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This week's AEW Dynamite featured a stacked card with several promising matches. While CM Punk was in action against fellow veteran Dustin Rhodes in a first-time-ever match, Darby Allin went to war with his long-time rival Andrade El Idolo in a Coffin Match.
Apart from that, Britt Baker returned to AEW for the first time in weeks, while Wardlow also had a challenge lying ahead in the form of The Butcher.
CM Punk vs. Dustin Rhodes on AEW Dynamite
Both performers shook hands moments after their match began on AEW Dynamite. Punk and Dustin went back and forth, trying to outsmart each other, with the Pittsburgh crowd cheering loudly for both men.
Punk tried to hit a GTS on Dustin Rhodes, but the latter countered and took down his opponent with an arm drag. CM Punk began targeting Dustin's left knee, which he hurt after failing to execute a maneuver earlier in the bout.
The Second City Saint dominated the match during the commercial break, as he methodically wore down Dustin Rhodes.
Back on the live broadcast, The Natural found his way back into the match as he took down Punk using the ring post and ring apron. Next, Dustin hit a picture-perfect Code Red for a close count.
Moments later, Punk goes for the GTS again, but Dustin Rhodes counters again and hits a Power Slam for another near fall.
The Straight Edge Superstar then hit a chop block and locked his opponent in a Figure Four, with Dustin struggling. The crowd began chanting, "This is Awesome." Dustin Rhodes next hits a Cross Rhodes followed by a Piledriver for another near fall.
CM Punk yet again attempts a GTS on The Natural but failed to execute it. However, the former WWE Champion quickly turned it into a deep pin for the win.
CM Punk defeated Dustin Rhodes on AEW Dynamite
Grade: A -
Dustin and Punk embraced each other after the match, paying their respects, with the crowd cheering for both. While Punk was walking back down the entrance ramp, AEW Champion Hangman Page came out as they shared a staredown, confirming their impending clash.
Backstage, Mark Sterling revealed to Wardlow that he would be accompanied by security everywhere in the arena and that he would be handcuffed.
Blackpool Combat Club vs. Brock Anderson, Lee Moriarty, Dante Martin on AEW Dynamite
Dante Martin and Wheeler Yuta began things in this match on AEW Dynamite. The American Dragon was soon tagged in, but Dante managed to outsmart and deceive him with his speed and agility. The BCC was in the driver's seat during the commercial break as they methodically wore down Anderson.
Back on the live broadcast, Brock Anderson fought back by taking down Jon Moxley with a Spinebuster. Lee Moriarty was next tagged in as he showcased his technical proficiency in an exchange with Bryan Danielson. Moxley locked in the Bulldog Choke on Dante Martin after unleashing a series of forearm shots. He then ended things by hitting a Paradigm Shift.
Blackpool Combat Club defeated Brock Anderson, Lee Moriarty, and Dante Martin on AEW Dynamite.
Grade: C
Backstage, Kyle O'Reilly called out The Young Bucks for losing their edge. Adam Cole confessed that though they all lost recently, he, The Young Bucks, and reDRagon cannot be defeated as a team. Cole then revealed that they intend to compete in a 10-man tag team match next week, urging Matt and Nick to give it some thought.
Tony Khan introduced the NJPW President, but Adam Cole quickly appeared on the Titantron, saying he was going to make the announcement. The former NXT Champion revealed that NJPW and AEW will have a supershow on June 26th, from Chicago, Illinois. He also disclosed that he would compete against Tomohiro Ishii on the upcoming episode of AEW Rampage.
Jay White then walked out in front of Tony Khan, teasing an alliance between Bullet Club and The Undisputed Era.
Backstage, TBS Champion Jade Cargill hyped her upcoming match with Marina Shafir on the forthcoming episode of AEW Rampage.
Wardlow vs. The Butcher on AEW Dynamite
As revealed by MJF before, Wardlow came out without any music on AEW Dynamite, handcuffed, but the crowd's reaction more than made up for it.
Mr. Mayhem and The Butcher exchanged brutal punches, after which the latter bit the former Pinnacle member. The action spilled to the outside, where The Butcher continued to batter Wardlow. Back in the ring, The Butcher continued to target his opponent's already weakened back.
However, Wardlow quickly found his way back into the match, hitting as many as four massive powerbombs on The Butcher for the win.
Wardlow defeated The Butcher
Grade: B -
Backstage, Eddie Kingston hyped his match against Daniel Garcia on this week's AEW Rampage, revealing that neither JAS nor Proud & Powerful would be at ringside.
