AEW Dynamite 3/6/24 aka The Dynamite-after-Revolution show kicked off, main event style. Swerve Strickland is brought to the ring by Tony Schiavone. Swerve’s babyface turn completed by acknowledging his checkered past and then embracing the support from fans. He is determined to challenge Joe again for the AEW World Championship. However, out come Undisputed Kingdom and Adam Cole goes story-time mode. He puts over Roderick Strong winning the International Championship, Taven and Bennett as ROH Tag Champs, and turns to who he believes will be next AEW Champ, Wardlow.
This breaks down into an odd tag match between the Ring of Honor Tag Champions and the unlikely pairing of Joe and Swerve. Short match where Joe and Swerve easily dominate. Post match Wardlow puts on a menacing pose as Joe chokes out Swerve.
Don’t be fooled, the reaction for Swerve was epic. The line with Swerve being forgotten about in six months was deep and dark. Cole may not be wrestling but can be devastating on the microphone.
Swerve remaining in the main event title picture is the right move. I can see another three-way match for the championship, Swerve pinning Wardlow to win the title. Protects Joe too. Maybe.
Backstage Chris Jericho shows kudos and respect to Hook after their involvement in the Scramble Match on Sunday.
Hook retains the FTW Championship against Brian Cage
What a match. The selling from Hook was epic. Cage was solid tonight. The hardcore rules came into play with chairs and even a few crazy thumbtack spots! The best, when Hook locked Redrum on, and Cage fell back, planting Hook onto the tacks. But wait! It got better because Hook didn’t let go!
As Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun hit the ring, Hook was soon saved by Chris Jericho. I wonder if they will either team up or if Jericho is again resorting to the ol’ wolf in sheep clothing to gain an FTW title match.
Backstage: Renee Paquette is with Kyle O’Reilly, presenting a very humble persona and promising to find his own path to success upon returning to AEW. He also looks like a hobo.
Killswitchasaurus defeated Daddy Magic
Big crowd support for Daddy Magic. Who would have thought he’d get over they way he has? Despite the losing effort, he still looked good. The big Red Dino just doesn’t seem to have the intimidating impact he used to have. This gimmick needs to end soon, it feels like without Jack Perry he’s hit a dead end.
Daniel Garcia rushed out to save his buddy from a stable beatdown. As The Patriarchy retreated they were blindsided b a returning Adam Copeland. He wants a fight, in Toronto, for the TNT Championship.
The Young Bucks in the ring, turning the pomposity dial way up. A lot of feigned sincerity going on, which I am sure will incense their foes on social media. They gripe about losing to Sting. Their business is to suspend Adam Page from The Elite, and the fire Kenny Omega from The Elite. Just then, a wild Eddie Kingston appears! He tosses money right in the face of Nicholas Jackson, and proceeds to verbally tear into him. Eddie is great. Facial expressions for the win.
Curious line from the Jacksons “We don’t air our dirty laundry in public.” Seems they continue to use past drama for their antics. As the Bucks get violent, a familiar sound, the sound of coins crashing together echoes, and out comes the newest member of the AEW roster Kazuchika Okada to make the save! The Bucks back of as he helps Eddie up, but then turns him around to strike with the Rainmaker Lariat!!! Okada arrives as a heel!
This is brilliant. Bring in NJPW’s former top guy in and the first thing he does is go heel, aligning with The Young Bucks, forming a new Elite stable.
Riho defeated Kris Statlander
Holy crap was this match way better than expected. Not that I expected a bad showing, I just didn’t expect it to be full of suspense! Statlander displayed a bit more of an aggressive side, and one can’t help but wonder if a heel turn was coming, specifically when Stokely Hathaway threw a chain in the ring. Statlander contemplated it for a while, but then tossed it out to Stokely’s dismay. Unfortunately the distraction allowed Riho to roll her up for the pinfall. Post-match, Statlander had some choice words for Stokely.
AEW Dynamite 3/6/24 Main Event: “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay defeated “The Aussie Arrow” Kyle Fletcher
In less than a week we now have a third contender for Match of the Year. Another match worthy to be called a work of art. I know the high-risk and choreographed stuff isn’t for everyone, but you just have to appreciate the level both wrestlers take their craft to in order to create something unique and memorable. The top rope Poison Rana, the super powerbomb, the chains of counters and reversals, all of it magic in the ring. Watch it on the TBS app for the clips AEW post on social media. Just. Watch.
After the match, as Fletcher and Ospreay embrace in respect, Bryan Danielson comes down the ramp and into the ring to face off with Ospreay.
Ladies and gentlemen, a new era of AEW Dynamite has arrived. From the new logo, the return of the tunnels, to an injection of electricity and anxious anticipation of the next big event on television, AEW seems to “be back.” I don’t have my head in the sand, I know for a while it felt like the stories weren’t sticking and booking felt inconsistent. However, the wrestling matches themselves, regardless of outcome, never felt lacking in any way at all.
I truly enjoyed tonight’s episode of Dynamite, and from the looks of it, AEW Collision is going to be just as enjoyable.
