By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 343)
Fairfax, Virginia, at Eaglebank Arena
Simulcast live April 29, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
[Hour One] Excalibur opened the show and was joined on commentary by Taz and Tony Schiavone. Excalibur ran through the show’s lineup. He said the TNT Title match would open the show, and then set up a highlight video on the build to the match…
MJF made his entrance. Kevin Knight was joined on the stage by Mike Bailey, who headed to the back while Knight went to the ring…
1. Kevin Knight vs. MJF for the TNT Championship. Ring announcer Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. A giant MJF tapestry was lowered during his introduction and quickly cleared from the area by the crew. The announcers said there would be limited commercial interruptions during the match.
MJF got the better of Knight early and worked him over at ringside. Back in the ring, MJF put Knight down with a cutter and covered him for a two count. Knight came back with a DDT. Knight followed up moments later with a suicide dive. He tossed MJF back in the ring and followed, but MJF went right back to the floor.
Knight performed a flip dive onto MJF and then played to the receptive crowd. Knight performed a springboard clothesline onto MJF on the floor. Back in the ring, MJF caught Knight with another cutter for another two count. MJF executed a Panama Sunrise for a near fall heading into what Schaivone said would be a 90-second break, which turned out to be a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Knight hit his UFO Splash finisher, but he sold knee pain and was slow to make the cover, so MJF kicked out at two. MJF targeted Knight’s knee with a dragon screw leg whip. MJF covered Knight several times, yet was unable to pin him. MJF grabbed the title belt from ringside and teased using it as a weapon once he was back in the ring, but the referee took it away. MJF pulled out his Dynamite Diamond Ring and smiled while the referee was clearing the belt from the ring. Knight low-blowed MJF and then covered him for the three count.
Kevin Knight defeated MJF in 15:20 to retain the TNT Championship.
After the match, MJF chop-blocked Knight’s bad knee. Darby Allin rappelled from the rafters, entered the ring, and put MJF down with a Scorpion Death Drop. MJF went to the stage and said he wanted his rematch for the AEW World Championship. Allin said not until MJF puts something on the line. Darby said he would give Knight the next title shot.
Brody King made his entrance and went face-to-face with MJF before heading to the ring. King told Darby that he wouldn’t be defending the championship against Knight next week. King said Knight would be challenging him for the AEW World Championship next week…
A video package spotlighted the Darby Allin vs. Brody King match… Excalibur hyped upcoming matches, and said The Brawling Birds would be in action after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good opener with Knight fighting fire with fire at the end. The announcers played up the idea that King was offended by Darby talking about defending his title next week before facing him in tonight’s title match. By the way, I’m filling in for Jake Barnett, who is still angry with Tony Khan and the other 31 NFL ownership families for not selecting him in the 2026 NFL Draft. Jake has been eligible for over twenty years, but he really thought this was his year. Also, an hour before showtime, WrestleTix listed the host venue as being set up for 5,556 with 5,283 tickets distributed. The building’s listed capacity is 10,000.
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