AEW Dynamite is live from Portland tonight. Three matches are scheduled for the show, which will be held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The AEW World Championship will be on the line tonight as Darby Allin defends against Tommaso Ciampa.
Also tonight, Will Ospreay faces a former stablemate from United Empire, Mark Davis, who is now a member of the Don Callis Family.
Mina Shirakawa is suspicious of Hikaru Shida and seemed to imply Shida might be responsible for the recent attack on Toni Storm. They will face off in singles competition tonight on Dynamite.
A separate segment regarding Darby Allin is also advertised, with AEW saying that we will hear from the new AEW World Champion on the show.
The full lineup:
- AEW World Champion Darby Allin defends against Tommaso Ciampa
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Hikaru Shida
- Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis
- We’ll hear from Darby Allin
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us to the show and throws it to a video package on Darby Allin shocking the world and winning the AEW Title last week. We think we’re going to hear from Allin, but MJF’s music hits and he storms to the ring, calling Allin a dirty little cheat, after that skank referee Aubrey counted his shoulders down, despite both being up. MJF calls the fans disrespectful little sh*theads who think Allin could actually beat him in match when he’s full prepared. MJF calls himself the man who has beaten every top name pro wrestling has to offer, the man who made sure Hangman Adam Page could never be World Champion ever again, the man who kicked out of the One-Winged Angel like it was freakin nothing. MJF screamed he is the best wrestler in the world and doesn’t give a sh*t about Darby Allin’s match against the Psycho Killer tonight and demands he comes out to give MJF back his World Championship.
TNT Champion Kevin Knight’s music hits, he comes to the ring and says different city, same Max, whining like a little b*tch. Knight said The Jet just landed and it’s about to get real and before MJF gets to hatin, be honest, doesn’t Knight look clean with a title around his waist? When you’re a real, fighting champion, you’re willing to put it on the line at any time and brings up having a visual pin on MJF a few weeks ago, saying he should be Jet 2 Belts right now.
MJF mocks how eloquent of a speaker Knight is, going over his promo and how he thinks it’s socially acceptable to be friends with Speedball Mike Bailey. Obviously, his memory isn’t great like Max’s, as he beat Knight with a Heatseeker for an easy dub. If anyone deserves to be champion, it’s MJF and MJF alone, but gives props to the new TNT Champion, calling the title cute, saying Knight is a good hand, average joe, someone with a ceiling, someone who will never be AEW World Champion, someone who should know better than to step in his ring and breathe MJF’s air. Knight said he’ll slap MJF’s big ass nose off his face and send him packing, while anyone can look at Knight and see a gold mine. Some of the best wrestlers have held the TNT Title, something MJF wouldn’t know about. Someone like MJF has had everything handed to him, so how about Knight hand MJF an ass whoopin? MJF questions what he would get out of that, but Knight sold him on wanting the TNT Title a little bit. If Knight wants to wrestle MJF, put the TNT Title on the line and he’s got himself a match. Knight agrees, he’s always ready and wants to rip MJF a new one in Rip City, tonight. MJF screams to get him a referee right now. Bryce Remsberg runs to the ring, holds up the TNT Title, but before the bell sounds, MJF bails up the ramp saying Knight will dance with the devil next week. While this was a long opening segment, it did get Knight some promo time against the best talker in the company and I thought he held his own, as the crowd really wanted to see this match tonight, until MJF swiped it away from them at the last moment.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Demand & Jericho, talking about a 6-man tag match on Collision. Ricochet mocks that Jericho doesn’t have teammates, all his bridges are burned and no one wants to be associated with the guy who gets his ass kicked by The Demand. Jericho says that’s copyright infringement, starts doing his Mr. Subliminal act and shows off his new t-shirt in the process (that reads JERICHO The Guy Who Gets His Ass Beat By The Demand Every Week That He Shows Up). Ricochet said he’s going to beat Jericho again with a Rico-sault and Jericho said he doesn’t have to find partners who like him to team with, just two who don’t like Ricochet.
