AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru: MJF vs. Darby Allin
AEW Dynamite Spring Breakthrough is live tonight at Angels of the Wind Arena in Everett, Washington.
Coming off the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view in Vancouver on Sunday, the promotion has scheduled three championship matches for tonight’s show.
Kevin Knight will defend his newly won TNT title against Claudio Castagnoli. Willow Nightingale will put the TBS title on the line against the newly returned Kamille. And MJF will defend the AEW World Championship for the second time in just a few days against Darby Allin.
Also, Chris Jericho will be interviewed by Renee Paquette. Jericho is coming off having dropped his return match at Dynasty to Ricochet.
The full lineup for the show:
- Kevin Knight vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the TNT Championship
- Kamille vs. Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship
- MJF vs. Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship
- Renee Paquette interviews Chris Jericho
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Renee Paquette outside the arena as a car pulls up and AEW Champion MJF steps out. MJF kept cutting Paquette off so he can run down the list of who he’s beaten in this current reign and how he kicked out of the ineffective One-Winged Angel. Paquette was about to tell him some info when Don Callis walks in to wish him the best of luck tonight, apologizing for the whole Andrade thing. MJF didn’t know Andrade lost at the PPV, saying he was too busy preparing for the main event of Dynasty. MJF said Callis owes him a favor and he still loves him, but tell Andrade he’s not championship material. Paquette screams at MJF that Darby Allin is challenging him tonight, right now actually. MJF yelled “what the f*ck?” and we go right to the ring for Allin’s entrance.
Excalibur is joined by Bryan Danielson & Tony Schiavone and they talk about Allin’s hometown crowd, as they’re chanting Allin’s name loudly. MJF stormed to the ring in his suit to tell the little emo freak he’s as stupid as he looks if he thinks MJF is wrestling in an impromptu title match. Perhaps the fans are too braindead to understand how much money MJF has, if he doesn’t want something to happen, it won’t happen. He’ll sue everyone, including the skank ref, Aubrey, the little pervert, Justin Roberts, even Tony Khan and anyone who chooses to live in the dumpster fire that is Washington. MJF’s back hurts from wrestling Kenny Omega almost an hour ago at Dynasty and wonders how the company would look like if they forced MJF to wrestle tonight. MJF said he’s doing Allin a favor, saying he’s good, not great, not championship material. With love and respect, Allin isn’t ready to be World…
Allin ripped the mic away and said all it takes is one night to drop the wrestling world on its head. If he’s not ready now, he’ll never be, as he’s killed himself for this company. He’s taped posters around the city for this show, he hung the AEW flag atop of Mount Rushmore for this company and in tears now said his career started 10 miles from here at the Buddy Wayne Academy. He took a deep breathe his first day of school saying he’ll either succeed or fail as Darby Allin, not changing a thing. Tonight, he’ll climb atop the top of this sport, so ring the bell.
MJF said they’re not ringing the bell, but Danielson stood up and said he just got a message from Tony Khan, saying he actually agrees with MJF, that it’s unfair to wrestle when he’s unprepared. That’s why Khan will give him plenty of time to prepare, as this will happen in the main event. Crowd does the Yes chants, as Danielson says if MJF refuses, he’ll be stripped of the title. Allin spun MJF around and screamed he’s beating MJF’s ass with a headlock takeover. Allin leapt out of the ring, slammed himself into the railings before going to the back.
-Tony Schiavone caught up with Kenny Omega after the main event of Dynasty, as Omega said he’s got nothing and apologizes. The camera goes into the trainers room where Will Ospreay is still being worked on, as Omega asks if he’s doing ok? Ospreay said no, but welcome to the club. Omega said this isn’t how he pictured it for either of them, as he feels like he let everyone down. Ospreay cut him off saying he was there when Omega lost to Okada in the Tokyo Dome in 2017 and saw him fight back and win the big one. Omega said he doesn’t have time left, but Ospreay does, it’s his time, he knows Ospreay can take it back. Ospreay said they’ve still got this. He’s been crying the last 40 minutes, but his dream is still being the AEW World Champion and hopes Omega hasn’t given up on it, either, he knows Omega can do it. Both of them agree to have one another’s backs. Ospreay leaves and Omega says to himself “I’m you’re hero, huh? Maybe I can’t give up, maybe there’s still a chance.”
