This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite emanates from the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, California! Speedball Mike Bailey makes his AEW debut against The Beast Mortos. Orange Cassidy and Hechicero battle in the main event. Willow Nightingale takes on Penelope Ford , and more.
We break it all down in this week’s AEW Dynamite recap!
We Hear From Kenny Omega
Omega says before this year, he was just happy to say he would try wrestling again. But now, he is barely into the new year with a singles championship around his waist. Omega gives a series of thanks to people, including Konosuke Takeshita, who pushed Omega in the ring at AEW Revolution. Omega gives props to Takeshita for making the title truly “international.” Omega mentions the tournament to determine his upcoming challenger. He says he wants to face the best, so he will be watching the action closely.
Katsuyori Shibata, Samoa Joe, & Hook vs. Vinny Pacifico, Gabriel Aeros, & Eli Theseus
Joe lays in several punches and chops in the corner. He then wipes out Theseus with a back elbow. Hook tags in, as does Aeros. Hook connects with a suplex, then also lays in strikes in the corner. He sends Aeros flying onto this back. Pacifico tags in, as does Shibata. Shibata kicks and chops Pacifico. He follows up with a dropkick and a suplex for a near fall. Shibata finishes off Pacifico with a PK for the win.
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata, Samoa Joe, & Hook
Backstage, Ricochet says the International Championship will look good on him. He is also giving Shibata the option to give up before their first-round tournament matchup.
Elsewhere, Jon Moxley says Cope can take the rules, but he’ll take Cope’s excuses. Moxley says he underestimated Cope’s determination, but there’s a reason he’s the world champion. Moxley says he never makes the same mistake twice.
Hologram & Powerhouse Hobbs (w/ Harleygram) vs. Brian Cage & Dralistico (w/ The Beast Mortos)
Cage and Hobbs fight on the outside, with Cage connecting with a series of uppercuts. He sends Hobbs crashing into the ring post. Meanwhile, Dralistico chops Hologram. Dralistico and Hologram trade arm drags. Dralistico chops Hologram to the mat, then tags in Cage. Hologram dumps Dralistico to the outside. He sends Cage to the outside as well with a hurricanrana. He looks to follow up with a dive, but Cage catches him and counters with a slam.
Back from break, Dralistico lays out Hologram with a crucifix bomb. Hologram tags in Hobbs. Hobbs slams Dralistico to the mat. Cage tags in. He superkicks Hobbs. Hobbs responds with a powerslam. Dralistico returns to action with a slap to Hobbs. Dralistico and Cage deliver a thrust kick-German suplex combo to Hobbs. Cage powerbombs Hologram. Cage takes down Hobbs with a superplex. Hobbs lands a running slam on Dralistico. Cage takes Hobbs down with a discus lariat. Hobbs drives Cage to the apron. Hologram dives onto him to the outside. Dralistico chops Hobbs in the corner. Hobbs counters a springboard from Dralistico into a powerslam for the win.
Winners: Powerhouse Hobbs & Hologram
We Hear From Toni Storm
Storm appears on the entrance stage with her AEW Women’s Championship. She points out that she is still the champ following her Hollywood Ending with Mariah May. Storm says it is now time for a new beginning. Storm references the other champions in AEW, such as Athena and Mercedes Mone. But when people fight her, it’s like fighting at the zoo, as she bites likes a lion. Storm promises we will never hear her “meow” because she is no p***y. Storm tells the locker room to put their keys in the bowl. Out of nowhere, Megan Bayne attacks Storm from behind.
International Title Eliminator Tournament: Speedball Mike Bailey vs. The Beast Mortos
Bailey fires off quick kicks. Mortos responds with a big chop. Bailey rocks Mortos with more kicks. Mortos runs over Bailey with a shoulder block on the outside. Mortos follows up with a slap. Bailey responds with chops of his own, then follows up with a dive over the top rope.
Back from break, Bailey hits a standing Shooting Star Press. Mortos rolls to the outside. Bailey takes him down with a jump off the top. Bailey follows up with an enziguri and a powerbomb for a near fall. Mortos drives Bailey to the mat with a pop-up Samoan drop. Mortos goes up top, where Bailey meets him. Mortos drops Bailey to the mat. Bailey lands more chops. Mortos responds with a heatbutt, a backbreaker, and a discuss lariat. Bailey and Mortos trade pinfall attempts. Bailey lands a knee drop and a roundhouse kick for the win.
Winner: Speedball Mike Bailey
Backstage, Christian Cage says he refuses to speak to anyone who’s related to Jon Moxley, specifically Renee Paquette. He tells her to get out of his sight. Cage says he is still the next AEW World Champion and demands his title contract be given back to him. Cage says he did not pass out or tap out at Revolution. Nick Wayne says Cage is making excuses and lying to himself. Wayne says Cage owes them an explanation and an apology. Cage shoves Wayne. He says Wayne should be thanking him for being a father figure to him. Cage vows to be the next AEW World Champion and advises Wayne to shut his mouth and keep riding his coattails.
