Kicking off the epic AEW Dynamite 3/20/24 episode is an in-ring promo featuring Mercedes Mone. The point of the promo focused on her injury and loss to Willow Nightingale for the NJPW Women’s Strong Championship. She also throws a line about TBS Champion Julia Hart and Skye Blue which prompts them to come out. Mone is saved by Willow and Kris Statlander. However, we get a tense moment with Willow, chair in hand, standing behind Mone.
Uh oh.
Seems like a lot of investment is being made for Mone, hopefully this will pay off in dividends in the long run.
Kazuchka Okada defeated Eddie Kingston to become the second AEW Continental Crown Champion
While 100% expected for Okada to win, our good ol’ New York fighter Eddie made it look like a tough one. The crowd chants for Eddie evoke an old school ECW vibe. A good and enjoyable match. I feel a bit bummed Eddie had to be dethroned like this, but there was something special about Eddie and Okada going one-on-one on Dynamite.
After the match, PAC shows up to glare menacingly at the new champion. PAC vs. Okada? Yes please.
Hook defeated Chris Jericho
Hook channeling his father tonight. He is throwing Jericho all over the ring with various suplexes, some of which wound up parking on his head. Hook’s bridge on each suplex was incredible. Perfect arc. Hook must have lobbed Jericho with at least 20 total suplexes. Even being dumped that often, Jericho managed to score the Lionsault. Despite Jericho’s best attempts, his attempt for a Liontamer was countered into a rollup for the victory. Hook’s first pinfall victory!
Hook shined perfectly.
Adam Cole in a promo somewhere, scolding Wardlow for failing to win the AEW World Championship. He’s really pissed.
Will Ospreay cuts an in-ring promo and it is awesome. He apologizes for being a “bad boy” last year in the weeks leading up to Forbidden Door in his match against Kenny Omega. Excellent promo hyping up his match with Bryan Danielson, comparing his accolades in New Japan. He goes as far as to challenge Shibata to a match next week on Dynamite.
WOW. This guy is perfect.
Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purazzo defeated Mariah May and Toni Storm
Unsurprising, the live crowd seemed to favor the heels. Not taking away anything from Rosa or Purrazzo, but Toni Storm is so over, I don’t think anyone could ever be cheered over her. Decent match, and Rosa getting the winning pinfall immediately sets the tone to put her up for title contention.
Swerve Strickland defeated The Butcher
Wow, I did not have Swerve squashing Butcher on my bingo card. Damn. His post-match promo towards Joe and his intent to win the AEW World Championship sounded so passionate, one believes this to be real. Joe obliges Swerve, comes out and cuts an equally scathing promo. But just before Joe and Swerve can make their match official, Don Callis comes out and the arena loses their minds. I could not hear Callis at all, the booing was just that loud. Deafening.
He said something, and next week on Dynamite we get Swerve vs. Takeshita.
DAMN AEW. You guys are spoiling us.
Main Event of AEW Dynamite 3/20/24: Adam Copeland defeated Christian Cage in a No-Hold Barred match to win the TNT Championship
Something AEW seems to do consistently right, are these main event anything goes matches. I recall the parking lot brawl between Best Friends and Santana & Ortiz. Copeland and Cage made this one very entertaining. The live crowd singing Copeland’s theme unprompted was a highlight. Naturally the rest of Christian’s crew rushed in to interfere, but Copeland had backup of his own in Matt Minard and Daniel Garcia. Cage is handcuffed, allowing Copeland to kick him multiple times in the groin, and then uses Spike for the exclamation mark. Cage quits before Adam can strike with Spike again.
Another wrestling fan spoiled! Seriously AEW is delivering some PPV-card quality shows lately.
