All Elite Wrestling delivered a star-studded episode of AEW Dynamite on February 28.
Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, and Orange Cassidy, among other stars, competed. Plus, Sting made his final appearance ahead of his retirement match, and Will Ospreay made his first appearance as a contracted member of the roster.
In-Ring Segment: Hangman Adam Page
Page comes to the ring, and he is on a crutch. He notes that it probably does not seem promising. Page reflects on the beginning of AEW and says it was an opportunity for him. He looks back on winning the world title in 2021. He says it hurts to have that opportunity in front of him and have “this”. Hangman says he had the wrong two competitors when he said the world title match should be a singles bout. He tells the fans that at AEW Revolution, he will not be able to compete. Swerve Strickland interrupts and brings up his feud with Hangman.
Swerve admits that he did not expect this to happen. He says he respects what Page has accomplished in AEW. Strickland says you can’t stop destiny, and his destiny is to win the world title. AEW World Champion Samoa Joe comes out and says he’s the real man around here. Joe says Page and Strickland are hungry, but that’s because he is starving them.
Joe vows to whoop both of their asses at Revolution. Strickland highlights his road to this point. He vows to win the gold, but Page attacks him with a crutch. Clearly, Hangman is not injured after all as he says that Strickland will never win the title. Officials check on Swerve as Page walks to the back.
The Young Bucks arrive, and they speak with Renee Paquette. They’re asked about their meeting with Ric Flair, and Nicholas says it went great. Matthew says they want to thank Sting, though the bats in their hands indicate otherwise.
Blackpool Combat (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & Eddie Kingston
Danielson and Kingston start the bout. Danielson tags out, and Castagnoli squares off with Kingston. Harwood and Danielson tag in and feel each other out. Wheeler takes the fight to Moxley. They trade head-butts. The two teams have to pull them apart, and they all brawl. The fight spills out of the ring. Danielson and Castagnoli gang up on Wheeler. The BCC maintains the advantage. They isolate Cash, but he rallies and tags Harwood. Harwood rallies and takes the fight to the BCC.
Harwood gets a few two-counts on pin attempts. Castagnoli drops Dax while Danielson distracts the referee. The two teams again brawl at ringside. Danielson kicks Kingston. Back in the ring, Harwood and Castagnoli trade blows. Moxley grounds Harwood, and the BCC keeps him isolated. Harwood breaks free and tags Kingston, who takes the fight to Danielson. They trade chops. Kingston dishes out a suplex and takes a clothesline from Moxley. He and Moxley fire away at each other. Castagnoli and Danielson double-team Kingston. Moxley spikes Kingston with a piledriver. The match breaks down in chaos, and the teams keep fighting. Finishing moves are flying, and Danielson hits the running knee on Kingston. He locks in a triangle choke, and Kingston is out.
Winners: Blackpool Combat (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli)
After the bell, Danielson vows to choke Kingston out.
A video package highlights Chris Jericho’s past in CMLL. In an interview, Jericho looks back on his time working there. He highlights Atlantis as a mentor and friend and says he wanted to have a match with Atlantis Jr. to repay the favor. Jericho says he will do just that and give him a lesson tonight.
In-Ring Segment: Will Ospreay
Tony Schiavone introduces Will Ospreay, who is officially joining the company. Ospreay confirms that his obligations in NJPW are done. He makes fun of his own outfit and says he’s here for full-time work. Ospreay brings up his past wins in AEW, including his victories over Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. He says he is ready to pick up where he left off. Don Callis, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Konosuke Takeshita come to the ring.
Callis and Hobbs hug Ospreay, but Takeshita does not. Callis highlights the talent the group contains. He notes that he and Ospreay achieved his highlights together.
Don says Ospreay will have the Match of the Decade against Takeshita. He says sometimes teammates go hard against each other in practice in order to win titles. Callis says the real winner between Ospreay and Takeshita will be the Don Callis Family. Ospreay extends a handshake, and Takeshita accepts it. Takeshita doesn’t let go, and Ospreay gets in his face. He talks some trash, and the Don Callis Family leaves.
