By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 338)
St. Paul, Minnesota, at Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Simulcast live March 25, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz were on commentary to start the show. They transitioned right to ring entrances for the opening match. First out was Kenny Omega, followed by Swerve Strickland. Renee Paquette was at ringside, and said Kenny Omega had told her he only used his EVP power to make AEW a better place, and abusing that power means that you’re no longer the best anymore. Number one contendership for the AEW World Title is on the line in this match, as well as Kenny Omega’s EVP power.
1. Kenny Omega vs. Swerve Strickland: Prince Nana created a distraction by grabbing Omega’s boot from the floor, and Swerve pounced for an early advantage. He dropped Omega’s throat on the top rope and then delivered a running boot to the face. Omega sent Swerve to the floor and dove over the top rope onto him to jump start a comeback. He sent Swerve into the barricade and the announce table, and then delivered some hard chops. He then took a run at Swerve and delivered a knee strike as Swerve was seated in a chair.
Back in the ring, Swerve fired back with chops. Omega delivered a running tackle and then delivered a leaping facebuster. He then performed a forward roll slam and a moonsault followed by a cover for a two count. Swerve avoided a V-Trigger Knee and a suplex, and delivered a combination of strikes. Omega fired back with a kick and then a running knee to the back of Swerve in the corner. He then placed Swerve on the top rope and placed him on his shoulders, but Swerve slipped away and delivered an Avalanche Back Suplex leaving both men down…[c]
Both men exchanged forearms until Omega pulled Swerve in for a snap dragon suplex. He then delivered a second and Swerve rolled out to the apron. Omega followed in pursuit and tried for another suplex, but Swerve pulled the shirt of referee Aubrey Edwards and landed a low blow. Swerve then pulled Omega on top of the barricade. They slipped to the floor, and Swerve pulled him back up to deliver a piledriver. Back in the ring, Swerve delivered a sit out powerbomb for a close near fall. He then attempted Big Pressure, but Kenny avoided it and rolled him up for a near fall of his own.
Swerve quickly reasserted himself with House Call Kick and a double stomp on the apron. He then delivered a Swerve Stomp and covered for another close near fall. Swerve set up for another House Call, but Omega collapsed to the mat. He picked up Omega into a half nelson, but Omega backed him into the corner and delivered a flurry of elbows. Swerve talked trash and fired up Omega, which resulted in Omega kicking him in the face.
Omega lined up for a knee strike, but Swerve popped up and delivered a powerslam for a near fall. Swerve signaled for a V-Trigger of his own, but Omega fired up and got in his face. Swerve hit the ropes, but Omega delivered a knee strike, and followed up with a second one. Omega then picked up Swerve for a One Winged Angel, but Swerve escaped. Strickland attempted a Vertebreaker, but Omega slipped out for another attempt at the One Winged Angel. Swerve gouged his eyes to escape again, and delivered a Vertebreaker for another close near fall.
Swerve climbed to the top rope, but Omega avoided another Swerve Stomp. Omega then delivered more knee strikes, and finally landed the One Winged Angel and got the win.
Kenny Omega defeated Swerve Strickland at 20:44
After the match, Omega celebrated as he sold exhaustion. Rush vs. Darby Allin was announced as the main event, and the commentary team introduced a video package that recapped some of his most outrageous stunts over the years.
My Take: Another very strong match from Swerve and Omega. I liked the match back in February a bit better, simply because I feel like I’ve seen the Omega match story of “Can he finally hit the One Winged Angel?” play out many many times over the years.
Will Ospreay was backstage and addressed Pac. He said he had an issue with anyone who associates with Jon Moxley, and called him a liar and told him he’d see him in Winnipeg to sort it out personally. He then addressed Jon Moxley, and how he said he had to put him in a timeout. Ospreay said he owed Moxley a debt of gratitude for the time with his son, but he would alter his life for all the fear and panic he caused his wife, mum, and son. He called out Moxley for Dynasty, and called him a MFer.
