AEW Dynamite live results: Chris Jericho vs. Keith Lee
Chris Jericho takes on Keith Lee on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
Lee issued a challenge to Jericho in a backstage segment on last week’s Dynamite, and Jericho vs. Lee was later officially announced for tonight. The bout will be Lee’s first singles match since last October.
Two title matches will also take place tonight.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will defend his title against Buddy Matthews of House of Black.
In the other title bout, Powerhouse Hobbs puts the TNT title on the line in an open challenge against Silas Young.
Swerve Strickland will face Darby Allin in the evening’s other featured singles bout.
In tag team action, Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli face Michael Nakazawa and Brandon Cutler of The Elite.
Riho and Skye Blue will team against Toni Storm and Ruby Soho of The Outcasts.
World Champion MJF will also appear on the program.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz, as they go right to the entrances for our opening contest.
Darby Allin defeated Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana & Brian Cage)
(This was an excellent opener with Allin getting a hard fought win, similar to the other pillars in recent weeks in their quest to get the next AEW World Title shot. Strickland and Allin always have great chemistry whenever they fight and this was no different.)
Strickland came out with Prince Nana & Brian Cage after joining Mogul Affiliates with The Embassy last Friday on Rampage. Allin wasted no time with a float over stunner and low tope outside, as Strickland avoided a Coffin Drop, but not a somersault senton to the floor by Allin. Strickland fought back, but as he balanced on the guard rail, Allin knocked him off and hit a charge. Allin tried offense off the steel steps, but got his feet swept from under him, as Strickland pulled the belt off Allin and whipped him with it while Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo were watching backstage. Allin shot a double leg, but Strickland responded with a spin knee to the face for two, busting open Allin’s mouth. Allin fought and bit his way back into it, but ate a thrust kick on the apron and slingshot double stomp to the floor, which Strickland might have tweaked his ankle in the process.
During break, Strickland worked over Allin’s back and ribs, including a torture rack back breaker. Strickland got hung up in the ropes, as Allin took off his boot and bit at Strickland’s foot. Allin hooked a knee bar, but Strickland rolled through and we got a slug fest until Strickland blocked a Coffin splash into a German suplex. Strickland tried a brainbuster, but Allin countered into a Scorpion Death Drop in mid air and went right back to the knee bar, as Jungle Boy Jack Perry was watching backstage as well. Both men fought on the apron where Allin hit an incredible Poison Rana to the floor. Allin hit a Coffin Drop in the ring, but Prince Nana put Strickland’s foot on the rope.
Allin stalked Nana up the ramp until Brian Cage emerged as Allin thought better, went back to the ring and ate a Strickland House Call kick and double stomp off the top for a close two. Cage tripped up Allin long enough for Strickland to attempt to use a chair, but thought better, as the ref was staring right at him. Strickland rolled right in to a Code Red for two, but Allin hooked The Last Supper for the pin. Right as Allin got the pin, MJF’s music hit and the AEW World Champion walked to the stage, microphone in hand, as we went to commercial.
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MJF, Darby Allin & Sting Confrontation
(This was an entertaining segment with Allin cutting a really good promo on why he wants to be the one to unseat MJF as champion. The involvement of Sting I really enjoyed too, as it gave Allin the rub, while mentioning how his own career is winding down.)
MJF ran down the crowd, calling them Mid-waukee, as he congratulated Allin on his win without Sting’s help. MJF said their match at Full Gear 2021 was one of the best in AEW history and MJF beat him with a headlock takeover. Allin isn’t on the level of the Devil. Allin asks if MJF is happy, as six years ago they wrestled in front of 30 people and MJF was miserable then and he’s miserable now. Allin said he was miserable, but sought out therapy, it helped him and he used money from AEW to buy his parents a house. Sting isn’t his father; he’s one of his best friends and said this is just MJF’s 15 minutes. Allin got in MJF’s face and said if he has more to say, keep talking, as MJF called him an arrogant little boy. MJF is sick of the morals of Allin, Jungle Boy and Guevara, as morals kill careers in this sport. MJF says Allin thinks he’s a daredevil, when he’s actually a coward, while MJF couldn’t care less if he’s on his death bed alone, as he’s willing to do whatever it takes to leave a legacy. MJF’s legacy will be greatest champion of all time, while Allin’s will be simply Sting’s bitch.