Brody King vs. Lio Rush
(This was a very fun clash of styles, as Rush continues to be fully committed to this Blackheart character and the crowd are into it. I just wish we had some vignettes on AEW to show what brought this character out, instead of Rush just randomly breaking this out one week instead of being with CRU. I very much enjoyed his match with PAC last week and tonight kept up that trend, I hope we see more of Rush and the Blackheart character has a chance to develop on TV, whether it be Dynamite or Collision.)
Rush is doing his Blackheart character and keeps telling the camera “he said it’s his house and it’s not his house anymore.” Meanwhile, the bell sounds and the crowd immediately break out in F*ck ICE chants, as King refused to let go of a handshake, as Rush got free, tried a misdirect, but was slammed and splashed in the corner. Rush bails outside, tries to throw a chop, but King no sold and destroyed Rush with chops of his own. Rush is laughing, as King sat him on a chair, charged and missed a running cross body against the railing. Rush leapt to the announce desk, tried a cross body, was caught, only to slide out, post King and send him into the railing. Rush tried a low Tope, but King caught and planted him on the edge of the apron. Back to the ring, King still is shaking out his shoulder, but it gave Rush a chance to bite the leg and hit a corkscrew kick for the reset.
Rush tried Rush Hour, but King was ready and turned Rush inside out with a lariat. Rush fought back by hanging up King between the ropes to the apron, looking for a Death Valley Driver, which was easily fought off. King wanted a Gonzo Bomb, but Rush slide out and hit a handspring kick, sending King outside. Rush galloped around the ring into a low Tope, following up with a huge cross body off the top onto the floor. Rush went up again and hit a Frog Splash to the back, but King kicked out at one. Rush up top a third time, rolls through a dive, trades standing switches until King drove him down with a Boss Man Slam. Big corner cannonball leads to a Gonzo Bomb to give King the win.
Post-match, King said he’ll be watching the main event and said if Ciampa wins, congratulations and while he’s proud of Darby Allin, he’s not proud enough not to bring the violence.
Match Result: Brody King defeated Lio Rush
-Renee Paquette approaches Tommaso Ciampa backstage and asks how tonight is going to go? Ciampa said he’s been told his entire career he’s not big enough, not passing the airport test, not charismatic enough, not main event material. Ciampa is a husband, father, son, brother, insane work ethic, tonight isn’t about heroes or villains, it’s about passion, glass ceilings are imaginary, tonight is for pro wrestling. Ciampa said you’ve never seen a man more prepared for his moment than he is tonight, go ask Darby Allin if he wants it more than Ciampa needs it. This was a brief, but excellent promo from Ciampa.
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-Adam Copeland is backstage and talks about how he & Christian Cage deserve another Tag Title shot, despite FTR denying them last week. Copeland said FTR are one of the best ever and said at Double or Nothing, Copeland & Cage vs. FTR in a New York Street Fight, if FTR wins, Copeland & Cage retire as a team. Copeland knows what his answer would be and if you’re the best tag team of all time, knows what the answer should be. Only one way to prove it, as the balls are in FTR’s court.
Hikaru Shida (w/Kris Statlander) vs. Mina Shirakawa
(First time meeting between these two, as it had a couple spots of miscommunication, but for the most part, I thought both worked well with each other. The fans are so used to cheering Shida, they don’t know how to react to this new heelish character she’s had going since her return. You can tell it’s not a matter of if, but when she’ll have a falling out with Statlander. I do think it’s too obvious for Shida to have played a part in Toni Storm’s demise, so I think it’s back to the drawing board for Shirakawa, though many believe she herself could be a prime suspect in all of this. We have plenty of time for this Who Attacked Toni? story to play out.)
Earlier today, cameras caught up with Shida saying AEW fans will be treated to a great Japanese style of wrestling, may the best Joshi win. Shida spoke in Japanese and Excalibur said he believes she said something about her cat. Shida offered a handshake to start, but Shirakawa declines saying she can’t trust her. Nigel McGuinness bring up a kendo stick being in the locker room the night Timeless Toni Storm was attacked and Excalibur brought up there being a lot of objects in that room, so there’s plenty of suspects.
