AEW Dynamite live results: Kenny Omega returns

Kenny Omega makes his AEW return on tonight's Dynamite in Winnipeg.

Sidelined since late last year due to diverticulitis, Omega is not expected to return to the ring any time soon, but will likely be involved in an angle on tonight's episode in his hometown.

Also set for the show, AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland's opponent for this month's Double or Nothing pay-per-view will also be revealed tonight.

New FTW Champion Chris Jericho is set for his first title defense on tonight's episode against Katsuyori Shibata.

Adam Copeland will defend his TNT Championship on tonight's program against a member of The House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews, or Brody King).

In the women's division, top contenders Serena Deeb and Mariah May will go one-on-one in a match with possible Double or Nothing implications, as Women's World Champion Toni Storm does not currently have an opponent for the pay-per-view.

Tonight's show will be immediately followed by a live edition of Rampage on TBS.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Tony Khan in Jacksonville live via satellite and apologizes for not being in Winnipeg live due to not being cleared by doctors. The feed cuts out and goes to Matthew & Nicholas Jackson in the production truck apologizing for losing connection in Jacksonville. They said they weren’t fired last week due to iron clad contracts, as they aren’t going anywhere, neither are their colleagues. If Tony Khan is unreachable, then the EVPs are able to run the show, so they throw it to the new Dynamite intro, which is dominated by Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry clips. Excalibur welcomes us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz as we go to the entrance of the AEW World Champion to kick off the show.

Swerve Strickland’s Double or Nothing Opponent Revealed

Strickland came to the ring with Prince Nana dancing by his side, as he tells the crowd he’s wrestled on three shows in one week, which shows he’s a champion fans deserve. What AEW doesn’t deserve is selfish, greedy, childish, power-hungry EVPs who think they can throw their weight around without any consequence and calls what The Elite did last week to Tony Khan a bitch move, which will be handled eventually. Strickland said tonight is about learning who his opponent is for Double or Nothing and said whomever it is, wipe your feet before entering Swerve’s House. The Young Bucks interrupt from the big screen and said success has gotten to Strickland’s head and bad mouth the EVPs, even using curse words, which is a fine. The Bucks said his opponent is one of Canada’s finest, a former World champion and says to hit the music.

Everyone expected Kenny Omega, but it was Christian Cage and the Patriarchy, who came to the ring, as Excalibur said his mind went to one place, but we were all swerved in a sense. Tony Schiavone said if anyone deserves a World Title shot, it’s Christian Cage.

Cage had a microphone and faked like he was going to talk, but instead popped Strickland in the face with it. Strickland battled back, but the numbers were too much as Nick Wayne & Killswitch attacked both Strickland and Nana. Cage hit the Killswitch on the AEW Title on Strickland, while Nana was dropped with Wayne’s World. Cage took the mic and said there’s something Strickland should know, he never forgets. Cage brought up Strickland breaking into Wayne’s gym last year and busting him open. Also hasn’t forgotten about teaming with Strickland at All In London and they lost, resulting in Strickland embarrassing Cage. Instead of apologizing, Strickland went and won the World Title, so it’s time to pay for those mistakes. Cage brought up Strickland’s daughter and said when he’s done with him, she’s not going to want to know Strickland, but can have a father who she truly can be proud of. Cage said the pain has just begun, as Killswitch ripped hair from Strickland and presented it to Nick Wayne. The World Title match for Double or Nothing has been made official.

-A video package highlighting the feud between Adam Copeland & House of Black is shown.

Adam Copeland defeated Buddy Matthews to retain the TNT Title

(I thought this would be the standard brief action, commercial and return for a few minutes until the finish kind of match. Thankfully that wasn’t the case, as these two had quite the battle. The post-match was great, as Malakai Black wanting Copeland to tap into the dark side made sense due to Black misting Copeland at Dynasty. Will he be successful in doing so remains to be seen.)

After Copeland’s entrance, Malakai Black’s voice was heard over the arena and said why fight him now, when destroying his mind is so much more rewarding. Matthews made his entrance and traded shoulder blocks, headlock take downs and quick pin attempts before an early stalemate. Matthews floated over a back drop, hit a hurricanrana, as both men cut off dive attempts, until Copeland managed to connect on his first, which took things to commercial.

