**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN!
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and Jim Ross were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
CM Punk was out to announce the details of the rematch he earned against Maxwell Jacob Friedman!
CM Punk was sitting cross legged in the ring with a microphone.
“MJF tries to walk like me, talk like me, he could never think like me. But when he beat me in my hometown twice, you would think that I would be furious, that I would be mad. But the truth is Max, I’m proud of you. MJF fancies himself Piper in Portland, Bret in Calgary, Punk in Chicago, but he’s just shitty little Max in shitty little Long Island.
“Shout out to Jon Moxley for the assist last week. I now get to pick the time, the place, the date, and the match, for my rematch with little Max. The time, probably right after sunset, the place, Orlando, March 6th, the pay-per-view is called REVOLUTION.
“Which leaves us with the match. And I started to think about some of my toughest matches. Maybe you put me in a cage. Let’s be honest. I’ve seen Wardlow, maybe he can climb a cage, and so can Max, and he can run.
“Piper in Portland. I go back and think of these matches I’ve been in. I’ve been in cage matches and I’ve won more than I’ve lost. So I thought back to some of the toughest matches of my career because that’s where we learn our toughest lessons. And I want you to learn a lesson.
“Max, you want to be tethered to Piper in Portland. You’ll be tethered to me. We’re two days removed from the Hallmark holiday, so I get to ask Max, will you be my Valentine?”
CM Punk opened a heart-shaped box and inside was a steel chain and a dog collar!
After being called out, MJF walked onto the ramp!
Punk: “I want you to take it all in Max. And I want to leave you with this. This picture (a photo of a young MJF meeting CM Punk for an autograph). To you it was the greatest day of your life. To me it was a Friday. And on Sunday, March 6th, at the REVOLUTION pay-per-view, it’ll be the worst day of your life and to me it’ll just be Sunday. The canvas I sit on won’t be stained with your shitty spray tan. It’ll be stained with your blood!”
“MJF seems unnerved and he’s walking out,” said Excalibur.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Lee Moriarty (with Matt Sydal)!
Bryan offered to shake Lee’s hand before the match. Lee tried to shake Bryan’s hand but Bryan pulled back before Lee could accept.
Lee and Bryan chain wrestled until Bryan slapped Lee across the face. Lee swept out the leg of Bryan but then Bryan gained control with the Romero Special.
“He’s got Moriarty all tied up. A Dragon Sleeper with the knees captured!” said Excalibur.
Lee escaped and was looking for the Border City Stretch but Danielson grabbed the ropes. Lee kicked Danielson, targeting Danielson’s elbow. Lee connected with European Uppercuts, knocking Danielson outside the ring.
Danielson had Lee tied up in the ropes and began blasting him with kicks and then a nasty knee strike! Danielson tried to pin Moriarty but Moriarty bridged up. Danielson dropped some elbows but then Moriarty turned the tables and hit the ground and pound on Danielson! “American Dragon” went for the Le Bell Lock but Lee grabbed the ropes to force the ref to break the submission.
Moriarty back suplexed Bryan, bouncing him on his head!
“The crowd here in Nashville getting behind Lee,” said Excalibur.
“Danielson wanted violence and I’d say Moriarty is doing everything he can to abide by those wishes,” added Jim Ross.
Moriarty battered Danielson with boxing elbows but Bryan fired back with a rolling elbow. Lee body locked Danielson and then suplexed him for a near fall! Moriarty tried to lock in the Border City Stretch but Danielson countered with a shoulder capture suplex! Danielson charged at Lee with the running knee strike!
“It’s like Bryan is in a trance,” said Jim Ross.
Danielson grabbed Lee’s arms and began stomping on Lee’s head. Danielson applied the triangle sleeper and the ref stopped the match as Lee was unable to continue.
“Lee Moriarty put to sleep and Bryan Danielson puts another notch in his win column,” said Excalibur.
Danielson called for a microphone after the match.
Bryan: “Ladies and gentlemen, I came out here to teach Lee Moriarty a thing or two about violence. And I want to know. Did he pass? Or did he fail? And that’s why I don’t trust the American public with anything. That said, that’s not the reason I grabbed the microphone.
“I asked Jon Moxley to team up with me to create a whole new AEW to teach young wrestlers about violence. And Jon Moxley I want an answer!”
Jon Moxley’s music began to play and the Purveyor of Violence came out to the ring!
“Imagine a world where these two team up?” asked Excalibur.
Moxley: “Little over a decade ago I was a lot like that Lee Moriarty kid. I was young, I was angry, I was poor, I had nothing to lose. And I took a shot at taking down the great ‘American Dragon’ Bryan Danielson. We were at a little indie show. I stood eye to eye with the man they called ‘the best wrestler in the world.’ I fought tooth and nail but I came up short. But getting a taste just made me want it more.
