In an unexpected move, AEW Dynamite 4/3/24 kicks off with Adam Copeland cutting a passionate promo about the state of wrestling. It was a good promo, because it truly spoke volumes about AEW, WWE (without being mentioned specifically), and the behavior of wrestling fans on social media. There’s no dancing around how there has been some mainstream podcasting disdain towards AEW in the past 48 hours. Copeland talks about how he wanted to go to AEW. How he enjoys what he is doing in AEW and then goes into his career and how professional wrestling is better with more options to choose from.
He makes a clever pivot on how he can wrestle against people he’s never shared a ring with, naming Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, FTR, leading to his beef with Buddy, Brody, and Malakai Black.
He’s not wrong. I have no doubt those on social media will call it a forced promo and a response to Punk running down AEW, but facts are facts, more wrestling on television is a good thing for the industry.
Will Ospreay defeated Will Hobbs
The predictable chant of “Let’s go Will!” form the live crowd. Fantastic match. Biggest takeaway is a reminder of just how good Hobbs is. When paired with the right dance partners he shines. He looked fantastic, both as a behemoth by shrugging off Ospreay’s high flying antics, and then as a powerhouse with some insane looking suplexes and slams. Very fun match.
Post-match Hobbs and Ospreay almost came to blows while Don Callis tried keeping them apart.
It is curious how most of Ospreay’s matches seem to be against another member of the Callis Family. Tonight was clearer as Callis, on commentary, seemed to second-guess his decision as Hobbs smashed Ospreay into the metal ring stairs. Then Hobbs seemed pretty pissed off, storming away from the ringside area.
I’m guessing this will turn into Callis disbanding the Family to align with Ospreay, or perhaps the ultimate betrayal with Callis turning on him.
As Ospreay leaves the ring, Bryan Danielson comes out for his match with Lance Archer.
Good match, but not as good as the opener, as Danielson inevitably defeats the Murderhawk. Archer did a great job of serving as an intimidating and overpowering figure for Danielson to overcome. Again, an enjoyable match, even with the predictable outcome.
Hook and Chris Jericho
I’m not entirely sure what on Earth was being said, but somehow it wound up with Hook and Jericho teaming up on Collision to face Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty.
Ok, so Jericho turns on Hook, challenges for the FTW Championship. Hopefully Hook destroys him again so he can take some time off. I don’t get what the purpose of this was. The live crowd booing Jericho was very much audible. There was no way around it.
“Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn defeated Jay White by DQ
Age 60, and Gunn was kicking White’s tuchas all over the place. Gunn lost his cool and brought a chair into the ring which brought out Austin and Colten to protect their trios partner. This turned into the Bullet Club attacking Gunn. However, The Acclaimed rushed the ring, despite being shown minutes earlier as being knocked out backstage. They fought off the ROH Trios champs.
Gotta say, Billy Gunn still got it.
Interview with Willow Nightingale
Willow cut a fantastic promo. Fantastic. Live crowd was super-behind her, and got an amazing reaction. However, she was cut off by Mercedes Mone. Not much was said except some catchphrases and apparently Mercedes got the TBS title match at Double or Nothing.
Wait… Rankings?
I’m a bit worried about Mone’s contributions lately. It felt like the intrusion in the segment took a bit of thunder away from Willow, leaving everyone in speechless shock. Willow defeated Mone for the NJPW Women’s Strong Championship. She shouldn’t look afraid.
The Young Bucks defeated Best Friends w/ Chuckie T and Sue to advance in the AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament
The big story is not how the Bucks won, but what took place right after. As the dust settled, Cassidy and Trent picked themselves up, were greeted by Chuckie, and went for the big hug, only for Trent to clobber Cassidy with a running knee strike!
The crowd gasps in horror, watching as Trent storms off, ignoring his best friend and even walking right past his own mother! Sue!
All I can say is… FINALLY. A heel Trent is going to be a very imposing wrestler. This isn’t the first time he has been a heel in his career, just take a look at NJPW and ROH. This has been brewing for a long time, and I for one welcome this shift. I hope it does produce results. TNT Champ?
Thunder Rosa defeated Mariah May
Pretty good match, and given the storyline built, it could have gone either way. Rosa as the returning challenger for a championship she never lost, versus the newcomer trying to climb the ranks as fast as possible. Rosa will challenge Toni Storm at Dynasty, however I do not expect a title change at all. In fact, it would not shock me if somehow May did become the #1 Contender for Double or Nothing.
Final Segment: Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland Contract Signing for the AEW World Championship
Give me Joe vs. Swerve for another three months, just for the promos. Just when one thinks they can’t get any better or cut deeper, they somehow do it. A fight breaks out where Joe no-sells a chain around his neck and punches Swerve repeatedly in the head with said chain, busting him wide open. So what naturally happens? Swerve signs the contract, in his blood. Joe plows him through a table and stands on him, belt raised high to close the show.
Although there was a significant bit of hype for Thunder Rosa and Mariah May, this wasn’t the best choice for the final match of the night. I understand the reasoning for Ospreay and Hobbs to open the show, but it seems silly not to have them as the main event. Just to show Danielson enter while Ospreay leaves? I need a better reason.
Solid night of wrestling action, very enjoyable, even with a few segments which went off-kilter.
With Dynasty still a few weeks away, there is still time to stack the card some more and let more building stories breathe.
