mobanmarketAdam Cole returns to the ring for the first time in nine months on AEW Dynamite.
Cole last wrestled at Forbidden Door on June 26, 2022, where he suffered a major concussion that forced him out of action. He returns on Dynamite against Daniel Garcia of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
Also set for Dynamite, Kenny Omega will make his first defense of his current IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship reign, facing NJPW's Jeff Cobb. Omega defeated Will Ospreay to win the US title at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome.
Orange Cassidy will defend the International title against The Butcher.
Dalton Castle & The Boys from Ring of Honor will face Blackpool Combat Club's Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta in a trios bout.
Matt Hardy will take on "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry.
In the women's division, Willow Nightingale will face Ruby Soho of The Outcasts.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz, as they mention tonight being the return of Adam Cole before throwing it to Justin Roberts.
Jungle Boy Jack Perry defeated Matt Hardy (w/Ethan Page)
(The match itself was good for how long it went, but the bigger story was the post match confrontation between MJF & Perry. You could say the back & forth talking went a little long, but it certainly made you want to see Perry potentially be the one to defeat MJF for the title down the line.)
Stokely Hathaway is missing from ringside after his defeat from HOOK last week. Both men had a nice back and forth early with Hardy being sent to the floor, as Page put a stop to a potential Perry dive. The delay was long enough for Hardy to catch Perry in mid air with a Side Effect as Darby Allin & Sammy Guevara were shown watching backstage. Perry fought back with a double sledge off the barricade before a slug fest on the apron. Another Side Effect by Hardy, this time on the edge of the apron took us to commercial break.
It was all Hardy during picture in picture, as Perry fired back with a dropkick. Page again ran distraction, as it allowed Hardy to connect with a superplex for two. For the third time Page got involved, but HOOK’s music hit and the FTW Champion started a brawl. Hardy tried to hold HOOK, but ducked and Page clocked Hardy. Perry took out Hardy with a dive, but back inside Hardy tried a third Side Effect, but Perry countered with a Flatliner and charging forearm to the back of the head for the victory.
Right as Perry had his hand raised, MJF’s music hit and the AEW World Champion came to the ring. MJF said it was a Kanye move by Perry to interrupt his Re-Bar Mitzvah. MJF said Perry had the audacity to say MJF had it easy in AEW and agreed, as he barely wrestles, collects fat checks and takes a private jet to beautiful Long Island, New York. MJF said Perry gave his blood, sweat and tears to the fans, but they’ve never thanked him, not getting an opportunity either. When MJF & Perry wrestled at Daily’s Place at Double or Nothing, MJF realized he might’ve met his equal.
The advice MJF gave Perry was to ditch his friends and look out for himself. MJF mentioned had Perry not hung out with Marko Stunt, Dino Douche & Christian, AEW could’ve been the Jack Perry show. Three years later, MJF is holding the World Title, while Perry is still just Jungle Boy. Perry called MJF a selfish, narcissistic, piece of sh*t, as he’s going to become AEW World Champion his own way, not waking up alone everyday hating the person in the mirror. MJF congratulates Perry for taking four years to talk, calling him weak and brings up Perry’s real life girlfriend Anna Jay and said she told him Perry is weak between the knees. The fight was on, as Perry stomped MJF in the corner and flattened him with a lariat before MJF avoided the charging forearm.
-Alex Marvez is backstage at the request of Don Callis, who told Kenny Omega he lost his balance last week with Hangman Adam Page. He questions why Omega would trust Page and not him after everything that has happened with them. Callis said he’s going to find Page and make things right, as Omega continued to be taped up ahead of his title match.
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-A video package of Matt Menard & Angelo Parker taking The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass out for a night on the town in St. Louis. A hockey game, carousel rides, a big dinner as they made their pitch for Bowens & Caster to join the J.A.S. which was all paid for by Chris Jericho. The Acclaimed said they’ll have their answer next week.
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta defeated Dalton Castle & The Boys
The Blackpool Combat Club attacked Castle & The Boys during their entrance, beating them all down, as referee Rick Knox just started the match, despite everything that just happened. Moxley had an Anaconda choke on Castle on the floor, while Castagnoli hit a quick Ricola Bomb on one of the Boys for the easy win.
