By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 132)
New Orleans, Louisiana at Lakefront Arena
Aired live April 13, 2022 on TBS
[Hour One] Pyro shot off on the stage. Jim Ross, Excalibur, and Tony Schiavone checked in on commentary and noted that it was “Championship Week” for AEW. Ring announcer Justin Roberts handled the introductions for the opening match.
CM Punk made his entrance. Ross spoke about being in New Orleans when Junkyard Dog was headlining. The lights went out and then Penta Oscuro made his entrance and had a tombstone on the stage. Penta brought a shovel to the ring with him while Alex Abrahantes carried a skull on a chain. Excalibur hyped the AEW Championship match and the early start time for Friday’s Rampage…
1. CM Punk vs. Penta Oscuro (w/Alex Abrahantes). There was a loud CM Punk chant once the bell rang followed by a chant for Penta, and then there were dueling chants. Ross said the fans were emotionally invested. “They’re buying in,” Ross said. Punk and Penta went nose to nose. Penta shoved Punk, who shoved him back, and then Penta shoved him again and did his hand sign, which he followed with another shove. Punk and Penta had a chop battle. An “AEW” chant followed. They cut to an early picture-in-picture break. [C]
Powell’s POV: AEW did a nice job of decking out the venue. It has a wall between the main floor and the seating off the main floor, which they’ve decorated with AEW signs. By the way, I’m filling in for Jake Barnett this week because he’s busy managing his army of bots (or something). Jake will take Friday’s WWE Smackdown coverage.
Punk went to the ropes where Penta cut him off with a kick. Excalibur welcomed viewers back and said the match could have huge ramifications in the AEW top five rankings. Both men stood on the rope rope where Punk set up for a move and slipped, causing both men to fall to the mat. Punk remained down and ended up clutching his left leg below the knee. Punk continued and could be heard speaking with Penta in the corner.
Penta sent Punk to the corner and his leg gave out. Punk got back to his feet and went for a GTS, but the knee gave out again. Penta hovered over Punk and fired shots at him. Punk caught him in the Anaconda Vice, but Penta reached the ropes to break the hold. Both men rolled to the apron and traded strikes. Penta kicked Punk in the gut and set up for a Penta Driver on the apron, but Punk fought out of it and went for a piledriver that Penta avoided. Punk caught Penta with a roundhouse kick that sent him back inside the ring.
Punk performed a springboard clothesline and then stood up and threw a high knee in the corner. Punk motioned for his finisher. Punk hoisted up Penta and went for the GTS, but Penta blocked it. Penta set up for his own finisher, but Punk avoided it. Penta dodged a Punk kick and hit him with an enzuigiri. Penta set up for the arm break spot, but Punk countered into a pin for a two count. Penta came right back with a two count of his own. Penta went for a springboard move, but Punk caught him and hit the GTS and scored the clean pin.
CM Punk defeated Penta Oscuro in 13:35.
Afterward, Punk grabbed his knee and then got to his feet and leaned in the corner while celebrating his win…
Powell’s POV: An entertaining match, all things considered. Punk slipped awkwardly from the ropes and it was hard to get a feel for how much damage he did to his left knee. He was able to put weight on it and it didn’t seem like they went home early, so hopefully he dodged a bullet.
Footage aired from earlier today at the airpot of the Jericho Appreciation Society exiting a private plane. Jericho boasted that this was how sports entertainers travel. Jericho was interrupted by some commotion in front of the plane. Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz yelled at Jericho from a car that drove away. The duo of Angelo Parker and Matt Menard were lying on the ground…
Ring entrances for the AEW Tag Title match took place…
2. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus vs. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly for the AEW Tag Team Titles. Christian Cage came out with the champions, but did not accompany them to ringside. Jungle Boy ended up on the apron. O’Reilly distracted the referee while Fish wrenched the arm of Jungle Boy and pulled him to the floor heading into a PIP break. [C]
The challengers continued to isolate Jungle Boy coming out of the break. He made a hot tag to Luchasaurus, who worked over both opponents. Jungle Boy tagged back in and then he and Luchasaurus performed a variation of the Demolition elbow drop on Fish, which led to a two count. The challengers regained offensive control. O’Reilly put Jungle Boy in a cross arm breaker, but he reached the ropes to break the hold.
O’Reilly caught Luchasaurus in a standing guillotine. Fish performed a top rope falcon arrow on Jungle Boy and had him pinned, but Luchasaurus slammed Fish onto O’Reilly to break up the pin. Moments later, Luchasaurus caught Fish with a kick and then he and Jungle Boy performed their assisted powerbomb move, which led to Jungle Boy pinning Fish.
Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus beat Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly in 13:40 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
The champions were celebrating their win when O’Reilly attacked them with a chair. O’Reilly helped Fish out of the ring. As they were heading to the back, “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler made their entrance and held up their ROH and AAA Tag Title belts before pushing and shoving on the ramp with Fish and O’Reilly…
Powell’s POV: A good tag match. There was some suspense to this match, as I thought they might move the tag titles to Fish and O’Reilly to give them and Adam Cole a boost heading into Cole’s title match on Friday.
The cameras cut away from the tag team exchange to recap Wheeler Yuta vs. Jon Moxley from Friday’s AEW Rampage…
Backstage, Schiavone interviewed Yuta, Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and William Regal. They hyped Yuta, Moxley, and Bryan facing The Gunn Club on Friday’s AEW Rampage. Yuta said the real work begins on Friday (to play off of what Moxley told him after their match on Rampage)…
The broadcast team hyped upcoming segments, including MJF vs. Shawn Dean for after the break… [C]
Backstage, Tony Schiavone stood between Toni Storm and Jamie Hayter and thanked them for no physicality between them. He said Tony Khan had signed them to meet in the first round of the women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament. Hayter said she would break Storm’s face. Storm smiled when Hayter asked if the cat had her tongue and then walked away…
3. MJF (w/Shawn Spears) vs. Shawn Dean. Dean’s entrance was not televised. He military gear including some black face paint. Excalibur pointed out the signs on the barricade regarding Wardlow being banned from the building. MJF teased having an issue removing his ring jacket and then took a cheap shot at Dean to start the match.
A backstage camera showed that multiple security guards were left lying. A loud “we want Wardlow” chant broke out. MJF roughed up Dean at ringside. MJF posed while standing against the barricade. Meanwhile, a masked security guard showed up behind him and revealed himself to be Wardlow. MJF fled in fear as Wardlow hopped the barricade.
Spears hit Wardlow with a chair to the back. Wardlow no-sold the chair shot and set up for a powerbomb, but a group of security guards ran out. Wardlow roughed up the first few guards and powerbombed one of them on the apron before being outnumbered.
Referee Bryce Remsburg counted to nine. MJF was on the stage with a mic in hand. MJF said he didn’t know what Tony Khan was paying Remsburg but he would triple it. Remsburg counted to ten anyway to give Dean the win.
Capt. Sean Dean defeated MJF via count-out in 4:05.
Afterward, MJF entered the ring and wanted to go after Remsburg, but Spears stood between them. Wardlow was shown looking into a camera backstage while security tried to pull him away. Wardlow said he wouldn’t stop until he gets his hands on MJF and he releases him from his contract. MJF and Spears showed fear in the ring…
Powell’s POV: The weekly Wardlow segments are getting over massively with each live crowd. I’m not sure how much Dean is really gaining from these flukey wins, but it’s good for a little something and sure beats taking losses.
A black and white Darby Allin video package aired. He was shown skateboarding on an empty city street. “Andrade, I’m going to put a nail in this whole thing,” Allin said. “Coffin match”… The broadcast team hyped upcoming matches… [C]
A Malakai Black video package aired. He seemed to mention Fuego Del Sol and then asked if his hopes and dreams are still the same. Black concluded by saying that if you’re wondering why he was by himself tonight, he wants you to be afraid of the shadows…
Powell’s POV: Some of it may be my poor hearing, but I had to rewind to figure out who Darby Allin and Malakai Black were addressing in their videos. Allin only said a few words so that one is probably on me, but I believe Black only mentioned Fuego once and spent a lot of time talking about him. Why would Black’s character waste his time with Fuego Del Sol? It’s nothing against Fuego who is a fun underdog, but it feels like the House of Black should have a bigger target.
4. Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, and Jake Hager vs. Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz. The entrances of both teams were televised. Kingston wore a “Thump” t-shirt in honor of Junkyard Dog, which the broadcast team acknowledged. Santana and Ortiz wore face paint. The babyface trio were the early aggressors.
[Hour Two] Jericho’s team isolated Ortiz heading into a PIP break. [C] Santana eventually tagged in and performed a top rope frog splash on Garcia for a near fall. Kingston tagged in and worked over Garcia, who eventually shoved him into the ropes. Jericho hit Kingston from ringside with the baseball bat while Garcia turned the referee out of the way. Garcia covered Kingston and pinned him.
Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, and Jake Hager defeated Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz in 11:40.
After the match, all five members of the Jericho Appreciation Society worked over Kingston while Santana and Ortiz were down at ringside. Jericho had Santana and Ortiz brought to the ring and hit Santana with a Judas Effect elbow…
Powell’s POV: The match was fine, but I’m just not feeling this feud or the Jericho Appreciation Society yet.
