Kenny Omega singles match! Sting makes an appearance! And other craziness I’m sure….

Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin and Sting vs Kip Sabian, the Butcher & the Blade
3 of 5 stars

Sting borrowing some of Orange Cassidy’s gimmick was entertaining as hell. OC himself is a favorite of mine so I’ll never get bored watching him, and Allin – well, we’re just wondering if he’ll make it to the age of 40. A bit rough at spots but a solid opener, if predictable.

World Tag Team Championship: The Gunns (c) vs Top Flight
3 of 5 stars

Look… in some ways, the Gunns are doing their job in that I can’t stand them, but it’s more out of apathy than genuine heel heat. They are neither crafty or credible enough to be threats and the ending of the match just proves it. I think Top Flight will be champs by the end of the year, but they’re not ready yet. They certainly carried this otherwise lackluster match.

Hook vs. Stokely Hathaway
3 of 5 stars

Hathaway hugging the ref before match started gave me a good laugh, but this was a squash and foregone conclusion. Hathaway looked like he got murdered out there and coupled with the brevity made this match punch above its weight class.

Jon Mosley vs Stu Grayson
3 of 5 stars (see a pattern here?)

I like Mox but damn is he getting very one-note to watch. The heel thing Blackpool Combat Club is doing now is the only thing keeping him somewhat fresh, but even then Grayson was the real fun part of the match. That man can do some moves that he has no right to. A little rough in spots but damn, Dark Order just can’t catch a break.

Toni Storm vs Skye Blue
2 of 5 stars

It’s good to see Blue get in reps but she’s still very raw, and the Outcasts gimmick is just meh. Did Storm really need her ladies to help her win the match? Another sacrifice for Blue on the squash alter but at least she’s improving. Also, the Outcasts running from tiny Riho holding a pipe will never not be funny.

Kenny Omega vs El Hijo del Vikingo
5 of 5 stars

For a fairly lackluster night of wrestling, this match was worth it. Vikingo and Omega put on one of the best Dynamite matches of the year, and will probably remain in contention for the rest of 2023. Absolute banger, with some crazy spots that show Omega still has it in spades and Vikingo is a beast. More like this, please.

Other notes:

• Daniel Garcia being the one to job to the returning Adam Cole next week is the right call and may set up a feud with the JAS. That should keep Cole busy at least until summer.
• FTR coming out and issuing the “We’ll leave AEW if we lose” title challenge is such a meta storyline. The self-own by the Gunns by calling FTR losers because they’ve lost to the Gunns is some ouroboros shit.
• Smart Mark Sterling issuing the Cease and Desist was so on-brand and predictable it hurt.
• Still don’t care about this Ricky Starks / Juice Robinson feud.

Overall Rating (not an average): 4 of 5 stars

A mostly “OK” show that was elevated by the awesomeness of the main event. Hopefully we see storylines being to get developed soon. The post-PPV lull hit this episode hard.