By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 336)
San Jose, California, at the San Jose Civic Center
Simulcast live March 11, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
Tony Schiavone, Ian Riccaboni, and Bryan Danielson were on commentary for the night. They ran through the card for tonight’s episode. The Death Riders made their ring entrance for the opening match. Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley are representing the Death Riders for the opening tag match. They were followed by Hechicero and Konosuke Takeshita. Footage was shown from Collision of the brawl between the Death Riders and Callis Family that set up this match.
1. Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Hechicero: Claudio and Hechicero started the match for their respective teams. The opening minutes were filled with counters and reversals. Hechicero managed to apply a heel hook that caused Claudio to flee to ringside. Takeshita and Moxley then tagged in and a “Holy Shit” chant broke out. They had a staredown, but Moxley thought better of it and tagged out to Claudio.
Takeshita landed a leg lariat on Claudio and made a tag to Hechicero. He entered and delivered a head scissors slam that spiked Claudio head first into the mat…[c]
Hechicero launched Claudio over the top rope and out to the floor. He quickly recovered and re-entered the ring to grab a headlock and tag out to Moxley. Hechicero landed some strikes to Moxley and crawled to Takeshita for a tag. He entered the ring and sent Claudio to the floor with a clothesline. Moxley applied a Sleeper on Takeshita, but he quickly escaped with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. He attempted a knee strike, but Moxley stuffed it and delivered a haymaker strike.
Moxley hit the ropes, and Takeshita cut him off with a forearm strike. Claudio entered the ring and delivered a big uppercut to Takeshita. Moxley then followed up with a lariat for a near fall. Takeshita then applied a crossface and then transitioned to an arm bar, but Takeshita reached the ropes. Moxley attempted a Gotch Piledriver, but Takeshita reversed out and landed a kick. He then tagged out to Hechicero. Claudio and Hechicero battled and ended up on the outside. Claudio took down Hechicero with a diving knee from the apron to the floor.
Claudio climbed to the top rope and landed a cross body, but Hechicero recovered and landed a flapjack a moment later. He then rolled Claudio around the ring and covered, but Moxley broke it up. Claudio landed a Giant Swing a moment later, and then covered for a close near fall. Hechicero landed a knee in the corner and landed a leg drop for a near fall. Hechicero nearly collided with referee Mike Posey, which allowed Claudio to poke Hechicero in the eye and roll him up for the win.
Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Konosuke Takeshita and Hehicero at 14:48
After the match, the remaining Callis Family members came down to the ring and assaulted the Death Riders. Lance Archer took out Marina Shafir with a strike. They attempted to get Takeshita to take out Moxley with a chair, but he refused. The other Callis family members were incensed, but Takeshita indicated he wanted to win the right way.
Renee Paquette interviewed Persephone and Willow Nightingale. They argued over who hit Mercedes Mone harder, and set up their match later tonight for the TBS Championship. Mike Bailey and Kyle Fletcher is up next…[c]
My Take: Seems like we are on the edge of seeing Takeshita peel away from the Callis Family, and it’s about damn time.
Don Callis fired up Kyle Fletcher backstage for his match against Mike Bailey. MJF walked up and asked Fletcher to beat the absolute shit out of Mike Bailey for kicking him in the face last week. Fletcher said he didn’t take orders from him, and he’d beat up Mike Bailey for himself. MJF told Callis to teach his guys how to talk to the World Champion, and walked off. Fletcher told Callis that they better not be working with him, and Callis demurred and asked if Fletcher thought he was an idiot.
Mike Bailey made his ring entrance in the arena for the next match. He was followed by Kyle Fletcher.
2. Mike Bailey vs. Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Championship: Rapid fire reversals and counters in the opening minute. Bayley managed to snag a cross arm bar, but Fletcher escaped to the floor. Bailey sent Fletcher into the ring steps and then reapplied the arm bar on the outside. Fletcher escaped and landed some kicks, but Bailey replied with some kicks to the damaged arm and elbow. Fletcher replied with a gnarly chop, but Bailey continued the attack of the left arm. He then followed up with a hurracarrana and a series of kicks. Bailey made a cover for two after a running shooting star press.
Fletcher replied with a half and half suplex, and then both men traded kicks until they were both down on the mat. The match spilled out to the apron, where Fletcher picked up Bailey, but was quickly reversed and pulled down with a poisonrana…[c]
Ivan Drago’s Take: If he dies, he dies.
Fletcher landed some Kawada Kicks and then attempted a powerbomb, but Bailey reversed into a backslide for a two count. Bailey sent Fletcher to the floor and then leapt over the top rope with a kick. He followed up with a triangle moonsault to the floor. Fletcher attempted to battle back, but Speedball ducked a baseball slide and delivered a corkscrew splash to the floor. Bailey stacked up Fletcher for a near fall as they returned to the ring. Fletcher threw Bailey like a dart into the turnbuckle for a close near fall.
