By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 185)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Petersen Events Center
Aired live April 19, 2023 on TBS
[Hour One] The Dynamite opening aired and then pyro shot off on the stage while Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz checked in on commentary. Dasha Gonzalez was the ring announcer (Justin Roberts indicated that he tested positive for COVID-19)…
“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry made his entrance. Perry started to speak, but he was interrupted the Sammy Guevara’s entrance theme. Guevara headed to the ring. Guevara tried to address Perry, but he was interrupted by the entrance music of Darby Allin, who joined them in the ring.
Darby said out of the other three pillars, he’s known Guevara the longest and actually likes him the most. Allin said that the perception is that Guevara is least qualified to challenge for a title shot. Allin said that it’s not called the Sting Appreciation Society because they see themselves as equals. Allin said that if Guevara wants to become a world champion, he needs to do it on his own “because I think Chris Jericho is holding you back.”
Allin turned his focus to Perry. Allin questioned whether he goes by Jungle Boy or Jack. Allin said that of the pillars, Perry had to do the least work to get to AEW because he was part of the California clique. Allin admitted that he was jealous of Perry initially, but then when he saw what Perry was all about, he wasn’t intimidated by anything about him.
Perry said there are a lot of kids in the crowd who wear Allin’s face paint. “If they only knew what you were really like,” Perry said. Perry labeled Allin as anti-social and unfriendly, and said that Allin was rude to everyone backstage he doesn’t think is cool. Perry said Allin was only in AEW because he didn’t make it as a skateboarder.
Guevara was shown smirking as he laid over the top turnbuckle. Perry said there wasn’t enough time to get into what a dirtbag Guevara is. Perry said he respects Guevara more than Allin or MJF. He said that for better or worse and then emphasized that it’s always worse, what you see is what you get with Guevara. Perry was censored when he added that Guevara is still a scumbag piece of shit.
Guevara said Perry hates MJF, but he’s actually just like him. Guevara said that Perry and MJF were both handpicked to be in AEW. Guevara recalled some of the early AEW events that Perry and MJF were on. Guevara thanked Allin for giving him hope. Guevara recalled that Allin was the first pillar to win a championship in AEW and said it showed that it’s possible to break through any glass ceiling.
Guevara said he watched Allin become TNT Champion and told himself that he would do it better. Guevara said he did so by winning the title three times. Guevara said Allin would jump from something high and then he would jump from a higher place than Allin did. Perry issued a spoiler alert and said he would be the next AEW World Champion and he would do it for people who were with him since day one.
AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance and spoke from the stage. He mocked the Pittsburgh crowd for “actually thinking Britt Baker is talented.” MJF told the men in the ring to stop fighting over him. MJF said he had a conversation with his “good friend” Tony Khan.
MJF said there would be a Pillars tournament and the winner would challenge him for the championship at Double Or Nothing. MJF said one of the three men would get a bye. A production crew member walked out with a hat. MJF pulled a piece of paper out of the hat and said that Allin would get the bye. MJF said Perry would face Guevara in the first tournament match. MJF teased it would happen next week, then said it would happen tonight. MJF wished them luck in “beating the ever loving shit out of each other, because you both suck”… [C]
Powell’s POV: Mixed feelings on the segment. I don’t think that taking the inside jabs at one another was worth making the two babyfaces look bad. I’m surprised by the tournament approach. I thought they would go with a Four Pillars four-way. Allin feels like he’s the most over and I suspect that fans view him as the most likely of the three to beat MJF.
A graphic listed the three-man tournament with the winner of tonight’s match facing Allin next week…
“The Outcasts” Ruby Soho, Toni Storm, and Saraya made their entrance. Saraya tried to take a towel from Britt Baker’s mother, but she didn’t let it go. Jamie Hayter made her entrance followed by hometown gal Baker. Soho and Storm ran up and ramp and brawled with Hayter and Baker. They eventually made it to the ring to start the match…
1. AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho and Toni Storm (w/Saraya). Baker went for a Panama Sunrise at ringside on Soho, but Storm broke it up. Soho jawed at Baker’s mom heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Baker performed a sling blade clothesline on one opponent and threw a soft superkick at the other. She eventually pulled out her glove for her Lockjaw finisher, but she was cut off. Soho was dumped to ringside. Baker and Hayter double teamed Storm. Baker had her pinned, but Soho returned to the ring and shoved Hayter into Baker to break up the pin.
