With a big night on Sunday ahead of us for AEW’s first PPV event of 2022, we’re going to be doing things differently here with the RingCrashers AEW Dynamite recap. The rundown of this week’s Dynamite will be condensed, as we’re tagging in the rest of Team RingCrashers to give a rundown of the matches we’ll be seeing Sunday in Orlando, Florida.
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AEW Dynamite 3/2/22 Recap & Results
- Tony Khan opened the show with his big announcement, stating that he has made a deal to buy Ring of Honor.
- Bryan Danielson def. Christopher Daniels via referee stoppage (11:17) with the triangle choke in a rematch of the main event from ROH’s first show in 2002.
- After the match, Danielson cut a promo about his match with Jon Moxley at Revolution, leading to Mox interrupting and promising that he will write the first chapter of his story in Sunday — and he’ll write it in blood. Mox then challenged Danielson to take the first shot, but the American Dragon instead chose to back off.
- The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) won the Casino Tag Royale (27:00) by eliminating Darius Martin of Top Flight last to earn a spot in the three way AEW Tag Title match at Revolution. After the match, the Bucks and reDRagon appeared to have formed temporary peace, as Jurassic Express looked on from the stage.
- Chris Jericho talked about his match with Eddie Kingston on Sunday, stating that if Kingston can look deep down inside to beat “The Influencer”, he’ll have earned his respect. Santana and Ortiz appeared to give Jericho a fist bump, apparently being okay with him now.
- CM Punk discussed the remarks made by MJF on last week’s Dynamite, stating that he doesn’t think Max was lying about his story, but he doubted his sincerity about it. Calling out MJF to face him, Punk said that he was trying his best to be the good guy before giving him an embrace, which was reciprocated. However, MJF kicked Punk in the groin and brutally attacked him with the help of The Pinnacle. Max bloodied Punk with the Dynamite Diamond Ring and hung him up with a dog chain, then quoting Punk’s ROH heel turn promo to mock him.
- Thunder Rosa & Mercedes Martinez def. Dr. Britt Baker DMD & Jamie Hayter via pinfall (8:31) after Rosa pinned Britt with the Fire-Thunder Driver days before her AEW Women’s Title match at Revolution.
- Wardlow def. Cesar Bononi via pinfall (0:48) after the Powerbomb Symphony. Post-match, Shawn Spears tried to hit Bononi with a chair, but was stopped by Wardlow, who seemed tired with his “Accountabilibuddy” and his antics.
- A tense backstage confrontation between Wardlow and Shawn Spears was interrupted by MJF, who made the mistake of mocking Wardlow’s chances of winning the Face of the Revolution ladder match, which led to the big man mentioning that Max couldn’t win without him. As MJF told Wardlow to remember who he worked for before leaving, the big man seemed to have look of scorn towards his boss.
- Adam Cole & reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) def. “Hangman” Adam Page, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds via pinfall (12:42) after Cole pinned Reynolds following his running Boom knee.
- Post-match, the “Undisputed Originals” (per AEW’s YouTube Page) beat down Hangman as they duct taped him against the ropes. Cole mocked Page with the AEW Title to end the show.
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Tony Khan Buys Ring of Honor
Before we dive into our preview of Revolution, we have to talk about the big announcement that opened Dynamite. That announcement, of course, being AEW CEO Tony Khan buying out Ring of Honor in its entirety from previous owners Sinclair Broadcast Group. This acquisition includes all intellectual property associated with ROH and its vast tape library, which features many indie wrestling standouts throughout ROH’s rich 20-year history – some of whom are a part of AEW today.
There has been speculation that the addition of the ROH video library is a prelude to AEW expanding into a streaming service not unlike the WWE Network. Perhaps, a tie-in with HBO Max? There’s also the possibility the Ring of Honor brand is reconstituted as a development territory for AEW, which would have an impact on YouTube-exclusive programs DARK and DARK Elevationi.
Further details about Khan’s purchase of Ring of Honor will come soon, but as they say, stay tuned, because wrestling’s getting more interesting by the minute.