In the arena, The Death Riders made their entrance with Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia, and Marina Shafir representing in a mixed trios match. They were followed by Zayda Steel, Darius Martin, and Dante Martin.
2. Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia, and Marina Shafir vs. Darius Martin, Dante Martin, and Zayda Steel: The Death Riders jumped Top Flight and Steel to start the match. Garcia and Moxley sent the Martins into the barricade on the floor while Shafir beat down Steel in the ring. Steel fired back with a kick and a top rope hurracarrana. Darius Martin tagged in and faced Daniel Garcia. They performed some mat wrestling and reversals before Garcia took control with some strikes. Martin replied with a back elbow and a leaping clothesline for a one count.
Moxley then tagged in and beat down Darius with some kicks in the corner. Steel and Top Flight managed to clear the heels from the ring and deliver a triple suicide dive to the floor heading into the break…[c]
Moxley delivered some heavy strikes and chops, but Dante was able to fire back with a dropkick. Dante Martin got confused and ended up landing a kick on Marina Shafir, and then made a tag to Steel. She entered the match and delivered a knee strike for a two count. Steel then attempted a flying cross body, but Shafir held onto her and rolled through. Wheeler Yuta further interfered and Steel was neutralized temporarily. Moxley and Shafir set up for a Doomsday Device on Steel, but she fought free and sent Moxley crashing into the turnbuckle.
Things broke down with Christopher Danield and Yuta’s involvement. Darius ended up in a Dragon Tamer from Garcia, and Moxley stomped on his head. Garcia covered and got the win.
The Death Riders defeated Top Flight and Zayda Steel at 11:56
After the match, Moxley got the microphone and addressed WIll Ospreay. He told Ospreay whatever issue he thinks he had with him, it’s not even personal, but if he wanted a big fat grudge match at the PPV he’s got it. Moxley then warned him not to let his mouth get him in trouble in the meantime. A video package for the Young Bucks then aired, where they said they were coming after the AEW World Tag Team Championships and they wouldn’t let anyone get in their way.
Speedball Mike Bailey made his ring entrance. Rocky Romero was already in the ring.
3. Speedball Mike Bailey vs. Rocky Romero: Early on Romero got off to a fast start, but he was quickly blitzed by Bailey. He sent Romero to the floor and delivered a springboard moonsault. He attempted to follow up with a spinning kick, but Romero hid in the ropes to get the referee’s attention, and then made a scene out of celebrating his brilliance. Bailey took advantage by delivering back to back spin kicks, and then an Ultimate Weapon from the top rope for the win. He didn’t appear to land on Romero much if at all with the knees.
Speedball Mike Bailey defeated Rocky Romero at 2:47
After the match, we got a recap of MJF’s victory at Revolution. He will appear later in the show…[c]
My Take: A couple of matches in quick succession there. Both had quite predictable finishes. Moxley’s post match promo felt a little weak given that Ospreay sounded like he wanted to kill him a few minutes earlier. Bailey’s win over Romero didn’t have much suspense but they kept the match tight so I didn’t mind.
MJF’s music hit as the show returned and he made his way to the ring. He mocked Minnesotans right off the rip, and told them to sit down and show him some respect. MJF said they were looking at the man who hanged the Hangman, and their favorite anxious Millenial Cowboy would never ever be the World Champion ever again. He circled the ring about 20 times repeating the word “ever”. MJF mocked Hangman for not putting up much of a fight, and called the match an easy dub.
He then exalted the AEW title as the grandest prize in Pro Wrestling and said no one deserved it more than him. MJF did his catchphrases, which brought out Kenny Omega. Omega grabbed the mic and said he’d have to forgive the way he looks and smells since he just had a match, but then asked MJF what his excuse was. Omega mocked MJF for calling himself the devil, and then listed off some of his monikers like Best Bout Machine or The God of Pro Wrestling.
He elaborates that since Max calls himself the devil, maybe it was fitting that he was a God because for every evil there is a greater force of good. Omega said he pushed his body beyond its limits the last time he was Champion and said he was man enough to admit that MJF could defeat a 60% Kenny Omega last time. He then said he learned something about himself in his first match with Swerve, and it brought him to victory tonight and he’s confident MJF can’t beat a 100% Kenny Omega either.
