The March 8th edition of AEW Dynamite, the first following AEW Revolution, offered title defenses for both Orange Cassidy and Wardlow, Top Flight & AR Fox versus the JAS, Blackpool Combat Club vs. The Dark Order, Skye Blue versus Ruby Soho, the return of FTR, and more.
Highlights:
- Opening match was an AEW All Atlantic Championship (which is getting a name change) defense by Orange Cassidy against Jay Lethal. Nice video package to cover the pair’s previous meetings (and humorous low-impact pyro during Cassidy’s introduction). Lethal spent most of the match targeting Cassidy’s leg, and Cassidy targeting Lethal’s arm (which would play into the finish and post-match angle) in a more straightforward match without shenanigans with Lethal’s cronies and the Best Friends not allowed at ringside. Followed up later in the night by Tony Khan‘s announcement of a Cassidy vs. Jeff Jarrett match next week and the renaming of the title to the AEW International Championship.
- Renee Paquette‘s backstage interview with “Hangman” Adam Page saying as far as he’s concerned his issues with Jon Moxley are settled. However, things would heat up later in the night after Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli defeated The Dark Order’s John Silver and Adam Reynolds. Exactly what you’d expect from these two teams given the heat between them over the past few weeks. Followed by more heel antics by the BCC and eventual run-in by Evil Uno and Page to make the save.
- Short, but solid, Renee backstage interview with Powerhouse Hobbs for his title match. Followed up later with Tony Schiavone interviewing Wardlow backstage amping up the main event even further. The Falls-Count-Anywhere match started in the arena’s garage which included Wardlow putting Hobbs through the windshield of a car and through a wall as the pair battled towards the ring. We also got Wardlow doing a Swanton Bomb from the top rope putting Hobbs through a table. Interference from QT Marshall saved Hobbs from a Powerbomb off the stage allowing Hobbs to become the new TNT Champion.
- Trios match with AR Fox & Top Flight taking on JAS’ Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Daniel Garcia (with Angelo Parker and Matt Menard at ringside). Impressive high-flying moves from Fox prior to shenanigans leading to a JAS victory. Followed by the JAS calling out the House of Black and claiming themselves to be the #1 Trios contenders only to have The Elite hit ringside instead. Followed by the House of Black’s arrival setting up a triple-threat match for the titles next week in Canada.
- Renee did an in-ring interview with Ruby Soho prior to her match explaining her heel turn at Revolution which was immediately followed by Soho’s match Skye Blue. Entire segment, including the post-match beatdown of both Blue and Willow Nightingale by Soho, Saraya, and Toni Storm continued to further that storyline and build up the heels as more of a force within AEW. Also, nice Kris Statlander name drop to a huge pop.
- Post-match celebratory MJF promo from Revolution followed later in the night by a tearful Bryan Danielson interview suggesting the American Dragon will be taking some time off.
- The official return of FTR for an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone to thunderous applause from the crowd calling out the Ass Boys and staking their claim to the AEW Tag Team Championship. Top Guys, out.
- Backstage segment with Renee interviewing Jade Cargill and the TBS Champion calling out any Canadian wrestlers for AEW’s event in Winnipeg next week. Tough spot following FTR on the card, but Jade can do these quick interviews in her sleep. It will be interesting to see what “whack-ass Canadian” steps up for a shot at the title.
Lows:
- None (although some could certainly argue the QT involvement in the main event wasn’t needed, even if it did tie back to an earlier storyline).
Less Notable:
- Ricky Starks was jumped during an in-ring promo by Juice Robinson suggesting Starks’ next storyline may be running through some version of Bullet Club. Jay White to AEW confirmed?
- Humorous Renee backstage interview with The Acclaimed interrupted by Angelo Parker and Matt Menard (who nearly got a laugh from Renee). AEW hasn’t had much for Parker and Menard recently other than JAS ringside attendants. A short feud with The Acclaimed could be good for them and give The Acclaimed something to do as FTR fight for the titles.