Sting’s music hit and he came to the ring to a huge ovation. Sting said he doesn’t view himself as a daddy day care kind of guy, but more of a cheerleader. Sting took out pom poms from his jacket and talked about Cody Day Care, as Cody was a cheerleader for MJF just like Sting is for Allin, just like Ric Flair was for Sting as he started his career. Sting talked about The Crow, Wolfpack and Joker days and said he doesn’t have a thirst for the World Title anymore, as Showtime is almost over for Sting, but just starting for Allin. Sting told MJF that Darby Allin will become AEW World Champion mark his words. Allin said he’s the one to end MJF’s reign of terror, as MJF spat in his face and bailed.
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Powerhouse Hobbs (w/The QTV Crew) defeated Silas Young to retain the TNT Title
(The hometown boy Young got mowed down, as the bigger story was the big return of Wardlow, who made a statement in wiping out one of Hobbs’ crew.)
We saw an insert of Hobbs pulling up to the arena in the car gifted to him by QT Marshall last week. Hobbs mowed down Young with a spinebuster and followed with the Town Bidness for the quick victory. Poor Silas Young never got out of the gate.
Post match, Hobbs & Marshall dragged Young up the ramp until we saw Wardlow walk up to the car in the parking lot. Wardlow smashed the windows, scratched it up, destroying it before turning and looking at a fork lift, which he drove through the window. Wardlow tipped the car completely over, smirked and walked away, as an angered Hobbs was about to powerbomb Young off the ramp through a table when Wardlow ran out and the brawl started. Wrestlers, referees and agents tried to separate them with Aaron Solo piggybacking Wardlow, only to get powerbombed off the stage through tables for his troubles.
-A video package about Bullet Club is shown with Switchblade Jay White & Juice Robinson saying they were the best of the bunch, calling themselves the Bang Bang Gang. Robinson asked Ricky Starks how the Blade Runner felt last week, as White said he’s here to claim what is rightfully his, as this is only the beginning, this is Bullet Club Gold.
Orange Cassidy defeated Buddy Matthews (w/Julia Hart) to retain the AEW International Title
(I thought the story these two told over the course of this match was great. Cassidy was fighting from behind almost immediately with his injured hand, but managed to fight through the pain and retain his title yet again. Commentary really drove home how Cassidy has had to come up with different ways to defend the title.)
Cassidy used the speed early with a tilt a whirl head scissors, but as he tried for a dive, Matthews quickly cut him off. Cassidy put the hands in his pockets, dropkicked Matthews to the floor and hit a dive, but Matthews caught a cross body off the top back inside. Cassidy countered into the Satellite DDT and Orange Punch, but Cassidy’s hand is taped up, so he couldn’t follow up as doctors checked on him. As Cassidy took off the tape of his hand, Matthews stomped on it and took over during commercial.
Matthews blocked a Satellite DDT, but Cassidy fought back by driving Matthews repeatedly into the corner buckles. Both men traded superkicks on the apron, as Matthews again blocked a DDT, this time responding with a pump knee. Matthews wanted a Destroyer, but Cassidy countered into Beach Break on the apron. Both men beat the count at nine and started a forearm battle back in the ring. Matthews went back to the bad hand, but tried to mock the little kicks and opted to knee Cassidy flush in the face. Cassidy fought back with a Stundog Millionaire and Superman forearm. Cassidy tried a superplex, Matthews reversed, but Cassidy countered into a massive avalanche DDT. Cassidy hit a diving DDT on the floor and leaping DDT off the top inside for two.