“Over the years I had more shots at Bryan Danielson and I came up short. In fact I have never beaten Bryan Danielson. So when you showed up in AEW, everyone else was scared, I was excited. Because I would get the chance to slay the dragon. But Bryan Danielson wants to join forces with me.
“I’m not going to lie. I got to thinking. How awesome it could be. We could create a dream team of unmitigated pure wrestling violence. And the young guys we could take with us. Giving back to AEW and the legacy we could leave. I couldn’t think of one good reason to say no.
“But then I got to wondering, is the only reason Bryan Danielson wanting to stand side by side with me because he doesn’t want to stand across from me in a ring? And if that’s the case, well then I’ve already beaten Bryan Danielson.
“So which is it? I’m not saying yes. I’m not saying no. I’ll leave it up to you, Bryan. I don’t stand side by side with nobody till I bleed with them first.”
Face Of The Revolution Qualifying Match!
Wardlow (with Shawn Spears) vs. The Acclaimed’s “Platinum” Max Caster (with Anthony Bowens)!
Caster went behind with a sledgehammer shot to Wardlow’s spine. Wardlow grabbed Caster with a belly-to-belly suplex! Wardlow followed Caster outside the ring and turned him inside out with a lariat!
Wardlow tried to powerbomb Caster but Caster grabbed the steel chain from Bowens as the ref was distracted. Caster clocked Wardlow and then hit the Mic Drop from the top rope!
Wardlow fired up and powerbombed Caster! And then again! And another powerbomb!
“The Powerbomb Symphony!” said Excalibur.
Wardlow stood on Caster and pinned him!
Wardlow advances to REVOLUTION!
Bowens attacked Wardlow from behind but Wardlow turned around and powerbombed him!
Shawn Spears finally entered the ring and whacked The Acclaimed with his steel chair!
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview the AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page!
Page: “I’m surprised—”
Adam Cole interrupted the interview.
Cole: “You’ve been in some battles. The war you had with Kenny Omega to win that championship. And that Texas Death Match you had last week was one of the craziest I’ve ever seen and you retained that title. You have earned the right to call yourself the AEW World Champion. Right now you are the champion but it’s a shame that reign will come to an end soon.”
Page: “I wonder what it was like for your friends to leave you behind and build an empire without you. And now you’re standing in the ring with your Bullet Club buddy who is holding a championship you’ll never have.”
Cole: “You haven’t mentioned The Bucks in months. Or the Dark Order. So what kind of friend are you?”
Page: “I’m not perfect but you’re not perfect with friendships either. The more you talk, the more I think getting into the ring tonight is one of your biggest mistakes.”
Cole: “You’ve always been known as the other Adam. Look me in the eyes. I have nothing but love, respect and admiration for you. If I could share the ring with anybody here in AEW, so trust me when I tell you we’re going to fight for that AEW World Championship. And when that day does come, filled with respect, may the best man win.”
Cole shook Page’s hand and then left the ring with a smug grin on his face.
ReDRagon—Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish—assaulted Adam Page from behind! Adam Cole jumped back into the ring and began to hammer down on Page with punches!
Security ran out and tried to pull them off Adam Page. The Dark Order ran to the ring and Cole, O’Reilly, and Fish retreated. 10 of the Dark Order went berserk and emptied the ring of the security guards!
“Demo God” Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs. Santana & Ortiz!
“Mad King” Eddie Kingston made his return to a huge reception! He stood in the corner of Santana and Ortiz!
Santana and Jericho slugged it out at the start of the match. Jericho fired back with forearms but then Santana splashed Jericho in the corner!
Ortiz tagged in and planted Jericho with a DDT!
“This thing may be over quicker than we think,” said Jim Ross.
Ortiz got a near fall on Jericho with a fisherman suplex! Jericho popped Ortiz up and then pancaked him. Jericho tagged out to Hager and they rammed into Ortiz with a double shoulder block!
Ortiz ate a belly-to-belly from Hager. Jake followed up with the Hager Bomb for a near fall! Santana tagged in and dominated Hager with chests to the chop. He kicked Hager’s knee and then dropkicked him!
Jericho came in with a Code Breaker on Santana! Jericho got clubbed by Santana. Jericho went for the Lion Sault but Ortiz stopped him and then Santana grabbed Jericho for a Russian Leg Sweep off the ropes! They hit the Street Sweeper on Jericho but Jericho kicked out in time!
“This is awesome!” chanted the fans.
