AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 24
A week ago, MJF announced the official formation of The Pinnacle, a faction consisting of himself, Shawn Spears, Wardlow, FTR and the legendary Tully Blanchard that will dominate action in All Elite Wrestling for the foreseeable future.
Wednesday night, the group put the silver-spooned loudmouth's words to the test when Spears and FTR battled The Varsity Blonds and Dante Martin as part of a blockbuster card that also saw AEW world champion Kenny Omega in action against Matt Sydal in a World Championship Eliminator Match and TNT champion Darby Allin defend against The Dark Order's John Silver.
Who emerged victorious from those matches and what effect do the results have on AEW as it sets its sights on the May 29 Double or Nothing pay-per-view?
Find out with this recap of the March 24 broadcast.
World Championship Eliminator Match: Matt Sydal vs. Kenny Omega
Matt Sydal defeated Michael Nakazawa to earn the AEW World Championship Eliminator match and suffered a One-Winged Angel at the hands of Kenny Omega to set up the opening match of Wednesday's broadcast.
Omega toyed with Sydal early, overwhelming him and appearing to outmatch him. He worked the arm of his opponent, then delivered a punishing side suplex on the ring apron. The Cleaner added a backbreaker to maintain his advantage.
Sydal finally built some momentum for himself, rocking Omega with a heel kick and adding a brainbuster for two. He attempted a top-rope hurricanrana but the champion shoved him off, leaving his rival to crash and burn.
Omega delivered a snapdragon suplex, followed by a dragon screw leg whip, and set up for a V-Trigger. Sydal evaded it and delivered his lightning strike for close, dramatic near-fall. Omega recovered and delivered a powerbomb, followed by a knee strike for two.
Omega finally delivered the V-Trigger and set up for the One-Winged Angel but Sydal countered out. He tried for the Shooting Star Press but Omega crotched him on the top rope. Sydal again counted the One-Winged Angel, this time into a rollup, for another near-fall.
The champion escaped, blasted Sydal with a V-Trigger and finally put him away with the One-Winged Angel.
Result
Omega defeated Sydal
Grade
B+
Analysis
This was a hell of a match, with Sydal hanging in there with Omega all the way to the very end. He was presented as a competitor on par with the world champion, and booking like that will only help to elevate his credibility moving forward.
The outcome was the right one, and Sydal shined, but there is one complaint: the countering of the One-Winged Angel.
While Omega vs. Impact world champion Rich Swann is not a storyline closely observed on Dynamite, the centerpiece of that particular match is Omega's finisher and the idea that no one can kick out of it. Why show Sydal so easily countering it, thus diminishing the idea that the move cannot be escaped?
It's a small-potatoes argument, for sure, but it would have been nice to see that move and the upcoming match with Swann at least mentioned on commentary.
Hangman Page vs. Cezar Bononi
Hangman Page battled former NXT star Cezar Bononi in singles competition next.
Bononi had his opponent reeling early, but Page fought back and delivered the Buckshot Lariat for the convincing victory in the sprint of the match.
The Anxious Millennial Cowboy enjoyed a cold one at the top of the ramp to close out the segment.
A pretaped promo featuring "Murderhawk Madman" Lance Archer saw him cut a promo on Sting.
Result
Page defeated Bononi
Grade
C-
Analysis
There was nothing to this one. Page squashed Bononi en route to another key victory.
Of note was the commentary team mentioning Hangman getting back into contention for a potential shot at Kenny Omega and the AEW World Championship.
The reminder that they were former tag team champions was a nice touch and hints at a colossal clash sometime in the future.
Tony Schiavone Interviews Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
One week after an all-time classic against Thunder Rosa, Dr. Britt Baker DMD joined Tony Schiavone for an interview.
She cut a scathing promo on Thunder Rosa and some of the legends who congratulated her on her performance in the Unsanctioned Lights Out match.
Baker claimed it took Mick Foley 20 years to become a hardcore legend, something she did in one night. She turned her attention to Tony Khan, criticizing him for signing legend after legend when he has the biggest legend under his nose: her.
Grade
A
Analysis
Baker cut the best promo of her career here, spitting fire and earning back her heat following last week's match.