When things returned, Matthews spiked Copeland with a draping DDT through the ropes back in the ring. Matthews kept Copeland grounded before a flap jack connected for Copeland, allowing the reset. Both climbed the ropes, as Matthews wanted a superplex outside but both hit heavy shots at the same time and we got double bumps onto the apron to the floor. They tease a double countout with both just beating the count, as a slugfest ensued on their knees, as Matthews blocked an Impaler, but both got some speed and collided with a hard double cross body. Referee Aubrey called over the doctor, as Matthews is spitting up blood and we go to another commercial break. The doctor left and the match resumed, as Copeland took control, zoning in on the ribs, with Aubrey constantly checking Matthews.

Back from break, Copeland connected on ten corner punches, but Matthews managed to answer with a Liger Bomb for two. Both men fought up the ropes in the corner and traded superplex attempts before Copeland connected on an Avalanche Impaler for a near fall. Matthews cut off a Spear attempt with a series of knee strikes into a Jackhammer for two. Matthews quickly transitioned into a Crossface, but Copeland escaped into an Angle Slam. Justin Roberts announced 20 minutes has gone by, as Copeland missed another Spear attempt, and ate a Go To Sleep instead. Matthews missed a Curb Stomp, allowing Copeland to connect with the Spear for the win.

Post match, Copeland attacked Matthews and grabbed two chairs ringside. After a chair shot to the back, Copeland was about to deliver a Con-Chair-To, but the lights went out as Copeland was contemplating. When they came on, Malakai Black was in the ring and told Copeland to do it. Matthews recovered enough to ask for the chair shot as well. Copeland went to swing at Black, but the lights went out and when they returned, Black & Matthews were gone.

**********

Samoa Joe defeated Isiah Kassidy

(Quick, but fun squash, as the Joe walk off side step of the Kassidy dive will be gif worthy for sure.)

Joe conducted the crowd in “Joe’s Gonna Kill You” chants, as Kassidy grabbed Joe’s towel and mocked him with a dance. All that did was result in Joe connecting on a pop-up flap jack, causing Kassidy to scream. Joe lit up Kassidy in the corner with shots, as Kassidy used his speed to catch Joe with a springboard stunner on the ropes. Kassidy went for a somersault dive, but Joe did his walk off and Kassidy went splat. Back in the ring, Kassidy managed a pop up dropkick, but tried a monkey flip and Joe didn’t budge. Joe instead spun Kassidy around and connected on a Muscle Buster for the win.

-Video package from Skye Blue challenging Willow Nightingale for the TBS Title on Rampage is shown.

**********

Orange Cassidy made his way to the ring and said he hates this; he thought Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta fighting last Saturday would’ve gotten it all out of their systems and they’d be Best Friends again. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen, as Cassidy was informed his best friend Chuck Taylor will never wrestle again due to Beretta’s post-fight attack with a pipe on Taylor’s ankle. Cassidy was cut off by Beretta on stage and said what a surprise, Cassidy makes everything about himself. Cassidy sprinted up the ramp, but was held back by security and Kris Statlander. Beretta yelled that Cassidy is too selfish, as Don Callis walked out and whispered something to Cassidy and walked off with him. Statlander left as well, as Beretta mockingly gave a thumbs up to the crowd.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Young Bucks, who said she’s killing it and ask how the family and Jon were doing. Nicholas said they’ve had too much TV time tonight, so they’ll give some to their friend, Scapegoat Jack Perry, who walked in. Perry said last week he did what’s best for AEW, as Tony Khan made him the Scapegoat. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make, as sacrifices should be made by everyone, as we’re now in a new era, the Era of The Elite.

Chris Jericho defeated Katsuyori Shibata to retain the FTW Title

(The match itself had a good mix of comedy and hard-hitting action, as you could see with how beat red Jericho’s chest was. After asking Jericho to watch him on Rampage about 20 times throughout his squash, the finish here was pretty expected. Bill has all but begged Jericho to teach him under The Learning Tree.)

