Revolution Fallout! Powerhouse Hobbs Wins Gold! FTR Target The Gunns!
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AEW Revolution was praised by both critics and fans. The follow-up Dynamite would serve mainly as a table-setting episode. Despite only five matches, the two hours of Dynamite still moved pretty fast and featured a lot of well-executed promos and angles to set up the next chapter of AEW's storytelling.Aside from the serviceable storytelling, the card featured a trios match, two title matches, and a stunning finish that nobody predicted.Here are your winners and losers for the March 8th installment of AEW Dynamite.RELATED: AEW Revolution Winners & Losers: A Classic Iron Man Match! FTR Returns! New Champs Crowned!
Winner: Orange Cassidy Retains All-Atlantic Championship
The rubber match between Orange Cassidy and Jay Lethal had a much different feel than the previous two, largely because this installment of the trilogy featured no frivolous nonsense. There was no interference, no Danhausen cursing giants, no sunglass spots, or hands going into pockets. This was a straight-up wrestling match - and a damn fine one at that.
Expert mat moves, counters, and limb work occupied the first several minutes. In a single sequence outside the ring, Jay Lethal's shoulder was injured after getting run into the steel corner. Lethal answered by sending Cassidy into the steel steps, giving the champion a bad wheel. Both stars sold these injuries for the rest of the bout.
The injuries would come into play for the finish. Jay Lethal went for his Lethal Injection, but his compromised shoulder couldn't carry his weight during the springboard. The misstep allowed Cassidy to nail the Orange Punch - the shot was enough to secure the win.
After the bell, Jeff Jarrett came to the ring and attacked Orange Cassidy. He used his guitar and smashed it over the champion's bum knee. The angle set up another title match for next week's episode of Dynamite.
Winner: Juice Robinson Blindsides Ricky Starks
Absolute Ricky Starks recounted his victory over Chris Jericho at Revolution. He queried, "The question that weighs on my mind is not what I'm going to do next, but where I'm gonna go next?"
The Bullet Club music hit. The logo appeared on the screen. The crowd popped - many of them expecting a Jay White appearance. But it wasn't Switchblade. Juice Robinson came to the ring and made a quick and brutal attack on Starks.
The prospect of those two in the ring together is thrilling. And just because we didn't get Jay White tonight doesn't mean we're not getting him in the future.
Loser/Winner: Ruby Soho Makes A Statement
"I've gone heel because of you fans" is about as tired a trope as any in pro wrestling. WWE uses this device for nearly every single heel turn they implement. When you consider that "the other company" uses that trope frequently, Ruby Soho using it here is actually quite fitting.
Additionally, as far as trope promos go, this one was well-executed and well-performed. It was at least founded in logic and referenced several moments in AEW canon; Ruby getting booed against Baker at Grand Slam, Ruby getting booed when she beat Statlander, Toni being called Interim Champion, and Saraya being criticized by "fat, fire-breathers."
After the solid promo, Ruby Soho won over home-grown talent Skye Blue. The young Blue put forth a valiant effort but fell victim to the Destination Unknown finisher.
Winners: FTR Stake Their Claim On The Gunns
The tag team division has been on life support in the short weeks since The Gunns won AEW's top prize. Tonight, FTR delivered a much-needed shot of adrenaline with a blood-pumping promo.
Cash Wheeler called out the rough couple of months that he and Dax have had; losing to The Acclaimed, The Gunns, and three different championships in short order. And, of course, most impactful, losing their in-ring rival and personal friend, Jay Briscoe.
Dax expressed how much he loved FTR's fans - and that they were coming after the AEW Tag Team Championships. Harwood said they'd win them back for their fans.
Loser/Winner: The Trios Division Heats Up. JAS vs. The Elite vs. House Of Black Set For Next Week
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Daniel Garcia didn't have their best in-ring outing against Top Flight and AR Fox. The match was not bad - but it was nowhere near the standard these six men have set over the last year. JAS would get the victory after some interference from Jake Hager.
After the match, Jericho challenged the House Of Black for the AEW Trios Titles. But when the lights went out - they didn't get the new champs. They got the former champs. The Elite claimed that they were more worthy of a title match.
The House of Black made their spooky entrance and told both teams, "if you want them, come and get them." Next week in Winnipeg - the home of both Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho - the titles will be on the line in a three-way trios match.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club Go Full Heel
The Dark Order held their own against Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli. We even saw a new element of John Silver's work as he showed us some of his submission and mat maneuvers. Ultimately the BCC was too much for the Dark Order, though, as Jon Moxley added another dangerous move to his tool belt; the D'Acre choke - which got Alex Reynolds to tap out.
Moxley wouldn't release the hold after Reynolds tapped out. Evil Uno came to the aid of his Dark Order friend, but the BCC wouldn't allow him to help. Moxley, Claudio, and Yuta seemed hell-bent to inflict pain, send a message, and turn heel.
Finally, Hangman Adam Page came out to make the save.
Undecided: Powerhouse Hobbs Wins TNT Gold With Help From... QT Marshall?
Yesterday, Wardlow posted a video of his car with shattered glass. His vehicle had been broken into; his belongings, including his wrestling gear and the TNT Championship, had been stolen. He'd have to go into tonight's match in street clothes - thus, Wardlow proposed that the match be no DQ and falls count anywhere.
The match started in the garage. Hobbs sent Wardlow into the car door, bending it backward. He then suplexed the champion onto the hood. When Hobbs went for a powerbomb, it was countered into a back body drop, and the challenger landed square on the windshield.
The men brawled out into the ring and in front of the fans. Wardlow hit a beautiful Swanton bomb from the top rope onto the floor and through a table. Then, the champion lifted the three-hundred-pound Hobbs for a powerbomb onto the ramp. That looked like it hurt both dudes!
Wardlow dragged Hobbs up to the top of the ramp, setting the challenger up for another powerbomb off the stage.
Out of nowhere, QT Marshall appeared and nailed Wardlow with a chair shot to the back. Marshall hit Wardlow with two more chair shots before he and Hobbs lifted the champion and threw him off the stage. The referee counted to ten for the TKO.
Powerhouse Hobbs is your new TNT Champion with the help of the unlikeliest of partners, QT Marshall. Many fans wanted to see Hobbs do this by himself, but it's too early to tell if this angle is good or bad.
Full Match Results & Noteworthy Moments:
Orange Cassidy def. Jay Lethal via pinfall to retain the AEW All-Atlantic Championship. |
Jeff Jarrett smashed a guitar on Cassidy's damaged knee. |
AEW posted that Wardlow's car was broken into, and the TNT Title was stolen. Powerhouse Hobbs was interviewed. |
Juice Robinson attacked Ricky Starks during an in-ring promo. |
Ruby Soho def. Skye Blue via pinfall. |
Ruby, Saraya, and Toni Storm attacked and painted "L's" on Blue and Willow Nightingale. |
MJF and Bryan Danielson each cut brilliant post-Iron Man Match promos. |
FTR cut a great promo eying the AEW Tag Team Titles. |
JAS (Jericho, Guevara, & Garcia) def. Top Flight & AR Fox via pinfall. |
The JAS called out House of Black. The Elite made their case for the Trios Titles. House of Black challenged both teams. |
Tony Khan announced a new name for the All-Atlantic Championship. |
BCC (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) def. Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) via submission. |
BCC continued the attack after the bell. Hangman Page came to make the save. |
Powerhouse Hobbs def. Wardlow via TKO to win the AEW TNT Championship. |
