AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 6
For the first time in over a month, All Elite Wrestling Dynamite hit the TNT airwaves live, with a show dedicated to building the May 23 Double or Nothing pay-per-view extravaganza.
Matt Hardy made his first in-ring appearance with the company, teaming with AEW tag team champion Kenny Omega in a Street Fight against The Inner Circle's Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara.
AEW world champion Jon Moxley returned to action against SCU's Frankie Kazarian and the finalists in the TNT Championship Tournament saw action as Lance Archer battled QT Marshall, and Cody squared off with "The Bad Boy" Joey Janela.
Who emerged victoriously from the advertised bouts? What matches were made official for the upcoming extravaganza? And what would the returning MJF have to say to the AEW wrestlers and fans?
Find out with this recap of the May 6 episode.
Cody vs. Joey Janela
Ahead of his opportunity to become the first TNT champion at Double or Nothing, Cody battled the returning "Bad Boy" Joey Janela in the opening match of Wednesday's broadcast.
A fast, furious exchange of near-falls opened the bout until an intense Cody, fueled by the beating dealt to his brother Dustin by Lance Archer a week ago, teed off on Janela.
The Bad Boy, recognizing the opportunity before him, answered and seized control of the contest.
The fight spilled to the floor, where Cody halted his opponent's momentum and dropped him with a Disaster Kick, then followed with a moonsault.
Back inside, a superkick to Cody revived Janela, but a reverse superplex put him back down for two.
The fight devolved into a slugfest, each competitor throwing wild fists as frustration set in. Cody gained the upper hand and dropped Janela with Cross Rhodes for the hard-fought victory.
Result
Cody defeated Janela
Grade
B
Analysis
Cody is quickly developing into the most consistently great wrestler on TV.
Regardless of the opposition and whether their style meshes with his, he always seems to be able to adapt and get the absolute best out of whomever he shares the ring with.
Such was the case here, in what may have been Janela's best singles performance to date. Yes, even including the two showdowns with Kenny Omega.
The intensity demonstrated late is key to Cody's performances the remainder of the month as he prepares for what will be an incredibly personal, high-stakes match against Archer on May 23 at Double or Nothing.
Nyla Rose Returns to Action
AEW women's champion "The Native Beast" Nyla Rose made her first appearance on Dynamite in over a month, seeking to re-establish her dominance as she battled young Kenzie Paige.
Rose pummeled her opponent, completely overwhelming here with her strength and ferocity.
Consecutive powerbombs gave way to the Beast Bomb as Rose rolled to victory, top contenders watching from ringside as she made quick work of Paige.
Result
Rose defeated Paige
Grade
A
Analysis
Rose was absolutely dominant here, as she should be. What better way to reintroduce her and her brand of aggression than by having her bowl over someone who will not be hurt in defeat, all while sending a loud, clear and punishing message to the likes of Britt Baker, Kris Statlander, Hikaru Shida and Penelope Ford?
The Native Beast is back, the women's division is better for it and, now, the top contenders' chase of the gold can resume. The entire women's roster will benefit.
Jon Moxley vs. Frankie Kazarian
A promo from MJF trumpeted his return to the squared circle before Tony Schiavone revealed the arrogant heel would square off with Jungle Boy at Double or Nothing.
From there, SCU's Frankie Kazarian hit the ring for his biggest singles match in AEW to date: a non-title match with world champion Jon Moxley.
Mat wrestling dominated the early moments of the match, to Kazarian's advantage. Just as the commentary team brought up the champion's knack for making the opposition wrestle his style of match, the fight spilled to the floor, where Mox took control as Kazarian nursed what looked to be a bad knee.
Back in the ring, Kazarian answered a release German suplex with a backstabber. He stayed one step ahead of Mox, cutting off everything the champ threw at him.
As he has done so often over the course of his career, Moxley fought back and dropped Kazarian with the Paradigm Shift to score the win.
After the match, The Dark Order's minions hit the ring and attacked Moxley. A save from SCU failed as the numbers game proved overwhelming.
"The Exalted One" Brodie Lee appeared and dropped the champion. Lee said he was answering the bounty Moxley put on his own head last week. He proceeded to challenge Moxley for the title. The champ accepted, then endured another beating for his trouble.