One week after elevating her star via her in-ring work, she reminded everyone why she is one of the best talkers in AEW.
This was a great segment and use of one of the most buzz-worthy stars in all of wrestling following last week's broadcast.
The Hollywood Blonds and Dante Martin vs. The Pinnacle
After their official formation on last week’s show, The Pinnacle made their way to the squared circle as FTR and Shawn Spears teamed to face the young upstart trio of The Varsity Blonds’ Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison, and Top Flight’s Dante Martin.
MJF, Wardlow and Tully Blanchard watched from ringside.
The babyfaces had their opponents reeling entering the commercial break. Back from it, the pace quickened and Martin shined until he was caught mid-flight and Spears flattened him with the Death Valley Driver for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Wardlow delivered a cheap shot to Pillman as Pinnacle filled the ring. Tony Schiavone joined them for a promo. FTR spoke first before MJF ran down The Inner Circle, cracked a joke at Chris Jericho's expense and promised a surprise for his teammates next week: "Because boys, when you’re in The Pinnacle, you’re always on top."
A quick video package aired in which Taz insisted everything was fine within Team Taz, going as far as to say Brian Cage apologized to everyone for stepping out of line last week. The FTW champion appeared to be taken aback by Taz's comments but fell in line to close out the quick vignette.
Next, Schiavone was joined by QT Marshall, who took exception to insinuations that all of his success is due to being Cody Rhodes' friend when he is the one who has been doing all the work from the very beginning of AEW and missing out on time with his wife.
He issued a challenge for an exhibition against Rhodes, who emerged from the tunnel and accepted but not before vowing never to hurt his friend.
Result
The Pinnacle defeated The Hollywood Blonds and Martin
Grade
B
Analysis
This was all about the presentation of The Pinnacle as a force, and it worked.
The in-ring content was solid but the post-match promo was fantastic. FTR was intense, MJF was great, and the tease for next week’s show will keep fans watching in the early days of this faction.
It kept the feud with The Inner Circle alive despite the absence of Jericho's group, making it even more effective.
The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler vs. Lucha Bros and Laredo Kid
AEW tag team champions The Young Bucks teamed with lifelong friend Brandon Cutler for a six-man tag team match with familiar foes The Lucha Bros and the debuting Laredo Kid.
Nick Jackson paired off with Rey Fenix, Matt Jackson squared off with Penta El Zero M, and Cutler fought Laredo Kid early in the contest.
Penta earned the first advantage for the masked trio, wiping the opposition out with a plancha. The Bucks answered with an homage to Impact’s Motor City Machine Guns for a near-fall. The tag champions seized control of the bout heading into the break.
Back from the break, Penta delivered a Sling Blade to Matt and joined Fenix's stereo superkicks to the Bucks. Fenix delivered the senton atomico to Nick and went for a cutter. Nick countered and delivered a knee strike in the corner. From there, he turned Fenix inside out with a lariat.
The champs set their sights on Laredo Kid, delivering Risky Business. Cutler added a springboard elbow drop on Kid for two.
The action broke down and Nick delivered an escalara to Penta. Matt added a DDT on the apron to Fenix. Back inside, Laredo Kid delivered a top-rope Spanish Fly to Cutler for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Kenny Omega attacked Kid, beating him down before grabbing a mic. He asked the Bucks about their long history together before demanding they throw up the Too Sweet one last time.
The Bucks left, and Penta and Fenix rocked Omega with a superkick and The Good Brothers hit the ring to check on their leader to close the segment.
Following that, the commentary team threw to the first look at the new Cody and Brandi Rhodes reality show.
Result
Lucha Bros and Laredo Kid defeated The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler
Grade
B+
Analysis
The finish was perfect in that it spared both The Young Bucks and Lucha Bros the loss. Neither Nick and Matt nor Penta and Fenix ate the fall, Cutler lost nothing in the way of momentum, and Laredo Kid earned a win in a cameo appearance.
The action was solid, the pace quick, and the spots dynamic. Given the talent, it was as advertised.
The Bucks shunning the increasingly belligerent and delusional Omega was much-needed, and the Lucha Bros getting a measure of revenge made sense given their histories with the AEW world champion.
