AEW Dynamite Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From April 22

Welcome to Bleacher Report's live coverage of AEW Dynamite on April 22.

Just one week after successfully challenging for the men's AEW World Championship, Darby Allin already found himself with his first title defense.

Here's a look at what All Elite Wrestling advertised for Wednesday's show at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland:

Darby Allin vs. Tommaso Ciampa (AEW World Championship)

Lio Rush vs. Brody King

Samoa Joe in action

Mina Shirakawa vs. Hikaru Shida

Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

Darby Allin addresses beating MJF

Let's take a look at everything that happened on this week's Dynamite.

The Former Champion Is Angry

Dynamite started with a video recapping how Darby Allin defeated MJF to become the AEW world champion last week. We thought we might hear from Allin to begin the show, but MJF came marching to the ring instead.

The former champion told the truck to cut his music and was clearly in a bad mood. He called last week "the Seattle Screwjob." He touted his win over Kenny Omega and said it was unfair that he had to defend his title so quickly.

He called out Allin and said he needed to return his world title immediately. Instead of the new champion, we got TNT champion Kevin Knight instead. He said he had MJF beat in their last match and should have two belts right now.

They traded insults for a few minutes before Knight challenged him to a match. MJF said he would do it if Knight put his belt on the line, which The Jet accepted. Just when it looked like the contest would start, MJF rolled out of the ring and said it would happen next week instead.

This was a decent promo segment, but it went on longer than necessary. AEW is usually good at keeping talking segments short and sweet, but this one could have been half as long and accomplished the same thing.

Grade: B-

Notable Moments and Observations

AEW is a month away from Double or Nothing on May 24, so graphics were already being shown to hype the event.

MJF complaining about a low blow when he did it first was kind of funny.

Knight is great in the ring, but he still needs a little work on the mic.

Brody King vs. Lio Rush

Last time in action: Brody King and El Sky Team defeated three local talents (Collision, April 16), Lio Rush lost to Pac (Collision, April 16)

Two very different kinds of wrestlers met for a singles match this week when Brody King took on Lio Rush. Not only are they different in their size and wrestling style, but the latter has also adopted a new gimmick that some have compared to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.

King yanked Rush out of the corner as he was talking to himself. Rush circled the big man and offered his hand. King grabbed him and refused to let go, so Rush bit him until he did.

Rush managed to use King's size against him at ringside and sent him into the ring post and barricade as the show cut to a break.

This was a fun clash of styles, but the ending seemed set in stone. King won decisively with his finisher, but Rush put up a good fight to make it a fun encounter.

Result: King defeated Rush

Grade: B

Notable Moments and Observations

The Demand had a backstage moment with Chris Jericho to hype an upcoming trios match. We still don't know who Jericho's partners will be.

Rush's contact lenses are a cool addition to his gimmick.

King is great at selling for opponents much smaller than him while still looking like a dominant badass.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Hikaru Shida

Last time in action: Mina Shirakawa and Brawling Birds defeated Triangle of Madness (Dynamite, April 1), Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander defeated two local talents (Collision, April 16)

Two of the best Japanese wrestlers to come through AEW stepped into the ring for the first time when Hikaru Shida took on Mina Shirakawa.

Their lack of experience working together may have led to a couple of moments that didn't land, but they tried to make up for it with their intensity.

The second half picked up quite a bit and turned into an enjoyable encounter. Even though AEW has been teasing the possibility of Shida turning heel, she worked a clean match.

Shida ended up scoring the win thanks to a little accidental help from Kris Statlander at ringside.

Result: Shida defeated Shirakawa

Grade: B-

Notable Moments and Observations

A heel Shida is an interesting prospect. She has been a babyface for her entire AEW run.

There was a takedown from Shirakawa that didn't look like it should have worked, but Shida sold it.

Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

Last time in action: Will Ospreay defeated Hechicero (Dynamite, April 15), Mark Davis lost to Jack Perry (Dynasty)

Former friends and United Empire allies met this week as enemies when Will Ospreay faced Mark Davis.

