AEW Dynamite: Preview and Predictions for April 21, 2021
AEW Dynamite is back this Wednesday with a loaded card that will feature some of the biggest names in AEW.
The card includes two title matches in which both champions will defend their titles against challengers ranked in the top 3. Team Tazz will be heavily featured as Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks will each have a one on one match with Christian Cage and Hangman Adam Page, respectively. And members of two of the top teams in a loaded tag team division will square off in a singles match.
Let’s take a look at the announced matches on the card and what to expect from each.
Ricky Starks vs Hangman Adam Page
The number one contender for Kenny Omega’s AEW World Title, Hangman Adam Page will take on a dangerous opponent in Ricky Starks to open the show.
Poor Ricky Starks just can’t seem to catch a break. While he has been very successful racking up wins on Dark and Dark: Elevation he continues to have tough draws for singles contests on Dynamite.
Starks debuted on Dynamite losing to Cody Rhodes during his TNT Title open challenge. Roughly three months later he was defeated by Darby Allin. And in his third ever singles match on Dynamite he draws the red hot Hangman Adam Page.
Better days are surely ahead for Starks but they aren’t going to start tonight. This will be a fun and competitive match to kick off the show but in the end, Hangman will keep his undefeated streak in 2021 alive via the buckshot lariat. Winner: Adam Page
Trent? vs Penta El Zero Miedo
Two of the excellent tag teams in AEW will send members to the ring for a singles match as Trent? of Best Friends will face off with Penta of the Lucha Bros.
The tag team division is a jumbled mess right now as a number of teams are chomping at the bit to get a shot at the Young Bucks. During the Young Bucks’ last title defense, we saw Jurassic Express, SCU, Private Party, and The Butcher and The Blade gathered around ringside taking in the match.
Then there is the duo of Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston who will definitely have a score to settle with the Jackson brothers in the near future as well.
Why AEW doesn’t turn this into a tag match to try to start to make sense of who might be moving into tag team title contention is beyond me. This match doesn’t really seem to have anything riding on it other than Best Friends looking for retribution from Death Triangle for attacks that happened over a year ago.
Trent? and Penta are both very good in the ring. But the time seems right for the Lucha Bros to rise to the top in the tag division. This singles match should serve as a springboard for them to do just that. Winner: Penta El Zero Miedo
Powerhouse Hobbs vs Christian Cage
Christian Cage turned down the offer to join Team Tazz last week and Powerhouse Hobbs made sure, at least for one night, that Cage regretted that decision. Cage will get his chance for revenge in a sanctioned match against Powerhouse Hobbs on this week’s Dynamite.
Christian looked absolutely amazing in his AEW debut match, going almost 20 minutes with Frankie Kazarian. However, Powerhouse Hobbs will present a whole different set of problems for Cage than Kazarian did.
Hobbs is one of the most powerful performers in the promotion and everything he does is done with a good deal of malice behind it.
Something tells me this may be the week where we see Brian Cage complete his split from team Tazz.
Ricky Starks and/or Hook may look to get involved in this match to give Hobbs the upper hand and Brian Cage will get Christian’s back, helping Christian overcome Powerhouse Hobbs, and officially leaving Team Tazz in the process. Winner: Christian Cage
Tay Conti vs Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s Title
Tay Conti has come a long way in a short period of time while under the AEW umbrella and this title match with Hikaru Shida is proof of that.
Tay’s evolution inside the ring has been remarkable. And we will see everything in her arsenal on display in this match. Sadly, none of it will be enough to put away Shida.
With Red Velvet’s loss to Jade Cargill last week and Conti’s loss to Shida this week, the rankings will come out next Wednesday with a certain dentist at the top of the women’s division.
And the match that so many of us have been calling for the past few months will finally be here. And for the first time in a long time, Shida’s title reign will be in serious jeopardy. Winner: Hikaru Shida
Jungle Boy vs Darby Allin for the TNT Title
The main event of AEW Dynamite will most likely be a TNT Title match between Darby Allin and Jungle Boy.
After a slow start to Allin’s title reign, he has definitely been a fighting champion over the past 6 weeks, defending the TNT Title 4 times. But this match with Jungle Boy may be Darby’s most intriguing title defense yet.
Jungle Boy is undefeated in 2021 and has been touted as one of the future stars of AEW. He is ranked number 3 in singles competition and has shone in every opportunity given him, both as part of a tag team and as a singles competitor.
The TNT Title could change hands on this week’s Dynamite and that would be just fine. But Jungle Boy has plenty going on as a member of Jurassic Express and would be better served as a tag or trios champion before winning singles gold.
Darby will win a hard-fought match. This would present a great time for Miro to make his presence felt. He should storm the ring after the match and lay waste to Darby, letting his actions announce that he is officially coming after the TNT Title. Setting up what will be an absolutely thrilling match between Darby and Miro at Double or Nothing. Winner: Darby Allin