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Jungle Boy on AEW Dynamite
The Owen Hart Tournament qualifying match began with Jungle Boy and Kyle O'Reilly sharing some fun reversals. The AEW Tag Team Champion unleashed a series of chops and forearm shots on the reDRagon member.
The former NXT Tag Team Champion then hit several Butterfly Suplexes on Jungle Boy to turn the tide in his favor in this match on AEW Dynamite. After a commercial break, Jungle Boy took down his opponent with multiple elbow shots and followed it by hitting a Suicida on the outside.
Back in the ring, Jungle Boy hit a DDT on O'Reilly. The Undisputed Elite member then retaliated by executing an Exploder. The two performers went to the top rope, where Jungle Boy began hammering KOR with kicks and punches.
KOR then locked in Jungle Boy in an ankle lock, but the latter countered it into a Snare Trap, but the former NXT star managed to reach the ropes. Kyle O'Reilly then went to the top rope, from where he dropped a knee on Jungle Boy's already weakened back to pin the AEW Tag Team Champion and qualify in the Owen Hart Tournament.
Kyle O'Reilly defeated Jungle Boy
Grade: B+
Backstage, MJF revealed that he struck a deal with Jake Roberts and Lance Archer, with The Murderhawk Monster vowing to take down Wardlow.
Hook vs. Anthony Henry on AEW Dynamite
Hook executed an overhead suplex on Henry, followed by a lariat to the neck. Danhausen appeared at ringside, but his curse again fell flat as Hook locked in the Redrum for the win.
Hook defeated Anthony Henry on AEW Dynamite
Grade: C
Post-match, Danhausen challenged Hook to a match, but the latter walked away without uttering a word.
Backstage, Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian had a chat. The former promised to win the TNT Championship back from Sammy Guevara and then put it on the line against his former SCU stablemate.
Fans rained down boos on newly-crowned TNT Champion Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti inside the ring. However, they were soon interrupted by Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page, and Dan Lambert. Lambert demanded a rematch between Sky and Guevara.
The TNT Champion accepted the match but asked for a mixed tag-team match pitting him and Conti against either Page or Sky and Paige VanZant.
Danielle Kamela vs. Britt Baker on AEW Dynamite
Britt Baker attempted a few quick pinfalls on Kamela soon after their match began on AEW Dynamite. However, Kamela soon found an opening in the bout after hitting a running knee on the former AEW Women's Champion and then methodically wore down her opponent throughout the commercial break.
Back on the show, a fired-up Baker hit a series of punches on Kamela, after which she executed a Sling Blade. The Doctor then followed it by hitting a Neck Breaker and the Stomp. Britt Baker wore a Steelers glove and applied the Lockjaw, with Kamela quickly tapping out.
Britt Baker defeated Danielle Kamela
Grade: B -
Post-match, The Doctor called out the entire AEW women's division, saying it was as good as dead in her absence in the last few weeks. She namedropped Ruby Soho, Jade Cargill, Red Velvet, and Toni Storm, throwing shade at them.
Serena Deeb challenged Hikaru Shida to a Philly Street Fight on next week's AEW Dynamite in a video package, with the latter quickly accepting it.
Andrade El Idolo vs. Darby Allin in a Coffin Match on AEW Dynamite
Allin used the skateboard to attack Andrade El Idolo, but Marq Quen and The Blade quickly interfered, unleashing a three-on-one attack. Sting quickly showed up among the crowd, delivering an insane splash to even the odds.
Back in the ring, Andrade set up a chair between two turnbuckles. The former NXT Champion then exchanged a series of elbow shots with Allin, after which he sent the former TNT Champion crashing into the chair. Moments later, Darby Allin recovered and hit a Canadian Destroyer.
He attempted a Coffin Drop on the outside, but Andrade countered it into a suplex. Next, Andrade El Idolo placed Allin in the Coffin but failed to shut it. A few moments later, Darby Allin hit a Top Rope Suicida, sending Andrade El Idolo crashing into the Coffin.
However, when he was about to close the lid, Andrade's assistant Jose appeared, but Allin quickly took care of him. Following this, Darby Allin finally closed the lid of the coffin to secure the win in the main event of AEW Dynamite.
Darby Allin defeated Andrade El Idolo on AEW Dynamite
Grade: B
Post-match, The Hardys appeared as they signaled their support to Darby Allin and Sting, who were standing in the ring.
This week's AEW Dynamite was another great episode, featuring many memorable matches, including CM Punk vs. Dustin Rhodes and Jungle Boy vs. Kyle O'Reilly. The main event between Darby Allin and Andrade El Idolo was also a fun match.
Episode Rating: B +
