This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite emanates from Nashville, Tennessee! We break it all down in this week’s AEW Dynamite recap!
Don Callis is on commentary for the opening match.
Continental Classic Gold League: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kyle Fletcher
Fletcher and Okada shake hands, then both attempt to kick each other. They catch each other’s boots. They lock up, with Okada cinching in a side headlock. Fletcher escapes. They lock up again, this time resulting in an exchange of shoves. Fletcher gains the upper hand with a shoulder tackle. Fletcher then scoop slams Okada to the mat. Fletcher lays in chops on Okada in the corner. Okada eventually ducks and blasts Fletcher with elbows. Fletcher answers with an elbow strike of his own. Okada dropkicks Fletcher off the top rope, causing him to fall to the outside floor.
Back from break, Fletcher and Okada go up top. Okada elbows Fletcher off of it, then follows with an elbow drop. Fletcher delivers a snap suplex. Okada rolls to the outside, then sends Fletcher crashing into the apron. He follows with a DDT to the floor. The referee begins counting. Both make it back into the ring at the count of five. Okada drops Fletcher with a brainbuster. They trade forearm strikes, then kicks. Okada piledrives Fletcher, though Fletcher responds with a Michinoku Driver.
When they both reach their feet, Okada nails Fletcher with a Rainmaker. Fletcher dodges a second one and launches Okada into the turnbuckle. Fletcher follows with a powerbomb for a near fall. Fletcher rocks Okada with a knee to the back of his head. Fletcher lands an enziguiri on Okada in the corner. Okada gouges Fletcher’s eyes. Fletcher rolls him up for the win.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
After the match, Fletcher and Okada shake hands in mutual respect. Callis raises both of their hands.
Backstage, Kenny Omega says he’s thinking long and hard about where he and The Young Bucks stand, though he is considering giving them a second chance.
AEW Women’s Tag Title Tourney Semi-Finals: Sisters Of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue) vs. Babes Of Wrath (Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale)
Cameron delivers a side headlock takedown on Hart. Hart escapes with a shove, only to be dropped with a double back suplex. Nightingale drops Cameron onto Hart next. Blue tags in and nails Nightingale with an elbow. Blue rolls up Nightingale for a two count. Nightingale returns with a backslide and a short arm lariat. She then delivers a slam. Blue tags in Hart, who knocks Nightingale off the apron. Hart connects with a standing moonsault to Cameron. Blue and Hart drop Cameron with a flapjack. Cameron rolls up Blue, but Blue kicks out. Nightingale launches Hart into the barricade. Cameron lands a slingblade on Blue. Cameron fires off right hands on Blue in the corner next. Blue trips her up, then delivers a neck breaker.
Back from break, Nightingale slams Cameron onto Blue. Blue answers with a knee to Cameron. Cameron rocks Blue with a roundhouse kick and a side Russian leg sweep. Blue and Hart double team Cameron with a powerbomb and moonsault combo. Blue kicks Nightingale off the apron. Blue and Hart blast Cameron with tandem thrust kicks. Cameron pushes Hart into Blue, then hits a backstabber on Hart. Nightingale runs in with a lariat to Blue. Nightingale drops Hart with a powerbomb for the win.
Winners: Babes of Wrath
We Hear From The Opps
Samoa Joe says tonight is a celebration, then instructs Tony Schiavone to leave the ring. Backstage, we see Swerve Strickland equipped with a chain and a staple gun. Adam Page walks alongside him. Joe sends Shibata to go bring in the security. Joe says everything went according to plan at Full Gear. Joe shows a video package to illustrate his brilliance. Joe introduces Hook, whom he calls a lynch pin. Hook calls himself the greatest second generation wrestler ever. Strickland’s music hits, as does Page’s. Strickland and Page emerge from the crowd, then hit the ring with their chains. Security initially hold back Page and Strickland, allowing The Opps to retreat. Strickland and Page fight off security with their staple gun and chains. They then powerbomb two more of them. Strickland and Page choke them with the chains next. AEW referees run down to stop them.
