SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
MARCH 13, 2024
BOSTON, MASS. AT TD GARDEN ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Dasha
Attendance: WrestleTix reported last night that 7,535 tickets had been distributed so far; arena is set up for 8,248.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Renee Paquette introduced the show as they showed the exterior of the arena in Boston. She began previewing the show from the parking garage. A car drove in honking. They cut away just as the door opened.
-The went to the interior of the arena as the camera panned the audience. They hyped Samoa Joe vs. Wardlow, Pac & Eddie Kingston & Penta vs. The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada, Hook & Chris Jericho vs. Gates of Agony, Jay White vs. Darby, Riho vs. Willow Nightingale, and Will Ospreay in action. A loud “AEW!” chant broke out.
-Mercedes Moné then made her ring entrance with music that chanted “CEO! CEO!” She came out in a big-time outfit including a big white robe with the letters “CEO” on the back. A loud “CEO!” chant rang out for a while. She soaked up the moment. She said her heart is beating out of her chest. She thanked the fans for having her back the last two years and giving her the courage and strength to be there. She said they stuck with her through her highs and lows and history-making moments. She said they are going to be “creating so much magic and so many moments together.” She said the fans are the reason she is there.
She said wrestling has changed her life and saved her life. She said it’s given her hopes and a place to dream and people like Eddie Guerrero gave her a belief in herself. She said she became the first woman to main event a pay-per-view in that arena. She said her dream began when she was ten and then when she was 13, she dropped out of school to take care of her brother. She talked about going to wrestling training school with the goal of being the greatest women wrestler of all-time.
She said she wanted to get down to business. She said she’s there because she needs to be there and wants to be there. She said AEW is the only place where the Revolution can be global. “And we are going to make that happen,” she said. She said she can’t wait to tear it up with everyone in that locker room. She brought up Riho vs. Willow Nightingale. She called it the main event. She told Willow that they have a lot of unfinished business. She then announced that as of tonight, she is All Elite. A graphic appeared on the screen with her image saying she was now All Elite. She told people to say hello to their new CEO. She took off her jacket and began dancing to her theme song.
Excalibur said her entrance was fitting that of a CEO. He said this is just the start of it.
(Keller’s Analysis: AEW and Mercedes did a great job of making this feel like a big deal, including a great not-off-the-rack outfit. She looks like a star. She gave her bio and then shifted to getting fans to think about all the big matches awaiting her with AEW wrestlers, including bringing up Willow specifically. That was a good hook to get fans to stay tuned until the end by saying Riho vs. Willow will end the show, with the implication being Mercedes will be involved. This should be a fun ride. She definitely injected something fresh and big-time into the AEW product out of the gate.)
-A clip aired of Samoa Joe standing on Swerve Strickland’s fallen body last week.
-Renee interviewed Samoa Joe backstage. He talked about facing Wardlow. He said he hasn’t forgotten what debts need to be paid based on the last time they were in the ring together. He said he doesn’t lose titles in the Garden.
-A vignette aired on Wardlow with Adam Cole reading from a book with classical opera music playing in the background. He said the prophesy will be fulfilled and the kingdom will be whole.
-Samoa Joe made his ring entrance. They went to a wide shot of the arena. While the upper deck wasn’t full and thus wasn’t lit up, it still had a major league vibe because the lower bowl was full and the arena is modern so the scoreboard and ribbon around the upper deck all gave an energy to the event.
(1) SAMOA JOE vs. WARDLOW – AEW World Title match
Joe came out first. Wardlow was accompanied on the stage by Undisputed Kingdom, but then walked to the ring alone. He charged at Joe and attacked him before the bell. The ref rewarded the attack by calling for the bell immediately. They decided not to do formal ring introductions inside the ring despite it being a World Title match. Joe rolled to the floor. Wardlow threw him around ringside and then taunted some fans.