Cassidy tried the Orange Punch; Matthews hit a pump knee, attempted Murphy’s Law, only for Cassidy to get the Orange Punch for a near fall. Matthews dared Cassidy to punch him, as he suckered Cassidy in with a pump knee, while Cassidy dared Matthews this time. Matthews blocked the Orange Punch with a Curb Stomp for two, tried Murphy’s Law, but Cassidy got the Mouse Trap for the flash pin.
-We see a quick vignette for Christian Cage and Luchasaurus as Cage said some things have changed. Luchasaurus had new gear during this.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Best Friends and Orange Cassidy, as Trent said that Cassidy was fine and will continue to defend the title. Trent said he & Chuck are a little jealous, so they challenge Aussie Open to defend their IWGP Tag Team Titles on Rampage this Friday.
-Ethan Page is in the ring and talked about the rough patches The Firm have been going through in recent weeks. Page demands to know why Matt Hardy hit him with the FTW Title last week and demands to know what Hardy put in the contract. Hardy & Isiah Kassidy came out and said Page should’ve read the fine print. Hardy said he manipulated Page, as the contract said if HOOK beat Page, then Hardy & Private Party are no longer under dominion of The Firm. Hardy said they also get to pick a match and stipulation that if they win, they’ll no longer be in The Firm. Hardy absolutely contradicted himself here, as I have no idea if Hardy & Private Party are actually free from The Firm or whether they have to win a match for it to happen.
Page said there’s more than just Page in The Firm, as Big Bill & Lee Moriarty attacked from behind until HOOK made the save. The numbers were too much, as The Firm put the boots to Hardy, Kassidy & HOOK until Jeff Hardy’s music hit and he sprinted to the ring with a chair. Bill & Page were sent outside; as Moriarty ate a Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb flush as The Hardys hugged to a huge ovation.
-Kenny Omega has comments from his home about the attack from the Blackpool Combat Club in recent weeks. Omega thanks the doctors for helping them out and said he understands why the BCC did what they did; they wanted to make the headlines. Omega said what he takes personal is what they did to Don Callis. While Callis might not be all that likeable, Omega still calls him family. This isn’t blood for blood, whenever Omega sees them next, it’ll be much worse.
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Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli (w/Wheeler Yuta) defeated Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa
(Credit to Nakazawa & Cutler, who put up much more of a fight than you’d expect, with the visual of Cutler bleeding through his face mask pretty great. The return of The Elite was the bigger story, as the reign of brutality from the Blackpool Combat Club seem to have hit a speed bump. It should be noted, no Bryan Danielson here tonight with his crew.)
Moxley & Castagnoli blindsided their opponents as Moxley drove a chair into the neck of Cutler, while Nakazawa was driven repeatedly into the apron and bloodied in the process. Rick Knox just started the match as Nakazawa crawled in the ring and threw as many forearms as he could before Castanoli steamrolled him with a clothesline and then the Giant Swing. Castagnoli got the Sharpshooter applied, as a bloodied Cutler rolled in the ring and tried to break it up. Nakazawa backdropped free from a piledriver, as Cutler made as hot of tag as he could before Moxley bit at the face. A King Kong lariat connected followed by Death Rider as Moxley & Castagnoli brutally beat down Nakazawa & Cutler until Rick Knox called for the bell.
Moxley took the mic and said The Elite & Don Callis had glass jaws until Kenny Omega’s music hit and he walked out from the back. With the BCC attention turned, The Young Bucks ran in from behind and we had a huge brawl. The Young Bucks laid out Moxley with the BTE Trigger as Omega slid in a toolbox and was about to clock Moxley until Matt Jackson stopped him and gave Omega a screwdriver. Moxley spit in Matt’s face and dared Omega to do it as Castagnoli pulled him free and the BCC retreated through the crowd.
-Tony Schiavone is backstage with Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage & Prince Nana who said Darby Allin’s success is a testament to everything Strickland taught him Mogul Embassy isn’t done growing, it’s getting bigger day by day, as they aren’t done yet tonight, there’s some scores to settle.
