A battle royal has been announced for next week’s AEW Dynamite.
It was announced prior to the main event of tonight’s show that a battle royal will take place on next week’s show with the winner receiving a TNT title match in two weeks on the June 3rd Dynamite.
The first TNT champion will be crowned at Saturday’s Double or Nothing and Mike Tyson will present the winner of Cody vs. Lance Archer with the championship. The two had a brawl on last week’s Dynamite as Cody attacked Archer after Archer’s manager, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, put a snake on Brandi Rhodes.
Archer ended up laying out Cody, but was stopped by Roberts before any more damage was taken.
Roberts, as well as Cody’s head coach Arn Anderson, appeared this week on Dynamite and exchanged words regarding the match. The segment ended when Anderson threatened to give Roberts a spinebuster at Double or Nothing.
Another match has been added to next week’s AEW Dynamite.
It was announced on tonight’s AEW’s Dynamite post-show that Cody will face Joey Janela in a singles match. It will be the first time Janela has wrestled for AEW since March 18 in a match taped for AEW Dark.
Cody defeated Darby Allin on tonight’s Dynamite to earn a spot in the finals of the AEW TNT title tournament. He will face Lance Archer, who defeated his brother Dustin Rhodes to advance to the finals. That will take place on May 23 at Double or Nothing.
Other matches announced for next week include Kenny Omega & Matt Hardy vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara and Frankie Kazarian vs. Jon Moxley.
MJF will also make his return. He has not wrestled on television since the March 11th edition of Dynamite.
AEW will be running live shows again for the first time since April 1st, starting with next week’s show.
Cody and Lance Archer have both advanced to the finals of the tournament that will crown the first AEW TNT champion. Cody was the first to advance, defeating Darby Allin in the first semifinal match that took place tonight on Dynamite. Darby connected with a coffin drop off the top rope, but Cody shifted Darby’s shoulders to the mat and pinned him to advance.
The main event featured the second semifinal match between Lance Archer and Dustin Rhodes. After a back and forth match, Archer rammed Dustin’s head into an exposed turnbuckle. QT Marshall came out to throw in the towel, but Cody stopped him before he could. Archer then finished off Dustin with the EBD claw.
Cody and Lance Archer have previously confronted one another before. Jake Roberts, who has been managing Archer, issued a challenge to Cody several weeks ago. Cody noted that Archer had success in Japan, but had not proven himself in America, eventually rejecting the offer.
The TNT Championship tournament semifinals take place tonight on AEW Dynamite.
One semifinal bout will see Lance Archer face off with Dustin Rhodes. Rhodes earned his spot in the semis with a win over Kip Sabian on last week’s episode. Archer secured his place by winning against Colt Cabana.
The other semifinal will see Cody take on Darby Allin. These two have faced off twice before in AEW. They wrestled to a time limit draw at Fyter Fest last June, and Cody defeated Allin in their second matchup on the January 1, 2020 edition of Dynamite.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley has been advertised as delivering a promo on tonight’s show. Moxley retained the championship with a win over Jake Hager two weeks ago. With no card yet announced for next month’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view, this promo could be about establishing a contender for Moxley’s title.
“The Exalted One” Mr. Brodie Lee will be in action tonight against Marko Stunt in a match that was set up on Dynamite last week. Also announced is a Best Friends vs. Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc no countout/no DQ match. Penelope Ford will be in Sabian and Havoc’s corner, while Orange Cassidy will accompany Best Friends.
Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone will once again be on commentary for tonight’s show.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Schiavone and Jericho previewed the card. A Wardlow squash match was added to everything that had already been announced.
These guys had a hell of a match. This took up nearly the first 30 minutes of the show.
The story of this match was Allin working over Cody’s left knee.
They began with some chain wrestling. Allin targeted the knee with kicks.
They brawled outside where Allin dodged a charge from Cody. Cody accidentally took out Brandi. Cody briefly got the upper hand until Allin went back after the left knee. Back in the ring, Allin used a heel hook, a kneebar and an Indian deathlock variation.
As Cody rolled outside to collect himself, Britt Baker hit him with her shoe from the audience.
After a commercial break, Cody made a comeback. He landed a lariat, an x-plex and a disaster kick. Allin cut Cody off and hit Cross Rhodes for a near fall.
Allin used a figure four. Brandi returned to the ring with a bottle of water. Cody took a swig. Allin connected with a forearm and Cody did a spit take.
