AEW Dynamite
Episode 26
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: March 25, 2020
Event Date: March 25, 2020
(aired live on TNT)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place (empty arena)
Commentary: Tony Shiavone, Kenny Omega (1), Cody (2 – 5)
Ring Announcer: Brandi Rhodes
Ring Area
From the commentary table, Tony Shiavone welcomes us to tonight’s show. Cody and Kenny Omega are at the table with him as he talks about tonight’s matches, but Cody has to leave since he is in the first bout.
Backstage
As the entrances are made for the first match, we see Shawn Spears, Billy Gunn, and Austin Gunn making bets. Later on, Chris Jericho joins the group.
Match 1
“The American Nightmare” Cody vs Jimmy Havoc
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Cody wins via pinfall after two CrossRhodes
Time: 10:42
Match Thoughts
Good match. Havoc seemed like he was going to play nice tonight, and he even shook Cody’s hand with no sneak attack, but Havoc can’t really fight completely fair. Havoc did well trying to get painful advantages in the match, but that just seemed to fire Cody up. Ultimately this felt a bit like a warm-up for Blood and Guts that’s still coming up, but it was still a good match for both men. Havoc had been getting on a roll in 2020, but I don’t think this match necessarily slowed that down.
Ring Area
After the match, Cody watches a video of Jake Roberts on the screen. Roberts is in the woods in front of a campfire, and he talks about being the best mind wrestling has ever had, yet he didn’t get a call when AEW was starting up. He also talks about AEW and Cody being scared of Lance Archer.
Ring Area
Cody rejoins the commentary table (Omega is now gone) and responds to what he just saw from Jake Roberts. He’s a little angry, and he’s frustrated that Roberts is sending daggers through a video. Cody says why not just bring Archer to Dynamite next week for a fight.
Ring Area
Darby Allin doesn’t see anything super bad about Kip Sabian. He’s seen some super bad guys. Tonight, Kip Sabian is just a sacrifice for the sins of the Inner Circle.
Match 2
“Superbad” Kip Sabian vs Darby Allin
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Darby Allin wins via pinfall with the Last Supper
Time: 10:25
Match Thoughts
Good match. Darby Allin is on a hot streak, but Sabian has been coming up lately as well. This was a nice fight between two young wrestlers who are fun to watch. I like how Darby Allin continues to incorporate technical holds into his arsenal. It’s always kind of unexpected when he does that, and that keeps things very interesting. Penelope Ford didn’t seem to be able to help Sabian as much as usual, and maybe that was a difference-maker tonight. This was fun, and I’d enjoy seeing it again.
Video
A look at Jake Hager, including some of his MMA exploits and his feud with Dustin Rhodes.
Match 3
Jake Hager vs Chico Adams
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Jake Hager wins via submission with a head and arm triangle
Time: 1:06
Match Thoughts
Squash.
Ring Area
After the match, Jon Moxley comes out and confronts Jake Hager. A brawl quickly erupts. Moxley hits the Paradigm Shift, but Hager only takes a few seconds to get up and put Moxley in an ankle lock. Moxley escapes, and Hager walks away.
Backstage
Jon Moxley says he goes where he wants, when he wants. He’s cleared to return to action, and he’s out for blood. Moxley is going to put Hager on a stretcher, or he’s going to die trying.
Video
A look at last week’s Dynamite and the arrival for the Exalted One, Brodie Lee.
Video
Brodie Lee eats a rare steak as he tries to explain to John Silver and Alex Reynolds that the Dark Order preys on the weak. John Silver starts to eat his own steak, but Lee gets pissed. Silver and Reynolds eat only when Lee is finished. Lee yells at Silver to leave. Reynolds has been quiet this whole time, but suddenly he sneezes. Lee throws Reynolds out as well. Lee continues his meal alone.
Backstage
Before the next match begins, we see Shawn Spears, Austin Gunn, Billy Gunn, Kip Sabian, and Dasha Gonzalez watching in the back.
Match 4
QT Marshall vs Brodie Lee w/ a creeper
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Brodie Lee wins via pinfall after a discus lariat
Time: 2:59
Match Thoughts
Pretty much a squash. This was a strong debut for The Exalted One.
Video
A look at last week’s match between the Inner Circle and The Elite where the Inner Circle gained the advantage in Blood & Guts. Also, this was the night Matt Hardy appeared in the balcony.