-A video package highlighting Kenny Omega & Jeff Cobb is shown that included video of their interactions in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
-Alex Marvez is backstage with Hangman Adam Page, who said Nick Jackson suffered a separated shoulder, while Matt Jackson has a partially torn bicep. Marvez asked who attacked them, as Page said it was the Blackpool Combat Club. Don Callis entered the picture and apologized for falling down last week. As he extended his hand, Moxley, Castagnoli & Yuta ran in and attacked Page. Callis tried to offer his hand, but was clocked by a Moxley forearm, as he was busted open in the process.
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-Before the next match, Tony Schiavone walked up to Kenny Omega before his entrance and told him Don Callis & Hangman Page was attacked by the Blackpool Combat Club. Omega seemed shook, but had to clear his head as his music hit, which was his New Japan theme.
Kenny Omega defeated Jeff Cobb to retain the IWGP US Title
(After the commercial break, this match kicked into another gear and was a really good evenly matched battle. Cobb looked strong, even in defeat, while Omega managed to weather the storm. Post match, we saw a huge return from Bryan Danielson, but the bigger news being the Blackpool Combat Club is once again full strength.)
Cobb showed off his power early, as this presents a completely different challenge for Omega than Vikingo did last week. Cobb was sent to the floor and Omega hit his Terminator Dive, but after hitting the Kotaro Crusher, foolishly tried a bodyslam, as Cobb collapsed onto him. A running brainbuster by Cobb put him in control, as he zoned in on the injured taped up ribs. Cobb went to work on the floor, posting Omega back first, as he continued the onslaught during the entire commercial break.
Omega tried to fire back with his running claw slam, but as he tried for You Can’t Escape, buckled and Cobb hit a spinning back suplex. Cobb tried a huge release German Suplex, but Omega landed on his feet and charged with a spinning Polish Hammer. A backslide into a running knee strike got Omega two. Omega signaled for V-Trigger but Cobb hit a great standing dropkick. Omega wiggled out of a fireman’s carry and hit multiple Snap Dragons, only for Cobb to pop up with a lariat into the double down.
Both men struggled to their feet, throwing forearms and chops before Cobb hit an uppercut to the ribs. Cobb set up Omega in the corner with a raising headbutt and hit a delayed superplex. A standing moonsault only got Cobb a near fall, as Cobb hit a V-Trigger, tried a One Winged Angel and Tour of the Islands, but Omega countered with a ripcord knee and V-Trigger. Omega managed to get Cobb up for One Winged Angel and got the victory.
Post match, Moxley, Castagnoli & Yuta surrounded the ringside area, about to attack Omega before the music for Bryan Danielson hit and he ran to the ring. Danielson told his BCC buddies to back off, as Danielson offered his hand to Omega to pull him up. Omega accepted, as Yuta distracted long enough for Omega to turn his back and Danielson hit the Busaiku Knee and quickly applied the LeBell Lock while everyone else took out security. Danielson has a big smile on his face as Omega is left motionless, screaming that Omega is everything that is wrong in wrestling.
-A video package of FTR challenging The Gunns for the AEW Tag Titles were shown. The Gunns said they used to see FTR as heroes, but then they met them. The only hero they ever had was their father and everyone saw what they did to him. Next week will be the AEW Tag Team Title match where if FTR loses, they will leave AEW.
Orange Cassidy defeated The Butcher (w/The Blade) to retain the AEW International Title
(A lot of this took place during commercial, but Cassidy was able to survive the outside interference. Butcher controlled a majority of this, but looked good doing so. Post match, Excalibur mentioned how Cassidy resorted to some uncharacteristic tactics, as perhaps his title reign is catching up with him?)
The Blade attacked Cassidy pre-match and was about to finish him with a crowbar when the referee finally stepped in and threw him out. Cassidy was given enough time to recover, as the match began and Cassidy used his speed briefly before going for the little kicks. Butcher had none of it, catching Cassidy’s cross body attempt into a gut buster. Butcher worked the ribs through picture in picture, locking on a Cloverleaf, but Cassidy wouldn’t quit.
Butcher tried a powerbomb, but Cassidy went at the eyes, tried an Orange Punch, which Butcher countered into a violent Choke Breaker. Cassidy fought back with a Stundog Millionaire and a satellite DDT, which almost ended horribly, but both men fixed it on the fly perfectly. Cassidy hit a diving DDT off the top, as Butcher took the ref, as The Blade hit the ring and clocked Cassidy with the pipe in the ribs. Butcher quickly made the cover, but only managed two. Chuck Taylor & Trent attacked Blade, while Butcher threw the ref down, only to get hit in the ribs with the pipe by Taylor. An Orange Punch and Beach Break was able to put away Butcher as Cassidy retained.