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Revolution 2022
Marc Quill
Andrade El Idolo, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy vs Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin
If the plan is bringing in Jeff Hardy to AEW, then it’s a safe bet that the A.H.F.O. trio lose this match to the face team. Expect more pressure for Andrade to wrest control of A.H.F.O. away from Matt if he takes the pin, thus setting up the Hardy Boyz reunion.
Chris Jericho vs Eddie Kingston
The key storyline heading into this match has been Jericho poking the bear, so to speak, by egging Kingston about his inability to win “the big ones”, especially made evident by Kingston’s winless record on PPVs. I think we’ll see Kingston break that losing skid by decisively beating Jericho at Revolution, which should set a new course for him in terms of a big 2022 ahead.
As for Jericho? He’s at a position where a loss will certainly not hurt his credibility at all, so giving Kingston the rub here is the right call.
Bryan Danielson vs Jon Moxley
So much has been made about bloodshed being a key component in this match (with Mox stating that he doesn’t stand with anyone until he bleeds with them first), so it’d be a disappointment if there’s nobody bleeding in this match. That said, look for a hard-hitting war that Mox prevails in, though not without getting busted open in the process. Alas, I do not see this Mox/Danielson alliance forming at all, but I still do think we get a Danielson stable forming real soon.
CM Punk vs MJF – Dog Collar Match
Since MJF scored an ill-gotten victory over CM Punk in Chicago, this feud has taken a turn for the better – even moreso after Max’s incredible promo on last week’s Dynamite. Gone was the cheap heat-spewing, low-hanging fruit-obsessed MJF and in his place stood a tragic villain, driven to a dark place by feelings of abandonment after Punk left wrestling in 2014. This is a match that’s guaranteed to be buoyed by emotions running high between Punk and MJF, as their feud has gone beyond a bitter rivalry of “who’s better”?
Expect Punk to get the win here, and how MJF reacts to his impending defeat will be most interesting to see.
Keith Lee vs Wardlow vs Powerhouse Hobbs vs Rick Starks vs Orange Cassidy vs TBD – Face of the Revolution Ladder match for a future TNT Championship match
This is Wardlow’s match to win. The clear story is that he wins this ladder match to go on to face the TNT Champion, with the new tension being whether or not he abides by MJF’s order to give him the TNT Title once the big man wins it.
Jade Cargill (c) vs Tay Conti – TBS Championship match
Will probably end with another Jade Cargill win, but look for Tay to give her a bit of a fight.
Jurassic Express (c) vs reDRagon vs The Young Bucks (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
The tensions between reDRagon and the Bucks will be at the forefront here, most certainly, which leaves the unfortunate side-effect of our AEW Tag Champions being largely overshadowed by the Elite melodrama.
Of course, this match should still be great, as almost all of AEW’s tag matches tend to be. The three teams featured in this match are six of the top stars in the AEW Tag Division, and I have no doubt that this match will be Match of the Night material.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD (c) vs Thunder Rosa (AEW Women’s World Championship)
“Reverse Momentum” booking logic dictates that Dr. Britt retains her belt here due to Rosa getting the pin on her during a tag match on the go-home Dynamite this past Wednesday, but I think AEW bucks that trend and gives Rosa the big moment of victory she’s truly deserved for so long.
Hangman Adam Page (c) vs Adam Cole (AEW World Championship)
The so-called “Battle of the Adams” pits champion “Hangman” Page against Adam Cole, a man who seems poised to seize control of The Elite for himself. While Cole has eyes set on the AEW Title to continue this takeover, Hangman is out to prove to everyone that he is not the “The Other Adam” as he continues his quest to be the best AEW Champion in history.
It’s rather too early for Hangman to drop the AEW Title, so expect him to beat the other Adam to keep this reign going. The win will certainly have an effect on Cole’s psyche and will certainly intensify the ongoing Elite melodrama that’s played out in recent weeks.
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Barrett Tribe
Andrade El Idolo, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy vs Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin
Andrade needs a win BIG TIME. I see him pinning Sting after some light hijinks by Private PaHardy.
Chris Jericho vs Eddie Kingston
Jericho wins the match but Kingston wins the war. I have said it before: Kingston wins by losing. He’s AEW’s answer to the original ECW’s Tommy Dreamer.
