Winners And Grades As Jeff Hardy Returns On April 12, 2023

Jeff Hardy returned on AEW Dynamite, coming to the aid of his brother Matt, in a segment similar to his debut. Hardy has been off AEW television for several months due to his latest DUI, one that resulted in a suspended license for 10 years. Hardy’s return is his latest second chance amid a long and disturbing history with substance abuse.

AEW Dynamite advertised Orange Cassidy vs. Buddy Matthews, Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin, Keith Lee vs. Chris Jericho, Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Silas Young and MJF’s “mandatory” presence.

Last week’s broadcast of AEW Dynamite garnered just 877,000 viewers despite Tony Khan’s major announcement of AEW’s Wembley Stadium debut for AEW All In.

AEW Dynamite Results | April 12, 2023

• Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin
• Powerhouse Hobbs def. Silas Young
• Orange Cassidy def. Buddy Matthews
• The Blackpool Combat Club vs. Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa
• The Outcasts def. Riho and Skye Blue
• Chris Jericho def. Keith Lee

AEW Dynamite Ratings

• April 5, 2023 | 877,000
• March 29, 2023 | 833,000
• March 22, 2023 | 954,000
• March 15, 2023 | 858,000
• March 8, 2023 | 852,000

• AEW Dynamite Venue: UM-Milwaukee Panther Arena (Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• AEW Dynamite Tickets Distributed: 3,203
• AEW Dynamite Tickets Available: 849

Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin

Swerve Strickland announcing a merger on the heels of the big WWE-Endeavor news is clout chasing at its finest.

Mogul Embassy doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.

Fans were into Darby Allin, but took their time getting into this match.

There was an insane reverse hurricanrana to the outside, which inspired “holy s—t chants.” Strickland’s landing was very scary, but thankfully he was okay.

Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin Grade: B+

MJF Calls out Darby Allin

MJF invented the phrase “you are not on the level of the devil.”

MJF made the same points about MJF that Jungle Boy did by saying MJF isn’t happy with themselves.

MJF never said truer words when he said “morals kill careers in this sport.”

Darby Allin basically cut the same Jungle Boy promo from last week, about MJF not being happy, with therapy sprinkled in. Darby talking about how much he loves his family makes him a great babyface, but it also takes away from his dark, emo mystique.

MJF called Darby Allin “Darby’s daddy,” and “Sting’s b—ch” only for Sting to come out and cut the rest of Darby Allin’s promo for him.

Sting mentioned Cody Rhodes as a clap back to MJF’s claims of Sting being Darby’s daddy. Rhodes was later featured in a Bullet Club vignette as Jay White and Juice Robinson became Bullet Club Gold.

Of note, Sting told MJF “showtime’s almost over,” suggesting a retirement of sorts at All In.

MJF vs. Darby Allin Grade: A-

Powerhouse Hobbs def. Silas Young

This was a squash match against Young in a match designed to showcase Hobbs…and Wardlow.

The majority of this segment was Wardlow destroying Hobbs’ tricked-out muscle car that he received from QT Marshall. It would have ranked very low on the Braun Strowman scale let alone the Steve Austin scale.

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Silas Young Grade/Post-Match: C+

Orange Cassidy def. Buddy Matthews

Opening Match Orange was bumped to the end of the first hour as he inches closer to a AEW Dynamite main event.

There was a small “this is wrestling” chant that began to break out, and I’ve never been so happy to see a chant die.

The long-term story, of Orange Cassidy being worn down, is AEW going back to that same well as they did when Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin defended the TNT Title. This week, Orange Cassidy’s hand was ailing him.

This turned out to be another great match from Orange Cassidy as he continues to defend the AEW International Championship, which has surpassed the TNT Title as AEW’s top secondary title.

Orange Cassidy vs. Buddy Matthews Grade: B+

Jeff Hardy Returns

Ethan Page ran down Matt Hardy, only for Hardy to launch into a convoluted promo about stipulations and contract litigation. Apparently, the contract between Hardy and The Firm was null and void after after Hook defeated Stokeley Hathaway. Some real deus ex machina storytelling right there.

Jeff Hardy’s return comes at a time where AEW is trying to sell out Wembley Stadium, and it will be all hands on deck—no matter ow risky those hands are.

Jeff Hardy Return Grade: B+

The Blackpool Combat Club def. Michael Nakazwa and Brandon Cutler

Fans got behind Michael Nakazawa, ironically of course, but he actually showed hart and fired up against the BCC.

Don’t get me wrong, Brandon Cutler and Nakazawa got absolutely massacred, but it they left with their dignity after a surprisingly intriguing match.

The match only ended when Nakazawa and Cutler were bloodied and literally beaten into submission.

Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks returned to threaten Jon Moxley with a screwdriver before Moxley and the BCC fled.

Blackpool Combat Club vs. Nakazawa and Cutler Grade: A

The Outcasts def. Skye Blue and Riho

Toni Storm and Ruby Riott were coordinated with ring gear similar to Demolition. In addition to NWO, now they’re ripping off stables from two different decades.

Storm and Soho were also coordinated as a tag team, from a move standpoint, and it made for an awesome tag team match. One where Skye Blue kept up with the much more experienced competitors.

The Outcasts laid waste to the babyfaces for what seemed like an eternity before Jamie Hayter ran down. “DMD” chants were eventually answered, but Britt Baker ran out to separate theme music.

Storm and Soho vs. Skye Blue and Rio: B-

Chris Jericho def. Keith Lee

Fans sang the hell out of Chris Jericho’s theme song, making it a tough act to follow for Keith Lee. Fans still chanted “bask in his glory,” and cheered Lee over Jericho.

Keith gray-beard is going to take some getting used to.

Jericho took one helluva pounce that brought this crowd to it feet.

This was a very good big man-little man match, because Jericho is a master of them.

Chris Jericho vs. Keith Lee Grade: B