This week on AEW Dynamite, there are two more qualifying matches for the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and the ROH Women’s Champion will be determined as Deonna Purrazzo takes on interim champion Mercedes Martinez.
AEW DYNAMITE
May 4, 2022 Baltimore, MD
Commentary: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone & Excalibur
Owen Hart Foundation Memorial Tournament Qualifier
Jeff Hardy (with Matt Hardy) vs. Bobby Fish
Jeff starts in control early and hits his patented falling hip toss. Jeff corners Bobby for some thrusts before throwing him into the opposite turnbuckle. More thrusts in the corner. Bobby plows him into the adjacent one for kicks. Bobby kicks at the leg of Jeff before hitting a dragon screw. He hits a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Bobby lands a dragon screw to Jeff on the outside as Matt watches and we head to picture-in-picture. Back from it, Hardy hits a jawbreaker, but Bobby gets some repeated kicks in. Jeff hits several back elbows. Jeff gets Bobby down but not enough to keep him for a Swanton. Bobby crotches him and he hits an avalanche falcon arrow. Jeff kicks out but Bobby gets a leg vine in. Crowd claps for Jeff who makes it to the ropes. Bobby sizes him up, but Jeff creates a window for himself and nails a Swanton bomb. He gets the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Jeff Hardy
Post-match, the Hardys and Young Bucks have a moment.
We cut to a vignette of William Regal beating the hell out of Wheeler Yuta for training purposes.
Blackpool Combat Club vs. Butcher, Blade, and Angelico
The fight starts on the outside as William Regal joins commentary. Bryan starts it off before Wheeler Yuta gets a flurry of offense in. Butcher gets in and hits a low crossbody. The show goes for a break.
Back from it, it’s not long before the BCC get their viciousness in and it’s Danielson who gets Angelico to submit.
WINNERS: Blackpool Combat Club
Starks and Hobbs are with Schiavone and they are approached by Jurassic Express. JB says it sounds good to them, but before he gives him a shot at the tag straps, why not a shot at the FTW Title? Christian runs down his fake shades and Ricky accepts Jungle Boy’s challenge.
Back from break, we see Swerve and Keith Lee. Strickland says they aren’t finished with Starks & Hobbs. Keith Lee says they will “swerve in our glory.”
Wardlow vs. Mystery Opponent
Before the fighter is revealed, out comes MJF and Shawn Spears. He runs down Maryland. He tells Wardlow he’s not staying out here, but he should be terrified of the man about to come out. Sure enough, it’s William Morrissey. Bell rings and the two lock up. It’s a stalemate. Wardlow muscles Morrissey to the corner before flexing. Morrissey sledgehammers Wardlow down. W. splashes Wardlow but Wardlow returns it in the opposite corner. A big running boot by Morrissey. The fight goes to the outside as Morrissey maintains control. Wardlow fights back up but W. catches him with a Bossman slam for a near fall. Wardlow catches Morrissey with a standing moonsault. He nails a powerbomb on Morrissey. 1-2-3.
WINNER: Wardlow
Post-match, security comes to take Wardlow off, but he clears the house of over a dozen of them. The crowd is going nuts. He Awesome Bombs one onto the masses. Wardlow gets on the mic and says he’s not going to stop until MJF releases him from his contract. MJF finally offers him a match and if Wardlow wins, he’ll release him from his contract. He’s on, BUT he has a couple of conditions. He says he’ll give him those conditions in a contract signing. That contract signing won’t happen in a dump like Baltimore, but in the “most magical place in the world” known as Long Island, NY.
We get a confrontation between Ruby Soho, Toni Storm, Britt Baker, and Jamie Hayter during a Tony Schiavone interview. They have a match this Friday on AEW Rampage.
After the break, Schiavone is joined by Hangman Page in the ring. Page says at Double Or Nothing, there’s not going to be a Bret Hart celebratory match, he’s going to destroy CM Punk. He calls out a fan in a CM Punk shirt and says Punk isn’t here tonight. If he were a betting man, he’d say Punk is off filming another TV show. He’s going to embarrass Punk and says to Punk directly that he’s going to give him the fight of his life.