Continental Classic Blue League: Jon Moxley vs. Mascara Dorada
Dorada goes for an ankle lock, but Moxley escapes. Moxley answers with an arm submission. Dorada reverses into one of his own. Moxley blasts Dorada with a chop and a right hand. He stomps Dorada’s hand. Dorada answers with a hurricanrana. Moxley evades his springboard crossbody, then wipes out Dorada with a dive to the outside. Dorada lands a crossbody. Dorada sends Moxley off the stage, only to run into an elbow from him next. The action returns to the ring with Moxley going for two quick pin attempts. Moxley drops Dorada on his head next.
Back from break, Dorada locks in an arm bar. Moxley escapes and lays in elbows. He knees Dorada in the face as well. Dorada rolls up Moxley for a near fall, then rocks him with a thrust kick. Dorada goes up top and descends with a 450 Splash for another near fall. Dorada goes up top again, but Moxley gets his knees up to block another splash. Moxley cinches in the bulldog choke. Dorada fades.
Winner: Jon Moxley
After the match, Marina Shafir joins Moxley in celebration. Toni Storm comes out with a mic. Storm says she is the least b*tchy person standing in the ring. Storm informs Shafir that she and Mina Shirakawa will face her and Megan Bayne in a semi-finals holiday death match.
Elsewhere, Kris Statlander tells people to believe in her accomplishments. Statlander adds that she knows where she’s going next.
Continental Classic Gold League: Darby Allin vs. Kevin Knight
Allin and Knight lock up. They jockey for positioning until Allin cinches in a head lock. They exchange arm drags. Knight blasts Allin with a high boot, then launches him into the rope with a monkey flip. Allin hobbles around, favoring his knee. Knight levels Allin on the outside with a moonsault. Allin dives to the outside, landing on Knight. He goes up top, where Knight meet him. Knight descends with an avalanche back suplex.
Back from break, Knight and Allin wipe each other with clotheslines. Knight fires off an elbow strike, then spikes Allin on the ramp with a DDT. Knight connects with a leaping lariat to Allin next. Allin hits a Code Red in the ring for a near fall. Knight sweeps Allin off the top, then nails him with a coast to coast dropkick as he hangs upside down. Knight follows with a splash for the win.
Winner: Kevin Knight
Afterward, Knight and Allin shake hands.
Continental Classic Blue League: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Orange Strong
Cassidy attempts a sunset flip, but Claudio blocks it. Cassidy rolls up Claudio for a two count. Claudio delivers a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He launches Cassidy into the turnbuckle next. Claudio follows with an uppercut. Cassidy answers with a thrust kick and an arm drag. Cassidy dives onto Claudio, only for Claudio to quickly fire back with a lariat. Claudio swings Cassidy into the barricade.
Back from break, Cassidy drops Claudio with a tornado DDT on the floor. Cassidy bounces Claudio off the turnbuckle, then rocks him with a Stun Dog Millionaire. Claudio answers with an uppercut and a series of elbows. Claudio swings Cassidy around the ring. He lines up for another uppercut. Cassidy counters with an Orange Punch and a DDT. Cassidy hits a pop-up Orange Punch next. He drops Claudio with a Beach Break for a near fall.
Claudio dodges another Orange Punch attempt and runs over Cassidy with a lariat. Cassidy rolls up Claudio off a hurricanrana for a near fall. Claudio nails him with a pop-up uppercut for the win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
After the match, Cassidy shoves Wheeler Yuta. The Death Riders then attack Cassidy in the corner. Roderick Strong, Kyle Fletcher, and Konosuke Takeshita run down. More competitors in the C2 run down. Mascara Dorada wipes out many of them with a moonsault to the outside. Cassidy rocks Yuta with an Orange Punch. Kazuchika Okada looks on from the ramp.