The journey to AEW Revolution continues with some new developments, even before Dynamite aired. As I am sure you all know by now, Paul Wight (formerly WWE’s Big Show) has signed with AEW in a role primarily in development and commentary for a new Dark series titled: Elevation. Additionally, he may step in the ring as a wrestler. Suffice to say I don’t believe anyone had this on their 2021 wrestling bingo card.
Earlier in the day, we see Matt and Nick Jackson with their parents arriving. They take photos in back of the trailer trucks with their image. Something doesn’t feel right…
AEW Dynamite 2/24 kicks off with Jon Moxley defeating Ryan Nemeth. Mox takes to the mic to cut a gorgeous promo of being addicted to wrestling and going farther into the darkness of imagination to win by any means necessary. The upcoming Exploding Barb-Wire Deathmatch is a playground.
Team Taz (Brian Cage & Ricky Starks) defeated the Varisty Blondes
Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr. will be tag team champions one day. The height Garrison gets is unreal for a tall, lanky dude like him. Pillman took a sick, sick fall on the floor on the ring stairs. Garrison and Pillman seem a natural pairing in both ring style and looks. They have come into their own in just a short period of time. I hope to see them on the winning side more often in the days to come. Cage earns the win via Drillclaw Driver.
It’s what happens after the match which slammed the accelerator for Revolution. The lights go out, and on the big screen, we see Sting retrieving Darby Allin from a desert. Just then, lights back on and IT’S STIIIIIIIIIING! He drags a body bag to the stage, but inside is Hook! This causes Taz go pull an “Oh s***” on live TV, then Darby comes swinging down from the rafters.
You have to see it to believe it, Sting then hits the Scorpion Death Drop. I love seeing Sting with Darby Allin. The pairing seems perfectly natural, with Sting appearing to pass a torch over to the younger star. I still believe he will not be doing much in-ring come Revolution, just precautionary for his health.
Jake Hager defeated Brandon Cutler
I’m sad this was predictable. I’m glad to Cutler on Dynamite, but man. I really wanted the D&D Master to get a surprise win. Would have shown the disarray the Inner Circle continues to wallow in. However, this led to Cutler being attacked by Santana and Ortiz, with the Bucks inevitably making the save. However, this was all a diversion for Chris Jericho and MJF to attack Matt and Nick’s father by those large trailers, smearing his blood all over the images of Matt and Nick. Uber-heel mode activated!
High drama being built for the AEW World Tag Team Championship match. This hit the personal chord in strong fashion.
The next part of the show continued the high impact action with “Hangman” Adam Page defeating Isiah Kassidy. Ever since Isiah with Quen turned to the “Big Money” I feel like their personas in the ring matured fast. The brash arrogance seems to come naturally to Kassidy. Taunting Page early on, however, would only fire him up, and dominate most of the early match until Matt Hardy would interfere and weaken Hangman. The story turns to the next page as Dark Order members Johnny “Hungie” Silver and Alex Reynolds rush out to call out Matt’s interference, resulting in the Big Money being ejected from the ringside area. The moment referee Aubrey Edwards motioned for the removal was so well done. Would she do it? Would she not listen to Silver and Reynolds? Oh man, it was priceless. Isiah and Hangman would trade offensive back-and-forth, the highlights, was Hangman, weakened arm and all, catching a flying Isiah in mid-air, dumping him straight down with a Death Valley Driver. The countering shock spot only moments later, Kassidy scoring the Poison-rana (Reverse Frankensteiner), folding Page over. After a lot of back and forth, Hangman unable to go for the Buckshot, but Kassidy going up high one too many times, being caught mid-air once more and spiked with The DeadEye.
What. A. Match.
After the match, Matt Hardy promised to hurt all of Hangman’s Friends in the Dark Order, beginning with lobbing Alan Angels “5” through a ringside table.
If the BTE storyline was incorporated, the appropriate response would have been a shrug of the shoulders.
We’re getting closer to Page officially joining the Dark Order. It’s going to happen.
Women’s Eliminator Tournament Match: Nyla Rose defeated Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.
I was surprised at the outcome. I was sure this would have culminated with a final confrontation between Baker and Thunder Rosa. Despite the pandemic, the AEW Women’s Division has improved ten-fold since last year. The influx of available talent has contributed to a positive upturn in women’s wrestling. Rose and Baker put on a great match. At times Rose seemed to dominate Baker, using strength for power moves, but Baker would find a way out. It was when Baker would overturn Rose, nearly clamping on the Lockjaw, not once, but twice, putting viewers on edge if she could really do it. Ultimately Nyla capitalized with the Beast Bomb for the win. This was an excellent match.
Main Event of AEW Dynamite 2/24: Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier – Lance Archer defeated Rey Fenix
This was incredibly awesome. This is my inner wrestling fan speaking. Edge of my seat awesome. I expected a good match, not something which surpassed my expectations by miles. Fenix clearly the “smaller” but yet moves were just as effective. Never stayed down. Never. Nope. Archer showed his own aerial abilities, stunning viewers as well. I could only imaging the excitement they must have had to put on a match like this.
A huge spot, Fenix off the top turnbuckle with a double-stomp to Archer’s head. His. Head. Later on Fenix hit his backwards rolling cutter, only to later get crushed by what appeared to resemble a Muscle Buster. Fenix appeared to speed up with every hit he absorbed. Archer hit one strike, Fenix hit three.
Another amazing spot by Archer, tightrope walking into a moonsault splash of his own. Good gravy it was a perfect arc too. Fenix and Archer stole the show for sure. It’s a shame both couldn’t be in the Ladder Match, but it is what it is.
If Archer was this good tonight, one can only imagine what he has in store for Revolution.
AEW Dynamite 2/24 is now streaming on the TNT app.