Allin went for a second rope Coffin Drop. Cody caught him coming in and hit Cross Rhodes. Allin kicked out. Cody went for a top rope Coffin Drop. Allin got his knees up.
The finish saw Allin go up top for a Coffin Drop. He landed it, but Cody pulled him over into a backslide and pinned him. This was the Triple H/Jeff Hardy finish from No Mercy 2007.
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We got another Scorpio Sky personality profile.
Sky said Kazarian and Daniels had been looking for a third guy for SCU. They picked him.
He said he really started to get over with the “worst town” spots in Being The Elite.
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MJF gave an injury update from “his rat’s mansion” in Massapequa, NY.
He said he’s made a miraculous recovery from his life-threatening hangnail.
He said he nicked his neck while shaving and put on a neck brace.
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Wardlow defeated Musa
Wardlow won a quick squash with a knee to the face and an F-10.
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A Bubbly Bunch episode aired. They spoofed the stunt performer video that went viral this week.
This featured a ton of celebrity cameos, including Kevin Smith, Lou Ferrigno, Jericho’s dad Ted Irvine, Virgil and Vickie Guerrero.
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Best Friends (w/Orange Cassidy) defeated Jimmy Havoc & Kip Sabian (w/Penelope Ford) in a no DQ/no countout match
This was chaos. Everyone worked hard but this went nearly fifteen minutes which was just too long.
Trent and Sabian hit topes early on. Havoc threw a chair at Cassidy’s head and took him out. Cassidy went backstage.
Havoc suplexed Taylor on a pile of chairs on the floor. Trent speared Havoc on the floor. Havoc used a ladder and hit a slingshot on Trent into the ladder. This ladder didn’t appear to be a gimmicked ladder and it didn’t break until late in the match.
Trent and Taylor threw chairs at Havoc’s head and did their hug spot. Havoc pulled Trent off the top rope onto the ladder. Taylor hit a piledriver on Sabian onto a pile of chairs. Taylor went for a cover but Ford pulled him out of the cover.
Cassidy ran back down to the ring and topped Havoc from sending Taylor through a ladder. Ford accidentally hit a knee strike and a spear to Sabian as she tried to hit Cassidy. Cassidy hit a dive off the post to Ford and Sabian.
The finish saw Taylor hit an Awful Waffle on Havoc on a pile of chairs for the pin.
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A tremendous Britt Baker “role model” video package aired.
This co-starred Rebel, formerly of TNA, who is one of AEW’s makeup artists. Baker referred to her as “Reba.”
Baker said not everyone can be a role model. People who wear glasses can’t unless they’re a doctor. Fat people can’t be role models. People with snaggle teeth can’t. Baker used a photo of Schiavone to illustrate these points.
This was a comedy home run.
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Shawn Spears defeated Baron Black
Spears won a squash with a sharpshooter.
Earlier in the match, Spears hit a vertical suplex, a C4 and also tried to twerk.
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Taz broke down Lance Archer’s Blackout in a video package.
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Mr. Brodie Lee defeated Marko Stunt
Lee hit a big boot, a series of throws, then pinned Stunt with a sit-out powerbomb.
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Jon Moxley cut a promo. This was excellent.
He said he’s thankful for Jack Daniels, his wife, and steel chairs. He said DDTs are always better on steel chairs than not. He said they didn’t teach Jake Hager that at Oklahoma.
He said he’ll be back swearing and bleeding in front of a crowd again soon and we’ll all be together again soon.
Moxley said Dynamite is live next week. He’s throwing some Metallica cds in his truck and driving east. He knows he has a target on his back with Double or Nothing coming up.
Moxley ended the promo by telling us to support local businesses by ordering takeout, and most importantly, not to forget to call our grandmothers.
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Jon Moxley vs. Frankie Kazarian and MJF returning were advertised for next week’s show.
Also announced was Kenny Omega and Matt Hardy vs. “Le Sex Gods” Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara in a street fight.
This picked up in the last segment, but they had to go through two commercial breaks and worked at a lethargic pace in the first two segments.
Archer sent Rhodes rolling outside with a pounce. Archer grabbed a chair from under the ring. Rhodes grabbed the chair away. Archer kicked the the chair into Rhodes’s face. Rhodes bladed.
Archer continued to work on the cut after a commercial break. The idea was to let the blood provide drama and tell the story. They worked very, very slowly.
