AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 10

Days after grabbing the proverbial (and in his case, quite literal) brass ring to win the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match, Scorpio Sky challenged TNT champion Darby Allin in the main event of Wednesday's Dynamite.

The match headlined a show that looked to continue the company's considerable momentum coming out of a Revolution pay-per-view that saw Kenny Omega retain his world title over Jon Moxley, Sting and Allin defeat Team Taz in a Street Fight, The Young Bucks and Hikaru Shida retain their respective titles, and Christian Cage officially sign with AEW.

How did the company followup the blockbuster event and what can fans expect from their favorite competitors moving forward? 

Find out with this recap of the March 10 TNT broadcast.

Announced for Wednesday's show are:

• TNT Championship Match: Darby Allin vs. Scorpio Sky
• Matt Jackson vs. Rey Fenix
• Ethan Page vs. Lee Johnson
• Dr. Britt Baker, Maki Itoh, and Nyla Rose vs. Thunder Rosa, Ryo Mizunami, and Hikaru Shida
• Cody Rhodes will be in action
• Tony Schiavone will interview Sting
• The Inner Circle war council
• Christian Cage addresses the AEW fans for the first time

Coverage begins at 8:00 p.m.

By way of their win in the Tag Team Casino Royale, Rey Fenix and Pac will get a shot at the AEW world tag team titles, currently held by The Young Bucks. Wednesday’s show kicked off with Fenix battling Matt Jackson in singles competition, a preview of that upcoming title clash.

Fenix wiped Jackson out at ringside with a dive, then added two more, completely robbing his opponent of an opportunity to recover and mount any sort of defense. Back in the ring, he grounded Matt, trapping him in a rear-naked choke. When Jackson fought out, he rocked him with a superkick.

Jackson seized control of the bout, targeting the back of his opponent. He sent Fenix back-first into the ring apron and threw him into the ring, where he stomped away at the damaged area. Jackson flattened Fenix for a one-count, unable to keep the masked luchador down.

He rolled through a sunset flip attempt and applied the Sharpshooter, but Fenix made it to the ropes to force the break. Fenix fought back, rolling through and downing Matt with a cutter. The competitors threw hands in the center of the ring, Fenix gaining the momentary upper-hand.

He tried for the tightrope kick but Jackson kicked him off. On the floor, Matt delivered a destroyer piledriver, leaving Pac to try and motivate his partner to get back up and into the squared circle. Jackson followed with a top-rope elbow drop for two and reapplied the sharpshooter.

Fenix reached the ropes to break the hold.

Each man laid the other’s partner out at ringside before Fenix swung wildly with a roundhouse kick and Jackson leveled him with a superkick. Jackson tried for the Tombstone piledriver but Fenix countered with a sit-out version of the move for the win.

Result

Fenix defeated Jackson

Grade

B

Analysis

This was a damn fun way to kick off Wednesday’s show and a reiteration that Fenix might be the best wrestler on the AEW roster. And no, that’s not hyperbole.

He has repeatedly meshed his style with that of his opponents, having superb matches with a variety of different competitors. Matt was merely next. Bringing tenacity and focused ferocity, Jackson drove the fight out of Fenix by targeting his core but even then, was unable to put the masked competitor down.

It was not the classic Fenix had with Nick Jackson in November of 2019, but it was still an above-average contest that served as the perfect sampler for what should be a hell of a tag title clash between The Young Bucks and Death Triangle sometime in the near future.

Cody Rhodes returned to the ring Wednesday night, looking to rebound following a disappointing loss at Revolution. His opponent? Seth Gargis.

The American Nightmare made short work of his opponent, tapping him out to the Figure Four.

After the match, Tony Schiavone joined Rhodes and Arn Anderson for a promo focused on his previously established shoulder injury.

Instead, Penta El Zero M interrupted and, through interpreter and AEW Spanish announcer Alex Abrahantes, told Rhodes he can be lucky he didn't focus more on his arm because if he did, Cody wouldn't be able to pick up his newborn baby girl.

This sparked a pull-apart brawl.

Result

Rhodes defeated Gargis

Grade

B

Analysis

Post-PPV shows should always introduce new and exciting rivalries that fans will have the opportunity to see play out in the weeks that follow. That is exactly what this segment did, setting up Cody vs. Penta in a potentially intense, personal feud.