Ospreay charged at Davis as soon as the bell rang, but the big man didn't budge and sent the high-flyer out of the ring. He followed and crashed into Ospreay to send him into the barricade.

For the first few minutes, this was all Davis. He dominated the action and tried to do more than just beat Ospreay. He was trying to hurt him. Billy Goat managed to escape near the stage and hit a big dive to send us into a break.

These two men have known each other for years, and you could see that familiarity in how they worked together. This was entertaining from start to finish and allowed both men to shine in different ways.

Ospreay continued to sell his injured neck to look like an underdog. In fact, it led to the match ending by order of a doctor at ringside who determined Ospreay could no longer continue.

This was an interesting way to end the match. It allows Ospreay to continue selling his neck while Davis picks up his biggest singles win to date. Davis pulled him back into the ring, but surprisingly, The Death Riders showed up and stopped him.

They dragged Ospreay out of the ring and through the crowd.

Result: Davis defeated Ospreay

Grade: B+

Notable Moments and Observations

The crowd chanting along to Ospreay's music always makes his entrance fun.

The entrance music for Davis was simple, but it worked for him.

Ospreay's dive off the stage looked great.

Samoa Joe Returns

Last time in action: Samoa Joe defeated Mike Bailey (Dynamite, Jan. 21)

Samoa Joe returned for his first match in months when he took on a local talent named Cody Chhun.

There's not much to say here. Joe let Chhun get in a few shots before he dismantled him while the crowd cheered.

He finished the match with his signature Muscle Buster. The only way this could have been more of a squash is if Joe didn't play with him at the beginning.

Result: Samoa Joe won

Grade: C

Notable Moments and Observations

Hook greeted Joe on the stage after his match.

Darby Allin vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Last time in action: Darby Allin defeated MJF (Dynamite, April 15), Tommaso Ciampa defeated Dezmond Xavier (Dynamite, April 15)

Darby Allin came out to give his first promo as men's world champion before he had his first title defense against Tommaso Ciampa.

It didn't take long for MJF to interrupt him. Allin told him to go away before Ciampa made his entrance.

As soon as the ref called for the bell, The Psycho Killer cornered the new champion and unloaded on him. Allin hit a dropkick and tried to end it early with a Coffin Drop, but Ciampa rolled out of the ring.

The challenger took control before the break, and he was still in the driver's seat when we returned. To say these two took each other to the limit would be an understatement. This was a very physical encounter that will likely leave both men with a few bruises.

Ciampa ended up wearing a crimson mask, but it never slowed him down. He came close to winning the belt several times, but Allin was not about to lose it a week after winning it.

Ciampa applied a Sharpshooter, but Allin reversed it into its sister hold, the Scorpion Deathlock, for the win.

Result: Allin defeated Ciampa

Grade: A-

Notable Moments and Observations

Even Allin isn't above mentioning a town's name to get a cheap pop.

MJF and Ciampa had a brief showdown on the ramp. Ciampa surprised him with a little smooch.

The way Allin crashed into the announce table looked brutal.

Allin's dive from the ring post to the timekeeper's area was nuts.

Ciampa hit a Psycho Driller from the middle rope all the way to the floor that appeared to hurt him as much as his opponent.

The Final Word

This week's Dynamite might not go down as one of the best episodes of the year, but it had some high points that were entertaining enough to keep fans tuned in. 

Ospreay and Davis put on a hard-fought battle that had an interesting conclusion, and Shida and Shirakawa had their first match ever this week. 

However, nothing came close to matching the physicality or intensity of the main event between Ciampa and Allin. Both men came into this looking to impress, and they definitely achieved that goal. 

King came out to challenge Allin to a world title match next week. Allin shook his hand and agreed.

With Double or Nothing a month away, AEW has plenty of time to make the show feel must-see without having to rush. 

Grade: B