By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 266)
Manchester, New Hampshire at SNHU Arena
Aired live November 6, 2024 on TBS
[Hour One] Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness were on commentary… Schiavone stood inside the ring and introduced “The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP. All three men walked out dressed in suits.
MVP said he appreciated the introduction, but he didn’t feel he needed one. MVP dismissed Schiavone and then introduced Lashley and Benjamin. MVP said they want to uplift younger talent and reach their full potential. MVP said that if he offers a Hurt Syndicate business card, it’s like a golden ticket to success.
MVP said that if someone rejects his business card, “This is what happens.” Footage aired of Lashley attacking Swerve Strickland last week. MVP said they wanted to help Swerve, not make him an enemy, but Swerve chose to make them his enemies.
Swerve Strickland’s entrance theme played. Swerve walked out with Prince Nana, but a group of referees blocked their path and pointed to the back. Nana got Swerve a microphone while holding a bag of his coffee. “Bobby Lashley, Full Gear,” Swerve said. MVP replied, “We’ll see you there, kid.” Swerve stood on the stage and stared intently at the wrestlers inside the ring while his music played…
Powell’s POV: A simple segment that accomplished what it needed to in terms of making Swerve vs. Lashley official for Full Gear.
A video package spotlighted the Jon Moxley and Orange Cassidy feud…
Ring announcer Justin Roberts introduced Claudio Castagnoli and Pac, made their entrance through the crowd and were accompanied by Wheeler Yuta. Orange Cassidy made his entrance and stayed on the stage. Castagnoli and Pac went to the stage and then Darby Allin appeared on top of the entrance tunnel and dove onto them…
1. Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy vs. Pac and Claudio Castagnoli (w/Wheeler Yuta). The wrestlers fought at ringside prior to the match and then the referee started the match once in Cassidy and Pac were inside the ring. They cut to a picture-in-picture break early in the match. [C]
Allin took a hot tag from Cassidy and then dropkicked Pac to ringside. Allin went up top and hit a Coffin Drop on Pac. Allin returned to the top rope and dove at Castagnoli, who stuffed the move he was going for. The heels isolated Allin.
Pac hit an avalanche brainbuster and had the pin, but Cassidy fought through Castagnoli to break it up. Allin broke away from Pac to tag out. Cassidy hit Stundog Millionaire on Castagnoli and then Allin followed up with Code Red. Cassidy hit. DDT on Pac. Yuta ran in and was hit with an Orange Punch. Cassidy knocked Castagnoli off the apron with an Orange Punch. Marina Shifir entered the ring and kicked the referee out of the ring to apparently end the match.
Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy beat Pac and Claudio Castagnoli by apparent DQ in 13:00.
Jon Moxley entered the ring and put Cassidy in a submission hold. Allin brought a skateboard inside the ring and hit Moxley with it. Yuta hit Allin from behind. Moxley and his crew put the boots to Cassidy. Moxley grabbed Yuta and backed him into a corner of the ring. Pac and Shafir held Cassidy while Moxley slapped him and then Yuta hit him with a Busaiku Knee.
Mark Briscoe’s entrance music played and then Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle O’Reilly, and Rocky Romero came out. Moxley and his crew fled, and then Briscoe and his guys checked on the babyfaces… [C]
Powell’s POV: The cheap finish was disappointing, but they put more heat on Moxley’s crew, which they seem to be labeling Moxley and The Death Riders.
Backstage, Renee Paquette spoke with Ricochet and asked about Ricochet’s mystery partner. Ricochet said he would have to keep it a secret. The Hurt Syndicate showed up, causing Paquette to walk away. MVP put his arm around Ricochet. Ricochet said he thought they spoke already. MVP said they did, but they just wanted to wish him good luck…
The Learning Tree made their entrance…
2. “The Learning Tree” Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith vs. Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, and Kyle O’Reilly in a Fight Without Honor. All six men brawled and the broadcast team established that anything goes in this type of match. Big Bill chokeslammed Briscoe into a ladder that was propped up against the ringside barricade heading into a PIP break. [C]
Big Bill and O’Reilly fought toward the back of the arena. Bill put O’Reilly on a production crate and then set up two tables next to it. Bill climbed on the create and set up for a move, but O’Reilly put him in a guillotine until Bill passed out and they both crashed through the tables.