Jay Lethal issues a challenge at Rampage.
Santana vs. Chris Jericho
This fight also starts on the outside and it’s Santana who gets the better of Chris by slamming him into the steps. He gets him in the ring, and the bell rings, but Matt Minard grabs his leg. It soon sets Santana up for Jericho’s leaping dropkick that sends him bouncing off the steel steps and we head to break.
Jericho misses a collision in the corner and it soon sets Santana up for Three Amigos. “Eddie” chants fire up as Santana nails them all. He climbs up top, but Jericho stops him and goes for a potential superplex. Santana headbutts him down and hits that frog splash. Two count. Jericho tries to get the Walls in and does. Santana makes it to the ropes and it forces Chris to break. The two men chop away at one another. Santana hits a rolling stunner to get a very near fall.
Interference occurs and Jericho hits a Judas Effect.
WINNER: Chris Jericho
JAS plays the numbers games to take out Santana and Ortiz.
We cut to Samoa Joe who makes it clear he’s coming for Jay Lethal.
The Gunn Clubb and The Acclaimed look to have formed an alliance after the Gunns gave Bowens and Max Caster scissors as a peace offering.
We see Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison in the ring with Julia Hart. Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is ringside. He was a friend of Brian Pillman Jr.’s famous father and notes an inspirational quote Harbaugh had. Brian says he’s feeling really damn enthusiastic and he’s feeling ready at keeping this group together. He’s ready to fight the House of Black and the lights go out.
Outcomes the House of Black. They take out the Varsity Blonds. Griff is left lying in the ring as Malakai hands Julia Hart a chair. Julia is tempted but can’t do it. Black gets angry and rips off Julia’s eyepatch. Out come the Death Triangle and the HOB leaves.
Owen Hart Foundation Memorial Tournament Qualifier
Rey Fenix vs. Dante Martin
Fenix catches Dante crisp with a dropkick before vaulting himself on top of Dante with a plancha. We head to break.
Rey continues to sh0w some crazy offense that includes a powerbomb into a cutter that gets a very close fall. Schiavone notes of Fenix’s hesitation. “Fight forever” chants. Fenix goes for a Black Fire Driver, but Dante counters it for a pin attempt. Dante heads up top, but Fenix cracks him across the back. Both men are up top. Fenix goes for a reverse Spanish Fly, but both land on their feet. Poisonrana by Dante. Dante goes for his springboard nose dive, but Rey catches him and counters with a modified screwdriver for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Rey Fenix
The bracket for the Owen Hart Men’s Tournament is set. It’s going to be Darby Allin vs. Jeff Hardy in the opening round, Adam Cole vs. Dax Harwood, Samoa Joe vs. The Joker, and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rey Fenix.
Thunder Rosa comes out. She talks about her journey before mentioning how she was inspired by one wrestler. She calls out her number one contender, Serena Deeb. Deeb says it’s been a long time. Deeb says that Rosa earned her spot. She has respect for her. Rosa appreciates it. Deeb says they can make this AEW women’s division the best in the world, but the best in the world needs to hold that title. Rosa says that’s her. Deeb states that she is on another level and that she’s in a class on her own. It’s time she holds that title. TR asks if she wants to place a bet on it. Sure. Deeb says at Double Or Nothing, she’s taking her championship.
ROH Women’s World Championship Unification Match
Mercedes Martinez (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (c)
Deonna Purrazzo doesn’t adhere to the “Code Of Honor.” Deonna focuses on the arm as we head to pic-in-pic. Back from it, the women go back and forth. Deonna goes for her Fujiwara armbar before hitting a pump kick and gets a near fall. Deonna is frustrated. The fight continues on after both women lariat each other down. They get up at the count of six as Deonna climbs up top, but Mercedes hits a right hand and power slams her to the canvas. She face stomps Deonna and then locks in the Romero special. Mercedes Martinez gets a Dragon sleeper in on Deonna and she submits.
WINNER and UNDISPUTED ROH Women’s Champion: Mercedes Martinez
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