AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 22
Fresh off of throwing his name in the pool for an AEW World Championship match against MJF, Darby Allin teamed with Sting and AEW international champion Orange Cassidy to battle The Butcher, The Blade and Kip Sabian in a blockbuster trios match Wednesday.
That match joined a packed card that also featured Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley, as well as a promo from Adam Cole just one week before his much-anticipated return to in-ring action.
What went down as All Elite Wrestling continues to lay the foundation for its Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 28?
Find out with this recap of the latest episode of Dynamite.
Match Card
1 of 8Announced for the March 22 episode in advance:
- Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
- Jon Moxley vs. Stu Grayson
- No Disqualification match: Hook vs. Stokely Hathaway
- Skye Blue vs. Toni Storm
- Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin and Sting vs. The Butcher, The Blade and Kip Sabian
- AEW World Tag Team Championship: Top Flight vs. The Gunns
- Adam Cole promo
Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin and Sting vs. Butcher, Blade and Kip Sabian
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Butcher and Blade attacked Orange Cassidy backstage at the House Rules live event this past weekend. Wednesday night, the aggressors partnered with Kip Sabian to battle the AEW international champion and his partners, Darby Allin and Sting.
A high-energy match with a red-hot crowd, this opener was the perfect start to the show.
Sabian, Butcher and Blade are among the most underutilized names in AEW, but they had the opportunity to shine before the babyface comeback.
At 64 years of age, Sting again proved he is one of the most electrifying pro wrestlers on the planet as he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand all the way through this.
Cassidy was great, as usual, and Allin exploded off the screen anytime he was in the ring.
There was a lot to like about this one, the least of which was the focus by Allin after the match on the graphic for Double or Nothing on May 28. He figures to be one of three competitors challenging MJF for the AEW World Championship if last week's opening segment, and a video package airing this week, are any indication.
Result
Sting, Allin and Cassidy defeated Butcher, Blade and Sabian
Grade
B+
Top Moments
- Sabian mocked Cassidy as the commentary team reminded viewers of their history together.
- Cassidy, staying true to his character, wore half-assed face paint in an attempt to match his partners.
- "Kind of a lukewarm tag," Taz said as Allin tagged in the typically lethargic Cassidy.
- Sting set Sabian up for the Scorpion Death Drop but took a moment to let the reaction from the crowd build.
- Allin stared intensely at the Double or Nothing graphic, while Cassidy put his sunglasses on Sting.
AEW World Tag Team Championship: Top Flight vs. The Gunns
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Austin and Colten Gunn hoped to continue their unexpected run as AEW world tag team champions Wednesday night by defeating Top Flight's Dante and Darius Martin.
As one could predict, it was far from easy.
The Gunns absorbed the late comeback by the challengers and were then in the right place at the right time, benefiting from outside interference from The Kingdom's Matt Taven and Mike Bennett before downing Dante with 3:10 to Yuma for the successful defense.
After the match, FTR goaded The Gunns into a championship match by vowing to quit AEW if they can't win the titles. The heels accepted before spitting in their rivals' faces and fleeing the ring.
We will find out exactly what the future holds for Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler based on whether they win the tag titles or not. A loss all but guarantees they are leaving at the conclusion of their contracts, but a win would suggest they are sticking with AEW.
The bout preceding the post-match promo was fine for what it was and shined some light on the Ring of Honor product by way of The Kingdom's involvement.
Result
The Gunns defeated Top Flight
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- The heat was off the charts for The Gunns as they entered the arena, proving that something is working, even if there are still questions about the booking that got them to the tag titles.
- Taven and Bennett attempted to interfere, but Dante wiped them out at ringside. The distraction set up the finish, though, as the champs retained.
- The pop for FTR was otherworldly and the biggest of the night to this point.
- Harwood offered to quit AEW alongside Wheeler if they can't defeat The Gunns for the tag titles.
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Hook vs. Stokely Hathaway
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Stokely Hathaway attempted to get out of his match with Hook, producing a "doctor's note" that was little more than "he's sick" written on a Wingstop receipt.
It didn't work.
The loudmouth manager took a beating that saw him manhandled around the ringside area and then suplexed onto a guardrail that caved under him.
Hook put him out cold with Redrum, extending his win streak and leaving the mouthpiece of The Firm unconscious.
Backstage, Matt Hardy attempted to motivate Ethan Page into avenging their manager by challenging Hook for the FTW Championship.
Remember, Hardy is only part of The Firm due to losing a stipulation match to Page and would seemingly relish the opportunity to watch All Ego get a similar beatdown at the hands of The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil.
This was good fun, as Hathaway is great, and Hook's aura matches his portrayal of the unstoppable badass.
Result
Hook defeated Hathaway
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- Hathaway's facial expressions and body language are on point. He is so good—easily one of the most engaging performers on the roster—despite not being an active wrestler. Very Bobby Heenan-esque.
- Hardy attempted to goad Page into avenging Hathaway while watching backstage.
Adam Cole Promo
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Adam Cole will return to the squared circle for the first time in months next Wednesday night in St. Louis, but he took to the squared circle this week for a promo about that comeback.
It was interrupted by the Jericho Appreciation Society's Daniel Garcia, who took exception to all of the attention paid to Cole when he has been there working and main-eventing shows for the past year.
Cole told Garcia that if he wanted to fight him, he was on, and the match was made official for next Wednesday night.
Backstage, Don Callis brushed off Kenny Omega's concern for The Young Bucks, who were taken away from the arena in an ambulance at the top of the show following a sneak attack, and urged him to focus on his own match on Wednesday night.
The promo from Cole and Garcia was good enough to set up what should be a hotly anticipated match on next week's show. Garcia nearly slipping and calling himself a pro wrestler was a nice touch and reminder that he is not necessarily all-in on the JAS.