In all, this was a solid segment that advanced stories, built momentum for the masked competitors and portrayed Omega as a competitor who may be spreading himself too thin with the number of enemies he is creating.
Tay Conti vs. Nyla Rose
Up to Wednesday’s show, Tay Conti been unsuccessful in her attempt to defeat Nyla Rose in singles competition, including a loss in the Women’s Championship Eliminator Tournament.
Things weren't any better early this week as Rose ran her over, sending her flying across the ring. The Native Beast and former AEW women’s champion punished her opponent, hanging her over the top rope and catching her with a knee drop from the top rope.
She grounded the jiu-jitsu black belt, punishing her in hopes of securing the victory.
Back from the break, Rose attempted a somersault senton but Conti got her knees up. The babyface set up for the hammerlock DDTay, but Rose powered out. She rocked the former champ with a pump kick, but Rose flattened her with a clothesline.
Conti escaped the Beast Bomb and targeted the knee of her opponent. She rocked Rose with a series of kicks and delivered the DDTay for the win.
After the match, Rose attacked Conti until women’s champion Hikaru Shida made the save with a kendo stick. The Bunny joined Rose in beating down the babyfaces as Matt Hardy arrived with The Butcher and The Blade.
Hardy said his client has been overlooked for too long and claimed the women’s title eliminator tournament was a sham because Bunny wasn’t involved.
The Hardy Family stood tall.
Result
Conti defeated Rose
Grade
C
Analysis
This match was solid, and Conti picked up the biggest win of her career with a victory over a former AEW women’s champion.
But that's where the good in this ends.
Bunny inexplicably coming to the aid of Rose and the HFO appearing was one thing. Hardy claiming the tournament was a sham because Bunny wasn’t involved when Rose, who advanced to the finals, stood right beside him showed a lack of continuity.
This will probably lead to a tag team match of some sort and talk of top contenders, but it is hard to imagine Conti or Bunny as challengers to the women’s title when they’ve barely had screen time or picked up wins in major matches.
TNT Championship Match: Darby Allin vs. John Silver
The Dark Order’s John Silver challenged TNT champion Darby Allin in the night’s main event, a tribute match of sorts to the late Brodie Lee.
Johnny was hungee early, dodging a dive by Allin that saw the champion crash to the floor. Heading into the break, the challenger slammed Allin into the corner, with his strength advantage being the difference early and often.
Back from the final commercial of the night, Silver charged at Allin but missed and crashed on the floor. The champion returned to the ring before delivering a tope suicida. Allan “V” Angels shoved Silver out of the way and ate the dive himself.
Sting made his way to the ringside apron, keeping Dark Order at bay while the competitors did battle back inside the squared circle. The champion tried the slingshot stunner but Silver applied the Queenslayer submission typically utilized by Anna Jay.
Allin kicked out but again found himself on the receiving end of Silver’s strength. A series of strikes ensued, with the champion daring his challenger to hit him. Silver did and scored a near-fall off a roll-up. Allin answered with a springboard Coffin Drop.
The fight headed to the ropes, where Allin dropped Silver to the mat and teased the Coffin Drop. Instead, he delivered the move to The Dark Order outside the squared circle. Back up top, Silver met Allin and brought him down to the mat, Allin’s foot on the ropes robbing him of the win.
Silver teased Lee’s powerbomb but Allin countered into the Code Red for the win.
After the match, Sting and Allin showed Silver respect until the Hardy Family Office attacked. A brawl with The Dark Order ensued, with Allin and Sting joining in. Tay Conti came from out of nowhere to wipe out The Bunny as chaos reigned.
Result
Allin defeated Silver
Grade
B+
Analysis
For a company that was under fire in recent weeks for targeting veterans like Christian Cage and Paul Wight, this was a stellar showcase of two of the brightest young stars AEW has to offer. It was energetic and featured some incredibly stiff strikes from both men.
The drama was high, the action nonstop, and the result was a match that was every bit as enjoyable as fans hoped for from the two popular entities.
The post-match brawl, involving the suddenly impatient HFO and the babyfaces, was a nice touch and set up weeks' worth of television matches and, potentially, a TNT Championship match between Allin and Hardy for the next pay-per-view.
A strong segment to close the show, this had a bit of everything for everyone.