Rhodes fired up and hit a series of strikes. He hit a last shot in the corner, which was not worthy of a DQ. Rhodes missed a knee drop and Archer used a chinlock before another ad break.
Rhodes hit a destroyer. They traded strikes. Rhodes ducked two lariats and hit his own lariat. Archer ducked a bulldog but Rhodes hit a powerslam.
Rhodes went for ten punches in the corner. He hit five punches before Archer cut him off. Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes but Archer kicked out at one.
Rhodes came off the top rope into a chokeslam by Archer for a two count.
Archer walked the top rope and hit a moonsault for a near fall. That was nuts.
Archer went for Blackout but Rhodes blocked. Archer hit a chokeslam for a two count. Rhodes used a backslide for a quick two count.
Archer exposed a turnbuckle, then rammed Rhodes face-first into it.
QT Marshall came to ringside with a towel. He threatened to throw in the towel. Cody ran out and stopped him.
Cody asked Dustin if he wanted him to throw in the towel. Dustin refused.
Archer pulled Rhodes to the center of the ring and used the EBD Claw to pin him.
Taking advantage of WWE allowing their trademark to lapse, Cody Runnels filed for a trademark on the “Cody Rhodes” name with the US Patent and Trademark Office on April 13th.
WWE had owned the rights to the name since filing for it in June of 2007. Fightful noted WWE was notified in October 2018 that the mark was set to expire in a year, plus an additional six month grace period. WWE didn’t refile so Runnels made the move the first day he was able to.
When Runnels left WWE in 2016, he went by his real name and eventually just Cody in order to avoid any legal issues. He said last year that he could use the Cody Rhodes name, but chose not to. It’s unclear whether he will adopt the full name in AEW if he is successful in acquiring the trademark.
Runnels has been active with trademarks on certain terms or concepts that his father created or came up with. One example is AEW using the Bash At The Beach name earlier this year which WWE objected to despite Runnels owning the rights.
Runnels also owns trademarks like The American Dream, The American Nightmare, Dusty Rhodes, Battlebowl, Bunkhouse Stampede, The Prince of Wrestling, and The Match Beyond, all related to wrestling use.
Next week’s AEW Dynamite took shape on this week’s show with the semifinals of the TNT Championship tournament now confirmed.
In what is billed as a double main event, Cody will face Darby Allin in one semifinal while Lance Archer will face Dustin Rhodes in the other semifinal. Allin defeated Sammy Guevara Wednesday to advance, setting up his third AEW match with Cody. Several weeks ago, Cody and Allin teamed up in a tag match with Allin slugging Rhodes afterward.
With his career on the line, Rhodes defeated Kip Sabian Wednesday to advance against Archer who beat Colt Cabana several weeks ago. Archer and manager Jake Roberts have been taunting Cody for weeks and will look to advance that storyline against his older brother.
Also announced for the show:
AEW Champion Jon Moxley will make an appearance, likely beginning the setup for his next title defense at May’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
Brodie Lee will face Marko Stunt. On Wednesday’s show, Lee easily picked up a win over Justin Law and stared down Stunt who was in the crowd. Afterward, he continued to stare down Stunt as he left the ring.
Also set up on tonight’s Dynamite and announced as the show was going off the air, Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc will face Best Friends in a no DQ, no countout match.
Matches for the show were taped several weeks ago in Norcross, Georgia.
Cody and Tony Schiavone were the commentary duo for the opener.
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Penelope Ford (w/ Kip Sabian) defeated Anna Jay
Cody said that Kip and Penelope got engaged in a dog park where he used to take Pharaoh.
Ford and Jay traded headlock takeovers. Ford hit a couple of shoulder tackles. Jay hit a rough hip toss and a nice arm drag.
Sabian jumped on the apron and distracted Jay. Ford hit a double back handspring elbow in the corner to get the heat on Jay.
Ford hit some forearm strikes and a vertical suplex. Ford then missed another attempt at a handspring elbow. Jay countered with an attack in the corner and a snapmare. Jay made a cover off the snapmare for a two count.
Ford used a matrix back bend to escape an attack, then used a stunner.
The finish saw Ford use a fisherman suplex for the pin.
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A Double or Nothing hype video aired.
Schiavone called the main event solo.
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Cody (w/ Brandi Rhodes) defeated Joe Alonzo
They teased locking up. Cody went for an ankle pick, then a single-leg takedown, but Alonzo blocked.
