AEW Dynamite (4/13) Preview: A Big Fight Feel In ‘The Big Easy’

It’s Wednesday and you know what that means!

AEW finally comes to The Big Easy, New Orleans, Louisiana after having to postpone for two years due to the global pandemic. All Elite Wrestling is making it up to the fans in New Orleans by presenting, what they are touting to be, a pay-per-view-level card.

With two championship matches and multiple major names in action, here is everything you need to know before tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TBS

CM Punk Finally Returns To New Orleans

The last time that CM Punk even remotely thought he would be in New Orleans for a wrestling show was heading into WrestleMania 30 prior to his WWE exit. CM Punk has famously stated that he was supposed to wrestle Triple H that evening.

Tonight, after 8 years, he returns and he will face, for the first time ever, Penta Oscuro. CM Punk has made it clear that he wants the next crack at the World Champion but before he gets there, he will show that he has no fear.

MJF Tries To Take Down The Captain

With Wardlow in the back of his mind, Maxwell Jacob Friedman looks to avenge a loss to Capt. Sean Dean that was really because of CM Punk’s interference. Dean is up 2-0 against The Pinnacle on Dynamite this year and all Maxwell wants to do is get The Pinnacle back to their winning ways.

Sports Entertainers vs. Street Fighters

The Chris Jericho Appreciation Society will finally have to face the consequences of their actions as they take on Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz. will the New York trio be able to control their emotions long enough to make sure they get the win tonight where is tonight more about vengeance than victory? Either way, Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz are coming to fight.

Swerve And Lee Take On Team Taz

25 years after the first-ever ECW pay-per-view, Taz leads his men, Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs into battle against smaller Strickland and Keith Lee in a match that has gotten very personal very quickly, and even though Ricky Starks might think he has a bit of a home-field advantage, Lee wants to prove that everyone will bask in his glory and Swerve is trying to make New Orleans Swerve’s House

Marina Shafir Debuts On AEW TV

A former NXT superstar and a veteran of AEW’s YouTube programming, Marina Shafir will debut on Dynamite and looks to make a big problem for Skye Blue ahead of her impending match with Jade Cargill. Will Jade be watching from her Baddie Section and how much longer will Marina have to wait before she gets her chance to hand Jade Cargill her first loss?

reDRagon Gets Another Crack At Gold

Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly are no strangers to New Orleans. In 2018, the Undisputed ERA became whole in New Orleans. 4 years later, Bobby and Kyle are looking to add more gold to what is now the Undisputed Elite as they get another shot at Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus. With Adam Cole focused on his Texas Death Match for the All Elite Wrestling World Championship this Friday, will he be ringside to support his boys or will Jurassic Express have the advantage with Christian Cage in their corner? T

The AEW World Tag Team Champions made it a point to challenge the challengers for this match and they may come to regret that decision if reDRagon has their way.

Big Fight In The Big Easy: Joe vs. Suzuki

In what can only be described as a dream match, Samoa Joe will try to become Ring of Honor Television Champion for the first time in his career as he takes on Minoru Suzuki. Tony Khan has promised an overrun to tonight’s show if need be and if this match is the headliner, they may need it because if their individual careers are any indication, Joe and Suzuki will not stop fighting until they physically are incapable of doing so.

That’s everything that is announced for tonight’s episode. This will be the start of Championship Week for AEW. there will also be a special live episode of Rampage on Friday beginning at 7 p.m. eastern time and a special Battle of the Belts this Saturday on TNT.

Here’s the full AEW Dynamite card as it currently stands:

AEW Dynamite (4/13)

• Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. Team Taz (Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks)
• CM Punk vs. Penta Oscuro
• Eddie Kingston, Ortiz & Santana vs. Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia & Jake Hager)
• MJF vs. Shawn Dean
• Marina Shafir vs. Skye Blue
• AEW World Tag Team Title Match: Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) (c) vs. reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly)
• ROH World Television Title Match: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Samoa Joe

Fightful has live coverage of AEW Dynamite every Wednesday night as it airs on TBS. We will also have a podcast breaking down all the action after the show goes off the air on our YouTube channel.