Soho hit Baker with the title belt. Storm put Baker down with her Storm Zero finisher and went for the pin, but Baker kicked out. Storm ran Hayter into the ring steps and then dropkicked her shoulder. Soho set up Baker for a move from the ropes, but Baker knocked her off and then booted Storm.
Baker performed the Panama Sunrise on Soho and covered her for a near fall. Baker followed up with a Stomp on Soho and then punched Storm off the apron. Baker covered Soho, who kicked out again. Baker applied the Lockjaw on Soho and got the submission win…
AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker beat Ruby Soho and Toni Storm in 9:35.
Powell’s POV: The match was nonstop action with everyone working hard. The outcome felt a little predictable with Baker going over in her hometown, but it sure beats the alternative of making the babyfaces look like fools in their hometowns.
Wardlow was interviewed by Renee Paquette in the backstage area and recalled that QT Marshall got involved the last time he faced Powerhouse Hobbs. Wardlow said he had a member of the Four Horsemen in his corner not all that long ago and he told him about evening the playing field. Wardlow said he decided to reach out to another Horseman to help him.
Arn Anderson walked onto the set. Anderson recalled some of the things that Hobbs and his crew did to Wardlow and called it kid stuff. Anderson said Tully Blanchard is a smart guy who taught Wardlow how to be the best checkers player in AEW. Anderson told the fans to get ready because tonight they are going to start playing chess…
“The Elite” Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson made their entrance to “Carry On Wayward Son.” Omega said the past couple of weeks have been some of the most difficult of his life. He said the Blackpool Combat Club were some of the most respected wrestlers on the planet until they attacked his friends and sent them to the hospital.
Omega recalled stabbing the screwdriver into the turnbuckle pad. He said he wished he had pulled it out and stabbed Moxley in the eye with it. Omega said he wanted to see BCC in the ring so they could settle things like men.
Bryan Danielson appeared on the big screen and called them amateurs. Danielson recalled Omega stating during his promo that he didn’t have much to say. As Danielson spoke on the screen, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta attacked Omega and the Jacksons from behind.
The Elite trio quickly battled back. Omega grabbed a chair, but Moxley grabbed him in a choke from behind. Omega escaped and threw punches at Moxley and then pulled his shirt over his head and threw punches at him in hockey style. Yuta targeted the injured bicep of Matt until Omega broke it up. Castagnoli powerbombed Nick. Omega performed a released German suplex on Yuta. Moxley hit Omega with a Death Rider.
Danielson walked out with a mic in hand. “Exactly what I thought, nothing but a bunch of amateurs,” Danielson said. He added that he thought Omega was the exception, but added that he may have assumed wrong.
Don Callis ran out with a chair in hand, but he stopped at the bottom of the ramp and then turned around and ran to the back.
Danielson continued to badmouth Omega while Moxley and Castagnoli held Omega in the ring. Danielson said Omega needs to be gone. Danielson pulled out a screwdriver.
Callis returned and brought Konosuke Takeshita with him. Takeshita headed to the ring and helped The Elite trio clear the ring. Omega, Takeshita, and Callis ended up in the ring together. Omega and Takeshita looked awkwardly at one another, but then Callis raised both of their arms. The Jacksons returned to the ring and then all of the babyfaces raised their arms together…
Powell’s POV: I’m starting to dig Danielson as a heel. The screwdriver thing doesn’t do much for me, but all of his amateur talk is entertaining and did get some heat from the crowd. Callis bringing out Takeshita to help was a cool development that evens the sides.