Rhodes is out of the title picture and focused on a program with Penta, a wholly underutilized singles star with the potential to climb into singles contention. They could potentially create magic together, especially if Penta can elicit raw emotion out of Cody.

If nothing else, it provides a fresh match for Rhodes and an opportunity for Penta to make an even greater name with AEW fans.

On the heels of a successful return to the ring at Revolution, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat Team Taz’s Ricky Starks and Brian Cage in a Street Fight, Sting joined Tony Schiavone for a promo. Unfortunately, it was interrupted by Lance Archer, who made a not-so-veiled threat about proving he is the real Face of the Revolution in AEW.

Sting ended the promo abruptly, having nothing else to say.

“All Ego” Ethan Page made his first in-ring appearance on Dynamite, battling The Nightmare Family’s “Big Shotty” Lee Johnson.

Johnson proved a competent opponent, stunning him on more than one occasion as AEW suffered major audio issues with their TNT broadcast. Back from the commercial break, Johnson suffered what appeared to be a knee injury, to which Page responded with a big pump kick to the face.

A release Razor’s Edge earned Page the win while a disgusted QT Marshall simply walked off. As Page added a post-match beatdown for good measure, Dustin Rhodes made the save.

Result

Page defeated Johnson

Grade

C

Analysis

What was a fairly solid match between Page and Johnson that was done an incredible disservice by the audio glitch on TNT, making it nearly impossible to focus on what was going on. Page and Johnson deserve a redo, a second chance to make a first impression.

That the biggest takeaway from All Ego’s first in-ring showcase was the latest in the Rhodes-Marshall sage is a major disappointment for all involved.

Before Tony Schiavone could introduce new signee, Christian Cage, AEW world champion Kenny Omega, Don Callis, and Impact tag team champions The Good Brothers interrupted and made their way to the ring.

Callis covered up the lack of massive explosion at the end of Revolution by suggesting the heels took away from the fans, John Moxley and Eddie Kingston what they wanted. There was no explosion. Moxley didn’t get to go out a martyr. Kingston was robbed of his heroics.

Kingston interrupted Omega backing up the Impact EVP’s assertions, showing no fear as he took to the squared circle at a 4-1 disadvantage. Callis ran his mouth some more, then gave Kingston 10 seconds to get out of the ring.

The doomsday clock aired and Omega and Callis mocked the events of Revolution. “What do you hope to achieve, Eddie?” He dared Kingston to hit him and Eddie obliged. He ate a two-on-one beatdown at the hands of The Good Brothers until Moxley made the save.

As the antiheroes of AEW fended off The Good Brothers, Christian Cage entered Daily’s Place, staring down a recovering Omega. He entered the ring, dodged a sneak attack by the champ and flattened him with the Killswitch before standing tall.

Grade

C

Analysis

The Omega/Callis explanation was weak. It resembled an overthinker trying to explain why Joss Whedon’s Justice League cut didn’t suck. “If you think about it like this, it actually makes sense.” In reality, it was a Band-Aid on a compound fracture. It only drew attention back to the fact that the PPV ended in lackluster fashion when Moxley and Kingston already cut a promo that addressed it.

What this did do successfully is set up a potential Moxley/Kingston vs. Good Brothers feud and introduced Christian vs. Omega as the next title program. Propelling stories forward and setting up new matches is the goal for all of these post-PPV shows.

AEW continued to do that successfully with this segment, earning it an average grade that cannot, in good conscience, be any higher based on the cockamamie explanation. 

Maki Itoh refused to stop her pre-match musical performance, despite Thunder Rosa, Ryo Mizunami and AEW women’s champion Hikaru Shida jumping Dr. Britt Baker and Nyla Rose prior to the official start of Wednesday’s Six-Woman Tag Team Match.

The babyface’s early onslaught came to an end during the commercial break as the heels wore out the opposition, proving a coherent and united force.

The action broke down after the match, the women getting their signature offense in until Rosa planted Itoh and scored the win for her team.

After the match, Baker blasted Rosa with a crutch to the back, then applied the Lockjaw as Rebel dug into her face with the same crutch. 

Baker stood tall with Rose, Rebel and Vickie Guerrero to end the segment.

Result

Baker, Rose and Itoh defeated Shida, Mizunami and Rosa

Grade

C

Analysis

Imagine how much better AEW’s women’s division would be if there was any reason whatsoever to care about half of the talent. The characters are so underwritten and stories nearly nonexistent that it is impossible for fans to invest emotionally in the majority of what goes on from week to week.