Bryan Danielson vs Jon Moxley
Moxley wins but joins forces with Danielson regardless. OR. Moxley wins but gets jumped by Garcia, Yuta and Moriarty; Danielson’s hand picked students, leaving Mox to decide if he’s going to run through them one by one or make his own gang of truants and ne’er do wells.
CM Punk vs MJF (Dog Collar Match)
Hmm. I’m gonna go with… CM Punk on this one though it could really go either way and neither man would come out looking worse. It’s going to be a bloody affair to be certain.
Keith Lee vs Wardlow vs Powerhouse Hobbs vs Rick Starks vs Orange Cassidy vs TBD – Face of the Revolution Ladder match for a future TNT Championship match
Jade Cargill (c) vs Tay Conti – TBS Championship match
Jade Cargill. No need for additional comments. She’s going to win.
Jurassic Express (c) vs reDRagon vs The Young Bucks (AEW World Tag Team Championships)
The only team I see beating JE is Kings of the Black Throne, so unless they are the TBD team, JE wins this one in what I expect to be a banger.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD (c) vs Thunder Rosa (AEW Women’s World Championship)
It’s time for a change! Thunder Rosa will pull this out and bring in a new era for the Women’s Championship.
“Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs Adam Cole (AEW World Championship)
Page’ll get a win. He’s not losing this title until he beats a semi-reformed Kenny Omega.
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Justen Jess
Andrade ElIdolo, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy vs Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin
I truly do not see Sting losing on a PPV, and this feels like it’s the breaking point (for once, excuse the pun) for Matt Hardy. Andrade’s character does Big Money Matt better than Matt does, and a loss here for them can set Matt out for his journey for one last ride with his brother. Though, seriously, why wasn’t this a triple threat for the TNT Championship?
Chris Jericho vs Eddie Kingston
Last week, I went through every match in AEW pay-per-view history. I made an excel sheet of the win-loss record of every person who has had multiple matches in PPVs. Eddie Kingston is 0-4 on pay-per-views, the most losses for any competitor without a win. Since entering AEW, Eddie Kingston is also 0-6 in title matches. Eddie Kingston endeared us by losing. But at some point, what do you get from Eddie losing every long-term feud he is in? Is he just the Fuego Del Sol to the stars?
I believe in Eddie Kingston, and that he’s going to win against Jericho at Revolution. As a company, AEW doesn’t need Jericho to win. They don’t need him to cement a heel turn, or to have him dissolve the Inner Circle. But after nearly two years of clawing through AEW? Getting Eddie Kingston a win here would be momentous.
Bryan Danielson vs Jon Moxley
I think Moxley is going to win, and accept Danielson’s marriage proposal alliance. I look forward to the shade of red that these two men will be in by the end of the match.
CM Punk vs MJF (Dog Collar match)
Well, uh, if you’d asked me this two weeks ago, I would have said CM Punk and not thought for a second further. After MJF’s fantastic promo on 2/23’s Dynamite? I am sure this could go either way. It’s funny. I’ve been so on and off with this feud since it started in November that I’ve either loved or hated it three times each, but now I’m maybe more invested in it than I’ve ever been. Oh, I should probably make a prediction? MJF wins. Clean. Is that the hottest take I can drop?
Keith Lee vs Wardlow vs Powerhouse Hobbs vs Rick Starks vs Orange Cassidy vs TBD – Face of the Revolution Ladder match for a future TNT Championship match: Wardlow wins. We’ve had this on the stove for too long. Wardlow wins, gets the TNT championship off Sammy, and that sparks his rivalry with MJF and separation (and face turn? A gay can hope).
Jade Cargill (c) vs Tay Conti (TBS Championship)
I think Jade is going over here, as they’re not giving Jade’s first loss to someone with such little buildup.
Jurassic Express (c) vs reDRagon vs The Young Bucks (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
Remind me to finish this once we know the third tag team, buuuut…(Justen watched Dynamite, and chose not to rewrite any of this)
It’s the Young Bucks, right? It has to be. And I think Jurassic Express will win but it’s going to be overshadowed by ReDragon and the Bucks. Which, well, I’m not too impressed with Express’s title run this far (Is it because I think Jungle Boy has surpassed the Tag Team experience and is a better singles wrestler? Yes.)
