AEW Dynamite 3/13/2023

AEW Dynamite 3/13/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/03/aew-dynamite-362024.html 

Mercedes Mone comes out to start the show, making her AEW debut. She has a new theme that chants "CEO". She says she's home. She thanks the fan for having her back for the last 2 years and giving her the courage to be here. She said we wil make more moments together. She said wrestling has changed and saved her life. She said wrestling gave her hope and said Eddie Guerrero made her believe.

She said she's the first woman to main event a PPV and said she dropped out of school at age 13 to take care of her brother. She said she began in Chaotic Wrestling and said her goal was to be the greatest women's wrestler of all time. She said if she can do it, we can do it too.

She said she needs and wants to be here. She said  this is the only place where this revolution can be global. She said Riho vs Willow Nightingale is the main event tonight. She said her and Willow have unfinished business. She said she is All Elite. She says to say hello to our new CEO.

I thought it could have been better if they had set something up here other than her and Willow. I was really expecting Toni Storm or someone else to come out.

Samoa Joe is interviewed by Renee. He said it feels different tonight like money. He said he didn't forget what happened the last time they fought and said he didn't forget the debts that need paid. He said he's far overdue. He said this is the biggest mistake of Wardlow's career and said he doesn't lose at The Garden.

We get a video from The Undispited Kingdom. Adam Cole reads a story about Wardlow, calling him an unruly warrior who slayed beasts. He said the warrior is ready to slay Samoa Joe and present the prize to his king (Adam Cole). He said he said the precious gold was captured and The Kingdom became the end.

AEW Title - Samoa Joe (c) vs Wardlow

Strong, Bennett and Taven are out there with Wardlow. Wardlow rushes him to start and hits shots. Wardlow sends him into the apron and rails outside. Joe is sent into the steps and Wardlow rips up a sign for Joe. Joe hits chops and is spinebustered. Wardlow hits mounted shots.

Joe back elbows him then hits jabs. Joe hits chops Wardlow then corkscrew sentons him off the top rope. We go to PiP break. They trade chops and headbutts. Wardlow dropkicks him. We return from break.

Wardlow 2nd rope shoulders Joe. Joe hits forearms then hits a face kick and senton. Joe powerslams him then Wardlow starts holding his knee. The ref stops Joe from going at Wardlow then Wardlow eye rakes him. Wardlow puts him on the 2nd rope and lets him fall into Wardlow's knee.

Wardlow misses a top rope senton then powerbombs Joe. Wardlow pulls down his straps on his singlet. Joe puts a choke on Wardlow and gets on his back. Joe then taps him out and wins it.

Another day, another Wardlow loss. That'll be the end of push #4 or so for him. We'll have to see what manager he gets put with next. Maybe Smart Mark Sterling is available. I don't get the point of having him here and having him lose. It was a slower match that went longer than needed.

Swerve comes out and knocks over security. He has a chain with him and Joe walks out of the ring.

We see an interview from earlier in the day where The Elite are interviewed. Alex asks why Okada is with The Elite. A Buck says to call him by his full name and says to show him respect. The other Buck says he joined The Elite because of the synergy and their 14 years of friendship. He said Okada helped them out in his lowest of lows and they are helping him out now. He said there's 14 million reasons why he helped him. Okada said he's coming for Penta, Eddie and Pac and tells Alex Marvez to sign happy birthday to Matt - this is breaking the Bucks' own rule of calling people by their full names.

Can you imagine the criticism WWE would have gotten for this angle?

The Elite (The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada) vs Penta El Zero Meido, Eddie Kingston and Pac

Eddie and Okada are in but Okada tags out to start. Eddie chops Matt then Pac spin kicks Matt. Pac shoulders Matt over then Pac flying headscissors him. Pac titl-a-whirl backbreakers him. Penta slingshots in and takes a cutter. Penta superkicks Nick then hits his spinning F-5. Nick takes a double basement dropkick. Penta superkicks Matt then top rope legdrops him in the butt/crotch.

Eddie and Okada trade shots. Okada dropkicks him then Eddie takes a triple kick in the corner. We go to PiP break and return. Matt hits corner spears on Eddie then Eddie catches him off the 2nd rope with an exploder. Okada gets in Eddie's corner on the apron and teases him then Matt hits Eddie.

Eddie suplexes Matt then Penta gets in. Penta hits a double top rope crossbody and hits sling blades. Penta then rolls into a double ddt on The Bucks. Penta superkicks Okada then Pac srpingboard dropkicks Okada. Pac and Penta then do stereo dives outside. Pac springboard 450's Nick for 2.

Pac rebound germans Okada then Eddie hits chops on Okada. Okada ddt's him. Pac step up enzugiri's Okada then Penta canadian destroyers Matt. Nick superkicks PAc in the back of the head. Eddie stun guns Nick. Nick low blows Eddie then Okada rainmakers Eddie to win it.

Pac lost in his big return here in typical AEW fashion. I mean, it was a lose-lose here as Okada shouldn't have lost either, but that's on the booker, not me.

They didn't go all out here and it was a fine TV trios match. 