Jericho’s father, Ted Irvine, is sitting ringside, as Jericho waved to the crowd like he was a man of the people. Taz is fired up on commentary about how Jericho has desecrated the FTW Title, as Excalibur informed us this is Shibata’s first ever No Disqualification Match. Both men trade chops to start, as Jericho hit an early Lionsault, but his knees landed as a low blow on Shibata. Jericho grabbed a trash can lid and smacked Shibata in the head, which was tough to watch, then pulled a bag from under the ring. They were Winnipeg Jets hockey pucks, but took too long, as Shibata delivered an STO onto them, followed by a snap suplex. Another chop battle ensued, with Shibata pretty much no selling, as his chops echo loudly on Jericho, as things went to break.

It was literally all chops during break, but when things returned, Jericho chucked a puck at Shibata, shot a double leg and applied the Walls of Jericho. Shibata escaped into a Figure Four, but Jericho grabbed another puck and threw it right at the mouth. Taz gets the teed-up joke of saying “What the Puck?” and Excalibur said he only gets one of those. Jericho placed a trash can on the head of Shibata and smacked it with a kendo stick, but Shibata rose to his feet and stalked Jericho down while wearing the trash can, ultimately smashing Jericho in the head. While trapping Jericho in the corner, Shibata connected on his running dropkick for two.

Shibata tossed a kendo stick to Jericho and sat down, wanting a duel. Jericho obliged, but Shibata’s first shot was right across the face. After a back and forth, Shibata hit a kendo stick assisted back suplex onto the pucks before setting a table up in the corner. Shibata charged, but ate a Code Breaker for two. Shibata dodged a Judas Effect into a Rear Naked Choke into a ripcord chop. Shibata positioned the table, but Big Bill ran in and chokeslammed Shibata through it. Bill bailed, as Jericho made the cover and won it.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway as Statlander apologizes for last week in trying to defuse the situation. Paquette brings up Skye Blue, as Nightingale said she’s in a fighting mood and for Mone not to think she forgot about her. Nightingale will maim Blue tonight in Manitoba Massacre, as Hathaway said he can’t complain about Blue’s comments about him, since Tony Khan was taken out by The Young Bucks. Paquette was handed a cell phone and read a message from The Young Bucks saying Statlander & Hathaway were banned from ringside tonight on Rampage. If they interfere, Nightingale will lose her TBS Title.

**********

Claudio Castagnoli defeated Brian Cage

(Action packed match this was, as the crowd were into it from the start. Lots of back and forth here with each man showing off not only their power, but their agility as well. Good bounce back win for Castagnoli following his loss on Collision last week.)

Prince Nana was not out with Cage due to the attack earlier tonight from The Embassy. Both men charged right at the bell and duked it out with lariats, neither falling. Both men traded suplexes, as the other would pop right up, with Cage connecting with a hurricanrana. Cage tried a leap frog, but Castagnoli caught him in mid air into a tilt a whirl back breaker. A stalling bodyslam and double stomp led to Castagnoli trying for corner punches, but Cage sent him to the apron, allowing for his suplex from the outside in.

Back from break, Cage connected on the Tiger Feint Kick and discus lariat for two. Castagnoli floated over a Drill Claw attempt into a springboard spinning uppercut into the reset. More uppercuts in bunches by Castagnoli, as both traded big boots until a thrust kick from Castagnoli led to a Tiger Feint Kick and discus lariat of his own. Cage responded with a Waterwheel Drop, but Castagnoli answered with a pop-up uppercut for two. The Giant Swing was delivered into the Sharpshooter, as Cage tapped.

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Rocky Romero and asks who he sides with in the Best Friends saga? Romero said neither, as no one wins in this scenario, as he told them all that from this moment on, Romero does his own thing going forward. Romero wants to be the best in AEW and the only way to do it, is by himself, so he wants to start by challenging Kyle O’Reilly on Rampage as a way to earning a title shot.

Serena Deeb defeated Mariah May (w/Timeless Toni Storm & Luther)

(These two ladies had quite the hard-hitting main event, as the consequences of Toni Storm’s actions led to the result and ultimately who she’ll be facing at Double or Nothing. This could also play into the long-term story between May & Storm as well.)

