‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Apr 22nd 2026)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from Portland, Oregon – 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: Brody King def. Lio Rush
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Brody King got a huge ovation, but Rush immediately brought chaos, biting King’s hand after a fake show of respect. King overpowered Rush early, but Rush turned the tide when King crashed into the barricade on a missed crossbody and then the ring post. Rush targeted King’s injured arm and kept up his wild offence with a handspring kick, a suicide dive and a top-rope crossbody to the floor. Back in the ring, Rush hit a frog splash, but King kicked out at one and fired back hard. A huge sidewalk slam and crushing cannonball shifted momentum for good, and King sealed the win with a Gonzo Bomb.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Hikaru Shida def. Mina Shirakawa
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mina Shirakawa refused a handshake from Hikaru Shida and the two quickly turned things into a fierce, evenly-matched battle, trading reversals, stiff strikes and rapid-fire pin attempts. Shirakawa impressed with an enzigiri, slingblade and springboard tornillo, while targeting Shida’s leg with dragon screws and a figure four. Shida answered with her trademark hard-hitting offence, including a brutal flying knee, a meteora and Tamashii, but Shirakawa refused to stay down. The closing stretch was especially heated, with big strike exchanges, a top-rope slingblade and a teased kendo stick shot adding drama. After outside interference stopped Mina from crossing a line, Shida capitalised with a jumping knee and Falcon Arrow to score a hard-fought victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Mark Davis def. Will Ospreay
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Will Ospreay and Kyle Davis tore into each other from the opening bell, with Davis using his power to dominate early and punish Ospreay around ringside. Ospreay fought back with his trademark speed, including a flying headscissors off the steps, a cannonball senton off the stage and a series of big strikes, but Davis kept absorbing punishment and dishing out brutal offence in return. The match escalated into a war, with Davis targeting Ospreay’s damaged neck through piledrivers, backdrop suplexes and crushing lariats, while Ospreay stayed alive with a Spanish Fly and Hidden Blade. The closing stretch was dramatic and uncomfortable, as Ospreay survived Davis’ finisher and even a piledriver on the ring apron, but after medical intervention ruled he couldn’t continue due to loss of feeling in his arm, the referee awarded Davis the stoppage victory in a brutal, hard-fought battle.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #4: Samoa Joe def. Cody Chhun
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
For the first time in over three months, former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe returned to action after being medically cleared earlier in the day. Chhun surprisingly worked his way out of an arm wringer into one of his own, but Joe quickly stopped that with some strikes and headbutts to keep control of Chhun’s arm. Chhun threw a right hand to break free, and Joe nodded with respect, so Chhun kept going until Joe ended the flurry with a running elbow. Joe lit up Chhun with jabs into the corner and down to the mat. Joe picked up Chhun and put him on the top rope for a Muscle Buster, but Chhun gouged him in the eyes! Chhun came off the top with a crossbody, which Joe avoided by walking away as only he can. Joe sent Chhun hard into the turnbuckles and finished him with a Muscle Buster to get the pinfall victory!
My Score: SQUASH-A-RAMA out of 5
Match #5: AEW World Championship – Darby Allin def. Tommaso Ciampa
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Darby Allin and Tommaso Ciampa waged an absolute war from the opening bell, brawling all over ringside with Coffin Drops to the floor, brutal barricade spots and a jaw-dropping Psycho Driller off the ropes to the floor. Ciampa’s vicious, blood-soaked offence targeted Allin relentlessly, but the champion kept surviving with sheer defiance, firing back with a Scorpion Death Drop, Code Red and inventive bursts of offence. The closing stretch was incredible, with Ciampa throwing everything at Allin — bicycle knees, Project Ciampa and even the exposed turnbuckle — yet Allin refused to stay down. After escaping Ciampa’s showboating Scorpion Death Lock attempt, Allin turned the hold around, dragged Ciampa back to centre ring and forced the tap-out in an unforgettable, emotionally charged main event. A post-match show of respect only elevated a true instant classic.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
This was a seriously strong episode of Dynamite that balanced variety, in-ring quality and meaningful progression better than most weekly wrestling TV. The opener between Brody King and Lio Rush was a fun, hard-hitting sprint, while Shida vs. Mina delivered exactly the kind of technically sharp, emotionally charged women’s match you’d hope for from those two. Ospreay vs. Davis was the standout from a pure drama standpoint — brutal, uncomfortable and brilliantly worked – while Samoa Joe’s return gave the show a shot of swagger. Then the main event absolutely delivered, with Darby Allin and Tommaso Ciampa putting on a violent, dramatic title match that felt genuinely special. Throw in a hot crowd and a card with almost no dead weight, and this was Dynamite firing on all cylinders. A tremendous episode with two borderline classic matches and the kind of momentum AEW thrives on.