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Dezmond Xavier
(While Xavier had his hope spots, this was quite a dominant showing for Ciampa and a good way to get him over as a potential threat for whoever the AEW World Champion is when the night is over.)
Ciampa rushed Xavier at the bell, attacking in the ring and briefly outside before heading back in, where Xavier used his speed to battle back momentarily before being decked with a running Ciampa knee off the apron. Xavier vaulted over the ring steps, as back inside, both trade strikes until Xavier popped off a snap dropkick, forcing Ciampa to take a powder. Crowd tried to start bald chants, Ciampa wasn’t having it and said he’s not Ricochet. Ciampa gained control back inside with a kitchen sink and kept Xavier grounded.
Xavier escaped a headlock, mounting a comeback with a springboard Tornado DDT before quickly going up top, rolling through a 450, eating a rolling elbow from Ciampa. Xavier reversed Project Ciampa into a hurricanrana pin for two, tripped up Ciampa to the outside where he was met with a low Tope. Back inside, sense of urgency, Frog Splash hits for a near fall. Thrust kick catches Ciampa, as Xavier tried another springing DDT, but Ciampa caught him with a pump knee in mid-air. Project Ciampa destroys Xavier, as Ciampa lowers the kneepad and took Xavier’s head off for the win.
Post-match, Ciampa took the mic saying this was an example, he’s sick of waiting, he wants it all of the gold. If he’s not making himself clear, Darby Allin, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, whoever wins, the Psycho Killer is coming for the AEW World Title. Ciampa punt kicks Xavier in the ribs for good measure before ripping up fans signs ringside.
Match Result: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Dezmond Xavier
-Video package for Darby Allin is shown and the hell he’s had to go through over his time in AEW to get to this moment tonight. We go back to the first meeting between MJF & Allin, with MJF winning via side headlock (and Dynamite Diamond Ring). We see Allin defeating Andrade and MJF defeating Omega at Dynasty. Also a post-match promo MJF cut with Renee Paquette saying he’s going to celebrate his win, going dark on socials (thus explains why MJF had no idea about tonight’s title match.)
FTR Talk Their Dynasty Victory
Dax Harwood said he’s heard the chatter online and it seems that FTR winning again has made everyone angry and he gets it. The fans love an underdog story because they feel like they can relate, but they aren’t underdogs, they’re losers. Speaking of losers, they gave Adam Copeland & Christian Cage a brush with relevancy and they couldn’t get the job done. As long as FTR are AEW Tag Team Champions, they’ll never get a shot at the titles again. Stokely said he’s been told the sickos know everything about everything, so clearly, they know the story of David vs. Goliath. FTR are Goliath, while there’s a lot of Milli Vanilli’s in the back like Brodido, Bang Bang Gang, Cope & Christian and every time David steps up to Goliath, they get bitched out. Stokely knows that Tony Khan will sign every chud to put them into the tag division, but they’ll all fall to the giants known as FTR.
Cash Wheeler said that was beautifully said and would like to pay homage to ridding us all from Copeland & Cage and calls for a moment of silence. For those of you with flash photography, they’re giving the fans a 10 second pose. Stokely lays out and FTR poses with the titles, flipping the fans off, saying Seattle has been great.
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Kevin Knight vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the TNT Title
(Just a damn good power vs. speed showdown, as this was an excellent first challenger for Knight to start his reign. It definitely sounds like in the post-match promo that we’re setting up possible competitors potentially for the Owen Hart Tournament, if that’s starting soon. Ciampa & Knight calling their shots would certainly indicate it will be.)
Renee Paquette is ringside and said Washington is the place Kevin Knight started his career (also at the Buddy Wayne Academy), so what better way to kick off his TNT Title reign, as he’s spent plenty of time studying for this match. Castagnoli made his entrance right behind her and was standing atop the guard rail looking down at her as she kept talking about the match looking up at him in what was a cool visual.