After trading wrist control early, Deeb switched to the leg, wrapped May up in a Paradise Lock and dropkicked her. Quick series of takedowns by Deeb, who again folded May up like a pretzel, but let go, allowing May to fire off some strikes in the corner. Headstand head scissors and shotgun dropkick sent Deeb reeling as things went to commercial.

May controlled the entire break, but Deeb was just starting her comeback when things returned. A neckbreaker through the ropes delivered by Deeb, as May dodged a ripcord back elbow, but not a spinning neckbreaker. After a series of counters, Deeb delivered a snap German suplex and hammerlock lariat for two. May avoided a Figure Four, went up top and hit a picture perfect shotgun dropkick. May delivered Sweet Cheek Music, but Deeb kicked out. A charging knee connected, as May went for May Day, but Deeb instead sank in a crucifix and traded pin attempts. Deeb dizzied May into a rolling back slide, but May kicked out into a slam. May tried the headstand head scissors again, but Deeb had it scouted into a half crab. Deeb cranked away at it, but Toni Storm threw in the towel for the ref stoppage. Right as the match ended, the graphic showed Deeb will be facing Storm at Double or Nothing.

-Renee Paquette is backstage and congratulates Adam Copeland on his win tonight an asked if he’s ok? Copeland pondered his answer, but simply said, yeah. Kyle O’Reilly walked in and said if Copeland ever wants helps against the House of Black, he’ll have his back. Copeland was going to thank him when he saw O’Reilly looking at the TNT Title and told him eyes up here, but ultimately thanks him and wishes him luck against Rocky Romero tonight.

Kenny Omega Returns

Justin Roberts gives quite the introduction to Omega, who gets a massive hometown pop from the crowd. Omega takes the mic and said he’s never been good at talking about injuries, but a few months back he was diagnosed with diverticulitis and after spending ten days in the hospital, he was informed he was 24 hours away from dying. The doctors told him they need to get this handled, because if not, it’s a ticking time bomb, as any blunt force trauma could kill him. Since that day, Omega said he had to stop watching because he was scared for the first time in his career and it made him feel like a coward. Maybe this whole thing was to come out and say to the fans he had to retire. Omega said he turned on AEW for the first time a few weeks ago and watched Dynasty and brought up Swerve Strickland making history and Bryan Danielson & Will Ospreay having one of the greatest matches of all time.

Omega started shaking again and wondered if it was due to being scared, but that’s life, the reason he was shaking was due to withdrawal. Being the best is what fuels him and he hates it that he’s been forgotten as the best wrestler in the world. Omega made a promise to himself and the fans saying this isn’t over until he exhausts all options, even if it’s a 1% chance, even with a colostomy bag. On the topic of colostomy bags, he brings up two sh*t bags in Matthew & Nicholas Jackson. What they forget as EVP is there’s one other EVP, as he may be fired from The Elite, but they can’t fire him as an EVP. Until someone says otherwise, part of this company belongs to the Best Bout Machine.

The coin drops and Kazuchika Okada walks to the ring and comes face to face with Omega to Holy Sh*t chants. Omega said it’s funny and brought up their rivalry in New Japan and said give him a few months and they’ll settle it in and AEW ring. Okada said he’s sorry, but he’s the Best Bout Machine now as Jack Perry flies in and attacks Omega from behind. Okada throws a chair in the ring, as Perry takes it and wipes out security, allowing Omega to fight back with strikes and Snap Dragon, but Omega clutches his midsection. Omega signaled for a V-Trigger, but was tripped by Okada, as Perry gets a chair shot to the ribs. The Young Bucks run out from the back and tell Okada & Perry to relax before grabbing Omega’s hands and delivering an EVP Trigger. Okada was about to deliver a Rainmaker when FTR sprint out from the back and The Elite bail to end Dynamite.

AEW Rampage 5/1/24

Switchblade Jay White vs. Dante Martin

Konosuke Takeshita vs. London Lightning

Rocky Romero vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue for the TBS Title in Manitoba Massacre

AEW Dynamite 5/8/24

Adam Copeland defends the TNT Title against Brody King

Orange Cassidy takes on Trent Beretta