AEW Dynamite in Nashville, Tennessee was a distinctly different episode from what we’ve seen over the past month and change from All Elite Wrestling.
Hot off the heels of Full Gear, it was going to be interesting to see how AEW handled their first weekly television show after a pay-per-view. Normally, they have weeks, if not months, to prepare for the next show — but that was before TV.
And the show, on paper, definitely felt looked like a “PPV Hangover” show with quicker matches, and more undercard talent on the show.
However, but as the show progressed you saw this wasn’t a hangover, but a new chapter, a new direction for AEW. This felt like “Season Two” of AEW — with “season one” being the entire run up till Full Gear. In this episode we saw new directions for everyone but The Young Bucks and Proud-N-Powerful. We saw new talent debut, injured talent return, and a spotlight put on those not often feature on Dynamite.
The show was not without issue, however. Production calls definitely made things awkward. Having three lights on/lights off moments (MJF as Cody, Awesome Kong, Shawn Spears) almost in a row was overkill. Once again, the tag title main event wasn’t given the proper time. The sound, especially with ring, was awkward.
Despite those faults, AEW Dynamite in Nashville was another very fun episode of wrestling from the upstart national company. Let’s break it all down:
Jon Moxley is on a Pilgrimage of Violence: Just in time for Thanksgiving is Mox’s Pilgrimage. Reinforcing Mox’s violent tendencies by showing off Kenny Omega’s injuries from Full Gear in a promo video were well done. However, the little things are what sold this for me. Having comedy jobber and Kenny’s IRL BFF Michael Nakazawa in the ring to fight Moxley was a nice touch. Another nice touch was having Naka…Naka…Nakazawa toss his trademark baby oil bottle in order to emphasize the gravity of the situation. He was here to avenge his friend, not be funny.
Of course Moxley beat the snot of Nakazawa, because let’s face it, no way was Nakazawa going to win this match — he’s a comedy jobber for a reason. Moxley’s promo about “his win counting,” and no one in AEW having “the balls” to fight him was great, and puts us on the path, of what should be Moxley vs. Jericho at the next big AEW PPV.
A Wrestling Dinosaur Gets a Road Warrior Pop: The Jurassic Express vs. Dark Order was a pretty good match, but there were some definite in-ring hiccups here that seemed to stop the steam these four were building. However, it was the after match activities that were so good.
First, Evil Uno cuts one of the most logical heel promos of all time — Marko Stunt should be applauded for his hard work, he gets crapped on by so many people, we think you’re good, but you could be GREAT with us … just put on the mask of the Dark Order. Simple, effective, puts a guy over, but all in a heel lens. This also plays into Marko being so downtrodden about always being the guy who eats the pin for him team. Marko goes to take the mask out of pure sadness, but Jungle Boy reminding him that he’s part of the team by showing him the Baby-Saurus mask was nice work.
Of course, this all leads to the unexpected return of the most over person in AEW – Luchasaurus. After announcing he’d be out till January, and given wrestling’s penchant of having faces beaten down by heels with zero help, it was a shock to see the big man return. It was also a shock to see him move so well after injury. Having Luchasaurus back in the fold is a big time get for AEW.
Jon Moxley…I Accept: The three way dance between Darby Allin, Peter Avalon and Shawn Spears was the backdrop for two stories. The first — things are not done between Shawn Spears, Tully Blanchard, and Joey Janela (who cut a blistering promo on social media). Good, they’ve got a lot of work to do still. Second, this set Darby up with a win, and catapults him into a major league match with Jon Moxley. That match is going to be God damn awesome. Did you hear the crowd pop when Darby said “Jon Moxley”? That shows you the fans are completely bought in on Darby. Much like Luchasaurus, and others to be mentioned later in the show, AEW’s work to get younger guys over is starting to pay off.
The Women’s Division…Let’s Hope This is the Push: Cheap plug, but in my roundtable interview with Cody Rhodes he said starting right after Full Gear the Women’s Division would be getting a lot more attention. Well, that kinda happened. We got a solid squash for Nyla Rose — which continues her re-certification as a complete bad ass.
Second, we got a promo from Allie, who has yet to be on Dynamite, talking about challenging for the title. This, very obviously (if you’re paying attention), lead to Awesome Kong and Allie’s rival Brandi Rhodes coming out. I liked Allie going straight at Kong. But the outcome here was obvious. The whole Mama Shango thing with Brandi and Kong is … weird.
AEW really needs to start pushing this division harder and harder. They’ve created new singles and tag team stars. Riho has gotten over as a beloved fan favorite. But after that? It’s time to put the pedal to the floor, strap some rockets to backs, and get this Women’s Division the attention it deserves.
MJF is THE Heel in Wrestling: You can try to convince me till you’re blue in the face how “great” of a heel Baron Corbin, Chris Jericho, Adam Cole, Moose, Ace Austin, Contra Unit, or anyone in wrestling is right now. Nobody touches MJF. Not even by a damn mile. His promo against Cody was perfection. He took everything Cody has said publicly about him, and turned it into a negative. He told his truth. He didn’t exaggerate, he didn’t do anything crazy. He spoke his mind and the people hated him for it. MJF even overshadowed Jericho which is no small feet.
Cody, Wardlow and The Inner Circle: The interaction between Jericho and MJF went on a touch too long, but at times it was absolute poetry. Jericho’s reference to Juventud Guerrera was on the money, and MJF doing his best Rock impersonation by questioning who Juvi was, was great. Now just book Juvi vs. MJF you cowards. Cody coming out to fight everyone, defying the doctors, was classic. The powerslam botch took the crowd out of it a bit, but Cody brought them back in. Having Wardlow as MJF’s heater was smart placement for the newcomer. I can foresee him and Dustin clashing in the future.
Fight Forever: Adam Page and PAC could fight forever. Their chemistry is unmatched.
The Bucks Brawl: The Proud-N-Powerful brawl with The Young Bucks was a lot of fun to watch. AEW really knows how to produce a brawl — they feel way more realistic, and intense than most other brawls out there. Not a lot of air in the punches. I dug that Private Party came out to shove off PNP from The Bucks.
Scorpio Sky With The Small Package: The main event between SCU and Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara was good. It had some really good moments along with moments of miscommunication. However, the bigger story here is Scorpio Sky pinning Chris Jericho. This the first pinfall scored on Jericho since he joined AEW. I truly believe that this means big things for Sky. Remember when Jericho called Sky out after Double or Nothing and said he’d never get the belt? I think we’re seeing the build for Sky making the challenge. This was a big moment, and it could have major implications. I’d totally be down for Sky/Jericho feud as there’s a great story there for Sky.
In Closing: Nothing’s going to top that episode in Pittsburgh, but hot damn I am excited about the new creative stories coming up in All Elite Wrestling. This company might not be perfect in all aspects, but they continue to deliver wildly entertaining matches coupled with entertaining stories.