Backstage, Alex Marvez laughed while talking about Sean Dean getting another upset win while MJF, Shawn Spears, and Mark Sterling stood by. MJF scolded Marvez. He said he gets that fans have no sympathy for the devil. He said he doesn’t need their sympathy because he has money.
MJF had Sterling read from the contract that says MJF can book Wardlow against anyone he wishes. MJF said he was going to put Wardlow to work. He said he had the best idea for how to slaughter a greedy pig like Wardlow. Jose entered the picture and MJF handed him an envelope filled with cash. The Butcher walked onto the set and MJF confirmed that he will be Wardlow’s opponent…
5. Marina Shafir vs. Skye Blue. Blue’s entrance was not televised. Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling were shown taking notes while watching the match from the backstage area. Cargill’s “Baddie Section” of women were shown in the crowd. Shafir dominated the match and was jeered by the women in the Baddie Section. Blue tried to take advantage of the distraction, but Shafir continued to dominate her and put her away with a triangle…
Marina Shafir defeated Skye Blue in 2:25.
Powell’s POV: The otherwise hot live crowd was very quiet during this match. It’s hard to blame the fans since this is the first time that Shafir has been featured on Dynamite and she didn’t play to them in any way.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Lexi Nair interviewing Hook in a gym area. Before he could speak, Tony Nese and Mark Sterling walked onto the set, causing Nair to walk away. Sterling wondered why Nese wasn’t being interviewed. Nese said they would rather interview someone who was handed his success. Hook stood up and the heels left. Danhausen showed up behind him and tried to curse him, but an unfazed Hook tossed a medicine ball over his head at Danhausen and walked away…
The broadcast team hyped the upcoming matches… [C]
TNT Champion Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page, and Dan Lambert delivered a backstage promo about Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti. Page said Guevara begged management for a TNT Title match. Lambert called them the most obnoxious couple in AEW history. Sky said Guevara will get the ass kicking he needs at Battle of the Belts 2. Sky said the only thing bigger than Texas is his winning streak…
Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs made their entrance to a strong reaction while the broadcast team noted that it was a homecoming for Starks. Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland followed…
6. Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland vs. Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs. The crowd chanted “Bask in his Glory” for Lee to start the match. Lee sent both opponents to ringside and then Strickland performed a springboard moonsault onto them heading into a PIP break. [C]
Starks caught Strickland with a spear and was cheered by the hometown fans. He followed up with kicking Lee off the apron and then performed a Canadian Destroyer on Strickland for a near fall. Strickland ended up tossing Starks at a charging Lee, who covered him. Hobbs broke up the pin and then jawed at Lee until the referee cleared him from the ring. Starks tagged in Hobbs.
Taz walked to ringside. Strickland was tagged in and went up top, but Starks knocked him off the apron. Hobbs picked up Strickland and charged toward the post, but Strickland slipped away and shoved Hobbs into the post. A short time later, all four men ended up back in the ring. Lee had Hobbs down and ran the ropes for a move, but Taz tripped him up. Lee stumbled toward Hobbs, who performed a spinebuster and then pinned Lee.
Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs beat Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland in 12:35.
After the match, Taz joined Starks and Hobbs in the ring while they celebrated their win…
Powell’s POV: It was a tainted win due to the Taz interference, but it was still nice to see Hobbs get a win over Lee. I’ve always preferred the idea of Taz being at ringside rather than on commentary for his team’s bigger matches, so I liked seeing him out there and getting involved.
Excalibur hyped Hangman Page vs. Adam Cole in a Death Match for the AEW Championship, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and Wheeler Yuta vs. Billy Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Austin Gunn, and Ruby Soho vs. Robyn Renegade in a women’s Owen Hart tournament qualifier for Friday’s AEW Rampage.
Excalibur hyped Scorpio Sky vs. Sammy Guevara for the TNT Title, Jonathan Gresham vs. Dalton Castle for the ROH World Championship, and Thunder Rosa vs. Nyla Rose for the AEW Women’s Championship for Saturday’s Battle of the Belts 2 special.