Joe fought back in the ring. They exchanged chops. Joe got the better of it. Joe set up a back suplex off the top rope, but Wardlow elbowed free. He then leaped off the top rope with a twisting corkscrew dive. Both were down and slow to get up as they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Wardlow stayed on the attack during the break. When he set up a leap off the second rope, Joe turned away casually. When he turned back around, though, Wardlow went through with the leaping shoulder tackle for a two count. Taz observed that Wardlow was bleeding from the mouth. Joe came back with a big boot and a quick senton. Both were down and slow to get up again. Joe was clutching his head. Excalibur said they collided heads on the corkscrew dive before the break.
Joe landed a snap powerslam for a near fall. Joe lifted Wardlow, but he knee gave out. He scooted to the corner. The ref backed Joe away. Wardlow raked Joe’s eyes and then yanked him onto his knee off the ropes for a near fall. Excalibur said that’s the first time anyone has survived that knee from Wardlow. Wardlow leaped off the top rope with a senton, but Joe rolled out of his path. Joe mounted Wardlow in the corner and punched away at him. Wardlow powered Joe up and gave him a spinebuster. Wardlow lowered his straps and set up a powerbomb. Joe swept his legs and then applied the Coquina Clutch. Fans cheered as Wardlow faded. The ref called for the bell.
WINNER: Joe in 11:00 to retain the AEW World Hvt. Title.
-Afterward, Swerve pushed his way past security and punched one of them with his chain. He marched to the ring with an intense look followed by Prince Nana. Joe left the ring with his belt as security held Swerve back inside the ring. Joe smiled. Joe kicked a fallen security guy off the ramp in a nice touch.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a quick pivot away from Wardlow and back to Swerve as the key foe of Joe. The match itself was a solid big-man battle.)
-Alex Marvez interviewed The Bucks and Okada. Marvez asked Okada why he decided to align with The Elite. Nick Jackson told Marvez to refer to him by his full name: “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada. Matt asked Alex if he can feel the synergy. He said there’s 14 years of friendship spanning the globe. He said he could give him 14 million reasons he joined the Elite, an implication his contract is worth $14 million. Okada told Penta, Pac, and Eddie that he’s coming for him. Okada then told Marvez to tell Matthew “Happy Birthday.” Marvez did. Okada told him to sing it. Marvez did as they cut to a break. [c]
(2) THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) & KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. PAC & EDDIE KINGSTON & PENTA
The Bucks made their entrance first. Then Okada. Schiavone said Okada is one of the greats in the world. They aired clips of Pac’s return and face-off with Okada on Collision on Saturday. Penta then made his entrance. Okada and Kingston faced off as the bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Okada tagged out immediately to Matthew. Kingston slapped Matt and then tagged in Pac. Penta and Pac took turns beating up Nicholas next. Nicholas tagged out to Okada who went after Kingston.
Okada paused and smiled at Kingston. Kingston smiled back. Kingston slapped Okada. Okada fired back. Okada landed a dropkick. Taz said it reminded him of the Hardcore Holly style dropkick. Okada tagged Matthew back in. The Bucks and Okada triple-kicked Kingston and then struck a pose in the ring. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, the showed the best shot of the big crowd yet including the ring, the stage, and area of the arena with a lot of fans in the upper deck. Kingston took a beating during the break. Kingston made a comeback and reached for a tag, but Okada and Nicholas yanked Pac and Penta off the ring apron. Matt then clotheslined Kingston. Okada smiled.
Penta tagged in at 9:00 went on a flurry against the Bucks. Okada intervened. Pac tagged in, dropkicked Okada, and then kipped up and played to the crowd. Pac and Penta then hit stereo flip dives over the top rope onto the Bucks at ringside. Penta leaped off the top rope and landed a double-stomp on Matthew. Pac followed with a 450 splash. Okada broke up the cover. Kingston tagged in and yelled at Okada, who was shaken up. Kingston threw more hard loud chops. Okada countered with a sudden DDT. Pac tagged in and landed an enzuigiri on Okada. Chaos broke out with a series of rapid-fire moves. Kingston dropped Nicholas over the top rope. Nicholas gave Kingston a low-kick and then Okada landed the Rainmaker clothesline for the win.
