All Elite Wrestling knocked another one out of the park with AEW Dynamite 3/24 — a marathon of a show. One match rolled into a promo which rolled right into the next match. Some great pacing with a healthy spread of matches and promos throughout the night.
Promos involving Christian and Frankie Kazarian, Mox and Eddie Kingston, the “Murderhawk” Lance Archer cutting a promo on Sting, a promo by Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D, and an interesting segment featuring a reluctantly re-unified Team Taz added extra to an already stellar show.
On paper, a lot of these matches seem average, but the opening bout for AEW Dynamite 3/24 was anything but ordinary. Kenny Omega managed to defeat Matt Sydal in one of the most nail-biting encounters. Typically, if this were made as a championship match, the anticipation would be slightly diminished knowing the reigning champion would be unlikely to lose. However, in a non-title match, there could be an alternate outcome.
Well, Matt Sydal made me a believer. We know both he and Omega have history in other promotions. Tonight was no different. Sydal went move for move and at times completely outclassed Omega. No clear dominator as each would trade their moments of offense and defense. This match turned out to be insanely better than anticipated, so kudos to both Kenny Omega and Matt Sydal for a job well done.
“Hangman” Adam Page defeated Cezar Bononi
Bononi is a big dude, and it seems Ryan Nemeth is beginning to build a stable of his own, along with J.D. Drake. I like Drake, he had a match with Eddie Kingston a few weeks ago on Dark which was awesome. Two big hosses just duking it out.
Bononi impressive with some big counters and strength which awed, but was not enough as Page would hammer his way back, scoring the Buckshot Lariat for the win. Short match, but good for Hangman.
During Baker’s promo, she targeted the Hardcore Wrestling Legend, Mick Foley, saying it took him 20 years to become a legend, but she did it in one night. Shots fired. Great, great promo. Everything Baker said was pure facts, the attention from last week’s five-star match, to reactions on the internet by fans and wrestling legends. Her vitriol only heightens the pure star power she wields.
FTR & Shawn Spears defeated The Varsity Blondes and Dante Martin of Top Flight
This match was also great. Garrison and Spears are two tall dudes. The Pinnacle members did maintain most of the match, however in a spot where the faces took over they appeared braced for a flying dive until Wardlow stepped in to stop Pillman, Garrison, and Martin in their tracks. Martin kept his opponents reeling until a mistake allowed Spears to catch Martin and score with a running Death Valley Driver to give his team the win.
I’m glad it was Spears earning the pinfall. After being absent from television for too long, it had seemed he had lost his ground, but this union with MJF’s stable is exactly what was needed. As Tony Schiavone brought over the mic, FTR took some jabs at Santana and Ortiz, while MJF went right for Chris Jericho.
There will be an inevitable Pinnacle vs. Inner Circle bout, and as much as I would want to see Inner Circle get their revenge, Pinnacle may have to come out the winners for full recognition as the new top stable in the company.
QT Marshall is upset with Cody Rhodes – He says a few truthful things about Cody’s role in AEW, but mostly focusing on how he isn’t getting the recognition he deserves. Cody, arm in sling, answers his friends challenge for an exhibition match, but Rhodes promises he will not hurt QT because of their friendship.
Will QT be the one to put Cody out on the “injury list” next week? QT turning heel, not sure where that goes, or if he joins a new stable, but we’ll see how it turns out.
The Lucha Brothers and Laredo Kid defeated The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler
If I may say, I dig Cutler’ entrance, his attire, all of it. Mr. D&D has it dead on. In case you haven’t been keeping up, Cutler is damn good in the ring. He’s a tall dude but can move and fly, keeping up with the masked Luchadores.
I will apologize, and I find I do this often, because as much as I want to recap every single hot moment of this match, there were just too many to count. A lot of rope dives to the floor, huge spot with Bucks hitting an Indy-taker, but the end saw Cutler get wiped out with a top-rope Spanish Fly by Laredo Kid for the win.
Great, great match. Phenomenal.
However, the party is crashed by a crazed Kenny Omega w/ Don Callis attacking Laredo and then verbally thrashing Matt and Nick, even degrading Brandon Cutler to boot. Omega tries forcing the Bucks to throw up the Club sign, but the brothers won’t do it, will not cave in to Kenny’s crazed antics, which did earn the AEW World Champion dual superkicks from Lucha Brothers.
I like how they are just tacking up the number of enemies Kenny has. His crazed persona working well, and soon he will have a field of people who want revenge on him.
Tay Conti defeated Nyla Rose
Yessir, Conti got the W. Well earned and well deserved.
Fantastic match, Conti given the opportunity to really show off what she can do in singles matches. Her time together with Ana Jay and her being welcomed into the Dark Order was kept in focus as the Dark Order came out in support of Conti. Jay took the fight to Rose, and this time around, it was Rose mostly put on the defensive, a position not likely accustomed by the typically dominant force. Conti managed to overmatch “The Beast” scoring with the DD-Tay for the definite win.
After the match, Vickie Guerrero and Rose attacked Conti, only to be chased off by a Kendo-stick-swinging Hikaru Shida. However, the AEW Women’s Champion let her guard down, for The Bunny to sneak up, grab the kendo stick, and blast the champion with it. Big Money Matt appeared to be directing traffic, and insinuating Bunny has been overlooked, but will be overlooked no more.
Interesting segment, teasing an alliance with Vickie and Rose, albeit temporarily against a common foe.
The Main Event of AEW Dynamite 3/24 : Darby Allin retains the TNT Championship against John Silver
This. Match.
Unbelievable. On paper, would one have thought Allin vs Silver would happen, let along main event a Dynamite, and be as good as it was? It was fantastic.
This is a prime example highlighting the success of AEW. Allin and Silver, who will both likely remain as top stars in the company for years to come, put on one hell of a closer. Early on, Silver lobbed Darby out of the ring, appearing to take a nasty spill on the floor. Again, Johnnie Hungie just hurled the champ clear across the ring, making use, and showing off his innate strength.
Funny moment, as Silver had to regain his bearings on the floor moved out of the way, or possibly assisted, but Alan “V” Angels wound up taking the brunt of a dive by Allin. Poor number five. At this point, Sting arrived to even odds, but no confrontation would take place. Silver later on with a counter of a Slingshot Stunner into the Queenslayer Submission employed by #99, Ana Jay.
The pace heating up as both wrestlers went for every move possible, Allin appeared to have victory close, a you could feel the time limit running out. Instead of striking Silver, the champ chose to Coffin Drop the Dark Order members at ringside. This nearly allowed Silver to score the win and the title, but a surprise Code Red turned the tide for Allin and netted the pinfall.
After the match, Sting and Allin showed respect to Silver, but was attacked by Matt Hardy’s Family Office with all members brawling around and in the ring.
AEW Dynamite 3/24 ends on a note of big storytelling, with many new threads woven for some exciting storytelling. It seems my prediction of 2021 being the year for stables is coming true, as Matt Hardy’s bunch will feud with Dark Order, Mox and Kingston likely will join with the Bucks to challenge Callis’ version of Bullet Club, and of course, The Pinnacle and the Inner Circle will inevitably collide.
AEW continues to pull us in for more.
Next week is shaping up to be another block buster show.
