**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL!
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and Jim Ross were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta (with “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy & Danhausen)!
Wheeler Yuta tried for a dropkick but Moxley dodged it. Moxley stared quizzically at Danhausen, who was standing outside the ring. Yuta did some chain wrestling and then hit the dropkick on Moxley. Mox left the ring but Yuta tried for a tope suicida! Mox caught Yuta and countered with a bulldog choke.
Back in the ring, Yuta jumped off the turnbuckles but Mox swatted him out of the air. Mox stomped on Wheeler Yuta. Mox followed up with a piledriver on Yuta! Mox applied a modified STF on Wheeler Yuta, but Yuta reached the ropes with his feet.
Mox poked Yuta in the eyes and then chopped away at Yuta’s chest. Mox raked Yuta’s back with his fingers. Yuta used a headbutt to take Moxley off his feet. Yuta splashed Mox in the corner.
“This is very different than their meeting a few months ago,” said Excalibur.
Moxley spiked Wheeler Yuta with a DDT on the ring apron! Outside the ring, Danhausen apparently placed a curse on Moxley, and the distraction was enough to allow Yuta to connect with a flying crossbody press over the top rope onto Mox on the arena floor!
Moxley rallied back with a cutter! Mox went for the Paradigm Shift but Yuta countered and squashed Mox with a diving splash off the top rope for a near fall. Moxley nearly decapitated Yuta with the King Kong Lariat! Moxley smashed Yuta with the Paradigm Shift and pinned him!
“Wheeler Yuta made a good showing for himself against the baddest of the bad—Jon Moxley,” said Jim Ross.
“Jon Moxley is still undefeated since his return to AEW last month,” replied Excalibur.
“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson jumped into the ring.
Danielson: “Do you guys wanna see us fight? You know, for a long time, I wanted to see us fight too. Because you were different. I wanted to see what you had. But since you’ve come back, we’ve seen a new Jon Moxley. Everyone give it up for Jon Moxley.
“And deep inside me, there’s always been a part of me that wanted to test you. I was watching you, and as AEW World Champion, you were the best AEW World Champion. And if you had a little support, I think you would still be AEW World Champion. And that’s when I realized that Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson shouldn’t be fighting. We should be fighting together.
“Here’s the deal, and I know everybody here loves AEW. I get it, I get it. But there’s no reason why some millennial cowboy should be the AEW World Champion. There’s no reason why somebody dressed as a dinosaur should be an AEW World Tag Team Champion. There’s no reason why somebody’s main contribution to society is creating a vlog should be the TNT Champion.
“Listen, Mox, together, you and me, we could run this place. Whatever we wanted. If we wanted to take some of these young guys—Wheeler Yuta—he’s coming out here with jokes like Orange Cassidy and Danhausen. What if we mentored Wheeler Yuta? Or Daniel Garcia? Or Lee Moriarty? What if we took them under our wings and trained the future of professional wrestling together?
“Even if they don’t like me, they like what I’m talking about right now. So Jon, I know this is a lot to put on your plate right now, so you don’t have to answer right now. I just want you to think of the possibilities and all the positive things we can do. I want you to think about the greatness we can create and the legacy that you want to leave.”
Danielson extended his hand. Mox seemed hesitant and didn’t shake Danielson’s hand.
Danielson: “Why don’t you think about it?”
CBO Brandi Rhodes was in the ring with a mic!
As Brandi began to speak, she was interrupted by Dan Lambert, with Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page!
Lambert: “You can pretend that Chief Brand Officer is a real title. But you can’t pretend you’re not being booed out of the ring. I almost feel like a decent human being standing next to you.”
Brandi: “I don’t know what you’re laughing at, Ethan. Everyone knows the only reason we hired you was to get to Josh Alexander. Dan, things are going pretty good for you but they’re not great. Dan it is a little telling that your best fighter got knocked out by Jake Paul. You should spend a little less time at AEW and more time at American Top Team.”
Lambert: “Wow, all that charm and a quick wit as well. Cody’s a lucky man. Don’t you think it’s time your whole family goes heel?”
Brandi slapped Lambert in the face!
Lambert: “I had a feeling you might be in a fighting mood tonight.”
Paige VanZant walked out to the ring! She stormed right at Brandi Rhodes! The women’s locker room emptied out and Brandi and Paige had a pull apart!
Tag Team Grudge Match!
Knights Of The Black Throne—Brody King & Malakai Black vs. Death Triangle—“The Bastard” PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)!
PAC was blindfolded, as apparently his sight still has not returned from when Black sprayed the mist at him!
Black and PAC squared off in the ring, with PAC seemingly blind. PAC ducked a clothesline from Black. PAC used kicks to the midsection and then to the side of Black’s jaw! PAC removed his blindfold.
“Seems like Malakai Black isn’t the only one who can play mind games,” said Excalibur.
“It was a ruse by PAC,” replied Schiavone.
PAC and Penta El Zero Miedo both flew over the tope rope and landed on Black and King! Penta El Zero Miedo jumped off the top rope and used his boots to stomp onto Black! PAC tagged in but Brody King hit PAC from behind with a massive sledge strike!