Both ladies trade hair mares and standing dropkicks, ending in a stalemate. Shirakawa does her slide and shimmy, lured Shida in, ducks a few kicks, takes Shida down with a step-up corner kick and Sling Blade. Both exchange pin attempts for near falls, as Shida missed a corner stomp, but clobbered Shirakawa with a leaping knee that popped the crowd. Disrespectful covers from Shida get two counts, as she dishes out 10 corner punches and punt to the spine. Shida remained in control until Shirakawa battled back with a head scissors and snap dropkick. Crowd loudly behind Shirakawa now, as she hits her Tornillo from the apron for two of her own.
Knee breaker delivered by Shirakawa, who calls for a Figure Four, but Shida fought out, going outside to create some distance. Shirakawa wouldn’t allow it, as she was out after with a dropkick to the leg. Clunky spot, where Shida didn’t get all of a head scissors and Shirakawa kind of just ran and slammed her own head into the ring steps. Shida carried Shirakawa up to the apron and hit a Crunchie on the edge of the ring and Meteora back inside for two. Shida loads up and hits her Tamashii knee for another two. Shirakawa floated over a Falcon Arrow into a rolling elbow for the double down.
Both ladies up and slug it up, as Shirakawa connects with a question mark kick and missile dropkick off the top. Shirakawa up again for a corner Sling Blade for a near fall. Figure Four is applied, but Shida just got the ropes. Shirakawa starts arguing with referee Mike Posey, as Shida went to grab her kendo stick, Shirakawa takes it away and was about to use it, until Statlander pulled it away. The distraction allowed Shida to hit her leaping knee and Falcon Arrow for the win, as Statlander had what I can only describe as a quizzical look on her face. Shida hugged Statlander, who raised Shida’s hand.
Match Result: Hikaru Shida defeated Mina Shirakawa
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-Footage of The Young Bucks being attacked by The Dogs on Collision last week was shown. It’s announced that The Bucks & The Rascalz take on The Dogs & Death Riders this Saturday.
Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis (w/Don Callis)
(I genuinely thought this was one of the best TV matches of the year on Dynamite so far, as these two told such a great story and the result made Davis look like an absolute beast. The neck continues to be Ospreay’s downfall and whether he has enough not just to win matches, but make his way to the AEW World Title. The post-match was incredibly compelling, as it looks as if the Death Riders are going to be the ones to potentially get Ospreay back to health? It remains to be seen, but this match was go out of your way one to watch.)
Excalibur said that Ospreay just barely got cleared by doctors prior to tonight, as Davis charged the ring, launched Ospreay from the ring and into the railing as Callis cackled on commentary. They bring up how Ospreay opened his home up to Davis & Kyle Fletcher during the pandemic and how is this any way to repay him? Callis said he’d hate that and said Ospreay deserves what he’s getting. Ospreay cleared the ring steps and dropkicked them into Davis’ legs before springing off them with a hurricanrana. Pip, Pip, Cheerio back inside, as Ospreay grimaced after a two count. Ospreay fired off a chop, but Davis didn’t budge, instead, turned Ospreay into a mannequin, falling lifeless to the mat and outside. Davis wanted a powerbomb on the stage, but Ospreay slid out, hit a thrust kick and somersault dive from the stage. Back to ringside, Ospreay charged, but was popped up to the apron, where his legs gave out and Davis hit a leaping senton.
Callis trash talks Ospreay, saying he owes Callis money and dates, as Davis continues wearing Ospreay down back inside with a standing guillotine. Ospreay escaped, tried another springboard, but got hung up and spiked with a hanging neckbreaker from the corner. Davis hit his sliding corner forearm for two, but Ospreay answered with his handspring corkscrew kick for the double down. Helluva Kick connects and Phenomenal Forearm to the neck for a close two. Davis avoided Hidden Blade, fought off a back suplex, hung up Ospreay on the ropes and swung for the fences with a chop/lariat combo. Wild spinning Angle Slam variation got a near fall, as Callis said he could put Davis in the NFL Draft and he’d go in the first round.