Fletcher delivered a big boot and went for a Brainbuster, but Bailey slipped out and applied a sleeper. He attempted to transition into an armbar, but Fletcher escaped. Bailey then landed a double knee strike and then reapplied the arm bar. Fletcher managed to power up Bailey and drop him with a powerbomb to make an escape. Both men ended up on the floor. Bailey escaped a powerbomb attempt and delivered a double knee press to Fletcher’s chest. He then rolled him back into the ring.
Fletcher and Bailey fought near the turnbuckles, and Bailey delivered a poisonrana from the top rope and followed up with a spinning roundhouse kick for a 2.9 count. Bailey delivered another kick and a double knee press. He lined up for another kick, but Fletcher delivered a Michinoku Driver for a 2.9 count of his own. 3 minutes remained on the match timer. Bailey delivered a series of kicks, but missed the Ultimate Weapon off the second rope.
Okada showed up with a screwdriver and distracted the referee. Mark Davis then fed the TNT Title belt to Fletcher, who blasted Bailey with it. He then delivered a Brainbuster and got the win.
Kyle Fletcher defeated Mike Bailey at 18:39
After the match, Fletcher and the Callis family celebrated as the commentary team demanded that Bailey get a fair shot at the title…[c]
My Take: A very strong fast paced spotfest. If that type of match is your wheelhouse, you’ll want to go out of your way to see this one. It felt like these guys set out to top their well received Continental Classic Match, and it didn’t disappoint. The finish felt like a let down, but it’s not the end of the world for a TV match that’s setting up a rematch. Personally, I’m not sure if I’d be having these guys take risks like this during a PPV week.
Brodie King made his ring entrance. There was an enhancement wrestler in the ring.
3. Brodie King vs. Jiah Jewell: I didn’t catch the name of the wrestler that King was facing. The match was over 10 seconds later after a lariat and a Gonzo Bomb.
Brodie King defeated Jiah Jewell at 0:10
After the match, Brodie was attacked by Swerve Strickland with a chain. He ambushed Swerve from the crowd wearing a black hood. He attempted to choke Brodie with the chain, but King snapped it. Swerve tried to bail out, but Brodie caught him with a big lariat, and then choked Swerve near the apron. Nana attacked Brodie, which allowed Swerve to break the hold and escape.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed Mike Bailey. He refused to dwell on Fletcher cheating, and said they would all get what they deserve in the Trios Title match on Sunday. In the arena, Orange Cassidy made his ring entrance. He was followed by Darby Allin. The debut of David Finlay was shown picture in picture. They were followed by Gabe Kidd and David Finlay.
4. Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin vs. Gabe Kidd and David Finlay: Kidd tried to ambush and take down Darby Allin on the apron from the outside. Cassidy and Finlay paired up and brawled elsewhere on the floor. Finlay sent Cassidy into the barricade, but Cassidy returned fire and sent Finlay into the ring steps. Allin tossed Kidd into the steps and then sent him back into the ring. Finlay avoided a dive to the floor from Allin, and then he and Kidd double up on Darby Allin in the ring to take control…[c]
My Take: Brodie King and standby matches, name a better combo.
Kidd and Finlay remained in control and isolated Orange Cassidy. After battling back out of the heel corner, Cassidy dove into his own corner and tagged in Allin. He cleaned house on the heels and then applied a Scorpion Deathlock on Kidd. Finlay tried to break it up with a kick, but Darby refused to let go. Allin set up for a Code Red on Finlay, but Kidd knocked him off with a lariat for a 2.9 fall. There was a bit of clumsiness as they set up dueling suicide dives from Allin and Cassidy to the floor.
Darby climbed up top and delivered a missile dropkick from the top rope to the floor. Cassidy set up for an Orange Punch, but Clark Connors blasted Cassidy from behind with a Tire Iron. Darby went up for a Coffin Drop, but got caught in a sleeper by Kidd. Finlay landed a Dominator on Allin, and then Kidd delivered a piledriver for the win.
The Dogs defeated Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin at 12:05
After the match, Connors returned and they continued the beatdown on Cassidy and Allin. Finlay waved someone down from the back, and Roderick Strong walked to the ring. He teased delivering a DDT to Cassidy, but instead attacked The Dogs. With Roddy’s help, Allin and Cassidy cleared the ring. Roddy and Cassidy had a reunion moment in the ring…[c]
My Take: I assume Roddy betrays Cassidy and joins The Dogs at the PPV? I have a sneaking suspicion that the payoff to Roddy walking out on Cassidy isn’t going to be him coming back and being super cool all of a sudden. Right?
Persephone made her entrance for the next match. She was followed by Willow Nightingale.
5. Persephone vs. Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship: Persephone avoided Willow early on and landed some chops and strikes. Willow fired back with some clotheslines in the corner, followed by a Fisherman’s Suplex for a two count. She followed up with a cross body, but Persephone rolled through and landed a fallaway slam…[c]
Persephone sent Willow to the floor with a head scissors. She set up for a dive, but Willow stuffed it. The fight continued on the floor, where Willow delivered a gnarly spinebuster. Willow followed up with a cannonball off the apron, and then another one in the ring. She made a cover in an odd spot in the corner, and Persephone grabbed the rope with her hand. Willow attempted a Moonsault, but got nothing. Persephone landed a German Suplex, and Willow replied quickly with one of her own.