Entrances for the TNT Title match took place…
2. Powerhouse Hobbs (w/QT Marshall, Harley Cameron) vs. Wardlow (w/Arn Anderson) for the TNT Championship. The broadcast team played it up as a homecoming for Wardlow. Hobbs performed a few belly-to-belly suplexes during the opening minute. Wardlow shot up and knocked Hobbs to ringside and then followed him.
Wardlow ran Hobbs into the ringside barricade and then clotheslined him over it. Wardlow hopped the barricade and fought Hobbs in the crowd. The referee followed the duo and tried to get them back in the ring. Eventually, Wardlow tossed Hobbs back over the barricade heading into a PIP break. [C]
Wardlow performed a Swanton, but he didn’t go for the pin. They both got to their feet and traded forearm shots and clotheslines. Hobbs eventually threw repeated clotheslines to the front and back of Wardlow, who then knocked Hobbs down with a running clothesline. Wardlow followed up with a pair of suplexes.
Wardlow had Hobbs down when Cameron walked on the apron to distract him. Anderson joined her on the apron, which distracted the referee. Marshall entered the ring and put Wardlow down with a Diamond Cutter. Hobbs followed up with a spinebuster for a two count.
Marshall argued with the referee. Anderson entered the ring and pulled out a finger gun. Marshall left the ring and backed up. Penta El Zero Miedo and Alex Abrahantes were waiting, and Penta superkicked Marshall. In the ring. Wardlow powerbombed Hobbs three times and pinned him.
Wardlow defeated Powerhouse Hobbs in roughly 9:30 to win the TNT Title.
After the match, Christian Cage and Luchasaurus made their entrance. The duo stood on the stage and had a long distance staredown with Wardlow…
Powell’s POV: Apparently, the key to winning the TNT Championship is to just get a title shot in your hometown. I’m not crazy about Hobbs dropping the title already.
Sammy Guevara was about to be interviewed by Paquette when MJF interrupted them. MJF told Guevara that he’s always liked him and said he had something that would be good for both of them.
[Hour Two] MJF said he was offering Guevara a guaranteed spot in the main event of Double Or Nothing. “All you have to do is lay down,” MJF said. Guevara said he would beat Perry, Allin, and then MJF and become the new AEW World Champion. MJF said the odds of Guevara beating three pillars were slim to none.
MJF said he could offer him the main event spot and a blank check if he just agreed to lay down. MJF handed Guevara a check and then turned around and let him write his number down. MJF acted like it was pricey and then asked if they had a deal. MJF offered a handshake, but Guevara said friends hug and then hugged MJF…
3. Jay White (w/Juice Robinson) vs. Komander. Shawn Spears was shown watching the match from the front row. A couple minutes into the match, Komander went for a moonsault while White was on the floor, but White stuffed it and then slammed Komander on the apron heading into a PIP break. [C]
White dominated the offense during the PIP break. Spears was shown holding up a “6” sign. White let Komander chop him coming out of the break and then knocked him down with a chop of his own. Komander rallied and hooked White into a cool pin attempt for a near fall. White shot up and turned Komander inside out with a clothesline.
A short time later, Komander knocked White out of the ring with a superkick. Komander went up top, ran across the top rope, and then performed springboard dive onto White on the floor. Spears held up a “10” sign. Back in the ring, Komander picked up a couple of near falls, including one from a springboard Phoenix Splash.
Komander went for another top rope move that White avoided. White went for his finisher, but Komander slipped away. White put Komander down with a cutthroat suplex and then hit the Bladerunner for the win. Spears held up a “5” sign at ringside.
Jay White defeated Komander in 10:15.
After the match, Robinson pulled Spears over the guardrail. White joined Robinson in attacking Spears until Ricky Starks ran out. Starks ducked White and then speared Robinson. White and Robinson left the ring while Starks checked on Spears and Komander…
Powell’s POV: The match was entertaining and White ultimately went over, but it felt like this week should have been more about spotlighting White. Am I the only one who suspects that Spears will somehow end up in White’s Bullet Club faction?
AEW Tag Team Champions “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler were waiting to be interviewed by Paquette, but she showed them footage of Mark Briscoe being attacked by The Trustbusters. FTR ran to check on Briscoe, who was being tended to by a trainer while Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh stood by.