WINNER: Okada & The Bucks in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really exciting six-man tag match. Okada is immediately leaning into the heel demeanor alongside the Bucks. AEW has to reach an audience who aren’t already enamored with Okada’s body of work to make his contract worth it, and that means presenting him as a big star and having him jump off the screen as a compelling main event personality along with shining in the ring. This wasn’t a showcase for Okada as he was one of six wrestlers having a spotfest, but he’ll have those moments eventually.) [c]
-A vignette aired hyping the Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland TNT Title match next week on Dynamite.
[HOUR TWO]
-Tony Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced Will Ospreay, noting he was scheduled to face Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty. Ospreay came out in in striped warm-up pants with socks pulled over the bottom and a white t-shirt with some stripes and a logo. He played to the crowd with big energy as fans yelled, “Ospreay!” Schiavone asked him about the match on Apr. 21. Ospreay said he woke up and said to himself he wants to talk to the beautiful people of Boston. He said his whole life, he’s wanted to emulate the career of Danielson who wrestled with enthusiasm whether it was in front of 5,000, 500, or 50 people. He said he’s glad Danielson is a fan of his work.
Ospreay said after his match Kenny Omega, everybody was talking about the Tiger Driver ’91. He said he had blood pissing out of his head and it was worth it. Fans chanted “Bruv! Bruv! Bruv!” He said the moment he steps foot into the AEW ring, everyone knows the phrase: “Restore the Feeling. Bruv, I am the feeling!” He said the match will be about reminding people what AEW is when you put the best wrestler in the world against the best wrestler of the 21st century and only one man walks out the winner. He said the one thing he has learned from Danielson is he can respect who he stands opposite of, but when the bell rings, “it’s your life or it’s mine, and I don’t plan on dying, bruv.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Ospreay has a loud, in-your-face energy and charisma with an enthusiasm for what he does that feels contagious. That level of energy probably isn’t advisable every promo, though. The crowd is reacting to him like a big time star. That promo did set the table for the match that’s more than a month away.)
-Backstage, Donna Purrazzo challenged Toni Storm and Mariah May to a tag match next week in Toronto.
(3) JAY WHITE vs. DARBY ALLIN
Colten & Austin Gunn accompanied White to the stage as he made his entrance first. Excalibur said this was White’s first singles match of 2024. As Darby made his entrance, they cut to a clip of Darby at Revolution doing a flip-dive off a ladder in the ring into the glass pane on chairs. Darby’s back was wrapped and Schiavone talked about a big suture behind the tape. Taz said he saw a photo of it on someone’s phone.
The bell rang 10 minutes into the hour. Excalibur said Darby was wincing in the opening seconds. White took Darby down with a headlock takeover and held Darby down. Excalibur said it has to be hell for Darby. The action soon spilled to ringside. Darby rammed White into the ringside barricade, but White gave him a sudden suplex onto a chair at ringside. Darby went down and crawled away from White as White set up the steps for his next move. White broke the ref’s count and then threw Darby toward the steps. Darby leaped and flipped over the steps and crashed hard on the floor. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
White beat on Darby for several minutes after the break. Darby came back and went for a springboard Coffin Drop, but White turned it into a back suplex. White scored some two counts. Schiavone said White was showing signs of frustration. Darby gave White a Scorpion Death Drop and scored a two count of his own, with White putting his boot on the bottom rope to stop the count. Darby leaped off the top rope and was going for a Coffin Drop on White, but White moved and Darby hit the edge of the apron back-first and fell to the floor. “Holy shit!” chanted fans. The ref began counting Darby out. Darby leaped in at 9. White landed Blade Runner and scored a three count.
WINNER: White in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: They were setting up Darby for a loss from the start with the commentators noting Darby was showing signs of physical pain and debilitation from the Revolution match. The physical toll in this match was substantial.)