Both trade hook kicks and enzugiris, as Davis charged, right into a desperation standing Spanish Fly for two. Ospreay fights off a Backdrop Driver, fires off forearms, as Davis hit a home run right hand. Ospreay responded with a hook kick, wanted an Oscutter, but Davis was ready with two Backdrop Drivers, until another from the apron back to the ring for two. Davis calls for the finish, leaping enzugiri hits, looks for a bounce back lariat, only Ospreay was there for a wild Hidden Blade for two. Hidden Blade proper was shut down by a Davis lariat, who hit his pull-up piledriver, only Ospreay got his foot on the ropes. Callis left the table irate, as Ospreay rolled to the apron, where Davis spiked him with another violent piledriver. Referee Paul Turner calls over Doc Sampson, checking on Ospreay, who tried to make his way back into the ring, but the doctor refused to let him continue, saying Ospreay told him he had no feeling in his arm, so the match is called.
Post-match, Davis dragged Ospreay back into the ring and was about to deliver another piledriver when Marina Shafir appeared on the apron. Davis turned and Jon Moxley was in the ring staring him down. Death Riders surrounded the ring, as Davis slowly placed Ospreay down and retreated with Callis. Moxley & Castagnoli dragged Ospreay to the floor, as they all carried him away through the crowd and out of the arena.
Match Result: Mark Davis defeated Will Ospreay via doctor’s stoppage
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Alex Windsor asking about her loss to Thekla last week and Jamie Hayter not being cleared still after Dynasty. Windsor said she will rip the legs off the spider and they’re lucky Hayter isn’t there tonight. Persephone walks in and said if she’ll have a God in her corner, she’ll team with her on Collision. Windsor accepts and they challenge any two of the Triangle of Madness this Saturday. Persephone says they’ll kick their asses in Spanish.
Samoa Joe vs. Cody Chhun
Loud reaction for the returning Joe, as both trade arm locks to start before Joe starts headbutting the wrist. Chhun tries to fire up, but was easily mowed down by Joe, who lit up Chhun with snap jabs. Chhun was able to fight free from the Muscle Buster with an eye rake, tried a leaping cross body, but Joe did his walk off before violently slamming Chhun into the middle buckle. Muscle Buster spiked Chhun for the easy victory. Joe walked up the ramp and HOOK was there to applaud him, as the two Opps members fist bumped.
Match Result: Samoa Joe defeated Cody Chhun
-A great video package of Darby Allin to the tune of “I’ve Got to Be Me” is played, it covered his journey through AEW and winning the AEW World Title last week. What an interesting, but fitting music choice for Allin, who hasn’t changed who he is since day 1.
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-Renee Paquette is out in front of Jericho’s locker room and asks if he has found partners for Collision? Jericho (whose locker room says Chris Jericho) said as a matter of fact, he has. Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley walk out of the locker room, along with MVP, as they nod to Jericho, who gets in one more time calling Ricochet bald.
Tony Schiavone is in the ring and welcomes New AEW World Champion Darby Allin to the ring to a big ovation and You Deserve It chants. Allin said this took everything, he had his first match in Portland, as he didn’t think of what to say, as this could all end in minutes when Ciampa comes out here. This is a 15-minute ride, he sees what it does to people, it grows egos, but this isn’t for Allin, it’s for his parents he helped retire, his fiancé he met on the school bus, the sherpas who helped him on the mountain and it’s for the fans. MJF marches out to the stage screaming No, No, No, Allin doesn’t deserve sh*t and tells the pipsqueak to give him his belt now. Allin simply says no and declines MJF’s demand of a rematch. Allin said he’s not giving MJF a rematch until he puts something on the line, as everyone in the back deserves a shot, as he’ll put the title on the line every week until it gives out, screaming for MJF to get his ass out of here. Tommaso Ciampa’s music hits and out comes the challenger for tonight’s main event, as MJF gets in his face, but Ciampa kisses him on the cheek and smirks walking by.
Darby Allin vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the AEW World Title
(My goodness, what a war this was. We’ve seen some excellent showings from Ciampa in his AEW run, but this one tops them all, as he brought his A game. A fantastic way to kick off Allin’s title run, as he wants to defend this as long as his body holds up, which leads you to fully believe this won’t be a long reign, but dammit will it be fun. While I loved the Ospreay vs. Davis match earlier in the night, I thought this topped it. Credit to both champion and challenger, this was a phenomenal main event.)