Toni Storm & Ruby Soho (w/Saraya) defeated Riho & Skye Blue
(This was the match of the week to suffer from picture in picture, as most of this was during break. Blue & Riho put up a good fight, but Soho and especially Storm have been racking up wins lately.)
Soho & Storm attacked at the bell, as Blue fought back with a head scissors and low enzugiri on Storm. Soho & Riho both entered and Soho was quickly sent outside as Riho used Blue for the assisted cross body to the floor. The tide turned during commercial as Soho & Storm kept Riho isolated before Riho countered Destination Unknown into a roll up for two. Blue made the tag and ran wild briefly, but didn’t see the Storm blind tag. Storm missed her hip attack in the ropes, as Blue fought off all three members of The Outcasts while on the apron and hit a top rope cross body back inside on Storm for two.
The match briefly broke down with Riho hitting a cazadora double stomp on Soho, but ate a Storm thrust kick. Riho had Soho in a crucifix, with Blue hitting a thrust kick of her own. Riho was sent outside by Storm, who hit a German Suplex, Sweet Cheek Music and Storm Zero in succession on Blue to get the victory. Post match, Riho continued to fight, but was beaten down by The Outcasts, who spray painted an L on Riho before dropping her with a triple powerbomb.
Jamie Hayter sprinted to the ring a little too late, as she was swarmed, only for Britt Baker to hit the ring and lay out Soho & Storm on the ramp. A slugfest ensued between Baker & Saraya before Baker went for a Curb Stomp, but Saraya was pulled to safety by Storm & Soho.
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Chris Jericho (w/Daniel Garcia) defeated Keith Lee
(Aside from a 14 second squash of Serpentico on an episode of Rampage, this was Keith Lee’s first singles match for AEW in almost a year. I wanted to like this match more, but the constant interference from Garcia and the finish took away from it really clicking. The post match was a nice continuation of a few weeks ago with Jericho & Cole starting up their program.)
Jericho tried a shoulder tackle early and it resulted in Lee no selling, kissing Jericho on top of his head. An embarrassed Jericho charged, ate more punches, but avoided the huge double hand chop. It might have worked the first time, but not the second, as Lee hit his chop and charging corner splash. Lee went to the ropes, but Garcia distracted the ref long enough for Jericho to connect with his springboard corner dropkick.
Jericho controlled the action during the entire commercial, getting his revenge with chops of his own and dropkick off the second rope. The Lionsault connected, but Lee launched Jericho off of him during the cover. Lee was tripped up by Garcia long enough to distract him, as Lee & Jericho seemed to be on different pages momentarily before Jericho was Pounced across the ring. Lee took a long time to follow up, tried a moonsault, but Jericho got the knees up. In doing so, Jericho hurt his own knees and was press slammed by Lee for two. Jericho got an eye rake and locked in the Walls of Jericho, but Lee powered out.
Lee clocked Jericho with an overhand chop and beal, but as he tried for the finish, Jericho grabbed referee Aubrey long enough for Garcia to get him free from the hold. Lee dumped in Garcia, who ate a double clothesline with Jericho. Lee powered out of a Code Breaker attempt and countered into a massive powerbomb. Garcia again took the ref for about the fifth time before a masked Swerve Strickland clobbered Lee in the head with an object. Jericho draped an arm over Lee and got the tainted victory.
Post match, Adam Cole’s music hit immediately as he walked down to check on Keith Lee ringside. This is exactly what Jericho did for Garcia a few weeks ago, except this time; Cole gave a side glance at Jericho, who was furious his thunder was stolen to end the show.
AEW Rampage 4/14/23
· Jungle Boy Jack Perry faces Shawn Spears
· Aussie Open defend the IWGP Tag Team Titles against Best Friends
· We hear from the new AEW Tag Team Champions FTR
· Taya Valkyrie takes on Emi Sakura
· Mark Briscoe, Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh in action
· We’ll hear from Matt Menard & Angelo Parker
AEW Dynamite 4/19/23
· AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker vs. Toni Storm & Ruby Soho
· Powerhouse Hobbs defends the TNT Title against Wardlow