A time announcement was made that 10 minutes were remaining. Persephone landed a springboard moonsault and got a near fall. Willow hit the ropes and landed a lariat and then covered for a two count. Both women battled in the corner, and Persephone slipped out the back and attempted a Crucifix Bomb. Willow avoided it and pulled down Persephone for a backslide and got the win.
Willow Nightingale defeated Persephone at 12:08
After the match, Persephone was in disbelief. Willow retrieved her Championship Belts and celebrated on her way to the back. A video package then aired for the main event featuring Tommaso Ciampa’s heel turn…[c]
My Take: I know AEW only has CMLL talents on relatively short excursions, but it would have been nice to see Persephone win a few matches before having a showdown with Willow.
Willow and Harley Cameron gave a promo backstage. Willow challenged Lena Kross for the TBS Championship on the Zero Hour Pre-Show for Revolution on Sunday. Back in the arena, Mark Briscoe made his entrance. He was followed by the Young Bucks. Their opponents Tommaso Ciampa and FTR were out to complete entrances for the Main Event.
Before the bell ran, everybody paired up and brawled on the floor. After a wild brawl that spilled all over ringside, the bell finally rang.
6. Tommaso Ciampa, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler vs. Mark Briscoe, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson in a Trios Match: Matt Jackson was cutover and isolated in the heel corner as the match began. Nick entered the match to turn things around. They landed a double team suplex on Ciampa and a double cutter on FTR. Dax got to his feet and ate a double superkick. Ciampa ate a double superkick and a Pele kick from Briscoe. Briscoe delivered an Avalanche Cutter to Wheeler from the second rope. Briscoe and Ciampa delivered double clotheslines and suddenly everybody was down…[c]
Briscoe traded strikes with all the heels on the floor, and then delivered a blockbuster to Ciampa by leaping over the barricade. The Bucks then delivered some dives to FTR on the floor. Ciampa attempted to bring a chair into the match, but was stopped by the Bucks. Briscoe then used the chair to jump over the top rope onto all three heels on the floor.
Briscoe and Matt Jackson delivered a Redneck Boogie to Dax Harwood for a close near fall. The crowd called for tables, but the heels finally took control back with some well timed attacks. Ciampa and Wheeler went for Meet in the Middle, but couldn’t pull it off. Nick delivered a Swanton to Ciampa, followed by an Elbow Drop from Matt. Briscoe delivered a Froggy Bow, but Harwood broke up the fall. FTR managed to sent Nick off the ropes into a table near the ring.
FTR then delivered a Shatter Machine to Briscoe, but Matt broke up the pin attempt. FTR tried a spike piledriver on Matt, but he broke it up. Matt and Dax battled on top of the commentary table, but Dax hit him with a monitor. FTR then delivered a Spike PIledriver on the commentary table. Ciampa delivered a pair of running knees to Briscoe in the ring and got the win.
Tommaso Ciampa and FTR defeated Mark Briscoe and The Young Bucks at 13:02
After the match, Ciampa continued the attack on Briscoe and grabbed a pair of chairs from ringside. He set them up in the ring and placed Briscoe on the turnbuckle. Briscoe was bleeding from the forehead as Ciampa delivered an Air Raid Crash through the chairs. The graphics flashing the card AEW Revolution flashed by on the screen. A video package aired that recapped the feud between MJF and Hangman Page.
Bryan Danielson was shown on stage for the World Championship Press Conference. He brought MJF and Hangman on to the stage to take questions from the press. Hangman was asked a question about whether the match was about pure revenge. He said it was about the World Championship. They were both asked about the Texas Death stipulation. MJF was insulted that he had to be in such a match. Hangman guaranteed the audience would see one of the most extreme things they’ve ever seen and that MJF would leave in an Ambulance.
Hangman was eventually asked who he is if he doesn’t win on Sunday. Hangman said he was winning, and didn’t really answer the question. MJF said that was a great question because that’s never happening and he’ll never be champion ever again. MJF offered a toast to Hangman Page never getting a chance to hold the World Championship again, and then threw two beers in Hangman’s face. Both men then brawled around the interview stage into the arena.
In the ring, Hangman delivered a Deadeye, and then grabbed a barbed wire board from under the ring. He set up another Deadeye onto the board, but MJF escaped and talked trash from the concourse…[c]
My Take: While I usually applaud trying new things, this didn’t really work. It felt like something they would have tried during the Pandemic when you didn’t have a live crowd available to get fired up for a big promo segment. It ended up being far less effective than just doing a promo where MJF chips away at Hangman’s psyche over the idea that he may come up short and never hold the World Title again. The Main Event trios match was well executed and had the right finish for the stories being told.
The Dogs sure were stuck with an audio abortion for a theme. Balls.