Back in the ring, Briscoe picked up a ladder that Jericho dropkicked into him. Briscoe came back and hit the Jay Driller. Briscoe set up the ladder and then placed a table on the other side of the ring and placed Jericho on top of it. Briscoe climbed the ladder and put Jericho through the table with Froggy Bow. Briscoe had the pin, but Keith broke it up.
Ishii hit Keith with a lariat that sent Keith to ringside. Briscoe hit a suicide dive on Keith. Ishii hit Jericho with a sliding lariat. Ishii followed up with a brainbuster and then pinned Jericho…
Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, and Kyle O’Reilly beat Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith in 13:35 in a Fight Without Honor.
Excalibur set up an ad from the company’s daily fantasy sports and gambling partner… [C]
Powell’s POV: Everyone worked hard and it was a solid hardcore match. I don’t know how many AEW viewers are unfamiliar with ROH, but those who are must be wondering if it’s a hardcore promotion just based on the ROH matches they’ve had on AEW lately. On a side note, it continues to be absurd that ROH Women’s Champion Athena is stuck behind the HonorClub paywall and never appears on AEW television.
Jon Moxley and the Death Riders were shown walking backstage. Moxley looked into the camera and told Orange Cassidy that Wheeler Yuta doesn’t owe him anything. Moxley said money doesn’t buy loyalty, the cause buys loyalty. Moxley said Yuta is a soldier under his command. Moxley said Darby Allin is a disappointment. Moxley said maybe it’s time for the babyfaces to stop playing at the things they take seriously…
Adam Cole made his entrance and then Malakai Black’s entrance followed…
3. Adam Cole vs. Malakai Black. The broadcast team said Black is 6-0 in matches against Cole.
[Hour Two] Excalibur hyped AEW All In Texas tickets and VIP packages. Black targeted Cole’s wrist to start and then caught him with an inside leg kick. Cole rolled to ringside to sell the kick. Black followed and was caught by a kick from Cole, who then ran him into the barricade. A short time later, Black jumped off the apron and was caught by a Cole superkick on the floor before a PIP break. [C]
Black swept Cole’s leg and then went to the ropes. Cole cut him off and then joined him on the ropes. Black fought back and went for a sunset bomb, but Cole blocked it and dropped down. Both men traded kicks. Cole put Black down and then lowered his kneepad and ran the ropes, but Black caught him with The End for a near fall. Black acted shocked by Cole kicking out.
Cole caught Black with a superkick from the corner and then hit him with a Panama Sunrise. Cole superkicked Black again. Both men stayed down for a moment. Cole got up first. Black pulled himself up and then fell back to the mat and crossed his legs. Cole ran the ropes and hit him with The Boom knee from behind before pinning him.
Adam Cole defeated Malakai Black in 12:45.
After the match, Kyle O’Reilly was shown watching the match while a trainer tended to him. In the ring, Cole spoke to Black and offered him a handshake. Black got to his feet and pushed Cole’s hand away before hugging him. Black left the ring.
Cole got a mic and said that Black is one of the best he’s faced during his 16-year career and thanked him. Black stood on the stage and looked to the crowd. Cole turned his attention to MJF. Cole said that was two down and one to go. Cole said Roderick Strong still has to win two matches. Cole said they would win their matches.
Cole asked what would happen if they both win three matches. Cole said that he spoke to Tony Khan and if Cole and Strong both win three matches in a row, they will both face MJF in a Triple Threat match at Full Gear. Cole said MJF will get the ass kicking of a lifetime out of the Undisputed Kingdom…
Powell’s POV: The crowd reacted to the bigger spots, but they were actually on the quiet side for this match. So it’s not a race between Cole and Strong to win three matches? If they go through with the Triple Threat, I assume Strong will turn on Page.
MJF was shown in his now familiar room looking upset. MJF made a call and told the person on the other end that they need to pay someone a visit…
Excalibur hyped the series of matches that will establish the challengers of Private Party in the four-way match for the AEW Tag Team Titles at Full Gear…
Jay White was interviewed backstage by Paquette. Hangman Page crashed the interview and attacked White while Paquette scurried away. White and Page fought into the arena. Page wound up to hit White with a chair, but Juice Robinson showed up and took the chair away.
White and Robinson stood in the ring while White told Page that he will embarrass and dismantle him at Full Gear. White said Page has never been ahead of him and never will be. White said he and Page will bleed together once more. White said he might be the first man to make Page tap out. Page exited via the crowd… [C]
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