We Hear From MJF
MJF says his body hurts, but what hurts the most is that he had his match won at Revolution, but lost due to a cheap shot. MJF says he’s not upset anymore because he is ten times smarter than Adam Page and his fans. MJF says the thing between he and Page isn’t over. The Hurt Syndicate’s music plays, with MVP walking to the ring. MJF and MVP hug. MVP says MJF isn’t the same 18-year-old he met years ago. MVP recalls MJF driving him around years ago, then meeting again in a Florida indie promotion. MVP recalls MJF telling him he’d be a world champion one day, which he has since backed up. MVP is proud of MJF for that, but he’s not proud of what happened to him at Revolution.
MVP asks MJF why he isn’t smashing people in. He then points out that people fear the Hurt Syndicate, which is something MJF didn’t do at Revolution. MVP offers MJF a business card. MJF pushes it away, despite respecting him. MJF says he doesn’t need MVP nor his advice, as he was the world champion for over 400 days. MVP emphasizes the word “was” and hands MJF his business card.
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Max Caster
Takeshita rocks Caster with a right hand. He continues to beat him down before delivers a spinning Michinoku Driver for the win.
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita
Backstage, Chris Jericho talks to the mask of Bandido and asks how he can come back from all the disappointment Jericho caused Bandido and his family. Jericho says Bandido’s life has changed forever, but not for the better.
Penelope Ford vs. Willow Nightingale
Nightingale drops Ford with a shoulder tackle, then slams her to the mat. Nightingale covers Ford for a two count. She slams her into the corner. Ford does the same to Nightingale. Nightingale suplexes Ford. Ford delivers a dropkick to Nightingale’s spine as she leans against the ropes. Ford then lands a double knee drop on the apron.
Back from break, Nightingale delivers a spinebuster for a near fall. Nightingale goes for a Doctor Bomb, but Ford counters. Ford bites Nightingale’s ear and ties her up in the ropes. Ford leaps off the top with a crossbody. Nightingale rams Ford into the turnbuckle before planting her with a powerslam. Nightingale runs overs Ford the win.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
After the match, Ford cracks a chair over Nightingale’s back, She then lays in punches until Kris Statlander makes the save with a dropkick. Megan Bayne appears and clotheslines both Statlander and Nightingale. Bayne then nails Statlander with an F5.
Backstage, Mercedes Mone and Billie Starkz speak with Renee Paquette. Starkz says she learned not to get kicked in the throat while watching Mone’s match at Revolution. Starkz says she’s accomplished a lot in AEW, much like Mone. Starkz says she’s looking to change into a champion next week. Mone laughs, tells Starkz she is way out of her league. Mone says there is a price to pay when one messes with her.
We Hear From Will Ospreay
Ospreay says he made it out of Revolution alive. Ospreay says he is in a bit of trouble with his wife, though, because he had to lie. He recalls his phone call with her asking him not to do anything stupid off the cage match. Ospreay promised not to do anything stupid. Ospreay realized he was in trouble when he looked down from atop the cage, which resulted in missed calls from his wife. She later yelled at him, but luckily, Ospreay was able to charm himself out of the situation.
Ospreay asks when he should call his shot for the AEW World Championship. A screen of AEW All In flashes on the screen, hinting at a potential match for him there. Ospreay confirms himself for the Men’s Owen Hart tournament with the aim of securing a world title match. Ospreay sends a warning to his future opponents.
Backstage, Jay White says he did not hit Cope with the briefcase on purpose at Revolution. White says he’ll be damned if he lets anyone take his place as the number one contender to the AEW World Championship.
Elsewhere, Adam Page says he doesn’t believe MJF when he tried to light him on fire last week. MJF predicts Page will scratch and claw his way to the top, but then tumble down. MJF adds that Page doesn’t deserve the people’s love, and he will never make them proud. Meanwhile, MJF vows to capture the world title again and eclipse Page.
AEW International Title Eliminator Tournament: Hechicero vs. Orange Cassidy
Cassidy and Hechicero lock up. Cassidy walks across the top rope and sends Hechicero flying with a hurricanrana. Hechicero attempts a dropkick, but Cassidy dodges it. Cassidy covers Hechicero, but he kicks out.
Back from break, Hechicero chops Cassidy in the corner, then chokes him against the ropes. Hechicero sweeps Cassidy off his feet and twists them between the ropes. Cassidy leaps off the top with a crossbody. Hechicero applies a hammerlock, then transitions into a backbreaker. Cassidy rocks Hechicero with a Stun Dog Millionaire and a DDT. Cassidy goes up top. Hechicero counters his diving elbow drop with an arm submission. Cassidy rolls up Hechicero for the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
After the match, Speedball Mike Bailey stares down Cassidy.