Other than being a tenacious competitor and women’s champion for nearly a year, why should fans care about Shida? What character development has there been? 

Ditto the underrated Rose. And then there’s Mizunami and Itoh, both of whom AEW officials are simply assuming its audience knows and if not, is leaning heavily on Excalibur to fill them in.

And he is, to his credit.

Still, the only thing that hits here is the ongoing program between Baker and Rosa, mostly because it features angles and story developments. Until the rest of AEW management implements that sort of booking across the division, it will continue playing catch-up as one of the promotions few weeks spots.

The talent is definitely there, though.

On the heels of a Revolution pay-per-view in which he teamed with Sting to defeat Ricky Starks and Brian Cage, TNT champion Darby Allin defended against Scorpio Sky.

The former SCU member dominated the action, grounding the unpredictable Allin throughout the commercial break. The champion hip-tossed out of a submission hold and attempted a comeback, but Scorpio cut him off.

Allin answered with a stunner and followed with a sunset flip bomb for a near-fall.

Sky tried for a trio of German suplexes but Allin fought out. Sky re-established control and delivered one last German into the corner turnbuckles. Allin tried a baseball slide tope but Sky caught him with a cutter on the floor, continuing his impressive performance.

Sky added a brainbuster back inside the ring but could not put Allin down for three.

Moments later, he tried for the TKO but Allin countered into a small package for the successful title defense.

After the match, the champion tried to show Sky respect, only for the top contender to attack him and apply a heel hook. Referees attempted to pull him off and did, but not before the damage was done. Sky stared at his hands for a moment, then flashed a smile, obviously happy with his actions.

Result

Allin defeated Sky to retain

Grade

B+

Analysis

Not only was the match a fun back-and-forth, it was a showcase for Sky to prove himself as a high-profile singles star in AEW. He did just that, even in defeat.

Sky may have lost here, but he was protected in doing so. He lost via fluke roll-up, then earned his heat back by attacking Allin and leaving him writhing in pain. It was a great bit of booking for a character that has shown nothing but promise since day one of Dynamite.

Allin is the perfect opponent, the breakout star Sky has strived to be. He is everything the Californian wants to be but has not, at least to this point. There is a feud with a ton of potential to make a star out of Sky, further strengthen Allin’s standing, and bring real attention to a TNT title that could use its first real program since Cody vs. the late, great Brodie Lee last fall.

Fueled by his and MJF’s loss to The Young Bucks at Revolution, Chris Jericho led The Inner Circle to the squared circle for a special War Council. He introduced the proceedings and hinted at adding a new member to the group.

MJF cut him off, though, and suggested letting someone go.

Before things could go any further, Sammy Guevara returned and aired a video proving MJF was trying to seize power of the group from the start. Just when it appeared as though Jericho was in danger of a beatdown, The Inner Circle turned and confronted the loudmouth.

The insufferable, scarf-wearing spoiled brat promised he never meant to take over control of The Inner Circle...because he was busy building his own.

The lights went out and when they came back on, Shawn Spears, FTR, Wardlow and Tully Blanchard surrounded The Inner Circle.

MJF watched as his new cohorts beat the hell out of Jericho, Guevara, Santana, Ortiz and Jake Hager. MJF busted Jericho open with a shot to the face with his Dynamite Diamond Ring, then added a baseball bat to the midsection.

The newly formed faction dragged Jericho to the top of the stage and sent him off and through a table with a big powerbomb by Wardlow. The unnamed group stood tall to close the show.

Grade

A

Analysis

At one point, it appeared as though Jericho and proven the wily veteran, outsmarting MJF and setting young Maxwell Jacob Friedman up for a vicious ass-whooping. Instead, MJF proved one step ahead of him, introducing FTR, Blanchard, Spears and Wardlow for a violent assault that instantly established them the most unstoppable force in AEW.

It will be interesting to see where things go next, particularly as the group seeks to establish an identity.

Is there any tie to the Horseman, as teased by Blanchard and even Arn Anderson two weeks ago? Why would those involve blindly align themselves to a self-centered egotist like MJF?

Those questions will be answered in due time but the biggest question quickly becomes whether Inner Circle will become full-blown babyfaces or still flirt with being heels.

That one segment generated that many questions suggests it was successful in creating excitement and intrigue moving forward.