The third annual AEW Dynasty PPV is in the annals of history, and it was a damn fine wrestling show. We were treated to a slew of good-to-great matches as usual, we got some setups for future marquee bouts, and the roster was welcomed by a mostly very hot crowd. Also I took a major bath on my predictions, going only 4 for 9. Insanity.
The show kicked off with what was in my estimation the show stealer, and one of the best PPV openers I've ever seen. The Young Bucks faced the superteam of Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita, in a basically perfect 20-minute match. We got the usual innovative Bucks spots and wild nearfalls but Okada and Takeshita perfectly advanced their ongoing feud to set up a rematch at Double or Nothing. Don Callis on commentary added plenty of levity as well, ultimately throwing a fit as his two top talents came to blows. At one point when the heels were in control, Okada donned Nick Jackson's headband and vest, and stood in Nick's corner to tease the embattled Matt by flipping him off. I laughed. After a Bucks comeback the four men traded finishers, with Team Callis "accidentally" hitting each other a couple times before full-on fighting. The Bucks took advantage and knocked Okada loopy with a BTE Trigger for a nearfall, then set him up for the TK Driver. Takeshita grabbed Nick's ankle on the outside to prevent the move but then let him go and walked away, leaving Okada to take the move and eat the pinfall. This match ruled, and I can't wait for the Okada-Takeshita rematch. *****
Probably the most shocking result occurred in the second match as Chris Jericho returned to the ring after over a year to face Ricochet. Jericho looked the leanest he has in eight years or so, and while he seemed to have a bit of ring rust he managed to keep up well with the ultra-athletic Ricochet. The crowd was crazy into Jericho the whole time. The spot of the match was Ricochet going for a shooting star press from the top and Jericho countering it into a Codebreaker, which could've been the finish if Jericho were winning. But after a Walls of Jericho from which Ric escaped thanks to Gates of Agony interference, Jericho attempted to take both guys out on the outside, getting flattened by a Toa Liona clothesline. Ricochet then hit Spirit Gun and added insult to injury with a Lionsault for the win. Looks like this feud will continue. This was very good. ***3/4
Another banger followed as Darby Allin faced Andrade El Idolo for the number-one contender's spot. Darby as usual took insane bumps here, including a tope through Andrade to the floor (Andrade had done his "tranquilo" pose between the top and middle ropes), and a dropkick down the cement arena stairs that opened up a huge abrasion on his back. Andrade took a few crazy ones himself, including a top-rope Samoan Drop attempt, which Darby countered into a crucifix bomb into a crossface. That one was scary. Darby did his usual dropkick from the top rope to a seated Andrade on the floor. After a Scorpion Death Drop and Coffin Drop, Andrade escaped the pin by stopping Aubrey Edwards' hand from counting to three. Andrade hit his back elbow and went for the DM but Darby countered into the Last Supper for the win. Great match, after which Andrade shook Darby's hand. Looks like Don Callis is about to lose not one but two Family members to babyface turns. ****1/2
The FTR-Cope & Cage Tag Title match was next, and while probably a few minutes longer than it needed to be, this was quite good as well. All four guys brawled at the start but FTR double-teamed Cope for a while. Cope tagged in Cage, who ran wild for a bit, but fell to the numbers game himself. FTR worked over his injured wrist and Cage played the unlikely role of babyface in peril. Eventually Cage made the tag and we got a slew of finisher attempts, with Cope and Cage stealing the PowerPlex, but Dax Harwood got his knees up, and then Copeland got HIS knees up for a Cash Wheeler splash. The babyfaces locked in twin crossfaces, but the heels escaped. Wheeler hit Copeland with a title belt, which drew a ton of blood. The heels took out Cage on the outside and hit Cope with a Superkick Party and Shatter Machine for another surprising finish. Immediately my friend with whom I watched the show turned to me and said "Jericho, Copeland and Christian all lost in Canada - who's booking this, Vince??" I'm actually not sad about FTR retaining, as I didn't really want to see a tag team of 50-plussers win the belts. ****
The surprise hit of the night for me was the TNT Title Casino Gauntlet. I almost always underestimate the quality of these matches, and this one was actually full of credible contenders determined to make the most of their limited time. The field consisted of Tommaso Ciampa, Rush, Bandido, Speedball Mike Bailey, El Clon, Pac, Daniel Garcia, Anthony Bowens, Kevin Knight, and Wheeler Yuta. This was nonstop action with everyone getting time to do some fun stuff. I don't love the idea of a gauntlet determining a new champion, but boy was this entertaining. Near the end they teased a Kevin Knight-Mike Bailey showdown and it looked like they were gonna do the Logan Paul-Ricochet Royal Rumble spot where they vault off the top rope toward each other. But alas no. Daniel Garcia locked Bailey in his Dragon Tamer sharpshooter but Knight hit the UFO Splash on Garcia to break it up and win the match. Bailey looked confused and a little upset at his friend's win. I smell a banger singles match between them. ****