In some new footage, Matt Hardy says he is ready to delete the Inner Circle.
Video
A look at the night Nick Jackson was injured by the Inner Circle.
Video
Vanguard 1 (V. 2.0) spies on Nick Jackson as he works out in his garage at home. Nick spots the drone, so Vanguard 1 cuts the feed as it flies away.
Match 5
AAA Mega Championship Title Match
“Spanish God” Sammy Guevara vs Kenny Omega (AAA Mega Champ, AEW Tag Champ)
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Kenny Omega wins via pinfall after the One-Winged Angel
Time: 23:25
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Guevara probably should have taken this match more seriously right from the start, but being obnoxious is one of the things that makes Guevara so fun to watch. Guevara messed around a lot, but he also took the fight to Omega as the match went on. Omega was up to the challenge, though his injured hand became a factor. Guevara repeatedly went to Omega’s hand whenever he got in trouble. Omega had to push through the pain and try to put together some sustained offense, but Guevara was good about stopping Omega’s momentum. This was a very fun match, and it really showed the strengths of both men.
Ring Area
Kenny Omega rejoins Cody and Shiavone at the commentary table as Chris Jericho heads to the ring. Jericho talks about the appearance of Matt Hardy last week on Dynamite. Jericho invites Hardy to come out now and join the Inner Circle.
Vanguard 1 appears over the ring. Jericho informs Vanguard 1 that he despises everything about the drone. He doesn’t like Vanguard 1, but he respects it. Therefore, Jericho offers Vanguard 1 a spot in the Inner Circle. Vanguard 1 flies away which pisses Jericho off. Matt Hardy’s music then begins to play.
Matt Hardy appears in the upper balcony. In a series of shots from behind Jericho, Hardy transports around the arena until he is finally at ringside. Matt Hardy enters the ring. Jericho wonders how Hardy transported throughout the venue, so Hardy explains that he is magic.
Jericho tells Hardy that he is completely responsible for the success of AEW, so Hardy should join the Inner Circle. Hardy says he owes a debt to the Young Bucks. Plus, he’s seen the tyranny being spread by the Inner Circle. AEW represents freedom for Matt Hardy, and he cannot allow the Inner Circle to ruin that for everyone else. Jericho says he’s resurrected careers. He’s made everyone in the Inner Circle stars.
Hardy says Jericho might recognize the vessel, but there is someone else behind the wheel. He is Damascus, and he is over 3,000 years old. Jericho says inside, he is still the Matt Hardy he’s known for 25 years. Hardy says Jericho is still the same “hole of the ass” he’s always known. Jericho says Hardy is still living in shadows like he’s done throughout his entire career. Hardy says his broken light is shining brighter than ever.
Jericho asks for an answer: Inner Circle or Elite? Hardy answers, “delete!” Jericho says there’s no one here to chant his stupid catchphrase, but Hardy says there are souls and essences everywhere regardless of whether or not Jericho can see them. Hardy wants Jericho to take a long look at the essence that will delete the Inner Circle. Jericho slaps Hardy, so Hardy punches Jericho. Jericho calls in Sammy Guevara to attack Hardy, but Cody and Omega run to the ring with chairs. Guevara and Jericho leave the ring as Hardy calls fire from the stage as the show ends.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. As the second empty-arena Dynamite, I liked what I saw. I know they’re having to make the best show they can with limited staff, and I think they’re doing a great job. Hearing Cody and Shiavone on commentary was a lot of fun, and the matches were really good. Yes, there were two squash matches, but I didn’t mind them. They both worked well for who they were building up. Plus, having a AAA Mega Title match was a ton of fun.
I like seeing guys like Guevara and Havoc take advantage of the opportunity being given to them with the limited roster. The matches that were announced last week didn’t happen and weren’t even mentioned this week (Best Friends vs Lucha Bros. in a street fight, Wardlow vs Luchasaurus, and I think Blood and Guts was supposed to be this week), but that’s just a necessity from the state of the country right now. People are having difficulties traveling, and that’s understandable. I like that AEW is still putting on good shows with good matches, and they’re still pushing stories forward even though plans are being modified on the fly. I did notice that they didn’t make any promises for any matches or segments for next week. That’s probably smart.
Match of the Night
Guevara vs Omega
I enjoyed this a lot. Sammy Guevara is really growing on me. He’s one of the better bad guys in AEW right now.