They locked up. Cody worked on the left arm. Cody hit a shoulder tackle. He offered Alonzo a handshake. Alonzo used the handshake to take Cody down, then hit a kick.
Cody answered with a powerslam and a delayed vertical suplex. Cody did a set of push-ups in the center of the ring.
Alonzo slid outside and taunted Brandi. Cody went out after him and rammed his face into the apron.
Back inside, Alonzo hit a cutter. Cody no-sold and hit a pump kick. Cody went for Cross Rhodes. Alonzo blocked and rolled Cody up for a two count.
The finish saw Cody apply a standing figure four/cloverleaf that he’s calling the Gail Lock in honor of Gail Kim. Alonzo tapped out.
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Cody teased whipping Alonzo with his weight belt after the match. Instead, he shook Alonzo’s hand.
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Final thoughts —
Ford and Jay had a solid outing, though both are still green. Jay did not look as good as she did in her AEW debut.
Cody’s use of freestyle and folkstyle wrestling in his matches recently has been interesting. No one else in North America is working the style that he is right now. This episode is worth going out of your way to see if you’re into that.
AEW announced two matches for this Tuesday’s Dark with one of the company’s top stars featured in singles action.
Cody will look to extend a three match winning streak against Joe Alonzo. This will be a warmup match of sorts as Cody prepares to face either Sammy Guevara or Darby Allin in the next round of the TNT Championship tournament on Dynamite.
The 23-year-old Alonzo made his AEW debut in an 85 second loss to Jake Hager on the March 18th Dark. In the past few years, he has wrestled against the likes of Shane Strickland, Brian Pillman Jr., Myron Reed, and Cryme Tyme.
Also on the show, Penelope Ford returns to action against Anna Jay. Ford was last seen in a losing effort in a four-way match on the March 18th Dynamite after defeating former champion Riho the week prior on Dark. She will face Jay who lost to Hikaru Shida in her AEW debut and was signed the week afterward.
Dark airs on Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern on their YouTube channel.
Matt and Nick Jackson were shown filming promos to hype up their match on next week’s BTE 200. Matt said this was the biggest match of his career. Brandon Cutler reminded him of two AEW ppv matches. Matt ultimately decided this was the ninth biggest match of his career.
Nick said the match will be held in his backyard on the BTE Compound.
Matt refused to discuss any of his brother’s weaknesses.
Nick said that Matt’s weakness is his back and he plans to attack it.
Matt said he loves his brother and doesn’t want to hurt him.
Nick said he’s better than Matt.
Matt said he has an insurance policy under his shoe.
Matt Hardy provided analysis on the upcoming match both in and out of his Broken character.
Scorpio Sky, Brandon Cutler, Cody, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Kenny Omega, Joey Ryan, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll, Fat Ass Massa, Colt Cabana and Flip Gordon broke down the match.
Kazarian said that Matt has called Nick a jobber that he’s tired of carrying.
Cody acted out the way he sees the match going with Young Bucks Funko Pops.
Scurll said Matt and Nick are dead to him.
Ryan said that Nick has the best hot tag in the business but this isn’t a tag match.
Cabana taunted Omega.
Gordon said he was going to try to get booked.
Massa said f–k The Young Bucks.
Matt and Nick asked Cutler to make a prediction for the match. he refused.
The first of four quarterfinal matches in the inaugural TNT Championship tournament is in the books with Cody Rhodes picking up a win over Shawn Spears on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
Rhodes recovered from a C4 from the ring to a table on the outside. After crawling back in the ring, he connected on two CrossRhodes but Spears kicked out only to eventually get pinned while being ensnared in a figure four leglock.
This was the first time the two have wrestled in singles competition since the first All Out pay-per-view in 2019.
Rhodes advances to face the winner of Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara which will air at some point over the next three weeks. Allin and Rhodes teamed up last week with Allin punching Rhodes in frustration after the match. They have wrestled two singles matches in AEW with a time limit draw the first time and Rhodes picking up a victory the second time.
Cody and Guevara wrestled on the very first match in Dynamite history with Rhodes picking up the win.
Next week’s Dynamite will feature Lance Archer vs. Colt Cabana in a quarterfinal match with the winner facing the winner of Dustin Rhodes vs. Kip Sabian.
AEW Dynamite airs tonight from The Nightmare Factory in Norcross, Georgia.
The TNT Championship Tournament will begin with a first round match between Cody and Shawn Spears. Cody and Spears last squared off at AEW All Out last August in a match where Cody was victorious.