Castagnoli charged at the bell, but Knight was ready with multiple pin attempts and high dropkick, sending Castagnoli reeling outside with a clothesline. Quickly back in, Castagnoli flattened Knight before take off with a lariat and boots aplenty. Keeping Knight grounded, Castagnoli worked a neck crank, but Knight managed a hip toss outside and launched off the apron for a flying clothesline. However, back inside, Castagnoli gained control with his power advantage, continuing to work over Knight, as the crowd started “Let’s Go Jet” chants. Knight used his speed to thwart the power, got a few more pin attempts, before leaping over Castagnoli into a lariat and double down.
Knight ate a few uppercuts before finally able to bodyslam Castagnoli, something he was unsuccessful at the previous few attempts. Leaping standing splash got a near fall, as Castagnoli was dropkicked off the top to the outside, as Knight cleared the top rope for a huge dive. Back inside, Knight tried his standing jump hurricanrana from the corner, but Castagnoli caught him, powered him back up the ropes, wanting an Avalanche Neutralizer, only Knight fought off. It wasn’t timed perfect, but Castagnoli threw Knight off the top, leapt with him for a huge uppercut for two. Knight tried another springboard, but was plucked out of the air for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Giant Swing is dished out, as Castagnoli wanted a Sharpshooter, Knight fought it, dodged a catapult in the corner for a leaping lariat. Quickly up top, Knight hit the UFO Splash for the win.
Post-match, Knight put over Castagnoli as one of the hardest hitting guys he’s ever been in the ring with. The Jet is looking good as the new TNT Champion and brings up losing the Trios Titles the night before Dynasty and how Speedball Bailey is still beating himself up over the loss, but don’t let it get you down, you see how fast it can call change. Knight said he’ll be keeping a close eye on the main event, as Jet 2 Belts sounds Jet 2 Fly.
Match Result: Kevin Knight defeated Claudio Castagnoli to retain the TNT Title
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-Footage of Ricochet defeating Jericho at Dynasty was shown, ending with a Spirit Gun that could’ve ended it, but a Lionsault by Ricochet for good measure sealed the deal.
Renee Paquette Interviews Jericho
Jericho was met with a loud ovation from Washington, as Paquette asks how it feels to be back. Jericho said it was one of his favorite performances at Dynasty, even though he lost, which he says was because he was outnumbered 3 on 1, but gives credit where it’s due. The Demand’s music hits immediately and Ricochet tells the fans to sit down and shut up. Ricochet respects Jericho, especially after his valiant performance at Dynasty, but he didn’t listen, so the opportunity presented itself for Ricochet to take Jericho out with his own move, which is now The Ricosault. Despite that, Jericho didn’t embarrass himself, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the Rise of Ricochet, so do yourself a favor, quit while you’re ahead. However, Jericho runs down all the reincarnations of Jericho, but says to make this new one the one who stays home after getting his ass kicked by The Demand and it could be the best run of his career.
Jericho takes the mic and calls The Ricosault brutal and starts working Bald, Dumb & Ugly into his promo like he’s Mr. Subliminal. Ricochet knows what he’s doing and he’s not going to bite. Jericho calls him scared (and bald), so Ricochet tells Kaun & Liona to stay at the ramp, he’ll take care of this. Ricochet hits the ring and gets his ass kicked quickly, calling for Kaun & Liona, who rush the ring and the 3-on-1 attack is on. They plant Jericho with Open The Gates before The Ricosault is hit yet again as The Demand stand tall.
-After Dynasty on Sunday, Renee Paquette asked Don Callis & Kazuchika Okada what happened out there when Konosuke Takeshita walked by, saying it was an accident, mockingly saying I’m So Sorry! Okada had to be held back by Callis, as Takeshita walked away smiling.
Since 2022, Ryan has been the Recapper/Reviewer for both AEW PPVs & Dynamite for F4WOnline & the Wrestling Observer. Previously, he recapped AEW Dark from 2021-2022 for PWTorch.