Dr. Britt Baker DMD (c) vs Thunder Rosa – AEW Women’s World Championship match: I wish this had gotten a big stipulation to make this feel like more of a crowning for Rosa, because I think she’s going to be champ here. That being said, I expect that the narrative of the match will be Baker getting overmatched now that her cronies can’t interfere, with Mercedes Martinez lending a hand.
“Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs Adam Cole (AEW World Championship)
The Battle of the Adams is going to be fun. I think Adam Page retains in a solid defense. On a little side note, but I hope that this match isn’t as bloody as some of his past defenses have been. I don’t mind blood in my match but it’s felt a little excessive.
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MK Fell
Andrade El Idolo, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy vs Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin
Darby pins Andrade to prove Sting isn’t the one calling the shots. I do find myself wondering why Isiah and Sammy were added to this match, since no one seems to know; I’m sure we’ll find out. (Also, please say this is the end of Big Money Matt Hardy.)
Chris Jericho vs Eddie Kingston
If Eddie Kingston doesn’t win this match, we riot. We have reached exhaustion with his continued losses; another one will not make an upcoming victory sweeter. I said this on Twitter last Wednesday, but Jericho can afford a loss since the crowd will still sing Judas when he comes out.
Bryan Danielson vs Jon Moxley
Legitimately I don’t think it matters who wins (though I sure hope Danielson doesn’t only fight time limit draws) as long as blood is drawn. The possibilities of a Danielson-Moxley stable are endless. The victor of this match doesn’t matter nearly as much.
CM Punk vs MJF (Dog Collar Match)
If you had asked me two months ago, or even two WEEKS ago, who wins this match, I would have told you I didn’t care anymore. MJF’s cheap heat promos had soured me on the whole feud, as well as a forty-five minute match that ended twice over. I love a dog collar match, but I was about to write this one off as a good gimmick match where I didn’t care about the story. HOWEVER. MJF’s promo on the February 23rd Dynamite turned my whole mind around. I don’t care if I was worked, that was the villain origin story I needed in order to make me question my prediction. Here’s my thought: If Punk wins, he tries (again) to extend the olive branch to MJF and almost certainly gets rejected. Again. If MJF wins— and I genuinely think he could— it’s clean. Either way my prediction is it’s my match of the night.
Keith Lee vs Wardlow vs Powerhouse Hobbs vs Ricky Starks vs Orange Cassidy vs TBD Face of the Revolution Ladder match for a future TNT Championship match
It’s Wardlow. Come on. They’ve been teasing the plotline with him giving any belt he wins to MJF as well as his break from the Pinnacle. Wardlow deserves a big win in a match that TRULY showcases his talent. (Side prediction: Danhausen makes an appearance.)
Jade Cargill (c) vs Tay Conti (TBS Championship)
Though I’d love to see the TBS belt change hands, I don’t think it changes to Tay just yet. Jade retains to push for 30-0.
Jurassic Express (c) vs reDRagon vs The Young Bucks (AEW World Tag Team Championships)
My prediction just reads “Jurassic Express retains since reDRagon and the Bucks are fighting amongst themselves too much to pay attention.” The Bucks weren’t even confirmed when I wrote this… just felt like a foregone conclusion with how the Elite storyline has been going.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD (c) vs Thunder Rosa (AEW Women’s World Championship)
Rosa wins. I wish they’d gotten more of a buildup to their match to remind the viewers of why their feud last year was so electrifying, but Rosa is the thorn in Britt’s side she’s never been able to shake. Britt has been a stellar champion and I will be sad to see her go, but I’m excited for what will certainly be a barnburner of a match.
Hangman Adam Page (c) vs Adam Cole (AEW World Championship)
Hangman retains the title and gets to keep his name. This is going to be a banger of a match, though, and I’m hoping the card puts a breather match before this one so the crowd can give every spot by both wrestlers the pop they deserve.
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Fans can catch AEW Revolution live this Sunday on Pay-Per-View, Bleacher Report (in the United States), and on FITE TV (Worldwide).