Briscoe was ready to fight, but the trainer talked him down. FTR and Lethal’s crew both wanted to step up. Briscoe suggested that FTR join forces with Lethal and Jarrett. The four men agreed to do it for Briscoe…
Chris Jericho made his entrance to “Judas” heading into a break. [C] Adam Cole made his entrance coming out of the break and joined Jericho inside the ring. Cole said he studied and idolized Jericho, and said his catchphrase was inspired by Jericho. Cole recalled saying in high school that he wanted to be like Jericho. Cole said it was pretty damn cool that he was in the ring with Jericho.
Cole said he has a ton of respect for Jericho, who offered Cole a handshake. Cole shook Jericho’s hand. Jericho said he was happy that Cole said those things about him and he wanted to say from the bottom of his heart that he has zero respect for Cole. Jericho said it was unacceptable that Cole came out and shook Keith Lee’s hand after his match last week. Jericho said Cole was lucky that he didn’t slap him in the face.
Cole said he had a feeling that Jericho was going to act like this. Cole said that he and the people of Pittsburgh think that Jericho has been acting like a jagoff. Cole asked if the real Jericho is the guy who gets help from JAS or if he’s the GOAT and the Demo God. Cole said he thinks the real Jericho is a stupid idiot.
Jericho suggested that Cole leave his ring. Cole asked what he was going to do about it. Jericho shoved Cole, who then shoved Jericho down and put the boots to him. Daniel Garcia ran out and helped Jericho double team Cole.
Britt Baker ran out and pulled Jericho off of Cole and ended up slapping him. “The Outcasts” Ruby Soho, Toni Storm, and Saraya emerged from under the ring and attacked Baker. Garcia handcuffed Cole to the bottom rope. Garcia brought Jericho a kendo stick. Cole told Jericho to go ahead and hit him. Jericho handed the kendo stick to Saraya, who beat Baker with it while Cole pleaded with them to stop…
Powell’s POV: A strong segment until the kendo stick beatdown. Kendo sticks have been overused in pro wrestling, so the attack just didn’t feel as sadistic as they wanted it to be.
A video package aired with Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Isiah Kassidy, and Hook. Matt told fans to keep checking their phones to find out when the Firm Deletion will take place. Jeff said he would address the AEW crowd for the first time on Friday’s Rampage…
Powell’s POV: Rampage is on Saturday this week. Someone really should have caught that before this pre-taped promo aired.
Cole helped Baker toward the back via the side of the entrance ramp and then entrances for the next match took place. Max Caster rapped and was censored at one point…
4. Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Jake Hager. Bowens tried to say The Acclaimed has arrived, but the heels attacked the babyfaces to start the match. They went to an early PIP break. [C]
Parker used his comb as a weapon at one point. Gunn grabbed it from Parker and the crowd chanted “you f—ed up” before Gunn broke the comb. Bowens hit Parker with an elbow strike and then tagged in Caster, who hit the Mic Drop and scored the pin…
Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn beat Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Jake Hager in 6:20.
Powell’s POV: The stipulation of the match was that the babyfaces would have to join JAS if they lost, but they didn’t get any mic work and no one bothered to make it seem important. Why bother having that stipulation if you’re not going to make it count?
The following matches were announced for Saturday’s Rampage: El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Dralistico for the AAA Mega Championship, FTR, Jay Lethal, and Jeff Jarrett vs. Josh Woods, Tony Nese, Ari Daivari, and Slim J, The Hardys speak, Kiera Hogan vs. Julia Hart, Jade Cargill speaks, Jon Moxley vs. Christopher Daniels
The following matches were announced for next week’s Dynamite: Jade Cargill vs. Taya Valkyrie for the TBS Title, and Darby Allin faces the winner of tonight’s main event…
Sammy Guevara made his entrance. Tay Melo came out and kissed him on the stage before heading to the back… [C] Jack Perry made his entrance coming out of the break…
5. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Sammy Guevara. The winner advances to face Darby Allin next week. MJF was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor, and Allin was shown watching from the rafters. Guevara performed a Spanish Fly off the apron to the floor heading into a PIP break. [C]
Guevara put Perry down coming out of the break. MJF was shown applauding backstage and then he looked into the camera and said, “That’s my friend.” Perry battled back and leapt from the ropes and performed a Destroyer on the way down. Wow.
