AEW Dynamite live results: Wardlow vs. Hobbs for the TNT title
The TNT Championship is on the line on the first AEW Dynamite after Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view.
After defeating Samoa Joe for the title on Sunday, Wardlow will make the first defense of his second reign against Face of the Revolution ladder match winner Powerhouse Hobbs on tonight’s program.
The All-Atlantic Championship is also on the line tonight, as Orange Cassidy defends against Jay Lethal.
After joining with Saraya and Toni Storm on Sunday, Ruby Soho will be in action against Skye Blue.
In a trios bout, Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Daniel Garcia will face AR Fox and Top Flight’s Dante Martin and Darius Martin.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli will team against Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds and John Silver.
After defeating Moxley in a Texas Death match on Sunday, Hangman Page will speak on tonight’s show. A promo from Ricky Starks has also been advertised.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with a quick highlight video of action from Revolution before Excalibur welcomes us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz.
Orange Cassidy defeated Jay Lethal to retain the AEW All-Atlantic Title
(While you’d assume the first part of this match felt a little slower, it played a huge part in the story told the rest of the match. The second half really picked up and I enjoyed how it came into play for the finish.)
This is the fourth week in a row a Cassidy match opens Dynamite and this week, he had a couple sparks of fireworks for his entrance, which is perfect. Lethal’s crew was prevented from coming down to ringside, as a fast back and forth of counters of big moves led to Cassidy punting the arm out of a Lethal Combination attempt. Both spilled outside, where Lethal was posted and Cassidy tossed into the steps. The crowd is really letting Lethal hear it, as a Fargo Strut led to Cassidy getting his knee posted, with Lethal controlling during break.
While Lethal blocked the Stundog Millionaire and Satellite DDT, Cassidy was able to hit a nice brainbuster and diving DDT out of the corner before getting a second attempt Satellite DDT for two. Cassidy’s leg buckled when going for an Orange Punch, as Lethal locked in a Figure Four. Cassidy got the ropes and both went to the apron for a chop battle. Back inside, Lethal again took out the leg, as the Lethal Combination scored, but top rope elbow missed. Lethal countered Orange Punch into a Cutter for the closest near fall of the match.
Thrust kick to the knee of Cassidy led to Lethal trying a Lethal Injection, but his injured shoulder from earlier in the match had him collapse. Cassidy quickly capitalized and hit an Orange Punch to retain the title. Post match, Jay Lethal tried to attack Cassidy with the Golden Globe, but was held off by the referee. Jeff Jarrett snuck up from behind and hit The Stroke on Cassidy and broke his guitar over the knee. Best Friends made the save, as Jarrett bailed and appears to potentially be the next contender for the All-Atlantic Title.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Powerhouse Hobbs, who said its unfortunate what happened to Wardlow, having his car broken into, his belongings stolen, his TNT title stolen. Tonight, he’s becoming TNT Champion.
Ricky Starks made his way to the ring to a strong ovation. Before he could say what is next for him, the Bullet Club music hit to a huge pop. Starks was attacked from behind by Juice Robinson, who dropped Starks with the Left Hand of God and DDT to stand tall.
**********
-Tony Schiavone is backstage with Wardlow, asking where his head is at after what happened to his car and belongings. Wardlow thanks some friends (FTR) for some clothes, challenges Hobbs to a Falls Count Anywhere, Anything Goes match for their TNT Title main event.
Renee Paquette introduced Ruby Soho to the ring, as she walked out with Toni Storm & Saraya, but told them to stay in the back. Soho was booed loudly and told Paquette the fans created this monster. When she wrestled Britt Baker in her first title match, the fans were thrilled she lost. When she wrestled Kris Statlander in the Owen Hart tournament, she was booed out of the building. Cut to Revolution, Jamie Hayter pinned her and she realized no one will ever come to her defense. Toni Storm & Saraya weren’t appreciated when they came to AEW by the neck bearded, mouth breather fans. The broken foundation of AEW is the entitled little shits, rookies, who think they deserve the world. Soho demanded her opponent, another home grown talent, come to the ring, as Skye Blue ran to the ring and our next match is on.
Ruby Soho defeated Skye Blue
(The promo pre-match was more than the match itself, which mostly happened during commercial break. The friendship of Willow & Ruby is officially over, which, I enjoyed that partnership and it almost became a casualty of this storyline unfortunately.)
