AEW Dynamite airs tonight (Apr. 29) with a live show from Eaglebank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. This is the third episode of Dynamite during the six week build to Double or Nothing, which takes place on May 24.
MJF is just hours away from becoming the new champion to set up a special match
MJF has been losing his mind ever since he lost the AEW world championship to Darby Allin two weeks ago. But when Big Hebrew demanded that Darby give him back the belt last week on Dynamite, it was actually new TNT Champion Kevin Knight who came out to interrupt his promo. One thing led to another, and now it’s Knight vs. MJF for TNT gold on tonight’s episode.
MJF is clearly the favorite to win in kayfabe, as he is the former world champion and already beat Knight on Dynamite back in March. But considering the rumor that MJF will be challenging Darby for the world title next month at Double or Nothing in a special stipulation match, I think Knight’s chances of winning here drastic go up. MJF can keep crashing out if he fails in yet another title match, and he doesn’t need this win to get a world title rematch with Allin; Darby gives out championship matches like candy and has already said that he’ll give MJF a rematch as long as he puts something on the line.
Then again, maybe the TNT title is exactly the thing that MJF needs to dangle in front of Darby to give him a rematch, as Allin once coveted that belt so highly that he wanted to hold it more than any other title in the promotion.
Is MJF already on the verge of winning another title in AEW so that President Tony Khan can book a champion versus champion match between him and Darby Allin in the main event of Double or Nothing? Tune into Dynamite to find out.
I might be jumping the gun in assuming that Darby will even make it to next month’s PPV as the AEW world champion. In his victory promo last week, Darby referred to his title reign as a fifteen minute ride. It sounds like he plans to push himself to the limit and defend the world title every week. That continues tonight when Brody King challenges him for the gold. Brody may be a babyface now, but he once tried to murder Darby. He may have to channel that darker version of himself to pull out all the stops to beat Darby and win the AEW world championship tonight. Fuck ICE.
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage have a tag team match tonight against Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta). This is essentially a tune up match for E & C before they challenge FTR for the AEW world tag team championship in an I Quit New York City Street Fight at Double or Nothing. This is the first time Copeland and Cage are teaming up on AEW TV, rather than PPV. It may also be the last time they are teaming up on AEW TV, given the stipulation that their team is retired if FTR beats them in NYC.
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion put their belts on the line tonight against the new team of Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida. Can Statlander trust that Hikaru won’t turn on her if they come up short against Megan Bayne and Lena Kross?
Speaking of women’s tag teams, the Brawling Birds are in action tonight, which means Jamie Hayter is now medically cleared. Perhaps Hayter and Alex Windsor are next in line for a tag team title match at Double or Nothing if they score a couple of wins in the coming weeks. Or are these “dumb bitches” still pursuing AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla?
RUSH is also in action tonight. The poor jobber is going to get steamrolled.
Finally, the fourth title match on the slate tonight is AEW International Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Ace Austin. This is an obvious win for The Rainmaker, so the more interesting thing to keep an eye on is whatever post-match angle is planned to help build up Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita at Double or Nothing.
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– The Death Riders kinda sorta abducted Will Ospreay last week, which was their weird way of saving him from getting his neck broken by Mark Davis. Jon Moxley later tried to convince Will that his body will break if he keeps running into a brick wall like this. He wants to mold Ospreay into “a weapon like professional wrestling has never seen.” Therefore Mox laid down on the ground and gave Ospreay a steel chair with the following choice: get his revenge and break Jon’s neck, or follow him down this new path to fulfill his potential. We know that Mox’s neck isn’t broken, so Will’s choice is seemingly apparent. Will he give his official answer tonight?
– Chris Jericho is “the guy who gets his ass beat by The Demand every week that he shows up,” even when teaming up with The Hurt Syndicate. It sounds like Chris did the smart thing and won’t show up on Dynamite tonight. Will Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin keep going at it with Ricochet’s group instead, or does Bald find some other wrestlers on the AEW roster to beat with the Ricosault until Chris returns?
– Tony Khan typically books the annual Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing. Will this year’s match center around the Young Bucks and The Dogs? Maybe AEW National Champion Jack Perry, The Conglomeration, and the Don Callis family end up here too. What about Kenny Omega?
– There are no more vacancies in The Opps, because Samoa Joe is back and Anthony Bowens is officially in. Will this faction actually start to get shit done in AEW now that they have a real leader again?
– TBS Champion Willow Nightingale embraces being the comeback killer in AEW. Whose comeback is her next victim?
– Is anybody besides Andrade El Idolo stripping off his pants this week?
– Where the f*** are Mercedes Mone and Swerve Strickland (besides the NFL Draft)?
What will you be looking for on Dynamite?