Britt Baker will take on Hikaru Shida in a women’s division match. Baker taunted Shida from the sidelines during Shida’s match last week, setting up this contest. Baker also threatened to attack Shida with her shoe.
Kenny Omega and Michael Nakazawa will team against the Best Friends duo of Trent and Chuck Taylor. Omega holds the AEW World Tag Team titles with Hangman Page, but Page has not appeared on Dynamite in recent weeks.
Lance Archer and Brodie Lee are also scheduled for singles bouts tonight against unnamed competitors, likely in squash matches.
The commentary team for tonight’s show will be Tony Schiavone and Chris Jericho.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opened with a strong Jake Roberts promo. He asked Cody if he was a man or a mouse and asked him to squeak up and tell him.
Roberts said he expected Cody to slip on a banana peel and lose tonight so he wouldn’t have to face Lance Archer later in the tournament.
Lance Archer defeated Allen Angels
Angels didn’t get a graphic. Archer won a squash with the Blackout.
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Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone previewed the rest of the card. Jericho put over Britt Baker’s ring gear, he said he loves sparkly outfits.
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Hikaru Shida defeated Britt Baker
These two beat the hell out of each other. The match went a little long but was very intense and very good. Maybe the best match of Baker’s career.
Tony commented that Baker had an attitude change in recent months. Jericho said he was in the same place as Baker in 1997. Then he started shaking babies and kissing hands rather than the other way around and became the Jericho we know today.
Baker used underhanded tactics to take control on Shida. Baker hit a very real punch to the face on the mat. Baker started playing to the camera, allowing Shida to come back with an attack on the floor. Shida hit a knee lift before a commercial break.
Shida was still in control after the break. Baker used a quick cradle for a two count. Shida used a triangle choke but Baker forced a break.
Baker hit a slingblade and a double arm suplex for a near fall. Baker went for Lockjaw but Shida forced a rope break.
They traded stiff strikes. Baker ended up with a bloody nose. Shida hit a Michinoku driver for a near fall. They traded cradles for near falls.
Baker hit a swinging neckbreaker and a superkick for near falls.
The finish saw Shida hit a gutbuster on the top rope, then follow up with a shining wizard for the pin.
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Kenny Omega and Michael Nakazawa met backstage. Omega said they’re teaming tonight and they used to be a great team in DDT but they need a team name. Nakazawa suggested “Best Friends.”
Orange Cassidy and Best Friends entered and they had a comedy pull-apart. Omega said if he and Nakazawa win tonight they get the Best Friends name.
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A video package detailed the latest AEW rankings. I hope they do this every week.
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A strong video package aired hyping the Jake Hager vs. Jon Moxley title match next week.
Moxley said he’s not in the business of putting smiles on faces. He said he’s going to beat Hager and it’s going to be ugly and violent.
Hager did a much better promo than last week in this package. His wife Catalina Hager said that either Hager comes him a victor or he doesn’t come home. Hager’s MMA coach put over his dedication.
Moxley said Hager popped right up from the move that’s put down everyone in this business in the Paradigm Shift. He said they don’t get paid by the hour and next week’s match could go three or thirty minutes.
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Best Friends defeated Kenny Omega & Michael Nakazawa
Taylor and Trent won after hitting Strong Zero on Nakazawa.
This went approximately as long as Edge and Orton at WrestleMania.
Nakazawa did his baby oil and underpants spots. That’s fine. It just went way too long.
Omega and Nakazawa cut off Taylor, then Trent, then Taylor, then Trent. Orange Cassidy jumped in and did some comedy spots with Nakazawa.
Schiavone and Jericho weren’t burying this on commentary but they weren’t sure how to sell it either.
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A Brodie Lee video aired. He ripped on two minions for not dressing as sharply as another minion and wearing a tie. Lee said perception is reality and the perception when walking through an airport is important.
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Britt Baker cut a promo. She said Shida is the dirtiest wrestler she’s ever been in the ring with and she’s lucky Shida didn’t touch here teeth. Baker said actually, if Shida had broken her teeth, Britt could fix them herself because she’s a dentist.
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We got another Moxley/Hager video package. Moxley cut a great promo about how there are no judges or scorecards when Hager steps in the ring with him.
Moxley said in no uncertain terms, he’s going to “f*** Hager up.”
Hager’s talking was not very good in this video. He said AEW will be better off with Hager as champion.
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A Matt Hardy promo aired.
