Darby Allin Retains AEW World Championship Against Tommaso Ciampa on Dynamite

Darby Allin successfully defended his AEW World Championship in his first title defense on the April 22, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite, defeating Tommaso Ciampa in Portland, Oregon.

The match marked Allin’s first opportunity to retain the title after capturing it at AEW Dynasty just days earlier. According to reports from the event, Allin overcame Ciampa to secure the victory and continue his reign as world champion.

The episode also featured the return of Samoa Joe to in-ring action for the first time since suffering an injury earlier in the year. Joe’s comeback was highlighted as a significant moment during the broadcast.

Leading into the match, MJF had interrupted Allin’s celebration, claiming the title change at Dynasty was a “Seattle Screwjob” and questioning Allin’s ability to defeat him under fair conditions. This led to a confrontation with Kevin Knight, who challenged MJF over comments regarding the TNT Championship.

The April 22 episode of Dynamite built directly on the aftermath of Dynasty, where Allin defeated MJF in under a minute to win the AEW World Championship. That victory culminated a years-long journey for Allin, who had trained in Washington state before rising to prominence in AEW.

With the win over Ciampa, Allin’s title reign began with a successful defense, setting the stage for future challenges as he continues as AEW World Champion.