AEW Dynamite live results: Fight for the Fallen
AEW holds their annual Fight for the Fallen episode of Dynamite tonight in Nashville, Tennessee.
International Champion Orange Cassidy defends his title against Wheeler Yuta of the Blackpool Combat Club.
Jeff Jarrett faces Jeff Hardy in a Texas Chain Saw Massacre death match, a sponsorship tie-in with a new video game.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. faces The Bunny, with the winner added to the four-way match for the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In.
The Young Bucks will be in tag team action against Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn of Bullet Club Gold.
Darby Allin & Nick Wayne will also be in tag team action, facing ROH’s Gates of Agony.
World Champion MJF and his All In challenger Adam Cole will talk about the AllIn main event on the show.
Jim Ross will conduct a sit-down interview with Kenny Omega.
Chris Jericho will give Don Callis his answer regarding joining Callis’ stable.
Proceeds from Fight for the Fallen will be donated to the Maui Food Bank.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Live from Nashville, Tennesee.
Excalibur, Taz and Tony Schiavone are on commentary.
Orange Cassidy defeated Wheeler Yuta to retain the AEW International Title
Slugfest to start, and Cassidy got the advantage. They exchanged suplexes and kicks, and then a double boot put both guys down.
Yuta sent Cassidy to the floor and followed him out with a tope. Cassidy countered a vertical suplex from Yuta, and they fought up the ramp. Yuta gave Cassidy a stiff piledriver on the entrance ramp and referee Bryce Remsberg beckoned Yuta to bring the match back into the ring. Yuta mocked Cassidy’s “high impact” kicks with his hands stuffed in tights, “kicking” Cassidy down the ramp. When Yuta finally brought the fight back in the ring, Cassidy stunned him with the Beach Break for a near fall.
During the split-screen break, Yuta worked over Cassidy’s leg with an Indian Death Lock. After the break, Cassidy started to mount a comeback. He went to the top rope, but Yuta cut him off with a kick and dropped Cassidy with a top rope superplex. Then Yuta hit a top rope splash for a near fall. Yuta went to kick Cassidy’s head in, but Cassidy countered with a cradle for a near fall. Cassidy went for a spinning DDT, but Cassidy’s leg gave out on him. He caught Yuta with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall, then hit the spinning DDT on the second try. The way Cassidy sold the leg was fantastic
As Cassdiy set up the Orange Punch, Jon Moxley and Claudio Castignoli came out from the crowd. Casssidy hit a Paradigm shift and the Orange Punchm but was too beat up to make a cover. Yuta got a near fall with the seatbelt cradle. Cassidy countered a sunset flip attempt with a cradle and got the pinfall to retain.
Immediately after the finish, Moxley and Claudio jumped in the ring to attack Cassidy. The Best Friends tried to make the save, but were completely overwhelmed. The Lucha Bros then danced down to the ring (while Mox and Claudio were beating on The Best Friends) to even the odds. Moxley and Claudio got chairs, but Eddie Kingston’s music hit and he charged the ring to attack Claudio. The Blackpool Combat Club ran, and Kingston grabbed a mic and challenged The Blackpool Combat Club “and anyone they can find” to a STADIUM STAMPEDE MATCH.
JR Interviews Kenny Omega: The interview took place at Daily’s Place, where (as JR notes) Omega won his first World Title. Omega wants to move on away from Callis. Footage was shown of Omega facing Konosuke Takeshita from DDT. Callis interrupted the interview to distract Omega, and Juice Robinson & Jay White jumped Omega. Takeshita jumped him as well and they beat him with pipes and other plunder. This “sent Kenny to the hospital.”
The show then cut to Adam Page, waiting “oustide the hospital in Jacksonville.” Page annoucned that he, Kota Ibushi and Omega will take on Robinson, White and Takeshita at Wembley. Page was then chastised by security for “drinking a beer” outside the “hospital.”
All In is shaping up nicely (and at the last minute).
Jericho Answers Don Callis: Back to the arena, where Callis calls out Chris Jericho to get his answer.
