AEW Dynamite begins with a big vignette from Cody sitting at a control center watching tape of everyone still in the TNT Championship tournament like a rain man setting. He talks them all up with their nicknames and accolades and asks who is he? Is he a three star general, king of the midcard? Says when you hear something enough, it starts to get comfortable like a leather coat. Talks up how TNT commissioned the TNT Championship, and mentions how the doubters will always move the goalposts but that’s okay because history will vindicate them. Complacency is a dirty word in this business but it seems to go hand-in-hand with the top of the food chain. This leads to Jericho and Schiavone on commentary talking up the card and mentioning the angle MJF’s been doing on Twitter talking about an injury that might need surgery. We then transition to a video hyping up Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin.
Sammy cuts a promo and talks up how he’s in the Inner Circle, chosen by Chris Jericho for a reason. Claims everyone in the tournament will fall to the Spanish God. As Sammy comes out, he gets in a jaw jacking match with Shawn Spears who holds up a sign saying he owes him money.
Darby Allin has a video saying that he and Sammy are more similar than they know. The only difference is that he stands on his own two feet. They both need this TNT Championship more than anyone understands. When he kills that dream for Sammy, he’ll truly feel alive. He comes out, but on the way down, Sammy surprises him with a tope! We’ve got a callback to their Revolution match here as before it even gets started we have a brawl on the outside, with Sammy throwing Darby into the guardrail! Takes up a ladder and sets it up between the apron and barrier. Comically he throws Darby into the barrier and this makes the ladder fall. Sets it up again. Puts Darby onto the ladder! Guevara goes up top! Sammy does the “I’m crazy” gesture and proves it with a crazy Frog Splash, the ladder doesn’t give at all! Yikes! Commercial break as there’s a question of whether the match can even get started now, both men down after that bump!
As we come back, Sammy’s in the ring but Darby is still down. Sammy finally just grabs him and throws him into the ring! The bell finally sounds!
TNT Championship Tournament Round 1: Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin
Sammy immediately covers Allin for a nearfall! Grabs the wrists and stomps Darby’s face into the canvas! Guevara takes him up top slowly. Knife edge chop before he pursues him up there. Hooks him, goes up high for a superplex but Darby trips him up into the Tree of Woe! Looks like he’s pulling off the boot? Yep, he’s got a foot bare and he’s twisting it now! Excruciating position! Sammy tumbles to the mat, Darby with a chop block to that same leg and even headbutts that ankle! Darby advances, Sammy wants an upkick, gets blocked but Guevara with an enziguri from the mat! Goes to the apron, One-Foot Springboard Cutter!
Darby’s got some blood dripping from his nose! Sammy advances, but Darby surprises him with a Zombie Roll into a grapevine! Sammy fights his way out, they’re just pounding on each other until they separate! Exchange of forearms now! Sammy wins out with a Spinning Backfist to that damaged nose! And then a big pump knee to the nose, but he used his injured leg to do it! Just a slight delay before the cover, nearfall! After a commercial break, we see Darby getting Sammy against the guardrail, rushes back into the ring for a lope suicida but Sammy avoids it and Darby crashes headlong into the barrier!
Sammy takes Darby into the ring, goes up top! Comes off with a big 620 Splash! Sammy wants an Irish Whip, has to fight for it, Darby counters, slips behind him, Over The Shoulder Boulder Holder! Wants a Springboard Coffin Drop but Sammy counters into an Argentine Neckbreaker but Darby escapes that, rolls him into the Last Supper and gets the three count!
Winner: Darby Allin
Absolutely lovely match. One day this is gonna enter that pantheon of legendary rivalries, I can just feel it. They’re only going to get better and they’re only to become bigger stars with time.
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