-Jade Cargill video package is shown talking about how Taya Valkyrie laid out Leila Grey and Mark Sterling with Jaded, breaking Sterling’s nose in the process. Valkyrie has a match on Rampage and Sterling will have his legal processor with him to handle things.
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-Juice Robinson talks about his match with Action Andretti this Friday on Rampage. Every punch he connects with will be a statement for Ricky Starks, as this will be a small taste of what Starks will go through next week on Dynamite.
Ruby Soho (w/Saraya & Toni Storm) defeated Willow Nightingale
(I understand the story they are telling with The Outcasts, but the interference in this was overkill and completely took away of what could’ve been a great match. This had its moments and I liked how Nightingale had her former friends offense scouted, but I was just hoping these two would’ve had more time battling it out.)
Soho no longer is coming out to her Rancid theme, which, despite that being a great song, is probably for the best considering Soho’s new attitude. Nightingale seems visible disappointed she has to wrestle her former friend, who just a few months ago won that wild Street Fight on Rampage with. Nightingale has Soho’s offense scouted well, as she countered No Future and tilt a whirl head scissors into a side slam and splash. Nightingale fired off corner forearms until Soho begged off and suckered Nightingale in to allow Saraya to attack with the referee’s attention turned.
Nightingale mounted a comeback out of commercial after stopping another Saraya attack, sending her to the floor. Nightingale took the fight to Soho with a nice spinebuster and gnarly Death Valley Driver. Referee Aubrey saw Toni Storm shake the middle ropes while Nightingale was up there and did literally nothing, as Soho hit multiple No Future kicks for two. Soho was launched by a Pounce, as the straps came down and Nightingale wanted the Doctor Bomb, but for what felt like the tenth time, Saraya took the ref and it was enough for Nightingale to get distracted and Soho steal the win with a roll up and feet on the ropes.
Post match, Soho opted not for spray paint, but a steel chair. Before any damage could be done, Skye Blue & Riho sprinted to the ring and put up a brief fight before Blue was sent to the floor. Riho was held and about to be spray painted until Jamie Hayter made the save and cleaned house for the woman she will defend her title against next week. Hayter & Riho shook hands, as Riho signaled the title will be hers in seven days.
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-A quick video package highlighting Powerhouse Hobbs recent TNT Title defenses is shown, as Hobbs said the TNT Title is never leaving his waist.
Adam Cole defeated Daniel Garcia
(For not being in the ring for nine months, Cole looked good here and they played the story of his head issues during this match. Garcia was a solid first opponent for Cole; it’s safe to assume we know who his next feud will be following this main event.)
The opening moments were filled with back and forth grappling, until Cole flipped out of a headlock and went down momentarily, but slapped on a headlock. Garcia fought back with a quick snap piledriver and Cole rolled to the floor with the ref checking him, as they were teasing issues with Cole’s head. Garcia kept control during the entire break before Cole mounted a comeback with a Ushigoroshi.
Garcia blocked a superkick into an open handed slap, as both traded high boots, as Garcia hit a high angle German suplex. Garcia signaled for a superkick, but ran into one from Cole instead for two. Cole missed The Boom, as Garcia laid in anvil elbows, but got his leg superkicked out. Cole missed the Panama Sunrise, as Garcia countered into the Dragon Tamer. Cole got the ropes, as Garcia opted to pose instead of immediately following up. Garcia trapped both of Cole’s arms and hit another piledriver, but Cole kicked out. Garcia charged into a superkick and Cole hit the Panama Sunrise followed by The Boom to get the win.
Post match, Britt Baker came to the ring and kissed Cole as streamers fell. Chris Jericho’s music hit and he power walked to the ring, helping Garcia outside before slightly glancing back at Cole. Jericho & Garcia made their way to the back, as Excalibur got one final All Access plug in.
AEW Rampage 3/31/23
· Sammy Guevara takes on Konosuke Takeshita
· Juice Robinson battles Action Andretti
Click Here: Luka Modric Jersey Sale
· Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) vs. The Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King & Malakai Black)
· Taya Valkyrie vs. Marina Shafir
AEW Dynamite 4/4/23
· Jamie Hayter defends the AEW Women’s Title against Riho
· Ricky Starks takes on Juice Robinson
· It will be MJF Day
· We hear from the Blackpool Combat Club
· FTR put their AEW careers on the line against The Gunns for the AEW Tag Team Titles