Jericho answers Callis with, “Chris Jericho doesn’t join factions, Chris Jericho creates them.” Jericho initially gives Callis a “Yes!” who was surprised, and wanted to get to the bar to celebrate. But, Jericho noticed a covered picture in the corner. Jericho wants to see the picture, which is a painting of Callis holding Jericho’s severed head. Jericho asked what’s that about? Callis thought Jericho’s ego would allow him to join “the Don Callis Family.” “Who the hell is Don Callis?” Nobody cares about Don Callis, who’s lost his family, lost Kenny Omega, lost his friends, all because Callis is a “a lowlife, a worm, a piece of trash and an a$$hole.” Callis slapped Jericho, and Jericho responded by choking Callis down in the corner. Konosuke Takshita and Will Ospreay ran in to save Callis. Opsreay hit Jericho with the Hidden Blade, then busted him open with a steel chair to the head. Callis then smashed the painting over Jericho’s head. Sammy Guevara ran in to run off Callis and his crew with Jericho’s bat, and got a a brief “Sammy!” chant from the crowd.
Darby Allin & Nicky Wayne defeated The Gates of Agony (6:23)
The Gates attacked Wayne and Allin as they made their entrance. Swerve Strickland and AR Fox made their entrance while The Gates dominated Wayne and Allin on the floor.
Fox and Stirckland watch the match from the ramp. The Gates worked over Nick Wayve during the split-screen break. After the break, Wayne got the hot tag. Allin and Wayne combined for a crucifix bomb/superkick combo for a near fall. The Gates of Agony hit a Demolition-style decapitation elbow for a near fall. Wayne caught Kaun with a springboard cutter. From the same top turnbuckle, Wayne hit Tanga Loa on the floor with a moonsault, and Allin hit Kaun with the Coffin Drop for the pinfall.
After the match, The Mogul Affiliates surrounded the ring, but Sting interrupted from the KhanTron. Sting has kidnapped Prince Nana! Sting told Strickland he needs eyes in the back of his head, and then scared Nana off. “Nana! Nana! Come back! I need someone to talk too.” Sting was crazy (and hilarious) here.
– Adam Cole & MJF had some ideas to get ready for Aussie Open at Zero Hour. MJF took them to Outback Steakhouse, and Adam Cole bought “Crocodile Dundee I and II.” MJF found a video of kangaroos fighting on his phone, and thought they should adopt “the kangaroo kick” as an alternate finisher. They then double-clotheslined an inflatable crocodile, which raised the ire of Tony Khan, who called them into their office to yell at them. “People are trying to work here!”
Adam Cole and MJF then arrived at the arena in MJF’s fancy sports car. MJF headed to the bathroom (some Nashville Hot Chicken did not agree with him), Cole went to the ring, and Roderick Strong showed up to complain after Cole and MJF left. Strong hurt himself kicking MJF”s car.
– MJF and Adam Cole came to the ring to cut a promo. MJF did a little two-step for the crowd. MJF got a “Kangaroo Kick!” chant going, Cole cut a heartfelt promo about his comeback. Nine months ago it looked like Cole would never wrestle again, and now headlining the biggest pro wrestling show of all time, against his best friend and for the world title. Cole needs to win this match and will do “anything” to do it.
MJF told his story about putting 90,000 miles on his truck is 2018, trying to make a name for himself. MJF heard about the first All In, DM’d Cody Rhodes and got his shot. MJF lost the opener that night, but he caught the eye of Tony Khan, who signed MJF to AEW. In five years, MJF has gone from a nobody to one of the best that’s ever wrestled. And now, MJF is back at All In, “the biggest wrestling show of all time” (get ready to hear that a lot over the next few weeks). It means a lot for MJF to main event All In against his best friend and dream opponent, “but it doesn’t mean everything.” The “Triple B” means everything, and winning the main event at All In will make MJF legendary. MJF and Adam Cole then lead the crowd in their catchphrases. Aussie Open jumped Cole and MJF, but they quickly got the upper hand. Mark Davis avoided the double clothesline and saved Kyle Fletcher from the “kangaroo kick.” The crowd chanted “Kangaroo Kick!” MJF taunted Aussie Open, and from behind it looked Cole was setting up a for superkick on MJF. MJF turned around before Cole could nail him. Of course, Cole and MJF hugged it out. These promos were awesome, the crowd ate up everything Cole and MJF did with a spoon, and I was legitmately ready to login to B/R live and buy All In.
– In the back, Renee Paquette interviewed a bloodied Chris Jericho. Jericho v. Ospreay would have happened in the Tokyo Dome in 2021 if not for the pandemic, but it will take a lot more than a pandemic to keep Jericho from Will Ospreay at All In.
Jeff Jarrett defeated Jeff Hardy in a Texas Chainsaw Death Match (10:02)
This match was mess from the jump. Hardy made his ring entrance, then walked through the crowd to the other side of the arena. Hardy was under the concourse and Jarrett jumped Hardy. Karen Jarrett, Matt Hardy, Brother Zay, Sahtnam Singh, and Ethan Page all interfered a minute into the match. They were all fighting in a poorly lit area where you could barely make out what was going on. Matt Hardy dumped something on the Jarretts; I think it was supposed to be blood?