A short time later, Perry performed a Poison Rana, but Guevara ducked his elbow strike and then hit a knee strike. Guevara performed a Poison Rana, but Perry ran the ropes and hit him with a shot to the back of the head and then both men stayed down.
Perry caught Guevara in a Snare Trap, but Guevara reached the ropes to break the hold. Guevara was tied up in the tree of woe. Perry went to the ropes, but Guevara broke free and then dropkicked Perry off the middle rope and through a table at ringside.
Perry got to his feet and returned to the ring, but Guevara grabbed the referee and held him while MJF snuck out and laid out Perry with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. The referee actually turned around and picked up where he left off in his count by starting at nine, and then Perry was counted out…
Sammy Guevara defeated “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry via count-out in 11:30.
After the match, MJF entered the ring and placed Guevara on his shoulders and walked around the ring for a moment. The broadcast team hyped Allin vs. Guevara for next week with the winner advancing to challenge MJF at AEW Double Or Nothing. MJF and Guevara took turns bowing to one another while Allin was shown shaking his head in disgust in the rafters. Guevara put MJF’s scarf on as the heels continued to gloat to close the show…
Powell’s POV: An illogical shit finish. It was a bad finish to begin with, but the referee resuming his count at nine was bizarre. And this sets up what seems to be a highly predictable match for next week unless you believe Guevara is going to win and then lay down for MJF at Double Or Nothing. Was it worth having Allin and Perry tear each other down when it’s not even leading to a match between them? I will have a lot more to say about this episode in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
Treating titles like a hot potato is the reason titles mean nothing in AEW. That and the fact there are about 75 championships in AEW make them worthless
One of the better AEW all-time moments was Saraya beating down Britt Baker with that kendo stick like Abby beating Joel on The Last of Us 2. I like how Jericho got The Outcasts to help out there while he was beating down Adam Cole with Daniel Garcia.
I hope Goldberg joins Bullet Club Black & Gold.
The only bad thing about Dynamite so far was the horrible decision to have Hobbs lose the TNT title to Wardlow this early.
How do you have a tournament with 3 guys? More great booking from doofus.
Saraha and Jericho together onscreen. I wonder who’s had the most plastic surgery and hair weaves between these two?
Tony must have had an extra batch of nose candy when he wrote this shitshow. He’s worse than WCW era Vince Russo.
TheLamestOne criteria for making comments:
1. AEW sucks.
2. Tony Khan is a coke fiend.
Is there any beginning to your brilliance?
So there is nothing to like about, but you still watch it. Why?
The way I read that main event finish is that they are angling Jungle Boy into being the one the knock off MJF. That means that whoever wins next week is jobbing at Double or Nothing. It also means that Jungle Boy needs some steam back and a good way to get that is for him to stop MJF pulling a repeat next week on Darby to make it Darby v MJF at Double or Nothing, and then be the one to chase him ultimately for the match at All In.
*TO knock off MJF! I need to concentrate better!
I was a huge WCW fan (esp pre NWO). I watched it to the bitter end
Did I KNOW it was bad when I was watching it? Sure. But I wasn’t a big WWE fan at the time and it was my only real option (ECW ran mostly late on UHF stations).
So for people who don’t like the current WWE product (there is a lot to like but also a lot to criticize) I understand why you stick with AEW (despite dreadful booking) and focus on the positive (a lot of high energy matches and usually a hot crowd).
For me. I just don’t watch anymore and I even find reading the recaps pretty exhausting (nothing to do with the correspondents!!)
