‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Apr 1st 2026)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – let’s dive right in! As usual, we’ll be abbreviating AEW’s huge match recaps where we can to save your eyes and your time…
Match #1: Kenny Omega, “Jungle” Jack Perry and Brody King def. The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Omega and Ricochet started, but Ricochet quickly tagged out to Kaun. The Demand isolated Omega early, but he turned the tide, tagging in King, who flattened Ricochet. Chaos broke out as all six men brawled, spilling outside where Perry wiped everyone out with a moonsault. Back inside, a triple suplex spot was blocked before The Demand regained control, setting Perry up for Liona as the show went to break. After the break, Perry endured a prolonged beatdown before tagging Omega, who cleaned house with snap dragons and near-falls. King joined in, diving onto GOA, while Ricochet countered Omega with a poisonrana and near-falls of his own. Outside, King sent Liona through the timekeeper’s table. In the closing stretch, Ricochet nearly stole it with Vertigo, but Omega kicked out. Perry neutralised Kaun and the belt, allowing Omega to hit the V-Trigger and One-Winged Angel for the win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Will Ospreay def. PAC
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
PAC ambushed Will Ospreay during his entrance, dropping him with a brainbuster on the stage. Despite doctors’ concerns, Ospreay insisted on competing, only to be immediately overwhelmed as PAC stayed on the attack through the opening stretch. Ospreay eventually fought back, countering a moonsault into a brainbuster and landing a 450 splash for two. But the damage to his neck and shoulder lingered, allowing PAC to regain control with a DDT on the floor and a tight Brutalizer back in the ring. After the break, the two traded blows in a gritty back-and-forth. Ospreay hit a weakened Styles Clash, while PAC responded with a Tombstone and followed up with the Black Arrow into another Brutalizer, leaving Ospreay barely conscious. PAC looked to have it won, but as he tried to reposition, Ospreay rolled through out of nowhere to steal the three-count. A brutal match, but a clutch, resilient win for Ospreay.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #3: Mina Shirakawa and Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor) def. Triangle of Madness (Thekla, Skye Blue & Julia Hart)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mina Shirakawa and Thekla kicked things off, with the champion mocking Mina early. Skye Blue tagged in and joined the taunting, but Mina answered with a slingblade before bringing in Windsor and Hayter for some slick triple-team offence. Blue survived a near-fall, then swung momentum back as Thekla exploited a distraction to take out Shirakawa on the apron, giving Triangle of Madness control heading into the break. After the break, a triple suplex left everyone down before chaos resumed. Mina targeted Thekla, while Hayter and Windsor neutralised Blue and Hart in quick succession. With bodies flying and tags coming thick and fast, the match broke down into a full-on brawl. In the closing moments, Thekla tried to use brass knuckles on Windsor, but got caught and disarmed. That opening was all Hayter needed, dropping Hart with Hayterade to secure the win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: AEW World Championship Eliminator – MJF def. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
MJF jumped Mike Bailey before the bell, immediately taking control with eye rakes and cheap tactics to neutralise Speedball’s striking. Bailey fought back with rapid-fire kicks, a standing moonsault and a huge triangle dive to the outside, keeping the champion on the back foot. The match turned into a back-and-forth sprint, with Bailey racking up near-falls off backslides, a Spanish Fly and multiple Ultima Weapon attempts, while MJF relied on power, landing brutal powerbombs to slow the pace. Both men came close, with Bailey even hitting double knees on the apron and a second-rope Ultima Weapon for a near-fall. In the closing stretch, MJF avoided another knee strike on the apron and spiked Bailey with a Tombstone on the edge of the ring. He followed up with The Heatseeker to steal the win, finishing things in ruthless, opportunistic fashion.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
This week’s show was one of those episodes that just flowed: four matches, all hitting in different ways, and not a dud among them. The opener delivered chaotic, multi-man madness with Omega, Perry and King meshing brilliantly, while the main event scene kept ticking along nicely. But let’s be honest, this show belonged to Ospreay vs. PAC – an absolute war that balanced brutality with storytelling, and easily one of Dynamite’s best TV matches in a while. The women’s trios match brought solid energy and some fun faction dynamics, even if it didn’t quite hit the same highs, while MJF vs. Speedball was exactly what you’d expect: slick, hard-hitting, and just scummy enough from MJF to keep things interesting. No filler, no wasted time – just a tight, match-heavy episode that delivered from bell to bell.