Omega said MJF knows that, and so they might as well get it over with. He challenged him to a match at Dynasty. MJF said he was on, and called the match The God vs. The Devil. MJF refused a handshake from Omega and left. Omega then delivered his parting catchphrase and walked to the back.
Backstage, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage were interviewed backstage. Christian said what FTR had done to Beth Copeland was despicable, but the spike piledriver they gave him was even worse. Copeland called him an asshole, and then spoke about how he had met Cash at a Gold’s Gym in 2009. He said what he had done to Beth was his final straw, and he expressed disgust about how they had eaten each other’s food and played with each other’s kids. Copeland told them he would take their titles, but he would do one better and end their careers.
In the arena, FTR made their ring entrance with Stokely Hathaway. Cash said they had made a choice to cut the dead weight, and had refused to carry his carcass to the end of his career. He said they take a backseat to no one. Cash recalled their meeting in 2009 and the kindness Copeland had shown him by allowing him to live in his guest house. He said he didn’t need his family anymore because FTR was his family, and Copeland’s time had passed.
Dax got on the microphone and called him a nostalgia act, and everyone including Copeland knows it. He said he loved Copeland’s wife, and said if he was willing to drop her on her head, what would he do to Copeland? FTR jawed with the fans as Orange Cassidy’s music hit and he headed to the ring with Roderick Strong. Stokely bumped into Cassidy, which led to a shoving match. FTR was sent to the back by AEW officials. They were followed by David Finlay and Clark Connors.
My Take: There’s a layer of artifice and awkwardness with Kenny Omega promos that’s hard for me to look past, but this was ultimately pretty good by his standards. The Copeland and FTR promos were more of the same but delivered well.
4. Roderick Strong and Orange Cassidy vs. Clark Connors and David Finlay: Strong and Cassidy started out strong with some rapid fire offense. Cassidy sent both Connors and Finlay to the floor and attempted a suicide dive, but the tides turned quickly as Finlay stuffed him and sent him into the barricade. Connors then delivered a running spear that sent Roddy into the barricade as well…[c]
Connors knocked Strong off the apron and continued to work over Cassidy. The comeback started with a Stundog Millionaire on Finlay. He then ducked a spear from Connors and scrambled for a tag to Strong. Roddy entered the match and delivered a running knee to Finlay and a backbreaker to Connors. He then pancaked Connors onto the mat and covered, but Finlay broke up the fall. Connors then delivered a powerslam to Roddy.
Strong recovered quickly and made a tag to Cassidy. Strong launched Cassidy onto Connors, which turned into a tornado DDT for a near fall. Finlay pulled Cassidy to the floor, and then landed a blindside tackle on Strong to break up a backbreaker attempt. Finlay and Connors then landed a double team leg sweep and spear combo on Strong.
Cassidy made his presence felt by sending Finlay to the outside and then delivered a PK to Connors. Finlay got back into the match with a delivered a chop block to Cassidy. They then delivered a spear and vertical suplex double team attack called “The Full Clip” and got the win.
The Dogs defeated Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong at 10:20
After the match, a video package aired from Lena Kross and Megan Bayne aired where they told Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron that they weren’t getting another chance, they were getting a second fatality (how does that work?).
My Take: Eh, that one was well worked but there wasn’t much to it. Good to see The Dogs get a win though, even if it feels like they need about a dozen more at this point.
Kyle Fletcher appeared backstage and said his win over mentor Robbie Eagles made his confident he is every much as good as he says he is. He then addressed MJF and said he was unhappy with Don Callis doing business with him, and nominated himself as the man who should bring the World Championship to the Don Callis family. Fletcher then brought Takeshita into frame and said he didn’t want anything to get in between them. They celebrated that Protoshita came before Protokada, and committed to remaining loyal to one another.
In the ring, Mina Shirakawa made her ring entrance, followed by Thekla.