Tony Schiavone interviewed Thunder Rosa about her title match with Nyla Rose, who walked onto the set with Vickie Guerrero. They had a cake for Rosa and said it was to celebrate the world’s shortest title reign. Rosa asked if they thought she was stupid. They both said yes. Rosa shoved the cake into the face of Rose, who took a swing at Rosa and took out Vickie instead. Rose ended up slamming Rosa into some production crates twice before referees ran her off…
Excalibur hyped Wardlow vs. The Butcher, Hook’s Dynamite debut, and Britt Baker vs. Danielle Kamela, and Jungle Boy vs. Kyle O’Reilly in Owen Hart Cup qualifiers, plus Darby Allin vs. Andrade El Idolo in a coffin match, and Tony Khan’s latest huge announcement for next week’s Dynamite…
Ross hyped the main event… [C] A brief video package aired on the Page vs. Cole match… Entrances for the main event took place…
7. Minoru Suzuki vs. Samoa Joe for the ROH TV Title. Former Referee Paul Turner called for the Code of Honor handshake, but Suzuki and Joe jawed at one another instead. Turner called for the bell and then both men had a long chop exchange. Suzuki ran the ropes and Joe knocked him down with a shoulder block. Suzuki rolled onto the apron and ended up applying an armbar over the ropes briefly. They rolled to the floor as the show cut to a PIP break. [C]
Back in the ring, Suzuki wrenched on the left arm of Joe during the break. Once he released the hold, he delivered a taunting kick to Joe’s face and smiled before going back to work on his arm. Joe came back with a powerbomb for a two count, then immediately applied an STF. A short time later coming out of the break, Suzuki teased a Gotch style piledriver and shoved Joe away instead so that they could have another chop fest.
Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt were shown in the crowd chanting for Joe. Suzuki dropkicked Joe and then went for the Gotch style piledriver, but Joe avoided it. Joe came back and placed Suzuki on the top rope and then threw a kick at him. Joe set up for his finisher, but Suzuki applied an armbar. Joe fought free, hit the Muscle Buster, and scored a clean pin.
Samoa Joe defeated Minoru Suzuki in 11:40 to win the ROH TV Title.
Lethal and Dutt stood at the bottom of the stage with a mic and congratulated Joe. They said they had the gift that they promised Joe. They opened a gift box and then held up their middle fingers while Joe watched from the ring.
[Overrun] The lights went out. When the lights turned on, Satnam Singh stood in the ring behind Joe and attacked him. The fans booed. Lethal and Dutt entered the ring. Joe got his hands on Lethal for a moment, but Singh applied a cranium vice. Singh stood up Joe and then Lethal put Joe down with a Lethal Injection. Lethal placed the ROH TV Title belt on Joe and then Dutt placed a white towel over him. Joe quickly shoved the towel aside and the show concluded with the heels standing tall…
Powell’s POV: Can we pretend like they didn’t have an overrun and erase the post match angle from our memories forever? It’s okay to just close a show with the babyface beating a legend to win a championship. Why can’t AEW let anything breathe? They sure as hell didn’t need the lights going out for a guy that the live crowd clearly didn’t know. AEW put out a press release to announce the signing of Singh back in September 2021 and this is the first time I can recall hearing about him since then.
It’s too bad because Joe vs. Suzuki was a lot of fun and there was a lot more to like than dislike about this episode. But I honestly can’t believe they made a big fuss out of having an overrun for that angle. I hope Singh ends up being great, but they have to know that he came off like the AEW version of Great Khali in this lousy angle. I will have more to say about the show in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Dynamite by grading the show below.
“Why can’t AEW let anything breathe?”
Truer words have never been written. Man, what could be said about that ending, huh? AEW did Singh no favors with that debut.
I don’t want to sound like TheGreatOne, but maybe I too old for AEW’s non-stop Michael Bay attention span type booking. I don’t need a “new big debut” every week, the turning off lights spot (even when Malaki Black isn’t there), interview segments where a wrestler can’t get a sentence off without being interrupted or attacked (like Thunder Rosa in the last two weeks), & the WrestleMania-like kicking out of “finishers”. I was shocked when Samoa Joe won with just 1 Muscle Buster.
This has been mentioned before here, the WWE & AEW are at two extremes of wrestling. I’m not a big fan of WWE’s slow pace of multiple video packages & milking interviews, entrances, & introductions but AEW’s pace is not for me. It’s a shame cause I really like a lot of AEW’s roster.
I really enjoy elements of both products and I don’t want them to be carbon copies of one another, but it would be nice if one of them could find that middle area.
I enjoyed tonight’s show. Sure, the ending was overdone a bit, but at least now Jay Lethal is involved with in an angle. Now I just want to see Joe destroy The Great Kahli II. Looking forward to Friday and Saturday.
PS – When CM Punk fell from the top rope, I thought he was selling Penta working over the leg. Announcers sold it as such.
It’s possible on Punk. I haven’t had a chance to watch that back yet. A good broadcast team will try to spin it the way they did when there’s a botch, so it’s hard to say. Punk was clearly talking with Penta when they went to the corner, but I could also see Punk going the extra mile to convince fans that he was hurt by working that in. Either way, I hope he’s okay.
Man, that was a major misstep at the end. They even had Singh do the Great Khali’s headsqueeze move. You could tell from the crowd’s reaction that this was a major letdown in every way. On a positive note, I loved the tag team title match, and what a great crowd.
Can I also say – this goes under the radar, but Ricky Starks has GREAT entrance music.