AEW: Dynamite - April 21 2021: Shida Vs. Conti, Allin Vs. Jungle Boy

AEW: Dynamite was, as always, broadcast from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.

A first time meeting between Absolute Ricky Starks and Hangman Adam Page opened this week’s show. Page has been rated number one in the men’s rankings for several weeks, and Starks had a point to prove, however, Page is on a hot streak right now and proved too much for Starks, putting the Team Taz hotshot to bed with a leg trap bulldog choke after enjoying the lion’s share of the offence. Post-match Taz chewed Hangman out and told him to watch his back as Hook attacked from behind. Brian Cage came out and went for a powerbomb, but The Dark Order ran Team Taz off.

Next up, Death Triangle’s Penta El Zero M took on Best Friends’ Trent? all stemming from a recent Dynamite where Best Friends and Death Triangle renewed their rivalry. This was Trent’s first Dynamite match back from injury, and he hadn’t lost a step starting the match with high intensity, but Penta soon evened the score with a springboard destroyer. Both men enjoyed spells in control, with Trent hitting a piledriver on the apron on Penta, before Alex Abrahantes interrupted to tell Trent that he, Best Friends, and his mama Sue all suck. Orange Cassidy went to attack Alex, but Penta took him out, before hitting a Package Piledriver on Trent for the win.

Jim Ross had one of his famous sit-down interviews with The Pinnacle ahead of Blood & Guts on May 5. MJF said Tully was at home writing up their battle plan for Blood & Guts, as he opened a fresh new silk Burberry scarf. Wardlow said that Jericho is scared of him, as MJF said he was the only guy that Jericho couldn’t outsmart, and that when Jericho was 25 he was curtain jerking, whereas MJF at 25 is undefeated and a main eventer. MJF got loud as he said he is coming for Jericho’s spot.

Before the AEW Women’s World Title match we saw a video package on both Tay Conti and Hikaru Shida. Both women have mutual respect for one another, but vowed to come out on top. Match time and the two competitors bowed to start the bout, before exchanging standing strikes. Conti soon took it to the mat, utilising her BJJ skills, but Shida took it outside and gained the advantage. Shida’s champion's instinct showed as she controlled the bout, even showing disrespect to Conti with mounted slaps. Conti mounted a comeback with a huge head of steam, but nothing she could do could put Shida away, with the Champ retaining with the Katana rolling knee.

Post-match, Dr. Britt Baker DMD came out and showed the AEW Women’s Division ranking system, as Baker officially became the number one ranked contender.

Miro was backstage, and was in a bad mood. Miro said he doesn’t care who it is, if they have a title they’re in trouble, and asked: “what champion do I beat first?”

Back in-ring Tony Schiavone had an interview segment with The Inner Circle. Jericho was in out-and-out babyface mode as he hyped up Blood & Guts. Jake Hager threw straws as he said The Pinnacle would be eating through them when Inner Circle are finished with them. Santana said Pinnacle were smart but cowards, as Jericho dissed MJF’s conviction and singing skills, before singing a showtune about MJF. Jericho announced a parley between Pinnacle and Inner Circle for next week, before plugging Blood & Guts several more times, as Inner Circle flipped off the cameras.

QT Marshall and Billy Gunn were in action next, but before the bell rung Gunn rushed The Factory on the ramp, the proceded to throw QT around in the ring and around the ringside area. Nick Comoroto soon attacked Billy, as Austin and Colton Gunn jumped the railing to fight off Comoroto and Aaron Solow. Gunn was firmly in control of the bout, but as the ref was distracted, Anthony Agogo came out and nailed the gut punch, allowing QT to hit the cutter for the win. Post-match, QT went to crack a wooden chair across Gunn’s back, but Dustin Rhodes ran out with the bullrope. After beating down QT, Dustin broke the chair over Comoroto’s head, who no-sold it as refs separated the two.

We then caught up with The Elite in their private trailer. Don Callis bigged up The Young Bucks, The Good Brothers, and the 'soon-to-be IMPACT World Champion' Kenny Omega. Matt Jackson cut in saying that these five men were the reason business went through the roof in Japan, why ‘certain’ tee shirts are sold worldwide, and the reason why this company is called ‘All Elite’. All five then mocked Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston. Omega started cutting a promo but was cut off by a honking car - which turned out to be Moxley and Kingston in a truck. The two then plowed their truck into the trailer then smashed the trailer up with a pipe as they looked for The Elite.

Match five pitted Team Taz’s Powerhouse Will Hobbs against Christian Cage, following Hobbs’ beatdown of Cage last week. Hobbs started very strongly, quickly launching Christian over the guardrail and into the front row. Hobbs continued to dominate Christian in-ring, outmuscling his way out of the Killswitch as Christian looked overwhelmed. Christian soon capitalised, getting his boots up on a Vader Bomb attempt, before taking control, hitting a Frog Splash for a nearfall. Hobbs threatened to pull out the win, but Cage finally nailed The Killswitch for the win.

A Jade Cargill video aired, with various AEW managers saying they’d love to manage her. Cargill said she doesn’t need a manager, but if someone wants to represent her they better stump up a hell of a lot of money.

Our main event was for the TNT Championship and pitted Jungle Boy against Champion Darby Allin. Jungle Boy has had an amazing 2021 so far, so has Darby, and both started the match scouting each other out, before exchanging holds. Darby’s aggression came to the fore as the two fought into the front row, but Jungle Boy wasn’t intimidated. The two went back and forth in ring as the intensity of the bout increased, Jungle Boy hitting several suplexes to no avail. A trio of dives from Jungle boy had Darby rocked, but Darby wouldn’t stay down, nailing the Coffin Drop on the apron. Sting and Luchasaurus got in each other’s face, before The Icon teed off on the Dinosaur. The two fought backstage as Darby and Jungle Boy exchanged strikes in ring, before Jungle Boy locked in the Snare Trap. Darby fought out, then got the win with The Last Supper out of nowhere, retaining the title. 

Post-match, Jungle Boy looked stunned before Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page rushed the ring to attack him and Darby. Lance Archer ran out to make the save but got beat down himself. Sting cleared the ring with the bat, as he and Archer stood tall to end the show.

Full results: • Hangman Page def. Ricky Starks • Penta El Zero Miedo def. Trent? • Hikaru Shida (c) def. Tay Conti - AEW Women’s World Championship • QT Marshall def. Billy Gunn • Christian Cage def. Powerhouse Hobbs • Darby Allin (c) def. Jungle Boy - TNT Championship