Penta El Zero Miedo tagged in and served up sling blades for Black and King! He DDT’ed Brody King! Malakai Black blasted Penta El Zero Miedo with a swift kick! Penta El Zero Miedo fired back with a backstabber!
PAC tagged in and traded forearms with Black. Malakai Black took PAC off his feet with kicks and then a sliding knee strike for a near fall on PAC! “The Bastard” rallied back with a release German Suplex for a near fall!
Brody King entered the fray and he and Penta El Zero Miedo traded strikes! Penta El Zero Miedo jumped over the top rope and took out Brody King on the outside of the ring! He followed up with a step over and landed Brody!
Penta El Zero Miedo and PAC hit Black with thrust kicks! PAC was about to jump off the top rope when he was knocked down! Black blinded Penta El Zero Miedo with the black mist and then Brody and Black finished off Penta El Zero Miedo with Dante’s Inferno!
Adam Cole #BayBay was backstage!
Cole: “I am still undefeated here in AEW, and my record still reflects that. Orange Cassidy didn’t beat me. That was a fluke and my record reflects that. And I still don’t get the respect that I deserve in AEW. And everybody is going to see a new side to Adam Cole. Because in two nights on RAMPAGE, I’m going to fight Evil Uno and after I beat him, the entire world will know what I want!”
TBS Title Tournament Rematch!
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose (with Vicki Guerrero) vs. Ruby Soho!
Lars Frederiksen of RANCID was ringside to cheer on Ruby!
Ruby took the fight to Nyla but Nyla trucked through Ruby! Nyla scoop slammed Ruby! Nyla tried a sit-down splash but Ruby moved out of the way.
Nyla flattened Ruby with a Samoan Drop! Nyla suplexed Ruby for a near fall! Nyla bit down on Ruby’s fingers until ref Aubrey Edwards admonished Nyla.
Nyla chopped at Ruby’s chest. Ruby fired back with chops but Nyla rocked Ruby with a head butt! Nyla hit a leg drop on Ruby for a near fall!
Ruby ran off the ropes but Nyla caught her with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall on Ruby!
Ruby Soho hoisted up Nyla and planted her on the edge of the ring! After intervention from Vickie, Nyla answered with a spinebuster to Ruby on the arena floor!
Back in the ring, Nyla tried for the Beast Bomb but Ruby connected with the No Future. Ruby was about to pin Nyla but Vickie grabbed Nyla’s boot and placed it on the bottom rope!
Ruby went outside to confront Vickie but Nyla grabbed Ruby by the hair and smashed her onto the mat. Ruby and Nyla fought on the top turnbuckle. Nyla smashed Ruby with a senton and then pinned Ruby after the Beast Bomb!
The Gunn Club were backstage!
They confronted Jungle Boy and then ambushed him! The Gunn Club threw Jungle Boy outside the arena into a mound of snow! They ran off before Christian Cage could grab them!
AEW World Champion “Cowboy” Adam Page was in the ring to be interviewed by Tony Schiavone about his Texas Death Match next week on DYNAMITE against Lance Archer!
Page: “81 days I have been the AEW World Champion and I have gotten to defend it twice. I have begged and pleaded for a challenger and here I am three weeks later still waiting. Lance Archer wants our match next week to be a Texas Death Match and to be quite honest with you, I really don’t give a s—t. I need it tonight. Lance why don’t you get your ass out here and let’s give it to the people tonight!”
Dan Lambert and Jake “The Snake” Roberts came out!
Lambert: “I’m surprised you didn’t stay in Cleveland.”
Jake Roberts told Adam Page to shut up.
Roberts: “You see him sweating, I think it’s fear!”
Page told them to shut up! “The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer charged at Adam Page, but Page jumped out of the ring and onto Archer!
Lance Archer choke slammed Adam Page onto the steel ring steps! Archer smashed Adam Page through the timekeeper’s table with the Black Out!
Archer: “Next Wednesday everything changes and I’m going to be the new AEW World Champion!”
“Demo God” Chris Jericho was backstage!
Jericho: “Santana and Ortiz, what you did last week by not tagging me in was disrespectful and unacceptable. Because you started in the business with Eddie Kingston? So what?! We started in AEW together! I demand a full Inner Circle team meeting next week in the ring on DYNAMITE. Attendance is mandatory!”
Main Event Time!
For the First-Time Ever!
CM Punk vs. MJF!
“The biggest match ever for MJF,” said Jim Ross.
The arena chanted for CM Punk!
MJF used a cheap shot on CM Punk. Punk fired back with elbow strikes. Punk kicked MJF’s outer thigh and then his chest.
“CM Punk has wanted to get his hands on MJF for so long,” said Excalibur.
Outside the ring, Punk and MJF brawled. MJF ran away from CM Punk, walking up the arena steps, but Punk chased after him!
“Punk right on the heels of MJF,” said Excalibur.
Punk scoop slammed MJF twice. Punk hit another slam!