The toughest slot as far as the crowd response goes went to the Women's World Title match between Thekla and Jamie Hayter. The worked hard as always though and delivered a rugged, hard-hitting match. They fought up the ramp early on and Thekla countered a suplex attempt into a DDT. Back in the ring they traded bombs and eventually Thekla hit a Spider Suplex off the top. Thekla did the spider walk to set up her spear but Hayter countered with a knee and hit her signature backbreaker. Thekla evaded the Hayter-ade though, and raked Jamie's eyes before scoring the win with a rope-assisted O'Connor roll. Hayter's partner Alex Windsor ran down to protest the tainted pin, but to no avail. Very solid match that unfortunately had a tough time winning over the crowd. ***1/2
The second-most important match of the night was next as Will Ospreay challenged Jon Moxley for the Continental Title, in a match that should forever dispel the idea that Ospreay isn't a consummate storyteller. Ospreay shocked Mox and the crowd right at the bell with a Hidden Blade, but opted not to go for the pin, taunting him instead, saying "I've got twenty minutes, right?" He hit a second Blade that knocked Mox to the outside, then punished him on the floor. Mox came back with a Paradigm Shift on the floor, and spent the rest of the match targeting Ospreay's surgically repaired neck. We got loads of great sequences, including one where Mox hit another Paradigm Shift and Ospreay bounced up just long enough to hit a desperation Hidden Blade before a double-down. As the match wore on Ospreay's left arm kept getting weaker, the announcers speculating he might have suffered a stinger. He couldn't get Mox up for a Tiger Driver, Mox escaped, and Ospreay went for another one on the ring steps, but Mox countered and hit a piledriver instead. Ospreay almost got counted out, but he slid back into the ring where Mox waited with a curb stomp and two Paradigm Shifts. Ospreay kicked out but a Death Rider ended his evening at the 17 minute mark. Yet another surprising result, but a fantastically worked match. Assuming Will wins the big belt at All In, Moxley now has a case to be one of his first challengers. ****1/2
The death spot went to the Trios Title match, as Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong revealed their mystery partner via a sitcom sketch on the ramp. As expected Kyle O'Reilly made his return to a warm crowd reception. Brand new Trios champions The Dogs then made their entrance, with David Finlay smashing the prop door with his shillelagh and Clark Connors humping the Conglomeration's couch before Gabe Kidd pretended to pee on it. The match was fast and furious, and was marred by Gabe Kidd suffering a dislocated shoulder which sent him to the back early. What became essentially a handicap match ended with Kyle locking Connors in an ankle lock and Strong running interference with David Finlay, forcing Connors to tap. 24 hours after winning the belts, The Dogs were defeated. This was fine but probably not an essential main card addition. ***
The MJF-Kenny Omega main event was an epic, going 39 minutes. They probably could've cut five to ten from this, as it started fairly slow, but it did end up a pretty great main event. Before the match referee Bryce Remsburg demanded MJF hand over his diamond ring so it couldn't be used. Both guys went for their signature moves early but each opponent had them scouted. They spilled outside and Omega did his double-stomp through a table spot on the floor before setting up the table for a dive. MJF immediately slid off the table to ruin the fun, and the table remained set up at ringside throughout. Omega went for multiple One-Winged Angels, one from the top rope, but MJF kept escaping. MJF stole Omega's You Can't Escape but missed the moonsault portion, and Omega hit MJF with his own, but MJF got his knees up. Omega paid homage to Kota Ibushi with a Golden Triangle Moonsault. Omega eventually did hit a One-Winged Angel from the second rope, but MJF escaped to the floor. MJF countered another OWA into CrossRhodes. Kenny kicked out and went for another OWA but MJF escaped yet again and pulled Remsburg into the path of an oncoming V-Trigger. MJF fished the diamond ring out of Bryce's pocket but Kenny finally hit another OWA for a 12-second visual pin. Second ref Paul Turner ran down to make a count but MJF had too much recovery time and kicked out. Kenny set up MJF on the ring apron for an OWA through the table but MJF punched him in the stomach with the diamond ring and Tombstoned him through the table (This looked crippling). MJF then set Kenny up on the apron and hit Heatseeker to retain the title. This was a step below MOTY territory but still great. ****3/4
This wasn't at Revolution's level but Dynasty was yet another excellent PPV showing from a company that always delivers, even despite a few of their top names being absent. Looks like we're getting MJF-Darby for the title this week instead of at Double or Nothing, which is odd. I wonder if Darby wins the belt and then loses it back in May.
Best Match: Bucks vs. Okada/Takeshita
Worst Match: Trios Titles, but it was still alright
What I'd Change: I'd still like to see PPV start times moved up to 7pm ET at the latest. There's no need to make people stay up past 12 on a Sunday night. Earlier is better for the live audience too.
Most Disappointing Match: Nothing really.
Most Pleasant Surprise: The Gauntlet
Overall Rating: 9/10
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