Tony Schiavone interviews Will Ospreay in the ring. Will said the Danielson match means a lot for him as he wanted to emulate him. Will talks about using the tiger driver '91. He said someone asked him if it was worth it and he said it was. He a said a phrase follows him - restore the feeling. He said he is the feeling. He said its his life or Bryan's life at the PPV and he doesn't feel like dying. He then says his name and says he's on another level.

Deonna Purrazzo says it's not over with her, Toni and May. She said if it's a numbers game, she has no problem finding a partner and facing them in Toronto. She said maybe she will stick around for their match on Rampage. She says to watch for the shoe as it will go straight up her @ss.

Jay White vs Darby Allin

Darby is taped up and holds his back after getting backed up into the corner. Jay side headlocks him then shoulders him over. Jay hits corner spears and chops him. Darby shotgun dropkicks him then top rope swantons him outside. Darby then topes him through the ropes. Darby rams him into the rails then is underhook suplexed onto a chair/rails.

Jay throws him into the steps and Darby goes over them. We go to PiP break and return. Jay sweeps Darby on the buckles. Darby does an over the back stunner then hits a code red for 2. Darby goes for a springboard coffin drop and Jay germans him. Jay uranages him then Darby reverse ddt's him. Darby tries to top rope coffin drop Jay on the apron but Jay moves and Darby hits the apron. Jay then hits a blade runner and wins it.

It was fine and ended at the right time. They didn't overdo it too much here. It was expected Darby wuld lose since he's going to climb Mt. Everest while Jay will be here wrestling.

The Gunns celebrate with Jay after. The Gunns beat up Darby after as Darby extends his hand. Colten pounds on him. Jay goes to hit Darby's leg with a bat then The Acclaimed come out. They stop them and Jay tries to get Billy to join in. Max and Bowens help Darby out of the ring. Jay clobbers Billy Gunn with the chair when he wasn't looking then The Acclaimed see what happened. The Gunns and The Acclaimed then fight and Max/Bowens take title belt shots to the head. Jay bladerunners Billy. Jay puts a chair on Darby's knee and baseball bat shots it.

We knew these two teams wouldn't be aligned for long but it would have been better if they built up to this a little more.

Hook and Chris Jericho vs The Gates of Agony

Kaun throws Hook down then Hook knees Kaun. Kaun takes a double suplex then Toa does as well. Kaun lariats Jericho. Jericho is hung on the top rope and Kaun flying headbutts him, sending him into the rails outside. Toa misses a corner splash then knocks Jericho off the apron again.

We go to PiP break and return. Jericho face kicks Kaun then asai moonsaults him. Hook gets the hot tag in and hits lariats on Kaun. Hook suplexes Kaun then pulls Toa over the top. Hook northern lights suplexes Kaun then Jericho top rope double axe handles Toa's back. Hook rolls up Kaun for 2.

Hook germans Toa then Kaun fireman's carry gutbusters Hook. Toa is sent into the post outside then Kaun takes a combo red rum + lion tamer. Kaun then taps out to the red red rum.

It was a decent tag with Hook having a good showing and Jericho taking some big bumps here. Hook had a nie hot tag segment and I liked their combo submission hold.

Kyle O'Reilly will fight Bryan Keith on Collision. Renee interviews Kyle. Kyle said he couldn't pick up his daughter due to injury but he got better. He said he wonders if he can still hang. He said he's impressed by Bryan Keith.

Strong, Taven and Bennett come in. Strong says if he wants to do it on his own, do it on his own. He said he respects him and they pound fists.

Mercedes Mone said she looks forward to Riho's match and wishes her good luck.

Chris Jericho and Hook are interviewed. Jericho said the GoA are no joke. He said Hook rose to the occasion and he has future world champ written on him. Jericho said he needs to know more and needs to stand in the ring across from him. He said he's challenging him to a match next week. Hook agrees.

Willow Nightingale vs Riho

Putting this in the main was a real stupid idea. I have no doubt Sasha was involved in it. Riho flips out of a backdrop. Willow blocks armdrags then shoulders Riho over. Willow low crossbodies Riho then Riho dropkicks Willow.

Riho flying knees Willow then Willow 2nd rope dropkicks her. We go to PiP break and return. Riho headscissors her into the ropes then 619's her. Riho top rope crossbodies her for 2. Riho flying knees Willow then hurricanrana's her out of the doctor bomb. Riho hits a dangerous northern lights suplex for 2.

Willow pounces her, sending her out. Willow misses an apron cannonball and lands on the floor. Riho then footstomps her off the apron on the floor. Riho then dragon suplexes her on the apron and top rope double stomps her for 2. Riho hits a jumping knee then is lariated over. Willow doctor bombs her and wins it.

It was a dangerous match where they did too much. Riho trying to suplex Willow was a stupid idea even on paper due to Willow probably being double her weight. As I said, I don't know why they put this in the main. It probably lost viewers.

The lights go out after, Hart distracts Willow and Skye Blue pounds on Willow. Willow takes a 2v1. Mercedes Mone then comes out and knocks down Skye. Mone knees Julia then does a twisting gori bomb. Willow raises Mone's hand after. Mone then dances to end the show.

Overall thoughts: It was a good show overall and they definitely tried here. I didn't like the women in the main event, I didn't like Wardlow losing again and I didn't like Pac losing in his return. I liked that they at least set something up for Mone though.