Ortiz attempted a cannonball off Santana’s back but Jericho countered by catching him and putting him in the Lion Tamer! Santana crawled and made it to the ropes! Kingston hopped up on the apron and Jericho dropkicked him! Santana nailed Jericho with the discus lariat and pinned Jericho!
Jericho jumped out of the ring and went after Kingston! The refs had to pull apart Jericho and Kingston!
No DQ Match!
Mercedes Martinez vs. Thunder Rosa!
Martinez came out with her lead pipe. Thunder Rosa had a steel chair and swung it at Martinez, knocking the pipe out of her hand!
Thunder Rosa pulled a table out from beneath the ring. Martinez grabbed Rosa and rammed her into the steel ring steps. Rosa reversed an Irish Whip and sent Martinez crashing into the guardrail. Thunder Rosa jumped off the risers with a cross body press onto Martinez!
A table was propped on the ring apron. Thunder Rosa was looking for a Death Valley Driver but Martinez countered with a fisherman’s buster onto the table!
Martinez began to whack Thunder Rosa with the steel chair in Rosa’s lower back! She propped Thunder Rosa on the top turnbuckle. Thunder Rosa countered with a hurracanrana off the top rope! She placed the trash can over Mercedes’ head and then smashed her with a running drop kick for a near fall!
Thunder Rosa climbed to the top rope but Martinez hit Rosa with the trash can lid. She followed up with a Spider German Suplex on Thunder Rosa! Martinez dropped an elbow from the top rope for a near fall!
“How the hell did Thunder Rosa get out of those two things?” asked Schiavone.
“Grit and determination,” replied Jim Ross.
Martinez piled chairs in the center of the ring! Martinez attempted a powerbomb but Thunder Rosa countered with a crucifix bomb! Thunder Rosa hit the Thunder Fire Driver on Martinez on the chairs and pinned her!
“You can see the physical toll this battle took on both women,” said Excalibur.
After the match, Thunder Rosa bowed to Martinez, showing her a sign of respect.
AEW Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker, Rebel, and Jamie Hayter walked to the ring.
“I told you she was weak. Now finish her,” said Martin Kove/John Kreese to Britt Baker from ringside.
Baker handed Martinez the lead pipe. Martinez hesitated and then Jamie Hayter blindsided Martinez! Baker pummeled Thunder Rosa while Hayter launched an attack on Martinez!
TNT Title Match!
Champ “Spanish God” Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin (with Sting)!
They shook hands with one another before the match.
There were dueling chants throughout the arena!
Darby transitioned into a snap mare and then put a head lock on Sammy. Darby used a shotgun dropkick to surprise Sammy.
Sammy was looking for a Spanish Fly from the top rope. Instead Sammy hoisted up Darby and dropped him onto the turnbuckles! Sammy placed Darby onto the top rope and then nailed him with a senton!
Darby Allin turned the tables with two consecutive coffin splashes on Sammy! Darby concentrated his attack on the tweaked knee of Sammy. Darby tied up Sammy’s legs in the ropes and applied a single leg crab. Sammy came back with a Spanish Fly off the top rope!
“Sammy may have crashed almost as hard as Darby did,” said Excalibur.
“He couldn’t get the full rotation because of his injured knee,” noted Jim Ross.
Sammy jumped off the ropes but Darby countered, grabbing Sammy and putting him into a figure four! Sammy flipped off Darby and they traded palm strikes. Darby released the hold.
Sammy charged in with a knee strike but Darby countered. Sammy attempted the GTH but Darby countered with the Last Supper. Sammy escaped. Darby connected with a stunner. Darby jumped through the ropes but Sammy countered with a cutter on the floor!
“I think Darby’s face hit flush,” said Tony Schiavone.
Sammy climbed to the top turnbuckle and jumped for a senton but Darby dodged it. Sammy crashed onto the ring apron!
“I think Darby Allin has a new lease on life in this match,” said Jim Ross.
Darby climbed to the top about to go for the Coffin Drop but Jose the Assistant jumped onto the ring apron. Sting pulled Jose from the ring! The ref’s attention was occupied by Sting and Jose. Andrade El Idolo cracked Darby with an iPad! Sammy blasted Darby with the GTH and pinned Darby!
“Hell of a match. Thanks for dropping by and spoiling things Andrade El Idolo,” said Jim Ross.
Matt Hardy sprinted down to the ring and began to ground and pound Darby! Sammy jumped into the ring to help Darby but Andrade El Idolo blindsided Sammy with the iPad!
Andrade El Idolo posed with both of Sammy’s championship belts until Sting got in the ring and Andrade backed down!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT!
Don’t miss AEW RAMPAGE this Friday at a special time at 7pm EST on TNT!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!