Result
Moxley defeated Kazarian
Grade
B
Analysis
Kazarian looked great here, reminding longtime fans why he was a multitime X-Division champion in TNA. He looked motivated and hungry, and the result was a strong match with Moxley.
The commentary team putting him over as strongly as it did didn't hurt.
The meat of the segment was The Dark Order nonsense and Lee's championship challenge to Moxley.
Ignoring the fact that a loss halts his momentum, Lee has not done nearly enough to warrant a title shot. In a company that prides itself on wins and losses, beating Marko Stunt doesn't earn you a title opportunity.
That lack of continuity is problematic, as is the company's commitment to The Dark Order.
Of course, Lee vs. Moxley is bound to be awesome, especially if they are allowed to cut loose and kick ass, as their history and talent suggest will be the case.
QT Marshall vs. Lance Archer
A week after his partner, Dustin Rhodes, was beaten to a bloody pulp by Lance Archer, QT Marshall tested his luck against The Murderhawk Monster as Jake "The Snake" Roberts watched from ringside.
He did not fare well early as Archer dominated into the break.
Marshall delivered a big enzuigiri, but Archer dropped him with a shoulder block. The Blackout failed to put Marshall away, so the EBD Claw finished him.
After the match, Britt Baker hopped the guardrail and delivered a DDT to Brandi Rhodes, who had thrown her shoe into the stands.
In the ring, Roberts produced a snake and sprawled it on the unconscious body of AEW's chief brand officer while Jim Ross denounced the connotations of the action on commentary.
Result
Archer defeated Marshall
Grade
A
Analysis
The match itself was a glorified squash, but what made this segment such a success was the manner in which Archer and Roberts continued to poke and prod at Cody by targeting his family and friends.
Dustin, Marshall and now Brandi have all felt the wrath of Cody's antagonists, and the result should be an intensely personal match at Double or Nothing.
If The American Nightmare can wait that long.
A fight cannot be ruled out before then, nor should it. The brilliant mind games by the heels have earned one. Cody will likely be looking to whoop up on Archer, and rightly so, even if that results in a beating that puts him at a disadvantage entering the PPV.
Street Fight: Broken Matt Hardy and Kenny Omega vs. Le Sex Gods
The main event of the evening saw Broken Matt Hardy make his in-ring debut, teaming with AEW tag team champion Kenny Omega in a Street Fight against The Inner Circle's "Le Sex Gods," Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho.
Hardy paired off with Jericho, fighting up the ramp and into the backstage area while Omega and Guevara battled in the ring.
Jericho returned, joining Guevara for a two-on-one beatdown until regular Hardy (in old school apparel) returned to the fray and fired on the heels.
As the fight continued, Hardy introduced a ladder, from which he drove Guevara through a table. Jake Hager appeared, broke up the pin and sent Omega into the ring post.
Inner Circle regained control during the break. The fight spilled into the arena concourse, where Hardy sent Jericho into an ice machine. Le Champion answered with a bag of ice to the face.
Omega drove Hager down with a trash can, but Guevara slowed him. Omega powerbombed Guevara into a garage door, but Jericho wiped him out with a cart.
Emerging from the ice as "Damascus," Hardy hopped in a golf cart and rammed it into Jericho, clipping him. He ran over Guevara next.
Omega delivered a big moonsult off a lift, wiping out The Inner Circle. Santana and Ortiz saved Jericho from the One-Winged Angel as the numbers game proved insurmountable.
Jericho powerbombed Omega on top of the golf cart, then downed him with The Judas Effect for the win.
Result
Jericho and Guevara defeated Omega and Hardy
Grade
A+
Analysis
AEW promised wild and chaotic, and it delivered. This was a spectacular main event that broke the confines of an empty arena and took the fight elsewhere, much in the same way the Boneyard Match did at WrestleMania.
The spots were creative, fun and innovative. Hardy running down Guevara and Jericho in the golf cart was laugh-out-loud funny, and the brutality shown by Inner Circle late was exactly the answer to Hardy's mounting offensive it needed.
The change in personalities by Hardy was a bit much, and both he and the company should consider toning things down, but it was creatively accomplished and fit the match, so it worked on this occasion.
On a night that featured greater urgency as AEW builds a PPV card, this was the perfect cap and, hopefully, as fun for the rest of the audience as it was for this writer.