He ripped on Jericho for targeting his allies The Elite. He said he won’t allow the circle that’s internal to take over AEW.
He said Sammy Guevara is a false god and a false Latino. He said he can’t wait to eat Proud and Powerful because he loves Puerto Rican food. He said all Hager needs to complete his transformation to a Jakenstein is two bolts in the side of his head.
Hardy called on Vanguard 1 to bring him the Inner Circle shirt from Jericho. Vanguard said Jericho’s shirt was a dumpster fire.
Hardy challenged Jericho to come to the Hardy compound and face him in The Elite Deletion.
I think the Broken gimmick is stale and doesn’t fit in AEW but if you disagree, you would probably enjoy this promo.
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Brodie Lee defeated Lee Johnson
This is the second Lee Johnson match I’ve seen this week. I’ve learned that he throws a great dropkick and takes a hell of a flip bump.
Lee won a quick squash. He suplexed Johnson right on his head, hit a black hole slam, then used the discus lariat for the pin.
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Cody (w/Brandi Rhodes) defeated Shawn Spears
Cody came out of the gate strong and used a cutter for a near fall. Cody used a variety of holds and got some quick covers for two counts.
Cody really made a point of covering chest to chest and not hooking legs as he brought up on commentary last week. I’m not sure which technique would be more effective in a shoot. But after years of hooking a leg being emphasized in pro wrestling, it looks weird to see a different cover.
Cody missed a moonsault which allowed Spears to take over before the first commercial break.
Spears hit a suplex on a guardrail on the outside, then continued to beat Cody down in the ring. Spears missed a springboard frog splash and Cody got his knees up.
Cody made a comeback with his weight belt. Cody missed a Disaster Kick. Spears hit a spinebuster for a two count before the second commercial break of the match.
Spears pulled a table from under the ring. Cody nailed him with a suicide dive. Spears hit a double underhook superplex but could not follow up with a cover.
They did a spot where they teased Brandi going through the table off the apron. Instead, Spears tossed Cody over the top through a table. Cody made it back in after a countout tease.
Cody blocked a C4 and hit two Cross Rhodes. Spears kicked out.
The finish was unique. Cody locked on a figure four. Spears put his shoulders on the mat in the hold and Aubrey Edwards counted the pin.
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This show had some life thanks to the presence of extras and enhancement talent serving as the crowd for the night. Way more than ten people in the room if that’s still a thing we’re talking about.
Shida and Baker had a killer match and Spears and Cody were solid in the main event.
The promos and hype videos were mostly good. I’m down on the Matt Hardy stuff and thought the comedy tag match went way too long, but otherwise enjoyed the show.
The first match in the TNT title tournament will take place next week on Dynamite.
Cody will battle longtime rival Shawn Spears next week in the first round of the tournament that will decide the first-ever TNT champion. Cody and Spears, former tag team partners in OVW, collided at last year’s All Out event, with Cody picking up the win.
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite was headlined by a tag team match where Cody and Darby Allin lost to Shawn Spears and Sammy Guevara. Spears rolled up Allin for the win after distracting him with a steel chair.
Other matches that will be held in the first round include Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara, Kip Sabian vs. Dustin Rhodes, and Lance Archer vs. Colt Cabana.
The finals of the tournament will take place at Double or Nothing, which is currently scheduled to take place on May 23 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After weeks of airing from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, AEW Dynamite airs tonight from an undisclosed location.
New restrictions on hotels in Jacksonville and the presence of a new coronavirus testing center in a parking lot close to Daily’s Place forced the shift.
It is unclear how much of tonight’s show will be live versus taped, as our Dave Meltzer reported yesterday that a significant amount of footage was recorded yesterday for use in upcoming shows.
Announced for tonight’s show is a tag team match featuring Cody and Darby Allin teaming against Shawn Spears and Sammy Guevara. All four have also been announced as competitors in the upcoming TNT Championship tournament.
Guevara will face Allin and Cody will face Spears in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The four other tournament participants will be announced this evening as well.
Also announced for tonight’s show is Kenny Omega vs. Trent. These two last met in singles competition in NJPW in November 2017, when Omega successfully defended the IWGP United States Heavyweight title.
Lance Archer is also scheduled to make his AEW in-ring debut tonight against an unnamed competitor.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Kip Sabian vs. Dustin Rhodes and Lance Archer vs. Colt Cabana were announced as the other two matches in the first round of the TNT tournament.
