2 things that went right on the March 22 AEW: Dynamite

For the last few weeks, All Elite Wrestling has produced some strong episodes of Dynamite, and that momentum continued with the March 22 episode.

Most people tuned in to see the dream match between Kenny Omega and AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo, but there were plenty of other matches and storyline developments to keep fans entertained for two hours.

A lot of good stuff happened on this episode of AEW: Dynamite, and these two moments particularly stood out.

Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo and the latest chapter of “As The Elite Turns”

AEW is officially in the whodunnit business. After teasing a confrontation between The Elite and The Blackpool Combat Club to close last week’s Dynamite, this week’s show started with the Young Bucks getting sent to the hospital after getting attacked by unknown assailants.

While “Hangman” Adam Page accompanied his former stablemates, Kenny Omega was kept from doing the same by Don Callis. Omega protested this later in the show, but Callis, who didn’t seem too concerned with the Bucks’ health, insisted on going through with the match against El Hijo Del Vikingo, and goodness, what a match this was.

Vikingo introduced himself to this national television audience with the following moves: pinpoint suicide dive (with his ring jacket on), tope con hilo, springboard dropkick, IMPLOSION HURRICANRANA, Meteora through the ropes, and a shooting star press to the floor.

This drew a “This is awesome” chant two minutes into the match! Omega and Vikingo maintained this pace for the next 14 minutes or so, as Omega urgently went for big move after big move to counter his relentless opponent. Eventually, Omega got the win with the One Winged Angel, and after that match-of-the-year contender ended, the Blackpool Combat Club pounced on him

This served to further implicate the BCC as the Bucks’ attackers (buttressed by Brandon Cutler accusing them via text to Excalibur) while also being the connective tissue that reunites Page with The Elite, but the BCC’s involvement is likely a red herring that’s masking whatever Callis is plotting.

“The Invisible Hand’s” interaction with Page indicates that something is afoot. The man clearly wants to separate “The Best Bout Machine” from his friends — hence why he pretended Page attacked him to keep that wedge between the former tag champs intact — so we’ll see if he continues to further that rift.

Stokely Hathaway vs. HOOK

If Omega vs. Vikingo didn’t happen, you could for this being the best moment of the show. The time finally came for The Firm’s figurehead, Stokely Hathaway to face FTW Champion HOOK in a No Disqualification match.

The gloriousness started as Hathaway walked to the ring, announced by Justin Roberts as “not as large as the men he represents, but he has the heart of a lion and the wisdom of an owl”. Then, after HOOK made his entrance, Hathaway delivered some “breaking news” that “Dr. Simpson” (Doc Sampson) did not clear him to compete and followed up by announcing his retirement.

Unfortunately, Hathaway’s doctor’s note was a Wingstop receipt with “HE IS SICK” written on it in permanent marker, so the match began, and “all 12 of his fans” had to watch as HOOK demolished him. The match only lasted three minutes (as it should have), but the two made the most of this time. Hathaway found the correct balance of bumping around like a goofy heel without showing up the babyface and HOOK was…well, HOOK and he ultimately got the win via submission.

Ethan Page is apparently next up for Taz’s son — part of Matt Hardy’s effort to screw with The Firm. Presumably, that match will be a little more competitive than this one.