Bell sounds and both men slug for the fences immediately, with Ciampa dishing out a corner boot, but Allin was there to answer with a John Woo dropkick. Allin looked for a Coffin Drop, Ciampa scurried outside, but Allin quickly repositioned and hit one of the top to the floor. Ciampa nearly got Widow’s Bell, instead, booting Allin, smacking his head hard on the commentary table. Ciampa smashed Allin into the railing, as dueling chants ring out from the crowd. Ciampa followed it up by slingshotting Allin’s face underneath the bottom part of the ring outside, only missing a follow-up running boot, crotching himself on the railing. Allin quickly went to the top, stood on the ring post and leapt from the ring putting Ciampa through the timekeepers table, which was rightfully met with Holy Sh*t chants.
Referee Bryce put a count on Ciampa, who came up bleeding and was about to break the count when Allin flew in with a low Tope. Back inside, Bryce was checking on Ciampa, who crotched Allin in the ropes and put the boots to him. Pretty sick camera shot, as Ciampa’s blood is splattered on the camera. Allin tried a Scorpion Death Drop, but Ciampa held onto the corner buckle, ripping it off in the process. Allin went for a Coffin Drop, but Ciampa rolled to the opposite apron. Allin took too long to capitalize, as Ciampa hung him up in the corner, fired off chops and hit an insane Psycho Driller from the ropes to the floor, as both men went splat and Ciampa is clutching his hip, but screaming at Bryce not to stop it. Meanwhile, Allin hasn’t moved since impact and I’m not sure if the ref even checked on him. Ciampa rolled Allin’s lifeless body into the ring for a two count, as Allin got a rope break. Ciampa fires off chops and they only seem to wake Allin up, who got a head of steam, but both collided with a dueling double cross body into the double down.
Both men slowly rise and trade strikes, with the bloodied Ciampa firing off a series of chops, but missed a charge. Allin was almost slingshot into the exposed buckle, but Allin hopped to the second and hit a double stomp. Allin got a head of steam, but Ciampa flipped him into landing face first and running knee. Allin rose up and spiked Ciampa with Code Red for his closest near fall of the match. Allin struggled to his feet, leapt for a Coffin Drop, only to fall into the clutches of a Ciampa Rear Naked Choke. Allin rolled through into a flash pin attempt for two, charged, but the back of his head smacked the exposed buckle. Ciampa lowered the knee pad and hit his running knee strike again, but Allin kicked out. Project Ciampa connects, as he clobbered Allin with a third knee, but again, Allin was out at two. Ciampa slowly goes for a Scorpion Death Lock, Allin kicks out, rolls through into the submission of his own. Ciampa scrambles to the ropes, but Allin repositions and Ciampa taps.
Post-match, Ciampa shook Allin’s hand and placed the AEW Title on Allin’s shoulder, hugging him before giving the champion the ring. Brody King came to the ring and said he was serious when he said he was proud of Allin and he talked to Tony Khan and with Allin’s permission, next week, Darby Allin vs. Brody King for the AEW World Title. Allin accepts and King raises Allin’s hand with the graphic making it official for Dynamite next week.
Match Result: Darby Allin defeated Tommaso Ciampa to retain the AEW World Title
AEW Collision: Playoff Palooza 4/25/26
- The Demand (Ricochet & G.O.A.) vs. Jericho & The Hurt Syndicate (Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley)
- Jungle Jack Perry vs. El Clon for the AEW National Title
- Alex Windsor & Persephone vs. Thekla & Skye Blue
- Kris Statlander In Action
- The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) vs. Don Callis Family (Andrade El Idolo, Lance Archer & Hechicero) for the AEW Trios Titles
- The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) & The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier & Myron Reed) vs. The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) & Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia)
AEW Dynamite 4/29/26
- Darby Allin vs. Brody King for the AEW World Title
- Kevin Knight vs. MJF for the TNT Title