Billy and Austin Gunn stood in the babyface section of the crowd. Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford, Jimmy Havoc and Britt Baker stood several feet apart on the heel side.
Cody, his dog Pharaoh and Tony Schiavone previewed the card for this evening.
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Kenny Omega defeated Trent (w/Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy)
They had a very good TV bout. The story of the match was that Trent was getting the best of the wrestling exchanges. Omega became frustrated and resorted to brawling. Trent became frustrated at that and started using brawling tactics himself.
They began with a handshake.
Omega hit his kotaro krusher. Trent connected on some chops. They brawled around the arena and fought into the crowd. Omega hit a pop-up powerbomb into a post in the crowd.
They traded strikes in the ring. Omega hit a V-Trigger. Trent hit a piledriver. Omega blocked a swing DDT and connected with a snap dragon suplex.
Omega took a flip bump off lariat. Omega hit a powerbomb and a V-Trigger. They traded shots on the apron as they really began teasing a time limit draw.
Trent hit a nasty suplex off the top rope. He never had his feet set and the ropes looked loose and he almost killed Omega with a head drop superplex. Trent covered for a two count.
Omega hit a V-Trigger and used the One-Winged Angel for the pin with a minute left.
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A video recapped the Matt Hardy/Chris Jericho angle from last week. That feels like it was a year ago at least.
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A Hikaru Shida hype video played.
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Hikaru Shida defeated Anna Jayy
Jayy looked good here in her debut and they had a competitive match.
Jayy hit a knee strike. Shida hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a knee lift before jawing with Britt Baker on the outside.
Shida hit a forearm strike. Jayy came back with kicks and used three quick cradles for near falls. Shida tried a triangle choke but Jayy reached the ropes.
Shida hit a vertical suplex, a knee strike, then used the falcon arrow to pick up the pin.
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Shida and Baker exchanged more words after the match.
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A Jake Hager vs. Jon Moxley hype video played. Moxley and Chris Jericho were excellent in this video package.
Hager vs. Moxley in a no holds barred empty arena match for the AEW title was announced for the April 15 Dynamite.
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Colt Cabana joined Schiavone on commentary as Cody left to prepare for his match.
A Lance Archer hype video played. Jake Roberts cut a promo and said Cody might be smarter than he gave him credit for.
He said Cody might be smart enough to be afraid of Archer. Either that or his better half is ordering Cody to stay away. Roberts said Cody’s better half wears the pants anyway.
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Lance Archer defeated Marko Stunt
Archer dominated with a variety of power moves. Stunt hit a tope suicida and teased another dive, but Archer cut him off with a lariat and hit a pounce.
Archer hit a chokeslam. He had Stunt pinned but pulled him up at the count of two to dish out more punishment.
Archer then hit Blackout and pinned Stunt.
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Archer threw Stunt out of the ring and over the barricade onto the babyface side of the crowd after the match.
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A Brodie Lee video played. This week he freaked out over a minion not referring to him as Mr. Brodie, then went off on another for yawning.
8 and 9 were masked Dark Order geeks. Marshall had the mask that Dark Order offered him last week. He tossed it aside and went on the attack.
8 and 9 got some offense on Marshall. Marshall came back with some impressive power spots and gave Dustin the hot tag. Dustin ran wild with trademark spots including his bulldog, powerslam and a flip dive off the apron.
Dustin and Marshall hit their tandem flapjack for the pin.
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Brodie came to the ring after the match to deliver a powerbomb to 8 or 9 for failing.
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A Jericho video promo played. This was essentially a rehash of last week’s angle, minus a Hardy appearance.
Jericho was in a hot tub at his estate. He ran down The Elite and used a variety of catchphrases. This was wildly entertaining.
Vanguard One approached Jericho. Jericho tried to apologize but couldn’t say te word “sorry.”
Jericho again offered Vanguard One a spot in The Inner Circle and placed a tiny Inner Circle shirt on a iny hanger on Vanguard. Vanguard flew away with the shirt.
Jericho ordered the hounds to be released at his his estate. The dogs chased the drone as it flew away.
Some will like this, some will hate this.
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Cody vs. Shawn Spears in a TNT tournament match was announced for next week.
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A Young Bucks video package showed Nick and Matt working in the ring as Nick prepared to come back from his attack at the hands of The Inner Circle.
They cut a positive promo encouraging everyone to live life to the fullest. Nick said he can’t wait to get back to wrestling but he’s not ready yet.
