a match coming up on Collision. “Bet.”
Jay White’s music hits but Daddy ass blasts him on the apron before the bell rings! Gunn tosses White into everything at ringside, and then into the first row. Gunn rolls White in the ring and we have the opening bell.
Match #3. Billy Gunn vs. Jay White
White chops Gunn but he just eats it and proceeds to roll outside. Gunn bounces White’s head off the announcer’s table . “Ya got no heart, ya got no toughness, Schiavone. Sit your ass down.” – Taz. The fight spills into the crowd as Excalibur tells us what referee Aubrey Edwards knows how personal this is so she’s relaxing the rules (nice touch). White hides behind security as Gunn finds him and tosses him back to the ringside area. Gunn now beating White all over the ringside area as we go to commercial. Back inside the ring and Gunn misses a charge in the corner and White finally takes advantage. Running back elbow in the corner by White but he hits the ropes and Gunn counters with a tiltawhirl slam. A video is shown on the tron of The Acclaimed laid out in the back… and Billy doens’t seem to care all too much. One & Only by Gunn! Fameasser by Gunn. Make that two. Gunn now heads to the outside to get a chair, but The Gunn Club slides in the ring and blocks White from the chair shot. Low blow by White and the referee throws this one out.
Winner: Billy Gunn
Rating: 1/4*. I don’t need to see 60-year-old Billy Gunn absolutely destroy Jay White for ten minutes and then decide not to pin him on multiple occasions. Awful.
The Acclaimed are here to make the save for Gunn and they do. The brawl spills to the outside where The Gunn Club save White from getting suplexed through the announcer’s table.
Renee is joined by Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Big Stoke on the stage. Willow is feeling motherfluffin great. Willow says she loves this city because for years and years, she was busting her butt in this town (for Beyond Wrestling), with Kris Statlander, at a place called the White Eagle (huge pop). Willow was never sure if she could make it in wrestling, but the cheers from the fans helped her blossom into the woman she is today, the one that is going to be challenging Julia Hart for the TBS Championship. Stokely said last week Willow had a banger, impressing himself and the entire world.
C E O. C E O. C E O.
Mercedes Mone is here. Mone can’t wait to watch Willow at the PPV, but she’s got next.
Match #4. AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament: Best Friends vs. Young Bucks
Sue is here and Orange Cassidy gives her the glasses at ringside, as the fans chant for her. Nicholas sends Trent into the top rope awkwardly and Matt gets the tag. Locomotion Northern Light’s by Matthew. Matthew runs into a Meteora and Trent feigns a plancha. Matthew sweeps the leg out and Trent lands hard, as Cassidy gets double powerbombed on the apron himself! Powerbomb to Trent. Matthew takes the headset and sends us to break. Trent is worked over during the PIP but catches Matthew coming off the top with a Saito suplex. Trent back body drops Matthews and makes the tag. Diving crossbody by Cassidy to Matthew and one to Nicholas. Double hurricanrana is caught and Matthew connects with a DDT. The Bucks corner turnbuckle is exposed now. Enziguiri by Matthew from the apron. Bucks feign BTE Trigger but deliver some Orange kicks. BTE Trigger but Cassidy ducks and the Bucks hit knees. Satellite DDT to both Bucks. Diving DDT from the top! Nicholas sends Trent into Cassidy on the top rope. TK Driver by Best Friends! Two count as Matthew breaks it up. Cassidy goes pocket hands. Soul Food/Hand and Half combo to Nicholas. Strong Zero but Matthew superkicks Trent into a Code Red. Superkick to Orange. Matthew rolls outside and superkicks Chuck and thinks about hitting Sue, but Sue slaps him. Orange Punch to Matthew and one to Nicholas on the outside. Stomp/Strong Zero combo but Nicholas breaks it up. Suicide dive by Cassidy and Trent is the only one standing after a kiss on the cheek from Sue! Matthew catapults Trent into the exposed turnbuckle and cradles him for the win.
Winners: Young Bucks
Rating: ***1/4. Good tag team match here between four guys that are pretty familiar with each other.
Best Friends are inside the ring and clearly not happy. Cassidy picks up Trent but Trent looks heated. Three-way hug but Trent hits the Sexy Chucky Knee on Cassidy! Trent walks down the ramp, right past his mom.
Match #5. AEW Women’s World Championship Number One Contender’s Match: Thunder Rosa vs. Mariah May
Toni Storm joins the commentary table. Hard strikes by Rosa to start but May counters and corners her. Running hip attack in the corner and a stalling shotgun dropkick by May! Two count. Spinning sidewalk slam by May but Rosa may have countered that with a head scissors. Running elbow to the back of May and a running dropkick through the ropes by Rosa! Rosa wants a Death Valley Driver on the apron but May counters, and Rosa reverses with a hurricanrana . Diving crossbody against the barricade by Rosa. Back in the ring after a commercial break, we’re seeing both women deliver some heavy elbows and a big German suplex by Storm. “You know who Thunder Rosa reminds me of? An older Thunder Rosa” – Toni Storm. Saito suplex by Rosa and a back elbow. Rosa misses a diving double stomp and May hits a shotgun dropkick. Rosa counters MayDay with a roll up for two. Headbutt by May drops Rosa. May looks for MayDay but Rosa counters with a Backstabber. Tijuana Bomb and this one is over.
Winner: Thunder Rosa
Rating: **1/2. Thunder Rosa is your new number one contender and frankly, I’m just glad that the rankings system has been updated. Despite a few awkward moments here, the match was solid and I can’t wait to see what’s next for May.
Penta el Zero Miedo challenges Adam Copeland in the Cope Open!
Tony Schiavone welcomes Swerve and Samoa Joe to the ring for the contract signing. Joe signs without issue as the fans chant for Swerve. Joe says he understands where Swerve came from and he gets it. From the blood feud with Page to his title opportunities, everyone wants to celebrate a new champion. Joe’s about to tell this match the truth. Signing this contract is a big mistake. A career-defining mistake. Joe said he’s going to beat down Swerve so severely it’s going to leave him mentally scarred like he left Diddy’s party too late. Wow. Joe tells Swerve to do the right thing. Swerve says his whole life has lead him here, and AEW itself is building a Dynasty. Swerve says that championship is bigger than the both of them. Joe’s the definition of a killer, but so is Swerve. At Dynasty, Swerve will show Joe he’s every bit of THAT MAN. Now run the fade on that, bitch!
Joe swings at Swerve but Swerve drops him with a huge right hand. Swerve tries to choke Joe with the chain but Joe headbutts him! Joe wraps the chain around his wrist and absolutely destroys Swerve with it! Swerve is busted wide open in the corner Joe leaves to the back as Swerve laughs in the ring. Swerve takes the mic, “Hey Joe, I love this s!” If that’s all that Joe’s got, Swerve is taking the championship from him. Swerve signs the contract in his own blood and Joe speeds down to the ring, kicks Swerve low, and uranages him through the table!
Final Thoughts: Really a very strong episode of Dynamite tonight. Copeland delivered a hell of a promo to open the show and the entire first hour flew by. Ospreay and Danielson looked great heading into their match at Dynasty. The stuff with Joe and Swerve, also great. The intensity by both guys brought a sense of realism and they’ve still got two weeks. Don’t even get me started on the Jay White stuff, however. Although a heel turn from Trent and a focus on both women’s titles helped me forget The Acclaimed chicanery. 7.5/10.