Backstage, Eddie Kingston is asked about his match against Bryan Danielson. The Young Bucks interrupt, and Nicholas says he has a bone to pick with Kingston. He threatens to fine him. Matthew tells him to work on the “presentation” and teases implementing a dress code.
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Nick Wayne (with Christian Cage, Mother Wayne, and Killswitch)
Wayne and Cassidy feel each other out early on. They’re evenly matched early on. Wayne hits a hurricanrana. He sends Cassidy to the outside. Wayne dives onto Cassidy with a moonsault. Back in the ring, Cassidy rolls to the outside, and Wayne dives onto him again. Christian Cage trips up Cassidy and distracts him. Wayne kicks Cassidy to the outside as The Patriarchy gets ejected from ringside. Wayne maintains the advantage. Cassidy rallies with a flurry of offense. He plants Wayne with a DDT.
Wayne gets a two-count with a fisherman suplex. Cassidy takes control with a series of stomps. Wayne counters the Orange Punch, but Cassidy hits the Beach Break for a two-count. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett come out and distract Cassidy. Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta fight them off. Daniel Garcia distracts Wayne, and Cassidy hits the Orange Punch for the win.
Winner and still AEW International Champion: Orange Cassidy
Roderick Strong attacks Cassidy after the bell, and Best Friends make the save.
Backstage, the Bang Bang Scissor Gang is asked about gelling as a group. Austin Gunn says he has an idea to team up with The Acclaimed. Jay White likes the idea and says everyone loved the Bang Bang Scissor Gang.
Kris Statlander (with Stokely Hathaway and Willow Nightingale) vs. Skye Blue (with Julia Hart)
Statlander overpowers Blue early on. Blue briefly takes control and sends Statlander to the outside. Statlander presses her over her head and dumps her into the crowd. Back in the ring, Blue gains the upper hand and controls the action. Statlander rallies and gets a two-count with a powerslam. Statlander and Blue trade blows. The former TBS Champion suplexes Blue onto the apron. Willow gets in Hart’s face at ringside. Blue hits a Canadian Destroyer and gets a two-count.
Hathaway offers Statlander some chains, and she dismisses him. He inadvertently distracts the referee, and Hart hits Statlander with the title. Blue pins Statlander with the Code Blue.
Winner: Skye Blue
The Young Bucks are backstage, and they find Sting’s locker room. They enter the room and find a bunch of baseball bats hanging upside down.
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho vs. Atlantis Jr. (with Atlantis)
Jericho and Atlantis Jr. trade blows. Atlantis Jr. hits a monkey flip. Jericho counters another and goes for the Walls, but Atlantis Jr. reaches the ropes. He rips at Atlantis Jr.’s mask. Atlantis Jr. chokes Jericho with a towel while the referee isn’t looking. Atlantis Jr. dives onto Jericho. He catapults Jericho into the ring post. Jericho counters a powerbomb and sends Atlantis Jr. crashing into the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Jericho controls the action. Atlantis Jr. rallies. He hits an arm drag off the second rope and gets a two-count. He dumps Jericho with a wheelbarrow German suplex. Jericho grabs Atlantis by the head and slams him off the top rope. Atlantis Jr. hits a powerslam. He dives onto Jericho at ringside. Jericho fires up with a hurricanrana. He locks in the Walls of Jericho, and Atlantis throws in the towel.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Jericho and Atlantis Sr. check on Atlantis Jr., and they celebrate together.
Sting’s Final AEW Dynamite Appearance Before His Last Match
The Young Bucks come out and confront some fans wearing Sting masks. One of them unmasks, and it’s Darby Allin. He takes the fight to the Young Bucks. The Young Bucks gain the upper hand and attack Allin with bats. They hit the EVP Trigger. Ric Flair comes out. He grabs a bat, but he attacks the Young Bucks instead. Nicholas hits Flair below the belt. They gang up on Flair, and Sting’s music plays. The Bucks walk up the ramp. Sting comes down from the rafters. He hits the Bucks with a bat, and Allin hits the Coffin Drop.
Sting drops Nicholas Jackson with a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting, Allin, and Flair stand tall.
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