Cody and Allin got some shine at the outset. They hit stereo suicide dives before the first commercial break of the match.
After the ad break, Guevara and Spears worked over Allin. They took money out of their trunks and were gambling on who could hold Allin up for a monger suplex.
Allin came back with an air raid crash on Guevara. Cody got a hot tag and ran wild with a disaster kick, a springboard cutter and a powerslam.
Guevara took the referee allowing Spears to pull Cody outside. Cody got sent over the barricade where the heels worked him over before the second ad break.
After the commercials, Spears and Guevara traded quick tags in working Cody over. Cody came back with a moonsault press on Spears and made a hot tag to Allin.
Allin hit a missile dropkick and a suicide dive to Guevara. Allin tried a second dive to Spears but got caught and sent into the barricade.
Things broke down as Guevara hit a dropkick sending Allin over the barricade. Cody hit a dive. Spears hit a C4 on Cody.
In a crazy spot, Allin shimmied up a support beam and hit a Coffin Drop to Guevara and Spears on the floor. Allin tried a scond Coffin Drop but got cut off. Guevara tossed Allin off the top rope into the barricade.
Cody hit a superplex to Guevara. Spears hit a frog splash to Cody.
Spears teased a chair shot to Cody. Allin pulled the chair away. Guevara grabbed the chair allowing Spears to roll up and pin Allin.
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After the match, Allin laid out Cody with a right hand.
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I would call this a thumbs up show. It had a lot of good wrestling. The angles were a bit more spotty and their success or failure depends on what you want out of your wrestling.
Ahead of the TNT Championship tournament, four of the wrestlers set for it will be in tag team action on this week’s episode of Dynamite.
AEW has announced that Cody & Darby Allin vs. Shawn Spears & Sammy Guevara will take place on Dynamite tomorrow. Those are the four wrestlers on the left side of the TNT Championship tournament bracket.
It will be Cody vs. Spears and Allin vs. Guevara in the first round of the TNT Championship tournament. The winners will advance to face each other in the semifinals.
The other half of the bracket for the TNT Championship tournament will be revealed on Dynamite tomorrow. It’s an eight-man, single-elimination tournament and will begin on Dynamite on Wednesday, April 8.
Dave Meltzer reported today that AEW’s TV is being moved out of Daily’s Place in Jacksonville and will now take place at an undisclosed location that’s believed to be in the Southeast. Meltzer wrote that it’s “believed they will be taping matches throughout Tuesday and Wednesday for this week’s Dynamite and Dark as well as future shows.”
Kenny Omega vs. Trent is also set for tomorrow’s Dynamite, along with Lance Archer making his AEW in-ring debut. Archer’s opponent hasn’t been revealed.
The first half of the bracket is set for AEW’s TNT Championship tournament.
On tonight’s AEW Dark, it was announced that Cody vs. Shawn Spears and Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara are the matches on the left side of the TNT Championship tournament bracket. The winners of those matches will face each other in the semifinals.
Cody vs. Spears and Allin vs. Guevara are both rematches from AEW pay-per-views. Cody defeated Spears at All Out last August, while Allin defeated Guevara at Revolution this February.
The right side of the bracket will be revealed on tomorrow’s episode of Dynamite. It’s an eight-man, single-elimination tournament.
The tournament will kick off on the Wednesday, April 8 episode of Dynamite. AEW announced that the inaugural TNT Champion is scheduled to be crowned with the finals taking place at Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 23.
“It’s been a privilege working with Kevin Reilly and TNT to bring fans the best live wrestling show week after week on AEW: DYNAMITE, especially during these tumultuous times,” AEW president and CEO Tony Khan said in the press release announcing the new title.
“I’m glad we’re now able to announce the TNT CHAMPIONSHIP. The first ever titleholder will be determined by an unforgettable tournament that fans will not want to miss, and that our wrestlers will be desperate to win. I’m excited for the announcement of the full bracket live on Dynamite this week. And, it’s only fitting that the champion and the title belt will carry the logo of the globally-respected TNT brand, and that they’ll represent not only AEW but also the great quality programming, massive reach, and storied history in the wrestling business that are all associated with TNT.”
The TNT Championship will be the fourth title that AEW has introduced. Jon Moxley holds the AEW Championship, Nyla Rose is the AEW Women’s Champion, and Kenny Omega & Hangman Page are the AEW Tag Team Champions.