-Afterward, The Gunns joined White to celebrate. White offered a handshake to Darby, but switched to a gun gesture with his hand and pulled the trigger. The Gunns then jumped Darby. They put Darby’s leg in a chair. White brought Sting’s bat into the ring and wound up. The Acclaimed then ran to the ring to their music along with Billy Gunn and pulled the Gunns away. They weren’t cool with that attack. Billy got in Jay’s face. Meanwhile, Max Caster and Anthony Bowens helped Darby out of the ring. Jay hit Billy in the head with a chair. Caster and Bowens charged back into the ring, but the Gunns attacked them. “So much for the Bang Bang Scissors Gang,” said Schiavone. Austin hit Bowens in the head with a Trios Title belt, then Caster. White the gave Billy a Blade Runner. The Gunns threw Darby back into the ring. White put Darby leg in the chair and then the Gunns held him down as White bashed the chair with the baseball bat. The chair broke. “What are they trying to prove!” exclaimed Schiavone. [c]
(4) HOOK & CHRIS JERICHO vs. GATES OF AGONY (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
They cut to a break a few minutes in after Kaun and Liona threw Jericho into the announce desk. [c]
Hook got a hot-tag and rallied. Hook gave Kaun a German suplex into a bridge, but Liona broke it up. Kaun then threw Hook into the air and dropped him on his knee for a near fall. Hook put Kaun in the Red Rum as Jericho fended off Liona. Jericho then put Kaun in the Lion Tamer briefly. He released it and dropkicked Liona as he re-entered the ring. Kaun then succumbed to the Red Rum. Schiavone said Hook and Jericho worked well together in their first match.
WINNERS: Hook & Jericho in 9:00.
-Excalibur announced Kyle O’Reilly would face Bryan Keith on Collision.
-Renee interviewed O’Reilly about his return and the new landscape of AEW since he was last around. O’Reilly said there was a time he couldn’t physically pick up his daughter, and those were dark days, but he got better. He said he wants to find out if he can hang. He said he thinks Keith can bring out the best in him in his return after two years away. Roderick Strong yelled “Kyle!” He barged in with Mike Bennett and Matt Taven. Strong said he has respect for him, so if he wants to do it alone, he can do that. They hugged. O’Reilly seemed to suddenly realize that doing it alone was a big challenge.
-A vignette aired on what happened between Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Moné in New Japan along with clips of Riho and Willow.
-They showed Riho warming up backstage. Mercedes wished her luck and smiled. [c]
-Renee interviewed Hook and Jericho backstage. She called them Lion Hook. Jericho said he liked that. Jericho said Hook is a future World Champion. He challenged him a one-on-one match next week on Dynamite because he wants to test himself and see how good Hook is. Hook said, “Let’s do it.”
(5) RIHO vs. WILLOW NIGHTINGALE
They did formal ring introductions. The bell rang 52 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early d0uble-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, Riho rallied and landed the 619. She leaped off the top rope with a body press for a two count. Excalibur hyped that next week’s Dynamite would feature Kingston vs. Okada and the AEW Continental Championship would be defended on its own, plus Hook vs. Jericho, Copeland vs. Christian, and Mercedes would speak again. Riho rolled up Willow for a near fall. Riho landed a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall.
Willow made a comeback and and knocked Riho out of the ring with a pounce. Willow flip dove at Riho, but Riho moved and she crashed on the mat at ringside. Riho landed a double foot-stomp onto Willow on the floor. Fans chanted “This is awesome!”
[OVERRUN]
Riho gave Willow a Dragon Suplex on the ring apron and then a double foot stomp for a near fall. Willow came back with a sitout powerbomb for the clean win.
WINNERS: Nightingale in 13:00.
-Willow hugged Riho after the match and they shared respectful smiles after a hard-fought battle. As Willow celebrated, the lights went dark. When they came back on, Julia Hart was standing at ringside. Skye Blue then attacked Willow from behind with a chop block. Fans chanted “CEO! CEO!” Mercedes knocked Blue down in the aisle and then slammed Julia to the mat and smiled down at her. Mercedes turned around and eyed Willow. Willow raised her arm and said “Welcome back.” Fans applauded. Mercedes’s music then played to end the show. Schiavone said there’s never been a better time to be a fan of AEW. Excalibur hyped next week’s line-up.
(Keller’s Analysis: They’ve set up a nice tag match and managed to logically open and close Dynamite with appearances by Mercedes. This definitely feels like a fresh start for AEW with some big names freshening things up across the board.)
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