I do legit feel bad that the original concept created by Cody and the Elite got hijacked by Kahn. But they really did need his money to make it work
This is directed towards PG13 Icon and no disrespect man, but how could you give the stuff that you see in the WWE a pass and not enjoy AEW. I’m not saying AEW is that good right now, but there’s a lot to enjoy and it’s targeted towards adults whereas the WWE still targets to kids a little bit, not as much as they did in the early PG era 10-15 years ago. You lost me with the WWE part as I would’ve at least understood your frustration with AEW if you didn’t sit up and there say you’d give the WWE a pass. Dynamite is better than Raw every week and sometimes on a good week it can be better than SmackDown. All three shows are nowhere near as good as NXT mainly ladies division, the men’s division is not that good, or Impact though which I think is the best out of all 3 promotions.
AEW resembles more of old WCW and ECW more than the WWE, so your view is confusing. You said you don’t watch AEW either, so you don’t even know what you’ve been missing.
Again AEW is not that good, but it’s not that bad either, I’d put it over the WWE at the moment.
This was legit one of the worst episodes of all time. Absolute shit matches and shit booking decisions. AEW has been TERRIBLE for at least a year at this point and it sucks because they were supposed to actually be competent competition.
Greetings “And” (if that’s your real name…)
I do agree with a lot of what you said actually. A lot of the WWE product is “sanitized” and (just to pick one thing) I HATE how often they do recaps (being in the crowd must be deflating with all those damned breaks – that probably explains why their crowds start hot and by hour 3 seem annoyed)
I watched AEW when it started (mostly because they featured quite a few wrestlers I hadn’t seen a lot of) but over time became really turned off for three reasons:
1 The instance upon constantly bringing up WWE. Now I get it. They don’t live in a vacuum – but they brought up the competition far more than necessary
2 Signing a bunch of folks from WWE just for the sake of doing it. Almost everyone they have snagged they have wasted or forgotten about in short order
3 Complete nonsense booking. I have seen the argument this past week and I am on the side of “great matches for the sake of having a great match” are wasted opportunities
None of my opinion is intended to discount the enjoyment AEW fans have for the product. I have often noted when I do watch that crowd often makes the show much more enjoyable
As it is right now AEW simply does nothing for me. Now if Tony stepped back and hired a true “wrestling Booker” I think they have a ton of good wrestlers (mostly the men, the woman’s side right now is a trainwreck) and if they rebooted, slimmed down the roster, put a new emphasis on a few titles and developed better stories (beyond name calling – looking right at you MJF) I’d surely give of another chance
Right now I enjoy NXT the most. As I have mentioned recently that 2 hours seems to fly by. It’s not all perfect, some of it is cringy and other times the inring product suffers from inexperience. But generally that is the show I most look forward to
Is Jeff Jarrett cerca 2004 booking this show? This felt like TNA Dynamite
@PG13 Icon
Salute to you man for responding to me and with respect, I dig that man.
Thank you for explaining where you were coming from as I really do agree with you as AEW can be a whole lot more better. Honestly, WWE and AEW can both be a lot better. I stopped watching pro wrestling in 2013 and came back to it in 2019 because of the AEW hype. I can say pro wrestling is a lot better than it was back in the early 2010s when the WWE and TNA was running the show. The problem is it’s not great like it was back in the golden era of the late 90s and even 2000s Ruthless Aggression era before Benoit died.
It sounds me and you are mostly on the same page, I just pretty much take AEW for what it is right now.
I agree on NXT as well, that’s the one show outside of Impact that I really look forward to. Their ladies division is insanely good and captivating. I’ve been liking Heel Bron Breakker lately. They don’t take themselves too seriously and they book better than the main roster as well. LOL!
I hope some things change, but yeah until Tony Khan lets somebody else with some better experience books the show, the booking will be a bit mediocre.
Ignoring the “NO MATTER WHAT AEW IS BAD!” idiot commentors here, I think if JB and Allin didn’t “tear into each other” it wouldn’t have been a surprise that Allin lost. Personally I think “most fans” think Allin has the LEAST chance of beating MJF among the three involved in this.
Also, you ever been hit with a kendo stick? It hurts, no matter how “overused” it is in every organization (btw,odd when WWE uses the kendo stick you never mentioned the “overuse” takes away from the affect…hmm…).