Soho immediately sent Blue to the floor and beat her up before heading back in the ring. Blue tried to fight back, but was planted with a back heel trip. During picture in picture, Soho jaw jacked with the crowd while keeping Blue grounded with multiple Saito suplexes. Blue tried to get something going with a knee strike and sliding low enzugiri. Blue connected on a high cross off the top for two. Soho avoided the Code Blue, pulled the hair into Destination Unknown to get the win. Post match, Saraya & Toni Storm hit the ring and they all started to spray paint Blue before Willow Nightingale ran to the ring. She tried to talk sense into Soho, but was attacked from behind by Storm & Saraya. No Future connected by Soho, as they all spray painted both Blue & Nightingale.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Hangman Adam Page, asking how he’s doing. Page said physically he’s been better, but Sunday he let his heart blacken because he had to. If you want to push him, he’ll take you to hell and ride back out. Paquette asks if this means he & Moxley are finally done. Page apologizes to Paquette for what she had to witness, but not to blame him. He said after this past Sunday, he’s finished with Moxley.
**********
-Video of MJF backstage following his title defense at Revolution is shown. He tells people who thought Bryan Danielson was on his level should get their brains checked. MJF has a horn coming out of his forehead, as his back is no longer against the wall; daddy is single in San Francisco. March 15 is his birthday, so he’s going to stroll into Winnipeg and have a party. His reign of terror has just begun.
Tony Schiavone introduced FTR to the ring to a huge standing ovation from the crowd. Wheeler said it’s great to be back, but the last few months were really rough, talking about losing all their titles, but ultimately they lost a close friend in the late Jay Briscoe. Wheeler brings up The Gunns, calls them the future of this division, but are entitled assholes. He’s going to teach them everything Daddy Ass should have. Harwood said he loves the fans and industry so much, as they have to become the AEW Tag Team Champions; they have to do it for the fans, the Briscoes and themselves.
-Renee Paquette is with Jade Cargill & Leila Gray backstage, as Cargill doesn’t feel challenged. She’s 53-0, so next week in Canada, she challenges the best that Canada has to offer to step up next week.
Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara (w/Jake Hager, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker) defeated Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) & AR Fox
(By hook or by crook, this was a much needed win for the Jericho Appreciation Society on their one year anniversary, but the post match was the far bigger story. The House of Black have a new contenders for their titles, as a Triple Threat Trios Title match is on tap for Winnipeg next week.)
A fast start by Fox against Jericho, as he used his speed to send Jericho reeling in the corner. The skin the cat dropkick led to a huge top rope clearing dive by Fox, as Jericho scurried to Guevara for help. Guevara made the tag and Fox was grounded, which allowed all of the Jericho Appreciation Society to hit a group photo pose for the crowd. Garcia tagged in, as Top Flight made quick tags that led to a moonsault to the floor. After a quick distraction by Parker, Garcia was allowed to wipe out Dante with a right hand in mid air. It was all J.A.S. isolating Dante during break.
A monkey flip turned Guevara inside out that allowed Fox to make the hot tag and run wild. A cutter took out Garcia, as a two for one wiped out both Guevara & Jericho. A double springboard cutter connected on Guevara & Garcia as Darius showed off his power with a gut wrench German suplex. Jericho ran into a one man Spanish Fly and awkward looking back flip kick out of the corner for two. After a Dante dive on Garcia, Fox hit an implosion senton to take out Guevara & Parker. Dante countered the Walls of Jericho, but Hager clocked him with Floyd the bat, as Jericho hit a Judas Effect to steal it.
Post match, Angelo Parker called this the biggest trios win in AEW history and to Light the Beam. Matt Menard said this is the one year anniversary of the Jericho Appreciation Society. Garcia calls themselves the number one contenders for the Trios Titles, while Guevara just calls them all sexy. Hager still loves his sexy hat. Jericho calls out House of Black, as the lights went out, but The Elite interrupted instead.
Kenny Omega said for the better part of three years, they’ve stayed out of each others’ lanes. Don Callis interrupted Omega and said The Elite established the Trios Titles, so they are the rightful number one contenders. Callis puts over Jericho as one of the bests, but the second best wrestler from Winnipeg and if Callis had a couple months to train, he’d be the third. Jericho calls them to the ring, but the lights go out and House of Black are on the big screen saying they want the titles, lights go out again, when they come on, House of Black are standing in between both teams and Black says for Jericho to come and get them. The lights went out yet again and House of Black disappeared.
-Tony Khan is backstage and announces that Orange Cassidy has asked for an All-Atlantic Title match against Jeff Jarrett next week and Khan has granted him that match. It’s a milestone match for AEW as being in partnership with Warner Bros and the newest Shazam movie being released, the All-Atlantic Title is now being renamed the AEW International Championship, saying the title is being leveled up. We then got a trailer for the new Shazam movie mixed with clips of Jarrett & Cassidy. This was all weird.