Callis' insistence that Omega should not worry about the Bucks and instead focus on El Hijo del Vikingo suggested that the beatdown of the Jacksons was perpetrated by him and his desire for his client to go it alone, rather than by Blackpool Combat Club.
It will be intriguing to see how this particular story plays out because that two-minute promo was more interesting than anything that went down in the ring moments earlier.
Grade
B
Top Moments
- "All the boys respect me so much, I've become a locker room leader," Garcia said before offering to put Cole in his place.
- "I've been proving I'm one of the best pro wrestlers..." Garcia said. "Sports entertainers!" It was a nice tease that he still has not completely absorbed into the Jericho Appreciation Society.
- "What makes me special? When they ring the freakin' bell. That's what makes me special," Cole said in a callback to his promo on Karrion Kross in NXT.
- "Those kids will be fine in a few months," Callis told interviewer Alex Marvez.
Stu Grayson vs. Jon Moxley
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Stu Grayson returned to AEW a week ago, turning in a fantastic performance before succumbing to Jon Moxley's bulldog choke.
Wednesday night, The Dark Order OG had the opportunity to avenge that defeat by squaring off in one-on-one action with the former AEW world champion.
Like last week, Grayson showed out, making sure Moxley knew he was in there with a guy capable of upsetting him. The BCC's Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli attempted to interfere, acknowledging the threat the Canadian was to their teammate.
Grayson shrugged it off and continued to roll. He withstood the bulldog choke and countered a Paradigm Shift but eventually succumbed to a top-rope Death Rider, and Moxley earned a harder-fought victory than he probably expected.
The match was solid, and Grayson continued to look motivated to prove to Tony Khan and AEW that they were wrong for letting him walk last year. Moxley worked well with him, and the BCC as heels have suited them so far.
Result
Moxley defeated Grayson
Grade
B
Top Moments
- Grayson delivered a long-distance 450 splash, but Moxley kicked out at two.
- The babyface powered out of the bulldog choke and slammed Moxley into the corner, breaking the hold.
- Moxley broke out the avalanche Death Rider for the win.
Skye Blue vs. Toni Storm
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Homegrown AEW competitor Skye Blue battled The Outcasts' Toni Storm, who was accompanied by Saraya and Ruby Soho.
After outside interference by the latter pair, Storm dominated the match through the commercial break, working her less-experienced opponent over.
Blue mounted a comeback and even delivered her Code Blue finisher, only for Soho to get involved and prevent the official from counting the fall. The distraction allowed Storm to recover, delivering the running hip attack and scoring the win following Storm Zero.
After the match, The Outcasts teased spray-painting Blue, only for Willow Nightingale and Riho to chase them off.
Using Nightingale, Riho and Blue to work with The Outcasts and saving Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter for Double or Nothing is a smart move. Those three babyfaces are universally loved and can earn Saraya, Storm and Soho heat.
That inevitable trios match can be built toward and used as a high-profile addition to Dynamite or Rampage before moving the heels onto Baker, Hayter and whoever Tony Khan produces to team with them.
For the first time in a long time, it feels like there is a plan with the women's division, and that is very welcome.
Result
Storm defeated Blue
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- Saraya and Soho stomped Blue on the arena floor, unbeknown to the official.
- Riho rushed to the ring, again with an abnormally thick lead pipe.
- The babyfaces cleared the heels out of the ring and stood tall, daring them to continue the fight.
Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
8 of 8
If you were too preoccupied to fire up Google and find out who El Hijo del Vikingo was prior to Wednesday's show, you sure know who he is now following a breakout performance that introduced the best high-flyer in the business to a new section of fans.
The competitor, out of AAA in Mexico, stole the show with an unmatched aerial arsenal that was on full display against former AEW world champion Kenny Omega.
Billed as an international dream match throughout the night, Vikingo and Omega dazzled with unbridled athleticism, each spot upping the ante until a vicious V-Trigger and One-Winged Angel put Vikingo down for the count.
It was a fantastic display of athleticism and a breakout performance from Vikingo that announced him to the world. You could not have asked any young star from any other promotion in the world to come in and accomplish what he did at the level that he did.
With that said, the match felt like it was missing something. Maybe it was a cohesive story. Perhaps it was a thread that tied all of the spots together.
Excalibur alluded to it on commentary, mentioning the earlier attack on The Young Bucks as being particularly distracting for Omega, but it would have been nice to see him play that up in any aspect of his performance, even if it was a momentary interaction with Don Callis.
Lacking the bow that ties it all together was the only thing keeping this one from achieving rarefied air as one of the best Dynamite main events in the show's history.
After the match, Blackpool Combat Club attacked Omega until Adam Page drove one of the ambulances back to the arena and made the save, only for Callis to fake a bump and blame it on Hangman.
This was the second attempt by Callis to get Omega to ignore his friends or create some sort of schism between them, clearly seeing his meal ticket slipping away from him.
Eventually, Omega will realise this and split from the heel manager for good, but it will be interesting to see how many twists and turns there are until we get to that point.
Result
Omega defeated Vikingo
Grade
B+
Top Moments
- Vikingo wiped Omega out with a tope before the bell, interrupting the former champion's entrance.
- Excalibur set up the story of the attack endured by The Young Bucks weighing on the mind of Omega, resulting in the early route by Vikingo.
- Vikingo countered a powerbomb off the top rope and drove Omega's head into the mat in a terrifying moment. He followed up with an inside-out springboard phoenix splash.
- Vikingo delivered a diving poison rana with a 630 senton from the ring, over the top, that drove Omega through a table.
- Callis feigned being attacked by Page, looking to further the separation between Hangman and Omega.
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