5. Mina Shirakawa vs. Thekla for the AEW Women’s World Championship: Mina got off to fast start with a couple of snap mares and a kick to the chest. The action spilled to the floor where Mina got the better of a strike battle. She then landed a tornillo back into the ring and covered for a near fall. Thekla battled back with a drop toe hold and some knee strikes. They battled back out to the apron, where Mina delivered a DDT from the apron to the floor…[c]
Thekla took control during the break with a double stomp on the outside. She mocked Mina by writhing around like Toni Storm, and then delivered some strikes. Thekla then did her spider pose. Mina avoided the follow up spear and landed a running knee strike. She followed up with a back elbow in the corner and delivered a shotgun dropkick. After some back and forth, Thekla eventually delivered a spear and took her belt off. The referee got involved to prevent the belt from being used, but Thekla pulled some brass knuckles out of her bra instead.
Mina ducked the punch and delivered a backfist. She then went for a suplex, but Thekla punched her with the brass knuckles on the way up and covered for the win.
Thekla defeated Mina Shirakawa at 11:02
Kenny Omega was interviewed backstage by Renee Paquette. She announced there would be a contract signing between MJF and Omega next week, but the match would be called off if there is any physicality. Omega said this was just how MJF works, and he’s come to expect it. He said he feels like it’s his time, and maybe the Devil needs a God to take the title off of him. Mike Bailey walked up and told Omega he admired him, and wanted to be first in line for a title shot after he win the title. They had a handshake, and it went on so long that Omega told him he could let go. Bailey said he didn’t want to…[c]
My Take: If that promo between Bailey and Omega had gone on any longer, a wrestling dork singularity may have opened up and doomed us all. The match between Thekla and Shirakawa was fun, but the finish was lame.
The Demand appeared backstage and Ricochet griped about losing the AEW National Title without ever being pinned. He said he was tired of guys like Kenny and other nobodies getting title shots without accomplishing anything. Ricochet said if he had to prove himself again, he would, and recalled defeatign Omega the last time they got in the ring together.
Rush made his entrance for the main event. He was followed by Darby Allin.
6. Darby Allin vs. Rush in a No Count Out Match: Rush jumped Allin as soon as he got to ring and started tossing him around the ringside area. Allin took a gnarly bump over the steps that had his legs crash into the barricade behind them. Darby trapped one of Rush’s legs in the ring apron. He then lined up for a suicide dive, but Darby crashed and burned onto the floor and barricade. A loud “F$&# ICE” chant broke out in the crowd. Rush then delivered a Belly to Belly suplex from the apron to the floor…[c]
My Take: Good to hear Minnesota letting ICE hear how they feel about things.
Allin was bloody as the show returned. Rush delivered a kick to the face in the corner and told him “Chinga tu Madre”. Darby fired up and landed a flurry of strikes onto Rush. He then sent him crashing to the floor and dove at him through the ropes directly in front of the commentary table. He then climbed the ropes and delivered a shotgun dropkick to Rush, who had been seated in a chair. Darby made a cover in the ring for a two count.
They had a strike exchange, and then Darby landed a Code Red for a close near fall. Darby then took a run at Rush, but got launched into the turnbuckles for his trouble. Rushed mauled him in the corner with strikes, and then hit a leaping elbow strike. Rush went for The Horns, but Darby slipped out of the way. Darby then pulled Rush into a Jacknife pin and got the win.
Darby Allin defeated Rush at 11:46
After the match, Mark Davis ran down and delivered a Piledriver out on the floor. The show ended with the Callis family beating down Allin as the behest of MJF while Andrade looked unpleased with the situation.
My Take: Did Omega have a flight to catch or something? I understand wanting to start the show with a hot match, but this was another Dynamite Main Event and didn’t really fit the bill. The match itself was fine, but nothing on the show came close to reaching the standard set in the opening 20 minutes. Overall, this was a better show than last week, but didn’t quite reach the level of some of the better episodes we’ve seen over the last few months.
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