The fighting continued backstage during a long split-screen break.
After the split-screen break, Jeff Hardy jumped off some equipment in the back and hit the pile of wrestlers with a crossbody. They fought out of the backstage area and onto the entrance stage. As everyone fought to the ring, smoke started to come up from underneath the ring. This wound up meaning nothing.
Jarrett was alone with all the babyfaces in the ring, where tables had already been set up in the corners. Jeff Hardy hit a Twist of Fate on Jarrett, who helpfully placed himself on a table on the rebound. Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb through the table, but Jay Lethal made the same. Page and Matt Hardy went for their finishers, but were taking out by low blows from Sonjay Dutt and Karen Jarrett, respectively.
Then, Leatherface came out (to the sounds of a chainsaw playing in the arena) and chased Karen Jarrett away. I thought Letherface and Jarrett were on the same side? Back in the ring, Sahtnam Singh reappeared and chokeslammed Jeff Hardy, then put Jarrett on top for the pin. Jarrett then celebrated with a Leatherface title belt. Taz on commentary: “Well, that was something,” Yeah it was. Not something GOOD. But it was something.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs. The Bunny (w/ Penelope Ford)
Baker wore her ring jacket from the first All In show. They shook hands to start, but that quickly turned into shoves and forearms. Bunny countered a lockjaw attempt with a cradle for a near fall. Bunny hit a clothesline and actually got a reaction from the crowd.
After a split-screen break, Baker hit a double underhook suplex for a near fall. Baker hit a forearm and a spinning neckbreaker for a near fall. After some failed interference from Ford, Baker hit a superkick and a stomp to get the pinfall.
– All In Update: The Stadium Stampede match will be six-on-six. Eddie Kingston, Orange Cassidy, The Best Friends & The Lucha Bros v. Claudio Castignoli, Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta and three as yet unnamed partners.
The Acclaimed vs. Two Enhancement Talents Never Happened
Before the match could start, the lights in the arena went out. When they came back up, the two enhancement talents were replaced with the House of Black. Buddy Murphy and Brody King pounced on the Acclaimed while Malakai Black and Julia Hart watched. Matthews really went after Caster hard, and Caster was busted open with a chain. With the Acclaimed laid out, King presented Billy Gunn’s boots to Malakai Black.
The Young Bucks defeated The Gunn Club (9:26)
The Bucks jumped the Gunns on the entrance stage. They fought to the ring where the match began with Nick and Colton. Quickly, all four men were in the ring. The Bucks are fired up because of Bullet Club attacking Omega earlier..
The Gunns double-teamed Matt through the split-screen break. Colton hit a great looking dropkick on Matt for a near fall. The Gunns clotheslined each other and Nick got the hot tag. Nick hit a superkick on Austin. He followed up with a springboard facebuster on Austin and a standing moonsault to the floor on Colton. Back in the ring. The Bucks set up Austin for the BTE Trigger, but Colton hit a flying clothesline to break it up. Colton broke up a Meltzer Driver attempt. The Gunns hit the 310 to Yuma on Matt. Nick broke up the cover with a double stomp off the top rope.
Austin went for an O’Conner role on Nick, with an assist from his brother, but Matt superkicked Colton. Nick then reversed the rollup, and Matt helped his brother hold down Austin for the three count. This felt pretty clunky at first, but came together pretty well after the break.
After the match, Juice Robinson and Jay White jumped the Bucks after the match. Kenny Omega and Adam Page were “at the hospital in Jacksonville,” so it was 4-on-2. The Bullet Club set up Matt Jackson to Pillmanize Matt’s previously-injured arm, but FTR. The Bullet Club all faced the entrance waiting for FTR, so naturally FTR came through the crowd from the other side to make the save. FTR hit the Shatter Machine on Robinson. Once the Bucks and FTR dispatched the Bullet Club, FTR looked like they were setting up behind Matt Jackson for a Shatter Machine. But when the Bucks turned around, FTR just picked up their title belts instead and stood eye to eye with The Young Bucks. The crowd was more behind FTR as the show ended.
Final Thoughts:
I felt like the show kind of fell apart after the Jarrett match, but the first hour had a couple of great angles that set up some big matches for All In. The Callis/Jericho angle was great, the Elite/Bullet Club angle was great, Kingston’s return (and the announcement of Stadium Stampede) was fantastic. On this night, the out of the ring stuff was stronger than the in ring.