“MJF thus far has had no answers for this onslaught from Punk,” said Excalibur.
Punk climbed to the top turnbuckle but MJF rolled out of the way. Punk charged at MJF, MJF moved, and Punk collided into the ring post with his arm!
On the timekeeper’s table, MJF dropped a knee on CM Punk’s wrist! Back in the ring, MJF continued to work over CM Punk’s wrist and arm.
“Max is a smart kid. He’s just an arrogant little prick,” said Jim Ross.
Punk shoved MJF off the turnbuckles and then hit a flying crossbody block on MJF! Punk nailed MJF with a neck breaker and followed up with a running knee strike. Punk smacked Max with a running bulldog and then signaled for the GTS!
MJF rolled out to the apron to try to create some distance. Punk body slammed MJF on the ring apron! CM Punk climbed to the top rope but MJF hit the ropes, knocking Punk down! MJF grabbed Punk’s arm and flipped him over and down onto the mat!
Punk rallied back with a Pepsi Twist on MJF! Max grabbed ref Bryce Remsburg and used him as a shield. When Bryce was distracted, MJF grabbed wrist tape and started to choke out Punk with the tape, unbeknownst to the referee.
The ref lifted CM Punk’s arm three times and all three times Punk’s hand hit the canvas. Punk was unresponsive! The ref awarded the match to MJF. When the ref lifted MJF’s arms, MJF dropped the tape and the ref saw it! The ref ordered the match to restart!
“Our main event has been restarted!” said Excalibur.
CM Punk jumped at MJF with a lariat! Punk tried to tie up MJF’s legs but MJF pushed off and sent Punk flying outside the ring to the arena floor! Punk tried to get back into the ring and MJF went for the Heat Seeker—Punk shoved MJF across the ring! Punk followed up with a springboard clothesline!
Punk sent MJF over the barricade after a tope suicida! Punk tweaked his knee on the way down!
“Now both the left arm and the left leg of CM Punk may be in jeopardy,” said Excalibur.
Punk hobbled in the ring and MJF, like a shark smelling blood in the water, stomped on Punk’s leg! Punk locked an STF on MJF but had to abandon ship because he couldn’t put pressure on his wrist. Punk hoisted up MJF and tried for the GTS but Punk’s leg gave out under the weight of MJF! MJF used an inside cradle but Punk kicked out.
MJF applied an ankle lock on Punk but Punk yanked his leg and sent MJF crashing into the turnbuckles!
“This is real gut check time for CM Punk,” said Excalibur.
MJF kicked Punk in the kneecap. Punk caught MJF’s leg but MJF thumbed MJF in the eyes. Punk nailed MJF with a reverse ‘rana!
“Sheer desperation by CM Punk!” said Excalibur.
“That was unbelievable!” replied Tony Schiavone.
“This is so physically draining! The left arm, the left leg of CM Punk, they’re not the same as when this match started,” added Jim Ross.
MJF was searching for the Salt of the Earth but Punk shoved him away. MJF chop blocked CM Punk! MJF flattened Punk with a pump handle suplex for a near fall!
“This is just a battle of wills in our main event,” said Excalibur.
As ref Bryce Remsburg was out of position, MJF hit a low blow on Punk for a near fall! MJF pulled CM Punk into the ring post and began slammed Punk’s leg into the post! Punk was able to pop up on his good leg and hit a leg lariat on MJF!
MJF bit on Punk’s forehead! MJF hoisted Punk up onto the top turnbuckle. Punk took a bite of his own on MJF! Punk nailed MJF with the Pepsi Plunge!
“He hasn’t done that move in 17 years!” said Jim Ross.
MJF rolled out of the way, out to the arena floor. MJF tried to grab Punk in a tombstone piledriver but Punk reversed it. MJF escaped but Punk connected with a roundhouse kick! Punk climbed to the top rope and dropped the elbow for a near fall on MJF!
“I’m not in the ring but I’m spent!” said Tony Schiavone.
Wardlow came out through the tunnel and onto the ramp.
“Wardlow looks conflicted,” said Excalibur.
Wardlow stepped over MJF and got eye to eye with CM Punk. Wardlow stepped aside!
Punk pushed MJF into the ring. CM Punk didn’t want to turn his eyes away from Wardlow. MJF pulled out the Dynamite Diamond Ring from his trucks and KO’ed Punk with it.
MJF pinned CM Punk!
“MJF beating CM Punk in his hometown is something I wasn’t prepared for,” said Jim Ross.
“Look at the replay! Wardlow passed the Dynamite Diamond Ring to MJF!” added Excalibur!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ!
Don’t miss AEW RAMPAGE this Friday at 10/9ct on TNT featuring:
FTW Championship Match!
-FTW Champ “Absolute” Ricky Starks vs. Jay Lethal!
-Adam Cole #BayBay vs. Evil Uno!
-Thunder Rosa vs. Mercedes Martinez!
TNT Championship Match!
-TNT Champion Sammy Guevara vs. Isiah Kassidy!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!