**********
-Bryan Danielson post Iron Man match is shown saying that MJF was right, as Danielson thought his first instinct when he woke up being unconscious was he needed to fight. Danielson, though, realized he couldn’t feel his arm and it dawned on him what Max had said, he wouldn’t be able to play with his kids, he tapped and it made him more ashamed than anything else. He said it’s time to go home.
Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli (w/Wheeler Yuta) defeated Alex Reynolds & John Silver
(The match itself was solid action, but the post match pretty much solidified the Blackpool Combat Club heel turn for the trio, which, they’ve been heeling it up quite a lot, so it’s not shocking. After the promo we just saw from Danielson, there’s really been zero mention of him aligned with this group now, so we’ll see where that goes. As for Dark Order & the BCC, we’re not done quite yet.)
It should be noted that Castagnoli & Yuta didn’t have their ROH Titles with them, as maybe with ROH having their own program now, the titles won’t be on AEW programming anymore potentially. Moxley & Castagnoli attacked immediately, Silver didn’t back down, but was just beaten up with fast tags and offense. Silver finally dropped Castagnoli in the corner face first, as Reynolds tagged in with forearms and a dive to the floor on Moxley. An uppercut in the corner sent Reynolds to the floor where he ate a Moxley lariat that took us to break.
Reynolds remained isolated until Silver made the hot tag with fast offense on Moxley that dropped him with a German suplex. Silver blocked a kick and poured down elbow strikes until Moxley sank in a triangle choke, which Silver countered into a crossface with knees. Silver & Reynolds tried their Wombo Combo, but Moxley cut it off into a rear naked on Reynolds. He transitioned into a Darce choke to get the submission.
Post match, Moxley again sank in the rear naked choke, as Castagnoli backed off referee Rick Knox before gut wrenching Silver to the floor. A bulldog choke on Reynolds by Moxley led to Evil Uno hitting the ring, but Castagnoli ordered Yuta to get in and stop him, as he obeyed the orders. Hangman Page rushed to the ring to check on his friends, but was attacked by Moxley, Castagnoli & Yuta. Referees hit the ring to separate everyone.
**********
-Renee Paquette asks The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass what’s next for them, as Bowens said the Tag Team titles are next, which brought in Matt Menard & Angelo Parker who said they love rap music. They said The Acclaimed are sports entertainers at heart, offering them a spot with J.A.S. but The Acclaimed laughed in their face saying they’re on TV more than Menard & Parker and walked off.
Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Wardlow to win the TNT Title in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
(The crowd seemed to really enjoy the match until the finish, which felt like an odd choice and a letdown. I guess we were supposed to remember something QT Marshall said to Powerhouse Hobbs in a promo months ago that explains what happened here? Again, feels like such a strange way to go, but I’ll give it a chance and am happy Hobbs won, regardless of how. This was a way of Wardlow not having to be pinned while still dropping the title.)
The match started backstage fighting by a car, as Wardlow narrowly missed Hobbs chucking a keg at his head. Hobbs suplexed Wardlow on the hood of the car and tried a powerbomb on the car, but Wardlow backdropped him through the hood of the windshield. Both men brawled all over the place backstage during commercial and when back, they headed to the ring with Wardlow connecting with a spinebuster. Hobbs popped right up and hit a spinebuster of his own, which Wardlow also no sold.
A roundhouse lariat from Wardlow led to the F-10 for two. Hobbs battled back with three spinebusters in a row, but Wardlow kicked out. The match went to the floor again with Hobbs violently slamming Wardlow through the guard rail which allowed Hobbs to set up a table. Wardlow misted Hobbs with water, set him up and connected with a Swanton off the top through the table in an awesome visual. Wardlow hit a powerbomb on the ramp, but Wardlow collapsed after executing the move.
Struggling to his feet, Wardlow dragged Hobbs up the ramp, as Wardlow wants a powerbomb off the stage, but QT Marshall appeared and clocked Wardlow with a chair repeatedly. Marshall is wearing a QTV shirt that I’ve really only seen quick vignettes for on Dark and maybe Elevation possibly. Marshall & Hobbs powerbombed Wardlow off the stage, which thankfully wasn’t as brutal or scary as when Willow did it to Anna Jay on Rampage. The ref put a ten count on Wardlow, who couldn’t get up and Hobbs wins the match and title. Taz said QT hasn’t been seen in months, but he said his word is his bond. Marshall celebrated with Hobbs to close the show.
AEW Rampage 3/10/23
· Sammy Guevara vs. Action Andretti
· The Acclaimed will be in action
· Konosuke Takeshita takes on Preston Vance
· Riho vs. Nyla Rose
AEW Dynamite 3/15/23
· Orange Cassidy vs. Jeff Jarrett for the AEW International Title
· MJF celebrates his Re-Bar Mitzvah
· House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Mathews & Brody King) defend their AEW Trios Titles against The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) and Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia