AEW Dynamite 3/23 kicks off with CM Punk hitting the ring for the opening match. As much as Punk’s music amps up the crowd, there’s something special about FTR’s “classic” theme as Dax comes out as challenger. CM Punk defeats Dax via submission in an astounding match. This felt like something old school in the 80’s and early-90’s when a tag team guy would go singles. Punk and Dax put on a clinic. Some insane turns, with a suplex falling from the ring to the floor, Punk being taken for a ride with some back-and-side suplexes, then Dax blocking the top rope elbow and taking Punk for a roller coaster of a drop with a massive top rope superplex!
Punk and Harwood attempt submissions, with Dax fighting out of the Anaconda Vice and locking in the sharpshooter. Punk does not tap, and thanks to a disruption by the Ass Boys, Dax loses concentration for a bit, allowing Punk to make a comeback. After another flurry, Punk is successful locking in the Vice for the win.
Backstage: The Jericho Appreciation Society talk about John Silver’s photo with Chris Jericho, and then jab at the disappearances of Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz.
After the match, Dax and Cash tell Gunn’s Sons they’ll see them next week.
Sting, Darby Allin, Matt, and Jeff Hardy defeated The AFO (Private Party, Butcher, and Blade)
This match was as bat-nut crazy and one could imagine. Holy hell, so many eyeball busting moments. Sting opening with a cross body off the top and to the floor, multiple Stinger Splashes… dude can go! Darby of course gets murdered within the first five minutes when Butcher lobs him down a flight of stairs. Matt Hardy is taken off the entrance stage by Private Party while somewhere in the arena, Jeff Hardy leaps off a ledge, plowing both Butcher and Blade through tables. Back in the ring, Sting prevents Private Party from winning. He gets hit with a chair and HULKS UP!! Sting hammers away but Kassiday and Quen overtake the Stinger and set him up for Gin and Juice. The finisher fails, and Sting locks one while Matt Hardy grabs the other, hitting with simultaneous Scorpion Death Drop and Twist of Fate for the dual pinfall victory.
What an insane match, and it was damn fun to watch.
Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley defeat The Varsity Blondes
We knew they never had a chance, and Julia Hart seemed to know this also, sulking on the ring stairs throughout the match and even through Mox’s promo after the carnage. The Blondes put up a valiant effort, and definitely gave the impression of turning up the intensity quite a bit. Unfortunately, not enough as Mox and Danielson turn violent with a dual beating to end the match by submission.
Mox’s promo thanks William Regal and brings up the idea of intensifying pro wrestling. Mox then dubs the group the Blackpool Combat Club.
I had thought Julia Hart would try to slap Regal this week, but she sulked all the way through the segment. Thus, no slapping tonight.
MJF in-ring promo: He starts on Wardlow with his “failure” to claim the TNT Championship, but then turns his attention briefly to CM Punk – Threatening the next time they meet, he promises to give Punk “the most embarrassing loss of his life.” Turning back to Wardlow, he reiterates the “contract” is with him and not AEW. He plans on making Wardlow’s life hell by paying him to sit at home so long the fans forget he exists.
Also, Pinnacle still exists. Interesting.
This is going to be another great long-term story.
Adam Cole defeats Jay Lethal in one hell of a match. ReDragon remained distant for most of it, until after an exchange of attempted holds, Lethal locks in the figure four. ReDragon inserts themselves too often and ultimately provides the distraction Cole needs to gain advantage and after numerous near-falls, gain victory. Cole resorted to a low blow as a counter to Lethal Injection.
After the match, Cole is adamant he is a real world champion, and the AEW Championship should be around his waist, calling out “Hangman” Adam Page. The champ obliges and confronts Cole, Fish, and O’Reilly. In a twist, Page pulls off his belt and whips Cole right in the face! ReDragon strikes, setting up Adam Cole to hit Hangman right in the cowbells.
This prompts Jurassic Express to storm the ring, evening the odds.
We’re going to get another Adam v. Adam and YES PLEASE.
“Legit” Leyla Hirsch defeats Red Velvet by cheating
Meh match. Kris Statlander runs in for the post-match-beatdown-save.
Jade Cargill cuts another promo
Not a fan. This whole “streak” business doesn’t hold much water when majority of her wins came on Dark. I feel like the character is starting to be a bit inconsistent. Something felt off… like now she’s obsessed with the color green and everything needs to be green with more green added to green.
Main Event of AEW Dynamite 3/23: The Jericho Appreciation Society – Chris Jericho and Daniel Garcia defeat The Dark Order -Alex Reynolds and John Silver
What a fun match to close out the show. Obviously the new Jericho Appreciation Society would win, losing would not have made sense at all. Silver and Reynolds put on one hell of a match though. I love when they fire it up and hit their multi-combo assault.
I find it funny out of all people, Garcia calls himself a sports-entertainer, he’s more “pro wrestler” than anyone else in the group. Minard is a crazy, crazy man.
AEW Dynamite 3/23 proves that AEW takes no days off in putting on an amazing weekly show.
AEW Dynamite 3/23 is now streaming on the TBS app and on demand from your local cable operator.
