Powerhouse Hobbs is totally screwed

Dynamite airs tonight (Apr. 24) with a live show from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. This is the first episode of Dynamite during the five week build towards Double or Nothing, which takes place on May 26.

Powerhouse Hobbs is totally screwed

Jon Moxley’s first defense of the IWGP championship takes place tonight on Dynamite when he goes one-on-one with Powerhouse Hobbs. Jon’s first defense was originally set for early May in Japan, but NJPW owed Don Callis a favor from years ago, and he finally cashed it in.

The challenger actually has an interesting history with Moxley, as Hobbs’ earliest appearances on Dynamite from years ago involved him as a babyface helping out Mox. But the guy might as well change his name to Powerhouse Jobs for tonight, because there’s no way he is beating Moxley and waking out as the new top champion in NJPW.

Moxley might be extra pissed off at the Don Callis family after Will Ospreay defeated and injured Bryan Danielson at Dynasty. If Jon grabs a mic after this match is over, look for him to address Ospreay and that whole situation.

The rest of tonight’s lineup

AEW is truly Swerve’s house now that Swerve Strickland is the new AEW world champion. Swerve has a title eliminator match with Kyle Fletcher tonight. We’ll almost certainly hear from the new champ on the mic either before or after he wins. Swerve happens to need a challenger for Double or Nothing, and maybe that man will make his presence known tonight.

New TBS Champion Willow Nightingale isn’t booked in a match tonight, but she will be on hand for a championship celebration. After Mercedes Mone (probably) crashes her victory speech, will their mystery attacker strike again and confirm she’s not Julia Hart?

That asshole Trent Beretta turned on Orange Cassidy earlier this month and sent the Best Friends into disarray. Chuck Taylor has played things down the middle without yet picking a side, but that changes tonight. Which choice will Chuck make?

Old man Chris Jericho is the new FTW Champion after he used a baseball bat to knock out HOOK at Dynasty. We will hear from Jericho, where he will probably go on about how HOOK never should have rejected his mentorship offer. If HOOK confronts Chris looking for revenge, will another AEW roster member show up to stop HOOK and take a seat under The Learning Tree? Could it be a returning Sammy Guevara?

Anna Jay vs. Mina Shirakawa is scheduled for tonight’s show. I think AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm is jealous of Mina’s relationship with Mariah May, so perhaps that means Shirakawa is in line for a push in AEW with Forbidden Door coming up in a couple of months.

Other stuff to keep an eye

– Jack Perry returned to AEW at Dynasty by posing as a fan, and he helped the Young Bucks defeat FTR to become new AEW world tag team champions. The commentators suggested that Perry faced consequences for trespassing, but perhaps that will go away tonight if EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson officially grant Perry a spot in The Elite.

– Wardlow tried to help AEW International Champion Roderick Strong beat Kyle O’Reilly at Dynasty, but his attempt to interfere wasn’t helpful. Roderick went on to win anyway, but The Undisputed Kingdom’s leader Adam Cole didn’t look happy at all with Wardlow afterwards. Will there be consequences tonight?

– Is TNT Champion Adam Copeland a changed man after the House of Black spit black mist in his face? Are we about to see a darker, more brooding version of Adam in AEW as a result?

– What’s going through Samoa Joe’s mind after he dropped the AEW world championship at Dynasty?

– Does Cool Hand Angelo Parker get one more chance to kick Zak Knight’s ass now that he’s going to be a father?

– How will Bullet Club Gold celebrate their big win on Dynasty’s pre-show and new status as undisputed trios champions?

– Where the f*ck are Christian Cage, Killswitch, and Nick Wayne?

What will you be looking for on Dynamite?